PAX 2012 Medal Of Honor: Warfighter Community Event

Before I get into the “meat & potatoes” of Medal Of Honor: Warfighter, and my experience with the game during the PAX 2012 Medal Of Honor: Warfighter Community Event…I should give you a little background intel about myself.

I am not just a fan of the Medal Of Honor franchise. I am a battle hardened veteran of almost every Medal Of Honor battle space” ever made available to me from the fine folks at Electronic Arts.

I was part of the team that destroyed “Railgun Greta” (I always thought that would be a great name for a band). I was there with the French Resistance, when they put a stop to the V-1 menace. I survived the horror of “Panzerknacker Unleashed“. I experienced the tragedy & triumph, of both D-Day & Pearl Harbor.

And of course, I was there when Mother, Preacher, Voodoo, & Dusty all said goodbye, to one of their own.

But enough about me, let’s talk about Medal Of Honor: Warfighter. I just thought that it was important for you to know as you read this, that the opinions expressed here, are not those of some casual gaming blog writer, or some detached industry media guy who could really care less about the game.

These are the opinions of a guy who knows this franchise, and has come to expect a certain something when he plays Medal Of Honor.

Flash forward to Seattle, Washington. The “Jet City“.  Friday, 31 August, 2012. Westin Hotel. 1900 hours.

20 or so Medal Of Honor community members fill the lobby, and you can feel the sheer anticipation pulsing throughout the room.

After signing in, we are finally led upstairs to a huge meeting room filled with food, fun, & fireteams.

As we started the gameplay portion of the evening I was instantly caught off guard, by just how good the game looks.

I play Battlefield 3, so I know what the Frostbite 2 can do. But you could immediately tell that Danger Close has a firm grasp on the engine’s real capabilities.

The second thing that I noticed was the sound design. It was even a topic later in the night, during a Q&A session with the DEV team.

The ambient audio in general is superb. But the gunfire in particular, is simply stunning. Each weapon has it’s own distinct sonic personality. You can almost “feel” the difference between weapons, based solely on how each one sounds.

With regard to the essentials, Warfighter’s basic gunplay and control interface, remain relatively unchanged from the game’s predecessor. All in all, to this point, I’m feeling pretty optimistic about everything I’ve experienced so far.

But, keep in mind that 2010’s Medal Of Honor was a hybrid endeavor. With Danger Close developing the Singleplayer mode (on a heavily modified version of the Unreal Engine 3), and DICE (EA Digital Illusions CE) developing the Multiplayer mode on the Frostbite 1.5 engine.

In fact, that may have been the only thing wrong with the 2010 iteration. You could tell that the two modes were somehow related, but were also distant cousins at best.

So, as I blazed my way into Warfighter’s Multiplayer mode, I was a bit apprehensive about what I might find.

However, I’m happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised to find that Danger Close had re-imagined the Multiplayer mode, and has aptly transplanted it’s DNA into the mode’s fabric.

Unlike 2010’s game, you can tell that Danger Close developed this mode. It didn’t seem like I was playing someone else’s version of Medal Of Honor. The HUD, and player icons were well thought out, and unique. I didn’t notice the usual visual clutter on the screen like you see in some shooters. And thanks to the technology of the Frostbite 2, player movement was smooth, and very natural.

The Spec Ops mode was interesting, though I rarely found myself using it. It gives you a very quick “IR” peek at your environment when you need to amp up your situational awareness a bit. Some players may complain about it, but as I mentioned, it’s not something you can “lean on” during the course of the game. It really is something that you’d only use if you find yourself in a “tight spot“.

There is also a “suppression” effect that occurs when you find yourself taking enemy fire. It’s similar to the Battlefield 3 suppression mechanic, but is toned down enough to distract & disorient you, more than it disables you. I like the execution of the effect overall, and I think most players will agree.

Other elements from the 2010 game make a return to Medal Of Honor: Warfighter. Offensive & Defensive Support Actions are back, and have been tweaked a bit.

They seem more useful and balanced, but must be used strategically in order to achieve any real results. I also love the way a player must think before he deploys one of these actions. For instance, if you launch a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). Your player actually stops, and literally “launches” the UAV by hand. If you call in an A-10 “air strike”, your player must again stop, and actually “lase” the target for tasking. It makes the player vulnerable, which means you have to use discretion when deploying any of the support actions.

I also love the revised melee mechanic. At one point, I jumped off a raised position to engage an unsuspecting foe below, dispatching him with a well placed tomahawk. If I could have, I would have “high-fived” myself.

And although we only played on two maps during the event (Somalia & Sarejevo). It seemed like we played on 3 or 4 different maps, due in large part to the unique map design Danger Close implemented. Depending on which game mode we played, we’d find ourselves fighting on a different portion of the overall map.

Sarajevo, is set at the Kosovo Olympic Stadium. What was once a proud structure that represented something glorious, is now just a shell of rubble & untamed vegetation after years of civil unrest in the region.

I can’t put into words how dense, and cluttered the terrain is on this map. Be advised, there won’t be any “Run & Gun” here kids. To properly navigate this AO, you almost have to “move & shoot” the “Tier 1” way. I think the saying goes…”slow is steady, and steady is fast“.

A “bombed out” bobsled track snakes it’s way throughout most of the map, and provides hundreds of vantage points from which to engage the enemy. In addition to the many man-made structures that litter the map, rocky perches and natural terrain also provide players with a plethora of tactical options.

The three game modes we experienced were “Sector Control“, “Hot Spot“, and an e-sport game mode called “Homerun“.

SECTOR CONTROL-
This mode is exactly what is sounds like. It’s very similar to Battlefield 3‘s “Conquest” mode.
Players must capture & defend designated “nav points” on the map, to push the enemy back and ultimately control the AO.
It should also be noted that because of the nature of the game modes we played, the infantry combat is fierce at times, and will really test a team’s ability to work together & communicate. In other words…team work is essential.

HOT SPOT-
Next up is “Hot Spot“, my personal favorite of the three game modes we saw during the event.
In this mode, players are tasked with either planting or defusing a bomb that will destroy a designated tactical target if it isn’t defused in time. The cool thing is that you don’t choose where to plant the bomb if you’re attacking, HQ does. Similarly, players on the defending team will have 2 or 3 “potential” target sites to defend, but won’t know which site is actually being attacked, until the bomb is planted. It makes for a mad scramble at times. And the fire fights that ensue are epic to say the least.

HOMERUN-
Finally, we come to the “e-sport” game mode that was named by the Medal Of Honor community at-large. Homerun is a fast paced, no respawn, “Capture The Flag” game mode, that almost always comes down to a “last man standing” scenario. The fact that you only get one life per round (10 rounds in all), cranks up the stakes considerably, and was the only game mode that evoked cheers from the community players in the room. It sucked to die, but it was actually fun to watch the match unfold from the “dead lobby“.

Overall, I’m glad that Danger Close seems to understand the importance of innovation with regard to the Multiplayer mode. The Fireteam feature alone, proves that they are at least conscious about getting players to work together to achieve the objective.

But with that being said…there is one aspect of the Multiplayer mode that I’m concerned about.

Honestly, I’m still a little skeptical about the clan support options that we’ll see with Medal Of Honor: Warfighter. When asked about it, we were told that clan management would take place via Battlelog (like Battlefield 3). I firmly believe that developers have neglected the demographic of players who prefer a “team first” gaming experience. Most Multiplayer shooter titles today, seem to have forgotten those of us who want to be part of a team. A group of like minded gamers, who share a real collective identity. We want the ability to create and manage private matches, and to manage our clan down to the last shooter. We want the ability to achieve an actual online presence. But sadly, most titles focus on the individual. A players rank or KDR seem to be more important than the greater good of the team these days, which I think promotes a selfish “me first” type of dynamic. We’ll see how Danger Close chooses to handle this, but I’m not 100% sold on the idea of using Battlelog to manage my clan.

After all, most of us already have a “friends list“.

Regardless, I’ve got my fingers crossed. All I know is that for about six and half hours in Seattle, I was Tier 1. Danger Close has clearly found it’s identity, and has put it’s stamp on the franchise. And without question, I left Seattle with an excitement I haven’t felt in a while. Medal Of Honor: Warfighter seems to have everything a grizzled Medal Of Honor veteran like me would expect, or want.

We’ll find out soon enough if that’s enough to compete in a somewhat crowded genre/market. Medal Of Honor: Warfighter from Electronic Arts & Danger Close (PC, PS3, & Xbox) goes loud, on October 23rd.

Until then shooters. Watch those corners….and Stay frosty.

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Urgent Frequency Ep. 91 – The 2011 VGA Preview Episode

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.

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

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“.

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MW3 Elite: Now a Complete, Cultural Integrated Experience!

Story by: CritiKiL

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

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

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

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Urgent Frequency Ep. 89 – He’s BAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKKK. BOOOOYAH!!!!

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.

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New Gadgets: Nyko Zoom (Kinect), Charge Place (PS3) & More

Story by: CritiKiL

Not much has been said about what Nyko Technologies has been manufacturing, but some of the new products for both the XBox 360 and PS3 are pretty phenomenal! Briefly I’m going to tell you about a few of their new products, then you can watch their recording of it from their Ustream Channel earlier this month. That video, is posted for you to see at the bottom…

Nyko ‘Zoom’ ~ For the XBox Kinect System:

This product is mainly just a ‘Play Range Reduction Lens for Kinect™ which NOW allows players to decrease the space needed to play their favorite Kinect games. The ‘Zoom’ (as it is called),  reduces the play range required to enjoy Kinect software by up to 40%, allowing you to play closer to your TV. The Zoom’s wide angle lens also enables two people to play in an area that was normally only suitable for a single player, making it perfect for those who live in small apartments or dorm rooms. The specially designed optical lenses fit over the Kinect sensor and clip into place, making set up a breeze with nothing to plug in. No additional software or calibration is required, and it blends seamlessly with the look and feel of the Kinect unit itself. So basically, the Zoom opens up a whole new world of Kinect play for those who previously lacked the space required to fully enjoy it. It has a suggested retail price of $29.99 (coming soon!)

Nyko ‘Charge Base 2’ ~ For the PS3 Controllers:


This product is a ‘Dual Port Charging Dock for SIXAXIS / DualShock 3 controllers’. What I found to be really cool about ‘this’, is how they’ve found a way to not damage the existing contact points by having you mount on a  ‘clip-on’ attachment to the controller itself which allows you to just drop the controller onto the base, no longer having to worry about connector cables or switch out battery packs and etc. With this product it’s simple: you just drop it and charge it! Sells for only $29.99.


Nyko ‘Gameboost’ ~ For the 3DS System:

This product is an ‘Emergency Power attachment for 3DS’, which allows you to quickly and conveniently add 1 – 2 hours of additional play time! The ‘Game Boost’ is the perfect attachment for when you need that extra bit of juice at your most crucial of gaming moments whether it’s the last lap of a big race, the final boss, or the championship game. This unit attaches to the back of the 3DS system to work in tandem with the stock battery and recharges through the 3DS power adaptor that comes with your system. When attached, all buttons, sliders and other operations are fully accessible, and it’s thin enough to not hamper your grip or comfort. Retails for only $12.99.

That’s enough for now. Don’t forget to watch the Ustream video below! Comment also if you’d like 😉

REFERENCE(S):

Nyko Website: www.nyko.com

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Upcoming: Saints Row 3, GTA: 5’s Rival?

Story by: CritiKiL

This video trailer for Saints Row®: The Third™ (below), caught my attention, mainly because it’s like a supped up GTA (Grand Theft Auto) on crank or something. So I thought I’d do a quick review, but you MUST see the video! The game sports an Online Co-Op, and a ton of new weapons, vehicles, tanks, guns an even the ‘V-TOL’ (Vertical Take Off & Landing Jet)…at your disposal. Did I mention the ‘Apoca-Fist’, and that it has ‘skydiving missions’? Yea, skydiving gunplay, total Mayhem and Fun.

HipHopGamer talks about Saints Row®: The Third™ demo, at E3:
“…was more than just jaw dropping, the gameplay details are over the top and easily surpasses the fun you will experience in GTA4.”

Saints Row®: The Third™ gives you control of the Saints at the height of their power, and you live the life to show for it. Take a tank skydiving, call in a satellite-targeted airstrike on a Mexican wrestling gang, and defend yourself against a highly-trained military force using only a sex toy in the most outlandish gameplay scenarios ever seen. Strap it on…and have some Fun!

Saints Row®: The Third™, exposes itself on November 18th 2011 for the PS3, XBox and PC. IGN gives it a 7.5 or 8 on the rating but I’m gonna come out of my neutrality as a writer,  and go ahead and say that this game will run leaps and bounds over GTA: V whenever it does come out (no word yet as to GTV: 5’s release). IMO: I think it’s going to knock GTA: V out of it’s socks. Please comment, and let us know what you think about this upcoming game!

REFERENCE(S):

Watch the Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxQsCNontmI

More info on: http://www.saintsrow.com

 

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The History (Good or Bad), of Gamestop™:

Most opinions on blogs, about Gamestop™ aren’t very positive. This made me look into ‘How GameStop™ started’. It all began, with a small software retailer by the name of Babbage’s. I’m staying totally neutral in this, only researching  how a small beloved game retailer could transform into the biggest/most hated video game retailer around…in under twenty years.

History:

GameStop™’s roots can be traced all the way back to the year 1984 in Dallas, Texas. Back then GameStop™ was simply known as Babbage’s. After only ten years of service, Babbage’s was already showing signs of what it would become, merging with various chains in 1994 like Software Etc. The merged company was named NeoStar Retail; even though the two companies were merged they still operated as two separate businesses…guess they believed in the “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” methodology. As it turns out, methodology didn’t hold true for NeoStar. Corporate confusion and bad communication led to NeoStar filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy only two years after the merge. With over 800 retail outlets available, many buyers of the company began to emerge. On one of the last few days of the manager’s conference, the head buyer of the company emerged, head of Barnes & Noble Leonard Riggio. Mr. Riggio, along with a few other investors made an offer that was accepted by the judge, and with that money, a new management team (mostly comprised of previous Software Etc. executives) was put into place to run Babbage’s.

It was on November 12, 2004 that GameStop™ got its name (Mr. Riggio hated the name, ‘NeoStar Retail). That change came with a spinoff company of Barnes & Noble ~ guess what the name of this company?…GameStop™! After a few years of having all these individual companies run as separate entities, it was on February 1st, 2006 that the beginning of the merging of operational activities took place. After a few years of combining business practices, the names of Electronics Boutique and Electronics Etc. were removed from stores and replaced with the company’s flagship name: GameStop™. So that’s how this store got started ~ Now for the ‘good’ part about this company:

Complaints:

  • Trade-ins ~ One of the most prevalent complaints against GameStop™ is its trade in business. Buying games at a very low price and marking them up to near retail prices has not sit well with fellow gamers and even employees.
  • Pre-orders: ~ Almost all media out there does not require a pre-order of any type to acquire a copy first day. How many of you guys had trouble getting Dark Knight the night of the DVD release? Exactly. It’s hard to believe that any big title does not have the factory backing to keep up supply with the demand. ‘Consoles? ~YES! But ‘Games? ~ NO.
  • Gutting Games: ~ Yes. Gamestop™ is guilty of ‘opening a New Game to use it’s box as a display, but when quantities become low…they grab the self-display and Sell it for Full Price. Full price, on an ‘opened’ game??

Gamestop™ is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Many of you are Happy with their service and practices and many are not. But the only way to show that you do not agree with a certain company’s business practices is to no longer give them business. GameStop™ definitely has some glaring business problems, especially on the employee’s side. But to sit around and complain on a message board, blog, or even to the lowly Game Advisor working the register is not going to change anything. Only by taking away your business and supporting their competitors will you start seeing a change in a Company. ‘Again’, I am purely neutral in this article and am only pointing out a “few” facts.

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Has ‘Pre-Ordering’, Gotten Out of Control?

Article and images by: CritiKiL

I haven’t pre-ordered anything in awhile. I mostly am able to get a game, console or accessory online, and now they even send the items so that they are in your house either on the release day or before. ‘Exclusive Content’ ~ Yeppers, there really isn’t any of that going on (…for the most part!) because it’s not the stores which give you the content it’s the item’s developers. Right now the only exclusivity I’ve seen, is the relationship that Microsoft has with XBox Live with COD title games arriving first and other console owners having to wait at least a month later ~ Boooh!

Lately Gamestop has been promoting the  ‘pre-ordering’ of DLC, even using the word ‘exclusive destination’ for the upcoming “Annihilation” DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops. They did it with Halo: Reach’s ‘Noble Map Pack’, offering ‘Free stuff’ ~ a Flaming Mark V Spartan Helmet for your Xbox Live Avatar.  Yay, free stuff — but that’s beside the point. The point is, GameStop is taking pre-orders on DLC (downloadable content) as Exclusive, but I thought the reason for pre-ordering was to secure a copy in case the store runs out of stock?

That’s not the case for DLC. It looks as-if GameStop’s strategy for dealing with a scarcity-free market…is to hope nobody notices the lack of scarcity. Well I’m sorry to say that this just isn’t true. Let’s make a general comparison to the ‘exclusivity’ of DLC and the proceedures for it’s apparent ‘scarcity’ of availability:

To pre-order DLC from Gamestop you’ll have to:

  • 1) Visit the store and pre-order it.
  • 2) Wail until the actual release day (not ‘before’ but on that day!).
  • 3) Recieve a download voucher in your e-mail then enter code and play.

Whereas, to get your DLC through XBox Live, all you have to do is:

  • 1) Order it on release day and play!

Now I’m not a lazy guy, but for there NOT being any advantages and NO scarcity of availability…I’ll take my chances in ‘ordering the DLC from my sofa’ ~ lmao! In my experience the only things worth pre-ordering are new consoles, since they tend to be in short supply. But DLC? ~

Looks like Gamestop is blowing something up our ___’s. They’re making us start to think that DLC might one day be ‘out of stock’ (Forgive me but this is really funny stuff here ~ lol!) In closing I’d like to say to ‘keep your eyes open to the hype’ and, ‘The whole World’s a Circus, but just don’t be the Clown’. DLC is never scarce in demand that you have to go to Gamestop, to get it. Let us know what you think? Reply to this thread…

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Video Games and Alcohol? There’s a ‘Mix’ for That!

Video games and alcohol go together like Men and Women, Water and Boats, Console and Controller (I could go on and on, but you get the point ~ lol!). But Gaming and Booze?  ~ That’s what the new hype is about according to one blog. If any of you have heard of  ‘The Drunken Moogle’ founded in 2009 by college student Mitch Hutts, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

‘The Drunken Moogle’, is full of anything that has to do with alcohol and video games. This Blog contains articles from drunken gaming rampages, to Halo shot glasses to recipes for the coolest gaming related drinks. If you can think of a combination…’The Drunken Moogle’ probably either has it or will let you post your recipe for it.

Their latest drink concoction is the Nukem, or Duke Nukem Forever Cocktail. So guess what? I tried it last night with a mixture of Black Ops Escalation DLC, and it was a heck of a morning getting up but last night was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time! So if you’re planning on playing and drinking a Nukem, I suggest that you call in to your job the night before.

The recipe is below for those who might also want to try it, and remember to ‘Drink and Game Wisely’ 😉

 

 

Nukem (Duke Nukem Forever Cocktail)

Ingredients:

  1. 1 glass Mello Yellow
  2. 1 shot vodka
  3. 1 splash spiced rum
  4. 1 splash moonshine (or any other high proof liquor)

Directions: Mix the first three ingredients and pour into a glass.  Float your moonshine on top (we used moonshine because it’s the closest thing to, you know, nuclear waste or gasoline.  You can buy “moonshine” from most liquor stores, but any high proof alcohol will do).  Nuke that ‘splody barrel and ignite the moonshine.  Enjoy the flames, then extinguish and serve.

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