This week's giveaway is not one but TWO books to keep you occupied at the beach and other vacation spots (or even just your own bathroom) when your favorite gaming portable's batteries give out.

The first is a 448-page hardback called The Book of Games Volume 1. The pages are glossy and filled with gorgeous pictures and interesting articles and game details. Electric Playground complemented the "surprising amount of data: The world size, the number of hours of gameplay it provides, if it's an online game or not. The information is helpful for painting a broad picture of a game if you don't have one, and it even has stuff that isn't covered by a lot of game review/information sites."

Book two is the 224-page Encyclopedia of Game Machines, which provides an in-depth look at the history of consoles and handhelds from 1972 through 2005. Remember the Magnovox Odyssey? Neither do I, but it's in here along with bits of my own personal gamer history: the Trash-80, the Commodore PET/64, Atari 2600/800, Colecovision, N64 and many, many more. There are 500 machines covered here with 600 pictures plus history and technical data.

Good stuff for someone who just can't unplug that 'Net cable but is forced to anyway. (We feel for you...) Here's how to enter:

Microsoft's big release this week is Kodu, the $5 in-engine game making tool that some have likened to LittleBigPlanet but also bears some resemblance to Halo 3's Forge level editor. Here's what's new for download from Xbox Live Marketplace:

• Arcade: The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match ($10) and Worms 2: Armageddon ($10)
• Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires armor sets (free)
• Battlestations: Pacific Mustang Unit Pack ($2) adds planes, cruisers, battleships and nose art
• FIFA '09 final season updates (free), which reset all player forms to Normal
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 The Predator ($7.50)
• Guitar Hero World Tour Epitaph Punk-O-Rama Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "21st Century (Digital Boy)" by Bad Religion, "Linoleum" by NOFX and "Ruby Soho" by Rancid
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Foreigner Pack 01 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Blue Morning, Blue Day," "Headknocker," and "Feels Like the First Time" and Warped Tour 2009 Pack 02 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Sweet Talk" by Dear and the Headlights, "Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?" by The Devil Wears Prada, and "Image of the Invisible" by Thrice
• Lips tracks ($2 each) "Love Like This" by Natasha Bedingfield, "I Want You To Want Me" by Cheap Trick and "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice plus, due tomorrow, , "Shut Up" by The Black Eyed Peas, "The Next Movement" by The Roots and "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot
• Community Games (usually $2.50-$10 each): Kodu Game Lab plus Gravity Bounce, Meet UR Match, Shiatsu Massage, Shield Defense and Sketch
• Game Videos: Bayonetta, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Saints Row 2 and Splinter Cell Conviction (all free) and UFC 2009 Undisputed strategy guides ($1 each)
• Themes: The King of Fighters XII Basic and Premium ($2-3), Worms 2: Armageddon Premium ($3) and Torchwood: Children of Earth (free)
• Pictures: Ghostbusters ($3), Guitar Hero World Tour (free; enters you in sweepstakes) and Torchwood: Children of Earth (free)

The PlayStation Store has a few patriotic touches this week to celebrate the July 4 holiday, plus "Still Alive" for Rock Band Unplugged (not free as it was for the consoles!):

• The Punisher: No Mercy ($10)
• LittleBigPlanet Sacktue of Liberty Costume
• High Velocity Bowling ball packs ($1 each)
• MotorStorm Pacific Rift Monarch Signature Livery Pack (free) and Speed Expansion ($10) with three new tracks
• Quantum of Solace Camille Map Pack ($5)
• Cross Edge Safety Pack and Additional Dungeon 2 (both free) plus Costume Set 1 ($4)
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 The Predator ($7.50)
• Guitar Hero World Tour Epitaph Punk-O-Rama Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "21st Century (Digital Boy)" by Bad Religion, "Linoleum" by NOFX and "Ruby Soho" by Rancid
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Foreigner Pack 01 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Blue Morning, Blue Day," "Headknocker," and "Feels Like the First Time" and Warped Tour 2009 Pack 02 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Sweet Talk" by Dear and the Headlights, "Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?" by The Devil Wears Prada, and "Image of the Invisible" by Thrice
• PSP: Capcom Classics Collection Remixed ($20), Mind Quiz ($10), Splinter Cell Essentials ($20) and Rock Band Unplugged tracks ($2 each) "Sin Wagon" by Dixie Chicks, "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M. and "Still Alive" by GLaDOS and Jonathan Coulton
• Game Videos: Bayonetta, MotorStorm Pacific Rift and Pulse magazine, plus Qore Episode 14 ($3 or $25 for annual subscription) featuring Assassion's Creed II
• Themes: Anime MBM 4 ($1.50), Farmer’s Daughter ($2), Ink Skulls ($1.50) and Sniper Girls ($1.50)

Ever since game.giveawayoftheday.com went weekends only (with long breaks such as their recent vacation from April to June), there hasn't been a good source for free daily downloadable games. Well, GameHouse is now trying to fill that void with its daily casual game giveaways. Today's game is StoneLoops of Jurassica, a solid marble popper that's currently #3 on the Apple App Store (one of the better dollars I've spent on the iPhone!). And if you install it today, you can save a buck or twenty and play it on your PC. It's worth noting that GameHouse's offerings are not entirely free. Every install pitches you on Google Chrome, and games are broken into bite-sized chunks with unskippable ads between stages. Also, some of the games aren't the greatest; expect a lot of mediocre hidden object and time management games with the occasional gem. But it's worth a look every day to see if the game appeals to you. I'll tweet when I spot a good one, but you'll always have to act fast...

The PlayStation 3 rumors are rampant! First there's the discovery of a Sony patent for a software solution that emulates the PS2 processor on any PS3 hardware. (Remember, Sony cut backward compatibility from later PS3 models and the hardware solution that some of us have is imperfect at best.) Next there is word leaking out that a thinner PlayStation 3 Slim is in production and could launch as soon as August. This rumor actually syncs with another: That the PS3 could get a long overdue price cut later this year (buzz also suggests August). One thing's for sure, if you're on the fence about buying a PS3, you should probably wait and see what comes of all of this chatter...

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS:

• WiiWare: Reel Fishing Challenge ($5), Silver Star Reversi ($5) and Water Warfare ($8)
• Virtual Console: Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa for Sega Master System ($5)
• DSiWare: Sudoku Master ($5)
• Rock Band 2 tracks ($2 each; due Tuesday, June 30) "Space Truckin'" by Deep Purple, "Cream and Bastards Rise" by Harvey Danger, "Forever" by In This Moment, "Closer" and "Swamped" by Lacuna Coil, "Mica," "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate" and "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" by Mission of Burma, "Gone Away" and "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" by The Offspring, "She's a Handsome Woman" by Panic at the Disco, "Alive (Live)," "Brother" and "State of Love and Trust (Live)" by Pearl Jam, "Take Back the City" by Snow Patrol and "Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood
• DS Demos (via Wii): All repeats including Mega Man Star Force 3, My Healthy Cooking Coach, Rhythm Heaven, Classic Word Games and MySims Racing
• Game Videos: Bit.Trip.Core, C.O.P.: The Recruit, The Conduit, EA Sports Active, Grand Slam Tennis, Madden NFL '10, Mini Ninjas, The Munchables, Reel Fishing Challenge, Sands of Destruction, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Silver Star Reversi, Sudoku Master, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, Trauma Team, Valhalla Nights: Eldar Saga, Water Warfare and World of Zoo

Here's what is due for release for PC, portables and consoles this week (and maybe some recent releases that slipped in late last week):

• DS: Duke Nukem Trilogy, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace, Mega Man Star Force 3: Red Joker, Roogoo Attack, Sudoku Master (DSiWare) and Treasure World
• iPhone: 3D Rollercoaster Rush, Adrenaline Pool 2, Doom Resurrection, Galactic Gunner, Mevo and The Grooveriders, MindRacer Duel, Professional Police Training, Rick Dangerous, Rolando 2, Q*Bert, Saga Catapult, Trains and Warpack Grunts
• PC: Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Grand Theft Auto Trilogy, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Street Fighter IV
• PS2: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
• PS3: Battle Tanks, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, King of Fighters: Maximum Impact 3 and The Punisher: No Mercy
• PSP: Duke Nukem Trilogy, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament
• Wii: Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa (Virtual Console), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Reel Fishing Challenge (WiiWare), Roogoo: Twisted Towers, Silver Star Reversi (WiiWare) and Water Warfare (WiiWare)
• Xbox 360: BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, King of Fighters Ultimate (Arcade), Infernal: Hell's Vengeance and Worms 2: Armageddon (Arcade)

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Please let us know...

Back in 2003 (has it really been that long?!), Ubisoft released what promised to be a ground-breaking first-person shooter: XIII. Based on the '80s European comic of the same name, this cel-shaded shooter was both fun and immersive. And if you missed out, you have no excuse - unless you don't have access to a PS2 or first-gen PS3 (back when there was backward compatibility) to play this on.

If you've never enjoyed this game, here's the setup. You awaken with amnesia. Your voice sounds oddly like that guy Mulder from the X Files. You have a strange XIII tattoo on your shoulder. People are trying to kill you. You find lots of weapons and environments, including beach, snow and night locales, to battle it out. If that's not enough, there's multiplayer. Not sold? Here's a clip that showcases the game's unique look and comic-style storytelling. I played this one straight through when it was new. They just don't make games like this anymore.

Here's how to enter:

A light week on Xbox Live Marketplace, though there's still plenty to download:

• Arcade: Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Droplitz ($10) and Sorry! Sliders ($10) plus Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers game tables (pricing/downloads unavailable; check back for details!) and Yosumin! Live Yosumin Adventure ($1) with 180 new stages
• Fallout 3 Point Lookout ($10)
• BlazBlue unlock codes ($1 each, but please don't buy cheat codes!)
• Guitar Hero World Tour Phish Live Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Chalk Dust Torture (Live)," "Down With Disease (Live)" and "Sample In A Jar (Live)"
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Warped Tour 2009 Pack 1 ($8.50 or $2 each) with "21st Century (Digital Boy)" by Bad Religion, "I Didn’t Say I Was Powerful, I Said I Was a Wizard" by Chiodos, "The Downfall of Us All" by A Day to Remember, "The Flood" by Escape the Fate and "Reinventing Your Exit" by Underoath, Maroon 5 Pack 1 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Little of Your Time," "Makes Me Wonder" and "Wake Up Call" and Pearl Jam Ten Bonus Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with the tracks given for free with some Ten remastered album offers: "Alive (Live)," "Brother" and "State of Love and Trust (Live)"
• Lips tracks ($2 each) "Radar Love" by Golden Earring, "Spiralling" by Keane and "Take Back The City" by Snow Patrol
• Community Games (usually $2.50-$10 each): Bop N' Pop!, Chinese Checkers Deluxe, Penguin Slip-Slide, Plows in Hell, Sky-Defender and System Override
• Game Videos: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bayonetta, Burnout Paradise Big Surf Island, Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2, Guitar Hero Metallica, Prototype and Virtua Tennis 2009
• Themes: BlazBlue Premium ($3.13), Fight Night Round 4 ($3), King of Fighters XII ($2-3 each), Magic: The Gathering Premium ($3 each), Overlord II ($2) and Transformers 2 ($2 each)
• Pictures: BlazBlue ($2), Forza Motorsport 3 Design Challenge Voting (free; enters you in sweepstakes), Guitar Hero Metallica ($3), Magic: The Gathering ($2 each), Overlord II ($2), Red Faction: Guerrilla ($1 each), Transformers 2 ($2 each) and College Fest (free; enters you in sweepstakes)

A full yet not entirely satisfying PlayStation Store update this week, albeit with a decent selection of freebies:

• Droplitz ($10)
• PS1 on PS3/PSP: Mobile Light Force ($6)
• High Velocity Bowling '60s Surf Ball Pack and Tiki Polynesian Ball Pack ($1 each)
• LittleBigPlanet Summer Solstice Costume (free) and Jon Burgerman Stickers Pack ($2)
• MotorStorm: Pacific Rift Wombat Signature Livery Pack (free)
• Cross Edge Mystery Synth Pack, Mighty Rare Pack and Additional Dungeon 1 (all free)
• Disgaea 3: Absence Of Justice Class World Command Attack Mode ($4)
• Cuboid Booster Pack ($3), Level Editor ($4) and Bundle Pack ($5)
• Guitar Hero World Tour Phish Live Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Chalk Dust Torture (Live)," "Down With Disease (Live)" and "Sample In A Jar (Live)"
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Warped Tour 2009 Pack 1 ($8.50 or $2 each) with "21st Century (Digital Boy)" by Bad Religion, "I Didn’t Say I Was Powerful, I Said I Was a Wizard" by Chiodos, "The Downfall of Us All" by A Day to Remember, "The Flood" by Escape the Fate and "Reinventing Your Exit" by Underoath, Maroon 5 Pack 1 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Little of Your Time," "Makes Me Wonder" and "Wake Up Call" and Pearl Jam Ten Bonus Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with the tracks given for free with some Ten remastered album offers: "Alive (Live)," "Brother" and "State of Love and Trust (Live)"
• PSP: Brothers in Arms D-Day ($15), Chessmaster: The Art of Learning ($20), Driver 76 ($20) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ($20), plus Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce Pack 2 (free) and Rock Band Unplugged tracks ($2 each) "Afterlife" by Avenged Sevenfold and "Dr. Feelgood" by Motley Crue
• Demo: The Bigs 2
• Game Videos: The Bigs 2, Darksiders, Infamous, Mini Ninjas, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite and The Saboteur
• Themes: Battlefield 1943 (free) and Elven X III ($1.50)

As long-time readers of this site know, the iPhone 3G changed my life. It's the first gadget I found that is truly useful, and the first mobile phone that I'll consistently play games on (not quite edging out my Nintendo DS for portable entertainment). So when I learned about the iPhone 3G S, my first reaction was that it wasn't enough to justify the inflated pricetag (especially since I just started an AT&T contract last December and I wasn't eligible for a fully subsidized upgrade).

After a few weeks of internal struggle followed by battles with both Apple and AT&T to actually secure a device, I have been won over. The 3G S is not too different from the 3G, but three features shine through:

• Faster speed. It's much zippier, whether I'm loading games, browsing Web pages or reading e-mails. Launching and switching apps isn't laggy at all. Peggle's zen ball calculates results in half the time. Reports indicate I Love Katamari runs much more smoothly and that it's actually a stealth 3G S title since the added horsepower smoothes out the frame rate. I just downloaded the demo and it looks good, though I still loathe the Katamari games' insistance on enforcing time limits.
• More storage. The thing that pushed me over the edge was the availability of 32GB of memory. I had already packed the 16GB model with apps, music, movies and pictures. Doubling the space will allow me to add more and still have plenty of room to breathe - at least until the inevitable 64GB models surface.
• Better camera. I've begun using the iPhone as my default camera, despite the so-so resolution, since it's nearly always on me. Now I get a crisper 3 megapixels, auto/tap focus and better low-light photography. There's even the capability to shoot video, which I might use now and again. Alas, none of the camera apps I've bought (Darkroom and Camera Zoom) have been updated for iPhone OS 3.0 yet.

The 3G S also offers voice control, though so far it hasn't done a thing I've asked. To be fair, I really haven't read up on what it can do and how best to command it. But I didn't buy it for that, and suspect it will work fine for voice dialing and playlist switching once I get the hang of it. The Compass app is nifty, though I'll probably never use it. And if the rumors are true, I won't use it for GPS apps either since AT&T is forcing people to pay a monthly fee for turn-by-turn directions.

As a gaming platform, it's no revolution. As with other apps, games launch more quickly and run more smoothly - and that's pretty much it. Everything else is available now on the 3G. There probably won't be any 3G S-only games for six months (or however long it takes to get an installed base worthy of segmented development). So unless you are eligible for fully subsidized pricing, can justify the upgrade for work or have money to burn, you can safely hold off. But it is nice, and if you do take the plunge you won't regret it.

One cool power user tip. The 3G S has the option to display your remaining battery percentage next to the visual battery indicator. Go into Settings, General, Usage to turn it on. That hidden new feature is not in the 3G, even with the 3.0 update.

The newly released $5 Mass Effect Galaxy for iPhone/iPod Touch grants you a special boon if you finish it: a "reward" that will be unlocked in Mass Effect 2, due for PC and Xbox 360 in 2010. Alas, early reviews of the portable tie-in game are not terribly kind and you'll have to create an EA Account on both platforms to transfer your bonus, most likely an in-game item with little real value (though we probably won't know for sure until launch day). If you're a Mass Effect fanatic who happens to own a supported Apple touchscreen device, go for it - and let us know what you get for it next year...

These days, there are a lot of trinkets and even in-game items (usually small bonus items or unlock codes) used to incent pre-ordering. Here's an offer that sounds potentially worthwhile: If you plunk down a few dollars to reserve Assassin's Creed II for PS3 or Xbox 360 at GameStop, they'll give you a palace! That's right, you'll receive a code for the Palazzo Medici Ricardi to explore and plunder. It's not clear how much extra game time this will provide, or whether there will be any missions or just some places to climb and collect items. Apparently it's the area they demo'd at E3, if you were lucky enough to attend and get some hands on time. It does sound potentially more substantial than your typical pre-order bonus, so it gets our vote...

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS:

• WiiWare: Drill Sergeant Mindstrong ($8), Family Mini Golf ($5) and Neves Plus ($6)
• Virtual Console: SimEarth: The Living Planet for TurboGrafx16 ($8)
• DSiWare: Art Style: Boxlife ($5)
• Rock Band 2 tracks ($1-2 each; due Tuesday, June 23) "One of Those Nights" by The Cab, "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional, "California Uber Alles," "Holiday in Cambodia" and "Police Truck" by Dead Kennedys, "All Right Now" by Free, "Burn," "Capital G" and "Last" by Nine Inch Nails, "They Say" by Scars on Broadway, "This Is It" by Staind, "Electric Crown" by Testament, "Yomp" by thenewno2 and "Dreamin'," "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" and "Troublemaker" by Weezer
• DS Demos (via Wii): Mega Man Star Force 3 and My Healthy Cooking Coach, plus repeats including Classic Word Games and MySims Racing
• Game Videos: Cave Story, The Conduit, Dead Space Extraction, Desktop Tower Defense, Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter, Drill Sergeant Mindstrong, EA Sports Active, Excitebots: Trick Racing, Fairyland Melody Magic, Family Mini Golf , Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, Grand Slam Tennis, Help Wanted: Wacky Jobs, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, Let's Tap, Madden NFL '10, Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4, Neves Plus, Punch-Out!!, Red Steel 2, Resident Evil, Spyborgs, Tales of Monkey Island, Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 and Treasure World

Here's what is due for release for PC, portables and consoles this week (and maybe some recent releases that slipped in late last week):

• DS: Art Style: Boxlife (DSiWare), Classic Word Games, Dawn of Discovery, Dragon Hunters, Fashion Week Junior Designer, My Healthy Cooking Coach, Overlord Minions, Pop Town, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Autobots and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Decepticons
• iPhone: A Bugs Defense, Archon Classic, Baseball Slugger, Card Ninja, Castle of Magic, F.A.S.T.: Fleet Air Superiority Training, Ghostbusters, Golden Axe, Harbor Master and Mass Effect Galaxy
• PC: ArmA II, Blood Bowl, Dawn of Discovery, Fallout 3 Point Lookout, Fuel, Spore Galactic Adventures and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• PS2: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• PS3: Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires, Fight Night Round 4, Overlord II and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• PSP: Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, Pangya: Fantasy Golf and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Wii: The Conduit, Dawn of Discovery, Drill Sergeant Mindstrong (WiiWare), Family Mini Golf (WiiWare), Games Around The Globe, Little League World Series Baseball, Neves Plus (WiiWare), Overlord: Dark Legend, Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil, SimEarth: The Living Planet (Virtual Console) and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Xbox 360: Droplitz (Arcade), Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires, Fallout 3 Point Lookout, Fight Night Round 4, Garou: Mark of the Wolves (Arcade), Overlord II and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Please let us know...

If you're a movie buff and/or a fan of simulation games, you'll want to try your hand at The Movies.

This 2005 PC game by Lionhead Studios (known for the popular Fable and Black and White series) puts you in charge of a movie studio where you build out a studio lot, develop the careers of your actors (while massaging their egos and keeping them off the booze) and ultimately create movies. In fact, this game can be used to create actual computer-animated films (aka machinima).

So if you really want to direct or just like games where you build and manage resources, this one's for you. System requirements are light, so odds are that your computer will support it. As a bonus, we'll throw in 2-3 actual movies on DVD (but they will be a surprise!). Feel free to guess or make suggestions in your comments. You might even influence the title selection.

Here's how to enter:

Xbox Live Marketplace had its ups and downs this week - mostly downs. The service just wasn't the same, with broken downloads and missing items, after Tuesday's all day scheduled Xbox Live maintenance. It seems to be back to normal now, and sparingly stocked with new stuff:

• Arcade: Rocket Riot ($10), Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers ($10) and Sam & Max Save the World ($20), plus Arkanoid Live! Add-on packs 1 and 2 ($3 each) and Space Invaders Extreme Expansion Pack ($3)
• Guitar Hero World Tour Ben Harper and Relentless7 Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Fly One Time," "Number With No Name" and "Shimmer & Shine"
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Evanescence Pack 01 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Bring Me to Life," "Call Me When You’re Sober" and "Weight of the World" and Spinal Tap Pack 01 ($7 or $2 each) with "Back From the Dead," "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare," "Saucy Jack" and "Warmer Than Hell"
• Lips tracks ($2 each) "Love You Anyway" by Boyzone and "Freak Like Me" by Sugababes
• Demos: The Bigs 2 and NCAA Football '10
• Community Games (usually $2.50-$10 each): Bobby Says - Dance with me!, Light's End, Math Aerobat and Sushi Bumper
• Game Videos: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dead Rising 2, Lost Planet 2 and Virtua Tennis 2009
• Themes: Sam & Max Save the World Premium ($3) and Space Invaders Extreme ($2)
• Pictures: Garou: Mark of the Wolves ($1 each), Sam & Max Save the World ($2), Space Invaders Extreme ($1), Major League Gaming ($1), Comedy Fest (free; enters you in sweepstakes) and Summer Double Feature (free; enters you in sweepstakes)

The PlayStation Store seems to have a post-E3 hangover with only a few new items this week:

• PS1 for PS3/PSP: Metal Gear Solid ($10)
• MotorStorm: Pacific Rift Jester Signature Livery Pack (free)
• Cross Edge Wanderer, Power-up and Departure packs (free)
• Qore Episode 13 ($3 or $25 for annual subscription) includes videos for Infamous, Fight Night Round 4 and PSP Go, an Infamous theme and Qore t-shirt for Home and bonus game Spyro the Dragon for PS1, plus annual subscribers get High Velocity Bowling (free games must be downloaded by July 31)
• Guitar Hero World Tour track "Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits Theme" by S.U.P.R.A.H.U.M.A.N (free) and Ben Harper and Relentless7 Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Fly One Time," "Number With No Name" and "Shimmer & Shine"
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Evanescence Pack 01 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Bring Me to Life," "Call Me When You’re Sober" and "Weight of the World" and Spinal Tap Pack 01 ($7 or $2 each) with "Back From the Dead," "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare," "Saucy Jack" and "Warmer Than Hell"
• PSP: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 ($20)
• Demo: NCAA Football '10
• Game Video: Mini Ninjas
• Themes: 4th of July Pinups ($1.50), Azmodeus Dark Angels ($1.50), American Pride ($1.50), Jungle Jane ($2) and Warrior Girls ($1.50)

The newest PlayStation 3 Greatest Hits games, all priced at $30, include:

• Army of Two
• Battlefield: Bad Company
• Devil May Cry 4
• Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
• Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

So if someone tries to sell you a copy at full price, hold off until the new Greatest Hits versions land in stores...

Even if you're not into country music, the focus of the upcoming Rock Band Country Track Pack retail release, you might want to pick up the occasional crossover hit like Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" or Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler." Well, Harmonix says too bad. In what (when paired with the AC/DC Live Rock Band game) is starting to become a trend, it's releasing 13 songs that are not available for download from your favorite next-gen console store. There are also 8 songs that have been released, so if you are a fan you should hold off on getting the existing country song packs. As with previous offerings, the disc will include a one-time download code so you can import the songs into Rock Band or Rock Band 2 for the platforms that support this.

Here are the songs due for $30 on July 21 for PS2. PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii:

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS:

• WiiWare: Eduardo the Samurai Toaster ($8), Let’s Catch ($10) and Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! ($8)
• Virtual Console: Space Harrier arcade ($8)
• DSiWare: Mario Calculator ($2 and Mario Clock ($2)
• Rock Band 2 tracks ($1-2 each; due Tuesday, June 16) "Critical Acclaim" by Avenged Sevenfold, "Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)" by Dierks Bentley, "Hillbillie Deluxe" by Brooks & Dunn, "A Favor House Atlantic" and "The Running Free" by Coheed and Cambria, "Rock & Roll Dream" by Crooked X, "Sin Wagon" by Dixie Chicks, "Shimmer & Shine" by Ben Harper and Relentless7, "Steady at the Wheel" by Shooter Jennings, "Gunpowder & Lead" by Miranda Lambert, "Moving to Seattle" by The Material, "Girls Who Play Guitars" by Maximo Park, "Down at the Whisky" by Motley Crue, "A Clean Shot" by The Myriad, "Mud on the Tires" by Brad Paisley, "Wilson (Live)" by Phish, "Closer to the Heart" by Rush, "Devour" and "Junkies for Fame" by Shinedown, "Jesus Christ Pose" and "Pretty Noose" by Soundgarden, "Wolf Like Me" by TV on the Radio, "Bullets & Guns" by Them Terribles and "Who’s Going Home With You Tonight?" by Trapt
• DS Demos (via Wii): Classic Word Games, MySims Racing and a second Miami Law demo, plus repeat Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
• Game Videos: The Conduit, EA Sports Active, Grand Slam Tennis, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, Let's Catch, Nostalgia, Personal Trainer: Walking, Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure!, Tatsunako vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Your Shape and Nintendo DS TV ads

RPG fans, check out the Nostalgia trailer - it looks pretty amazing for a DS game...

Here's what is due for release for PC, portables and consoles this week (and maybe some recent releases that slipped in late last week):

• DS: Big League Sports: Summer, City Interactive, Dawn of Discovery, Discovery Kids: Parrot Pals, Emergency Room: Real Life Rescues, Flower, Sun and Rain, Ghostbusters, Hurry Up Hedgehog!, Mario Calculator (DSiWare), Mario Clock (DSiWare), Roogoo Attack and Sushi Academy
• iPhone: 3D Checkers, Mecho Wars, Moonlights, Snowboarding Tilt n Twist (TnT), Space Ace and Up
• PC: America's Army 3, Dawn of Discovery, Ghostbusters, Luna Online, Rise of Flight: The First Great Air War and Sword of the Stars: Argos Naval Yard
• PS2: Ghostbusters and Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
• PS3: Ghostbusters and Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
• PSP: Ghostbusters
• Wii: Big League Sports: Summer, Diva Girls: Divas on Ice, Eduardo the Samurai Toaster (WiiWare), Ghostbusters, Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, Let’s Catch (WiiWare), Let's Tap, Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! (WiiWare), Space Harrier (Virtual Console) and Vertigo
• Xbox 360: Ghostbusters, Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers (Arcade), Rocket Riot (Arcade) and Sam & Max Save the World (Arcade)

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Please let us know...

This week's Free Stuff Friday is for the casual game fans, or those hardcore gamers who are self-actualized and secure enough in their sexuality (whatever that might be) to admit that Peggle isn't just for grandmas even if it it is cute as hell. (And, hey, grandmas can enter too!)

That's right, we've secured some PopCap swag - and it's the good stuff:

• A limited edition Peggle Master medallion with stand (close up picture). The back says Peggle Nights Master and has an angry version of the unicorn with lightning bolts. You know you want this! I should ask for proof that you beat Peggle, but you're on the honor system. Only 450 of these are in circulation!
• Chuzzles. These are the fluffy little mascots that PopCap staffers throw out into the audience or award as prizes when they give talks or stage events. Alas, I have never won one. So I bought some. If you win this pack, you'll get 4! What, you've never played Chuzzle?! Try the free online version - after you enter!
• Peggle poster with the slogan "Your brain on Peggle" (wide picture)
• Peggle XTRM FVR bumper sticker
• Peggle letter "P" sticker (same logo as the iPhone game icon)

Here's how to enter:

Xbox Live will be down all day on Tuesday, June 16, for maintenance to prepare for the next dashboard update (though no new features will be released this early). So get onto Xbox Live Marketplace now, or risk waiting a day. Have DRM-protected add-ons that require Live? Plan to take the day off from any games whose add-ons weren't purchased on your active Xbox 360, or try to recover them to your current console before it's too late.

For now, here's what's new this week on Xbox Live Marketplace:

• Arcade: Sega classics Altered Beast, Comix Zone, Gunstar Heroes, Phantasy Star II, Shinobi and Sonic The Hedgehog 3 ($5 each)
• Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2 ($10) with 4 maps Banzai, Corrosion, Sub Pens and Shi No Numa ('Zombie Swamp') with zombies and flaming Hell Hounds
• Battlestations: Pacific Volcano Map Pack ($7) with 2 maps
• Burnout Paradise Big Surf Island ($13) new game location
• Saints Row 2 Unkut Pack (free) with with more than 60 customization items including Unkut clothes and accessories and tattoos
• HAWX Air Supremacy Pack ($10) includes the U.S. Eagles pack, European Assault pack and Russian Falcons pack
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 packs 7-10 (free)
• Sonic Unleashed Empire City & Adabat Adventure Pack ($3)
• Guitar Hero World Tour European Track Pack 06 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Adrenalina" by Finley, "Cadillac Solitario (Live)" by Loquillo y Trogloditas and "The Bitter End" by Placebo
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Iron Maiden Pack 01 ($20 or $2 each) with "2 Minutes to Midnight," "Aces High (Live)," "Can I Play With Madness," "The Clairvoyant," "Fear of the Dark (Live)," "Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live)," "Iron Maiden (Live)," "The Number of the Beast," "Powerslave," "Run to the Hills," "The Trooper" and "Wasted Years"
• Lips free song "Shake The World" by ForeverGirl and additional tracks ($2 each) "Joey" by Concrete Blonde, "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane and "I Alone" by Live
• Demos: Guitar Hero Smash Hits and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
• Community Games (usually $2.50-$10 each): Battle Ball, Bobbin's Quest, Constructor360, Cube Stacker, Defender of Zorgaba, EyeCandy: Chromadose, Fittest, The Galactic Aquarium, Golden Royal Hold 'em, Hangman's Revenge!, Heli Good Spelunker, Jigsaw World, Mind's Eye of Jupiter 01, A Morons Challenge, Plasma TV Break In, Project Alpha, Puzzwords, Radial Gun, Revenge of the Evil Aliens, Spy Chameleon, Starfighter, TicTacToe, unRevolutionary and Whack Em in a Hole
• Game Videos: Assassin's Creed 2, Battlefield 1943, The Beatles: Rock Band, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Fight Night Round 4, Final Fantasy XIII, Forza Motorsport 3, Metal Gear Solid: Rising, Splinter Cell Conviction, Squeeballs and additional E3 videos including Facebook and Twiiter, Last.fm, Project Natal and Zune
• Themes: Call of Duty: World at War Zombie Swamp Premium ($3), Grand Theft Auto IV The Lost & Damned ($3.13) and Lips (free)
• Pictures: Lips (free) and Horror Fest (free; enters you win sweepstakes)

Here is what's new at the PlayStation Store this week:

• Bomberman Ultra ($10)
• Heavy Weapon ($10)
• Gunstar Heroes ($5)
• PS1 for PS3/PSP: Medal of Honor Underground ($6)
• Killzone 2 Flash & Thunder Pack ($6) with two classic multiplayer maps Beach Head and Southern Hills
• Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2 ($10) with 4 maps Banzai, Corrosion, Sub Pens and Shi No Numa ('Zombie Swamp') with zombies and flaming Hell Hounds
• Burnout Paradise Big Surf Island ($13) new game location
• MotorStorm: Pacific Rift Atlas Signature Livery Pack (free)
• Saints Row 2 Unkut Pack (free) with with more than 60 customization items including Unkut clothes and accessories and tattoos
• LittleBigPlanet Ico Costume Pack ($6 or $2 each) with costumes from Ico and Shadow of the Colossus
• The Last Guy Add-on ($2) with 3 bonus stages that can be unlocked and the opportunity for 8 additional trophies
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 Spyglass Hill Golf Course ($7.50), other accessories (various prices) and a course and character max stat unlocks (don't buy cheat codes - you'll just encourage EA to keep charging for them!)
• HAWX Air Supremacy Pack ($10) includes the U.S. Eagles pack, European Assault pack and Russian Falcons pack
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 packs 7-10 (free)
• Sonic Unleashed Empire City & Adabat Adventure Pack ($3)
• Guitar Hero World Tour European Track Pack 06 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Adrenalina" by Finley, "Cadillac Solitario (Live)" by Loquillo y Trogloditas and "The Bitter End" by Placebo
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Iron Maiden Pack 01 ($20 or $2 each) with "2 Minutes to Midnight," "Aces High (Live)," "Can I Play With Madness," "The Clairvoyant," "Fear of the Dark (Live)," "Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live)," "Iron Maiden (Live)," "The Number of the Beast," "Powerslave," "Run to the Hills," "The Trooper" and "Wasted Years"
• PSP: Hot Shots Golf Open Tee 2 ($23) and Rock Band Unplugged tracks ($2 each) "Constant Motion" by Dream Theater and "Sex Type Thing" by Stone Temple Pilots
• Demos: Bomberman Ultra and Heavy Weapon
• Game Videos: Burnout Paradise Big Surf Island, Cell Factor, Fat Princess and Pain
• Themes: Bomberman Ultra (free), Anime Snipers ($1.50) and Terran 3020 ($1.50)
• Wallpaper: Final Fantasy XIII (free)

In honor of the iPhone news this week, and because an anonymous friend of the site donated the code, we have an instant win prize for one lucky iPhone or iPod Touch owner: Rolando.

This $6 game is reminiscent of LocoRoco and seems to be getting regular free level updates - at least until the sequel comes out later this year.

This giveaway is a bonus for those busy gamers who are vigilant and/or lucky. We'll ship the code out to the first qualified person who posts a comment. The usual rules apply, except that there is no random drawing. You can't win two consecutive instant wins (Joe Lombardi and Ann are out on this one), so if this isn't something you really want you should pass on this and wait for the next. We plan to do more of these from time to time in addition to the regular weekly drawings. Follow me on Twitter if you want a head's up before we post Instant Wins.

To enter:

This is the first time we've done a "Which Version?" article, but with so many variations of Peggle floating around we thought you might appreciate a brief guide to their differences (especially with the mostly awesome iPhone version currently on sale):

• PC/Mac: Peggle Deluxe is the definitive version of the game. Controls are tight and easily finetuned for the perfectly aimed shot. All shots can be saved as replays so you can show off your most remarkable or heartbreaking moments to friends and family. Highly recommended! As a bonus, it appears that the Half-Life-themed Peggle Extreme is available FREE via Steam (previously only available with The Orange Box). There's also the sequel, Peggle Nights, which offers more of the same and occasional free seasonal bonus levels for download.
• DS: Peggle Dual Shot is the weakest entry. Graphics are lower res and a new meta-game (hit yellow pegs to unlock a pinball-esque Underground area that grants bonus points and unbalances the game). Replays cannot be saved. Saving grace: You get levels from both Peggle Deluxe and Peggle Nights. Still, it's not as fun or as challenging - skip Dual Shot unless it's your only option.
• Xbox 360: The PC version is better thanks to the ability to save all replays, otherwise this console edition would be on par. Replays are only saved if you get a phenomenal score - and watching the ones that have been saved and shared via Xbox Live, it appears they're all from the same level using roughly the same technique. Achievement fans will not be able to pass this by, but sadly it could be better. You can opt for a DRM-free disc version that installs to your hard drive by purchasing PopCap Arcade Vol. 2 (which also includes Heavy Weapon and Feeding Frenzy 2).
• iPhone/iPod Touch: This is nearly as good as the PC version, with sharp widescreen graphics though seemingly no MIDI music soundtrack (you can listen to your own music). All shot replays can be named and saved, but precise aiming is difficult despite a zoom mode to finetune your shots. Since you aim by touching the screen, removing your finger to take the shot frequently causes your aim to jump. Other than that, this is a remarkable for a portable version and well worth the $1 discounted price (through June 14; normally $5).
• iPod: This is the version sold for the older iPods, such as the Classic, and it's not the same as the iPhone version. It does contain the music, but employs clickwheel aiming and offers no replays. It's solid if you still use one of these iPods, and clickwheel aiming is actually more precise than the iPhone's touchscreen. But the smaller form factor means smaller screen, which detracts somewhat from the experience.

If you bought the game Prototype for PS3, you not only have a mandatory install but a chance it will fail. If this happens and you do have enough free hard drive space for the game (despite what it might tell you), the workaround (until the inevitable patch) is to add or remove about 700MB worth of files. This can be done by downloading or deleting demos, videos, etc. If this sounds familiar, nearly the same thing happened with Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction some 20 months ago. As we said at the time: It's not a bug, it's a meta-game...

The big news this week is the new iPhone 3G S, launching June 19. The device is not a huge improvement over the current generation, but there are some things to like:

• Improved speed. Apps load faster, on the whole, and Web browsing should be faster too once AT&T upgrades its network (though some may not realize this benefit until as late as 2011!). A dedicated 3D graphics chip speeds up graphics-intensive games, but publishers will likely not abandon the iPhone 3G installed base - so expect games to be zippier but - for the most part - not designed to fully exploit the added graphics processor for a year or more.
• More storage. A 32GB model is available for those who, like me, have already filled 16GB.
• Better camera. The 3-megapixel camera works better in low-light and includes auto-focus.
• Video recording. You'll be able to shoot 30 fps VGA-quality movies and edit them with an included app.
• Voice control. Not just for dialing, but for launching and controlling apps too.

The good news is that if you're not currently on AT&T or have a contract that's expired, the 32GB phone will only cost you $300 with a 2-year commitment. If you're upgrading, you will have to pay $200 more ($500) and sign a new 2-year contract.

Current iPhone 3G customers can get the iPhone OS 3.0 update free starting June 17 (iPod Touch owners have to pay $10). This won't give you the spiffy new camera or the other hardware-specific features but adds:

• In-app purchases (including add-on items and levels for games)
• Peer-to-peer networking for multiplayer games and other apps
• Cut, copy and paste
• Landscape keyboard
• Search
• Stereo Bluetooth
• Parental controls
• Push notifications from supported apps
• And, if AT&T ever agrees to support these: MMS multimedia messaging and tethering (use your phone as a network connection for a laptop)

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS:

• WiiWare: Fish ’em All! ($8) and Swords & Soldiers ($10)
• Virtual Console: Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf for Super NES ($8)
• DSiWare: Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! ($8)
• Rock Band 2 freebie "Charlene" by Stephen Colbert and additional tracks ($2 each; due Tuesday, June 9) "Beetlebum" by Blur (cover), "Hier Kommt Alex" by Die Toten Hosen, "Indestructible" and "Perfect Insanity" by Disturbed, "Countdown to Insanity" by H-BlockX, "2 Minutes to Midnight," "Aces High (Live)," "Can I Play With Madness," "The Clairvoyant," "Fear of the Dark (Live)," "Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live)," "Iron Maiden (Live)," "The Number of the Beast," "Powerslave," "Run to the Hills," "The Trooper" and "Wasted Years" by Iron Maiden, "Perfekte Welle" by Juli, "Red Tandy" and "Time-Sick Son of a Grizzly" by The Mother Hips, "New Wave" by Pleymo, "Monsoon" by Tokio Hotel, "Manu Chao" by Les Wampas and "Date With the Night" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• DS Demos (via Wii): All repeats including newcomers Ant Nation and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
• Game Videos: Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter, EA Sports Active, Fish ’em All!, Flower, Sun and Rain, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, Ju-on: The Grudge, The Legendary Starfy, Littlest Pet Shop Friends,Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, Marvel Super Hero Squad, Personal Trainer: Walking, Petz Fashion: Dogz and Catz, Rhythm Heaven, Swords & Soldiers, Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 and the Nintendo E3 press conference in four parts

Here's what is due for release for PC, portables and consoles this week:

• DS: Diva Girls: Divas on Ice, Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, The Legendary Starfy, Lego Battles, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (DSiWare), Miami Law, MySims Racing and Petz Fashion: Dogz & Catz
• iPhone: DJ Mix Tour, Prey Invasion, ProCreative Golf '09, Real Racing, Real Tennis 2009, Rise of Lost Empires and Star Defense
• PC: Prototype
• PS2: Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings and Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10
• PS3: Prototype, Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 and Virtua Tennis 2009
• PSP: Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, Rock Band Unplugged and Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10
• Wii: Fish ’em All! (WiiWare), Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (Virtual Console), Go Play Circus Star, Go Play Lumberjacks, Grand Slam Tennis, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, MySims Racing, Pool Hall Pro, Swords & Soldiers (WiiWare), Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10, Vertigo and Virtua Tennis 2009
• Xbox 360: Altered Beast (Arcade) , Comix Zone (Arcade), Gunstar Heroes (Arcade), Phantasy Star 2 (Arcade), Prototype, Shinobi (Arcade), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Arcade), Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10 and Virtua Tennis 2009

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Please let us know...

In honor of Microsoft's above par E3 showing this week, we're giving away not one but TWO Xbox Live Vision cameras - that just happen to include a game from last year's least impressive press conference segment. Yes, the live demo of You're In the Movies was not one of the Xbox 360 team's finer moments. But the camera that comes with it is very, very useful. With it, you can:

• Create and join video chats
• Snap a photo for your gamer picture
• Scan your mug into games such as Rainbow Six: Vegas 1 or 2 and FaceBreaker
• Download and play the free EyeToy-style game TotemBall
• Use it as a controller for Rayman Raving Rabbids and Pinball FX
• Show your poker face in supported games such as Texas Hold 'Em, Gin Rummy and Uno (plus 25 more games to date)

Both winners will also get You're In the Movies, if you're interested in trying it. But the camera is an awesome prize that will hold you until Project Natal gets a real name and is released (probably a year or so from now).

Here's how to enter:

Xbox Live Marketplace has been stocked with the latest E3 videos some free themes for Final Fantasy XIII and Perfect Dark, another free song for Guitar Hero World Tour and quite a bit more:

• Arcade: Wolfenstein 3D ($5) and CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars ($10)
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine Weapon X Arena ($10) with one level, four simulations and user-created scenarios
• Race Pro Pack 1 ($10) with 8 cars, 3 tracks and 40 skins
• Sacred 2: Fallen Angel Carrier Imp ($3) in-game pet
• Guitar Hero World Tour track (free) "Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits Theme" by S.U.P.R.A.H.U.M.A.N.-ProtoShredanoid
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Bonnaroo Pack 01 ($10 or $2 each) with "A Favor House Atlantic" and "The Running Free" by Coheed & Cambria, "Shimmer & Shine" by Ben Harper, "Wilson (Live)" by Phish, "Steady at the Wheel" by Shooter Jennings and "Wolf Like Me" by TV on the Radio
• Lips tracks ($2 each) "I Miss You" by Blink-182, "Life Is A Rollercoaster" by Ronan Keating and "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol
• Demo: Overlord II
• Community Games (usually $2.50-$10 each): 2060 Cyber Racer, Angry Barry, Illusions 360, Jungle Blocks, Pendoku, Prismatic and The Towers of Cedrick
• Game Videos: 1 vs 100, Alan Wake, Alpha Protocol, Assassin's Creed 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bakugan, Bayonetta, Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks, The Bigs 2, Blur, Brutal Legend, Cars: Race-O-Rama, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Crackdown 2, Darksiders, Dead Rising 2, Dead to Rights: Retribution, Dragon Age, Fallout 3 Point Lookout, Fight Night Round 4, Final Fantasy XIII, Forza Motorsport 3, Halo: Reach, Halo 3: ODST, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Joyride, Left 4 Dead 2, Lips: Number 1 Hits, Mafia II, Marvel ws. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, Mass Effect 2, Mini Ninjas, NCAA Football '10, Operation Flashpoint, Planet 51, The Saboteur, Shadow Complex, Singularity, Splinter Cell Conviction, Split/Second, SpongeBob, Star Wars The Clone Wars Republic Heroes, Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10, Tony Hawk Ride, Project Natal and Xbox Live Arcade
• Themes: 1 vs 100 (free), Alan Wake ($3), Assassin's Creed 2 Premium ($3), Fight Night Round 4 ($3), Final Fantasy XIII (free), Halo 3: ODST ($3), Perfect Dark (free), plus non-game freebies 7-Eleven, Axe, Doritos, Energizer, Pizza Hut and Volkswagen
• Pictures: 1 vs 100 (free), BioShock 2 ($1), Grand Theft Auto IV The Lost & Damned (free; enters you in sweepstakes), Red Faction: Guerrilla ($1), plus non-game freebies 7-Eleven, Axe, Energizer, Honda, Pizza Hut and Volkswagen

The PlayStation Store has been stocked with a load of classic games, plus lots of E3 videos:

• PS1 for PS3/PSP: Final Fantasy VII ($10), Street Fighter Alpha 2 ($6) and Medal of Honor ($6)
• Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce Pack #1 (free)
• High Velocity Bowling characters ($1 each) Carlos and Milan
• CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars ($10)
• Wolfenstein 3D ($5)
• Trash Panic ($5)
• MotorStorm: Pacific Rift Voodoo Signature Livery Pack (free)
• Sonic Unleashed Apatos & Shamar Adventure Pack ($3) with three stages and six missions
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine Weapon X Arena ($10) with one level, four simulations and user-created scenarios
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Bonnaroo Pack 01 ($10 or $2 each) with "A Favor House Atlantic" and "The Running Free" by Coheed & Cambria, "Shimmer & Shine" by Ben Harper, "Wilson (Live)" by Phish, "Steady at the Wheel" by Shooter Jennings and "Wolf Like Me" by TV on the Radio
• Rock Band Unplugged tracks ($2 each) "The Kill" by 30 Seconds to Mars, "Feed the Tree" by Belly, "Inside the Fire" by Disturbed, "Gimme Three Steps" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, "Hysteria" by Muse, "Typical" by Mute Math, "Just a Girl" by No Doubt, "Wonderwall" by Oasis, "Crushcrushcrush" by Paramore and "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Demos: Overlord II, Fight Night Round 4 and CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars
• Game Videos: The E3 press conference in three parts plus The Agency, Assassin’s Creed 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, DC Universe Online, Dissidia: Final Fantasy, Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires, Echochrono, Eye Pet, Fat Princess, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy XIII, Gravity Crash, Gran Turismo 5, Heavy Rain, Hustle Kings, Infamous, Invizimals, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, Katamari Forever, The King of Fighters XII, LittleBigPlanet PSP, Mafia II, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, MotorStorm: Arctic Edge, Mushroom Wars, MX vs. ATV Reflex, NCAA Football '10, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Patapon 2, PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, PixelJunk Shooter, Planet 51, Quantum, Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time, Red Dead Redemption, Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing, Smash Cars, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3, Split Second, Tekken 6, Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10, Uncharted 2, Vancouver Olympics 2010, White Knight Chronicles and Wipeout HD
• Themes: Dissidia: Final Fantasy for PSP (free), Anime MBM ($1.50), Element Girls ($1.50), Elven-X ($1.50), Krash Kittenz ($1.50) and Liquid Metal ($1.50)
• Wallpaper: Bionic Commando and Dissidia: Final Fantasy

If you took the red pill and bought into The Matrix Online, you have less than two months to chase the white rabbit before it's gone forever. The four-year-old MMO is going to end the battle for Zion when Sony unplugs its last coppertops July 31. Originated by Ubisoft, the game was sold to Sony shortly after its 2005 launch and has already been cut back in size. The developers are planning a big send off, so if you've put aside the game you might want to jack back in for the time that remains...

Sony had its thunder largely stolen by media leaks and Microsoft's pre-emptive display of multiplatform titles such as The Beatles: Rock Band and Modern Warfare 2, but offered up its own unique take on motion control innovation, formally announced the PSP Go and its related media service, and showed off some noteworthy exclusives.

PS3 news:

• A new unnamed motion control system due spring 2010 uses a camera and two wands and supposedly offers better 3D precision than the Wii-mote and nunchuk. Tech demos showed melee combat, handwriting, tanks and archery.
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves will have competitive and cooperative multiplayer and is launching a multiplayer beta tonight for annual Qore subscribers and people who bought Infamous
• Final Fantasy VII for the PS1 was released today on the PlayStation Store for PS3/PSP.
• God of War III is coming March 2010. Mark your calendars and start planning your vacation time.
• Mod Nation Racers, due in 2010, is a kart racer in the style of LittleBigPlanet, with user created characters, cars and tracks.
• Final Fantasy XIV is a PS3 exclusive due in 2010.
• Agent, a new game by Rockstar, is a PS3 exclusive set in the late 1970s. No release date (or even year) was given.
• MAG, due this fall, was shown to demonstrate its promised support for 256-player battles.
• Assassin's Creed 2 will offer a small advantage to Sony devotees; you will be able to unlock six additional weapons by connecting PS3 and PSP versions (in addition to 30 in the standard game).
• The Last Guardian from Team Ico is a successor to Shadow of the Colossus. No date given.

PSP news:

• PSP Go is launching Oct. 1 for $250. It won't have a UMD drive, so you'll have to buy games online to download into the 16GB built-in flash memory or a memory card (aka no resale value). For the extra $80, you'll get a 3.8-inch screen, Bluetooth support (apparently it can be tethered to your phone) and controls that slide out from under the screen. The current PSP 3000 won't be discontinued.
• PSP Media Go is described as a PSP media manager replacement, but it's really more of an iTunes-style store with a Sense Me feature that will scan your music library and suggest music you might like.
• Gran Turismo PSP is due in October with 35 tracks and 800 cars and ad hoc mode support for four-player wireless races. You can also trade cars between portables.
• Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, due in 2010, is set in Costa Rico 10 years after MGS 3.
• A new Resident Evil title for PSP is due in 2010.

Nintendo hit most of its major franchises and offered up a few surprises at this year's E3 press event:

Wii news:

• The New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a 2D sidescroller due for holiday 2009 with up to four-person (local only?) co-op/competitive multiplayer. From the demo, it sounds like it's up you whether you play nice or dirty to get the most coins.
• Super Mario Galaxy 2 is coming in 2010 with new bosses, levels and twists such as a ridable Yoshi. Giddy-up!
• Wii Vitality Sensor is an undated peripheral that attaches to fingertip like a blood pressure monitor and measures stress levels. Can it check your blood sugar and alcohol levels, too? That would be something.
• Wii Fit Plus with new interface to build your own custom workout routine, plus some new movement games
• Metroid Other M is coming in 2010 from Team Ninja (or what's left of it).
• Wii Sports Resort, due July 26, still looks fun with parachuting, basketball, golf and archery.
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers is expected later this year.
• Kingdom Hearts 385/2 Days, an exclusive version based on the PS2 original, is due for Wii on Sept. 29.
• Red Steel 2 will require the Wii Motion Plus accessory launching with Wii Sports Resort.

DS news:

• Nintendo DSi photos will be directly uploadable to Facebook starting this summer.
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! will be released as DSiWare next week.
• Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, due this fall, is an RPG-style game set inside Bowser's entrails. Fun!
• The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks got mentioned. They plugged the demo for showgoers; too bad they didn't release it for the rest of us to sample via Wii.
• Golden Sun DS, the first new game in the popular RPG series in six years, is due in 2010.
• Cop: The Recruit is a GTA-style racer/shooter where you play as a terrorist-hunting cop.
• Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion is a James Patterson interactive mystery targeted at older females.
• Style Savvy is a fashion boutique game aimed at tween and teen girls. The idea is you build a shop and then you can wirelessly connect to visit your friends' boutiques.

Microsoft turned some heads at E3 with some big Xbox 360 announcements, most notably a new camera-based control scheme, deep social media integration and some killer games including Halo: Reach, Left 4 Dead 2 and Metal Gear Solid: Rising. Here's a round-up of the news:

• Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm integration launches in the fall. Last.fm is free for Gold members, the rest should be free for all.
• A new 3D depth and motion-sensing camera/microphone peripheral dubbed Project Natal will include face and voice recognition. But will your kids be able to sign in as you by holding a photo in front of it?! Demos showed a full-body fighting game, racing with a virtual wheel and pit stops where another player can change your tires using pantomime - as well as non-gaming uses such as video chat.
• On demand games will launch in August. It's not known which titles will be released or how long it will take before A-list games will be made available, just that you won't need Microsoft points - a credit card will suffice.
• Netflix will be upgraded this fall to include Xbox Live Party (that launch feature that was delayed last minute) plus movie browsing and queue management directly from your console.
• Avatars will be getting new clothes, props and, finally, their own Marketplace where you can pay for a virtual wardrobe.

Game news:

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS (updated June 2 after post-E3 press conference videos and demos were added):

• WiiWare: Final Fantasy IV: The After Years ($8) and Texas Hold 'em Tournament ($5)
• Virtual Console: Boulder Dash for Commodore 64 ($5)
• DSiWare: Mighty Flip Champs! ($8)
• Rock Band 2 tracks from last week apparently did not get released. Assuming Harmonix catches up the backlog, here is what is on deck for this week ($2 each; due Tuesday, June 2 but may be delayed): "Move Along" by The All-American Rejects, "It Hurts" by Angels & Airwaves, "Hard to Handle" by The Black Crowes (cover), "Vengeance Is Mine," "Under My Wheels (Live)," "School's Out (Live)," "Poison," "I'm Eighteen (Live)" and "Billion Dollar Babies (Live)" by Alice Cooper, "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (cover), "Jukebox Hero" by Foreigner (cover), "Die Alright" by The Hives, "3s & 7s," "Little Sister" and "Sick Sick Sick" by Queens of the Stone Age, "Claudette," "In Dreams," "Mean Woman Blues," "Oh, Pretty Woman," "Ooby Dooby" and "You Got It" by Roy Orbison, "Liar," "MakeDamnSure" and "What's It Feel Like to Be a Ghost?" by Taking Back Sunday and "Song with a Mission" by The Sounds
• DS Demos (via Wii): Ant Nation and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, plus repeats including Miami Law Vol. 1 and Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4
• Game Videos: Bakugan Battle Brawlers, The Beatles: Rock Band, The Bigs 2, Bit.Trip Core, Boom Blox Bash Party, Classic Word Games, Cop: The Recruit, The Conduit, Cursed Mountain, Dead Space Extraction, EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis, Eduardo the Samurai Toaster, Endless Ocean 2, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, Fossil Fighters, Golden Sun DS, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits, Icarian: Kindred Spirits, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, Kingdom Hearts 385/2 Days, The Legendart Starfy, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, Mario & Sonic: Olympic Winter Games, Mega Man Star Force 3, Metroid: Other M, Mighty Flip Champs!, Mini Ninjas, Monado: Beginning of the World, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, My Healthy Cooking Coach, Need for Speed Nitro, The New Super Mario Bros. Wii, PictureBook Games: Pop-up Pursuit, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, Rabbids Go Home, Red Steel 2, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Sin and Punishment 2, Spore Hero, Style Savvy, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-up, Tiger Woods PGA Tour '10, Virtua Tennis 2009, Wii Fit Plus, Wii Sports Resort, Women's Murder Club, You, Me & the Cubes and DSiWare

Here's what is due for release for PC, portables and consoles this week:

• DS: Fashion Week: Junior Stylist, Knights in the Nightmare, Mighty Flip Champs! (DSiWare), Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 and Petz Fashion: Dogz & Catz
• iPhone: The Sims 3
• PC: Red Faction: Guerrilla, The Sims 3, Storm of War: Battle of Britain and Terminator: Salvation
• PS3: Fuel, Red Faction: Guerrilla and Wolfenstein 3D
• Wii: Boulder Dash (Virtual Console), Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (WiiWare) and Texas Hold 'em Tournament (WiiWare)
• Xbox 360: Fuel, Red Faction: Guerrilla and Wolfenstein 3D (Arcade)

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Please let us know...