Bless the Platinum Games blog, as it's been a wonderful source of interesting stuff leading up to next week's release of MadWorld. Today, Hirono Sato takes over the driver's seat and talks about his role in the game: player interactions and the three different AIs governing enemies. He breaks the enemy units down to "grunt," "grunt leader," and "boss." Sato explains that the "grunts" are essentially pushovers and the challenge they present is not simply just to defeat them, but to defeat them in the most stylish way possible, for the most points possible. Sato says that in a game "where running around killing all the enemies is supposed to be fun, making them so hard that you can't kill them wouldn't be fun at all."

Orange Lounge Radio found (what it identifies as) boxart and a retail game description for ExciteBots: Trick Racing, the apparent sequel to ExciteTruck, and ... well, we foresee some of our readers getting pretty angry -- like the people who expected Monster Games' next title to be an F-Zero update. While ExciteTruck may not have been the deepest racing simulation, Nintendo and developer Monster Games have gone even further in the kid-oriented/casual direction. How much further? ExciteBots is a party racing game starring animal-shaped robots, in which minigames pop up during races. "You won't believe your eyes when you find yourself shooting goals, throwing pies and even playing poker in the middle of racing robotic animals and insects around off-road tracks," the blurb says. If you were expecting something a bit more ... realistic, this is going to be DisappointBots for you. As for us, 6-player online racing combined with a party game? We're on board.

Toys R Us is holding another of its periodic Pokémon giveaways next week. If you're still playing Diamond and/or Pearl (or if you want to load up for Platinum), bring your DS and game to a local TRU between March 8 and March 21, and you can pick up the "Colossal Pokémon" Regigigas. If you are planning on getting Platinum, a Regigigas might be a worthwhile provision. According to the news item, having a Regigigas in your party in Platinum causes Regice, Regirock, and Registeel to appear periodically in Sinnoh. Can you really sit by while Pokémon go uncaught? See you at TRU.

Huh, well, this is a strange one. With very few (very undead) exceptions, this isn't a great month to be a gamer on the 360 or PS3. But if you're a Nintendo fan, you've got a lot to look forward to. A new Pokemon, MadWorld and the return of Ready 2 Rumble are just a few of the treats you can anticipate in March.

Wow! Just a few weeks after the release of Bubble Bobble Wii, Taito just sneaked out a WiiWare version of its sequel, Rainbow Islands! As with Bubble Bobble, we knew that it was coming at some point, but we had yet to see any screens or gameplay information. Now it's out, and it appears to feature timed ascents up huge, vertical stages. Also out this week: a WiiWare version of The Game of Life.

Improved AI engine for more life like opposition

More realistic camera angles for your preferred playing perspective

Improved graphics for an ultra real stadium experience

Updated rosters from your favorite club and national teams

Immersive single player and multiplayer game modes

New characters and settings

Online battles via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Map trading

Call of Duty 3 brings the battle to life with advanced graphics, a new physics engine, a procedural environment and detailed ensemble animations

All-new close-quarters battle mechanics allow players to fight hand-to-hand, improvise explosive devices, disarm traps and face a host of other battlefield situations

Next-generation level design provides branching mission paths, letting you decide how to confront enemies - flank an opponent, hit him head-on, or choose special tactics like sniping and demolition

Environmental physics allow players to destroy enemy hideouts, forcing foes out in the open -- just remember, your enemies can do the same to you

Team-based Multiplayer with vehicles for team-based combat with up to 24 players battling it out online

Developed from the ground up for next-generation platforms

Fighting techniques motion-captured from some of Asia's leading stunt performers

Enemy unit AI adapts to player combat tactics

New Skill map feature allows players to determine how a character develops

New "Renbu" attack system for lightning fast moves and combos

Action shooter game set in South Pacific

Hugely detailed environments and action sequences

Cunning and complex AI tactics

Nonlinear gameplay

For one player