If you're looking for an excuse to get an Xbox Core Arcade Bundle (second console perhaps? I dunno), Amazon would like to provide one: You get Lego Batman for free. Or, put another way, if you consider it a $199 purchase of Lego Batman, they throw in the console for free. It's a big family-game promo that we antifamily, antisocial types can still take advantage of.

This is in addition to a slate of other price cuts the online retailer introduced this month, including discounts on yearlong Xbox Live subs, Xbox Live points, and extra controllers.

Xbox 360 Family Game of the Month [Amazon, via PunchJump]

Anthony from Economical Gamer has shared his always awesome insights into the state of Force Unleashed pricing around Australia. And for the power gamers, there's even a chance you could come away from some deals with more value than you'd ever expect from the Australian retail market. Quoth Anthony in his message to Kotaku AU:

There are two points of notice. Firstly, you can actually trade the game in at EB Games before the 24th at a value greater than you can buy it at Big W, Kmart and JB Hi-Fi. Great opportunity for power gamers. GAME also have a trade in deal for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and DS versions where you can trade in 3 games of the same platform and get Force Unleashed free.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed [Economical Gamer]

In the market for a second-hand game? Anthony from EcoGamer sends word that JB Hi-Fi has done some price tweaking on its range of preowned titles. Here's a teaser:

- Assassin's Creed $34
- Devil May Cry 360 $39, PS3 $49
- COD4 $49
- Viva Pinata $14
- Haze PS3 $34
- Lair $34

The rest, over at EcoGamer.

JB Hi-Fi Preowned Price List [EcoGamer]

EcoGamer's Anthony has once again sent us a great tip for those looking to pick up Soul Calibur IV on the cheap. We've previously posted prices for a bunch of popular stores, but if you're willing to do a bit of leg work, you can shave $50 off the RRP.

I could paraphrase Anthony's tip, but bless him, he's done an excellent job of summing up the details:

If anyone missed out or thought SCIV was too expensive, using a combination of deals you can pick it up for just $49.90. Even less with an EB Games EDGE card (10% discount).

EB Games started their 'Buy 2 preowned games' sale this week, and you can pick up Gears of War, Fight Night Round 3 and Bomberman: Act Zero which are currently not on JB Hi-Fi's trade in exclusion list. Then simply walk into JB Hi-Fi and trade in all three to get Soul Calibur 4. This is also a good opportunity to get Ninja Gaiden 2, DBZ Bust Limit and GRID amongst others for $50. These trade in deals end on the 10th and it is not known yet which ones will be carried into the next catalogue.

Soul Calibur IV is due out tomorrow (if it hasn't already made its way to shelves on the sly), and if the idea of paying $100+ for this gorgeous fighting title makes you want to cry or throw pieces of chair at your dad, Ecogamer recommends you drop into K-mart or JB Hi-Fi. Both stores have the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game, with the former platform going for $79 and the latter $89.

If you're of the trade-in persuasion, I'd suggest hitting the jump. I don't know about you, but I don't want to pay top-dollar for bouncing 3D norks jubblies chesticles breasts. Damn.

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EA's release of the Spore Creature Creator was an odd one; the publisher made the program available to most of the world... except Australia. When asked why this was the case, we were told to brace ourselves for an exciting announcement. It was eventually discovered that Australians could indeed buy the program, as long as they were willing to go to the NZ EA Store.

Now, I hope this isn't the exciting announcement EA was talking about, but it appears readers of the Saturday Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun will be able to get their hands on the full version of the Spore Creature Creator on August 2. It will be free with the former, while the latter will "give it way" for $2 and a coupon.

That's all we know for now. You can check out the offers yourself using the links below (thanks Parabol).

Get your free video game [The Daily Telegraph]
Spore [Herald Sun]

Battlefield 2142 for $10? It sounds crazy, but that's how much it's going for in Dick Smith's massive sale. If this wasn't reason enough to grab your wallet, pack some sandwiches and head down to your local DSE, the retailer had many other quality titles discounted by 50% or more.

However, according to EcoGamer, DSE has been less than consistent with its pricing:

At the same time as pleasing many bargain hunters I believe Dick Smith has also angered a lot of gamers by not keeping their prices consistent during the sale period. I believe it's the first time a store has changed prices on their games on a daily basis in several instances. Take Conan for example, it was just $25 at one point but then suddenly jumped to $50 shortly after, and now rests at $70.

Even with the discount confusion, I'm sure plenty of gamers got their fill of great games at even better prices.

Great bargains or great disaster? [EcoGamer, thanks Fredi]

While the insanely cheap Halo 3 Xbox 360 pricing at Dick Smith may have been hit and miss, the retailer's game sale is not. If you're in the mood for some first-person sword and sorcery, the store is selling Ubisoft's Dark Messiah of Might and Magic for a paltry $5, Lego Star Wars on 360 for $10 and The Darkness on PS3 for $24.

There are quite a few discounted games available - you can find the full list, taken from EcoGamer, after the jump.

Massive Dick Smith Sale Is Updated [EcoGamer, thanks Anthony]

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Update: The product page has been taken down; it looks like someone at Dick Smith may have made a boo-boo. EcoGamer recommends you give your local store a ring to see if it is willing to sell the console at the reduced price.

Madness. Utter, utter madness. Anthony at EcoGamer sends word that Dick Smith Electronics is currently selling its stock of Halo Edition 360s for the stupid price of $264.50. These are Pro units, with a good chance of having the cooler Falcon chipset.

This news comes hot on the cheap-arse heels of Big W's discount Xbox 360 Arcades. I don't know if it's the retailers or Microsoft that's flipped their lids, but someone has clearly gone nuts with the "on-sale" stickers.

If you don't already own a 360, you might want to grab one. I doubt you'll see prices like this again soon.

Halo Xbox 360 $US 264.50 [EcoGamer, thanks Anthony]