shipping this week
Latest
New Apple TVs prepared for shipment
We received a lot of tips today from people who ordered the new $99 Apple TV on September 1st and have, like me, been anxiously checking the order status in the online Apple Store. As of today, many orders are showing the message you see above -- that the device has been "prepared for shipment" sometime in September. Well, today is September 27th, which doesn't leave all that much time for Apple or the OEM to ship these devices. My guess is that the 747 freighters are lining up on the tarmac in Shanghai or Hong Kong, waiting to be loaded with the first half-million or so Apple TVs. Fellow TUAW blogger Mike Rose and I both ordered our Apple TVs shortly after the announcement on September 1st, so whoever gets the first one will probably take dibs on doing a full review of the new iOS-powered streaming video box. Be sure to visit TUAW regularly this week for all of your Apple TV news. Thanks to all of the TUAW readers who wrote in to tell us that you saw the "prepared for shipment" status.
Shipping this week: Make your choice edition
This week on the Xbox 360, you have a choice. You can choose between either Afro Samurai or MLB Front Office Manager. That's it. Pick one. You're done. Then again, you could make the third choice. You could choose to buy nothing at all. That's probably the most zen thing to do. Of course, you could buy both of them. That would be the capitalist thing to do. Trust us, the economy needs it.Xbox 360: Afro Samurai MLB Front Office Manager
Shipping this week: Lord of the Battlefront edition
Guess what, kids? There's actually a game releasing for the Xbox 360 this week. You'll notice that "game" is singular, as there is only one game out this week. It's appropriate enough though, as the game itself happens to be about the One Ring. Yes, this week marks the release of Lord of the Rings: Conquest. If you've played the demo, you've got a pretty good idea of what to expect. It's essentially Star Wars: Battlefront only with fewer Stormtroopers and a lot more hobbits. Conquest has something that Battlefront definitely doesn't though: You can be a Balrog. A Balrog.[Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Nothing edition
It's another one of those weeks. You know the kind, the kind where nothing new releases on the Xbox 360. These weeks serve a double purpose. On one hand, they remind us of the sad emptiness that is life. That keeps us grounded. On the other hand, the help us remember release filled weeks gone by and also help us to look forward to happier, brighter weeks on the horizon. This week, grab your old games, hug them close and know that there will come a day when new games will flow once again.
Shipping this week: Cribbing from Joystiq edition
We're not going to go so far as to literally copy and paste Joystiq's "New games this week" post, but we are definitely stealing the angry Santa picture. The picture tells a story, see. That story is this: there are no new Xbox 360 games coming out this week. You see that misshapen, haphazardly wrapped present under the tree? It's not a new game. It's a special gift from Santa or, to be more specific, a gift from Santa's reindeer. He said that Rudolph "made it himself," whatever that means. Protip: don't open it.
Shipping this week: Crazy go nauts edition
Another laid back week for Xbox 360 releases this week as the year dwindles to its quiet, bitterly cold end. We only have one game to report, and that game is Rise of the Argonauts. The game centers around the myth of Jason and his Argonauts and their search for the Golden Fleece. As one might expect, the adventure is fraught with peril. We can sympathize. After all, we've seen the Old Navy commercials and know the horrors of searching for fleece.Oh, we have one note for Jason: once you find that Golden Fleece, you might want to check in on Medea. She's looking a might unhinged.[Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Black hole edition
The holiday gaming season, for the 360 at least, is over. After the accumulation of so many good games over the last several months, it seems the accumulation of worthwhile titles has become so massive that it's collapsed into itself, forming a black hole of new releases. What we're getting at, you see, is that there are no new releases this week. Not one. Not even a game based off of a holiday kids' movie. Nothing. Nada. We suggest you take this week to organize yourself. If you're anything like us, you still have a pile of games to finish, so get to it. And remember, there's nothing better to bring a family together during the holidays than a good video game. Also, strangely enough, there's nothing better to help you avoid family during the holidays than a good video game.It's good either way, really.[Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Scaling, scailing edition
With week after week of nothing but big releases (and a short breather last week) it looks like it's finally time to round out the big holiday gaming schedule. The biggest release this week is, without a shadow of a doubt, Prince of Persia. After the Prince took a questionable turn to the Dark Side (which followed his jaunt to the Emo Side), Ubisoft decided the entire series needed a refresh and the result is available this week. Here's hoping the Prince manages to scale those obstacles with panache and aplomb rather than falling to his death with all the grace of a stone. Here are all of this week's releases: Prince of Persia Destroy All Humans! Path Of The Furon The Tale of Despereaux [Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Banjo's Edge at War edition
The holiday onslaught continues as we are once again greeted by numerous heavy hitters. We've got your Mirror's Edge, your Banjo, your Call of Duty, your Command & Conquer. Please let us remind you that we are only two weeks into November and the gaming bonanza has yet to be fully unearthed. So, choose and choose wisely. Unless you're filthy rich, of course (and if you are, could you spare us a few bucks?). Call of Duty: World at War Mirror's Edge Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Pro Evolution Soccer 09 WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Rock Revolution [Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Boring edition
Is there a more boring month than November? It's like there's nothing worth playing this month at all. After the debacle that was last week, this week is completely bereft of anything even remotely resembling fun in even the most infinitesimal way. Seriously, have you seen what's coming out this week? Just take a look. Gears of War 2 Tom Clancy's EndWar Secret Service: Ultimate Sacrifice James Bond 007: Quantum of Solace Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Namco Museum Virtual Arcade Legendary History Channel Civil War: Secret Mission See? Nothing. Ah well, maybe we'll finally get something worth playing next week.[Image: sweet mandy kay][Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: indecision edition
Oh boy. Not only are there eight new games hitting the Xbox 360 this weeks (and Portal on XBLA, lest we forget), but several of them look to be good games. Heavy hitters like Far Cry 2 and Fable II undoubtedly top the list, but there are some other big names in there as well. Check 'em out: Fable 2 Midnight Club: Los Angeles Far Cry 2 Disney Sing It Spider-Man: Web of Shadows The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon Dance Dance Revolution: Universe 3 Legendary Now, the question is are there any "must have" games on this list for you, or are you strategically withholding your funds for something else?[Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: it begins edition
And here ... we ... go. We're halfway through October and it's finally started. The industry imposed holiday game torrent is upon us. We hope you've saved up some cash (or tidied up your GameFly queue) because, starting now, you're going to need it. Just look at all of these games: Dead Space Saints Row 2 Blitz: The League II Golden Axe: Beast Rider Rock Revolution FIFA Soccer 2009 Yeah, this is going to be a tough couple of months.[Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Earth shattering edition
We mean the headline literally, you see, because this week's marquee title (arguably) is Fracture. You may recall Fracture as the earth molding third person shooter from LucasArts. If you don't remember it -- and we wouldn't blame you -- there's a demo of the game available on Xbox Live Marketplace right now. We've also got a platformer, two basketball titles, and ... um ... Guilty Gear 2: Overture. All told, we have: Crash: Mind over Mutant NBA Live 2009 NBA 2K9 Guilty Gear 2: Overture Anyone out there planning to pick something up this week?[Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Hell's LEGO hunting edition
We've got five (count 'em, five) new Xbox 360 games this week. Probably the biggest of the bunch is Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, which finally arrives after numerous delays. Aside from Brothers in Arms we have LEGO Batman, which we imagine will be an awful lot like LEGO Indiana Jones which was an awful lot like LEGO Star Wars. We question whether or not the somewhat addictive charm will hold out this time. To round out the week, we've got off-road racing, hacking and slashing, and ... um ... hunting. Consider the fall gaming flood postponed. Baja: Edge of Control Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway Warriors Orochi 2 Cablela's Dangerous Hunts 2009 LEGO Batman
Shipping this week: Rock Band 2 Unleashed edition
The big releases are starting to drip out as the industry steadily ramps up for yet another packed holiday season. This week, the Xbox 360 plays host to some decent titles including the likes of Rock Band 2, Pure, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. On top of those, we've also got Armored Core: For Answer and ... um ... Battle Fantasia. To our disappointment, we have learned that Battle Fantasia is not a fighting game about the Disney movie Fantasia. It's a shame, really, because we were ready to throw down with some tutu-wearing hippos.[Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Oh no you didn't edition
Have you been dreaming of an open world game with massive firepower and fully destructible environments without all the pesky legal repercussions in GTAIV? Mercenaries 2 just might be your game. You get to blow things up ... a lot ... with cruise missiles. Let's not forget online co-op either, which means you can blow things up with cruise missiles ... with friends.As though Mercenaries 2 wasn't enough, we also have all of these: Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise Warhammer: Battle March Rapala Fishing Frenzy Infinite Undiscovery FaceBreaker NFL Head Coach 2009 Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise? Infinite Undiscovery? FaceBreaker? Yeah, so apparently "Holiday 2008" is already upon us.
Shipping This Week: Crashing edition
There are two really notable things about the games releasing this week. One, you may recall that Tales of Vesperia was the game that single-handedly caused the Xbox 360 to sell out completely in Japan. Somehow, we doubt the game will have quite the same impact in North America (regardless of its quality). Two, after over two frakking years, Castle Crashers is finally landing on Xbox Live Arcade. Our anticipation around here is palpable. Perhaps you've noticed. Also releasing this week is Tiger Woods 09. We're not sure exactly what's notable aboout that unless, of course, the Jesus shot makes a return.[Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Just Crash Time edition
Kids, it is a sad day in "Shipping this week" history. There is precisely one Xbox 360 game shipping this week. It wouldn't be such a big deal if it weren't for the fact that the game releasing ... is Crash Time. You may recall the demo that was released for the game back in May. We wouldn't blame you if you can't though. It was that bad. If you still need convincing, check out our video impressions of the demo above.But hey, it's not all bad, as we still get the mind-bending Braid on Xbox Live Arcade this week. Thank the heavens for that.
Shipping this week: Time machine edition
When you scan the new 360 releases this week, you may feel a sense of déjà vu. "Unreal Tournament III," you will say, "didn't that come out eight months ago?" Fear not, however, for your eyes do not deceive you. The Xbox 360 version of Unreal Tournament III has finally released, bereft of user created content though it may be. Presenting us with another trip back in time is Civilization Revolution, which has players building their ... civilizations from ancient times all the way into the space age. If you haven't given the demo a try, we suggest you do. It's good fun. Finally, we have Beijing Olympics 2008. We're guessing that one involves a lot of button mashing and stick twirling. You'd best prepare for the calluses now.[Via Joystiq]
Shipping this week: Guitar Hero: Latest Iteration edition
While there are technically two games coming out this week, there's really only one. You see, one of them is the Gears of War re-release (which we thought came out last week). That's all well and good for the folks who have yet to pick up Epic's super gory and very playable shooter. Just remember to watch out for that host shotty. Strangely enough, the new game releasing this week isn't all that new either. It's Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, which is, you guessed it, Guitar Hero with a lot of Aerosmith tracks. Whether or not you regard that as a good thing is entirely up to you. One point in defense of Aerosmith: they did give us Alicia Silverstone.[Via Joystiq]
