2k Sports announced today that the new cover guy for next years MLB 2k12 release is Detroit Tigers pitcher, Justin Verlander.

Justin Verlander is a leading candidate for the Cy Young Award as well as the American League MVP after this past season.

“It’s a dream come true to be on the cover of Major League Baseball 2K12,” said Verlander, who pitched the second no-hitter of his career this season. “I’ve worked closely with 2K Sports on the MLB 2K series since 2007, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue my relationship with such a great baseball game.”

Only the thirteenth pitcher in baseball history to throw multiple no-hitters and the first Detroit Tiger to win 20 games since 1991, Verlander pitched the Tigers to an AL Central title and into the 2011 American League Championship Series. Verlander is favored to win the American League Cy Young Award for pitching excellence during the 2011 season, and could even become the first pitcher since 1992 to win the Most Valuable Player Award.

MLB 2k12 will release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC.

2k Sports revealed today that even though basketball fans won’t see their favorite teams live on the court at the moment, that you can still watch them in the virtual world.

NBA 2k12 is now available in stores for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. “Hoops fans have long argued about the hypothetical outcomes among basketball’s most legendary players and storied teams,” said Greg Thomas, president of product development for 2K Sports. “We took that passion to heart in creating NBA 2K12, giving gamers the opportunity to end the debate once and for all with 15 electrifying basketball icons inNBA’s Greatest mode.”

Fans can now take control of 15 hoops icons, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Julius Erving in NBA 2K12’s all new NBA’s Greatest mode. Each of these 15 basketball legends were meticulously recreated with an uncanny level of detail, including period-specific depictions of their arenas, team uniforms, signature moves, and even historically accurate broadcast presentation styles. NBA 2K12 also features a revamped shooting mechanic with Total Shot Stick Control and an all-new post-play system, which allow fans to experience an unprecedented basketball simulation.

Bonus Gift with Purchase – Customers who purchase their copy of NBA 2K12 for the Xbox 360or PlayStation 3 system early will receive two bonus, historic NBA teams featuring their own NBA greats – the 1990-91 Golden State Warriors and the 2001-02 Sacramento Kings. Bonus content will be available on launch orders only, while supplies last.

Straight from 2k Play, Nicktoons MLB is now available in stores for the Xbox 360 (Kinect support), Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS.

The Nicktoons animated all stars line up was brewing up for months as gamers were able to vote who would be in the line up on www.2kplayball.com in The Showdown, a special online video game simulation based on one of the game’s modes.

It’s fastball versus stinkball in Nicktoons MLB as SpongeBob, ZIM, Dudley Puppy, Fanboy, Chum Chum, Stimpy and a dugout full of Nicktoons compete with more than 300 players from all 30 MLB® clubs, including Matt Holliday (St. Louis Cardinals), Andre Ethier (Los Angeles Dodgers), Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers), Jason Heyward (Atlanta Braves), Cliff Lee (Philadelphia Phillies), and Robinson Cano (New York Yankees). MLB® ballparks, including Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium, and out-of-this-world Nicktoons venues like Frosty Freeze Field and the Poseidome, add new meaning to the term “home field advantage.”

You’ll hear play-by-play commentary provided by Perch Perkins, anchorman for the Bikini Bottom News and IRKEN EMPIRE’s irrepressible GIR. You’ll also experience multiple gameplay modes, including Pick-up Game, Tournament, Showdown and the swing-for-the fences Distance Derby. For the first time, Xbox 360 gamers will be able to experience controller-free pitching, batting and fielding with the Kinect for Xbox 360 sensor option. Wii gamers can utilize the Wii Remote™ to bat, pitch and slide, while the optional Nunchuk controls allow for precision throwing. The game is available for Nintendo Wii/DS for $29.99 and $39.99 for Xbox 360.

2K Games has finally slapped a release date for Top Spin 4 in the UK. It will be released on 18th March, a few days after the US’ 15th March release. It’s been nearly three years since the lost Top Spin game, with this one featuring players from the old days as well as the new legends. Andy Murray has been confirmed too.

Take-Two Interactive has announced they have managed to make profits of $42.5 million for the twelve months ending October 31st 2010. What’s bizarre is that the publisher sustained losses of $140m over the same period last year. There’s a bit of imbalance going on at Take-Two, with the company only going into profit when they release a big game.

Red Dead Redemption helped raise net revenue to $1.16 billion, which is an increase of 65% on the previous year. The game has now sold almost eight million copies and the DLC is also helping to rake in the cash. NBA 2K11 also did well, selling more than three million thanks to some good reviews and EA dramatically cancelling NBA Elite.

Ben Feder, CEO, said: “We have achieved our goal of profitability in a year without a new release of Grand Theft Auto. Our better-than-expected revenue growth and margin expansion were driven by strong demand for our diverse portfolio of games.”

Strauss Zelnick, chairman, added: “We plan to build on the talents of our world-class creative team to deliver an increasingly diverse portfolio of high-quality titles.

“We will also pursue opportunities to enter newer areas of the interactive entertainment business, such as digitally delivered content and the expanding Asian and Latin American markets.”

And above you is a trailer showing of just that. Become Michael Jordan and experience his legendary career in 3D on the Playstation 3.

The new release of NBA 2k11 is now available in store shelves everywhere for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and PSP. The game will make its way to the Nintendo Wii in the middle of this month.

This year 2k Sports has made this title a complete tribute to the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan. You’ll be able to play as Jordan in the new Jordan Challenge mode and step up the challenge as you play through 10 legendary games in Jordan’s career.

“Seeing 2K Sports recreate some of the greatest moments from my career is incredible,” said Michael Jordan. “I’m really impressed with the authenticity of NBA 2K11 – everything from my facial expressions, my moves, my shoes, to my opponents and rivals on the court – and I think gamers will be, too.”

2K Sports has today announced Top Spin 4. It will be released in 2011 for the 360, PS3 and Wii. There will be an odd pre-order incentive: a vintage Andre Agassi playable character. The game will have redesigned controls, new player models, improved animations, TV-style presentation and a large player roster. It will have all your current tennis favourites as well as some old pros.

“Top Spin 4 is shaping up to be the most realistic and exhilarating tennis game in the Top Spin franchise,” said Greg Thomas, president of product development for 2K Sports. “For this iteration, the development team is focused on delivering a bold new take on the sport of tennis by allowing gamers to experience first-hand an uncanny level of realism in the player and stadium models, authentic audio captured directly from real tennis matches, and all-new innovative controls to dominate the competition.”

2K Sports has today shown off the official cover art for NBA 2K11. It features Michael Jordan, this year’s cover athlete. He has his tongue out and seems to be enjoying playing some ball, so good on him. If we had our tongues out while playing basketball, we would look like some kind of diseased poor people.

“It’s exciting to see it all come together,” said Michael Jordan, a recent Hall of Fame inductee. “I am looking forward to seeing the final product, but my kids might have to give me some lessons.” Have a look at the box art after the jump.

2K Games has announced their line-up for this year’s E3:

- Mafia II

- Sid Meier’s Civilization

- Spec Ops: The Line

- XCOM

- NBA 2K11

- NHL 2K11

- New Carnival Games

- Nickelodeon Fit

2K Games’ booth can be found in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Centre at Booth 2823.

2K Sports has announced that Michael Jordan will be the cover star of NBA 2K11. He is a 14-time NBA All-Star, five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, six-time NBA World Champion and is a recent Hall of Fame inductee. He also was in the best film ever made: Space Jam.

“It’s an honour to be featured on the cover of NBA 2K11,” said Jordan, current majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. “I have no doubt that NBA 2K11 will be a big hit with gamers and basketball fans alike. I’m looking forward to getting back out onto the court, virtually. Let’s hope they get my dunk from the foul line right.”

The game will be released on October 5th.

Yes it’s another baseball review, I know what your thinking. However, this title comes straight from 2k Sports with MLB 2k10. We’ve seen how the series has suffered through its various iterations and how the game continued to fail with critics. This year, MLB 2k10 steps it up a notch and tries to take any sort of doubt from your mind that this years entry is anything but failure.

After the debacle that was MLB 2k9 from 2k Sports, it was decided that a new slate needed to be created. Developers over at 2k Sports started from scratched and rebuilt their baseball franchise. The game has a completely new gameplay system and depth charts that would get any fan excited for this new season.  Living Rosters are now more apart of the game then before and become a part of the player’s experience. The commentary has been revamped and the finest details of baseball have been added. Let’s take a look at how the improvements of MLB 2k10 make this a better title then last years entry.

Comparing this title to MLB 20 the Show is like comparing apples and oranges. They are both made by completely different developers with different objectives in mind for the gameplay experience, but the mission is still the same. Like Road to the Show, 2k Sports added a new “My Player” mode which allows you to create a player, pick a position and grow with him through the minor leagues to make it to the big leagues. If you choose a hitter for example you can earn points and increase your speed and skills as the season progress for completing different objectives. During each game you can simulate parts of the game to get up to your spot in the line up if you don’t feel like waiting it out. Even in between games you can take on practice sessions to help improve your skills and precision in certain attributes.

There is a bit of a drawback, however, when you’re trying to making to the major league line up. For pitchers for example you could easily get your shot at the big time after only a few starts. For any other positions though you might have a star player standing in your way so you’ll have to significantly increase your ratings over a longer period of time. While most of the options from 2k9 return, 2k10 introduces the new MLB Today option. This allows you to work with Living Rosters and connect to live schedule of the current MLB season. You’ll be able to play any game in the majors currently on the schedule for the afternoon or evening. If you connect online you’ll be able to receive current rosters updates as well as updated player settings and other changes like trades as they occur during the season.

Thankfully, we’ve been shown the light when it comes to the control issues of MLB 2k9. MLB 2k10 continues with the analog system for pitching and batting but with noticeable improvements. The gesture system is still in play but allows you to actually pick your pitch before heading straight for the analog motion, which is nice. You’ll get feedback after every pitch as well so you can learn as you go. Hitting still requires the use of the right analog stick but this time is a little more constrained. You’ll have to keep your eye on the ball if you plan on hitting any home runs or much less getting a single.

The only problems you may encounter are on the fielding side of things. For example, pitchers won’t get ejected after hitting a batter more then 3 times. Switching hitters during the game doesn’t seem to affect the overall turn out of the game and doesn’t seem to allow you to keep the player at the same position. The computer often is a little too perfect during games making it hard to keep the game close. Pitchers don’t even suffer fatigue correctly either, so it’ll be pretty easy come playoff time that you won’t have practically any injuries to your pitching staff.

On the bright side of things, Gary Throne and Steve Phillips return to reprise their roles in the commentary. They’ll be keeping you heads up in the game when it comes to stats, match ups with John Kruk for that analysis. There is a lot of time an effort put into the title this go around, but there could be a little more improvements with player models, stadium atmosphere and crowd interactions. What’s here is a great foundation to get started on and MLB 2k10 is a step in the right direction for the series that could eventually make it the go to baseball simulation to go up against the competition.

Verdict: Rent first, MLB 2k10 is a about as deep of a baseball simulation as your going to get. Buy if you’re a baseball fan at heart.