Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Escalation drops on Black Ops PC today; double XP and free Steam multiplayer weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/escalation-drops-on-black-ops-pc-today-double-xp-and-free-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/escalation-drops-on-black-ops-pc-today-double-xp-and-free-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/escalation-drops-on-black-ops-pc-today-double-xp-and-free-steam/#comments While some of us will be frantically packing and chewing our finger nails down to the bone in preparation for E3, many out there may just be looking to kick it. If that's the case and you're looking for something to do on that PC of yours, Steam's got a whole lot of Black Ops stuff going on.

First of all, the latest DLC pack, Escalation, is now available for download on Steam at $14.99 -- four multiplayer maps and the celebrity-filled Call of the Dead are included. On top of that, Steam is offering a free multiplayer weekend, meaning anybody can download the game and sample its multiplayer side absolutely free, from right now until June 5 at 1pm PT. This weekend, all XP earned in multiplayer will also be doubled.

Finally, if you've found Black Ops to be to your liking, you can decide to pick it up at a reduced price this weekend: $40.19, 33% off its normal asking price.

JoystiqEscalation drops on Black Ops PC today; double XP and free Steam multiplayer weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opscall-of-the-deaddlcescalationpcsteamtreyarchvalveThu, 02 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC hitting PC on June 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc-hitting-pc-on-june-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc-hitting-pc-on-june-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc-hitting-pc-on-june-2/#comments "Escalation," the latest downloadable add-on for Call of Duty: Black Ops, will be released for PC early next month. Activision sent out a note announcing a June 2 release date, and signaled the impending end of Xbox Live's exclusive grip on five additional multiplayer maps.

The $15 "Escalation" pack houses four urban Black Ops battlegrounds -- Hotel, Zoo, Convoy and Stockpile -- and an unusually elaborate map for Zombies mode, dubbed "Call of the Dead." Assuming you don't find it distasteful when those who were presumed dead are unexpectedly resurrected, you'll get a real kick out of seeing Robert Englund, George Romero and Sarah Michelle Gellar again.

An announcement regarding the PlayStation 3 version of this DLC will be made "soon," Activision says.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops (Escalation)

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC hitting PC on June 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opscall-of-duty-black-ops-escalationcall-of-the-deaddlcescalationpcrelease-datesteamtreyarchThu, 19 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making the Call of the Dead: Treyarch on Black Ops' celebrity zombie-fest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/making-the-call-of-the-dead-treyarch-on-black-ops-celebrity-zo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/making-the-call-of-the-dead-treyarch-on-black-ops-celebrity-zo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/making-the-call-of-the-dead-treyarch-on-black-ops-celebrity-zo/#comments Most of the content in the new Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC is pretty standard for the military shooter genre -- a few new maps for $15. But the "Escalation" has one obvious standout in "Call of the Dead", a new map for the game's Zombies mode.

Out of the blue, Treyarch hired B-movie legends like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Robert Englund, Michael Rooker and Danny Trejo -- all posing as themselves -- and pitted them against the unrelenting waves of the undead, and even brought zombie master George Romero into the mix as a boss. The Zombie mode itself has always been presented as tongue-in-cheek fan service (the original mode from World at War had players fighting Nazi Zombies, and maps since then have included zombie monkeys and mad scientists), but "Call of the Dead" takes the goofiness even further.

So, how exactly did this happen? Joystiq cornered Zombies creative lead Jimmy Zielinski at a press event for the map pack earlier this week, and asked him how the developer decided to use some of the most familiar names in horror and monster film history for just one map in an add-on pack.

Continue reading Making the Call of the Dead: Treyarch on Black Ops' celebrity zombie-fest

JoystiqMaking the Call of the Dead: Treyarch on Black Ops' celebrity zombie-fest originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 May 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutyCall-of-Duty-Black-Opscall-of-the-deaddlcescalationgeorge-romerojimmy-zielinskimicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxzombiesThu, 05 May 2011 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Call of Duty Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC out now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/psa-call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc-out-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/psa-call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc-out-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/psa-call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc-out-now/#comments The Call of Duty: Black Ops "Escalation" DLC is available now on Xbox 360 for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). The pack contains five new maps and ... wait, wait, this totally deserves its own paragraph.

And: "Call of the Dead". It's a new zombie mode map featuring Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy: The Vampire Slayer), Robert "Freddy Krueger" Englund, the ever-present Danny Trejo (Machete) and The Walking Dead's Michael Rooker -- oh yeah, and an undead George Romero.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops (Call of the Dead)

Continue reading PSA: Call of Duty Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC out now

JoystiqPSA: Call of Duty Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC out now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 May 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardCall-of-Duty-Black-OpsdlcEscalationmicrosoftps3Treyarchxboxxbox-liveTue, 03 May 2011 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops Escalation DLC includes 'Call of the Dead,' stars George Romero (as himself)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/black-ops-escalation-call-of-the-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/black-ops-escalation-call-of-the-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/black-ops-escalation-call-of-the-dead/#comments Well this is certainly ... wow. Activision has revealed "Call of the Dead," the previously unnamed Zombies Mode map in the Call of Duty: Black Ops "Escalation" DLC. "Call of the Dead" is no ordinary map, however, as Treyarch is throwing in lots of zombie-related fan service, starting with George Romero. The famed horror director stars as himself in the Zombies episode, alongside the likes of Sarah Michelle Gellar, Robert "Freddy Kreuger" Englund, Machete's Danny Trejo and Michael Rooker, who plays Merle Dixon in The Walking Dead.

Treyarch's Mark Lamia promises that "Call of the Dead" will provide "an exciting new zombie experience" that "takes Zombies to an insane new level." Check out some sceens in the gallery below and watch a (very Robert Rodriguez) trailer after the break. Oh, and we call dibs on Danny!

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops (Call of the Dead)

Continue reading Black Ops Escalation DLC includes 'Call of the Dead,' stars George Romero (as himself)

JoystiqBlack Ops Escalation DLC includes 'Call of the Dead,' stars George Romero (as himself) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Call-of-Duty-Black-OpsCall-of-the-DeaddlcEscalationmicrosoftplaystationps3xboxzombiesTue, 26 Apr 2011 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a video tour of Call of Duty: Black Ops' 'Escalation' DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/take-a-video-tour-of-call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/take-a-video-tour-of-call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/take-a-video-tour-of-call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc/#comments The wait until May 3 must be killing you, but soon enough, spring will be in full bloom and you'll have five new Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer maps in which to obliterate your friends. And Treyarch aims to stoke your impatience with today's release of a new walkthrough trailer of the maps (after the break) and a variety of screenshots (below).

Does the sneak peek make the maps arrive any sooner? No, but taking a look will help eat into the minutes between now and launch day. Like, a few minutes at least.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops (Escalation)

Continue reading Take a video tour of Call of Duty: Black Ops' 'Escalation' DLC

JoystiqTake a video tour of Call of Duty: Black Ops' 'Escalation' DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsdlcdownloadable-contentescalationgameplaymicrosoftpcplaystationps3treyarchxboxTue, 19 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC drops on Xbox 360 May 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc-xbox-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc-xbox-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/call-of-duty-black-ops-escalation-dlc-xbox-release-date/#comments Remember that retailer leak a week ago that thoroughly detailed an upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC pack called "Escalation?" Turns out that was totally spot-on -- surprise! -- and Black Ops multiplayer will be escalating on May 3 with the injection of five new maps: Convoy, Zoo, Stockpile, Hotel, and an unnamed Zombies mode map.

Still unknown about the just revealed pack? The price, though we imagine it'll mirror past Call of Duty DLC packs at a cool $15. Either way, we'll find out soon enough, as the pack drops in just three short weeks for Xbox 360 players and on PS3 and PC at some point after, per Microsoft's exclusivity agreement.

JoystiqCall of Duty: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC drops on Xbox 360 May 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsdlcescalationmicrosoftpcplaystationps3q2-2011release-datetreyarchxboxxbox-livexbox-live-marketplaceMon, 11 Apr 2011 12:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC outed by retail flyer, coming this May]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/report-black-ops-escalation-dlc-outed-by-retail-flyer-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/report-black-ops-escalation-dlc-outed-by-retail-flyer-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/report-black-ops-escalation-dlc-outed-by-retail-flyer-coming/#comments Whoops! It seems that Call of Duty: Black Ops will get a second DLC pack on May 3, according to a flyer that allegedly popped up on GAME's Australian retail site (since pulled, but captured by VG247). The flyer advertises five seemingly distinct maps -- a zoo, a hotel, a convoy, a stockpile, and a new locale for the co-op Zombie Mode -- but doesn't list a price.

As per Activision and Microsoft's timed exclusivity agreement, the date only applies to Xbox Live for now. Activision couldn't be reached for comment as of publishing, but we'll update this story as soon as we get more information.

Continue reading Report: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC outed by retail flyer, coming this May

JoystiqReport: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC outed by retail flyer, coming this May originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsdlcdownloadable-contentescalationgameleakmicrosoftpcplaystationps3treyarchxboxTue, 05 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST