Two new clips demonstrating gameplay in Mass Effect 2 have been released tonight. In the clips, Commander Shepard runs into Gaarus, an old friend from the first game, as well as goes to a club to try to get some information out of a blue alien chick.

He ends up at the bar, we’ll tell you that much. Read on for the clips.

This week’s Shonen Jump is officially out in Japan today, giving us a clearer insight into Final Fantasy XIII’s Chocobos and Hope’s summon Alexander than the leak earlier this week did.

Chocobos are huge in Final Fantasy XIII; they roam the world of Pulse with an purpose of providing high speed movement through the game’s underworld. They have the ability to jump high, reaching locations otherwise inaccessible; and the ability to find treasures, an exclamation point appearing above their heads whenever they sense something, notifying you to dig for treasure.

Chocobos have a health gauge represented by a set of feathers on the lower left of the screens. Whenever an enemy strikes, your Chocobo will lose a feather. Lose them all, the Chocobo flees.

Onto Alexander, Hope’s summon in-battle. Alexander can punch enemies from a distance in standard mode; his Driving Mode is a fortress which blast enemies afar with multiple cannons. When in Driving Mode, Alexander is described to look like a castle wall.

Finally, there’s an area in the game named Sanless. It’s said to be a natural area of Cocoon filled with beautiful flowers, but the residents of Cocoon are not allowed entry due to it being a natural preservation area. There’s some sort of weather control terminal there as well, which just may be in control by the fal’Cie.

High-quality scans can be seen below.

Thanks, Andriasang.

The November episode of Qore comes loaded with brand new details and video on United Front Games’ upcoming PlayStation 3 racer, ModNation Racers. Of the new information given, we’ve assembled the most important.

The game features both split-screen and twelve-player online racing as well as a story mode written by professional Hollywood writers.

What makes this game unique is its character, track and kart customization. Customization looks simple, but is very in-depth. Character customization includes the ability to change the color of any asset, see full animation whilst creating the character, and truly even make a character that’ll look just like you.

Track customization is easy as well; United Front created the editor so that truly anybody can use it without confusion. Once a track is created, it can be uploaded online for friends to download, who can then remix your track and reupload it for even more creativity sharing. If you forget where you are when creating the track, you can use an autocomplete feature that will automatically finish the track for you; an autocomplete is also available for area population that automatically throws trees and other items down on the course. There’s also weapons, ramps and more to add to the track. Weather options are also available.

The game’s out 2010. LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year Edition buyers are ensured access to the beta whenever it comes around.

Yoshinori Ono, known for his work on the Street Fighter games, apparently has a “totally awesome” secret that Capcom’s “not allowed to talk about for a few months.”

“He’s a total tease,” Capcom’s twitter update closed.

What could it be? We’re guessing some super secret new addition to Super Street Fighter IV. We’ll just have to see as time passes by.

Update: Activision has responded that they’ve not granted GameStop permission to do this. “Activision has not given any retailer permission to sell Modern Warfare 2 prior to the Nov. 10 street date. The company fully supports the Nov.10 street date.”

Original: It’s not Tuseday, November 10 yet but you can still purchase Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 today. For some reason, select GameStop stores across the United States have begun selling the game early; we’re guessing that because a lot of local, individually-owned shops in certain areas have been selling the game since earlier this week, Activision has granted GameStop permission to sell the game, as well; either that or someone’s going to get in trouble.

One of our writers, Matt, picked the game up last night. It’s pretty damn fun, I’ll tell you that.

What are you waiting for? See if your GameStop has it now!

3D Dot Game Heroes has just released in the land of the rising sun and an announcement for the US is imminent. However, the game being a PlayStation 3 exclusive, will it ever see light on Xbox 360?

Hiroyuki Misawa, producer at Silicon Studio, responded to the question. “We can do it. Our libraries are multiplatform, so it would be possible to make it for 360.” When asked if there are plans to release the game on Xbox 360, Misawa said, “It’s up to From. We’re a developer, so if there’s a call to make it, I believe we can do it.”

In other news, the game was developed by a staff of 20 to 30 people. Amazing, isn’t it?

Thanks, Andriasang.

Square Enix have released an anagram on the official North American Final Fantasy XIII website today. The puzzle: A Henchmen Inventor Tent Unto. They didn’t say what we should do with these words, but rearranging the letters seems to be the way to go.

What can they be rearranged to? How about “Announcement Nov Thirteenth”?

You know what that means. Stay tuned for November 13, where some sort of Final Fantasy XIII announcement will be made for North America. Hopefully, it’ll be the release date.

Thanks, FinalFantasy-XIII.net.

Square Enix has announced that Gyromancer, a new puzzle-RPG developed in collaboration with PopCap, will launch on both Xbox LIVE Arcade and Steam on November 18, 2009. Gyromance takes the genre by embracing players with challenging puzzles in replacement of traditional battles.

You’ll play as Rivel, a summoner venturing though the enchanted Aldemona Wood. Beasts and enemies will block your way and it’s your duty to get rid of them.

We’ve embedded the TGS trailer below. The official site is also open as well but contains nothing more than this same trailer.

You thought we’d stop at Omnimon, didn’t you. Nope, we have even more custom character creations from 3D Dot Game Heroes to show you. This time around, we’re showing you Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII, the guy from Katamari Forever, the Slime from Dragon Quest and so much more.

It gets a bit impatient waiting for a US release now, doesn’t it?

Aerith (Final Fantasy VII)

Bomberman (Bomberman series)

Katamari Guy (Katamari Forever)

Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII)

Slime (Dragon Quest series)

Zero (Mega Man X series)

Activision Blizzard and Infinity Ward have released three new screenshots of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 today. While low in amount, they certainly do showcase the game’s great visuals and modern war setting.

The game’s out on Tuesday, November 10. Check out the new screens at the gallery.

It looks almost identical to the Netflix streaming you’ve seen before on your DVD player.

Netflix is planning on releasing a downloadable app that will let you access Netflix late next year. As for now, Netflix users will have to settle for a disc; it’s free. If you’re a Netflix customer and don’t have a disc yet, you can head over to your Netflix account and sign up for a copy.

As for the video, it’s below.

Chet Faliszek, Valve’s lead developer on Left 4 Dead 2, has told CVG that the Xbox 360 community is “head and shoulders above the PS3″, which is why the zombie-killing series isn’t on Sony’s black mammoth.

“Right now for Left 4 Dead 2 we’re looking at PC and 360 because the community aspects really fit the game – it’s all about playing with your friends,” he said.

“But that’s the short term. What we’re looking at for the long term… if it works out, it works out. Right now don’t not buy it on the 360 because you think it’s coming out on the PS3 – it’s not going to. Right? It’s coming out on the PC and 360. It’s going to be exclusive for that.”

Faliszek ended his statement with this: “In hooking up with your friends and the community aspects, I think the Xbox 360 is head and shoulders above the PS3. The 360 and PC are on par, right?”

EA and BioWare have sent out nine brand new screenshots of Mass Effect 2 today; the images show us Garrus Vakarian (a companion from the original Mass Effect), some other friendlies that will be accompanying Commander Shepard and the new enemy known as Legion.

He’s stalking Shepard for some reason. Call it a hunch, but I don’t think it’s due to a crush. Check out the screenshots at the gallery.

Cliff Bleszinski, the man behind the Gears of War franchise from Epic Games, has taken upon a liking to Gearbox’s recently released Borderlands. I don’t blame him. The game’s outrageously fun and addicting. However, Cliff has much higher words for the development team at Gearbox.

“Borderlands, I adore you.” Cliff wrote in a status update on Twitter. “You’re Diablo for a generation raised on first person shooters. I want a Claptrap statue.”

Mighty words coming from Cliff himself.

Next week’s Shonen Jump has leaked a bit early, considering it’s still Friday, but we have them. The new scans reveal both Hope’s summon Alexander in Final Fantasy XIII as well as what the beloved Chocobo will look like this time around.

The magazine also reveals that Final Fantasy XIII in Japan will come with beta access to Final Fantasy XIV.

Next week’s Famitsu will feature this information as well. We’ll have scans for that come its release.

EA’s released the debut trailer and first screenshots for SKATE 3 this morning. Developed by Black Box, the game features crews, flips, tricks and bails. With the new addition of crews, the game encourages players to “Team Up” and “Throw Down”. Word.

The game’s out on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in May 2010. Check out the new screens at the gallery. Read on for the clip.

Believe it or not, the video you’re about to see is a teaser for the sequel to 2007’s Kane & Lynch. It’s a teaser trailer; probably the reason why it looks nothing like a game at all, rather just security footage at an Asian restaurant. There’s a naked guy bashing a dog over the head, as well.

The game’s named Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. The clip’s here.

A new video put out by BioWare tonight reveals everything you want to know about Commander Shepard’s enemies in Mass Effect 2. Looks like he’s fighting the Geth, Collectors, Praetorians and Abominations.

An evolved Geth named Legion seems to be following Commander Shepard wherever he/she goes. You need to find out why.

Lock and load.

Venice isn’t the only Italian town in Assassin’s Creed II. Ezio will wonder the Italian countryside to other towns such as the town of San Gimignano, which looks almost the same today in real life as it did back in the renaissance era. IGN gives us a first look at the new town with a new gameplay video.

Ezio has to keep a low profile. That means taking down wanted posters and occasionally kicking an ass or two.

This week’s PlayStation Store update is in. What’s new? Episode 18 of Qore is out featuring new info on Assassin’s Creed II and ModNation Racers; both Numblast and Military Madness are available as downloadable games; a demo for Military Madness as well as last week’s Trine can be downloaded; new Rock Band, LittleBigPlanet, Brutal Legend and other content is available; finally some Tekken 6 themes can also be downloaded.

Read on for the complete update.

New Prices

• TV Show King Price Drop (now $6.99)
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine Weapon X Arena Pack Price Drop (now $4.99)

Qore

• Qore Episode 18: November 2009 ($2.99) – Episode 18 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network gets creative with ModNation Racers, goes behind the scenes at ILM and takes a closer look at Star Trek on Blu-ray, and revisits the world of Assassin’s Creed II.

PSone Classics

• Gex ($5.99)

Downloadable Games

• Numblast ($4.99)
• Military Madness: Nectaris ($9.99)

Demos

• Military Madness: Nectaris Demo
• Trine Demo

Add-Ons

• Brutal Legend Tears of the Hextadon Map Pack (free)
• Dragon Age Origins Stone Prisoner DLC ($14.99)
• Dragon Age Origins Warden’s Keep DLC ($6.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Anniversary Birthday Cake Costume (free)
• LittleBigPlanet Spaceman Costume (free)
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Character Compatibilty Pack (free)
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Character and Mission Pack ($9.99)
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Juggernaut Playable Character ($1.99)
• Rock Band Add-Ons
  • “Best of You”— Foo Fighters ($1.99)
  • “The Pretender”— Foo Fighters ($1.99)
  • “Wheels”— Foo Fighters ($1.99)
  • “Word Forward”— Foo Fighters ($1.99)
  • Foo Fighters Pack 03 ($6.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Foo Fighters Pack 01. This pack includes “Best of You,” “The Pretender,” “Wheels,” and “Word Forward” by Foo Fighters.
  • “Fake Friends”— Joan Jett & the Blackhearts ($1.99)
  • “About a Girl”— Nirvana ($1.99)
  • “Blew”— Nirvana ($1.99)
  • “School”— Nirvana ($1.99)
  • Nirvana Bleach Pack ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Nirvana Bleach Pack. This pack includes: “About a Girl,” “Blew,” and “School” by Nirvana.
• Topatoi: The Great Tree Story Arcade Style DLC (free)
• Way of the Samurai 3 Weapons DLC (free)

Game Videos

• Pulse 11/5 Edition
• Assassin’s Creed 2 Dev Diary 4
• Dragon Age: Origins City Elf Trailer
• Dragon Age: Origins Dwarf Commoner Origin Trailer
• Dragon Age: Origins Mage Origin Trailer
• God of War Collection Trailer
• PlayStation 3 TV Commercial – “Candle”
• PlayStation 3 TV Commercial – “Montage”
• NIER TGS 2009 Trailer
• Numblast Trailer

Themes & Wallpapers

• DarkMatter Quadrilogy Theme Pack ($5.99)
• Family Guy Theme ($1.99)
• FIFA 10 Wallpaper x5 (free)
• Roadkill Theme ($1.99)
• Tekken 6 Wallpaper x5 (free)
• Tekken 6 – Returning Characters Theme (free)
• Tekken 6 – The Fight Card Theme (free)
• Tekken 6 – The New Faces Theme (free)
• South Park Dynamic Theme ($2.99)