Jowood is busy working with developer Spellbound on the next full game in the Gothic fantasy RPG series (which recently got renamed from Gothic 4 to Arcania: A Gothic Tale) but we won't see that title for quite a while (it's currently due out in late 2009. But fans of the previous game in the series (the one who could get the bug ridden title to work that is) will soon get an expansion pack and Jowood has just released the first screenshots for the title.The expansion, titled Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods, is being designed as a story bridge between Gothic 3 and Arcania and will supposedly have between 15 and 20 hours of gameplay with new quests, monsters, an improved combat system and more. The expansion is due for release this fall....

The Gothic series of fantasy RPGs has a big following in Europe but has never quite gotten as munch attention here in the US. The game's publisher Jowood has apparently decided to do something about that. Gamespot reports that working with their US subsidiary Dreamcatcher, Jowood has decided to rename the next game in the series. Previously known as Gothic 4, the game is now known as Arcania: A Gothic Tale.The name change isn't the only thing the publisher is doing to attract US gamers. The article reports that the game will have a colorful and bright art style for the US version versus a dark and gritty look for the European release. The game is still a ways away from release (its due out in late 2009) but the article has some brief impressions based on checking an early build. The game will take place 10 years after the events of Gothic 3 and there will be improvements made to the combat in Arcania as well as more of an emphasis on magic....