Have you ever found that there was something missing from the Joystiq family? We've got your Xbox 360 news covered here at X3F and those otherguys have their sites too. Even handhelds have a place to call home along with MMO aficionados and WoW addicts, but something has been missing. Until now.
Today we're happy to give PC gamers a place to call their own with our new sister site, Big Download. In partnership with out good friends at GameDaily, we're taking the protective cover off the beta version of our fully-featured, fast and free PC downloads engine married to a news and features blog powered by the Joystiq Network.
At Big Download you'll get all the news and features you've come to expect from a Joystiq family member, with some familiar blogging faces (like me!), along with a file tracking system that remembers your favorite games and best of all, no waiting in line for downloads. Big Download offers you a one-stop shop for free of charge access to demos, patches, mods, trailers and more!
We invite you to visit us and start poking around while we tinker away at our new baby. Like any modern web product we're launching in beta version -- there may be kinks and rough edges to be worked out, so bear with us, mind the dust and be sure to send us any feedback you have so we can make all the final fixes. So drop in, mind the dents and join us because before you know it we're going to drop that beta tag and come out guns-o-blazing. Big Ol' Guns.
We hope to see you at Big Download, where all the news is big and all the downloads are above average!
When Electronic Arts confirmed that specific weapons would be made available for purchase over the Xbox Live Marketplace (and included in the special edition) for Battlefield: Bad Company they assured gamers the balance of the game would not be compromised. Despite that claim, the fear from the community is that the paid weapons will be overly powerfull and that gamers who decided to opt out of the purchase would be punished at a multiplayer level.
Ever viligant in our quest of the truth, this very special edition of X3F TV will compare the free weapons in the Battlefield: Bad Company beta to the special weapons that will be featured exclusively in the Gold Edition of the game and for sale over the Xbox Live Marketplace when the game launches this summer.
Using the in-game comparison tool included in the closed beta of Battlefiled: Bad Company, we've compared each paid weapon for the five soldier classes to their free counterparts. The results may surprise you.
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Having problems getting into the Battlefield: Bad Company beta? We mean legitimately of course. Well, Xbox Live's Major Nelson has you covered! For the next 10 days the Major will award 10 fresh beta codes per day, equaling the 100 codes he was able to snag for EA'sBattlefield: Bad Company beta test.
The controversial beta of the upcoming first-person shooter went live on March 25 and is set to run until April 25. For details on the giveaway, including how you can be entered to win, visit Major Nelson's blog.
Update: Some of our loyal commenters are telling us that a modified Xbox 360 console is not required for the Battlefield: Bad Company beta leak. However, considering the online nature of this "demo" we'd recommend you'd be wary of attempting this process -- lest the ban hammer be used to knock your console offline for good.
Tipsters are telling us that the Battlefield: Bad Company beta has not only leaked to online download sites but that it may also be playable via a burnt DVD-R, much like the demo for Guitar Hero III. The ability to clone the download of the beta and release it to other consoles also reminds us of the Call of Duty 4 beta glitch which allowed gamers to use the account recovery feature to circumvent the barriers in place of people who hadn't been selected to participate in the closed test.
This situation appears to be more serious as download sites are claiming users will have to modify their console in particular ways in order to run the download from a DVD-R. Of course we remind you that any modification of your Xbox 360 console will void your warranty and can lead to an outright ban of all Xbox online services, including playing games over Xbox Live.
Don't do it. Stay in school. This is your brain on drugs.
When the Halo 3 beta was announced gamers were perplexed at the notion that they'd only be able to enjoy online Halo-hyjinx if they threw down the money for Crackdown. Eventually the "Halo 3 beta with a free copy of Crackdown" jokes out when Crackdown turned out to be a solid title. While we didn't think anyone would be brave enough to force another purchase on us in hopes to test an anticipated title, we were wrong.
Today GameSpot is reporting that Capcom has outlined plans to follow in Microsoft's shoes by offering a free beta key for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix to gold Xbox Live members who purchase, the recently renamed, Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3. Upon spending 800 MS Points ($10) for Commando 3, eligible gamers will be able to take part in the stress test for approximately eight-weeks with access to two classic characters, Ryu and Ken.
The test is scheduled to begin shortly after the release of Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3, which hits this Spring. According to Capcom, tests are required to test latency issues for the upcoming XBLA fighting game. Based on Capcom's past of online fighting issues, we think this test is warranted.
We've already talked about it today, but now we have some official news about the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare multiplayer beta via the official website. CharlieOscarDelta.com has just been updated with a truckload of information about the beta, confirming the idea that the beta will start in the US and roll out to other countries soon after as well as other game specifics including gametypes, weapons, classes, controls, perk and other FAQ goodness. The update also confirms that the COD4:MW MP BETA (yes, that is how they abbreviate it) will feature the three maps Overgrown, Vacant, and Crash. So, as you can tell, there's a bunch of information to take in and still no firm release date.
But we're sure you're wondering how exactly you can enter the COD4:MW MP BETA fun and to be honest it's quite easy and quite random. The download codes will be available on a first come first serve basis to those who answer three trivia questions correctly. But you'll have to keep an eye on the beta page, because the questions and entry into the beta are set at a "coming soon!" status and could open up at any moment in the near future. Head on over to CharlieOscarDelta.com fanboys, soak it all in and prepare for some beta fun!
Over the weekend, David at MyArcadePlanet tossed around the idea that the Halo 3 beta actually hurt the game and killed off much of its hype. He feels that the beta was both a fun and entertaining experience, but his hands on time with the game released much of the built up Halo 3 excitement within' him. His personal stash of Halo 3 hype is gone.
And we can agree with David to some extent, because Bungie is treating the Halo 3 release differently than its we're tight lipped, no one can touch our game, Halo 2 launch. So, we're sure some fans' hypometer may be running lower since they got hands on time and know what to expect, even if it was only a little taste of what's to come. But on the other side of the coin is that the beta has actually increased the hype in other fans' eyes, because they loved their time playing the beta and want to see, learn, and play more. But we can all agree that the Halo 3 beta has had some effect on those who played it, good or bad.
But what about you. Did playing the beta increase or decrease your excitement (and overall hype) for Halo 3?
Game Daily whipped together a list of what they think the top fiveHalo 3 beta weapons are in their current state. Making the list at number five is the slightly less powerful Rocket Launcher with the Chaingun, Brute Spiker and Shotgun all making an appearance. And what's Game Daily's favorite Halo 3 beta weapon that they feel has the most pwnability? Old trusty herself, the sniper rifle. Though, we can't help but notice that a few of our favorite weapons are absent from their list including the beefed up Needler, the punishing Spartan Laser and the good-in-any-situation Carbine. So, we can't help but disagree.
Now we ask you, fellow fanboys, what are your top five Halo 3 beta weapons? Missile Pod need not apply.
Fresh from the Halo 3 beta's "that's freakin' awesome video clip vault" is a video we like to call Banshee Meets Trip Mine. While standing on a base in Valhalla a red team member decides to pick up a trip mine, spots an incoming Banshee, and tosses the mine into the man cannon. And as you can see in the video, the Banshee loses the fight. How amazingly great it is. Tune in next time for a brand new Halo 3 beta video straight from the "that's freakin' awesome video clip vault". Goodbye everyone and good night!
The other day we reported on a hacking group that cracked opened the Halo 3 beta code and found values referring to new weapons, new vehicles, and new gametypes. But now it looks like the beta code has revealed more info about how we'll be playing the campaign. Over at the 7th Columnist they dug up some error text in the Halo 3 beta code that could confirm four player co-op, which states "The party size is too large to start the game. Up to 4 players may play coop on Xbox Live or System Link". Does this confirm four player co-op in campaign? Well, not just yet ... but we'll be an optimistic bunch and cross our fingers and toes. Anyone thinking four player co-op over Xbox Live would be the greatest thing since, say, sliced bread?
The fellas over at Hushed Casket are reporting that while playing the Halo 3 beta some players have experienced a network error, causing a weird bug to occur, which ultimately displays a hidden custom game settings menu. The custom games menu is chalk full of options, including the ability to change players' speed, ammunition count, recharge rate, motion tracker range, and even gravity settings. Don't believe us? Take a look at all the screenshots that Hushed Casket has unearthed and a full list of custom gametype options after the break. But don't get too excited, because the Halo 3 beta custom gametypes menu is only for looks and does not allow you to make a game with the options. Which is too bad, because we so wanted to play a few rounds of Tankball.
For those of you who got in the Halo 3 beta via the Rule of Three program and didn't get your code, then listen up. Bungie says they that they did sent out all the codes and that people who are reporting that they didn't get them probably had the email blocked, misplaced, or is laying in their junk email. So, yesterday Bungie resent the Rule of Three beta codes between 6 and 7:00PM eastern time from email addresses similar to halo3beta-X@microsoft.com. And so be sure to check your junk mail box or look for an email from Microsoft between that time interval. Also note that this second email includes the same Halo 3 beta code that was sent to your email from the other day. So, if you are already playing the beta, simply ignore this new email.
Oh no! The Halo 3 beta has been out for a few days now (but not for all of us) and the hacker/modder/explorers among the community have been hard at work trying to break the game. Well, not really break the game, but exploiting the beta's weaknesses. As you can see in the video above, players have found ways to climb huge structures, get on top of the maps, do some crazy jumping, and overall reminds us of how exploited Halo 2 online is. Here's to hoping Bungie can find the balance between multiplayer map exploration and players using unfair map exploits.
We got off to a rough start this morning, but everything smells of roses and fresh baked cookies now. Bungie sent word that the Halo 3 beta is finally available to download for those of you who are getting access through Crackdown. Simply pop in Crackdown, make your way to the main menu, select Downloads, and then Download Halo 3 beta. It's easy as pie! And yes, we know the public beta is going live a few hour later than promised, but can't we just forgive, forget, and get to fragging already? Or just take your anger out on the unsuspecting foes that you meet in the beta and unleash the fury! Have fun guys.
PS: They've extended the beta a few days longer until June 10th. How nice ...
Golly gee willikers, it looks like the Bungie team has finally posted an update on this whole Crackdown slash Halo 3 beta fiasco. According to SketchFactor, Microsoft has pinpointed the download problem, implemented a fix, and is doing some final testing as you read this blog. So, with any luck, the Halo 3 beta will be available for Crackdown downloaders in roughly 3-6 hours which is only like ... 15 or so hours later than expected. But don't worry, Bungie cares about your feelings and apologizes for the minor (some say major) inconvenience, because they really do feel bad. Keep your eyes peeled and your Crackdown disc at arm's length, we're in for one long night of extremely slow downloading.
