• Arcade: Dead Rising 2: Case Zero ($5)
• Game Room ($3-5 each;  no new Game Pack download this week): A Game of Concentration, Boxing, Super Basketball and Super Breakout
• Bioshock 2 Minerva’s Den ($10)
• Crackdown 2 Toy Box Preview (free) and Premium Toy Box ($7)
• Split Second The Elite Vehicle Livery Pack and Ryback Cyclone Special Edition (free) and High Octane Supercar Vehicle Pack ($2) with 3 vehicles
• Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days The Doggie Bag ($7) with 3 maps and 5 weapons, Alliance Weapon Pack ($3) with 7 weapons and Multiplayer Mask Pack ($2) with 8 masks
• Ninety-Nine Night II Equipment Pack ($0.50)
• Guitar Hero 5 P.O.D. Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Boom," "Southtown" and "Youth of the Nation"
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Going Country Pack 04 ($15 or $2 each) with "What Was I Thinkin'" by Dierks Bentley, "Rebound" by Laura Bell Bundy, "Hell on the Heart" by Eric Church, "Women" by Jamey Johnson, "Lookin' For a Good Time" by Lady Antebellum, "Fancy" by Reba McEntire, "It Happens" by Sugarland, "Would You Go With Me" by Josh Turner and "Days Go By" by Keith Urban - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
• Rock Band Network tracks ($1-3; Rock Band 2 required to download and play) "Evil Inside Me" and "Lionheart" by Amberian Dawn, "Disco Rocket" by Scott Attrill, "Revolution" by Bang Camaro, "Time-bomb" by Buttercup, "White Table" by Delta Spirit, "Buy You A House" by Noah Engh The Kid Fantastic, "Head Up High" by Firewind, "Pale Sister of Light" by Free Spirit, "Welcome To My World" by Nerf Herder, "Return to Blood Beach" by The Riptides, "Cherry Red" by Sideburn and "Burn Her Out" by Shokkher
• Lips tracks ($2 each): None
• Games on Demand: Bully: Scholarship Edition ($20) and Cabela's Safari ($20)
• Demos: Vanquish plus all Xbox Live Arcade, Game Room, Indie games and Rock Band Network tracks
• Indie Games (usually $1-10 each): Avatar Orbitroid, Bloop!, Device Hero, Drag Impact, Fish Squid Time Machine, Inferno, Magnetic Wars, Ninja vs. Zombie, Snake Death, StormGate, Tap Training, Trapped and Treasure Treasure: FFEE
• Game Videos: Halo: Reach and Red Faction: Armageddon
• Themes: Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D (free) and Infiniti QX (free)
• Pictures: Walmart (free) and U.S. Air Force (free; registers you in sweepstakes)
• Avatar Items (usually priced $1-5 each): Rock Band 3

This week, we prepare you for Penny Arcade Expo 2010 in Seattle with our Busy Gamer Survival Guide, share highlights from our Xbox Live Community Playdate with Blur, discuss pricing news for Nintendo DSi and Xbox Live Gold, compare Toy Story Mania for Wii with the California Great Adventure ride of the same name and unleash 7-year-old Pikachu Fan on Toy Story 3 for DS.

Get all of that - plus game release news, DLC and giveaways - in less than 14 minutes!

Our goal is to provide a short summary (typically 10-15 minutes, longer when necessary) of news and helpful commentary every Sunday so that you'll have a great jumping off point for your busy gamer week. Here's what we pack into each episode:

• The week's game releases
• A quick look back at the previous week's releases, news and downloadable content highlights
• What we're playing/mini-reviews
• Giveaways
• Comment of the week

• Game: Blur for Xbox 360
• Date: Wednesday, Sept. 1
• Time: 9 p.m. Eastern / 6 p.m. Pacific
• Friend Gamewatcher and GrrlGotGame on Xbox Live and let us know that you'll be joining us so we can send you an invite!

We chose Blur because it's easy to pick up and a lot of fun. We can race with 10-20 people at a time in a group, and we have two consoles and copies of the game so we could break into two groups if needed for even more! Please let us know if you're going to attend so we can track who's coming and plan accordingly. Also, we'll need to send you an invite to join our private matches!

We play for fun, so don't think of this as a highly competitive thing. And the great thing about Blur is everyone can pick up powerups and blast fellow racers off the road. Even if you don't win the race, the battle to the finish is more than half the fun...

• Castle Crashers ($15)
• Sam And Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Episode 5 - The City That Dares Not Sleep ($20 for full season during sale)
• Bioshock 2 Minerva’s Den ($10)
• MAG extra character slots ($1/month each)
• ModNation Racers Lil’ Tinker Mod and Kart ($1.75 or $1 each)
• Split Second Elite Vehicle Livery Pack and Ryback Cyclone Special (free) and Elite High Octane Supercar Vehicle Pack ($2) with 3 vehicles
• Yakuza 3 Challenge Pack ($4)
• Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days The Doggie Bag ($6) with 3 maps and 5 weapons, Alliance Weapon Pack ($3) with 7 weapons and Multiplayer Mask Pack ($2) with 8 masks
• PS1 for PS3/PSP: Theme Hospital ($6)
• Guitar Hero 5 P.O.D. Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Boom," "Southtown" and "Youth of the Nation"
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Country Pack 04 ($15 or $2 each) with "What Was I Thinkin'" by Dierks Bentley, "Rebound" by Laura Bell Bundy, "Hell on the Heart" by Eric Church, "Women" by Jamey Johnson, "Lookin' For a Good Time" by Lady Antebellum, "Fancy" by Reba McEntire, "It Happens" by Sugarland, "Would You Go With Me" by Josh Turner and "Days Go By" by Keith Urban and Rock Band Network tracks ($1-2 each) "Bang Camaro" by Bang Camaro, "Where Were You" by Every Avenue, "Hard To See" by Five Finger Death Punch, "Do Not Disturb (Tell Me How Bad)" by Let’s Get It and "Seven" by Sunny Day Real Estate - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
• Demos: Castle Crashers, R.U.S.E. and Vanquish
• Game Videos: Bioshock 2 Protector Trials, Brink, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, Lara Croft And The Guardian Of Light, Lord of Arcana, Mafia II, Neverdead, Sam And Max: The Devil’s Playhouse and Thor
• Themes: NCAA Dynamic ($3 each), PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap (free), Young Thor (free), Dr. Butcher ($2) and Romantic Petals ($1)
• Wallpaper: PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap and Shank
• Avatars: Mega Man 10 ($0.50 each), Savage Moon ($1.25 for 4-pack, or $0.50 each) Super Street Fighter IV ($0.50 each) and Top Gun ($0.50)
• PSP: Coconut Dodge ($4) and Valkyria Chronicles 2 ($40) plus LittleBigPlanet PSP King Arthur Pack ($3 or get one free)
• PSP Game Videos: Ys: Seven
• PSP Themes: Young Thor (free)

First Nintendo revealed it's cutting the price of the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL by $20 on Sunday, Sept. 12. Kind of a dumb move, actually - sales will plummet for the next two weeks!

The new Nintendo portable lineup is:

• Nintendo DSi XL: $170
• Nintendo DSi: $150
• Nintendo DS Lite: $130 (no change)

Speculation is that this sets the stage for the Nintendo 3DS to come in around the $200 mark when it launches sometime between now and March 2011.

Then Microsoft threw a mad lob to Sony (which still offers free online multiplayer and the similarly-priced PlayStation Plus pay-for-perks service) by raising the rate on Xbox Live Gold subscriptions by $10/year. Annual subscriptions jump to $60 November 1, or you could pay $10/month ($120/year) or $25/quarter ($100/year).

Of course, you can find $40 subscriptions now and they can be stacked, so it's up to you whether you want to pony up $80 now or take your chances later. It would have taken the sting out if Microsoft had announced a net new feature (and not just the already announced ESPN, Video Kinect and benefits we've had for some time now) or at least the return of recently cancelled Gold member benefit, 1 vs. 100...

• WiiWare: Tales of Elastic Boy – Mission 1 ($6)
• Virtual Console: None
• DSiWare: Cosmos X2 ($5), Music on: Learning Piano ($2) and myNotebook: Pearl ($5)
• Rock Band 2 tracks ($2 each; due Tuesday, August 31) "What Was I Thinkin'" by Dierks Bentley, "Rebound" by Laura Bell Bundy, "Hell on the Heart" by Eric Church, "Women" by Jamey Johnson, "Lookin' For a Good Time" by Lady Antebellum, "Fancy" by Reba McEntire, "It Happens" by Sugarland, "Would You Go With Me" by Josh Turner and "Days Go By" by Keith Urban - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
• DS Demos (via Wii's Nintendo Channel): All repeats including Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, America's Test Kitchen: Let's Get Cooking, Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Battle of Giants: Mutant Insects, Brain Age, Brain Age 2, Crosswords DS, Deca Sports DS, Dragon Ball: Origins 2, Flash Focus, Fossil Fighters, Ivy the Kiwi?, Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir, Personal Trainer: Math, Picross 3D, Rhythm Heaven, Rooms DS and Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion
• Game Videos: Cosmos X2, Metroid: Other M, Music on: Learning Piano, myNotebook: Pearl, NHL Slapshot, Paintball 2, Rock Band 3 and Tales of Elastic Boy – Mission 1

• DS: Camp Rock Final Jam, Cosmos X2 (DSiWare), Gummy Bears Mini Golf, Music on: Learning Piano (DSiWare), myNotebook: Pearl (DSiWare) and River City Sports Challenge
• iPhone/iPad: Final Freeway
• Mac: IGT Slots: Wolf Run
• Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill Remastered
• PC: Bubble Burst Remix, Ghost Pirate of Vooju Island, IGT Slots: Wolf Run, The Lost Inca Prophecy, Mysteries & Treasures: Adventures of the Mary Celeste, Mystery of the Crystal Portal: Beyond the Horizon, Prison Tycoon: Alcatraz, Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter and Women's Murder Club: Twice in a Blue Moon
• PS3: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Ultimate Edition, Castle Crashers (PlayStation Store) and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Episode 5 - The City That Dares Not Sleep (PlayStation Store)
• PS2: None
• PSP: Ace Combat: Joint Assault and Valkyria Chronicles 2
• Wii: Brunswick Zone Cosmic Bowling, Guilty Party, Gummy Bears Mini Golf, Metroid: Other M and Tales of Elastic Boy – Mission 1 (WiiWare)
• Xbox 360: A Game of Concentration (Game Room), Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Ultimate Edition, Boxing (Game Room), Dead Rising 2: Case Zero (Arcade), Super Basketball (Game Room) and Super Breakout (Game Room)

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Anything slip (as these almost inevitably do)? Please let us know...

Seriously, we've been at this rodeo six times before, plus we live in Seattle. So trust us when we say... no one can give you all the info you need. But we can give you enough to help you make the most of your opportunities.

But first you have some decisions to make.

Start a mission

To enter PAX, you must possess a pass or ticket. Alas, if you waited this long, you're pretty much out of luck since all badges are SOLD OUT. Bookmark PAXSITE.com and try again next year at PAX East in Boston in the spring or PAX Prime in Seattle next fall. (You might get lucky winning a badge on Twitter but the odds are against you.)

• If you pre-ordered a 3-day pass, it should have arrived in the mail by now. (If you haven't received it, contact pax_questions@paxsite.com.) Report to the mission start point (Washington State Convention & Trade Center or the main theater at Benaroya Hall) on Sept. 3 with your badge.
• If you will be picking up your badge, report to mission start point Sheraton Hotel first to pick up your badge. (This is different from previous years! It is NOT the Hyatt as we previously posted.) Badges will be available starting at noon Thursday. Go early to beat the inevitable rush for a first-day mana boost!

Peruse the schedule and decide which quest lines interest you. There are core gamer, casual gamer, MMO gamer, tabletop gamer, game industry wannabe and geek culture quest lines. In addition, some players simply pack up their gaming PCs and spend the whole event leveling up on "Multiplayer LAN Party." The choice is yours, though it is a good idea to enter with a game plan.

Choose an alignment

PAX 2007: Wil Wheaton says,
'Don't be a dick!'

PAX is a real-time, real-world, free-will game that permits you to choose either a positive or negative alignment. Like other alignment-based games, choosing the negative alignment ("Dick") may result in visible physical changes (Quest lines: "Black Eye," "Bruises," "Broken Bones") that will remain with you for the entire game. It is also more likely to result in early resolution of the main quest (Quest line: "Thrown Out of PAX by a Burly Yet Amicable Enforcer.")

If you are determined to enhance your negative alignment, select the "Grab a Strange Woman's Ass" quest line. Yes, this actually happens but will most likely result in immediate facial enhancement (Quest line: "Boyfriend Beat Down") and abruptly end your main quest.

PAX 2008: Girls at PAX - look but don't touch!

Selecting a positive alignment offers the opportunity to acquire loot ("SWAG"), expand your guild, get invited to parties and generally enhance your overall PAX experience.
As legendary guest speaker and leveled-up PAX attendee Wil Wheaton says, "Don't be a dick." (If you don't know who Wil is, then your first quest line has already begun!. Also look up founders Jerry Holkins (aka Tycho) and Mike Krahulik (Gabe) plus bonus points for knowing musicians Jonathan Coulton and MC Frontalot - you will hear their names A LOT at PAX.

Tips for enhancing your positive alignment:

• Respect the lines: Yes, you've been waiting forever. So have we.
• If someone asks you to save their place, do so. Eventually, you will need to pee, too.
• If you want to take someone's pic (say, a bodacious cosplayer), ask – she'll probably turn around and smile and everything!
• Don't be a SWAG hog. Or if you must, wait until late on Sunday. Vendors would rather give you multiple key chains and posters than schlep them home.
• Turn your cell phone ringer off. We really don't care which song you chose just for your mom. (If you fail to do this, why not try one of our fun Busy Gamer Podcast ringtones - at least you'll be distinctive!)
• Bathe. Daily. With soap.

Manage your inventory
Inventory bags will be available during the side quest "Exhibition Hall" (see "Select a quest line" below), but we recommend bringing your own inventory bag to the main quest - ideally one that is large and heavily reinforced. Backpacks are popular. The following items should be in your inventory slots before beginning a quest:

• (I'm just sayin') Purell. Last year, we geeks at PAX were introduced to infectious diseases, namely the H1N1 virus (aka "swine flu"). Bring a bottle of hand sanitizer and use it before and after every gaming session that requires you to touch something or someone - basically, everything except for Kinect games! If someone you meet doesn't want to shake hands with you, they're not being rude - just prudent. Perhaps now would be a good time to devise your own cunning salute!
• Map. You will be provided with a mission map (aka program/schedule) at the beginning of the main quest. Retain this in your inventory at all times. If you want to be ahead of the curve, download and print the map now. Some venues have been added, notably the Main Theater is now Benaroya Hall for keynotes and other big sessions and the Pegasus Theater is at the Sheraton.
• Nintendo DS, PSP, iPhone or other portable gaming device. Because you'll be standing in line. A lot. And you might find a buddy to play an ad hoc multiplayer game with. Side note: If you have an iPhone, don't count on AT&T 3G. In fact, you may want to set it to airplane mode so your battery isn't sucked down in the first hour. Make sure to bring charging cables and backup batteries. There are places you can plug in to restore your juice.
• Bottled water and snacks. Buy ahead of time and bring them with you, either at a local store or Starbucks. It will still cost less than at the Convention Center.
• Cash. Yes, many merchants will accept your credit. Some will not. To avoid the side mission "ATM hunt," bring sufficient gold with you to cover incidentals and acquisitions. You will want to buy stuff, so set a budget and expect to bust it.
• Camera. Photo ops abound. People in outlandish costumes, Internet celebrities, games that haven't been released yet, items you can't afford to buy but want to remember longingly.
• Cell phone. If you have texting (more reliable than Twitter or any other 3G-dependent app if you have AT&T service), use it to communicate with friends. You won't be able to hear them on the floor, and you will have your quest ended if you take a call during a session. If you don't text, you can try to use Facebook, Twitter or phone messages to communicate - word is that only AT&T's 3G network is traditionally taken down, so if you have another service provider you may be OK. Also, you will rarely be able to hear your phone during side quest "Exhibition Hall."
• Costumes (optional). While PAX isn't all about the cosplay, there is a lot of it about and you're welcome to join in the fun! GrrlGotGame is attending in costume for the first time this year. If this topic interests you, you may want to take this side quest for some tips and techniques: Operation Little Sister. You can also find the Operation Little Sister audio diaries in our Best of Busy Gamer Podcast.

Select a quest line

PAX 2008: Make a beeline for Rock Band!

PAX offers a variety of quest lines to meet every interest and need. Experienced players know that planning what you want to see and do is just the beginning. There are several factors to consider, including locations, timing and event popularity. Some events will require long wait times: Evaluate your situation on an ongoing basis, and adjust accordingly. A willingness to adapt and, in some cases, abandon a quest line will help you reduce frustration and increase satisfaction with your overall main quest progress.

Tips for new players:

• Review the panel descriptions online well in advance. Choose your must-sees and make a note of where and when they are scheduled. You may have to leave one quest (session) early to make it to another one on time!
• Certain quests are guaranteed to fill up. So if you wish to add the keynote, Penny Arcade, Wil Wheaton, Rooster Teeth (Red vs. Blue) or major developer sessions such as Bungie or Harmonix to your quest line, arrive early and get in line. This is no longer a small event where admittance to anything you might want to do is even remotely guaranteed. You will have to make sacrifices, so prioritize your quests before you arrive!
• The early bird gets the concert bracelet. To unlock the concert mission, you must first complete the "Acquire a Wristband" quest. This closes immediately upon distribution of all bracelets. Arrive at the designated map point as soon as the mission becomes available (before the day's events begin) for your best chance to complete this popular mission. If you miss out, show up anyway - usually some people with wristbands exhaust their health points and must regenerate them offsite, leaving openings for walk-ins.
• Save a couple of hours to complete side quest "Exhibition Hall." Part sales floor, part game demo, all fun. Lots to see and buy ranging from developers you've never heard of to the Big Three – many of whom will let you play a game if you're willing to wait. This is also where you'll find the most loot. As a bonus, old school games can be found in remote corners by players willing to explore.

NEWBIE TIP: Feeling overwhelmed? Pick 3 things that you really want to do that aren't too close together on the schedule. You'll probably get to more, but you'll have both achievable objectives and free roam time. Don't worry, you'll have fun!

PRO TIP: Want to play Rock Band 3, which we've been assured will appear at this year's show? Head straight to the Exhibition Hall when it opens and make a beeline for the booth. Lines at the Harmonix booth are always long!

Attend with a guild

PAX is a social game offering the chance for brief interactions ("Chatting in Line"), party quests ("Meeting up with Friends") and Escort missions ("Insert Own Joke Here"). Attending PAX with one or more members of your guild will enable you to cover more ground and potentially see or at least hear about more sessions. Keep in mind that there is a fine line between clever and obnoxious. To avoid accruing negative alignment points, follow these guidelines during guild quests:

• Don't wait until the last second to join your guild mates. It is acceptable to send a scout ahead of time to get in line – just don't wait until session time to appear. It artificially inflates the line and aggravates those who have been waiting longer.
• When the session leader says the doors are closed, release any saved seats. This can, and will, happen. When you hear that no one else is getting in, assume your friend missed out – and move your inventory bag. (Also, see previous bullet.)
• Don't assume your cell phone will work. You won't be able to hear it ringing on the show floor, and forget about hearing anyone trying to talk to you. Use text-based messages and clearly state when/where/how you will attempt to communicate again. Again, avoid 3G if you use AT&T. (Yeah, we hate them - especially at PAX - but love our iPhones.) PRO TIP: Set a time/location to meet up and check in so you don't have to depend on technology.
• Want to know what people are buzzing about during the show? If you can get to the Internet, point your favorite Twitter client at #PAXPRime. Share your own tips and useful observations there as well! Also, be sure to follow PAX LINES and official_PAX just in case you can access Twitter during the show (or at least when walking between venues and other excursions to regenerate health).

PRO TIP: If you are a single player, you may wish to add a new member to your party during PAX. To increase the odds of a successful speech challenge with another player, we recommend completing the side mission "Shower" on a daily basis.

Regenerate health

PAX 2008: Cosplay is encouraged,
but know when to take a break!"

There are a handful of health stations located throughout the main PAX map. Choices include "Taco Del Mar," "Subway," "Tully's" and "generic exhibition hall pizza" map points. Creative players may select the add-on maps that open up new areas including "Pacific Place," "Westlake Center," "Pike Place Market," "Starbucks," "Ruth's Chris Steak House" and other nearby health restoration points.
Cheat codes are available to help unlock map locations quickly and easily. We recommend:

• Urbanspoon for dining recommendations; available as an iPhone app.
• Open Table to make reservations at some of the classier joints; iPhone app also available.

PRO TIP: The Seattle Monorail picks up at "Westlake Center," a few blocks from the main quest area. You can take the Monorail to "Seattle Center," which opens up both a variety of new restaurant map and tourism opportunities: Fast food available in the Seattle Center or, really getting off the main quest line, look up "Belltown" in Urbanspoon. As a bonus, the Monorail ride also opens up an optional and wholly geek-worthy side quest, "EMP/SFM."

Save your game

Complete the main quest

You may choose to end the main quest line at any time. Keep in mind that the game itself expires at approximately 5 p.m. Sunday, when the final session is scheduled to end. The Exhibition Hall quest is likely to end earlier, so get in last minute shopping and looting earlier in the afternoon.

We hope you have found this guide both entertaining and enlightening. There is much to see and do, and no doubt you will find a quest that was not touched upon here. Good luck, have fun and last but not least, don't be a dick.

See you at PAX! We're planning a tweetup and have some cool prizes to giveaway, so follow us if you want to say "Hi" and maybe grab a pin, shirt or maybe even a game!

--GrrlGotGame and Gamewatcher

• Arcade: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World ($10) and Shank ($15), plus Snoopy Flying Ace Suppertime of Destruction Pack ($5)
• Game Room ($3-5 each; requires Game Pack 009): City Bomber, Checkers, Pinball and Tennis
• Clash of the Titans Apollo's Challenge Quest Pack ($2)
• Guitar Hero 5 Megadeth Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Hanger 18," "Peace Sells" and "Symphony of Destruction"
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Disturbed Pack 03 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "The Animal," "Another Way to Die" and "Asylum" and Universal Motown Pack 01 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Mountain Man" by Crash Kings, "Seasons" by The Veer Union and "Bury Me Alive" by We Are The Fallen - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
• Rock Band Network tracks ($1-3; Rock Band 2 required to download and play) "Kokko - Eagle of Fire" by Amberian Dawn, "Hell's Sweet Hands" by Ashland Court, "(Random Song)" by Bluefusion, "The Ending Is Death" by Boney Mean, "XIV" by Chaotrope, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" by Christmas at the Devil's House, "Forgotten Tragedy" by Cold Steel, "Pawns" by Dead By Wednesday, "Devoid of Thought" and "Time No Mor" by Evile, "Fence Jumper" by The Fire Violets, "Your Petty Pretty Things" by The Get Up Kids, "Broke Down on the Brazos" by Gov't Mule, "Honest Man" by The Gracious Few, "You Ain't No Family" by I Wrestled a Bear Once, "I Cut Off My Arms" by J.A.C.K., "Damn Good Man" by Moses Tucker, "Flesh Pull" by Mystic Syntax, "Mr. Spock" by Nerf Herder, "Mine The Pose" by Red Jacket, "Echo (My Only Regret)" by SexTon, "I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT !!!1" by James Silva, "Money Honey" by State of Shock, "Song About an Angel" by Sunny Day Real Estate, "Floating Vibes" and "Swim" by Surfer Blood, "Uncivilized" by Texas in July, "Living in a Whirlwind" by Warbringer, "Howling at Summer" by You Me and Iowa and "Spring" by Your Heart
• Lips Huey Lewis & The News Vol. 1 & 2 song packs ($5.50 per pack or $2 each) with "Workin' For A Livin'," "Hip To Be Square," "If This Is It," "The Heart Of Rock & Roll," "Do You Believe In Love" and "Stuck With You" and tracks ($2 each) "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal and "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips
• Games on Demand: None
• Demos: Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 plus all Xbox Live Arcade, Game Room, Indie games and Rock Band Network tracks
• Indie Games (usually $1-10 each): Adventures of Captain Becky, Amazing Facts, Astro Taxi 2, Avatar Grand Prix, Avatar Man, Avatar Slam Dunk, Baby Soothing Machine, Balloon Boy, Bigger and/or Better, Blaster and Morion ブラスターアンドモリオン, Castle Ninja, Codex, The Endless Abyss, Extreme Ball, Fork Lift, G!, Got Balls?, Gravitron360, Hideout!, Jump 'n Bounce, Kalm, Little Green Men, Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess, Perplaxis, Run Rectangle! Jump! Shoot!, Sidewalk Sally, Spatial Rift, Stick Massage, Subliminal Suggestions, Super Tricky, Sword of Rapier -ソード オブ レイピア-, When Zombies Meet Avatars, The Zombie Shotgun Massacre and ちえりのドキ★ドキ湯煙ぶらり旅 ("Doki Doki collar trip strolling")
• Game Videos: Brink, Fable III, Halo: Reach and Red Dead Redemption Legends and Killers Pack
• Themes: None
• Pictures: Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D (free; some enter you in sweepstakes)
• Avatar Items (usually priced $1-5 each): University Collection

• Shank ($15)
• MotorStorm 3D Rift ($10)
• PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap ($7, or free for existing PixelJunk Racers owners)
• Press Your Luck ($10)
• Mafia II The Betrayal Of Jimmy ($10)
• Clash of the Titans Apollo's Challenge Quest Pack ($2)
• PlayStation Protection Plan ($45-60) extends PS3 warranty 1-2 years
• Guitar Hero 5 Megadeth Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Hanger 18," "Peace Sells" and "Symphony of Destruction"
• Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Disturbed Pack 03 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "The Animal," "Another Way to Die" and "Asylum," Universal Motown Pack 01 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Mountain Man" by Crash Kings, "Seasons" by The Veer Union and "Bury Me Alive" by We Are The Fallen and Rock Band Network tracks ($1-3 each) "The Price" by Dappled Cities, "Buster Voodoo" by Rodrigo y Gabriela, "The Ultimate Showdown (RBN Mix)" by Lemon Demon, "The Great Plains" by Scale the Summit and "Whatever Happened to You" by Cate Sparks - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
• Demos: MAG beta, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 and Shank
• Game Videos: Brink, Enslaved: Odyssey To The West, Homefront, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, LittleBigPlanet 2, Press Your Luck and Shank
• Themes: Toy Story 3 ($1.50), Bees in Bloom ($1), Coruscant ($1.50), Draco ($1.50), Dynamic Smoke ($3), Industrial Revolution Dynamic ($3), M249 Saw ($2) and Sorority Island Girls Dynamic ($3)
• PSP: Arcade Air Hockey & Bowling ($4) and Zuma ($10)
• PSP Themes: Toy Story 3 ($1.50), Abstract ($1.50), Coruscant ($1.50), Draco ($1.50) and M249 Saw ($1.50 each)
• PlayStation Home Items (usually priced $0.50-7.50 each): Scott Pilgrim, Star Wars, Sodium Starter Pack, AlphabeTees, Superheros and Supervillains
• PlayStation Plus Exclusives ($50/year, $18/3 months):
  • Freebies: 2Xtreme, Mushroom Wars, Vempires and TerRover demo
  • Discounts: 2-year PS3 PlayStation Protection Plan ($15 off), Let's Golf ($4 off), Soldner-X2: Final Prototype ($4 off) and Soldner-X2 bundle ($7 off)

• WiiWare: And Yet It Moves ($10)
• Virtual Console: Ufouria: The Saga for NES ($6)
• DSiWare: Absolute Reversi ($2), My Farm ($2), Ninja Karakuri Den ($2) and Rytmik ($8)
• Rock Band 2 tracks ($2 each) "The Animal," "Another Way to Die" and "Asylum" by Disturbed, "Mountain Man" by Crash Kings, "Seasons" by The Veer Union and "Bury Me Alive" by We Are the Fallen - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
• DS Demos (via Wii's Nintendo Channel): All repeats including Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, America's Test Kitchen: Let's Get Cooking, Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Battle of Giants: Mutant Insects, Brain Age, Brain Age 2, Crosswords DS, Deca Sports DS, Dragon Ball: Origins 2, Flash Focus, Fossil Fighters, Ivy the Kiwi?, Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir, Personal Trainer: Math, Picross 3D, Rhythm Heaven, Rooms DS and Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion
• Game Videos: And Yet It Moves

• DS: Absolute Reversi (DSiWare), Grease, Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar, Ivy the Kiwi?, My Farm (DSiWare), Ninja Karakuri Den (DSiWare) and Rytmik (DSiWare)
• iPhone/iPad: Archetype HD, Bumps, Cave Run, Dead Runner, Dodonpachi Resurrection, Epic Win, Escape from Nom, Guns 'n' Glory, Jaws, Karate Champ XL, Knights Rush, MapleStory Thief Edition, Monorace, Monster Dash, NHL 2K11, No, Human, Phantasy Star II, Puzzle Cosmos, R-Type, A Skeleton Story, Super Mega Worm, Zombie Escape and Zombie Highway
• Mac: Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill Remastered
• PC: Elemental: War of Magic, Mafia II, Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill Remastered, Reel Deal Casino: Valley of the Kings and Reel Deal Slots: Mysteries of Cleopatra
• PS3: Mafia II, MotorStorm 3D Rift (PlayStation Store), PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap (PlayStation Store), Press Your Luck (PlayStation Store) and Shank (PlayStation Store)
• PS2: None
• PSP: None
• Wii: And Yet It Moves (WiiWare), Arcade Hits Pack (with Gunblade N.Y.: Special Air Assault Force and L.A Machineguns: Rage of the Machines), Grease, Ivy the Kiwi?, Martian Panic, NHL 2K11 and Ufouria: The Saga (Virtual Console)
• Xbox 360: City Bomber (Game Room), Checkers (Game Room), Mafia II, Pinball (Game Room), Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Arcade), Shank (Arcade) and Tennis (Game Room)

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Anything slip (as these almost inevitably do)? Please let us know...

After 45 consecutive weeks of podcasting, we're taking the next week off for a little downtime. (That also means little to no news or site updates!) But this epic episode and the extended version of Operation Little Sister Part 2 ought to keep you sated until we return for our PAX Prime Preview in early September.

This week, enjoy highlights from Operation Little Sister Part 2 - a shortened version of the audio diaries GrrlGotGame and I recorded as she completed her adventure in BioShock cosplay for PAX.

We also discuss Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Love Battle Princess, song lists for videogames (including Harmonix' little viral stunt reveal of the full Rock Band 3 tracks) and our upcoming Community Playdate to play Blur on Xbox Live. Oh, and Pikachu Fan sings his new favorite song from Lego Rock Band for you!

Get all of that - plus game release news, DLC and giveaways - in less than 24 minutes!

Our goal is to provide a short summary (typically 10-15 minutes, longer when necessary) of news and helpful commentary every Sunday so that you'll have a great jumping off point for your busy gamer week. Here's what we pack into each episode:

• The week's game releases
• A quick look back at the previous week's releases, news and downloadable content highlights
• What we're playing/mini-reviews
• Giveaways
• Comment of the week