This Monday (September 25) at 6pm, Xbox Live members across Europe will get another chance to take down Alan Mealor and Chris Pickford of Bizarre Creations in what's being dubbed a 'Developer Showdown - gamers versus designers'.

The news comes hot on the heels of Microsoft's announcement of a new Premium pack bundle containing the game, and of course is part of Xbox Live free week which began yesterday.

If you want a slice of this developer smackdown, you need to be an Xbox Live member and send your name, age, location, email address and gamertag to [email protected]. If you're accepted you'll get an email with more details by Monday.

Now, you'd best get behind that PGR3 wheel and get practicing! ...

With TGS less than 24-hours away, a slew of assorted media is already beginning to shoot over from Japan, these new Lost Planet shots being among the first.

Originally announced for Xbox 360 last year, the snowy bug-blaster is finally approaching its Japanese December release, and you can tell Capcom has been doing some visual-polishing over the last 12 months.

Rather than strain our fingers telling you about the game, you can read our excellent preview by clicking here - or better still, head on to Xbox Live where you will find a fully-playable demo. Don't tell us we don't earn our wages.

Lost Planet is currently planned for European release in Q1 2007. We'll let you know how it turns out.

Screens Here ...

Metal Gear head honcho Hideo Kojima has revealed to Famitsu that new Metal Gear Solid 4 details will debut at TGS. No surprises there. However he also noted that a new trailer will feature our first look at the gameplay of the new stealth game. And one of the most interesting aspects is that you won't have to use stealth.

The Famitsu article, translated by IGN, quotes Kojima as saying that the game is no longer specifically about sneaking missions, with the gamer free to determine how they reach their set goal. So does this mean the end of our bandana-clad hero mincing about in a cardboard box?

Not necessarily, as Famitsu appears to have seen this new trailer, providing screenshots of Snake updating his stealth kit to include the new warzone chic of sneaking around in an oil drum. They also go into detail about his new Octocam, or 'Octopus Camoflage' which allows the aged soldier to change colour to blend into his environment. But combined with an improved CQC combat system and Snake's Metal Gear Mark II robot buddy capable of electrocuting enemies, it is clear that combat will indeed be opened up somewhat.

Those of you desperate to get your mitts on Snake's new game will have to be patient as Kojima also revealed in the article that the sneak-'em-up won't show its face until the latter part of 2007, as it still needs a solid year's development. ...

Ubisoft is "displeased" that a number of unannounced titles have been revealed on the internet, including new titles in the Far Cry and Splinter Cell series.

A 2 gigabyte file had been posted in a location accessible by the public, since removed, containing artwork, logos and screenshots for announced and unannounced titles, including a tech demo for Far Cry 2.

"We are clearly displeased that confidential information from Ubisoft has been distributed on the internet," said a representative for Ubisoft

"The publication of this type of information can only be harmful to the game development process and we will take all steps necessary to prevent this from happening in the future."

"We are still investigating the events that lead to this information leak and at this time have no further comment," said the representative.

This is the second high profile mistake to cause headaches at Ubisoft.

Back in March of this year, a release schedule appeared on a US consumer site revealing release dates for multiple titles, many of which hadn't been announced at the time, while also pointing towards a November release for Sony's PlayStation 3 console.

The full list of titles included in the archive are:

Assassins Creed

Far Cry 2

Far Cry PSP

Far Cry Wii

Lost

Naruto 360

Open Season

Prince of Persia 4

Rainbow 6: Vegas

Rocky PSP

Splinter Cell Conviction

Surf's Up

Star Wars PSP

Shaun White Snowboarding

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles GBA ...

Featuring a small amount of next-gen content, but largely based on the Gran Turismo HD demo shown at E3

Sony plans to launch a new Gran Turismo title on PlayStation 3 before the end of the year in Japan, but it will not be the next-generation sequel Gran Turismo 5.

Instead the company plans to release a smaller title split into two distinct modes, one of which will showcase the standard of content expected to make up GT5, due out in 2008.

The other, an online multiplayer element, will be more akin to the demo content seen at E3, which was based on PlayStation 2 title Gran Turismo 4, but presented in high-definition resolutions.

Speaking to Famitsu Weekly, creator Kazunori Yamauchi said that both elements would offer premium downloadable content - and in the "Classic" version's case, that would be the main way to play.

In other words, GT HD Classic will ship with virtually no content, and Japanese consumers will be expected to pay between 50 and 100 yen for each car they want, and between 200 and 500 yen per track.

GT HD Premium, meanwhile, will ship with two tracks and around 30 cars to begin with, although some 30 cars will also be available to buy.

Although the strategy has already met with sharp rebukes from several commentators, Sony has yet to comment on whether it will apply to Western releases for the titles.

The company has made it clear that it sees downloadable content as a serious revenue stream in the next generation, however, devoting a section of its E3 press conference to demonstrations of in-game interfaces for buying playable content.

And one of its proposed launch titles, karaoke-based game SingStar, will be based largely on the idea of buying and downloading new music to sing along to. ...

Two controllers and game for GBP 299

Microsoft has confirmed the release of a new Xbox 360 bundle, to hit UK retail shelves tomorrow.

As revealed by GamesIndustry.biz, the package consists of the Xbox 360 console, two wireless controllers and copy of Bizarre Creations’ Project Gotham Racing 3.

"Project Gotham Racing 3 is such a popular game and a great first title for the Xbox 360," commented Stephen McGill, head of console marketing at Microsoft UK.

"Not only can you experience the seriously impressive graphics for yourself but now we’re bundling this game with the console and an extra controller, so you can take on your friends too. This will make a lot of gamers in the UK happy this Christmas."

The new bundle will retail for GBP 299. ...

Annual updates promised of all major brands

Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision, has revealed that the company is "laser-focused" with the intension to exploit its franchises to drive growth over the next ten years.

He also highlighted the importance of becoming the leading publisher on the Xbox 360 and launching new intellectual property into the market.

"We have a huge competitive advantage owning and controlling some of the world's most valuable franchises in the videogame industry," said Kotick speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference.

Kotick revealed intentions of "taking those franchises that we own and control, annualising them, increasing their penetration and their interest to consumers every single year."

"Tony Hawk is an example of a franchise that we've managed to exploit, with over nine separate versions of the game," said Kotick.

"This year will be no exception as we launch Tony Hawk's Project 8 to an older demographic, and for the first time we'll be launching a product - Downhill Jam - which will be orientated towards the six to eleven year-old consumer."

As Activision continues to challenge the annual franchise market dominated by EA, Kotick also highlighted the company's success in establishing a strong early presence on the next-generation, with Call of Duty 2 for Xbox 360.

"Most importantly, for the first time we are the leading publisher on the next-generation consoles," he said

"We had the number one Xbox 360 title on launch and we continue to have one of the top-selling titles - it's the number one attach rate product on the Xbox 360. So we've had great success early on in launching new products for the next-generation."

New properties that the company intends to exploit include recent signings Transformers and James Bond, the latter of which holds stronger international appeal than it does in the US.

"We have developed a real expertise in taking proven franchises, particularly those that are tied to movie launches, and making sure that we get the maximum benefit from the movie launch. These will be no exception," said Kotick.

Following the news that hit music game Guitar Hero will be make the leap to other formats, Kotick revealed possible plans to exploit opportunities including music downloads, to take advantage of a growing genre.

"The music genre is growing very quickly. Guitar Hero is a great IP. The long term opportunities here include all sorts of product extensions - music downloads that are very high-margin opportunities - and you can expect next calendar year, launches of Guitar Hero on every significant new format."

"This is an exciting product that we believe offers a lot of opportunities for margin expansion," he added. "We now have the best record of introducing new intellectual property of any company in the videogame industry." ...

Via Playfrance we have 5 great looking screenshots of the new Star Wars game to hit the PSP Soon.

Screenshots Via Comments ...

Supposedly this is a screenshot of the PSP GPS in action.



Doesnt really float my boat does that pic, what do you all think ? ...