Activision should cut their losses, amend their relationship with EA, and release Call of Honor: Duty Medal.
News Blips:
Infinity Ward's bad luck streak continues with the departure of Lead Designer Todd Alderman and Lead Software Engineer Francesco Gigliotti. Both men played a pivotal role in the development of Modern Warfare 2, such as Alderman's critical input into the multiplayer and story elements of the game. The respective Linkedin profiles of both individuals were updated to reflect the changes. With a name like that, Gigliotti could serve as an extra in the inevitable Assassin's Creed 2 film. [Kotaku]
A study by the Electronic Software Association of Canada (ESAC) reveals that the country is the world's third-largest residence for video game companies. Over 14,000 workers are involved within the industry, a number that managed to boost Canada over the United Kingdom, while falling behind the United States and Japan. With the hefty presence of EA and Ubisoft contributing greatly to Canada's appeal as a gaming hub, London (Ontario) Economic Development Corporation President Peter White stresses the government's focus "on digital media as being a core area." I expect all games that come from Canada to be stamped with a maple leaf seal of approval. [GamePolitics]
The latest Xbox 360 system update released today contains the previously reported USB storage support, along with a lesser-known file-transfer feature. Gamers are able to store profiles, game saves, and other data on a suitable storage device after a short compatibility check. A new mass-file transfer option allows multiple batches of data to be moved at once, instead of the previously tedious single-file system. Good news for me — I was growing vexed with transferring my Rock Band 2 songs one by one. [TheLostGamer]
After a 28-year standing, the world record for the highest Asteroids score fell in the late hours of Monday, April 5. John McAllister, a locksmith living in Seattle, spent nearly 60 hours of gametime to amass a staggering final score of 41,338,740, which tops the previous record of 41,336,440, established by Scott Safran in 1982. Expect to see an official posting of the record on tracking website Twin Galaxies in the near future. Not only does McAllister hold the world-record high score, he must also have the record for sore thumbs. [1UP]
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