Borderlands 2 Coming

It was just recently announced that Gearbox Software and 2K Games are working on a sequel to the hit 2009 game, Borderlands.  Not a whole helluva lot is known at the moment, but here is linkage to the official site.  Game Informer magazine will feature some exclusive details in their next (current?) issue.  Here's the fold out cover for it:

That guy you see is Salvador, a Gunzerker dwarf who can dual wield.  And no, I did *not* just make that up.  Sounds pretty damned awesome to me.  Here are a few other scant details I've picked up:

- vague release date set after the first quarter of 2012
- co-op will return
- there will be four new characters (Salvador is one)
- the original four characters will only return in a cameo NPC appearance
- there is an item pickup called Eridium which you can use either to barter with or to upgrade your weapons and armor
- each weapons manufacturer will manufacture a different type/style of gun (which I thought was the way in the original game)
- all weapons are new - none of the original weapons will make an appearance
- more 4-player vehicles
- more vehicle variety
- custom decals for weapons
- improved AI (I think every game company for every game ever made has to say this)
- interactive dialog with players (dialog trees per Mass Effect and Dragon Age?)
- similar 3-tiered skill tree system
- temporary buffs in the form of item pickups
- NPCs will not be static and move around areas and interact with environment