“Starhawk” Senior Producer Harvard Bonin Jr. explains exactly what he does, and gets his very own Spoof Ad.

We look back on 2011.

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.

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“.

In this episode….Commander Fury returns after a much-needed summer vacation just in time for the 2011 Urgent Frequency Halloween Special. He welcomes Call Of Duty “blades only” phenom & YouTube sensation…ONLYUSEmeBLADE. We’ll tell you how you can help support our wounded warriors just by buying a T-Shirt. Plus, we serve up chills with “The Devil Is not Mocked”. A terrifying tale based on the short story by Manly Wade Wellman.

MARCH 2010:

SONY REMOVES THE ABILITY TO INSTALL THIRD PARTY OPERATING SYSTEMS (SUCH AS LINUX) ON THE PS3.
WHILE MOST PLAYERS DON’T CARE (OR EVEN NOTICE). ANOTHER SEGMENT BECOMES EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED.

JANUARY 2ND 2011:

HACKER GEORGE HOTZ, A.K.A. GEOHOT, SUCCESSFULLY JAILBREAKS THE PS3….SO THAT IT COULD DO A NUMBER OF THINGS IT SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO DO.

HOTZ THEN PUBLISHED THE PROCESS ON HIS WEBSITE, AND HIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

JANUARY 11TH 2011:

SONY SUES HOTZ FOR DISTRIBUTING JAILBREAK SOFTWARE TO THE PUBLIC.
CLAIMING THAT HOTZ IS HELPING PROMOTE PIRACY…BY ALLOWING ILLEGAL COPIES OF PS3 GAMES TO BE PLAYED ON JAILBROKEN SYSTEMS.

APRIL 2ND 2011:

A GROUP OF HACKERS KNOWN AS “ANONYMOUS“, BEGINS “OPERATION:SONY“….AN ATTEMPT TO DISRUPT SONY WEBSITES.
THE DEMAND IS…LEAVE HOTZ ALONE.

APRIL 11TH 2011:

SONY SETTLES WITH HOTZ.
DETAILS ARE SCARCE, BUT HOTZ AGREES TO TAKE DOWN HIS WEBSITE, AND INFO ON HOW TO JAILBREAK THE PS3.

APRIL 13TH 2011:

IN A CREEPY VIDEO MESSAGE, “ANONYMOUS” CALLS FOR A DAY OF SONY PROTEST…AND WARNS OF AN INCOMING ATTACK.

APRIL 16TH & 17TH 2011:

HACKERS DIGITALLY BREAK INTO THE PLAYSTATION NETWORK & SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT.

THEY STEAL PERSONAL PSN & SOE USER INFORMATION.
ALONG WITH EUROPEAN SOE CREDIT & DEBIT CARD NUMBERS.

APRIL 19TH 2011:

SONY DETECTS A PSN BREACH.
AN INVESTIGATION STARTS, BUT THE PUBLIC ISN’T TOLD.

APRIL 20TH 2011:

SONY SHUTS DOWN THE PSN, CITING TECHNICAL ISSUES.

APRIL 22ND 2011:

AS PUBLIC UNREST BEGINS TO MOUNT ABOUT THE PSN BEING DOWN…”ANONYMOUS” RELEASES A STATEMENT DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PSN OUTAGE.

APRIL 26TH 2011:

SONY ADMITS THAT THE PSN HAS BEEN HACKED, AND CALLS FOR FBI ASSISTANCE.

MAY 1ST 2011:

SONY EXECUTIVES APOLOGIZE FOR THE PSN DATA BREACH AND OUTAGE.
IN THE MEANTIME, SONY & INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER A SOE DATA BREACH, AND SHUT DOWN THE SOE SERVERS AS WELL.

MAY 2ND, 2011:

SONY REVEALS DETAILS ABOUT THE SOE DATA BREACH TO THE PUBLIC.

MAY 4TH, 2011:

SONY CHAIRMAN KAZ HIRAI TELLS CONGRESS INVESTIGATORS FOUND A FILE WITHIN THE PSN THAT WAS NAMED ‘ANONYMOUS‘, WHICH HAD THE GROUP’S MOTTO…”WE ARE LEGION”, ATTACHED.

ALTHOUGH SONY DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY ACCUSE ‘ANONYMOUS‘ OF THE INTRUSION…THE COMPANY CLAIMS THE PSN WAS MADE MORE VULNERABLE BY THE GROUP’S EARLIER ATTACK, POSSIBLY KEEPING SONY’S I.T. SECURITY BUSY…WHILE OTHER HACKERS SNUCK IN, AND STOLE DATA.

MAY 5TH, 2011:

‘ANONYMOUS‘ DENIES THAT IT HAD ANY PART IN THE CREDIT CARD THEFT.
THE GROUP SAYS THAT IT IS ONLY AFTER LARGE & CORRUPT CORPORATIONS & GOVERNMENTS.

ON THE SAME DAY…

SONY RELEASES A STATEMENT SAYING
IT IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF TESTING IT’S NEW NETWORK,
AND THAT THE PSN WILL BE RETURNING IN THE COMING DAYS.

MAY 10TH 2011:

THE PLAYSTATION NETWORK & SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT ARE STILL DOWN AS OF 2 AM, EASTERN STANDARD TIME.

After taking a little “R&R“…Urgent Frequency returns with another special “live…on location” episode.

We help the rest of the world celebrate the Midnight Launch of both

SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs (Zipper Interactive) & Mortal Kombat (NetherRealm/WBIE).

Plus we have not one…but TWO exclusive interviews with

[SHO] Shadow Ops & [101] 101st Screaming Eagles…Urgent Fury‘s latest set of champions!!!

PSNation’s Glenn Percival Co-Hosts this very special Opening Day 2011 special.

He gives us a complete “hands-on” break down of MLB The Show 11.

Plus, we make our picks for the “Fall Classic“, and spell out Kevin Butler’s S.H.A.F.T. Method.

In this episode….we welcome some real heroes to talk about tactical gaming  from the perspective of

prior military service members….as we welcome the Off Duty Gamers.

Plus, we have an Urgent Fury:In Country SITREP shocker!!!

Urgent Fury Directors L to R…CIO Shane Bell, CFO Armond Compton, & COO John Ostrow at PAX East 2011.

The official attendance count for PAX East 2011 was 69,500. Breaking last year’s attendance of 52,290.

Brink TM from Splash Damage &  Bethesda shows off it’s final build of the game before it’s scheduled

launch on May 17th, 2011.

Don’t worry little buddy….the wait is almost over.

SOCOM 4 launches on April 19th, 2011.

Zipper Interactive’s Kevin Scmitt (Lead Designer, SOCOM 4) gives his Zipper colleagues a

crash course in the mysterious art of Parkour.

Urgent Fury covered the PAX East 2011 SOCOM 4 tournament.

Where 64 fans got to compete for a very nice trophy.

This guy has his sights set on victory. And a shot at SOCOM superstardom.

Shane Bell on the PAX East 2011 SOCOM 4 tournament…

“it  had all the intensity of classic Urgent Fury tournaments”.

The team of 8 shooters who won it all, are scheduled to be featured on a future episode

of Urgent Fury’s podcast Urgent Frequency.

This is just one of the reasons that Urgent Fury has plans for several

“live” tournament events in the coming year.

Stay tuned for more on PAX East 2011!!!

Urgent Fury CIO Shane Bell stops by for a very “loosey goosey” episode of Urgent Frequency.

An episode that features the usual Urgent Fury SITREP, a complete PAX East 2011 Preview, a surprise guest, and Charlie Sheen. WINNING! Duh!

Thanks to the continued support of Jeremy Dunham, Community Manager for Zipper Interactive, we had the pleasure of going to the Socom 4 media Day at Zipper headquarters in Redmond, WA. So part 1 is my take on our preview of multiplayer. Part 2 will come after our visit to PAX East where we will be preparing a future episode of UFreqTV for Playstation Home and visiting some more of the shooters out there that make Urgent Fury what it is today.

Now let me set the bar here, the game was not in anyway a finished product and even in the time that I have taken to publish this, many changes have been made. In addition our video that we compiled has not been approved by Sony PR, so I am going to release the written version. I do apoligize as we had some great gameplay footage as well as some great Q & A with one of the Dev team members.

So with that being said, here is Part 1…

Socom 4: The renewal of Tactical Gaming

Socom in my opinion was the beginning of tactical multiplayer gaming for consoles. Originally launched on PS2, Socom set the stage for one of the greatest phenomenon’s in console gaming. You and fifteen of your friends could group together online and with team work conquer another gaming team. You did this from your gaming lair. Friendships have been forged, and in many cases members of your team known as clans would put their gaming clan ahead of their wife and family. Many players such as I have been playing with our clan mates for many years.

The community of Socom fans is by far one of the most critical in the business. You can visit the Socom forums at Socom.com and read thousands of posts asking for different functions and game options in Socom 4. Community managers Jeremy Dunham and Chris Roper have spent the last several months answering questions and gathering intel for the dev team at Zipper interactive Studios.

Recently I had the privilege to visit Zipper Interactive to preview Socom 4 as the release date of April 19th approaches. As hoped we were treated to a first look at Socom 4 Multiplayer and a new Single player level. Our visit started with the true experience of the security required at a development studio. It was nothing less than expected.

So we started with a presentation by Travis Steiner along with a demo of both a single player level and some multiplayer game play, but I have to be honest, I kept eagerly awaiting our turn to get our hands on it. I played Socom 4 at E3, but it was a very short demo. I was excited to play multiplayer as that is the staple for Urgent Fury, so I was like a starving boy in front of the desert buffet. You can find more about the presentation from Commander Fury on Urgent Frequency www.urgentfury.com/podcast.

So we take position at our Playstation setup, no sharing, no taking turns, just one on one with a Playstation 3, Socom 4 and me. First let’s talk about what multiplayer has to offer in this version of Socom. I will admit this is truly a new version of Socom. Zipper has been taking notes on how the giant shooters out there are attracting hundreds of thousands of gamers to play. Unlike the latest release by Slant Six had horrific load times, to the point I spent many a night grilling dinner between rounds, but Socom 4 is a true improvement. If you want to jump on and get your game on, you will only have to wait a few minutes max. You choose a game from the list and you get to work.

Now I won’t lie, there are grumblings by the Socom faithful saying this type of setup is not true to the series, and I will say you are right it isn’t, this is called innovation.
 
The team has taken the time to research what gamers abroad want and incorporate some of those that work. One that really surprised me was open mics in the multiplayer. Push to talk (PTT) is one of the most vital features to Socom; no other shooter has ever adopted this and is a failure by all other games in my opinion. But rest assured by the team, PTT is used in the Classic settings.

What are Classic settings you ask? Well here is the best way I can describe it. Socom 4 is actually two multiplayer games in one. Standard multiplayer is truly the new Socom, it includes everything that seems to be popular among young gamers today:

• Health Regeneration
• Respawn Matches
• The new Cover system
• Quick Matchmaking

While the Classic Mode disables all of these new features and returns the game to the Socom we all know. There is no need to cover Quick Matchmaking, Health Regeneration and Respawn, we all know how that works, but I will give my assessment of the Cover system. I am extremely pleased with it, I used it every chance I could to test for strength and weaknesses. The Cover System can be a little clumsy, but that is probably due to the fact that it was my first time at some uninterrupted play. But other than that it works quite well, I was able to get to cover by hitting O, popping in and out to shoot was somewhat easy and throwing a grenade was easy. Now aiming the grenade without the arc was a little tough, but with a little practice anyone will be killer with them. I will say that I would like to see the Cover System as an option in Classic mode, it really replaces the D-Pad Lean in my opinion. In real life I see the movements of the Cover system looking around corners and over cover really is much more realistic that the leaning out around a corner.

I did ask about the arc, and they said it was a tough decision on whether the time it took a person to place the arc or to take the time to learn to aim. I agree that learning to aim is much more realistic. And yes for those that know me on Socom, I had no problem killing myself with a nade or two.

We played a couple of the game types including Last Defense and Classic Suppression. The maps I must say were amazing, and we had the pleasure of even getting our hands on the Socom classic “Abandoned” which I must say was beyond beautiful. So last defense definitely had a MAG flavor to it, as the attacker, you are looking for three Satellites and once you have control the defender’s base is located and you have two minutes to get there and plant an Airstrike beacon.

As the defenders you can recapture the Satellite dishes to stop the attack. By doing this you are on an ever evolving clock to hold down your headquarters. Expect to see this mode in an upcoming Urgent Fury TacMap. Of course we are all familiar with Suppression, and to say that it had the Socom flavor we love is an understatement.

We experienced Abandoned in Classic mode, basically removing all of the advancements to Socom that have been made, and several times I was the last guy trying to get the “W”. If it were not for the catering company bringing me food and beverages, I would have been in the dire straits of old trying to find a way to run to the kitchen and grab something quick and a drink. Do you remember those days when you did not have a fifteen minute break between rounds? Looks like I am going to have to create an express route to the can for this Socom, because there is no time for the luxuries of a bathroom or a snack break.

As much as I wanted to play the single player mode, they had to cut us out of the multiplayer to get us out of there. So other than watching the demo, I did not even get to touch the Single player mission in 2D or 3D. That is right I said 3D. And I am extremely impressed that the 3D is not only at full spec with 2D, meaning they did not cut anything to make it 3D, they have added the ability to adjust the 3D settings to maximize your TV’s output. What a concept, who thought that TV’s might not have the exact same specs throughout the different manufacturers.

So overall, coming from not only a Socom Veteran and longtime fan of the franchise, but a gaming professional, I rate Socom 4 Multiplayer a 9.9 out of 10. The only negative really is the lack of Demo. This is a staple in Urgent Fury, but we will adjust to the new game modes and still make the most intense Tournament with Socom 4. As for the positive, I am extremely pleased with the innovations of Socom 4 has shown with adapting to today’s gamers, while still leaving classic setups for the veterans out there.

On this episode…we answer the call of duty, as we travel back in time to 1968, and the war torn jungles of Vietnam….to give you an Urgent Fury: In Country SITREP. Then Jack “UK” Dellhouse & William “Wolfie D” Murray stop by to explain how a home is not necessarily a house…or vice versa….as they give us the inside scoop on Urgent Frequency Television‘s recent launch on Sony’s PlayStation® Home.

Urgent Fury has just announced its expansion into PlayStation®Home only on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.  Urgent Frequency TV, or UFreqTV, will air its inaugural Episode 1, beginning Thursday 2/17/2011.  Each subsequent episode will run in PlayStation Home’s Community Theater for 2 weeks.

Each episode will focus on a variety of topics, such as game reviews, PlayStation news, as well as exclusive interviews with individuals and companies in the gaming industry, community gamers, and teams competing in Urgent Fury’s different tournaments.

In Episode 1, you will learn the origins and focus of Urgent Fury, explore Zipper’s return to SOCOM 4, and finally after a few months on the market, UFreqTV gives another look at Electronic Arts Medal of Honor.

Join Jack “UK” Dellhouse, Wolfie-D and Commander Claymore Fury as Urgent Fury’s newest Videocast team takes Urgent Fury on a new journey into PlayStation Home.

Urgent Fury is an online console-gaming community who has built its impeccable reputation by providing unique, intuitive, and exciting scenario-based TacMap style tournaments.  Urgent Fury also has opened the Urgent Fury Gaming League (UFGL) where new and veteran teams will be able to compete against each other on a variety of games.  Giving new teams to Urgent Fury a chance to catch a glimpse at the type of gamesmanship that is expected of its members before joining a TacMap event

Urgent Fury was founded in 2002 on the motto of “Win with Honor, Lose with Dignity.” With new teams being evaluated on gamesmanship, integrity, and fair game-play during many of Urgent Fury’s entry level evaluation tournaments.  Using the motto above the community is able to maintain a highly successful tournament arena for like-minded console gamers.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. 

With all of the questions that surround the next title in the SOCOM:U.S. Navy SEALs franchise, Urgent Fury decided to do some forward RECON to get some real answers regarding what some are saying, is the most important release in the franchise’s long history.

After being invited to participate in ZIPPER INTERACTIVE’S SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs “MEDIA DAY“ event in Redmond, WA…..Urgent Fury immediately deployed UFreq correspondent Brian “Inadub” Carey, and he joins Commander Fury with a full report which includes the official SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs press conference.

All that…plus UF gets a new “home”.

Commander Fury welcomes [SS] Rator (Founder & Clan Leader of the Sea Snipers).  And Urgent Fury launches Chapter 2 of the year long End Of Days tournament event….Urgent Fury: In Country.

All that, and the BradyGames/Urgent Fury: In Country “NUMBERS” contest is a go!!!  Hooyah!!!

In the first episode of the new year, Commander Fury welcomes Clan Leader TheCaracarn of  The Aiel Sept. The very first UF:The Gauntlet Champion. We’ll get you up to speed with an Urgent Fury Sonic SITREP. We’ve got a preview of Chapter 2 of the year long End Of Days storyline….Urgent Fury: In Country.

Plus…if you’re looking for the perfect gift…our brand new almost-NSFW Spoof Ad, puts an idea in your head.

All that and more….Hooyah!

Boy Oh Boy, this one is a big one… an epic end, to an epic year. PSNation’s Glen (Torgo) Percival and UF Director Shane Bell drop in for a State Of  The Union Of Gaming recap. Plus, you’ll hear your Holiday Greetings, an Urgent Fury SITREP, Cheech & Chong, and of course…”Dingo & The Baby”.

All that, and more…on this very special Urgent Frequency Podcast Before Christmas 2010.

Back by popular demand…Sam”Doc” Castannon III stops by to talk about his new podcast, and to update us on The Tester (Season 2).

Plus, Urgent Fury Command passes along hard dates regarding Urgent Fury:Cold War. And confirms the launch of  a TACMAP tournament event for Call Of Duty:Black Ops for both PS3 & XBox.

COMMANDER CLAYMORE FURY IS (RECORDED) LIVE, LOUD, AND PROUD, AND ON LOCATION…AT ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF GAMESTOP LOCATIONS ACROSS THE LAND, CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF CALL OF DUTY:BLACK OPS WITH THE VERY SPECIAL SURPRIZE ATTACK MIDNIGHT OPS MIDNIGHT LAUNCH PARTY.

Tune in this week for a taste of PSNation.org’s recent interview w/ Matthew Pruitt of EA’s “Medal Of Honor”.

Hear the brand new UFreq Spoof Ad! It features our friends in Clan [AGW].

Find out how you can help our nation’s wounded veterans just for buying a lousy T-Shirt.

Plus….Urgent Fury CIO Shane Bell spills some of the beans about the recent changes within the community.