Bitmob.com

If the recent events are any indication, it's not a good time to be Activision right now -- corporate upheavals such as this tend to have some pretty dire consequences.

News Blips:

After a very "confused" situation that arose yesterday at the offices of Modern Warfare 2 developer Infinity Ward, CTO Jason West and CEO Vince Zampella have both left the company. The updated Linkedin profiles for West and Zampella reflect the departures, coinciding with Activision's earlier investigation into what it claimed as "breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward." The public outcry so far is palpable -- but other minds, like Double Fine's Tim Schafer (Brutal Legend), doesn't believe it will make a difference. [G4TV]

Halo: Reach developer Bungie has teased of new multiplayer details that will be released soon. After remarking on the successful results of the game's first full campaign playtest on Bungie's official blog, Creative Director Marcus Lehto concluded with the promise of an "MP bomb" that will be revealed in about a day. I'm a little confused -- is Lehto heralding our destruction through a thinly veiled terror threat?

After eight years of development, Activision has shut down a fan-made King's Quest project. Initially named The Silver Lining, the project aimed to deliver episodic content that utilized the King's Quest IP. After some brief negotiations, Activision had no interest in a non-commercial license and stopped the project. I get the feeling that Activision is actually buying into CEO Bobby Kotick's comments on sucking the fun out of video games.

Jonathan Blow, creator of the platformer Braid, has started a fund to assist indie developers with publishing costs. Dubbed the Indie Fund, the finances help promote financial independence amongst smaller developers by pooling resources as an alternative to traditional publishers. I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping that Blow's ambitious project will meet with success.

Got any hot news tips? Send 'em over to tips@bitmob.com.

1

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

Every battle-hardened soldier should have the option of piping strangely fitting orchestral music into their radio sets.

Video Blips:

• EA and DICE's launch trailer for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 seems fairly balletic. The graceful tumble of defeated soldiers in slow motion really demands some of those ubiquitous doves you see in action movies. [G4TV]

Continue after the break for an(other) Australian report on video game violence, some snarky words from the Terran army in Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty, and a trailer for MLB 10: The Show.

2

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

I'm having a lot of fun playing the Starcraft 2 Beta, but I can't shake the feeling that the whole experience is missing...something. Now I know what that something is.

Dancing:

2

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

It's always good to have a friend. Can you match these video-game characters to their loyal companions?

4

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

The month of March is starting out with a resounding bang! Bad Company 2 hits stores tomorrow, Final Fantasy 13 comes out in a week, and God of War 3 is looming on the horizon. If anything, this month will leave our thumbs sore and our wallets empty.

But don't worry, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Despite being tired and broke, we all have a goal to work toward, thanks to Austin Hargrave. Better known as "PeanutButterGamer," the prolific ScrewAttack blogger, has issued a challenge to all gamers. He wants us to beat as many games as we can by April 1st, 2010.

Are you man enough to accept his challenge? If so, hurry -- you only have 30 days left!

In recent weeks, I haven't been gaming as much as I would like. But with school winding down and new, exciting games just around the corner, Austin's challenge is enough to motivate me to pick up the controller once more!

I'll be playing (and hopefully completing) Bad Company 2, Metro 2033, Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2, and Doom 3. How about you?

6

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

Comedians Sheila Bryson and Dave Karraker join Bitmob's Dan Hsu and Demian Linn on the latest and greatest episode of the Mobcast.

The group discusses each person's first professional experience in the gaming industry, Nintendo's recent press event, interesting console launches, personal metrics of nerd cred, and which game hunks Sheila finds attractive.

Have a question you want answered? Want to share some important insight with the world? E-mail the crew at letters@bitmob.com.

17

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

This is a strange comic to introduce. There is a journey, as one could infer from the title. I guess I'd prefer if you just went ahead and read it. Go ahead. It won't bite.

12

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

Editor’s note: When I was younger, "children's games" never earned a spot in my collection simply because they were usually poorly executed. I suspect those experiences have carried over with journalists reviewing games today. And I fear that I won't have the same patience as Matthew to sit through Bakugan with my own son when he's older. I can only hope to instill a decent sense of taste.... -Rob

When I read reviews that are meant for a younger mindset, I cringe. No matter how many times the reviewer says that he’s doing so with respect to the game’s audience, you can tell that just isn’t true. I don’t know whether it’s because reviewers can’t think like a 9-year-old or that they’re just afraid of losing their “hardcore” cred in whatever culture they wrap themselves, but they miss the point every time.

Want to know how to review a game with adorable woodland creatures sporting googly eyes or whatever flavor-of-the-week cartoon character happens to be the current fad? You play the game with a kid.

8

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

This week on Hit or Miss: Nintendo announces some release dates or something (is that a big deal?); Doritos tries to convince us that lending their brand to a "Pro-Gamer Combine" can make the idea of a "Pro-Gamer Combine" not-absurd; Tecmo tries to convince us any pornographic undertones in Dead or Alive: Paradise were totally "unintentional" (large, obvious wink); and Electronic Arts suggests the new Medal of Honor may -- gasp! -- actually be a thoughtful and empathetic examination of real-life combat in a big-budget shooter.

Where the hell do they get off, right?

2

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

We've seen some amazing BioShock artwork and cosplay, but nothing says "I love Bioshock" like taking a chainsaw and carving a Big Daddy out of a tree. Something about the dedication Jason (hockey mask -- get it?) gives making this statue is equally inspiring and disturbing. [via Geekologie]:

Unless he gets paid for sculpturing wood, this guy is wasting his time in whatever profession he is currently employed in. History Channel's Ax Men needs to swoop down and sign this guy up immediately!

4

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

Look alive, private! The week's over and we're buggin' out. You know what that means? That's right -- the Bitmob Reviews Spotlight!

Kevin Zhang-Xing steps front and center like a good soldier with his review of Aliens vs. Predator 2. What's the game like? FUBAR! The online servers are offline, the graphics are old, and the game's no longer scary. But how's the nostalgia factor? Scroll down to find out, son.

Thomas Johnson chimes in with another celebrated rivalry. But instead of predatory aliens battling it out, it's Plants vs. Zombies!

Have you ever been bullied in the past? I bet you have, you nerd! Well, now's your chance to get back at the high school jocks who tortured you, because in Bully, you play as one. Richard Moss fills us in.

According to Alex Martin, Kana: Little Sister will blow you mind. Short of being trippy, the Japanese visual novel follows a young girl who is hospitalized for renal failure. Sounds weird, doesn't it?

Lastly, Ben Maltz-Jones shares his opinions on Comet Crash, a downloadable game available on the PlayStation Network.

So square yourselves, gear up, and get to the choppa -- you're now entering the Spotlight!

Aliens vs. Predator 2 - 9 Years Later
By Kevin Zhang-Xing
Almost a decade has passed since most of us last occupied the blood-soaked boots of Corporal Harrison. Without a functional multiplayer component or the same graphical awe, how does Aliens vs. Predator 2 fare after so many years?

6

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody:

It's about damn time!

At the time of this writing, 3,617 people are currently online with the new Battle.net and playing Starcraft 2. While Blizzard hasn't commented on the total number of beta participants, I can safely say that -- when compared with the 11 million who bought the original -- the total isn't too high.

Without question, Starcraft remains one of the best and most important video games ever developed. At the time of its 1997 release, the real-time strategy genre found itself in a rut. After raising the bar for strategy games everywhere, Blizzard established a cultural phenomenon which only World of Warcraft's rivals.

And so, Starcraft 2's innovative currency remains in doubt: How can it ever live up to its predecessor?

9

Tweet

Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Tell everybody: