One of my very favorite Metroidvanias is going to be getting a breath of fresh air soon on the PC. I am, of course, talking about Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet which I reviewed when it became available last year and quite enjoyed. Unfortunately, it didn’t end up doing as well as I would have thought on XBLA, which is why a PC version is so exciting!

Here’s something we missed by not visiting Major Nelson’s site in recent days. Apparently he’s gone ahead and put the best selling Xbox Live Indie Games and Xbox Live Arcade games of 2011 on his blog, along with other things that we’re not quite as interested in, being an indie games blog and all.

James Silva recently sat down with Joystiq to discuss a myriad of various topics about his studio, the games he has crafted, and where he plans to head next. It’s a really great article that I suggest you read the whole way through. That said, I’ll try and summarize here as best as possible.

Well this is quite interesting indeed! Not a few days after PEGI rated Fez for release in Europe, we stumble across Spelunky as being rated as well! The game, which is a more graphically enhanced version of Derek Yu’s PC Spelunky (along with other features I believe) has been in development for what has seemed like ages so, now that it has been rated, we should surely rejoice in the fact that it will be released soon, as with Fez, right?

Wow, I honestly thought I would never be writing about a game classification here on DIYGamer. I mean, it’s just not something we typically have to do with indie games. Fez, however, is different and the fact that it’s been rated by somebody is actually pretty huge.

Not to be left in Steam’s dust, Microsoft is launching their own holiday sale. It’s not as ambitious, but for Xbox 360 gamers, it’s just about all your going to get. Not to say that it’s bad either, in fact today’s game, Bastion, is available right now for 50% off it’s original price. That’s quite the steal if you’re into action RPGs.

Yesterday, Xbox 360 gamers were treated to one of the best PSN indie games released: Joe Danger. For those of you who remember the “good ol’ days” of gaming this newly minted XBLA version should remind you of the time honored classic: ExciteBike, only with more stunts and danger because it’s 2011 not 1984.

Well here’s some good news for everybody, or rather everybody who has bought and enjoyed indie action RPG Bastion. It looks like the developers have gone ahead and created some DLC for the game called Stranger’s Dream. With the best part being that it’s free! Or as cheap as they could make it on XBLA… damn Microsoft.

God news for those of you who are fans of both the IGF and Microsoft’s XBLA downloadable channel as the pair seem to have partnered up on the upcoming IGF awards for the next few years. Apparently, a winner will be picked from the 2012 IGF entrants from either the Main Competition or Student Showcase and announced on stage at GDC 2012.

The guys from Vblank Entertainment uploaded a new trailer to their Vimeo account a few days ago this time showing off a new playable “character” Biffman! Thriftopolis City’s very own super hero. I mean, every major city needs a super hero right?

The trailer shows off all the hilariously retro chaos we’ve come to expect out of Retro City Rampage only this time it’s from the perspective of a super hero. Naturally this means you get you’re very own specialized car, the Biffmobile, the ability to throw Biffarangs (awesome!) and even a Biffcave to play in!