*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!

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!

Well, it has been an interesting few days to say the least!  We’ve been really busy bringing you guys this contest and appreciate those of you who have been super-cool and supportive of what we’re trying to do.  We want to build a community of likeminded gamers who not only love KontrolFreek products, but want to be a part of something and help us shape what we’ll be doing in the future.  Doing things like giving away Xbox 360s is just our way of giving back—and honestly, it’s a lot of fun.  So congratulations to the last two winners and stay tuned for more cool stuff coming soon!

The winners are:

James Lutz

Robert Cumming

Thank you all!

KontrolFreek