The belabored development of the XBLA version of the mech arena fighting game War World has apparently ended.  IGN is reporting that the game is set to release this week (October 1st).

We first reported on War World back in November...of 2006. Back then, the plan was that the game would arrive sometime within 6 months.  However, there was some concern about the size of the game (the demo was 149MB) fitting under the then tightly controlled 50MB limit.

Flash forward to July 2007 and Gamespot confirmed the game was in still in development and that it was targeting a "late summer" release.  Then, Microsoft announced it would be part of their "Hot August" but never showed up.  Now, more than a year later (and a size limit increase) we are apparently on the precipice of a release.  Course, last time I said that was a year ago.

Anyone saved points for this one...and for how long?

[via IGN, thanks PeeKnuckle]

Gamerscoreblog has just confirmed the arrival of Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix this wednesday. It might just be the most confirmed game ever. Conspicuously absent from the latest post is any info on price or the inclusion of War World in this Wednesday's fun. Were we deceived? Hopefully we find out soon.

That's old news though. The interesting bit is this: Besides SPFIITHDR (and hopefully War World), XBLA will also see the release of two DLC packs this Wednesday. First, Bomberman Live! will be getting the Bomb-Up Pack 1. Second, Eets: Chowdown will also be getting some DLC. We already knew that though. No pricing details yet, nor any info on the specific contents of these packs.

Gotta love the advance notice though. Makes budgeting for this week that much easier (or harder as the case may be). Do you think Silver Creek with try to sneak another pack for Soltrio Solitaire in there just to avoid feeling left out?

[Update]: Chris Paladino of Gamerscoreblog has responded to concern about War World not making it this week with the following at the link below:

"War World is not release [sic] this week according to all of the internal folks I've asked...

Sometimes there are many bowling pins being juggled, and developers can get their signals crossed - which is why until you see the press release for the week - nothing is official. "

Looks like I might be breaking out the ol' strikeout tool...

At least they confirmed the price of SPFIITHDR will be 800 MSP.

Looks like our "Hot August" continues this week with another steaming hot two-fer just one game on tap. Apparently, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix will be all alone have some serious competition with the straightforwardly named War World also arriving this week.

I may have looked foolish last week when I predicted a double 800 MSP week only to be slapped down by Jeff Minter himself (well, his blog at least). But this week should be a lock, right? So I will predict that this week's titles will both arrive at a stout 800 MSP, an XBLA first. Please don't make me cry myself to sleep use the strikeout again, I'm begging you.

I ask the masses: Who needs some more multiplayer XBLA games? And will you be warring or puzzling this week? Or, dare I say it, both?

[Update]: Strikeout tool in full effect. War World not coming this week. I'll be crying myself to sleep again.

[via WarWorld.net, thanks JDUDE11]

Our trusty tipster JDUDE11 has been holding out on us. Seems SPFIITHDR isn't the only unreleased game with its very own Xbox.com page. In fact, there are at least five others. If your appetite for XBLA teasers (and delays) has yet to be satisfied, feast your eyes on these.

Fatal Fury, War World, Tron, GEON, and Undertow

Of course, I should have realized that there were easier ways to find these pages than trying to type in every game title as an URL. All I needed was to go here and scroll. Stupid me.

A bunch of tidbits have trickled their way to us here at XBLArcade over the course of the weekend (and this morning) so here's a quick and dirty rundown of the latest word in XBLA.

And remember, we here at XBLArcade love tips! Even if it does take us a little while to get around to them. Here we go down the rabbit hole.

Just announcing the soon to arrive XBLA games was not enough for Microsoft. They went as far as sending out screenshots of the upcoming games. Tons of 'em.

Xbox360Fanboy's got them all up in convenient galleries but I'll make it even easier for you loyal XBLArcade readers. Below are direct gallery links for whatever XBLA flavor you're craving at the moment. That way you can skip right over the reading part at Xbox360Fanboy. I mean, who would want to read text when you can look at purdy pictures?

Hexic 2

SPFIITHDR

War World

Puzzle Quest: CotW

Okay, if you wanna read the post, it's here.

[via X360F]

Sad that this Wednesday lacks the current trend of two-fers? Getting another retro title this week left you cold? Don't despair. Prepare for things to "heat up" very soon. The games coming out soon are "sizzling". Or so Microsoft would have you think.

The good news:

• Ecco the Dolphin, Hexic 2, and War World all coming out this month.
• GEON: Emotions, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, Space Giraffe, Streets of Rage 2, and Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix all arriving "in the coming weeks".

The bad news:

• With three Wednesday's left in August and three games listed, kiss your two-fers goodbye.
• No word on Sensible World of Soccer, Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe, Street Trace:NYC, and many other games starting with the letter "S".
• A personal note: Where is my Mutant Storm Empire?!?

Feel free to add your own angry, sad, or psychotic, "where is _____?!?!?!" comments below.

Full "Media Alert" (cough*press release*cough) after that clicking thing you do below.

[via Gamerscoreblog]

War World and Speedball 2 rated. No fanfare or big surprise there (since we already knew they were coming) but it's good to know nonetheless.

War World garnered what I take to be a 12+ rating and Speedball 2 gets a 6+ rating. (Although, German is not my strong suit.) No word yet on the ESRB.

[via our trusty friend, the USK website]

The visual bar for XBLA just got a whole lot higher! GameSpot has a hands-on preview of the Third Wave Games developed and Ubisoft published War World.

We had word around 6 months ago that this game would be coming and reported so. Back then, the worry was squeezing a game with a 149MB demo down into 50MB. Well, I imagine that Third Wave was jumping for joy when the limit was raised to 150MB.

The gameplay looks to be easy to learn with "Halo-like" controls and sports 10 highly unique and specialized battle 'bots which you can take through 100 arcade-mode levels of Mech-tastic shooting and destroying.

The game is slated to arrive sometime in "late summer" but let's hope it's sooner rather than later. As good as this game looks and with 8-player multiplayer confirmed (sorry, did I forget to mention that), anyone think it will join the ranks of 1200MSP games?

[Update]: Here's a link to the official site for the PC version, a link to the PC Demo (nice idea Blue_Falcon) and also here's a link for videos too. Enjoy!

[via GameSpot]

PALGN is reporting that Morten Brodersen, Third Wave Games' CEO, reviled during his talk at the eGames and Entertainment Expo in Melbourne, Australia, that his companies' War World has just been signed to be released for the XBLA service.

For those of you who don't know, War World is described by the company as:"A fast-moving, adrenalin-pumping, single and multi-player combat game" which going by the game play video that you can check out here, may actually be under selling it.

In further talks with PALGN, Mr Brodersen let slip that War World should be hitting the service "In about 6 Months". While I'm sure getting their current Demo down from 149MB to under 50MB will take most this time, I'm certainly hoping the end result looks at least as good (or better) than the PC version