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According toBusiness Report, 12 class-action lawsuits have been filed in 33 states, against builders who used Chinese drywall in their construction during 2006 and 2007. Allegedly, the imported drywall is responsible for an array of problems for anyone living with it, ranging from respiratory health issues to electrical power failures and the corrosion of any nearby metals. This, I suppose, is where your 360 comes in. Given all the construction that took place after hurricane Katrina, Louisiana seems to have been especially affected by the supposed contamination, with a large portion of the cases being reported in that area....

Ah, Cliffy B, the video game developer who just loves the spotlight and consuming it. I happen to like Cliffy a lot — especially after spending time with the guy. He’s a nice sort of character to have in the game industry too. He’s outspoken, passionate, and maybe most importantly, a great video game industry promoter. But, you just gotta let loose a hearty chuckle when you see things like this....

Crackdown 2is officially finished, folks. Developer Ruffian Games has announced that the long awaited sequel has finally ended development and the game’s ready to go. Those who are excited for the game (including yours truly) doubtless have reason to be excited. “Crackdown 2has passed cert, thanks for the fantastic work by all,” proudly announced the studio. “Load up those trucks, Agents. We’re heading out.” SinceAlan Wake‘s release,Crackdown 2has really been the only Xbox 360 title I’ve anticipated....

Here’s a bit of strange news for today: a singleplayer demo for the upcoming PC shooter,Crysis, has been dated for a September 25 release. Hmm … does that date sound familiar to anyone? Oh yeah, that’s the same day this little game calledHalo 3comes out. I could sit hear all day trying to come up with reasons why that exact date seemed like such a good idea at some point in time, but I’ll leave that up to you guys to figure out....

Ever been to one of those parties — think back to some kid’s Bar Mitzvah, or maybe it’s someone’s awkward, overheated wedding, and sometimes someone’s dancing just looks a little bit dangerous? There’s a sweaty 13-year-old kid getting SERIOUS with his plastic party favor hula hoop, and you wanna give him a good ten-foot radius. At LEAST. Finally there’s a game for that kid — and everyone out there who wanted to just knock him through the ice sculpture....

Japanese developer Spike has revealed information regarding their upcoming PSP title,Dangan Ronpa, which sounds too interesting not to share. The game revolves around a group of students who have accepted invitations to join a special academy for supernaturally gifted children. When they get there, their principal (who appears as a creepy teddy bear) informs them that they will spend the rest of their lives trapped in the school unless they betray and kill one another....

The incomparable GameTrailers has an exclusiveDark Sectorlaunch trailer running, showcasing perhaps one of my biggest mysteries of the year. Most games, you kind of form an idea in your head as to whether or not they will be good, but withDark Sector, I just can’t decide.It tempts me with its brutal slaying, solid looking combat and fun sounding online play, but the lacklustre reaction thatDark Sectorhas inspired in others worries me....

It feels like this game has been in development since the dawn of time, and in all those years has seen the most dramatic overhaul since Jenna Jameson went from attractive to Skeletor’s less sexy sister, but the release of Digital Extreme’sDark Sectoris fast approaching. The buzz about this game from those who have gotten their hands on it hasn’t been completely positive, but I’m certainly still interested in it because the thoughts of the majority mean nothing to me (see:Effect, Mass)....

David Sirlin, a key player at Backbone Entertainment, developers ofStreet Fighter II HD Turbo Remix, has left the company. He announces his departure with astrange post on his own blog. We don’t know what went down, but he says he’ll always be available for patches or updates toStreet Fighter HD Remix, so no worries there. Then, he follows this with links to poor review scores of other Backbone titles likeBrooktown HighorCharlie and the Chocolatefactory....

Electronic Arts has announced that its first downloadable boxer pack will be made available forFight Night Round 4in late August for $9.99 (800 MS Points). The pack will feature Oscar De La Hoya, Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko, and alternate versions of George Foreman and James Toney. Additionally,as previously reported, a free game update will be made available at the end of August. The update will include additional gloves, trunks, and shorts....

Let’s assume, for the moment, that you are European and made the deeply foolish decision not to buyDeadly Premonitionwhen it released on your continent back in October of last year. You have made a terrible, terrible mistake but a new opportunity to redeem yourself has now arisen. In a post to his blog,Deadly Premonitiondirector Swery65 announced that the game is arriving today as a Games on Demand title for European Xbox customers at a price of €19....

Atlus hasgone on recordto say that the servers would stay on for North AmericanDemon’s Soulsplayers until, at the very least, March 2011. As of today, the little servers that could have gotten a status update: they’re staying on until October, just in time for the game’s anniversary. “We will support the online servers forDemon’s Soulsas long as we possibly can, and we’ll be as transparent about the entire process as possible, hence us constantly updating folks as to what to expect,” says Atlus PR and sales manager Aram Jabbari....

Music influenced by gameplay is a popular little sub genre, with puzzle games likeLuminesand revamped shooters such asSpace Invaders Extremeusing the player’s own in-game actions to create pleasant audio experiences. Since indie developers love that kind of artistic nonsense, it should come as little surprise that Community Games have their fair share of musical gameplay.EnterGroov, an otherwise mediocre twin stick shooter that has used excellent music to raise it above ground and produce something that is actually, dare I say it, quite beautiful....