Joystiq

Game Informer cover reveals redesigned Isaac for Dead Space 2

by Justin McElroy { 1 minute ago }

Game Informer's next issue is going to shed some eerie, bluish-greenish light on the just-announced Dead Space 2, but they're already showing off a new look for lead miner/Necromorph killer Isaac Clark. While we question the wisdom of worrying about fashion in the middle of Necromorph onslaught, we can't argue it's not a snappy look.

While we're thinking of it, is anybody else getting a total Guyver vibe from the new duds? No? Just us? Fair enough.

GuitarHeroStore scratches DJ Hero price down to $79

by Griffin McElroy { 16 minutes ago }

If you've been desperately wanting to live the luxurious life of a virtual DJ, but lack the finances required to do so, fret no longer -- GuitarHeroStore has temporarily knocked the price of the Wii, PS3 and 360 versions of DJ Hero down to $79, and the PS2 version of the game to $64. That even includes free shipping, which is good, since plastic turntables probably cost more than your average parcel to transport cross-country.

Make sure you enter in the coupon code "DJHPP1" while checking out in order to access the offer. Otherwise, you'll end up paying full price for the game, losing out on $20 you could've spend on other disc jockey accessories. Like oversized headphones! Or LED-infused robot helmets.

[Via SlickDeals]

Lance Henriksen reprises 'Bishop' role in Aliens vs. Predator

by Alexander Sliwinski { 31 minutes ago }

Lance Henriksen, who was most memorably cleaved asunder as android (ahem, "artificial lifeform") Bishop, will see another continuation of his Aliens film role in Rebellion's Alien vs. Predator game. Henriksen plays Karl Bishop Weyland, the descendant of Weyland-Yutani corporation founder Charles Bishop Weyland. The 69-year-old actor is happy with his virtual likeness (seen above) and is quoted as saying, "I might score from this game!" Joystiq is quoted as saying, "Maybe if it's from a facehugger, Lance."

Considering Henriksen's appearance in one of the most gore-riffic scenes in film (at the time), we should reiterate that Aliens vs. Predator will release in February 2010 on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC -- in countries that don't require toned-down violence. Rebellion has stated that it will not be "releasing a sanitized or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices." Sorry, Australia and Germany.

Where does the next Tetris block really come from?

by Richard Mitchell { 1 hour ago }

Perhaps, in the past, during a rousing round of Tetris, you may have found yourself in an existential funk. "Where does the next block come from?" you mused. Sure, it's easy enough to pin your extraordinary luck (or misfortune) on the wonders of random generation, but what if it wasn't so simple? What if the real source of your bliss and/or frustration was more ... divine?

College Humor introduces us to Tetrises, the God of Tetris. Witness his terrible glory after the break. Just remember that the next time you pray for a line piece, you actually have someone to address. And, if you're looking for some extra luck, you might consider slaughtering a lesser puzzle game to appease him.

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Alien Breed PC slated for Q1 2009, PS3 in Q2

by Richard Mitchell { 1 hour ago }

Having already dated the timed-exclusive XBLA debut of Alien Breed Evolution -- it will land on December 16 -- Team17 has told GamerZines when PC and PS3 owners can expect the game. According to Team17's Mark Baldwin, Alien Breed Evolution will hit PCs sometime in the first quarter of 2009, while the PS3 version will arrive in the second quarter. Elaborating, Baldwin said the PC version should be available "sometime before March." Meanwhile, PS3 owners "will have to wait as long as perhaps June."

Team17 has previously stated that exclusivity is "just the way the world works," noting that Microsoft had a lot of early faith in the title. At least three to six months' worth of faith.

Atlus announces PhotoWorld for DSi -- through the ESRB

by JC Fletcher { 2 hours ago }

Using its cost-effective ESRB method of announcing new games, Atlus revealed a new DSi program called PhotoWorld. As you may expect from a game with that title, it involves taking pictures with the DSi camera. Players shoot a self-portrait and then "customize the pictures with a variety of stamps, photo effects, and text boxes."

As Siliconera notes, Atlus already sort of has a program like this on DSiWare. Nintendo's Sparkle Snapshots is based on Atlus's popular Print Club (Purikura) booths. We look forward to finding out how this one differs -- there's absolutely no way it could be any more sparkly, that's for sure. Of course, we aren't even sure this is DSiWare -- while this sounds like the kind of thing you would sell as a download, all we know is that it's for the DSi.

Aussies gather in Brisbane to promote R18+ rating

by Alexander Sliwinski { 2 hours ago }

A "rally" in Brisbane, Australia in support of an R18+ rating for video games attracted approximately 50 people -- so maybe more along the lines of a "gathering," then. But let's not dwell on the meager turnout, let's focus on the intent and message, which GamePolitics reports was uploaded to YouTube (1, 2, 3, 4). Speaking at the event were Nicolas Suzor of Electronic Frontiers Australia and Ethan Watson of Treat Us Like Adults. Thankfully, it appears nobody was doing cosplay, a tactic that a previous rally considered implementing.

The first priority of the groups is to have Commonwealth Minister of Home Affairs, Brendan O'Connor, release the R18+ discussion paper that the "censorship ministers" have been slow to make public. Yes, a report on censorship is being censored. South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson had previously tried a political maneuver to bury the report and put the debate on an R18+ rating on indefinite hold.

[Via GamePolitics]

[Image: Andrew Wade]

Yakuza 3 heads west in March 2010

by Ludwig Kietzmann { 3 hours ago }

As fans of Sega's Yakuza series (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) will quickly point out, the lengthy wait for localized versions is somewhat of a disorganized crime. With two PlayStation 3-exclusive installments already available in Japan (and a third on the way), Sega Europe's online community manager, Kevin Eva, offers an enthusiastic answer to the impatient question: "YAKUZA 3 IS COMING TO THE WEST." So enthusiastic, it seems, he's already busting some CAPS.

Writing on the European PlayStation Blog, Eva confirmed that Yakuza 3 will hit the US, Europe and Australia in March 2010, and emphasized the game's adherence to its cultural origins -- not to mention Sega's budget. "As part of the lengthy localisation work Yakuza 3 will feature full English subtitling," he wrote, "whilst maintaining the rich Japanese voice actors that bring an extremely engaging atmosphere to the game – this will no doubt please the purists out there!"

Plus, you wouldn't want to upset those rich Japanese voice actors by replacing them. Who knows how well they're connected?

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Zelnick: OnLive 'beneficial' to gaming industry, doesn't fit with Take-Two's business model

by Griffin McElroy { 3 hours ago }

Though most gaming enthusiasts received the announcement of the streaming game service known as OnLive with raw, unmitigated zeal, Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick isn't convinced of the platform's revolutionary properties. According to GamesIndustry, Zelnick explained during the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York City, that, if successful, OnLive would "meaningfully and beneficially transform the economics of our business." However, he later added that the digital distribution-centric system "doesn't really speak to our business model."

Zelnick noted the benefits in not having to worry about costs associated with production and distribution, but explained that "the bulk of our business is packaged goods because initial releases are for the console business." He later claimed that OnLive's bold distribution model "probably won't be a sea change in our business." Shortly after that, he did 1,000 sit-ups, and then arm wrestled everyone in the audience simultaneously. Needless to say, he won.

Alan Wake teaser shows us the power of light

by Richard Mitchell { 4 hours ago }

Light is, by most accounts, a pretty good thing. It's warm, it makes plants grow and, perhaps most importantly, allows us to see. At least, that was its most important function. Now, thanks to Alan Wake, we know that light's ultimate purpose is to disintegrate monsters. In the small mountain town of Bright Falls, a simple flashbang becomes a weapon of mass destruction and an ordinary road flare is transmogrified from a beacon of hope to a harbinger of doom.

If you don't believe us, check out the new teaser -- part of a week-long Alan Wake feature at 1UP -- after the break.

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PSP Minis playable on PS3 with firmware update 3.15

by Andrew Yoon { 4 hours ago }

PS3 is getting yet another firmware update -- this time optional -- "very soon" according to a post on the European PlayStation.Blog. The pre-Christmas update brings a feature we reported on earlier: support for PSP Minis on the PS3. Like PSone classics, a single purchase from the PlayStation Store will work on both platforms. If you've bought a Mini and want to play it on your PS3, you'll be able to access it from the Store's archived Download List.

In addition to adding Minis support, update 3.15 will simplify the process of moving data from one PS3 to another. For example, if you own both a PS3 Phat and Slim, you'll be able to connect the two systems via a LAN cable and transfer data from one system to the next. For more details on how to do just that, visit the PlayStation.Blog.

Analyst: China's online game revenues to reach $11 billion by 2012

by Griffin McElroy { 5 hours ago }

According to a report recently published by typographically-challenged research firm Analysys, revenues from China's online gaming industry will reach 73.1 billion yuan ($10.7 billion) within three years. If you're one of those people who have a hard time telling whether numbers are large, let us assure you that this one is very large indeed. As a point of reference, the entire U.S. gaming industry pulled in $11.7 billion in revenues last year.

The report expects online gaming revenues for the nation to reach $3.8 billion this year -- however, it also estimates MMO market penetration to only be at 27 percent, a number it expects will increase as internet access becomes more readily available to Chinese citizens. Of course, all the internet access in the world won't bolster online gaming revenues if all the good ones keep getting shut down for no reason whatsoever.

GameStop offers chance to vote on Red Dead Redemption pre-order bonus

by JC Fletcher { 5 hours ago }

If you pre-order Red Dead Redemption from GameStop, you'll be able to start redeeming a bit early -- specifically, a code for an exclusive pre-order bonus. The retailer will offer customers the chance to vote on one of three in-game challenges that, when completed, will award players an in-game costume.

The hard-earned costume changes will have some unspecified effect on gameplay: according to Rockstar's announcement, "the outfit will uniquely affect how the surrounding world responds to the game's protagonist, John Marston." We don't know what any of the three choices are, but people would respond differently to a man in one of those inflatable sumo wrestler costumes. Just putting that out there. More information about the challenges and the outfits will be released in January.

Gallery: Red Dead Redemption (11-13-09)

TIGA delivers petition for tax relief to UK government

by Alexander Sliwinski { 14 hours ago }

[Image credit: Bashed]

UK video game industry trade association TIGA delivered a petition today to 10 Downing Street (that's where Her Majesty ... oh, it's just the British Prime Minister's residence), seeking the introduction of Games Tax Relief. The petition was signed by 55 "senior industry figures," which gives the proposition a bit more weight than the standard internet plea. The argument set forth by Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, is that "if it is right to provide tax relief for the UK film industry then it is also right to provide tax relief for the UK video games sector."

TIGA's push on the UK government is being framed as a matter of survival for the British games industry. The organization previously stated that 1,700 jobs will be lost without tax breaks and that the current government funding structure for the games industry is "incoherent." If TIGA doesn't receive assistance soon, the group can always accept the outstretched hand of assistance from the ominous-sounding "Shadow Cabinet."

Learn the Gamer's Alphabet and benefit charity

by Justin McElroy { 15 hours ago }

Charity's great, but we've always said that the best kind of giving is where you also get something in return. That's what makes A Gamer's Alphabet such a great purchase. Not only will you be helping to raise money for Marisa's Bunny, which raises awareness of Infantile Spasms, but, more importantly, you'll get something out of the deal, a lovely book that gives every letter a gamer slant.

Ahh, giving with the anticipation of getting. It's kind of amazing that some 2010 years after Jesus came to Earth from space, we still remember his teachings so well.

[Via Hawty McBloggy]