We've just received word that this week will be another to spin by -- Sonic The Hedgehog 2 will be released at the usual time this Wednesday. I anticipate the retro-standard price point of 400 MSP. And the xbox.com page backs me up on this.

SEGA continues adding to their SEGA Vintage Collection by giving us what many consider to be the best Sonic game ever (I think I'm in this camp). Do you still have love for good ol' 2D Sonic? Or did the load times on the retail 360 Sonic game sour you completely on the spunky hedgehog (whether in 2D or 3D)?

In addition to Sonic 2, we'll also be getting some new DLC for Bomberman Live! and Band of Bugs. No details yet on what we're getting but we'll let you know when we know.

E-mail after the break.

[via Gamerscore News, xbox.com page here]

[Update]: Added a screenshot (click for high-res) which seems to show a massive amount of smoothing graphically. (For comparison, here's an original screen at MobyGames.) Any purists out there upset by this?

This is just a reminder that if you wanted a chance to win 4000 MSP and a limited edition NinjaBee t-shirt you better get your entries in soon. All entries must be submitted (as per the contest rules) by August 16th, 2007 (aka tomorrow).

And up to this point there are very few entries (3 as of my last count) so you all have a good shot at winning. Get to it!

[via the NinjaBee Forums]

I feel a little guilty. Here I am posting with vitriol about how this week's Wednesday was the first in recent memory to cheat us out of an XBLA two-fer. And then, the day arrived and we were overwhelmed by the sheer awesomeness of all the new content. What content, you say? Why, let me tell you!

Hidden amongst the usual corpro-babble in the Band of Bugs DLC press release was the mention of the "Design A Level Contest". Since I am positive that we have some budding Band of Bugs DaVincis and Picassos, here are the details:

Make a map.

Submit a screenshot and description of your level here before August 16th.

Couldn't be simpler and your entry could win you 4000 MSP and a super-nifty special edition NinjaBee shirt!

(All of the official rules are HERE.)

And remember, since I will be judging this stupendous contest you should make sure to get in my good graces. And make a good level too. I can't make the favoritism obvious or the NinjaBee will hunt me down.

Happy Map Making!

For those of you not predisposed to smashing your controllers buttons with furious speed and intensity comes word that Band of Bugs will be getting its first single player expansion pack today (in fact it's out now!).

The expansion pack, titled Red Kingdom, will include ten single-player missions, two new units (a cavalry-type unit and a catapult-type unit), and also an entirely new tileset for all those map editor fanatics.

The pack comes in a 250 MSP (which in my mind is a total steal).

I remember playing much of this pack back when I visited the good folks at NinjaBee and it was loads of fun. With this expansion, the map packs (one is free), and a title update that fixed all those pesky bugs (the ones NinjaBee didn't intend) this is definitely a title worth a look if you haven't given it a shot yet.

And knowing NinjaBee, this won't be the end of their DLC plans.

[thanks to NinjaBee's Steve Taylor for the heads up!]

[Update]: Added the official press release below.

Those that have been playing Band of Bugs since this weekend already know this, but a title update went out this past Friday, July 20th.

The game was plagued by a couple nasty bugs when it was released that likely brought down a lot of review scores. Luckily for all, NinjaBee has now pushed out a update, around a month later. So, if you've been holding off on the game because you feared the bugs (the ones that did not belong in the game, that is) then have no fear. Go get it! And hey, you can even get some free DLC once you have gotten it.

After the break is the full list of fixes.

[via NinjaBee forums]

Major Nelson has posted the lastest list of marketplace content and it definately is a bountiful harvest today for XBLArcaders. Content, pictures and themes are available for 3D Ultra Minigolf (content), Alien Hominid (content, pictures), Band of Bugs (content), Mad Tracks (content, theme), and Soltrio Solitaire (content).

Marketplace users in Japan will be able to finally pick up a copy of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on their native Marketplace.

Full details of this content is available on Major Nelson's website.

Unscripted 360 has available two copies of Band of Bugs available for winners of a new contest. The Band of Bugs title really is one of the more solid, quality titles available on live and one of the personal favorite titles of many of the XBLArcade.com community. The contest simply requires you to name the NinjaBee games that are available on Xbox Live Arcade and the NinjaBee games reviewed by Unscripted 360.

More information can be found on the Unscripted 360 website.

If you love Cloning Clyde and the Simpsons as much as you should then this will be your favorite contest ever.

Contest is simple:

• You want a Simpsons 360.
• They have 5 Simpsons 360s to give away.
• You register your gamertag here.
• You play Cloning Clyde everyday between now (technically yesterday) and July 17th.
• Each day you play you get a sweepstakes entry.
• They draw your name at random.
• You dance into the sunset with a fugly yellow controller and a picture of Homer's balding head.

What could be better?

(Appropriate disclaimers, rules, etc. are all here.)

[via xbox.com]

Major Nelson's podcast this week features a bunch of interesting interviews (and plenty of mindless chit chat). Of direct significance to us though is his interview of Steve Taylor (President of NinjaBee and all around nice guy).

Steve gets a chance to talk Band of Bugs, dole out level editor tips, and even mentions the uber forumites over at the NinjaBee forums (Okay, that was a shameless plug for myself and my comrades from over there, I admit it.)

For those who can't stand to listen to nearly two hours of talking (yes, it's nearly two hours long this week) the interview in question goes from about 56:03 to 1:17:16. Okay, not "about" -- precisely between those times.

Oh, and in case you are interested, he's giving away a free copy of Band of Bugs on the show. Enjoy!

[via Major Nelson]