Mafia 2 producer Denby Grace introduces a whopping fifteen minutes of play from the mobster shooter's early game, as was demonstrated during the E3 expo in June.

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We interviewed Grace during E3, covering Mafia 2 topics including the new 1940s-50s setting, side-missions, its gangland narrative, and the possibility of modding tools.

Mafia 2 is slated for release on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the first half of 2010.

"The art style...is the glue to everything," Gearbox's Mikey Neumann explains above the gentle hum of a crowded meeting room during E3. "It allows us to embrace what our game actually is, and man, when we had that epiphany, when it all came together, we were like, 'shit man, that's what this game is, this game is about having fun.'"

Neumann, whose job title today is "a guy who can get you things," is talking about the radical change that the studio's shooter-RPG Borderlands recently underwent, shifting from a gritty realistic aesthetic to something a bit more... stylized.

It was a risky move, especially considering that the game is nearing completion--it's hitting PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in October--and this is the first time that Gearbox has demonstrated the new art style, in real time, to most of the gaming media.

And though the game's not out until October, it needs to be completed much sooner than that due to the need for testing. "You can subtract two and a half to three months for certification time," he says. "Subtract three months off of October... Read more

As a platformer, 'Splosion Man (XBLA) is a blood relative of Sonic the Hedgehog. But as a relative, 'Splosion Man is the freakish uncle that your mother never let you talk to.

Running about levels, the 'Splosion Man fans out his arms into an airplane. He drops his jaw, and lowers his arms like a neandrathal, and moans like an idiot. And then he explodes.

This kind of behavior justifiably terrifies 'Splosion Man's victims, the mad scientists that presumably created him--though not so much for them to stop experimenting on other creatures. Caught unaware, they cower and flee as the gleeful 'Splosion Man gives chase. And then he explodes.

You do a lot of exploding in 'Splosion Man. In fact, the only thing you can do in the game is explode: it's mapped to almost every button. It is your jump; your attack; your special attack. If you explode several times in a row, 'Splosion Man has to... Read more

While publisher Activision has been rather tight-lipped regarding the songs found in Guitar Hero 5--only a few tracks have been announced--developer Neversoft confirmed a couple more of the licensed in-game tunes during a presentation last week.

Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," A Perfect Circle's "Judith" and Blink 182's "The Rock Show" were among the previously unknown songs shown in a hands-off demonstration of the upcoming multi-instrument music game sequel.

In addition, director Brian Bright confirmed to Shacknews that, as indicated by the list of included bands, David Bowie and Queen's "Under Pressure" will be in... Read more

Still catching up on all the E3 videos that hit last week? So are we. Here's one of the stand-outs, a four minute look at Naughty Dog's very impressive Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

The action game hits the PlayStation 3 this fall.

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Following through on last week's official announcement of The Last Guardian, publisher Sony has released several screenshots from Team ICO's debut PlayStation 3 game.

Once known as "Project Trico," The Last Guardian is said to conclude the trilogy that the beloved studio began with its PlayStation 2 action-adventure title Ico and continued via Shadow of the Colossus--a game that was originally referred to as "Nico."

Sadly, there's still no word as to when The Last Guardian may arrive. In the meantime, you should probably watch (or re-watch) the debut trailer, which is below... Read more

Being a big fan of Rebellion's original Aliens vs. Predator FPS, the studio's new sequel--a faithful three-campaign amalgamation of the original experience--is extremely exciting to me. And while I didn't go hands-on with it at E3, I did get a behind-closed-doors look at the Marine campaign. And the Marine campaign, as any fan knows, is the best part of any AVP title.

What I saw was encouraging. In terms of raw graphical prowess, the new Alien vs. Predator is a pure species of Alien game. Smoke, light and shadow dominated the palette in an overrun civilian compound, the setting of the demonstration. Gaping, acid-encrusted holes in the steel walkways, turret targeting lasers faintly cutting through the haze--it all would have been intensely scary, had the introductory level not been populated with scores of NPCs.

But beyond the game's impressive graphical touches--those screenshots aren't doctored--Rebellion is putting some work into making the iconic enemies just as terrifying to fight as they were in the original.

In the new AVP, Giger's nightmares understand what shadow is, and will intelligently use it to their advantage. During one assault, three aliens rapidly closed in on the Marine and his NPC buddies. After taking down two of the beasts, the third quietly disappeared near the end of the battle. Sensing a trap, the Marine slowly... Read more

While the artificial size constraint on Xbox Live Arcade titles has been steadily increased since the platform's launch, Microsoft now tells us that no Xbox Live Arcade game can exceed 2GB in size due to technical limitations.

The current "limit" stands at 350MB, but several Arcade games already exceed that boundary, including Portal: Still Alive (629MB), Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (368MB) and Watchmen: The End is Nigh (1GB).

"Our technical constraint is 2GB," said Microsoft director of digital distribution Scott Austin. "If there's a quality reason to go over 350MB, [then we will]."

The original limit was set at 50MB at the console's launch, and then increased from 150MB to 350MB last year.

Chair's upcoming action-platformer Shadow Complex, announced last week at E3, is expected to weigh in around 800-900MB, according to studio creative director Donald Mustard.

At long last ending the perpetual platform drama regarding Capcom's Lost Planet 2, a PlayStation 3 version of the action game sequel was confirmed at E3 last week.

Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton made a passing mention of a PlayStation 3 edition during his company's press conference, dating it for early 2010.

Upon its revelation earlier this year, Lost Planet 2 was only announced for Xbox 360. Capcom later teased PC and PS3 editions, and confirmed the PC version shortly after. Given Capcom's policy against major platform exclusives, this isn't that surprising.

Still no word on the downloadable Xbox 360 demo of Lost Planet 2 that Capcom was hoping to have out around now, but the full game is due no later than March 31, 2010.

Microsoft's August-due Games on Demand section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, set to enable users to digitally purchase and download full-fledged Xbox 360 retail games, will forgo Microsoft Points in favor of real-world currency.

"For the first time in Games Marketplace, we're showing the price in local currency," Microsoft director of digitally distributed games Scott Austin explained in a presentation with Shacknews. "That way you can see if we're the same price as retail or not, people can understand--a little more transparency that we're providing to our consumers."

Buyers will be able to directly bill their credit card for the exact price of the game, instead of being forced to use Microsoft Points--wherein 80 Points is equivalent to $1, and Points can only be purchased in increments of 500 ($6.25), 1000 ($12.50), 2000 ($25) or 5000 ($62.50). However, users can opt to use their existing balance of Microsoft Points for full game downloads if they wish. "You now have the choice," said Austin.

When asked if this shift towards local currency would carry over to the rest of the Xbox Live Marketplace--the offerings of which include downloadable... Read more

Developer Gearbox Software is targeting an October release for its post-apocalyptic shooter-RPG Borderlands, the studio told Shacknews during a recent interview.

Originally expected last year, the game was then pushed into 2009, with publisher Take-Two Interactive merely stating that it would arrive no later than October 31, 2009.

For more on the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 shooter--described by our own Nick Breckon as "Diablo-meets-Halo"--check out our latest impressions, and stay tuned for an interview with Gearbox's "guy who can get you things" Mikey Neumann.

Previously slated to arrive at North American retailers on June 30, EA Canada's latest boxing effort, Fight Night Round 4, has now been bumped up to a June 25 release.

The announcement came during Electronic Arts' recent E3 press conference, with the publisher today issuing several new screenshots full of punches, spittle, and pain.

And in case you just can't wait until June 25, a downloadable demo of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 boxing game is now available from each console's online marketplace.

When E3's over, who do you call? Starfy! Starfy!

When everyone is tired and not smiling at all? Starfy! Starfy!

He's the greatest starfish ever around, jumping all over the sea and the ground.

Starfy, Starfy--he's the beeeeeeest!

The Legendary Starfy on Nintendo DS, developed by TOSE. Coming to stores June 8!

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Photographs were forbidden when Zelda series creator Shigeru Miyamoto teased a new Wii Zelda game this week at E3 by showing a single piece of concept art at a roundtable session, leaving all not present relying on second-hand impressions.

That is, until Nintendo kindly released the concept artwork for all and sundry to enjoy. We, being sundry, may now enjoy the first look at what might await us in the next installment of Zelda.

"I love action games, and bring in archery and swordplay, that's great for me," said Miyamoto, adding that it could require the sensitivity-boosting Wii MotionPlus add-on, "But some people love [Zelda] as an RPG, and like the simpler controls, so that's something I really have to think about."

Miyamoto expressed a wish to show the game at E3 in 2010.

A new trailer for NetDevil's spaceborne PC action MMO Jumpgate Evolution shows the seriousness of the big black yonder, while several new screenshots capture its beauty.

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NetDevil recently delayed Jumpgate from a planned June release following feedback from testers. Beta signups are open on its website, should you fancy lending a hand.

Microsoft has released footage of the live demonstration of its Xbox 360 motion-sensitive camera controller codenamed Project Natal, introduced this week at E3.

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Microsoft has also shared the demonstration of Lionhead Studios' eerie/wonderful/bizarre virtual boy named Milo, here for you introduced by Peter Molyneux... Read more

Reasons as varied as their totally tubular selves drive Ninja Turtles character to fight in this Super Smash Bros.-style Wii fighter from Game Arts--who worked on SSB: Brawl.

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Publisher Ubisoft also sends over screenshots of Mirage's four-player side-scrolling remake Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, due to be released July 22 on Xbox Live Arcade then later in the summer on PlayStation Network.

Smash Up, due out this fall on Wii, packs both local and online multiplayer... Read more

Chasing an Assassin's Creed 2 cinematic trailer and screenshots comes, at long last, in-game footage, of a mission which sees Ezio pilot Leonardo da Vinci's famous glider.

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Assassin's Creed 2 is released for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 17.

Tekken number 6 brings a new Scenario Campaign mode to the series, a Streets of Rage-style brawler with two-player online Coop, machine guns, flamethrowers and pilotable giant robots, which Namco Bandai proudly declares "A first for the series!"

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A further two trailers provide the usual glitz, glam and boasts of an E3 trailer, and a collage of more traditional Tekken one-on-one beat 'em up gameplay... Read more

Renegade Kid is spawning Dementium II, sequel to its Nintendo DS first-person shooter Dementium: The Ward, publisher SouthPeak Games has announced. A teaser trailer suggest suggests a sanitarium will once again be home to heebie jeebies.

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"Regardless of what some say about 'M' rated games on Nintendo DS, the original Dementium proved there is an audience hungry for a top notch handheld horror title," said SouthPeak VP of Marketing Richard Iggo. "We aim to feed this bloodthirsty crowd."

Dementium II is scheduled for release on Nintendo DS in the first quarter of 2010.