Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/JoystiqThe Joystiq Podcast combines insightful commentary on the week's video game news and culture with several disembodied, often spooky, voices. Voices may or may not belong to Chris Grant, Ludwig Kietzmann, Joystiq.com editors, or their guests. Spookiness not guaranteed where prohibited, please check local laws. More information available at www.joystiq.comPatch for Mr. Driller Online by end of Mayhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/patch-for-mr-driller-online-by-end-of-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/patch-for-mr-driller-online-by-end-of-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/patch-for-mr-driller-online-by-end-of-may/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Namco has told IGN that a patch for Mr. Driller Online (which should currently just be called Mr. Driller) is coming by the end of this month. When the game released in early April the online feature was fundamentally broken, as is evidenced by the video from X3F we've placed after the break.

As for the game's less-than-HD quality presentation? Don't expect a patch for that. The fix is pretty much designed to allow the game to keep the Online portion of its name without becoming a case of consumer fraud.

[Via X3F]

Gallery: Mr. Driller Online (XBLA)

Continue reading Patch for Mr. Driller Online by end of May

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]]>mr-drillermr-driller-onlinepatchxbla2008-05-07T10:00:00+00:00New Street Fighter IV screens punch out classic bosseshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/new-street-fighter-iv-screens-punch-out-classic-bosses/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/new-street-fighter-iv-screens-punch-out-classic-bosses/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/new-street-fighter-iv-screens-punch-out-classic-bosses/#commentsFiled under: , ,


While Capcom's Street Fighter IV wowed us in February with its new fangled graphics and animation, it was the game's decidedly retro feel that grabbed us by the neck and assaulted our head like a barrage of Yoga Noogies. As it turned out, for all its 3D charm the fighter played like a sexed up Street Fighter II, which to be fair is just fine by us.

Now Capcom has released screenshots of Street Fighter II's bad guy quartet, Balrog, Bison, Sagat and Vega, all of whom make a return in the upcoming sequel. We can hardly wait to face down Vega's (or M. Bison for those of you with a name hang up) ever-annoying Psycho Crusher, something judging by the above pic has Ryu equally enthused.
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]]>capcomsfivstreet-fighterstreet-fighter-2street-fighter-4street-fighter-ivstreetfighterstreetfighter2streetfighter4streetfighteriistreetfighteriv2008-05-01T20:28:00+00:00No XBLA release this Wednesdayhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/no-xbla-release-this-wednesday/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/no-xbla-release-this-wednesday/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/no-xbla-release-this-wednesday/#commentsFiled under: ,


Whether it's due to a certain game release or not, there will not be a new Xbox Live arcade addition this week. Major Nelson broke the news on his Twitter page and said he believes "people will be busy with another game this week."

Given the amount of money Microsoft spent in certain territories to get people to buy GTA IV, it kind of makes sense that it wouldn't want any distractions. XBLA should be back to its regularly scheduled release plan by next week.

[Via X3F]
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]]>xblaxblawednesday2008-04-28T17:00:00+00:00Chun-Li's massive hands cause for concern in Street Fighter IVhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/chun-lis-massive-hands-cause-for-concern-in-street-fighter-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/chun-lis-massive-hands-cause-for-concern-in-street-fighter-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/chun-lis-massive-hands-cause-for-concern-in-street-fighter-iv/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Criticisms of the visual style of Street Fighter IV are a dime a dozen, ranging from gripes about exaggerated facial expressions to attacks on the, erm, girth of Chun-Li's thigh muscles. Now, it seems that the poor Chinese Interpol agent is once again under attack, though this time for the bizarre proportions of her hands.

A few new art shots on Capcom's official Street Fighter IV website have caught the attention of 1UP's Kris Pigna, who's become mono-maniacally focused on the portrayal of Chun-Li's appendages. We have to admit, the above image has given us pause as well. Not only is her one hand abnormally large -- and featuring a bizarre growth between her thumb and forefinger -- but her other hand is downright monstrous, with thick calloused digits and yellowed fingernails. Let's just hope this is an artistic snafu, and not some crazy new backstory about Chun-Li's mutant transformation.
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]]>capcomchun-lisfivstreet-fighterstreet-fighter-iv2008-04-21T19:45:00+00:00Joystiq hands-on: Pop (Wiiware)http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-hands-on-pop-wiiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-hands-on-pop-wiiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-hands-on-pop-wiiware/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WiiWare will include casual, simple, and hopefully cheap titles with its upcoming release outside of Japan. While some of the Wiiware efforts on display at the Nintendo Media Summit impressed and surprised me, I was more ambivalent about Pop.

The simple game is just about pointing and clicking on bubbles that drift by. Click a bunch of like-colors in a row, and rack up a bonus score that's activated when you pop a different-colored bubble. Miss the bubbles completely, and the count-down timer jumps ahead, moving closer to the end of the game. The only other catch is that your potential points and time keep rising with bubble-popping combos, but they aren't added to the game until you break the run. Get too greedy, and you'll run out of time.
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Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Pop (Wiiware)

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]]>casualnintendo-media-summit-08nnooopopwiiware2008-04-15T19:30:00+00:00Joystiq hands-on: Space Invaders Extreme (DS/PSP)http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-hands-on-space-invaders-extreme-ds-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-hands-on-space-invaders-extreme-ds-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-hands-on-space-invaders-extreme-ds-psp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


My surprise of the week: Space Invaders Extreme. I played a few rounds at the Nintendo Media Summit since there was no line for the lonely kiosk. (Its PR handlers had even abandoned it, working double-duty at the Crystal Chronicles station across the room.) But as soon as I began tapping the buttons, I was hooked; this update borrows the basic idea of Space Invaders and remixes it into a wild, fast-paced shooter.

Like the classic, enemy ships make formations above you, raining shots down the screen. Otherwise, nearly everything else has been squeezed, twisted, and stretched into a modern game. The transition deserves comparison to our lauded Pac-Man Championship Edition, but I haven't yet decided if its as elegant an update. Regardless, an update is an update, and Space Invaders Extreme betters nearly every other current shooter.
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Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Space Invaders Extreme (DS/PSP)

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]]>nintendo-media-summit-08remakeremixretrospace-invadersspace-invaders-extremespaceinvaders2008-04-15T11:00:00+00:00Help focus test new Puzzle Quest game in LAhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/focus-test-new-puzzle-quest-game-in-la/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/focus-test-new-puzzle-quest-game-in-la/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/focus-test-new-puzzle-quest-game-in-la/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


D3Publisher of America is looking for volunteers to focus test the "next game in the Puzzle Quest franchise." If you live in the Los Angeles area and have played the original Puzzle Quest, contact lisa[at]mindofthegamer[dawt]com and place "Puzzle Quest Research" in the subject line.

Emails must be received by April 18 and participants will be chosen on a first come, first served basis; there will also be screening for "additional criteria." We spoke with a representative who told us participants will be mostly testing Galactrix, a little Revenge of the Plague Lord, and "other" Puzzle Quest related things. Those who score a golden ticket, let us know what you find out.
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]]>d3publishergalactrixpuzzle-guestpuzzlequest2008-04-10T19:25:00+00:00Eidos shoots the food, confirms Gauntlet for DShttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/eidos-shoots-the-food-confirms-gauntlet-for-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/eidos-shoots-the-food-confirms-gauntlet-for-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/eidos-shoots-the-food-confirms-gauntlet-for-ds/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Eidos and developer Backbone are bringing Gauntlet's food-shooting, poison-eating, death-avoiding action to the Nintendo DS later this year. Eidos describes the upcoming title as a "modern reworking" of the arcade classic, thankfully returning the series to its overhead roots rather than the forgettable 3D entries of recent years.

Gauntlet for the DS will once again reunite the series' iconic Elf, Warrior, Wizard, and Valkyrie, and include 40 maps across three different areas. What's more, as Gauntlet has always been been strongest when played in groups, this latest version will boast ranked 4-player co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, playable both wirelessly and over Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection. Just remember, shots do NOT hurt other players ... yet.

[Via Nintendo DS Fanboy]
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]]>arcadebackbonebreakingnewseidosgauntlethack-and-slashhackandslashhandheldmidwaywificonnection2008-04-07T09:05:00+00:00Mr. Driller Online's lag-tastic online playhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/mr-driller-onlines-lag-tastic-online-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/mr-driller-onlines-lag-tastic-online-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/mr-driller-onlines-lag-tastic-online-play/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've received some tips indicating that Mr. Driller Online for XBLA is having a problem with the, er, "Online" portion of the gameplay. It seems that while the person hosting an online game is just fine, the connecting player can't drill anything. X3F put together a video of the bug, which we've placed after the break.

Another test of Mr. Driller's online capabilities was done today with the same broken result. No word on whether a patch is in the works. Best to save your 800 MS points for the moment, as there's no sense in supporting broken titles.

Gallery: Mr. Driller Online (XBLA)

Continue reading Mr. Driller Online's lag-tastic online play

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]]>brokenlagmr-drillermr-driller-onlineonlinexbla2008-04-03T19:00:00+00:00Sega shuts down Korean offices, cancels Yokohama arcade planshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/sega-shuts-down-korean-offices-cancels-yokohama-arcade-plans/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/sega-shuts-down-korean-offices-cancels-yokohama-arcade-plans/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/sega-shuts-down-korean-offices-cancels-yokohama-arcade-plans/#commentsFiled under: ,


Hard times have fallen on publisher Sega Sammy, who has announced the closing of a subsidiary office based in Korea, as part of a "global business optimization" in the wake of massive financial losses.

The "global business optimization" will also affect Sega Sammy in Japan, where plans for a $330m arcade in Yokohama have been canceled, after an initial $227m investment in the purchase of land. At fault is the coin-operated amusement side of the company's business, which is suffering in Japan at the hands of the home console market. At least Sega Sammy continues to hold its head up high, denying any potential for buy-out.
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]]>koreasegasega-sammy2008-03-31T15:00:00+00:00Cave shooters denied XBLA release by Microsofthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/30/cave-shooters-denied-xbla-release-by-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/30/cave-shooters-denied-xbla-release-by-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/30/cave-shooters-denied-xbla-release-by-microsoft/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Recently Xbox Live Arcade has shown considerable potential as a home for shoot 'em ups, from the Forgotten Worlds-channeling Omega Five to monochrome shooter Ikaruga's looming release. However, to hear talk from 5pb, the devs charged with bringing Cave's nefarious DoDonPachi series as well as its latest shooter Ketsui to XBLA's digital frontier, the platform still has a few nagging hang ups keeping it from becoming a beacon for shmups.

Echoing N+ developer Metanet's recent comments concerning what does and does not make it to the service, 5pb spoke out about similar frustrations in the latest issue of Famitsu, revealing that both of its ports of DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou Black Label X and Ketsui X had been summarily rejected for release over XBLA, with Microsoft claiming that it's "going to cut down on faithful arcade ports." Only faithful ones?

We agree that there is certainly a glut of arcade nonsense on XBLA, but this is equivalent to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. 5pb and Cave are reportedly now working to bring both games to market through traditional retail channels in a defiant effort to show Microsoft "that their decision was wrong." Now all we need is a publisher with an eye for niche Japanese releases to pick the games up for release outside of Japan. Altus, are you listening?

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
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]]>caveDoDonPachifamitsuIkarugaKetsuimetanetn-plusnplusomega-fiveomegafiveportshmupxbla2008-03-30T13:00:00+00:00Rumor: Ikaruga polarizing XBLA April 9http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/rumor-ikaruga-polarizing-xbla-april-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/rumor-ikaruga-polarizing-xbla-april-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/rumor-ikaruga-polarizing-xbla-april-9/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Japanese version of Xbox.com apparently posted the release date for the long-awaited XBLA version of Ikaruga. Xblah reports a Japanese website caught the alleged premature posting showing the game had an April 9 date attached to it.

Although the game still has no official release, UK OXM had a review of the game in its April issue with an image saying the game was "out now." Ikaruga has been on PartnerNet since January, so it'd be nice if it could make its polarity flipping public appearance sometime in the near future.

[Via Xblah]
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]]>ikarugatreasurexbla2008-03-28T19:00:00+00:004-player arcade game with 'well known' superheroes in the workshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/4-player-arcade-game-with-well-known-superheroes-in-the-works/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/4-player-arcade-game-with-well-known-superheroes-in-the-works/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/4-player-arcade-game-with-well-known-superheroes-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We know what you're thinking, because honestly we're thinking the same thing. Who goes to arcades anymore, right? Apparently there's still some life in the old girl, at least according to hardware and software developer Signature Devices, which just sent word that it has put the final touches on a new 4-player arcade game that "will include several well known comic book and television superheroes."

The company has left us guessing as to what characters exactly will be included, stating only that players will take control of "earth's mightiest heroes" in co-op style gameplay, leaving us to wonder if we'll be dropping quarters to play as Superman or the Wonder Pets. Either way, as we remember how much fun we had playing Captain America and the Avengers in the 90's, this news already has us scrounging through couch cushions for loose change.
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]]>arcademultiplayersigniture-devicessignituredevicessuperherosuperheroes2008-03-26T14:30:00+00:00Lost Cities being discovered this spring on XBLAhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/lost-cities-being-discovered-this-spring-on-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/lost-cities-being-discovered-this-spring-on-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/lost-cities-being-discovered-this-spring-on-xbla/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Lost Cities, another German board/card game translation, will soon be ready for discovery on Xbox Live. The game will cost 800 MS points ($10) when it starts its online expedition this spring.

Lost Cities is a card game where players attempt to score points through exploring one of five exotic locals and is designed for two players. Although the game did not win Germany's prestigious Spiel Des Jahres, it did win an award from the International Gamers Association. Always nice to see more civilized non twitch gaming experiences available on XBLA.
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]]>lost-citieslostcitiessierraxbla2008-03-24T18:30:00+00:00Germans reveal Ticket to Ride, rate other XBLA gameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/germans-reveal-more-unannounced-XBLA-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/germans-reveal-more-unannounced-XBLA-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/germans-reveal-more-unannounced-XBLA-games/#commentsFiled under: ,


The German Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) is no stranger to revealing unannounced titles and Xblah.net points out they've done it again. The highlight for fans of XBLA board game translations like Catan and Carcassonne is that Zug um Zug Ticket to Ride is ready to build railways on Xbox 360.

Other games rated by the USK are Penny Arcade's OtR-SPD, RooGoo, and Golf: Tee it Up! None of these ratings mean the games are coming out soon, but at least they're on their way.

[Via X3F]
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]]>ticket-to-rideuskzug-um-zug2008-03-21T17:00:00+00:00Joyswag: Win a copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawlhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/joyswag-win-a-copy-of-super-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/joyswag-win-a-copy-of-super-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/joyswag-win-a-copy-of-super-smash-bros-brawl/#commentsFiled under: , ,

[Update: Contest is over! We'll be notifying the winner shortly so be sure to check your inbox!]

If you're not one of the 1.4 million people to pick up Super Smash Bros. Brawl in the first week (or the countless others who bought it the week after that), here's your chance to win our copy of the game free of charge. This time around, Nintendo gave us Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog, but we can't help wonder who else could have fit in the Brawl universe. Mega Man? Sub-Zero? Q-Bert? An ASCII monster known only as "Zork?" (Hey, we can dream.)
  • To enter this giveaway, tell us a character you wanted to be playable in Brawl
  • You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec; désolé, mais il n'ya rien que nous puissions faire pour le moment).
  • Limit 1 entry per person per day. If you enter this giveaway more than once each calendar day you'll be automatically disqualified and forced to play internet solitaire!
  • This entry period ends in five days at 12:00pm ET Wednesday, March 26, 2008. We'll randomly select one winner at that time (please check your email!)
  • For complete rules you don't need an Assist Trophy for, click here
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]]>smash-bros-brawlssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawl2008-03-21T12:00:00+00:00Classic SFII combos work the same in SFIVhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/classic-sfii-combos-work-the-same-in-sfiv/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/classic-sfii-combos-work-the-same-in-sfiv/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/classic-sfii-combos-work-the-same-in-sfiv/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you read our hands-on impressions of Street Fighter IV from GDC, you know the game bears more than a passing resemblance to Capcom's classic Street Fighter II (with admittedly updated graphics). Well, the folks at GamesRadar wanted to see just how far that similarity went, and found that many classic combos from the original game work exactly the same way in the new one.

The video evidence (also available below the jump) highlights the cosmetic differences in the two games while at the same time showing how seemingly identical the basic gameplay is. We can't say this is necessarily a bad thing -- Street Fighter II is a classic for a reason -- but that classic is already available as a Virtual Console download, an upcoming HD remix, and even a PS2 Anniversary collection. Why are we supposed to trudge out to the arcade for a dressed up version of a 15-year-old experience that we can get at home?

Continue reading Classic SFII combos work the same in SFIV

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]]>CapcomSF4SFIISFIVstreet fighter 4street fighter ivstreet-fighter-4street-fighter-ivStreetFighter4StreetFighterIv2008-03-21T10:45:00+00:00Indie film to take on mythical, 'evil' arcade gamehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/indie-film-to-take-on-mythical-evil-arcade-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/indie-film-to-take-on-mythical-evil-arcade-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/indie-film-to-take-on-mythical-evil-arcade-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Would you watch a film about a teenager who becomes obsessed with an arcade game? No? How about if the game is "actually an evil game that posses [his] friend ... and takes over his life."

If that sounds more appealing, you may want to pay attention to "Altar of the Unmanned," an indie film that begins shooting this week at New Hampshire's iconic Funspot arcade. If the movie's premise sounds familiar, it might be because it's reminiscent of Polybius, the rumored (and debunked) Tempest clone that's said to cause intense nightmares and interest from government agents. The film is the second feature for director Mike May, who says he was inspired to shoot at Funspot after seeing The King of Kong.

If you're in the Weirs Beach, NH area, the film crew is looking for extras to play arcade patrons starting on Saturday, March 29. Extras won't get paid, but they will get a film credit for basically standing around and playing arcade games all day. Not a bad gig if you ask us.

[Image credit]
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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

]]>altar-of-the-unnamedfilmfunspotindie-filmnew hampshireNewHampshirepolybius2008-03-20T11:45:00+00:00Novastrike shooting up PSN in Q2 '08http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/novastrike-shooting-up-psn-in-q2-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/novastrike-shooting-up-psn-in-q2-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/novastrike-shooting-up-psn-in-q2-08/#commentsFiled under: ,

Independent developer Tiki Games has announced a refreshing return to good old-fashioned xenophobia in Novastrike, a top-down arcade shooter that dispenses with all the diplomatic, lovey-dovey pleasantries we've recently exhibited towards extra-terrestrials. Scheduled to arrive on the PlayStation Network during 2008's second quarter, Novastrike will have you annihilating aliens (the "Draelus," in this round) across seven "expansive challenging stages." As you might expect, you'll be able to terminate the intergalactic immigrants with the aid of upgradeable weaponry and a host of friendly fighters, bombers and useful-sounding destroyers.

Considering the glut of omni-directional shooters currently clouding our digitally distributed sky, we hope Novastrike can at least match the genre's top dogfighters. Make it like that one with the colorful shapes, or the one with the asteroids, please.
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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

]]>BreakingNewsNovastrikePSNShooterTiki-Games2008-03-11T14:00:00+00:00Shhh, half-price Undertow expansion available now for 200 MS points [update]http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/shhh-half-price-undertow-expansion-available-now-for-200-ms-points/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/shhh-half-price-undertow-expansion-available-now-for-200-ms-points/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/shhh-half-price-undertow-expansion-available-now-for-200-ms-points/#commentsFiled under: ,


There's an expansion available now for XBLA game Undertow, but this time around the content is going to cost you. The special part is continuing the aquatic action won't cost 400 MS points as originally expected because it's currently available for 200 MS points ($2.50 in surface currency). If this is an accident and you're a fan of Undertow, now's the time to purchase it!

If the half-price sale hasn't sold you, here are some details on the Path of the Elect expansion. It includes five campaign levels, a new alien race called the "Elect" and four multiplayer maps. Now, go grab this deal in case it doesn't last.

Update: The expansion price has been changed to 400 points.
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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

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