Left 4 Dead Maps Resurrected in Left 4 Dead 2 Over Forty New Final Fantasy XIII Screens Just In Time For The Weekend PlayStation Network Plans To Implement Premium Content Subscription-Based Model Microsoft Game Studios Hiring Epic Liason/Producer For Gears of War & Shadow Complex Madden NFL Arcade Game Changers Video Toys“R”Us Goes Game Stop, Geoffrey the Giraffe Now Accepting Used Console Trade-Ins

Able Planet’s original intentions were to help those with hearing loss, but they have now decided to enter the mainstream headset world with their sound-enhancing technology. Thus was born the PS500MM headset, designed with PC gaming in mind. The question now is: Is it worth the price? Read more…

Need for Speed: Shift is somewhat of a return to form for the NFS series. Unlike the last few games that had you open-world cruising the city while running from cops in your nitrous-infused, mostly illegal street racer, Shift is all about real racing on actual tracks and stuff. You know, the kind of racing that doesn’t involve any slutty girlfriends. Read more…

With Modern Warfare 2 coming out in a month, we here at Ripten thought it might be just a tiny bit cooler to run around with an actual gun in real life instead of just in a game. I mean, right? That would be cooler, right? Okay, well we can’t actually do that for several reasons, not the least of which is that we just don’t trust ourselves not to shoot people in the face.  That’s what gamers do, right?

Echo1 has us covered with the next best thing: an airsoft rifle. If you don’t know what that means, it’s essentially a BB gun that shoots “harmless” plastic pellets. This one we have here should look familiar to you if you’ve played pretty much any shooter in the last 15 years, and it’s full scale and made of metal. How about you peoples show us some lovin’ and maybe you can get yourself one of these bad boys for FREE! Read more…

In case you didn’t know, Rocktober is coming up soon. If nothing else, that means that you should be playing Brutal Legend in the very near future. Actually, you could play it tomorrow if you happen to win one of our 4 demo codes (and you have an Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, that is). All you have to do is register with a valid email address and leave a comment below (bonus points for making us laugh), or just email us some pictures of your girlfriend with awesome 80’s hair (editors@ripten.com).  Either way, we’re getting your email address and we will totally spam you.

You can also pre-order now at Gamestop for early access.  The demo will be available with all pre-orders, and the codes will be handed out on 9/17.  The demo will also be free to download for all Xbox Live Gold Members on 9/24 and Xbox Live Silver and PSN members on 10/1/09.

***UPDATE: Winners have been notified, and all codes have been sent out.  If you didn’t win, that’s because Jack Black doesn’t like you, and therefore we don’t like you either.  Sorry.

If you’re at all interested in attending a Need For Speed press event in Chicago tomorrow, let us know! Email editors@ripten.com, tell us why we should pick you, and we’ll chose 4 lucky readers to go (though you have to get to Chicago on your own).  Good luck!

I recently got a chance to test out the Volo Pro V Gamer 100 and 200 series HDMI cables, and at first I didn’t know what the difference was. After inquiring, I was told the 200 is a thicker gauge of cable and has a metal housing at the end, therefore offering more protection. To test this, I threw both cables down the stairs and then ran both of them over with my minivan, and they both still worked fine afterwards (though the paint job on the metal housing looked worse than the slightly scratched plastic on the Pro V 100).

I didn’t see much of a difference in picture quality between the two, before or after their “accidents”. They both look better than the generic HDMI cable I had previously, though not significantly, and HDMI cables in general look better than component (and everything else). Overall, I was impressed with the 10-foot-long Volo cables and kept them hooked up to my 360.

Now if you have a PS3 or an Xbox 360 and you aren’t using HDMI cables, you aren’t getting the most out of your gaming system. HDMI is, after all, the cable of choice for Jesus himself. Don’t worry, though — Ripten has got you covered! We’ve teamed up with TRU Company to send out 25 of their Pro V Gamer cables specifically designed for gaming consoles. All you have to do to enter the contest is Read more…

My brother and I frequently talk about the good ol’ days of gaming — 2-D, side-scrolling, sprites, fun, etc. — and we wonder why these ideas aren’t reimplemented with today’s technology. Then Shadow Complex was announced and we were angry that we weren’t being paid. That was our idea!

Anyhow, King of Fighters XII is somewhat of a throwback to the fighting games of yesteryear. Completely 2-D with hand-drawn sprites and crappy music. What’s not to love? Read on and find out! Read more…

Oh, Vin Diesel. Even though I find it somewhat amusing that you feel the need to star in all of the games that you make, I actually don’t mind it when that game turns out to be pretty decent. The real question here is whether or not people are willing to pay full price for what is essentially a last-gen game with a facelift and an expansion pack. Do you really think your game is that good? Read more…

After news that Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was being released on Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, resale values of the original game for PS2, Dreamcast, and Xbox plummeted. The original release is one of the most expensive and sought-after games for collectors and is hailed by many to be one of the best fighting games ever released.

Read more…

Lux-Pain is an interesting adventure game for the Nintendo DS. Actually, it’s not even really a game. Lux-Pain is more like an interactive manga. Regardless of semantics, the real question is “Is it any good?” Read more…

Another behind-the-scenes promo for The Jace Hall Show, this time for episode 6 which airs tomorrow. In this clip, Jace plays golf with Kelly Hu, unfortunately wearing more clothing than we would’ve liked. We’re referring to Jace, of course. When is he going to go topless? Read more…

Jace Hall may or may not be known to you, but he should be. Well, not personally, but you should at least be aware of his show, aptly titled The Jace Hall Show. Jace talks gaming with industry vets, movie and TV stars, and… other people, and it’s all done in a reality show style similar to The Office except slightly less scripted.

If you’ve never seen it before, we here at Ripten have a tiny little EXCLUSIVE behind the scenes clip of previously un-aired footage from episode 5. Granted, it’s not very long, but you won’t see it anywhere else. It should at the very least give you an idea of the tone The Jace Hall Show has going on. Check it out. Read more…

Ubisoft announced today that they are developing a video game based on the upcoming Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation CG film, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Ubisoft has partnered with Sony Pictures Animation previously for the video games based off of Surf’s Up and Open Season.

Read more…

What’s this? An adventure game!? Yes, it’s true. Unfortunately for all the next-gen graphic whores out there, modern adventure gaming doesn’t seem to make it far past the Nintendo DS. Lux-Pain, however, seems to have a much more adult audience in mind than your average DS gamer.

Read more…

Assault on Dark Athena, the semi-remake/sequel/expansion to the Xbox hit Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, is now available on Xbox Live in demo form. Check out some gameplay footage, conveniently posted here for your viewing pleasure. Read more…

Well, here it is — your first official look at Mass Effect 2. As far as teaser trailers go, it certainly has me excited about the game already, even though (like most teasers) it reveals pretty much nothing. Have a gander at the teaser… now!

No wait… now! Read more…

While the U.S. remains on top in the videogame market, a surprising turn of events over the past several years has resulted in the UK videogame market emerging as number two, beating Japan for the first time in history. Read more…

Attack of the Show hosts Olivia Munn and Kevin Pereira celebrate the success of their bid for America to observe a National Pie Week by stripping down into French maid outfits and diving into a giant pie. Yes, you read that correctly — Olivia Munn, French maid outfit, and pie. The video speaks for itself. Read more…

Great news, Sony fans. According to Kaz Hirai, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America*, Sony is officially leading the console market with the PS3, disregarding silly things like sales numbers and market share. Read more…

Warning: The Watercooler is the best thing you will see on the Internet today, mainly because it is the best thing I saw on the Internet yesterday. Be advised that these Watercooler stories are not necessarily videogame related (they usually won’t be), and are often silly, controversial, and/or not safe for work (NSFW). If this type of content frequently offends you, please be aware that I just warned you — if you still click through and get offended, it will be your own stupid fault. Otherwise, please continue…

Today’s Watercooler features one of the strangest videos I have ever seen. It creeps me out and kind of makes me feel naughty all at the same time. It’s weird. I really don’t know how to explain it, but there’s a girl, a giant pencil that writes in the sky, and some diabolical shenanigans.

You must watch. Read more…