From the “finally!!!” department comes word that Capcom has announced the release date for the console version of Street Fighter IV, its highly anticipated brawler: February 17, 2009.

The Europeans get shafted once again, as they will receive the game three days later. It will be released simultaneously on PS3 and Xbox 360, with a PC version expected sometime later.

Street Fighter IV is already available in Japanese arcades since summer 2008, but was never officially released in other countries. The game features a significant graphics upgrade, new characters and more.

Left 4 Dead is composed of four movie-sized acts that are introduced by loading screen art done in a sort of film one-sheet poster, complete with campy lines and full credit list.

These posters have been released by Valve as downloadable images. Check them out below. The game itself is due out in three days.

Can’t get enough of Rock Band? Or Energizer batteries, for that matter? The dudes at Energizer have decided to give away one piece of downloadable content with their new Advanced Lithium Batteries.

This site has more details. It is applicable to both PlayStation Store and Xbox Live.

Those guys at Criterion are busy all year round, making downloadable content and whatnot for gamers, but did you know they are into toy cars as well? The studio has announced that they will release special edition Burnout Collectible toy cars sometime next year.

They’ve even given some pictures that show the Hunter Manhattan, Hunter Takedown 4×4, Carson GT Concept P12 and Kreiger Racing WTR.

No other details were given.

And yet another week is coming up, prompting Harmonix to announce the coming week’s downloadable content for Rock Band. This week they are offering us three different packs and one single.

The first pack is from Dead Kennedy, which includes “Califonia Uber Alles”, “Holiday in Cambodia” and “Police Truck”. The second pack is also three songs from Mission of Burma: “Mica”, “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate” and “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver”. Finally, the third pack is a trio of songs from metal bands fronted by women: “Forever” by In This Moment, “Closer” and “Swamped” by Lacuna Coil. Oh, and the single is “Gone” by Crooked X.

Each pack is available for 160 points ($1.99), with the packs going for 440 points ($5.49).

Following up from news that Ubisoft has acquired Massive Entertainment, Kotaku carries a quote from Ubisoft president and CEO Yves Guillemot saying Massive will play a key role in the publisher’s MMO strategy. However, their efforts will be less than massive, noting that they will first focus on “light” MMOs that are very popular in Asia.

Said Guillemot: "We just bought it from them since those guys have Blizzard so they didn’t need that studio as much as we do, and those guys are extremely strong in RTS (real-time strategy), so they are going to help us also get closer to the MMO space. Our goal there is to go first with light MMOs…that have been extremely popular in China but are also coming in the U.S. and Europe and are generating lots of good revenue, so our goal is first to start with light MMOs, and then in the future also come with RPG and RTS, also in the MMO space."

From Big Download comes word that the North American launch of Huxley has been delayed until the first half of next year.

The subscription-free Unreal Engine 3-powered MMOFPS was previously supposed to launch this year. The extra time will be used to focus on localization issues.

Seeing as how there isn’t much metal in either Guitar Hero or Rock Band, one company has taken it upon themselves to release a video game containing nothing but metal. Visual effect consultants EBT3 Creations and talent management company Indevent USA have joined to form Reign Productions, whose first project will be the aforementioned multimillion dollar game.

No details are known at the moment, as the game will be formally announced at the annual NAMM global music products show in Anaheim, California in January 2009. However, it is known that the game will feature artist cameos as well as the formation of a metal supergroup within the game.

Expect more information soon.

Blade Interactive’s plans for releasing Hydrophobia have been dampened, as Eurogamer reports a delay to the game.

Initially set for release late this year, the self-published submersive action-adventure title is now expected in March 2009. No reason for the delay was given.

There’s a developer update from Avatar Reality on Eurogamer which tells us that the studio’s “massively multiplayer virtual world” Blue Mars has been delayed.

The game is based on Crytek’s CryENGINE2, which powers Crysis and its expansion Crysis Warhead.

Reports suggest that beta testing will begin in January 2009 and is expected to last three months. A full launch is expected in April 2009.

On Variety is word that Brash Entertainment is closing its doors just a week after reports of layoffs from the company.

The company apparently lost $400 million in investments when co-found Thomas Tull left the board. Several games are now dead in the water, including Saw and Superman tie-ins.

Following the formation of Realmforge Studios, Kalypso Media also announced today that they have secured the publishing rights to Tropico 3 from Take-Two Interactive. The publisher will release the third entry in the once-famous strategy series in summer 2009.

Thankfully, Tropico 3 will be based on the awesomeness that was the first Tropico and not the crapfest that was the sequel.

“The Tropico series is a great IP which we are excited to continue,” said Simon Hellwig, Kalypso MD. “The game will be the biggest project Kalypso has realized so far in its short history and we are focusing on achieving a worldwide PC hit with this brand.”

It is being developed by Bulgaria-based Haemimont Games, who is also responsible for Grand Ages: Rome.

Expanding their biz further, Kalypso Media and developer Boxed Dreams have partnered to form a new Munich-based development studio dubbed Realmforge Studios. Boxed Dreams is currently working on Ceville, which will be published by Kalypso next year.

“We have built a close and friendly relationship with Boxed Dreams during the development of Ceville and we are delighted to further this partnership. Kalypso Media who are funding Realmforge Studios as the majority shareholder, are delighted that this new opportunity will offer further chances for our teams to work closely together,” said Stefan Marcinek, Managing Director of Kalypso Media.

All members of the development team at Boxed Dreams will be transferred to Realmforge Studios. The companies plan on doubling the size of the team by the middle of next year. The studio’s first title will be a business simulation package due out during the first quarter of 2009.

Keeping the stream of content flowing, Activision today announced that tracks from The Killers’ upcoming album will be made available for Guitar Hero: World Tour. The songs will be available simultaneously with the album’s release on November 25.

Two singles from the album will be playable: “Human” and “Losing Touch”. Rounding out the pack will be “Mr. Brightside” from the band’s debut album Hot Fuss. It will be available on both Xbox Live and PlayStation Network for 440 Microsoft points ($5.49). Songs can also be bought individually for 160 points ($1.99) a piece.