— COMIC IMPROV: When it comes to pure geek bliss, only one event outdoes the Electronic Entertainment Expo: Comic-Con, the gigantic comic book convention held every summer in San Diego. Hollywood has begun taking notice of the rabid fans who attend Comic-Con, and now the video-game industry is paying attention too. Nintendo and Sony both had big booths at this year's show, and game publishers like Capcom, Konami and Square Enix were there as well. Warner Bros. showed off new footage from the DC Comics-based "Justice League Heroes," which Activision countered with "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance." 2K Games delivered new highlights from "The Darkness" — which, it turns out, is based on a cult comic and not on the cheesy British glam-rock band. And there was one notable debut. The Behemoth, creators of "Alien Hominid," introduced a follow-up called "Castle Crashers," a cartoony hack-and-slasher that looks like a side-scrolling, 2D version of "Gauntlet." It will be arriving on Xbox Live Arcade early next year.
— TAP DANCING: "Sam & Max" is another comic book that got translated into a computer game, 1993's much-adored "Sam & Max Hit the Road." The crimefighting dog and rabbit are returning at long last, headlining a monthly series that will begin in October on Turner Broadcasting's GameTap broadband network. GameTap has announced a bunch of new features, including instant messaging and multiplayer competition in a dozen of the system's games, including classics like "Pac-Man" and "Burger Time." GameTap is also introducing a new online animation channel featuring favorites from the Cartoon Network as well as an original series, "Computer Lab," from the creators of "Home Movies."
— MASSIVE TOONAGE: Cartoon Network is also expanding its already impressive online presence. In collaboration with Seoul-based Grigon Entertainment, the channel is developing a massively multiplayer online game for kids. "Not only will kids be able to play with their favorite characters like Mac and Bloo (from "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends"), Ben 10 and the Kids Next Door, but they will also be able to develop their own online gaming personalities and interact, virtually, with other players in a safe way," said Jim Samples, a network executive vice president. The as-yet-untitled game, scheduled for spring 2008, could be the first online game for kids to challenge Disney's popular "Toontown Online."
— MICKEY MIX: As for the Mouse House, it's teaming up with Konami and Majesco to create a version of "Dance Dance Revolution" featuring Disney characters and music. "Dance Dance Revolution Disney Mix" will replace the original's technopop with a selection of Disney classics like "It's a Small World" and "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." The whole package is one of those "Plug'n'Play" deals, so you can just plug the dance pad directly into your TV without the need for a console. If Disney tunes aren't sugary enough for you, Konami and Majesco are also teaming up on "Strawberry Shortcake Dance Dance Revolution," featuring the hit "Straw-Buh-Buh-Buh-Buh-Berry Shortcake."
— GOD IS DEAD: After all that, you're probably craving a game with lots of violence and maybe a smidgen of gratuitous sex. Lucky for you, the "God of War" sequel is still in the works, and creator David Jaffe has said he's confident there will be a third game. But after that, says Jaffe, "I don't want to tell stories with my games any more." On his Web log, Jaffe wrote: "Since 'God of War,' I have lost interest in the genre of single-player action/adventure games. In fact, I've really lost interest in making any kind of game that does not fully and only embrace interactivity in the most purest sense." What could that mean? Well, we do know Jaffe's working on a PlayStation Portable project code-named "HL" that's sure to be intriguing whether it tells a story or not.