As a big slap to the face of gaming pundits everywhere XBLA throws more and more games at the apparent misconception that games aren't released in the summer time.  Week after week the list of potential summer releases gets longer and longer.  I say, bring it on.  I'm ready.  Well, actually that is patently false as I'm just now finishing up Mass Effect and have about 10 XBLA demos to catch up on.  But more is always better, right?  Right?!?

Before I go completely bonkers trying to play catch up, here's the latest achievement additions:

• RocketBowl (Win 25 times in a row on Xbox Live...seriously?!?)
• Gin Rummy (Well rounded if possibly a bit uninspired.)
• Pirates vs Ninjas: Dodgeball (Pure awesome!)

And yes, I realize I just made a seperate Geo Wars 2 achievement post.  But don't you think it deserves it?

Pointless pontification after the break as per usual.

[via A360P]

That's right.  Forumite Hazuki has pointed us all in the direction of the Geometry Wars 2 achievements as posted on Achieve360Points.com.  The achievements hint at a variety of Geo Wars fun.  Modes apparently include the previously seen Waves (see PGR4) and also King and Deadline.  There is even a cryptic achievement called Smile which give us the clue "2, 4, 11, 15, 17, 18 and 19". 

We know that we got burned by an prediction of the release of Geo Wars 2 many months ago so we won't make an out and out prediction this time.  However, doesn't it seem obvious that news of a release date (or even the release itself) would come at the impending E3 in less than two weeks?  Sure seems like good timing in my mind.  But will the game be a mere 400 MSP like last time?  My guess is no.  Let the speculation commence!

[via A360P, thanks Hazuki!]

Double D Dodgeball, that other dodgeball game for the XBLA has been busy.  Yuke's, developer of the game, has launched their Double D Dodgeball site*, released their first trailer, and given us their release date: July 30th.

In order to prepare you for that faithful day you can learn all you need to know about the game on their site including multiplayer setups, rule variants, character types, and much more.  And if you enjoy those childish slow-mo kid's face smashed into the pavement videos on YouTube, then I strongly encourage you to watch the "Bruise More Than Egos" video.  I'll leave it at that.

(* - Beware the loud music when you hit the site.  You have been warned.)

Twisted Pixel Games recently unveiled their ambitious XBLA game The Maw.  And now they're back to tell (and show) us more about the creation of this "full featured 3D action adventure."  Word comes that Winifed Phillips, Interactive Achievement Award-winning composer, will be providing the interactive soundtrack for the game.

Phillips has worked on games such as God of War, Speed Racer, and The Da Vinci Code.  Regarding her work on The Maw she said:

In a shocking single release week we're getting Soulcalibur.  To ease the pain of this solo release we also have Wits & Wagers DLC coming.  Can the "highest rated console fighter of all time" coax you into a purchase despite a complete lack of online play?

Soulcalibur is rated T for Teen and comes in at 800 MSP.  The Wits & Wagers DLC (presumably additional questions) comes in at an unusual 320 MSP.

Press release after the break.

[via gamerscoreblog, thanks drongey]

Apparently there was a massive explosion of XBLA achievements that I missed.  Better late than never I hope.  Since there are so many games to cover, I'll just get right to the list.  Pointless commentary after the break.

• Double D Dodgeball (Wait...what?)
• Coffeetime Crosswords
• Go! Go! Break Steady
• R.B.I. Baseball (Another one I totally missed.)
• Ticket to Ride (One of this week's games.)
• Soul Caliber (With some seriously hardcore achievements!)

[via Achieve360points.com]

[Update]: Fixed link to Coffeetime Crosswords.  Also, added Soul Caliber which I somehow missed.

It took a bit longer than expected to nail down the winners for our contest to name two cars that will be featured in Things On Wheels, but we finally have the results straight from the decision makers at Load Inc. 

If you see your name below check your email (especially the junk mail folder) for some further information.  If you don't see your name below thanks for participating.  We here at XBLArcade and the folks at Load Inc. had fun checking out everyone's ideas.

Without further ado:

	The Orange Car will now be named "Buster" thanks to Travellinman.
	And the White Car has been dubbed "Oscar" thanks to Wimjet.

A big thanks to Rob at Sandbox Strategies for helping us set up this killer opportunity and Load Inc. for offering up such a cool prize.

Hot off the presses!  This week's pair of games will be Ticket to Ride and Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm.  You would be hard pressed to come up with a more different set of games to pair up for an XBLA Wednesday. 

Ticket to Ride (based on the board game of the same name) challenges you to travel the grand U.S. of A. by train and is the E-rated (and thus family friendly).  On the other side, Happy Tree friends is about rescuing your cute cuddly woodland animal friends from almost certain gruesome death.  If you hadn't guessed, it's rated M.

Which will it be my fine gentlemen and ladies -- click-clack click-clack or kaboom?

Press release after the break.

[via Gamerscoreblog]

Last week we gave you a chance to name two of these cars but the other three are brand new.  And yes, they're shiny.  I am not complaining though.  The stylish curves of the cars and the art-deco inspired house are the main reasons Things on Wheels sits firmly within my radar.  Who cares about racing when you can spend your time polishing these cars?  What do you mean there's no polishing mini-game?  Guess I better start writing that angry letter.

But before I do that, one more tidbit of info.  There will be twelve cars total in the game.  Simple math tells me there are a mere seven other cars are waiting in the wings, preparing for their day in the sun.  Red and black seem like obvious choices for colors, but will we see a purple car?

The other four are after the break. And yes, click them for wallpaper worthy versions.

The contest to name those sadly nameless cars for Load's upcoming Things on Wheels ends today.  So, get off your duff, follow the link above, and get naming!