Joystiq

Activision promotes ratings, educational properties of games

by JC Fletcher { 4 days ago }

While the overwhelming majority of Activision's marketing force is being put to use selling Modern Warfare 2, one component of the company is hard at work not selling it -- to kids. Activision is working with Dr. Cheryl Olson, co-director for the Center for Mental Health and Media at Massachusetts General Hospital (and co-author of Grand Theft Childhood), on a campaign to help parents understand ESRB ratings, called "Ratings are not a Game." The first video deals with the obvious topic of "How Can I Tell If A Game Is Appropriate For My Child And How Do I Set Play Limits."

In the second video, Olson discusses the skills and information learned from games, even those of the non-educational variety. Even if the video is sponsored content produced by Activision (and therefore isn't exactly unbiased), it's still novel to hear a reasonably positive message about games' effects on kids.

Pre-order LittleBigPlanet PSP for a tank costume

by JC Fletcher { 4 days ago }

Ready to start collecting Sackboy costumes all over again? Pre-ordering LittleBigPlanet for PSP at GameStop seems to be a good way to get a headstart on building a respectable LittleBigCloset. The retailer is offering a series of six outfits based on popular PlayStation franchises, including two each from Uncharted 2, MotorStorm and Killzone 2. The costumes will be e-mailed with online orders or handed out on cards with in-store purchases.

One of the Killzone costumes is the tank revealed recently by LittleBigWorkshop. Hopefully, it'll be accessible for non-GameStop buyers, because we'd be heartbroken if every LBP player didn't get to run around in a lil' tank.

[Thanks, Kevin!]

Scratch: The Ultimate DJ deck ain't no half-steppin'

by James Ransom-Wiley { 4 days ago }

"These aren't some made up tricks," scoffs our friendly narrator. "They're authentic scratches heard every night in the hottest clubs in the world." But authenticity -- the act of keeping it real -- doesn't end there for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ's Numark-designed peripheral, the Scratch Deck. Check these street credentials:

"the first legitimate DJ controller for video gamers" (oh snap!)
"Numark have been at the forefront of turntable production since the 1970s" (before you were even born, son!)
"utilizes technology that locks your scratches in the sweet spot of any sample" (bust that scientifical)
"build skills that will transfer over to any DJ setup" (who said anything about mad skillz?)
"you need beats" (just sayin')
"Dr. Dre, Just Blaze and Pete Rock" ( ... just sayin')

"The controller," authenticates Mix Master Mike, "very authentic." With that our narrator concludes, "So, now you're up on everything related to Scratch: The Ultimate DJ." But wait, isn't there, like, a video game somehow related to this peripheral? What up with that?

Update: So what's up with the game? "The game is coming along quite nicely under the direction of the Commotion Interactive team, and we will be releasing some new assets in a few weeks," a Scratch spokesperson tells Joystiq. And adds, "As of now, the release date is still spring 2010."

Gallery: Battle of the best turntable: DJ Hero vs Scratch: The Ultimate DJ

Modern Warfare 2 is GameStop's most pre-ordered game ever

by Justin McElroy { 4 days ago }

Some may have been up in arms about arguably disturbing material and unarguably juvenile advertising in and for Modern Warfare 2, but it doesn't seem to be showing any signs of stifling anticipation for the game. In fact, GameStop told Game Hunters that Infinity Ward's baby is the most pre-ordered title in the company's history. Like ... ever. GameStop VP Tony Bartel told the site, "As of today, the number of pre-order reservations we've taken for the game is the highest for any title we've ever sold in our 6,200 store network."

So feel free to grouse all you want, but unless Activision replaces the FPS gameplay with first-person putting puppies into a wood chipper and renames it Osama bin Laden Pushes Jesus Christ Down a Flight of Stairs Made of Baby Skulls, we're not sure there's any amount of controversy that's going to slow Modern Warfare 2 down.

Warren Spector envisions two more Disney Epic Mickey games

by Ben Gilbert { 4 days ago }

In the ongoing media blitz that Disney Epic Mickey (yes, it's really still named that) has been receiving over the past few weeks, the game's creative head Warren Spector has been decidedly candid. First, he spoke about the difference between the game's concept art and in-game graphics, then he discussed its roots on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and just this week, in a talk with 1UP, he confirmed his hope that the game would spawn two more adventures.

One hitch – those games have yet to be approved by his new overlords at Disney. "In my head, I've got two more planned ... those games have not approved and who knows if we'll ever see them," he said. "I had three games planned for Deus Ex and you see where that got me." As far as other titles that Spector's Junction Point Studios were working on before being acquired over two years ago, Spector confirmed that Disney has officially dropped the lot of them. Wait, even Ninja Gold?! Yes, even Ninja Gold.

Gallery: Disney Epic Mickey

Review: Dragon Age: Origins

by Randy Nelson { 4 days ago }

Hearing the term "RPG" more than likely brings games such as Tales of Vesperia, Persona or, for some of you, Fallout 3 to mind. Not since the earliest days of this current console generation and a little game called The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion have we seen a fantasy role-playing game of this caliber rooted in swords and sorcery you'd find in The Lord of the Rings, Dungeons & Dragons or even World of Warcraft.

The long wait for a true successor to the fantasy throne ends today with the arrival of Dragon Age: Origins. The latest title from Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic developer BioWare is a testament to the company's mastery of the art of building the worlds, characters and stories that constitute a "classic" -- and that's exactly what this excellent experience is.

Gallery: Dragon Age: Origins

Continued →

Thor and Captain America games due in 2011

by Justin McElroy { 4 days ago }

It wasn't clear when Sega would be bringing its previously announced Thor and Captain America games to market, though we assumed they'd arrive alongside the films starring the iconic characters. Marvel has confirmed our suspicions in an earnings report this morning, saying that Thor and Cap will come to consoles in May and July of 2011 respectively, the same points they're set to appear on the big screen.

Since we know practically nothing about these games, we decided that, in true internet fashion, this would be the absolute best time to pick which one is better. Excelsior!

First Halo Waypoint programming revealed

by JC Fletcher { 4 days ago }

Even if you're not in the Halo Waypoint preview, you can get an early look at what's going to be available when it launches for real on Thursday, November 5, thanks to a weekly schedule we received from 343 Industries. By Thursday's launch, you'll already be able to watch a "Spotlight on Louis Wu" and a "Halo in Five Minutes" presentation, as well as page through some Firefight screens from the community.

Other content up this week: "Welcome to Waypoint," which serves as an introduction and overview to the service, some Firefight strategy from Prima, and, on Saturday, a full episode of Halo Legends called "The Babysitter." See the full schedule after the break.

Gallery: Halo Waypoint

Continued →

A megamix of minimalist game remakes

by JC Fletcher { 4 days ago }

For the opening of last weekend's GameCity Squared event, design group Alaskan Military School took a bunch of popular games and boiled them down to the bare essence, creating shockingly recognizable 15-pixel animations representing Parappa the Rapper, Street Fighter II, Noby Noby Boy, and more.

This is the most abstract we've ever seen many of these games, but even without the audio, it would be easy to identify the sub-Meggy Jr. interpretations of our favorites. Although we were briefly confused by what we thought was supposed to be Gitaroo-Man -- until we realized it was Gitaroo-Man's "Legendary Theme" being played in Guitar Hero.

Now we can only hope that someone runs with the idea and delivers some playable versions of these games. HD is played out -- we're ready for Sub-Standard Definition.

Continued →

Assassin's Creed 2 pre-orders up 10 to 20% over original

by Randy Nelson { 4 days ago }

Judging by one analyst's estimation, Assassin's Creed 2 is set to escape from store shelves faster than its protagonist can outrun his pursuers. According to Mike Hickey of Janco Partners, pre-orders for the game are running 10 to 20 percent more than those of the original Assassin's Creed, which, as the firm pointed out to Gamasutra, greatly exceeded its initial sales forecast of 3 million units. (It sold 8 million.)

In other words, it looks like Ubisoft's going to make a killing off an assassin.

WoW 'rejected' in China, government at odds with itself over decision

by Randy Nelson { 4 days ago }

China's General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) has ordered NetEase, which has been operating World of Warcraft in the region since September, to cease collecting subscription payments and signing up new players for the game immediately, calling these acts "illegal behavior." According to a report by the site JLM Pacific Epoch, the GAPP (most recently in the news for outlawing foreign investment in Chinese online gaming) has suspended its review of the game and returned NetEase's application to operate it in the country.

For its part, NetEase claims it has yet to receive any sort of official decree from GAPP. At the same time, an official from China's Ministry of Culture is said to have stated that GAPP's actions are "not appropriate." The situation now becomes one of which agency has final say, and if it's simply "shut it down," why.

We're pretty sure this isn't the kind of Cataclysm Chinese WoW fans were hoping for.

[Via WoW.com]

Source -- GAPP Halts WoW Review
Source -- GAPP Says No for the Operation of WoW in China
Source -- NeatEase statement regarding announcement by GAPP

Doom Classic released for iPhone and iPod Touch

by Randy Nelson { 4 days ago }

How many versions of id Software's seminal FPS, Doom, can you possibly buy? At least one more. The developer has released Doom Classic for iPhone and iPod Touch, not to be confused with Doom: Resurrection, the ~~tech demo~~ rail-based shooter released earlier this year.

The title is going for $6.99 [app store link] and includes four episodes: "Knee-deep in the Dead," "Shores of Hell," "Inferno" and "Thy Flesh Consumed." It offers multiple control configurations, at least one of which we've gotten fairly proficient with after an embarrassingly long and death-filled adjustment period. We haven't tried out the four-player local Wifi deathmatch yet, but as for internet play? Based on John Carmack's comments, we'd expect to find that washed up on the shores of Hell.

Nielsen and EEDAR join forces to provide 'unprecedented' game tracking data

by Alexander Sliwinski { 4 days ago }

Stat-tracking firms The Nielsen Company and Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) are teaming up to deliver "unprecedented insight into the video games industry." Nielsen's data, which has brought plenty of controversy on its own, will be integrated into EEDAR's GamePulse subscription service. Nielsen gathers its data from 1,200 "active gamers" through a weekly survey, while EEDAR data mines and organizes using various categories.

The data will be combined beginning in March of 2010 and be available to both Nielsen Video Game Tracking and EEDAR subscribers. This may not mean much to the average gamer, but to stat-obsessed executives and folks in marketing departments, this is like licking triple-chocolate ice cream covered in bacon and honey.

Endless Racing Game demo is on the right track

by Griffin McElroy { 4 days ago }

A Dutch auto insurance company called VrijVerzekerd recently thought outside the box of flatulence simulators and gem-swapping puzzle games to come up with a truly brilliant iPhone offering. Titled Endless Racing Game (clever!), the application allows two or more users to sync their iPhones up via Bluetooth, then watch as a car drives between their mobile devices as they generate a continuous racing course.

If that explanation made little to no sense to you, check out the video demo after the jump. It's such a neat concept -- unfortunately, we don't think the iPhone has the install base needed to support that kind of multiplayer experience. Seriously, nobody has those things.

Continued →

Tim Schafer presents: Brutal Legend Multiplayer Deathmatch

by David Hinkle { 4 days ago }

Furthering his efforts to let you know there's some multiplayer beyond the single-player campaign of Brütal Legend, Double Fine's doubly fine gent, Tim Schafer, has passed along the above video. Now, it may initially seem like an episode of The Jerry Springer Show (standing against a brick wall backdrop will do that!) but, through and through, the near eight minutes of footage provides insight into the multiplayer it's-not-an-RTS mode by holding viewers' hands through an entire play session.

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