Attention cyber-soldiers: Infinity Ward has dropped word that the Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareVariety Map pack will be made available for half price (400MS points) this weekend. Attempting to gain popularity for the struggling title, players will also be able to earn Double XP during ranked games beginning September 12, 12AM PDT and running through September 14 at midnight -- the same time-frame for the discounted maps.
If you'd like to show your support for a title that barely made a splash during its release downloading the four map package would be a nice start. Infinity Ward needs your help and are even offering Limited Edition Prestige gamerpics for free as yet another bonus. Save a developer. Help this struggling franchise. Oh, wait. We were thinking of Soldier Of Fortune for some reason. Never mind, Modern Warfare sold like a bajillion copies.
Ed. Note: Bajillion is SO a word.
In a recent live chat with Rare devotees, Rare's Justin Cook made it clear that there are no plans for any Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise downloadable content. Furthermore, Cook says that Rare is "taking a break" from the Viva Piñata franchise in order to "make something new." Just what this something new is, Cook failed to elaborate. The "new" part makes us suspect it won't be a return to Rare's other franchises like Perfect Dark or Kameo, but there's no way to be sure. Cook added that even Rare's plans regarding another Viva Piñata could change, so we'll just have to wait and see. Still, is it too much to ask for a new Battletoads?
Be sure to hit the source link to read the whole chat. It covers plenty of nitty-gritty details in VP2.
As info for all things other than the Xbox 360 arrives fresh from the Leipzig Games Convention, Microsoft took the opportunity to tease Grand Theft Auto IV gamers with the upcoming exclusive downloadable content. "In autumn there will be news from Liberty City; the first episodes of GTA IV will be available for download exclusively on Xbox LIVE, underlining Xbox 360's leadership role in the field of digital entertainment."
While the obvious assumption is "news from Liberty City" points at an Autumn launch for the first episode of the content, the "news" referenced in the quote could be a solidified release date for the long-awaited content. Take-Two previously noted that the DLC is expected to arrive during Fiscal Q109 -- which for Take-Two falls between the beginning of November 2008 and the end of January 2009 -- but Microsoft has stood firm on a 2008 release for Episode One.
Those who purchased Civilization Revolution know the game shipped with a pack-in card with a code to download exclusive content based on their retailer of choice. The only problem is, the content was not available when the game launched. A few days ago the 2K Games Code Redemption site updated to reveal pack-in cards can now be used to download the free pack via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Using the code found packed in with your copy of Civilization Revolution, gamers can get a Marketplace code good for a download of fresh content for the turn-based strategy game. What is the content? Well, that depends where you bought your copy of the game. Jump in to find out.
Speaking to MTV's Multiplayer, BioWare's Greg Zeschuk came tantalizingly close to confirming more DLC for Mass Effect. While Zeschuk didn't go so far as to confirm that more DLC is on the way, he did say that Bioware is "talking about" it and that BioWare wants gamers to "always have something ... to try." We're sure that Mass Effect fans would agree, especially considering they've had nothing new to explore since the "Bring Down the Sky" DLC released in March. Unfortunately, Zeschuk said nothing regarding when we might actually see this potential DLC, so it looks like Mass Effect fans are still left out in the cold darkness of space.
For players looking to expand their musical experience in a tale of souls and swords, eternally retold, Namco Bandai has released all 17 tracks from the original Soulcalibur soundtrack on the Xbox Live Marketplace for play within Soulcalibur IV. At 80MS points a piece or 1,200MS points for the entire pack, the content is truly for the hardcore SoCal fans -- or those with an affinity for nonsense DLC.
Also available on the XBLM is actual content for the game! The Customization Equipment 1 pack clocks in at 100MS points and includes a number of new items to use for character customization. The content pack is also revival themed in that it includes equipment Soulcalibur fans will recognize from previous games in the series -- including armor sets and headgear for a number of characters.
Board game aficionados may have noticed that the Ticket to Ride: Europe DLC that was promised last week is nowhere to be seen. As the name implies, the Europe DLC allows would-be railway commissioners to lay tracks across Europe (though we see that Ireland is left out of the fun) and also adds a plethora of new features (ferries, tunnels!). Joystiq has contacted Playful Entertainment, the game's developer, but has received no answer thus far. Our conversation with Microsoft turned up similar results, so for now we remain in the dark. We'll post any new information once we hear it.
When it was introduced to the masses, digital distribution of games and content seemed too crazy to work. Press a few buttons and a game is delivered to me ... legally? Well sunshine, it did work and for EA it worked out really well.
During their fiscal Q1 conference call, Electronic Arts announced it has generated over $90 million in revenue through digital distribution. Ostensibly compiled from data of sales via the EA Store and downloadable content on consoles, the $90m shot in the arm accounted for 11% of EA's overall quarterly revenue ($804m in total).
To think, if those Battlefield: Bad Company weapons did go for sale EA would make like $90.1m -- because we all have that one friend who would think it was a good idea. And by friend we mean the guy we just deleted from our Friend's List, because that dude's a fool.
If you feel like the E3 2008 news blitz is getting to you then maybe you just need to rock out for a little while. Thankfully, Harmonix has finally released 'The Best of The Who' compilation -- exclusively thrown together for Rock Band. Released as a replacement for the originally planned album 'Who's Next,' the compilation pack includes such classic tracks as "Baba O'Riley," "Who Are You" and "My Generation." Basically you should stop-drop and roll toward your console and download the album ASAP.
The Best of The Who Rock Band Edition (1600 MS points / $20) -- All songs are also sold individually (160 MS Points / $2)
During the Microsoft Press Conference yesterday, Harmonix unveiled the full song set-list for Rock Band 2. Nearly doubling the set list size of the original release, Rock Band 2 will include 84 tracks (all master recordings) on the retail disc, plus there are plans to release an additional 20 tracks as free downloadable content after the game's release.
The Rock Band 2 press release, which included the final set-list for the game, also mentions that Rock Band content from the original retail disc will be transferable to the sequel, but for a price. According to the release, "owners of the original Rock Band will have the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay-the first time ever in videogame history!" A fee is required to unlock the content, which will be "under 5 dollars" according to the release. Also, as stated before, Rock Band 2 will support all downloadable content from the original Rock Band.
Rock Band 2 is set to release exclusively on the Xbox 360 this September. With classic bands AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Pearl Jam and more added to the game, Rock Band 2 hasn't had us this excited about music since the invention of the compact disc. Wow. Totally just aged ourselves there.
It's Tuesday and you know what that means. Rock Band Weekly! Available now on the Xbox Live Markeplace are four new tracks to help you rock out in style. "Snow ((Hey Oh))" and "Tell Me Baby" from Red Hot Chili Peppers as well as "Working Man (Vault Edition)" and "Closer to the Heart" from Rush dropped this morning for 160MS Points a piece ($2 in real money if your a currency snob) and are worth every penny. Unless RHCP and Rush aren't your thing that is. If free is more your style then may we recommend "Promised Land" from Vesuvius, which has been on the Marketplace for a little while but is still worth a look for the price. That price, if you missed it, is free. Happy rocking!
Update: To clarify, the Legendary playlists within Halo 3 now require all downloadable content. So to continue playing on Legendary playlists you'll need the free Heroic pack, the Legendary pack (which you'd need to play on that list anyway) and Cold Storage. After Bungie Day the playlists that utilize Cold Storage are playlists that require all downloadable content. Effectively making Cold Storage apart of the Legendary Map Pack after today.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen and a good Bungie Day to you. To help celebrate this, surely soon-to-be National, holiday the Xbox Live Marketplace has been overrun by Bungie related content. Available for download are a free gamer picture set and dashboard theme, both wrapped in Bungie-branded love. Also, if you're interested, 'Cold Storage' -- the new map for Halo 3 that re-envisions Halo's 'Chill Out' -- is online for the low price of free. There are a few limitations to 'Cold Storage,' specifically you must have both previous map packs to add the new map to matchmaking, but so far the map looks hot. Or cold. Whichever works for you.
Don't have the Heroic or Legendary Halo 3 map packs? Heroic is still available for free and as of today the Legendary map pack has been discounted to 600 MS Points. Oh and also, we're offering 10 X3F bonus points (which don't mean anything) to the first person to spot any Superintendent related hints in the map. Happy hunting!
You already know about Cold Storage, the remake of a classic Halo: Combat Evolved map for Halo 3. You already know about Bungie Day, which is this Monday, July 7. Hell, you even already even know that Cold Storage will be free on Bungie Day (and forever after). But, we know you still crave knowledge regarding the latest Halo 3 content. Lucky for you, a few Bungie employees banded together to create a new VIDoc, aptly named "On the Seven7th Day," to showcase Cold Storage and compare it with its Halo: Combat Evolved father, Chill Out. There's even a tease early on that Bungie may have something new to announce in the future. If only there were large scale industry events for such an announcement!
Thank you sharp-eyed forum posters, you may have spotted something that could mean Ninja Gaiden 2 will actually get some content worth paying for. Mentioned over at NeoGAF, and spotted somewhere on the XBL Marketplace, was the mention that NG2 will get a downloadable mission mode on the 25th of this month.
The mission mode that was in the original iteration was incredibly popular among the franchise faithful for its focus on the game's main strength: pure combat. There are of course no details on how the implementation will work, but as long as it isn't just more of the Tests of Valor (we're really tired of that environment) we'll be ready to shell out the points if this hits on the 25th. Anyone else out there spot this on the Marketplace yet?
To go with the overpriced and and relatively pointless downloadable costumes for Ninja Gaiden 2, we've got even more relatively pointless stuff for you. Why would we do such a thing you ask? Because cheap as the actual DLC is (we're really opposed to it more on principle) this relatively pointless stuff is absolutely free, that's why. And while we've seen one of the DLC concepts before, the shots are now hi-res and great for some backgrounds or wallpaper. What're ya waitin' for? Right-Click -> Save Picture As already!
To go with the overpriced and and relatively pointless downloadable costumes for Ninja Gaiden 2, we've got even more relatively pointless stuff for you. Why would we do such a thing you ask? Because cheap as the actual DLC is (we're really opposed to it more on principle) this relatively pointless stuff is absolutely free, that's why. And while we've seen one of the DLC concepts before, the shots are now hi-res and great for some backgrounds or wallpaper. What're ya waitin' for? Right-Click -> Save Picture As already!
