You didn't think it was over for Wesker, did you? Resident Evil's villain makes an appearance in the upcoming Lost Planet 2 as a playable character. You'll have to unlock Wesker, with a code you can obtain by pre-ordering from GameStop for the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 game.

Details from Capcom:
"Fans that pre-order Lost Planet 2 at GameStop locations in North America will be able to unlock Resident Evil’s most famous character, Albert Wesker, as an exclusive playable skin when they play Lost Planet 2. Also, players who take advantage of the pre-order bonus will get their hands on some additional firepower via a revolver added to their arsenal of weapons. A nimble yet extremely powerful firearm, the revolver will help players hone their "one shot kill" skills."

This continues Capcom's tradition of crossing over characters from other games in Lost Planet. In the original Lost Planet game, Frank West (from Dead Rising) made an appearance. No word on whether other retailers will be offering pre-order bonus items. Capcom, you still need to out-do yourself from Lost Planet's original pre-order bonus launch.

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The next generation of Tony Hawk skateboarding games is now here. Tony Hawk Ride is now available for the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360. The interactive skateboarding game enables players to jump onto the wireless skateboard peripheral and start skating away.

"This is the game I've always wanted to make," said legendary pro skater Tony Hawk. "The skateboard peripheral opens up a whole new level of interactivity and physicality, allowing players to control the action with their whole body. I can't wait for everyone to jump on the board and ride."

Watch a video below featuring Tony Hawk and gameplay of Tony Hawk Ride.

With the holiday season coming, Tony Hawk Ride will help get kids a little more active as they grind, grab, and do ollies on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii game.

See more details at the official website at www.THRide.com.

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Valve will have you fighting off the next zombie apocalypse in today's new release of Left 4 Dead 2. L4D2 was released at midnight today at some retailers and can be picked up today at your local shop or online. In L4D2, you continue your fight against the undead throughout five campaigns, with gameplay modes that include a co-op campaign, Versus and Survival mode.

Watch a Left 4 Dead 2 trailer and see screenshots following the age gate below.

About Left 4 Dead 2, from Valve:
"Set in the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) is the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning Left 4 Dead, the #1 co-op game of 2008. This co-operative action horror FPS takes you and your friends through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the Deep South, from Savannah to New Orleans across five expansive campaigns.

You’ll play as one of four new survivors armed with a wide and devastating array of classic and upgraded weapons. In addition to firearms, you’ll also get a chance to take out some aggression on infected with a variety of carnage-creating melee weapons, from chainsaws to axes and even the deadly frying pan.

These weapons will be put to the test against three horrific and formidable new Special Infected. You’ll also encounter five new “uncommon” common infected, including the terrifying Mudmen.

Helping to take L4D’s frantic, action-packed gameplay to the next level is AI Director 2.0. This improved Director has the ability to procedurally change the weather you’ll fight through and the pathways you’ll take, in addition to tailoring the enemy population, effects, and sounds to match your performance. L4D2 promises a satisfying and uniquely challenging experience every time the game is played, custom-fitted to your style of play."

See more at the official website at www.l4d.com. Order Left 4 Dead 2 for the Xbox 360 here for $54.99 or for the PC here for $44.99.

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Microsoft brings new social features from your PC to your Xbox 360 starting today. Xbox LIVE Gold members can now access Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm from the Xbox 360's menu. You can access Twitter and Facebook from the "My Community" menu (bring a USB keyboard or Xbox 360 Chatpad along). Last.fm can be downloaded from the "Music Marketplace." Zune video brings instant 1080p HD streaming video and 5.1 surround sound. Zune videos can be downloaded from the "Video Marketplace" and "Music Marketplace" menus.

Here are the details from Microsoft on the new features available from Xbox LIVE:

Facebook
(see screenshots here)
Update your status to share what movie, game or entertainment you’re enjoying, connect with friends, and view their Facebook stream, status updates and photos on the big screen - all seamlessly integrated and custom-built for Xbox 360. You can even compare your Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists to see which of your friends are on Xbox LIVE.

Twitter
(see screenshots here)
Stay in the know by discovering, posting and replying to tweets right on your Xbox 360. You can even view friend profiles, trends and conversations, or search to see who’s tweeting about your favorite game.

Last.fm
(see screenshots here)
Discover more music and explore endless personalized radio stations with Last.fm on Xbox 360. Skip, “ban” or “love” tracks to create your perfect mix. We’ve even built in “Gamer Stations” with game-related types of music selected specifically for the gaming community. (Available in the U.S. and U.K.)

Zune
(see screenshots here)
Zune video on Xbox LIVE offers a full-fidelity experience with instant-on HD in 1080p and 5.1 channel surround sound. No waiting for downloads or buffering, it’s there at the press of a button. You can also share the experience with up to seven friends through voice chat and Avatar integration on the TV screen — it puts a whole new spin on movie night.

See more details on the new Xbox 360 Fall 2009 Update features here on Xbox.com.

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Looking for some of the best Wii games and accessories released this year? If you're giving a Wii system or games this holiday season, make sure to check out our recommended picks. All of the Wii games and hardware have links to purchasing from Amazon.com, making it easy shopping and gift giving.

Nintendo Wii games and products on the list have been released within 2009, but check our 2008 Wii game recommendations here for more game choices. You can probably get some great Wii games from 2008 at a lower price.

See Wii holiday gift recommendations:
Top 10 recommended Wii games
Top 5 recommended Wii games for family & friends
Top 5 recommended WiiWare downloadable games

Wii System
Wii Peripherals & Accessories
For the undecided Wii gift giver

Keep a lookout for our complete GamingBits 2009 Holiday Game Gift Guide coming soon, covering every game platform and more gaming related gift ideas.

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Call of Duty: World at War game developer Treyarch and publisher Activision have announced a new iPhone game, based on the Zombies gameplay mode from COD: WaW, is now available.

Details on Call of Duty: World at War: ZOMBIES from Activision:
"Call of Duty: World at War: ZOMBIES offers both single player and the game's highly-addictive co-op gameplay experience in full 3-D, allowing up to four players to join a game via Wi-Fi, locally or across the Internet, and up to two players via Bluetooth, all on the go!"

Veterans from the Call of Duty: World at War game may remember the "Nacht der Untoten." New maps will be released as downloadable content in the future to keep the zombies fresh. Call of Duty: World at War: ZOMBIES comes from Ideaworks Game Studio.

Get Call of Duty: World at War: ZOMBIES for the iPhone and iPod touch for $9.99, here from the App Store.

Mad Catz today announced the availability of its Wireless-N Gaming Adapter, for use with Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 systems. The Wireless-N Gaming Adapter includes a 3.3ft Ethernet cable, allowing for the repositioning of the adapter in your entertainment center without the need of plugging directly on your system. If you're looking for an increased speed and performance from your current Xbox 360 or PS3 internet gaming setup, check out the Mad Catz Wireless-N Gaming Adapter.

Here are the details of Wireless-N Gaming Adapter from MadCatz:
"Connecting via the Ethernet (WAN) port on either console, the Wireless-N Gaming Adapter (compatible with 802.11b/g/n networks) proves ideal for online play and content downloading. When using with a Wireless-N network, the Adapter offers a strong and stable connection to your Wireless-N broadband router/access point and delivers up to three times the range and speed (Up to 150Mbs) when compared to other ‘G’ gaming adapters running at speeds up to 54Mbs. Simple, yet versatile, the Wireless-N Gaming Adapter will also connect to any Ethernet ready device to offer instant Wireless-N connectivity!

The Wireless-N Gaming Adapter offers an effortless setup procedure thanks to the Quick Setup Button, which provides seamless gaming console integration when used in conjunction with a router or access point featuring WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup button)."

Last week, Microsoft announced the Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter, for a $99.99 MSRP. The MadCatz Wireless-N Gaming Adapter provides an alternative solution for $20 less at $79.99 MSRP. PlayStation 3 gamers will also be able to utilize the Wireless-N speeds.

Watch for the Wireless-N Gaming Adapter for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on Mad Catz 's online GameShark Store for $79.99 on US store or £49.99/€59.99 at the UK store.

From Mad Catz

Want help finding some of the best PlayStation 3 games of 2009? Take a look at our holiday picks for PS3 games released in 2009. All of the games and gear have links to purchasing online from Amazon.com, for easy shopping and gift giving.

The PS3 games and products on the list have been released in 2009, but check our 2008 PlayStation 3 game recommendations here for more game choices, many of which are now available for a budget price.

See PlayStation 3 gift recommendations and gift ideas for:
Top 10 recommended PS3 games
Top 5 recommended PS3 games for family & friends
Top 5 recommended PS3 downloadable games

PlayStation 3 System Bundles
PS3 Peripherals & Accessories
For the undecided PS3 gift giver

Watch for our complete GamingBits 2009 Gamer's Gift Guide coming soon, covering every game platform and more gaming related gift ideas.

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Nintendo has announced today's new Wii Shop and DSi Shop games. A new Pokémon game is available for the Wii today with Pokémon Rumble. What's great is you'll be able to get a sampling of it. Nintendo is offering a playable demo of Pokémon Rumble, along with four other WiiWare games.

Demos for the following five games will be available from the Wii Shop today:
BIT.TRIP BEAT
FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord
NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
World of Goo
Pokémon Rumble

How to get the demos, from Nintendo:
"To get a taste of any or all of these tremendous titles before downloading the full versions, go to the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel and search for "Demo." For more information, please visit www.nintendo.com/wii/wiiware/demo."

See the new WiiWare, Virtual Console and DSiWare games coming out today, starting at 9am PST. Below are the announced games from Nintendo.

WiiWare release:

Pokémon Rumble
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,500 Wii Points
Description: Available exclusively for the WiiWare service, Pokémon Rumble is an action game in which you control Toy Pokémon (referred to as "Pokémon") and take on wave after wave of other Pokémon in a variety of stages. You can befriend some of the defeated Pokémon along the way, which lets you add them to your collection and grants you the ability to use them in battle. Switch between collected Pokémon at any time, taking advantage of the fact that the amount of damage you deal depends on the type of move used and the type of Pokémon hit. Be the last one standing to gain the right to compete in the Battle Royale and test your skills against many Pokémon at once. You can also team up with three people for some multiplayer action (additional Wii Remote controllers required), working together to take down tough Bosses and earning points that can be used toward recruiting or training Pokémon. You can even save your favorite Pokémon to your Wii Remote™ controller for exchanges with friends. Combining beautiful cel-shaded graphics and exciting game-play features, this is one rumble you won't want to miss. Note that a demo version of Pokémon Rumble is also available for zero Wii Points.

Virtual Console releases:

Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures™
Original platform: Super NES™
Publisher: LucasArts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Grab your trusty whip and slash your way through all three Indy classics in this no-thrills-barred adventure. If it happened in the movies, it happens here: the giant boulder from Raiders of the Lost Ark, the mine-cart chase from Temple of Doom, the three trials from Last Crusade, Rene Belloq and Colonel Vogel – it's three times the action, all in one fully loaded game.

STREET FIGHTER II': CHAMPION EDITION
Original platform: TurboGrafx16
Publisher: Capcom
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Mild Blood, Violence
Price: 700 Wii Points
Description: This is the classic PCEngine (TurboGrafx16) version of the two-player fighting game that started it all. At the time, a large capacity HuCARD was used to allow faithful recreation of the dynamic arcade game and its features, including bonus stages and sound effects. In the game, players select one of 12 characters and face opponents in a no-holds-barred battle to decide the top fighter. Master a character's special moves and combos to defeat your rivals around the world. In "V.S. BATTLE" mode, there's a convenient handicap feature. Using this feature to adjust a character's performance, a novice player can be evenly matched against a seasoned player to enjoy an intense, head-to-head combat experience.

Nintendo DSiWare releases:

Art Style™: DIGIDRIVE™
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: It's traffic control with a twist as you try to direct identical cars down the same road in Art Style: DIGIDRIVE. This constantly moving puzzle game combines an easily understood playing field (an intersection) and a simple goal (create fuel), challenging you to properly guide a never-ending stream of cars. Stack similar cars five deep to create some fuel, then use that fuel to continue your progress in the game. Play in ENDLESS mode to see how long you can last, or compete against the computer or a human opponent in VS mode. Use combos to your advantage and see if your reflexes can handle the intensity of Overdrive mode. When all is said and done, you may never look at gridlock quite the same way again.

Arcade Bowling
Publisher: Skyworks Interactive
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: From Skyworks comes another addictively classic game, Arcade Bowling. It was designed by video game legend David Crane, one of the original founders of Activision and one of the most critically acclaimed game designers of all time. In the tradition of everyone's favorite Boardwalk bowling game, use your stylus and steady aim to flick "laser" balls down the alley and up the ramp into the scoring holes. The farther away the scoring hole is, the more points you'll get. Arcade Bowling features three futuristic sound tracks, state-of-the-art 3-D graphics and two addictive game modes, Classic and Progressive. In Classic Mode, roll up to nine balls to score as many points as you can. In Progressive Mode, enjoy multiple levels of game play with increasing score plateaus and bonus targets.

Robot Rescue
Publisher: Teyon
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Robot Rescue is a fun logic game based on a simple but entertaining concept. Your mission is to free robots trapped in 45 evil computer labyrinths while avoiding deadly traps. Sound easy? Not so fast. Each robot shares linked controls, so when you move one, you move them all. It will take clever planning and nerves of steel to pull off this electronic escape. You'll need to avoid many traps, such as mines or electrical circuits, and take advantage of special elements like glue stains. Choose one of three difficulty levels and get ready for a challenge.

From Nintendo

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If you're looking to pickup a Wii system and Wii Fit Plus Balance Board bundle, now would be a great time to do it. Starting today, until November 22nd, Amazon.com is offering a $50 Gift Card with the purchase of both the Wii system ($199 MSRP) and Wii Fit Plus Balance Board Bundle ($89.99). The $50 Amazon Gift Card will be discounted during checkout. You'll easily be able to apply that to another Wii game or something else on your holiday shopping list.

Order from Amazon.com here to save $50, while the offer is available.