I know, I know... I was having so much activity going for a while and now I am like a ghost (on here at least). What can I say? Too many good games, so many cool projects, so little time. You guys and gals need to join me on XBox LIVE and the NoF forums - for realz!

Starting this weekend, there will be lots of things keeping me from blogging and being very visible but I will still be around. There are some cool gaming-related projects in the works and, as I mentioned before, there are projects like VayaSpanish.com keeping me busy and pleasantly challenged. Good times all around! I only wish I could duplicate myself to optimize the experience...

Tomorrow, the early birds get a sneak-peek at the new Call of Duty 4 maps. The Variety Map Pack will be available on XBox LIVE as DLC (Downloadable Content) early April. Imagine getting a jump on those maps. Sadly, only San Jose and New York City have major launch events for the GOTY (Game of the Year) Edition of Call of Duty 4 and the new multiplayer maps. If you're not anywhere near there, sorry.

This weekend is also the Rainbow Six Vegas 2 LIVE Weekend. Register here by following this link. There will be 72 prizes in total and seeing how RSV2 is nowhere as popular as CoD4 right now, your odds look good. I feel good about this weekend so expect me to disappear for the week, playing Rainbow Six Vegas 2, the Batttlefield: Bad Company beta, Call of Duty 4, and working away. Work and play, work and play, work and play.. That's how I roll!

Want to know more about the Call of Duty 4 updates? Check out these snippets, borrowed directly from XBox.com...

The Variety Map Pack includes four new multiplayer maps. "Creek" is a wide-open village ravaged by combat where concealment is the difference between life and death. In "Broadcast," fight throughout an enemy communications building with confined corridors and wide-open parking lots. "Chinatown" is a foggy downtown district, lit only by a full moon and the neon glow of the city. "Killhouse" features a desolate training warehouse filled with a variety of building mock-ups and soft and hard cover points.

As an early sneak peek on March 28, GameStop will host the Variety Map Pack Challenge at two exclusive preview events in New York City and San Jose. Lucky gamers will be among the first in the world to play the new maps on Xbox 360 and meet members of the Infinity Ward team.

One of the maps is set in Chinatown.

The first 100 guests at each location will receive a free token to download the Variety Map Pack upon release, and the first 250 contestants will compete for prizes, including GameStop gift certificates.

Both the Modern Warfare Game of the Year Edition and the new Variety Map Pack download will be available on Thursday, April 3 in the U.S.

The worldwide best-selling game in units of 2007, according to The NPD Group, Chart Track, and The GFK Group, and winner of more than 50 editors' choice and game of the year honors, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Intense Violence, Strong Language, Blood and Gore.

My Thoughts

The first three maps they mention in the map details catch my eye. Creek seems like it'll be a new Overgrown, which is a map people lover or hate. There's no doubt about it: this is THE map for snipers and ninjas alike! The focus on limited cover and using concealment should make things quite fun.

Broadcast seems like it may be another Vacant. This is yet another map people love or hate madly. If Broadcast is truly a map about corridor fights, deep impact, claymores, and strategic movement will be key. In Vacant, locking down long hallways and entryways is a great way to keep the enemy at bay. I can see Broadcast being a phenomenal Search-And-Destroy map.

Chinatown is the map that excites me the most. My gripe has always been that there are not enough night maps and it'd be nice to have a reason to use night vision. Chinatown seems like it can be that map and the city setting should make things fun. Tight quarters, many buildings to hide in, danger around every corner.. I'm excited and I hope you are too!

BTW, I don't care what anyone says but Rainbow Six Vegas 2 rocks. I also enjoy the two recent (and random) additions to my Nintendo DS collection: Megaman Starforce and Contact. Contact is very weird but fun. Just wish they thought some aspects out a bit more. So much wasted potential. You'd expect more from the producer of Killer 7 and No More Heroes...