When I was initially introduced to Fractured Soul I was extremely excited. Not because of the exciting platforming, or the nostalgic difficulty akin to that of the NES, but because for once I found a title on the 3DS Store that actually brought something new to the table. The innovation behind Fractured Soul’s gameplay enticed the Mega Man/Mario junkie inside of me to climb out and play a game that lovingly marries puzzling, platforming and shooting elements into a fantastic (and cheap!) experience.

Composer Lorne Balfe (Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, The Sweeney) returns to the Skylands with the soundtrack for Skylanders: Giants. The soundtrack is currently available digitally through all major providers in advance of the release of the Activision game on October 21st. Developer Toys for Bob talks about the new Skylanders: Giants Wii U launch game in the exclusive video below.

After its success with TRON: Revolution and TRON: Uprising, Walt Disney Studios is exploring a brand new video game world. Wreck-It Ralph, hitting theatres November 2, tells the story of an arcade game bad guy who embarks on a quest to prove he’s really a good guy. The 3D computer-generated movie sends audiences on a journey through wildly diverse arcade-game worlds, including the ‘80s-era, 8-bit video-game world of Fix-It Felix, Jr., the ultra-modern first-person shooter game Hero’s Duty and the candy-coated cart-racing game Sugar Rush. Helping to differentiate these worlds from one another are unique cinematography, animation, effects and music.

Video games are helping people stay in shape. They enable artistic expression. They make workplace training more engaging and effective. And they are transforming the way we learn. In addition to subjects such as math and science, however, games are now being used by Native Americans from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest to teach, preserve and pass along their indigenous languages to the next generation of tribal leaders.

The 2012 Game Developers Conference Europe (GDC Europe) concluded on Wednesday, August 15 with a successful showing and a final attendee count of more than 2100 game professionals.  Professionals from all areas of the game industry gathered throughout the three day conference to learn and network. The keynote roster included industry leaders from Ubisoft Montreal’s Creative Director Alex Hutchinson, to CEO of Wargaming.net Victor Kislyi, to Epic Games senior engine programmer Niklas Smedberg. 

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Ever wonder how those used games at GameStop ended up on store shelves? Well, the process they go through is a lot more than simply checking the disc. All used games, consoles, and electronic devices in the US go to a huge factory in Grapevine, Texas where they’re inspected, refurbished, categorized and then shipped back out to stores around the country. Check out the process in the exclusive video below.

While E3 is over and Gamescom is right around the corner, retailer GameStop is offering its PowerUp Rewards members a chance to experience a mini-E3 just like store managers. Every year, the game industry brings in celebrities and game developers to showcase the biggest titles for Christmas and beyond to GameStop managers. This year, the managers will get their own show in San Antonio, Texas, but then approximately 5,000 gamers will get the next day to see everything up-close and experience hands-on with the biggest titles of this year. Nintendo Wii U will have a large presence at this EXPO 2012.