2K Games has revealed that September 7th Jimmy’s Vendetta will extend Mafia II with 30 new quests in Empire Bay. These quests come complete with leader-board ranking and will tell the story through the eye’s of Jimmy. Mission styles include assassination and, car chases, and of course crazy shootouts. The more headshots you get the better as scores are tallied and posted for a competitive factor in the game. You can grab this DLC additional content for $9.99 (800 MS Points) on Windows PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 when it releases next Tuesday.

The Borderlands Co-op experience is about to get beefier this September with the release of Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution pushing the hybrid experience that is Borderlands even further with 20 fresh missions, loot, brand spanking new enemies (including boss fights and plenty of Claptraps), and much more including 10 skill points and 71 skill tree points. In addition to these maddening expansions to the game-play experience players will also gain three new slots in their inventory backpack for storing even more killing gear.

This add-on is the fourth to hit Borderlands and continues the commendable support shown for the title since its fateful launch. Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution will release for PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Windows PC for $9.99 (or 800 MS Points) in September. Players prepare to re-enter the vault to face the Ninja Assassin once again, and this time he’s out for blood! Hit the break for a little bit more announcement art to whet your appetite.

*The original Borderlands game is required to play this DLC Add On.*

Protector Trials

Protector Trials expands the single-player campaign, and puts players back into Big Daddy’s boots as he defends his Little Sister against Splicers. Protector Trials is the first single-player focused downloadable add-on which features an array of new challenges, six new maps with three unique difficulty levels, new unlockables like never-before-seen concept art and videos, and seven new achievements/trophies.

The Protector Trails will available on Games for Windows at a later date.

Get your hockey game on with NHL Slapshot from EA on the Nintendo Wii. Slap-shots, checks, and split-screen so you can punch your friends in the face during mini-games and multi-player. Play in three-on-three’s, five-on-five’s including full NHL seasons, playoffs, pewee, and more. Players even get to become NHL star Wayne Gretzky (I know, you’re surprised right?) so definitely give yourself a look at the box art full size by clicking here. This title also comes with a authentic feeling hockey stick add-on to plug your Wii controller into which is featured on the box.

Cowboys, the Legends and Killers DLC pack is coming! If you’ve been enjoying tying people to train tracks and popping off during the standoffs in Red Dead Redemption for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the additional content to that game-play experience is on its way. Fans of the original title Red Dead Revolver (for Xbox and PlayStation 2) will be pleased to know that 8 Red Dead Revolver characters are making their return to the Red Dead universe, along with 9 new multi-player maps.

In addition to this players will also be able to use a new projectile-based weapon in the game called the Tomahawk to complete new challenges online and otherwise. Of course, new trophies and achievements will be added to the game as well. Legends and Killers is hitting early this August and is the first of a series of downloadable content to be released by Rockstar over the coming months. Legends and Killers will debut for $9.99/800 MS Points. Read on for the details on the other three downloadable content packs coming to PSN Store and Xbox Live Marketplace soon.

Liars and Cheats

In Liars and Cheats gamers will be able to tear it up with new competitive modes Attack and Defend, Horse Races (complete with combat and all) as well as finally take Liars Dice and Poker online. Bring a new face to the game as well with even more characters from Red Dead Redemption including the good, the bad, and possibly even the straight-up ugly. Another new weapon will hit with this DLC called the Explosive Rifle. For all of the new content there will be new challenges and achievements/trophies. The price has been set for this DLC pack at $9.99/800 MS Points.

Free Roam Pack

For those of you addicted to running through Free Roam mode in Red Dead Redemption with your buddies, you’re in luck because that experience is about to get enhanced. In the third DLC pack, titled the Free Roam Pack, new action spots will be added in addition to posse scoring, leader-boards, more challenges and more gang hideouts. There will even be a new way to prevent “griefing” when Free Roam Pack releases. The price and date of this DLC have yet to be determined.

Undead Nightmare Pack

Finally, last but certainly not least is the Undead Nightmare Pack heading to PSN and Xbox Live stores on an undisclosed date and breathing new life into the ghost times and cemeteries in Red Dead Redemption. Playing as one of the new 8 zombie characters in multi-player is a great and funny way to enhance your game-play, but that’s not all you can do with the Undead Nightmare Pack. New dynamic events will be added to the game that will likely include a brush with some of the nastiest creatures/humans you’ve seen in the game thus far. To top it all off get your game on in new adventure content, challenges, and quests. The price point of this pack has been confirmed at $9.99/800 MS Points, so if this is really what you want out of your Red Dead Redemption game you might want to be picky about picking up the other packs and keep a ten spot aside for this one.

Stay tuned to DualShockers as we reveal the remaining mystery behind each of these downloadable content packs and we hope to see you all firing off in the comments section about what you think of all this additional content being added.

With PlayStation Move on the horizon, gamers everywhere have been hearing Sony proclaim from the mountain tops how they have so much support for the motion-sensing peripheral said to be “a new platform” by the gaming giant. I got to play on the PS Move at E3 2010 and, though I did enjoy myself and believe the controller to be a truly great idea, I did have some issues with one of the announcements made during the Sony Press Conference. The way it went down left a sour taste in my mouth, and I feel like I need to speak up about this. If you are a Capcom “fan-boy” I advise you do not continue past this point without covering your eyes.

If you are one of the people, like myself, who picked up Resident Evil 5 when it launched, you know that the game had a great lasting effect on most gamers who touched it. Soon after the release of Resident Evil 5, the Versus DLC pack brought the ability to play online with up to three of your friends in team-based combat or free-for-all death-matches. After already achieving platinum status on this great game in the first 10 days of its release (check my trophies list), I was compelled to pick up this DLC pack and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although, it was certainly not the best online multi-player I have ever played, it was fun and served its purpose well. Then the other DLC packs came out which everyone has their own opinions about, as well.

But what really got me up in arms about this issue was a little thing called PS Move Support. This was announced to be implemented via free title update to Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition, but what about good old Resident Evil 5 regular edition? This may be a misleading marketing campaign meant to garner more sales for RE5: Gold, and support for the regular edition may indeed come, as well. However, I get the strong feeling Capcom actually expects me to buy RE5: Gold and that’s not happening!

Why would I throw the money I spent on DLC for RE5 into the toilet by picking up a disc that already includes all of the DLC, not to mention the losses I’ll be taking getting the original disc off of my hands. If Capcom goes through with no support for the original RE5, then what they are doing here is disrespectful to their most loyal of fans who picked up the game day one (or at least in the year of its release!). Add this in with the new Japan PS Move bundle from Capcom and Sony, which will include the PS Eye, PS Move, and Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition; enough to play RE5: Gold on Move right? Wrong, you will require a PS Navigation controller in order to play this game if you want to experience it properly. This bundle will save you money, but will also be pointless if you don’t have about $29.99 (or the equivalent in Yen) more hanging around.

Capcom, I love you, but this is just non-sense. Dead Space 2 is looking better and better every day. Watch your back.

The Marvel universe will be making an appearance in LittleBigPlanet beginning July 6, 2010 with the release of five new costumes of some of Marvel’s fan favorite super heroes and super villains, as well as a level kit with four new levels to play and tons of new tools, stickers, objects, Marvel-themed music, materials, and a special “Rooftop” background to use to create levels with.

Click “Read More” for the full list of Marvel costumes coming soon to the PlayStation Store.

Here’s what to expect…

Iron Man

The Thing

Mystique

Daredevil

Doctor Octopus

Captain America

Elektra

Ghost Rider

Green Goblin

Hulk

Invisible Woman

The Human Torch

Magneto

The Punisher

Rogue

Spider-Man

Storm

Thor

Vemon

Wolverine

Full Costume List from [PS Blog]

New BioShock 2 Single Player add-on content has been announced. Six new maps will be added, each with 3 difficulty settings. This downloadable experience will also include seven new Achievements/Trophies as well as new un-lockable items and, as a bonus, concept art and videos will be included as well. This download pack is the first single player additional content to BioShock 2 but it will not be the last.

BioShock 2’s first DLC, Protector Trials aims to give players more of what they already love by expanding on fan favorite areas of the game. Protector Trials, as you may have guessed by the name, is also meant to increase the challenge offered in the BioShock 2 Single Player. In the DLC, players will be tasked with protecting their Little Sister from onslaughts of Splicers.

This download pack will be available August 3rd, 2010 from Xbox Live and PlayStation Network as well as on PC for either 400 Microsoft Points or $4.99. Check out the trailer which features game-play, cuddly little girls and devils, and will let you know what to expect from Protector Trials. Also be on the lookout for the next single player DLC which will feature a deep narrative focus.

Guitar Hero and Band Hero gamers can pick up a new track pack from punk band All Time Low this week on the Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3. You can expect to pay $5.49 on PSN, 440 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live or 550 Wii Points on Nintendo’s system for the full pack of songs including “Dear Maria Count Me In,” “Weightless” and “Damned If I Do Ya (Live). These tracks are also available individually on Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points, PlayStation 3 for $1.99 and Wii for 200 Wii Points each. You can get these games now for Guitar Hero 5 or Band Hero.

Tired of aiming Waggle-sticks, Wii-motes, Nunchuks, and otherwise ridiculously named controllers at your television while playing gun-based Action and/or Shooter games like Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition or RE: Darkside Chronicles? To put the G back in gun games, mature gaming Innex presents us with the Rapid Shot submachine gun controller! Designed to look like an MP5, you’ll have no problem maintaining your cool while blasting fools with this thing.

The Rapid Shot even replaces the functionality of the Wii-mote, Nunchuk, and Wii-Motion Plus, giving you an all-in-one solution to your Action/Shooter gaming needs on Nintendo’s white system. There is also a built-in speaker like the remote control of the Wii, rumble, and rechargeable/detachable USB-compatible, 2000mAh Lithium-ion batteries available that are made to look like clips for your MP5. Hit the break to see the full ad and find out where to see this bad boy in L.A. this month if you’ll be at E3.

Everybody likes to ask this question, Where’s Waldo? In Where’s Waldo? In Hollywood, the upcoming mobile game from Capcom, players will revisit the classic visual puzzle style of Where’s Waldo? as well as engage in mini-games across his latest Hollywood-based adventures. Challenge your friends to see who can find out Where’s Waldo? first and unlock bonus content and achievements as you play the game. This game is a sequel to the popular Where’s Waldo? mobile game available now. Check out the details and screen from the game after the break!

Seven search games based on scenes from the book

Five mini-games including: Tic-Whack-Wizard, Odd One Out, Slide Puzzle, Odlaw Sweeper and Look Closer

Two player mini games…see who can find Waldo first!

Earn achievements unlock bonus content

Tips and game play suggestions from Waldo

It’s June 1st! If you are anything like the DualShockers crew that means you are starting to get very anxious, packing suitcases, booking interviews, and general pre-E3 mayhem including barfing out of sheer joy and e-mailing photos to your friends with the tag-line “Hot Babe I Saw At The Beach” or “Oh my god I just saw a UFO”, devious.

That doesn’t stop a great looking game or two from catching our attention amidst the madness. Wayne Gretzky has just been named the cover athlete of the all-new EA Sports NHL SLAPSHOT which introduces the first-ever hockey stick controller for the Nintendo Wii. The new controller is a simple add-on that the Wii-Mote and Nunchuk plug in to. This extra controller will be included with the game as a bundle. This September, experience the game on the Wii through the eyes of Hall of Fame, record holding hockey master himself Wayne Gretzky.

Cowboys reload your pistols; cowgirls get those skirts off and throw on some pants and spurs it is time to get shooting with Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West once again. The already great value of this Steam/PlayStation Network title just got better with the addition of a free new map featuring the fan-requested feature of…are you ready for this?… a train! There is also a new game mode titled Demolition to help all of us who have been experiencing some boredom from the similarity between the other game modes in the title. In Demolition the object is, well to demolition enemies and things.

In addition to this new content the game will also be updated to now feature the top three players from the leader boards on wanted posters all over the Sinner’s Gulch map. There is also a new kick function for players on your team that just aren’t playing or disrupt the game experience in some way. The following videos show off the new map and game mode and some hilarious and fun looking action that will ensue today as gamers log in to the patched game as well as what the rules are and experience will be in the new content for Lead and Gold. You can pick this game up now, already patched for free with the new content, from Steam or PSN for $14.99.

The latest Just Cause 2 DLC is on display for the world to see in the latest trailer for the title from GameTrailers. From the new F33 Dragon Fly fighter jet to the multi-lock missile launcher there is something to be said about fighting fire with fire. The trailer shows off the Black Market Aerial and Boom packs showing off new vehicles, cluster bomb launcher, quad rocket launcher, air propulsion gun, and more.

[GameTrailers]

With Lost Planet 2 approaching it feels appropriate to remind readers that Dead Rising, Gears of War, and Resident Evil characters will be included in this title via character customization. We have seen this type of high profile feature before with Yoda/Darth Vader/Jedi Apprentice in Soul Calibur 4. Solid Snake appearing in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is another example. While these cameos peak our interest, have they ever delivered on the exciting prospect of bringing your favorite unique characters to life in a new universe?

Cross over characters are sometimes deeply intertwined into the plot/premise of a game in some way however cases like this are very rare and usually involve a lot of planning. For an example of this look to Cross Edge, a role playing game put together by Capcom, Nippon Ichi, Namco Bandai, Gust, and Idea Factory for publishers Compile Heart (Japan), NIS America (North America) and TecmoKoei (Europe). This title attempted to satisfy fans of the Darkstalkers, Disgaea, Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia, Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires, Atelier Marie and Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy franchises all at once. Unfortunately for the realm of action/shooter titles, these cross over characters are usually just there for show in a game like Lost Planet 2.

Exactly what this accomplishes for the end gamer when said appearances sometimes seem like little more than mock advertisements is uncertain. Nintendo Wii gamers were never able to experience Metal Gear Solid 4 so Solid Snake ends up essentially a PlayStation commercial in Brawl. More importantly, this all makes some gamers wonder if such a large follow up title like Lost Planet 2, which looks amazing on its own, should even need to have name drops like Marcus Fenix and Albert Wesker to appeal to them.

On the one hand, people like to play as an unexpected character. It does keep things fresh. Customization tools are great. Unreal Tournament 3 features game mods on PC and PlayStation 3 which has allowed gamers to play as Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid), Master Chief (Halo), Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII), Marcus Fenix (Gears of War), and many other popular gaming icons through widespread online support. Lost Planet 2 brings the ability to play as your favorite character and is going out of its way to officially support some of the most in demand. Overall it seems like this type of character injection takes away from the actual title itself, but in the long run having vast character customization will solidify replay value for many users who desire to make their own virtual identity.

On the other hand we have seen Uncharted 2 bring over characters from Resistance 2, Infamous , and Killzone 2 which are purely available for multiplayer online. Users have to buy these similar to the many costume/skin micros-add on packs released by other publishers, however shooting some one wearing one of the alternate skins is free. The fact that character assets such as costumes sell in huge volume from Capcom and other publishers means that there is a chance Lost Planet 2’s extra characters will come at a price. Have Capcom and Epic Games realized the business opportunity for marketing and exploiting Marcus Fenix because of his popularity in Unreal Tournament 3 modification? We will never know for sure but it seems very likely. Now I wonder if these gaming giants will capitalize on the demand that exists and change what started out as a free mod skin into premium download content.

While these virtual cameos may look and sound epic, they really add little to nothing for the game play experience when there is no depth to their presence. For example, if you take such a notable character as Albert Wesker and you bring him into the Lost Planet universe, but the only time he is there is for multiplayer, gamers are going to collectively sigh as they sense a huge missed opportunity. Basically what Capcom is doing in my eyes is teasing us. Just try not to be disappointed running around in multiplayer with characters that have nothing to do with the game. The Gears of War cameos are perhaps the most shocking of all but still do not intertwine with the story line. So while Uncharted 2 and Lost Planet 2 strive to be great multiplayer experiences, and these cameos definitely help that area of the game, the shock factor will quickly wear off within minutes of the first match. Instead of adding to a game cross over characters typically serve to take away from it by constantly reminding you what games you aren’t playing.

If you are a huge fan of a character that is doing a cross over cameo, you would probably rather play the game the character came from than Lost Planet 2. It will be fun to play with them in other game universes, but for those who are not familiar with these characters you gain nothing from their appearance since they have no involvement in the story. Unless Capcom proves me wrong with interwoven stories it looks like the only purpose of Frank West (Dead Rising), Marcus Fenix (Gears of War), Albert Wesker (Resident Evil) and the Monster Hunter character model are to have some skins. Let us hope these are free and that the character customizations Lost Planet 2 offers are as limitless as they seem. Until cross over appearances are more than just eye candy and advertising I do not think they achieve much for the overall gaming community.

Trine will be on sale for a week on Steam and in time for the latest free update. In addition to being able to pick up the game for only five bucks, existing and future players will be able to enjoy a new level in the game for free as well. The new level is titled Path to New Dawn and seeks to give Trine veterans a new challenge on hard mode while bringing something everyone can enjoy on the lower difficulties. Path to New Dawn is part of the latest free update (version 1.07) and is available now on Steam. The sale ends April 26th so if this title was on your to-buy list, hurry up and locate a five spot.

Alternative Rock has been one of the largest music genres since its split from classic rock some time ago. Rock Band 2 aims to answer their fan base, who demand more tracks of this style, by adding six songs to the PlayStation Network, Wii Downloads, and Xbox Live Marketplace as well as the family friendly Lego Rock Band Music Store. Some of the tracks that players will be excited to play through include Switchfoot’s “Meant to Live” and Skillet’s “Monster”. Read on for the full list of tracks being added for purchase to the game as well as pricing details.

·         Anberlin – “Feel Good Drag”

·         Hawk Nelson – “Live Life Loud”

·         Skillet – “Monster”

·         Superchick – “Stand in the Rain”

·       Switchfoot – “Meant to Live”

·         Thousand Foot Krutch – “Fire It Up”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

When the PSPgo first arrived, anyone who owned any UMDs was basically screwed because they couldn’t play their beloved “traditional” games, and had to join the realm of perpetual digital download. Their PSP games sat in a corner of a room constantly becoming the victims of dust mites as their use stagnantly whithered away. Now, though, there just might be a way for your PSPgo to “magically” play UMDs, and it’s call an “add-on.”

A CVG source is claiming that Logitech is developing a UMD drive add-on for the PSPgo. The source hasn’t released any pricing or release information regarding the add-on, only stating that the “only problem is that it’ll make the PSP a little bulky.” Folks, if you want to see bulky, take a look at the Sega Game Gear. The thing looks like a radio remote for a toy car. Logitech’s UK office told CVG that it’s unaware of such a device and that it “may be something the US office is working on.”

Personally, the whole add-on thing would just render the PSPgo go-less. It would just transform into something that’s already available on the market – the PSP-3000. The question, though, is how much will the thing cost? The PSPgo is already a $249.99 system; the add-on will probably cost somewhere along the $80+ mark, rendering the thing much more expensive that the $299.99 PS3 (and it’s a handheld). The whole point of the PSPgo is to establish a digital means of gaming. If someone wants a UMD drive, why not go with the 3000 in the first place?

Yep. Plain and simple. Basically, Gizmodo asked Ballmer whether or not the Xbox 360 will ever adapt a Blu-ray drive to which good ol’ Stevie boy replied “you’ll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories.” When Gizmodo cornered the head-honcho of Microsoft and its Xbox spokespeople regarding time-frames and/or release dates, nothing was given. Everyone zipped their mouths and left it at that.

This was inevitable, though. Ever since Microsoft lost the format war alongside Toshiba to the dominant Blu-ray, it was only a matter of time before both companies decided to join in on the Blu-ray extravaganza that’s been perpetuating itself for the past two years (and Toshiba has already done so). Player prices have dramatically decreased, and Blu-ray movies have dropped in price contrasting, and competing, with DVD. As high-definition becomes the norm in today’s world, consumers will – without a reason of a doubt – want to observe the experience that formats like Blu-ray offers.

Although digital downloads is stagnantly etching forward as the new way to obtain your digital media (e.g. games, movies, and music), I am pretty sure that people won’t be flocking to that form of distribution just yet. There are more reasons to physically own your property rather than have them digitally stored on a disk drive. We can finally say that Microsoft is indeed going “Blu” now. And there’s no reason why they shouldn’t – it is the medium that is dominating the high-definition market at the moment. Why wouldn’t they want a piece of that luscious pie?