According to the official StarCraft 2 blog, patch 1.01 has been released.  Here are the details on what they fixed:

Our first patch for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is now live. This small patch addresses a few technical issues and makes some server-side optimizations; however, there are a couple of changes worth mentioning which are detailed in the official patch notes below.

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty -- Patch 1.0.1

To get the latest news and interact with the community, visit our StarCraft II website. Be sure to check out our Game Guide for an in-depth look at StarCraft II gameplay. We wish you all the best on your journeys through the embattled Koprulu Sector!

Bug Fixes


*     Campaign saves have been optimized.

*     Fixed an issue with sound not playing on some 7.1 systems.

Is it just me, or are hunting games becoming more popular or something?  Here is the press release and screenshots at the bottom.  I swear...it looks like you hunt werewolves in one of these screenshots.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – JULY 30, 2010 —Suspense and intense first-person action reign in Activision Publishing’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011, the first game to utilize the all new TOP SHOT ELITE hunting controller. Coming late fall for Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment system, Wii^TM and Nintendo DS^TM, the game unfolds a story of drama and survival as players face kill-or-be-killed scenarios deep in the wild. All of the console versions are available with the TOP SHOT ELITE, the first-of-its-kind wireless controller that allows players to take aim against the world’s deadliest predators.

Developed by the team at Activision that created the guitar controllers for the Guitar Hero franchise, the groundbreaking TOP SHOT ELITE will redefine how first-person action games are played. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system versions operate with 2.4GHz wireless technology and include a sensor bar and high-sensitivity camera, while the Wii version integrates the Wii Remote^TM and Nunchuk^TM. The scope includes a red lens filter that gives players a different perspective on the environment, exposing hidden animal tracks and blood trails. The TOP SHOT ELITE also features pump-action reload and an adjustable stock to fit gamers of all sizes.

An extremely high level of production value and attention to detail has been injected into the Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 story and gameplay. Scripted by renowned scriptwriter and creative director Brad Santos, the game tells the story of Cole Rainsford, who has joined his estranged father on an African safari to hunt savage animals that have been terrorizing remote villages. Soon finding themselves stranded, their survival depends on cunning instinct and expert skill to make it out alive. The game also includes next-generation shooting galleries featuring hot-seat, multi-stage and head-to-head multiplayer options – perfect for playing with the TOP SHOT ELITE.

“Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 is the complete entertainment package – no one is offering gameplay this intense and a controller this amazing,” said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. “The TOP SHOT ELITE is so captivating that I believe hordes of first-person action fans will snap up the game just to get it.”

“Activision went above and beyond to create an extraordinary gaming experience,” Bryan Stave of Cabela's. “Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 is the most thrilling game we’ve ever worked on together.”

Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 is slated for a late fall 2010 release. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB.

A couple of weeks ago, we reported on the opening of closed beta applications for Ministry of War, the latest title from Snail Games.

I spoke with Mark Hill, PR Manager for Snail Games this week, and he advises that the closed beta continues on, and that Snail Games is still accepting applications for beta-testers for this limited opportunity closed beta. You can sign up by going to http://ministryofwar.com/beta_reg.php.

Ministry of War is an entirely web-based real-time strategy MMOG where players will take on the role of ruler of a mightly kingdom, battling local, regional and world powers on a grand scale. Build your armies and empire, engage in combat against and ally with other players. We have attached some screenshots to wet your wistle.

Stay tuned right here for more information on this exciting title.

I really wish we could see screenshots that would represent how the game actually looks in 3D, but at least these screenshots give us a sense of what the 3DS can handle graphically.

Intellivision was the first gaming console I had...hopefully these games play well.

Los Angeles - (July 30, 2010)-Virtual Play Games, a global Console and PC video game publisher announced today the release of one of the most recognizable classic games in video game history by bringing Intellivision Lives! to the Nintendo DS^TM family of hand-held systems.

"Virtual Play Games is very excited to bring Intellivision Lives! to a broader audience at a time when both adults and kids are enjoying casual games even more than ever", said Virginie Grange, Business Development for Virtual Play Games.

"2010 being the 30th anniversary of the Intellivision console, I'm looking forward to seeing how many new fans will discover Intellivision thanks to this DS version. The Nintendo DS is the perfect platform for the classic Intellivision games", said Keith Robinson, Owner of Intellivision Productions.

Intellivision Lives! includes over 60 different games including, Astrosmash, B-17 Bomber, Shark! Shark!, Motocross, Space Cadet, Thin Ice and many more classics, giving players countless hours of enjoyable play. The iconic space ships, robots, sharks, etc. makes it fun for both kids and parents. For the nostalgic players, they will recognize the 12 button key-pad displayed on the screen that made it so easy to play. The game also features games not released at the time of its original launch as well as Head-to-Head local wireless game play.

A preview of the game will be available at the Classic Gaming Expo taking place in Las Vegas on July 31-August 1st, 2010

Intellivision Lives! will be available at retail in September of 2010.

If you were planning on getting RHEM 4: The Golden Fragments digitally, you'll be happy to know that the game is being released today...earlier than expected.

Brighton, UK - Brighton based publishers Lace Mamba Global today announce their upcoming adventure RHEM 4: The Golden Fragments will be released today via all major digital networks.

RHEM 4 reveals another yet unknown part of the mysterious island of RHEM. The story continues where "RHEM 3: The Secret Library" ended, but the game can also be played independently of the RHEM Trilogy. The player unlocks the gateway to a previously unexplored part of the island as the new adventure begins. Once again a sense of adventure, logic, assertiveness and the ability to solve problems will help the player to slowly but surely unveil the mystery of this new adventure.

RHEM 4 picks up where the third game left off, but unlike its predecessors, this time there's hope of an actual escape. Kales has discovered a transport system that could ultimately lead off the island, but players must first collect several parts of the key to access it. So once more it's time to "explore this huge, fantastic world full of strange vehicles and buildings, unknown mechanisms and machines, secret passages and doorways, though players will this time meet new characters, who can help them solve some of the mysteries they will face."

I don't know much about DJ Tiesto, but he did a wonderful remix of He's a Pirate from Pirates of the Carribbean.  Here's the press release about him coming to DJ Hero 2.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 30, 2010 - When the party starts this October, virtual DJ's and MC's throughout the universe will fire up two turntable controllers and a microphone and mix it up with Tiesto - one of electronic music's defining artists, DJ's and producers - in DJ Hero^® 2, Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today revealed. Having worked with the likes of Muse, Justin Timberlake, Jonsi from Sigur Ros, Flo Rida, Sean Kingston and Three 6 Mafia, performed for billions of fans at the opening ceremonies of the Athens Olympics and headlined the Coachella and Bonnaroo music festivals among others, Tiesto has earned his status as the world's hottest DJ. The GRAMMY^® Nominee will be spinning for a new audience as he takes to the virtual ones and twos, delivering a pair of pulse-pounding exclusive mixes and joining the ever-growing roster of playable characters, including Deadmau5, David Guetta, DJ Qbert and others.

"DJ Hero 2 is all about bringing people of different backgrounds, ages and music tastes together to have some fun DJ'ing their favorite music. The way the music comes together is fresh and unique and as a DJ, I couldn't ask for more than that," said Tiesto. "I am excited to be involved with this medium and to be contributing to a great game with an amazing soundtrack."

"From touring the globe and working with some of the world's most visionary artists across five hit albums, to performing at the biggest clubs and the hottest festivals, Tiesto is one of the biggest DJ's in the world," said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs, Activision. "We've assembled a cast of the biggest and best DJ's and having Tiesto bring his unique style adds incredible flavor to the best soundtrack in entertainment."

The ultimate mixer of music and friends, DJ Hero 2 will deliver the definitive way for players to come together and party with a host of new multiplayer modes - including DJ Battles that pit DJ against DJ in mixes produced specifically for battle gameplay - and invite vocalists into the spotlight with integrated on-screen singing and rapping of lyrics and rhymes while bringing the party to life with jump-in/jump-out Party Play gameplay. Featuring the biggest dance, pop and hip-hop hits by the hottest artists everyone knows and loves remixed by world-class DJ's in an all-new way, the game's soundtrack delivers over 80 unique creations only available in DJ Hero 2. Further immersing players into the music, the game offers a heightened level of creative input and allows everyone to add their own touch, directly impacting the beats they're spinning with freestyle scratching, crossfading and sampling. The game will also feature an all-new career-based Empire Mode where players start out as an up-and-coming DJ on the road to becoming the head of a major entertainment empire, all of which is founded solely on their success as a DJ.

Dropping this fall, DJ Hero 2 will invite a wave of new digital disc jockeys to the turntables as the game will be available as a Party Bundle which will include a copy of the game, two turntable controllers and a microphone, offering the ultimate "party-in-a-box." Gamers who experienced the #1 new videogame intellectual property of 2009 can pick up DJ Hero 2 as a Turntable Bundle featuring one turntable controller and a copy of the game or as standalone software. The game is in development by FreeStyleGames for the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION^®3 and the Wii^TM system from Nintendo. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about DJ Hero 2, please visit www.djhero.com, www.facebook.com/djhero and www.twitter.com/djhero.

Looks like Richard Garriott now has more money to spend on another mission to space.  According to TheStatesman, he won his $28 Million in his lawsuit against NCsoft.

A federal court jury on Thursday awarded $28 million to Austin computer game pioneer Richard Garriott in his lawsuit against NCsoft Corp. , his former employer.

Garriott, the flamboyant game developer known to fans as Lord British, had sued NCsoft for the way it handled his departure from the company in 2008. Garriott claimed he was fired, but NCsoft said he left voluntarily shortly after he completed a ride into space and a stay at the International Space Station that cost him $20 million.

NCsoft's action, Garriott claimed, cost him millions of dollars because he was forced to quickly sell his options for more than 400,000 shares of the company's stock while the stock market was severely depressed. Under Garriott's agreement with NCsoft, he would have had up to 10 years to exercise the options if he were to be fired.

The amount of hours I spent playing Worms on my PC back in the day was sickening.  Can't wait for this!  Here is the announcement press release and some screenshots at the bottom.

From humble beginnings, the original Worms™ titles took PC gaming to new levels of popularity and mass appeal. Selling in excess of 25 million copies over its 15 year lifespan, Worms™ has taken its wholly unique brand of addictive gameplay, hilarious humour and wild weaponry across almost every console possible, and on Thursday 26th August 2010 it will be returning to the format that made it most successful; the personal computer.  

“Worms Reloaded has been a labour of love for the team given the legacy of 2D PC Worms™ titles such as Worms 2, Worms Armageddon etc. It has been almost 10 years since the last 2D game was released on personal computers”, said Martyn Brown, iconic figure in the world of Worms™ and Business Development Director at Team17.  “In bringing Worms Reloaded to PC, we’ve  reintroduced so much of what gamers loved about the good old days, and it’s fitting that it is also the first Worms game we’ve self-published since the early games. We are very much looking forward to supporting the game through the community on Steam as well as our own Facebook page.”

Indeed, while the most celebrated features of the series are present and correct, Worms™ Reloaded also sports a large amount of new additions to almost every facet of the gameplay experience. Over 60 single-player missions (including new Warzone Campaign and Bodycount Mode), a fully featured landscape creator, 45+ plus weapons spanning the entire Worms™ series and a huge currency based customization system - all wrapped up in HD quality visuals - means that Worms™ Reloaded will  be a highly enjoyable experience, whether playing alone or with friends.

Worms™ fans will be able to pre-order Worms™ Reloaded from Thursday 29th July 2010, with bonuses including a 10% discount, 24 hours early access to the game and exclusive in-game items to enhance your chosen team. To pre-order Worms™ Reloaded, go to http://store.steampowered.com/app/22600.

A brand new trailer is available at http://www.youtube.com/Team17SoftwareLtd and more information on Worms™ Reloaded can be found at www.team17.com and http://www.facebook.com/WormsTeam17.

Check out our latest review of Star Wars : Trench Run for the iPod/iPhone and PC.

The seven missions took me through the Star Wars scenes leading up to the destruction of the first Death Star. As Luke Skywalker, I flew these missions to destroy Tie Fighters,  and other targets, and ultimately the Death Star itself. Through using my blasters and special Jedi ability (which is basically a command to slow down the game and play in “slow motion”) I achieved my mission objectives and the Death Star was destroyed!

Check out the full review HERE!

After a full day of playing StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty, our very own, Dan Horowitz, has posted his StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty single player campaign review.  We figured most people had already heard about the multiplayer aspect of StarCraft 2 from the beta test, so we wanted to focus on the single player campaign for this review.

For the last ten years, gamers have been waiting patiently for the sequel to the critically acclaimed StarCraft and its expansion Brood War.  Although Blizzard already has cash cow in World of Warcraft, and could be highly successful as a company without creating StarCraft 2, they decided to do so anyway.  The $100 million dollar price tag that was associated with the game has turned out to be false, as the game clearly didn’t take that much to make.  It certainly took millions, but not a hundred million.  As an RTS campaign, StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty offers a high degree of replayability, a large degree of depth, and a memorable cast of characters, all essential developments for a successfully campaign.

You can read the full review HERE.

I never knew Ron Artest was a singer.

Thursday 29th July/... 2K Sports today announced the soundtrack for NBA^® 2K11, the latest installment in the top rated and top selling NBA basketball simulation franchise*. Complementing the appearance of Michael Jordan, the series’ greatest cover athlete to date, the soundtrack is the biggest and best in 2K history, offering an eclectic mix of upcoming breakout bands and highly acclaimed artists. The soundtrack includes an original, exclusive track from the quadruple platinum-selling artist and 12-time Grammy nominee, Snoop Dogg, that illustrates his long-standing enthusiasm for the NBA 2K series. Other notable artists include Outkast’s Big Boi, Drake, Kid Cudi, Two Door Cinema Club, The Constellations, and The Alan Parsons Project performing the Chicago Bulls’ intro song.

Featuring Michael Jordan as this year’s cover athlete, and several new gameplay modes and updates, NBA 2K11 continues its trailblazing reputation of weaving both emerging and well-established musical acts into the basketball mix. The soundtrack will sharpen this year’s greatest basketball simulation ever with an extensive collection of 29 tracks from artists that tap into the energy, hustle and excitement of the NBA^®.

“NBA 2K is the basketball game that everyone plays, from NBA athletes to celebrities to music artists. Snoop has been a long time fan of the NBA 2K series and because music is such an integral part to the gameplay experience, it was a perfect fit for this year’s title – one of the greatest rappers making an exclusive track for the greatest NBA game,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “With NBA 2K11 we hope to exceed expectations by featuring both an impressive array of established artists like Big Boi, Kid Cudi and Drake who definitely balance the hoop action, alongside emerging talent, such as the winners of our national MC/producer contest.”

Following is a complete track list for NBA 2K11:

I love all these games that are throwbacks to the classics.  I wonder if that means I'm getting old....hmmmm...anyways, here is the press release on Explodemon!.

LONDON, ENGLAND: PlayStation 3 owners! Hide your treasured possessions and cover your pets in bubble wrap, because Explodemon! will be hitting PlayStation Network with a bang this Q4.

Explodemon! is a 2.5D platform action game brought kicking and screaming into the HD era. Influenced by classic Japanese games from the golden era of the SNES, players use Explodemon’s self-destructive nature to combat enemies and fly through the air, all the while solving a huge variety of physics-based puzzles (and, naturally, causing incalculable collateral damage).

When the peaceful planet of Nibia is attacked by the malicious Vortex forces, the fate of the star system is thrust into the one pair of hands it shouldn’t be: the malfunctioning Guardian robot Explodemon. His comic quest to repel the onslaught and restore peace will take him across three distinct planets over twelve levels, with new abilities and gameplay mechanics introduced throughout.

“We’re really excited to finally be able to reveal Explodemon! to the world,” explains design director Jonathan Biddle, from a blast-proof bunker somewhere below the surface of Nibia. “The game is chock full of gameplay nuggets carefully mined from the greatest titles ever to grace our joysticks. Whether you’re experiencing its intense combat, head-scratching puzzles, or classic platforming, you’ll find we’ve combined all of these elements into an addictive and elegantly balanced package.”

Explodemon! is unrelenting, hard-core brain-tickling action for those who grew up playing platformers, as well as those who’ll discover just how awesome they were.

THE SKINNY (OR TL;DR)

• Explodemon! is a 2.5D-styled platform game with a physics-puzzle twist
• It’s out Q4 2010
• It’s influenced by the classic Japanese games of old
• It’s more than a little bit funny, or so our mums said
• It’s really rather special and you want to write nice things about it
• Follow us on Twitter! Exclusive things! News! Codes! @curvestudios
  

I know everyone is waiting for more news on when they can get a Nintendo 3DS, but fear not, Nintendo will be announcing information on the release date and price in Japan on September 29th.

I'll be shocked if they release it this year, but let's hope.

I'll be honest I rarely play anything on Xbox LIVE Arcade, nothing peeks my interest.  However I heard about LIMBO a few months ago and saw concept art and screenshots and was very intrigued.  Got my copy a few days ago and I just couldn't put it down.  

'll be honest though, the game is creepy. One specific example would be when you had to cross a specific body of water that had no ledges or anything to jump on. At that point you see a person walking towards you and they walk right into the water and drown. You can now cross that body of water since they are floating on the top. Spiders, faceless enemies, and dark dense landscapes all add to the creepiness factor. I read in another review a few days ago that you should play alone in the dark. Turn off Xbox notifications and play.

If you're on the fence about this title, or you're just not sure, Go read my LIMBO Review.

Zipper Interactive has posted an update on their site announcing that SOCOM 4 has slipped until 2011.

Some of you may have heard through your favorite media outlets that SOCOM 4 is now a 2011 title, and we are writing this letter to you, our community, to confirm that SOCOM 4 is indeed scheduled for release in 2011.

While we're certainly aware that you've been looking forward to playing SOCOM 4 this year, we don't want to take any shortcuts. Instead, we want to deliver the best and most immersive SOCOM game we possibly can and we're going to use our extra time to do just that.

Over the coming months, you can expect further updates on our 2011 release, in addition to other gameplay and feature announcements on the official SOCOM 4 blog, which can be found at blog.socom.com.

On behalf of everyone here at Zipper Interactive, we want to thank you for being patient and thank you for sticking with us -- it will be worth the wait.

I am sure most of you who have purchased StarCraft II have had the music stuck in your head while you are at work or school.  For those of you who did not buy the Collectors Edition of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, the music from the game is available on iTunes for $9.99.  

There are 14 total songs which can be bought individually on the iTunes store for $.99.  The StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty soundtrack is also available as an iTunes LP.  Total album costs $9.99.  StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (Soundtrack)

Hydro Thunder Hurricane was released to XBLA today.  You can grab it for 1200 MS points.  Here's the scoop on the game.

This all-new sequel to the legendary arcade hit features amazing dynamic water physics, transformable rocket-powered boats, gorgeous visuals and over-the-top interactive environments. Single player games include Race and Championship, and two brand new modes: Ring Master and the explosive Gauntlet. Combine local 4-player split-screen and online multiplayer games with 8 players over Xbox LIVE.

You can find more information HERE.

A couple new screenshots of ArcaniA: Gothic 4 have been released, which you can find below.