Urgent Fury Unleashed » Xbox

Urgent Frequency Ep. 91 – The 2011 VGA Preview Episode

Commander Fury — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:45:37 +0000

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.

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

Commander Fury — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:51:05 +0000

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“.

MW3 Elite: Now a Complete, Cultural Integrated Experience!

CritiKiL — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:54:31 +0000

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

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

Shane Bell — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:30:57 +0000

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.

Modern Warfare 3: Harden Edition Leaked

Nemesis — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:15:06 +0000

Story by oferrar1o @ SFX-360.com.

The list of Hardened Edition extras in the photo that Wired.com (See Pic Below) received includes:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 game with unique disc art.
One year of membership in Call of Duty Elite.
“Founder status” on Elite with exclusive in-game emblem, player card, camouflage, clan XP boost and other exclusive benefits.
SteelBook case.
PlayStation Network exclusive: “Animated Timeline Theme.”
Xbox 360 exclusive: “Special Ops Juggernaut Xbox Live Outfit.”
Limited-edition “field journal” with more than 100 pages of “authentic military sketches, diagrams and written entries.”

Why Sony and Microsoft Teaming Up on Their Next Console Makes a Lot of Sense

Nemesis — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 01:04:44 +0000

Story by Joel Johnson @ Kotaku.com.

Microsoft has trouble making hardware. Sony has trouble running online services. What if the next Xbox and the next PlayStation are one and the same?

A few months ago, while reporting about the then unannounced Wii U console for Nintendo, we stumbled on an interesting ancillary rumor: Microsoft and Sony were in active discussions regarding their next consoles.

For two giants in the home video game console market to be talk from time to time isn’t wholly surprising. Sony and Microsoft are clearly competitors in the console market, but they’re also unlikely allies in a gaming landscape undergoing upheaval brought on by the likes of Zynga and Apple. Triple-A console games like Halo and Uncharted are still going strong, but the expansive growth in the industry at larger has been in the casual and mobile space—an area in which Microsoft and Sony only dabble, especially if you count Sony’s PlayStation Vita as more of a “portable home console”. (Don’t get me wrong. The Vita looks fantastic. But it doesn’t really compete with, say, the iPhone.)

Launching a new home console is an expensive and risky endeavor. Microsoft took a multi-billion dollar loss when the Xbox 360 had its infamous “red ring” crashes; Sony lost a few billion getting the PlayStation 3 off the ground. The real money is in games—and increasingly, in online services, like downloadable games and other media offerings.

It has come to light that someone—probably Microsoft—has registered the domain Microsoft-Sony.com. On its own, that means little—domain names are cheap to buy and easy to spoof—but it does prompt a moment of reflection: Microsoft and Sony working on their next console together makes a tremendous amount of sense.

Sony still has the hardware knack. A few aesthetic clunkers aside, Sony still makes lovely, sturdy hardware. The PlayStation 3 still looks perfectly fine. And my launch version has held up well enough over the lengthening years.

Plus, Sony has access to tremendous production facilities of their own, unlike Microsoft who largely contracts out to third-party builders for not just assembly, but components. (Crack open your phone someday. There’s a good chance it has some Sony hardware in there somewhere.)

Microsoft makes the best development tools in the industry. “Best” is subjective, but most of the developers I know greatly prefer programming using Microsoft’s excellent tools over those of their competitors. That’s certainly been part of the reason so many cross-platform games begin their life on Xbox and are ported to the PlayStation later. (Although certainly as multi-platform development has matured, it’s increasingly a port-as-you-go situation.)

A Sony-built hardware platform that ships with Microsoft development tools on Day 1 would give game developers a tremendous leg up in unlocking the power of the hardware.

Xbox Live is the best online gaming platform in existence. While PC-based Steam is a close second overall, there’s no better platform for getting games, media, and networking with friends than Xbox Live. And a unified Xbox Live and PlayStation Network would be instantly a huge community, which would be attractive to publishers and advertisers.

Plus, well, the hack. Sony got a black eye over the hack against the PlayStation Network over the last few months. While the problem has largely abated, online has never been one of Sony’s strengths. (Evinced by their numerous aborted music download services and hesitance in putting the PS2 online, for instance.) Sony doesn’t have the technical acumen to run end-to-end networking platforms, while Microsoft is perhaps the best in the business at doing so.

Sony gets to retreat into hardware and content, its greatest strengths. Remember, Sony was the Apple of the ‘80s and ‘90s: a hardware company that happened to sell and produce a lot of media designed to be played on the hardware it sold.

Every time Sony has strayed from their core competencies, they’ve been half-hearted at best—catastrophic at worst. But they remain tremendously profitable in the areas where they just build good hardware—their HDTVs, for instance—and leave the fancy network and software business to someone else.

It might get Microsoft a toehold into Sony Ericsson. Sony Ericsson has been on shaky ground since before the iPhone, but even its modern Android phones—including the gaming-oriented Xperia Play—aren’t anything special.

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 is pretty great. It just needs apps—like games. A combined Sony and Microsoft attack on the mobile gaming space would be pretty powerful. (Although wholly unnecessary in making a Microsoft+Sony home console a success; it would just be nice.)

We’ll probably know sooner than later if Microsoft and Sony intend to team up on a new console. And there are plenty of reasons why they might not want to go in together—loss of their own exclusive platform being the most compelling one—but there sure are a lot of upsides to a team-up, aren’t there?

And if you think about it, that Microsoft is making hardware and Sony is making software to compete against each other is actually the exception of their relationship, not the rule: Sony laptops have been running Microsoft Windows for years. You could even look at that as another reason why Microsoft would be willing to cede the Xbox hardware business: Sony’s latest hardware experiments, like their tablets, run Google’s Android. It might be worth a few billion here and there to Microsoft to bring Sony more fully back into the fold. (See also: Nokia.)

Do I think this is going to happen? Probably not. I’d give it a 20% chance using my Statistical Confabulator with a +/- 10% for the heat added to our economy by Nascent Fanboy Psycho-Kinectic Pedantry. But it sure doesn’t sound totally crazy either, does it?

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

CritiKiL — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:32:04 +0000

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

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

CritiKiL — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:32:02 +0000

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

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

CritiKiL — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:00:54 +0000

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.

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

CritiKiL — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:30:52 +0000

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…

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

CritiKiL — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:00:01 +0000

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 glass Mello Yellow
1 shot vodka
1 splash spiced rum
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.

Video Game Week: w/Jimmy Fallon!

CritiKiL — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:25:44 +0000

So, in all fairness I’m tired of seeing the XBox 360 getting all of the attention regarding the new and upcoming games. Well, our fellow gamer/comedian/show host ‘Jimmy Fallon’ is at it again and putting PS3 back on the map with exclusivity!Late Night with Jimmy Fallon will debut the console version of Battlefield 3. Mr. Fallon will be demonstrating the PS3 version of the game “tonight”, with the help of DICE’s Johan Dohl at 12:35AM (11:35PM CST). Jimmy Fallon is starting a section of his show called video game week where he’ll be demonstrating different games to show us all how ‘Gaming is a Culture…‘ (~ a new motto I’ve derived for the Clan Killas® Online Gaming Community). Tonight’s episode will also feature Uncharted 3. The Wii U, will be displayed on Friday.

And, In case you missed them, Monday and Tuesday was, Modern Warfare 3 and Gears of War 3 respectively. Just click the link below to see the action for any games of the week you’ve missed already:

CLICK HERE: >> latenightwithjimmyfallon.com

Black Ops ‘Annihilation’ DLC3: Confirmed!

CritiKiL — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:43:27 +0000

Put aside all the speculations, Treyark has finally revealed the fact that the leaked info about a 3rd DLC, is True! The name of this 3rd installment is ‘Annihilation’ and adds four exotic multiplayer maps, plus entirely new settings for unrelenting Zombies action.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Annihilation is launching worldwide for Xbox LIVE on June 28th, 2011 at the price of $15.00, and of course…PC / PS3 console owners will have to wait nearly a month before they get their hands on it ;-(

The New Maps:

Hangar 18: Based in the controversial ‘Area 51′ and coincides w/a few conspiracy theories you’ve heard about.
Drive-In: Midium-sized map where all paths lead either in or around the hangar and some nice sniper-points.
Silo: Based on a Russian underground nuclear missile silo. Most likely this is one of the largest maps in the game!
Hazard: Gold course-like, caters to the long distance players and snipers will have alot of fun because of it’s advantage being ‘distance-killing’.

Zombies Map:

I’m liking this version, it’s mostly ‘Daytime’ Zombie-fun! This version takes place in the mysterious land of “Shangri-La,” a legendary shrine lost in an exotic jungle. Never before seen undead creatures lurk within a treacherous labyrinth of underground caverns. Step carefully through deadly traps and solve the dark secrets buried within the shifting walls of a long last land.

This is not too surprising though, with the fact that in just two weeks after this DLC is launched we will see the Black Ops Elite set itself in motion. Well enough of my rambling, here’s a video for you to get all the info you need to know which includes information on the all-new multiplayer maps. Enjoy!:

Ghost Recon: FS – Nigeria Walkthrough

CritiKiL — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 04:49:39 +0000

I’m aware that a few members of the community are not favorites of the GR series. Yet with their careful planning and redesigning of their upcoming latest GF: FS edition, we cannot ignore how well they are incorporating the Newest and Latest Technology of Warfare…into their gaming.

For a long time now, we have been stuck with only a couple of trailer videos. But now they’ve given us a ‘walkthrough’ video of the game: GR: FS – Nigeria Walkthrough.

I’m sure that by the time the game actually comes out people will have changed their minds about the game, especially with how they’ve incorporated the XBox 360′s ‘Kenect’ to work with their game. Watch the video, and let us know what you think? And of course, all replies to this article are welcomed:

Name: Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Release date: TBA
Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS
Publisher(s): Ubisoft
Developer(s): Ubisoft Paris

MW3 / DLC: PS3 owners, Prepare To Get Screwed…”Again!”

CritiKiL — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:39:03 +0000

This is not going to be a shock to some of you that Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) is coming out this November 8th 2011. But since the release of the trailer-teaser of the game there’s been reports suggesting that once again, Activision will favor the Xbox 360 version ahead of the PS3 not just on game outputage, but on DLC releases as well. I have just read where the upcoming DLC for MW3 (with the game releasing on Nov. 8th 2011) will also be favored for Xbox in advance of the other consoles.

It’s also been noted that at the end of the reveal trailer for Modern Warfare 3, many saw the Xbox 360 logo with a message telling viewers to pre-order the Xbox 360 version. In fact, there’s NEVER any mention of the PS3 version in initial trailers when the game is being introduced! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Activision is keeping to it’s previous stance as to which version it considers, their favorite.

Now I personally saw the reveal trailer myself and then later went and saw the YouTube version. It’s quite clear that the Xbox 360 logo isn’t anywhere on the reveal trailer on YouTube! Question is: Was it removed in fear of a PS3 resentment or possible brewing of a ‘boycott’? Inquiring minds would like to know. Although Actvision and Infinity Ward are yet to announce any sort of console deals for Modern Warfare 3, don’t be surprised if PS3 users end up getting DLC one month later “again and again” ~ much like what happens on Black Ops and seemingly every other Call of Duty game being produced.

So, as an owner of both the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, what do you viewers and readers think about this? There’s obviously some kind of an ‘arrangement’ with Activision and Microsoft to produce games for Xbox consoles, and ‘then’ port versions out to the PC’s and PS3′s. Though I don’t like it, I guess we just have to ‘live with it’. Let me know what YOU think, in replying to this thread…

Urgent Fury: 2010 Season Announced

Shane Bell — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:00:25 +0000

Exclusive Console Gaming Community Announces 2010 Schedule for Scenario-Based Tournaments

December 2, 2010 Simpsonville, SC: Urgent Fury has released their 2010 season schedule. The coming year’s events will include two qualifying tournaments followed by a thirteen week invitational TacMap tournament. New to the 2010 line-up is Infinity Ward’s latest release, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
To win a coveted spot in Urgent Fury’s signature TacMap Invitational, teams will have to compete in one of two qualifying tournaments throughout the year. Titles featured will be Modern Warfare 2 for both Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 and Socom Confrontation for Playstation 3. The first qualifying event for Modern Warfare 2 is scheduled for February followed by Socom in April.

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. Community members all echo the same sentiment, “Competing in Urgent Fury is not only a battle, its an intense, overwhelming experience.” UF co-owner Shane Bell credits Urgent Fury’s success to the “amazing members” that make up the community. “Our members are committed to playing in a cheat-free and respectful environment and do not tolerate any other way.”

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 Urgent Fury’s three week evaluation process known as Boot Camp, the community is able to maintain a highly successful tournament arena for like-minded console gamers. Urgent Fury can be found at www.urgentfury.com.

Rockstar Games Announces Release Date for Red Dead Redemption

Shane Bell — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:10:40 +0000

New York, NY – December 1, 2009 – Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce that Red Dead Redemption, the successor to 2004’s hit Red Dead Revolver, will be available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on April 27, 2010 in North America and on April 30, 2010 internationally.

“This is our vision of the American West: beautiful, bloody and action-packed. The game is a true epic, and has been developed with the same production values and attention to detail we put into all our projects,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “Red Dead Redemption represents another milestone for us in the development of open world games.”

Red Dead Redemption recreates the American West at the turn of the 20th century: a violent and turbulent time of rapid growth and change. Players become the partially reformed outlaw John Marston; blackmailed by the government, his family threatened as he is forced to traverse the vast and unforgiving expanses of the Western frontier in search of members of his former gang. In a dangerous world full of opportunistic criminals, corrupt officials and settlers battling the elements in a struggle to survive, Marston’s journey takes him from the dusty and lawless frontier to the civilized towns of the North, and down into a Mexico on the brink of a full-scale civil war.

Developed by Rockstar San Diego in conjunction with Rockstar North, Red Dead Redemption is built on the internally developed Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE) and Natural Motion’s Euphoria physics featured in Grand Theft Auto IV and Midnight Club: Los Angeles for an unprecedented level of realism and atmosphere.

For more information, log onto www.rockstargames.com/reddeadredemption.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games for the PC, PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo DS™, iPhone™ and iPod® touch. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games and 2K, which publishes its titles under 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play. Take-Two also distributes software, hardware and accessories in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at www.take2games.com.

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “will,” or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company’s future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: our dependence on key management and product development personnel, our dependence on our Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles for current generation platforms, the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games, the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games, our reliance on a primary distribution service provider for a significant portion of our products, our ability to raise capital if needed, risks associated with international operations, and the matters relating to the investigation by a special committee of our board of directors of the Company’s stock option grants and the claims and proceedings relating thereto (including stockholder and derivative litigation and negative tax or other implications for the Company resulting from any accounting adjustments or other factors). Other important factors and information are contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008, in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” as updated in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2009, and the Company’s other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Gamefly Inc. “Player’s Choice Sweepstakes” To Give Away A Video Game Console Every Day This Month

Shane Bell — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:49:56 +0000

Number One Video Game Rental Service to Give Daily Winners Their Choice Between Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii

LOS ANGELES – Dec. 1, 2009 - GameFly, the number one video game rental service, today announced the launch of its Player’s Choice Sweepstakes. Every day during the month of December, anyone who signs up for a new GameFly membership will have the opportunity to win a console of their choice.

Beginning today and through the month of December, every new and returning member who signs up for a GameFly membership is automatically entered into the sweepstakes. GameFly will randomly select one lucky entrant each day and winners will have the option to choose between an Xbox 360™, PlayStation® 3 and Nintendo Wii™ system.

With over 7,000 titles available, GameFly delivers the widest selection and availability of games for the Playstation 3, Playstation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Xbox, Wii, GameCube, Nintendo DS and GameBoy Advance, without the hassle of due dates or late fees. GameFly members can rent anywhere from one to four games at a time and keep them for as long as they like. Plans start at $15.95.

For official sweepstakes rules, go to:
http://www.gamefly.com/features/playerschoice.

For more information on GameFly, and to sign up for a membership, please visit http://www.gamefly.com.

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. And Jones Gaba pop the top on a national marketing initiative to celebrate the release of Karaoke Revolution

Shane Bell — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:56:49 +0000

Just in Time for the Holidays, Konami & Jones GABA Give The Gift of Fun!

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Nov. 30, 2009 – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., and Jones Soda Co., a leader in the premium soda category and known for its unique branding and innovative marketing, today announced a nationwide consumer initiative in support of the famed Karaoke Revolution video game franchise. Driven by fun and friends, this aggressive multi-tiered marketing campaign will encompass retail, viral and grassroots efforts and a massive sweepstakes.

Karaoke Revolution television spots, airing in the top five markets will kick the promotion off, followed by unique radio promotions that will run in the top 10 markets. Jones Soda Co. will also feature Karaoke Revolution branded stickers on Jones GABA drink cans in 800 retail locations nationwide. Karaoke Revolution branded shelf danglers will be created to draw additional awareness at retail stores. On the grassroots level, Karaoke Revolution and Jones GABA street teams are already mobilizing to hit the night life at bars in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, and Chicago. In addition, street teams will be at 39 college campuses where they will be demoing Karaoke Revolution and distributing Jones GABA drink samples.

“This partnership is the culmination of two companies sharing a vision of entertainment and high energy social interactions, all in the name of FUN!” said Clara Baum, Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing and Partnerships of Konami, “Jones Soda Co’s dedication to creativity in the beverage arena combined with Konami’s commitment to providing engaging gaming experiences has created an innovative program that consumers are going to find very exciting this holiday season!!”

“We are excited to be partnering with Konami and the Karaoke Revolution brand,” said Josh Groff, Jones Soda Brand Manager. “Jones GABA is the perfect concentration enhancing beverage for dedicated gamers singing their way to top scores!

To encourage this spirit of fun and competition, Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. and Jones Soda Co. have launched a sweepstakes to give one lucky winner the ultimate Karaoke Package to take home, which includes a 42″ plasma television, a year supply of Jones GABA soda, one copy of Karaoke Revolution and a Wii console. Additionally, the 1st and 2nd runner-up will win a copy of Karaoke Revolution.

Entry to the sweepstakes is simple and free. Just log on to www.jonesgaba.com/kr and register to enter the sweepstakes. Once the contest is completed, one grand prize winner will be chosen at random to take home the ultimate home entertainment karaoke center!

The sweepstakes is currently underway and continues through December 25. No purchase is necessary to enter. For more information on the sweepstakes, including registration, please visit www.jonesgaba.com/kr

About Karaoke Revolution
The most successful Karaoke video game franchise in history, Karaoke Revolution is coming to Wii™, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on November 24. This year, the groundbreaking karaoke game brings 50 all-new hit songs from master recordings including the most robust offering of Jackson 5 music ever. In addition to music choices, Karaoke Revolution brings customization to the forefront with 16 original customizable venues and enhanced customizable characters, including facial and body morphing. Karaoke Revolution will be available in retail stores nationwide on November 24, 2009. For more information on Karaoke Revolution, please log on to www.konami.com/kr

About GABA
Jones GABA is the new refreshing, one and only functional beverage with GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), an amino acid naturally produced by the brain and proven to increase alpha brain waves, which enhance mental focus, balance and clarity and allow you to perform at your mental peak. Jones GABA, with 150mg per 12oz. serving, is the only beverage in the US with all-natural GABA and comes in four refreshing flavors: Fuji Apple, Lemon Honey, Nectarine and Grapefruit. Find out more at www.jonesgaba.com.

About Konami
Konami is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties. Konami’s titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, DanceDanceRevolution and Castlevania, among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at www.konami.com. KONAMI CORPORATION is a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary offices, Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. in the United States and Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany. KONAMI CORPORATION is traded in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KNM. Details of the products published by Konami can be found at www.konami.com.

About Jones Soda Co.
Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Jones Soda Co. ® markets and distributes premium beverages under the Jones Soda, Jones Pure Cane Soda™, Jones 24C™, Jones GABA®, Jones Organics™, Jones Naturals® and Whoopass Energy Drink® brands and sells through its distribution network in markets primarily across North America. A leader in the premium soda category, Jones is known for its variety of flavors and innovative labeling technique that incorporates always-changing photos sent in from its consumers. Jones Soda is sold through traditional beverage retailers. For more information visit www.jonessoda.com, www.myjones.com, and www.jonesGABA.com.

KONAMI is a registered trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION” and “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

CAPCOM®’S FINAL FIGHT AND MAGIC SWORD MAKE A TRIUMPHANT DIGITAL RETURN IN 2010

Shane Bell — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:26:36 +0000

Classic Arcade Brawlers Downloadable Next year In a Dynamic Double Pack

LONDON, United Kingdom. — November 30, 2009 – Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Final Fight: Double Impact will be coming to PlayStation®Store and Xbox Live in April 2010. This digital release will house not one, but two awesome Capcom classics – Final Fight and Magic Sword.

Final Fight: Double Impact is a dual release of two classic arcade side-scrolling beat-em-ups. First up is Final Fight, where players follow the heart-pounding adventures of Cody, Guy, and Haggar – three heroes fighting their way across crime-ridden Metro City in hopes of saving Haggar’s daughter from the evil clutches of Mad Gear. There are 6 stages filled with perilous challenges where the only hope for justice is the unique fighting techniques mastered by each character. With the news released last week that Cody and Guy will both be playable characters in Super Street Fighter IV, Capcom fans now have the chance to take a trip down memory lane and experience these characters in their first appearance before playing them in the new Street Fighter game.

In Magic Sword, users will take on the role of the “The Brave One,” a fierce warrior who bears the daunting responsibility of cleansing evil forces from an ancient tower. As a consequence of his actions, he will inevitably meet the source of this scourge upon humanity – the dark lord Drokmar. But fear not as the hero is accompanied by eight allies who will lend their assistance through out the game. All of them bring specific skills and talents to contribute to the fight. It’s an amazing side-scrolling action illustrated in classic fantasy stylings, making a perfect pairing with Final Fight.

Final Fight: Double Impact will make the classics look better than ever by utilizing Capcom’s proprietary graphics engine to make the games shine in crisp and clear HD glory. Alternatively, purist pixel junkies can toggle back to classic and arcade cabinet modes to render the game in its original form. Complementing the new visuals is a new selectable soundtrack adapted by the highly acclaimed composers responsible for Bionic Commando: Rearmed.

The multiplayer features will allow gamers to relive these classics with friends online. “GGPO” network technology creates a frame-accurate arcade experience across the internet with online voice chat and the ability to join games in progress. Thanks to the innovative open invite system, other fighters can jump right in and contribute some classic butt-kicking to the cause. Leader boards for both games track scores to compete and compare for bragging rights.

ABOUT CAPCOM
Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including best-selling franchises Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Devil May Cry. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Tokyo Korea and Hong Kong, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom can be found on the company web site, www.capcom.com.

High Definition Exergaming is Available Now

Shane Bell — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:23:06 +0000

There is no need to wait for your favourite exercise console to step up; exergaming is in HD today with Gamercize. Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 full HD exergaming is available for online and solo play without the wait.

Gamercize is the company that turned exergaming on its head by putting the games and the fun first in video game exercise. All HD titles can be played with the patented Gamercize interface and a full range of genuine cardio fitness equipment.

Cowen Group survey results last week revealed that 77% of owners of the most popular exercise console prefer their Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. Gamercize agrees that the enjoyment of the game is what makes exergaming so successful, but uniquely Gamercize doesn’t compromise on fitness with an unchallenged cardio busting maximum 650 calorie per hour workout.

The Gamercize modular HD exergaming system gives options in fitness with the GZ Endurance cycle, GZ Power Stepper and the latest bestseller, the 3-in-1 Family Fit combination recumbent cycle, rower and exergame. Gaming with the latest titles is supported on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Console owners that have lost their way with workout games are not left out, as Gamercize supports Mario games too, and are encouraged to put the fun back into fitness video gaming with Gamercize.

Until December 7th the Gamercize campaign Game4Life is giving extra reason to enjoy being more active and healthy by offering a $100 cash discount on the top of the range Gamercize Family Fit that was shown on national TV last month. Visit http://www.gamercizeshop.com for more information.

Urgent Frequencey Episode 54 – On Location – Modern Warfare 2

Shane Bell — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:27:11 +0000

It was the biggest electronic entertainment release of 2009, and Urgent Frequency was there!

In this week’s transmission, Commander Fury teams up with Gamestop, Infinity Ward, and 500 of his closest friends, for a very special Midnight Warfare Nationwide Launch episode.

Recorded live, on location at one of the 4500 Gamestop stores nationwide hosting live events.
This unscripted, unedited broadcast captures the excitement surrounding the release of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the former Game Of The Year, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Despite the madness of a “live” transmission, Fury also manages to give us a fairly detailed Urgent Fury SITREP, while he eavesdrops on UF Co-Director AC.

All that, plus a giant TV, makes this a must hear Episode!