Team17's classic strategy title was released earlier today for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It's only $5, and while we haven't played it yet ourselves to try it out, it's Worms. If it works on a crummy old regular phone, it should work on the iPhone.

Worms 2: Armageddon's trailer highlights the changes coming to the XBLA version—and eventually to the PC and Mac—including new vertical levels and other landscape types, all-new weapons and much more. Team17 tells us we can expect the game "soon, real soon," so keep an eye peeled. (We didn't see the game listed under Microsoft's planned "Summer of Arcade" promotion, so hopefully that "real soon" will be sooner than we anticipated.)

Until then, might not be a bad idea to hook up the Dreamcast (or PlayStation or Nintendo 64) to get some Worms Armageddon practice in.

Frankly, we didn't make a big deal of Worms' release on the PlayStation Store, but we're trying to make it up to Team 17. Besides, it's not often we get to put adorable snowmen on the front page of Kotaku. Consider this more of a reminder that your hard-earned $12.99 can score you a digital copy of the recent PSN release.

Europe, you're getting it within the next week or so. So hype yourself with new media.

While XBLA already has one Worms release, now about two-years-old, Worms Armageddon Decade represents a highlight for the series. The original Worms Armageddon landed on the Dreamcast, PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and PC in 1998. Un-fun fact: it's the only Worms game I own.

As GamerBytes points out, it's quite possible that Decade is a Live Arcade "exclusive."

Worms Armageddon Decade [OFLC via GamerBytes]

Hard to go wrong at $5 USD, even if Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3's single-player game is largely broken thanks to the game's insane AI.

Xbox Live Arcade Hits [Xbox.com via GameSpot]

Worms 2008: A Space Oddity will include four new mini-games, an enhanced single player campaign, new landscape view mode and new weapons, including the Impact Frag, Atom Packs and Cluster Frags. In Worms 2008, the worms are exploring their solar system, fighting to defend installations, repair space craft, collecting minerals and battling alien races.

The game is scheduled to hit 850 mobile phone types starting in June. More details on the release after the jump.

THQ WIRELESS ANNOUNCES WORMS® 2008 FOR MOBILE PHONES

WOKING, UK - 09 April 2008 - THQ Wireless Inc., a subsidiary of THQ Inc., today announced an agreement with Team17 Software Ltd. to publish Worms® 2008 A Space Oddity for mobile handsets worldwide. Whilst being an entirely new game, Worms 2008 retains all the familiar award-winning gameplay and unique sense of humour that has epitomised the brand for more than a decade. The game will showcase a whole raft of new gameplay features including four all-new mini-games, an enhanced single player campaign mode, an all-new landscape view mode and new loopy weapons.

Worms 2008 features a story of intergalactic Worm travellers exploring their solar system. The improved single-player campaign missions feature varying objectives to keep the player on their toes as they fight to defend installations, repair space crafts, collect rare minerals and battle to the death against alien races. With the space setting comes a host of new weapons, including the Impact Frag, Atom Packs and Cluster Frags, which are based around the classic Worms weapons but share all new artwork and names with Worms: A Space Oddity, released earlier this year for Nintendo Wii™.

Worms 2008 also features all new graphics and new animations, including new looks for the opponent alien races. Advanced landscape generation systems have enabled more realistic levels. Graphical effects like smoke trails help to bring shots to life, while multi-layered parallax particles enhance the depth of field effect and have direct impact from gameplay, reacting to the direction and strength of the wind.

Also, debuting in Worms 2008 is a new AI system that allows enemy worms to determine the greatest threats, navigate the landscape and unleash a variety of weapons. Players will also be able to see the main game in landscape mode, as well as classic portrait mode. This view will allow the user to see more of the landscape and will give an experience closer to playing the game on a widescreen.

Worms 2008 is scheduled to be available for over 850 mobile phones starting in June 2008.

That's only 700 MS Points for everything or $8.75 US in real monies. Remember, you can't take it with you, so make with the flushing of the expendable income. Michael McWhertor

New Content Available for Worms on Xbox LIVE® Arcade! [Team 17]

You might think that worms and cake are not something you'd want to put together, but Kotakuite Stuart W. has changed all that. For his 21st birthday, Stuart and his dear Mum put together this great cake based on his favorite game, Worms. Not only is it an awesome cake, but it has a pirate theme as well which always goes over big here at Kotaku tower. As far as game cakes go, this is definitely one of the most detailed ones we've seen in a while. Great job, Stuart, and your mom too. Oh, and Happy Birthday! Flynn De Marco

UK pub 360 Magazine (I write a column for them) is hosting a little Worms tourney this month.

To enter just email your Gamertag and country of residence to 360 [at] imagine-publishing.co.uk. The first round will be starting sometime near the end of the month. The winner will get a "bundle" of Microsoft points. Go on, do us proud. Brian Crecente

The game will be called Worms 2007 and will feature the same gameplay we all know and love (unless we don't) along with a host of new weapons and features, such as the ability to play over a cell phone. Always a good mobile game feature, or so I've heard.

The game will also feature full 3D backgrounds of high-end phones that support it, while allowing us low-teks a chance to play a depressingly flat 2D version.

So, anyone have any tips on what sort of phone I should get to dip into mobile gaming? Right now I have a Samsung SGH-P207 half-covered in dried crazy glue due to an unfortunate pocket explosion. Will that do? Michael Fahey

THQ WIRELESS AND TEAM17 ANNOUNCE WORMS 2007 FOR MOBILE PHONES

New Sequel to the Successful Worms Series Scheduled for Release In May 2007

WOKING, UK 23 April 2007 - THQ Wireless Inc., a subsidiary of THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI). today announced an agreement with Team17 Software Ltd. to publish Worms 2007 for mobile handsets worldwide. Retaining all the familiar award-winning gameplay and unique sense of humour that has epitomised the brand for more than a decade, Worms 2007 will showcase a whole raft of new gameplay features including new loopy weapons to add to the previous game's arsenal.

"The addictive style of Worms gameplay has proven to be ideal for the mobile environment," said Adam Comiskey, Vice President of International, THQ Wireless. "This new version of the classic game will please existing fans of the series, as well as newcomers to the world of Worms."

"With Worms 2007, we have the opportunity to strengthen an already powerful franchise and provide a definitive gaming experience on mobile handsets within the Worms universe," said Debbie Bestwick, Commercial Director, Team 17. "Worms 2007 will mix the simple controls and 'aim-fire-explode' gameplay that has resonated so well with mobile game players in the past with the very best graphics currently possible on the mobile platform."

About Worms 2007
For the first time ever, 3D backgrounds on high-end handsets that are capable of 3D support, set the benchmark for the best graphics available for mobile phone content. Classic 2D game versions will also be available for multiple handsets with the same gameplay additions and all-new content. With both graphical versions, new mission based single-player campaign test players handling of Worms firepower and enemy shoot out tactics.

In addition to the game's classic Deathmatch mode, the game will feature new multiplayer modes such as Rope Race, Fort, Puzzle and Campaign modes challenging the player to use teamwork to defeat the enemy.

The game features 11 new weapons like the Bunker Buster and Buffalo of Lies as well as classics such as the Super Sheep, Concrete Donkey and the Holy Hand Grenade.

I'm skeptical about it, but I need a new online multiplayer game. If I have to go around Babypark one more time in MarioKart, I'm going to throw up. Kim Phu

THQ Confirms Worms: Open Warfare 2 [Pro-G]

I've been waiting for this game for so long it isn't funny. Special thanks to Microsoft for finally giving the game the green light to be release the week of GDC, when I will be over a thousand miles away from my Xbox 360. Bastards. Michael Fahey

Worms XBLA next week [Eurogamer]

"Worms is one of the 'richer' XBLA experiences in that it'll provide hours and hours of repeat play through it's on and offline multiplayer modes. Unfortunately that's meant a hell of a lot of testing and also re-submissions on what we felt were final builds.

Team 17 boss explains Worms XBLA delay [Eurogamer]

Major Nelson explains:

There will be no Xbox Live Arcade release this Wednesday, as the scheduled title was delayed. We have a very high bar that each title must pass over in order to be released on Xbox Live Arcade and unfortunately, no titles were ready in time.

So, with bad news comes good news. Microsoft is keeping something from you for your own good. Thanks for nothing, MS. And I mean that. Michael McWhertor

Worms. The name might not inspire that much game lust, but once you check out this vid I'm sure you will be jonesing for some hot Worms action on the Xbox 360's Live Arcade. Brian Crecente

Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, guess I'll go play Worms. Team 17's classic multiplayer war game nears completion for deployment on over Xbox Live. For the uninitiated, Worms is a 2D game where you take control of a team of armed invertebrates and use the awesome power of trajectory VS. wind speed to lay waste to your opponents. I like to pretend the 3D console versions never actually happened. Martyn Brown, creative director of Team 17 in the UK, has this to say on their forums:

Plans for announcements are being discussed with MS next week, hold tight. The game is in final certification stages btw, yes it's pretty much all finished apart from any last bugs they find. MS has a schedule of releases and we'll soon find out how we fit into that.

Unfortunately, as 1UP points out, Live's release card is full for the year, but it is only a matter of time before Live gamers everywhere tear into each other with exploding sheep. Michael Fahey

XBL Version of Worms Nears Completion [1UP.com]