It's a proud and momentous day in gaming today. I can for once, with a tear in my eye and my glass raised high, report that this week's Deal of the Week is actually pretty damn good. Deal of the Week meet Bionic Commando Rearmed.

Not only is this week's title a solid title, and one that everyone should experience, but at 400 Microsoft Points ... it's a bloody bargain! Seriously ... stop whatever you are doing right now and go and pick this up ... or not. But you only have a week, so don't drag your feet.

Remember, this is open for gold membership only.

[Via Major Nelson]

I realize this news is not going to impact many people. If you don't know what the game is, can't read the achievements or just simply don't care, then don't bother posting. We don't need fifty "what is this?" comments.

For those who DO care, a new content pack titled Mega Black Label released today for Death Smiles has added ten new achievements for an additional 250 points. MBL costs 1200MSP.

Unfortunately the Japanese text didn't come through when I copied and pasted the achievements below, so if you want the full text, click on the "Achievements" tab above.

????? 80
500???????????

?????? 15
????????????????

????? 15
??????????????????

??????? 15
????????????

CAVE?????? 50
????????Lv999????????????????????

????? 25
???????50000?????????

???? 5
Lv999?????????

????? 15
EXMAP????????????????????

???? 5
EXMAP?????????????????

Secret Achievement 100
Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.

Major Nelson just posted details of the Xbox Live Arcade games coming this Wednesday and also sent word of the current Deal of the Week that Microsoft are running.

The two games available this Wednesday are Texas Cheat'em and Paramount's Star Trek D-A-C and will set you back 800 Microsoft Points each.

• For more info on Star Trek D-A-C, check out Xbox.com
• For more info on Texas Cheat'em, check out the Xbox.com page

This week's Deal of the Week is a discounted Brain Challenge that will now set you back 400 Microsoft Points instead of the usual 800 which is a saving of 50% (I worked that out all by myself! Check me out!). Remember though, Gold Members only.

Plenty to choose from, but anything that takes your fancy?

With the closure of 3D Realms late last week, former employees of the long standing studio are scrambling around trying to restore normality to their lives by bouncing back on their feet. Brian Brewer is one of these people and the latest clip he uploaded on to the web to showcase his skills are of the could-never-be title, Duke Nukem Forever.

The clip showcases some of the trademark Duke humour with some pretty solid animation. It just makes us hope that someone picks it up and gets it out there. If Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy saw the light of day, we hope there is still hope here, although I'm not holding my breath.

Last week The Maw developer Twisted Pixel Games took the wraps off their next title called ‘Splosion Man. It just so happened that this announcement was made on April Fools’ Day and many people believed it to be a prank.

However, since then Twisted Pixel has announced that they weren’t kidding about the game, which is about a “lab experiment gone wrong and made out of pure ‘splosion.” The press release probably says it best: “Millions quake in fear today as Twisted Pixel Games confirms the existence of the ‘Splosion Man. In a world already doomed by the planet-scourge The Maw, this new threat emerges from a top-secret military lab, big science gone wrong. His tale will be found on Xbox LIVE Arcade shortly before the world is incinerated.”

According to the developer’s website, ‘Splosion Man will be a “2.5D action/platformer based around the simple concept of ‘splosions and the ridiculousness that ensues.” The game includes up to four player co-op, local and online as well as a single-player story mode “chock full of hilarious cinemas seamlessly integrated into gameplay, epic boss battles, and it’s coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade.”

‘Splosion Man can ‘splode at will, propelling himself around a side-scrolling world and destroying everything in his path. Scientists try to stop him but “any scientist he catches is ‘sploded into chunks of ham and ribeyes, the smell of their destruction terrifying, but also a little succulent.”

Here’s what the developers had to say about the “Most Awesomest Game of All Times:”

“Twisted Pixel Games, creators of the award-winning Xbox LIVE Arcade title The Maw, announced today their plans for a new game – another heart-warming tale of courage and yes, even love. CEO Michael Wilford: ‘Screw that. Let’s just make a game where stuff blows up.’ Creative Director Josh Bear: ‘Yeah, lots of ‘splosions … like a guy made out of ‘splosions, and he’d be like ‘splode ‘splode ‘splode! and then things die.’

Things Die?

‘Yeah, but not like regular dying,’ explained Art Director David Leung. ‘He’ll ‘splode people, and they’ll blow up into big steaks and ribeyes and stuff.’ Lead Designer Sean Riley added, ‘Put it in a lab, with lots of glass to break. Then slow motion, and scientists diving away, being all like, Oh no, I can’t believe we made the ‘Splosion Man!’ Adds Sean, ‘But then they’d get ‘sploded too.’

A Game Rich in Tapestry of Story and Depth

No no no no. No. Just ‘splosions. We blow the whole budget on things getting ‘sploded.

Nothing Else?

What the hell else do you need?”

Indeed, what else do you need?

TMNT Fan Blog Ninja Pizza got photographic proof that a remake of Konami's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time is coming to the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade.

At last week's Galabunga events in NYC, the debut of the Turtles' Party Van also revealed that a "new" TMNT video game - not the already revealed "Smash-up" game for the Wii - was in development.

Ninja Pizza claims the game is an adaptation of the arcade game produced by Konami in 1991 and not the SNES adaptation (TMNT IV). But this is not just a HD version of the classic scrolling beat 'em up. Turtles in Time is getting a complete 3D makeover for its Xbox Live Arcade port. Although the Xbox 360 version will feature the same music composed by Kôzô Nakamura, the visuals have been completely redone as the following picture shows.

Source: Ninja-Blog.com

This Wednesday will see the release of....

Arkanoid Live


Space Invaders Extreme


Zombie Wranglers

all priced at 800 points each.

The XBLA release Texas Cheat'em will be available May 13th. This game is a new take on the classic Texas Hold ‘Em rules by layering party games and other gambling mini-games on top of the basic rules, and allowing players to cheat to win. The game has single and multi-player options for up to eight players, avatar support, party chat, online matchmaking, high score tables, and more.

No price has been announced.