With the holiday season here, we felt like giving you something special. Today you can watch the first four official gameplay videos for Brink, our new title being developed by Splash Damage that's coming to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC next Fall.

Additionally, we have news on several stocking stuffers – The Infernal City: An Elder Scrolls Novel, Fallout 3 Avatar items for Xbox LIVE, and the release of Rogue Warrior. Read on for more details.

Happy Holidays from Bethesda Softworks!!

This week we released the first four gameplay videos for Brink. Learn about the game's S.M.A.R.T. mechanic, objectives, changing classes and more from Paul Wedgwood – CEO of Splash Damage and Game Director on Brink.

Playing S.M.A.R.T.
An Objective Perspective Pt. 1.
An Objective Perspective Pt. 2.
An Objective Perspective Pt. 3.

Additionally, as a part of X-Play's Brink week, you can learn more about Brink in these exclusive videos.

X-Play #1
X-Play #2
X-Play #3

OXM UK
"If there were a prize for "best FPS set in a utopian city in the middle of the ocean" it'd be a fight between BioShock 2 and Brink."

Britxbox
"A tentative release date of spring 2010 has now been changed to autumn 2010, but if Splash Damage’s back catalogue is anything to go by it will be well worth the wait."

We've recently released Fallout 3-themed avatar items on the Xbox LIVE Avatar Marketplace. Click the links below to purchase items:

• Vault 101 Suit (male, female) –
  240 MS Points
• Bethesda Game Studios Shirt (male, female) –
  80 MS Points
• Fallout 3 Ringer Shirt (male, female) –
  80 MS Points
• Vault Boy Shirt (male, female) –
  80 MS Points
• Vault Boy Suit (male only) –
  240 MS Points*
• Vault Boy Head (male and female) –
  160 MS Points

Rogue Warrior is now available in North American retail stores for the Xbox 360® video game entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows. Experience an action-packed single-player campaign as well as intense multiplayer combat playing as the real-life Navy SEAL and founder of the elite SEAL Team Six, Richard "Demo Dick" Marcinko.

Featuring the voice of Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee, Mickey Rourke, Rogue Warrior was inspired by Marcinko's New York Times bestseller of the same name and his subsequent novels based loosely on his own past military experiences. Marcinko's defiant, crude, and sometimes ruthless behavior has earned him both glory and infamy in the history books.

For more information about Rogue Warrior, please visit http://RogueWarrior.com.

The Infernal City — the first of two books based on The Elder Scrolls' universe, is being released today and is available in stores and online at places like Amazon.

To learn more about the Infernal City, check out a new interview at Bethesda Blog with author Greg Keyes.

At the 27th Annual Golden Joystick Awards, Fallout 3 claimed PC Game of the Year, as well as the night's biggest award, Ultimate Game of the Year.

Spike TV has announced the nominees for the Video Game Awards 2009 (better known as the VGAs). Among this year's nominees, Fallout 3 received two nominations in the Best DLC category — for both Point Lookout and Broken Steel. Additionally, Eliza Dushku was nominated in the Best Performance by a Female Lead category for her role as Rubi Malone in WET.

Be sure to check out all of this year's nominees and vote for your favorites on Spike's website. Tune into the show LIVE on December 12th at 8 PM.

To commemorate 200 issues, Game Informer has put together their list of The Top 200 Games of All Time. Among the games included on the list are DOOM (#6), The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (#30), Fallout 3 (#65), The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (#101), QUAKE II (#132), and Wolfenstein 3D (#139).

Fallout 3 was announced as Game of the Year at Germany's MTV Game Awards 09. Additionally the game won the Feel the Magic and Living in a Box awards.

DOOM returns to the iPhone with DOOM Classic, which includes the original three episodes as well as Episode Four, Thy Flesh Consumed, spread across 36 levels of non-stop carnage and action. The game also has three customizable control schemes designed by John Carmack.

DOOM Classic also supports up to four players via wireless internet — whether you choose to play Deathmatch or Co-Op.

DOOM Classic is available for $6.99 on the iTunes App Store. Check out reviews for the game at SlideToPlay, 148APP, TouchGen, and IGN.

id Software's latest Wolfenstein is now available on Steam. You can also purchase the game on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Games for Windows. Meanwhile, you can now download Wolfenstein 3D Classic Platinum on iTunes. This new interation of the iPhone game feature Spear of Destiny levels, new bosses, the ability to download custom-made maps, and more.

John Carmack discusses DOOM, iPhone development, and more  in new interviews at Slide To Play, About.com, MTV Multiplayer, Kotaku, TouchGen, TouchArcade, VentureBeat, and MacWorld.

Bethesda Softworks' sister studio, Vir2L Studios, has released Medieval Games! Allowing up to four players, you can party all knight with family and friends across 30 unique mini-games and three different game boards.

For more information on Medieval Games, visit Vir2L's site.

John Carmack on DOOM Classic Development, Fan Questions

Now that DOOM Classic has been released on iTunes, John Carmack has written his development notes on the project which you can read here.

QUAKE LIVE and Marty Stratton

Recently I asked QUAKE LIVE Executive Producer Marty Stratton about the project’s beginnings, as well as where it is headed. Read on after the (rocket) jump.

Inside the Vault: Nick Breckon

With Matt busy doing real work, it was up to me, Nick Breckon — Bethesda’s newest community manager — to interview myself for Inside the Vault. So here I am sitting by myself, uh, talking to myself.

Giving Thanks

Today our office is closed as we take time to celebrate Thanksgiving with our friends and family. Over the past week, I asked folks at the office to share what they’re thankful for this year. Check out the list below.

Look! An Email Subscription Button! –>

When Matt and Ashley leave town for the holidays/vacation, I apparently become empowered and start messing with things.

Oblivion & Fallout 3 make IGN’s Top 5

Last week IGN counted down their top 25 Xbox 360 games of all time. The top 5 were announced on Friday, with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion making the list at #4, and Fallout 3 coming right after it at #3.

Live Action Fallout 3 Fan Video

Thought I’d share this video that’s been making the rounds at our office. Uploaded by YouTube user AndrewJNeis, the video does a great job capturing some memorable moments from the game.

Watch Paul Wedgwood’s Eurogamer Expo Presentation (Updated)

Eurogamer has video of Paul Wedgwood’s Brink presentation from Eurogamer Expo 2009 in Leeds. One caveat — the presentation actually doesn’t feature gameplay.

Fallout 3 Modding Interview: The Marriage Proposal Mod

This week we’ve got a special modding interview to very celebrate a special occasion.

Oblivion and Fallout 3 eGuides

I recently received word from David Hodgson that Prima’s Game Guide for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition is available as an eGuide on their site for $24.99.