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.

Ah football, the beautiful game! And still reasonably attractive when impudently dubbed "soccer" and made into a video game, if the first FIFA Soccer 10 trailer is any indication.

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Along with improved player AI and football mechanics, and a deeper Manager mode, EA claims FIFA 10 sports "the first-ever true 360 degree dribbling system." Charming.

Developed by EA Canada and published by EA Sports, FIFA Soccer 10 is scheduled for release on PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PS2, PSP and Nintendo DS in the fall.

Cultural sensation Grease has spawned a licensed video game for the Wii and Nintendo DS, co-publishers 505 Games and Paramount Digital Entertainment announced today.

Based on the original high school musical and the subsequent John Travolta-starring flick so dear to the hearts of many, the game is said to "allow players to sing and dance alongside Danny, Sandy, The Pink Ladies and the T-Birds."

The Wii version will "take full advantage" of the platform's motion-sensing capabilities and microphone, 505 vowed, with the DS edition more of a touch screen-based affair. No developer was named, nor was there any inkling of the expected release window.

"The 'Grease' movie is a timeless pop culture icon, and 505 Games is eager to bring the first interactive experience based on the film to fans around the world," said 505 Games president Adam Kline. "We're looking forward to working with Paramount Digital Entertainment to put players in the middle of all the fun with this all-new video game."

Look out, Harry! In celebration of your latest theatrical adventure, Lord Voldemort Electronic Arts has issued some new trailers for the accompanying video game release.

Developed by EA Bright Light, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits North American retailers tomorrow, June 30, in PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP form.

"Making of" Part III - Dueling

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For the other two trailers, just keep on reading and hold on to that feeling... Read more

Disney has announced that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of G-Force and the Wii's Toy Story Mania! will feature stereoscopic 3D through anaglyphic glasses.

The publisher claims the pair will be "the first games for next-generation systems to fully feature three-dimensional stereoscopic technology," which "adds to the already fun video game... and extends the gameplay by creating entirely new options for players."

Ubisoft's video game adaptation of James Cameron's stereoscopic film Avatar will also feature the technology that Cameron believes will be "the next big thing."

G-Force arrives July 21 with PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and PS2 versions developed by Eurocom, and DS and PSP releases by Keen. Based on the Disneyland attraction of the same name, Toy Story Mania! arrives exclusively on Wii in the fall.

Dinosaurs, magic and western shoot-outs--yup, it's time for the weekly release list.

Go ahead and hit up the full list, or, if you're looking for a particular system, skip right to the PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP. Should you want to check out any past release lists, scope out our handy archive.

Barring any delays, most of this week's games should be at North American retailers no later than Wednesday, July 1. The only exception is Trine--it looks like that won't hit North American stores until later, but it should arrive via some digital distribution outlets Friday.

... Read more

After helping form independent-oriented publisher Gathering of Developers (g.o.d.), sold to Take-Two in 2000, and then helping create independent-focused publisher Gamecock, sold to SouthPeak in 2008, co-founders Harry Miller and Mike Wilson have returned once again with another new publishing outfit.

Dubbed Devolver Digital, it's described as a "production and publishing company based in Austin, Texas, specializing in delivering top quality entertainment to gamers worldwide at affordable prices by any and all means available."

"A few other old friends" are also involved in Devolver, Wilson told Big Download.

Word of Devolver first emerged via this morning's announcement of Serious Sam: The First Encounter HD, with the company assisting developer Croteam in producing and publishing its forthcoming Xbox Live Arcade and PC shooter.

"We're basically acting as the production company for the XBLA game, since we are not an official MSFT publisher yet, and will be publishing the PC version... Read more

With Brothers in Arms and Borderlands developer Gearbox having recently filed for a quartet of "War Hero" trademarks, the studio today confirmed to Shacknews that the new franchise is "something down the road."

Explaining that the trademarks reveal "a bit about our interests in the development of another original intellectual property," Gearbox Software president Randy Pitchford said that "we haven't even talked to any potential partners" in regards to War Hero.

"So we're certainly not ready to talk about it publicly at the moment," he noted.

Pitchford added that the studio is currently "all gaga" over its October-due shooter-RPG Borderlands, with attentions "focused squarely on kicking ass." Gearbox is also working on the long-awaited Aliens: Colonial Marines, due out no earlier than next year. In all, the studio has five projects in the works, with at least two of them remaining mysteries.

Update: Pitchford further tells us that War Hero is not among the three mystery projects currently listed on Gearbox's "games in development" page.

Now available on FileShack is a 595MB demo of EA's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince tie-in game, offering would-be wizards a taste of the magical life.

A new trailer introduced by the dastardly Draco Malfoy features stars and developers discussing the films recreations of spell duelling, Quidditch and and Hogwarts itself.

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Developed by EA Bright Light Studio, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is released for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PS2, PSP, DS and Wii on June 30.

A bonus second trailer offers a look at some action on the Quidditch field... Read more

Bethesda Softworks parent company ZeniMax Media has just announced its acquisition of well-known video game developer id Software (Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein 3D).

"id Software will continue to operate as a studio under the direction of its founder, John Carmack," vowed ZeniMax. "No changes will be made in the operations of id Software in the development of its games. All the principals at id Software have signed long-term employment contracts, assuring they will continue in their roles...at the studio."

Founded as an independent game developer in 1991, id Software is currently working on the post-apocalyptic shooter RAGE (PC, PS3, 360) and the long-awaited Doom 4.

"Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best--make AAA games," said ZeniMax CEO Robert Altman. "Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it... Read more

New trademark registrations from Gearbox Software seem to suggest that the company behind the World War II shooter series Brothers in Arms and Wii maraca-shaker Samba de Amigo is plotting (or at least protecting) a new "War Hero" franchise.

The studio recently filed for four trademarks related to that phrase--World War II Hero, War Hero, Brothers in Arms War Hero, and Modern War Hero--as noticed by superannuation. Each filing is listed under the general category of "computer game programs and computer game software."

At present, Gearbox has three mystery projects and two known titles--Borderlands and Aliens: Colonial Marines--in development. Borderlands (PC, PS3, 360) is slated to hit this October, while Aliens (PC, PS3, 360) is expected no earlier than next year.

A 240.36MB demo of Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships (PC) is now available on FileShack, allowing you to sample a portion of what publisher Her Interactive refers to as "the 20th installment of the best-selling adventure game series."

As past data has shown, Her Interactive isn't joking about with the "best-selling" part. This time around, Nancy's attempt at a vacation is sidetracked when her friend Bess gets kidnapped. No word if the plot was, in Law & Order tradition, "ripped from the headlines."

The latest adventure of the cultural icon arrives at North American retailers on July 14, with Her Interactive also revealing that male counterparts The Hardy Boys... Read more

With Michael Bay's undoubtedly explosion-filled Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen debuting in North American theaters this week, publisher Activision has released a launch trailer for the accompanying game, also expected to pack many explosions.

Developed by a handful of studios, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen hits North American retailers in PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP tomorrow.

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Nintendo continues to fuel the serious problem of download addiction today with a double dose of Japanese puzzlers, bringing Art Style: BOXLIFE to the DSi and NEVES Plus to Wii addicts, along with vintage god game SimEarth for the Wii Virtual Console.

Nintendo Wii:

• SimEarth: The Living Planet (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM)
• Family Mini Golf
• NEVES Plus
• Drill Sergeant Mindstrong

Nintendo DSi:

• Art Style: BOXLIFE

For those whose addictions make the 9am PST release time seem an eternity away, further details on today's grab bag of downloads follow... Read more

Rockstar's Nintendo DS top-down open-world murder simulator Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is to be released on the PSP, publisher Take-Two announced today.

The PSP version promises to improve on the DS original with "upscaled widescreen graphics, enhanced lighting and animation; and including all-new story missions."

While the game was well-received critically, opening month sales of 89,000 units for the DS release of Chinatown Wars in March fell far short of many analysts' lofty predictions.

Coming this fall, GTA: Chinatown Wars is to be released both on UMD for owners of old-fashioned PSPs and on the PlayStation Network for the new download-only PSP Go.

And just like that, out of nowhere, comes one of the busiest weeks that we've seen in a while. ArmA II, Dawn of Discovery, Transformers, Fight Night Round 4, Overlord II, new Fallout 3 DLC, a Spore expansion pack, The Conduit...the list goes on and on.

Go ahead and hit up the full list, or, if you're looking for a particular system, skip right to the PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP. Should you want to check out any past release lists, scope out our handy archive.

Excluding ArmA II, which arrives via Steam on Friday, June 26, everything else should be on North American retail shelves no later than Wednesday, June 24.

... Read more

With Related Design's ANNO 1404 hitting North America next week under the title Dawn of Discovery, publisher Ubisoft has put out a "mood" trailer for the strategy game.

The PC release will be accompanied by visually distinct Wii and DS editions, also due in stores next week, with a free demo of the PC version now available on FileShack.

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A variety of mystical creatures ready themselves for fantasy football action in the below trailer, as developer Cynanide prepares to release the board game-inspired Blood Bowl.

Sporting both turn-based and real-time play, Blood Bowl hits PC via digital distribution June 26, with DS and PSP editions due "soon" and an Xbox 360 release in September.

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A new trailer for Gaijin Entertainment's Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 flight sim IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey dishes up a dose of World War II dogfights and dive bombing.

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On offer are over fifty missions in various roles throughout the war with difficulty levels ranging from arcade to simulation, as well as multiplayer with customisable planes.

PSP and DS versions are also under development by DYNAMICSYSTEMS and DiP Interactive respectively. All are planned for release some time this year.

A hodgepodge of LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues screenshots show off its level editor, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull cinematics, and a dash of gameplay.

In addition to recreating The Crystal Skull in block form, LEGO Indiana Jones 2 will also rework the first game's plastic incarnation of the original trilogy, adding new objectives and several new stages, as well as extra vehicles and animations for Indy.

Traveller's Tales' LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues is scheduled for release on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP this fall.