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EA's world conquest continues with new Korean dev studio
According to Digital Chosunilbo, Electronic Arts -- the planet Jupiter of game development -- has plans to open a new studio in Korea this year. EA intends to make three or four new titles for the Asian market. The studio will be a 20 million dollar investment, and its first projects will be online versions of NBA Street and Battlefield. All this will be helmed by Danny Isaac of FIFA Soccer fame. Gamasutra noted that this is not EA's first foray into the Asian market. The company invested in Korean developer Neowiz back in March, and shortly thereafter announced plans to release in Asia one or more titles from the Battlefield series.This is just one more step towards total world domination, unless EA's newly-formed rival Activision-Blizzard has something to say about it![Via The Escapist]
Video: Bad Company is fully destructible
Okay, this video may come from the December video archives, but we just came across it and it's worth mentioning. IGN posted an exclusive alpha build tech demo with Battlefield: Bad Company devs and we all agree that it's explosively destructive good times. Seriously guys, watch the video as it just may increase Bad Company's appeal ten fold. The video schows off the game's interactive environments which include everything from walls being destroyed, buildings falling apart, trees falling into buildings which in turn fall apart, doors being shot off of vehicles and an explosion so big ... it'll make your eyes water. Go, watch, enjoy and tell us what you think. [Via Sarcastic Gamer, Thanks Daren]
Battlefield: Bad Company trailer takes stab at humanity
Wait a minute, we're confused. We watched this entire trailer for Battlefield: Bad Company and saw not a single instance of shooting, radical explosions or particle effects. There was also no disembodied voice growling about how tough/what a rebel our character will be, nor were there any searing metal guitar solos. How are we supposed to know if we like the game or not? All that's here is a clearly defined, well-written, well-acted character named Haggard who seems enamored with explosions. As we watched, we began to get the oddest sensation. We weren't sure, but we think that's what it's like when other emotions are engaged besides the emotion that likes to see things blown up. ... Yuck. We need a shower.
Robotex creating gun-toting robots to replace human soldiers
It's not as if we haven't seen weapon-wielding robots before, but Robotex is aiming to create a new breed of mechanical soldier that's quick to build and cost effective. The Silicon Valley startup has garnered quite a bit of funding from angel investors, and apparently, it has already created a two-foot tall, motorized robot that can travel ten miles per hour, spin around "on a dime," be controlled remotely and most importantly, "blow a ten-inch hole through a steel door with deadly accuracy from 400 meters." Reportedly, such a critter can be crafted for under $50,000, which is said to be "six times" cheaper than similar alternatives already being tested in Iraq. Of course, there's no telling how soon (or not) these things will actually be called into duty, but we can bet there's already a list forming to be the one behind the remote when it is.[Via InventorSpot]
Battlefield 3 on Vista (not XP) and OS X simultaneously?
Battlefield 2142 is already on the Apple Store, along with all the other games EA has released on the Mac, but we haven't heard anything official about Battlefield 3 yet, for any platform. That's why DigitalBattles was so surprised to find a list of Battlefield 3 features in a document meant for investors. And the most interesting "feature" on the list was this: "Windows Vista and OS X." That's right, if the leaked document is true, it appears EA wants to release Battlefield 3 simultaneously on OS X and Vista. And not on XP. That's what I'm talking about!Of course, EA wasn't real happy with all the speculation, but they didn't actually deny anything. And as DB points out, the investor document didn't say that XP wouldn't be supported, it only specified Vista and OS X.But still, if you told me earlier this year that Battlefield 3 would be released on OS X and not XP, I would have laughed in your face. If EA really is planning to bring out a top tier, anticipated title like this simultaneously on OS X, they might be able to redeem themselves to Mac gamers yet. Sure, I'm still angry at them for buying out BioWare, but brand new games on the Mac is good for everyone.[via IMG]
Bad Company trailer now on XBLM
The Battlefield: Bad Company teaser trailer that was released to the interwebz earlier this month is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The trailer (which we've conveniently embedded above) highlights plenty of gameplay as well as exposing some of the overall storyline. We haven't quite figured out if the game is promoting war profiteering or not, but it's certainly promoting excessive destruction. Watch the video closely for plenty of real time destruction as environments crash down from an explosion. If you get the chance, download the HD version on Marketplace. It's real purdy.
Destructible environments in new Battlefield: Bad Company gameplay
There's nothing quite like destructible environments and this new Battlefield: Bad Company gameplay shows off just that. It's one thing to be in an all-out brawl against a ton of different people, but what to do when you're cornered in some house? Just blow up the wall and make your escape! Topple some trees if you'd like (if you're particularly good with your timing, perhaps it could land on a vehicle and make it explode or something else really dramatic). The action in the game seems pretty intense, but we'd expect nothing less from this franchise. We'll keep you up to date when it gets closer to release!
Hoor-EA! Mac games hit Apple store today
That's what they say. Publishing monolith EA has announced that four of its Cider-powered Mac OS X titles are now available to purchase on Apple's online store today. The initial burst looks to satisfy a variety of Intel Mac gamers, including those who are partial to waging futuristic war (Battlefield 2142!), owning totally sick rides (Need for Speed Carbon!), casting ex-crucio-ting spells (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!) and, uh, waging even more futuristic war (Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars!). The games will also materialize on minimalistic shelves within Apple retail stores, with Potter and Need For Speed arriving on Tuesday, 21 August. Battlefield 2142 and Tiberium Wars should arrive the following week on 28 August. Though the tardy titles, namely Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 and Madden NFL 08, were promised to arrive on the same day as other systems at WWDC, you can now expect their respective balls to come crashing through the "September/October window."
Battlefield: Bad Company Images
Gamersyde has a slew of new images of Battlefield: Bad Company. We haven't heard much on Bad Company short of a few screenshots since the trailer hit Marketplace back in February. These new shots are all pretty slick, showing off the characters, hum-vees, helicopters, weapon models, and some spiffy explosions and destructible environments. It's looking very pretty and we can't wait until we get more details on how well it plays. Check out the screens after the jump. [Thanks, Brian LQbano]
New military robots showcased at DARPATech 2007
While both the Navy and Air Force have recently warmed up to a new robotic friend, a number of military bots-to-be showed their stuff at DARPATech 2007. Among the standouts were a camera-guided Little Dog, the resilient Big Dog, a backpack-portable, fully autonomous Micro Air Vehicle, and a beefed-up version of the MAV (dubbed the Organic Air Vehicle) that can reportedly hover around for two hours. The latter creation was designed to "designate ground targets from the sky and paint targets up to 15-kilometers away with its laser designator," while the MAV can monitor a 10-kilometer radius "with infrared or visible cameras in hover-and-stare mode." The aforementioned canines seem to be terrain navigators, which could potentially be studied to improve the locomotion of walking machines in general. Go on, click through for a few glimpses of these friendly fellows -- they aren't armed, yet.
Remotely controlled armed robots deployed in Iraq
While the Army is already taking good care of our wounded robots patrolling through Iraq, a recent deployment of three special weapons observation remote reconnaissance direct action systems (SWORDS) has placed rifle-equipped bots in the line of fire. The trio, which all handle M249s, are "are remotely controlled by a soldier through a terminal," and while their exact whereabouts and missions remain classified, the armed machines were reportedly designed to handle "high risk" combat scenarios if necessary. Currently, there's no record of a SWORD actually firing its weapon, but considering that each of these devices can potentially remove a human from harm, don't be surprised to see full blown platoons being unleashed when finances allow. [Via Wired]
LANdroids offer autonomous radio relay on the battlefield
DARPA's proposed LANdroids won't be the first installation to offer up expendable data gathering pawns on the battlefield, but these "intelligent, autonomous radio relay nodes" could be used to "establish and manage mesh networks in urban settings." Essentially, these critters would be cheaply produced and handed out en masse for warfighters to drop at random in order to create temporary and continually evolving network infrastructures that could lead to better communication over various occupied regions. It even sounds like these creatures will sport self-healing design cues, and while we're not sure if they'll be immune to imminent EMP blasts, we can already envision bored soldiers futilely hooking these things up to their PSPs and searching for an open game room. [Warning: PDF read link][Via El Reg]
US Army's Joint Repair Facility acts as ER for injured robots
While we're still a bit wary about letting a robotic M.D. get to work on our operating table, we certainly wouldn't trust those two-timing humanoids to sufficiently repair one of their own. Thankfully, the US Army seemingly agrees, as the volunteer-staffed Joint Repair Facility at Camp Victory provides human TLC for robots that receive injuries in the heat of battle. The facility is mostly responsible for mending and rebuilding devices that protect live soldiers from encountering improvised explosive devices, and it has reportedly increased exponentially in use and size since its inception just three years back. Notably, the gurus that work here are famous for repairing even the most obliterated of robots, and while they did admit that some bots are too damaged to repair, those are "few and far between."[Via CNET]
Lost Planet's Battlefield will be free for download
Yesterday, Capcom sent word that the Lost Planet multiplayer map Battlefield will be available for free on the XBLM this coming Thursday, June 7th. The Battlefield map was previously available exclusively to those who paid an extra $10 and got the Lost Planet collector's edition, but this Thursday the exclusive Battlefield club will be no more. Anyone actively playing Lost Planet multiplayer and welcoming Battlefield with open arms and a bright smile?[Via Joystiq, Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Rugged Recon Scout invades enemy camp, snags video
Heading into the enemy's camp isn't something that Marines take lightly, and rather than finding out which private has the most experience in Call of Duty and shuffling him / her in, they're letting a robot do a soldier's job. Developed by the University of Minnesota using funding from DARPA, the Recon Scout resembles your average barbell weight, but when you're not workin' those triceps, this little fellow can be heaved across flatlands, over fences, and into brick walls in order to secure a location and start feeding back video of its surroundings. The two-wheeled bot is equipped with a low-resolution monochrome camera that feeds images back to the Operator Control Unit, and since it weighs just a single pound and fits in most cargo pockets, the whole platoon could carry their own in order to really scope out the next bend. Of course, the current iteration will only broadcast video up to 250 feet, and onlookers at a recent demonstration weren't thrilled by its quickness, but a titanium-based wheeled spying machine is fairly impressive regardless. Reportedly, the Recon Scout has been sold to "law enforcement agencies" for around $6,500 apiece, but we've no idea how much this rugged inspector will run the general public.[Via Wired]
New Bad Company screens are looking good
Today, DICE released four new Battlefield: Bad Company screenshots and from what we can tell, they're pretty. All the screenshots are in game and showcase the Battlefield destruction in all its glory. Previously, we've been on the fence with the direction those trailers were going, but we can safely say we'll be watching for this game. Maybe the blend of comedy and war will be a welcome change to the genre or it could just get annoying. But, whatever happens, these screenshots show the visual potential Bad Company has. All four screenshots are viewable after the jump.
Video: Battlefield: Bad Company
The Battlefield: Bad Company trailer that was made available on Marketplace this morning is now available online (also in HD). As a service to our readers that are currently chained to a desk and can't access a 360, we bring you said trailer. It's generally fashionable to take a few potshots at EA when given the chance, but we have to admit Bad Company looks like it could be a bit of alright. The trailer showcases something that many games don't: a sense of humor. The trailer isn't necessarily indicative of gameplay, but there's no denying that the engine is nice. Give it a watch and tell us what you think.
Solid state laser sustains 67-kilowatts, approaching battlefield status
We know what you're thinking: when you've got eight-Megajoule railguns, aircraft-mounted tactical lasers, and xenon-based paralysis inducers, what good is a feeble solid state laser blaster? Presumably hoping to see a Star Wars-esque warzone in the not too distant future, a team of researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California have crafted a Solid State Heat Capacity Laser (SSHCL) that can sustain 67-kilowatts of average power in testing, besting their previous record of just 45-kilowatts. Chemically powered lasers, on the other hand, have been able to achieve megawatts of power for some time now, but the solid state variety is much less burdensome and could be used on the battlefield without a constant source of chemical fuel flanking the soldier's belt. The SSHCL is said to generate a "pulsed beam which fires 200 times a second at a wavelength of one micron," and the "magic 100-kilowatt mark" that would enable it to become a satisfactory weapon could purportedly be reached within the year. While we're down with giving our troops crates of real-world rayguns to beam down the baddies, we've got a sneaking suspicion that someone's going to put an eye out while oohing and aahing at the light show these things emit. [Via Slashdot]
Real-life Halo suit ready for deployment?
Perhaps it's more akin to the PAC full-body armor featured in Battlefield: 2142, but there's no denying that Troy Hurtubise's 'Trojan' suit is straight outta video game lore. The man responsible for inventing the bear-proof suit has developed, in his own words, the "first ballistic, full exoskeleton body suit of armor."Weighing just 18 kilograms (40 pounds), Hurtubise believes the Trojan will be comfortable to wear in the field (he wore it for a 4-hour drive); not to mention protective. An empty suit has withstood bullets fired from an elephant gun -- and Hurtubise is more than ready to perform a live test. ""Bring it on," he says. In addition to armor, made from high-impact plastic lined with ceramic bullet protection over ballistic foam, the suit features storage for morphine, salt, a knife, and emergency light. Plus, a recording device, pepper-spray gun, and detachable (and swallowable) transponder are built into the forearms. There's also an in-suit fresh-air system, drinking tube (attached to back-mounted canteen), laser pointer, and some hip LED face lights.Hurtubise has said that he drew inspiration for the suit from Star Wars, RoboCop, Batman, and indeed video games. He believes that Trojan suits can be produced for roughly $2,000 a pop and is actively seeking potential buyers, including military and police units. Anyone wanna pool resources and go in on a couple?[Via Engadget]
Inside the mind of a cheater
Have you ever played Battlefield or Halo online, only to be faced with dirty, filthy, joy killing cheaters? What was your first reaction? Whatever it was, we're pretty sure it wasn't "hey, would you like to do an interview?" That's exactly what Richard (nice name) from Aeropause did. The interview is a fascinating look into the thought processes of a cheater. Here's one of our favorite selections. When asked what game makers should do to curb cheating, the schmuck responds:"Give Up! There is no way to stop us. Everyone wants to cheat and we will always find a way to do it. Anyone reading this is simply jealous of the fact that I have enough nuts to cheat and play the game the way I want to."Wow. In denial much? Cheating because you enjoy making people miserable at least has some semblance of sense to it, but actually believing people are jealous of the act? That's practically mental instability. Still, his response to one question makes it all better:"Do you have a girlfriend? Schmuck5000: What kind of freaking question is that for this kind of interview? How does me having a girlfriend relate to cheating? (AP: We will take that as a NO!)"Ah, the fetid reek of Loserville. Makes us all warm inside. Hit the read link for more insight, if you dare.
