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Modern Warfare Developer Loses Two More Key Players
Despite rumours of Call of Duty developers being “held hostage” over withheld bonus payments, it nevertheless looks like more of those involved with the series have begun to leave Infinity Ward following the sacking of the studio’s founders As revealed by the pair’s Linkedin profiles (pictured below), Todd Alderman, a Lead Designer and one of…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 5, 2010 -
Day-One Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package Buyers Get Seven Days Back
Several readers sent us tips this morning indicating that Microsoft gifted them seven additional days of Xbox Live Gold for purchasing the Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package on day one. Julian sent us a picture, however, so Julian wins. What does Julian win? Well, credit, for one, along with the seven days’ worth of Xbox…
By Mike Fahey Published April 5, 2010 -
Maybe This Is One Reason the Stimulus Package Cost So Much
At $3 per map, it was fair to ask what else you get for your money with the Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package. The answer, apparently, is a big-ass marketing campaign. In the U.K. at least, Activision has spent £1m to flack the game online and over TV throughout the Easter weekend, MCV reported. Spending…
By Owen Good Published April 3, 2010 -
How You’ll Control Geometry Wars On The iPad (And Maybe On the iPhone, Too)
The touchscreen version of Bizarre Creations’ addictive twin-stick shooter Geometry Wars is on a short list of new iPad games that we’re really excited about. But can the Geometry Wars brand of twitch-based gameplay translate well to Apple’s new hardware? Craig Howard, design manager at Bizarre Creations tells Kotaku that the studio and the developer…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2010 -
Modern Warfare Stimulus Pack Price Offset By Free Avatar Goggles
So you’re upset that you have to pay $15 for five maps, two of which are old, and that the Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package launched broken. You know what’d cheer you up? Free night vision goggles for your avatar! What? Does this not appease you? Perhaps you didn’t understand what I was trying to…
By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2010 -
So Long, Koticku, And Thanks For All The Valuable Market Research Consumer Data
Readers, I’m sorry to report that Activision Blizzard’s investment in Kotaku is not paying the dividends that we’d originally hoped and that Koticku will be ending its brief run, effectively immediately. All remaining Koticku staff has been let go. We did not reach this decision lightly, but over the course of the past day, the…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 1, 2010 -
Announcing Koticku
Today, I’m excited to announce that Activision Blizzard is making a strategic investment into a new and exciting space, video game enthusiast press blogging, with the acquisition of Kotaku, formerly a Gawker Media property, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Activision Publishing. Activision’s purchase of Kotaku is just one part of our key effort to realign…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 1, 2010 -
How Guitar Hero Is Made
Already feeling bogged down by April Fool’s Day fluff? Why not settle in with a meaty feature on how Guitar Hero games are made, right down the excruciating details of audio programming. It’s the perfect counter-measure to a day’s worth of stupid jokes and red herring news pieces, as it plunges straight past the fluff…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 1, 2010 -
Why Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 DLC Launched Broken
When the Modern Warfare 2 “Stimulus Pack” downloadable content launched, it did not work. Surely there had to be a reason for that. Turns out, there is. Issues included: Multiplayer lobbies not working, images for maps not showing up and no option to play private matches. According to Xbox LIVE Operations Manager Eric Neustadter, the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 1, 2010 -
Reviews
Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Pack Review: Pricey Maps
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 remains the most popular game played on Xbox Live since its launch late last year, but that doesn’t mean that the fans of the fast-paced, first-person shooter couldn’t use some new ways to play. Enter the Stimulus Pack. The first Modern Warfare 2 map pack, coming to the Xbox…
By Brian Crecente Published March 31, 2010 -
First Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Details Go Beyond Amazing
Your friendly neighborhood Spider-man is going on a spectacular multi-dimensional adventure in his next outing, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, which sends old Web-head to realities both “amazing” and “noir.” Let’s hope the two remaining mystery realms don’t include a “suck” dimension. The previously teased Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions will toss Spider-Man into four separate Marvel universes, according…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 30, 2010 -
Modern Warfare 2 Charity Raises Unemployment Awareness By Handing Out Games
To celebrate today’s release of Modern Warfare 2’s new Stimulus map pack, publisher Activision delivered copies of the game to more than 300 U.S. Navy ships, submarines and recreational facilities around the world. In this video we see crew members of the U.S.S. John C Stennis getting their free copies of the game in San…
By Brian Crecente Published March 30, 2010 -
Infinity Ward Points Finger at Activision For Modern Warfare 2 Pack Pricing
Set to hit the Xbox 360 next week, the downloadable Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Pack brings with it five new maps and a just a touch more controversy to a studio recently embroiled in discord. The founders of Activision owned Infinity Ward recently were firedamid allegations of royalties being withheld by the publisher and the…
By Brian Crecente Published March 26, 2010 -
Modern Warfare 2’s Stimulus Package In Five Pictures
We’re still five days away from the release of the first Modern Warfare 2 map pack for the Xbox 360, so you might want to check out these latest screens one at a time, one per day. The Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package, featuring five maps for the interesting price of $15.00, or 1200 Microsoft…
By Mike Fahey Published March 25, 2010 -
Modern Warfare 2 DLC Ad Takes Some Liberties
There’s something fishy about this commercial for the upcoming Modern Warfare 2 map pack. Namely, that these sure as hell aren’t the kind of people I run into playing the game. Compared to the community’s juvenile, angry, foul-mouthed status quo, these “mapathy sufferers” – who are capable of more emotions than just sarcasm and fury…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 24, 2010 -
A Bizarre Expansion To The Blur Beta
Activision and Bizarre Creations continue to refine the online experience of upcoming combat racer Blur, increasing the rank cap and allowing testers to unlock new cars, challenges, and mods. I don’t know about you, but I’m used to a multiplayer beta test for a console game that starts, stops, and is finished. That’s not the…
By Mike Fahey Published March 24, 2010 -
Wipeout: The Game Set To Disappoint Fans Of Futuristic Racing This Summer
There’s a new Wipeout game coming to the Nintendo Wii and DS this summer, but don’t get too excited – it’s not what you think. For nearly 15 years, Sony fans have thrilled to the balls-out futuristic racing action of the Wipeout series, with each installment bringing new challenges and more speed to the beloved…
By Mike Fahey Published March 18, 2010 -
Bad Company 2 Video Spoofs Modern Warfare 2’s “F.A.G.S.” PSA
When Battlefield: Bad Company 2 riffed on rival Modern Warfare 2‘s “Mapathy” promo last week, it could be seen as a playful poke. This, however – a comprehensive parody of October’s infamous “F.A.G.S.” video – is a straight-up nutshot. For those not familiar with C.C. Sabathia or why he would be in this video, his…
By Owen Good Published March 16, 2010 -
Spider-Man’s Spectacular Game Series Soldiers On With Shattered Dimensions
The Spider-Man license won’t go to waste at Activision just because Spider-Man 4 isn’t coming to movie theaters next year. There will be more Spider-Man games, including one known as Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. The latest issue of GamePro magazine makes mention of the still-unannounced Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, divulging no other details on the latest Marvel…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 16, 2010 -
DJ Hero: Me Versus JAY-Z Versus Eminem
DJ Hero’s track lineup expands by three this Thursday with the JAY-Z vs. Eminem Pack. Bear witness as I mutter through an exciting mashup of “Can I Get A…” by JAY-Z mixed With “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. DJ Hero is a game that’s a little tricky to pick back up after spending five or so…
By Mike Fahey Published March 16, 2010