With the November 17 release of Left 4 Dead 2 fast approaching and backed by a $25 million ad campaign, developer Valve has produced a few television commercials.

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The above spot features many of the same scenes glimpsed in the intro movie for the two-stage demo, which is now available on PC and Xbox 360... Read more

Pre-orders for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are "the highest for any title we've ever sold in our 6,200 store network," retailer GameStop has informed USA Today.

The impending blockbuster--Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has sold over 13 million units, Call of Duty: World at War has now exceeded 11 million--has caused several other games to be delayed, including Call of Duty publisher Activision's own Singularity, as companies attempt to avoid going head-to-head with one of the year's biggest titles.

Infinity Ward's anticipated (and controversial) shooter sequel hits PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in exactly one week, on Tuesday, November 10. Various retailers are hosting midnight events to commemorate the release, including GameStop and Walmart.

Combining two of the latest trends in gaming, Capcom has debuted a GameStop-exclusive pre-order bonus for Dark Void with the below spooftacular video.

In short, pre-ordering Dark Void from GameStop nets you a download code for the "golden jetpack," which provides aspiring virtual rocket men with "unlimited boost." Explains the kid in the video: "Now I've got more boost than my sister's push-up bra."

Developed by Airtight, a studio founded by Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge veterans, the action game is due on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 come January 12.

Following up on the revelation that a downloadable Brutal Legend demo is due September 17, it now seems that date only applies to those who pre-order the game.

The Brutal Legend Blog clarifies that pre-ordering brings demo access, with a link to retailer GameStop adding that pre-ordering folk get the demo "a week before anybody else." Demo access for pre-orders "begins" on September 17, meaning the demo won't be publicly available for everyone else to download until September 24.

The full version of Double Fine's metal action-adventure, now free of legal hassles, hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on October 13 in North America and October 16 in Europe.

While retailer GameStop has stated that it has nothing to fear from digital distribution for the foreseeable future, the company today took another big step toward addressing the unforeseeable future, appointing Chris Petrovic as the new "general manager of digital media."

Petrovic most recently served as vice president of digital media at Playboy, of all places. In his role as GameStop's digital distribution manager, Petrvoic will oversee "the development and execution of a digital acquisition strategy" by leveraging GameStop's existing stores to drive digital sales.

"While we are currently one of the leaders in the online PC game retail space through our recently relaunched GameStop Casual Digital Store," said GameStop CEO Daniel DeMatteo, "we are also committed to supporting our unique and vast footprint of brick and mortar stores and knowledgeable associates with a smart digital business platform."

GameStop launched a new online casual games store powered by RealNetworks last week, and already offers digital sales of PC games by way of Trymedia.

GameStop began a sale today that sees several console titles including Street Fighter IV and F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin slashed to a mere $20 in price. Other titles of interest include Wanted: Weapons of Fate (360, PS3), Silent Hill: Homecoming (360, PS3) and various Wii games such as MadWorld. The affected titles appear to be marked down online as well as in-store.

A list of the discounted games courtesy CheapAssGamer follows: ... Read more

Turn 10's anticipated Xbox 360 racing sequel Forza Motorsport 3 will be available in North America on October 27, publisher Microsoft announced this morning.

The regular $59.99 game is said to pack "more than 400 cars on over 100 tracks," with a $79.99 GameStop-exclusive Limited Collector's Edition providing players with even more vehicles, access to VIP-level perks and kits, plus a real-life 2GB USB thumb drive.

Those that pre-order the game will be able to download an Audi R8 V10 with a custom paint job by fan Justin Van Dusen II, with Dusen's design having been chosen by the Forza community in a vote. For more on the Collector's Edition, read on... Read more

Wrapping up its July summer sale offer, retailer GameStop today announced that, until July 26, those that buy a new Wii console will get a free Wii game as a bonus.

Buyers can select the free title from a pool of twelve releases, which are listed below:

• Animal Crossing: City Folk
• Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
• Excitebots: Trick Racing... Read more

Those hunting for good deals will have a target-rich environment with GameStop's newly opened summer sale.

The outlet is touting "thousands" of games for sale under $20, along with special offers that will be run for a limited time.

The first of such offers is a deal on Guitar Hero World Tour full band kits. Most of the packs are for sale online at a $100 reduction, while the PlayStation 3 pack is only available in stores.

Two more specials are planned, with one Wii-specific deal teased for July 22.

Pre-ordering Left 4 Dead 2 from "participating retailers or Steam" will provide "advanced access to the demo," Valve marketing VP Doug Lombardi has informed Joystiq.

Due sometime before the launch of Left 4 Dead 2 on November 17, the downloadable demo will be available for both PC and Xbox 360, and will offer a taste of multiplayer.

Valve utilized a similar strategy with the original Left 4 Dead, enabling those that had pre-ordered the zombie shooter to play the demo a few days before anyone else.

Update: A "GameStop exclusive multiplayer demo" for Uncharted 2 will run from 8/19/2009 to 9/27/2009, according to the retailer. Those that pre-order the game from GameStop are promised both beta access and an "exclusive in-game Revenge Attribute."

It's unclear whether this is the second demo Wells was referring to--we have contacted both Naughty Dog and publisher Sony for clarification.

Original: PlayStation 3 action adventure Uncharted 2: Among Thieves will receive a second multiplayer demo, developer Naughty Dog revealed in PlayStation.Blog chat.

"We're going to have another multiplayer demo before the game hits shelves," wrote co-president Evan Wells. "The exact timing isn't finalized yet, but it should be available to an even wider group this time," referring to a recent closed multiplayer demo.

Creative director Amy Hennig comments that Naughty Dog is "really excited" about the recently-announced Uncharted movie--though Uncharted 2 is almost feature-length in itself as Wells declares "We have over 90 minutes of cinematics alone!"

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is scheduled to arrive exclusively on PlayStation 3 in the fall, with Wells promising that "an official date will be announced very soon."

Continuing the increasingly popular trend, Electronic Arts today announced that it has partnered with GameStop to provide those that pre-order Madden NFL 10 from the retailer with an "exclusive demo" of EA Tiburon's August 14-due game.

Pre-ordering either the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 edition of the football game from GameStop should net you a download code, with the demo due "by the end of July."

Recreating the Super Bowl XLIII match between the the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers, the demo will offer gamers the chance to play four, 5-minute quarters.

No word yet as to if or when a downloadable Madden NFL 10 demo will be available to the general public, but we're checking in with Electronic Arts.

Those that have pre-ordered Fight Night Round 4 from GameStop can now access a downloadable demo for the PS3 and Xbox 360 boxer, publisher EA has confirmed.

The download packs two playable characters, Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton and Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao. EA advises those that have reserved the game, but did not receive a download code, to "bring in their pre-order receipt to receive their access code."

Following two weeks of GameStop exclusivity, the demo will be released for Xbox Live Gold members on May 28, with PlayStation 3 and Xbox Live Silver folk getting it June 4. The full version of EA Canada's Fight Night Round 4 ships off to retailers on June 30.

A new report by Gamasutra estimates that GameStop controls around 21 percent of the US videogame retail market.

The study only accounts for hardware and software sales, and does not break down the 79% competitor figure to show whether GameStop is far in the lead over retail rivals such as Wal-Mart.

However, the data does show that GameStop's market share in countries outside of the US is ramping up quickly. The retailer grew 67 percent in Europe over its last fiscal year.

In the realm of strange factoids, the report also shows that Delaware has the highest concentration of GameStop stores of any state, at 2.18 stores per 100,000 citizens.

To promote the May 1 release of Raven's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, retailer GameStop today launched a "Mutton Chop Madness" contest.

Described as a "nationwide search for the best sideburns," the promotion asks entrants to send in a photo of themselves with facial hair.

Four winners, one per week, will receive a $100 GameStop gift card between April 22 and May 22, based on "originality, comedic value and style." A pair of cut-out fakes are provided "if for some reason you don't already have mutton chops (ie, you're female)."

"GameStop is not responsible for incidents involving paper mutton chops and permanent glue," cautioned the company. "Wear these chops with pride!"

Sparking a wave of internet-wide speculation, GameStop CEO Dan DeMatteo has told CNBC that the retailer expects "a Nintendo key property" to release this year.

"They haven't given us any insight, but they have told us to reserve [shelf] space," he added. After E3 2008, Nintendo revealed that the teams behind the Zelda and Mario games were "hard at work" on new titles. While Nintendo announced The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the DS in March, so far all's quiet on the Mario front.

DeMatteo also offered his opinion on console prices. He criticised Sony's $399 PlayStation 3, saying "That price point is clearly an issue in this economy." Responding to rumours of a $50 cut, he said "I don't know that $50 gets you that much... Read more

The PC Gaming Alliance has lost two of its founding members, as Activision Blizzard, the company behind such major PC titles as World of Warcraft and Call of Duty, and hardware manufacturer Acer have left due to membership costs.

PCGA president Randy Stude confirmed the cost-related leaves with Big Download, explaining to Edge Online that "a few members cannot justify the budget (membership and staff) required to maintain an active role in the PC Gaming Alliance at this time."

"Membership turnover is a fact of life in any industry consortium particularly so in the current economy," he added. "The PC Gaming Alliance is an industry consortium that relies on membership dues to achieve its' mission."

Despite the departures, Stude asserted that the non-profit organization, dedicated to improving PC gaming, has seen a "net [membership] gain for 2009," with recent joins including retailer GameStop and Sony DADC, maker of the oft-derided SecuROM DRM.

Continuing the tradition set forth by Left 4 Dead and Killzone 2, retailer GameStop has revealed that those who pre-order the console editions of Red Faction: Guerrilla will receive early access to a downloadable demo of the Volition-developed shooter.

The pre-order demo will be available April 3, according to the retailer's listings for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, with customers given a download code.

The listing specifies that the exclusivity period ends on Thursday, April 23, suggesting that the demo will be publicly released to PS3 and Xbox 360 owners that day.

The open-world shooter is slated to hit PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 by the end of June, with GameStop currently listing a street date of June 9.

Shacknews can confirm that retailer GameStop has halted pre-orders of Relic Entertainment's upcoming PC RTS Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2.

The game's listing has disappeared from GameStop's online store, with multiple brick and mortar locations telling Shacknews that they can no longer accept pre-orders.

Employees assured us that existing pre-orders would be fulfilled upon the game's February 19 release, and suggested that GameStop has sold out of its initial shipment. The retailer is known to pull listings and halt pre-orders in such scenarios.

A supposed inside source told Kotaku that GameStop will not be selling the game because it supposedly requires the installation of Valve's digital distribution platform Steam. However, this seems extremely unlikely, as GameStop... Read more

Video game-oriented mega-retailer GameStop announced today that the nine-week 2008 holiday season brought in 22.3% more cash than that of 2007.

In the press release, titled "GameStop Rises Above Recession," the retailer revealed a total 2008 holiday sales take of $2.85 billion, compared to 2007's $2.33 billion. The most recent nine-week holiday period ran from November 2, 2008 to January 3, 2009.

Xbox 360 and Wii led hardware sales, while Call of Duty: World at War, Guitar Hero World Tour, Gears of War 2, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, and Wii Fit were listed as the five best-selling games of the holiday period.

Of that $2.85 billion revenue, new video games made up 43.8% ($1.24B)... Read more