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Call Of Duty MW2 Resurgence Pack to be released to Xbox LIVE June 3rd

Savan Thongvanh — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:02:54 +0000

Activision announced today that on June 3rd they’ll be releasing to Xbox LIVE a Multiplayer Map Pack they’re calling the “Call of Duty(R): Modern Warfare(R) 2 Resurgence Pack”. They’re going to need some resurgence with this map pack because the last one came out to mediocre reviews.

The map pack to be released at the end of this month will be the first multiplayer map pack releasedy by Activision/Blizzard with FIVE NEW MAPS. ADDITIONALLY, May 28th and June 4th Infinity Ward will be hosting DOUBLE XP weekends.

This is the second map pack this year, three months after the Stimulus Package. Does that mean we can expect two more this year? Only time will tell but for now I’m looking forward to five new maps and a shortcut to prestiging on the double points weekends!

BlizzCon 2010 Set for Anaheim Convention Center

Savan Thongvanh — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:36:18 +0000

It’s been announced that this year’s BlizzCon will be held in Anaheim California on Friday October 22nd and Saturday October 23rd 2010. BlizzCon is not only a gaming convention, it’s a gaming convention held by the company that makes one of the top selling game series ever, Call of Duty.

Also, Activision/Blizzard of course make other landmark titles like Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo universe games. These three massivly multiplayer games have killed millions of hours of peoples time and BlizzConn is a time for all the gaming geeks like me to get together and have a blast IRL.

Some things to look forward to at BlizzCon are:

Hand on demos with upcoming games
A forum with Blizzard Developers
Both cut throat and friendly tournaments to show your skills
contests and prizes
special commemorative gear
and more that Blizzard will announce in the months to come

The last BlizzCon, featuring Ozzy Osbourne, sold out in minutes so keep your eye out here by subscribing to our gaming posts and on the Blizzard website (http://www.blizzard.com) for ticket info.

New JAY-Z vs Eminem Mix Pack available now for DJ Hero

Savan Thongvanh — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:06:45 +0000

Today Activision announced that available now is a new mix pack including new tracks from JAY-Z and Eminem called the JAY-Z vs Eminem Mix Pack.

This downloadable content is a small add-on but it’s got some tracks you know and love we all know and love including:

“Shake That” by Eminem Mixed With “Show Me What You Got” by JAY-Z
“Without Me” by Eminem Mixed With “Encore” by JAY-Z
“Can I Get A…” by JAY-Z Mixed With “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

“From sold out concerts to #1 albums to double digit Grammy Awards, JAY-Z and Eminem define what it means to be a successful artist,” said Jamie Jackson, Creative Director, FreeStyleGames. “The DJ Hero soundtrack is an expanding collection of chart-topping hit music – mixed in an all-new way – that can only be experienced in our game, and with the addition of the JAY-Z vs. Eminem Mix Pack, players and their friends can not only experience, but interact with over 100 unique mixes.”

Availability and Pricing You can get the Mix Pack is available as follows:

Now on XBox LIVE for 640 Microsoft Points
March 25th, 2010 In the PlayStation Store for Playstation3 for $7.99
March 25th, 2010 As downloadable singles for the Wii for 300 Wii Points each

Activision Prices Modern Warfare 2 Map Pack

David Thongvanh — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:01:53 +0000

Activision has released the price of their upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 map pack, pegging it at 1200 Microsoft points, or $15 USD.

Dubbed the Stimulus Pack, it’s definitely stimulating Activision’s profits. Adding only 5 maps, 2 of which are re-releases, many fans are disappointed at having to pay what is in essence $5 per new map. Some speculate that this is a test price to see how high people will go for downloadable content. Many still remember when Ubisoft first introduced the now-standard $10 price tag for DLC, and there was a similar outcry at that time.

As with before MW2 itself came out, some are beginning to shout for boycotts of the map pack–we all saw how that worked out, and the result will likely be the same. Could this be the start of a new standard in DLC pricing? Let’s hope not.

Green Day Rock Band will finally hit shelves

Savan Thongvanh — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:02:41 +0000

Announced on the Rock Band website by Harmonix, MTV Games, and Warner June 8 will bring a huge release of the Green Day version of Rock Band. This episode will have fourty seven, yes FOURTY SEVEN tracks of Green Day-ness. However there will be no new guitar kit.

Featuring the three-part vocal harmony technology Harmonix introduced with the award-winning The Beatles™: Rock Band™, Green Day: Rock Band gives players access to an incredible setlist of 47 tracks that span the band’s career including “Brain Stew,” “Jaded,” “Hitchin’ a Ride,” “American Idiot,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” All 47 tracks are fully exportable, providing players with the opportunity to play the songs in Rock Band™, Rock Band 2™ and the recently announced Rock Band™3! Green Day: Rock Band™ features an export fee of $9.99 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system. The export feature is not available for the Wii system. In addition, the six Green Day tracks already available in the Rock Band Music Store as downloadable content can be played in Green Day: Rock Band with added vocal harmonies, unique performance visuals, and exclusive archival material.

There will also be a Green Day Plus version for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 in a special box and including six additional downloadable tracks.

Green Day: Rock Band pricing is as follows:

Green Day: Rock Band standalone game for Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 system
US MSRP $59.99
Green Day: Rock Band standalone game for Wii system
US MSRP $49.99
Green Day: Rock Band Plus for Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 system (US/Canada only)
US MSRP $69.99 Includes special packaging, export and six Green Day DLC tracks ($22 total value)

Source: rockband.com

Call Of Duty MW2 Stimulus Package to be released to Xbox LIVE

Savan Thongvanh — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:06:13 +0000

Activision announced today that on March 30th they’ll be releasing to Xbox LIVE a Multiplayer Map Pack their calling the “Call of Duty(R): Modern Warfare(R) 2 Stimulus Package”. What’s the stimulus?

The map pack to be released at the end of this month will be the first multiplayer map pack releasedy by Activision/Blizzard. ADDITIONALLY, the map pack will be available on a trial basis from March 12 to March 15th to Silver (free) Xbox LIVE members.

Developed by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 became a cultural phenomenon when it launched to the world in November. The epic title set new entertainment records for the greatest one-day and five-day openings in history* on the way to topping $1 billion in sales and becoming the best selling title ever on the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Additionally, Xbox LIVE celebrates having the largest Call of Duty community than any other entertainment system.

See more from the Activision release http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=450953

Alien Vs Predator Swarm Pack DLC available March 18th

Savan Thongvanh — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:31:40 +0000

Happy St Paddy’s Day to all you AVP players out there. On March 18th Sega will release downloadable content for Xbox360, PlayStation3, and Steam!

The dlc will include four new maps and several new modes of play, it’s called the “Swarm Pack”. Here’s what’s inside:

Docks: The caustic alkali waters of BG-386 put an end to Weyland-Yutani’s planned shipping activities. But this dockyard soon became an historic battleground.

Machine: As well as processing exotic ores, the BG-386 Refinery provided electrical power to the colonists at Freya’s Prospect. The lights may still be on, but nobody’s home. Yet.

Two new Survivor maps in which up to four Marines battle to stay alive against increasing swarms of Aliens:

Outpost: The site of the original Weyland-Yutani colony on BG-386 was abandoned, and soon reclaimed by the planet’s voracious jungle plant life. It is now the perfect hunting ground for all manner of wildlife.
Hive: Deep in the heart of the Freya’s Prospect Refinery lays the Xenomorph Hive. Beware all who enter here.

The “Swarm Map Pack” will be available on March 18th for $6.99 or 560 Microsoft Points.

For more information see the AVP blog www.sega.com/avp

Rock Band 3 Dated for Holidays

David Thongvanh — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:31:36 +0000

With a franchise as successful as the Rock Band series, you knew there was never a question of if there would be another one, only when it would come. Harmonix has delivered, announcing on Facebook that Rock Band 3 will be out in time for Christmas this year.

Harmonix hasn’t announced any of the songs yet which isn’t surprising, but there’s already rampant speculation. While fans drool and dream about that though, they can tide themselves over with Green Day Rock Band, slated for June this year. They haven’t announced platforms yet, but you can expect titles for Xbox360, PS3 and Wii.

One big question is whether or not RB3 will have the option to import songs from previous games as RB2 did, though there was a $5 price tag attached to that. Details are scant right now, but we’ll keep an eye out and our fingers ready for more info.

Activision has big news for Call Of Duty for 2010 and 2011

Savan Thongvanh — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:43:56 +0000

Yesterday Activision announced that it’s record setting franchise Call of Duty will get more map packs, obviously, another release in 2011, less obvious, and a spin off game.

The most intersting news from Activision’s Call of Duty announcement is probably about Sledgehammer. Sledgehammer games, that is. Sledgehammer will be the company producing the spin-off action-advendure version of Call Of Duty.

The company is also for the first time announcing that a new game in the Call of Duty series is expected to be released in 2011 and that Sledgehammer Games, a newly formed, wholly owned studio, is in development on a Call of Duty game that will extend the franchise into the action-adventure genre. Sledgehammer is helmed by industry veterans Glen A. Schofield and Michael Condrey. Prior to joining Activision Publishing, Schofield was the Executive Producer of the award-winning game, Dead Space and Michael Condrey was the Sr. Development Director on the game. The Dead Space franchise has won more than 80 industry awards worldwide including the prestigious A.I.A.S. Action Game of the Year and two B.A.F.T.A.S.

Along with a new game in 2011, Activision will also be pushing two new map pack for Modern Warefare 2 this year and a new Call of Duty game THIS FALL. They’re already in development by developers at Infinity Ward.

“2010 will be another important year for the Call of Duty franchise,” stated Mike Griffith, President and CEO of Activision Publishing. “In addition to continued catalog sales, new downloadable content from Infinity Ward and a new Call of Duty release, we are excited about the opportunity to bring the franchise to new geographies, genres and players.” The company expects to release a new Call of Duty game from Treyarch this fall. In addition, Infinity Ward is in development on the first two downloadable map packs for Modern Warfare(R) 2 for release in 2010.

Exciting new for MW2 players!

See the entire press release

Activision Turns Infinity Ward Upside-Down

David Thongvanh — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:06:57 +0000

Breaking news: Activision has fired both the CEO and President of Infinity Ward, makers of the Call of Duty franchise.

In a completely-unexpected turn of events, Activision has cut the two men most responsible for hit first-person-shooter Call of Duty from their derivative developer Infinity ward. Reports from G4 indicate that both Vince Zampella, CEO and Studio Head of Infinity ward, as well as Jason West, President and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 director, were escorted off premises by security earlier today.

Kotaku also covered a statement from Activision today stating that they planned to take the Call of Duty series in a new direction under developer Treyarch, who created Call of Duty 3 and Call of Duty: World at War. Activision declined to comment on the dismissal of Zampella and West, saying that they did not comment on HR matters related to its studios.

Considering how integral Zampella and West have been to the franchise, fans can expect some drastic changes in the next Call of Duty installment. Activision has also said that the series will be taking a turn towards action/adventure rather the previous FPS style. No one can tell for sure what impact will have, but considering that Call of Duty is one of Activision’s central profit pillars, this is almost certain to have a significant impact on Activision as a company.