Taking the day off for an early start to the holiday? Then you've got the time to sit around and watch 17 minutes of Double Fine's Brutal Legend, all narrated by Tim Schafer himself.

Brutal Legend is set to arrive on October 13 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

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Former Black Sabbath singer Ronnie James Dio has been bumped from the Brutal Legend all-star lineup, replaced by Rocky Horror Picture Show star Tim Curry.

Dio--credited with popularising the metal horns hand gesture Brutal Legend frequently throws--was to voice a character named Doviculus, Emperor of the Tainted Coil.

"Ronnie James Dio is an amazing singer and truly one of the great figures of Metal, but as the character of Doviculus evolved, we realized that Tim Curry was a better fit for the part," said Double Fine founder Tim Schafer. "Anyone who has seen his amazing performance as the Lord of Darkness in the movie Legend knows why we cast him."

Brutal Legend is scheduled to be released October 13 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, though once-would-be publisher Activision has sued to block the game's release.

Update 2: Further AP details reveal more of Activision's complaint. The publisher claims Double Fine was paid $15 million to develop Brutal Legend but missed a key deadline last year, allegedly stating that another nine months and $7 million were needed.

While no agreement to get Brutal Legend back on course was ever reached, Activision contests it never gave up publishing rights and as such Double Fine could not take the game to EA. Activision bemoans the loss of its investment not only in Brutal Legend itself, but the ability to sell seemingly lucrative Legend-based downloadable content.

Update: The official Brutal Legend Twitter received a simple update, since removed:

Re: today's bummer news...in the words of the inimitable Ms. Beyonce Knowles, "If you liked it you shoulda put a ring on it".

Original story: Activision is suing Double Fine Productions to stop the release of Brutal Legend, The Associated Press reported, claiming it still holds a valid contract to publish the heavy metal fantasy and has invested roughly $15 million... Read more

Choo choo! The E3 Trailer Train is now pulling into the Brutal Legend station, providing you, the gaming public, with your latest glimpse of Double Fine's rocking action title.

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The Legend hits PS3 and Xbox 360 on October 13. But wait, there's more... Read more

Metal legend Ozzy Osbourne has been added to the cast of Double Fine's action title Brutal Legend.

Osbourne joins cast members Jack Black, Lenny Kileister, Rob Halford and Lita Ford.

Just when you were giving up hope of ever seeing meat motorcyles and giant metal spiders in a game, Psychonauts developer Double Fine steps in with Brutal Legend.

Sporting the likeness and vocal talents of many metal alumni, not to mention Jack Black, the heavy metal fantasy arrives October 13 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Below is what publisher EA refers to as the "premiere episode" of "Brutal Thoughts with Jack Black," a campaign that will most likely run until the Double Fine-helmed, Jack Black-starring action-strategy game Brutal Legend (PS3, 360) arrives on October 13.

Oh, but don't let the name fool you. Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey this is not.

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Brutal Legend publisher EA has let loose new screenshots showing some bloody lovely action and the character General Lionwhyte, played by Rob Halford of Judas Priest.

The heavy metal action adventure's all-star cast also includes Jack Black as protagonist Eddie Riggs, Lemmy from Motorhead as The Kill Master and The Runaways's Lita Ford

Developed by Grim Fandango creator Tim Schafer's studio Double Fine Productions, Brutal Legend's tour dates bring it to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 13.

This batch of screenshots--courtesy fansite Brutal!--from Double Fine's upcoming metal-themed action title gives us a chance to observe the hellish overworld of Brutal Legend, without the annoyance of ghouls and other pesky creatures.

Brutal Legend arrives October 13 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

In a world where demonic nuns roam the heavy metal fantasy landscape and the youth bang their heads aimlessly, only one roadie can save them all. This is Brutal Legend.

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Coming from Psychonauts developer Double Fine and published by EA, Brutal Legend arrives October--Rocktober, if you will--13 (NA) / 16 (EU) on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Update: Mere moments after our initial posting, another batch of Brutal Legend screenshots arrived from EA, providing an in-game glimpse of the character voiced by and modeled after Motorhead vocalist Lemmy Kilmister: "The Kill Master."

Original: Two new screenshots today of Double Fine's heavy metal-inspired Brutal Legend show off its hot rod The Deuce, also known affectionately as The Druid Plow.

When not tootling around in The Deuce, Jack Black-voiced roadie Eddie Riggs will be ridding the fantasy metal world of demonkind with his battle axe and trusty guitar. This all makes perfect sense when you hear Grim Fandango creator Tim Schafer is behind it.

Brutal Legend arrives October 13 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, published by EA.

Promising that Brutal Legend will "melt your face off," developer Double Fine and publisher EA today announced a firm release date for the metal-action game.

The tale of roadie Eddie Riggs' descent into a world "where every Heavy Metal album cover and lyric Eddie knows has come to life" hits North America in PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 form on October 13, followed by a European release October 16.

"Wooo! Having an official release date is awesome!" said Double Fine president and Grim Fandango creator Tim Schafer. "And how cool is it that EA threw down the dough to have the name of an entire month changed to Rocktober?"

Hello Shacknews! Are you ready to rock? This... is Brutal Legend.

New screenshots of Tim Schafer and Double Fine Productions' action heavy metal fantasy show all we could hope for--hot rods, roadies, demons, axes, and Flying V axes.

If the screenshots don't have you throwing devil horns, this rocking artwork... Read more

Activision Blizzard has reportedly threatened to sue Electronic Arts for publishing Double Fine's upcoming action-adventure game Brutal Legend (PS3, 360), claims Variety.

Though Electronic Arts claimed to pick up the publishing rights for Brutal Legend back in December, Variety's sources indicate that Activision Blizzard views the agreement as invalid due to a belief that it was still engaged in negotiations regarding the game.

Brutal Legend was originally set to be published by Vivendi, which merged with Activision to form Activision Blizzard last year. Following the merger, Activision said that the new company would not publish Brutal Legend and several other games, including 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, Ghostbusters, and The Chronicles of Riddick.

Variety speculates that Activision is seeking a cash payment for the publishing rights, especially as the company has said it has no interest in publishing the game.

As for Electronic Arts, a company representative expressed doubt that Activision would actually sue, explaining that it would "be like a husband abandoning his family and then suing after his wife meets a better looking guy."

Those Brutal Legends screenshots Electronic Arts sent out earlier today? Just captures from an earlier trailer. But these babies found in OXM's preview? All new.

Of course, there's a small downside, as these pictures aren't exactly high-res.

Still, they're better than nothing, especially as Tim Schafer and Double Fine's latest action-adventure won't hit PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 until some time this fall.

While these may appear to be new screenshots of Double Fine's Brutal Legend, they are, in fact, high-resolution captures from the last trailer.

Of course, uber fans will appreciate the high-resolution images, and plenty surely missed the trailer--so here they are anyway.

Brutal Legend hits the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this fall.

In case you have no idea what Double Fine's action/adventure game Brutal Legend (PS3, X360) is supposed to be about, this trailer should help.

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Recently signed at EA Partners, Brutal Legend will ship next fall.

Following months of uncertainty and rumors, Electronic Arts today announced its EA Partners label will publish Double Fine's third person action/adventure game Brutal Legend.

The game was one of many dropped from Activision Blizzard's slate following the Vivendi - Activision merger earlier this year, and didn't officially have a home until now.

"This is awesome news!" said Double Fine Productions president Tim Schafer. "The quality and creativity of the games EA Partners has been involved with make it a perfect home for our baby, Brutal Legend. Some people were starting to wonder if the saga of Eddie Riggs would ever see the light of day, but now I think it's clear that this game, like Metal itself, cannot be killed!"

Starring Jack Black as roadie Eddie Riggs, Brutal Legend finds players in a fantasy world filled with Heavy Metal and Rock and Roll folklore. The game will be released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 next fall.

Following word that newly-formed publisher Activision Blizzard will not be picking up every Vivendi title in the company's merger transition, developer Double Fine's upcoming heavy metal action title Brutal Legend was seen as a possible casualty.

Now a fresh update to the Double Fine Action News blog has assured fans that the game is in good hands.

Mouse-over text on an image of a dead weevil posted today reads simply, "Brutal Legend is fine." No further details were provided.

Starring Jack Black as a heavy metal roadie forced to battle demons in a fantasy realm, Brutal Legend is being headed up by longtime LucasArts developer Tim Schafer. The third person action game is planned for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Update 2: Developer Double Fine has chimed in on the fate of Brutal Legend, stating that the Jack Black-starring action-adventure title "is fine."

Update: Sierra has assured that Ghosbusters "will not be cancelled", but offered no further details on the title or any of the others believed to be on the chopping block.

Original Story: In the wake of the recently completed Activision Blizzard merger, the company has revealed that only five franchises from Vivendi Games' Sierra portfolio will be making the transition to the newly-formed company's publishing operations.

Endangered titles Brutal Legend (Left) and Ghostbusters (Right).

The titles and franchises confirmed to make the leap include Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Ice Age, Radical Entertainment's Prototype and a yet unannounced title. Those remaining titles formerly slated for publishing deals with Vivendi Games, however, could now be without publishers.

"The only [Vivendi] franchises that Activision Publishing will release are based on Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age and Spyro, as well as Prototype and one other game that has not yet been announced," an Activision Blizzard representative told GameSpot. "We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing."

The remaining Vivendi Games portfolio includes Double Fine's Brutal Legend, Terminal Reality's and Red Fly's Ghostbusters, A2M's Wet, Starbreeze Studios'... Read more