I sentence you to 50 years Gold Farming!

Like most issues, people argue for and against gold farming in MMO games. Supporters of gold farming believe that it cannot be stopped and that players should have the freedom to decide if it is more enjoyable to buy their way through the game by spending real money on it. On the other hand, the developers and a lot of gamers consider that to be unfair, if not outright cheating.

Another view of the issue came from the Guardian which revealed that gold farmers are actually forced to work in sweatshops for extended hours daily.

The guardian’s report tells the story of an ex-prison guard who (along with others) was forced to work in actual coal mines and to play online games to farm gold while he was imprisoned at the Jixi labor camp in northeast China in 2004.

“If I couldn't complete my work quota [of in-game money or gold], they would punish me physically,” he explained. “They would make me stand with my hands raised in the air and after I returned to my dormitory they would beat me with plastic pipes. We kept playing until we could barely see things.”

“Prison bosses made more money forcing inmates to play games than they do forcing people to do manual labour,” Liu added.“There were 300 prisoners forced to play games. We worked 12-hour shifts in the camp. I heard them say they could earn 5,000-6,000rmb [about $770 to $924] a day. We didn't see any of the money. The computers were never turned off.”

New Cast is up

Episode 2 of the JpTechGamer Podcast is up. Also the iTunes RSS feed is working. Listen to us talk about L.A. Noire, and the new Nintendo console. 

Modern Warfare 3 Release Date Announced

Activision has finally announced officially that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be released on November 8, 2011.

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is by far the most epic Call of Duty experience yet. The teams at Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games have worked tirelessly to create for the Call of Duty player a scale that is unimaginable with a level of polish and creativity that will push the genre forward,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc.  “The passion and energy of our developers is reflected in everything about the title.  From the innovative gameplay, to the cinematic intensity, to the most advanced multiplayer ever, Modern Warfare 3 will raise the bar for this already incredible franchise.”

This game is not yet rated.

Duke Nukem Forever Has Gone Gold

2K Games and Gearbox Software announced that Duke Nukem Forever has “gone gold” and will be available at retailers on June 10, 2011 internationally and on June 14, 2011 in North America.

After 15 years in development, the game will be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC. Gamers who pre-order the title from select outlets will ensure that they are among the first to experience this piece of gaming history when the demo launches on June 3, 2011 for all platforms, exclusively for Duke Nukem First Access Club Members.

“Duke Nukem Forever is the game that was once thought to be unshippable, and yet here we are, on the precipice of history,”said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Today marks an amazing day in the annals of gaming lore, the day where the legend ofDuke Nukem Forever is finally complete and it takes that final step towards becoming a reality.”

“Duke Nukem Forever and its journey to store shelves is legendary,” said George Broussard, creative director at 3D Realms.“It's an epic tale of four game development studios that banded together and did the unthinkable and shipped the unshippable. When you play this game you will be reminded of that epic journey at every turn and in every small detail of the game. The character, attitude, interactivity, gameplay and political incorrectness combine to make a Duke Nukem game a unique gaming experience. In the timeless words of Duke Nukem it's finally time to 'Come Get Some'. Come be a part of gaming history.”

Apologising to no one, Duke Nukem Forever is the high-octane video game equivalent of a Hollywood summer blockbuster. Starring the legendary lady killer and alien slayer, Duke Nukem Forever brings gamers back to a blastastic time when games were filled with head-popping, bone-rattling action, brazenly crude humor, impossibly statuesque women dying for affection, and catchy one-liners meant to make you laugh out loud.

Ghost Recon Goes Free And Online

Ubisoft announced the development of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online, a new multi-player, third-person, cover-based tactical shooter that will be offered free-to-play online.

Ghost Recon Online is developed by Ubisoft Singapore, and offers all the best qualities of the Ghost Recon franchise in a downloadable, dynamic, PC-based online game.  Ghost Recon Online launches in closed beta beginning this summer.   

The game offers players the ability to choose between three different classes of Ghost, customize their weapons, deploy cutting-edge military technology, and share intel with their team. Ghost Recon Online also features a rich lobby platform for hosting social and persistent progression features. Ubisoft also will back the game with a full set of services, including regular events and game content updates, customized content based on community feedback, and live support. 

The game’s graphics will be on bar with those of the latest Ghost Recon standalone titles and while the game is free for anyone to play, players also can purchase premium items and fully personalize their experience.

Players can sign up for the closed beta and find more information on the game at www.GhostReconOnline.com. 

iTunes is Live

The jptechgamercast is live on iTunes for all who wish to take a listen. 

iTunes users only have to wait a little more.

iTunes users will only have to wait a little while longer as our Rss feed going up. We submitted a feed to them 3 days before, but that feed had problems such as not being able to download the cast. We are sorry for the inconvenience everyone.