There will NOT be a Campaign / Single Player in CoD: Black Ops 3 on Last Gen Consoles - AV News Drop

Black Ops 2 Multiplayer Patch 1.14 Released (Full Details Inside)

Yesterday Treyarch released multiplayer patch 1.14 for Black Ops 2 (PS3 and Xbox 360), it wasn't a very long list of changes and to be honest, most of the issues I didn't even know were occurring lol but I'm glad they're keeping their eyes on the ball and making sure everything is ship shape. There's handful of minor multiplayer glitches that have been nullified but the rest of the changes relate to the various zombies maps. I've posted the entire list below for your viewing pleasure:

PS3 Game Update (1.14) Notes: Aug. 22, 2013

Multiplayer Issues Addressed

• Fixed an issue which caused strafe and backwards movement speeds to be slower than intended in certain circumstances.
• Addressed an issue where Players were able to copy other Players’ emblems.
• Fixed an issue where throwing down and picking up equipment (such as the Bouncing Betty) for a long period of time would cause those items to become invisible when thrown.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 - Apocalypse DLC (Map Pack 4) Coming 27th August [Trailer Inside]

As summer draws to a close, we get ever nearer to the end of the Black Ops 2 cycle but just as we're all starting to get caught up in the hype of a new Call of Duty title, Treyarch have announced the fourth and final DLC pack of the current game. Titled as 'Apocalypse', this last DLC drop consists of, as per usual, four multiplayer maps (Pod, Frost, Take Off and Dig) and another brand new Zombies adventure, named 'Origins'. Now, I don't usually get excited for DLC drops but I must admit that Treyarch have definitely peaked my interest with this final set. I'm not talking soo much about the multiplayer maps, which by the way contain only two new maps this time, as Take Off and Dig are remakes of fan favourites from past titles; Stadium from Black Ops 1 and Courtyard from World at War (respectively). More rather the new Zombies map, which is rumoured to be the final chapter (figuratively speaking) of the existing Zombies storyline, where we go back in time to era of World War 1 and find out exactly how the saga began. I do talk a bit more about the trailer further down (mainly Zombies related) but if you'd rather watch it for yourself (which I highly recommend you do), you can find it embedded below for your convenience.

Black Ops 2 Multiplayer Patch 1.13 Released (Full Details Inside)

A short while ago patch 1.13 went live for both the PS3 and Xbox 360, this title update brings mix of things including some multiplayer weapon nerfs and the obligatory exploit fixes for Zombies. I should say that while the patch notes that cover both consoles might be quite short, the list for the Xbox 360 is a fair bit longer, due to the fact that the latest Zombies map 'Buried' (not yet out for PS3) had a lot of things tinkered with. I've decided not to added the changes made to 'Buried' because they are all to do with fixing glitches and exploits, which I assume will already be programmed when the map hits the PSN store next month. You can view the list that covers both consoles below:
 

PS3 Game Update (1.13) Notes: Jul. 23, 2013

New Features

• Season Pass holders will now be reminded to download Season Pass content which they haven’t previously downloaded.

Black Ops 2 Multiplayer Patch 1.12 Released (Full Details Inside)

Earlier today patch 1.12 for Black Ops 2 went live for both the PS3 and Xbox 360, it's not a particularly long list compared to previous updates but I have a feeling they might've implemented a few behind the scenes changes that weren't noted. Mostly the patch deals with issues such as exploits and glitches in multiplayer and zombies, nothing got nerfed this time, which is a pleasant surprise. Anyway, you can check out the full patch notes for yourself below:

PS3 Game Update (1.12) Notes: Jun. 27, 2013

Multiplayer Issues Addressed

• Addressed an issue reported by the community where camos and reticles would change or disappear.
• Addressed an issue reported by the community where players could run away with the bomb in a Search and Destroy or Demolition match.
• Addressed an issue reported by the community where players could become invincible for a period of time.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 - Vengeance DLC (Map Pack 3) - Coming 2nd July [Reveal Trailer Inside]

 
The third Black Ops 2 DLC comes in the form of 'Vengeance' and will be released on the 2nd of July and as per usual, will appear first on Xbox, then one month after on other platforms. This latest pack contains four new multiplayer maps: Cove, Detour, Rush and Uplink, the last map is in fact a re-make of the popular CoD: Black Ops map, Summit. In addition to those multiplayer maps, there's of course also one new Zombies map, titled as 'Buried', this adventure brings back the four original characters featured in the Tranzit map and has them fighting zombies in an underground Wild West town. But that's not all, this DLC drop will once again come with a new weapon, though instead of being for multiplayer, it's an exclusive to the Zombies game mode. It's come as a bit of surprise to have another new weapon added to the game, let alone one that can only be used in Zombies but apparently Treyarch feel there's enough of a demand for it and so they've introduced the 'Ray Gun Mark II'. It does look pretty cool but what I want to know is, how well does it kill zombies? Anyway, I've embedded the reveal trailer below, so you can see for yourself what the pack has to offer, enjoy.

Black Ops 2 Multiplayer Patch 1.11 Released (Full Details Inside)

Earlier today patch 1.11 for Black Op 2 went live for both the PS3 and Xbox 360, you can read the entire list below. I won't be doing a review of these changes because they're not particularly game changing (a couple of pistols got nerfed), mainly just minor issues that needed fixing or problems that needed cleaning up (mostly stuff for the Zombies).

PS3 Game Update (1.11) Notes: May. 23, 2013

Feature Improvements

• Improved and expanded who can be the host of a game lobby.

Black Ops 2 Multiplayer Patch 1.10 Released (Full Details Inside)

PS3 and Xbox 360 Game Update (1.10) Notes: Apr. 30, 2013

Feature Improvements

• Added a limited time game mode to the Bonus Playlist, the Arms Race Team Deathmatch variant awards players 150 score per kill. Let the Scorestreak wars begin.
• Added a post-match Connection Quality survey which will be presented to a sampling of players to assess online gameplay connection quality.

Multiplayer Issues Addressed

New 'Mob of the Dead' Zombies Trailer Released - Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Following on from the initial Uprising DLC reveal trailer and then the behind the scenes video of the new zombies map, Treyarch have released a new trailer, dedicated solely to the 'Mob of the Dead'. In the trailer we are shown some of the new Zombie types (possibly just aesthetically different but who knows?) as well as given glimpses of various locations and features within the new map. There's a couple cool new traps in the form of an acid sprinkler and circular saw blades, then there's at least one new bonus pick up item (I assume dropped by Zombies) and then the trailer ends with a sneak preview of one possible ending for the map. It could be that this new map is the first ever Zombies map with an actual plot line, which if followed all the way to the end, could result in an actual escape from the un-dead! [No more getting bored and committing suicide XD]. Official trailer after the break.

Behind the Scenes Video of 'Mob of the Dead' - New Zombies Map (from Pack 2) - Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

In the previous article I shared with you the new trailer for Black Ops 2 Uprising DLC (map pack 2), which contains four new multiplayer maps and one new Zombies map. Following up from this trailer, Xbox have posted a special behind the scenes video, which has developers talking about the new map and what it has to offer. Set on the notorious island of Alcatraz and inside the now defunct prison off the coast of Calfornia, you'll play as one of four new characters as you try and find a way to escape the rock. I'll let you watch the trailer before I list some of the things that I noticed.

The Replacers - Uprising DLC Trailer - Map Pack 2 - Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2

 
If you're starting to get tired of the maps on Black Ops 2, you'll be glad to hear that map pack two is on it's way. Dubbed 'Uprising', it will contain 4 new multiplayer maps (Magma, Encore, Vertigo and Studio) and 1 new Zombie map, called 'Mob of the Dead'. In this funny new trailer featuring the popular 'Replacer' character and his new partner, you don't really get to see much of the new maps, just some scenes flashing by quickly near the end of the video but it's still definitely worth checking out. Apparently one of the new multiplayer maps (Studio) is a remake of the popular Black Ops Firing Range map but until it's released we won't know how similar it will play, if at all. If you want to learn a bit more about the new zombies map, check out this other article for a behind the scenes special on Mob of the Dead video.

No More Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Balance Changes (Officially Confirmed)

Last week I informed you that Mass Effect 3 Weekend Operations were officially confirmed to be altogether finished, in that same article I predicted that the end might also be nigh, for the weekly balance changes made to multiplayer. Well yesterday, a BioWare developer officially posted on the multiplayer forums and proved that my guess was indeed accurate, there will be no more balance changes for ME3 MP. I've quoted the exact post below for you to read yourself:

Hey everyone, I regret to announce that we will no longer be releasing any more balance updates. There are many things we wish we had time to fix and improve, but as Jonathan Warner mentioned in Bioware’s blog post here, the team is moving on to new and exciting projects.

Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Is Officially Winding Down [Updated]

It is with regret that I must inform you that there will not be any more Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Weekend events. Most of us already guessed/assumed that this was the case when Operation: Lodestar went live a couple weeks back but I know a lot of other people were holding out hope, that there might just be a chance the developers would change their minds. Well in an official BioWare announcement today, it was confirmed unequivocally that there won't be any further organised weekend challenges but the post did go on to say that the multiplayer itself would continue as normal. The messages are mostly clear cut but I do provide my own personal mini analysis of it at the end of this article, if you're interested in my thoughts.

The image that I've displayed was released by BioWare last week, I was planning to discuss it in a special article on my time playing ME3 MP but at the moment I'm not sure when I'll be able to get started on that. In any case I think it suits this article very well, it's actually quite interesting to see the numbers that have been divulged and in some cases rather surprising, I never realised the mission fail rate was soo high! Anyway it's all in the picture, so there's no need for me to repeat any of the figures, just be sure to click on it to get the enlarged version.

Hi Everyone,

Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Balance Changes - 12th March 2013 (Full List Inside)

I don't usually post Mass Effect 3's weekly balance changes but I think today's set of changes definitely warrant a mention because for one, there's a lot of them and two, it confirms my prediction that last weeks special week-long operation was indeed probably the last ever :( Most of the changes revolve around buffing various components of the new Reckoning DLC kits bar one character. No prizes for guessing correctly who got the nerf sledgehammer; if you're a fan of the Alliance Infiltration Unit (AIU) be prepared for a tough read because she took a major beat down. After the list I'll discuss some of the bigger changes and provide my own personal opinions in general, on what has come to pass in today's "balancing". (Full list after the break)

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March 12, 2013
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Black Ops 2 Multiplayer Patch 1.08 Released (Full Details Inside)

It's funny but I was thinking the other day that Black Ops 2 was probably due for a game update soon and today we get it lol. Anyway, the video talks about two or three topics regarding what's been nerfed/changed but you'll have to read the full list below to learn the rest, there's a lot more than three by the way. In the remainder of the video, David Vonderhaar (game design director) talks about the upcoming CoD championships (the million dollar tournament) and other eSport events that are taking place. If you're a follower of eSports, you might be interested to see some of the teams that have already secured an invite to the CoD championship event taking place in April this year. In other Black Ops 2 news, apparently micro purchases (for real cash) will soon be available in game and the popular Nuketown 2025 map, could soon be made available to everyone for free but as with any DLC, Xbox 360 would get the release before other platforms.