Wednesday 31 August 2011

Dead Island launch trailer released

Publisher Deep Silver has unleashed the launch trailer for Dead Island ahead of the game's September 9 UK release. Developed by Techland and set on a tropical open world island, the zombie action game blends first-person combat with RPG elements. With firearms and ammunition very scarce, it has a heavy focus on melee combat, so players scrape together and combine items they find to make new tools of destruction. The title's campaign can be played with up to four players in co-op mode. Check some co-op action out in this trailer released earlier this month.


MS: New dashboard not just for Kinect users

Although clearly conceptualised with Kinect in mind, this autumn's redesigned Xbox 360 dashboard update will improve the experience for regular controller users too, Microsoft has said. That's according to Xbox Live's senior director Jose Pinero, who told CVG in a recent interview the new backend is a "happy medium" of motion sensor and controller functionality. Asked if the new Dashboard will improve the Xbox experience for controller-only users, Pinero replied: "Yes. Anecdotally, before I came here I was showing it to my wife and she was like, 'oh, that's a lot easier'. We can't make it too easy for people, so we made it easier for someone who's not a gamer or a tech enthusiast and then it'll be easier for the gamer too."

He added: "I think it's a pretty happy medium and that's been our goal since the launch of Kinect, to make sure we're creating great content like Star Wars, Sports and great family content, but also making sure we're not losing the Gears of War, Halo and Call of Duty fans that really built the Xbox brand.

"So making sure we've got great content for both audiences in a combined platform is a big challenge. I think the new dashboard is still super-fast to navigate around."

Microsoft's official philosophy for the new dash is "all the entertainment you want, with the people you care about, made easy."

3D support confirmed for Halo Anniversary

Having previously downplayed the significance of 3D visuals in the games market, Microsoft has announced further first-party support for the tech. CVG reports that the platform holder showed off a 3D build of upcoming Xbox remake Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary at Gamescom the week before last. 3D support had already been rumoured. "If you've got the technology you definitely want to take advantage of it," said 343 Industries’ Dennis Reis stated. "Guilty Spark is a fun level to show 3D because you're in the jungle, you've got foliage going by, plasma bolts flying over your head... it's a fun way to increase the immersion of the game and again if you've got the technology, you definitely want to take advantage of it."

The news follows last week’s announcement that fellow Xbox 360 exclusive Gears of War 3 would ship with full stereoscopic 3D support.

With games like Crysis 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops also boasting 3D visuals on the system, Xbox 360 is slowing building a catalogue of titles that offer the functionality – though it still falls far behind Sony and its widespread 3D support.

Gears 3 passes 1.3 million pre-orders

The game’s just shy of 20 days from release but it already looks like Gears of War 3 is primed for success; Microsoft has confirmed a staggering 1.3 million pre-orders have been made for the game. That’s just a bit bigger than the million recorded after the beta ended in May, but still an improvement. Marcus and co’s latest has already been crowned fastest ever pre-selling 360 exclusive, beating the likes of Master Chief and, uh, Banjo? Bandana’s off to Delta Squad already, then. Expect Gears 3‘s sales to shoot up more-so when the game release on September 20.

DICE: Don’t worry about Battlefield 3 on console

Battlefield 3 executive producer Patrick Bach has told VG247 that, while the shooter’s PC version is graphically “better” than its console siblings, gamers should stop worrying about the console editions. Bach was responding to a question about whether or not the 360 version will be playable at the upcoming Eurogamer Expo. While Bach wasn’t sure which version would be shown, he stressed that there’s nothing to fret about in terms of the TV SKUs. “We are showing more and more console, and the reason for that is that we want to show people that there is a console version,” he said. “We have shown it on several occasions and people seem to be happy with it. Of course, the super-high-end PC version is better when considering the detail of the visuals, which is kind of what we were striving for: adding that height to the high-end PC. “We want to show off the console version, and people shouldn’t be too worried about it. We are shipping it on console.” We were given hands-on time with the PS3 version in Sweden today, playing the co-op mission shown at gamescom earlier this month. Bach added that the game’s beta will happen “soon,” and will definitely take place “before the game ships,” with a fellow DICE staffer pointing out it has previously been announced for September. Eurogamer Expo takes place in London on September 22-25, and Battlefield 3 is expected to be the most prominent game of the entire event. Battlefield 3 is due on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in late October.

Monday 29 August 2011

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer modes leaked

Think you’re a big Call of Duty fan? Not as big as the guy who allegedly broke into the Call of Duty XP convention a few days early. The fan snuck into Call of Duty XP, and saw a few people demoing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. He took a few photos, but all the information was on his video which YouTube has taken down. The video showed 13 multi-player maps: Carbon, Coast, Dome, Exchange, Hardhat, Interchange, Lambeth, Meteora, Mogadishu, Paris, Plaza, Radar and Seatown. The video also shown Team Deathmatch, and a new game type, Bomb. (As of now, nothing else is known about what “Bomb” will be.) Also, the max players for a gametype of Team Deathmatch has been upgraded from 18 players to 32.

mw3 leaked mw3 leaked

The massive world of Skyrim to fit on one disc for Xbox 360

The massive open fantasy world of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be squeezed onto one DVD for the Xbox 360. With so many games having seen the multiple disc treatment on the console, it may come as a surprise to Xbox 360 owners that are anticipating the RPG from Bethesda. The news comes out of PAX Prime, where this weekend, Bethesda gave gaming press the opportunity to sit down for an hour with the game. In one of these sessions, Matt Grandstaff told Gamezone, “There will only be 1 disc for Skyrim.”. No other details about the size or required installs on other platforms were revealed, but you can expect more details about these features as the game gets nearer to launch. As for our hour with the game, you can check back in a few days for our full preview of our hour long session with the game.

Walmart to honor 360 4GB Kinect bundle @ $249 error this week

It turns out that Walmart's "rollback" of the Xbox 360 4GB Kinect bundle, dropping it to $249 ($50 off its current price), was an error. A notice posted by Walmart acknowledges "the price was mistakenly labeled as a rollback," a term the retailer uses for permanent price drops. The silver lining here is that Walmart will honor the $249 price at retail until Monday, September 5, or while supplies last. There will be no rainchecks on the offer. Microsoft informed us last week that it does not discuss pricing plans in advance, but that "Walmart made an independent decision to implement this temporary price cut."

First Adroit accessible controller, 'Switchblade,' revealed

You might know the name "Switchblade" as the tiny, currently concept-only laptop by Razer. However, it's also the first in Evil Controllers and AbleGamers' "Adroit" line of controllers designed for easy accessibility for players with disabilities. The Switchblade is basically a big black box, with 19 ports to which sticks, buttons, rumble packs, and other attachments can be placed in any configuration. It comes with two joysticks, but as Thrifty Nerd reports, it's possible to make a directional pad out of four buttons as well, if that works better for the owner's needs. You can also program macros for each individual port.

The Switchblade is built for Xbox 360, but adapters will be available for use on PC and PS3. There's no date yet, and no official price, but Thrifty Nerd reports that it'll be "a few hundred dollars." It's pricey, but not compared to the cost of having your own customized controller built.

Gears of War 3 Season Pass Announced

Gears of War 3's downloadable content has yet to be revealed, but Microsoft knows you want it, and is already letting you preorder it. The Gears of War 3 Season Pass hooks players up with the first four DLC packs as they become available. The first is scheduled for November, and the next three are scheduled to release "over the course of the next year". Epic stated that the packs would contain both multiplayer and campaign content, but has yet to go into specifics about them. The Season Pass goes on sale on the game's launch day, September 20, and retails for 2400 Microsoft Points ($30). Microsoft stated that the Season Pass is a 33 percent saving over buying the four DLC packs separately. Fans who order the Season Pass also get a Liquid Metal weapon set, like this metallic lancer.

Xbox 360 Slim Models Hacked And JTagged

It looks like it has finally happened, the new Xbox 360 Models have now been finally hacked and JTagged. So it seems that Microsoft’s new CD format which was supposed to increase the security of the Xbox 360 is now slightly pointless, however if its as hard as it was to do the JTAG on the fat Xbox 360 then this shouldn’t really have an effect on the amount of piracy there is. To explain it (very) simply, the chip sends little pulses to the processor in order to distabilize the console and make it believe a modified CB is correctly hashed and signed. This operation doesn't succeed every time, but it is repeated till it works. Once the modified/hacked CB is validated by the console, it has enough rights to launch unsigned code and in our case, XeLL, the Xenon Linux Loader. For full details, read GliGli's explanation of his hack, you can also have a look at the source code of Hack available here is a full explanation of the hack if you understand:

**********************************
* The Xbox 360 reset glitch hack *
**********************************

Introduction / some important facts
===================================

tmbinc said it himself, software based approaches of running unsigned code on the 360 mostly don’t work, it was designed to be secure from a software point of view.

The processor starts running code from ROM (1bl) , which then starts loading a RSA signed and RC4 crypted piece of code from NAND (CB).

CB then initialises the processor security engine, its task will be to do real time encryption and hash check of physical DRAM memory. From what we found, it’s using AES128 for crypto and strong (Toeplitz ?) hashing. The crypto is different each boot because it is seeded at least from:
- A hash of the entire fuseset.
- The timebase counter value.
- A truly random value that comes from the hardware random number generator the processor embeds. on fats, that RNG could be electronically deactivated, but there’s a check for “apparent randomness” (merely a count of 1 bits) in CB, it just waits for a seemingly proper random number.

CB can then run some kind of simple bytecode based software engine whose task will mainly be to initialise DRAM, CB can then load the next bootloader (CD) from NAND into it, and run it.

Basically, CD will load a base kernel from NAND, patch it and run it.

That kernel contains a small privileged piece of code (hypervisor), when the console runs, this is the only code that would have enough rights to run unsigned code.
In kernel versions 4532/4548, a critical flaw in it appeared, and all known 360 hacks needed to run one of those kernels and exploit that flaw to run unsigned code.
On current 360s, CD contains a hash of those 2 kernels and will stop the boot process if you try to load them.
The hypervisor is a relatively small piece of code to check for flaws and apparently no newer ones has any flaws that could allow running unsigned code.

On the other hand, tmbinc said the 360 wasn’t designed to withstand certain hardware attacks such as the timing attack and “glitching”.

Glitching here is basically the process of triggering processor bugs by electronical means.

This is the way we used to be able to run unsigned code.

The reset glitch in a few words
===============================

We found that by sending a tiny reset pulse to the processor while it is slowed down does not reset it but instead changes the way the code runs, it seems it’s very efficient at making bootloaders memcmp functions always return “no differences”. memcmp is often used to check the next bootloader SHA hash against a stored one, allowing it to run if they are the same. So we can put a bootloader that would fail hash check in NAND, glitch the previous one and that bootloader will run, allowing almost any code to run.

Details for the fat hack
========================

On fats, the bootloader we glitch is CB, so we can run the CD we want.

cjak found that by asserting the CPU_PLL_BYPASS signal, the CPU clock is slowed down a lot, there’s a test point on the motherboard that’s a fraction of CPU speed, it’s 200Mhz when the dash runs, 66.6Mhz when the console boots, and 520Khz when that signal is asserted.

So it goes like that:
- We assert CPU_PLL_BYPASS around POST code 36 (hex).
- We wait for POST 39 start (POST 39 is the memcmp between stored hash and image hash), and start a counter.
- When that counter has reached a precise value (it’s often around 62% of entire POST 39 length), we send a 100ns pulse on CPU_RESET.
- We wait some time and then we deassert CPU_PLL_BYPASS.
- The cpu speed goes back to normal, and with a bit of luck, instead of getting POST error AD, the boot process continues and CB runs our custom CD.

The NAND contains a zero-paired CB, our payload in a custom CD, and a modified SMC image.
A glitch being unreliable by nature, we use a modified SMC image that reboots infinitely (ie stock images reboot 5 times and then go RROD) until the console has booted properly.
In most cases, the glitch succeeds in less than 30 seconds from power on that way.

Details for the slim hack
=========================

The bootloader we glitch is CB_A, so we can run the CB_B we want.

On slims, we weren’t able to find a motherboard track for CPU_PLL_BYPASS.
Our first idea was to remove the 27Mhz master 360 crystal and generate our own clock instead but it was a difficult modification and it didn’t yield good results.
We then looked for other ways to slow the CPU clock down and found that the HANA chip had configurable PLL registers for the 100Mhz clock that feeds CPU and GPU differential pairs.
Apparently those registers are written by the SMC through an I2C bus.
I2C bus can be freely accessed, it’s even available on a header (J2C3).
So the HANA chip will now become our weapon of choice to slow the CPU down (sorry tmbinc, you can’t always be right, it isn’t boring and it does sit on an interesting bus

So it goes like that:
- We send an i2c command to the HANA to slow down the CPU at POST code D8 .
- We wait for POST DA start (POST DA is the memcmp between stored hash and image hash), and start a counter.
- When that counter has reached a precise value, we send a 20ns pulse on CPU_RESET.
- We wait some time and then we send an i2c command to the HANA to restore regular CPU clock.
- The cpu speed goes back to normal, and with a bit of luck, instead of getting POST error F2, the boot process continues and CB_A runs our custom CB_B.p>

When CB_B starts, DRAM isn’t initialised so we chose to only apply a few patches to it so that it can run any CD, the patches are:
- Always activate zero-paired mode, so that we can use a modified SMC image.
- Don’t decrypt CD, instead expect a plaintext CD in NAND.
- Don’t stop the boot process if CD hash isn’t good.

CB_B is RC4 crypted, the key comes from the CPU key, so how do we patch CB_B without knowing the CPU key?
RC4 is basically:
crypted = plaintext xor pseudo-random-keystream
So if we know plaintext and crypted, we can get the keystream, and with the keystream, we can encrypt our own code. It goes like that:
guessed-pseudo-random-keystream = crypted xor plaintext
new-crypted = guessed-pseudo-random-keystream xor plaintext-patch
You could think there’s a chicken and egg problem, how did we get plaintext in the first place?
Easy: we had plaintext CBs from fat consoles, and we thought the first few bytes of code would be the same as the new CB_B, so we could encrypt a tiny piece of code to dump the CPU key and decrypt CB_B!

The NAND contains CB_A, a patched CB_B, our payload in a custom plaintext CD, and a modified SMC image.
The SMC image is modified to have infinite reboot, and to prevent it from periodically sending I2C commands while we send ours.

Now, maybe you haven’t realised yet, but CB_A contains no checks on revocation fuses, so it’s an unpatchable hack !

Caveats
=======

Nothing is ever perfect, so there are a few caveats to that hack:
- Even in the glitch we found is pretty reliable (25% success rate per try on average), it can take up to a few minutes to boot to unsigned code.
- That success rate seems to depend on something like the hash of the modified bootloader we want to run (CD for fats and CB_B for slims).
- It requires precise and fast hardware to be able to send the reset pulse.

Our current implementation
==========================

We used a Xilinx CoolRunner II CPLD (xc2c64a) board, because it’s fast, precise, updatable, cheap and can work with 2 different voltage levels at the same time.
We use the 48Mhz standby clock from the 360 for the glitch counter. For the slim hack, the counter even runs at 96Mhz (incremented on rising and falling edges of clock)
The cpld code is written in VHDL.
We need it to be aware of the current POST code, our first implementations used the whole 8 bits POST port for this, but we are now able to detect the changes of only 1 POST bit, making wiring easier.

Conclusion
==========

We tried not to include any MS copyrighted code in the released hack tools.
The purpose of this hack is to run Xell and other free software, I (GliGli) did NOT do it to promote piracy or anything related, I just want to be able to do whatever I want with the hardware I bought, including running my own native code on it.

Credits
=======

GliGli, Tiros: Reverse engineering and hack development.
cOz: Reverse engineering, beta testing.
Razkar, tuxuser: beta testing.
cjak, Redline99, SeventhSon, tmbinc, anyone I forgot… : Prior reverse engineering and/or hacking work on the 360.


1)Method to Run unsigned code on Slim!

MW3 Didn't Copy BF3, What Brings Fans Back to CoD, and more

For those of you who think that only Infinity Ward and Treyarch work on the Call of Duty franchise, you should know that Sledgehammer Games are developing Modern Warfare 3 side by side with Infinity Ward. Today, we have found some interesting things that Glen Scholfield and Michael Condrey, the co-founders of Sledgehammer Games, said about Modern Warfare 3. When a fan claimed that Modern Warfare 3 is copying Battlefield 3, Scholfield answered “We (the people behind MW3) haven’t copied BF3 at all. No need to and never seen much of it. We’re making the sequal to MW2, that’s what we look at.” Of course, MP1st’s loyal readers might recall that Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling has only played about an hour of Battlefield 3 and loved it. On another note, in a recent interview with NowGamer, when ask about the competition with the Battlefield 3, Condrey explained that he shares Eric Hirshberg’s thoughts, which you can find here. He went on to shed some light on what brings gamers back to Call of Duty by stating“It (Call of Duty) is fun, it’s fast, it’s 60 frames per second.” He explained “what 60 fps mean is it feels smooth, you’re in the action right away.” He ended his point with “I think that’s what’s been bringing fans back time and time again to Call of Duty.” When asked, on twitter, on whether the premium Elite service has anything to do with Dedicated servers on PC. Condrey reassured that “(dedicated servers are) free to all PC. Independent of Elite.”

Saturday 27 August 2011

Microsoft updates Xbox 360 ESPN channel with new features

Sports fans who own Microsoft's Xbox 360 console now have some new options for watching games. As promised several weeks ago, a major update to the console's ESPN3 channel is now available for console owners who have Xbox Live Gold access. As reported on the Major Nelson web site, the update brings a number of new features for the channel including being able to watch two live sports events at the same time via a split screen in 720p resolutions. Other new features include a new guide that shows off what's being offered for viewers on ESPN3 on the bottom of the screen. Fans of college football, which is just getting started here in the US, will be happy with the new scoreboard which allows fans to check out an updated list of the week's scores from the college scene on the right side of the screen while you watch your favorite game on the left side. You can also tag which future games are coming up and be reminded of them. The MySports feature lets you customize which games and game genres you are interested in seeing on the ESPN3 channel with news and highlights. There's also ESPN BottomLine, a new feature that offers up breaking news from the sports world. Kinect owners will also be happy with the ESPN3 update as they will be able to use the motion controller camera add on to control some aspects of the channel via voice control. You can use your voice to tell the channel to scroll through its content guide as well as play, pause and rewind sports highlights.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive info, screens arrive

A number of bits and bobs from Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive have been revealed. First off, don’t expect a brand new game with everything new. The included seven maps — five for Bomb/Defuse, two for Hostage Rescue — are all based on existing ones from Counter-Strike 1.6 and Counter-Strike: Source. Like with Portal 2, PS3, PC and Mac players will be able to play together, with PS3 users able to even the odds by using a mouse and keyboard to play. DualShock and PS Move are also supported. Furthermore, Valve will be hosting its own servers for all versions. Players are able to host their own as well, though only Valve’s will do matchmaking based on skill. The first few shots from the game are out as well. Jump to the gallery here to have a look. And the debut in-game trailer’s below:

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary supports 3D TVs

Microsoft has announced that Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary will have a 3D display mode. This confirms another piece of information from the report we gave you in February. Demonstrated to us at the recent Gamescom event in Germany, Halo's 3D intensity is scalable and only works in the game's updated graphics mode. Producer Dan Ayoub claims the framerate will stay "consistent" with 3D activated, even when things get hectic. The 3D experience will not be available in splitscreen co-op, nor when shifting over to Halo's original graphics engine. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary will be available on November 15.

Halo Anniversary adds 3 more maps, including PC version's 'Timberland

Reports from the frontlines of Halo Fest, as relayed by Major Nelson, have revealed three new multiplayer maps for the upcoming Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. The highlight of the bunch is probably Timberland, the pine-studded arena from the PC version of Halo (original version pictured), suitable for 8 to 16 players. Next up is Prisoner, a symmetrical map with bridges designed for 2-8 players. Finally, a new Firefight map has been announced. Titled Installation 04, the map is based on the level "Halo" from the original game, which you might remember as the first level in which Master Chief set foot on the ring world (after crash landing).

Halo: Reach title update coming in September, Armor Lock getting nerfed

At last night's Halo Fest event, we learned about a rather beefy title update to Halo: Reach that's set to launch sometime next month. The patch implements a number of significant (and, therefore, controversial) changes to the multiplayer title, with the biggest being the nerfing of the Armor Lock ability. Instead of making you an invulnerable juggernaut, Armor Lock now only prevents most of the damage done to you whilst locked, and no longer detaches stuck plasma grenades. Other changes include: the addition of "Shield Bleed-through," whereby damage done to players with a fraction of their shield remaining can now be carried over to their remaining health; an option to remove reticle bloom; the removal of a player's ability to deflect an oncoming sword lunge by meleeing (unless they too are using a sword); and the wholesale buffing of the pistol, bringing it closer to parity with its Halo: Combat Evolved predecessor.

Yes, of course the 'Gridlock' map will be in Gears of War 3

Epic Games has predictability on lock with the announcement of the tenth and final map for Gears of War 3 -- Gridlock, modified and revamped from the previous two Gears of War games. Gears 3's Gridlock will feature new weapon spawns and enhanced graphics (shocking), and will be set in the "eerie darkness of night." This is contrary to Epic's promise of brighter, less depressing maps, unless "eerie" means "as bright as the light of 1,000 suns" to Epic. Epic also confirmed Gears 3 will feature a skill-based lobby with the Casual Versus Multiplayer playlist, which will allow new players to compete against those of their same skill level, in order to prepare for the real bloodbaths of the normal lobbies. Read the full list of Gears 3 maps and their descriptions right here:

Final "Gears of War 3" Map Revealed as the Countdown to Launch Ticks Down
Epic Games unveils Gridlock, rounding out the list of 10 battlegrounds that will deliver this year's biggest must-have blockbuster

With less than a month until the most anticipated juggernaut of 2011 storms retail stores, Epic Games and Microsoft Studios today unleashed the first look at the complete lineup of "Gears of War 3" multiplayer maps, including the reveal of Gridlock, the revamped fan-favorite battleground returning from "Gears of War" and "Gears of War 2."

On top of the critically-acclaimed series' most epic-scale campaign yet, "Gears of War 3" is poised to deliver the must-have multiplayer experience of the year with 10 action-packed maps based on stunning campaign environments, all playable in Versus Multiplayer, Beast and Horde mode. Additionally, "Gears of War 3" includes a modified version of Gridlock, the legendary map that defined multiplayer gameplay in "Gears 1" and "Gears 2." Featuring graphical enhancements and new weapon spawns, the new Gridlock is set in the eerie darkness of night, forcing you to stay on your toes and work as a team as you stalk your opponents from the shadows.

Thanks to the participation and feedback of more than 1.2 million fans, "Gears of War 3" also features improved versions of Old Town, Thrashball and Trenches from this spring's public multiplayer beta. These maps have been enhanced based on player behavior to offer a more balanced and enjoyable experience for veterans and rookies alike. For example, Trenches features a new combat area that significantly changes the dynamic of the firefights, and similar modifications have been made to Trashball to better prevent spawn camping and level the playing field.

To further welcome newcomers to the "Gears" universe, "Gears 3" will include a Casual Versus Multiplayer playlist where new players will have the option to compete against one another. Based on massive amounts of data and testing, Epic can detect certain gameplay benchmarks and skill levels to maintain a safe arena where beginners can hone their skills, have fun, and prepare for the more advanced skill level lobbies.

Here is the full list of maps in "Gears of War 3," along with a description of each:

Checkout – Checkout's combat takes place in the carcass of an abandoned superstore. The shop owners tried to move their inventory with a closeout sale in the weeks leading up to the HOD evacuations, but ultimately had to walk away and leave everything to time and history. The intense close-quarters combat of the store aisles makes every decision important. Weapon selection is key, cover is essential to survival and every move has an impact. When facing your enemy, remember what the sign says: "Everything must go."

Drydock – Much has been written about the beauty of Seran culture, but people often forget the backbone of industry upon which it all relies. This shipyard stands full of undelivered goods and the necessary tools of a society's infrastructure. Its most prominent landmark is the rotting husk of a cargo ship that will forever stand in Drydock.

Gridlock РThis ashen street was once a bustling tourist destination known for its quaint inns and waterfront caf̩s. Even the water is gone now, replaced by the burnt shell of a crater that stands as a testament to the loss of Seran humanity.

Hotel – Small island resorts such as this one catered to the opulent tastes of vacationing Serans. But as the Lambent infection spreads across the globe, tides are shifting to flood once popular beaches, and fierce winds batter and push at the walls of humanity's creations.

Mercy – This area was once a bustling town square filled with people, but it never recovered from the UIR mortar shellings of the Pendulum Wars. Emergence soon followed, and the already heartbroken residents were shown no mercy by Locust forces, leading to an almost immediate evacuation. This large and open central square is surrounded on all sides by sheltered passageways and buildings. A raised dais yields powerful weaponry and a view of virtually everything within range, but the power located there must be hard-earned and well-protected to provide any lasting advantage.

Old Town – Several remote areas of Sera managed to stave off the impact of Emergence for quite some time. Island towns such as this one were able to sustain themselves with small farms and a steady bounty from the ocean. But all good things must come to an end, and eventually they could hide no more. This is an excellent map for team-based play, with multiple areas that are well-suited to both attack and defense scenarios. A well-executed plan will often reap great rewards, and an enemy caught unaware can be flushed into a trap like a chicken free of its coop.

Overpass – As the Lambent infection spreads across Sera, the planet is quite literally falling apart. And as the substrata beneath this forgotten overpass begin to disintegrate, the entire city block is collapsing along with it, sliding into a vast underground cavern. Head for the high ground or you just might slide along with it. Battles in this highly dynamic map often focus around the elevated Overpass, where teams can hole up and take advantage of the protected position and emplaced weaponry located there. But gaining the high ground can also be a trap, as the team left below will most assuredly use mortars and orbital lasers to regain their lost footing.

Sandbar – This observation post once had a commanding view of the distant horizon. Never threatened, it was thought to be impenetrable due to its unpredictable coastline and the constant shifting of sandbars along the shallow water of the coastline. And it never did fall; it was simply abandoned when humanity fled from a threat that nobody could ever see coming.

Thrashball – This stadium was once home to a different sort of national hero, one who fought for honor and glory, instead of scrambling for survival. The invigorating roar of the crowd has been replaced by the melancholy moaning of wind in the empty stadium seats. Stadium matches are no longer restricted to the playing field, and the team that controls the concession stands earns a great advantage. The scoreboard still keeps track of every point earned, but its frayed support cables also make it a precarious trap for anyone foolish enough to run underneath it.

Trenches – The Locust have begun to carve mines and tunnels into the rocks of the Seran Deadlands, eking out any existence that resembles the underground passages of the Hollow they once called home. But this harsh environment is as relentless and unforgiving as any enemy they've ever had to face. The Locust Trenches are small and tight, with clean lines of sight across virtually the entire battlefield. The central hill leads to a fortified bunker with a strategically important vantage point. Once taken, it is rarely surrendered, unless opposing forces can manage to sneak up under the cover of a passing sandstorm that leaves everyone blind for a short while.

"Gears of War 3" features the series' deepest and most expansive multiplayer experience yet, delivering genre-defining action across an arsenal of competitive and cooperative modes, including versus multiplayer, four-player campaign co-op, Horde 2.0 and Beast mode. New recruits will enjoy the finely balanced gameplay and accessible game types, which allow anyone to instantly jump into the action.

The fastest pre-selling Xbox exclusive in history, "Gears of War 3" launches worldwide on Sept. 20, 2011, and in Japan on Sept. 22. Developed by acclaimed studio Epic Games, "Gears of War 3" is available for preorder today in three distinct editions – Standard ($59.99 USD), Limited ($79.99) and Epic ($149.99). For additional details on the game, please visit gearsofwar.xbox.com and follow the "Gears of War" team at http://www.facebook.com/gearsofwar.

Players will be able to customise the more than 50 weapons found in Battlefield 3, resulting in a huge range of options.In a post on the BattleBlog, D

Ever wanted to know the deep lore behind and automotive specs inside Halo's most abundant form of military transportation? You can and you will, provided you pick up Turn 10's upcoming racer, Forza Motorsport 4. At last night's Halo Fest event, the studio announced that the new, Halo 4 model of the ubiquitous Warthog would be featured as an easter egg in the game's spectatorial "Auto Vista" mode. This means that you'll be able to sail around the new iteration of the car (using either a controller or Kinect-based gestures), manipulating its every feature and learning more about its backstory thanks to some 343-penned narration. The best part? Those voiceovers are performed by Jen Taylor, the actor behind Halo's luminous guide, Cortana. The worst part? The Warthog's only viewable in Auto Vista mode, and won't be driveable in actual races. We suppose that would be unfair, because, you know, chaingun.

Friday 26 August 2011

Battlefield 3 to sport “thousands” of custom weapons

Players will be able to customise the more than 50 weapons found in Battlefield 3, resulting in a huge range of options.In a post on the BattleBlog, DICE revealed “thousands of weapon customization options” available to players of the upcoming shooter. Each weapon will sport three accessory slots, and the more time you spend using each weapon, the greater the number of option you’ll unlock to fill those slots. Accessory options will include optics, suppressors, bipods, barrels, underslung grenade launchers, underslung shotguns, foregrips, flashlights, and laser sights. DICE gave the example of a carbine kitted out with heavy barrel, bipod, and a 4X magnification combat scope for use in a supportive, mid-range role, and then another equipped with a suppressor, foregrip, and quick acquisition holographic scope for stealthy types. Battlefield 3 is due on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in late October.

Microsoft Comments on Xbox 720

The first console of this generation, the Xbox 360 is getting on a bit in years, with many expecting a new console to be announced soon. Microsoft has now commented on rumors of the 360's successor, dubbed the 720.Talking to Eurogamer, Chris Lewis, vice president of Interactive Entertainment Business for Microsoft Europe, said I would only say it’s too long if things are stagnating. If developers are finding they’re bumping their heads against the glass ceiling of development scope, if we weren’t bringing revolutionary technology like Kinect, if we weren’t able to, frankly, completely update the UI of Xbox Live without predicating that on people buying new hardware, were those things not true I might be more in agreement with your assessment. I actually don’t think it’s too long if the experience continues to grow, if people continue to flock to it and they feel like they’re getting great value. That is everything we’re experiencing right now. That’s how I’d answer that. Continuing: I’m being charged with more growth this year versus next year. Sure, I chew the back of my hand a little bit when I think about what that means. We had a very good year last year. But, I do also believe there is sufficient in what’s coming and exists right now for that to be a very realistic ambition. We’re not talking about any additional or new generations of hardware at the moment. We’re fixated on what we’ve got going on right now. Later, when asked whether he thought the Xbox 720 was being researched and developed, he said: Sure. As you can imagine, of course we’re working on all sorts of different things. We do that all the time. Frankly, in all aspects of Microsoft, not just what we do with Xbox, our R&D investment is second to none. But to your point about life cycle timing, we’re in pretty good shape. As long as hordes of casual gamers continue to buy Kinect, it is clear that Microsoft will continue to support the 360, but with the Wii U out next year, how long can they wait?

Thursday 25 August 2011

Rumor: Xbox 360 4 GB with Kinect to get $50 price cut

Want to get an new Xbox 360 with a Kinect controller today? If so, you might want to wait a few extra days if the latest rumor is correct. According to Joystiq, pictures of an upcoming Wal Mart newspaper flyer show that for the week of August 28, the retailer will be selling the 4 GB version of the Xbox 360 with the Kinect motion controller camera included for $249. That's a $50 price cut compared to its current $299 price. There's no word yet if this price cut is just for Wal Mart customers or if it will extend to other retailers. There's also no word if other Xbox 360 consoles will get similar price cuts.

Earlier this month, Sony announced it was cutting the price of its Playstation 3 console by $50 for its 160 GB version (to $249) and the 320 GB version (to $299). Nintendo has also cut the price of its 3DS portable console by $80 to $169.99. Both the PS3 and the 3DS have seen big sales jumps at retailers such as Amazon since the price cuts went into effect.

In related news, Warner Bros. Interactive is showing off pictures of a custom Xbox 360 console on Facebook with artwork from the upcoming action game Batman Arkham City. People who attend this week's PAX Prime event in Seattle can come to the Warner Bros Interactive booth to register to win one and non-PAX attendees will apparently get their own chance to win another Batman: Arkham City Xbox 360 console via Microsoft at a later point in time.

Play Battlefield 3 This Bank Holiday Weekend in the UK

This weekend UK gamers can play the hotly-anticipated Battlefield 3 at insomnia43, the UK's biggest gaming festival. The event has already been confirmed as the biggest ever UK LAN party. But it isn't all purely for fun, with over £50,000 to be won by those entering the tournament. Other games featured in the competition include FIFA 11, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Counter-Strike: Source. "This is a real coup for insomnia43," says Craig Fletcher, Managing Director of Multiplay UK, who organise the event. "It will be the first time gamers will be able to see for themselves why Battlefield 3 has been garnering so much praise. It's a stunning game, and one which is sure to draw a crowd." Competitor places have nearly sold out, but day passes for spectators are still available, priced at £5.
The event takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend (26-29 August) at the Telford International Centre. For more information see the i43's official website.

New Batman Xbox 360s Preview

PAX attendees have chance to win a custom painted, Batman: Arkham City-themed Xbox 360. Microsoft's official Xbox Facebook page published several photos of the giveaway today saying those headed to the Penny Arcade Expo can register to win one at the Warner Bros. booth. The company says those not going to the show in Seattle this weekend will have other opportunities to win one, but would not share details at this time. Check out these preview pics and see what you think - sick or miss!?








New Xbox 360 Bundle rumored to include five games

A rumor from the French Canadian readership for Joystiq recently suggested that a new Xbox 360 Bundle will be heading our way. The great part about the new bundle is that it will include downloadable copies of five of the best that Xbox 360 has to offer. According to the image, the new bundle is of the 250 GB variety, and comes packed with Alan Wake, Gears of War 2, Halo 3, Fable III, and Halo Wars. The image which comes from a retailer in the region, is from Future Shop. The bundle is said to go on sale tommorrow in Canada. As Joystiq postulates, it's entirely possible that this is a Canadian only promotion for the console, and with no announcement for the United States, it's looking likely. Though if you are planning on picking up a 360 in the near future, you might want to see if Microsoft offers the same deal to its US consumers.

Forza 4 creative lead: game missing Porsches due to lack of access from EA

Despite their inclusion in previous Forza Motorsport titles, Forza 4 won't feature any vehicles from German sports car company Porsche. In a FAQ posted to the official Forza website, Turn 10 creative director Dan Greenwalt explained, "EA couldn't see their way towards collaborating again," though it seems that it wasn't for lack of trying on Turn 10's part. EA currently has licensing exclusivity arrangements with Porsche, similar to the publisher's deal with the NFL. But with Need for Speed: Shift becoming its own sim racing franchise, it seems EA could be pushing back on the Forza folks. "We've asked our contacts at EA to reconsider their position frequently and regularly over the last 18 months," Greenwalt said. "We also reached out to various influential people in gaming to lobby on our behalf, but that was to no avail." Though he said that his employer and EA have worked out sub-licensing deals before, this time EA didn't allow wasn't on board -- regardless of how hard Turn 10 lobbied. In total, the game will be lacking 35 Porsche models, replaced with an unnamed cadre of "new makes and models." Greenwalt's lament is palpable in his conclusion, where he apologized to series loyalists: "Fans shouldn't have to think about any of this -- you should just be able to drive Porsches and Ferraris in the games you love. Porsche makes wonderful cars and I'm sorry that we won't have them in Forza 4." EA had yet to respond to request for comment as of publishing.

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Microsoft goes for broke in Japan with Xbox 360 Monster Hunter bundle

All right, so the Xbox is kind of tanking in Japan, and has been since day one. Microsoft has introduced a new bundle that seems custom-designed for reclaiming the shelf space that retailers have reportedly been taking away from the platform: one with the Monster Hunter Frontier logo on it. The 29,800 yen ($389) bundle includes a 250GB Xbox 360, a download code for Monster Hunter Frontier Online, and free armor and weapons. Here's where it gets rough: the code allows you to play until hunter rank 2, so ... it's really more of a demo. Still, there will be people who buy this whole thing (which costs the same as a plain 250GB Xbox) just for the in-game items.


Kinect Star Wars and R2D2 Xbox 360 bundle delayed

Microsoft has confirmed to OXM it has delayed Kinect Star Wars and the awesome R2D2-inspired limited-edition Xbox 360 with Kinect bundle. Both titles were originally slated for release this holiday season, and no new date has been provided. “Microsoft and LucasArts have elected to move the launch of Kinect Star Wars beyond holiday 2011 to ensure the full potential of this title is realized,” a spokesperson told the site. “This move applies to both the Kinect Star Wars stand-alone game and the Kinect Star Wars Limited Edition Console. “We will communicate additional timing information at a later date.” While it has already been noted that there isn’t a new date for the title, OXM seems to understand it will arrive sometime after the first of the year. At any rate, we need to ask for something else besides that cool Xbox 360 for Christmas now.


Microsoft demands simultaneous multiplatform releases

Firm reserves the right to deny Xbox 360 release for games released first on rival platforms. Microsoft reserves the right to refuse an Xbox 360 release for games that are released first on other platforms, according to reports. Eurogamer reveals that Microsoft's developer terms also stipulate that the company may also refuse to allow an Xbox 360 release for games that offer more features or content on other platforms. Microsoft's content submission and release policy reads: "Titles for Xbox 360 must ship at least simultaneously with other videogame platforms, and must have at least feature and content parity on-disc with other platform versions in all regions where the title is available.

"If these conditions are not met, Microsoft reserves the right to not allow the content to be released on Xbox 360."

The terms apply to Xbox Live Arcade games, too, with Microsoft's online content terms stipulating that games "must simultaneously release on Xbox Live Marketplace in all regions where the game is available." Demos, too, "must ship within the same week of its launch on other videogame platforms or via magazines."

Microsoft's vice president of interactive entertainment, Chris Lewis, defended the policy, saying: "We're a little biased, so obviously we're going to look to protect our own space as best we can and get exclusivity…we seek to maximise our own advantage to ensure the playing field is even, and certainly plays to our advantage wherever possible."

Lewis goes on to sound a familiar refrain by saying that the company's restrictive terms benefit its users. "Honestly - and this is going to sound a bit contrived - we just want what our consumers want from us," he said. "We want to be where they want us to be.

"We want the quality bar of what they experience from us to continue to go up. I think it has to happen; everybody's got to do that. If we want to continue to command healthy average selling prices, which we all do, that which we offer our consumers has got to keep getting better."

One publisher, speaking on condition of anonymity, strongly disagreed. "Microsoft is suggesting that anything but parity will result in them not carrying a title," the source said. "They may think this is competitive, but it's not. They are killing any creative exposure of titles to make up for their own platform's shortcomings."

While it is no secret that Microsoft demands exclusivity for Xbox Live Arcade games included in promotions like Summer Of Arcade, the news that it demands feature and release parity across the board is something of a surprise. The claim that it motivated by the needs of its consumers, too, seems a little odd, as it seems designed not to reward those who own Microsoft platforms so much as punish those that do not.

Spec(tacle) ops: Gunnar making Modern Warfare 3-branded glasses

Gunnar Optiks is offering glasses that don't just make it easier to look at screens, they're clearly labeled with what you'll be looking at. Just as it did with Black Ops and Modern Warfare 2, Gunnar is producing a version of its "Advanced Gaming Eyewear" bearing the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 logo. The yellow-tinted $99 glasses, like other Gunnars, are designed to reduce strain and enhance contrast when looking at LCD screens. This particular model is also designed to subtly advertise Activision's upcoming sales juggernaut from the sides of your face. The MW3 "Gaming Eyewear" will be sold exclusively at Best Buy around the release of the game, with pre-orders opening this month.


Bethesda talks Skyrim - Tonnes of gameplay footage

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim director Todd Howard's sat down (well, stood up really) to talk to CVG's video team about all things dragons. The Bethesda man also touched on the studio's post-release plans for the highly-anticipated sequel, telling our men and women behind the cameras that Skyrim's DLC will be "between Point Lookout for Fallout 3 and Shivering Isles for Oblivion" in scale. "Some of the bigger ones we did for Fallout 3 I thought were better. I like the Rockstar model too where it feels more like an expansion pack," he said.



"I honestly don't know what we're going to do yet but that's kind of the way we're looking at it - something that's going to cost a bit more but be more of a complete package."

Kanye West scheduled to close out Call of Duty XP

Confession time: We really can't play Call of Duty -- or any other shooter franchise, for that matter -- without Kanye West's "Power" playing in the background. We simply can't do it. No other ditty is capable of eliciting so much badass juice from our action glands. Luckily, Activision understands this deep physiological need, and has booked the hip-hop icon for the Call of Duty XP convention on the night of Saturday, September 3. This will be the first time West has performed since the release of his musical collaboration with Jay-Z, "Watch the Throne." We can't wait to see him perform our favorite singles from the LP, including "Keep an Eye On the Seat," and "Hey, Check Out This Totally Fancy Chair."

Battlefield 3 Co-op Full Walkthrough

By now, if you're a Battlefield fan you've heard and or seen the cooperative gameplay reveal for Battlefield 3. The game mode which will have you working with a friend to navigate deadly enemy territories was on display fully at this year's Gamescom show in Cologne. New video has surfaced of a sixteen minute walkthrough of some intense co-op footage. Unfortunately, there was no lack of annoying background noise at Gamescom so pop in some music of preference and watch this latest gameplay video to the beat of your own drum.




Call of Duty Black Ops - moon zombies Easter eggs, Glitches and Tricks

The Xbox Gaming News community has been hard at work finding all of the new secrets that lie in the newest zombie installment, “Moon”. From the start, the community has known that Moon would be packed with Easter Eggs galore they’re continuing to fill in the missing pieces step by step. Want to help? Head on over to our Zombie - Moon / Classic maps Glitches/Tricks board now! to find the latest updates on Moon Easter eggs, tricks, glitches and guides here are a few threads created by the communituy you should check out

1) Moon Glitches Gameplay Achievements Locations *NEW*
2) Moon Mega Thread *NEW*Easter Egg Steps* *8/23*
3) Moon Easter Egg/Mega Thread! **Second Easter Egg Step!!!**

PS3 owners shun Modern Warfare 3 pre-orders

Xbox 360 owners might be looking at less killer exclusive games for the Xbox 360 (beyond Kinect and sequels), but in terms of pre-ordering Activision's forthcoming action packed first person shooter Modern Warfare 3, are putting down the cash in their droves. Like moths to a flame you could argue, but then again, when the experience on offer is this high, why not. Sadly, Playstation 3 owners are simply not buying into the Modern Warfare 3 hype so it seems, and are either likely to purchase the game when it releases - as there will be no shortages. It also appears that they are not interested in any pre-order incentives. Last week according to the pre-order charts week ending 13th August 2011, the PS3 only secured 17,099 pre-orders. That's very low numbers compared to the 66,000 for the Xbox 360 version over the same weekly period. Taking the blinkers off though and it's perhaps clear where PS3 owners are putting their money into. With several exclusives on the horizon such as Resistance 3 and Uncharted 3, there's no real reason to invest in a multi-format game at present. However, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception only secured 8,424 pre-orders last week which isn't very good either. The masses of PS3 owners are placing their money into Madden NFL 12 which has a whopping 69,077 pre-orders last week. We already reported on the differences between Xbox and PS3 consumers pre-ordering habits, and firmly believe that Xbox 360 owners tend to be more forthcoming. Either way, once Modern Warfare 3 hits the shelves, there will be no doubt that the PS3 servers will be very busy indeed regardless of what the pre-order numbers are suggesting.

BF3 No One Hit Body Kills with Snipers, More Weapon Recoil, and More

There has been tons of Battlefield 3 info floating around the internet this past week. Recently, DICE developers have been much more generous with specifics on weapons and other details about the game. In particular, Alan Kertz, known as Demize99 on Twitter, has revealed some interesting tidbits of info and MP1st has it all here: When asked about the AK47 and the two M16′s, Kertz stated, “the M16A3 and M16A4 are both in the game, [this] was decided after the fact sheet was printed.” What could be the in-game difference between the two is still unknown. Perhaps they are meant for different classes? In regard to the AK47, Kertz said the “AK47 is obsolete. We have the AK74M.” Kertz also talked about weapon customization. Weapon optics were a point of interest for many fans. When asked about the recently announced enhanced night vision, Kertz stated, “the ENV is a weapon optic. It only turns on when you zoom in. There is no always on ENV. It cannot be disabled in zoom either.” In regards to side arms, Kertz said there will be “no pistol customization, but a wide variety will be available.” Kertz was also asked if all weapons could have suppressors attached to them. He answered, “not shotguns, pretty much everything else. Some are more effective than others.” He also mentioned the flashlight attachment. “Shadows play a big role, and flashlights make a big difference.” Kertz also elaborated on bullet drop saying, “gravity is the same but velocity is different giving [bullets] different drops and travel time at the same ranges.” He added, “the distances are larger so the drop has been tweaked accordingly.” Another interesting feature that was shown in the latest tailer was the scope glint on the weapon optics. Kertz informed us “glint is based on the scope. Out a high zoom scope on a AR will give glint too.” When asked about whether glint would be noticeable only if the enemy is aiming at the player or not, Kertz confirmed, “yes it’s directional.” A hot topic about weapons that was noticeable in the leaked alpha footage was regarding the recoil. Daniel “zh1n0″ Matros replied to the question of whether or not there is more weapon recoil by stating “yes, depends on what guns you pick.” One very interesting, and potentially controversial statement that Kertz made was, “there are no 1 hit body kills with sniper rifles. Pull your side arm or use a semi auto for fast follow up hits.

Modern Warfare 3 Single Player Footage Leaks out of Gamescom

New gameplay footage from Modern Warfare 3's single player campaign has recently leaked out of a private showing at Gamescom in Cologne. I can confirm that this is the same demo that was shown to press in Los Angeles at E3 2011. The short clip of a special ops segment in the campaign is one part of the demo that shows just one of the many unit types that you'll be playing as in Modern Warfare 3. Portions of the demo that weren't included in the video clip include what was shown at Microsoft's E3 Press Event, which has divers planting a charge underwater, and the epic scene in which you chase down a train via truck. The off-screen footage doesn't do the game justice, as in the setting provided by Activision it was as intense as we've seen from a Call of Duty campaign. Have a look at the video below for a small taste of the gameplay from Modern Warfare 3's single player.


Microsoft has no plans for a Xbox 360 price cut

Sony recently announced the drop in price for its PlayStation 3, and you would think that this has Microsoft worried at losing market share. However, this isn't the case at all according to Chris Lewis of Microsoft. Lewis said in a recent interview that the company has no plans for a price drop, and cites "value" associated with the Xbox 360 that other consoles aren't offering. "We think we offer great value now," Lewis said. "We have better service provision than anybody. We attach more effectively than anybody. I think Xbox Live’s enviable. What we’ve achieved with Kinect has given us growth that I think others would aspire to at this point in the lifecycle. We’re happy with our position. While we’re not complacent about the competition, I wouldn’t trade places." Microsoft has proven its dominance among competitors in the North American market, and Lewis also recently claimed that Xbox Live is one of the determining factors that is making the console a success. Lewis predicts that the Xbox 360's advantages are many to other consoles, and NPD data supports the console's growing install base. At this late stage in the game, both Sony and Microsoft are looking to soak up as many consumers as possible during this most profitable time in the production cycle. Retailers have suggested that the recent PS3 price cuts have had a significant impact on the bottom line at retailers, though we'll need to wait and see what next months sales data notes and whether the price cuts have had their intended effects in key markets.