After a top-secret consignment, codenamed ‘Whiteknight’, is lost in the deepest jungles of Vietnam, a team of Special Operatives are sent in to retrieve it, only the team, one by one, mysteriously disappear. One month later, however, a single soldier emerges from the jungle, crazed and deranged, as though some thing has torn his mind apart - and that thing has followed him out of the jungle.

That’s the basic set-up for Shellshock 2: Blood Trails, a new first-person war game in the Shellshock franchise that focuses on horror and fear as opposed to mindlessly shooting enemies. General Manager of Eidos Game Studios, Lee Singleton, explained:

“Shellshock 2 is very different to any first person shooter you’ve seen before; at times it feels more like you’re in a horror movie than a game. Survival takes on a new meaning as you fight against all sides of the conflict: your enemy, your allies and the victims… the casualties of Whiteknight, an enemy that ultimately has no side.”

Click through for some impressively creepy footage from Shellshock 2:

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From what we have seen so far Lara Croft’s latest adventure is shaping up quite nicely.

A new trailer has been released in which Cinematics Director Toby Gard and Creative Director Eric Lindstorm reveal the story behind Tomb Raider: Underworld. ‘Beneath the Surface’ investigates the mythology behind the game and takes a look at the visual style given to the places Lara visits, ranging from Thailand’s Hindu culture to the Mayans in Mexico.

Tomb Raider: Underworld is scheduled to be released on the 21st of November on the Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS and PlayStation 2.

A new trailer has been released for the upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld, raising questions, showing off vehicle action, some explosive sequences as well as giant spiders and an irritable kraken. It then ends on a big ‘ole suspenseful cliffhanger.

Tomb Raider: Underworld, Lara Croft’s latest adventure, is set for release on November 21st on Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS and PlayStation 2 (what, no PSP?).

Last week rumours surfaced that Pandemic, an EA studio, was developing a Dark Knight game based on the Hollywood blockbuster of the same name. At that time game analyst Michael Pachter estimated that had a Dark Knight game been released at the time of the movie, it had the potential to sell 4 million copies and generate $100 million.

Well it seems as if a new Batman game is on the cards, but EA is not going to be publishing it. The September issue of Game Informer has revealed Eidos and Rocksteady Studio’s latest project to be none other than Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Touted to be a completely original title, the game will see players exploring Gotham City’s infamous Arkham Asylum. After a prison transfer goes awry and the Joker sets his manic plan into action, Batman must face an army of his worst enemies.

Arkham Asylum is described as “setting the stage for a true-to-character Batman game” and with a story co-written by Paul Dini (producer of Batman: The Animated Series) has a “dark and gritty setting reminiscent of Bioshock.”

Batman: Arkham Asylum is being developed by Rocksteady Studios, whose website currently features a countdown clock within a Batman logo.

Game Informer promises more details about Batman’s latest escapades when the September issue hits shelves on the 18th of August.

Eidos has revealed the latest Lara Croft model to be Alison Carroll (23) from Croydon, England.

According to Wikipedia, Carroll is the eleventh lucky lady to step into the shoes of the most successful video game heroine to date, replacing Karima Adebibe who was the Legend era Croft.

Carroll told The Sun that she feels confident that playing the sexiest game heroine there is should get her a few more dates. “I felt so good pulling on the costume for the first time. So confident and in control. I really felt like an action heroine.”

“She has everything a man would want from a woman and everything a woman would aspire to be like,” she continued. It’s not all fun and games though, the former golf club receptionist will have to undergo weapons’ handling and archaeology lessons to immerse herself in the role. Lucky that she is a trained gymnast then.

The Croydon Guardian reports that the new Miss Croft will undertake a series of courses including SAS survival, combat and semi-automatic weapon firing courses in Eastern Europe.

Tomb Raider: Underworld, the eighth game in the series, is due out for the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, DS and PC this November.

Now that Underworld has been dated, Tomb Raider fans can start getting excited, specifically by looking at these screenshots.

Underworld truly brings the Tomb Raider franchise to the next-generation of consoles with tons of texture and geometric detail, while also featuring ‘next-generation’ game play, extending on classic Lara Croft adventuring style.

Check ‘em out.

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Eidos has stamped a November 21st European release date on Tomb Raider: Underworld.

Tomb Raider: Underworld will be released simultaneously on the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, Nintendo DS and PC. Developed by Crystal Dynamics (who also developed the Legend and Anniversary installments), Tomb Raider: Underworld is the first game in the series to be designed specifically for next generation consoles.

The game sees Lara Croft discovering proof that the hammer of the Norse God Thor, once thought to be a myth, exists. So begins a journey around the globe as Croft seeks to uncover this power, hunting for clues, solving puzzles and facing both animal and supernatural foes with advanced weapons and abilities.

The Nintendo DS and Wii versions include exclusive features; Wii owners can look forward to an archeological toolkit to excavate hidden areas and secrets with a compressed air gun, acetylene torch, chisel and pliers.

“We’re thrilled to bring back Lara Croft and Tomb Raider at Christmas time on all formats,” said Patrick Melchior, Head of European Distribution. “Lara Croft has never looked, acted or played so realistically before. Tomb Raider: Underworld will delight fans and gamers alike as well as being a great gift for the Christmas season!”

Eidos has announced that Tomb Raider: Underworld will be out in November for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PS2 and PC.

Developed by Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: Underworld is the first Lara Croft adventure built specifically for next-generation consoles and promises an “epic adventure that offers a new level of challenge and choice.”

The legend of the weapon of the Norse god Thor says that whoever holds the hammer wields ultimate power to smash mountains and destroy even the gods. It has been a myth for over a thousand years until Lara discovers proof of the Norse underworld and the hammer.

The game sees Lara embarking on a quest to uncover the secrets of the Norse underworld and a forgotten power that will threaten civilization if unleashed. Lara will have to use her duel guns and an expanded kit of archaeological tools as well as objects in the environment and her broad range of acrobatic abilities if she is to uncover new paths and survive.

Lara’s quest will see her explore exotic locations including Thailand, frozen islands of the Arctic Sea and the jungles of Mexico. Players will face elaborate multi-stage puzzles in each level and can use a new range of combat options as you choose to pacify or kill enemies, target multiple enemies at once with the new dual-target system and shoot with one hand while suspended with the other.

Lara’s inventory has been upgraded to include an active sonar map (emits active sonar ping to create a 3D image of the surroundings and enables Lara to uncover hidden items and locations) as well as a multiple purpose grapple (claw-like device with a high-tension cable that enables Lara to climb, rappel, wall run and manipulate objects). The game also includes a new all-terrain hybrid motorbike which can drive on mud, snow and ice.

Head over to the official website for more information, podcasts, developer diaries and screenshots.

Eidos has announced that Soul Bubbles for the Nintendo DS will be released across Europe this Friday, the 13th of June.

Soul Bubbles sees players stepping into the shoes of a young shaman apprentice as he saves lost souls and guides them to safety. Players must place the souls in a bubble to protect them as he transports them through a series of unfriendly worlds.

The game features 8 unique worlds, each with its own challenges, as well as over 40 levels. Draw the bubbles with your stylus, deflating, cutting and joining them to other bubbles to guide them through different environments. Fill the bubbles with water or gas and watch out for traps, fires and sticky surfaces.

“Soul Bubbles is an extremely creative and unique title which really pushes the physics capabilities of the Nintendo DS,” said Lou Fawcett, Head of Casual Games at Eidos.

“The reaction from the press so far has been incredible and we’re hoping the public are going to love Soul Bubbles every bit as much as we do.”

For more information on the game and screenshots head over to our previous coverage.

According to a posting on Eidos’ website, Eidos-Montreal is recruiting for their “2nd ‘AAA’ project.” Their hint that “the title begins with the letter T” has since led to speculation that the fourth installment in the popular Thief series may well be on the cards.

The fact that the website also states that its first two games will “revive successful franchises” has added fuel to the rumour fire but Eidos has yet to confirm the theories.

Eidos has taken the wraps off Soul Bubbles, a “new phenomenon” for the Nintendo DS, which was designed with “the next generation of casual gamers in mind.”

Soul Bubbles sees players controlling a young shaman apprentice as he saves lost souls and guides them to safety. To guard the souls from the dangers lurking in the world around them, the apprentice creates protective bubbles. The game features eight worlds and over 40 levels.

Players will need to first draw the bubbles, then deflate, cut and join them to other bubbles as well as fill them with water or gas. Players will also need to escape traps, douse fires and avoid surfaces that might slow the bubbles down.

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Eidos has revealed Wacky Races: Crash & Dash will be careening on to the Wii and Nintendo DS in June 2008.

Wacky Races: Crash & Dash is inspired by the Hanna-Barbera cartoon and has been licensed from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. This action racing game features the crazy cars and characters from the TV series, including Peter Perfect’s Turbo Terrific, the Ant Hill Mob’s Bullet Proof Bomb, Penelope Pitstop, and Dick Dastardly’s Mean Machine, helped by his sidekick Muttley of course.

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During November Eidos filed an application to trademark the phrase ‘Tomb Raider Underworld’ with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Could this be the next Tomb Raider installment? Eidos has previously confirmed that it is working on a sequel to Tomb Raider but details for the new game have not yet been revealed.

At present the game is rumoured to revolve around the Mayan calendar, with the action taking place during five special days at the end of the calendar called Wayeb, when the line between the mortal world and the Underworld dissolves. You can just imagine the creatures that will step through the divide and which Lara will presumably have to defeat to save the world, again.

Interesting to note is that Eidos reportedly applied for the trademark to cover games both on discs and digitally distributed. Tomb Raider Anniversary was released on multiple platforms, however, on the Xbox 360 it was available on a game disc and as a downloadable add-on to Tomb Raider Legend. The next installment could be headed the same way.