Well, EA have now decided to give away 1943 to PS3 Battlefield gamers with an activated Battlefield Pass, most likely because of the lawsuit but we have no confirmation of that. EA have been kind enough to post a help topic on how to get a voucher to download said game here. Download vouchers are region specific and depending on where you are in the world you will be able to download the voucher from the following dates according to the help page.

November 26th, 2011 for Battlefield 3 players on PlayStation Network Sony Europe.
December 10th, 2011 for Battlefield 3 players on PlayStation Network Sony America.
December 17th, 2011 for Battlefield 3 players on PlayStation Network Sony Asia and Sony Japan.

Pachter believes Modern Warfare 3 will hit sixteen million globally by the fourth quarter of the year while Battlefield 3 will sell eight million globally.

He was quoted in saying:

“I’d guess that around half of the console copies of Battlefield 3 will be bought by people who also buy Modern Warfare 3, so around two to three million will buy both, I don’t see much cannibalization of the titles.”

Pachter said that Modern Warfare 3 could sell an extra eight million in 2012 and Battlefield 3 could sell a possible extra two million providing many gamers pick up both games.

Unfortunately this week has been somewhat dry up until today, which is when most of the following news happened.

Minecraft News

Minecraft made the gaming news today with two important pieces of information. Firstly that it had sold it’s three millionth copy and that Bethesda, creators of the Elder Scrolls series, are suing Notch for the use of the word scrolls. They say:

Everyone will confuse it with Skyrim.

Let’s hope this is resolved quickly.

Minecraft will have a convention,check out the main article here.

Tropico 4 News

In other news the Tropico 4 system requirements were announced

Minimum Required:

• Operating System: Windows XP SP3 (32-bit), Vista / 7 (32 or 64-bit)
• Processor: 2 GHz Dual Core CPU
• Memory: 1 GB RAM
• HDD: 5 GB free hard disk space
• Graphics: Shader Model 3.0 (Geforce 6600 or higher, Radeon X1600-Series), 256 MB, DirectX 9.0c

Recommended:

• Operating System: Windows Vista / 7 (32 or 64-bit)
• Processor: 2 GHz Quad Core CPU
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• HDD: 5 GB free hard disk space
• Graphics: Shader Model 3.0 (Geforce 8800 or higher, Radeon HD4000-Series or higher), 512 MB, DirectX 9.0c

Battlefield News

Battlefield 3 Information

If you played the Bf3 Alpha you should check your emails. EA is offering a special offer that bundles Battlefield 3 and your choice of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2 or Medal of Honor, all PC download.It expires on August 7th.

Some people are confused with the Beta early access so here’s what’s up

• If you pre-order Battlefield 3 on Origin (PC digital download) you will get 48 hour early access to the open beta. Even if you pre-ordered before this bonus was announced you are still eligible for early access to the beta.
• If you bought Medal of Honor: Limited Edition / Tier 1 Edition you will get the same 48 hour early access.

From Planet Battlefield.

• The SPECACT kit images were released today. You can get them if you pre-order from these retailers
• It was announced that the price of the Back to Karkand expansion pack will be $14.99 for gamers who do not buy the limited edition.

Not much more happened in PC gaming this week but if you need tips on what PC to buy check out this youtube video.

It was very hard to pick a top 10 this year. There have been some great games throughout 2010. I have managed to narrow down the list into those that I have most enjoyed.

10 – DeathSpank

With its Diablo like gameplay mixed with Monkey Island like puzzles and humour DeathSpank was something of a treat for me. The comedy styling’s of Ron Gilbert where strong with this one. Hours of laughs and addictive dungeon crawling gameplay made DeathSpank make its mark on not just Xbox lie Arcade and PSN but 2010.

9 – Deadly Premonition

Crazy genius. Words used to describe the likes of Hideo Kojima, David Lynch and David Cronenberg however in this case ‘Crazy genius’ describes Deadly Premonition to a tee. Sure the production values are low and the game doesn’t look like a current gen title but if you can look past the visuals then you will be in for a treat. A strange story that mange’s to be interesting and engrossing set in a world full of activities and surprisingly deep characters. Deadly Premonition may not have the looks but it did have the personality to stand out in 2010.

8 – Dragon Quest 9

A traditional JRPG in every sense, Dragon Quest 9 had me picking up my DS at every available moment. The epic scale of the game is impressive in its own right but add to that the ability to play with others in the same world made the game even better, same can be said about the downloadable content that supports the game. If you don’t like JRPG’s then Dragon Quest 9 will be your idea hell but for me it was heaven in my pocket.

7 – Plants Vs Zombies XBLA

Plants Vs Zombies XBLA: Simple yet so dam addictive, its something Popcap has managed to distil in almost every game they produce. Plants Vs Zombies has been doing the rounds on various different formats for a while now but 2010 seen the title shuffle onto Xbox Live Arcade. Keeping the addictive gameplay and the silly humour along with the addition of a few new game modes was a recipe for success and surely enough that recipe tasted dam good. Fun, simple and addictive Plants Vs Zombies had my fingers going green (from plants…not gangrene) and my face smiling.

6 – God of War 3

Kratos came into the next generation – and with it he brought the pain in HD. The game didn’t differ too much from past titles on the PS2 but the sheer epic scale of each level left an impression on me. Great sound track, great visuals, solid gameplay and unadulterated action and gore made God of War 3 stand out from the market.

5 – Bayonetta

Fast paced fluid action that is so over the top you can’t help break out in fits of giggles, that’s Bayonetta. The story was a little ropey but the main cast of characters’ helped carry the plot along with delivering a number of so lame its funny lines along the way. Gameplay was great as was the sound track which included a mix of Japanese and Western Styles which combined to make a catchy and unique sound.

4 – Battlefield: Bad Company 2

I’ll be honest this is pretty much my first person shooter card. Big explosions, big guns and solid design in all aspects of the game made Bad Company 2 an enjoyable experience. Sure the single player was a little weak however the multiplayer was a mix of fast paced brutal action and tactical play which resulted in an extremely enjoyable game. Extra credit should go towards the top notch sound design, you can literally hear every last bullet fly past your head.

3 – Heavy Rain

I shouldn’t like this game; in fact I should hate it. But I don’t in fact I love it, the stories where engaging and drenched in tension and atmosphere and i was compelled to play through the game till the very end. Gameplay is of course limited to a number of button presses and wandering around a area in a point in like manner however interacting with the supporting cast was addicting and compelling and oddly the action set pieces felt frantic and evoked panic at times are the main reasons why I fell for David Cages story. Beautiful animation and fantastic believable voice acting makes Heavy Rain a highlight on 2010 for me.

2 – Mass Effect 2

Although it didn’t stay in touch with its RPG roots and became more of a shooter it didn’t affect the quality of story and gameplay. The main beef behind the game was not the storyline but in fact the character development. With top notch visuals and a beautiful art and audio design Mass Effect 2 was a treat with many a epic moment to hold on to.

1 – Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2: Simply put Mario Galaxy 2 reminded me of why I love video games and why Nintendo are just a staple in the industry. Each level offers something new and interesting to try out, add to that the almost perfect gameplay and Nintendo charm and the result is pure video game bliss.

Honourable Mentions

Limbo: Although the game has seemed to fell into the over rated bracket in the eyes of many it didn’t stop me from enjoying the dark adventure that is Limbo. Simple in its gameplay yet so clever, the striking visuals and the creepy soundtrack made Limbo something of a dark piece of escapism. It was a strong year for downloadable titles and Limbo typified this.

It was very hard to pick a top 10 this year. There have been some great games throughout 2010. I have managed to narrow down the list into those that I have most enjoyed.

10 – Final Fantasy XIII

Great story. Great graphics. Everything you want from a turn-based RPG. There are a few flaws here and there (lack of free roam!), but overall a solid game.

9 – Blur

Fantastic action-packed racing game. I would describe it as Mario Kart with real cars. Loads of power ups. Loads of challenges. Loads of cars. Loads of tracks. Loads of fun.

8 – Battlefield: Bad Company 2

One of the more realistic FPS’s of the year. It has a solid campaign and brilliant multiplayer which should be played by all lovers of shooters.

7 – Call of Duty: Black Ops

Good online play, though I don’t believe as good as Modern Warfare 2. It was let down by its maps and over speculation. The campaign is great and an improvement in the franchise. Still hours of fun to be had.

6 – FIFA 11 / 2010 FIFA World Cup

The two FIFA games this year were yet again an improvement, and an easy triumph over it’s rival, Pro Evo. 2010 FIFA World Cup provided a brilliant selection in teams, and gave us a sneak preview of what we were to see when FIFA 11 released later in the year with improved game play from 2010.

5 – Dance Central

Whole-hearted fun for all the family. Provided us with so many laughs over the Christmas period, and really showed the true capabilities of Kinect. Definitely the best release title for the device, and best music game of the year.

4 – Fable III

Humor packed RPG, an improvement from the 2nd in the series. Fable III doesn’t let you down on action or adventure as you explore new places with new spells, weapons and characters. Most of the old features I loved remain, and more have been added.

3 – Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

Brilliant sequel to my Game of the Year 2009. Just as action-packed, intense and vast. If you love action adventure games, you can’t miss this one.

2 – Red Dead Redemption

Wow what to say about this game? I can’t justify in words how much I enjoyed it. I actually expected nothing from this game until release when I started seeing some reviews and tweets showing just how good the game was. The setting is brilliant. The characters are entertaining. But best of all is the world around you. The animals and vegetation look great and the variety is truly terrific. The action is fun and exciting. There are a lot of hours to be had in the game as well. Rockstar really showed that they can do something other than Grand Theft Auto.

1 – Mass Effect 2

My game of the year for many reasons. The story is fantastic. The gameplay is an improvement from the first, and battles can actually get pretty intense at stages. The cycle of weapons, armor and upgrades is great. The paragon system works perfect and the exploration of the worlds is completely original. The game also has some entertaining downloadable content. 30+ hours of enjoyment. BioWare really have upped their game in the franchise, and have earned my game of the year award with this title.

Reworked ‘Oasis’ and ‘Harvest Day’ maps make a return from the original Bad Company with “full Destruction 2.0 (buildings collapsing and micro destruction), enhanced graphics and lighting, and remastered ambient sounds and backgrounds” say DICE.  Alongside them will be two new maps, ‘Cold War’ and ‘Heavy Metal’.

Game modes available on each map are:

• Oasis (Rush, Conquest, Squad Rush, Squad Deathmatch)a
• Harvest Day (Rush, Conquest, Squad Rush, Squad Deathmatch)
• Cold War (Rush, Squad Rush, Squad Deathmatch)
• Heavy Metal (Conquest, Squad Rush, Squad Deathmatch)

No release date has been set as of yet. As usual, the pack will be free to PC gamers and VIP members.

The demo which was made available on both X box live and PSN has thrilled EA, Patrick Bach (senior producer of BC2) has said We couldn’t be more thrilled to hear that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is already in the hands of almost 2½ million gamers, and it hasn’t even shipped yet,”

EA CEO John Riccitiello recently that Bad Company 2 will help the publisher reclaim the shooter crown from Activision and their war machine ‘Modern Warfare 2′

Riccitiello finshed off his statement by hyping up Bad Companys multi player, in his own words Riccitiello claimed “We think we’ve got an advantage over Modern Warfare 2 with our multiplayer,” he said. “The guys at DICE do that really, really well. Frankly, once you get past, sort of, four people on a map, I think our gameplay is better.”

With the demo enjoying succes does this prove that gamers have already became bored of Modern Warfare 2?

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is Scheduled for March 5 for PS3, PC and Xbox 360.

The demo is available on both Xbox Live and PSN up until the 25th of Febuary.

From 28th January up to 25th February, PC gamers will be able battle it out on the Port Valdez map in the snow. The map will apparently be largely focused on vehicle combat although will still include plenty of foot combat. Battle tanks, quads and armored AA guns supposedly all feature so you will not have any trouble finding the vehicle for you.

Players are told to check the Bad Company Beta Page closer to the date of the launch, you will also need to have pre-ordered to gain access. Stores offering access so far include the EA Store and Gamestop, although other shops should hopefully be joining that list soon.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 hits US stores on March 2nd 2010 and UK stores on March 5th 2010.