The game can be best described as a slippery blob version of Marble Madness, as the player tilts the level to coax a metallic blob through a geometric interface. The mechanic is so central, that Mercury Hg actually supports the now-dated Sixaxis motion control. The full game will include 60 levels filled with hazards and obstacles, while adding improvements and polish to the game.

Mercury Hg will not only be available on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN in September, but will be a bargain-priced 400 Microsoft Points ($4.99 USD).

“Critics agree that Bejeweled 3 raised the standard for match-3 games to new heights,” said Ed Allard, studio head at PopCap Games.  “This holiday, we’re bringing that experience to PlayStation 3, PSN, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and Nintendo DS gamers with adaptations that look great and play even better on each platform.”

Bejeweled 3 took the match three genre to the next level. The third installment added eight mini-games and a complete revision of sound and graphics. The fundamental game play has not changed; players still match three or more of the same gem. Bejeweled 3 is a fun game and it is great news that it will be coming to more platforms.

Press Release Follows:

SEATTLE, Washington – June 21, 2011 — PopCap Games, the worldwide leader in casual games, today announced plans to bring five  new adaptations of its famed Bejeweled® 3 franchise to the Nintendo DS®, PlayStation® 3, PSN, Xbox 360®, and Xbox LIVE® Arcade.  This move marks the first time a Bejeweled title will appear on all the top video game platforms simultaneously. The games are scheduled to ship in Q4 2011 in both North America and Europe.

“Critics agree that Bejeweled 3 raised the standard for match-3 games to new heights,” said Ed Allard, studio head at PopCap Games.  “This holiday, we’re bringing that experience to PlayStation 3, PSN, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and Nintendo DS gamers with adaptations that look great and play even better on each platform.”

Originally launched in the spring of 2000, Bejeweled has become one of the top 10 video game franchises in history. More than half a billion people worldwide have played the game, and over 50 million units have been sold across 17 platforms from iPhone to Xbox and even airline seatbacks.  An estimated 8 billion hours have been spent playing Bejeweled, and the game continues to sell at the rate of one copy every 4.3 seconds.

With twice the game modes of its predecessor as well as eight mini-games and a complete revision of sound and graphics, Bejeweled 3 is a quantum leap forward in the match-3 category pioneered by the original Bejeweled.

First, it was calica dolls – now Tim Schafer and Double Fine Studios returns to adventure gaming with matryoshka dolls in Stacking, reports GameSpy.

According to Schafer:

“We’re really excited to be doing another game with THQ, building on the success we had with Costume Quest, and delivering another great adventure told in an entirely new way,” Schafer said in a statement.

The game stars Charlie Blackmore, the youngest and smallest of a family of Russian matryoshka dolls, is on a quest to bring all of his family members back together. The adventure game will be loaded with puzzles, and given the subject matter, you can bet there will be a few based on the Tower of Hanoi-style problem. Stacking will have multiple solutions to many of the puzzles as well.

The game will be released on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in 2011. Let us know what you think.

The pioneer of the interactive game show format, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK combines the social dynamics of classic board games with the entertaining story arcs of great television game shows. Returning with all-new questions and classic features such as Screw Your NeighborTM and commercial parodies, the homecoming of YOU DON’T KNOW JACK is sure to thrill excited fans as well as launch a new generation of devoted players.

You Don’t Know Jack was best known for taking a dry game genre – trivia – and infusing with off-the-wall attitude and television production values. Let us know how amped you are for the return of this classic.

THQ Jacks up Video Gamers This Winter with YOU DON’T KNOW JACK

High Culture Meets Pop Culture With Multiplayer Connectivity

AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Oct 28, 2010: THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) today announced that the award-winning YOU DON’T KNOW JACK® franchise is scheduled to come to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the WiiTM system and the Nintendo DSTM family of hand-held systems this winter.

The pioneer of the interactive game show format, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK combines the social dynamics of classic board games with the entertaining story arcs of great television game shows. Returning with all-new questions and classic features such as Screw Your NeighborTM and commercial parodies, the homecoming of YOU DON’T KNOW JACK is sure to thrill excited fans as well as launch a new generation of devoted players.

“YOU DON’T KNOW JACK has been a phenomenal worldwide success,” said Martin Good, Executive Vice President, Kids, Family, Casual Games, and Global Online Services. “Now, the irreverent trivia party game is back with its signature style and humor, and we’ve heightened the hilarity and challenge with an all-new multiplayer mode and entertaining online play over XBLA and PSN. Add in popular classic challenges like the DisOrDatTM and the Jack AttackTM, and YOU DON’T KNOW JACK is poised to deliver the ultimate trivia game experience to America’s living rooms.”

About YOU DON’T KNOW JACK

The YOU DON’T KNOW JACK series has been testing players’ smarts and making them laugh for years with its unique trivia-based challenges and in-your-face style of gameplay. Now, THQ is bringing the wise-cracking fun and challenge of YOU DON’T KNOW JACK to today’s popular video game systems (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii & DS). Filled with more than 15 hours of game play, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK offers all-new multiplayer action and online challenges via XBLA and PSN. Along with classic quiz modes such as the DisOrDat and the Jack Attack, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK offers brand new features like the Wrong Answer of the Game and collectible prizes, with more than 70 full episodes of trivia quiz show fun. A worldwide phenomenon since its debut in 1995, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK from developer Jellyvision Games has been embraced by millions of players as the gold standard for interactive trivia games.

About THQ

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “THQ”), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the You Don’t Know Jack video game, and are based upon management’s current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ’s financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2010, and particularly the discussion of risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

The game has been released on PC and Mac, as well as iPhone and iPod Touch; in fact, it’s one of the most popular apps on iOS. To rehash the game, you are a survivor who is facing an onslaught of zombies intent on chowing down on your juicy brains, and your only defense are plants that you put in the ground. A few provide sunlight, which is the currency with which to purchase the plants, while others are offensive weapons that damage the zombies. Others serve as protection, and still others have special effects such as turning a zombie on its mates. The zombies themselves come in many flavors, from gargantuan behemoths to zombies floating in the air attached to helium balloons to Michael Jackson breakdancing zombies disco dancing zombies with their own backup dancers. There are five scenarios in which you fight: day, night, a pool, a pool at night, and the roof. The latter four circumstances require special strategies, from having to plant nocturnal plants (and a lack of ambient sunlight to capture) to having to put plants in pots. For more detail on the gameplay, you can check the original review here.

The chief question is: how does the Xbox Live Arcade version work, and what else does it bring to the lawn?

The basic gameplay is completely unchanged for the most part. If you’ve played the campaign before, you’ll find nothing new here. The only difference is that instead of using a mouse and keyboard or a touch screen, you move with a gamepad. To compensate, your cursor will pick up any nearby coins or sunlight automatically. Plants are selected using the shoulder buttons, while digging up plants only requires holding down the B button. This makes some of the game easier, especially when you want to dig up a plant and quickly replace it; all you need to do is hold down B for a moment, then press A. The cursor is fast enough that once can do a quick sweep around the field to pick up stray coins and sunlight.

The size of the screen for widescreen gaming has some nifty features. There’s now a large hedge on the rightmost side of the screen for non-roof levels, and zombies will announce their presence by shaking the bushes from where they are about to exit. This makes planning for them a little simpler. Otherwise, the game looks the same as it normally does, if now having HD resolution.

All of the minigames from the Game of the Year Edition are present as well, including the hyped multiplayer mode, which has both versus and co-op gameplay. Versus is particularly entertaining as one player sends his zombie horde to attack the other player, while the other player has to not only defend but shoot down five targets on the zombie players side (which is fair, since the zombie player is trying to eat five brains.) While both modes are fun – teaming up against zombies or facing off as, well, plants versus zombies, there is one huge hitch: no online. Both modes are completely local. This is a baffling omission, as online zombie killing and Xbox Live go hand in hand. There’s a social networking aspect as well, as you build your virtual home with zombie carcasses, and can check out other friends’ zombie homes, but again, without online multiplayer, it just seems empty.

All in all, this is the same addictive Plants Vs. Zombies everyone loves, and for only 1200 MSP ($14.99); the regular Plants Vs. Zombies on PC/Mac retails for $19.99. The lack of online multiplayer is the only serious mar to the game.

According to an email from Atari:

Haunted House 1.0 became an instant classic when it hit the market in the 80’s. Teens and young adults were glued to their TV sets, with joystick in hand, as wondering eyes tried to survive Graves Mansion. It was the first survivor, search and escape, game that started a gaming genre explosion gamers thrive on today.

30 years later, Atari has given Haunted House a modern gameplay update mixed with the proven fun factor and suspense of the original blockbuster game. This classic game has been remade for a new generation authentic replication of arcade gameplay, rich 3D environments, interactive objects, dynamic storylines, and new characters. Just cool is the re-imagination? Check out these 5 new game screens! We line them up with the original Haunted House gameplay. The graphics are an upgrade, but the key game icons are still there!

Screenshots and gameplay trailer to follow after the break.

Popcap Games’ Ed Allard stated:

With a ton of new features and content exclusive to the XBLA version, we’ve pulled out all the stops to both expand and optimize this adaptation for a hard core gaming audience. The two new multiplayer modes allow gamers to work cooperatively to defeat hordes of invading zombies, or go head-to-head in a true ‘plants vs. zombies’ challenge. We’re also featuring a customized ‘house’ for tracking and sharing progress as well as a total of 21 mini-games and 12 achievements, all designed to enthrall Plants vs. Zombies players once again.

Let us know how much you’re looking forward to Plants Vs. Zombies on XBLA. The game has no set release date yet, and will cost 1200 MSP ($15 USD).

Read the original Casual Gamer Chick review here.

According to Microsoft Game Studios GM Dave McCarthy:

When we started on this journey, we knew we were creating an entirely new genre of entertainment that would be a continually evolving concept. We’re very proud of the 1 vs. 100 team and their accomplishments, and are excited to apply what we’ve learned to future programming.

The game started hot, with 114,000 simultaneous users, but interest waned, and the game lost advertiser support. The game was the first – and ultimately only – “PrimeTime” Xbox Live game. The best players were issued prizes of Microsoft points.

How disappointed are you in the cancellation of 1 Vs. 100? Let us know.

The game is on XBLA so it makes sense that there would be a multi-player feature in the game. Up to five players can battle it out for world domination. For the gamers that like something a bit different, they may want to check out Faction modes. Gamers can play as different Factions such as Zombies and Cats, which are both a bit different in a strategy game.

“RISK: Factions has been designed to offer something for every level of strategy player,” said Chip Lange, General Manager and Senior Vice President of the Hasbro Division at Electronic Arts. “We’ve taken a pop culture favorite and injected doses of innovation and creativity across all aspects of the game to deliver a RISK experience that can only be achieved on a digital gaming platform such as XBLA. From original Classic mode to new Factions mode, and online multiplayer to an assortment of rule-set options, game-changing strategic weapons, quirky factions and eye-grabbing graphics, the quest for world domination just got more extreme and fun.”

If you like strategy games, check out RISK: Factions on XBLA.

Thanks gameinfowire

“A World of Keflings is much more than a sequel,” said Steve Taylor, President of NinjaBee. “It’s a new game with a ton of new features, including some innovative ideas that stand out from both Live Arcade and full retail games.  A World of Keflings also has a new story focus, with new exotic lands, characters, quests, buildings, customization options, and a lot more.”

Players will be treated to a more complete chronicle of the Kefling world than in the first game. Players can play as their Xbox Live avatar and build Kefling lands. Each land contains its own climate and culture as well as unique resources, buildings and tech trees.

If you are into building type arcade style games, check out A World of Keflings when it arrives on Xbox Live Arcade in 2010.

Press Release Follows:

OREM, Utah – Jan 5, 2010 – It’s official. Those oddly cute, yet addictively sweet Keflings are back… in a big way. Independent video games developer NinjaBee has confirmed that A World of Keflings, a sequel to the enormously popular A Kingdom for Keflings, is coming to Xbox LIVE® Arcade in 2010.

“A World of Keflings is much more than a sequel,” said Steve Taylor, President of NinjaBee. “It’s a new game with a ton of new features, including some innovative ideas that stand out from both Live Arcade and full retail games.  A World of Keflings also has a new story focus, with new exotic lands, characters, quests, buildings, customization options, and a lot more.”

A World of Keflings is the bigger, more complete chronicle of the Kefling world where players can play as their Xbox LIVE® avatar and explore and build in the different Kefling lands. Each new kingdom has its own climate and Kefling culture. In addition, each kingdom contains its own unique resources, buildings and tech tree.

“When we set out to make a second Keflings game we decided that we were going to do it right and make it a whole new experience that clearly was bigger and better than the first,” said Brent Fox, NinjaBee’s Art Director. “A World of Keflings captures all the charm and casual-style of play of the first game, but adds more depth, humor and a ton of features players have requested.”

One of the most asked-for features included in the Keflings sequel is local multiplayer. Players will be able to build an entire world for the Keflings together with their spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, kids, friends or whomever on the same console.

NinjaBee has been teasing concept art for the new game each week this month. To see the revealed artwork visit www.NinjaBee.com/blog/.  NinjaBee plans to release A World of Keflings later this year, though a specific release date has not yet been established.

A World of Keflings is NinjaBee’s third XLA title to support playable avatars and is the second title NinjaBee has announced it is bringing to XLA in 2010. The other, Ancients of Ooga, was announced last fall.