Usually, the trend has been to experience a noticeable dip in the amount of news coming out the week before the GDC. However, this year's pre-event week proved to be a rather different one from those I've experienced in the past. Unexpectedly, but fortunately, there were a great deal of updates. It was a busy one, alright, and thank God you stuck with us throughout the week, making it such a blast!

 

Making its rounds on Digg today is word of some new additions to the PS3 version of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2. The additions are making us rather excited for the video game's release, but we're tempering our enthusiasm so we don't get let down if some of it doesn't actually come to fruition.

The main draw behind these additions to the PS3 version of GRAW 2 happen to center around the addition of SIXAXIS support and additional multiplayer goodness in the form of new maps and extra co-op modes. We traced the Digg source back to PlayStation Online, and here's what they said were the key differences for the PS3 version:

SIXAXIS Features

• Controller features used for Mitchell & Cross-com control
• SP : Drive the supports (drone, M.U.LE) with the Six Axis functionality
• SP/MP : Change Mitchell stances with the Six Axis
• SP : change the Rules of Engagement with the Six Axis
• Consistency increased between SP & MP: Scope, Movement, Aiming…
• PS3 specifics adaptation of controls: Menus, Shoot button…
• 14 additional maps resulting in a total of 32 MP maps!!!

Multiplayer Additional Information

• 32 new adversarial multiplayer maps up to 16 players, an expanded arsenal of multinational weapons, character customization options, new optimizing re-spawn system, new female operatives and hundreds of new game mode options are available.
• 2 new coop modes, “Evasion” and “Exfiltration”, to vary the game experience in multiplayer.
• 6 missions co-op campaign with a fully immersive experience and storyline. Featuring open-ended play that rewards teamwork as you play with up to sixteen players.

As you can see, it's not exactly the most well-ordered news bit we've found on the internet. The additions are definitely sweet and all, but we're hesitant to make this official until word comes straight from Ubisoft about these features.

For now at least, it seems reasonable to assume that some of this is bound to be part of the future of the PS3 version. We are waiting for Q3 of this year for GRAW 2 to come out for PS3s after all. Hopefully, a future press release will tell us that all of this is real, and not just speculation.

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UPDATE:

A big "Thank You" goes out to No name in our comments section! He's pointed out that the original news tidbit posted on PlayStation Online came from Ubisoft's UK features list. As such, we've removed the rumor status of this article, and changed the source link to Ubisoft's webpage.

It's no secret that Grand Theft Auto IV's Liberty City is a video game rendition of the Big Apple itself with a lot of striking similarities to notice in the layout and architecture of the environment. Of all the boroughs in the metropolis, however, Staten Island was not included and this got different reactions from opposing sectors.

State senator Andrew Lanza, for one, is happy. "I'm glad Staten Island is left out, frankly," says the senator. "Perhaps it's because they know Staten Island is the safest place in the entire city." The reaction comes after a series of incidents that saw parents and politicians criticize the game for its crime-simulation content.

If the politicians are happy, the gamers are not. Comments on Digg have ranged from the annoyed to the disappointed as gamers demanded a more accurate account of the geography of the Big Apple. "It [Staten Island] is a more relevant borough then Queens and Bronx," says one user.

Through a spokesman, Rockstar Games explained that creative innovations were the main consideration in the move not to include Staten Island. "While Staten Island has a lot of great architecture and more square miles than any of the other boroughs, the open spaces are kind of what we've explored in other games already," says a Rockstar representative.

The series has been a gaming stalwart since it debuted in the late 90s on the first PlayStation. Ever since, it's been feeding off its explosive crime-simulation gameplay and the media hype around it to become one of the most commercially successful franchises of all time. Grand Theft Auto IV is set for release on the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 game consoles later this year.

Now we know many gaming sites have re-iterated and argued this point over and over again - that the story concepts and the driving of the story are just as important as the quality of the visuals. But given Ars Technica's technical nature and prowess over technology, it's amazing they've been able to put their point across so vividly with a game everyone could relate to.

 

Well, just about everyone in gaming of course. Valve's Half-Life 2 was the first of the games they cited in their multi-part investigation, whose story was written by Mark Laidlaw. The incredible effort and time placed into the "written" content of the game reflects immediately in the opening sequence.

We don't know about you, however, but Half-Life 2 still isn't a keeper in this blogger's books if it comes to gauging art. In fact, aside from the opening sequence, there's very little dialogue or "written" content that is memorable in the game. Even after playing the game over 10 times.

You can hop right into the article by Ben Kuchera over at Ars Technica via the "Read" link below. Currently, the article spurred another heated discussion about graphics and visuals versus game design and storylines over at digg.com">Digg, but if you'd like top place your two-cents right here, feel free to do so.

If you're on the Internet, you've probably already encountered, in some strange fashion, the supposedly dreaded HD-DVD hexadecimal code that dooms the HD-DVD's security. Here's a little history on that, and we'll show how it's somehow connected (even in an infinitesimal manner) to the wonderful world of gaming.

We here at QJ.NET first came across the code, or at least, word that HD-DVD's security got breached, around early January this year. Back then people were speculating that it was just a hoax, and many doubted that it was a real breach. You know how things are in the "Interwebs"; people scream "Fake!" and often times for good reason.

Anyhow, it was mostly speculative until the AACS itself admitted later that same month that the encryption of the AACS system had been bypassed. But they were bold enough to show confidence in their system. They said, "It does not represent an attack on the AACS system itself." They defended themselves by saying that the widespread copying of movies is impractical given the large file sized in high-definition discs.

Of course, the mouth says one thing, but the hand that gives out cease and desist orders does something else.

Read the rest after the Jump! Click on the "Full Article" link below.

The whole Internet community is reeling with the issue concerning Digital Rights Management (DRM) and user-generated online sites. As you all know, a software key that could break the encryption of HD-DVD format has been unleashed online and thousands of websites published the key.

DRM groups say the bloggers just crossed the line this time. The said key was published on Digg and needless to say, it was picked up by God knows how many websites. An executive from Advanced Access Content System (AACS) said that they are considering to confront those who published the exploit with "legal and technical tools."

The bloggers, on the other hand, commented that they are protected by the First Amendment. Digg management, for a time, removed the entries containing the key. However, the users posted an even more number of websites containing the exploit and Digg eventually acquiesce with its users. A part of Founder Kevin Rose's statement reads,

After seeing hundreds of stories and reading thousands of comments, you've made it clear. You'd rather see Digg go down fighting than bow down to a bigger company. We hear you, and effective immediately we won't delete stories or comments containing the code and will deal with whatever the consequences might be.

AACS Chairman Michael Ayers seemed amused by this as he referred to Digg's decision as an "interesting twist." Ayers added that people can talk about the pros and the cons of the matter but publishing the software key itself is a different matter. When you do that, he explained, you leave the "realm of protected speech." He also released a statement telling the users that the key is already invalid,

We will take whatever action is appropriate. We hope the public respects our position and complies with applicable laws. There has been a lot of misunderstanding. The key that has been leaked has now been revoked. This is the first round and will not be the last.

AACS, reportedly, is now employing stronger tools and copy protection system that have been designed to counter these breaches.

 

If you're a well-informed citizen of the Internet, then you're probably aware of the backlash that Digg is getting for their reported censorship of the HD-DVD code that makes decrypting possible. (Yes, the code that's been out for around a month now.) It's basically a Digg-riot.

Although they initially made a call to moderate their posts, and remove stories that include references to bits of code that the powers-that-be in charge of the security of HD-DVD find questionable, it seems that Kevin Rose has decided to give in to public demand.

Rose writes on Digg the Blog:

But now, after seeing hundreds of stories and reading thousands of comments, you’ve made it clear. You’d rather see Digg go down fighting than bow down to a bigger company. We hear you, and effective immediately we won’t delete stories or comments containing the code and will deal with whatever the consequences might be.

If we lose, then what the hell, at least we died trying.

Digg on,

Kevin

Will Digg die trying? If it would then that would be quite disappointing. Especially since it seems that spreading the codes has become a small Web 2.0 movement in itself. Although the blogosphere seems to be helping in spreading the code, Wikipedia, one of the bastions of Web 2.0, seems cautious. For one thing, the HD-DVD Night article in Wikipedia is still down.

This blogger of course, is a big "pussy" as Niero of Destructoid would say. Hey, I have to eat after all, and I don't want to get into trouble. So, in an effort to satisfy that part of me that loves to listen to Rage Against the Machine music, here's a half-assed attempt: ...D9-74-E3... (not the actual code) you know how the rest of it goes. Anyway, I'll cut it at "E3" that way it's "gaming" related.

So what are the powers-that-be to do now? Especially since the code has become a meme of sorts? What's your take on all of this? Let us know.

We're tagging this under Blu-ray too as it partially relies on AACS (the security that's compromised by the now popular code) to encrypt data. Blu-Ray has two more levels of protection: ROM-MARK (a per factory watermark, which might revoke mass production rights from a factory but not, it seems individuals) and BD+, another encryption system, unlike HD-DVD which relies just on AACS.

Now that evidence shows that Cho Seung Hui didn't own a single video game at the time of the Tragic shooting, a new article over at MSNBC questions Thompson's fervent accusations. This is in light of his recent interview wherein he responded to IGDA criticism.

The MSNBC article notes that contrary to Thompson's claims of counterstrike being a "killing simulator" for youths, Cho didn't need much skill to shoot as many people as he did. Eye witness accounts indicate that many of the victims were shot at point blank range.

Moreover the article notes that Sternheimer, a sociologist at the University of Southern California and author of the book "Kids These Days: Facts and Fictions About Today's Youth" points out that before this week's Virginia Tech massacre, the most deadly school shooting in history took place at the University of Texas in Austin way back in 1966, before the days of pong.

The article says that nobody realises that since the advent of videogames, violence rates in the US have declined "precipitously." Sternheimer even notes that it is likely that any 23-year-old man living in America has already played a videogame. How many 23-year-old men go out on a killing spree?

The MSNBC article goes on to note this nice gem:

For those who didn't grow up playing video games, the appeal of a game like "Counter-Strike" can be hard to comprehend. It can be difficult to understand that the game promotes communication and team work. It can be hard fathom how players who love to run around gunning down their virtual enemies do not have even the slightest desire to shoot a person in real life.

As a commenter on Digg noted, the truth is that massive multiplayer killing fests are really just slightly more complex and themed versions of cops-and-robbers. An online and engaging visual form of "tag" wherein players "tag" one another in the form of virtual kills, in a world where there are no real consequences. A game of tag in a world where death isn't really malicious or evil, or "desensitising" - death only means waiting for the next play round or respawn.

It is a competitive environment where sportsmanship is still the norm; where it is expected that after all the boasting and chest-thumping is done, the winning party will get up and shake the losing party's hand and say "good game."

 

Wired recently run an article debunking the rumor that iconic game maker Square Enix is changing its business model to that of a publisher which exclusively creates sequels and remakes of existing franchises under its library. The source was traced and light was shed on exactly what happened.

It turns out that the rumor wasn't even meant to be one at all. DailyGamingNews wrote a parody on Final Fantasy VIII and made some fictitious statements on what the future holds for Square Enix. It was put up on Digg and it says ".... the days are numbered for new titles from Square-Enix. Their Japanese language website dropped a bombshell on the gaming world late Wednesday night Japanese time when they stated a change in their current business model that would focus solely on re-releases of older games and the occasional direct sequel to existing titles."

What followed was a witch's brew of sarcasm regarding Final Fantasy VIII and a made-up sequel for it, seasoned with coarse language unmentionable in this blog. Unfortunately, a site called PlayStation Universe took the joke as gospel truth and wrote a serious story about it. Joystiq and Destructoid picked it up and the rest was history.

   

Wired says there's nothing on the Japanese Square Enix site that suggests anything that even hints to any validity for the rumor. Nobody commented on it from the Square camp and we take that as a good indication that the PlayStation Universe article is indeed a total hogwash.

The Digg title said "Research: Video Games Make You Stupid" catchy, yes, but that wasn't what the whole story was about. Basically, the report on InformationWeek said that a January survey by Harris Interactive of more than 1,100 youths aged 8 to 18 revealed that addicted hardcore gamers receive lower grades in school than their peers.

It's not that it automatically makes you dumber. It's just that they noted that those addicted were more likely to be diagnosed with an attention deficit problem... ooh look balloon. Where was I? Oh yeah. The Harris Interactive study also found that that aside from performing poorly in school, the addicts are more likely to get into physical fights and are physically heavier than non addicts.

Not all studies have shown that videogame play is negative. A previous study conducted last year by Beth Israel Medical center in New York found that surgeons who played video games before participating in a performance test completed it more than 11 seconds faster than doctors who don't play games. Yes folks, problems solving skills, the ability to see connections, and overall hand-eye coordination. Classic stuff gamers have been spouting in defense of their passion.

So what's with the videogames makes you dumber title in the Digg post? Well, the guy who dug was just probably looking for diggs, and probably felt that a catchy title was needed.

Simple explanation for all of this: More time on videogames, less time to study, unless you're a freakin' genius you're bound to fail a test - any test - that you didn't study for. More time on videogames, less time for physical activity - well thank god for the Wii. And lastly, More time on videogames, means less time socially, meaning more time getting bullied and beaten up. There's your "physical fights" right there. I mean, if you came across the guy in the video below, wouldn't you want to beat some sense into him?

Oh, and ignore my simple explanation. I'm no expert.