If you have ever made it out to a Video Games Live show, you would know that it can leave you wanting more. Well, to continue the constant cycle of "first evers" VGL is giving you the option to purchase the "First video game music compilation album to be released worldwide on a major label." Thus... you have no wanting of the mores. PR blurb time:

Video Games Live: Volume One will be released in two stages: The digital release will be downloadable in the UK from July 7th, 2008, with the option to pre-order it a week earlier on iTunes and other DSP’s (Digital Service Providers) with that capability; the release of the CD and iTunes exclusive, including digital bonus tracks, will be staggered to coincide with Video Games Live events, beginning in San Diego, California on July 24th (North America) and Leipzig, Germany on August 20th (Europe and worldwide).

Tracks from Halo, Warcraft, Kingdom Hearts, Tetris, Castlevania, Myst, Tron and more. For the full tracklist and more info, click here to head to the VGL site for the deets.

If you haven't heard, MillionManLan 7 is quickly approaching, and the deadline to sign up is Monday at 8 PM. It is a great event for gamers and promises to be an awesome weekend. So sign up here right now, and stop lying to your friends and telling them you are "hanging out with your hot Russian girlfriend on the 4th of July." If you come, you can actually have a shot at winning thousands of bucks in cash prizes so that you can actually buy a real-life girl from Russia. Aquí están los detalles:

Where: Louisville, KY on the University of Louisville campus
When: July 3-6, 2008
Cost: $55 (If you plan on bringing your PC to compete)
Why: Because you aren't doing anything cool anyways and Dtoid will be there broadcasting live!

Yes, that is right! A few Dtoid staff and some of the ever-so-awesome Dtoid Army will be in the house. That's not all. On the 4th of July, Dtoid will be partying like it was Cinco de Mayo on the river watching the fireworks, and you are invited. If you can make it, shoot me an email at xxxx and I will add you to the Dtoid email thread for MML 7 and the fireworks.

Look, I drink...

and that has a tendency to result in some, let's just say, less-than-industry-standard ideas. For example, at the last Dtoid NARP, I tried to hire both midgets and strippers. Those little bastards make me laugh and I like naked people. Made sense to me. This video shows off something similar. Something that, at the time (and under the alcohol-infused circumstances) sounded like the best idea ever.

The bloopers were shot last year at a hotel following the EA Gamers Day event. It was a great day all around and we didn't want it to stop. One thing I did leave out is that CTZ was also there. What can I say other than, look, I drink... The backstory is simple and in the video, so watch it and stop reading this garbage.

[Workmeng note: This wasn't intended for the front page, so my apologies do go out to anyone that has never heard a dirty word before. It isn't full of swearing, but there might be a few words that are not appropriate for babies, Jebus, Sock monster, Obama, and Hannah Montana.]

Good news in the world of video games today: Fireteam Reloaded is up and free for use on the PC. That means two things. #1. No need to email me and ask for Beta keys like I have a magical Beta key pot that never ends. #2. It is free to download, you tight-ass, so you don't have any reason to pass it up. The only question left is... What in the hell is Fireteam Reloaded? Well, here is a press blurb from the site to help you out.

Fireteam Reloaded, a team-based, multiplayer action game for the PC, is now available as a free download at http://www.pixelminegames.com/. Developed by Pixel Mine, Fireteam Reloaded combines fast-paced sports action with intense battlefield combat while using integrated voice communication. Fireteam Reloaded is the third game to utilize the Pixel Mine Store for its micro-payment technology.

*The initial download of Fireteam Reloaded includes two maps, three character classes, four gameplay modes and state of the art voice chat technology, that lets players easily communicate with one another to formulate strategy and taunt their opponents. Fireteam Reloaded also features a spectator mode that lets enthusiastic fans cheer or jeer from above and even drop items into the game from their spectator viewing platform.

Basically, blow stuff up. Some of that stuff may be your friends. Some may be stacks of Paris Hilton CDs. Some may even be that sock under your bed that has hardened. But, you get to BLOW STUFF UP and it is FREE. Yes, you did see the words "micro-payment technology" but you do not have to pay to have a good time... unlike sex with Paris Hilton.

For more info on how to save a starving child for no cents per day, go here.

Look, I drink...

... and from time to time, I do a little bit of Matlocking. I may not be the best source for rumors, especially considering that I have never ever been correct on anything. However, I am not the source. Spacecat is someone I met during my days as a unicorn wrangler. He travels through time to find gamers the juicy gaming rumors that you crave. Here is what he has to say...

I have just returned from the year 2009. Global warming is a lie, by the way. It's freezing cold there. Anyways, as you know, the core Mega Man series died off over 10 years ago with Mega Man 8, but fans will be happy to know it isn't dead completely. Mega Man 9 is fully in the works. It gets announced in 2008. The series will introduce new characters, provide online multiplayer, and will have leaderboards. The game will be hitting the Xbox 360 on Live and the PlayStation 3 on PSN. For those of you in Japan, don't worry. The series is coming to you also in the form of Rockman. Oh no! They see me. I have to go now.

Well now. Nobody can dispute a rumor from a talking cat that has the ability to travel through time. One thing I can add is that this "rumor" in no way is related to the God-awful Mega Man movie in the works. For all of you Matlocks out there, Mega Man X was not Mega Man 10. Look at the Wikipedia page (never lies) before you run your mouth.

[Workmeng's note: I did attempt to contact Capcom directly to verify Spacecat's claims, but did not get a proper response, so it remains a pointed rumor until then. From the future. In space. Meow.]

I know what some of you are thinking -- that I would never write an impressions post about anything before it was released unless I had some inside info, or knew that something bad was about to hit the shelves. So which one is it? Neither. After getting my hands on Grand Theft Auto IV a few weeks back, alongside Nick, I have done a lot of thinking. I really feel like I need to give you the honest perspective of a random broke-ass gamer, and not a lifelong gamer/videogame journalist. Since Nick took the multiplayer route, I am going to play dueling banjos and tell you what I think about the single-player mode.

Some big standards have been set by Rockstar in the past for this genre, and the bar is almost unfair in the expectations for this game by fans of the series. Analysts are yapping back and forth with sales figures and projections across the spectrum, but the spectrum they use is mythical compared to other games. EA's attempted takeover, a massively inflated Take-Two stock price, and even Take-Two's own shareholders fighting to take the offer have put this game into a spotlight that I have never seen. The effect on gaming hasn't been the strongest. But I am going to tell you, the gamer, why you will buy this game, and what will and will not happen after you buy it.

Hit the jump to filter through all of the noise.

With all of the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed news and videos hitting the web and TV this week, it is really hard to imagine that even more is available for a game as far off as September. Thanks to a faithful tipster, it seems like Destructoid has even more in the form of Xbox 360 exclusive content -- the achievements.

As many of you know, I hate seeing people give away spoilers on the storyline of a game; this list does not seem to touch on too many things that would give away the story. What you can expect to learn are things like vehicles, characters, Jedi powers, difficulty levels and locations. I was assured that this list also has one "mock achievement," so that our tipster could always know where their work ended up. They also made it very clear that "The mock achievement isn't out of the blue, and does not make up a new part of the game."  Take what you will from that, but I can tell you that we were able to validate many of these achievements.

Also, please keep in mind that these are likely to change, as the final build of the game doesn't seem to be ready for the 360 even though some of us have played it and there is also a PS3, Wii, PSP, and DS version of the game on the way. This could be an indicator of how far along the game is, or just a quick list put up to help the game in testing. Last week we saw Grand Theft Auto IV achievements hit the web that are not the final achievements. Most are legit, but a few are not. The same could apply to these.

Hit the jump, and Caveat Emptor.

If you live in or near Brooklyn, New York, and love to run your mouth about how you could easily break the world record in Tapper... yes, I am serious, Tapper... then your day in the sun (of which there probably aren't many) is drawing near, my friend. It seems that the good folks at Guiness (world records, not beer) have teamed up with Barcade (Bar + Arcade = Perfect) to host a battle royale of classic games with the hopes that some average Joes will come out and break a few long-standing records. Check out what you have to achieve to get your name in the limelight.

•  Fastest Time to Beat Five Boards on Ms. Pac-Man
•  Fastest Time to Beat Five Boards on Tapper
•  Highest Out-Run Score
•  Highest Ghosts 'n Goblins Score  
•  Highest Donkey Kong Score Without Using the Hammer

Records will be breakable for gamers of all skill levels (easy on Out-Run has a record?), and the public is invited to try their hand at the "Joystick of destiny." Dtoiders are sure to be in the house as well. The event starts at 7:30 pm on Thursday, April 10th, at Barcade (388 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211). Sorry, kiddies, you must bring a 21+ ID to enter Barcade.

We know that you have waited patiently and finally your reward is here. At 9:30 A.M. EST. the new Call of Duty 4 maps, Chinatown, Killhouse, Broadcast, and Creek will be available exclusively, (even though only a few weeks ahead of the PS3 maps) on Xbox Live for download at 800 MS points (10 bucks). I know that you have been reading that they are delayed, but it just is not true. Today is 100% the day that you will be able to download them.

Some of you have already had a chance to preview the maps at the GOTY events in San Jose, and in New York City. Those of you that didn't should check out the gallery below or the new videos on Gametrailers. I do have some info that I have yet to hear anyone discuss. If you liked the Carentan back in the day on COD2 then you will love its new form as Chinatown on COD4. Another inside tip is that you won't be getting only 4 new maps but a chance at some new XP in game. Sorry, no new achievement points though.

[Thanks to Itemforty, Pedro and Hoygeit for the awesomeness]

Look, I drink...

... and from time to time I watch Star Wars like it is was the cure for my disease. So to say this translates over to my gaming habits is almost a no-brainer. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a game that some of us Star Wars nerds here at Destructoid have been raving about for months, and now we know when we will get to play it. Here is a chunk of the press release, filtered for your pleasure.

San Francisco, Calif. – April 3, 2008 – LucasArts today announced that its highly anticipated videogame Star Wars®: The Force Unleashed™ will be released on September 16, 2008 in the United States, September 17 in Southeast Asia and Australia, and September 19 in Europe.

Once again, Europe, a small country near Heathrow airport, will have to wait a little longer to get their grubby hands on it. I blame Naomi Campbell and the new Terminal 5. Be sure to check out Spike TV's weekend long marathon of Star Wars, when they promise they'll announce even more info, and show off some new gameplay footage.

[Thanks B-Radicate for beating me to it]

Tonight at 1 AM in your timezone (wherever you may be) Destructoid will have more of its crew on Spike TV's Gametrailers TV via MTV, and I think SpriteTV. Before you get all excited waiting to see Chad, I am sorry. The world is not perfect, and the TV can't be 24 hours of "Chadovision."

But until it is, you can tune in to see Destructoid's very own Nick "Facebook" Chester, Daniel "Baby Unicorn" Lingen, Dale "Asian Bryan McKnight" North, and Ron "Me" Workmeng. You might even see a few random Dtoid Army members that were lucky enough to be near us in our drunken haze. The show will also cover the upcoming Iron Man game, The Incredible Hulk, and Prototype. From what I recall, we should be in the footage from the Prototype party. Ms. Garrett made an appearance, and Nick and I got into a fight to the death defending her honor.

How can you, the Dtoid Community, get involved? Well first, you can tune your televisions to Spike TV. Next, you can jump into the Dtoid stickam here and watch it live with us. Special guests may or may not include Bill Gates, Myamoto, Paris Hilton, and Apple. If the direct link doesn't work for you, go to Stickam.com, look in the "Group Chat" tab for the "Dtoid" room, and jump in.

Since time machines don't exist yet, and you didn't get to play the game early with us at GDC (we only hit you because we love you!), you are just going to have to settle for the fresh screenshots that Vivendi just sent us. "Settle" might be a little weaksauce because  Prototype looks hot! These pictures are as hot as Paris Hilton is dumb worthless a very talented actress. Yes I know, I went there... again.

As of right now, the release date is still Q3 2008 but September 15 is rumored to be the exact date. Until that day you are just going to have to pretend that you are the game's protagonist Alex Mercer, and destroying New York City is your passion.

[Warning: Destructoid is not responsible for pregnancies or sunburns that may occur when viewing these pictures.]

Video Games Live will be making its way to Mexicali, Mexico this weekend for the first ever video game concert in the country. That may be cool alone, but what will really make this show special? It's in a 7000 seat bullring! Check out the official blurb.

In its continuing efforts to show the world how artistic and culturally significant video games have become, Video Games Live will be performing its ground-breaking 2008 World Tour this weekend at the 7000+ seat Plaza de Toros Calafia Bullring in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico with the prestigious Ensamble de Jóvenes Orchestra and Choir.  The event will take place this Saturday, March 15th at 7:30PM as the grand finale of the newly created GamaCon ’08 video game, anime, cosplay and comic book convention.

If there is one show on this years VGL schedule that I would love to see, it would have to be this one. If you are in the area, I promise you it will be a great event to be at. Check it out and be sure to have a cerveza Tecate on my behalf.

If yesterdays Starcraft 2 videos from CTZ were a little short for you pleasure, todays videos might give you the money shot that you are looking for. The Zerg are at it again but this time they are taking on the "Most powerful species in the galaxy, the Protoss" as well as some gameplay footage of the Zerg versus the Terrans.

In writing the last sentence I have come the realize that I do not know anything about Starcraft. I know it is a big game and a big deal, but I like showers and women. Hell, a few months ago, you could of told me it was a type of Korean food that they have contests eating and I may have believed you. I'm going to go back to Viva Pinata now.

More video sexiness after Das Jumpn!