Looks like this week’s big releases include Bulletstorm, Killzone 3 and de Blob 2. Remember, if you see anything you want to order, please order through the links after the jump to help us out.

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In the United States, there are two major toy companies that have been battling back and forth for the number one spot for decades. The current leader is Mattel, but the number two, Hasbro, is bridging that gap by leaps and bounds in recent years. As an avid toy collector, I know quite a bit about toy history, but not so much about toy company history. Thats why today’s article H is for Hasbro.

Banner image from Consumerist.

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The last time that the name Remedy was attached to a game, Max Payne and Mona Sax were blowing away mobsters back in 2003’s Max Payne 2. Since then, the Finnish developers have been working on this Xbox 360 exclusive. It was one of the first titles announced for the system, and then info on it became scarce, almost to the point where one would think it was canceled. Thankfully that wasn’t the case, and Alan Wake finally hit shelves last year. Although it didn’t sell anywhere near what it deserved to, it provides gamers with a unique and memorable experience. You play as the title character, Alan Wake. A struggling writer from New York, you and your wife travel to Bright Falls, a town in the Pacific Northwest hoping to get away from it all. However, things go awry rather quickly. You wife goes missing, you keep finding pages of a manuscript you’ve written, although you don’t remember writing it, and worst of all, you’re constantly attacked by a darkness which has taken over everyone and everything in your way.
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Are you ready to be taken on a ride? Thats right! This Valentine’s edition of SYW is all about Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Think it will live up to the hype? Let us know in the forums! If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, use one of the handy links after the jump and you’ll help the site out at the same time (and we appreiciate it every time!).

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Since the alphabet is the building block of our language, the Powet Alphabet is the building block of what makes us geeks.

Grand Theft Auto is a 1977 film that marked former child actor Ron Howard’s debut as a director. Howard stepped in the role of a young man who runs away with his girlfriend when her rich and overprotective father tries to hook her up with a rich young socialite. The Grand Theft Auto part of the film comes into play when the girlfriend steals her father’s Rolls-Royce, as the two have their sights set on a Vegas wedding. The socialite puts a bounty on his head, and hi-jinks ensue.

Grand Theft Auto is no laughing matter however. In 2005 alone, there were approximately 1.2 million reported cases of motor vehicle theft, costing an estimated $7.6 billion in property losses. As you can see, it is a very serious crime in any state, along with most of the civilized world. Offenders can expected to spend up to 15 years or more in prison, depending on the severity of the crime.

The GTA I’m referring to is neither a Ron Howard flick or the real life crime. It is a game franchise created by DMA Designs under the direction of Lemmings creator David Jones. The games cast players in the shoes of criminals, and as the title suggests, they must commit Grand Theft Auto (along with other crimes) to get ahead. The series has spanned 10 separate installments and 4 expansion packs. Its formula of open-world gaming and criminal mayhem has earned the franchise a special place on the shelves of many a gamer. Yet, GTA remains one of the most controversial franchises in gaming, and not just for its adult content.
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Long before Fable, Peter Molyneux’s Bullfrog Productions produced what was considered one of the first “God” Simulators. And a God simulator it certainly was. You played as a deity out to guide your people towards prosperity….by bringing about the apocalypse and beating the crap out of the other deity. You flattened and raised land so that your worshipers can build houses to produce more worshipers. You also have access to several spells that can unleash disasters upon your opponents, such as earthquakes and floods. While it’s primitive by today’s standards, Populous is still a fun game that contains just enough strategy to keep players reeled in. A Nintendo DS update was released a few years ago by XSeed featuring new gods, new maps, and stylus play. It’s available for cheap, so if you haven’t experienced this classic, then there is no better time to do so.

You may remember a little known PC game by the name of Battle Chess. When you went to capture your opponent’s pieces, the game showed a battle animation. Sadly, you couldn’t control it, but it was fun to watch. What if you could control the battle however? For one thing, your queen would never be taken out some pawn of knight. Several years ago, there was a game with such a concept, Archon. Designed by Paul Reiche III and Jon Freeman (with the programming being done by Freeman’s wife Anne Westfall), Archon had a similar look to chess, although there were several dynamics in play that made it different. First of all, each piece has its own set of powers to use. When two rival pieces entered the same square, they engaged each other in combat, and players could control both pieces. Also, depending on what color the square was, one piece could gain an advantage over the other. While the game received a few sequels and remakes, it’s this 2010 remake that stands out. Archon Classic adds a number of new options. Power-ups during battle, new animated pieces, a campaign mode, new maps, and pieces that level-up during the game are but a few of the new additions. Best of all, you can turn off any of the new additions as you wish and play with classic graphics, the new updated look, or somewhere in-between. Up to four players can play against each other. Unfortunately, there is no true online multiplayer besides hot-seat play. Even so, Archon Classic gives gamers a new way (and new incentive) to experience this classic game, especially for its price.

This week is tough week to say anything is a big release. Not many big releases to speak of, but have a look for yourself after the jump!
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