Ray back here again with a special X10 Weekly news round-up. I’ll be summing up the big announcements from Microsoft’s self-funded event this past week including new details on Halo Reach, Alan Wake, Fable 3 and Dead Rising 2. So sit back, relax and prepare yourself for the biggest releases to come in 2010.

Please be advised, some of the videos contained herein depict strong violence.

Halo: Reach Beta coming May 3rd
Credit: Mr Pointy Head’s Twitter, Joystiq
The Halo Reach Beta is close at hand. Bungie announced at X10 that they will allow anyone with a copy of ODST to experience the Halo: Reach Beta on May 3rd. Also, along with the official box-art for the game, Bungie gave us some other juicy details to digest, such as confirmation of a four player co-op campaign, a story that helps set the stage for the Halo trilogy as we know it, split screen support, saved films and screenshots within the game. More details to be announced as we get them.

Alan Wake release date set; final word on the PC edition.
Credit: Mr Pointy Head’s Twitter, CVG
Finally, after seven years of waiting, we have an official release date for Alan Wake. Europeans will get the game May 21st, with our pals in America getting the game three days earlier on May 18th 2010. This release date, along with a launch trailer, was unveiled at X10.

Also, in a more saddening piece of news, Remedy revealed that the PC version of the game has been canned. This is ironic as the title actually started development as a PC title but as a result of this cancellation, has now become a complete exclusive to Xbox 360. Remedy assured audiences that the gaming experience will flow better via Xbox 360 and the reason for forgoing a PC version is because Alan Wake apparently no longer worked in harmony with the PC format. This is the second big title in 2010 canned for PC in the last few weeks, the other being Dead Space 2. Certainly a big assed boot to the teeth and less than flattering to PC gamers who have remained loyal to the game’s progress over the years, only now to never have it see the light of day.

More Left 4 Dead 1 DLC coming; explains the cross-over in ‘The Passing.’
Credit: CVG
It seems Valve’s plans for the Left 4 Dead series are slowly starting to come together and frankly, we never should have doubted them. In an unusual turn of events, following the release of ‘The Passing’ in the Spring, Valve will release a new DLC campaign pack for L4D1 which ties up the story between the two games and explains how the cast of L4D1 feature in ‘The Passing’. To further expand the story, Valve are also releasing a comic book which will give some further back story to both DLC packages. For all those who traded your copies of L4D1, you may want to try and buy them back.

Xbox 360 House Party starts March 3rd; anticipated arcade titles releases revealed
Credit: Mr Pointy Head’s Twitter, Joystiq
Xbox House Party, a four week release schedule for some of the biggest Arcade releases coming to your Xbox begins on March 3rd, with the debut of Toy Soldiers. Following that will be Scrap Metal, Perfect Dark and Arcade Room, complete with thirty launch titles.

Here is the official price point for each of the titles in the Xbox House Party

• Toy Soldiers – 1200
• Scrap Metal – 1200
• Perfect Dark – 800
• Arcade Room – Free download (Each title costs 240 points per single license. 400 points for use on both PC and Xbox 360 or 40 points for a single play.)

The shock here is Perfect Dark. It may have come a bit later than everyone was expecting but the rumours have circulated since the Winter that the game would be charged at 1200 points. However, the 800 point price point was confirmed at X10. This is great news for fans and has certainly made this a much more essential Arcade purchase. Quite possibly the best Arcade bargain yet, considering the online multiplayer and co-op functions. Seems the Summer of Arcade has a lot to live up to this year!

Big changes to Fable franchise revealed for Fable 3
Credit: Joystiq, CVG
Peter Molyneux’s announcement that is going to ‘piss off fans’ is one that will remove series renowned experience orbs and health bars from the game and instead introduce a whole new way to assume power and develop your character. Your character, son or daughter of your character from Fable 2, will instead grow more powerful by the amount of people that are following him or her throughout the course of the game. The more people you gain, the stronger you become and vice versa the more you lose. Molyneux went on to say that during the first half of Fable III, you will be assuming loyalties from your subjects, fulfilling promises and agreeing to action some things should you become the King. Basically, you get to be like Barack Obama pre-presidential run.

Peter Molyneux also announced that you will be able to import your character from Fable 2 into Fable 3, as we’ve seen with the recent Mass Effect 2, except unlike the Bioware epic, the changes will be less significant. Although, elements you contributed to the second game, will almost certainly play a major part in the events that follow in the third. It was announced that Fable III Will be available this holiday, likely to be a Natal launch title or released a few weeks later. Unfortunately, we’re still unclear how Natal will function with Fable III as all hands-on impressions of the game used Xbox pads. All eyes on E3, then.

Dead Rising 2 given release date; Case Zero also announced, an Xbox 360 exclusive.
Credit: Mr Pointy Head’s Twitter
Just when you thought this year couldn’t get any more  high profile releases, Dead Rising 2 has officially been given a 2010 release date. It drops on August 31st in North America and just a few days later on September 3rd in Europe. In addition, an Xbox 360 exclusive was announced at X10, involving content Capcom are calling ‘Case Zero’. There seems to be conflicting reports on this as to whether you will download this content to play as part of the game or whether it is actually a demo scheduled before the games release. However, what we do know is that Case Zero will serve as a prologue to the events happening in Dead Rising 2 and it will be an exclusive  to Xbox 360.

Albert Wesker also in Lost Planet 2
Credit: Mr Pointy Head’s Twitter
Seriously, this game is becoming more like a mature Smash Bros Brawl for Xbox. Who next, Dante? Ryu Hayabusha? Ezio?! In addition to Dom and Marcus from Gears of War being involved in Lost Planet 2, Capcom have also revealed that Albert Wesker will be a playable character in Lost Planet 2. From the screenshots that were revealed at the show, it’s also looking likely that you will be able to play the main campaign co-operatively using these three characters. How they will appear in the game, whether they need to be unlocked or will be shipped as DLC remains to be seen. It’s also unclear whether there will be any more character announcements for the game, but knowing Capcom and their hefty back catalogue and contacts, don’t be surprised if this isn’t the last you hear about guest appearances in their latest co-op gem due out in May.