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Set your sights on Halo 4 multiplayer map 'Longbow'
What is it about shooting expensive cyborgs in the snow that is so gosh-darn appealing? We have fond memories of performing murders in Sidewinder and Snowbound, and now Halo 4 continues the snowy tradition with Longbow.Longbow is a map located in the northern polar region of the planet Concord, specifically designed to showcase one of Halo 4's new game modes – but 343 isn't talking specifics yet. "Each side is a very similar plan and path, but distinct enough to get a peripheral sense of being in a distinct 'zone' in the map," the blog post on Halo Waypoint explains. Longbow supports both traditional on-foot combat modes and more grand vehicle-based skirmishes.If you want to check out Longbow before anyone else, Microsoft will be showcasing it during the Rooster Teeth Expo in Austin, Texas on July 7 and 8, where the public will be able to get their first glimpse at War Games, the competitive multiplayer side of Halo 4.%Gallery-159487%
Loyola University professor drives City of Heroes/Villains players crazy, all for sociology
Twixt was one of those names on the Freedom server of City of Heroes that would just drive everyone nuts. He was a PvPer who would find some of the craziest ways to annoy the heck out of his opponents, such as teleporting them right in front of the Longbow agents at the hero base in PvP zones. A year ago, however, the man behind the keyboard finally drew back his mask to reveal a sociology professor from Loyola University outside New Orleans.Now his study on City of Heroes/Villains is finally coming forward, revealing a controversial look at how defying the cultural rules of a population can turn a person into a social outcast. The study's goal was to play only by the developer's rules, ignoring any extra rules that might be created by the population. For example, the concept of "kill stealing" and "fair fights" are thrown out the window as they are created by the population, not the game. Think of it like EVE Online -- if the game allows it, he does it. While the study is intriguing in the fact that it covers the "new frontiers" of virtual worlds, it also brings into question some of the ethics involved with working undercover in a population, such as causing undue stress via what we consider to be griefing.For a full report, check out the story as reported by The Times-Picayune.[Thanks Petterm, Scopique!]
