Smoking Gun Interactive, formed by ex-Relic people, today launched its first installment of the graphic novel series titled “X”. Written by controversial, award-winning author and social critic Douglas Rushkoff, the series is illustrated by Smoking Gun’s lead concept artist Cheoljoo Lee and Younger Yang.

Pandemic Studios' new open-world environment stealth-action thriller, Saboteur is set against the dramatic backdrop of occupied France and based on a true story, the personal tale of one man’s fight to find and kill the Nazi thugs who murdered his friends.

Sacred 2 is a action-oriented deep fantasy RPG where players are immersed in an epic journey through the medieval-like kingdom of Ancaria featuring pitched battles and a wide range of enticing quests. The Sacred 2 Ice & Blood add-on adds a new character, varied new quests/stories, new in-game items, as well as two new single-player areas with all-new enemies.

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

• Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage (Wii)
• Vegas Party (Wii)
• Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (NDS/Wii)
• Harvest Moon: Animal Parade (Wii)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (NDS/Wii/PS3/X360/PC)
• Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands (NDS)
• For the Glory (PC)
• Dragon Ball: Raging Blast (PS3/X360)
• Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans (NDS)
• NBA 2K10 (Wii)
• BUZZ! Quiz World (PS3)
• DJ Star (NDS)

We will update this throughout the day when new announcements become available. Read more for details ...

StarCraft II will feature the return of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg races. It's overhauled and re-imagined with Blizzard's approach to game balance, and it's designed to be the ultimate competitive RTS game. Earlier this year, Blizzard started accepting sign-ups for a beta that was scheduled to commence in late 2009, which was confirmed a few months later. At the Russian games expo IgroMir, Blizzard producer Chris Sigat supposedly revealed that this was getting pushed to 2010.

Konami has unveiled a terrifying new take on the horror genre, in the form of Hudson Soft’s Calling. Using unique interaction elements, the Wii game features an innovative adventure concept and is driven by its terrifying story and many traps and mysteries.

Two Worlds II presents a totally new experience, one in which 2 years of intensive development has enabled quantum leaps in all spheres: completely overhauled AI and balancing standards, experienced authors, the active combat system and the brand-new engine all combine to provide an experience where excitement, sheer enjoyment and graphics rule.

Halfbrick Echoes is an action where you control Charlie, a girl transported to a dream world while studying art, and finds herself in a series of bizarre and surreal levels. You must collect crystals and avoid the deadly Echoes which spawn and follow the player’s previous movements. Gameplay quickly becomes fast-paced strategic action as more complex paths are taken and the Echoes begin to close in!

Wondering what games will be available in stores today? We'll let you know in a few hours, but if the past few weeks are any indication, there should be quite a few — unless everyone is trying to steer clear of the Modern Warfare 2 juggernaut.

We watched the latest Amazing Race episode, and it was good to see that it was a non-elimination round. The remaining teams may not be the strongest that the show has had, but at least they aren't so annoying that you wish they were gone, like a few of the couples from earlier in the race (I'm looking at you, beefy NY lawyer man).

A few weeks ago, we ran an article on Ubisoft sending people on a week-long trip to Italy to check out Assassin's Creed, raising the question of whether such "press tours" are excessive, and it seems there's more "scandal" where that came from.

In a vast open world environment, Assassin's Creed II invites players to incarnate Ezio, a privileged young noble in Renaissance Italy who's been betrayed by the rival ruling families of Italy, and seeking vengeance.