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Kalypso Media feels good aboutTropico 3, and they’re guessing you will too. Earlier this afternoon the publisher dropped a demo for the PC version of the city builder and simulation title. Consisting of two missions — both of which focus on resource gathering, and cultivating a happy Banana Republic culture — the demo should give downloadersthe same fits and moments of gleethat I experience earlier this month. You can grab the demo fromBig Downloador other popular PC demo/games hosting Web sites if they don’t tickle your fancy for whatever reason....

SEGA has kindly tossed up a bunch ofSonic Generations3DS screens for your wretched judgment. A few of these made it into Hamza’shands-on impressions article, but there are a bunch of fresh ones too. The images all revolve around Green Hill Zone, which I think we’ve seen enough of by now. I’m still keeping my expectations wisely low forthe console version, but I expect good things from the 3DS alternative.Sonic Colorsfor the DS was a fun time, so I should hope Dimps pulls out some magic once more....

If there’s one company even further up 3D’s arse than Sony, it’s got to be Ubisoft. The company is incredibly gung-ho about making gamers wear the “look at what a prick I am” glasses, and here’s why — it reckons we’ll all be on the 3D bandwagon within three years. “Ubisoft are a big fan of 3D,” says UK marketing boss Murray Pannel. “We were the first publisher to create a proper 3D game with Avatar last year....

The latest PlayStation 3 firmware update will fix two critical issues that have been plaguing PS3 gamers for the last decade. Director of PlayStation Network Operations Eric Lempel posted an update onPlayStation Blogstating that firmware version 2.52 will fix text entry issues with “some PS3 format software” and enhance the playback quality of other software. This update comes at a pivotal time for PS3 owners, who have had to put up with subpar text messaging inResistance 2....

I think it’s fairly clear thatValkyria Chronicles IIIis aiming to strike a slightly edgier tone than its previous incarnations, what with its black-ops squad of “Nameless” soldiers conducting secret missions in the midst of the Imperial invasion, it’s only fitting that the deluxe (hence “DX”) edition of the game comes with some edgier bonus bits. And nothing’s edgier than…a cup. And not some kind of ugly-ass mug that says “World’s Best Nameless Soldier” on it, but awartimecup, which is collapsible, the better to fit in yournameless soldier rucksack....

China’s government-owned news channel has decided to blame videogames for young teen girls having sex and needing abortions. Online games have also been blamed for mass murder, following an “expose” at a prison camp where a killer blames gaming for his actions. Because, of course, the words of a psychopath shouldalwaysbe taken as gospel truth. China Central Television told the story of fourteen-year-old girl who was allegedly encouraged by an online dancing game to start having sex with people she met over the Internet....

Despite what you may haveheard or seen, Vivendi denied today reports that a Battlestar Galactica MMO was coming to the Xbox 360. Even though EB games listed the game as coming out for the system, the publishing giant said such a thing was incorrect. This is what theytold 1UP: “EBGames has removed the information because it was not accurate. Vivendi Games has not announced a Battlestar Galactica game. We cannot comment any further as it is our policy to not comment on industry rumors....

Alan Titchmarsh, an inexplicably popular TV host, recently hosted a videogame segment on his talk show that somehow managed to be worse than anything FOX News has ever done. In what could be described as the character assassination on an entire industry, Titchmarsh invited one pro-game speaker on the show, then invited two more guests who were there to essentially kick the crap out of him with their assumptions, scaremongering, and blatant lies....

Gaming tattoosare the newthick-rimmed glasses. They’re an outwardly visible expression of inner-geekery that immediately identifies one as the sort who could sit for hours discussing the varied merits of the Tanuki Suit versus, say, oral herpes. Such tattoos also set a person apart as a distinct breed of geek; the kind who mixes Ramones albums in with theirFinal FantasyOSTs, and who might actually laugh when you make a joke about Malfurion’s antlers....

It’s Father’s Day tomorrow! I hope you remembered to do something nice for your dad or at least give him a call if he’s still alive. And if you’ve grown apart, it would be as good a time as any to get over your differences before he dies. Alternatively, be exactly like your father was, make a whiny face like he did for three movies, and jump down a shaft....

The latestWolfensteinis hitting stores next week and we have been sent a positively gripping trailer for it. My knuckles are whiter than stock broker’s nostril hairs after a three-day weekend. Nazis and giant bugs and all sorts ofintensityrun through it. Honestly, I think I’m actually going to pick this up provided that review scores wind up being decent. It’s the most interestingWolfensteingame I’ve seen sinceWolfenstein 3Dand it’ll be nice to have a new game during this slower period of the year to tide me over until the fall....

With the immense popularity ofWorld of Warcraft, I’m surprised to even see people outside when I look out of the window. Becoming a reclusive and trendy shut-in is now quite cool, and for that Blizzard is to be commended. Who’d have thought that such geeky nonsense would sell 8.6 million units? That’s the figure touted by the folks at NPD, collecting all the sales data from the main game, its two expansions, and theWoW Battle Chest....

It seems as if the certification process forWormson the Xbox 360’s Xbox Live Arcade has been a realback and forth nightmarefor developer Team 17. But, it’s all over now, because Microsoft at last gave the anticipated game the final OK. FromEurogamer: Team 17 marketing director Martyn Brown told Eurogamer the good news earlier this morning, but admitted a release date has yet to be confirmed. “We’re not sure of the date just yet – it’s only been certified for about six hours!...