James Franco & Lenny Kravitz Made A Guitar Hero Commercial

Guitar Hero has a new edition coming out in a few weeks, and they rounded up James Franco and Lenny Kravitz to play the game for a commercial. Both of them get booed by the imaginary crowd at the beginning but eventually learn how to play along — very ~inspirational~. Franco references Kravitz’s pant-splitting incident, and ends the whole thing by smashing the guitar-shaped controller. A true punk! Not pictured is Kravitz’s new ’70s-inspired furniture collection.

Guitar Hero‘s Back With A Redesigned Controller And The War On Drugs

Guitar Hero and the similarly themed Rock Band were once ubiquitous, but both of them seemed to fade away as the casual gaming audience that they attracted moved primarily to mobile devices to get their fix. But both games are coming back this year — Guitar Hero has just announced Guitar Hero Live, the first new iteration of the video game series in five years. It comes paired with a brand new plastic guitar controller, meant to more closely mimic the actual feeling of playing the guitar rather than just mashing colorful buttons.

As The Verge reports, there will be two main components to the new game: a solo campaign mode –where you take on the POV of a rocker and go out to perform your songs, and the audience reacts positively or negatively based on how well you do — and an online multi-player mode designed to encourage players to stick with the game.

The game’s creators also promise a more diverse lineup than ever, including EDM and hip-hop in addition to the game’s more traditionally guitar-oriented tunes. “If it’s got a beat, and it’s got a rhythm, you can make good gameplay out of it,” the developers told The Verge. The lineup so far includes the War On Drugs (for beer commercial lead guitar shit mode), Ed Sheeran (for sleep mode), the Black Keys, the Rolling Stones, Skrillex, Fall Out Boy, the Killers, and more.

Guitar Hero Live will arrive on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PS3, Nintendo Wii U, and some mobile devices later this year. Here’s a melodramatic trailer for the game:

2013 in Gaming: The Year in Under 2 Minutes

2013 has been a landmark year for gaming. New consoles have been released and the older ones have made a fantastic last impression with an incredible line-up of intense and innovative titles. Both mainstream and indie developers have pushed the boundaries of interactive entertainment in 2013, delivering experiences we'll be talking about for years to come.

These are by no means the only great games from 2013. Your favorite game isn't missing because I don't think it is worthy... more likely it just didn't edit together well with the rest or had to go to keep it under 2 minutes. I also attempted to give some screen time to overachieving indies that deserve the attention, rather than trying to cram in every major release.

SOUNDTRACK
Sometimes - Miami Horror
The Defeatist - Cameras

GAMES FEATURED (in order of first appearance)
God of War: Ascension
Tomb Raider
Bioshock Infinite
Ryse: Son of Rome
Outlast
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Need for Speed Rivals
Forza 5
NBA 2K14
FIFA 14
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Ni No Kuni
The Cave
Rayman Legends
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD
Super Mario 3D World
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Devil May Cry
Deadpool
Battlefield 4
Grand Theft Auto V
Papers Please
Payday 2
Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs
Pikmin 3
The Swapper
Total War: Rome 2
Killer is Dead
Guacamelee
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
The Last of Us
Killzone: Shadow Fall
Gran Turismo 6
Proteus
Gone Home
Beyond Two Souls
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Don't Starve
Dead Rising 3
Dead Space 3
Batman Arkham Origins
Injustice: Gods Among Us
Grid 2
Remember Me
Contrast
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Crysis 3
The Wolf Among Us
Saints Row 4
Resogun
Tales of Xillia
Knack
Killer Instinct
Dead Island: Riptide
Lost Planet 3
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
Gears of War: Judgement
Metro: Last Light

Diablo III: Evil is Back TV Spot

The Lord of Terror has begun his demonic crusade to shackle YouTube viewers into unholy slavery. Watch it now, and prepare for the end of days to begin on 05.15.12.

The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings Enhanced Edition

Jaw-dropping trailer created by Platige Image for CD Projekt RED’s forthcoming Xbox 360/PC title, The Witcher 2. WARNING: Extreme gore. Credits and more info here.

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock Trailer

This is the first trailer for the upcoming Doctor Who video game The Eternity Clock that shows gameplay, and it seems the game will be combining old school platformer elements with third person action and super cinematic cutscenes.

Starring the Eleventh Doctor, River Song, Amy Pond and just about every major enemy from the last few seasons of the show, this game is definitely going for an epic level look, but I feel like the fun in gameplay variety might get sucked out by frustrating platforming puzzles and too many cutscenes. After watching the video, what do you guys think about this game?

–via Topless Robot

VGA 2011: Transformers Fall of Cybertron Exclusive Trailer

Digital Domain and Neil Huxley (Mothership) crafted this stunning teaser for Activision and High Moon Studios’s”Transformers: Fall of Cybertron” title.

Of Orcs And Men Features A Different Kind Of Lennie

I can’t think of a better way to re-envision a classic tale like “Of Mice And Men” than to cast an orc and goblin as the two main characters, throw them into a fantasy world, then let the orc kick some human tail in the name of freedom. Just don’t let him near any puppies!

–via Destructoid

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Full Cinematic Trailer

Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is an explosive showdown between the heroes of the Capcom universe and the superheroes of the Marvel universe.

The Song Of Skyrim Animated Video

I have been waiting for years to get my hands on a new Elder Scrolls game, and my excitement can barely be contained. Enter an equally excited, and fashionably medieval, bard to sing the praises of the newest incarnation-Elder Scrolls: Skyrim.

The “Song of Skyrim” is beautifully animated by Harry Partridge, and is so catchy that you’ll be humming the tune all day as you wait to get a copy of Skyrim in your hands.

–via Ology

Official Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - The Vet & The n00b

The official Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 live action trailer featuring Sam Worthington, Jonah Hill and Dwight Howard. Whether you're a veteran of Call of Duty or a n00b just starting out, there's a soldier in all of us.

Need for Speed: The Run Michael Bay Trailer

Experience a action-packed, coast-to-coast race for your life, all through the eyes of Michael Bay.

Game: Need For Speed: The Run
Developer: EA Black Box
Publisher: Electronic Arts

It's called The Run. An illicit, high-stakes race across the country. The only way to get your life back is to be the first from San Francisco to New York. No speed limits. No rules. No allies. All you have are your driving skills and sheer determination as you battle hundreds of the world's most notorious drivers on the country's most dangerous roads.

Parallax (beta) - IGF 2012 Trailer

With a monochrome color palette and mind bending portal physics, the indie game Parallax is set to blow away gamers when it comes out early 2012.

And, as amazing as this game looks, it was developed by only 2 people, Zi Ye and Jesse Burstyn, and is slated to be completed in less than one year! Check out the trailer and see if your brain can handle the world of Parallax.

–via Ars Technica

NYCC Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Capcom has released a new intense game cinematic for NYCC Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Battlefield 3 TV Trailer

Is it real? or is it Battlefield 3? Explore this new TV Launch trailer for Battlefield 3 to make your own opinion.

Official Battlefield 3 launch TV commercial! Watch a furious battle unfold in an exciting mix of live action and gameplay footage from DICE's new game, Battlefield 3.

Battlefield 3 - "99 Problems" feat. Jay-Z (Full Version)

New impressive Battlefield 3 game cinematic featuring Jayz soundtrack, 99 Problems.

Watch the full-length Battlefield 3 TV ad featuring never before seen gameplay footage and the hit song "99 Problems" by Jay-Z. Powered by the new Frostbite 2 game engine, Battlefield 3 features unrivaled audio, animation, rendering, scale, and destruction. Battlefield 3 is out on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC October 25th 2011.

Assassin's creed Revelations - E3 Trailer Continued

More content on http://www.assassinscreed.com Learn Ezio's fate with this extended version of the E3 trailer

Battles Soundtrack FIFA Soccer 12 Commercial

The new commercial for the video game FIFA Soccer 12 perfectly chops up “Ice Cream,” the Matias Aguayo collab from Battles’ new album Gloss Drop, with footage of random people (including Steve Nash, Hope Solo, and Seth Meyers) playing the video game. It’s an extremely well-done commercial, even for those of us who don’t care much about soccer or video games. And anyway, the world needs more examples of electro-math-rock bands coming together with Canadian basketball stars.

Max Payne 3 - First Trailer

The first glimpse of the long-awaited return of Max Payne - in action. Coming March 2012 to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Still haunted by the memories of his traumatic past, Max begins a new life working private security protecting a wealthy industrialist and his family in São Paulo, Brazil. When gangs target the family under his protection, Max is forced to fight to save his clients and clear his name, in a bid to, once and for all, rid himself of the demons that have tortured him for far too long.

www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne3

Gears of War 3: Dust to Dust

Credits:
The Dust to Dust film was developed at TwoFifteen Mccann by chief creative officer Scott Duchon, associate creative directors Mat Bunnell, Steve Couture, art director Jeremy Diessner, copywriter Nicole Clainos, director of integrated production Tom Wright, agency producers Chris Weldon, Eric Rasco, account director Peter Goldstein, account management supervisor Luke Lamson, account executive Stephanie Scott.

Production, animation, Mocap, editorial and visual effects were produced at Digital Domain by executive vie president Ed Ulbrich, executive producer Tanya Cohen, VFX supervisor Vernon Wilbert, Jr
, senior producer Melanie La Rue, producer Chris Fieldhouse
, CG supervisor Richard Morton, coordinator William Lemmon
, editor Todd Miller
, matte painter Zach Christian
, motion graphics artist Cody Williams, previs artist Niles Heckman
, technical director Derek Crosby, technical director, rigger: Adrian Dimond, digital artists Ryan Apuy
, Lee Carlton
, Daisuke Nagae
, Dave Carlson
, David Liu
 and Desiree Lundsferd
, lead animator Rick Glenn
, animator Kevin Culhane
, animator Scott Kravtiz
, lead FX artist Jason Mortimer
, FX artists Ken Jones
 and Adrian Graham
, lead Nuke compositor Rafael F. Colón, Nuke compositors Aruna Inversin
 and Soyoun Lee
, Flame artist Jeff Heusser, virtual production supervisor Gary Roberts, Mocap production supervisor Gaby Rios, senior Mocap pipeline engineer Damon Shelton, lab supervisor April Warren, Mocap artists Alia Dong-Stewart
, Ronaldo Benaraw
 and Ryan Beagan
, systems admin manager Steve Madonna and production assistant Jenn Grundstad.

Live action was filmed by director Adam Berg via Smuggler with executive producers Lisa Rich, Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody.

Music is “Into Dust” by Mazzy Star.

Sound was designed at Skywalker Sound by supervising sound designer/mixer Randy Thom, re-recording mixer Leff Lefferts, supervising sound editor Mac Smith, sound effects editor Steve Boeddeker, foley artists Sean England, Ronni Brown, foley mixer Tony Eckert and foley recordist Corey Tyler. Sound was mixed at Lime Studios by Joel Waters.