We have mentioned In The Pit before - back when it was a 3-level Xbox 360 demo.

Described as "An 'audio-only' stealth action game", you are a monster hunting down unfortunate victims hurled into your pit by an evil king. It's a Grue simulator, basically.

The demo has been expanded into a full game, which will be one of the NXE Community Games launch titles. Check out the trailer. With your eyes closed.

In the Pit [XNA]

This new Bionic Commando promo takes the brave decision to set aside the usual stylistic crutches of game trailing in favour of 1 minute 13 seconds of straight gameplay.

No alt-rock soundtrack, no fast edits, not even an over-reliance on pre-rendered cutscenes. Just a MAN swinging after ROBOTS using his BIONIC ARM. By videogame trailer standards, this is practically Dogme 95.

Disney Interactive present a trailer for their would-be Wii rival to Rock Band/Guitar Hero, Ultimate Band. It's colorful, snappily edited and features a weaksauce-doused cover of The White Stripe's Fell In Love With A Girl - but how about the gameplay?

Well, it's hard to say - there is certainly a bewildering array of different rhythm mechanics on display - scrolling frets, pulsing beat circles, other.. things. One of those is probably the instrumentless 'Front Man' but it's hard to say which. Nice use of the Giant Hands though. Very Dio.

Far Cry 2 — Exclusive Jackal Trailer [GameTrailers]

I'm sure as more assets are added and they get music from bands other than Breaking Benjamin and Atrayu we could see some rather spiffy things coming out of the site. For now, expect lots of random crap, such as the downright horrible Brothers In Arms mashup you'll find after the jump. Just be patient with it as the site is currently dealing with bandwidth issues stemming from inconsiderate video game blogs trying to show them to the world.

Build Your Own Video Game Mashups [Mashade.com]

Rock Band 2 Exclusive Gameplay Reveal [Gametrailers]

I would have thought that Desert Bus would forever remove both "real-time" and "desert terrain" from the marketing lexicon of any playable video game. As the brand new trailer above shows, THQ/2XL Games' Baja is eminently playable. Suddenly 240-minute endurance races don't seem so bad. I might need a USB glucose drip IV when this comes out in August.

Rough Riding: Hands On with Baja [Kotaku]

Persona 4 was just previewed in Famitsu yesterday and already someone has ripped the promo videos that came with the magazine. (Of course they are both in Japanese) They are both pretty lengthy, one being ten minutes, the other coming in at around eight. I've only recently been inducted into the angsty, head shooting world of Persona 3 and I must admit I find it quite fascinating. Sadly there is no head shooting in the new Persona but hopefully this new game will be just as intriguing as its predecessors.

Make the jump to check out promo number two!

[via Akayuki - Thanks, Squall]

It's ludicrous media piggybacking, but we don't blame you...pending that you sleep on a big pile of greenbacks after a hard day's work.

"X-Play" to Feature World Premieres of New "Zero Punctuation" Videos

With Weekly Sneak Previews

Previews of The Escapist Magazine's Popular Web Video Series Debut on "X-Play" Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 8 pm

LOS ANGELES, February 11, 2008 - "Zero Punctuation" is coming to "X-Play," giving viewers of the most-watched video game show on television an exclusive sneak peek at each new episode of the Web's most popular video game review series. Beginning Tuesday, February 12, short previews of the wildly popular videos from creator Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw and The Escapist magazine will become an ongoing "X-Play" feature. Previews of "Zero Punctuation" videos will premiere exclusively on "X-Play" every Tuesday evening, before the Wednesday premiere of the full, uncut reviews at www.escapistmagazine.com, which will remain the series' online home. "Zero Punctuation" makes its world broadcast premiere on "X-Play," February 12, 2008 at 8 pm ET/PT, only on G4.

"Zero Punctuation" has become one of the video game world's most popular and infamous sources of criticism, unleashing reviews that combine humor and scathing insight with uproarious results. Each review combines deceptively simple animation with breathlessly blunt language, mercilessly mocking the weakest points in even the most critically acclaimed games.

"Every game has its faults, even the truly great ones," said Morgan Webb, host of "X-Play." "Nothing is funnier than seeing the mighty mocked."

"I was already really excited about the new 'X-Play' format," said Adam Sessler, host of "X-Play." "Now I can barely contain myself. We're dedicated to giving gaming fans what they want and we know they want 'Zero Punctuation.'"

"'Zero Punctuation' is game reviewing like it's never been done before," said Russ Pitts, Acquisitions and Production Manager at The Escapist. "We're pleased to share the schizophrenia with 'X-Play's' audience."

The "Zero Punctuation" previews are the newest addition to the updated "X-Play" format, which features a daily comprehensive overview of video game news and culture, in addition to the brutally honest reviews for which the show is known. Every weeknight at 8 pm, new, half-hour episodes of "X-Play" will give viewers a comprehensive update on each day's videogame-related developments, along with a wide range of new features, including behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at games in development; interviews with industry luminaries; live, hands-on demonstrations of games before they hit store shelves; and in-depth analysis of the latest videogame trends. More information is available at http://www.g4tv.com/xplay.

Some new and new old and old new updates have been posted to the PlayStation Store recently, including Rally Cross for the PSP, which weighs in at a healthy 105MB. The PSone racer is priced at $5.99 and will surely be playable on the PS3 any day now.

On the free side of things, Sony has both the Genji Days of the Blade costume pack ready to take up hard drive space, as well as an update to Gran Turismo HD Concept. So what's new about the latter? The PlayStation Underground just sent us this notice:

Our records indicate that you downloaded Gran Turismo HD Concept from the PLAYSTATION(R)Store. Version 1.1 is now available for download, which refines the gameplay experience in Time Trial mode and the accuracy of lap times within the online rankings. Since online ranking results recorded by version 1.1 players will be given priority, it is highly recommended that you download and install it if you are playing the earlier version. Please note that version 1.1 is compatible with existing game save data, allowing you to race your previously unlocked cars.

We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused and hope you enjoy Gran Turismo HD Concept.

Consider your apology accepted! Bored downloaders can also grab trailers for 300, Fred Claus and the PS3 game GripShift. Yay! Michael McWhertor

As you can see the cast includes a prostitute from the French revolution, generic woodsman number 5, pansy rapier boy, and the obligatory spiky-haired protagonist with encephalitis, so we've got all the bases covered. Wii Sports is fun and all, but Dragon Quest Swords has just the geeky flavor I need to forget that I'm technically exercising.

As an aside, I wanted to give a shout out to Jeromy Stroh over at Gamebrink, who added larger size streaming videos to their site awhile back just to help us fill out the page a bit more. He's good people. Michael Fahey

Dragon Quest Swords Jump Festa Trailer [Gamebrink]

Computer and Video Games has the latest trailer for Bully, alias Canis Canem Edit, and they're not sharing. I'm going to make you hit the link to watch it on their site, as a quick YouTube hit didn't turn anything up.

True to form, the voice acting continues to sound pitch-perfect, the characters are intriguing and the game looks nice and varied. I think this is going to be a solid title. Eliza Gauger

Canis Canem Edit trailer [Computer and Video Games]

GameVideos.com is hosting the second Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories trailer, featuring a flabby, flirty walrus and a cross-dressing, Bowie-esque bellboy who informs us that everyone was on cocaine in 1984. Hell, still am! Florian Eckhardt

Well, it's finally done and the newest trailer makes me even less excited than I have been. This nutless voice acting and subdued animation is just not up to the Sam and Max par, and frankly I'm just not looking forward to it anymore.

Here's hoping the actual gameplay will somewhat salvage what is really looking like a sequelitis-ridden mistake. Eliza Gauger

Sam and Max goes gold [Telltale Games, via Destructoid]

From Destructoid comes this new Bully trailer in which Principle (Dean?) Crabblesnitch introduces us to the key notions present in the quality education thrust upon young men and women at Bullworth Academy. That nerd girl who's always talking about her cold sores? Yeah, you might have to kiss her. Eliza Gauger

PS, Shier over on Destructoid is talking like a pirate today, which is what I was gonna do, but now I'll just look like some matey-come-lately and to hell with that. Jerk.

Today is full of videos, for which I apologize. It's just what the feeds doled out last night.

Brand new as of the 14th, this Red Steel trailer is full of the new control scheme, good music (hopefully in-game), and and undoubtedly exaggerated gestures on the part of the "gamer". But this footage gets me stoked about being given more opportunity to play video games in a way that utilizes more than my thumbs.

But check out the totally un-bushido way that the hero stabs that ninja once he's already disarmed. For shame.

The gleaming white mini-katana (I know it has a real name but none of my Japanese-speaking friends are talking to me) in the background hints at a custom wiimote from my dreams. Eliza Gauger

Click here for full-quality version of the above video [IGN]

A well-executed faux trailer for a Halflife movie, by student filmmaker Justin Seau. According to Aeropause this was put together for this digital video editing class, and uses all original footage. Eliza Gauger

New Indy 2007 footage from LucasArts, in a faux German WW2 propaganda-flavored shell that calls to mind the flippant and endearing flavor of the old adventure games. If they can preserve that feeling while imbuing it with fistfights and car chases, I'm going to be extremely pleased. Computer and Video games, where I got this clip, says:

LucasArts has of course spilled the beans on the euphoria technology previously, explaining that, in a nutshell, it imbues in-game characters with more 'natural' behaviour. It not only adds an extra layer of authenticity to proceedings but additionally, because it all works in real-time, we'll never see the same behaviour or action or reaction from an NPC twice. Just watch the game footage - which features lots of Indy punching people - in the trailer and it'll all become crystal clear. Hopefully.

It looks better on CVG than YouTube, so head over there for a closer look if you haven't seen enough above.

I wonder if the graphics have been slowmo'd a little for this trailer (aside from the obvious slow motion sequences), because everyone still looks a bit floaty. I'm hoping for snappy combat, more like the feel of GTA, where cracking a bat over someone's face felt more realtime than this trailer makes Indy look. Everything looks gooey and rubbery, and needs to be sped up by about 10%.

Still, I love the idea of never-the-same-way-twice combat. This makes reloading at checkpoints and fighting the same guys, or replaying the game at all, far more interesting.

Eliza Gauger

Better quality vid here [Computer and Video Games]

Pity, because he is all alone in a savage land, surrounded by mannerless apes and gossamer nymphs, assaulted on all sides by the blaring of screens and the braying of looped demos.

Jealousy, because holy crap there's some nifty stuff coming outta this thing.

Computer and Video Games also has a missionary dispatched to Leip, and he's sending back mysterious video footage from the FUTURE. Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Medieval II: Total War, NFS: Carbon and Mario Strikers Charged vids are piled up like pillaged sheep in the hull of Viking longboat. Go check it out.

Eliza Gauger

See videos here! [Computer and Video Games]

Thanks, GayGamer. Steaming fresh from Deutchland! I find this one a little hard to follow, maybe because of the YouTube fuzz, I dunno. But I love the expressionless female voice, and the feeling of vague silliness over the whole thing. Good atmosphere! Eliza Gauger

This Tingle trailer is from DarkZero, and what's that I see? Could it be...yes, I think it is! Giant undead pirate skeleton boss!

Perhaps a new microtransaction model could be constructed: if one does not want to play the whole game, they can buy the boss battles individually. The idea has merit... Eliza Gauger

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this cinematic trailer for the upcoming Guild Wars expansion pack, Nightfall is the windmill at the end, which looks the milliner architecture that might well have been forged in an alternate universe where Egypt conquered Holland. But some of Nightfall's new monsters, settings and classes are well on display here, if you're not as interested in Egypto-Dutch architecture. Florian Eckhardt

Hello Mr. President! Are you a bad enough dude to suit up in an ass-kicking battlemech suit and kick the crap out of those pansy liberals?

It is the trailer for Metal Wolf Chaos, a game I've never heard of but Ashcraft better send me from Japan if he knows what's good for him. It starts with the president jumping out of an exploding White House. It just gets better from there. Now this is a president I would vote for. Florian Eckhardt

This vid comes from Aeropause. I'm leaving on a road trip on the 5th, but will be bringing a 360 with me so that on the 8th, somewhere in eastern Montana in some god-forsaken Walmart host body of a town, I can plug that sucker into a hotel TV and rock out, zombie-style.

But I'm scared, see. The last time I got really excited about a zombie game, it was Stubbs the Zombie. Thinking about it just makes me weep with disappointment all over again. Eliza Gauger

This was camcorded at San Diego Comic Con (aka Nerd Prom) and has an irritating background patter of attendees, but is very watchable. I like the critters in this so far, but I'm not seeing anything else that's blowing me away.

Is it me, or have graphics kinda reached a plateau? There's so much work left to be done. More realistic movements, and just some little details like the main character's hair part in this. It's solid black; it looks like he's wearing a wig.

Tell me, my little droogies, are you excited for this game? Tell me why. Eliza Gauger

Originally posted here [GameVideos, thanks Redhex]

I know I know, two videos in a row. Suck it up.

This here is the E3 trailer for Mass Effect, which looks like a combination Wing Commander and Halo. I'm pleased with everything I see here, except for every alien looking like some guy in a suit. I like to think there's more to alien life than the Star Trek-style "humanoid with weird head" assortment. Eliza gauger

Shadowrun is one of those neglected properties, a wealth of cyberpunk pulp amusement that seems so easy to tweak into vast vistas of raw entertainment: a neon-grimy NeoSeattle with all the caffeine, computers and literally monstrous geeks as present-day Seattle, but with that delicious Blade Runner edge.

So I was eager to learn of the new Shadowrun for the 360, and that excitement prevailed until I saw the actual trailer. A trailer with awkward character design, boring environment and a strangely awesome but totally inappropriate soundtrack.

Now I'm just petulant.

So the fawning Preview over at CVG, complete with some new screenshots, is just not cutting it for me:

After all, where else can you cast a spell to resurrect a fallen ally or summon a giant rock creature to pummel enemies while you capture the flag?

Warsong Gulch. Eliza "Mehhhh" Gauger

Shadowrun Preview [Computer and Video Games]

Did Tony Montana ever fight a tiger in Scarface? It doesn't matter — I always wondered what would happen if he did. The presence of Tony Montana vs. Tiger officially makes this the second best Scarface vid ever. FLORIAN ECKHARDT

If you haven't finished Half-Life 2: Episode 1 yet, this trailer for the upcoming sequel episode is full of spoilers. For the rest of us, it raises more questions than answers. Why isn't Alyx running around in a translucent set of wet bra and panties anymore? Will Barney and Walter ever reconcile their feelings for one another after that long, languorous kiss they shared on the romantic sand dunes of City 17? Is Gordon Freeman's mind still trapped in Dog's electronic brain? Will Lou Gossett Jr. ever stop possessing those poor Vortigaunts? FLORIAN ECKHARDT

God, this game makes me wish someone would just go out and invent already the cybernetic brain interface required for me to actually be able to beat an RTS game. The deformed fetal nubs that have replaced my arms after a life-time of subterranean basement sloth aren't really good for the rapid-fire pressings of a foreign language of hot keys.

Only complaint about this amazing trailer? Where's Derek Smart?

This is, without a doubt, the best trailer to come out of E3 so far. How do you counter Samus firing a suborbital laser out of her arm? Wario's nuclear farting fatality.