Hoping to rope in more casual gamers, Microsoft announced the European launch of Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1, a disc compilation featuring hit Xbox Live Arcade games plus a free month of Xbox Live Gold. The compilation will be arriving in stores across the region on September 15 for €40/ £25.

The pack includes the six following Xbox Live Arcade titles: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, Wik: Fable of Souls, Outpost Kaloki X, Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Hardwood Backgammon and Texas Hold ‘em. It also includes a free one month subscription to the online service as well as downloadable demos of Uno, Marble Blast Ultra and Feeding Frenzy.

Ignition Entertainment has announced that King of Fighters XI is coming to Europe for the PS2 this Winter. Latest in the long-running fighting franchise, KOFXI features a total of 11 teams and 47 characters, including 3 all new characters; 7 playable boss characters; 3 new abilities - Quick Shift, Saving Shift and Dream Cancel; 14 new endings; color edit more; 4 new stages; 101 new music tracks and more.

Further information and media can be found on the game’s official website.

By way of Famitsu comes Koei’s full lineup for the Tokyo Game Show later this month. The following titles are scheduled to be present at the show:

• Blade Storm (PS3)
  
• Dynasty Warriors Mahjong (DS, PSP)
  
• Fatal Inertia (PS3)
  
• G1 Jockey 4 2006 (PS2)
  
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka De (PS2)
  
• Mahjong Taikai IV (PS3)
  
• Ni-Oh (PS3)
  
• Nobunaga’s Ambition Online (PS2, PC)
  
• Pocket Scenario Series Harukanaru Toki no Naka De (DS)
  
• Samurai Warriors 2 Empire (PS2)
  
• Samurai Warriors Wave (Wii)
  
• Sangokushi 11 (PS2)

After having hype blow the news out of proportions, Joystiq’s big console news is that IBM has been shipping the processor for Wii to Nintendo since July. Basically, that’s about it, but the article does quote an IBM rep as saying that the custom-designed Wii processor is “20 percent more power efficient” than that of the Gamecube, and that it also “performs significantly better.”

According to an announcement from Vivendi Games, the company has secured the publishing rights to the next game from Tim Schafer’s Double Fine Productions. No information on the title was released, but that the project is a “brand new creation” and will be published under the Sierra label.

Some patches:

• For Liberty v1.60 on Battlefront
  
• Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords v1.3 on the Official Website
  
• Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg v1.04 on Battlefront
  
• Ship Sim 2006 v1.4 on the Official Website
  
• Shadowgrounds v1.05 on Meridian 4

These were shipped:

• Guilty Gear Judgment (PSP)
  
• Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run (PS2, Xbox)
  
• Test Drive Unlimited (X360)

• Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales
  
• NHL 2K7 (Xbox, Xbox 360)
  
• Silent Heroes

Seven new next-gen screenshots from Need for Speed: Carbon:

GameTap sends word that it will host the “exclusive” premiere of Sam & Max on October 17. The return of the dog & bunny duo’s first episode in the adventure series will show up first on the games subscription service a full 15 days before going on sale on the Telltale Games website on November 1.

Five new screenshots from the upcoming multiplayer shooter from EA and DICE.

2K Games sends word that it will release Civilization Chronicles, the “definite Civilization collector’s edition”, combining all the games in the series in one behemoth compilation.

The set will include Sid Meier’s Civilization I, Civilization II, Civilization II: Fantastic Worlds, Civilization II: Conflicts in Civilization, Civilization II: Test of Time, Civilization III, Civilization III: Play the World, Civilization III: Conquests and Civilization IV.

In addition, the compilation will also include The Card Game, an original tabletop card game designed by Civilization IV lead designer Soren Johnson, featuring more than 250 custom cards and rules based on Civilization IV; the Chronicles of Civilization, a 96-page book containing the history of the franchise, as told through interviews with past Civilization designers, an interview with Sid Meier, and more; a video DVD featuring presentations about the creation of Civilization IV; and more including printed tech tree posters from each game, wallpapers and podcast MP3s.

Sid Meier’s Civilization Chronicles will be released next month for $70.

Now that the game has been out on the Xbox for quite a few years, 2K Games has announced that it will publish Jade Empire for the PC. It will be a “Special Edition” though, making sure PC gamers don’t feel shafted having to play an old game for full price.

Expected to be released this January, the game will feature enhanced graphics and a number of new additions including new visual effects and fighting styles, as well as new monsters and enemies with enhanced AI. It will also include customizable controls and an all-new art book as part of its “Special Edition” content.

To make Xbox Live even more enticing to Europeans, Microsoft has announced that during the company’s X06 event, which is to be held in Barcelona near the end of this month, Xbox Live will be free to all users.

Starting from midnight September 20, all Silver users of the system will be upgraded to Gold status, getting full access to the service. It will continue till September 29.

Gamasutra reports of the formation of Green Monster Games, the result of baseball legend and avid MMO fan Curt Schilling, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and sci-fi/fantasy author R.A. Salvatore partnering up to create “industry-changing games.”

Not much is known about the company except that they are currently looking to employ “high-end programming personnel” and that they might use the GameBryo engine (used in Elder Scrolls IV).

The report, however, does go into detail of the founding members: Todd McFarlane is serving as lead artist on the studio’s new project; R.A. Salvatore will act as a creative director; Schilling’s involvement is yet a mystery, though it is public that the athlete is an avid gamer and has recently donated his likeness to EverQuest to aid charity. As per the article, the company is apparently named after the left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Red Sox and Schilling.