This week the lineup will be joined by puzzler TiQal and an update to Switchball that adds "smoother gameplay". Without further ado I give you the media alert for the full details:

“TiQal,” a new challenge sure to delight fans of the puzzle game genre, is launching on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (1:00 a.m. PDT).

With graphics inspired by the ancient Mayan culture, “TiQal” takes players on an epic journey to save the village of the same name. Players must demolish enemy block walls by matching squares of the same color and building them up to unleash massive combo points and mind-blowing power-ups.

“TiQal” features 120 levels of easy to learn, yet difficult to master gameplay and 14 formidable power-ups, as well as multiplayer support for up to two players. Partner with a friend in the same room or via Xbox LIVE in co-op mode to rescue the village. Players will also enjoy sumptuous graphics and sound effects, as well as an impressive musical score.

Developed by Slapdash Games, “TiQal” will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more details on “TiQal” please visit:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/tiqalxboxlivearcade/

It's Monday morning time and that means it's release announcement time.  As TeamXbox predicted, Switchball will be making it's way to the service this Wednesday, and joining it will be Word Puzzle.  Here's the lowdown on these two titles (descriptions blatantly lifted from the PR):

Switchball:

In “Switchball,” players conquer breathtakingly beautiful labyrinthine mazes as they manipulate the unique physical properties of an ever-changeable ball to solve clever puzzles.  Morph into the Metalball and ram objects out of your way, charge the Powerball to dash up ramps and jump over obstacles, switch to the Airball to float over physics based death traps or use the Marbleball for speedy rolling around action.  Created by Sierra Online, “Switchball” empowers players to harness the laws of physics and triumphantly roll their way through five elegantly detailed 3D environments or they can join friends in 2 player co-op or 8 player competitive racing fun through Xbox LIVE. The game will be available worldwide (with the exception of Korea) for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E.

When Gamerscore Blog announced the list of "upcoming" games last week the inevitable guessing game of what titles would show up when started. While we've learned from previous "upcoming" lists that these are not necessarily the next seven titles that we will be seeing on the service, as other games may pop up while titles on the list may going mysteriously missing.

With my skepticism over with, TeamXbox has announced not only that they absolutely love the game (giving it the highest score that they've ever given to an XBLA title, 9.4) but also that we should be seeing it this week.

We'll find out today for sure if it is indeed coming out this week when the Gamerscore PR comes out (oh wait, I was supposed to be done with my skepticism :) ), but I personally can't wait to play it.

Congratulations certainly have to go to Sierra for what looks like it could be one of XBLAs best.

We got another one. Switchball has been added to the achievement list over at x360a.org.

The achievements are very straightforward. Get some points for completing each world, for getting medals, and for winning multiplayer races. The one that catches my eye is called Spyglass and it requires you to find 3 hidden paths. That's the kind of stuff I love finding on my own. And if this game has anywhere near the replay value that Marble Blast Ultra does, I'll be playing this one for a long time to come.

The release of the achievements is another good sign that this game is close. Since the PC version was just released, anyone ready to guess when this one will finally arrive on XBLA?

[via x360a.org]

Switchball is finally getting a full retail PC release this week after weeks (months even) of being available for purcahse as a downloadable PC title. I'm sure everyone must be thinking that this must be a sign that the XBLA release is just around the corner, right? Yes and no. Sierra will release the title close to the release date of the XBLA version, which is sometime before the end of the year. However, recall that Roboblitz was released for PC a few weeks prior to the XBLA release. Who knows maybe Microsoft will announce it as one of this weeks titles, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Sierra Online (a division of Vivendi Games) has been a strong supporter of the XBLA platform. Go figure, since their leader, Ross Erickson, comes straight from the XBLA mothership. Even so, this has become an embarrassment of riches.

Adding to their list of four previously announced XBLA games (Arkadian Warriors, Battlestar Galactica, Commanders: Attack!, and Switchball), Sierra has just announced an on-rails shooter titled Aces of the Galaxy and a Bust-A-Move-style puzzle game, Boogie Bunnies.

Previews of all of their games have gone up on IGN and can be found through this single handy-dandy page.

Thankfully (for my wallet), Boogie Bunnies is slated for Q1 2008 and Aces of the Galaxy has a vague "winter" release scheduled (meaning sometime before February of 2008).

Add to the revelations above the fact that Commanders: Attack! has lost its emphasis and added some words to become simply (or not so simply), Commanders: Attack of the Genos. I guess Sierra lost that little game of chicken with Screwjumper!.

After the break, a list of the remaining horribly vague release dates stated by IGN.

[via IGN, thanks Blue_Falcon]

Sierra Online isn't holding back. Ross Erickson and crew aren't going to sit idly by while Mr. Erickson's former colleague Greg Canessa touts PopCap's status as the "#1 Developer on XBLA" and steals the spotlight. Oh no. The glove has come off and has been slapped across Canessa's face as Erickson "demands satisfaction".

Okay, so maybe I embellished that a bit (read: made it all up) but in a move worthy of Activision, Sierra Online has buckled up in their XBLA car and stomped on the gas. And that means videos. Videos of games we're dying to play. Games like Commanders: Attack! and Red Baron. Games that can't come soon enough. And thus, I present to you, the Sierra Gamer's Week XBLA Video Jamboree 2007! Woo!

Videos: Red Baron, Switchball, Commanders: Attack!, and Battlestar Galactica.

Commentary after the break.

[via GameTrailers, thanks for the initial tip Shaolin Munkeh]

Since I've been horribly backlogged with tips and other stories I thought I'd turn this into a regularly occurring feature. It's an easy way for me to catch up and also harness your collective tipster skillz.

So, here's what's been happening around the XBLA world that I haven't had the chance to share:

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.

Sierra Online, a huge supporter of XBLA (see: Assault Heroes, Carcassonne, 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures), has given TeamXbox an exclusive advanced look at their E3 XBLA lineup. The coverage details three of Sierra Online's upcoming XBLA games (one we knew about, one we had a hunch about, and one out of the blue).

Maybe this strong XBLA push by Sierra Online has something to do with Ross Erickson's move from Microsoft to Sierra Online in February? Hmm, I wonder.

Who's excited (besides me, that is)?

[via TeamXbox, thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Blurbs about each of the games and links to the screenshot galleries after the break.