The original plan was that it would be released on the US store with the European store a week later.

However sources at Sony tell us that the decision was taken to release the European map pack this week because it was believed the release of Grand Theft Auto 4 next week would seriously hamper sales of the maps.

The maps retail at £6.99 in the UK.

There are four new maps playable in a special mode selected from the multiplayer screen. Over the next week the maps will incorporated in to the rest of the game for those users who have purchased the update.

This weekend, in celebration of the release, will be a double XP weekend. I’ll see you online!

European users will have to wait until Thursday 1st May to get their greasy mitts on the new maps.

The North American map pack will retail at $9.99. We are still waiting for confirmation of the UK price but we expect it to arrive for £5.99.

The news will be a blow for European fans, however Gran Turismo 5 did arrive on the European store first. It is likely that for the week in between, US and European users will not be able to compete against each other in Call of Duty 4.

There will be a double XP weekend for both of the next two weekends.

The story is set in a fictional not too distant future war between the United States, United Kingdom, and a group of Russian Loyalists who are fighting against Russian Ultra nationalists and Middle Eastern rebels. The game is set over many locations ranging from the Middle East to Russia, and players will find that this game is much more slower paced than the games that preceded it.

Weapons are varied and now include the M203 grenade launcher, M4A1 carbine, an MPSSD sub machine gun and my personal favourite, the FGM-148 javelin portable anti-tank guided missile. When you have a tank in your sights and press the trigger, the missile shoots off at speed, but goes straight up into the air. The first time you witness this you may think to yourself, what the ????, but a few silent seconds later you will hear it coming down on its enemy, like a wife who finds out that her husband forgot their anniversary, yes it is that lethal.

One other cool weapon that you get to play with is the AN/PEQ-2 Target pointer, which you can also use with your night vision goggles, yes you can now enter a dimly lit room and see that enemy soldier crouching in the corner just waiting for you. The entire game is done with a cinematic feel to it, with the introduction after the initial Tanker raid being more akin to a James Bond movie than a video game.

The main selling point however, and the one that will keep players coming back for more, is the multi-player aspect that the game provides. As players accumulate points from defeating each other, the game will progress your rank which requires a set amount of points to obtain. The player is also rewarded, with a larger variety of weapons, weapon extras such as laser sights, and other game modes to play in. This really is the game that just keeps on giving and giving. The more you put in to it, the more you will get out of it.

FINAL WORDS

Call of Duty 4 is a must have title in our book. Since it’s release, we here at PS3 Pad find it hard put the game down, and even after completing it multiple times, it is the multi-player that seems to take over our lives. The game play, graphics and story have all been done to perfection, and whatever game comes along next branding the name ‘Call of Duty’, will have to be pretty special to improve on an already perfect game.

We understand that the PS3 extra maps for Call of Duty 4 will be released on April 24th.

The four new maps are expected to retail at £5.99 for the UK. The new maps are:

Creek A massive open village environment
Broadcast An enemy communications building with narrow corridors and a car park
Chinatown Downtown district, lit by the neon signs
Killhouse Abandoned training warehouse, featuring mocked up buildings

The following interviews/trailers feature some footage of the new maps.

Enjoy.

Creek Map

Broadcast Map

Infinity Ward Flythrough of the four new maps

The patch had been applied to other systems around the world around 10 days ago, meaning that European users have, quite literally, been ‘playing with themselves’ for a few days.

The patch is going to smooth out some of the technical difficulties and glitches in trying to access other games and staying connected whilst online.

May the American – European hostility (in the game) recommence!

That’s right, Infinity Ward – the makers of the acclaimed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare have been working their little socks off to produce some new online maps and features for the PS3 version of the game.

The game has sold well over a million copies and has a massive following in online games.

According to a statement released by Infinity Ward the new online maps could be with us sooner than expected.

Fresh intelligence from Activision HQ reports that new global conflicts are planned in the form of downloadable multiplayer maps for the award-winning Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™. In development for both Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the upcoming downloadable content will thrust gamers into a hot zone of added combat across a variety of intense multiplayer locales.

“We’ve demonstrated our commitment to delivering the best multiplayer experience in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and that continues with our plans for new downloadable content,” explains Infinity Ward’s Community Manager, Robert Bowling.

“We’re excited about the new maps, and the added gameplay variety, and we can’t wait to wrap things up and get online with everyone.”

Speculation is rife, although we have received our own ‘intel’ that one of the campaigns is expected to feature AI-generated civilians, killing these civilians will result in reduced scores.  This feature if implemented could radically alter the gameplay and add a whole new dimension to the game.

Another rumour is that one of the online maps will be set in an abandoned airport (similar to Baghdad Airport) in which empty aeroplanes can be used for your hiding / sniping / detonating needs!

Watch this space.

(And if you are a COD4 fan then don’t forget to enter our competition!)

For this weekend only, you can gain double XP every time you take part in the online game. Get on there, and try and move up the rankings!

The event is on now and runs until 10am on Monday 10th December.