It seems that Toys R Us is now taking pre-orders on a Collector's Edition of Epic Mickey.  Would you like to know what you get for $69.99?  Read on:

Disney Epic Mickey Collector's Edition includes:

• Special packaging
• Disney Epic Mickey Game
• Exclusive 5 inch Collectible Vinyl Epic Mickey Figure
• Special Edition DVD with behind the scenes footage and additional marketing assets and videos
• Epic Mickey Stylized Wii Remote Faceplate
• 2 Epic Mickey Stylized Wii Console skins

In addition to the game being at Toys R Us, you can also find it at other retailers, like GameStop.  Anyone planning on getting the Collector's Edition of Epic Mickey?

With pending release of Kinect in November and the Kinect Beta test currently underway there is no doubt we'd start to see more information filter through from Microsoft.  There have also been rumors of an update coming to the Xbox 360 dashboard which will coincide with the release of Kinect.  Joystiq is reporting a recent change to Major Nelson's avatar (see left) from the more cartoony type avatar to a more "realistic" one.

Nick Burton, Rare senior programmer, recently told OXM UK that the avatars would be getting a makeover to help improve the appearance of motion when avatars were mimicking their real life counterpart.

While the avatar on the right is my own you can see the faces and bodies are much more slimmer and the avatars are also more flesh colored making them more realistic.

What do you think of the new avatars?  I miss mine already...

Can you hear me now?  Oh...it sounds okay, but could be better?  Well, you'll need to wait until the Xbox 360 Fall update for that to happen as Eurogamer.net reports that Microsoft will be updating the codec to increase the voice communication quality.

The refresh, designed to coincide with the launch of Kinect, will upgrade the codec and audio infrastructure that underpins the quality of voice communication from Xbox 360 to Xbox 360, and should make for clear chat between gamers when they play online, Xbox Live Studios boss Jerry Johnson said at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival this afternoon.

"The codec we used when we first launched was a low bit rate codec and we stuck with that," Johnson explained.

"We launched and we said we required broadband. We required a 64k connection, which not many people think of as broadband any longer. But that was the minimum requirement to run the service at the time.

"It's time for us to move on. Especially if we want to think about broadening - a crackly headset on the top of your head – not what people think of when they talk about popular entertainment."

This is good to hear.  Get it?  Eh...eh???   Nevermind....I need a vacation.

The press release for Days of Thunder: NASCAR Edition just came out announcing that it will be landing on PlayStation Network later this summer.

LOS ANGELES – August 26th 2010 – Paramount Digital Entertainment, NASCAR, Sony Computer Entertainment of America (“SCEA”) and Piranha Games today announced the upcoming launch of Days of Thunder: NASCAR Edition, a stock car arcade racer that will be available exclusively on the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation^®3 (PS3^TM) computer entertainment system this summer. Days of Thunder: NASCAR Edition gives players the opportunity to go head-to-head against select NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, including champions such as Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart, and the drivers from the iconic “Days of Thunder” film from Paramount Pictures. Featuring multiple single-player and online multiplayer modes, gamers will take the wheel as one of the hottest drivers on the circuit to prove that “you can’t stop the thunder!”

“Racing against NASCAR drivers such as Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin and ‘Days of Thunder’ characters Cole Trickle, Rowdy Burns, and Russ Wheeler simultaneously is something that could only happen in a video game, and a great way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film,” said Tom Lesinski, president of Paramount Digital Entertainment. "We are pleased to team up with SCEA and NASCAR to bring fans an adrenaline packed, one-of-a-kind arcade racing experience.”

In Days of Thunder: NASCAR Edition, players will join Rowdy Burns’ team as the latest rookie to tear up the NASCAR circuit. With Rowdy as their coach, players will learn to hit the pit, upgrade their ride and trade paint with other cars. They can even “drop the hammer” like Cole Trickle for a boost of extra speed. Rowdy Burns will be voiced by the actor from the film, Michael Rooker, also known for his roles in “Mallrats,” “Eight Men Out” and “Cliffhanger.” Days of Thunder: NASCAR Edition comes equipped with twelve NASCAR-sanctioned tracks, including Daytona International Speedway^® and Talladega Superspeedway^®.