Rez HD may have been a foregone conclusion but the running mate in all those rumors came along for the ride as well. This week marks the release of the afformentioned Rez HD alongside the also capable Chessmaster Live. Both come in at 800MSP.

We've talked plenty about Rez HD, so let's discuss Chessmaster Live a bit. Chessmaster will follow in the footsteps of its mighty PC ancestry with 5 chess variants (including Message Chess which I think is a great touch). Expect a deep range of challenging AI and some clean visuals. And on that note, here are some screens of Chessmaster Live in action.

Usual press release type stuff after the break. Enjoy!

[via Press Release]

Joystiq posted a neat little hands-on with Rez HD today. So, if you're not quite sure what to expect (and you lack the patience to wait for the free trial) head on over there. While you are there you can also get a peek at some nice screens from the game as well.

The juiciest bit of info in the hands on is mentioned almost off hand -- the release date. Apparently, their second take on the rumors floating around were correct. This coming Wednesday (January 30th) will mark the release of Rez HD. Of course, they didn't get that from Q. They just got a confirmation of Rez arriving "in January" and there's only one option left. Two and two together, I suppose. No word on any game that might join it.

Who's ready for some synaethesia?

[via Joystiq]

This week's game, Boogie Bunnies, gives you the opportunity to wrangle a neverending stream of cute and cuddly bunnies. Of course, by wrangle I mean match three of them together. Genius, right?

If bunnies aren't your thing (or you live in Korean or Japan), luckily you have much to look forward to in the upcoming XBLA lineup. Rez HD, Poker Smash, Brain Challenge, and Lode Runner are all "coming soon". Lode Runner will arrive "later in 2008".

What are you saving your points for?

Press Release after the break as per usual.

[via Press Release]

• TeamXbox: N+ Hands On Preview
• TeamXbox: Rez HD Hands On Preview
• TeamXbox: Rocket Bowl Hands On Preview
• TeamXbox: Chessmaster Live! Hands On Preview
• TeamXbox: Poker Smash Hands On Preview
• TeamXbox: Rocket Riot Screenshots
• IGN: Lode Runner Preview
• 1up: Pocker Smash Preview
• Gamespot: Brain Challenge Hands On Preview
• Gamespot: Brain Challenge Movie 1, Movie 2, Movie 3
• Gamspot: XBLA Interview

Gamerscore blog has treated us to a first ever footage of Lode Runner along with some more footage of Rez HD. Sadly, it is YouTube quality (embedded below). It looks like this video also answers the question on whether or not there will be user downloadable maps as I personally couldn't see a menu option for a level editor. They do point out the 2 and 4 player multiplayer modes that are available in this release. After seeing it in motion, what do you think?

According to Joystiq, the infamous trance vibrator that came with the original version of Rez is set to make a return in the XBLA version of the title. The shaking paperweight peripheral that had a few other uses will be reproduced on the Xbox 360 version of Rez by attaching up to three extra controllers to your console. I for one won't be using this feature but maybe some of you will find a use for it.

Wow, it's a busy XBLA weekend with not only a pile of Rez HD media but also the first screenshots and detailed info on Rocket Bowl. Without further ado here is all of the XBLA media that has been released this weekend:

• Rez HD - System Shutdown Movie
• Rez HD - Beat Blasting Movie
• Rez HD - Polygon Pounding Movie
• Rez HD - Security Breach Movie
• Rez HD - Screenshots
• RocketBowl - Preview + Screenshots

This week on XBLA: The Xbox Live Arcade Hits program! Okay, so maybe that's not the biggest news for everyone (since most of you have already snagged those games). But the promise of cheaper games on XBLA over time is certainly a good thing. Mini-woo!

Since the dash update and the rollout of the Hits program seem to be taking center stage this week, Microsoft has been kind enough to tease us with their slated December and January Lineup. The XBLA iceflow will bring us:

Arkadian Warriors, Brain Challenge (ooh, a mystery title), Gripshift, N+, Omega Five, Poker Smash, Rez HD, and (say it with me now, finally!) Sensible World of Soccer.

Now let's just hope we actually get all these games in the next two months, as promised. And now that we're finally getting Sensi (December 19th) where's poor lost War World?

[via X3F, thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

We already heard that E4 won't be coming to the US until Q1 2008. Now, Kotaku has confirmed that Rez HD, and Ikaruga will be joining the fray (in the US) around the same time (Q1 2008).

On one hand, I am disappointed that I won't get my hands on these games before the end of the year. On the other hand, I am already so backlogged with games that the thought of adding more to my plate is scary. Oh yeah, and there's a certain game that I might be playing quite a bit of very soon.

Luckily, we can take comfort that Ikaruga's new visual bar is "head and shoulders above the original." I guess that's a good reason to be patient. Then again, January would be much better than March.

[via Kotaku]

In an effort to bring you as much content in as short a timeframe as possible I have decided to take a massive collection of links and dump them all onto you straightaway.

Long story short: Kotaku invades Q Entertainment, they grill Tetsuya Mizuguchi (hilarity ensues), they see Rez HD, Every Extend Extra Extreme, and the Holiday Pack for Lumines Live!, and they take lots of photos. Enjoy!

Hands-on with Rez HD here. Now, with more impressions.

Lumines Live! Holiday Pack details here.

Q Entertainment's HQ in photo form.

And finally, The Miz justifies his "life theme" (aka Rez).

[via Kotaku, thanks Blue Falcon]