A new Gauntlet game is in the works for the Nintendo DS and it is currently being developed by Backbone Entertainment and will be published by Eidos. To keep things simple, the game will be called Gauntlet and will basically maintain the same design as the original arcade game. There will be four characters to choose from with different classes and in-game capabilities, there are 40 different maps to explore and over 32 different enemies to hack apart.

Thanks to wi-fi and voice over support, up to four players will be able to help each other slash their way through the dungeons as well as take part in other multiplayer functions such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Treasure Horder. All multiplayer modes can be played while sitting in the same vicinity or through wi-fi.

Gauntlet is expected to be released for the Nintendo DS on June 30, so check back with us often as more information comes to light.

Via: Videogaming247

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Despite the wait and sketchy internet rumors, the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare map pack for the Xbox 360 is finally live. Released at 9:30 EST this morning, gamers are now privy to Broadcast, Chinatown, Creek, and Killhouse provided that they have 800 MS points ($10). The folks that purchased the Game of the Year edition are the lucky ones today, for they have a token for the maps and do not have to pay one red cent.

So stop reading this and go download your CoD4 map pack now, and after you have played around with each map for a while, be sure to come back tell us what you thought of them.

Midway and Epic Games have announced that three new maps are now available for download for Unreal Tournament III on the PS3 and PC. As icing on the cake, it turns out this new content is 100% free for both versions of the game (take that microtransactions). PC users can download the maps by clicking the link below, while PS3 users can find them on the Playstation Network. The three maps include Morbias, Facing Worlds, and Searchlight:

Morbias is the deathmatch arena that started it all, perfectly suited for anything from small intense duels to chaotic free-for-all matches.  The Unreal Tournament classic, Facing Worlds was one of the most played maps in gaming history.  This beloved sniper map makes its return alongside an intricate new capture the flag map, Searchlight, designed for both z-axis rooftop runs and strategic indoor gameplay.

Maybe this will convince more people to jump on this woefully underappreciated game.

Via Press Release

Bethesda’s Daryl Brigner, designer of popular Portal map download Ren_Test2, has created another map. Ren_Test3 includes Ren_Test 1&2 as well as Step, Portal, and Time challenges for players who really want to test their skills. You can download Ren_Test3 here.

Follow these steps to install Ren_Test3 on your PC:

Simply extract the Ren_Tests.bmz anywhere, then load up Portal, click ‘Bonus Maps,’ click “Import Bonus Maps”, then just navigate to where the Ren_Tests.bmz file is, select it, and click ‘Open.’ Then, the Ren_Test Mappack will be in your Bonus Maps window.

If Brigner keeps this up, Valve is going to have to consider hiring him away from Bethesda to develop more Portal games.

via Bethesda Blog

Activision has sent word that new DLC is coming soon for Call of Duty 4 in the form of new multiplayer maps. The new maps are slated to hit the Xbox Live Marketplace an Playstation Network this spring:

“We’ve demonstrated our commitment to delivering the best multiplayer experience in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and that continues with our plans for new downloadable content,” explains Infinity Ward’s Community Manager, Robert Bowling. “We’re excited about the new maps, and the added gameplay variety, and we can’t wait to wrap things up and get online with everyone.”

And that’s about all we know at the moment. No word on how many maps are coming or what sort of scenarios they’ll take place in. Hopefully, we’ll find out soon enough.

Via Press Release

Halo fans who have PS3s can now rejoice that the ‘Wizard’ map has surfaced on Unreal Tournament 3. Let’s just hope that the Microsoft legal team is too tied up to do anything about it. Unreal Tournament 3 for the PS3 has really unleashed creativity from the PC modding community. Hopefully, user-created maps will be the future of console gaming.

Wizard may actually be a map that plays better on UT3 than it did with Halo.

We’re currently hosting the files for UT3 ‘Wizard’ for your downloading pleasure:

PS3 Download:

North American
European
German

PC Download

Via Epic Game Forums

Bungie seems to be just cranking out the map packs for Halo 3 these days (and then selling them for $10 a pop), and they recently revealed some details concerning one of the newer maps. The map, called “Moonbase Alpha,” will apparently sport some pretty clever features:

As we mention in the Q&A following this, “Moonbase Alpha” now has large opening doors and more unusually, a kind of unlockable jump over a deadly chasm. In its locked state, a jump over will almost always result in death. Unlocked, it becomes an easy jump and a simple shortcut. More and more, this map is beginning to appeal to my interests. At first I thought it was just a bit too large, but now that I know my way around it, it’s brisk enough to support even one vs. one games.

Bungie also mentioned that giving the map a name is something they do in the final stages, so this DLC could show up on XBL pretty soon. I’m just hoping they make the old map pack free when that happens.

Via Bungie

Starting off this week’s Bungie update are assurances that Bungie & Co. are busy grinding away, polishing the next round of DLC maps for Halo 3. As somewhat hinted in the update, the maps are entering the late stages of development where map names are given a final dubbing. Purple Reign, Moonbase Alpha and OK Corral were three particular names given, implying as to the current focus of work.

Moving on, we are assaulted with yet another Q&A episode Bungie aptly titles FAQ ATTACK! These are a collection of selective or random questions and answers between Bungie and the community that often times results in a tongue-in-cheek type response from Bungie themselves. Here’s one such culprit of hilarity:

OMG DoubleKill asks: How should I tell the smelly guy that works with me to wear deodorant without being too rude?
 
BUNGIE: That depends on whether or not you think his Dad can beat up your Dad. However, there are two methods. One, anonymously gift wrap and place a stick of deodorant on his desk after hours. Two, show up in a gasmask and throw the shocker every time he asks you what’s going on.

And what would a Bungie update be without showing off some fresh off the line McFarlane series II Halo figures?

Via Bungie.net

According to Shacknews, PC gamers will indeed be getting two new maps for Team Fortress 2 (console versions are yet undecided). Not only that, but the maps will “hopefully arrive within the next two months.”

Since Valve’s critically acclaimed Orange Box was launched in October 2007, fans of its Team Fortress 2 component have been expecting - if not half-begging - for additional map content. While the six maps included in TF2 are considered by gamer’s standards to be of the utmost quality, many in the community have expressed their notion of becoming “burned-out” by playing such a small number of maps in rotation. Given TF2’s limited variance of said maps, I’d have to agree.

One of the new maps forthcoming will be a remake of Team Fortress Classic’s Badlands. In addition to this news was mention of additional content hitting well before the maps. The Medic achievement pack that will add several new achievements and gameplay tweaks for the class was specifically mentioned.

So yeah, Badlands sounds like a cool map to add to TF2’s roster. Unfortunately, as Shacknews keenly pointed out, someone in the TF2 community was already working on a Badlands map project (image above exhibits the WiP). I guess it sucks to be him right now.

Via Shacknews

One of the simplest popular games in years has really taken over the hearts of gamers worldwide. Portal is simple, yet challenging at the same time. The Orange Box is one of the best buys in gaming right now and includes this unique puzzle-action game.

Since plenty of time has passed since the release of Portal, it was only a matter of time before the modding scene focused their efforts on the title. Click on the via link below to find out more about the best and worst Portal maps from the modding scene. As long as mods keep popping up for Portal, I believe the game will remain fresh for many years to come. Although Portal has received praise from most people who have played it, it continues to fly under the radar in the press for the most part.

Via Kotaku

Battle Rage is the latest production of Teyon, and is coming into beta tests and balancing phase. The game is officially announced to be completed in the first quarter of 2008. Details concerning the game’s mechanics and gameplay are being kept hush-hush for the time being, but until that time you can watch the first official trailer from the game.

The game is a TPS with elements of the beat’em up game and allows a player to control giant robots. Battles between the robots take place on selected battlegrounds where the player can fight alone (versus one, two or three opponents) or in the team with one sidekick. Every machine has its own weapons for melee and distance combat, additional weapon types can be found on the maps and the player has also a possibility to tweak parameters of the robot to fit them to their personal preferences. The game offers the player three modes: arcade, multiplayer, and quick game.

For more information on Battle Rage, check back often for more updates and also check out the official website.

Even if the anticipated patch didn’t quite make the Christmas list, Crytek has possibly saved face by stuffing a map pack into our stockings. Words spoken by the wise men themselves:

Now that Christmas is here and we are seeing another year coming to its end it is time for our beloved Crytek Christmas message. It has probably been the most exciting year since FarCry has been shipped. Not only that we relaunched our Crymod Modding Portal for our new blockbuster FPS, we also finished Crysis which has been in development for about four years.

On behalf of the whole Crytek development studios in Frankfurt, Kiev and Budapest and the entire Crytek Staff we wish the whole community Maximum Christmas and a Happy New Year 2008!

The map pack is also known as the Crysis Tournament Map Pack. There’s a good chance some of these maps will end up being used in the recently announced inCrysis Nvidia Crysis League. The map pack contains three PowerStruggle maps and two InstantAction maps. Pretty sweet of Crytek giving these freebies out so soon. You can nab the entire pack from the download link below.

Download Crysis Tournament Map Pack @ FileFront

Via Crymod

Coming to stores at the end of the month, is Fireglow Games’ latest installment in the Sudden Strike Series. Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory features historically authentic models built to scale, fully interactive giant maps and full 3-D state-of-the-art graphics in the popular Sudden Strike style. Featuring a new Sudden Strike Next7 graphics engine for large-scale air and naval battles and large numbers of units. This edition also features new units, fully redone AI and pathfinding, an improved interface, and more complex multiplayer modes across four campaigns — two in the Pacific Islands and two in Europe.

Features:

• Fully interactive landscape (all objects can be destroyed, all buildings and pillboxes can be used as shelter)
• Massive operations on big maps, strategic scale of the maps (front line can be a few kilometres long)
• Thousands of units fighting in the real time
• More than 300 tanks, ships, soldiers, guns and planes with original weapons built to scale
• Great sounds, 5.1 supported, nations speak native languages
• New feature - advanced Micro AI-behaviour allows to your troops to act exactly as you plan
• Joint naval and ground operations, air raids, artillery strikes etc.
• State-of-the-art technology to render 3D landscape, realistic lines of sight and fire
• Spectacular visual & lighting effects
• Multiplayer mode: up to 8 players
• Five campaigns playable for American, British, German, Japanese and Soviet sides

Want to try out this WW2 game before you decide to lay down your hard earned allowance or cash stolen from your mother’s purse? Then click on the badge below for a demo of Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory.

It has been a while since I covered a Bungie Weekly Update. Not that there really has been much to cover. The past few updates have been pretty boring to say the least. This week’s update, however, has a bit of a kick to it.

First off, Bungie retorts to cheaters alike by readying “the mighty mallet of justice”. As Jonathan covered earlier, Bungie have sworn it will gift cheaters of Halo 3 with a complete lack of impunity. To those who are cheating right now, Bungie are watching you. Bungie affirms us that when enough data is collected, swift justice will be served.

Do you think you are skilled at Halo 3? Are you wondering why lately it seems as if you’ve hit the proverbial wall when it comes to advancing your ranking? Well, perhaps you’re not as skilled as you think. Bungie affirms the skill system in Halo 3 is not borked. Halo 3 ranking isn’t based on your experience or time invested in the game. In fact, the ranking system is one by which you are compared to all Halo 3 players. Sure you jumped through the ranks early on; but as you near the level where Halo 3 peers of your caliber are, advancement starts to level off. This is designed to better match your skills against other Halo 3 players fairly. So unless you’ve found some secret trick or move that makes you THAT much better than others of your ranking, you’ll probably be stuck with them for a while.

Read the full article

Each year’s PAX has concluded in much the same way: with the two remaining contestants in the Omegathon — a multi-platform gaming tournament — battling through the final round with an old school classic, such as Pong or Tetris. This year however, the folks over at Penny Arcade decided to end the tournament with a bang. The main theater was packed with people when the final event began with the Minibosses performing a rock version of the Halo theme, complete with flashing lights and a smoke machine running. After that, the two remaining contestants were introduced, and it was revealed that they would be playing Halo 3 on two never-before-seen maps littered with brand new weapons.

The first match was set at a 15-kill limit and took place in a map called “Guardian.” The map featured a dark, jungle setting, with lots of platforms and passageways. It was in this map that we got to see a slew of devastating new weapons in action, such as the gravity hammer, the Fuel Rod Cannon, and the flamethrower (a crowd favorite). The contestants also got their hands on a couple of new grenades: a fire bomb and a flashbang. The next map — set at a five-kill limit — was called “Narrows” and featured two large towers with two bridges connecting them. There was also an ATV-like vehicle, called the “Mongoose,” and several platforms that could launch a player to the other end of the map. All in all, it was a pretty intense couple of rounds, especially with the crowd cheering at every kill and new weapon. In the end though, Accolon managed to snuff out MNC Dover for the $5,000 prize along with tickets to the Tokyo Game Show. The whole event was a huge spectacle and felt a lot like a rock concert. It was certainly a fitting conclusion to such a massive gaming convention.

We’ve been playing the Call of Duty 4 beta all week here at Gaming Today, and it definitely exceeded our expectations. The “multiplayer beta will launch via Xbox LIVEâ„¢ on Monday, August 27 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Users can visit Charlie Oscar Delta (www.CharlieOscarDelta.com) at noon for their chance to receive a token and experience some of the maps and modes available in multiplayer before the game hits store shelves the week of November 5th”.

Call of Duty 4 in my opinion is a much greater improvement than the series has made from game to game in the past. Call of Duty 4 is one of the better multiplayer experiences I have had on the Xbox 360 in a while, and that was just with the beta. Keep your eye out Monday for the download that you do not want to miss.

Majesco Entertainment announced today that it has shipped Operation: Vietnam for the Nintendo DS. Developed by Coyote Console, Operation: Vietnam takes place in the jungles of Vietnam where the player’s transport is shot down deep inside Viet Cong territory. Surrounded by the enemy, players must rally their squad and lead them back to safety. Along the way, players must fend off repeated assaults while liberating oppressed villagers. Players simultaneously command up to four soldiers using the Touch Screen to issue commands, access inventory and view maps, players must utilize the specialties and weapons of each soldier in 20 different missions that include rescuing POWs and saving civilians. Destructible environments and a variety of enemy types make this top down shooter an interesting military action adventure.

Features

• Use the Touch Screen to issue commands, access inventory, view maps and select which squad member to control
• Utilize your squad to combat multiple enemy types including: soldiers, tanks, turrets, enemy barracks, etc.
• Take advantage of different specialties and weapons per soldier: long range rifle, grenade launcher, automatic weapons, and more
• Flush out enemies with smoke grenades or take them out with fragmentation grenades.

MORE SCREENS

Yesterday, I mentioned sightings of Bungie and Microsoft employees playing “Halo 3 Epsilon” online. Apparently, some of the Beta testers are also in on this new “Epsilon”. Kotaku uncovered some facts behind the project that shed a little light on the mystery. Here’s the message they uncovered:

Congratulations on being selected to participate in the Halo 3 Epsilon! The Epsilon is now available for download on Marketplace!

First, unlike the Alpha, Beta or Delta, this is a very special test in that not only will you be testing nearly final Halo 3 Matchmaking, you will also be able to:

• Play Multiplayer on six maps: Snowbound, High Ground, Valhalla, Last Resort, Epitaph and our new big map, Sandtrap.

• Play Custom Games and test out full game variant editing.

• Play with the Forge and be able to cooperatively edit and save multiplayer map variants.

• Play up to 4 person co-op on a single Campaign level.

• Play and test the full Saved Film functionality, including screenshots you can view in-game for Campaign, Multiplayer and Forge.

Via Kotaku

Created by Chair Entertainment for Xbox Live Arcade, Undertow features a 15 level campaign for single-player or co-op and two multiplayer modes for up to 16 players. The game has maps with level-specific goals, but your main objective in Undertow is to kill as many of your enemies as possible - and to keep yourself from getting killed.

Players can select from three different unit types and races, “Iron Marine”, “Nemoidian”, or “Atlantian”. Each of the three features four unique, upgradeable unit types ranging in ability from the fast and agile to the large and powerful. Unlockable and purchasable unit upgrades become available as they acquire points and each unit type has three levels of permanent upgrades. During battles, players obtain points by killing enemies, accomplishing team goals, and taking check points. Points and a variety of power-ups can be used to further upgrade unit abilities.

Gamers have been teased about this title since earlier this year when Creative Director, Donald Mustard was quoted as saying, “We’ve really enjoyed designing Undertow for Xbox LIVE Arcade because it’s given us the freedom to create a pure gaming experience focused on fun, addictive game play. Whether a player is looking for hours of intense multiplayer or they have just 10 minutes for the ultimate gaming experience, we’re confident Undertow will be as exciting to play as it has been for us to create.”

Sounds like loads of fragging fun for XBL players, and because we have been waiting so long to hear more about this title I will stave off the continuing frustration and post some concept art and screens below.

More Screens and Teaser Trailers

More Concept Art

Storyline follows after the jump.

Read the full article

Verizon completed their goal to finally enhance their network in Florida, spending over $1.6 billion in the state over the past 7 years. This is good news for gamers in the sunshine state because the high-speed Evolution Data Optimized Revision network, which provides access to V CAST and VZ Navigator is now fully operational like the first Death Star.

In Verizon’s case, there is no rebel alliance forming an attack against them, so the service should remain fully operational for Florida residents.

V CAST allows customers to stream video clips, play games and download songs. VZ Navigator is a location-based service that offers users maps and audible driving directions. It has also launched V CAST Mobile TV in Orlando Jacksonville and Tampa this year.