BAD COMPANY 2 CONSOLE DEMO AND PC BETA

Stockholm, Sweden - January 28, 2010 - DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced that first-person shooter fans will get early access to the best-in-class online war experience in Battlefield: Bad CompanyTM 2. Players can now download a free* console demo worldwide on Xbox LIVETM Marketplace. A PC beta would also be available to players that pre-order** the game at participating retailers in North America, Europe and Asia, and through select community channels at 6pm CET today. On February 4th, the demo will be accessible on the PlayStation®Network in Europe and on February 11th in North America. Defined by its increasingly intense vehicular warfare, destruction, variety of weapons and huge sandbox environments, Battlefield Bad Company 2 promises to be one of the finest online FPS games of 2010.

"After the success of the PS3 beta, we're excited to provide gamers -- especially our long-supporting, rabidly passionate PC fans -- with another opportunity to get into the game before release," says Patrick Bach, Senior Producer on Battlefield: Bad Company 2. "Our fans have been a huge part of the franchise's success and we can't wait for everyone to experience the amazing gameplay and unforgettable Battlefield moments in Battlefield: Bad Company 2."

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 console demo and PC beta will feature Port Valdez, a new vehicle focused map where up to 24 players (32 on PC) will compete against each other as either the US or Russian armies in the game's Rush multiplayer mode. Players will have access to five land and three air vehicles where the Russian side can use everything in their arsenal including Main Battle Tanks as well as the fast-moving Quad Bikes and Mobile Armored AA. The fight will also be packed with plenty of infantry combat fought alongside the waterline towards a great oil industrial landscape in the Alaskan mountains.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be in stores on March 2, 2010 in North America and March 4, 2010 in Europe for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the PC. The Limited Edition can be pre-ordered now on all platforms at no extra cost, with participating retailers worldwide (while supplies last).

CVG can confirm that Activision has pencilled in a November release for the seventh Call Of Duty - which will be set in the late 1960s, during the Vietnam War.

Following this week's rumours, a senior UK trade source today told us that the Treyarch-developed title is scheduled to arrive a full 12 months after last year's Modern Warfare 2.

They added that the game would be set during the Vietnam conflict - and takes particular influence from classic movies Apocalypse Now and Platoon.

"It's going to be November again - just as with World At War and Modern Warfare 2," they told CVG.

"Activision believes that it can own Christmas 2010, just as it has in the last two years.

"Development is on course - and Treyarch have been told the game must be ready to hit shelves before the gifting season."

Activision declined to comment when contacted by CVG

Extra details on EA’s Medal of Honor revamp emerged today, regarding not only the in-game Tier 1 Operatives within Afghanistan, but two different single-player campaigns.
Speaking with Gamesmaster magazine, a real-life Tier 1 Operative (who wished to remain anonymous for good reason) told the mag that games like this are great – as long as it’s done with respect.

“After speaking with EA, we have full confidence that the product they’re making will do the subject justice,” said the Operative (via The Lost Gamer).
“It’s a game about honor, above all. If you look at the font of the logo it’s the word that stands out above all others.”
Operatives, such as this, acted as content consultants on the title, and have full power over EA to amend anything that is not authentic character behavior, dialogue, weapon handling and combat situations.
The story will be told from several different operatives’ perspectives, and includes use of disguises when meeting informants.
The game’s executive producer, Greg Goodrich, also stated that players will be “surprised by how some of the enemies respond, both in terms of tactics and the weapons they use.”
On the single-player front, the game will be divided into two sections. The first focuses on a series of Elite Op missions that are more secretive and specific objective based objectives, while the second – called the Sledgehammer campaign – changes the focus of the game by putting you into a larger scale missions than you would as an Operative.

*UPDATE*
Apparently, GamesMaster magazine in the UK is being misquoted about Medal of Honor having two separate campaigns.

Here's the quote from MedalofHonor.com

We want to clarify that Medal of Honor will have one seamless single player campaign, not two separate campaigns as was recently reported. You will, however, play as multiple characters that each partake in diverse and unique experiences from both the “Tier 1” and “Big Military” perspectives; hence the “Sledgehammer” and “Scalpel” motifs that were taken out of context.

The squad ventures into the war torn docks of Panama Canal in the classic Battlefield mode of Conquest. Teamwork is key if you want to capture your objectives and punish your enemies. Fueled by tactical destruction, an amazing array of vehicles and a vast selection of weapons, Battlefield Bad Company 2 offer the best all out war experience for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Available March 2, 2010.