Ready for this week's batch of GameStop deals? We're sure a lot of people want to get their hands on the Jumper video game (Xbox 360, PS2, and Wii) and the graphic novel. If you want to get both, then this might be your lucky week. GameStop is giving out the graphic novel to those who pre-order video game. Interested? Check out the full article for more.

Realism has, for the most part, been touted as one way to get across the idea that a game is good. This approach works well in video games, but in the advertising world, if a game looks too real, and is deemed to be too violent, then you can expect the ad to get the axe.

That's exactly what happened earlier today over in the UK, as the Advertising Standards Authority banned an advertisement for John Woo Presents Stranglehold (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) because it was too violent and realistic for broadcast on television. More on this in the full article.

Alright, John Woo and Chow Yun Fat fans. Midway has announced a new downloadable map pack for Stranglehold, its 3rd person action adventure title for the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 home video game consoles. The only problem is it has yet to be given a release date. Map pack details at the full article.

Thanks to the game spearheaded by John Woo, Midway Games moved up the ranks to take 35% of Europe's market share after Stranglehold (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, PC) reached target sales numbers earlier than expected. Stranglehold remains on the top ten of UK's best selling Xbox 360 titles, and gives Midway a bright future for 2008. "Our goal was to get to 35 per cent in 2008. We've gotten there this year," said Midway CEO David Zucker after crediting Stranglehold as one of the major factors.

More details and Tequila at the full article!

After announcing their revenue report for the third quarter Midway, one of the major game publishers who recently released Stranglehold for the Xbox 360 and PC, recently announced that they have successfully solved their PS3 programming issues. Midway's CEO David Zucker stated that they managed to fix the problem during the development process for both Stranglehold and Unreal Tournament 3.

Midway is also sticking to their current plan regarding Epic Games' Unreal Tournament 3, and that is to ship Unreal Tournament 3 for the PC this month, with the PS3 version to follow soon. However, Zucker said that they currently are sticking to the 2008 release of the game for the Xbox 360.


Check the full article for Zucker's statement and Midway's new game!

Golden pistols aren't the only thing that's made out of gold in John Woo Presents Stranglehold. Midway Games has announced that the PlayStation 3 version of the game has just gone gold.

This version will finally ship to stores this coming October 29. It should be remembered that the Xbox 360 and PC versions came out just recently.

PS3 fans of John Woo's cinematic masterpieces of bullets and blood will now be able to experience first hand what it's like to be in one of his movies as you take control of the hard boiled Hong Kong cop Inspector Tequila Yuen.

If you've played the demo of the game then you know how close it comes to the actual cinematic feel of an action-packed movie. PlayStation gamers can now experience the same hardcore shooting madness the game offers.

Just when we thought that there's no more delays for the PS3 version of Midway's Stranglehold, comes another indication that it could be. Online retailer Amazon now lists the Sony PS3 version of Stranglehold as coming out on October 29, which is way far back from its supposed September release.

Now, this isn't the only time that the PS3 version of Stranglehold got...well, choked up. A few months back we have reported that Stranglehold for the PS3 was to be delayed despite the completion of the PC and Xbox versions, and even John Woo's flick for the PC and Xbox 360 had its share of delays as well.

Is this a just a chronic sickness for this title? Do check back often to find out.

This week on shelves, we've got another plentiful supply of nice releases that we can sink our teeth on. The PC and the Nintendo DS are getting the bulk of fresh launches, but the Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3 titles are making up with quality games such as Eternal Sonata and Stranglehold respectively.

The Nintendo Wii also has a new fill of quirky but fun titles that the young and the young at heart will be happy to tinker with. Overall, it's another good week for the industry so get ready to bust out that wallet and empty to on the cashiers.

Coded Arms Contagion. Konami's explosive sequel to Coded Arms is here and it's set in a VR world of a military training program. Randomly generated levels and square rooms are gone to give way to a heavier emphasis on story over action.

• Sony PSP - September 18, 2007
• US$ 29.99
• ESRB T (Teen)
• Konami

Eternal Sonata. Looking for that big RPG on the Xbox 360? Wait no more because Eternal Sonata is dropping in on the 17th of September. Destiny, deception and courage all come to play in this highly-anticipated tale of good versus evil.

• Xbox 360 - September 17, 2007
• US$ 59.99
• ESRB T (Teen)
• Namco Bandai
  

Stranglehold. Both the Sony PlayStation 3 and PC platforms are finally getting its taste of John Woo and Chow Yun-Fat's bullet-riddled blast Stranglehold. Based on the movie Hardboiled, you'll walk the tough streets of Hong Kong and Chicago to rough up the bad guys with some well-deserved police brutality.

• PlayStation 3, PC- September 18, 2007
• US$ 59.99 (PS3), US$ 49.99 (PC)
  
• ESRB M (Mature)
• Midway Games

The rest of this week's line-up comes after the jump!

Buy: [Coded Arms: Contagion]
Buy: [Eternal Sonata]
Buy: [Stranglehold]

I consider myself a die-hard fanboy of John Woo and his trademark gun-toting "ballet of death" movies. There's a kind of poetry in his films that even the most peace-loving pacifist cannot deny. So imagine my excitement when I found out that I would be the one giving out QJ.NET's first impressions on the new video game lovingly directed by John Woo. Throw in Chow Yun-Fat as the main protagonist and you've just got yourself one happy little fanboy jumping up and down while he mows down hordes of gangsters in Midway Game's John Woo Presents Stranglehold.

Right off the bat, after the initial loading screen, you instantly feel like you've just been pulled into a John Woo film as the opening cinematics roll. All the basic elements of his films are there: gangsters, enough blood to fill a small lake, and an excessive amount of dynamic camera angles enough to make anyone's head spin. The character design for Chow Yun-Fat himself makes him instantly recognizable as he reprises his role as the hard-boiled (pun intended) Inspector "Tequila" Yuen.

In the opening scene, one of his fellow police officers in the Hong Kong police force is summarily dispatched by a local Triad gang. Tequila then steps up to the group's challenge to send a lone cop to meet with the gangsters in the Kowloon market area. Of course, what follows is a series of gunfights, excessive fatalities and stand-offs that's enough to fill any action movie buff's testosterone-powered needs. Little does Tequila know however that the Triad already has a little insurance in their pockets against the gung-ho cop...

Check out more impressions on Inspector Tequila's mad gun skills and John Woo's greatness right after the jump!

A community moderator on the Midway Boards has posted that the PlayStation 3 demo of Stranglehold will be going live on Thursday. Now, you should probably take this with a grain of salt, but check out the PlayStation Store when the Thursday update rolls in nonetheless. It just might be on there.

The moderator didn't mention if this demo will be released in North America only or if it will also make it to the European PlayStation Store. If true, the demo could conceivably go live in North America for the Thursday update and then be available in Europe the next day.

An Xbox 360 demo was already released early last month. The demo for the PC version of Stranglehold is reportedly being submitted this week.