Yeah, you heard us right. The wall, which made it’s way around the world, being used at conventions like E3, PAX, and the Skyrim launch party, has now landed in Bethesda’s lounge. It also features a plaque dedicated to the late  Adam Adamowicz, it’s creator, who recently passed away.

You can check out some more pictures over on their Flickr page.

Thanks to the whole Infinity Ward – Activision lawsuit, we’ve gotten some details on what Bungie has been up to since they were acquired by the infamous publisher. According to the contract, which is posted in full at the LA Times, the developer is planning on four “sci-fantasy, action shooter games” code named “Destiny,” which are scheduled to release every other year starting next fall.

Also detailed was the project code named “Comet,” four downloadable expansion packs for Destiny, again scheduled for every other year, except beginning in fall of 2014.

The contract also speaks of a period of exclusivity on the Xbox 360 or Microsoft’s new console, meaning it would likely launch on the Xbox and then at a later date, on the rest of the platforms.

The team also has the freedom to work on another Marathon title, however, they can assign no more than five percent of their staff while working under the publisher.

E3 2012 will bring about the next generation of consoles and gameplay from some of the biggest upcoming games of the year.

E3 is right around the corner, and the internet is a buzz with rumours and speculation about what could be released from the companies attending. Out of all the rumours announced though, none are as mind boggling as the potential release of next generation consoles from both Sony and Microsoft.

If Sony and Microsoft revealed next generation consoles at the convention, they would do so along Nintendo’s in-depth look at their new console, the Wii U.

Hence, the Big 3 at E3.

Although both Sony and Microsoft have disproved the rumours, both having said they don’t have plans to launch, something seems fishy. It wouldn’t be shocking if a PlayStation 4, and an Xbox 720 was released. Keep your eyes peeled.

The Wii U, however, will probably steal the show. There was a glimpse of it last E3, but the mechanics of it are still hidden in the dark. This year, you’ll see actual gameplay on it, and hopefully, some launch titles for the new device. Pictures  were leaked on Kotaku yesterday showing the Wii U will have actual arcade like sticks, as opposed to just analog dual sticks, like on the Playstation and XBOX 360 controllers.

With the systems out of the way, it’s all about what games are being revealed and the gameplay that comes along with it. This year’s E3 is somewhat of a special one for one main reason: most of the games have been revealed.

The big ones already have release dates, some have trailers, some have had interviews conducted already, and some have personal web diaries (cough 343 Industries cough). There isn’t the same amount of anticipation waiting too see what the biggest developers around the world are bringing out within the next year.

However, the real reason everyone tunes into E3 will continue to be what draws out the viewers. Being able to watch the gameplay for one of your most anticipated titles is a fantastic experience. Here are ten games whose presentations you do not want to miss out on:

1. Halo 4: Sure, there have been web diaries and interviews with many of the developing crew, but there has been a lack of gameplay footage shown, and the five minute gameplay time they get will be immensely important to the added hype of the game.
2. Call of Duty – Black Ops II: Although this game has received a ridiculous amount of media attention, it continues to be one of the reigning champs, if not the champion, of modern day video games in terms of sales. Pre-orders for the game has already rivaled those of Diablo III, and to be honest, it’ll be interesting to see how the gameplay works with…horses.
3. Saints Row the Third: Enter the Dominatrix: One of the best games released last year was THQ’s Saints Row the Third. Although it wasn’t a huge commercial success, this game should be one you add to your pile if you don’t already own it. The newest expansion, Enter the Dominatrix, should be shown this E3. It may just be an add on, but it’s an open world society full of aliens and sex slaves. Need there be more said. THQ have announced they won’t have a booth this year, so if you’re attending you don’t want to miss the presentation because you won’t have a chance to play hands on after.
4. Super Mario Bros. V: One of the biggest rumours buzzing around the internet right now is the possibility of a new Super Mario Bros. With the release of the Wii U, you will see a new launch of games to hype up the product and don’t be surprised if Miyamoto does bring out this big weapon.
5. Assassin’s Creed III: There has been so much attention on this game, and Game Informer did  a huge piece on the game in their March edition, but there are still so many secrets surrounding this game. Gameplay mechanic will be interesting to see, and keep your eyes out for the tiniest hint of a bias.
6. Pokemon Black and White II: It’s always a hazarded guess whether Nintendo will unveil the latest of the Pokemon games, and here’s to hoping these ones will get some convention time. After the tsunami Japan suffered, they were worried all of the progress would be lost, but alas it was not. Keep a watch out, they may just appear on stage.
7. Elder Scrolls Online: The MMO from Bethesda has only just released their trailer, and although MMO’s don’t necessarily show up to E3, with the amount of attention this game is garnering, don’t be shocked to see a debut, feature length trailer, if not some actual gameplay on stage.
8. Last of Us: Naughty Dog is one of the biggest developers right now, and since Uncharted won’t be making a grand stage performance this year, it only makes sense their newest post-apocalyptic game, Last of Us, will. This has to be one of the biggest games of the summer, so don’t be shocked for in-depth game play and news around it.
9. Resident Evil 6: After the disappointing sales with Operation: Raccoon City, Capcom is hoping Resident Evil 6 will be the answer. This game has already been called game of the year by many online websites and the hype surrounding the game is insane. You may just see some feature length trailers and gameplay this E3.
10. Zelda Wii U: You can’t just talk about Nintendo’s newest console, and ignore one of the biggest games that will probably come out of it. That’s right, expect to see a Zelda Wii U game ready for the launch. Although the game demo’d last E3, this will surely take up quite a bit of stage time at this conference, and is one game you certainly do not want to miss.

E3 2012 is running from June 5 to June 7 this year. Check back here for up-to-date coverage and the biggest news from the biggest video game convention.

SEGA and Gearbox Software have announced that the long awaited Aliens: Colonial Marines will now be launching on February 12, 2013.

“I am thrilled to announce the definitive launch date for Aliens: Colonial Marines,” said Randy Pitchford, President of Gearbox Software. “Aliens: Colonial Marines is the culmination of a life-time of inspiration from the films and relentless passion and drive from the exceptionally talented development team behind the scenes.”

The game will be releasing simultaneously for all three major platforms, a release date for the Wii U version will be revealed at a later date.

Last night, on Twitter, there was a bit of backlash on Infinity Ward for their comment on modding. Previously run by the likes of Robert Bowling, or fourzerotwo, as he’s better known, the account simply answered someone’s question. “Am I a bad person for modding your games?” Facebook7s asked. The reply which came from the “new management” of Tina Palacios (@Teanah), senior community manager, and Candice Capen @Candyslexia, community coordinator, read, “depends on who you ask! @teanah says no.” [sic]

The response that jumped out at me was, “Completely unprofessional to see from a studio/business.” I simply pointed out that this was the studio’s way of being personable. Granted the account had mentioned booze previously, and that factored into their reaction, my issue lies with drawing this conclusion from offering their opinion on modding.

Getting my two cents in I simply replied, “There’s nothing wrong with modding as long as it doesn’t affect anyone else. Do we not encourage modding on the PC? Why shouldn’t the same be said about consoles?”

At this point someone linked me to the Xbox Live Code of Conduct. Here are the following sections where modding is mentioned.

• Don’t modify or hack game content to create cheats.
• Don’t make unauthorized modifications to your account profile or its contents.
• If you violate the Code of Conduct or the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use, action may be taken against your account, including without limitation the following.
  • Some offenses warrant an immediate permanent suspension, including without limitation: hacking, modding, fraud, severe racial remarks, nudity on the Xbox LIVE Vision camera or Kinect camera, repeated creation of inappropriate gamertags or profile content, or posting viruses or URLs to viruses.

Alright, lets examine this. First of all, this is the Xbox Live Code of Conduct, nowhere in that tweet does either user mention whether they are speaking in regards to online or offline mods. Therefore, I automatically assume that they’re modding offline, i.e. campaign, single player, co-op, not in competitive multiplayer.

Yes, in theory anyone who mods offline is breaking the Xbox Live Code of Conduct, but if it doesn’t affect anyone else, why does it matter? I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve had my share of fun with my friends. We’ve modded our Borderlands inventory, weapons, and skill points. We’ve modded for fun in some Left 4 Dead co-op. We’ve even modded Modern Warfare 2 to see a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes. Now using this logic, we should be banned. My question is why? We haven’t done anything to affect anyone else’s experience. We haven’t used it to gain an unfair advantage. We simply modded to have some fun.

Some of my best memories on the original Xbox involve the utterly ridiculous but awesome Halo 2 mods that were out there. A Beam Rifle that shot a bajillion Brute Shot shots. A Plasma Pistol that launched Wraith plasma. A grenade that caused a Spartan to fall out of the air, which caused another Spartan to fall out of the air. Moments like these defined our heritage as gamers.

Before someone in our conversation said he was “going to go jump off a bridge” he threw this comment into the discussion, “I’m not assuming anything. My point is it’s unprofessional for a industry/studio account to condone mods on their ONLINE game.”

Is it? Again, online modding will sort itself out. Do it if you want, but you’ll get caught, and get banned.

My point is, if it doesn’t affect you, why should you care? Granted yes, some modding is used to pirate games, that’s not what we’re talking about here. There are people out there who believe the issue to be completely black and white, they adamantly think that if you mod at all, you should be banned.

Assuming everyone’s not a dick, what is your opinion on the matter? Should all modding be an offense, or just online modding? Also,do you consider Infinity Ward’s comment to be unprofessional? Or is that just another case of people neglecting to follow Wheaton’s Law?

Well the Official Xbox Magazine (July 2012) has started circulating it’s rumor mill yet again. This time around it’s “hazily forcasting Halo 2 Anniversary on the Xbox 720 in 2014, followed by Halo 5 in 2015.” Just prior to that, however, it predicts the release of Thief 4 on the Xbox 360 during late 2013. Meaning the team now believes that the Xbox 720 will be releasing sometime in 2014, a year later than they had previously predicted.

What do you guys think? Can the Xbox hold on one more year and still contend with the likes of the Wii U, a full two years after its launch?

The Crystal Ball in this month’s issue (July 2012) is at it again. “The ball sees Ken Levine and Irrational Games leaving Bioshock behind and launching a new IP on the next Xbox.”

This isn’t surprising given how long the franchise has run, especially since this has been the only series that the studio has worked on this generation. Eventually all good things must come to an end, we suppose.

Although that good thing won’t be ending until some time in 2013.

When asked about what downloadable content fans should expect on Minecraft the team at 4J Studios responded confirming that skin packs will be the first content you’ll be able to download. “Looking at skin packs just now, more later,” the tweet reads. When asked about the possibility of custom skins the team commented, “We are discussing this – it might be a bit further down the road.”

As for what else fans might be able to expect, it probably lies along the lines of the typical Minecraft PC content including texture packs and mods eventually.

Fans of Toy Soldiers were ecstatic when Signal Studios announced not one, but two new add-ons were on there way in less than 48 hours. The Evil Empire DLC finally lets you play as the Soviets while Napalm has you fighting in ‘Nam (Vietnam). Each offers a slightly different experience but both are solid experiences overall.

Evil Empire gives fans what they’ve been asking for, the chance to play as the Soviets. You will fight against the capitalist United States while utilizing their various weaponry. As always the power vehicles such as the helicopters, tanks, and jets, are a blast to use, and the Soviets have a new helicopter, the Super Hormone, which allows you to decimate hundreds of foot soldiers.

After completing the mini-campaign, there’s even some extra content with a new mini-game, Pop-a-Pig, a new versus map, Muddle, a new survival map, Ironfisted, and the new Survival mode, Trauma. The latter, challenges you by costing you a point off of your toy box for each turret you place. However, you’ll have a little extra aid with the new Orbital Strike barrage.

Napalm on the other hand has you fighting off more Vietnamese soldiers. It has a new interesting concept with the toy boxes however. In the first mission, you have to defend a secondary toy box from sporadic detachment which makes a beeline for your secondary toy box. Another mission in the mini-campaign has you defending three toy boxes. Yeah, it can get pretty hectic. The chance to utilize the new laser tank and take down yet another flying fortress is something fans will appreciate.

Just like Evil Empire, Napalm also gives you a new Survival mode, Commando, a new versus map, Fervor, a new Survival map, Double Dealing, and a new mini-game, Hang Time. Commando has you defending your toy box with just Commando or Ivan, no turrets are here to aid you. Of course, Napalm wouldn’t be true to it’s name if it didn’t give you the napalm barrage which lets you light those enemies up.

Each pack will set you back a modest 400 Microsoft Points ($5). Overall, they’re more of the same. Granted the same is still pretty darn good for an arcade game. We had more fun with Evil Empire, but Napalm offers a little more bang for your buck with its mini-game. In the end the choice is up to you.

Pros:

• Laser tank!? Awesome.
• More spectacular bosses.
• Finally get to play as the Russians.

Score (for both): 7.0 out of 10

As most of you are probably aware, Diablo III didn’t have the smoothest launch. With Error 37 already having become a meme in itself, Blizzard has quickly apologized now that things are starting to reach satisfactory levels of performance.

Diablo Players:

We’d like to extend a very sincere thank you to everyone who joined the global Diablo III launch celebrations this week, as well as to everyone who was ready to jump into Sanctuary the moment the game went live.

To that end, we’d also like to say that we’ve been humbled by your enthusiasm — and we sincerely regret that your crusade to bring down the Lord of Terror was thwarted not by mobs of demons, but by mortal infrastructure. As many of you are aware, technical issues occurring within hours after the game’s launch led to players experiencing error messages and difficulty logging in. These issues cropped up again last night for the Americas and Europe servers. Despite very aggressive projections, our preparations for the launch of the game did not go far enough.

We’ve been monitoring the game 24/7 and have applied several optimizations to help our systems better weather the global rush. As of late last night, specifically 11:50 PM PDT on May 15, all systems have been online and running relatively smoothly. We’re continuing to monitor performance globally and will be taking further measures as needed to ensure a positive experience for everyone. This includes some maintenance to implement additional improvements for each region.

In order to make sure everything is continuing to run as it should, we’ve decided to move out our target launch for the real-money auction house beyond our original estimated date of May 22. We’ll post further updates on that in the near future.

Aside from the tremendous number of players simultaneously logging in to the game, one of the launch-day service issues was linked to the achievement system. Some players began to notice early on that achievements were either not being earned properly, or not being saved between multiple logins. We’re investigating this issue and will provide a specific update as soon as possible.

We greatly appreciate everyone’s support, and we want to sincerely apologize for the difficulties many of you encountered on day one. Please visit the Battle.net Support site or Support forums for the latest service-related updates or for help in troubleshooting any technical issues you may be having downloading, installing, or while playing the game.

Thank you again for your patience while we reinforce the gates of Sanctuary and further strengthen it for your onslaught.

Respectfully,

Blizzard Entertainment

Stay tuned for our Diablo III reviews which will likely air well after all the kinks have been worked out of the system.