It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here on CounterAgent, but I’ve been busy working on this web project called the SuperLame! Comic Balloon Engine. We’ve just launched it in a public Beta. So, let me take a few moments to explain what it is that’s taken up most of my time as of late.

What is SuperLame? Well, I’m glad you asked. You may have heard the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. So, if a picture alone is worth that much, how much more can you say with a picture that actually has words too? I’m betting at least a few more than a thousand.

You may have noticed a number of word balloon pictures on this site, amoung others. Before the SuperLame word balloon image creator web app this was a time consuming process. Enter SuperLame and the Comic Balloon Engine. Basically, it’s a simple web tool that gives users the power to easily and quickly add word balloons, speech bubbles, thought bubbles, whatever you want to call them, to your pictures.

Best of all, the entire tool is free for anyone to use. However, if you would like to donate to the SuperLame cause, we wouldn’t turn you down, of course, and hey, it’s a tax right off, right?

The above picture is an example of what you can do at SuperLame. But, don’t take my word for it, check out the SuperLame Word Balloon Web Tool for yourself. Enjoy.

Boom!

Bungie and Microsoft have announced that as of 2 a.m. this Tuesday, March 25th 2008, the previously released 800 M$ point Heroic Map Pack will now be free to download on Xbox Live Marketplace. If you own Halo 3 and haven’t already paid for these maps then you should definitely grab them. They’re free, ’nuff said. Bungie will also be releasing their new Legendary Map Pack soon for the same initial 800 M$ points. Look for that to be free sometime this fall.

More info on the Heroic map pack:

CounterAgent: Announcement, CounterAgent: Pics, CounterAgent: Videos

Bungie’s official announcement

Story via Joystiq

Got Rainbow Six: Vegas 2? Already tired of all the multiplayer maps and ready for a new one? Yeah! Comcast has got you covered. Think of this as more of actual “game” advertising, not just “in-game” advertising. Comcast, you know, the cable company, has decided to offer a free Vegas 2 map entitled the “Comcast Event Map”, ta da! You don’t have to be a Comcast subscriber to get’ em either, you don’t even have to like Comcast (just don’t tell them).

Here’s what you gotta do. Load up the game, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2. Go to the “Extras” menu from the main screen. Select “Comcast Gift” from the options. Then, enter the code “Comcast Faster” (without the quotes) when prompted and enjoy the new multi-player map.

If you’re a PC gamer, you’ll have to wait. Sorry, no map for you just yet. However, you can keep checking back at this link. They say they’ll have the map for you guys soon.

Boom!

The next installment in the popular Battlefield series, Bad Company, is coming out this June for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. However, some lucky gamer’s will have the opportunity to play it early. PC gamer’s that happen to be members of either IGN Founders’ Club or IGN Insider will be offered a beta key, while supplies last. Beta keys will also be given out from a number of IGN site’s like, IGN.com, FilePlanet, GameSpy, TeamXbox, Planet Battlefield and Voodoo Extreme.

For console gamer’s only the Xbox 360 will be included in the beta, sorry PS3. To get in to the 360 beta you’ve got to pre-order the game form GameStop.

In North America, GameStop will also offer keys on a first come, first serve basis for this Exclusive Beta Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network event. With only 5,000 beta keys available at GameStop, gamers should pre-order their copy now at GameStop.

This is a Multiplayer Only beta, similar to the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare multiplayer beta last year. The beta will only include 2 maps to play on. It will, however, have a number of play modes and weapon upgrades to explore.

Boom!

The upcoming Halo 3 “Legendary Map Pack”, coming out April 15th (tax day) includes a new/old map. It’s everyones favorite snow covered level, Sidewinder! The new map has quite a few differences, first of which is the name, now called Avalanche (much more hardcore than Sidewinder). Some other notable changes are the trade of ladders (one of the few levels that had ladders) for the now infamous “Man Cannons”. For more details, you can read all about it at Bungie’s official post here. One of the first sentences on their post reminds gamers of the 800 M$ point price and that Bungie itself can’t make it cheaper. :( At least they feel our pain.

Boom!

Could it be? Does the PS3 have more and better exclusives this year? Looks like 2008 may possibly be the year of the Playstation, again. Just like old times.

Is it just me or is almost every big game coming out this year a sequel? No matter what console you’re on. Either way, you got to be excited about something on the list. If the majority of these games actually release this year, wow. But does anyone really expect that? So, let’s jump in and analyze the exclusives. Note, this list in no way represents the entire list of exclusive titles for each console. It does, however, represent what we at Counteragent think are the biggest exclusives most likely to actually be released this calender year.

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I’m generally not a big fan of these small downloadable arcade games, however, many companies have been putting a lot more effort into making them more worth your 10-15 dollars. Capcom has to be one of the foremost of these companies. At their recent conference, Digital Day, they announced quite a number of upcoming downloadable arcade games, most of which are remakes of existing franchises.

Enter Rocketmen: Axis of Evil, not an existing franchise in the video game world, it is an existing game franchise, as in collectible card game. Capcom hasn’t exactly reinvented the wheel, or the arcade game, but they have included a number of great features to stretch your gameplay dollar. Some of these include 4 player drop in drop out co-op gameplay throughout the entire game. Customizable stats, semi-custom characters, and a good amount of powerups.

Keep reading for the giveaway details and the entire review.
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Capcom’s very own “little E3 type show”, DIgital Day is here, and if you’re a fan of Capcom, than boy do they have a lot of good stuff. Good stuff like the next in the hopefully long line of Lost Planet games.

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition COLONIES EDITION (this is a big one folks)

Definitely not a sequel, but not something fans of the original will want to pass up. The game includes the same (awesome) single-player experience from Lost Planet: Extreme Condition but with all new modes, like Score Attack(not too dissimilar from Halo 3), Trial Battle Mode (Boss Battles, that’s it), and Off-Limit Mode (Extreme Super-Charged Weapons, Unlimited Ammo, and Faster Movement. Think EDF: Earth Defense Force 2017, but with better graphics).

The multi-player is also getting some upgrades with new gameplay modes. Akrid Hunter (play as the giant alien bugs, while everyone else tries to take you down), VS Annihilator, Counter Grab, Point Snatcher, Akrid Egg Battle, and Egg Bandit. In addition to the new modes are four(4) new multi-player maps and five(5) new playable character models. Also, an unconfirmed number of new weapons. Even a couple new perspectives, first person and over-the-shoulder (ala Resident Evil 4) views. Best of all is the price, get all of this and more for the low, low price of $29.99 as soon as the game ships May 27th on both PC and Xbox 360. Screenshots after the break.
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I wrote this article over at Co-Optimus and thought I just had to let everyone here at Counteragent know about it too. It’s this sweet contest for Capcom’s upcoming 2-dimensional masterpiece, Bionic Commando: ReArmed. I’ll direct you to the full story over at Co-Optimus for details.

The video above is just an example of what you can do for the contest. You can design what Capcom is calling a “challenge level”. A very basic level constructed of various obstacles. All you have to do is draw, in some form, a level of your own design. Once you got that, just email Capcom with the image. If you win, your map will be added to the game when it’s released. Yay!

Level editor skills? Feh! Have writing utensil, will travel. Be as impressionistic or as specific as you like. Sketch it, MS Paint, or scrawl it on the wall of a cave–we don’t care–just send in an image of your idea to contest@capcom.com

Official rules are available on Capcom’s community blog here, as well as a diagram of the different components to build your level out of. The contest already started, and it ends March 12th, so hurry up.

Boom!

Video after the break.
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The Battlefield franchise has been around for a while and has a pretty big, loyal following. The games have continued to move forward with each release (I’m talking specifically about the PC games, not the console versions), although some may disagree that the last release, Battlefield: 2142. Well, whether or not you’re a fan of the previous Battlefield PC games, they are continuing the trend of change with their latest entry in the franchise.

Battlefield Heroes not only changes everything by introducing a completely new take, labeled “cartoon shooter”, but they’ve also changed the entire payment structure, offering a completely free-to-play model. If you prefer not to, you’ll never have to drop even a single penny to play this game. The game will instead make it’s money through advertisement. Not even in-game advertisement like you may think. They will be showing ads on the games loading screens, and while you download the game and run it off of your personal computer, you will be required to launch the actual game from their official website at battlefield-heroes.com. That way they ensure not only the loading screen ads, but also any ads on their site as well.

All in all the game has tremendous potential. The look, while many may compare it to the recent hit shooter, Team Fortress 2, is done for maximum accessibility and, according to the developers, just plain fun. The system requirements are also pretty minimal, especially considering most of the latest system hogs like Crysis and Unreal Tournament 3. Look for the game to go live sometime this summer.

Gallery and Trailer after the break. Boom!
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