This comes directly from the EGM July 06 preview of CoD3 on page 78.  Anything in parenthesis are my add ins or opinions.

On July 4th you can visit cod3.1up.com to check out exclusive screen shots and in game video.

Enjoy.  This magazine that I received is from the free subscription if anyone signed up for it when it was available.

Leaps over CoD2:

1. In game system has been rebuilt
2. Characters move more realistically.
3. more textures and shaders in the environment
4. No more boarded up windows so now you can see the turn up landscape all around you.
5. foliage remains flattened when you walk over (you can track people now, until it is real destroyed)
6. Grenades leave real scorched earth.
7. Surfaces react to bullets like they should, grass is different from steel, steel is different from wood, and wood is different from water.
8. More than 24 characters on screen at one time.
9. Destructable cover
10. Global winds affect smoke grenades.
    1. Now, when a tabk moves through smoke grenades the somke will curl around it.
    2. Bullets through smoke with stream out the other side moving the smoke.
    3. Trees and grass will move with the wind

Things change:

1. You actually have to go through the actions of planting a bomb instead of holding A.
2. You have to row a boat while still trying to shoot you way to freedom.
3. Hand to hand combat compared to the way Condemed works.

CoD3 campaign takes place during the real campaign called Normandy Breakout.  This is after D-day when the troops are moving inland to move the Germans back and liberate Paris.

1. Load times are bring erased between levels.
2. Play as Americans, British, Polish Resistance, and the Canadian army (giggles and food should love that).
3. Example: When you are fighting with the British you will fight along side the French resistance.

Multiplayer

1. 24 online
2. Single or Splitscreen (here are your guest).
3. Players choose their class ranging from medic to sniper.
   1. Each ability as you earn points in rank.
   2. Ex.  A scout at first can only call in a couple artillery barages.  As they gain ability they will be able to call in a broken arrow (I added that for you Vietnam and "When we Were Soldiers" guys)
4. Online leaderboards track stats and rankings by specialty.
5. New Multiplayer mode called War.
   1. Axis and Allied teams battling for strategic locations.
6. And of course vehicles.

In the completely unsurprising department, the first PlayStation 3 bundle from an online retailer has hit the Net, and it's expensive. Gamers who thought the initial Xbox 360 bundles were pricey at a minimum of $600 should sit down before reading the next sentence. Play.com is selling the PlayStation 3 with the 60GB hard drive and three games for 549 pounds, roughly $1,016. The three games included are Warhawk, Formula One 06, and SingStar--perfect for gamers who like air combat, driving, and karaoke games.

Of course the PlayStation 3, like most gaming products, will be more expensive across the pond relative to the US market. The 60GB PS3 was announced to launch in Europe for 599 euros or 425 pounds, which is the American equivalent of $758 and $799, respectively.

Assuming the previously reported 425-pound price point is to remain true in the UK, it would mean that Play.com would be selling the three games for 124 pounds ($230), or just over 41 pounds per game (just over $76). The early bird also won't necessarily get the worm--Play.com does not guarantee delivery of the bundles before Christmas.

Sticker shock isn't likely to be done yet. Gamers may remember the ridiculous $4,499 Xbox 360 bundles that were released, which included a 42-inch plasma screen television. Bundles are the perfect way for retailers to make some extra cash with high-demand items, and it's likely that online retailers will have similar ideas for both the PS3 and Nintendo's Wii.

And American shoppers should remember, this is all before tax and shipping charges.

You've Might Have Read This Before, But It News To Me.(lol)

Late last week, unconfirmed reports began to surface that a large shipment of DS Lites were stolen in Asia. Today Nintendo confirmed that the larceny did in fact take place, and that the shipment was intended for the launch of the new portable in the UK.

"A number of white DS Lites made for the UK market were stolen in Hong Kong," a Nintendo rep told GameSpot News. "Nintendo is making every effort to ensure that there is enough product available in the UK to meet market demand at launch."

The exact amount of losses as a result of the theft isn't clear, but several Internet reports speculated that the monetary damage hovered around the $2 million mark. Others reported the handheld as turning up en masse in the black markets of Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The DS Lite, which has been in high demand in both Japan and the United States, is scheduled to make its debut in the UK on June 23. The handheld was released in America on June 11, where it sold 136,500 units in its first two days on the market.

Bill Gates is transitioning out of his full-time role at Microsoft, the software giant that's been under pressure due to a sagging stock price, competition from Google, and nagging delays in the Vista operating system.

In a press conference held Thursday after the stock markets had closed for regular trading, Gates announced that over the next two years he will gradually step away from his daily responsibilities at the company he cofounded some 30 years ago.

Microsoft's chief technical officer Ray Ozzie will immediately assume the title of chief software architect, Gates said. In addition, chief technical officer Craig Mundie will immediately take the new title of chief research and strategy officer and will assume Gates' responsibilities for the company's research and incubation efforts.

"Our business and technical leadership has never been stronger, and Microsoft is well-positioned for success in the years ahead," Gates said in a release. "I feel very fortunate to have such great technical leaders like Ray and Craig at the company," Gates said. "I remain fully committed and full-time at Microsoft through June 2008 and will be working side-by-side with Ray and Craig to ensure that a smooth transition occurs."  (What will the Xbox become without Gates? we will have to see in 2008)