No post this week sorry folks

I was writing a review of Splinter Cell: Double Agent (both the PS2 and Xbox 360 versions) however due to a death in the family I haven't had the time to finish it.


So in the mean time I'll ask a question. Modern Warfare 2 or Black Ops, Which is better?

Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Announced and Details Revealed

A week or so ago rumors were going around the internet that Mass Effect 3 would have a multiplayer component. It was this flyer that surfaced online (Below) which started the rumor.

A few days ago Bioware confirmed via PC PowerPlay magazine that Mass Effect 3 will have a four player online co-op feature.

Furthermore, Bioware's Community Co-ordinator Chris Priestly has posted details about Mass Effects multiplayer experience and its Galaxy at War system on the Bioware Social Network yesterday:

Hi Everyone

Today BioWare and the Mass Effect 3 team are very pleased to announce 4 player co-op multiplayer missions and the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system for Mass Effect 3 on the PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

4 player co-op multiplayer

Join your friends in the all-out galactic war to take Earth back. The universe of Mass Effect expands with the addition of new co-op multiplayer missions, playable over Xbox Live, PSN and PC internet. Players can choose from a variety of classes and races, form an elite Special Forces squad, and combine their weapons, powers and abilities to devastating effect as they fight together to liberate key territories from enemy control. Success in multi-player will have a direct impact on the outcome of the single player campaign, giving players an alternative method of achieving ultimate victory against the greatest threat mankind – and the entire galaxy – has ever faced. 

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War 

As a bonus to the campaign, BioWare is introducing the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, a new way for players to manage and experience the galactic war from multiple fronts, including a new 4-player co-op mode. The key to saving the galaxy is the “Galactic Readiness” level, measured by Commander Shepard’s ability to apply
every possible asset – people, weapons, resources, armies, fleets – in the final battle against the Reapers. Players can impact their game’s Galactic Readiness level in multiple ways via the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, including multiplayer. Other platforms and interfaces will be announced in the coming months. It is important to note that the system is entirely optional and just another way players can have control over your game experience – it is still possible to achieve the optimal, complete ending of the game in Mass Effect 3 through single-player alone.

F.A.Q. 

Why include 4 player Co-op multiplayer in Mass Effect 3?

• Being able to explore and fight alongside your friends in the Mass Effect universe has always been something we thought would be fun and compelling, and many players have asked for it for a long time as well. Mass Effect 3 is the best place for us to introduce multiplayer through co-op because of the premise of the game – all out galactic war. 

Why only 4 player co-op? What not a versus mode? 

• We have always maintained that we would only add multiplayer into the Mass Effect series if it made sense and did not compromise the power of the single player campaign. Fighting together against a common threat was the multiplayer experience that made the most sense for Mass Effect 3. The way we have designed co-op as a wayto take control of key conflict zones in the galaxy is a natural extension of the premise of Mass Effect 3. 

Why did you decide not to include it as a part of the main campaign? 

• Our priority and focus with Mass Effect 3 has and always will be to deliver a complete and satisfying single player experience. 

Does the addition of co-op multiplayer missions impact the scope or quality of the single-player experience? 

• No. A dedicated team from our recently formed BioWare Montreal studio has been focused on creating the multiplayer game features while the main game continued to be developed by the team in BioWare Edmonton. Both teams are integrated under the same leadership group that produced Mass Effect 1 and 2, led by Casey Hudson. BioWare remains dedicated to delivering one of the most amazing single-player campaigns gamers have ever experienced. 

How did developing multiplayer impact the single player game? 

• BioWare is dedicated and focused on delivering an engaging, fun, and action-packed experience for Mass Effect 3, one that lives up the BioWare standard. To reach that level of quality, last year BioWare opened a studio in Montreal that is home to designers, programmers, engineers, and other developers. Both studios work together as partners, lead by the core Mass Effect team, unified in a single vision. Under the direction of Casey Hudson and other team veterans, both studios make contributions to both the single player and multiplayer modes in Mass Effect 3. Rest assured that no compromises were made to either of these modes in the development of Mass Effect 3. 

Which characters can I play in co-op multiplayer? Can I play as Commander Shepard? 

• Commander Shepard’s part in the war will take place in the single-player campaign, as will that of other beloved characters in the franchise such as Garrus, Ashley, and Liara…these characters do not appear in the multiplayer missions. In multiplayer, players will create custom characters to fight on different and unique fronts in the war. This will include the ability to play as favorites like Turians, Krogans, Asari and more… each with their own unique set of abilities. 

What if I don’t like multiplayer – will my experience be negatively impacted? 

• Mass Effect 3 is a complete, standalone game that will deliver a satisfying story experience, even if you choose not to try multiplayer. The Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system and all of the individual components are meant to complement that amazing game and can be enjoyed on their own or as part of the Galaxy at War experience. 

What if I am not good at / do not like multiplayer? Will my readiness rating go down? 

• ME3 is a story about a war against overwhelming force where the most you can hope for us survival. The more you do to fight that war, the more you can change that story into a more optimistic one. You can reach the highest levels of success in the single player experience alone, but Galaxy at War gives you alternative ways to get there. It’s about choice, and allowing players to find their own ways to stay immersed in the Mass Effect universe. 

Will you be adding any additional maps or modes through DLC? 

• We can’t comment on specifics right now, but can confirm that we are planning on having DLC for Mass Effect 3. 

Do save games from ME1 or ME2 impact the co-op multiplayer missions? 

• No. 

Do characters level up in co-op multiplayer? What is the progression system? 

• Character progression, weapon upgrading and leveling up is present in co-op. We’ll release more information on this topic in the months leading up to launch. 

Is there more info about the other platforms of Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War? 

• We are not going into details about the other components of the Galaxy at War at this time except to say we are designing each to make sense for that platform. Each component will be able to affect a player’s “Galactic Readiness” level in a different way. Again, participation in any or all ME3:GaW elements is entirely optional.

It is quite clear that Bioware are trying to expand the number of ways to experience the massive story in Mass Effect without compromising other parts of the game. Because Mass Effect in the past has been a single player only game it will be interesting to see if players take it up or not. This is the gaming equivalent of creating a multiplayer choose your own adventure novel.

Another thought that springs to mind is how the lobby system works. Chris states above that this is meant to be enjoyed with friends. I myself play Mass Effect and I'm a huge fan of the series. With my main Shepard character (who looks like just the standard Shepard) I have made all the positive choices but I have friends that make all the negative choices and turn their characters into someone out of a Lethal Weapon movie. While you don't play as Shepard in multiplayer the choices made by him/her effect how the over-arching story pans out. So would my multiplayer character from the good Shepard universe be able to fight along side my mates badass multiplayer character?

Comment below and let me know what you think. Are you excited about ME3 multiplayer or do you think it will be a game breaker?


Sources: 
http://www.savegameonline.com/index.php/news/394-bioware-confirms-multiplayer-in-mass-effect-3-new-qgalaxy-at-warq-feature
http://www.pcpowerplay.com.au/2011/10/pcpp197-on-sale-october-19/
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/323/index/8481789
http://gematsu.com/2011/10/xbox-world-to-unveil-killer-new-feature-for-mass-effect-3-retailer-mentions-online-pass

From the vault: What I Think of Modern Warfare 2

While in the Call of duty swing I thought I'd share with you all my thoughts of Modern Warfare 2. Also it was the first review I ever wrote so it has sentimental value. That and this is the only article left that OzBoxLive has decided to credit me for.



Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (or just modern warfare 2) was the most hotly anticipated game of 2009. Its creators Infinity Ward and Activision said it was to deliver us the best first-person action game since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. But it wasn’t.

I don’t hate the game, but it could have been better. The story was a disappointment. The plot itself is good but it’s a major anti-climax. Very little actually happened. The story asks tons of questions and answers very little. It’s that I’m annoyed about. I was ticked off when I finished the campaign. Without going into detail, Modern Warfare 2 takes place five years after Call Of Duty 4 and it’s up to Soap and Task force 141 to fight a new bad guy called Makarov. If you can’t remember what happened in Call Of Duty 4 the first cut scene gives you a quick recap.

Game play is awesome! It’s classic Call of Duty 4 game play with a few additions. Modern Warfare 2 has new weapons like the ACR and the AUG HBAR. Attachments make a comeback and show up on all the weapons in a variety of combinations. Some of the new ones include a thermal sight and a heartbeat sensor.

The Vehicles are not just cover in Modern Warfare 2, in some missions you get to drive or be driven about the map. The rest of the missions are fun and are set in locations throughout the world including a shantytown in Brazil, the deserts of Afghanistan and Washington D.C.

The attention to detail in Modern Warfare 2 is insane. Modern Warfare 2 spares nothing, right down to the paintings in the White house. It’s that kind of detail that just makes the game so beautiful to play. The guns look good and the small shockwave that is made after firing a round is a nice touch.

The sound is now more realistic than any game made before it. The AK’s sound like AK’s and the voice acting is fantastic. The Russians sound like Russians and the British are British. Normally in American games the accents let them down because Americans can’t tell them apart but in Modern Warfare 2 they’ve nailed it. The whole game is given a musical score that rivals any Hollywood production. It’s amazing; I wish I could get it on my iPod.

The game is given a longer playtime by adding a total game completion bar. This means to get 100% completion you must finish the game on all difficulties, find all pieces of enemy intelligence that look like laptops, finish the Special ops challenges and achieve the highest rank in multiplayer which is a new feature for Modern Warfare 2.

It should be noted that there is a level where it asks if you want to skip the level due to the “disturbing content.” You are not penalized in achievements or game completion for skipping the mission but you do miss out on a part of the story. What you do in this level is shoot innocent civilians in a Russian airport.

Modern Warfare 2 has fantastic graphics and sound along with the classic Call of Duty game play we all love. It’s the story that lets the whole game down but if you take it with a pinch of salt you’ll have fun. Modern Warfare 2 is a game best played with friends over Xbox Live or in split screen.

6 out of 10

Modern Warfare 3 achievement list revealed.

Modern Warfare 3 is out November 8 and for those of you itching to see what you need to do to get that gamerscore below is the complete list of achievements. Reading through the list there are achievements for both the single player campaign and Spec Ops mode but no multiplayer ones. Maybe Infinity ward are confident that players need no further encouragement to play online and I don't blame them.

*WARNING: SPOILER ALERT* The single player achievements go into quite a bit of detail about the games story line so if you want a spoiler free experience then just skip past the first 20 odd achievements on the list and read the rest.

• Back in the Fight - 5G: Start the Single Player Campaign on any difficulty.
• Too Big to Fail - 10G: Destroy the Jamming Tower. Complete "Black Tuesday" on any difficulty. 
• Wet Work - 10G: Take back New York Harbor. Complete "Hunter Killer" on any difficulty. 
• Carpe Diem- 10G: Escape the mountain safe house. Complete "Persona Non Grata" on any difficulty. 
• Frequent Flyer - 10G: Defend the Russian President. Complete "Turbulence" on any difficulty.
• Up to No Good - 10G: Infiltrate the village. Complete "Back on the Grid" on any difficulty. 
• One Way Ticket - 10G: Make it to Westminster. Complete "Mind the Gap" on any difficulty. 
• Welcome to WW3 - 10G: Save the US Vice President. Complete "Goalpost" on any difficulty. 
• Sandstorm! - 10G: Assault the shipping company. Complete "Return to Sender" on any difficulty. 
• Back Seat Driver - 10G: Track down Volk. Complete "Bag and Drag" on any difficulty. 
• We'll Always Have Paris - 10G: Escape Paris with Volk. Complete "Iron Lady" on any difficulty. 
• Vive la Révolution! - 10G: Reach the church. Complete "Eye of the Storm" on any difficulty. 
• Requiem - 10G: Escape the city. Complete "Blood Brothers" on any difficulty. 
• Storm the Castle - 10G: Discover Makarov's next move. Complete "Stronghold" on any difficulty. 
• Bad First Date - 10G: Find the girl. Complete "Scorched Earth" on any difficulty.
• Diamond in the Rough - 10G: Rescue the Russian President. Complete "Down the Rabbit Hole" on any difficulty.
• The Big Apple - 25G: Complete "Black Tuesday" and "Hunter Killer" on Veteran difficulty. 
• Out of the Frying Pan... - 25G: Complete "Persona Non Grata", "Turbulence", and "Back on the Grid" on Veteran difficulty. 
• Payback - 25G: Complete "Mind the Gap", "Goalpost", and "Return to Sender" on Veteran difficulty. 
• City of Lights - 25G: Complete "Bag and Drag" and "Iron Lady" on Veteran difficulty. 
• The Darkest Hour - 25G: Complete "Eye of the Storm", "Blood Brothers", and "Stronghold" on Veteran difficulty. 
• This is the End - 25G: Complete "Scorched Earth", "Down the Rabbit Hole", and "Dust to Dust" on Veteran difficulty. 
• Who Dares Wins - 40G: Complete the campaign on any difficulty.
• The Best of the Best - 100G: Complete the campaign on Hardened or Veteran difficulty.
• Strike! - 20G: Kill 5 enemies with a single grenade in Single Player or Special Ops. 
• Jack the Ripper - 20G: Melee 5 enemies in a row in Single Player or Special Ops.
• Informant - 20G: Collect 22 Intel Items. 
• Scout Leader - 35G: Collect 46 Intel Items.
• This Is My Boomstick - 20G: Kill 30 enemies with the XM25 in "Black Tuesday."
• What Goes Up... - 20G: Destroy all the choppers with only the UGV's grenade launcher in "Persona Non Grata."
• For Whom the Shell Tolls - 20G: Destroy all targets during the mortar sequence with only 4 shells in "Back on the Grid."
• Kill Box - 20G: Kill 20 enemies with the Chopper Gunner in a single run in "Return to Sender."
• Danger Close - 20G: Take down a chopper with an AC-130 smoke grenade in "Bag and Drag."
• Ménage à Trois - 20G: Destroy 3 tanks with a single 105mm shot in "Iron Lady.") 
• Nein - 20G: Kill 9 enemies with A-10 strafing runs in "Scorched Earth."
• 50/50 - 20G: Complete a Special Ops Mission Mode game with the same number of kills as your partner. 
• Birdie - 20G: Kill 2 enemy helicopters without getting hit in a Special Ops Survival game.
• Serrated Edge - 15: Finish a Juggernaut with a knife in Special Ops.
• Arms Dealer - 20G: Buy all items from the Survival Weapon Armory. 
• Danger Zone - 20G: Buy all items from the Survival Air Support Armory. 
• Defense Spending - 20G: Buy all items from the Survival Equipment Armory.
• Get Rich or Die Trying - 25G: Have $50,000 current balance in a Special Ops Survival game. 
• I Live - 10G: Survive 1 wave in a Special Ops Survival game.
• Survivor - 20G: Reach Wave 10 in each mission of Special Ops Survival mode.
• Unstoppable - 40G: Reach Wave 15 in each mission of Special Ops Survival mode.
• No Assistance Required - 20G: Complete a Special Ops Mission Mode game on Hardened or Veteran with no player getting downed.
• Brag Rags - 10G: Earn 1 star in Special Ops Mission Mode.
• Tactician - 20G: Earn 1 star in each mission of Special Ops Mission Mode.
• Overachiever - 40G: Earn 48 stars in Special Ops Mission Mode.
• Secret Achievement - 20G: Continue playing to unlock this secret achievement.

The modern warfare games (as much as I have bitched about them in the past ) I reckon are the best in the Call of Duty series. Then again the Modern Warfare games have had to compete with World at War and Black Ops. Which are good in the same way you praise a toddler for using the potty. So I'm really looking forward to MW3.