Microsoft, via the Windows Phone Blog, has announced the launch of the Red Stripe Deals Collection, offering weekly discounts on selected apps and games in the Windows Phone Store. It's a neat use of store's under utilised, human-curated, collections feature of the Windows Phone Store, which can be accessed via the desktop website, or via the Store app on any Windows Phone device.

For the first week there are deals on Runtastic PRO (£0.79), Assassin’s Creed: Altairs Chronicles HD (£0.79), and King Oddball (£0.79). The first is a personal fitness trainer that tracks your exercise activities, the second is a RPG adventure/combat classic, and the third is a rock-flinging game with a style that is reminiscent of Angry Birds.

Here's how the Windows Phone blog describes the weekly deals:

Each week the Store’s Red Strip Deals Collection will feature three popular apps and games—typically one Xbox game, one indie game, and one top-rated app—for at least 50% off the original price. (In case you’re wondering, the collection name derives from the red stripe you’ll see around each discounted app’s icon in the phone Store).

Here's what we said about King Oddball when it launched earlier this year:

But it's really the slightly off-the-wall humour and slightly eccentric art work that provides the initial hook to get you playing the game. Once you do, you'll find many of the game mechanics will be familiar, but that's not really a bad thing, rather it makes for a gentle learning curve and easy game play, making the game accessible to all.

King Oddball, which is available for multiple platforms, has more than 120 levels, extra secret levels, 15 achievements to unlock, and original music by Jonathan Geer. It's clear a lot of love an attention has gone into creating the game, but you do wonder a little about the sanity of the developers... the concept is a more than little barmy. Still, that really only adds to the addictive game play, fun graphics and distinctive audio. A lot of games are going to enjoy a title like this, and if you're a fan of the action-puzzle genre then it's definitely a recommended download.

We haven't reviewed  Runtastic PRO or Assassin’s Creed: Altairs Chronicles HD, but both are well worth downloading, especially given the price cut.