It's a novel idea that's really catching on in the App Store -- re-releasing old-school arcade games as part of a collection, then offering potential buyers the option to choose what games they want to keep.  Capcom's done it, Atari has done it, and Farsight is working on it with its Pinball Arcade (which we previewed).  But we're surprised that Namco has taken so long to warm up to the idea, especially with its countless Museum releases.  Well, it finally came through with Namco Arcade, a game that has the "try before you buy" method with a few of its offerings.  So why does it feel like it wasn't fully thought out?

Every Tuesday, Sony brings its Playstation faithful new content, add-ons for your favorite games, Themes and avatars for your PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. For those who have the Playstation Plus, you can now get telltale's Back to The Future game for free. Ever wanted to find out what happened and wanted to continue your adventures with Marty Mcfly and Doc? Now is your chance, as you get all the six episodic for free. Another game you can get thanks to your PSN Plus membership is Sword & Soldiers. It's an enjoyable 2D sidescrolling strategy game that is highly replayable with a group of friends.

A little while back, we discussed the return of the arcade scene in a Barcades piece, talking about how adult establishments with an old-school flavor were beginning to pop up.  Well, with them, some old favorites are also making a return to the arcade scene.  In this case, it's Pac-Man, who first made his debut in the early 80's and took them by storm.  He's returned in an all new game, but this time, he's bringing some fellow Pac-Men along for the ride.

Last month, Atari came roaring back to the iOS scene with the superb revitalization of an 80's favorite, Asteroids Gunner.  Blending the fly-and-shoot tactics of the original with plenty of innovative new elements, it became one of our favorite apps for the fall season.  Now the company is at it again, bringing the classic ball and paddle game Breakout Boost to the App Store.  Can lightning strike twice?

Sega has discounted all their XBLA titles, in celebration of Microsoft's Xbox Nations event, and when they say all, they mean it. Discounts range from 33% up to even 50%, and will be available until the 25th. A full list of the games on sale can be viewed below.

In a sign that may indicate a shift for interactive channels in the television landscape, TNS set-top box data measuring daily time spent viewing per set-top box revealed that TAG, the games-on-demand channel, topped 43 other linear channels available through Oceanic Time Warner Cable in Hawaii for the most minutes viewers spent watching.

Although overall videogame sales have been down seven of the last eight months compared to the record-breaking 2008, games are still the driving force in entertainment, as well as electronics and toys today. The $550 million, five-day haul that Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 raked in – the largest entertainment launch in history -- shows the power of interactive entertainment even amidst the tough economic climate.