Second wave of XBLA Wednesdays revealed

When Microsoft debuted its Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays program, it specified that hump day was going to be the day for new games on Live Arcade, but it wouldn't guarantee a new game each and every Wednesday. The first wave of XBLA Wednesday titles ended with last week's release of Pac-Man, but Microsoft has given digital downloaders a few more release dates for upcoming anticipated Arcade games.

There will be a slight break in the flow of games, however, as this week's Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday release is four new picture packs for Ninja Bee's XBLA platformer Cloning Clyde. Each picture pack will go for 100 Microsoft points ($1.25).

The gaming action picks up again next week as the long-awaited Texas Hold 'Em finally arrives on August 23. The game will have persistent bankrolls attached to each Xbox Live gamertag, so players who bet recklessly and come out on the losing end will have to go back to the lower-stakes tables to work their way back into the games with heavy action. Texas Hold 'Em will normally be available for 800 points ($10), but Microsoft has announced that it will be free for download for the first 48 hours.

After Texas Hold 'Em hits the Marketplace, the next two Wednesday release slots will be occupied by a pair of Konami games. On August 30, arcade dogfighter Time Pilot will arrive with HD graphics and "enhanced gameplay" for 400 Microsoft points ($5). That will be followed on September 6 by the 1981 side-scroller Scramble, also for 400 Microsoft points ($5).