This year’s Leipzig Games Convention will be host to the world premiere of THEY, an upcoming first-person shooter for PC and next-gen consoles. The game will be presented to media at the business center in Hall 1 at booth K36.

The press release itself didn’t reveal much on the game except that the engine which powers it is a “3D engine with next-generation effects, brand new gameplay elements and a revolutionary weapon system.” Apparently, the game will make heavy use of physics and destructible environments; it will also feature versatile multiplayer modes and an unique weapon system that will make you “love your weapons.”

THEY is set for release sometime in 2008/2009. A lone screenshot has been released ahead of its debut:

Rare and Microsoft have announced that Viva Pinata is in development for DS through their Comic-Con panel. The DS game follows up on the PC port of the original Xbox 360 game, claiming to execute the original game’s concept rather than being a completely new title.

In a post on Pinataisland.info forums, Rare developers claimed that “everyone was really impressed about the quality” referring to the game. In a follow up thread, the company also revealed that an internal Rare team is developing the DS version of the game, which they state is “basically the same game, same principles as the 360 version.” However, he notes that the hardware had to be taken into account, but that the touch screen offers “cool things”.

New indie game developer Dark Motif has announced the launch of their official website as well as the production of Adam Syndrome, an upcoming adventure game for PC. Here’s the deal:

In a desperate attempt to discover what happened to his beloved wife, Professor Adam Reed becomes entangled in a web of conspiracy that threatens to tear apart the tapestry of his own life. Through a shocking series of revelations, Adam learns that he has unwittingly been playing a major role in a dark and mysterious conspiracy. By following a 400 year old trail left behind by John Dee, the 16th-century occultist and famous advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, he unearths secrets of the biblical giants known as the Nephilim and the ancient myth of the Great Flood, and finds himself facing powerful adversaries - the members of a strange and elusive society - as he uncovers a malevolent plot. With time running out, Adam must stop these men from wreaking monumental catastrophe by unveiling a secret buried thousands of years ago by blood and by time itself - a shocking truth that will shake the very foundations of humanity.

The game will have players travel to more than fifteen unique locations all over the world, including ancient lost cities, futuristic laboratories, underwater complexes and more. It will have a dark atmosphere and a soundtrack described as “moody and suspenseful”. The puzzles in the game have been written originally into the plot, with the game using a third-person perspective. There will be real-time weather effects, over 150 pre-rendered 3D backgrounds and more than 50 fully interactive characters.

Adam Syndrome is set for release during Q3 2008.

Lexicon Entertainment has announced Voltage, a futuristic racing game with real-time strategy elements, for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. The game, which is being developed by IBA Group in Czech Republic, will feature races taking place far in the future on the planets of the solar system, having players compete against aliens to acquire the title of the solar system’s best racer.

There will be a number of vehicles in the game that run on electricity, nuclear and tachyon fuel, among other things. Futuristic elements include teleport, electromagnetic platforms, and more. It will feature a total of 15 non-linear tracks on seven planets in three modes of play - Championship, Quick Race and Multiplayer.

Voltage is set for release during Autumn 2008.

This year will also see the return of the GC Art exhibition, showcasing various computer and console art again. The exhibitions this year are titled public_play, Telespiele 1972-2007, Machinima and Digital Beauty - 3D Character Design. They will be on view in Hall 5 August 23-26, providing visitors a look into different aspects of digital games; there will also be workshops for interested visitors, giving them the opportunity to create some minor artwork themselves.

Detailed information on these exhibitions right after the jump.
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Wham-O, the manufacturer of Frisbee, Hula Hoop and other such products, has announced a deal with FOG Studios to create games based on their products for PC and console, as well as mobile phones.

It didn’t, however, mention which games are currently in development and when to expect them.

On BeyondUnreal are shaky-cam videos of Unreal Tournament 3 from Comic-Con. These videos show multiplayer deathmatch, as well as the sniper rifle in action for the first time. The videos are also mirrored on Youtube for those who prefer to stream.

In more video news, the first episode of The Guild, a sitcom about online gamers, is now live on Youtube. The series has been created by Felicia Day (Buffy’s Vi) and is directed by Jane Selle Morgan. Worth a watch. Embedded below: