Skyrim's Hearthfire DLC Launches September 4th, Details Within

Earlier this month Bethesda filed a trademark for an upcoming Skyrim DLC, Hearthfire, and a supposed leak suggested that the DLC will revolve around home-making. It was confirmed today that this is in fact the purpose of the DLC. The description reads:

First Impressions Are Everything, Make Your Announcements Count

The internet erupted in a fiery explosion of hate this morning, all of it directed at game developers Square Enix. What did they do to deserve this hatred? They announced an iOS port of a much loved game. ‘Wait, what?’ you think, ‘that’s it?’ Well, there’s certainly a lot more to it than that.

The World Ends With You Countdown Was an iOS Port After All (Gameplay Footage Inside)

Square Enix had a teaser site counting down to something related to their hit DS game 'The World Ends With You'. It was leaked that TWEWY would be ported to iOS, and it was assumed that this is what the reveal would be. However, the game's translator tweeted that people should wait until the countdown is actually over first. The way they worded their tweet had me cautious, it sounded more like there'd be more details on the port rather than details on something new. Unfortunately, as the countdown came to an end this morning, it turned out that this was in fact the truth. The launch trailer for the port is below. Update: Commenting on the trailer on Youtube has been disabled, I take that as Square Enix knowing people were going to be... 'disappointed' by this news, which I personally find hilarious.

Yet More GTAV Screenshots, More On The Way

In addition to the other 6 screenshots posted in the past few days, Rockstar Games have posted the last four Grand Theft Auto V screenshots for this week, promising more in the next few weeks. These screenshots appear to show crimes and side jobs in the game, including the crop duster shown previously, a rifle with a laser scope and some sort of garbage disposal/freighting business.

New GTA V Screenshots Showcase Leisure Activities

Rockstar have just updated their site with three gorgeous new screenshots of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto V, which show off some leisure activities which players can presumably partake in in the game. These activities being dirt biking, tennis and parachuting.

Bethesda Files 'Hearthfire' Trademarks for Skyrim DLC

Bethesda has filed a trademark for a new Skyrim DLC, titled 'Hearthfire', along with the description "Computer game software for use with computers and video game consoles; downloadable computer game software offered via the internet and wireless devices." This is consistent with a supposed 'leak' from Redditor derptemp6698 who correctly leaked details of some of Mass Effect 3 DLCs. The description he gave for the pack was as follows:

Darksiders II Review

IMPORTANT: A run-down of how my reviews work:
http://marioboneyard.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-overview.html

The much hyped sequel to THQ's cult classic Darksiders is finally here. Does it bring Death to a franchise, or sow seeds of life for its future? And will these review descriptions continue to have awful puns and rhetorical questions? Josh answers one of these questions in this review, you'll never guess which one it is.

Secret Games to Be Announced for EB Games Expo?

I was one of a few people who thought there were some games suspiciously missing from the games announced for the EB Games Expo a week or so ago. I thought The Last of Us and Watch Dogs may have made an appearance, but wasn't too shocked when they weren't on the list. However, I was really surprised at the total lack of Wii U games. With the console coming out before the end of the year, you'd think Nintendo would be wanting it to get as much attention as possible.

More Mass Effect 3 DLC Leaks

A few months back, details on Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC were leaked, including a script. It was revealed that a rogue reaper named Leviathan could be recruited in the fight against the Reapers, and used as war assets, which made me think it could somehow affect the ending. Turns out it will in a way, as it will add more dialogue in the game's ending sequence. Eurogamer found discussion on the Bioware forums about new script leaks, which divulge some more dialogue added into the game's final sections. So as to not ruin the experience for people I won't be posting details of the leak, you can read them for yourselves if desired at the linked pages (though you may want to stop reading after the trailer, there's some potential spoilers there).

A trailer for the Leviathan DLC can be seen below

Also, in the new Firefight weapon pack DLC for the game, a list of unreleased weapon mods seems to suggest future DLC will involve a return to Omega from Mass Effect 2, due to the locations the mods are assigned to use the same location code as Omega assets in Mass Effect 2. Combined with the fact there's cut dialogue in the game suggesting at a re-take Omega mission of sorts, this seems rather likely.

Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC will release later this year.

Resident Evil 6 No Hope Left Edition Announced

The No Hope Left Edition of Resident Evil 6 has been announced, and is exclusive to EB Games. This special edition of the game is exclusive to Australia and New Zealand so ANZ Resident Evil fans won't want to miss this deal. You'll be sure to REgret it *sitcom laughter*. The name is in reference to the game's tagline of sorts, which is also used in its quite literally viral advertising.

Final Darksiders II Pre-Release Trailer

With about a week until its US release, THQ have given us the final pre-release gameplay trailer for Darksiders II. Its narrated by Death, giving insight into his quest, and shows off some more boss fights, and a rideable golem-like creature.

Editable Gun Rotations May Be Coming to Battlefield 3's Gun Master Mode

Daniel Matros, Global Community Manager at DICE, posted on Twitter today that DICE are looking into giving admins of Battlefield 3 server some control over the guns used in the Gun Master mode introduced with the Close Quarters DLC for the game released earlier this year. This is by no means confirmed, but I'll keep you posted.

LittleBig Planet Karting Launches November 6th, Pre-Order Bonuses Announced

The Playstation Blog has updated and revealed the US release date for LittleBig Planet Karting to be Tuesday November 6th. The European blog also updated with the European release date (November 7th) and the UK/Ireland release date (November 9th). No Australian release date though :'( This news was announced alongside an Olympic-spoofing trailer, showing off the varied levels the game offers.

DayZ Stand-Alone Being Developed By Bohemia Interactive

Dean 'Rocket' Hall, creator of the DayZ mod for Arma II just confirmed over Twitter and Tumblr that the stand-alone version is on its way, and being developed by Bohemia Interactive (the developers of Arma II) with him taking the role of project lead. 'This is the fairy-tale outcome for a mod that many would have said impossible four months ago' says Hall.

What Do You Want to Know About Darksiders II?

So, thanks to the lovely people at THQ Australia, I'll be getting my hands on a review copy of Darksiders II later this week. While I'm under embargo on coverage until the 15th of August (Aussie time), I'll be running a Let's Play of the game, and writing/recording a review which will be going up around that time. Now that's where you guys come in!

Who, me?

Um... sure, I guess. But I want to know which features of the game you want me to go into detail about. Do you want to know what the RPG elements are like? Do you want to know about Death's acrobatic abilities? Do you want to know more about the different areas of the world?

I want to know what love is! I want you to show me!

Oh, Death *sitcom laughter* Anyways, either comment here or tweet me @Mario__Bones and let me know what you want me to focus on in my review and Let's Play. Of course, I'm aiming to have my review be as in-depth as possible, but if there's areas you want me to focus on in more detail, let me know. And for my Let's Play, let me know whether you want me to scour the world for secrets and collectibles or just stick to the main storyline.

There's all kinds of skills and weapons to unlock and use, and they can't all be obtained in one playthrough!

If I get enough questions I might even have a Q&A post here answering as many as I can, so feel free to ask me whatever you like. This will be my first big, official review, and I'm really looking forward to it! Here's some more screenshots to tide you over until the 15th ;)

Death faces off against a Scarab Hulk in the Online 'Crucible' mode

It's a little known fact that Death actually mentored Darth Vader

Death uses his mask to cheat at staring contests

The Maker's Realm was the setting of my hands-on preview of the game #SelfPlug

I love me a huge boss battle

This screenshot's filename has 'Boss Rush' in it. Interesting...

Darksiders II releases 16th of August in Australia, and on the 14th in USA, so my coverage will be out around the time of the US release if my knowledge of time zones is correct.

Could This Be Real Wii U Game Box Art?

NeoGaf member Hero of Legend has pointed out that amazon.ca is showing what seems to be the actual box art for a few Wii U games, including Assassin's Creed 3, Avengers: Battle For Earth and Just Dance 4. The box art is shown below.