via Computer and Video Games


It looks like we know what Bungie's big news is all about then; semi-official blog Gamerscore reports that a Halo 3 map pack will be hitting Xbox Live on December 11.

800 Microsoft points (£6.80) gets you three maps - Standoff, Rat's Nest and Foundry. A bit pricey but we're sure plenty of you will hand over the cash regardless.


Rat's Nest meanwhile is described as a vast, labyrinthine of passages, "an indoor vehicle paradise, strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, ideal for big team battles."

Finally, Foundry is "the ultimate Forge map, players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map they can think of".

There you go then. Look out for it on December 11. ...

via Eurogamer


Infinity Ward is planning to patch Call of Duty 4 for Xbox 360 in the relatively near future to take care of various online issues.

Speaking on the game's official forum, IW's community relations manager explained that the update will optimise things like match-making and host-selection, among other tweaks.

These include the addition of host-migration, so if the host leaves a game it automatically chooses the next best host, as well as a new control scheme, improved network performance in 18-player games and other tweaks detailed on the thread.

Elsewhere, IW said that a separate update will solve an issue relating to corrupt profiles.

Neither update has a deployment date, but we'll let you know when they're out there.

Not that their absence seems to be doing Call of Duty 4 much harm. It's top of the UK sales charts, and Major Nelson's latest Live activity charts reveal that it is now second only to Halo 3 in terms of popularity, displacing Gears of War. ...

via Eurogamer


US publisher Atlus has shaken hands with Microsoft to become an official third-party publisher for the Xbox 360.

The first titles it will publish will be localisations of Japanese tactical role-playing games Operation Darkness and Spectral Force 3 sometime next year, and teaser sites for both are already up and running.

Operation Darkness puts a supernatural spin on World War II and sees you battle none other than moustached maniac Hitler as he sweeps through Europe.

Spectral Force 3, on the other hand, puts you in the boots of a mercenary commander and asks you to amass an army of around 40 characters to battle the baddies.

Atlus has been responsible for bringing critically celebrated games like Trauma Center and the Shin Megami Tensei series to western audiences in the past.

And while Atlus doesn't publish games in Europe, its catalogue has been picked up by the likes of Ghostlight, Ubisoft, KOEI and Nintendo previously - so we should see both new 360 games here. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Microsoft is offering a free copy of Halo 3 to all new Xbox 360 purchasers this Christmas... though you'll have to already have an original Xbox and current Xbox Live account (is anyone actually playing Xbox Live on the original Xbox any more?).

Original Xbox Live subscribers who purchase an Xbox 360 and migrate to Xbox Live Gold (that's the 360 paid version) between November 21 and December 21, then register on this website (phew!) will get sent a copy of Halo 3 by Microsoft.

It's currently only open to North American customers and even they won't be able to finish the fight until January, when Microsoft sends the copies out.

We've been on the case with Microsoft's UK op, which was unavailable for comment at the time of writing, but anyway hasn't anyone who cares already got Halo 3 already? ...

via Computer and Video Games


Xbox boss J Allard has said that the Xbox 360 and Zune music player will one day connect to the same network, suggesting that Microsoft's iPod rival might one day play a part in gaming.

Speaking to The New York Times, Allard said, "Today we have Xbox live for $50 a year. We have Zune Pass at $15 a month. We don't have a rationalised premium version yet. Fast forward a little bit, and you can image a menu like DirecTV. There is basic, there is enhanced, there is movie pack and NFL Sunday ticket.

"What I want to do at the Entertainment and Devices division is build an entertainment service that can connect, that has a screen and buttons and a speaker, so you can watch what you want, where you want, how you want."

He continued, "And you don't have to worry about multiple formats; we do it all for you on the back end. And you can reach all these eyeballs without lifting a finger."

Allard said that Xbox team now has to focus on "cost reduction, distribution and quality process," going forward. "Everyone is on their own cadence," he said.

"The one thing that transcends all this is the network as the nexus." ...

via Computer and Video Games


The PS3 version of the initially Xbox 360-exclusive shooter, Lost Planet, will be out in February 2008, according to reports.

Previously the PS3 version of the game was down for release 'early next year'. Capcom was unavailable for comment on the February '08 date at the time of writing.

As announced back in October, the PS3 edition features all the download content released for the original Xbox 360 version of the game, in addition to bonus multiplayer characters - Frank West (Dead Rising), Mega Man and Jo from Lost Planet - that were released for Lost Planet on PC.

It is also reported to include online multiplayer for up to 16 players, via the free-to-use PlayStation Network. ...

via Computer and Video Games


There is supposedly a fix for PS3 owners that have whipped up the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed this weekend only to find it crashing frequently.

Reported earlier, many of the game's bugs on the PS3 version have been (unofficially) linked to the FW 2.0 update, which is said to have been causing all manner of problems since its release.

But according to bloggers, PS3 users can fix some of the issues temporarily simply by disabling the Information Board on the 2.0 FW front-end menu, and disconnecting their PS3 from the (online) PSN while they play Ubisoft's adventure.

This will apparently cut down the frequency of the crashing.

Let us know if it works for you in the comments below, and sit tight for Sony's 2.01 update soon, which should sort out all the problems so you don't have to fool around with system options. ...

via Games Industry


Sega's director of artists and repertoire agrees with analysts who think that the PS3 is going to catch up to, if not surpass, the Xbox 360.

It isn't just the recent PS3 price cuts which will certainly help bridge the gap, but the availability of big titles, Noah Musler told GamesIndustry.biz.


He notes that analysts think the PS2 could remain viable through 2009.

Having a variety of PS3 prices for consumers is certainly not going to hurt the PS3. "I think it has still got a little bit of time to grow," he said.


The second part of our interview with Noah Musler can be viewed here. ...

via Eurogamer


Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells has just completed a live interview with you about Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and a host of other things - including confirmation that he would like to do a Jak game for PS3 and his views on next-gen console development and the recent Manhunt 2 fiasco.


Wells also addressed Obli's query about whether Uncharted would be possible on Xbox 360. "I won't say that it would be impossible," he answered, "but it would be very difficult and we most certainly would have to make enough concessions that it would start to feel like a different game. One thing that would be particularly difficult would be keeping the game load-free. The HDD really came in handy and allowed us to have pretty big open levels with lots of detail."

There was a lot more to get through during the hour-long head-to-lots-of-heads, but another response that stuck out was his reaction to SeeThroughAll's question about the Manhunt 2 ban and whether the game's violence justified the degree of censorship the game faced. Answering from a US perspective, Wells wrote: "I don't think that video games should be treated differently than other forms of media or entertainment. I think there is a place in this world for titles that should only be played by those over 18.


To read the entire transcript, which also includes some neat insider information about Uncharted - and even its relationship with PlayStation Home - head over to the Evan Wells interview. Thanks again to Evan for all his time, and to you for yours! And look out for more of these features in future. ...