Usually publishers schedule their game releases before the holidays, you know, because people have this strange tendency to buy more stuff than they normally would during that time. THQ, on the other hand, released Darksiders after the holidays. The game launched earlier this week, and according to THQ, it's actually benefiting from post-Holiday release timing. How exactly does that work? THQ Executive Vice President Danny Bilson explained the reasoning to Industry Gamers.

"To successfully launch new IP, you first need to start with a great game, you need to market it well and you need to launch the game in the best window possible," explained Bilson. "Our marketing campaign was substantial for Darksiders and included a comprehensive PR campaign, online and TV ad campaigns, and special pre-order promotions.  Our community site for Darksiders generated tremendous traffic and we launched two Facebook apps to generate awareness for the game.  We are continuing to market the game online and our TV campaign is kicking into full gear now.

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Today is the final day for Steam's Holiday sale, so if you haven't capitalized on the great deals, now's the time. Coincidentally (or not), today's batch of deals happen to be very similar to those we saw on the first day of the sale.

• Defense Grid: The Awakening - $2.49 (75% off)
• Left 4 Dead 2 - $33.49 (33% off)
• Torchlight - $4.99 (75% off)
• Killing Floor - $4.99 (75% off)
• BioShock - $4.99 (75% off)
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl - $2.00 (90% off)
• Grand Theft Auto IV - $7.49 (75% off)

The end is in sight. The Steam Holiday sale is finally almost over, tomorrow being the final day. Here's the list of deals for today:

• Trine - $4.99 (75% off)
• Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 - $10.19 (66% 0ff)
• Painkiller - $8.74 (75% off)
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Game of the Year Edition - $4.99 (75% off)
• Counter-Strike: Source - $4.99 (75% off)

Yet another day of Steam deals today. If you've managed to not spend any money on the Steam sale this past week, today might do you in.

• Portal - $4.99 (75% off)
• Mass Effect - $4.99 (75% off)
• RedLynx Trials 2: Second Edition - $2.49 (75% off)
• Sam & Max Complete - $14.99 (75% off)
• Devil May Cry 4 - $22.49 (25% off)
• Doom Pack Complete - $13.59 (66% off)

The Steam Holiday sale trudges on today. I'll keep it short this time and post the bundle of sweet deals below:

• Medieval II: Total War - $4.99 (75% off)
• Multiwinia + Darwinia - $2.99 (80% off)
• Street Fighter IV - $9.99 (75% off)
• Shattered Horizon - $4.99 (75% off)
• Crysis Maximum Edition - $13.59 (66% off)
• Half-Life Source -  $2.49 (75% off)

Edging out Assassin's Creed II, FIFA 10 and Wii Sports Resort for the Holiday week in the UK is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. For the seventh consecutive week, Modern Warfare 2 has been the highest-selling game in the country. FIFA 10 is a sure contender, however, as it fell just 2,000 copies shy of Infinity Ward's FPS last week after it experienced an 18% jump in sales.

How long can MW2 hold on? Of course, part of the reason it's held on for so long is because there haven't been any big titles recently. With Mass Effect 2 right around the corner, it probably won't hold out much longer.

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Today's Xbox Live deal is pretty swank. Normally 1,200 MS Points or $15.00, you can pick up the excellent sidescroller Castle Crashers for a mere 560 MS Points, which equates to $7.00 in greenbacks.

Castle Crashers is an awesome beat-em-up game, so I urge you to check this one out.

The Steam Holiday Sale has been going on for the better part of a week now, and there have been some pretty sweet deals. Yesterday, Prey actually sold out and BioShock was put in its place for $4.99. Today marks another batch of new deals. This time, it's Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor 75% off, Mr. Robot 80% off, Stormrise 75% off, Silent Hill Homecoming 75% off, Jade Empire 75% off, and King Arthur - The Role-playing Wargame 50% off.

Now, go forth any buy crap you won't play!

Video games are at the top of most kid's lists during the Holidays, and online services like Xbox Live usually experience a big boost in users around that time. Forza Motorsport 3 saw a big spike in its user base. The game's developer, Turn 10, took time to thank its users on their Twitter, saying, "Merry Christmas Forza faithfuls! We saw a huge jump in users this week and over the past day or so, we added approx 1 new user per second!"

Released back in October, Forza 3 is an excellent racer, and of course the game is deserving. Check out our review for it!

[via Examiner]

Maybe Christmas isn't over after all. Telltale Games is offering a generous 25% off all orders this week and this week only, asking gamers to clean their store. Shipping is free on orders over $25. Maybe it's time to pick up a copy of Tales of Monkey Island? Head on over to their online store and do ye olde plundering!