I remember the Dreamcast version of the original Soul Calibur blowing my baby blue socks clean off when I first saw it. Then again, that was on a 4:3, standard definition TV. This update, on a 16:9 screen and in HD? With those Windows 3.1 desktop-lookin borders? I...look, it still looks great, and I maintain the first is the best game in the series, it's just going to take a while to get used to seeing it look so different, that's all.

The first episode of Penny Arcade Adventures: On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness has been officially dated for May 21, 2008, coming to Xbox Live Arcade and Windows, Mac and Linux. Cost to you? $19.95 USD or 1600 Microsoft points.

As you recall, there's no PlayStation Network version because PSN doesn't support Torque, with which the game is built. Full fact sheet follows the jump.

Xbox Live Arcade weekly updates are back on schedule, after Niko Bellic and his gang hijacked all Live traffic last week. This Wednesday, it's Wits & Wagers, a trivia party game for up to six players that features Xbox Live Vision camera support for maximum avatar creepiness. The official site states that Wits & Wagers "includes 700 unique and fun questions for up to 25 hours of exciting play." That's important to note. At 25 hours, you absolutely must stop expecting exciting play. You've been warned.

Wits & Wagers [Xbox.com]

After we posted new that Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One had gone gold, many of you were wondering why the game wasn't showing up on the Playstation Network.

The game is currently listed only for Window, Mac, Linux and the Xbox 360's arcade.

I shot a quick question over to Tycho to find out what exactly the deal was. He said they hate all things Sony. Ah-hahahaha, just kidding. I got ya didn't I? Actually it's all about the hardware. Right now the Penny Arcade game will only be shipping on platforms that support Torque because that's the blood that runs through their game's veins.

So no partisanship here, just cold hard hardware issues.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One has gone gold and will be going on sale via digital distribution later this quarter, Hothead Games said today.

The Windows, Mac and Linux game will sell for $20 and the 360 arcade version will go for 1600 Microsoft Points.

Hit the jump for the full release.

Assault Heroes remains one of the best arcade shooter experiences on Xbox Live Arcade today - exactly the sort of game I used to play in arcades with my friends back in the day. Now Wanako Studios is readying Assault Heroes 2 for release next month, promising all of the action of the original and more. The new game adds hijackable enemy vehicles entering the mix, as well as taking the firefight into outer space for the first time. The game is due out on XBLA May 14th for the standard fee of 800 Microsoft points. In honor of the release date announcement, here's enough screens to create your own little Assault Heroes 2 flipbook.

Sierra had a few XBLA titles to show off as well at their Gamer's Day, so I have compiled them together into this one article for easy digestion.

Zombie Wranglers:
In Zombie Wranglers, you play one of four different neighborhood kids out on a mission to rid your neighborhood of zombies. This is done Luigi style by running about and sucking up the undead bastards with a vacuum cleaner type apparatus. Each of the four characters of course have different abilities that will help in the process. One such power was a blow gun that will turn any zombie it hits into a walking time bomb. Blow a dart, stand back and watch the fun.

There are five different chapters in the game with various tongue in cheek titles like "Desperate Housezombies" and each chapter is proceeded by a phone call that will give you your assignment for that level. The assignments range form taking out a certain number of zombies to taking out specific types of zombies like Emos, Comic Book collectors and Construction Workers. Chapters can be attempted alone or you can play with up to four other people online or locally and a vs mode will also be available.

The cel shaded style is cute and will probably appeal mostly to the kid market although certain adults will be sure to enjoy it as well.. Look for these cartoony zombies to infest your Xbox 360 sometime later this summer.

This week's contribution to Xbox Live Arcade comes courtesy of Sierra and the brain of Dr. Reiner Knizia who has a PhD in mathematics... and fun! That last part isn't true, but Knizia's fast paced card game Lost Cities is being digitized for your Microsoft Point-based consumption, bringing four person multi-player and plenty of grizzled or eternally winking adventurer artwork to Xbox 360s. Lost Cities will set you back 800 MSPs (or $10 USD) this Wednesday should you choose to engage your sick-of-Uno peers.

Lost Cities [Xbox.com]