US News Wrap, August 19 - What Happened Today

Gamescom is over. The dust is starting to settle, and things will soon be getting back to normal around here. If "normal" is a word I would use to describe the team here or anything else pertaining to us.

In case you missed it, you can catch Stace's European Wrap here. I honestly, do not know what I would have done without him, Deb or Andrew this week. I would probably be lying fetal in a urine-soaked hospital gown at a fourth-rate mental institution somewhere in the southern US. Massive "props" to these guys for lending a hand. And don't forget the illustrious Brenna either. That woman is a saint.

Now, enough of my sniveling thankfulness. It's unbecoming. Let's get you caught up on my shift.

Featured content:

• Indestructible: DICE’s Karl Troedsson on Battlefield 3

Alex Donaldson spoke to Karl Magnus Troedsson regarding Battlefield 3 and other DICE related goodness. Awesome name, Magnus.

US News Wrap:

• Watch or read Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg’s gamescom keynote online

You can watch or read Hirshberg's speech from gamescom if you like.

• Persona 3 Portable hitting PSN in Europe September 7

Finally!

• Smooth Criminal Edition of Saints Row The Thirds listed at EB Games Australia

Thanks to the name of this Saints Row the Third edition, I have had the MJ song stuck in my head all damned day. Still, those ice trays are a must have.

• Newell: Sony should be rewarded for allowing third-party PSN integration

Nice to see Valve change its mind regarding PS3. Everyone wins this way.

• Watch Borderlands 2 livestream from gamescom

We can't wait to hear what the fellas have to say about this game later on in the week.

• New Xbox 360 dashboard is called Twist Control, has less cluttered interface

Twist Control? Seriously?

• The Baconing: Dated for Steam, XBL, new screens

Whenever I write about The Baconing, it literally makes me want bacon. I smell a conspiracy involving the National Pork Producers Council.

• Cross-game chat isn’t possible on PS3 due to RAM restrictions

Now we all know the real reason cross-game chat have never been implemented on PS3.

• Gameplay trailer for PES 2012 gets out of gamescom

Footboooooollllllll.

• Quick Shots: Street Fighter x Tekken gamecom screens

At least the bear isn't farting in these. He shows his butt, though.

• GAME to carry Modern Warfare 3 Intel Pack exclusively

All these store exclusives are starting to confuse me.

• Konami releases Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater gamescom walkthrough

You know you want to watch Snake in HD.

• Quick Quotes: EA’s Jeff Brown responds to Eric Hirshberg’s gamescom keynote

Okay. Enough. Any more of this and I will be forced to put you in time out and make you go to bed without desert.

• SWTOR PvP video featuring Huttball released

It's just not a Star Wars game without a Hutt someplace. Pizza or otherwise. If you get the joke, I apologize.

• Quick Quotes: Dragon Age 3 to be a marriage between Origins and DA2

So, Dragon Age 3 confirmed then. Sort of.

• Leaked teaser trailer shows I Am Alive

Watch this quick before it gets pulled.

• Friday Shorts II: Gears 3 gold, iPad 3, W8, more post-it wars, Spyro shots

Gears 3 has gone gold. More short goodies there as well.

Today's bit of Star Wars art was brought to you by the Wookieepedia. You would not believe the disgusting stuff I saw in Google search looking for this image. I need to go scrub my eyes out with acid.