The game will still launch as a timed Xbox exclusive, but only as a game disc with instruments available separately. The cheaper bundle will not turn up until mid October, coinciding with the PlayStation 3, PS2 and Wii version launch.

The Special Edition bundle will retail for $189, but eager Xbox 360 gamers who want the full Rock Band 2 experience on day one can expect to shell out an extra sixty bucks if they buy everything separately.

You know, maybe this isn't a deliberate attempt to gouge money from a segment of the Rock Band fanbase. Maybe Harmonix are just trying to show Xbox gamers what it feels like to buy a more expensive import version of a game? Bah, either way.

Rock Band 2 Bundle on Xbox 360 Getting Delayed October Release? [Shacknews]

“This is an exciting day for Amazon customers and Fallout fans,” said Greg Hart vice president of video games and software at Amazon. “We’re delighted to be the exclusive destination for Fallout 3 Survival Edition; this is a great example of the continually expanding selection we offer to gamers.”

I've not ordered a new release video game from Amazon.com in over five years, and here I am pondering the possibility anew. The only thing that could stop me is the price...$129.99 is a ton of cash to spend, and with the regular CE at $79.99, that means the Pip-Boy is costing you another $50...but it's a Pip-Boy! This is a decision that shall weigh heavily in my mind indeed.

Fallout 3 Survival Edition Preorder [Amazon.com]

Bethesda Softworks® and Amazon.com Announce Fallout® 3 Survival Edition

Fallout 3 Survival Edition to be Available Exclusively on Amazon.com

June 6, 2008 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax Media company, and Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced the Fallout® 3 Survival Edition for Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows. The limited Survival Edition is now available for pre-order exclusively through www.Amazon.com/fallout3.

This ultimate Fallout 3 package includes a life-size replica of the Pip-Boy 3000, the wrist-mounted device worn by characters in-game. The Pip-Boy 3000 has been painstakingly recreated and modified for real world display as a digital clock. In addition to the Pip-Boy 3000, the Survival Edition will include all of the items included in the Fallout 3 Collector’s Edition:

o The Fallout 3 game;
o Customized, metal Vault-Tec lunch box;
o 5” Vault Boy Bobblehead;
o ‘The Art of Fallout 3’ hardcover book; and
o ‘The Making of Fallout 3’ DVD

“We’re thrilled to be working with Amazon.com on this exclusive edition,” said Vlatko Andonov, president of Bethesda Softworks. “The Survival Edition offers gamers the unique opportunity to own a piece of video game history along with a collection of limited edition items – it’s the definitive Fallout 3 package.”

“This is an exciting day for Amazon customers and Fallout fans,” said Greg Hart vice president of video games and software at Amazon. “We’re delighted to be the exclusive destination for Fallout 3 Survival Edition; this is a great example of the continually expanding selection we offer to gamers.”

Fallout 3 features one of the most realized game worlds ever created. Create any kind of character you want and explore the open wastes of post-apocalyptic Washington, D.C. Every minute is a fight for survival as you encounter Super Mutants, Ghouls, Raiders, and other dangers of the Wasteland.

Currently under development at Bethesda Game Studios – creators of award winning The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion®, the 2006 Game of the Year – Fallout 3 is one of the most anticipated games of 2008 and is slated for release this Fall on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION®3 system and Games for Windows.

Fallout® 3 has not yet been rated by the ESRB. For more information on Fallout 3, visit http://fallout.bethsoft.com.

Oh, and Dan from Perimeter says you should bring in your trade-ins to put towards the price of the game. I'm pretty sure Dan is a robot. Me? I preordered the regular edition, though I'm not completely ruling out mugging someone in a swag-induced panic come launch night.

Ninja Reflex: Steamworks Edition [Steam]

Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS)

Lost Odyssey (X360)

Conflict: Denied Ops (PC, X360, PS3)

Penumbra: Black Plague (PC)

Jumper (X360, WII, PS2)

Dungeon Explorer: Warrior of the Ancient Arts (PSP, DS)

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements (X360)

Spaceforce: Captains (PC)

Sam & Max Episode 203: Night of the Raving Dead (PC)

Carrier Strike Force (PC)

XIII Century: Death or Glory (PC)

Wipeout Pulse (PSP)

Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon (Special Edition) (PS2)

RPG Maker VX (PC)

The top half of the new Nintendo DS sports a smooth, glossy Crimson, reminiscent of a dangerous shade of lipstick or a cherry-red sports car. The bottom is a matte black — an Onyx yin that complements the Crimson yang.

Nintendo News: New Nintendo DS Color Comes Bundled with Brain Age 2 Nintendo has found a way for people to exercise both their fashion sense and their minds at the same time. The first new color scheme to hit the hot- selling Nintendo DS(TM) system in the United States in nearly a year will come bundled with Brain Age(TM) 2: More Training in Minutes a Day, all at an MSRP of $149.99. The bundle hits stores Aug. 21.

The top half of the new Nintendo DS sports a smooth, glossy Crimson,
reminiscent of a dangerous shade of lipstick or a cherry-red sports car. The
bottom is a matte black — an Onyx yin that complements the Crimson yang.

Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day is the sequel to the smash-hit
original that got baby boomers and seniors playing and redefined the concept
of what video games could be. This new title includes 15 fun new activities
designed to help users exercise their brains. It challenges players in areas
like math, memorization and even music.

The original Brain Age: Train Your Brain In Minutes A Day has sold 8.61
million worldwide, including more than 1.4 million in the United States alone,
while its sequel has already posted sales of 5.33 million in Japan.

As I write this I am listening to the haunting strains of Ancient Machine from the Halo 2 Volume 1 soundtrack on Halo Zune. The Zune, sent my way from Microsoft, is pretty neat looking, and does have a slew of original content, but it's still a Zune. That is to say, while I love the huge screen for video playback and the great all-you-can-eat music service, I'm still ticked that it skips when playing some music back and that Microsoft still hasn't gotten around to adding television and movies to their store.

Hit the jump for the full list of packed in goodies and a gallery of the Zune's case and box. I'd say if you're a huge Halo fan this player is a must, if not, maybe wait for the price to drop. Of course by then, you probably won't be able to find this special edition, which is pretty damn slick looking. I'm curious, what would you have wanted out of a Halo Zune, I mean besides a Master Chief to carry it around for you?Brian Crecente

Music
•Halo Original Soundtrack
•Halo 2 Original Soundtrack, Vol. 1
•Halo 2 Original Soundtrack, Vol. 2

Videos
•Halo 2: Theatrical Trailer, 45 sec
•Halo 3 ViDoc, 7 Min (documentary)
•Halo 3 ViDoc, 7 Min (part 2)
•Halo 3 ViDoc, 7 Min (part 3)
•Halo 3: e3 2006 Announcement Trailer, 2 Min
•Halo 3: Starry Night, 45 sec
•Red vs. Blue: The Blood Gulch Chronicles (Parts 1-6)
•Red vs. Blue: Turn On, Tune In, Zune Out (Zune welcome video by RvB characters)

Photos
•Halo Brand Imagery, 4 Photos
•Halo Concept Art, 33 Photos
•Halo Graphic Novel, 13 Photos (Not the entire novel)
•Halo Marketing Concepts by Concept Arts, 45 Photos
•Halo Paintings, 27 Photos
•Halo Storyboards, 10 Photos

Bonus unlockable levels

Bonus code to unlock two 'Cybertron' levels, one for each side in the game (Autobot and Decepticon)

Bonus Content Disc
Behind-the-Scenes Interviews and B-Roll from movie and game talent:
Peter Cullen (original Optimus Prime, Optimus Prime in game and film)
Frank Welker (original Megatron, Megatron in game)
"Making of" features with the game's development teams
Film content including movie trailers and TV spots.

Prequel Comic Book
Volume 1 of 4 official movie prequel comic books.
Designed by Transformers artist legend, Don Figueroa. Published by IDG comics.
Storyline: Tells the back-story of the battle between Autobots and Decepticons on Cybertron, as well as the importance of the All-Spark cube and how it was lost.

Limited Edition Packaging
Special packaging featuring classic Transformers icons and images of Cybertron.

Pretty nice little collections of extras. Definitely worth an extra ten spot in my book. The Cybertron Edition is only available at EBGameStop, so stop by today and make the game advisors fight each other to the death for your $5 deposit. Michael Fahey

A wealth of new releases this week although few of them merit a lot of fanfare. Bullet Witch looks interesting although it has gotten pretty craptacular reviews so far. Even with all these new titles though, this week my heart lies with an old classic: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Flynn De Marco

• Bullet Witch (X360) Slay demons as a sexy, scantily clad witch.
• SSX Blur (WII)
  Be a snowboarding sensation!
• Jade Empire: Special Edition (PC)
  Bioware's beautiful Chinese themed action RPG with enhanced graphics and added content for the PC
• Chili Con Carnage (PSP)
  South of the Border chicken exploding fun.
• Formula One Championship Edition (PS3)
  You can use your PSP as a side mirror in this formula one racing game.
• The Sims 2 Seasons (PC)
  Now your tiny minions can experience the magic and wonder of the seasons.
• Dance Dance Revolution Universe (X360)
  Flail around like a fool in the comfort of your own living room. Don't forget to close the curtains.
• 300: March to Glory (PSP)
  The game based on the movie based on the comic based on ancient history.
• Samurai Warriors 2 Empires (X360, PS2)
  Defend the honor of Feudal Japan.
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (WII VC)
  The Holy Grail of Zelda games makes its way to the Virtual Console

If you missed BioWare's gorgeous Chinese action RPG, Jade Empire, when it came out for the original Xbox, you can now enjoy it on your PC via Steam. That's right, no pesky discs to wrestle with, no boxes taking up room on your already overflowing game shelves, just download and play away.

Jade Empire: Special Edition, complete with new content, will be available on Steam and in stores on February 27th. However, If you are a follower of the Way of Tight Fist, you can get it for $5 off the regular $39.95 asking price by pre-ordering it on Steam now. Flynn De Marco

Jade Empire : Special Edition [Steam - Thanks, Kurt]

Electronic Arts today announced Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars: Kane Edition, a numbered collector's edition of the PC game set to hit in March.

Kane Edition will come packed with a DVD featuring a behind the scenes documentary, deleted scenes and a blooper reel from the live action video shoots, a series of gameplay strategy videos from the game designers, five wallpapers and exclusive in-game content including five new multiplayer maps and three unique unit skins—one for each of the three factions in the game.

"The Command & Conquer fans are among the most dedicated in the world. It's very exciting to be able to create a special bonus edition of C&C 3 with our fans in mind," said Mike Verdu, Vice President and Executive Producer at EALA. "The exclusive maps, strategy tutorials, special unit skins and 'making of' video provide hours of enjoyment to anyone who loves Command & Conquer. The 'blooper reel' is just flat out funny. I can't wait for Command & Conquer fans to get their hands on this game."

I can't wait for C&C3, but I really couldn't care less about this special edition. Numbers? You can number something forever if you want. Brian Crecente

LOS ANGELES, Calif., December 22, 2006 - Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars : Kane Edition (C&C 3: Kane Edition) - a special, numbered collector's edition for the PC that will ship in March 2007 simultaneously with Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (C&C 3). Filled with an enormous amount of exclusive content, C&C 3: Kane Edition will be the definitive collectible for any Command & Conquer or Real-time Strategy (RTS) game fan.

C&C 3: Kane Edition will include an exclusive bonus DVD featuring a behind the scenes documentary, deleted scenes and a blooper reel from the live action video shoots, a series of gameplay strategy videos from the game designers themselves, and more. C&C 3: Kane Edition will also feature exclusive in-game content including five new multiplayer maps and three unique unit skins—one for each of the three factions in the game. Fans will also enjoy five exclusive wallpapers.

"The Command & Conquer fans are among the most dedicated in the world. It's very exciting to be able to create a special bonus edition of C&C 3 with our fans in mind," said Mike Verdu, Vice President and Executive Producer at EALA. "The exclusive maps, strategy tutorials, special unit skins and 'making of' video provide hours of enjoyment to anyone who loves Command & Conquer. The 'blooper reel' is just flat out funny. I can't wait for Command & Conquer fans to get their hands on this game."

Command & Conquer, the groundbreaking series that put the RTS genre on the map, is returning in full force with C&C 3. This highly-anticipated next chapter takes the popular series back to its roots in the Tiberium Universe and features the fast, fluid gameplay that Command & Conquer is known for and an epic tale that will redefine storytelling in RTS games.

It is 2047 and the stakes could not be higher. Tiberium—a self-replicating alien substance that has infected the Earth—is spreading like a radioactive ice age. The Global Defense Initiative, a high-tech alliance of the world's most advanced nations, is fighting to contain Tiberium, but Kane, the megalomaniacal leader of The Brotherhood of Nod has other plans for Earth. Kane's secret society turned superpower is bent on using Tiberium to take control and transform humanity into his twisted vision of the future. All-out war rages over Tiberium and the fate of the planet rests in the balance.

The epic story of C&C 3, set in the Tiberium Universe, is seamlessly tied together with live action, high-definition video sequences featuring top Hollywood talent including Tricia Helfer, Josh Holloway, Michael Ironside, Billy Dee Williams, Grace Park, and more.

Currently in development at EA's Los Angeles studio, C&C 3 and C&C 3: Kane Edition will ship worldwide in March 2007 for Windows PC. C&C 3 has a suggested retail price (MSRP) of $49.99 and C&C 3: Kane Edition will be available at select retailers with a MSRP of $59.99. C&C 3 will also be available in 2007 for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system. These products are not yet rated by the ESRB, PEGI or USK. For more information, please visit www.CommandAndConquer.EA.com.

Therefore, Konamistyle is going to release two separate editions of their PlayStation Portable Metal Gear Solid game, Portable Ops, each with their own sexy themed PSP cases and special bonus trinkets.

The above pack includes: Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops UMD, camo PSP, three special pins, and special PSP carrying case with matching strap.

Any regular Ichiro can pick one of these up starting December 21 for 29,190 yen (about $250 USD). The super premium, mail order only version however...

This badboy will set you back a bit more, 39,690 yen (or $340 USD), but includes a genuine snakeskin PSP case ("The Skin of a Warrior") and strap ("The Tail of a Killer") and even fancier packaging.

Of course, losers who hate being special can still buy the regular game for 4980 yen, but who in their right mind would do such a thing? Michael McWhertor

With EGM and 1UP using their gamer cred to snag some sweet upcoming Halo 3 exclusives, it looks like Master Chief wannabes with some extra disposable cash will get not only the game, but an extra fun piece of plastic to see MC even when out of the game.

There are three versions of the third Halo journey, one of which is the...

Legendary Edition of Halo 3: A four-disc set, featuring a video of cut-scenes from the Halo games with DVD-style director's commentary, among other extras like documentaries and and a look at the way Halo fans have extended the fiction, in addition to the actual game. Oh, and there's a cat-head sized SPARTAN helmet that you'll put over the four discs as a display piece.

Cat head size? Um. I think I smell a future Kotaku photo contest! Michael McWhertor

Halo 3 Legendary Edition: A Helmet for Your Cat [1UP]

I hope you read that right. This isn't a very special "episode" of Gears of War. Marcus Fenix isn't going to weigh the moral decisions of "going all the way" with his boyfriend, a la Tootie from that Facts of Life episode that's indelibly burned into my noodle. This is simply all the stuff you'll get when you buy the tin can version of Gears of War.

For the shockingly high price of $70, you'll get Destroyed Beauty, the Gears of War hardbound art book as well as a bonus special features DVD, which includes "an inside look at the making of Gears of War, the "Art of Gears of War" trailer and "Gears of War: The Race to E3". It'll all come in a lovely metal case with alternate artwork, like all good "collector's editions" do.

Cheapskates can obviously wait for the DVD contents to be uploaded to your BitTorrent host of choice while checking out the already scanned in artwork that's been up since E3. Or you can just wait for the flood of "limited" editions to come roaring back into stores a few months after release. Or you can just buy the damn thing, you bum! Michael McWhertor

Destroyed Beauty: The Art of Gears of War