Joystiq

Nokia announces the death of the N-Gage

by David Hinkle { 7 days ago }

This is going to come as a huge shock to you, but Nokia has announced that it's no longer supporting the N-Gage platform. It's just -- we never expected something like this to happen, to tell you the truth. For all intents and purposes, it seemed like the N-Gage would be around forever, a platform thriving in the portable space like no device has before it. Look at the iPhone, the DS, the PSP and even the fallen Gizmondo and it's quite apparent the N-Gage has always been the platform to beat.

Even though Nokia will halt all support for the N-Gage, it's still going to roll up all of its games into the Ovi Store, where N-Gage users will be able to access the content until September 2010. Just, uh, don't expect any new games over the next year, as Nokia will not be publishing anything for the device from here on out and any games that use community features will have those features disabled come September 2010. Anything you purchased is yours to keep, of course.

Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to pour one out for the bounty of amazing games that we'll no longer get to play.

[Via Engadget]

Iwata: DSi XL is a spectator system

by JC Fletcher { 7 days ago }

The DSi LL (or XL) isn't just for the poorly sighted or hugely handed. In his financial results briefing, Satoru Iwata revealed another purpose for the jumbo system: playing with crowds. "Nintendo DSi LL features not only bigger monitor screens," Iwata said, "but an improved view angle on the screens to make it the first portable system that can be enjoyed with people surrounding the gamer."

He envisions the DSi XL as allowing for a "new play style where those who are surrounding the game player can also join in one way or the other to the game play." Tomodachi Collection, one of the best-selling DS games of the quarter in Japan, is named specifically as a game that already benefits from having friends nearby. "Because communications and interactions with other family members and your friends are one of the key elements of the game, the fun aspect is intensified when other people can watch how you play in comparison with when you are playing by yourself."

As a bonus, your friends can help you hold the system up.

Whipping out a new Lego Indiana Jones 2 trailer

by Richard Mitchell { 7 days ago }

LucasArts has released a new trailer for LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues. Fans of Raiders of the Lost Ark -- everyone, basically -- are in for a treat, as the trailer reenacts the film's bar fight in Nepal, including some hot Nazi hand-burning action. Of course, as we've come to expect from the LEGO series, the action doesn't unfold quite like it does in the movie, opting instead for charming shtick.

Let's just hope the game doesn't nuke the fridge.

Joystiq is undecided about Wal-Mart's Modern Warfare 2 ad

by Richard Mitchell { 7 days ago }

We just can't quite figure out what to make of Wal-Mart's new Modern Warfare 2 ad. Sure, it's kind of funny, featuring two dudes ragging on one another. It gets across the idea that people can buy the game at Wal-Mart really fast, continuing the store's "fastest way to play" campaign. It does not, however, help us decide if Modern Warfare 2 is something we want to play. Granted, the readers and staff of Joystiq already know the answer to that particular quandary.

The company ran similar ads for Madden 09 and Madden 10, which certainly don't need in depth advertising to get people excited. Has Call of Duty reached Madden levels of recognition? Is the name the only marketing it needs at this point? Apparently, Wal-Mart thinks so. See the ad after the break.

[Via Destructoid]

Continued →

COD4 on the cheap on Steam this weekend

by Richard Mitchell { 7 days ago }

Just in time to wring a few more sales out of Call of Duty 4 before Modern Warfare 2 hits the market, Steam is marking the game down to $23.99 through Monday. We're told that's a 40-percent savings, which we're also told is rather considerable. What we know, however, is that Call of Duty 4 is an excellent electronic game cartridge, and it's easily worth the scratch. And seriously, at this point, there are approximately only twelve people that haven't played it.

So, we'd just like to congratulate Steam in advance for the $287.88 it will rake in this weekend.

Joystiq Podcast 115 - Terrifically spookier edition

by Justin McElroy { 7 days ago }

After weeks of separation and bad connections, the three regulars are together once again. We, of course, decided to mark the occasion by talking about our favorite hobbies, beloved candy bars and the swine flu.

Video games are also (briefly) mentioned, but -- whenever possible -- only in the context of our other three topics. It's a great episode. We're also giving away a copy of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 and a secret bonus game. Thanks to our horrifyingly talented photoshopper Alan Black.

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Hosts: Christopher Grant (@chrisgrant), Justin McElroy (@justinmcelroy) and Ludwig Kietzmann (@LudwigK)

Music: "Gravity (Don't Let Me Go)" by Jon Black, "Red Eye" by Ben Kweller

For fans: Joystiq Podcast Facebook group

The Do It Line!: 1-(877)-JOYSTIQ

See all of this week's links (and what games we played) after the jump.

Continued →

Just Cause 2 trailer has fun with the grappling hook

by David Hinkle { 7 days ago }

In this new trailer for Just Cause 2, you can see a helicopter tow a speed boat into a factory. How badass is that? You can also see protagonist Rico Rodriguez attach an unsuspecting individual to an airbound plane as it's taking off. It's this kind of inventive grappling that really gives the game a flavor all its own and makes this latest trailer necessary viewing for any self-respecting Joystiq reader.

Gallery: Just Cause 2 (10.30.09)

Vote: May the best pumpkin win [update]

by James Ransom-Wiley { 7 days ago }


Finalist #1	Finalist #2	Finalist #3	Finalist #4	Finalist #5

Finalist #6	Finalist #7	Finalist #8	Finalist #9	Finalist #10

Update: And the winner is ...

First, thank you to everyone who submitted a pumpkin carving for this year's contest -- you rock! Brilliant work. Now, after making many difficult cuts, the Joystiq staff has narrowed down the entries to the ten finalists you see above.

(Note: Each thumbnail is linked to a larger image and description of the finalist posted after the break; when clicked, these larger images link to the even larger, full-size versions in our gallery.)

Since we couldn't possibly decide on our own, please help us to select this year's winner:

The finalist with the most votes after a 24-hour period will be selected to win our grand prize. The finalist with the second-most votes will take first prize. Thanks for voting!

Continued →

Team Fortress 2 Pumpkin Patch update now live

by Griffin McElroy { 7 days ago }

In our hurry to tell you about yesterday's two-hour-long Team Fortress 2 fire sale, we didn't really give you all the in-depth info about the accompanying Pumpkin Patch update which you so richly deserve. We'll rectify that now, but not before saying that a few short hours after the announcement was posted yesterday afternoon, the update went live! You can play it right now -- on PC, of course. Oh, you thought it might come to the 360? That's adorable.

The update will temporarily introduce a King of the Hill map called "Harvest" into the mix, complete with Halloween-themed elements like collectible candy, exploding pumpkins, and the ghost of Zepheniah Mann, who temporarily freezes passersby in a gripping, powerful spell of fear. Five Achivements are available during the festivities, as well as a number of "Mildly Disturbing Halloween Hats," or paper bags with scary faces painted on them. If you're lucky, you might just get the one emblazoned with Joan Rivers' visage. Aaaaah!

Guitar Hero 5: November DLC

by Griffin McElroy { 7 days ago }

Sure, November may lack the phonetic building blocks which allow the word "Rock" to be tucked in there somehow, but that doesn't mean it won't bring any hard-rockin' jams to Guitar Hero 5. We've got the full list of DLC that's coming to the game next month posted after the jump, including selections from Lenny Kravitz, Metallica, KISS and others. One bundle, the "Neversoft Thanks the Fans Track Pack," will be absolutely free. The other packs, will follow the 160

($2, 200 Wii Points) per song, 440

($5.50, 550 Wii Points) per three-song pack pricing structure of last month's releases.

In addition, on Nov. 5, players will be able to import 61 of Band Hero's tracks into Guitar Hero 5 for 400

($5, 500 Wii Points), or 69 of Guitar Hero 5's tracks into Band Hero for 480

($6, 600 Wii Points). Hooray for sharing!

Continued →

Uncharted 2 getting title update, Halloween festivities

by Griffin McElroy { 7 days ago }

Okay, so our initial observation that Uncharted 2 would soon receive skeletal Helghast was a bit far from the truth. Naughty Dog's Arne Meyer recently announced on Playstation.Blog that the half-tucked title would receive an update which addresses a number of multiplayer issues today. On top of that, anyone who plays the game online during this Halloween weekend will receive a treat infinitely more sweet than a fistful of Necco Wafers: Loads and loads of (in-game) cash money.

Yes, the next few days will be a "Double Cash Weekend" for Uncharted 2 multiplayer matches. As you can probably suss out from the title, you'll earn double the rank-progressing moolah you would normally gain for playing the various online playlists. In addition, a bunch of Naughty Dog staffers will be playing this weekend -- presumably appearing as the crimson-eyed, skinless abominations seen above. We appreciate the work these folks have done, but following our strict undead infestation protocols, they must be purged.

Dev: 'A Crack in Time will probably be Insomniac's last 60fps game'

by Andrew Yoon { 7 days ago }

"We want to give you guys, our fans and players, the best looking games you can buy on a console," Insomniac developer Mike Acton wrote on his company's blog. There's certainly no doubt that the team's latest release, A Crack in Time, is a very good looking game. But how much better could it have looked if Insomniac was willing to sacrifice its 60fps rate?

Consoles only offer a finite amount of resources, and developers utilize various tricks to get the results they want. For example, Bungie noted that a drop in vertical resolution in Halo 3 offered them increased bandwidth for improved lighting effects. Dropping the framerate would allow Insomniac -- and other developers -- to increase the amount of detail in each frame, something the studio is seriously considering. "There is virtually no advantage in sales or reviews of a 60 fps game versus a 30 fps game," Acton notes.

In fact, in some cases, a lowered framerate actually makes a game look better, Acton explains. "A drop in framerate is interestingly seen by some players as a reward for creating or forcing a complex setup in which a lot of things must happen on the screen at once." We nickname that phenomenon the "Otogi 2 effect." With all of these aspects considered, it seems the studio will no longer focus on locking a 60 fps rate. "It means that framerate is still important to us here at Insomniac, but it's not on the same pedestal it was before. And that Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time will probably be Insomniac's last 60fps game."

[Thanks, Marius!]

Reminder: Champions Online is free to play this weekend

by Griffin McElroy { 7 days ago }

We know you guys have the memory of a ... well, whatever the polar opposite of an elephant is in regards to memory. (A fruit fly?) So, we thought we'd remind you that Cryptic's made its superheroic MMO Champions Online free to play this Halloween weekend in an attempt to promote the game's spooky pseudo-expansion, Blood Moon.

You can download it for free at 1PM EST today, then play it to your heart's content -- or November 2. You know, whichever comes first.

[Via Big Download]

Reuters: RE5 sold 1.94M in US; Dead Space 2 in development for 2010

by David Hinkle { 7 days ago }

In a story about the scarier games (it's almost Halloween, don'tchaknow?), Reuters mentioned two things we thought would be good for this website we got going here. First, there's Capcom's Resident Evil 5, which Reuters reports has managed to sell 1.94 million copies in the US, according to NPD Group figures.

The second part of the Reuters story talks about EA and its spookier titles for 2009: Left 4 Dead 2 and Dead Space: Extraction. While there isn't anything new on the former, in a discussion of the latter, Reuters revealed that Dead Space 2 is apparently planned for a 2010 release, which would seem to confirm what we've heard about the game so far.

Professor Layton and the Million-Selling Sequel

by JC Fletcher { 7 days ago }

It would appear that Nintendo made the right decision in finally getting around to releasing Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box worldwide, as the company was able to trade that box for one filled with cash money. The company released a supplement to its earnings report, listing the million-selling first-party Wii and DS games of its Q3 (April-September), and Diabolical Box made the list with 1.26 million units sold. The entirety of that 1.26 million comes from outside of Japan, since it wasn't a first-party game in Japan, and it was released in 2007.

The other new additions to the million-seller club on DS: Tomodachi Collection, the Mii communication game, and Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, which mysteriously managed to rack up 10,000 overseas sales despite not having been released outside of Japan. Is Nintendo tracking import retailers differently somehow?

On Wii, Wii Sports Resort has reached 6.97 million units worldwide, and Wii Fit Plus has already sold 2.13 million, a nice complement to the 4.28 million that the first Wii Fit sold in the last quarter.