I kept at the COD 4 multiplayer beta for two weeks solid, cycling through the same three maps, eagerly working my way toward higher ranks, improved weapons and more useful perks. When I finally set it aside, it wasn't because I'd become bored of its steady stream of rewards, I just couldn't bear earning more accomplishments that would be erased when the beta closed.

  The Escapist is pleased to announce our editorial calendar for the first quarter of 2008.

  GameStop has stopped offering Product Replacement Plans for Xbox 360 consoles, leaving the standard Microsoft warranty as the only option for protection against hardware failure.

  The final track set for Harmonix's Rock Band has been revealed.

  IGA Worldwide and NBC Universal Digital Media have announced a deal for NBC Universal to sell a portion of IGA's premium in-game advertising and create customized packages for clients on the IGA network.

  The United Kingdom Minister for Culture, Media and Sport has said her government may issue a World Trade Organization challenge to Canada's policy of issuing generous tax credits to game developers who open studios in that country.

  Just in time for Hallowe'en, Rockstar Games has announced that the long-delayed gorefest Manhunt 2 is now on the shelves.

  BioWare and LucasArts have announced they have joined to create an "interactive entertainment product," adding fuel to the fire of widespread rumors that BioWare's unannounced MMOG project will take place in the Knights of the Old Republic setting of the Star Wars universe.

  Mobile developer Gameloft has announced the release of Heroes: The Official Mobile Game, based on the hit NBC television series, that could give gamers a unique preview into events in the second season.

  The Casual Games Association has released the 2007 Casual Games Report, highlighting the sector's continued strength and growth.

  U.K. software charts for the week show Konami's soccer title, Pro Evolution Soccer, sitting pretty at the top slot.

  Nowadays, serious games aren't just about mass murder; serious games are about everything, from anthropological research to art exhibits to virtual nation building.

  Each week we publish letters sent to us regarding previous issues. If you'd like to comment on an article, send your letter to editor@escapistmag.com.

  "'The thing that carries over between the physical world and the virtual world is not particularly behavior because the spaces are so radically different,' Thomas says. 'What carries over is a notion of dispositions, and dispositions are more or less attitudes towards the real world. If you're generous in real life, you're probably generous in virtual worlds. And if you're racist in real life, you're probably racist in virtual worlds, too.'"Melody Lutz speaks to the creators of Second Life's Diplomacy Island.