Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.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[Report: Battlefield 3 'Premium' service costs $50 one time, includes 'all five themed expansion packs']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/report-battlefield-3-premium-service-costs-50-one-time-incl/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/report-battlefield-3-premium-service-costs-50-one-time-incl/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/report-battlefield-3-premium-service-costs-50-one-time-incl/#comments ImageReports of Battlefield 3's "Premium" service just got a lot more official looking, with a fact sheet leaking out of Germany containing lots of details. The service apparently costs $50 one time and includes a variety of content, including access to the five released and upcoming Battlefield 3 expansion packs, two weeks of early access to said packs, and "a host of unique in-game items not available anywhere else."

That, however, is where the "interesting" part of this ends, and the "pretty gross" part begins. Beyond the DLC access, Premium members are said to get "access to powerful new features." What features might those be? "The ability to reset stats" is listed, but so is "queue priority into servers," which means exactly what it sounds like. As in, "pay for this service and get into servers faster than the rabble."

The fact sheet reconfirms what we saw leak out of the EU PlayStation Blog earlier today - Battlefield 3 "Premium" is expected to launch alongside the "Close Quarters" DLC on June 4 across Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Head past the break to see the full sheet.

Update: EA tells Joystiq, "Looks like the excitement for Battlefield Premium cannot be contained. For details, please visit Battlefield.com on June 4." We'd suggest you check out Joystiq.com on June 4 as well. Just a guess.

Continue reading Report: Battlefield 3 'Premium' service costs $50 one time, includes 'all five themed expansion packs'

JoystiqReport: Battlefield 3 'Premium' service costs $50 one time, includes 'all five themed expansion packs' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 May 2012 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3battlefield-3-premiummicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 30 May 2012 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Doom 3 'BFG Edition' brings Hell to 360/PS3/PC 'this fall' with entire back catalog in tow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/doom-3-bfg-edition-brings-hell-to-360-ps3-pc-this-fall-with/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/doom-3-bfg-edition-brings-hell-to-360-ps3-pc-this-fall-with/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/doom-3-bfg-edition-brings-hell-to-360-ps3-pc-this-fall-with/#comments
Are you experiencing a dearth of Doom? id Software is worried about just that possibility, as evidenced by today's announcement of Doom 3 "BFG Edition." Doom 3 is getting remastered and repackaged, with the "Resurrection of Evil" expansion and seven brand new levels, which id are wrapping up as "The Lost Mission."

Beyond remastering graphics, id's also adding Achievements, Trophies, and 3D. In the gameplay department, a "new check point save system" is being added, and the ever-frustrating flashlight issue is being resolved with "the new armor-mounted flashlight." If that weren't enough, the BFG Edition includes both Doom 1 and 2, so you can truly vanquish every single last demon in all of the space hells, all in one package. Finally!

Continue reading Doom 3 'BFG Edition' brings Hell to 360/PS3/PC 'this fall' with entire back catalog in tow

JoystiqDoom 3 'BFG Edition' brings Hell to 360/PS3/PC 'this fall' with entire back catalog in tow originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 May 2012 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesda-game-studiosbethesda-softworksbfg-editionDoom-3doom-3-bfg-editionid-softwaremicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxzenimax-mediaWed, 30 May 2012 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Now Playing: May 28 - June 3, 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/now-playing-may-28-june-3-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/now-playing-may-28-june-3-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/now-playing-may-28-june-3-2012/#comments Image
Fight for the survival of humanity this week with Resistance: Burning Skies...

Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:

Continue reading Now Playing: May 28 - June 3, 2012

JoystiqNow Playing: May 28 - June 3, 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdskinectmacmicrosoftmovenintendonow-playingpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsonyvitawiixboxTue, 29 May 2012 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Invite a yellow Yoshi into Mario Tennis Open, our treat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/invite-a-yellow-yoshi-into-mario-tennis-open-our-treat/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/invite-a-yellow-yoshi-into-mario-tennis-open-our-treat/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/invite-a-yellow-yoshi-into-mario-tennis-open-our-treat/#comments ImageIf you'd like to play doubles in Mario Tennis Open with someone who looks vaguely like a tennis ball in hue, we can help with that. Nintendo shared the above QR code exclusively with Joystiq, and now we're sharing it with you. From within the 3DS game, you can snap a picture of this code and unlock a yellow Yoshi for your game.

We hope you love it! Get it - because "love" is a tennis term ... but wait, "love" is bad in tennis. We're going to have to think about this joke and get back to you. Anyway, here's that Yoshi.

JoystiqInvite a yellow Yoshi into Mario Tennis Open, our treat originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsmario-tennis-3dsmario-tennis-opennintendoTue, 29 May 2012 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Turn the pages of Orcs Must Die! 2's new Spellbook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/turn-the-pages-of-orcs-must-die-2s-new-spellbook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/turn-the-pages-of-orcs-must-die-2s-new-spellbook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/turn-the-pages-of-orcs-must-die-2s-new-spellbook/#comments Orcs Must Die! 2 builds upon the excellent foundation of its predecessor with multiplayer - our first taste was pretty pleasant. As revealed exclusively to Joystiq today, it also adds an expanded Spellbook. The Spellbook itself is now divided into five different subsections: My Gear, Traps, Weapons, Trinkets and Vanity.

Gallery: Orcs Must Die! 2 (Spellbook)

Continue reading Turn the pages of Orcs Must Die! 2's new Spellbook

JoystiqTurn the pages of Orcs Must Die! 2's new Spellbook originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>orcs-must-die-2pcrobot-entertainmentspellbookTue, 29 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Schilling says he could lose $50 million of his own money in 38 Studios implosion [update: Chafee responds]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/schilling-says-he-could-lose-50-million-of-his-own-money-in-38/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/schilling-says-he-could-lose-50-million-of-his-own-money-in-38/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/schilling-says-he-could-lose-50-million-of-his-own-money-in-38/#comments Embattled 38 Studios co-founder and head Curt Schilling finally broke his weeks of silence on the Rhode Island studio's recent implosion in an interview with The Providence Journal. "Frustration" seems not strong enough a word to describe his feelings toward Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee - Schilling called Chafee's commentary surrounding 38 Studios "devastating," and claimed it "scared off private investors."

Schilling also said that he could lose $50 million due to the studio's failure - money which he earned as a professional baseball player, and which he later invested into 38 Studios. That money, as well as approximately $50 million of a planned $75 million loan co-signed by the state of Rhode Island, was eaten by 38's long-in-development MMO, "Project Copernicus."

38 Studios' Baltimore-based subsidiary, Big Huge Games, was working on a sequel to this year's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. The project was depending on private investment to go into production - to the tune of $35 million from an unnamed publisher - which Schilling said was pushed away by Chafee's statements.

"Curt was committed to us as a community and as people, he wanted the best possible work environment for the team he cared so much for, and as a result none of us wanted to let him down," one former 38 Studios employee, speaking under condition of anonymity, told us. "He had invested so much into us financially and personally, we were not about to betray that trust. We were not going to take the chance of speaking to the press and accidentally ruining any chances with outside investors. Unfortunately, it didn't matter if the employees spoke and ruined things with the investors as the Governor beat us to it."

Last week, 38 Studios laid off its near-300 person staff in Rhode Island, as well as its approximately 100-person studio in Baltimore, Big Huge Games.

Update: Governor Lincoln Chafee responded this morning to Schilling's comments in a short Q&A session with Rhode Island reporters. "As a business person, he was new at it, and so I always had some reservations," Chafee said. "I have to verify everything, I can't just take it as a leap of faith," he told one reporter asking about the alleged $35 million that 38 Studios was on the brink of acquiring to create a sequel to this year's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. "Hope springs eternal, but I won't misrepresent to the Rhode Islanders how dire the situation is," Chafee added. "I understand that being involved in this very risky industry that, when things aren't going well, there's gonna be blame. But this isn't accurate to be blaming the state in this case."

JoystiqSchilling says he could lose $50 million of his own money in 38 Studios implosion [update: Chafee responds] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbig-huge-gamescurt-schillingkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoninglayoffslincoln-chafeeproject-copernicusrhode-islandrhode-island-economic-development-corporationTue, 29 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[When Vikings Attack brings cel-shaded crowd control to PS3 and Vita]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/28/when-vikings-attack-brings-cel-shaded-crowd-control-to-ps3-and-v/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/28/when-vikings-attack-brings-cel-shaded-crowd-control-to-ps3-and-v/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/28/when-vikings-attack-brings-cel-shaded-crowd-control-to-ps3-and-v/#comments You're always in a hurry to learn the controls of a new game in the bustle and din of a press event. You might pick a few things up from a tutorial card resting near the screen, from a patient developer stationed nearby, or through one of those loading screens that can barely contain a controller and 29 labels, bursting out of it like informative tentacles. When Vikings Attack, a new party game for PlayStation 3 and Vita, stood out at recent Sony press event because it's filled with clutter, yet wrapped in the simplicity of two-button play.

Presented with vibrant, cel-shaded aplomb, When Vikings Attack is essentially a game of crowd-versus-crowd control. You maneuver a cluster of portly citizens, brought together in the face of an inexplicable, anachronistic viking invasion of 1970s England. The number of people in your crowd is an indicator of your speed, health and strength, and more able bodies can lift larger and heavier objects.

That's right: the secret to thwarting the Norsemen of the apocalypse is to pick up the manufactured detritus of civilization, such as benches, cars, ambulances and phone booths, and hurl it at incoming streams of invaders. It's a bit like bowling, with mismatched, costumed people for pins, and balls coming in every shape, size and seriously you can throw everything at everyone.

Gallery: When Vikings Attack

Continue reading When Vikings Attack brings cel-shaded crowd control to PS3 and Vita

JoystiqWhen Vikings Attack brings cel-shaded crowd control to PS3 and Vita originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clever-beanscrossplaye3-2012partyplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitawhen-vikings-attackMon, 28 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning 2 was in 'pre-production']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/28/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-2-was-in-pre-production/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/28/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-2-was-in-pre-production/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/28/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-2-was-in-pre-production/#comments Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning 2 was in "pre-production" at 38 Studios' Big Huge Games in Maryland before all employees were let go last week. Several sources with knowledge of the situation tell Joystiq that the company was in advanced talks with a publisher before the events that led to the dissolution of the team.

Even if the Big Huge Games team could be salvaged under a different banner, it is unlikely that they could work on Reckoning 2. The intellectual property, tech and code (the latter used as a springboard) required to make a sequel is still owned by 38 Studios for the time being, but will likely soon be owned by the state of Rhode Island. Sources close to discussions with Rhode Island tell us that the state's asking price to release assets is too high.

Elements tested for the sequel were higher graphics quality across the board, no loading screens between zones, expanded and improved combat animations, more branching quests and greater effect on the world by players.

Continue reading Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning 2 was in 'pre-production'

JoystiqKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning 2 was in 'pre-production' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 May 2012 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbig-huge-gameskingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-2microsoftpcplaystationps3xboxMon, 28 May 2012 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, May 14 - 20: He's heating up edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/stiq-figures-may-14-20-hes-heating-up-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/stiq-figures-may-14-20-hes-heating-up-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/stiq-figures-may-14-20-hes-heating-up-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Image
There aren't many sports games like NBA Jam. Back when Michael Jordan was the king of the court, the 1993 Midway arcade classic was known for its tight controls, secret characters, zany dunks, and outrageous catch-phrases by announcer Tim Kitzrow. While Jordan wasn't in the game (he reached his own licensing agreement with the NBA in 1992, and Midway was unable to secure a deal with him), it was Scottie Pippen that brought his excellent three-point shots to the court alongside Chicago Bulls teammate Horace Grant.

That is, Pippen's usually excellent three-point ability. NBA Jam creator Mark Turmell admitted in a 2008 interview with ESPN: The Gamer that Pippen's tendency to win close games was tuned down in certain circumstances. Specifically, when any Bulls player attempts a glorious last-second shot against Turmell's favorite team, the Detroit Pistons, a special piece of code in the game would average the shots out to be bricks.

Turmell said, "There was the big competition back in the day between the Pistons and the Bulls, and since I was always a big Pistons fan, that was my opportunity to level the playing field." This is one case where any close loss against a friend can be reasonably blamed on the game.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, May 14 - 20: He's heating up edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, May 14 - 20: He's heating up edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 May 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>horace-grantJapaneseHardwareSalesmark-turmellmichael-jordanMidwaynba-jamscottie-pippenstiqfiguresSun, 27 May 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Ballin]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-ballin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-ballin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-ballin/#comments Indie developers are the starving artists of the video-game world, often brilliant and innovative, but also misunderstood, underfunded and more prone to writing free-form poetry on their LiveJournals. We believe they deserve a wider audience with the Joystiq Indie Pitch: This week, Ballin developer Derek Gallant describes his epiphanies relating to gravity and gaming.


Image

What's your game called and what's it about?

Ballin is a challenging, charming physics-puzzle game. The main character, the ball, is trapped in Block World, and must escape. You advance through the game by reaching the portal keys in each stage, but you can't control the ball directly. You must move around the stage by altering the pull of gravity itself.

Why develop independently, rather than work for an established company?

For me it was more of a circumstance than a personal decision. As I am currently in my final year at college, working for an established company really wasn't an option at the time. That being said, regardless of where I end up after graduation, I always want to work independently in some regard, whether that be as my full-time job or on personal projects away from work. The freedom of independent development is really attractive to me; it allows developers to really think outside the box and come up with something really unique and fun. I hope independent development is always a part of my career in some aspect.

Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Ballin

JoystiqThe Joystiq Indie Pitch: Ballin originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 May 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ballinDerek-Gallantjoystiq-indie-pitchpcSun, 27 May 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-is-a-stranger-in-a-strange-land/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-is-a-stranger-in-a-strange-land/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-is-a-stranger-in-a-strange-land/#comments It's been quite a week, my friends. Not only is this my first ever Webcomic Wrapup, but I've been a member of Joystiq's staff for a mere ten days. In ten days, a lot can happen. Just this week, we witnessed the closure of 38 Studios and Big Huge Games. It was a spectacular mess.

From the news came an unbelievable public outcry. The hashtag "#38jobs" began trending across the United States on Twitter. Facebook pages, websites, and Google docs sprang up, all bellowing support for those in the industry that lost their jobs this week in the form of open job postings.

Meanwhile, I had the privilege of watching the Joystiq team document the entire disaster. In a word, it was humbling. I feel honored to be a part of this team and deliver content to you, the readers. We so easily forget that in the land of video games, there is a significant impact on the well-being of families, and the reporting of news deserves an equal touch of care.

Likewise, a giggle here or there is important. I encourage you to check out last week's webcomics and vote for your favorite after the break to get those giggles in.

Subprime Loans (Virtual Shackles)
You Got It (Nerf NOW!!)
Paynefully Subtle (No Cash Value)
Luigi's Mansion 2 (Game Over Nation)
Track and Field (Blow the Cartridge)
I know what I have to do (Magical Game Time)

Continue reading Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land

JoystiqWeekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 May 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>webcomicSat, 26 May 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/silver-lining-i-am-alives-unfeeling-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/silver-lining-i-am-alives-unfeeling-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/silver-lining-i-am-alives-unfeeling-world/#comments'Silver Lining' is an ongoing column from freelancer Taylor Cocke, dedicated to examining the hidden potential in recently released, critically panned games. Even in the mediocre, we can find a silver lining.
Image
As I began my time with Ubisoft's downloadable title I Am Alive, the most striking aspect of the game's art style was the high-contrast, almost black and white way it depicted the destroyed city it takes place in. The world feels dead, as it should. The lack of color depicts a space devoid of life, dotted by humanity huddled around the bright oranges and yellows of occasional makeshift fires. At least initially, there's a sharp, distinct difference between the world and those who struggle to live within it. Very quickly, though, it becomes apparent that the distinction exists purely between the protagonist Adam and, well, everything else.

I Am Alive's greatest failures don't lay in its shoddy controls or dated visuals. For me, it was never able to establish a feeling of desperately fighting for survival. At least, not in the same way the non-playable characters are very clearly struggling. Very early, Adam runs into a man sitting next to a fire, who immediately draws his weapon and demands Adam back away. Right away, I Am Alive establishes that its world is one that you shouldn't trust anyone if you value your safety.

Soon after that, Adam comes across a mother and son, the latter of which has been harmed by roving bandits and needs help to survive. Unable to move, they need Adam's help to survive. You can give them a medkit, perhaps forsaking your own safety later on, or simply move on. Again, this pair does its best to show that this world is a frightening, dangerous one.

Gallery: I Am Alive (1/23/12)

Continue reading Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

JoystiqSilver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>i-am-alivemicrosoftplaystationps3Silver-LiningxboxFri, 25 May 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/game-of-thrones-and-the-paradoxes-of-adaptation/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/game-of-thrones-and-the-paradoxes-of-adaptation/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/game-of-thrones-and-the-paradoxes-of-adaptation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This is a weekly column from freelancer Rowan Kaiser, which focuses on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
Image
The role-playing game structure is, in many ways, built as an adaptation. What is Dungeons & Dragons if not an attempt to simulate Lord of the Rings? Many other role-playing systems, both tabletop and electronic, are built off of the D&D model, as well. And all you need to do is look at the elves, hobbits, orcs, and trolls of early and more modern RPGs to see the Lord of the Rings influence. It may not be a stretch to say that many early RPGs were attempts at playable novels.

Improvements in technology and more licensing meant that adaptations of different media, specifically film, have become more prominent over the course of game history. But adaptations can be difficult to execute successfully.

There are two major, though interconnected, issues for video game adaptations: authenticity and pacing. The Game of Thrones RPG from developer Cyanide struggles to deal with both, succeeding in some respects, while failing at others, as pointed out in the Joystiq review. It keeps pace with some older, competent adaptations like last generation's Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, but it falls well short of the very best adaptations, namely, Betrayal At Krondor.

Gallery: Game of Thrones (4/25/12)

Continue reading Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

JoystiqGame Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-game-of-thrones-rpggame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 25 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/super-joystiq-podcast-004-38-studios-meltdown-gravity-rush-ci/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/super-joystiq-podcast-004-38-studios-meltdown-gravity-rush-ci/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/super-joystiq-podcast-004-38-studios-meltdown-gravity-rush-ci/#commentsFiled under:

Image
There's a lot to cover this week, so think of each segment as vignettes about great games and industry culture.

This week Xav, JC, and Alexander discuss Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, the craziness that is Tropico 4, and a little Diablo 3 and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier peppered in for good measure.

Review round table returns with Jordan discussing Dragon's Dogma with freelancer Heidi Kemps and Polygon's Phil Kollar. Joystiq Research Institute welcomes the latest member of the site's editorial staff, Mike Suszek, along with Jess and Mike Schramm to discuss the indie point-and-click adventure The Journey Down.

Alex, Ben, and Jess bring you the latest industry news, including the entire 38 Studios meltdown. And to wrap it all up, Xav, JC, and Ludwig pull questions from the Joystiq Mailbag.

Winners for our Awesomenauts and Diablo 3: Collector's Edition are revealed in this episode, as well as details on a new giveaway for some PlayStation Vita accessories and a copy of Lumines: Electronic Symphony.

Listen to the Super Joystiq Podcast:A stream of the show and details about each segment is available after the break.

Continue reading Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma

JoystiqSuper Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiq-podcastpodcastssuper-joystiq-podcastFri, 25 May 2012 15:30:00 ESTSuper Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization V: Gods & Kings, Dragon's DogmaJoystiq2:36:30podcasts<![CDATA[Next-Gen Starts When We Say It Does]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/next-gen-starts-when-we-say-it-does/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/next-gen-starts-when-we-say-it-does/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/next-gen-starts-when-we-say-it-does/#commentsYou're reading Reaction Time, a weekly column that claims to examine recent events, games and trends in the industry, but is really just looking for an excuse to use the word "zeitgeist." It debuts on Fridays in Engadget's digital magazine, Distro.
If the world does come to a wailing and irreversible halt in 2012, the most terrible loss (besides billions of lives, the infrastructure of civilization, your dog, etc.) will be the glaring glut of video games already scheduled for 2013. Promising brand builders like BioShock Infinite, Tomb Raider and Devil May Cry are all bailing on 2012, and inevitable behemoth Grand Theft Auto V has yet to pick a landing zone.

Most of these games are massive, costly undertakings that can't afford to stumble out with stuttering marketing campaigns, let alone on a stage crowded with other huge products. If we're to predict the emergence of powerful next-generation platforms, care of Sony and Microsoft, the movements of third-party publishers should give us our first clues. No manufacturer is in a position to escape the catch-22 of a new console launch on its own: You need standout games to get the system out there, but it's tough to obtain and support those games properly with an install base that starts at zero.

Continue reading Next-Gen Starts When We Say It Does

JoystiqNext-Gen Starts When We Say It Does originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anvil-nextfrostbite-2glacier-2microsoftnext-gennintendoplaystationps3reaction-timewii-uxboxFri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: 38 Studios and the Dunkin delusions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/editorial-38-studios-and-the-dunkin-delusions/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/editorial-38-studios-and-the-dunkin-delusions/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/editorial-38-studios-and-the-dunkin-delusions/#comments ImageThe Providence Journal sat neatly presented on the counter at the Dunkin Donuts across the street from 38 Studios in Rhode Island, its headline clear as day: "Loan-guarantee fallout costs EDC chief his job." Further down the right column of the page was the other harbinger headline: "Too little cash to cover the check."

This was last Friday, May 18, the day after the head of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, the quasi-government group responsible for co-signing the $75 million loan to 38 Studios, was fired. It was also the day after the state couldn't deposit a $1.12 million check the studio delivered as a payment because the company's chief financial officer called to say there were insufficient funds.

A man walked up to the counter for his morning caffeine fix. I guessed he worked at 38 Studios because he had 'the look.' The lady working the counter confirmed my egregious profiling by asking, "How are things going over there?"

Continue reading Editorial: 38 Studios and the Dunkin delusions

JoystiqEditorial: 38 Studios and the Dunkin delusions originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiospcproject-copernicusRhode-IslandFri, 25 May 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Our own Alexander Sliwinski talks 38 Studios with Fox 25 News]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/our-own-alexander-sliwinski-talks-38-studios-with-fox-25-news/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/our-own-alexander-sliwinski-talks-38-studios-with-fox-25-news/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/our-own-alexander-sliwinski-talks-38-studios-with-fox-25-news/#comments
Here at Joystiq, we spend most of our time hunched over laptops pumping out a steady stream of news for you to consume. But every now and again, one of us is ripped out from behind the comfort of our mobile workplace to talk gaming news with a mainstream outlet - today is such a day.

Following the unfortunate events at 38 Studios and Big Huge Games, News Editor Alexander Sliwinski took to Boston-area affiliate Fox 25 News to talk all things 38 and Rhode Island. We're hoping that his dashing suit and suave demeanor will help to convince you that our whole staff is made up of debonair jetsetters, even if we know in our hearts that's a stone-cold lie.

JoystiqOur own Alexander Sliwinski talks 38 Studios with Fox 25 News originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosalexander-sliwinskibig-huge-gamesfox-25-newskingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningmetarhode-islandtelevision-apperanceThu, 24 May 2012 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The politics of making games: Disconnect between 38 Studios and Rhode Island in quotes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-politics-of-making-games-disconnect-between-38-studios-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-politics-of-making-games-disconnect-between-38-studios-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-politics-of-making-games-disconnect-between-38-studios-and/#comments ImageRhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee gathered his experts on finances and bond laws to discuss the dire situation of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning publisher 38 Studios today, opening with a clear summation: "It's not a good situation; I'm not here to deliver good news."

Just an hour before the conference, news broke that all 379 staff of 38 Studios and its property Big Huge Games had been laid off. Chafee's adviser John Savage answered the first question regarding the layoffs: "In my conversations today, there were no discussions about layoffs."

Chafee agreed, saying "nothing changed today," and the tone of the conference was effectively set.

Of the layoffs that his administration wouldn't acknowledge, Chafee suggested, "Well, they could be rehired. Some investor might come in."

In a related optimistic response, Chafee said he believes 38 Studios will be able to hit its payment benchmarks, banking on the "emotional attachment" of gamers to the Amalur universe. "I would suspect that they are going to be on time and at the proper amount," he said. "All that investment, all that adherement to benchmarks. I think is going to be accurate in the end."

At the moment, Chafee said he couldn't assign blame in the situation to anyone specifically, but he did say "that's gonna come over time if we're not successful in getting this company financially solvent."

To keep 38 Studios solvent will be "very, very expensive," Chafee said, taking "tens of millions of dollars" in marketing alone. These projections come from "industry experts," who also told Chafee that he was doing the right thing the entire time. "Every indication I got from all this process is that everything is going according to the business plan," Chafee said.

"I asked the experts: What could have we done better? And they were telling me, 'You did everything right. You put your money in, you supported the game, and you're better off not meddling.' If I had meddled there wouldn't be all this violence in these games, all the sexism."

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning sold 1.2 million units in its first 90 days, but for 38 Studios to break even it would have had to sell 3 million, Chafee said. Even though 38 Studios founder Curt Schilling said the game "outperformed EA's projections," Chafee was forced to disagree.

"The game failed," he said.

JoystiqThe politics of making games: Disconnect between 38 Studios and Rhode Island in quotes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studioskingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningThu, 24 May 2012 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring the patterns of Diablo 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/exploring-the-patterns-of-diablo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/exploring-the-patterns-of-diablo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/exploring-the-patterns-of-diablo-3/#comments ImageAfter thirty hours of incessantly clicking my mouse, I completed my first run of Diablo 3. Of course, the game could have been finished in far less time - I was constantly going back to explore every area to the fullest. Any dark space on my map, signaling an area I didn't explore, gnawed at my obsessive completionist attitude.

But it had me wondering: I know how long it took to get to my final destination and I'm well aware of the spoils obtained along the way, but what had I actually done in those hours? Strip away everything about a game and you may see a simple series of patterns. So when you take the game systems, graphics, and progress out of the equation, what does the pattern of playing Diablo 3 look like and is it ever different?

Gallery: Exploring Patterns in Diablo 3

Continue reading Exploring the patterns of Diablo 3

JoystiqExploring the patterns of Diablo 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentDiablo-3macpatternspcstatisticsThu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gravity Rush review: Disorient Express]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/gravity-rush-review-disorient-express/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/gravity-rush-review-disorient-express/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/gravity-rush-review-disorient-express/#comments ImageGravity Rush for PS Vita is a particular kind of superhero simulation I can't recall seeing before: not only is it an excellent approximation of what I imagine it's like to be a superhero, it approximates the life of a new superhero, with all the awkwardness that entails.

Protagonist Kat, who wakes up with no memories and a starfield-patterned cat companion that allows her to alter her personal gravity, is not terribly graceful with her abilities, as befits someone who just gained the power to fall in any direction. She is, however, immediately willing to help save her new friends from mysterious "gravity storms" eating away parts of the town, and the "Nevi" monsters that start creeping in, and her enthusiasm makes up for the growing pains.

Gallery: Gravity Rush (5/24/12)

Continue reading Gravity Rush review: Disorient Express

JoystiqGravity Rush review: Disorient Express originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gravitygravity-dazegravity-rushjapan-studioplaystationplaystation-vitasony-japansony-japan-studiovitaThu, 24 May 2012 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[The Cave opens up to adventurers in 2013, care of Ron Gilbert and Double Fine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-cave-opens-up-to-adventurers-in-2013-care-of-ron-gilbert-an/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-cave-opens-up-to-adventurers-in-2013-care-of-ron-gilbert-an/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-cave-opens-up-to-adventurers-in-2013-care-of-ron-gilbert-an/#comments
Double Fine and Sega have officially announced The Cave, a side-scrolling, multi-character adventure game coming to Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and PC in 2013. Led by Ron Gilbert, The Cave sees an eclectic cluster of impromptu spelunkers - including a scientist, a monk, a knight and a time traveler - finding their fortunes (and perhaps more) in the titular, mysterious and, err, "sultry" subterranean network. That's right: The Cave can speak.

The rest of the protagonists are silent, but up to three can venture into The Cave at a time. After picking your trio, you guide them all deeper into the seamless network of underground rooms, switching control between each to solve puzzles and exploit their unique abilities. The knight, for instance, can activate a guardian angel that protects him from flames and falls, while the hillbilly can hold his breath underwater forever. (Take that, Guybrush Threepwood!)

The game can be completed with any combination of characters, but certain endings and unique areas are locked to individual characters. Having the knight in your group, for example, will open up the medieval castle and its puzzles for play. And yes, there just happens to be a castle buried deep within in The Cave. With a "New Grog" vending machine (among other inharmonious objects) cropping up in the network's lower bowels, we think it's safe to say that Ron Gilbert's touch is evident throughout the game.

He also programmed the whole thing himself, we think. Probably.

Gallery: The Cave

JoystiqThe Cave opens up to adventurers in 2013, care of Ron Gilbert and Double Fine originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013double-finemicrosoftpcplaystationps3psnrelease-dateron-gilbertsegathe-cavexblaxboxThu, 24 May 2012 09:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Among Japanese developers, Sting quietly thrives]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/among-japanese-developers-sting-quietly-thrives/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/among-japanese-developers-sting-quietly-thrives/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/among-japanese-developers-sting-quietly-thrives/#commentsThis is a column by Kat Bailey dedicated to the analysis of the once beloved Japanese RPG sub-genre. Tune in every Wednesday for thoughts on white-haired villains, giant robots, Infinity+1 swords, and everything else the wonderful world of JRPGs has to offer.
Image
In late 2008, Sony released the PSP-3000, giving me the perfect excuse to finally pick one up. When I got home later that day, I did what anyone with a new system does - I started downloading demos.

Yggdra Union was among that early handful of downloads. I picked it because I liked the art style, not knowing what I was getting into. I soon discovered Yggdra Union is quite the complicated strategy RPG. There are different character types, and there are cards that dictate movement and status effects, and positioning matters too. And it didn't help that I was trying to play it in its native Japanese (though I eventually relented and found an English copy).

As I later discovered, Yggdra Union is the rule rather than the exception to Sting Entertainment's ... unique design sensibilities. Almost every modern Sting RPG has some sort of interesting twist on the traditional RPG formula. Riviera: The Promised Land is part dating sim and part menu-driven point-and-click adventure, for example. Knights in the Nightmare is a strategy RPG, but it also has sequences in which you must guide a tiny wisp while avoiding a hail of bullets. Rather than simply going with what works, or the cheapest alternative, Sting has traditionally been extremely experimental, and its reward has been a small but fervent fanbase.

Gallery: Gungnir (4/11/12)

Continue reading Among Japanese developers, Sting quietly thrives

JoystiqAmong Japanese developers, Sting quietly thrives originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnJRPGStingWed, 23 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Waiting Game: Everything that's been delayed into 2013 (so far)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/waiting-game-everything-thats-been-delayed-into-2013-so-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/waiting-game-everything-thats-been-delayed-into-2013-so-far/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/waiting-game-everything-thats-been-delayed-into-2013-so-far/#comments ImageIn January, 2012 was looking like the year to beat for its sheer volume of high-profile games. But 2012 has quickly become the year many developers have set aside as one for polish and refinement. It has quickly become the year of the delayed game.

With so many projects being moved to 2013, Joystiq decided to put together a list of the major names you'll have to keep track of for at least seven more months. Did anything on your "Most Anticipated" list get pushed to 2013?

Continue reading Waiting Game: Everything that's been delayed into 2013 (so far)

JoystiqWaiting Game: Everything that's been delayed into 2013 (so far) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delaymicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3wii-uxboxWed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst estimates Amalur IP worth $20 million, 38 Studios employees head to job fair]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/analyst-estimates-amalur-ip-worth-20-million-38-studios-employ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/analyst-estimates-amalur-ip-worth-20-million-38-studios-employ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/analyst-estimates-amalur-ip-worth-20-million-38-studios-employ/#comments ImageThe value of 38 Studios' Amalur intellectual property is estimated to be in the range of $20 million. We asked Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter for his valuation following confirmation of layoffs at the studio and coverage of 38 Studios employees flocking to Turbine's recruitment drive in Providence last night.

"Nobody is buying MMOs after Star Wars fizzled. I think value is low, probably $20 million or so," Pachter said. "There is just no demand for game assets right now, as THQ proved when it tried to sell the Warhammer MMO. I think [Electronic Arts] could step in, since they are the publisher, so you might see some alternative way to get 38 some bridge financing."

Electronic Arts had been the publisher on the Big Huge Games developed Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, but has yet to confirm it would publish 38 Studios' "Project Copernicus."

"Nope - never been an announcement on that," Jeff Brown of EA corporate communications told Joystiq. "We don't have any new announcements to make regarding 38 Studios. We enjoyed working with Curt and his team on their first game, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Like game fans all over the world, we look forward to what 38 Studios creates next."

With reports out of Providence delivering an uncertain near future for the studio, it wouldn't be surprising if publishers tried to pick up the Amalur IP for pennies on the dollar. However, with documents showing that 38 Studios put up the IP as collateral against the $75 million loan, anybody trying to pick up the IP will be negotiating with the state of Rhode Island for control of Amalur.

JoystiqAnalyst estimates Amalur IP worth $20 million, 38 Studios employees head to job fair originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 May 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosamalurcurt-schillingmicrosoftpcplaystationproject-copernicusps3rhode-islandrhode-island-economic-development-corporationxboxWed, 23 May 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ghost Recon: Future Soldier review: More than just a soldier]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/ghost-recon-future-soldier-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/ghost-recon-future-soldier-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/ghost-recon-future-soldier-review/#comments Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is a game that, at first glance, may seem like an advertisement for 'murica's armed forces circa 20XX. "Sign up. You can rock Pantera in the barracks, blow up helicopters and assassinate evil warlords every day," I imagined the end credits might read.

But between every clichéd cutscene, showing the four members of Ghost squad swilling beer and talking car engines while they wait for their next mission, are a bounty of excellent gameplay scenarios: VIPs to rescue, things to blow up and stealth missions that require diligent adherence to caution and calculation rather than simply making sure you move slowly and stay out of sight. No two missions in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier are the same, and the diversity in locales and armaments means there's always something new to see - and shoot.

Continue reading Ghost Recon: Future Soldier review: More than just a soldier

JoystiqGhost Recon: Future Soldier review: More than just a soldier originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ghost-Recon-Future-Soldiermicrosoftplaystationps3ubisoftubisoft-parisubisoft-red-stormubisoft-romaniaxboxTue, 22 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Entering the Rzhev Meat Grinder in Company of Heroes 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/entering-the-rzhev-meat-grinder-in-company-of-heroes-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/entering-the-rzhev-meat-grinder-in-company-of-heroes-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/entering-the-rzhev-meat-grinder-in-company-of-heroes-2/#comments ImageIf seeing Soviet forces engage the Germans in the PC-exclusive Company of Heroes 2 taught me anything, it's that the war would have be lost if I was at the helm of the world's defense.

At a pre-E3 event in Los Angeles last week, Vancouver-based developer Relic Entertainment revealed the newest entry in its strategy series. Company of Heroes was a landmark title for the developer, solidifying its presence in the genre with one of the best RTS games ever released, followed by standalone expansions. I sunk hours pushing Jerries back from the brink of world destruction in the original Company of Heroes and its expansions, but the newest game seems unrelenting.

Gallery: Company of Heroes 2 (5/22/12)

Continue reading Entering the Rzhev Meat Grinder in Company of Heroes 2

JoystiqEntering the Rzhev Meat Grinder in Company of Heroes 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Company-of-Heroescompany-of-heroes-2e3-2012pcRelic-EntertainmentTue, 22 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Now Playing: May 21-27, 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/now-playing-may-21-27-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/now-playing-may-21-27-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/now-playing-may-21-27-2012/#comments Image
Become a high-tech warrior in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier...

Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:

Continue reading Now Playing: May 21-27, 2012

JoystiqNow Playing: May 21-27, 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2012 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdskinectmacmicrosoftmovenintendonow-playingpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsonyvitawiixboxMon, 21 May 2012 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 review: Hitting the jackpot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-3-review-hitting-the-jackpot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-3-review-hitting-the-jackpot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-3-review-hitting-the-jackpot/#comments ImageHack-and-slash action RPGs, pioneered by Blizzard's Diablo, are essentially slot machines. You click the mouse, and every time you do there's a chance you'll get the loot you want . Yes, the trappings of role-playing and combat mechanics are there, weaker in some cases and stronger in others, but in terms of brain chemistry you're playing for the jackpot.

As anyone who's been to Vegas will tell you, there are different kinds of slot machines. There's the rickety old unit sitting in the gas station near the airport. And there's the junky Jokers Wild machines blinking and chirping in that one casino downtown, where the air smells too much like your grandmother's bathroom.

And then there are the machines in that one room in the Bellagio, where velvet seats wait underneath crystal chandeliers. That's where the shahs from Dubai come to play with thousand dollar tokens, where pretty ladies serve you drinks as you play, and where a private concierge will happily help you order up a steak, buy a Brooks Brothers suit, or get you anything else you might want. Blizzard's Diablo 3 is that Bellagio room, high stakes and luxurious and ready to cater to your every dungeon crawler need.

Gallery: Diablo 3 (10/21/11)

Continue reading Diablo 3 review: Hitting the jackpot

JoystiqDiablo 3 review: Hitting the jackpot originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgblizzarddiabloDiablo-3error-37onlinepcreal-money-auction-houserpgsocialMon, 21 May 2012 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, May 7 - 13: I'mma can't use any of my dominoes edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/stiq-figures-may-7-13-imma-cant-use-any-of-my-dominoes-edi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/stiq-figures-may-7-13-imma-cant-use-any-of-my-dominoes-edi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/stiq-figures-may-7-13-imma-cant-use-any-of-my-dominoes-edi/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Image

By now, Mario's cheerful, sing-song voice is as endemic to the character as his mustache and overalls. Sprightly proclamations of "It'sa me, Mario!" and the like have endeared voice actor Charles Martinet's work to the hearts and minds of millions, but it might surprise you to know that Martinet's first stint as the man behind the 'stache wasn't Super Mario 64. In fact, it wasn't a Nintendo game at all.

Martinet's first appearance as the prolific plumber was actually Mario's Game Gallery, a digital collection of card and board games for DOS, Windows and Mac OS, developed by Presage Software and published by Interplay. Mario's Game Gallery predates Super Mario 64 by roughly a year, but as you can tell from the collection of sound files above, Martinet had already settled into a ridiculous, heartwarming and hilarious groove as Mario Mario.

It's physically impossible to make it all the way through this video without laughing. In fact, it might be physically impossible just to make it all the way through this video.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, May 7 - 13: I'mma can't use any of my dominoes edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, May 7 - 13: I'mma can't use any of my dominoes edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 May 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanesehardwaresalesstiqfiguresSun, 20 May 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Zytron II]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-zytron-ii/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-zytron-ii/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-zytron-ii/#comments Indie developers are the starving artists of the video-game world, often brilliant and innovative, but also misunderstood, underfunded and more prone to writing free-form poetry on their LiveJournals. We believe they deserve a wider audience with the Joystiq Indie Pitch: This week, Kevin Murphy of Trinosis unveils the neon beauty of Zytron II, a game that's firmly in the "If you like Geometry Wars..." category, and proud of it.


Image

What's your game called and what's it about?

Zytron II is a neon glow, twin-stick, multiplayer, scrolling shoot-em-up for Windows PCs. I like to describe it as a scrolling version of Geometry Wars.

What's with the "II" in the Zytron title? Is this game a sequel?

Yes it is. Zytron II is the sequel to my original 1990 C64 game Zytron Megablast, Sold though the classic Commodore 64 magazine of the time, Zzap64.

Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Zytron II

JoystiqThe Joystiq Indie Pitch: Zytron II originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 May 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiq-indie-pitchKevin-MurphypcTrinosisZytron-IISun, 20 May 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is welcoming a new member to Joystiq]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-is-welcoming-a-new-member-to-joystiq/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-is-welcoming-a-new-member-to-joystiq/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-is-welcoming-a-new-member-to-joystiq/#comments You may have noticed a shiny new name floating around our bylines today, true believers, and no, you are not suffering from amnesia nor are you the subject of a cruel life/reality simulation program. That name you see, "Mike Suszek," belongs to none other than our brand new, pine-fresh Weekend Editor, Mike Suszek.

This means that you'll be seeing a lot less of Jess Conditt and myself during the next couple of weekends as Mike settles into his new position, with the eventual goal being for Mike to take over the weekends entirely before too long.

Yes, that includes the Weekly Webcomic Wrapup, but we've still got at least one more weekend together, my darling readers. Come, let us cherish our remaining time together by reading these webcomics from last week, and voting for our favorites after the break.

Your Money or Your Life (Brawl in the Family)
The Deepest Pit of Hell (Virtual Shackles)
It takes a village (Extra Life)
Too Late (Nerf Now!!)
Masking Jape (Awkward Zombie)
Silence is Golden (GameOver Nation)
Deuce Duel (Hejibits)
You must win, my love (Magical Game Time)
Potion Purée (The Gamer Cat)
The Bitter End (Brentalfloss: The Comic)

Continue reading Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is welcoming a new member to Joystiq

JoystiqWeekly Webcomic Wrapup is welcoming a new member to Joystiq originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 May 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>webcomicSat, 19 May 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mario Tennis Open review: Holding court]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mario-tennis-open-review-holding-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mario-tennis-open-review-holding-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mario-tennis-open-review-holding-court/#comments ImageMario Tennis Open, like most of the Mushroom Kingdom's forays into the world of athletics, isn't really a sports game. All of the pieces are set in place to look like a tennis game, with a layer of Mario's signature whimsy on top, but the game itself is all rhythm and pattern recognition.

This simplicity makes it easy to pick up and play, with the unfortunate side effect of making it lose its challenge too quickly. It's a satisfying game and packs some exhilarating moments, but it exhausts its mechanics too soon.

Gallery: Mario Tennis Open (4/6/2012)

Continue reading Mario Tennis Open review: Holding court

JoystiqMario Tennis Open review: Holding court originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscamelot-softwaremario-tennis-3dsmario-tennis-opennintendoFri, 18 May 2012 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Joystiq Podcast 003: The Last Of Us, Diablo 3, Torchlight 2 Beta, E3 Judge's Week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/super-joystiq-podcast-003-the-last-of-us-diablo-3-torchlight/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/super-joystiq-podcast-003-the-last-of-us-diablo-3-torchlight/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/super-joystiq-podcast-003-the-last-of-us-diablo-3-torchlight/#commentsFiled under:

Image
The Super Joystiq Podcast goes to hell and back in another packed episode.

In the Previews segment, Xav and Ludwig discuss E3 Judge's Week, new details on The Last of Us, Max Payne 3 single-player, Infinity Blade: Dungeons, and more; Mike and Richard discuss their experiences with Diablo 3 and the Torchlight 2 beta in a new segment of Debate Club; Jess, Jordan, and Dave play Offspring Fling in a new approach to the Joystiq Research Institute (We've added Science!); and Alexander, JC, and Ben discuss this week's biggest news, including the 38 Studios debacle, Activision's legal issues, and THQ's financial woes.

Stay tuned to the end of the show to find out how you can win a copy of the Diablo 3: Collector's Edition! (Some rules and conditions apply, see after the break for details.) Also, make sure to follow the new @JoystiqPodcast Twitter feed for your shot at Torchlight 2 beta codes!

We told you this show would be Super.

Listen to the Super Joystiq Podcast:A stream of the show and details about each segment is available after the break.

Continue reading Super Joystiq Podcast 003: The Last Of Us, Diablo 3, Torchlight 2 Beta, E3 Judge's Week

JoystiqSuper Joystiq Podcast 003: The Last Of Us, Diablo 3, Torchlight 2 Beta, E3 Judge's Week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiq-podcastpodcastssuper-joystiq-podcastFri, 18 May 2012 15:00:00 ESTSuper Joystiq Podcast 003: The Last Of Us, Diablo 3, Torchlight 2 Beta, E3 Judge's WeekJoystiq2:04:49podcasts<![CDATA[The glory of Quest For Glory]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-glory-of-quest-for-glory/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-glory-of-quest-for-glory/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-glory-of-quest-for-glory/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This is a weekly column from freelancer Rowan Kaiser, which focuses on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
Last week, when GOG.com announced that Quest For Glory was the newest addition to its collection, I was delighted. In fact, I'm not sure that there's a game series that could have induced as much joy. I think some others, like Wizardry or a collection of old SSI games, might have been better and more important, sure. But I have more love for Quest For Glory than those other games. I'm not the only one, either: The Quest For Glory games are great games, yes, but they're also special games.

Quest For Glory is a five-title series of adventure/role-playing hybrids, with the first release in 1989, and the last in 1998. They were published by Sierra - a company whose fate was recently detailed to Joystiq by Leisure Suit Larry creator Al Lowe - and used similar interfaces and graphics as other adventures, such as King's Quest or Gabriel Knight, combined with combat systems that varied from game to game.

Being a genre hybrid is one of the surest ways to become a beloved game. Panzer General, Deus Ex, and Mass Effect are all crossover hits, thanks in part to combining role-playing with other genres. Quality hybrids manage to feel both fresh conceptually and comfortable to actually play, a winning combination.

Continue reading The glory of Quest For Glory

JoystiqThe glory of Quest For Glory originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2012 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcQuest-For-GlorySierrawestern-rpgsThu, 17 May 2012 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Joyswag & Unboxing: 'Collector's Edition' World of Warcraft Monopoly]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/joyswag-collectors-edition-world-of-warcraft-monopoly/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/joyswag-collectors-edition-world-of-warcraft-monopoly/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/joyswag-collectors-edition-world-of-warcraft-monopoly/#comments ImageUSAopoly and Blizzard have teamed up to develop a special, World of Warcraft-themed "Collector's Edition" Monopoly set, which lands at retailers tomorrow. Not only did we get a first look at the final product, the team at Joystiq is reluctantly giving it away to one lucky reader.

Get a detailed look at the WoW-themed Monopoly set in the Joystiq gallery below.

Entering the contest is easy! Just tell us where in Azeroth you'd buy the most real estate. Need some inspiration? Check out our latest coverage of WoW's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion.

Rules and conditions for this giveaway are listed after the break.

Gallery: Monopoly 'World of Warcraft Collector's Edition' Set

Continue reading Joyswag & Unboxing: 'Collector's Edition' World of Warcraft Monopoly

JoystiqJoyswag & Unboxing: 'Collector's Edition' World of Warcraft Monopoly originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2012 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBlizzardboard-gameJoyswagMonopolyusaopolyWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 17 May 2012 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Snapshot: Datura (PS3)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/snapshot-datura-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/snapshot-datura-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/snapshot-datura-ps3/#comments There are so many games out there we couldn't possibly review them all. Welcome to Snapshot, where we highlight games that might fall outside our usual coverage but are still something we think you should know about. Today: Datura for PS3.
Standing amongst fallen leaves in an unknown forest, a face stares at me from the side of a tree. It's not a real face, of course, only a mask. Expending considerable effort, I pry the mask from the tree, revealing a hollow behind it. Housed within the hollow is a small pickaxe. Upon grasping the handle, I black out.

I wake up in the middle of a frozen wasteland. Crawling along the hard surface, I clear away some snow with my forearm, exposing the ice underneath. It's not a wasteland at all; it's a lake. Beneath the ice is a golden chalice. A noise from behind prompts me to clear away more snow, exposing a horror underneath: A woman is trapped below the ice, and she's still alive.

The pickaxe still rests in my hand, so I immediately go to work, chipping away as the woman squirms against the surface. My heart pounds as the axe falls again and again, slowly cracking the ice. Finally, the ice gives way - directly beneath me - and I tumble into the chilly abyss, sinking down as I watch the light of sky recede into nothingness. Again, I awake in the forest, the mask in my hand, which I quickly discard.

This is a moment pulled directly from Datura. Did I do something wrong? Something right? I haven't got a clue.

Continue reading Snapshot: Datura (PS3)

JoystiqSnapshot: Datura (PS3) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daturamoveplasticplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnsnapshotThu, 17 May 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Last of Us demo offers a first look at Naughty Dog's direction]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-last-of-us-demo-offers-a-first-look-at-naughty-dogs-directi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-last-of-us-demo-offers-a-first-look-at-naughty-dogs-directi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-last-of-us-demo-offers-a-first-look-at-naughty-dogs-directi/#comments ImageDespite being a huge bummer for everyone involved, the end of the world can at least be counted on as a magnanimous source of drama and spectacle. Naughty Dog's latest game, The Last of Us, aims to leverage the studio's sophisticated technology and credible presentation to forge a more intense connection between players and their on-screen avatars. If it succeeds, your actions will stem from the same paranoia, hesitation and fierce bravery coming from Joel and Ellie, two survivors of modern civilization's mysterious closure.

Continue reading The Last of Us demo offers a first look at Naughty Dog's direction

JoystiqThe Last of Us demo offers a first look at Naughty Dog's direction originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DemoNaughty-Dogplaystationps3SCEASONYthe-last-of-usWed, 16 May 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rhode Island owns Amalur, all other 38 Studios intellectual property if studio defaults]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/rhode-island-owns-38-studios-intellectual-property/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/rhode-island-owns-38-studios-intellectual-property/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/rhode-island-owns-38-studios-intellectual-property/#comments If 38 Studios does shutter, beyond Rhode Island taxpayers having to pay off the $75 million bond (plus interest) through 2020, it appears the state will also own the intellectual property of the developer as a parting gift. Reviewing updated documentation released by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) today, it appears 38 Studios put up all present and future IP by the company as collateral.

According to the documentation, 38 Studios' intellectual property rights and other collateral were pledged to the RIEDC and assigned to a trustee, which we've confirmed by pulling Uniform Commercial Code documentation. Any proceeds made from the sale of the collateral would go back to the bondholders. This covers "all rights, title and interest in any projects, including video game projects," such as Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and "Project Copernicus" - the title currently in development at 38 Studios.

"Based on what information I've been able to review on the 38 Studios situation, it appears that the funds they received from the RIEDC were secured by collateral that amounts to all of 38 Studios assets, including all of their intellectual property," attorney and Law of the Game editor Mark Methenitis told Joystiq this afternoon. "That would include all the rights to Kingdoms of Amalur and any other games they may have in development, even if no information about those titles has ever reached the light of day."

Continue reading Rhode Island owns Amalur, all other 38 Studios intellectual property if studio defaults

JoystiqRhode Island owns Amalur, all other 38 Studios intellectual property if studio defaults originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studioscurt-schillingkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningmicrosoftpcplaystationps3Rhode-Islandrhode-island-economic-development-corporationxboxWed, 16 May 2012 16:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: I can never play Diablo 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/i-can-never-play-diablo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/i-can-never-play-diablo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/i-can-never-play-diablo-3/#commentsThis is an editorial based on Dave Hinkle's personal experiences with 2000's Diablo 2. Joystiq's review of Diablo 3 is still forthcoming.

It's not because I lack the requisite memory blocks and quantum computers to run Blizzard's latest, Diablo 3 - it's personal. You see, I'm genetically predisposed to Diablo. It's something I think about each and every day.

Diablo is a proper addiction to me. Diablo 2 is something I associate with the darkest moments of my life, when I skipped showers and seriously lived on Pop Tarts. My only comfort back then was the dim glow of the monitor and the random piece of treasure the game would occasionally drop for me as I toiled away hours doing nightmare-level Meph runs.

I have an addictive personality, as many of those who have met me in real life can attest. I eat horribly, can't seem to quit smoking cigarettes and have drunk to excess on occasion. The Diablo experience is like some kind of magical talisman created by the wizards of southern California that is meant to poke and prod that dark place inside me I actively ignore and deny every day of my life. Diablo brings out my greed and disdain for everything other than myself in the worst way.

But again, these are just words. They don't mean anything without examples, so I'm going to take you back to when I was in college and Diablo 2 ruined my life.

Continue reading Editorial: I can never play Diablo 3

JoystiqEditorial: I can never play Diablo 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionaddictionblizzarddiablo-2diablo-3macpcWed, 16 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 review: Running in place]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/sonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-2-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/sonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-2-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/sonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-2-review/#comments ImageSearching for the proper metaphor for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2, the best I can conjure is a glass of milk. There's nothing really wrong with it per se, but it's not exactly exciting either. It has some good qualities and is mildly refreshing, but when's the last you time you raved about a glass of milk?

Gallery: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 (5/15/12)

Continue reading Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 review: Running in place

JoystiqSonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 review: Running in place originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iosipadiphonemicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3sonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-2windows-phonexboxWed, 16 May 2012 11:15:00 EST