Well, looky here, folks—a new rootin’ tootin’ trailer for that there Red Dead Redemption. This’n here learns ya a thing’r two about them there Old West guns. Tarnation!

OK, enough with the cowpoke voice. It’s nice to see the Dead Eye mechanic make a return in the sequel. Hopefully it is refined and easier to use this time.

Anybody else as excited for this game as me?

Since gaming news has all but vanished at this time of year, I thought I’d put together a Top Ten list of sorts. Instead of calling it a “ten best games” list, however, I prefer to think of it as a list of my top ten favorite games from this year. After all, the games I enjoyed the most might not necessarily be the best, but that doesn’t diminish their value to me. And keep in mind that I didn’t play everything released this year—not that I would, even if I could.

So, without further ado, here are my ten favorite games released this year, in no particular order. (more…)

Check out the gameplay introduction trailer for Rockstar’s upcoming open-world Old West sequel, Red Dead Redemption. The original game, Red Dead Revolver, was OK I guess, but the sequel looks like it will blow the original’s brains out. Red Dead Revolver was very linear and not at all open-world. Red Dead Redemption, however… Well, you’ll see, so just check out the trailer.

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.

Man, I’m really reaching for stories…

So Square Enix released images of the Xbox 360 and PS3 box art for Final Fantasy XIII, out soon in Japan and coming in Spring 2010 for North American and European folks. I only included the PlayStation 3 version because both are identical, except the console names at the top.

Also: who among us owning both a PS3 and Xbox 360 will buy the latter version? Seriously.

Yeah, I know—that’s the PAL version of the game. I’m sure we’ve got a few readers for whom this is relevant. Besides, the NTSC incarnation will look the same. I promise. Kinda underwhelming though, isn’t it?

Bitmob ran an article yesterday detailing what looked like a new Mercenaries game, judging from the content of a  leaked video. Bitmob claimed they could not disclose their source but swore to the video’s authenticity. The video showed what looked like the typical Mercenaries experience, but with a multiplayer focus.

Turns out Bitmob wasn’t full of crap. EA announced today that Mercs Inc. (working title) will be the first title from former Pandemic folks now working at EA LA, all of whom were transferred upon Pandemic’s demise. It’s good to see that something good came out of a very bad situation. Sure, many folks did indeed lose their jobs, but at least some lucky developers get to continue providing for their families.

Sorry to get maudlin on you, dear reader. Back to the subject at hand: there aren’t any substantial details available concerning Mercs Inc. at this time. No mention of platforms, story, characters—nada, zip, zilch. All we know is that the game is a multiplayer-focused Mercenaries sequel. When we do know more, so will you.

Sony overlord Kaz Harai announced to attendees of a Sony press conference on Thursday that the company the PlayStation Network will become a two-tier service next year, adding a premium tier on top of what players already use on their PlayStation 3 consoles.

The new premium service won’t supersede the current format. Players will still be able to play multiplayer games with friends and family free of charge. The new premium subscription will simply add services. Harai did not elaborate on what kind of services a subscriber can expect.

This news might intrigue gamers that do not own a 360 and/or have a Xbox Live Gold subscription, but it doesn’t do much for me. I (and many of our readers) do the majority of my multiplayer gaming on XBL, so paying for additional services on top of something that works fine in its free state seems silly. Perhaps you folks disagree. If so, let us know.

Sony’s upcoming 3.10 firmware update for the PlayStation 3 will add Facebook integration. Also included in the update: improved photo browsing via a new photo browser, and a cleaner friends list.

Update 3.00 drove some PS3 fans nuts due to the changes to the friend’s list. Sony seems to be addressing these complaints with a revised friend’s list that is similar to the current style but a bit more streamlined. Also, PSN users will be able to add a color that represents their personality.

Doesn’t sound like much, does it? Sony made no mention of the rumored cross-game chat option being included in the upcoming update. Maybe they’re holding out on purpose, trying to keep one secret close for a change? We’ll see.

PS3-only folks, tell us: do you really care enough about Facebook to rejoice at its inclusion in 3.10? Let us know!

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…)

Take a look at EA’s upcoming MMA title for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, courtesy of IGN  and Youtube.

Does that fill my news quota for the day? Yes? Good, now I’m going back to Modern Warfare 2.