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In their continuing effort to make accurate, yet entertaining films based on videogame properties, it appears we have the final casting for Lionsgate's big screen adaptation of Eidos' Kane & Lynch. We're in for a treat, it seems.

While Bruce Willis has long been fittingly confirmed for the role of the mercenary Adam "Kane" Marcus, word cropped up today by way of the movie's screenwriter, Kyle Ward, that rapper/actor Jamie Foxx has been tapped for the role of pill-popping James Lynch. Said Ward on his Twitter account, before it was quickly scrubbed from the web: "Done deal…Jamie Foxx is in.” Did your brain just melt, too? I don't even have words for this.

So far all we know about the film is that it won't be a direct translation of the game (because that would make too much sense), instead being "essentially the story of a mercenary teaming up with a schizophrenic psychopath to save his wife and daughter," producer Adrian Askarieh has stated in the past.  G4 report that sources are indicating Foxx is "in negotiations" for the role, but that is appears this is a reaction to the news being dropped on accident. We should know for sure before too long.

Kane & Lynch is due to hit theatres in 2011. God help us all.

[Update]: Variety report that this is a done deal, with the movie expected to enter production in August.

Warner Bros. Interactive officially announced Lord of the Rings: War in the North this afternoon, the first real next-gen adventure in Middle-Earth to be forged in the fires of Mount Doom. If the name sounds familiar, that's because it leaked out back in 2009, when Warner and Saul Zaentz Company trademarked it.

Developed by Snowblind Studios of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and Champions of Norrath fame, War in the North is a visceral co-op action RPG that is set "against the backdrop of the famous trilogy, yet forges its own distinct path with a new story and an exciting take on the popular genre. It will give players the unique opportunity to explore previously untold stories in the realm of Middle-earth during the journey of the ring."

Players will not take up arms as pre-defined warrior, instead being able to create their own characters, upgrading his or her skills, weapons and more.

"In The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Snowblind will deliver an action RPG for core gamers featuring authentic narrative and environmental locations from J.R.R. Tolkien's original The Lord of the Rings," said Ryan Geithman, Founder and Studio Head of Snowblind Studios. "This game is a natural evolution of the acclaimed RPG gameplay that Snowblind has consistently delivered over the past years. Players and fans will experience an innovative approach to online co-op gameplay, woven throughout every facet of the game in a way that only Snowblind can deliver."

War in the North is currently scheduled for release sometime in 2011, a bit too far off for this Tolkien fan, sadly. Head over to the brand new teaser site for more.

Announced last November, Capcom's new double-the-fun digital re-release of both Final Fight and Magic Sword has been dated.

Final Fight: Double Impact includes both side-scrolling arcade classics with cleaner, "enhanced" (or old school) visuals, remixed soundtracks, leaderboard support, drop-in co-op, and Achievements. Capcom are even using the “GGPO” network technology to allow for a "frame-accurate arcade experience across the internet with online voice chat and the ability to join games in progress."

The title is slated for release on April 14th on XBLA, and will cost 800 Microsoft Points.

Way back in August of last year, a GameStop survey leaked that indicated the mega retailer was looking into not only a free, tiered rewards system, but a premium card-carrying GameStop Elite program as well.

The former would net gamers points for trade-ins and buying games, with the latter giving extra payout on your used titles; basically an enhanced Edge system. Those accumulated points, however, would be able to be redeemed for all sorts of goodies like discounts, "exclusive in-game accessories," free software, and even an "all-access" pass and/or free trip to E3 or Comic-Con. But this was almost a year ago, so what happened? Where are our rewards?

It appears GameStop haven't forgotten about this would-be awesome set of programs, as they're apparently slated to roll the program(s) out "nationwide by the end of this year," claims Gamervision. Meanwhile, the retail giant told Joystiq that they're "in the process of evaluating loyalty opportunities for our customers. As this is a work in progress, we are not going to comment on speculation to changes to our Edge card program."

Huh. And that's that, I guess. I have to admit that the very thought of even more items to be harassed over during a trip to GameStop nauseates me, but at least it'd be better knowing you're getting something more out of your experience eventually, instead of a magazine subscription and a few extra dollars on that trade-in copy of Madden.

DICE are on a roll with Battlefield: Bad Company 2, having managed to create a multiplayer shooter that effectively took the wind out of Modern Warfare 2's sails, and they aren't stopping. Where other companies (over)charge for their DLC, DICE are rewarding people who buy Bad Company 2 with free content via the title's in-game storefront, with the next map pack due on March 30th. And there's much more on the horizon.

In a new interview with IGN, executive producer Karl Magnus Troedsson says that the team "plan to take care of the product for a long time," and that they aren't looking to splinter the audience with various add-on packs. As for what we can expect going forward, one thing not likely to arrive is new single-player material, but it's not impossible down the road.

"We haven't planned any DLC that comes with the actual story itself, but we won't rule it out. The good thing about having a post-launch campaign that we have -- that we plan to take care of the product for a long time -- is that we can be reactive to what people think. But obviously, creating single-player missions is a much bigger thing than creating additional multiplayer maps," he explained.

"I would dare say we have a lot of opinion based on the fact that we've been making multiplayer games for so long. Already in 1942 and Battlefield 2 we had a lot of different booster packs. One of the very clear lessons that we learned from that is that the more booster packs people have to pay for, all you do is actually segment the community. If you don't have this map, you can't play with me. If I don't have that map, I can't play with you. Team play is very important for us... this is something that we felt that it is probably better to give away a lot of the maps for free, and then perhaps we can have some more paid DLC in the future that is not focusing on that."

Additional weapon kits, maps and maybe even game modes are no doubt going to popping up to reward players for some time. And with a good portion being free, who can complain?

Metro 2033 has only been out for a few days, with players seemingly quite happy with their single-player-only exploration of a post-apocalyptic Russian metro station, and now THQ have confirmed that DLC is underway. Though not your typical DLC, it seems. In a post on Facebook, the team wrote "with the game now finished, we have been turning our thoughts to potential DLC. We’ve got some ideas, but nothing we can talk about right now other than to say it won't be new SP narrative content, 'missing levels' or anything like that - it's something we're only just starting production on."

"And no, it's not multiplayer!," they confirm, much to our delight. "That would be very cool, but sadly not possible..." It's okay, guys, not every game needs multiplayer. Trust me. That raises an interesting bit of speculation on this content, however. If not additional story content, extra levels, missions or the usual fluff (and obviously no co-op, either), then what? New weapons jump out as the first possibility, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head, given the type of game Metro is. Interesting.

Oh, and in case you're unaware of what that day-one title update added? You may want to head into your game options if you're not too keen on the weapon selection method currently present. Because a much better version has been slipped in.

"The existing weapon select system was based around the typical PC gaming set-up, and whilst it works ok we got some feedback at recent community events just prior to launch that a more console-friendly system would be appreciated. We think the new change nails it. Once the title update is applied, you need to select the new Weapon Select scheme from the Game Options. Go to Options / Controls and change Inventory from Linear to Circular.

With the new control scheme applied, some of the buttons will change function:

-L/ R on the D-Pad now checks your Watch / Timer

-Left Bumper Button now applies a Med-Kit

-Y Button now changes weapon. A single ‘Tap’ alternates between your Knife and your equipped Ranged Weapon. A ‘Press and Hold’ brings up the Weapon select wheel – use the left Stick to equip a different ranged weapon."

Irrational Games continue to delving into their archives, outing content and ideas that were sadly axed from the original BioShock they unleashed back in 2007. In the newest blog posting this week, the newly re-named studio reveals a slew of creature and mutant concepts for the shooter, all of which were designed "very early on," but meeting an untimely end prior to shipping.

There's the Yam Hand, which according to artist Robb Waters “made you wonder what the heck was going on under that dingy burlap sack" on is head. Sort of looks like RE4's chainsaw zombie, mixed with a Big Daddy.

The "Thug Aggressor" was another Splicer with "oversized and disproportionate limbs," and seems to conjur early visions for what would become BioShock 2's Brute. "Jelly Man" depicts a poor soul whose flesh is falling off his body for unknown reasons. The studio says he "melted before he could be incorporated into BioShock."

Next up the "Monster Bug", a "gruesome" concept that was "of great help in selling BioShock to publishers." A "huge insect slowly growing from within a human being and taking over the physical form.  And as sickening as this image is, its true power comes from what’s implied:  what was it like for the original person transitioning to this state of organic fusion?"

Lastly we have the "Grub Mutant", which is described as "another fused-parasite idea," with a "grub as thick as a telephone pole growing through the guy’s chest."

Twisted stuff, no doubt. Sadly, these all fell by the wayside for the franchise thus far. Who knows what future sequels could do, though.