After getting shot somewhere in the neighborhood of nine times, rapper 50 Cent has learned the value of taking cover in a firefight--knowledge that will be imparted to players of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand. Who said that video games can't teach life lessons?

Some new screenshots and a trailer help drive the message home, preparing you for the February 24 release of the Swordfish Studios-developed PS3 and Xbox 360 title.

Yes, February 24--publisher THQ has delayed the game past its prior January date.

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At this point, my expectations for 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand are so high that it can only hope to meet them or fail.

People have compared this game to Snakes on a Plane, predicting inevitable disappointment, but as Fitty says: "If a bitch don't like me somethin's wrong with the bitch." Personally, I've already started the petition to remake this classic for the PlayStation 3.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand will hit the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in January.

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"Where's my stuff," demands rapper-turned-game protagonist 50 Cent. "I want it back."

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Swordfish's heavily armed co-op action game hits PS3 and Xbox 360 in January.

50 Cent is traveling to the Middle East to find a diamond skull in this game, and I don't know how that makes any sense but damn his arm is huge in these screenshots.

Someone probably spent months on this monster. One imagines a resume reading, "Art design on World of Warcraft. Contributed numerous assets to BioShock. Modeled/textured 50 Cent's right arm." I can picture the beads of sweat rolling down the artist's face as Fitty, making his regular studio visit, says, in a stern but sympathetic voice, "Sorry bro, it's gotta be bigger."

If this were a piece of DLC, I'd pay 500 Microsoft Points per arm. Either way, I look forward to climbing it in the inevitable LittleBigPlanet level.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, the insane action title now being published by THQ, will hit in early 2009 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Confirming earlier reports, THQ has announced that it will publish Swordfish Studios' crystal skull-hunting rap-inspired shooter 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand.

The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 title, which packs online co-op and 18 exclusive 50 Cent songs, sees the rapper and his G-Unit posse travel across two war-torn countries in search of an elusive concert payment from a "crime cartel boss."

With another publisher now at the reigns, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand will arrive worldwide in early 2009. It was originally scheduled to arrive this fall, but was dropped by publisher Sierra during the Activision-Vivendi merger.

According to this entry in Australia's Classification Database, 50 Cent: Blood in the Sand (PS3, X360) has been picked up by publisher THQ. The third person action game from Swordfish Studios was one of several projects dropped by Activision Blizzard following the Activision - Vivendi Games merger.

50 Cent: Blood in Sand was classified October 10, obtaining a MA 15+ rating for "strong violence and coarse language, sexual and drug references."

Thanks to Eurogamer for the tip.

Update 2: Developer Double Fine has chimed in on the fate of Brutal Legend, stating that the Jack Black-starring action-adventure title "is fine."

Update: Sierra has assured that Ghosbusters "will not be cancelled", but offered no further details on the title or any of the others believed to be on the chopping block.

Original Story: In the wake of the recently completed Activision Blizzard merger, the company has revealed that only five franchises from Vivendi Games' Sierra portfolio will be making the transition to the newly-formed company's publishing operations.

Endangered titles Brutal Legend (Left) and Ghostbusters (Right).

The titles and franchises confirmed to make the leap include Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Ice Age, Radical Entertainment's Prototype and a yet unannounced title. Those remaining titles formerly slated for publishing deals with Vivendi Games, however, could now be without publishers.

"The only [Vivendi] franchises that Activision Publishing will release are based on Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age and Spyro, as well as Prototype and one other game that has not yet been announced," an Activision Blizzard representative told GameSpot. "We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing."

The remaining Vivendi Games portfolio includes Double Fine's Brutal Legend, Terminal Reality's and Red Fly's Ghostbusters, A2M's Wet, Starbreeze Studios'... Read more

The streets taught him who he could trust, and gave him the skills to survive...perfect now that 50 Cent is stuck in the Middle East. Check out the new 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (PS3, X360) trailer and screenshots. Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.

Following the release of several new screenshots, publisher Sierra Entertainment has released a spectacularly violent new 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand trailer, showcasing ol' Fitty's antics in the Middle East.

When asked why 50 Cent would be fighting other thugs in the Middle East, Shacknews staffer Maarten Goldstein replied, "Why not?"

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Publisher Sierra has supplied us with a large number of new screenshots for its upcoming releases, including Ghostbusters, Prototype, and World in Conflict: Soviet Assault.

Be sure to check out the full post for all the goodies, as there is simply too much to fit on our front page. For information on a game, just click on its name to pull up all our past coverage.

Ghostbusters (PC, PS2, PS3, X360, Wii, NDS)
Terminal Reality, Red Fly Studio / Fall 2008

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (PS3, X360)
Swordfish Studios / Fall 2008 ... Read more

Following yesterday's revelation of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (PS3, X360), publisher Sierra has dropped six vein-popping screenshots of the upcoming action title.

"50 Cent: Blood on the Sand will have everything my fans are looking for in a 50 Cent game," said 21st century warrior-poet 50 Cent.

Developed by Swordfish Studios and reportedly inspired by Epic Games' Gears of War (PC, X360), 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand arrives on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this fall. According to Sierra, the game will feature aerial combat, driving, interactive counter-kills, co-op play, and unreleased 50 Cent music.

"Gamers will be excited that 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand will provide the ultimate 50 Cent next-gen game experience," added Sierra marketing VP Al Simone.

21st century warrior-poet 50 Cent is set to star in the newly unveiled 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand by Vivendi Games for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, MTV reports.

A follow-up to Genuine Games' commercially successful—and critically maligned—2006 release 50 Cent: Bulletproof, Blood on the Sand is an entirely new game, hauling Fitty to thrilling, exotic vistas where he must battle international gangsters and, presumably, rap.

"I think people will realize right away where our focus for the sequel is [when the game is released]," Vivendi Games producer Aaron Blean said. "We've emphasized the gameplay quality [more] than anything this time around."

The game is said to borrow several gameplay concepts from Epic Games' Gears of War (X360), such as the addition of a second character controlled by a friend or computer AI. Blood on the Sand is also being built with Epic's ... Read more