Robert Bowling commented on some of the new additions to the Modern Warfare 3 patch 1.09. PC users recently received an update for five prestige emblems, and PS3/Xbox 360 gamers are expected to see these new levels in the next update also. “It should be added in the next title updates for those platforms [Xbox 360 and PS3],” commented Bowling. HD video uploads and a fix for music volume will be included in the patch. “HD video uploads for PS3 are currently planned in an upcoming title update for MW3,” said Bowling. Infinity Ward developer commented, “the patch containing the music adjustment is going into submission [presumably, the console manufacturers certification process] very soon.” No release date for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 patch 1.09 has been released.

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Latest On Modern Warfare 3 Patch 1.09

When you’re usually trying to buy a game, you can only play it on one platform. If you own more than one gaming device then you tend to have to pay for the same game again to play it on your 2nd system. Sony has announced today the days of purchasing a game on two seperate platforms are on their way out. The PS Vita has a fantastic feature which allows cross platform play – between the PS Vita and the PS3, and vice versa. With the imminent release of the PS Vita, you’re getting a fantastic deal from Sony for the games available at launch. Buy the game once and knock yourself out by playing them on both your PS3 and your PS Vita. This may be the future – it’s yet to be decided on whether Sony will decide to do this for future titles, it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if this was to become a permanent move, but for now the launch games are going to benefit from this decision. With the pricing of the launch day downloadable games being at an all time low – Sony has certainly hit the right spot when it comes to tempting the gamer to spend their hard earned cash on their new, shiny device – I for one am already having sleepless nights as I can’t wait to get my hands on my PS Vita next week! So far, only certain games can be played on both systems since you have to remember that he Vita features at touch screen and a touch-pad on the back, so be sure you check for cross-platform compatibility before making your purchase. Here’s to the future of cross platform gaming, and here’s to hoping Sony finally see sense in offering a 1 price, multiple platform gaming for the forseeable future.

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2 Platforms 1 Price – Sony Tempts Gamers With Some Mouth Watering News

Yesterday, I got my first hands on with a PlayStation Vita at the Austin Vita Club that Sony has set up. After reading so many previews, I felt like I already knew everything there was to know. However, I had a few reactions to using the device in person: The buttons and analog sticks are very small. Much smaller than a PS3 controller or a PSP. The sticks had no perceptible dead zone and felt very smooth and polished. My expectation was that the the OLED screen was larger and noticably nicer than most smartphones. That was definitely true. Size-wise, it’s larger than a smartphone, but definitely way smaller than a tablet. A few smartphone models have already have OLED screens, but the image quality on the Vita is noticably better than non-OLED screens like those found on an iPhone. There is also a quality advantage over the typical HDTV, although the HDTV obviously has a large size advantage. The Vita Social Club setup was pretty stylish. Although, honestly, I don’t like these free events. They tend to draw more of a random street crowd that wants to mooch off free stuff, rather than actual video game enthusiasts. I’d rather pay to get a nicer experience. They chose the Austin famous Chilantro to do the free food catering; they make Korean tacos/burritos which was an excellent choice. When you page around your available games, the Vita OS shows games that can’t be played without a cartridge. I hope they fix this in a patch. I got to try the Marvel vs. Capcom fighter: that’s not my type of game, but it was enough to demo the quality of the controls, the display, and the graphics processing power of the device. I definitely expect this will replace my PS3 as my primary gaming device. The launch lineup has a handful of entertaining content, but I’m super excited about LittleBigPlanet and other 2012 multi-platform releases.

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PlayStation Vita Impressions

Today I got a look at two things I have yet to get my greasy gamer paws on: the Playstation Vita and the Vita game “Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack!”. While the Vita I immediately reached for was only a dev unit, it was rather weighty and much larger than its predecessors. That’s not the focus of this article though, Mutant Blobs is what I’m going to talk about. And talk about it we shall; in great detail. Let’s begin…shall we? A blustery, windy, chilly day in the city is no surprise. Conducting an interview with a calm, collected, zen-like master like Ryan MacLean … is. Plus he’s got a beard (I’m still rocking my SF Giants World Series beard) so i instantly feel at ease with the CEO of DrinkBox studios. MacLean greeted me warmly and I found myself a seat on the couch via the opposite corner of MacLean. Like a hyperactive 6 year old, I immediately grab the Vita. Not stopping and thinking, “Hey, I’m supposed to conduct an interview here..”. MacLean takes the reins and talks about DrinkBox Studios (a small Toronto based company) and tells me “a total of 8 people” worked on the game and followed it through to it’s completion. The main protagonist of this Vita downloadable game is a friendly looking green blob that can mold, attach, squish, roll, eat, enlarge and steamroll its way into your heart. Sackboy lovers prepare to make room in your heart for what I think is a shoe-in for the “new mascot” nomination for the Vita. The overall gameplay if I had to compare it to another Playstation title would be “Little Big Planet” meets “Uncharted”. Combined with multi-cultural references in the back and foreground of this highly addictive side-scrolling title, you’ll be sliming your way through levels and avoiding laser beam pitfalls. On top of all that, you have collectibles to go after. A set number of collectibles reside in each level and let me share a secret with you: they’re a little tricky to get. It takes patience and a slick understanding of each level to snag’em. The following is a true fact: I have never played the Vita…until now. Now with this in mind, Mutant Blobs is my first crack at any Vita game. After about 15 minutes in and on much higher levels that MacLean was kind enough to show/walk me though, I started learning the ropes. Although there came a puzzle part which I had no idea what to do, so I handed the Vita to MacLean and said “You do it!”. Not frustratingly mind you, but I didn’t want to make the man suffer and watch struggle with this like two pigs fighting over a milk dud. Gameplay in itself is fascinating and there’s so much to engage the gamer. There’s laser beams and giant pitfalls and even bigger cog wheels you can attach to and repel off of. Places in-game to perform smash moves to break through even bigger destructible barriers. What can you say to a game like this – other than: “Let’s shake it and break it!” I then dove in with Ryan MacLean, giving me pointers and the occasional bailout move. What’s even more cool about the game is it utilizes everything the Vita has to offer, including a nice little trophy list. Maybe not a jaw dropping fact in itself, but when you go through Mutant Blobs gameplay and all the gaming control, touch control, trigger controls, tilt control, graphics, smooth animation, jazzy music, smile-inducing cutscenes… that’s kind of a tall order. What’s even more fascinating is the price point being offered for Mutant Blobs: it’s a paltry $7.99 USD. Available on the Playstation Store starting February 21. I then concluded my guided tour of three levels hand-picked by MacLean himself, I then decided to ask some questions that came to mind. First up was my inquiry about the “Pass-N-Play” feature on most handheld gaming rigs? Not in this case would be the answer. Co-Op is also not going to be in this game reveled MacLean. Don’t fret true believer, MacLean was quick to deter any previous bad news with “anything is possible” and DLC for this Vita downloadable was hinted at, but certainly not confirmed. MacLean & the DrinkBox crew were quick to add bits of information like bonus levels that are included and unlock as you progress through the game, creating an even bigger and more expansive experience for the Vita gamer. I was then shown and allowed to play a bonus level. Now this is right up my alley! Using only tilt controls for this particular bonus level, I became a rolling ball of destruction. Swallowing and engulfing anything onscreen, people feared me, cars trembled at the sight of me and construction zone barriers became tasty little morsels. A chaotic and destructive pinball-like level, the blob gets bigger with every item/person/car you eat and the more you eat – the BIGGER you get – until you’re pretty much unstoppable. The bonus level has a quirky bezel design, that being of a GameBoy bezel (aptly renamed GameBro) and when I asked if PlayStation had said something to say to DrinkBox about the obvious nod to the Nintendo handheld? The official response was: “they didn’t seem to have a problem with it”, I joked back with “I’m sure they probably were a little sour grapes with it”. We all had a nice little chuckle together and I finished the bonus level with a respectable (noobish) score and was left seriously wanting more of this amazing downloadable title. The PlayStation Vita is still in its infancy stage with developers still working on games and figuring out way to make a game that truly works on the Vita. DrinkBox has done just that: they’ve made a game that works . It finds an odd and sometimes very odd balance to a gaming handheld that few Vita titles have been able to master. As far as being a Vita title, this is definitely a must own for any Vita owner. And if you plan on picking up a Vita make sure to pick this title and slime your way to the PSN store and grab this title for an amazingly affordable price point of $7.99 USD starting on February 21. I give these Vita title a solid 4 out of 5 blobs. (90/100 Title Score) This review is based on the PS Vita version of Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack! developed by DrinkBox Studios. Now. With that being said and mainly because yours truly is so awesome. Mr. MacLean was kind enough to extend a free version of the game included on this game voucher (see picture) he gave me at the end of the interview. Here’s what you got to do: What name would you give the blob in Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack? Leave a comment down below with your answer. And be sure to show DrinkBox some love via the official Mutant Blobs Attack blog at www.mutantblobsattack.com , @MutantBlob on Twitter, and DrinkBox Studios on Facebook. Having a Vita or planning to get a Vita will also help with this contest, as the game is only for the Vita. Contest will end on February 20, so it gives everyone enough time to enter. Good Luck!

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Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack! [Vita Game Review & Giveway!]

Before I begin, I’d just like to briefly introduce 4Gamers – a UK based PlayStation Approved accessory brand. 4Gamers have been developing quality console accessories for over 6 years, and have since established themselves as a quality brand whose products can be found in every gaming establishment, supermarkets and online stores within the UK. 4Gamers are an Official PlayStation Approved Accessory developer, so you can have the peace of mind that you are buying a product which has been carefully designed and pieced together, and has met the seal of approval from the big cheeses within the Sony corporation. Their products range from affordable PS3 and the more recent PS Vita cases to headsets and packaged kits which appeal to the more prominent gamer. Currently their products are not available in the US, however this is about to change very soon! I was recently invited to the 4Gamers UKHQ to see their products first hand, and I’m still wondering how I can share with you everything that I saw and had the opportunity to play with. I met with Tony Walton, Product Development Manager for 4Gamers – the genius behind the product design. We sat down in the main board room, where the walls were covered in numerous accessories they’ve developed over the years. After a brief introduction, Tony advised me that I was about to see products which currently are in the public domain, and some which have only just been approved by Sony themselves and haven’t yet been revealed to the outside world. Although I would love to share with you everything that was presented to me, today I’m going to focus on one particular piece of kit which I feel is the must-have kit for any PS3 gamer, new or old. so, without delay – let me present to you, the COMM-PLAY Performance Gaming Kit! What’s Included In The Box Presented in a very sleek box, the package includes the following products: – 4Gamers Stereo Gaming Headset – Dual Charge ‘N’ Stand, with 2 lengthy USB cables – High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet 4Gamers Stereo Gaming Headset The headset looks VERY sleek – it sports a leather strap across the headband, it’s extremely light, comes packed with some nice and tidy cables – and the major plus for me, a noise cancelling microphone. Before I go into specifics I’d like to mention that I currently own a set of Turtle Beach P11′s – and I couldn’t help myself but compare the 4Gamers’ headset to the P11′s – due to both being very similarly priced. The first and most obvious difference I noticed between both headsets were the volume controls. Whilst the P11′s controls aren’t all that bad, the 4Gamers’ headset’s controls just look and feel far superior – with the solid sliders giving you more control over the volume levels. The headset’s controls were very robust, and had a solid feel to them. Whilst playing with the P11′s controls, I felt like I’m 8 years old again, back in the 80′s playing around with the volume control dial on my Sony cassette player/Walkman. We’re in the 21st Century and to be honest, we should be moving away from circular dials regardless of the feature it controls. The other noticeable difference was the shape of the earcups. The P11′s consists of oval/eggshaped earcups, whilst the 4Gamers’ headset consists of round earcups – with both headset’s cups nicely padded, making them very comfortable to wear. Next up was the noise cancelling microphone offered by 4Gamers. This is a mega plus point, whereas my P11s unfortunately do not offer a NC mic. If you’re wondering what noise cancelling is all about, here’s a quickie from the Wiki: “A noise-canceling microphone is a microphone designed to filter out ambient noise from the desired sound, especially useful in noisy environments.” The mics on both headsets are different in length – with the 4Gamers’ mic being shorter. When testing the 4Gamers headset via an online session of Battlefield, although I hadn’t told my friends I was donning a different headset, they had obviously noticed the difference by telling me I actually sound much clearer. Both headsets sport a metal adjustable arm on the mic, making it nice and sturdy and ensure the mic doesn’t drop from it’s adjusted position. How often do you feel that there’s just too much cabling between you, your headset and your PS3? I get this all the time with my P11s. Although the P11s offer a generous 3.7m of cabling, it quite annoys me that I have to interconnect quite a few cables to then connect upto my PS3 – making the floorspace in front of me look like a mess. OK – so sue me, I’m complaining about the wiring in front of me. Let me put it this way, I have my P11 headset, connect the headset to the USB slot in your PS3 and then to the audio splitter cable. You then connect the audio splitter cable to your PS3 A/V cable which is then plugged into the back of the PS3. So, all in all you have to connect multiple cables each time you want to use your headset – it can be a pain when you’re trying to get online quickly. I thought this was one of the better features of the 4Gamers’ headset. No extra cables to interconnect, the headset had one 4m cable, consisting of a USB and A/V plug – which were adequately spaced out and seperated, which. All that was required was to plug the headset into your PS3 and got on with your gaming. Easy peasy! Finally, the most important feature of any headset – the audio quality. I must say my ears have been put through quite a lot over the years and although this is the case I can confidently say they are still in mint condition. Although I tend to tune out of my wife’s nagging – that’s a special skill that doesn’t take long to learn, my ears were picking up all the little sounds you would normally miss when you’re playing your games on your 42″ TV! I noticed very little difference in terms of audio quality. The P11′s had a slightly higher level of bass, but this for me wasn’t the dealbreaker. The 4Gamers’ headset on the other hand, was crystal clear! I was exceptionally happy with the sound quality generated by the 4Gamers headset. Once I was involved in my game, I didn’t really care about the bass levels – I was more bothered about whether I could hear opposition creeping up behind me, or the tank taking me out from my right hand side – and it didn’t let me down in that department. Dual Charge ‘N’ Stand I’ve occasionally found myself with 2 USB cables just dangling out of my PS3 with 2 gamepads lying in the middle of the room, charging whilst my wife gets her daily dose of Come Dine With Me. For folks across the Atlantic, Come Dine With Me is a reality show where 4 or 5 individuals cook for each other over a span of 5 days and they then score each other on how good the food was and how their evening went – it is quite amusing! The winner takes away with them £1000 GBP. However, the 4Gamers Dual Charge ‘N’ Stand doesn’t have any functional features. Although there’s no major added value to it, I love the way it adds a little style to your TV unit/PS3/room. To charge your pads, if not already done so, simply sit your pads onto the stand, plug your USB cables into your pads and let them recharge themselves without worrying about someone tripping over the wires! High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet If you’ve not yet switched over to HDMI, then you’re missing out on a fantastic trick. Once you’ve played your PS3 in HD, you will never go back to A/V! The HDMI cable included in this pack offers the following: – Support for 3D games and movies – 4K resolution – Gold plated connectors – Nickel plated cable heads – High quality triple shielded 2 metre cable The cable itself consists of a robust build. The one feature that stood out for me was the triple shielded covering – it looks solid! When a few of my friends saw the cable, they instantly wanted one as they do look very nice, and like they will last for a loooong time. Overall Verdict I’m VERY impressed with the quality of the goods developed by 4Gamers. It’s no surprise they’re receiving raving reviews for their products. If I need another headset, this package would definitely be on top of my shopping list. The package itself is certainly value for money. The quality and build of each of the products is of a high standard, and as they’re PlayStation Approved – that gives me peace of mind and comfort knowing they will have been through some thorough testing before Sony will have rubber stamped their approval for mass production. For those that reside in the US, although these products are currently not on sale within the States, 4Gamers are working very hard behind the scenes to bring their products to you very soon. The next time you’re in a games store – keep an eye out for some 4Gamers gear – you may just find a 4Gamers COMM-PLAY Performance Gaming Kit sitting on that shelf! Last but not least, keep your eyes on this site – we’re going to be giving one of these packages away to ONE lucky winner! Please note: Dualshock Wireless Controllers are not included in the package. 4Gamers Website: www.4gamers.net Twitter: @4GamersElite

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We Introduce To You, 4Gamers

Taco Bell is currently holding an ongoing contest giving away the new PlayStation Vita “every 15 minutes” as the advertisement boast. The contest barely started two weeks ago and it’s already under scrutiny. A facebook group has been formed regarding this developing story and gaming site Kotaku first reported of the events . An anonymous source by the name of “BuzzLightyear” contacted me via email stating he found a “loop hole” in Taco Bell’s Unlock The Box website a couple of days after the contest started. “When I first visited the site, I noticed it was purely HTML based meaning the URL can just be repeatedly used over and over. So I went out and paid my friend who works at Taco Bell to grab me a couple of codes. It did not take long for me to win one…” He goes on to write in the email.. “I simply saved the URL extension of the winners pages and text messaged it to a friend of mine in a different state to see if it will load.. and guess what.. it did. Filling up the submission form and clicking SUBMIT only gave us errors, but when we entered a used code, it somehow validated the SUBMIT button and it submitted easily.” I asked him why he decided to email me about this information and he simply replied. Taco Bell’s Unlock The Box Promo has Game Boy Level Security and they underestimate the gaming community. I’ve been trying to reach out to Taco Bell and Ventura Associates to get their comments. To add more to the mystery, anything relevant to the Vita or promotion is being deleted off of Taco Bell’s Facebook wall almost immediately also calling the contest hotline yields a full mailbox. Based on my research, upon winning a prize, the contest administrator Ventura Associates takes about 2-3 days to verify your winning. Apparently winners are being left in the dark with no responses from the contest sponsors. The only official word from Taco Bell is this wall post: Have you won anything before through fast food promotions? let us know about your experience in the comments section below. [UPDATE] Just got a phone call from Ventura Associates. They informed me that the discrepancy has been fixed and any attempts to undermine the operation of the website will be investigated. They have a database of the valid winners and will only be contacting those verified winners.

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Taco Bell’s Unlock The Box Promo Loop Hole Fixed

Did you know that a proper full release for the PS Vita is just around the corner? Those that pre-ordered the first edition package will get theirs this Wednesday, but the rest of the gaming public will have their chance on February 22nd. Therefore, this week marks the first time we’ll be listing Vita releases during the “Releases for the Week” posts! There are a LOT of games that want your money (but not your lunch money), and if you did indeed get a Vita, you’re in for a treat! You can choose from over 16 releases and, in case you never owned a PS3 or a PSP, you’ve got HUNDREDS of games that demand your attention. Full list of games after the break. PS3 Retail Releases You Can Buy Twisted Metal Right Here! You Can Buy UFC Undisputed 3 Right Here! You Can Buy Grand Slam Tennis 2 Right Here! PSN Releases You Can Buy Gran Theft Auto IV Right Here! PS Vita Releases You Can Buy Uncharted: Golden Abyss Right Here! You Can Buy Wipeout 2048 Right Here! You Can Buy Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational Right Here! You Can Buy ModNation Racers: Road Trip Right Here! You Can Buy Lumines: Electronic Symphony Right Here! You Can Buy Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 Right Here! You Can Buy BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND Right Here! You Can Buy EA Sports FIFA Soccer Right Here! You Can Buy Asphalt: Injection Right Here! You Can Buy Michael Jackson The Experience HD Right Here! You Can Buy Rayman Origins Right Here! PSP Releases You Can Buy Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom Right Here! Or Maybe you Want the Limited Edition!

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Releases for the Week (February 13th-19th)

A gaming publication criticized Infinity Ward on not monitoring Modern Warfare 3 cheaters. Robert Bowling responded to the accusation via Twitter. The statement, “Cheating goes unchecked online”, is completely false. We actually perform daily sweeps of leaderboards and player stats and take action on any account that is caught boosting or exploiting any glitch. This has been widely publicized and we’re open about bans and actions taken against cheaters via @fourzerotwo on Twitter. Any glitch or exploit that is discovered is then quickly updated and removed from the game. You can check all updates past and current at http://fzt.me/mw3updates

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Infinity Ward Comments On Modern Warfare 3 Cheaters

A rumored LittleBigPlanet Kart game was the talk on a few gaming websites based on a tweet made by a Canadian games retailer called Future Shop , who claims that they were shown the game at a PlayStation event in the US. According to Future Shop, the title is in development by United Front Games the “studio behind Modnation Racers”, and it will feature some kind of Move compatible wheel that has not been reveled yet.

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LittleBigPlanet Karting Leaked

Things are definitely picking up this week as we’re getting 3 full retail releases, 4 PSN releases, 4 retail games making their way to PSN and THE PS2 classic we’ve all been waiting for: The SpongeBob SquarePants: Movie is finally here! This will probably be the last time we talk about PSN and PSN releases since Sony has decided to change things around a bit, and is re-branding the service as… SEN. This week you can pick between the retail edition of the Jak and Daxter HD Collection, the digital edition (at the exact same price) OR you can pick each of the games by themselves should you not have enough money on your wallet (either physical or digital one), or if you just hate one of the 3 games (my bet is on you hating on J&K 2). Full gallery of releases after the jump: PS3 Retail Releases You Can Buy The Jak & Daxter HD Collection Right Here! You Can Buy Kindoms of Amalur: Reckoning Right Here! You Can Buy The Darkness II Right Here! PSN Releases You Can Buy Catherine Right Here! You Can Buy Top Spin 4 Right Here! You Can Buy Lego Pirates of the Caribbean Right Here! PS2 Classics

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Releases for the Week (February 5th-12th)