httpv://youtu.be/9IclY8H0Cd4

Telltale Games' release strategy, while one guaranteed to keep the gamer hooked for the better part of a year, is a bit of a nuisance. Forcing loyal fans to wait upwards of two months for the next episode of their highly anticipated game series is torture, especially when it's as good as The Walking Dead.

The developer has already released a first and second episode for The Walking Dead, but talk of the series' third episode hasn't been shared with quite as much frequency. Finally, though, we can announce that The Walking Dead Episode 3: Long Road Ahead has a release date, and it's today for PS3 players and tomorrow for PC and Xbox 360 players!

That's right; no teases, no build up, and most importantly no onslaught of trailers — anyone interested in seeing how the next phase of The Walking Dead plays out can simply hop on either the Xbox Live Marketplace, PSN, or Steam and begin playing. Like the game's previous two episodes The Long Road Home will retail for $4.99 or 400 MS Points. That is, if you haven't already subscribed to the game's season pass.

Late last month the first Walking Dead Episode, A New Day, was released for iPad and the second episode is slated for some time next week. As far as this forthcoming episode, though, Telltale has nothing to announce.

Last we left Lee and his not so merry band of survivors they had just escaped from the St. John farm and were seemingly on their way back to the motel. However new details and the above trailer for Episode 3 reveal the group won't be at the motel long, they'll actually be moving out of Macon — hence the Long Road Ahead subtitle.

Along the way there will be be plenty of the series' signature tough decisions — including one that apparently leaves members of the group behind — and a mystery to solve: who's been siphoning off the group's food supply?

Needless to say, anyone that has yet to check out The Walking Dead should know that the series thus far has been among our favorite game experiences of the year. The decision to space the episodes' releases over a period of almost a year was smart — it gives fans plenty of time to catch up — but it inevitably leaves us wanting more.

Are you ready for The Walking Dead's next episode? Who do you predict won't survive to see Episode 4?

The Walking Dead Episode 3: Long Road Ahead releases today, August 28, 2012 for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.

Source: IGN