Since the first promotional shots of Max Payne 3 surfaced a while back, showing protagonist Max looking gruff and very, very angry, not to mention sporting a wicked scar on his face, gamers have been speculating about where developer Rockstar will take the down-trodden cop next.

Ever the big teasers, Rockstar has today released the first set of gameplay shots for Max Payne 3 and we're happy to report that they look superb. Gone is the night-time, urban-American backdrop of the previous titles, instead replaced with what appear to be sun-soaked South American shanty towns.

Max, who has been through the grinder since the first chapter, is looking as beaten down as ever, sporting a monster beard and dressed in what appears to be a prison outfit. Has Max finally taken the fall for the events of the first two games, or something much worse?

One thing is for certain, he's back with a chip on his shoulder and packing some serious heat. The release date simply can't come soon enough. As ever we'll have more news as it comes, keep your eyes peeled and your trigger fingers itchy!

For the official Max Payne 3 site and the rest of the impressive screenshots, click here

ZeniMax Media, parent company of Fallout 3 publisher Bethesda Softworks, has acquired id Software, developers of the Doom and Quake series, just moments ago. No changes will be made to the way the developer operates according to a press release issued by the company.

The full press release can be found over at GiantBomb.

As if wasn't enough that Peter Moore, President of EA Sports, and Peter Cowley, Managing Director of Digital Media for Endemol UK, were already speaking at this year's Edinburgh Interactive Festival, it's been announced today that Kristian Segerstrale, CEO and Co-founder of Playfish, and Margaret Robertson, respected Industry consultant and former Edge magazine editor, will also be giving talks on two different subjects.

Segerstrale will focus on social gaming in his speech entitled ‘Lessons from Social Games - or How Today's Social Networks Will Change the Way You Make, Play and Sell Games Tomorrow'.  Discussing games that are available to play on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, he will explore their growth and position at the centre of broader industry trends such as free-to-play services, user-generated content and digital distribution, alongside giving his predictions on how the entire industry will change as a result of their popularity.

Meanwhile, Robertson will offer audiences a rare and valuable insight into the videogames industry with a session entitled ‘Stop Telling Tales'. With a client history including EA, Sony and Channel 4, Robertson will draw on her consultancy experiences to discuss a wide range of story-based games, breaking down concepts and highlighting elements to which fans relate whilst also demonstrating how studios might deliver these to consumers in a more timely and cost-effective fashion. 

EIF this year just gets better and better.

Check out the website for more details and to purchase delegate passes.

Originally reported in tech news site The Tanooki, students at Fraser Valley University have spent a whopping two and a half months trying to re-create an iconic scene from Super Mario Bros. 3, using little more than a notice board and a whole lot of coloured push pins.

Check it out here, it's rather impresive!

http://tinyurl.com/6dj5p3

Two players from France, Miss Anonymous and Martine D., have both won small fortunes on the same scratchcard game Royal Slots on two different gambling sites. Miss. Anonymous received €10,000 on Hopa, whilst Martine received €20,000 on Scratch2Cash.

Both are understandably thrilled at their winnings.

The two websites have had combined winnings of almost €35,000,000!!! Why not have a go yourself? You could buy an awful lot of games for that kind of money.