Halo 3, Trials HD tops on Xbox Live

What’s hot happening and downright exciting on Xbox Live lately, According to data from Major Nelson’s official Blog, Halo 3 is all the rage for the week of Oct. 26, 2009. The top Arcade title for the week (based on sales, not usage) was Trials HD, followed by the new South Park tower defense game, Konami’s Zombie Apocalypse and Battlefield 1943. I can’t believe that Castle Crashers is still in the top ten after all this time.

The top Indie game for the week was Avatar Drop, followed by I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1, Pumpkin Chop, Miner Dig Deep and Headshot. It’s nice to see that Miner Dig Deep is getting some sales because it is one of the best Indie games released so far in my ever so humble opinion. The full list of games after the break.

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For the Glory gold, in stores Nov. 10

Paradox Interactive latest historical strategy game set in the Europa Universalis universe has gone gold. For the Glory: A Europa Universalis Game will be released via digital download at all major digital download portals on November 10th. Developed by Crystal Empire Games, a team formed from Paradox’s Europa Universalis II fan community, the game was built using the Europa Engine. The title is a product of the developers’ vision for the ultimate historical strategy game. Players take the reins of a country, guide domestic and foreign policy, navigate thousands of historical events, engage in various struggles and lead their country to prosperity… or to ruin.

Those interested in get a look inside the game’s development should check out a series of developer diaries that can be found on the For the Glory forums.

Crystal Defenders now on PSP go

Crystal Defenders has been released on PSP go this week via the PlayStation Network. The game from Square Enix is based on the job classes and locations from the popular Final Fantasy Tactics game and is being billed as a “defensive simulation.” Does that mean when someone say that it sucks that it somehow gets defensive and storms out of the room or something? I’m not really sure, but it is only $10.00 USD. More likely is that it is a tower defense style game. In it you deploy units to defend crystals of wave after wave of bad guys. The game is based on the WiiWare game of the same name released in Japan at the beginning of this year.

According to Square Enix the game is easy enough to understand: monsters an area in waves until they are defeated or reach an exit; if they make it that far, they steal some crystals. Players have to decide where to deploy various jobs such as Black Mages or Soldiers that will attempt to defend the party’s crystals. Factors such as map terrain, monster strengths and weaknesses, job attributes, and more will play a role in determining what actions a player should take.

Look for the game on the PSP go via PlayStation Network, right now.

Rocking your blocks off: LEGO Rock Band released

Warner Bros. Interactive has released LEGO Rock Band, much to the delight of kids and adults alike - assuming the game is good, of course. Combining Rock and Roll with the popular building blocks, LEGO Rock Band adds LEGO style into the Rock Band formula. The game features 45 songs and at launch and lets players of all skill levels play bass, drums, guitar and mic to such songs from Queen, Foo Fighters, Jackson 5, The All-American Rejects, Jimi Hendrix, Good Charlotte, Tom Petty and more.

Unique to LEGO Rock Band is the introduction of Rock Power Challenges, where players can harness the power of rock to pull off killer riffs that have the ability to do crazy things like demolish a building, stop an angry octopus or send players on wild missions. Naturally the game promises build-and-play elements that let players customize their own experience by creating a minifigure avatar, band and entourage.

The game will also be supported by the Rock Band Store’s regular release of weekly content as well, with some tunes already ready for purchase. LEGO Rock Band is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and various incarnations of the DS.

Need for Speed NITRO released

Need for Speed NITRO is now available in North America and will be available on November 6th in Europe. Developed specifically for the Wii and Nintendo DS, Need for Speed NITRO brings arcade racing to Nintendo’s platforms.

Besides a NFS branded arcade racing experience for Nintendo platform owners, the game features a soundtrack with such artists as k-os, Placebo and Crystal Method. EA’s NFS NITRO promises arcade racing for all kinds of players - from the casual to the hardcore - by offering accessible controls, and competitive multiplayer events.

For more information on the game check out www.ea.com..

Dragon Age: Origins in stores

BioWare’s newest action RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, is now in stores and available for the PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC. Dragon Age present an original RPG created by BioWare, best known for creating such hits as Neverwinter Nights and Mass Effect. Dragon Age: Origins introduces a dark and gritty approach to the fantasy genre where players must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice their friends and loved ones for the greater good of mankind. Several downloadable content packs are also now available, including Warden’s Keep, The Stone Prisoner and the Blood Dragon Armor.

The Stone Prisoner gives players access to new environments, items, hours of additional gameplay and the stone golem Shale who can become one of the most powerful party members in the game. The Warden’s Keep DLC provides a new dungeon-exploring adventure, new loot including a set of ancient Grey Warden armor, a chance to gain two of six mysterious new abilities, a new base complete with merchants and a party chest to store their hard-earned items. In addition, BioWare has released the Blood Dragon Armor DLC, a set of themed armor that gives players additional protection in combat and will be available for use in both Dragon Age: Origins on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC and in Mass Effect 2 on the Xbox 360 and PC.

Dragon Age: Origins is available today in North America on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. In Europe, Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 6th on the Xbox 360 and PC and later in November on PlayStation 3. The game is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

For more information on the game check out www.dragonage.com.

James Patterson’s Daniel X becomes a game

THQ today announced its plans to bring James Patterson’s book series, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, to the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS in January 2010. The books revolve around a boy named Daniel, who has special powers that allow him to create things - a power he inherited from his alien parents. Meep, meep. Daniel also inherited a Wanted List of aliens that are bent on destroying planet Earth. It is up to Daniel to use his powers to stop them.

Daniel X allows players to create objects out of thin air and implement them to overcome obstacles, save friends and prevent the aliens on The List from taking over the world. As Daniel traverses an alien world, that skill will be vital in solving puzzles and battling enemies so that he can return home to Earth.

The game is being developed by Griptonite Games and will be available for the Nintendo DSi and DS for a suggested price of $29.99 this upcoming January.