Rockstar’s latest clip for GTA: Episodes from Liberty City acquaints us with The Ballad of Gay Tony’s dynamic duo, Armando and Henrique, with a shot of The Lost and Damned’s Brian on the side.

While Armando and Henrique seem like a couple of nice guys, they aren’t the type of folks I’d run into in the social circles I travel in. Brian, on the other hand…well let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised to walk into my living room and find Brian or a reasonable facsimile thereof sacked out on my couch.

This Friday’s episode of GameTrailers TV promises us a look at two highly anticipated downloads for both Grand Theft Auto IV and Left 4 Dead, including exclusive footage of “what’s next” for the latter.

We really hope that means that Valve will explain what that recently announced “Survival” gameplay mode is all about and clear up any possible confusion about the two additional versus campaigns coming to Left 4 Dead.

Friday’s episode, airing at the wee hours of 1 AM on Spike TV, will also give us a better look at Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned, which is just around the corner. Host Geoff Keighley promises new footage and new mission info, for anyone hungry for that kind of info, as well as “much more.”

GameTrailers TV Episode 202 Promo [GameTrailers

Grand Theft Auto IV’s first dose of downloadable episodic content will hit the Xbox 360 in less than three weeks. Rockstar’s new trailer for said episode, The Lost and Damned, introduces players to Johnny.

He’s the episode’s anti-hero, the “reactionary prick” wrapped up in an ugly “ravaged, drug addled exterior,” if those are Mr. Klebitz’s own words. He’s also pretty good with a grenade launcher.

Rockstar’s newest The Lost and Damned sneak peek packs in plenty of bang for the bandwidth, including ’splosions, police chases (on an active Liberty City airport runway!), and maybe a hug or two. A little somethin’ for the romantic lowlife miscreant in you. A high-def version of the same trailer is available at GameTrailers.

HD [GameTrailers]

Two 30-trailers have hit introducing us to Billy Grey, badass-in-chief of the Lost motorcycle gang, and Malc, a crotchrocket-riding bike thief, in Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned, out Feb. 17.

Character bios only, so no gameplay of course. But Billy looks like a garden-variety bonebreaking sociopath. Malc hews to stereotype, too, in case you couldn’t tell by all the wealth he flaunts and the stripper arse in his face. Enjoy.

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned trailers [Gametrailers via GayGamer]

The folks at Rockstar don’t seem to keen on the return of Niko Bellic’s voice actor Michael Hollick, answering “Hell no!” to MTV Multiplayer’s query about new lines for everyone’s favourite Slavic bastard.

Grand Theft Auto IV voice actor Michael Hollick made waves last year when he complained to the New York Post about not being paid enough to voice the star of Rock Star’s masterpiece, Niko Bellic. His complaints left a bad taste in the mouths of video game voice actors everywhere, and likely didn’t make Rock Star too happy either – perhaps not happy enough to be adamantly against calling the actor in to record new dialogue for the game’s first DLC, The Lost And Damned.

Of course, the “Hell no!” could have been for another reason. They could have just been voicing their heartfelt support for the new main character Johnny Klebitz, or maybe they just like the word “hell” and feel the need to type it whenever possibly. Highly doubtful, but we have to cover all the possibilities. Who the hell knows?

‘Hell No’ – No New Lines For Niko Bellic in ‘Grand Theft Auto’ Expansion [MTV Multiplayer]

The most recent issue of Game Informer contains “loose talk” that Rockstar Games is readying a new Grand Theft Auto, a fully-fledged follow up to GTA IV for the holidays. Not so, say Rockstar reps.

We checked in with the Rockstar folks this week to check out the first downloadable episode, The Lost and Damned, which is due to hit the Xbox 360 next month. A second episode for Grand Theft Auto IV owners is planned to arrive before October 31, 2009, according to parent company Take-Two Interactive, But there is “no truth” to reports that a wholly new retail game, one on par with the scope of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, will arrive before the holidays.

And as for the chances of the next Grand Theft Auto game taking place in Tokyo, as speculated by Game Informer’s regular rumour column? Consider that little more than a wild guess.

Further requests for clarification on the subject went unanswered.

So, don’t be surprised if the first two downloadable episodes already confirmed for Grand Theft Auto IV are just two of many. Rockstar vice president Dan Houser recently said to USA Today “We feel like we’ve only scratched the surface in terms of the depth and detail” of Liberty City.

Rockstar’s VP of product development, Jeronimo Barrera, has called the episodes an “experiment.” If successful, it could mean an extended stay in Liberty City before finding a new home for the series.

Check back with us next week when we reveal more about the first downloadable episode.

Rockstar Games Announces its First Episode of Downloadable Content for Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned

New York, NY – November 20, 2008 – Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce that the eagerly anticipated first episode of downloadable content, Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned, will be coming to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system via Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network. Available exclusively on Xbox LIVE worldwide on February 17, 2009, The Lost and Damned will feature all new content and is the first of two episodes announced for Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360.

“Making these episodes has enabled us to expand the narrative and the experience of interacting with a game world in really innovative ways,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “We hope fans of the game enjoy the new way of experiencing life in Liberty City contained in this first episode.”

Since its launch in April, Grand Theft Auto IV has garnered unprecedented praise and acclaim worldwide. Developed by series creator Rockstar North and set in Liberty City, The Lost and Damned features a new main character and plot that intersects with the storyline of Grand Theft Auto IV; new missions that offer an entirely fresh way to explore Liberty City with new multiplayer modes, weapons and vehicles; and a diverse soundtrack with additional music – all with the incredible production values that are the trademarks of Grand Theft Auto.

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned requires players to have the full version of Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE membership to download. Further details, including pricing, will be announced soon. For more information, please visit www.rockstargames.com/IV.