Community Battlefield Manager zh1nt0, has posted on the official Bad Company 2 blog that he will be showcasing the expansion pack Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam, for the first time at the Tokyo Game Show.

The expansion pack includes 4 new maps with Vietnam specific weapons, vehicles, persistence, unlocks, and achievements/trophies.

Keep an eye out for exclusive footage of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam on the official Bad Company 2 Blog.

Whenever a book, film, television, painting or music album becomes the topic of heated debate, a critic who is an expert in that field is called in to provide context. If a video game makes headlines, it seems anyone from any field, regardless of their experience, can pass judgment on not only the title up for discussion, but the entire games industry. Whether or not these pundits have any first-hand knowledge or experience of video games is seldom mentioned. In the rare instances video games experts are called upon for their expertise, they’re usually shouted down or dismissed.

This week, Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, kicked open a proverbial anthill by calling for the forthcoming first-person-shooter (FPS), Medal Of Honor to be banned. Fox branded the game “un-British” over reports that it allowed players to take on the role of Taliban soldiers and kill British troops. In an interview with the Sunday Times, in which he expressed his outrage and disgust, Fox called on video games retailers not to sell Medal Of Honor “to show their support for the armed forces”.

The Telegraph hasn’t yet received a preview copy of Medal of Honor and as far as I am aware Fox hasn’t seen the game either. In a statement released in the wake of Fox’s comments, EA pointed to factual inaccuracies in the Sunday Times article over the involvement of British troops. “Medal of Honor does not allow players to kill British soldiers,” said an EA spokesman. “British troops do not feature in the game.”

Fox has since defended his position; according to the BBC, he said the fact that players can assume the role of Taliban soldiers in the multiplayer mode is the main issue. But this sort of thing isn’t unheard of in FPS multiplayers. If Medal Of Honor is unfit for public consumption on these grounds, then what are we to make of last year’s Modern Warfare 2 where the multiplayer mode cast players as South American terrorists and militia members from the army of Ira… sorry, from an un-named Middle Eastern nation. Why has nearly every WWII game with a multiplayer, in which one side of players are Nazi soldiers, been allowed to pass classification from the BBFC without comment? In light of some of these past examples, Fox’s call for a ban looks more than a little extreme.

There may be a sensible debate to had about the merits of using a current, ongoing conflict as the subject matter in any entertainment format. But a ban is not condusive to this. A ban stifles any chance of reasonable discussion and simply maintains the status quo.

This also seems to be the opinion of the Department for Culture Media and Sports which moved to distance itself from Fox’s comments, brushing them off as his “personal view.” It also cited the fact that there is a ratings system in place, and that Medal of Honor was awarded an 18 classification which means it should only be sold to, and played, by adults. The BBFC for their part, asserted that the game is fit for release and sale – in an interview with CVG a BBFC spokesman said the ratings board “gave [Medal Of Honor] a cautious 18-rating, but it’s not as strong as other comparable games.”

What’s more, the Defence Secretary’s comments will probably influence the game’s sales; it’s just more than likely they’ll have the opposite effect to that which he intended. Whenever a high-profile figure condemns a video game it usually causes pre-orders to increase exponentially. Any notoriety a game earns ahead of its release date almost always attracts attention from outside the title’s core fan base; calls for an outright banning of the game, as has happened in this case, simply attract more prospective punters. Before Fox’s comments, Medal Of Honor appealed primarily to franchise loyalists and FPS fans. Now, a much larger number of gamers will be attracted to it to find out what all the fuss is about. By condemning the game, Mr Fox has simply pushed raised its profile Medal Of Honor further into the public conscience. He may as well have paid for EA’s billboards in every major city in the UK.

Such are the consequences when people who do not play games attack them. As a section of society used to the scorn and derision of others, mainstream condemnation simply makes something more attractive. Some might say that this shows the immaturity of gamers, but in the end, when attacked from all sides by people who don’t even have the decency to pick up a controller and form their own opinions, it’s not surprising that we have little time for overly-dramatic (and often factually inaccurate) accusations.

There will be segments of society which share Fox’s disgust at the Medal Of Honor’s content. They may even share his desire for a ban. I can’t speak to their mind-set, but I can say that I for one, consider it “British” to be able to make up my own mind. One of the joys about living in a democracy is that we are allowed to make our own decision about the worth and appeal of art. Then, if we have issues with it, we can vote with our wallets. That’s what living in a free society is all about.

src: Daily Telegraph

Title: BVA CoD 4 Night
Description: A fun night of gaming on CoD 4
Start Time: 20:30
Date: 2010-09-05
Game Type: If we have enough players then S&D using PAM otherwise consensus will swing the gametype
Maps: Overgrown and Strike for S&D

As always this is open to all BVA members, past members, hangeroners, members mates ….. The more the merrier

Any requests or alterations please post on the forum.

Microsoft is investigating how one of the most hotly anticipated Xbox titles of the year appeared on the net three weeks ahead of its official release.

Halo Reach, due to be launched on 14 September, appeared on file-sharing sites such as The Pirate Bay.

The first-person shooter has already been downloaded hundreds of times.

Reports suggest that the leak occurred after the game was made available to select reviewers and journalists via Microsoft’s online Xbox store.

“We are still investigating details surrounding a claimed leak of Halo Reach and have nothing further to share,” Microsoft said.

Within hours of being available, videos of the game began to appear on YouTube.

‘Permanent ban’

The firm takes a dim view of games’ piracy.

In 2009, it cut thousands of gamers off from its online gaming service Xbox Live for modifying their consoles to play pirated games.

Stephen Toulouse, director of policy and enforcement for Xbox Live, warned on Twitter that people attempting to play unauthorised copies of Halo Reach could face similar sanctions.

“As with all unauthorised play on Xbox Live, anyone playing any unauthorised title runs the risk of account permaban,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Remember, legit store-bought copy runs no risk of ban. Key word: unauthorised. We have ways of knowing.”

The Halo Reach leak is not the first time that the popular video game series has been targeted by pirates eager to get their hands on the game.

In 2004, the second instalment of the series appeared on file-sharing sites a month ahead of its release.

Halo 3 also was also leaked on to the internet, whilst a French retailer sold copies of Halo 3: ODST before its official launch. A copy of the game appeared on the net shortly afterwards.

Halo Reach is the final chapter of the series, developed by Bungie for the Xbox 360.

Players take the role of an elite solider battling for control of the planet Reach.

Source: BBC

RiGGs_sco view:

Its good to see that piracy is not a problem on consoles!

Earlier this year, Turbine Studios — now in the hands of Warner Bros. Interactive — announced that their fantasy MMORPG Lord of the Rings Online would be following the footsteps of Turbine’sother fantasy MMORPG Dungeons and Dragons Online, in going free-to-play.

The model would follow that of DDO’s very closely, with certain consumable items, cosmetic character adjustments, and a large proportion of the side-questing areas becoming optional extra purchases.

Yesterday, Warner Bros. Interactive announced that LOTRO would be making the free-to-play switch in just a few short weeks on September 10. Players still subscribed to LOTRO will then be considered “VIP members” and have access to all the areas in the game, as well as monthly increases to the points they can spend in the Turbine store. They’ll also get access to some large new areas being introduced in a patch being introduced with the change.

New players wanting to save their money will still be able to level up to 50 and have access to the game’s entire original storyline.

September 10th is the official switch-over date for free-to-play.

Source: IGN

We plan to open the game up for modding sometime post-launch. We do not know yet to what extent you will be able to mod the game. There are some purely technical issues related to engine and internal tool enhancements that do not easily fit the modtools paradigm. We have looked at it close enough to see that it is non-trivial and we will have to pick it up again post-launch. Right now we are completely focused on finishing the game.

And, dev console: confirmed.

-pcdev-

The world’s biggest chip maker, Intel, has agreed to buy the security technology firm, McAfee.

Intel will pay $7.68bn (£5bn) in cash.

Under the terms of the deal, Intel said it would pay $48 per share in cash for McAfee, almost 60% higher than its closing price on Wednesday.

Through buying McAfee, a leading security technology firm, Intel intends to build security features into its microprocessors which go into products such as laptops and phones.

The two companies said they had been working together for 18 months and that, should the takeover pass regulatory and shareholder approval, the first new products would be revealed early next year.
Both boards of directors have unanimously approved the deal.

However, the announcement took many analysts by surprise and sent McAfee’s shares 58% higher to $47.17, close to the proposed purchase price.

Intel shares, meanwhile, fell by 3.2% to $18.97.
Mobile growth

Tim Danton, editor of PC Pro magazine, said the announcement came out of the blue.

“Intel does buy a lot of companies and it does have a lot of more cash than anyone else out there. So it making a big acquisition isn’t a surprise, but you may have thought it more likely to buy another hardware firm,” he told the BBC.

“No doubt Intel is looking ahead and seeing that the laptop and desktop market are probably past their heyday and the big growth area is mobile.

“For a company like Intel, it’s nowhere near as strong in the mobile area as it is in the laptop and desktop areas, so it’s probably looking for new ways to get streams and revenues in the future.”

But he added: “Perhaps that is Intel’s point of view but not everybody else’s. The reaction from investors has been quite negative.”

Cloud computing

The deal is likely to reduce Intel’s net earnings slightly in the first year.

An Intel company statement said that the acquisition reflected that security was now a fundamental component of online computing.

It added that today’s security approach did not fully address the billions of new internet-ready devices, including mobile and wireless devices, TVs, cars, medical devices and cash machines.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote

The cyber threat landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years with millions of new threats appearing every month”

End Quote Dave DeWalt McAfee chief executive

A key worry for technology users is the security threat posed by the fast-growing field of cloud computing – the ability to access, change and interact with data on any platform with a net connection, including smartphones.

These online services require no software purchase and installation and most run via a browser, but there are concerns that storing personal data on a server somewhere in cyberspace could pose a major threat to the privacy of individuals.

The president and chief executive of Intel, Paul Otellini, said in the past, energy efficiency and connectivity had defined computing requirements.

In future security would become the “third pillar” that people demanded, he said.

McAfee’s president and chief executive, Dave DeWalt, said cyber attacks were a growing menace.

He said: “The cyber threat landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years with millions of new threats appearing every month.”

McAfee, also based in Santa Clara, is one of the world’s largest security technology companies with about $2bn in revenue last year.

Source: BBC

Source: BBC

Games are being developed for FREE with the Unreal Development Kit – many of them made by users in the community and some have formed teams to produce some stunning free games. All of these games run standalone and do not require UT3 to play them. They range from first person shooters to real-time strategy games, you can find details of three of the most popular UDK games below.

Prometheus

Click to enlarge

Prometheus is a mission-based, single-player co-op game in the spirit of “Portal” and “Mirror’s Edge.” By using the Prometheus Device, players bend the laws of Einsteinian physics using the theory of quantum states, meaning that goals are accomplished by completing missions with your past, present and future selves.

This standalone version of “Prometheus” was created using UDK. You’ll need to keep your wits about you and your memory sharp in solving puzzles presented with this unique game play mechanic. Progression through the story introduces new challenges, with tasks increasing in difficulty, and a final dramatic conclusion questions present loyalties and even your own existence..

Click to read more and download the game.

Sanctum

Click to enlarge

Sanctum is a single-player first-person tower defense game set in a beautiful science fiction world.
Defend your hometown from invading hordes of mysterious, hostile alien creatures by building defensive structures and using upgradeable hand-held weapons.

Developed by the talented team at Coffee Stain Studios, Sanctum will challenge you to come up with innovative strategies to survive wave after wave of diverse enemies with varying tactical abilities. Activate and reinforce towers, and leverage the environment to increase your strategic advantage over rivals.

You can also follow Coffee Stain Studios on Twitter and Facebook. If you prefer to download the above video you can get it here. (116 MB Windows Media file. Right click, Save as.) Join in the Sanctum discussion on the UDK Forums.

Click to read more and download the game.

The Ball

Click to enlarge

Originally developed as a mod for Unreal Tournament 3, The Ball is a first-person action puzzle game that has been updated and revamped for retail and online distribution using UDK. Teotl Studios won multiple honors for The Ball in the $1 Million Intel Make Something Unreal Contest, and publisher Tripwire Interactive plans to release the game in fall 2010.
The Ball serves up addictive, puzzle-based first-person action in which players manipulate a mysterious metal sphere to traverse levels and take out enemies.

The game’s developer, Teotl Studios, has created a standalone demo version of The Ball using UDK. Be sure to check out their extensive game creation tutorial!

Look for future releases of The Ball as we await the commercial version published by Tripwire Interactive. Get the scoop on Teotl Studios and The Ball at http://www.theballthegame.com. The above video is also available for download here (mp4). Be sure to join in “The Ball” discussion on the UDK Forums.

Click here to read more and download the game.

Check out the Unreal Development Kit Showcase for more games and information on the packages available.

Bulletstorm is an upcoming 2011 First-person Shooter video game developed by People Can Fly and Epic Games, and is published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The game is currently scheduled for a February 22, 2011 release.

Bulletstorm takes place in a futuristic setting where a futuristic confederation is being protected by an elite band of mercenaries known as Dead Echo.

When Dead Echo members Grayson Hunt, voiced by Steve Blum, and Ishi Sato discover that they had been working on the wrong side, they betray their squad commander and end up being exiled to the edges of the galaxy. Players take the role of Grayson Hunt a few years after his exile, who had since become a drunken space pirate. He ends up getting involved on an interstellar crash landing, where he meets his old comrade Sato.

Click to enlarge

The two of them discover that they are surrounded by hordes of mutants and flesh eating gangs in an abandoned paradise. The two of them decide to work together once again to get off the planet alive and take revenge on the man who sent them there.

Players utilize a large arsenal consisting of over-the-top combat moves and incredibly large weapons. Bulletstorm also consists of a variety of unique “skillshots” which create extreme levels of frantic gameplay. The skillshot gameplay system rewards the player for creating and inciting mayhem in the most creative way possible. The more unique the skillshot, the more points players receive to upgrade their character, unlock weapons which allow the player to perform even more creative moves and exaggerated skill-shots.

Bulletstorm Trailer

Source: Wikipedia