This weekend we visited a friend who had Scribblenauts, and my son Oscar was immediately hooked. Naturally, he asked if he could get it. "You could put it on your Christmas list," I offered. His face fell. I wouldn’t mind having Scribblenauts myself, but my kid has plenty of toys and games, plus buying a kid everything he wants is a bad idea. But suddenly, I had a bright idea. "Maybe you could trade in some games you don’t play anymore," I suggested.

The floodgates remain open, and the steady rush of downloadable games showered across all platforms each week shows no signs of abating anytime soon. The month of September has ushered-in a little something for all tastes, but thrill seekers will find our selections definitely get the blood pumping. A little retro-shooting, a touch of space-age tower defense, some crazy base jumping, and more downloadable gaming goodness awaits you in this month’s installment of Download Picks.

Hopping on a bicycle and taking a leisurely ride through the countryside is a great way to unwind on a breezy summer afternoon. Being strapped to your work desk all day may prevent such an indulgence, but a monitor and PC keyboard make a tolerable substitute. Fig. 8 lets you embark on a pedaling adventure of sorts, except it replaces the blue sky with blank nothingness and switches out the green scenery for black-inked technical sketches.

When I started playing World of Warcraft, I firmly believed that when I hit the level cap of 80 I'd want to start a new character. What's the point of it all if I don't have the next level to look forward to? Being stuck as a perpetual 80 sounded quite boring to me. But since then I've become a part of a great guild, which makes playing with others genuinely fun. And when you're level 80, WOW is all about working with other players, which allows you to run end-game content to get improved gear. And of course better gear is much like gaining another level -- it makes you more powerful and feel more awesome. However, much more than playing with others, the in-game achievements that WOW has added have made it a bigger, more expanded game for me.

The timeless tale of a windswept Kansas girl and her pooch being transported away from tornado alley and dumped into a strange, magical world has been interpreted and re-tooled in some unexpected ways. Developer Media Vision’s latest new twist on the story, which sees the protagonist and her motley crew of cohorts donning weapons and armor and charging into battle, is easily one of my favorite takes on the lass’ adventures in the land of Oz. Dorothy and pals are packing heat, and her little dog too.

These days most games tend to be epic narratives with gorgeous graphics, believable characters, and a list of creator credits which rivals any Hollywood blockbuster in length. Back in the days when the video game arcade scene was thriving, games just had to be easy to play and instantly addictive to be a success. It’s often the simplest games that are the most addictive, with repetitive gameplay that is easy to learn, but requires great skill to master. Here are 10 of the most fiendishly addictive video games ever made. Beware.

Addiction to video games gets a lot of attention from the mainstream media, fueled by reports of gamers collapsing and suffering heart attacks in internet cafes overseas. It's been a short line from reports like these to wondering whether or not video games constitute a larger threat to the public health. Some media outlets have even gone so far as to compare games directly to drugs like cocaine and heroin.

From darn adorable to absolutely terrifying, Dana's been sampling a nice variety of games this past week. Amanda chomps on Scooby Snacks and consumes too much virtual beer...hic!

If the release of Halo 3: ODST seems accompanied by less of the suffocating hype that surrounded previous entries, it's likely a matter of perception. See, ODST was originally pitched as an expansion of sorts to Halo 3 -- a less robust side story that would presumably arrive with a smaller price tag. But it became something (slightly) bigger, and Microsoft has attempted to justify the full $60 price point by bundling the new campaign and co-op mode with the entirety of Halo 3's multiplayer options on a separate disc. But does it really add up to a complete experience?

Wii Price Drop Confirmed
Nintendo confirmed that they will be dropping the price of the Wii to $200, effective September 27. In addition to the $50 price cut, Nintendo gave an official release date for New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which will be on shelves November 15.