We may have been away from the blogs for a while, but Spiral Knights has kept on spiraling out, with new updates and lots more on the way … here’s what’s going on, on the planet Cradle!

First things first: If you’ve played the game at all, you know that it has an absolutely perfect soundtrack. I’ve been hoping for months it would be made available – and now it is! I find it is the perfect album to listen to while – and this is just an example – playing Spiral Knights. It somehow just seems to fit.

In seriousness I am a huge fan, and longtime gamers know that music and games have a special relationship. I mentioned this in my last Spiral blog, but the Spiral Knights soundtrack is pretty unique: a highly individual composition with a ton of personality, it stands out but is still pitch-perfect for the look & feel of the game. If you’re interested, the soundtrack is available on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify as well.

Next things Soon: Or in other words, a quick look at what’s coming soon to Spiral Knights!

• Revamped Crash Site: For players who are new to the game, you’ll be seeing a new starting area designed to be more streamlined and engaging. The story of Spiral Knights is always evolving and you can always check to see how the new stuff leads into what we know so far …

• Danger Rooms Keep Rooms; Add Danger: The Danger Rooms – testing areas in Haven for Knights to hone and practice their skills – may have been lacking in one eponymous quality. Rooms, they were, but dangerous, not so much. Consider this problem fixed. Venture into the new iterations of these test chambers if you wish to be murdered by devious traps undertake a serious challenge.

• Candlestick Keep: Not just a new level but a new series of levels! Allow me to quote from the good folks at Three Rings, who have of course personally chronicled this mysterious and foreboding place:

“The Candlestick Keep is all that remains of the Owlite Academy, a once prosperous institution of the wise Owlites that pursued the advancement of goodly magical arts. However, the savage Kat Tribe, driven by jealousy of the Owlite’s wisdom and elemental powers, lead a massive siege on the Academy. Though successful in overtaking the Academy and destroying most of the Owlites within, the impulsive Kats quickly obliterated themselves by misusing the ancient grimoires found within the great library. Now all that remains are the spookats, lacking their corporeal forms, their minds, but still bound to this world.”

This level series features a new mechanic as well – Knights must light Owlite ward candles and stay within their light – and keep the flames burning, or else face dangers in the darkness which cannot be hurt by any weapons Knights yet possess!

Lockdown: The next PvP event is on its way – in case you want a break from blowing other Knights to tiny bits in the current Blast Network game, but still have murder in your hearts, Lockdown will give you the opportunity to engage in real Knight-to-Knight combat. But wait, there’s more!

Players fight for control points on a battlefield, where you can use whatever equipment you have. Add to this unique equipables from each team’s base for a very unique & strategy-based combat game!

Loadouts: As you Knights of the Spiral gain more and more gear with varied and strategic abilities, you no doubt have wanted a quick way to equip your gear. You are in luck! Spiral Knights will soon be adding the ability to save a set of gear and fast-equip it (this will be useful between various dungeons, or especially in battle arenas like the upcoming and aforementioned Lockdown).

Advanced Challenges To Come…: Nothing more is known right now about this – just that for those Knights who have reached the highest level of skill with the best gear, there is something brewing deep within the Clockworks, a true test of mettle!

Attention House of the Dead fans! Today we’re revealing  “Creeping Flesh,” the second of two exclusive levels from The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Extended Cut.

Like “Naked Terror” (the first exclusive level we revealed),  you will once again play as strippers Varla and Candy (can’t complain there) as they fight their way through a slaughterhouse that has been taken over by…what can only be described as a meaty disease of sorts. Creeping Flesh delivers you more of the additional awesome content we’ve lovingly added to the extended, and definitive, edition of OVERKILL.

Using a host of weapons, watch your back as mutants go mad for blood! Blast bloody pieces out of their wretched bodies and uncover the mystery behind the Bayou County outbreak. New goodies like PlayStation trophies, new game modes and new content are outnumbered by only one thing: bullets! Will you defeat everything this freakish nightmare town throws at you or will you become mutant chowder?
The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Extended Cut will be releasing exclusively on PlayStation3, and will be available in stores across North America on October 25, 2011 and across Europe on October 28, 2011.

To see more screens from Creeping Flesh, go to our Flickr set.

We’re excited to announce that Brick People, a unique arcade title with a blend of physical and digital gameplay, is coming to iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad this autumn. Brick People, a new family-friendly game played by stacking actual bricks in front of a video screen, has become a smash hit in arcades. Now, SEGA is bringing the fun of Brick People to mobile touch-screens, allowing new audiences the chance to digitally stack and snack with the game’s hungry little creatures.

“Players of all ages have really gotten hooked on Brick People in arcades,” said Haruki Satomi, Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA. “The concept of using actual bricks to play a video game is unique, but it’s instantly accessible, like handing somebody a set of blocks. It’s a timeless activity that resonates with everybody, and we know it’s going to translate well to touch-screens.”

Brick People tasks players with minding the game’s titular aliens, helping them reach an assortment of tasty snacks by building brick structures for them to climb. Builders will also have to keep an eye out for the Brick Monster, who will demand that players complete specific buildings in exchange for more game time. Brick People contains the following features:

• Tactile Gameplay: Build towers and bridges for the Brick People by pulling bricks from the stack and dropping them into place, using the iOS’ multi-touch interface
• Build with a Buddy: Compete head-to-head via Wi-Fi to out-build your friends, or compete on a single device in the iPad version
• See How You Stack Up: Build your Brick People reputation by going for high scores on the Game Center leaderboards, and tweet your tallest towers