Microsoft Gamers Day update: Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Penny Arcade Adventures, and more

Over at their Gamer’s Day event in San Francisco, Microsoft‘s taking the opportunity to unveil several new details regarding some of the Xbox 360’s upcoming titles. A new Gears of War 2 gameplay video was announced, along with additional information for the likes of Ninja Gaiden 2, Fable 2, and even the recently announced Viva Pinata sequel. More details are available in the full article.

Microsoft Game Studios’ Gamer’s day has unveiled quite a bit of new information regarding several titles heading for the Xbox 360. First off, there was the matter of a new demonstration of Epic Game’s Gears of War 2 to ogle over.

Studio design director Cliff Bleszinski was on-site to showcase a segment from this upcoming game, showing Marcus Fenix and his team fending off two Derrick transports against Reavers and Brumaks.

Viva Pinata 2: Trouble in Paradise was yet another of the games showcased at the event. The game will carry a new “Just for Fun” setting, which makes it easier for the players to get started (definitely something for casual players). Also not to be missed is a new screenshot feature, enabling players to take pictures of their creations, to be loaded into their journal. This feature will make use of the Xbox Live Vision Camera.

For the hardcore RPG’ers and adventurers, there’s also a bit of news on Fable 2. The game, previously hinted by Molyneux to be arriving this autumn, has been noted to be arriving by “the holidays”, at least according to MS’ press wire. Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux  noted at the Gamer’s Day event that the game’s at the end of development, with all its main features now completed.

So, does this mean a demo won’t be too far off? Molyneux states that if the decision were left up to him, that would be unlikely, citing the sheer number of features that Fable 2 will introduce. As the Lionhead boss elaborated (via Eurogamer):

There’s no plan for a demo at the moment. Demos are probably the trickiest and hardest things to design, because there are probably 60- or 70- odd features we introduce to the player, and it takes us about ten to 15 hours to introduce all those. Trying to squeeze some of those down into a demo is really hard, if not impossible, so I would vote not to do a demo.

Another update also not to be missed is regarding Banjo Kazooie 3. The title’s been renamed Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, though we’re not sure which story Rare Ltd. will be using in line with the new name. One new feature that was mentioned is the ability for players to invent new abilities for Banjo. It will still be a platformer, as George Kelion had hinted previously.

Then there’s Ninja Gaiden 2. While the game’s set for a June 3 launch in North America (June 6 for Europe, June 5 for Japan), players can avail of some early title-related goodies via Xbox Live. For one, there’s the matter of the new gamerpics and theme packs that are now available for download. The gamerpic bundles carry five new images each at 100 MS points per pack.

Theme packs, which focus on heroes and bosses, go for 150 MS points per pack. Just make sure to have enough MS points handy when Team Ninja releases the game’s Costume Packs this July – that Fiend Hayabusa skin looks might wicked. Enjoy these goodies while they last, folks – Itagaki recently announced that Ninja Gaiden 2 will be the last game in the franchise.

Last but not least, there’s the matter of the new Penny Arcade title with the obscenely long name. It was revealed that at the Microsoft’s event that Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One is dated for a May 21 release. Those planning to pick up this title via Xbox Live will want to prepare 1600 MS points. You can also pick it up via the Greenhouse digital distribution service for US$ 20.

That’s the latest we’ve picked up regarding the Gamer’s Day highlights. Drop by again in case we run into any further updates.