With E3 right around the corner and Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski slated to make an appearance during the Microsoft press-conference, GameInformer has published an image gallery containing a slew of screenshots, concept art and 3D models for Gears of War 3. The images can be found after the jump here on Elder-Geek.com or on the GameInformer website.

Though many of the images were published earlier or had been featured in the GameInformer magazine, the images show many of the new features and changes that have been made with regard to the previous installment in the series from 2008. Most importantly, several images of the new types of enemies that will be found in the game are shown. The images also feature several new weapons, such as the sawed-off shotgun and a more classic rendition of the Lancer-rifle. This rifle is also shown as being used in a mounted turret. Additionally, several new in-game characters are depicted, such as Anya Stroud and a character known as Jace, who was introduced in one of the graphic novels associated with the series. All of the main characters from the previous Gears of War-installment have received a new look, which is also shown on the images.

Gears of War 3 is expected to be released in April 2011.