Despite their ongoing efforts to flog various branches of their company in a bid to remain solvent, it isn't all gloom for at this year's E3. A new Earthworm Jim title is on the cards, and Atari are reportedly planning a debut on "next-generation handheld and systems." What's an online system, anyway?

Earthworm Jim was a firm favourite among console gamers back in the day, and it was partly our wiggling friend's efforts that helped catapult designer Dave Perry and his studio Shiny Entertainment to fame. Colourful platforming with a sense of humour was the dish of the day then, and presumably this remains the case as the earth muncher returns to the spotlight.

Favourite characters like the wicked Queen from the original games will return, and retro-style side-scrolling will be the order of the day, within a bizarre 'challenging' world, complete with lovely cartoon visuals. Despite being a side-scroller, Earthworm Jim should also benefit from some environments not to mention open-plan levels and devilish puzzles. Naturally, Jim's picked up a few more moves since his last outing... and a mode is also on the cards. More as we get it.

By Luke Guttridge