Epic’s Cliff Bleszinski debuted the first cinematic trailer for Gears of War 3: Ashes to Ashes for the XBox 360 on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The title is tentatively slated to arrive on consoles around April 8, 2011.

To quote: “Gears 3 is packing all sorts of new hotness, including those recently leaked tentacle-having, mutating Lambent Locusts, (you might remember the ending of Gears 2, and a certain Brumak…).

In the new game there’s an even greater threat called The Lambent, and it’s these kind of crazy tenticle monsters that can mutate while you’re fighting them.

Double barrelled shotguns, a beard-wearing (apparently) Dom Santiago, female COG soldiers… it’s looking a treat. Such a dreary, ash-filled world Sera has become. We should get a even better look at the game during E3 in June.”

[Source]

Another interactive add-ons in the video gaming world!

Release Date: November 17, 2009
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii

* Four different modes built into the game include: Challenge, Speed, Trick, and Free Skate � in epic locations across the globe.
* Includes the Innovative ‘Ride’ board controller featuring motion sensing technology, smart sensors, a contoured base and a gritty surface to ensure a good grip.
* With no complicated control schemes to master, the game is designed to allow players to get on the board and start mastering the 100+ built in moves from the beginning.
* Eight player multiplayer and online play support lets you and your friends feel the thrill of skateboarding together.
* Multiple difficulty levels make the game a fun and challenging experience for people of all skill levels.

Experience the true thrill of skateboarding as never before through the revolutionary new skateboard controller in Tony Hawk: Ride. Bundled with the Ride game, the unique motion-sensitive board controller redefines the action-sports genre by translating your body motions into the game. No buttons, no thumbs, no analog sticks�just you on the board. For the first time in video game history, anyone can jump on a skateboard and feel the freedom, creativity, and accomplishment of skateboarding.

Fans of board sports will love the authentic experience of the board controller, while the intuitive nature of the board and multiple difficulty settings make it a fun and exciting experience for people of all ages and skill levels. The ease with which anyone can pick up and play this game and each player’s unique playing style make this a fun social game for friends and family to play together. So, are you ready to Ride?

All About the Board
Using full motion sensing technology, the intuitive skateboard controller allows players to physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks seen in the game. Closely resembling a “deck”–a board without wheels or trucks, which allow actual skateboards to maneuver their boards–the Ride controller is built around a combination of flat and rounded surfaces. Along the majority of the boards upper surface, as well as the middle center portion of its bottom, players will find flat, level surfaces that provide for players’ balance. This is countered by the rounded edges along the top at either ends, as well as the bottom outer edges. These allow for true to life trick performance mechanics which allows gamers can experience a full range of movement as they rotate, tilt and lift the board in a variety of ways to discover every trick in the game.

In addition, the Ride board comes with features designed to maximize ease and continuity of play. These include an upper surface texture similar to the grip tape used on real boards to help maintain player contact with and control of the board, and a full set of traditional navigational buttons that allow the player to interact with the game between levels and online when it is more convenient to do so.

Anyone Can Ride

Tony Hawk: Ride is designed to be fully accessible to everyone � from hardcore fans to players with no prior skateboarding experience. Moving away from the open-world game environment that recent releases in the franchise have embraced, Ride is instead built around a wide range of mini-challenges and events more concerned with riding than exploration. These cover every genre in modern skateboarding and aim to focus the player’s attention on developing their skills with the board. And this is easy to do with addictive and engrossing gameplay without complex button combinations or analog sticks that allow gamers to literally step on the board and play.

Exciting, Immersive and Social Game Play
Tony Hawk: Ride features a diverse set of trick, vert, and speed challenges that allow players at all levels to take on their friends and family as they compete with each other via “Hot Seat” game play. In addition, with robust multiplayer, online and create-a-skater modes, players can jump into a personalized and extremely social gaming experience.

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: ODST” is a new game in the “Halo” saga that lets people experience events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3” through the eyes of an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), as they search for clues leading to the whereabouts of their scattered squad and the motivations behind the Covenant’s invasion of New Mombasa. The release adds a new dimension to an all-encompassing universe that gamers around the world have known and loved for close to eight years.

Release Date: September 22, 2009

Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bungie Software
Platform: Xbox 360
Category: Shooter

“Halo 3: ODST” also introduces Firefight, a new cooperative multiplayer* mode where up to four players can assume the role of an ODST squad and fight together to take on increasingly challenging waves of enemies.

Also included are three new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps on a 2nd standalone disc, which includes all original “Halo 3” maps, as well as the “Legendary,” “Heroic,” and “Mythic” Map packs for a total of 24 maps.

“Halo 3: ODST” is available in both a standard package and a “Halo 3: ODST Collector’s Pack” which includes the game and a new and exclusive Wireless Controller. Those that pre-order “Halo 3: ODST” at participating retailers worldwide will receive a token to unlock Sgt. Johnson as a playable character in Firefight.

Game Features:

* All-new campaign content. The “Halo 3: ODST” campaign explores mysterious events leading up to the Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa in “Halo 3.” Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy’s finale. This new chapter captures the same great feel of previous “Halo” experiences while offering fans new tactics, tools and weapons to defeat the Covenant.

* A new hero: Prepare to drop. ODSTs are highly-trained special forces operators. Known for their courage, valor and willingness to tackle missions no sane soldier would, ODSTs pride themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations, often in one-man drop-pods that burn through planetary atmospheres at break-neck speed.

* Expanded multiplayer experience. No “Halo” game would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content. “Halo 3: ODST” introduces an entirely new way to play “Halo” with Firefight, a cooperative multiplayer mode included on the campaign disc that lets up to four people jump immediately into combat. As an ODST squad, you will face increasingly challenging waves of enemies together, striving to earn the highest scores possible, while various “Halo 3” “Skulls” are progressively activated. The experience is intense and ever-evolving. “Halo 3: ODST” also includes a separate, standalone multiplayer disc which includes three new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps, all original “Halo 3” maps, as well as the “Legendary,” “Heroic,” and “Mythic” Map packs for a total of 24 maps.

* Ever-growing community options. Players will continue to enjoy all the great “Halo 3” technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring and four-player co-op over Xbox LIVE. All of the new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering near endless gameplay customization possibilities for fans.

* Key to “Halo: Reach.” As a special bonus for fans, all copies of “Halo 3: ODST” will provide access to the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta when the beta goes live. More information about the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta will be shared at a later date.

The world’s leading music game meets the greatest band in history! The Beatles: Rock Band gives fans what they’ve been waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles’ legendary story from the inside. You won’t just watch and listen as the Beatles make rock history, create landmark records and conquer the world—for the first time, you’ll be part of the band. The Beatles software is compatible with Rock Band, Guitar Hero and most other instrument controllers, as well as, third party microphones including SingStar and Lips.

The Beatles: Rock BandRelease Date: September 9, 2009

Publisher: MTV Games
Developer: MTV Games
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
Category: Music, Music & Party

Product Description
Experience The Beatles music and legacy like never before, utilizing the core Rock Band game play. “The Beatles: Rock Band” in an unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles. The game will allow fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles extraordinary catalogue of music through game play that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career.

* Advanced Harmonix game technology brings The Beatles™ experience to life
* Sing three-part vocal harmonies with support for up to three mics
* Experience historic Beatles performance venues from the Cavern Club to the roof at Savile Row
* Developed and co-created with The Beatles™, providing a true-to-life gaming experience
* Hear never released conversations among the band during Abbey Road recording sessions

SONGS

45 legendary songs, including “I Saw Her Standing There”, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “I Feel Fine”, “Day Tripper”, “Taxman”, “I Am the Walrus”, “Back in the U.S.S.R.”, “Octopus’s Garden”, “Here Comes the Sun”, and “Get Back”. Additional songs will be available for download through The Beatles™: Rock Band™ music store.

* Advanced Harmonix game technology brings The Beatles™ experience to life
* Sing three-part vocal harmonies with support for up to three mics
* Experience historic Beatles performance venues from the Cavern Club to the roof at Savile Row
* Developed and co-created with The Beatles™, providing a true-to-life gaming experience
* Hear never released conversations among the band during Abbey Road recording sessions

SONGS

* I Saw Her Standing There
* Twist And Shout
* Do You Want To Know A Secret
* I Want to Hold Your Hand
* Can’t Buy Me Love
* I Wanna Be Your Man
* I Feel Fine
* Eight Days A Week
* Day Tripper
* Paperback Writer
* Taxman
* And Your Bird Can Sing
* Yellow Submarine
* Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
* With a Little Help from My Friends
* Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows
* I Am The Walrus
* Back In The U.S.S.R.
* Octopus’s Garden
* Birthday
* Revolution
* Here Comes The Sun
* Dig A Pony
* Get Back
* I’ve Got A Feeling
* “Boys” / Cavern Club
* “A Hard Day’s Night” / Ed Sullivan Theater
* “I’m Looking Through You” / Shea Stadium
* “If I Needed Someone” / Shea Stadium
* “Ticket to Ride” / Shea Stadium
* “Drive My Car” / Budokan

* “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “Getting Better” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “Good Morning” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “Hello, Goodbye” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “Hey Bulldog” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “Dear Prudence” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “Helter Skelter” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “Something” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “Come Together” / Abbey Road Dreamscape
* “Don’t Let Me Down” / Rooftop Concert
* “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” / Rooftop Concert
* “I Me Mine” / Rooftop Concert
* And more…

Number of Players : 1-6 Players

For there really is a world within ours, a secret world, where magic exists, monsters roam and ancient forces are fighting for the dominance of earth.

It is a world of legendary stories, ageless conflicts and powerful cabals. In this world, even modern cities hide secrets. In this world, players can take part in the greatest conspiracies of our age, and battle the forces of darkness across the world and throughout time.

Release Date: 2010??

Platforms: PC/Xbox 360

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Dark Knight takes on his greatest challenge yet when he becomes trapped with all of his most dangerous villains inside the insane asylum of GOTHAM CITY – ARKHAM ASYLUM! Batman: Arkham Asylum exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure that takes them to the depths of Arkham Asylum –Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.

Gamers will move in the shadows, instigate fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains who have taken over the asylum. Using a wide range of Batman’s gadgets and abilities, players will become the invisible predator and attempt to foil The Joker’s demented scheme.

Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story penned exclusively for the game by famous Batman author and five-time Emmy award winner, Paul Dini, whose credits include Lost season one and Batman: The Animated Series. With amazing graphics and a moody, immersive setting, Batman: Arkham Asylum offers diverse gameplay options that push the envelope for all action, adventure and superhero games.

Released August 25, 2009

Story
Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story penned exclusively for the game by famous Batman author and five-time Emmy award winner, Paul Dini, whose credits include “Lost” season one and “Batman: The Animated Series.”

As the game begins Batman is personally delivering his nemesis, The Joker, to the asylum at Arkham Island, but he is uneasy. Although the Arkham asylum is well fortified, he has a nagging feeling that all is not well, which proves to be the case when seconds after turning The Joker over to the guards, the master criminal breaks free of his captors. Even more surprising than this quick turn of events is the revelation that it was never The Joker’s intent to escape the vault-like facility, but instead to trap Batman there.

Surrounded by an asylum full of dangerous criminals, many of which he put there and all at the beck and call of the Joker, can Batman survive and discover what is behind the Joker’s intricate plot?

Gameplay
In Batman: Arkham Asylum players strap on the gadget-heavy utility belt of the Caped Crusader. Gameplay here is a combination of both the knuckle crunching rush of hand to hand combat as you take on the hordes of thugs that infest Arkham Asylum, and stealth gameplay in which you must dispatch individuals from the shadows. Players can expect an engrossing single player campaign in which Batman continually moves forward to face the henchmen, bosses and traps that The Joker has set for him.

With regards to opponents, in addition to The Joker who you will hear more than you see, the dark walls of Arkham also hold familiar villains from the the Batman criminal universe including Harley Quinn, Victor Zsasz and Killer Croc, that you will have to deal with, but don’t expect a one-dimensional experience. As players progress from environment to environment within Arkham they will have to use varying combinations of muscle, detective skills, gadgetry and a certain degree of light RPG-like leveling of Batman’s skills, arsenal and physical characteristics to survive and discover what The Joker’s underlying scheme is.

In addition to the story-driven single player campaign Arkham Asylum also contains various additional play modes. These include an arcade styled combat mode where players accumulate points by engaging hordes of thugs in a hand to hand slugfest across a series of maps, in which Batman’s physical strength and agility play a major role. The key here is to chain together as many attacks as possible due to the fact that with each successful combo players increase the point multiplier associated with their actions.

The game also features a time-based stealth mode where players must hone their ability to strike silently from the shadows. This gameplay, referred to as ‘Invisible Predator’ utilizes the Dark Knight’s skill with gadgets like the grapple tool, batarang and explosives. These allow for vertical/horizontal mobility, the ability to quickly strike from above and at a distance and to take out enemies and create distractions, even through walls. But remember that Batman works solo and is not superhuman. Your enemies will congregate around trouble areas and work as a team against you, so you must be silent, plan your attacks wisely, strike quickly and discover the value of encouraging fear within enemies.

Key Features

* Utilize the unique FreeFlow combat system to chain together unlimited combos seamlessly and battle with huge groups of The Joker’s henchmen in brutal melee brawls.
* Investigate as Batman, the world’s greatest detective, by solving intricate puzzles with the help of cutting edge forensic tools including x-ray scanning, fingerprint scans, ‘Amido Black’ spray and a pheromone tracker.

* Face off against Gotham’s greatest villains including The Joker, Harley Quinn, Victor Zsasz and Killer Croc.
* Become the Invisible Predator with Batman’s fear takedowns and unique vantage point system to move without being seen and hunt enemies.
* Choose multiple takedown methods, including swooping from the sky and smashing through walls, and use the predator camera get a closer look at the action.
* Explore every inch of Arkham Asylum and roam freely on the infamous island, presented for the first time ever in its gritty and realistic entirety.
* Experience what it’s like to be Batman using batarangs, explosive gel aerosol, the Batclaw, sonar resonator and the line launcher.
* Unlock more secrets by completing hidden challenges in the world and develop and customize equipment by earning experience points.
* Enjoy complete superhero freedom in the environment with the use of Batman’s grapple to get to any place you can see, jump from any height and glide in any direction.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

The Behemoth’s Dan Paladin and Emil Ayoubkhan just introduced their first development diary on YouTube for what they’re dubbing “Game3.” (Their first was a flash version of Alien Hominid in 2002.)

From their description @ YouTube:

Hello. In an effort to document some of our development for our upcoming third game we are going to attempt a series of videos that showcase various features of the game. In this first video Dan Paladin and Emil Ayoubkhan go over one of the modes being referred to as “soul mode” (not a final title).

It’s refreshing to watch this and not hear a monotone voiceover from a junior marketing slave, but the natural inflections, laughter, and reflections from the developers themselves. Ok, enough posturing, on with the video!

SIDENOTE: Check out The Behemoth’s website, it’s tons of fun.

Original Post from Examiner.com

Entitled “Crash Course,” the latest DLC delivers new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay to both platforms. Targeted for release in September, “Crash Course” bridges the gap between the end of the “No Mercy” campaign and the beginning of “Death Toll” in the original game, expanding the game universe with new locations, new dialogue from the original cast, and an explosive finale.

While containing both Survival maps and a Co-operative Campaign, the primary goal of “Crash” is to deliver a complete Versus mode experience in just 30 minutes, resulting in a streamlined version of the game’s existing Versus campaigns. A recharge timer for infected teammates has also been added, and item spawn behavior has changed for more balanced gameplay. “Since the release of Left 4 Dead last November, the design team has been excited about creating new experiences for this world and allowing players to do the same, by releasing much of our internal toolset, like the Survival Pack and Authoring Tools,” said Gabe Newell. “We’re working with the fans toward the ongoing entertainment value of the product.”

Left 4 Dead is an action horror game from Valve that blends the social entertainment experience of multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and Team Fortress with the dramatic, narrative experience made popular in single player action game classics such as the Half-Life series of games. Released in November of 2008, L4D has earned over 50 industry awards from outlets around the world and sold almost 3 million copies worldwide.

Left 4 Dead: Crash Course is targeted for release in September and will be available free of charge on the PC and for 560 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live. For more information, please visit www.l4d.com

All information contained in this news post comes directly from a press released sent out by Valve Software.

New Left 4 Dead Campaign Comes Pre-Loaded With Controversy

Publisher:  Square Enix

Developer: Square Enix

Platform:  Xbox 360, PS3

Category:  Action

Pre-order Ships 3/29/2010

So far, it does not look a very appealing game to me.

Storyline: Nothing is as it seems in Square Enix’s latest action adventure game, set in a crumbling world plagued by disease and dark, unrecognizable creatures. Players assume the role of the unyielding protagonist, NIER, resolute in his quest to discover a cure for his daughter, who is infected with the Black Scrawl virus. With powerful allies and a mysterious book, NIER encounters things that will confound even the mightiest of warriors. With NIER, experience seamless in-battle cinematic and explore hauntingly familiar lands, intense action-packed battles, and storytelling like only Square Enix can do.

Features:

• Experience a rich, twisting storyline of a world plagued by human anguish, buried secrets and a ravaging disease
• Explore a beautiful, immersible world presented in signature Square Enix style
• Diverse and action-packed game play heightened by a combination of chain attacks and crushing magic abilities
• Multiple weapons to master, each with its own characteristics
• Unlock magic abilities to unleash crushing blows to enemies near and far Cinematic event scenes that draw the player into the world of NIER

Left 4 Dead 2 is coming later this year! It’s a much larger game than the original, and features new co-op and versus campaigns, all-new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, as well as melee combat.