Round-Up: DOA4 Delayed, Bach Joins Board, Thompson Threatened

Today's wrap-up includes news of another delay for Tecmo's Dead Or Alive 4, board appointment for Microsoft's Robbie Bach, and an arrest related to the harassment of anti-game lawyer Jack Thompson, as well as the latest product news, GameSetWatch posts, and Gamasutra job postings. - Xbox 360 flagship fighting game title Dead or Alive 4 has received yet another incremental delay. Tecmo of Japan has pushed the Japanese release date back to December 29th, and U.S. retailers are now listing the game as shipping on December 22nd. The game was originally meant to be a launch title alongside the December 10th release of the Xbox 360 in Japan, but was then pushed back to December 17th. Currently, DOA4 stands as the sole December release for the Xbox 360 in America, but if further delays crop up, the system may go for a month with no new games. - Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division and overseer of the Xbox, has joined the Board of Governors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America along with John Bell, senior VP of human resources for Verizon. The two will contribute to the organization's direction, including financial oversight and accountability. "I am honored to join a group of people who share a passion and dedication to helping today's young people succeed in such an increasingly complex world," said Bach. "After years of serving in various local volunteer capacities, I've seen proof that our Clubs are changing and improving the lives of America's young people." - Anti-gaming attorney Jack Thompson has stated that a 16-year-old student in Texas was arrested on charges of harassing communication, based on threats Thompson says he received from the boy. Thompson claims that he caught the threatening conversation on tape from his Florida offices, and that it was part of a larger campaign of intimidation by the video game industry. "'Shoot the messenger' is the video game industry's strategy," said Thompson in a letter addressed to several media outlets, video game industry personnel, and politicians. "This time, because of the arrest in Texas, it didn't work. It backfired." - Over at Gamasutra's newly launched sister game weblog GameSetWatch, new posts have been added, including photos of a massive game magazine collection, info on the resurrection of a King's Quest fan project, and an overview of the Albatross18 golf MMO, among others. - Also updated today: product news, including the release of the Luxinia hobbyist game engine, plus today's Gamasutra job postings from companies including Big Fish Games, Blue Fang Games, Blue Fang Games, and Gas Powered Games.