A pair of new DiRT 2 trailers demonstrate the fancy DirectX 11 graphical wizadry which reportedly caused the PC version of Codemasters' racer to be delayed several months.

First up is a tech-focused look at the DirectX 11-enabled features which include "Cloth Tessellation, Hardware Instanced Tessellated Crowd, Tessellated Water with Dynamic Displacement Mapping, Enhanced Lighting and Post Processing."

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DirectX 11 arrives today with the release of Windows 7, also due to hit Windows Vista in an update later this month. AMD/ATI has already released the first DirectX 11-capable video cards while Nvidia's offerings are expected to arrive in December... Read more

Codemaster's latest off-road racer should now be on North American store shelves, with a European release later this week, meaning that it's prime time for a launch trailer.

Developed internally at Codemasters, DiRT 2 is (or will shortly be) available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP. A PC version arrives in December.

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After an unexplained delay that saw Thursday pass without its usual PlayStation Store update, Sony's online marketplace has now been refreshed with new content. Among this week's offerings are four new downloadable demos for PlayStation 3 owners (WET, NHL 10, DiRT 2, F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn DLC), three more PSone Classics playable on PS3 and PSP, side-scrolling beat 'em up Invincible Tiger, and loads of add-on content.

Downloadable Games

Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao ($14.99)
The Evil Overlord must be stopped! Perform devastating combos, swift dodge maneuvers and punishing finisher moves on waves of ruthless minions to protect the Star of Destiny. Enjoy a variety of modes... Read more

Hot on the heels of the two new demos that hit Xbox Live yesterday--Mini Ninjas, Lost Planet 2--the Xbox 360's online marketplace was today updated with another two.

This time, we've got playable samples of Codemasters' racer DiRT 2 and the latest hockey title out of EA Canada, NHL 10. As with Mini Ninjas, that DiRT 2 demo should hit PlayStation 3 later today, and don't be surprised if NHL 10 shows up there too.

The full version of DiRT 2 rolls into North American retailers on September 8 in Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS and PSP form, with a PC edition due in December. Meanwhile, NHL 10 is due on PS3 and Xbox 360 come September 15, the same day as NHL 2K10.

Fans of Colin McRae racers will enjoy this media blast from Codemasters, a three-video extravaganza showing off the upcoming DiRT 2.

The sequel hits September 8 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, DS and PSP. The PC version is coming later in December, apparently due to a lengthy DirectX 11 upgrade.

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Click through for the other two videos:... Read more

Rally racer DiRT 2 will be released September 8 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, DS and PSP, Codemasters announced today, releasing four new screenshots in celebration.

PC gamers will of course have to wait until December, as the PC release has been delayed until then to add support for the new graphical bells and whistles of DirectX 11.

Once slated to arrive alongside its console counterparts in September, the PC release of Codemasters' off-road racer DiRT 2 has been pushed back until December so that it can "benefit from an extended development program to take advantage of DirectX 11."

"We believe that the DirectX 11 feature set is too compelling to ignore, especially considering how much more it can add to the visual experience for PC gamers," said Codemasters technical officer Bryan Marshall, who further cited "key... Read more

As DiRT 2 enters the final stretch--it's slated to arrive this September--developer Codemasters has released some new screenshots illustrating the various off-road tracks, including Battersea, Croatia, Morocco and Utah.

Look for DiRT 2 to hit PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP.

Codemasters send over a duo of DiRT 2 trailers today, first up the traditional E3 teaser trailer, overflowing with marketing blurbs, thrilling crowd shots and a snippet of racing.

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Marginally more helpful is the gameplay trailer, which follows below... Read more

Codemasters senior executive producer Gavin Rayburn gives us a tour of the DiRT 2 project in this video, introducing us to the racing game's water technology, weighting, and handling--with a surprise visit from engine noise.

DiRT 2 is scheduled to launch on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP in September.

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What do a showering woman and an underwear-clad demonstration of improper cooking technique have to do with off-road racing action? You'll have to ask Codemasters, because I've watched this five times and still have no idea.

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Maybe we'll find out when DiRT 2 hits PC, PS3, 360, Wii, DS and PSP in September?

During its Gamers Day press event, Codemasters announced that the off-road racing game sequel DiRT 2 will be released this September.

Using the latest version of the EGO engine powering recent Codemasters racing games, DiRT 2 features a World Tour mode taking you to various locations including North America, Japan, Malaysia, Baja and Croatia.

Codemasters also promises fully-featured multiplayer support with social features across multiple racing disciplines.

The company also sent along some more 'concept' screenshots, showing what they hope the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game will look like. DiRT 2 is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP.

After its revelation of DiRT 2 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, developer Codemasters today announced that the off-road racer will also hit Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP.

"Rally racing has attracted new stars and a new style that makes it more vibrant and exciting than ever before; it's right up there as a premium extreme sport, attracting fresh crowds and a new confident attitude," noted executive producer Gavin Raeburn.

"DiRT 2 mirrors this new, exciting direction and, in a way, we'll be throwing off some of the shackles and constraints that real-world rallying has to abide by. We're pitching players against the most spectacular and dangerous environments in the real world."

All versions of the game are slated to be released simultaneously in 2009.

Following up on yesterday's revelation of DiRT 2, developer Codemasters has released three images of the "target visuals" it hopes to achieve with the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 racer by the time it arrives next year.

Codemasters has taken the wraps off DiRT 2, the sequel to the 2007 off-road racer expected next year for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

The game will focus largely on improving upon the original DiRT, and executive producer Gavin Raeburn promised that the game's graphics, physics, single-player career, and multiplayer features will get some extra attention from the internal Codemasters studio working on the game.

In territories outside North America, the game will still be called Colin McRae: DiRT 2, in honor of the legendary rally racing driver who was killed in 2007 in a helicopter accident. The new game will also take inspiration from McRae's late career, according to Raeburn.

"His ventures into events such as the X-Games, Dakar Rally and the Race of Champions have inspired us to look at events covering the extremes of off-road motorsport," said the producer to IGN UK.

The game is set to use an evolved version of the EGO engine that powered the first game as well as on-road racer GRID. "The development team have... Read more