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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><itunes:author>Joystiq</itunes:author><itunes:image href="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/Joystiq_podcast_cover.png" /><itunes:summary>The Joystiq Podcast combines insightful commentary on the week&apos;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.com</itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Games &amp; Hobbies"><itunes:category text="Video Games" /></itunes:category><item><title>The B[ack]log: Metal Gear?!</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/the-b-ack-log-metal-gear/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/the-b-ack-log-metal-gear/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/the-b-ack-log-metal-gear/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/retro/" rel="tag">Retro</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><font color="gray"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/backlog">The B[ack]log</a> finally returns with a special, three-part look at <span style="font-style: italic;">Metal Gear Solid</span>:</font><br /></div>
<img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/metalgearsolid-backlog-banner.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
<span style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 7px;"> <script> var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/The_B_ack_log_Metal_Gear'; </script> <script src="http://digg.com/api/diggthis.js"></script></span>It seems I've become the architect of my own failure. Instead of demolishing the skyscraper of untouched games in my living room, I recently and rather foolishly added three more stories to it. Three very involving, convoluted and relentlessly ridiculous stories, mind you, but ones that I've already been through once. With the release of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/mgs4"><span style="font-style: italic;">Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots</span></a> close enough for me to start using the word "impending," I thought it was time for a <span style="font-style: italic;">Metal Gear Solid</span> replay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A word of warning:</span> While I've tried to steer clear of plot-related spoilers, we're talking about a game that's nearly ten years old. FYI, the Titanic sinks at the end.<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/the-b-ack-log-metal-gear/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The B[ack]log: Metal Gear?!</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/the-b-ack-log-metal-gear/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1197415/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/the-b-ack-log-metal-gear/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Backlog</category><category>Hideo-Kojima</category><category>Metal-Gear-Solid</category><category>MGS</category><category>MGS4</category><category>SNAAAAAAAAAKE</category><category>Stealth</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-16T18:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Mega64 puppet Marcus interviews David Jaf ... er, Cory Barlog</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/mega64-puppet-marcus-interviews-david-jaf-er-cory-barlog/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/mega64-puppet-marcus-interviews-david-jaf-er-cory-barlog/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/mega64-puppet-marcus-interviews-david-jaf-er-cory-barlog/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mega64.com/marcus101.htm"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/marcus-corner-490.jpg" /></a></div>
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Mega64 has begun a six-part weekly series dubbed Marcus' Corner. All you need to know is in the first 30 seconds of the video. Following the stellar intro, Marcus interviews <em>God of War II </em>developer <strike>David Jaffe</strike> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/cory-barlog">Cory Barlog</a>. Here's a snippet.<br />
<ul>
    <li>Barlog: "I used to work for Sony, but now I work for myself."</li>
    <li>Marcus: "You quit Sony? ... What other bad decisions have you made lately?"</li>
</ul>
Video embedded after the break. Stay tuned for more next Friday.<br /><br />[Thanks, Willzay]<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/mega64-puppet-marcus-interviews-david-jaf-er-cory-barlog/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Mega64 puppet Marcus interviews David Jaf ... er, Cory Barlog</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.mega64.com/marcus101.htm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/mega64-puppet-marcus-interviews-david-jaf-er-cory-barlog/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1197671/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/mega64-puppet-marcus-interviews-david-jaf-er-cory-barlog/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>cory-barlog</category><category>god-of-war</category><category>god-of-war-ii</category><category>mega64</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-16T13:44:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>EA announces Hasbro Family Game Night for Wii, PS2</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ea-announces-hasbro-family-game-night-for-wii-ps2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ea-announces-hasbro-family-game-night-for-wii-ps2/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ea-announces-hasbro-family-game-night-for-wii-ps2/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/puzzle/" rel="tag">Puzzle</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/simulations/" rel="tag">Simulations</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1146853&amp;highlight=%C2%A0"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/connect4_awatermark.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Electronic Arts has finally revealed the fruits of its <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/ea-announces-intial-batch-of-hasbro-games-g-i-joe-sadly-absent/">recent partnership</a> with board game evangelist Hasbro, announcing <em>Hasbro Family Game Night</em>, a collection of classic board games for the Wii and PlayStation 2. Shipping this fall, the game will include a wide assortment of Hasbro properties -- six in all -- from <em>Battleship</em>, <em>Yahtzee</em>, <em>Boggle</em>, and <em>Connect Four</em> to <em>Sorry!</em> and its more recent incarnation in <em>Sorry! Sliders</em>.<br /><br />Purists will be happy to know that they'll be able to play the classic games as they remember, though EA notes that new versions will also be included as well for those looking for a different way to play. In addition, the collection will let players build and decorate a virtual game room, earn trophies, and play various mini-games once they tire of sinking each other's battleships. However, even with support for between two and four players, we doubt the compilation will have us tossing out our boxed favorites just yet, though at least with this game we know we'll never have to go searching though couch cushions for missing pieces before we can play.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1146853&amp;highlight=%C2%A0>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ea-announces-hasbro-family-game-night-for-wii-ps2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1197376/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ea-announces-hasbro-family-game-night-for-wii-ps2/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>battleship</category><category>board-games</category><category>boardgames</category><category>boggle</category><category>connect-four</category><category>connectfour</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>electronicarts</category><category>hasbro</category><category>sorry</category><category>yahtzee</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-16T09:50:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Blue Jackets' Nash to front NHL 2K9</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/blue-jackets-nash-to-front-nhl-2k9/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/blue-jackets-nash-to-front-nhl-2k9/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/blue-jackets-nash-to-front-nhl-2k9/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&amp;newsId=20080515006304&amp;newsLang=en"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/nhl_g_nash_580.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Sure he and his team may have missed the playoffs yet again and are likely fantasizing about what might have been while swinging at balls from the back nine, but that hasn't stopped Columbus Blue Jackets' young-yet-impressive captain Rick Nash from scoring cover duty on Take Two's fall release of <em>NHL 2K9</em>. Also worthy of note from 2K is that developer Visual Concepts has "taken over" development duties for this latest game in the franchise -- as opposed we assume to working in tandem with fellow studio Kush Games -- and that the devs are rebuilding the title "from the ground up."<br /><br />Not to take anything away from three-time All Star Nash, but it's still an odd choice, at least by team standings, given the Blue Jackets' once again abysmal campaign during the 2007-08 regular season that saw the fledgling team rank near the bottom of both the Western Conference and overall league in points. However, perhaps those who make these kinds of decisions are hoping this is the sort of voodoo that will turn Ohio's NHL franchise around -- sort of like a reverse <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_curse"><em>Madden </em>curse</a>.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&amp;newsId=20080515006304&amp;newsLang=en>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/blue-jackets-nash-to-front-nhl-2k9/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1196870/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/blue-jackets-nash-to-front-nhl-2k9/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>2k-games</category><category>2k-sports</category><category>2kgames</category><category>2ksports</category><category>hockey</category><category>kush-games</category><category>kushgames</category><category>nhl</category><category>nhl-2k9</category><category>nhl2k9</category><category>visual-concepts</category><category>visualconcepts</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-16T02:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>April NPD: GTA IV, Mario Kart Wii race to the top</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/april-npd-gta-iv-mario-kart-wii-race-to-the-top/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/april-npd-gta-iv-mario-kart-wii-race-to-the-top/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/april-npd-gta-iv-mario-kart-wii-race-to-the-top/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-gta-iv-mario-kart-drive-us-game-industry-sales-to-123-billion-in-april/?biz=1"><u><strong><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/gta4ads.jpg" /></strong></u></a><br /></div>
<u><strong>Things that won't surprise you<br /><br /></strong></u>April proved to be yet another lucrative month for the ol' gaming biz, with total industry sales reaching $1.23 billion, reports <a href="http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-gta-iv-mario-kart-drive-us-game-industry-sales-to-123-billion-in-april/?biz=1">GameDaily</a>. Software sales in particular grew to $654.7 million, an increase of 68% carried on the fine leather seats of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/gtaiv"><em>Grand Theft Auto IV</em></a>'s recently stolen convertible. Rockstar's urban riffraff romp sold 2.85 million copies -- <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/gamestop-gta-iv-data-360-easily-outsells-ps3-not-per-console-t/">that's 1.85 million on Xbox 360 and 1 million on PS3</a> -- while Nintendo's Wii took the top spot in hardware sales. <em>Mario Kart Wii</em>, however, had to settle for second place.<br /><br /><u><strong>Things that will surprise you<br /><br /></strong></u>It was a photo finish for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but the photographers had likely packed up and left for the day by the time the steeds reached the finish line. Selling 188K and 187.1K units respectively, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were thoroughly bested by the systems that <em>didn't</em> have <em>GTA IV</em>. We'd feel a bit silly if we were them.<br /><br />- <strong>Wii</strong>: 714.2K <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" align="bottom" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Down_Arrow.jpg" alt="" /> 6.8K (0.94%)<br /> - <strong>DS</strong>: 414.8K <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" align="bottom" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Down_Arrow.jpg" alt="" /> 283.2K (40.6%) <br /> - <strong>PSP</strong>: 192.7K <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" align="bottom" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Down_Arrow.jpg" alt="" /> 104.3K (35.1%)<br /> - <strong>Xbox 360</strong>: 188K <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" align="bottom" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Down_Arrow.jpg" alt="" /> 74K (28.2%)<br /> - <strong>PS3</strong>: 187.1K <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" align="bottom" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Down_Arrow.jpg" alt="" /> 69.9K (27.2%) <br />- <strong>PS2</strong>: 124.4K <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" align="bottom" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Down_Arrow.jpg" alt="" /> 91.6K (42.4%)<br /><br />You'll find the top ten in software sales after the break.<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/april-npd-gta-iv-mario-kart-wii-race-to-the-top/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>April NPD: GTA IV, Mario Kart Wii race to the top</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-gta-iv-mario-kart-drive-us-game-industry-sales-to-123-billion-in-april/?biz=1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/april-npd-gta-iv-mario-kart-wii-race-to-the-top/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1196949/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/april-npd-gta-iv-mario-kart-wii-race-to-the-top/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>BreakingNews</category><category>GTAIV</category><category>Mario-Kart-Wii</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>Nintendo</category><category>NPD</category><category>Rockstar</category><category>Sony</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-15T19:45:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Survey hints at Rock Band 2 with online world tour, drum trainer</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/survey-hints-at-rock-band-2-with-online-world-tour-drum-trainer/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/survey-hints-at-rock-band-2-with-online-world-tour-drum-trainer/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/survey-hints-at-rock-band-2-with-online-world-tour-drum-trainer/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rhythm/" rel="tag">Rhythm</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/he-man-drummer-490.jpg" /></div>
<span style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 7px;"> <script> var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Survey_hints_at_Rock_Band_2_with_online_world_tour'; </script> <script src="http://digg.com/api/diggthis.js"></script></span> We've received a handful of anonymous tips indicating that Electronic Arts is conducting surveys (surprise!) for <em>Rock Band 2</em>. From what we've seen, the survey is being conducted by Listen Research for EA. The survey breaks down as follows:<br />
<ul>
    <li>The sequel will be full featured and will represent a jump similar to that from <em>Guitar Hero I </em>to <em>GHII</em>, or <em>GHII </em>to <em>GHIII.</em></li>
    <li>Separate questions ask the likelihood of purchasing <em>Rock Band 2 Special Edition</em> (i.e. the full instrument package) for $199, $169 and $149, respectively. All current <em>Rock Band</em> consoles (PS3, PS2, Xbox 360 and Wii) are mentioned.<br /></li>
    <li>There are questions concerning <em>Rock Band Track Pack: Volume 1</em> and how many expansion packs you are expecting to purchase in the next six months.</li>
    <li>The survey asks likelihood of purchasing <em>Rock Band </em>over a <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/game-informer-snags-first-pic-of-guitar-hero-iv-drums/">multi-instrument</a> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/rumor-game-informer-talks-guitar-hero-ivs-drums-create-a-trac/">version</a> of <em>Guitar Hero.</em> </li>
</ul>
EA reportedly provided details on the new features for <em>Rock Band 2 </em>in some of the surveys, but we haven't been able to confirm this. <em> </em>New additions to World Tour mode are said to include online play, the recording of music videos and hiring of staff members. Other new features include Battle of the Bands, competing against other bands in daily and weekly battles, setting challenges to progress through your band's discography in increasingly harder setlists, as well as a drum trainer mode.<br /><br />We've requested comment from MTV, Electronic Arts and Harmonix.<br /><br />[Thanks to Andre and everyone else who sent this in!]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/survey-hints-at-rock-band-2-with-online-world-tour-drum-trainer/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1195986/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/survey-hints-at-rock-band-2-with-online-world-tour-drum-trainer/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>breakingnews</category><category>drum-traner</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>guitar-hero</category><category>harmonix</category><category>mtv</category><category>mtv-games</category><category>rock-band</category><category>rock-band-2</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-15T14:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Alone in the Dark shows off driving gameplay</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/alone-in-the-dark-shows-off-driving-gameplay/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/alone-in-the-dark-shows-off-driving-gameplay/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/alone-in-the-dark-shows-off-driving-gameplay/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/adventure/" rel="tag">Adventure</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33861.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/cheeseselection.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
If you like cheese, then you're gonna love the new <span style="font-style: italic;">Alone in the Dark</span> gameplay trailer after the break. Try to ignore the giant pop-up on how to turn off the car's headlights and just focus on the voice acting, which even <span style="font-style: italic;">Resident Evil</span> fans might cringe at. Who knows, maybe the game is supposed to be filled with fromagey goodness?<br /><br />Considering <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Alone-in-the-Dark/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Alone in the Dark</span></a> is expected to sell <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/infogrames-ceo-alone-in-the-dark-will-sell-2-3-million-units-th/">2-3 million copies this year</a>, that confidence might be a little hard to understand after seeing this <em>"GTA</em> in hell" video. Oh well, hopefully we'll still be able to <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/latest-alone-in-the-dark-trailer-is-impressive-empty/">light plenty of stuff on fire</a>.<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/alone-in-the-dark-shows-off-driving-gameplay/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Alone in the Dark shows off driving gameplay</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33861.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/alone-in-the-dark-shows-off-driving-gameplay/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1194360/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/alone-in-the-dark-shows-off-driving-gameplay/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>alone-in-the-dark</category><category>aloneinthedark</category><category>atari</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-13T16:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Agetec shows kid-friendly PS2 love in Falling Stars</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/agetec-shows-kid-friendly-ps2-love-in-falling-stars/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/agetec-shows-kid-friendly-ps2-love-in-falling-stars/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/agetec-shows-kid-friendly-ps2-love-in-falling-stars/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://ps2.ign.com/articles/873/873372p1.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/falling-stars-35-topper.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Refusing to close the lid on the PS2's casket, <em>Armored Core</em> publisher Agetec has announced plans to bring last-gen RPG <em>Falling Stars</em> to North America this summer. The game casts players in the role of a young girl named Luna on a quest to save the village of Dazzleon from her own green-skinned uncle and his obsession with turning peaceful creatures into evil pets. <br /><br />According to Agetec, the Ivolgamus-created <em>Falling Stars</em> will include "cute characters, fun mini games, and simplified controls." Wait, is this a PS2 or Wii game we're talking about here? Either way, this role-playing game for the younger set will no doubt give players coming off of the Lithuanian developer's <em>Barbie as The Island Princess</em> something else to look forward to after nap time.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/873/873372p1.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/agetec-shows-kid-friendly-ps2-love-in-falling-stars/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1193502/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/agetec-shows-kid-friendly-ps2-love-in-falling-stars/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>agetec</category><category>falling-stars</category><category>fallingstars</category><category>Ivolgamus</category><category>kids</category><category>role-playing</category><category>roleplaying</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-12T23:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>LucasArts planning demo for The Force Unleashed</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/lucasarts-planning-demo-for-the-force-unleashed/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/lucasarts-planning-demo-for-the-force-unleashed/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/lucasarts-planning-demo-for-the-force-unleashed/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/force-unleashed-snapshot-490.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
Speaking to <a href="http://www.videogamer.com/news/12-05-2008-8259.html">VideoGamer</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/the-force-unleashed"><em>The Force Unleashed</em></a> Xbox 360 and PS3 producer, Cameron Suey, has said that LucasArts is planning a demo of the highly anticipated stormtrooper torture sim, just in case there are some weirdos out there who aren't sold on <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-force-unleashed-selling-point-17-play-as-darth-vader/">playing as Darth Vader</a>. "I'm not certain about the specifics, but we definitely want to get this game out into people's hands," said Suey. "There are people who are excited about it, who are going to play it right away, whether they play it (the demo) or not."<br /><br /><em>Star Wars: The Force Unleashed</em> hits, chokes and levitates just about every platform in the galaxy on September 16th in the United States, September 17th in Southeast Asia and Australia, and September 19th in Europe.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.videogamer.com/news/12-05-2008-8259.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/lucasarts-planning-demo-for-the-force-unleashed/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1193346/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/lucasarts-planning-demo-for-the-force-unleashed/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Demo</category><category>Lucasarts</category><category>Star-Wars</category><category>Star-Wars-The-Force-Unleashed</category><category>The-Force-Unleashed</category><category>TheForceUnleashed</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-12T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Rumor: Game Informer talks Guitar Hero IV's drums, create-a-track mode</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/rumor-game-informer-talks-guitar-hero-ivs-drums-create-a-trac/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/rumor-game-informer-talks-guitar-hero-ivs-drums-create-a-trac/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/rumor-game-informer-talks-guitar-hero-ivs-drums-create-a-trac/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rhythm/" rel="tag">Rhythm</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294354"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/skeletor-drums-new-490.jpg" /></a></div>
Here we go again. Every month, someone gets an early copy of a gaming magazine, posts the highlights in a forum post, and we run it as a rumor until we can confirm its veracity. And again, we can't confirm this information, but a <a href="http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294354">Neo GAF poster</a> has claimed to already receive a copy of the latest Game Informer, the cover story being <em>Guitar Hero IV</em>. <br /><br />Here's the alleged information. <em>Guitar Hero IV </em>features the requisite <em>Rock Band</em> features: drums, vocals, bass, guitar and create-a-rocker. Additionally (and most interestingly), there will be the option to create your own song tracks. Although vocals are excluded, all other tracks can be made and uploaded to GH Tunes for sharing and rating. We're not sure how this will apply to songs not in the game, given copyright concerns, but color us intrigued.<br /><br />All songs will reportedly be master tracks, and four bands have been confirmed: Van Halen, Eagles, Linking Park and Van Halen. Is this the "significant leap" <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/a-significant-leap-for-guitar-hero-due-this-holiday-for-consol/">mentioned by Activision last week</a>? Until we can obtain a copy to verify, consider this a rumor.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294354>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/rumor-game-informer-talks-guitar-hero-ivs-drums-create-a-trac/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1193460/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/rumor-game-informer-talks-guitar-hero-ivs-drums-create-a-trac/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>activision</category><category>gh4</category><category>ghiv</category><category>guitar-hero-4</category><category>guitar-hero-iv</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-12T19:22:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>New games this week: We Ski edition?</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/new-games-this-week-we-ski-edition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/new-games-this-week-we-ski-edition/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/new-games-this-week-we-ski-edition/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://gamerdeals.net/blogs/cheap-video-game-deals-news/archive/2008/05/10/new-game-releases-for-the-week-of-may-11-2008.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/weskibox.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br /></div>
It's not unintentional that this week's headline ends with a question mark. We just wanted to be completely clear that we have no clue what the best game being released this week will be. There are just too many questions! On the one hand, you've got <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Prince%20Caspian">Prince Caspian</a></em>, which is a licensed game. The trouble there is obvious. Then you've got <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Deadliest%20Catch%3A%20Alaskan%20Storm">Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm</a></em>, which we'd love to be good so we can feel like men (if only virtually) for a few hours. But let's be honest: It probably won't be.<br /><br />So, the honor falls to <em>We Ski</em>. Can we promise you that it's not solely because it's really funny when you say its name aloud? No, dear reader. <em>No we can't</em>. We're hoping next week will be better; you can check out the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/new-games-this-month-may-2008/">whole month right here</a>.<br />
<div class="postgallery">
<p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/photos/we-ski/">We Ski</a></strong></p>
<a href="http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/photos/we-ski/756651/"><img title="" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.nintendowiifanboy.com/media/2008/04/111_cg_17_apr_jsyamvb_thumbnail.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/photos/we-ski/756650/"><img title="" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.nintendowiifanboy.com/media/2008/04/110_cg_17_apr_jsyamvb_thumbnail.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/photos/we-ski/756649/"><img title="" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.nintendowiifanboy.com/media/2008/04/109_cg_17_apr_jsyamvb_thumbnail.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/photos/we-ski/756648/"><img title="" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.nintendowiifanboy.com/media/2008/04/108_cg_17_apr_jsyamvb_thumbnail.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/photos/we-ski/756647/"><img title="" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.nintendowiifanboy.com/media/2008/04/112_cg_17_apr_jsyamvb_thumbnail.jpg" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/new-games-this-week-we-ski-edition/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New games this week: We Ski edition?</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://gamerdeals.net/blogs/cheap-video-game-deals-news/archive/2008/05/10/new-game-releases-for-the-week-of-may-11-2008.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/new-games-this-week-we-ski-edition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1192736/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/new-games-this-week-we-ski-edition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>newgames</category><category>we-ski</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-12T09:20:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Japanese hardware sales, April 28 - May 4: Mothers in gaming edition</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/japanese-hardware-sales-april-28-may-4-mothers-in-gaming-edi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/japanese-hardware-sales-april-28-may-4-mothers-in-gaming-edi/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/japanese-hardware-sales-april-28-may-4-mothers-in-gaming-edi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt=""  src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/gam_motherbrain_490.jpg" /><br /> As <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/spend-mothers-day-playing-games-with-mom/">today is a nationally recognized day of matronly appreciation</a>, I thought it appropriate to recognize some of the prevalent mama's in video gaming in this edition of the JHS. No, not the real-life mothers of game industry icons, though we certainly appreciate the progenial contributions that Mrs. Molyneux and Miyamoto-san have made to the planet -- we're talking about the digital mommies of our favorite video game characters.<br /> <br /> So here's to you, Jenova. You may not have carried Sephiroth in your extraterrestrial womb (birthing that Masamune-wielding badass would have been truly uncomfortable), but here at Joystiq HQ, we count test-tube babies as actual human beings. Also, kudos to the minigun-toting Barret Wallace. Despite being of the male persuasion, Barret did have a daughter, and was, in fact, <em>a baaaaaad mother</em> (shut yo' mouth)! I'm only talking about Barret! (We can dig it.)<br /> <br /> Then, of course, is the quintessential "Mom" from the <em>Pok&eacute;mon </em>series. Provider of running shoes, setter of date and time, and in certain installments, banker -- Pok&eacute;mom is certainly the most useful parent ever featured in any gaming franchise. However, there's something to be said of the biomechanical oversight provided by Metroid's Mother Brain. Many mothers have trouble managing one household -- this encapsulated vixen keeps tabs on an entire planet.<br /> <br /> As you find yourself awash in the emerald glow of the following upward-pointers, why not take a moment to share your appreciation for your favorite digital maternal unit -- and then, of course, your own female progenitor. You know she worries.<br /> <br /> - PSP: 100,870 <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Up_Arrow.jpg" /> 8,459 (9.15%)<br /> - Wii: 71,158 <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Up_Arrow.jpg" /> 22,722 (46.57%)<br /> - DS Lite: 52,542 <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Up_Arrow.jpg" /> 10,107 (23.82%) <br /> - PS3: 10,177 <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Up_Arrow.jpg" /> 1,070 (11.75%) <br /> - PS2: 8,802 <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Up_Arrow.jpg" /> 1,694 (23.83%)<br /> - Xbox 360: 1,725 <img vspace="0" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.dsfanboy.com/media/2006/04/Up_Arrow.jpg" /> 442 (34.45%)<br /> <br /> [Source: <a href="http://www.m-create.com/ranking/">Media Create</a>]<br /> <br /> <strong>See: </strong><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/japanesehardwaresales">The matronly archives</a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/japanesehardwaresales"></a><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/japanese-hardware-sales-april-28-may-4-mothers-in-gaming-edi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1192423/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/japanese-hardware-sales-april-28-may-4-mothers-in-gaming-edi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>japanese-hardware-sa...</category><category>japanesehardwaresales</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Griffin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-11T21:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Highlights from Activision's FY08 earnings call</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/highlights-from-activisions-fy08-earnings-call/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/highlights-from-activisions-fy08-earnings-call/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/highlights-from-activisions-fy08-earnings-call/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/activision"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/activision-logo-490.jpg" /></a></div>
Mega-publisher <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/family-album-activision/741972/">Activision</a> held its Fiscal Year 2008 earnings call yesterday. While you can <a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/playerlink.zhtml?c=60455&amp;s=wm&amp;e=1829011">listen to it yourself</a>, most of the gaming news came from an 8-minute section in over an hour-long conference call. Here are the highlights from the call:<br />
<ul>
    <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/activision-enjoyed-2-9-billion-in-sales-last-year/" title="View Activision enjoyed $2.9 billion in sales last fiscal year on Joystiq" target="_blank">Activision enjoyed $2.9 billion in sales last fiscal year</a></li>
    <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/no-tony-hawk-in-2008/" title="View No Tony Hawk in 2008 on Joystiq" target="_blank">No Tony Hawk in 2008</a></li>
    <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/guitar-hero-hits-15-million-song-downloads/" title="View Guitar Hero hits 15 million song downloads on Joystiq" target="_blank">Guitar Hero hits 15 million song downloads</a></li>
    <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/nintendo-ds-guitar-hero-on-tour-bundles-coming-this-fall/" title="View Nintendo DS, Guitar Hero on Tour bundles coming this June on Joystiq" target="_blank">Nintendo DS, Guitar Hero on Tour bundles coming this June</a></li>
    <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/a-significant-leap-for-guitar-hero-due-this-holiday-for-consol/" title="View A 'significant leap' for Guitar Hero due this holiday for consoles and DS on Joystiq" target="_blank">A 'significant leap' for Guitar Hero due this holiday for consoles and DS</a></li>
    <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/call-of-duty-5-in-new-military-theater-returns-series-to-ps2/" title="View Call of Duty 5 in 'new military theater', returns series to PS2 and Wii on Joystiq" target="_blank">Call of Duty 5 in 'new military theater', returns series to PS2 and Wii</a></li>
    <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/bizarre-creationss-new-racing-ip-due-fy09/" title="View Bizarre Creations's new racing IP due FY09 on Joystiq" target="_blank">Bizarre Creations's new racing IP due FY09</a></li>
    <li><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/new-bond-game-quantum-of-solace-runs-on-cod4-engine-launching-w/" title="View New Bond game Quantum of Solace runs on COD4 engine, launching with movie on Joystiq" target="_blank">New Bond game Quantum of Solace runs on COD4 engine, launching with movie</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 5px;"> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/family-album-activision/741972/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="left" alt="" class="imagepadding" style="margin-bottom: 20px;" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/activision-album-805_thumbnail.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div>
<em>Check out <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/family-album-activision/741972/">Activision's Family Album</a> to learn more about the company's internal studios.</em><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/highlights-from-activisions-fy08-earnings-call/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1191440/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/highlights-from-activisions-fy08-earnings-call/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>activision</category><category>fy08</category><category>fy09</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-09T18:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>A 'significant leap' for Guitar Hero due this holiday for consoles and DS</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/a-significant-leap-for-guitar-hero-due-this-holiday-for-consol/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/a-significant-leap-for-guitar-hero-due-this-holiday-for-consol/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/a-significant-leap-for-guitar-hero-due-this-holiday-for-consol/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rhythm/" rel="tag">Rhythm</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/playerlink.zhtml?c=60455&amp;s=wm&amp;e=1829011"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/guitar-hero-iv-drum-villain.jpg" /></a></div>
Activision is planning to innovate the <em>Guitar Hero </em>franchise. In a <a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/playerlink.zhtml?c=60455&amp;s=wm&amp;e=1829011">conference call</a> yesterday, Publishing CEO Mike Griffith said, "For the holiday, we will provide a significant leap forward in innovation for Guitar Hero worldwide, on all platforms." That includes PlayStation 3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii and DS. Griffith also said that more information will be provided "in the coming weeks."<br /><br />We wonder if this has anything to do with those recent rumors about <em>Guitar Hero IV </em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/rumor-guitar-hero-iv-adding-vocals-drums-regular-dlc/">going multi-instrumental</a>. Guess we'll find out soon.<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/a-significant-leap-for-guitar-hero-due-this-holiday-for-consol/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A 'significant leap' for Guitar Hero due this holiday for consoles and DS</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/playerlink.zhtml?c=60455&amp;s=wm&amp;e=1829011>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/a-significant-leap-for-guitar-hero-due-this-holiday-for-consol/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1191403/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/a-significant-leap-for-guitar-hero-due-this-holiday-for-consol/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>activision</category><category>breakingnews</category><category>drums</category><category>gh4</category><category>ghiv</category><category>guitar-hero</category><category>guitar-hero-4</category><category>guitar-hero-iv</category><category>rock-band</category><category>vocal</category><category>vocals</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-09T14:20:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Gran Turismo series ships more than 50 million globally</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/gran-turismo-series-ships-more-than-50-million-globally/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/gran-turismo-series-ships-more-than-50-million-globally/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/gran-turismo-series-ships-more-than-50-million-globally/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/driving/" rel="tag">Driving</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.scee.presscentre.com/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=4556&amp;NewsAreaID=2"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/granturismo_screen002-copy.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
While it may seem seem like just yesterday that we first played Sony's love note to console gear heads in <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/gran-turismo"><em>Gran Turismo</em></a>, it was actually ten years ago ... a realization that made us feel incredibly old as Sony and developer Polyphony Digital announced that the sim, that first got its license in December 1997, has shipped more than 50 million units across the globe.<br /><br />This figure, of course, includes the recently released <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/granturismo5"><em>Gran Turismo 5 Prologue</em></a>, which according to Sony has shipped out more than 2 million units.  The company is playing coy, though, as to whether this number includes just physical products or digital downloads over PSN as well. We'd like to extend our hand and congratulate the series for making it this far, but unfortunately it didn't stop between the two yellow lines on the pavement so it's going to have to go back to the start and <em>try again</em>.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.scee.presscentre.com/content/detail.asp?ReleaseID=4556&amp;NewsAreaID=2>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/gran-turismo-series-ships-more-than-50-million-globally/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1190984/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/gran-turismo-series-ships-more-than-50-million-globally/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>gran-turismo</category><category>gran-turismo-5</category><category>gran-turismo-5-prolo...</category><category>granturismo</category><category>granturismo5</category><category>playstation3</category><category>playstationnetwork</category><category>polyphony-digital</category><category>polyphonydigital</category><category>psn</category><category>sony</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-09T10:57:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Sierra shows us The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/sierra-shows-us-the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/sierra-shows-us-the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/sierra-shows-us-the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><a href="http://www.sierra.com/en/home/news/product_news/050808_-_mummy_game.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" class="imagepadding" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor.jpg" /></a>In a surprise announcement that completely defies typical industry practices, Sierra has revealed that it will soon capture the "intense action-adventure, fantastic creatures and epic locations" in Hollywood's third money-making <em>Mummy</em> movie and then stick it all into a game. Developed by Eurocom for the Wii and PlayStation 2 (and by A2M for the DS), <em><a href="http://www.sierra.com/en/home/news/product_news/050808_-_mummy_game.html">The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor</a></em> will closely follow the events of this August's reanimation of long-dead material, complete with "a fast and fluid combat system and an arsenal of weaponry that can be used to vanquish the many bone-chilling enemies."<br /><br />There's also mention of "hieroglyphic decoding gameplay elements," but we figure Sierra had you at the whole movie tie-in thing. Look for the evil to be resurrected on July 22nd.<br />%Gallery-22436%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/sierra-shows-us-the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1190084/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/sierra-shows-us-the-mummy-tomb-of-the-dragon-emperor/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>A2M</category><category>Eurocom</category><category>Sierra</category><category>The-Mummy</category><category>The-Mummy-Tomb-of-the-Dragon-Emperor</category><category>Tomb-of-the-Dragon-Emperor</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-08T19:58:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Rumor: Daxter and Wipeout Pulse porting to PS2</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/rumor-daxter-and-wipeout-pulse-porting-to-ps2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/rumor-daxter-and-wipeout-pulse-porting-to-ps2/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/rumor-daxter-and-wipeout-pulse-porting-to-ps2/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/driving/" rel="tag">Driving</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.jeuxvideo.fr/wipeout-pulse-daxter-annonces-ps2-actu-138932.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/daxtereyesmain.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
French site <a href="http://www.jeuxvideo.fr/wipeout-pulse-daxter-annonces-ps2-actu-138932.html">Jeuxvideo.fr</a> states that PSP games <em>Daxter</em> and <em>Wipeout Pulse </em>are being ported to the PS2. The story seems probable considering how many PSP to PS2 ports there have been, but at this time it's an unconfirmed rumor. <em><br /><br /></em>Given the history of high-profile PSP games like <a href="http://www.jeuxvideo.fr/wipeout-pulse-daxter-annonces-ps2-actu-138932.html"><em>R&amp;C: Size Matters</em></a> and the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/gta-vice-city-stories-available-for-playstation-2-in-march/"><em>GTAs</em></a> being ported to the the PS2, we have to wonder if <em>GoW: Chains of Olympus</em> and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/secret-agent-clank"><em>Secret Agent Clank</em></a> will make the leap at some point; the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/rumor-psp-god-of-war-being-ported-to-ps2/"><em>Chains of Olympus</em> port rumor</a> is already old news.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/05/08/rumor-wipeout-pulse-and-daxter-moving-to-ps2/">PSP Fanboy</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.jeuxvideo.fr/wipeout-pulse-daxter-annonces-ps2-actu-138932.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/rumor-daxter-and-wipeout-pulse-porting-to-ps2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1190059/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/rumor-daxter-and-wipeout-pulse-porting-to-ps2/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>daxter</category><category>port</category><category>wipeout-pulse</category><category>wipeoutpulse</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-08T13:57:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>BBFC rating confirms Alone in the Dark's spookiness</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/bbfc-rating-confirms-alone-in-the-darks-spookiness/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/bbfc-rating-confirms-alone-in-the-darks-spookiness/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/bbfc-rating-confirms-alone-in-the-darks-spookiness/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/e8ea0df3a881175480256d58003cb570/d30c4baf2490cf618025744200464c4d?OpenDocument&amp;ExpandSection=1#_Section1"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/alone-in-the-dark-2008-03-490.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br /></div>
The British Board of Film Classification has posted details on the '15' rating pegged on Atari's upcoming survival-horror shriekfest, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/alone-in-the-dark"><em>Alone in the Dark</em></a>. The <a href="http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/e8ea0df3a881175480256d58003cb570/d30c4baf2490cf618025744200464c4d?OpenDocument&amp;ExpandSection=1#_Section1">extended classification</a> information on the BBFC website notes the game's "frequent use of strong language," but cuts it some some slack since, unlike Uwe Boll's ill-fated film adaptation,  it "does not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury." The text reminds us that while there's "plenty of violence," it's all "mitigated by the fantasy context." Thank goodness!<br /> <br /> Aside from the aggressive use of "guns, posts, spades, flamethrowers and other items," the BBFC also warns that we'd best watch out for "moments of horror, with some of the supernatural beasts that attack the protagonist arriving in fairly unexpected - and shocking - fashion." So ... zombies wearing ponchos, then.<br />%Gallery-14429%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classified.nsf/e8ea0df3a881175480256d58003cb570/d30c4baf2490cf618025744200464c4d?OpenDocument&amp;ExpandSection=1#_Section1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/bbfc-rating-confirms-alone-in-the-darks-spookiness/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1189192/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/bbfc-rating-confirms-alone-in-the-darks-spookiness/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Alone-in-the-Dark</category><category>Atari</category><category>BBFC</category><category>Survival-Horror</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-07T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Rock Band Track Pack Vol. 1 coming to PS2, Wii this July</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/rock-band-track-pack-vol-1-coming-to-ps2-wii-this-july/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/rock-band-track-pack-vol-1-coming-to-ps2-wii-this-july/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/rock-band-track-pack-vol-1-coming-to-ps2-wii-this-july/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rhythm/" rel="tag">Rhythm</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/rockbandlogo022208.jpg" /><br /></div>
"I'm perfectly satisfied," you say to yourself as your fingers dart across spongy, fake frets. "I don't need those fancy high-definition graphics. As long as I can make out the notes, I'm happy. Heck, I can even see them when I close my eyes." Indeed, you're more than delighted with the PS2 version of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/rock-band"><em>Rock Band</em></a>, the musical friend that keeps you company as you rock out in the basement. Alone.<br /><br />EA, Harmonix and MTV Games can't help you with your graphics or self-deception issues, but they can offer you some of the downloadable tracks that Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners of <em>Rock Band</em> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/rock-band-weekly">have been enjoying</a>. Mind you, they won't be "downloadable" so much as they'll be purchasable for $29.99. The <em>Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1, </em>headed for Wii (the full game is out on June 22) and PlayStation 2 on July 15th, will contain 20 songs from such artists as David Bowie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Weezer and Oasis. <br /><br />Peer past the break for the full list and see if you go, "Ah, there's that song I like! I will gladly purchase this standalone set of tracks! I'm still talking to myself!"<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/rock-band-track-pack-vol-1-coming-to-ps2-wii-this-july/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Rock Band Track Pack Vol. 1 coming to PS2, Wii this July</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/rock-band-track-pack-vol-1-coming-to-ps2-wii-this-july/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1186840/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/rock-band-track-pack-vol-1-coming-to-ps2-wii-this-july/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>BreakingNews</category><category>DLC</category><category>EA</category><category>Harmonix</category><category>MTV</category><category>MTV-Games</category><category>Rock-Band</category><category>Rock-Band-Track-Pack</category><category>Rock-Band-Track-Pack-Vol-1</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-05T12:56:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Whip it real good, Lego Indiana Jones site now live</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/whip-it-real-good-lego-indiana-jones-site-now-live/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/whip-it-real-good-lego-indiana-jones-site-now-live/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/whip-it-real-good-lego-indiana-jones-site-now-live/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.legoindianajonesgame.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/legoindianajones.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
The <a href="http://www.legoindianajonesgame.com">Lego Indiana Jones website</a> is now live and features a little "treasure hunt" game where users search for riches and can then "purchase" wallpapers, avatars and coloring sheets. There's also the standard stuff like a community forum and screenshots, along with the trailer for the game.<br /><br />A downloadable demo should be available for PC on May 13 (also <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/new-indy-movie-dvds-to-include-lego-indiana-jones-demo/">available on the movie DVDs</a>) and we're not finding any information on a console demo, but that doesn't mean there won't be one. <em>Lego Indy</em> begins beating up <strike>Nazis</strike> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/lego-indiana-jones-whips-up-4-player-co-op/">random cult members</a> at retail June 3.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.legoindianajonesgame.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/whip-it-real-good-lego-indiana-jones-site-now-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1183396/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/whip-it-real-good-lego-indiana-jones-site-now-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Indiana-Jones</category><category>lego</category><category>lego-indiana-jones</category><category>legoindianajones</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>travellers-tales</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-01T12:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item></channel></rss>