Microsoft has announced that three special outfits will be available as DLC for the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 2. The game’s star, Ryu, Hayabusa, will be able to don these different costumes as he slices his way through demons and monsters. Each one will cost around 200 MS points, though 39,000 people who pre-order the game will gain access to the first one on launch day. Sadly, the offer is only available in select countries and so far they only seem to be ones in Europe. The picture above shows the free costume those poeple could get, but the other tow will also be available on launch day. You know, if you want Ryu to look all special or something as you play through the story.

Via NeoGAF

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Ah yes, it’s Friday, and that means we get a sneak peak at the Rock Band DLC coming out next week. This week has three separate tracks from some classic artists:

• Hanging on the Telephone by Blondie (master)
• Train in Vain by The Clash (master)
• Kool Thing by Sonic Youth (master)

As usual, each track will cost 160 MS points ($1.99) each and should hit Xbox Live on Tuesday and the PSN on Thursday. And I’m already positive my rendition of “Kool Thing” is goingt o involve a lot of mumbling.

Via Rock Band Forums

According to The Major, the demo for GRID has gone live. Unfortunately the PC demo has been delayed, but it will be up tomorrow so check back with us for the link to download it.

In Race Driver: GRID, players are taken to beautifully realised and dramatic race locations over three continents to compete in an unprecedented variety of racing events. Packed with the most powerful race cars – new and classic, circuit and drift – players will compete to conquer the most prestigious official race tracks and championships and then go beyond to compete in challenging city-based competitions, through to road events and urban street races.

In Europe, race gamers will compete on the greatest official tracks in prestige Marques including Aston Martin, Koenigsegg and Pagani.

Iconic cities across the U.S. – including San Francisco, Washington DC and Detroit and each with their own atmosphere and events – play hosts to diverse street races. Here, high-performance V8 muscle cars set the pace in aggressive closely fought pack competitions.

In the Far East, Japanese racing culture sets the tone where night races, including Drift racing, take drivers through neon illuminated cities and to outlying mountain roads. There is also the opportunity to compete in races that operate on the fringes of legality in the back streets and industrial areas of Yokohama.

Content: GRID Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: [ESRB: E (Everyone)] It’s time to get on the GRID as this superb demo showcases racing in the three regions playable in the full game; Europe Touring Cars at Jarama Circuit, U.S Muscle cars at San Francisco and Japanese Drift Racing at Yokohama Docks. Compete online in the European and U.S races and check out the time trial competitions for the chance to win a car and other ace prizes.

Thanks: Major Nelson

You gotta hand it to Harmonix: they realy know how to crank out that DLC for Rock Band. Aside from their weekly releases, some exclusive new songs, and a standalone track pack, it looks like they’ve even managed to get some DLC crammed into the next South Park DVD. Apparently, several retailers were sent a notice about the upcoming South Park: Season 11 DVD release that mentioned a “3-song download pack” for Rock Band would be included as a bonus. Unfortunately, there’s no indication what sort of songs will be included, or if they’ll even be related to the show (me and Chris have been trying to figure out what South Park songs could actually make it onto the game without being bleeped out completely). Plus it’s anyone’s guess which version of the game the DLC will work for. I guess we’ll have to wait until the DVD’s August 12th release to find out for sure. At any rate, the pure irony of a Rock Band bonus being included in a season that had an episode parodying Guitar Hero seems to have been ost on all parties involved here.

Via TV Shows on DVD

Harmonix has revealed the next batch of tracks you’ll be able to download in the coming week. The “Scene Pack” will feature three new songs for your enjoyment:

“This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race” by Fallout Boy (master)
“Date With The Night” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (master)
“It Hurts” by Angels & Airwaves (master)

As usual, the pack will cost 440 MS points ($5.49), while the individual songs will cost 160 MS points ($1.99). Also as usual, the songs should become available for download on Tuesday though Xbox Live and Thursday through the Playstation Network. And I’m only considering downloading one of these; I think you can guess which one.

Via Rock Band Forums

It looks like a new track pack will be available for Guitar Hero III next week. Gamers will be able to download three new songs from Muse through the Playstation Network and Xbox Live. The songs will include “Exo-Politics” and “Supermassive Black Hole” from their Black Holes and Revelations album, as well as “Stockholm Syndrome” from their Absolution album. These are of course in addition to the Muse track “Knights of Cydonia” that’s already on the disc. Look for these songs to be up for download on May 8th. And if you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check out their awesome music video for “Knights of Cydonia” below. It’s got sci-fi karate cowboys, and, no, I’m not kidding.

Via Press Release

Harmonix has revealed next week’s DLC for Rock Band, which feature three new tracks to choose from. And those tracks will be:

• The Mother Hips – “Red Tandy” (MASTER)
• The Mother Hips – “Time Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear” (MASTER)
• Smashing Pumpkins – “Zero” (MASTER)

Unlike most of the DLC, these songs won’t be available in a pack and will have to be purchased individually. As usual though, each of the songs will cost 160 MS points (around $2). The track’s will be available on Tuesday for the Xbox 360, and on Thursday for the PS3. *Sigh* Another week and still no Journey DLC.

Via Rock Band Forum

The Lost Odyssey Triple Bonus Pack is now available on XBL according to the Major. This package includes three exclusive items: “Memory Lamp,” which allows you to watch the past event scenes all over again, “Shattered Bond,” an antique that will bring back the memory of a forgotten dream, and a special ring called Killer Machine.”

Content: Triple Bonus Pack
Price: 200 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions

For more information,click here, and visit our previous posts more Lost Odyssey goodness

New Downloadable Content for Lost Odyssey is coming to Xbox Live Marketplace April 25. There are three new items included in the DLC. “The Shattered Bond ” unlocks a new dream, the “Killer Machine” ring is forged to specialize in fighting against magic-powered weapons and a “Memory Lamp” for the upgraded Nautilus will allow you to view dreams.

Personally the dream sequences were something I really liked about this game. I found myself scouring levels to unlock them all.

The package is only 200 MS points so it’s not a bad deal. Check out the fine print at Xbox.com.

There has been a rumor spinning around for months that Metallica will debut their new single on Rock Band. This will follow the recent trend started by Def Leppard and Motley Crue and release thier new single as DLC before it hits retail shelves.

This rumor is getting hotter as it nips at the heels of an recent interview with Rolling Stone in which Metallica stated that video games, particularly Guitar Hero, offer “many positive things” to young people.

Lars Ulrich, drummer for Metallica stated that Guitar Hero has allowed him to connect with his own offspring about music.

When asked ‘You signed a lot of Guitar Hero controllers. Is that cool?’, he said:

“It’s f**king way cool. Our kids love playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band. It’s awesome. There’s something really positive coming out of video games. “It’s so cool to sit there and have your kids talk to you about Deep Purple and Black Sabbath and Soundgarden.”

Perhaps the positive quotes are a little more calculated than first impressions would have you believe, however: the rumor states that Metallica will release their next single through Rock Band not Guitar Hero III.

Motley Crue released their new single ‘Saints of Los Angeles’ on PSN and XBL for Rock Band and tomorrow, Def Leppard will follow suit when they release their new single ‘Nine Lives’ as part of a GHIII song pack on XBL.

We will keep you informed on this rumor as more information becomes available. What I really want to know is when in the world will “… And Justice For All” be released as a full album for Rock Band?

Via: Press Release

COD4 fans that have been waiting download the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Map pack for the PS3 don’t have much longer to go. The map pack finally hits PlayStation Network Thursday, April 24 for both North America and Europe.

You’ll want to download those map and get familiarized with them fast. To celebrate, Sony is sponsoring a PS3 Variety Map Pack Double XP Weekend Extravaganza. Players in NA and EU will earn Double XP all weekend starting 12:01 AM GMT on Friday, April 25 to 11:59 PM PDT on Sunday, April 27. They’ll also have the opportunity to “Play with the Devs” Friday, April 25th. The Infinity Ward team are up for the challenge and will be playing online on Friday, April 25 from 11AM to 2PM PDT and from 5 PM to 8 PM PDT.

via Press Release

EA has announced that some new DLC for Army of Two should be ready for download next week. The new DLC will contain four special challenge maps pitting two-person teams against each other in a race through an obstacle course. The winners will be able to net some cash as well as gain the chance to join the SSC…and I have no idea what joining up entails. Still, the new mode should provide an interesting twist on the co-op gameplay.

“We want to support our fans with new content that delivers on the two-man gameplay but with a unique twist,”says Alain Tascan, VP and General Manager of EA Montreal and Executive Producer of Army of Two. “The SSC Challenge gives players a chance to test their skills in a different setting while retaining the action packed co-op intensity that gamers have come to expect in Army of Two.”

Via Press Release

PC gamers can breathe a sigh of relief now. You may not be getting BioWare’s RPG, Mass Effect, until later next month; but when you do, you’ll also be getting some bonus DLC free of charge. BioWare has announced that the “Bring Down the Sky” add on for the game will be released for free at the same time as the full game. As with the Xbox 360 version, the extra content will introduce a side mission involving the Batarians, an alien race set on destroying a colony of civilians. My guess is that this is part of the reason the PC version was delayed, so that’s a small price to pay for some extra free stuff.

Via Press Release

Ok metal heads and those of you stuck in an 80’s time warp - thank your lucky stars because Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the first complete album to be added to the Rock Band downloadable content catalog: Judas Priest’s 1982 metal classic “Screaming For Vengeance” will be available on April 22.”Screaming For Vengeance” becomes the first complete album to be released and you will soon be able to rock out to “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” “Bloodstone,” “Screaming For Vengeance” and “Electric Eye.” Black leather and chains sold separately.

Each track will be available for $1.99 per track (160 Microsoft Points) or $14.99 (1200 Microsoft Points) for the album. PS3 users will be able to get in on the fun come April 24th.

Here is the complete track list which are all master recordings:

“The Hellion”
“Electric Eye”
“Riding on the Wind”
“Bloodstone”
“(Take These) Chains”
“Pain and Pleasure”
“Screaming for Vengeance”
“You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”
“Fever”
“Devil’s Child”

Note that “The Hellion” and “Electric Eye will be offered together as one DLC track.

Via: Press Release

Microsoft has been touting the fact that the Xbox 360 version of GTA IV will include exclusive downloadable content (which they paid handsomely for). But we still haven’t gotten any specific details on just what that content will consist of. Well it seems an upcoming CVG magazine special contains a passage that explains with just how big the new DLC is expected to be. To summarize: it’s not just big, it’s freakin’ huge! The passage explains:

“Of course, to call games as vastly ambitious as Vice City or San Andreas mere ‘expansion packs’ seems childish, but nevertheless, the downloadable content (DLC) coming for the Xbox 360 version of IV has repositioned those games in just this way. DLC so far has meant the odd new car, jumper of bit of horse armour, but GTA IV is set to completely redefine the idea with expansions that are to GTA IV what Vice City or San Andreas were GTA III. Yes, Rockstar is clearly hinting at new downloadable cities; and the chances of them being London, Vice City or SA again are slim to none. So that’s new as in brand new. GTA IV’s Liberty City is the beginning. Think about that and be excited.”

That’s right. They’re saying the DLC will include whole new cities that will be comparable to the entire scope of the past games. Of course, this could all just be some incredible exagerration — the magazine is put largely sponsored by Microsoft, after all — but I’m hoping this rumor turns out to be true.

Via Gamervision

Harmonix has revealed additional Rock Band tracks for the Wii which PS3 and Xbox 360 users have already been privy to, thanks to DLC - so while this is technically no big deal, it is for the Wii crowd. This bonus content will come included with the game.

• “Dirty Little Secret” - The All American Rejects
• “Don’t Look Back in Anger” - Oasis
• “Roam” - The B-52’s
• “Rockaway Beach” - The Ramones
• “Roxanne” - The Police

Rock Band for the Wii is expected to hit retail sometime around June 22nd.

Some people believe time is cyclical, and I’m starting to buy into that with all the bands from even before my time suddenly getting a revival out of nowhere. Last week we heard that Def Leppard was planning to premiere a new song as DLC for Guitar Hero III. Now Motley Crue — who is more famous these days for having a drummer who married Pamela Anderson than their actual music — have apparently made a new track that they plan to debut as DLC for Rock Band. The song, titled “Saints of Los Angeles,” will be available on Xbox Live tomorrow for 80 MS points ($1) and will appear on the Playstation Store on Thursday. Break out the leapord print pants and cans of hair spray, people. If things keep going this way, we’ll be up our necks in glam rock all over again within a few months. We can only hope the apocalypse strikes before then.

Via ShackNews

Another week is upon us, and while we are all sitting around marking the days off our calenders for GTA IV, some other games are being released next week and they deserve to be mentioned just as much as any car-jacking, hooker humping, free for all video game on the market.

I have broken the lists down by Console, Handheld and PC. If any of these release dates change it is not my fault - blame the publisher not the messenger. This list also does not take into account any new DLC for the week,  just retail releases.

Nintendo DS: Cory in the House, High School Musical 2: Work It Out, MLB 2K8 Fantasy All Stars, Rhondo of Swords, Teenage Zombies

Nintendo Wii: Dream Pinball 3D, Emergency Mayhem, Okami, Summer Sports: Paradise Island

PC: Dancing with the Stars, Europa Universalis: Rome, Final Fantasy XI: Vana’Diel Collection 2008, Jack Keane and The Dokktor’s Island, Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis, The Sims 2: Double Deluxe, The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Design Stuff,
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Turok

PS2: Nothing

PS3: Gran Turismo 5: Prologue

PSP: Nada

Xbox 360: Zilch

Harmonix has revealed the next batch of downloadable content for Rock Band, giving you something to look forward to for next week. They’re taking a step back to the 80’s (and half a step back to the 70’s) with the new Classic Rock Track Pack, which will feature these three songs:

• “Call Me” by Blondie (master)
• “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd (master)
• “Message in Bottle” by the Police (master)

Ah, I loves me some classic rock. Rumor has it that the following week will bring Def Leppard tracks, so we’ll have to keep an eye out for that.

Via Rock Band Forums

The Def Leppard coming to Guitar Hero III/IV rumors are still ricocheting around the net. First there was Phil Collen announcing on Rockline that Def Leppard would have 3 songs in Guitar Hero 4, then the news that the Def Leppard tracks Collen mentioned were confirmed to not be part of Guitar Hero IV but featured as DLC for GHIII.

Today, word on the street is that on April 24th, DLC featuring Def Leppard’s newest single “Nine Lives” as well as “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph” will be available for download via XBL and PSN.

“Nine Lives” is the first single from the band’s newest CD “Songs From The Sparkle Lounge”. This is also the first time ever than a new single will debut via a video game before the actual CD is released.

Lead singer Joe Elliott had this to say about the band’s music being featured as DLC in GHIII: Legends of Rock:

“Being involved with Guitar Hero is very exciting for us and adds a whole new layer of appreciation. I know from personal experience how much more you get into the music by playing the game – which is why we were keen to explore this opportunity. Guitar Hero is extremely popular with all kinds of music heads, which includes a lot of our fans – and we think releasing “Nine Lives” this way first is just fantastic.”

The Def Leppard song pack will be available on the April 24th, the same day as the CD is released in North America. European gamers will get the same opportunity on May 8th.

Just imagine that awesome feeling coursing through your body when you first hear the opening riffs of “Photograph” coming through your television set. That will be well worth the irritation of a 50ft ethernet cord down running down the middle of my hallway for the dogs to trip over.