Puzzle Quest Galactrix takes the fantasy world of the original Puzzle Quest and injects it with a healthy dose of sci-fi. The "match three" gameplay is still present, as are the RPG elements, and it all comes together in a Puzzle Quest experience for those who prefer interstellar drama over orcs and goblins.

We're going to write the rest of this hands-on with the idea that the reader has played the original Puzzle Quest, because if they haven't, they should go out and rent/buy it right now. For those who played the first Puzzle Quest and didn't like it, Galactrix won't convert them, unless the sci-fi concept is the only thing they felt was missing from the original.

We understand that trailers for puzzle games, even ones with strong RPG elements, aren't exactly titillating. With very few explosions, no dialogue, and the repetitive swapping of multi-hued bricks, the odds are somewhat against them. If you never played the first Puzzle Quest, the above trailer will probably look as bland as eating toast at a Kenny G concert -- however, those who have gemswapped their way through the Challenge of the Warlords understand the fancy-tickling capacity of this debut Puzzle Quest: Galactrix trailer. With looks at the new hex-based gameplay, the massive galaxy the game takes place in, and the new visual aesthetic, this one video should be enough to cause visions of hexagons to dance in your head until the game's Q1 '09 release.

Joystiq will make any sacrifice to bring you the latest news -- even if it means flying to Paris, France in order to attend Blizzard Entertainment's Worldwide Invitational. Only seconds ago we were shown a cinematic from Blizzard's newest game: Diablo 3. We're currently being shown a live demo of the game (which we're reminded is a work in progress) by lead designer Jay Wilson. The look and feel of the game -- though graphically updated from its aging sibling -- looks a lot like the dungeon crawls we all know and love from the original series. We're promised more loot, more quests (and some old friends like Deckard Cain), and new environments. Classes demo'd include the familiar Barbarian and the brand new Witch Doctor (a master of disease and fire who will control pets). Says Wilson, the game is "primarily cooperative" and it will be quick and easy to form groups over Battle.net. Sorry, folks who were expecting an MMO, but it sounds like Diablo 3 will continue in the tried-and-true Diablo format.

Update: Blizzard's European site is now live with the cinematic teaser and gameplay footage for your perusal!

D3Publisher has announced that it has acquired the rights to make games based on stop-motion animations Coraline and Shaun the Sheep (via Gamasutra). The former, Coraline, is a film adaptation of a Neil Gaiman book directed by Henry Sellick (The Nightmare Before Christmas). The adventure game is expected to ship early 2009 for DS and unknown home consoles alongside the film's February 6 debut. Unlike the film, the game will not be using 3D glasses, according to D3 COO Yoji Takenaka.

The other game adaptation, Shaun the Sheep, is based on a British TV show from Aardman Animation (Wallace & Gromit), who previously worked with D3 on a game for Flushed Away. The adventure title will be exclusive to the DS and is due out this Fall.

We know that this doesn't go for everyone, but we really adored Dark Sector when we played it back in March. Now, just a couple of months after its release, you can finally get a taste of the glaive-tossing action without laying down any cash, thanks to the demo now available on Xbox Live.

The gameplay gets a touch stale toward the middle of the full game and it climaxes with the worst boss fight in recorded history, but we still think it's worth your time. Give the demo a spin (Get it? Like a glaive!) and let us know what you think.

Poor 100 Bullets. While the DC/Vertigo comic book series continues to impress, the video game adaptation of the dark, morally ambiguous tale seems to be shooting blanks. First, it was in development at Acclaim until the company exploded, blowing chunks of Vexx and Shadowman throughout its Glen Cove, NY offices. Then D3 announced that it had picked the license up in 2006 before going dark for nearly two years. Now, Gamervision reports that a Gamestop insider has revealed that the game has been tentatively slated for release on PS3 and 360 in February of 2009.

Gamervision was previously the first to break the news on Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, so we're inclined to at least count this as an encouraging sign of life for the long-suffering series. But if the video game version of 100 Bullets is still in limbo a few months from now, we'd like to humbly suggest a simple solution: Agent Graves vs. Sub-Zero. 'Nuff said.

Update: A spokesperson for D3 contacted us to say "we are working on the game from the ground up but we do not have any more details than that." So, for what that's worth, there you go.

Refusing to heed our suggestion, D3Publisher has picked the name for it's upcoming version 1.5 update for Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. The download, which will drop over Xbox Live this spring, will carry the rather tortured title of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - Revenge of the Plague Lord. Let us pause now and catch our breath.

According to D3, the mouthful was picked from a collection of more than 500 suggestions sent in as part of the last month's call for potential monikers, which turned out equally labored names as "Sorceress of Malbec" and "The Scourge of Antharg," the contest's two runner-ups. Still, while we find the chosen name difficult to swallow, we remain excited for the expansion, which promises to tempt us with new hero professions, spells, items, and quests. Goodbye free time, we hardly knew ye.

When the first next-gen game ever announced doesn't get released until a few years into that generation's life cycle, it's pretty much impossible for it to be "worth the wait." But Dark Sector seems to be doing a valiant job of at least being "worth the shelf space," as it's garnered restrained praise from several outlets.

• 1UP (75/100):"When it all comes together and you're ducking in and out of cover while shooting and throwing the Glaive at groups of enemies, it's a lot of fun, and the visual spark and A.I./pacing/combat polish make it worth playing. Don't head in expecting a game that overachieves or pushes too many boundaries, but don't lower your expectations too much either."
• Game Informer (75/100): "As negative as I have been, I still feel that Dark Sector is worth checking out. The glaive is something that every action nut has to wrap his or her hands around. Like the BFG or the cerebral bore, you'll remember this weapon forever. Sadly, you'll remember the weapon more than the game itself."
• IGN (77/100): "All of this -- the powers, the glaive and the guns -- combines to make you feel empowered in Dark Sector. Usually you start a game as a super-agent and chortle as you're easily killed or dealt with. In Dark Sector, the difficulty ramps up as you get your powers and learn the ropes. Right out of the gate, you feel like you're this kick ass operative."

Puzzle Quest was among our favorite titles released last year over Xbox Live Arcade, with the unlikely mix of casual puzzling and role-playing edging its way into several of our staff's top picks for 2007. Now publisher D3 has announced that the game will soon be getting what it calls a "tremendous amount" of new content by way of an upcoming downloadable expansion. There's just one problem -- it needs a name.

The add-on, which promises a new villain in Antharg, the Lord of Plague, as well as new spells, items, and quests on top of four new hero professions (Bard, Rogue, Ranger and Warlock), is currently being dubbed " Puzzle Quest: 1.5," but that name is hardly appropriate. To this end, D3 is calling for players to submit name suggestions on the official Puzzle Quest website starting today at noon through Friday, March 21. Once a name has been decided, the expansion will be made available this spring over Xbox Live. We're already brainstorming our ideas -- might we suggest Puzzle Quest: The Addictioning?

D3 Publisher's big surprise at GDC this year was the newly rebranded Puzzle Quest: Galactrix, the sci-fi spiritual sequel to the hit Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. We weren't able to play the game -- we were forced to sit tantalizingly close as we watched the PC version of the game (also coming to DS and Xbox Live Arcade) being demonstrated. The new game explores the question "What if people didn't have souls?" in the medium of match-three puzzle games. No, we don't know what that means either.

Enjoy our gallery of spaceship concept art, screenshots, and this thing, and continue past the break for what gameplay details we could glean from the demo.

We've known a Puzzle Quest sequel was coming out for some time -- turns out, we've known longer than we thought. In April 2007, D3 Publishers announced Galactrix, a "blend of puzzle, RPG, and strategy games" with sci-fi twist. This week at GDC, D3 announced it again (via Gamespot), only this time re-branded as Puzzle Quest: Galactrix. (You can view the old screenshots here.)

The obvious gameplay difference from Puzzle Quest is the hexagonal board, adding to the board's complexity. Galactrix is due out this year for DS, Xbox Live Arcade and PC; a PSP version could not be confirmed.

Now that that silly writer's strike is under control, it's time to get back to the busy work of ... video game writing awards! The Writer's Guild of America has chosen the winner – from amongst five nominees – of its first-ever Video Game Writing Award. Congratulations to the team at Vicious Cycle Software for their work on Dead Head Fred.

As much as we enjoyed Dead Head Fred (it even made one of our Best of the Rest '07 lists), there's still that part of us that says it wasn't a fair fight. In a year that included some of the best video game writing we can think of, the fact that the WGA's nominees didn't include titles like Mass Effect, BioShock, or Portal leaves us feeling ... well, uneasy.

We understand that the game's writers must have been or applied to become members of the WGA's New Media Caucus in order to be eligible for the award so, fair enough, perhaps the other games weren't. Regardless, highlighting quality game writing – regardless of the game – is a noble task in an industry where all your base are belong to the master of unlocking, y'know?

Last year's Puzzle Quest was a surprise hit/addiction that eventually landed on every platform in existence. So it's with little shock that a recent press release from D3 Publisher, which announced Adam Roberts as the new European Managing Director, mentioned a forthcoming sequel to the game due out this year.

The revelation is found in the last sentence of the release, "The company will also be releasing video games based on Aardman's popular Shaun the Sheep character in 2008, alongside the eagerly-awaited follow-ups to the best-selling Ben 10 and Puzzle Quest." Wait a second, more Ben 10 and Shaun the Sheep, too? O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! We've contacted D3 for a statement.

As was revealed over the weekend, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is finally gracing Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday. A fee of 1,200 MS Points ($15) allows entry into the kingdom where warring men and beasts settle things not by clanging swords, but politely manipulating colored tiles. The price of such civility may seem puzzling, but the digitally distributed form seems to offer the most features (examine them after the break) at the lowest price.

Wednesday sees another game arrive at the lowest price, specifically $0. In what is sure to be a vortex for game of the year accolades, Toyota's "Yaris" advergame allows you to test drive the eponymous vehicle from the comfort of your couch. You'll dodge robotic rabbits, engage in the exciting "Yaris vs. Yaris" mode and even upgrade the "protective shielding" you're surprised Toyota hasn't made more of an effort to market. Unfortunately, this game is only available to Live subscribers in the US and Canada.

According to a press release IGN received from D3 Publisher, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords will release on Xbox Live Arcade Oct. 10. Although no specifics were given on price, the game is expected to cost 1200 MS points ($15) based on previous leaked info.

Although the 1200 MS price point may be a little steep compared to what we're used to paying for an XBLA game, considering the game normally costs between $20 - $30 on various other platforms (DS, PSP, PC), it doesn't seem unreasonable -- and the HD is a nice perk. If you haven't played the acclaimed puzzle/RPG hybrid, or are looking forward to playing again on a bigger screen, it appears the wait is almost over.

[Via Evil Avatar]