Looks like some good deals to be had this week.  Some highlights:

K-Mart (yes they still exist)

• Gears of War 2 $29.99
• Halo Wars $29.99
• Red Faction $49.99
• Smackdown 2009 $19.99
• Get a $25 Microsoft gaming coupon when you buy a 60GB Pro 360
• Get a $10 XBOX 360 Accessory Coupon when you order Madden 2010 for the 360

Target

• Tiger Woods 10 $44
• Guitar Hero Smash Hits $44
• UFC Undisputed 2009 $44
• Fight Night Round 4 $44
• GI Joe: Rise of Cobra $49.99

Toys-R-Us

• Free $50 Gift Card and $19.99 Live Points Card with purchase of 360 Elite System

Also I saw a commercial to get Madden 10 on any system for free by ordering Sports Illustrated.  So basically for $49.99 you get a year subscription to SI and Madden 10 for Xbox 360 for free.  That link can be found here.

Happy deal hunting.

The new DLC pack will be called Historic Battles and will be released on July 21st for 800 MS points. Historic Battles will feature four new maps and four new achievements.

Here is a preview of the new maps:

• Barrens (1v1 Map): Difficult terrain channels units into killing zones. The side that controls the Forerunner artifacts will have the advantage.
• Blood River (1v1 Map): Secure base locations on nearby cliffs overlook this naturally red-tinged river. The soldiers that fought over its two narrow crossings gave the river its name, which has since taken on a greater meaning.
• Glacial Ravine (3v3 Map): A snow-topped mountain range forms a natural barrier that cuts this region in half. Control of the two energy walls at the narrow central pass often determines the outcome of the battle, though clever use of the Sentinel Factories may play a role as well.
• Memorial Basin (2v2 Map): The high ground in the middle offers good cover for infantry, while the generally open terrain transforms organized battle plans into bloodbaths.

The four new achievements are worth a total of 100 points:

• Tour Coming Through: Hot drop 50 squads to your Covenant Leader in a single game on Memorial Basin (30 points)
• Never Leave a Man Behind: Finish a game with 5000 net resources contributed to your teammates on Barrens (15 points)
• Drain Cleaner: Kill 20 enemy squads with a continuous Covenant Leader Power on Memorial Basin (30 points)
• Killjoy: Disrupt 5 active Leader Powers in a single game on Blood River (25 points)

I did an article on Halo Wars yesterday, about a new online map feature they were doing. Today, it’s to announce that the Strategic Options DLC will be launching later this afternoon. Included in the new DLC is three more game modes:

· Keepaway Mode: In this “Halo Wars” adaptation of Capture the Flag, teams will battle it out to capture a free-roaming Forerunner Sentinel to score points before the other team. The number of Sentinels needed to win scales with the number of combatants.

· Tug of War Mode: Players must build a stronger army than their opponents to succeed.  Defeating enemies is essential, but success is determined by a combination of the army, buildings and resources left standing in the end.

· Reinforcement Mode: Players must adapt their tactics and use the ever-changing set of units to outwit and outlast the enemy, all the while facing successive waves of incoming units.

It will be available for 800 MS Points later today (May 19th).

Robot Entertainment, who picked up on Halo Wars after Ensemble Studios disbanded, has begun to release detailed information and high-res pics for all of the game maps. The first release is for Exile, a 3v3 map. “On each page you’ll find snippets about the map from designers and artists, as well as much larger images of the maps, and a Y-Axis shot allowing you to plan avenues of attack.” This will be very handy for new players, or even for older, more experienced players who are looking to plan a new course of attack or just make sure that they pick up all of the supplies.

You can find the start of their project here.

(HaloWars.com blog)