Without further ado:

Limited Edition Contents

• War Games Map Packs: The Limited Edition includes access to nine maps – three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations, available for download post-launch on Xbox LIVE.
• Specializations: Receive early access to six Specializations, available at launch on Xbox LIVE, and use them, one at a time, to achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career. In addition to gaining access to new ranks, Specializations unlock new customization options.

• The Special Edition of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, a 90-minute extended version of the live-action digital series which will take fans back to the terrifying beginning of the Human/Covenant war, when the Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC’s greatest vessel ever: the UNSC Infinity.

• Digital Content also included: Bonus in-fiction bonus content expanding the characters and stories of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn; Special Featurette: Bringing Gaming into Reality; Making of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn

Bonus digital content through Xbox Live:

• Unique in-game Spartan IV armor skin
• Unique in-game weapon skin for the Assault Rifle
• An exclusive in-game emblem
• Xbox Live Avatar prop
• Xbox Live Avatar Spartan IV armor set

The Limited Edition also contains the UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet which includes a Spartan armor customization schematic, an introduction to the massive ship UNSC Infinity, and insight into The Spartan IVs.

Here are the key features for Halo 4 in general, with all the excitement retained from the PR included:

• The Reclaimer Saga Begins:  Experience the dawn of an epic new Halo adventure, solo or split screen with up to three friends.
• Go Beyond the Story: Halo 4’s Infinity Multiplayer features a vastly expanded suite of multiplayer modes, weapons, vehicles, armor abilities, a new loadout and Spartan IV player progression system.
• Spartan Ops: Extend your campaign experience in a massive-scale adventure that builds upon the “Halo 4” Campaign. Receive a weekly series of cinematic episodes on Xbox Live followed by new game play missions, played solo or cooperatively with up to three friends – effectively delivering two campaign experiences in one game.
• War Games: Battle the competition in fresh, immersive new game modes and strategies.
• Track your groups, stats and scores on HaloWaypoint.com.
• Edge-of-your-seat Entertainment:  Immerse yourself in Halo 4’s graphics, sound and epic game play including a mysterious and deadly new class of enemies.

Halo 4 is out in November. Screenshots are below along with an animated cover art video.

The project, according to the listing, is based upon an existing IP which is a “well known and respected action/adventure title, with elements of choice and stealth within the gameplay.”

Future iterations of the franchise also “intend to really take advantage of the new platforms coming in the next two years to provide an experience with unparralled realism, depth and consequence for player action and choice.”

The current vacancies are:

• Cinematics Director
• Senior Gameplay Programmer
• Lead Technical Developer
• Level Artists
• Technical Artist
• Lead Artist
• Lead Programmer
• Senior Programmer

Deus Ex 4 was the obvious choice for Superannuation’s post instead of Thief 4 due to the later already confirmed as being in development. Add in the fact Human Revolution has stealth elements and player choices, it’s not a stretch.

Still, it could also be for Thief 4 and the title of the game just wasn’t mentioned.

Just file the Deus Ex bit away as a rumor for now until we find out something more concrete.

WBIE’s given us a bunch of exclusive renders for Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, clearly taking its inspiration from the tone of Batman: Arkham City’s box-art.

Given the Arkham City treatement are Bane, Lex Luthor, Green Lantern, Superman, Wonderwoman and, of course, Batman himself.

Get the stuff below. Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes launches this summer for 360, Wii, PS3, PC, DS, 3DS and Vita.

According to the listing, the title is a new RPG IP targeted for “future generation platforms, with a radical new take on how co-operative and multiplayer gameplay feeds into the experience, while blending online and single player into one complete experience.”

The listing goes on to state the firm is one of the “most enviable in the games industry,” which has shipped multiple games where were “critically acclaimed.”

Whatever the new title is, the listing states it will contain a “complex progression system, multiple routes through the campaign, and an MMO-like multiplayer experience [affecting] the outcome of the player experience,” as well as the environment and the outcome of certain actions.

Sure sound likes it’s Lionhead doesn’t it? Which ever studio it is, the firm is looking to hire the following:

• Technical Artist
• Database Programmer
• Server Programmer
• Multiplayer Level Designer
• Audio Programmer
• Animation Programmer
• FX Artist
• Design Director

We’ll send a mail.

Gennaro Castaldo has been at HMV for short of 30 years, but has said the response to Monday night’s Diablo III launch was one he was “privileged,” noting the music and film industries should learn lessons from gaming’s fanbase.

“I think music and film should be here. Our two biggest ever launches in HMV’s history are games related: Diablo III and World of Warcraft and nothing’s come close, I’d say,” Castaldo told VG247 in the video above, speaking at the official launch at the retailer’s flagship Oxford Street store in London.

“The only thing that actually has come close a little bit was Oasis in 1997 with the release of Be Here Now and all around the country, there was queues outside stores. But that was one of those moments where it kinda seemed to connect with a mass audience. This isn’t a mass audience, it’s a very specialist audience and they’ll go to any lengths to be part of it.

“I think if the music and film industry could bottle up what is here, they’d be a very happy business because there’s change happening in their business. They can’t quite understand it, they don’t quite know what their customers or their fans want, how they’re behaving.

“Whereas if I was a games publisher or distributor, I’d be very happy because I’d know I’d have the most loyal fans anywhere on the planet that are into games. This is an incredible response and it’s one I feel very privileged to be witnessing.”

There’s more there in the video above, including the possibility of more midnight openings from the retailer.

The resume, brought to our attention by a tweet from Superannuation, shows Payne has been working on the Saint’s Row series since its second offering, and he’s currently working on the stand alone expansion to SR: The Third, Enter the Dominatrix.

If the resume entry is correct, the game is slated for current-gen consoles.

Back in November, THQ’s Danny Bilson told X-Play Volition was already working on Saints Row 4.

“I already know what Saint’s Row 4 is about, and it is wilder than this one,” he said. “It’s a good example of how you take what you have and you say, ‘What can happen in the next?’”

Last night, during its financial call to investors, THQ announced the Saints Row franchise has shipped 11 million units world wide, and Saints Row: The Third had shipped 4.25 million units.

Disney Epic Mickey 2 launches this fall for PS3, 360 and Wii.

PlayStation Network New Content

PS3 Games

• PixelJunk 4am (Trial available) - A PlayStationMove motion controller and a PlayStationEye camera are required to play this game.
• Saints Row: The Third
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II – Owners of both episodes gain access to Episode Metal.

PS2: Deus Ex

PSOne: Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty (PSP and PS3)

minis

• Nom Nation
• Velocity

PS3 DLC

• Asura’s Wrath – Lost Episode 2
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 (x5)
• LittleBigPlanet 2 (x5)
• Max Payne 3 – Gorilla Warfare Loadout Pack
• Motorstorm RC (Vita compatible) (x3)
• Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City – Spec Ops DLC Missions 5-7
• Rock Band 3: Paramore
• UFC Undisputed 3 (x2)
• Worms Ultimate Mayhem “Multi-Player Pack”
• Yakuza: Dead Souls – Densetsu Pack (free)

PSVita DLC

• Motorstorm RC (PS3 compatible) (x3)
• Reality Fighters (x2)

Information on pricing, availability, avatars, themes, and videos can be found on the EU PS Blog.

When the game was announced at the VGAs in December, the female lead clearly had a bit inspiration from Juno and Inception actress Ellen Page.

Speaking with IGN, creative director Neil Druckmann said the change came about so it showed a “younger teen” that connected more with the plot and with the personality of the character’s actress Ashley Johnson.

“When we came up with the character of Ellie we put a lot of thought into what we wanted her to look like, researching the facial proportions, coloring and bone structures of dozens of faces and bodies. In addition to this, we held numerous casting sessions to ensure we had the right performance capture artist to represent Ellie, eventually selecting actress Ashley Johnson,” said Druckmann.

“As we’re still in the midst of development with The Last of Us, the team has been continuing to put a lot of thought into the creation of Ellie. After delving further into the game’s narrative over the past few months, we decided to modify Ellie’s model to better reflect Ashley’s personality, and also resemble a slightly younger teen more fitting to the story.

“We’re happy with the final result shown in the cinematic we have released today, and hope the fans like her too.”

For Naughty Dog, all hands are on deck for development and a massive showing at E3 in a few weeks, according to game director Bruce Straley.

“Our team has been working hard to have something ready at E3 that will please our fans. We’d love to say more, but we don’t want to spoil anything.”

Watch the brilliant looking trailer here. The Last of Us launches either at the end of this year or early next year for PS3.

Thanks, Andriasang.

The game, which was trademarked at the end of last year, will take place at a school academy of sorts featuring the fight between pirates and Akrid aliens on EDN-3rd.

It’ll also feature an anime look to it and, though it’s set in the world of Lost Planet, with Capcom hoping that players see it as a new title rather than a spin-off.

The game will be produced by Monster Hunter veteran Shintaro Kojima.

It’ll be playable at the end of next month at the Capcom Summer Jam in Japan. Development is 60% finished.

Andriasang has more details. Capcom is set to release Lost Planet 3 for PS3, 360 and PC early next year.

Speaking to Game Informer, O’Connor said certain major aspects had been planned out, but the stories for games further out were a lot looser due to the possibilities of new technology.

“Story is funny because I’ve been thinking about where the Halo story goes for ten years. And even as a fan, I wonder, ‘what’s gonna happen next?’,” said O’Connor.

“We have things mapped out pretty far, probably about ten years, but they’re pretty vague, they’re big plot points. We think that X wlll happen, we think Y will happen, we think they should go visit Z. There’s a danger that you’ll get granular in your planning because if this was a novel, you could just write an end. But it’s not a novel.

“New technology appears and give you new opportunities, pieces of the sandbox end up being less or more popular than you might have expected. And so the constant shift in reality, never mind the technology of the gameplay content, should be the thing that defines your gameplay universe.”

Halo 4 will launch on Xbox 360 on November 6 worldwide for Xbox 360. Halo 5 and Halo 6 are likely to launch on 360′s next-gen successor.

Thanks, Siliconera.

In terms of new reveals and detailing, we’re expecting a glimpse of the next Splinter Cell game soon; although it’s yet to be unveiled, most recent bets have it down for a late 2012 to early 2013 release, as teams at Ubisoft Montreal and Toronto have been plugging away at it for some time.

From a traditional gaming perspective, Ubisoft is kicking off the new financial year with a whimper rather than a bang. The publisher had four 3DS games due in the first three months, the most interesting of which was Rayman Origins, with the others falling into the bargain bin category. Much of its recent financials briefing was lovingly focused on a prolific line up of mobile and social titles; it sounds a bit grim for those without Facebook and iDevice.

Things are starting to warm up though: Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is looking more and more solid ahead of its launch this month – a good closing note before going into hibernation over the summer.

Waking in the autumn, we find some heavy hitters in place. Far Cry 3 is due in September, and Gearbox’s Brothers in Arms: Furious 4 should drop around the same time, so expect marketing for both to hype up shortly.

In October, Ubisoft’s big gun comes out; Assassin’s Creed III releases at the end of the month and is almost guaranteed to be massive. On the opposite end of the genre spectrum, strategy sim Anno 2070 will receive an expansion called Deep Ocean around the same time.

The newly announced Avengers: Battle for Earth is undated, but is likely to arrive near the Wii U’s launch, knowing Ubisoft’s fondness for new hardware. The publishers is said to have seven Wii U titles in the works in total, including an Assassin’s Creed game, Ghost Recon, Killer Freaks from Outer Space and Rayman Legends.

During 2012, we should see the new Might & Magic card game come out of beta, and Trackmania developer Nadeo is expected to debut two new UGC-focussed titles, ShootMania and QuestMania, during 2012. We can expect ongoing support for the successful Trials: Evolution, and Ghost Recon: Online will surface at some point. Rocksmith seems to be doing well, and Ubisoft may reiterate – or simply ramp up downloadable content. Some time in 2013, we’ll finally see the odd breathing title Innergy, too.

In terms of new reveals and detailing, we’re expecting a glimpse of the next Splinter Cell game soon; although it’s yet to be unveiled, most recent bets have it down for a late 2012 to early 2013 release, as teams at Ubisoft Montreal and Toronto have been plugging away at it for some time. Both studios, in conjunction with Red Storm, have also been working on Rainbow 6: Patriots, which seems to have stymied slightly so may appear at a later date.

Speaking of Ubisoft Toronto, Jade Raymond’s new team will debut a new IP sometime this year, possibly as early as E3 – but it’s likely to be in the very early stages of production right now, and probably won’t surface until 2014.

Ubisoft Massive is working on a “next-gen project”, which may see reveal, but possibly not until 2013 when the hardware its expected to run on is unveiled.

The suspected MMO is just one of a number of unannounced next-gen projects the publisher has vaguely admitted to fielding. Don’t expect to see Beyond Good & Evil 2 until new consoles go formal, either.

Lick your finger and hold it in the wind; feel that? It’s the passing of a console generation. Ubisoft is waiting for platforms holders to drop their bombshells before it rushes into marketing mode for its usual massive line up of new-hardware launches, and by all indications, is going to have some fancy offerings this go-around. Keep an eye on Ubi; the next 18 months are going to be quite exciting.

Thanks, Siliconera.

It’s out this summer in Japan and this autumn in the west for DS.

The shooter also launched on PS3. Developer Overkill was recently bought by Starbreeze and will work on a sequel as its first project.

Via GAF, PSN Stores.

Kotaku reports the Hong Kong PlayStation website listed a new multiplayer pack called Rebellion, with significant new content:

“The Rebellion Multiplayer Expansion opens two new fronts against the Reapers: Firebase Jade’s jungle reservoir and Firebase Goddess on Thessia. In-game reinforcement packs now include three new weapons as well as equipment, consumables, and six new classes: Quarian Engineer and Infiltrator, Vorcha Soldier and Sentinel, Phoenix Adept and Vanguard. The battle continues – hold the line!”

The blurb sounds pretty authentic in the context of last week’s Operation Silence, which promised that Vorcha troops were incoming.

The listing apparently had the new pack down to release this week, so if it’s authentic, we can expect word from BioWare soon.

As translated from Famitsu leaks by Andriasang, Nomura acknowledged fan demand for a remake, but said the publisher is focused on making new games which live up to the much-loved RPG.

Nomura did throw fans a bone in the form of a neat story from FFVII’s development. Apparently optional party member Yuffie was planned as a wanted criminal; her appearance would change depending on which wanted poster the player had seen most recently when encountering her.

Although Nomura is considered something of a guiding hand for the Final Fantasy series since the departure of creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is the director of the vapourous Final Fantasy Versus XIII, he asked fans to trust in series producer Yoshinori Kitase as the new visionary of the franchise.

A GTAForums user posted the list, which includes 48 cars, five bikes, ten helicopters, one plane, 25 boats and nine trains, many of which will be familiar to longtime fans.

The poster has apparently got the wind up a bit, claiming the information came from a friend, and apologising profusely for the supposed leak.

It’s not inconceivable that such a list would be available in Max Payne 3 as Rockstar is known to share engine tech between projects and development groups, however, with GTA V’s release date still unconfirmed it’s unlikely to be a final list.

It does lend some weight to theories that GTA V will launch later this year.

Thanks, CVG.

Go to the Blizzard forums and post about how Diablo III’s downtime allowed you to reconnect with those closest to you, greatly fulfilling your life and helping you become a generally better person.

It was inevitable. More than 2 million people pre-ordered Diablo III for its launch yesterday, and many more attended over 8,000 midnight release events. The weight of traffic instantly killed the game’s servers, prompting “error 37″ to stop many logging in, and there’s a message on the check-in screen this morning, in the EU at least, that says the game’s offline and thanks for being patient. We should be back up by 11.45pm PST.

The backlash is tedious this time. Anyone who’s been playing online games for any length of time will know that the first few days of any popular release are going to be patchy. And after waiting for nearly 12 years for a full sequel to Diablo II, a beloved PC game by all accounts, it’s not hard to understand why Blizzard is struggling to make everything work properly. Play was intermittent yesterday, but many were levelling for hours. One guy even finished it. It’s not as if it wasn’t there; Blizzard just needs to do some fiddling so millions of people can play it at once without a smoking hole being left where the company’s Irvine campus currently stands. This could take hours, or even a couple of days.

Here’s five things you could be doing while Blizzard’s trying to make their most amazing addition to the action-RPG genre bulletproof.

1. Shut up. Seriously, stop whining. Making this stuff work for a rush of millions is verging on rocket science. It happens for pretty much every major online game – including Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 – and you should be used to it by now. Just be patient and let Blizzard fix it. Save your bile for something that actually matters, like the fact you have little chance of achieving your life goals because you can’t stop playing computer games.
2. Make a cup of tea. Microsoft suggested PS3 owners should spend the time GTA IV took to install on the console to make some tea, and it’s not a bad piece of advice. Everyone loves tea. Try a herbal variety, something soothing like camomile. Inhale the flowery vapours and feel your entitlement rage dissipate with the rising of the morning sun.
3. Take some exercise. That’s right. Stop sitting there repeatedly trying, and failing, to get a game, get off your ass and go for a walk. Maybe break into a run. Use the time and head space to formulate class strategies and daydream about the sheer joy of finally getting a link to Blizzard’s servers and moving nothing but your eyes and fingers for about 300 hours as you click yourself to demon-busting fame. Get back, have a shower, try, and fail, to log-in again, smile happily and say, “It’s fine! I’m sure it’ll work later!”
4. Do some work. Radical, yes, but doing some work while you’re waiting for Blizzard to engineer one of the largest game projects yet created will make you feel better about your life. Write something. Build something. Dig something in the garden. Organise something. Pay some tax. Make a todo list and do some of it. As you cross off the items you’ll feel your anxieties fall away, making it less likely for you to behave like a child on the internet and have a cry over the fact you may have to wait a little while before you can play a video game.
5. Spend some time with your family. Fucking madness, obviously, but use this time positively by reading to your kids, or sitting down and having a chat with your mum, or helping your dad wash the car, or cooking something nice for your spouse. Stun family members by speaking to them in coherent sentences. Look them in the eye and tell them you love them. Give them a hug. Then go to the Blizzard forums and post about how Diablo III’s downtime allowed you to reconnect with those closest to you, greatly fulfilling your life and helping you become a generally better person.

Do all that. Then when you’re finally able to get a game of Diablo III, you’ll feel happy you had to wait. Turn that frown upside-down, soldier. You’ll be murdering Hell’s happy bastards before you know it, and you’ll feel all the better for it when you are.

Games industry detective Superannuation has found a Volition staffer’s LinkedIn profile which mentions the developer’s work on “mysterious next generation of consoles”.

The profile mentions “three unannounced titles” following Saints Row: The Third, although Super theorises one is likely to be the recently-revealed stand-alone expansion, Enter the Dominatrix.

A second profile specifically mentions “Saints Row 4″, but notes the platforms as PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

It also notes an “unannounced THQ XBLA game”.

Given this morning’s grim news regarding THQ’s inability to bring Devil’s Third to market, Super did some digging and concluded that the studio is still at work on Guillermo del Toro’s inSane trilogy.

As if the future and present weren’t enough, the studio’s past has also been uncovered, with the CV and gallery of a concept artist touted as evidence that Volition pitched a Daredevil game in 2005, close to the release of PS2 effort The Punisher.

The Internet sleuth has promised something “very, very interesting and big” for tomorrow, which may be related.

In financial calls, THQ has been quite upfront that it has several unrevealed projects on the go, but is proving quite tight lipped otherwise.

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