Remember that cryptic trailer that appeared on Bungie.com a few weeks ago? Say hello to “Halo 3: Recon.”

During the first day of the Toyko Game Show, Bungie and Microsoft debuted an extended (albeit short) version of the trailer that included the game’s title and a few tidbits of information.

“Halo 3: Recon” will serve as a prologue to the events of “Halo 3″ and include a new campaign mode and multiplayer maps. The game is on track for a Fall 2009 release.

No other information was announced about the game, but it already has to be considered one of the biggest titles set to drop next year.

Head over to the Plugged In section at wvgazette.com to read my review of “Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway.” I really liked the game and I’m not quite sure why it has gotten such relatively low review scores (a Metacritic.com average of 76). The gameplay is solid and the story is as good as you’re going to find in a shooter.

Nintendo unveiled the next iteration of its DS handheld this week — the DSi.

The DSi’s new features include two built-in digital cameras, an SD card slot and larger screens. The DSi is also a bit thinner than its predecessor, the DS Lite, but is noticably longer and wider (to account for the larger screens.)

The new screens, which are now both touch-sensitive, measure 3.25 inches diagonally as compared to the DS Lite’s 3.0-inch screens.

The DSi will play all current Nintendo DS games, but the system will not include a slot for Game Boy Advance games.

Nintendo’s “next big thing” will be available in Japan next month (for approximately $180) with a U.S. release scheduled for some time in 2009.

Rock icons AC/DC are set the become the first group to be featured in a standalone “Rock Band” expansion pack.

“AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack” will be available this November exclusively at Wal-Mart and should retail for around $40. The pack contains 18 live recordings from the band’s 1991 performance at Donington, UK. Though the game is a standalone effort and does not require either version of “Rock Band” to play, the tracks can be imported for use in “Rock Band” or “Rock Band 2.”

As a longtime AC/DC fan, this is the announcement I’ve been waiting for. November can’t get here soon enough!

Head over to the Plugged In page at wvgazette.com to read my review of Disney Interactive’s offroad ATV racer, “Pure.” If you’re a fan of arcade racers, this one might be for you. I’ve been having an absolute blast with the game.

After its presentation was yanked from E3 at the last minute by Microsoft, the future of “Halo” developer Bungie has been up in the air lately. Now, after a few cryptic messages on the Bungie.com Web site, the folks behind Master Chief have pulled back the curtain on their next project.

A short trailer for what appears to be a new “Halo” game — or at least a game based in the “Halo” universe — debuted on the site Thursday morning. Is it “Halo 4″? Is it the long-rumored squad-based shooter set in the “Halo” world? Is it just a big hoax?

Watch the video below and decide for yourself.

PlayStation 3 owners who’ve been holding off on purchasing the “Call of Duty 4″ Variety Map Pack are in luck — Activision is cutting the price of the pack in half for a limited time.

Beginning today at 5 p.m. today and running through Sept. 25, gamers can download the four-map pack for $4.99 — down from the regular price of $9.99. In conjunction with the sale, PS3 gamers will enjoy a Double XP Weekend beginning at 7 p.m. Friday.

I’ve just posted my review of “TNA iMPACT!” over at the Plugged In section at wvgazette.com. I was more than a little disappointed in the game, not because it was awful but because it could have been so much better. Hopefully Midway delivers a sequel that lives up to that potential.

It looks like Take-Two is safe (at least for now) as EA has ended its pursuit of the rival publisher. Read the full story at the Plugged In section at wvgazette.com.

I’ve posted my review of “Mercenaries 2: World in Flames” over at the Plugged In page on wvgazette.com. Check it out here.