Gearbox releases 'Ultimate Greedy Bastards Pack"

Gearbox today released on all platforms, the 'Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack' which I have so kindly dubbed, 'The Ultimate Greedy Bastards Pack'.  Now, if you are like me and have played the original Borderlands, the level cap increase update was awesome and couldn't have come sooner, an update that just had to come out because before the first DLC was released, you were already maxed, so other than loving the game, you weren't earning anything for all those big bad guys you were killing.  Thankfully, the level cap update was retro-active and FREE.

Now, fast-forward to Borderlands 2.  Another awesome game that I poured hours upon hours into, loving every minute of it.  Then Gearbox starts making bad decisions, greedy decisions.  Not only did they make their 'Season Pass' unable to be shared between consoles in the same household (thank you for wasting my $29.99 for something only ONE person in my house can play; just think if you were a parent with three kids, that is $89.97 just for DLC!!!), but now you want an additional $4.99 from me, so I can level up?!?  Wow Gearbox, wow.  Of course, they frame it like you are getting an awesome deal, the level cap goes from 50 to 61, you get access to a third play through titled 'Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode', extra storage capacity, access to the new pearlescent-colored (the rarest) weapons in the game and my favorite, a variety of bug fixes.  All things I would love, and really love to be retro-active.  But seriously, $4.99 for something that should be free and a way to give a big thanks to all your ultimate fans.  Not a happy camper.  I guess one good thing can be said, at least they are offering the upgrade pack for free to those who shelled out $29.99 for the Season Pass.

'Revolution' DLC Map Pack VidDoc

Coming Jan 29 2013 to XBOX360 for 1200 Microsoft Points/$14.99 USD or through the Season Pass.

Looks like a killer set of maps (4 multiplayer, 1 zombie), all unique and with interesting elements and in-game hazards.  Also, the first time ever is the release of a new weapon with DLC, a SMG that is a SMG/Assault Rifle hybrid called, The Peacekeeper. Zombie fans can enjoy a new zombie map and a new game mode, where you can play as the zombie.

Mr. Torque's Campaign of Carnage - Borderlands 2 DLC

Gearbox Software has announces it will be releasing it's second DLC for Borderlands 2 titled, 'Mr. Torque's Campaign of Carnage'.  Included in the DLC will be new NPC's, new bosses, new heads, new skins, new currency for Torque weapons, new storyline, new quests, new areas to explore and much more!

The DLC will be available on the XBOX Live Marketplace on Nov 20 2012 for 800 Microsoft Points (or if you have the Season Pass you can download it for free). Check out the short (SUPER short) preview trailer.

'Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty' + the Mechromancer, First Review

Gearbox Software has announced that the first DLC for Borderlands 2 will be hitting our consoles on Oct 16 2012 for 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99 USD.  If you signed up for the Borderlands 2 Season Pass, this DLC is included.  The new DLC is titled, "Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty", not much else is known at this time but I am sure we can expect some new areas, new weapons and new enemies.  I can't wait!

Also, earlier this week Gearbox released an update to the game that fixed a lot of major issues such as stacking skill icons resetting, multiplayer bugs, co-op issues and red loot chests only spawning certain items. Along with the update came a new character class, Gaige the Mechromancer, which I started playing yesterday.  I just finished killing Captain Flynt and am around level 7 so I haven't got too far into her skill trees however, from what I see thus far, she is a good mix between some of the other players skills (self healing, strong elemental damage) along with the addition of some new ones such as her 'Anarchy Stacks' and she has a robot companion, Deathtrap, who is just that.  Deathtrap seems to deal quite a large amount of damage through melee attacks and can move around the battlefield.  He lasts quite a long time, maybe around the same length as the Commando's turret, if not longer. My only complaint thus far as playing as the Mechromancer, her dialogue. She sounds like an annoying school girl, maybe a slightly older version of Tiny Tina and it has a way of grating on you after a while.  I do love her striped stalkings though.

Mechromancer class coming Oct 16 2012

Gearbox Software has released this new screen showing off it's newest class coming to Borderlands 2, the new 'Mechromancer'.  The DLC is scheduled to be released on Oct 16 2012.  If you pre-ordered from certain locations such as GameStop or are a member of the Premiere Club than the DLC will be free, otherwise you can expect to shell out 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99 USD.

Rage: The Scorchers, July 14th DLC?

The Scorchers - Potential DLC for Rage

A PEGI rating, the European video game content rating system, was filed a week ago for Rage: The Scorchers listing ZeniMax and Bethesda as European publishers in the filing.  No formal announcements have been made from Bethesda or id but it can't be far behind.  The rating also had a date attached to the content, Jul 14 2012 for PC, XBOX 360 and PS3.

The Scorchers are one of the six bandit clans in Rage, and the only one that didn't make it into the full game. There are even screen shots of them, as shown above, and they would make a perfect DLC - and it's about damn time for some DLC for this game if you ask me.

Harley Quinn's Revenge

Harley Quinn's Revenge, DLC for Batman: Arkham City, has been announced and is going to be available on the XBOX Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network on May 30 2012, no pricing yet.  It will also be packed into the Game of the Year edition of Batman: Arkham City.

What can you expect?  Not much details have been released but I think it is safe to say, Harley is grieving but don't expect her to mope around, she's pissed and will no doubt have a few tricks up her sleeve.

Harley Quinn's Revenge (Batman: Arkham City)

Kingdoms of Amalur DLC & Mini Review

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

EA has announced the first piece of DLC for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning which will be out on Mar 20 2012 for XBOX360, PlayStation, Origin and Steam (prices not yet announced).  The new DLC titled, 'Legend of Dead Kel' is expected to be "gigantic", adding an entirely new continent, Gallows End, to the already massive game including new enemies, dungeons, items, player housing and tons of exploring.  Let's take a look;

• New Questline of Epic Proportions: The Legend of Dead Kel is only part of the story of Gallows End. It intertwines with side quests, dungeons and entertaining new characters.
• New Enemies, Dungeons & Loot: Multiple new enemies, enemy variants, a new dungeon type (Dverga Fastings), three new twists of Fate, eight new armor sets, eight new shields and 18 new unique weapons.
• Massive Stash: New player housing, Gravehal Keep is a massive estate with multiple buildings, side quests, back stories and perks. Possible upgrades as well.
• Explore your Heart Out: The DLC offers 15% additional land to traverse and explore in the already massive world. 

MINI REVIEW: If you have yet to experience KOA: Reckoning, I highly recommend it! It feels like a combination of Fable and Dragon Age Origins with the styling of Kameo paired with amazing environments and music straight from a major motion picture.  The story can be a bit weak and points but there is so much to be done, so much to explore and so much loot to be had it will keep you glued to the game for days! I am already 60 hours in and feel as if I am maybe about 1/2 way through (note: I am pursuing all side quests and exploring every dungeon, building and open world area because I love loot).

MM3 'Overwatch' out Feb 21 2012

Continuing on in the Modern Warefare 3 Content Season for Call of Duty Elite, the next content drop will be on Feb 21 2012 and is set to include 1 new map, 'Overwatch'.

Overwatch is reminiscent of MW2's Highrise, it is a "near symmetrical" two story construction site atop a New York City skyscraper.  With a center bridge and numerous side routes, and just like Highrise, no railings or walls to hold you on the map, beware of the edge.

Overwatch - The Bridge

Overwatch - Crowd Control

Overwatch - Outer View

In addition, the recent press release also gave mention to next month's content drop which will include a new multiplayer map called Black Bow and two new Spec Ops missions, Black Ice and Negotiator.

MW3 DLC, Free Tokens and New Apps

The first Modern Warefare 3 DLC will be kicking off the "content season" in January (rumor has is, XBOX360 users will have the new DLC available in the XBOX Live Marketplace on Jan 24 2012, with PS3/PC following 30 days later). With Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software all chipping in on the new DLC, it is sure to make a splash however, beyond knowing the first map is called Park, specific details are still yet to be announced.

'Park', one of the new maps revealed for the Jan 2012 DLC

Happy Holidays from Call of Duty ELITE!  If you got this email in your inbox this past weekend, that means you were one of the lucky ones to sign up and pay for your ELITE subscription early.  As a holiday treat, Beachhead Studio and the Call of Duty ELITE team have given each of us a free Prestige Token and 2 hours of double XP.  These bonuses were automatically applied to your gamer tag and will appear next time you log in to Modern Warefare 3.

Coming in Jan 2012, iOS and Android will now have access to the Call of Duty ELITE app on mobile devices.  The app lets you track your challenges, check your stats and change load outs in addition to other cool features.

AC Revelations DLC Pack 1 & 2

Two new DLC packs will be available before Feb 2012

Assassin's Creed Revelations has been out for less than a month, and already they will be releasing their first DLC on Dec 12 2011 and another DLC on Jan 24 2012.  I have only just opened my game and completed the first DNA sequence (been too busy shooting things in MW3), so this comes surprisingly early and I have to wonder, when developers release DLC this quickly, it seems to me it comes out of greed and probably should have been included with the full game.

The first DLC, The Ancestors Character Pack, includes four new playable characters for multiplayer mode.  Privateer, Corsaid, Brigand and Gladiator, each character has their own unique assassination moves, weapons and taunts. Price will be $3.99 for PlayStation 3 or 320 MS Points for XBOX 360, available Dec 13 2011.

The second DLC, The Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack, which has gotten an early reveal by GameStop, will include six new multiplayer maps. Siena, Jerusalem, Dyers, San Donato, Firenze and the Imperial District of Constantinople.  The estimated release date is Jan 24 2012, but this could change and price is yet to be announced.

Arkham City DLC set for Dec 20

Iceberg Lounge location will be included as a challenge map, The Iceberg

According to Batman Arkham City's official Twitter page, new challenge maps will be released as DLC on Dec 20 2012, just in time for Christmas.

The DLC will include three new maps, Batcave, Joker's Carnival and The Iceberg.  These maps may sound familiar since all three maps were available as pre-order bonuses from various retailers (for instance I received the Joker's Carnival Challenge Pack for pre-ordering with GameStop).  Curious to see how they price this considering many of us would be paying for a map we already own.

'Back to Karkand' to PS3 Early

Got the Limited Edition? Get 'Back to Karkand' for free!

Battlefield Developer DICE has announced that the first wave of DLC for Battlefield 3 'Back to Karkand' will launch for the PlayStation 3, 7 days before the XBOX360 and PC which will arrive Dec 13 2011.

'Back to Karkand' includes four new maps, three new vehicles, 10 new weapons and an all-new assignment system.  If you picked up the Limited Edition this content is included at no extra cost, otherwise expect to shell out $15 USD.

Gears of War 3 'Horde Command' DLC

New playable Characters - Dizzy, Onyx Guard, Bernie (left to right)

The first Gears of War 3 DLC has just been announced, titled, 'Horse Comman Pack; and will launch on the XBOX Marketplace on Nov 01 2011 for 800 Microsoft Points.

The DLC includes new maps (playable in Horde, Beast and private versus), characters, weapon skins, horde fortifications and an additional 250 Gamerscore to earn.

The Maps include:

• Blood Drive - The Jacinto Medical Plaza was overwhelmed by evacuated citizens after the Hammer Strikes, the area is no longer a safe haven.  An abundance of high ground and funneled choke points will make this a great addition to Horde.
• Rustlung - Once the pride of the Roayl Tyran Navy, the foredecks of this decommissioned battleship are now riddled with bullet holes.  The central torpedo bay has a battle-ready Silverback mech suit, if you can hold the exposed area.
• Azura - This island resort was once the exclusive domain of Sera's educated elite, but the tranquil water gardens and lush foliage have become a heavy combat zone.  Dual snipers overlook the area and a defensive platform may be a last place of retreat.

Fortification Upgrades:

• Command Center - A brand new type of fortification that allows you to call in fire support from sniper teams, mortar strikes and Hammers of Dawn.
• Decoy Upgrade - A new fortification level, turns your decoy into an Onyx Guard bot that will fight in your defense.
• Sentry Upgrade - A new fortificaiton level, adds a fire bolt sentry that deals much more damage and is effective against Berserkers.
• Silverback Upgrade - A new fortificaiton level, add rockets and extra level repair cost reduction.

New Characters:

• Onyx Guard
• Big Rig Dizzy
• Bernie

New Weapon Skins:

• Team Plasma
• Jungle Camo

Black Ops: 'Escalation' DLC for May 03 2011

The second DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops "Escalation" is set to release on May 03 2011 on the XBOXLive Marketplace.  The new map pack will include four new multiplayer maps and one new zombie map, 'Call of the Dead'.  The multiplayer maps include Zoo, Hotel, Convoy and Stockpile.

Bulletstorm 'Gun Sonata' DLC

Developer People Can Fly has announced the 'Gun Sonata' DLC pack set to launch sometime in Spring 2011 will include three new maps for Anarchy mode.  The maps include the Sewers of Stygia, Hotel Elysium and the Villa.  It will also include two new maps for Echoes mode, Crash Site and Guns of Stygia which both offer new objectives.  There will also be two new leash enhancements, the Flamingo and the Pulp, each giving you new ways to kill with skill.  The pack will be 800 MS Points or $7.99 USD on the PS3, date yet to be announced.

Fable III DLC 'Traitor's Keep'

Lionhead Studios has announced a new DLC pack for Fable III titled 'Traitor's Keep'.  The DLC pack offers three new levels, a story that revolves around a mysterious prisoner and an additional 250 achievement points.  The 'Traitor's Keep' launches on Mar 01 2011 for 540 MS Points.

Black Ops DLC, coming Feb 01 2011

Treyarch has confirmed the 1st DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops which will be hitting the XBOX Live Marketplace on Feb 01 2011 for 1200 Microsoft Points. The DLC includes four new multiplayer maps and one new zombie map.  The multiplayer maps include "Berlin Wall" which takes place at Checkpoint Charlie where people use to cross from East Berlin to West Berlin in the Cold War, "Discovery" in an arctic German base, "Kowloon" based on the single-player China level and "Stadium" is a hockey rink.

Fable III DLC expected Nov 23

The first DLC has been announced for Fable III and there are a few things to choose from (unless you want it all of course).  All the below mentioned DLC will be available on the XBOX Live Marketplace on Nov 23 2010.

• The Understone Quest Pack (400 MS Points): Includes 3 new quests, one of which lets you decide the fate of The Understone, a shooting range with in-game prizes and "The Wheel of Misfortune" which offers arena-based challenges.
• Exclusive Hair Pack (160 MS Points): Includes different hair styles to choose from.
• 5 Star Dog Potion (80 MS Points): Gives your canine companion the full 5-star ability for treasure hunting (or you could just earn or buy the book in the game, there is a dog book seller in Brightwall, hint hint, don't be dumb and waste your money).
• Reaver Industries Hero Outfit (160 MS Points)
• Colorful Dye Pack (80 MS Points)

Halo: Reach, Noble Map Pack out Nov 30 2010

Microsoft announced today that Nov 30 2010 will mark the release of the first DLC map pack for Halo: Reach for an additional 250 gamerscore.  The Noble Map Pack will be 800 Microsoft Points and include three new multiplayer maps, low orbit Anchor 9 (2 - 8 players), the abandoned shoreline facility Tempest (8 - 16 players) and a frozen xeno-archaeology site Breakpoint (8 - 16 players). 

Anchor 9

Within the confines of this low orbit dry-dock, UNSC craft undergo rapid repair and rearmament in support of the enduring war effort. But for the small squads of infantry who now fight over the mirrored interior hallways and open central hangar bay, this platform no longer provides any safe harbor whatsoever – whether the close quarters combat is occurring inside or out of its artificial gravitational field.

Tempest

This abandoned shoreline facility bends both sea and sky to an unnatural purpose, but the ground itself has quickly become another all too familiar battlefield. Though the two opposing symmetrical bases may never reveal their ancient purpose, both now offer makeshift shelter and access to strategic routes perfectly suited for small and large scale skirmishes alike.

Breakpoint

Atop this icy precipice, the Invasion continues. These modular archaeological labs were never intended to withstand such a large scale onslaught of Covenant military power, but the information being extracted here may prove vital to humanity’s survival. In response to the imminent Covenant threat, UNSC ground and air assets have been deployed to bolster entrenched Spartan countermeasures. This site must yield salvation, or it will become a grave.