Who knew Bizarre Creations had a hit on its hands when it created the original Geometry Wars so many moons ago? I certainly didn't, though that might be due in part to my complete lack of one of those other consoles. Since its original inception on Microsoft soil, the Geometry Wars series has seen a number of different incarnations, a particularly enjoyable one of which is available for everyone's favorite handheld.

Geometry Wars: Galaxies also saw a release on Nintendo's white waggle box, though the infinitely more portable version is what I'll be covering in this week's edition of Gaming to Go. Haven't experienced the geometrical madness yet? Come along and see why playing with shapes on a two-dimensional grid is far more entertaining than it sounds.

Snooping through the Australian OFLC's video game ratings website, a new and totally unannounced video game full of geometry has been discovered, resulting in us being uber excited.

The OFLC just published a listing for Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2 today, which is super great news, except for the fact it doesn't look to be a 360 exclusive. According to the listing, the game is being published by Activision (and being authored by them as well) rather then Bizarre Creations and is categorized to be "multi-platform". That's about all the info we can pull from this ratings post and it's great to hear that we'll be treated to a true sequel (Geometry Wars: Waves doesn't count), even though we have to share with non-360 gamers. Bring on the geometry!

[Via Game Stooge]

Even with its new multiplayer mode, single-player campaign, and game-changing features (e.g. customizable drone), Geometry Wars: Galaxies is a hard sell for the people comparing the DS's $30 update to the original $5 download on XBLA.

Meijer's $19.99 online sale for Galaxies is still a lot more expensive than five bucks, but when you consider all the extra content Kuju Entertainment threw in, that price doesn't sound bad at all. Besides, the DS version has a huge advantage over the old and crusty XBLA release that you shouldn't forget: portability!

[Via CAG]

Bill Tangeman clearly has a pretty high tolerance of cramp, if his highest score on Geometry Wars: Galaxies is anything to go by. But what really gets us about the above video is that he could have gone on and on and on and on and Ariston, until he developed Carpal tunnel syndrome reached whatever score he damn well pleased.

As it happened, he was happy to settle for a piffling 5,000,000,000, a total that saw Bill top the regional Galaxies leaderboard. We're slightly dismayed to learn there's a difficulty ceiling in the game, but it's safe to say that we're quite a distance from breaking it.

[Via Aeropause]

There aren't many reviews out just yet for the newly-released DS version of Geometry Wars: Galaxies, but so far, it seems like a solid take on the XBLA title. The only real problem? Those sneaky hand cramps that accompany some DS titles.

Gamespot -- 70%: "... Geometry Wars: Galaxies proves its worth. This isn't just the same $5 game all over again for a higher price. The content added with the galaxies mode and the multiplayer functionality adds a lot of depth to the experience, and the control changes to both versions, while not as spot-on as a straight-up dual-analog control setup, work well enough to be not only playable, but fun as well. If you were a fan of the original game or just like intense shooters, Geometry Wars: Galaxies fits the bill."

Games Radar -- 80%: "Piloting your ship with the D-pad and directing your fire with the stylus feels surprisingly accurate. But the pad isn't as easy on your thumb as an analog stick, and you may find your left hand cramping up as you frantically apply pressure to keep your ship on the move. You can enjoy a cramp-free round of Galaxies once you learn to relax your death grip and move with gentler taps, but this will take a bit of getting used to ... But even strangers to the series will be hard pressed to find a shooter as satisfying as Galaxies on the DS."

Originally scheduled for holiday 2007 releases, it seems that both the Nintendo Wii and DS versions of Geometry Wars: Galaxies have been pushed back to next year in Europe, according to publisher Sierra Entertainment.

Now scheduled for release on January 18, the newly-expanded versions of the Xbox Live Arcade classic feature more than 60 planets on which to shoot and evade hostile shapes. Uniquely, both versions also support the ability to wirelessly beam the full version of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved to a Nintendo DS portable.

It's worth noting that these delays only affect the European releases; the Wii and DS versions in North America are still scheduled for release on November 20th and 27th, respectively. Sorry, Europe. We'll let you know how it is.

We've been skeptical about the DS version of Geometry Wars Galaxies, based on so-so impressions and the seeming unsuitability of the platform for the game, but two recent developments have caused us to embrace the possibility that it may be okay after all:

1. Bangai-O Spirits made us believe that tiny-sprite shooters are possible on the DS. If Treasure thinks it's a good idea, we think it's a very good idea.
2. This video, titled "Maseis," came out and looked neat.

Watch the video yourself and see if frantic, abstract shooting has a place on the DS. The only concession we can see to the size of the system is a smaller level, and that may just be this one level.
[Via Kotaku]

Independent UK developer Bizarre Creations of Project Gotham Racing and Geometry Wars fame is now the property of Activision following an acquisition announcement this morning, making the studio one of Activision's wholly owned subsidiaries. The move by Activision follows last year's purchase of Guitar Hero publisher Red Octane, and while financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Activision notes that its first Bizarre Creations game will not be released until sometime following fiscal 2009.

That said, Bizarre Creations will still release its visceral shooter The Club as an indie for publisher Sega this February for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The upcoming Project Gotham Racing 4 will be the studio's final game for Microsoft.

While it's always somewhat disheartening to see once independent developers sapped up like this, in some ways it's inevitable, especially given the high costs associated with console game development. Still, according to a blog post on Bizarre Creations' website, Activision's ownership will be "hands off," leaving creative control in the studio's capable hands, for now at least. In addition, the post adds that the company will have "absolutely no redundancies," no doubt causing a sigh of relief from those in the trenches.

We can't decide if this marks a clever nod from some kids at an advertising firm to Internet culture, or the precise moment that LOLcats stopped being cool or funny. We're feeling generous, so we think we're going to go with the former, seeing it as a refreshingly lo-fi, low-budget, punk-rock approach to game advertising. Also it made us laugh.

If you can't tell (because the ad doesn't actually have the name of the game printed anywhere!) this cat is advertising Sierra's Geometry Wars Galaxies. The ad was found on IGN by NeoGAFfer John Harker, and we don't want to think about how much money we made for IGN when we tried to find it ourselves. We even reloaded the same Jackass PSP review found in the GAF screenshot to maximize our chances of having the same ad come up. It was only later that we discovered the actual website for these ads, which contains a load of 'em.

Of course, those of you with excellent memories for Geometry Wars advertising will remember that this isn't the first time Sierra has used bizarre, nonsensical advertising techniques to promote this game.

[Via NeoGAF]

A demo from Bizarre Creations' Project Gotham Racing 4 should be hitting Xbox Live soon, according to the developer (via Eurogamer). In addition to five playable vehicles (cars and bikes) that presumably will be in the full game, there will be an Arcade mode exclusive to the demo set in Macau, featuring exclusive challenges.
We're a bit perplexed about the exclusive content. If it's good, why not include it in the full game. Conversely, if the content is not good, or not on par with the full game, why use it to promote the title?

A time trial for Nurburgring Snow will also be in the demo. Project Gotham Racing 4 (with Geometry Wars: Waves) is due out October 2 in North America.

As you probably expected, as you fire up your copy of Project Gotham Racing 4, lurking inside will be a new evolution of the Geometry Wars series called Geometry Wars: Waves. This new video offers a sneak peek of what you can expect and as you can see, it's definitely Geometry Wars.

The enemies are obviously acting different (coming at you in waves, appropriately enough), but we don't see much change from the XBLA version other than that. The graphics look a little snazzier, but that could just be out imagination. So, no, it's not going to something you'll pay full price to get your hands on, but it looks like a nice perk if you were planning on picking up PGR 4 anyway.

[Thanks, Jonah]

Chris Kohler over at Wired took time to check out the Wii game Geometry Wars: Galaxies while at PAX07 and came away with the opinion that it was better than that of its original Xbox Live Arcade game. Even though we're huge Nintendo fans, we can't say we actually believe him, because the dual-analog control scheme of the original is just about perfect. Still, he sticks to his guns.

Not only does he comment that the control setup of the Wii game is more intuitive, he also comments that there isn't any reason why the game couldn't have been a download on Wii Ware. We have to agree, because even though the game is almost guaranteed to be fun, we doubt it'll ever warrant a price tag of more than twenty dollars.

Talking with Pro-G at the Leipzig Games Convention, Bizarre Creations confirmed that a new Geometry Wars game will be exclusively bundled with Project Gotham Racing 4. The new geometry shooter will be called Geometry Wars: Waves and will not be available on the XBLA like it's older brother Retro Evolved, instead it'll stay attached to PGR4 for the long run. Bizarre Creations also mentioned that the new Waves is based off of Retro Evolved and is not officially considered to be the next game in the series. Whatever that may entail or mean, we know that we're getting a new Geometry Wars on October 2nd. W00t!

Speaking to Pro-G at the Leipzig Games Convention, Bizarre Creations has revealed that a new Geometry Wars game will be featured in October's Project Gotham Racing 4. Dubbed "Geometry Wars: Waves," the shape shooter will be an exclusive Project Gotham bonus and unlike Retro Evolved, won't be sold on Xbox Live Arcade. That makes for an excellent bonus for racing fans, but a $60 investment for those just hoping to exact revenge on the sneaky green square.

Not to worry though, as Bizarre also stated that Waves is based on Retro Evolved and not a "true" sequel as such. Alternatively, you can be sucked in by the gravity wells of Geometry Wars: Galaxies, out this Fall on DS and Wii.

Chris Hardin over at Nintendo Players managed to snag some video of Geometry Wars for the DS, taking two different videos of the game's promised interplanetary conflicts between geometric shapes. For those who've been foaming at the mouth for Bizarre Creations' casual title, there is no better endorsement than the embedded videos. So, head past the break and check them out.