*Pictures do not represent final product.

In case you have not logged on to your favorite console yet to see, Battlefield: Bad Company 2’s 5^th (yes, 5^th) VIP Map Pack is now available for download.

If you were hoping that this, the 5^th (again, the 5^th) VIP Map Pack would finally be the one with new maps, consider your hopes mostly destroyed.  VIP Map Pack 5 (5) follows the same formula as VIP Map Pack 1, VIP Map Pack 2, VIP Map Pack 3 and VIP Map Pack 4 where old maps are combined with old game modes to create a… new-ish experience.

Also, as with the first four VIP Map Packs, this one is 100% free—as long as you have the VIP code that came with all new copies of the game.  If you bought the game second-hand, you’ll need to download the VIP code for $15, which will give you access to all of the VIP content.

The yummy bits this time consist of being able to play White Pass in Rush Mode and Nelson Bay in Conquest Mode.

Hey, at least EA and DiCE continue to release free content on a pretty regular basis!

KontrolFreek Evens the Playing Field with New TD Freek

Makers of The Popular FPS Freek And Speed Freek Suit Up For Football Season

July 26, 2010 – ATLANTA – KontrolFreek (www.kontrolfreek.com), makers of the wildly popular FPS Freek and Speed Freek attachments for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers, announced today that they are expanding their family of products to include a new football-themed adapter dubbed the TD Freek. In keeping with the company’s tradition of offering innovatively designed and functionally effective console gaming accessories, the TD Freek gives football gamers improved comfort and maneuverability in titles like Madden and NCAA football. The adapter serves as a joystick extension and features a premium grip designed to resemble the external skin of a football.  The result is added leverage, accuracy and comfort for the player.  The TD Freek will be available at www.kontrolfreek.com starting August 10^th for $9.99.

With the addition of TD Freek, KontrolFreek adds another compelling product to its stable of gaming gear and tackles another major genre for gaming titles. Enthusiasts and competitive football players alike will be thrilled with the results they see after spending a little time using TD Freek. The attachment provides gamers benefits on both sides of the ball.

Offense: Avoid being tackled, get the yards and make the play with a higher degree of control over the ball carrier. From the moment the ball is snapped, the player will notice the difference in their gaming performance using the TD Freek.

Taking a step back with the quarterback and maneuvering inside the pocket -- where every step matters -- is a totally different experience with a longer joystick. And if the pocket collapses causing the player to have to scramble, the TD Freek will give the player the necessary grip to make split second decisions. This is especially relevant to rushing and passing plays where the TD Freek can improve both control and accuracy.

Defense: Stop the offense in its tracks with more precise control and tackling. Football is a game of inches, and the longer joysticks and hence better leverage afforded by the TD Freek will help the player push the offense back one yard at a time by tracking down and making better tackles.

“Football is hugely competitive in the world of console gaming and KontrolFreek is proud to bring Madden and NCAA football players the equipment to take their game up a notch,” said Ashish Mistry, CEO of KontrolFreek. “Sports gamers are some of the most passionate in the industry and we are very excited to now be able to play a role in that space. The TD Freek helps further KontrolFreek’s mission of providing top-notch console accessories for every gamer in the household. Look for more from us in the coming months as we continue to expand to new genres.”

About KontrolFreek

Fast-growing KontrolFreek creates videogame console controller accessories that help gamers win. The company uses the latest in ergonomic science, engineering, and materials to make Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 controller accessories that have been acclaimed by both critics and consumers alike. Simplicity of design and enhancing gaming performance serve as the underpinnings of the company’s products. The KontrolFreek family of products improves speed, accuracy, maneuverability and comfort for players of all levels and across a variety of gaming genres. KontrolFreek is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, visit www.KontroFreek.com. To meet KontrolFreek’s growing community, visit www.facebook.com/kontrolfreek.

Media Contact:

Chris Keene

FTW! Public Relations

chris@ftwpublicrelations.com

302.463.1665

After seeing the image of that *alleged* special edition Halo: Reach controller on the internet earlier this week, it should come as no surprise that Microsoft announced a whole Reach console bundle yesterday.  The limited edition Xbox 360 bundle will include all the goodies that the newly released slimline version has (Kinect ready, WiFi, 250GB HDD, etc.) but all in a silvery UNSC paint scheme.  It also comes loaded with sounds from the Halo universe (like a charging energy shield when you open the disk tray!).  The bundle comes with two of those silver controllers, a special edition Reach headset, limited edition Elite armor, some other media and a copy of Halo: Reach.

The Reach bundle will be available September 14^th for $399.  The limited edition controller and headset will be available separately in late August for $59.99 and $49.99 respectively.

What’s up, Freeks?  Remember that t-shirt contest?  You know, the one that we’ve been talking about since you got here?  Yeah.  It’s been a long road getting to the winner.  And we appreciate all of the feedback that you guys have given us along the way.

Before we show you the winner, we wish that we could have chosen more designs to print but we’d have to fire way too many people around the office to make it work—and that would just be rude.  No worries, though.  We will be working on adding some fresh gear soon and hope that you guys show the same kind of excitement for all of our upcoming announcements.

Anyway, we think that you’ll be happy with our choice for the very first KontrolFreek t-shirt.  The design that we’ve chosen really embodies the spirit of the FPS Freek: pulling off a nasty headshot and showing your friends how 1337 you are.  We hope you like it as much as we do!

Congratulations, Tim!

The best part of this announcement is that you can purchase the winning t-shirt right now in our store in both men’s and women’s sizes!  The first run of these t-shirts will ship starting next week.  You guys have been asking for it for a long time—now’s your chance to finally show your n00b friends how awesome you are by sporting our new gear.

Peace, Love and Killstreaks.

Just in case you haven’t heard enough hype over Gran Turismo 5, Polyphony Digital is once again pumping the loooong overdue game saying that the level of detail and precision is way too good to be considered current-gen.  Kazunori Yamauchi (Polyphony Digital Boss) claims that GT5 will be so awesome it would “… actually [be] more suited to the next generation of machines.”

Mr. Yamauchi’s statement means nothing, of course, because GT5 will be released with the PS3’s current-gen limitations—but it’s good to hear that he’s excited about the game he’s been working on for the last 5-years.  Hell, with GT5’s alleged 1000 realistically rendered car models, true-to-life damage, weather effects and a track editor; we should all probably be that excited!

So, are you?  Let me know.

Maybe it’s just my git ‘r done philosophy, but I’m really eager to get my hands on the NASCAR portion of the game.  That November 2^nd release date has me reaching for my SpeedFreeks already!

Yeah, really!  Offshore Oil Strike was a board game released and endorsed by BP back in the 1970’s that promised excitement “for all the family.”

Here are the rules, according to BoardGameGeek:

“Two to four players compete at exploring for oil, building platforms, and laying pipelines to bring the offshore oil back to the player’s home company. Players take on the roles of either BP (Hull), Amoco (Bergen), Chevron (Rotterdam) or Mobil (Dieppe) in their quest for oil. As with other games focusing on offshore oil exploitation (e.g., Omnia’s North Sea Oil), there is also the risk that storms will reduce production on, or eliminate, one’s oil platforms. The first player to make $120,000,000 in cash is the winner.

Players must also avoid “hazard cards,” which read, “Blow-out! Rig damaged. Oil slick clean-up costs. Pay $1million.”

As exciting (and appropriate) as that all sounds, it’s mostly just funny that BP continues to be punched in the face (virtually, of course) repeatedly by everyone—even bell-bottom wearing 1970’s BP.  So, hurray for irony once again!