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.

Capcom wasn't kidding when it teased that you could "expect to see a whole slew of downloadable PSP and PSone titles from our vault" appear in the PlayStation Store.

Over on the PlayStation.Blog, the publisher has listed a number of the digital re-releases coming to the online PlayStation 3 and PSP marketplace, beginning with tomorrow's online release of the once disc-only Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed on PSP.

Initially released in 2006, the arcade compilation packs twenty of Capcom's old arcade games, including Final Fight, Bionic Commando, Street Fighter, Strider, and 1941.

As for the rest of the downloadable releases, simply read on for the list... Read more

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.

With the looming download-only release of Unbound Saga (PSP) on July 16, developer Vogster has pegged the portable single-player brawler at $15 and issued a new trailer.

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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

Citing "surprisingly strong support" of the downloadable demo for Holy Invasion of Privacy Badman! What Did I Do To Deserve This, publisher NIS today announced that the PSP action-strategy game will only be released as a PlayStation Store download.

Priced at $19.99 and slated to release July 17, the Acquire-developed title has players crafting a dungeon and an accompanying self-sustaining ecosystem of monsters that can fend off the pesky human heroes trying to capture the Overlord and restore peace.

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Vogster has released several new screenshots of its download-only "smash-tastic arcade-style brawler" PSP effort Unbound Saga, showcasing the game's two heroes.

No price has been set for the single-player game, which hits the online PlayStation Store on July 16 and follows the adventures of Rick Ajax and Lori Machete as the self-aware duo fights against "The Maker" of the comic book they're trapped in.

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.

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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Update: Namco Bandai has confirmed an October 27 release date for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versionsof Tekken 6. The PSP release has yet to be clarified further.

There are no words. Just look. Tekken 6. PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PSP. This fall.

Okay, it turns out that there are some words, as developer Namco Bandai has issued some character descriptions to go along with the new screenshots. The Cardboard Tube Samurai there doesn't get a description though, as the cameo appearance of Penny-Arcade's corrugated warrior is just a pre-order bonus costume for Yoshimitsu.

By the way, did you know that during the events of Tekken 5, "Marshall Law's illegal employment in Japan was detected, and he was deported back... 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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Major publisher Activision might drop support for Sony's PlayStation 3 and PSP entirely if the consoles do not become more profitable, CEO Bobby Kotick has told The Times in an interview.

"I'm getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don't make it easy for me to support the platform," Kotick explained. "It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better."

"Games generate a better return on invested capital on the Xbox than on the PlayStation," said Kotick. He states that Call of Duty and Guitar Hero publisher Activision paid Sony over $500 million last year in royalties and other costs, quipping that the figure "probably still worked out at 400 per cent of the profit they made."

"They have to cut the price, because if they don't, the attach rates are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony," he said. "When we look at 2010 and 2011, we might want to consider if we support the console - and the PSP too."

Kotick adds that a new physical interface "could be ideal." Sony announced the motion-sensing camera PlayStation Motion Controller at E3 this year, arriving Spring 2010.