One of the the biggest selling points of Nintendo's Wii video game console since its launch nearly two years ago has been that it was the lowest-priced of the trio of next-generation machines, which also includes Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.

To date, the Wii costs $249, while the lowest-priced Xbox, the so-called "Arcade," retails currently for $279. An 80GB PS3 sells for $400.

But Microsoft said Wednesday that it will drop the price of the Arcade on Friday to $199, breaking through what some have said is the all-important psychological price level of $200. At that price, industry observers say, the market opens up to mass levels of consumers.

Microsoft will also drop the price of its 60GB Xbox to $299 and its "Xbox Elite," which has a 120GB hard drive, to $399.

"The fact that the Xbox 360 is now cheaper than the Wii is definitely a big shift in the market," said Aaron Greenberg, director of product management for Xbox 360.

The news has been rumored for some time and was first reported as fact Wednesday by BusinessWeek.

For Microsoft, this is a crucial step along its path toward winning the next-gen console wars. At E3 in July, the

We've been playing our collective asses off in Soul Calibur IV this last week, taking exhaustive notes on the fine graphics. Love 'em or not, females in fighting games are always going to be downright sexy. But even though the soul still burns, the SlobsofGaming will never forget the beautiful women of fighting games past and present.

Join us as we steamroll through our newest countdown, dedicated to the most underclothed, overboobed, and unflinchingly hot fighting femmes in gaming history -- Are you ready for this?

29. Setsuka (Soul Calibur)

Setsuka ranks as one of the best (and newer) characters to be introduced to any fighting game. Best outfit EVER. Yes, our bottom entry is a Soul Calibur IV fighter, but Setsuka's always one of our first choices in a match.

Measurements/Stats: Age: 24, Height: 5' 6'', Weight: 114 lbs.

28. Rouge (Power Stone)

One of gaming's greatest casualties was the Power Stone series on Dreamcast. As a result, scorching gypsy Rouge has been doomed to obscurity. What a world!

Measurements/Stats: Age: 23, Height: 5' 6'', Weight: 105 lbs.

27. Angel (King of Fighters)

This sexy Mexican is famous among fighting charac

The multiplayer game "Star Trek Online" will be set a few generations after the last "Trek" film.

After years in development limbo, the "Trek"-themed massively multiplayer online game will engage.

That's according to game developer Cryptic Studios Inc., which recently announced it had secured the rights to develop and publish "Star Trek Online" from CBS Consumer Products after now-defunct Perpetual Entertainment set the besieged project to kill.

"We had a friendly relationship with them," Cryptic Chief Creative Officer Jack Emmert told The Associated Press.

"As it became apparent they weren't going to continue to function, they decided to sell off the license. We swooped in and grabbed it. We took no assets. There was nothing to be had, to be honest. We're building everything from the ground up."

Emmert said players will begin "Star Trek Online" as the captain of a small Starfleet or Klingon Empire ship.

They can customize their characters from pre-existing "Trek" species -- from Klingons to Gorn -- and can create entirely new alien races. As

The classic platform game was first released in 1985 and has since become one of the biggest selling ever with more than 40 million copies flying off the shelves worldwide.

In the game brothers Mario and Luigi - now recognised the world over - try to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom in a bid to save Princess Peach.

Super Mario Bros 2 was released in 1988, and Super Mario Bros 3 in 1990. The third version was considered by many as the best, and has sold 18 million to date.

The poll of 2,000 gamers, conducted by www.onepoll.com, revealed 'old skool' games are still firm favourites with Britain's army of gamers.

Pac-Man, which was released in 1980, was voted into second place.

The tiny yellow character is as recognisable as Mario and is credited with changing the face of gaming by making it more accessible to everyone.

Pac-Man has since appeared on Game Boy, Commodore 64, Playstation, PSP, and Xbox 360, amongst others.

As well as the hype generated around the arcade game, Pac-Man merchandise took the World by storm in the 1980s with t-shirts and toys.

Third place in the poll went to another game from the 1980s; Tetris.

The addictive puzzle game, which is widely available across differe

The criteria for a good sequel is almost contradictory; it's a dangerous mix of old and new, with just enough old to serve as a sturdy foundation and just enough new to prevent boredom and apathy. But when not perfectly balanced, a sequel can prove disastrous -- and said franchise may later find itself effectively neutered, with no chance of future offspring. Rely too much on the previous game and you'll have players wondering if that Roman numeral at the end of your title is just a sleep-deprived hallucination brought on by attending too many midnight launches. Abandon the predecessor entirely and you'll alienate those who spent months of their lives posting in message-board threads and feverishly stroking their pre-order receipts. If you're thinking it's a wonder that good sequels even exist, then you're right -- and the following games will prove why you're such an astute observer of the gaming industry and no stranger to disappointment.

The first Devil May Cry defined what action games during the PS2 generation should be, so of course everyone was excited about the inevitable follow-up. But when those f

9. Red Alert 3

Red Alert 3 shifts the focus of the series to sea battles along with an updated graphics engine.

8. Sonic Unleashed

Despite the constant "Anticipation/Disappointment" cycle of the new Sonic games, Sonic Unleashed truly pushes the anticipation portion of the cycle to the limit. We'll see if the disappointment portion reaches the limit as well.

7. Soul Calibur IV

From all over the world they come. In search of vengence, honor, salvation. Driven by the desire to weild the soul swords. But the swords may have met their match...

6. Wolfenstein

The original Wolfentein defined the First Person Shooter genre. Set within a near-fictional, historical WWII setting, players take on the role of the heroic OSA agent BJ Blazkowicz as they are thrust into the unknown and unexpected to battle against combat troops, otherworldly forces, and the dark science created by a supernatural Nazi force hell-bent on world domination.

5. The Force Unleashed

The Force Unleashed hopes to delver an interactive cinematic experience; making gamers feel as though they are in a Star Wars movie. The game uses a combination of physics engines including the Euphoria engine used by GTA IV. The euphoria e

The ability to "opt in for a chance to participate" currently appears on both the European and North American account pages for subscribers, as spotted by fan website World of War. There will be no need to sprain your fingers in a rush to enter, as the selection of participants will be random.

As previously revealed, the forthcoming expansion will include the MMO's first Hero class, the Death Knight, which players will be able to create once their characters reach level 55. Lich King also offers a slew of new abilities and items to aid players in raids and new areas.

No date for the beta was specified, though studio owner Vivendi expects Lich King's new abilities, areas and Death Knight class to arrive by the year's end.

Said to feature more quests than ever, the anticipated sequel will stick to its roots by being "first and foremost a cooperative game."

Download Diablo III videos on FileShack.

Diablo III will feature old standards such as the quotable Deckard Cain, as well as a new version of Tristram and a fresh class dubbed the Witch Doctor. The jungle-born warrior will use ancient tribal magic to cast disease and mind control spells, in addition to utilizing pets such as locust swarms and mongrels.

Armor will now be class-specific, designed to provide each character a unique look. Classes themselves are more diverse, as it was noted that there will be female versions of both the Barbarian and Witch Doctor.

In a demo of the Barbarian class, the company noted that less of an emphasis will be placed on potions for health. Instead, red orb-like