Jonesing to play Lode Runner, Castle Crashers, Galaga Legions, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, or Braid? Have I got some great news for you. The wait will soon be over.

One of Microsoft's many XBLA evangelists was live on E3 Live on Gamespot (thanks to being on the road with glitchy internet, I missed his name) talking up the "best content lineup" on XBLA ever and told the world that all these games would be out "by the end of the summer." And more specifically he said, "in the next two months."

If all goes as planned I'll likely be at least 4000 MSP poorer in two months time (though no price points have been announced).

After the break I'll hit on a couple of points that were covered about each of those games.

The latest update over at the Castle Crasher development blog reveals the list of characters that will be featured in the game. The posting shows off the four characters we've already seen so far (green knight, red knights, blue knight, and orange knight), but also reveals that there will be 22 unlockable characters in the game for a grand total of 26. The freshly launched blog on the development for the game will continue to see updates in the future, and the team will continue to update the character chart as the game comes closer to a release.

The good folks over at The Behemoth put the development blog for their upcoming title Castle Crashers live earlier today. Right now it's very scarce on content (it's only a day old, so it's understandable), but there's already a post about the creation of art for the title.

The Behemoth states that the website will be updated at least every week and will feature a behind the scenes look at the game.

 

Castle Crashers Dev Blog

Castle Crashers walkthrough video also available in HD.

Those of you who didn't spend hundreds of dollars on the Castle Crashers figurines will be happy to know that the figures are now available from the Behemoth's online store for $20 a pop. Pretty nice considering if you buy 3 figurines you get the 4th one free. Also available in the store is a ton of Behemoth and Alien Hominid merchandise.

Is anyone going to pick up one (or more) of these figurines? Make sure you post some pictures of it (the figurine) in our forums.

[Via Destructoid]

Okay, so we all know now how wrong I was about the Brutally Fun site. However, it was not a total loss. Alongside the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 2 was a bevy of Japanese themed XBLA games that are coming.

And guess what is among them? Ikaruga. It even says "available soon."

As awesome as it is to hear Ikaruga's solidly confirmed (not that we didn't expect it), I must say the surprise story for me is the announcement of Rez coming to XBLA. Then again, maybe it shouldn't surprise me after all.

The full list of mentioned XBLA games is as follows: Every Extend Extra Extreme (Q Entertainment), EXIT (Taito), Ikaruga (Treasure Co. Ltd.), OMEGA FIVE (Hudson Entertainment), Rez (Q Entertainment), Triggerheart Exelica (Warashi), Braid (Number None Inc.), Castlecrashers (The Behemoth), and Schizoid (Torpex Games LLC).

I'm too tired to say anything else of value, so just read the details after the break and let all this all sink in.

News Flash from xbox.com after the break.

[via xbox.com]

While I finish weeping in the corner upon discovering the impossibility of attaining Castle Crashers figures, check out the eBay auction.

As of this moment, $183.50 after only 10 bids.

I have no words for this insanity. Only tears.

[via The Xbox Domain]

[originally, via Destructoid]

Sure, versus is cool and everything, but these guys make me wanna fire up the ol' imagination for some medieval-style meatspace hack 'n slash adventures. Too bad I am never able to journey to the the cons to experience the loving touch of Dan Paladin's sharpie.

Peep more figure pr0n here.

[via Destructoid]

Aren't you all sick of all the stupid cooperative modes developers are adding into their games. Even Halo 3 has been sullied by 4-player co-op. Sheesh. Why do developers refuse to listen. We hate co-op around here. Being helpful to other players and building team spirit is highly overrated. Luckily, some developers realize this. One development team that knows how to please the people: The Behemoth.

Sure, their upcoming title Castle Crashers has 4-player co-op, but who cares? What we want it the ability to stuff chickens down are gullet and beat the pulp out of our friends and enemies. Heck even shooting an arrow into their head would be nice. And boy does this game deliver.

[via Xboxic]

GameVideos has a new video of Castle Crashers. And it's a whopping five minutes long! While we have already seen much of the level shown here, what we had yet to see until now is the flow of the game from start to boss battle.

If you know anything about Castle Crashers you know that 4-player co-op madness is the name of the game (well, actually Castle Crashers is the name, but I digress). And it's always fun to run shoulder to shoulder with your buddies while you all slay the baddies. That is, until there is a damsel to claim save, at which point co-op turns competitive and friends become foes. And what's the prize for slaying your friends once the enemies have been defeated? Why, the adoration and affection of the very damsel you all saved together. If only real life dating supremacy could be battled out this easily.

[via GameVideos, thanks MURS]