Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogobig.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[New shipment of Radiant Historia en route]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/new-shipment-of-radiant-historia-en-route/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/new-shipment-of-radiant-historia-en-route/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/new-shipment-of-radiant-historia-en-route/#comments It's funny how good news for JRPG fans is also often bad news for eBay moguls. Radiant Historia, a DS-exclusive time-travel JPRG from Atlus (which routinely auctions for $60 plus) is being reprinted and redistributed in North America, although this reprint will not include the soundtrack bundled with the original run.

Pre-orders are starting to pop up at various retailers, and Atlus is urging interested parties to take advantage of the opportunity before the new batch hits store shelves in late March. Considering that Atlus has not released specifics regarding how limited of a reprint this is, if limited at all, we recommend erring on the side of caution (and a $35.00 price tag) rather than taking your chances on an uncertain, seller-feedback-oriented future.

JoystiqNew shipment of Radiant Historia en route originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atlusdsnintendoradiant-historiareprintshipmentSat, 11 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco Bandai profits up in Q3 2012, as are year-end projections]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/namco-bandai-profits-up-in-q3-2012-as-are-year-end-projections/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/namco-bandai-profits-up-in-q3-2012-as-are-year-end-projections/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/namco-bandai-profits-up-in-q3-2012-as-are-year-end-projections/#comments Namco Bandai's financial statement for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 has been released, and while the report contains a lot of tables and numbers and figures, it actually has very few pictures, which was a problem for our exceedingly limited attention spans. We did our best, though, and after concentrating really hard and taking our Adult ADD medication, we were able to produce actual, honest-to-goodness business information.

For instance! For the 9 month period ending on December 31, 2011, Namco Bandai reports a net income (which is the amount of earned money left over after all operating expenses and taxes) of ¥16.3 billion, or about $210 million, which is a 34.3 percent increase over the same period last year.

The company predicts an additional ¥2.19 billion ($28.3 million) in net income over the course of Q4, (which runs from January 1 to March 31, 2012), wrapping up fiscal 2012 to the tune of ¥18.5 billion ($238.4 million) in net profit over the course of the fiscal year. Provided these predictions stand the test of time, Namco Bandai's performance in fiscal 2012 will be a 90 percent increase over its performance in fiscal 2011.

Whew! Now if you'll excuse us, we have cat videos to watch.

JoystiqNamco Bandai profits up in Q3 2012, as are year-end projections originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiscal-2012increasenamco-bandainet-incomeoutlookprofitprojectionsQ3-2012Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo launches Rhythm Heaven Fever with a party at iam8bit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/nintendo-launches-rhythm-heaven-fever-with-a-party-at-iam8bit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/nintendo-launches-rhythm-heaven-fever-with-a-party-at-iam8bit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/nintendo-launches-rhythm-heaven-fever-with-a-party-at-iam8bit/#comments
Los Angeles' iam8bit gallery played host to Nintendo last night, as the two companies launched Rhythm Heaven Fever with a full scale party. There were plenty of demos of the game on display, live painting by artists Yoskay Yamamoto and Mari Inukai, a live DJ spinning tunes, and a few photo booths where players could dress up and pose, or even dance for a video running on Nintendo's own site.

The event was a lot of fun, and you can pretend you were able to be there by browsing through the gallery below. iam8bit always does a great job with these events, and co-founder Jon Gibson promised us there's lots more on the way: He's currently working hard on the leetUP event that iam8bit is co-hosting at the beginning of next month, and says VIP tickets for that one have sold out already. We'll be in attendance, so stay tuned for more.

Gallery: Rhythm Heaven Fever Launch Event at Iam8bit

JoystiqNintendo launches Rhythm Heaven Fever with a party at iam8bit originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demoeventgamesiam8bitjon-gibsonleetuplos-angelesnintendopartyrhythm-heaven-feverwiiSat, 11 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Beat Hazard Ultra now on iOS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/beat-hazard-ultra-now-on-ios/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/beat-hazard-ultra-now-on-ios/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/beat-hazard-ultra-now-on-ios/#comments
Beat Hazard Ultra, the procedurally generated twin-stick shooter by 1-man indie powerhouse Cold Beam Games, is now available as a Universal App for iOS devices. As with the PSN, XBLA and Steam versions, Beat Hazard Ultra uses music stored on your device to generate its levels. The game can also use streaming radio apps as its musical muse, a feature which is unique to this version.

Beat Hazard Ultra supports Game Center leader boards and achievements, although the PSN version's online multiplayer fails to make the jump to iOS. Between Survival, Boss Rush and Chill Out modes, though, it certainly sounds like you'll get your dollar's worth out of the title, which happens to be the app's limited introductory price.

Gallery: Beat Hazard Ultra (iPad)

JoystiqBeat Hazard Ultra now on iOS originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beat-hazard-ultraBHUcold-beam-gamesindieiosipadiphonemobilePSNSteamXBLASat, 11 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Barricading 'Dead Souls' within Yakuza's red-light district]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/barricading-dead-souls-within-yakuzas-red-light-district/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/barricading-dead-souls-within-yakuzas-red-light-district/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/barricading-dead-souls-within-yakuzas-red-light-district/#comments In the first hours of Yakuza: Dead Souls, I witnessed the fictional Kamurocho neighborhood of Tokyo's red-light district becoming ravaged by a zombie nightmare, with wrecked buildings, flaming cars, and thousands of hungry undead taking to the streets.

With the help of a DVD store's secret weapons cache, altruistic loan shark Shun Akiyama becomes a dual-pistol-wielding killing machine, cutting a path through the horde of former businessmen, students, and gangsters to get help for his sick assistant Hana.

Though the premise seems (and is) absurd, and there's little sense to making a zombie shooter out of a series best known for its uncanny representation of a realistic Tokyo, I couldn't help but appreciate the care Sega put into setting up the adaptation. Every change to gameplay, environments, or story required to adapt the game into a shooter shows evidence of deliberation and forethought. It's not just a matter of adding zombies and guns. Sega took its assignment very seriously, even though Yakuza: Dead Souls delivers its entertainment in a campy, b-movie way.

Gallery: Yakuza: Dead Souls (PS3)

Continue reading Barricading 'Dead Souls' within Yakuza's red-light district

JoystiqBarricading 'Dead Souls' within Yakuza's red-light district originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationps3segayakuza-dead-soulsyakuza-of-the-endSat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega Valentine's Day sale starts today for mobile titles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/sega-valentines-day-sale-starts-today-for-mobile-titles/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/sega-valentines-day-sale-starts-today-for-mobile-titles/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/sega-valentines-day-sale-starts-today-for-mobile-titles/#comments For some, Valentine's Day is a sweet occasion. Happy couples the world over will be lounging back, nibbling on an array of chocolate delights before partaking in the annual somersault contest that ensues. You know, like how our parents used to do before they got all old and stuff.

For us loners, the holiday is a day of self-indulgent sobbing and darkness, but it doesn't have to be. If you're in the market for some iOS or Android games, you can snuggle up to Sonic and company through Sega's Valentine's Day sale starting today and running through the 14th.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 and Sonic CD lead the charge of discounted downloads for iOS and Android users, both half off, while iDevices also see considerable price cuts down to $.99 on Streets of Rage, Golden Axe and Super Monkey Ball. Gunstar Hero, Altered Beast and Virtua Fighter 2 are also on sale for a buck each.

For the full list of what's on sale, hit the source link below.

JoystiqSega Valentine's Day sale starts today for mobile titles originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altered-beastandroidgolden-axeiosipadiphonemacmobilesegasonic-cdsonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-1streets-of-ragesuper-monkey-ballvalentines-dayvalentines-day-saleSat, 11 Feb 2012 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Syndicate employs Brian Cox, Rosario Dawson and Michael Wincott]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/syndicate-employs-brian-cox-rosario-dawson-and-michael-wincott/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/syndicate-employs-brian-cox-rosario-dawson-and-michael-wincott/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/syndicate-employs-brian-cox-rosario-dawson-and-michael-wincott/#comments In the future, your brain will be infused with special technology to unlock the massive potential within you. Also, the company you work for will be headed by a surly Scot and a beautiful wherever Rosario Dawson is from.

EA's announced both Brian Cox and Rosario Dawson will lend their voices to Syndicate, the Starbreeze reboot of the classic strategy game from the '90s. Joining them is Michael Wincott, who you may remember as the bad guy from The Crow. Gamers may better recognize his pipes as The Prophet of Truth in Halo 2, and as Death in the upcoming Darksiders 2. Dawson will play Lily Drawl, a "rising star" at EuroCorp; Cox plays Eurocorp board member Jack Denham and Wincott plays veteran agent Jules Merit.

JoystiqSyndicate employs Brian Cox, Rosario Dawson and Michael Wincott originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-coxeamichael-wincottmicrosoftpcplaystationproject-redlimeps3rosario-dawsonstarbreezestarbreeze-studiossyndicatexboxSat, 11 Feb 2012 05:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Mario 3D Land, Resident Evil Revelations talks at GDC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/super-mario-3d-land-resident-evil-revelations-talks-at-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/super-mario-3d-land-resident-evil-revelations-talks-at-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/super-mario-3d-land-resident-evil-revelations-talks-at-gdc/#comments Super Mario 3D Land director Koichi Hayashida will present a postmortem talk at GDC entitled "Thinking in 3D: The Development of Super Mario 3D Land." Attendees will be required to cross a pit of moving blocks while being chased by evil purple versions of themselves in order to attend.

Or, what will actually happen is that Hayashida will discuss developing for 3D devices, and "share development philosophies learned from Mario creator and legendary Nintendo designer, Shigeru Miyamoto."

Another 3DS-centric talk is "Revealing the Truth About Resident Evil Revelations," presented by producer Masachika Kawata. And Cave COO Mikio Watanabe will discuss "Retro and Japanese Social Games on Smartphones," bringing attention to the company's recent endeavors in porting crazy shmups to iOS.

JoystiqSuper Mario 3D Land, Resident Evil Revelations talks at GDC originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cavegdc-2012masachika-kawatamikio-watanaberesident-evil-revelationssuper-mario-3dsuper-mario-3d-landsuper-mario-land-3dSat, 11 Feb 2012 03:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Hasbro and Zynga make a deal, toys and games incoming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/hasbro-and-zynga-make-a-deal-toys-and-games-incoming/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/hasbro-and-zynga-make-a-deal-toys-and-games-incoming/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/hasbro-and-zynga-make-a-deal-toys-and-games-incoming/#comments Hasbro has struck a deal with Zynga to produce toys and games based on the social developer's catalogue of rich, nuanced IPs, which is great news if you've ever found yourself wishing you could somehow continue to give Zynga all of your money, even when you're away from your computer and smartphone.

Now, Hasbro's definition of "games" is more board-oriented than Zynga's, and while the licensing arrangement allows for "co-branded merchandise," it doesn't allow Zynga to make games based on Hasbro brands. The first products will hit store shelves sometime this fall, and while no specifics toys or board games have been announced we've got a feeling that My Little Ponyville and Ouija With Friends aren't that unlikely.

Continue reading Hasbro and Zynga make a deal, toys and games incoming

JoystiqHasbro and Zynga make a deal, toys and games incoming originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board-gamesfarmvillehasbromy-little-ponyouijaouija-boardtoyswords-with-friendszyngaSat, 11 Feb 2012 01:45:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: All the Reckoning]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/wrup-all-the-reckoning/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/wrup-all-the-reckoning/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/wrup-all-the-reckoning/#comments So much Reckoning this weekend.

What's everyone playing?

Continue reading WRUP: All the Reckoning

JoystiqWRUP: All the Reckoning originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>what-are-you-playingwrupFri, 10 Feb 2012 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band Weekly: Poison, Mr. Big, Heart, Rick Astley]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/rock-band-weekly-poison-mr-big-heart-rick-astley/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/rock-band-weekly-poison-mr-big-heart-rick-astley/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/rock-band-weekly-poison-mr-big-heart-rick-astley/#comments Tuesday is Valentine's Day, and in addition to being a day full of expectations and guilt, it's now a day where you can be rick-rolled by a damn video game in the sanctity of your own home. The "Gold Star My Heart" Pack drops Tuesday in North America and Wednesday for European PS3 users, and includes four love-centric tracks to get you into (or very quickly out of) the mood.

Peep the full track list after the break, and see if you're the kind of person who'd rather be playing Rock Band 3 on Valentine's Day. (Please invite us.)

Continue reading Rock Band Weekly: Poison, Mr. Big, Heart, Rick Astley

JoystiqRock Band Weekly: Poison, Mr. Big, Heart, Rick Astley originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gold-star-my-heartharmonixheartmicrosoftmr-bignintendoplaystationpoisonps3rick-astleyRock-Band-3rock-band-weeklywiixboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live Indie Gems: Nyan Cat Adventure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/xbox-live-indie-gems-nyan-cat-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/xbox-live-indie-gems-nyan-cat-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/xbox-live-indie-gems-nyan-cat-adventure/#commentsCrowded as it is with farting massage simulators, it can be hard to find worthwhile titles on Xbox Live Indie Games. That's why we sift through all that rough to unearth a few gems. That way, you get the skinny on quality games and we get to indulge our secret passion for fart machines. This week, we try out Nyan Cat Adventure, a platformer from 21st Street Games.
Indie developer 21st Street Games has found a niche: bizarre platformers. Its previous offering, Techno Kitten Adventure, was a visual assault backed by a simple gameplay mechanic, and the studio's latest is no different. The Xbox Live Indie game Nyan Cat Adventure takes the popular internet meme into the realm of single-button arcade gameplay.

But the most surprising thing about Nyan Cat Adventure is the variety I found in such a simple experience. True, the game only uses one button, but what that button does constantly changes throughout the game's main mode of play, dubbed 'Party.'

Continue reading Xbox Live Indie Gems: Nyan Cat Adventure

JoystiqXbox Live Indie Gems: Nyan Cat Adventure originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>21st-street-gamesindie-gamesmicrosoftnyan-cat-adventuretechno-kitten-adventurexboxxbox-live-indie-gamesxbox-live-indie-gemsFri, 10 Feb 2012 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Sony passed on publishing Demon's Souls in America]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/why-sony-passed-on-publishing-demons-souls-in-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/why-sony-passed-on-publishing-demons-souls-in-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/why-sony-passed-on-publishing-demons-souls-in-america/#comments Nobody expected Demon's Souls to be the hit it was, least of all Sony, the game's publisher in Japan. When Atlus decided to publish the game in North America, it took a risk -- one that paid off. The duty of publishing the sequel, Dark Souls, would then go to Namco Bandai.

Does Sony regret passing on publishing Demon's Souls in North America? Senior VP Shuhei Yoshida thinks so. He told Game Informer the company passed on the game after seeing an earlier build of the game. "What happened with Demon's Souls was until very late in the game's development, we were not able to play the game through. There were framerate issues and the network was not up and running. We underestimated the quality of the game and to be honest, the media in Japan did the same."

But still, even after a few hours with the final product, Yoshida remarked that he just wasn't able to see the value in the game. "For my personal experience with Demon's Souls, when it was close to final I spent close to two hours playing it and after two hours I was still standing at the beginning at the game. I said, 'This is crap. This is an unbelievably bad game.' So I put it aside." In the end, Yoshida admitted Sony "dropped the ball from a publishing standpoint" and was not able to "see the value of the product."

JoystiqWhy Sony passed on publishing Demon's Souls in America originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlusDemons-Soulsplaystationps3sceashuhei-yoshidasonyFri, 10 Feb 2012 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Indie Royale Valentine's Bundle available now, with Lume, Hoard, Zeno Clash and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/indie-royale-valentines-bundle-available-now-with-lume-hoard/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/indie-royale-valentines-bundle-available-now-with-lume-hoard/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/indie-royale-valentines-bundle-available-now-with-lume-hoard/#comments The Indie Royale website is back at it with a brand new bundle of games for sale, this time scheduled for Valentine's Day. On this one, paying either the minimum price (currently just above $4) or above will net you five different indie titles: The impressive FPS (and IndieCade finalist) Zeno Clash, the excellent and underrated Hoard, the gorgeous adventure title Lume, and top-down puzzle crawler Soulcaster and its sequel. Plus, buyers also get both Hoard DLC packs, and anyone who pays higher than the minimum will pick up the "Music to Play Games by Too" compilation album.

Remember, the way the bundle works is that the price goes up as more people buy the bundle, but it drops when people spend more than the minimum (so giving more actually makes it cheaper for everyone, and supports the game's developers as well). Purchased titles are available on both Steam and Desura, and the bundle is on sale through Valentine's Day.

JoystiqIndie Royale Valentine's Bundle available now, with Lume, Hoard, Zeno Clash and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundlegamesgiftsindie-royalepcvalentines-dayFri, 10 Feb 2012 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Darius Bursts onto the App Store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/darius-bursts-onto-the-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/darius-bursts-onto-the-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/darius-bursts-onto-the-app-store/#comments
Square Enix has released another Taito shmup on the App Store, and as with pretty much all Square releases, we can't help but be aghast at the price. Given the source material, however, maybe $11 isn't that bad.

Dariusburst Second Prologue is based on both the PSP Dariusburst and its arcade followup, Another Chronicle -- the two latest iterations of Taito's long-lived shmup series about shooting enormous robot fish. The PSP game content is all here, along with a remixed mode with new enemy patterns and stuff from Another Chronicle. There are also four new tracks by Taito's Zuntata band.

In other words, if it were on PSP, there'd be no question of its value. We admit we're still kind of balking at the App Store price anyway. That's just how the market is on that platform!

Gallery: Dariusburst Second Prologue (iOS)

Continue reading Darius Bursts onto the App Store

JoystiqDarius Bursts onto the App Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>darius-burstdariusburstdariusburst-second-prologueiosipadiphonemobilesquare-enixtaitoFri, 10 Feb 2012 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallout 3 concept artist Adam Adamowicz passes away]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/fallout-3-concept-artist-adam-adamowicz-passes-away/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/fallout-3-concept-artist-adam-adamowicz-passes-away/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/fallout-3-concept-artist-adam-adamowicz-passes-away/#comments Adam Adamowicz died of cancer yesterday, and while his career may have focused on building digital worlds, his impact can be felt just as intensely in our physical lives. As the concept artist for Fallout 3 and other Bethesda titles, including Skyrim, Adamowicz shaped the reality of some of our favorite video game experiences, regardless of whether the wider world knew his name.

Awesome Robo offers an in-depth, heartfelt glimpse into Adamowicz's work and life, highlighting the hand-drawn process he used to create Fallout 3's vault jumpsuit, weapons and super mutants, among dozens of other integral pieces that made up the game's universe.

JoystiqFallout 3 concept artist Adam Adamowicz passes away originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-adamowiczBethesda-Softworkscancerconcept-artistdiedFallout-3microsoftpcplaystationps3skyrimxboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Side 'Cause It Looks Cool: The Failings of Moral Choice in Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/dark-side-cause-it-looks-cool-the-failings-of-moral-choice-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/dark-side-cause-it-looks-cool-the-failings-of-moral-choice-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/dark-side-cause-it-looks-cool-the-failings-of-moral-choice-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This is a weekly column focusing on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
Morality systems have become role-playing. Or at least, a significant amount of people have come to believe this. To take one example, this review of The Old Republic is premised on the concept that BioWare's style of moral choices are effective character-building mechanics. It's a fine review, but it's one that I can't agree with because I find the model of game morality used in The Old Republic and many other role-playing games ineffective at creating a moral system.

In order for a moral choice to have weight, it needs to have two components. First, meaningful choices have to cause the player to lose something in order to gain power. Something has to change, or be expected to change, within the game in order for the decision to matter. In Mass Effect, at one point in the game, you have to choose which of two party members to rescue - the other dies. Or, in Fallout: New Vegas, working with Caesar's Legion turns the New California Republic into an enemy, and vice versa.

Second, a moral choice has to be a difficult choice. The old adage "If doing the right thing were easy, everyone would do it" applies here. This is where games usually fail. They can do it with little choices, like with stealing even when you won't get caught in New Vegas. Take the owned items and you'll lose karma, which might be a small hit compared to the benefits of a new weapon. Alternately, in some games, honorable characters will simply refuse payment for quests, forcing money to be acquired by other means.

Continue reading Dark Side 'Cause It Looks Cool: The Failings of Moral Choice in Games

JoystiqDark Side 'Cause It Looks Cool: The Failings of Moral Choice in Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columndragon-age-originsfallout-new-vegasmass-effectmicrosoftpcplaystationps3rpgstar-wars-the-old-republicThe-Old-RepublicxboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Meat Boy's super boys explain what it means to go mobile]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/super-meat-boys-super-boys-explain-what-it-means-to-go-mobile/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/super-meat-boys-super-boys-explain-what-it-means-to-go-mobile/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/super-meat-boys-super-boys-explain-what-it-means-to-go-mobile/#comments Yesterday Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes of Team Meat dropped a gigantic, raw bomb on Twitter (gross), announcing their intent to strip down Super Meat Boy and rebuild it completely for mobile touch devices. They were vague on details apart from an intent to create a brand new game in the Super Meat Boy universe, and that they definitely wouldn't use "shitty touch controls."

We thought they were being coy, but it turns out they don't know much more about the touchscreen version than we do. It's still in the engine phase of development, McMillen told Joystiq, and they're pretty much winging it, playing with things that work and throwing out ideas that don't -- even if that includes the entire game.

"I mean, honestly, this is simply a challenge for us," McMillen said. "It's easy to poo-poo a new system because of its horrible use of touchscreen on ported titles; it's harder to attempt to try and figure out a design that works and make something worth checking out.

"So that's basically what we are doing -- no idea how it will turn out -- but Tommy and I wanted to jump back into dev again with something that isn't going to take a year-plus to make, so prototyping this idea seemed most appropriate and inspired."

Continue reading Super Meat Boy's super boys explain what it means to go mobile

JoystiqSuper Meat Boy's super boys explain what it means to go mobile originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidedmund-mcmilleniosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmobilepcprototypesuper-meat-boyteam-meattommy-refenestouchscreenxboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Closure wins 2012 Indie Game Challenge at DICE]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/closure-wins-2012-indie-game-challenge-at-dice/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/closure-wins-2012-indie-game-challenge-at-dice/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/closure-wins-2012-indie-game-challenge-at-dice/#comments Closure won the third annual Indie Game Challenge at this year's DICE show in Las Vegas. The clever puzzle platformer, which works off the premise that only illuminated objects exist in the game world, has players manipulating lights to solve challenge rooms. The team will receive $100,000 for taking the top prize, sponsored by The Guildhall at SMU, GameStop and the AIAS. The game will be available soon on PSN.

Other category winners included Symphony for technical achievement, The Bridge for achievements in art direction and gameplay, and Nitronic Rush received the "Gamer's Choice Award." The teams receive $2,500 for each category.

Check out all ten of this year's talented nominees by heading over to the Indie Game Challenge site.

JoystiqClosure wins 2012 Indie Game Challenge at DICE originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiasclosuredice-2012gamestopindie-game-challengeplaystationps3Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Frictional teases a new Amnesia project, possibly set in China]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/frictional-teases-a-new-amnesia-project-possibly-set-in-china/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/frictional-teases-a-new-amnesia-project-possibly-set-in-china/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/frictional-teases-a-new-amnesia-project-possibly-set-in-china/#comments Frictional Games, known for the Penumbra series and 2010's fantastically creepy Amnesia: The Dark Descent, is teasing something new. A new website, NextFrictionalGame.com, hosts a blurry image above emblazoned with the Amnesia logo and the cryptic words "Something is emerging." The image also contains a link pointing to a Google map of China. An Amnesia title with a Chinese backdrop? Could be.

The site is indeed registered for Frictional, and the domain information also points to TheDarkSwarm.com -- a possible hint at the new game's title -- which leads to an unplayable browser game and a timer that continuously ticks upward every second. The source code on both sites mention first-person perspective, horror, action adventure and other qualities we've come to associate with Frictional. The Dark Swarm site was registered way back in 2007, and was updated in September of 2011, so it might be unconnected.

Frictional's Thomas Grip told us last year that the studio was working on "an Amnesia-related project." At the time, he said that the project wouldn't focus solely on creating fear, but will hopefully "evoke other, less primitive, emotions as well." If that means it will feature even a few moments without teeth-clenching, panic-stricken fear, we're all for it.

JoystiqFrictional teases a new Amnesia project, possibly set in China originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amnesiaamnesia-2amnesia-the-dark-descentamnesia-the-dark-swarmFrictional-Gamesmacpcthe-dark-swarmFri, 10 Feb 2012 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop sees majority of digital sales from cash; won't pursue used PC game sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/gamestop-sees-majority-of-digital-sales-from-cash-wont-pursue/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/gamestop-sees-majority-of-digital-sales-from-cash-wont-pursue/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/gamestop-sees-majority-of-digital-sales-from-cash-wont-pursue/#comments GameStop is building its digital distribution business, having seen a 158 percent growth year-over-year in the third quarter, with strong returns thanks to customers who don't use credit cards.

"70 percent of our sales for DLC is non credit card. So that's a customer either paying with cash, GameStop gift card or trade credit," Steve Nix, manager of PC digital distribution for GameStop told us at DICE 2012. "Think about all those Call of Duty Elite subscriptions and all those customers who aren't using a credit card to purchase them."

"We're actually growing [the downloadable content] market, because about half our DLC customers never purchased DLC previously. So, for game developers that want to sell more DLC, we're introducing gamers to DLC for the first time in our stores."

Nix recognized that it may seem odd the retail chain's brick and mortar stores are so successful selling digital content. It's clearly servicing customers who don't have credit cards or don't want to use credit cards, but still wish to extend their favorite games. He "absolutely" feels this same situation is what's pushing their in-store PC full game sales, despite PC gamers having so many online purchasing options.

Since Gamestop purchased Stardock's Impulse digital distribution store, we wanted to know if it would continue to pursue Goo, which would have essentially created a "used PC games market."

Nixing the idea, he said "We don't see a lot of interest in that model from our publishing partners." He recognizes customers would be interested, but is not really seeing publisher support for such a model.

JoystiqGameStop sees majority of digital sales from cash; won't pursue used PC game sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3Dice-2012Gamestopmodern-warfare-3pcSteve-Nixusedused-gamesFri, 10 Feb 2012 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[So what's up with that disembodied head in Lollipop Chainsaw, anyway?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/so-whats-up-with-that-disembodied-head-in-lollipop-chainsaw-an/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/so-whats-up-with-that-disembodied-head-in-lollipop-chainsaw-an/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/so-whats-up-with-that-disembodied-head-in-lollipop-chainsaw-an/#comments
When looking at screens of Lollipop Chainsaw, we're certain your eyes drift naturally to one of Juliet's most eye-catching features ... the severed head strung to her hip. This new trailer tells the romantic story of how she cut her boyfriend's head off, as an act of love.

JoystiqSo what's up with that disembodied head in Lollipop Chainsaw, anyway? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lollipop-chainsawmicrosoftplaystationps3xboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[South Korean rating outs Magic: The Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/south-korean-rating-outs-magic-the-gathering-duels-of-the-plan/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/south-korean-rating-outs-magic-the-gathering-duels-of-the-plan/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/south-korean-rating-outs-magic-the-gathering-duels-of-the-plan/#comments Game Rating Board, South Korea's premiere games rating board, has listed another entry in the Magic: The Gathering series of games, presumably for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 again. As things look, Stainless Games and Wizards of the Coast have no plans of stopping the annual installments.

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise: both the original Duels of the Planeswalkers and Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 performed well, the former having sold over 500,000 copies on XBLA, while the latter was one of PSN's top performers last year. Considering both previous installments launched in the summer, we're betting we'll be hearing about Duels 2013 soon.

JoystiqSouth Korean rating outs Magic: The Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-rating-boardgrbkoreamagic-the-gatheringmagic-the-gathering-duels-of-the-planeswalkers-2013microsoftpcplaystationps3ratingsouth-koreaStainless-Gameswizards-of-the-coastxboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhorse licenses CryEngine 3 for still-unannounced RPG jam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/warhorse-licenses-cryengine-3-for-still-unannounced-rpg-jam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/warhorse-licenses-cryengine-3-for-still-unannounced-rpg-jam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/warhorse-licenses-cryengine-3-for-still-unannounced-rpg-jam/#comments You remember Warhorse, right? The studio from Prague that's making that unannounced RPG for those unannounced next-gen consoles? Well it turns out the studio is employing Crytek's third CryEngine iteration for said unnamed project, according to a press release issued by Crytek earlier today.

Warhorse exec producer Martin Klima explained his studio's logic behind employing CryEngine 3 by saying, "We looked at every major technology out there and CryEngine 3 suits our needs perfectly." The Warhorse folks didn't offer any more information about the RPG in production, unfortunately, and we're betting it'll be some time before we hear anything more solid on the seemingly very early in production game. Thankfully we've got these infinite dragons and quests to deal with in Skyrim in the meantime!

Continue reading Warhorse licenses CryEngine 3 for still-unannounced RPG jam

JoystiqWarhorse licenses CryEngine 3 for still-unannounced RPG jam originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cryengine-3crytekmartin-klimarpgwarhorsewarhorse-studiosFri, 10 Feb 2012 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco spins off internal dev studios into 'Namco Bandai Studio']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/namco-spins-off-internal-dev-studios-into-namco-bandai-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/namco-spins-off-internal-dev-studios-into-namco-bandai-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/namco-spins-off-internal-dev-studios-into-namco-bandai-studio/#comments Much like Prince becoming the "Love Symbol" back in better times (the mid-'90s), Namco Bandai Holdings announced plans to spin off its existing internal development teams into a separate company (that is also still totally part of Namco, by the way). The new company will be named "Namco Bandai Studio" and will comprise the the approximately 1,000 employees who are already part of Namco.

The organizational change was spurred by Namco's interest in speedier dev times and tighter cohesion between disparate dev teams. The changeover won't go into effect until April 2, so you've still got at least a month to snag some classic Namco Bandai Holdings collectibles* while you still can!

(*Note: Those don't actually exist. Unless you're a crazy person, of course.)

JoystiqNamco spins off internal dev studios into 'Namco Bandai Studio' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandai-namco-studionamco-bandainamco-bandai-holdingsnamco-bandai-studioFri, 10 Feb 2012 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Alan Wake's second dev diary for his American Nightmare]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/alan-wakes-second-dev-diary-for-his-american-nightmare/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/alan-wakes-second-dev-diary-for-his-american-nightmare/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/alan-wakes-second-dev-diary-for-his-american-nightmare/#comments
The latest developer diary for Alan Wake's American Nightmare sheds a little light on the downloadable title's new tone. This time around, the game takes on a "pulp action" feel with elements of B-movies, sci-fi and urban legends, according to Remedy's Sam Lake. See for yourself in the video above.

JoystiqAlan Wake's second dev diary for his American Nightmare originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan-wakes-american-nightmaremicrosoftRemedyxblaxboxxbox-liveFri, 10 Feb 2012 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gabe Newell on the Steam hack: 'Probable' that user information obtained]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/gabe-newell-updates-users-on-the-steam-hack/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/gabe-newell-updates-users-on-the-steam-hack/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/gabe-newell-updates-users-on-the-steam-hack/#comments The Steam forums and database was hacked in November, and Valve is still investigating the breach. In a new note to Steam users, Valve head Gabe Newell announced that "it is probable that the intruders obtained a copy of a backup file with information about Steam transactions between 2004 and 2008." The file contained user names and email addresses, and encrypted billing addresses and credit-card information, but it did not include passwords, Newell said.

So far there has been no evidence that credit cards or billing addresses have been compromised from the attack, but Steam users should pay close attention to their accounts and keep Steam Guard on, Newell said. Read Gabe's full update below, which has been sent to all Steam gamers as well.

Update: The headline previously included the phrases "credit card info" and "at risk," which seemed alarmist to some readers. It has been updated and glasses of warm milk passed around to everyone. Enjoy.

Continue reading Gabe Newell on the Steam hack: 'Probable' that user information obtained

JoystiqGabe Newell on the Steam hack: 'Probable' that user information obtained originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billingcredit-cardgabe-newellhackhackersmacpcSTEAMFri, 10 Feb 2012 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[UK: Buy a 3G Vita from Vodafone, get free memory card, Wipeout 2048]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/uk-buy-a-3g-vita-from-vodafone-get-free-memory-card-wipeout-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/uk-buy-a-3g-vita-from-vodafone-get-free-memory-card-wipeout-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/uk-buy-a-3g-vita-from-vodafone-get-free-memory-card-wipeout-2/#comments
Vodafone's got a quite a deal for UK customers looking to pick up a 3G PlayStation Vita. The store is currently offering a free 4GB Vita memory card with the £280 purchase of a 3G Vita. Furthermore, if customers "top off" their 3G sim card for £5, Vodafone will throw in a copy of Wipeout 2048 and 250MB of mobile data for a month.

The memory card is bound to come in handy, given that the proprietary cards are required for all PSN downloads and many Vita titles -- like Wipeout 2048, for example.

JoystiqUK: Buy a 3G Vita from Vodafone, get free memory card, Wipeout 2048 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-vitaukvitavodafonewipeout-2048wipeout-ngpFri, 10 Feb 2012 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco Bandai co-publishing Star Trek in Q1 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/namco-bandai-co-publishing-star-trek-in-q1-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/namco-bandai-co-publishing-star-trek-in-q1-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/namco-bandai-co-publishing-star-trek-in-q1-2013/#comments The co-op-centric Star Trek title unveiled at last year's E3 has found itself a publisher. Namco Bandai will be "co-publishing" and distributing the Digital Extremes-developed space romp alongside Paramount Digital Entertainment sometime during the first quarter of 2013.

The Q1 2013 window puts this immediately before the May 17 theatrical release of the next Abrams Trek film -- marketing synergy that may explain the game's quiet delay from its original 2012 release window. We like Abrams' take on the Trek universe just fine, but we can't help but wish for someone to throw this much money at remaking Star Trek 25th Anniversary for the NES.

Gallery: Star Trek (2/10/12)

Continue reading Namco Bandai co-publishing Star Trek in Q1 2013

JoystiqNamco Bandai co-publishing Star Trek in Q1 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-extremesmicrosoftnamco-bandaiparamount-digital-entertainmentpcplaystationps3star-trekxboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Show - 024: Kingdoms of Double Fine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/the-joystiq-show-024-kingdoms-of-double-fine/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/the-joystiq-show-024-kingdoms-of-double-fine/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/the-joystiq-show-024-kingdoms-of-double-fine/#commentsFiled under:

After our special DICE episode yesterday--which you should totally go listen to right now--the regular show is back. Richard, JC and Ben discuss the week's news in the first segment, and some big things are afoot. Good news: Tim Schafer and the crew at Double Fine have crowd-sourced more than $1 million for a new adventure game. Bad news: Those looking for a way to play their PSP UMD titles on PS Vita will have to repurchase them.

In the second segment, Richard is joined by GameSpot's Kevin VanOrd and Game Informer's Philip Kollar to discuss Big Huge Games's sprawling role-playing game Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Spoiler: It's pretty good.

Part 1 (1:03) - The news
Part 2 (24:24) - Review Roundtable: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast in iTunes
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Host: Richard Mitchell (@SenseiRAM)
Guests: Kevin VanOrd (@fiddlecub) and Philip Kollar (@pkollar)
Producer: Jonathan Downin (@jonathandownin - Game Thing Daily)
Production Coordinator: Richard Mitchell
Music: Trash80 and Broke for Free

View the full guest list, news topics, and stream the show after the break.

Continue reading The Joystiq Show - 024: Kingdoms of Double Fine

JoystiqThe Joystiq Show - 024: Kingdoms of Double Fine originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiq-podcastjoystiq-showkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningpodcastsFri, 10 Feb 2012 13:15:00 ESTThe Joystiq Show - 024: Kingdoms of Double FineJoystiq55:54podcasts<![CDATA[See some stupid alien get curbstomped in the latest Mass Effect 3 trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/see-some-stupid-alien-get-curbstomped-in-the-latest-mass-effect/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/see-some-stupid-alien-get-curbstomped-in-the-latest-mass-effect/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/see-some-stupid-alien-get-curbstomped-in-the-latest-mass-effect/#comments
We don't know about you, but whoever that dude was in the previous Mass Effect 3 trailers sure looked out of place. We're feeling much better about this latest one, but that's at least in part due to an alien getting his face straight stepped on near the end. See for yourself!

JoystiqSee some stupid alien get curbstomped in the latest Mass Effect 3 trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowareelectronic-artsfemale-shepardgameplaymass-effect-3microsoftpcplaystationps3trailerxboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 12:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Max Payne 3 shots pit Max against gravity, despicable pickup trucks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/max-payne-3-shots-pit-max-against-gravity-despicable-pickup-tru/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/max-payne-3-shots-pit-max-against-gravity-despicable-pickup-tru/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/max-payne-3-shots-pit-max-against-gravity-despicable-pickup-tru/#comments Max Payne's seen a lot in his day: Bull Bullets, garish Hawaiian shirts, delays. And now he's got a few more items to cross of his list, such as "angry man in pickup truck" and "face off against gravity -- and win," as you'll see in the latest volley of screens, just below.

Continue reading Max Payne 3 shots pit Max against gravity, despicable pickup trucks

JoystiqMax Payne 3 shots pit Max against gravity, despicable pickup trucks originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Max-Payne-3microsoftpcplaystationps3rockstarrockstar-gamestake-twotake-two-interactivexboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Shank 2 review: Refined brutality]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/shank-2-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/shank-2-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/shank-2-review/#comments
Evidence would suggest that the developers at Klei got together in a board room and said, "Shank was really good. We should do another game exactly like it, only a little bit better." And wouldn't you know it, that's exactly what they did. Shank 2 could be mistaken for its predecessor at first glance, with similar 2D visuals and fast-paced violence. But look a little deeper and you'll find a little more meat, a little more nuance and, somehow, even more brutality.

Gallery: Shank 2 (2/8/12)

Continue reading Shank 2 review: Refined brutality

JoystiqShank 2 review: Refined brutality originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsklei-entertainmentmicrosoftpcplaystationps3shank-2xboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Yoshida: The Last Guardian still happening, but progress 'slow']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/yoshida-the-last-guardian-still-happening-but-progress-slow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/yoshida-the-last-guardian-still-happening-but-progress-slow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/yoshida-the-last-guardian-still-happening-but-progress-slow/#comments We've had assurances of The Last Guardian's continued existence, but in the absence of empirical proof we could always use one more. 1UP received a rather authoritative one from Sony Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida at DICE, who said he's "been seeing it."

Yoshida reports that, after leaving Sony and becoming a contractor, producer Fumito Ueda continues working on the game as normal. His departure was "an arrangement so he could focus on the creative side," Yoshida said. "But his work and his presence on that team never changed, so it was just more a contractual rearrangement, and that was taken [by many] as 'he left.'"

Ueda is still in the office, "probably one of the people who works the longest hours," Yoshida said. Progress is still taking place on The Last Guardian, "but slow progress."

JoystiqYoshida: The Last Guardian still happening, but progress 'slow' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dice-2012fumito-uedaplaystationps3shuhei-yoshidateam-icoThe-Last-GuardianFri, 10 Feb 2012 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Skyrim snags another best of show gong at 15th annual AIAS awards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/skyrim-snags-another-best-of-show-award-at-15th-annual-aias-awar/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/skyrim-snags-another-best-of-show-award-at-15th-annual-aias-awar/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/skyrim-snags-another-best-of-show-award-at-15th-annual-aias-awar/#comments Like the sun rising in the East or our daily tribute to the almighty caffeine deity, we've come to expect writing a post at least once a week announcing yet another award for Skyrim. This week is no different, with Skyrim taking top honors at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards in Las Vegas last evening.

The studio took home five awards in total for the dragon-infested, open-world RPG, alongside fellow multiple award winners Uncharted 3 and Portal 2. We've dropped a full list of winners after the break, but before you head there allow us to be outraged for you that Skyward Sword didn't win any awards. Outrage! How could they? Etc.

Continue reading Skyrim snags another best of show gong at 15th annual AIAS awards

JoystiqSkyrim snags another best of show gong at 15th annual AIAS awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiasaias-awardsawardsawards-showdicedice-2012elder-scrolls-5interactive-achievement-awardsskyrimthe-elder-scrolls-v-skyrimFri, 10 Feb 2012 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony confirms 'LittleBigPlanet Karting']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/sony-confirms-littlebigplanet-karting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/sony-confirms-littlebigplanet-karting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/sony-confirms-littlebigplanet-karting/#comments Sony has confirmed development of LittleBigPlanet Karting. The news comes via a tweet from Sony's PlayStation account, which states quite simply the game is in development and that the publisher hopes to share more information "soon."

Reports were circulating earlier this week -- though they have since been pulled -- that the game would feature PlayStation Move support and a Move racing wheel peripheral, perhaps in the style of Nintendo's massively successful Mario Kart Wii.

Whatever becomes of the final product, the existence of LittleBigPlanet Karting is an interesting development considering that Sony already has a flagship kart racer, Modnation Racers (pictured).

JoystiqSony confirms 'LittleBigPlanet Karting' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>littlebigplanetlittlebigplanet-kartingplaystationps3sonyFri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vita's Frobisher Says and T@g detailed, free in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/vitas-frobisher-says-and-t-g-detailed-free-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/vitas-frobisher-says-and-t-g-detailed-free-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/vitas-frobisher-says-and-t-g-detailed-free-in-europe/#comments PlayStation Blog Europe reintroduces us to two Vita games/apps that you might have forgotten about: Frobisher Says and t@g. Frobisher Says is an absurd microgame collection in which up to 8 players pass a Vita around and take on weird tasks assigned by the title character. Examples include "poke an otter with a stick", "deliver my pudding on a toy train", and "smile at some ladies (but not at the badgers!)" As all minigame collections do, this uses all of the Vita's control features.

T@g is an AR app that lets you leave graffiti in real-world locations, which other Vita users can view through the app. Doing so earns you -- we can't believe we're about to type this -- currency called "t@ggits."

Frobisher will be a free download for European pre-orderers this month, and be available for everyone else (in Europe) in May. T@g will be on PSN in Europe in May and can only be used with the 3G Vita (because of its GPS use).

JoystiqVita's Frobisher Says and T@g detailed, free in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europefrobisher-saysplaystationplaystation-vitapsnrelease-datetagvitaFri, 10 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard taking Valve to court over 'DOTA' trademark]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/blizzard-taking-valve-to-court-over-dota-trademark/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/blizzard-taking-valve-to-court-over-dota-trademark/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/blizzard-taking-valve-to-court-over-dota-trademark/#comments Which giant company has the rights to the fan-created, community-promoted word "Dota?" That's up to the courts now. Blizzard has filed a Notice of Opposition with the US Patent and Trademark Office, seeking to block Valve's registration of the word. The word has been used exclusively in reference to a (mod of a) Blizzard game, the document explains. "By virtue of that use, the DOTA mark has become firmly associated in the mind of consumers with Blizzard, including to signify a highly popular scenario or variant of one of Blizzard's best-selling computer games, Warcraft III."

Valve, the document goes on to claim, hasn't used the word for anything yet. There's also a lot of history of Warcraft III, which is a really strange thing to read in a legal document. The case is in discovery now, with pretrial procedures taking place throughout this year and into next. We hope this court proceeding doesn't delay either of the games, as those companies are quite capable of delaying their games on their own.

JoystiqBlizzard taking Valve to court over 'DOTA' trademark originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzard-dotadotadota-2legalpctrademarkunited-states-patent-and-trademark-officeusptovalveFri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ghost Recon Online closed beta starts March 5, check out the classes now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/ghost-recon-online-closed-beta-starts-march-5-check-out-the-cla/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/ghost-recon-online-closed-beta-starts-march-5-check-out-the-cla/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/ghost-recon-online-closed-beta-starts-march-5-check-out-the-cla/#comments
You might think that Ghost Recon Online's three classes are Ghost, Recon, and Online, but you'd be wrong! They're actually the more commonly named Assault, Specialist, and Recon, and the video above will walk you through the different weapons, abilities, and upgrades that each class has available. You actually earn experience for each class as you play, so if you really want to master the game, you'll need to choose and play all three.

Ubisoft has also shared that the free-to-play game is getting a closed beta, starting on March 5, which you can sign up for by applying over on the official website.

JoystiqGhost Recon Online closed beta starts March 5, check out the classes now originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assaultbetaclassesghost-recon-onlinegropcreconubisoftvideoFri, 10 Feb 2012 04:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rocksteady's Sefton Hill shares Arkham recipe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/rocksteadys-sefton-hill-shares-arkham-recipe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/rocksteadys-sefton-hill-shares-arkham-recipe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/rocksteadys-sefton-hill-shares-arkham-recipe/#comments
Rocksteady Studios co-founder and game director Sefton Hill shared his recipe for making Arkham games at DICE 2012. Beyond the basic ingredients listed, all you'll need is a major license, a supportive publisher and millions to fund the project.

Sefton's Arkham recipe:
  • Make the game instantly fun and accessible. "We believe it's our job to entertain," Hill said, adding that the free-flow combat of Arkham was meant to instantly convey the feeling of being Batman.
  • Deep core mechanics, with a contant, incremental challenge to maintain engagement. "We developed combat by introducing new enemy types ... it keeps giving you more, it keeps challenging you."
  • Complementary Orthogonal Design. Boiled down, it's that systems like navigation, combat and story "all have their own distinct and strong uses." Essentially, he encouraged designing complementary design elements that don't step on each other.
  • Authenticity. "The restraints of the character define the character." Hill said certain elements may seem like a pain the ass, but that one must embrace those constraints. The fact that Batman can't kill anyone was something the team had to maintain at all times. "It stops us from falling back on a lot of game cliches." Takeway: Celebrate and explore the limitations of characters and what makes them unique.

So, there you go. Oh, you'll also need an engine. We're sure if you write a really nice letter to the guys at Epic, they'll let you license the Unreal Engine at a good price.

JoystiqRocksteady's Sefton Hill shares Arkham recipe originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Batman-Arkham-Asylum-2Batman-Arkham-Citymicrosoftpcplaystationps3rocksteadyRocksteady-StudiosSefton-HillxboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 02:15:00 EST