Publisher Bethesda Softworks and developer Obsidian Entertainment’s Fallout 3 follow-up, Fallout: New Vegas, was officially announced a while back, but we didn’t get much in the way of details. Now the aforementioned companies are spilling a few beans. First: a trailer, courtesy of Youtube and Machinma.

Fallout: New Vegas takes place in the same time-line and universe as Fallout 3. Also, the game isn’t handled in-house by Bethesda, but rather Obsidian, who also worked on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II and the forthcoming espionage RPG Alpha Protocol. It shouldn’t be a surprise, given Obsidian’s experience, that the game will retain Fallout sensibilities—role-playing; post-apocalypse with a dark sense of humor; and so on.

No word on a firm release date yet, but we know Bethesda plans to put Fallout: New Vegas on shelves this fall.

Chances are high that if you have some sort of DLC code for BioWare’s newly released sci-fi RPG epic, Mass Effect 2, you’re probably pulling your hair out right now.

According to Kotaku, there are myriad issues plaguing players’ experience with the game. For instance, there are reports of GameStop codes not working, activation issues on the Cerberus Network (BioWare’s in-game DLC launching pad), and an inability for many players to even connect on the PC version’s Cerberus Network. There are also reports of Blood Dragon armor issues, the helmet in particular being a thorn in some gamers’ sides.

Have any of you fine folks run into similar problems? My course load prevents me from diving into Mass Effect 2 until the semester ends, so I can’t say I’ve experienced any troubles—or the game, for that matter. I might just cry. But if you’re experiencing download troubles, don’t fret, because BioWare handyman Chris Priestly (sorta) has you covered.

I think we can all agree that the PlayStation  Home arcade is lame. Standing in line, waiting to play a game—that wasn’t much fun in the golden age of arcades, and it certainly isn’t fun doing so in a virtual space. So what can Microsoft do differently on Xbox Live that will attract people who are dissatisfied with Home’s lackluster arcade?

Enter Game Room, a free downloadable virtual arcade (say that three times fast) for Xbox 360 and PC. Players will be able to arrange arcade cabinets in their own personal space and show off their custom arcade to friends on Xbox Live or Games for Windows Live. Avatars will explore these spaces and tackle arcade classics like Centipede, Tempest, Gravitar, and many more. (more…)

The next DLC for EA and BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins, a heart-warming tale of revenge and ogre massacre called Return to Ostagar, hits Xbox Live and the PC on January 5. PSN will see the DLC pack sometime later. If you want to know what to expect in the pack, catch a glimpse below, courtesy of Gamerfuzion and Youtube.

Check out the full-length cinematic trailer for BioWare’s forthcoming Mass Effect 2, partially teased last week on just about every game site on the ‘Net.

Here’s what we know about the story: Commander Shepard is back, and he—or she, depending on how you play—does indeed die, as shown in the original teaser trailer. No faking his death to go on a mission, folks—Shepard straight-up bites it. A mysterious independent organization called Cerberus, led by the Illusive Man (played by Martin friggin’ Sheen), gets Shepard’s body and pieces him back to together. Shepard is now a cyborg of sorts, working for the company that spared his life.

Sound intriguing? Good, because Mass Effect 2 arrives in stores next month. You don’t have much time to wait before discovering if BioWare topped themselves, or if they fell flat on their faces. The latter seems unlikely, but I feel the need to write that just in case. I’m not eating any nasty crow.

Edmonton, Alberta (December 10, 2009) – BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today revealed the voice actors performing in Mass Effect 2, the second act of the award-winning science fiction trilogy. The game features Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”, “Apocalypse Now”), 2009 Emmy Award-winner Shohreh Aghdashloo (“House of Saddam”), comedic actor Seth Green (“Austin Powers”), “Chuck” stars Yvonne Strahovski and Adam Baldwin, Keith David (“Crash”) and sci-fi favorites Michael Dorn (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”) Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”), Michael Hogan (“Battlestar Galactica”) and Carrie-Anne Moss (“The Matrix”).

“Emotionally engaging narrative is a key design pillar for BioWare, and the top-notch voice talent in Mass Effect 2 helps drive this goal,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “Credible, powerful personalities are vital to delivering a compelling story experience in BioWare’s games, and we have assembled an amazing ensemble cast that surpasses the very high bar set in the original Mass Effect!”

Thanks to VG247 and Game Informer, we now know a wee bit more about the upcoming sequel to EA’s sci-fi/horror shooter Dead Space. The sequel will be set three years after the original; Isaac Clarke returns; and—gasp!—Isaac will speak this time. The game will take place on a giant space station called Sprawl that makes the Ishimura from Dead Space look like an insect.

Oh, and you’ll be able to fly around in zero-G environments now. No word on how, but I bet that’s an upgrade you’ll find at some point. Rocket boots anyone? Maybe. Isaac will also be able to fire while he’s flying/floating through the air. Say it with me: aaaahhh yeeeaaah.

There will also be a multiplayer component, but EA didn’t say what it would be like, other than you’ll “get to strategically dismember your friends.” Sounds good to me, unnecessary as it is—and let’s face it, this is a game that definitely does not need multiplayer. As for platforms, Dead Space 2 will scare fools on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. So unless you’re one of those crazy Wii-only kids, get ready for more monstrosity-killing fun next year.

Yes, the title is correct: Blizzard really did put a trailer out for the latest World of Warcraft patch, 3.3. And here it is!

Almost makes me want to start playing again. Almost.

Description: Brink is an immersive first-person shooter that blends single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay into one seamless experience, allowing you to develop your character whether playing alone, with your friends, or against others online. You decide the combat role you want to assume in the world of Brink as you fight to save yourself and mankind’s last refuge. Brink offers a compelling mix of dynamic battlefields, extensive customization options, and an innovative control system that will keep you coming back for more.

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Chances are very good that most of you that will give this review a glance already purchased Infinity Ward’s sequel to the massively successful and well-received Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Heck, a lot of you probably bought it early from one of the many retailers who broke the street date. This review is not for you folks. Nope, this is for those of you still on the fence. Still unsure about dipping your toes into this particular pond?

Don’t be. Speaking as a man who is just about sick of first-person shooters, and also as someone who doesn’t often enjoy multiplayer, I’m happy to report that Modern Warfare 2 is worth every bit of hype. The single-player story is more outrageous and Tom Clancy-esque than the original, but still nail-bitingly exciting from start to finish. The multiplayer is built on the same core as the original Modern Warfare but with several additions and upgrades. These upgrades will seem subtle to most, but they aid in increasing the multiplayer’s replayability for new players and veterans alike. There’s also a Special Ops mode which acts as the game’s co-op component, allowing two players (or you can play solo) to blast through special missions to earn stars. This mode doesn’t have an over-arching story like single-player; just objectives to complete. Even so, it’s a fun mode, best played with a friend who you trust on the battlefield. (more…)