Armory Staff

In this episode of “Inside DICEâ€, we let you in on the design philosophy behind the HD Destruction in Battlefield 3â„¢: Close Quarters and how the VFX was tweaked to fit the mayhem in this new indoors environment. View the full article

In this episode of “Inside DICE”, we let you in on the design philosophy behind the HD Destruction in Battlefield 3™: Close Quarters and how the VFX was tweaked to fit the mayhem in this new indoors environment. Hello everyone, I’m Nadab Göksu, Senior VFX Artist at DICE. I have been doing visual effects for Battlefield games since Battlefield 2 [released 2005]. My role includes everything from creating particle effects to post filters, lens flares, and bullet decals. I also hook stuff up to the right gameplay effect — so there’s a metal kind of explosion (and not a wooden one) when you fire your RPG at a vehicle, for example. Visual effects is a constantly evolving field. No game is like the last one, and that’s one reason I still enjoy working on them. As hardware and code is constantly evolving, we can get more and better-looking visual effects into the games, and I always try to push the limits of what we can do. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BF3_Close_Quarters_925..pngHD Destruction on display in the upcoming expansion pack Battlefield 3: Close Quarters. For Battlefield 3: Close Quarters I approached the visual effects with two things in mind. Firstly, that particle effects should not block a player’s view. We have a lot more destruction than in previous games, so if we were to use the set of FX from the base game, the rooms and corridors in Close Quarters would be literally filled with smoke for long periods of time, potentially ruining the gameplay. Secondly, the whole art direction for this expansion pack centers around destruction. I wanted to emphasize this by having a lot of debris and very violent dust explosions that burst and dissipate quickly so that they don’t take over the scene. The focus here should be on debris rather than smoke. Combined, these two tenets governed a lot of the FX work for Close Quarters. You create the chaosOne important aim for me with Close Quarters is to let players generate ambient environmental chaos. All HD Destruction leaves behind a big and very long-lived dust particle cloud that shows the trace of war and turns the surrounding dusty. On the “Skybar” level [our internal title for Ziba Tower] for example, you have the sprinklers that will trigger if someone shoots at them or if an explosion goes off nearby. We also have gas stoves that burst into flames during the entire round. Showers start to leak water and steam, TV’s are buzzing with static, lights are flashing, and so on. The experience I want to convey is that you generate the chaos, and you can track were the action is by following the signs of destruction. Put simply, at the end of a round, a Close Quarters map should look and feel completely different from when the round started. “At the end of a round, a Close Quarters map should look and feel completely different from when the round started” So what we did was create a lot of new surface materials for “XP2” [our internal designation for this second expansion pack] and a new set of gameplay/destruction effects for all of the different props and objects. This way it would be easier to control the new effects and to give this expansion pack a unique look. Basically, all impact effects from bullets in Close Quarters are new. They are also rapid, more violent and contain a lot more debris than earlier. Every bullet fired will now spawn ~50 particles upon impact, from the previous ~10. How can we afford this from a performance standpoint? That’s where our optimization work comes into play, making sure that all the extra debris will only spawn if it’s close you to, with a cap on how much debris can exist in the world at any one time. Apart from these new impact effects, I also created new destruction effects in various sizes for different materials to fit all of the objects we have, such as wood, furniture, concrete, marble, and so on. For each part that can be chipped away from an object, we spawn ~6 small cluster objects that the prop artists include when they’re building their props (such as chairs, lamps, and walls). Normal clusters can collide and have proper physics, while the small clusters are not networked and are relatively cheap from a performance standpoint. The rest is mesh particles — they don’t have any sort of collision, but mixing the two types still gives a strong visual experience to the player. Randomly shooting at stuffAbove you can see a demo montage that I put together, just randomly shooting at stuff to showcase the destruction internally here at DICE. I just added a slow motion effect in post-production because I wanted to see all the details in our HD Destruction. Besides what has already been discussed in this post, a lot of work went into tweaking existing effects. The RPG explosion has been remade, for example, and now has a very unique look. Players should now be able to see a distinct difference between an RPG explosion versus a hand grenade explosion, especially since the latter also has seen a revamp with Close Quarters. These changes not only look pretty – they were absolutely necessary from a gameplay perspective as well, since the base game FX would effectively block visibility in two entire rooms inside the Ziba Tower map! Other explosive items that have been revamped for Close Quarters are the C4 and Claymores. The C4 explosion radius should now match its actual gameplay area more closely, and the Claymore now has a directional based cone of mayhem, also modified to fit its actual gameplay range. These are all changes that were essential in bringing the Battlefield indoors, where space is much tighter than on a traditional Battlefield map (like Caspian Border, for example). It’s been a blast working on Close Quarters, and the June release is coming up. I hope you will have as much fun with it as we have had during our play tests. I tend to favor TDM, so you can probably find me in some Noshahr Canals TDM server, at least until this expansion pack gets released. Thanks for reading, and let me know in the comments section below if you have any questions on our VFX work and I’ll try to answer them. Nadab GöksuSenior VFX Artist View the full article

Here’s a startling statistic coming from EA’s Peter Moore: according to EA’s stats, almost 20 percent of Battlefield 3 players … Read on → http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SJYcUKDgUqoiOwacQNzwOOxV3mc/0/di http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SJYcUKDgUqoiOwacQNzwOOxV3mc/1/di http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/ckdvxowESS0 View the full article

Last week, we presented you the opportunity to ask your questions to one of the former Tier 1 Operators working on Medal of Honor Warfighter. The response was enormous. We collected hundreds of questions and the Operator selected 3 questions to answer for this round. http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/ask_a_tier_1.jpgLast week, we presented you the opportunity to ask your questions to one of the former Tier 1 Operators working on Medal of Honor Warfighter. The response was enormous. We collected hundreds of questions and the Operator selected 3 questions to answer for this round.Question 1 Have you ever done a joint operation with another country?Tier 1 OperatorYes, in training and in combat. In training I have worked with many many countries, honestly, too many to list. It is quite normal for Special Operations Forces to train together. As far as in combat, I have done operations with the British SAS, British SBS, Polish GROM, Canadian JTF-2, and the Australian SAS-R in Iraq and/or Afghanistan.Question 2What is your preferred sidearm and primary weapon?Tier 1 OperatorWeapons are ultimately tools and you use different tools for different jobs and tasks. So my preferred sidearm and primary would change depending on what I was doing, where I was at, and many different variables. That being said, I'll give you my standards that I use very often and are kind of my “go to(s)". For sidearm, I preferred the Glock 22. The Glock can take any kind of punishment and is still super reliable. It also has a high magazine capacity and a safety that is built into the trigger so it is very quick to draw and engage targets. In .40 caliber configuration, it is an all around great handgun. Also of note: with a barrel and magazine change, the .40 cal Glock can shoot 9mm which is great if the only ammo readily available is 9mm. For my Primary, I really liked the HK 416 for my shorter assault style rifle or a 7.62 AR like the LaRue OBR. The HK is very compact, allowing me to maneuver in a close quarters environment smoothly and efficiently while still allowing me to engage targets out to about 500m. The OBR in 7.62 allows me to really reach out and touch someone out to about 800+ meters. In a close range environment it gives me a serious man stopping round that can also penetrate walls, engine blocks, car doors, or anything else that a 5.56 round in the HK can't do. So between the three of those weapons I could do most things and therefore those would be my selections off hand unless I had a specific mission/role.Question 3 Besides your weapons, what was the most important set of gear you had?Tier 1 OperatorThis is a good question and like all good questions it is difficult to answer. I thought a lot about it and obviously all your gear is important for different things and at different times. But I think the most important thing other than weapons is your assault vest/body army/load bearing equipment/plate carrier or whatever "kit" you're wearing. The reason I say that is because that system from how it is set up, what it consists of, and how efficiently you utilise it is absolutely critical to your combat effectiveness. Where your gear is on you and how efficiently you can interface with it is technically more important than the gear itself. How important is a grenade if you can't get to it when you need it? So to summarise, ALL your gear is important: magazines, radio, signaling devices, grenades, flashbangs, breaching charges, etc. But the gear that allows you to carry and interface with these things I say is more important and that is why I personally spend a LOT of time and thought into that set up and test it in multiple situations and circumstances to make sure it is as efficient and effective as possible. View the full article

Operation Metro is one of the most hated and polarizing maps in Battlefield 3, mainly because it’s a very tight … Read on → http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/YbHcgzkI6Hs3dmU0_wbFINwpVWo/0/di http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/YbHcgzkI6Hs3dmU0_wbFINwpVWo/1/di http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/r91A9fG1Slo View the full article

This week's Medal of Honor partner is Kaenon sunglasses, makers of high-performance sunglasswear for razor-sharp clarity, impact-resistance and glare reduction. This week’s Medal of Honor partner is Kaenon sunglasses!Derived from a Polynesian word meaning “freeâ€, Kaenon wasfounded in 2001 by two brothers who were unsatisfied with the sunglasses thatwere available on the market. What they came up with was industry-altering.Their high-performance, patented Kaenon polarised SR-91® lens is the onlypolarised lens on the market that offers razor-sharp clarity, impact-resistanceand glare reduction all in one ultra-lightweight and durable package.“During the past ten years, one of the most personally movingexperiences I’ve enjoyed resulted from encounters I’ve had withNavy SEALs who explained to me that they selected Kaenon as part of theirrequired equipment because of the superior lens clarity, durability, andoverall superior product performance,†says Darren Rosenberg,Co-Founder of Kaenon. “It is an honor for our brand to be part of thiselite group of warriors; and it is a unique privilege to be able to align withthe Medal of Honor franchise and to be able give back to the Special Operationscommunity and the families of these incredible individuals.â€The Kaenon SR-91® lens comes standard in everything they make. Thesunglasses were quickly adopted by world-class athletes and Tier 1 Operatorsfrom the Special Operations community for Kaenon’s never-compromiseattitude and incredible technology. As a matter of fact, their companyphilosophy could easily be found on the wall of any Tier 1 ready room.Our conviction to never compromise isn’t just a way of thinking; itdefines our way of living. We live our lives in pursuit of how we believethings should be. We question everything. We stay true to our own set ofvalues. As a result, it is easy for us to filter the noise and make ourdecisions for ourselves. We’ve learned that we don’t have tocompromise clarity for style, or comfort for performance.Darren Rosenberg, the company’s co-founder joined us at the recentInternational Tier 1 photo shoot and brought a few of the models favored byOperators from the Special Operations community.You may have noticed that I’ve been wearing Kaenon sunglasses in allof the press and shooting events we’ve recently been a part of. You mayhave also noticed that I’m wearing the Soft Kore frame in Matte Blackwith the G12 lens. Let’s have a look at the description:/sites/default/files/images/SOFTKORE.jpgSOFT KORE is the ultimate sunglass for those looking to push theirathletics and visual comfort to the next level. Designed with reduced cranialgeometry and shorter temples to better fit smaller features, the semi-rimless 8base frame allows for unobstructed downward vision along with increased airflow.It must be my reduced cranial geometry. Or maybe my shorter temples andsmaller features. But guess what, the Kaenon Soft Kore is the single mostcomfortable, clear, durable, and lightweight sunglass I’ve ever owned.And I’m not the only one who agrees, Darren tells me the Soft Kore andHard Kore frame styles are very popular among major sport athletes.In Medal of Honor Warfighter we will be featuring a number of differentKaenon styles in the game including the original Kore, the Hard Kore and Jetty models. Voodoo, Mother,Preacher as well as other notablecharacters will be sporting Kaenon sunglasses. Perhaps a few may alsoprefer the Soft Korelike me!So head over to the Kaenon website andpick yourself up a pair of sunglasses. Or go to your favourite retailer and tryon a pair. Then decide for yourself. How do you want to view the world?Check back next week for the reveal of our next Partner.Greg GoodrichExecutive ProducerMedal of Honor View the full article

Medal of Honor Warfighter will debut during the UEFA Champions League Final Sky Sports 1 Saturday 19th May exclusively at half-time 8.30pm Worldwide TV DebutThis Saturday 19th May at 8:30pm during the UEFA Champions League Final on Sky Sports 1 we will feature the worldwide TV debut for Medal of Honor Warfighter.If you cannot wait, AskMenUK will be exclusively previewing the trailer early at 4pm on Friday 18th May.To see the full length gameplay trailer make sure you tune into the UEFA Champions League final on Sky Sports 1 at 8:30pm, this Saturday or bookmark this page where we will reveal the video below. Tweet your reactions using #MOH http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/sniper-footer.jpg View the full article

The SFOD-D are one of the 12 Tier 1 units in Medal of Honor Warfighter. Mark Christianson writes about a brief about the storied unit. Origins http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/sfod-d-photo-small.jpgSFOD-D photo from international Tier 1 photo shoot The concept of SFOD-D was developed in the 60s after Special Forces officer Charles Beckwithreturned from an exchange program with the British SAS (Special Air Service),and presented a plan of action for an American SAS-type force with a broadrange of special skills focused on direct action and counter-terroristmissions. However, the plan wouldn’t be realised until the 1970s whenterrorism became a primary U.S. concern and Beckwith was selected to form theunit.Training SFOD-D draws from existing ranks of qualified members who typically comefrom Special Forces and the Ranger Battalions, although this is not arequirement. Once successfully completing a selection course consisting of abarrage of individual physical and mental tests, applicants chosen for the unitundergo a six month Operator Training Course (OTC) to learn counter-terrorismand counter-intelligence skills. Mission SFOD-D perform direct action and covert action operations including hostagerescue, counter-terrorism, advanced force operations, and other operations insupport of US policies and objectives. SFOD-D operates in various sizes fromindividual operator actions, to small team size, as well as partnering withsupport forces from US and allied SOF units. Tactical Operations SFOD-D has operated around the world largely as covert operations, presentat all US engagements from the 1980s to current day operations. The unit workswith many of the world’s leading Tier 1 military counterparts. SFOD-D wasmost notably portrayed for its role in Mogadishu, Somalia when its mission tocapture high value targets was compromised by a helicopter crash and turnedinto an intense local battle through city streets as members worked with U.S.Army Rangers to rescue the downed aircraft and trapped personnel. Medal of Honor Warfighter The SFOD-D is one of 12 playable Tier 1 units from 10 different nations inthe Medal of Honor Warfighter multiplayer experience. Medal of HonorWarfighter introduces blue-vs-blue multiplayer matches, so players cancompete to see who is the best of the best and most elite warfighter on October 26.http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/sniper-footer.jpg View the full article

According to rumors swirling around the web these days, EA is looking to release a service similar to Call of … Read on → http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Mhqc1jtRewUezkqCWyvVV-0T5JM/0/di http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Mhqc1jtRewUezkqCWyvVV-0T5JM/1/di http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/ceMwPcgrH1Q View the full article

Medal of Honor Warfighter is proud to present "Ask a Tier 1"! Ask your questions to a former Tier 1 Operator, and we will reveal answers at the end of the week. http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/ask_a_tier_1.jpgMedal of Honor Warfighter is proud to present “Ask a Tier 1â€!Our fans have a unique opportunity to ask questions to a former Tier 1 Operator. Ask your Tier 1 question on the Medal of Honor Facebook and Twitter pages.How to ParticipateAsk a Question via Facebook 1.Go to the Ask a Tier 1 Facebook post 2.Ask your question in the comments 3.Answers will be revealed on Friday, May 18Ask a Question via Twitter1.Follow @MedalofHonor on Twitter 2.Tweet your question with the #AskATier1 hashtag to be considered3.Answers will be revealed on Friday, May 18PLEASE be respectful and considerate when asking your question.The Operator will answer anything he is able to, but obviously cannotgo into details around specific operations. Questions will be curated by theCommunity Team.Thanks and we look forward to answering your Tier 1 questions! View the full article

This weekend we will be bringing something new to the Battlefield. On May 12th adn 13th youÂ’ll be progressing through the ranks faster and reaching those elusive unlocks that may have been evading you. This weekend itÂ’s double XP in Battlefield 3 which means that all the points you score will be doubled at the end of rounds for any ranked game played on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2XP.png The event starts Saturday, May 12th at 12:01 AM PST and ends Sunday, May 13th 23:59 PST. We hope that you're as excited as we are to partake in what should be an amazing event.Source: View the full article

PETN is an extremely powerful explosive and a current weapon of choice for terrorists around the globe. Read more about this terror threat found in Medal of Honor Warfighter. What do the al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the shoe bomber, the toner cartridge bomb plot and the underwear bomber all have in common? They all attempted touse pentaerythritol trinitrate, aka PETN explosive in a terrorist attack oncivilian targets. It’s the same explosive that is central to the Medal of HonorWarfighter storyline. PETN is what keeps security personnel upat night thinking about not only how it may be utilised but more importantly how it can bedetected and stopped.What is PETN http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/petn1.jpgPETN is an extremely powerful explosive and a current weapon of choice for terrorists around the globe. The compound itself is rarely used alone, insteadcombined with additional components to trigger a reaction. PETN is commonlyfound in a powder form that is roughly the consistency of salt. It iscolorless, but appears as white grains.Detection The problem facing security officials is that PETN is a plastic-based powderwhich is not detectable by metal detectors and its makeup is particularly hardfor traditional bomb-sniffing dogs to detect. Only airport “puffermachines†and swabbing can be used to detect the presence of PETN or itsresidue. PETN can also stay present in the hair of those who handle or workaround the compound even after washing. Thus, while detection is possible, thechallenge is developing detection methods for the many different ways PETN canbe transported across borders.Highly Explosive http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/petn2.jpgThe amount of PETN needed for a significant reaction is very small and forthis reason PETN detection is difficult as it allows for easy concealment. Ithas been estimated that as little as 6 grams (0.2oz) of PETN would be enough tocreate a hole in metal twice the thickness of an aircraft’s skin.Underwear bombs have shown as much as 80g (3oz) and toner cartridge bombs foundin Yemen revealed 300g - 400g (11oz - 14oz) of PETN. Medal of Honor Warfighter Medal of Honor Warfighter tells the story of U.S. Tier 1 Operator,“Preacher†as he returns home from overseas only to find his familytorn apart from years of deployment. Trying to pick up the pieces to salvagewhat remains of his marriage, Preacher is reminded of what he’s fightingfor - family. But when an extremely deadly explosive (PETN) penetrates civilianborders and his two worlds collide, Preacher and his fellow teammates are sentin to solve the problem. They take the fight to the enemy and do whatever ittakes to protect their loved ones from harm. Medal of Honor Warfighter will beavailable on October 26,http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/blog-preorder-banner.jpg View the full article

EA just announced the first ever double XP weekend for a Battlefield game: Battlefield 3 will be getting a double … Read on → http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KcWYbtlswqpDVBQn84i8Rga7aSY/0/di http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KcWYbtlswqpDVBQn84i8Rga7aSY/1/di http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/ILql5ABnMzM View the full article

Alan Kertz is the Core Gameplay Designer behind a lot of great in-depth blog posts published here at the Battlefield Blog. In this episode of “Inside DICE”, he takes a handful of your most tweeted questions and answers them personally. Keep the questions coming here on the blog (or send them to @battlefield) and weÂ’ll do more round-ups like this. Now letÂ’s dig into the questions and some answers we think you will find illuminating. 1. Where did you start before working for DICE?(Asked by @minikanelive)Alan answers: “I was actually quite lucky to enter the industry directly working for DICE on Battlefield 2142. Of course, I didnÂ’t just start cold turkey, IÂ’d previously been a member of the Battlefield 1942 modding community where I developed tools, levels, and mods. Some of my work was featured in mods like Eve of Destruction, Desert Combat, and Point of Existence. Scholastically my background is a Computer Science degree from a university in the US where I grew up. While the CS degree wasnÂ’t a real influence on me getting the job, I do find that understanding the concepts of coding is a definitive edge when working as a game designer.” 2. SKS bullet drop is very pronounced. Bug or intended? It ruins my immersion whenever i see it.(Asked by @shimme01)Alan answers: “The SKS has a relatively low velocity round when compared to other DMR and Sniper weapons. Over the same distances the SKS round will drop further and lose more energy since itÂ’s a smaller caliber round. The SKS is range limited, though it makes up for this by being mobile, fast firing, and deadly in mid-range. For longer range engagements I would step up to something like the M39 EMR or the QBU-88 sniper from Back to Karkand.” 3. In comparison to the P90, the MP7 is a bit outclassed. Maybe consider reducing the MP7′s first shot recoil and increasing the P90′s?(Asked by @kryptikspaniard)Alan answers: “The MP7 has a lower overall muzzle climb, a faster reload (especially from empty), and a higher rate of fire than the P90. Finally, the MP7 is rather easily obtained via COOP play, while the P90 comes later on at Rank40. Obviously theyÂ’re both similar weapons, and I feel the subtle differences between the two weapons makes it an interesting choice for players. Some players clearly prefer the P90, others prefer the MP7.“ 4. Do scopes have an effect on vertical recoil? DidnÂ’t know if the weight of the scope factored in? ItÂ’s not in the descriptions.(Asked by @friedpixels)Alan answers: “Another great question. Scopes only change two variables: how much zoom they provide and how fast the weapon aims down the sights. A high zoom scope, like a 6x rifle scope, will be slow, and a low zoom sight, like a red dot sight, will be fast. There are no additionally effects on the weaponsÂ’ handling, no changes to recoil or accuracy.” 5. So a gun that has just a suppressor and a sight has better aimed accuracy than one with a foregrip & suppressor?(Asked by @KILLAnthonyMan)Alan answers: “The short answer is Yes. The long answer is Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssss. The explanation though, is more interesting. A foregrip carries a small aimed accuracy penalty, if youÂ’re trying to get the best absolute accuracy you can with the weapon, a suppressor will give you better aimed accuracy. However, combining the Suppressor and the Foregrip will give the weapon the same accuracy as if you had no accessories, while also reducing recoil. ItÂ’s my recommendation that you only forgo a foregrip (see what I did there?) if you demand the absolute best accuracy you can obtain. Generally, inside 100m a weapon with a foregrip is still plenty accurate to hit consistently on target, and it will be easier to control.” ThatÂ’s it for now! We hope you enjoyed this Q&A session. Once again, if you want similar questions answered right here on the blog, ask them below in the comments section. See you in the next episode of “Inside DICE”. Source: View the full article

Alan Kertz is the Core Gameplay Designer behind a lot of great in-depth blog posts published here at the Battlefield Blog. In this episode of “Inside DICEâ€, he takes a handful of your most tweeted questions and answers them personally. View the full article

We’ve still got a full lineup of partners to reveal, but those of you who have been keeping score also know we have two more unit patches to unveil as well. So this week, we’re heading back to London Bridge Trading to unveil TASK FORCE GRIZZLY! We’ve still got a full lineup of partners to reveal, but those of you who have been keeping score also know we have two more unit patches to unveil as well. So this week, we’re heading back to London Bridge Trading to unveil TASK FORCE GRIZZLY! http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/Grizzly_0.png In Medal of Honor Warfighter Task Force Grizzly is the primary expeditionary assault force (Marine Expeditionary Unit) on the Arabian Peninsula. Comprised of an air combat element (ACE), ground combat element (GCE), infantry, artillery, amphibious and Force Reconnaissance Marines, they are an extremely effective combined arms task force with a single command structured to accomplish a specific mission. And they do it better than anyone else. As a Tier 1 Operator from Naval Special Warfare once told me, “When the Marines come over the hill to save your ass, there is no one else in the world you’d rather see.†With the unveil of Task Force Grizzly also comes the reveal of a new playable character in Medal of Honor Warfighter. His teammates call him “Stumpâ€. Stump began his career in the Marine Corps, but one day, he woke up and decided he wanted to be a Frogman. Now years later, Stump is a SEAL deployed with Task Force Mako. Not surprisingly, the guys from Mako never let Stump forget he was once a Marine and they take every opportunity to remind him. Even worse for poor Stump, his old Marine unit is now a part of Task Force Grizzly, and of course, his leatherneck brothers still have not forgiven Stump for becoming a SEAL. Serious ball busting commences when they finally meet up again on the Somali coastline. At E3 this year, I will be unveiling the very moment they become one team and launch a raid on Al-Shabaab. And more importantly, we find out which patch Stump will wear! In the meantime, head over to London Bridge Trading and pick yourself up a Task Force Grizzly unit patch. 100% of the proceeds go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, the Navy SEAL Foundation and The Tommy V Challenge. Check back next week for the reveal of our next Partner. Greg Goodrich Executive Producer Medal of Honor View the full article

U.S. Navy SEALs are one of the 12 Tier 1 units in Medal of Honor Warfighter. Mark Christianson writes about a brief about the storied unit. Origins The U.S. Navy formally developed the SEAL program in the early 60s afterthen President Kennedy praised the U.S. Army Special Forces "Green Beret" forits small team operations and tactics. Not to be outdone, the Secretary of theNavy ordered the formation of its own specialised 'teams' from previous UDT(Underwater Demolition Teams) and raider units which had a similar mission, buttrained to exploit the Navy's amphibious operational expertise. Training SEAL training is internationally recognised as one of the most difficult toqualify for and complete. Potential SEALs begin at BUD/S (Basic UnderwaterDemolition/SEAL) training, a 6-month course in three phases that boasts a droprate as high as 90%. BUD/S is followed by a series of specialised trainingcourses in multiple disciplines. Total training can take over 30 months tocomplete prior to first deployment. Mission As part of the U.S. Special Operations Command, SEAL Teams along with otherunconventional warfare groups, have been tasked to missions from direct actionto rescue operations. After the Vietnam War, the teams began a very active rolein counter-drug operations and reconnaissance missions but operational tempostepped up in the 1980s after the threat of extremist terrorism became a focusfor the United States.Tactical Operations http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/navyseals.jpgThe SEAL Teams have been a part of almost every military operation sincethey were formed from the jungles of Vietnam, through Iraq and Somalia rightthrough service in the global war on terrorism. When they are not in directoperations, they continue to execute special missions and advanced training ofallied forces in counter-drug and terrorism operations. During the start of the 2003 Iraq War, the SEALs worked alongside PolishGROM and British Royal Marines in the largest SEAL operation of its history.The international teams landed via air and sea to capture vital coastal oilplatforms and pumping stations. They did not encounter typical Iraqi troops butIraq's elite Republican Guard leading to an all-night fire fight where closeair support air strikes and on-foot engagement were the deciding factor in thefacilities strategic capture.Medal of Honor Warfighter The U.S. Navy SEALs are one of 12 playable Tier 1 units in the Medal ofHonor Warfighter multiplayer and play an integral part of the single playercampaign. Medal of Honor Warfighter is available October 23. http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/images/blog-preorder-banner.jpg View the full article

EA just released their financial earnings report, where they revealed that Battlefield 3 has shipped 15 million copies, making it … Read on → http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Shz5Kb34lKnFLMJDg9o2-yIt4H0/0/di http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Shz5Kb34lKnFLMJDg9o2-yIt4H0/1/di http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/P6tyLiEAbes View the full article

VOIP — Voice Over IP — a way of voice communicating on PC, is one of the many requested features … Read on → http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FBAVuSY3sXTpxMfH63aJX2sgHMA/0/di http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FBAVuSY3sXTpxMfH63aJX2sgHMA/1/di http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/9AKY4bxpmYg View the full article

I could not be more excited, proud and honored to announce this week’s partner - famed weapons designer, legendary pistolsmith, expert combat firearms instructor, and former Tier 1 Operator, Larry Vickers and the company bearing his name, Vickers Tactical. Okay, we’ve started out strong but we’re just barely scratching the surface of our more than two dozen product Partners for Medal of Honor Warfighter. We’ve received great feedback so far on the companies that have joined the Medal of Honor family, but this week, we’re turning it up a notch! I could not be more excited, proud and honored to announce this week’s partner - famed weapons designer, legendary pistolsmith, expert combat firearms instructor, and former Tier 1 Operator, Larry Vickers and the company bearing his name, Vickers Tactical. Larry Vickers is a retired career Special Operations Operator with over 20 years of service with some of the most elite military units to ever exist. A longtime 1st SFOD-D operational member, Larry was one of 23 Operators from The Unit who rescued Kurt Muse from the Carcel Modelo, a notorious prison in Panama City, on December 20th, 1989. Code named “Acid Gambitâ€, the operation was the very first successful hostage rescue mission in modern U.S. military history. I am proud to be onboard the Medal of Honor Warfighter development team - after getting some time to hang out with the crew I can tell you first hand they are not only committed to giving users a dynamite game but also to representing the Special Operations Warfighter in a positive way and giving back to the SOF community in the best way possible; supporting the families of the fallen. My hats off to the Danger Close team - keep the faith brothers! - Larry Vickers Our partnership has resulted in some exciting things. First up, we were able to convince Larry to come out of pistolsmithing retirement and build us a very special .45 caliber 1911. We’re talking about a one of a kind, hand fitted, custom built handgun, especially for Medal of Honor Warfighter.As many of your know, Larry was a part of the product design group responsible for the HK416 carbine, the HK417 battle rifle, the HK45 service pistol and the HK45 compact - all of which are currently deployed with Tier 1 Units around the world. Larry has also consulted on countless other tactical product innovations including the Daniel Defense M4 carbine, various weapon lights, lasers and optics also in service with our Warfighters. But we wanted an “old school†combat handgun from an “old school†Tier 1 Operator for a very specific character in Warfighter. And knowing that Larry has probably put more .45 ACP down range through the barrel of a 1911 than any other Operator walking the face of the earth, we requested a custom built Vickers Tactical 1911. And what we received absolutely blew us away. /sites/default/files/images/Vickers1911-560.jpg The Vickers 1911 began life as a parts set from Wilson Combat, and in fact, they were instrumental in helping me get the gun built in a very short time frame. I essentially set the pistol up to what I felt a state of the art, serious use 1911 should be in the hands of a seasoned operator - a guy like me, who cut his teeth on the 1911, and wants a combat handgun with the latest improvements such as an integral light rail, night sights, and bulletproof components. I put some Vickers Tactical logos on it to help set it apart, including one on the custom VZ grips. With a durable matte black finish, the pistol turned out great! - Larry Vickers Our partnership does not end there. We are also honored and excited to join Larry on his television show TAC-TV in an episode dedicated to the weapons of Medal of Honor Warfighter. The episode airs on the Sportsman Channel on Monday, May 14th with an extended online episode available at TAC-TV.com. We’ll be talking a lot more about TAC-TV in the future. But one of the absolute coolest and most unexpected things to come out of the partnership with Larry is the Medal of Honor 400+ HP 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor! /sites/default/files/images/tactvtruck-560.jpg Larry has been and continues to be an invaluable resource to everyone here at Danger Close. He has spent time in the studio working alongside the weapons designers, modelers, animators and other developers making sure everything is up to his standards - which is no small task. We could not be more excited and honored to officially welcome Larry Vickers to the Medal of Honor family. His contributions to our Nation are immeasurable not only through his own selfless actions and military service but with his continued advances in the design and development of small arms, tactical equipment, combat training and charitable causes directed back towards the brotherhood of warriors within the U.S. Special Operations Community. So head over to the Vickers Tactical website and get yourself squared away! Check back next week for the reveal of our next Partner. Greg GoodrichExecutive ProducerMedal of Honor http://cdn.medalofhonor.com/sites/default/files/fb-thumb.jpeg?1336163358 View the full article

The latest Battlefield 3 patch, released a few weeks ago, was eagerly awaited by gamers, and it fixed a lot … Read on → http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/PuvxgbY6ejLsvOj72Fh-0hGkPr8/0/di http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/PuvxgbY6ejLsvOj72Fh-0hGkPr8/1/di http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/NzYMwX2G7LA View the full article

In this episode of “Inside DICEâ€, Core Gameplay Designer Alan Kertz returns with an in-depth look at how we balance and rebalance the game after launch. He will also help you realise some of the most significant changes in how the different accessories in Battlefield 3â„¢ are tweaked in the latest patch – and how you can experiment to find a new and perfect setup to fit your personal play style. View the full article

In a recent interview, DICE’s Patrick Bach said the studio is focusing on giving players 12 to 18 months of … Read on → http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z8r1qvuHf7zy44NjPKLdbHvgWio/0/di http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z8r1qvuHf7zy44NjPKLdbHvgWio/1/di http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/JfagWv_u7eI View the full article

It's said the hardest job in the military is being a family member of a serviceman. Read Mark Chriantianson's blog on why. It’s said the hardest job in the military is being married to a service member. You start your day with a shower, breakfast and as you head out the door for work you say goodbye to your spouse, and kids. Seems like simple routine and something many of us take for granted, but what if you couldn't say where you were headed or how long you'd be gone? To make matters worse, what if your family only knew that wherever you go it's dangerous and you might not come back at all. This is the situation that so many of the men and women of the military face time and time again. Living the Life of Omission For those in special operations, walking this path each day means protecting their families from the unwanted attention of others and at the same time shielding them from the truth of the work they do. Living a life of omission is not about lies, but rather about trust. This is a very personal issue for me, having served in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm. While I joke that boredom was the enemy I fought most, I know my family was deeply worried about my safety at all times. It’s a situation that so many military families face time and time again, and there’s no formal training for coping with such a stressful hardship. Military families are intimating familiar with the daily stresses of this life. You can go about your regular activities as if everything is normal while deep down you live with the realization that your world might shatter at the next doorbell or phone call. While others skim the news and hardly hear about an IED attack, family members silently pray that it is far from where they believe their loved one is operating. Honoring Military Families This issue is gaining wider attention, and USA Today just posted a fantastic article on the coping with the challenges faced by those who serve and their families. The strain of this challenge is also why the relationship between Preacher and his wife Lena plays a central role in the the single player campaign of Medal of Honor Warfighter, a story written by actual Tier 1 Operators. Medal of Honor Warfighter is available October 23 Find out more about the Authentic Action of Medal of Honor Warfighter Pre-order the Limited Edition and get a 40-hour tactical head start on the competition View the full article

A new pack of screenshots from the Close Quarters map Donya Fortress. Donya Fortress is one of 4 maps as … Read on → http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/OAb4v6ltH-IwxaSMO8y7VyP0Zr4/0/di http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/OAb4v6ltH-IwxaSMO8y7VyP0Zr4/1/di http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BF3Blog/~4/BYta4Y-aEu0 View the full article