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Darksiders 2 gets pre-order bonuses and a live-action trailer
THQ sent us this Darksiders 2 live-action trailer, which does indeed feature Scottish actor James "Lord Mormont, Commander of the Night's Watch" Cosmo. He also plays a role in the game as Death's guide. The pre-order bonuses for Darksiders 2 have also been laid out: Putting down money ahead of time for the Limited Edition will earn you a Season Pass, with two pieces of DLC content for free, as well as a new set of in-game armor. The first piece of DLC is called "Argul's Tomb" and is scheduled to hit a month after the game's release on August 14, and both bits of DLC will include "significant new single player content" to play through. Anyone who preorders the game on THQ's official website will get one more armor and weapon set called the Maker's Armor.
Metro: Last Light live-action trailer counts down to armageddon
In Metro 2033, we saw the effects of nuclear war 20 years out. In Metro: Last Light's latest trailer, we see that world ending, missiles and all. We'll thankfully have lots of time to prepare for the apocalypse given the game's recent delay into 2013.
Metal Gear Rising or Clockwork Orange: You decide!
There's a possibility that Raiden is sitting in the doctor's seat just above, like a good little droog, or it could be Clockwork Orange's Alex getting a reprogramming. We can't be sure, but it sure does seem like whoever it is isn't having a very good time. Perhaps it's time for Revengeance?
Halo 4 heading 'Forward Unto Dawn' with new live-action web series [update: teaser image]
It wouldn't be a Halo launch without a tremendous media campaign, and Halo 4 looks to be no different. The weeks leading up to the Master Chief's return this November will be filled with a new web series entitled "Forward Unto Dawn," according to Variety. Representing Microsoft's "largest investment" in live-action ever, the series will be shown on Machinima and Halo Waypoint.Details around the series still lie dormant – perhaps buried in a Forerunner facility – with Microsoft aiming to shed more light on the project at the San Diego Comic-Con this July. Using our own pervasive powers of prognostication, we're going to predict that Spartans figure into the series somehow.Update: Microsoft has passed along an image to promote the series and, sure enough, it looks like the Chief will be making an appearance. Check out the full image in the gallery below.%Gallery-154354%
Mortal Kombat Vita ad brings Mileena to the middle of the desert, leaves her there
What is Mortal Kombat's Mileena doing way out in the middle of the desert? She's totally ... walking around and stuff, stepping on railroad tracks and brandishing her signature sais. Presumably she's getting ready for her upcoming appearance in MK Vita? Perhaps! We just can't be sure.
Live-action Prototype 2 commercial sets a soothingly violent tone
The above commercial for Prototype 2 features a live-action free-fall from the top of a skyscraper, heartstring tugs, infected citizens and two dudes with mutated, menacing arm gadgets. The coolest part? Johnny Cash covering Trent Reznor's "Hurt."
Cower in terror or stand tall against Skyrim's totally real dragon
We read about "infinite" dragons, and we think it's more than enough. But Bethesda says, "Let's go get one more dragon to promote our upcoming game, Skyrim! And let's make it a real one."
Half-Life fan film 'Escape From City 17' concludes
It's been a few years since we last heard from the Purchase brothers, co-creators of the "Escape From City 17" live-action short. The duo makes the wait worth our while, however, with this thrice-as-long sequel to their original 2009 Half-Life fan film.
Team Fortress 2: Sentry Sabotage! short would make an excellent TV show
After watching this short, we're not only convinced that a live-action Team Fortress 2 can be done well, we also adamantly want it to happen. Like, bad. Hey AMC, you're taking a lot of risks these days, how 'bout adding another original series to the pile? [Thanks, Micah!]
Mortal Kombat web series to debut on April 12
With under two weeks left until the official launch of the new Mortal Kombat, the game's companion live-action web series has been given a premiere date: April 12. According to Hadoken.net, the first episode will be available via Machinima at 4PM PST, following a live stream event. Select actors from the series and show director Kevin Tancharoen will play Mortal Kombat during the stream, and then introduce the episode. We're waiting to hear back from Warner Bros. about the scheduling of the next eight episodes, but we imagine you'll see more around the game's April 19 launch day. For now, we've got the image of two ladies from the film fighting just above. It's the least we could do.
Killzone live-action short overacts the Helghan war's origins
Not since Command & Conquer's Kane have we seen overacting of such brilliance as that exhibited in the new Killzone origin story clip. Two friends, one ISA and one Helghan, have their friendship torn asunder ... in the name of war. Check it out after the break.
Jeri Ryan, Michael Jai White reprise 'Rebirth' roles in Mortal Kombat live-action series
Warner Bros. today confirmed the initial casting for the Mortal Kombat live-action digital series, which began shooting in Vancouver this month. Both Jeri Ryan (who spilled the beans last week on Twitter) and Michael Jai White will reprise their roles as Sonya Blade and Jax, respectively, from last year's "unofficial fan short" Mortal Kombat: Rebirth -- which was actually a totally professional pitch for a reimagined MK film, made by director Kevin Tancharoen. (While he didn't land the movie deal, Tancharoen did secure a gig directing, producing and co-writing the upcoming digital shorts.) Joining the duo of do-gooders will be Kano, played by Darren Shahlavi, who voiced one of the Tier 1 Operators in Medal of Honor and was an uncredited "Persian" in 300 -- so, obviously, dude knows how to fight. Surely, punches will be thrown and blood will be spilled as Tancharoen and cast resolve this storied love triangle in a hurry. The Mortal Kombat digital series is expected to span nine short episodes and will also feature Scorpion, Sub-Zero and additional characters from the game's universe. The shorts will be "available online" this spring, in conjunction with the April 19 release of the new Mortal Kombat game. "BTW, just finished reading the whole script for Mortal Kombat," Ryan recently tweeted. "Holy crap... I think u might just love it." [Pictured: Ryan (right) and Jai White in Mortal Kombat: Rebirth test footage]
Warner confirms live-action Mortal Kombat digital series by 'Rebirth' director, coming this spring
Last summer's "unofficial" Mortal Kombat: Rebirth test footage has landed its director, Kevin Tancharoen, a job with Warner Bros. While Rebirth won't become a full-length feature film (you can't kill off Johnny Cage like that!), Warner apparently saw something in the imaginative re-imagination of its new aging fighting game franchise. As reported earlier this month, Tancharoen will helm a series of live-action Mortal Kombat digital shorts, which will be released in conjunction with the new game (launching April 19) "this spring through online digital retailers." Does that mean we have to pay for them? Warner teased that the digital series, to commence (crunch time) filming in Vancouver early next month, will provide "never-before-revealed insights" into the characters from the new game and its "universe," including Liu Kang and, of course, the beloved Johnny Cage (you see, Tancharoen?). The company will reveal further details shortly, including casting (and, hopefully, the fact that these webisodes will be totally, 100 percent free -- right Warner?). It's been reported that Michael Jai White will reprise his Rebirth role as Jax. [Pictured: Scorpion from MK: Rebirth test footage; full video after the break]
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit trailers offer cheeky tips and tricks
What's all this, then? You'd fancy a five minute clip of British actors portraying the events of a Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit race? Brilliant, as EA's just sent one over! Perhaps you don't have a full five to sit around? A more condensed vid is available as well, both found after the break. Spot on!
Halo: Reach 'Deliver Hope' live-action short released in full
Soul-stirring music? Check! Gigantic battles and fancy special effects? Check check! That's right, folks -- it's another Halo: Reach live-action short. This time, the original "Deliver Hope" video is extended to over two minutes of apocalyptic action.
Halo: Reach delivers hope in new live-action short
SCENE Two pals catch the new Halo: Reach ad "Deliver Hope" on CBS, NBC, FOX, MTV, Spike TV, Comedy Central, SyFy, ESPN, F/X, TNT, TBS, Discovery Channel, G4 or another network. One is a gamer; the other clearly not ... NOT (surprised) Wow! Was that an ad for a video game...? GAMER (confidently) Uh-huh. The new Halo. NOT The graphics look incredible! Man, these games really are starting to look real. GAMER (angrily) That wasn't the game. It was a live-action short by the guy who directed that Smart People movie -- and a buncha other like famous people who helped out. NOT Oh. That sounds expensive.
Bright Falls director Phillip Van explains how to create a fictional town
Since last week's release of the first two episodes of "Bright Falls," the six-part prequel to Alan Wake, we've been feverishly wondering how a live action video game tie-in could be so ... non-abysmal. To find the cause of this phenomenon, we went straight to the source: the series' co-writer and director, Phillip Van. Check out our interview with Van just past the jump to learn about the thematic inspirations and environmental tribulations that went into the creation of "Bright Falls."
Live-action Alan Wake prequel premieres on Xbox Live April 25
If Alan Wake's TV show-like presentation isn't, well, enough like a TV show for you, here's some good news: next week, the first episode in a six-part live-action Alan Wake series will be available on Xbox Live. Bright Falls, shot on location in Oregon, acts as a prequel to the events in the game -- which hopefully means that at least some weirdness was taking place in the game's location before the arrival of Mr. Wake. Otherwise, we'll be watching six episodes about a really pleasant town. Allaying the concern we just expressed, Microsoft promises that the series "evokes the same ghostly chills as 'Twin Peaks' did when it premiered 20 years ago this month." The first two episodes will be available for Xbox Live Gold members on April 25, for everyone else on Xbox Live on April 26, and on brightfalls.com on April 27, with one new episode releasing each week until May 17's two-part finale. That date happens to be one day before the Xbox 360 game's release date, at which point you'll get to see the rest of the story in the game -- and the short story included with the collector's edition.
The Army of Two infiltrates GameStop
Army of Two: The 40th Day's Salem and Rios are no strangers to the modern world. Sure, they may have acted a bit ... out of place during previous visits to EA Montreal and EA Headquarters, but that doesn't mean they're not fit for retail life. Take, for instance, the video above of the two trying their best to lend a hand to the fine folks at GameStop. They might be a bit rough around the edges, but that doesn't mean that they didn't get the most magazine upsells for the month of December (they did!) or that they aren't capable of re-alphabetizing the used PS2 section six or seven hundred times a day (they are!). Give them a chance, folks. Under the inhuman terror mask and bullet-proof chest padding beats the heart of a human being. %Gallery-47821%
Joystiq watches the Halo 3 ODST live action commercial (and so can you!)
Sometimes, we want to show you the behind-the-scenes action at Joystiq HQ. Here are a few excerpts from when we first uncovered the live-action Halo 3 ODST commercial: JC Fletcher: "Wow, glad I'm not in the ODST" Andrew Yoon: "Holy **** @ ODST" Randy Nelson "Awesome" You too can marvel in its splendor after the break. And when you do, you're likely to agree with Ludwig Kietzmann: "Where's mah Halo moviez?" [Thanks, Zach!]
