New casual video game site

SanDisk Corporation and Big Fish Games announced the launch of a new website today, which offers a large library of casual video games that can be run on USB flash drives enabled with SanDisk's U3 smart technology. The new site (www.bigfishgames.com/sandisk) currently offers users 56 titles to choose from, including games like Boggle and Deep Ball Defender, and is expecting to have 100 titles available by this summer. Site visitors will be able to download trial versions of the games, which run for one hour, but full versions are also available to be purchased for $19.99 USD each or for as low as $6.99 each with a Big Fish Games Game Club subscription. A Game Club subscription does require you to purchase a certain number of games though, so be sure to read into the full details of the subscription.

So how does SanDisk's U3 smart technology work? It's pretty simple. Instead of requiring a user to install an application or, in this case, video game onto the computer they want to play on, the U3 enabled USB flash drive directly runs the application. This takes away the time required to transfer and install that application. To make things even faster, SanDisk will begin adding a direct link for the site to the on-screen U3 Launchpad. The updated launchpad will be included on SanDisk Cruzer Micro flash drives beginning some time in the second quarter of 2008.

God of War: Chains of Olympus now available

Sony Computer Entertainment America announced the North American release of God of War: Chains of Olympus for PSP today. This is Kratos' first adventure on Sony's handheld system, but Sony says the game will deliver “everything that fans have come to expect from the God of War franchise”. Chains of Olympus is a prequel to the original God of War , and begins with Kratos embarking on a journey through places filled with darkness and completely untouched by mortals.

“ The Gods have been rendered powerless from the state of their world, leaving Kratos with only one choice – he must square off against the most vicious of demonic creatures from Greek Mythology and choose between saving his soul or the ancient world from imminent and total destruction.” It certainly sounds like an intriguing storyline, and with new combat moves, magic and weapons, along with some existing favourites, players will get to lead Kratos through it all with some serious power to back him up. God of War: Chains of Olympus is available now for PSP for $39.99 USD and CAD and is rated M for Mature.

XBLA update

This week's Xbox Live Arcade update features a brand new RPG styled shooter. Join Rocketmen Nick Sion, Alec Mink and the Alliance of Free Planets in their white-knuckled struggle to free the solar system from the tyrannical grip of the Legion of Terra in Rocketmen: Axis of Evil. Players have the choice to save the galaxy alone or cooperatively, with up to three other players over Xbox LIVE or locally on the same console. With its distinctive cel-shaded art style, engaging storyline, customizable characters and RPG elements, this shooter will keep players coming back for more. Capcom’s Rocketmen: Axis of Evil will be available worldwide (with the exception of Japan and Korea) for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and up.

Today's game releases

SCEA's MLB 08 The Show for Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and PSP – Price varies by console