First-person shooters may be thick on the ground these days, but few require the level of co-operation that Ubisoft is hoping to inject into the genre with the imminent release of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.

A recent play test through two of the game’s co-op modes — campaign and guerrilla — suggested that the game may distinguish itself not only with the teamwork and communication required to play successfully, but also with quieter moments, something other shooters generally pay lip service to, at best.

Campaign mode may see all four soldiers outfitted for a particular specialty, with sniping, machine-gunning, and close-combat load-outs all available. Equipment too is dispersed amongst the team, with one member carrying a UAV drone whilst others lug grenades about. Flexibility is key to advancing in the game, so it pays to have all bases covered.

 

Blizzard has publicly apologised for Diablo III’s server problems, admitting that it didn’t prepare thoroughly enough for the game’s launch.

"Despite very aggressive projections, our preparations for the launch of the game did not go far enough," said Blizzard via Diablo III's Battle.net forum.

As well as hampering players’ ability to get into the game, server problems have now delayed the launch of the game’s auction house.

 

Today we’re very excited to announce that AustralianGamer has merged with Gameplanet to create New Zealand and Australia’s first local gaming media network.

AustralianGamer will now operate as Gameplanet Australia, with the great staff led by Matt Burgess and Guy ‘Yug’ Blomberg joining our team.

AustralianGamer is one of the oldest independent gaming sites across the Tasman, and we’re looking forward to growing our two sites together.

 

Activision and EA have reached an out of court settlement regarding Activision’s claims that EA poached staff from its Infinity Ward studio.

Activision had sought USD $400m (NZD $524m) from EA for disruptions and delays caused by the departure of ex-Infinity Ward heads Vince Zampella and Jason West, as well as 40 other employees.

"Activision and Electronic Arts have decided to put this matter behind them," Activision lawyer Beth Wilkinson said today after a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court.