Unfortunately not everyone else has caught on to the joys of launching grenades from a hovercraft, so we'll have to settle for Eidos' Just Cause 2. Preorders kick off today, with participating stores offering codes good towards the download of five exclusive items to help Rico do the things that Rico does. Things like parachuting, driving cars, and shooting people. His signature pistol, Bull's Eye assault rifle, Chevalier Classic car, and Chaos parachute should do the trick nicely.

According to the Rockstar announcement, fans will vote for one of three sets of cowboy gear, with the winning set made available exclusively to GameStop preorder customers. Once the game is released, players will unlock the special outfit via a series of challenges, and once unlocked the clothing will uniquely affect how the citizens of the game world treat the hero, John Marston.

"We're privileged to have fans that are just as passionate about our games as we are," said Alex Moulle-Berteaux, head of marketing for Rockstar Games. "Having fans choose their own pre-order bonus is a unique way to let them be a part of Red Dead Redemption."

Generally an announcement of this sort would come complete with pictures of the various costumes you have to choose from, but Rockstar works in mysterious ways. They are not like us. Stay tuned for more on the clothing choices and their effects in January.

Dropping a fiver at your local GameStop location for Lost Planet 2 will score you a code granting you access to the skin of Resident Evil's superhuman Umbrella Corporation operative. Sure, you won't get Albert's superhuman strength, speed, and regeneration, but you will also unlock his revolver, which is just as handy to have around.

MAG isn't out until the 26th of January, but you can get a head start with the 7-Eleven MAG recruitment kit. It contains all you need to know about the Shadow War and its three factions - S.V.E.R, RAVEN, and VALOR. The kit contains information on the factions' reputations, skill sets, and purpose, giving you several months to do some soul-searching in order to determine which suits your personality the best.

And if that doesn't do it for you, hey - free poster.

Get Your MAG Marching Orders at 7-Eleven! [PlayStation Blog]

The Sasori Akatsuki thumb ring is one of two separate exclusives that GameStop is featuring for the November release of Clash of Ninja Revolution 3, available to anyone who preorders the regular $39.99 version of the game online or in-store. Fans that'd rather pass on the bling can opt for a special limited edition bundle of the game and a DVD of Naruto Shippuden The Movie for $10 over regular retail price.

"We are thrilled to offer consumers two fantastic value options when purchasing our game this holiday season," said Laura Yoshioka, director of consumer software at TOMY Corporation. "By offering a highly collectable Sasori ring as a pre-sell item for the standard version of the game, and including such a highly-anticipated movie DVD in our first ever Clash of Ninja limited edition, our goal was to offer Naruto fans a tremendous opportunity to add to their Naruto collection whatever their budget allowed."

Looking over the GameStop website, it does look like the ring is exclusive to the normal edition, not available with a preorder for the limited edition, so make your decision wisely!

Army of Two: The 40th Day is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Army of Two, in which Salem and Rios struggle to ignore their feelings for each other on battlefields around the globe. Be prepared to get your manly fist-bumping on come January 12th, the date The 40th Day lands on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Along with the release date announcement, EA Montreal also reveals that players preordering the game will gain early access to the Extraction multiplayer mode, which pits teams of four against waves of enemies as they move from point to point across a ruined cityscape. Preordering customers will have the mode all to themselves for a month, after which they have to let everyone else come play.

As usual, GameStop winds up with the best incentive to preorder the game, with a "Multiplayer Advantage Booster Kit" that gives players "unparalleled multiplayer benefits." Those benefits include unlocking the powerful Ford Bronco in multiplayer, a survival multiplayer mode, and double the fans for the first ten multiplayer races you participate in, which translates to more cash for more upgrades.

GameCrazy preorders cut out the middle man, delivering double the cash for your first three single player races.

Finally we have Best Buy, which instead of a preorder bonus is offering up a day one purchase bonus in the form of an unlock code for the 600 horsepower Dodge Hennessey Viper.

These store exclusives are becoming sillier each day, aren't they?

The five preorder vehicles might already be in the game, but preordering means that you don't have to pay to unlock them, and you also score them in preorder-exclusive colors. The fact that you can only pick one is cruel and unusual punishment, but I suppose the really big Gran Turismo fans can always pre-order five copies.

Gran Turismo PSP Pre-Order Bonus Items Revealed [PlayStation Blog]

The exclusive 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V in metallic blue.

The 1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400 is the first Lamborghini ever to appear in Gran Turismo.

The 2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 sports over 1000 horsepower. That is a lot of horses.

The 2008 GTbyCitroen is a gorgeous concept car that should transform into a robot but doesn't, dammit.

The 2002 Enzo Ferrari. Yum.

No matter where you preorder Champions Online you'll gain access to the open beta test on August 17th, 30 days game time, and five in-game microtransaction dollars, but after that it all comes down to where you pick up the game. Want access to the early-start preview weekend? Then you'll want to buy from GameStop or Best Buy, depending on whether you want an in-game pet or special costume pieces.

Wal-Mart preorders are for those who prefer real-life swag, with a lenticular cover, and iron on patch, and a zone map packed into its exclusive limited edition package, while Amazon is the place for those who value avatar looks above all, with three exclusive costume pieces on offer.

I am really beginning to hate this practice. It seems completely silly and arbitrary to me. It also makes me wonder who is negotiating these deals, as I cannot see why any fan would chose Amazon or Wal-Mart over the stores offering early access to the game. Madness, I tell you. Check out the full list of benefits below to help you determine where you'll buy Champions Online come September 1st.

GameStop

GameStop customers who pre-order Champions Online receive access to the Early Start Program. Battle an alien menace, collect exclusive items, and join the early start weekend to get a jump on the action! GameStop customers also receive the exclusive Insectoid Airfoil costume piece and Experimental Anti-Graviton Generator flight travel power at character creation for an early boost in mobility.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart is offering an exclusive Limited Edition Package with collectible lenticular cover that includes an exclusive zone map, iron-on decal and an additional ten in-game micro-transaction dollars! Check online and in-store for more details and other potential offers.

Best Buy

Best Buy is offering their customers the fun and functional Lil' Champ Pack. These persistent pets are iconic, knee-high characters from the Champions universe! Best Buy Customers receive their own Lil' Champ. In addition, Lil' Champ owners also receive a functional damage resistance item. Best Buy pre-order customers will also receive access to the Early Start Program and head start weekend.

Amazon

The High Roller Pack is perfect for players who insist on the finest accoutrements for their avatar. With three unique, exclusive apparel options (harlequin headpiece, black knight helmet, grenade chest strap), and an additional five in-game micro-transaction dollars, you'll have plenty of options to push your "High Roller" look.

All

All Champions Online pre-orders receive guaranteed access to the Champions Online open beta test on August 17, exclusively offered by IGN.com. Additionally, all retail purchases include 30-days of free play and five in-game micro-transaction dollars.

Players who preorder Batman: Arkham Asylum from GameStop will gain access to the Dem Bones Scarecrow Challenge Maps for the game, which pit Batman against a horde of skeletal hallucinations courtesy of Jonathan Crane. And while skellingtons are indeed creepy, they've got nothing on the new design for Crane, who looks like he's just washed up on shore after a stint in BioShock's Rapture.

See? A man in a scarecrow costume is scary. A man in a stylized scarecrow costume with hypodermic needles for fingers? Terrifying.

If this is Rocksteady's Scarecrow, I'd hate to see their Mrs. King.

Lombax fans who put their money down on Ratchet & Clank's latest PlayStation 3 adventure at GameStop will gain exclusive access to the Insomniac Moon, a special planet laid out to resemble the Insomniac offices, chock-full of extra content that didn't make it into the game. They're calling the planet the Discovery Package. And then there's the Power Package, that lets players start off with extra hit points, an exclusive weapon skin, and the Cryo Mine Glove, which ejects mines that freeze enemies in their place.

Now how much would you pay? But wait! There's more. Also up for grabs is the Space Package, with a hot rod spaceship skin, 5,000 free bolts, and a custom PlayStation Home avatar! Or perhaps you'd prefer Amazon's Bolt Package, which includes 5,000 bolts, the Bolt Magnetizer, and a handy Box Basher?

So we've got GameStop, Amazon, and the other two will end up at Game Crazy and Best Buy. Considering the options in my area, looks like the Discovery Package for me. I suppose I could have done worse.

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time should be in stores this fall.

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time Pre-Order Goodies [PlayStation Blog]

The Palazzo Medici was designed by Michelozzo di Bartolomeo for Cosimo de' Medici of the famous Medici family. Built between 1445 and 1460, the palace is rumored to have great treasures hidden within its walls, and Ubisoft has teamed with GameStop to help you lay those treasures bare. Players who pre-order Assassin's Creed II for either the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 will receive a code that allows them to wander around inside as the game's main character, Ezio, pilfering treasure, climbing walls, and generally doing what he does best.

Who knows what treasures lurk within the walls of the Palazzo Medici? I guess we will, come November 17th.

Yes, grizzled UNSC hero Sgt. Johnson may not have fared so well in Halo 3, but Halo 3: ODST takes place before the final installment of the trilogy, meaning it's game on. Players who pre-order ODST at select retailers will receive a token to unlock Sgt. Johnson in the game's new Firefight mode, which plays much like the Gears of War 2 Horde mode, only with progressively activated Halo 3 skulls giving the battle a bit of flavor.

He's looking pretty good for a dead guy, isn't he? It'll be nice to take ol' Avery out for a spin again, if only to give him a chance to kick just a little more ass before the curtain closes on him in act three.

How does the special Captain's Armor work for the dueling factions in Section 8? Here's what GameStop says:

Reserve Section 8 and receive GameStop exclusive Captain's Armor for both Section 8 and their adversaries – the Arm of Orion. If you choose to play as a Captain of Section 8, you'll proudly wear the Imperial Eagle of the USIF on your shoulder plate; as a Captain of the Arm of Orion, you'll stand out with the rampant Lion of Orion emblazoned on your helmet and gold trim on your power armor. If only we could wear this to prom, we'd get all the ladies.

And now I know what was missing from the power armor I wore to my prom. I knew I should have gone with the lion helmet. Ah well, you live and you learn.

An exclusive pre-order bonus for those who put their money down at GameStop, a special code to unlock the golden versions of the faction leaders will come as part of a special flipbook keepsake, featuring animation of the two characters transitioning from their normal ugly forms to their golden ugly forms. The golden versions of the characters will be playable in multiplayer only, once again giving other players a sure indication that you are a GameStop pre-order monkey.

Interesting promotion. Kind of reminds me of Takara's golden Lucky Draw Transformers premiums in Japan, only far less desirable.

Fans that put $5 down on Overlord II for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3, and PC, Overlord Minions for the Nintendo DS or Overlord: Dark Legend for the Nintendo Wii from GameStop will find themselves the proud owner of a tiny minion figurine. There are four different colors available, and only (only?) three titles to pre-order, so unless you double up on a title or known a GameStop manager, your chances of getting all four are relatively slim.

Not a bad-looking bunch of little evil bastards. I suppose there are worse things you can get for free. Look for them to show up at a GameStop near you when the games release on June 23rd.

While the exclusive pre-order axe certainly has a striking look, the differences between this and your ordinary Brütal Legend guitar are far more than skin deep. Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D have provided voice work for the promotional instrument, which also features new sound effects, visual effects, and "geeky technical stuff" like textures and shaders. It's a bit deep. Just be comforted by the fact that the official EA announcement assures us that "it's going to rule very, very hard".

The guitar will also be visible to other players during online multiplayer, so everyone will know you cared enough to drop off at least $5 at your local GameStop sometime before the game's October 13th release, and isn't that what it's really all about? No? Okay.

The Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection (Genesis Ultimate Collection in the states) collects more than 40 classic Sega titles on one disc for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with tweaked graphics for true HD gameplay. Even if that weren't worth $56.98 to Australian customers, the preorder bonus surely is. Limited to 3,500 pieces, the Limited Edition Vinyl Soundtrack contains six classic tracks from Sega's past, with Vectorman, Space Harrier, Golden Axe, and Ristar, all reproduced on a gorgeous 12 inch album. Seriously drool-worthy.

The album is exclusive to Australia, so if you'd like to get your hands on one you have two choices. Either watch eBay like a hawk come the game's late February release date, or quickly befriend a local. Oh Luke?

Mega Drive Ultimate Collection with Bonus [JB HiFi via 1UP]