deviantART hosts Darksiders art contest

deviantART today is running Darksiders: These Are Your Last Days Contest, which revolves around the upcoming action-adventure game from THQ, Darksiders. The contest will challenge deviantART’s online community of millions to create artwork depicting an apocalypse of their own design. The winners will be personally selected by Joe Madureira, comic book artist and Creative Director at Vigil Games, the development studio behind the game. Darksiders is scheduled to be available January 5, 2010 for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Artists interested in this contest can submit their entries online to win a number of prizes, including an Xbox 360 or a PS3, American Express gift cards up to $1000, copies of the Darksiders video game, as well as other Darksiders and deviantART merchandise and memorabilia.

For rules, and more information about the Darksiders: These Are Your Last Days Contest, check out www.deviantart.com/darksiders.

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.

WWE extends deadline for THQ license agreement renewal

THQ has been granted an extension by World Wrestling Entertainment for the deadline to renew the joint licensing agreement held with JAKKS Pacific. The new deadline is Dec. 31, 2009. If the agreement is renewed and extended it would be good until Dec. 31, 2014. Obviously THQ needs to continue to hold this license to make any more of its SmackDown vs. RAW video games.

THQ said in a brief statement today that the “WWE’s action provides the company with increased flexibility with respect to the renewal of the videogame license.”

No doubt the biggest hurdle for THQ is its tumultuous relationship with JAKKS Pacific, who it has taken legal action against in regards to its share of revenues from products based on the license. We watch and we wait.

League of Legends Pre-Season released

Riot Games has launched the League of Legends Pre-Season for its multiplayer online battle arena game for Windows PC. The game is being distributed online and at retail through THQ. League of Legends will operate in seasons to foster competitive gaming and communities. The League of Legends Pre-Season will allow time for players to learn the game, build teams, and develop advanced strategies and tactics - in preparation for when Season One begins in the first half of 2010. Players can also look forward to the addition of clans, teams, tournaments, ladders, draft mode, as well as additional content such as new Champions and maps, between now and the start of Season One.

The League of Legends Collector’s Pack, containing exclusive items such as 20 Champions, a selection of Runes and $10 worth of Riot Points, is now available for download at www.leagueoflegends.com as well. The retail League of Legends Collector’s Pack is also available at all major retail outlets for $29.99, and includes an exclusive poster-size fold out map of Valoran with detailed champion portraits and bios on the other side, a $10 pre-paid game card for in-game purchases and an exclusive champion skin.

League of Legends combines role-playing and strategy elements with action and online competition. Built by a veteran development team and the original creators of DotA Allstars, one of the world’s most popular player-made mods, League of Legends is operated as a live service that will be frequently updated with new features, champions, maps and additional content as suggested by the community.

Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter in stores

THQ has released Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter for Wii and Nintendo DS in North America today. Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter, takes players back to Raposa Village, which has been inhabited by an evil shadowy figure. Players must once again draw a hero and create weapons and tools to conquer enemies.

The latest game adds an Action Drawing tool that allows for objects to be drawn directly into the game to help players navigate through the environments. Players will be able to morph their hero into a blob or a spider, completing each level a variety of different ways. The game’s Action Drawing Tool gives each color special properties in order to help solve puzzles and progress through the game. Along the way, players will collect coins and color drops to unlock a variety of content, including new levels, weapon upgrades, customization options and hero abilities. In addition, Multiplayer allows players to trade heroes, weapons, items and accessories with friends.

Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter is rated E for everyone and is available for the suggested retail prices of $49.99 on Wii and $29.99 on Nintendo DS.

SpongeBob Truth or Square game in stores this week

THQ has released SpongeBob’s Truth or Square to all major retailers nationwide for the Wii, Nintendo DS, the Xbox 360, and PSP. In this off-the-wall action adventure game, players will take poart in some of the most humorous events from the last 10 years. The game also introduces a new and unique morphing capability that turns SpongeBob into unlikely objects like a spatula or sledgehammer. The game is slightly tied to a special episode of the show that celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the show.

In SpongeBob’s Truth or Square, players journey through memorable SpongeBob SquarePants locations to find the missing Krabby Patty formula in time for Krusty Krab’s Eleventy Seventh Anniversary. From Jellyfish Fields to downtown Bikini Bottom, players will have to run, jump, spin and hammer their way through 10 levels. Each level will take players back to a happy SpongeBob SquarePants moment, such as when SpongeBob becomes a fry cook, gets into the Salty Spittoon or meets Sandy for the first time.

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants “Truth or Square” one-hour prime time television event premieres on Friday, Nov. 6, culminating Nickelodeon’s 10th anniversary celebration of the pop-icon and top-rated kids’ series. The event features celebrity guest stars Craig Ferguson, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, LeBron James, P!nk and Robin Williams, among others. SpongeBob’s Truth or Square was developed by Heavy Iron Studios.

World of Zoo shipping this week

THQ’s World of Zoo has shipped to all major retailers nationwide for Wii, Nintendo DS and Windows PC. World of Zoo lets players of all ages take control of the daily activities of a major metropolitan zoo, caring for animals, creating exhibits and learning about each animal through educational facts provided by National Geographic.

World of Zoo was developed by Blue Fang, creator of the Zoo Tycoon series. For more information on this game, check out www.worldofzoo.com. It is rated E for everyone by the ESRB and is available at the suggested retail prices of $39.99 (Wii), $29.99 (DS) and $19.99 (Windows PC).  I hope you enjoy picking up lots and lots of dung.