Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. Everyone here knows of my Christmas holiday obsession with playing COD Multi-player for hours on end, to the exclusion of all else. I finally broke free last month and started playing some other titles, especially my Wii was lonely. So I started playing Super Mario Galaxy and recently Smash Brothers. As a lark – actually because I was tired of COD 4 multi-player I thought I’d try out the single player campaign. Which believe it or not, I hadn’t tried yet. Last week, I fell in love all over again, the single player mode is just as brilliant as the Multi-player. The campaign is just the right length and intense enough to keep you coming back for more. There were so many wholly f moments that I felt like I was playing that perfect action/war movie. It had it all. Once I finished it, I was ready to move back over to my Wii or take Vegas 2 or Condemned for a spin, but frankly COD 4 tired me out. I’m tired of shooters and am ready for something else. But then Activision announced the release of Call of Duty 4 – The Game of The Year Addition and 4 all new maps! If you purchase the new game, they supply a token that you go onto their website to redeem your maps. Activision was cool enough to give me a token to use, but I got so frustrated with the stupid system, that I was like, hell, I’d rather just buy the new maps then deal with this. So I spent my 800 points to get them. This is the first time, that I’ve spent my own money on game DLC. I don’t know what they were thinking releasing the game before they could include the new maps anyway.
The new maps are pretty stellar and exclusively available for Xbox 360 for the next 21 days, the map pack includes “Broadcast,” which features tight corridors and wide open parking lots where large groups utilize close-quarter fighting and strategic maneuvers; “Chinatown” where night battles well lit by the full moon play havoc against a backdrop of brightly colored lamps, antique shops and neon signs of the local district; “Killhouse,” a desolate warehouse under enemy attack where squads will need to move through building mock-ups and plywood walls in order to full take control of the combat arena; and “Creek,” A large wide open village in a heavily wooded area where battles are fought between high ridgelines and deep in underground caves. The only problem is Infinity Ward has the maps on lock down. So you can only play against people who already have the maps. I’m sure this will change in the next few months.
One of the many reasons why I hate the PS3 as a video game system is the design of the Playstation Store is HORRIBLE. The navigation is terrible and those stupid online Eulas have a tendency to your cursor. It’s basically unusable. But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometime this month the PS3 store is getting a fresh coat of paint. Take a gander at this screenshot. It’s looking nice. To enable enhancements to be made to the store, no additional downloadable content will be posted prior to the revamp, starting April 3. However, customers will be able to access, browse, shop and download from the PLAYSTATION Store during this period. Regularly scheduled PLAYSTATION Store content updates will resume with additional games and game-related items, includingthe downloadable version of the highly-anticipated exclusive PS3 titleGran Turismo™ 5 Prologue, the next installment of the billion dollar selling racing franchise and intense precursor to Gran Turismo™5. I will say that I’m trying to get on the PS3 as a game machine bandwagon, primarily because the noise level of the 360 is starting to bug me. It never has before, but now, Jesus that thing is LOUD. The reason I’m noticing the noise more and more is, I’ve been using the PS3 as a Blu-ray and upscale DVD Player and it’s just beautiful and quiet. Making me go, hmmm….
This video is courtesy of the folks at Joystiq. Rock Band announced it’s latest downloadable track – “Still Alive” by Jonathan Coulton. Best of all, the song will be free. It’s an interesting mellow choice. I’m really impressed with the consistency in which Rock Band has been adding tracks. I’ll go on record as saying that I prefer Guitar Hero to Rock Band. The majority of the RB sucked, but they are making up for that with this constant flow of tracks. Activision is really dropping the ball with Guitar Hero with the piecemeal way they are trickling out new tracks. And originally I was excited about the upcoming Aerosmith game, but the more I think about it the more it annoys me. I mean really, they can’t make those tracks downloadable? I’m sick and tired of being forced to switch between GH2 and GH3 to play certain songs when. Why can’t I get all my GH tracks on one platform, like with Rock Band?
The wait is over! D3PA has shipped their highly anticipated action-thriller Dark Sector to retail stores all across North America for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation3. Utilizing the Evolution Engine, proprietary next-gen technology developed by Digital Extremes, Dark Sector is designed exclusively for next-generation gaming. The game thrusts players into the role of Hayden Tenno, an elite black-ops agent sent on a dangerous mission into a decaying Eastern European city that hides a deadly Cold War secret. Attacked by an unknown enemy, he awakens to find part of his body altered by an infection that has granted him inhuman abilities; now he must learn to evolve along with his powers, to survive and to become a hero. Dark Sector is available for the suggested retail price of $59.95.
If it’s Tuesday, it must be Bluesday (copyright EM) and we have a tone of interesting news on Sony’s PS3 upcoming firmware upgrade. Not only are we going to get the new Profile 2.0 update which will bring us Blu-ray Live functionality. I saw this at CES earlier this year and it looks really promising. The Internet interfaces that was showcased at the Blu-ray conference looked beautiful and fully like Web 3.0. My fear is it’s going to end up being just as lame as all Internet enabled DVDs in the past. Not only is the new PS3 upgrade bringing us profile 2.0 capabilities, but today rumor has it that you will soon be able to download a copy of your Blu-ray movie directly to your PSP. I recently picked up an 8 Gig SD Duo stick for $80. How cools will it be to be able to drop your movies onto your PSP. It’s nice to see studios finally loosing up on their draconian DRM and helping people take their content with them. The first two movies to support BD- Lve will be Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and The 6th Day. Here’s the full press release on the PS3 Upgrade.
Update(Tuesday, 8am) - Sony saw my post and decided, “Y’know what? Let’s release this update now!” So get it while it’s hot.
Wow, in a shocking bit of news SCE Worldwide Studios President Phil Harrison Resigns. After a terrible start it seems like the PS3 is finally going to get it’s act together later this year and he leaves? I’ve met Phil several times over the years at various Sony events – never actually interviewed him and he was always nice to me and he seemed to actually remember me half the time. That could be because I’m usually the only black female at their events, but still. He was a cool guy. Here’s the official release.
TOKYO, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that Phil Harrison, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS), will resign from Sony Computer Entertainment Group as of February 29, 2008. Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO of SCEI, will immediately assume responsibilities as president of SCE WWS, in addition to his current duties. Prior to the launch of the original PlayStation, Phil Harrison joined Sony Electronics Publishing, Ltd. in 1992, which later evolved into Sony computer Entertainment Europe, and since then, he has made a tremendous contribution to the company playing a strategic role in the launch of four PlayStation platforms, as well as building strong relationships with game developers and publishers throughout the world. Since his appointment to the position of president, SCE WWS, Harrison applied his considerable skill, knowledge and expertise to lead SCE Group’s first party game development as well as aggressively pursuing the development of new online entertainment experiences. "As one of the founding members of SCE,
Phil played a key role in the development and growth of the PlayStation business and our industry," said Kazuo Hirai. "It is sad to see him departing from SCE, but I wish to express my gratitude for his many invaluable contributions and also wish Phil the very best of luck in his future endeavors." "The past 15 years at Sony Computer Entertainment has been the defining journey of my life so far," said Phil Harrison. "I am grateful to all the PlayStation family for their incredible support, guidance and friendship. It has been a privilege to serve as part of the team and be inspired by them on a daily basis. I am so proud of everything PlayStation has achieved and will continue to support its future in every way I can."
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