Okay, so we all know now how wrong I was about the Brutally Fun site. However, it was not a total loss. Alongside the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 2 was a bevy of Japanese themed XBLA games that are coming.

And guess what is among them? Ikaruga. It even says "available soon."

As awesome as it is to hear Ikaruga's solidly confirmed (not that we didn't expect it), I must say the surprise story for me is the announcement of Rez coming to XBLA. Then again, maybe it shouldn't surprise me after all.

The full list of mentioned XBLA games is as follows: Every Extend Extra Extreme (Q Entertainment), EXIT (Taito), Ikaruga (Treasure Co. Ltd.), OMEGA FIVE (Hudson Entertainment), Rez (Q Entertainment), Triggerheart Exelica (Warashi), Braid (Number None Inc.), Castlecrashers (The Behemoth), and Schizoid (Torpex Games LLC).

I'm too tired to say anything else of value, so just read the details after the break and let all this all sink in.

News Flash from xbox.com after the break.

[via xbox.com]

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?

Apparently, I am so damn trigger happy with my posts I deprived you, fair readers, of the details of the Bomb-Up Pack 1 for Bomberman Live!. Mere hours after I posted this, Xbox 360 Fanboy acquired all the necessary details for the bomb-crazy among you.

With greatest apologies I bring you the quick and dirty version:

350 MSP 250 MSP gets you ten new characters (featuring Little Bomby Foo Foo and Rocky Bomboa), two new maps (High Stakes and Zeppelin), a new mode called Frag (I wonder what that is like?), and a new leaderboard (for Frag mode, I assume).

Anyone willing to get stuck with 50 extra points to buy this?

[Update]: CAGs rejoice. The DLC is actually 100 points cheaper than expected according to Siliconera.

[via X360F. Hudson Press Release here.]

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.

Could it be? It appears that Major Nelson has come through for us two weeks in a row. Of course, things aren't as perfect as they seem. What you see below is the newly corrected list. When the list originally appeared, it had a surprise visitor: Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix.

Ever since that point speculation has run rampant. The most common theory seems to be this: SPFIITHDR appeared on PartnerNet and was "purchased" by so many people that it appeared on the list. Strange but true? We'll never know. So, let's just look (and read) below and focus on what we do know.

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions)

Rank	Last Week	Title	Release Date	WOC*
1	-	Track And Field	8/8/2007	-
2	2	Spyglass Board Games	8/1/2007	1
3	1	Bomberman Live	7/18/2007	3
4	4	Sonic The Hedgehog	7/11/2007	4
5	3	Marathon: Durandal	8/1/2007	1
6	7	UNO	5/9/2006	65
7	6	Golden Axe	7/11/2007	4
8	10	Worms	3/7/2007	22
9	-	TMNT 1989 Arcade	3/14/2007	21
10	9	3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures	4/18/2007	16

*WOC: Weeks on Charts

In case you missed it, over the weekend some minor details were confirmed about DLC for Bomberman Live!. Namely, new costumes and maps. The confirmation came from a Hudson Entertainment developer with the gamertag Cosmodelic. Now we know who to tar and feather if it takes too long for the DLC to arrive.

Lynchings aside, we still need the what, when, and how much. Anyone already tired of the maps that come standard?

[via Xbox360Fanboy]

PlayFirst, Inc., publishers of the popular Diner Dash series and critically adored Oasis, are teaming up with Hudson Entertainment to bring their stable of games to consoles in 2008. PlayFirst has been very successful creating platform agnostic casual games (read: PC, Online, and they even appreciate Macs) and this new venture will likely be just as successful. No specific games or platforms have been announced but something appearing on XBLA seems like a safe bet.

To get a good look at all the games that fall under the PlayFirst banner, check out their site. Diner Dash and Oasis appear to be merely the tip of the iceberg. And besides those games already released, you can only imagine what will come out of the imaginations of all their development partners.

With Hudson's copious amounts console development experience and the profusion of games from PlayFirst, this match is made in gamer heaven. Look at the quality of Bomberman Live! as an indictation to what we can expect and you cannot help but giggle like a schoolgirl. But only on the inside. Because you're totally hardcore. I mean...dude!

[via GamingTalkHQ, thanks Measure]

Not skilled at Bomberman or Photoshop but still love you some mad bombing style action? Well, I've got the perfect contest for you. Xbox360Achievements.org is having a contest (open to anyone on the planet earth) to win 5 Bomberman T-shirts and it will be completely decided at random. Just post your favorite Bomberman Live outfit and you are done.

So get your name in the hat and start your attempts and hacking and rigging the random.org generator.

[via x360a.org]

Real simple folks -- Destructoid is giving away 10 Bomberman Live! t-shirts.

Two ways to win: Photoshoppery or Kick [their] Asses online this Friday

What's it gonna be? Shopping or ass kicking?

[via Destructoid]

At 57:30 in Major Nelson's latest podcast there is an interview with the Bomberman Live! Lead Producer Joel Bretton. The best part of the interview is finding out that Major Nelson obviously never played Bomberman in his life (Bomberman is turn based?). I think we all know that he is in for a pleasant surprise come Wednesday. Here's some great information from the podcast.

• First Bomberman game created in the United States
• The Bomberman Live! achievements
• Live! is the current "definitive" Bomberman incarnation (take that Sega Saturn)
• Hudson is working on several arcade titles (including the known Omega Five)

Not much in new information, but as always Major is entertaining.