Oooowww!!! Another new clip of Modern Warfare 2 showing off some bad-ass new features, including knife throwing and host migration among other new additions.

Towards the end of the clip it shows a player being disconnected, but instead of being kicked back to the lobby, a new host migration feature quickly finds another host keeping the player in the game. Dope as shit! We gotta give big ups to Infinity Ward for adding this feature to MW2, because getting disconnected and kicked back to the lobby sucks big time.

The second big addition featured in this video, also towards the end of the clip, has a player throwing a knife to kill an enemy. That’s some pretty sweet stuff right there. The rest of the clip shows off some gameplay footage of Capture the Flag mode with a few noticeable new additions to the game like blood-splatter effects and a riot shield. I can’t wait for November 10! Check out the video!

With Guitar Hero 5, Champions Online and Mini Ninjas coming out this week, it looks like a great start in new game releases for September. Not to mention that the PS3 Slim is officially released on Tuesday, September 1. Hit the jump for the full list of new games coming out this week, along with my pick of the week.

Pick of the Week: Champions Online (PC)

Xbox 360:

• Cabela’s Outdoor Adventure
• Guitar Hero 5 Guitar Bundle
• Guitar Hero 5
• Mini Ninjas
• Section 8

PS3:

• Cabela’s Outdoor Adventure
• Guitar Hero 5
• Guitar Hero 5 Guitar Bundle
• Mini Ninjas

Wii:

• Cabela’s Outdoor Adventure
• Cruise Ship Vacation Games
• Guitar Hero 5
• Guitar Hero 5 Guitar Bundle
• Mini Ninjas
• Muramasa: The Demon Blade

PC:

• Champions Online
• Mini Ninjas
• Section 8

PS2:

• Cabela’s Outdoor Adventure
• Guitar Hero 5
• Guitar Hero 5 Guitar Bundle

DS:

• Mini Ninjas

PSP:

• Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny

Check out this awesome deal I just discovered from the Best Buy website! You’ll get 50% off one Xbox 360 game when you buy another game of equal or lesser value. Even better, is that they’re offering free shipping or the option of in-store pick up.  Probably one of the best deals I’ve seen all year on video games, this one shouldn’t be missed out. And the list of Xbox 360 games is pretty long, even including games that aren’t even out yet. I just pre-ordered Halo: ODST and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 both paid in full for around $90 (not including tax)! It’s a dope as deal that most definitely needs to be taken advantage of.

[Thanks, Nima!]

With the recent $100 price cut to the 120 GB Xbox 360 Elite, it looks like Microsoft might have a more superior console taking its place. The above ad was discovered from a South African retailer, BT Games, showing a “Super Elite” Xbox 360 with a 250 GB hard drive and two wireless controllers. XboxGaming.co.za is reporting that they have spoken to Comztek, a South African Xbox distributor, and they have indeed confirmed that they will be getting the “Super Elite” Xbox 360 bundled with a copy of Forza 3 and two wireless controllers for R4,999 ($644).

None of this has been confirmed by Microsoft, but it hasn’t been denied either. I guess we’ll just have to wait for an official announcement, but if had to put a bet on it, I’d say the “Super Elite” Xbox 360 is more than likely real and we should see it in stores within the next few months.

Yessir! Here’s some leaked footage of Modern Warfare 2 that has emerged over the Internets that should get you even more pumped for the highly anticipated shooter. While Infinity Ward and Activision have been relatively quiet about the game and have done a pretty good job keeping much info from getting out, this somehow slipped from under their noses from a recent Game Crazy retail event and features some great action from the Rio de Janeiro stage. Now stop reading and check out that video!

Source: totalvideogames.com

Well, this ain’t no surprise. After weeks of rumor and speculation for a price cut on the Xbox 360 Elite and a discontinuation of the 360 Pro, Microsoft has finally confirmed the price cut and it officially starts today. The 120GB Elite console is now $300, a whopping $100 cheaper, and the 60GB Pro console is now $50 cheaper at $250, but only while supplies last because once they’re sold out, there won’t be anymore. The hard drive-less Arcade edition still remains at $200.

With Sony’s recently announced $299 120GB PS3 Slim, Microsoft’s Elite console is now on par with their counterpart and we’re in for another heated battle for sales this holiday season. So, what’s the catch with $100 price drop? No HDMI cables that’s what. Yep, the new Xbox 360 Elite bundle comes in a new fancy package, but now minus the HD cables and is instead bundled with the standard AV connector. That’s whack, but still a worth the price cut as you can find HDMI cables for rather cheap these days.

The price cut starts today, so if you’re one of the few gamers without an Xbox 360, now’s the time to get one.

Some big time games coming out this week including Batman: Arkham Asylum, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Harvest Moon: Magical Melody, Dissidia Final Fantasy and Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box. I’m pumped for the new Batman title, as any of you who played the demo should know it’s pretty dope and for those who missed out on any of the Metroid Prime games for the Gamecube, here’s your chance to catch up and get all three games for the price of one. Final Fantasy owners should be excited for Dissidia Final Fantasy, the PSP brawler featuring a variety of FF characters, finally coming out and giving PSP owners something to look out for.

Oh, and you might have noticed that Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger was on last week’s new release list, but it was pushed back to this week. Hit the jump for the full list of new games this week and my pick of the week.

Pick of the Week: Batman: Arkham Asylum (360, PS3)

Xbox 360:

• Batman: Arkham Asylum
• Fallout 3 Game Add-On Pack: Broken Steel and Point Lookout
• Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger

PS3:

• Batman: Arkham Asylum

Wii:

• Cursed Mountain
• Harvest Moon: Magical Melody (GameStop Exclusive)
• Metroid Prime Trilogy
• Reel Fishing: Angler’s Dream

PC:

• Fallout 3 Game Add-On Pack: Broken Steel and Point Lookout
• Nancy Drew Dossier: Resorting to Danger
• Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger

PS2:

• Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy

DS:

• Emergency Room: Real Life Rescues
• Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming
• Imagine: Teacher Class Trip
• Marker Man Adventures
• Princess Lillifee’s Magic Fairy
• Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
• Sarah: Keeper of the Unicorn
• The Clique: Diss and Make Up
• Wizards of Waverly Place

PSP:

• Dissidia Final Fantasy
• Warriors Orochi 2

The end of summer is creeping up slowly, which means not much longer for the fall season of video game releases. But before we get too hyped up, we’ve still got to get by these last few weeks of mediocre game releases. Wolfenstein and Raven Squad headline this week in new games with other notable titles such as Shadow Complex and Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2 being digitally released. Hit the jump for the full list of new games coming out and my pick of the week.

Pick of the Week: Wolfenstein (360, PS3, PC)

Xbox 360:

• Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger
• Shadow Complex (Xbox Live Arcade)
• Wolfenstein

PS3:

• Wolfenstein

Wii:

• Army Rescue
• Domino Rally
• Spectrobes: Origins

PC:

• Code of Honor 3: Desperate Measures
• Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger
• Tales of Monkey Island – Chapter 2: The Siege of Spinner Cay (Digital Distribution)
• War Leaders: Clash of Nations
• Wolfenstein

DS:

• Ant Nation
• Astrology DS
• My Dress-Up
• My Friends
• My Make-Up
• Shorts
• Sudoku Ball Detective

Excited for Capcom’s upcoming Lost Planet 2? If so, Xbox Live Gold members should mark their calenders for August 19 in which a co-op demo of the highly anticipated sequel to Lost Planet: Extreme Condition will be available to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Celebrating the first day of Gamescom on August 19 in Cologne, Germany, Xbox Live Gold members will be the first to get the demo, while Silver members will get their chance on August 26. Hit the jump for the full press release from Capcom.

Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers around the world will be able to experience the desperate battle against the enormous G-Type Salamander Akrid boss in online, co-operative shoot outs. Utilizing a host of weapons scattered through out the arena, squads of up to four players will face off against the huge monster in an attempt to bring it down. Players can assault the Salamander in a number of ways, from shearing off its legs to actually being swallowed and fighting their way out from the inside! Superior firepower comes in many flavors, including numerous beam and projectile weapons and several Vital Suit robotic combat units that up to three players can ride at once. There are new support weapons which allow teammates to boost attack and defense abilities, while players can share life-giving thermal energy amongst injured members of their squad. Additionally, the new Dash feature allows players to sprint for short distances, bringing greater speed to combat.

The demo is a brief glimpse into the world and possibilities of Lost Planet 2, highlighting the range of weaponry available to players while showing off the high definition graphical capabilities of MT Framework 2.0, the latest version of Capcom’s proprietary 3D game engine. The first generation of MT Framework powered Capcom games like Dead Rising, the original Lost Planet and Devil May Cry 4, while an updated 1.5 version made possible the award-winning visuals of Resident Evil 5.

The next installment in the popular action series returns in Lost Planet 2, sequel to the 2.3 million selling Lost Planet: Extreme Condition. Lost Planet 2 will offer deeper insight into the world of E.D.N III and the uncertain fate of future mankind. A decade has passed since the first game, and the face of E.D.N. III has changed dramatically. Terraforming efforts have been successful and the ice has begun to melt, giving way to lush tropical jungles and harsh unforgiving deserts. Players will enter this new environment and follow the exploits of their own customized snow pirate on their quest to seize control of the changing planet.

Players will control their heroes across 6 interconnected episodes, creating a truly unique interactive experience that changes depending upon the actions of the players involved. With this concept, players will have the opportunity to engage in the story in a much more dynamic way as plot threads evolve from different players’ perspectives.

Beyond the deep single player mode, Lost Planet 2 is loaded with extensive multiplayer modes. The intense and action packed campaign mode comes with the ability to form teams of up to 4 players online to clear mission objectives with friends. The grappling hooks that made the gameplay in Lost Planet a true 3-D experience are back, allowing gamers to gain tactical advantage by quickly scaling buildings and other obstacles that have become exposed by the wide range of environmental changes to the world of E.D.N. III.

According to Kotaku, via the above pic from a Meijer catalogue due on August 30, the Elite version of the Xbox 360 is set to drop in price a whole $100, to $299.

Well, what does this do to the Xbox 360 Pro? Looks like the Pro version is being phased out and will eventually be completely taken off the market. That will leave only two versions of the Xbox 360 to choose from: the hard drive-less Arcade and the 120GB HDD Elite. According to the catalogue, this is set to take place in just a matter of weeks.

No confirmation from Microsoft yet, but if they don’t announce it this week, you can bet they will next week at Gamescom.

Capcom’s Wii-exclusive brawler, Spyborgs, has received a new and earlier release date of September 22 for North America. The action-packed brawler will retail at $39.99, a whole 10 bucks cheaper than most new titles released on the Wii. To celebrate the early release date, Capcom has released a few new screenshots as well as the first Spyborgs webisode entitled “Island of Fate”, which you can check out after the break.

EA Sports today revealed the cover athletes for the North American version of FIFA 10. The three cover athletes include Cuauhtémoc Blanco of the Chicago Fire, Sacha Kljestan of Chivas USA and Chelsea’s Frank Lampard. Okay, I’m familiar with Frank Lampard, but the two MLS players, not so much. But I bet your ass I’m not the only one left in the dark.

EA also revealed that the North American release date would indeed be October 20, a few weeks after the Euro release date of October 2. Hit the jump for a new video of FIFA 10.

Source: Joystiq

If your one of the unlucky gamers who missed out on any of these three great games, well, your luck is about to turn around. Capcom is repackaging three of their Xbox 360 platinum hits into one huge, cheap-ass bundle. Exciting, I know.

You’ll be getting Dead Rising, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition and Devil May Cry 4 all in one box! And the best thing about the package is that it’s dirt cheap. Yep, just $39.99 for all three games. Now at about $13.33 for each game, you can’t beat that.

Capcom is calling it the Platinum Hits Triple Pack, set to hit the Xbox 360 in September. If you missed any of the games, now is your chance to get all three in a great deal. Thanks Capcom!

It’s August 11 folks and that means the Xbox Live New Xbox Experience summer update is now up and running for everyone to download. I’m actually downloading it right now as I’m typing this, so I’ll be able to enjoy all the new perks like Games on Demand, the Avatar Marketplace, new updates to Netflix and more in just a few moments. Oh, I think it just finished downloading. Time to check it out, holla!

This week in NintendoWares features the release of the Super Star Wars from the SNES hitting the Virtual Console, along with the Balance Board-inspired Rock N’ Roll Climber and the Greek Mythology journey of NyxQuest: Kindred Spirts for the WiiWare, backed-up by a new addition to the Brain Age series with Arts & Letters for the DSiWare. Hit the jump for a brief description of each new downloadable title and how much they’ll cost you.

WiiWare

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits (Developer: Over The Top Games; Players: 1-2; Price: 1,000 Wii Points)

Experience the awesome story of Nyx, an enigmatic winged girl who must descend from heaven in search of her missing friend, Icarus. Fly over the ruins of ancient Greece and avoid falling into blazing sands or perishing in the claws of cruel harpies and hydras. You will need the help of Zeus and other benevolent gods from Olympus to summon their powers. They will let you cast rays, modify the scenery and control winds as you wish. By making your own wrist movements and pointing to the game screen, you will be able to achieve these and many other feats. Fly, aim and shoot using your Wii Remote controller. Play with a friend and maximize your abilities: While one controls Nyx, the other will control the powers from the gods.

Rock N’ Roll Climber (Developer: Vitei; Players: 1; Price: 800 Wii Points)

Prepare to “rock out” like never before in Rock N’ Roll Climber. Climb rocks using the innovative control scheme, which has you controlling your character’s movement using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. If you want an even more immersive experience, optional support for the Wii Balance Board is also available. Make your way up an array of courses, ranging from the Pop level’s indoor rock wall to the Heavy Metal level’s waterfalls (watch out for those moss-covered rocks – they’re slick). In addition to the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel upon reaching the top, you might just be rewarded with your own guitar.

Virtual Console

Super Star Wars (Original platform: Super NES; Developer: Sculptured Software & LucasArts; Players: 1; Price: 800 Wii Points)

Risk your life as a Jedi Knight. Join Luke, Han and Chewbacca in their fierce war against the Evil Empire. Battle treacherous aliens. Pilot two vehicles in high-speed, first-person 3-D sequences. Rip through the desert in Luke’s landspeeder. Clash with aliens in the Mos Eisley Cantina. Blast menacing boss monsters and Imperial stormtroopers. Attack TIE fighters in the trenches of the Death Star. Fight your way through the wastelands of Tatooine to the hostile streets of Mos Eisley and beyond. Grab your blaster, strap on your lightsaber and take on the fight for galactic freedom.

Nintendo DSiWare

Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters (Developer: Nintendo; Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points)

This edition of the popular Brain Age series offers players a mix of new and familiar exercises, all with an artistic focus. Test your spelling in Word Attack, enjoy literary classics in Reading Aloud and tune your musical skills in Piano Player. A new Themes mode challenges you in drawing, photography and voice acting and lets you share your creativity with friends and family. And if you need a break, the always-enjoyable Virus Buster makes its return. Prepare for another round of training your brain in minutes a day.

It’s that time of the year football fanatics! Madden NFL 10 is finally coming out this week and should easily sell a gazillion copies in it’s first week. Other than Madden, not much else that interesting to me this week, but Marvel vs. Capcom 2 does finally hit the PS3. Hit the jump for the full list of new games this week.

Pick of the week: Madden NFL 10

Xbox 360:

• Madden NFL 10
• Trials HD (Xbox Live Arcade)

PS3:

• Madden NFL 10
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (PlayStation Store)

Wii:

• Active Life Extreme Challenge
• Groovin’ Blocks
• Madden NFL 10
• Monster Mayhem: Build and Battle
• Real Heroes: Firefighter

PC:

• All Aspect Warfare (Digital Distribution)
• Angle of Attack (Digital Distirbution)
• Joint Ops: Combined Arms Compilation (Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising, Joint Operations: Escalation)

PS2:

• Madden NFL 10

DS:

• C.O.R.E., Fossil Fighters, Imagine: Soccer Captain, Monster Mayhem: Build and Battle

PSP:

• Madden NFL 10

Even though it’s been known that two downloadable map packs for Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 would be hitting the Xbox 360 first, it now seems that those same two map packs could be the only DLC we seen coming out for the upcoming sequel.

Discussing Modern Warfare 2’s “online content,” Activision’s Publishing CEO Mike Griffith was noted saying, “We plan to launch two separate map packs for this title.” He then went on to say that over 8 million Call of Duty map pack DLC have been sold on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Infinity Ward only released one map pack for the first Modern Warfare, while Treyarch has released three map packs for Call of Duty: World at War, the third just being released yesterday. With so much popularity for downloadable content and new map packs, I think it would be stupid for Infinity Ward not to take advantage of the opportunity to please their fans and of course make more money for themselves.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 hits the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on November 10. Damn, I can’t wait!

Source: Shacknews

The third Call of Duty: World at War map pack has officially been dated and is set to be released this Thursday, August 6. Three new multiplayer maps and a new Nazi Zombie map are set to hit Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network on Thursday, running you 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99 on the PSN. With over 4 million copies sold combined between the first two map packs, there’s no doubt that Map Pack 3 will be just as successful. And there’s bound to be another double XP weekend with the release of the new DLC, so it looks like another weekend packed full of World at War goodness. Yay!

Source: ThatVideoGameBlog

This week in new games is a pretty good one especially because of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled coming out on the Xbox Live Arcade. Other notable titles include G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (to coincide with the movie release), SouthPeak’s Brave: A Warrior’s Tale and new DLC for Fallout 3, Mothership Zeta. And don’t let me forget to mention Daisy Fuentes Pilates on the Wii for all you workout freaks. Hit the jump for the full list of new games this week and my pick of the week.

My Pick of the Week: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled (360)

Xbox 360:

• Brave: A Warrior’s Tale
• Fallout 3 Downloadable Content: Mothership Zeta (Xbox Live Marketplace)
• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled (Xbox Live Arcade)

PS3:

• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
• SingStar Queen

Wii:

• ATV Quad Kings
• Brave: A Warrior’s Tale
• Build’n Race
• Daisy Fuentes Pilates
• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
• Real Heroes: Firefighter
• Ultimate Duck Hunting
• World Championship Athletics

PC:

• Fallout 3 Downloadable Content: Mothership Zeta (Windows Live Marketplace)
• Hearts of Iron III

PS2:

• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
• SingStar Queen

DS:

• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
• Reversal Challenge

PSP:

• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
• Hannah Montana: Rock Out the Show

The first time I saw and got my hands on Wii Sports Resort was at last year’s E3. I had a chance to actually play the Frisbee mini-game and it immediately put a smile on my face. I thought it was a great idea for Nintendo to come out with a sequel to Wii Sports, but damn, I didn’t think it would take them a year to get it to us. Well, after a long wait and in the middle of a summer video game drought, Wii Sports Resort has finally arrived and it sure was worth the wait.

Wii Sports Resort takes place on Wuhu Island, a resort island where players and their Miis can play 12 different sports and activities. One of the best things about the game is that all 12 mini-games are available right out of the box. The 12 mini-games in Resort are Swordplay, Wakeboarding, Archery, Frisbee, Basketball, Power Cruising, Cycling, Golf, Bowling, Canoeing and Air Sports. Just like the original Wii Sports, not all the mini-games are a hit, but they’re all available from the start leaving it totally up to you to choose which games you want to play.

My favorite of the 12 mini-games have to be Table Tennis, Frisbee, Archery and Basketball (the 3-point contest is dope), which are all amazing and fun as hell, especially with friends. Some of the others like Power Cruising, Air Sports, Swordplay and Wakeboarding are fantastic, and the rest of the mini-games are definitely worth a few plays, but Cycling and Canoeing are my least favorite. As for Golf and Bowling, they are almost identical as the originals from Wii Sports, but with a few slight changes and new courses in Golf.

Some of the mini-games actually have different game types to choose from, adding more depth and replay value to an already baffling amount of gameplay. The Swordplay and Air Sports mini-games, for example, each have three different ways to play. So if you really think about it, there are actually more than 12 mini-games, sort of.

Wii Sports Resort comes bundled with the Wii MotionPlus device, which Nintendo introduced last year as well. The Wii MotionPlus accessory gives the Wiimote more precision then ever before. It easily attaches to the bottom of the Wiimote and is the only way you can play Resort. For example, the Table Tennis mini-game is amazingly accurate in reiterating my real-life actions as I hit the ball and performed lob shots.

Sadly, if you only have one Wii MotionPlus device and want to play with friends, you’re going to have to get more Wii MotionPlus devices, although some of the mini-games allow you to take turns sharing one Wiimote with MotionPlus. This is easily my biggest complaint about the game as it forces you to purchase more Wii MotionPlus devices, as if Nintendo isn’t already taking all of our money. And much like the original Wii Sports was almost like a tech demo for the Wii, Wii Sports Resort is much of the same thing with the Wii MotionPlus, but obviously better and with more mini-games.

I’m just going to go ahead and say it, if you own a Wii and like playing your Wii, you must get this game. Whether your a hardcore gamer or just a casual one who likes to pick up a Wiimote every once in a while, Wii Sports Resort is a great addition to your Wii library of titles. With 12 different mini-games to choose from, some better than others, you’re bound to find a few of them a blast and a great way to have fun with friends. And as a bonus you get a Wii MotionPlus bundled with the game all for $50 (the Wii MotionPlus is $20 alone). Go ahead and cop this game if you get the chance, you won’t regret it.

If you are any of the millions and millions of CoD: World at War fans who purchased Map Packs 1 and 2, I know you’re most definetly excited for Map Pack 3 coming out sometime in August. Well, here’s a new trailer for Map Pack 3,  showing off the new Nazi Zombies map called “Der Reise”. This could be the best Nazi Zombie map thus far. Let’s hope so. Now watch the video!

Okay, we all know that the Twitter and Facebook integration into Xbox Live will not happen in the upcoming Dashboard update on August 11, but we do know that it will happen sometime soon.

Well, in a discussion with Eurogamer, Mircrosoft Marketing rep James Halton said that they are aiming for an “autumn” release and that the Twitter and Facebook integration will be separate applications instead of another huge dashboard update.

Halton addded, “It will be before Christmas. A lot of the background work’s been done for a lot of applications that are coming.”

There you have it Xbox Live peeps. You’ll be able to Tweet and update your Facebook status over your 360 in just a matter of months. But are we really that pumped up about this? I mean you can already do this on your computer and even your cell phone, in which both options seem like they would be easier to do. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 was finally released yesterday on Xbox Live and will be hitting the PS3 in just a few weeks. I know many of you are very excited about MvC2, so while you guys are enjoying the game and brawling with the likes of  Spider-Man and Wolverine vs Ryu and Mega Man, take a look and listen at the upcoming Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 Mixtape coming out soon starring many well-known hip-hop rappers such as Talib Kweli, Raekwon and the Bay Area’s own, E-40.

Being a big fan of hip-hop/rap music, I was pleased to see a game publisher the likes of Capcom hook up and integrate the likes of one of their biggest games with a Mixtape featuring artists rapping about the game and it’s characters. Check out the first premiere video from the Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 Mixtape dubbed “SuperHeroes” featuring Planet Asia and DJ Toure after the break.

Dope beat and badass lyrics fo sho! I’ve never really heard of Planet Asia nor DJ Toure, but I liked the song and the video was tight. Look at for the Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 Mixtape coming soon, in which you’ll actually be able to download for free through Capcom-Unity. Word!

Today mark’s the release of the highly anticipated Gears of War 2 Dark Corners and All Fronts Collection DLC. The Dark Corners DLC features seven new multiplayer maps and a bonus deleted single-player chapter, “Road to Ruin,” from the Gears of War 2 campaign. In “Road to Ruin,” Marcus and Dom face the Locust but can either choose stealth or the usual run and gun action to survive. The seven new multiplayer maps include a new War Machine (the classic Gears 1 map), Allfathers Garden, Highway, Memorial, Nowhere, Way Station and Sanctuary (a favorite from Gears for Windows).

The All Fronts Collection DLC is geared towards players who have yet to download any of the previously released DLC map packs. Along with the “Road to Ruin” campaign chapter and the seven new multiplayer maps, the All Fronts Collection DLC will also contain all maps included in the Flashback, Combustible and Snowblind DLC.

The Dark Corners DLC will run you 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), while the All Fronts Collection will run you 1600 Microsoft Points ($20).

Damn I can’t wait ’til this game comes out! Just check out the above trailer showing online multiplayer footage from Modern Warfare 2 complete with new maps, new weapons and even a new killstreak bonus that gives you the option to “unlock and personalize your killstreak loadout”. Oh, and remember that AC130 you used to rain down on your foes in the campaign mode from the first MW? Yessir, it’s back and this time you’ll be able to use it in online multiplayer. Hurry and press play to check out the awesome online gameplay to come this November.

This week in NintendoWares features the first chapter in Tales of Monkey Island hitting the WiiWare, along with The Three Musketeers: One for All! and HB Arcade Cards, a mixture of card games including Rummy, Hearts and Solitaire. The DSiWare gets another puzzle game (not a surprise) with Sudoku Student releasing for the popular handheld. And what about the Virtual Console you ask? Well, it seems as if Nintendo has run out of classics to ressurect as this is the second week in a row with no Virtual Console release. Hit the jump for the full list of new Nintendo DLC this week and a brief description of each title.

WiiWare

Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 1
Publisher: Telltale Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Alcohol Reference, Comic Mischief, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Join Guybrush Threepwood, Mighty Pirate, in this first chapter of an epic five-part saga, filled with humor, romance and piratey swashbuckling. When a showdown with the demon pirate LeChuck goes up in flames, Guybrush gets marooned on a strange island. How will he escape? Where is Guybrush’s beloved wife, Elaine? And what’s up with the voodoo pox spreading through the isles? Jump into Tales of Monkey Island today to find out!

The Three Musketeers: One for All!
Publisher: Legendo Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Cartoon Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points
Description: The Three Musketeers have been imprisoned by the treacherous Count Xavier and his sinister lieutenant, Count Orsini! Well, almost – take on the role of Porthos, famed member of the Musketeers, to save the day in this swashbuckling platform adventure inspired by the classic novel. Swing the Wii Remote™ to launch blistering sword attacks on your foes, avoid fiendish traps and discover hidden collectables. Packed with frenetic fencing, heroic leaps and fun puzzles, this is one adventure no aspiring hero will want to miss.

HB Arcade Cards
Publisher: HB Studios Multimedia
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: HB Arcade Cards is a great collection of fun and easy-to-play card games. The collection of games included in this title includes: Rummy, Hearts, Euchre, Canasta, Cribbage and the always-classic Solitaire. Each game comes with an interactive tutorial to show you the rules and basic game play. You’ll need to be clever to outsmart your opponents, and you can even team up with a computer partner to play Euchre and Cribbage. You can play HB Arcade Cards using a Mii™ character from your Wii™ console, or play with one of our four new characters. HB Arcade Cards has lots of style and flare, and will keep you coming back for more. Remember, it’s never the same game twice.

Nintendo DSiWare

Sudoku Student
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Sudoku Student brings you the first Nintendo DSiWare sudoku experience with all the features you’d expect. For “students” of sudoku who are just getting their feet wet, Sudoku Student comes with a full tutorial. Once you’ve completed the tutorial, jump into simple and easy-going sudoku puzzles. Designed for entry- to beginner-level players, you’ll find just the right amount of challenge to keep you hooked.

This week in new games may seem like a slow one with only a handful of releases, but with Wii Sports Resort with the Wii MotionPlus and The King of Fighters XII hitting stores, this is actually one of the better weeks we’ve had this summer. Oh, and not to mention Wii Sports Resort is bound to be one of this year’s best-selling games by selling a gazillion copies. Nintendo sure knows how to make that money. Hit the jump for the full list of new game releases and my pick of the week.

Pick of the Week: Wii Sports Resort with Wii MotionPlus (Wii)

Xbox 360:

• The King of Fighters XII

PS3:

• The King of Fighters XII

Wii:

• Wii Sports Resort with Wii MotionPlus

PC:

• Bionic Commando
• East India Company
• Memento Mori

DS:

• Rockin’ Pretty
• Space Bust A Move

You read that right Killzone 2 fans! After just releasing the third DLC map pack “Napalm & Cordite” yesterday for their highly popular PS3 shooter, Guerrilla Games is celebrating by giving players a double XP weekend starting today.

The double XP weekend will allow players to earn a 2.5 multiplier with a team win and with a loss you’ll be granted the normal multiplier for a win which is 1.5. So even with a team loss you still get extra XP, which is always a plus. Now get online and start ranking up and unlocking those badges!

Source: PlayStation.blog

With the third map pack just announced yesterday, Treyarch and Activision have let the numbers out on how the two previous World at War DLC map packs have sold.

According to Activision, the map packs have sold over 4 million copies over Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Wow, that’s a whole lot of cash money just on DLC maps. We can only guess that Map Pack 3 will boost these numbers and most likely sell a few million more copies.

Infinity Ward needs to learn from what Treyarch has done with World at War and make sure they offer plenty of DLC with Modern Warfare 2 because it’s sure to sell just as much, if not more.

Source: That VideoGame Blog

Microsoft announced today that a major update to Xbox Live will be arriving on August 11. The update is set to include many new features including Games on Demand, improved Netflix performance (complete with Movie Parties), Avatar Marketplace, the ability to rate games and more.

Confirmed titles for the Games on Demand service include Mass Effect, BioShock, Assassin’s Creed, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga and Sonic the Hedgehog.

The Facebook, Twitter and Last.FM integration will not be included in this update, but will arrive in a future fall update alongside 1080p streaming support.

Source: Shacknews