General Discussion

In what could be one of the either worst or smartest moves in online video game history, all signs are pointing to the fact that within a few months Activision might be introducing a stand alone version of Call of Duty for pay to play online multiplayer use only. According to statements made by analysts Wedbush Securities, they expect this to occur in “first quarter of 2011″. “Activision remains a top pick, primarily due to the company’s potential to create and monetize a second tier of multiplayer online gaming for its Call of Duty franchise… We expect this to occur during the first quarter of 2011.” No official comment has come from Activision’s camp, but gamers have ex…

It's the birthday of BrainVomit! Hooray! Have a great one buddy.

<br> <br> In a rather bold statement by Sony about the successor to their handheld device, the PSP, Sony claims that the PSP2 “is as powerful as the PS3″. In a report by MCV, Sony dropped details on the PSP2 as “having HD screen with twin control sticks in the familiar brick form factor” and MCV is claiming that “there is potential for a phone to be included”. More details will be coming on January 27, as Sony prepares an announcement about the handheld for GDC. A mini handheld portable version of the PS3 would be great, but claims and facts are two separate things. Let’s see what the future holds Sony before jumping to conclusions. <br> via MCV <br…

As gamers, we are always anxious and eager to hear news regarding new technology in the world of video gaming. THQ on the other hand is not. In an interview with Eurogamer, THQ’s Danny Bilson said that new consoles “would be horrible”. “It would be horrible, But I think they all know our model’s broken anyway. “It still costs us a fortune to make games on this platform. If they’re going to up the scale, up the art, up the content, I don’t know how to make that and sell it to anybody for under $100 a game. Who wants to do that? It’s bad for everybody.” We can’t really argue that point. Who really wants to pay over $100 for a standard version of a video game in store a…

This is the new Gamercard, via Major Nelson.com As announced previously on Major Nelson’s blog, today is the day that a mandatory dashboard update will roll out. Upon turning on your Xbox 360, you will prompted to download the update which will re-enable the “boot to disc option” on the dashboard. Another update will be coming to Xbox.com on January 20 that will change the way your gamercard looks and included in this update is the removal of “gamerzone”. via Major Nelson View the full article

Happy Birthday DA!

Calling all Michael Phelps fans. Blitz Games and 505 Games are bringing the 16 time olympic medal swimming champ exclusively to Kinect this June. UK based Blitz Games who released the statement regarding the upcoming motion based swimming based game has said that the game will be “exhilarating, but physically demanding” did not disclose how they intend to make sure that gamers receive the best physical swimming workout via Kinect that they can deliver. However they did mention that gamers will have to “accurately master the different swimming strokes and techniques needed to become a pro”. The game sports Career Mode which will train the player and lead you into tournam…

<br> <br> Developed by: X10 Studios <br> Players: 1 <br> Platforms: PC (Available through Gamer’s Gate, Desura, Steam, Direct2Drive, and directly from X10) <br> <br> Drawing from various classics such as Metroid and Mega Man X, A.R.E.S. Exinction Agenda is the first chapter in an episodic side-scrolling shooter. Set in the 21st Century, Earch is over polluted and we are facing extinction. A processing station is sent in to Earth orbit to help with this problem, but is overrun by “zytron” that kills the station’s systems and turns all the machines hostile. ARES is a robot tasked with clearing out the station, rescuing the hostages, a…

Activision sure doesn’t waste time. They may have nailed the coffin shut for Guitar Hero and True Crime, however Activision confirmed that Family Guy and Spiderman will both be getting games sometime this year. Comfirmed today by Activision’s Eric Hirshberg was this little piece of news and that they will also be adding another Cabela’s hunting game to the mix as well as games for the final Transformers movie, Transformers 3 and X-Men: First Class. According to Hirshberg, “These are all strong franchises with passionate niche audiences that can achieve repeatable and profitable success.” Tell that to Guitar Hero Mr. Hirshberg. via Games Radar View the full article

Rocky Donadio, an ex-soldier from Fort Sill has been found guilty in the brutal beating of his 8 year old girlfriend’s son. The beating took place in April 2009, after the 8 year old deleted Donadio’s GTA IV game save. The beating was so severe that the child’s intestines burst and he had to spend 5 months in the hospital recovering. According to KSWO, when the child was able to speak to police about the incident he told them that Donadio “had stomped on his stomach because he had erased an X-Box game.” When the incident occurred, the boy’s mother and Donadio told police that he fell out of his bed. When police discovered the severity of the boys injuries, they pressed…

Confirmed by Atlus is that the adult puzzle/horror game Catherine is headed to the 360 and PS3 sometime this summer, although Amazon is claiming the game will release on July 26. In Catherine, gamers control Vincent who is being pressured to marry a girl he went to school with and is sleeping with, Katherine. Vincent later meets a rather luscious and lovely young woman by the name of Catherine at a bar. After the two spend the night together, Vincent begins to have nightmarish dreams that are spilling over into his real life. Vincent must stay alive in his dreams or else he will die in real life. The cover art for the game differs for which console you buy it for. If y…

There is one hyphenated word that truly arouses mixed reactions from gamers around the world.Cross-Platform. Can't we all just play along? Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past decade, you’d recognize the term and possibly have even experienced some early attempts at cross-platform titles like Shadowrun for the PC/Xbox 360. Even Valve’s upcoming release of Portal 2 promises to connect users of the Playstation Network up against PC players gaming on Steam. Cross-platform titles are essentially games that you can play online one system against users on a completely different console. What is the limit of gaming interconnectivity? We’ve seen what can happe…

For those of you who cannot get enough of your Xbox Live representation of yourself via your XBL avatar, Microsoft has made it possible for you to never have to lose sight of your little mini me. Available for purchase is an avatar Fathead. Fathead is a popular poster brand that focuses on making otherwise boring wall posters come to life and appear to pop off your wall. Fathead sells numerous sports atheletes and other wall decals including video game themed Fatheads from Halo and more. Now your avatar can add their name to that list. An avatar Fathead that you can pose in various positions will set you back $79.99 – $149.99 depending on the size you choose. Also av…

Source; Cnet.com After reading this article I have to agree with the opinions of the analysts. I've seen the smartphone and the tablet take a huge step forward as far as usability and transportability. It's much more prevalent in the ARMY now as well, with everyone in my company having a smartphone or tablet that they use for their daily operations. It used to be pen and paper they carried around. Now, whenever my platoon sergeant has some info to put out to the platoon, he pulls his iPhone out to read the notes he took during his meeting with the higher up staff. I find myself using my iPhone for many things as well, such as writing down maintenance notes or downloading …

Imagine running down the street, pulling out a brightly colored vibrator, and smacking random strangers with it. You will be able to do this in Saint’s Row: The Third. Now imagine running down that same street and taking a jar that you previously farted in to and tossing it like a grenade at some unsuspecting stranger. This you will not be able to do. Make sense? Didn’t think so. The team behind Grand Theft Auto’s worst nightmare, THQ”s Voilition talked to Game Informer about the not allowed “Farts in a Jar” idea and described censoring the latest installment of the franchise to porn. “It’s like defining porn. I can’t define it, but I know when I see it,” stated Seni…

Happy Birthday Guns Gunz Guns and no jokes about the age thing today, because I'll smack you!

Major Nelson announed today that Xbox Live is looking for help from Xbox Live users for network testing in order to improve service. In the Community Channel on the dashboard you will find a new “Xbox Live Labs” tab. You can sign up for the volunter testing from there and with each test you complete, you will receive three different avatar awards that include a lab coat, crazy lab hair, and a brain helmet. You will also hear everybody’s favorite “blip” giving you three zero point achievements showing that you completed the testing and have helped out Xbox Live. While running the network test from your console to Xbox Live you will not be able to play games, watch movie…

Hey, guys. I just wanted to inform everyone at Gamercide of the Steelseries 10th Anniversary Giveaway. I was informed via Cutterbups on Twitter. I used her signup link as well. It's happening right now, and I could use all of your help by handing out my unique code. It allows for you to sign up: http://steelseries.c...0?code=9QJSnBkE All you need to do is register via e-mail or Facebook. Choose one item from each category, and that will be your prize for winning! You can choose up to 5 items!

Vector does! OH YEAAAH!! Happy birthday bro. Enjoy your day.

Even though he's not around here anymore, still showing some wubs.

In Nintendo’s world there are two different types of indie developers. The “Garage” developer who has an idea, but little to no experience that apparently according to this little quote are only envisioning themselves of a developer and are not passionate about their “craft” and then there is the full on “Indie” developer who has a lot of experience and worked with bigger developers and publishers and that is who Nintendo wants to work with. No surprise there Fils-Aime. “We’ve been clear that we want to work with independent developers who understand this business, who have experience in this business. These are people who spent time working with larger publishers and la…

Xbox 360 users who own the motion based Kinect are in for a treat today. An update for Netflix has gone live allowing Kinect users to their hands and voice to navigate through the many menus of the popular movie and television show database. Do not get to excited yet to toss your controller aside and cuddle up on the couch with a bubbly beverage of your choice. According a Microsoft Representative who spoke with Joystiq, while all of the titles are Kinect enabled now, there are only a select number of titles that are available from the Netflix Kinect dashboard that can use both voice command and hand gestures. You can find these as “recommended” movies and shows. via J…

Microsoft has to be grinning from ear to ear today with the announcement of their third quarter fiscal year earnings. Much thanks to their hands free device that just so happened to claim the title of the fastest selling consumer device in history, the Kinect, Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division grew to 60%. 2.7 million Xbox 360′s were sold, while the Kinect moved 2.4 million units. Altogether Microsoft is looking at $16.43 billion dollar profit from their third quarter fiscal year with earnings from the Microsoft brand. via Microsoft Investor Relations Tweet This Post View the full article

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Can you imagine fighting locusts with COG members in Gears of War alongside Halo‘s most recognizable character, Master Chief? It almost happened. Cliff Blezinski spoke to Complex about what could been. ”I actually approached Microsoft on getting Master Chief into the game, but those guys are kind of squeamish. One of Halo’s successes is that it’s a soft M [rating]. Gears pushes it further. I’m creatively comfortable with that, though it can limit what you do. If you had to break it down, I’d say that Gears is like Mortal Kombat and Halo is like Street Fighter. But if we were to get Master Chief, we’d get his model, put him in a COG suit, make it blow up, and do some…