Before anyone has a go at me, the following article was copied from Gamespot, thanks to them for the effort with the article while noobs like me with no insider information get to copy/paste and make it look like we're "in the know". <3
Security Appears At Infinity Ward, Studio Heads Missing, Activision Investigating "Insubordination"
In 2008, anyone who would've said Activision would be culling the studios behind the Guitar Hero and Call of Duty franchises would've been laughed off as a lunatic. However, last month Neversoft's staff was drastically trimmed as part of a large wave of layoffs and the Guitar Hero IP handed over to Vicarious Visions. RedOctane, which Activision bought for $100 million in 2006 so it could own the Guitar Hero brand, is apparently also being prepped for all-but-complete closure.
Having just finished developing the $1 billion dollar-grossing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward was considered safe--untouchable, even. However, Monday afternoon, Activision amended its annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission to include a notice that two top members of the studio are being fired.
The filing read, "The Company [Activision] is concluding an internal human resources inquiry into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward. This matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation. At present, the Company does not expect this matter to have a material impact on the Company." (Emphasis added.) Activision bought Infinity Ward outright in 2003.
The SEC filing appears to coincide with the sudden departure of Infinity Ward president, game director, co-CCO, and CTO Jason West. The veteran developer's Linkedin profile lists the studio under "past employers" and his end date as occurring in "March 2010." West helped co-found the studio in 2001.
West's departure was backed up by an unconfirmed screenshot of his Facebook page (sent to gaming blog Kotaku) that lists his status as "Jason West is drinking. Also, no longer employed."
Deepening the mystery is an as-yet unverified G4 report that paints a sinister picture of the day's events at Infinity Ward. Citing an unnamed source, it claims several weeks of "tense" interaction between Infinity Ward and Activision culminated in a meeting this morning between several studio heads and some publisher brass. Those heads included West and co-founder Vince Zampella.
After said meeting, the Infinity Ward heads reportedly vanished--and a group of gruff "bouncer types" suddenly appeared on Infinity Ward's campus outside Encino, Calif. The source allegedly said the men refused to say why they had shown up unannounced, leaving the developers "freaked out."
According to Zampella's LinkedIn status, he is still employed with Infinity Ward. However, the iconoclastic developer has often criticized his corporate masters in the press, publicly declaring last October that "Activision…did not want Modern Warfare" and pressured the studio to make more World War II games.
If confirmed, Zampella's departure--combined with West's--would cast doubt over Infinity Ward's upcoming "unique new IP" for which they signed long-term contracts with Activision in 2008. It would also lend credence that another studio is working on Modern Warfare 3, possibly the recently founded Bay Area shop Sledgehammer Games. Activision has confirmed another Call of Duty game will arrive during 2010, believed to be a Vietnam- or Cold War-themed title from Treyarch (Call of Duty: World at War).
As of press time, Activision corporate communication reps and the lead spokesperson for Call of Duty had not responded to requests about the developing situation at Infinity Ward. The studio's director of communication, Robert "FourZeroTwo" Bowling, offered the following non-comment via Twitter: "I should also say, while I appreciate all the calls, tweets, messages and hearing my ringtone a lot. They're in vain--as I have no info."
Now we are marketing ourselves as a multi-gaming community so I think it is vital to appeal to gamers of all genres. With this in mind I am pleased to bring you news of a fascinating game that was brought to my attention by T0m
Forklift Truck Simulator 2009
"Take on the role as a forklift truck driver and take your place in these highly detailed vehicles. In “Forklift Truck Simulator 2009” your task is to master different missions in varying environments. For example you must load and unload trucks and trains within a time limit or store goods in the big warehouse. Different vehicles from the company STILL are at your disposal in the vehicle park.
An extensive training mode allows you to get acquainted with the controls of the vehicles and acquire the license necessary for missions. A free mode where the player chooses himself what to do with the forklift and the goods finishes off this simulator. With “Forklift Truck Simulator 2009” you get a realistic forklift experience on your own PC."
>> Special Features <<
> Original STILL forklift truck models
> 6 challenging missions
> Driving license Training Mode
> 3 different forklift trucks with individual characteristics
If this interests you then ACT NOW as Play.com reports: "Temporarily out of stock. This item will be dispatched as soon as it arrives." and get your order in ASAP. :P
From 12:15am this morning, the data centre that houses Phoenix had a planned downtime, however when it came back online, I forgot to start up all the services and this resulted in our CSS servers, Radio broadcast and TeamSpeak 3 server being offline all day.
I am really sorry about that!!! It's all online now and working correctly.
Ok guys, we are now offically using TS3 as our source of voice communications. There are still user permissions that need to be sorted out, but it's easier to test them with users connected rather than just myself.
IP: ts.loxtech-gaming.co.uk
PORT: 9987
This is running off our dedicated server, and is subject to H.I.N.K security. More information on what HINK is will be released shortly.
Following a successful test this morning of the New VOIP solution TeamSpeak 3, LoxTech-Gaming will be moving over to that as it's primary source of voice communications. TeamSpeak 3 offers the great functionality of TS2 (with additions) and the superb sound quality of Ventrilo!
Not only this, but the TS3 server is hosted on phoenix (The dedicated server) which gives us ultimate control over its hosting and setup etc, without having to worry about 3rd party support.
We moved over to Ventrilo primarily because of sound quality, however TS3 now provides us with that, and great user functionality! For the time being LGC will remain on Ventrilo until server settings for TS3 have been finalised and are good to go. Moving voice comm programs like this usually results in a few members going AWOL for what ever reason. I hope this isn't the case this time as we have built an awesome community from the ground up over the years, and we value each and every member equally!
A download for the TeamSpeak 3 client will be made available on the website shortly for both 32-bit and 64-bit windows machines, and the connection details released once we are ready to switch.
Thats right! LoxTech-Gaming Community is set to sponsor The Frag Factory LAN community. An agreement has been made where LoxTech will sponsor TFF a TF2 server for internet game meetings outside of the LAN weekends. So far I am waiting to hear feedback on the level of interest in this from the TFF community, however these gaming nights are open to the public to join in for some TF2 fun! At the moment Tuesday nights are looking the most promising for holding this weekly event, but stay tuned for updates!
Please note: This is NOT an LGC Event. All adminship etc remains with myself and TFF.
Aliens vs Predator™ is an entirely new title for PC and high-definition consoles from acclaimed British developer Rebellion, the team behind the 1999 original PC gaming classic.
Bringing the legendary war between two of science-fiction’s most popular characters to FPS fans, AvP delivers three outstanding single player campaigns and provides untold hours of unique 3-way multiplayer gaming.
Experience distinctly new and thrilling first person gameplay as you survive, hunt and prey in the deadly jungles and swamps surrounding the damned colony of Freya’s Prospect.
- As the Marine, you’ll experience a claustrophobic and terrifying experience where light is your friend, but there’s never enough. However, the United States Marine Corps are humanity’s last line of defence, and as such they are armed to the teeth with the very latest in high explosive and automatic weaponry.
- As the Predator, you will stalk from the shadows and from above, passing athletically through the treetops to ambush your victims. Although equipped with an array of powerful, exotic weapons and tracking equipment, honour ultimately dictates that you must get in close and take your trophies face to face.
- As the most deadly species in the universe, the Alien offers you the chance to play as the very stuff of nightmares - the monster in the dark swarming forward with countless others, jaws like a steel trap and claws like blades.
- Play all sides off against each other in a series of unique 3-way online modes and go tooth-to-claw-to-pulse rifle in the reinvention of one of multiplayer gaming’s defining moments.
Links: n/a written by Oblivion - 31.01.2010 - 12:10
Set in the near future, the Battlefield: Bad Company single-player campaign drops gamers behind enemy lines as part of a squad of four soldiers - risking it all to go AWOL on a personal quest. Featuring a dramatic storyline flavoured with attitude, Battlefield: Bad Company leads gamers far from the traditional frontlines on a wild ride with a group of renegade soldiers who decide that sometimes the gratitude of a nation just isn’t enough.
The Battlefield: Bad Company cinematic single-player experience captures the freedom and intensity of the Battlefield series’ multiplayer sandbox gameplay in a dynamic world where nearly everything is destructible. Players have total freedom to be daring and innovative, adapting to and tackling challenges in unexpected Battlefield-style ways. Create sniping positions by blowing out a piece of a wall or drive your tank straight through a small house. The ever-changing battlefield forces players, their teammates and enemies to react accordingly.
The game also features the all new, objective based multiplayer game mode "Gold Rush", supporting 24 players online. Play as attackers and defenders and make full use of the tactical destruction as well as the unique vehicle experience of Battlefield: Bad Company.
Battlefield: Bad Company is the first game built from the ground up for next-generation consoles using DICE’s bleeding-edge Frostbite game engine, delivering unrivalled graphics, effects and gameplay.
That's right LGC now have 2 more game-servers online and ready to accept clients! These servers are both Garry's Mod servers, one if which is hosted on phoenix and created by yours truly, and the 2nd was donated by .#LGC| Steel and [XYT]Scotty. The first one is a construct server, and is password protected (LGC community members only. Password will be available in the private clan forums and given to trusted community members.). The idea being it's more of a muck around server, building stuff and having a laugh. The 2nd server is a public stranded mod server, where players are stranded on islands and have to do everything from eat/drink to building tools and shelters!
A big thank you to Steel and Scotty for their donation to the community!
Server IP's can be found on the servers page, using the link at the top or to the left of this page.
I have registered the clan to ClanBase Modern Warfare 2 and now need all members who are interested in participating in this league to register to the website and then give me there ID number which the website will provide to you once you register so i can add you to the Clan list on the website.
Once i have enough members registered to the website and added to the clan list, we can then enter the SnD Hardcore League Ladder and also look at other possible ladders to join such as TDM or CTF, if we have the time and members willing. We do not have to be restricted to just 1 league ladder, but in order for any of this to work guys i need your cooperation and dedication on this otherwise non of this will work.
So once again guys *cough* and girls, please if you are interested in participating in league games register at the clanbase website as soon as possible then give me your ID number, leave it in a reply on forums, email it me, PM it me or even steam it to me, just aslong as it gets to me! .
London Time