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A new bundle featuring Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City is coming to Xbox 360 and PS3 on September 23, GameStop has revealed. The bundle, available for $50, packs in Game of the Year versions for each game.

The Game of the Year version of Arkham Asylum includes a Trioviz 3D mode (a post-processed 3D presentation compatible with any television) and some extra challenge maps. The Game of the Year version of Arkham City tosses in a smattering of DLC packs: Harley Quinn's Revenge, Catwoman Pack, Nightwing Bundle pack, Robin Bundle Pack, Challenge Map Pack and Arkham City Skins Pack. In total, this equates to an additional seven maps, three more playable characters, 12 skins and more.

The next installment in the Batman Arkham series, Batman: Arkham Origins, is due October 25 on PC, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U. The prequel is currently in development at WB Games Montreal and, for the first time, adds a multiplayer component to the series.

In dollars, Skylanders Giants is still the No. 1 selling console and handheld game in the US and Europe - including its toys and accessories - despite the launch of Disney Infinity in August.

Disney Infinity sold 294,000 units in its first two weeks and was ranked No. 3 in overall sales for August, according to the NPD. Activision notes that Giants sold more than 500,000 Starter Packs in its first two weeks last year, and the Skylanders franchise has generated more than $1.5 billion worldwide in its lifetime. Activision expects Skylanders figures to outsell the top action figures in the US and Europe during the first eight months of 2013.

Skylanders Swap Force, the third full Skylanders game, launches in October for Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3 and 3DS, and later this year for Xbox One and PS4.

Mega Man's spiritual successor is going to be on home consoles. Mighty No. 9's Kickstarter campaign managed to reach its 2.2 million stretch goal, which means the game will receive ports for Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U in addition to the original PC version.Read more...

The latest screenshot from Super Smash Bros. Wii U, shared by Masahiro Sakurai, raises a few questions. Compared to the other female characters, shouldn't Samus be much taller and more robust? And what on earth is Peach doing at the end of the line?Read more...

Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter has rushed past $2.2 million, meaning is should roll out Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U versions at launch in 2015. The Kickstarter recently added stretch goals for PS4 and Xbox One versions (you know, your likely consoles in 2015) at the $3.3 million mark.

With 14 days to go in the campaign, Mighty No. 9 still has plenty of time to rock out, pump up the bass and drum up support for future goals. Those include extra bosses, co-op and a lot of tantalizing "???" goals. Mighty No. 9 secured its original $900,000 funding request in three days.

[Thanks, Sunny]

Disney Infinity put the revenue from 294,000 sales in its toy box in its first two weeks on the market, a Disney spokesperson told Games Industry. Disney Infinity launched on August 18 and it hit No. 3 on the NPD's monthly sales report, behind Saints Row 4 and Madden 25.

The Accessories section of the NPD's totals hit $136.7 million for August. "Combined with sales of Skylanders accessories, one in every three accessory sold this month was an Interactive Gaming Toy," NPD reported.

We found Disney Infinity to be a joy for Disney fans of any age: "Adults who have a fondness for Disney will get the most out of Disney Infinity, thanks to its expansive Toy Box mode, and the Play Sets will provide hours of entertainment for kids who have prior experience with platformers."

Cause some mayhem this week with Grand Theft Auto V...

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Is Grand Theft Auto V the best game ever or just the best game ever? Can Nintendo save the Wii U? What does "next-gen" actually mean?Read more...

Lexis Numerique's Taxi Journey, an adventure that takes equal parts inspiration from Tim Burton, Hiyao Miyazaki and Limbo, is officially accepting cab fare on Kickstarter. Lexis Numerique seeks $130,000 for development of a Windows and Wii U version of the game, while Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, PS Vita, PSN and XBLA versions are tied to higher stretch goals. The fundraising campaign will conclude on October 12.

Taxi Journey tells the story of Gino, a cab driver so broke his cab doesn't have a passenger seat or engine, and Zoey, a "mysterious young girl." The two strangers meet in a dark forest, and from there begin their (wait for it) taxi journey across the strange world.

Lexis Numerique wants players to care for protagonists Gino and Zoey, even if there is a certain amount of crate pushing and puzzle solving to be done. Gino also possesses an umbrella sturdy enough to shield himself and Zoey from rocks, as well as a fishing pole that can catch reflections. Zoey, meanwhile, has the ability to carry immaterial things, like energy and sound. The Kickstarter video, for example, shows Gino fishing out a light's reflection to sneak by a giant fox-like creature.

Yeah no, that totally sounds like the last time we caught a cab.

The Wonderful 101 is a frustrating game, a confusing maelstrom of aliens and superheroes that seems to punish players for all the wrong reasons.Read more...

Different Cloth, developer of the IGF award-winning rhythm game lilt line, has traced a neon path to Kickstarter to fund lilt line too!. lilt line too!'s Kickstarter campaign has collected £2,521 in donations at the time of this writing and is seeking £15,000 to develop for the iOS. Stretch goals include ports to Android, Vita and the Wii U.

Although lilt line tasked players with guiding a line across a narrow pathway entirely from a top-down perspective, lilt line too! will utilize 3D environments and various camera angles. Players will pick between the 3D-oriented "fresh" and top-down "classic" game modes to switch between perspectives. The secondary task of tapping the screen to the beat of the soundtrack will also return in lilt line too!.

Beyond "at least" 20 new levels, lilt line too!'s Kickstarter page describes competitive online and local multiplayer. The online mode will pit up to four players against each other in a race to keep up with the beat and compete for the highest score. The former will convert the task of tapping the screen into clapping or shouting into the microphone, assigning one player the task of steering while a second keeps time with the beat.

The NPD Group has released its monthly report on sales in the physical retail sector of the video game industry for August, and due to dramatic figures on both sides of the scale, the industry as a whole remained essentially flat as far as its overall year-over-year income comparisons are concerned.

Overall hardware sales were down 40 percent as compared with August of 2012, with the entire segment bringing in just $90.8 million. Nintendo's 3DS appreciated its fourth month in a row as the best-selling piece of hardware in the US, while Microsoft's Xbox 360 enjoyed yet another podium finish as the best-selling home console, selling 96,000 units.

Meanwhile, year-over-year software sales were up by 23 percent: $293.4 million this August as compared to $237.9 million last year. Eight out of August's top 10 best-selling games were launched during the month, with the entire list achieving "more than double the sales" of the top 10 games of August 2012, according to NPD Group analyst Liam Callahan.

The list, available in full after the break, is topped by Madden 25, Saints Row 4 and Disney Infinity, the last of which also played a major role in the Accessories segment's $136.7 million of income - a seven-percent increase over last year. "Combined with sales of Skylanders accessories, one in every three accessory sold this month was an Interactive Gaming Toy," says Callahan.

The Kickstarter campaign to fund the third studio album for Tommy Tallarico's Video Games Live is a success. The pledge drive has surpassed its goal of $250,000 today, within its final 24 hours of the pledge drive.

Video Games Live is a confluence of video game music and live spectacle, usually a touring live concert series where musicians cover select tracks from video game soundtracks while gameplay is projected on a massive screen. There are currently two Video Games Live albums, each available on iTunes.

The target release date for this third studio album is February 18, 2014. Some planned compositions already outed include pieces from Street Fighter 2, the Monkey Island series, Skyrim, Journey, Shadow of the Colossus, Beyond Good and Evil, Tetris, Silent Hill 2, World of Warcraft and Diablo 3.

Are you ready for some footbaaaaaaaall? That's what you'll get on the 3DS this week, thanks to the Virtual Console release of the nigh mythical Tecmo Bowl. The Wii U, meanwhile, picks up the often overlooked - but still great - The Legend of Zelda 2: Link's Adventure. We also have a few sales going on: Toki Tori 2+ (Wii U) is $8.99 until 9am PT on September 19, Super Little Acorns 3D Turbo (3DS) is $3.99 until 9am PT on October 2, and Bike Rider DX is $2.99 until 9am PT on October 10.

Finally, next week sees the Wii U eShop release of The Wonderful 101 (which we rather enjoyed), while the 3DS will get a demo of Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl.

Nintendo released a new batch of screenshots for next year's Super Smash Bros., featuring Mario's damsel in distress, Peach—except here, she's the one opening a can of whoopass on everyone. Including Mario, of course.Read more...

The AbleGamers Charity has opened its first AbleGamers Lab in its West Virginia headquarters. Featuring "top-end gaming devices and cutting-edge assistive technology," the Lab's goal is to offer the disabled the same sort of gaming experiences that more able-bodied players take for granted.

"This day has been nearly a decade in the making," said Mark Barlet, founder and director of the AbleGamers Charity. "And up until this point, the AbleGamers Lab has only been a dream." "But I'm proud to announce that this dream has become a reality," added Bartlet. "We already have our first appointment scheduled and will continue consulting with special needs gamers as quickly as we can. It is, has been, and will always be our primary goal to empower and enable any gamer with disabilities to play video games."

Bartlet's goal seems to be popular among gamers themselves, as AbleGamers cites the generosity of the gaming industry as the key reason why this Lab now exists. "We have had a tremendous outpouring of generosity from the video game industry and community over the last year. These amazing donors have enabled us to begin consulting with gamers one-on-one to figure out the exact equipment each individual needs to get back into the game," stated AbleGamers COO and Outreach Chair Steve Spohn.

The AbleGamers Lab is currently accepting appointments for consultation. For more information or to set up your own visit to the Lab, send an e-mail to AbleGamers' team of assistive technology specialists.

Better frame rate, new textures, all sorts of shiny new lighting... the HD version of the second-best Zelda game looks pretty damn good.Read more...

The IndieCade 2013 jury sifted through 850 game submissions and found 36 gems to be featured and playable during the festival the weekend of October 5 in Culver City, California. This year's games include Gone Home, Gunpoint, Kentucky Route Zero, Nidhogg, Porpentine's Twine Compilation, Reus, Rogue Legacy, Save the Date, Spin the Bottle, Starseed Pilgrim, Super Time Force, That Dragon Cancer, Towerfall and Upgrade Soul.

Along with these special selections, IndieCade will have 120 more games playable in the PlayStation, Nintendo, Ouya, Oculus Rift and IndieCade tents, plus a lineup of Digital Selects: 7 Grand Steps, BUDLR, Dominique Pamplemousse, Gravity Ghost, Potatoman Seeks the Troof, Scale, Soundself, Tenya Wanya Teens and more, including a mystery game to be announced during the show.

Entry to IndieCade starts at $20 with a Festival Day pass, and runs to $450 for an All Access badge, which includes the professional conference track, the Creators' Lounge, the Garden Party and all festival activities.

Gamefly's used game sale starts today and runs through September 16, offering discounts on previously owned copies of DMC: Devil May Cry, Dishonored, Madden NFL 13, Resident Evil 6 and Max Payne 3 for PS3 and Xbox 360, and Injustice: Gods Among Us, LEGO City Undercover, Resident Evil Revelations, Scribblenauts Unlimited and ZombiU for Wii U. There are tons more listed on Cheapassgamer.

Most games in the sale cost around $10, with the most expensive topping out at $18. The savings might just obscure thoughts of how the last owner picked their nose before touching the disc.

Zen Studios isn't done with Star Wars-branded pinball tables, announcing another three this morning for autumn. The "Balance of the Force" tables feature Darth Vader, Return of the Jedi (Endor) and Starfighter Assault tables. Sorry, Jar-Jar fans, still no lake city Naboo table.

Unlike previous tables from Zen, these tables are going to launch on (1+1+2+1...) a whole mess of platforms during the launch week. Star Wars Pinball: Balance of the Force will be available on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network for PS4 and Vita, Steam, Nintendo Wii U eShop, Apple and Mac App Stores, Google Play, Windows 8 and Kindle Fire HD.

In the latest single player campaign trailer released today from Activision and Infinity Ward, Call of Duty takes you into the sky. Like, way, way into the sky. The entire intro of this latest trailer takes place in space, which isn't the typical grey and brown terrain we're all too familiar with.Read more...

NBC Universal has announced video games cable channel G4 will no longer be converted into the Esquire Network.

An exclusive report on The Hollywood Reporter calls out NBC Universal's Style channel as the unlucky recipient of an Esquire makeover, which will see the now female-focused channel shifting its focus toward mature men. As a result of this news, G4 will continue to operate as-is for the foreseeable future.

The announcement to convert G4 into the Esquire Network came in February, when NBC Universal called out an April 22 re-branding. A week prior to that planned launch, NBC Universal pushed back the launch of the Esquire Network to an unspecified date.

Gather a team and save the world this week with The Wonderful 101...

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With both game and album debuting on November 5, Activision and Aftermath/Interscope Records have joined forces to offer a discount on Eminem's upcoming album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 to anyone who pre-orders Call of Duty: Ghosts.

From now until launch, those who pre-order Call of Duty: Ghosts from GameStop will find a code on their receipt when they come in to pick up the game. This code entitles buyers to download a special version of The Marshall Mathers LP 2 which features "an exclusive, bonus studio track" for $9.

Furthering this joint marketing effort is an upcoming trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts, which will feature "Survival," a track from The Marshall Mathers LP 2. "The energy and intensity of 'Survival' really matches Call of Duty: Ghosts," said the musician. "I'm excited to continue to be a part of the franchise."

As we reported earlier, according to Gamestop, Call of Duty: Ghosts is currently on track to be the most pre-ordered game of 2013.

It looks like the Pilotwings stage will be a great one in Super Smash Bros. Wii U. Mario probably freaked out when he realized he's on a plane, chased by The Villager, who doesn't seem to care much about the heights.Read more...

Here's an odd e-mail that those of us who "like" Nintendo's official Wii U Facebook page received today. Are you thinking what I first thought when I got that? They couldn't be thinking about...they wouldn't change the name... no way, right? (Spoiler: No way is probably right!)Read more...

This is true Nintendo brand power. Years after launching on the company's previous console, Nintendo announced today it is dropping the suggested retail price of Super Mario Galaxy 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Wii Sports Resort to $29.99.

"The new price represents one of the many steps Nintendo is taking to provide shoppers with the best value and variety across all its systems through the end of 2013," said Nintendo in a press release. "The games can also be played on the Wii U home console, which can play the entire library of Wii games."

Nintendo neglected to add: So, please, please, please buy the Wii U. We beg, we plead. This is us on our knees. Hoping.

Disney Infinity players on Xbox 360, Wii U and PS3 now have five free custom-built toy boxes to check out, courtesy of Disney Interactive. Among the five levels offered is "Toy Columbia," described as a "sprawling city in the sky with infinite possibilities." The level looks strikingly similar to the same Columbia in BioShock Infinite, though Disney doesn't (or rather, can't) say it outright.

The other four toy boxes now available are Sky Gauntlet, Jungle Cruise, Trench Run and Blue Breakout. Disney Infinity is also available on PC and 3DS, though the DLC wasn't mentioned for those platforms in Disney's announcement.

Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara, which bundles both of Capcom's arcade classics, finally makes its way to the Wii U this week. Also heading to the Wii U are Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams and Breath of Fire 2 (another Capcom oldie).

Meanwhile, the 3DS picks up the eShop releases of Sonic Generations and Boulder Dash XL 3D. The 3DS also gets an interesting Virtual Console release in the rare Famicom shooter Recca, which was created for a competition in 1992. Physical copies are apparently tough to find, with current prices on eBay topping $500. Since we're on the subject, the Sega Saturn version of Dungeons & Dragons is pretty rare as well.

Wayforward, the studio behind DuckTales Remastered and Adventure Time: Hey Ice King, has launched a $400,000 Kickstarter campaign for one of its original IPs, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. The new Shantae is an HD adventure confirmed for Wii U, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Steam.

Shantae, the first game in the series, launched on GameBoy Color in 2002, followed by Shantae: Risky's Revenge on DSiWare in 2010 and iOS in 2011. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is currently on its way to the 3DS eShop.

Half-Genie Hero features Shantae's "core gameplay," including whipping, belly dancing, platforming and customization. It throws Shantae into a dream world where she finds a new evil power, and back in reality she must locate and vanquish the new threat. The game is told in chapters, and funding will cover an opening stage with a boss, three chapters and a conclusion. Stretch goals, of course, can expand these parameters.

"Shantae: Half-Genie Hero continues the tradition of action-adventure in the spirit of Metroid, Castlevania, and the Legend of Zelda," Wayforward writes. "Our goal is to introduce Shantae to a whole new audience with a fresh art style and a brand-spanking-new storyline. As always, we're putting pitch perfect controls in the front seat."

Less than one hour in and Wayforward has snagged 500 backers and more than $14,000 for Half-Genie Hero.