Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogobig.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Interview: Brian Fargo on Hunted: The Demon's Forge]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/interview-brian-fargo-on-hunted-the-demons-forge/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/interview-brian-fargo-on-hunted-the-demons-forge/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/interview-brian-fargo-on-hunted-the-demons-forge/#comments
Brian Fargo is no stranger to the world of video game development, having originally founded Interplay back in 1984. He's worked on titles like the original Bard's Tale and Wasteland, and Interplay developed everything from Battle Chess to Fallout to Baldur's Gate. When Interplay was acquired by Titus in 2002, Fargo left and founded InXile Entertainment, which later released an updated Bard's Tale for PS2, Xbox, and PC. Now both Fargo and InXile are moving onto next-generation consoles with the swords and scorcery co-op title Hunted: The Demon's Forge.

We recently spoke to Fargo about the game, which you can find just after the break. But be warned! Just prepare yourself for the sheer about of verbiage manages to foist upon us when we asked what the initial genesis for the game was. It's quite an answer! Read on to see what he has to say about the upcoming title, including why they limited to two characters, the depth of the puzzles in the game, and boob jiggle. Yes, boob jiggle.

Gallery: Hunted: The Demon's Forge (05/04/10)

Continue reading Interview: Brian Fargo on Hunted: The Demon's Forge

JoystiqInterview: Brian Fargo on Hunted: The Demon's Forge originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-SoftworksBrian-Fargoco-opHuntedhunted-the-demons-forgeinterviewinxileinxile-entertainmentMicrosoftXbox-360Mon, 10 May 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Jason Kim talks RAGE]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/interview-jason-kim-talks-rage/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/interview-jason-kim-talks-rage/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/interview-jason-kim-talks-rage/#comments What does a video game producer do? Well, the brutally honest Jason Kim from id's RAGE summed it up for us. "I'm just a producer; I don't make anything that actually shows up in the game." So there you have it! Okay, we're kidding (slightly). It's a producer's task on a game to make sure everything is running smoothly, that schedules are being met, budgets being adhered to, all so that one day the game can end up on your system of choice. That's no small task.

Kim has been working on RAGE at id for the past several years, and has seen the project move from EA, to being an internally developed project at id, and now on to Bethesda. He's definitely enthusiastic about the project (and the word megatexture), and you can read on beyond the break for the full interview with him were he talks about the game, and why a lot of developers seem to be using the post-apocalyptic realm as a backdrop.

Gallery: Rage (05/04/10)

Continue reading Interview: Jason Kim talks RAGE

JoystiqInterview: Jason Kim talks RAGE originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 May 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-SoftworksEAElectronic-ArtsFPSidid-tech-5InterviewJason-KimMicrosoftpost-apocalypticRAGEXbox-360Mon, 10 May 2010 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Minority Report UI designer John Underkoffler talks about the future of gestures]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/minority-report-ui-designer-john-underkoffler-talks-about-the-fu/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/minority-report-ui-designer-john-underkoffler-talks-about-the-fu/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/minority-report-ui-designer-john-underkoffler-talks-about-the-fu/#comments
Unless you're an engineer who designs cutting-edge user interfaces, you've probably never heard the name John Underkoffler before ... but you've definitely seen his work. Remember the computer Tom Cruise uses by waving his hands around in Minority Report? He designed that. And it wasn't just faked together for the movie, Underkoffler had a working prototype at MIT before that, and now he's designed a version that you can actually purchase.

Underkoffler now serves as the Chief Scientist at Oblong Industries, and we spoke with him recently in connection with the now-on-Blu-ray Minority Report, and he talked extensively about the future of computing, how video games are driving technology forward, what in the hell the game Tempest is all about, and why it's time for the mouse to die. Read on after the break for the full interview.

Continue reading Minority Report UI designer John Underkoffler talks about the future of gestures

JoystiqMinority Report UI designer John Underkoffler talks about the future of gestures originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 May 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>G-SpeakgestureinterfaceJohn-UnderkofflerMinority-Reportoblong-industriesPlayStation-MoveProject-Natalsony-motion-controllerUIFri, 07 May 2010 17:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Josh Sawyer on Fallout: New Vegas]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/interview-josh-sawyer-on-fallout-new-vegas/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/interview-josh-sawyer-on-fallout-new-vegas/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/interview-josh-sawyer-on-fallout-new-vegas/#comments
Imagine going to work on "Van Buren," the original Fallout 3, as a designer for Black Isle Studios, only to see the title canceled due to parent company Interplay's financial problems. Then, imagine Bethesda buying the Fallout 3 license and developing an entirely different game, which goes on to win multiple awards and accolades. Now, imagine you're brought back into the franchise, as a designer for Obsidian Entertainment, to create a sequel to Bethesda's popular title. Preposterous, you say?

Josh Sawyer is the lead designer on Fallout: New Vegas and, after having the rug yanked from under him on the original Fallout 3, he's happy to be working on the latest new Fallout project -- one that will be released later this year. Read on for our conversation with Sawyer.

Joystiq: What's your history with the Fallout franchise?

Josh Sawyer: I worked on what's called "Van Buren," which was the codename when Black Isle started to work on what would have been Fallout 3, and we had worked on it for maybe half a year, and then it was canceled because Interplay had a lot of financial problems.

Continue reading Interview: Josh Sawyer on Fallout: New Vegas

JoystiqInterview: Josh Sawyer on Fallout: New Vegas originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 May 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-Game-StudiosBethesda-Softworksblack-isle-studiosfalloutfallout-3fallout-new-vegasinterplayinterviewjosh-sawyerMicrosoftobsidianobsidian-entertainmentRPGvan-burenXbox-360Wed, 05 May 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Impressions: Hunted: The Demon's Forge]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/hunted-the-demons-forge-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/hunted-the-demons-forge-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/hunted-the-demons-forge-preview/#comments
Clicked: The Full-sized Gallery Bethesda's undoubtedly one of the best developers in the industry; however, as a publisher, it's had its fair share of ups and down. Last year's Wet and Rogue Warrior illustrate both extremes quite well. Earlier this year at GDC, when Bethesda unveiled the clumsily titled Hunted: The Demon's Forge - a new co-op dungeon crawler from inXile Entertainment, Interplay-cofounder Brian Fargo's new digs - we immediately wondered which side of that gulf it would live on. Would it be worthy of the Bethesda name on its packaging, alongside promising shooter Brink, surefire-hit Fallout: New Vegas, and id Software's Rage? Fargo certainly thinks so.

In fact, Fargo is so sure about his new game, that he wasn't afraid to recall the past glory of games like the original Bard's Tale and Wizardry at a recent Bethesda press event, and Fargo had previously introduced the concept, saying "What you're going to see here today is a reimagining of the dungeon crawler, the classic game that got me into this industry." He continued, "It was the Might & Magic series, it was the Ultima series, Dungeon Master from FTL was a bit of a breakthrough product ... that's very much the experience I grew up with." And as action games supplanted the dungeon crawlers, Fargo "felt like the core experience of that good ol' dungeon crawl, getting lost in the dungeon, had sort of fallen away. And it hadn't fallen away because the titles were doing bad. People forgot or something."

While we don't know if they forgot - Demon's Souls, Torchlight, and Diablo 3 say hi! - Fargo's "reimagining" certainly doesn't look like what you imagine when you think dungeon crawl. "The gamer today has a different metaphor for engrossing themselves, which is more the action, Gears of War-type thing," Fargo explains. "So what we need to do is take today's experience and mix those two together but ... we the take you someplace very different, and in the beginning we need to get your attention." Read to to find out where your attention will be going, and to find out if inXile has been successful in grabbing our attention.

Gallery: Hunted: The Demon's Forge (05/04/10)

Continue reading Impressions: Hunted: The Demon's Forge

JoystiqImpressions: Hunted: The Demon's Forge originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 May 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-SoftworksBrian-FargoHunted-The-Demons-ForgeinXile-EntertainmentXboxTue, 04 May 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Obsidian CEO describes Fallout: New Vegas as 'almost' original IP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/obsidian-ceo-describes-fallout-new-vegas-as-almost-original/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/obsidian-ceo-describes-fallout-new-vegas-as-almost-original/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/obsidian-ceo-describes-fallout-new-vegas-as-almost-original/#comments Obsidian Entertainment has worked on a number of games based on existing franchises, including Star Wars, Forgotten Realms and Aliens*. While the studio will release an original IP in Alpha Protocol in just several weeks (through publisher Sega), its following release will be the next installment in the Fallout franchise, Fallout: New Vegas, with publisher Bethesda.

At a recent Bethesda press event, I asked Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart about the studio's decision to take on the next Fallout versus pursuing an original IP. Head past the break for Urquhart's thoughtful response.

*[Editor's note: The Aliens-based game was ultimately canceled.]

Gallery: Fallout: New Vegas (preview)

Continue reading Obsidian CEO describes Fallout: New Vegas as 'almost' original IP

JoystiqObsidian CEO describes Fallout: New Vegas as 'almost' original IP originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-Softworksfalloutfallout-new-vegasFeargus-UrquhartObsidianTue, 04 May 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Brink screenshots arrive (thanks, Eyjafjallajokull!)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/new-brink-screenshots-arrive-thanks-eyjafjallajokull/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/new-brink-screenshots-arrive-thanks-eyjafjallajokull/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/new-brink-screenshots-arrive-thanks-eyjafjallajokull/#comments The recent eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull (pronounced as ... uh ... never mind) may have prevented Splash Damage from properly showing off its latest game at a Bethesda press event, but at least the internet remained functional. We've got some new screenshots of Brink in our gallery below -- just think of it as a collection of "I'm sorry I couldn't be there" cards.

Brink, which promises to embed player customization, first-person shootering and elements of parkour into a futuristic world, is due on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC this fall.

Gallery: Brink (05/04/2010)

JoystiqNew Brink screenshots arrive (thanks, Eyjafjallajokull!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 May 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-SoftworksBrinkFPSMicrosoftscrenshotsSplash-DamageXbox-360Tue, 04 May 2010 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Impressions: RAGE]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/rage-id-game-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/rage-id-game-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/rage-id-game-preview/#comments
RAGE is a gorgeous game. The Xbox 360 version of id's post-apocalyptic shooter, running at 60 frames per second, stunned at a recent Bethesda event, and removed any doubts as to whether the idTech 5 engine would hold up nearly three years after the game's unveiling.

RAGE's story starts in the near future: a giant asteroid is heading towards Earth, and rather than launch a team of wacky oil-rig drillers at the problem, the governments of the world convene and decide to put most of the population into suspended animation and bury them beneath the surface in giant Arks. Years later, you're revived as the sole survivor of your malfunctioning Ark. I watched a hands-off demonstration a bit further along into the game, but there will be a brief tutorial during your revival process.

Gallery: Rage (05/04/10)

Continue reading Impressions: RAGE

JoystiqImpressions: RAGE originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 May 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-SoftworksFPSidMicrosoftRAGEXbox-360Tue, 04 May 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Bethesda's Pete Hines]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/interview-bethesdas-pete-hines/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/interview-bethesdas-pete-hines/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/interview-bethesdas-pete-hines/#comments
Two years ago, our discussions with Bethesda were dominated by Fallout 3. Now, the publisher has four new titles in the pipeline: Fallout: New Vegas, Brink, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, and RAGE. Oh, and it also recently announced plans to dominate the world.

At a press event each of those four upcoming games, we spoke with company vice president Pete Hines about future plans and, of course, Fallout: New Vegas. Read on for the full interview.

Continue reading Interview: Bethesda's Pete Hines

JoystiqInterview: Bethesda's Pete Hines originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-Game-StudiosBethesda-SoftworksBrinkFalloutFallout-3Fallout-New-VegasHuntedhunted-the-demons-forgeinterviewPete-HinesRageRPGTue, 04 May 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Impressions: Fallout New Vegas (update)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/fallout-new-vegas-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/fallout-new-vegas-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/fallout-new-vegas-preview/#comments
 Are we really ready for more Fallout? No mere expansion pack, Fallout: New Vegas is equal in size and scope to Fallout 3 and will require a significant time investment to fully explore. Bethesda has brought in Obsidian to develop the title, and the studio is adding a lot of content (more than double the number of weapons in Fallout 3, for example) and necessary tweaks to the Fallout foundation.

Set three years after Fallout 3, New Vegas stars a mysterious stranger, though not a vault-dweller, who recovers from a bullet to the head and ventures forth to figure out the identity of the shooter. Of course, this journey of discovery is just as much about meting out that particular brand of Fallout justice.

Update: We mention later in this piece that Fallout: New Vegas apparently wouldn't have a fast travel system. We decided to contact Bethesda about that ... since just like you, we don't want to spend all of our gameplay time walking from one town to the next. Here's the response we received: "Fallout: New Vegas will have a fast travel system - just like Fallout 3. The guys were just pointing out that unlike Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas won't have any underground tunnels (the metro) linking the various locations."

Gallery: Fallout: New Vegas (preview)

Continue reading Impressions: Fallout New Vegas (update)

JoystiqImpressions: Fallout New Vegas (update) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 May 2010 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-SoftworksFalloutFallout-New-VegasMicrosoftObsidianXbox-360Tue, 04 May 2010 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Dustin Browder talks StarCraft 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/02/blizzards-dustin-browder-talks-starcraft-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/02/blizzards-dustin-browder-talks-starcraft-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/02/blizzards-dustin-browder-talks-starcraft-2/#comments Dustin Browder isn't just the lead designer on Blizzard's StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty -- he's also in the game! Well, sort of. According to a Blizzard spokesperson, "There are a few examples of Blizzard employees making it into the game. The portrait of the Vulture pilot was based on the likeness of Jason Huck, a level designer. Brian Sousa, a senior 3D artist was the inspiration for the regular Goliath pilot. A running joke amongst the team is that Brian and Dustin look similar enough to be brothers - so the extension of that joke was to make the mercenary goliath pilot (Spartan Company) look like Dustin."

So there you have it. If you want your face in a multimillion dollar game, just get a job working on it. Easy enough, right? We talked to Dustin about StarCraft 2 last year, and this time he gives us more details about the development of this eagerly awaited title, and not just his vanity unit portrait. He discusses multiplayer plans, balancing, Blizzard's hardcore fans, and more, just beyond the break.

Gallery: Starcraft 2 (04/19/2010)

Continue reading Blizzard's Dustin Browder talks StarCraft 2

JoystiqBlizzard's Dustin Browder talks StarCraft 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 May 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardDustin-BrowderstarcraftStarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertySun, 02 May 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 26 - April 30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/jbo-joystiq-box-office-april-26-april-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/jbo-joystiq-box-office-april-26-april-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/jbo-joystiq-box-office-april-26-april-30/#comments

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

Doctor Zhivago (Blu-ray: $35.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)
How do you follow up Lawrence of Arabia? If you're director David Lean, you do it by directing a film based on a contemporary popular novel of the same name, that's set in tumultuous Russia in the days of World War I and through the Russian Civil War. Lean also cast Lawrence's right-hand man Omar Sharif as Doctor Zhivago, and this is easily of one Sharif's best performances. My generation has mostly known him as the guy who gets crushed in the car in Top Secret!, and it's high time that this movie put him back where he belongs as a terrific actor ... and not a guy who hosts video games about bridge. Zhivago is a true epic, and Warner Bros. has done one of its meticulous restorations to this film and put it in Digibook format. The film looks truly gorgeous in high definition, and there are a ton of extras, including an eight song soundtrack sampler. The treatment of this movie, combined with the fact the Warner's just announced it'll be bringing Citizen Kane and Ben-Hur to Blu-ray in 2011, set the bar high for future classic movie releases.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, then chime in below!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 26 - April 30

JoystiqJBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 26 - April 30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>filmjbojoystiq-box-officeMicrosoftmoviesNintendoWiiXbox-360Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Obsidian CEO: Aliens RPG felt like a finished game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/obsidian-ceo-aliens-rpg-felt-like-a-finished-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/obsidian-ceo-aliens-rpg-felt-like-a-finished-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/obsidian-ceo-aliens-rpg-felt-like-a-finished-game/#comments Of the perils one encounters when writing about games, the most painful is arguably following the games that almost were; games that were canceled just shy of release. Some are simply vaporware, announced one day and then were never heard from again, and others are in the spotlight for years, before being banished to a dusty hard drive in a closet somewhere. Duke Nukem Forever will stand ... well, forever as the most prominent example of the latter, but the Obsidian-developed Aliens RPG that Sega canceled could very well hold the second-place trophy.

At a press event last week, we asked Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart some followup questions about the axed title, which he'd previously asked us to do; however, it still hasn't been the required year since we first talked to him, so we're still missing the details as to why the title got the guillotine. But we did learn that the game looked and felt nearly complete before its cancellation. "Oh, if you had come in and played any of the last builds we were working on, you would have said it was a finished game," Urquhart told Joystiq. "That's how close we were. It looked and felt like it was ready to ship."

He went on to explain that you only played as the Colonial Marines in the game (not to be confused with these Colonial Marines), and that missions would have involved tasks like protecting the robot sentry guns that were featured in a deleted scene in Aliens. One of the biggest challenges, Urquhart said, was, "How do you make a 15-foot long Alien turn around at the end of a hallway?" Besides terrifying turn-based hallway combat, there also would have been multiple types of Marines, lots of gear to play with and ... wait. This is just like pouring salt in a freshly reopened wound. Thanks, Feargus!

JoystiqObsidian CEO: Aliens RPG felt like a finished game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AliensAliens-RPGFeargus-UrquhartMicrosoftObsidianSegaXbox-360Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Polaroids from Capcom Fight Club]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/exclusive-polaroids-from-capcom-fight-club/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/exclusive-polaroids-from-capcom-fight-club/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/exclusive-polaroids-from-capcom-fight-club/#comments
"I'll poke out your eyes," Cammy sneered menacingly.
Last Friday, Capcom partnered with i am 8-bit to bring Capcom Fight Club to Los Angeles to support this week's launch of Super Street Fighter IV, and we'll never stop being amazed by the number of people who enjoy dressing up in costume for video game launches. Our amazement usually reaches a fever pitch when there's an eerily accurate Dhalsim in the mix. We're surprised The CW hasn't snapped up the rights for this game to bring us Street Fighter: The High School Years.

Unfortunately - and because people don't universally adhere to the number one rule laid down at PAX - i am 8-bit had a ton of equipment stolen ... including all of their footage from the event. But what did survive was their old school Polaroid camera, and this stack of portraits. Check out the exclusive images in the gallery below while trying to contain your excitement over the wonders of spandex.

Gallery: Capcom Fight Club (04-23-10)

JoystiqExclusive: Polaroids from Capcom Fight Club originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomCapcom-Fight-Clubi-am-8-bitMicrosoftPolaroidStreet-Fightersuper-street-fighter-ivXbox-360Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Chris Metzen talks StarCraft 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/interview-chris-metzen-talks-starcraft-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/interview-chris-metzen-talks-starcraft-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/interview-chris-metzen-talks-starcraft-2/#comments
click to enlarge
Chris Metzen, Blizzard's VP of Creative Development, has a lot of things to keep in his head as the loremaster / worldbuilder / storymaster at Blizzard, and he's been busy utilizing all of those titles on the Terran-heavy StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty and its two planned expansion packs that will focus on the Zerg and Protoss races. Ensconced in an office that overlooks the bustling Blizzard campus, Metzen's office is packed with enough action heroes, statues, and toys to open his own store, which is (for some unknown reason) a requirement in the gaming industry.

We talked with Chris about how Blizzard is spreading this story out, what the expansions packs hold in store, how he feels about offending South Korea, and more. If you're done searing your retinas with the newly released game footage, then jump on by and read the full interview just after the break.

Gallery: Starcraft 2 (04/19/2010)


Continue reading Interview: Chris Metzen talks StarCraft 2

JoystiqInterview: Chris Metzen talks StarCraft 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardChris-MetzeninterviewStarcraftStarcraft-2Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 19 - April 23, plus Joyswag!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/jbo-joystiq-box-office-april-19-april-23-plus-joyswag/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/jbo-joystiq-box-office-april-19-april-23-plus-joyswag/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/jbo-joystiq-box-office-april-19-april-23-plus-joyswag/#comments

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This (Blu-ray: $24.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)
Earlier this week, Cheech & Chong returned to the world. Most appropriately, the date it happened was 4/20. For those of you who might know know, Cheech & Chong invented pot humor. Then they rode the top of that world for 14 years before breaking up in 1985. Then there was no Cheech & Chong. People turned to replacement movie stoners for years, looking for someone to identify with. But now, 25 year after they last appeared together on film, they're back. They reunited for a very successful tour in 2008, and the San Antonio portion of that tour was filmed and turned into this Blu-ray, which is also chock full of special features and skits created just for the film. It's a concert tour with a bonus. You don't have to be a stoner to appreciate some of this, although it probably doesn't hurt. They're touring together again right now, and are reportedly working on a new narrative film, Cheech and Chong's Up In Smoke Part 2. To tide you over until then, we're giving away three Blu-ray copies of Cheech and Chong's Hey Watch This. Head to the bottom of the post to learn how to enter.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, then chime in below!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 19 - April 23, plus Joyswag!

JoystiqJBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 19 - April 23, plus Joyswag! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blu-rayDVDFilmJoyswagMicrosoftMoviesNetflixNintendoWiiXbox-360Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: New StarCraft 2 single-player missions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/hands-on-new-starcraft-2-single-player-missions/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/hands-on-new-starcraft-2-single-player-missions/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/hands-on-new-starcraft-2-single-player-missions/#comments
click to enlarge
Blizzard has been handing out Starcraft 2 beta keys like free lunch, but it's not just for the benefit of starved-craft fans. "Oh, we don't think of this as a demo," Blizzard's Dustin Browder told me during a recent studio visit, "It's a beta test." So-called testers are contributing piles of feedback data, which has led to nine game patches so far, with more surely in the works. "The Archon has been on my chopping block for months," Browder muttered, referring to the powerful Protoss ground unit.

The focus of my recent visit to Blizzard HQ was not to talk beta, however. It was to preview three new single-player missions from StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty. In doing so, I learned more about how the developer is incorporating at least one other race into the Terran-centric game and tried out some new game-altering mechanics and the new tech upgrade process.

Gallery: Starcraft 2 (04/19/2010)

Continue reading Hands-on: New StarCraft 2 single-player missions

JoystiqHands-on: New StarCraft 2 single-player missions originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardhands-onStarcraftstarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertystrategyFri, 23 Apr 2010 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[New StarCraft 2 gameplay footage: This is not a drill ...]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/new-starcraft-2-gameplay-footage-this-is-not-a-drill/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/new-starcraft-2-gameplay-footage-this-is-not-a-drill/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/new-starcraft-2-gameplay-footage-this-is-not-a-drill/#comments It's a Laser Drill! Check out the awesome power of this anti-Zerg Rush weapon, featured in this new footage from the most eagerly awaited "Adults Only" game in South Korea. Don't worry -- it's just StarCraft 2 and the video's totally Safe For Work.

We'll have our hands-on impressions of three new single-player missions posted later today. In the meantime, enjoy the gameplay video above and the new screenshots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Starcraft 2 (04/19/2010)

JoystiqNew StarCraft 2 gameplay footage: This is not a drill ... originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardgameplay-footageStarcraftstarcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyvideoWings-of-LibertyFri, 23 Apr 2010 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Swag Saturday: Reading! [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/swag-saturday-reading/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/swag-saturday-reading/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/swag-saturday-reading/#comments Update: We've closed the comments and will be contacting a winner shortly. Thanks for entering (and keep an eye on your commenter-tied inbox)!

We know you're probably asking yourself, "What the heck is this? I want Joyswag to include something coo! Like a PS3 on fire with zombie monkeys coming out of it! What's with this homework junk?!" Well, hear us out. Every single one of you enjoys playing games, right? We're also hoping that in the grand scheme of things, some of you might actually end up making games one day. This is your first step down that road. We're not just giving you swag, we're giving you knowledge.

To paraphrase the ancient Chinese proverb: "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Give him a slew of books about gaming, make him develop a bestselling game." Plus, in the effort of not being entirely boring, about half of these books are actually fun. Here's what you get on the development side: Real-Time Cameras: A Guide For Game Designers and Developers, Artificial Intelligence for Games, Digital Art Masters Volume IV, and 3D Game Textures: Second Edition (complete with a DVD). On the fun side, you get Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts, The Splended Magic of Penny Arcade: The 11 1/2 Anniversary Edition, and Halo Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe.
  • Leave a comment telling us what you'll do with your newfound knowledge.
  • You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec -- you know why).
  • Limit 1 entry per person per day.
  • This entry period ends at 3:00PM PT on Sunday, April 11.
  • At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one copy of Real-Time Cameras: A Guide For Game Designers and Developers (ARV $59.95), Artificial Intelligence for Games (ARV: $74.95), Digital Art Masters Volume IV (ARV: $39.95), 3D Game Textures: Second Edition (ARV: $49.95), Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts (ARV $60), The Splended Magic of Penny Arcade: The 11 1/2 Anniversary Edition (ARV: $24), and Halo Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe (ARV: $14.99).
  • For a list of complete rules, click here.
What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.

JoystiqSwag Saturday: Reading! [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BookscontestGame-DevelopergiveawayHaloJoyswagLucasartsPenny-ArcadeReading-Is-FundamentalSwag-SaturdaySat, 10 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 5 - April 9]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/jbo-joystiq-box-office-april-5-april-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/jbo-joystiq-box-office-april-5-april-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/jbo-joystiq-box-office-april-5-april-9/#comments

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

The Killer (Blu-ray: $29.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)
This week's recommendation is a bit tongue in cheek, mostly because the video quality isn't the sharpest in the world. Granted, the source material is 21 years old, but I've seen what they can do with movies like The African Queen and The Wizard of Oz on Blu-ray, so why not one of director John Woo's and actor Chow Yun Fat's best films, The Killer? Still, all of that complaining aside, the film does look better than I've ever seen it look on home video format, and it runs circles around the murky theatrical print I saw back when I was in college. While probably not a disc you'll slap in to show off how much Blu-ray rocks, it still looks fantastic, and it's got a completely new interview on the disc with Woo (where's Yun-Fat, though?) that is well worth it. There's also a Q&A session where he talks about The Killer and Hard Boiled. This is being produced by Dragon Dynasty, a joint company venture from the Weinstein brothers and Genius Products, and I'm hoping things improve a bit in the transfer department. Let's get Chow Yun-Fat's God of Gamblers, A Better Tomorrow trilogy, City on Fire, and Treasure Hunt on Blu-ray, stat.
Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, then chime in below!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 5 - April 9

JoystiqJBO: Joystiq Box Office, April 5 - April 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blu-rayDVDFilmsjboJoystiq-Box-OfficeMicrosoftMoviesNetflixNintendoPSNWiiXBLXbox-360zune-video-marketplaceFri, 09 Apr 2010 21:47:00 EST<![CDATA[JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 29 - April 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/jbo-joystiq-box-office-march-29-april-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/jbo-joystiq-box-office-march-29-april-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/jbo-joystiq-box-office-march-29-april-2/#comments

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

 The African Queen (Blu-ray: $39.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)
Can you believe Humphrey Bogart only won one Oscar in his lifetime? It was for this movie. Personally, I think he was robbed from winning it for Casablanca, but The African Queen is a worthy win as well. He really delivers a powerful performance as Charlie Allnut, the rough and tumble boat captain working his boat, the African Queen. But it's Katherine Hepburn who really turns in a tour de force performance as Rose Sayer, a tough as nails missionary in East Africa. Paramount recently completed a massive 4k restoration on this title, and it looks simply amazing on Blu-ray. The standard Blu-ray set gets you the movie, while the slightly more expensive box set comes with a CD of the original radio production of The African Queen (with Bogart) and Hepburn's book The Making of The African Queen or How I Went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind. Seriously good filmmaking and performances against a wonderful story based on C.S. Forester's novel of the same name. Highly recommended. Now someone just put Bogey's The Caine Mutiny on Blu-ray and I'll be happy.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, then chime in below!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 29 - April 2

JoystiqJBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 29 - April 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blu-rayDVDFilmsJBOJoystiq-Box-OfficeMicrosoftMoviesnetflixNintendoWiiXbox-360Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Risk Factions (Classic Mode)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/risk-factions-classic-mode-xbla-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/risk-factions-classic-mode-xbla-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/risk-factions-classic-mode-xbla-preview/#comments Risk: Factions is coming to Xbox Live Arcade this summer, and a version of the classic Risk board game, dubbed Classic Mode, will be included.

The verdict? It's classic Risk, albeit with a couple of key tweaks. Most game-changing is a bonus star feature, which randomly awards players 1-2 "stars" at the end of a turn. Stars can be used to make additional troop movements. Additionally, Classic Mode abandons the card system of the original game. Getting rid of the cards streamlines the game a bit, and so does the option to skip the dice-rolling attacks (and just view the results), but the random star bonuses can lead to one player steamrolling the opponents rather quickly -- as happens to me and another human player in the video above.

Just like in the original game, once a player builds up a powerful army, there's nothing to stop total domination of the game board. But that's always been a part of the game of Risk, and now, through Xbox Live, diehard tabletoppers can test their riskiest maneuvers on a truly worldwide battlefield, say, against an opponent from the Ukraine.

One thing Risk: Factions is sorely lacking, however? Little wooden cubes. Toss in some DLC wooden cubes, and I'll be happy.

Gallery: Risk: Factions (Classic Mode)

JoystiqHands-on: Risk Factions (Classic Mode) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Board-gameEAElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftRiskRisk-FactionsXBLAXbox-360Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Snoopy Flying Ace (XBLA)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/hands-on-snoopy-flying-ace-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/hands-on-snoopy-flying-ace-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/hands-on-snoopy-flying-ace-xbla/#comments
Click to barnstorm into the gallery, and watch out for The Red Baron!
First of all, this is not an April Fool's joke. Remember how passionate the Joystiq team got about Torchlight last year? That's how I'm feeling about Snoopy Flying Ace. There are two reasons for this: 1) the gameplay is a direct descendant of Crimson Skies, right down to the customizable weapons on your planes, and 2) you get to shoot down Lucy Van Pelt. It's payback for all those years of her yanking the football away from Charlie Brown at the last second. Charles Schulz might be spinning in his grave over this game, but points one and two combine into joyous gameplay with the lovable Peanuts gang that you've grown up with.

Joystiq showed off the trailer for this almost two years ago, but now I've finally gotten my hands on the flight stick. Which also means I got to fly around as Snoopy in the seat of his faithful Sopwith Camel -- another childhood dream fulfilled. According to Clark Stacey from developer Smart Bomb Interactive, "It is, we maintain, the most detailed and realistic World War I simulation ever created; capturing every nuance of what it was like to be a dog flying a biplane over the skies of Europe in 1917. Consideration for the Nobel Prize for Literature has been bandied around the game with growing seriousness, and we are in talks concerning a possible film adaptation starring Uma Thurman as Snoopy." That's more of an adult dream, yet to be fulfilled.

Update! Ask and you shall receive, courtesy of Clark at Smart Bomb: "Of COURSE you can fly the doghouse. We have two kill streak bonuses in the game for multiplayer. Shoot down 4 planes in a row and you get the Woodstock bonus: Woodstock appears perched on the back of your plane with a pair of six-guns, shooting anyone behind you. Score 9 unanswered kills in a row, and your plane transforms into Snoopy's doghouse, with the most powerful machine gun in the game. It's pretty cool to see your avatar flying around on it."

Read on to find out why you're going to pick up this XBLA title later this year.

Gallery: Snoopy Flying Ace (XBLA)


Continue reading Hands-on: Snoopy Flying Ace (XBLA)

JoystiqHands-on: Snoopy Flying Ace (XBLA) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MicrosoftPeanutsSmart-Bomb-InteractiveSnoopySnoopy-Flying-AceXBLAXbox-360Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: The Silver Lining (the game Activison doesn't want you to play)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/hands-on-the-silver-lining-the-game-activison-doesnt-want-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/hands-on-the-silver-lining-the-game-activison-doesnt-want-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/hands-on-the-silver-lining-the-game-activison-doesnt-want-you/#comments Here's the real reason Activision doesn't want you to play this fan-made sequel to the legendary King's Quest series: It caught a whiff of money. Rather than working out a deal with with the developer, Activision sent it a cease and desist, even after a deal had been worked out with Vivendi Universal games that would allow the game to be distributed for free (as long as King's Quest was taken out of the title).

But the game does indeed exist. At least, one episode out of a proposed five does, although the developers are no longer actively working on it due to Activision's legal saber-rattling. I played it at PAX on a laptop belonging to one of the developers, and I'm desperately hoping that this will make its way into the wild so you can play it for yourself. If the developers are able to buy the license from Activision, that might actually happen. The Silver Lining might not have the words "King's Quest" in the title, but the heart of that series definitely beats in this game.

Gallery: The Silver Lining

Continue reading Hands-on: The Silver Lining (the game Activison doesn't want you to play)

JoystiqHands-on: The Silver Lining (the game Activison doesn't want you to play) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionKings-QuestPAX-EastPAX-East-2010The-Silver-LiningThu, 01 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live 12 Month Messenger Gold Pack for less gold]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/xbox-live-12-month-messenger-gold-pack-for-less-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/xbox-live-12-month-messenger-gold-pack-for-less-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/xbox-live-12-month-messenger-gold-pack-for-less-gold/#comments Are you late to the Xbox Live game? If you've been delaying the jump to Gold membership (which you can try for free right now), this might be what you've been waiting for. The kit includes a 12-month Xbox Live gold subscription card (retails for $49.99), the Xbox Live Text Messaging Kit that includes the chatpad and a headset (normally $29.99), and Project Gotham Racing 4 (retails for $19.99). Normally all of that would go for about a hundred bucks, but Amazon has the pack for $52.54 with free shipping (it usually lists for $69.99).

It's a great deal if you're needing to jump back in or renew, and you pick up a game and a chatpad in the process. We wish they'd included something sexier than PGR4, especially because you'd have to be nuts to pick that up for $19.99. But at this price, it's practically a freebie.

JoystiqXbox Live 12 Month Messenger Gold Pack for less gold originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GoldGold-MembershipXBLXbox-360Xbox-360-Text-Messaging-KitXbox-LiveXbox-Live-12-Month-Messenger-Gold-PackThu, 01 Apr 2010 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Submerge yourself into Naval Assault: The Killing Tide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/submerge-yourself-into-naval-assault-the-killing-tide/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/submerge-yourself-into-naval-assault-the-killing-tide/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/submerge-yourself-into-naval-assault-the-killing-tide/#comments
click to DIVE into our gallery
You're probably sitting around watching a rerun of The Hunt for Red October on cable right now, wondering aloud, "When are we going to see another decent submarine game?" You're even practicing your Sean Connery accent, which is good because, come this June, you'll have a chance to use it. 505 Games, who recently wowed us with both Backbreaker and Naughty Bear, are releasing Naval Assault: The Killing Tide on June 15 exclusively on the Xbox 360, just in time for a Submarine Summer.

The game is "arcade style" according to the press release, meaning you Silent Hunter fans aren't going to get all the realism you want. Instead you'll have to settle for the historically accurate naval warzones of WWII and " an arsenal of faithfully recreated U.S. Naval submarines." Those subs will be armed with torpedoes and a deck gun, the better to take out enemy subs, ships, and planes. Though there aren't any in the gallery below, this game had better involve some periscopes ... or else.

Gamers can play through the 30 solo missions after they launch from New York, or join three other players online for some multiplayer action.

Gallery: Naval Assault: The Killing Tide (Xbox 360)

JoystiqSubmerge yourself into Naval Assault: The Killing Tide originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>505-gamesBackbreakerNaughty-BearNaval-AssaultNaval-Assault-The-Killing-TideWed, 31 Mar 2010 16:43:00 EST<![CDATA[The Incredibles powering their way into LittleBigPlanet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/the-incredibles-powering-their-way-into-littlebigplanet/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/the-incredibles-powering-their-way-into-littlebigplanet/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/the-incredibles-powering-their-way-into-littlebigplanet/#comments How adorable is this? Just when you thought you might be done Sackboying around, they find a way to suck you right back in. This time it's a Disney/Pixar inspired Incredibles costume and level packs coming on April 8th. According to the PlayStation blog, "This huge pack features NINE costumes: all of The Incredibles family (including a "Retro" Mr. Incredible sporting his classic blue costume), their allies Frozone and Edna Mode, and their arch nemesis, Syndrome."

You'll be able to purchase individual costumes as well, and download the Incredibles Level Kit that includes locations from the movie, and all the materials used to make it. Pixar may not have given us a sequel to The Incredibles yet, but now you can make your own. We can't wait to see what Syndrome looks like. Is Disney going to move their entire universe into LBP some day? Pirates of the Caribbean vs. The Incredibles, here we come. Dibs on Dash.

[Thanks, Conor]

JoystiqThe Incredibles powering their way into LittleBigPlanet originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DisneyDLCLBPLittlebigplanetlittlebigplanet-dlcMedia-MoleculePixarPlatformerSCEASonySony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaTue, 30 Mar 2010 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX (f)East your eyes on the PAX East gallery]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/pax-f-east-your-eyes-on-the-pax-east-gallery/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/pax-f-east-your-eyes-on-the-pax-east-gallery/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/pax-f-east-your-eyes-on-the-pax-east-gallery/#comments Games, attendees, cosplayers, geekextremery, Blueberry MuffinTops, the Joystiq Podcast LIVE!, and more. That's what PAX is all about. There's a lot for your eyeball-spheres here, and we're going to share it with you in case you couldn't make it, or if you just want to relive the memories.

Check out the images in the gallery below, which is still growing. Got your own PAX East action snaps? Send 'em in to us. We enjoy sharing the love.

Gallery: PAX East 2010 Megagallery

JoystiqPAX (f)East your eyes on the PAX East gallery originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>galleryPAXPAX-Eastpax-east-2010Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Red Dead Redemption]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/hands-on-red-dead-redemption/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/hands-on-red-dead-redemption/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/hands-on-red-dead-redemption/#comments I love Westerns: Shane, Stagecoach, The Searchers, Rio Bravo, Unforgiven, Open Range. These are the immersive stories that I've always wanted to play in games. There have been some decent efforts, like Dead Man's Hand, Gun, Call of Juarez, and even Red Dead Revolver, but they all confine the player to narrow paths. What happened to the wide-open Wild West? Enter: Red Dead Redemption.

This is the largest world Rockstar has ever created. Can you quantify that? "It's big," a representative assured me.

Gallery: Red Dead Redemption

Continue reading Hands-on: Red Dead Redemption

JoystiqHands-on: Red Dead Redemption originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Microsoftpax-east-2010red-dead-redemptionrockstarrockstar-san-diegowesternXbox-360Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: The Path of Go developers (XBLA)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/interview-the-path-of-go-developers-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/interview-the-path-of-go-developers-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/interview-the-path-of-go-developers-xbla/#comments
Nothing says intelligent, timeless strategy like Xbox Live Arcade, right? The Path of Go producer Joaquin Quiñonero Candela is determined to stop people from guffawing at that line when his team introduces this ancient Chinese tactical game to the realm of thumbsticks later this year.

Developing Go is a very difficult undertaking, because it has more possible moves than Chess, on the order of 10174. Take that, Deep Blue! Gameplay also involves strange concepts like honor, and a lack of teabagging, which is hard to foist on the gaming community. However, we spent a few moment with the tutorial, and actually learned how Go works for the first time, and promptly had our ass kicked. So they did something right.

We sat down with producer Joaquin and programmer Markus Jost at GDC this year to talk about the game, that the process was like, the innovative "Play By Message" feature, and how it was all born out of herd of sheep and a German Shepherd. Read on for the full interview.

Gallery: The Path of Go (XBLA)

Continue reading Interview: The Path of Go developers (XBLA)

JoystiqInterview: The Path of Go developers (XBLA) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GoiSheepJoaquin-Quionero-CandelaMarkus-JostMicrosoftThe-Path-of-GoXBLAXboxXbox-360Xbox-Live-ArcadeSat, 27 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Inside the mouth of Rooster Teeth]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/inside-the-mouth-of-rooster-teeth/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/inside-the-mouth-of-rooster-teeth/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/inside-the-mouth-of-rooster-teeth/#comments You know Rooster Teeth from Red vs. Blue, but have you ever wanted to check out the interior of their sweet offices? Inconspicuously located above a coffee shop in Austin, Texas, we got a sneak peek at the place where all the magic happens during SXSW. That one shot of all of the different controllers? That's that heart and soul of the show, while the recording studio is a glamorously converted women's restroom. Oh, and for you Achievement Hunter fans out there? That comes to you from underneath the Rock 'em Sock 'em robots.

Rooster Teeth will be showing off some of that magic as they bring a big change to the next season of Red vs. Blue, and we promised to keep our mouths shut after they gave us a sneak peek. But suffice it to say, it's packed with even more awesome hilariousness. Burnie Burns and the Rooster Teeth team toured us around their digs, although they're moving to a new studio soon. They'll be premiering parts of the new episode at PAX East this weekend, after which we can reveal said seekruts.

Gallery: Rooster Teeth

JoystiqInside the mouth of Rooster Teeth originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Achievement-HunterMicrosoftPAX-EastPax-East-2010Red-vs-BlueRooster-TeethSXSW2010Xbox-360Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bring Dungeons and Dragons to your $15,000 game table]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/bring-dungeons-and-dragons-to-your-15-000-game-table/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/bring-dungeons-and-dragons-to-your-15-000-game-table/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/bring-dungeons-and-dragons-to-your-15-000-game-table/#commentsWhat happens when you marry board games and video games? The electrical pixel explosion of that chocolate into peanut butter hasn't been fully realized yet, so besides a handful of Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne and Hasbro Family Game Nights, there's not a heck of a lot going on. However, what happens when you force role-playing games and video games into a shotgun wedding? Pure magic for rich people.

During GDC we took a look at a student project called SurfaceScapes that brings D&D to the Microsoft Surface. It's not just a simple "Ooooh, touch the screen to activate your character sheet!" port of the pen and paper game, but a touch-tastic experience that will blow your mind. Plot a miniature down on the Surface, and it recognizes your character. You can pull up radial menus for actions, spells, and attacks, see your line of sight, move your character, and run the entire game just using your power of touch.

Continue reading Bring Dungeons and Dragons to your $15,000 game table

JoystiqBring Dungeons and Dragons to your $15,000 game table originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DDDungeons-and-DragonsGDC2010RPGSurfaceSurfaceScapesWizards-of-the-CoastSat, 27 Mar 2010 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 22 - March 26]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/jbo-joystiq-box-office-march-22-march-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/jbo-joystiq-box-office-march-22-march-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/jbo-joystiq-box-office-march-22-march-26/#comments

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

We're back! The Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco and South by Southwest in Austin combined to double-whammy JBO out of existence, but it's back with a vengeance this week, even during the midst of PAX East. So read the gaming news, cue up a movie, and let us know what you're watching.

Recommendation of the Week:

Breaking Bad (Blu-ray, Season 1 -- $49.95 and Season 2 -- $39.95, lower at retailers)
Why are you reading this? You should be watching Breaking Bad. Seriously, I can wait until you're back to carry on. The internets will still be here. Back? See what we're talking about? Bryan Cranston is pure genius in this as a man at the end of his rope. He's a low-paid high school science teacher with a disabled son and a pregnant wife. He's working a demeaning second job at a car wash just to make ends meet, and, on top of that, he finds out he has inoperable lung cancer. So what does he do? He decides to start cooking crystal meth so he can leave his family a small fortune. The opening scene of episode one is worth the cost of both sets alone. This is genius basic cable programming from AMC that just started its third season this past week, so catch up on the first two seasons with these Blu-rays that look ultra-sharp with tons of extras.

Read on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, then chime in below!

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 22 - March 26

JoystiqJBO: Joystiq Box Office, March 22 - March 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blu-rayFilmsJBOJoystiq-Box-OfficeMicrosoftMoviesNetflixXBLXbox-360ZuneFri, 26 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Dead Redemption has 'surprising' multiplayer, to be revealed in early April]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/red-dead-redemption-has-surprising-multiplayer-to-be-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/red-dead-redemption-has-surprising-multiplayer-to-be-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/red-dead-redemption-has-surprising-multiplayer-to-be-revealed/#comments We just spent some time getting our filthy hands even filthier inside of Red Dead Redemption, where we actually skinned a horse and instantly felt like we'd killed Trigger. But no-good horse killin' aside, the big news here is that multiplayer is coming to Red Dead Redemption. We don't know how just yet, but a Rockstar representative told us that it would incorporate multiplayer in a "surprising" way. Surprising as in it doesn't totally suck like in GTA IV? Aw, snap. Yeah, we went there. Now we'll have to worry about being skinned.

More details are coming directly from the horse's mouth (sorry, couldn't resist) the week of April 5th, so stay tuned for more details when Rockstar reveals the secrets of what we like to call Red Dead Redemption: Posse Galore.

Gallery: Red Dead Redemption

JoystiqRed Dead Redemption has 'surprising' multiplayer, to be revealed in early April originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MicrosoftMultiplayerpax-eastpax-east-2010Red-DeadRed-Dead-RedemptionRockstarXbox-360Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Datapop 3.0 tunes to soothe your soul]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/datapop-3-0-tunes-to-soothe-your-soul/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/datapop-3-0-tunes-to-soothe-your-soul/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/datapop-3-0-tunes-to-soothe-your-soul/#comments We're in the relative calm before the PAX East storm, and to tide over your insatiable hunger for gaming related news and whimsicalities, we present you with some of the sights and sounds of Datapop 3.0. The chiptunes-based concert played its third iteration at SXSW last week, and included acts like The Mysterious H, Sievert, Nullsleep, IAYD, Hally, Random, Bit Shifter, nordloef, Talk to Animals, Starscream, Henry Homesweet, 8BK-ok, Sabrepulse vs. Saskrotch, Je Deviens DJ en 3 Jours, Anamanaguchi, and Trash80, with eyeball-blasting, pixelicious artwork provided by Jean Y. Kim, Omeros, Paris, and outpt.

You can check out part of Nullsleep's set with visuals by Omeros and Jean Y. Jim in the video above, and then treat your ears to a snippet of Sievert's tunes at the bottom of this post. He actually pumped out a cover of Bit Shifter's famous "Reformat the Planet," but our mouth was on the ground for most of that one. Not only because he rocked it, but because he played the slot before Bit Shifter. That'd be like an opening group rocking out Green Day's "American Idiot" before they took the stage. Ballsy. Treat your ears, and get reading for some PAX-ing.

Gallery: Datapop 3.0




JoystiqDatapop 3.0 tunes to soothe your soul originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bit-ShifterChiptunesDatapopMusicSievertsxsw-2010SXSW2010Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joyswag: win an Astro Gaming A30 headset for your games, music, phonecalls]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/joyswag-win-an-astro-gaming-a30-headset-for-your-games-music/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/joyswag-win-an-astro-gaming-a30-headset-for-your-games-music/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/joyswag-win-an-astro-gaming-a30-headset-for-your-games-music/#comments
How many of you right now are playing games and using your plain-jane television speakers to blast the sound out? With so much focus on high-definition visuals, gamers tend to treat sound as an afterthought. Especially if you have several systems, which means a tangle of spaghetti wires held together with spit and baling wire. Transitioning from your PC over to your PS3? It ain't that easy. Jumping from your Xbox to your iPhone? Ditch your headset, find your earbuds, unplug, plug, repeat.

Thankfully, Astro Gaming realizes that gamers are constantly on the go, and they've just announced the A30 Headset that works with your PC, your console, your mobile phone, your music player, your portable gaming system, and anything else with a headphone jack. It features both a removable boom mic and an in-line microphone with a control button, meaning you can get your frag on with some buddies, then jack into your phone and call your mother. She loves hearing from you.

We're giving away one Astro Gaming A30 Sound System, available in white or black, along with the Astro MixAmp and an optical cable, which you'll need to connect your system to your consoles. The headset includes all of the necessary connectors, the boom mic, the in-line mic, and a carrying case to keep everything organized. And if you're one of those people who geek out about opening gadget packaging, theirs is pure porn.

Follow the instructions below to enter, and crank it up.
  • How many different ways could you use these? Leave a comment telling us what game (including the platform), song, and caller you'd rock with these on your dome.
  • You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec -- it has to do with Pierre Duchesne and he knows why).
  • Limit 1 entry per person per day.
  • This entry period ends at 6PM PT on Friday, March 19.
  • At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive an Astro Gaming A30 Audio System, with the A30 Headset (in black or white) and a MixAmp (ARV: $229.95), along with a TOSLink optical cable. (ARV: $19.95)
  • For a list of complete rules, click here.
What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.


Gallery: Astro Gaming A30 Headset

JoystiqJoyswag: win an Astro Gaming A30 headset for your games, music, phonecalls originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A30Astro-GamingAstro-Gaming-A30contest winnerContestWinnerHeadsetBluetoothJoyswagMicrosoftXbox-360Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Developer Tom Soderlund explains the frights of Ghostwire]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/developer-tom-soderlund-explains-the-frights-of-ghostwire/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/developer-tom-soderlund-explains-the-frights-of-ghostwire/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/developer-tom-soderlund-explains-the-frights-of-ghostwire/#comments Bumps in the night. Unexplained sounds. A chill up your spine. Extreme terror. These things aren't associated with the Nintendo DSi, unless you unexpectedly leave yours behind in a taxi. But A Different Game CEO Tom Soderlund wants to bring all of that augmented paranormal activity to your DSi with Ghostwire and turn you into a ghostbuster (minus the proton packs). Now you're armed with a stylus and the power of Nintendo.

Originally conceived four years ago for Symbian-powered smartphones, the idea is to turn your handheld into a tool for communicating with the paranormal world. The built-in camera, sound meters, light meters are all a part of the experience, providing a combination of real-world and computer-generated data. Soderlund's team built an adventure game around it -- you talk to ghosts, find out what's troubling them, and either capture them or attempt to ease their pain.

Continue reading Developer Tom Soderlund explains the frights of Ghostwire

JoystiqDeveloper Tom Soderlund explains the frights of Ghostwire originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A Different Gamea-different-gameADifferentGameaugmented-realityDSdsiGDC-2010ghostwiremajescoNintendoTue, 16 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ghostwire might haunt iPhone, Android]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/ghostwire-to-haunt-iphone-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/ghostwire-to-haunt-iphone-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/ghostwire-to-haunt-iphone-android/#comments Ghostwire lead developer Tom Soderlund told us at GDC that his upcoming DSi-exclusive Nintendo DS game might be coming to Apple's iPhone and Google's Android. The DSi version, published by Majesco, is set to come out near Halloween this year, and it's possible that other flavors might join it at that time.

"With the DSi we have location to some extent using the wifi chip, because we can kind of recognize when the user is in a new location, or where they are somewhere they've been before." Soderlund said, "But, we're thinking of taking to the iPhone or the Android which have more emphasis on location-based gameplay.

We hope Elvis' grave is first on the list.

JoystiqGhostwire might haunt iPhone, Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidAppleDSGDC-2010GhostsGhostwireGoogleHalloweeniPhoneiPodNintendoTue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SXSW: Creating 87 bazillion guns for Borderlands]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/sxsw-creating-87-bazillion-guns-for-borderlands/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/sxsw-creating-87-bazillion-guns-for-borderlands/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/sxsw-creating-87-bazillion-guns-for-borderlands/#comments Fact: there are 16,164,886 guns in Borderlands according to Gearbox Software developers Matthew Armstrong and Jimmy Sieben. That's a lot of guns. Remember that scene in The Matrix where Neo says "Guns. Lots and lots of guns."? It's a lot more than that. That's also the number of guns before the DLC, which has inflated it even further. So how do you have someone design each one of those firearms and build out the specs? Even if you only paid 25 cents per gun, that would still chew into your development budget to the tune of over four million dollars. So what do you do, hotshot?

Easy! You make a system that does it all for you. In an SXSW panel, Sieben and Armstrong spoke about the systemic development tool named Gearbuilder that they developed, going into detail about how they created the system to handle the creation of that many customized guns. It generates the guns based on one of 12 different manufacturers, giving each one a different grip, body, cylinder, barrel and accessories. Based on those, that same system determines how much damage the gun will deal. But what's surprising is, as impressive a figure as 16 million is, it's still only one gun. Shoot on through the break for more.

Continue reading SXSW: Creating 87 bazillion guns for Borderlands

JoystiqSXSW: Creating 87 bazillion guns for Borderlands originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aliens-Colonial-MarinesBorderlandsgearbox-softwareJimmy-Siebenmatthew-armstrongMicrosoftsxsw-2010Sxsw2010weaponsXbox-360Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/13/interview-naughty-dog-co-president-evan-wells/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/13/interview-naughty-dog-co-president-evan-wells/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/13/interview-naughty-dog-co-president-evan-wells/#comments Evan Wells doesn't look like he's old enough to be co-president of Naughty Dog, does he? Even after shepherding Uncharted 2 through development, which has picked up just about every award on the planet, he still maintains his youthful vim and vigor. While we don't know what his eternal youth secret is, he did give us the inside scoop on the workings at Naughty Dog when we spoke with him at GDC.

Besides letting us know about their new studio and the hectic days just before shipping Uncharted 2, he also talks PlayStation Move development, Jak and Daxter plans (he wants to see one on the PS3), and expanding Uncharted to the PSP. Pause your game and head on through the break for the full interview.

Gallery: Naughty Dog Studios

Continue reading Interview: Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells

JoystiqInterview: Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Evan-WellsGDC-2010interviewJak-and-DaxterJak-and-Daxter-The-Lost-FrontierNaughty-DogSonyUnchartedUncharted-2Uncharted-2-Among-ThievesSat, 13 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST