Yesterday Treyarch gave the media a chance to have some hands-on time with the Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer. While the media was gunning each other down,  killstreak bonuses for Black Ops were revealed. We love our bonuses. Take a look below to see how many people you have to kill to have yourself a good time in Treyarch’s latest game, CoD: Black Ops!

Here’s a look at the bonuses that reach up to an 11 killstreak:

• 3 Kills – Spy Plane
• 3 – RC-XD (RC bomb)
• 4 – Counter Spy Plane
• 4 – SAM Turret
• 5 – Care Package
• 5 – Napalm Strike
• 6 – Sentry Gun
• 6 – Mortar Team
• 7 – Attack Helicopter
• 7 – Valkyrie Rockets
• 8 – Blackbird
• 8 – ‘Rolling Thunder’
• 9 – Chopper Gunner
• 11 – Attack Dogs
• 11 – Gunship

Now I’m not the biggest Call of Duty player in the world (I’m more of a Halo jumper), so what do you all think? Do the rewards meet your expectations? Keep up with us to hear the latest news on Black Ops, coming out on November 9th for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

[Source: XG247]

With all this bloody good talk about Bloody Good Time being released, today Ubisoft has released a cinematic for their insane FPS, starring none other than the man who’s responsible for this massacre, Director X. Take a look below to see the violent (but rather funny) cinematic for Ubisoft’s latest FPS, coming to XBLA and Steam.

Bloody Good Time is a Source engine-powered multiplayer FPS that can have up to 8 players playing simultaneously. The story is that the players are trying to kill one another to star in Director X’s latest horror film. They will use anything to kill each other, from pots and pans, to crossbows, flamethrowers, and more.  Take a look at Director X’s casting call and see what you think. Go on and have a bloody good time (see what I did there?).

[Source: Ubisoft]

Treyarch has revealed the multiplayer modes of the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops at a press event in Los Angeles last night. With Black Ops, it seems Treyarch is really stepping up its game to make up for the (arguable) failures and downsides of Modern Warfare 2 and to really prove itself as a AAA developer, because these multiplayer modes seem awesome. Read up on the multiplayer after the break.

One notable addition to the Call of Duty franchise is AI bots. Yeah, in Black Ops‘ new Combat Training mode, you’ll get to fight bots. This mode is playable both online with friends and offline (and Treyarch reported that 30% of CoD players don’t play online, surprisingly enough). It was not specified if the bots would be enabled in any other multiplayer mode, but that seems unlikely.

Your character will also be customizable, in the sense that your Tier 1 perks will affect the appearance. Also customizable are your weapons, with custom decals, emblems, and red dots.

Supply packages from killstreaks will offer some interesting weapons like the “Grim Reaper” and the “Death Machine,” which are a chain gun and an uber rocket launcher, respectively. Of course, killstreaks will also enable a user-controllable gunship, mortars, and a SAM turret to shoot down other gunships.

Cod Points, or CP, will become in-game currency which you use to purchase abilities and weapons (this replaces XP). CP can be earned through regular play, through Contracts which are time-limited challenges, and in Wager Matches. These Wager Matches were perhaps the most highlighted feature (as seen in the trailer) of the event, as they provide something wildly different from the typical CoD multiplayer (well, I suppose there were zombies in World at War).

In Wager Matches, players put their CP on the line. The top three players of a game will split the winnings, the first getting the most, while the rest get nothing. There are four different game modes for Wager Matches: One in the Chamber, Sticks and Stones, Gun Game, and Sharp Shooter.

In One in the Chamber, players spawn with one round in one pistol. There are no other weapons for them to use. Using that one round, they must kill the other players. Everyone has three lives, and killing someone gives them a bullet. And of course, if you miss your only shot, melee is the only option.

Players wield a crossbow, a knife, and a tomahawk in Sticks and Stones. You try to kill each other as usual, but a tomahawk automatically bankrupts its victim.

Gun Game is just like the gun game maps and mods of other online shooters. Everyone starts with a pistol, and every kill will give you a slightly better weapon. First one to progress through every weapon wins… but if you get stabbed with the knife, you’ll move down a level.

Sharp Shooter gives the same randomly selected weapon to every player. And… you kill each other.

The last feature that Treyarch revealed was Theater Mode, which is like Bungie’s version in Halo 3. You can record clips from your games and share them with your friends online. You’ll be able to manipulate the camera as well.

That’s a lot to digest, but it should be enough to satisfy you until the game comes out, right?

[Source: IGN, CVG]

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has released a new Mortal Kombat trailer, titled “Shadows,” featuring many recognizable fighters such as Raiden and Scorpion fighting… except you can only see their shadows. Even so, you’ll see blood squirting and someone getting impaled and whatnot, all to the tune of Disturbed’s “Another Way to Die.” Disturbed is providing the soundtrack to the game. Check out the trailer after the break.

[Source: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Press Release]

Capcom’s Keiji Inafune reportedly told 3DJuegos that Resident Evil 6 news would arrive soon. According to rockman zx’s (machine) translation of what was said in 3DJuegos’ interview, Inafune said, “Given the great success that supposed for us Resident Evil 5, we want that Resident Evil 6 leaves as rapidly as possible to the market. In fact, you will shortly have the news of Capcom about this…” I suppose that means Capcom was pleased with Resident Evil 5 sales and wants to get the series’ sixth title (well, excluding Code: Veronica and those online PS2 titles) out the door. Stay tuned for more details on this franchise reboot.

[Source: 3DJuegos via NeoGAF]

You may have shot gang members and sold drugs on your DS, PSP, and iPhone, but have you done it in high-definition? Well now you can play it in a higher resolution on the iPad when Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars HD hits the App Store on September 9th for $9.99. Yeah, it’s not actually in HD, but there are still enough Chinatown and wars in the game to make the title true.

Although Rockstar hasn’t been too specific on the details, we can assume that the iPad version will be the same as the iPhone/iPod touch version with better graphics. Perhaps some new features or gameplay modes will be included as well.

[Source: Rockstar Press Release via Joystiq]

Right now, I’m going to shamefully admit that I have not watched the Back to the Future movies. But if you have, you may excited to hear some more details on Telltale Games’ Back to the Future titles in development. As usual with Telltale’s games, these will be released in episodic form, although Telltale hasn’t mentioned what platforms they’ll hit. We can assume Windows, and probably Xbox Live and PlayStation Network as well (later if not at release).

USA Today reports that Christopher Lloyd will provide Doc Brown’s voice and that the DeLorean will be present in the game. Hill Valley will return, as well as many characters from the three films. Bob Gale, screenplay writer for the movies, is assisting with the plot and writing too. I think it’s safe to say that the games will stay true to the films.

[Source: USA Today]

Is morality a black and white issue? Senior Producer on The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Tomasz Gop, clearly explains the game will not be heading down the conventional “good versus evil” path familiar to Mass Effect and will instead draw inspiration directly from award-winning Polish fantasy writer and short-story author of The Witcher, Andrzej Sapkowski; Geralt, the main character of The Witcher, operates on his own moral code in an ethically hazy universe or in “grey areas,” so to speak and Gop wants The Witcher 2 to closely resemble the novel in this regard. Also, The Witcher likes boobies.

Quantic Dream is the developer behind titles like Indio Prophecy and Heavy Rain, or what the gaming media qualifies as an “interactive film” video game; for the developers behind The Witcher 2, it’s all about creating a story-driven game, as well: “It wasn’t, like, for 14-year-old people who want to see naked women. It was a story of two people getting together,” says Gop. “That was one of the things that inspired us to change the presentational aspect of sex in The Witcher 2. You don’t have collectible cards anymore, basically. It’s more story-driven, cinematic,” Gop commented on how Heavy Rain played an influential role in the creation process of Witcher.

The Witcher is an incredibly successful PC-only role-playing game and the sequel is boasting “some of the most realistic environments in the history of RPGs” thanks to CD Projekt’s TSOOD engine, designed specifically for The Witcher 2. This time, the sequel will be coming to X-BOX 360 and PS3, giving console owners a fair chance at delving into CD Projekt’s virtual realm, too. Need a refresh on all The Witcher 2 has to offer? Check-out the awesome Internal Gameplay video released awhile back or watch the E3 2010 stage demo.

[Source: Softpedia]

Coming September 7th to the 360, PS3, and PC collectively is yet another DLC for Mass Effect 2 focusing on Asari Scientist Liara T’soni, her troublesome mission, and of course, her relationship with Commander Shepard. If the thousand-year-old Justicar in Mass Effect 2 named Samara left you just as sexually frustrated as I, you’ll still have a chance at woo-ing another blue chick from your past. The Lair of The Shadow Broker DLC will retail for $10.00 or 800 Microsoft Points. Don’t forget to check-out the trailer for the upcoming DLC.

“Liara T’Soni is tracking down the mysterious Shadow Broker, and no one is safe. She’ll do anything to recover the man the Broker kidnapped… and the Shadow Broker’s agents will do anything to stop her. Team up with Liara and chase clues from the luxurious heights of Illium to the Shadow Broker’s own secret lair. Adds the Shadow Broker intel center, new research, and five new achievements — and the chance to continue a relationship with Liara.”

[Source: incgamers]

Dead Rising 2 will be hitting US shelves on September 28th, but I recently dug through a bunch of goodies regarding its release and discovered a YouTuber’s gameplay video allotting us fifteen whole minutes worth of cutscenes from the beginning of DR2. The events taking place are a bit confusing, but we’re able to see protagonist Chuck Greene and his young daughter Katey. Apparently, they have a gruesome connection or memory of Dead Rising’s fictional town of Willamette, Colorado. A  humorous poster advertising an infection suppressing drug called “Zombrex” can be seen adoring the elevator, a medication Katey is supposedly taking after being bitten during her first run-in with the undead.

After hearing about Dead Rising 2 and their little agreement with Playboy? Admittedly, pupils were rolling and I was wondering if the game would bring anything new and fresh to the table — besides giving a new meaning to “Hard Mode,” of course. Wink, wink. I’m not entirely convinced we’ll be seeing any major improvement gameplay-wise , but I do hope they tweaked it’s fun factor to match the challenging and tedious bit as some of the achievements were on the insane side to earn; I had trouble enjoying Dead Rising because of this, even though I’m very keen on the whole Dawn of The Dead thing. Obliterating packs of zombies with a lawn mower was pretty rad, too. Um, so, what are the side effects of Zombrex, anyhow?

Posted via Major Nelson’s blog is a large round-up of incoming deals and marketplace goodies, some of which look more or less  promising. Hydrophobia, particularly, is an XBLA title that caught my eye and has since held it for quite sometime now. Hydrophobia is a survival adventure game developed by Dark Energy Digital featuring a female heroine, Kate Wilson, defending her ocean vessel utopia from Malthusian terrorists during the Great Population Flood. Just FYI, It’s already made a name for itself and has received multiple awards, including Best Downloadable Game from GameTrailers at E3 2010. According Rob Hewson, it’s all about player versus environment interaction and, well, the imagery featuring Dark Engery Digital’s “HydroEngine” is fairly impressive. Ooh, just look at the pretty, flowing water. Check out the entire list of updates scheduled to hit the Marketplace in the coming weeks.

Dead Rising 2: Case Zero (400 Points) is now available exclusively on Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows LIVE. Any status and items you earn in Case Zero will carry over to the full game of Dead Rising 2 when it releases next month.

This year’s Summer of Arcade may be over, but you still have time to reap some rewards. Purchase all five featured titles before August 31, 2010 11:59pm EST and receive 1200 Microsoft Points for free! Or, purchase at least three Summer of Arcade games and receive 400 Microsoft Points. Details here.

It’s time for some Fall fun with The Game Feast. Starting September 29 through October 20 we’ve got a solid line up of XBLA games:

September 29: Hydrophobia, 1200 Microsoft Points

October 6: Comic Jumper, 1200 Microsoft Points

October 13: Pinball FX 2, Tables purchased individually, free import from original Pinball FX

October 20: Super Meat Boy, Pricing TBD

From September 17 (12pm ET / 9am PT/1600 GMT) through September 20 (12pm ET /9am PT/1600 GMT) Xbox LIVE Silver members can take advantage of industry-leading multiplayer, not to mention exclusive access to movies, TV shows, music and friends via Netflix, Last.fm, Facebook and more. These Gold-only features will be available all weekend long for the whole Xbox LIVE community.

Xbox LIVE Arcade:

September 8: Plants vs. Zombies, 1200 Microsoft Points

September 8: Dance! It’s your Stage, 800 Microsoft Points

September 15: Sonic Adventure, 800 Microsoft Points

Xbox LIVE Deal of the Week** :

Week of September 5th: Select Resident Evil content

Week of September 13:

BUST-A-MOVE Live!, 400 Microsoft Points

Gyromancer, 800 Microsoft Points

Tower Bloxx Deluxe,  400 Microsoft Points

Puzzle Chronicles, 400 Microsoft Points

**Special pricing available for Xbox LIVE Gold Members

Xbox Game Add-Ons

September 2: Crackdown 2 Toy Box available at no cost to Crackdown 2 owners; 560 Microsoft Points for additional content and available worldwide

September 7: Mass Effect 2 Lair of the Shadow Broker , 800 Microsoft Points

September 7: Dragon Age: Origins Witch Hunt , 560 Microsoft Points

September 7: Rock Band Snoop Dog 8 Single Tracks, 160 Microsoft Points for each track and available worldwide

*Current schedule. Subject to change. All content may not be available in all Xbox LIVE regions.

[Source: Major Nelson]

Here’s the list of what’s coming to the feast this fall, and how much they are going to cost:

September 29: Hydrophobia, 1200 Microsoft Points

October 6: Comic Jumper, 1200 Microsoft Points

October 13: Pinball FX 2, Tables purchased individually, free import from original Pinball FX

October 20: Super Meat Boy, Pricing TBD

Hydrophobia, Comic Jumper, a free pinball game, and Super Meat Boy?! Sounds good! I gotta say, the lineup for the feast this time looks very appetizing. Microsoft’s “Game Feast” begins on September 29th, so don’t ruin your appetite, okay?

[Source: Major Nelson]

I understand that voice recognition is a complicated affair, but the revelation today that Microsoft’s Kinect, of which voice recognition is a primary feature, will be severely limited, just sounds crazy.  When Kinect launches this fall, although the peripheral will be available in all major territories and countries, only four languages will be supported: American English, British English, Mexican Spanish, and Japanese.  No biggie, you think, right?  Lots of Europeans speak British English, even if it isn’t their native tongue, so they can just use that until their language is eventually added.  Sorry.  The other news is voice recognition languages will be region locked, meaning if you live in the US, you can’t practice your Japanese with your 360.  If you live in Europe outside the UK, no voice support (at all) for you.

Probably the worst news is for Canadians. (I’ll wait while you rush to cancel your pre-orders.)  Understandably, French is not one of the supported languages at this time, but Canadians won’t even have access to the English voice recognition until Spring 2011.  I found this particularly mystifying, considering the fact that spoken Canadian English is basically indistinguishable from American English (especially certain regions of the US).

What does this mean?  It means that the only people who will be able to fully take advantage of Kinect when it launches in November (4 in North America and 10 in Europe) are Americans, Mexicans, Japanese, and UK residents.  Personally, I haven’t pre-ordered, and I live in the US, but if I lived anywhere else, I would cancel my pre-order at the sound of this news, especially since (other than Canada) no other regions have been given a timeline as to when their languages will be supported.

Honestly, this seems like a terrible business decision on Microsoft’s part.  Just as you can select the language for the text of your console regardless of your region, why can’t you also select the voice recognition?  In many ways, it would make more sense to allow everyone access to British English (at the very least), as many people speak that, regardless of their home country, giving Microsoft a foothold in countries where it may be some time before the native languages can be supported via voice.

[Source: Eurogamer]

I recently read a short editorial in EGMi lamenting background music in games.  The author, Paul Semel, points out how he always turns the music off in his games, as he feels many times the music ruins the experience.    “[I]‘m . . . not into music in games because, most of the time, it doesn’t make sense to have music in those games.  If you were a secret agent sneaking up behind an enemy combatant, you wouldn’t crank some Metalica.”

I think he makes a good point, but I found his article all the more interesting because I often find myself wishing my games had more music.  For example, as much as I enjoyed romping through exciting fields and deserts in Monster Hunter Tri, I really found the overall lack of background music disappointing.

Sure, your Monster Hunter main character wouldn’t be battling beasties with his iPod, but having a blood-pumping orchestral score to accompany my adventure really enhances the experience for me.  For example, as much as I enjoy Dragon Age, I’ve found the overall music to be lacking.  However, having recently finished Awakening, I really enjoyed the tense music at the end as you make your way toward the Mother’s lair; it heightened the sense of tension.  In some ways, I think I appreciated it more because of the overall lack of music (or variety) both the original game and expansion have.

I think games can use music as effectively (if not moreso) than a film does, but I also think developers should give players more options in controlling the volume of music in their games, or even give us the ability to turn it off completely.  Of course, some games do offer the ability to use your own custom soundtrack, which introduces a whole other issue entirely.

So, what do you think?  Are games better off without musical accompaniment, or are they a necessary part of the gaming experience?  Sound off in the comments.

What is Community Voice?  Community Voice is your chance to make yourself heard on Spawn Kill.  Yes, you can leave comments on any post that we have, but The Community Voice is a feature that is notorious for encouraging discussion and fostering a sense of, yes, community.  We want to hear from readers of the site, so let us know your opinions on the topics each week and let’s get something lively going!

It’s not very often you see Japanese doujin games (indie games, basically) released in Western nations, and the bulk of those translated is mostly visual novels and eroge. It’s even rarer to see them in mainstream merchants, retail or downloadable. That changes with Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale, a Japanese RPG by EasyGameStation that has been localized by Carpe Fulgur, a three-person team that grabbed the rights to this little title. On September 10th, Recettear will be available on GamersGate (DRM-free!), Steam, and Impulse for $19.99 (Steam is offering it for $2 off if you pre-purchase it).

Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale is a simulation/RPG about Recette, a young girl that has to manage a store after her father leaves her with incredible debts. You will do what every sound businessman does: buy low, sell high. Customers will come to the store to purchase or sell goods, and you’ll have to net as much profit as you can. While you try to keep the store up and running well to pay off the debts, your shop needs supplies and inventory. Here’s where the RPG part comes in: with a hired group of adventurers, Recette has to scour dungeons for weapons and equipment to sell at her shop. Of course, should you fail to make money, Recette will end up living in a cardboard box.

A demo is available on the official website right now.

[Source: Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale]