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2K Games have released BioShock 2 worldwide for the Xbox 360 console, PlayStation 3 system and Games for Windows-LIVE. Building on the original game that sold over 3 million copies, BioShock 2 delivers an artistic and entertaining video game experience.

The single player mode’s storyline serves as a sequel to the original game. BioShock 2 gives users a magnificent visual design and provides them with the evolution of the genetically enhanced shooter gameplay. Taking place nearly a decade after a horrifying civil war consumed the once lustrous city of Rapture, evil is swarms through the halls and a impiety once thought to be destroyed returns to the Atlantic seaboard.

After a series of kidnappings from local communities by an unknown monster, Rapture is once again repopulated with Little Sisters. Players are put into the boots of one Rapture’s deadliest foes, Big Daddy, as they travel through the ruined utopia, fending off attacks from genetically altered Splicers, while in a search for escape and the key to survival.

Source ~ TransWorldNews

Aion has had a rocky release, to say the least – bots, RMT, crashing, slow XP leveling, lack of quests at certain levels. NCSoft today implemented a 2nd wave of bannings for bots and appears to be taking this issue seriously. Also, earlier this week, NCSoft release its latest patch. Included, although unpublished, was a fix or a great step to fix the constant crashing during fortress sieges. The future is uncertain but these latest steps may stabilize the subscriptions somewhat and this latest video now may stave off additional defections and regenerate some of the earlier excitement with the game, if the changes come sooner rather than later.

The video shows high-quality graphics that are simply amazing, mounts (with combat?), swimming, underwater leveling areas, housing, killer casting animations, more active weather, city sieges?

A few weeks ago, NCSoft announced an important addition to their Aion staff – community manager for North America Andrew Beegle a.k.a. “Tamat”, whose main job will be to interface with what is perhaps the most vocal segment of any MMO community.

Prior to this, we had known Andrew as our esteemed colleague from ZAM Network, where he worked as a game journalist for four years. This week, we steal a few moments from his busy schedule to answer some questions on forum hot topics, yes including the grind, use of bots, and other fun stuff…

IGNPC: The other hot topic these days is the rampant botting that seems to be taking place in the game. You guys mentioned in your October community address that there is a special team dedicated to hunting down and eliminating these bots. I think the question in people’s minds is, why do we still see a great number of the same bots we’ve been seeing every day, and what can we do to help?

Andrew Beegle: The special division of our customer service team that is dedicated to hunting down bots has made some solid progress. We’re still adding staff to that team, so progress on the bot front will continue and build over time. The unfortunate truth is that even though we’re banning thousands of accounts every day, the amount of new accounts being created with botting in mind does a great job of making it seem that we’re not banning anyone. However, that is not the reality.

Full Story ~IGN

I can speak from personal experience as an Aion player who leveled to 46 that I have encountered the same bots with the same names consistently and in the same areas of each map. You can’t leave many areas without stumbling over many bots. Like many other players, I have used their /autohuntingreport button (it’s on my sidebar).

There are bots that I have reported over a month ago and more than 10-20 times, each, yet they are still there. The forums are full of similar personal experiences. I cannot help but wonder if that button even does anything but to act as a stress reliever to the player who thinks he’s done something and turned it over to NCSoft to hopefully do something, sometime. I wonder if NCSoft even receives the report as action never appears to take place.

The same bots that I and many others have reported since our 20s level are now either level 50 or quickly approaching 50, the highest achievable level. If action is being taken, how is this remotely possible? If bots were banned and replaced by new bots, as Tamat suggests, then why are there so many bots approaching level 50? If NCSoft were as proactive as they attempt to claim, shouldn’t there be far less higher level bots than lower level bots as leveling takes quite a bit of time, even for a bot? I will believe it when I see it. Words are easy. It’s time for NCSoft to make the donuts, so to speak.

As anyone can see from the Aion Source forums from this thread and this thread, the community believes that bots are the number one major problem and have little faith in NCSoft. This concern even tops the heavy amount of game crashing during fotress sieges, which is a critical element of Aion. Many of us crash every few minutes in said sieges and are forced to dumb down the graphics to nothing in an effort to try to squeeze an extra minute or two before crashing.

Other MMOs have died quickly for not quickly correcting glaring issues. I truly hope that Aion will not be the next one to die an early death and be a game of “what could have been” to be discussed for years as people migrate to other MMOs or tire and move to other game types as being burned by so many takes its toll (i.e., Warhammer, AOC, being the more recent).

Players are now one step closer to the release of the year’s biggest massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, Aion.

Within the next four weeks, NCsoft will treat North American and European gamers to two opportunities to jump into the world of Aion and explore Atreia as Asmodian or Elyos characters ahead of its release in North America on September 22 and Europe September 25. Aion’s Open Beta Test featuring version 1.5 will take place September 6 – 13 and will include numerous Western enhancements, including improvements to Aion’s innovative character customization with a host of Western styles, as well as new zones, instances, skills, quests and continued game balancing and improvements. Open Beta will retain a level cap for both Elyos and Asmodians characters at 30 allowing players to focus on getting to the same level so they can explore the lands of Atreia together, as well as the Abyss.

Players who have preordered Aion will be treated to a Pre-Select and a two-day Headstart period giving them the opportunity to explore, organize and progress through the game prior to the official launch. Pre-Select will take place on September 18, while Aion’s Headstart will begin September 20. Players can still participate in the Aion’s Pre-Select and Headstart programs by preordering the game through several participating online and brick-and-mortar retailers, including Aiononline.com, Amazon, Best Buy, EB Games Canada, Fry’s Electronics, GameStop, Steam and Target.

Unlike any MMO before it, Aion is a uniquely crafted online experience where flight offers much more than just a way to explore the landscape – it is a strategic and integral part of combat, quests, and exploration. Players will dive into battle and plunge through thousands of unique, story-driven quests, all while trying to save a world literally shattered in half from centuries of brutal conflict. Using one of the most flexible and in-depth character customization systems ever featured in an MMO, players will be able to create genuinely distinct characters and explore a visually stunning world of ethereal beauty brimming with otherworldly inhabitants, mysterious enemies, and ancient secrets.

For more information about Aion go to http://www.aiononline.com.

Updates to America’s Army 3 were released today.

• Removes Password from AA3Launch.log
• Fix for MBS not working after server changes to a new map
• Fixes TeamReady in Mission Preplanning
• Updated authentication SDK to improve reliability and performance
• Fix for freezing on training mission load
• Improved performance on loading maps/training missions
• Fixed several small memory leaks
• Fixed performance issue with server that caused it to load UI elements into the server (where they aren’t needed) and thus use up additional CPU and memory.
• Modified training authentication so it is more efficient
• Modified AMD negative delta time exception handling so it no longer stops the server or client, but just logs the event
• Fixed Admin add Player Admin
• Fixed Admin kicking of players. Now works properly with Soldier name and has optional kick by player ID
• Add new AdminListPlayers to get list of players and their player ID’s
• Removes most of the server log spam, especially that tied to missions and mission setup and ROE
• Fixes several issues related to ROE firing off when player is bleeding, asphyxiating, or falling after being wounded by ROE
• You can now strafe on ladders so you don’t get stuck in Pipeline or Obstacle Course. Strafe too far and you fall off, just like AA 2.x
• Modified program startup to clear out any old ATS temporary files
• Improved scoring messaging support for training missions
• Fixes several scoring issues
• Optimizes more of the authentication code and adds better exception handling in it
• Adjusts STS (stats) integration to better detect invalid objects to avoid crashes
• Fixes issues with single player stats not correctly initializing all of the time
• Adds feedback to UI when player purchases training until purchase is complete (says “Purchasing”)
• Modifies MBS to track how many players are playing vs. how many players are on the server (player + Spectators) and now MBS browser only shows the number of players (so the count won’t exceed max players)
• Turns HUD off whenever menu is activated (still an issue with battle planner activation the first time, however)
• Adjusts the close menu logic to always close properly so double menus should no longer happen

America’s Army 3 Update Released

Updates to America’s Army 3 have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The specific changes include:

* Removed apparent lag caused by other players entering or leaving a server
* Improved start of round spawn issues
* Resolved problem with training results not saving
* Improved communication with Authentication server
* Eliminated freezing up when moving from one training mission to another
* Cleared up hesitation during training missions
* Significantly reduce number of authentication transactions between player and Authentication server
* Solved achievements save and display problems
* Improved Login communication with Authentication server
* Improved player statistics tracking for better accuracy
* Improved overall performance

Steam News Link

Silver Spring, MD JUNE 17, 2009 – The U.S. Army today launched America’s Army 3, the only action game that delivers an authentic and entertaining Army experience by reflecting the training, technology, actions, and career advancement of a Soldier within an exciting, free game experience. Players can download the teen-rated game from Steam (http://www.americasarmy.com/steam/), as well as from partners listed at the America’s Army website (http://www.americasarmy.com). As with previous versions of America’s Army, AA3 will be constantly updated to include new features and missions and to highlight new technologies being incorporated in today’s Army.

In America’s Army 3, Every Detail Counts and as a result, the game has more authentic military elements including training, technology, weapons, and audio than any other military game. Built on Unreal Engine 3, AA3 delivers stunningly realistic environments, lighting effects, animations, and team-based experiences so that America’s Army players can experience how Soldiers train, live, and advance in the Army. Players are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and gain experience as they navigate challenges in team-based, multiplayer, force-on-force operations. In the game, a player’s actions and demonstrated Army values are integral to successful mission accomplishment and affect a player’s career progression.

The game is launching with five different environments, each with three different mission scenario options for a total of 15 different map/mission combinations. Initially, the core of the gameplay focuses on an Infantry Soldier (11B). Players first complete Basic Combat Training and then progress to Advanced Individual Training for a variety of specialized roles that the Infantry Soldier performs, such as Advanced Rifleman, Automatic Rifleman, Squad Designated Marksman, and Grenadier. This advanced training allows players to unlock new abilities and gear, customize their gear and equipment loads, increase their in-game skill level, and progress in their Army careers.

Click here for additional details on America’s Army 3.0.

Download America’s Army 3.0 FREE on Steam or get the download via BIG Download.

It seems Blizzard has been taking on unofficial WoW applications in the Apple Apps Store. According to Gaming Angels, Blizzard has asked the owners of Armory Browser, Warcraft Arena Calculator, and Warcraft Characters to remove the apps. Granted, these are all paid apps, but it seems that Blizzard doesn’t plan on stopping there and will target the free apps next. No explanation for these take-down requests have been posted yet, but many speculate that Blizzard may be creating a few apps of their own.