Video game industry veterans Nick Koziupa (Rainbow Studios), Brian Westergaard (Neversoft Entertainment, Rainbow Studios, High Voltage Software) and Dave Eberly (Gamebryo architect ) have announced the launch of Azo Studios, and plan to develop video games and middleware solutions for console, PC, and handheld devices.

Nintendo added a classic and one WiiWare title to the Wii's Shop Channel. Wii owners with online access can redeem Wii Points to download: Strong Bad Episode 5: Sandy Beach (Wiiware), and Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (VC).

Square Enix's Dragon Quest IX: Defender of the Stars, developed by Level 5, is the first title on any Nintendo system since Dragon Quest VI, 10 years ago, now featuring WiFi support for four players in co-op.

Wind Slayer introduces blazing fast, side-scrolling 2D MMO action in a combat system that rewards precise control and timing. The game's visual style evokes images of nostalgic fairy tales with friendly sprite-based characters and gorgeous fantasy backgrounds.

Spectrobes: Beyond The Portals continues the story of Rallen and Jeena, interplanetary patrol officers who discover, excavate, awaken and train mysterious fossilized creatures known as Spectrobes and then use them to battle enemies. The story surrounds the origins of mysterious portals that lead to distant dimensions.

Softmax has signed an MOU for cooperation in the production of "cultural contents" with PMC Production. In the statement Softmax revealed that it is working on a Magna Carta 2, a sequel to its 2005 fantasy RPG, as well as 2 new NDS titles. Set in Efferia, a continent populated with five races, you can use seven different types of Carta and meet a host of characters.

Resistance: Retribution is a 3rd person adventure with an all new story, levels, weapons and enemies, as well as a proprietary targeting system and game engine that pushes the system to its limit, allowing more detailed characters, special effects, and terrain that captures the look and feel of the Resistance universe. Amazon is offering fans who pre-order before Jan. 12, 2009 will receive a download code for the demo before its Feb. 24 launch.

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop follows the harrowing tale of Frank West, an overly zealous freelance journalist on a hunt for the scoop of a lifetime. In pursuit of a juicy lead, he makes his way to the small suburban town of Willamette only to find that it has become overrun by zombies. Originally set for Jan. 20, 2009, it is now scheduled for Feb. 24, 2009

Gamestop stores across North America have put up a notification sign for its customers that the game store chain will stop accepting trade ins for original Xbox, its titles and peripherals as of Feb. 9, 2009. If you want cheap Xbox titles from the bargain bin, now is the time...

Guide your city from ancient times into the future with SimCity Creator, Evolve your city through time, starting with ancient times, the middle ages, modern times, present day and the future.

Geman based EA Phenomic Studio is developing BattleForge, a new fantasy online RTS game where you assemble your own army with collectible trading cards. Win, trade and buy your cards online to create your ultimate deck.

Galactic Command: Echo Squad SE puts the player in the cockpit of an Echo fighter, where they'll lead the Galactic Command squadron in massive scale aerial and space combat engagement. This patch improves multiplayer performance, and fixes various bugs/crashes.

UCCE includes new and improved technologies from all previous Battlecruiser / Universal Combat titles as well as various other enhancements and content.

Homeless since the Activision/Vivendi merger, A2M's WET is a seamless integration of intense gunplay, death-defying acrobatics and exciting swordplay, framed by breathtaking art direction and unparalleled animation quality.

Set in an future-fantasy world, Demigod is a team-based action/RPG/RTS hybrid game that casts you as a hero waging war to obtain a position within the pantheon of gods.

Neopets Puzzle Adventure combines the virtual world of Neopets with a variety of puzzles based on the classic games of Reversi and Go. Neopets Puzzle Adventure will incorporate several different mini-games, tons of petpets, as well as more than 100 items to equip various Neopet characters, recipes, treasures, awards and more.

Evochron Legends is a freeform mercenary space-sim that focuses on 'lone-wolf' survival gameplay. You can play the game in a variety of ways and complete many activities. The game features unified gameplay profiles for both single player and multiplayer, so that upgrades, ships, equipment, money, you earn in the game can be used in both the single-player and multiplayer modes.

While not yet announced, UK studio Juice Games, part of THQ, was working on a new action/air combat/flight sim game in the vein of Ubisoft's H.A.W.X. and Namco Bandai's Ace Combat series. Unfortunately the Juice Games, known for its racing sim Juiced, had to scrap the project and lay off the 30 people working on the game.

The Lord of the Rings: Conquest is an action-packed game set in the Lord of the Rings universe of J.R.R. Tolkien where players will fight epic battles any way they want, whether it be as the heroic forces of good, or as the legions of Sauron’s evil army, including Cave-trolls, Oliphaunts, the Balrog and Sauron himself.

Acquire is developing the next installment in the Way of the Samurai franchise, currently only scheduled for release in Japan this fall. Way of the Samurai 3 will feature over 100 weapons for you to wield in defense of the poor, lonely, while fending off rivaling samurai clans. Spike has revealed that it is also bringing WotS 3 to Xbox 360 with added customization possibilities.

So far, we've revealed the honorable mentions, top handheld and downloadable titles, top console/PC offerings, and the countdown of games 11-20. Today we're finishing up the countdown of the top 20 titles, including what WP considers to be the best game of 2008. Read more for the final results!

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.

Crystal Dynamics has made Tomb Raider Underworld more realistic with fluid movements due to motion capturing. Set a few years after the last game, it also features persistent destruction and lush locales across the globe. Lara gets muddy in the game, but with the weather system, rain will wash it away.

Mushroom Men shows gamers the mundane world from the surreal perspective of a three-inch-high Mushroom Man. Unnoticed by humans, a war rages between the spore factions, and you, as a brave Bolete Mushroom Man, are given the opportunity to wreak havoc by transforming common household trinkets and trash into weapons and tools.

Set five years after the original, San Vanelona's been rebuild after it was hit by a natural disaster. Equipped with double the bag of tricks, gamers are tasked to rebuild their career and revive the New San Vanelona skate scene. A Skate 2 demo is scheduled to appear on Xbox Live next week, Jan. 8, 2009.