Urgent Fury Unleashed » Gaming News

Two more Sony exclusive Street Fighter X Tekken characters announced!

williamtimothy — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:32:19 +0000

The game Street Fighter X Tekken is already highly anticipated by fans from both sides (I as a big fan of both series can’t wait!). And as it’s getting closer to its March release it’s looking more and more like the ps3 and Vita versions are the ones to have. Sony had already announced that their versions would have three exclusive characters Cole McGrath (inFAMOUS), and Kuro, and Toro (stange Sony cat things). Now they have announced two more iconic characters that we will see exclusive on the PS3/Vita.

1. Mega Man

Yes the picture is right. This out of shape goofy looking version from the Mega Man 1 box art is what us ps3 owners will be getting. This is a risky move by Capcom and has caused a huge uproar from fans of the series. I have to say though the combat video of him looks like he’ll be a good enough character to play as but I (and most people) would prefer the classic 8-bit version we’ve all come to know and love.

2. Pac-Man

My first thoughts when I heard this were: Pac-Man in a fighting game? How is that…I mean, how does he…? Now after watching the trailer I know that our little pill munching friend will be in a big fighting robot. I don’t know what genious thought that up or how that will work but from what I saw in the video it looks pretty natural.

In case you haven’t seen their trailer yet here it is

The next generation of consoles. Do gamers want them yet?

williamtimothy — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:20:55 +0000

Not too long ago there were rumors floating around the internet that the next generation of consoles would be announced and or released in 2012 (usually concerning the Xbox 720). These were quickly shot down by almost every level headed person with a keyboard but let’s sit and think for a second. What if these rumors had been true? I can tell you I would not have been a happy consumer. I am completely happy with the way console gaming is now!

You can say all you want that developers have “pushed each console to its limit” but this statement is almost completely graphics based. Do you think that in 2009 when Naughty Dog’s masterpiece “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” was released that they for a minute thought “we have done all we can for this system, now we need a new one?” No they didn’t! They continued to see what they could do better and I honestly didn’t think the snow in Uncharted 2 could be topped but when I saw the massive desert in this year’s sequel “Uncharted3: Drake’s Deception” they once again blew my mind. So I don’t think any developer thinks that they can’t continue to improve their games on the current generation of consoles.

Now let’s move to a financial standpoint. Microsoft is still selling a ton of 360’s and to release a new console now would do nothing but hurt them financially. Sure I cannot I am eagerly anticipating Microsoft to move to blu ray and to wow me with what their new console can do but for now I am content. I also heard rumors of a ps4 release (which are even more ridiculous than the 720 predictions) so let’s bring Sony into account. They have already promised that the playstation 3 will ave a 10 year life cycle of which we are only 5 years into. They also have had a major financial hit this year (an estimated 1.97 billion) from many things such as the network crashing and very poor 3D display and initial Vita sales (with the Vita already expected to have a price drop) a ps4 launch would no doubt put them in a worse financial state than they are right now. Also now away from the company’s I as a consumer would not buy one. I being a high school freshman do not have a great income and with me getting a vita, and the games that will be releasing next year I wouldn’t be able to drop $600 on a shiny new console. Plus launch titles of consoles are typically not very good so most likely I’d just be using the initial backwards compatability feature.

It is known that both developers are already working on their new consoles. They have been since the current ones launched. Though they will not be released this year I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a tech demo or some sort of blueprints this year. I think a release date will be announced in 2013 and the first of them will be released in 2014. Hey as long as I get to keep my trophies and gamerscore I’m fine. This gives developers plenty of time to continue to wow us on the consoles we’ve come to love these past few years and I hope 2012 is as great a year for gaming as 2011 was.

StarHawk has been awarded the Urgent Fury 2012 Multiplayer Tournament Title of the Year

Shane Bell — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:07:55 +0000

Back in September, we previewed StarHawk for the first time on UFreqTV in PlayStation Home for our fans. Even before this, right away Jack (UFreqTV’s Host) pointed out at E3 that we need to keep an eye on this game. He talked about how the “Build & Battle” would bring a whole new element to our tournaments when the time comes.

Then came the Private Beta in November, and boy Jack was not kidding. Right out of the gate we were ecstatic when we saw that a user could create a Sever/Lobby with a custom title. We had not seen this in a game since Socom: Confrontation. Though many will say, so what, that is not any thing new or special.

Well they are correct it isn’t anything new, the ability to create a custom lobby was all but a tail from the past until now. Clans putting up Recruiting Rooms, Practice Rooms and Tournament Communities having the Room labeled “UF Blue RVN vs 101″ showing the world the clans were battling in a tournament.

And though the Private Beta is a very slim view of what is yet to come, it already has all that is needed for Urgent Fury to launch a full Tournament Offering. The tactical requirements that a team will have to use in this game will make for some nail-biting matches. Throw in the Urgent Fury TacMap element where clans are competing over territories for 13 to 24 weeks to become the champion and you have a recipe for “EPIC”!

We are pleased to present the 2012 Tournament Title of the Year to StarHawk, exclusively on PlayStation 3. Be sure to stay tuned as we begin to announce tournament details and how to sign up.

On top of all the great tactical play LightBox Interactive and SCEA Santa Monica Studios are actually involved with the community responding to bugs, suggestions, gripes and praises. Not only that as one fan pointed out, there were more updates in the Private Beta than in the entire Call of Duty Series. Now we cannot confirm if that is correct, but I will say we saw updates daily and even multiple updates in a day when there was an issue.

The public beta will being on January 17th, 2012 and you can find all the details on the PlayStation Blog. And rest assured you will see at least one UrgentFury.com server up and running almost daily.

Also keep your eye out for Episode 93 of Urgent Frequency as Commander Fury is joined by Sr. Producer Harvard Bonin as they sit down via SatCom and discuss StarHawk and what Harvard’s job really is in the grand scheme of things. This episode is due to release on January 15th.

So I paid for Elite, but I still have to wait?

Shane Bell — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:47:03 +0000

A major outcry by PS3 Modern Warfare 3 players as Activision announced that the first maps for Call of Duty Elite members would launch on January 24th to XBox 360. They did not mention any release information for PlayStation 3 as of this post.

Nine months and 20 ELITE content drops in the Call of Duty: MW3 Content Season. Check out this behind-the-scenes video of two new multiplayer maps coming January 24 to Xbox LIVE. Become an ELITE Premium member to get first access: http://bit.ly/xUZy48

The common outcry is why did we pay full price for Elite but we are not getting the map paks at the same time as XBox…

This may be a rude awakening for Activision… We will update this as we hear more.

Update

Robert Bowling just confirmed that XBox is first: https://twitter.com/#!/fourzerotwo/status/156822320734932992

Yes. The content comes out first for @Xbox Elite Premium members, then shortly after for subscribers on other platforms.

Get the low down on Banning in MW3

CritiKiL — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:46:17 +0000

Let’s say you’re curious as to how, exactly, developer Infinity Ward determines whether an online offence is grave enough to warrant banning from their blockbuster shooterModern Warfare 3. Or you’re an asshole who just wants to see how far he/she can push it before copping a ban. To satisfy your potentially self-harming curiosity, here is exactly how Infinity Ward deal with cheaters. How they’re warned, what the various stages of punishment are, the works. The complete guidelines have been publicly shared by Infinity Ward, and focus on the six things you can do that can result in a ban: Boosting, cheating, glitching, hacking, offensive behaviour and an offensive gamertag.

Boosting - Any player demonstrating ‘game abuse’ in the form of organizing cooperative or single game play for the purpose of gaining experience, prestige, score, weapon levels, icons, titles or other related in-game unlocks.

( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset.

(ii) Second Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset, and a permanent ban from leaderboards.

(iii) Third Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 7 days and a stats reset, and a permanent ban from leaderboards.

Cheating - Any player demonstrating ‘game abuse’ in the form of unknown boosting, glitching, hacking or other related offenses for the purpose of gaining experience, prestige, score, weapon levels, icons, titles or other related in-game unlocks.

( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset.

(ii) Second Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset, and a permanent ban from leaderboards.

(iii) Third Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 7 days and a stats reset, and a permanent ban from leaderboards.

Glitching - Any player demonstrating ‘game abuse’ in the form of organizing cooperative or single game play for the purpose of gaining experience, prestige, score, weapon levels, icons, titles or other related in-game unlocks. Examples: Exploiting map holes, the javelin glitch, and participating in modded lobbies

( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset.

(ii) Second Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 48 hours and a stats reset, and a permanent ban from leaderboards.

(iii) Third Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 7 days and a stats reset, and a permanent ban from leaderboards.

Hacking - Any player demonstrating ‘game abuse’ in the form of modifying the executable or creating infected lobbies with or without the purpose of gaining experience, prestige, score, weapon levels, icons, titles or other related in-game unlocks.

( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is console banned.

Offensive Behavior - Any player demonstrating in-game verbal abuse, harassing, or other related behavior deemed as universally unacceptable to other players.

( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is banned for 24 hours

Offensive Gamertag - Any player demonstrating an offensive in-game gamer tag, to be decided as universally unacceptable to other players.

( i ) First Offense: With proper verification, user is reputation banned 5000. A reputation ban that exceeds a certain threshold can lead to bans from playing.

As a bonus, Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling has posted an accompanying image of what the banhammer actually looks like on their end. Sadly, it is just a dialog pop-up with a picture of a hammer on it, and not a screen that’s part of a giant Norse hammer:

Click To Enlarge:

So there you go. All the stuff that can get you suspended, banned or even permanently banned, laid out nice and easy. It’s a lot of words to basically say “don’t be an asshole or we won’t let you play our game”, but that’s not legalese enough for official documentation.

I am addicted to the StarHawk Private Beta!

Shane Bell — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:47:15 +0000

Recently Santa Monica Studios and LightBox Interactive launched the StarHawk Private Beta and after getting a code from GameSpot, I decided to try it out.

My initial reaction can be summed up in one word, AMAZING. Over the last couple of weeks we have put up an UrgentFury.com Server/Lobby, yes I said lobby, in which some epic battles have been witnessed on several occasions. I have no clue how many hours I have logged so far, but three to four hours at a time, you will find me in an endless battle on StarHawk.

In the beginning I was a total noob trying out the different buildings, driving the Razorback like a beast and flying the hawk like a two year old crashing dad’s car. Little by little I got the feel for the rifle that requires you to shoot in bursts if you want accuracy. Who would have ever thought that Spray and Pray would not work in a shooter, hehe.

Next up, I mastered the sniper rifle with a laser from Weird Science. That thing is true to any laser, no matter how far away, you are going to get that red dot and “Boom HeadShot!” Now once you put a supply bunker down, you are now truly prepared to battle with a Rocket Launcher and a Shotty. These are essential if you want to make it more than a couple of minutes against the Hawk attacks and Razorback assaults. Get a couple of rockets into the Razorback and boom. And if the driver is crazy enough to jump ship then bust a few buckshots in them and down they will go.

So let’s talk about the modes, Team Death Match and Capture the Flag… Initially the beta only launched with CTF which forced players to traverse the maps to capture the flag to win. In Acid Sea the flags are located on top of a structure and this became a wall building extravaganza. It did not take long to learn if placed correctly you only had to build three walls on each side encasing the ladders. But even that is not full proof, all you have to do is wisely park a Razorback next to a corner and jump over.

The true trick to CTF is to do a quick grab as soon as the match launches, unless the team is well prepared you can run in and snag a flag with the Razorback within thirty seconds gaining the lead.

Now in Space, the flag is sitting on the deck and if you build three or four walls you can trap the flag, just make sure you build the walls with the ladders facing out. If you do it this way, once the play gets the flag they are stuck unless they are in a hawk. The hawk is able to jump over the wall. Of course it does not take much to blow up a hawk when it is on the ground, so you better have a backup plan ready.

Team Death Match is a well-known mode to all gamers alike and StarHawk is no different until you factor in that you have Hawks rivaled by Beam Turrets, Snipers in Towers behind a Force Field and players owning their area from a Supply Bunker.

TDM can become chaotic very quickly with a little team work. I have seen a team immediately take hold of the center of both maps with a Spawn Beacon, Supply Bunker and Force Field. And unless you are downright crazy, you are lucky to ever recapture the center. But the true key is to take the left or right areas on both maps. This gives you access to rift barrels for easy fortification.

Adding the Build and Battle element makes StarHawk an ever evolving game. You never know what you may be up against when you get to the enemy base.

We can only commend the community support we are seeing from the gang over at Santa Monica Studios and LightBox Interactive. They are truely responsive to bugs, suggestions and complaints. Updates roll out quickly, even within hours as was the case just this week. Keep up the Great work fellas!!!

Overall we give StarHawk’s private beta 5 Fists of Fury out of 5!!! The private beta has been extended through January 3^rd so forget the family. Lock your doors and man up. Get that rift and build your foothold. StarHawk is going to be an Epic win for PlayStation in 2012, and you can bet that a Tournament or two will be announced by Urgent Fury.

Watch for the UrgentFury.com server and jump in, we always set it to All Mic and Randomized Teams making for some great times, see you on the battle field.

A little bit of magic coming to the PlayStation Move with Sorcery

Steven Daws — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:03:39 +0000

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC and developer The Workshop have announced their newest addition to the software line-up for the PlayStation Move motion controller with Sorcery.

This single player Action Adventure/RPG game sees the Nightmare Queen breaking a pact with mankind and threatening to cover the land in eternal night. The players role as a young sorcerers apprentice is to master the arcane arts, conjure and command powerful magic and fight the fierce creatures that lurk in the realms. The game also involves solving puzzles, casting spells and mixing potions with the help of the in-game alchemy system. There are also various items to discover and collect to help immerse you in the world of magic.

Of course the real magic is that Sorcery utilises the PlayStation Move motion controller which allows you to use it as if it were a real magic wand, casting spells as well as solving puzzles and battling your foe. There is also a unique gesture-based casting system that will allow you to group together spells into powerful combos so you can freeze, electrocute or incinerate your enemies with a wave of your wrist.

There are five realms to explore each with their own enemies and challenges including the kingdom of the dead to battle the Banshee and the Restless Dead warriors, the endless stair where vicious bogies are wreaking havoc, the faerie forest, and the Slumbering Palace.

So if you fancy a little bit of magic and mayhem, you will definitely want to check out what is promising to be a very thrilling and unique action adventure game. Sorcery will be available on the PlayStation 3 for the PlayStation Move motion controller in Spring 2012.

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

Powerful companion app Halo Waypoint now available on mobile devices

Steven Daws — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:21:33 +0000

Microsoft have announced that they are porting the powerful Halo Waypoint over to the mobile version of the franchise for iOS, Android and Windows Phone 7. Halo Waypoint has been around as a console-based app for a couple of years and provides “near real-time” information on weapons and vehicles for the game you are currently playing as well as birds-eye maps.

Probably the biggest plus though is the ATLAS strategy system developed in association with strategy game maker Brady Games. The feature includes full maps for Halo: Reach with pan and zoom support as well as item locations. In Matchmaking Multiplayer the maps will only show the default spawn locations of weapons, powerups and health packs. However because of the near real-time system, custom games will show the current location of all weapons and powerups including those held by your friends who may be cloaked.

ATLAS will be a paid in-app upgrade priced at $4.99 on most devices in the US. Halo Waypoint was released on iOS, Android and Windows Phone 7 on December 10th.

The November PlayStation®Home Top Items are out

Shane Bell — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:52:29 +0000

They are listed in order by Units Sold…

1. The Green Ticket by Mass Media, Inc.
2. 100 Items Super Bundle by SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
3. Lockwood Token Pack – 80 by Lockwood Publishing
4. Spider Web Tank Top (Female) by SCEA
5. Long-Wavy Hairstyle (Female) by SCEA
6. Phantom 5000 Beat Machine by SCEA
7. Cutteridge Mansion by Juggernaut Games, LLC
8. Official Scre4m Movie Costume (Male) by Codeglue
9. Hollywood Hills House (with Home Theater) by Sony Pictures Entertainment
10. Lockwood Token Pack – 480 by Lockwood Publishing

The Green Ticket takes the #1 spot again, will anything ever take down this item? Come on guys, there has to be something!!! If you have not taken the time to check out PlayStation®Home Lately, you have got to check it out. The new look is more than amazing and with the release of 1.60 this week there is a slew of improvements and so much more…

From the Blog Announcement

This Thursday, December 8th, we will release the latest update to the PlayStation Home client. PlayStation Home version 1.60 delivers a wealth of improvements and updates to the core client, not the least of which is a doubling of the item placement limit in personal spaces!

NEW FEATURES

Furniture Placement Limit

We have doubled the furniture placement limit in personal spaces and clubhouses from 50 to 100 items.

Standard and active furniture limits have been merged into the same system. Currently all actives take up 22 furniture slots in the new system. Thus you can now place a variety of different combinations:

100 standard furniture items or…

78 standard furniture items and 1 active or…

56 standard furniture items and 2 actives or…

34 standard furniture items and 3 actives or…

12 standard furniture items and 4 actives.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS

Targeting in Personal Spaces

Targeting in personal spaces has been improved.

This means you shouldn’t accidentally target furniture items through floors or ceilings any more.

Although we have made exceptions for wall hangings and lights as these tend to be placed quite high up.

If you find any items of furniture in places you can’t reach then you can always remove them through the furniture browser and place them somewhere else.

Portable Items and Companions

We have changed the way that companion portables work so they will now automatically re-activate after you enter and leave a game or relocate between spaces. No more having to put your companion away and take them out again when you do this!

Help System

There is a new help system to aid new users as they explore PlayStation Home for the first time.

Arcade Games

Arcade games are no longer subject to the 3 minute inactivity timeout when placed as furniture in Personal Spaces or Clubhouses.

CHANGES

Menu Pad

We have removed the “Community” section of the Menu Pad. The information that used to be contained in here is now communicated via the Message of the Day pop-up at login and the new loading screens.

There are so many different new areas to explore, quests to attempt and overall fun added in Home’s new version it is like starting all over for those Home Veterans out there. We are extremely happy with how the new look came out. The theater looks awesome, the poker tables are busy and the sports bar is serving up the drinks.

Urgent Frequency Ep. 91 – The 2011 VGA Preview Episode

Commander Fury — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:45:37 +0000

After a year of major game releases, the game industry & gamers from all over the world are set to pick the best of the best for the 2011 Video Game Awards.

Shane Bell (Urgent Fury CIO) & Doc (The Tester (Season 1) & Replay w/ Doc) join Commander Fury to preview a few of the categories & make their 2011 VGA picks.

Mass Effect 3 will attempt the realm of Multiplayer in 2012, will it work?

Shane Bell — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:30:01 +0000

So with all of the craziness of Multiplayer releases in 2011 over, now it’s time to look ahead to 2012. And a new entry into the realm of multiplayer is Mass Effect 3 by Bioware based in Edmonton Canada.

In a press release from October, the award-winning developer, a label of Electronic Arts Inc., announced hat multiplayer will be coming to the critically-acclaimed Mass Effect™ series for the very first time as part of the new Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system.

With the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, players will fight for the survival of the galaxy against an ancient alien race known only as, Reapers, in both the single player campaign and through a suite of Mass Effect games and applications. Progress made in each of the components of the system, including the new multiplayer mode, will directly link back to the player’s main campaign, helping Commander Shepard rally the forces of the galaxy to eliminate the Reaper threat once and for all. The Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War feature can be activated via the Online Pass code found in every new copy of Mass Effect 3. The Mass Effect 3 Online Pass can also be purchased separately on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

“The theme of galactic war in Mass Effect 3 presents us with the perfect opportunity to introduce multiplayer into the Mass Effect series,” said Casey Hudson, Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series. “Multiplayer not only features amazing combat and deep customization options, but it will give players another way to help the war effort against the Reapers in the main event — the single player campaign.”

Featuring four-player cooperative gameplay, multiplayer in Mass Effect 3 puts players in the role of a team of elite Special Forces soldiers sent to protect resources and assets that can help the war effort against the Reapers. Players will have the option of playing as one of six classes and from six different races: Human, Krogan, Asari, Drell, Salarian and Turian.

Multiplayer and other components of the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system provide alternative ways for players to wage the final war against the Reapers. The new system will also connect players to their BioWare Social Network accounts to stay up to date on the latest Mass Effect 3 news and access downloadable content (DLC) and add-ons.

Now if you read around the net, the avid Mass Effect Fans are not that keen on addition of the Multiplayer, but as stated by Shane Bell in his editorial about Multiplayer not extending the life of games, maybe this developer is seeing an opportunity to add a longer playability to their title after all.

Only time will tell if this is successful or not and there are rumors of a beta soon, the game is scheduled to launch March 6^th, 2012.

About BioWare

The BioWare Label is a division of EA which crafts high quality multiplatform role-playing, MMO and strategy games, focused on emotionally engaging, rich stories with unforgettable characters and vast worlds to discover. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world’s most critically acclaimed titles and franchises, including Baldur’s Gate™, Neverwinter Nights™, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™, Jade Empire™, Mass Effect™ and Dragon Age™. BioWare currently operates in seven locations across the world, including Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Montreal (Quebec, Canada), Austin (Texas), Fairfax (Virginia), San Francisco (California), Los Angeles (California) and Galway (Ireland).

In 2008, BioWare was acquired by Electronic Arts, a leading global interactive entertainment publisher. In 2011 EA created the BioWare Label, alongside EA Games, EA SPORTS™ and EA Play. To join the millions of fans already registered with the BioWare community, go to http://social.bioware.com.

Warning: MW3 Modded Clan Tags, Will Get You Banned…

CritiKiL — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:56:29 +0000

Story by: CritiKiL

Modded clan tags in Modern Warfare 3 are tags which have button icons in it, that make them considerably longer compared to what is permitted. A minor issue, yes, however Infinity Ward does not like any kind of exploit whatsoever, in their games. If you have got a modded clan tag, be sure to change it back to something suitable or risk a ban. Here is the official response on the Activison support forum regarding the MW3 clan tags:

“Using any kind of hack or exploit to put characters or graphics into your clan tag can result in a suspension or full ban. You may only use the default set of characters included in the user interface”

This is true for tags that are colored anything beyond the default colors, which also have been confirmed to be an exploit as well. Infinity Ward has stated that they will be evaluating the problem and that gamers who have got modded clan tags ought to be reported on sight. Guy Beahm of Sledgehammer games was asked if there would be an ETA for the fix, however due to this being so low-priority and undamaging to gameplay, there isn’t one. So if you’re using these types of clan tags, remove them or run the risk of getting banned from the game.

Multiplayer no longer extending the life of games

Shane Bell — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:20:53 +0000

Over the last year we have seen several titles release with a multiplayer inclusion and have been excited about the different tournaments that can be created to extend the playability of the game and continue fostering the team building and communities built around it. But then we get the game and start testing to only find that sure the “Multiplayer” label is affixed to the game but no true means of really fostering a team or community for that matter.

So let’s go back a few years so I can help you understand where I am going with this. And keep in mind PC Gaming had already started this trend with games like CounterStrike, but that was not my introduction to multiplayer. On PlayStation 2, a game called Socom was launched with this new feature called Multiplayer. Online gaming was a new concept for consoles and this seemed pretty cool. You could play with different players and the experience would be absolutely different every time since you were playing with humans instead of programmed characters.

The next thing you know it, someone asked if I would join their clan or team for those not familiar with the term. Of course I have played with these guys a few times and enjoyed playing with them so I of course said sure. Next thing I know I have registered on the clan’s website and have instantly become a member of this highly focused community built around playing a game.

At the time I did not see how much of a big deal this would be, but later in life it would prove to be the friendships and team building aspect of this was unsurpassed by any other experience in gaming. Some of these clans have run strong for many years and like any team, many have had conflict and caused the creation of new clans.

So with that in mind you can look at the playability of a game and how this team building would foster a completely new breed of gaming now known as competitive multiplayer. Tournament communities started to spring up everywhere giving games a whole new life with teams competing for prizes, bragging rights and more. Suddenly your clan had a new purpose, not only are you playing with a group so you kind of knew who would do what, but now you could take your clans skills and pit them against other clans with a structured environment behind the scenes.

Fast forward about ten years to today and many of these tournament communities have come and gone and some have thrived. MLG is probably the best example of a thriving business built around competitive multiplayer. The business brings in several millions of dollars with their tournaments through sponsorship and attendance. Even Richard Branson jumped on the competitive gaming train with the launch of Virgin Gaming in 2010.

The big winner out of this business segment really has been the games themselves, as this creates a long lasting playability to a game. If done right a multiplayer portion of a game can be stretched out to years versus a few months. There is no beating the game, no trading in of the game, just endless play with your clan mates.

Now let’s look at the games of the last year or so. Multiplayer seems to have become more of an afterthought then a true focus. In the original Socom for example, you could create a room with a custom title like “My Clan Tryouts” and it made expanding your team very efficiently, this was what we call the lobby system.

In today’s games there are no lobbies, and even more so less means of even creating a private match. Socom 4 did have a clan match making system but it did not let you create any custom parameters to a match. Battlefield 3 launched with no private match making at all and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s private matchmaking is plagued with issues on PS3 causing communities such as ours to postpone or even cancel tournaments.

What do we have to do to get the game developers to take a step back and realize that with the right design, multiplayer can make their game more profitable? Let me explain how…

So let’s pretend a multiplayer game came out with the prized features like these:

Private Custom Match Making
Lobbies or User Created Rooms
A Clan Management System

These three simple systems together foster a long life of playability of a game, also giving a developer the opportunity to sale DLC such as map packs and expansions. Here is how…

With the ability to customize a private match, a tournament community can offer unique game play by changing the parameters of a game, giving players a completely different experience with the title. This can also keep the competitive play fresh with different setups, weapon restrictions, etc. While a good clan management system give members of the team the ability to manage their rosters, group up for game play and provide structure. And finally with a lobby system, the clans are able to promote recruitment, host events and even show off what tournament they are playing in.

This breeds for longevity gameplay, giving the developer the right formula to sale additional content. If you have strong tournament communities developing long term events, many will incorporate the new content to freshen up the tournaments. The PlayStation 2 Socom’s are a perfect example for our community… we were able to run a tournament from the day it launched until the day the next title released. Even with Confrontation we ran a tournament up to the Friday before Socom 4 released. That is just shy of three years of game play on a single title. Yet when the DLC was released, we quickly adapted a tournament specifically for it.

Now with today’s games, the community building portion of the game has gone. There is no way to foster the building or reinforcement of the clans and there are no stable private match making options in the game.

Is this the end of clans as we know it today? I still play with clan members from almost 10 years ago, but now it is almost impossible to get together and play. We invite all developers to contact tournament communities such as ours and even Gamebattles. The ability to include these three simple features can give a game the means to generate additional revenue, keep a strong fan base and breed a whole new generation of competitive gamers.

Battlefield: 3 Now ‘Banned’ in Iran…

CritiKiL — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:44:01 +0000

Story by: CritiKiL

First the Lawsuit, and now This? ~ Iran has banned this video game in all of Iran, which is very popular here in the USA. In the picture above, it shows the US invading Iran. With the latest incident leading to the killings via Drone-airstrike by NATO, this video game is the first of expressions showing the countries unrest with what happened. Battlefield: 3 has been banned in that country because of it’s depictions of US armour and aircraft launching assaults on and in the city of Tehran, according to an Iranian IT magazine today.

Tehran Highway: A nighttime map where players start off in the hills out side of the city and work their way in. Sounds a lot like Strike At Karkand. The map starts open, but ends “on a much more urban and tight note” with focus on infantry combat.

The game (EA’s current top-selling title), can be played as a solo campaign or as a group mission with up to 24 players online. The Iran scenario sees US forces fighting hostile militia near the Iraq-Iran border then moving on to Tehran under a looming nuclear threat. Intense gunfights are depicted in various military, industrial and urban locations in the capital, including Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar.

According to EA, 5 million copies of Battlefield: 3 were sold within just ‘one week’ of it hitting the market on October 25, 2011. The game is available on DVD-ROM and as for download from the Internet. EA has no resellers in Iran, but pirated copies of all major videogames and computer software are widely available worldwide. This is the first time an official ban on the game was reported, but some computer store owners said they had declined to stock the game initially, anticipating a possible crackdown on it.

Iranian police overseeing public places “raided (some shops) and arrested owners for selling the game secretly” even before the ban became public, said by one anonymous store owner who did not want his name mentioned. The Fars news agency said the game had prompted an online protest by a group of Iranian youths. One group said in an online petition, with more than 5,000 signatories so far:

“We understand that the story of a videogame is hypothetical … (but) we believe the game is purposely released at a time when the US is pushing the international community into fearing Iran…”

Although Not noted in the petition as far as we know: ‘an Iranian leader in the game outright calls Americans terrorists’, in explaining the source of the struggle in the Launch trailer that I’ve attached to this story below. Whatever the outcome, it looks like this game won’t be accessible or played in that part of the world ever again, but that’s just my take on the given situation. Let us know what YOU THINK, by commenting on this story! Don’t forget to watch the video below:

Urgent Frequency Ep. 90 – The 2nd Annual URGENT FREQUENCY VETERANS DAY THANKSGIVING CALL OF DUTY MIDNIGHT LAUNCH PARTY Episode

Commander Fury — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:51:05 +0000

Commander Fury is Urgent Fury’s “boots on the ground” for the biggest game release of the year!!!

As he finds himself braving the cold & crowds at his local GameStop to celebrate the launch of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for the 2nd Annual Urgent Frequency Veterans Day Thanksgiving Call Of Duty Midnight Launch Party Episode. Get all the intel about the most anticipated game of the year…including gametrailers.com‘s full review of the game, and an overview of Call Of Duty: ELITE.

Plus, we wrap things up with the Thanksgiving classic….Arlo Guthrie’s – “Alice’s Restaurant“.

Modern Warfare: 3 ‘Trounces’ Battlefield: 3, in Online Play Time!

CritiKiL — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:00:39 +0000

Story by: CritiKiL

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is blasting away at Battlefield 3 in the number of hours played, according to an analysis and survey of 10 million gamers by the Raptr gamer social network. Raptr reports that play data collected from its gamer network shows the Call of Duty franchise still dominates the $5 billion first-person shooter market when it comes to online play. Modern Warfare 3 users have logged more total hours in their first week after launch than Battlefield 3 users have logged in the past three weeks. Modern Warfare 3 users logged about 40 percent more hours played on launch day (6.19 hours on average on Nov. ) than Battlefield 3 users did (4.45 hours, Oct. 25), although Battlefield 3′s launch [as far as 'gameplay'] was plagued with connectivity problems. During the first week, Xbox 360 players logged 17 percent more play time, or 20.45 hours, on Modern Warfare 3, compared to 17.37 hours on Battlefield 3.

For the first time ever for any franchise, three Call of Duty games (including last year’s Black Ops and Modern Warfare 2 from two years ago) were in the top 10 play-time charts on Raptr. On average, Call of Duty players play the game for 60 to 70 hours, mostly on multiplayer since the campaign game is five to 10 hours. This year, Activision is finally trying to monetize those extra hours of play by coming up with its premium subscription for the Call of Duty Elite service. Raptr tracks actual game play data from its 10 million users. It compared that data with a survey of 6,000 participants in its Battlefield vs. Call of Duty showdown promotion. This news isn’t great for EA, which made a major attempt to unseat Activision Blizzard with Battlefield 3.

Modern Warfare: 3 ~ Over 1,600 Cheaters Banned / Fix Coming…

CritiKiL — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:47:44 +0000

Story by: CritiKiL

As the saying goes, ‘cheaters never win’. While it doesn’t always prove true, a huge number of cheaters definitely won’t make it to the end of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Infinity Ward has banned more than 1,600 players from MW3 for cheating using glitches uncovered in the new game, and that’s just soo far! Yes, there will be [more] Bloodshed. Infinity Ward has been on a mass-banning spree as numerous glitches are being found and exploited by cheaters in Modern Warfare 3. Upwards of 1,600 players, and we expect many more to come. Posting on Twitter, Infinity Ward’s community man Robert Bowling said:

“Any attempt to cheat, hack, or glitch in #MW3 will not be tolerated. 1600+ bans issued. Updates in works. Please cont. to report offenders.” He later added: “We are doing mass bans on PC as well while we work on updates…” and has repeatedly promised a “Hot fix already in the works”for multiple glitches reported by agitated Twitter users.

Despite its issues, Modern Warfare 3 has broken movie box office, book and game sales records for five day worldwide sell-through in dollars. Modern Warfare 3 has been a massive hit, breaking not only records for game release, but also book and box office openings. In its first day, the game sold 6.5 million units for a total of $400 million in sales.

By Thursday, Activision had nearly doubled that figure. The company announced that in its first five days, Modern Warfare 3 generated more than $775 million in sales, smashing the $650 million record set a year ago by its predecessor, Call of Duty: Black Ops, in addition to the the $500 million record established two years ago by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

So you see, there’s alot of necessity for keeping a well developed game that’s making soo much money, to be protected from exploits. Best believe that money is going to be put into keeping it ‘Cheat, Glitch and Exploit-Free’…

Good News! COD Elite Will Be ‘Fully Functional’, on 12.01.11…

CritiKiL — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:35 +0000

Story by: CritiKiL

Activision plans to have Call of Duty: Elite fully operational by December 1 2011! This is my birthday, so of course this is a good thing for me to here. In speaking with G4, Daniel Suarez (Activision’s VP of Production), attempted to reassure users that the service will be functional in the coming weeks. His quote: “It was our fault that the service wasn’t up and running the day [fans] put in their token or the day they bought it…” and, “They kind of have to bear with us while we bring this all back up, but for us it’s literally ‘Give us those couple weeks, we’re giving those to you for free and come December 1 the goal is that we’ll have everything up and running’.”

Suarez was referring to the extended month of Elite service users will receive due to its current problems. He also provided insight into how the situation got out of hand, despite extensive beta testing. No need to quote everything he said, just rest assured that by 12.01.11 you won’t see anything but a fully functional website! But some other explainations he said worth mentioning is:

“When we ran our beta, [it] was strictly on the PC, and a lot of our assumptions were based around [the idea] that a larger majority of users were going to use the PC [interface] since it’s a more robust version of the service than the console app… / Some of that may have been incorrectly analysed, because we’re seeing 80 to 90% of our users coming straight from the console app. Right now we’re retrofitting that so that that works better across the board rather than the way it was set up…”.

This explains alot, since the majority of Activisions Fans are Console gamers. Many users have had difficulty signing in and using Call of Duty: Elite, since it launched earlier this month alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Also, if you’ve all been wondering what’s up with the COD Elite “Mobile Apps“? These have been delayed, while Activision works on the console apps. The iPhone and Android applications of the social networking service have been delayed until further notice while server issues continue to be worked on. “Since we do not want to add even more stress to the back-end servers, we are holding back on launching the Elite mobile applications until the service is stable and our players can easily access it… / We will have the apps ready to launch as soon as we are comfortable the experience will be a great one, and will update with more information soon…” ~ read a Q&A on Activision‘s website.

For the ‘Bad News’, the PC version, which has already been delayed indefinitely, may never be released despite the developer’s efforts. “We are working towards a universal Elite experience but we cannot guarantee if or when a version will be available for the PC…” ~ the firm wrote on Twitter in response to a user inquiry.

Looking for other Call of Duty apps for other devices? BlackBerry free apps can be found in your service providers marketplace for help, guides and other information about Call of Duty games.

To sort of compensate us, Activision has since given paying members an additional 30 days’ subscription as a result of the ongoing issues. I can’t wait, COD Elite to be Fully Functional on my Birthday! Now there’s another present I can add to my collection on that day To remind you of why we are ALL waiting for things to be fixed, enjoy the Modern Warfare 3 Tango Behind the Scenes – Connect video below and leave us a comment or two to tell us what YOU think about this awesome accomplishment of a Gaming Franchise:

Battlefield: 3 Faces Lawsuit Over Game Promotion…

CritiKiL — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:17:05 +0000

Story by: CritiKiL

Electronic Arts is facing a class-action lawsuit over a recent Battlefield 3 promotion. Legal firm Edelson McGuire has filed a complaint against the studio on behalf of customers who were promised a free copy of Battlefield 1943 when they purchased the PS3 version of the game. EA later changed the terms of the promotion, announcing via Twitter that those who preordered Battlefield 3 on the Sony console would receive early access to DLC expansion packs instead. In the filing of the lawsuit, it alleges that EA “misled and profited from thousands of their customers by making a promise that they could not, and never intended, to keep.”

According to the lawyers, all that those signed up to the class action want out of EA is the free copy of 1943 that they were originally promised. The customers affected are said to only be seeking their free copy of Battlefield 1943, reports Kotaku.Battlefield 3 was released for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in October. The game sold almost 2 million copies in its first month in the US alone. EA as of yet, has not responded to these allegations.

Star Supremacy Boldly Going to Open Beta

Steven Daws — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:45:52 +0000

Barbily Games have just announced that their new free to play strategy war game Star Supremacy is nearly ready for Open Beta. In Star Supremacy you play the role of a colonist who is battling for territories on other planets. This may sound like other on-line games, but the difference is Star Supremacy has a main line throughout the whole universe.

At the beginning, not only do you have to fight for territories, but you also have to try and find new hidden technology that leads to the discovery of a mysterious deep colony ship. Once you have built your ship, you can then start to explore the surronding galaxies.

Some of the other gameplay features include

A new economy system and trade route
Overturn the Routine Battle Mode
Alliance Interaction
Challenging powerful bosses

To get hold of the Open Beta code which starts on November 15th, you need to register at Star Supremacy or on various MMO Gaming sites.

They are also hosting a Facebook Event where three random players will be selected to win a gaming headset once their Facebook page reaches 30,000 likes.

MW3 Elite: Now a Complete, Cultural Integrated Experience!

CritiKiL — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:54:31 +0000

Story by: CritiKiL

For those who have forgotten, Call of Duty Elite is an innovative new online service that enriches gamers’ Call of Duty multiplayer experience. In the latest ‘behind the scenes’ video, Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games are joined by Beachhead Studio in this multiplayer experience video for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. In the video they explain how MW3 enables you to easily connect with your Facebook friends while you’re playing, without having to leave your console. ELITE enhances your social experience by providing FREE tools which will help you to form, join, and organize clans. Also, in addition to competing with your friends and leveling up your clan, ELITE provides you with the necessary tools to improve your skills and opportunities to compete for real world prizing.

They also introduce more information about the New Gaming Console App “and” Mobile App, which will be on both the iOS & Android platforms, where you’ll be able to do just about everything with separate dedicated applications for both ‘mobile applications’ as well as for the gaming consoles. ~~“No more need to only” modify your settings and weapons configurations within the game~~. NOW…you can do it straight from your COD Elite Mobile App or from the Website! You will have your ‘Call of Duty Experience’ wherever you are! And not to mention we’re talking about Detailed Video Guides providing analysis and tactics, from Pro Gamers ~ To quote from my own clans motto: ‘This Changes Everything!’ ~ lol

Now you’ll be together, with everyone, online…all the time! Check out the video below, and drop us some comments, because I KNOW we have to talk more about “this” New Integration-experience. This time, they heard our call: It’s ALL About the Clans and Clan Management!

Your favourite comic book heroes unleashed with DC Universe Online

Steven Daws — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:59:34 +0000

Sony Online Entertainment have announced that players can now download the very popular massively multiplayer online or MMO action game DC Universe Online. In a press release, they were quoted as saying.
“We are confident that going free-to-play will expand the action combat experience of DC Universe Online by making the game more accessible to every type of player so they can choose to play the game their way,” said John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment. “With a portfolio that includes three successful free-to-play games – EverQuest II: Extended, Free Realms and Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures – we have extensive knowledge and experience to apply to DCUOand are thrilled to be taking the game free-to-play today.”

There are three access levels in DCUO: Free, Premium and Legendary. All three levels will provide access to the game and include all game updates and fixes to the game, with each level offering differing game options and features. DLC content and features will also be included for Legendary players, and can be purchased by Free and Premium players. The levels include:

Free Access: New players now have access to the base game content in DC Universe Online, including Gotham City, Metropolis, and all current raids and alerts outside of DLC packs. Free Access provides players with the ability to create two characters, join a League and many other benefits. Free level players can also purchase DLC packs, additional character slots, and more in-game.
Premium Access: Any player who has spent at least $5 USD (including former paid subscribers and new players who have purchased $5 of in-game items) qualifies for the Premium Access level. Premium level players have more benefits available to them than the Free level player, including additional character slots, additional inventory slots, and higher cash limits. DLC packs, additional character slots, and more can be purchased in-game. All previous subscribers are granted Premium Access automatically.
Legendary Access: Legendary Access provides the most content, features and benefits of the three access levels. Loaded with enhanced features, Legendary Access is available for a $14.99 USD monthly fee (multi-month discounts are available) and includes access to all DLC packs at no cost, more than 16 character slots, over 60 inventory slots, the ability to form Leagues, and many other benefits.

DC Universe Online will enable players to really get into the action, they will be able to pick up objects and throw them at opponents as well as run up the side of buildings and all this while fighting alongside some of the legends of the comic world.

DC Universe Online is licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC Entertainment. For more information about DC Universe Online, visit www.DCUniverseOnline.com.

‘Saints Row: The Third’, has a Full Plate this Month!

CritiKiL — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:17:44 +0000

Story by: CritiKiL

You have to feel sorry for THQ and the Saints Row team, who were finally gearing up to release The Third, content in the knowledge that it has been years since GTA IV released, and that there hasn’t been any news on GTA V. But just as THQ got their marketing campaign geared up to take on Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3, Rockstar decided to spoil the party. Now, it looks like the publisher doesn’t want to go down without a fight, and has begun an “anti-GTA” ad campaign. When searching for terms like GTA V or Grand Theft Auto V, you might see the following Google ad:

An 'Anti-GTA: 5' Ad, designed to thwart people into buying 'The Third' on Nov 15th...

The “Forget Grand Theft Auto” ad links directly to the mildly-NSFW Saints Row website, and urges gamers to favor their open world third person action sandbox game over Rockstar’s, presumably higher budget, open world third person action sandbox game. But is it enough? With Saints Row releasing on November 15th in the US and 18th in Europe, how badly do you think today’s Grand Theft Auto V trailer will affect the game’s sales? Let us know in the comments below.

Research Firm Predicts GTA: V to be, D/L Only…

CritiKiL — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:02:52 +0000

Story by: CritiKiL

Despite low broadband speeds, many people still using dialup, download caps and limited hard drive space…market research company ‘Newzoo’ has made a rather unusual prediction: Grand Theft Auto V will be released as a digital-only product.

Newzoo’s report states:

There are a lot of reasons why publishers are pushing towards digital distribution of triple-A games. Speaking out loud might harm the relationship with retail partners, but the benefits have become too large to remain silent about the desire to go completely digital.

The ultimate objective being to launch games faster, create continuous revenues on a title and simply to make more money. Will retail disappear from the picture? Of course not. Retail will always remain an important channel to promote and distribute games. Retail has a strong hand to play when it comes to eyeballs and… boxes make a nice gift.

Continuing:

Boxed games will not disappear, but what is in the box will. That is why the boxed GTA V version will contain a collectible piece of merchandise and a download code. No disc.

We will probably find out in less than four hours, when the GTA V trailer officially debuts, but we’d be incredibly shocked if the game, which will be at least 8GB (but likely more) ends up being a download only product.

What do you think? Make your predictions in the comments below.

BF:3 Just Became the Fastest Selling Game, Ever!

CritiKiL — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:44:37 +0000

Originally written by: Sebastian Moss

BF3 wasn’t only a success in the UK, where it outsold all previous Battlefields combined, but worldwide sales beat out other EA powerhouses like FIFA and Madden. EA proudly announced that BF3 sold-through (that’s actual sales, not just shipped figures) 5 million units globally, based on internal estimates, making it the fastest-selling game in the publisher’s 29 year history. It’s also important to note that, while Battlefieldreleased on Tuesday in the US, it released later in most of the rest of the world, meaning that the game was available to purchase for less time.

Since launch Battlefield 3 players executed 73M savior kills, 48M revives and destroyed 67M vehicles. Patrick Soderlund, Executive Vice President of the EA Games Label, said:

From Tokyo to Los Angeles, Sydney to London, millions of fans have been playing all weekend long — we are overwhelmed by the global response to Battlefield 3. It is extremely gratifying to deliver an entertainment experience that delights our fans, and to have the opportunity to introduce new people to the franchise. Already, we are seeing unprecedented play times and online activity which is very rewarding. This launch solidifies Battlefield as a leading entertainment brand.

In comparison, Call of Duty: Black Ops sold nearly 5.5 million copies in 24 hours.