League of Legends going free-to-play

DotA-inspired RTS/RPG hybrid will use a microtransaction system; players can pay to cosmetically accessorize avatars but can't buy improved character performance.

–Matthew Peters MAG delayed to '10, Dragon Age CE'd - Retail Radar

GameStop and GameFly now listing Zipper Interactive 256-person team shooter as arriving next January; BioWare's fantasy RPG gets extra-packed $75/$65 collector's edition with Mass Effect 2 in-game bonus.

–Tor Thorsen Madballs, Secrets of Monkey Island sail onto XBLA

Adaptation of 1980s toy fad and reboot of the 1990 pirate action adventure game go downloadable; Cyanide's Tour de France 2009 also pedals into the fray.

–Matthew Peters Economist, analyst spar over cost of Madden NFL exclusivity

Lawsuit over EA's pigskin preeminence pits plaintiff's witness against Michael Pachter in speculation showdown; former claims deal cost consumers at least $701.5 million; "What kind of fool is this?" asks latter.

–Brendan Sinclair Media Molecule on the Art of Little Big Planet

DEVELOP '09: Cofounders Kareem Ettouney and Mark Healey dissect artistic influences behind the PS3 platformer--and how the game's rabid fan base has scared them.

–Guy Cocker TurboGrafx-16 games hit PS3, PSP

Downloadable versions of Bomberman '94, Devil's Crush, and more arrive on Japanese PlayStation Store.

–Brendan Sinclair PSP App store in the works - Report

Sony tells Develop it will lower development barriers, will open new section of the PlayStation Store for smaller and cheaper titles--not all of which will be traditional gaming.

–Matthew Peters Project Natal tech headed to PCs - Gates

Microsoft chairman tells CNET that the technology behind Xbox 360's motion-sensing camera is also in development for Windows-based machines--and will be used for much more than gaming.

–Ina Fried Sony's Ranyard croons about SingStar

DEVELOP '09: Karaoke game's director talks about competition from Lips, what he's learned from the community, and a new Clubs mode for the PS3 series.

–Guy Cocker Professor Layton investigating Europe this September

Follow-up to critically acclaimed Professor Layton and the Curious Village ships September 25.

–Luke Anderson EA dates FIFA 10

Coming October 2 to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, DS, and PSP.

–Mark Walton Flower dev talks next PS3 game, Natal

DEVELOP '09: thatgamecompany creative director Jenova Chen says his new Sony project will be non-traditional a la flOw, says Microsoft tech is "huge step."

–Guy Cocker GTA creator opens up on APB

DEVELOP '09: Realtime Worlds' Dave Jones uses keynote to discuss origins of forthcoming cops-vs.-criminals MMOG, suggests sci-fi settings limit audience size.

–Guy Cocker Aussie game charts: June 29-July 5

Wii Fit continues to reign supreme down under.

–James Kozanecki Wolfenstein delayed two weeks

Raven Software's supernatural shooter pushed back to week of August 17 for a simultaneous worldwide launch.

–Brendan Sinclair