This week’s update includes a bat, two shanks, a red friendship, a coupe of causes and a bit of “Doh!”

SSX will contain an online pass but it isn’t as restrictive as most. Find out why…

I see you dancing round the room with the Kinect I love, and I’m like Eff You – and Eff It Too. Forget You, the radio version of Cee Lo Green’s ode to lost love, comes to Dance Central 2 January 31, 2012.

Madden Bowl, EA’s marriage of competitive gaming and celebrity appearances, will air 9:00 p.m. (ET), February 2, 2012, on ESPN 3. Xbox Live features the sports network on its dashboard, so Gold members will be able to watch from their consoles.

California, one of the most budget-strapped states in the US, is reimbursing the Entertainment Software Association $1.3 million for court costs. That’s the high price of losing the battle to ban the sale of violent video games to minors. In July 2011, the United States Supreme Court ruled the controversial law unconstitutional.

The Darkness was well received in the crowded field of comic book themed action games. Fans were thirsty for another journey into the world of Jackie Estacado, and they’ll get that chance February 7, 2012 on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. 2K Games staff stopped by TwitchTV  on January 26 to show off some of more »

  Call of Duty Elite Premium members can now enjoy two new maps, Piazza and Liberation.  The wide open spaces of Central Park provide the setting for Liberation, a sniper’s paradise. Long-range shooting rules the day here, and the truly brave can take to mounted turrets at either end of the park. Piazza is all more »

The universe of the Starz show Spartacus features bloody gladiatorial combat, making it perfect for an action-oriented game.  Large Animal has developed,  a Spartacus:Vengeance The Game that will promote the upcoming season of the show, which bears the same name. Starz Digital Media will handle the publishing duties. A Spartacus game promoting the previous entry, Gods of more »

Gears of War 3‘s Fenix Rising DLC drops this week, with five new maps, four multiplayer character skins and a take on Call of Duty’s “Prestige” mode.   The “Re-Up” addition allows those who have reached Level 100 (Gears’ max) to zero out their XP and start over. You will keep the medals and ribbons you’ve more »

The iOS marketplace has some gaming gems, but its quality control is still very suspect. Exhibit A: Mole Kart, a recently approved app that bears a suspicious resemblance to Nintendo hit Mario Kart.  By suspicious resemblance, I mean it’s an outright rip job. Everything from cart design to the tracks are quite blatantly lifted from more »