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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Combo Crew lets you beat 'em up with two fingers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/combo-crew-review-portabliss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/combo-crew-review-portabliss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/combo-crew-review-portabliss/#commentsThis is Portabliss, a column about downloadable games that can be played on the go.

Combo Crew lets you beat 'em up with two fingers
There was a time when the beat-em-up was king, a time when Streets of Rage, Final Fight and Golden Axe were at the top of the heap. Combo Crew on iOS and Android looks to return to those days, offering several unique fighters, lots of combos and plenty of bosses to bruise, clobber and otherwise pummel.

The impressive part is that it does all of that with just two fingers.

Continue reading Combo Crew lets you beat 'em up with two fingers

JoystiqCombo Crew lets you beat 'em up with two fingers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcombo-crewgame-bakersiosipadiphonemobileportablissthe-game-bakersTue, 18 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ridiculous Fishing creator reeling from Apple Design Award, talks TU]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/ridiculous-fishing-creator-reeling-from-apple-design-award-talk/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/ridiculous-fishing-creator-reeling-from-apple-design-award-talk/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/ridiculous-fishing-creator-reeling-from-apple-design-award-talk/#commentsRidiculous Fishing creator reeling from Apple Design Award, talks update Vlambeer founders Rami Ismail and Jan Willem Nijman didn't think Ridiculous Fishing would win an Apple Design Award. Sure, it was in the running, but it was a long shot, and they had other places to be during the ceremony at WWDC on June 10 (E3, anyone?). Just in case, they asked Ridiculous Fishing collaborator and indie extraordinaire Zach Gage to go to the show, and he did. In flip flops. And shorts. And Ridiculous Fishing won.

"Holy shit," Ismail laughed during our chat at E3. He was still getting over the fact that Ridiculous Fishing won an Apple Design Award, and that Gage collected it in what's commonly considered summer beach attire.

So far Ridiculous Fishing sales have hit the "hundreds of thousands," Ismail said, and after the Design Award, sales spiked again. Even Elijah Wood got hooked on Ridiculous Fishing - or, as Ismail put it, "The Hobbit played it!"

Continue reading Ridiculous Fishing creator reeling from Apple Design Award, talks TU

JoystiqRidiculous Fishing creator reeling from Apple Design Award, talks TU originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple-design-awardse3-2013iosipadiphonemobilerami-ismailridiculous-fishingtitle-updatevlambeerTue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Benjamin Rivers' Home spooking up iOS this Thursday, OSX this summer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/benjamin-rivers-home-spooking-up-ios-this-thursday-osx-this-su/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/benjamin-rivers-home-spooking-up-ios-this-thursday-osx-this-su/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/benjamin-rivers-home-spooking-up-ios-this-thursday-osx-this-su/#comments
One-man indie development studio Benjamin Rivers' side-scrolling pixel art horror game Home will be available for iOS devices this Thursday, June 20. The Universal App will cost $2.99 and feature new content, new terrifying environments to explore and updated story elements.

Rivers has also established a website to showcase the spooky real-world environments people play his game in - anyone who Tweets, Instagrams or Vines their eerie gaming location of choice using the hashtag #homehorror has a chance of making it into the collection.

Meanwhile, the OSX version of Home should be released sometime this summer, Rivers announced, adding that the improvements made for the iOS version of the game will be transferred to existing and future desktop versions at some point in the future.

Continue reading Benjamin Rivers' Home spooking up iOS this Thursday, OSX this summer

JoystiqBenjamin Rivers' Home spooking up iOS this Thursday, OSX this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>benjamin-rivershomehome-horrorhorrorindieiosipadiphonemacmobileTue, 18 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plants vs. Zombies 2: it's about time we talked freemium vs. premium]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/plants-vs-zombies-2-its-about-time-we-talked-freemium-vs-pre/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/plants-vs-zombies-2-its-about-time-we-talked-freemium-vs-pre/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/plants-vs-zombies-2-its-about-time-we-talked-freemium-vs-pre/#commentsPlants vs Zombies 2 really is about time traveling PopCap Games is known for making games that appeal to a mass audience, and perhaps none are more so than Plants vs. Zombies. The cute 'n clever tower defense game has connected with players of all ages and origins. A sequel, then, was inevitable, and after an announcement last year we finally got to see the game in action at E3 last week.

It's unfortunate, however, that much of the discussion around Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time, at least during the game's iOS launch, probably won't be around any of the great new content. There are new zombie enemies, new plants, three new worlds set in different time periods, touchscreen-centric powerups that allow you to throw zombies around or pinch them apart, and even a new "plant food" buff that gives each plant an extra burst of ability when used.

At launch, they'll probably all get lost in the mix, because there's one other big difference between the first Plants vs. Zombies and its sequel: PvZ 2 is a freemium game.

Continue reading Plants vs. Zombies 2: it's about time we talked freemium vs. premium

JoystiqPlants vs. Zombies 2: it's about time we talked freemium vs. premium originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2013eafreemiumiosipadiphonemobileplants-vs-zombies-2popcappopcap-gamesTue, 18 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Crytek dips its beautiful toes into iOS waters with 'The Collectibles']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/crytek-dips-its-beautiful-toes-into-ios-waters-with-the-collect/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/crytek-dips-its-beautiful-toes-into-ios-waters-with-the-collect/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/crytek-dips-its-beautiful-toes-into-ios-waters-with-the-collect/#commentsCrytek dips its beautifully rendered toes into the iOS waters Crytek is building an overhead, tactical action game called The Collectibles for iOS devices, 9 to 5 Mac reports. Crytek demoed The Collectibles at WWDC last week, played with a new, MFi-supported controller, the site says. MFi is Apple's new program that opens up the iOS SDK for game controller hardware and accessories.

The Collectibles has players command a team of five through the ruins of war in a jungle environment, as shown by a series of screenshots with the report. The Collectibles allows for touchscreen or controller play, or both simultaneously for some features.

The Collectibles doesn't officially exist yet. Crytek's most recent foray into our headlines was with Ryse: Son of Rome, a third-person action game coming to Xbox One. We got a chance to play it during E3 and found it more aggressive than expected.

JoystiqCrytek dips its beautiful toes into iOS waters with 'The Collectibles' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Crytekiosipadiphonemobilethe-collectiblesMon, 17 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Cave drops in on iOS this summer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/the-cave-drops-in-on-ios-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/the-cave-drops-in-on-ios-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/the-cave-drops-in-on-ios-this-summer/#commentsThe Cave drops in on iOS this summer The Cave, Double Fine's latest adventure game, is heading to iOS, Touchgen reports, citing a hands-on preview at E3 last week. Sega published The Cave on PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U in January, but clearly that's not enough, and the game is due out this summer on iOS.

The Cave on iOS doesn't have virtual analog sticks or buttons, but allows the player to tap and drag characters around the map, and choose characters with a poke on their respective icons along the bottom of the screen, the hands-on report notes.

The Cave features seven characters with murky morals and, at times, even murkier gameplay, we found. There's no word on how much the iOS version will cost, but the price shouldn't be any steeper than the walls of that deep, dark, sentient cave.

JoystiqThe Cave drops in on iOS this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>double-fineiosipadiphonemobileportSegathe-caveMon, 17 Jun 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Commander, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is on iOS June 20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/xcom-enemy-unknown-ios-june-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/xcom-enemy-unknown-ios-june-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/xcom-enemy-unknown-ios-june-20/#comments XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be available on iOS devices this Thursday, June 20, for $19.99. Commanders of the XCOM Project will now have mobile access across iPad 2+, iPhone 4S+ and fifth generation iPod touch devices.

The iOS XCOM is a the PC experience with the exception of the head-to-head multiplayer, which will be added at a later time as a free update.

Gallery: XCOM: Enemy Unknown (iOS)

JoystiqCommander, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is on iOS June 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Firaxis-Gamesiosipadiphonemobilexcom-enemy-unknownMon, 17 Jun 2013 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Forever reduces most freemium prices after Canadian beta]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/ultima-forever-drops-most-freemium-prices-after-canadian-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/ultima-forever-drops-most-freemium-prices-after-canadian-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/ultima-forever-drops-most-freemium-prices-after-canadian-beta/#commentsUltima Forever drops freemium prices mostly after Canadian beta Ultima Forever, being made by EA for iOS platforms, has received some major tweaks to its freemium currency prices. The RPG has been available in Canada as a beta for a while now, and producer Carrie Gouskos says the biggest change - besides performance adjustments - has been to the cost of things.

In the free-to-play RPG, your character has items that will break over time. You'll need to spend keys of various qualities (that can be earned in game, or purchased with real money) to repair those items.

Gouskos says player feedback made it clear that repair costs were too high, and repairs for the highest quality items have been lowered from about 60 keys to around 8 or 10. Additionally, the cost to increase storage space in your stash was lowered, as the team found it was a mistake to charge people an increasing cost for simply wanting to collect more of the game's items.

One price went up: The cost to loot the highest quality chests was raised a bit to make up for the decreased costs elsewhere. Gouskos also says that once players had good items on their characters, they tended not to loot as much as when they first started playing.

For her part, Gouskos says she's "worked too hard to have people not play" the game, so she's striving to make sure there's a way to play that's both free and fun. The team is still considering providing an optional "buyout" fee to essentially negate the game's freemium elements, but no matter how the final product works, says Gouskos, making the game fun takes priority over the tangled monetization model. If you want to make money from a freemium game, says Gouskos, "you've got to get people to love your game first."

JoystiqUltima Forever reduces most freemium prices after Canadian beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carrie-gouskose3-2013eafreemiumiosipadiphonemobilemodelmonetizationmythicultima-foreverFri, 14 Jun 2013 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Walking Dead 400 Days: Dissecting one of its stories at E3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-walking-dead-400-days-dissecting-one-of-its-stories-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-walking-dead-400-days-dissecting-one-of-its-stories-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-walking-dead-400-days-dissecting-one-of-its-stories-at-e3/#commentsThe Walking Dead 400 Days Dissecting the drama at E3 The Walking Dead's next episode, 400 Days, stars five different characters in five separate stories of survival during the zombie apocalypse, all tied together by a geographical locale: A truck stop. These newcomers offer a fresh perspective on the events in season one of The Walking Dead, but overall, Telltale's tone hasn't changed much.

"Aw, fuck."

Those are the first words that Vince, one of the five characters highlighted in 400 Days, says. He spits the phrase into a dark alley as he searches for a spot to stash his gun, police sirens blaring from down the street. The player gets to decide where Vince throws the pistol - the garbage, his pants, the roof - but it doesn't appear to affect where he ends up: chained to the floor of a prison bus, with a heartbroken statutory rapist in front of him and a white-collar, former millionaire behind, all latched on the same line.

Gallery: The Walking Dead - 400 Days (E3 2013)

Continue reading The Walking Dead 400 Days: Dissecting one of its stories at E3

JoystiqThe Walking Dead 400 Days: Dissecting one of its stories at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>400-dayse3e3-2013iosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3TelltaleTellTale-Gamesthe-walking-deadvitaxboxTue, 11 Jun 2013 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Walking Dead 400 Days due in July for $5, choices carry over]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-walking-dead-400-days-due-in-july-for-5-choices-carry-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-walking-dead-400-days-due-in-july-for-5-choices-carry-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-walking-dead-400-days-due-in-july-for-5-choices-carry-over/#commentsThe Walking Dead 400 Days due in July for $5 The new episode for Telltale's The Walking Dead, 400 Days, is set to launch in July for $5 on PC, Mac, XBLA, PSN and iOS. It'll hit Vita one month later, in August. That version will be bundled with the entire first season, for the first time ever on Vita.

That bundle is a good deal for fans of continuity - the decisions players made in the first season of The Walking Dead will show up in 400 Days, and the choices in 400 Days will impact season two, Telltale marketing man Richard Iggo said at E3. Players can start 400 Days without having played any of season one, but Iggo warned against it for those who want the full effect.

The DLC features five new characters in five separate stories, with a truck stop as their connective tissue. The truck stop is near events in season one of The Walking Dead, making it easy, geographically at least, to include previous player choices in 400 Days and beyond.

"Who knows, some of the characters that you meet might end up in season two," Iggo teased.

JoystiqThe Walking Dead 400 Days due in July for $5, choices carry over originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>400-daysDLCe3-2013iosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3TellTale-Gamesthe-walking-deadvitaxboxTue, 11 Jun 2013 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Magic 2014 launches June 26, according to Steam [Update: Trailer]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/magic-2014-launches-june-26-according-to-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/magic-2014-launches-june-26-according-to-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/magic-2014-launches-june-26-according-to-steam/#comments
Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers, the next installment in the Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers series, is set to launch on Steam June 26, according to the game's product page.

Magic 2014 is priced at $10, which falls in line with every other entry in the series. A special edition, which includes the game, soundtrack, five desktop wallpapers, a "Return to Ravnica" eBook and ten foil conversions, is also listed on the Steam page. Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers will launch on PC, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, iOS and Android this summer - this marks the first time the series will be available on Android.

[Thanks, Mitch]

JoystiqMagic 2014 launches June 26, according to Steam [Update: Trailer] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonemacmagic-2014-duels-of-the-planeswalkersmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3stainless-gameswizards-of-the-coastxboxTue, 11 Jun 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Walking Dead 400 Days DLC has five stories of (maybe) survival]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-walking-dead-400-days-dlc-has-five-stories-of-maybe-surviv/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-walking-dead-400-days-dlc-has-five-stories-of-maybe-surviv/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-walking-dead-400-days-dlc-has-five-stories-of-maybe-surviv/#comments

The Walking Dead "400 Days" DLC is on its way to XBLA, PSN (including Vita!), Steam, and iOS this summer. This fresh (see: not rotting) DLC includes the stories of five new survivors in the zombie apocalypse. Five times the fun! And death, probably.

JoystiqThe Walking Dead 400 Days DLC has five stories of (maybe) survival originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>400-daysDLCiosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3TelltaleTellTale-Gamesthe-walking-deadvitaxboxTue, 11 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft reveals Trials Fusion and Trials Frontier [update: Trailer and details]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/ubisoft-reveals-trials-fusion-and-trials-frontier/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/ubisoft-reveals-trials-fusion-and-trials-frontier/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/ubisoft-reveals-trials-fusion-and-trials-frontier/#comments Ubisoft revealed a pair of new Trials games during its E3 conference. First is Trials Fusion, a new game in the motocross racing/crashing series for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360 and PC. Meanwhile, Trials Frontier is for mobile devices. Each version will interact with one another in some way.

Both games are due in 2014.

Update: Ubisoft has provided a few more details. Fusion will be "tet in a shining vision of what our future could be, where technology and nature co-exist." It also promises "social and visual breakthroughs." Frontier, meanwhile, sounds like the Trials formula adapted for touchscreen platforms, though Ubisoft does call it a "a unique social racing game."

JoystiqUbisoft reveals Trials Fusion and Trials Frontier [update: Trailer and details] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androide3-2013iosipadiphonemicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3ps4trials-frontiertrials-fusionubisoftxboxxbox-oneMon, 10 Jun 2013 19:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Game Center redesigned for iOS 7, coming this fall]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/game-center-redesigned-for-ios-7-coming-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/game-center-redesigned-for-ios-7-coming-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/game-center-redesigned-for-ios-7-coming-this-fall/#commentsGame Center gets a redesign in iOS 7 Game Center will get a visual overhaul with the latest update to Apple's iconic mobile operating system, it was revealed during WWDC today. Apple aims to curb cheating through more secure game scores and support for ranking-style leaderboards. It's also added a new Sprite Kit tool to help developers create games, and Apple's adding game controller support for the "Made for iPhone" standard. The new Game Center will be a part of iOS 7, which is due out later on this fall.

[Note: Current Game Center app image presented above.]

JoystiqGame Center redesigned for iOS 7, coming this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applegame-centeriosios-7ipadiphonemobileMon, 10 Jun 2013 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Deus Ex: The Fall is a cyber Renaissance faire for touchscreens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/deus-ex-the-fall-is-a-cyber-renaissance-faire-for-touchscreens/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/deus-ex-the-fall-is-a-cyber-renaissance-faire-for-touchscreens/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/deus-ex-the-fall-is-a-cyber-renaissance-faire-for-touchscreens/#commentsDeus Ex The Fall is Cyber Renaissance fare for touchscreens Deus Ex is, by nature, a complicated game. You can start by simply moving around a level: There's cover to move in and out of, and stealth movement requires good timing and precision. Then, there's all of the abilities you have, from using various gadgets and weapons to choosing your bio-implants and playing the hacking mini-games. That's a lot of buttons. In making Deus Ex: The Fall for iOS devices, Square Enix Mobile was given the task of putting all those functions into a device that has only one button.

In that respect, the most exciting news about this game is that it works. For the most part, that is. You can't hide bodies, for one thing.

Gallery: Deus Ex: The Fall (iOS)

Continue reading Deus Ex: The Fall is a cyber Renaissance faire for touchscreens

JoystiqDeus Ex: The Fall is a cyber Renaissance faire for touchscreens originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buttonsdeus-exdeus-ex-the-falldeveloperse3-2013eidos-montrealinteractiveiosipadiphonemobilesquare-enixsquare-enix-mobiletouchscreenFri, 07 Jun 2013 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ron Gilbert's Scurvy Scallywags sings a salty sea shanty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/scurvy-scallywags-review-portabliss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/scurvy-scallywags-review-portabliss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/scurvy-scallywags-review-portabliss/#commentsThis is Portabliss, a column about downloadable games that can be played on the go.

Ron Gilbert's Scurvy Scallywags sings a salty sea shanty
Ron Gilbert's Beep Games has a new game out on iOS called Scurvy Scallywags (subtitle: In the Voyage to Discover the Ultimate Sea Shanty), and it's a match-three puzzle game with light RPG elements and plenty of pirate humor. It's only 99 cents in the App Store right now, and that's probably all of the inspiration you need to go and download it, right matey?

Oh all right, ye lousy landlubbers, I can put an X on yer treasure maps for ye. Scallywags is a bit of pirate-infused joy. It's a simple game with mechanics that don't always light the cannon fuse, but it's got enough charm, depth, and solid fun to justify the very cheap cost of admission.

Plus, there are real sea shanties included.

Gallery: Scurvy Scallywags

Continue reading Ron Gilbert's Scurvy Scallywags sings a salty sea shanty

JoystiqRon Gilbert's Scurvy Scallywags sings a salty sea shanty originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iosipadiphonemobileportablisspuzzleron-gilbertscurvy-scallywagsscurvy-scallywags-in-the-voyage-to-discover-the-ultimate-sea-shaultimate-sea-shantyFri, 07 Jun 2013 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 2 designer brings ChronoBlade to browsers, Ouya, iOS, Android]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/diablo-2-designer-brings-chronoblade-to-browsers-ouya-ios-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/diablo-2-designer-brings-chronoblade-to-browsers-ouya-ios-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/diablo-2-designer-brings-chronoblade-to-browsers-ouya-ios-and/#comments
NWay, a studio founded by Grand Theft Auto creator Dave Jones and former Realtime Worlds president Tony Harman, is bringing a new action RPG called ChronoBlade to browsers, Ouya, iOS and Android. To throw another big name onto the pile, the game is being designed by Stieg Hedlund, the designer behind Diablo 2.

ChronoBlade combines traditional loot-collecting action RPG concepts with 2D beat-em-up gameplay. The game takes place in a "multiverse" setting consisting of many different dimensions, allowing it to include styles ranging from medieval fantasy to steampunk.

A demo should launch on Ouya next week, and an open beta of the browser version is expected to launch later this month. Check out a developer diary after the break.

Continue reading Diablo 2 designer brings ChronoBlade to browsers, Ouya, iOS, Android

JoystiqDiablo 2 designer brings ChronoBlade to browsers, Ouya, iOS, Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidchronobladeiosipadiphonemacmobilenwayouyapcThu, 06 Jun 2013 19:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Ron Gilbert's Scurvy Scallywags plots course to iOS today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/psa-ron-gilberts-scurvy-scallywags-plots-course-to-ios-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/psa-ron-gilberts-scurvy-scallywags-plots-course-to-ios-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/psa-ron-gilberts-scurvy-scallywags-plots-course-to-ios-today/#comments
Ron Gilbert's latest, Scurvy Scallywags in The Voyage to Discover the Ultimate Sea Shanty, launches on iOS today as a universal app for $.99. Scurvy Scallywags is a pirate-themed match-three game with RPG elements. Players explore themed islands, match symbols and collect treasure. Oh, the life of a pirate!

Iconic game designer Ron Gilbert is best known for his time at LucasArts back in the '90s, where he helped to create Maniac Mansion and the first two Monkey Island games. This year, Ron Gilbert completed a stint at Double Fine Productions working on co-op adventure game The Cave.

Gallery: Scurvy Scallywags

Continue reading Ron Gilbert's Scurvy Scallywags plots course to iOS today

JoystiqRon Gilbert's Scurvy Scallywags plots course to iOS today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beep-gamesiosipadiphonemobileron-gilbertscurvy-scallywagsThu, 06 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Minecraft: Pocket Edition updated with alpha Realms support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/minecraft-pocket-edition-updated-with-alpha-realms-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/minecraft-pocket-edition-updated-with-alpha-realms-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/minecraft-pocket-edition-updated-with-alpha-realms-support/#commentsMinecraft Pocket Edition updated with alpha Realms support Mojang has released an update for the iOS and Android versions of Minecraft: Pocket Edition, adding preliminary support for the online cooperative Realms mode.

Realms mode supports online play for up to 10 simultaneous players within a single world, allowing friends to collaborate on projects and/or raise havoc together. The alpha version of Realms is currently free, and will be an optional paid service in future updates.

The latest Pocket Edition update also adds features such as buckets, eggs, milk, cake and fire to the game, making it important to keep an eye out for pyromaniacs among your online guests. Maybe they'll play nice if you bake them all cakes beforehand? Just an idea.

JoystiqMinecraft: Pocket Edition updated with alpha Realms support originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphoneMinecraftminecraft-pocket-editionminecraft-realmsmobilemojangWed, 05 Jun 2013 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Plants vs. Zombies 2 blooms on iOS July 18, is free-to-play]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/plants-vs-zombies-2-blooms-on-ios-july-18-is-free-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/plants-vs-zombies-2-blooms-on-ios-july-18-is-free-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/plants-vs-zombies-2-blooms-on-ios-july-18-is-free-to-play/#comments
Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time launches (projectiles) on July 18 for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, and it's free-to-play. As the launch trailer indicates, the tagline's Joystiq-level clever wordplay relates to worlds set in different times. Going by the trailer, PvZ2's time travel plans include The Wild West, Ancient Egypt, and The Future.

In-game purchases include upgrades and other items, but Popcap says "the vast majority of the game will be entirely free-to-play," and that "players can face every zombie and access every level in every world at no cost."

Continue reading Plants vs. Zombies 2 blooms on iOS July 18, is free-to-play

JoystiqPlants vs. Zombies 2 blooms on iOS July 18, is free-to-play originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAiosipadiphonemobileplants-vs-zombies-2popcaprelease-dateMon, 03 Jun 2013 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Terraria taps into iOS, Android, Windows Phone this summer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/02/terraria-taps-into-ios-android-windows-phone-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/02/terraria-taps-into-ios-android-windows-phone-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/02/terraria-taps-into-ios-android-windows-phone-this-summer/#commentsTerraria coming to iOS, Android and Windows Phone this summer Terraria already dug up the dirt on PC, XBLA and PSN, and this summer it's heading to tablets and phones - specifically iOS, Android and Windows Phone 8, 505 Games confirmed to Polygon following an initial announcement on Terraria Online.

Terraria mobile will have leaderboards, achievements and Facebook integration, and it's in development by Codeglue, with a complete revamp for touchscreen interfaces. Codeglue is responsible for Rocket Riot on XBLA, iOS and Windows Phone, and this year's PSN and Steam platformer, ibb & obb.

Terraria is still on its way to Vita this summer, ported by Engine Software.

JoystiqTerraria taps into iOS, Android, Windows Phone this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcodeglueiosipadiphonemobileterrariawindows-phoneSun, 02 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Karateka Classic adapts vintage martial artistry]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/karateka-classic-adapts-vintage-martial-artistry/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/karateka-classic-adapts-vintage-martial-artistry/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/karateka-classic-adapts-vintage-martial-artistry/#commentsThis is Portabliss, a column about downloadable games that can be played on the go.

Karateka Classic is Karatik City come alive
It's rare for an iPhone adaptation of a classic game to work out at all; rarer still for said adaptation to be preferable to the original. Jordan Mechner's faithful iOS/Android port of Karateka accomplishes this task handily, partly because of convenient portability, and partly because of nice new features.

But more than anything else, Karateka Classic succeeds because the original's controls weren't that great to begin with. Karateka is, when you get right down to it, a game about shuffling your feet up to your opponent, and then mashing on the kick buttons until he falls over. Like every other pre-Street Fighter 2 fighting game, attacks are slow and connecting depends not so much on timing or frame counting, but the will of some capricious computer god.

Continue reading Karateka Classic adapts vintage martial artistry

JoystiqKarateka Classic adapts vintage martial artistry originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosiphonekaratekakarateka-classicmobileportablissFri, 31 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tetris creator debuts iOS puzzler Marbly]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/tetris-creator-debuts-ios-puzzler-marbly/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/tetris-creator-debuts-ios-puzzler-marbly/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/tetris-creator-debuts-ios-puzzler-marbly/#commentsTetris creator debuts iOS puzzler iMarblyi This week brings the App Store release of Marbly, an iOS puzzle game designed by famed Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov.

Marbly is a match-three puzzler in which the object is to remove all marbles from the game board in as few moves as possible. The game includes over 180 puzzles across three gameplay modes, and offers Game Center achievements and leaderboards.

Marbly is developed by WildSnake Software, itself named after another Pajitnov creation. WildSnake notes that Marbly is the first game in a series of planned mobile app collaborations with Pajitnov.

JoystiqTetris creator debuts iOS puzzler Marbly originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexey-pajitnoviosipadiphonemobilewildsnake-softwareFri, 31 May 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Curiosity: A worthwhile shame]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/curiosity-a-worthwhile-shame/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/curiosity-a-worthwhile-shame/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/curiosity-a-worthwhile-shame/#comments I played Curiosity: What's Inside the Cube.

I played it for a few hours over the course of its six-month lifespan. I feel a small amount of shame in confessing this, shame that I don't feel about anything else I've ever played - not Hooters Road Trip, not Dragon Power, nor any of the other terrible things I've subjected myself to. At least those things were games. Curiosity is a repetitive chore with a thin layer of "game" over it. It's gamification, applied to nothing.

But despite making fun of it relentlessly - and, on a couple of occasions, even simultaneously while making fun of it - I tapped cubes. My ironic detachment failed, and I couldn't help but buy into the hype on some level, at least enough to participate.

I admit that even though I knew it was a dumb game predicated on a promise from someone notorious for hyperbolic and unfulfilled promises, the novelty of the "life-changing prize" intrigued me. And so I joined thousands of strangers in helping some guy scratch off the world's most annoying lottery ticket.

Continue reading Curiosity: A worthwhile shame

JoystiqCuriosity: A worthwhile shame originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>22-Cans22Cansandroidcuriosityiosipadiphonemobilepeter-molyneuxFri, 31 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[You Don't Know Jack on Ouya June 11, JackPad app makes phone a controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/you-dont-know-jack-on-ouya-june-11-jackpad-app-makes-phone-a-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/you-dont-know-jack-on-ouya-june-11-jackpad-app-makes-phone-a-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/you-dont-know-jack-on-ouya-june-11-jackpad-app-makes-phone-a-c/#comments On June 11, Jellyvision's popular trivia series, You Don't Know Jack, will make its debut on Ouya. An 11-question multiplayer episode is free to sample, and for $10 you can add 20 new episodes.

A free companion app for iOS and Android called JackPad will be available alongside the game. JackPad turns your mobile device into an additional controller, so you don't need four Ouya controllers to play multiplayer.

Ouya was slated to launch at retail on June 4 but was recently pushed back to June 25. Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman told Joystiq this three-week delay was in order to meet higher than expected demand.

Continue reading You Don't Know Jack on Ouya June 11, JackPad app makes phone a controller

JoystiqYou Don't Know Jack on Ouya June 11, JackPad app makes phone a controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonejackpadjellyvisionmobileouyayou-dont-know-jackFri, 31 May 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Phoenix Wright Trilogy HD settles on the App Store today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/psa-phoenix-wright-trilogy-hd-settles-on-the-app-store-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/psa-phoenix-wright-trilogy-hd-settles-on-the-app-store-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/psa-phoenix-wright-trilogy-hd-settles-on-the-app-store-today/#commentsPSA Phoenix Wright Trilogy HD settles on the App Store today Just to clear up any lingering confusion, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy HD is available on the App Store right now, after being delayed from fall to July, and then moved back up to May 30. That's today, and the game is definitely out.

The iOS trilogy includes the first three Phoenix Wright games, Ace Attorney, Ace Attorney Justice for All, and Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations. The initial two episodes of the first game, Ace Attorney, are free, and the remaining three episodes in that game are $6. The following two games are $7 each, or there's a pack that includes all of the games and all episodes for $17.

Got all that? Dang, legalese is confusing.

JoystiqPSA: Phoenix Wright Trilogy HD settles on the App Store today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 May 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iosipadiphonemobilePhoenix-Wright-Ace-Attorneyphoenix-wright-ace-attorney-trilogy-HDThu, 30 May 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Miiverse update lets web users post and edit profiles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/miiverse-update-lets-web-users-post-and-edit-profiles/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/miiverse-update-lets-web-users-post-and-edit-profiles/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/miiverse-update-lets-web-users-post-and-edit-profiles/#commentsMiiverse update allows web users to post After coming to smartphones and tablets last month, the web version of Miiverse now allows users to post as well as browse. You still need the GamePad stylus if you want to doodle all over the Wii U's social network, but this week's update does bring other welcome features.

The web version now lets users follow and unfollow profiles, display friends and followers, and adjust profile and Miiverse settings. Also, for those curious about the Wii U world but without a Nintendo Network ID, any Miiverse post is viewable even if you're not signed in, as long as you have the URL. Test that out by clicking that source thingamajig just below.

JoystiqMiiverse update lets web users post and edit profiles originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 May 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonemiiversemobilenintendopcwii-uThu, 30 May 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[XCOM iOS multiplayer to be added after launch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/xcom-ios-multiplayer-to-be-added-after-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/xcom-ios-multiplayer-to-be-added-after-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/xcom-ios-multiplayer-to-be-added-after-launch/#comments The iOS version of XCOM: Enemy Unknown will launch with the full single-player experience seen on consoles and PC, with multiplayer modes following later.

"We're sort of focusing our design resources on the single-player experience. We're certainly going to provide [multiplayer] after launch," XCOM: Enemy Unknown designer Jake Solomon tells Joystiq. "The single-player is what we really - we know that for it to feel like XCOM, the single-player needs a lot of our focus. So we're playing, giving feedback, making sure it feels nice and polished. It's just we're focusing our resources on single-player first."

2K Games is tentatively slating XCOM: Enemy Unknown for launch on iOS sometime this summer. Pricing is still being determined, though Solomon says the game will exact an up-front fee and won't hinge on in-app purchases.

Gallery: XCOM: Enemy Unknown (iOS)

JoystiqXCOM iOS multiplayer to be added after launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 May 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesfiraxis-gamesiosipadiphonemobilexcom-enemy-unknownThu, 30 May 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jake Solomon on XCOM iOS and the 'happy accident' of mobile strategy games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/jake-solomon-on-xcom-ios-and-the-happy-accident-of-mobile-stra/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/jake-solomon-on-xcom-ios-and-the-happy-accident-of-mobile-stra/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/jake-solomon-on-xcom-ios-and-the-happy-accident-of-mobile-stra/#comments "This isn't just like a port to a new platform," XCOM: Enemy Unknown designer Jake Solomon tells me over the phone. "From a development angle, this is one of the - and I honestly can't think of another experience except for The Walking Dead - where it's a game, a AAA game that we just put out on consoles, and we're putting the whole thing out to tablet. This is something that I can't take any design credit for, but turn-based strategy games work really well on mobile devices. It's sort of a happy accident, in that sense."

The project can be traced back to the time when Firaxis was finishing up its work on XCOM: Enemy Unknown for PC and consoles. 2K China presented a version of the game running on iOS, and from there Firaxis would work with them on the portable incarnation due this summer. It features the full functionality seen on other platforms, thanks to the Unreal foundation that has played nice with iOS since late 2010.

"Without Unreal, it certainly wouldn't have been possible," Solomon says.

Gallery: XCOM: Enemy Unknown (iOS)

Continue reading Jake Solomon on XCOM iOS and the 'happy accident' of mobile strategy games

JoystiqJake Solomon on XCOM iOS and the 'happy accident' of mobile strategy games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesfiraxis-gamesiosipadiphonejake-solomonmobilexcom-enemy-unknownThu, 30 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Abducted brings alien adventure to PC, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android this summer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/abducted-brings-alien-adventure-to-pc-mac-linux-ios-and-andro/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/abducted-brings-alien-adventure-to-pc-mac-linux-ios-and-andro/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/abducted-brings-alien-adventure-to-pc-mac-linux-ios-and-andro/#comments
You might think you're having a bad day, but Eve has got you beat. She woke up in a strange world with an alien computer embedded in her arm. Eve is the main character of Abducted, an upcoming episodic adventure from Sunside. Abducted promises a mix of action-adventure, horror and RPG elements, and the trailer for the first episode shows off some lovely extraterrestrial visuals.

The game is available for pre-order now via Sunside's website, with an expected release late this summer. Those who pre-order the Collector's Edition will receive early access to the Abducted beta.

Available platforms will include PC, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android (including Ouya). Sunside also says that its in-house Radiance engine can support Xbox and PS3, though no official release has been announced for those platforms. If you'd like to see Abducted on Steam, you can give it a push on Greenlight.

JoystiqAbducted brings alien adventure to PC, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 May 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abductedandroidiosipadiphonemacmobileouyapcThu, 30 May 2013 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Badland levels available now, more coming soon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/new-badland-levels-available-now-more-coming-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/new-badland-levels-available-now-more-coming-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/new-badland-levels-available-now-more-coming-soon/#comments The weird but gorgeous iOS platformer, Badland, has ten new levels available now. The new levels introduces more powerups and puzzles for your little flying critter to take on. All of the new content is free in the update, and developer Frogmind says more will come in late June or early July.

Badland recently won the Nordic Game Conference's Indie Sensation award, and boasts over 150,000 players according to Frogmind. You can download Badland, with this free update, on the App Store for $3.99.

JoystiqNew Badland levels available now, more coming soon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 May 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badlandcontentfrogmindfrogmind-gamesiosipadiphonemobilenordic-game-conferenceWed, 29 May 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's what's going to be at E3's IndieCade]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/heres-whats-going-to-be-at-e3s-indiecade/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/heres-whats-going-to-be-at-e3s-indiecade/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/heres-whats-going-to-be-at-e3s-indiecade/#commentsHere's what's going to be at E3's IndieCade IndieCade organizers announced this year's lineup of PC, mobile, and PS Vita games that will be featured at the committee's upcoming E3 showcase event.

IndieCade's E3 booth will spotlight indie-produced PC efforts like Mousechief's 7 Grand Steps, Robot Loves Kitty's Legend of Dungeon, and Muse Games' Guns of Icarus Online. PS Vita offerings include Honeyslug's Hohokum and a previously unannounced port of thatgamecompany's Flower.

Many featured games will also appear at the main IndieCade festival event in October. A full rundown of IndieCade's E3 lineup is after the break below.

Continue reading Here's what's going to be at E3's IndieCade

JoystiqHere's what's going to be at E3's IndieCade originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androide3indiecadeiosipadiphonemacmobilepcplaystationplaystation-vitavitaWed, 29 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Curiosity's Godus prize is temporary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/curiositys-godus-prize-is-temporary/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/curiositys-godus-prize-is-temporary/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/curiositys-godus-prize-is-temporary/#comments Scotland's Bryan Henderson may be the god of all gods in Godus, but for all his godliness his godly status isn't eternal. As revealed by 22 Cans' Peter Molyneux to Rock Paper Shotgun, Henderson, who won the Godus prize by discovering what was inside the Curosity cube, will dictate the god game's rules for something "approaching a year" after its release, as well as earn a portion of its income.

After that time, developer 22 Cans will reveal how he can be usurped, and someone will indeed usurp him. Also, the length of Henderson's reign may depend on Kickstarter backers' impressions of the god game and how all this madness comes together throughout alpha and beta testing.

"It didn't seem right to me that Bryan would be god of gods for all time," Molyneux told Rock Paper Shotgun. "It seems right to me that he has a period of time to be god of gods, and that can't just be a few days. It needs to be substantial. And in that time, many things could happen. And of course, the amount of physical money he gets depends on how successful the game is."

Continue reading Curiosity's Godus prize is temporary

JoystiqCuriosity's Godus prize is temporary originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcuriositygodusiosipadiphonemacmobilepcPeter-MolyneuxWed, 29 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[999 unlocked on iOS in Japan minus puzzles, English version set for autumn]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/999-unlocked-on-ios-in-japan-minus-puzzles-english-version-set/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/999-unlocked-on-ios-in-japan-minus-puzzles-english-version-set/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/999-unlocked-on-ios-in-japan-minus-puzzles-english-version-set/#comments Spike Chunsoft released 999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors on iOS this week, and the room escape thriller is fleeing onto iPads and iPhones in Japan. However, it's not a complete port of the DS game which came to North America in 2010. Spike Chunsoft chose to remove the puzzle gameplay on iOS, placing the focus on the story as a visual novel.

In the puzzles' stead, the iOS version offers a comic book-style presentation (see below) and a new flowchart, similar to the one in sequel Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward, that lets you jump to different points within the plot.

While the iOS version is currently Japan-only, 999 lead writer and director Kotaro Uchikoshi said on Twitter that he thinks an English version "will also be released by autumn." There's no official word from Spike Chunsoft as yet, but given how both 999 and Virtue's Last Reward made their way west, a successful breakout across the ocean looks promising.

Gallery: 999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors (iOS)

Joystiq999 unlocked on iOS in Japan minus puzzles, English version set for autumn originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>999-9-hours-9-persons-9-doorsiosipadiphonejapanmobilerelease-datespike-chunsoftWed, 29 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rex Rocket Kickstarter ends at nearly $11,000]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/rex-rocket-kickstarter-ends-at-nearly-11-000/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/rex-rocket-kickstarter-ends-at-nearly-11-000/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/rex-rocket-kickstarter-ends-at-nearly-11-000/#comments Rex Rocket, the Mega Man meets Metroid action-platformer, reached the end of its Kickstarter over the weekend. Originally seeking just $6,000, a goal it met at the beginning of May, the funding drive closed at $10,987 this past Sunday. That put the project just shy of its $11,000 stretch goal, which the developer - now known as Castle Pixel - has decided to unlock anyway. The goal will put the game on Linux, and it will also allow backers at the $10 level or higher to contribute info that will be stored in nodes throughout the SS Montana, Rex Rocket's massive ship.

Rex Rocket is aiming for a January 2014 launch on PC. In addition to the Linux port, Castle Pixel is trying to release the game on as many platforms as possible, including Mac, Vita, 3DS, Wii U, Ouya, iOS and Xbox Live Indie Games. If you'd like to play it on Steam, you might consider giving it a thumbs up on Greenlight.

JoystiqRex Rocket Kickstarter ends at nearly $11,000 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 May 2013 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsiosipadiphonekickstartermacmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitarex-rocketvitawii-uTue, 28 May 2013 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Cave Story creator's Gero Blaster delayed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/cave-story-creators-gero-blaster-delayed/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/cave-story-creators-gero-blaster-delayed/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/cave-story-creators-gero-blaster-delayed/#comments
Daisuke Amaya and Studio Pixel's Gero Blaster isn't going to hop onto iPhones this month. The side-scroller starring a lovestruck frog was originally pinned for May, but with the month quickly depleting, Cave Story and Ikachan creator Amaya announced he's "decided to postpone it." While he didn't disclose a new release window, Amaya noted the delay isn't to overhaul the game, but to tweak it.

"Previously, I've remade my work a few times before its completion," Amaya said. "This time, however, is for improving it and not remaking it. I am now doing my best for the completion to make it a more fun and exciting game."

Gero Blaster stars Kaeru, a frog running-and-gunning to rescue his cat girlfriend. As for when this croak tale of interspecies love is likely to arrive, Amaya said he'll let fans know once he has an approximate idea.

JoystiqCave Story creator's Gero Blaster delayed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 May 2013 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daisuke-amayadelaygero-blasteriosiphonemobilestudio-pixelTue, 28 May 2013 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy Tactics S launches in Japan on iOS, Android]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/final-fantasy-tactics-s-launches-in-japan-on-ios-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/final-fantasy-tactics-s-launches-in-japan-on-ios-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/final-fantasy-tactics-s-launches-in-japan-on-ios-android/#comments
Square Enix deployed the latest Final Fantasy Tactics variant this week. Tactics S is a free-to-play Mobage spin-off, and it's available in Japan now on iOS and Android.

Tactics S features more than 300 character jobs from the grid-based strategy series, and two new ones in the form of Air Samurai and Musician. You can build up clans for use in both single-player quests and in multiplayer battles against other clans, with online tournaments held on a daily basis.

In its fiscal year review, Square Enix said it will increasingly target smartphone and tablet games. The company cited Mobage game Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade, recently released in North America and Europe, as a "satisfactorily profitable" example. So, while there's no word on Tactics S traversing the oceans, don't be too surprised if it reaches western shores at some point down the line.

JoystiqFinal Fantasy Tactics S launches in Japan on iOS, Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 May 2013 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddenafinal-fantasy-tactics-siosipadiphonemobagemobilerelease-datesquare-enixTue, 28 May 2013 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Evilot takes Plants vs. Zombies to Triple Town]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/review-evilot-ios-portabliss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/review-evilot-ios-portabliss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/review-evilot-ios-portabliss/#commentsThis is Portabliss, a column about downloadable games that can be played on the go.

Portabliss Evilot
Plants vs. Zombies has long been one of the most popular titles on the App Store (or any platform it's been released on, really), but PopCap has only recently revealed a sequel set to arrive in another month or so. In all that time, then, it's not surprising that game developers have "borrowed" PopCap's casual tower defense formula, where you build up units in lanes to defend against an oncoming horde. Samurai Bloodshow is one of the best pretenders to the throne, and there are other games like Legendary Wars that took PopCap's premise and ran far with it.

Evilot also belongs in the second category. It's a recently released iPad game that has a very clear resemblance to the longtime battle of flowers against the undead, in that enemy troops come in by lanes from the right, and you need to build up units to defend treasure on the left. But while Plants vs. Zombies uses a straightforward currency system to build up its units, Evilot borrows a core mechanic from another great iOS title: Triple Town.

Continue reading Evilot takes Plants vs. Zombies to Triple Town

JoystiqEvilot takes Plants vs. Zombies to Triple Town originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 May 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chilechileanevilotiosipadiphonemobileplants-vs-zombiespopcap-gamesportablissreviewsyrenaicatriple-townMon, 27 May 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Heavy Gear Assault adds single-player, Oculus Rift to Kickstarter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/26/heavy-gear-assault-adds-single-player-oculus-rift-to-kickstarte/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/26/heavy-gear-assault-adds-single-player-oculus-rift-to-kickstarte/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/26/heavy-gear-assault-adds-single-player-oculus-rift-to-kickstarte/#comments

Heavy Gear Assault has swapped out its parts and announced new goals for its fundraising project, including single-player episodes and Oculus Rift support. Stompy Bot Productions is looking to raise $800,000 on Kickstarter and has donation options on its own site. Currently the game has generated $26,000 with 33 days to go on Kickstarter.

At $800,000, Heavy Gear Assault will now get episode one of an offline, single-player campaign. Episode two is a stretch goal of $900,000, episode three is at $950,000, and at $1 million, Stompy Bot will throw together a single-player/co-op mission generator.

This weekend, Stompy Bot announced Heavy Gear Assault will support Oculus Rift, but has yet to divulge information regarding a development schedule or how that affects fundraising.

JoystiqHeavy Gear Assault adds single-player, Oculus Rift to Kickstarter originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 26 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfundraisingheavy-gear-assaultiosipadiphonekickstartermacmobileoculus-riftpcsingle-playerstompy-bot-productionsSun, 26 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Molyneux's Curiosity cube concludes [Update: Winner's video added]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/26/molyneuxs-curiosity-cube-concludes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/26/molyneuxs-curiosity-cube-concludes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/26/molyneuxs-curiosity-cube-concludes/#comments
22 Cans' Curiosity: What's Inside the Cube ended today, revealing a live stream of tweets using the hashtag #whatsinsidethecube to the public. Peter Molyneux noted via Twitter that the last person to chip away at the cube is located in the UK, and was the sole person to see what's actually at the middle of the cube, which is seemingly a link to a video and more than just a collection of tweets.

"The winner should have a message on their cube now!!! Asking them to email a special email address, hope they share," Molyneux tweeted.

Curiosity launched in November 2012 on the App Store, and had players around the globe chipping away at pixel-like squares on the multi-layered cube to collectively get to its core. We will update as we learn what was really inside the cube, providing the winner decides to share it with the world.

Update: The video given to the winner of Curiosity has been shared by Molyneux and 22 Cans, and can be seen above.

Update 2: Spoiler alert! The prize for the winner of Curiosity, as outlined in the video by Molyneux himself, is that they "will be the god of all people that are playing Godus. You will intrinsically decide the rules that the game is played by." Godus is a god game in development by 22 Cans, which received over $852,000 in Kickstarter funding for the project in late December 2012.

Molyneux added that the winner, a certain Bryan Henderson of Edinburgh, Scotland, will also "share in the success of the product," in that "every time people spend money on Godus, [he] will get a small piece of that pie." Molyneux said he'll reveal details on how the prize will be carried out at a later date.

JoystiqMolyneux's Curiosity cube concludes [Update: Winner's video added] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 26 May 2013 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>22Canscuriositycuriosity-whats-inside-the-cubegodusiosipadiphonemobilePeter-MolyneuxSun, 26 May 2013 11:54:00 EST