We knew about Wing Commander: Arena (thanks to EA) and we knew about Super Contra (thanks to some PartnerNet Speculation) but we certainly did not expect them to arrive together. But unless those pesky press releases are merely yanking our chain, we can now safely assume that this Wednesday will be filled with a lot of shooting. Some at felines, some at aliens but shooting all the same.

Press Release after the jump.

Skipping directly over that whole Microsoft press release step in the journey to XBLA, representatives from Electronic Arts have confirmed with xbox360fanboy that their baby, Wing Commander: Arena is set to launch this week. Then again, thanks to Skeptical gaming, we already knew that (and we shouldn't have doubted you. We've learned our lesson.).

Gaia Industries (also responsible for the puzzlingly absent Street Trace:NYC) have crafted the largest online multiplayer experience currently available on XBLA. With up to 16 players, it's bound to get a little crazy.

With Bomberman Live! this past week and WC:A coming this week, there seems to be a glut of XBLA multiplayer action. Anyone complaining?

[via x360f]

Skeptical Gaming is reporting that next week will see the launch of Wing Commander Arena. No official word has been given though, so you may want to stay a skeptical gamer.

[Via WCNews]

Remember the Capcom blog that we told you to keep an eye on. Well, apparently we should have taken our own advice a bit more seriously. Lost in the deluge of post-E3 news was this little tidbit about Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix:

"Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix should be available on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network very soon. We’re wrapping it up now."

Wrapping it up could mean almost anything (from going gold to submitting for certification to polish work) so we can't put a real time frame on the arrival. But, anything in the realm of "very soon" certainly sounds promising and they did say they were working hard for a July release.

And while you're reading the blog, check out their sneak peek at the upcoming SPFIITHDR themes they will be releasing. (And they also released a new Chun-Li/Sakura wallpaper; part of which is seen here.)

[via Capcom Digitial Blog]

After months of fruitless searching for anything (and trust me I did a crazy amount of searching) on a mysterious game called GEON coming from Eidos New Media (part of Eidos Interactive), we finally get some questions answered.

Continue below for details and screenshots!

A whopping 17 screens for the soon to be released Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe have appeared on the Xbox 360 League forums. That's a veritable flood of screens.

Of course, many of them look the same. But I shouldn't complain because this is the first bunch of media we have seen on the game. So, rejoice! And begin your countdowns to the vague "August" release date.

Anybody broke yet or did you save your points for this one?

[via Xbox 360 Leagues]

Why celebrate America's independence with mere fireworks when you can defend America's Zardon's soil from soulless Cold War era Russians Krytol's missiles and their nuclear stockpile? That's what I was asking myself this weekend.

Thankfully, Atari spilled the beans to Eurogamer that Missile Command will indeed ring in July 4th with a bang. And hey, the typical 400 MSP asking price is cheaper than those contraband fireworks and they won't blow your fingers off. A win-win situation.

You know, it's almost as if I knew this was coming.

[via Eurogamer, Thanks Wasabi]

[Update]: Gamerscoreblog has their post up from which I've snagged the Media Alert. Read it after the break.

If you haven't gotten enough castle action today while playing Carcassonne, maybe you should download the new DLC for Mad Tracks. The Mad Tracks Encore Pack features 9 new races and 6 mini-games including a ramp romp in a German Castle. All this can be yours for a mere 350MSP.

Who's buyin'?

[via Kotaku]

Well, many wanted it last week but we had to "settle" for Band of Bugs. Fortunately for all you European board game lovers out there Carcassonne is coming this week (I hacked that link just for our readers here). Luckily it won't take generations of slave labor to get your castles, towns, and roads built in this game so the only guilt you might be feeling while playing will be of the pleasure variety.

As for key features, my eyes fall squarely on the up to 5 players over Live and 4 players locally (sounds like developers are finally getting the message about local play). With options like that, you're bound to get it. Resistance is feudal. (The person responsible for the previous joke has just been sacked.)

Press Release after the break.

[via Press Release]

No, Lumines Live! hasn't turned into some game where you have to shoot hordes of invading aliens to save Earth. Q Entertainment has hooked up with Live Earth. Genki Rockets (aka that Heavenly Star girl) will be performing at Live Earth and Q will turn a portion of your DLC purchases into a charitable donation to combat global warming.

Purchase the Tokyo Club Mix Pack (aka SOS Charity Campaign Pack 4 skins, 350 MSP) between June 27th and July 17th and pat yourself on the back. A portion of your purchase with be donated to "climate protection NGOs and causes." Sure that sounds vague, but who cares? You're experiencing the music of the Tokyo Club scene and saving the world to boot! So, put down your digital guns and start dropping blocks.

For those heartless types out there that like the idea of an impending ice age, there are other ways to give Q your money without helping out Mother Earth. Arriving along side the Tokyo Club Mix Pack are the Booster Pack (20 skins, 600MSP), four Gamerpic Packs (5 pics/pack, 100MSP/pack), and a Lumines Theme (150MSP).

Full press release after the break.