New ‘Medal of Honor’ In Hot Water

Navy SEALs who worked on the video game “Medal of Honor: Warfighter” is the latest in a series of misfires for the interactive medium’s popular military shooter genre, which continues to face scrutiny as high-definition graphics become more lifelike and gamemakers attempt to create the most authentic experiences possible.

“These games are now trying to portray things and tell stories around current events,” said Casey Lynch, editor-in-chief of the gaming site IGN.com. “When you’re dealing with current topics, there’s a higher level of sensitivity. I think most people would agree there’s not the same level of sensitivity when compared to old World War II or Vietnam War games.”

Navy officials said last week that seven members of the secretive Navy SEAL Team 6, including one involved in the mission to take down Osama bin Laden, were reprimanded for disclosing classified information to the creators of “Warfighter,” a modern-day, first-person shooter from developer Danger Close Games and publisher Electronic Arts Inc
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“We worked really closely with more than two dozen operators on the mission objectives, operations, maneuvers and various elements in the game that helped shape our single-player campaign, things like the weaponry, the gear, the way these operatives perform door breeches,” said Luke Thai, producer at Danger Close Games, ahead of the game’s Oct. 23 debut.

Thai noted that both the gamemakers and military personnel who consulted on “Warfighter” were cognizant about not detailing too much about current conflicts — or making them boring in virtual form. One of the game’s missions tasks players with explosively battling a band of Somali pirates. Thai said the real-world inspiration for that level was far less fiery.

“In terms of the various conflicts that are still going on throughout the world, we touch upon those, but we don’t replicate them exactly,” he said. “They serve as dotted-line inspiration for things that go on in the game. For instance, our overarching single-player campaign story revolves around a global hunt to shut down a fictional terror network.”

Still, to ramp up the game’s realism, “Warfighter” creators mimicked real-world weaponry and centered the plot on the ripped-from-the-headlines threat of an industrial explosive known as PETN, or pentaerythritol tetranitrate, the same material used in 2001 by convicted shoe bomber Richard Reid when he tried to destroy a trans-Atlantic flight.

The tactic doesn’t seem to have helped fuel “Warfighter” sales. The NPD Group, which tracks sales of new physical products, said last week that “Warfighter” ranked eighth in overall game sales in October, behind such titles as “NBA 2K13” and “Resident Evil 6.” EA noted in an earnings call last month that “Warfighter” had a “weaker than expected performance.”

(EA spokesman Peter Nguyen said last Friday the company has no plans to recall or alter “Medal of Honor: Warfighter” in light of the SEALs’ punishment.)A/P

'NBA 2K13' delivers again

A video game that has been so excellent for the past several years, but 2K Sports has found ways to make “NBA 2K13” even better – with some help from the league’s most famous owner.
Along with fluid gameplay, enhanced graphics and a smoother control scheme, this year’s edition of the best-selling basketball franchise welcomes rapper – and minority owner of the Brooklyn Nets – Jay-Z as executive producer.

From the start, Jay-Z makes his presence known. The introduction is like the opening of one of his electrifying concerts, with his “Public Service Announcement” serving as the soundtrack to a medley of highlights, from Russell Westbrook’s thunderous one-handed dunk to Josh Smith’s soaring alley-oop slam. Jay-Z selected 24 songs for the game’s soundtrack, and they feature some of music’s top acts, including himself, Kanye West, Coldplay, U2, Nas and Roy Ayers.

But Mr. Beyonce’s star power isn’t the only thing elevating this franchise’s game. One of the new elements in “NBA 2K13” is signature skills, which assigns star players a variety of traits that make them special commodities. For example, LeBron James has five different traits, including Chasedown Artist, which allows the reigning NBA Finals MVP to chase opponents down to negate shots on fast breaks.

Another improvement is the integration of the “MyPlayer” and “MyCareer” modes. In “MyPlayer,” you are able to build a player from scratch and purchase everything from game-day accessories to casual clothing with virtual currency. From there, you can take your created player and insert him into “MyCareer,” where your player is chosen as the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.
On the court, the gameplay is stellar. The new dribbling and shooting control scheme gives gamers more offensive freedom, with an array of moves to drive past defenders or create enough space from an opponent for an efficient jump shot.

Defense has gotten some improvement also. Now you have the ability to lock down an offensive player, using the trigger button to disrupt the ball handler’s rhythm by crowding him.

The commentary, from Kevin Harlan, Steve Kerr, Clark Kellogg and sideline reporter Doris Burke, is once again solid. The player models are still on point, and the artificial intelligence on offense and defense makes playing against the computer seem realistic. The 1992 Dream Team and this year’s U.S.A. Olympic team are also available. A/P

GTA San Andreas Lawsuit Fails

Jjudge denies supposed Cypress Hill backup singer's claims that Rockstar used his likeness as model for CJ character.

Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive has won a lawsuit over Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, writes The Hollywood Reporter. An appellate court judge on Wednesday denied supposed Cypress Hill backup singer Michael "Shagg" Washington's claims that Rockstar used his life story and physical appearance as a basis for protagonist Carl "CJ" Johnson. Cypress Hill denies any association with Washington.

Washington sued Take-Two in 2010 for $250 million, alleging that during the course of the game's development, he met with Rockstar to discuss details regarding his former life as a gang member. He even provided the company with a photo of himself and his name appears in the GTA: San Andreas credits.
However, a judge did not find this to be enough, and a California appeals court has concurred. Washington's principal problem was that he could not prove it was his likeness that appeared in San Andreas. The judge said, "Plaintiff is relying entirely on CJ's physical appearance in the game, but that appearance is so generic that it necessarily includes hundreds of other black males."
Additionally, the judge ruled that even if Rockstar did base CJ on Washington, it would have been protected as transformative fair use. This is an argument based on the fact that the First Amendment allows existing materials, including images, to be used so long as they are amended enough for a new purpose.
"Washington has presented no evidence demonstrating that the plot or characters of GTA: San Andreas have any relevance to his life or his purported fame," a statement from the decision reads.by eddie makuch

HALO 4 REVIEWS

Players jumped in by the millions to finish the fight in Halo 3, back in 2007. And yet, like many a franchise before it, the one-time trilogy of Halo games finds itself with a new fourth sibling, years later.