Welcome back for another week of video game news here with Video Game Bits. For our American readers, or just anybody who celebrates American Thanksgiving, we hope you had a good one. Whether you had the full turkey dinner, sat around and watched football, went crazy at the shopping malls on Black Friday, or just stayed at home and relaxed doing nothing in particular, we can only hope that you had a good time doing it.

If you're looking to pick up a copy of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for anything other than Playstation 2, we wish you good luck. The game has been in such short supply that barely anybody can find it anywhere, and the situation is even worse in Canada. Speaking of Canadian releases and short supply, we're still waiting to hear from Microsoft or EA as to the specific reason(s) the release of Rock Band was delayed in Canada and if the Playstation 2 version, which already had a later release date, was going to be delayed as well. We'll have more news on that if and when it becomes available. Here is today's Video Game Bits.

Xbox Live Friends list update coming

Starting December 4 ^th , as part of the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update, Microsoft will be making it easier for Xbox Live users to expand their Friends network. Once they have updated, users will be able to check out their friends' lists of Xbox Live Friends directly through their Dashboard, similar to how Facebook allows you to see your friends' friends. In fact, the reasons behind the addition for the feature are largely based on the socialmedia websites like MySpace and Facebook.

The press release reads, “ With the prevalence of social media websites such as MySpace and FaceBook, this type of capability has largely come to be expected from consumers as a means to relate in an online community. Xbox Live continually seeks new ways to better serve the expectations of its members, which often result in enhancements made available for free through the bi-annual Dashboard updates.”

The new feature is one of a few that will be coming along with the new Dashboard update, some of which we have mentioned in previous editions. When users get the update, the new default settings for their Xbox Live Friends list will be active, enabling members to see the Friends lists of other Xbox Live members. However, for members who wish to keep their Friends list private, Microsoft is giving people the option to apply their own settings in advance at www.xbox.com/en-us/fof. Once they sign in, users will be able to choose from three options available for their Gamertag:

Everyone – a setting only available to members that are 18 and older

Friends only – a setting available to members 13 and older

Blocked – a setting available to all members, and automatically set for members under the age of 13

Guitar Hero III guitars to come in 2008

Activision made a long awaited announcement today concerning standalone wireless guitar controllers for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock . The company plans to make the new controllers available for purchase at retailers nationwide by early 2008. Each version is already available with its own guitar, but as of the release they will finally be available for purchase separate from the game, so people who want to play the game in multiplayer mode, without having to have a previous version of the game (Xbox 360 or Playstation 2), use their console's regular controller or buy two copies of the game, will finally be able to do so without doing any of the aforementioned things. Pricing and complete availability details are yet to be announced.

Midway and Epic Games confirm UT3 release date for PS3

It's official. Midway Games and Epic Games confirmed today that the Playstation 3 version of Unreal Tournament 3 will ship to retail outlets across North America on December 10 ^th . The game should arrive in stores the following day. Unfortunately for Unreal Tournament fans who were planning on buying it for Playstation 3, Midway says that it will be arriving in limited quantities. So if you've been waiting to get the game, and you can get a pre-order for it, we'd suggest it. Unreal Tournament 3 for Playstation 3 will be available for $59.99 USD/$69.99 CAD and is rated M for Mature.

EA and FIFA begin preparations for FIFA Interactive World Cup

Just because the weather is getting cold and winter is on its way doesn't meant that the sporting season is done. The virtual soccer season is just heating up, and FIFA and Electronic Arts are marking their preparations for this year's FIFA Interactive World Cup. “ Since the launch of FIFA Soccer 08 last month, over 10,000 players from 25 countries and five continents have started battling for top position on the leader board in the online part of the competition via Playstation Network. This month, the first live qualifying events have kicked off in Denmark, the Netherlands, Hungary and will move on to Korea, Portugal and a total of over 20 locations across the world over the next five months in search for the world’s best interactive soccer player.”

On May 24, 2008, the 32 finalists will travel to Berlin, from around to world, to compete at the Sony Centre for the title of FIFA Interactive World Player 2008. The winner will receive an invitation to the FIFA World Player Gala 2008 and a cash prize of $20,000. For more information on the FIFA Interactive World Cup, including how to register for upcoming qualifiers, the rules and regulations and more, go to www.fifa.com/fiwc.