Once upon a time, there was a company named Data East that released arcade games. Some of these arcade games, like BurgerTime, proved to be very popular. Then, one day, after close to thirty years in business, Data East went bankrupt and had to close.

Now, publisher Majesco and developer G1M2 have licensed fifteen of those old games and plan to release them on Wii next spring as "Data East Arcade Classics."

Packing such classics as "Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja" and "Caveman Ninja," the $19.99 compilation will also contain "a wealth" of unlockable bonus... Read more

Classic block-fitting, line-zapping puzzler Tetris will return to the Wii and Nintendo DS with "the latest evolution" of the franchise and "new challeges" in spring 2010, publisher Majesco and property licensee Tetris Online announced today.

Exactly how this version of Tetris will differ from the editions already available was not explained. However, developer Tetris Online seems to know what it's doing--the company is responsible for the free-to-play Tetris Friends, which has consumed several close acquaintances, so here's hoping our new overlords are merciful.

Update: Serious Sam HD is due out on PC this fall, publisher CDV has revealed, with the game due in both retail and digital download form. It'll hit worldwide, Russia excluded.

Original: A downloadable revamp of Croteam's frantic shooter Serious Sam: The First Encounter is due on Xbox 360 in late summer, publisher Majesco announced today.

Dubbed "Serious Sam: The First Encounter HD" and packing online co-op for up to four players, the game is being developed by Croteam with Devolver Digital--a new Texas-based "production and publishing company"--aiding in its production.

"The fans have lobbied us hard to do this, so we are stoked about bringing Sam back as big, bold and bad as he ever was," noted Croteam CEO Roman Ribaric.

"You've waited forever but Serious Sam is back from the nether with its award-winning game play that will remind you why you play FPSs in the first place," Majesco added in the press release, before slyly telling Eurogamer that it'll sell for 1200 MS Points ($15).

"Every cowboy sings his sad, sad song," according to Poison's beloved ballad "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." Now, thanks to publisher Majesco and developer Digital Leisure, modern-day Wii owners will have the chance to experience that truth first-hand.

You see, Majesco today shipped the Mad Dog McCree Gunslinger Pack to North American retailers. Priced at $19.99, the Wii compilation delivers three of American Laser Games' "live-action" light gun classics--Mad Dog McCree, Mad Dog 2: The Lost Gold and The Last Bounty Hunter--with added support for up to four simultaneous players.

And don't worry UK citizens, you'll soon be able to immerse yourselves in the antics of wicky, wicky, wild Wild West bounty hunting and saloon shootouts, as the compilation is slated to hit your shores on August 28 at a suggested price of 24.99 pounds.

Though its first attempt to revive A Boy and His Blob didn't go so well--an eventually cancelled Nintendo DS game slated for 2005--publisher Majesco today revealed that it's making another attempt to resurrect the platforming franchise, this time on the Wii.

The hand-drawn game, due out this fall, is in the hands of WayForward, which handled Contra 4 (DS), Ping Pals (DS), Shantae (GBC), and the WiiWare game Lit.

As with the NES original and Game Boy-only sequel, the Wii edition of A Boy and His Blob will have players feeding jelly beans to their adoring blob-tastic companion, enabling the blob to assume the shape of helpful tools, such as a ladder. Of course, new jelly beans will be available, like the Bubble Gum Bubble and Caramel Cannon.

What's in it for the blob? Well, the boy is going to help it free Blobolonia from the evil emperor. Which raises the question, are you a bad enough dude to save Blobolonia?

Increasingly Wii and DS-centric publisher Majesco today announced Marker Man Adventures, a drawing-oriented Nintendo DS title due out later this year.

Developed by Glyphic Entertainment, the game tasks players with helping the stick figure that is Marker Man complete 150 levels in order to find his lost Doodle Dog.

To navigate those 150 side-scrolling levels--with the themes ranging from underwater to outer space--the title requires players to draw "simple machines" to solve various physics- and navigation-based puzzles.

Sadly, no screenshots of Marker Man or his Doodle Dog were provided.

Adding to the burgeoning Wii fitness genre, a trio of companies today announced that Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009 will arrive on Wii this "holiday season."

Supporting the newly-released Wii Balance Board, the game puts players into a "boot camp" that offers weight loss, strength training, interval and hill climbing activities. Only three mini-games were revealed: crossing monkeybars, climbing ladders and rowing.

Completion of the activities are said to unlock motivational "lifestyle and fitness video tips from Jillian." A two-player mode will also be available.

Billed as the first Wii game to feature "a celebrity fitness trainer"--Michaels serves as a strength trainer and life coach on NBC's The Biggest Loser--the project stems from a three-way collaboration between publisher Majesco, property holder Interactive Game Group and developer 3G Studios.

Publisher Majesco today announced Air Traffic Chaos, a new simulation title coming to the Nintendo DS this summer.

Built around the stressful world of air traffic control, Air Traffic Chaos tasks players with managing takeoffs, gate assignments and landings for 14 different airlines in varying weather conditions. The game features three difficulty levels with five stages each, and includes Rumble Pack support.

"Air Traffic Chaos means fun is taking off from Terminal A," said Majesco operations VP Gui Karyo. "The game's frantic pace set against the backdrop of an already high-stress job will challenge fast-fingered gamers in an entirely new way."