Last night, we had a nice send-off dinner with our 1C Company friends. Back to Russia they go. Over the past week, we've had four social outings/dinner occasions, and we've been eating out WAY too much. Luckily, the weather has been great, and will be for at least the next week, so we have no excuse to not go running and do some working out. Maybe we can shave off a few pounds ....

Today is lazy day. All our errands have been done, so apart from the aforementioned workout, we'll be lounging around the house, watching some movies, and catching up on the 24, Burn Notice and a few other things.

Today is also the 66th anniversary of D-Day.

Washing up on the shores of the afterlife, players meet and join forces with vibrant ghost-samurai warriors, magical animal-monks, and mustachioed samurai generals on the way to capture Skulls of the Shogun.

Half a century after the Red Faction resistance and their Marauder allies freed Mars from the brutal Earth Defense Force, harmony on Mars is again threatened but this time by a lethal force shrouded in mystery.

Company of Heroes Online is an online multiplayer real-time-strategy game that is free to download and play. Building on the frenetic RTS action of the original game, Company of Heroes Online offers army specialization, commander customization, and persistent progression, allowing players to strategize on and off the battlefield.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is an innovative game that follows the escapades of a mischievous pie thief, who uses his time-bending abilities to cooperate with, compete against, and disrupt his past, present, and future selves.

Featuring all-new, over-the-top themed environments, rocket-powered speedboats, gorgeous visuals, and amazing dynamic water physics, Hydro Thunder Hurricane is the adrenaline dripping sequel fans have been waiting for.

The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom gives gamers the opportunity to choose the best way to lead their kingdom to victory, in a rich environment set in middle-Europe during the early Renaissance.

Elemental: War of Magic is set in a world filled with magic and ancient lore. As the ruler of your kingdom, you must expand your empire through a combination of magical power, military might, diplomatic skill, technological advancement and bold adventuring. Your worlds will be of your choosing, or players are free to create their own.

It's the final countdown! It's the last week before E3, last-minute appointments (in our case, 80% of them) are being set up, and final preparations (in our case, first preparations) are being made to take the trip to Los Angeles and mentally ready ourselves for a week of gamers' body odor.

This weekend, we'll hang out with our friends from 1C, drink vodka leftovers, maybe see a movie, watch some DVR shows and catch up on sleep so that we're well-rested for the gaming madness.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions will allow players to travel through four different worlds as distinctly different versions of Spider-Man from four universes across Marvel lore, including The Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man Noir.

Disney Guilty Party tells the thrilling tale of the Dickens Detective Agency as they solve crimes set in motion by the master criminal known as Mr. Valentine. Up to four players can solve crimes in a variety of locations all over the world to unlock the secrets of Mr. Valentine’s grand scheme.

Dragon Ball: Origins 2 continues the story of series hero Goku’s early years as he and his friends search the world for the seven enchanted Dragon Balls. The new action-adventure game includes an array of features including the ability to play as different characters along the way and the option to team up with a friend for co-op multiplayer challenges.

SCEA has confirmed that Sucker Punch is working on a sequel to last year's open-ended, free-roaming game inFAMOUS. The latest issue of GameInformer will have the first details on inFAMOUS 2, while the game itself will also be shown at E3 later this month. Protagonist Cole MacGrath returns and Sucker Punch has set out to improve every aspect of the game with a new city, new powers and new gameplay.

While there is no official announcement yet that Capcom is bringing Monster Hunter Frontier to the Western market, it was revealed a few days ago at the Capcom/Microsoft conference in Japan that the Xbox360 might finally be getting its first real MMO.

Browser-based video game developer Bigpoint announced the acquisition of Radon Labs, developer know for Drakensang who recently filed for bankruptcy due to financial concerns, and thus gains more than 35 new employees.

Using the brand new FIFA 10 game engine and sporting all new features FIFA Online will include all the up-to-date teams and leagues you’ve come to love in the FIFA franchise.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock will once again redefine music gaming with an all-new, story-driven Quest Mode, a completely redesigned rock-inspired guitar controller, the biggest on-disc selection of rock music ever in a Guitar Hero game and Quickplay+, which invites challenge-starved fanatics to test their rock skills.

The Lord of the Rings Online allows players to forge heroic legacies in the War for Middle-Earth, experience an evolving persistent recreation of Tolkien's fantasy realm where you can establish unique reputations, discover and wield legendary weapons in strategic battles, while adventuring solo or in Fellowships.

Heroes in the Sky is an intense airborne MMOTPS that combines high impact PVE and fast paced PVP as it chronicles the events from the beginning to the end of World War II.

Din's Curse is a single player and co-op multiplayer action RPG with 141 class combinations, infinite number of dynamically generated towns, real consequences, and a dynamic, evolving world.

Rock Band 2 builds upon the original to introduce co-op band gameplay, multiple instruments, online multiplayer, unparalleled downloadable content and raises the bar by delivering an entirely new level of depth, connectivity, authenticity and features.

Aleroth, once a war-torn city, now holds the next challenges for computer role playing gamers. Rivellon, the world of Divinity II: Ego Draconis, is still not safe. In Divinity II: Flames of Vengeance players must face the evil once more.

Armada 2526 is a space-based blend of addictive turn-based strategy and intense real time space battles. You guide your race from its first interstellar journeys, until it becomes a mighty galactic empire. Along the way, you'll explore the galaxy, conduct research, diplomacy and trade, found new colonies, maneuver mighty star fleets, and fight epic battles.

Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver return players to the scenic Johto region first introduced in the original Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver games nearly a decade ago, now enhanced for the NDS(i) with updated graphics/sound, as well as new touch-screen features and a host of surprises.

Last night, we went to the annual 1C Company press event at the Russian consulate. Being on Russian soil is a rather unique experience, but we also got to see quite a few of new 1C games, such as the recently announced Off-Road Drive, but also titles that have been in development for ages, such as Rig'n'Roll (we've seen it at E3 since 2005 or so?), Captain Blood (Yes, it is finally coming out!) expansions for King's Bounty and Men of War, sequels like Death to Spies 3, and a few other titles.

Apart from the loads of vodka and Russian cuisine, there was a "spy hunt" contest. You had to find a real CIA spy among the crowd who was masquerading as a journalist. We won and took home the grand prize, two ATI HD 5870 graphics cards, PC game pads, and a gaming mouse.

Not a bad evening, I'd say ....