This (fictional) manual details “the primary doctrinal reference on conducting fire team sized infantry operations in a Zombie infested environment in the United States.”, care of Army Zombie Combat Command. The topics contained within include how to identify the undead or soon-to-be undead, effective weaponry and tactics against the undead, and other similar topics, all zombie-related. It’s a pretty solid guide, and since it is free and all there’s no reason not to give it at least a quick peak. A word of warning, though: the creators are definitely familiar with the works of Max Brooks, frozen zombies and all.
Arma2, the well-known, highly customizable military simulator program, is now free… if you don’t mind a few missing features. What it does have: free military simulation with accurate battlefield simulation including bullet ballistics and material penetration, a comprehensive range of 300+ weapons, units, and vehicles, multiplayer with 50+ players and hundreds of AI controlled units in large-scale maps, free dedicated server support for Linux and Windows OS users, and mission editors and advanced scripting. What it’s missing: HD graphics, support for user mods (no money, no MultiCam), the story campaign, Operation Arrowhead, and BAF and PMC addons. Basically, it’s not missing much, feature-wise, and the price is right, so I know I’ll give it a shot. It’ll be out sometime this month.
Thank the powers that be! Games these days have had a severe lack of the C96 Mauser. Oh, and the rest of the game looks great as well. Between the crazy floating city, warring factions, ability-altering vigors and nostrums, and tears in the space-time continuum, Bioshock Infinite looks to be a rip-roaring good time when it finally comes out next year. The wait is almost unbearable (for the C96 clone, that is).
Conspiracy theories about the death of Bin Laden may abound, and deep sea divers with more optimism than common sense may be diving to find his body, but we’ll never know the identity of the trigger-puller who actually put metal to meat during the raid at Abbottabad…or will we?
Want to be known as the operator who killed the worlds most wanted man?
Visit eBay.
Yep, that’s right boys and girls. Hype Comics of Miami FL is releasing a comic version of the fateful raid in Pakistan, and if you bid high enough they’ll put your face on the operator who pulls the trigger at the moment of truth. You won’t me a member of DevGru though. You’ll be a shooter on Seal Team X.
“The auction winner will also receive a panel of original hand-drawn artwork with their character in action,” says Hype’s CEO Scott Owneby, “proudly autographed by the original artist.”
The auction began on June 13th and is scheduled to last until June 23rd. As of Friday the 17th there were six bids, the highest $250, a seemingly lackluster response but it’s still early.
“Anybody is welcome to bid,” states Ownbey. “The only requirement, due to pre-existing story considerations, is that the winning bidder be male.”
Seal Team X: The Blood of Bin Laden is scheduled for release as a digital comic book for Kindle, Nook, iPad and other devices with eBook apps. Apparently, Blood of Bin Laden is only the first in an entire SEAL Team X series.
Hype advises that they’ll be donating a portion of the proceeds to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans).
If you have any ideas for us to discuss, review or revile, visit us at Breach-Bang-Clear or FaceBook, or just e-mail us…unless you’re going to whine or complain about our opinions, writing style or philosophy in which case don’t bother. MAD DUO CLEAR!
Youtuber ratedrr (Richard Ryan) has recently posted the Interactive .50 Cal series of videos. By clicking on the annotations in the video above, you’re taken to one of three different videos, two that feature the Barret M82 fired through different camera angles, and one that, well, I won’t spoil the surprise, but it does its best to smack some sense into all the 12-year-old CoD players of the world. Oh, and make your choice quickly. Richard may be putting on a brave face, but holding up a 40 pound rifle that way is far from an easy task.
Silynx Communications has introduced the C4OPS Skull Cap. Designed to cover the Warfighter’s ears for enhanced in ear bud retention and to serve as a wind noise protector, the new Skull Cap integrates right into the C4OPS system. It is manufactured from a light-gauge fabric with an absorbent liner and keeps your head dry and comfy even when worn under a helmet. It features the new Silynx Bad Ass logo and Silynx will contribute $10 for each of the first 1,000 Skull Caps sold to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Duke Nukem Forever has been out since Tuesday, and though the reviews are extremely diverse, personally I love it. It’s really a game for the long-time fans, and nobody else. Gearbox Software understands this, and as such has created a lot of excellent merchandise, like the Duke Nukem barware. These glasses are available with two different logos, Duke Nukem’s Titty City or Duke’s Whiskey, done in the style of Jack Daniel’s. Also available is the restocked Whiskey shirts, featuring the same logo as the barware.
Nobody called me out on this yet, so I figured I would before anyone had the chance. I blame the bad source I used. 😛
Anyway, Black Ops Content Pack 3, titled Annihilation, will be released June 28th exclusively on Xbox Live (for a month, or so). It features 4 new MP maps and a new Zombie Map, and will cost $15. Fans are rejoicing, haters are hating, and I’m still left going ‘meh’. After seeing that Zombie footage, I think I’ll skip it, and instead let the Youtube masses discover every secret for me.
Turkish police captured and arrested 32 individuals believed to be involved in the hacking and subsequent takedown of government websites last Thursday. The attack was allegedly executed by ‘Anonymous’, a well-known if loosely-affiliated hacker collective, in response to the internet filters the Turkish government plans to implement in August. The arrests were made last Sunday, the day of Turkey’s national elections, in 12 different cities, and included eight minors and a lawyer. ‘Anon’ has already pledged to “fight” Turkey over the internet filters. I believe the arrests will only further increase their aggression.
For Call of Duty: Black Ops, this situation seems oddly familiar: info in the form of an ad is leaked that details the name of the new content pack and the titles of the maps featured within. The only difference with last time is A) the image is out of focus, and B) the title of the zombie map is unknown, due to said lack of focus. What we do know is the pack is titled ‘Retaliation’ and features 4 brand new MP maps: Hangar 18, Hazard, Drive-In, and Silo. According to the user on the Black Ops form who posted the image, the pack will be released June 28th. This, like the other packs, will be exclusive to Xbox Live for a limited period.
A fairly unorthodox PSA about practicing gun safety while filming anything for Youtube. I know it’s played for laughs, but I couldn’t help but cringe the whole time through. Also, a nice camo by Freddy Wong, if the title didn’t give it away.
Mantis Knives had some great-looking blades on display, but the one that really caught my eye was the WIKUS. With a total weight of 24 oz. and an overall length of 15″ with a 10″ blade made from M-4 tool steel, it doesn’t seem all that different from most knives, aside from the rather large size. However, it’s been billed as the ‘world’s first “smart” knife’ due to a unique feature: it’s laser guided.
By pushing a button on the handle, the WIKUS projects a red laser beam downward, showing exactly where you’ll make your cut. At the very least it’s an interesting concept, but I’ll let you make your own conclusions about the usefulness of that feature. I also saw nothing about availability and pricing, but I’ll release that information as it surfaces.
Brothers in Arms is a series by Gearbox Software that takes place during WWII. It was unique for a FPS in that actual strategy was needed to win battles. Having AI controlled members of your squad lay suppressive fire on the enemy while you used an overhead map to plan and execute flanking maneuvers was often the key to victory. At least, that was the old BiA games. This one looks to be going the route of Inglourious Basterds, trading historical accuracy for crazy characters, violent action, and a fair share of comedy. We can only wait and see until next year to find if Gearbox jumped the shark with their latest attempt at WWII interactivity.
Bawidamann was in full force at BLADE show, displaying both awesome pin-up art and awesome blades. Although I was practically drooling over the Randgridr they had on display (it’s a modern-day trench knife; what’s not to love?), I went with the cord wrapped Pögn you see above. Made from S35-VN steel with a “154 cm “V” gound or chisel ground” grind, this knife features an overall length of 7.25″ with a blade length of 3 3/8″, and uses paracord as a handle material. It’s light-weight, concealable, and comes with its own Kydex sheath. Simply put, its one bad-ass blade.
Members of the SAS and Counter Terrorism Tactical Assault Group working with armed police in Auckland are holding anti-terrorism exercises in preparation for the Rugby World Cup, held in New Zealand this year. Exercises include scenarios such as a bombing and kidnapping, and are being performed in locations including Papakura, Ardmore and Mercer. This allows the forces to test their skills in an environment in which they would be used. Due to the secretive nature of Special Forces, the exact location of the operations are unknown.
I covered GunSmith already from its appearance at the E3 Microsoft conference, but a quick reminder paired with the official announcement video couldn’t hurt. GunSmith still gives you total control over customizing every aspect of the weapons in your arsenal from the furniture to the internals using voice and movement commands. Various keywords act as shortcuts that allow you to skip directly to certain attachment options or even auto-create a firearm based on what your mission requirements are. There’s also an in-mode firing range where you can test your newly-constructed weapon, all controlled using the Kinect sensor. Although there’s no announcement on whether the Kinect sensor will have a purpose in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier outside GunSmith, this is a nice exclusive bonus for those with Xbox 360s.
In this blast from the past (2007, to be a bit more exact), the Welsh Guard Band protested the Royal visit of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia by playing the Imperial March from Star Wars. Abdullah was none the wiser, but you can bet there was more than one person in the crowd snickering as he passed by. There is a longer version of the video with a more in-depth look as to why his visit was contested, human rights violations being a primary reason, but this heavily condensed version shows the best part.
Even the most hardcore Glock fans have to admit the Gen 4 is… more than a little lacking. This video explains why. My favorite line: “No. The Austrians like physical punishment for any mistake with their grip.”
Presenting the Ninja Glock, which is about as deadly and multi-purpose as a Glock will ever get. It’s extremely concealable, comes with a hydration pack, a set of Nunchaku, hand grenades, a spare ninja hood, and a survival knife. The attached scope lets the user see into the future and the past and has a variable optic of three to seven miles while the LED halogen bulb features an output of one million lumens, making it brighter than the sun. A spare tool kit and replacement parts are included inside the infrared module, and the red laser button controls a typhoon you can unleash on your enemies. Include a 1000 round ‘clip’ and the Glock’s ability to successfully cycle all kinds of ammunition from wooden to atomic to solid plastic, and you come to a pretty obvious conclusion: the Ninja Glock is the future of sidearms everywhere.
The 30th annual BLADE Show will be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia this year from June 10th to 12th. Hosted by BLADE magazine, BLADE Show is the largest combined show of handmade, factory, and antique knives, with over 700 tables and around 175 factory booths and products. Also available is the first ever Tactical Gear Expo, which features manufactures, dealers and suppliers of tactical firearms, tactical knives, and tactical gear. The best part is you get access to both shows with a single ticket. Combine this with special guest appearances and events and you have the makings of the best BLADE show yet!
I’ll be walking the show tomorrow, so if you’re attending, be on the lookout. Hope to see a few readers there!
Visit bladeshow.com for more information on the upcoming expos, including the event schedule and list of exhibitors.
This is one of a series of Still Lifes by Moscow-based studio Geliographic, who does illustrations on demand. All intended messages about the prevalence of firearms in modern society, or other interpretation of your choice, notwithstanding, these are some very detailed and beautiful paintings. I think the time will be soon I’ll have to make a commission.
By now, Charlie Sheen’s epic [drug and booze fueled] rants about how incredible he is are far from current events. Still, they match up perfectly with online gameplay from Black Ops, since it’s not uncommon to hear trash talk of this magnitude from the various randoms met in open lobbies. Awesomely funny stuff.
E3 is happening right now, so it’s only expected that a lot of new video game information would be coming out, but this is something I couldn’t have foreseen in a million years. 505 Games is publishing Blackwater, which will take place in a fictional North African town. As a Blackwater operative, you and your team will battle two Warlords’ factions in “an intense, cinematic shooter experience” for the safety of the town. The game is being produced with consultation from Blackwater founder Erik Prince and former Blackwater members, who are ensuring “… accuracy of moves, gestures, and gameplay.” In addition, the game will also feature a selection of officially-licensed weaponry. To be honest, 505 Games isn’t the most… high profile publisher, so I’m not expecting anything amazing. Plus, with all the bad vibes associated with the Blackwater name, I’m surprised anyone would even want to develop a game based on it.
In a surprising but completely pleasant turn of events, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is one of the few games I’ve seen so far that really makes good use of Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral for Xbox 360. To be specific, Future Soldier has a Gunsmith feature that fully interacts with Kinect, through both movement and voice commands. It allows you to completely customize any weapon in your arsenal from optics to the furniture to the internals to suit your in-game needs. Besides this, you can also actively test you combinations via a virtual firing range, using motion controls to move your character and fire your weapon. Come Future Soldier’s release, it looks like my Kinect sensor will finally have a purpose besides collecting dust.
Dragon Models Limited, a popular Chinese toy company, is offering a 1/144 scale model of the stealth helicopter used in the raid on UBL’s compound. Highly detailed with distinct edges and angles and a modified fuselage, nose and tail, each set come with two helicopters, allowing modelers to recreate the raid themselves. No word on whether the Chinese government was using these models as the basis of their own soon-to-be-announced stealth helicopter program, but I wouldn’t find that the least bit surprising. It’ll be available in the States this July.
