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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Activision paid Infinity Ward over $493 million in bonuses since 2003]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/activision-paid-infinity-ward-over-493-million-in-bonuses-since/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/activision-paid-infinity-ward-over-493-million-in-bonuses-since/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/activision-paid-infinity-ward-over-493-million-in-bonuses-since/#comments Hard numbers are starting to come out of the Activision v. Infinity Ward case as things continue to ramp up towards the actual trial, which is currently slated to take place next month. Specifically, Activision revealed during a hearing last Friday that it has paid out in excess of $493 million in bonuses to Infinity Ward, a figure that includes the $42 million payout that occurred earlier this month, according to Polygon.

That $439 million encompasses all bonuses paid out to Infinity Ward since the original Call of Duty launched in 2003. To date, IW has been granted bonuses for games it was directly involved with as a studio, as well as games that used its tech and the Call of Duty IP, like the Treyarch-developed Call of Duty: World at War.

Attorneys for former IW heads Vince Zampella and Jason West argued that the ex-Infinity Ward employee group is also owed its share of "launch quarter" bonuses from the release of Black Ops and Modern Warfare 3, a point that Activision obviously disagrees with.

JoystiqActivision paid Infinity Ward over $493 million in bonuses since 2003 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Infinity-WardJason-Westlawsuitlegalmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3TreyarchVince-ZampellaxboxSun, 27 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[West and Zampella on Activision lawsuit and 'Project Icebreaker']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/west-and-zampella-on-activision-lawsuit-and-project-icebreaker/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/west-and-zampella-on-activision-lawsuit-and-project-icebreaker/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/west-and-zampella-on-activision-lawsuit-and-project-icebreaker/#comments Jason West and Vince Zampella have lived with their impending lawsuits from (and against) Activision to be bemused about the whole thing. "[Activision] said, 'He orchestrated his own ­firing' - I will never forget that," said West in a Game Informer interview, prompting Zampella to add "We're geniuses, apparently."

According to the pair's attorney Robert Schwartz, Activision's claim against them stems around an "expert's" determination that Modern Warfare 3 would have been a bigger moneymaker had they and the rest of the now-absent Infinity Ward team been present to work on it; instead of having been fired by Activision (a state that the two allegedly 'orchestrated'.)

Schwartz corroborated reports of a "Project Icebreaker" at Activision designed to secretly scour their computers for evidence that would support a firing. "Do you know who George Rose is? He was the head lawyer ­for ­[Activision]," Schwartz said.

"So George Rose goes into the office of this guy named Thomas Fenady. He's some kind of IT whiz at Activision." According to Schwartz, Rose asked Fenady, under the auspices of CEO Bobby Kotick, to "break into [West and Zampella's] computers and dig up dirt to be used to justify firing them." Schwartz added that Fenady "testified to this."

We'll have to wait to see how this insanity plays out in court; the trial was delayed to around June 1.

JoystiqWest and Zampella on Activision lawsuit and 'Project Icebreaker' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dsinfinity-wardjason-westlawsuitmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3nintendopcplaystationps3respawn-entertainmentvince-zampellaxboxFri, 25 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3's 'Content Collection 2' now on Xbox Live]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/modern-warfare-3s-content-collection-2-now-on-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/modern-warfare-3s-content-collection-2-now-on-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/modern-warfare-3s-content-collection-2-now-on-xbox-live/#comments ImageAnother pair of maps drops into Modern Warfare 3's new Face Off mode today, namely "Lookout" and "Getaway." Content Collection #2 also adds three new general purpose multiplayer maps and two new Spec Ops missions, all for 1200 MS Points ($15).

This content is available to all Xbox Live Gold subscribers. A Call of Duty Elite subscription is not necessary to use this content in Modern Warfare 3.

Continue reading Modern Warfare 3's 'Content Collection 2' now on Xbox Live

JoystiqModern Warfare 3's 'Content Collection 2' now on Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3content-collection-2face-offface-off-modeinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3sledgehammer-gamesxboxWed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lawsuit outs West and Zampella's salaries, bonuses at Infinity Ward: Projected $13M bonus in 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/lawsuit-outs-west-and-zampellas-salaries-bonuses-at-infinity-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/lawsuit-outs-west-and-zampellas-salaries-bonuses-at-infinity-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/lawsuit-outs-west-and-zampellas-salaries-bonuses-at-infinity-w/#comments ImageFormer Infinity Ward studio heads Jason West and Vince Zampella had projected salaries of $420,000 in 2009, with projected bonuses of more than $3 million each, emails between Activision bosses in 2009 show.

The spreadsheet lists the expected salaries of the top 20 Infinity Ward employees in 2009 and 2010. The 18 remaining employees -- the bulk including software engineers and game designers -- had projected salaries between $71,500 and $173,000. The seven employees under West and Zampella each expected a bonus of $603,000, while staffers seeing the lowest percentage of the bonus pool (1.5 percent) had a projected $278,000.

In 2010, the year Activision fired West and Zampella, they were each expected to earn $437,000, with projected bonuses of $13 million each. The rest of the top 20's projected salaries and bonuses rose accordingly, with salaries between $74,000 and $180,000, and bonuses ranging from $1.4 million to $2.5 million.

"If you recently worked on a hit FPS, read this and see how incredibly underpaid you are," ngmoco general manager Benjamin Cousins tweeted about the documents.

The emails were released into public record in the lawsuit between the Infinity Ward Employee Group and Activision; West and Zampella sued Activision in 2010 claiming they were owed $36 million in royalties associated with Modern Warfare 2, after Activision fired them earlier that year. West and Zampella now claim $1 billion in damages and the case is set for trial May 29.

JoystiqLawsuit outs West and Zampella's salaries, bonuses at Infinity Ward: Projected $13M bonus in 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2012 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionbonusInfinity-Wardinfinity-ward-employee-grouplawsuitmicrosoftModern-Warfare-2pcplaystationps3salariessalaryxboxTue, 22 May 2012 19:55:00 EST<![CDATA[EA and Activision settle in Call of Duty lawsuit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/ea-and-activision-settle-in-call-of-duty-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/ea-and-activision-settle-in-call-of-duty-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/ea-and-activision-settle-in-call-of-duty-lawsuit/#comments ImageEA and Activision have reached a settlement in a lawsuit that began two years ago, pertaining to the departure of Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella. EA had been accused of secretly recruiting the pair while they were still at Activision.

No details about the settlement are currently available, but both companies said today that they will file a settlement agreement in Los Angeles' California state court.

Former Infinity Ward developers Jason West and Vince Zampella sued Activision in 2010 after being fired, claiming damages of $36 million from unpaid royalties associated with Modern Warfare 2, which launched in 2009. After leaving Activision, the pair began their own studio, Respawn Entertainment, and inked a publishing deal with EA. Since then, West and Zampella's claim rose to $1 billion and Activision countersued with EA as a defendant.

Activision recently paid out $42 million to the Infinity Ward Employee Group, though not as a settlement; IWEG said it would pursue litigation and is still scheduled for trial May 29.

The settlement news comes the same day as a report on Activision's "dirt"-digging tactics has surfaced, stating that Activision launched an information-gathering IT spree on West and Zampella just before the launch of Modern Warfare 2, intended to see them both fired. Activision called it "Project Icebreaker."

No joke.

In Project Icebreaker, Activision's George Rose asked the IT department to access West and Zampella's email, voicemail and computer without anyone's knowledge, a court filing given to Giantbomb by West and Zampella's attorneys shows. The orders reportedly came from Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. Activision attempted to use third-party security specialists and threw around the idea of staging a fake fumagation to get into West and Zampella's offices, the report says.

But now the case is settled -- any verdict on the level of sanity of gaming companies is, however, still out.

JoystiqEA and Activision settle in Call of Duty lawsuit originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionEAElectronic-ArtsInfinity-WardlawsuitmicrosoftModern-Warfare-2pcplaystationps3xboxWed, 16 May 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision pays $42 million to Infinity Ward Employee Group]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/activision-pays-42-million-to-infinity-ward-employee-group/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/activision-pays-42-million-to-infinity-ward-employee-group/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/activision-pays-42-million-to-infinity-ward-employee-group/#comments Activision has paid out $42 million to the "Infinity Ward Employee Group," which sued Activision in 2010 seeking profits from Modern Warfare 2. A source speaking to Polygon said that the payment was not a settlement; rather, Activision's discovery phase (for its own lawsuit against former Infinity Ward leads Jason West and Vince Zampella) found no evidence that the Employee Group members were complicit in the breach-of-contract issues for which Activision is suing, and so Bobby Kotick and Activision agreed to pay them.

That group sought $75 million to $125 million, plus punitive damages. IWEG attorney Bruce Isaacs told Polygon that "although it is a meaningful payment it is only a small portion of what we are seeking in litigation." And it is still going forward with said litigation. Isaacs said the payment was a "cynical attempt to look good before the jury trial."

JoystiqActivision pays $42 million to Infinity Ward Employee Group originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsinfinity-wardinfinity-ward-employee-grouplawsuitmicrosoftModern-Warfare-2nintendopcplaystationps3wiixboxTue, 15 May 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the scenes of Modern Warfare 3's 'Face Off' DLC and Content Collection 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/behind-the-scenes-of-modern-warfare-3s-face-off-dlc-and-conte/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/behind-the-scenes-of-modern-warfare-3s-face-off-dlc-and-conte/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/behind-the-scenes-of-modern-warfare-3s-face-off-dlc-and-conte/#comments Image
Modern Warfare 3's upcoming Face Off mode isn't set hit to Xbox 360-enabled living rooms until next Wednesday, May 16, but it's never too soon to start using promotional materials (like the behind the scenes video above and screenshots below) to start memorizing map layouts. This is war, dammit, and you need every possible advantage you can get to survive. Don't come crawling back to us when you've been blasted to the bottom of the leaderboards, riddled with shame bullets from the hand cannons of someone who actually took the time to prepare.

... Watching the video because you enjoy development diaries and/or have a casual interest in Modern Warfare games is also acceptable.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 3 (Face-off Content Collection)

JoystiqBehind the scenes of Modern Warfare 3's 'Face Off' DLC and Content Collection 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 May 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Content-Collection-2Face-OffInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3MW3pcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamesTreyarchxboxSat, 12 May 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-IGNer Tina Palacios replacing Bowling as Infinity Ward community manager]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/ex-igner-tina-palacios-replacing-bowling-as-infinity-ward-commun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/ex-igner-tina-palacios-replacing-bowling-as-infinity-ward-commun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/ex-igner-tina-palacios-replacing-bowling-as-infinity-ward-commun/#comments ImageWhen Call of Duty's main public face, Robert Bowling, left his longtime spot as creative strategist at Infinity Ward earlier this year, he left a tank-sized hole in the studio. Though she's small in stature, ex-IGN/1UP community manager Tina Palacios aims to fill that spot in the coming days, IGN reports.

Palacios is taking up the job of "senior community manager" at Infinity Ward - the studio that created the Modern Warfare series, but is most recently known for a nasty legal battle involving its former creative leads.

"I can't say what my official duties are yet," Palacios told us. "But I definitely want to bridge the gap between devs and fans - making sure their voices are heard." There'll be some adjustment of course, she admitted. "The amount of comments I'll receive will probably be much larger than I've experienced at IGN or 1UP, but I'll still do my best." We imagine it won't be too long before we hear more from her. Say, oh, seven to eight months from now? Just a guess.

JoystiqEx-IGNer Tina Palacios replacing Bowling as Infinity Ward community manager originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmodern-warfare-3robert-bowlingtina-palaciostina-sanchezFri, 11 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 getting free 'Face Off' mode, non-free Content Collection 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/modern-warfare-3-getting-free-face-off-mode-non-free-content/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/modern-warfare-3-getting-free-face-off-mode-non-free-content/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/modern-warfare-3-getting-free-face-off-mode-non-free-content/#comments Image
A new way of murdering your friends and/or strangers is coming to the Xbox 360 version of Modern Warfare 3 on May 15, in the form of "Face Off" mode. Face Off has been designed for 1v1 or 2v2 firefights, with its four maps built specifically for small, close-quarters battle between a small number of soldiers. The two free maps launching with the new mode, Aground and Erosion, take place on a beached ship on the coast of Scotland and on the Italian coast during a volcanic eruption, respectively. PlayStation 3 and PC dates for Face Off have yet to be determined.

A new Content Collection is also on its way, available to Call of Duty Elite subscribers on May 15 and everyone else (with an Xbox) on May 21. Content Collection 2 includes three new multiplayer maps (Sanctuary, Foundation and Oasis), as well as two new Spec Ops missions (Iron Clad, Kill Switch) and the other two Face Off maps, Getaway and Lookout. As per usual, PS3 and PC dates are indeterminate, but everyone is welcome to take a peek at the new jams courtesy of IGN's trailer above.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 getting free 'Face Off' mode, non-free Content Collection 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Content-Collection-2DLCFace-OffInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3MW3pcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamesTreyarchxboxThu, 10 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty Elite reaches 10 million users, 2 million paid subscriptions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/call-of-duty-elite-reaches-10-million-users-2-million-paid-subs/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/call-of-duty-elite-reaches-10-million-users-2-million-paid-subs/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/call-of-duty-elite-reaches-10-million-users-2-million-paid-subs/#comments

Activision's Call of Duty Elite service puts another feather in its very busy cap today with a reported total of 10 million users, two million of which are paid subscribers. This is an increase of three million and 500,000, respectively, since last Activision dished out some numbers in February.

The latest earnings report says it's "an increase of approximately 33% from January 31, 2012." As of March 31, Activision has 40 million monthly active users across all Call of Duty products and platforms.

JoystiqCall of Duty Elite reaches 10 million users, 2 million paid subscriptions originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3Raven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamestreyarchxboxWed, 09 May 2012 16:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 'Content Collection' coming to PC in May]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/modern-warfare-3-content-collection-coming-to-pc-in-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/modern-warfare-3-content-collection-coming-to-pc-in-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/modern-warfare-3-content-collection-coming-to-pc-in-may/#comments A bundle of Modern Warfare 3 DLC will finally make it to PC hard drives on May 8, delivering sustenance to starving hearts and under-used high-DPI mice the world over. The "Content Collection" pack includes four maps (Black Box, Piazza, Liberation, Overwatch) and two Spec Ops missions (Negotiator, Black Ice).

If any of that sounds familiar, it's because all of this DLC was already released on the PS3 earlier this month, and on the 360 back in March. Activision has yet to announce pricing for the pack, but if its console counterparts are any indication, it'll probably run somewhere around $15 bucks.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 'Content Collection' coming to PC in May originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Content-Collection-1DLCInfinity-Wardmodern-warfare-3pcsledgehammer-gamesTreyarchSat, 28 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision v. Infinity Ward court date delayed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/activision-v-infinity-ward-court-date-delayed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/activision-v-infinity-ward-court-date-delayed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/activision-v-infinity-ward-court-date-delayed/#comments ImageFormer Activision employees and Infinity Ward founders Jason West and Vincent Zampella are taking Activision to court on May 29, after a few years of legal back-and-forth negotiations and counter-suits from Activision. The date was initially set for May 7, but was pushed back at Activision's request.

West and Zampella claim Activision owes them $125 million in unpaid royalties, and they seek the rights to the Modern Warfare brand.

Activision's counter-suit is free to move forward as well, where Activision is asking for $400 million from EA, claiming EA stole its employees and that West and Zampella were consorting secretly with the competitor while still Activision employees.

Zampella and West were fired from Activision in 2010 on the grounds of these supposed secret meetings. They soon after founded Respawn Entertainment and now have 40 former Infinity Ward employees in their ranks.

JoystiqActivision v. Infinity Ward court date delayed originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Duty-4-Modern-WarfareCoD4Infinity-WardJason-WestlegalmicrosoftModern-Warfarenintendopcplaystationps3Respawn-EntertainmentsueVince-ZampellawiixboxMon, 09 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty creative strategist Robert 'FourZeroTwo' Bowling departs Infinity Ward [update: Activision responds]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/call-of-duty-creative-strategist-robert-fourzerotwo-bowling-de/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/call-of-duty-creative-strategist-robert-fourzerotwo-bowling-de/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/call-of-duty-creative-strategist-robert-fourzerotwo-bowling-de/#comments Longtime hype man for the Call of Duty franchise, Robert Bowling, has resigned from Infinity Ward and Activision today. Robert "FourZeroTwo" Bowling, who served as creative strategist for Call of Duty and lead at Infinity Ward, just announced his resignation via Twitter. He has yet to announce where he is going next.

Bowling stayed on at Infinity Ward following the mass exodus of staff who would go on to form Respawn Entertainment in 2010.

Update: Here's Activision's official comment on the news: "We sincerely thank Robert for his many years of service. He's been a trusted and valued member of the Infinity Ward team. We wish him all the best on his decision to pursue future opportunities."

JoystiqCall of Duty creative strategist Robert 'FourZeroTwo' Bowling departs Infinity Ward [update: Activision responds] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3fourzerotwoinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3robert-bowlingrobert-fourzerotwo-bowlingxboxMon, 26 Mar 2012 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection 1 on Xbox Live today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/psa-modern-warfare-3-content-collection-1-on-xbox-live-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/psa-modern-warfare-3-content-collection-1-on-xbox-live-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/psa-modern-warfare-3-content-collection-1-on-xbox-live-today/#comments Content Collection 1 for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is available for widespread consumption now on Xbox Live, after launching on March 13 for Elite members. Content Collection 1 includes four new multiplayer maps: Liberation, Piazza, Overwatch and Black Box, plus two Spec Ops missions, Black Ice and Negotiator.

Not "Black-ice negotiator," because it would be hilariously difficult to discuss anything of real import atop a slick of black ice, and MW3 is nothing but serious business.

JoystiqPSA: Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection 1 on Xbox Live today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Content-Collection-1eliteInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3xboxTue, 20 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty Elite subs getting four more pieces of unnamed MW3 content this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/call-of-duty-elite-subs-getting-four-more-pieces-of-unnamed-mw3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/call-of-duty-elite-subs-getting-four-more-pieces-of-unnamed-mw3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/call-of-duty-elite-subs-getting-four-more-pieces-of-unnamed-mw3/#comments If those 20 pieces of planned DLC for Modern Warfare 3 weren't enough for you, perhaps four additional bits will do the trick. Activision is sharing the four-piece bonus with Elite subscribers throughout the coming months, but isn't saying exactly what the content will be. All we know is that it'll be interspersed throughout the planned Elite content "season."

Elite's platform ubiquity is increasing as well, with the service's planned launch on tablets coming in the near future. Nearly 2 million folks have already snagged the app across both iOS and Android -- that's quite a few, considering approximately 7 million folks are Elite users. Activision promises a variety of (specified) updates to Elite's functionality over the next few months.

Gallery: Call of Duty Elite (GDC 2012)

JoystiqCall of Duty Elite subs getting four more pieces of unnamed MW3 content this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbeachheadbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3cod-elitedlcdownloadable-contenteliteinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3ravenraven-softwarexboxThu, 15 Mar 2012 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Black Ice, Black Box and Negotiator out for Call of Duty Elite subscribers on Xbox 360 today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/psa-black-ice-black-box-and-negotiator-out-for-call-of-duty-el/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/psa-black-ice-black-box-and-negotiator-out-for-call-of-duty-el/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/psa-black-ice-black-box-and-negotiator-out-for-call-of-duty-el/#comments Today you should find three new stomping grounds in Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox 360, provided you're a premium member of the Call of Duty Elite service. Black Ice and Negotiator, a pair of Spec Ops maps we were able to try out last week, and multiplayer locale Black Box, have been deployed in Modern Warfare 3.

If you're not on board with Elite, you can pick up these maps -- along with Liberation, Piazza and Overwatch -- as part of the Content Collection #1 DLC pack on Xbox 360 from March 20.

Gallery: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection #1

JoystiqPSA: Black Ice, Black Box and Negotiator out for Call of Duty Elite subscribers on Xbox 360 today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3sledgehammer-gamesxboxTue, 13 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Negotiation with extreme prejudice in Modern Warfare 3 Spec Ops DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/negotiation-with-extreme-prejudice-in-modern-warfare-3-spec-ops/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/negotiation-with-extreme-prejudice-in-modern-warfare-3-spec-ops/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/negotiation-with-extreme-prejudice-in-modern-warfare-3-spec-ops/#comments
Striking that balance of emotional impact and tension in video games is no easy task. For one, video games aren't real, so I generally don't concern myself much when I run over a virtual pedestrian or cut off an AI driver in the final lap. I don't care if I'm a jerk in a video game.

But there's something about watching some thug shoot an innocent virtual person in the face, directly in front of me, that really ticks me off. As Sledgehammer Games community manager Guy Beahm and I ran through the Spec Ops DLC coming to Modern Warfare 3 Elite subscribers tomorrow, and as part of Content Collection #1, I genuinely felt lousy when I was seconds from saving a hostage. I really wanted to save these people.

Gallery: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection #1

Continue reading Negotiation with extreme prejudice in Modern Warfare 3 Spec Ops DLC

JoystiqNegotiation with extreme prejudice in Modern Warfare 3 Spec Ops DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblack-icecall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3negotiatorpcplaystationps3Raven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamesspec-opsxboxMon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Modern Warfare 3 'Overwatch' out today [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/psa-ac-revelations-lost-archive-dlc-modern-warfare-3-overw/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/psa-ac-revelations-lost-archive-dlc-modern-warfare-3-overw/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/psa-ac-revelations-lost-archive-dlc-modern-warfare-3-overw/#comments
Activision is dropping the next Call of Duty Elite content pack for Modern Warfare 3 in Overwatch, a rooftop map for the game's multiplayer component. If you'd like to take a peek at that map, we've dropped the latest trailer just above.

The Overwatch DLC map for MW3 is exclusive to 360 for a limited time.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 3 (Call of Duty Elite: Overwatch)

JoystiqPSA: Modern Warfare 3 'Overwatch' out today [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlceliteinfinity-wardmicrosoftoverwatchpcraven-softwaresledgehammer-gamesxboxxbox-livexbox-live-marketplaceTue, 21 Feb 2012 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer free on Steam this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-free-on-steam-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-free-on-steam-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/modern-warfare-3-multiplayer-free-on-steam-this-weekend/#comments Did you know the weekend technically starts now? According to Steam it does, anyway. Don't even bother showing up to work tomorrow.

Steam users will have access to Modern Warfare 3's full multiplayer suite of modes starting right now. All you have to do is install the game and you can play as much multiplayer as you want until Monday -- unless you want to buy the game, of course.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 multiplayer free on Steam this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmodern-warfare-3pcRaven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamessteamvalveThu, 16 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3's 'Overwatch' map DLC kills you before you fall 70 stories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/modern-warfare-3s-overwatch-map-dlc-kills-you-before-you-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/modern-warfare-3s-overwatch-map-dlc-kills-you-before-you-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/modern-warfare-3s-overwatch-map-dlc-kills-you-before-you-fall/#comments
We're just gonna tell you up front: you're gonna wanna skip to about 50 seconds into this trailer before you see any gameplay featuring Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's "Overwatch" map in action. And you're gonna want to do that, as the first part is just Rob Riggle talking total nonsense. But the map part? Aces.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3's 'Overwatch' map DLC kills you before you fall 70 stories originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3cod-elitedlcdownloadable-contenteliteinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3overwatchpcplaystationps3raven-softwaresledgehammer-gamesxboxWed, 15 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Call of Duty Elite pulls in 7 million users, 1.5 million paid memberships]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/call-of-duty-elite-pulls-in-7-million-users-1-5-million-paid-me/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/call-of-duty-elite-pulls-in-7-million-users-1-5-million-paid-me/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/call-of-duty-elite-pulls-in-7-million-users-1-5-million-paid-me/#comments Call of Duty Elite, the community portal for Activision's perennial shooter is apparently doing gangbusters, according to the publisher's 2011 earnings report. The report states that Elite has pulled in over 7 million members as of January 31.

Even more impressive: over 1.5 million of those are premium subscriptions, available as part of the $100 Hardened Edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or as a separate $50 purchase. Paid membership grants a few benefits, most notably a free pass and early access to Modern Warfare 3 DLC.

We'd say the service probably qualifies as a success at this point, at least from Activision's perspective.

JoystiqCall of Duty Elite pulls in 7 million users, 1.5 million paid memberships originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3playstationps3Raven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamesxboxThu, 09 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EST<![CDATA[MW3's next DLC drops from a skyscraper onto Xbox Elite members on Feb. 21]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/mw3s-next-dlc-drops-from-a-skyscraper-onto-xbox-elite-members-o/#comments Call of Duty Elite premium members playing Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox Live will receive the next batch of DLC, Overwatch, on February 21. Overwatch puts players in a construction site at the top of a New York City skyscraper, with a very real chance of dropping 70 feet to the sidewalk as an added risk. If you have trouble visualizing that, check out the gallery below.

The previous batch of downloadable content, Liberation and Piazza, is set to launch on PSN on February 28, having come out on Xbox Live in January, all in accordance with MW3's exclusivity deal with Microsoft. The next three batches of MW3 DLC will drop in March for Xbox premium members and will include the multiplayer map Black Box and two new Special Ops missions, Black Ice and Negotiator.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 3 (Call of Duty Elite: Overwatch)

JoystiqMW3's next DLC drops from a skyscraper onto Xbox Elite members on Feb. 21 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3DLCeliteInfinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3overwatchpcplaystationpremiumps3xboxTue, 07 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 CoD Elite premium members to get new old maps in February]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/ps3-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-release-date/#comments Players with a paid Call of Duty Elite membership on Playstation 3 will be able to snag two new Modern Warfare 3 maps, Liberation and Piazza, on February 28. Both maps launched for Xbox 360 Elite premium members on January 24, and we presume they will come to non-Elite and PC players eventually -- possibly another month after the PS3 version goes live.

Or possibly another two months, just to really rub it in, like the below screens for Liberation and Piazza will do.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 3 - Call of Duty Elite Season Content (Liberation and Piazza)

JoystiqPS3 CoD Elite premium members to get new old maps in February originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3eliteInfinity-Wardliberationmapsmodern-warfare-3piazzaplaystationpremiumps3sledgehammer-gamesTreyarchThu, 02 Feb 2012 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 Elite maps locked to one profile on one console]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/modern-warfare-3-elite-maps-locked-to-one-profile-on-one-console/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/modern-warfare-3-elite-maps-locked-to-one-profile-on-one-console/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/modern-warfare-3-elite-maps-locked-to-one-profile-on-one-console/#comments The Call of Duty Elite DLC may be more "elite" than intended. Users on the Call of Duty forums are complaining that the DLC maps can only be played by one account per console. That means that only the person who bought it can play the maps -- not other users of the same game on the same console, unless they share a single Xbox Live profile.

"I just tried on my other account and you are right, I cannot use the maps on the same Xbox with another gamertag even though it's all on the same xbox," notes forum user HalfericTuck, just one of many complaining fans. Reader Aaron, who alerted us to this issue, told Joystiq, "My girlfriend, whom I live with, cannot play the maps. My friend's teenage sons cannot play the maps."

This restriction does not square with the stated terms on the download. When users download the add-on, they are told, "You can use this item on the first Xbox 360 console you downloaded it to. Access to this item will also be granted to all users on this first console."

We've inquired with Activision regarding this issue, and will let you know when we've heard back.

[Thanks, Aaron]

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 Elite maps locked to one profile on one console originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3xboxWed, 25 Jan 2012 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Plan your life around this Modern Warfare 3 Elite DLC calendar]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/plan-your-life-around-this-modern-warfare-3-elite-dlc-calendar/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/plan-your-life-around-this-modern-warfare-3-elite-dlc-calendar/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/plan-your-life-around-this-modern-warfare-3-elite-dlc-calendar/#comments
Activision has come closer to identifying the specifics of the Modern Warfare 3 DLC schedule for Elite members, posting a calendar that shows what kind of content will be available every month through September. Don't worry: it's just text and images, not a video of Rob Riggle reading the schedule out. Yet.

February offers just one map, and April and July will have two maps each; aside from that, every month has some combination of maps, missions, and modes (modes in June and August). You can see exactly which combination will be available each month after the break, but Activision isn't revealing names until the current month, it appears.

Update: See a walkthrough for downloading Elite content in the video above.

Continue reading Plan your life around this Modern Warfare 3 Elite DLC calendar

JoystiqPlan your life around this Modern Warfare 3 Elite DLC calendar originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Infinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3playstationps3xboxWed, 25 Jan 2012 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Premium Call of Duty Elite DLC now available for MW3 on Xbox Live]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/psa-premium-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-now-available-for-mw3-on-xbo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/psa-premium-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-now-available-for-mw3-on-xbo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/psa-premium-call-of-duty-elite-dlc-now-available-for-mw3-on-xbo/#comments
That Call of Duty Elite membership will finally start paying for itself today, as a pair of new Modern Warfare 3 maps are now available to premium members (non-paying members will have to wait). Specifically, Xbox users with a paid subscription to Elite can snag "Liberation" and "Piazza." In order to do so, simply select the "Download Elite Content" from within the in-game store (found in the multiplayer menu). The Elite website notes that both maps must be downloaded or players will encounter an error during matchmaking.

PS3 Elite premium members will receive the DLC at a later date. The PC version, which does not currently feature Call of Duty Elite, will presumably receive the DLC later as well.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (First DLC pack)

JoystiqPSA: Premium Call of Duty Elite DLC now available for MW3 on Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3Raven-Softwaresledgehammer-gamesxboxTue, 24 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 holiday numbers indicate franchise sales decline in UK]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/modern-warfare-3-holiday-numbers-indicate-franchise-sales-declin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/modern-warfare-3-holiday-numbers-indicate-franchise-sales-declin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/modern-warfare-3-holiday-numbers-indicate-franchise-sales-declin/#comments While the Call of Duty franchise has enjoyed year-over-year growth in terms of worldwide sales, numbers released this week for the UK tell a different story for that particular region. According to the UK's Entertainment Retailers Association, Modern Warfare 3 moved 2,814,298 units between launch on November 8 and December 31, 2011, while Call of Duty's 2010 entry, Black Ops, sold 3,266,298 across the same holiday sales period in the previous year.

That's a decline of 452,000 units from Treyarch-developed Black Ops in 2010 to Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games-developed Modern Warfare 3 in 2011, though the latter was the fastest entertainment property in history to reach $1 billion in sales. As MCV points out, FIFA sales were also in decline in the UK, with nearly 200K fewer copies sold during 2011 than in 2010. All that said, let's not lose any sleep over the declines -- both CoD and FIFA's 2011 entries sold in the many millions in just the UK, let alone worldwide.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 holiday numbers indicate franchise sales decline in UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-opscall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3fifafifa-11fifa-12infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3salessledgehammer-gamestreyarchukunited-kingdomxboxThu, 12 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling 'happy' with MW3 holiday sales, sees the game as closure to Soap story]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/infinity-wards-robert-bowling-happy-with-mw3-holiday-sales-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/infinity-wards-robert-bowling-happy-with-mw3-holiday-sales-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/infinity-wards-robert-bowling-happy-with-mw3-holiday-sales-s/#comments Robert Bowling, Infinity Ward's creative strategist and face of the Call of Duty series, is excellent at his job, in that he knows how not to answer questions directly. It's a skill set shared by all variety of politicians, and not one prized among journalists. Why bother explaining this? Because when I asked Bowling about holiday sales of his studio's latest game, Modern Warfare 3, I wasn't surprised when he gave the company line ("I don't have any numbers I can share with you"), though he did allow, "I'm happy." Presumably we'll find out just how happy Bowling is when last month's NPDs arrive in a couple weeks.

Rather than push the unspeakable, I turned my attention to more open topics, such as Modern Warfare 3's finale wrapping up the story of series leads John "Soap" MacTavish and Captain John Price. "Our goal with Modern Warfare 3 was definitely to get some closure on the story that we started with Call of Duty 4, and I think we've achieved that," Bowling said. While he wouldn't put a definitive end to their inclusion in the series, he did admit that MW3's campaign was intended as closure on the duo's story.

That said, Bowling doesn't want to say "never" to the concept of either character reappearing in future CoD entries. "I never like to speak in definites when it comes to story design, because you never wanna not have an opening or an out," he told me. And hey, if Danny Trejo can appear as a DLC character, anything could happen, right?

JoystiqInfinity Ward's Robert Bowling 'happy' with MW3 holiday sales, sees the game as closure to Soap story originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3robert-bowlingsledgehammer-gamesxboxTue, 10 Jan 2012 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Tour the killing fields of Modern Warfare 3's first DLC with latest media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/tour-the-killing-fields-of-modern-warfare-3s-first-dlc-with-lat/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/tour-the-killing-fields-of-modern-warfare-3s-first-dlc-with-lat/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/tour-the-killing-fields-of-modern-warfare-3s-first-dlc-with-lat/#comments
You've been shooting dudes for nearly three months since Modern Warfare 3's early November launch, but that Elite pass has yet to offer more than a chance to watch your buddy Tim's lame gameplay clips. That's all about to change! The first DLC is nearly upon us, and here is your first tour.

Continue reading Tour the killing fields of Modern Warfare 3's first DLC with latest media

JoystiqTour the killing fields of Modern Warfare 3's first DLC with latest media originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcdownloadable-contentinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3raven-softwaresledgehammer-gamesxboxTue, 10 Jan 2012 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Five Modern Warfare 3 DLC drops planned for next three months, 20 total over next nine months]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/five-modern-warfare-3-dlc-drops-planned-for-next-three-months-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/five-modern-warfare-3-dlc-drops-planned-for-next-three-months-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/five-modern-warfare-3-dlc-drops-planned-for-next-three-months-2/#comments On January 24, this year's Call of Duty DLC season kicks off on Xbox Live with other platforms to follow. Elite subscribers on Xbox 360 will have first access the new content as part of their paid membership.

Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling confirmed with Joystiq the content schedule for Modern Warfare 3 and it's unsurprisingly extensive. Following the first multiplayer maps later this month ("Liberation" and "Piazza"), the plan is to offer five total DLC packages over the course of the next three months. Within the next nine months, up to September, there should be a total of 20 pieces of downloadable content available to players. A "Content Collection" in March will bundle the previously released DLC on Xbox Live for non-Elite users.

"The first pack is traditional multiplayer maps, but we want to do Spec Ops missions, missions, Spec-Ops Survival, new game types, new game modes, and really look at adding things that we've never done before," Bowling said. He said that the focus across all three studios involved -- Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software -- has been to experiment with the formula this time around, to offer players content other than map pack dumps.

"We said just do what you think is gonna be good. Do what's fun and, as long is fits in the Modern Warfare universe, try it! Experiment with it, and we'll take the best of the best and start polishing it up and releasing it. So that's really where our focus has been," Bowling concluded.

JoystiqFive Modern Warfare 3 DLC drops planned for next three months, 20 total over next nine months originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3raven-softwarerobert-bowlingsledgehammer-gamesxboxTue, 10 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Arthur's picks of 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/best-of-the-rest-arthurs-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/best-of-the-rest-arthurs-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/best-of-the-rest-arthurs-picks-of-2011/#comments Battlefield 3
I love Battlefield 3. I love it almost as much as it seems to hate its players.

At least, that's the way it feels sometimes, trying to get into a game, trying to get correctly squaded up, trying to find a server with room, having to use a server browser on consoles in 2011, downloading 2 GIGABYTE patches ... y u no luv me, BF3?

But when it does love me, it loves me so well ... and there I go, into that cycle of abuse again.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Arthur's picks of 2011

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Arthur's picks of 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionassassins-creed-revelationsbattlefield-3BF3bulletstormcall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3DICEEAforza-4forza-motorsport-4infinity-wardMGSmicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosmodern-warfare-3pcpeople-can-flyplaystationps3rayman-originsRelic-Entertainmentsledgehammer-gamesTHQtoy-soldiers-cold-warTreyarchubisoftUbisoft-MontpellierUbisoft-Montrealwarhammer-40k-space-marinexboxTue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Modern Warfare 3 DLC drops January 24 on Xbox [update: first screen]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/first-modern-warfare-3-dlc-drops-january-24-on-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/first-modern-warfare-3-dlc-drops-january-24-on-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/first-modern-warfare-3-dlc-drops-january-24-on-xbox/#comments Park Speaking on the Call of Duty Elite program, "Roll Call," Infinity Ward community guru Robert Bowling revealed that the first batch of Modern Warfare 3 DLC will be available next month. Specifically, Bowling announced that the "full season of content for Modern Warfare 3 kicks off for Elite subscribers January 24th on Xbox Live." As usual, expect the DLC to remain exclusive to Xbox for some time before launching on PS3 and PC.

Bowling didn't drop details on what the first batch of content would contain, though he did hint MW3 DLC would cover a wide spectrum, including Spec Ops and "a variety of things that players have never seen before." All of this is made possible by the massive development team, featuring Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer and Raven Software.

Oh, and if you're having trouble finding this particular video on Call of Duty Elite, it might be because it's in the Elite TV section, which is reserved for premium (read: "paid") members.

Update: Bowling has tweeted an image from the upcoming DLC, a map known simply as "Park." It's worth mentioning that Park was mentioned in a rumored leak late last month. Other maps mentioned included Overwatch, Cement, Italy and (ahem) Morningwood.

JoystiqFirst Modern Warfare 3 DLC drops January 24 on Xbox [update: first screen] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dlcinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3robert-bowlingxboxWed, 21 Dec 2011 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[12 Days of Joyswag: Modern Warfare 3 Hardened Edition and Munitio headphones]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/12-days-of-joyswag-modern-warfare-3-hardened-edition-and-muniti/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/12-days-of-joyswag-modern-warfare-3-hardened-edition-and-muniti/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/12-days-of-joyswag-modern-warfare-3-hardened-edition-and-muniti/#comments Another year, another 12 days of holiday giveaways! Between now and Christmas Day, we're doing the one thing that makes us feel truly alive: giving. Specifically, we're giving you fine folks some of the swag we've managed to collect in our cluttered home offices. And the good will and merriment doesn't stop here! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for even more chances to win!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It's the biggest game of the year but something tells us that at least one of you still hasn't picked it up. And for that person, we've got the Hardened Edition on Xbox 360 along with a pair of MW3-themed Munitio headphones which, while they won't work with your console at all, will illustrate your brand allegiance to everyone outside your home.

Continue reading 12 Days of Joyswag: Modern Warfare 3 Hardened Edition and Munitio headphones

Joystiq12 Days of Joyswag: Modern Warfare 3 Hardened Edition and Munitio headphones originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12-days-of-joyswag-2011activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3sledgehammer-gamesxboxMon, 19 Dec 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 adds Community Playlists, title update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/modern-warfare-3-adds-community-playlists-title-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/modern-warfare-3-adds-community-playlists-title-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/modern-warfare-3-adds-community-playlists-title-update/#comments Call of Duty guy is excited. Modern Warfare 3 players are in for a few treats today. First off, Activision's blockbuster has been updated with multiplayer playlist tweaks and an entirely new mode. Dubbed "Drop Zone," the latter tasks players with capturing and holding a ... drop zone. The team with the most players in the zone will receive a care package every fifteen seconds. The twist: Earning care packages is the only way to achieve pointstreaks. Drop Zone marks the first entry in the new Community Playlists section, which will play host to "popular or unique private match modes" created by users themselves.

The second playlist change is the addition of Hardcore Headquarters Ricochet to the Hardcore playlist. Furthermore, all Hardcore modes will now feature ricochet, meaning that all friendly fire will be reflected back to the attacker. In other words: Shooting a teammate is basically shooting yourself.

Finally, Infinity Ward community guru Robert Bowling has tweeted that a title update will be available today to address "Host Disadvantage" / "Lag Compensation."

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 adds Community Playlists, title update originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3patchpcplaystationps3robert-bowlingtitle-updatexboxFri, 16 Dec 2011 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Infinity Ward issuing Modern Warfare 3 bans that last 5000 days]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/infinity-ward-issuing-modern-warfare-3-bans-that-last-5000-days/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/infinity-ward-issuing-modern-warfare-3-bans-that-last-5000-days/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/infinity-ward-issuing-modern-warfare-3-bans-that-last-5000-days/#comments Infinity Ward is issuing its version of a "permaban" to offensive Modern Warfare 3 players, in the form of a ban lasting 5000 days. "If you see this message," IW Creative Strategist Robert Bowling confirmed on Twitter, "it means you've been Permabanned (for something bad)."

Really, when you think about it, IW is being charitable to cheaters and other malcontents by issuing bans lasting only 13 and a half years. That's not really permanent at all! Maybe you should thank Infinity Ward for its beneficence by not hacking your game or being outrageously racist.

Otherwise, you'll be thinking about how to live your life until you turn 26.

JoystiqInfinity Ward issuing Modern Warfare 3 bans that last 5000 days originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbancall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcpermabanplaystationps3xboxWed, 14 Dec 2011 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 update addresses lag, certain glitches]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/modern-warfare-3-update-addresses-lag-certain-glitches/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/modern-warfare-3-update-addresses-lag-certain-glitches/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/modern-warfare-3-update-addresses-lag-certain-glitches/#comments Good news, soldiers: The multiplayer component of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has received its sixth title update since the game's launch; a patch which addresses lag and a number of glitches players have been exploiting for their own nefarious, personal gain. Gone are the days of melee-jumping, as well as clan tags which use the controller's symbols to spell dirty words. (Bal[LS] indeed, sir.)

A number of guns have also been tweaked (see: nerfed) as hotfixes introduced to the title. You can check out a full list of these readjusted armaments after the jump, and pray that your precious, precious firearm evaded the developers' all-seeing eye.

Continue reading Modern Warfare 3 update addresses lag, certain glitches

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 update addresses lag, certain glitches originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3patchpcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamesupdatexboxMon, 12 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 and the rest of the CoD family on sale today at Amazon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/modern-warfare-3-and-the-rest-of-the-cod-family-on-sale-today-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/modern-warfare-3-and-the-rest-of-the-cod-family-on-sale-today-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/modern-warfare-3-and-the-rest-of-the-cod-family-on-sale-today-at/#comments Many, many people have already picked up copies of this year's Call of Duty entry, Modern Warfare 3. This we know. But what about those of you hoping against logic that the game -- one of the fastest selling media properties of all time -- would drop its price relatively close to launch? Bizarrely, your time has come, with Amazon offering Modern Warfare 3 for $50 (10 percent off) across Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, today only.

In fact, the entire stable of Call of Duty titles are on sale (not to mention various DS and Wii iterations) going all the way back to Modern Warfare 1. Amazon promises a day of Assassin's Creed savings tomorrow, so perhaps holding off on a purchase of Revelations this afternoon would be a smart move.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 and the rest of the CoD family on sale today at Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionamazoncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dsinfinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3nintendopcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamestreyarchwiixboxMon, 12 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision trumpets $1 billion for Modern Warfare 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/activision-trumpets-1-billion-for-modern-warfare-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/activision-trumpets-1-billion-for-modern-warfare-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/activision-trumpets-1-billion-for-modern-warfare-3/#comments As Bobby Kotick nestles himself between a cloud masquerading as a mattress and a gold-trimmed white goose down duvet (the goose has the gold trim, not the duvet), his mind can gently waft into unconsciousness, accompanied by the pleasing crackle of bloggers typing "one billion dollars." Activision announced the enormous sales figure for Modern Warfare 3 this morning, claiming the milestone flew by within 16 days of the game's launch. We hope George Michael was adequately rewarded for providing his flattest cover yet.

The information is derived from retailer sell-through data and the UK's Chart-Track service, and is positioned in comparison to entertainment nemesis Hollywood, where 2009's Avatar took longer to reach the same sales (19 in total if you ask Wikipedia). James Cameron's 3D spectacle rested on an awful lot of noses and eventually reached $2 billion worldwide.

Alas, that's an indication of Modern Warfare 3's diminishing returns in the news sphere. Next year, we want to see two billion bucks before we commit a sentence.

JoystiqActivision trumpets $1 billion for Modern Warfare 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3nintendopcplaystationps3salessledgehammer-gameswiixboxMon, 12 Dec 2011 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[A Thanksgiving weekend close-up for Call of Duty Elite's second take]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-thanksgiving-weekend-close-up-for-call-of-duty-elites-second/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-thanksgiving-weekend-close-up-for-call-of-duty-elites-second/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-thanksgiving-weekend-close-up-for-call-of-duty-elites-second/#comments When we last spoke with Call of Duty VP of Production Daniel Suarez two weeks ago, just after the record-breaking launch of Modern Warfare 3, things weren't going so well. Sure, MW3 sold 6.5 million units in a single day, but Activision's high-profile Call of Duty Elite service fell squarely on its face. Now, two weeks later, Elite is operational and Suarez says Activision is confident the service can withstand not only the Thanksgiving holiday but a potential post-Black Friday surge.

"It was a lot of hard work from where we were two weeks ago, which was an embarassing place," Suarez confessed. "And now we're at a place where we're confidant people will be able to enjoy the service." And while Elite is operational or, as Suarez put it, "up on its feet," the team continues to push out new builds almost daily. "We still have some bugs and some kinks to work out," he said. "We've been pushing out fixes everyday to address people on Twitter" and elsewhere.

Continue reading A Thanksgiving weekend close-up for Call of Duty Elite's second take

JoystiqA Thanksgiving weekend close-up for Call of Duty Elite's second take originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbeachhead-studioscall-of-duty-elitecall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Infinity-Wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3playstationps3sledgehammer-gamesxboxWed, 23 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 player ups the ante on ridiculous knife kills]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/modern-warfare-3-player-ups-the-ante-on-ridiculous-knife-kills/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/modern-warfare-3-player-ups-the-ante-on-ridiculous-knife-kills/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/modern-warfare-3-player-ups-the-ante-on-ridiculous-knife-kills/#comments
We have a full-on tradition on our hands. Now that the latest Call of Duty game has released, it's only fitting that a ridiculous knife trick-shot video surface on the world wide internet. And this one has set the bar so high, we're not even sure it's part of Earth's atmosphere any more.

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 player ups the ante on ridiculous knife kills originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3sledgexboxMon, 21 Nov 2011 22:00:00 EST