If you’ve been waiting for publisher 2K Games to release a sequel to its video game adaptation of The Darkness … well, you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer. Thankfully, a deadline is in sight for fall.

Check out the news over at Spawn Kill.

More Bioshock, please! Check out the star-spangled news (with a teaser trailer and screens) at OneMetal.

Irrational Games promises to return the Bioshock series to red, white, and blue form with Bioshock Infinite. The sea is so three years ago. Come visit the city in the clouds.

2K Marin departed Bioshock from its original creative talent for the lesser praised sequel, but the company is graciously stepping aside for the third installment in the series, a property that Irrational Games has reclaimed. 2K president Christoph Hartmann recently announced, “We believe that Irrational Games will lend their meticulous attention to detail and unique storytelling expertise to make BioShock Infinite an incredible entertainment experience that will immerse new and diehard fans of BioShock alike.”

Bioshock 2, Dante’s Inferno, and Heavy Rain will have gamers busy this month. And in case you’re not drooling nearly enough, here’s a snazzy three-minute or so long trailer for the Bioshock sequel. Anybody else whimper like an Adam-free child when Big Sister storms onto the screen? Eep.

Who needs flowers and chocolate? Say, “I love you,” to your honey with Rapture’s violent bedlam. Okay, too much.

In North America the Bioshock 2 (2007 Game of the Year sequel) launch trailer recently washed up on Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night television show. Cruising ten years ahead, players don the Big Daddy suit and search the treacherous fallen utopia for Big Sister, a dangerous menace abducting girls from Atlantic shores. First-person shooter combat and multi-player mayhem culminate in an all new underwater mission developed by 2K Marin and 2K Australia, Digital Extremes, and 2K China.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Curtis and I put our heads together and chose Danielle’s comment as our favorite. Way to go! Danielle, we’ll be in contact with you shortly.

PC gamers, ahoy! The wonderful and extremely generous code man Curtis McHale (developer of this blog) recently pre-ordered his copy of Bioshock 2 and is offering you lovely readers the chance to snag a free PC copy of the original Bioshock on Steam. Already played the game? Conquer Rapture again now with monstrous computer power and show those Splicers who’s boss!

Want to win? Of course you do. Simply drop a comment describing your favorite Bioshock moment, weird personal story, lovable game-related trivia—or just why you want the game! If we pick yours, Curtis will send you the PC game on Steam free of charge. Just remember to include that email address! Pinkie swear, no spam!

Now … would you kindly spread the word?

Entry deadline: Tuesday, February 2

Grab your rubbie duckies and ready that snorkel gear, because BioShock 2 crashes onto shelves on February 9. Hardcore fans should direct their attention to GameStop’s special pre-order bonuses dripping with sweet undersea delight.

The store’s pre-order package reels in a code for the unlockable actress Blanche and fisherman Zigo multi-player mode characters. Plus, the Bioshock 2 Limited Edition includes a 180-gram vinyl LP with the original Bioshock‘s orchestral score if you happen to have a turntable handy, an audio CD of the sequel’s score, three vintage Rapture posters, and a hardcover featuring art from the new game. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, but you can investigate the details for yourself here. Me? I’m crossing my fingers that GameFly won’t skimp out on me next month until I have the extra cash (pleeease!). I’m tempted to pre-order, though. So very, very tempted.

Do you plan to drop $100 on the Limited Edition or $60 on the regular pre-order bonus? Bioshock 2 will make a boat-rocking splash either way with Captain Big Daddy on deck.

Want the first Bioshock orchestral in mp3 form for … oooh, free? Visit 2K Game’s Cult of Rapture website.

This February promises the highly-anticipated sequel to the action-adventure RPG with a dash of horror, Bioshock. But what was so great about the first game’s underwater dystopia, you ask? Hop on over to Spawn Kill and check out my review, which went live yesterday (hooray!).

Few video games arouse genuine nirvana in players, but even less promise a blossoming underwater world only to swallow gamers whole and leave them wanting more wretched decay, both lovely and sanguine. BioShock is one such praised gem, and experiencing the game without feeling like the developers literally poured their souls into its creation is virtually impossible. Indeed, BioShock at its very core flourishes as a polished experience, and quite a mighty one at that.