We’ve got a way to go before Sega releases the next episode of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, set to release later this year. Until then, Sega has some new screenshots to hold us over, posted on the Xbox Live Marketplace website. My favorite of the bunch is the above pic, showing our speedy blue friend and his dual-tailed companion racing down a snowy alp. While I’m excited for the diversity of the new levels, visually this game just seems to be a few steps ahead of the first episode.

For more images, including planes, rollercoasters, and underwater action, check out the links below:

Xbox Live Marketplace via
Destructoid

Rumors flooded the Internet this week that a new kart game starring the cast of LittleBigPlanet was in the works. Today, Sony confirmed that news on the official PlayStation twitter account:

Update: We can confirm that LittleBigPlanet Karting is in fact in development and we look forward to sharing more on the game soon!

It’s been twenty years and some change since March 4, 1991 when The Simpsons Arcade Game was introduced. Today, PS3 owners have the opportunity to download The Simpsons Arcade Game on their respective console to commemorate the series’ upcoming 500th episode, set to air February 19th 2012 — Xbox 360 owners got the game a bit earlier, on February 3.

Added with new modes and features such as online mode, unlimited play or quarter mode to name a few, those who purchase will still feel at ease picking up and playing this classic arcade port no matter if it’s new to you or a nostalgic throwback to the boardwalk arcade days.

The Simpsons Arcade Game retails for the following:

Xbox 360 – 800 Microsoft Points

PS3 – $9.99  (note: Playstation Plus members currently can download this title for free.)

Sony has announced plans to scrub the tainted name “PlayStation Network” from your memory bank, starting this week. In an effort to seemingly rebrand and unite multiple company services under one title, the PSN will be known as Sony Entertainment Network. Nothing about your account will change aside from the name. Based on all of the hacking the PSN has gone through, I’d say a fresh start is probably a good thing.

The PSN will officially become the SEN on February 8 during a new software update. Oddly, Sony is keeping the PlayStation Network name for their PSP portable device, a move that could be temporary.

Thoughts on the new name?

One of my earliest childhood memories was playing BurgerTime on my NES with my dad. Oh,.. sorry. That was the end of the story. You expected more? Hmm… well this is awkward.

MonkeyPaw is bringing a brand new BurgerTime to consoles with this week’s release of BurgerTime World Tour. The game continues the tradition of controlling chef Peter Pepper, who has to walk along scaffolding filled with the essential burger building components. While avoiding enemies like sausage links who are set on ending your life, chef Pepper must quickly build his burgers by walking over each burger ingredient, which subsequently fall below resulting in a perfectly crafted burger. It sounds confusing, and unsanitary, but it’s actually a shit load of fun.

New games are now available for download on the PlayStation Store. Among the full retail releases now available in digital form are tiles like Monopoly Streets, and Dead Space 2, as well as the release of Fight Night Champion. There’s also a slew of stellar game demos available for your consumption. For the full list, continue reading the Sony press release below:

Downloadable Games:

Fight Night Champion ($4.99)
EA SPORTS brings you their first story-based game mode inspired by classic boxing movies. Step in the shoes of up-and-coming middleweight contender Andre Bishop and experience the trials and tribulations of working your way to the top of the boxing world battling inside and outside the ring.
ESRB rated M
File size 5.38 GB

Sony has released their list of new downloadable games, available now on the PlayStation Store. The clear winner this week for retro enthusiasts is Daytona freakin USA! For $10 you can relive the arcade classic in your living room. Gawd this rocks so hard.

Want to see what other games are released this week? Check out the list below. Game demos, DLC, and other new releases are linked below the break.

inFAMOUS Festival of Blood ($9.99)
inFAMOUS Festival of Blood is a brand new single player game for download via PSN. Vampires swarm New Marais, and revered superhero Cole MacGrath has been bitten. Featuring hours of new gameplay, themed environment settings and new characters/enemies.
ESRB rated T
File size 3.02 GB

PixelJunk Sidescroller ($9.99)
The next chapter of the award-winning PixelJunk series brings a nostalgic retro vibe with PixelJunk SideScroller. Whether solo or local co-op, prepare to dodge flurries of alien bullets and battle your way through stages full of hazardous fluid and endless shooting mayhem.
ESRB rated E
File size 83 MB

A software drought of quality titles routinely happens during the summertime, a fact gamers have accepted for years. Fall however is a different story. There are more than a dozen games that I’m dying to play, all releasing between next week and December. In the meantime, I figured I’d throw something from the 2011 backlog on my GameFly queue, an overlooked title that I just never got around to playing. In steps Dirt 3.

Released back in May by Codemasters, Dirt 3 follows its predecessors by — all which featured rally racer Colin McRae’s name in the title — bringing forth some of the most realistic racing experiences to date. To progress through the game’s Dirt Tour, simply race through different events, earn points based on medal rankings to open new events, all in an attempt to complete a full racing season. The game gets harder as you progress, where the first few levels might be strictly about racing, the latter will slowly implement tricks like donuts and drifts that you’ll need to perfect in order to proceed.

My favorite game in the Bit.Trip family of titles is getting a sequel. From Gaijin Games comes BitTrip Presents: Runner 2, Future Legend of Rhythm Alien — perhaps a working title?

Leaving the 8bit art style behind, Runner 2 will feature a brand new look, taking on a more cartoony aesthetic. The devs wanted to change up the look for the sequel, crediting such inspirations as the 1930s black and white Betty Boop cartoons — from the game’s concept art, the graphics seem like they’re ripped from the world of The Grinch, which is totally fine with me. While I’m always partial to 8bit, i’m ready to see what Gaijin cooks up with the new game, which is slated to release next spring on Xbox Live and PSN.

Check out another sample image of the new artstyle below. What do you guys think? If you want to see more information, check out the game’s dev website.

Sony deserves a round of applause for their newest PlayStation trailer. The ad brings together some of the greatest gaming heroes from PlayStation brand, all joining to celebrate the gamer in all of us.

The ad features characters from such games as Assassin’s Creed, God of War, InFAMOUS 2, Uncharted, and a lot more. You really have to check it out to see if you can spot them all. And after you do, does it remind you of that anti-smoking video Cartoon All-Stars: To The Rescue from the early 90s featuring Kermit, the Ninja Turtles, and the Looney Tunes? Yeah, it totally does.