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Alexander Sliwinski

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Fun with math: Some Rock Band UK packs inconsistently priced on PSN

by Alexander Sliwinski { 1 day ago }

It appears that, in some cases, the PSN Rock Band track packs in the UK are receiving a price hike in comparison to the individually purchased songs. An EU PlayStation forum user notes the discrepancy, which applies no discount to pack purchases, making it cheaper to purchase all of a pack's tracks individually. The issue had previously been contained to packs with over three songs, but next week's update appears to break that trend. However, reviewing previous weeks with track packs of three, it appears that the EU and UK pricing were accidentally reversed for next week, but we won't be able to confirm that until the update goes live.

We've confirmed the pricing anomaly for the UK PSN Store and we're following up with Harmonix to figure out what's going on. Check out examples of the pricing inconsistencies after the break.

[Thanks Si]

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Mass Effect 2 vids profile Tali and Adept class

by Alexander Sliwinski { 2 days ago }

What is it about BioWare and its dismissive implementation of races starting with the letter Q? Think about it: Tali the Quarian from Mass Effect and Sten the Qunari from Dragon Age: Origins -- on average, did anybody really use either for extended periods of time? It's Qu-acism, we tells ya! Perhaps Tali, who returns in Mass Effect 2, will prove invaluable when the going geths tough.

Head past the break to see a video of the Adept class, which has been granted some flashy new tricks.

Gallery: Mass Effect 2 (11-06-09)

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Puzzle Quest sequel revealed

by Alexander Sliwinski { 2 days ago }

It appears that GamePro will reveal the first details of Puzzle Quest 2 in its next issue. Beyond a single image, the mag doesn't drop any details on its website. After Infinite Interactive went a tad off course with Galactrix -- meanwhile, developing Puzzle Kingdoms, Puzzle Chronicles and Neopets Puzzle Adventure -- it's good to see the team going back to its roots.

From the image, it seems that Puzzle Quest 2 is being developed for Xbox 360, but if it's anything like its predecessor, the game will eventually release on every console, handheld and electronic device known to man. One can also deduce that purple is now a rune for spells instead of XP. But what purpose do the gloves serve? We're sure to learn more very soon.

Rock Band Network rolls out fully in early 2010

by Alexander Sliwinski { 2 days ago }

Harmonix's Rock Band Network is still working out the kinks and will launch in "early 2010." In a statement to Kotaku, the developer explained that it's working on getting the public beta tools out "before the end of the year," with the store front to launch sometime at the beginning of next year.

Musicians with ample time and high computer proficiency can begin preparing their tracks now with the creator tools, but the open beta will grant access to the private website where all the RBN community stuff will occur. If you're a musician or programmer (or ... procisian?), let us know what you think about the tools in comments.

Gallery: Rock Band Network

'Imperial Edition' of Napoleon: Total War not short on goodies

by Alexander Sliwinski { 3 days ago }

The "Imperial Edition" of Napoleon Total War includes DLC that may give it a boost over the standard edition. The special edition steps up the presentation with a wall chart displaying the history of the French general's conquests and includes codes for 10 exclusive units. It also comes with the five units found in the Elite Regiment bundle, but that's already included in the standard edition's box set.

Actually, thinking about it, the Imperial Edition can get off its high horse, it's not all that fantastic. Availability and pricing for the special edition in the States has yet to be announced.

[Via Big Download]

Gallery: Napoleon: Total War

WRUP: 'Precious' family moments edition

by Alexander Sliwinski { 3 days ago }

My family is awesome, especially Uncle Jame! He's a really nice guy and makes my sister some of the best dresses we've ever seen, the guy should totally be on Project Runway. He's got this adorable dog, Precious, but she's a bit yappy and smells like mothballs -- she also has this weird thing about holes in the ground. Come to think of it, Uncle Jame is a little weird. He always tells us to rub more juices over the turkey so that it's easier to cut later, and at the dinner table he always wants more gravy or "else we'll get the hose again." I don't quite get it, but he's a little eccentric. Nice guy, though ... I think.

Have a happy Thanksgiving and safe travels from all of us here at Joystiq. What's everyone playing this long weekend?

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'Half-Contra' explores NES Contra as done by Half-Life 2

by Alexander Sliwinski { 3 days ago }

Machinima user M0rtanius has created another video that mashes up a classic Konami title with Half-Life 2. His original piece placed Half-Life's protagonist into the world of Castlevania, whereas this latest one features Contra. The attention to the level design is pretty neat in both, and the music is lifted straight from the NES games, but it's just not the same without the Contra arsenal and Simon's whip. Also, we're not seeing any Konami code being entered, which means a quick end could not be far behind. Check out both clips after the break.

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Rock Band Weekly: Nirvana, Night Ranger

by Alexander Sliwinski { 3 days ago }

Ummm ... "Smells Like Teen Spirit." That is all one needs to know about next week's Rock Band DLC. How many of us out there will finally learn the lyrics to the song we mumbled for years every time it popped up on the radio?

Remember radio? Wow, feels like forever ago. Check out the full update after the break.

Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:

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Activision Blizzard sued by ... yeah, it's the PSN guy

by Alexander Sliwinski { 4 days ago }

Serial suit launcher Erik Estavillo is making a little name for himself in the game space, as his latest complaint seeks $1 million in damages from Activision Blizzard over the design of World of Warcraft. GamePolitics reports on the complaint, which claims that the publisher maintains a "harmful virtual environment to many of its customers by forcing them to follow the game's sneaky and deceitful practices." Estavillo alleges that the "calculated slow pace" of the game makes turning quests in take longer and thus generates more subscription revenue for Activision Blizzard.

If that wasn't enough, Estavillo also subpoenaed actress Winona Ryder and Depeche Mode's Martin Lee Gore to testify on his behalf regarding alienation. He explains that his health issues, which apparently include OCD, agoraphobia, depression (and more), mean that he "relies on video games heavily for the little ongoing happiness he can achieve in this life."

Estavillo had previously sued Sony after being banned from PSN and also has another suit against Microsoft and Nintendo, for his Xbox 360's Red Ring of Death and Nintendo's disabling of the Homebrew Channel in an update. Perhaps he'll have more luck suing over the design of a game in which millions happily pay to participate.

Next 'Games Convention Online' set for July 8-11 in Leipzig

by Alexander Sliwinski { 4 days ago }

It appears that Games Convention Online has justified its existence for a second year, as the show will take place July 8-11, 2010, at the Leipziger Messe in Germany. The inaugural show last year drew in 43,000 attendees and organizers have added an extra day for more breathing room in the schedule to accommodate "business talks."

Games Convention Online was Leipzig's way of staying on the map after it lost the mega European games convention, which became GamesCom in Cologne. That show brought in an astounding 245,000 attendees its first year.

Australian Attorney General Atkinson plans appeal of Modern Warfare 2 rating

by Alexander Sliwinski { 4 days ago }

In a statement to AU GameSpot, South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson said he plans to appeal Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's MA15+ rating in the region. If successful, the game will be banned in Australia and this would be Atkinson's first time intervening on a rating by the Classification Board. Atkinson explains, "I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians." Those points for killing civilians aren't the only ones Atkinson is missing.

The anti-game antics of Atkinson are coming dangerously close to reminding us of the United States' disgraced, former attorney Jack Thompson. The Age reports Atkinson was recently on Aussie national radio and expressed that the Classification Board in Australia "does everything" to "get games in under the radar, and film, generally." Later, he stated that he has "no trust" in the board to apply guidelines, thus drawing up guidelines for games to have an R18+ classification "would be to draw them up in sure and certain knowledge that they would be stretched and then broken." So, games aren't being rated properly, but he won't support an R18+ rating. Feel free to drop your "facepalm" reactions below in the comments.

Source -- Atkinson confirms MW2 appeal [AU GameSpot]
Source -- No confidence [The Age]

PSN Tuesday: Turkey Thursday 2009 edition

by Alexander Sliwinski { 4 days ago }

[atomicshark]

Thanks to Turkey Day this Thursday, the PSN update is going live a couple days early. Gobble up the savings as several PSN titles are priced perfectly for tryptophan overdose relaxation. Check out the full PSN update after the break to find more things to do while avoiding family obligations this weekend.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

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Gameloft talks up Android support

by Alexander Sliwinski { 5 days ago }

Gameloft announced today it's planning on releasing games for the second generation of Android phones and reiterated its support for the current generation of devices using Google's mobile platform. The affirmation comes a mere weekend after the mega mobile publisher's finance director, Alexander de Rochefort, stated the company planned to "significantly cut" its development for Android devices.

Gameloft's statement today in no way negates Rochefort's words, as the latest release is just some yammering about the second generation devices allowing the development of high definition games, but the timing and its lack of substance is suspect. The executive previously noted Gameloft sold "400 times" as many games on iPhone as on the Android. Of course, if Google's platform develops a more significant install base, we're sure Gameloft will be happy to invest more and take everyone's money equally.

World of Warcraft celebrates five years of domination

by Alexander Sliwinski { 5 days ago }

Alpha-build UI

Five years ago today, Blizzard unleashed the World of Warcraft, a scourge that went on to ruin countless lives and make venture capitalists around the globe throw millions at any monkey with an MMO idea. The game has sold beyond 8.6 million units in the US and that's not even accounting for the millions of players happily handing over $15 a month for an Azeroth fix.

The full cultural and financial impact of World of Warcraft can't yet be comprehended, as the phenomenon marches on into the Cataclysm. One day we may be able to grasp the myriad ways WoW has impacted gaming, but that date with epiphany appears to still be a ways off.

UK Charts: Modern Warfare still tops; Assassin's Creed 2 outperforms original's debut

by Alexander Sliwinski { 6 days ago }

The Assassin's Creed sequel may not have taken out Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 from the top spot on the UK charts, but the game did outperform the original's 2007 debut by 12 percent in unit sales. Although Chart Track doesn't give specific unit sales figures, it's staggering to think that Infinity Ward's FPS dropped 86 percent after its launch week and still retained the top spot.

Behind the big boys of violence, Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit Plus took the next three spots, respectively. The hardened Left 4 Dead 2 shambled up to seventh spot.

Source -- Call of Duty stands firm [Chart Track]
Source -- All formats chart [Chart Track]