New episode get! This week we talk about Dragon's Dogma (from combat to exploration to, uh, marketing), interview Twiggy from the community and discuss which games have the best combat mechanics.

Well, the reviews for Dragon's Dogma, which comes out next Tuesday in North America, are starting to trickle in. Word on the beat is that the game is seeing quite a bit of praise in the East, starting with famed games magazine Famitsu's very positive review. 

Dogma has received high scores across the board with Famitsu's "cross review" format, where several reviewers weigh in with their impressions. The game scored an 8/9/8/9 for a total of 34 out of 40, earning it a "Hall of Fame: Gold" award. Sweet! 

In particular, the review praises the game's variety in combat, the effectiveness of working together with Pawns, the exceptionally fun sidequests, and the uniqueness of each vocation. 

The number of pre-orders for the game in Japan has also reportedly exceeded half a million! Look out for more coverage of the game in the next few days, and of course the game's auspicious release on the 22nd (or 25th in Europe)!

Our fifth Mega Man stream of the year (one every month leading up to the 25th anniversary in December) continues with part V, aka the one with Proto Man as the bad guy. I'll play through the whole durn thing, and best of all, we have a plush Proto-Buster and boxed copy of Rockman 5 to give away in the chat!

Well, our Devil May Cry art giveaway has come to an end. We were utterly flooded with amazing art from scores of extremely talented DMC fans. Hit the jump to see which submissions we liked the most. Six winners will receive copies of the HD Collection and an Ebony & Ivory T-shirt. 

Thanks to all who submitted!

You can choose your enemies, you can choose your friends, but your family? You've gotta work with what you've got. And in the case of Mega Man and Dante, they have some... interesting issues to work out with their siblings, enough to earn them spots on GamesRadar's "Best Brotherly Rivalries" list.

One of the best things about living in a city is the back-and-forth Post-It Note wars that can erupt between two opposing office buildings. While the people in each building could technically create anything out of paper squares, classic game sprites are so much easier and recognizable; it's no surprise then that Mega Man appears quite a bit, including this recent sighting on Sony's windows.

Today, PC gamers can get a heaping dose of grit with the release of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City on PC. You can purchase the game from any of the following digital distributors.

Steam

EA Origin

GamersGate

GameStop

Capcom Store

The DLC you know and love from the console versions will be available in the near future for the PC version. We'll have more updates to come.

Meanwhile, if you have a burning question about the PC version, check out our FAQ thread. Got a technical issue with the game? Go to our Technical Issues Thread.

If you're in the San Francisco bay area (or, more specifically, San Jose) be sure to check out the Hideo Concert, which is a musical celebration of games and anime. Their setlist covers both categories pretty well, which thankfully includes a groovy, soothing Mega Man medley...

Coming up at 4pm PT we'll be streaming Darkstalkers 3, which was recently released on PS3 via the PlayStation Network. While we play, hop in the Twitch TV chat for a chance to win one of four codes for the PSN version!

Maybe it's because of all the time I spent in arcades back in the day, but the sight of a cabinet in someone's home still tickles a special part of my brain. Doubly so if it's a custom creation with one-of-a-kind art, lovingly created out of pure fandom. Such is the case with this unique marquee art that features weirdo versions of the classic Super SFII cast.

Today's dev blog comes from designer Yoshitaka Mori. Enjoy!

Throughout the fields and cities of Dragon’s Dogma, you will find all sorts of hidden items. These items, however, are not necessarily effective or of particularly great value on their own. That's where “combination” comes into play. Item combining allows you to put two items together to create new items.

Of course you could combine, for example, medicine with great healing properties with another medicine that cures status aliments, but sometimes performing these types of combinations will actually be necessary to complete certain quests.

Here is what you can create if you get good at combining!

Today, video game livestreaming site genstream.net will be launching a video game marathon in the truest sense, with  four teams going head to head in an actual race to get through several Mega Man series, including Mega Man 1-10, Mega Man X1-8, Mega Man Zero 1-4, and Mega Man Legends 1-2. Sorry, Mega Man Soccer.

Meanwhile, they'll also be raising money for Child's Play, so donate some money if you like what you see. You might even win a cool prize. 

The event begins today at 3PM PST/6PM EST, right here.