The REAL Rock Band 2 tracklist revealed (Rock Band 2)

Cancel your weekend plans from this October until May 2009 - the tracklist for Rock Band 2 has been released, and it’s huge. This is the real tracklist, not some internet fakery, and it comes straight from the source.

Not only that, but you’ll be able to import the songs (both the downloaded tunes and the stuff that came on the actual disc) from the first Rock Band directly into RB2, so you’ll be able to play something like 500 songs rught out of the box. So even without the inevitable new downloadable content, you’re going to be busy for quite awhile. Check it out:

10v10 confirmed for FIFA 09 (FIFA 09)

FIFA 09 will feature 10v10 online play on Xbox 360 and PS3. David Rutter, Line Producer on the PS3/360 version told us: “We’ve managed to get 10 v 10 this year online through strength of will and technological nous. [But] we want to make sure the control system for controlling goalkeepers is compelling enough before putting it in, because no game has done it particularly well, if it’s even been in there.

“So we want to make sure it’s good enough before putting it in because the last thing you want to do is say “tada - 11 v 11″… and the goal keepers are rubbish.”

Operation Flashpoint 2 blown open (Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising)

Codemasters’ elusive war sequel, Operation Flashpoint 2, has reared its head and is looking rather stunning in the pages of the latest PC Gamer UK, on shelves now. PC Gamer calls Codies’ war zone “the most mind-bogglingly vast and mercilessly realistic battlefield gaming has ever known,” which couldn’t be higher praise if they tried, really.

“Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising is the sequel to the best soldier sim ever created,” says PC Gamer. “It’s a game being built to exacting specifications by military obsessives, to simulate the authentic behaviour of battle-hardened troops and push PC’s to their limits.” And by the look of these new screenshots we’ve been supplied, it’s going to push our PCs off the side of the desk and out the window. Here’s hoping the looks and framerates can be equal on 360 and PS3.

£237 for a steering wheel? You could buy a car for that! (PlayStation 3)

How rich are you feeling? Fanatec brought their new Porsche 911 Turbo wheel to the GR offices for a hands-on demonstration… and left us gobsmacked when they told us it costs 300 Euros. That’s over £230 or $470. In other words a LOT of money, or enough to buy an Xbox 360 or Wii on its own.

So we asked the company’s CEO, Thomas Jackermeier, to give us five reasons why the wheel’s worth the money. And this is what he said:

God of War III will be at E3 (God of War 3)

It’s being reported that a Sony rep has let slip at the GDC Paris event that God of War III will make its debut at E3 next month in Los Angeles.

According to a few different French sites the game’s not likely to be playable at E3, but to be fair, it’s not expected out before the back end of 2009 anyway, so that doesn’t surprise us.

The only official mention of the game in recent months was an ad on the back of the manual for God of War: Chains of Olympus, saying that the game was “coming soon.”

Rock Band & Guitar Hero fight over Beatles (Guitar Hero World Tour)

Representatives of The Beatles estate are in talks with both Activision and MTV Games to include the band’s back catalogue in either Rock Band or Guitar Hero.

The deal could be worth several million dollars and could be reached within a matter of weeks, according to a source for the Financial Times.

Back in March, we reported that a top executive at the music publishing company that owns the Lennon-McCartney copyrights said he’d be interested in a dedicated edition of Guitar Hero for the Beatles.

UK developer: Game degrees ‘a waste of time’ (PlayStation 3)

David Braben has slammed British gaming degrees, claiming that developers are finding it increasingly hard to find UK graduates looking to enter the industry.

“95% of video gaming degrees are simply not fit for purpose,” Braben told the BBC. “Without some sort of common standard, like Skillset accreditation, these degrees are a waste of time for all concerned.”

Braben’s comments are highlighted in an article claiming that a number of industry jobs are moving from Britain to Canada, which has recently overtaken the UK as the third leading country for games development.

Japan: PS3 dominates hardware sales (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots)

The release of Metal Gear Solid 4 and the ongoing success of PSP made it a Sony one-two in Japan last week, as PS3 skyrocketed to the top of the hardware charts.

In the week of June 9 to June 15, 75,311 PS3 were snapped up - a huge increase in sales over the previous week, in which the PS3 sold around 10,000.

Metal Gear did the trick, then, as it trounced the software chart with 465,000 sales, and Mario Kart Wii in second with a comparatively measly 38,000 sales, according to the Media Create figures here.

Full Guitar Hero: Aerosmith listing leaked (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith)

The complete listing for Guitar Hero: Aerosmith has appeared online and it’s somewhat more varied than the title suggests.

Whilst Aerosmith dominates the list, there’s a few choice tracks from artists like The Clash, The New York Dolls and Stone Temple Pilots.

Here’s the full list:

    * “All the Young Dudes” by Mott the Hoople (cover)
    * Draw the Line” by Aerosmith
    * “Dream Police” by Cheap Trick
    * “Make It” by Aerosmith (re-recorded)

Official: Trophies, in-game XMB in firmware 2.40 (PlayStation 3)

After what seems like years of rumour and speculation, Sony has finally spoken about the next major PS3 firmware update. You know, the one every PS3 owner has been waiting for since they bought the console.

We all knew that firmware version 2.40 would deliver that “in-game XMB access” we’ve all been gagging for, so messaging and other options can be done without having to quit your game.

But Sony has also confirmed that the update will include trophies, as well as some other new enhancements. Trophies are thought to be the PS3’s answer to 360’s Achievements system, but Sony is yet to give specific details.