EA has made the demo for The Sims 3 available to play in-browser; I assume eschewing the need to install is to help appeal to the casual gamer who is more used to playing Farmville than a real computer game.

"You’ll get to play 20 minutes of some of the best content The Sims have to offer in this gameplay teaser. First, choose one of three classic character types as your Sim, and then send them off on their first adventure. Have your Sim explore an Egyptian pyramid, commune with ghosts in a haunted house, or let them party the night away with vampires. It’s up to you to decide what your Sim does next! Content in the teaser includes elements from The Sims 3, The Sims 3 Late Night, The Sims 3 World Adventures, and more."

No word yet how much Sim torture you can unleash in this "teaser", but I'm about to find out!

I'm giving it a download right now, need some strategy action to break up the Fall TV schedule with!

Key features:

• Tactical Combat – Fight challenging turn-based battles against fierce AI
• Cooperative Multiplayer – Raid powerful Bosses with your friends for big rewards
• Exciting Quests – Progress through a series of story based missions
• Non-stop game development – Continuous introduction of new game features
• Immersive Visuals - Atmospheric graphics bring the Iron Grip Universe to life
• Growing Universe – Rich back-story based on the ever-evolving Iron Grip Universe

Be sure to check out the Dota 2 gameplay video of Pudge too!

Bradford admitted the attack was a 'moment of madness' as the child 'would not shut up'. He said: “I'd been playing the whole day and he was baiting me and baiting me and just would not shut up. “He went on and on and I just lost it. I hold my hands up, I lost the plot. In a moment of madness I went round to his house. I didn't know what I was going to do.”

Bradford admitted one count of assault by beating. (Source: Wownews.co.uk)

In the game, you play a merchant in northern Europe in the late Middle Ages when the Hanseatic League of traders and merchants was flourishing. Your goal is to rise to become the most successful and influential member of the Hanse, ultimately being elected Alderman, leader of the trading league. Start by trading common goods, then build up your own production and establish a merchant fleet to expand your trading empire and gain more political influence as you conquer new towns.

However, a Hanse merchant's life can also have its dark side. During your rise to power you must hold your ground against fierce rivals, whom you have to overcome by any means - be it economic competition, price wars or "other" underhanded tactics such as sabotage. Will you even engage in piracy to get what you want?

Patrician IV Gold Edition Features:

• Combines the full edition of Patrician IV and the official expansion Rise of a Dynasty into one great game
• Realistically modelled trade system with trade routes between 40 cities on the coast and the mainland
• Become a leading merchant in heartland cities and establish an extensive road network to expand your trade routes
• All towns are displayed in impressive and detailed 3D
• Intelligent rivals, dynamic weather and seasons influence gameplay
• Manage your trading empire with three of your friends via LAN or Internet in a cooperative multiplayer mode
• Become a big time landowner and buy parts of the regional territories to expand your influence and power
• Be elected mayor of your home town or even Alderman of the Hanseatic League and gain new rights and responsibilities.
• Construct your own merchant fleet from historical ship models and research new ship types Arm your fleet with convoy ships and fight in impressive naval battles against pirates and rivals

Dawn of Fantasy enables players to build up villages into towns and then mighty strongholds, to manage a thriving, persistent economy, and to lay siege to enemy armies and citadels with great trebuchets, the brute strength of the walking woods, and fire-breathing dragon mercenaries to reign supreme.

Players can play as one of three different races – elves, men and orcs, each of which offers a radically different play style and has been given a deep, compelling mythology, a dramatic, historical background, and a spectrum of complex political ambitions and sub-plots that drive the story and gameplay.

Section 8: Prejudice Features

• Play as Alex Corde and discover the sinister series of betrayals that now threaten humanity's survival in the single player campaign.
• Compete in various multiplayer modes with up to 40 players - from the extreme, strategic play of "Conquest" to the hordes of robust AI opponents in "Swarm".
• Strategically spawn anywhere on the battlefield to assist allies or ambush enemies.
• Customize loadout weapons, ammo, and equipment to suit your playstyle.
• Call in deployables and vehicles when and where you need them to gain tactical advantages.
• Master true mobility with dropping, overdrive, and jetpacks to outmaneuver opponents.
• Complete a variety of Dynamic Combat Missions - from launching aerial strikes against fortified positions to securing crucial intel.
• Advance in rank and skill to access a devastating arsenal of over 60 weapons, equipment, and upgrade variants.

• New campaign with 3 missions
• Additional multiplayer mode: Capture the Flag
• 2 new sniper rifles: M200 Intervention and L96
• New pistol: Desert Eagle
• Challenge Map

It's bad news for PC fans no doubt, but Ubisoft did just release some footage which shows off Ezio's new toy - the hookblade. Looks sweet!

The best way to describe the gameplay in Isaac would be to compare it to a hybrid of Smash TV and the original Legend of Zelda. It's not the easiest game, much like Super Meat Boy, but it is very fun and rewarding. Every time you play the game generals entirely new levels, item drops, mob and boss encounters, etc., so you've got a casual game which ends up being a little more old-school than you'd probably expect. Danny Baranowsy lent his musical talents to Team Meat once again too, so you'll at least get to enjoy some sweet tunes while you try to master the variety of monster patterns.

You can see a recording of two full game sessions that I took back to back below. TBOI is played entirely with the keyboard, there's not any need for a mouse or gamepad. I can definitely vouch for the fact that the game is so much different every time you play. All in all it's one of the better gaming values on the PC that I can think of for $5. If you're interested in picking up a copy you'll want to swing on by the Binding of Isaac Steam store page soon so that you can take advantage of the 10% launch week discount.