Agent Joanna Dark hit the ground running in Perfect Dark, an epic tale of galactic conspiracies in 2023 America. Now this classic shooter comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade, rendered in greater definition and detail and sporting a silkier framerate than ever before. Fire up your Farsight and prepare for assignment—the Dark returns this winter. Play the original full game beautifully restored and back in full HD, 1080p at 60 frames per second! All the original game features are included plus new Xbox LIVE ones.

“Perfect Dark” starts their engines on March 17th at 9 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT).

Published by Xbox LIVE Arcade and developed by 4J Studios, “Perfect Dark” will be available for 800 Microsoft Points everywhere and is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more details on “Perfect Dark” you can visit: http://www.xbox.com/games/p/perfectdarkxboxlivearcade/

Don’t forget to tell your friends about the third game of the of the Xbox LIVE Block / House Party promotion, Perfect Dark, by reTweeting this message using the button below. Also feel free to leave a comment talking about this week’s game!

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. has announced that 3D Ultra MiniGolf Adventures 2 will be available for download on the Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The latest iteration of one of the hottest downloadable minigolf games to date, 3D Ultra MiniGolf Adventures 2 brings innovative graphics, incredible open worlds, and exciting new courses that allow players of all ages to get right back into the swing of things this winter.

In 3D Ultra MiniGolf Adventures 2, players are challenged to navigate their ball beyond obstacles using the help of secret shortcuts, game-changing power-ups and traps to sabotage the competition. Players can also manipulate the game by using special pick-ups to destroy course obstructions or even interfere with competitor's shots.

Gamers can bring their A-game as they play in matches of up to four players locally or online. The sequel also offers an intuitive Map Editor tool, allowing full customization of virtual courses and the strategic placement of power-ups and traps.

Putt your way through the highly anticipated sequel to one of the hottest minigolf games available for download, 3D Ultra™ MiniGolf Adventures 2! Swing through 50+ fun-filled holes loaded with challenging obstacles including moving platforms, surprise traps, or tricky jumps. Be the first to discover secret “hole-in-one” shots that seem virtually impossible! It’s a race to the finish as you play through a myriad of competitions based in imaginative locations, from the ghostly Haunted Manor to a Manic Museum, or even a snow-filled Winter Wonderland! As an added bonus, players can choose from up to four customizable animated characters and are invited to play using their own Xbox 360® Avatars and watch as their personalities unfold in every course. Step onto the green, and prove that your Minigolf skills are up to par!

Developed by Wanako Games, a studio of A2M (Artificial Mind and Movement Inc.), 3D Ultra MiniGolf Adventures 2 will be available for download this Spring in early 2010 on the Xbox LIVE® Arcade. No word yet on a price, but we’ll keep you up-to-date here on XBLArcade.com as more details roll in. Until then, feel free to leave a comment below letting us know if you’ve played the original on XBLA and what you are hoping for in the sequel.

Croteam, the creators of the first-person shooter Serious Sam: The First Encounter on Xbox LIVE® Arcade, will play their game with Xbox LIVE® Gold Members in an Xbox LIVE Game with Developers event. If you're a Gold member (if you're not a Member, upgrade now!) join Croteam and XBLArcade.com on Saturday, March 13, from Noon – 4:00 P.M. ET for some serious (har) action.

Return to the golden age of frantic, non-stop shooting action with Serious Sam's trademark onslaught of enemies rushing towards you at every turn. From the charging Sirian Werebull to the screaming Headless Kamikaze and the multi-story Ugh-Zan, all of the infamous minions of Lord Mental are back as you battle through more than 12 levels of bedlam set against the expansive backdrop of ancient Egypt with every square inch upgraded and reworked to create one of the most visually stunning experiences on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Developed by Croteam and powered by the next-generation Serious Engine 3, Serious Sam HD features beautifully rendered, high-resolution visuals and lushly redesigned environments to create the most astonishing Serious Sam game ever.

You play as the legendary Sam "Serious" Stone who returns to battle the relentless hordes of Mental's army in glorious high definition on Xbox LIVE Arcade in Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter. Based on the original indie arcade shooter sensation Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter, Serious Sam HD features stunningly redesigned visuals, over-the-top action, and intense online co-op for up to four players.

Send off an invite or friend request to the following Gamertags:

• samsteam25
• samsteam35
• samsteam45
• samsteam55
• samsteam65
• samsteam75

If you get a chance to play with the developers of Serious Sam, we want to hear all about it! We'll be posting recaps from gamers all across the country. Send us an email with the subject "GWD — Serious Sam," and be sure to include your Gamertag and home town!

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter is available now through the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points and rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

Every week XBLArcade.com will be publishing the Top 20 list of Xbox LIVE Arcade titles based on the information posted on Major Nelson’s website. We think this will give you a much better idea what the other 23+ million Xbox LIVE members are playing in the realm of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and perhaps to better help you choose what Xbox LIVE Arcade games you want to spend those valuable Microsoft Points of yours on.

For the week of March 1st to March 7th, the Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased), are as follows:

01   Toy Soldiers
02   Trials HD
03   Castle Crashers
04   Battlefield 1943
05   UNO
06   Hasbro Family Game Night **
07   Marvel vs. Capcom 2
08   Magic: The Gathering
09   Worms 2: Armageddon
10   Duke Nukem 3D
11   The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom
12   Zombie Apocalypse
13   Marble Blast Ultra
14   Worms
15   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Classic Arcade
16   Peggle
17   DOOM
18   A Kingdom for Keflings
19   Shadow Complex
20   Turtles in Time Re-Shelled

The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.
**Combined sales of all Hasbro Family Game Night titles

This list above is based on global unique users connected to Xbox LIVE with fully purchased versions of the XBLA game listed during the week.
Some content (and therefore the links) may not be available in all regions.

Check back next week to see how the list changes! And don’t forget to let your friends know what games to buy by sending them this list with the Xbox LIVE Marketplace links already built in for your convenience by clicking on the reTweet button below. We would also like to hear from you. Go ahead and comment on this and let us know what game(s) you have and which one(s) YOU think should be on the top of the list!

FunTown Mahjong

FunTown Mahjong - Zen Garden Theme: Unlock the full version of FunTown Mahjong to play even more of this traditional Chinese tile game! The full version includes the ability to compete against your friends on Xbox LIVE or against AI opponents. The Zen Garden Theme allows you to play Mahjong in a Japanese garden surround by red and white Sukura blossoms and the springtime vista of Mount Fuji Mountain. FunTown Mahjong - Zen Garden Theme contains no new achievements and is available now for 160 Microsoft Points. There are no refunds for this item.

Drift around corners with guns blazing and take out legendary competitors in the fast-paced, top-down racing game Scrap Metal™. Fight your way through explosive, action-packed missions and defeat cunning bosses to add their vehicles to your garage. Customize your newly-acquired cars and then return to the track to blast through more enemies. Jump online with Xbox LIVE ® to race against your friends and crush their cars with the wheels of your monster truck in pulse-pounding online multiplayer matches. Also, Scrap Metal has full anaglyph 3-D support.

“Scrap Metal” starts their engines on March 10th at 9 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT).

Published by Xbox LIVE Arcade and developed by Slick Entertainment, “Scrap Metal” will be available for 1200 Microsoft Points everywhere and is rated E10 for Everyone 10+ by the ESRB. For more details on “Scrap Metal” you can visit: http://www.xbox.com/games/s/scrapmetalxbla/

Don’t forget to tell your friends about the second game of the of the Xbox LIVE Block / House Party promotion, Scrap Metal, by reTweeting this message using the button below. Also feel free to leave a comment talking about this week’s game!

Today First Star Software, Inc. and Catnip Games officially announced their upcoming production of a Boulder Dash® sequel for Xbox Live Arcade for release in Q3 2010. In cooperation with First Star Software, the owner of the Intellectual Property; and, with the assist of “simple plan production”, Catnip Games will deliver both charming and challenging entertainment to the XBLA worldwide community. The team is using the latest technology to present the unique gameplay and all of the characteristic elements associated with Boulder Dash® in a modern and incomparable style.

This tricky, action-puzzle and dexterity game made its debut in the early 80s and has continued to fascinate its enormous fan base and new players for decades. Today the game is recognized as one of the best loved retro games in the history of computer and video gaming. Now Boulder Dash® is back with a hot new look to take the Xbox Live Arcade platform by storm. The multimillion units selling hit game’s core remains unchanged: in a race against time players must collect sparkling diamonds while besting hordes of enemies; and, avoiding numerous traps, and of course, falling boulders!

First published by First Star Software, Inc. in 1984, Boulder Dash® became an instant “classic”, action-puzzler with its addictive combination of action-packed gameplay and strategic thinking. Released four times into the coin-operated arcades, on numerous home computers, videogame consoles, handheld devices and more recently, mobile devices… more than 25 years later… it still brings back magical memories and puts a smile on gamers’ faces all over the world while attracting new fans of all ages.

XBLArcade.com will try and keep you up-to-date with more details as they become available, including any screenshots or video trailers that may surface, but at this time the official announcement is all we have been able to uncover. Until then, we invite you to discuss your favourite Boulder Dash memories and/or what your expectations are for the modernized remake by leaving a comment below.

EA Partners, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. and award-winning independent development studio Klei Entertainment announced today an exclusive publishing agreement to bring the provocative new game Shank to Xbox LIVE® Arcade this summer. Featuring a unique art style inspired by graphic novels and golden age comics, Shank blends the intensity of classic 2D side-scrolling action games with a gripping and mature storyline. The cinematic brawler is a finalist for “Excellence in Visual Art” at this year’s Independent Games Festival and will be featured at the IGF Pavilion during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco next week.

“Our mission at EA Partners is to work with the best talent across the game industry, and we are thrilled to extend our expertise to the leading creative developers in downloadable indie games,” said Jamil Moledina, Outreach Director, Business Development at EA Partners. “The team at Klei Entertainment is among the best in the world at developing fun and engaging titles for digital distribution platforms, and Shank is an amazing experience.”

“As an independent development studio, we always focus on creating great, authentic experiences for players. Working with EA Partners expands our distribution and allows us to bring Shank to a much wider audience,” said Jamie Cheng, CEO of Klei Entertainment. “They have been a fantastic partner and their understanding of the space is incredibly exciting.”

Taking place in a stylized, modern-Western setting, Shank tells a classic betrayal story directed through a sophisticated cinematic lens, with addictive action gameplay found in classic 2D side-scrolling games. Klei Entertainment was represented in the deal by CAA. For more information on Shank, please visit www.shankgame.com and follow the development team on Twitter at www.twitter.com/klei

EA Partners, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. and leading independent developer Hothead Games announced today an exclusive publishing agreement that will bring DeathSpank to Xbox LIVE® Arcade in 2010. Developed under the vision of The Secret of Monkey Island creator and industry icon Ron Gilbert, DeathSpank blends a story filled with Gilbert’s unique humor and wit with classic and addictive action RPG gameplay.

“The team at Hothead Games is a perfect fit for EA Partners. They are a great example of how the EA Partners program continues to emphasize the importance of building strong relationships with the world’s top indie developers,” said Jamil Moledina, Outreach Director, Business Development at EA Partners. “DeathSpank is an engrossingly fun and hysterically funny experience, and we are all excited to have the opportunity to help introduce DeathSpank to gamers across the world.”

Ian Wilkinson, CEO of Hothead Games added, “We are proud of our independence, but are very excited to be working with EA Partners on a title as big as DeathSpank. With EA Partners handling distribution and marketing, Hothead can continue to focus on what we do best, making great games.”

Described by top scientists as Monkey Island meets Diablo, DeathSpank's gameplay is divided between uncovering the epic story via conversations, solving complex puzzles, equipping your character to maximize his dispensing of justice, not to mention his charming good looks, plus battling just about anything that moves. As DeathSpank vanquishes evil and heroes the downtrodden, he will collect loot, level up, collect loot, acquire new abilities and of course, collect loot.

The game casts players in the role DeathSpank, the Hero to the Downtrodden, a Vanquisher of Evil and Defender of Justice as he fulfills his life-long destiny and searches for a mysterious and magical item only known as "The Artifact". Along the way he'll rescue a few Orphans, defeat a local tyrant and tumble headlong into the even deeper mystery surrounding the legendary Thongs of Virtue in an epic adventure game that includes collecting loot, crazy puzzle solving, witty dialogue, collecting loot, over-the-top animations, fun, accessible action combat, and of course, collecting loot. For more information on DeathSpank , please visit www.deathspank.com and follow the development team on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hotheadgames

XBLArcade.com is continuing our new weekly trend to publishing the Top 20 list of Xbox LIVE Arcade titles every week based on the information posted on Major Nelson’s website. We think this will give you a much better idea what the other 23+ million Xbox LIVE members are playing in the realm of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and perhaps to better help you choose what Xbox LIVE Arcade games you want to spend those valuable Microsoft Points of yours on.

For the week of February 22nd to March 1st, the Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased), are as follows:

01   Duke Nukem 3D
02   Trials HD
03   Battlefield 1943
04   The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom
05   Castle Crashers
06   UNO
07   Hasbro Family Game Night **
08   Marvel vs. Capcom 2
09   Magic: The Gathering
10   Worms 2: Armageddon
11   Lazy Raiders
12   Zombie Apocalypse
13   Peggle
14   Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
15   Marble Blast Ultra
16   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Classic Arcade
17   Shadow Complex
18   Worms
19   A Kingdom for Keflings
20   DOOM

The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.
**Combined sales of all Hasbro Family Game Night titles

This list above is based on global unique users connected to Xbox LIVE with fully purchased versions of the XBLA game listed during the week.
Some content (and therefore the links) may not be available in all regions.

Check back next week to see how the list changes! And don’t forget to let your friends know what games to buy by sending them this list with the Xbox LIVE Marketplace links already built in for your convenience by clicking on the reTweet button below. We would also like to hear from you. Go ahead and comment on this and let us know what game(s) you have and which one(s) YOU think should be on the top of the list!