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Xbox 360 deals: BioShock Infinite, Modern Warfare 3
Today is the final day of Microsoft's Xbox 360 Ultimate Games Sale, and it's going out with a bang, a burst of speed and an "Ode to Joy." First, the bang: BioShock Infinite is 67 percent off ($9.89 / £6.59 / €9.89) today on Xbox Live, joined by Modern Warfare 3 at 60 percent off ($19.99 / £19.99 / €27.99) and Painkiller Hell and Damnation at 80 percent off ($5.99 / £4.99 / €5.99). Two racing games are discounted through Xbox Live today: NASCAR 14 and Split Second. Eutechnyx's NASCAR 14 is 58 percent off ($20.99) and Split Second is 75 percent off ($4.99 / £2.99 / €3.74). The best way for the Xbox 360 Ultimate Games Sale to close is with an Ode to Joy provided by Peggle 2, the lone discounted XBLA game in today's sale. PopCap's popular peg-destroying game is half-off today ($11.99 / £9.99 / €9.99). Remember, the final day's sales are joined by other ongoing deals, which also expire at the end of the day. [Image: 2K Games]
PSN Spring Fever franchise deals include Call of Duty, GTA
If the seven games debuting on PSN this month at discounted rates don't spice up Sony's Spring Fever sale enough for your liking, the sale will also include sales on four different franchises. Games and DLC in the Call of Duty, Need for Speed, BioShock and Grand Theft Auto series are on sale at varying points in March for all PSN users. The sale spans five games in the Need for Speed series, each down to $9.99 ($5 for PS Plus subscribers) tomorrow through March 10. Those games include Need for Speed: Most Wanted on both PS3 and Vita, Hot Pursuit on PS3, The Run on PS3 and Carbon on PSP and Vita. The Call of Duty series continues on March 11 through March 17 and features a variety of game and DLC bundles for Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops and Black Ops 2. Both Black Ops games can be purchased together for $69.99 ($62.99 on PS Plus) as well as all three Modern Warfare games for $64.99 ($58.49 for PS Plus members). Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series rolls in next on March 18 with sales lasting through March 24. The sale knocks GTA 5 down to $39.99, GTA 4 to $5.99 ($4.79 on PS Plus) as well as a handful of other PS3 and PSP games in the series ranging from $5.99 each ($4.79 for PS Plus) to $2.99 each ($2.39 on PS Plus). Lastly, the first two games in the BioShock series will also be $9.99 ($5 for PS Plus members) March 25 through March 31. Those games are joined by BioShock Infinite's Burial at Sea Episode 1 DLC for $10.40 ($7.34 on PS Plus) as well as Columbia's Finest Pack and Clash in the Clouds for $3.49 each ($2.44 on PS Plus). [Image: Rockstar Games]
Call of Duty: Elite tangoes down this Friday
Activision is closing its premium Call of Duty: Elite service, nearly two years after it racked up more than 10 million registered users and 2 million paid subscribers. The service that provides in-depth stats, social networking, and clan-based features for Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 2 officially ceases to be on Friday, February 28 at 10AM PT/1PM ET. Despite that healthy subscription base - a year's membership cost $50 when Elite launched in 2011 - Activision made its services free alongside the launch of Black Ops 2 in 2012. The publisher then brought many of Elite's features forward to the companion app released for Call of Duty: Ghosts, and it's now encouraging users to download that app, perchance for future Duties such as the one in development at Sledgehammer Games. Activision has a FAQ detailing what this all means in greater detail. As a means of thanks to those who used the service, the publisher is doling out two hours of Double XP in Ghosts to members who've logged into Elite since January 1, 2014. It's an altogether subdued end to a service that was trumpeted as "Activision getting in front of our players and leading them into the future of connected entertainment." [Image: Activision-Blizzard]
Modern Warfare 3 free with other used game at Best Buy
Ten-hut! Right now, you can get a pre-owned copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for free when you buy a pre-owned game priced $19.99 or more at Best Buy. Best Buy also has several other deals this week: Xbox 360 models are $50 off, and picking one up will net you a complimentary $50 in-store gift card. Splinter Cell: Blacklist is also $15 off, while Disney Infinity starter packs and Saints Row 4 are each $10 off.
Judge rules in favor of Activision in 'Delta Force' trademark lawsuit
Judge John F. Walter has ruled that Activision's use of the term "Delta Force" in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 does not infringe upon PC developer NovaLogic's trademark of the phrase, Patent Arcade reports. Judge Walter concluded that "Delta Force" as a non-specific term is as protected by free speech as something like "Scotland Yard" or "West Wing." "Because the phrase 'Delta Force' and its insignia have an established and well-known prior meaning and connotation ... that is unrelated to plaintiff and that meaning and connotation predate plaintiff's use of the registered trademarks, it is highly unlikely that consumers will be misled," Judge Walter said. The lawsuit, originally filed a little over a year ago, alleged that Activision's "shameless" use of the phrase was confusing to consumers and damaging to NovaLogic's "reputation for quality."
Hit List Q&A: Glen Schofield, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games
In the "Hit List" from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, the video game industry's top talents describe their current gaming addictions, their most anticipated releases and more. This week: Sledgehammer Games co-founder Glen Schofield. Glen Schofield is co-founder and studio head of Sledgehammer Games, co-developer of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. A visionary in the video game business for more than 20 years, Glen started his career as an artist and art director for Absolute Entertainment. He also served as the general manager of EA's Visceral Games Studio and was the creator and executive producer of the award winning Dead Space. Glen is credited in over 50 games that together have grossed more than $3 billion in revenues.Art has been an important part of Glen's life from a young age. He started taking art lessons early on, eventually earning a BFA (he also holds an MBA) and began his professional career as a freelance illustrator before entering the world of video games. In his forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit session, Glen will discuss "The Art of Inspiration." He will speak about how he draws inspiration from anything and anywhere and how that has influenced his work as a game developer on a day-to-day basis.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, DLC half-off today on Xbox Live
As part of its "countdown to 2013 deals," Xbox Live has Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and its downloadable content available for half off today only.That means the Games on Demand version of last year's installment in the Call of Duty franchise, Modern Warfare 3, is available for $30. Its four DLC packs are 600 Microsoft Points ($7.50) apiece.Oddly, checking Amazon, Modern Warfare 3 is currently $54.99, which does make this Xbox Live special an actual deal (for once). Meanwhile, this year's Black Ops 2 is $49.99 from the e-tailer.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 rakes in $500 million in first day
Activision announced today Call of Duty Black Ops 2 made $500 million on its first day at retail, eclipsing the franchise's previous record of $400 million as set by Modern Warfare 3 last year. Back then Modern Warfare 3 sold 6.5 million copies in the US and UK to make that figure, suggesting even greater numbers of copies sold this time around.Black Ops 2 shifted 1 million copies at GameStop on day one alone, while Amazon noted it became the site's most pre-ordered game ever. We can expect an even more eye-popping amount in around a week's time, when Activision will likely reveal the five-day sales figure. Last year Activision disclosed Modern Warfare 3 made $775 million in its first five days, and at this rate Black Ops 2 will have its eyes set on ten figures for the same mark.
COD Elite being extended until March 1, 2013 for MW3 early adopters
Here's good news for early Call of Duty Elite subscribers who may have been prepping their checking accounts for another premium subscription charge: You've got a few extra months to play. Activision has sent out emails to members who joined the Elite Premium service on launch day last year, extending their Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Elite memberships until March 1, 2013.The same services (which include things like clan support, Elite TV, and a few other options) are going to be free for everyone in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Given the issues Elite had at launch, it seems sensible to let premium subscribers keep playing without paying any more.This leaves one question, however: What will happen to MW3 Elite Premium subscribers when subscriptions do end on March 1, 2013? A FAQ on the official website says Activision isn't taking any new subscribers at all, since new DLC is no longer being offered. We've contacted Activision for comment and will update if we hear back.Update: Activision says that "when your Call of Duty Elite Premium membership subscription term for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ends – whether on March 1, 2013 or after, your formerly "Premium" Elite membership for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 turns into a "Free" Elite membership for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3." So users will still have access to all of the features of MW3 Premium, but they won't have to pay. Feel free to keep shooting!
Infinity Ward animator talks first-person flourishes
Chance Glasgo, a first-person animator at Infinity Ward, did a Reddit Ask Me Anything thread last weekend, taking on questions about the complicated weapon animations seen in games like Call of Duty and Battlefield. You should read through the whole thread if you're interested, but PC Gamer has kindly grabbed some of the most fascinating insights.Glasgo says that "most serial numbers on guns in CoD have significance" of some kind, whether it's just a reference to his workout gym of choice, or a hint to something in the game's larger mythology.He also explains that while gun aficionados will often tell him he's made some sort of technical mistake in rendering realistic weapons, the choice to do things differently is simply creative. For example, you're never supposed to point a real gun anywhere but forward even while reloading it, but following that rule would make some of these just so ... boring.
Minecraft overtakes Modern Warfare 3 for most played on Xbox Live
If you've yet to truly grasp the power of Minecraft, let this just sink in: Minecraft is now more popular than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox Live. According to the latest Xbox Live activity report from Major Nelson, Minecraft was the most popular game on the service for the week of October 15.That puts it above Modern Warfare 3, which now sits at number 2. It also makes it more popular than several other huge names, including FIFA 13, Black Ops, Halo: Reach and Battlefield 3. The only other Arcade game to even break the top twenty is the recently launched Happy Wars, Xbox Live Arcade's first free-to-play game.If you took a break from Minecraft to read this post, feel free to return to chopping down trees, building roller coasters or whatever you were doing.
Steam sale this weekend on The Binding of Isaac (also Modern Warfare 3, Total War)
To celebrate the first birthday of The Binding of Isaac, the game will be 75 percent off, as well as the game's The Wrath of the Lamb expansion. The sale begins at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern).Also, as a reminder, both the Total War series and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 are on sale this weekend through the digital distribution service. Total War: Rome Gold is still only $1 for the next few hours.
All Total War games 75% off, Modern Warfare 3 free weekend on Steam
Steam is demonstrating to power of war this weekend with deals on the Total War series and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Today, pick up Total War: Rome for 90 percent off ($1), or the Total War Master Collection, which includes every Total War game, for 75 percent off ($31). Individual Total War games are discounted 25 percent, with daily deals on certain titles.This weekend Modern Warfare 3 is free-to-play and is selling for 50 percent off ($30). All of these deals end on Monday, October 1, at 10 a.m.
Modern Warfare 3's last content collection arriving on PS3 and PC October 10
The last content bundle for Modern Warfare 3 is finally headed out to PlayStation and the PC on October 10, according to Infinity Ward's Twitter account. The content collection (which arrived on Xbox 360 back in the beginning of September) includes five different maps, called Decommission, Off Shore, Gulch, Boardwalk, and Parish. Call of Duty Elite subscribers will be able to grab the last three levels a day early, on October 9.This is, of course, the last scheduled content pack for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, seeing as Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is due out just about a month later. At that point, presumably, those Elite subscriptions will renew, and the cycle of of constant DLC for the biggest shooter series in the world will start up all over again.
Modern Warfare 3 'Chaos Pack' out September 13 for PS3, PC
The third content collection for Modern Warfare 3 will launch for PS3 and PC on September 13. The "Chaos Pack" includes four new Spec Ops missions, three new Face Off maps and Chaos Mode for Spec Ops. Elite members get it for free, and it runs $15 for all other players.Collection three hit Xbox Live on August 9, as per Modern Warfare 3's exclusivity deal with Microsoft.
Modern Warfare 3 DLC's final assault on Xbox 360 next week (plus: PS3 gets stuff too)
On September 5, Call of Duty Elite premium subscribers on Xbox 360 will get their final three maps for Modern Warfare 3: Gulch, Boardwalk and Paris. If you're not a premium member of Activision's DLC delivery service, you can get these three new maps and two previously released stomping grounds – Parish and Decommission – in Content Collection #4 for 1200 Microsoft Points ($14.99). This is the final map pack for Modern Warfare 3.Elite premium members on PS3 also get some new content next week on September 6, namely a pair of Special Ops maps – Light 'Em Up and Special Delivery – and the new Special Ops Chaos Mode, a wave-based variant on Modern Warfare 3's vanilla Survival mode.
PSA: Modern Warfare 3 'Chaos Pack' collection live on XBL
The third collection of content for Modern Warfare 3 is available on Xbox Live today: The Chaos Pack includes the new Special Ops 'Chaos Mode,' three new Face Off maps and four new Special Ops missions, shown off in the above video.The Chaos Pack runs $15, or 1200 Microsoft Points, and it will hit PS3 and PC "at a later date."
Modern Warfare 3's final two DLC packs fully reconnoitered
The year of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 post-launch content is coming to a close, but it's going out with a bang (gun pun fully intended). The Chaos Pack – previously half-detailed – brings three Face Off maps and four Spec-Ops missions, as well as a new mode, dubbed "Special Ops Chaos Mode." It's a wave-based survival mode, albeit with a Spec-Ops twist. The whole shebang launches for Xbox 360 on August 9, with PS3 and PC versions launching later on.In September, MW3 players on 360 get the "Final Assault" pack, which adds five multiplayer maps ("Gulch," "Offshore," "Boardwalk," "Decommission," and "Parish"), two of which are already available on 360. Again, this content arrives on PS3 and PC at a later (unknown) date. As Activision community blog One of Swords points out, Call of Duty's Elite season ends with more content than it originally promised, which seems pretty boss if you ask us. But don't go getting your precedents miscalibrated, as this may not be the case in future years.
Activision brings in $1.08 billion in Q2: more than expected, but less than last year
Activision Blizzard beat its outlook for its fiscal Q2 (ending June 30), bringing in $1.08 billion in revenue – the outlook as of May predicted $950 million. This still falls short of the same period last year.It's no mystery as to where Activision's money came from. "For the first six months, we had the top three best-selling games in North America and Europe with Activision Publishing's Skylanders Spyro's Adventures and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and Blizzard Entertainment's record setting Diablo III," reported Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick. In addition, Activision reported $343 million in revenue from its digital channels (WoW subscriptions and Call of Duty maps), representing an impressive 32% of total revenue.
Details on Modern Warfare 3's new Spec Ops missions
On August 9, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will have the Chaos Pack available, featuring several new Spec Ops missions. Videogamer got the scoop from Sledgehammer Games on two of the new missions, Light 'Em Up and Special Delivery.Light 'Em Up takes place after the conclusion of the Modern Warfare 3 campaign, putting one player into the cockpit of a Little Bird helicopter as he attempts to cover another player who's on foot, running around a hydroelectric dam in search of intel on hostage positions. Special Delivery has no shortage of expensive war toys, charging players with reaching a downed pilot in unfriendly territory – one player mans an Osprey Gunner, providing cover fire from the air and deploying care packages to his partner on the ground.
