Gamers are getting a break this week with no new releases on the PS3 or 360 and nothing worth mentioning for the Wii and handhelds. Fortunately the download games are pretty good, with the classic color-coded top-down shooter Ikaruga on XBLA and NES classics Bases Loaded and Yoshi’s Cookie hitting the Virtual Console.

If you missed out on the February issue of OXM, you will now be able to purchase the three not-so-exclusive-anymore tracks for 99 cents a pop.

Being an Internet denizen, I like to bitch and argue. It’s in my e-blood but isn’t exactly productive so I present a new series called “ALTered State,” where we everything wrong with the world via a convenient list. First in the chute is Microsoft.

“Still Alive” finally releases! Ready those Portalisms involving cake and notes!

It’s pretty bad when the highest profile title for the week is a re-release.

ALTGN has just learned that DeltaZulu launched an early-morning commando raid on the Sal Kari city where their comrade is believed to be held captive.

Let’s go ahead and get this going! Dark Sector, the third person, blade thrower slices onto the 360 and PS3 along with the Viking-inspired hack-and-slash Viking: Battle for Asgard. The Wii makes its O-face and FFVII: Crisis Core comes out on the PSP!

It’s been a good week for Rock Band fans. First we got a patch that added a music store and a few improvements and now we’re getting a 6-pack of Boston as next week’s DLC.

Which is better for Xbox Live? We look at the gameplay, graphics, AI and maps to find out which is worth gamers’ time.

According to the official Playstation blog, PS3 owners can expect firmware upgrade 2.20 within “the next few days” and with it is coming a bevy of internal fixes. The highlight of this upcoming update is of course the BD-Live upgrade for the Blu-Ray function, as it enables new feature such as web-based content and more interactive features.

Harmonix has finally announced details on the “in-game music store patch” for Rock Band that was mentioned several weeks ago. Hitting “this week,” the title update will add the music store option to the main menu, allowing players to browse and purchase songs without going to the Marketplace or PlayStation Store, view album art and difficulty details, and preview audio clips from each song.

The big game this week is Rainbow Six Vegas 2: Electric Boogaloo for the 360 and PS3. Following up on the holiday ‘06 original, the sequel sports some new features, most notably a COD4 type experience system, but has cut the co-op from 4 to 2 for the Campaign. The PS3 is having a big week with Condemned 2: Bloodshot (originally slated for last week) hitting along with Hot Shots Golf, and some Booster Packs for our Eye of Judgment fans out there. You know who you are.

Tragedy strikes the DeltaZulu squad as they battle Sal Kari forces in the deserts during a sandstorm. Which Hound was destroyed? Did the pilot survive? These answers, and more, as information becomes available.

Braid shows off its time manipulating gameplay in three levels inside.

It’s Friday, and that means new DLC announcements from the Official Rock Band Forums! Unfortunately, I don’t think this one isn’t going to be very popular with the masses. Slightly changed from the Rumored March list we have the “Earache Thrash Pack.”