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[Xbox One's Kinect discerns heartbeat and who has the controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-ones-kinect-discerns-heartbeat-and-who-has-the-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-ones-kinect-discerns-heartbeat-and-who-has-the-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-ones-kinect-discerns-heartbeat-and-who-has-the-controller/#comments The Xbox One's next-generation Kinect has a greater interest in your facial features, and is capable of discerning your identity, even if you hand off the controller.

In a brief demonstration in one of its Kinect testing rooms, Microsoft showed press how the Kinect kept track of two player profiles, each tied to a controller in use. When Player 1 and Player 2 swap controllers, the Xbox One is able to recognize which profile is the new Player 1. The Kinect also monitors the position of players, meaning it can match portions of split-screen games to the side of the screen at which that player is looking. This may also translate to fighting games, which is good news if you're the sort to get confused when your spot in the couch isn't aligned with your character. [Update: The Xbox One controller itself shouldn't go without credit, as it houses an infrared LED that helps with pairing and identification.]

Microsoft also demonstrated a few more tricks made possible by the new Kinect's enhanced sense of depth, its greater field of view - which does make closer gaming in smaller apartments a more feasible - its ability to see in the dark via infrared, and its flattering scrutiny of facial features. By examining your face's skin color and transparency, the Kinect and Xbox One are able to estimate your current heart rate. Whether or not someone puts that information to good use in Kinect games or fitness programs is another matter, as we've learned from Nintendo's flatlined "vitality sensor."

Valve has experimented with biometric data in games too, adjusting game difficulty, objectives and timers in response to the player's physical state. With a Kinect shipping alongside every Xbox One, and assuming the camera is relatively accurate, biometric influence over gameplay may become less esoteric in the near future.

Gallery: Xbox One (Official shots)

JoystiqXbox One's Kinect discerns heartbeat and who has the controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biometricskinectmicrosoftxboxxbox-onexbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Year Wane: The challenges facing Batman in Arkham Origins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/batman-arkham-origins-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/batman-arkham-origins-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/batman-arkham-origins-preview/#comments
Batman: Arkham Origins follows the world's most enduring vigilante after just two years on the job. The developers at Warner Bros. Montreal, taking over from Rocksteady Studios and their critically acclaimed construction of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, want to convey a "rawer, scarier Batman." He's all growl and grimace in the cutscenes, dangling squirming henchmen from clock towers until they turn verbose, but in play his rookie temper is more difficult to detect.

The prequel is a tricky proposition, especially when it concerns history that's been dissected again and again across comics, movies and games. It's harder to conjure narrative tension while it's colored by the inevitable outcome, and that draws greater scrutiny on mechanical expansion and refinement. Why does this younger Batman make for a better Batman game?

Gallery: Batman: Arkham Origins (5/20/13)

Continue reading Year Wane: The challenges facing Batman in Arkham Origins

JoystiqYear Wane: The challenges facing Batman in Arkham Origins originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batman-arkham-originse3-2013microsoftnintendopcplaystationps3warner-bros-montrealwii-uxboxMon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Just jargon through Remember Me]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/just-jargon-through-remember-me/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/just-jargon-through-remember-me/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/just-jargon-through-remember-me/#comments
Join Joystiq in the streets of Neo-Paris and the intricate pathways of the mind in this Remember Me video preview. Dontnod's memory-focused action game features strategic battle jeans, "remembrane buoys" and even more dubiously named plot devices, if you can believe it.

Remember Me launches for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on June 4.

[Video production: Miguel Concepcion]

Gallery: Remember Me (2/14/13)

JoystiqJust jargon through Remember Me originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 May 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adriftdontnoddontnod-entertainmentmicrosoftpcplaystationps3remember-mevideo-previewxboxFri, 17 May 2013 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Last of Us: Bricks, bottles and a few bullets]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/the-last-of-us-bricks-bottles-and-a-few-bullets/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/the-last-of-us-bricks-bottles-and-a-few-bullets/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/the-last-of-us-bricks-bottles-and-a-few-bullets/#commentsThe Last of Us preview When "survival" is trotted out as a game genre, it usually comes with implicit caveats. Developers often seem scared of the player, fearful of the controller-crushing outrage that surely results when a game constricts resources, punishes careless actions and dares to craft a deliberately unpleasant experience.

The Last of Us is a crafty, tense experience in which my attempts to attack bandits and disfigured creatures head-on usually resulted in a gruesome death. Upon starting a two-level demonstration of the game, I only had two bullets in my pistol - missing a headshot felt like a catastrophe. Surprise and caution enable success, just as cynical protagonist Joel constantly tells Ellie, a young girl who hasn't yet been turned dour by the terrible state of the world.

To grasp what's most important in The Last of Us, and what it might deem valuable in comparison to other games that blend stealth, scavenging and shooting, I asked Naughty Dog designer Ricky Cambier for some general survival strategies.

Gallery: The Last of Us (04/17/13)

Continue reading The Last of Us: Bricks, bottles and a few bullets

JoystiqThe Last of Us: Bricks, bottles and a few bullets originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 May 2013 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationps3the-last-of-usFri, 17 May 2013 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Nvidia Shield: Joystiq goes hands-on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/nvidia-shield-joystiq-goes-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/nvidia-shield-joystiq-goes-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/nvidia-shield-joystiq-goes-hands-on/#comments
The Nvidia Shield arrives next month for $349.99, and yesterday I got to sit down with the final version of the hardware. The first thing I noticed was the heft: bulkier than a PS Vita, but no less comfortable.

Where the PS Vita sacrificed bigger buttons for smaller form factor, the Nvidia Shield takes a lot of inspiration from the Xbox 360 controller. In fact, the left and right triggers feel identical to the Xbox 360 and, more or less, so does the d-pad. The one big difference from Microsoft's gamepad is the symmetrical analog sticks.

Gallery: NVIDIA Shield (Hands-on)

Continue reading Nvidia Shield: Joystiq goes hands-on

JoystiqNvidia Shield: Joystiq goes hands-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidmobilenvidianvidia-shieldproject-shieldTue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Co-op stealth and survival in Splinter Cell: Blacklist]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/co-op-stealth-and-survival-in-splinter-cell-blacklist/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/co-op-stealth-and-survival-in-splinter-cell-blacklist/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/co-op-stealth-and-survival-in-splinter-cell-blacklist/#comments
Despite being the boss of his own intelligence team, Fourth Echelon, Sam Fisher is still keen to go it alone on most missions in Splinter Cell: Blacklist. For those special outings, he'll need a partner.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist's co-op consists of narrative missions, pulled directly from Sam's subordinates on board the Paladin - a massive plane and base of operations for Fourth Echelon in Splinter Cell: Blacklist. Missions will run the gamut from stealthy to more action-focused affairs and in-between, forcing coordination and cooperation in order to reach the next objective.

Or, in my case, simply survive.

Gallery: Splinter Cell: Blacklist (5/7/13)

Continue reading Co-op stealth and survival in Splinter Cell: Blacklist

JoystiqCo-op stealth and survival in Splinter Cell: Blacklist originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftnintendopcplaystationps3splinter-cell-blacklistubisoftubisoft-torontowii-uxboxTue, 07 May 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spies vs. Mercs evolved in Splinter Cell: Blacklist]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/spies-vs-mercs-evolved-in-splinter-cell-blacklist/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/spies-vs-mercs-evolved-in-splinter-cell-blacklist/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/spies-vs-mercs-evolved-in-splinter-cell-blacklist/#comments Splinter Cell: Blacklist's Spies vs Mercs mode offers a sense of claustrophobic fear that few multiplayer games have been able to offer. It's an asymmetrical assault mode where one team of heavily-armed mercenaries attempts to defend three terminals from nimble spies attempting to hack in and steal the ones and zeros within.

No matter which side you're on, when one terminal is being hacked, all of the conflict and chaos is focused like a laser to one room where the mercenaries must hunt for the original hacker to stop the countdown. You can't leave that room until the job is done - either the terminal is hacked or the hacker has been dealt with. It's about the most tense 90 seconds I've been asked to endure in a video game.

Gallery: Splinter Cell: Blacklist (5/7/13)

Continue reading Spies vs. Mercs evolved in Splinter Cell: Blacklist

JoystiqSpies vs. Mercs evolved in Splinter Cell: Blacklist originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftnintendopcplaystationps3spies-vs-mercssplinter-cell-blacklistubisoftubisoft-montrealwii-uxboxTue, 07 May 2013 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Three points of view on Grand Theft Auto 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/three-points-of-view-on-grand-theft-auto-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/three-points-of-view-on-grand-theft-auto-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/three-points-of-view-on-grand-theft-auto-5/#comments Los Santos, a sub-urbane simulacrum of the auto-dependent Los Angeles, is the foundation for Rockstar North's next big heist, Grand Theft Auto 5. The studio's job is to create, not acquire: build the biggest playground yet, and fill it with more, more, more things to do.

The first thing we do is jump out of a helicopter. The mountains and snaking rivers below almost obscure the fact that there's a city just around the corner. Serenity is a rare quality in Grand Theft Auto, though I know the parachute is precursor to an inevitable descent into mayhem.

Later, protagonists Trevor, Michael and Franklin clear out an armored van in the dead of night, having blocked its route with a stolen truck. The police start arriving en masse, in waves, and Rockstar shows me the ease at which you can switch between your criminals. While Michael and wheelman Franklin are pinned down behind cover, you can leap into a manic Trevor and snipe from a distant tower.

The elaborate shootout demonstrates refinements in motion, combat and cover, Rockstar says. The driving is supposed to feel better too - another sign of the expected trajectory of improvement of the Grand Theft Auto series. Rockstar North aims to improve its monster of a game at every known level, from motion-captured walking animations and gunplay, ambiance, writing, and story-driven activities outside of the main plot. I haven't seen enough (or played any) to say how it all fits together, but there are three alterations that could put Grand Theft Auto 5 on your radar, even if, like many of Rockstar's subjects, you've been trying to elude a dour life.

Continue reading Three points of view on Grand Theft Auto 5

JoystiqThree points of view on Grand Theft Auto 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 May 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>grand-theft-auto-5gta5microsoftplaystationps3rockstarrockstar-northxboxThu, 02 May 2013 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Lessons from Metroid: Spending some time with A.N.N.E.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/anne-kickstarter-moise-breton-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/anne-kickstarter-moise-breton-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/anne-kickstarter-moise-breton-interview/#comments Lessons from Metroid Spending some time with ANNEAt the opening of Super Metroid, a gunship rockets through space, eventually descending to the surface of the planet Zebes. A hatch opens, and bounty hunter Samus Aran slowly rises from the ship amidst the rain and lightning of an alien world. It's one of the most memorable moments of the 16-bit era, but it left Moise Breton with a question: Why doesn't she ever get back in the ship?

Last September, after Moise (Mo for short) left Activision's Quebec Spider-Man studio, Beenox, he decided to find the answer. The result is A.N.N.E., a game that cobbles together and improves upon some of Mo's favorite video game ideas. A 2D, open-world adventure, ANNE pulls inspirations from a broad spectrum of games, including Metroid, Mega Man, Contra, Gradius and Cave Story - though the latter is mostly coincidence, he says. Much like Samus, our robotic hero, Number 25, uses his abilities to take down enemies, finding numerous upgrades and uncovering new areas along the way. Unlike Samus, his ship is a constant companion, transporting him from place to place, blasting monsters from the sky and forging new paths.

After launching a Kickstarter and posting an impressive reveal trailer, things have "exploded all at once," Mo tells me, and he's very excited. Based on the short demo I played, you should be too.

Gallery: ANNE

Continue reading Lessons from Metroid: Spending some time with A.N.N.E.

JoystiqLessons from Metroid: Spending some time with A.N.N.E. originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annegamesbymokickstartermacmoise-bretonnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitawii-uFri, 26 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Total War: Arena's ongoing quest to reshape competitive strategy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/total-war-arena-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/total-war-arena-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/total-war-arena-preview/#comments Creative Assembly has a good thing going with its Total War franchise. For seven games now, it's been remarkable successful at combining real-time tactics and turn-based strategy, making money and consistently expanding its studio. Their next game, Rome 2: Total War, a sequel to the most beloved game in the franchise, is as close to a sure thing as exists in the game industry. But the game after that? That's Total War: Arena, announced at the Game Developers Conference, and it's a major risk, one with even greater potential reward.

Create Assembly has enough confidence in its games and its audience that the reveal wasn't a movie or demo of the game. Instead, it used a set of abstract illustrations to demonstrate its ideas for Arena. A few of these examples used Rome 2 assets, and that game will provide the initial base for Arena, but it wasn't graphics that were announced.

Total War: Arena will be an online battle between teams of a maximum of ten players apiece, with the individual players controlling up to three units. It will be free-to-play, with in-game experience and currency used to upgrade your units or purchase new ones. The monetization scheme will be based on purchasing "accelerators" which will help you gain experience and/or currency quicker, as opposed to pay-to-win or gated content.

Continue reading Total War: Arena's ongoing quest to reshape competitive strategy

JoystiqTotal War: Arena's ongoing quest to reshape competitive strategy originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcthe-creative-assemblytotal-wartotal-war-arenaThu, 25 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon welcomes you to the retro party]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-welcomes-you-to-the-retro-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-welcomes-you-to-the-retro-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-welcomes-you-to-the-retro-party/#comments Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon welcomes you to the retro partyIf Far Cry 3's grim tale of survival was a poor fit for the game's exotic, often preposterous antics, there are no such fears for its seemingly disconnected spin-off. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is nothing short of ridiculous, and deliberately so. Ubisoft's standalone shooter celebrates the endearingly excessive sci-fi action of a bygone era in entertainment, when men wore cyber-armor over cyber-arms and when eyes glowed red.

An animated introduction transports us to the post-apocalyptic near future... of 2007. Our new cyborg hero is sent to an island to take out a rogue terrorist group - full of evil cyborgs. The intro has music so pungent of Terminator 2 that I half expect it to tell me it'll be back, and the first 10 or so minutes are filled with references to sci-fi and action movies from in and around the 1980s. Blood Dragon pays homage to an era full of sci-fi missteps and overblown heroes exuding machismo.

Gallery: Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (4/18/13)

Continue reading Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon welcomes you to the retro party

JoystiqFar Cry 3: Blood Dragon welcomes you to the retro party originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>far-cry-3-blood-dragonmicrosoftpcplaystationps3PSNsteamubisoftubisoft-montrealXBLAXBLMxboxTue, 23 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Defacing dungeons in The Legend of Zelda 3DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/defacing-dungeons-in-the-legend-of-zelda-3ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/defacing-dungeons-in-the-legend-of-zelda-3ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/defacing-dungeons-in-the-legend-of-zelda-3ds/#comments The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past 2 preview A link to the pasteLink has the ability to flatten himself and slide along walls in the upcoming 3DS sequel to the cherished SNES adventure, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Think of it as wallpaper in honor of the protagonist, or as living graffiti defacing the dungeon's interior.

It's a new mechanic (likely one of several) that never felt forced in my ascent up a seven-story tower, and pushed me to think differently about the rigid environment.

Gallery: The Legend of Zelda (New 3DS game)

Continue reading Defacing dungeons in The Legend of Zelda 3DS

JoystiqDefacing dungeons in The Legend of Zelda 3DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsnintendothe-legend-of-zeldathe-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-pastthe-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-2Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mayor for a day in Animal Crossing: New Leaf]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/animal-crossing-new-leaf/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/animal-crossing-new-leaf/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/animal-crossing-new-leaf/#comments As I stepped off the train to embark on my new life in my new Animal Crossing: New Leaf town, I was greeted by a party of citizens who immediately proclaimed me the mayor.

Did I kill the old mayor on the train before arriving and assume their identity? How was I elected mayor when I'm not even a registered resident of this town, a point that isn't even brought up during my registration process? Clearly I had been elected to public office, unprepared and unqualified for the job.

Continue reading Mayor for a day in Animal Crossing: New Leaf

JoystiqMayor for a day in Animal Crossing: New Leaf originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsanimal-crossing-3dsanimal-crossing-new-leafnintendoThu, 18 Apr 2013 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ouya: Hands-on with the user interface]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/ouya-hands-on-with-the-user-interface/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/ouya-hands-on-with-the-user-interface/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/ouya-hands-on-with-the-user-interface/#comments
Earlier this week, we took a look at the Ouya hardware that began shipping to Kickstarter backers last month. Now, join us as we delve into the software that makes the little console tick. We should have a broader review of our experience with the Ouya within the coming days.

JoystiqOuya: Hands-on with the user interface originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidmobileouyaThu, 11 Apr 2013 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Laika Believes preview: The robot space dog with a heart of gold]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/laika-believes-preview-the-robot-space-dog-with-a-heart-of-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/laika-believes-preview-the-robot-space-dog-with-a-heart-of-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/laika-believes-preview-the-robot-space-dog-with-a-heart-of-gold/#comments Believing in Laika BelievesMinicore Studios is a small indie developer in Austin, TX, and it's making an alternate history game about the first dog in space. The game is called Laika Believes, but unlike the legitimately terrible fate that befell the real Laika, Minicore's version of history represents something a bit more hopeful, despite its dystopian overtones.

In this universe, Laika survived her trip into orbit and returned to Earth with robotic augmentations, somehow transformed into a capable canine war machine. Why exactly this happened remains uncertain, though her mysterious metamorphosis hasn't changed her into a mindless killing machine. If anything, Laika's conversational skills are just as important as the various weapons mounted on her back.

Gallery: Laika Believes (Concept Art)

Continue reading Laika Believes preview: The robot space dog with a heart of gold

JoystiqLaika Believes preview: The robot space dog with a heart of gold originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GDC-2013laika-believesMinicore-StudiospcWed, 10 Apr 2013 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ouya: Joystiq takes a closer look]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/ouya-joystiq-takes-a-closer-look/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/ouya-joystiq-takes-a-closer-look/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/ouya-joystiq-takes-a-closer-look/#comments
We're still composing our thoughts on our Ouya Kickstarter console - expect more on that later this week - but in the meantime we thought we'd give the Joystiq biomass a look at the diminutive hardware and its accompanying controller.

Ouya's Kickstarter backers started receiving their consoles on March 28. The console's public launch is slated for June.

Note: Quick correction on the above video, Ouya has not actually promised to make the controller faceplates more secure before the console's launch. The company has only stated that it is "considering" the possibility.

JoystiqOuya: Joystiq takes a closer look originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidmobileouyaWed, 10 Apr 2013 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyteller preview: In the eye of the beholder]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/storyteller-preview-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/storyteller-preview-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/storyteller-preview-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder/#comments Storyteller at GDC"Wait, save that. No one's done it that way before. You made it more complicated."

Daniel Benmergui reached out to grab the mouse and save a screenshot of my panels in his comic-book narrative game, Storyteller, where I had just concocted a tale of love and loss based on the page's prompt, using a trio of static characters. One click and Benmergui let me regain control - he resumed his place over my shoulder in a quiet room off of the main GDC concourse, paper and pen in hand, taking notes on my visible thought processes as they played out on-screen.

It didn't feel as if he were judging me for any missteps or silly lapses in narrative logic - In Storyteller, there are no right or wrong answers, as long as the setting is satisfied. It's up to the player to concoct her own story, based on prompts such as "Adam is heartbroken but recovers," "Tim betrays Adam for money but kills himself out of regret" and "A mother murders her own daughter out of jealousy."

Continue reading Storyteller preview: In the eye of the beholder

JoystiqStoryteller preview: In the eye of the beholder originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcomic-bookcomicsdaniel-benmerguigraphic-novelIndieiosipadmacmobilepcpuzzlestorytellerThu, 04 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anomaly 2 preview: Tug o' war]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/anomaly-2-preview-tug-o-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/anomaly-2-preview-tug-o-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/anomaly-2-preview-tug-o-war/#comments Anomaly 2 presents multiplayer for the first time in the series, pitting human-attacking convoys against stationary alien emplacements. The deciding factor in victory is points - the alien side must defend its generators and build harvesters to mine points away from the human side, while the humans aim to simply destroy every alien present.

It's a frantic tug of war as each side desperately scans the battlefield for vulnerability in the others' ranks. As the humans, ignoring harvesters, purchasing the wrong units or failing to sell and swap out units at integral times will easily spell death. The aliens have an arguably tougher job and lack the resources to build up defenses across the entire map, so it's more about predicting where the humans will go and taking care to build harvesters at the right time.

Gallery: Anomaly 2

Continue reading Anomaly 2 preview: Tug o' war

JoystiqAnomaly 2 preview: Tug o' war originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11bit-studiosanomaly-2gdc-2013linuxmacpcSat, 30 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rome 2 looks to continue building Total War's empire]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/rome-2-looks-to-continue-building-total-wars-empire/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/rome-2-looks-to-continue-building-total-wars-empire/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/rome-2-looks-to-continue-building-total-wars-empire/#commentsRome 2 looks to continue building Total War's empire Showing off a strategy game like Total War: Rome 2 at a convention can't be easy. With only so much time to show off to the awaiting journalists, games have to rely on spectacle. Yet the greatness of Total War derives from longer play sessions. There, the series' two halves - tactical battlefields and grand strategic decisions - work in harmony. Those moments are impossible to achieve in a single gameplay demonstration, but developer Creative Assembly still has to make that attempt, which it did, with the historical Battle of Teutoburg Forest.

The most notable part of the demonstration was that the game's graphics are fantastic, but that's also the least surprising aspect of a new Total War game. After all, the Total War series has taken major leaps forward in graphics ever since its inception over a decade ago. 2011's Shogun 2 may still look great, but Rome 2 appears to surpass it. The background geography, like the trees, cliffs, and marshes look particularly detailed, while the soldiers had a slightly grittier, less cartoonish look than their samurai counterparts.

It was left to a question and answer session after the demo with three of Rome 2's developers to understand what might make this installment particularly interesting. Much of what they said indicated that they understood the series' flaws and were actively working to fix them. Although not directly stated, many of their statements implied a move away from micromanagement, the bane of Total War and many other strategy games.

Gallery: Total War: Rome 2 (10/4/12)

Continue reading Rome 2 looks to continue building Total War's empire

JoystiqRome 2 looks to continue building Total War's empire originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Creative-AssemblyGDC-2013pcSegatotal-war-rome-2Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ouya: Joystiq goes hands-on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/ouya-joystiq-goes-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/ouya-joystiq-goes-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/ouya-joystiq-goes-hands-on/#comments Handson with OuyaFor being such a little thing, the Ouya is surprisingly heavy. The Kickstarter unit I tested was etched with the names of $10,000 backers, Minecraft creator Notch at the top of the list. Ouya's development kit (the ODK) is in the hands of 8,000 developers, Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman told me. "New games are getting loaded every single day, all different types of genres."

The hardware is finalized, she said, having been improved over the original development kits based on developer suggestions. With units now shipping to Kickstarter backers, the next two months will be spent improving the software prior to the official public launch in June. "Like every other sort of typical software platform, it's always going to continue to evolve, and we'll add more features and functionality."

Gallery: Ouya (GDC 2013)

Continue reading Ouya: Joystiq goes hands-on

JoystiqOuya: Joystiq goes hands-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgdc-2013julie-uhrmanmobileouyaThu, 28 Mar 2013 23:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Crawling in the dark in Among the Sleep]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/crawling-in-the-dark-in-among-the-sleep/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/crawling-in-the-dark-in-among-the-sleep/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/crawling-in-the-dark-in-among-the-sleep/#comments My demo of Among the Sleep begins in complete darkness, the sound of rain pattering a window somewhere. A woman informs me that it's time for bed and begins to sing a lullaby. The music stops and I open my eyes. Rising above me are the unmistakeable bars of a crib. I am a child, and my mother is missing.

The next thing I see is my teddy bear slowly moving away from me - by itself. It slides to the back of the crib and up the bars. No, that's not quite right. It's being dragged out of the crib by some invisible force, which proceeds to carry it across the room and out the door.

Gallery: Among the Sleep (Screenshots and Concept Art)

Continue reading Crawling in the dark in Among the Sleep

JoystiqCrawling in the dark in Among the Sleep originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>among-the-sleepgdcgdc-2013krillbite-studiopcThu, 28 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Divekick preview: The two-button brawler]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/divekick-preview-the-two-button-brawler/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/divekick-preview-the-two-button-brawler/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/divekick-preview-the-two-button-brawler/#comments Divekick preview The twobutton brawlerIron Galaxy Studios' Divekick, which started out as a purely independent Kickstarter success story, pokes fun at the aspects of the fighting genre that people both love and loathe. It competes well in the genre it trivializes, and it does so with both hands in its pockets.

The build I played at PAX East used a fight stick with two buttons slightly larger than the palms of my hands. That underscores the key ingredient to Divekick: it introduces an appropriate level of depth for a fighter that only uses two forms of input. Smacking one button down would tell my character to jump in the air, while the other had them hopping backwards. Combinations of these buttons resulted in jumping in the air and kicking downward at an angle, or activating a character-specific ability when the "kick meter" filled up. Successfully kicking my opponent just once in the cat-and-mouse fighter won a round, with the match going to the first character to win five rounds.

Instead of memorizing button combinations, the playing field is leveled for all combatants, as timing is everything in this game. I found myself adopting familiar fighting game strategies, attempting to lure my opponent in before nailing them with a quick hop and kick. Other times, I would close the gap between us with a high vertical jump and kick, a risky proposition given the amount of time available for my enemy to counter. Kicking my opponent in the head wasn't just satisfying, it was a tactic that carried over to the next round, as the player suffering the blow began the first four seconds of the round in a daze. The daze slowed their movements, giving me a clear, but not absolute advantage.

Gallery: Divekick (3/27/13)

Continue reading Divekick preview: The two-button brawler

JoystiqDivekick preview: The two-button brawler originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>divekickFightingiron-galaxyiron-galaxy-studiospax-eastPAX-East-2013pcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitaThu, 28 Mar 2013 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime preview: Don't die alone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/lovers-in-a-dangerous-spacetime-preview-dont-die-alone/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/lovers-in-a-dangerous-spacetime-preview-dont-die-alone/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/lovers-in-a-dangerous-spacetime-preview-dont-die-alone/#comments Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime preview Don't die alone"Death may be a given, but at least you don't have to face it alone!"

Despite the deeply morbid implications behind that statement from Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime's description blurb, it perfectly belies the beauty of the game, an adorable neon micro-platformer about rescuing cuddly creatures from bad robots, shooting lasers at metallic jellyfish while flying through space, and dying alongside your partner after all of these ridiculous, futile trials.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime looks too cute to be depressing, but in the end, the gameplay is simply a mad rush to delay the inevitable. I played a co-op round with a new friend in GDC's IGF booth, and together we attempted to save planets of birds and rabbits from a hostile robot invasion, while fending off attacks on all sides of our circular spaceship.

The ship itself contains a mini platforming landscape, with myriad ladders and levels that the two lovers must navigate to operate the ship's weapons, its shield and the steering. With a controller, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime uses two buttons and one analog stick for all of its mechanics: One player jumps into the cockpit and steers the ship by sliding a single thruster around its outer rim, and the other player runs around, operating the shield and one of five weapons systems, whether that be lasers, turrets or superlasers.

Continue reading Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime preview: Don't die alone

JoystiqLovers in a Dangerous Spacetime preview: Don't die alone originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asteroid-baseGDCGDC-2013igfigf-2013lovers-in-a-dangerous-spacetimemacpcThu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Throwing cars: Tanking with Doomsday in Infinite Crisis]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/throwing-cars-tanking-with-doomsday-in-infinite-crisis/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/throwing-cars-tanking-with-doomsday-in-infinite-crisis/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/throwing-cars-tanking-with-doomsday-in-infinite-crisis/#comments
I'm not a huge comic book fan, so the instant appeal of Infinite Crisis' DC universe setting isn't as pronounced for me as it may be for others. I do, however, enjoy the occasional round of League of Legends, and my affection for Awesomenauts has been made quite clear. In that respect, Infinite Crisis shows a lot of promise. The game tweaks the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) formula in several key areas, changing the way that currency is earned and offering environments with plenty of interactive touches.

Now, if I were a huge comic book fan, I'd probably tell you that I played as Doomsday. I'd also tell you that I killed Poison Ivy by crushing her with a car, and it was awesome. If I were a comic book fan.

Gallery: Infinite Crisis

Continue reading Throwing cars: Tanking with Doomsday in Infinite Crisis

JoystiqThrowing cars: Tanking with Doomsday in Infinite Crisis originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>infinite-crisispcturbineTurbine-Entertainmentwarner-brosWed, 27 Mar 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Charlie Murder preview: Anarchy in the XBLA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/charlie-murder-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/charlie-murder-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/charlie-murder-preview/#comments Charlie Murder preivew Anarchy in the XBLAFor the second year in a row, I spent far too much time playing Charlie Murder at PAX East. As part of the Indie Megabooth, Ska Studios' exhibit belonged to a larger group, one of dozens of in-development, independent games, and this year it was directly across from Supergiant's high-profile premiere, Transistor. Still, Charlie Murder stood out. Its gritty punk rock style caught my eye - again - and the co-op, beat-em-up gameplay was so gripping that it almost made me late for a following appointment.

Charlie Murder is a punk game from conception to execution, with a soundtrack composed and performed by James and Michelle Silva, the duo of Ska Studios. No, it's not a ska soundtrack.

Charlie Murder is a side-scrolling beat-em-up with heavy RPG elements, including character customization, loot and unique ability upgrades. It stars five playable characters, each with disparate strengths and powers, and all of them making up the in-game band Charlie Murder.

Gallery: Charlie Murder (PAX East 2013)

Continue reading Charlie Murder preview: Anarchy in the XBLA

JoystiqCharlie Murder preview: Anarchy in the XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charlie-murdermicrosoftpax-eastPAX-East-2013ska-studiosxboxMon, 25 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Contrast preview: Shadow puppet theater]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/contrast-preview-shadow-puppet-theater/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/contrast-preview-shadow-puppet-theater/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/contrast-preview-shadow-puppet-theater/#comments Contrast preview Once upon a time there was a young girl with a troubled home life who took solace in the imaginary universe she dreamed up when she was alone. We've heard this story before, told in variant forms by Guillermo del Toro, Lewis Carroll and Zack Snyder, but Compulsion Studios puts a new twist on the tale with Contrast.

Didi, an inquisitive 9-year-old living with her mother in a 1920s noir world, manufactures a landscape of shadows populated by her lone, best friend, Dawn. Dawn is a young woman, more mature and powerful than Didi, and has the ability to shift between the real and shadow worlds. In Didi's reality, Dawn can climb shadows as if they were solid ground, allowing her to scale areas unreachable by flesh characters. She interacts with few real-world objects, and people, aside from Didi, are invisible to her -- only their silhouettes exist.

Contrast is a puzzle platformer, starring Dawn as she shifts between shade and density, helping Didi as she follows her mother through the dark city streets. The game is infused with jazz and tainted innocence: Didi's mom, the cabaret singer; her dad, absent; and a decrepit circus, just rolling into town.

Gallery: Contrast

Continue reading Contrast preview: Shadow puppet theater

JoystiqContrast preview: Shadow puppet theater originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compulsion-studioscontrastpax-eastpax-east-2013pcSTEAMsteam-greenlightSun, 24 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TMNT: Out of the Shadows, Away From the Comforter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/tmnt-out-of-the-shadows-away-from-the-comforter/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/tmnt-out-of-the-shadows-away-from-the-comforter/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/tmnt-out-of-the-shadows-away-from-the-comforter/#comments You kids and your rainy rooftop anti-heroes. Back in my day, we had to make do with the Teenage Mutant 'Hero' Turtles, a tubular gang of brightly drawn crime fighters that spread dude-lingo across comics, cartoons and - if you were lucky - curtains.

In Europe and Africa we got 'hero' instead of 'ninja,' mainly to soften the violent imagery conjured by the covert assassins of feudal Japan. That's clearly the wrong message for a show hinged on the improper disposal of disgusting, mutagenic waste in a densely populated city.

The 1980s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon had its charms, more so in the dreadful puns and pizza worship than the fangless fighting. The combat was high in energy, but the turtles trounced their foes with creative knockouts and garbage can lids repurposed as offensive cymbals. The violence was masked in environmental euphemism, and that may be why it isn't explored in much depth whenever the turtles appear in a video game.

Gallery: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Continue reading TMNT: Out of the Shadows, Away From the Comforter

JoystiqTMNT: Out of the Shadows, Away From the Comforter originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcplaystationps3psnred-flyteenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-out-of-the-shadowstmnt-out-of-the-shadowsxblaxboxFri, 22 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Transistor preview: A beautiful, tactical twist on action-RPG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/transistor-preview-a-beautiful-tactical-twist-on-action-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/transistor-preview-a-beautiful-tactical-twist-on-action-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/transistor-preview-a-beautiful-tactical-twist-on-action-rpg/#comments Red is a fallen star, beautiful and talented yet broken and nearly defeated - until she finds the Transistor. In Supergiant Games' demo of Transistor, Red stumbles upon this giant, pulsating sword immediately, embedded in the gut of a corpse. The Transistor speaks with the voice of that dead man, urging her to take it and run. She does, with little hesitation; Red may have known this dead man once, as suggested by the stream of apologies and compassion overlaid on the gameplay.

Transistor is gorgeous, seemingly hand-painted in muted neons backlit by futuristic skylines, similar in style to Supergiant's first game, Bastion. It plays, at first, with similar mechanics, as Red uses her initial two attacks to take down two robotic members of The Process, the main enemies of Transistor. In Red's world, more than 100 people have gone missing in the past year, and the imprints of the dead litter the streets, lorded over by floating white robots with glaring red sensors.

Gallery: Transistor

Continue reading Transistor preview: A beautiful, tactical twist on action-RPG

JoystiqTransistor preview: A beautiful, tactical twist on action-RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pax-eastPAX-East-2013supergiant-gamestransistorFri, 22 Mar 2013 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Fan nostalgia isn't enough in Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/fan-nostalgia-isnt-enough-in-ultima-forever-quest-for-the-avat/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/fan-nostalgia-isnt-enough-in-ultima-forever-quest-for-the-avat/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/fan-nostalgia-isnt-enough-in-ultima-forever-quest-for-the-avat/#comments Fan nostalgia isn't enough in Ultima Forever Quest for the AvatarI walked away from a recent preview of Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar feeling anxious. It's not that Dark Age of Camelot dev Mythic Entertainment has a bad game on its hands, I just don't understand how it's supposed to speak to me as a longtime Ultima fan.

Over the last decade, the legendary Ultima series has only yielded two new titles, both free-to-play endeavors: Lord of Ultima and the upcoming Quest for the Avatar. Unlike 2010's browser-based Lord of Ultima MMORTS, Quest for the Avatar is a story-driven action RPG for tablets and PCs. At least with the latest game, we're off to a more familiar start.

Gameplay in Quest for the Avatar is straightforward enough: Your top-down view of the world offers different points of interaction depending on where you are. In towns and other social locations, you're helping people in need resolve various Quandaries (capital Q), with your dialogue selections feeding into boosts to your virtue ratings.

Gallery: Ultima Forever (03/01/2013)

Continue reading Fan nostalgia isn't enough in Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar

JoystiqFan nostalgia isn't enough in Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcultima-foreverWed, 13 Mar 2013 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Bringing horror out of stasis in Dead Space 3's 'Awakened' DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/07/bringing-horror-out-of-stasis-in-dead-space-3s-awakened-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/07/bringing-horror-out-of-stasis-in-dead-space-3s-awakened-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/07/bringing-horror-out-of-stasis-in-dead-space-3s-awakened-dlc/#comments Bringing horror out of stasis in Dead Space 3's 'Awakened' DLCIf there's any worry at Visceral Games over criticisms that Dead Space 3 strays too far from its horror roots, no one is talking about it. On the contrary, producer Shereif Fattouh seemed completely optimistic about the game's reception and its place within the Dead Space universe during a recent preview of the upcoming 'Awakened' add-on content.

"Whenever you release a title, you're gonna get the positives and negatives. We as a dev team are really proud of the game we made. We feel it was very true to the franchise and we're excited to put it out," Fattouh told Joystiq. "There are people that have criticisms, and that's everybody's right. For us, we put a lot of our heart and soul into the game and we feel it's enjoyable."

Fattouh's description of Awakened paints the picture of a campaign add-on that hews closer to the spirit of previous entries in the series. The 'creep factor' was indeed high in our hands-on demo, which sends Isaac back to the CMS Terra Nova's Conning Tower, after it's been overrun by a Necromorph-worshipping cult of scarification practitioners. Strange symbols and unsettling altars that mash together human corpses with Necro parts line the walls.

"We had a vision for what we wanted to make with our DLC," Fattouh explained. "The nice thing about it is it kind of married into what some of the more hardcore community guys were asking for. They didn't feel that there was as much horror as they would have liked [in Dead Space 3]."

Gallery: Dead Space 3 'Awakened' DLC (03/07/2013)

Continue reading Bringing horror out of stasis in Dead Space 3's 'Awakened' DLC

JoystiqBringing horror out of stasis in Dead Space 3's 'Awakened' DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Awakeneddead-space-3DLCDownloadable-ContentEAElectronic-Artsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3Shereif-FattouhVisceral-GamesxboxThu, 07 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War: Judgment's multiplayer comfort food]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-multiplayer-comfort-food/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-multiplayer-comfort-food/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-multiplayer-comfort-food/#comments I am an unabashed Gears of War multiplayer fanatic.

I was immediately hooked by Gears of War and its intoxicating blend of third-person cover-based shooting. I struggled through the muddled mess that was Gears of War 2's launch, yet kept playing regardless. Gears of War 3 made up for a lot of missteps with the most solid multiplayer offering yet, and found in me a stalwart soldier for over a year.

So when Epic Games announced not only a new control scheme in Gears of War: Judgment, but a smattering of new modes and changes, I was a bit worried - as I'm sure some of you were and perhaps still are. Taking off the press cap and putting on the fan hat, I found my few hours in Gears of War: Judgment's multiplayer suite a reassuring slice of grandma's apple pie - a comfort food not entirely as I remember it, but still as rich and full of empty calories as I could hope.

Continue reading Gears of War: Judgment's multiplayer comfort food

JoystiqGears of War: Judgment's multiplayer comfort food originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epic-gamesgears-of-war-judgmentmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiospeople-can-flyxboxMon, 04 Mar 2013 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag 'pushing hard' for more assassinations, less hand-holding]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/assassins-creed-4-black-flag-pushing-hard-for-more-assassina/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/assassins-creed-4-black-flag-pushing-hard-for-more-assassina/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/assassins-creed-4-black-flag-pushing-hard-for-more-assassina/#comments It has become necessary to ask about the prevalence of assassination in a series called Assassin's Creed. Ubisoft's massive franchise has grown to encompass different developers, protagonists, historical contexts, and design ideals. The central thrust of the hidden blade has been obscured by an ever-growing stack of systems, plots and economies, some of which suit the business of killing - and some that allow you to manufacture and sell barrels.

"Yes, we are a pirate game, and we advertise ourselves as a pirate game. It's even in our title," says Ashraf Ismail, Game Director at Ubisoft Montreal for Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. "But it's an Assassin's Creed game, and this is very important, because this is how we're able to build a pirate game. We have this really solid foundation that is the core and the heart of the experience. The story is about a guy who is an assassin and the conflict he goes through to become this guy. We actually have more assassinations than AC1 had."

Following a presentation at Ubi's offices in San Francisco, Ismail explains the "older philosophy" of Assassin's Creed as an important consideration for Black Flag, even if appearances suggest otherwise. "This is something we did learn, we do listen to our fans a lot," Ismail says. "We know that in AC3 there was a lot more handholding done, and we do want to go back to an older philosophy where we just present you with a simple objective and we let you choose the gameplay you want."

Continue reading Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag 'pushing hard' for more assassinations, less hand-holding

JoystiqAssassin's Creed 4: Black Flag 'pushing hard' for more assassinations, less hand-holding originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-4assassins-creed-4-black-flagmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3ubisoftUbisoft-Montrealwii-uxboxMon, 04 Mar 2013 06:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Navigating the free-to-play landscape in Command & Conquer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/navigating-the-free-to-play-landscape-in-command-and-conquer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/navigating-the-free-to-play-landscape-in-command-and-conquer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/navigating-the-free-to-play-landscape-in-command-and-conquer/#comments Command & Conquer Punching through routes in EA's freetoplay sequelThe term "free-to-play" carries with it a certain stigma in the video game industry. It invariably causes gamers to flinch, calling to mind social games like FarmVille. However, as more recognizable experiences enter the realm of free-to-play software, the knee-jerk reaction has begun to subside. With the Command & Conquer series launching under the freemium banner later this year, it would appear that EA is banking on tamer attitudes toward free, microtransaction-based titles.

Despite the simplified, non-sequel sounding name, EA's free-to-play Command & Conquer is a continuation of the strategy series. First announced as Command & Conquer: Generals 2 in 2011, developer BioWare Victory plans to launch the game this year with a campaign that continues the Generals lineage, and later refresh the free-to-play game with content set in the Tiberium and Red Alert universes.

There lies a very ambitious development plan in place for this series, with gamers playing a key part of the process. Immediately after launch, Victory says it will begin crunching numbers and plugging into the fan community to see what needs to be fixed, changed, or tweaked. Victory promises changes based on this feedback will be implemented every week. Calling it a "Live Service," Victory anticipates the instant feedback will allow Command & Conquer's new free-to-play focus to improve and expand quickly.

The downsides of shifting to a free-to-play focus are immediate for franchise fans. Though there will be single-player content, Command & Conquer will not include a single-player campaign and Victory has no plans to include cutscenes or cinematics, which is a massive blow to series supporters. Additionally, Command & Conquer is another in EA's growing list of games that require a constant internet connection.

Gallery: Command & Conquer (Screens and Renders: 02/25/13)

Continue reading Navigating the free-to-play landscape in Command & Conquer

JoystiqNavigating the free-to-play landscape in Command & Conquer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>command-and-conquer-2013command-and-conquer-generals-2EAElectronic-ArtsF2Pfree-to-playpcVictory-GamesMon, 25 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and the power of customization]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/monster-hunter-3-ultimate-and-the-power-of-customization/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/monster-hunter-3-ultimate-and-the-power-of-customization/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/monster-hunter-3-ultimate-and-the-power-of-customization/#comments Those who don't own a 3DS or Wii may not be familiar with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - it's an updated version of 2010's Monster Hunter Tri, coming to both the Wii U and 3DS in North America.

Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto says the Wii U update is a logical fit based on Wii U's dual-screen setup. "When we decided to make the game on the Wii U, we actually brought out the game on 3DS first - the 3DS version of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate came out in Japan about a year ago, so the game was designed from the very beginning to have that two-screen interaction. So when we made the game - although it was based on Monster Hunter Tri - we felt like we had put so much new content into the game that it deserved the chance to be played by more and more people. The Wii U was a perfect fit because of the fact it has the two screens and you're able to do cross-compatibility between the 3DS and the Wii U. It just made a lot of sense for us to bring that experience into the living room, into the HD realm."

Gallery: Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (2/14/13)

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JoystiqMonster Hunter 3 Ultimate and the power of customization originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscapcommonster-hunter-3-ultimatenintendowii-uTue, 19 Feb 2013 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Oddball world of Fuse: Splicing the Insomniac DNA with Smash TV]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/oddball-world-of-fuse-splicing-the-insomniac-dna-with-smash-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/oddball-world-of-fuse-splicing-the-insomniac-dna-with-smash-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/oddball-world-of-fuse-splicing-the-insomniac-dna-with-smash-tv/#comments Oddball world of Fuse Splicing the Insomniac DNA with Smash TVFuse is a difficult game to preview; it's a busy experience with plenty of interconnected systems and a HUD that brims over with symbols, numbers and meters of various sorts. Insomniac's coming shooter thumbs its nose at the current era of clean user interfaces, which attempt to disguise vital information in natural ways, in favor of the bright-as-can-be notices found in old-school arcade games. It's a retro style that, in the face of modern titles, feels decidedly fresh. Further complicating the experience is the ever-present nature of your squad, working together as a foursome set out to destroy enemy lines.

The trick with Fuse is that the four-person squad is always present: whether you're playing with friends, computer-controlled bots, or a mixture of the two. Fuse features a "Leap" system, allowing players to jump quickly between each character to command their unique skills. Insomniac says its goal is to give players the opportunity to fill every role.

"We've built this game from the ground up with that in mind," Insomniac president and CEO Ted Price tells Joystiq. "We wanted to make sure that there are always four characters in the game but you can have just as much fun by yourself, or with one friend, two friends, or three friends. So that's been our design mantra from the very beginning."

Gallery: Fuse (02/18/2013)

Continue reading Oddball world of Fuse: Splicing the Insomniac DNA with Smash TV

JoystiqOddball world of Fuse: Splicing the Insomniac DNA with Smash TV originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-PartnersElectronic-ArtsfuseInsomniacInsomniac-Gamesmicrosoftoverstrikeplaystationps3xboxTue, 19 Feb 2013 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Recapping Bungie's 'Destiny' reveal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/17/recapping-bungies-destiny-reveal/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/17/recapping-bungies-destiny-reveal/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/17/recapping-bungies-destiny-reveal/#comments
After a day of Bungie-related content, we present you with an easy-to-use recap of today's Destiny reveal. As an added bonus, we've developed a lengthy video feature - as seen above - with associate editor David Hinkle and myself discussing the reveal and answering as many questions as we could. If you prefer to watch your previews, Joystiq has you covered.

JoystiqRecapping Bungie's 'Destiny' reveal originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBungiedestinymicrosoftplaystationps3xboxSun, 17 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Destiny in the stars: Exploring Bungie's 10-year plan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/17/destiny-in-the-stars-exploring-bungies-10-year-plan/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/17/destiny-in-the-stars-exploring-bungies-10-year-plan/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/17/destiny-in-the-stars-exploring-bungies-10-year-plan/#comments The expansive frontier and promises of Bungie's 'Destiny'Within the hollowed-out remains of a former bowling alley and movie theater, the creators of the Halo franchise huddle en masse at their headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, working on a new project. Inked to a decade-long agreement with publishing giant Activision - and dodging rumors and leaked documents for nearly two years - Bungie has finally revealed Destiny.

A first-person console shooter set within a persistent world, Destiny takes place in a future-vision of our own solar system: A great peace beamed across the system, after civilization spanned the galaxy.

"But it didn't last," a teaser trailer featuring concept art revealed.

Hit by an unknown force that nearly wipes out all of humanity, Earth's survivors take salvation under a mysterious orb that hovers over a part of the planet. This orb, referred to as "The Traveler," is roof to the final safe haven for humans. But as time passes and humanity begins to lift itself out of extinction, they learn they are not alone.

"Strange, deadly creatures have occupied our old worlds. And they're pressing hard against the city, probing for a weakness, trying to stamp us out for good." As a Guardian of Earth's last city, players will be able to wield some of The Traveler's power and set out to rid the galaxy of aggressors.

"If you can find a way to save the city, to reclaim all that we have lost, you will become legend. If you fail, the last light of civilization will go out."

Gallery: Destiny (Concept Art: 02/17/2013)

Continue reading Destiny in the stars: Exploring Bungie's 10-year plan

JoystiqDestiny in the stars: Exploring Bungie's 10-year plan originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBungiedestinymicrosoftplaystationps3xboxSun, 17 Feb 2013 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[A loose cannon snaps into place in Lego City Undercover]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/a-loose-cannon-snaps-into-place-in-lego-city-undercover/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/a-loose-cannon-snaps-into-place-in-lego-city-undercover/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/a-loose-cannon-snaps-into-place-in-lego-city-undercover/#comments A loose cannon snaps into place in Lego City UndercoverWith the delay of Rayman Legends, you might be thinking that the Wii U gamescape is looking rather bleak until much later this year. As it turns out, though, there's a crafty little ... well, actually a crafty big open-world game hitting next month that, true to its title, might have avoided your attention until now.

Lego City Undercover is the latest in the ever-growing line of Lego-themed games by the "TT Fusion" division of UK developer TT Games. Despite not really registering on the radars of the "hardcore" crowd, the Lego games have been hugely popular, selling many millions of copies the world over. Undercover is different from previous games based around the brand in a few key respects, however.

Gallery: Lego City Undercover (2/12/13)

Continue reading A loose cannon snaps into place in Lego City Undercover

JoystiqA loose cannon snaps into place in Lego City Undercover originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lego-city-storieslego-city-undercovernintendott-fusionwii-uFri, 15 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Grid 2 is to racing what UFC is to fighting]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/grid-2-is-to-racing-what-ufc-is-to-fighting/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/grid-2-is-to-racing-what-ufc-is-to-fighting/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/grid-2-is-to-racing-what-ufc-is-to-fighting/#comments
Grid 2 imagines a world where one driver, across all disciplines, is crowned the king of the road. As the player, you're off on a trek across the globe, competing in the disciplines permeating North America, Europe and Asia - recruiting drivers into the World Series of Racing along the way.

The WSR is the dream of Patrick Callaghan, the organizer of the WSR and mouthpiece throughout Grid 2. While you're racing to improve your own status and become a top driver, you're serving double duty to prove that the WSR is the place for the elite drivers to compete at the very top level.

So, essentially Grid 2 is the Ultimate Fighting Championship of racing games.

Gallery: Grid 2 (2/14/13)

Continue reading Grid 2 is to racing what UFC is to fighting

JoystiqGrid 2 is to racing what UFC is to fighting originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemastersgrid-2microsoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 14 Feb 2013 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Co-Driving through Need for Speed: Most Wanted on Wii U]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/co-driving-through-need-for-speed-most-wanted-on-wii-u/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/co-driving-through-need-for-speed-most-wanted-on-wii-u/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/co-driving-through-need-for-speed-most-wanted-on-wii-u/#comments Since the tail end of 2011, a core team of engineers at Criterion has been working with the Wii U. The final hardware launched in November, and Criterion started to scratch its collective noggin and figure out how it would work for Need for Speed: Most Wanted.

This meant missing the Wii U launch, but Criterion Games' Alex Ward was fine with that during a preview session last week - if Need for Speed: Most Wanted had been at launch, it would've lacked all online functionality.

"The reason we didn't do the game for launch is because the online side of it wasn't very clear to us," said Ward. "We weren't sure how much we could do online or how it was going to be, because obviously Nintendo were making a lot of changes up until their run-up to launch. So we didn't want to bring the game out at launch on Wii U with no online play."

Gallery: Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Wii U)

Continue reading Co-Driving through Need for Speed: Most Wanted on Wii U

JoystiqCo-Driving through Need for Speed: Most Wanted on Wii U originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>criterion-gameseaneed-for-speed-most-wanted-2012nintendoultimate-speed-packwii-uWed, 13 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST