Yep, it is a bit of a phenomenon that nobody really predicted.  Skylanders is the latest craze combining collectable figurines that come to life in the linked video game of the same name.  Here are the bio’s on the next  set of characters due this month.

There is an amazing amount of content available on the disc of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as there is, now developer Bethesda want’s all of us to enjoy the process of creating new Skyrim adventures with the release of an official mod tool for the game.

A story line invoking maximum pain for the main protagonist is on the cards in RockStar Games’ forthcoming Max Payne 3.  The release dates for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC have been announced.

The forthcoming closing chapter in Bioware’s Mass Effect trilogy is on the horizon, it’s time to develop the best ways to guide Commander Shepard to save Earth.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a new IP from 38 Studios boldly entering the market strewn with fantasy based RPG’s.  But as Lead Designer Ian Frazier and Producer Sean Bean pointed out to RadioactiveIT, there is plenty to distinguish this game from rest, in particular the rich lore and the Tekken style combat.

There is a significant and dangerous problem with playing the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim .

This is quite a let-down for the Need For Speed brand, a long running video-game grandfather of a franchise, that over the years has certainly toyed with the emotions of fans.  In recent times however, the Need For Speed branded SHIFT games as well as Hot Pursuit have injected enough white-knuckle adrenalin into the arcade style racing to garner a whole new crop of video-racing devotees.

Is this the one Lord Of The Rings game to rule them all?  Well the good news is that despite lofty ambitions weighed down by the literary and fan expectations, the result is a game that flirts with the abyss but remains stoic to its roots whilst providing surprisingly enjoyable game-play.

At a recent Electronic Arts event, iTWire managed to clock up some kilometres with the next Need For Speed title.  Need For Speed: The Run is the Cannonball Run brought to video game life with fast cars, Sports Illustrated girls and a decidedly different driving model.

Keith Guerrette  - Lead Visual Effects Artist at Naughty Dog sat down with us to discuss the upcoming Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception, Guerrette explains a number of challenges the team faced during development, and how Uncharted has helped define a whole new gaming genre  of cinematic adventure.