Here's today's XBOX Live Marketplace Update.

Bully: Scholarship Edition Picture Pack
Price: 80 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Description: Download this picture pack. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Gears of War 2: Crimson Picture Pack
Price: Free
Availability: Everywhere except Germany and Japan
Description: These exclusive gamer pics were released in conjunction with the Gears of War 2 announcement at the 2008 Game Developers Conference
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The chainsaw fight that takes place in the middle of the video isn't some fancy, man-gland-swelling shot aimed at winning your hearts and minds (and man-glands!). It's an addition to the game
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Epic Games vice president Mark Rein has said that the Unreal Engine tech demos shown off during Wednesday's Microsoft keynote speech at GDC were not from Gears of War 2. Apparently they were based on leftover bits of Gears of War 1.
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Gears Of War was a break out hit. Even with it's revolutionary graphics and engine, ground breaking co-op play, and addictive multi player game play, it was not perfect. 6 things need to be changed to take GOW 2 to the next level.
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MS has released a fact sheet on the upcoming Gears of War 2, the following key points are denoted - Gears of War 2 continues the story of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad, even better visuals than last time and the game is indeed an Xbox 360 exclusive.
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Amazon has started taking pre-orders for the just announced Gears of War 2 set to release November 2008. Amazon specifies that the game will release on November 30, 2008, but that isn't firmed up yet at this point as Microsoft has only targeted the month of November.

The limited edition is listed for $69.99, while the regular edtion is $59.99.
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As well as today's previously announced XNA game demos, there's also some more content available to download from the XBOX Live Marketplace. Here is the full list:

Content: N+ Theme Pack - Gold
Price: 150 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Hong Kong
Dash Text: 4 images featuring N+'s gold and unparalleled minimalist style. Helps quench your thirst for tasty gold. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: N+ Theme ¿ Ninja
Price: 150 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Korea
Dash Text: 4 images featuring N+'s iconic ninja and style. Minimalist, inspiring, exciting -- just like N+! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: Ninja Gaiden 2 Gameplay Video - GDC Highlights (HD)
Price: Free
Availability: Not available in Germany
Dash Text: [ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)] Highlights from GDC gameplay that include new level, new weapon and new enemies. Coming June 2008, Ninja Gaiden 2 will debut exclusively on Xbox 360 as the blockbuster action-packed sequel to Ninja Gaiden. NG2 will feature an all-new gameplay engine with auto-health regeneration system, new levels & adventures, new enemies and thrilling combat with an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry, representing a true evolution of the highly popular franchise.

Continued at the source.
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New GDC content on Xbox Live.

Gears of War 2 trailer, with free theme and picture pack.
Ninja Gaiden 2 GDC gameplay video.
XNA Creators Club game launcher.
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IGN by Nix:

"Exciting news for those who like spending money: if you would like to spend more than $60 on the November release of Gears of War 2, now you can! Microsoft and Epic Games will be releasing a Limited Edition version of the game as well as the regular standard edition".
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According to IGN and Joystiq:

"11:11: A video is showing of Gears of War with hundreds of enemies running down the road to show off new tech. Water and splash effects are shown, again using Gears of War on updated engine.

11:10: "Imagine what Gears of War would look like if we launched it today." CEO comes out to talk about updates on Unreal Engine. Ambient Occlusion technology is one thing they've added. This is good for more realistic shadows."
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With less than, a 2 hours before the official Microsoft press conference from GDC, an official press release from Italy has confirmed the presence of some big games and new games. The Press Release also confirms to the Gears of War 2 to be exclusive to Xbox 360.

"Gears of War 2
From Epic Games. November 2008. Sequel to the best-selling (4.5M copies) Gears of War. Follows the story of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad (Squad Delta?). 3rd person. Xbox 360 exclusive."

Gears of War 2
Fable 2
Too Human
Castle Crashers
Go! Go! Break Steady
Ninja Gaiden 2
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness
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It's finally official. The sequel to Gears of War, creatively titled Gears of War 2, will release on Xbox 360 this November. We've just received the first teaser video and blood-soaked artwork from the game, which you can view immediately below. Mind stopped racing yet? Heart stopped pounding? Good, 'cause you might need to watch the video again to soak in all the details. Our analysis inside. ... » Read More

The 2008 Game Developers Conference 2008 is just around the corner (Feb 18-22), and as usual the rumours are running rife with what will be talked about and unveiled at the event, arguably the most exciting of which is an announcement from Epic (or Midway) and Microsoft we'll be seeing Gears of War 2 on the Xbox 360 and GFW platforms in the not-so-near future.

Both CVG in the UK and GamePro in the US have magazine articles suggesting the game will be announced to be in development at the event, however, Epic Games have told Eurogamer, "the show is where we sell our engine not our games".
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Microsoft Game Studios' corporate vice president, Shane Kim, has confirmed that the former head of EA Chicago, Kudo Tsunoda, has been placed in charge of the Gears of War business."We wanted to put more focus behind [Gears], and it's great to get a creative lead like Kudo," Kim told IGN, confirming reports last month.Kim however refused to comment on the possibility of a follow up to 2006's Gears of War."I think there's an awful lot we can do ... » Read More

February 7, 2008 - Kudo Tsunoda, former head of Electronic Arts' Chicago studio, is now the general manager of the Gears of War business at Microsoft Game Studios. That's according to Tsunoda's new boss Shane Kim, corporate vice president of MGS, who we caught up with at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas today.

"I'm really excited about it," Kim said. "Kudo just joined us on Monday."
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Yeah, that overhyped Gears of War 2 GamePro article has been trashed by Epic honcho Mark Rein, who called the article "complete nonsense." Since the developer hasn't given the magazine an exclusive, what the hizzy heck does the article actually say? Kotaku commenter Willows scanned the article. It reads:

"Gears of War 2 hasn't officially been announced yet, but our sources rumor that the sequel to the Xbox 360 hit is indeed coming in 2008. And what better way for Microsoft to counter Metal Gear than with a few gears of its own.

But it's not enough to just retread shooter territory in Gears 2. The first game was great, but it didn't blow anyone away with originality. It simply put all the best aspects of other shooters into one amazing package. And aside from the obvious graphical superiority and online co-op mode, most of Gears of War was standard shooter stuff."
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Destructoid suppose a great way to sell magazines would be to make wild claims on your cover about sequels to blockbuster games. It seems that's what GamePro did, when they decided to put "Gears of War 2" right underneath the words "special report" on the cover of their next magazine.

Images of the cover appeared on the Internet a few days ago, causing wild speculation and unnecessary excitement about an impending announcement. In a post on the official Epic Games forums, President Mark Rein calls the long-running videogame magazine out.

"It is completely nonsense," he writes. "We have not announced a sequel to Gears of War to GamePro or anyone else for that matter."
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Ripten:

"What games will be at GDC 2008? The infamous Surfer Girl says three of the above titles will be there, along with four more "definites". We can confirm seven others."
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Rumours, rumours and even more rumours: this is one that just won't go away however. Yes, Gears of War 2 speculation has reared it's ugly head again and this time it's because Gamepro magazine claims to have an exclusive (don't they all?), and proudly emboss the Gears of War 2 logo on their front cover.
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Gameguru.in reports: "The headlines are stunning enough, so brace yourself for the zapping jolt of '08 from the house of Epic and Microsoft. There is no story necessary for the smash hit Gears of War for anyone who owns a 360 out there. So censoring on all the chitter-chatter from here and there, lets head straight to the lowdown on one of the most anticipated sequels of 2008.

-Unreal 3.5 engine
-4 new weapons
-Twice as big as the previous game..."

Hit the jump for further details
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