Of the many great lines in the classic 1985 film “The Breakfast Club,” my favorite has always been the knowing enticement delivered by Judd Nelson’s character, the delinquent John Bender: “Being bad feels pretty good, huh?”

It most certainly can, and that is why the Grand Theft Auto series is so successful, both commercially and artistically. In its ambition, fearlessness, style and production quality, it stands apart from every other game franchise.

All sorts of games are about visions of power, often accompanied by violence. But most titles are set far away from what most people would consider the real world: off in outer space, on a historical battlefield, in a mythical land of dragons and elves. A distant, fanciful realm both heightens a sense of fantasy and allows designers to avoid tough questions about social responsibility.

Most designers fear those questions. Rockstar Games, maker of Grand Theft Auto, does not. The company appears to recognize that it is not necessarily irresponsible to portray the real world’s underbelly. After all, Americans love gangsters and criminals in their entertainment. Americans even like to see the bad guys win once in a while.

Grand Theft Auto IV and its tale of the Balkan immigrant Niko Bellic were a revelation last year. This week, Rockstar is releasing the first additional episode for the title as a $19.99 download available only for the Xbox 360 via Microsoft’s Xbox Live Internet service (it is not available at retail stores).

Called “The Lost and Damned,” the new episode is set in the same dark, vibrant, often hilariously sarcastic version of the metropolitan New York area that provided the backdrop for, and was the most compelling element of, the original game. While dystopian, this vision is not nihilistic. Like the original, the new episode conveys a humor, wit, intelligence and sense of cultural satire that, although sophomoric at times, at least never takes itself too seriously.

“The Lost and Damned” suffers from a few curious and unfortunate design decisions — players often have less freedom than in the original — that will probably prompt most to return to the original game after completing the new episode’s main story. But there is no question that it is the most fully realized, thoroughly produced and substantial downloadable add-on yet released for a console game. Anyone who enjoys Grand Theft Auto IV should get it.

From a business perspective, 2009 may be shaping up as the year when downloads become a viable path to develop and release significant console games; if so, “The Lost and Damned” will be leading the way. (The new episode will probably become available for the PlayStation 3 and PCs once Rockstar’s exclusive deal with Microsoft expires, but it is unclear when that will happen.)

In “The Lost and Damned,” the player takes the role of one Johnny Klebitz, vice president of a New Jersey motorcycle gang called the Lost. Johnny has been running the gang ever since its president, Billy, went into a drug rehab program as part of a plea deal. As the episode begins, Billy is leaving the program and returning to what he considers his rightful place at the head of the pack. Naturally, Johnny and Billy have different ideas about how the gang should be run and how aggressively they should confront their archrivals, the Angels of Death.

The writing here is as streetwise and sassy as in the original game, but perhaps it is somewhat inevitable that the scope of Johnny’s story feels much smaller and less epic than Niko’s journey last year. Ultimately, this is the story of a small-time biker gang in New Jersey, little more.

In Grand Theft Auto IV, you could move into a penthouse if you liked. In “The Lost and Damned,” your only beds are some ratty mattresses in a couple of filthy, run-down buildings. In Grand Theft Auto IV you could choose the overall vibe of your lifestyle (what you drive, where you live). In “The Lost and Damned” there is no way to change the hard-core thrash metal coming from the radio in your disgusting kitchen.

That’s fine if you like hard-core thrash metal. But a vital part of the Grand Theft Auto experience has always been giving players free rein to define their own tastes and preferences. The new episode gets away from that a bit.

In terms of the actual mechanics of driving and shooting, it’s significantly easier than Grand Theft Auto IV. It often requires you to drive a motorcycle (another contrast with the original game, in which players usually could choose from a range of vehicles), and the bikes’ handling is significantly more forgiving than in the original game. So while “The Lost and Damned” includes about a third as many missions as the original, it takes significantly less than a third as long to complete. I got through the main story in about 8.5 hours (and then spent about the same amount of time exploring and completing optional shootouts and races).

For $19.99, that is a great value. Despite its occasional stumbles, “The Lost and Damned” sets a new standard for what a downloadable console add-on can achieve. Being bad still feels pretty good.

• Flood is a very tight map that’s made extra snug when the environmental hazard of Imulsion begins creeping up around the edges. As the playing field closes in, the firefight will intensify as combat is forced to the center of the map. Teams skilled at flanking their opponents will have a powerful edge.

• Gold Rush takes place in an old Imulsion refinery that now serves as a hotly contested battleground. Players must survive heavy crossfire as they infiltrate the factory and navigate multiple tiers. Breakable glass allows for a clean shot at those who make a dash for the Longshot rifle while bolder players make their run for the heavy weapon. In the right hands, the Mortar can be devastating on this map, so keep those smoke grenades armed as the concussive effect comes in very handy.

• Fuel Station is situated in a desolate area marked by an abandoned fossil fuel station. The team that secures and controls the station is likely to be the side that wins the match. An especially strategic location on this map is the rooftop, as there are only two points of entry – the main elevator and a staircase on the back side of the building. Heavy weaponry is situated right in front, which presents a high risk to reward ratio in this level. Lugging the Mulcher around, deploying it and revving it up can keep an entire team at bay, and unleashing hell from the rooftops is always an excellent tactic.

All of the multiplayer maps in the Combustible Map Pack are playable in the highly popular, five player co-op Horde mode.

The aforementioned new mission will be set in the Jedi Temple, former center of the vanquished order’s power, on the city-world Coruscant. Playing as Darth Vader’s understudy, players will explore the ruins for clues to his origins in general–and his father in particular. The download will also include nine new character skins, letting gamers play through the single-player campaign as a variety of Star Wars staples ranging from purple-lightsaber-wielding Mace Windu to the sinister Darth Maul.

Gamers can pick up the lot for $10 (800 Microsoft points). Alternatively, the new costume set is available alongside the previously released costume pack for $5 (400 Microsoft points).

Square Enix recently set up a development studio in Los Angeles. Capcom is “actively pursuing friendly acquisitions and partnerships” with foreign outfits, and developing games like Dead Rising and Lost Planet with a more Western audience in mind. And today Namco Bandai established Surge, a new publishing label “dedicated to providing cutting-edge, genre-defining games that are targeted at satiating the appetite of western gamers.” Surge will produce games across a variety of genres and platforms.

The first game to carry the Surge label will be Afro Samurai, scheduled for release on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 January 27. Based on the animated series of the same name, Afro Samurai features the voice of Samuel L. Jackson and a hip-hop-influenced soundtrack composed by The RZA.

The thirteen songs come from the “Rock Band Edition” of the band’s compilation album, The Singles 1992-2003. How’s does the “Rock Band Edition” of The Singles differ from the normal album? Well, it’s missing two songs: “New” and “Trapped in a Box.” Also, you can play it with plastic instruments. Other than that, same album. You can buy the entire bundle for 1600 Microsoft Points ($20) or scoop up individual tracks for 160 MS Points ($2).

Here’s the track list:

1. “Just a Girl”
2. “It’s My Life”
3. “Hey Baby”
4. “Bathwater”
5. “Sunday Morning”
6. “Hella Good”
7. “Underneath It All”
8. “Excuse Me Mr.”
9. “Running”
10. “Spiderwebs”
11. “Simple Kind of Life”
12. “Don’t Speak”
13. “Ex-Girlfriend”

Today, Activision laid out Guitar Hero World Tour’s DLC lineup for the month of December, injecting the game with a number of new songs from legendary rockers. Leading the show on December 4, The Smashing Pumpkins will reprise their on-disc performance of “Today” with “G.L.O.W.” from their new album, as well as “1979″ and “The Everlasting Gaze.”

Nirvana will follow the Pumpkins on December 11 with its own three-song pack. The Nirvana Track Pack will include “You Know You’re Right,” “Negative Creep,” and “Sliver,” complementing the group’s on-disc track “About a Girl.” The Eagles will also return to World Tour with a trio of downloadable tunes, adding “Frail Grasp on the Big Picture,” “One of These Nights,” and “Life in the Fast Lane” to the main game’s “Hotel California.”

The Reggae Rock Track Pack will round out Activision’s offerings when it’s released on December 23. The pack includes three songs: Slightly Stoopid with “Jimi,” Pepper’s “Your Face,” and Expendables’ “Sacrifice.”

The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, and Eagles tunes will be available coupled together on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for $5.49 (440 Microsoft points), or each song can be downloaded individually for $1.99 (160 Microsoft points). Wii gamers can pick up the songs individually for 200 Wii points ($2). The Reggae Rock Track tunes will be available as a free download on all three systems. (Each song must be picked up individually on the Wii.)

“I never do anything half way. My AXE controller is the closest thing you can have to being onstage in KISS. I created and designed the Gene Simmons AXE bass guitar and I can’t wait for the fans to experience it for themselves. The Gene Simmons AXE guitar is such a recognizable symbol – people have been asking for a gaming replica ever since Guitar Hero was first introduced.”

This fully equipped, axe-shaped guitar controller is a replica of the KISS bassist and vocalist’s signature bass guitar. The AXE controller is personally certified by the Rock God himself, Gene Simmons, to give players that Rock Star experience. The wireless AXE guitar controller is a three-quarter-sized replica of the original Gene Simmons AXE guitar and larger than the standard video game guitar controllers. Customized with a replicated paint finish of the original guitar, the Axe guitar controller features Gene Simmons autograph and his photo in make-up painted onto the body of the controller. Interactive Game Group Founder, Fred Chesnais commented:

“Gene Simmons is the Rock Lord and the Gene Simmons AXE bass guitar is an integral part of his signature look. Bringing this Axe controller to life was an incredible journey, and I am sure every player will enjoy it.”

The Axe Guitar is available for PS2, PS3 and Nintendo Wii, but no love for Xbox 360 players and will retail at $79.99.

We’ve had a lot of fun putting the Trophy challenges together, and we reckon that we’ve got a good selection for Blast Factor fans of all abilities. Watch out though, there are a couple that are going to be a challenge to even the most hardcore of Blast Factor players!

We’ve added 25 Trophies in total across the original game and the 2 expansion packs, with around 15 Trophies in Blast Factor: Basic Research and its 90+ levels, and 10 Trophies split between the Multiplayer expansion and Advanced Research with its addition of 80+ levels and Hybrid mode.

We’ve also added rumble support for the DualShock 3 Controller for that extra tactile goodness. All existing versions of Blast Factor will get automatically patched when you start the game, so you won’t even need to download the new version from the store.

And yes, this update is FREE! So if you own Blast Factor, and any of its expansions, all you need to do is fire it up! If you don’t have the game yet, you can get the base game for $9.99, or for $12.99 you can get a bundle including both add-ons!

Now, Atari has announced its official plans for the return of Ready 2 Rumble on the Wii. The game is entitled Ready 2 Rumble Revolution and it will feature a list of about 18 “wildly caricatured cartoony boxers” based on celebrities from movies, music, and sports.

As of gameplay, Revolution will make full use of the Wii control system, meaning it’s most likely going to play exactly like every other boxing game that’s been attempted on the Wii, like Wii Boxing.

The developer also promises more realization on elastic and particularly sharp AI. There was also some talk about a long list of game modes, like championship and etc., and the possibility to use of Mii Avatar in the game. There is no doubt that the first trailer should arrive shortly.

Following the fun and colourful path set by DRAGON QUEST: The Chapters of the Chosen™, the second instalment in the Zenithia Trilogy, DRAGON QUEST: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride now journeys onto the Nintendo DS as a high quality remake of the classic DRAGON QUEST V, packed with exciting new features and a truly genre defining story.

Considered to be one of the best games in the entire DRAGON QUEST series; DRAGON QUEST: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride will finally make its much awaited debut in Europe. Look out for the next adventure in the trilogy – DRAGON QUEST: Realms of Reverie™ – coming to Nintendo DS soon.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “With this new entry in the DRAGON QUEST series, we hope game players of all ages will enjoy the DRAGON QUEST experience, following our hero through a lifetime of limitless adventures and great surprises.”