NanoBITES captures those small but important morsels of gaming information that otherwise might slip between the cracks.

ITEM! A new expansion pack is in the works for epic PC strategy game Total War: Shogun 2.  Fall of the Samurai will boast new scenarios, clans and units as well as a range of gameplay tweaks. Publisher SEGA is aiming for a March 2012 release.

ITEM! It seems the PSVita instalment of Namco’s ubiquitous Ridge Racer franchise will include only five cars and three tracks. According to a report by Famitsu (via CVG) additional content will then be made available for download on a weekly basis.

ITEM! System 3 has revealed that its Putty Squad remake will be joining the PSVita launch line up. When the game is published in February 2012, it will have been two decades since the first appearance of the UK studio’s amorphous mascot.

ITEM! Square Enix has brokered a deal that will see Final Fantasy XIII-2 hero Noel Kreiss step out in threads usually worn by Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed protagonist Ezio Auditore. Fashion conscious gamers will be able to access the costume via DLC.

ITEM! Sony’s practice of repackaging PS2 hits is set to continue with the February 2012 release of The Jak and Daxter Trilogy on PS3. Why stop at three games? Where is the love for Jak X: Combat Racing?

Looking for more nanoBITES? View previous instalments here.

“We’re too late. McNamara hasn’t been here in weeks.”

Brendan McNamara’s year has been nothing if not eventful. In the space of six months, he delivered an innovative bestseller in L.A. Noire, was lashed by his former employees in a widely publicised expose by IGN and, as reported by Edge, watched his Team Bondi operation go out business owing its staff more than a million dollars. Despite his recent misfortunes, the outspoken creator has seemingly managed to land on his feet.

As reported by The Australian Financial Review, McNamara has already found a home for his next endeavour. Australian filmmaker George Miller (Mad Max, Babe, Happy Feet) has secured the rights to Whore of the Orient for possible development through his KMM Games company. It appears that production of the game may be dependent on financial support (most likely in the form of a tax break) from the Federal Government.

Earlier this month, McNamara told Eurogamer that his next game would tackle one of the “greatest untold stories of the twentieth century”. It is not yet clear if he was referring to Whore of the Orient.

“…and if you even think about changing your name again, I’ll be back.”

An Australian team will be contributing to one of the industry’s most anticipated titles. As reported by MCV, Canberra based 2K Australia will be assisting Irrational Games in the development of its alternate history shooter BioShock Infinite.

Irrational Games creative director Ken Levine told Joystiq that “We had a number of open positions on BioShock Infinite. When we found out our former sister studio 2K Australia was becoming available, we thought they would perfectly fill those roles.”

The local operation’s various name changes and restructures have made it difficult to keep track of its impressive output. It worked on the PC version of the original BioShock (as part of Irrational Games) and BioShock 2 (as 2K Australia) before contributing to the forthcoming XCOM reboot (as part of 2K Marin). At the time of publication, the studio is again known as 2K Australia. How long that will last is anyone’s guess.

BioShock Infinite is expected to arrive on 360, PS3 and PC in 2012.

Presented in glorious alphabetical order, New Media: Retail Roundup is your indispensible checklist of the home console and handheld titles arriving in stores this week. What will you be playing?

MICROSOFT Xbox 360 The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn * Puss in Boots * Winter Stars

NINTENDO Wii The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn * Karaoke Revolution Glee Volume 3 * Kirby’s Adventure Wii 3DS The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn * F1 2011 * Mario Kart 7 * Professor Layton and the Last Specter * WWE All Stars DS

SONY PS3 The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn * Puss in Boots * Winter Stars PSP LEGO Harry Potter Year’s 5-7

VARIOUS PC The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn * Angry Birds * Assassin’s Creed Revelations * Dungeons: Game of the Year Edition * Magicka Collection

New Media: Downloadable Digest is your handy reminder of the new downloadable titles released during the past week.

MICROSOFT XBLA Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

NINTENDO WiiWare Big Town Shoot Out eShop Nothing DSiWare Nothing

SONY PSN Daytona USA * Learning With the PooYoos: Episode 2 * Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Minis Nothing

VALVE Steam AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! for the Awesome * Batman: Arkham City * Cave Story+ * Grotesque Tactics 2: Dungeons and Donuts * Serious Sam: BFE * SkyDrift

Looking for more New Media? View previous instalments here.