Modern Warfare 3: The UMP

Anyone who has played Modern Warfare:2 can attest to the fact that the UMP was the most overpowered SMG in the game, and Modern Warfare 3 is no different. The UMP is actually a little faster, and a little stronger than it use to be, while still being as accurate as a bulls-eye. With the Kick proficiency, It's like the ump doesn't recoil, it just lazily drifts upward, and if you burst fire it, then this isn't even an issue. The only thing that makes the UMP less effective than it's MW2 brother is that you cannot dual wield it. You can however equip the 2 attachment proficiency and run around with extended mags and rapid fire, giving you your very own "Spray-Cannon", Combine that with steady-aim and you have a long-ranged SMG with the smallest cluster of fire, more accuracy than all the smg's and most assault rifles, with the highest DPS (damage per second), with the right attachments and perks to win any short ranged battle as well. Anyone preferring to use it for extremely long range encounters may want to use a sight on it, red dot for minimal kick, or acog for enhanced zoom, depending on how well you can compensate for either. The UMP is my recommended weapon for new players or rushers, and is a great "all-rounder" for everyone else too!

Modern Warfare 3: Strike Packages

Modern Warfare 3 has taken a new twist on the classic killstreak, giving players 3 optional progression paths to unlock rewards for gaining kills( or scoring points by securing objectives, getting assists, or defending objectives from the enemy.) The paths are: Assault, Support, and Specialist. The assault package is the progression system players are use to, Earn points to unlock killstreaks, deaths reset your killstreak, andkills earned with a killstreak(that didn't come out of a care package) count toward your streak. The Support package is based more on helping the team than earning the individual kills, Most of your unlocks are non-agressive, and they benefit your team overall, Support streaks reset only after all your unlocks have been achieved, and DO NOT RESET UPON DYING. The Support Package is great for players who have problems earning large killstreaks any other way. On a sidenote, it is also possible to unlock all of your support killstreaks more than once in a single life, something unique to this package. The Specialist Strike Package is more for players who are less concerned with "killstreaks" and more concerned with "perks". This Package lets you unlock new PERKS as you earn kills, at 2,4 and 6 kills, with 8 unlocking every perk until you die. This streak does reset every time you die, and the perks can only be chosen from ones you have already unlocked, but it gives you a major edge over players who are only using 3 perks. Which Package is the best will vary based on your game-mode, play-style, skill level, and map; but each class can have a unique strike package; so you can always be prepared for any situation.

Modern Warfare 3

Sorry, i haven't posted anything, i was... ummmmm... busy. Modern Warfare 3 came out this week, and i had to start playing, and i just couldn't stop. As far as Call of Duty titles go, this one has something for everyone, and it is balanced enough that even rookies should be able to enjoy it. The multi-player maps are much larger than other "Duty's", and the progression and rank up system is like Modern Warfare 2, but with a twist. You rank up your player level as well as your weapons levels, so rank up to earn new guns and use those guns to earn new attachments. Fans of the series will notice a few changes in the "perks" and what they do. on a side-note, Spec. Ops missions are back, and even includes new survival mode, It's essentially the same as "horde mode" or "Firefight", but you unlock new weapons and abilities as you rank up in this mode, and your unlocks carry over every time you play. Last, but certainly not least..... the campaign. The story from MW and MW2 is back, and better than ever, new graphics, new weapons, new "vehicles" (trying not to spoil anything). The storyline was excellent, and it's filled with moments where you either yell "OH SHIT!", or "WHHHHAAAT? Did that just happen?". I'd give COD:MW3 a 9.5 out of 10, It's not perfect, but it's definitely the best "Arcade Shooter" out there.

Battlefield 3:Assault class

The assault class is a very balanced, soldier/medic role. At the first rank, the assault class provides access to an assault rifle with no attachment(good for short to medium range engagements), which feature semi-auto and full-auto firing modes(press up on the D-pad to switch between firing modes). It also features the pistol of your choice and the almighty and all-powerful MED-KIT. I have seen several instances of players who have absolutely no idea how to effectively use this equipment, so let me just say, Push Left on the D-pad to use the Med-kit, It will restore teammates health, and this item is best deployed at choke-points in the map, or in a secluded location where you and your squad can provide over-watch support. Once you level up your assault class, you will be granted access to the defibrillator paddles, allowing you to revive a teammate that was recently killed. If you revive a teammate, it will refund your team a reinforcement ticket, effectively allowing you to play for longer with "bonus" lives, just for being a good squad-mate. The assault class also gains access to the grenade launcher and shotgun attachment, These will allow you to quickly switch to a weapon that fits your tactical situation. If you see a large group of enemies, and you try to shoot them all, the chances of you dying are pretty significant, However, if you shoot a grenade into the center of the group before you spray them down, you have a much higher chance of success. Your grenade launcher can fire other types of grenades than just the 40mm explosives; some will be better for delivering damage, others will be better for suppressing, and some will be better at penetrating buildings and cover. The same could be said of your shotgun attachment, it can fire buckshot(damaging), flechette (penetrating), frag rounds (suppressing) or even slugs (longer range). Which one works the best for you will all depend on your play style, and how versatile you want to be.

Battlefield 3

1 Word. WINNING. Battlefield 3 parachuted into stores yesterday, and while you don't actually parachute into a safe zone to spawn, the parachute is still a part of the game. The Finalize online play is much smoother than the "beta" running at a full 60 frames per second, as opposed to the 30 frames per second in the beta. The new maps are very detailed and very large, offering many different game-play styles and experiences on the same maps. I haven't run into anyone "beneath" the map either, which goes hand in hand with the smoother, upgraded textures and the new Frostbite 2 physics engine. At first glance, the physics engine may seem the same as frostbite 1, but as you rank up and use new weapons and attachments, you will definitely notice the difference. Stay tuned for tips and tricks on how to rank up quickly. We'll be covering the campaign and co-op special mission walk-throughs too.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Assault rifles

A basic rundown of pro's and cons of the Black ops Assault rifles.
M16- 3 round burst, SUPER-high accuracy, good at all ranges, however, the fact that its burst fire limits how quickly you can put bullets down range. DO NOT USE ON A BAD CONNECTION.
Enfield- High accuracy, able to use it long range if burst-fired, full auto with medium to high ROF, medium sized spread.
M14- semi-auto, no fire rate limit, very accurate, good at medium to long range, aming down sight, and goor short range from the hip, tight clustered spread.
FAMAS- SUPER HIGH ROF- Very high accuracy,good at close to mid range full auto, can be burst fired for long range.
Galil- high power, high accuracy, higher than average ROF, good at all ranges full auto, Minimal recoil.
AUG- Identical to the FAMAS in most stats, leaves a tighter clustered spread. and accuracy is a little funny. It hits slightly to the left and up of where the Iron sights say, keep that in mind when going for a headshot challenge.
FAL- Semi-auto, no fire-rate limit, nearly identical to the M14, but it cannot be "gripped" to reduce recoil.
AK47- High ROF, high DPS, High accuracy, High damage, very tight cluster spread.
COMMANDO- Basically a full auto M16 with a little more kick. Good at everything, not the best at anything but pretty darn close.
G11- Burst-fire, Unbelievable accuracy, VERY high damage, Minimal kick. The only downside to the G11 is that it is Burst-fire, and it slows how many bullets you can get downrange.

Faster Games and Game Insurance

You can copy your games to your xbox console by uploading them directly to the xbox. By doing this, it makes the game a lot faster than normal. You still need the disc to play the game but as long as you have the game saved to your xbox, it will run faster and everything will load faster. However, you should only do this for the games that you play the most often because saving too many games to the console can actually slow it down.
Saving the games to your console can also save you from ever losing a game due to a scratched disc. Even if you scratch it or spill something on it, as long as the xbox can load the disc and recognize the game, it will always be able to play off of your hard drive because you saved it. NOthing better than creating your own game insurance and knowing your favorite games are always safe from damage....

How To Play a First Person Shooter (successfully)

Here are a few basic tips for any FPS you might come across:
1. Choose a play-style. Knowing your role, and how to do it will prove invaluable, to yourself and to your team.
2. Build a class that fits your play style.
If you like to rush into the middle of the action, Then build a class for fast paced action. Usually this consists of an SMG and perks/abilities/specializations that make you run faster.
If you prefer picking enemies off from a safe distance, then you want a longer ranged gun (usually a sniper) and perks or specializations that help with accuracy and Vision.

For those people who excel at helping their team, and keeping the enemy hidden in cover until a teammate can get to them, A gun with TONS of ammo (usually an LMG) and perks or specializations that let you start with extra ammo or pick more ammo up.
Then of course there are campers and tubers. people with these play-styles usually pick the most obnoxious class they can make and try there best to annoy everyone they come across. we'll cover how to deal with them next time ;)
3. Play to your strengths. If you have a sub-machine gun and the other guy has an assault rifle, odds are he'll win at medium to long range. So it's in your best interests to get close to him before he opens fire on you. If you have a sniper, it's best if you keep distance between you and your enemies, and stay where your gun is best.
4. Use grenades! If an enemy is in cover or around a corner, running toward them will often get you killed. In these situations, it's best to pull the pin and chuck it in with them. you'll either flush them out, and into you line of sight, or kill them with your grenade. Also remember that just because you cant see an enemy, it doesn't mean they cant see you.
5. If you are getting hit, FIND COVER! Winning a gunfight, or even surviving a shootout all comes down to how many times you're hit. If you have a box or tree in front of you, taking some of the bullets, that gives you a much better chance at getting out alive.
6. Find a friend! playing solo is fun, but having a friend to communicate with and coordinate attacks is a great way to succeed.

Battlefield 3: Beta, Part 3

The new attachments like laser sight and Flashlight Blind enemies when they are shown in the face, making it harder to hit you, and giving you a clear shot. There were problems with exactly where people were being hit with the flashlight, but in the beta, you expect hit detection to be a little off. Additionally showcased in the beta is the new "suppressive fire" system, where players can get points for shooting at an enemy even if they don't hit them. Every time someone shoots at you, your screen will start to get blurry, even if they are not hitting you. If someone kills you in this state, both the person who killed you, AND the person who kept you "suppressed" earn points. This allows less accurate players to still help the team out and rank up as well. The rank up system is very similar to previous BattleField games, in that you have 4 classes to rank up, and each class ranks up separately, but you have a character level as well, and that level ranks up regardless of what class you choose. When your level ranks up, you earn new Primary's, Secondary's, and gadgets, along with Specializations. In BF3 Specalizations give your soldier unique skills that will benefit you, such as faster sprint, less explosive damage recieved, more explosive damage dealt, or the ability to see clearly even when suppressed; Their are also certain specializations that will benefit your entire squad, by also giving them the benefits you earned!

The full game drops the 25th.

Pick it up or preorder it Here.

(FREE SHIPPING from AMAZON!!!)

Battlefield 3:beta, Part 2

While we covered game play and server stability, lets talk about what everyone really wants to know about: GUNS. In the BF3:beta, players were given the ability to toggle between semi- and full- auto modes for several guns, while some people wont see this as an addition because they subscribe to the religion of Spray-and-Pray; anyone who Aims Down Sights (ADS) will appreciate this. The firing mode change gives you the ability to switch from a close range bullet-hose to a long range laser-accurate rifle, all at the press of a button; it gives players the ability to win long range fights with a mid-ranged gun. For those players with high accuracy who don't necessarily like sniping but wish they could get a more powerful firearm, I'm pleased to announce the ability to remove the scope from a sniper rifle and use it as a marksman rifle, with the iron sights! This gives players the ability to pack a punch, without having to lurk in the shadows. It also appears that sidearms have been given a MAJOR boost, making them a viable option. Personally I think they may be a bit overpowered... but I'm not complaining!

Battlefield 3: Beta, Part I

First off, let's address some concerns. Anyone who played the beta knows the low frame rate and the ability to fall through the map. No worries, however, this was not a true "beta"; the coding used was more of an "alpha". Beta was used to test the servers, because Battlefield, unlike it's competitor, Call of Duty, uses dedicated servers. The servers handled the load quite well and it also gave us a glimpse into a few new features and cool little gadgets.

This game plays very realistically with a physics system that includes bullet travel and gravity drop. While grenades are slightly overpowered, the ability to go through a wall instead of around it is always refreshing. Fully destructible environments have always been a token of the Battlefield universe. The beta only showcased ONE map and ONE game mode. Rest assured, there will be more in the actual game.

Halo: Anniversary

While I would usually frown upon paying for something twice....... Halo:CE: anniversary might be the exception to that rule. It's everything we loved about the original Halo with updated graphics and the ability to switch between modern and original gameplay. It's a nostalgic look at one of the most celebrated franchises of all time, while still a perfectly acceptable game even by today's standards. Granted, if you didn't like the original Halo, then slapping a new coat of paint on it probably wont do much for you, though Fans of the original or the Halo universe will feel like they are seeing this classic through a new set of HD contacts!

Halo: Anniversary comes out on November 15th. You can pre-order it from Amazon HERE.

Lets start simple......

So, to kick things off, let's just give you an overview of what my plan is. I generally plan FPS (First Person Shooter) games, so I will be updating strategies, tips, tricks and such for these types of games. I am also a fan of other types of games, however, so don't be surprised if, from time-to-time, another genre finds it's way onto the blog. (Or if I rant about stupid kids trying to quick-scope). I will post things mainly about Xbox games, though most of the information will still work for the PS3. We'll probably start old-school and work our way to more recent games/brand new releases. And don't be surprised if I tell you that a game isn't even worth playing...