NewsSpots: GTA IV, Spector, mtvU, .hack

Second GTA IV trailer due June 28
Last month, Rockstar Games released the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV. Today, shortly after Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive dispelled rumors that it would delay the eagerly anticipated Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game, the publisher announced a date for a new trailer for the title. On June 28, Rockstar will launch the second video preview of GTA IV, titled "Looking for that Special Someone." The first trailer, "Things will be different," revealed the game will be set in a new version of Liberty City redesigned to be a near-exact replica of New York City.

Spector slips more info on upcoming game
When ex-Ion Storm head Warren Spector founded Junction Point Studios in 2005, speculation ran rampant on the nature of his first project. Compounding the issue, the Deus Ex creator hasn't exactly been forthright with information either. New teaser concept art for his studio's upcoming "fantasy" game has been posted to the company's Web site, accompanied by a few taunting words from Spector himself. "When we DO announce what we're doing," he said, "half the world's going to think we're crazy and half the world's going to think it's the coolest thing since sliced bread--how great is that?!"

mtvU propagating genocide-awareness game
Games are quickly becoming a medium for activists and organizations to express their message. Collegiate television channel mtvU announced today at the 4th Annual Games For Change that it would help highlight the crisis in the Sudan by globally relaunching Darfur Is Dying, a title created by students at the University of Southern California. In the game, players assume the role of refugees and must negotiate with those threatening their survival. It is intended to provide people with real-world advice on how to help solve the crisis in the titular civil war-wracked region. mtvU will also help translate the game into Chinese, Arabic, and Spanish.

.hack trilogy closing out this fall
Even if .hack didn't rank among Namco Bandai's top-10 sellers of the 2006 fiscal year, it's been an interesting experiment in interlacing video games, anime, and manga. Namco Bandai today announced the third and final video game installment in its .hack series will be available for the PlayStation 2 this fall. Titled .hack//G.U. Vol.3: Redemption, players will once again jump in to Haseo's shoes and log in to .hack's unique brand of single-player massively multiplayer online simulation. Redemption will feature two new towns and dungeons, as well as new enemies, steam-bike parts, steam-bike missions, and cards for the Crimson VS card battle game.