Valve Software announced today that with the most recent selection of 13 games and 6 software titles (see list below), the number of titles “advancing through Steam’s Greenlight” has hit 50 titles, since the Greenlight launch in August 2012, “allows developers and publishers to post information and media about their game in an effort to convince Community members that their game should be released on Steam.”

“”In just three months, the community has helped us identify 50 new titles for us to offer via Steam,” said Alden Kroll of Valve. “With the help of Greenlight, the indie games market share of games sold on Steam has increased by 50 percent for a third consecutive year. That’s a stat we are proud of, but one we also hope to increase as we learn more about Greenlight and continue to refine it in the new year.”

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While not an exhaustive list, the game releases are coming fast and furious so here’s a quick update on the latest for today, November 13, 2012:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops II (360, PC, PS3, Vita)
• Dead or Alive 5 Swimwear DLC (360, PS3)
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells (PS3)
• Scribblenauts Unlimited (3DS, Wii U)
• LEGO The Lord of the Rings (360, PS3, PC, Wii)
• Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition (Wii U)

Good news for 2K and Gearbox Software!

It was announced earlier today that Borderlands 2 has “sold-in to retailers worldwide…more than 5 million units.”

The annoucement comes on the heels of the release of the first of four add-on campaign, Scarlett and her Pirate’s Booty ($9.99 or 800 MS Points).

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The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has announced a new “Digital Rating Service” which looks to streamline some of the aspects of being rated by the ESRB. Parallel to this, the non-profit self-regulatory body for the video game industry has introduced some new information symbols. Pay attention, there’s a test later!

“Consumers have grown accustomed to using ESRB ratings when making decisions about the appropriateness of the games their families play. With the explosion of devices from which consumers can access games today, our goal is to ensure that those same tools are available everywhere games can be found,” said ESRB president Patricia Vance. “More recently, parents’ concerns have begun to extend beyond just content to include the sharing of their kids’ personal information or location and interactions with other players. ESRB’s Digital Rating Service now offers all digital platforms, storefronts and networks the opportunity to empower their customers with consistent, credible, familiar and useful upfront guidance no matter where their family chooses to play games.”

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Available for $9.99, Paradox Interactive and Zeal Game Studios has announced the launch of “Game of Dwarves.” Unfamiliar with the title? Here’s a quick run down:

A Game of Dwarves, a classic management and strategy title, which puts players into the metaphoric shoes of a dwarven prince who seeks to expand dwarvenkind’s prestige, underground dominance, and, of course, amass large amounts of treasure. Yay treasure! Utilizing a combination of strategy and management, A Game of Dwarves gives players full reign over a dwarven settlement as they dig, build, and conduct research to expand their underground empire. (more…)

Today, Electronic Arts and Danger Close Games announced that the latest instalment of the Medal of Honor series, Warfighter, is now available for PC, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360. (Europe should be on the lookout on October 26, 2012.)

Using the Frostbyte 2.0 engine, Warfighter is “set to deliver this year’s only true modern military shooter experience. Introducing 12 Tier 1 units from 10 different nations including the Polish GROM, German KSK, Canadian JTF-2 and U.S. Navy SEAL, Medal of Honor Warfighter will deliver one of the premier multiplayer experiences of the year.”

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To support Sleeping Dogs with additional content, United Front Games and Square-Enix have announced some new DLC available right now on Xbox Live, PSN, and Steam, including some free stuff. Here’s the rundown:

Sleeping Dogs DLC continues with the release of three new content packs for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Available to download from today, the Street Racer pack (320MSP, $3.99), Tactical Soldier pack (160MSP, $1.99) and the FREE Community Gift pack offer players more ways to enjoy the incredible open world gameplay which has been so well received in the months since release.

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The announcement does not affect the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 versions, but Gotham City Imposters is now free on PC (available on Steam). The move makes sense given that there’s plenty of microtransaction options available, it’s just a wonder it took so long.

I’m hopeful that it will boost the number of players because that’s what knee-capped the entire experience when it originally launched. Finding a game populated with more than a handful of people was often impossible. (more…)

Though it’s a little vague on specifics — will this basically equate to a Google Docs type arrangement? An app store? — Valve released a seed of information regarding some non-gaming changes to Steam.

Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Team Fortress) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced the first set of Software titles are heading to Steam, marking a major expansion to the platform most commonly known as a leading destination for PC and Mac games. (more…)

Prototype 2, Radical Entertainment’s last original title has launched on PC, almost a month since most of the staff was laid off. Rated “M” for Mature and retailing for $49.99, it’s also available on Steam.

Boxed or digital, the game includes “free access to the RADNET Edition content – over 55 pieces of additional challenges, events, and rewards.” It’s also important to note the Minimum/Recommended Specs:

Today Electronic Arts announced that people who pre-order Medal of Honor: Warfighter — coming October 23, 2012 (360, PC, PS3) — will be provided with access to the Battlefield 4 beta, which is expected to be available Fall 2013.

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From Active Gaming Media comes word that they — tagline “Global indie games” — have launched the English version of their PLAYISM distribution service for indie games.

Besides some giveaways, PLAYISM launch titles include La-Mulana “the internationally popular Archaeological Ruin Exploration Action Game developed by NIGORO.” Other titles include “And Yet it Moves” and “Dear Esther.”

Besides promising to continue bringing games over from Japan, the company reports that they’ll be doing their best to ensure high quality localization in the process.

Never one to dwell on wordy press releases, we salute the writers who worked on this particular release announcing another Walking Dead game. (No connection to TellTale’s adventure offering set in the same universe.)

In development over at Terminal Reality (maybe best known for the BloodRayne games) and expected sometime in 2013 for PC, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360, the game is being described as a “do-whatever-you-need-to-survive first-person action game.” Other lesser press release writers would call it a “shooter” and send it out:

“Based on AMC’s Emmy-Award winning TV series, the do-whatever-you-need-to-survive first-person action game will allow players to assume the role of the mysterious, crossbow-wielding survivor Daryl Dixon, alongside his overbearing brother Merle, on a haunting, unforgiving quest to make their way to the supposed safety of Atlanta. (more…)

With a handful of hours left in their Kickstarter campaign, the folks behind “Dead State”, which includes Brian Mitsoda (formerly of Black Isle, Troika and Obsidian), are driving to double the $150,000 goal for their zombie apocalypse role-playing game.

Check the official Kickstarter campaign for the full rundown, but if you want the synopsis in a nutshell:

“As society is beginning to fall apart, the player must organize allies, fortify a shelter, scout for food and supplies, and make uncertain alliances, attempting to hold together a group as humanity teeters on the brink of extinction. And although the zombies lurk as an ever present threat, the biggest obstacle to the player may just be other humans with the same goal: survival at any cost.”

The estimated “delivery date” for the product is December 2013, exactly 18 months from now.

A date with a retail launch, that is!

And that date is October 19, 2012 and will set you back $29.99 on PC and $39.99 on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

For the money, that’s a pretty good value proposition because there’s a lot included in the BFG Edition:

• Re-mastered editions of Doom 3 and its expansion, Resurrection of Evil
• Seven new levels called “The Lost Mission.
• “Armour-mounted flashlight. (As you’ll recall, Doom 3′s flashlight mechanic was roundly ridiculed.)
• Doom and Doom II.

The press release also highlights that “DOOM 3, Resurrection of Evil, and ‘The Lost Mission’ have been optimized in 3D, featuring 5.1 surround sound, Xbox 360 Achievements, PlayStation 3 trophies, improved rendering and lighting, and a new check point save system allowing for smoother progression through the game.”