A job posting from Kojima Productions highlights how the next Metal Gear Solid game will be targetted towards “high-end” consoles and next-gen game engine technology.

The job posting quotes:

Kojima Productions will be returning to the GDC Career Pavilion (March 6th – 9th) to search for skillful engineers, artists, and game creators including:

• Project engineers for the latest Metal Gear Solid targeted for high-end consoles and PC
• Engineers to help develop next-gen game engine technology for use with the “FOX Engine.
• Kojima Productions Brand Manager

If you are interested in becoming part of our team, please visit the Konami Group booth, #1914, in the Career Pavilion.　We look forward to meeting lots of enthusiastic and talented candidates.

Kojima Productions

Here’s hoping more information is revealed at this years E3 2012 event…

…we’ll keep you posted.

Alan Wake fans rejoice – as the anticipated digital download title from Remedy is now available to purchase in the Xbox LIVE Arcade Marketplace for 1200 MS Points.

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare has been described by the developers as a spin-off experience that players can jump right into, regardless of if they’ve played the original Alan Wake or not. Building on technology from the previous game, American Nightmare is a combination of arcade action and an exaggerated pulp fiction adventure which is said to make it instantly satisfying for all gamers. Being an expansion of the Alan Wake universe, there is also optional story content for fans of the first game to explore and enjoy.

You can download a demo right now and queue it to your console from this very link.

Look out for our review of Alan Wake’s American Nightmare soon.

News on THQ’s Homefront just in – an Ultimate Edition is heading for Europe and will include all previously released DLC content at a really reasonable price!

Available as part of the Xbox 360 Classics range for a suggested retail price of £19.99 / €24.99, the Homefront: Ultimate Edition will contain the Homefront game and all downloadable content released to-date, including both map packs ‘The Rock’ and ‘Fire Sale’, and the 870 Express Shotgun.

Homefront was originally released in March 2011, and became the year’s best selling debut original IP in the first person shooter category, and one of the top three best selling new IPs overall, topping the charts in the US, UK and across Europe

If you’re yet to experience the game, the Homefront Ultimate Edition will be released on March 23rd 2012.

The Xbox LIVE Marketplace has leaked out Mass Effect 3 DLC content today which caused a bit of a fuss on the Bioware forums with many users complaining that a huge chunk of the story may have been held back for extra monetisation purposes. Would EA do such a thing… as if! Cough, Cough! However, a launch day release has been confirmed.

Quick to resolve the growing issue, Producer, Michael Gamble confirmed:

We’re happy to confirm that Mass Effect 3: From Ashes DLC will be available at launch for all platforms. For those of you who have purchased the N7 Collector’s Edition (including the PC Digital Deluxe Edition), you will get this content at no extra charge. We’ll have a lot more details for you later this week! Stay Tuned!

From March 6th in North America and March 9th internationally, extra downloadable content to expand the game will be available to purchase separately if you did not buy the Collector’s Edition. It hasn’t yet been confirmed if this content is already on the disc, but as soon as you see a 108kb download file you’ll know you are paying extra for content you already bought, but can’t access.

As soon as more information is available, we’ll keep you posted. Why not check out the new Take Earth Back Extended trailer since you’re here…

Via Bioware Forums

Take Two Interactive have in the past week trademarked the words GTA TV and Rockstar TV. Although neither Take Two or Rockstar Games have released any public information concerning proposed usage of the trademarks – we can only assume it is related to new features set to appear in GTA V?

The trademarks discovered by OXM, cover:

“computer game programs and software; animated motion picture films featuring entertainment, namely, action, adventure, dramatic, comedic, children’s and documentary themes; pre-recorded video discs and other pre-recorded digital and electronic media in the field of live action programs, motion pictures, or animation featuring entertainment, namely, action, adventure, dramatic, comedic, children’s and documentary themes.”

If it is not for some form of viral gameplay sharing features within GTA V, then the other possibilities lead to a pre-launch web-tv series to hype up the games release.

When official announcements are out – we’ll keep you updated.

Today was not only the release of the Overwatch Map on Modern Warfare 3 via the Call of Duty ELITE subscription system, but a 5mb update is now available to all players on the Xbox 360 console which adds a few fixes and now 5 whole new Prestige’s.

This now takes the total of Prestige’s on Modern Warfare 3 from 10 to 15 – it’s an additional 400 ranks to plough through. I can confirm that the PC icons shown in the image above are also used in the console versions, with (at the time of writing) – Gamertag: mersad lion 1 – currently holding the highest score on the Modern Warfare 3 leaderboard with a new prestige icon.

New #MW3 update on @Xbox today made the new map ‘Overwatch’ available to Elite Premium & added 5 new prestige levels for all players.

— Robert Bowling (@fourzerotwo) February 21, 2012

Overwatch, was hotly tipped to resemble High Rise, the popular map from Modern Warfare 2 – sadly, it more resembles Hotel from Black Ops and is the worst map from the three recently released which will be bundled for non Elite subscribers to download from next month… it’s a camping sniper’s dream map!

…still they have to cater for everyone, and enjoy your new Prestige ranks for those who have already made it through the first ten.

SpikySnail Games has today announced that The Splatters will be coming exclusively to the Xbox LIVE Arcade this spring. The Splatters, was an IGF finalist and Indie Game Challenge nominee (then, under the name Confetti Carnival) and PAX10 winner with publishing rights picked up by Microsoft Studio’s. A new teaser trailer unveiling more unique gameplay footage in this one of a kind game; which although sounds like a dodgy title from a bad night out on the town – it actually looks rather appealing – check it out below.

The Splatters is described by the dev’s as a one of a kind physics-driven puzzler where you control liquid-filled creatures with one purpose in life – to go out with style. The unique physics gameplay allows almost endless possibilities to finish a level and as players gain in skill, their creativity shines in every move they make.

The game features:

• One-of-a-kind Physics Gameplay – it’s literally something you’ve never played before! Highly competitive. Highly addictive.
• Deep Skill & Impressive Replay Value – a game that never plays out the same – keeps you on your toes and picking up new tricks all the time. As you gain skills, you’ll begin to orchestrate a magnificent show of acrobatic creatures, liquids, stunts and explosions. It’s a fresh challenge every time you play.
• Creativity Rewarded – the more spectacular your show is, the higher the score you get. Pull off stunts with every move you make to rack-up massive combos and make your crowd ecstatic!
• Splatter TV – an in-game feature that let’s you share your best game clips with your friends and the rest of the world. Watch full playbacks of the very best players in the world as they perform jaw-dropping moves to complete every level in the game.

Additional details surrounding the launch of the innovative physics-based action puzzler will also be announced in the coming months.

Digital Reality’s latest Xbox LIVE Arcade development, Bang Bang Racing, races onto the Xbox LIVE Arcade later this year – but for now, a new trailer showcasing the two camera modes along with the multiplayer options and all of the dangerous and varied objects and obstacles you’ll encounter.

Bang Bang Racing focuses not only on the speed but also on the technical driving skills of the race. The very intuitive control system and the exciting tracks guarantee fun for every member of the family with great visuals, exciting and varied gameplay and competitive multiplayer action. Players can choose from the 20 unique vehicles and eight colourful skins, all spread across four distinct classes, including racing muscle cars (like N-Dura), stock car series (like Evo GT), world endurance championship (like Protech) and formula one open wheels cars (like Apex). Drive high-speed, pumped-up racing cars through cones, tires and exploding barrels! Be one step ahead of your competitors, finding shortcuts, repairing your car in the pitlane, and see if you have what it takes to dominate your opponents from the top-down view!

Bang Bang Racing delivers fast-paced racing around every corner and white-knuckle excitement down every straight. With a distinct style and unforgettable racing experience, Bang Bang Racing is sure to bring the entire family together.

Here’s that trailer: Vrrrrroooom…

2K Games have announced that Spec Ops: The Line will be available to buy in stores from June 26th, 2012 in North American and June 29th, 2012 internationally. Gamers who pre-order the title from participating retailers will receive rewarding in-game bonuses that enhance the multiplayer experience. More details on that below.

Developed by YAGER, Spec Ops: The Line ’s single-player narrative unfolds within the destroyed opulence of Dubai. Once the playground for the world’s wealthiest elite, Dubai has fallen victim to a series of cataclysmic sandstorms. Playing as Captain Martin Walker, gamers will travel through beautiful and tragic environments in this gripping third-person shooter in the midst of unspeakable situations. Spec Ops: The Line will bring a riveting narrative to the military shooter genre, as players fight through Dubai to search for Colonel John Konrad and his missing battalion, The Damned 33 rd.

In addition to the single-player campaign, Spec Ops: The Line features an expansive, class-based multiplayer experience. The multiplayer mode features squad-based games that take place in the visually stunning environments of a sandstorm ravaged Dubai. As an added incentive, players who pre-order the game from participating retailers will receive a free upgrade to the Premium Edition, containing the following online multiplayer content:

• Double XP will be awarded during the first week of play, enabling gamers to expedite character ranking;
• The AK-47 weapon will unlock at rank one;
• The “Officer Class” will unlock at rank one. This character class includes several team-based advantages, such as reducing damage to teammates and increasing the effectiveness of other classes;
• Access to the “FUBAR Pack,” which contains exclusive accessories allowing players to customize their characters with unique and visually distinctive items.

The Mass Effect 3: Take Back Earth Extended Trailer has hit Youtube and is shown below. The teaser was only released yesterday and is a CGI form of video marketing to hype Mass Effect 3 to the max.

Mass Effect 3 will be released in just two weeks time in North America, so expect further continued rampant marketing campaigns and over the top action in the build up to release.

Mass Effect 3 will hit stores March 9th in Europe…oh the wait!!