Besides BioWare RPGs, no upcoming new release makes me want to enter cryogenic stasis more than a Rockstar open-world title. GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption sit right up there with my favorite games of all time, and I have no reason to expect that GTA V will be the title that lets me down.  What GTA IV had that sucked me in was a strong sense of place, and I can feel that same sense of place oozing out of Grand Theft Auto V's screenshots.  That's like getting a sunburn from your buddy's vacation photos.  

It's really too bad that the nitrogen-flux matrix on my cryostasis machine blew out the last time I tried to use it.  Thank the Maker I was only testing it on the neighbor's cat.  The neighbors weren't happy, but at least I didn't need someone to explain to my children why their daddy was now an empty husk. 

Anyway, I'm getting off topic....  Rockstar has announced a GTA V Special and Collectors Edition and revealed their details along with pre-order bonuses.  

The GTA V Special Edition will include the full game (natch), a SteelBook filled with exclusive artwork, a Blueprint Map of Los Santos and Blaine County, the Stunt Plane Trial mini-game, bonus outfits, new weapons, and the three playable characters, Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, will receive a boost to the recharge rate on their special ability meter.  

The GTV V Special Edition will run you a cool $79.99.

The GTA V Collector's Edition includes everything in the Special Edition plus a GTA V Security Deposit Bag with Logo Key inspired by the in-game heists, a GTA V 9FIFTY Snapback Cap from New Era, custom characters to use online, unique vehicles and an in-game garage to store them in, and the game will come in a collectible outer box with the GTA V logo foil embosses across its surface and a matte, scuff-resistant film lamination.

The GTA V Collector's Edition will run you an even cooler $149.99.

Finally, everyone who pre-orders the standard game, Special Edition, or the Collector's Edition will get the in-game ability to pilot the Atomic Blimp.

You can pre-order them starting now right up until GTA V's September 17 release date or while supplies last.

To learn more, follow the jump and/or visit www.rockstargames.com/V. [READ MORE]

• Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition coming to PC later this year
• Van Helsing begins his quest on Steam
• DLC and season pass is coming to Metro: Last Light
• EA Sports ignites next-gen sports on Xbox One
• New DLC available for Strike Suit Zero, plus all Strike Suit content 50% off on Steam

I haven't played Metro: Last Light yet.  I wasn't a big fan of the first game's stealth and swarming melee enemies.  But many of you have no doubt already saved Moscow from a Nazi-monster invasion (That's what happens, right?).  If you're one of those people, and think your Metro: Last Light experience is over then you obviously need to swap out the air filter in your gas mask because the fumes are getting to you.  Metro: Last Light is getting a series of single-player dlc and a season pass so you can get it all at a modest discount.  It also grants players a new semi-automatic shotgun called the Abzats whose secondary fire mode fires six shells at once. 

The Faction Pack and Chronicles Pack expand the Metro: Last Light story.  The Tower Pack adds solo challenges.  Finally, the Developer Pack gives players new tools to explore post-apocalyptic Moscow.

The season pass, available right now for download from Xbox Live, the PSN, and Steam, costs $14.99/1200 MSP.  The first dlc pack will be out in June.  

To learn more, follow the jump. [READ MORE]

• Xbox One, sharing games, and you. -Update-
• LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes arrives on Wii U
• Total War: Rome will be a series of novels
• Batgirl Available for Injustice: Gods Among Us
• Call of Duty: Ghosts reveal trailer
• Don’t sell that Xbox 360 just yet...
• World of Tanks Update 8.6 announcement.
• 343 Industries reveals Halo live-action series
• Forza 5 revealed for Xbox ONE
• Some additional Xbox ONE bullet points
• The next Xbox is the... Xbox ONE
• That’s a whole lot of Metal Gear hitting the PS3 this July!
• Microsoft's plans for the Xbox reveal

Warner Bros. released their newest DLC today for Injustice: Gods Among Us, bringing Batgirl to Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 Microsoft points. The DLC will release May 22 for $4.99 on PSN. 

Available alongside the Batgirl DLC is the Red Suns skin pack. This add-on features several skins from the Soviet alternate reality of Superman from the Red Son graphic novel. The Killing Joke Batman skin will also be available. Both are 240 Microsoft points or $2.99.



 

PlayStation 3 owners are about to get an insane amount of Metal Gear Solid content on July 9, 2013. Konami is releasing a package entitled Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection which chronicles more than a quarter century of the Metal Gear franchise. Every single title that has ever graced a PlayStation system will be included as well as a ton of bonus content.

The package includes:

• Metal Gear (included with Metal Gear Solid 3 HD)
• Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (included with Metal Gear Solid 3 HD)
• Metal Gear Solid
• Metal Gear Solid 2: SONS OF LIBERTY (HD version with VR missions)
• Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence HD Edition
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Sons of the Patriot
• Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD version)
• Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions
• MGS: digital graphic novels collection by Ashley Wood
• 100 page art book

That is a ton of gaming in a single package and it will all retail for $49.99. This is a must-have package for fans and a chance for those who have never player the games to get caught up on one of the biggest franchises in the history of gaming.

Over the weekend, I wrote about Kevin Conroy at the Dallas Comic Con talking about Batman: Arkham Origins. Now, I mistakenly assumed that meant he was back voicing the Dark Knight himself. Looks like I was wrong.

Kevin is working on the game, but the capacity is unknown as Roger Craig Smith is going to provide the voice for Batman, as reported by Superhero Hype. At least Kevin's working on the game in some capacity. but we are getting a new voice for young Bruce Wayne.

The trailer today is pretty cool and I'm still looking forward to the game. I'm not as hung up on the original voice as some folks, as I just want a solid game. 

Alan Wake, Dark Souls, Karteka, and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier are a few of the handful of discounted items on Xbox Live over the next two weeks. The full list of discounts includes:

Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury - 400 MS Points
Jeremy McGrath - 400 MS Points
Karateka - 400 MS Points
Mad Tracks - 400 MS Points
Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond - 400 MS Points
Pid - 400 MS Points
Puzzle Quest 2 - 400 MS Points
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - 400 MS Points
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix - 400 MS Points
Rocketbowl - 200 MS Points
Texas Cheat 'Em - 400 MS Points

Alan Wake and Kinect Central will go on sale May 21-27. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and all available add-ons will be discounted from May 28- June 3, along with Kinect Central, Dance Central and NBA 2K13.

Via: Polygon

Source: Major Nelson

The moral of this week’s story is everything old being new again, or various systems getting caught up with the times. There are a lot of re-releases and updated ports hitting the market this week including the return of Donkey Kong Country, and HD version of the 3DS Resident Evil, and the Wii U getting a couple of titles a few months late. Not everything is familiar though so take your pick from the long list of games launching this week.

My picks for the week include:

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D: Rave reviews have been pouring in for this 3DS port of the now-classic Wii title Donkey Kong Country Returns. This is an updated port of the Wii game from 2010 which was an original adventure, not an update to the SNES classic. Once again, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong are out to stop the theft of bananas on their island. The game has been credited with being an incredibly challenging platformer that pays great homage to the genre and sets the standard for future ones. If you own a 3DS, you will definitely want to pick this one up.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Action RPG fans have a treat coming to the PC this week with NeocoreGames’ The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing. The game is perhaps best compared to Torchlight, as I mentioned in my recent preview, but has plenty to love in its own right. This is an exciting adventure that you can experience alone or with up to four friends cooperatively. Between loot gathering, experimenting with the game’s alchemy system, and an engaging world that is a combination of steampunk and goth-noir, this one should keep you busy for a long, long time

Resident Evil Revelations: Wow, this is a new concept: an HD port of a portable game! That is exactly what Capcom has done with the former 3DS-exclusive entry in the Resident Evil series. Revelations has gotten the full HD-makeover for its outing on the home consoles including updated visuals, Achievement / Trophy support, and at least on the Wii U, a plethora of new features that make use of the Wii U’s unique control pad. The reviews have been positive thus far, including our own (Wii U, PC), and the reception of the original was much higher than that of Resident Evil 6.

The full lineup for this week includes:

• Call of Juarez: Gunslinger for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and P
• Donkey Kong County Returns 3D for Nintendo 3DS
• Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes for PC
• Fast & Furious: Showdown for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS
• The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing for PC
• LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes for Nintendo Wii U
• Men’s Room Mayhem for PlayStation Vita (via PSN)
• Mugen Souls for PlayStation Network
• Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault for PlayStation Vita
• Resident Evil Revelations for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii U
• Sniper Elite V2 for Nintendo Wii U
• Worms Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3

June 14th isn't only the day after E3 2013 ends, but it's also the release date for The Last of Us from Naughty Dog. Now, you can head to your favorite store to pick it up, but there's going to be one other option.

The Last of Us is going to be available as a digital download purchase(Game Informer) that day as well. Now, the game's going to be huge but you won't have to sit through the entire download to start playing. As soon as it gets done downloading half of the game, you'll be able to start playing. While it's not the immediate start that we want, it's still a lot better than waiting for the entire game to be installed.

What I would love to see is a pre-load option like we do on Steam. That way, all Sony really needs to do is to activate the game from their servers and you'll be ready to go.

There have been reports that the most famous voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, wouldn't be back to voice the titular character in Batman: Arkham Origins. That had some fans a tad bit disappointed.

Well, that may not be true. Kevin was at the Dallas Comic Con over the weekend and he had a panel. During the panel, he says that he IS going to be voicing Batman for Arkham Origins. Now, there's no official word yet, but if it comes from the voice actor himself, you can probably take that to the bank. Check out Kevin himself talking about the game.
 

Sony gamers who love cars love the Gran Turismo series. It's been the defacto racing simulator for many years now. In fact, the series is celebrating 15 years, which is a pretty great feat. 

Gran Turismo 6 is coming and it'll be coming out for both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. PS3 will get first crack at playing the game, but expect a PS4 version later on down the road. Vita folks aren't going to be left out here either as a version for the portable will also be forth coming.

1,200 cars, 71 course layouts, 33 locations, and more through DLC will give you plenty of choices to play with. For now, check out the announcement trailer and gaze at some of the beautifully rendered cars that you'll be able to drive yourself when the game hits the store shelves.