The keynotes at this year's TGS will be delivered by Square Enix honcho Yoichi Wada, Sony's Shuhei Yoshida, and the president of social gaming company Gree. Japanese netizens speculate that the PS Vita will be dated during Sony's keynote, the title of which translates as "The PS Vita's Full Details".

The PS Vita was first shown earlier this year at a press event in Tokyo.

The Tokyo Game Show will be held this September in Chiba, Japan.

TGS基調講演は3部構成 [ITmedia ガジェット]

French artist François Baranger has been doing concept work for years now, and has experience in the worlds of both film and video games.

Some of the movies he's worked on include Prince of Persia, GI Joe and the 7th and 8th Harry Potter flicks. And games? Most of them are still locked away under NDA, but one we can look at is Quantic Dream's PS3 thriller Heavy Rain.

Baranger completed dozens of beautiful concept paintings for the game, helping establish not just the look of Heavy Rain, but its mood as well.

You can see a selection of these in the gallery above, while there are examples of his other work at his personal site, linked below.

To see the larger pics in all their glory, either click the "expand" icon on the gallery screen or right click and "open link in new tab".

The Art of François Baranger [François Baranger]

For the past month, artist Chris Furniss has been drawing a picture a day depicting Metroid heroine Samus Aran doing...different stuff. That month has now sadly come to an end.

From exercise to karaoke, part-time work to cooking, she keeps herself busy as a bee, and while she may not succeed at everything she tries her hand at, she damn well gives it a good shake.

You can see the full 31 pieces at Chris' site below (actually, I really recommend it, as the pics aren't as good without their little captions), and if you see something you like, you can order it as a $10 print.

Zero Suit Samus [Wasabi Sunshine]

Lollipop Chainsaw, the up-and-coming zombie killing cheerleader game, is being designed by Japanese game developer Grasshopper Manufacture of No More Heroes fame. It's being written by a guy from St. Louis.

Hollywood filmmaker James Gunn is penning the game—exciting when you think about the movies he's been involved with: Tromeo and Juliet, Slither, LolliLove, and the Dawn of the Dead remake. Gunn also worked on the Scooby-Doo movies, but nobody's perfect!

The most important thing about video games is how they play, whether the basic mechanics are engaging. But a good yarn and some clever dialogue doesn't hurt.

Warner Bros. is releasing Lollipop Chainsaw in the West in 2012.

This clip, which debuted over the weekend at fighting tournament EVO 2011, isn't one of those joke documentaries, with crummy acting and a couple of cheap gags. It is, in all seriousness, a serious documentary. About Street Fighter's Balrog.

When I say serious, it's serious! This is a look at the life and times of the man, the events and the people who shaped him and turned him from a thug boxer into a straight-up thug.

Don't let the sloppy punches in the opening throw you: there is real quality here. And also Arsenio Hall.

The 3DS's recent price cut was surprising. The handheld is still new, and a drastic slash like that whiffs of desperation. But don't worry, the 3DS isn't dead, by any stretch. Maybe one of Japan's most successful manga artists can work his magic.

While appearing on variety show SMAPxSMAP, famed manga artist Osamu Akimoto drew a picture of boy band Smap, penciling a "Mentendo" 3DS in the hands of Smap member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi. Akimoto drew items that relate to each member's likes or hobbies. For example, member Masahiro Nagai, a huge baseball fan, is holding a bat.

Akimoto's most famous creation is Kochikame, a police comedy manga that has been continuously serialized since 1976, making it Japan's longest running manga series! So if anyone knows about staying power, it's Akimoto.

Maybe some of his longevity will rub off on the Mentendo, I mean Nintendo, 3DS.

こち亀の作者秋元治がSMAPと一緒に３DSを描いてくれたぞ！ [オレ的]

If you've ever wondered why PC gamers are so passionate about mods, or why people love/hate/love the Elder Scrolls series so much, watch this.

Apparently this was the result of several months work. It's worth every second.

While waiting for Skyrim, this is what I've been doing in Oblivion. Tell me what you think Reddit! [Reddit]

One of the Japanese media's favorite topics is how China copies everything, whether that be giant Gundams or toys. But Japan is no stranger to ripping off the creative work of others.

This is "Eco-chan", the mascot for an environmental community center in Japan's Yamaguchi Prefecture. Let's not screw around, Eco-chan sure as snot looks like Pikachu.

Eco-chan is supposed to be some sort of woodland fairy, but it looks more like somebody in a green Pikachu costume. The character was first unveiled last fall (without mention of Nintendo or Game Freak), and cute characters like this are common for Japanese companies, public utilities, services—you name it.

But Eco-chan? More like Copycat-chan.

銀天エコプラザ開館式！！ [うべっくる]

Reader Michael sent us an image he's been working for a while. It's a map of Half-Life 2's City 17 done in an "authentic" style.

That means no easy-to-read Google Maps style of cartography. City 17 is in Eastern Europe, and the world is a mess, so all the Resistance have to go on would be old Soviet military maps.

So that's what Michael drew. Anyone who knows the general lay of the land in the game will see it's quite the work of art.

Soviet Military Map of City 17 [Steam]

Sony Computer Entertainment has acquired Sucker Punch, the studio behind titles like Infamous and Sly Cooper, the Tokyo-based game giant revealed today.

Sucker Punch was previously an independent studio. However, it has worked only on PlayStation titles since 2000.

"Sucker Punch Productions is one of the most highly acclaimed development studios in the industry and we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the company for over 12 years. We are delighted to officially welcome them to the SCE family," said Sony's Shuhei Yoshida in an official release.

Sucker Punch is now officially a part of the Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, which is comprised of 16 studios across the globe and responsible for titles ranging from Twisted Metal to Uncharted, Gran Turismo to LittleBigPlanet.

Sucker Punch recently released Infamous 2, which Kotaku called the Post-Katrina game America deserves.