Creative Director at Turn 10 Dan Greenawalt saw the universe that was taking shape among Forza’s fans. Gamers with varied interests began forming their own communities, tailored and dedicated to those niche areas of racing. Drifting fans, drag racing fans, and even artists focusing on custom paint jobs and video editing, for example, had their own vibrant communities. Greenawalt saw Forza 4 as an opportunity to foster each of these diverse components of the car culture-at-large.

At the heart of Forza 4 is the ability to connect with other enthusiasts with similar interests from various levels of experience and skills. The casual and hardcore can find commonality in one aspect of the game. This is done with several tools and features, one of which is a shared garage. If one member of the garage has purchased a high-end car, all members have access to the car – at any time, even simultaneously.

Car clubs take the livery concept to the next level. Not only can club members share paintjobs and logos, but they also share specialized tuning in their shared garage. Players can create their own events, focusing on specific types of racing, or specific types of cars. Forza 4 is as much about forging communities and connecting people of varied backgrounds as it is about racing.

The individual gaming experience has also been renovated. Instead of forcing gamers to go through every single class of vehicles, gamers can focus on their favorite classes and a career will be developed around that class for the gamer. This means that each new challenge presented by the game will be customized to each person’s car type preference to pull at a gamer’s individualized passion.

Auto Vista is a mode that takes advantage of Kinect’s motion tech (but a standard controller can be used) by allowing interactivity with some of the game’s hottest cars. The amount of detail that is shown is staggering, particularly when it comes to the interiors of the vehicles. However, not every one of the 500 car roster will be available to virtually tour – the cars apparently start to look too similar. Ultimately, Auto Vista is a bit of eye candy that serves to immerse the gamer into the car world.

Within each player’s “home space,” every car can be viewed from any camera angle and photographed (although only Auto Vista allows the user to manipulate the car itself). Images can then be uploaded in high-resolution for print quality photos. The home space is filled with studio lighting and backgrounds that are livelier than Auto Vista’s sterile environment, which make for stunning photographs.

Forza 4 is promised to behave more realistically than ever, with new suspension, engine, and tire performance. By sourcing tire performance data to partner Pirelli Tires, the team at Turn 10 was able to focus their efforts on improving the other aspects of racing, including the A.I. performance of non-human racers, in addition to suspension and engine data. Interestingly, using varied brands of brakes this time around will not alter braking performance, but players can still select different brands if they so desired.

I did not get a chance to try out the new soccer mode, where cars take on roles of soccer players in a silly gaming mode inspired by Top Gear. There has already been some backlash over the inclusion of this non-racing activity, but the idea of goofing around with realistically-performing exotic cars in a setting other than a racetrack is tantalizing to me, as a more casual racing game player.

Forza 4 will be released on two discs, with the first containing 300 cars and all the tracks. The second disc will contain the remaining 200 cars.

With an opening anthem that will have environmentalists cringing, ultimately, Forza 4′s pedigree as a racing sim is preserved, but the level of accessibility has been improved tremendously. Casual and hardcore fans alike can join car clubs, unified by the varied passions that exist in the universe of car culture.

Forza 4 is set for release on October 11, 2011 for the Xbox 360.

Blackhat took community leaders on a wild ride with multiple non-gaming adventures. From firing real-life weapons from the WWII era at a firing range, to jumping off of the real Airborne jump tower at Fort Bragg, and giving gamers a chance to hang out with real soldiers, Blackhat set the bar for gaming-related events – he gave participants adventures that would be long remembered.

But someone at Activision MUST have taken note of Blackhat’s innovative approach to gaming events because it seems clear that the teams behind Call of Duty XP, the inaugural ultimate fan expo for the Call of Duty franchise, took his principles and ideas and ran with them: two paintball arenas, zipline tower, Jeep adventure ride, sumo-suit wrestling, hundreds of gaming stations, members of the US Armed Forces, live panel presentations, a weapons museum, and even hot musical acts kept attendees completely immersed in adventure.

It truly was an incredible venture with as many as 6000 attendees filling the late Howard Hughes’ private airplane hangers and airfield in Los Angeles. Each ticket cost $150, and all proceeds went to the Call of Duty Endowment, Activision’s non-profit organization established to assist veterans find employment (Activision actually hired numerous military personnel to work at the event in various capacities). Every attendee not only had access to all of the activities for two days, they were each given a swag bag, which included a coupon code to redeem a free copy of Modern Warfare 3: Hardened Edition (a $100 value). There were even a couple of photo booths in the airplane hangers that took photos of attendees and recreated cover artwork for Black Ops and Modern Warfare 3.

PAINTBALL
There might be no better way to put a gamer’s skills to the test than in a non-lethal paintball arena. At the expo, attendees were able to run through real-life recreations of The Pit (a target-shooting gauntlet) and Scrapyard (competitive paintball).

Before running the Pit, participants were given the chance to practice their skills first on Xbox 360s, after which they were suited up with knee pads, a padded vest, safety goggles, and a paintball marker built to replicate the M4 assault rifle. With a COD XP staff member following (and counting targets hit), participants did their best to hit each of the 30 stationary and pop-up targets as fast as they could. A scoreboard noted the fastest times of the day. Check out our video of a pro running The Pit here!

In the Scrapyard paintball arena, participants were split into two groups of 16, and equipped with fully body coveralls, padded vests, face shield/goggles and the same paintball markers to play in a seven-minute round of Domination. The objective was to capture and hold the most flags stationed in the arena. There were three flags, one on either side of the arena, and one in the center. During the first five minutes of the match, if a player was hit with a paintball, he could raise his marker above his head and walk safely (theoretically) back to his team’s respawn area to be wiped down and sent back in. Meanwhile, music and sounds of Modern Warfare 2 were blasting on loudspeakers into the arena to cap off the experience.

It was my first time ever playing paintball, and honestly, I absolutely loved it. The thrill of a kill, fear of getting hit, and rush of capturing and holding a flag station pumped so much adrenaline through my veins, I barely noticed getting hit, even when an opponent managed to hit the crown of my head (altogether now: BOOM, HEADSHOT!).

Neither The Pit nor Scrapyard were exact replicas of the in-game maps, but it mattered very little to participants who appreciated the fact that they did not have to run as far as they would have had to in a one-to-one recreation of the maps.

ZIPLINE

One of the first things that popped into my mind as I stood high up on the zipline tower platform was how much higher up it was than I imagined it would be. My second thought was whether the harness strapped around my waist and the straps connected to the zipline were properly secured. After a few moments of deliberation, I relaxed, and began my decent down the zipline that took me across the airfield.

To be sure, the trip down the zipline at COD XP was as smooth as can be, and not very steep at all (check out the video here). In fact, the Jump Tower at Fort Bragg not only had a steeper zipline, but your first step off the tower included a short free fall before the line caught you. This made for a fairly exciting and pleasant trip down the line, and less of a horrifying and traumatizing roller coaster ride.

JUGGERNAUT SUMO WRESTLING

Those daring enough to step into the Juggernaut Sumo Wrestling ring suited up into the familiar sumo fat suits, but this time, donned with a military utility vest and a helmet, instead of the traditional sumo attire. Most of the excitement came when participants decided that merely shoving their opponents wasn’t good enough – full judo throws, tea bagging, and even some flashy WWE moves were attempted, to the glee of all the spectators.

JEEP RIDE EXPERIENCE

COD XP was already turning out to be the most ambitious and extreme gaming event I had attended with the paintballing, ziplining, and everything else it had to offer. Then I took a trip on the Jeep Ride Experience. I was so curious as to what this experience entailed, and even moreso when I saw that everyone who just returned from their ride had smiles stretching from ear to ear.

Activision and Jeep created a driving course that took passengers out on a ride that would end up being the most unique experience at the expo. Two Jeep Wranglers would depart from the boarding station (there were six Jeeps in all, but only two went out at one time) with Hollywood stunt drivers at the wheel. Passengers wore utility vests, helmets, and we were each handed a pair of earplugs, all without really being told what to expect.

As soon as the Jeeps took off, a voice squawked on a walkie talkie, informing us that we were heading into a hot zone, filled with enemy insurgents! This was not going to be a leisurely ride over a few bumps. What transpired ultimately became a ride through an obstacle course through battle scenes, staged with actors playing insurgents and military personnel alike, and highlighted with pyrotechnics. The drivers pushed the limits of the Jeeps, riding through several feet of water, speeding and sliding through dirt curves, and climbing a near-vertical hill. The theatrics were altogether very complete and enthralling, especially since it came as such a surprise.

And just when we thought the ride might be over, our driver pulled us into a reverse power-slide and drove up to a group of soldiers in front of a building. Special Ops soldiers pulled us out of our Jeeps and immediately briefed us on the next stage of our mission: we had to infiltrate and clear a building, and recover valuable intel. This is what the earplugs were for! We followed our escorts into the building on foot as our guides cleared the lower floor of the building of enemy forces, room-by-room. Simulated gunfire and bad guys jumping out from behind random corners, along with superb acting from each of the cast members brought this portion of the “ride” over the top. Once we secured the intel, it was back to boarding area in our Jeeps, completely exhilarated.

GAMING

Naturally, a big focus of COD XP was the gaming. Hundreds of Xbox 360s were separated into various sections to accommodate the different games and modes available to play. The new Spec Ops and Kill Confirmed modes in Modern Warfare 3 were available, as well as stations featuring other Call of Duty games, like Zombies and King of the Hill from Black Ops.

Additionally, the center of the gaming area featured the $1 Million tournament, where a team of four attendees walked away with a $400,000 check after beating top competitors from around the country. Yes, Call of Duty is serious business.

There were also stations available to demo Call of Duty Elite, Activision’s comprehensive stat-tracking and community-connecting app. The most impressive feature of Elite was the ability to connect with friends and fellow gamers via Facebook, through Elite. The implications of this seemed quite extraordinary since it is essentially a workaround for an issue that Xbox 360 gamers have been griping about for some time. Xbox Live has a cap of 100 spaces for each gamer’s Friends List, with no increase promised for the foreseeable future. With Elite, Call of Duty gamers can connect with as many friends as they want through their Facebook accounts. This workaround is not only innovative, but will likely be a model followed by other game developers in the future.

Notably absent however were any demos of the MW3 single-player campaign. Activision likely wanted to keep the campaign’s storyline under tight wraps until the game is released. COD XP was clearly a multiplayer-centric event, and allowing attendees to try their hand at the new game modes seemed more than enough to satisfy them.

NEXT YEAR?

An Activision staff member made a passing comment insinuating that there would be a Call of Duty XP event next year. Don’t put too much weight in that statement though, since it likely was only a fleeting thought, but considering the overwhelmingly positive impressions from attendees, Activision should consider this event to be a huge success. In the same way Blizzcon is an annual affair for Blizzard gamers, COD XP could be a mecca fans from around the world would pay pilgrimage to.

That being said, there were a few issues that Activision could improve upon for any potential future COD XP. First, the lines for the outdoor activities were outrageously long. Attendees waited anywhere from three to five hours to participate in each activity (lines for gaming averaged at only two hours). When the outdoor activities started at noon and closed at 8:00 PM, waiting in line for five hours to ride the Jeep Experience killed of an entire day. It is possible that using a ticketed time-based system would allow attendees to participate in other activities instead of wasting their day waiting in line. Anything that could shorten wait times to about two hours would be far more reasonable.

Second, the parking system was a nightmare. Larry Hyrb, Xbox Live’s Major Nelson tweeted Friday morning that there was a lot of traffic around the venue. A quick look at Google Maps verified this report, so I decided to ride my motorcycle out to the event. Doing so allowed me to bypass the hours-long traffic that was waiting simply to get into the parking structure. Multiple off-site parking lots could relieve a tremendous amount of vehicle congestion and get attendees into the venue without being subjected to the stresses of traffic.

Third, welcoming and adding more partners and sponsors would benefit not only Activision, but also the attendees. Mountain Dew had a huge presence at COD XP, with a sectioned-off area directly in the middle of the gaming hangar. Representatives from Mountain Dew offered camoflage face-painting and tons of sample drinks for attendees to enjoy. Additional sponsors from the event could help offset the costs to produce the event, and increase the overall enjoyment and experience for attendees with free swag and the like.

CONCLUSION

The live panel presentations, weapons museum, character actors walking about, real-life Burger Town restaurant, and the on-site shop to buy Call of Duty branded gear were also fantastic elements that added to what was undoubtedly a truly adventurous expo. And not to go unmentioned, one of my favorite bits of swag from COD XP were the patches/badges that were given to participants of various activities (excelling in any of them earned the participant a Prestige patch). Fans should hope that Activision will make Call of Duty XP an annual event to look forward to, and if Activision needs ideas on how to top this year’s expo, Justin Korthof is easy to get a hold of.

Be sure to check out all the photos from the event, as well as my report from the Battlefield 3 Community Event at PAX!

We were under strict guidelines to keep most of this information secret, and until only recently were participants permitted to share about how EA not only invited us to the Battlefield 3 event on Friday night, but EA covered not only our flight and hotel expenses, but they also provided each of us a three-day pass to PAX. This was no mere event – this was a complete gaming experience.

By the time Friday night rolled around, I had already met former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, numerous friends from the gaming community, and had taken in my first day of PAX. It was finally time to settle down with the game that people on the show floor waited hours to spend just minutes with.

THE SETUP

The Battlefield boys lined up gaming stations along the perimeter of a massive ballroom, with each station set up with a PS3 AND a PC (along with a snazzy set of Astro headphones, complete with Battlefield 3 tags). Dinner tables and a mightily impressive buffet occupied the center of the room.

As other invitees starting arriving to the event, I recognized many awesome community leaders, and met people I’d only played with over Xbox Live as well as some new folks. When we settled down for dinner, I started chatting with the people at my table and realized that just about everyone there were really hardcore Battlefield players with a tremendous amount of passion for their communities. I knew then that it was going to be an awesome night.

After a delicious meal (I regretted not getting seconds!), Seeson presented us with some party gifts that knocked our socks off. Off Duty Gamers provided hand-made bracelets made out of parachute cord, Gunnar provided their awesome glasses, Razer sent along their gaming mice, and ASTRO Gaming hooked everyone up with backpacks. It was definitely the Oprah moment of the night.

PS3 CO-OP

It was time to finally settle into our stations, and the first item on the agenda was two-player co-op gameplay on PS3s. After seeing what Battlefield 3 looks like on a PC from my time in the Alpha test, I was anxious to see if the graphics would hold up on a console. Even in its early build, I can happily report that Battlefield 3 looks stellar on the PS3. That is not to say that it looks just as good as it does on a high-end PC, but there was never a moment when I thought, “Gee – that looks like crap.” In fact, but for the use of a controller instead of a mouse and keyboard, I would have forgotten which platform I was playing on. Most significantly, the experience of playing Battlefield 3 on a console is just as intense as playing on a PC.

As my partner and I entered the first dimly-lit room, it was all tactical. We would call out our moves, spot out enemies, and watch each other’s backs. Gaming in the modern war never felt more real or intense. What grabbed me most about Battlefield 3 is the movement of your character. Each step feels methodically placed and completely organic, all the while maintaining a brisk pace. You never feel like you’re skating on ice, but you’re definitely moving fast enough to know the adrenaline is pumping through your character’s veins.

Once we located our objective, my partner and I proceeded outside of the building and rendezvoued with our convoy of humvees. You never feel safe or in the clear in this game, especially in the middle of a street, at night. Multiple balconies, alleys, and barriers are menacing hiding spots for bad guys. This translates into a truly intense campaign mode that builds the tension right up to a firefight.

Our A.I.-controlled allies seemed adequate, but they were never the ones to finish off any hostiles – that’s up to you to do. Fortunately, hitting the back button on the controller identified all of the enemies that were hiding in the dark for both my partner and I to handle, and once they had been finished off, we were ready to proceed to blow up a gate that was obstructing our path. Naturally, that’s when the bad guys came back with reinforcements – and RPGs, grenades and tons of guns.

PC MULTIPLAYER – RUSH

After we were overwhelmed by enemy forces (we never did get to blow up that damn gate), it was time for a short break while our EA hosts prepared the PCs for some good old, team-based multiplayer action. First up was the Rush multiplayer mode, where the two teams are designated as either attackers or defenders. The attackers must destroy each of the various objectives on the map (Operation Metro is the map we played in), and defenders must prevent the attackers. I was on the team of defenders for several rounds, and just for fun, EA set up our communications so that everyone could talk to each other. This made for lousy team strategy, but for epic trash talking.

With Rush mode in the Operation Metro map, the game starts out in an outdoor park, and there are two objectives for the attackers to destroy. Once both objectives are destroyed, the defenders are forced to fall back underground into the subway system to defend two additional objectives. Snipers can be a great asset to the team in the park, which is a large open area, but the players who take advantage of the lush foliage and low walls to sneak into the middle of the map will quickly rack up the kills. The subway system on the other hand, is largely about close-quarter combat, with a few great chokepoints that make securing both objectives extremely challenging for attackers. In all, Operation Metro is a fantastic map, being both huge, and varied in its environments. And while Rush isn’t my favorite multiplayer mode, it was fun being able to camp without being called a lousy camper.

PC MULTIPLAYER – TEAM DEATHMATCH

Once we completed a few rounds of Rush, it was time to move onto classic Team Deathmatch. This time, we were given the chance to play on a map that was not featured in the recently-concluded private Alpha test. Much smaller than Operation Metro, this map put teams in the streets and inside buildings for potential sniping. What really amazed me about this map was the placement of cover. Every time I ran around a corner, there was an object I could take cover behind – a car in the middle of the street or a conrete planter would be exactly where I would want it to be. Battlefield 3 is a fast-paced shooter, but there is no other FPS that takes the tactical element of a cover system and necessitates it while integrating it so logically.

In terms of what makes playing on the PC so great, since I’m an old school mouse and keyboard gamer, I really loved playing on the PC, especially compared to using the PS3 controller. The graphics of course, are really gorgeous, and along with Battlefield’s superb audio effects, I left that evening convinced that I would have to pick up Battlefield for both the Xbox 360 and the PC (what can I say – I’m addicted to Achievements).

Unfortunately, we didn’t get the opportunity to check out any other map, or jets, for that matter, but we all still had the time of our lives.

SPECIAL THANKS

I cannot thank EA enough for the exclusive opportunity to not only get my hands on Battlefield 3, but also to be a part of a group of people who are so passionate about the gaming community and about Battlefield.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

In 2007, 2K Games released The Darkness, a FPS based on a hit comic book series that featured Jackie Estacado, an Italian mobster with demonic powers. The long-awaited sequel is action-packed, more gruesome, and features new abilities for our favorite demon-possessed gangster.

One of the most noticeable aspects of The Darkness II is the cinematic presentation that was lacking in the first Darkness game. An opening scene that begins in an upscale restaurant quickly turned into a scene out of Blackhawk Down, with Jackie being dragged on his back, and the player controlling Jackie as he shoots his way to safety.

Speaking of controls, developer Digital Extremes emphasized in our preview the ability for the player to have control of Jackie during every single scene in the game – including during cutscenes. There are of course, scenes where Jackie might be restrained and tied down, so the player in these instances would only be able to look around.

Gameplay

In the original Darkness title, players could dual-wield guns, control demonic arms, and command a few demon imps to attack enemies. Killing thugs with the demon arm was a matter of pointing the reticule and hitting a button. It was flashy, but didn’t seem all that worthwhile, when a bullet to the head could get the job done.

Digital Extremes decided to up the ante this time by giving more control of the demon arms to the players. Now, the right thumbstick can control the arm to slash in any direction. Yes, bodies can be sliced in half. The arms also can grab items and throw them as projectiles, or even to use some objects as shields (imagine tearing off a car door and using it as cover as you shoot through the window). This “quad-wielding” aspect provides a strong mix of gameplay with hugely satisfying kills.

Insta-kill executions are even more fun to pull off because of the various vicious ways the demon arms can do their work.

The demonic imps we’re told, are again going to be useful tools for Jackie, but will be better incorporated into the story. Jackie’s demons provided nice comic relief in the original, and there doesn’t seem to be any changes from that this time around.

Graphics

Besides being one of the best-looking games on the Xbox 360, the first Darkness game was excellent at making low-lit scenes highly visible. Whether it is a dark alley, or a dark room, the visual effects made everything perfectly visible, while maintaining the feeling that it was definitely dark.

The sequel hasn’t changed that visual aspect, and with a brand new graphics engine, everything just looks gorgeous. Textures, lighting, and animations look outstanding. Even with stellar graphics, it isn’t a Darkness game without gore. Bodies being peeled away in half, decapitations, and more, are dramatically presented.

Music

Almost always an underappreciated aspect to any game is the music. There are games with just absolutely terrible music, which not only fails to add anything to the gaming experience, but often takes away from it. And then there are games like The Darkness II, with truly dramatic music that takes the experience to a cinematic level. Keep your ears open when you play.

The Darkness II is going to be one of the best single-player experiences this year (no word on any multiplayer) with its high level of immersion, action, and sharp presentation. Look for it when it hits the shelves October 2011.

Raptr has created an ingenious news-delivery service that exposes gamers to a variety of news sources that we would otherwise not know about, since websites from all over the net are scoured for content.

The folks at Raptr have a great blog post detailing how to use their new services. Be sure to check it out by clicking on this link.

RAPTR LAUNCHES SOCIAL NEWS PLATFORM FOR GAMERS WITH PERSONALIZATION BASED ON WHAT YOU’RE PLAYING

Raptr to Rollout New Platform to Over Eight Million Users

San Francisco – May 26, 2011 – Raptr, the leading social network for gamers, has launched a social news platform, adding a significant new dimension to its popular service. The milestone expansion will enable users to submit stories that are then voted on by the community and automatically targeted based on a person’s gaming profile and gameplay activity. The evolved Raptr goes live today with its more than eight million user base at http://raptr.com.

“At Raptr we’re reinventing the way people stay connected and informed about the games they care about”, said Dennis Fong, CEO of Raptr. “We’re excited by the launch of the new community-driven website because it builds upon the success of our existing service and provides a new way to discover and share content.”

Raptr now intelligently delivers the most relevant content based on the games and platforms you own, your recent gameplay, and what your friends are sharing. Raptr also helps players discover additional content by determining your gaming preferences, such as gaming genres, developers, and publishers that interest you. Users can submit and share a mix of content including news, videos, screenshots, status updates, and reviews.

Today, Raptr’s full feature set includes:

• Personalized news feed

• Community-curated content

• Expanded topics to include all things related to gaming

• Suggestion engine to help you discover new games

• Automatic gameplay and achievements tracker on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3

• Centralized buddy list and friend tracker

• In-game chat and web browsing for PC games

More than eight million people already use Raptr to track their gameplay and connect with their friends across PC, console, and web games. Raptr tracks more than 23 million gaming sessions and over a billion minutes of gameplay each month, providing users real-time insight into what’s hot in gaming.

About Raptr

Created by a world-class team led by CEO and founder Dennis Fong (co-founder of Xfire, Lithium, and Gamers.com), the award-winning Raptr service provides gamers with a central location to connect with both friends and the games they play. Since 2007, Raptr has raised more than $27 million in funding from investors Accel Partners, Founder’s Fund, DAG Ventures, and Tenaya Capital.

For more information about Raptr, please visit http://raptr.com.

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), announced that highlights from its 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs), the preeminent video game awards show that recognizes the best in interactive entertainment, and select sessions from the 10th Annual D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, a high-level interactive entertainment conference, are available on Xbox LIVE . The Awards show highlights and sessions are available beginning March 31st, 2011 for download free of charge.

“We are excited to provide Xbox LIVE members the special opportunity to view highlights from the Interactive Achievement Awards. This may be many gamers’ first introduction to the IAAs, and they will be able to see some of their favorite games from 2010 honored,” said Martin Rae, president, Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. “Additionally, the selected D.I.C.E. Summit sessions are fantastic talks that will inspire anyone who takes the time to check it out.”

The IAA Show highlights will feature the Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction and other select categories. Bing Gordon and his Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech, “The Golden Age of Gaming,” will also be shown in its entirety. For a full list of winners, please visit this link: http://www.interactive.org/awards/2011_14th_awards.asp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gOkfyJyXvk

Let’s start out with the box – it really is an impressive looking box that brings a nice touch of luxuriousness to this peripheral. The top covers actually have magnetic clasps to keep them shut.

Onto the stick itself – With this latest version of Mad Catz’ award-winning line of Tournament Edition sticks, characters from the game are beautifully displayed. It may not be visible in this video, but there’s a golden sheen to the artwork that makes this stick a real beauty.

The components of the stick are made with high-quality Sanwa parts, and really provide excellent performance and tactile feedback. However, the stick itself won’t make you a better Marvel v. Capcom player. You still have to input the moves properly.

What the stick will help you with is being able to execute the combos and moves once you do learn them – it’s just far easier to pull of the combos with this stick, especially compared to a standard gamepad controller. More importantly though, is that this stick really captures that feeling of playing on an actual arcade cabinet.

In case you were wondering, this stick has a square joystick gate, and as you can see, it’s got a round ball. The base of the stick is heavy, and has rubber feet so it won’t budge from your table. There’s a compartment to stow the extra long cord when not in use. Basically, you know it’s built with quality, and its really gorgeous to look at. The stick is definitely recommended for both novice and experienced players.

There are only 5000 of these made, with each unit individually numbered, so be sure to pick one up before they’re gone. The Mad Catz Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition can be purchased at the Mad Catz online store and at other retailers at a retail price of $159.99.

In Treyarch’s “Multimedia Room,” which was more akin to a war room, Foster and Jones-Drew both put their skills to the test with the new maps. In a room filled with gaming press and Treyarch and Activision representatives and developers, both of the professional athletes proved their prowess in Black Ops with some rather impressive numbers of kills during each match. It was no simple task however – even Arian Foster commented that he was more nervous prior to starting the matches than he was before an NFL game.

Larry Hyrb, Xbox Live’s Major Nelson, was on hand to help Team Jones-Drew, and ended up having his own grudge match with Activision’s Dan Amrich.

Unfortunately, First Strike’s Zombie Mode map, Ascension was not part of the schedule, but in all, both Foster and Jones-Drew were incredibly excited about First Strike.
First Strike contains five new maps and is available exclusively first on the Xbox 360 console. Download it now for 1200 Microsoft Points (approximately $15) from the Xbox Live Marketplace.

For more photos from this event, be sure to check out the entire album at flickr.

Some of the things that are immediately apparent in Alien Breed 2 are the shiny, bumpy textures, and the lighting.  Powered by the Unreal Engine, these two graphical effects bring a high-quality feel to this sequel, but more importantly, they help to draw the player into the creepy atmosphere.  That said, it would have helped to bring some of that graphical fidelity into the alien designs and into bringing some gore into the game.  The aliens don’t splatter or explode into bits of mush when killed – they simply plop down and die.

The action takes place on a ghost-ship that has been overrun by aliens of various shapes and sizes.  Fortunately, players have and their disposal, an assortment of weapons, grenades, and even turrets and mounted guns.  Managing ammunition and health packs however, is a big part of this game, so simply spraying precious bullets down the dark hallways isn’t going to cut it.

There is a wonderful, alien-tracking radar that is always on-screen, so even if the aliens aren’t yet visible on the screen, players will at least be able to prepare for them – that is, until the aliens decide to pop out from the floors and ambush the player.

The gameplay really shines when defending against an alien rush.  Not only does the player need to manage weapons, ammo, and health packs, but the camera must be constantly adjusted (in 90-degree increments) in order to avoid being pinned into a corner.

When not running around trying to repair a computer in order to gain access to another part of the ship (just so that the character can gain access to yet a different section in the ship), some of a player’s time can be spent in the upgrade room, where weapon upgrades can be purchased with some of the cash found lying around in the ship.  Players can save their games in these rooms as well.

Co-op is one of Alien Breed 2’s finer features, allowing online and offline co-op, but unfortunately, the entire game is not playable with a friend; only certain levels are accessible in co-op.

Ultimately, Alien Breed 2 is a highly polished title, especially for an Xbox Live Arcade game.  While it isn’t a substitute for Dead Space, it certainly is robust enough to be considered a “mini” version of the acclaimed space thriller.

It’s been a great time being a part of the Microsoft MVP program and I sincerely want to thank Microsoft, the Xbox team and the MVP team for allowing me to be a part of their family. I’ve met so many people who love the world of videogames as well as the world around them. The MVPs I’ve met have been a really fantastic group, always fun and full of life.

Over the years, I’ve experienced many fine moments and will cherish those memories until perhaps; I can be a part of the program again.

Thank you to all of the MVP leads. Tony Hynes, Tyler Welch, Mike Fosmire & PJ Forgione

Thank you to the past Xbox team leaders and gamerscore crew. John Porcaro, Tony Hynes, Sara Nicholson, Christa Phillips, Chris Paladino & Nelson Rodriguez.

Thank you to the Xbox team of the future. Larry Hyrb, Eric Neustadter, & Eric Doty

Thank you to all of the other Xbox team members who are too numerous to mention, but are not forgotten.

Thank you to all of the Xbox MVPs past and present. I will call you by your gamertags. If I’m forgetting anyone, please forgive me.

AcdBulls, avid xero, BAPenguin, boid, CardShark 360, Coola, CraigN, Crazy Cougar, Crazy Drago, DAKing240, Deaconblade 360 DeathscytheHC, de menace, DocAraxa PXB, El Hatton, Enfarine, Esko, Falcon GN, Fatty Chubs, Fragmaster B, Gaming Angel, Godfree, goverland, Jaken Bear, jimmcq. JVB, Kamshaft, kiki kat, kilaMOMjaro, kleaneasy, Knuckles Dawson, LeftyBrown, Litheon, malegrettipxb, MASTAglach82, mechANGEL, Mordeaux, Morgon, MPDamon, MthdDirector, Mush xx, Nilcraban, Peench, PMS Kitty, rabid72, RAINMAKER2112, Sayper, SnakeX, Striker Qc, Surly Duff, Tbird, Thesomeone. Thrills Killa, TR1GG3R MAN, Valkyrie83, Vicious696, WitchKing9, Xtramalt.

And I’d like to give a special thanks to my compadres from TXB. Without them, I would have never been an MVP. Rick Kim (aceattorney) and Ed Webb (SpaceGhost2K) I’ll never forget my first E3 and meeting you guys. And we have to thank Lila Yee and Steve Cherrier for seeing in us the spirit of camaraderie and passion for Life

It’s been a blast, see you guys soon!

God Bless,

Brad

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Chicago; City Of Big Shoulders, and sometimes we get the BIG games too.  Capcom certainly brought the goods when they decided to hold their ever popular fight club event here in the windy city.  Huge ( and I mean HUGE) amounts of dedicated gaming fans showed up at what was probably supposed to be a small but nice sized affair for the North Amercian unveiling of the games latest demo build.   Combo wizards & their brethren threw down the gauntlet and let the fists & feet fly as they tested their lightning reflexes against formidable foes. AKA: These people kicked some serious ass.

Seth Killian; Community Manager for Capcom, brought the fight to his beloved hometown of Chicago.  He was very happy to oblige the fans whom LOVE the series and the rest of the Capcom crew agreed, Chicago was ready to rumble!  The packed house threw down on some serious whoop ass sessions and loved every minute of it!  If you missed fight club, don’t sweat it, Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate Of  Two Worlds is set to release sometime in March 2011.  Check out the action from the party!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

In attendance for the all the fragtastic activities of the evening was Zach “Sayper’ Wigal, from www.gamersoutreach.org who made sure that everyone got to face off in the Halo arena for their chance at victory.   Major League Gaming phenom  Dave “Walshy’ Walsh http://twitter.com/walshy304 was also on hand to help gamers with tips on how to dominate the field.

As the evening went on the competition got fierce and some of the best gamers worked their way up the winners ladder quickly for their chance at the most coveted prizes of the evening, Halo Reach Legendary Edition.  The rest of the runner up winners received regular copies of the game and they were more than happy to take home their favorite coveted shooter on the Xbox 360.  There were also plenty of people on hand with preorders for all the editions of the game and the very special, Halo Reach Xbox 360 bundle!

As for me, well I missed a chance at trying my hand at making some Halo tournament history. As always, with my camera in hand, it’s hard to both cover and participate in the fun of a hardcore gaming tournament.  I certainly enjoyed the company and the great atmosphere at the event and It’s always my pleasure to capture all the fun and great people whom make these events possible.  I hope to play Halo Reach very soon and I hope all of you whom participated in the Chicago and various launches throughout the world had a fantatstic launch evening and a happy Halo day today!  (Shh, we won’t tell your boss you’re not really sick this week)

Check out the rest of the photos from the Halo Reach Chicago Launch below!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

At the event, held at the sprawling California Science Center in Los Angeles (which was beautifully disguised as a Black Ops military compound), Executive Producer Daniel Suarez, Studio Head Mark Lamia, and Directors Dan Bunting and David Vonderhaar announced the additions and changes made to the multiplayer modes.

Increased player customizations like weapon tags, clan logos, and a variety of goofy scope sight reticules will prove to be attractive to players who were accustomed to only having a few camouflage options available.  In addition, new game modes will likely make this Call of Duty the most competitive, and yet the most approachable of the series.

Instead of experience points, players earn in-game currency (“CODBucks”) to purchase new weapons, upgrades, and the like.  With Wager Matches, CODBucks can be put on the line, making games more than simply about increasing one’s own kill/death ratio.  With real virtual stakes on the line, the intensity, competition, and fun seem to be far greater in Wager Matches.

Interestingly, Treyarch stated that as popular as multiplayer was and still is in previous iterations of Call of Duty, 30% to 40% of all Call of Duty owners have not played any multiplayer matches.  There are a number of factors that contribute to this surprising statistic, which include a player’s lack of skills, to the often intimidating and rude online community.  To that end, the developers at Treyarch decided to include the Combat Training mode, which allows a player to engage in the multiplayer modes by themselves, or with friends (up to four-players, co-op) against computer-controlled A.I., at user-selected difficulty levels.  Naturally, all level pr0gression in these bot matches will be separate from competitive multiplayer modes.

Another feature introduced for Black Ops is the robust Theatre Mode, where players can save and edit their online multiplayer matches.  With a free-roaming flying camera option, players can take their favorite money shots, vary the playback speeds, and showcase them online for the world to see.  Halo 3 introduced this feature to gaming last year, and we’re certainly excited to use it in Black Ops.

With these tremendous features, more killstreaks, game customizations, and even the ability to dive into a prone position, Treyarch is going to change gamers’ perspectives on who really is the preeminent Call of Duty developer. We’ll be sure to bring you more previews as Black Ops approaches its November 9, 2010 release date.

Hosted by SFX360, Wizard World Chicago Comic Con, and 2K Games the official launch party of Mafia II was held as a Masquerade Ball in Chicago on Saturday night, August 21st.  Gangsters and their dolls were treated to live music, free swag from SFX360 sponsors and free drinks from Dr. Pepper and Viper.

The event was featured as the Saturday night Comic Con party and so the cosplay kids came out in full force.  The Incredible Hulk, Mario, Incognito, Spiderman, and the infamous Blue Ninja Girls as well as a gaggle of other characters jump jived their way into the night.  Julie Furman “LadyJ” of SFX360 was the MC and host of the evening.  She got the crowd pumped as the evening rolled on and like the pied piper had a frenzy of fans following her around the ballroom as she gave away some fabulous prizes which included Mafia II t-shirts and posters, Astro A30’s headsets, Comic Con figurines, Gunnar Optics eyewear, copies of Mafia II, as well as a Xbox 360 and PS3 console.

Ross Furman, founder of SFX360 as well as the entire SFX360 crew did a fantastic job at putting together this event.  Stone Chin, Global Public Relations Manager at Microsoft, and Jennie Sue, Public Relations Manager at 2K Games, were in attendance and enjoyed the costumes and excited atmosphere in the ballroom.   I was really glad to see this event brought to Chicago and I know that the gaming community that attended were very happy as well.  Thanks again to SFX360, 2K Games, NVIDIA, Astro Gaming, Dr. Pepper, Gunnar Optiks, Gripit’s, and Chicago Comic Con for the festivities.  Don’t forget to play Mafia II which releases on Tuesday, August 24^th.

Check out my photos from the launch party.

In this case, Limbo is the first game on Xbox Live’s third annual Summer of Arcade series of game releases. And this action puzzle platformer is a uniquely fun experience that delivers the goods.

In Limbo you play as a spritely boy, although at first glance it’s hard to tell much about your protagonist friend as he is merely an inky black shadow with bright glowing eyes that indicate his life state. While his eyes are aglow, you’ll know he’s alive and you’ll certainly know when he’s dead since the game features a gory but stylish death when your puzzle platforming skills falter…which may be often.

While the game is not frustratingly hard, it is a definitely a challenging game with some very ingenious puzzles for your mind bending enjoyment.  Whether you’re trying to avoid traps or bounding pitfalls, switching the world’s polarity or outwitting your unfortunate enemies.  Limbo is an enjoyably tough series of levels designed cleverly & beautifully to not only challenge your mind, but to tickle your senses as well.

The world of Limbo is a monotone masterpiece – mysterious, rapturous & deadly.  The art style is definitely a highlight of the game. A world that compels the player to take on the challenges ahead in getting your shadowy self safely out of this barren industrial and mysteriously organic land of death.

Independent game studio, Playdead, did an outstanding job creating Limbo,  it is a thoroughly enjoyable, thought provoking and beautiful game. The game stands up there with gems in the genre including the often mentioned and revered, Braid. You can surely tell a lot of love was put into the game and mere words cannot accurately describe the world that Playdead gave birth to, it needs to be played to truly appreciate just how cool the game is.

I recommend fans of the genre as well as fans of beautifully crated games in general to check out Limbo which releases Wednesday, July 21^St only on Xbox Live.

Sony impressed attendees with demonstrations of 3D gaming on the Playstation 3, and while its upcoming motion controller was the talk of the town last year, the Playstation Move seemed to take a backseat to Sony’s 3D gaming.

Nintendo introduced exciting new takes on classic franchises, such as Zelda, Kirby, and Donkey Kong, but what stole everyone’s attention was the new Nintendo 3DS handheld gaming system. Eager attendees stood in what was easily the longest line in the entire expo just to spend a few minutes with the 3DS.

Microsoft introduced a sleeker and smaller Xbox 360 console, and featured it for every game demo station in its booth. In addition, Kinect, Microsoft’s motion input camera device (formerly, Project Natal), was available for demonstrations along with a host of first and third-party titles.

Numerous other publishers and developers also had excellent showings including Bethesda, THQ, Capcom, Ubisoft, EA, Sega, Disney, and many more.

Check out photos and videos below:

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VQ0CNoabQA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mRgXRSyzH4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrjwfNPrYsA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UU2or2-6QI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tYotdo3YMc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ2lRgjQhTo

Ubisoft faced early development challenges with Conviction, which was originally designed to be similar to Assassin’s Creed II, with crowd-blending as a major aspect of the game.  Even the storyline, which saw Sam Fisher as an escaped convict (hence the title of the game), was scraped.  The delays concerned Splinter Cell fans, but it is clear that Conviction is yet destined to be the Splinter Cell game you’ve been waiting for.

The basic formula for any stealth-based game includes hiding, sneaking, plenty of shadows, and killing silently.  There are plenty of these elements in Conviction, but what this title brings to the table are the Mark and Execute and Last Known Position systems.  Mark and Execute rewards players for making hand-to-hand takedowns with insta-kill moves, which come in handy when situations get really desparate.  Last Known Position adds tremendously to the stealth genre by giving the player an understanding of where the enemy A.I. is focusing on, which the player can use to flank the enemy.  These two systems add to alter the pace of the game, as well as the strategy that a player implements against the enemy.

Another gameplay element Conviction brings to the table is in the form of a graphical indicator that informs the player when Fisher is completely shrouded by the darkness.  Essentially, the colors on the screen will desaturate when Fisher is hidden, allowing the player to know that the enemy is unaware of Fisher’s position, while preserving the player’s ability to see what else lies in the dark.

Fisher’s keen ability to move from cover to cover, along with his ability to climb poles and ledges with agility make for some awesome moments, especially those involving takedowns (death from above, and pulling an enemy over a ledge).  Speaking of takedowns, they are brutal, silent, and oh so satisfying.  While the animations in hand-to-hand takedowns are varied and plentiful, one could only imagine what they could be if Fisher was equipped with a combat knife.

And speaking of equipment, there is an array of sidearms, submachine guns, machine guns, and gadgets at Fisher’s disposal.  Each of these tools are upgradeable, and none seem to be overly powerful.  One of the more notable pieces of equipment in the game are the sonic goggles, which use sonic pulses to precisely determine enemy positions, even through walls.

Some of the most memorable moments in the game come from the interrogation sequences, where players can control Fisher to use his environment to forcibly compel a person to give up valuable intel (ever wonder what it would be like to smash a bad guy’s head into a urinal or piano?), all the while, memories and words are stylistically projected onto walls and surfaces.

The story digs deep and connects the player with the emotional pain Fisher has suffered by focusing on the loss of his daughter, the death of Lambert, his relationship with Grim, and his friendship with Victor Coste.  Unfortunately, the game’s main plot is far too muddled, and while the life of the President of the US is on the line, there aren’t enough “big” moments to make the story feel epic.

Conviction’s short single-player campaign is definitely replayable, as players will try various tactics in each of the levels, but this title’s lasting appeal rests in the robust multiplayer modes.  The four variations of Conviction’s horde mode are more refined than those we’ve seen by most FPS titles, due primarily to the stealth mechanics in the game.  Each of the (two-player max) modes allow each player to take on the role of an international covert operations agent, equipped with the same tools and skills Fisher possesses.  So just like in the single-player campaign, players will be able to sneak in the shadows, climb pipes, and hang over ledges to quietly kill enemies.

In the Hunter game mode, the objective for players is to eliminate all enemies in each level or zone, but any detection of the players will lead the A.I. to call in more reinforcements, so the goal really is to engage the enemy as stealthily as possible.

The Last Stand mode is more of a traditional horde mode fare, but with a twist.  Players must protect an EMP bomb which is placed in a fixed location against waves of enemies that get smarter and tougher with each wave.  The EMP can be repaired if any damage is inflicted upon it, so teamwork is absolutely essential to distract enemies to allow repairs to take place.

Face-Off is a competitive adversarial mode where two players will battle each other in a map populated with A.I. enemies gunning for both of them.  Using the A.I. here to lure in or defeat an opponent adds a nice level of depth.

Lastly, there’s Infiltration, which is unlocked through Ubisoft’s Uplay system (gain Uplay points just by playing the game, which accumulate to unlock Infiltration and other unannounced goodies).  In this mode, players must kill all enemies without detection, but this time, players also have security systems to evade.

Aside from these four Deniable Ops missions, there is the Prologue campaign mode that introduces two new characters and additional settings, allowing two gamers to engage in five to six hours of gameplay.

To top off these multiplayer modes, Conviction includes the Persistent Elite Creation System (PEC), which allows players to earn points through gameplay challenges to upgrade weapon, gadgets, and even uniforms and skins.  Buffing up a character will be even be visually represented by extra ammo or gadget packs, so in addition to real practical effects, the player’s character will be graphically distinguishable based on the upgrades unlocked.

Multiplayer is incredibly compelling, but only when playing with another serious player.  It goes without saying, but anyone attempting to play with a person who is only interested in playing as a lone agent will find themselves very frustrated.  And speaking of frustrations, Ubisoft’s Uplay server is still in its beta phase, which means that downtimes and server issues will be an issue.  Lastly, there is a bug that prevents some players from unlocking an achievement for completing the single player campaign on realistic difficulty, but hopefully this issue will be resolved with an update soon.

While there are portions of this game that play more like Rainbow Six than the classic Splinter Cell, stealth is still a primary component in its gameplay – the key is to keep a keen eye out for a pole to climb, a ledge to hang over, or a box to hide behind.  Overall, Splinter Cell Conviction will resonate well with fans, and as an added bonus, purchases of Conviction will guarantee access to the Ghost Recon Future Soldier beta later this year.

In addition to the numerous Xbox 360 stations, attendees were invited to immerse themselves in an extreme scavenger hunt. The elaborate game, organized by corporate team-building experts, The Go Game, allowed guests to role-play as secret agents. Using their cell phones, players accessed various timed missions, which largely included locating and identifying various spies and agents (actors from The Go Game) who were planted throughout the entire Les Deux venue. Once these spies were located, players had to follow specific instructions (speak a particular phrase, or convince them with your charm) to extract the secret code which unlocked subsequent missions.

At the end of the real-life role-playing game, which culminated with meeting Sam Fisher (a character actor, not the voice actor, Michael Ironside) the first six players to make it to a restricted section in the club were given a chance to compete for a Splinter Cell Xbox 360 bundle. It was truly a memorable experience that added fun, depth, and dimension to the overall theme of the evening.

Splinter Cell Conviction will be released on April 13, 2010, and a single-player demo is currently available on the Xbox Live Marketplace.  Be sure to read hands-on impressions by clicking on this link.

In the San Francisco offices of Ubisoft, Game Director Patrick Reading and Co-Op Designer Julien Lamoureux invited game journalists to sit down and spend some quality time with the upcoming franchise sequel, Splinter Cell Conviction.  A single-player demo of Conviction was recently released over the Xbox Live Marketplace, but what Reading and Lamoureux want players to know is that the multiplayer components to the game are deeper and more intense than in any previous version of Splinter Cell.

Players can see for themselves from the short demo that graphical fidelity and animations have seen tremendous upgrades.  From the amount of details in Sam Fisher’s face, to the way his hands react against walls and objects used as cover, and how Fisher automatically ducks under a helicopter wing when a player attempts to walk through it, Conviction is visually more advanced than any of the previous titles in the series.

One of the more notable trends in gaming of recent is the inclusion of co-operative multiplayer modes, and in particular, the obligatory “horde” mode.  Horde mode, made prominent by games like Gears of War 2, Left for Dead, and Halo 3: ODST, pits teams of players in a game of survival against waves of oncoming A.I. enemies.  Though it is not a first-person shooter, Conviction features its own version of horde mode, but mixes things up with four different varieties.

The four variations of Conviction’s horde mode are more refined than those we’ve seen by most FPS titles, due primarily to the stealth mechanics in the game.  Each of the (two-player max) modes allow each player to take on the role of an international covert operations agent, equipped with the same tools and skills Fisher possesses.  So just like in the single-player campaign, players will be able to sneak in the shadows, climb pipes, and hang over ledges to quietly kill enemies.

In the Hunter game mode, the objective for players is to eliminate all enemies in each level or zone, but any detection of the players will lead the A.I. to call in more reinforcements, so the goal really is to engage the enemy as stealthily as possible.

The Last Stand mode is more of a traditional horde mode fare, but with a twist.  Players must protect an EMP bomb which is placed in a fixed location against waves of enemies that get smarter and tougher with each wave.  The EMP can be repaired if any damage is inflicted upon it, so teamwork is absolutely essential to distract enemies to allow repairs to take place.

Face-Off is a competitive adversarial mode where two players will battle each other in a map populated with A.I. enemies gunning for both of them.  Using the A.I. here to lure in or defeat an opponent adds a nice level of depth.

Lastly, there’s Infiltration, which is unlocked through Ubisoft’s Uplay system (gain Uplay points just by playing the game, which accumulate to unlock Infiltration and other unannounced goodies).  In this mode, players must kill all enemies without detection, but this time, players also have security systems to evade.

Aside from these four Deniable Ops missions, there is the Prologue campaign mode that introduces two new characters and additional settings, allowing two gamers to engage in five to six hours of gameplay.

To top off these multiplayer modes, Conviction includes the Persistent Elite Creation System (PEC), which allows players to earn points through gameplay challenges to upgrade weapon, gadgets, and even uniforms and skins.  Buffing up a character will be even be visually represented by extra ammo or gadget packs, so in addition to real practical effects, the player’s character will be graphically distinguishable based on the upgrades unlocked.

The Splinter Cell franchise started out as one of the greatest single player experiences on the Xbox platform, and with Conviction, there is little doubt that this series will be one of the most played games over Xbox Live.  Splinter Cell Conviction hits store shelves on April 13, 2010.  An Xbox 360 Splinter Cell Conviction special edition bundle will also launch on April 13, 2010.  For more information, check out Conviction’s official website.

When Bad Company 2 was first announced, I didn’t doubt that many would look forward to playing the game on Xbox Live.  The first Bad Company certainly had a lot of fans and it’s pedigree as a continuation of the Battlefield series didn’t hurt either.  But the first Bad Company didn’t have that special something that Bad Company 2 has achieved.  Bad Company was a fun game, but it’s flaws showed through and it seemed a little frustrating to play online. The lack of game modes and overall polish  from the out of the box experience didn’t help it win over too many fans of the Battlefield series.

The developers of Bad Company (DICE)  took the fans advice and Bad Company 2 adds more game types, huge maps, more weapon unlocks, more vehicles and a ranking system to the game.  Now even though all of this added stuff is great, it’s not what makes this game one of the best on Xbox Live.  One of the things I really love about the game is the team aspect and all the crazy moments that happen when you play this game with friends

For instance, aceattorney and I have participated in some matches dominating the field by being stealthily mobile and COMMUNICATING.  Something that lacks in many other games where the lone wolf mentality comes into play. Yes, in other games you can use team work, but in Bad Company 2 it’s a key to surviving and it’s also a heck of a lot of fun.  While ace and I were playing we’d jump in a tank….BOOM, enemies dead. And because one or both of us were engineers, we were able to keep our kill streak fest going for a while.  Hopping  in a chopper, we’d rain hell from the sky, landing and healing so we could continue the assault.  And while “trying” to fly the chopper we’d inevitably crash and even when we’d die, we always had a good laugh.

Those moments when we would get our butt kicked still made us come back for more, something  other online games do not quite accomplish as the frustration levels rise and we reach for the off button on our 360 . It’s the small and big moments in the game, the ebb and flow of the action that seem to get us into a rhythm of gaming pleasure. When facing adversity you try and out-think the enemy, coming up with a plan of attack, trying to pick which class and load out will help win the fight.  And it’s also fun when quirky  moments occur as well, even when the game has flaws.

One evening I was playing a game  of squad deathmatch in which the people on other side had quit, leaving only our team in the game server. We waited hopefully that someone would enter so we could finish the match, we were winning after all. While waiting we decided to see what we could do with the destruction 2.o engine and proceeded to level every building, tree and bush in the map. After a long, long time  people finally joined our squad and another enemy  team appeared. As we finished up the match it was funny to  see that the map looked nothing like it does during a normal match,  it was a wasteland.  Hilarity ensued as we ran around the barren map, looking for cover that wasn’t there in the smoldering ashes. The map we had created added a whole new dimensionality to the game.  Moments like this can just not be had in any other games on Xbox Live today. And even though it would have seemed like the match was a bust, our crazy patience and curiosity fueled destruction paid off in a unique way.

I think  games like Bad Company 2, while not perfect, certainly attain a level of fun through their added level of technology and from the developers willingness to give fans of the Battlefield series what they wanted. A playground to soldier in and all of the toys and tools needed to get the job done. And while I know that the game may not be every ones cup o’ joe, I’m enjoying the game immensely and I hope anyone out there who likes virtual battle plays this game and has a great time too.

(Destruction 2.0…as in…OH S*#%!)

Growing up in the 80′s, even though video game  arcades  started to dominate the scene,  pinball was still a fascinating, and sometimes frustrating experience for the game player. It took skills and quick reflexes to tame the best tables.  And I always loved the sights and sounds of the pinball machines as they stood out in a room,  beckoning you to add one more quarter.  Some of the best pinball tables were made in my hometown of Chicago, birthplace of the pinball machine, and Williams entertainment was one of the pioneers.

Recently, I was visiting the forums at TeamXbox.com and came across a community discussion from last year  about  Pinball Hall Of Fame – The Williams Collection for the Xbox 360.  They were extolling the games virtues and also how great a gaming value the game was for $10 new at Gamestop.  Always looking for a good bargain and some good gaming, I filed the info away to memory.

Last week, I attended the Microsoft MVP Summit in Bellevue,  WA.  This year, I extended my stay in the pacific northwest to hang out with my good friend Peench, from PreGameLobby.com at his friend Pickle’s home  along with ProphetOne, Rhino Chaser,  Beau & Pickle’s awesome family.  It was the annual PickleJam weekend of games, food, fun and mischief.

Needing an extra copy of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for our multiplayer, multi- Xbox fragging weekend, we headed out to the local Gamestop in Poulsbo, WA.  While perusing the game wall and checking out the scene, a thought popped into my head…PINBALL GAME (why?, I have no idea).  I asked the clerk if they had Pinball Hall Of Fame -The Williams Collection and indeed they did,  one last copy.

When we got back to Pickle’s pad, we all hung out, ate, listened to some jams,  played COD and the guys even played some poker.  I had asked Prophet if he was interested in checking out pinball  and he kinda chuckled and said…nah.  So, while some of the crew were off of the main gaming TV I popped in the game to give it a whirl. At first I was little disappointed, cheesy intro, menu music and the annoying announcer made the game seem like a budget title. But I didn’t let that initial impression stop me.  As I started to play the game I saw some old familiar favorites.  Funhouse, in particular. Which had been a machine that was always a fun diversion in my college days at DePaul University, played really well and faithfully recreated the game I remembered many years ago

As I played alone, Pickle’s son came over to join me for two player action, then Peench came over and  before you knew it, we were all gathered around the TV saying how awesome this game was.  The sights, sounds and gameplay action took us on a trip back to our youth and it was a blast.  Even the cynics among us (ProphetOne had to agree, this game was cool and for $10 new, an awesome deal.

So for anyone seeking that trip back in time to enjoy some pinball wizardry, check this game out. Hurry though, it’s quickly being snatched up and I believe it’s not going to be restocked at Gamestop after they’re all sold out.   Check out the review of the game at Teamxbox.com for more info.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending my fourth MVP summit. It was an exciting time and despite a nagging head cold, it was a very pleasant week.  This year, we were hosted in Bellevue, Washington, which tuned out to be a great place for the summit.  Tons of stuff right outside our doors to enjoy and a much more pleasant commute to the  Microsoft campus for our deep dive sessions and the like.

And speaking of the campus, what a great place it is since the completion of the newer buildings.  Including the new Xbox campus, complete with a soccer field and all new office spaces for the growing Xbox team.  I was happy to see that the Xbox team is finally on the proper MS campus and is able to enjoy the benefits.

During the week, we had the privilege of seeing some great stuff, hearing from some great people and hanging out with a great group.  From the MVP welcome reception, with our lead Mike Fosmire, to the deep dives and special sessions where we saw Project Natal, Dead Rising 2, Lost Planet 2, Xbox Live enforcement, security, support and behind the scenes at Xbox Live operations center.  Veteran and rookie MVPs alike were treated to some really cool and informative sessions.

As the week came to and end, we celebrated at The Garage in Seattle with bowling, billiards, pizza and libations.  It was a great time to mingle with all of the product groups and just let loose.  And on Friday, the farewell Lunch and sessions provided us with a chance to reflect on the week, reminding us how important we are to the Microsoft family.

I would like to thank all of the people who made this week happen for the Xbox and all of the product group MVPs. Everyone deserves a thank you and even though I know I can’t remember everyone’s name at the moment, you are definitely not forgotten.  Eric, Larry, Zilla, Mackenzie & crew, thanks for your hard work this week. We know things have been tough in the recent past but you have rose to the occasion…thank you! And thank you to all of the MVPs for coming out and making the summit a memorable one. You guys rock!

Enjoy the photos from the summit, I think they show the positive spirit and  good times we all experienced.

Microsoft made several key announcements, which included details on downloadable content in addition to release dates for most of the games.  Some of the titles previewed made their public debut appearances, which only added to bolster the impact of the entire event.

Developers of the showcased first and third-party (exclusive) titles were available to provide walkthrough demonstrations, with most of the games being accessible for direct, hands-on previews.  Interestingly, most of this year’s line-up once again comprises of sequels to major franchises, except for Alan Wake and Final Fantasy XIII (a franchise first on the Xbox 360).  Additionally, another noted trend is to include co-operative multiplayer support in most of this year’s big titles (again, Alan Wake and FF XIII being exceptions).

It was not long after the critically-acclaimed Halo 3 was released, that many questioned whether the Xbox 360 platform had reached the pinnacle of its success and predicted that Microsoft’s commitment to the platform would soon diminish.  After this event, there should be no doubt that the real fun has yet to begin.  See impressions of specific game titles below.

Lost Planet 2 (Capcom)

The original: Lost Planet was a gorgeous Starship Troopers game in the snow, but with wonky controls that came with a bit of a learning curve.

The hook: Earlier in the week, Gears of War Design Director Cliff Bleszinski revealed a crossover of epic proportions, rocking the headlines.  It came as a surprise that Gears heroes Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago would be playable characters in Lost Planet 2, but the similarities between the two games makes the cameos appear fitting.  Obviously, Gears fans will be pleased with the crossover, but the greatest feature in this sequel seems to be the more robust multiplayer mode.  With 4-player co-op and 16-player competitive modes, Capcom it seems, listens to the fans.

The concern: Unfortunately, Lost Planet 2 features the same quirky controls from the first game, and hardcore Gears of War veterans who try out this sequel might get turned off by the difference in controls.

Dead Rising 2 (Capcom)

The original: The first Dead Rising game was a cult hit, and for good reason.  Being a survivor in a zombie outbreak with a slew of mundane objects to use as destructive tools against plentiful, but slow-moving undead was just part of the fun.  Capcom’s inclusion of numerous outifts for the protagonist, Frank West, and the photography aspect of the game made Dead Rising stand apart.

The hook: In the sequel, the zombie-killing continues, but now the protagonist (not Frank West) can combine regular household items to make ingeniously wicked weapons.  A workbench allows the player to make the following examples: knives + boxing gloves = Wolverine claws; garden rake + car battery = electric, jabbing rake; chainsaws + boat paddle = giant Q-tip of death; motorcycle + chainsaw = death on two wheels.

In addition, through all of the zombie slaying, the protagonist eventually is covered completely red in blood – but blood fades after non-killing for a few minutes.

Lastly, Capcom has added a highly demanded multiplayer arena mode where players compete to rack up the most kills within a certain time period.

The concern: Dead Rising 2 developers would not discuss whether there were any changes made to the game save system or possible tie-in to Frank West’s story.  It also looks like the photo feature is gone, and while the amalgamated weapons bring another dimension to the game, the weapons deteriorate far too quickly.

Splinter Cell: Conviction (Ubisoft)

The original: Sam Fisher is a household name for Xbox gamers, and the sneaking, spying, and infiltrating gameplay has never been better produced than in Splinter Cell titles.  The technology at a player’s disposal made Sam Fisher into a Jason Bourne with James Bond’s tools.

The hook: Ubisoft worked incredibly hard to develop a fresh style and approach to the game we all know and love by introducing two new core features: Last Known Position and Mark & Execute.  Basically, these are gameplay mechanics to allow Sam to evade, trap, and eliminate enemy A.I. in ways never done before.  Part of the campaign strips Sam of his gadgets, forcing him to improvise (by using a broken mirror to peek under doors, for example), which is implemented quite nicely.  The slick projection of contextual video queues onto surfaces in the game also pushes Conviction’s innovation.

The concern: A small, but loud contingent of Splinter Cell fans have reacted quite negatively to the exclusion of the Spies v. Mercenaries mode that was featured in Splinter Cell: Double Agent.  Instead, Conviction offers a co-op multiplayer mode that pits players against computer-controlled enemies.  Conviction Game Director Patrick Reading, on absence of the Spies v. Mercs mode, made it clear that Conviction is a new Splinter Cell game, developed around Last Known Position and Mark & Execute.  These two gameplay elements makes Conviction incredibly fun to play, but are impossible to implement into a Spies v. Mercs mode.  Therefore, to avoid stripping down the new core mechanics, Ubisoft had to ditch the old multiplayer mode and create a new one that uses the new features.

Final Fantasy XIII (Square Enix)

The original: Final Fantasy XIII represents the franchise’s first real foray onto the Xbox platform (the MMORPG FF XI doesn’t count), but comparisons will inexorably be made to the beloved previous versions that have graced the Playstation 2 platform.

The hook: Microsoft’s announcement of Final Fantasy coming to the 360 back in 2008 set the gaming world on fire.  FFXIII’s gameplay visuals are just as stunning as the pre-rendered cutscenes that have previously been released (just don’t expect to really enjoy them since you’ll likely be busy looking through your party’s action menus throughout battles), and from the little that was shown at X10, it is safe to say that FFXIII will probably be as enjoyable as the Final Fantasy gamers remember.

The concern: While FFXIII will consume an inane amount of time to complete, the linear gameplay and plot brings some worry the side quest hungry.  Square Enix has responded by emphasizing the importance of telling a cohesive story, but some still think hundreds of side quests are what makes a true FF game.  Also, the tremendous drop in resale value in Japan, where the game was released in December, could be interpreted as a bad sign.

Xbox Live Gameroom (First Party)

The original: Basically, Xbox Live Arcade is the original, but Gameroom will apparently feature more retro games.

The hook: The virtual world presentation of Gameroom allows for interaction with your friends, of course, in their Avatar forms.  Also, paying for a game once, and being able to play it both on the PC and on the 360 is a feature long overdue.

The concern: While the potential for tons of licensed properties is there, so far, the pricing seems a bit stiff, especially considering these are retro games.

Crackdown 2 (Ruffian Games)

The original: Everyone bought the first Crackdown game for access to the Halo 3 beta, but were surprised when they found a third-person action game with a bold twist: you play a cop with superpowers.  DLC made Crackdown far more robust with multiplayer modes and new characters, and the orb-hunting madness became everyone’s latest addiction.

The hook: Enhanced textures, saturated colors, and the same cell-shaded look are sublime, but the biggest news to come out of X10 is a 16 player multiplayer mode (including 8 vs. 8 teams), and 4-player co-op.  Orb hunting is now taken to the next level with addition of rogue orbs – orbs that MOVE!  Also, the addition of a passenger-carrying helicopter makes possible formation skydiving.  Side note: enemy A.I. do not have flying vehicles, but they can shoot players down.

The concern: Sadly, transforming vehicles are out, but Agency vehicles now come fully upgraded.  Also, while there are a variety of agents and costumes, there are unfortunately no female agents.  Lastly, comparisons will continue to be made to GTA IV’s multiplayer offerings, but the agents’ super abilities really makes Crackdown 2 unique.

Fable 3 (Lionhead Studios)

The original: Creator Peter Molyneux’s first two Fable games were excellent RPGs, distinctly allowing gamers to make choices that impacted not only the character which they played, but also the game’s inhabitants and world.  Fable 2 allowed players to marry, procreate, and even have a dog companion.

The hook: The third game in the series introduces even more expressions of emotion through stunning angel’s wings that either shock or inspire.  Weapons will now be shaped by the actions a player takes, whether the player is ruthless or heroic.  In our conversation with Molyneux, he described his ambition to simply occupy the few moments in a gamer’s mind just as his or her head hits the pillow – Molyneux wants gamers to be compelled to consider the actions they took, and the choices they made in the game.  To this end, physical contact, or touch, will be a large component in the game.  Indeed, Molyneux even described perfecting the art of the “man hug,” an embrace without the lean, so to speak.

Another large component to Fable 3 is the kingdom-ruling component, which makes the impact of a gamer’s choices far greater and perhaps even profound than ever before.

The concern: Recall the Milo demo Molyneux presented at E3 last year, where Project Natal was used to allow a gamer to emotionally connect with an in-game character at an entirely new dimension of immersion.  Like the Milo demo, Fable 3 pursues an emotionally-engaging experience, but is that what gamers really resonate with?  Would the apparently significant touch aspect of the game be overlooked by gamers who just want the thrill of questing and killing, or will this finally be the ultimate Fable game Molyneux has been trying to make for years?

Halo: Reach (Bungie)

The original: Spanning four FPS titles, the Halo franchise has consistently provided some of the richest gaming experiences on any platform.  The controls, music, weapons, vehicles, epic storyline, and superb multiplayer modes all contribute to Halo’s success.

The hook: Because Reach takes place before the events of the first Halo game, the cast of protagonists are comprised of a squad of Spartans.  Yes, a GROUP of Spartans taking on the Covenant in a battle that we know ends with the Covenant winning.  Not only does the 4-player co-op campaign mode sound great, but the story has to be a compelling one of heroism and tragedy.

Graphically, Bungie has pulled off some amazing tricks.  During a free camera run-through of one level, Community and PR Director Brian Jarrard showed just how great the level of detail is in Reach.  From improved particle effects to tiny details on the weapons and on the smallest bolts holding together a building, the Halo universe looks incredibly rich and more realistic than ever.  In the audio department, all of the weapons now sound like they have weight behind them, including the traditionally wimpy-sounding Needler.

Lastly, multiplayer will feature what almost looks like a class-based system, where a player will have at their disposal, one type of support skill or tool, whether it is the ability to sprint, or the use of a bubble shield.  This feature will certainly change how teams have been playing in the ultra-competitive world of Halo multiplayer.  When we asked Jarrard whether Reach is Halo’s “Modern Warfare,” he said that because at its heart, Reach preserves the core gameplay that makes up a Halo game, the analogy was not accurate.

Oh, and the groundbreaking level-making tool, Forge, is back, after being absent from Halo 3: ODST.

The concern:  Bungie’s last offering with a Chief-less Halo in ODST was received well by both critics and gamers, but not as well as the previous Halo titles.  Of course, whether or not Master Chief will make any appearances in Reach has yet to be determined, but if our favorite Spartan is absent from Reach, Noble Team better be able to fill those huge shoes.  Finally, will Reach present enough gameplay advances to overtake Modern Warfare 2, which has been sitting atop the Xbox Live activity list?

Alan Wake (Remedy Games)

The original: Alan Wake is one of the few games being released this year that is not a sequel, but the developers behind this title aren’t new to gaming.  Remedy Games is best known for the Max Payne franchise (which was produced into a critically-panned feature film starring Mark Wahlberg), and with Microsoft’s full weight behind it, this studio has something to prove with Alan Wake.

The hook: Imagine if Stephen King wrote a season of the TV show, Lost.  Alan Wake would have some striking resemblances to it.  Presented in an episodic format, this third-person horror-adventure-mystery game uses light as a gameplay element.  In order to kill possessed townsfolk and objects, the player must use various light-emitting tools (i.e., flashlight, flare gun, spotlight), in addition to assorted firearms to weaken and destroy the mysterious and evil darkness.  During the developer walkthrough demonstration of a level that appears late in the game, the dark atmosphere, haunting sound, and limited resources (Alan has limited access to batteries and flares) made for a creepy experience.

Beyond the stellar graphics and innovative presentation, the storyline and narrative seem to be the most compelling aspects of the game.  Basically, Alan’s latest fictional horror novel seems to be coming to life in a sleepy little town called Bright Falls.  Add to the mix Alan’s own personal stake in finding his missing wife, and we’ve got ourselves a great mystery to play through.

The concern: Sure, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but Alan Wake, having been in development for over five years has extremely high expectation levels to fulfill.  And while this game is promised to have a definite conclusion to the story, the prospects of additional “episodes” being made available for DLC tells us that maybe some answers are being saved for those willing to pay for them.

One of the most anticipated films up until last year was the feature film based on the Halo mythos, produced by none other than Peter Jackson (“Lord of the Rings”) and helmed by Neill Blomkam (“District 9″). Unfortunately, creative differences and usual Hollywood politics apparently all but killed any chance of the film being made. Stepping up to fill those cinematic shoes is a compilation of seven animated short films that expand the Halo universe.

343 Industries and Microsoft Game Studios gathered veteran Japanese anime writers and directors to produce these unique tales that at times, take great liberties with the franchise, but ultimately serve to flesh out the immense Halo story. Unfortunately, none of the seven shorts go beyond the ending of the “Halo 3″ video game, which will be disappointing for those who are hoping to be shown the fate of John 117. Master Chief is not a central character in each of the shorts, but does make cameo appearances in several of them.

“Origins” features Cortana, Master Chief’s A.I. companion, as she tells the broad and epic history of the entire Halo franchise. “The Babysitter” focuses on a group of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST) as one of the ODST deals with serving as back-up to a heroic Spartan. “Prototype” follows a hardened United Nations Space Command (UNSC) marine who confronts his own mortality in protecting his squad against an onslaught of Covenant forces. In “Homecoming,” a Spartan faces overwhelming odds and reflects on her past and the sacrifices she was forced to make as she was forged into a Spartan. “The Duel” blends decidedly Japanese artwork and culture and the little-known world of the Elite alien race to tell the tale of love, honor, and betrayal. “Odd One Out” stands out as the most fantastical and comical story of the set, as Spartan 1337 finds himself in another fine mess. “The Package” rounds up “Halo Legends” with a daring mission involving Master Chief and four other Spartans as they risk everything to rescue an important package that has fallen into the hands of the Covenant.

Visuals

Each story, similar to the recently-released “Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic,” has a different artistic visual style, with “The Duel” being unique in its watercolor style of presentation. When viewed in high-definition, the images throughout are incredibly crisp, but the majority of the stories take a traditional anime approach by limiting animation in favor of scenes of still shots which lack much action or movement. Of all of the shorts, “The Package” stands out with its unceasing amount of on-screen action, three-dimensional style (as opposed to flat, two dimensional artwork), and superb particle and glow effects – Master Chief has never looked so good.

Sound and Extras

While the short films were written and directed primarily by Japanese talents, the voices were dubbed in English. The voice acting is not perfect, but the music and sounds of Halo are meticulously reproduced.
Directors Frank O’Connor and Joseph Chou provide commentary, a behind the scenes look at the making of “Halo Legends” is included, and the O’Connor-narrated “Halo: The Story So Far” brings much appreciated (and needed) clarity to the epic story that spans several games and books.

Conclusion

Halo fans will undoubedtly enjoy “Halo Legends” with its very memorable stories and characters, and the 119 running time will seem far too short. “Halo Legends” is rated PG-13 and will be released on February 16, 2010.