Blizzard previews WoW’s Icecrown Citadel - September 30, 2009 by Michael O'Connor

Blizzard has just released comprehensive details for the raid dungeon that will feature in World of Warcraft’s 3.3 content patch, Icecrown Citadel, which will see adventurers finally take the fight to the Lich King himself!

Check out the screenshots and full details below.

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Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits Review (Multi) - July 1, 2009 by Alex Donaldson

I remember quite vividly when Guitar Hero first burst onto the scenes here in the UK. I’d never seen it before, and it was launching here sometime after it had already become hugely popular in the US – so I’d heard all about it on gaming message boards, with the US hardcore raving about the new, revolutionary rhythm game.

At first I found it fiendishly difficult, but after some time I’d worked my way up to hard and then even expert – and I was having amazing fun. I was in love from there, and I’ve been with the rhythm genre for many years since.

In recent years my allegiance has switched to EA, MTV and Harmonix’s Rock Band franchise – but perhaps a collection of the tracks I love most from the first three Guitar Hero titles is enough to draw me back?

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MW2 is “best fucking experience” according to Infinity Ward - June 17, 2009 by Jens Erik Vaaler

Modern Warfare 2 is shaping up to be both bigger and longer than its predecessor, Call of Duty 4. Though all Infinity Ward cares about is making the game the best game ever.

“It’s really hard to say, because it’s not done yet, it’s not balanced yet,” Infinity Ward’s Mark Rubin said at E3.

“We don’t go into it saying we need to build a 20-hour experience or a ten-hours experience. We say, ‘What’s the best fucking experience we can possibly deliver?’

Rubin added that the game’s levels will be “bigger”, but if that has to do with length of play of map size remains to be seen.

No matter how big it ends up actually being, it’ll still sell like proverbial hotcakes.

Guitar Hero 5 dated - May 28, 2009 by Jens Erik Vaaler

Activision has just dated the release of Guitar Hero 5 for September 1. This happened through the game’s official site.

This release date puts GH5 head-to-head with Harmonix’ The Beatles: Rock Band, which is being released on September 9. What will you drop your money on?

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Valve sue Activision. Activision sue Valve. Big mess ensues! - May 1, 2009 by Michael O'Connor

This one is messy. Apparently, Valve recently filed a suit against Activision Blizzard, claiming it has failed to cut a check for $2,391,932 in unpaid royalties.

An agreement was reached by the two companies April 6 regarding the original dispute, and while the amount given was less than what Valve felt was due, both companies agreed to the final figure.

Activision now claims that Valve was overpaid $424,136 by the company over the years, and cut the firm a check for $1,967,796 instead of the amount agreed upon.

Valve claims that since the firm failed to bring this information up, Activision is now in direct violation of the legal order and are taking them back to court. And now, Activision has refused to pay the extra amount and said that if brought back into court, it will countersue.

Read the rest on GamePolitics, and let us know then the headaches start incoming from trying to wrap your head around this industry politics.

WoW patch 3.1 goes live; patch notes - April 14, 2009 by Michael O'Connor

Here it is people, the hotly anticipated World of Warcraft 3.1 patch has finally gone live after months of testing! With it comes numerous content additions, including Dual Specs, the new Ulduar raid, and Argent Tournament, and the usually spread of class changes that come with every major patch.

Check out the trailer below to catch up on the story so far in the World of Warcraft, then hit the Read More link for the official patch notes. Warning, they’re long!

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BigRedKitty leaving the WoW blog scene - March 30, 2009 by Michael O'Connor

BigRedKitty quits the WoW blogosphere

Esteemed World of Warcraft blogger Daniel “BigRedKitty” Howell announced on his blog today his intentions to finally break away from World of Warcraft. He is taking time away from the game and his famous blog to, in his own words “rededicate [himself] to [his] family.”

As a World of Warcraft fan who also played Dan’s favourite class, the Hunter, I wish him the best for the future. His contribution to the game and the fans over the years has been the stuff of geeky legends, and his humorous and unique presentation style was truly distinctive.

Exploring the many corners of Azeroth is an experience that over 12 million of us find engrossing and entertaining. It’s a game so vast in its popularity and reach that it’s become a culture of its own.

But Dan’s words are honest ones that everyone should consider; if that balance of responsible and fun (and this goes for more than just WoW) ever gets thrown off balance, it’s time to take a step back and focus on the things that matter.

Good luck BRK.

Shock: Activison says Modern Warfare 2 ‘looks incredible’ - March 12, 2009 by Gareth Chadwick

As completely unexpected as it is that an important company employee would say that their own game is looking good, Thomas Tippl, CFO of Activision, has gone and done it anyway. He says that the sequel to the painfully good and popular Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ‘looks incredible’.

Speaking at the Wedbush Morgan Securities annual meeting, he said “Last year we had probably beaten most expert expectations by growing the Call of Duty franchise over the tremendous success that was the first iteration of Modern Warfare,”

“For 2009, Modern Warfare is coming back, we expect it will be the most anticipated game of the year. Perhaps the number one game of the year despite the fact that it’s only going to launch in the holiday season.

“There is no doubt in my mind that it will again raise the bar for the shooter genre.The game is looking incredible and Infinity Ward, the studio that is developing it, is just doing an unbelievable job.”

There you have it, the Activision employee, who we assume is totally ctrustworthy, says that Modern Warfare looks incredible. Go figure.

Kotick: Get hardware below $199 - March 10, 2009 by Michael O'Connor

Talking to Reuters recently, Activision boss Bobby Kotick discussed his belief that that the global economic situations means that console-maker need to get their prices down if they want to see stronger hardware sales.

“The price on platforms today has still not gotten down to mass-market price points and I think when you’re in the economic circumstances that the world has found itself in, there really is a difference between a $199 game system and a $299 game system,” he said.

“We’re just scratching the surface of opportunity as a publisher in Europe. There’s a lot more that we can do,” he said.

A valid point? Most definitely. Cheaper prices can only push more units. Ac

WoW and other MMOs banned from sale in Australia - February 5, 2009 by Michael O'Connor

World of Warcraft and other MMOs banned in Australia

Recent decisions by the Australian classification boards has degreed that, until they receive an age rating from the board itself, the majority of MMOs available to buy in the country can’t be legally sold.

Up until now, MMO were exempt from requiring a legal age rating due to their lack of single-player content, but the law has since changed to include multilayer only titles.

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DJ Hero confirmed - February 1, 2009 by Kelsey Vavasour

Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard has confirmed their latest rhythm game in development.
Called DJ Hero, it will ship with a plastic deck, and is due for release later this year.

“We have this product called DJ Hero coming out later this year, which is a turntable that you actually can play competitively and spin discs and mix songs,” said Kotick in this video.

Nothing was said about formats, but we’ll keep you posted.

World of Warcraft 3.0.8 patch notes - January 20, 2009 by Michael O'Connor

The World of Warcraft 3.0.8 patch went live today; the first major game patch since Wrath of the Lich King back in November. The main focus of the patch is class balancing (read: nerfing) and major bug fixes.

You’ll have to wait until 3.1 if you want the good stuff.

If you enjoy reading pages and pages of WoW lingo, or love analysing every single change in the game, hit the jump for the full list of patch notes.

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WoW reaches 11.5 million subscribers - December 24, 2008 by Laura Taft

The worlds most popular MMO, World of Warcraft has now reached a userbase of 11.5 million says Blizzard, sale of the game have been fuelled by the new Wrath of The Lich King release, which shifted over 4million copies in it’s first month.

“We’re pleased to welcome the new and returning players who have helped World of Warcraft reach these new milestones, and we appreciate the enthusiasm and support that the game’s global community has continued to show,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO of Blizzard.

Only two months ago, Blizzard was saying that there was a fanbase of  11 million, 500,000 new people have subscribed.

Soon everyone will be playing the game.

FIFA 09 is UK’s Christmas number one - December 23, 2008 by Michael O'Connor

FIFA 09 is the Christmas #1

Chart-Track has just released this week’s UK console sales charts, and it looks like FIFA 09 has beaten Call of Duty: World at War to take the top spot, marking it as this year’s number one Christmas title.

Though this gamer doesn’t even particularly like football, and would have panned the FIFA series hitting the top of the sales charts a few years ago, it’s a series that has undeniably improved over the last few years.

It’s a well deserved victory for a quality title!

Sales data for the week ending December 20th below.

1. FIFA 09 (EA)
2. Call of Duty: World at War (Activision Blizzard)
3. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
4. Need For Speed Undercover (EA)
5. Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training (Nintendo)
6. Wii Play (Nintendo)
7. Quantum of Solace (Activision Blizzard)
8. Professor Layton and the Curious Village (Nintendo)
9. Tomb Raider Underworld (Eidos)
10. Wii Fit (Nintendo)

Musicians making more from rhythm games than albums - December 22, 2008 by Michael O'Connor

Rhythm-Action games make musicians money

According to a recent AP report, the royalties that musicians receive from digital downloads of their songs in games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero are now exceeding the revenue they earn from album sales.

Mind you, that shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise, considering the mainstream music industry has been falling deeper and deeper into obscurity every year.

Presumably, ageing rock band Aerosmith made more money from the profit royalties of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith than they did from their last two albums combined, whilst The Red Hot Chilli Peppers have seen a sharp increase in numbers since entering the rhythm action business.

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