Keeping to its “when it’s done” promise, 3D Realms had not shown Duke Nukem Forever since its first showing back in 2001. However, they have broken their silence by releasing a teaser trailer of the game - it was originally prepared internally for the purpose of holiday festivities, but they decided to release it to the public, marking the beginning of further media unveiling of the long-in-development shooter sequel.

The trailer below features the work of longtime Duke voice actor Jon St. John as well as music from composers Jeremy and Julian Soule. The release date is still “when it’s done”.

Blueside, the developer of the Kingdom Under Fire series, has revealed to 1UP through an interview that they are working on another game in the series that goes back to its roots.

“We are currently working on a ‘traditional’ real-time strategy sequel to The Crusaders, as well,” Blueside’s Henry Lee disclosed.

The upcoming game, Circle of Doom, takes a more action-oriented approach to the original’s real-time tactical battles. It is due out on January 8, 2008 on Xbox 360.

Viacom and Microsoft have partnered for a mutually beneficial content and advertising deal, one that also carries relevance to gaming. Though terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, Microsoft claims the deal is valued at $500 million.

The deal sees Viacom working to become the “preferred publishing partner across Microsoft’s casual gaming platforms.” The company has three major casual platforms - MSN Games, Windows and Xbox Live Arcade. They also renewed their Xbox Live Marketplace agreement, adding programming from BET to the service that already features video from MTV Networks and Paramount.

New high-resolution (full HD, according to Sony) screenshots from Ninja Gaiden 2, the upcoming violent sequel to the ninja slasher.

Following rumors that the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV may be receiving more than the two formally announced exclusive pieces of downloadable content, Rockstar set the record straight, stating that there are no plans to release any more content for either version.

The company recently delayed the game to sometime next year. This has pushed back the second content pack, which is now expected in 2009.

In related news, MCV claims that sources close to Take-Two has told them that the game will be released in the UK on April 25, though it is yet to be confirmed.

BioWare has announced that it has added PipelineFX’s Qube as the latest piece of technology to be added to its stable of development tools. It is described as a “distributed processing and render farm management system” that enhances “productivity through pipeline acceleration”, whatever that means.

ArenaNet sends word that music from Guild Wars has been chosen to be performed as part of “PLAY! A Video Game Symphony”, a worldwide symphonic tour featuring music from a number of games, which kicks off on January 19, 2008.

The company notes that it is a great honor for them and the game’s composers. The music of Guild Wars is also featured on CD in special edition packages of the game.

The third bomb pack for Bomberman Live is now available for purchase on Xbox Live. It adds more than a dozen new features, including ten new characters, two additional levels, two new leaderboards and a brand new game mode. The add-on costs 250 Microsoft points.

The official box art for FIFA Street 3 has been revealed - it features football superstars Ronaldinho, Peter Crouch and Gennaro Gattuso all posing for the camera.

The stylized versions of these players have been used on the cover to signify the game’s distinct playing styles - Tricksters, Playmakers, Finishers and Enforcers - according to EA.

“FIFA Street 3 is about turning football icons into eye-popping characters through the game’s stylized art direction for an over-the-top arcade soccer experience,” said producer Joe Nickolls. “Ronaldinho, Crouch and Gattuso represent three of the different types of players available in our game and we were able to exaggerate their qualities to really create larger-than-life characters.”

The game is due out on PS3, Xbox 360 and DS on February 15, 2008 in Europe and in North America on February 18.

Catering to die-hard Final Fantasy fans in Europe and other PAL territories, Square Enix has announced that it will release both Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II in the region on February 8, 2008 on the PSP.

The portable version of both games will retell their stories, as well as feature updates including redrawn graphics and character art, all-new dungeons, full widescreen visuals and an updated camera view.

Details on the story and the updated game can be read after the jump.
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The city is falling apart, and it is up to you to put it back together! Codemasters has announced Emergency Mayhem, a disaster game that puts the player at the helm of the three emergency services in a race against time to hold together Crisis City. Exclusive to the Wii, the game will feature driving sequences with arcade mini-games, letting players control police, fire service or the paramedics as they dash around the city from one emergency to another.

There will be over 30 missions in the game, having the player rescuing people from burning buildings, defusing bombs and more. Interestingly, emergencies will be of a slapstick nature, as crazy situations will have banana-hurling monkeys, using a trampoline to bounce escaping prisoners back into custody and even more.

In Emergency Mayhem time is your enemy, relentlessly counting down as you take charge of a fire truck, ambulance, or police car to speed through the city’s eight different districts to the next emergency. Have you got the nerves necessary to beat the clock and save the city? Find shortcuts, such as making use of the city’s underground railways lines and even sewers, to get there on time and save the day.

When you reach the scene of the emergency play switches to one of over 30 mini-games which take unique advantage of the Wii Remote to solve crazy crises. Using the Wii Remote, you’ll have to pump the to practice CPR, point it to direct water from a powerful hose, mimic a wrench to bring bursting water-hydrants under control and aim it to fire tranquiliser darts into on-the-rampage monkeys!

Emergency Mayhem is due out during Q2 2008. More information and media can be found on the game’s website.

The development of an add-on for Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory was announced earlier this week. Dubbed the “Ardennes Offensive”, the expansion will feature two campaigns playable for Germans and Allies, plus a campaign playable for the German and Soviet sides. Multiplayer maps and new features will also be included.

Set for release in April 2008, the add-on will feature fully interactive landscapes, massive maps, thousands of units fighting in real time, more than 300 new units, advanced micro-AI behavior, and even more.

From Finland comes word of development of Dead Wake, an upcoming survival horror game. The game builds on the popularity of the Dead film trilogy, bringing barricades, blood and weapons to zombie fans.

A pre-release demo has been released. The game is also being developed in an open manner, allowing players to contribute towards the game design process. No release date is being offered at the moment.

MTV Games has announced that it has signed an exclusive deal with Jerry Bruckheimer to develop and create new and original video games. They will build a game incubation studio, where a team of experts, artists and storytellers will come together to create new concepts and IP.

Bruckheimer is responsible for quite a large number of Hollywood blockbusters, including the Bad Boys series and the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. This is his first entry into video games.

“Video games represent a new and innovative medium for what we’ve always tried to do, which is to tell great stories. But this medium is unique in that it gives the player control over how those stories unfold,” said Jerry Bruckheimer. “I look forward to working with MTV Games to create new original game stories, always looking for ways to innovate the medium.”

Executives from both companies are going to work together on all phases of development as well as on the production, distribution and marketing. They are going to try and bridge the world of video games with other forms of entertainment media including film and TV.

A new patch for Call of Duty 4 is now available, updating the game to v1.4. The patch adds a new free holiday map and improved modification support. Grab it from Rapidshare (direct link).