News

Yesterday we announced over at The Group Thing that we're looking to sponsor a new team for pro/semi-pro gaming. This team, if there is interest, will be formed from within The Group Thing's own ranks, or The Group Thing will announce the sponsorship offer to other teams.

This is the real deal, folks. If you're looking for a chance to get started in the competition scene, The Group Thing is your step stone. The Group Thing has all the means available to you to get started with servers to practice on and much, much more.

Read the original entry here.

Jason West and Vince Zampella, previous heads of Activision developer Infinity Ward, has founded a new studio and signed an exclusive deal with Electronic Arts.

The said founded studio, very fittingly called Respawn Entertainment considering the drama and unfair firing of West and Zampella from Infinity Ward and Activision, seems to be heading in the direction we all hoped Infinity Ward would go for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2; "we can ensure that the fans are treated as well as they deserve", West says.

The deal Respawn Entertainment has with Electronic Arts is a special one aswell. While Electronic Arts is the exclusive publisher, Respawn Entertainment will retain full ownership of the IP they create. A deal they will benefit greatly from, and unlike the deals with Modern Warfare/Call of Duty franchises Activision sadly retain full control over.

"Respawn Entertainment marks a fresh start for Jason and me," Zampella says. "For the past decade we led a great development team and poured our hearts into creating an epic game franchise. We're very proud of what we built; and proud that so many millions of fans enjoyed those games. Today we hope to do it all over again; open a new studio, hire a great team, and create brand new games with a new partner, EA."

Official website: www.respawn.com (In development)

Splash Damage announces their latest game; Tapir Wars: It Just Got Chilly!
Featuring groundbreaking technology T.R.A.M.S. (Totally Repeatable Automated Movement System).

Sources neither confirms or denies. Anything. Neither does Splash Damage..?
Sources however do confirm Tapirs and Penguins. Awesome.

Also, there's a video floating around on YouTube, we'll show it to you. OK?

Check out the new minisite for all the info you would ever need,
and probably ever want at www.splashdamage.com/tapirwars

Official Twitter page: www.twitter.com/tapirwars

DICE's newest and highly anticipated Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is out!
Connect Gaming and The Group Thing is already in full effect!

We're expecting to see you all ingame with us, kindly sharing your dogtags.

Man up, soldier! This is War!

Game modes on launch:

• Rush
• Conquest
• Squad Rush
• Squad Deathmatch

Our community server is live and can be found at:
81.19.208.29:19607, dubbed TGT - Full Metal Jacket

The server is a 32 slot Ranked server, running Rush mode.
Don't forget to add it to your favourites!

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Beta goes live tomorrow at 5pm GMT, 18:00 CET!

The moment we've all been waiting for is nigh! The legendary Battlefield franchise's latest PC installment serves us with a Beta to test, play-to-death and give feedback to. At the time being, this is only available to gamers who pre-order Battlefield: Bad Company 2 through a select list of retailers.

In order to access and play the beta, you will need your exclusive Beta key recieved from your retailer and download the client from www.battlefieldbadcompany2.com/beta, and follow the instructions given to you.

Getting Started In the Beta

1. Make sure you have at least 5GB free on your HDD and then download and Install BFBC2! :-D
2. Once installation is completed (install size will be around 1.5GB) start the client and click the login button. You will then be prompted to sign in with your EA Account.  If you don't have an EA Account you'll be able to create one in the same screen (You may also create your EA Account in advance here).
3. Enter the unique PC Beta Code during the log in process to authenticate your participation in the Beta.
4. Create your Soldier name (this will lock that name to your EA account for retail if you want to keep it).

For full details, read the official Battlefield: Bad Company 2 blog entry here.

Related links:

Official site: www.battlefieldbadcompany2.com
Official blog: blogs.battlefield.ea.com
Official Twitter page: www.twitter.com/OfficialBFBC2