Medal of Honor sells 1.5 million & Clean Sweep DLC revealed

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Medal of Honor

EA has announced that over 1.5 million copies of Medal of Honor have been sold worldwide in just five days. Medal of Honor was released in the USA on October 12th, while the European release followed three days later.

The data on Medal of Honor sales comes from GFK Chart Track data. Of course, Medal of Honor took top spot in the GFK Chart Track UK chart this week, dislodging fellow EA title FIFA 11 in the process.

EA are pleased with sales of Medal of Honor, despite mediocre reviews from critics. Frank Gibeau, President at EA said:

“Medal of Honor is one of EA’s most storied franchises and we’re thrilled to see that fans worldwide have embraced it. In this ultra competitive category, Medal of Honor stands out from the pack. By portraying the Tier 1 Operator as so elite, so tough, Medal of Honor offers a view into a world that has the power to resonate with FPS gamers everywhere.”

Meanwhile,  EA CEO John Ricitiello has told Fox News that Medal of Honor has so far made $100 million. An impressive amount, but some way off the $200 million that Halo: Reach made in its first day on sale. The $100 million made by Medal of Honor is only a fraction of the $550 million Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 made in its first five days.

EA also announced that Medal of Honor will shortly be getting free DLC. The free multiplayer mode titled Clean Sweep is an elimination mode where players must rely on their own skill and teammates’ expertise to prevail as the winning team. The new Medal of Honor multiplayer mode will be playable on two new maps – Bagram Hangar and Khyber Caves –  as well as redesigned versions of the Diwagal Camp and Kabul City Ruins maps.

The new Medal of Honor game mode will consist of three four minute rounds with no respawns. The team who gets the best of the three rounds wins. You can watch the trailer for the Medal of Honor Clean Sweep DLC below.

Clean Sweep will be available on November 2 via Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PlayStation Network to owners of Medal of Honor with Online Pass. The free, single use Online Pass comes with all brand new copies of Medal of Honor.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the achievements of Medal of Honor? And what do you think of the Clean Sweep DLC? Is it enough to encourage you to hold onto your copy of Medal of Honor? Not familiar with the game? You can watch the Medal of Honor launch trailer here.

You can leave your thoughts on Medal of Honor and the Clean Sweep DLC here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Fallout: New Vegas ‘The Characters’ dev diary

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Fallout: New Vegas

Bethesda has released one final Fallout: New Vegas developer diary. ‘The Characters’ takes a look at the celebrity cast of Fallout: New Vegas.  The game is released in the United States today, while we in Europe unfortunately have to wait until Friday.

In this sixth and final diary, developers Obsidian Entertainment discuss a bit about how they went about casting characters for Fallout: New Vegas. The developers mention how the Fallout series has always had “fun people acting in it” and how they went from character to character deciding whose voice would fit the character best.

Naturally, Ron Pearlman returns in Fallout: New Vegas to reprise his role as The Narrator, and the video shows us some other star names voicing characters in the game. The most recognisable here in the UK is most probably Matthew Perry of Friends fame. He voices villainous character Benny. Other stars in the video include Wayne Newton, William Sadler, and Kris Kristofferson.

The developers of Fallout: New Vegas also discuss how they want the player to feel as if each character is an individual, and it sounds like they’ve made efforts to make sure this is the case.

You can watch Fallout: New Vegas developer diary #6 – The Characters below.

There are five other Fallout: New Vegas developer diaries from Obsidian. They cover The Story, the Tech & Sound, the Art Direction, the Factions, and The New Vegas Strip.

Fallout: New Vegas reviews are coming in thick and fast and are generally very positive. VG247 provide a round up of the scores so far.

So Train2Game, how important do you think the cast of a video game is? And what are your thoughts on the Fallout: New Vegas review scores so far?

As usual, leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

New Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare gameplay trailer

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Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare 4 horses

Rockstar has revealed another new trailer for upcoming Red Dead Redemption DLC, Undead Nightmare. The new trailer shows us what to expect from gameplay in Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, which of course is lots of zombie killing.

The latest Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare also features an old-school creepy voice over saying “Prepare yourself, for demonic hordes from the Graveyard” and many other slightly cheesy, but oh so good phrases about the undead. You can see the new Red Dead Redemption: Undead Night mare trailer – The Graveyards – below.


Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare is set for release via download on October 26th. It’ll feature a new single player campaign in which John Marston tries to find a cure for the unexplained zombie plague. It’ll also feature new weapons, new outfits, new multiplayer modes and new ‘Missing Person’ side quests.

Rockstar has also revealed new information about the mythical creatures introduced in Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare – the four horses of the Apocalypse, Pestilence, Famine, Death, and War. Each have their own special perks for John Marston to take advantage of in Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, so long as he can tame them.

Death – With Hell following close behind, Death carries with him a violent wake that rattles through the skulls of the undead, causing a spectacular cranial explosion for any zombie it comes in contact with.

Famine – Attracting a swarm of insects wherever it travels, Famine’s thin shadowy frame and crimson eyes mask an everlasting stamina.

Pestilence – A ghastly harbinger of plague and disease that’s easily identifiable by its exposed wounds and ocular haemorrhaging, Pestilence possesses an exceptionally high pain threshold.

War – Given power to take peace from the earth, the fiery red horse known as War ignites a trail of flame upon all those in its path, turning the living and the undead alike into smouldering ash.

Sound fun, don’t they? Be sure to check out the first Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare trailer for more insights into how the single player campaign is shaping up. You can also check out GameSpot for an exclusive Q & A about Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare with Rockstars’ Dan Houser.

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare will be downloadable from Xbox Live for 800 points, and the PlayStation Network for £7.99 from October 26th.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the new Undead Nightmare trailer? Which horse do you want? And how do you think Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare is shaping up?

As usual, leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Bethesda announce Xbox 360 exclusive DLC for Fallout: New Vegas

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Fallout New Vegas DLC

Fallout: New Vegas publisher Bethesda has announced that the game will be getting DLC before Christmas, and that it’ll be exclusive to the Xbox 360. At this stage, we have no idea what the DLC for Fallout: New Vegas will involve.

“We’re excited to continue the partnership between Bethesda and Microsoft, and build on the success of the game add-ons released for Fallout 3 on Xbox Live,” said Bethesda’s VP of marketing and PR Pete Hines.

“Fans will once again be able to continue their experience in the Fallout universe with the add-on packs planned for after the launch of the game.”

Microsoft product marketing manager Matt Barlow added: “Bethesda set a high bar with the quality of the Fallout game add-ons.

“We have no doubt that gamers will be thrilled with seeing a new add-on pack extend their adventures with Fallout: New Vegas on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live.”

The announcement of Xbox 360 exclusive DLC for Fallout: New Vegas mirrors a similar scheme for Fallout 3. On the plus side for those planning to buy Fallout: New Vegas on other systems, the Fallout 3 DLC was later released on the PC and PlayStation 3.

The DLC isn’t the only exclusive on offer for Fallout: New Vegas. Different retailers are offering different pre-order bonuses in order to try and encourage you to give them your hard earned cash.

Fallout: New Vegas is released in the UK on Friday for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the so-called console exclusive DLC? Do you think it’s a good move by Bethesda, or is it unfair to give one specific console exclusive content? Do you think that this will be a timed exclusive as with the Fallout 3 DLC?

And what do you think about DLC being announced for Fallout: New Vegas before the game has even been released?

You can leave your thoughts about Fallout: New Vegas and DLC here on the Train2Game blog, or over on the Train2Game forum.

Microsoft reveal Kinect launch line up (And reportedly have $500 million for marketing!)

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Microsoft Kinect for Xbox 360

Microsoft has announced that 17 launch titles will be available when Kinect for Xbox 360 is launched worldwide next month. The news has been revealed by Major Nelson, and you can see the entire list of Kinect launch games for Xbox 360 below.

Meanwhile, The New York Post reports that Microsoft has a massive marketing budget for Kinect of $500 million. Yes, that is half way to a billion dollars! The paper reports that this is more than the marketing budget Microsoft had to promote the launch of the original Xbox console back when it launched in July 2000.

The Kinect advertising will appear online, on television, magazines and on other products including food and drink packaging. If you pick up a burger, you may just see Kinect for Xbox 360 staring right back at you on the package.

“Kinect is the largest, most integrated marketing initiative in Xbox history, bigger than its launch,” said Robert Matthews, general manager of global marketing communications for Xbox. “We are going to be spending millions to launch this globally.”

The hype machine seems to be working, with 7,000 stores across the USA staying open past midnight when Kinect is launched on the other side of the Atlantic on November 4th.  So what are the titles will be available when Kinect, the hands free controller for Xbox 360 is released?  Well the Kinect launch title’s that’ll be available in the USA (UK games are yet to be confirmed) are as follows:

Kinect Adventures
Price: Packed in with the Kinect sensor.

Kinectimals
Price: $49.99 or $59.99 for the Limited Edition which comes with a plush toy and unlock code.

Game Party: In Motion
Price: $39.99

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 The Videogame
Price: $49.99

Your Shape: Fitness Evolved
Price: $49.99

Dance Central
Price: $49.99

The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout
Price: $49.99

DanceMasters
Price: $49.99

EA Sports Active 2
Price: $99.95 and comes with a heart rate monitor

Zumba Fitness
Price: $49.99

Kinect Sports
Price: $49.99

MotionSports
Price: $49.99

DECA Sports Freedome
Price: No Price listed

Kinect Joy Ride
Price: $49.99

Adrenalin Misfits
Price: $49.99

Fighters Uncaged
Price: $49.99

Sonic Free Rider
Price: $49.95

Kinect for Xbox 360 is released here in the UK on November 10th and will be available as part of a 250GB Xbox 360 bundle for £299.99. You can alternatively buy a Kinect for Xbox 360 on its own for £130.

So Train2Game, has anyone pre-ordered Kinect for their Xbox 360? What do you think of the launch line up? How about that massive budget? And do you think Kinect for Xbox 360 has the potential to triumph over the PlayStation Move?

You can leave your thoughts on Kinect for Microsoft Xbox 360 here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Portal recreated in LittleBigPlanet 2 beta

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More evidence has emerged of just how creative it’ll be possible to be with LittleBigPlanet 2. A video from the beta has appeared online, and it shows how one user has recreated Portal using the tools in LittleBigPlanet 2!

It reconfirms the fact that LittleBigPlanet 2 could be the Train2Game students dream with the Portal level just being the latest in a line of unique levels created during LittleBigPlanet 2’s beta test. Other games recreated using LittleBigPlanet 2 include indie game Flower, and Street Fighter.

You can watch Portal – complete with working Portal gun – recreated in LittleBigPlanet 2 in the video below.


LittleBigPlanet 2 is set for release in January 2011, after the original November launch date was moved back.

Meanwhile, Portal 2 is also scheduled for release near the start of next year, on February 9th.  You can watch a Portal 2 trailer starring Stephen Merchant here. Alternatively, you can watch these trailers showing how the new inclusions of Faith Plates and Repulsion Gel work.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the LittleBigPlanet 2 Portal level? And if you had to choose one of the two, would you go for Portal 2 or LittleBigPlanet 2?

You can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

(Source: Edge Online Twitter)

UK Charts: Medal of Honor out guns FIFA

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Medal of HonorMedal of Honor has topped the UK Charts in its first week, despite the ‘Taliban’ controversy that dogged its journey to release. However, this doesn’t seem to have put gamers off, with the Medal of Honor reboot achieving  the biggest ever launch in the series history.  It also achieved what some would see as the impossible byknocking FIFA 11 down to second place in the GFK Chart-Track All Formats Software Chart.

FIFA 11 had sold an impressive 2.6 million units worldwide in its first week, and then last weel comfortably held off the challenge of rival PES 2011. However, it seems that the men with guns in Medal of Honor have proved too strong for FIFA 11.

Ubisofts’ Just Dance 2 has made an impressive debut in third place. The original proved to be more of a slow burner, first entering the charts in 30th before going onto strong sales.

In fact, Just Dance 1 reappeared in the top ten as recently as last week. Nintendo’s Wii Party has jumped from tenth to fourth place, showing that the more casual titles can still guarantee big bucks.

PES 2011 has had a somewhat disappointing week dropping from second to fifth, while F1 2010 also falls two places down the table from fourth to sixth.

Dead Rising 2 had been in third place in each one of its three weeks in the chart. Unfortunately for Capcom, this feat couldn’t be completed a fourth time with Dead Rising falling down to seventh place. Halo: Reach also continues its steady decline down the UK Chart, dropping to eighth place after topping the charts only one month ago.

A third new entry enters the top ten this week with anime title Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 entering the chart in ninth place. Castlevania: Lord of Shadows completes the top ten, having dropped from its entry position of six.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West drops out of the top ten after just one week, falling to eleventh. This is a shame for Ninja Theory who spent three years developing the game. Meanwhile, the Borderlands Game of the Year edition has entered the top 40 in 35th place. Could the promise of a Duke Nukem Forever demo in future have encouraged sales?

The full  GfK Chart-Track All Formats top ten for the week ending October 16th is as follows

1. Medal of Honor (EA)
2. FIFA 11 (EA)
3. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
4. Wii Party (Nintendo)
5. PES 2011 (Konami)
6. F1 2010 (Codemasters)
7. Dead Rising 2 (Capcom)
8. Halo Reach (Microsoft)
9. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 (Namco Bandai)
10. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (Konami)

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the Top 10? What do you think of Medal of Honors’ achievement despite the controversy and mixed reviews? Who is going to own up and say they bought Just Dance 2? And why has Enslaved: Odyssey to the West slumped so quickly?

Also, with Fallout: New Vegas released this week, will Medal of Honors’ position on top be short lived?

You can leave your thoughts on Medal of Honor, Fallout: New Vegas or any of the above here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Fallout New Vegas Developer Diary #5 – The Strip

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Obsidian has released a fifth Fallout: New Vegas developer diary. This time the team focus on one of the key areas of Fallout: New Vegas, the Strip.

The team at Obsidian discuss how getting the New Vegas look right was very important, and how it’s the part of Fallout: New Vegas they “put the most amount of work in term terms of design”. They also discuss the huge scale of The Strip and how they’ve captured elements that have always made Las Vegas exciting, then combined them with the pseudo 1950’s Sci-Fi world of Fallout: New Vegas.

Obsidian are obviously very proud of The Strip they’ve created for Fallout: New Vegas, saying that there’s nothing like it in the entire Fallout universe to date.

Of course, New Vegas isn’t all about the landscape, and we’re told how its glitz also features soldiers “walking around in drunken stupors, puking on the sidewalks and dancing naked in fountains, and that sort of thing” Naturally, you can also gamble and The Strip is also seems to play an important part in the storyline of Fallout: New Vegas. The developers say there is plenty to do!

You can watch Fallout New Vegas Developer Diary #5 – The Strip, below.


There are four other Fallout: New Vegas developer diaries from Obsidian. They cover The Story, the Tech & Sound, the Art Direction, and the Factions of Fallout: New Vegas.

You can also find out hardcore mode, morality, and combat in Fallout: New Vegas, by checking out this Q & A post in the PlayStation blog. You can also see the Train2Game preview of Fallout: New Vegas here.

Fallout: New Vegas is released in one week on October 22nd, and will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

So Train2Game, what do you think about the amount of effort Obsidian have put into Fallout: New Vegas’ Strip? What real world locations would you like to see transformed in a future Fallout game? And of course, who is going to be playing Fallout: New Vegas this time next week?

You can leave your thoughts about Fallout: New Vegas here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Third official Train2Game webinar details

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The third official Train2Game webinar will be taking place from 6:15 pm on Wednesday 20th October.

Previous Train2Game webinars have covered subjects including the games industry and the Train2Game Games Designer, Games Developer and Games Artist & Animator courses.

This time, the main speakers be focusing on will be on the new Train2Game Incubator Scheme. The Train2Game Incubator Scheme will give  best and brightest Train2Game graduates work placements at UK games studios. The Train2Game incubator scheme will also give the best students the financial support required to develop their own commercial video games. More information about the Train2Game Incubator Programme is available here.

The Train2Game webinar panel will be hosted by the Clive Robert (CEO of DR Studios) and Tony Bickley (COO of DR Studios). They’ll be joined b Mike Montgomery (Iconic Developer / CEO of the Bitmap Brothers), Jon Hare (Ambitious Games Designer & Founder and Owner of Tower Studios) and Dave Sharp (Incubator Scheme Co-Ordinator). More information about each of the speakers can be found on the Train2Game webinar website.

The Train2Game webinar is based upon questions from both students and the wider public. If you want to ask the Train2Game webinar panel a question, send it to live@train2game.com before the webinar begins.

It’ll also be possible to ask the panel questions during the Train2Game webinar through Skype. In order to ask live questions during the session, simply install Skype and direct your questions to the username train2gamewebinar.  Skype is available for download here.

The Train2Game webinar will take place at 6:15pm on Wednesday 20th October 2010.

The previous Train2Game webinar is available online, you can see it here.

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare release date confirmed

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Red Dead Redemption: Undead NightmareUndead Nightmare, the expansion for Red Dead Redemption will be released on October 26th. The release of Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare in the run up to Halloween seems highly appropriate given the zombie based storyline! Rockstar has also revealed that Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare will also bring new multiplayer content and will be available on disc.

According to the Rockstar games website, the plot behind Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare is as follows:

“Seemingly overnight, a zombie plague ravages the once bountiful frontier, decimating the landscape and reawakening the dead. In towns, settlements, and outposts throughout the world, the uninfected citizens are left to fight for survival against waves of the undead.  John Marston must ride out into the vast and terrifying world and survive long enough to find a cure.”

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare will feature four different types of zombie, each with their own characteristics, and there will be variety of ‘infected’ animals for John Marston to deal with. Ammo can be scare in Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare but this can be combated through the use of a new weapon – the blunderbuss – which can be loaded with the remains of fallen zombies.

Additionally, the deadly Tomahawk and the Explosive Rifle make a triumphant comeback and will be available exclusively for those who downloaded the Legends and Killers Pack and the Liars and Cheats Pack.

Rockstar say Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare will feature a variety of new missions, challenges and events. Undead Nightmare also twists the ‘Wanted’ side-missions of Red Dead Redemption, and replaces them with ‘Missing Person’, where the player must find a missing survivor lost amongst the throngs of undead.

The expansion pack will also feature new multiplayer content, with Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare introducing Undead Overun. It’s brand new multiplayer survival mode where waves of infected enemies attack and players must work together to stay alive against increasingly difficult odds. (Sounds a bit like the Call of Duty zombie mode doesn’t it?)

You can see the trailer for Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare here.

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare will be downloadable from Xbox Live for 800 points, and the PlayStation Network for £7.99. Alternatively, Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare will be available on a disc, along with the Outlaws to the End Co-Op Mission Pack, the Legends and Killers Pack, the Liars and Cheats Pack and all the Multiplayer Free Roam modes released to date.

There’s no release date for the Red Dead Redemption combined DLC pack yet, but it’ll cost £24.99 and oddly doesn’t even need the original Red Dead Redemption disc to play.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the new details about Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare? Does the new multiplayer mode float your boat? Would you buy the DLC disc?

You can leave your thoughts on Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.