Borderlands 2 definitely fits into that second category and for those of you who are itching to get your mitts on something – anything! – to do with Gearbox’s co-op shooter, this will certainly brighten up your day. Ok, so you can’t actually physically have any of this stuff yet but just being able to read about it might tide you over a bit better until Borderlands 2 hits the planet in September this year.

In a press release statement, 2K Games and Gearbox announced two special editions of the game for fans to freak out over and they’re looking pretty awesome. First up is the Deluxe Vault Hunter’s Collector’s Edition which includes the following items:

• A copy of Borderlands 2
• An authentic Marcus Kincaid bobblehead
• Inside the Vault: The Art & Design of Borderlands 2 hardbound book
• Collectable sticker set
• A map of Pandora
• A digital comic download code
• Bonus downloadable in-game digital content

The alternative to this, if you have the cash and the burning desire for more stuff, is the Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition which includes all of the above items plus the following:

• Cloth map of Pandora
• Replica red loot chest as found throughout Pandora in Borderlands 2
• Steel book case
• “Creatures of Pandora” wide-format ID chart
• Lithograph postcard set
• Field notes from Sir Hammerlock
• A numbered certificate of authenticity
• Vending machine bobblehead box

So between now and September all you have to decide is which one you’re going to go for. The Deluxe edition will set you back about £63, give or take, and the Loot edition will cost you around £94. Both look like rather attractive options but even if you choose not to splurge this time around, you can still get something from pre-ordering regardless of whether you go for the standard or collector’s editions. Everyone who pre-orders from participating retailers will get access to the Borderlands 2 Premiere Club. This means they can download the Gearbox Gun Pack, Golden Key, Vault Hunter’s Relic and the Mechromancer character class when the game’s out. Roll on September!

Supposedly leaked screenshots ahoy:

Via All Games Beta, BethBlog and Elder Scrolls Online

System requirements

A trio of new screenshots have also dived their way into the spotlight:

Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli had this to say of the upcoming sci-fi shooter:

“Crysis 3 is a thrilling mix of sandbox gameplay, advanced combat and hi-tech human and alien weaponry that shooter fans will love. Leveraging the latest CryENGINE technology, we’re able to deliver seven unique themes that offer stunning and visually loaded gameplay experiences. We cannot wait until people get their hands on the game.”

Details surrounding the game’s many premium editions have also been generously divulged by the company:

Stalker Pack: Includes the base game, all Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: for players who like to stalk their prey from the shadows the Stalker Pack provides early multiplayer access to the deadly semi-auto Jackal shotgun. This powerful, close-range shotgun comes with a unique silencer attachment, custom weapon skin and two exclusive themed in-game dog tags.

Overkill Pack: Includes the base game, all Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: the Overkill Pack features early multiplayer access to the Typhoon assault weapon and skin. Spewing 500 rounds a second, the Typhoon gives players the ability to go guns blazing to take back the Liberty Dome. Also included are two exclusive Overkill themed in-game dog tags.

Predator Pack: Includes the base game, all the Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: the Predator Pack delivers early multiplayer access to the Feline submachine gun and exclusive camo. With an extremely fast rate of fire and a 60 round magazine the Feline is highly effective and deadly, at short range.

A digital version of the Crysis 3: Limited Edition — we can’t for the life of us understand how it could be considered a “limited edition” when it’s in a digital format — is available to pre-order from Origin right now. The original Crysis was terrific when played on a PC, as was the Crysis Warhead expansion pack, but the console-orientated sequel left much to be desired for many a PC gamer. Here’s to hoping that Crytek can churn out something quite fanciable that will appeal to both sides of the gaming-platform fence. A modding toolkit / SDK would be a great start, Crytek.

Since then, the super sleuths of Reddit have been able to uncover a number of screenshots of the game taken during an early prototype stage. The images, which haven’t as-yet been officially unveiled, demonstrate the new engine currently in place, with superior lighting and 3D modelling being employed for Persson’s follow-up game:

The Teeth of Naros DLC is due to hit Steam and Origin on April 17th, with pricing hovering around the $10/£7 mark.

Saucy screenshots aside, word has been put out that the PC version of Max Payne 3 will very much take advantage of that most desirable of DirectX versions: DirectX 11, according to PC Gamer.

Max Payne 3 is due for release on the PC platform in late-May, early-June.

Assassin’s Creed III is due out on October 30, 2012 in North America.

Dishonored is due out in Summer 2012.

The Battlefield 3: Close Quarters expansion pack is due to hit the Origin Store in June.

The folks over at Gaming Bolt have been able to unearth a plethora of golden informational nuggets, too; revealing a multitude of new features due to make an appearance in the upcoming sneaky sequel. Without wishing to spoil a tremendous amount, we can at least look forward an entirely new gaming engine powering everything, as well as an advanced camera system which will supposedly position itself for optimal strategic opportunities, and a dynamic, season-based weather system. The newest assassin and lead playable protagonist goes by the handle, “Connor”, but his Native American birth name is actually Ratohnhaké:ton. The game will take place in Boston, New York, and “a large countryside”.

Apparently, we’ll see Desmond getting comfy in the brand new and upgraded ‘Animus 3.0′ contraption, too. Nice.

Via Reddit

Rockstar are really trying to hammer home the notion that they’re paying close attention to the delicate needs of the PC gaming crowd, and I, for one, am really digging the level of visual fidelity present on that shirt; you can almost smell the palm trees.

Via Rockstar Games

Leaving no doubt as to just who is in charge in any given situation, Max explodes into action in almost every shot shown below, armed to the teeth and taking no prisoners. If these five little tasters are anything to go by then fans can expect some fantastic movie-style action when Max Payne 3 bursts onto PC at the end of May this year.

Resident Evil 6 is due to release on consoles in November of this year, with a PC release due to arrive shortly after.

It looks very pretty (I’m a girl so I can say that) and gameplay, from the diary at least, appears nice and smooth. I’m also liking the options they are putting into the game in terms of how to approach each scenario. Should you run in guns blazing? Or should you sneak up on your enemy and get the job done without anyone noticing you’re there? In some situations, it looks like being gung-ho will cost you your life (not literally, of course, but still pretty frustrating I should imagine); perhaps it’s not just a case of talking up their own game when Rebellion made that opening statement above.

Whether you were a fan of the first game and are super excited or new to the whole thing and super excited, watch the dev diary below and also take a look at the lovely screenshots available. Release date to be announced.

Screenshots below.

Max Payne 3 is due to dive through the air, guns a-blazing, into our hard drives at some point this year.

Check out the screenshots below to learn of how Agent 47 deals out penance to criminals in his globe-spanning confessional.

Things a bit less hazy? You’re probably about at my level, then. Here’s what I know: play the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning demo when it release on January 17th and you’ll unlock two bonus items in Mass Effect 3: the Reckoner Knight Armor and the Chakram Launcher weapon. Then try the Mass Effect 3 demo — which is also due to hit the ‘net at some point this month — and you’ll be treated to two extra items in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning: an N7-themed suit of armour and a pair of omniblade daggers attached to your in-game avatar’s wrists. Nice.

Update: Here be a promotional video to better demonstrate the sexiness of all this bonus gear:

I’ll be honest: we’re not huge fans of in-game content being locked away, only to be made available to customers whom aer able to cough up that little bit extra for the fancy, extra-costly versions of the game. When you can’t offer up something substantial and worthy of the inflated price, the answer is not to cut assets from the game in a bid to give it back as part of the premium edition as content padding. I, for one, will be keeping my fingers crossed that this allegedly-official leaked information isn’t entirely accurate, and that we’ll be treated to something a little less cheeky.

Provided you can tear yourself away from the game’s — fingers crossed — brilliant single-player mode, you’ll likely be wanting to put your new-found expertise of “diving through the air in slow-mo” Bullet Time handling to the test online. Pre-ordering Max Payne 3 from GAME will score you a bonus “Cemetery” map, a map that you’ll be able to enjoy with a bunch of other people whom will have pre-ordered from the same vendor. Of course, we’re hoping that there’ll be more than a few gamers taking advantage of this offer; there’d be something of a humorous irony to a multiplayer map based around a graveyard that isn’t exactly brimming with multiplayer life. The map will be opened up to all later on, though, presumably as premium DLC.

Go ahead and purchase the game, err, via GAME now to secure yourself a copy.

Keeping with the emulation theme, a company has stepped forward with the bold claim of having developed the “ultimate retro gaming adapter”. I’m inclined to that they might be right. In a nutshell: a peripheral has been developed which will allow you to slot in any of your old SNES or Mega Drive games and hook up the adorable little device into any one of your vacant USB slots. It’s almost like magic. Presumably, you won’t be wanting to return to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 or Super Mario World, or any of your old favourite games, clumsily slamming away at your keyboard as if it were a control pad meant for Andrew the Giant, would you? If not, then you’ll almost certainly be pleased to learn that the Retrode 2 supports up to two Mega Drive and a further two SNES controllers to be plugged into the unit simultaneously.

In order to avoid being approached by Sega and Nintendo’s lawyers, however, it must be noted that the Retrode 2 is not an actual console or hybrid of consoles. It’s a sort of messenger which serves to communicate and pass along information between your favourite emulator and the cartridges you have sticking out of the thing. Although, that would be a pretty rough, non-technical way of explaining its purpose. The inclusion of a cartridge slot means that you won’t need to head off and attempt to sniff out the correct ROM or ISO file via some shifty warez portal.

The Retrode 2 is due for release on January 24, 2011, but it is available to pre-order (Europe or North America) right now for $84.99. A bit of a sting, if you ask me, but I haven’t a clue as to what sort of hardware this cute little gadget has resting underneath its plastic exterior.

Via Joystiq and Retrode

* Note: my wife might have actually been the first one to call it, but I’m never one to turn away any undue credit.

Right — yes. These’ll be the screenshots you’ll have come here for: