Often we hear of games that were in production, but were killed somewhere along the line, for one reason or another, by the people who were involved. Like Julie Farrell, an artist who worked on a game based upon the famous comic that put the caped crusader in late 20th century Europe, in a steampunk-rific adventure (it’s totally worth checking out, if you’re into funny books and the like).

Apparently the NDA wore off today, hence why it was finally okay to post the work that she did. Other visual assets can be seen here. Unfortunately, there are no gameplay shots, meaning that the game was not very far before having the plug pulled. Or perhaps it never even got passed the sales pitch.

But as Joystiq notes, the control diagrams speak of a game that was based upon a shooter, much like the upcoming Gotham City Impostors. Except that it also had a single player, story mode, presumably based upon the source material.

Such a shame; game sounds great on paper at least. Though I still wish we had gotten that Avengers game that was also canned, and which was quite a ways along, and which also looked amazing (and was also a FPS)…

Semi-related: you know what would be awesome? A game based on Superman: Red Son, which is another “what if”, in which the last son of Krypton crash lands on Russian soil, not American. Though I guess what would be nice is just a decent Superman game to being with.

She must have been trying to emulate the ‘Knightfall’ era Batman. *snort

Via Joystiq…

So I was planning on passing along a rundown of the best games that came out in 2011, but truth be told, because I didn’t get a chance to play (and beat, that’s the most important part) every single thing, I felt a bit awkward doing so. So instead, here’s a brief rundown of waht the video highlights, roughly in the order they appear, and with my two cents. Again, time spent with each one greatly varies, but I am the gaming expert here, not to brag…

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations – It’s funny how I had shunned the series up until this installment and am finally okay with the wacky “experiencing the past through some VR simulator that’s driven by the Freemasons” or something like that, but all diehard fans are officially done with the game.

Rage – It kinda sucks when you’re depending on cutting edge graphics to be the star of the show, when said graphics have so many issues. Leaving the “back to basics” gameplay somewhat out there to dry.

Modern Warfare 3 – Certainly not my kind of game, but if you want ultra realistic military simulations, and blow other people up in said virtual environments, the latest Call of Duty can’t be beat.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution – The cyberpunk sandbox game experience that everyone has long dreamt off. Sucks that the boss battles are so wonky and out of place.

Uncharted 3 – Really say something when a game that basically gives more of what everyone loved, i.e. part 2, and it’s no longer good enough. Though now that we know half the team was working on The Last of Us, at least we know why.

Gears of War 3 – The final GoW was a damn fine one! Not sure what else needs to be said; a satisfactory conclusion to a trilogy, which is kinda hard to pull off a lot.

Catherine – Every loved the ultra adult subject matter, but the wacky, block-based puzzle gameplay? Not the best of mixes. Sorry, I like metaphors, but in my video games? Guess it varies.

Saints Row: The Third – Well, the GTA wannabe had their best showing yet. Having a big purple dildo as a weapon definitely helped.

Portal 2 – While it didn’t have quite the magic (or the accessibility) of the first one, the sequel was quite excellent, though you definitely need to play with a buddy to see the game truly shine.

Skyward Sword – Believe the hype; it’s the best Zelda game ever, period, without question. It’s both funny and sad that after this time, we finally have the second game (the first one being Wii Sports) that truly legitimizes motion gaming.

Rayman Origins – Years after getting lost in the mediocre 3D shuffle, and cast aside fro frankly unfunny spin-offs starring rabbits (hey, the French just have strange sense of humor), Ubi’s mascot is finally back in tip top form.

Yakuza 4 – For those of you who would rather be a virtual bad ass on the streets of Tokyo instead of New York City, the latest Yakuza happens also be the greatest one yet.

LA Noire – Rockstar really nailed the look and feel of the LA circa the 40s, but the gameplay unfortunately couldn’t quite match up in the end. Still a fun romp.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet – One of the hits of the XBLA scene, it does what promises, and that’s deliver old school gameplay in a super stylish, modern threads.

Child of Eden – Speaking as a fan of Rez, I simply had no patience for this pretty but fundamentally (as well as long-winded) broken shooter.

Infamous 2 – Yet another GTA-esque game, except you’re a bad ass with super powers, and running around the south. Haven’t touched this one, but fans of the first say it’s pretty awesome.

Alice Madness Returns – Hey, I guess everyone else is finally sick and tired of Alice In Wonderland, but all dark and gothic! Guess everyone became pals with lazy and uncreative art school hacks.

Arkham City – Hey, it’s Arkham Asylum, but bigger and bolder, with more stuff to do and more characters to do it with. Any wonder why everyone loves it death and that it sold like a billion copies?

Dead Space 2 – My vote for best game that everyone forgot game out this year. Whereas everyone who tried to make survival horror games have basically given up on making stuff scary, not the folks behind Dead Space.

Skyrim – The game of the year for many. Never has running around in a fantasy land, with swords and spells, yelling like a dragon, been so vividly realized in video game form.

Battlefield 3 – I guess what I said about Modern Warfare 3 could be said about this one. I honestly can’t tell the difference, but once again, I’m not the biggest fans of these types of games, so there ya go.

Fear 3 – I can’t believe this one got included, cuz it flat out sucked, and even fans of the first two games (which I sorta am) could tell from a distance.

Dead Island – I don’t recall seeing it in the video, but it just has to be there (I mean, if you’re going to include Fear 3). People said it’s actually a good game, but that douche-y trailer with the sappy piano music totally turned me off permanently, sorry.

And the one game that I can’t believe was not included, because it was my personal game of the year? Believe it or not, that would have to be Mortal Kombat. Seriously, that game was amazing! Sorry, but I love comeback stories, and talk about a franchise that was on the blink of oblivion. Just goes to prove that, if you go back to basics, but the kind people have been long clamoring for, and really go the extra mile and overload the thing with a ton of extras (like a RIDICULOUS amount), then you’re going to have a package that reminds you of the good old days, and why you love video games in the first place.

So yeah, get the latest MK if you haven’t done so already!

The convergence of gaming and drinking has been covered a few times already, including Pokemon inspired mixed drinks. But the following is a bit more all encompassing.

The Guardian decided to ask a bartender at some gaming lounge to concoct six drinks based upon popular games. And they all look great! Though the snazzy photo job certainly helps; precise instructions for putting everything together can be found at the source…

Uncharted 3: Drinks Deception, like the game it’s based upon, is “one big action set-piece.” that uses:

- Ginger beer (Crabbies alcoholic ginger beer can be used for those wanting a bigger bang)
- Goldschlager
- Overproof rum (Wray and Nephew)
- Cinnamon
- A box of matches

Elderflower Scrolls: Skyyrum is built “entirely around a series of highly amusing Skyrim puns”, but it sounds hella appetizing:

- Skyy vanilla vodka
- Sparkling elderflower presse
- Spiced rum (Sailor Jerry)
- Orange peel

LA Noire: Truth, Lie, Stout is one of the more conceptually interesting on this list, since it’s “based around the three responses that lead character Cole Phelps can make during interrogation sequences”. It’s also the easiest to assemble:

- Kahlua
- Vodka
- Guinness (original bottled form only)

The Modern Warfare Frag Grenade is “not so much a cocktail as a military exercise” and it shows; not only is the list of ingredients quite long, but the directions to put them all together is equally complex and rigid:

- Limoncello
- Crème de Menth
- Jagermeister
- Baileys
- Energy drink
- Black vodka

The Portal Two is the prettiest looking of the bunch since it’s meant to resemble the portals themselves:

- Blue Curacao
- Vodka
- Lemonade
- Cointreau
- Rum
- Orangina
- Small tumblers

Finally, Batman: Arkham Party, isn’t just one drink but a series of drinks, each representing one of the Caped Crusader’s foes:

- Midori
- Vodka
- Crushed ice
- Blue Curacao
- Sambuca
- Cranberry juice
- Rum
- Pop Rocks
- Fresh mint
- Sugar syrup
- Blackcurrant coulis (you can buy this in bottles or jars if you don’t want to make your own)
- Champagne

There are loads of male characters in all manner of fictional text and media. Some, though, have such innate manliness that you could practically distill and bottle it. Here’s a list of the manliest fictional characters ever to grace the page and screen.

8 Conan the Barbarian
Forget the movies. In the old novels that defined Conan’s character, he is a giant of a man with a commanding presence. He inspires scores of men who would follow him into battle at any given moment. Conan the Barbarian is a brilliant tactician, has a strict code of honor and women are drawn to him with immutable attraction. He faces monsters, magic and mayhem by day and goes drinking and wenching by night. Wenching! And to top it all off, he has all the rage and fury of his ancestors. Plus, his last name is “the Barbarian” and if that’s not manly, I don’t know what is.

7 Master Chief (of the ‘Halo’ series)
The Master Chief has no life of his own. He is the last of his kind and duty rules his actions. He relies on his Mjolnir armor, just as humanity relies on him: as a shield and protector. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and strives only to live another day to fight for the sake of humanity.

6 Wolverine
Nothing says warm and fuzzy like razor-sharp adamantium claws. This is a man who shows tough love or no love at all. He’s a rough, rogue of a mutant man who loves fighting, drinking and smoking big-ass cigars. Man or mutant, he easily makes the cut.

5 Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones is known for his resourcefulness, selflessness and utter luck. He’s intelligent, but fallibly human. Indy is an everyman that gets stuck in crazy situations he deals with not by brute strength or special powers, but by his sheer tenacity and clever manipulation of dangerous circumstances. And like every good man, a good woman and good friends are never far behind to help when the going gets rough.

4 Doom Guy (of the ‘Doom’ series)
The Doom Guy is manliness incarnate. His only form of communication is grunting in pain. When he cries, he cries blood. And, goddamn can that dude blast through hell spawn with a sinister level of enthusiasm and intensity. Want to make Doom Guy happy? Give him some chain gun ammo.

3 James Bond
James Bond has it all: intelligence, charm, cool confidence and a whole lot of guns and gadgets at his disposal. He is a killing machine, but he’s also a lover, falling for (and bedding) just about every beautiful woman he meets. He embodies a man’s quest for love and violence with style and aplomb.

2 Jack Bauer (of ’24′)
This is one of the most conflicted, deeply passionate characters on this list. And when I say passionate, I mean unstable. His knowledge of hand-to-hand combat is formidable, his use of guns and knives inspire awe and dread and his interrogation techniques are brutal, all in the name of protecting America. Plus, he’ll yell at you right in your face. And no one likes to be yelled at.

1 Batman
Tights aside, Batman’s altruistic form of revenge on evil-doers for the murder of his parents makes him a man’s man. He strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies, rides a thin line between psycho-vigilante and straight lawman and goes above and beyond, dedicating his life to crime fighting in the name of peace and justice.

IGN recently had the chance to sit down with the hardest working voice actor in gaming today. They asked North on the spot to say some of the lines that he’s best know for, like from Uncharted and Arkham City (much like one of the dudes interviewing him, I had no idea he was the Penguin in that). Then came characters that are a bit foreign to him…

BTW, they weren’t lying: his IMDB page is indeed hella long. At any rate, much like Mel Blanc (the dude who did pretty much every cartoon voice throughout the 30s, 40,s 50s, 60s, 70s, even the 80s), his voice is somewhat the same in many instances, but like every truly great actor, he puts something news and fresh in each role, making each unique.

Despite not sounding all that different when assuming the persona of Drake, there’s still that certain something that has helped to make him one of the most beloved modern game characters of this generation, by far. Meanwhile, his Street Fighter voice ain’t bad either, though his Mortal Kombat voice is rather weak. Then again, the current MK announcer also pales in comparison with the original…

… Who, btw, is a noted pinball designer. Guess he went into retirement as it pertains to voice work? Anyhow, the thing about North is that he seems like a totally cool, normal guy. Sure he’s hamming it up, but at least he’s not flat out creepy like the guy who does the voice of Mario, Charles Martinet…

Again, seems like a totally cool dude, and if I got paid as much as he does, I’d be super exuberant as well. Also, I need to watch my mouth, cuz he looks like he could easily kick my ass.

First off, the following isn’t in-game footage, but still does a lot to send home the premise of Gotham City Impostors. For those who missed the news the first time around, it’s a multiplayer FPS in which idiots pretend to be Batman during the caped crusader’s absence in Gotham City (and in which Joker fanboys and girls also follow suit)…

Early buzz thus far has been super positive, and has been called the perfect thing for folks who are interested in FPSs, but aren’t a fan of the current crop of popular offerings, i.e. Call of Duty or Battlefield. Though I’ve yet to hear if it’s like Team Fortress, which is the only other FPS that’s squad based and to have a sense of humor (at least one that’s good or notable).

Next is a super short teaser for the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man. It, along with numerous other games (like the aforementioned Last of Us) will be making their debut at this weekend’s VGA…

Meh. Sorry, but I still think his new outfit stinks. Anyhow, it’s also been just revealed that the game, which is set to come out around the time of the new movie, this upcoming summer of 2012, will be a direct epilogue of the events in the flick.

Furthermore, the game’s plot is being penned by Seamus Kevin Fahey, who was one of the chief writers for the new Battlestar Galactica. The game will have old web head facing off against all his classic foes, and if there’s anyone who can weave an epic story, it’s Fahey, so the game has serious potential after-all, stupid costumes not withstanding (one has to hope alternates will be available, perhaps as a pre-order bonus, which I’ll gladly take advantage of).

First off, Apple’s iOS gets much of the spotlight, but Google’s own thing is doing pretty good for itself; the 10 billionth download too place over the weekend. So to celebrate, a number of apps have been discounted to the tune of ten cents for the next ten days, including a few games, with the best of the batch being Minecraft: Pocket Edition.

But how about something for free? There’s another promo going on, over at Apple’s App Store; Manny Pacquiao: Pound for Pound is free, but only for today…

Been playing with it all day long; it’s essentially Infinity Blade, but instead of some knight in shining armor, going after other warriors or dragons, you’re a boxer beating up dudes sporting dreds. Overall, not bad, especially for a nothing (not sure what the regular price is). The controls, for what it is, are mostly fine, and Pacquiao looks genuinely impressive in polygonal form!

Unfortunately the illustrations that drive the story forward are not nearly as good, but the tale that’s being told is actually somewhat interesting? Though I’m only halfway through, it could totally fall apart in the end. Meanwhile, Kotaku recently highlighted a game called Time Ducks, and it looks mighty awesome…

Too bad it’s not. Once the cool aesthetics wear off, you’ll discover that it’s essentially Flight Control, but with a painfully slow pace and assorted tweaks to the formula that are completely pointless. It’s only $2, but I assure you, there’s plenty of other way to blow one’s money.

Also for the iPhone is a handy new app from Microsoft to keep abreast of your Xbox Live profile and buddies. There have been countless third part apps, though it’s about time that MS made one themselves. And it’s quite nice, employing the same “Metro” look that is being used to unify all their offers (like the just re-launched Xbox Dash and the upcoming Windows 8)…

It can be nabbed here. And last but not least, Batman: Arkham City is coming to the iPhone. It’s actually out this very second in New Zealand of all places, but should be live in North America later tonight from what I hear. Doesn’t look bad, though once again, it’s very Infinity Blade-like in its gameplay…

Okay yeah that was kind of weird but can we talk for a minute about how bootleg that Iron Man costume is? I mean he looks like a midget Mexican wrestler. There have been more realistic representations of Iron Man in Thai porn films. Uh..presumably.

Spider Man, Batman, And Iron Man Dance At Birthday Party [Buzzfeed]

Not much else to say here, other than it’s another homerun for Dorkly…

And here’s another, which is somewhat topical, given all the hoopla over Mario’s affinity for wear fur…

And then we have the following; since every other vid from them is Nintendo related, here’s something that’s not. Note: it’s kinda not very funny, but hey, Double Dragon is somewhat hard to work with…

They just posted their circular for deals going down in two weeks, which may be just the ticket to get some fresh air that Thanksgiving morning, especially if either football or dealing with in-laws is not your deal…

For a closer look, as well as to see what else is on sale, simply head here. Highlights include:

- Wii for not just $100, but in blue! As Siliconera points out, what was previously thought to be a European exclusive is finally making an appearance in America, perhaps as a Wal-Mart exlusive? Note that this is one of the aforementioned modified versions of the console that axes GameCube support.

- One can snag either the Kinect for just $100, which is fifty bucks less than normal, or the Kinect/360 bundle for $200, which is a hundred bucks less than normal.

- I can’t tell how big the hard drive is, but even if it’s just 160GB, the asking price of $200 for a PlayStation 3 is still fifty bucks cheaper than normal for such a configuration.

- As far as games go, you simply can’t go wrong with $10 for Yakuza 4. Like seriously, deal of the century. And there’s plenty of great $15 games as well, but $28 for Gears of War 3, Forza 4, Battlefield 3, and Arkham City? Hot damn!

First thing’s first: the guy who most people know as Luke Skywalker has also been playing the Joker for close to 20 years now. And I guess he believes it’s time to finally give that gig a rest. Via Twitter last night…

… It should be noted that he somewhat joked about retiring the role after Arkham Asylum as well. But then the game became huge, perhaps more so than anyone expected, which in the end led to a bigger second paycheck. And given that the sequel might do even better, if a part three does happen (let’s all it Arkham Island for the time being), I wouldn’t be shocked if Skywalker is back. After all, one can’t live off of Star Wars residual checks alone. Actually, you can.

Next, remember the screw up involving the Catwoman DLC and me going that the only solution was to just give the codes away? Well, guess I was wrong. Joystiq has posted all the things that one must present to Warner Bros if you’d like them to fix their mess up. Which includes:

- A dated proof of purchase (receipt, invoice) showing the purchase of a NEW copy of the game (not a rented or used copy, nor a copy purchased from eBay)
- Either Xbox Live gamertar or PSN profile name
- An email address
- A scan or digital picture of the package and game disc(s)
- A scan or digital picture of the code sheet (both sides)

… As annoying as it is for a customer, that’s a lot of work for your average customer support rep me thinks. I have a feeling that the process will be a huge pain in the ass for many. As well as costly, though I’m guessing it won’t make a dent in the bottom-line that the silly DLC scheme will ultimately net WB.

Third up is how many are taking issue with the game’s salty language. In particular, it’s liberal use of the word “bitch”. Everyone, from those who run random, feminist-tinged blogs (though the author’s argument is completely sound, especially when referring to Straw Dogs… the original, not the crappy remake starring Cyclops) to even Kotaku has had issues with the overuse of the word.

My take on the subject? All I can say is that Batman has always been about the dark side of humanity, which includes plenty of not so pleasant people, actions, and consequences. That being said, all of those have been brilliant illustrated by the Batman cartoon on Fox from the early 90s, where no cursing was necessary. So yeah, I think it’s overkill. But I also believe all the retarded cat puns that Catwoman uses are just as offensive.

Anyhow, time to take a break and enjoy a good old-fashioned glitch video!

BTW, for those who either don’t own a PS3 or Xbox 360, or simply prefer gaming on a PC, if you pre-order the game right now, you’ll get 20% off Steam! Not sure how long the offer will last though, so act soon.

But also be sure that you have the right hardware in time for the game’s arrival (which is November 15th btw). Specifically a card that’s capable of PhysX-enabled effects; the following is demonstration of the game, both with and without…

And finally, a handy cheat for those obsessed with getting every achievement and calendar in the game, this one involving Calendar Man. Yes, the idea of a bad guy who’s obsessed with dates seems dumb at first, but you’ll be changing your tune once you’ve read The Long Halloween. Trust me on this…

Take a look at this…

… According to Joystiq, that’s just a tip of the iceberg. Many folks are reporting instances in which their copies do not have the Catoman DLC voucher included. Or that they have two copies of the Joker DLC voucher, but again no Catwoman. Better yet, not one, not two, but three Catwoman codes are enclosed. And best of all is the above, in which the voucher is simply blank. In response, Warner Bros said via Twitter that the problem will soon be fixed.

How? This will be pretty much impossible to properly sort out. Best part is how this is truly a mess that they created. The only realistic solution is to just give everyone the Catwoman DLC code and call it a day. But easier said than done, since that also means figuring out a means to distribute who knows how many unique codes. Basically, WB’s greed has completely bitten them in the ass to a hilarious degree.

In other news, Giant Bomb recently revealed that the paintball mode in the upcoming PS3/360 remake of GoldenEye will only be available to those who pre-order the game via GameStop. Despite the fact that Activision made it clear beorehand that the content is already on the disc.

So that download code ain’t for downloading jack, it’s for allowing you access to something you already paid for. Pretty messed up. Best part is how previously, Activision said it would be unlockable to those who don’t pre-order; they’ll just have to… you know… play the game to reveal the option (just like in the N64 original). One has to assume that a very angry phone call from GameStop HQ put the kaboosh on that idea.

Now, one might assume that the option will eventually be available for purchase after the fact, as annoying as it might be. I doubt it. This is Activision. They do insanely stupid (and greedy) things all the time. And I can totally seem screwing over their customers in such a manner.

Moving on, it was also revealed that Uncharted 3 will also require a PSN Pass, meaning those who buy the game used and who also wish to play online will need to fork over an extra ten bucks. You’ve all heard the same excuses, over and over again. Which Naughty Dog, in a recent interview with The Sixth Axis, happens to use…

“We’re giving out a huge amount of content… and part of the reason for the online pass is that when that stuff goes online, it isn’t free. We have to pay for servers and all this different stuff to maintain it, and so at some point, you know, games have to make money.”

… It was also explained how, if there were no online pass, they’d have to split the game into two: one offline, the other online.

You know what? They should have just done that. I personally can’t think of anything less necessary than a multiplayer mode a game in which everyone cares about the single player mode the most anyway. Not to say that part of the game sucks, but if it’s that much trouble, then just don’t do it. Again, every single Uncharted fan I know has never touched the online stuff (myself included).

Also, the lines being fed are a little hard to swallow, given how they’re being delivered by a company that’s backed by Sony, which certainly has more money in the bank that most. Furthermore, if servers and the like are that expensive, how in the hell are they affording to run the pre-show that’s in association with Subway sandwiches?

First off, here’s all the different costumes that will be in the game…

As for how one gets their hands on such content, well…

- The animated series version is available to those that pre-order from GameStop, which is the fifth one in for those who never saw the cartoon (which is a shame, since it kicks ass). There’s also a special map, Joker’s Carnival Challenge.

- And the Dark Knight Returns skin (that chunky/grizzled looking bats, second one in) is included with the Collector’s Edition, which also includes the Iceberg Lounge map, plus a collectable art book, trading cards, a movie, a music CD, and a statue.

… Basically, and to recap, one of the additional skins is available if you just get a sports drink, and another if you were going to spend the $1000 on the collector’s edition. What a mess, huh?

At least we don’t have it so bad in Europe. Giant Bomb has a rundown of how to acquire DLC depending on what country you live in. Too bad we don’t have as many game store chains in America, hence why there’s no outlets to handle the Earth One and 70s version outfits.

But that’s when you buy the game brand new; for those who purchase it used with discover content that’s actually missing! Specifically…

Whereas other games have been requiring an additional $10 from broke ass gamers, to get access to everything in multiplayer modes, this is the first instance in which a component from a single player experience is being restricted.

Quite the precedent, since the excuse for the extra $10 has always been “but it costs money to maintain our online servers”, which to be honest is not the biggest load of b.s. in the world. So yeah, this could legitimately be considered crossing the line in certain regards.

Yet, out of nowhere, Gamestop is here to save the day? If you buy a copy used from them (and it’s the place where all cheap ass gamers go to shop), they’ll print you out a code for Catwoman at check out, according to sources at Kotaku. Gee, thanks?

First you had the latest installment of Final Fantasy XIII, titled XIII-2. Not to be mistaken for Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Confusing, I know, but not nearly as much as the following trailer. Basically, as those who played through the first game knows already (and my best guess is that 95% of the Guyism audience are HARDCORE Final Fantasy fans), the game’s lead was successful in saving the world, but also caused some kind of time paradox, so Lighting basically never existed in the end. How her efforts could possibly still occur is beyond me, but the bottom-line is how her sis has to figure a way to re-write history yet again, who thus serves as the lead in the new game (plus some dude in an alternate timeline in which the missing sibling somehow ended up in)…

Speaking of role playing games, you also had the latest from BioWare, and their grand return to the Star Wars franchise, The Old Republic. Some might recall their first foray into the world that Lucas built (and has been slowly destroying in recent years) as the best thing to happen to the franchise in ages (again, they blew away the prequels like nothing else). But given BioWare’s output as of late, I’m not nearly as optimistic as I once would have been. Still, it looks neat (and both the character and universe design are much better than the aforementioned crap movies)…

A Transformers MMO was also unveiled, though no trailer has been revealed as of yet (and my insider sources tell me that game looks like completely rubbish, so the powers that be might be wisely gun-shy at this point). At the very least they had a teaser for the new action romp, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, which is the sequel to the not so bad War for Cybertron. It’s you run of the mill follow up, but hey, Grimlock’s in it!

Next is the trailer for the new Spidey game, based upon the upcoming flick, The Amazing Spider-Man. Which also hasn’t been released officially, but at least it exists, which some NYCC attendee managed to film in secrecy. According to a report by Joystiq, the game has actually been in the works for the past 4 years, even before the last two Spidey releases, Shattered Dimensions and Edge of Time (the latter of which just came out). It was also noted that yet another Spider-Man game was being worked on the fourth flick to be produced by Sam Raimi, but when that movie got cancelled, so did was the tie-in game. Which one would assume was the basis for this new one, since the timing is just right, but that’s apparently not the case (it was being made by a separate studio)…

Speaking of super heroes, we have Batman: Arkham City. Not sure what needs to be said here; it’s the follow-up to the game starring the caped crusader that came out of literally nowhere to become the gold standard in which all comic book based games are to be judged upon. Though it hasn’t been without controversy; as I’ll explain in a bit, instead of forcing poor ass gamers to pay an extra $10 bucks to play some multiplayer mode, this game is withholding an entire character, i.e. Catwoman. Quite the dirty deed Warner Bros…

Perhaps the hottest title of the entire show was Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. I remember everyone getting all upset over it being a stand-alone title and not an update for the first edition (myself included), but now that details are starting to become clear, the extra $$$ for the scant few new characters is starting to become somewhat justified. For perhaps Phoenix Wright alone, who to be honest is so awesome that it makes all the others lame in comparison. For the nitty gritty, please refer to Seth Killian, Capcom’s ace fighting game spokesperson, and his detailed explanation for Kotaku, but long-story short: as you fight and build up that super meter, you’re also looking for clues. Hence why in his most devastating super, your foe goes on trail, which is demonstrated at the end of this clip (which also includes a heavy dose of fellow newbie, Nova, looking mighty awesome as well)…

Wow, her bike looks just like Batman's...

Because they need all the publicity they can get the folks working on The Dark Knight Rises have already released an official photo of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. And I must say, I like what I see so far. You might remember back when it was announced that Anne Hathaway was going to be playing Catwoman in the next Batman movie I was kind of excited. Of course, I get excited at the prospect of any woman wearing a catsuit, so I might not be a good barometer of whether this is actually good or not. Now then, why is she riding the Batcycle? Did she steal it? Did Batman hire her to help him out? Remember, everyone in Gotham now thinks that Batman is a bad guy so perhaps he figured hiring a hot babe in a catsuit would draw some heat away from him. Probably a good plan. I may have to try that soon. Not that I’m in hiding or anything… Moving on.

First up, since we mentioned Spider-Man already this morning, the latest look at his time hopping adventure…

… Doesn’t look half-bad really. Though the lack of swing from rooftops is a bit of a bummer. Next, a double does of DC’s favorite hero (as the lukewarm reception of Green Lantern at the box office surely indicates). First, another look at Arkham City, this time featuring the long-awaited first look at the Penguin…

… He’s a Brit now? Okay, whatever. And next is that other Batman game, featuring tons of folks pretending to be Batman, but are not. AKA, Gotham City Imposters…

Been waiting for a version in reverse to accompany the following, but I guess everyone’s just fine looking at the latest trailer for Skyward Sword as is. Even though there’s not much new footage, it just looks insanely awesome nonetheless…

Some new characters have been revealed for Street Fighter X Tekken, and they’re all from Final Fight! Including gaming’s favorite hermaphrodite, Poison…

Additional footage of Battlefield 3 was also unveiled, of a multiplayer mode in Paris to be exact…

And on the completely different end of the spectrum, check out the latest clip from Rayman Origins!

Warning: fairly NSWF lyrics…

Also excellent is their rapping ontop of the always awesome stage one music from Batman NES…

And okay, there are indeed countless dedications to Mega Man out there already, but that doesn’t mean this one isn’t any less amazing…

Sorry, but can’t help passing along this last one, about the Legend of you know who…

To find out more about the two guys responsible for all of the above… who recently split up, but are now doing their own things… just refer to this one final video.

WHOA WHOA WHOA. You’re saying there are bats in this upcoming movie? And you show me that without a spoiler alert? So typical of movie studios these days. Revealing everything without the movie even being out yet.

I also enjoyed the audience’s uncertainty as to whether to be disappointed that’s all they got or to be excited that a new Batman movie is coming out next summer. Good work, sheeple.

Hey, a new Spider-Man game! And once again, you’ll be paling around with your future self. Sorry, but the noire and Ultimates version are nowhere to be found this time around… which might be a good thing?

Sticking with super heroes, heard about that other Batman game that features a bunch of different folks dressed like Batman, but there’s actually no Batman? Though you just know the dudes in there, somewhere…

Hey, a new X-Men flick is in the theaters, so only makes sense to have a new X-Men game, right? One that’s not based upon the movie, but whatever…

Speaking of movies, another clip that made its debut at Sony’s presser is the game based upon the new Star Trek flick. Word has it that the PS Move controller will act as a phaser. Consider me sold!

Yet another interactive romp through a James Cameron franchise. And no, not another Avatar movie, thank god…

Okay, this is kinda getting away from the theme of the post, but stick with me here please: any fans of Hitman in the house? There must be if they still keep making them (as well as a second Hitman flick, believe it or not)…

Finally, the odd man our (though I wouldn’t be shocked if there’s a movie in the works based upon the first game, or already exists on Netflix Instant with a half star rating). I’m also relatively unfamiliar with Prototype, but this trailer for part 2 has my interested far more so than the last one, if only because it actually includes gameplay…