Kart racing games often get thought of as offshoot projects from successful franchises with popular characters. Even the venerable Mario Kart owes a great deal of its success, or at least its acceptance, to a roster of drivers that includes its namesake, Luigi, Bowser, Yoshi, et al.

ModNation Racers (PS3) doesn't enjoy the luxury of such starpower and built-in fans to draw people in. But it does have its stars, an endless number of them, created by everyone who plays the game and that's only the tip of the customization in the game. Developer United Front Games hopes that turning people loose with the ability to make their own content for pretty much every aspect of the game will make this such an expansive karting experience that it stands on its own.

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Giving players the ability to make their own content is one thing; making it fun--and most importantly not frustrating--is another. The two-tier approach... Read more

The Creative Assembly has released a handful of new screenshots from Napoleon: Total War, its upcoming strategy focused on the exploits of the Emperor of the French.

Players will be able to rewrite history by stepping into the boots of either Napoleon or his opposing generals in missions spanning his entire commanding career, from Egypt and Italy through Moscow and ultimately to the most Europop battle of all--Waterloo.

Napoleon: Total War is slated for release on PC in February 2010, published by Sega.

Cryptic Studios has announced another in-game event for its superhero-fueled MMO, Champions Online, called 'Nemesis Confrontation.' The event will debut Tuesday, November 24, and is conveniently scheduled to coincide with a 'Free-to-Play Thanksgiving Weekend' that begins on November 26 and runs through November 30.

"We asked ourselves," said executive producer Bill Roper, "what if your Nemesis could band together with your buddy's Nemesis to take you on? Epic."... Read more

Yesterday, we learned that Grasshopper Manufacture's eclectic Wii action game No More Heroes was coming to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Now, we have screenshots of the prettied-up Xbox 360 port (via Xbox Japan) and video of a real-life wrestler.

Exactly what Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa is saying and why the video is on the game's official site, I don't know, but it's got to relate to the game somehow ...right?

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Having previously announced an expanded edition of Resident Evil 5 for Japan and vowed to release the new content in downloadable form for current owners, Capcom today issued a release schedule and screenshots of the forthcoming expansions.

Along with the previously detailed "Lost in Nightmares" prequel mission, a second new episode will be released, as will new constumes and a new "Mercenaries Reunion" mode that packs "8 new playable characters and weapon load outs."

• "Lost in Nightmares" Episode: 2/17/10 (Xbox 360), 2/18/10 (PlayStation 3)
• Costume Pack 1: 2/17/10 (Xbox 360), 2/18/10 (PlayStation 3)... Read more

Blizzard has released new StarCraft 2 screenshots showing gorgeous in-engine cinematics from the PC real-time strategy sequel as well as regular gameplay.

Many of the gameplay features show early campaign mission 'The Evacuation of Agria,' where players defend colonists fleeing a Zerg invasion. A feature on the StarCraft 2 website explains the evolution of the mission and the principles behind it.

Blizzard also shines the spotlight on multiplayer, with overviews of two 1v1 maps and a Q&A session covering the design process and impact of new units and features.

The PC real-time strategy sequel is scheduled to arrive on PC in the first half of 2010. A multiplayer beta was planned to launch this year, with Blizzard recently telling Shacknews "we're working hard to release the beta as soon as it's ready."

The first post-release downloadable expansion for Dragon Age: Origins has been announced by developer BioWare, with the content due "this holiday season."

Coming to all three platforms--PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360--"Return to Ostagar" is said to let players "exact their revenge and embark on a quest for the mighty arms and armor of the once great King Cailan when they revisit Ostagar, the site of the Grey Wardens' darkest hour, to reclaim the honor and learn the secrets of Ferelden's fallen king."

Along with battlefields "now thick with darkspawn encamped amidst the snow," players will also encounter "a second chance to add Dog to your party."

The download will go for $4.99 / 400 BioWare Points / 400 Microsoft Points in North America--a worldwide release "this holiday season" was promised, but international pricing was not disclosed. The developer has previously stated its commitment to fleshing out the fantasy RPG with extra content, noting this could last two years.

With such bonuses being all the rage these days, publisher Sega and developer Rebellion have paired with GameStop to offer pre-orders some extra Aliens vs. Predator content.

Pre-ordering the xenomorph shooter from the retailer will net a download code for three "exclusive" multiplayer skins "while supplies last." The promotion covers all three versions--PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

The game itself is due out in February, with details and images of the three skins--SGT. Kaneko, Number Six, Alien Head Preadtor--following just below... Read more

Eighty-eight seconds of uncut Battlefield: Bad Company 2 footage are on display in a new trailer from DICE featuring tanks, sniping and a spot of explosive demolition.

The action occurs on the map 'Arica Habor', the sole level in the multiplayer beta which begins today for PlayStation 3 pre-orders then in December for all and sundry on PC.

Published by EA, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 arrives for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 2. Pre-ordering also nets you a "day one advantage" through six multiplayer item unlocks. A multiplayer demo is planned, presumably arriving before the release.

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Narrowing down the general 2010 release of Supreme Commander 2, publisher Square Enix has issued several new robot-tastic screenshots and revealed that Gas Powered Games' PC and Xbox 360 strategy sequel will hit European territories in spring. The company has yet to confirm if the spring release window also applies to North America, though it seems likely as Square Enix has recently been shipping many of its North American and European releases within close proximity of one another.

Freshly formed "social game company" Gravity Bear has unveiled its first title in the form of Facebook RPG "Battle Punks."

Calling to mind studio co-founder Phil Shenk's previous work on Diablo II and Hellgate: London, Battle Punks is billed as "raucous journey where players tromp and battle" through a variety of environments "to win prized weapons, spells, experience and treasure."

Unlike Hellgate and Diablo, it seems that Battle Punks will focus on player-versus-player combat, with players "proving themselves in boisterous combat against millions of other avatars in a bid to become the toughest, scrappiest fighter... Read more

New Just Cause 2 screenshots show exactly what we have come to expect from Avalanche Studios's open-world over-the-top shooter--tropical landscapes, airborne acrobatics and a healthy dose of destruction.

Avalanche has also released a new gameplay walkthrough narrated by lead designer Peter Johansson with over ten minutes of driving, parachuting, grappling and mayhem.

Just Cause 2 arrives for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2010.

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Three "custom and fully-tuned" variants of the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe have arrived today in Forza Motosport 3 as part of a free downloadable content pack.

The 33MB Hyundai Car Pack adds the drift-tastic Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe, speed-tuned HKS Genesis Coupe and developer Turn 10's custom Forza Motorsport 3 Genesis Coupe, as well as Genesis races for Career mode.

As part of the "partnership" the Hyundai Genesis Coupe will the subject of an in-game advertising campaign, featured on "billboards, building exteriors and JumboTrons."

Turn 10 also announced further DLC in the form of the 'Hot Holidays Car Pack' which on December 8 for an unknown price will add "some of the world's most anticipated super cars and purpose-built race cars of 2010" including the Ferrari 458 Italia. All racers will be given the 2010 Audi S4 for free as a taster for the pack.

Lasers, rockets and giant robots star in our latest look Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, providing a glimpse of a multiplayer bout located in the Arctic. EA Los Angeles' PC RTS sequel is slated to hit North America on March 16, with a multiplayer beta due before then and rumors of layoffs at the studio after.

A wealth of new Super Street Fighter IV screenshots and videos accompany the latest fact sheet, as Capcom unleashes yet another media blast for the enhanced re-release.

The screenshots detail the return of the car and barrel smashing mini-games alongside the smattering of new online options, while the videos see newcomer Juri facing off against returning vets Dee Jay and T. Hawk.

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All in all, Super Street Fighter IV will add "about eight new characters" to the twenty-five character roster of Street Fighter IV when it hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the spring of 2010. Another video and Capcom's official fact sheet follow below... Read more

Following last week's record-breaking launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the iPhone and iPod touch are now home to a Call of Duty game of their very own. Now available via iTunes, Call of Duty: World at War: ZOMBIES recreates the zombie-infested "Nacht der Untoten (Night of the Undead)" map from last year's entry, Treyarch's Call of Duty: World at War, in portable touch- and tilt-controlled form.

The 16MB download sells for $9.99, packing three controls schemes and support for up to four players via Wi-Fi or two via Bluetooth. Development was handled by Ideaworks Game Studio, with more maps slated to arrive as downloadable content.

Pandemic has revealed the modest system requirements for The Saboteur, its open-world stealth-action shooter set during World of War 2 in Nazi-occupied Paris.

The Saboteur will sneak onto PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on December 8.

Required system specifications:

CPU: Core 2 Dual Core 2.4GHz or AMD equivalent
RAM: 2GB or more
Video: Nvidia Geforce 7800 GTX with 256MB of VRAM or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro with 256MB of VRAM... Read more

Not only does this week's batch of Wii and DSi downloadable releases include the usual selection--including more from the Art Style series and yet another version of Street Fighter II--there are also free demos for a handful of earlier WiiWare titles.

WiiWare
• Pokemon Rumble - $15
• BIT.TRIP BEAT Demo - Free
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord Demo - Free
• NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits Demo - Free
• World of Goo Demo - Free
Wii Virtual Console
• Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures(Super NES) - $8... Read more

Rockstar San Diego has saddled up a few new screenshots of Red Dead Redemption, its open-world Wild West sequel built upon the same engine as Grand Theft Auto IV.

Red Dead Redemption is due on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 before the end of July following a delay "to allow additional development time... and to maximize [its] full potential," in both "the quality of the player experience and market performance."

No Resident Evil game is complete without bizarre unlockable modes and costumes and The Darkside Chronicles certainly continues the trend, Capcom revealed today.

As well as an assortment of unlockable costumes ranging from mundane--Resident Evil 4 outfits--to baffling--western getups complete with chaps and spurs--the on-rails Wii shooter features a mode where zombies are transformed into possibly the only item more terrifying than the ravenous undead--the coagulated soy milk product known as tofu.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles arrives for Wii in North America on November 17. The following pair of trailers demonstrate the bizarre bonuses... Read more