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Killzone: Mercenary deployment moved up to September 10, pre-order goods revealed


Killzone: Mercenary, the upcoming PS Vita installment in Sony's shooter series from Guerrilla Cambridge, has had its release bumped up a week. Previously pegged for a September 17 launch in North America, Killzone: Mercenary is now due on September 10.

In addition to moving up the date, Sony has revealed some pre-order incentives for Killzone: Mercenary over on the PlayStation Blog. The first perk is a 48-hour double XP boost, which spans all in-game contracts, bonuses and payouts. Joining that is additional in-game cash at the outset and a pre-order exclusive machine gun, the M224-A1.

FIFA 14 not coming to Wii U due to poor FIFA 13 sales

With this morning's revelation that EA does not have any Wii U games in development comes the outright confirmation that FIFA 14 will not be appearing on the system as well.

"Although FIFA 13 on Wii U featured our award-winning HD gameplay and innovative new ways to play, the commercial results were disappointing," an EA representative told Joystiq. "We have decided not to develop FIFA 14 on Wii U. We have a strong partnership with Nintendo and will continue to evaluate opportunities for developing FIFA for Nintendo fans in the future."

The game was initially announced for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3, so while Wii U was never in the picture for the game, it still marks a noticeable absence for a series that launches on every major platform each year. It's not the only EA Sports title to avoid the system, as EA confirmed earlier this month that the Madden series will not see a release in 2013 on Wii U either.

Trion hit with another round of layoffs [Updated]

Trion reportedly undergoing 'massive' layoffs
IGN is reporting "massive" layoffs at Trion. Though the website doesn't cite any sources, it suggests that "well over half the company has been let go," and it also says that those affected may include as much as 80% of the company. An undisclosed IGN source says that "employees are being escorted out of the building and that senior leaders from various Trion teams may not receive severance due to 'undelivered services.'" [These claims have since been rebutted by a Trion Worlds representative, who told Massively directly that while there were indeed layoffs, the 80% number originally suggested by IGN was "grossly exaggerated." She further clarified that no one was escorted out of the building or denied severance as IGN's unnamed source alleged. Additionally, developers emphasized during today's official stream that the RIFT team is not affected by the layoffs.]

Trion recently announced a free-to-play offering for its RIFT MMORPG. It also launched Defiance earlier this year and partnered with Korea's XLGAMES to bring the company's ArcheAge sandbox MMO to western audiences.

Trion also provided the following official statement.
To best position Trion in a rapidly changing industry, we have reorganized our teams and are expanding our free to play offering. With Defiance, we delivered a great game that more than one million gamers registered to play and continue to enjoy. As we progress from launch to ongoing development of the game, we are adjusting our staffing levels to deliver new content and improved features. RIFT, and our other titles in development, were unaffected by these changes. We are very much looking forward to the free to play release of RIFT and are excited by the other new titles currently in development.
[Thank you to everyone who helped us develop this story.]

Four Lulzsec hackers convicted in Britain

Confirmed Lulzsec members Ryan Cleary, Jake Davis, Mustafa al-Bassam and Ryan Ackroyd have been sentenced for their part in the great hack of 2011, which saw Lulzsec targeting notable companies such as Sony, EA and Nintendo.

The four were initially charged nearly a year ago. Davis, as leader, was sentenced with two years jailtime, while Cleary was sentenced to 32 months for producing malicious software, Ackroyd for 30 months for his role as press secretary of the group and Al Bassam, who posted the stolen data online, was given a 20-month suspended sentence.

"The harm they caused was foreseeable, extensive and intended," Andrew Hadik, lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service told BBC. "Indeed, they boasted of how clever they were with a complete disregard for the impact their actions had on real people's lives. This case should serve as a warning to other cybercriminals that they are not invincible."

Lulzsec carried out many high-profile hacks in 2011, starting with the Sony Pictures hack that eventually led to a lengthy PSN outage. Lulzsec also attacked Nintendo, EVE Online, Minecraft, The Escapist and Battlefield Heroes before calling it quits.

EA product manager Kevin Flynn defects, joins Call of Duty team

Kevin Flynn, who's worked for the last two years as a senior product manager for EA's UK arm, has left to join Activision's UK side as a senior brand manager on Call of Duty. Flynn's previous efforts for EA include launching Battlefield 3 and its subsequent Premium DLC campaigns in the region.

Flynn enlisted with the Call of Duty squad this month, which we imagine must be the busiest time to sign on for an Activision paycheck. With Call of Duty: Ghosts launching on November 5 and next week's next-generation engine reveal during the Xbox event on May 21, we just hope Mr. Flynn is finding adequate time for his lunch break every day. A hungry worker is not a happy worker!

Deja Review: Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D


In our 2010 review of Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii, our own JC Fletcher admitted a terrible truth: He had used the Super Guide. Nintendo gave us the nefarious innovation a few years ago, ostensibly a tool to help less experienced players navigate the trickier parts of its games. Seasoned players recognized it for what it really was: A taunt, a gently whispering devil on your shoulder.

Resisting the shiny, candy-like allure of the Super Guide is still a major component of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Monster Games' 3DS rendition of Retro Studios' Wii platformer. A new difficulty setting tries to soften the Wii version's sharp edges, but the brutal structure of its levels remains intact, and no amount of extra health is going to change that.

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Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection priced, dated for July in Americas

Kojima MGS Legacy will include graphic novels for those with 'difficulty playing' MGS 1 or 2
Originally scheduled for June, Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection will arrive via cardboard boxes to North and South America on July 9, publisher Konami announced this afternoon. The PlayStation 3 exclusive bundle includes Metal Gear Solids (or Metal Gears Solid?) 1-4, Peace Walker and VR Missions. The package is priced at $49.99.

The bundle also includes two Ashley Wood "digital graphic novels" and the 100-page art book featuring the series' marketing art over the past 25 years. The Legacy Collection was previously dated July 11 for Japan, and it appears to include the same items now announced for the Americas.

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Skullgirls' fourth new character is Beowolf

Skullgirls' fourth new character is Beowolf
The results are in, and fans have voted to make Beowolf the fourth new character in Lab Zero Games' little fighter that could, Skullgirls. An ex pro wrestler, Beowolf and his trusty folding chair (named The Hurting, naturally) have come out of retirement in order to test the true limits of his strength. Being a wrestler and everything, Beowolf's playstyle has been influence by Street Fighter's Rainbow Mika and El Fuerte, as well as Tekken's King.

Beowolf is the fourth new character to be funded by Lab Zero's wildly successful Indiegogo campaign, which raised over $800,000 for DLC production back in March. Three other characters, Eliza, Squigly and Big Band, are also currently in development. Squigly is expected to be the first released, dropping alongside the PC version of the game sometime this summer.

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Nintendo Direct roundup: Multiple Sonics, Luigi and Best Buy E3

Nintendo Direct roundup post
This morning's Nintendo DIrect, hosted by the ever gracious Satoru Iwata, covered NIntendo's plans for the summer. The company has another Nintendo Direct planned closer to E3, since it isn't holding a press conference at the mega show. Here's the highlights from this morning:

Last of Us digital version playable when halfway downloaded [update]

The Last of Us launches on June 14, simultaneously on Blu-ray and as a download through PSN. Those who choose the latter route on PS3 will find the game playable once the download has reached 50 percent, Naughty Dog creative director Neil Druckmann has told Game Informer.

It's our first taste of PS4-esque functionality, just on the PS3 – as you'll recall, one of the major features touted by Sony is the ability to play games as they're downloaded. This is accomplished on the PS4 through the use of hardware dedicated to background downloading and processing.

Update: This is in regards to the PS3. We've added more clear language to that effect.

Limited Amazon-exclusive Madden 25 special edition includes free Sunday Ticket subscription

Since Madden NFL 25 skipped 12 years is named to commemorate the series' 25th anniversary, it shouldn't be surprising that EA Sports recently unveiled a special Anniversary Edition. What is a little surprising are the contents of the special edition, which includes a free one-year subscription for DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket service, allowing fans to watch every out-of-market NFL game throughout the season.

EA Sports tells us that the subscription is limited to the NFL Sunday Ticket computer, tablet and mobile service. Additionally, those who are able to receive DirecTV service in their area can get $10 off per month for the service, which starts at $225, as well as a free subscription to the higher-tier NFL Sunday Ticket MAX.

The Anniversary Edition of Madden 25 is exclusive to Amazon, and limited to 50,000 copies on each of the game's platforms, Xbox 360 and PS3 (100,000 copies total). It will also include complimentary Madden Ultimate Team card packs every week of the NFL's 17-week regular season. Madden 25's Anniversary Edition is available to pre-order now on Amazon for $99.99.

Men's Room Mayhem hits PSN next week, Aliens: Colonial Marines DLC

Men's Room Mayhem hits PSN next week, Aliens Colonial Marines DLC too
The former Sony Liverpool devs at Sawfly Studios are bringing Men's Room Mayhem to Vita next week, via PSN. It should arrive on May 21 in North America, although as always with news revealed by the PlayStation Blogcast, dates can be subject to change.

If you're curious about the curiously named game, Phil Gaskell from publisher Ripstone describes it as "Flight Control meets Carry on at Your Convenience." – No, it's not the flight paths of... that stuff, but about getting patrons to where they need to go.

"In Men's Room Mayhem you're hired as the janitor of your very own chaotic men's room," said Gaskell on the PlayStation Blog. "You're responsible for directing patrons, keeping everywhere sparkling clean and steering patrons away from trouble! You need to get your customers safely to the urinals and cubicles in time – otherwise there'll be a few nasty accidents for you to clean up!"

The Blogcast also outed a wee (ahem) bit of other content in next week's PS Store update. A "smattering of DLC" is coming to Aliens: Colonial Marines, although the podcast wasn't any more specific than that. A digital PS3 version of Mugen Souls is also due.

Super Joystiq Podcast 050: Magic 2014, Ace Patrol, Gran Turismo 6, Nvidia Shield

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This week's Super Joystiq Podcast is thinking of developing its own MOBA.

Join us for the calm before the new console storm. This week in games, Richard, Mike Schramm, and Jess hit a few smaller releases and indie titles. Richard talks Zoombies, Jess hits Richard & Alice, and Mike is on iOS duty with Magic 2014 and Sid Meier's Ace Patrol.

In news, Alexander, Dave, and Sinan kick things off with the almost stealth-announced Gran Turismo 6. Also on tap: Android's new gaming backend, EA's strange, yet welcome, decision to abandon the online pass, and Dave's time with the Nvidia Shield.

Be sure to catch the games segment recorded live on YouTube every Thursday. This week's edition can be seen on the Joystiq YouTube page and after the break.

Listen to the Super Joystiq Podcast: Details about each segment and video of the games segment are available after the break.

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More Sega Game Gear titles coming to virtual console

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During this morning's Nintendo Direct, company CEO Satoru Iwata announced more titles from Sega's Game Gear handheld were on their way to the 3DS via the Virtual console service. We've placed the announced line-up after the break.

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Play unreleased Wii U games at Best Buy during E3

In a "one more thing" moment on the latest Nintendo Direct, Big N president Reggie Fils-aime announced a special partnership with Best Buy. During the week of E3, the big box electronics store will be hosting playable demos of unreleased Wii U games. Presumably, these will be the games that Nintendo is showing off during the industry's annual trade show, but Fils-aime did not reveal specific titles.

The week of E3, incidentally, begins June 9. Your friendly Joystiq staff will probably be too busy to make it to Best Buy though.

Wonderful 101 arrives on Wii U September 15 in NA, August 23 in EU

Nintendo has revealed that Wonderful 101 will land on the Wii U on September 15 in North America and on August 23 in Europe. Coming from Platinum Games, Wonderful 101 sees players wielding ordinary citizens as weapons. It's as nutty as it sounds.

Super Luigi U arrives as DLC June 20, packaged standalone August 25

Super Luigi U arrives as DLC , packaged standalone
The Super Luigi U DLC for New Super Mario Bros. U is being released as a digital download for the game on June 20 in both North America and Europe. However, it's also coming to retail as a packaged standalone. It'll be available August 25 in North America, and July 26 in Europe. The DLC will be priced at $19.99, while the standalone is $29.99. You won't need NSMB U to play the packaged game.

This morning's Nintendo Direct also revealed that Nabbit, a little critter who you chased in the first game, is a playable character in the new content. He'll be available in multiplayer games as an easier alternative to Luigi and the Toads. He won't take damage when he touches enemies, but to balance that he won't be able to use power-ups.

Super Luigi U makes changes to NSMB U's campaign to make every course "all-new" - it's essentially a new Luigi campaign.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games coming to Wii U

Mario & Sonic Winter games coming to Wii U
A new Mario & Sonic game is headed to the Wii U. Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games reunites the members of the Mushroom Kingdom with Sonic and friends for a bit of snowy competition. Winter Games will offer lots of events that make use of both Wii Motion Plus and the Wii U GamePad, sometimes in combination. For example, the Biathlon uses the Wii Remote for skiing, while the GamePad is used as a scope for rifle sections. (Side note: The Biathlon is a weird event.)

Other events shown include bobsledding, snowboarding, skiing, skating and more.

Launch timing was not announced, though winter seems like a good bet.

Zelda: Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons discounted for first three weeks on eShop


The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons was previously announced to launch on the Nintendo eShop on May 30, but now we know its price, which will be discounted for a short time.

The game will launch on May 30 for $5.99, but for the first three weeks it'll be one dollar off. From May 30 until June 20 it will cost $4.99, so get the complementary Zelda games for $10. Although complimentary Zelda games sounds so much better.

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Sonic: Lost World announced, launches 'exclusively' for Wii U, 3DS

Sonic Lost World announced 'exclusively' for Wii U, 3DS
Sega and Nintendo have entered into a "worldwide partnership" on three upcoming Sonic games, and the first fruit borne from it is Sonic: Lost World. It's coming to Wii U and 3DS, and there'll be more news on it prior to E3.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said on this morning's Nintendo Direct: "Sonic: Lost World is a brand new action-adventure platforming game that will launch exclusively on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS."

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Super Joystiq Podcast 047: Star Trek, Monaco, new Xbox, Nintendo's E3 plans

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