The 3rd FREE update to Burnout Paradise, codenamed Cagney is now available in Japan and will be hitting the rest of Asia, North America and Europe tomorrow morning at the same time...that's:

9:00am GMT
1:00am Pacific Time (US)
4:00am Eastern Time (US)
10:00am BST (British Summer Time)
11:00am for the rest of Europe

Criterion look forward to seeing PS3 fans in Paradise City tomorrow, and trying out our 3 new online game modes, special calendar events, new cars, 70 multi-part, timed Freeburn Challenges and a wealth of improvements to the existing game.

Publisher Codemasters has released today the PS3 version of the Boxshot for Rise of the Argonauts

Playstation Blog writes: "These past seven months have really been busy for the PAIN team. In addition to releasing our updates we have been feverishly building the "better mousetrap." The DOWNTOWN area in PAIN was a huge success for everyone involved! I remember some of my first interviews where I had to explain PAIN to people who haven't played before. Let me tell you, that wasn't even remotely easy. Seven months later let me try that again …

PAIN is a game that picks up where other games leave off. In every other game when you are smacked so hard you fall down the game dusts you off, and makes you try again. When you get smacked so hard you fall down it's time to START playing PAIN! You've barely gotten warmed up!

Now you know how to OOCH. Your MONKEYS have been SPANKED. Your FUN WITH EXPLOSIVES skillz are legendary. And MIMES … they get weak in the knees when your PSN Name is whispered. You're quite the master of disaster.

DOWNTOWN … has so been destroyed.

Now it's time to hit The Amusement Park for some rest and relaxation right♠

WRONG! This Park needs to know your name."

Pro-gamers.fr published more scans of Killzone 2 in EGM Magazine.

As you know, the PLAYSTATION 3 version of Square Enix's The Last Remnant will come out sometime after the Xbox 360 version. In a new interview with Square Enix, GameSpy asked them why it is coming out on the Xbox 360 first.

"This is mainly for development reasons. We're developing the game using the middleware Unreal Engine, and the Unreal Engine has a slower development on the PS3 side. It was only really workable after Unreal Tournament was published, so this was mainly a development decision."

Well, there you have it: development issues. Either that or we can have another BioShock cover up on our hands

I don't mean to brag when I say that I had already played "Little Big Planet" a few times before trying out the malleable PlayStation 3 platformer again last week.

Instead, I mean to convince you that I had good reason to think I knew about the coolest stuff in the game. I'd run through levels. I had used the game's mighty content editor to create all sorts of wild costumes and level props.

And yet I was floored five times during my brief opportunity to play the game with "LBP" technical director Alex Evans. Here's what impressed me:

1) How Enemies Work — I kept hearing that each new "LBP" press demo would finally reveal the game's enemies. But in each demo — including the one I went through last week — they were not in there. I asked Evans about this; what he told me made me realize I had been expecting the wrong thing. The developers at Media Molecule aren't focusing on giving players pre-made enemies.

Instead, Evans said the game will ship with five or six artificial intelligence brains. He wouldn't tell me what the AI behaviors would be, but explained that a "LBP" user would be able to apply them to their creations in the game's editor. Whether or not the AI brains will drive your creations effectively depends on your designs. For example… did you put wheels on the giant attack-llama?

2) Gaming's Most Impressive Screenshot Tool — You can take in-game screenshots in "Little Big Planet." Hooray. You can then take those screenshots and apply them to objects. That's actually… promising. While using the game's content editor I made a few beams and struts. Then I hopped my character on top of them to pose for a screenshot. I took that shot and applied it as a sticker to one of the beams or struts. I had created an optical illusion, my character standing on top of a beam that looked like an image of him standing atop a beam. Think about how you could use this feature to mess with people: making solid walls look like empty space and fooling them to crash right into them.

3) How "LBP" Music Can Turn Levels Into Rhythm Games — "Little Big Planet" users can place sound objects in the levels they create. The object Evans showed me was a little speaker. We were able to attach it to a block that was resting at the beginning of a level we were making. You can assign music that will play from that speaker when a user's character walks past it. The music from that speaker can be set to play from any point in the track. I proposed an idea to Evans that he said was 100% do-able: I could line a level with speakers, one set up every few steps — and set them all to play the same song, but queued up from different parts. Doing this, I could make it so that if a player ran through my level at a certain pace, he or she would hear the song play perfectly. Running at the wrong pace would cause the player to hear the song play in a choppy fashion.

4) Just Add Water — The game features an impressive content editor. It integrates all its objects within a certain style of calculated physics. Objects teeter and roll with mathematical precision. But there's one element that's not in the game yet — liquids. I can't flood a level with water and watch how that affects everything I generated. Instant non-purchase? No way. Evans told me liquids are possible: "If people want that, we can do it."

5) The Gifts That You Can Give — Not only can you use "Little Big Planet" to create any imaginable gaming object that would fit in a 2D playing field, but you can also make the blueprints for any such object. Those blueprints — really, the object itself — can be uploaded to other gamers. Better than that: you can make the blueprints a collectible item in the levels you create. Better still: you can associate such objects with leaderboard requirements. So I can challenge the world to score a certain number of points in a level I've made and then automatically reward anyone who achieves that mark with a trophy object that I made myself. I wonder what I could force people to receive if they play my level poorly…

Looking to spend some quality time with Bad Company? You're in luck - the folks over at DICE have revealed that a demo of their highly-destructible First Person Shooter, Battlefield: Bad Company, will be arriving on PSN June 5. The cohesive demo is set to include the following:

Single player:
-Get an early look into the quest for Gold with Bad Company

Multiplayer:
-Play the all-new Gold Rush mode on the Oasis map, featuring land, sea and air vehicles
-Reach rank 4 in the demo to unlock an exclusive in-game weapon

If you've been able to overlook the whole downloadable weapon debacle and you're entirely sure you want the game, feel free to pre-order and receive early access to the demo on May 29. Other pre-order goodies include a keychain and an in-game sniper rifle (can be unlocked regularly, but those who pre-order will have it from the get-go). Prepare to battle with Bad Company on June 23.

Below is a video showing the Metal Gear Online beta in action. Hopefully Konami will soon have their server issues fixed and we can see more action from the game.

Konami have announced changes to the dates of the Metal Gear Online Beta for Europe and the US. For the US: 1) Start date: Planned for 04/25/2008 24:00(PDT). While the start is planned for the weekend, it may change due to unforseen circumstances. 2) Beta Test closure: This will now be on 05/11/2008 at 24:00(PDT) rather than 05/05/2008 at 24:00(PDT) For Europe: 1) Suspend beta test: As of 25/04/2008 08:00(CEST) 2) Planned for 04/25/2008 24:00(PDT). While the start is planned for the weekend, it may change due to unforseen circumstances. 3) Beta Test closure: This will now be on 11/05/2008 at 24:00(CEST) rather than 06/05/2008 at 24:00(CEST). (Thanks Litus!)

Quote:
US:

IMPORTANT NOTICE for all
METAL GEAR ONLINE PREMIERE BETA players

We would like to thank all players for their keen interest in taking part in the beta test.
However, we regret to inform you that due to extraordinary levels of traffic from all around the globe, we have been unable to run the service to the level we expected.
As a temporary measure, we will be deferring the European public beta test and start it once we stabilize our server.
We would like to apologize for all inconveniences as well as confusion caused.

We would like to add that due to the above reasons, we will be making the following changes to the schedule:
1) Start date: Planned for 04/25/2008 24:00(PDT). While the start is planned for the weekend, it may change due to unforseen circumstances.
3) Beta Test closure: This will now be on 05/11/2008 at 24:00(PDT) rather than 05/05/2008 at 24:00(PDT)

IMPORTANT: Please note that your voucher code will only be valid up until 05/05/2008, so please make sure to register them by then.
Quote:
EUROPE:

IMPORTANT NOTICE for all
METAL GEAR ONLINE PREMIERE BETA players

We would like to thank all players for their keen interest in taking part in the beta test.
However, we regret to inform you that due to extraordinary levels of traffic from all around the globe, we have been unable to run the service to the level we expected.
As a temporary measure, we will be suspending the European public beta test and restart it once we stabilize our server.
We would like to apologize for all inconveniences as well as confusion caused.

We would like to add that due to the above reasons, we will be making the following changes to the schedule:
1) Suspend beta test: As of 25/04/2008 08:00(CEST)
2) Planned for 04/25/2008 24:00(PDT). While the start is planned for the weekend, it may change due to unforseen circumstances.
3) Beta Test closure: This will now be on 11/05/2008 at 24:00(CEST) rather than 06/05/2008 at 24:00(CEST)

Well, we haven't even been able to login and try out the Metal Gear Online beta yet and Konami is already delaying the release in Europe and America. Originally planned as a worldwide release, the Metal Gear Online beta is now only available in Japan.

According to the official Japanese website, Konami has delayed the release of the beta in all regions outside of Japan until they are able to stabilize the servers to reach demand in the land of the rising sun. After they are able to control the user demand in Japan, they will open the beta to other outside regions. Unfortunately for us, there is no set date as to when this will occur.

If there is any good news coming out of this delay, it appears that Konami will be increasing the beta period for an additional 5 days. What was once originally planned to last until May 6 will now close on May 11.

IMPORTANT NOTICE for all
METAL GEAR ONLINE PREMIERE BETA players

We would like to thank all players for their keen interest in taking part in the beta test. However, we regret to inform you that due to extraordinary levels of traffic from all around the globe, we have been unable to run the service to the level we expected. As a temporary measure, we will be deferring the start of the US public beta test until we are able to stabilize our server.

We would like to apologize for all inconveniences as well as confusion caused. We would like to add that due to the above reasons, we will be making the following changes to the schedule:

1) Starting date: TBA. We will be making another announcement on 22/4/2008 23:00(PDT)
2) Beta Test closure: This will now be on 11/05/2008 at 24:00(PDT) rather than 06/05/2008 at 24:00(PDT)

IMPORTANT: Please note that your voucher code will only be valid up until 05/06/2008, so please make sure to register them by then.

Looks like Kojima Jr. isn't the only one disappointed with Metal Gear Solid. The latest issue of the UK's Edge magazine contains an interview with Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, who expresses disappointment with the latest game in the series, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It isn't so much the gameplay itself as it is the graphics.

"Game-wise, it's pretty close to the original vision: you sneak into the battlefield and can choose whether to do a stealth game or interfere with the battle more directly. But the graphic, side things like motion-blending and the size of the map, totally was not accomplished to my original vision - to my satisfaction.

Now Kojima is a well-known perfectionist, but it is a bit disturbing to see him voice his dissatisfaction with what is supposed to be the masterpiece of the franchise. So where does he lay the blame for not fully realizing his vision?

"When we first showed the game engine at TGS, the staff were really proud and happy. PS3 was a dream machine, y'know, and we were going to work on this and that - and we had so many ideas. But when we actually started developing the game, we realized there were a lot of restrictions and so it turned out how you see it today. The original vision was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress.

So there was certainly progress made, but not enough progress...or more specifically, not enough power for progress. Apparently the team overestimated what the PlayStation 3 was capable of.

I remember saying three years ago that we wanted to create something revolutionary, but in reality we couldn't really do that because of the CPU. We're using the Cell engine to its limit., actually. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing the PS3 machine, it's just that we weren't really aware of what the full-spec PS3 offered - we were creating something we couldn't entirely see.

Well there you have it, straight from the man himself. Metal Gear Solid 4 is not revolutionary. Personally I think the man is being a bit hard on himself, but that's what great minds do.

ime for another Wardevil update. The people over at the Digi-Guys were kind enough again to supply PSU.com with not only 1080p versions of the latest screenshots, but a first look at their upcoming 2008 trailer.

These screeenshots are using in-game assets with the game running at 60fps a a resolution of 1080p. According to PSU's source at Digi-Guys, the new trailer will be hitting at the end of this month. So stay tuned to PSU.com for all your Wardevil updates.

According to the developers over at Digi-Guys, the Wardevil: Unleash the Beast Within posters will start to develop some of the style and mood that'll be a part of the game. For those of you who don't know already, Wardevil is a PS3 exclusive and is set to hit sometime near the end of 2008 or possibly early 2009.

The game will feature an all new game engine called, RTE1080, which allows for 60fps animations and 1080p resolutions. As you may have seen in our last screenshot update, the game also features high resolution textures.

Some details the developers have told PSU:

- They are not finished with the game yet, still adding improvements both gameplay wise and graphically.
- They are making good use of the SPU's and streaming off of the Blu-ray disc
- Their goal is to get the Blu-ray film & game to look as identical as possible...so there is no transition between game/cinematic

We've already reported that "Grand Theft Auto IV" does not have split-screen multiplayer. I am sure we did. A while ago.

Yeah, right here, in a "GTA IV" article that I filed on April 8, I wrote:

The multiplayer modes cannot be played split-screen, so forget about playing this with buddies on a single couch.

I was told that by Rockstar representatives while they played the multiplayer game with me over a dev-kit LAN in the company's New York City office.

But people keep asking about split-screen options on the comments sections of our "GTA IV" posts.

Sorry, but the option is just not there. Players can go anywhere in "GTA IV"'s massive city while in any of the multiplayer modes. I just can't see how a single Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 could have been expected to render two different parts of Liberty City at once even in a half-screen size. That's what many game makers tell me, too, when this topic comes up.

For all horsepower of this new generation of hardware, split-screen is just something that doesn't work. Not when the alternative — online one-system-per-TV gaming — is so easily achievable.

UT3 on Xbox 360 will have better graphics than on PS3, Epic chief Mark Rein has hinted.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com at the game's official unveiling in Las Vegas this week, Rein said that because Epic has spent more time on the 360 version compared with the PS3 version of the game it had benefited from more optimisation, and said that gamers "can draw your own conclusions from that".

The 360 version of UT3 features two-player split-screen support across all modes except online ranked, to prevent cheating. It also contains three brand new maps, two re-imagined maps and two new characters, as well as all the DLC from the PS3 and PC versions.

When asked what version of UT3 has the better graphics, Rein replied: "You'll have to judge that for yourself. I think it goes without saying that the more time you spend on a product the more optimisation you get, and you can draw your own conclusions from that. But this is a great version of the game. And now we have split screen as well. A lot of optimisation was necessary for this version to get decent performance with split screen. That was no easy task."

He added: "We heard from the PS3 guys they really wanted split-screen. Maybe if we'd spent eight more months on the game like we have here. But a lot of work has gone into making this game fast and smooth enough to be able to do split screen and still maintain a high frame rate. This is a very good version of the game. I don't think anyone's going to feel that this is anything but our best. I mean anything but our best effort. Just like all the other versions we've really put in a lot of effort in this version."

Gamer.tv special for the latest game in the Battlefield series, Battlefield: Bad Company. Includes an in-depth look at the new game as well as a tour of the DICE studio and look back at the titles that have formed the Battlefield series.

Planet Battlefield writes: "The video is packed full of footage some new, some old, and a short history of the Battlefield franchise (6:30), even talking about Codename Eagle and numerous interviews with DICE devs. The end of the video discusses the Gold Rush game mode (19:30), one journalist even comparing it to Frontlines: Fuel of War.

The most interesting part I found was the tour of DICE studios (13:00) in Stockholm, Sweden. 280 people from 15 different countries work at DICE. At around 13:57 you will even see Battlefield: Heroes on the computers in one of their game rooms. Aside from the wall of microwaves, DICE store, the scattered caffeine filled coffee makers, and the large fish tank, the one thing that caught my eye were these areas marked off with caution tape and stop signs. What type of secret projects lay in these areas? Battlefield 3? Who knows?"

Rockstar has confirmed to videogaming247 that the originator of this story claiming the 360 version of GTA IV is "superior" to the PS3 outing is not Rockstar North's Neil Corbett.

"Regarding the [story]," said a Rockstar spokesperson. "I can confirm that this is not Neil Corbett from Rockstar North that has been posting on rllmuk."

The poster from the forum had said that the Xbox 360 version of GTA IV "has the smoother framerate and far faster loading times (without any installing) but the PS3 version does have that warm feeling with bleached out sunsets and the like".

The forum post also said that the "extra content of the 360 version is significant but nothing like an ‘extra Island' at all- as the lead platform it is currently the superior version however. Just you wait until your first windscreen-flying experience."

So now you know. As Big Phil says, "You shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet."

Playstation 3 Call of Duty 4 gamers may be wondering what's up with their patch for Call of Duty 4. While Xbox 360 gamers received their patch on Friday last week, the PS3 COD4 patch still remains to be distributed.

Infinity Ward gives a brief update today on its blog:
"The PS3 feature patch is currently at certification at Sony and has been for about a week now. It's going through it's necessary channels worldwide for each respective region. We haven't heard any problems back so that's a great sign. We haven't received any eta from Sony (which is typical for these types of things) but if I hear any indication of when you might be able to expect it I'll pass it along."

So it's cooking. Sometimes things seem to take a little longer to be released on the PSN.

Criterion Games have update their website with details of the fixes which will be included in the next patch (V1.2). No word of when the updates will be released so stay tuned and we'll keep you updated.
Below is the list of inprovments which will be made when the update goes live.

The Top 10 problems reported by you have been fixed, these are:

* PS3 game can crash when a player is taken down and the player that has performed the Takedown leaves the game.
* The game indefinitely displays "Connecting to Paradise City Servers" if it's having problems pinging the rebroadcast server.
* Disconnecting the controller before a race begines can mean that race timings can be manipulated with players who didn't cross the line first being awarded the win
* Repeatedly joining and leaving a game with 8 players can cause the game to hang.
* Hammering the A (360) or X (PS3) after unlocking a car can cause the game to hang.
* East Crawford and Watt St achievements can not be achieved if the player goes online and sets road rules before attempting them.
* Audio distortion when using 5.1 / DTS and looking rearwards.
* Enhanced 360 streaming performance stops instances where the game seems to pause for a second or so.
* Total time driven in player stats would stick at 145 hours :)
* VoIP connection problems with 8 player games.


Game experience enhancements

* We're going to be running road rule timers in all events and online challenges.
* Tuning Online Takedown logic & physical behaviour to iron out instances where it doesn't feel fair.
* Increase online race timer timeout so players have a greater chance of finishing the race.
* Fix drifting bug when drifting and boosting there wasn't any real control on the brake so players would grind around the walls of the corners. Getting better control.
* Boost fix, stabbing the boost has too much of a jerky behaviour in the car handling.
* Surround sound fix - Centre speaker was 4dB louder, ruining the mix and the speech has now been positioned correctly.
* Tweak Marked Man gameplay AI, was easy to exploit by driving in reverse.
* Increase the # of search results returned for online games.
* Increase Picture Paradise timer so it doesn't kick in so quickly.


Other high priority issues being fixed

* Some online race start points face the players in the wrong direction
* Instances where Barrel rolls were not registering correctly in Stunt Run
* Instances in Stunt Run where players would crash but not wreck & score multipliers by driving away
* Fixed instances where the counting of Boost Chains would drop out
* Some instances where Revenge Rivalries desync & don't get fixed until players are updated online.
* Some instance where the Host couldn't change the game access if the game was created through an invite.
* Achievements, Awards and Challenges numbers sometimes not updated if the player didn't leave the game cleanly
* Online challenge issues where the challenge couldn't be completed if it was started at the exact time that a player left the game.
* Incorrect rivalry updates when European players played against English or Japanese players. Online connection issues
* Force timeout if the 360 gets stuck on "Connecting to Paradise City Servers" - NAT error
* Rich presence on 360 didn't change correctly when there is a change in the game parameters.
* Instances where Friends were not being displayed on the mini map.

Theres only one thing I love more then HD and thats Wipeout in HD. Ive played the series sense its PlayStation launch, now over 10 years ago. So here comes Wipeout HD with a butt load of new features, including 1080p 60fps, Online 8 player mode and now, custom soundtrack. One of the most essential parts of Wipeout has always been its techno mix but it might not be for all and you might just be in the mood for some Michael Buble Korn. Till now, you had no choice but with Wipeout HD, make a playlist in XMB and you got access to it via in game. Hit the magical button as always for full press release.

WipEout®HD: the race tracks are confirmed
The final track listing is in - and it's all in full HD

This year, WipEout is going into High Definition on PLAYSTATION®3 with WipEout®HD - a true next gen anti-gravity racing experience available exclusively as a download from PLAYSTATION®Network in 2008. The game features online multiplayer, 1080p visuals, 60 frames per second animation, motion-sensitive SIXAXIS™ play and a big-name electronic soundtrack featuring the likes of Kraftwerk and Booka Shade all in Dolby™ 5.1 surround. Players will race on eight of the best tracks from previous WipEout titles, fully reworked and meticulously recrafted in High Definition and updated with next-gen track features. Now, for the first time, we can confirm which tracks have made the final cut - here are the full details, get ready for an adrenaline-fuelled racing experience.

Vineta K
On the southern shores of Makana Island, the circuit at Vineta K snakes in and out of the ocean and across the beaches. The highlights of this 4.4km track include spectacular underwater tunnels and cutting-edge architecture along the waterfront.

Chenghou Project
The feature-packed circuit at Chenghou Project weaves its way around the offices and corporate buildings of Makana Island's business district. The 4.8 km track contains a tricky inverse-cambered spiral and culminates in a long jump into the tunnelled entry of the final chicane.

Sebenco Climb
The 4.8 km Sebenco Climb track is cut into the hillsides of Makana's Sebenco mountain range. It features a steep traverse up the snowy mountainside, followed by a breathtaking plunge into an icy tunnel carved through the very heart of the mountain. The final section takes pilots through a challengingly tight chicane before they swing back onto the grid.

Sol 2
The 4.4 km Sol 2 circuit hangs suspended in the clouds high above Makana Island. Consisting of a series of fast-flowing, occasionally open-sided corners linked by sweeping straights, the combination of harsh sunlight and blind summits ensure that Sol 2 is a test of nerve for every speed class.

Ubermall
In the heart of Makana Island's commercial zone is Ubermall, a 4.6 km circuit built into a vast shopping centre. The latter half of the track contains a brief split which rejoins into a narrow hill, followed by an outdoor park section that leads swiftly to the finish.

Anulpha Pass
The 5 km Anulpha Pass track is located in a custom-built entertainment arena on the east side of Makana Island. Although the track looks deceptively simple from above, the undulations of the track surface and narrow skill-cut are enough to keep any racer on their toes.

Moa Therma
The immense man-made complex of Moa Therma is located just off the northern coast of Sicily, with around a third of the track surface built using mag-strip technology. The centrepiece of this 5.3 km circuit is the gigantic horizontal loop which sits just above sea level.

Metropia
The 4.7 km Metropia circuit weaves its way between the skyscrapers and traffic control towers that dominate the Kyoto skyline. Glass-bottomed track surfaces and a stunning vertical mag-strip drop into the depths of the city are just two of the highlights of this popular track.

Other WipEout HD game features include:

Full HD visuals: 1080p graphics running at 60 frames per second: Experience adrenaline-fuelled anti-gravity combat racing for the very first time in full High Definition.

5 games modes: Single Race, Tournament, Time Trial, Speed Lap, Zone Mode.

Online play: Up to 8-players will be able to compete against each other in a range of online races.

8 tracks: A selection of the best tracks taken from previous iterations of the franchise, meticulously crafted and fully reworked from the ground-up to showcase the processing power of PS3™.

8 teams: Feisar, Assegai, AG-Systems, Qirex, Piranha, Triakis, Goteki45 and EG-X.

A full arsenal of weapons: Choose from a wide range of weapons including missiles, rockets, mines and the brand new leech beam.

Use of the SIXAXIS™ Wireless Controller: Experience a variety of choices and depth of control unseen in any previous iteration of WipEout.

Pilot assist: Get help navigating your way around the HD circuits with the new Pilot assist feature.

Pumping soundtrack: Feel the beat with 9 fully licensed music tracks, all remixed in Dolby 5.1 surround sound for an even more intense game experience.

Custom Play lists: As if that wasn't enough, WipEout® HD also supports ‘Custom Play lists': playback your own music using play lists created in the PS3™ XMB.

Photo mode: During any race, pause the game and select the Photo Mode option. You can choose which ship will be the focus of the camera, and adjust the camera angle, zoom level, and so on. Images are saved to your HDD.

Score Posting: Post your best lap times and race records in game (for both offline and online modes) and compare them against other WipEout Players across the globe.

WipEout HD is true next generation gaming. If you like your games to have a real edge to them - and if you think you can handle Hi-Def anti-grav racing at 600 kmh - this is the one for you.

For a closer look, check out www.wipEoutHD.com

Developer Volition believes Saints Row 2 will more than hold its own in the battle of the gangster sandbox games when it goes head to head with GTA 4 this year.

Speaking at the unveiling of the game in London, Volition's Greg Donovan, producer on Saints Row 2, added that he didn't believe Rockstar was "holding something back" with regards to cooperative play in GTA 4, a game mode he expects to be a "huge distinguishing factor" between the two titles.

He said: "The only thing I know about GTA is what I've read. From what I've read it seems like they're going in a more realistic direction. For us it's more about almost a hyper-realistic quality, over-the-top, all about these memorable moments, very compelling gameplay and frankly we wouldn't be releasing this year if we didn't think it would be competitive."

He added: "I think co-op is a huge distinguishing factor. Unless they are really holding something, I don't think they are. I think that's a big step, a plus for us. We also remember that Saints Row 1 was the first one to do competitive multi play - we're going to continue to blow that out as well."

The first Saints Row enjoyed healthy sales and positive review scores when it was released on the Xbox 360 in September 2006, despite many claiming it simply copied Grand Theft Auto 3. It was, however, the only next-gen game similar to GTA 3 available at the time.

We expect Saints Row 2 to have a much tougher time this year since it's going up against Rockstar's guaranteed monster hit.

Donovan wouldn't go into great detail about Saints Row 2's online elements, aping Rockstar's similarly secretive approach, but he did say that fans shouldn't expect "your typical deathmatch!".

He said: "We're not releasing finite details on that (online multiplayer) yet, What we are saying is that Saints Row showed us where we needed to go and we're going in that direction. Successful competitive multi play is taking elements of the single-player and applying them to the competitive multiplayer. For us that means elements like activities and missions, ambient systems, so that's kind of the direction we're going. It isn't your typical deathmatch, put it that way!"

In an exclusive interview with Hideo Kojima, the creator of Metal Gear Solid series, has made complains about 50GB BD not been sufficient. The Metal Gear Solid producer considers the Blu Ray disc too small and that they had to make compromises in order to put the game on the 50GB BD. According to Hideo, the programmers had to compress some parts in the game to save disc space.

Kojima : I am not satisfied with the quality yet, however...there isn't enough space.

Interviewer: Not enough space..on..Blu-ray..?

Kojima: Yes.(laughs). Not enough space.

When word broke that Metal Gear Solid 4 was shipping this summer at the Destination PlayStation retailer conference, official word from Sony was simply "late Q2 2008", but we knew it was actually hitting June 12. Konami makes that date official today, hyping up the Metal Gear Online starter pack and giving solid info on the beta program open to those who pre-order MGS4.

According to the release, the pre-sell program kicks off in April. Those who put down some cash early will walk away with the Metal Gear Saga 2.0 DVD, a disc that should get Metal Gear noobs up to speed with a history-recapping prologue and a collection of trailers for MGS4. A Metal Gear Online beta key will be contained within the pre-order package, so make sure you don't get mugged on the way out of your local GameStop.

Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is set to hit shelves in just over two weeks, and Ubisoft is offering a special preorder pack for those who reserve their copy of the squad-based shooter at selected gaming retailers. The preorder pack will come in a collectible metal tin, and include two exclusive weapons, two postcards signed by the game developers and a bonus DVD. For a taste of what you will be getting, check out the pic in the media panel below.

For more info on the conclusion to the Vegas series, wander over to our recent preview of the game. Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is due out on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on March 20.