It's Friday, gamers, and welcome to the Comics Bulletin video game news roundup! As you may already know, this week was the BIGGEST release week for video games this year! Probably the biggest release week video games have had in a few years, really. I'm sure many of you pretty much have your weekends all planned out.

So, turn on that console and jump right in; whether as a Renaissance assassin, a gangster in a gang-run city, a futuristic soldier fighting for humanity, the soul of a dragon trapped in the body of a man or a tenacious little creature without limbs who just wants to fix the world he ruined with his snoring! But, before doing that, here is a bit of gaming news in a segment that we like to call...

NEWS BYTES

Metal Gear Solid 5 is Coming!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen: Metal Gear Solid 5 is on its way to us all! Not only that, but Hideo Kojima is once again behind it!

Kojima has been saying for years that he is ready to leave the franchise, but the fact that he keeps coming back just makes us all feel a whole lot better about Solid Snake. No release date or any real information about the game has been given, but Kojima-san will talk a bit about the new title in the upcoming issue of "Official PlayStation Magazine UK".

(bit from Game Informer)

DC Universe Online Getting Some New DLC... with The Flash!

When I started playing DC Universe Online earlier this month, I was planning on creating a character with an electrical power set. Unfortunately, I settled for psychic powers because said power set was not available in the game. But that error is now getting corrected!

Sony Online Entertainment announced a new downloadable content pack called Lightning Strikes, which will introduce electrical abilities and a new map: Central City! And, as we all know, Central City is home to everyone's favorite scarlet speedster, The Flash, who will also be featured in the DLC pack.

The content will be $9.99 to players, except the Legendary players who will get it for free. No word on a release just yet, but they say it's coming soon...

(bit from DCUniverseOnline.com)

Rampage: The Motion Picture?

I always used to dig Rampage as a kid. It was a dumb arcade game where you play a genetically-modified giant creature that terrorizes a pixelated metropolis. Apparently, New Line Cinema is going to be turning this dumb game into a film. No, I'm not kidding.

I don't know exactly how they plan on turning a game that has no plot (my brief synopsis was more complex than the actual game's "story"), but I will definitely be in line on Day 1 with my popcorn and a flask of Scotch!

(bit from Game Informer)

Details Revealed for the Mass Effect 3 N7 Collector's Edition

Yes, Mass Effect geeks! There will be another collector's edition for the upcoming Mass Effect 3!

For merely $79.99, you will not only get the game, but:

• Metal case featuring both Male Shepard and FemShep

• 70-page hardcover art book

• Mass Effect comic from Dark Horse

• Fabric N7 patch

• 4x6 lithographic print of the Normandy

• In-game content (including N7 Arsenal Pack, alternate squad appearance pack, robotic dog on the Normandy)

• Mass Effect 3 digital soundtrack

As I'm sure you are all aware, Mass Effect 3 will be released on March 6, 2012. Are you planning on picking up the N7 Collector's Edition?

(bit from G4)

Steam's Super Meat Boy Anniversary Bundle Pack is Definitely Worth Your Cash!

In honor of Super Meat Boy's one-year anniversary, Steam has put together the Super Meat Boy Anniversary Bundle!

In the bundle, you get Super Meat Boy (plus the game's soundtrack) as well as Aquaria, BIT.TRIP BEAT (plus soundtrack), BIT.TRIP RUNNER (plus soundtrack), Braid (plus soundtrack), Gish, Half-Life 2, Machinarium (plus soundtrack), VVVVVV and World of Goo for a mere $24.99!

I already have Super Meat Boy and Braid on Xbox LIVE Arcade and have Half-Life 2 on both PC and The Orange Box on Xbox 360. Yet, I still am buying this bundle! You save 75% off the grand total of buying all of these individually from Steam. And if there is one thing that I love doing, it's supporting indie game development in all its forms.

If you have not yet played Super Meat Boy or any of the titles here, I highly recommend you order this!

(bit from Steam)

Batman: Arkham City Big Head Mode Revealed!

Apparently, Rocksteady has hidden a 'Big Head Mode' in their recent hit, Batman: Arkham City and it looks (for lack of a better word) adorable! Never has beating the crap out of serial killers and maniacal gang members been so much fun.

The cheat only works on Normal or higher difficulty and New Game Plus mode. It not only works on Batman, but on all other playable characters and all character skins!

(bit from Games Radar)

New Parents Name Their Child 'Dovahkiin'. Gamers Just Go Too Far Sometimes...

Now, I love Bethesda and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim may be one of the best role-playing games (maybe even one of the best games) I have ever had the good fortune to play. That said, I personally would not my child after one of the names in a great video game (no matter how fantastic it is) just to ensure that I receive free copies of that publisher's games for the rest of my life. Frankly, that is ridiculous to even think about.

Unfortunately, those who agree would be surprised to find out that a couple has done just that! Megan and Eric Kellermeyer gave birth to a son on November 11, 2011 and named him Dovahkiin Tom Kellermeyer. No, I shit you not!

Bethesda had posted a dumb challenge that I'm certain they figured no one would actually accept. The challenge was that if anyone were to give birth to a child on 11/11/11 (the release date of the game) and name this child 'Dovahkiin', Bethesda would provide this family with free Bethesda games for life. And the fucking Kellermeyer's did it!

I think that this is a bit irresponsible of both parties. Bethesda should have known that some people are crazy enough to take those remarks seriously. The Kellermeyers should not have chosen to name their child solely based on getting a free game every few years. Bethesda seems to be proudly accepting this turn of events, though. I wonder if they will also offer to pay for the poor lad's future trips to an analyst for his entire life...

(bit from Bethesda Blog)

VIDEOBITS

SSX Gets "Tricky" with Run DMC!

The unofficial anthem for the SSX series is back with a pretty cool remix! I'm oddly excited for this game...

Mario Kart 7 Gameplay Videos

Man, I really want a 3DS...

A New Serious Sam 3: BFE Gameplay Trailer Arises

I'm still shock that this game was made!

PIXEL'D PANELS

Click panels to see the full web comics!

Penny Arcade Presents -- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

ActionTrip | Skyrim DLC -- Locked in Dragon Matrimony

Awkward Zombie | Buck Up

Brawl in the Family | 1UP?

Dueling Analogs | Service With a Smile

Legacy Control | A Huge Loss

Nerf NOW!! | Backlog

Penny Arcade | Thulsa Broom

Virtual Shackles | Use Every Part

NOTE FROM NICK

The last thing I wanted to let you all know was that the Child's Play charity has just kicked off its annual Holiday Season! Child's Play -- from the creators of the Penny Arcade webcomic -- is a charity dedicated to improving the lives of sick and hospitalized children with video games and toys in over 70 hospitals around the world. Since 2003, millions of dollars have been donated and used to help these kids have fun rather than just sit in a hospital room.

Child's Play works in two way: You can click on a hospital on the Child's Play donation page and pick a gift to donate from the wish list or make a cash donation through PayPal -- which Child's Play uses to buy video games, consoles, toys, books and other fun stuff for kids throughout the year.

It is a great cause and if you would care to donate, please go to the site and make a kid a little bit happier this holiday season.

Thank you.

All right! I have to get back to Rayman Origins. Have a great weekend, gamers!

Until next time...

GAME OVER