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.

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:

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.

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’…

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.

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!

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

The war for the military FPS game of the year has begun, and Battlefield 3 has fired the first shots.  The attention to detail and care that DICE has put into its Frostbite 2 engine shows (which is ‘also’ incorporated in NFS: The Run racing game!), and leaves gamers with a highly polished and addictive shooter.

In the campaign mode you’re in the shoes of Henry Blackburn, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps who’s being interrogated and as he tells his side of the story, you play through ‘his’ events and end up playing as a few different characters watching the story unfold from their individual perspectives (much like the Call of Duty franchise). It is clear that DICE tried too hard to capture the Call of Duty audience, but overall it owns up to having it’s on individuality. That’s what Battlefield is all about though, watching tanks battle and etc. But there’s a scene  that’s a skydiving mission and that is Awesome.  The Co-Op mode is not bad either.

However, it is the Multiplayer mode which steals the Show! It reminds me of the Socom we used to love but now hate. Don’t miss it at all. The squad based combat encourages teamwork and coordination. We have the choice of four classes; Assault, Engineer, Recon, and Support. Each class has its own set of abilities that aid the team. The Assault class can drop med kits to heal your comrades, the Engineer can repair damaged vehicles, the Recon class can spot targets and mark them, and with Support you can replenish your teammates’ ammo.  There are also a variety of customization options for each class with dozens of primary weapons and secondary weapons to choose from, and camouflages to earn for your soldier. Unlocking new weapons, attachments, camouflage, vehicle upgrades are dependent on your performance and how well you work with your team. We’re just not awarded for kill, but assists help us unlock equipment and weapons. Unlocking new items to customize our character is the heart of the multiplayer, and these rewards will keep you coming back for more.

So, if you’re looking for a deep multiplayer experience where working as a team is encouraged, Battlefield 3 is the game you have waited for. The campaign mode is nice, but the multiplayer is so fun and addictive that you can easily overlook the campaign’s shortcoming. Battlefield 3 will have your attention for months on end with its sharp graphics, amazing sound effects and team-based multiplayer. DICE once again shows that it knows how to make an enjoyable multiplayer experience.

This thing (Um, the ‘Simulator’), has some of the most intense and realistic playing action I have ever seen. The player stands in a room with a dome wrap around screen surrounding them. The system has five HD resolution projectors, surround sound, and a freaking paintball gun inside.The lucky geeks at The Gadget Show in Britain got a chance to play a game on the damn thing (USA needs to step our ‘game up ~ lol!). The player stands in the center of that room and walks around on an omni-directional treadmill so they stay in the center of the room. Whatever direction the player walks, that is where the character moves on screen. The gun the player holds fires the on screen bullets. The enemies on screen can also fight back and when you get shot, you actually get shot with a paintball gun. That way you can feel the pain when you get hit. Talk about cool. I want to play, but I prefer to skip the being shot with a paintball gun part.

Check out the video below, and leave us a comment or two telling us what you think? Thanks.

No, NOT TODAY will you be getting your hands on this game. The highly anticipated PlayStation®Network title from Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), PAYDAY: The Heist, will be available for digital download for the PSN and PC systems later this month for $19.99 USD. So put your hockey masks and black suits back in the closet; Sony Online Entertainment has delayed its upcoming crime caper FPS, PayDay: The Heist, until later this month. Originally set for launch today, the downloadable title has been pushed back until “later this month” for further polish. In a press release, SOE made the announcement, stating that the delay “is a move to ensure players and fans of our promise and vision to produce high-caliber games that deliver the best quality game experience.”

This delay is a move to ensure players and fans of our promise and vision to produce high-caliber games that deliver the best quality game experience. Players who pre-ordered PAYDAY: The Heist will receive the game at launch, and those who purchased the four other PSN titles as part of the PlayStation®Network PLAY program will also be awarded PAYDAY: The Heist when it launches later this month, according to the terms of that program.

PAYDAY: The Heist is a squad-based, first-person shooter that allows players to take on the role of a hardened career criminal and engage in a number of high-risk heists. Players will rob banks, steal from drug dealers, pocket priceless diamonds, take hostages and hijack cars in a never-ending pursuit for criminal glory. To be successful in any true heist scenario, teamwork is essential to provide crewmembers with a sense of security and protection, and ultimately take home the loot.

Again, ‘later this month’ and at a price of $19.99 USD for Digital Download. PayDay: The Heist is a Windows PC and PlayStation 3 title and is sure to be an awesome game! Here are some Resources where you can find more info about this game. And don’t forget to check out the video of the game below, and leave us some comments on what you think about this soon to be released game!
http://www.payday-theheist.com/
http://www.facebook.com/PAYDAYTheHeist
http://www.youtube.com/paydaytheheist

Ok, the moment you’ve all been waiting for is here! Many of you have Computer consoles or mini towers which incorporate HDMI capture cards for the Best recording of media that you watch or games you play through your HDTV. While that can get pricey or while many of you who only have Notebook Computers, this option is not available to you…’Until Now’. For the First time, you can record ‘Component Video’ connection through any computer (Like a Notebook computer) which has minimal requirements but a fast processor. Your output from your PS3 or XBox 360 is done via ‘component video’ (next-best output under HDMI), and recorded to your computer while the other output can either be ‘component’ or ‘HDMI’.

Whether you are a video game journalist or just a video game avid; video capturing your gameplay is a great way to show off your gaming skills, post a video review or share your video collection with your friends. There are several affordable options available for gamers today, but none may come as easy to install and use, as the all new AverTV USB HD DVR. Capture video games like a pro in high definition without over spending in a matter of minutes. Here are the Specifications, and System Requirements to make this work:

Input Source:

* Hi-Speed USB 2.0
* Component (YPbPr) Video & Stereo Audio
* S-Video / Composite & Stereo Audio
* Audio L/R
* IR Blaster

 

Output Signal:

* HDMI
* Component Video & Stereo Audio

System Requirements

* Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 2.8GHz
* Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz Notebook or AMD Equivalent
* 1GB RAM
* USB 2.0 Port
* Graphic Card with 256MB of Memory
* CD/DVD Burner
* Sound Card
* 1GB for VCD and 5GB for DVD of available Hard Disk space
* Supports Windows 7, Vista and XP (32 and 64 Bit)

You can obtain one of these models at Amazon.com for a very good price! Just click this link to get yours today:

http://goo.gl/o8CyZ

And don’t forget to Check out the Video below (which shows a comparison to one of the leading HD recording devices, the HAUPPAUGE HD PVR), and get your money together and start recording using your Notebook or any USB connected Computer!

First-off, I’d like to say that I hope everyone is enjoying the Battlefied: 3 Beta. I acquired it just yesterday and it seems like it’s going to be a really great game. But whats going to make this an even ‘greater’ game is definitely going to be, the BattleLog! The game Drops on 10/25/2011 for the PC, PS3 and of course XBox 360, and I strongly suggest that you fork-up the money for all that you’ll be getting! Here are just a Few of the things that is going to make this upcoming game, spectacular:

• COM CENTER ~ Your friends list lives at the bottom of the page in the Com Center. There you can join their game and chat with them.
• FRIENDS ACTIVITY FEED ~ Get instant reports when your friends unlock new weapons, get new awards or make plans for tonight’s game.
• FINDING THE RIGHT SERVER ~ Select your favorite game modes, maps, and map sizes with the browser filter. Click a server you’d like to join alone or with friends.
• INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ~ Drag your friends from the Com Center to a Drop Zone and they will get an invite to join.
• KEEPING UP TO DATE ~ Game updates are automatically pushed to you. Use the Game Manager (‘bottom-menubar’ of BattleLog), to start the update process.
• SHOW WHO YOU ARE ~ Your Profile is where other people come to see you. Your Soldiers, Stats, Favorite servers and your own personal Battle feed. 
• NEVER PLAY ALONE ~ Join a platoon or create your own.

One more interesting point I’d like to make (not making any comparisons here!), but it’s interesting that with all we are getting with BattleLog, it’s FREE…and COD Elite is Charged (hmmmm ~ lol!) But if you want to get a True Comparison, check out this ‘Comparison Link’ below. There is no difference as they are both ‘comparisons’ to a video game:

Now, to Access the BattleLog, just click this link below:

DON’T FORGET TO WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW. It give’s an ‘in-depth’ look at the features and functionality of the free social platform Battlelog. Battlelog will change the way you play, track your stats, and interact with your friends in Battlefield 3.