Well for those that did not see it, we are working on getting video footage, but PlayStation unvealed the PlayStation Move at GDC this evening and to cause even a larger ripple in the reveal, Socom 4 was showcased as one of the many games that will support the Move…

Stay tuned as we will post updates with footage as soon as possible!

Here is the video showing Socom 4, you will find it at the 32 min mark

After our great hostage ordeal with Lunar Pages, Urgent Fury recently invested in a new Dedicated Server from www.theplanet.com. As a result we now have a server that is ready to share with a limited amount of sites. Unlike many other shared hosting providers out there, we are limiting the amount of sites that will share this server. This is to ensure that no site suffers from overusage.

We have some great features and are running off of Cpanel. ThePlanet is well known and also a provider for Hostgator as you can see from the testimonial page at www.theplanet.com.

We look forward to offering hosting to gaming sites and communities alike with out all of the worries of the large hosting companies that treat you like a statistic.

Visit http://myhosting.urgentfury.net to see the packages as well as shoot us any questions you may have.

With Final Fantasy XIII just released, Qore’s got an in-depth walk-through of this stunning title. Get the real story on the story, characters, and fascinating insights provided by exclusive interviews with creators Motumu Toriyama, Yoshinori Kitase and Yuji Abe. There’s also an interactive gallery of gameplay tips, and a look back at the launch day in Japan.

For you God of War fans eagerly awating next week’s release, we’ve got an exclusive digital preview of the upcoming graphic novel from legendary comic scribe Marv Wolfman. Audrey Cleo meets the man to discuss his approach to taking Kratos to print and using Qore’s interactive digital gallery, preview of the comic book narrated by Marv himself.

Qore also visits Volatile games in the UK for a preview of the noir action/shooter—Dead to Rights Retribution. Grant City is a dark and dangerous place, even when playing as a cop on the edge, so it’s a good thing you’ve got a trusty (and deadly) canine companion by your side to help you sink your teeth into the action.

As a follow up to an earlier look at Lost Planet 2, the Qore team’s produced a detailed preview with never-before-scene gameplay. The creatures are massive, the vital suits totally cool and Lost Planet 2’s lush, newly-defrosted environments are very enticing.

And finally, many of you have been asking for dynamic themes, and this month, all Qore subscribers can access a new Heavy Rain dynamic theme. For those of you familiar with the game, this dynamic theme takes place at the crime scene, complete with patrolling officers, police cars, and plenty of rain, of course. Even if you haven’t gotten into Heavy Rain yet, this dynamic theme is still pretty cool on its own.

Look for Episode 22 tomorrow.

Sony’s just said it’s to launch Home 1.35 for PS3 tomorrow, describing it as including “some very significant enhancements”.

Home 1.35 is to have faster load times and an enhanced log-in process, according to this PS Blog post.

A “new intuitive navigator” is to be included, which will apparently the need to “click through message screens”.

The navigator includes access to Favorites, Personal Spaces, Friends, “Explore” and “Recommend”, which is just new stuff on the service, from the sound of it.

Here’s a screenshot of the all-new navigation interface in Home:

You’ve just lost your two main bosses, but you’ve also got probably the most antcipated DLC of all time.

So what do you do? Show off a cryptic website and reveal the date for it.

Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling just tweeted this:

http://www.mapathy.com – Feeling the effects of Mapathy? It’s okay, the cure is hitting #Xboxlive in just 3 short weeks. #MW2

The site then reveals a March 30 date for the first Modern Warfare 2 map pack on Xbox Live, with the following below from the site.

Mapathy (n.) [map-uh-thee] (often expressed as, “How the hell did you know I was there?!”) is a state of indifference to the same old maps one has been playing for the last several months. The Mapathetic individual no longer derives pleasure from blowing up people hiding in the cockpit or on top of the crane. More than 20 million people may be at risk for Mapathy.

Amazing stuff. The DLC is set to hit PSN and PC at least a month later, with the exclusivity period for the map pack set to last 30 days.

According to a translation from GAF, Japanese website AV Watch are reporting Firmware 3.20 for PS3, which includes the option for 3D gaming, will go live on June 10th.

The report also mentions there will be re-releases of games that will support 3D. So far, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, Super Stardust HD and more are known to support 3D.

We’ll just have to wait and see if anymore news is released as we get closer to June.

Square Enix has announced its shipped 5 million units of Final Fantasy XIII worldwide, with 3 million for the US and Europe alone.

An additional 2 million units were shipped in Japan when the game launched in the country back in December last year.

The series as a whole has now shipped 96 million units since its inception 20-and-a-half years ago.

FFXIII launched yesterday in the west for PS3 and 360, with launch events taking place in San Francisco and London.

The first Ghost Recon: Future Soldier details have arrived, via the latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine, which is arriving in subscriber’s hands right now.

“The soldier of the future is an F16 on legs,” announces OPM’s preview, which notes that because most of the fancy tech from the last Ghost Recon is now reality (UAVs, helmet HUDs) Ubisoft’s having to push the series forward in Future Solider – and it has.

The next game takes place 10-15 years after Advanced Warfighter and has the Ghosts out to stop an ultranationalist group that’s managed to depose the Russian president.

As the game name suggest, the Ghost team are now packing futuristic gear like stealth cloaks (as seen in the Ghost Recon: Future Soldier trailer), armoured ground drones and exo-skeleton legs (to carry more gear).

The latter in particular is a game changer, as it means the Ghosts are now more agile and can jump, roll and generally throw themselves around the battlefield. It also opens the window for close quarters combat, which you’ll be seeing a lot of in Future Soldier.

4-Player drop in, drop out co-op is promised and controversially, no squad commands what-so-ever. Character classes also play a pivotal role in the new game, with players receiving specific, unique bonuses for their chosen role (optical camo for Recon, heart sensors for Snipers, shoulder mounted missiles for Commandos).

To read more details on Future Soldier – and see the first ever screenshots – buy the latest issue of Official Playstation Magazine on-sale March 16.

See Teaser Trailer Below.

Capcom’s released an epic reel of Lost Planet 2 gameplay and cut-scenes, giving a pretty good reason why all trains should have mounted cannons.

 Why? Because they look awesome.

There’s over four minutes of stuff in the video below, soaring orchestra and all, and if ever a fantasy actioner looked like it was the real deal, this is it.

There’s a good look at character customisation, “massive enemies” and co-op aspects here, the whole thing stinking of high production values.

It’s out for PS3 and 360 on May 18.

US PS3 stocks are having trouble meeting demand, SCEA comms boss Patrick Seybold has confirmed to VG247 US ed Stephany Nunneley, following SCE UK admitting a similar situation in February.

 “There is incredible pent up demand for PS3 right now and with incredible software momentum right for PS3 with Heavy Rain, MLB: The Show, BioShock 2 and God of War III, Final Fantasy XIII, so we expect to see
inventory to be tight for a bit longer,” said Seybold, speaking ahead of GDC this week.

“We’re working hard with our retail partners to meet that demand.”

SCE UK sales director Mark Howsen told MCV in February that British stocking was struggling to maintain levels against demand.

“Whilst it is hugely pleasing that PS3 slim has been greeted so enthusiastically, we understand that this has lead to some stock issues, particularly with the 120Gb model,” he said.

“We are doing our best to address these issues and hope to catch up in the next few weeks.”

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter and EEDAR both predicted yesterday that PS3 would be the only console in the US to show year-on-year growth for February, although it seems now that even positive growth may have been stymied by stocking issues.

This morning, Sega announced that the first DLC add-on for Aliens vs. Predator will be a four-pack of multiplayer maps — the same four maps that came included in the European Collector’s Edition of the game. Specifically, Europeans will be able to pick up “Docks” and “Machine” (the regular multiplayer maps) and “Outpost” and “Hive” (the Survival Mode maps) as a set for 560 ($7), according to the Sega of Europe website. (Sega of America told us that there will be more info on the North American release this week.)

Unfortunately, no firm release date has been given, though the map pack is said to arrive “shortly” for all three platforms.

***Update***

The four multiplayer maps released in Aliens vs. Predator’s Special Edition will be available to the general public as DLC beginning next Thursday, March 18. The Swarm Map Pack will run you $7.

The DLC delivers four maps, two for the game’s competitive multiplayer and two for its cooperative modes. “Docks” and “Machine” are available for the six competitive modes (Deathmatch, Predator Hunt, Infestation, Species Deathmatch, Mixed Species Deathmatch and Domination).

“Outpost” and “Hive” pit the humans, working cooperatively, against Aliens in a survival match set in an abandoned colony overrun by Aliens, and then an Alien breeding ground, respectively.

SCEA is currently certifying a patch that should allow PlayStation 3 owners of Bad Company 2 to gain access to their VIP content, according to DICE. The patch will “hopefully” go live today in North America, with Europe following “shortly after.” Once patched, PS3 players will gain access to Nelson Bay (Rush) and Laguna Alta (Conquest) — along with the ability to access all future content.

The PS3 isn’t the only console having problems. Every platform the game is on has had consistent connectivity issues with BC2 since launch thanks to EA’s servers, but the PC version is having significant issues beyond normal network problems. DICE has posted some “temporary solutions for PC gamers” while the developer works on a “permanent solution.” Answers to several of those issues can be found on the EA forums.

This looks to be a big week for Infinity Ward. In a good way, though! Unlike, you know, last week.

The ever-reliable Robert Bowling broke the news via Twitter.

“…annnd we JUST hit 25 MILLION unique players on Modern Warfare 2. Insanity! Also, got a lot of #MW2 DLC details coming this week! FINALLY!” he said.

In case you were curious, the 25 million figure includes consoles and PC. So said Bowling in a follow-up tweet.

“That’s 25 million unique across all platforms. Most on Xbox 360, then a close 2nd goes to PS3, with millions more on PC,” he explained.

In this eventful episode:

• UF: 141 Sitrep
• UF: Black right around the corner
• A Puddy Tat Flashback
• An off the cuff roundtable with Commander Fury, UF Director Shane, SgtJoeFriday and Glen (Torgo) from www.psnation.org
• And a sneak peak on God of War III

 

Vintage Covers And Centerfolds From The Archives Of The World’s Best-Selling Men’s Monthly Magazine To Be Found Throughout The World Of Empire Bay

Monday 8th March/…2K Games announced today that it has signed a license agreement with Playboy magazine for a unique in-game integration to use more than 50 of their vintage covers and Centerfolds in Mafia® II, this year’s highly anticipated epic mobster game for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC. Set in the fully realised and immersive 1940s and 1950s American urban cityscape of Empire Bay, Mafia II will enable players to collect virtual copies of the iconic magazine, which has served as the definitive guide to lifestyle and culture for men since December 1953. “While most mob-inspired games’ emphasis is solely on action, Mafia II features a deep and compelling narrative that is embellished with a sophisticated, era-evoking atmosphere,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “In partnering with Playboy, we are able to add a unique element of authenticity to the game by using vintage images from the magazine that illustrate the power of Playboy’s influence on the attitudes and culture of that generation.”Mafia II is a beautifully crafted look into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mafia where clothing, cars, music and advertising are meticulously created to replicate an American city in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Players will easily become engaged in the game’s cinematic, Hollywood-style experience with strong, believable characters in a living, breathing city that transports them to a time when rock-n-roll first strummed its guitar and chrome-plated hot rods roared down boulevards. “For more than 55 years, Playboy has been a part of America’s pop culture landscape, engaging its readers with insightful features, interviews and fashion spreads, as well as pictorials of some of the world’s most beautiful women,” said Playboy magazine’s Editorial Director Jimmy Jellinek. “Mafia II is set when Playboy first came into vogue and features characters whose style and attitudes mirror content from our early issues. We’re excited to bring an element of authenticity to the game that is unmatched in the men’s publishing category.”

Mafia II is currently in development by 2K Czech, the same creative team behind the award-winning, genre-defining Mafia®, which captivated millions of gamers around the world. By fusing high-octane gunplay with white-knuckle driving and an engaging narrative, Mafia II looks to be the industry’s most compelling Mafia title to date.For more information, please visit www.mafia2game.com.

Well the blog has become more of a success in recent months with Nemesis keeping us updated on the latest news. So we felt it was time for a new look…

We hope you enjoy the new digs and please take the time to comment on the different articles that are being published.

Your PS3 is about to get tactical. We take our first look at Sony’s next big shooter.

March 4, 2010 – In the beginning, video games offered only one story. Survive and kill. It’s the story of war, and we’re endlessly fascinated by it. It’s on our televisions and our movie screens. It’s in our blood.

But there’s more to the story of battle than just pointing and shooting, although for a while that’s all gamers really demanded from a war game. Having a gun in your hand and a friend at your side was all anyone really needed at first. But that’s changing. Games are growing up. The developers at Sony’s Zipper Interactive know it, and they’ve taken that knowledge deep into the heart of their new project, SOCOM 4.

The SOCOM series is a PlayStation-exclusive powerhouse most known for delivering an intense, engrossing online multiplayer experience. Although the first three main games in the franchise did have single-player missions, the focus was always squarely on network play. The strategy has worked well for the studio over the years. When SOCOM 3 was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2005, we named it our favorite online PS2 game, and the series overall has sold 12 million copies around the world. Zipper has been so dedicated to online multiplayer, in fact, that its most recent game, MAG, didn’t even have a single-player mode. So what’s all this about story, then?

I recently visited Zipper to take an early look at SOCOM 4, and I’d hardly sat down before they started talking about the story they wanted to tell. But before we dive into those details, let’s get one thing sorted out straight away. Like its predecessors, SOCOM 4 is a squad-based, realistic, tactical third-person shooter. If that sentence just made you fall slightly asleep, shake it off because this installment promises to be far friendlier to new initiates than earlier SOCOM games. Zipper wants to make SOCOM 4 “the pinnacle of tactical shooters” on the PS3, says lead designer Travis Steiner, but it also wants to build a rich narrative around it.

That starts with the main character. His name, well, I don’t have any intel on that yet. Zipper simply calls him the Ops Commander. He’s the leader of a 5-person NATO special forces squad deployed near the Strait of Malacca, a key global shipping lane that connects the Pacific and Indian Ocean between Malaysia and Indonesia. He quickly finds himself in a world of pain when the rest of the NATO forces in the area are annihilated. It’s up to his team to sort it all out. At his side are two Westerners — Schweitzer and Wells — and two South Korean operatives, Chung and the mysterious Forty-five. The latter is the first female combatant in a SOCOM game. Here’s hoping she got her nickname from her weapon of choice.

Zipper assures us Forty-five isn’t just a pretty face. Ed Byrne, SOCOM 4’s creative director, says she’s a “vital character” in a story that aims to go beyond the typical bounds of military shooters. Byrne and company aren’t releasing too many specifics about the tale just yet, but they did spill a few details. The mission unfolds over a six-day period in two main acts. In the beginning, the squad faces an indigenous revolutionary group called Naga. But as the story progresses, the characters discover there’s more to the conflict than meets the eye.

The events take place in Southeast Asia, but Zipper is quick to point out that you’ll see more than jungles and beaches in SOCOM 4. Expect to train your sights on mountains, small towns and massive cityscapes as well. And unlike previous SOCOM games, the single-player mission is designed to be a seamless in-the-field experience. That means there’s no choppering out to a cushy battleship in-between missions to load out your team and regroup. The weapons and supplies you have with you at the beginning of the mission are all you get from HQ. Like a true special forces team cut off from the outside world, you’ll need to requisition supplies in-theater. Hooah.

To help build a believable story, Zipper put the SOCOM 4 actors on a sound stage together and captured their movements and dialogue digitally as they performed each scene. Naughty Dog used a similar approach with Uncharted 2 in order to achieve more natural interactions among on-screen characters. The Zipper devs didn’t show any acted scenes during my demo, but they did say that all cinematic scenes are in-engine. That means you won’t see sharp cuts to flashy pre-rendered cutscenes; story moments will blend in and out of gameplay.

The SOCOM 4 single-player campaign is built around 14 missions that unfold over about 12 hours of play time. And although Zipper is trying to make SOCOM 4 more accessible to new audiences, that doesn’t mean it’ll be a cakewalk. The team says they’ve focused intensely on artificial intelligence this time around. Don’t expect dumb enemies to present their heads to you for easy popping. They’re programmed to use suppressing fire, flanking and bounding maneuvers, and cover. Enemy commanders will even call in airstrikes on you (if you leave them alive long enough).

Luckily, you’ll have tactical options of your own. In SOCOM 4, all your orders are handled through the new Command Mode. Hold down a button and choose a direction on an analog stick, and you’ll be able to set waypoints for your team members, issue squad commands, set behaviors and even command your squad to take out multiple targets on the way to an objective. All of these choices are no more than two clicks away, and there are no sub-menus to take you out of the action.

All the commands in SOCOM 4 are given in real-time and are issued based on what your Ops Commander can see – so you won’t be bringing up full-screen maps and ordering your squad around as little colored squares and triangles. As the Ops Commander, you’ll be able to see points of tactical interest in Command Mode that you might not see in regular mode. Things will slow down slightly, and the screen will go a bit gray as you make your choices, but the bullets will still be flying. Zipper wants to keep you on the field and in the action at all times.

Sometimes that action will be in the form of a full-on firefight. Other times, you’ll go in silent and undetected. And just because your team is alone on the battlefield, that doesn’t mean you won’t have support. You’ll be getting intel along the way, and you’ll even be able to call in airstrikes and strafing runs on enemy targets.

In a brief demo of a mid-game level of SOCOM 4 called The Slums, I saw a strafing run in action, and it devastated the poor enemy saps holed up in a cluster of wooden buildings. The environments in SOCOM 4 are destructible, and building materials flew in all directions as a series of explosions ripped into the landscape

When they weren’t exploding, the enemies were behaving fairly intelligently, moving from cover to cover and attempting to flank the Ops Commander and his squad. Zipper only showed a small taste of SOCOM 4, and I didn’t get to kick the tires. But for being in a pre-alpha state, the game looked sharp. The audio effects and environments were impressive, and the screen was refreshingly clear of clutter.

Zipper’s already dropped a lot of info about SOCOM 4, but there are still plenty of unanswered questions. At this point, you’re probably asking yourself, “Why the heck has there been no mention of multiplayer yet? Is this a SOCOM game or not?”

Rest assured, there will be multiplayer in SOCOM 4, but Zipper’s not talking about it yet. All we know is it will be “an all new experience” that supports up to 32 players online. When asked if there would be co-operative play, Steiner simply said, “We don’t have any announcements yet about further online play.” So if you’re a SOCOM fan who’s psyched about online multiplayer, stay tuned because we’re thinking the team has a lot more to say on the matter.

The fact that Zipper’s mum on multiplayer out of the gate should tell you just how seriously it’s taking the single-player, story-driven segment of SOCOM 4. The team told me their overall goal is nothing less than to evolve the series in every way, from the new narrative approach in the campaign to an innovative multiplayer experience that will satisfy series die-hards and draw in new players.

To achieve the latter, the development team said they’ve basically shaved the rough edges off the SOCOM experience. For example, the Command Mode is designed to be as deep or as shallow as the player wants it to be. On easier difficulty levels, you could theoretically go through the whole game without touching the Command Mode. But more challenging modes and approaches will require serious tactical thought.

Longtime SOCOM players know that Zipper put the series on the back burner somewhat after the release of SOCOM 3, handing the reins to other developers at times while it worked on other projects. Dedicated SOCOM fans will likely be glad to head that the Zipper team is back. But will they recognize their favorite series once it takes its new direction?

“If they were able to play it without knowing what it was, they’d know it was a SOCOM game,” says Byrne.

SOCOM 4 is aiming for a Fall 2010 release date, and we’re expecting to hear a lot more about the ambitious project in the months to come. Will the multiplayer feature classes and leveling? Will usable vehicles be back? Will we be able to tackle the campaign online with a group of bloodthirsty friends? So far, the team’s lips are zipped.

Source: IGN.com

See Teaser Trailer Below.

Activision has responded to the suit brought on by former-Infinity Ward execs as “meritless”.

According to the company, Jason West and Vince Zampella seeking at least $36 million from Activision has “disappointed” the company.

Click “Read More” for Activision’s Statement.

“Activision is disappointed that Mr. Zampella and Mr. West have chosen to file a lawsuit, and believes their claims are meritless. Over eight years, Activision shareholders provided these executives with the capital they needed to start Infinity Ward, as well as the financial support, resources and creative independence that helped them flourish and achieve enormous professional success and personal wealth.

“In return, Activision legitimately expected them to honor their obligations to Activision, just like any other executives who hold positions of trust in the company. While the company showed enormous patience, it firmly believes that its decision was justified based on their course of conduct and actions. Activision remains committed to the Call of Duty franchise, which it owns, and will continue to produce exciting and innovative games for its millions of fans.”

It was revealed this morning that West and Zampella would be suing Activision for “refusing to honor the terms of its agreements” and for withholding royalties.

Wow. Don’t expect this to go away anytime soon, and expect it to get very ugly indeed before all is said and done.

When you believe you’ve created the most successful entertainment product in history and you’re owed millions of dollars in royalties, you don’t go without a fight, right?

Ex-Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella have sued Activision for unpaid royalties and the “contractual rights” to control “Modern Warfare-branded games”. The full press release is here.

West and Zampella were sensationally fired from the Acti-owned studio this week, with the publisher citing “insubordination” as a reason for ousting the duo.

“Activision has refused to honor the terms of its agreements and is intentionally flouting the fundamental public policy of this State (California) that employers must pay their employees what they have rightfully earned,” said O’Melveny & Myers LLP attorney Robert Schwartz in a press release.

“Instead of thanking, lauding, or just plain paying Jason and Vince for giving Activision the most successful entertainment product ever offered to the public, last month Activision hired lawyers to conduct a pretextual ‘investigation’ into unstated and unsubstantiated charges of ‘insubordination’ and ‘breach of fiduciary duty,’ which then became the grounds for their termination on Monday, March 1st.”

Quite obviously, the two developers aren’t exactly “happy”.

“We were shocked by Activision’s decision to terminate our contract,” said West. “We poured our heart and soul into that company, building not only a world class development studio, but assembling a team we’ve been proud to work with for nearly a decade. We think the work we’ve done speaks for itself.”

Zampella added: “After all we have given to Activision, we shouldn’t have to sue to get paid.”

West and Zampella are suing Activision not only for unpaid money, but for control of the Call of Duty brand.

“Modern Warfare 2 is arguably one of the most successful games in history and together with Call of Duty, has generated more than $3 billion in sales for Activision,” said the suit.

“In addition, Activision seized control of the Infinity Ward studio, to which Activision had previously granted creative control over all Modern Warfare-branded games. The suit was filed to vindicate the rights of West and Zampella to be paid the compensation they have earned, as well as the contractual rights Activision granted to West and Zampella to control Modern Warfare-branded games.”

Update – March 4th, 2010: Read the 16-page complaint filed by the founders of Modern Warfare 2 development studio Infinity Ward against Activision here at Kotaku.com.

LONDON – 3 March 2010 – Can’t wait to jump into the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta on May 3? You’re in luck, because a thrilling first look video of “Halo: Reach” multiplayer action is now available. The “March Multiplayer Madness” video was captured from the game’s alpha build and offers a glimpse of…well, we don’t want to give away all the surprises do we?

Rest assured that more info is coming down the line as the launch of the public multiplayer beta nears. As a reminder, players will be able to access the beta, which launches in just two months, through “Halo 3: ODST.” Developed by acclaimed studio Bungie, “Halo: Reach” is being published by Microsoft and launches in autumn 2010 exclusively on Xbox 360.

The “March Multiplayer Madness” video is available now on Halo.Xbox.com, Bungie.net and Xbox LIVE.

In this edition of Talkabout, G4 editor-in-chief Adam Sessler and news editor Patrick Klepek discuss the ongoing situation with Infinity Ward and Activision and the future of the Call of Duty franchise. Check out the video, and express your own opinions in our comment section below.

Just a caveat: This was shot a few hours ago, and more information has been made public since then.

The video is below…

Read more: http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/702933/TheFeed.html?utm_source=g4tv&utm_medium=twitterblog&utm_campaign=so-0907-twitterthefeed-702933&cmpid=so-0907-twitterthefeed-702933#ixzz0h48fXwQb

Microsoft has announced an Xbox 360 Splinter Cell Conviction Special Edition Bundle.

 The bundle will be made available in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand for $399 in early April.

It contains a standard edition copy of Splinter Cell: Conviction, a 250Gb hard drive and 2 Wireless Controllers.

Game’s out April 13 in the US, and April 16 in the UK for PC and Xbox 360.

UPDATE: Security Appears At Infinity Ward, Studio Heads Missing, Activision Investigating “Insubordination”.

UPDATE 12:02 AM: Double Fine’s Tim Schafer, who had his own troubles with Activision over the release of Brutal Legend, recently commented on Twitter about what’s happening between Infinity Ward and Activision.”Getting mad at Activision for this kind of thing is like getting mad at an ape for throwing feces,” said Schafer. “It’s just how the beast communicates.”

UPDATE 11:20 PM: It turns out Activision may have showed their hand in this matter earlier today. In an SEC filing made this morning, Activision cited a human resources investigation into “breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward.” Based on the information we currently have, at least one of those employees may have included Infinity Ward CTO Jason West. It’s possible Vince Zampella is the other unmentioned employee.

“This matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation,” read the filing. “At present, the Company does not expect this matter to have a material impact on the Company.”

UPDATE 11:11 PM: Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling has vaguely addressed the situation. “I should also say, while I appreciate all the calls, tweets, messages and hearing my ringtone a lot,” said Bowling on his Twitter account, “they’re in vain – as I have no info.”

UPDATE 10:07 PM: More developments on the situation at Infinity Ward have come to light. A screen shot surfaced from Infinity Ward CTO Jason West’s Facebook page at Kotaku with the status update “Jason West is drinking. Also, unemployed.” I can confirm from a source that’s friends with West that update did actually come from West’s account.

West also updated his Linkedin profile to appears to reflect a change in employment. “President/Game Director/CCO/CTO Infinity Ward January 2001 – March 2010 (9 years 3 months)” While this doesn’t yet provide much insight into what actually happened at Infinity Ward, it confirms there are changes afoot at the Call of Duty developer. As soon as I know more, you’ll know more.

ORIGINAL STORY: Something’s h at Infinity Ward right now. A source close to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2developer just informed me that a “bunch of bouncer-types” just showed up outside of the Infinity Ward offices unannounced. When approached by employees, the non-uniformed “bouncers” were unwilling to disclose why they were there. “Everyone is on edge,” said my source.

Infinity Ward studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West reportedly met with Activision this morning and have not been seen by Infinity Ward staff members since. My source did not delve into specifics, but described the relationship between Infinity Ward and Activision lately as “tense.”

The mood around the Infinity Ward offices is currently described as “freaked out” and “confused.” “We just wanna make our games,” said my source. I’ve contacted Activision for comment on the ongoing situation at Infinity Ward. Stay tuned.

Posted by Patrick Klepek The Feed

There’s a few valuable life lessons in the following story, so pay attention: A Pittsburgh news station recently reported on a 17-year-old boy who was disqualified from a SOCOM U.S. Navy Seals tournament after it was discovered he was cheating. In retaliation, the young man hacked into the official PlayStation site, and crashed it for 11 days back in 2008. Sony re-retaliated by opening up a federal grand jury investigation into the “cyber attack,” which led back to the aforementioned boy, who is now in a whole heap of trouble.
The teen pleaded guilty, and was convicted on four felony charges: Unlawful use of a computer, criminal use of a computer, computer trespassing and the distribution of a computer virus. He’ll be sentenced later this year. The moral of the story? Don’t cheat while playing online games, and don’t crash the web sites of gigantic corporate entities. If caught, you could end up being branded a cheater. Or, you know, a felon.

From Europe to the Americas to, well, my house in Australia, users (mostly of older “Fat” consoles, those released before 2009’s “PS3 Slim”) are complaining that upon booting their consoles up, they’re unable to sign into their accounts, check their trophies, use dynamic themes or access the PlayStation Network. That’s fine, Sony say there are PSN connection problems, and that they are “looking into it”.

Problem is, the error does more than just prevent you from going online. It prevents you from playing certain games offline as well. The screen above is what I was greeted with when attempting to play Heavy Rain, and pressing out of it simply reboots the PS3, returning you to the main menu screen. It’s the same story for other games that feature dynamic trophy support.

Sony say “stay tuned” for updates on the problem. In turn, we’ll update if we hear anything more.

While theories abound that this has something to do with the calendar (some users are reporting their date/time settings have been reset), bear in mind Sony has redesigned its PlayStation website over the weekend, so it’s likely the result of some tinkering under the hood for the PlayStation Network.

Whichever it is, though, you have to wonder at the design process that turns a network outage into something stopping you from playing an offline, singleplayer title.

Source: Kotaku.com

***Update***

Posted on the PSBlog:

EA’s announced, as part of Project Ten Dollar, two new maps for Battlefield: Bad Company 2, which will launch alongside the shooter next week.

The first map is known as Laguna Alta, which is tied to Conquest, while the second is a map for Rush called Nelson Bay. Overall, that now makes ten maps in total to launch with the game on Tuesday in the US.

But that’s not all: soon after launch, if you redeem a VIP code – similar to the Cerberus Network in Mass Effect 2 – you get the free map pack and a second map pack free after launch.

The maps are known as Arica Harbour and Laguna Presa, which are both Conquest and Rush maps, respectively.

“Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will redefine online modern warfare on March 2. We are deeply committed to the FPS community and Battlefield fans worldwide,” said senior producer of the game, Patrick Bach.

“These first two map packs are just the beginning. We’re planning ongoing support for the community by always keeping the experience fresh and ensuring the best possible gameplay experience.”

For anyone who decides to get the pre-owned, you can get a VIP code for the DLC and future content for $15.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 releases next week – Tuesday in the US and next Friday in the UK – for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Some European gamers has received a mail from Sony with a code and a message about a new PlayStation Home Beta! It’s a closed beta with an NDA on it so probably we have to wait a few months till we know for what the new closed Beta is.

So … you want to be a fighter? UFC® Undisputed™ 2010 is the only mixed martial arts (MMA) videogame that delivers the action, intensity and prestige of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC). Step into the Octagon™ to experience the most advanced and commanding virtual MMA action with more than 100 of the best UFC fighters in the world. Experience intelligent and intuitive combat, increased fighter customization, robust career progression, challenging new gameplay modes and explosive online offerings. UFC Undisputed 2010 embodies the ultimate essence and supremacy of a UFC fighter. Ready to be one?

Features:

• UFC FIGHTERS AND PERSONALITIES – Navigate an unparalleled roster of more than 100 prolific UFC fighters, each fully rendered to convey a photorealistic appearance. Prominent UFC personalities, including the commentary team of Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg, veteran voice of the Octagon Bruce Buffer, Octagon Girls, referees, trainers and more return to showcase an authentic and memorable UFC videogame experience.
• ENHANCED COMBAT – Step into the Octagon with improved combat. A new Sway System with full upper body and head movement allows for the dodging of attacks, while on the ground, a new Posture System delivers strong, fight-ending strikes from every position. Manage Octagon control with new strikes, submissions, transitions and cage positions, as well as experience added realism with the introduction of Southpaw stance.

* FIGHTER CUSTOMIZATION – Enjoy customizable freedom with created fighters by combining move sets from numerous MMA disciplines. Choose from an array of moves from all available disciplines, including newly added Sambo, Karate and Greco-Roman Wrestling, to become a true mixed martial artist.

• EXPANSIVE ONLINE PLAY – Encourage camaraderie by forming fight camps and leagues to participate in ranking and champion tracking systems. Join forces, train like real-life UFC fighters and go online to compete against other camps in the virtual UFC world.
• CAREER MODE – An intuitive “Game Is Watching You” system tracks every action and uses this information to dictate in-game commentary, opponent intelligence and overall career progression. On the quest to reach the UFC Hall of Fame, enhance the Career Mode experience through online co-op sparring sessions with respective fight camps and form unique personalities for created fighters to increase their cred, popularity and sponsorships based on interactions during weigh-ins and interviews.
• TITLE AND TITLE DEFENSE MODES – Fight through one of UFC’s five official weight classes to earn and defend a championship belt in Title Mode. In Title Defense Mode, a fighter’s condition remains persistent, with milestone challenges built in along the way.
• TOURNAMENT MODE – Explore up to 16-player individual and team tournaments within one system. Utilize UFC fighters or created fighters and select from arcade-style play with repeated fighter appearances or experience simulation play with fighter representation limited to one appearance.

• Week One Update for 141
• Alien vs. Predator
• Mail Bag – CommanderFury@urgentfury.com

New Single Player And Multiplayer Additions Enrich The Rapture Experience By Adding A Wealth Of New Content And Features.

Monday 22nd February/…2K Games announced today an aggressive post-launch downloadable content plan for BioShock®2 that extends and enhances the single and multiplayer experiences by adding more glimpses into the award-winning world of Rapture. Downloadable content will be made available soon, beginning with the Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, available this March from the Xbox® LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows–LIVE for 400 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStation®Network for £3.19. Future expansions into the world of BioShock 2 are slated to arrive over the coming months and will continue to expand on the stories of the denizens of Rapture.

“The fans who waited in the snow, rain and cold for the midnight launch of BioShock 2 have spoken and their message is that Rapture still has many fascinating stories to tell,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Downloadable content is a key part of our efforts to continue to entice the fans that have made 2K a household name – we intend to deliver single and multiplayer content that respects and expands upon one of the greatest fictional worlds ever created.”

Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, the first of several planned downloadable packages, contains a number of customization features that will allow players to further their character’s development in BioShock 2’s multiplayer modes and provide a deeper multiplayer experience. The pack includes:

• Rank Increase to level 50 with Rank Rewards
• New playable characters Louie McGraff and Oscar Calraca
• 20 new trials*
• A third weapon upgrade for each weapon
• Five additional masks*
*Some items are only available after a player achieves a rank of 41 or higher.

In the coming months, 2K Games will also be publishing downloadable extensions of the single player experience that provide new insight into the world of Rapture. These packages will include more narrative, new tools and new challenges that extend the lore and fiction of the failed Utopia under the sea.

Earlier in the month when January’s NPD’s were revealed, SCEA’s Jack Tretton mentioned that Uncharted 2 had almost reached the 3 million units sold mark.

Well, now it has surpassed that grand figure, having moved over 3.5 million units worldwide.

According to a post over on the US PS Blog from Scott Rohde, VP of product development at SCEA, the game has garnered more than 150 industry awards in addition to the 10 it won at DICE this week.

It also has over 1.5 million online users worldwide, and is the fastest selling first-party title for PlayStation ever.

Grand numbers there, and well deserved in our opinion.

The game has also been nominated for 10 BAFTA awards.

David Jaffe may have confirmed he’s working on a Twisted Metal reboot, speaking at DICE’s AIAS awards last night.

When someone from the crowd shouted “Twisted Metal,” the Eat, Sleep, Play boss responded: “Soon, bitch – eight or nine months.”

The timeframe could point to a release in either October or November.

Yesterday, Jaffe said at DICE that the next game was a mix “somewhere between God of War and Calling All Cars”.

Microsoft Game Studios’ Ken Lobb has confirmed that the soon-to-be-released XBLA Perfect Dark revamp will contain Goldeneye multiplayer maps.

 Confirmed levels are Complex, Felicity and Temple.

Not just that, the exec also told Kotaku there will be weapons in the game from the FPS classic, although will be called different names due to potential legal reasons.

After a reveal at E3 in June last year, Perfect Dark was finally dated this week for March 17 as part of the March line-up for Xbox Live Arcade, which includes the launch of Game Room and several other Arcade games.

An LA casting call for Call of Duty-related “voice over/motion capture” for an Activision “video game” has described character Frank Barnes as being part of an elite Vietnam unit, the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group.

 SOG was responsible for covert operations in Vietnam, and was active from 1964-1972.

The news appears to confirm the game for a Vietnam setting. This follows heavy tips that Treyarch’s next Call of Duty game, slated to release towards the end of this year, would take place during the Vietnam War.

The call is for motion capture and VO work for what looks like four major characters from the game, namely Barnes, “a fiercely patriotic veteran of WW2… A solid leader, possessed with an excellent ability to assess and respond to any situation quickly and decisively”; Joseph Lewis, a “very physically fit” black man in his 20s; Jason Hudson, a white man in his 30s with “over 15 years of military experience, making him an excellent tactician and mission co-coordinator”; and Kristina Ivanova. a Russian-born martial arts expert and CIA operative who’s “calm to the point of being cold and detached”.

The details come from a US casting site. Hit the image below for everything on the listed characters.

Activision has yet to say anything about the Treyarch title other than it’s coming this year and it’s not expected to be bigger than Modern Warfare 2.

Source: VG247.com

Today GameStop announced a God of War III Sweepstakes that gives fans a shot at prizes even the Gods would envy. Want pizza for a year or the ultimate Sony Home Entertainment System? Maybe a VIP trip to a premier music festival or MMA experience in Las Vegas? GameStop is giving away four weekly grand prizes and more than 2,200 ungodly prizes through March 15 exclusively for GameStop pre-order customers.

Entering the “Be the Envy of the Gods” sweepstakes is simple. Fans can pre-order the game at any local GameStop or online at www.gamestop.com, and use their receipt code or online order confirmation number to enter. The code can be entered once a week on the website, www.gamestop.com/gow3, for a chance to win instant and weekly grand prizes.

For complete rules and additional details, visit a local GameStop retail location or www.gamestop.com/gow3. Note: Customers who pre-ordered the game prior to Feb.16 can go to www.gamestop.com/gow3 to register.

So to sum it up, if you order at GameStop you will receive the following:

• Phantom of Chaos Character Skin
• Access to the God of War III E3 2009 Demo
• 17×24 God of War III Poster (*In-store pre-orders only)
• Chance to win prizes in the Be the Envy of the Gods Sweepstakes

LucasArts is bringing some Star Wars stuff to PlayStation Home, SCEA has announced.

As well as that, Indiana Jones gear is also coming to the service via a LucasArts storefront in the mall for the service.

The list of content includes costumes, lightsabres, apartment spaces and more, including Yoda water features for your apartment.

There’s some screens of the content over at Kotaku. No date yet for the stuff

Are you looking for an addictive multiplayer shooter with a rabid, unimaginably skilled player base that will simply eviscerate you, a first-time player, during your first hundred matches? Good news, masochist: Amazon has discounted Modern Warfare 2 for the Xbox 360 down to a cool $40 (the PS3 version is selling for $50). The zombie apocalypse sim Left 4 Dead 2 has also had its price reduced to a couple of Jacksons, as have both versions of Assassin’s Creed 2. Update: You can also score a copy of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 for only $20.

Sony’s taking a fairly unconventional approach to putting a stop to piracy on the PSP platform. The recently released handheld shooter, SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3, comes bundled with a code which, once redeemed through the PlayStation Network, allows the player to access the game’s online modes. Folks who purchase the game directly through the PSN are automatically online-enabled — but those who nab the game illicitly won’t have access to the code, and will have to shell out $20 to unlock a license which lets them play online.

Sony’s John Koller recently spoke to IGN about the activation procedure, saying it’s “a trial run for a new initiative we are exploring for the platform.” Obviously, it’s going to be very effective at sticking it to software pirates worldwide. Oh, and people who rent games over GameFly, and people who buy used games, and people who borrow games from their friends. That’ll teach you, everyone!

The second of two promised Assassin’s Creed 2 DLC add-ons is set to release on February 18 on Xbox Live and PSN, a recent Ubisoft press release reads.

On top of a release date, Ubisoft has offered two new screens and some details on Bonfire of the Vanities (AKA Sequence 13), which will be comprised of ten memories following Ezio’s attempt to aid Machiavelli in freeing Florence from the influence of one Savonarola. It’s up to Ezio to target key citizens under Savonarola’s control and attempt to win them over through diplomatic discourse, including meetings over tea and the occasional quilt party.

The chapters of the lost memory sequence take Ezio to several of Florence’s well-known locales, such as the Palazzo Medici, Santa Maria dei Frari and — wait, the Arsenal Shipyard? What, did you run out of awesome Italian names, Ubisoft?

Screenshot:

DICE’s Patrick Bach, senior producer for Battlefield: Bad Company 2, has revealed a bit more of what to expect with DLC once the game is released next month.

Turns out, the game will come with a “VIP” code allowing the purchaser access to the DLC network.

“We want people to insert the code they get when they buy the game to get access to DLC,” he told MTV. “It’s connected to your personal account, more or less, and what we want to do is give you something extra, added value, for that.

“In the future you will get more content, for free, if you have this VIP code.”

Reiterating what he told WorthPlaying last week, Bach compared it to the Cerberus System in Mass Effect 2, where once you enter the code, you are granted access to game’s online store which is directly connected to your EA.com account.

New multiplayer maps are the free DLC that will be available at launch, and if you happen to buy the game used – expect Project Ten Dollar to be applied upon downloading the content.

Game hits PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 March 2 and March 5 in the US and UK, respectively.

Aliens vs. Predator released today, and PC players are stuck with peer-to-peer matchmaking for a little longer while Rebellion gets a dedicated server ready “in the next few days,” according to the studio.

In a Steam forum post today, Rebellion had this to say:

Rebellion are busy preparing the dedicated server for the Aliens vs. Predator community. We hope to have a beta release with reduced functionality out in the next few days and further updates to improve functionality and fix bugs over the next few weeks. The files will be available to download from the “Tools” tab in the Steam client and will be a free download.

If that’s not good enough, well, that’s what the singleplayer campaign’s for, I guess.

According to this, OPM US are rumouring cross-game chat will be a premium feature for the PSN when Sony introduces a subscription plan for the service at some point in the year.

The magazine brings it up during a feature in the latest issue just released.

It said:

“Aside from the 3D goodness, cross-game party chat is the obvious “next big feature,” even though it might be restricted to paid [PSN] subscribers.”

The feature was thought to be coming as a free feature in a firmware release last year, sources told VG247 in September of last year. That never happened.

Late last year, Sony announced at an investors meeting there was plans to introduce PSN subs into play for PS3. Regardless of what is introduced for PSN, however, online play will remain free according to SCE president Kaz Hirai.

Source: VG247.com

Codemasters has announced it’s pulling out of the battlefield that is Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising.

The firm says it has no intentions of releasing no more patches for the shooter, as well as additional DLC for it after the release of the Overwatch pack on PS3.

On its forums, Codies community manager Ian Webster said:

“With the upcoming release of the Overwatch DLC on PS3, and a few “heated” threads on the topic, I just wanted to inform you all that the team have now completed the “Dragon Rising” chapter of Operation Flashpoint and that’s it for DR-related content going forward.

“We are sorry if Dragon Rising and the two DLCs released to date have left you wanting even more, but in the grand scheme of future plans and schedules the vast majority of the team are already busy planning the future of modern combat.

We’re aware that this news might disappoint some of you, but I kindly ask that you all please keep any future posts on this topic mature and constructive.”

Fin.

EA’s announced it is going to close more online servers for its games.

It’s the second such cull in recent months after a first batch of games which had an online service was shut down last month.

This time, the changes affect Mercenaries 2: World in Flames for PC, The Godfather for PS3 and 360, Army of Two for PS3 in Asia only, Lord of the Rings: Conquest for PS3 and 360 and The Simpsons Game for PS3 and 360.

Also going to be shutdown is Need for Speed: Carbon and Pro-Street for PSP and Burnout 3: Takedown for PS2 and Xbox.

The shutdowns take place on March 16 and April 15 respectively.

Find the full list through here.

Source: VG247.com

SEGA and Rebellion announced today that an updated version of the Aliens vs Predator demo is now available on PSN.

The original demo has been taken down and replaced with the new version.

Matchmaking issues plagued the original demo, resulting in some players experiencing difficulties getting into matches. These issues were resolved, and some additional functionality was added to allow PS3 users to create their own matches and browse for any available ones to join.

“We are confident that the matchmaking issue has been fixed with this new demo and we will be monitoring community activity closely over the coming days to ensure that it has been fully resolved, said SEGA Europe’s Gary Knight. “We would like to thank the community for all of their valuable feedback and continued patience.”

Rebellion would clarified the reasoning behind the choice of a Deathmatch multiplayer demo for AvP.

“We chose Deathmatch as the mode for the demo as it’s very familiar to all FPS gamers and minimizes restrictions on players while they are getting to grips with the controls of each of the three playable species” said Jason Kingsley, CEO and co-founder of Rebellion. “We have plenty of new modes in the game and players only have to wait a matter of days before they can play them when the game launches.”

SEGA has released an FAQ for players to discern whether they have the original demo, or the new one. It’s through here.

AvP’s set for release on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 February 16 and 19 in the Us and Europe, respectively.

Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling has tweeted that the Care Package fix is now available on Xbox Live.

Here’s the tweet:

Modern Warfare 2 players on Xbox 360 just received an update today.

Sent to Microsoft for certification last week, the patch fixes the Care Package exploit, normalizes the package, fixes emergency airdrop grenade and sentry sprint speeds and loads more.

Good to know it’s finally available for folks.

Modern Warfare 2 will get its first bit of DLC this spring on the console before anything else.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is getting more content and it’s set around Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.

Set to land on PSN February 25, there will be multiplayer maps, skins, Trophies, and medals.

Trophies, which are listed over on IGN, will not be backwards compatible, so only stats achieved from Feb 25 onward will count with these particular ones.

We won’t spoil anything by listing the Trophies here, but one of ‘em is user inspired and you get it from “killing a guy as he’s about to nab the treasure in Plunder”.

Apparently, Naughty Dog has been watching you play.

Included are six multiplayer skins from the original Uncharted (Drake, Elena, Atoq Navarro, Eddie Raja, Gabriel Roman and the pirate Javier), and two new maps – The Flooded Ruins and The Facility – along with loads of Trophies and Medals will run you thus:

• $5.99 for the full thing
• skins for $2.99
• maps for $3.99

Pricing and dates for Australia and the UK are to be announced.

UPDATE: February 9, 2010: It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad – Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. – Jake and Josh Harris

Statement from Discovery – Discovery mourns the loss of dear friend and colleague Captain Phil Harris. He was more than someone on our television screen. Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him. We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart. We share our tremendous sadness over this loss with the millions of viewers who followed Phil’s every move. We send our thoughts and prayers to Phil’s sons Josh and Jake and the Cornelia Marie crew.

Posted using ShareThis

A Final Fantasy XIII bundle for Xbox 360 is on the way from Square Enix.

 The bundle hasn’t been formally announced yet, but the package is a Super Elite effort, which has sold before with Mass Effect 2, Forza Motorsport 3 and Modern Warfare 2.

It contains the console, two wireless controllers, wired headset, 250Gb HDD and a copy of the game, plus all the trimmings.

The bundle is set to cost $399, and is certainly a whole lot different then the bundle that was released for the Japanese release for PS3.

Again, no formal announcement yet, but if we were betting people, expect an official announcement at X10 tomorrow.

FFXIII is released in the west on March 9 for PS3 and 360

DICE’s Patrick Bach has revealed that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will have day-one content available through an in-game store at launch.

Containing both free and fee-based content, the DLC  is aimed at providing a lengthy “post-launch campaign” for the game.

“We see the game as the first step to a longer experience,” the senior producer told WorthPlaying. “We have an in-game store where you get free content or you can buy new content to the game, so it’s a very integral part of the game that we will have a long post-launch campaign.

“I think people will be thrilled to see what’s in that already. On day one, you will get some really cool stuff.”

Bach also revealed that due to the successful launch of Battlefield 1943 on Xbox Live Arcade, older PC properties were something DICE got a “good taste from” and as far as releasing more in the future – you “never know” what will happen.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is set for release in March on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

AV aficionados looking for a little more shine from their Netflix titles streamed over 360 or PS3 are in luck, as the film rental company announced today plans to beam its movies to your TV in “full” HD.

That means a 1080p video signal and 5.1 surround sound, just like the PS3 and Xbox video marketplaces can handle. Of course, options will initially be limited, as only 6% of Netflix’s library supports this kind of quality, but there’ll be plenty more HD content available as time goes on and more films are released to that standard.

1080p streaming is due sometime later this year, and as far as consoles are concerned will only be available to 360 and PS3 owners.

Exclusive Multiplayer Beta Available This Summer

LONDON – February 9, 2010 – Today Ubisoft announced that Tom Clancy™’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier™ is in development at Ubisoft’s Paris studio and is scheduled to be released worldwide Holiday 2010.
Created by the award-winning team behind Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter® and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter® 2, the game will feature cutting-edge technology, prototype high-tech weaponry, and state-of-the-art single-player and multiplayer modes. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will go beyond the core Ghost Recon franchise and deliver a fresh gameplay experience, with an unparalleled level of quality that will excite long-time fans and newcomers alike.

Ubisoft is offering gamers a chance to be the first to play Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier’s Multiplayer Beta this summer 2010. This exclusive beta invitation will be available for a limited time to customers who purchase Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™ for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, which releases on 16 April 2010.

For ongoing updates about Tom Clancy™’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, please visit: www.GhostRecon.com

This title has only been announced for the Xbox 360 so far.

***Update***

Technology evolves. Threats evolve. Yet war…is constant.

Those are the first few word you hear in the Ghost Recon: Future Soldier teaser video Ubisoft released today.

Announced earlier today, the game’s confirmed for release on PS3 and Xbox360 with versions coming to DS, PSP and Wii as well.

No release date yet, just fall 2010 so far.

• UF: 141’s List of Invited Clans
  • Its Frist Come First Server, the First 16 to respond get their Ticket, all others will be on stand by
• Special interview with Don Westbrook of www.hlxgaming.com
• Just the Facts by Sgt. Joe Friday

Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling has told Game Informer that the Care Package patch for Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox 360 is coming soon.

Speaking back and forth to each other via Twitter, Bowling stated that the patch went to Microsoft for certification on Friday (yesterday).

He followed up that tweet with one informing followers that the patch includes “sprinting with and calling multiple in”.

Here’s what’s in the works:

• Care Package, Emergency Airdrop, and Sentry Gun marker grenades sprint speed normalized.
• Fix for “infinite care package” exploit.
• Sentry Guns: Improved placement detection, preventing cases of Sentry Guns inside geometry.
• Model 1887: Bling using Akimbo and FMJ combination now has same range and damage as non-Bling Model 1887s.
• Fixes to prevent various XP hacks.

Good news for 360 users, considering the PC patch was issued last month, along with one for PS3.

No date yet, but it shouldn’t be much longer.

Rebellion has responded to issues relating to the match-making in the PS3 demo of Alien vs Predator.

“Since our earlier update regarding successful patching of the PC demo of AvP, we’ve been working with Sony and SEGA on investigating reports of a similar issue from some PS3 owners,” a SEGA spokesperson told VG247.

“Tests so far have shown a significant improvement, but we’re not yet finished with the fixes. The team will be working over the weekend to make it even better for players.”

Released on Thursday, the demo issues were fixed on PC, and did not occur with the 360 version.

Hopefully, all remaining issues will be ironed out for PS3 user.

Game’s out February 19.