Attendees of Microsoft Game Studios (MGS) San Francisco showcase event got the first extended look into Gears of War 2 and other titles from MGS' 2008 blockbuster video game lineup today. Representatives from MGS and industry big wigs from some of the world's top developers were on hand to give in depth demonstrations of Microsoft's major Xbox 360 lineup, like Fable 2, Gears of War 2, Too Human , other titles that have the “too” sound in them, and more.

Present at the event were the likes of Tecmo/Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki (creator of the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive franchises), Epic Games' Cliff Bleszinski (CliffyB), Lionhead's Peter Molyneux and Silicon Knights' Denis Dyack, each showing off their own teams' work. CliffyB personally demonstrated new gameplay elements and visual effects from the campaign in Gears of War 2 , specifically a sequence from early on in the game where Marcus Fenix and COG forces engage in combat with a swarm of enemies while in transport.

Microsoft also used the event to introduce the next game in the Viva Piñata franchise, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise , which is scheduled to release in September . This new installment to this Rare franchise builds upon the gameplay of the original Viva Piñata and adds in new twists. In an effort to help Piñata Central rebuild their computer database of piñatas, players will send piñatas at full candiosity ( see Viva Piñata: Party Animals review for our best description for that) to parties all around the world while using their creativity and imagination to attract, capture, protect, train and manage more than 100 newly discovered and existing piñata species. Trouble in Paradise also includes a new “Just for Fun” setting that is meant to make getting into the game quicker and easier, a fully featured cooperative experience and Xbox Live and more.

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Speaking of Rare, the first major news we've heard in the longest time on the return of the bear/bird duo, Banjo and Kazooie, was announced today. The new game is called Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, and it really takes the franchise in a completely new direction. “MGS is breaking the rules of traditional platformer games by putting the power to invent new abilities for Banjo directly into the players’ hands. By using their ingenuity to build imaginative vehicles that can be combined with infinite variations, gamers help Banjo successfully complete missions through multiple terrains. Through exploration, discovering hidden secrets and solving puzzles to win rewards, players will continually find increasing ways to customize and improve their contraptions, creating an unprecedented level of user-generated content and emergent play for a 3-D adventure game.” Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is scheduled to release in November.

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We've been waiting very patiently to hear fresh news concerning the new title, ever since its announcement back at X'06, and all of the new features certainly sound great. However, after taking a look at the debut trailer (linked below) on GameVideos.com, we're not so sure this idea will fly.

http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/18831

We would have embedded the video into this article, however GameVideos is having some trouble with this particular one at the moment, and it actually embeds something else.

More details on other 2008 MGS Xbox 360 blockbuster titles follows:

Fable 2 : The wait is almost over for the sequel to THE biggest action role-playing game in Xbox history. Swords, guns and now the newly unveiled magical power round out the combat in this action RPG from acclaimed developer Peter Molyneux and Lionhead Studios. Players will have even more choices to continuously shape who their characters become in a world 10 times the size of the iconic Xbox game. Fable 2 introduces a host of exciting new features for gamers, including a first-of-its-kind Xbox LIVE Arcade experience, and a genre-stretching multiplayer experience, allowing gamers easily play Fable 2 with friends and family side-by-side from the comfort of a living room couch. Players can immerse themselves in this vibrant world that only Lionhead and Molyneux could create, beginning this holiday.

Too Human : Today, MGS and Silicon Knights will confirm that the wait is almost over - Too Human will be available on August 19 in North America and August 29 in Europe. “Too Human” is an epic, highly anticipated action game with integrated RPG elements and features a rich storyline with deep character development, both hallmarks of Silicon Knights’ legendary tradition of video game development. Additionally, Silicon Knights is showcasing for the first time, the title’s online cooperative play via Xbox LIVE; allowing gamers to experience Too Human with friends in a multiplayer setting.

Ninja Gaiden II : Team NINJA/TEMCO will reveal today that gamers can get a head start on expanding and customizing their Ninja Gaiden II experience with the release of Gamerpics and Themes, available as PDLC on Xbox LIVE beginning today. The Gamerpics packs include five new images each, at 100 points per pack; and the Themes, which focus on heroes and bosses, are 150 points per pack. Soon gamers everywhere will follow Ryu Hayabusa’s entire blood-drenched mission – through cities like Venice, New York and Tokyo – to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. Ninja Gaiden II slashes its way onto store shelves on June 3 in North America and June 6 in Europe. Additional Ninja Gaiden II PDLC will be available for download on May 20, with subsequent releases throughout the summer.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One on Xbox LIVE Arcade provides a first-of-its-kind RPG-Adventure experience based on the popular Web comic. The creative collaboration between Penny Arcade creators Mike 'Gabe' Krahulik and Jerry 'Tycho' Holkins, legendary game designer Ron Gilbert and producers at Hothead Games results in a 100-percent authentic Penny Arcade experience that pushes bizarre characters, outrageous combat and adult humor to the precipice of darkness. Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade May 21, 2008.