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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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“.

Story by: CritiKiL

We are slowly becoming more and more plagued with those that cheat in Modern Warfare 3 and utilize ways to get the upper hand on other players. This upsets the most when playing multiplayer, so NOW something is being done about it. The past Call of Duty games have been overrun by cheaters, and Infinity Ward are now taking a firm hand in MW3, which has been shown in a recent tweet that explains anyone exploiting hacks, glitches and cheats will likely see a ban. They are closing in on 2000 bans being issued, and are patching the current issues.

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.

Originally written by:  Sebastian Moss

Story by: CritiKiL

Team 17 have announced that their bunker- busting box of bedlam and birdies, Worms™ Crazy Golf is available from today for download on PlayStation® 3 from PlayStation® Network, PC from Steam and for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch on the App Store!
Worms™ fans and newcomers alike can grab their balls and step up to the tee in this mental mash-up of sports, puzzling
and Worms™! Worms™ Crazy Golf is a brazenly bonkers mixture of classic 2D Worms™ and hilarious eighteen- hole high jinks. Spread across a variety of weird and wonderful courses and featuring some mind- bendingly mental power-ups , this is the craziest golf you’ll ever play. With many fan-favourite features from the Worms™ universe such as the sheep, old woman, mole, magnets, mines and crazy chain reactions making an appearance, it is anything but a straight simulation.

Set across three surreal 18- hole golf courses plus a diverse range of skill- based challenge modes, expect to be challenged by increasingly puzzling hole design and an array of obstacles; from castles that teleport your ball, cannons that shoot it across the landscape and even obstructive comedy bats! Only skilful shot execution and clever use of special powers such as the parachute ball, or the ability to slow time down will see you hit par and progress to the next hole.

Check out some of the seriously skillful shots required to sink a hole-in- one in the new “Graveyard Course” trailer, featuring haunting Halloween hijinks, now on Team 17’ s official YouTube channel:

• http:/ /www.youtube .com/watch? v=X 2Vb 4dnKEbE

Worms™ Crazy Golf is released today for iPad and iPhone/
iPod, PC from Steam™ and for PlayStation®3 from PlayStation® Network in Europe. Worms™ Crazy Golf will be
released for PlayStation®3 in the U.S. on Tuesday 25th October 2011.

One of the main attractions at this years Eurogamer Expo was the Onlive stage. Already a hit in the United States, Onlive has now hit the shores of the UK.
I queued for quite a while at the expo to get my hands on one of the micro consoles and while there I was able to try some of the 200 titles already available which include Batman: Arkham Asylum, Warhammer 40.000: Space Marine and Deus Ex: Human Revolution to name a few.

Since the expo I have been trying out the console and its features to see if all the hype is really justified. The box when I got it home included the console (obviously) a network cable to connect it to your broadband connection, a HDMI cable to connect to the TV and a wireless controller with rechargeable battery pack. Once you have registered on the Onlive website you can connect the console and it will update with the latest software. It will also test your internet connection which needs to be at least 1mbps or it won’t connect which may effect some people in slow areas and is something to keep in mind. The PC/MAC version is also a simple set-up, once you have logged in you have to download an app to your computer then that’s it.

There are three ways that you can play the games in the library, you can play a demo of the game to see if you like it first, you can rent the game for 3 or 5 days, or  lastly you can choose the Playpack bundle and pay a set fee each month for access to 100 or more games. This flexibility along with all these games at the touch of a button or click of a mouse really puts this system up there, change isn’t always good, but this is a good one.

But how does it play? well it is very responsive and the best part is you don’t need top range hardware to play these games, they just play. The games themselves are well documented and their playability is not the issue, the issue is if you can play the game in the first place.

So, will this change the face of gaming? Well it is a very good piece of kit and has a good range of games already with the list still growing. To be able to go on-line or fire up the micro console and rent a game and play it there and then or if you have the Playpack to just turn on and play, is a major leap in gaming. Yes there are sites like Steam who offer games on-line, but there is no downloading here, just click and play and this is what will cause people to sit up and take notice. This has already made a big impression both sides of the water, and I think it will continue to do so.

Well the eagerly awaited game event is here, and as I and many other games fans made our way from the Underground to Earls Court I couldn’t wait to see and more importantly play the new upcoming games.

The atmosphere was amazing as we all made our way into the arena, which was broken up into seven zones with the centre area dominated by the hot topic of conversation outside – Onlive.

Not surprisingly this is the first place everyone headed including myself, there were a number of consoles set up around the stand with both wired and wireless controllers with demo’s of some of the 100 games that are now available as of Sept 22nd (that’s in the UK of course, Onlive has been running in the US for a while now). As well as getting to play some of the games on offer, there was also the chance to get your hands on a free console once you had registered, needless to say I managed to get my hands on one and I’ll be posting more on the Onlive console and the games on offer in a separate article.

All the big names in gaming were showing off their latest creations, including the big 3′s Mass Effect 3, Battlefield 3, Resistance 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Gears of War 3. My first port of call was the Forza Motorsport 4 stand, Turn 10 have raised the bar even further with this latest in the franchise, the graphics were stunning as has been the case with previous incarnations and the controls were very responsive. The demo for Forza 4 is coming for Xbox LIVE Gold Members on Oct  3 and will be available for Silver members on Oct 10 for those who want a taste of things to come.

Another of the games I sampled was Battlefield 3, due for release on Oct 25th which was tucked away in the over 18′s area. This had a long queue of people waiting to play as you’d expect, but it was well worth the wait. It was certainly an amazing sight seeing banks of people all working their way through the trees and undergrowth, utterly absorbed. It wasn’t hard to see why, EA Games with Frostbite 2 have created very impressive gameplay and the headphones allowed the low hum of Earls Court to be blotted out in favour of the crackle of gunfire and the shout of orders.

I’m sure you have seen all the advertisements and coverage of the 3DS but you may have been like me and wondered just how good it is. Well they were showcasing the latest Mario and sonic releases as well as a demo of Sky 3D. The latter to try and show people that the 3DS has more to offer than just a handheald  gaming console. I was curious as to what the experience would be like and chatting to some of the others there, they felt the same.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Its true to say that as this doesn’t rely on glasses, it makes it feel a more natural experience, although I did find the need to keep your viewing angle steady took a bit of getting used to. The 3D effect was very good and the adjustable 3D slide on the side made a noticeable difference.

It wasn’t just all game and console demo’s of course, there were a host of developer sessions throughout the weekend as well. Among those giving talks were Michael Denny from Sony talking about the Playstation Vita and Dr Ray Muzyka from EA Games on Star Wars: The Old Republic.

To sum up, there was much more at Eurogamer Expo 2011 than I am ever going to be able to write here, that said, the Playstation Vita, 3D gaming and the prospect of on-line gaming like never before with Onlive makes the next twelve months a very exciting prospect indeed.

With the lauch of Gears of War 3, one of the most anticipated games of 2011, BradyGames wants to hook up a lucky few with a free Limited Edition Gears of War 3 Strategy guide, along with three runners-up getting the Signature Edition.

All you have to do is, go to www.urgentfury.com/blog/gow3/ and sign up. If you have not liked the BradyGames Facebook page or Subscribed to their YouTube channel then you’re in luck, because after you do that you will already have enough points to qualify for the Signature Edition drawing.

It is free to enter and only US residents or APO/FPO addresses may enter to win. Good Luck! Ohh and if you are in the contest, you even get 25 points for commenting on this blog post!

Here is some info about the guide direct from www.bradygames.com

radyGames’ Gears of War 3 Signature Series Strategy Guide includes the following:

Brothers to the End

The final chapter to one of electronic entertainment’s most celebrated sagas awaits. The last human stronghold has fallen, yet the war against the Locust rages on. With civilization in ruins and its survivors broken and scattered, a new enemy—the Lambent—arises to deliver the decisive blow. Lead Marcus and his Delta Squad comrades through their desperate last fight to give humanity hope for survival. This essential Signature Series guide shows you how!

 Exhaustive Campaign Coverage- Created on-site in Epic’s studios, with direct input from the game’s designers, our in-depth walkthrough provides complete coverage of every area and encounter from start to finish. Four- Player Co-Op strategy included!

Every Collectible- We reveal the location of every last COG Tag and collectible—don’t miss a single one!

Expanded Multiplayer Content- Boost your combat effectiveness with MP-specific weapon stats, pickup location and cycle data, enemy spawn points, and winning techniques for every game type. Tactics for team-based and solo play! Get the most out of the new Beast, SP Arcade, and enhanced Horde modes!

Comprehensive Maps- Our detailed Multiplayer and Single-Player maps depict every area in the game. We pinpoint mission objectives, weapons and ammo, collectible locations, and more! MP maps provide mode-specific callouts, illustrate team strategies, and identify enemy paths and chokepoints!

 Expert Combat Training- We show you the most efficient kill tactics for every foe, and how to use terrain, movement, and cover to your advantage. Tips and tricks from Epic’s developers give you an insider’s advantage!

 That’s Not All! -Gripping artwork and riveting background content make this guide a must-have for every Gears of War™ fan. Achievement roster helps you reach 100% completion. Plus, fascinating background and character bios, indispensible weapon and enemy data, and much more!

It’s been a long road in the development of Urgent Frequency Television, but the hard work has paid off…

In Episode 9, Jack “UK” Dellhouse gives you the fist look at LightBox Interactive’s StarHawk, Tim Cox comes back with part two of his Infamous 2 Trophy hunt in NewbTube and then we shed some light on Twisted Metal. We also have a special Bullet Points you don’t want to miss.

Remember once you log in to PlayStation Home, all you have to do is scroll down on the featured spaces and the Community Theater is at the bottom. And this week while you are there, you can pick up a gift from PlayStation Home in honor of the millions of Zombies killed in the Dead Island promotion over the past few weeks.

You can catch past episodes by visiting www.blip.tv/ufreqtv or just watch below:




Story by Michael McWhertor @ Kotaku.com.

Year after year, how can Call of Duty‘s massive online shooter remain fresh? With Modern Warfare 3, the game’s developers have focused on what works—player progression, extensive customization, tons of maps and game modes—and are blowing it out.

Activision offered a first look at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 the night before Call of Duty XP officially kicks off. I liked what I saw, even if I’m not the kind of Call of Duty player capable of a 15 kill-long killstreak.

It’s still the same hyperfast, 60 frames per second kill or be killed war game at its core: lots of guns, plenty of carnage, tons of explosive action. But developers Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer games are experimenting with a few new gameplay innovations that are designed to both deepen the experience and make playing multiplayer a little bit easier on the casual Call of Duty fan.

Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling promised “more changes to the core experience than we ever have before” and “the most balanced multiplayer experience we’ve ever done” at a preview of the game at Call of Duty XP. He and Sledgehammer’s Michael Condrey blazed through a long list of new additions and tweaks to the very successful multiplayer formula of Call of Duty.

They even dove deeply into the waters of Call of Duty Elite, which you can read about right here. On the multiplayer side, here’s what’s new in Modern Warfare 3.

Modern Warfare 3′s New Strike Packages and Pointstreaks

Before I get into the meat of what Strike Packages mean for Modern Warfare 3, say goodbye to the killstreak. And say hello to pointstreaks, all 28 of them. No longer will player kills be the only way to build up streaks. Sure, kills still count, but in MW3, completing objectives in gametypes like Capture the Flag and Seek and Destroy will reward players with points they can cash in to call in recon drones, attack helicopters, sentries and other power-ups. Kill assists count toward pointstreak numbers too, letting supporting players, not just the dominant virtual marksman have all the fun.

Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling explained the change at Call of Duty XP, saying “the killstreak system was optimized for one game type: Team Deathmatch.” Now, players will be rewarded more handsomely for actually completing each gametype’s objectives.

Modern Warfare 3‘s pointstreaks come in three groups, dubbed Strike Packages. Players can customize their classes with one of three Strike Packages, adding a new layer of personalization to COD multiplayer. The three types are Assault, Support and Specialist. Each has its own list of ‘streaks. Here they are.

If you like “big body counts, the Assault package is for you. With Assault, you can call in UAVs and care package drops, naturally, but this is also where the big guns live: assault helicopters, AC130, Predator missiles, mortar strikes, Juggernaut suits. Assault brings the pain. Your streak count will reset every time you die, if you go for the Assault Strike Package.

Support is about “helping the team win,” not just stacking your body count. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? For the less aggressive team player, Support deals in ‘streaks that lean more defensive. This includes the option to drop a remote gun turret, call in a hacked airdrop, deploy ballistic vests to your team, drop an EMP or, ultimately, call in an Osprey gunship that also delivers five airdrop packages (one of them hacked). With Support, your streak count will not reset upon death.

Finally, Specialist is all about perks. Become a super soldier with Specialist, which lets players stack on additional perks. You’ll get up to six perks—including Sleight of Hand, Hardline, Recon, et al—as the ‘streaks pile up. After your eighth kill, however, you get every perk available to you. You become a monster.

Here are a few of the new perks coming in Modern Warfare 3.

• Recon – Explosive damage paints the target on the mini map
• Blind Eye – Undetectable by air support/sentries
• Assassin – Undetectable by UAV, portable radar, thermal, heartbeat
• Quickdraw – Faster aim down sight
• Stalker – Move faster while aiming
• Marksman – Identify targets at longer range

Some perks you wont see return in MW3. “No One Man Army, no Nuke, no Commando and no Last Stand,” Infinity Ward promises.

New Progression

Another big change to Modern Warfare multiplayer is Weapon Proficiencies, a new leveling system for firearms. Basically, the more often you use a weapon in MW3, whether it’s an assault rifle, handgun, shotgun or sniper rifle, the better that weapon gets. In real terms, this means players can reduce gun sway, decrease recoil and add more attachments over time—among other things.

Click pic below for the Gallery @ Kotaku.com.

Modern Warfare 3′s New Gameplay Modes

Competitive multiplayer in Modern Warfare 3 will be expanded with at least two new prominent gameplay modes, Kill Confirmed and Team Defender.

You may have seen a snippet of Kill Confirmed in the leaked-early multiplayer trailer. That’s the one with the big glowing dog tags that drop from corpses. Those dog tags are how players confirm kills in this Team Deathmatch variant. Kills don’t count as a point for your team until you or one of you allies grabs a dead man’s dropped dog tags. That adds an intriguing layer of strategy to Team Deathmatch, as opposing players can grab the dog tags of their fallen teammates before you do. And if they see one of their comrades lying dead, dog tags floating above their body, they’ll know where your headed if you want to score.

Team Defender, which I didn’t get to preview, is a Capture The Flag variant, just without the flag return. Hold onto an enemy flag for as long as possible, sticking together as a team to survive.

There will also be new Private Match game types added to MW3, each of which has been “significantly enhanced to allow players to create new, customizable game modes” that they can share with friends. “Through [Call of Duty Elite], subscribers can vote on favorite new modes and those modes could make their way into public playlists,” Activision says. Here are those new Private Match modes.

• Infection – The infected kills enemies to recruit them for the infected team.
• Drop Zone – Hold the Drop Zone for Team Points and Care Packages.
• Team Juggernaut – With the support of a juggernaut, kill players on the opposing team. The first team to reach the score limit wins.
• Juggernaut – Kill the Juggernaut to become the new Juggernaut.
• Gun Game – Be the first to dominate with every gun.
• One in the Chamber – Gain ammo by eliminating enemies. Be the last to survive.

We’ll have hands-on time with Modern Warfare 3 (and much more) from the Call of Duty XP convention this weekend.

Story by Joel Johnson @ Kotaku.com.

I’ve never been one for buying consoles painted with a single game, but this year’s Call of Duty Xbox is relatively understated.

Pardon the copy-and-paste press release, but really, what else is there to say?

Prepare for Domination with the Xbox 360® Limited Edition Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare 3® Console, Wireless Headset with Bluetooth and Wireless Controller
Wheels up this Fall in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand

UAVs don’t scare you. You laugh in the face of helicopter strikes. You think proximity mines are for rookies. And Prestige? Please, old news. Prepare for the launch of the Xbox 360® Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Console.

Xbox, Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games teamed up to create a “Call of Duty” collectible, just in time for the most epic “Call of Duty” experience yet. Aside from its (air)striking good looks, the console will play unmistakable “Call of Duty” sounds when powering up and when the tray is opened.

This must-have for “Call of Duty” fans worldwide includes a customized console with graphics from the game, along with two custom wireless controllers, a 320GB hard drive, a copy of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” as well as custom sounds when the console is turned on. A one month Xbox LIVE Gold subscription to Xbox LIVE is included so you can play to your heart’s content, as well as exclusive avatar items that show your Xbox LIVE friends you’re one of the lucky ones to own this coveted console.

The console will launch on November 8, 2011 in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and EMEA for $399 (U.S. ERP), and you can pre-order today at participating retailers. At 320GB, the console has the largest hard drive ever available for Xbox 360, with more than enough space to download and save game add-ons, downloadable content, games, music, photos, videos and movies. While “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3″ does not support Kinect functionality, all Xbox 360 consoles are Kinect-ready for when you’re ready to take a break from the battlefield.

In addition to the console, Xbox 360 will be releasing two limited edition accessories, both shipping to stores October 11:

· The Xbox 360® Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Wireless Headset with Bluetooth provides the ability to chat with friends during multi-player game play or with Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phones, PCs and other devices. Its artwork matches the custom console and includes a charging cradle, ear loop, ear gels, and an Xbox LIVE token for an exclusive download for $69.99 (U.S. ERP).

o Users can chat without wires on Xbox LIVE and easily switch between Xbox 360 mode and Bluetooth mode. Use the headset with Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phones, PCs and other devices. The Xbox 360® Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Wireless Headset with Bluetooth is the comfortable, hands-free way to keep the conversations going.
· The Xbox 360® Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Wireless Controller allows you to show all your friends your passion for the franchise. The controller includes exclusive artwork and a transforming D-pad that can be rotated to adapt to the user’s game play, as well as an Xbox LIVE token for an exclusive download, all for $59.99 (U.S. ERP).

For more information on the Xbox 360® Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Console and accessories, visit www.xbox.com and visit MajorNelson.com for a video.

Story by Debabrata Nath @ VG247.com.

Activision’s released a new trailer for GoldenEye 007: Reloaded – the HD remake of Wii’s GoldenEye 007 and it shows the “MI6 Ops” mode in action. The mode will feature a new set of missions and the video contains gameplay footage giving you a glipmse of what’s in store for you. The title will be releasing for PS3 and Xbox 360 on September 30. Watch the trailer below.

Story by Stephen Totilo @ Kotaku.com.

The Counter-Strike: Global Offensive rumors were true. Valve Software announced the game today and already added a listing for it to Steam.

In a press release, Valve said that “CS: GO features new maps, characters, and weapons and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust, etc.). In addition, CS: GO will introduce new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more.”

The team-based shooter game is “targeted” for an early 2012 release on the Xbox 360′s Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation 3′s PlayStation Network, Mac and PC in early 2012.

“Counter-Strike took the gaming industry by surprise when the unlikely MOD became the most played online PC action game in the world almost immediately after its release in August 1999,” Valve spokesman Doug Lombardi said in today’s announcement. “For the past 12 years, it has continued to be one of the most-played games in the world, headline competitive gaming tournaments and selling over 25 million units worldwide across the franchise. CS: GO promises to expand on CS‘ award-winning gameplay and deliver it to gamers on the PC as well as the next gen consoles and the Mac.”

The game is being co-developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment (the latter of whom worked with Valve on updates to Counter-Strike: Source, the game’s most recent major release) and will be playable at PAX Prime in two weeks in Seattle as well as at the London Games Festival Eurogamer Expo in late September.

Interesting. I wonder what those Valve protesters are thinking right now. They were demanding a long-lost sequel from Valve, weren’t they?

Story by Stephany Nunnelly @ VG247.com.

Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg announced during his presentation at the 13th Annual Pacific Crest Global Technology Leadership Forum in Vail, Colorado that directors Ridley Scott and Tony Scott are working on content for Call of Duty Elite.

Hirshberg said Activision is developing “exclusive episodic entertainment”, built just for the Call of Duty community. Other Hollywood types already announced as working on content for the firm are Bennett Miiler, along with Will Arnett and Jason Bateman.

Ben Silverman, the executive producer for The Office, is also working on content, according to Hirshberg.

“Just like any other passion that people spend a lot of their free time doing, Call of Duty players share a common language and a common experience and we think we can create some entertainment content that they will love and talk about and share,” he said.

Activision is holding its Call of Duty XP event in L.A. September 2-3, and there will be more information on Elite announced at the event.

Via USA Today.

Story by Stephany Nunneley @ VG247.com.

Ubisoft has released a video showing a chronological wrap up of all the Assassin’s Creed products that have been made so far along with news that on September 3, a multiplayer beta for Assassin’s Creed Revelations will be made available as a timed exclusive for PS Plus and Uplay members.

From September 3-11, Plus and Uplay members get exclusive access to the multiplayer beta on PS3, which offers access to nine characters: Sentinel, Vanguard, Guardian, Vizier, Thespian, Deacon, Bombardier, Trickster and Champion.

It will also include the maps Knight’s Hospital, Antioch, and Constantinople, with four playable modes: Wanted and Manhunt, along with the new modes Deathmatch and Artifact Assault.

No word just yet when the beta will go public.

In the trailer, also posted below, you’ll see clips from the first game, ACII, Bloodlines, Brotherhood, Discover, Chronicles, the comics, and even the upcoming Revelations, which is out in November on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Story by Adam Rosenberg @ G4TV.com.

EA Sports announced the launch of Season Ticket, a new subscription service that offers well-rounded sports-loving gamers a range of benefits, in a press release this morning. For a yearly rate of $24.99 / 2000 MS Points, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 users get early access to releases in the NFL, NHL, FIFA, Tiger Woods and NCAA Football franchises, as well as discounts and specialized web content.

The early game access advantage is the main draw here, but there’s a pretty significant catch that you should be aware of. Starting three days before a game’s release, players will be able to download a digital version onto their console of choice. Here’s the thing though: That download expires after the three days are up and the game arrives in retail locations.

I’m sure none of us were really expecting EA to give away five full yearly releases plus the other bonuses for less than $30 per year. The digital download expiration is simply an unexpected way of ensuring a fair deal for both sides, especially with any unlocked content (Achievements/Trophies, game saves, etc.) carries over into the retail version of the game, should you purchase it. If you run out once a year to buy Madden NFL and nothing more, this might not be the program for you. Sports fans with more varied tastes will want to consider it though.

Members also get a 20 percent discount on all downloadable content released for participating EA Sports titles as well as access to premium web content. The first items to be offered are Creation Center packs for FIFA Soccer 12 which “provide a deeper set of customization tools and abilities within Creation Center to build your own teams and tournaments.”

Finally, all members receive a membership badge, both a physical version and an EASPORTS.com profile-connected digital version. Sadly, no decoder ring to go along with it.