First-person shooters may be thick on the ground these days, but few require the level of co-operation that Ubisoft is hoping to inject into the genre with the imminent release of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.

A recent play test through two of the game’s co-op modes — campaign and guerrilla — suggested that the game may distinguish itself not only with the teamwork and communication required to play successfully, but also with quieter moments, something other shooters generally pay lip service to, at best.

Campaign mode may see all four soldiers outfitted for a particular specialty, with sniping, machine-gunning, and close-combat load-outs all available. Equipment too is dispersed amongst the team, with one member carrying a UAV drone whilst others lug grenades about. Flexibility is key to advancing in the game, so it pays to have all bases covered.

 

Blizzard has publicly apologised for Diablo III’s server problems, admitting that it didn’t prepare thoroughly enough for the game’s launch.

"Despite very aggressive projections, our preparations for the launch of the game did not go far enough," said Blizzard via Diablo III's Battle.net forum.

As well as hampering players’ ability to get into the game, server problems have now delayed the launch of the game’s auction house.

You’re probably wondering what just happened.

You went to AustralianGamer, the trusted name in Australian gaming news and reviews since 2005. And you’ve ended up here, wherever here is.

“Here” is Gameplanet Australia. This is the new home of the loveable scoundrels who formed AustralianGamer.

Yug and I have been running Australian Gamer for approximately six years. In that time we've seen it change from a small hobby site run by two idiots, and evolve into a significant part of the Australian market. Run by two idiots.

 

The games industry enjoys a drink.

Contrary to popular assumption, creating a videogame is a demanding, stressful, and time-intensive balancing act between creativity and commodity. It can mean developers work long hours, and often for very little pay, as there’s no shortage of talented graduates hoping to break into the field.

As with all project-based work, there are frequent crunch times to meet milestones, and working weekends is not uncommon. This is a high-stakes game, and overworked professionals in an outwardly glamorous industry need to unwind.