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Sony has finally nailed down the date — November 16 — for Media Molecule’s epic sequel,LittleBigPlanet 2. Also revealed were the requisite retailer-specific pre-order items. Go with Amazon, get six Sackboy costumes — one of Ratchet, one of Clank, and four “Animal Costumes.” Go with Best Buy, get an exclusive “Alien” fromToy Story 3costume, along with four costumes from the “Even More Animals” pack. GameStop pre-order customers get another Disney-related exclusive, aTron: LegacySackboy outfit, along with that “Even More Animals” pack....

While SEGA is busy scratching its head over thesurprisingly good sales ofAlpha Protocolit seems Capcom has been busy throwing chairs across the room at some disappointingLost Planet 2sales. In what can only be called amiserable financial reportCapcom revealed that the game, and burgeoning staple franchise, “underperformed its projection substantially,” shipping only 1.5 million units globally. A large sum for most games, but disappointing for what was supposed to be a blockbuster sequel....

We’ll have our full preview ofAlice: Madness Returnstomorrow. But you want to see some gameplay now, right? Electronic Arts had the same idea, and have given us the greenlight to run this latest trailer, made up of mostly in-game footage. We get a good look at the game’s twisted world, brutal melee combat, and light platforming elements. Also, Alice rains all over Wonderland with an entire machine gun clip. Of course!...

In a press release yesterday, Majesco and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. — a terrifying and shockingly appropriate name for her corporation — announced a partnership. Yes, the people who brought youCooking Mamawill now be publishing games based on the most successful homemaker of all time. I, for one, welcome Martha Stewart into gaming. I’m hoping that her products become so successful that videogames can merge into the things that she already does....

Last week, Microsoft bigwig Shane Kim claimed that portable Xbox gamingwas a matter of “when.”Despite this, videogame analyst and dangerous shaman Michael Pachterhas discountedthe idea of a handheld Microsoft console, at least in the current market. “I don’t see Microsoft as being competitive in handheld gaming,” explains the man who can crush coal into diamonds. “The Zune has been a commercial disaster, and their core Xbox consumer is too old to carry a handheld gaming device....

It’s the trendy thing right now to claim that Achievements are worthless and stupid, but according to Microsoft, such sneering hardcore gamers are in the minority. According toStephen Toulouse, Achievements are aproven game seller. “It’s been statistically shown that games that have Achievements and implement them well sell better,” Toulouse told Major Nelson in a recent podcast.Naturally, Toulouse did not provide any of this statistical information, but he said it so it must be true....

During a recent earnings conference call, Activision publishing CEO Mike Griffith said that the publisher is only planning to do two unique map packs forCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Both of which will be timed Xbox 360 exclusives. We thought it an odd decisionthat wouldn’t stick in our report. Looks like it’s not sticking. MTV Multiplayerspoke with Infinity Ward’s community manager Robert Bowling via e-mail about Griffith’s remark. Bowling said that IW is committed to supporting the game, and if the community wants more content, they’ll deliver more than just two map packs....

First of all, happy new year. Second of all, this month’s topic revolves around multiplayer games. Deathmatches, party games, fighting games, what have you — everything’s up for grabs. The topic itself is simple, but broad: What do you love or hate about multiplayer games? What experience and emotions do they effect which can’t be found in singleplayer experiences? What stories have you gained from multiplayer games? Yes, that is technically three topics....

It’s been a while since I’ve posted aboutDynasty Warriors, and I know you’re all begging for more! Here we are then, with a fresh selection ofDynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legendsscreenshots. It’s likeDynasty Warriors 7, but more legendary in an xtreme way. To the max! So yeah, there are some picture and stuff. You all know the drill by now.

For those who recently picked upThe Elder Scrolls III: Morrowindduring the Steam sale, you’ll want to point your eyes away from the silly cats and toward this collection of mods called theMorrowind 2011 Mod Compendium. Long-time players who have dabbled in prettying up or otherwise enhancing the game may not get much use out of this, but it certainly serves a purpose. Installation instructions can befound here, courtesy of the guy responsible for creating this bundle of joy, Tyler Smith....

Did you know?:Mario Kart Wiinow contains motorbikes! Yup, that’s about the news right there. Not much more to say. Pretty cool, right? But how will they change the gameplay, if at all? Personally, I don’t see what the big deal is. There were cars, hovercrafts, and planes in the highly underratedDiddy Kong Racingfor the Nintendo 64 … I didn’t see people freaking out about that one. I even thought that was a better game thanMario Kart 64, to be honest with you, but now I’m just asking for it, aren’t I?...

Once upon a time, theDragon Ballfranchise was behind some of Atari’s highest grossing titles. Throw the words “dragon” “ball” and “budokai” on a box and Atari would be looking at money in the bank. Those days are behind us — Namco Bandai has announced that its secured exclusive North American rights to publish all futureDragon Balltitles across all major consoles and handhelds for the next five years. The deal officially begins in January of 2010, but Namco Bandai are getting a head start later this year....

1950s New York seems like a miserable place to live. Drive-by shootings. Exploding buildings. Crooked cops. Is anyone safe? When it’s set to Dean Martin’s “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head?”, though, it seems a bit more palatable. Also, when it’s a videogame calledMafia II, and I don’t have to get anywhere near a bunch of trigger happy wiseguys, of course. This latest trailer is actually pretty slick, and does the best job of selling me on the sequel yet, with hot action and slick-looking visuals....