FirstSpear TV

Posts Tagged ‘TFB’

Black Ops Weapons

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Being a ‘Tactical’ Fanboy, there’s something that’s been bothering me a bit: What’s up with the weapons in CoD: Black Ops? It’s like the devs over at Treyarch were salivating over some 1970s issues of Soldier of Fortune, said to hell with the game’s 1960s setting, and decided that Vietnam was fought with AKS-74Us and Galils. To Treyarch’s credit, there’s plenty of period appropriate weaponry, but for every M16 and M72 LAW there’s a FAMAS and Beretta 686 White Onyx double barreled shotgun just waiting to be picked up. Seriously, a hunting shotgun?!? Treyarch, what the hell?

And don’t get me started on the lame-ass “I can haz prototype?” excuse. Just because real life black operatives may have fielded advanced equipment and weaponry doesn’t excuse the use of MP5ks with modern-esque red dot sights, roughly a decade before the MP5 was even produced and reflex sights were patented. I also had to laugh at the following:

-NVA soldiers wielding SPAS-12 shotguns
-Every magnified gun scope is called an ACOG, even with the SUSAT and Swarovski scope
-Masterkey shotguns and flamethrower underbarrel attachments. Too early for the former, and the later never existed
-Any number of weapons even being in the game, including, but not limited to, the AUG and G11 rifles, CZ75 pistol, Strela-3 launcher, Spectre M4, ete.
-Other anachronisms and errors on their part

It’s fine that the devs wanted to put a little variety into the weapon selection, but a flimsy excuse is still a flimsy excuse.

In conclusion, there’s a big difference between being somewhat realistic with weapon variety, and making weapons available decades before they would be otherwise. Despite my ranting, I don’t mind using an HK-21 or Uzi in the game, but I’d rather Treyarch just own up and admit they did it because they could, not because of some lame ‘prototype’ excuse.

-Tactical FanBoy

GeoEye in H.A.W.X 2

Saturday, November 13th, 2010

GeoEye, Inc. is a company that provides highly detailed location intelligence to its customers via their large body of Earth-imaging satellites. Their services have seen use in the Defense and Intelligence sectors and oil and gas markets among others, but it’s the use of their images in the entertainment industry, specifically the new Ubisoft game Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2, that has really caught my attention.

As seen in these stills from the game, the amount of detail in the environments is staggering and look to be the most accurate representations of the featured locations ever seen in a video game. Granted, you’ll be kind of busy with constant dog-fighting to really take in what’s on the ground, but eye-candy of such a high caliber is always appreciated.

-Tactical FanBoy

Black Ops Midnight Launch

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Once again, I attended a launch party at my local Gamestop, this time for Black Ops. I arrived early at around 9:30, and still ended up as number 45 in line, since the staff was taking pre-orders as early as 7 PM. Despite this, the evening was enjoyable enough. A makeshift tournament of Modern Warfare 2 was among the available entertainment with a five dollar gift card as the top and only prize. I did sign up, but was quickly distracted when the staff put up a demonstration copy of Black Ops on the PS3, so I forfeited the tournament to try the new CoD instead. I played a few rounds of mulitplayer with some of the other attendees and was very impressed with the game, especially when compared to Modern Warfare 2. There were also refreshments in the form of pizza and a local band named Arete played at the event. The eventual wait in line passed quickly, and I rushed home with my new prestige edition, eager to bust out my new RC-XD car.

-Tactical FanBoy

That’s Tough

Saturday, November 6th, 2010

G4TV’s latest show, “That’s Tough” features countdowns of the top categories of “tough” people, places or things in the world. The half hour format covers 3 “tough” categories and counts down the top 3 of each using archival photos and footage, reenactments and limited interviews of subject matter experts. The format reminds of History Channel’s Gangland. G4TV only ordered 8 episodes making it a very short first season. Unfortunately, the commercials featuring Dude Manrod are more entertaining than the actual show. Look for it every Wednesday at 8:30PM, or don’t.

Video GameE3 2011

www.G4TV.com
-TFB

Black Ops Wrangler

Friday, November 5th, 2010

In a marketing first, Chrysler has announced the release of a vehicle with a video game promotional tie-in: the Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty: Black Ops edition. Available in two variants, the two door version is based on the Wrangler Rubicon model while the four door is based on the Wrangler Unlimited model. Both models feature a black exterior with Black Ops graphics on the roof and front quarter panels, 32 inch off-road tires in a high-gloss mineral gray, and tail lamp guards and a fuel-filler door from Mopar. The MSRP on the two door is $30,625 and the four door is $33,500. Since there’s finally a Jeep with tie-ins to a video game, perhaps someone will consider releasing a UNSC Warthog in the near future. The fans can only hope…

-Tactical FanBoy

PaintballX3 Magazine

Saturday, October 30th, 2010

PaintballX3 Magazine is a free online magazine read by tens of thousands of players around the world. It provides the latest news on anything paintball, from video games to tournaments and everything in between. You can read it at www.paintballx3.com.

-Tactical FanBoy

Tactical FanBoy Goes The Social Network

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Sadly, this doesn’t mean the rights to my life are being optioned into an awesome movie, but instead this is an announcement that you can now add ‘Tactical Fanboy’ on Facebook. Also, if you happen to have an Xbox Live account, you can friend request ‘Tactical Fanboy’. Regretfully, it’s first come, first serve, since there are only 100 open friend slots allowed on XBL. Even so, that shouldn’t discourage you from joining up for any community playdates we’ll set up in the near future.

– Tactical FanBoy

Get Medieval On Their Asses With Nerf N-Force Weapons!

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

Besides their fine selection of dart-based projectile guns, Nerf also has a variety of hard foam melee weapons with which to pummel the various whiners and non-believers. Although there is a variety of wimpy swords available, the really cool implements of destruction are as follows:

The Stonewall Shield and Dagger, which lets you hide behind its bulk, defending yourself from any number of attacks, while swiftly stabbing away with your free hand.

The Warlock Axe. I’m not sure what qualifies it for the Warlock title, because I’m pretty sure it’s not magical, but it sure is fun to swing around.

And my personal favorite, the Battlemaster Mace Axe, which is a mace… with blades. ‘Nuff said.

It’s also worth mentioning one ‘Klaw Hatchet’, which seems to be spoken of in rumors. Despite its apparent rarity, I am in possession of one, and although its pretty small compared to the rest of the N-Force series, it can still cause quite a bit of damage.

As great as these weapons are, however, it would really turn the cool factor up to 11 if they made Nerf Lirpa, so it would be possible to reenact this classic scene:

That’s right. Every good article should end with a little Trek, and I aim to please.

– Tactical FanBoy