It came from retail: what’s in stores this week

Tuesday is release day and there are plenty of new games to choose from including shooters, games based on movies heavy weight sports titles, games for girls,  games about apocalyptic wastelands, ports of games that should have sold better than they did,  games  involving dudes in spandex and more.

Come and take a tour of this week’s best and worst  releases after the break - you probably won’t regret it, but if you do i’ll give you a refund (let’s see, 0 - 0 = ?).

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WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2010 features revealed

THQ has been running a countdown clock on its official WWE SmackDown vs. RAW universe web site for quite some time with the promise of new information on the series to be released today. That new information, about WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2010, has been revealed and we have it for you now.

WWE SvR is the Madden of wrestling games at this point, having a complete lockdown on the wrestling game business now that Midway’s TNA license is in limbo and developer YUKE’S habit of only offering incremental updates to the tried and true formula that has been established in the last two or three games.

This year’s iteration may offer a bit more change than is usually expected from a WWE SvR game, but a large percentage of it is improvements to existing features - which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Get all the details after the jump.

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THQ prevails in WWE licensing dispute

THQ announced this afternoon that it has prevailed in an arbitration hearings against JAKKS Pacific, the company’s partner in a joint venture meant to deal with the WWE license related to video games. The binding arbitration, which was in the terms of the operating agreement should both parties not agree, came to the conclusion that JAKKS Pacific should have been given a lower preferred return payment for WWE video games sold under a license granted by World Wrestling Entertainment to the joint venture, THQ/JAKKS Pacific LLC.

As a result, a new rate, which is 40 percent below the previous rate, reaches all the way back to July 1, 2006 and applies through December 31, 2009. Because of this, THQ will receive approximately $23 million during the fiscal 2010 second quarter ending September 30, 2009.

Under the terms of the HQ/JAKKS Pacific LLC. operating agreement, JAKKS Pacific was to be paid a preferred return from sales of the LLC’s WWE-licensed video games. The preferred return rate was to be reset for the period beginning July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2009 but both companies could not agree on a new preferred return rate. Because of this THQ filed a suit to compel arbitration pursuant to the terms of the operating agreement.

Naturally THQ is happy about this and will continue to reap the rewards from the SmackDown vs. RAW series as well as Legends of WrestleMania.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 Announced

In one of the most unshocking announcement of the year (next to disney creating a new Jonas Brothers game) THQ has announced that WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 is in development for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 , PlayStation 2 , PSP, Wii and Nintendo DS. The game, which is scheduled for this fall, will feature five WWE superstars on the cover: John Cena, Undertaker, Randy Orton, Edge and Rey Mysterio. More information about WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 will be unveiled surrounding SummerSlam , live on pay-per-view August 23, 2009 from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 will be offering a SmackDown vs. Raw franchise history lesson at E3 in the THQ booth – number 5300 in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. In addition, WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston is scheduled to sign autographs on Tuesday, June 2 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., while WWE Superstar John Morrison is scheduled to sign autographs on Wednesday, June 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

THQ reveals E3 2009 line-up

THQ revealed its E3 line-up today on this first day of the annual trade show dedicated to all things video games. The company will showcasing a number of original titles, licensed properties and products based on TV and film franchises. Games on display this week Relic’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, Kaos Studios’ Homefront and Rainbow Studios ’ MX vs. ATV Reflex. THQ will also be offering extended hands-on time with Vigil Games’ post-apocalyptic action-adventure title Darksiders and Red Faction: Guerrilla , which was released today.

THQ’s kids and family portfolio will be highlighted by first looks at Marvel Super Hero Squad, Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter and World of Zoo.

THQ will also be presenting WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010, the recently released UFC 2009 Undisputed, Cars Race-O-Rama, Dragonica Online, All Star Cheer Squad 2, SpongeBob’s Truth or Square and James Patterson: Women’s Murder Club Games of Passion.

All of these games will be on display in booth #5300, in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center June 2-4.