"Do not miss the first five minutes of the VGAs for our biggest surprise premiere in VGA history!" Keighley Tweeted about four hours ago. Granted, that "history" goes waaaaaay back to 2003. But given Destructoid's talk with Keighley yesterday it sounds like he's talking about some full-bore NDA-signing shit here that no one can even hint at until the show.

So, let's get to guessin'. I've got no idea myself. If it's a bona fide bombshell we are probably not talking about a new IP, and racking my brain, I'm not sure what unannounced, unknown, undated, unrumored sequel is out there that could get people out of their seats. But I'm ready to be surprised.

Geoff Keighley on Twitter [site]

Twitter maniac and former Kotaku guest editor Geoff Keighley is at it again, teasing more important goings-on happening at this year's spike TV Video Game Awards on December 12th. We've got the Halo: Reach premiere, and now a brand new game in the Star Wars franchise.

There's a teaser vid posted over at GameTrailers, but it doesn't do more than tease us with footage from older titles. Is it a new Battlefront? A new X-Wing game? Masters of Teras Kasi 2? We'll find out on December 12th.

Voting is now open for Spike's 2009 VGAs, with 28 categories awaiting your input to help determine this year's winners, though according to a Keighley tweet, Halo fans are already winners. The latest installment in the Halo saga, Halo: Reach, will be premiering during the show, giving fans their first look at the game since the rather vague E3 2009 teaser video.

The 2009 Spike VGAs will air live on December 12th at 8PM. I will once again completely forget about them, kicking myself about it the next day.

Join me, Michael McWhertor, Geoff Keighley, Michael Pachter and Tom Russo as we shoot the shit about video games in part one of this episode. Just don't view hungry, or you're inevitably going to ingest a KFC Snacker or full bucket of original recipe chicken within the first two minutes. And it's quote possible that putting either of those things in your system could kill you.

Spike's Halo 3 ODST Countdown To Launch special airs at midnight tonight, Eastern and Pacific, featuring host Geoff Keighley and a trio of Halo-minded experts, Bungie's Joe Staten and Brian Jarrard along with 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor. They get a Keighley grilling about all things Halo.

Possibly more exciting for Halo fans will be the debut of several minutes of action from the Halo Legends anime, focusing on the "Babysitter" short. The clips I've seen have a Spartans and ODSTs in action, snapping at least one neck and delivering the most viscous punch I've ever seen in a Halo project.

Microsoft plans to begin running previews of the seven shorts that comprise Halo Legends this November over Xbox Live, launching the full compilation on DVD and Blu-Ray in 2010.

GameTrailers TV host Geoff Keighley once again flexes his Twitter muscles, announcing that a new game from LucasArts will be making its debut on this week's episode of the show. From Keighley's Twitter:

LucasArts will announce a brand-new original game on this week's GTTV - with first footage. More details soon.

And then the LucasArts Twitter echoed Keighley's announcement.

LucasArts will announce a brand-new original game on this week's GTTV - with first footage. More details soon. (watch it)

So does original mean not Star Wars? I only ask because I'd really like a new X-Wing game, and LucasArts did sort of tease an impending announcement regarding the series.

I guess we'll just have to wait until GameTrailers TV airs on Thursday at 12:30AM, which is technically Friday, but who's counting?

LucasArts revelation on Friday News [Eurogamer]

In part two of our Bonus Round discussion, we chat about the high-definition "Wii Plus," Project Natal (again), the possibilities for PlayStation Eye, and if the video game controller as we know it will ever go away. We also get a very up close and personal look at the naked ankles of Michael Pachter. This episode is also solid proof that going back to the gym was a good idea for yours truly.

Motion control enthusiasts, this one's for you!

Bonus Round: Episode 306 - Part 2 HD [GameTrailers]

In part one of our Bonus Round discussion, Keighley, Pachter, Satterfield and I touch on the Xbox 360's Project Natal as a menu interface device, the prospects of Facebook and Twitter on consoles, Macs versus PCs, and more.

There's even quick mention of Pachter's "retarded" wife and my use of the words "novelty factor" in close relation to the Wii. Damn you, Keighley, for putting words in my mouth! (Please note, however, that I did not laugh during initial mention of the Wii's latest peripheral, then greatly anticipate my assessment of the device's capabilities in a future episode.)

See if you disagree or vehemently disagree with our thoughts on the future of video game interfaces, then feel free to suggest that I wash my hair more often, especially prior to appearing on camera.

Bonus Round: Episode 306 - Part 1 [GameTrailers.com]

GameTrailers TV host Geoff Keighley asked the (deep breath) Corporate Vice President of Live, Software and Services for the Interactive Entertainment Business where exactly the hardware powering Natal comes from, resulting in a not-so-nimble dodge from Mr. Schappert.

"It uses wonderful brand new Microsoft technology," the CVP responded. "Wonderful technology." Wonderful technology that Microsoft purchased and built upon to make a hands-free experience? Because John's description of a "depth camera, RGB camera, full array microphone with a proprietary on-board CPU chip" sounds awfully familiar.

When pressed on the subject, Schappert says, "I have no idea what's going on." This is must squirm TV, folks. Watch!

E3 09: John Schappert Extended Cut HD [GameTrailers]

The show will air the first trailer of whatever Bethesda has up its sleeve, giving fans ample reason to tune in. Of course, if you just want to see Spike TV's Geoff Keighley and sundry game industry types wearing the dressed up, dressed down t-shirt and blazer combo on camera, the GameTrailers TV E3 First Look special will oblige. As previously revealed, you'll also get a look at world exclusive premieres, including first footage of Mass Effect 2, DJ Hero and much, much more.

Also expect eye candy from Rose McGowan, Tricia Helfer from Battlestar Galactica and Daniel Kayser's soul patch. The show airs on Thursday at 11 PM on Spike, with that footage more than likely also appearing at GameTrailers.com soon after.

Expect less Modern Warfare 2 than Heavy Rain though, as the next full video reveal of Infinity Ward's follow up to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is scheduled to air on TV this Sunday. Consider tonight's glimpse little more than a tease.

Heavy Rain however, appears to be getting more screen time, in advance of tomorrow's embargo break on the Quantic Dream-developed PlayStation 3 exclusive. Host Geoff Keighley promises tons of first ever footage of the game—which is true, because what we've seen up to this point isn't indicative of Heavy Rain's final content.

Expect more on tonight's episode, which is expected to air at 12:30 AM on Spike TV.

Last July Todd Howard, lead designer at Bethesda Softworks, took the stage during the Microsoft E3 press briefing and did a rather un-extraordinary thing. Like so many developers, publishers, marketers, and media outlets in gaming before him, he announced an "exclusive."

Specifically, he said: "We're going to be doing substantial downloadable content for Fallout 3 and it will be exclusive for the Xbox 360 and Games for Windows."

What exactly he meant by that we can't say, as a Bethesda representative declined to comment for this story.

But what's just as important as what Howard meant is what you, the gamer, thought he meant — then or now. After all, this week, Bethesda announced that that content would be coming to the PlayStation 3.

Exclusivity, in this case, was not forever. Was it ever meant to imply it was? Bethesda won't say.

There is a difference between the idea that a piece of gaming content will only ever appear on a given console or that it is just appearing on one of them first. Such a distinction could impact the purchasing decision of a gamer looking to decide which version of a game to buy or which gaming console to support. And there are a variety of ways to telegraph which version of the word "exclusive" is meant. Witness Microsoft's Shane Kim, in the same E3 2008 press briefing as Howard, announcing that Rock Band 2 would "premiere exclusively" on the Xbox 360 in September 2008. The implication that Rock Band 2 would show up on other platforms later was obvious.

We contacted Microsoft, hoping to glean the company's take on what the announcement of an "exclusive" should mean to gamers. We wondered if, in this instance, there was reason for the company to have felt gamers were mislead.

A Microsoft spokesperson took our request as an opportunity not to look back to past uses of the word "exclusive" but as a chance to hype the future of the next two Fallout 3 DLC add-ons: "Again coming first to Xbox 360, the upcoming releases of 'Point Lookout' and 'Mothership Zeta' for Fallout 3, mean we're continuing to bring the biggest and best Game Add-ons to our customers before anyone else," the spokesperson wrote back to us via e-mail. "Xbox LIVE is hands down the most popular destination for Game Add-ons. Publishers and consumers recognize this fact and will continue to turn to Xbox 360 first to extend the lives of their games with great Game Add-ons."

That word Exclusive isn't so easy to pin down. But with Bethesda mum and Microsoft changing the topic, we needed to find an expert on these things.

Who better to ask than the gaming media's chief purveyor of exclusives, the man whose reference to them could form the basis of a weekly drinking game?

We contacted GameTrailers TV host and former Kotaku guest-editor, Geoff Keighley.

Over e-mail, Keighley made clear what no one else would be explicit about: "In this day and age, unless otherwise specified, you have to assume 'exclusive' means a timed exclusive. In other words it is 'exclusive' to one platform for a period of time, or "first." Of course no one will tell you about the length of exclusivity....This is similar to world exclusives on GTTV or in Game Informer. We have the 'exclusive' on a game for a period of time, but other outlets ultimately receive the assets. "

Keighley's analysis makes explicit what some gamers suspected all along. Still, this expert of exclusivity had to put things in more colorful context: "The one wrinkle is whether Todd actually THOUGHT the content was exclusive, only to later realize he wanted to re-evaluate his decision. When you get married you think you're in an exclusive relationship, but sometimes I guess it turns out to be a timed exclusive."

So much for the dictionary definition of the word "exclusive," though it's not precise either.

Is the English language letting the gaming industry down? Or is the gaming industry letting the English language down?

Get ready to hear and read that word "exclusive" a lot come E3 2009. We submit our exclusive request: Let it finally be clear what it means.

This time, GameTrailers' Geoff Keighley, Game Informer's Andy McNamara, N'Gai Croal's N'Gai Croal and Kotaku's me sit down to chat third-party developers. What third-party developers are you eagerly awaiting news from?

So says Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime, who flat out denies that the upcoming Wii boxing game will add any contenders beyond the already announced thirteen. So when will we get first party DLC, Reggie? Folks desperate to spend Wii Points want to know!

"I'm certain that there will be opportunities for that down the road," Reggie tells GameTrailers TV's Geoff Keighley. "But, really for us — you know Mr. Iwata has said this many times — the way we look at our first party is we look for a way to drive the install base of the hardware."

We suppose that Rock & Roll Climber might do something like that for Wii Fit Balance Boards. OK, that's a long shot, but that's the Nintendo DLC philosophy.

"That's what we're trying to do," Reggie explains. "That coupled with downloadable content isn't as great a match, but I'm certain there will be some opportunities down the road with downloadable content from a Nintendo perspective, just not on Punch-Out!!"

But just think of the possibilities for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Reg. You're leaving money on the table!

GTTV Extended Cuts: GDC 09 Reggie Interview Part 2 [GameTrailers]

The show is moving from "Friday nights at 1 AM"—which was technically early Saturday morning at 1 AM—to "Thursday nights at 12:30 AM." Again, technically that's early Friday morning, just past midnight. I know it's confusing, this whole time-telling thing.

The good news is that you'll get your fancy trailers and gameplay previews one day earlier. The bad is that you may have to wait longer to see the same content show up online the following morning.

GameTrailers TV, the "number 1 rated video game show on TV" (which isn't really saying much) makes it's debut on the PlayStation Network this week. A long-time stable of Xbox Live video content, the program makes it's debut on the PlayStation 3 today with the addition of seasons 1 and 2, which will be followed up by delivery of new shows every week.

Check out the video of GameTrailers TV host and one-time Kotaku guest editor Keighley making his special announcement below. We miss you, Geoff. Come back to us.

The GameTrailers folks were kind enough to invite us on to the Geoff Keighley-hosted Bonus Round not too long ago, the first part of which went live this weekend. In it, we talk about video games!

The panel included the ever present Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan analysis fame, Ryan Davis from Giant Bomb and me of this site you're reading. The topic? The year in review, which starts off sales heavy — expect later segments to be less numbers focused and potentially more embarrassing.

Before anyone inquires or offer suggestions, I will note that I'm fairly certain I'd washed my hair within three of taping the episode. Give or take.

Of course Best Buy locations across the country will be opening as well, but they are nowhere near as important as that one right there. Until Morhaime can be cloned, this is the way it has to be.

Best Buy® Counts Down the Arrival of Wrath of the Lich King™ in New York City

World of Warcraft® Players to Meet Blizzard Entertainment® Developers and Be Among First to Obtain Their Copy at an Exclusive Launch Celebration

MINNEAPOLIS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Alliance and Horde members will converge on the Best Buy at 44th Street and 5th Avenue to take part in the highly anticipated midnight launch of Blizzard Entertainment®’s World of Warcraft®: Wrath of the Lich King™. The celebration, starting at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Nov. 12 at the Best Buy store near Times Square, is the premiere developer meet-and-greet in the U.S. for the popular World of Warcraft game and the only such event on the East Coast.

The event includes appearances by Blizzard Entertainment cofounders Mike Morhaime, CEO, and Frank Pearce, executive vice president of product development. In addition, a number of the game’s developers will be available to meet players and sign copies of the game. Geoff Keighley, videogame TV host, will emcee the evening that will feature interviews, trivia and prize giveaways.

With more than 11 million subscribers, World of Warcraft is the most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game in the world. Wrath of the Lich King is the game’s second expansion. For more information on the game visit www.WorldofWarcraft.com.

In addition to the original game and both expansions, players can purchase 60-day World of Warcraft subscription cards at Best Buy.

“At Best Buy, we’re passionate about helping gamers get the most enjoyment from their gaming systems – from having the latest releases to a full complement of gaming platforms, accessories, electronics and services,” said Jill Hamburger, Best Buy vice president games and movies. “Our newly introduced Reward Zone Gamers Club provides additional benefits and amazing experiences for our most loyal customers who love gaming.”

Reward Zone® program Gamers Club is a specialty expansion of Best Buy’s Reward Zone Loyalty Program. For every $150 spent on qualifying gaming software and accessories (certain exclusions apply) Reward Zone program Gamers Club members will receive 500 points/$10 reward certificates, in addition to their regular Reward Zone program points, that can be used on almost everything within the store. Additional membership benefits include special offers on game software and accessories, information on the latest gaming trends and hints and cheats for popular games to maximize the gaming experience. Members may also receive special access to invitation only gaming events hosted by Best Buy.

For more information on the launch event, visit www.bestbuy.com/midnightopenings.

Wrath of the Lich King is a trademark, and World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment, and Warcraft are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries.