2K Games is bringing back the XCOM franchise in a big way. After showcasing a first-person shooter XCOM game from 2K Marin at E3 last year, now the game publisher has revealed a second game. Firaxis Games, the creative team behind the iconic Sid Meier’s Civilization franchise, is developing XCOM: Enemy Unknown for 2012. The action strategy title should be instantly recognizable to fans of the original X-COM, while breaking new ground in strategy games for today’s console and Windows PC gamers. With equal emphasis on deep strategy and intense tactical combat, XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place players in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, players will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics. The game will feature a variety of alien enemy types as well as a new base setup.

The holiday season is officially upon us at sundown tonight. Children will be gathered around their Channukah menorahs, spinning their dreidels, eating potato latkes--and inviting their gentile friends to partake in the traditions that were so foreign and interesting in elementary school--at least that's what the kids told me back then.Then, a few days later that naughty or nice list will be coming into play as kids all over the world run down the stairs to see if the red-sutied cookie monster aka Santa Claus has brought them some amazing gifts. Gamers though--what do we want for all the holidays? Isn't it obvious--GAMES. We're going to give you oblivious gift-seekers five games to run to the stores to sweep up for the gamer in your life featuring NBA 2K12, among others.

Duke Nukem Forever may not have been a hit with all the critics (one even went as far as to rate it a 0 out of 10...wow, really?), but the fact of the matter is, it was still a success with 2K Games, and no doubt that the Duke will return for a sequel somewhere down the road.  In the meantime, Gearbox is packing this game's release with plenty of DLC, and this Tuesday it'll have a whole new batch for dedicated Duke dudes and dudettes to play around with.

There were a lot of memorable moments that came about in 2K Games' Borderlands when it released in 2010.  Dancing robots.  Huge explosions.  A mammoth boss battle or two.  Then there's Crazy Earl, a character that not only stood out in his own right with his craziness, but also expanded the campaign by adding various missions that we didn't see coming.  Well, hang onto your hats, boys and girls, because he's coming back with a vengeance.

A few companies are introducing a new practice with some of their releases, in the hopes of introducing some new fans to games that helped generate interest in a franchise to begin with.  Case in point -- when Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Bioshock Infinite come out for the PlayStation 3, they'll come packed in with bonuses that players can enjoy right on the disc -- the original games that started them all.

If anything is inevitable in the video game industry, it's that if a video game is successful, a sequel -- or maybe more -- will follow.  This has been proven time and time again, and this year alone will bring a series of sequels to the forefront, including Resistance 3, Uncharted 3, Modern Warfare 3, Gears of War 3 and more.  Now rumors are circling that 2K Games' open world shooter Borderlands will be getting a sequel sometime next year.  To which we say, "Um, surprise?  We knew this already."