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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>Atlus asks you to kneel before Zoids this August</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/atlus-asks-you-to-kneel-before-zoids-this-august/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/atlus-asks-you-to-kneel-before-zoids-this-august/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/atlus-asks-you-to-kneel-before-zoids-this-august/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.siliconera.com/2008/05/13/atlus-localizes%E2%80%A6-a-zoids-game/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/zoids_assault_topper.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
We remember Zoids as those little motorized plastic dinosaurs that He-Man and his motley band used to pummel into submission as Duke and Chitara quietly watched on from the safety of the bean bag chair in the corner. Ah the 80s ... twas a simpler time of action figure mayhem. However, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com//tag/atlus">Atlus</a> has again given us reason to wax nostalgic, announcing plans to bring Zoids to the Xbox 360 on August 26 as a Japanese-style strategy RPG, a genre for which the company has shown <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/atlus-usa-publishing-spectral-force-3-operation-darkness-for-xb/">increasing affection</a> on Microsoft's console. <br /><br />Released last year as <em>Zoids Alternative</em> in Japan, the renamed <em>Zoids Assault</em> promises "gritty" gameplay and "tons" of options, most of which revolve around customizing and arming robots with various means of blowing stuff up. We suppose it's interesting to see Tomy's toy and anime license to continue to endure, though we imagine when the game ships the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starriors">Starriors</a> in our office toy chest are going to feel more than a little left out.<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.siliconera.com/2008/05/13/atlus-localizes%E2%80%A6-a-zoids-game/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/atlus-asks-you-to-kneel-before-zoids-this-august/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1194418/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/atlus-asks-you-to-kneel-before-zoids-this-august/#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>anime</category><category>atlus</category><category>strategy</category><category>toys</category><category>zoids</category><category>zoids-assault</category><category>zoidsassault</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-14T05:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Pandemic announces Lord of the Rings: Conquest [update]</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/pandemic-announces-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/pandemic-announces-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/pandemic-announces-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/#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/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/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/lord-of-the-rings-conquest/795185/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/lotr_conquest_05-490px.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><small><em>click to enlarge</em></small></div>
<br />Just how many people are working at <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Pandemic/">Pandemic</a> anyway? Not only are they still finishing up <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Mercenaries%202%3A%20World%20in%20Flames">Mercenaries 2: World in Flames</a></em> and (maybe) making the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/ign-says-pandemic-making-batman-for-sure-then-pulls-story/">next <em>Batman </em>game</a>, but news has come from IGN today that <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/pandemic-studios-developing-new-lord-of-the-rings-game/">the <em>Lord of the Rings </em>game</a> the studio is currently crafting (called <em>Lord of the Rings: Conquest</em>) will arrive on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC this fall. By the developer's own admission it's an unabashed mash-up of the fantasy property and its own <em>Star Wars Battlefront</em> (read: huge fights in Middle Earth).<br /><br />The game will incorporate every battle from the movies, a few from the books and some from whole cloth. <em>Conquest'</em>s large-scale battles, which will sport up to 150 characters on screen at once, can be waged by eight players online [update: It's apparently 16] against one another or with four players teaming up on the main campaign online or via split screen. Frankly, we got a little burnt out on <em>Lord of the Rings </em>games when a glut of them arrived with Peter Jackson's films, but this sounds like the kind of meaty experience that justifies a return to Middle Earth.<br />%Gallery-22396%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/872/872391p1.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/pandemic-announces-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1189813/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/pandemic-announces-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/#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>ea</category><category>lord-of-the-rings</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-conquest</category><category>lotr</category><category>pandemic</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-08T07:50:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>PixelJunk Monsters expansion invades PSN this week</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/pixeljunk-monsters-expansion-invades-psn-this-week/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/pixeljunk-monsters-expansion-invades-psn-this-week/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/pixeljunk-monsters-expansion-invades-psn-this-week/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/05/06/pixeljunk-monsters-encore-dated-interview-part-2/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/pixeljunk-monsters-encore-490-2.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
We probably shouldn't be telling you this, but updates on this site are very likely to cease tomorrow, what with the PSN update <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/05/06/pixeljunk-monsters-encore-dated-interview-part-2/">bringing us the expansion</a> pack to Q-Games' addictive tower defense game, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/pixeljunk-monsters"><em>PixelJunk Monsters</em></a>. Featuring a new island, 15 additional levels, five new music tracks and a $5.99 price tag, <em>PixelJunk Monsters Encore</em> will have us erecting towers for several days at least. Longer if we try to get all the rainbows.<br /><br />Oh well, we suppose we'll just keep recycling all the posts about <em>Grand Theft Auto IV</em>.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/05/06/pixeljunk-monsters-encore-expansion-hits-this-week/">PS3 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://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/05/06/pixeljunk-monsters-encore-dated-interview-part-2/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/pixeljunk-monsters-expansion-invades-psn-this-week/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1188642/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/pixeljunk-monsters-expansion-invades-psn-this-week/#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>DLC</category><category>Expansion</category><category>Pixeljunk</category><category>PixelJunk-Monsters</category><category>Pixeljunk-Monsters-Encore</category><category>PlayStation-Network</category><category>PSN</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-07T09:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Blizzard store relaunched with digital downloads</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/blizzard-store-relaunched-with-digital-downloads/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/blizzard-store-relaunched-with-digital-downloads/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/blizzard-store-relaunched-with-digital-downloads/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/mac/" rel="tag">Mac</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/online/" rel="tag">Online</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/mmo/" rel="tag">MMO</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blizzard.com/store/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/bliz-shop-banner-490.jpg"  alt="" /></a></div>
Blizzard has launched a <a href="http://www.blizzard.com/store/">new online store</a>, selling games (both digital and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/off-the-grid">off the grid)</a>, books, collectibles, limited apparel and more. The store is now also offering titles for digital download -- right now only <em>Starcraft</em> and <em>Warcraft III </em>(as well as their respective expansion packs) are available, but according to this handy <a href="http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=22765">F.A.Q.</a>, more will be made available later. <br /><br />As noted by <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/03/blizzard-launches-new-online-store/">WoW Insider</a>, registering for the store enters you into a lottery to partake in an upcoming beta such as <em>Wrath of the Lich King, Starcraft II </em>or the as-of-yet unannounced (but we dream so very much) <em>Rock and Roll Racing </em>MMO.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/05/03/blizzard-launches-new-online-store/">WoW Insider</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.blizzard.com/store/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/blizzard-store-relaunched-with-digital-downloads/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1188367/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/blizzard-store-relaunched-with-digital-downloads/#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>blizzard</category><category>shop</category><category>starcraft</category><category>store</category><category>warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-06T23:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>R-Type Command to include R-9 collectible</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/r-type-command-to-include-r-9-collectible/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/r-type-command-to-include-r-9-collectible/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/r-type-command-to-include-r-9-collectible/#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/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.atlus.com/newsdetail.php?newsID=244"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/rtype_img_9001_r1.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
If you're looking forward to the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/r-type-command-bosses-psp-around-on-may-6/">upcoming May 6 release</a> of <em>R-Type Command</em> for the PSP, but are wondering where to pick it up, Atlus USA might have just made the decision a tad easier. The company has announced that for a "very limited" time those who buy the game from GameStop, Amazon.com, GameCrazy, EB Games Canada, and other select retailers will be able to take home a free plastic miniature replica of the game's R-9 spacecraft, which we imagine to be perfect for keeping your desktop safe from the Bydo Empire.<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.atlus.com/newsdetail.php?newsID=244>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/r-type-command-to-include-r-9-collectible/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1183108/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/r-type-command-to-include-r-9-collectible/#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>atlus</category><category>atlus-usa</category><category>atlususa</category><category>irem</category><category>r-type</category><category>r-type-command</category><category>rtype</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-01T09:15:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>EA announces BattleForge collectible trading card game for Fall '08</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/ea-announces-battleforge-collectible-trading-card-game-for-fall/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/ea-announces-battleforge-collectible-trading-card-game-for-fall/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/ea-announces-battleforge-collectible-trading-card-game-for-fall/#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/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1136183&amp;highlight"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/battleforge.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
EA <a href="http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1136183&amp;highlight">announced</a> today that its German studio, EA Phenomic, is working on <em>Battleforge,</em> a "fantasy online real-time strategy ... collectible trading card" game. The game will release this fall and  allow players to win, trade and buy virtual cards to create the "ultimate deck."<br /><br />Basically, it sounds like <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/magic-the-gathering-based-games-coming-to-pc-mac-xbox-live/"><em>Magic: The Gathering</em></a> (but totally virtual) at the moment. We'll have to wait and see what the price details are for <em>Battleforg -- </em>not to mention its micro transaction details, if any. <span class="modBodyTxt"></span><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=1136183&amp;highlight>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/ea-announces-battleforge-collectible-trading-card-game-for-fall/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1180630/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/ea-announces-battleforge-collectible-trading-card-game-for-fall/#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>battleforge</category><category>ea</category><category>ea-phenomic</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-29T12:28:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Joystiq impressions: World in Conflict: Soviet Assault controls (360/PS3)</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/joystiq-impressions-world-in-conflict-soviet-assault-controls/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/joystiq-impressions-world-in-conflict-soviet-assault-controls/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/joystiq-impressions-world-in-conflict-soviet-assault-controls/#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/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/online/" rel="tag">Online</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img hspace="0" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/world-in-conflict-logo.jpg" /><br /></div>
If you remember <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/world-in-conflict"><em>World in Conflict</em></a> from last year, expect more of the same in this fall's <em>World in Conflict: Soviet Assault</em>. If you don't remember it, you might have been washed over by a dozen <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/joystiqs-top-10-games-of-2007/">other great games</a>. The real-time battle strategy takes gamers into an alternate 1989; the Cold War turns into a firefight.<br /><br />Two changes define this update: 360 and PS3 gamers can play, and a new campaign lets you play from the Soviet perspective. PC gamers who have the original can opt for a download-only Soviet expansion, while those new to the title can get a bundled, PC edition. Console gamers will get the full, original game in this version, too.<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/joystiq-impressions-world-in-conflict-soviet-assault-controls/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Joystiq impressions: World in Conflict: Soviet Assault controls (360/PS3)</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/2008/04/28/joystiq-impressions-world-in-conflict-soviet-assault-controls/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1179164/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/joystiq-impressions-world-in-conflict-soviet-assault-controls/#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>cold-war</category><category>sierra</category><category>sierra-spring-event08</category><category>strategy</category><category>world-in-conflict</category><category>world-in-conflict-soviet-assault</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zack Stern]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-28T04:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Stalin to save Mother Russia from aliens in new RTS</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/stalin-to-save-mother-russia-from-aliens-in-new-rts/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/stalin-to-save-mother-russia-from-aliens-in-new-rts/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/stalin-to-save-mother-russia-from-aliens-in-new-rts/#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/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.dreamloregames.com/stalin/eng/game.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/svm_scren_topper.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
The second World War has fueled a nearly uncountable sea of video game titles, but while most have drawn inspiration from the same handful of historic events, none yet have captured the reality that was Joseph Stalin. But reality is boring, which is why we're much more interested in a new RTS by a trio of Russian devs (Wing Foundation, Dreamlore, and N-game) that takes an alternate history stab by pitting the Soviet leader's Red Army against an invasion from outer space. Wait...what?<br /><br />The brilliantly titled <em>Stalin Vs. Martians</em> is billed as a simplified game designed "for anyone who just hates the strategy genre," with fun and action taking top billing over the kind of micromanagement that's normally the genre's calling card. Says <a href="http://www.dreamloregames.com/stalin/eng/index.html">the game's website</a>: "The only resources you can find on the map are power-ups. They look like they should: like shiny rotating coins of bright colors." The devs even state that Stalin himself will be a playable unit in the later stages of the game, as he lumbers on the field as "a huge colossus, five times higher than any other creature. Just like it was in the real life." We can all look forward to driving the extra terrestrials out of Holy Mother Russia when the game ships for the PC this fall.<br />%Gallery-21612%<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.dreamloregames.com/stalin/eng/game.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/stalin-to-save-mother-russia-from-aliens-in-new-rts/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1178839/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/stalin-to-save-mother-russia-from-aliens-in-new-rts/#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>aliens</category><category>alternate-history</category><category>alternatehistory</category><category>dreamlore</category><category>n-game</category><category>ngame</category><category>rts</category><category>russia</category><category>soviet-union</category><category>sovietunion</category><category>stalin</category><category>strategy</category><category>wing-foundation</category><category>wingfoundation</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-27T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Europa Universalis dev offers up game engine for free</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/europa-universalis-dev-offers-up-game-engine-for-free/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/europa-universalis-dev-offers-up-game-engine-for-free/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/europa-universalis-dev-offers-up-game-engine-for-free/#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/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.developmag.com/news/29705/Paradox-releases-free-engine-for-making-digital-distributed-titles"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/eu2_map_pic.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
There's only one thing better than getting something for nothing. However, since it's unlikely that someone is going to deliver us a life-size <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toblerone">Toblerone</a>, we'll settle for Paradox Interactive's news that the Swedish game company is <a href="http://www.gamersgate.com/engine/">releasing its game engine</a> into the wild as a free download over <a href="http://www.gamersgate.com/">GamersGate</a>.<br /><br />Codenamed "Europa," the engine was the same used to develop games in Paradox's<em> Hearts of Iron</em> series and <em>Europa Universalis II </em>(pictured). According to Paradox, the company plans to set "a few minimum criteria" for the engine's use, and games created using the technology will be made available for sale over the GamersGate download service -- meaning that for those indie devs looking for a 'cheap as free' solution to make their hard-core PC strategy game dreams a reality, this could be <em>it</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.developmag.com/news/29705/Paradox-releases-free-engine-for-making-digital-distributed-titles>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/europa-universalis-dev-offers-up-game-engine-for-free/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1178572/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/europa-universalis-dev-offers-up-game-engine-for-free/#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>engine</category><category>europa</category><category>europa-universalis</category><category>europauniversalis</category><category>hearts-of-iron</category><category>heartsofiron</category><category>indie</category><category>middleware</category><category>paradox</category><category>paradox-interactive</category><category>paradoxinteractive</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-26T22:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Operation Darkness demo hits Xbox Live</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/operation-darkness-demo-hits-xbox-live/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/operation-darkness-demo-hits-xbox-live/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/operation-darkness-demo-hits-xbox-live/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><center><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="490" height="400">	<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> 	<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=32655"/> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=32655" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="490" height="400"></embed> </object></center>Upon first glance (and your second through seventh glances, admittedly) <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Operation%20Darkness">Operation Darkness</a> </em>seems like a game created by insane people. It's a squad based tactical game where you're fighting the "hidden battles of WWII," but the reason they were hidden is apparently because they were waged against skeletons. And and some point, one of those skeletons gets punched by a wolf man in a trench coat. See? Crazy.<br /><br />We tell you all this, not as a lead-in to dispel your presumptions about the game's insanity, but to see if you'd play the <a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/04/23/demo-operation-darkness.aspx">new demo on Xbox Live</a> for us and let us know how it is. Because frankly, we're a little freaked out.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/04/23/demo-operation-darkness.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/operation-darkness-demo-hits-xbox-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1176546/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/operation-darkness-demo-hits-xbox-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>atlus</category><category>demos</category><category>operation-darkness</category><category>xbox-live</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-24T14:55:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title> Joystiq interview: Demigod, Sins, and the death of PC gaming</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/joystiq-interview-demigod-sins-and-the-death-of-pc-gaming/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/joystiq-interview-demigod-sins-and-the-death-of-pc-gaming/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/joystiq-interview-demigod-sins-and-the-death-of-pc-gaming/#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/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/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/simulations/" rel="tag">Simulations</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div align="center"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="271" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/stardockbradchrismain.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
With publisher Stardock's rise the last couple of years and the announcement that it'll be publishing Gas Powered Games' next title, <span style="font-style: italic;">Demigod</span>, it was time catch up with the two companies. We spoke with Stardock's CEO Brad Wardell and Gas Powered Games' founder Chris Taylor and asked some niggling questions on our minds ... and fired a few total shots in the dark which yielded results (like <span style="font-style: italic;">Demigod</span> on consoles?). Find out more about Stardock and why Gas Powered Games decided to hook up with the little-publisher-that-could for its next title in our interview.<br /><br /><strong>OK, let's get right into it, what's <span style="font-style: italic;">Demigod</span>?</strong><br /><br />Chris Taylor - <span style="font-style: italic;">Demigod</span> is a frantic team-based action game with RPG and RTS elements mixed in. If that doesn't sound familiar, it's because we're sort of inventing a new style of hybrid gameplay. The player selects a Demigod, and fights for a place in the pantheon of Gods in these incredible arenas. Each battle puts the player in command of either an Assassin Demigod, or General Demigod. These two types gives the player a choice of whether they command just the single Demigod, an Assassin, or whether they take command over every single unit in the game, like a traditional RTS, a General.<br /> %Gallery-19979%<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/joystiq-interview-demigod-sins-and-the-death-of-pc-gaming/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em> Joystiq interview: Demigod, Sins, and the death of PC gaming</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/2008/04/24/joystiq-interview-demigod-sins-and-the-death-of-pc-gaming/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1174947/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/joystiq-interview-demigod-sins-and-the-death-of-pc-gaming/#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>brad-wardell</category><category>chris-taylor</category><category>demigod</category><category>gas-powered-games</category><category>sins-of-a-solar-empire</category><category>sinsofasolarempire</category><category>stardock</category><category>wardell</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-24T12:25:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Off the Grid: Risk Black Ops and Hasbro's wrong direction</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/off-the-grid-risk-black-ops-and-hasbros-wrong-direction/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/off-the-grid-risk-black-ops-and-hasbros-wrong-direction/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/off-the-grid-risk-black-ops-and-hasbros-wrong-direction/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#808080"><span style="font-style: italic;"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/otg_riskblackopshasbro.jpg" /></span></font><br /><font color="#808080"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></font></div>
<font color="#808080"><span style="font-style: italic;">Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes </span><a href="http://joystiq.com/tag/offthegrid/">Off the Grid</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, a column about card games, board games, and everything else non-digital.</span></font><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Risk: Black Ops</span> is one of the most beautiful board games you'll never play. In anticipation of the newly updated release of <span style="font-style: italic;">Risk</span>, Hasbro produced only 1,000 copies of this special edition game, distributing them to bloggers, journos, and gaming hobby sites for perusal and easy publicity.<br /><br />The <a href="http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2008/02/04/is-risk-black-ops-from-hasbro-the-next-big-hit-for-ea-casual.aspx">response</a> was <a href="http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/37249">unanimously positive</a>. The updates to the rules -- handled by <span style="font-style: italic;">Risk 2010</span> designer Rob Daviau -- lower the game's initial barrier to entry, and make it possible to play through in under two hours (which is significant for <em>Risk</em>). Most media attention, however, was lavished on the slick, modern redesign, devised under the command of art director Lindsay Braun and visual designer Jason Taylor.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Risk</span> has always wanted to be taken seriously, but <span style="font-style: italic;">Black Ops</span> is the first version of the game to look deadly serious. A matte black finish on the box is accented by imagery of barbed wire, dog tags, and the faintest hint of blood spatter, all rendered in a subtle gray. "History is written by the victors," the box declares in a modest sans-serif font. The game board itself is designed to look like something out of our modern war-rooms, with a visual style not unlike Introversion's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/defcon">apocalyptic strategy game <span style="font-style: italic;">Defcon</span></a>. This is not the <span style="font-style: italic;">Risk</span> you remember.<br />%Gallery-20806%<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/off-the-grid-risk-black-ops-and-hasbros-wrong-direction/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Off the Grid: Risk Black Ops and Hasbro's wrong direction</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/2008/04/18/off-the-grid-risk-black-ops-and-hasbros-wrong-direction/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1170709/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/off-the-grid-risk-black-ops-and-hasbros-wrong-direction/#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>hasbro</category><category>off-the-grid</category><category>offthegrid</category><category>risk</category><category>risk-black-ops</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Scott Jon Siegel]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-18T08:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Petroglyph crafting free-to-play online game</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/petroglyph-crafting-free-to-play-online-game/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/petroglyph-crafting-free-to-play-online-game/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/petroglyph-crafting-free-to-play-online-game/#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/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/mmo/" rel="tag">MMO</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.petroglyphgames.com/press/truegames.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/petrowar.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Petroglyph's last game had a pretty grand scale, putting the entire <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Universe%20at%20War">Universe at War</a></em> and all, but they're pulling back their scope a bit for their next project with a planetary conflict. The company is currently crafting a "global online game" that will not only be massively multiplayer but will be free to play and funded by mictransactions.<br /><br />We don't know a genre, but after <em>Star Wars: Empire at War </em>and <em>Universe at War</em>, we're betting on RTS. We're also betting it will be called <em>Something at War</em>, but we could be surprised on that one.<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.petroglyphgames.com/press/truegames.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/petroglyph-crafting-free-to-play-online-game/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1169170/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/petroglyph-crafting-free-to-play-online-game/#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>petroglyph</category><category>universe-at-war</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-16T11:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Rumor: Spore Creature Creator included in SimCity Box</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/rumor-spore-creature-creator-included-in-simcity-box/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/rumor-spore-creature-creator-included-in-simcity-box/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/rumor-spore-creature-creator-included-in-simcity-box/#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/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Arts-The-SimCity-Box/dp/B0014468XE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=videogames&amp;qid=1208279219&amp;sr=8-1"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/sporecreaturesimcitybox.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Ever since EA <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/cant-wait-for-september-7-creature-only-spore-to-launch-sooner/">announced the early release of <em>Spore</em>'s Creature Creator</a>, we've been wondering how the company planned on distributing the pre-game title. Fingers were crossed for a free demo, but now it seems that EA would rather entice players into buying their <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/the-simcity-box-starts-construction-in-june-for-40/"><em>SimCity Box</em></a>, which will reportedly include the Creature Creator amongst its lineup of classic <em>SimCity</em> titles.<br /><br />On the game's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Arts-The-SimCity-Box/dp/B0014468XE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=videogames&amp;qid=1208279219&amp;sr=8-1">Amazon product page</a>, the box art indicates the presence of the "Creature Creator Trial Version" as a bonus feature. This same bonus is stated in the product description. If Amazon is to be trusted, we still don't know whether the "trial version" indicates a limited demo of the soon-to-be-released creature editor, or whether the editor is considered to be a "trial version" of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/spore"><em>Spore</em></a>.<br /><br />We also don't know if this is EA's only intended method of distribution for the Creature Creator. We've contacted EA for further clarification, and will let you know once we have a few more facts.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/the-simcity-box-to-include-spore-creature-creator/">GamerTell</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.amazon.com/Electronic-Arts-The-SimCity-Box/dp/B0014468XE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=videogames&amp;qid=1208279219&amp;sr=8-1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/rumor-spore-creature-creator-included-in-simcity-box/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1168435/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/rumor-spore-creature-creator-included-in-simcity-box/#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>ea</category><category>maxis</category><category>simcity</category><category>simcity-box</category><category>spore</category><category>spore-creature-creator</category><category>spore-creature-editor</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Scott Jon Siegel]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-15T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Universe at War: Earth Assault demo hits XBL</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/universe-at-war-earth-assault-demo-hits-xbl/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/universe-at-war-earth-assault-demo-hits-xbl/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/universe-at-war-earth-assault-demo-hits-xbl/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/04/14/demo-universe-at-war-earth-assault.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/universewardemo.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Much like the quests for a better mousetrap or to write a more perfect pop song than Rupert Holmes' "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S79V_Vm-6GQ">Escape</a>," a great RTS on a console always seems to be maddeningly just out of reach. Developer Petroglyph's attempt on the great white whale, <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Universe%20at%20War%3A%20Earth%20Assault">Universe at War: Earth Assault</a></em>, is now available on Xbox Live for you to sample.<br /><br />So here's our question for those that have played the demo (or the full game for that matter): Did it work? Are we any closer to finding the perfect combination of factors for console RTS greatness? Or are we back to Square <strike>Rupert</strike> One?<br />%Gallery-1444%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/04/14/demo-universe-at-war-earth-assault.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/universe-at-war-earth-assault-demo-hits-xbl/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1166418/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/universe-at-war-earth-assault-demo-hits-xbl/#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>demos</category><category>petroglyph</category><category>universe-at-war</category><category>universe-at-war-eart...</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-14T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>GalCiv II expansion Twilight of the Arnor coming April 23</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/galciv-ii-expansion-twilight-of-the-arnor-coming-april-23/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/galciv-ii-expansion-twilight-of-the-arnor-coming-april-23/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/galciv-ii-expansion-twilight-of-the-arnor-coming-april-23/#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/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.galciv2.com/twilight/"><em><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/gc2da_korath-clan_topper.jpg" /></em></a><br /></div>
<em>Galactic Civilizations II</em> remains one of PC gaming's best kept secrets, something that has more to do with the game's single player focus than its ability to lurk in shadows. Now the game is set to get its second and last expansion, dubbed <em>Twilight of the Arnor</em>, an addition that publisher/developer Stardock has confirmed to us will be released as a digital download on April 23. <br /><br />The expansion details the final chapter of the game's Dread Lord wars, and builds upon last year's acclaimed expansion, <em>Dark Avatar</em>. Like that game, <em>Twilight </em>will introduce numerous improvements and tweaks to <em>GalCiv II</em>, from new technology trees to map and campaign editors. Could this finally be the game to pry us from Ironclad's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/SinsOfASolarEmpire/"><em>Sins of a Solar Empire</em></a>? Ask us on April 24. Until then, check out a partial list of additions promised by the expansion after the break.<br />%Gallery-20102%<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/galciv-ii-expansion-twilight-of-the-arnor-coming-april-23/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>GalCiv II expansion Twilight of the Arnor coming April 23</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.galciv2.com/twilight/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/galciv-ii-expansion-twilight-of-the-arnor-coming-april-23/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1161849/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/galciv-ii-expansion-twilight-of-the-arnor-coming-april-23/#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>4x</category><category>4xstrategy</category><category>galacticcivilizations</category><category>galciv</category><category>galcivII</category><category>stardock</category><category>strategy</category><category>twilight-of-the-arnor</category><category>twilightofthearnor</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-08T22:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Official Scrabble app 'launches' on Facebook, unplayable in North America</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/official-scrabble-app-launches-on-facebook-unplayable-in-nort/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/official-scrabble-app-launches-on-facebook-unplayable-in-nort/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/official-scrabble-app-launches-on-facebook-unplayable-in-nort/#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/online/" rel="tag">Online</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/07/technology/07scrabulous.html?_r=2&amp;ex=1365220800&amp;en=e1b1fb02e8ac5003&amp;ei=5090&amp;partner=rssuserland&amp;emc=rss&amp;oref=login&amp;oref=slogin"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/scrabblefacebookalreadybroken.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br /></div>
The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/07/technology/07scrabulous.html?_r=2&amp;ex=1365220800&amp;en=e1b1fb02e8ac5003&amp;ei=5090&amp;partner=rssuserland&amp;emc=rss&amp;oref=login&amp;oref=slogin">official <em>Scrabble</em> Facebook application has recently launched</a>, but don't expect the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/scrabulous-under-fire-from-hasbro-mattel/"><em>Scrabulous</em> boys</a> to be shaking in their word-savvy boots anytime soon. Copyright issues prevent the game from being played in the US and Canada, and numerous game-breaking bugs make it only slightly more playable everywhere else.<br /><br />The region-locking is due to the confusing state of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/scrabble"><em>Scrabble</em></a>'s international copyright. In the majority of the world, toy manufacturer Mattel owns the rights to the game, but in North America, that honor goes to Hasbro. Everything would be honky dory with the Facebook version, except that EA <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/ea-announces-intial-batch-of-hasbro-games-g-i-joe-sadly-absent/">already has an agreement with Hasbro</a> to distribute digital versions of their titles, which the RealNetworks-developed Facebook app would be in breach of if <em>Scrabble</em> were playable in North America.<br /><br />Fortunately, North Americans apparently aren't missing much: the game is currently suffering from the "beta blues", with its woefully-small user base already up in arms on the discussion boards over some usability issues, as well as the system's penchant for deleting in-progress games. Nothing beats the real thing, right?<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://purplepawn.com/2008/04/07/scrabble-now-competing-directly-with-scrabulous/">Purple Pawn</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.nytimes.com/2008/04/07/technology/07scrabulous.html?_r=2&amp;ex=1365220800&amp;en=e1b1fb02e8ac5003&amp;ei=5090&amp;partner=rssuserland&amp;emc=rss&amp;oref=login&amp;oref=slogin>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/official-scrabble-app-launches-on-facebook-unplayable-in-nort/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1161801/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/official-scrabble-app-launches-on-facebook-unplayable-in-nort/#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>facebook</category><category>hasbro</category><category>mattel</category><category>scrabble</category><category>scrabulous</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Scott Jon Siegel]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-08T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Stardock publishing Demigod, praying for domination Feb. '09</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/stardock-publishing-demigod-praying-for-domination-feb-09/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/stardock-publishing-demigod-praying-for-domination-feb-09/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/stardock-publishing-demigod-praying-for-domination-feb-09/#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/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="329" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/demigodmain.jpg" /><br /></div>
<em>Demigod</em>, Gas Powered Games' team-based RTS/RPG, is expected to launch in February of 2009. The company announced today it has reached a publishing agreement with Stardock, which also prominently stated in its press release that the game will feature no on-disc copy protection.<br /><br />Gas Powered Games is best known for its <em>Dungeon Siege</em> series, but most recently released the hardcore RTS <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/supremecommander">Supreme Commander</a> (recently <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/supreme-commander-for-xbox-360-delayed/">delayed for consoles</a>). Publisher Stardock recently found more mainstream success with the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/ironclads-sins-sells-more-than-100-000-in-less-than-a-month/">best-selling</a> -- and surprisingly scalable on older PCs -- <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/sins-of-a-solar-empire"><em>Sins of a Solar Empire</em></a>  (the company's <em>Galactic Civilizations II</em> isn't bad either). <em>Sins</em> sports no copy protection and, despite that fact, the game has found success at retail -- plus, it's only $30. <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/demigod"><em>Demigod</em></a> will have a public beta this summer and we'll be sure to post more about that when details become available.<br /><br />%Gallery-19979%<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/2008/04/07/stardock-publishing-demigod-praying-for-domination-feb-09/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1160523/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/stardock-publishing-demigod-praying-for-domination-feb-09/#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>demigod</category><category>gas-powered-games</category><category>stardock</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-07T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>The sun rises on a Dawn of War II trailer</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/the-sun-rises-on-a-dawn-of-war-ii-trailer/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/the-sun-rises-on-a-dawn-of-war-ii-trailer/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/the-sun-rises-on-a-dawn-of-war-ii-trailer/#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/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><center><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392">	<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> 	<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=32582"/> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=32582" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object></center>THQ has unleashed a <a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/32582.html">teaser trailer</a> for <em>Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II</em> to imbue the masses with the righteous fervor of the Empire. The real-time strategy sequel was <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/thq-makes-dawn-of-war-ii-official-coming-spring-2009/">officially confirmed</a> just a couple days ago and will apparently feature a fully co-operative multiplayer campaign. Don't go getting too excited just yet -- <em>DoW II</em> won't be out until Spring '09. In the meantime, for those who need a <em>40K</em> RTS fix stat, there's always <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/sisters-of-battle-dark-eldar-lead-charge-in-dawn-of-war-soulst/"><em>Soulstorm</em></a>, which will grant entry into the sequel's multiplayer beta at some point in the future.<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/32582.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/the-sun-rises-on-a-dawn-of-war-ii-trailer/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1159217/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/the-sun-rises-on-a-dawn-of-war-ii-trailer/#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>dawn-of-war</category><category>dawn-of-war-ii</category><category>dawnofwar</category><category>dawnofwarii</category><category>relic</category><category>thq</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-05T04:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Joystiq impressions: Lock's Quest (DS)</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/joystiq-impressions-locks-quest-ds/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/joystiq-impressions-locks-quest-ds/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/joystiq-impressions-locks-quest-ds/#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/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/puzzle/" rel="tag">Puzzle</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a></p><em><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/lock_quest_225.jpg" alt="" />Lock's Quest</em> is a <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/13/in-the-flash-desktop-tower-defense/">tower-defense-style</a> game where you try to protect a group of inept friends from incoming attackers. Unlike those Flash games you might have played, Lock issues commands from the ground, running around small maps to build walls, turrets, and directly fight advancing enemies. The result comes together as a real-time strategy and action game, with light role-playing elements.<br /><br />Completely stylus driven, you move Lock around much like <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/PhantomHourglass/">Link</a>. (The D-pad can shift the view, but the stylus issues all actions.) Taps direct Lock to new areas, while other stylus swings cause special attacks and specific actions. For example, gamers sequentially tap a group of randomly ordered numbers to add a boost.<br /><br />But much of the game is about designing and defending structures. Lock uses resources enemies drop to build walls, gates, and turrets. The attackers advance randomly at first, but after the first wave hits your base, they learn where they were thwarted. The following groups will attempt other tactics to broach the defenses, possibly approaching from a different side or fighting with a different tactic. Your job is to hold up the fort over several "days" of these marching enemies, after which, everything repeats with a new level.<br /><br />Scheduled for a Fall, 2008 release, <em>Lock's Quest</em> could be a unique action-puzzler with wide appeal. Action, RTS, and fans of other genres might all find something to like.<br /><br />%Gallery-19858%<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/2008/04/05/joystiq-impressions-locks-quest-ds/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1159153/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/joystiq-impressions-locks-quest-ds/#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>desktop-tower-defense</category><category>ds</category><category>locks-quest</category><category>thq</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Zack Stern]]></dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-05T02:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item></channel></rss>