Electronic Arts and Maxis are giving fans a second chance to give SimCity a whirl, with another closed beta set to begin on Saturday, February 16, 2013 and end the next day on Sunday, February 17. Just like the previous beta, participants will be able to sample a one-hour chunk of the game. It's enough to get a feel for the new face of the series, but many of the core features remain blocked off until release.

To get in on the beta, head over to the sign-up page on the game's official website. Act quickly though, as registration closes on February 11. SimCity makes its way to Windows PCs on March 5, with a Mac version to follow later this year.

We’ve finally been able to get our hands on Sony’s The Last of Us, to see if the hype around this survival horror game stacks up. The game comes from Naughty Dog, who has already established that they know how to provide action with the Uncharted series, but rather than focusing on loot plundering, The Last of Us is meant to be a terrifying escort mission, taking you across a dystopian United States.

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Another day, another reputable media outlet doling out anonymously sourced information about Microsoft's Xbox 360 successor. The next Xbox console will come equipped with speech recognition technology, according to "sources familiar with Microsoft's Xbox plans" speaking to The Verge.

The full extent of the feature isn't known, but it seems that the console will allow for voice activation, "natural language controls," and speech-to-text. The console maker is also reportedly looking into the possibility of having the console detect individuals when they enter a room and offer suggestions based on voice inputs. The report compares this functionality to Apple's Siri.

The rumor comes only a day after Edge's own report that the Xbox 360 successor will require an always-on Internet connection. This would allow Microsoft to block the use of secondhand games, just as rumors have suggested next-gen consoles would do for some time.

Upcoming sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness has released a set of new photos exclusive to Entertainment Weekly's current cover story on the film.

While the film's release is quickly approaching in just a few short months on May 17, very little is still known about the specifics of the plot and whether or not there is more to the film's new villain, John Harrison, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. (Shown in one of the new photos in "Red Shirt" custody.) However, what is known at this point is that he is a former Starfleet officer who, after some horrific event, has taken up a cause; something he is willing to destroy Earth to achieve. Yet, if you were to listen to Cumberbatch in interviews, while still necessarily evasive on details, the actor does seem to imply that his character will ultimately prove to be a tragic figure. *Check below for a major breaking update on this subject!

With the entire crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise from 2009's Star Trek returning for this sophomore space epic, we will see the continued development of the relationships between this rebooted rank of recruits in more layman-friendly accessible drama, mixed with balls-to-walls apocalyptic action that this new J.J. Abrams-injected Star Trek franchise will be expected to bring.

Check out the new photos below!

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Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge is confirmed for an April 2, 2013 release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms as both a retail offering and a digital download. The previously Wii U-exclusive launch title will be relatively unchanged when it comes to the new consoles, save for the addition of new costumes for all playable characters.

Ninja Gaiden 3 was a bit of a disaster when it launched on the Microsoft and Sony platforms in the middle of 2012, but Team Ninja rose to the challenge of addressing criticisms for the game's Wii U release. The resulting Razor's Edge is a much stronger game overall, with fundamentally solid fighting mechanics further bolstered by the alteration or outright removal of the more offensive bits. Those who skipped NG3 last year may want to give it another look in April.

Michael Keaton will lend his considerable talents to DreamWorks' upcoming Need for Speed movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actor joins stars Aaron Paul and Dominic Cooper in the Scott Waugh-directed adaptation of the Electronic Arts-published racing series.

Keaton will (awesomely) play "the reclusive and eccentric host of an underground supercar race where he invites the best drivers from around the world." Keaton does eccentric really well. It should be fun to see him mixing it up with the two stars.

Keaton's been busy lately. In addition to his delightful turn as a Salt-n-Pepa-loving cop in The Other Guys, he also recently finished up filming for a role in the upcoming RoboCop reboot.

Conan O'Brien might not love the video games, but that doesn't stop him from reviewing Halo 4. The latest episode of Clueless Gamer sees the late-night funnyman taking on a game that he provided a voice for. That's what we in the press call a "conflict of interest," but Conan gets a pass because he's funny about it.

The highlight of the episode is of course when Conan confronts his in-game self, a guard stationed in a hangar bay with another guard, voiced by late-night cohort Andy Richter. We learn a few things from this encounter. Conan apparently hates himself, but he hates his "friend" Richter even more. 

After Disney confirmed that those rumors about Star Wars spinoff movies were anything but Bantha poodoo, Entertainment Weekly is now reporting that two of these films will focus on the seedy dealings of the callous, cloned bounty hunter, Boba Fett and the youthful exploits of the handsome smuggler, gambler, and Kessel Run conqueror, Han Solo.

In what is sounding like an old-school Star Wars fan's wet dream come to life, these new films will flesh out what will apparently be pivotal events in the lives of these proverbial faves, also providing us a method to possibly see some other old friends return to the big screen.

The Han Solo film will reportedly take place in between the chronological events of Prequel Trilogy finale, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and the first film of the Original Trilogy, Episode IV: A New Hope. Looking to cast a younger Harrison Ford-esque actor, we will likely see the events that shape the course of Han's life, taking him from a love-struck washout cadet at the Imperial Academy, to an "always shoot first" smuggler, free-riding across the galaxy, accompanied by a Wookie companion named Chewbacca whose life he saved.

So, what's in store for our favorite unmodified Mandalorian clone who collects Carbonite statues?

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The less said about that first Hitman movie, the better. Fox International Productions seems to realize this, as it's flipping the reboot switch on the franchise with an all new film set in the Hitman universe, starring Paul Walker. Aleksander Bach, an accomplished commercial director and feature newcomer, has been tapped to direct the reboot, called Agent 47, according to Deadline.

Bach will work off of a script from A Good Day To Die Hard's Skip Woods and Michael Finch. Woods also wrote the 2007 Hitman film, which starred Timothy Olyphant. Nothing has been revealed yet as far as the reboot's story goes, but expect to hear more soon, as production is supposedly set to start in June 2013.

God of War: Ascension is just over a month from launch, an approaching event that's increasingly been cause for alarm. After all, we haven’t even seen the single-player since last summer at E3, and while a multiplayer beta just recently wrapped, it just wasn’t the same God of War experience we’ve come to expect from this Sony tentpole that's made itself synonymous with over-the-top, first-person action gaming.

More to the point is that Ascension is a prequel to the entire series, giving us a look at Kratos before he was Kratos: the armed-to-the-teeth warrior who bellows anger at the gods while battling through impossible scenarios against supposedly immortal foes. By toying with the formula, Sony and their Santa Monica Studio would risk neglecting what's made GoW such a hit in the first place.

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The upcoming sequel that fans have been calling The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has officially revealed that it will be called...wait for it...The Amazing Spider-Man 2!

In an official press release by Columbia Pictures confirming the film has begun production in New York, the not-so-creative, but necessarily-straightforward title was announced. Additionally, it drops a brief (albeit vague,) synopsis of the plot. The details, while bare bones, are still the most substantive info that has been released thus far.

"In The Amazing Spider-Man™ 2, for Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), life is busy – between taking out the bad guys as Spider-Man and spending time with the person he loves, Gwen (Emma Stone), high school graduation can’t come quickly enough.  Peter hasn’t forgotten about the promise he made to Gwen’s father to protect her by staying away – but that’s a promise he just can’t keep.  Things will change for Peter when a new villain, Electro (Jamie Foxx), emerges, an old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, and Peter uncovers new clues about his past."

Indeed, it looks like Peter's put himself in an awkward position, seeing as Captain Stacy, in his dying act, managed to c-block him from his daughter, Gwen. Of course, he won't have much time to think about that with the arrival a new electrically-charged villain who wants to tell Spider-Man, "I like the way you die, boy."

Besides the mention of our new villain, Jamie Foxx and the returning cast members, the presence of Shailene Woodley and Paul Giamatti are also confirmed, although it fails to say whether they will play, respectively, Mary Jane Watson and Rhino. (Even though we know they will.) However, perhaps the most intriguing bit of news to come out of this presser is the naming of actor, Colm Feore to the cast. The 54 year-old actor, a regular on The Borgias, has also notably played Frost Giant King Laufey in Thor. While nothing was revealed about his role, it is quite possible that he could be our new incarnation of ominous villain and would-be Green Goblin, Norman Osborn.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 3D will shoot an Electro shock that will make your lips swell like Wanda from In Living Color at theaters on May 2, 2014.

[Source]

That other XCOM game, that one that was originally revealed to be a first-person shooter hybrid, is still in development at 2K Marin following multiple delays and a string of "no comments" concerning its status. The game came up during Take-Two Interactive's latest investor call (via Joystiq), confirming that 2K Marin "continues to make progress" on the game.

It's now looking like the XCOM shooter won't be making its way to gaming platforms until later this year, or perhaps early 2014. The game is on track for a fiscal 2014 release; Take-Two's fiscal year runs from April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014, so that's the window we're looking at. Provided those plans don't change, you can probably expect to hear more about the game during the coming GDC-E3-Gamescom-PAX trade show gauntlet.

We've heard it before, but a new report has surfaced claiming that the next Xbox console from Microsoft will block used games. The latest rumor comes from no less reputable a source than Edge, which cites "sources with first-hand experience of Microsoft's next-gen console."

According to the report, the blocking of secondhand games is a product of the console's requirement for an always-on Internet connection. Edge also notes that the next Xbox will be fitted with a Blu-ray drive and that a recently rumored set of tech specs -- AMD eight-core x64 1.6GHz CPU, Direct3d 11.x 8000MHz GPU, and 8GB of DDR3 RAM -- is accurate.

Whether or not this is accurate remains to be seen, but Edge isn't exactly known for wasting people's time.

Marvel's upcoming cosmic super-team epic, Guardians of the Galaxy has apparently found its lead. Beating out a long list of potential candidates with names far bigger than him, it is being reported that Chris Pratt has landed the role of Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord.

Pratt, a regular on Parks and Recreation, has been carving out quite a resume on the side in films like Moneyball and The Five-Year Engagement. However, his recent outing as a buffed-up U.S. Navy SEAL in Zero Dark Thirty has swung momentum his way like never before. The actor now nabs his first big-screen moment in the spotlight and does so in a major way with this Marvel movie tentpole.

With its apparent star, Pratt still far from a household name, Marvel will likely look for star power to serve in a supporting capacity. With Star-Lord only being the first official casting decision, it could be the case that roles for other team members who will be portrayed in a live-action capacity like Drax the Destroyer and Gamora will be filled by more recognizable names. In fact, a recent rumor which has comedy icons, Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler in the running to voice furry fellow, Rocket Raccoon still seems to hold water. -- Plus, rumors point to events in this May's Iron Man 3 leading to Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark showing up in Guardians in some capacity, which is definitely some major supporting star power.

So, who is Star-Lord, anyway? Let's take a quick look below.

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Fans who are waiting patiently for Kurt Sutter to figure out his Sons of Anarchy game can take comfort in the fact that the Deep Silver-published Ride To Hell, from Eutechnyx, is still in development. Deep Silver's Martin Wein told PlayNews (via Polygon) that an announcement regarding the game's development will be happening "in the near future."

For those who aren't familiar, Ride To Hell was announced way back in 2008 as an open world game focused on West Coast biker culture (think: '60s-era Hell's Angels). The initial reveal had the game pegged for a mid-2009 release on multiple platforms, though those plans have obviously changed. Polygon also notes that the game's official website, which was still active as of 2012, now redirects to Deep Silver's homepage.

The game has undoubtedly changed somewhat since 2009, but you can take a look at G4's coverage from back then to get a sense of what the game was originally aiming to do.