‘Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City’Teaser Arrives» MTV Multiplayer

"Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City"burst out of nowherelast weeklike the newly risen brain-munching zombies it will send after you. The four-player, co-op-oriented online shooter steps away from survival horror and trains its sights instead on competitive engagements made more exciting with the application of a zombie horde.Capcomofficiallyconfirmedthe game earlier this week, and now there's a debut teaser trailer available for your viewing pleasure!

Capcom posted the trailer on itsCapcom-Unity blogearlier today. There's just over a minute of material, a mix of boring on screen text and more exciting snippets of gameplay. Still, it's difficult to tell what's going on here. Lots of folks with guns, indistinct, silhouetted mobs of zombies, the odd explosion and one or two close-ups. It is a"tease"in the truest sense of the word.

Fortunately, we already know a little bit about the game. Players will move around in four-person squads allied with one of three factions: Umbrella Security Servies, U.S. military SpecOps and Umbrella's out-of-control B.O.W.s, or Bio-Organic Weapons. The story is set around the events of the second and third"Resident Evil"games in a story that stands apart from the established canon. You'll be able to play as familiar characters, but any one of them can bite the dust. Or be bitten in the face, more likely.

Unlike other games in the series, the focus here is on action and gunplay. There will be pickups like healing herbs, but ammo is reported to be much less of a valued commodity. You probably won't be able to purchase unlimited ammo unlocks, but the gun-toting factions will presumably hit the ground running with full clips and plenty of bullets to spare.

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‘WWE All Stars’Review - Because Wrestling Was Just Too Damn Realistic» MTV Multiplayer

The big question surrounding"WWE All Stars"is"Why does this exist?"Considering how artificial professional wrestling already is, does it really need to be pushed into a more arcade-like, cartoonish universe? But the twist is that even though"WWE All Stars"has almost no anchorage in reality, it's a far more faithful gaming experience than THQ's sometimes-stuffy"Smackdown Vs. Raw"series.

THE BASICS

"All Stars"brings together a roster of 15 current WWE grapplers and 15"Legends"for a fantastically over-the-top arcade experience that tests the boundaries of the squared circle. The characters are all action figure versions of their real selves, capable of high flying and absurd power. It's meant to be a colorful, pick-up-and-play style arcade experience, and it's remarkably solid (if lacking a bit of depth).

THE HIGHS

Finally, The Macho Man Has Come Back
While most of the characters available in"WWE All Stars"have shown up in past iterations of"Smackdown Vs. Raw"or the underwhelming"Legends of Wrestlemania,"the roster included here is extremely well balanced and features a handful of characters not often seen or heard from in video games."Macho Man"Randy Savage is at the top of that list, and his return— as well as his flying elbow drop— is extremely welcome. Other nostalgia junkies will be on board with the mix of obvious greats (Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant, the Rock,"Stone Cold"Steve Austin) and lesser-known but still awesome guys like Eddie Guerrero and Jake"The Snake"Roberts. It will be especially rewarding for '80s wrestling fans to dive back into the game, as everybody looks and moves exactly like how you remember things happening when you were a kid.

Welcome Back, Sal
The game is designed by Sal Divita, the architect behind"NFL Blitz"and the arcade classic"WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game"(he's also an unlockable character in old school versions of"NBA Jam"). Though that wrestling game appeared way back in 1995, it's a favorite among arcade grapplers because of its combination of wrestling and fighting (there was a lot of"Mortal Kombat"in"Wrestlemania")."WWE All Stars"is no different, as it borrows a lot of elements from fighting games (including a pretty sweet combo system) to move it along. Finishers are staged a lot like Fatalities in the sense that they're extremely over-the-top (John Cena's patented Attitude Adjustment finds him leaping 20 feet in the air). It's a delicate balance that ends up balancing on the fence perfectly.

Feed The Fantasy
"WWE All Stars"is light on game modes, but one that is included is extremely satisfying and fun. It's called"Fantasy Warfare,"and while the premise is simple, the execution makes it excellent. There are 15 pre-programmed Legend vs. current star match-ups that are each centered around a specific title or theme (like Andre the Giant against the Big Show for the title of"Greatest Big Man"or Macho Man versus John Morrison for the name of"Biggest Superstar"). While they're essentially just exhibition matches, they're all presented with pretty cool-looking video packages that build up the match and provide some instant context. It's a creative way to present the matches, and it makes them all pretty satisfying and adds a bit of depth.

THE LOWS

What's Kofi Kingston Doing There?
While it's more of a criticism of the current roster of WWE stars than of the game, the list of current wrestlers is a little weak. John Cena, Kane, Triple H, the Undertaker and the Miz all make sense, but guys like Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre and Kofi Kingston feel out of place. Their characters aren't nearly oversized enough to make sense, and they come across as jobbers next to the likes of Jimmy Snuka or Sgt. Slaughter. Still, the upside is that there are more Legends available for download, including the Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes, Jerry"The King"Lawler and Honky Tonk Man.

Crooked Path
The one thing really lacking in"WWE All Stars"single player experience is the fact that there's no real narrative single-player mode. There's an option called"Path of Champions,"but despite the fact that there are three paths, none of them actually offer up much of a narrative. You simply run through 10 opponents on your way to a championship, and though it's an arcade-friendly setup, it'd be better if there was a little more story there.

THE VERDICT

The"Smackdown Vs. Raw"often relies too much on simulation that takes the cartoonish fun out of professional wrestling (because while it isn't truly"fake,"it's also not really"real")."WWE All Stars"restores that fun in a context that takes advantage of some great living super heroes, and the easy game play and nods to hardcore fans should keep you satisfied. Plus, you can jump off the top rope with Andre the Giant, which is good enough for me.

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‘PlayStation Move Heroes’Review: The Gang’s All Here» MTV Multiplayer

Early adopters of the PlayStation Move didn't have a ton of great reasons to justify the purchase at launch but, over time, the line-up has definitely grown. The latest is"PlayStation Move Heroes,"an action-based mini-game compilation featurinig some of Sony's most famous characters, Jak and Daxter, Sly and Bentley, and Ratchet and Clank.

THE BASICS

"PlayStation Move Heroes"begins in each characters' respective universe. However, each adventure is suddenly interrupted by a mysterious vortex that sucks the stars into an alternate universe where they are pitted against each other to see who is the biggest hero. Each of the six characters are competing in five different classes of games, spread out over four worlds. The five different game types (Jailbreak, Rescue, Countdown, Survival and Guardian) make use of five different weapons styles (disc, shooting, melee, ball, and whip) making for an assorted selection of gameplay, for both a single player and co-op multiplayer campaign.

THE HIGHS

Sony Stars On Parade
Easily, one of the biggest selling points of"PlayStation Move Heroes"is seeing almost all of Sony's biggest characters in one game. With the exception of Kratos, the line up of Jak and Daxter, Sly and Bentley, and Ratchet and Clank read like a list of some of the best first party PS2 games, and a match-up like this isn't something that Sony has really tried before. While Nintendo is famous for mixing up characters from their games in titles like"Super Smash Bros."and"Super Mario Kart,""Heroes"is Sony's first attempt, and a valiant one at that, with each character, and environment, remaining true to their original form.

Mini-games, But Better
Even if you've grown bored of the mini-game compilations,"PlayStation Move Heroes"might still be worth a look. A combination of sports and action themed levels,"Heroes"offers a fresh take on Frisbee and bowling by making them less about points, and more about saving Wibbles (little green aliens that serve as the objectives for each mode). The shooting, melee and whip levels are all more action oriented, but still feel bite-sized enough to be considered mini-games, yet well-rounded enough to feel satisfying.

Telling The Wibbles' Story
Instead of just skinning a bunch of big-named characters into a compilation game for no rhyme or reason,"Heroes"at least attempts to offer some story behind its existence. While the competition is really just a vehicle for the mini-games, it's set against an interesting background where an alien race is in need of salvation, and that's something any Sly, Jak, or Ratchet fan can easily relate to.

THE LOWS

On The Move, Or Not
The PlayStation Move is an impressive piece of technology, and is capable of a lot of things, unfortunately"PSMH"doesn't really take full advantage of most of them. The controller's 1:1 motion controls are never really showcased at any point in the game, and, in fact, there isn't anything in terms of controls or gameplay that couldn't be accomplished on the Wii, well... except for calibration.

Here We Go Again
Mini-game compilations almost always result in the same thing: players who are bored by the time the game is over. Sadly,"Heroes"doesn't change this. The upside is that there's a decent amount of gameplay, and some worthwhile unlockables to be had here, but you're still experiencing the same things over and over.

Never Let The Left Hand Know That The Right's Having More Fun
Unlike many of the Move games currently on the market,"Heroes"requires a second controller, mainly to navigate the characters around each of the stages. This is most easily accomplished by using the nunchuck-esque Navigation Controller, at a cost of an extra $30, if you haven't picked one up already. However, if you can't drop the bills, a regular PS3 controller will work fine, but will be completely awkward as you try and hold on with one hand, while whipping your way through wave after wave of enemies.

THE VERDICT

The PlayStation Move is still looking for its killer app, and, unfortunately,"PlayStation Move Heroes"isn't it. However, even with its shortcomings, it does offer a more satisfying mini-game experience, than most of the other comparable games on the market. In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

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‘Mortal Kombat’Trailer Highlights Tag Team Ninja Action» MTV Multiplayer

This is the week for"Mortal Kombat"apparently, and not a little inexplicably. The game's out soon of course, but not until April 19, so why the crush of content now? Not that I'm complaining. Yesterday'sKratos trailerwas all sorts of sweet. Today's latest look doesn't have the same cross-franchise appeal, focusing instead on the game's tag team battles.

The"Tag Team Ninja Showdown"trailer is just straight-up gameplay, featuring a match-up between -- you guessed it -- four ninja. On one side you've got fan favorites Scorpion and Sub-Zero and on the other, the cyborg competitors Cyrax and Sektor. Guns and greandes versus harpoons and ice. You already know who's going to win this one, right/

The transition from one fighter to another seems to be completely seamless and immediate, with Sub-Zero and Scorpion pulling off their signature moves and then trading places to let the other fighter finish off the combo several times. The fight unfolds on the roof of a building in the middle of a crumbling city, with a fire-breathing dragon chasing a helicopter visible in the background. Which makes perfect sense when you think about it.

No. No it doesn't. And that's why it's"Mortal Kombat."

The coming release takes a bit of a back-to-basics approach, with a 2.5D presentation and a roster of fighters pulled from the first three games in the series. The story opens after the events of"Mortal Kombat: Armageddon,"but then travels back in time to serve up an alternate re-telling of the events spanning games one through three.

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Kinect Horror Game,‘Rise Of Nightmares,’Coming From Sega» MTV Multiplayer

Did you knowSegawas working on a Kinect-powered horror game called"Rise of Nightmares"? It's okay if not. The game was announced at the Tokyo Game Show last year and set for a spring 2011 release, but nothing has been said about it since. Bless the ESRB then, bringer of the truth that the organization is, for finally outingsomethingabout this next motion-based horror game from the publisher that brought you"House of the Dead: Overkill."

From the sound of things,"Rise of Nightmares"finds some common ground with"House of the Dead."Not only is it ridiculously gory, it also features a fair bit of cussing and suggestive images/dialogue. All of which amounts to a boatload of awesome."Overkill"remains one of the best reasons for Mature-aged gamers to own a Wii. A Kinect game featuring those elements will definitely serve to up the eye candy factor.

Siliconeradiscoveredthe ESRB listing, which seems to have been pared down a bit since it was first discovered. The story synopsis in the website's post is no longer included in the ESRB listing. Fortunately, Siliconera captured and reprinted the whole thing, which you can check out below.

This is a horror-adventure game in which players assume the role of an American tourist who must rescue his wife from a deranged scientist. From a first-person perspective, players use brass knuckles, knives, hatchets, and chainsaws to kill zombie-like creatures and disfigured monsters inside a mansion environment. Combat is highlighted by exaggerated sprays of blood, and damage often results in dismemberment or decapitation—stray body parts sometimes litter the ground.

Some sequences and cutscenes depict more intense acts of violence: a man screams loudly as spikes impale his body; a restrained character’s hand is chopped off before he is killed; a character (cut in half) crawls away in a pool of blood; a soldier is ripped apart by a monster, causing blood to stain the screen. During the course of the game, some female creatures are depicted in revealing outfits (e.g., ‘pasties’ that partially cover their breasts); in one sequence, a woman sits on the central character’s chest and engages in suggestive dialogue (e.g., ‘Oh, how I’ve thought of this—night after night. How I’ve missed these lips.’). Dialogue also includes phrases such as ‘Best sex of my life.’/'Worst sex ofmy life,’ ‘f--k,’ and ‘s--t.’

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‘River City Ransom 2′Confirmed For WiiWare Release» MTV Multiplayer

Last week brought the insanely uber-fantastic news that there is an actualsequel comingfor the NES classic,"River City Ransom."There wasn't much detail revealed, just that Japanese devMiracle Kidzis working on"River City Ransom 2"for a summer"console"release and a 2012 bow as a"PC online title."In a new update, we now know what the mysterious console will be: Nintendo's Wii.

Specifically, the game will be released via Nintendo's WiiWare digital download service. This isn't really any kind of surprise."RCR"was born on a Nintendo console so of course its open-world brawler/RPG hybrid awesomeness will continue on one. The news comes straight from the developer, viaAndria Sang.

There was some belief following the initial announcement that the game might come to Xbox Live Arcade as well, since Miracle Kidz'"Downtown Smash Dodgeball"is already available as an Xbox Live Indie Games release. And hey, it may still happen. However, the summer release is only confirmed for WiiWare, so maybe it's time to dust the console off and make sure all of your system updates are in order.

Miracle Kidz does havean official game pageup for"RCR2,"or"Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari 2,"as it is known in Japan. There's nothing as informative as actual gameplay details, but there are images of what appears to be the new game's various gang members as well as vital stats.

It's all in Japanese, so you may want to have the page automagically translated (the link above does just that). There, you can puzzle over the meaning of translated phrases like"In the past, but seems to have learned some martial arts, bear men discreet"and marvel at the improved detail in the game's cast of fighters.

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Kratos Highlighted In The New‘Mortal Kombat’Trailer» MTV Multiplayer

"Mortal Kombat"may be taking things back to basics, but developerNetherRealm Studiosisn't about to leave fighters completely without new toys to play with. The one that has arguably received the most attention is guest starring fighter Kratos, the ever-angry protagonist of Sony's"God of War."He'll only be available in the PlayStation 3 version of the game of course, but a newly released trailer does its best to sell you multi-console owners on the glories of playing as an ashy Spartan warrior.

This is about as straightforward as a trailer gets."Mortal Kombat"features Kratos. Kratos has an array of magical tools and abilities, as"God of War"fans know quite well. Here's a look at all of those tools and abilities in action, tearing apart a variety of"MK"fighters. I especially like the x-ray moment in which you watch the blades enter the torso. Sweet. The only letdown is you don't get a glimpse of his fatalities, though I wouldn't count out somehead-twisting awesomesauce.

Kratos was first confirmed for his"MK"appearance in December of last year, promptingan awesomely colorful responsefrom"God of War"creator David Jaffe. He unfortunately won't appear in the game's story mode, but you'll be able to use him in Vs. mode and I wouldn't be surprised if he puts in a Challenge Tower appearance as well.

"Mortal Kombat"is coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles on April 19, though the latter is the version you want if Kratos is your boy.

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Solution To Poor 3DS Battery Life? Pack In A Cradle!» MTV Multiplayer

When I was firstunpacking the Nintendo 3DS last week, I was admittedly perplexed about the charging cradle that Nintendo included with every system. After all, you can simply plug the device in to charge it, even without the cradle. You can even use your old DSi charger if you want. But, after a week of putting the 3DS through its paces, it all makes sense now. Were it not for the cradle, my 3DS would be in bad shape.

You don't really think about it, but plugging something like a handheld in is kind of a pain. You have to bend down, find the tip of the cable (which is usually amidst scores of other wires), find the correct port, find the correct way the plug fits and, well, plug it in. It makes me sound tremendously lazy, but now that I've seen the alternative, I'm not sure I can go back.

I have the 3DS charging cradle sitting on my desk at work. I've been carrying the 3DS with me on my commutes, so when I arrive, I simply drop the 3DS in the slot and when I'm leaving, I pull it out and put it in my bag. There's no latch or anything, so you can lift it off the cradle with one hand and it's good to go.

But the convenience of it isn't the reason Nintendo packed a charging cradle in with every system. Back in October of last year, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata held a Q&A with investors and spoke about the decision to include a cradle:

"As for the battery, it is inevitable that Nintendo 3DS will be a device which requires more frequent recharging than Nintendo DS. This is why we are going to include the cradle, which is a dedicated battery charger. Perhaps we may need to dispatch to our consumers a message, something like, 'Please place your Nintendo 3DS on the cradle as soon as you return home with it."

He wasn't kidding. The battery on the Nintendo 3DS is not exactly...robust. During my day-to-day commute it wasn't really a problem, but a recent trip up to Montreal showed that, even left in Sleep Mode with minimal play, the device will be out of juice in a day or two.

And Nintendo wants people to leave their devices in Sleep Mode so they can use Street Pass or collect Game Coins via the step tracker. Nintendo wants this to be the device you can carry with you every day, like your phone. And it can be. The charging cradle makes the 3DS the easiest daily commuter handheld (unless your commute is over 3 hours long or you're the one driving). But for long trips? You're better off with something like an iPod Touch or an iPad. Having great games is one thing, but if you're flying to Australia, you want a device that'll get you more than 10% of the way.

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‘Batman: Arkham City’Pre-order Bonuses Confirm The Return Of Challenge Maps» MTV Multiplayer

"Batman: Arkham Asylum"offered a nifty bonus mode with its challenge maps, offering players an opportunity to test there skills as the Caped Crusader in a range of discrete mini-missions which stood apart from the main story.Rocksteady Studioshasn't been entirely forthcoming about what"Batman: Arkham City"will offer outside of its story mode, but newly revealed info about the game's pre-order bonuses confirm that at least those challenge maps will be returning.

The update actually comesstraight from the pre-order pageon the official"Arkham City"website. The details provided are minimal, but the page does list the pre-order bonuses that will be available to U.S. customers of either Best Buy or GameStop: the former gets something called a"combo pack"and the latter, the"Joker's Carnival"challenge map.

Boom. Confirmation.

Unfortunately, that's all the detail there is to share at this point. The relevant GameStop and Best Buy product pages haven't even been updated with the pre-order news yet. Now that the word is officially out though, you can probably expect more details to emerge soon. Considering that"Arkham Asylum"also got a collector's edition release overflowing with extras -- including a full-size Batarang -- there are probably still more goodies that will be announced as we get close to the game's October 18 release.

The pre-order news comes only days after last week's revelation thatThe Riddler will play a more prominent rolein the sequel. Nothing concrete has been revealed there either -- are you sensing a pattern yet? -- but the classic Batman villain will definitely be appearing as more than just a mocking voice that offers hints for the game's hidden challenges.

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‘Stacking’DLC‘The Lost Hobo King’Is Coming To All Platforms In April» MTV Multiplayer

It is entirely fair to say that the digital download release"Stacking"isTim SchaferandDouble Fine's finest game since"Psychonauts."Because it is. The charmingly adorable puzzle-adventure casts players as Charlie Blackmore, the tiniest Russian stacking doll of them all. With a presentation and tone that mirrors the era of silent films, players explore Charlie's bizarre, doll-filled world, inserting himself into larger dolls, each with different abilities, as he attempts to solve an array of puzzles. The only downer is that, as a digital-only release, it's a short game. Double Fine has you covered though; today brings official word of"The Lost Hobo King,"the first DLC pack for"Stacking"!

"The Lost Hobo King"will be hitting Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC platforms sometime in April. There's a new environment to explore, added dolls and challenges, achievements/trophies... basically, another helping of the same great formula that made the core release so enjoyable.

The new location is called"the lost hobo kingdom of Camelfoot,"and as you've probably figured out from the title, you'll be there in search of the lost Hobo King. Read on for the official synopsis from Double Fine.

In"The Lost Hobo King,"Charlie travels to the kingdom of Camelfoot to help his hobo friend Levi with an important family matter. Levi’s uncle Rufus, heir to the throne of Hobo, may only take his rightful place if the lost crown can be found. To recover the fragmented crown, Charlie must use his unique talents to overcome several tests of valor left by the ancient hobo mystics. It is only then that the ancient crown can be re-forged, Rufus crowned, and the fractured hobo people united under one sardine.

A lost king, an ancient crown and sardines. What more could you ask for from your video game?

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‘MLB 11: The Show’Designer Wins Game Of‘Jet Moto,’Gets Job In Industry - Developer Pop Quiz #26» MTV Multiplayer

Developer Pop Quizis a weekly interview series in which we ask developers from around the industry the same 10 questions and post their responses.

For the past few years gamers have been looking forward to the release of"MLB: The Show"just as much as, if not more than, they've been looking forward to the beginning of the real baseball season, and that's partially due to SCEA San Diego Studio's Senior Designer, Kolbe Launchbaugh. This year's game, aptly named"MLB 11: The Show,"continues to push the bar for sports fans by adding new features, modes, and even Move support, and Launchbaugh helped make that come together. Find out more about this"Gran Turismo"loving designer in this week's Developer Pop Quiz.

Name:Kolbe Launchbaugh
Title:Sr. Designer
Company:SCEA San Diego Studio
Job Description:Design and manage various areas of"MLB 11 The Show,"as well as the development team.
First title worked on:Waaay back in 1996 I worked as a tester on"2Xtreme,"which was a sequel to"ESPN Extreme Games."My first title in a production role was in 1997 on"Rally Cross."
Most recent title worked on:"MLB 11 The Show"

What game has most influenced you, and why?
"Gran Turismo"for PS1. It was the first game to really give you that feeling of a career mode. You had to go through the license process, buy a car, upgrade your car, race and win to continue the cycle. That was a large departure from racing games back in 1997 when"Sega Rally"and"Daytona"were kings.

What are you playing right now?
I'm currently playing through a fairly extensive backlog of games. I just finished"God of War III"and am ~30% of the way through"Red Dead Redemption."

What was your first break in the games industry?
E3 in 1996 was my way into the industry. I met Mike Giam, who at the time was working on"Jet Moto."I beat him at his own game and we started a conversation. He introduced me to one of the San Diego Studio producers and the rest is history!

What's the best advice you've ever gotten?
Oddly enough, the best advice I've ever gotten was from my father. It was a line he told me after putting me"in charge"of his business for a day when I was 13 years old. I asked him what I was supposed to do and his answer was elegant."I don't care what you do so long as you make a decision... I'll never fault you for weighing your options and making an educated decision, the worst thing you can do when faced with a choice is nothing."That quote really hit me at the time and has really stuck with me.

Where do you look for inspiration?
Other games, television, phone aps, music, art, sports, society - all of it inspires in one way or another, it really depends on the topic for which you're seeking inspiration.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned about game development?
It's not nearly as easy as I assumed it was!

What has been the low point of your career?
I've had a very fun gaming industry career - I cant think of many"lows."

What do you think is the biggest problem current games suffer from?
This is a really tough question to answer... I've actually changed my mind 3 times already and am still not sure this is the"biggest problem"games have right now. That said, one of the largest issues we have as developers is finding a way to keep people interested.

What is the most important thing that has happened to gaming in the last 10 years?
Online competitive and co-op gameplay is absolutely the most important thing to enter the console world in the last 10 years. Before games became ways to socialize and enjoy your favorite pastime they were viewed as things for shut-ins, geeks, and other such unsavory labels.

Where do you see gaming in 5 years?
That's a great question - one which if I had the REAL answer to, it would make me a wealthy person! I think we've seen a huge boom in casual games ("Angry Birds,"etc.), casual gamers (my wife, etc.) and casual gaming platforms (Android, iWhatevers, etc.) lately. To capitalize, the traditional gaming industry needs to provide a method to introduce the full gaming experience that consoles provide with the ease of entry and fast access that casual gaming platforms provide.

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‘Portal 2′TV Spot Features GLaDOS, High-Flying Robots» MTV Multiplayer

Valve's"Portal 2"is only a few weeks away now. You've read the previews, watched the videos, seen the trailers... all that fun stuff. Now we enter the next, and final, phase of marketing as the countdown to the April 19 release continues: TV spots! There's a new coming to small screens everywhere soon, and we've got an early peak for you dedicated fans here on the Internet. Check it out after the jump.

Sure, it's not very revealing. Just a couple of bumbling robots flying through the air and diving into and out of the game's titular portals. Are you really going to complain though when you get to hear the dulcet, condescending tones of GLaDOS again?

"Portal 2"picks up long after the events of the first game. Chell, the original protagonist, is back, having been trapped in stasis during the many intervening years. As you've already read inRuss's preview, she awakens after all of those years in a retro motel room with a new robotic companion to guide her: Wheatley, voiced by Stephen Merchant.

While the gameplay is fundamentally the same, there are some added quirks and features to help flesh out the lengthier campaign. There are actuallytwocampaigns in total, both running for around six hours. One is focused entirely on telling a single-player-driven story while the other introduces co-op for the first time. There are options for online and local co-op play, as well as a feature that allows online players to switch to a split-screen view, to better coordinate the more challenging level of puzzle-solving that the co-op campaign delivers.

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‘SOCOM 4′To Support Corpse-Side Victory Dances» MTV Multiplayer

There is very little honor among gamers, especially online gamers. Perhaps because all of the corpses are virtual, there's no sense of loss and remorse associated with creating one. Or maybe we're all just sociopaths. Whatever the case is, most gamers are likely to do a little victory celebration following a particularly hard-fought kill. In the case ofZipper Interactive's PlayStation 3-exclusive online-only shooter"SOCOM 4,"the act of celebrating your enemy's demise isactually coded into the game.

That's right: when you take out a member of the opposing team and get close enough to stand over their cold, lifeless (virtual) corpse, press the O button and you'll do a little victory dance. WhileThe PlayStation Blogis only revealing three for now, the final game, which is out on April 19 in North America, will feature"more than a dozen."

The Chicken, The Robot and The Crane are the ones we get to take a look at in the new video and descriptions, both of which are provided below.

The Chicken
Sure to be a hit with fans of Arrested Development, your soldier makes chicken wings with his arms and waves them up and down, bobs his head forward and backward and digs at the dirt with his foot.

The Robot
Essentially an over-exaggerated version of what it looks like every time C3PO talks.

The Crane
Exactly like Daniel-san’s finishing move from The Karate Kid, the soldier raises both hands into the air, lefts one knee up slowly and then quickly high kicks with the other leg.

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‘Battlefield 3′Gameplay Clip Is All Sniper Vs. Rocket Launcher» MTV Multiplayer

If there's one thing we've learned so far about"Battlefield 3"that can't be argued, it's that the game looksstunninglygorgeous. DICE's Frostbite 2 engine can really do some beautiful things with death and destruction. You see a little bit of the latter in the developer's latest episode of"Fault Lines"gameplay previews, entitled"Good Effect On Target."

We unfortunately can't embed the video because there are a couple of F-bomb drops alongside the skyscraper-destroying rocket-propelled grenade strike. You should go andcheck it out for yourselfthough.

Electronic Arts provides some backstory to set the scene:"Follow our squad of U.S. Marines as they move to the rooftops to eliminate an enemy sniper in an abandoned hotel. This in-game footage from 'Battlefield 3' shows off the ANT animation technology from EA Tech in all its glory, with a climactic ending that speaks volumes of how the Frostbite 2 engine handles destruction."

Okay, not much backstory. But how much do you really need for a clip like this? The headline pretty much says it all: sniper vs. RPG. Can you guess who wins?

This new clip, likethe last one, features footage shown during recent demos EA did during and immediately before the 2011 Game Developer's Conference held earlier this month. Unfortunately, the new Fault Lines episode cuts short before you get to witness the full effect of a rocket-propelled grenade blast striking a multi-story building. Needless to say, it is impressive.

"Battlefield 3"is coming to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows platforms later this year.

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‘Brink’Gets A‘Class’-y Trailer And‘Fallout,’‘Doom’Themed UK Pre-Order Bonus» MTV Multiplayer

Why should you care about"Brink"? Splash Damage, the developer, is probably the main reason. The studio previously did"Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory"and"Enemy Territory: Quake Wars,"two games that don't suck at all. This is the first original game from Splash, and the team there brings a wealth of experience developing class-based online shooters to the table. There's a new trailer showing how that particular background has informed"Brink"after the jump, as well as some tantalizing UK pre-orders for the game that will hopefully be coming to the United States as well.

So in addition to this trailer, Bethesda announced a fairly huge assortment of pre-order goodies today. The only problem is, they'reUK-only. Cue the sad trombone. For now, at any rate.

The bonuses are particularly appealing because they shout out to some other notable franchises, specifically"Fallout"and"Doom."There are a few other packs as well, but those two sound particularly special for obvious reasons."Doom,"along with"Spec Ops,"is exclusive to UK retailer GAME. The"Fallout"pack comes with pre-orders placed on PLAY.com. And finally, Amazon pre-orders get the"Pyscho"pack. Drool and cry and start Internet petitions over all of the juicy details listed below.

Doom and Spec Ops packs available from GAME and Gamestation
Spread fear amongst your enemies with the exclusive Doom character customisation pack based on the world-famous games by id Software. Filled with a unique set of hellish customisation options for both Security and Resistance characters, the DOOM Pack will make you stand out from the crowd and bring Hell to the Ark. Or, kit out your Brink character with new and exclusive customisation options found in the Spec Ops Pack. Containing an exclusive weapon, a new scope attachment, a slick combat mask, and a unique"Dogtag"body tattoo, the Spec Ops Pack will put you amongst the Ark's most elite warriors as you fight over the future of humanity's last refuge.

The DOOM Pack contains:
- Unique"Hellspawn"body tattoo
- Exclusive UAC (Security) and Cacodemon (Resistance) customised skins for the Bulpdaun SMG
- Exclusive UAC Marine Body Armour (Security) and Lost Soul Screaming Skull (Resistance) t-shirts
- Exclusive UAC beanie cap (Security) and DOOM bandana (Resistance)

The Spec Ops Pack contains:
- Exclusive weapon: the"Hockler"Machine-Pistol
- Exclusive"GreenEye"Combat Optical Scope
- Exclusive Security"Sloani"Combat Mask
- Unique Dogtag body tattoo

Fallout pack available from PLAY.com
Attention, wannabe Vault-dwellers! With exclusive Fallout-themed character customisation options for both Security and Resistance characters, the Fallout Pack lets you publicly proclaim your affiliation to Vault-Tec's post nuclear simulation.

The Fallout Pack contains:
- Unique Fallout Vault 101 body tattoo
- Exclusive Vault 101 (Security) and Fallout New Vegas Vault Boy (Resistance) customised skins for the CARB-9 SMG
- Exclusive Fallout Vault 101 (Security) and Fallout New Vegas Vault Boy (Resistance) t-shirts
- Exclusive Vault-Tec beanie cap (Security) and Fallout bandana (Resistance)

Psycho Pack available from Amazon
Push your Brink character even further with new and exclusive customisation options. Containing a new weapon, a terrifying face mask, a unique Janus body tattoo and exclusive silencers, the Psycho Pack will turn you into a deadly and terrifying assassin as you fight over the future of the Ark and its inhabitants.

The Psycho Pack contains:
- Exclusive weapon: the"Caesar"Revolver
- New attachments: The Resistance's improved Soda Can Silencer and Security's ArkTactical Silencer
- Exclusive Resistance"The Grin"Combat Mask
- Unique"Tortured Soul"body tattoo

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‘Jikandia: The Timeless Land’Review - Time Waits For No Man» MTV Multiplayer

Time is one of the omnipresent aspects of video gaming that has been around since the glory days of the NES, but very few games have worked it in as a malleable aspect of the gameplay. Characters die when the developer-designated countdown timer runs out, and other games offer different rewards for finishing in as little time as possible. However, until Aksys Games' latest PSP release,"Jikandia: The Timeless Land,"no game has tried to bridge that gap by allowing the player the tools to decide whether they want to beat the game quickly or easily.

THE BASICS

"The Timeless Land"opens as an average day for nine students on their way to school. Unfortunately, something happens and they're all transported to the mysterious land of Jikandia. Once a home of peace and harmony, Jikandia was devoid of any concept of time. That balance was upset when evil creatures appeared, bringing time with them. The land's only hope are the nine outsiders who must try to help the locals while attempting to find their way home.

The game plays out over a series of 2D platforming levels, the length of which is determined by you. You don't have to go at the game alone, either. There's also a multiplayer component where you can clear out rooms and collect treasure with up to three other players.

THE HIGHS

You Decide How Long You Want To Play For
Every game needs a gimmick, and the one in"Jikandia"is both novel, and its biggest selling point: the player controls the length of time spent in each dungeon. Each level offers the choice to spend anywhere from three to 30 minutes battling monsters, collecting treasure, and completing different scenarios. However, it's next to impossible to beat the game by only playing each level for three minutes, because the longer that you set your play time, the more treasure you can collect. Additionally, the higher you set your playtime, the more likely you are to get rare item treasure chests throughout the level. In other words, it's in your best interest to put as much time as possible into finishing each level.

Plays Like Games From A Time Gone By
A unique blend of old and new,"Jikandia"steps away from the traditional action-RPG format, and offers up 2D platforming levels as the center of its gameplay. Aside from being a nice homage to games gone by, it works well for this title since each of the screens within in each dungeon offer their own challenges and rewards. Throughout the game, there's also some areas that are heavily inspired by some of Mega Man's classic levels, so retro fans should feel right at home navigating the wilds of Jikandia.

May The Quartz Be With You
"Jikandia"includes a simple and fluid upgrade system that any player should be able to easily wrap their heads around. As you play through each level you collect magic quartz crystals that you can allot to your character to boost certain attributes like strength and health. It's very straight-forward and easy to hop into.

THE LOWS

Reading One Line At A Time
There's a relatively good story that strings"Jikandia"together, but it's a shame that you'll have to strain to read it. Both the story and the dialog for the entire game appear one line at a time at the very bottom of the PSP's screen, making it a chore to follow along with anything that's going on. The absolute worst execution of this is during the actual levels when other characters are talking to you while you're trying to complete each screens' objectives, and not trying to die. It's a really bad experience and poor use of the PSP's large screen.

How Do I Get Out Of Here?
"The Timeless Land"is a moderately deep experience, offing a variety of customization options, upgrades, and choices to make throughout the game. Unfortunately, you'll be on your own trying to figure most of it out. While games that offer excessive tutorials can be overbearing,"Jikandia"skimps on some of the basic mechanics of the game, leaving the player to learn through trial and error. Alternatively, attempting to explain every facet of an action-RPG, even a retro-inspired one like this, can be tedious, a bit more of a walkthrough of the game's options would have been appreciated.

THE VERDICT

You have to hand it to the game's developer, Opus. They certainly know how to take traditional games and introduce entirely new concepts into them. Just look at their last game, the genre-bending"Half-Minute Hero."Messing with player's sense of time is something that generally falls slightly outside the mainstream, since it can throw off your more casual gamers, and that's exactly where"Jikandia"ends up. Much like its time-warping predecessor,"The Timeless Land"challenges players' concepts of RPGs beautifully. Unfortunately, that means it might also cross some traditionalists and involve too much thinking for the truly casual types. If you're a retro-gaming or RPG fan that's looking for something that blends new ideas with old school gameplay on your PSP, then you should absolutely give"Jikandia"a second look.

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Apple TV Opens Up To Live NBA And MLB Games» MTV Multiplayer

The latest update toApple TV, version 4.2 (not to be confused with the recently released iOS 4.3), adds some interesting new functionality features to that tiny, streaming bundle of media. The big part of the update adds support for MLB.com and NBA.com, which allows you to surf scores and, if you're a subscriber to those services, watch games live without the need for a cable box. AirPlay functionality has also been opened to 3rd party apps.

NBA and MLB fans who aren't interested in paying for the full slate of cable TV channels now have an alternative, presuming they subscribe to the premium services offered by both sites. At $20 to $30 per month, MLB.tv and NBA League Pass allow every game to be watched live. With the 4.2 update, that functionality is integrated into Apple TV, including DVR-style features like fast-forward and rewind. Sorry, you can't fast-forward live TV. That would be time traveling.

If you don't want to pay a subscription fee, basics like standings and score updates can be viewed through Apple TV for free.

The other big part of the update is that Apple TV now allows 3rd party apps to stream over AirPlay. Basically you can now send music and video from your iDevice to Apple TV instantly to enjoy on your HD screen. Several apps and websites are already supporting it, including ESPN The Magazine and the Vimeo website. Sadly gaming isn't supported at present, so your dreams of playing"Angry Birds"on a 50 inch screen are dashed for the time being.

Grabbing the update is pretty simple. Just boot up your Apple TV and select Update Software from the General Settings tab.

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‘L.A. Noire’Gameplay Video Highlights Interrogation, Character Interactions» MTV Multiplayer

The initial glimpses of Rockstar Games'"L.A. Noire"seen in trailers were infuriatingly non-revealing in terms of painting a picture of how the game might play. They are teasers in the truest sense, evoking a tone and whetting your taste buds for what was to come. Rockstar has been bringing the goods in recent weeks, however, starting with last month's revealingGameplay Series video"Orientation,"a series which continues today with"Investigation and Interrogation."

As you might have already guessed, the new video is focused entirely on the more cerebral aspects of Team Bondi's 1940s-set Los Angeles detective story. A major component of the game involves working LAPD cop Cole Phelps through the city's various crime desks, investigating activities on a particular beat until your performance rates for a promotion.

There are several key components to any investigation, but every single one will have two elements in common: a visit to the crime scene and an interview with any suspects. The new video gives us our clearest look yet at both elements.

Suspect interviews will involve applying the right amount of pressure to your interviewee based on how he or she is behaving. This is where Rockstar's use of MotionScan technology to re-create lifelike character performances is critical. As you can see in the video, every character is remarkably expressive. There are even a few famliar faces;"Heroes"star Greg Grunberg is unmistakably visible at around the 2:18 mark.

Crime scene investigations are equally important, as it is there that you'll find important clues and pick up facts from witnesses that open up new lines of questions once you start sitting down with possible suspects. Doing a good job leads to Cole leveling up, which allows players the opportunity to improve on his abilities, such as making crime scene clues more obvious to his trained eye.

For all of its open-world trappings and"GTA"-like HUD,"L.A. Noire"very clearly departs considerably from Rockstar's usual open-world formula. A very good thing indeed. There's nothing wrong with"GTA,"but there is something undeniably cool about getting to star in your very own film noir-styled adventure.

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‘Prototype 2′Casts First Game’s Protagonist As The New Villain» MTV Multiplayer

"Prototype"was a good game that came out at a bad time. Hitting shelves almost at the same moment as the PlayStation 3-exclusive"inFamous,"the end result was two superpower-driven open-world action games competing for gamers' attentions. Nobody wins in a situation like that. We're all still excited for"Prototype 2"though, especially now that details are starting to emerge on the coming sequel.

The first bits of information comes from an upcoming issue of OXM, teased today in a previewon the magazine's website. The new issue, which is out March 10, will run through details on the game's open world, combat, powers and the like. Today's preview instead focuses on the story and some of the big-picture ideas.

The protagonist of this new game is Sergeant James Heller, a"grizzle military veteran"whose family was lost in the plague. Alex Mercer, the questionably heroic hero of the first game, is back, only this time he is your"nemesis."

Heller is described as a"resourceful, at times subordinate, combat specialist who soon learns to revel in the awesome physical capabilities the Blacklight virus bestows upon him."

The basic concept of running around an open city and letting your freak flag fly as you dish out a range of powers on an unsuspecting populace remains in place. OXM writes that Radical has been working to"accommodate the same level of on-screen chaos as seen in {'Prototype'}, without replicating the occasional feeling of helplessness that marred that game."

The report also notes that more thought has been put into how a modern-day metropolis might response to a catastrophic outbreak, a fact which will apparently be evident in the city's diverse socio-economic zones. Not a tremendous amount of information, all told, but expect more to surface once the magazine hits newsstands later this week.

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GDC 2011 Highlights» MTV Multiplayer

In case you somehow missed every last bit of gaming news in the past bunch of days, the 25th annual Game Developer's Conference happened in San Francisco, Cali last week. More than just a trade show, GDC celebrates those who make the games we play while also providing them with a forum where they can educate themselves and network among peers. This year's gathering was the biggest yet, drawing in a record-breaking crowd of 19,000, up from last year's number of 18,250.

There were some major happenings at this year's show, starting witha keynote address delivered by Nintendo president Satoru Iwatain which he announced the coming of a"Super Mario"game for the soon-to-launch 3DS handheld as well as a Netflix Watch Instantly app for the same.

Veteran Sega designer Yu Suzuki also appeared, his first United States conference appearance. The"Shenmue"creator looked back over his long and storied career during his talk, though he also squeezed in some time to talk about theupcomingmobile game"Shenmue Town"as well as fan the hopes of franchise fans that all is not lost for a third console game in the series.

That wasn't it for big-ticket game announcements however. Tim Schafer, who hosted the show's Game Developer's Choice awards -- at which"Red Dead Redemption"and"Minecraft"were the big winners -- took a few moments at the tail end of the event to share a teasing glimpse of his studio Double Fine's next game,"Trenched,"which brings customizable mech fighting action to Xbox Live Arcade.

Speaking of"Minecraft,"creator Markus Persson revealed the next project that is in development at Mojang,"Scrolls."A board game/card game hybrid,"Scrolls"is about as far as you can get from"Minecraft."It also sounds a little like chess, but with magic. Nothing wrong with that.

MTV Multiplayer editorRuss Frushtickwas on the ground in San Francisco, and he got to see some cool stuff while he was there. The one that we should all be jealous of is histime spent staring at the latest build of"Batman: Arkham City."He also got to peer at theupcoming PlayStation Network exclusive"Rochard,"which he described as the mutant demon-baby of"Team Fortress 2,""Dead Space"and"Portal."

Russ also spent some time atthe PopCap panel, because... well... badass games are made there. Did you know that"Bejeweled"grew out of idea theft? Or that there's an official, developer-conceived drinking game for"Bejeweled Blitz"? No? That's because you weren't at the panel. Russ was though, so check outhis report.

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‘SOCOM 4′Beta Launches For All On April 5, Bomb Squad Multiplayer Mode Detailed» MTV Multiplayer

"SOCOM 4"is out on April 19, the first PlayStation 3 entry in the series developed by the franchise's creator, Zipper Interactive. As is often the case with online-focused games these days, there will be a public beta in which fans will get an early taste of what is to come while Zipper stress tests the game's online play component. Today Sony revealed the details of the beta, a four-phase rollout that culminates in the April 5 wide-release for all PlayStation Network members.

The"SOCOM 4"beta's extended release launches on March 15 with a private beta, with eligible players being contacted directly by Sony. That will be followed a week later on March 22 with access for PlayStation Plus members and then the week afterthat, on March 29, for those who have a beta code from their"Killzone 3"purchase.

The final, wide release launches on April 5, when the beta will be made available for download via the PlayStation Network for all users. It will continue from then on until April 13, just a few days short of the final game's release. There will be two maps --"Port Authority"and"Assault& Battery"-- available in both Standard and Classic variants, and four competitive play modes: Suppression, Last Defense, Uplink and Bomb Squad, the last of which is detailed in a new post onPlayStation Blog.

In Bomb Squad, Insurgents must defend several bombs planted around the maps while Spec Ops forces must move to defuse them before time runs out. In a twist, there is a mode-specific character class, Bomb Technician (think the armor-suited guys from"The Hurt Locker"and"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2"), which is the only one capable of disarming the bombs.

The Spec Ops team gets just one of these guys, so the Insurgents will have to focus their fire on him to ensure that the bombs remain armed. The Bomb Technician is a sort of super-class, heavily armored and armed with an automatic shotgun and a grenade launcher.

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Gaijin Games CEO On The Horrors Of Superman And The Death Of Gaming (As We Know It) - Developer Pop Quiz #24» MTV Multiplayer

Developer Pop Quizis a weekly interview series in which we ask developers from around the industry the same 10 questions and post their responses.

This week's Developer Pop Quiz focuses on Alex Neuse, the CEO ofGaijin Games, and part of the team behind the acclaimed"BIT.TRIP"series. Alex's time in the industry has exposed him to some of the best and worst that gaming has to offer, but his love of games helps him soldier on, although he predicts a grim future for us all.

Name:Alex Neuse
Title:CEO
Company:Gaijin Games
Job Description:To create new game ideas and direct the team in its execution of those ideas
First title worked on:"Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith"
Most recent title worked on:"BIT.TRIP FLUX"

What game has most influenced you, and why?
Of all the games that I admire,"Rez"takes the cake on this one. I'm very intrigued by the exploration of spirituality and sensuality in games. And I don't mean sensuality in the sexual way, necessarily. Games that motivate the senses have tremendous impact on me."Rez"is almost perfect because of this. It's an action game. It's an on-rails shooter. It's a game we've played before. But the sum of its parts is much greater than its components. The way that the visuals evolve; the way that the music interacts with the action; the way that the story is told. It's all so sublime in its execution.

What are you playing right now?
I'm currently playing"Stacking"from Double Fine Productions.

What was your first break in the games industry?
After I graduated from college with a degree in Theatre/Film, I was completely aimless. I was in the perfect frame of mind, as a huge video game collector, to be offered a job as a Tester, or Quality Assurance Technician. A friend of mine had a girlfriend who worked at LucasArts at the time, and she got my foot in the door. I flew out to California for the interview and told them why they needed me; in those words. I was cocky, and I think for once it paid off. I moved across the country and have never looked back.

What's the best advice you've ever gotten?
Admit when you don't know something. It's a surprisingly empowering thing to admit when you're totally clueless. Because once you define what you don't know, it's much easier to find your way to something that you do know that can help you solve any problem.

Where do you look for inspiration?
Typically, I look to other video games for day-to-day inspiration. As a Designer, I nerd out on gameplay over anything else, so I like to actually get my hands on something to see where inspiration takes me. Aside from games though, music inspires me a lot, as does simply being outdoors.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned about game development?
Everything takes much longer than you think--almost without fail. To this end, coming up with an awesome game idea and making most of the game is relatively straight-forward. But finishing a game; that's another story altogether. It takes a lot of guts to actually finish a game. Most difficult decisions during development are made while trying to ship, and what I've learned about this is that simply making any decision is more often better than trying to find the one correct answer. When shipping a game, follow your gut and get it done.

What has been the low point of your career?
I think the lowest point of my career was when I was working 16 - 22 hour days for about seven months straight--usually on the weekends as well--on"Superman Returns"(DS) for EA. No game is worth working that much on. When I look back on that time in my life, I'm sickened by almost all of the experience. And what's most depressing about it isn't that I worked so much and missed out on life for an end product that isn't very good; it's that something in me broke because of that process. I am unable to care as much as I used to, and am unable to push myself. Working"industry hours", regardless of what anyone says, is damaging to your soul. I will never do it again.

What do you think is the biggest problem current games suffer from?
Current games suffer from a lack of imagination. I'm finding it harder and harder to care about first-person-perspective space marine adventures. I don't care about open world games anymore. JRPGs have become homogenized. If I match three gems of the same color again, I may puke. And the list goes on. Where are our"Katamari Damacies"? I want more"Icos,""Killer 7s,""Seamen,"and"Vib Ribbons."I fell in love with video games because you can experience things that are impossible with any other entertainment medium. Of course, there are still games that make it to market that are rich with imagination, but it used to be the norm. Now it's the exception.

What is the most important thing that has happened to gaming in the last 10 years?
4 years ago, I would have said Achievements without hesitation. However, as much as I hate to admit it, because I'm a console gamer through and through, I think that the iPhone and/or Facebook is the most important thing that has happened to gaming in the last 10 years. And I don't think that the changes brought about by the App Store and facebook are good ones either. Players' attention spans are down, they've lost the desire to pay more than $0.99 for a game, and everything is available all the time, from anywhere. These are big changes, and the industry has seen tons of growth because of them. Whether it's a negative change can be argued. But its importance to the industry cannot.

Where do you see gaming in 5 years?
In 5 years, I think digital distribution will be ubiquitous. I think that most games will be bite-sized diversions from life that will offer little in the way of personal growth for players. There will still be big AAA games, of course, but fewer of them. I think that gaming as we currently know it is dying.

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‘Monaco,’Last Year’s IGF Winner, Hides Levels In Jpegs» MTV Multiplayer

Take a look at the above screenshot. No, look closer. Closer! If you look carefully enough, there's a hidden world to be found.

Last year's winner of the Independent Games Festival was a game called"Monaco."Inspired by films like"Ocean's Eleven,""Monaco"is a top-down, co-op-centric stealth game wherein teams of four players play as thieves attempting to pull off a heist. Andy Schatz, the game's developer, spoke at this year's GDC about the process of making the game and revealed something very interesting about how he'll be offering level-sharing to players.

When"Monaco"releases ("don't ask,"said Schatz, regarding the release date), players will have a folder of playable levels. But when they open that folder, all they'll see are image files, and just one image file per level. So where's all the level data? Apparently a picture is worth at least a single level.

Here that same screenshot, with the bloom and menu removed:

Still, it's not clear where the level data exists in this image. But look to the left of the sun, in that patch of deep-blue sky. Here's a zoomed in version:

Yep, there it is, the level data. Because each of the levels are tiny in terms of data size (about 3KB), Schatz figured out a way to hide that data as pixels in a screenshot. That way, when you send a fancy screenshot of a level to a friend, they've already got everything they'll need to play it. Schatz admitted he took some cues from"Spore,"which allowed people to share creature creations with just an image, but no one has really done level sharing this way.

This was just one of many fascinating elements Schatz is working on for the full release of"Monaco."The version that won the IGF last year took just 15 weeks to create, but now, a year later, he's expanded the scope of the game tremendously, doubling the number of playable characters and reworking all of the lighting effects. It'll be a doozie when it releases...just don't ask Schatz when that is.

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‘Trenched’Brings Customizable Mech Warfare From Double Fine» MTV Multiplayer

"Turn no man's land... into real man's land."So goes the recruitment ad/debut trailer for"Trenched,"the latest game from Double Fine, revealed this week at the 2011 Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco, Cali. It appears to be a customizable mech fighting game from the mind of Tim Schafer.

Sold.

There's not much to say right now, as thegame's official websitefeatures only the video and a handful of screenshots. It was announced last night at the tail end of the Game Developer's Choice Awards with an announcement trailer that Schafer called"extremely, extremely manly.""Trenched"will be published by Microsoft Game Studios as an Xbox Live Arcade release.

Double Fine of course developed"Psychonauts,"the amazing and highly under-purchased psychic summer camp adventure game from 2005. The studio stumbled a bit with its follow-up"Brutal Legend"in 2009, but now seems to have found its footing with a series of solid downloadable releases.

"Costume Quest"came last year, followed in February 2011 by the puzzle/adventure"Stacking."Both are marked by the same level of clever writing and whimsical characters that highlight the studio's previous efforts. Also coming up in addition to"Trenched"is"Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster,"a Kinect game based on the popular children's television series.

The"Trenched"trailer certainly captures the same sense of wry humor that Double Fine is known for. The game itself looks like it offers some exciting mech action, though hopefully it will feature a simpler control scheme than you normally see in that type of offering. Given the pedigree of the developer and the apparent scope of the game -- check out the many different customization variations in the trailer -- this one seems very likely for a 2011 Summer of Arcade release.

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‘Minecraft’Dev Working On Digital Card Game‘Scrolls’» MTV Multiplayer

Developer Mojang's"Minecraft"is outstandingly popular, an impressive feat for any PC game these days, not to mention one thatisn't even out of beta yet. The charming low-fi visuals and robust world-building tools have dazzled players however, and inspired some of the coolest user-generated content creations we've seen in the past year. For its next trick, Mojang is looking to tap into the popularity of games like"Magic: The Gathering"with"Scrolls."

Mojang offered a pre-GDC look at"Scrolls"toGamasutra, which describes the game as"a digital card game/board game mash-up."Players build decks of cards -- or"scrolls"-- before each game, using them to produce a variety of attack- and defense-oriented effects as a match progresses. Card packs will be released to further add to the catalog of available moves as well.

The game unfolds on a chess-like board, with the grid serving as your battlefield. Scrolls can be used to attack or defend, with the overall objective being to knock your opponent's health down to zero. Defeating individual enemy units in the field won't cut it though; as in chess, the idea is to work around enemy defenses and attack the"king"directly. Additionally, decks of cards are shuffled before each game, which adds an element of randomness to your tactical planning as you're never quite sure how the next card will serve its purpose until it is in your hand.

Mojang promises a single-player campaign in which players will be able to get a feel for the layout of"Scrolls"and some general strategies, but the focus will be on online play. Friendly and ranked one-on-one matches will be available, though Mojang is also hoping to host online championships and is currently looking for a sponsor. The game will also feature an auction house where players will be able to buy and sell cards amongst themselves.

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‘BurgerTime HD’Release Outed By ESRB Listing» MTV Multiplayer

If you're looking at the news of a"BurgerTime"HD remake and are thinking"it's about freaking time!"then you're in the right frame of mind. If there's any classic game that's screaming for a 21st century makeover, it's the one featuring a marauding army of eggs, pickles and hot dogs. Seriously. Well the remake is happening, and it is clutched in the capable paws of MonkeyPaw Games.

The news comes from anESRB listing, the industry's old faithful of inadvertent game reveals. There's little to go on beyond a platform breakdown -- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Windows PC -- and a description, which you can read below.

This is an action-platformer in which players assume the role of a small chef who must assemble giant hamburgers. Players must avoid 'cartoony' hazards (e.g., grill flames, spikes traps) and oversized enemies (e.g., carrots, apple cores, hot peppers) in each level. The chef blinks and falls off-screen when hit; enemies react to damage with a 'dizzying' effect.

Carrots, hot peppers and apple cores are all new to the game, so that's cool. As far as the platform listing goes, I'd imagine the console releases will come to each one's associated digital delivery store.

If you've never played the original, the ESRB description pretty much captures it. Each single-screen level is similar in appearance to what you see in"Donkey Kong."You play Chef Peter Pepper. The idea is to run across hamburger fixings laid out on each platform. Every time you run completely over one, it drops down one level as does each piece below it. The idea is to keep going until you have all of the burgers assembled.

Like I said, if there's any classic game that's screaming for an HD remake...

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