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There may be better games than Drop 7 in the iPhone's App Store, but I haven't found them. This ridiculously simple game is, hands down, the most addictive puzzle game I've played since Puzzle Fighter. The concept is simple: You drop discs with numbers on them, and when the number of adjoining discs matches the number on any or all discs within that grouping, those discs explode and drop down anything above them.

Why is it always so hard to describe exactly how a puzzle game works, even when it's the simplest thing in the world?

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And The Geekbox train keeps rolling. As you maybe saw last night, these geeks are one part of a partnership with us to help deliver you anything gaming and geek you could want in podcast form. Exciting, no? This crew -- led by former 1UP/Computer Gaming World editor and current GameSpy editor Ryan Scott -- fleshes out the rest of geek culture, including comics, TV, and movies in addition to games. OK, on with the show.

The Geekbox RAW EDITION — Episode 17 (2009-05-27)
Wherein we discuss the terrible Terminator Salvation, our building excitement for Burn Notice, next week’s E3 Expo, Plants vs. Zombies (and why Ryan can’t stop playing it), Oregon Trail on the iPhone, swine flu, and the latest Fitch Hitch update. Another raw edition, by popular demand! Starring Ryan Scott, Karen Chu, Andrew Fitch, Greg Ford, and Ryan Higgins.
Running Time: 1h 13m 54s

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The rumored fat-reduced PS3 is likely real, but when it's getting announced is still in question. If it doesn't happen at next week's E3 trade show, we at least hope it'll get unveiled on an inspirational weight-loss infomercial.

News Blips:

• Slimmer PS3 is apparently real, but too embarrassed to reveal itself at E3. A talking mole (wait, moles can talk?) is telling news site Ars Technica that the trimmed-down PS3 we've been talking about for a while now is indeed real, but will not be revealed until later this summer so all the porky PS3s still on the shelf can get sold to uninformed consumers of fat retail products. Microsoft, in response, plans to inject the 360 with steroids to make it look even more goddamn powerful. [Ars Technica]

• Castlevania movie stupidly decides to eat at an Italian restaurant, dies. Well, this is sad: The live-action Castlevania flick that was to be helmed by Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson has apparently been canceled. Which is non-pun talk for taking a stake to heart, getting a nail in its coffin, or accidentally mixing up holy water for the regular stuff at the gymbo. Hate when that happens. [Kotaku]

• UFC fighter submits UFC game via hair-strangulation. The wild locks of UFC fighter Clay 'The Carpenter' Guida have apparently kept him out of the recently released UFC 2009 Undisputed because his feisty follicles broke the game. And, well, considering putting big hair in a videogame obviously cannot be done, developer Yuke's simply opted to cut him out. Makes sense. Damn hippy should cut his hair anyway. [GameSetWatch]

• Immerse yourself in a BioShock book, tree-hater. Sci-fi book publiser Tor (responsible for the gripping Halo novels) announced it will be crafting a story based on the popular BioShock series. We can't wait until it comes out on the new Amazon Kindle. [Gamasutra]

Hit the jump for some video blips, including a not-real-gameplay trailer for The Agency, robots fighting (again), Christian Bale pimping Pac-Man cereal, and...more.

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Our old 1UP pals The Geekbox and Rebel FM are joining forces with our own Mobcast (via Hammersuit). It's like the Voltron of podcasting...if Voltron were robot-melded with Soundwave. Yes, it's that mind blowing.

You can find new episodes of all these shows (plus several more) on our Podcasts page. Press release below:

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Editor's Note: Had enough Muscle March yet? If yes, keep reading anyway -- Kris is using the bodybuilders-in-hot-pursuit game as a jumping-off point for something bigger. And if Kris's name seems familiar, you may have seen his work on 1UP and GreenPixels. -Demian

As the screaming maniac Marcus Wright from Terminator Salvation recently taught us, the difference between man and machine is the power of the human heart.

OK, there are a few other differences between man and machine, like man can't make photocopies and machines can't ride unicycles while juggling (yet?), but the heart is probably the most important. Because while a day may come when every baseball team has been replaced by soulless mechano overlords, we can find comfort in knowing machines will need to keep us alive for at least one reason: No artificial intelligence could ever be human enough to think of something as blisteringly deranged as Muscle March.

How does this game play? Is it even fun? I don't know, and I don't care. Watching YouTube videos of this lunacy is reason enough for it to exist. There's a lot about the human species that makes me less than a fan (see: callous destruction of the environment, insatiable greed, macaroni and cheese pizza), but when something like Muscle March comes around, it warms my heart. Show me the man whose mind was damaged enough to create a game where bodybuilders strike the correct poses to fit through holes busted in walls by other bodybuilders, and I will show you the cockeyed genius that makes humanity the great miracle of known creation.

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Bayonetta Director Hideki Kamiya is all about stylish action. Not only is he responsible for the fast and flashy Devil May Cry series, but he's also working on a game starring a gun-toting witch who sports pistols on shoes -- fierce! Yeah, it's obvious he can make ass-kickings look fabulous, but will he look pretty after we hit him up with our five random questions? Let's find out.

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While most game industry people were tweeting about getting ready for E3, being ready for E3, or general excitement regarding E3, a few took the time to talk about something else (click 'Read more' to see them all):

Fez designer Phil Fish says what we're all thinking about the name of the latest PixelJunk game.

Dead Space Art Director Ian Milham acts like his cube isn't normally adorned with male blow-up dolls.

EatSleepPlay's David Jaffe puts out a call for change to the emoticon world. Current emoticon technology does not meet his needs. :/

Ubisoft's Clint Hocking kicks back, debugs game with his mind on Memorial Day.

Microsoft's Major Nelson updates his 36,869 followers on late-breaking lunch plan developments.

Ex-EGM editor and current Games Producer for Adult Swim Chris Johnston unleashes the beast on Prince of Persia.

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But now, with a newly refurbished laptop with some actual power, I decided to get back into PC gaming.

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We're still getting used to this transition from being at a big, established media outlet (EGM, 1UP) to working in new-kid-on-the-block, start-up territory. For example, we won't be in consideration for any cover-story-worthy exclusives anytime soon. Game Informer, GamePro, PC Gamer, and the official magazines from Future will be taking care of those just fine.

We still seem to be on most party lists, however. And even though we're not a part of this (and despite our livers' opposing votes), we're ready to make the call now for "Best E3 Party Invite" (winner: Access Communications, PR firm for Sega, Disney Interactive Studios, and 2K):

Details blacked out, of course, because not everyone with a web browser was invited, sorry.

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Yeah, we know -- this Kojima Productions teaser business is getting a little ridiculous. Don't worry -- this will all be over next week. Or will it? Oh, god...

News Blips:

• Yawn: Kojma Productions teaser still teasing. Yep, that damn cryptic site from the Metal Gear makers is still displaying random crap for you to ponder over. Today, however, it showed off something very interesting: the face of Solid Snake's pops Big Boss. Oh my god! What does this mean? Here, let us tell you: It obviously means the new game will feature bosses who are big. Duh! Do we have to figure out everything out for you? Answer: yes. [1UP]

• High Voltage stick yet another game in Wii socket; parents concerned for their safety/intelligence. Yesterday, we told you The Conduit developers are making the bloody, Roman-inspired fighter Gladiator A.D. for the Wii. Well, today they announced another Wii game, this one being a 4-player online co-op shooter entitled The Grinder. In the game, you fight hordes and hordes of undead things. Not zombies, though! Oh, no. Instead, you'll be taking a right turn and blowing the brains out of vampires and werewolves. Hmm, wonder why they didn't just call it "Right 4 Dead." [IGN]

• Oh, snap: African photo-shooting simulator finally showing up in America. The long-forgotten PS3 safari photography game Afrika is coming to the States thanks to niche publisher Natsume. Hopefully the elephants will clean up their mess before we breakout our fancy dancy telephoto lens. [IGN via 1UP]

• Disney Interactive scratch booty, out comes Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned. Propaganda games, the folks behind the recent Turok reboot, are developing a new action role-playing game based on the Pirates of the Caribbean flicks. We hope this game has good ARRmor! Seriously, that wasn't an ARRbitrary pirate joke. Uh, and neither was that one. Ahem. [IGN]

Hit the jump for some video blips, including a revealing Dark Void trailer, nightmare-inducing Super Mario figures, a retro 360 controller mod, and...more.

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A few thoughts on E3, Rockstar's latest, and Punch-Out!! as I browse Bitmob while prepping a bigger story for tomorrow:

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Our latest crop of stuff-you-shouldn't-miss by Bitmob members includes more arcade memories, a made-up interview with Funky Kong, and a wrap up of FanimeCon 2009, AKA Any Excuse to Show Cleavage 2009 (hit 'Read more' below for the full line-up).

Keep Your Head Up -- The Weird and Wonderful UmJammer Lammy
Benjamin Torrey takes a look back at one of the first music games, UmJammer Lammy. Along with a relentlessly surreal story, UmJammer Lammy also gave players more creative control over the actual music making than current kings of the genre, Rockband and Guitar Hero.

Arcades: A Youth Well Wasted
Arcade nostalgia runs deep and true for many Bitmob writers. Lee Bradley recounts his formative arcade years in A Youth Well Wasted, as does Brett Bates in Coin-Operated Memories. Meanwhile, Eric R. Cummings isn't going gently into that smoke-filled and dimly-lit goodnight; he's keeping the dream alive with an upcoming trip to Funspot XI. Possible Donkey Kong kill screen coming up!

Bitmob Community Podcast Update
The planning continues, spearheaded by Derek Lavigne, Trevor Hinkle, and Brett Bates -- now's the time to contribute ideas and segments!

Behind the Videogames: Funky Kong
Andrew Hiscock's satirical interview with Funky Kong has some good moments ("...in focus tests, children found him to be obnoxious, trying too hard, and simply too Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle"), but maybe spends a little too much time dwelling on Funky's supposed lifestyle choices....

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