Revered, rock hard indie platformer VVVVVV is on its way to the 3DS eShop, publisher Nicalis has announced.

The handheld version of the PC original (trailered below) adds 3D visuals, six unique levels and a level map on the 3DS's bottom screen. Future content updates are also promised.

The game is due for release in late 2011, with no price set as of yet.

Originally released back in 2010 on the PC, Terry Cavanagh's retro-fabulous jumper picked up a glowing 8/10 endorsement from Eurogamer's Oli Welsh. Peruse his VVVVVV review for details.

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Has Xbox Live Arcade really peaked, as World of Goo creator Ron Carmel yesterday argued? No, analysts have told Eurogamer.

"But Microsoft should take a look at Ron Carmel's piece," declared Billy Pidgeon of M2 Research, "which eloquently makes the case (and backs it up with data) that XBLA has peaked for a specific group of independent developers who are responsible for high quality games that outsell the average XBLA game.

"Sony is acquiring more unique content for PSN, and in many cases it's exclusive content, which will cost Sony more but will clearly differentiate their online games store from XBLA and other competition."

"In terms of digital games delivered through a home console, Microsoft will continue to be the market leaders," stated Jesse Divnich of EEDAR.

"I am not disagreeing with Mr. Carmel, I believe some of his points are valid and any digital service provider has its own restrictions and hurdles. Not every game is the right fit for every service.

"We certainly are seeing some fracturing among developers, and Xbox Live and PSN are no longer the only option for game distribution."

"That doesn't sound right to me," said Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan, responding to Carmel's claim. "If anything, there are more titles than ever, but we haven't had a Braid or Limbo so far this year.

"As the 360 price comes down and the installed base continues to grow, there should be a significantly larger addressable market for XBLA games, so I think it continues to grow."

Ron Carmel surveyed 200 independent developers. His results, which he admitted weren't sacrosanct, showed dwindling support for Xbox Live Arcade. Part of this is due to laborious XBLA constraints. The other part can be attributed to the rise of PC, Mac, iOS and Android gaming. Billy Pidgeon said that "viable alternative marketplaces" are "good news for developers and gamers both". Whereas Xbox Live Arcade and PSN are "predictable", he said, other markets can be "risky".

World of Goo developer 2D Boy believes Xbox Live Arcade "peaked" last year (2010) and that "Microsoft is not yet aware of this".

Studio co-founder Ron Carmel surveyed 200 independent game makers, some of which are responsible for significant - but undisclosed - XBLA titles.

He discovered that more developers want to make PSN games now than titles for XBLA. He also found PSN and XBLA seventh and eighth in a list of target platforms for 2011. The most popular was Windows, followed closely by Mac, iOS, Linux, Flash/browser and Android platforms.

Nearly three quarters of the developers surveyed said ease of working with a platform holder was paramount - followed by installed base and platform suitability.

When asked about specific platform holders, the majority deemed Steam, Facebook and Apple "very easy" to work with. Sony's PSN majority, like Google's Android, was "so-so". Most people found WiiWare "difficult", whereas Microsoft's XBLA was "excruciating".

"Given that ease of working with the platform owner was voted the most important factor in choice of platforms, it becomes perfectly clear why XBLA, despite being a very strong channel with a large audience and huge earning potential, is dropping in popularity among these developers," observed Carmel.

"But if things keep going the way they are, and XBLA keeps losing talented developers, I believe the diversity of games available on XBLA will diminish, quality will suffer, and revenue numbers will drop as players start to move away from an unremarkable portfolio of games. We will see a lot more 'genrefication' and big publisher franchises."

It's Wednesday, and that can only mean one thing: I'm back with yet another selection of the finest discount gaming offers to tempt your wallet with. Throughout the week you can keep your finger on the pulse of cut price gaming by checking SavyGamer.co.uk. Read on to find out what's cheap this week.

Here are this week's deals:

Batman: Arkham Asylum - £3.75

Cracking price for what I reckon is The Batman's finest hour in the field of games. Don't just take my word for it; Dan granted it a a highly sought after Eurogamer 9/10:

"Most of the gameplay concerns are minor when taken in the context of how much Arkham Asylum gets so gloriously right. Rarely does a game do a character justice in such a satisfying way. Arkham Asylum finds room for every major aspect of Batman's enduring appeal, and it does so in a game compelling enough to work even without its masked star. Fans of the caped crusader really shouldn't hesitate - this isn't just the best grown-up Batman game, it's the best superhero game, bar none."

The sequel is looking good too.

Video: It's pretty clear that Bruce Wayne would be a PC gamer.

Duke Nukem Forever, Xbox 360 - £14.13 delivered

This is the Asian version, but it is in English, and totally region free. You probably won't be able to trade it in, but it's a saving of nearly £6 compared to the next best price.

The only real problem is that it's not very good. Dan dissected it in detail in his scathing 3/10 review:

"In the end, you feel every year of Duke Nukem Forever's ridiculous, fractured development seeping out of each unsatisfying frame. With four studios sharing title space in the opening animation, and end credits which run for almost 10 minutes, the weight of so many false starts, dead ends and endlessly revised design documents proves too much. For all his muscle and bravado, Duke Nukem is actually a fragile creature. His legacy is based on a specific combination of time and technology and a mercurial element of fun that simply doesn't lend itself to repetition, especially after so long in limbo."

But maybe you want to see this car crash for yourself. This is certainly better than paying full price for it.

Star Wars: The Old Republic, PC - £27.29 delivered

EA is having a laugh with its price of £45 for this from Origin. The retail price represents a saving of 40% compared to buying it direct from EA, so if you are dead set on jumping into BioWare's Old Republic MMO on day one, I'd suggest getting your order in now.

John previewed this back in May:

"Once again, we've been treated to an awfully generous slice of this long-awaited online world. But inevitably, and with so much potential on show, we find ourselves asking the nagging question that lingers after every preview of The Old Republic. Where exactly is the long-term MMO in this most epic – and infamously costly – of MMOs?"

Where indeed. Stick with Eurogamer for the latest on The Old Republic, and you can always cancel your preorder if it looks naff.

Mount & Blade Complete, PC - £8.74

Here you get all three entries in the wonderful, but messy, Mount & Blade series.

Here's Tim on the latest entry, With Fire & Sword, which he scored at 6/10:

"The worst accusation I can hurl at With Fire & Sword is also the kindest compliment I can pay it. Despite the new setting, infernal weaponry and bespoke story quests, most of the time the game plays just like Warband or the original Mount & Blade. The majority of the bread-and-butter activities are nigh identical, as is the pace and pattern of play. Once the novelty of gunpowder has worn off, series veterans may find themselves wandering back to familiar pastures - or wondering whether one of the tastier Caravanserai offerings (some of which also supply musket action) wouldn't have provided as much pleasure."

Dan covered the first one here.

Deal of the week

Crayon Physics Deluxe, Cogs, VVVVVV, Hammerfight, And Yet It Moves, PC/Mac/Linux – Pay what you want

Video: That seems like a good thing.

It's the Humble Indie Bundle 3, and it's an excellent selection of some of the best games from the last few years.

John gave Crayon Physics Deluxe a loving 7/10 review, saying it was "well worth the USD 20". Cogs got an 8/10 from Kristan. Oli gave VVVVVV a solid 8/10 - and that was before it had mod tools, an updated engine, and bonus levels from Notch and others. Kristan reviewed the WiiWare version of And Yet It Moves here, but you're on your own for Hammerfight. Sorry.

All these games are DRM free, cross platform on PC, Mac and Linux, come with a code for activation on Steam and/or Desura, and all at the price of your choosing. It's a must have deal.

Also of note this week...

Hard Lines, iPhone/iPad – Free

Visit SavyGamer.co.uk for your gaming bargain needs throughout the week, and hassle me on Twitter if you ever want a particular game for cheap.

The third Humble Indie Bundle is available now, offering five cracking titles for PC and Mac: Crayon Physics Deluxe, Cogs, VVVVVV, Hammerfight, and And Yet It Moves.

The pack is worth around £30 in total but, as is standard HIB practice, you decide how much you pay. Your donation gets you DRM-free downloads that you can install on as many machines as you desire. All five games are Linux, Mac OS X and Windows compatible.

According to the official site, the average purchase currently comes in at a rather pitiful $4.38, though Minecraft man Notch is doing his bit, handing over $2000, while Braid creator Jonathon Blow has stumped up $2718.28.

Your money will be split between the developers, the Humble Bundle organisers and two charities: the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Child's Play Charity. You get to decide who gets what proportion of your donation.