HomeLAN Fed is reporting that the latest issue of PC Gamer has a story on the first expansion pack for Call of Duty, titled United Offensive. In development at Return to Castle Wolfenstein developer Gray Matter Studios, United Offensive will feature three separate single player campaign just like the original game. The expansion pack is due out this fall. In related news Activision sends along word that GameSpy is hosting a developer chat with Infinity Ward today at 6PM CST.

Activision has released a new Call of Duty patch, updating Infinity Ward's WW2 action game to version 1.3. The new patch offers two new multiplayer maps, EAX3 support and several other new features and fixes. Updated Linux server binaries are available as well.

Activision has added this communique to the official Call of Duty site, announcing that a v1.3 patch for the game will be released next week. This patch will come with cheat and exploit fixes, server browser enhancements and two new maps among other things. You can find screenshots from the MP_Bocage and MP_Neuville levels right here. Punkbuster support will be added seperately after the 1.3 release.

Activision sends along a beta Call of Duty patch, updating the game to version 1.3. The unsupported test release fixes several pesky multiplayer bugs (as noted under the Additional Info section). With the patch you won't be able to play on 1.2 servers, and a 1.3 Linux server is not available.

Activision sent along a press release announcing the Call of Duty Mapmaker Competition. People who know how to make a good multiplayer level have the chance to win an all expense paid trip to Los Angeles to meet with Infinity Ward, a BFG Asylum GeForce FX 5950 Ultra videocard and the possibility of having their map included with a future Call of Duty update. Those who wish to enter the competition need to sign up before March 20, and submit their final map or maps (up to 3) March 26. For more info go here.

Soundblaster.com has posted a Q&A with Infinity Ward's Steve Fukuda, designer on Call of Duty. Questions are about the game's audio design. Thanks Blues News.

Call of Duty Xtreme has posted a Q&A with Tony Ray, asking the Punkbuster creator about the integration of his anti-cheat software into Call of Duty as was announced recently. Thanks HomeLAN Fed.

Activision has released the first Call of Duty patch, updating the Infinity Ward shooter to version 1.02. This multiplayer patch offers a new gametype called Headquarters, adds an option to enable/disable the Killcam, and has improved ban abilities along with several other new features and fixes. Here's what the new Headquarters mode is all about

- A radio randomly spawns into a map as neutral. Your team must capture a radio by standing near it with no enemies around.
- Your team must control a radio to gain points. A team is awarded 45 points for every 45 seconds it holds the radio.
- Destroying an enemy radio rewards your team with as many points as are left on the reinforcement timer (e.g. if you destroy the radio with 16 seconds left on the reinforcements timer, your team will receive 16 points).
- If your team loses the radio, a new radio will spawn in a different location. This radio is now neutral and must be captured.
- Spawns are regulated by a reinforcement timer, which spawns players in 45 second intervals. This reinforcement timer is displayed on the HUD and players only have to wait until the closest spawn period before rejoining the battle.

A new Linux dedicated server release is out as well, if you already had a 1.1 server running you can use this xdelta binary patch file.

We received an email from Activision announcing that Infinity Ward has signed a deal with Even Balance to include PunkBuster support in Call of Duty. This should help cut down on the cheaters in the game, though it will probably be a while before PB is integrated.

There is a Call of Duty wrap report on Action Vault this morning, offering the thoughts of lead artist Justin Thomas and lead animator Michael Boon on things that went right and wrong during development of this World War 2 shooter.

Activision has sent along the Call of Duty viewmodel tools, which will probably help you modelers out there. A readme is included explaining how to use the files.

The guys at Infinity Ward (Call of Duty) let us know that they updated their jobs page, as they are looking for a Level Designer/Scripter. There are also still openings for programmers and artists.

There is a Call of Duty: Headquarters Mode article on GameSpy this morning, asking Infinity Ward's Zied Rieke about the new multiplayer mode they are adding to their WW2 shooter. This team-based objective mode will be included with the first patch for the game, and is due out next week.

Activision has released the Call of Duty editing tools, allowing you to create custom maps for the game. The latest Linux dedicated server binaries are out as well, you'll need a copy of the game to use them.

Activision sends word of two Call of Duty developer chats being organized today. At 1pm central time there will be a chat in #planetcod on the QuakeNet IRC network (more info here), while at 6pm you can ask the guys at Infinity Ward about the game in #callofduty.org on the GamesNet network (more here).

New on UGO is this Call of Duty Q&A with writer Michael Schiffer. He is asked about his work for the game and script writing in general.

HomeLAN Fed has posted a Call Of Duty Post-Release Q&A, asking Infinity Ward's president Grant Collier about development of the game and future plans. In related news there's this Activision press release announcing that Call of Duty should now be invading stores.

Activision has released another Call of Duty gameplay movie, called Intensity. This latest clip shows footage from the game's Russian campaign.

Over at GameChronicles you can find the latest Call of Duty Q&A. Lead designer Zied Rieke is asked about the team that worked on the game, how Call of Duty is different from all the other WW2 games, squad combat and AI, the missions, multiplayer features and a couple of other related things. Thanks Blues News.

Activision has officially released the second Call of Duty singleplayer demo, Dawnville. This demo is the same as the one included with the current issue of PC Gamer, and follows the events of the first demo Burnville. The full version of Infinity Ward's WW2 shooter will be in stores in just a few days.

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