News Blips:

 

Microsoft readies ban hammer for Halo: Reach pirates. Eager gamers who download leaked copies of Bungie's definitive Halo game -- which isn't suppose to launch until Sept. 14 -- might want to think twice before taking it online. A Microsoft representative told Kotaku that they are aware of the leak and are "aggresively investigating the matter." The spokesperson wants consumers to know that "piracy is illegal and modifying their Xbox 360 console violates the Xbox Live terms of use, will void their warranty, and result in a ban from Xbox Live." Maybe try the "I didn't know this was an illegal copy of the game when I downloaded it" defense if you get caught...though I can't guarantee it'll work.

 

Developer Treyarch plans to bring back modding to the Call of Duty series with Call of Duty: Black Ops. The series' previous developer, Infinity Ward, removed the option for PC players to modify Modern Warfare 2 in an effort to prevent cheating. Now, a Treyarch representative stated on the Black Ops community board that they "plan to open the game up for modding sometime post-launch," though they don't yet know to what extent. Nevertheless, pour out a bottle, PC gamers -- it looks like you won't be getting the short end of the stick this time around. [GamesIndustry.biz]

 

New college courses use video games as texts. The University of Florida currently offers an online honors class titled EME2040: 21st Century Skills in Starcraft. Nate Poling, the Ph.D. candidate instructing the course, argues that the resource-management skills players use in the game are easily transferred into managing a business [via TechnologyReview]. Elsewhere, Professor Michael Abbot plans to require his students to play through Portal in his Enduring Questions class at Wabash College in Indiana. Abbot intends to use the game as a supplemental text to Erving Goffman's study Presentation of Self in Everyday Life for his freshman course in the spring semester [via 1UP]. Now it's only a matter of time before some university develops the Video Game Studies major I wanted so bad while I was in school.

 

Two New York men fight in real life over an online-game dispute. Eric S. LaChapelle, 24, and Corey J. Chalich, 18, played an unspecified game on the PS3's PlayStation Network last week that lead into an argument. Not content with online trash talking, LaChapelle made his way over to Chalich's house and allegedly assaulted him. Chalich then allegedly threatened and chased off his assailant with a knife. Police later arrested the two men who now face various misdemeanor charges. Lesson learned: Make sure your online game arguments are with people who live a considerable distance from you...or just don't be a dumbass. [Post Star]

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