Commander Fury

Thanks to the continued support of Jeremy Dunham, Community Manager for Zipper Interactive, we had the pleasure of going to the Socom 4 media Day at Zipper headquarters in Redmond, WA. So part 1 is my take on our preview of multiplayer. Part 2 will come after our visit to PAX East where we will be preparing a future episode of UFreqTV for Playstation Home and visiting some more of the shooters out there that make Urgent Fury what it is today. Now let me set the bar here, the game was not in anyway a finished product and even in the time that I have taken to publish this, many changes have been made. In addition our video that we compiled has not been approved by Sony PR, so I am going to release the written version. I do apoligize as we had some great gameplay footage as well as some great Q & A with one of the Dev team members. So with that being said, here is Part 1… Socom 4: The renewal of Tactical Gaming Socom in my opinion was the beginning of tactical multiplayer gaming for consoles. Originally launched on PS2, Socom set the stage for one of the greatest phenomenon’s in console gaming. You and fifteen of your friends could group together online and with team work conquer another gaming team. You did this from your gaming lair. Friendships have been forged, and in many cases members of your team known as clans would put their gaming clan ahead of their wife and family. Many players such as I have been playing with our clan mates for many years. The community of Socom fans is by far one of the most critical in the business. You can visit the Socom forums at Socom.com and read thousands of posts asking for different functions and game options in Socom 4. Community managers Jeremy Dunham and Chris Roper have spent the last several months answering questions and gathering intel for the dev team at Zipper interactive Studios. Recently I had the privilege to visit Zipper Interactive to preview Socom 4 as the release date of April 19th approaches. As hoped we were treated to a first look at Socom 4 Multiplayer and a new Single player level. Our visit started with the true experience of the security required at a development studio. It was nothing less than expected. So we started with a presentation by Travis Steiner along with a demo of both a single player level and some multiplayer game play, but I have to be honest, I kept eagerly awaiting our turn to get our hands on it. I played Socom 4 at E3, but it was a very short demo. I was excited to play multiplayer as that is the staple for Urgent Fury, so I was like a starving boy in front of the desert buffet. You can find more about the presentation from Commander Fury on Urgent Frequency http://www.urgentfury.com/podcast. So we take position at our Playstation setup, no sharing, no taking turns, just one on one with a Playstation 3, Socom 4 and me. First let’s talk about what multiplayer has to offer in this version of Socom. I will admit this is truly a new version of Socom. Zipper has been taking notes on how the giant shooters out there are attracting hundreds of thousands of gamers to play. Unlike the latest release by Slant Six had horrific load times, to the point I spent many a night grilling dinner between rounds, but Socom 4 is a true improvement. If you want to jump on and get your game on, you will only have to wait a few minutes max. You choose a game from the list and you get to work. Now I won’t lie, there are grumblings by the Socom faithful saying this type of setup is not true to the series, and I will say you are right it isn’t, this is called innovation. More...

This has been a pretty busy week for us -- not only did we release the MAG v2.11 patch but we also debuted a ton of new information about SOCOM 4, including covert missions, co-op details and the value-packed Full Deployment Edition bundle. That brings us to this week's edition of Zipline, the official Zipper Interactive podcast. Joining us this time out are designers Christian Sadak and Blaine Higdon who stop by to chat about all of our newly-announced SOCOM goodness. Enjoy! 28.2MB | 30m:45s Subscribe to Zipline on iTunes | Subscribe via RSS You can discuss this episode by clicking this link. More...

Sony’s announced an all-new map pack for Killzone 3, known as the “Steel Rain†map pack. The content features two new maps for the multiplayer of the Guerrilla shooter: Junkyard and Stahl Arms. Junkyard is a map where “ISA and Helghast Forces are clashing in an attempt to salvage vehicles and supplies for their war effort.†That’ll support 16 players for the Guerrilla Warfare mode. Stahl Arms is a 24-player strong map for Warzone, where “beleaguered ISA Forces mount a desperate attack on the notorious Stahl Arms research facility, where they hope to free ISA soldiers who have been taken captive.†Screens are on Killzone.com. Trailer’s below. Killzone 3 releases today in the UK for PlayStation 3. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

Here’s a quickie but a goodie. Big news on the Call of Duty front today; Activision’s sent over a set of dog tags (below) with a link to the website findmakarov.com. The bloody tags also included the message “end the war†along with the details of Sheperd, one of the villains from 2009 More...

If you caught GameTrailers TV last night then congratulations! You had an exclusive first look at two previously-unannounced goodies from SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs – both of which we’re going into detail about right now. The first new element ties directly into gameplay and it’s one that we’re really thrilled about. In select missions during the solo campaign, players take control of female South Korean 707th covert operations expert “45.†Acting as the team’s primary form of reconnaissance, 45 slinks into various locales under the cover of night to capture valuable intel and sabotage enemy operations. Armed with silenced weapons and a handy stealth meter that lets players know how visible they are to hostile forces, 45 is a sneaky badass that adds a lot to the already-intense SOCOM 4 experience. We really think you’re going to enjoy playing her missions and we’re glad to finally let that secret out of the bag. Part two of our double announcement is just as exciting! In addition to the standard version of SOCOM 4 that you’ll find in stores across America on April 19, there will also be a special limited run SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs Full Deployment Edition.Priced at $149.99, the SOCOM 4 FDE is packed with all kinds of awesome. What kind of awesome are we talking about? Check it: SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs video game on Blu-ray disc PlayStation Move Motion Controller PlayStation Move Navigation Controller PlayStation Move sharp shooter PlayStation Eye Camera At the heart of this limited edition bundle is the PlayStation Move sharp shooter, giving you pinpoint precision and a streamlined and authentic design. On top of all that, you also get easily accessible buttons, responsive digital trigger, realistic pump-action, a firing mode selector, adjustable shoulder stock and convenient access to the navigation controller. Sold separately, the contents of the SOCOM 4 Full Deployment Edition are valued at nearly $220, making its $149.99 price tag a savings of more than 30%! Regardless of which version of SOCOM 4 you purchase, you can still pre-order it at participating retailers to receive two unique slug-powered shotguns (one each for both the Spec Ops and Insurgent teams). Of course, folks who pre-order SOCOM 4 at GameStop get the shotgun plus the exclusive Suppression map, “Abandoned,†inspired by the classic map of the same name from SOCOM 1 and II. The SOCOM 4 information train isn’t done yet! We’ll be back again next week with a ton of new details including the dates in which our multiplayer beta kicks off and a few other pleasant surprises to boot. See you then! Regardless of which version of SOCOM 4 you purchase, you can still pre-order it at participating retailers to receive two unique slug-powered shotguns (one each for both the Spec Ops and Insurgent teams). Of course, folks who More...

Developer and publisher City Interactive has released the official trailer for their anticipated stealth based first person shooter, Sniper: Ghost Warrior. Travel to Isla Trueno to overthrow a hostile military command in Sniper: Ghost Warrior for Playstation 3. The new release of Sniper: Ghost Warrior features the challenging, non-linear and strategic game play and mission variety that made it a success on other platforms, and adds a host of new features, including: updated game play and graphics, bonus multiplayer maps, exclusive single player missions, new sniper rifles and much more. Below you will find a trailer for the upcoming PlayStation 3 version of the game set to release sometime soon. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

Create Your Own Online Co-Op Campaign In SOCOM 4Create Your Own Online Co-Op Campaign In SOCOM 4 SOCOM is a series that’s all about cooperation, and in SOCOM 4 Zipper Interactive hands control of cooperative online multiplayer missions to the players, giving them free reign to create custom co-op campaigns. SOCOM 4 players will be able to choose from a selection of missions designed specifically for online co-op, tweaking enemy density and difficulty to suit the skills of their gathered team. Even better, players will be able to string multiple missions together, creating a tailored campaign that flows seamlessly from one mission to the next, perfect for a planned night of strategic combat. Look for Zipper Interactive’s SOCOM 4 to hit the PlayStation 3 on April 19. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

The first PS3 gameplay footage of Crysis 2 has surfaced and it’s pretty shiny. Crytek said last year that there were ‘no ports’ for Crysis 2, all versions are developed simultaneously and this PlayStation footage looks at least the equal of anything else we’ve seen on the 360. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

As the April 19th release date for SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs quickly approaches we're happy to go into detail about everything the game has to offer, which is quite a lot! In addition to its cinematic single-player campaign and highly addictive online competitive multiplayer, SOCOM 4 also features a cooperative multiplayer mode where up to five people can play through a number of dynamic missions set up specifically for co-op play. SOCOM 4's cooperative mode features two main game types: "Takedown" and "Espionage." Takedown charges your team with scouring an enemy-filled location in search of opposing VIPs that you must neutralize however you can. Espionage turns the focus to intelligence gathering, where you must use teamwork to track down enemy data and sabotage their local operations. Before each co-op mission begins, you're able to adjust both the overall difficulty and the density of the enemy soldiers positioned on the map. But even at its easiest, SOCOM 4's cooperative mode has been designed to be challenging – as you progress, you'll need to use teamwork by calling out enemies and objectives to your squadmates. Today's co-op unveil isn't the last you'll hear of SOCOM 4 this week. Tune in to GameTrailers TV tonight and learn how stealth plays a big part in the game's campaign in addition to another special announcement fans won't want to miss! More...

See the first glimpse of in-game footage from Battlefield 3 as a U.S. Marine squad engages hostile PLR forces in Iraqi Kurdistan. Just looking at this little teaser video, I now can’t wait until they show us some more. Pre-order Battlefield 3 to receive the digital expansion pack Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand at no extra charge! This themed multiplayer expansion pack includes four legendary maps from Battlefield 2 boldly re-imagined with Frostbiteâ„¢ 2 physics, destruction and visuals. Completing the package are classic Battlefield 2 weapons and vehicles, unique rewards, new achievements/trophies, and more. Players anxious to start the fight can pre-order the Battlefield 3 Limited Edition now. Pre-order while supplies last. This awesome game will be released on PC, Playstation 3, & Xbox 360 in the Fall of 2011. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

Been a while since we’ve heard anything about Prototype 2. Here’s a trailer that was just released. Prototype 2 is currently in development for 2012. Gamers can get a more in-depth first look preview of Prototype 2 in EGM magazine’s April 2011 issue, on stands soon. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

On this episode…we answer the call of duty, as we travel back in time to 1968, and the war torn jungles of Vietnam….to give you an Urgent Fury: In Country SITREP. Then Jack “UK” Dellhouse & William “Wolfie D” Murray stop by to explain how a home is not necessarily a house…or vice versa….as they give us the inside scoop on Urgent Frequency Television‘s recent launch on Sony’s PlayStation® Home. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

Hey everybody, Killzone 3 hit stores today (congratulations Guerrilla Games!) and included along with it were vouchers for the upcoming SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs Multiplayer Beta. Though the beta isn’t available yet, we’ve put together this handy little FAQ to answer some of the questions you may have. Q: When does the SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs beta period begin? A: We haven't announced the start date yet. Look for more information next week (week of February 28). Q: Will there be other ways to access the SOCOM 4 beta outside of purchasing Killzone 3 in North America or being a member of PlayStation Plus in Europe? A: Yes. You can expect to hear details at around the same time as we announce the dates. Q: What will be included in the SOCOM 4 beta? A: As much as we’d love to tell you now, we’ll be releasing this info along with the other information next week as well. That’s all for now, but be sure to keep your eyes on SOCOM.com for more information about SOCOM 4 later this week. More...

Reviewed by UF Ranger Nikastylez : The COD Maps app from Brady games is an all in one app strategy guide used for planning successful attacks and defenses of any game type on any map. The app will tell you what the best weapon/perk/kill streak load outs are and what the most common traveled routes are for each map. The app will also tell you where the starting spawn points are and where each of the objectives, depending on the game type, are located. It’s really useful as a quick reference guide for determining what classes are most useful and what you will have the most success with. Each of the maps are very well detailed and even include ladder and window location. Every map is included in the app and you can pinch to zoom in and out of each map to see where all of the objectives are located. Overall, it’s a nifty little application that every beginner can use to learn basic strategy and advanced players can use to plan out strategic attack and defense areas. The only drawback to the application is a looping soundtrack that repeats in the background every 4 seconds with no option to mute. This app is available for IPhone and IPad for $2.99, get it today. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

In a celebration of the President’s Day in this coming week, Activision revealed today that the two levels; Dead Ops Arcade and Five will be unlocked starting today! Dead Ops Arcade can be unlocked by performing certain task but today, players can team up with people as they survive the waves of flesh-eating zombies. In the Five, players will play as the four significant figures from the Cold War era; John F. Kennedy, Robert McNamara, Fidel Castro and Richard Nixon, in this Zombies mode that can be unlocked only after finishing the campaign mode. Just for a limited time, these modes will be unlocked until next week. Take advantage of this modes on the XBox 360, PC, and PS3. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

Posted by Richard Ho // Associate Product Marketing Manager Hi Everyone! With awesome multi-player games such as Killzone 3 and SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs on the way, the new Bluetooth Headset is sure to be your go-to communication device. The Headset already comes in a sleek, high-gloss black finish. However, we’ve also heard some of your requests for a militaristic color and are now offering the headset in a new “urban camouflage†color. For the same great price of $49.99 (MSRP), the urban camouflage Bluetooth Headset will be available at GameStop locations nationwide, to coincide with the highly-anticipated launch of SOCOM 4 on April 19 – making it a must have for SOCOM 4’s unbridled 32-player online multiplayer mayhem. As most of you know, our Bluetooth Headsets offer a number of great features, making it perfect for gaming. It starts with built-in noise cancellation and our proprietary High Quality (HQ) mode enabling us to deliver the best quality PS3 voice chat. An in-game headset status indicator, easily accessible microphone mute button, and charging cradle which also functions as a desktop microphone adds unparalleled functionality. We’re very excited about the newest addition to our Bluetooth headset line. Let us know your thoughts and enjoy! Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

The UK Official PlayStation Magazine has lent credence to speculation that Modern Warfare 3 will be a prequel starring fan favourite character Ghost. The mag’s informants strengthen a rumour which first reared its head online early in January. On the Rumour Machine page in its latest issue (055), OPM points to “”insider whispers” which suggest: “Infinity Ward’s next Modern Warfare title will be a prequel, with Ghost in the lead role.” All eyes turn to E3 for that one… Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood’s next DLC pack, The Da Vinci Disappearance, is to add new campaign elements, a new multiplayer map, new characters and more. It’s for 360 and PS3, and will cost 800MSP. The Da Vinci Disappearance will include both single-player and multiplayer content. After the fall of the Borgias in Rome, Leonardo Da Vinci is kidnapped by the Hermeticists, an underground cult dedicated to transforming mankind; Ezio will embark on a “relentless quest†to recover stolen paintings in order to find the inventor, discovering two new locations and “two new gameplay features†along the way. The multiplayer content includes a new map, four new characters and two new game modes. The new map, Alhambra, is a “lush environment†set in Spain’s Albaicin of Granada, and provides multileveled indoor and outdoor areas. The new characters are Dama Rossa, the Knight, the Marquis and the Pariah. The two new gameplay modes are Escort and Assassinate: in Escort mode, two teams of four players compete to both protect their own VIP target or assassinate the other team’s charge; in Assassinate mode, 6-8 players are pitted against each other deathmatch style in ten minute rounds. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood released in November last year and has shipped 6.5 million units thus far. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

Guerrilla Games has posted a list of fixes which are slated to patch for Killzone 3 not long after release. According to the official website, several key issues have already been addressed such as server stability and network errors, but “shortly after the game’s release,†the following changes will be patched in: Support for color-blind players Implement unranked custom games for players to create private or clan matches Enhanced custom games functionality that will allow players to: Control over games modes and settings Secure games, allowing you to invite the players you want to play with The ability to prevent abilities and weapons from being used Toggling on and off functionality, such as ribbons, skills, explosives, etc. Selecting which careers you want available to players Allow friendly fire to be turned on or off Faction switching enabled or disabled The Clan Officer role will be added to clans Separate turn speeds for hip-fire and ADS Overly enthusiastic death screams will be toned down Increased the amount of kills required to win a Guerrilla Warfare match Increased Accuracy ribbon will have its effectiveness lowered Likewise, the Bullet Damage ribbon will have its effectiveness lowered as well Matches will end if the other team forfeits (i.e. too few, or no players on the enemy team) Matchmaking enhancements that will close and merge games based on player count, which will keep games more full Balance factions out by moving players to the other team at the end of the match if one team is lopsided The ability to turn off HUD markers for point pop-ups and objectives A menu option to allow squad-only chat The addition of a Mute All button Scoreboard flickering will be fixed Clans will no longer get matched against other clans that have many more players than they do (i.e. 4 vs. 7, 5 vs. The post says these changes are “just the beginning,†and that as patches are released, “you’ll get a full list of everything,†updated in a patch list, which is much more than what is listed above. Head on through the link for more. Killzone 3 releases in the US on Tuesday and in the UK next Friday for PS3. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

Danny Trejo just dropped a bomb on his facebook account. He is working with Treyarch for a upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops “Zombie†map (Map Pack 2?). The new characters to be featured are Danny Trejo, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Rooker, and Robert Englund. Danny was at the “House of Moves†doing motion capture for the upcoming Zombie Map. The information below is from Danny Trejo’s Official Facebook page. Danny Trejo: Right Now I’am at The “House of Moves†with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Rooker, and Robert Englund, I’am Wearing A Suit Full of Lights Awaiting To Fight Zombies For The Hit Video Game CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS by Activision This is The suit I Wore To produce My Character in CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS As you all know, Danny Trejo played “Machete†in the hit film of the same name. Now for those not of this Earth, Robert Englund played the original Freddy Kruger in the Nightmare on Elm Street films and Sarah Michelle Gellar played “Buffy†the vampire slayer in the TV series. For those unfamiliar with “Michael Rookerâ€, he played the lead character in “Henry: Protrait of a Serial Killer and also played Merle Dixon in Season One of “The Walking Deadâ€. No official word from Activision or Treyarch, but it is safe to say that this is true if Danny is posting pictures of himself in a motion capture suit. I also doubt anybody would say “Machete†is telling a bogus story. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

Codemasters has announced a release date for its military sim, Operation Flashpoint: Red River. It will land in the US on April 21 in Europe and April 26 in the US for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, according to Gamespot. According to Codemasters, the game will contain a 10-mission campaign which is playable for up to four players in co-op, and a new Fireteam Engagements mode will allow for skirmishes qith up to four players. One will allow you to face waves of enemies, and another one has you trying to save marines from a downed helicopter under heavy fire. Watch a video below from Gamespot telling the story of auto-rifleman Ryan Balletto. There’s a lot of new gameplay footage in it. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

In the unlikely event that you don’t already have Sonic The Hedgehog in a dozen other forms, you’ll soon have one more option to play Sega Genesis classics. Sega’s bringing its 16-bit hits to the PlayStation Network piecemeal. The best part? PlayStation Plus subscribers will get those games for free—with a limited download window and while your PS+ subscription is active—this spring and summer. And they’ll get them early than non-members. Sega’s plan, as of right now, is to bring Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Altered Beast, Golden Axe 2, Streets of Rage 2 and Comix Zone to the PlayStation 3. Price per game is five bucks, which means you may find Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection for the PS3 and Xbox 360 a much better deal. Unless you’re a PlayStation Plus member, which makes pricing moot. Dates for PS+ members and non-members at the official PlayStation.blog. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...

New Call of Duty developer Sledgehammer is aiming for a “bug free” first outing in the COD franchise. The standard is set in a job listing advertising for a quality assurance tester, which also sets a goal for review scores above 95 percent. The ad reads: “The candidate will help Sledgehammer Games deliver a 95+ rated Call of Duty game ‘bug free’ meeting the high expectations of gamers today.” This comes after PlayStation 3 Black Ops players found their online experience littered with bugs, so much so in fact that Activision suffered the wrath of a pressure group claiming the publisher was using PS3 players “like game testers”. PS3 owners themselves petitioned Activision for a refund back in November. They got a series of patches instead. Sledgehammer was revealed as the developer assigned to the “next Call of Duty game” in another job listing last month. Reports last month suggested that Sledgehammer is working alongside Infinity Ward on Modern Warfare 3. Score: 0 (0 votes cast) Urgent Fury Command: More...