The Mishka NYC × Brütal Legend collaboration not only gives metalheads an opportunity to proudly display their love of all things Tim Schafer on their torsos, it draws upon real thrash and metal credibility.

The above "Headbanger" tee features the gory result of Ironheade's headbanging foot soldiers thrashing concert-going wimps in a design crafted by artist James Callahan, known for his work with bands like Municipal Waste. The second, featuring a Brütal Legend Zaulia riding a Fire Beast, is all 70s metal fantasy, sex and hellfire, courtesy of Daniel Mumford, known for his work with Black Dahlia Murder.

Keep watch for opportunities—right here on Kotaku, for example—to get your hands on these tees. They won't be for sale, folks, so watch this space and the official Brutal Legend Twitter for updates.

Right now, however, if you've not already invested in a copy of Brutal Legend, Mishka's Bloglin is giving away a quartet of copies, two for the PlayStation 3, two for the Xbox 360. We're not sure if Mishka's inbox is ready for it, but if you e-mail brutal@mishkanyc.com, with either Xbox or PS3 in the subject line, you may score a copy by November 20th. Good luck!

Tim Schafer, founder of Double Fine productions and the man behind Brutal Legend, and Cliff Bleszinski, Epic Games designer and the face of Gears of War, sent in a slew of shots from their offices.

Here's a taste, the rest you'll find in our epic gallery here.

According to a report from the Associated Press on the matter, Activision's legal team informed a Los Angeles Superior Court of the settlement, but have not yet disclosed details on the agreement. A hearing was scheduled today, following a delayed ruling from the court.

Activision filed suit against Double Fine in June, claiming still existing rights to the game, despite EA's investment in the action adventure game.

Double Fine later countersued, claiming that Activision wanted to kill Brutal Legend to protect its Guitar Hero franchise.

Lawsuit Over 'Brutal Legend' Video Game Settled [New York Times/AP]

The suit also claims that Activision prefers to develop games based on their existing roster of titles, and not develop original titles.

"In 2008, Activision and Vivendi met and made a decision to walk away from Tim Schafer, Double Fine and Brutal Legend," Caroline Esmurdoc, COO, Double Fine Productions, told Kotaku in a prepared statement. "Now that we've found a publisher and the game is getting sensational coverage, they want to stop its release. Double Fine's countersuit is a demonstration of our intention to fight for this game - Activision will not kill Brutal Legend."

Double Fine's suit also claims that Activision is involved in unlawful business practices, according to the AP story.

Double Fine's countersuit contends Activision's lawsuit was filed to hurt the company and the game, and that it was involved in unlawful business practices and a conspiracy to protect "Guitar Hero" sales.

Activision's "purpose is not only to cancel 'Brutal Legend,' but to kill it completely so that 'Guitar Hero' would not have to face the competition," the lawsuit claims.

Brutal Legend is scheduled for release this October, but Activision has sued seeking to block the release of the game.

A hearing is scheduled for later this month.

Countersuit filed over 'Brutal Legend' video game [The Associated Press]

The game's product page describes the "four-versus-four 'skirmish' multiplayer" mode as a holy union of "action combat with a strategic unit-control mechanic." We know that Brütal Legend protagonist Eddie Riggs can amass armies of headbangers, groupies and amp-wielding roadies to do battle in the game's single player mode, but it appears we'll be able to take that action-strategery on the internets.

See? "As the leader of one of the factions in the game, direct your armies in a Battle of the Bands where the trophy is survival, and even take your battle online over Xbox LIVE." Seems pretty clear to us.

Brutal Legend [Xbox.com via Evil Avatar]

According to a report from the Associated Press, Activision claims that Double Fine failed to deliver Brütal Legend on time and mostly on its dime. The suit contends that the Brütal Legend dev was paid $15 million to finish the game, but missed a key deadline, with Double Fine asking for another $7 million in development monies and a nine month extension.

When Vivendi and Activision merged last year, Brütal Legend was missing from the list of titles that Activision would inherit and publish. But Activision claims it still retains its rights to the open world action adventure and that the mega-publisher has suffered "irreparable harm" in losing the game.

The lawsuit is unlikely a surprise for EA and Double Fine, as Activision expressed its unhappiness with the game being handed over to its biggest competitor earlier this year. EA's response to Activision's legal threats called them as ridiculous as "a husband abandoning his family and then suing after his wife meets a better looking guy."

Brütal Legend's presence at E3 2009 is big. New publisher Electronic Arts is banking heavily on the game, but if Activision is successful in its latest round of litigation, it's possible that we might have to start looking forward to a Rockvember or Rockcember release.

Activision sues to stop Jack Black game [Yahoo!/AP]

According to a report from Variety, Activision Blizzard has informed Electronic Arts of its claim to Double Fine's Brütal Legend, saying that it was still negotiating with the developer about its publishing plans. While everyone else seems to think differently—Activision Blizzard sure seemed to have shrugged the heavy metal-themed game off, like so many other Vivendi Games titles it absorbed—Activision thinks it's owed.

Owed what? Certainly not the opportunity to ship such a risky title, as Activision Blizzard doesn't seem interested in publishing anything but the safest of safe properties. Variety theorizes, quite logically, that Activision simply wants to get money from EA.

Or maybe Activision simply thinks that since Double Fine founder Tim Schafer believes that Brütal Legend's existence was partially due to the success of Guitar Hero, there's some royalty owed. We're not lawyers!

According to what we'd heard, Double Fine was under the impression that it was free to find another publisher, after the title contractually slipped through Activision's fingers. That publisher eventually turned out to be Electronic Arts.

EA told Variety that it doesn't expect to be hit with a lawsuit, as that would be as ridiculous as "a husband abandoning his family and then suing after his wife meets a better looking guy." Oh yes. They said that. Variety has the full statement.

Activision: Brutal Legend is ours. EA: Activision is a jealous ex-husband. [The Cut Scene]

That swell mechanic we're talking about is the build-your-own-platform one, with carefully placed "platform ammunition" scattered around each level. Tasha's Game is pitched by Double Fine as a "Tasha simulator" for anyone out there interested in experiencing accurate jumping-while-wearing-a-hoodie.

We'd recommend giving it — and Double Fine's previous mini-game effort Epic Saga — some of your highly in demand internet time.

Tasha's Game [Double Fine Productions via Waxy]

What does EA CEO John Riccitiello have to say about the orphaned heavy metal adventure? Well, he's quite hip to its existence, saying he's seen it, but calls it a "very significant creative risk."

That doesn't necessarily spell doom for Brütal Legend, as Riccitiello also says "Sometimes significant creative risks end up being some of the world’s best products." Gah! Stop playing with our hearts! You've got the money, John. Do it!

Interview: EA's Riccitiello On Having Faith In Mirror's Edge, Grasshopper Manufacture [Gamasutra]

More interesting is how it may have happened. If you can believe it, our sources tell us that the rights slipped through the publisher's fingers thanks to a mix up or loophole in the contract.

Now the game is sitting pretty in the lap of its loving developer who appears to be taking their time looking for the right deal to publish. Could EA Labels be on the prowl for a little Black magic?

We've contacted Double Fine for comment and will update when and if they reply.

Sure, we knew that Vivendi and Activision and their subsidiaries weren't doing the E3 thing proper, but Activision is at least holding a press conference. Chalk it up to denial. The good news, according to MTV, is that Mr. Schafer says we may hear more about it "soon after" E3. I'm ignoring Tim's "we hope" caveat.

We're also going to refer to the newly merged Activision Blizzard as Activision Blizzard Brütal Legend to show just how important we think the game is.

No ‘Brutal Legend’ At E3 [MTV Multiplayer]

He writes of Drake's shirt "Jet skiing, swimming, and almost kissing—nothing can dislodge or fully tuck Drake's half-casual shirt. It is draped in a purgatory state, half in, half out, never completely free." A bold and fascinating analysis from a visionary mind that anyone who has even a passing interest in video game fashion should read. Compelling stuff.

Half-tuck is the new Mullett [Double Fine]

Brütal Legend still hasn't been officially announced outside of a Game Informer magazine spread, but this trailer for Double Fine Productions' follow-up to Psychonauts or Epic Saga - Extreme Fighter is so dripping with awesome sauce that other video game developers must feel like throwing in the towel when faced with competition like this. Metal up your ass!!

Thanks, Jon!

Players can choose to progress through the game's storyline with one of six fighters, including the Barbarian, Horny Witch, Dark Wizard, Cave Dweller and Gnome King, with the speedy Gnome featured as an unlockable character. This is AAA stuff, folks. Once you see all four frames of animation on each beautifully rendered character, you will believe that Double Fine is ready for the next-next-generation of hardware.

If you've got the skills to take on this series of truly extreme fighters, you won't be disappointed. The ending is nothing short of spectacular.

Epic Fighter [Double Fine Productions, thanks Collin!]

We'll be on hand at GCDC and Games Convention to bring you all the highlights and drink from the biggest steins possible.

Tim Schafer To Deliver 'Creative' GCDC Keynote [Gamasutra]