Sega just posted the first teaser for their next Sonic: The Hedgehog game on Facebook. The trailer gives us a glimpse at what to expect from the new entry in the series, including snow-covered levels and potentially some co-operative action with a younger-looking Sonic. The title is due out sometime this year for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Catch the new trailer at the top of this post.

Gears of War 3, which was previously delayed from this spring, will be launching worldwide on September 20th of this year for the Xbox 360. The third entry into the Gears of War series places players 18 months after the ending of GoW 2 where you’ll still be fighting those pesky Locust.

In addition to all the new stuff you get with any sequel, Gears of War 3 will also feature a new multiplayer mode, Beast Mode. Beast Mode is a new take on Gears of War 2′s signature Horde mode with players able to choose which side of the battle to be on. You’ll be able to choose different “classes” of locust as you try to fend of the enemy (human) attack.

While Blizzard hasn’t shipped a console title in what seems like eons, that could change with the long-awaited release of Diablo III. Speaking at the DICE Summit yesterday, company CEO Mike Morhaime says the prospect of Diablo on consoles is being explored.

It might not be a straight-up port, but rather an experience modified to fit consoles: more »

Crysis 2 will be available to play very soon in a new multiplayer demo for Xbox Live subscribers. Just like the multiplayer beta before it, this demo will be exclusive to the Xbox 360. Crysis 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the ridiculously good-looking Crysis, which even to this day brings modern rigs down on their knees.

This demo will most likely cement my decision on which platform to purchase it with as I’m currently debating between the PC and Xbox 360. Come Tuesday, January 25th, you’ll be able to compete against other players in a standard 6v6 affair.

Crysis 2 Multiplayer Demo Announced [MyCrysis]

The new IP from People Can Fly and Epic Games, Bulletstorm, will be getting a playable demo the Xbox 360 and PS3 come January 25th. Bulletstorm is a new first-person shooter from the studio who brought us the Painkiller series and is all about ridiculous ways to kill your opponents.

The demo will feature “Echo Mode”, a score-attack game mode in which you can compete against your friends for the top leaderboard position. Bulletstorm is set to be released on the PS3, PC and Xbox 360 on February 25th. Those that currently pre-order the Xbox 360 version will gain access to the Gears of War 3 beta.

Press release after the break.

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Capcom’s announced that its latest standalone expansion for Dead Rising 2 — Case West — will hit Xbox Live Marketplace on December 27. An exclusive offering priced at 800 MS Points, it features all-new content, including new combo weapons. It also boasts a returning mechanic from the first outing, the ability to snap virtual photos of your gruesome finishes.

Case: West serves as an epilogue, chronicling an investigation rife with intrigue that stars Chuck Greene and Dead Rising’s own Frank West. The duo set out to infiltrate a shady outfit known as the Phenotrans Facility, uncovering the truth behind the company’s so-called “murky dealings.” Blissful sessions of non-stop zombie slaying await.

Twisted Pixel announced yesterday that they are working on a sequel to their extremely popular XBLA platformer Splosion Man properly entitled Ms. Splosion Man. This will be Twisted Pixels first-ever sequel title since they felt like they could improve on the original game’s mechanics and add more features. The platform choice(s) of the game are currently unannounced and could arrive on multiple systems when it is released in Fall 2011.

Major Nelson has just announced the new Xbox Live Rewards program which rewards you for your purchases on the Xbox Live service (US and UK only). For example, if you renew a 12-month subscription you will receive 200 MS points which you can spend at your leisure.  After the break you will find a chart detailing various activities that net you reward points.You can check out the program’s website here.

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Amid heavy criticism over Microsoft’s decision to essentially shove Xbox Live Indie Games under the rug, moving them to a secluded spot under “Specialty Shops” following deployment of the November 1 dashboard update for Kinect, the company has since reneged on its move.

Indie efforts have returned to their rightful spot, under the “Games & Demos” section.

While Microsoft has not issued an official statement over the switch, indie devs are welcoming the placement with open arms. One dev over at the MSDN Create forums called it “a huge step in the right direction.” We’re inclined to agree. Glad Microsoft budged on this one.

The recent Kinect dashboard update for Xbox 360 brought with it several changes to the navigational structure to Microsoft’s Xbox Live Marketplace, none of which are winning over indie developers.

Chief among concerns is the cryptic placement of the Xbox Live Indie Games storefront. Separate from the ‘Games & Demos’ channel, users must browse through Specialty Shops to view indie listings. Devs fear that adding another layer to the mix – and one that is cut off from the main hub for XBLA efforts – will result in decreased visibility. Hard to argue with that.

“It just.. boggles the mind. Clearly it’s not based on even the simplest logic.. which is what I’d assume gamers vaguely use when scrolling through those lists,” lamented Mommy’s Best Games president Nathan Fouts – the studio behind indie hit Weapon of Choice. He added, “It’s not like there’s not enough space (there’s only 3 boxes in Games and Demos.) It’s a categorical failure (literally).” more »