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Modern Warfare 2 Map Pack Pricing Doesn’t Bother 2.5 Million Xbox 360 Owners
Activision and Microsoft are exploding with joy over the performance of the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 “Stimulus Package” map pack, proclaiming today that the downloadable add-on “shattered Xbox LIVE records” to the tune of 2.5 million sold. One million of those purchases and downloads occurred within the first 24 hours, according to…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 7, 2010 -
Modern Warfare 2 Goes Free On Steam This Weekend Only
Want to see what all that Modern Warfare 2 fuss is about, PC gamers? Then play the game’s multiplayer mode for free this weekend, courtesy of Activision and Valve’s Steam service. That “weekend” starts a little early, as the free Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer action starts Thursday, April 8. You can pre-load…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 7, 2010 -
Transformers Trailer: Be All You Can Be
While the upcoming Transformers: War for Cybertron lets you play as actual Transformers, its multiplayer mode also lets you create your own Autobot or Decepticon and, as my people would say, get amongst it. Sadly, the customisation options seem to extend to “pick a team” then “pick a hue” (hopefully there’s more to come later),…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 7, 2010 -
Transformers On Wii Warrants A Name Change, Apparently
Systems like the PS3 and Xbox 360 will be getting a good-looking Transformers game soon called “War For Cybertron”. That same game is headed for the Wii, but when it hits Nintendo’s console, the name won’t be so combative. No, when the game’s released on Wii, it’ll be called “Transformers: Cybertron Adventures”. It’s the same…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 7, 2010 -
Do You Recognize This War For Cybertron Preorder Bonus?
Transformers: War for Cybertron is all about exploring the original Cybertronian Wars through the eyes of reimagined first generation Transformers. Then who the hell is this Amazon preorder-exclusive multiplayer character? As we’ve mentioned previously, Gamestop customers who preorder War for Cybertron will score a code to unlock cold, emotionless Shockwave for multiplayer play. Now Activision…
By Mike Fahey Published April 6, 2010 -
Mystery Mailings Point To Radioactive TV Channel, Call of Duty Clues?
A mysterious USB card loaded with strange sounds, a brown envelope sent with no return address, a simple text file: That’s right, it’s time for another marketing push in the guise of a alternative reality game. Yesterday we received a plain black USB drive tucked away in a envelope. On the drive was this sound…
By Brian Crecente Published April 6, 2010 -
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