If you thought last week's release list was hot, you haven't seen anything yet. Let's get the obvious out of the way first - Gears of War finally hits retail this week and the Xbox 360 will probably never be the same. Expect thunder, expect lightning... expect Xbox Live to be moving at the speed of a diseased turtle - yes, this is going to be BIG.

While Gears of War may be the biggest release of the week, a lot of other heavyweights are hitting shelves in the next seven days, including Call of Duty 3 (360, PS2, XBX), Guitar Hero II (PS2), Tony Hawk's Project 8 (360, PS2, PSP, XBX) and Viva Pinata (360). On the hardware end, Microsoft will be releasing both the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive add-on and wireless steering wheel controller, priced at $199.99 and $149.99 respectively.

Yes, the bank accounts and credit cards of gamers everywhere are sure to be quaking in fear for the next few weeks. Isn't it glorious?

• 1701 A.D. - PC - 11/7/2006
  
• Aircraft Power Pack for Microsoft Flight Simulator X - PC - 11/7/2006
  
• Battle Zone - PSP - 11/7/2006
  
• Deal or No Deal - PC - 11/7/2006
  
• Elite Beat Agents - DS - 11/7/2006
  
• Final Fantasy V Advance - GBA - 11/7/2006
  
• Great Invasions - PC - 11/7/2006
  
• Hot Wheels Compilation - GBA - 11/7/2006
  
• Lumines II - PSP - 11/7/2006
  
• Model Train 3D - PC - 11/7/2006
  
• Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects - PC - 11/7/2006
  
• Reel Fishing: The Great Outdoors - PSP - 11/7/2006
  
• The Fifth Disciple - PC - 11/7/2006
  
• Unreal Anthology - PC - 11/7/2006
  
• Barbie 12 Dancing Princesses - DS - 11/8/2006
  
• Blitz: The League - 360 - 11/8/2006
  
• BomberMan Land Touch! - DS - 11/8/2006
  
• Call of Duty 3 - 360 - 11/8/2006
  
• Call of Duty 3 - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• Call of Duty 3 - XBX - 11/8/2006
  
• Digimon World DS - DS - 11/8/2006
  
• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• Final Fantasy XI Vana’diel Collection 2007 - PC - 11/8/2006
  
• Gears of War - 360 - 11/8/2006
  
• Gears of War Collector's Edition - 360 - 11/8/2006
  
• Guitar Hero 2 - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• Hard Rock Casino - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• Hard Rock Casino - PSP - 11/8/2006
  
• History Channel: Civil War - 360 - 11/8/2006
  
• Left Behind: Eternal Forces - PC - 11/8/2006
  
• My Frogger: Toy Trials - DS - 11/8/2006
  
• Polarium Advance - GBA - 11/8/2006
• Sega Genesis Collection - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• SOCOM US Navy Seals Combined Assault - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• SOCOM US Navy Seals Fireteam Bravo 2 - PSP - 11/8/2006
  
• Splinter Cell: Double Agent - PC - 11/8/2006
  
• Suzuki Superbikes - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• The Sims 2: Happy Holiday Stuff - PC - 11/8/2006
  
• The Sims 2: Holiday Edition 2006 - PC - 11/8/2006
  
• The Sims 2: Pets - GBA - 11/8/2006
  
• The Sopranos - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• The Sopranos Collectors Edition - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• Tom and Jerry Tales - DS - 11/8/2006
  
• Tom and Jerry Tales - GBA - 11/8/2006
  
• Tony Hawk's Project 8 - 360 - 11/8/2006
  
• Tony Hawk's Project 8 - PS2 - 11/8/2006
  
• Tony Hawk's Project 8 - PSP - 11/8/2006
  
• Tony Hawk's Project 8 - XBX - 11/8/2006
  
• Uno/Skip-Bo/Uno Freefall - DS - 11/8/2006
  
• Winx Club: The Quest for the Codex - DS - 11/8/2006
  
• Winx Club: The Quest for the Codex - GBA - 11/8/2006
  
• World Championship Poker: All In - 360 - 11/8/2006
  
• Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel - 360 - 11/8/2006
  
• Patriots: A Nation Under Fire - PC - 11/9/2006
  
• Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player - 360 - 11/9/2006
  
• Chicken Little: Ace in Action - DS - 11/10/2006
  
• Chicken Little: Ace in Action - PS2 - 11/10/2006
  
• Viva Pinata - 360 - 11/10/2006
  

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

Posted by nylatenite at 12:26 AM EST

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Following in the footsteps of the command line version, MAME32 v.110, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.110 is also now available.

Check out the official MAME32 page here for more details and the download links.

Posted by nylatenite at 12:24 AM EST

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The latest version of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator is now available. Version 1.10 incorporates all of the changes made in the last series of interim updates, so if you were having problems with anything in v.109, the new version may be the answer to your problems..

The updated files can be found at the official MAME page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what's new in this update.

Posted by nylatenite at 12:23 AM EST

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About a week or two back, I decided that despite my better judgment, I wanted to give Guitar Hero a try - I mean, with how much everyone races about the game, it had to be something special, right? While researching the title, I found that a lot of people were really liking The Ant Commandos (T.A.C.) Freedom V wireless guitar, so I asked some people in the know if I should pick up the standard RedOctane SG or the wireless T.A.C. guitar. The answer I was given was to go with the SG, because the Freedom V was not going to be compatible with Guitar Hero II. I was a bit relieved at the time, as I had no clue if I was actually going to like the game, and the SG was about $20 - $25 cheaper than the Freedom V.

We'll fast forward to present day now. First off, let me say that while I've never - NEVER been a fan of rhythm games, I'm hopelessly addicted to Guitar Hero. I think it comes down to the fact that at some point, everyone has wanted to be a rock-star. Regardless, it's the addiction that made me both cheer and sigh when I read over at ArsTechnica that T.A.C. has announced that all their guitars made after October 1st, 2006 will be compatible with Guitar Hero II, and that starting November 10th, they will be selling an adapter that will allow guitars made before that date to function with Guitar Hero II as well.

"...any guitar controller from TAC purchased before October 1st, including the Freedom V Wireless, is not compatible with GH II without an adapter. TAC is currently making an adapter for the older version of the guitar controllers that will be available November 10th.  They will sell for $6.99 with free shipping from Guitarmania.com Any TAC guitar controller purchased after October 1 is fully compatible with GH II. I hope this clears up any confusion." - The Ant Commandos

I now wonder just how much more fun I could be having if I could get my groove on wirelessly... though I guess I could always grab another guitar for 2 player battles, right? Actually, if I could get any one accessory, I'd personally love a strap that didn't tear into my neck every time I put it on - you see a shop with that, you let me know. Anyway, the adapter will be sold directly by T.A.C. via their website at a cost of $6.99 with free shipping included.

Guitar Hero II is scheduled to be released for the PlayStation 2 on November 7th, 2006. For more details on the adapter and the situation with T.A.C.'s guitars and Guitar Hero 2, check out the ArsTechnica article at this link.

Posted by nylatenite at 12:39 AM EST

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Bethesda has announced that the latest addition to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Knights of the Nine, will be available for the Xbox 360 and Windows PCs via digital distribution and at retail stores on November 21st. (The content will already be included with the PlayStation 3 version of the game) Reports indicate the expansion will add approximately 10-20 hours of gameplay to Oblivion, making it more of a true expansion than previous add-on content for the game. From the content description;

"Knights of the Nine- DLC8

The Gods have forsaken Tamriel.

A fallen King has been unchained from the darkness of Oblivion to seek vengeance upon the Gods who banished him. Only a champion pure of heart can vanquish the evil that has been released upon the land. You must heed the call, reclaim the lost relics of the Divine Crusader, and return the Nine to glory. New dungeons, characters, quests, and mysteries await.

• Features:

  • Begin a New Faction - The Knights of the Nine have long been disbanded. Reclaim their former glory as you traverse the far reaches of Cyrodill across an epic quest line.
    
    
  • Battle New Foes - Encounter Umaril, the ancient Ayleid Sorcerer-King, and his minions, the fearsome Aurorans.
    
    
  • Discover Unique Items - An entirely new armor set and weapons, each with unique powers, are within your grasp…if you are worthy." - Oblivion Download store

According to Bethesda, downloading the expansion will cost $9.99 on the PC (via the Oblivion download store) and 800 points ($10) on the Xbox 360 (Via the Xbox Live Marketplace). In addition, a $19.99 retail boxed set will be available for PC users which will not only include Knights of the Nine, but the rest of Oblivion's pay content as well.

While there's some confusion on the issue, the PlayStation 3 version of Oblivion is apparently scheduled to be released on November 17th with the launch of the system.

Posted by nylatenite at 12:38 AM EST

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It's not much more, but Kotaku posted a picture of the Spartan Mjolnir Mark VI Helmet Replica which will come with the Legendary Edition of Halo 3. I've shrunken down the picture and reposted it below for your viewing pleasure. I don't know about you, but I'm tempted to build some kind of hinge that would let me tilt the head back so I can press a red button which opens a door to the game-cave (tm).

Now that you're done ogling the helmetty goodness of the Legendary Edition in a small, easy to load size, why not head over to Kotaku to check out the full sized picture and story that accompanies it - just click here. Oh, and if you just joined us and are wondering what the hell I'm talking about, check out this earlier story on the Legendary Edition of Halo 3 set.

Posted by nylatenite at 1:29 PM EST

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Nintendo has released two videos of The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess and the folks over at Kotaku were good enough to put them up on YouTube for all to see. Check out the videos of the game below to see what all the fuss regarding Nintendo's take on Ladyhawke is all about. (Kidding - kind of)

For those looking at this in the still not video enabled archives, here are the links... (pun intended!)

Video 1

Video 2

Posted by nylatenite at 2:09 AM EST

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A demo of the Xbox 360 version of Sierra's upcoming movie-based game Eragon is now available in the Xbox Live Marketplace for Xbox Live Gold members only. The demo weighs in at 415.28mb, and if it's anything like the one I tried at Digital Life, it probably isn't worth your time to download. This is now the second bit of content that has hit Live marked as "Xbox Live Gold members only", so it looks like Microsoft is serious about pushing Gold on everyone.

Posted by nylatenite at 2:07 AM EST

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MAME32, the Windows GUI version of MAME, has also been updated to incorporate the u5 changes listed below. As with the regular version of MAME, MAME32 109.5 release centers around fixes to the debugger, so you may want to hold off on upgrading until the next full release - just to be on the safe side.

Check out the official MAME32 page here for more details and the download links.

Posted by nylatenite at 2:06 AM EST

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The fifth interim update for MAME v.109 is now available. Nothing much to note about this update as it's mainly a bunch of fixes to the emulator's debugger code.. Unless you like testing the updates, save yourself any hassles and stick with version .109.

The updated files can be found at the official MAME page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see what's new in this update.

Posted by nylatenite at 2:05 AM EST

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