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I headed out a bit early yesterday to check out the launch event for Madden NFL 2009 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. I figured with them renting out the entire Rose Bowl and bringing in mainstream bands like Good Charlotte, Bustra Rhymes, and more. It’d be good research for me when thinking about future events for our games. I’m always checking out other games collector editions, launch events, community days, first to play events, etc. for inspiration on what we can do in the future for our titles.

While I was there, I grabbed some quick footage to share the experience with all of you. It was a massive set-up. I was there early, so most people didn’t show up till late afternoon (5pm onwards).

Regardless if this is “real” or not, you have to appreciate the “Blair Witch Project” approach:

Zombie animation + Vacant’s empty halls and fog + creepy ass Halloween music = Creepy as hell!

Thanks to Only Use Knife for sending me this!

A few of the forum regulars are ‘re-telling’ Jurassic Park, Call of Duty 4 style, with their new machinima Jurassic Warfare. Great use of the ghillie suits and camera angles, I love the cargo container blood splatter when they go to investigate the Raptors on the boat. Really well done guys, can’t wait for Episode 2.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.515031&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] from youtube.com posted with vodpod

Since this is the first, I feel it deserves a bit of an introduction. I’ve decided to kick off a video blog on the site, with the first episode lovely titled “The One About Nothing” being posted above. The concept behind the new video blog is to allow you guys a more visual look into game development or anything else you want.

As I said in the video, let me know what you guys want to see. I know there has been a lot of request to see some footage inside Infinity Ward as well as other things and I’m hoping this little video blog will allow us to do that. Ever wonder what a development kit looks like? how it works? Or what the game looks like in the eye of a designer? Ever want to see inside the studio or check out the offices?

Also feel free to ask questions about anything from the game, to how to get into the industry, to what a daily life in development is like. I think it’d be a cool way to get you guys more connected with the development of our games and the industry in general for any fans or potential future game developers. So let me know what you think and how we can make this work as I’d love to start doing them on a regular basis.

Be sure to check out it’s direct link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOlJTEVXXoY

and Subscribe to the Channel to stay connected with future videos if you like the concept. Meanwhile, head over to the YouTube page to comment or leave your comment here on what you’d like to see more of in any future videos. Thanks guys.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.496893&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.gametrailers.com posted with vodpod

Looks like the official release time for the new Variety Map Pack DLC for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is going to be 6:30 AM PST Friday morning. It’s currently 11:47 PM Thursday night at the time of this posting, so only 6 more hours to go before we can jump on the new maps. To go along with the news of the exact release time, Gametrailers has posted up two new videos that we shot yesterday at the Infinity Ward studios about the map pack. There should be one more in the pipeline for Chinatown, meanwhile enjoy the new Broadcast and Creek videos where I lay out some of my favorite strategies for the new maps as well as a general overview of what you can expect after 6:30 AM when the maps are available for download via Xbox Live!

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.496901&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.gametrailers.com posted with vodpod

In addition to the map packs hitting, I hear there may be a little extra XP up for grabs this weekend when playing on the new maps. So I’ll definitely be online this weekend to play the new maps.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.495330&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.gametrailers.com

Despite what the internet might tell you (including some “official” sources), the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare variety map pack has NOT been delayed until the 10th. As of right now we’re pushing certification for an on-time release for April 3rd or 4th. As of right now though, I’m being told that it’s a good chance it will be released worldwide (except for Japan) tomorrow night / early-Friday morning.

With that said, we also have a new video up on Gametrailers that show off the new maps in action, so check it out above.

For those of you asking when you should take off work, I’d take off Friday, as it looks like they should be available late Thursday night / early Friday morning, which means Friday you should be able to play all day. Also, those of you who have tokens already (either from Game of the Year edition or won them at the Gamestop event we held) you’ll be able to use them as soon as the Map packs are available on Xbox Live.

Update for those of you who bought the Game of the Year Editions:

I see a lot of questions for those of you who have the Game of the Year Editions and visited http://gameoftheyear.callofduty.com/ where all the April 10th delay date rumors spawned from. However, I wanted to let you know that I am currently working to get that changed so that it reflects the correct release date of the maps (April 4th) as well as allows users who buy the GOTY edition to redeem their code for a token as soon as the maps are available (on April 4th) instead of April 10th. I hope that clears up any confusion and I will keep you updated if anything changes, but I wanted to let you know I’m working to make sure you’re taken care of.

I love getting sent user made videos and this is by far my favorite of the week. This video from Serpento99 on YouTube features a music video consisting completely of music created by gun fire in the game. Nice work man, really nice work.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.486970&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] from www.youtube.com posted with vodpod

Heads up that Spike TV will be unveiling the exclusive world premier of Chinatown, a new map in the upcoming Variety Map Pack DLC for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, tonight / early tomorrow morning at 1:00 AM PST as part of Gametrailers TV w/ Geoff Keighley. They’ll be showing exclusive gameplay of the map along with an interview with me where we’ll reveal exactly how this map is exactly what some of you have asked for (I’m looking at you Sgt. Payback - among others).

Once it shows on Spike TV it should be available on Gametrailers.com shortly after (probably later tomorrow) and when it is I’ll be sure to post the video on the blog here so you all can watch it incase you miss it. However, be sure to tune in if you can and check out the footage. I know this map is going to be a lot of people’s favorite when the map pack hits.

In case you didn’t know, the new map being revealed tonight called Chinatown is just 1 of the 4 maps that will be released in the Variety Map Pack as DLC for Xbox 360 and PS3 this Spring.

In case you guys missed it the other night Will Arnett was on Conan O’Brien and for a good portion of the interview all he talked about was playing Call of Duty 4. Pretty cool considering Arrested Development and Conan O’Brien are some of my favorite shows, just recently finished watching the complete series on DVD a week ago.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.481569&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] from www.youtube.com posted with vodpod

Ever wonder what an Ion Cannon would be like in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare?

Well… neither did I, but user Zak1234000 did, so he modded it into the game, and I have to say…

It’s fucking awesome.

I’m hoping Zak takes it a step further and makes a complete MP Sci-fi mod to go along with it, don’t let us down Zak1234000!! [vodpod id=Groupvideo.852806&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] from www.youtube.com