New screenshots from Rockstar’s forthcoming six-shooter ‘em up, Read Dead Redemption, are a bit better than awesome. Boy, howdy...

The cowpokes over at Joystiq.com have been lucky enough to lay hands on the open-world shooter, reporting that players will be able to blast pretty much every darn thing that moves within the game. There’s no mention of the consequences for doing so, but given the Wild West setting we’re not expecting there to be any – and this is a Rockstar game, after all.

So, judging by these pics, we can look forward to robbing trains, shooting varmints who look at you funny, high noon-style standoffs and a tidy bit of hoss-ranching on the side. There’s apparently a gentler, more domestic element to the proceedings too, with players able to tan and sell their own leather – and that’s just gotta be some kind of first for video games!

Red Dead Redemption is on-track for a release in the first half of next year. From what we’ve seen so far it can’t come soon enough. This dirty dozen of brand new screenshots should help keep you rootin’ and, indeed, tootin’ until then.