Joystiq Vita http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq Vita http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PSN Store Update: Phrasing!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/psn-store-update-phrasing/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/psn-store-update-phrasing/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/psn-store-update-phrasing/#comments Alright, let's talk about dying lights, grim fandangos and how life is strange. No, not that recent rumor, silly-billy! We're totally referring to this week's new releases on the PlayStation Store, which include Techland's Dying Light ($60), the Grim Fandango remaster ($15) and the debut episode of teen drama Life is Strange ($5).

All three of those are on PS4, while you'll also find Life is Strange on PS3 and Grim Fandango on Vita. By the by, Grim Fandango is cross-buy; if you buy it on PS4 you'll unlock it on Vita for free, and vice versa. Meanwhile, Life is Strange won't be available until Friday, January 30.

Continue reading PSN Store Update: Phrasing!

JoystiqPSN Store Update: Phrasing! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archerdying-lightGrim-Fandangogrim-fandango-remasteredhyperdimension-neptunialife-is-strangemadden-nfl-15nihilumbraphrasingplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4psnpsn-store-updatepsn-tuesdayvitaWed, 28 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony accepting claims on 2011 PSN data breach settlement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/sony-accepting-claims-on-2011-psn-data-breach-settlement/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/sony-accepting-claims-on-2011-psn-data-breach-settlement/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/sony-accepting-claims-on-2011-psn-data-breach-settlement/#comments If you were a PSN, Qriocity or Sony Online Entertainment user at the time of the April 2011 Sony hack that disrupted the PlayStation Network for nearly a month and compromised 70 million user accounts, now's your chance to get a piece of the class action settlement levied against Sony last year.

To qualify, you must have held a PSN, Qriocity or Sony Online Entertainment account on or before May 14, 2011. Each service is eligible to receive different claims, but PSN users are able to receive either one or two games - if you already received a free game in Sony's 2011 "Welcome Back" promotion, you're only eligible for one; if not, you're eligible to choose two - from a list that includes standouts like LittleBigPlanet and God of War HD. Notably, none of the games on offer are for the PlayStation 4. If none of the games tickle your fancy, you can instead choose free dynamic themes for your PlayStation 3 or free PlayStation Plus subscription time.

After wading through multiple pages of bureaucratic legalese, you'll find everything you need to make your claim at the PSN-SOE settlement website.
[Image: Sony]

JoystiqSony accepting claims on 2011 PSN data breach settlement originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LBPlegalLittleBigPlanetplaystationplaystation-networkplaystation-vitaps3ps4psnpspsettlementsonyvitaMon, 26 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Indie game flash sale: Resogun, Brothers, Shadow Warrior]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/psn-indie-game-flash-sale-resogun-brothers-shadow-warrior/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/psn-indie-game-flash-sale-resogun-brothers-shadow-warrior/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/psn-indie-game-flash-sale-resogun-brothers-shadow-warrior/#comments A lineup of more than 60 indie games and various movies are on sale right now on the PlayStation Network as part of a new Flash Sale, the PlayStation Blog has revealed.

From now until Monday, January 26 at 9:00am, titles like the PS4 original downloadable indie title Resogun, Joystiq favorite Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and the modern revival of Shadow Warrior and more are available for up to 80% off. The sale features games across the PS4, PS3 and Vita libraries.

A handful of movies are also discounted as part of the deal, including Snowpiercer and The Raid 2.
[Image: Sony]

JoystiqPSN Indie game flash sale: Resogun, Brothers, Shadow Warrior originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jan 2015 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-vitaps3ps4PSNPSN-Flash-SalevitaFri, 23 Jan 2015 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Store Update: Stop It Don't Open That Door Edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/psn-store-update-stop-it-dont-open-that-door-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/psn-store-update-stop-it-dont-open-that-door-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/psn-store-update-stop-it-dont-open-that-door-edition/#comments This week's headline new release on PSN is definitely Saints Row: Gat out of Hell, the $20 standalone follow-up to Saints Row 4. PS3 and PS4 owners can both get their Gat on, but the latter group can also get it in a $50 bundle with SR4: Re-elected. The visually enhanced, DLC-stuffed PS4 version of Saints Row 4 is also available on its own for $30.

This week's other big deal is also a remaster, but of a much, much less recent game. The PS4 and PS3 edition of the first Resident Evil brings the S.T.A.R.S. into HD, and at an asking price of $20. Since it's a remaster of the GameCube game, itself a remake, we'll just have to reminisce about the original's memorably awful voice acting.

Continue reading PSN Store Update: Stop It Don't Open That Door Edition

JoystiqPSN Store Update: Stop It Don't Open That Door Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2015 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-arcade-gamescitizens-of-earthIronclad-Tacticsmotorcycle-clubplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4psn-store-updatepsn-tuesdayresident-evilsaints-row-4saints-row-4-re-electedsaints-row-gat-out-of-hellsplicevitaWed, 21 Jan 2015 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation exclusive TV show 'Powers' debuts in March]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/playstation-exclusive-tv-show-powers-debuts-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/playstation-exclusive-tv-show-powers-debuts-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/playstation-exclusive-tv-show-powers-debuts-in-march/#comments The PlayStation-exclusive original series Powers will debut on March 10, the PlayStation Blog has announced. The series will span ten episodes, with the first episode available for free to all PSN account holders. PlayStation Plus subscribers will have access to the complete season.

Based on the ongoing Image Comics series from writer Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man) and artist Michael Avon Oeming (Judge Dredd), Powers is a police-procedural set in Chicago where two homicide detectives investigate cases involving citizens with superhuman abilities.

The series stars District 9 standout Sharlto Copley as Christian Walker, a former superhero who becomes a detective after he loses his powers, and his partner Deena Pilgrim, played by The Following's Susan Heyward. Eddie Izzard portrays the villainous character Wolfe. Watch a trailer for the series after the break.
[Image: Sony]

Continue reading PlayStation exclusive TV show 'Powers' debuts in March

JoystiqPlayStation exclusive TV show 'Powers' debuts in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-michael-bendismichael-avon-oemingplaystationplaystation-vitapowersps3ps4sonysony-pictures-televisionvitaTue, 20 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN members get one-use 10% discount code this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/psn-members-get-one-use-10-discount-code-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/psn-members-get-one-use-10-discount-code-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/psn-members-get-one-use-10-discount-code-this-weekend/#comments Sony's goodwill discount is up for the taking this weekend, allowing users to save 10 percent off a one-time total cart purchase in the PlayStation Store. The offer is part of Sony's show of appreciation for PSN members' patience following the network issues over the holidays.

The rules are that the purchase must be made between 9AM PT/12PM ET on January 23 and the same time on January 26. To reiterate, it's 10 percent off a total cart purchase rather than a single item, so if you're in the mood for a PSN splurge then it's your lucky day. However, it's a one-time dealio, so make sure you put all your PSN eggs in your 10 percent basket.

Continue reading PSN members get one-use 10% discount code this weekend

JoystiqPSN members get one-use 10% discount code this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>discountplaystationplaystation-plusplaystation-storeplaystation-vitaps3ps4psnvitaTue, 20 Jan 2015 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA 5 continues to hold off FIFA & CoD in this week's UK charts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/gta-5-continues-to-hold-off-fifa-and-cod-in-this-weeks-uk-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/gta-5-continues-to-hold-off-fifa-and-cod-in-this-weeks-uk-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/gta-5-continues-to-hold-off-fifa-and-cod-in-this-weeks-uk-charts/#comments And now for something completely similar: Right now you'd need a microscope to find the week-to-week changes in the UK charts. Nonetheless, it's interesting to see Grand Theft Auto 5 stay ahead of traditional front-runners FIFA and Call of Duty, especially since Rockstar's game is a re-release on current-gen. At this new release-less time of year, we'd normally be talking about a 28th consecutive No. 1 for FIFA [Insert Year Here].

The current top three are the same trio that sold the most in the UK last year, though FIFA 15 won out overall in 2014. Moreover, seven of this week's top ten are in the 2014 top ten, and most of those hit store shelves in the second half of the year.

Right, stop that UK charts analysis! It's silly. This week's full top ten can be found below the break, along with the customary music video that's a bit suspect.

Continue reading GTA 5 continues to hold off FIFA & CoD in this week's UK charts

JoystiqGTA 5 continues to hold off FIFA & CoD in this week's UK charts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dschart-trackchart-track-weeklymicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4rockstarukvitawii-uxboxxbox-oneMon, 19 Jan 2015 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Toukiden: Kiwami battles fresh Oni on PS4, Vita in March]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/toukiden-kiwami-battles-fresh-oni-on-ps4-vita-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/toukiden-kiwami-battles-fresh-oni-on-ps4-vita-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/toukiden-kiwami-battles-fresh-oni-on-ps4-vita-in-march/#comments
PlayStation 4 and Vita owners, we're trusting you to rid us all of the creepy beasts lurking in Toukiden: Kiwami once Koei Tecmo releases physical and digital copies on March 31 in North America and March 27 in Europe. What is that twisted take on felines seen above? Other than unsettling, we mean.

As detailed on the PlayStation Blog, Kiwami will have "double the size and content" of last year's Toukiden: The Age of Demons (which is included with Kiwami), with additions including "newly discovered Oni, [over 100 Mitama], new Slayers, new moves, and twice as many stages." The post estimates that Kiwami's standalone story, which picks up three months after the previous battle to prevent another Awakening, is also "roughly the same size" as The Age of Demons'.

If you've spent plenty of time saving the world in The Age of Demons, know that existing save data can be carried over. Koei Tecmo Europe's Chin Soon Sun has also confirmed that PS4 and Vita players will be able to take down Oni together. As for cross-buy compatibility, that's still up in the air - Sun has stated he'll share more info "when the time comes."
[Image: Tecmo Koei]

JoystiqToukiden: Kiwami battles fresh Oni on PS4, Vita in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>koei-tecmoplaystationplaystation-vitaps4toukiden-kiwamivitaSat, 17 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Oddworld: New 'n Tasty on Steam next month; Vita, console ports still underway]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/oddworld-new-n-tasty-on-steam-next-month-vita-console-ports/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/oddworld-new-n-tasty-on-steam-next-month-vita-console-ports/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/oddworld-new-n-tasty-on-steam-next-month-vita-console-ports/#comments
Just Add Water, developer of Oddworld: New 'n Tasty, is getting ready to distribute the remaining ports for its revisit of the series' origins, and Steam users are next in line. A cloud save-compatible version of New 'n Tasty will be offered on PC, Mac and Linux via Steam on February 25 for $20 (£15, €20). A 10 percent discount will also be available for those that place pre-purchases, though further details and recommended specs will be shared at a later date.

The related press release also notes that PS3 and Xbox One arrivals will follow sometime in early March, and a note from the Oddworld Staff states that the above versions will feature post-launch improvements that have been made to the existing PS4 version, including "old school" control settings.

Series creator Lorne Lanning assured fans the remaining ports were being "adamantly worked on" about two months ago. At that time, Lanning also spoke of problematic limitations concerning the Wii U hardware, but the post from Oddworld Staff explains that work "continues on the Wii U and PlayStation Vita versions," adding that "recent progress is encouraging."

If you're wondering whether all this waiting and extra development time is really worth it for a remake, consider Sam Prell's review of the PS4 version: "This HD remake is more than a simple reskin of nostalgia, and offers a compelling adventure with contemporary design that will satisfy most anyone's puzzle-platformer appetite."
[Image: Just Add Water]

Continue reading Oddworld: New 'n Tasty on Steam next month; Vita, console ports still underway

JoystiqOddworld: New 'n Tasty on Steam next month; Vita, console ports still underway originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Jan 2015 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>linuxmacmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitawii-uxbox-oneSat, 17 Jan 2015 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Destiny tops PS4 downloads in 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/destiny-tops-ps4-downloads-in-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/destiny-tops-ps4-downloads-in-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/destiny-tops-ps4-downloads-in-2014/#comments Bungie's Destiny topped the PlayStation Store's PS4 best-sellers list for all of 2014, Sony revealed today. The store's top sellers on the current-generation console don't include many surprises; Grand Theft Auto 5 took the second spot, followed by Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Minecraft and The Last of Us Remastered to round out the top five. GTA 5 was the most purchased PS4 game in the month of December.

As for PS3 games, Minecraft led all purchases on the system in 2014 on the PS Store, followed by GTA 5, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Destiny and Battlefield 4. Likewise, the list of top-selling PS4 and PS3 add-ons are a mix of Destiny, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 and Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC for the most part; Battlefield 4 Premium and The Last of Us' Left Behind DLC swooped in to the third spot in the PS4 and PS3 lists, respectively. Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment was the highest-selling game last year on the PlayStation Store for Vita. The Bandai Namco RPG was trailed on the handheld system by Minecraft, Killzone: Mercenary, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z and Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster.
[Image: Activision]

JoystiqDestiny tops PS4 downloads in 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2015 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Battlefield-4call-of-duty-advanced-warfaredestinygrand-theft-auto-5minecraftplaystationplaystation-networkplaystation-storeplaystation-vitaps3ps4psnsalessonythe-last-of-us-remasteredtop-sellingvitaFri, 16 Jan 2015 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[December NPD: Xbox One leads consoles in December, hardware sales surge in 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/december-npd-xbox-one-leads-consoles-in-december-hardware-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/december-npd-xbox-one-leads-consoles-in-december-hardware-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/december-npd-xbox-one-leads-consoles-in-december-hardware-sale/#comments Video game hardware sales saw a significant uptick last year in comparison to 2013, but software sales at retail continue to chart a decline, the NPD Group's latest report states.

Hardware sales saw a slight drop to $1.31 billion in December compared to the $1.37 billion earned during the same period last year. Annual hardware sales for 2014 peaked at $5.07 billion, however, representing a 20 percent increase over the $4.24 billion reported in 2013.

Software sales at retail channels totaled $5.30 billion in 2014, dropping 13 percent compared to 2013's reported $6.11 billion.

Though console-specific sales numbers are not available, Microsoft notes that the Xbox One emerged as 2014's "best-selling console in the U.S. in November and December."

Continue reading December NPD: Xbox One leads consoles in December, hardware sales surge in 2014

JoystiqDecember NPD: Xbox One leads consoles in December, hardware sales surge in 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsmicrosoftnintendonpdpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4vitawii-uxboxxbox-oneThu, 15 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hotline Miami 2 refused classification in Australia [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/hotline-miami-2-refused-classification-in-australia/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/hotline-miami-2-refused-classification-in-australia/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/hotline-miami-2-refused-classification-in-australia/#comments Hotline Miami 2 is effectively banned from sale in Australia, following the Australian Classification Board's decision to refuse classification. According to Kotaku and Player Attack, the legislative body's report describes an implicit rape scene featuring "visual depiction of implied sexual violence" as part of the offending content.

On its website, the ACB says the ruling is accordance with National Classification Code that refuses classification to games featuring "matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" that offend accepted standards.

The site's listing doesn't note the scene specified in the report obtained by Kotaku and Player Attack. According to both publications, the report notes that it doesn't include a complete list of the content that contributed to the ACB's decision.

[Update: Devolver Digital published a response to the ruling this morning, which you can read in full below the break. The publisher says it's "concerned and disappointed that a board of professionals tasked with evaluating and judging games fairly and honestly would stretch the facts to such a degree..." Devolver added it has no plans to officially challenge the decision.]

Continue reading Hotline Miami 2 refused classification in Australia [update]

JoystiqHotline Miami 2 refused classification in Australia [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acbaustraliaaustralian-classification-boardclassificationdennaton-gamesdevolver-digitallinuxmacpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4ratingratingssteamvitaThu, 15 Jan 2015 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Over 60 games discounted in PlayStation Anniversary Sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/over-60-games-discounted-in-playstation-anniversary-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/over-60-games-discounted-in-playstation-anniversary-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/over-60-games-discounted-in-playstation-anniversary-sale/#comments To celebrate the twentieth birthday of the PlayStation brand, Sony is hosting a digital sale on a wide swath of games for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Vita and PSP.

Highlights of the sale include Killzone: Shadow Fall at $24, Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City and Vice City Stories at $4 a piece and Mass Effect 2: Ultimate Edition at $14. If you prefer games from the original PlayStation era, you'll find digital re-releases of Final Fantasy 7, 8 and 9 each priced at $6 and Jet Moto at $3. As with all PlayStation Network sales, these discounts are even larger for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

For a full rundown of all the games on sale, visit the PlayStation.blog. The PlayStation 20th Anniversary Sale ends on January 19.
[Image: Sony]

JoystiqOver 60 games discounted in PlayStation Anniversary Sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>killzone-shadow-fallplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4sonyvitaWed, 14 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Grim Fandango Remastered orders open on GOG, PSN]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/pre-order-grim-fandango-remastered-on-gog-psn-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/pre-order-grim-fandango-remastered-on-gog-psn-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/pre-order-grim-fandango-remastered-on-gog-psn-today/#comments

Few games featuring death make us chuckle, but Grim Fandango is on the short list (right next to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for that "What is a man?" line read). On January 27, we all get to have another morbid laugh when Grim Fandango Remastered debuts on PS4, Vita and PC, Mac and Linux.

Today, you can pre-order Grim Fandango Remastered on PC at GOG.com for $14.99 and gain a bonus desktop wallpaper. PlayStation pre-orders are also now available and include a bonus dynamic PS4/Vita theme.

Grim Fandango Remastered pretties up the classic LucasArts adventure game with HD graphics, features developer commentary and a re-recorded score.

JoystiqGrim Fandango Remastered orders open on GOG, PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>double-finegrim-fandangoLucasArtsmacpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps4vitaTue, 13 Jan 2015 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Network offline, Sony investigating [Update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/playstation-network-offline-sony-investigating/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/playstation-network-offline-sony-investigating/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/playstation-network-offline-sony-investigating/#comments Update 2: According to the PSN Support page, PlayStation online services are back to normal. Sony offered no reason for the outage.

Update 1: Sony has upgraded its online support status from red (offline) to yellow ("Heavy Network Traffic"). Some users may experience delays in signing in, with the PSN console and web store and more.

Those attempting to log into the PlayStation Network may be met with connection issues. According to the PSN Support page, the network is listed as offline. The cause of the outage is currently unknown.

"We're aware that some of you are having issues connecting to the PSN. Engineers are investigating," the official Ask PlayStation account tweeted. Additional PSN-related services, including the Sony Entertainment Network store, are experiencing problems.

Sony's PSN ended 2014 on a down note - an issue that also plagued the Xbox Live service - due to an apparent DDoS attack on its servers. Service, however, was soon restored. Sony has scheduled maintenance for the PlayStation Network on January 15, during which the service will be unavailable from 12PM EST and through 4PM EST.

JoystiqPlayStation Network offline, Sony investigating [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationPlayStation-Networkplaystation-vitaps3ps4vitaTue, 13 Jan 2015 20:03:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Update: PlayStation Now rolls out]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/psn-update-playstation-now-rolls-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/psn-update-playstation-now-rolls-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/psn-update-playstation-now-rolls-out/#comments Today's PlayStation Store update focuses on the rollout of Sony's new games streaming service, PlayStation Now. For a per-game fee (or unlimited access with a pricey subscription) players can reach back into the PS3 catalog and stream previous-generation games directly to their PlayStation 4.

According to the PlayStation Blog, the new PlayStation Now service includes "more than 100 PS3 games", including newer titles such as The Last of Us and "old" favorites like Tokyo Jungle. A 7-day free trial is available.

Beyond PlayStation Now, new releases are light this week (and non-existent in the land of the PS4). Vita owners have three new games to look forward to: role-playing game Atelier Ayesha Plus ($39.99), the free-to-play mobile port puzzler Fat Princess: Piece of Cake and Joe Danger 2: The Movie ($10.99).

JoystiqPSN Update: PlayStation Now rolls out originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-vitaps3ps4PSN-TuesdayvitaTue, 13 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: PlayStation Network comes down temporarily on January 15]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/psa-playstation-network-comes-down-temporarily-on-january-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/psa-playstation-network-comes-down-temporarily-on-january-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/psa-playstation-network-comes-down-temporarily-on-january-15/#comments Owners of Sony gaming devices, take note: The console manufacturer has scheduled PlayStation Network maintenance for January 15, which will bring the online service down for approximately four hours.

During the downtime, PlayStation owners will not be able to access the PSN Store, any streaming entertainment apps or online gameplay functions. However, if you just can't go four hours without shooting somebody over the Internet, you can get around this problem by signing into PSN before the network comes down. As long as you don't sign out of the PlayStation Network, you'll be able to play online while everyone else is forced to interact with reality.

Barring any last-minute changes or unexpected problems, the downtime is scheduled to occur at 12PM EST and last through 4PM EST.
[Image: Sony]

JoystiqPSA: PlayStation Network comes down temporarily on January 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>maintenanceplaystationplaystation-networkplaystation-vitaps3ps4psnsonyvitaTue, 13 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA5 tops PS4 digital sales charts for December]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/gta5-tops-ps4-digital-sales-charts-for-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/gta5-tops-ps4-digital-sales-charts-for-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/gta5-tops-ps4-digital-sales-charts-for-december/#comments Gamers who found a PlayStation 4 under their Christmas trees last month very quickly turned their holiday cheer into murderous bloodshed, as Sony revealed that Rockstar's remastered port of Grand Theft Auto 5 ranked as the PlayStation 4's most popular digital purchase in the month of December.

GTA 5 beat out Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition, Battlefield 4, and The Walking Dead: Season Two to claim the platform's top digital sales spot last month. Digital versions of Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare ranked as the PlayStation 3's best digital sellers in December, while Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition and Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment headed up the PS Vita charts.

December was also a big month for classic RPGs. Konami's recently reissued Suikoden 2 took top honors in Sony's PS Classics sales chart last month, leading over the original Suikoden and Square Enix's Final Fantasy 7.

[Image: Rockstar]

JoystiqGTA5 tops PS4 digital sales charts for December originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chartsgrand-theft-auto-5gta5minecraftplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4rockstarsales-chartssuikoden-2vitaTue, 13 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA 5 on top again in UK (again)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/gta-5-on-top-again-in-uk-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/gta-5-on-top-again-in-uk-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/gta-5-on-top-again-in-uk-again/#comments Inside, you see a very tall man in a bow tie and tuxedo, sitting behind a desk.

"Good morning," opens the very tall man, who you now realize is the spitting image of a young John Cleese. "It's my duty to inform you, brave adventurer, that Grand Theft Auto 5 took the UK No. 1 this week. It's the third time it's re-taken the British top spot, but that's neither here or there, really. Sales of this week's top three were half of last week's. So, right now, topping the UK charts is a bit like winning a beauty pageant held in Mordor. Never mind, eh?"

You smile and nod, looking for the exit.

"Anyway," he says sternly... is he John Cleese? "You have a choice ahead of you, adventurer."

The very tall man points to a small arcade cabinet on your left. The screen, which appears to be made of paper and held up by someone inside the cabinet, simply says "Push a button."

To press the button with a picture of a tree on it, turn to page 17
To press the button with the Joystiq logo on it, turn to page 63
To press the button with a picture of a pig on it, turn to page 245605B

Continue reading GTA 5 on top again in UK (again)

JoystiqGTA 5 on top again in UK (again) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dschart-trackchart-track-weeklycyoamicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4rockstarrockstar-gamesukvitawii-uxboxxbox-oneMon, 12 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation players proclaim their picks for games of the year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/10/playstation-players-proclaim-their-picks-for-games-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/10/playstation-players-proclaim-their-picks-for-games-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/10/playstation-players-proclaim-their-picks-for-games-of-the-year/#comments So you didn't agree with our picks for the top 10 games of 2014. You didn't like our Best of the Rest selections either. That's okay! Different strokes for different folks and all that. If you're a PlayStation user, perhaps you'll find more like-minded individuals among fellow owners of Sony consoles.

The PlayStation Blog has posted the results of its game of the year survey, which raked in a solid 400,000+ votes. And the winners are: To see the runners-up and PS Blog editor picks (as well as tell everyone how wrong they are), check out the full post.
[Image: Sony]

JoystiqPlayStation players proclaim their picks for games of the year originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-of-the-yeargotyplaystationplaystation-3playstation-4playstation-vitaps3ps4sonyvitaSat, 10 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Transistor get() 600,000+ sales, Bastion breach() 3 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/transistor-get-600-000-sales-bastion-breach-3-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/transistor-get-600-000-sales-bastion-breach-3-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/transistor-get-600-000-sales-bastion-breach-3-million/#comments Transistor carved its way to more than 600,000 sales in 2014, Supergiant Games revealed this week. The PS4 and PC action-RPG looks set to become the dev's second million-seller, though it's still way off the "more than 3 million" copies sold to date by Bastion.

In this week's announcement, Supergiant's Greg Kasavin noted the majority of Bastion's sales arrived "many months after the game first came out on Xbox 360 and PC. So we were very happy to see Transistor selling even faster relative to Bastion during the first couple of months after its launch."

Kasavin's talked about that long sales tail before. Speaking at E3 2013 about future Transistor ports, he said, "For us, it's really important to not be tied down for the long haul, because Bastion's success was not made on any one platform. That being said, our focus is absolutely on a successful PS4 launch and also our Steam PC launch, because if that does not go well, there will not be other versions of the game, most likely and so forth."

Continue reading Transistor get() 600,000+ sales, Bastion breach() 3 million

JoystiqTransistor get() 600,000+ sales, Bastion breach() 3 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastioniosipadiphonelinuxmacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationplaystation-vitaps4salestransistorvitaxboxFri, 09 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Minecraft was YouTube's second-most popular search query of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/minecraft-was-youtubes-second-most-popular-search-query-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/minecraft-was-youtubes-second-most-popular-search-query-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/minecraft-was-youtubes-second-most-popular-search-query-of-2014/#comments Mojang's breakout hit Minecraft took second place in a Google-issued list of the most popular YouTube search queries of 2014, ranking immediately behind the word "music" in terms of search frequency.

According to Google, the word "Minecraft" was more frequently searched on YouTube in 2014 than the term "movies." Gaming personality PewDiePie also ranked among the service's most popular searches in 2014, trailing queries for Disney's Frozen and for artists Drake and Beyonce.

Continue reading Minecraft was YouTube's second-most popular search query of 2014

JoystiqMinecraft was YouTube's second-most popular search query of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonemicrosoftminecraftmobilemojangpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4vitaxboxxbox-oneyoutubeThu, 08 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Joystiq Podcast Live: Best of 2014 [Update: Watch the replay!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/super-joystiq-podcast-live-best-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/super-joystiq-podcast-live-best-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/super-joystiq-podcast-live-best-of-2014/#comments


Starting at 3:30PM EST right here and on Twitch, it's JOYSTIQ DOME! Ten games enter! Ten games get robustly examined while 13 editors jaw at one another before examining the year 2014 in detail!

Yes, it's the Super Joystiq Podcast Live! Thrill as Ludwig Kietzmann tries to defend Watch Dogs. Swoon as Susan Arendt and Anthony John Agnello defend Lightning Returns with the fury of a thousand burning suns. Chortle as Alexander Sliwinski tries to resist playing Hearthstone. Jess Conditt talks Walking Dead, Danny Cowan digs Shovel Knight, Earnest Cavalli loves Sunset Overdrive, Sam Prell digs into Dragon Age: Inquisition, Richard Mitchell bets on Bayonetta, Xav de Matos feels Far Cry 4, Sinan Kubba delights in Dark Souls 2, Mike Suszek survives Desert Golfing, and Thomas Schulenberg gives Super Smash Bros. for Wii U a what for all over again. And that's just how it starts.

Tune in right here and on Twitch.tv/Joystiq at 3:30PM EST for a live, all staff round table discussion on the best games of 2014, our personal favorites, and a look back on the gaming year that was.
[Images: WBIE]

JoystiqSuper Joystiq Podcast Live: Best of 2014 [Update: Watch the replay!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroidbest-of-2014iosipadiphonejoystiq-streamsmicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4vitawii-uxboxxbox-oneThu, 08 Jan 2015 15:34:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation TV price cut at major US retailers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/playstation-tv-price-cut-at-major-us-retailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/playstation-tv-price-cut-at-major-us-retailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/playstation-tv-price-cut-at-major-us-retailers/#comments The PlayStation TV's price tag has been reduced to Black Friday levels by several major US retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Gamestop. Gamespot took note of the unofficial reduction, which sees the core PS TV unit reduced to $80 ($20 off) and the controller-included bundle at $100 ($40 off).

Sony's official site still has the device regularly priced. Positioned as PS Vita system alternative that plugs into any HDMI-equipped television, the system does feature some compatibility issues with games. Here is the latest list of compatible titles.

JoystiqPlayStation TV price cut at major US retailers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2015 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-TVplaystation-vitapspsonyvitaThu, 08 Jan 2015 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony delays PS4 in China]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/sony-delays-ps4-in-china/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/sony-delays-ps4-in-china/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/sony-delays-ps4-in-china/#comments Sony put the brakes on the PlayStation 4's date with China, after delaying sales of the system just days ahead of its scheduled January 11 launch. In a statement provided to Reuters, the company said it was holding the PS4 back due to "various factors," and that a new date was yet to be decided. Additionally, Sony Computer Entertainment spokeswoman Kaede Bun told Bloomberg, "The [Chinese] government asked us for final adjustments, which will take some time, so we decided to delay the launch date."

The PS4 was due to finally launch in China this week, after the country lifted its 14-year ban on consoles just over a year to the day. It's unclear from this morning's reports if the Vita, which was also due to launch on January 11, is to receive a similar delay.

Continue reading Sony delays PS4 in China

JoystiqSony delays PS4 in China originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2015 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinadelayplaystationplaystation-vitaps4release-datesonyvitaThu, 08 Jan 2015 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joe Danger 2: The Movie starts filming on Vita next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/joe-danger-2-the-movie-starts-filming-on-vita-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/joe-danger-2-the-movie-starts-filming-on-vita-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/joe-danger-2-the-movie-starts-filming-on-vita-next-week/#comments Come January 13 - more than two years after it debuted on Xbox Live - Hello Games' stunt man-focused action-platformer Joe Danger 2: The Movie will appear on Sony's Vita handheld.

As we mentioned last April, the leap to the Vita brings a few new faces to Joe Danger's vibrant world including Tearaway protagonists Iota and Atoi and LittleBigPlanet mascot Sackboy. These characters join existing cameos from earlier versions of Joe Danger 2 featuring the whimsically murderous Team Fortress 2 cast and Minecraft's generic block of a protagonist Steve.

According to developer Hello Games, the Vita version of Joe Danger 2 is the largest incarnation of the game to date. "Hours and hours of play await across 85 levels, including 15 from the Undead Movie Pack, which comes included in the Downloadable Tours section - plus a total of 35 playable characters," states the developer's official description. Like the Vita version of the first Joe Danger, which appeared in September, the handheld Joe Danger 2 runs at 60 frames per second and features both online leaderboards and downloadable ghost racer data.
[Image: Hello Games]

JoystiqJoe Danger 2: The Movie starts filming on Vita next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hello-gamesjoe-danger-2-the-moviejoe-danger-the-movieplaystationplaystation-vitavitaWed, 07 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Wolf Among Us down to $20 on Amazon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/the-wolf-among-us-down-to-20-on-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/the-wolf-among-us-down-to-20-on-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/the-wolf-among-us-down-to-20-on-amazon/#comments The first season of The Wolf Among Us can live among your gaming library at a discount today, as the episodic adventure game is currently $19.99 on Amazon. The 33 percent off sale is good for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game, while Vita players can pick up The Wolf Among Us for $24.49 on the retailer's site.

Developed by The Walking Dead creator Telltale Games, The Wolf Among Us stars Fabletown's Sheriff Bigby Wolf, formerly known as The Big Bad Wolf. Based on Bill Willingham's Fables comic book series, the game's five episodes follows Bigby as he maintains order in the small New York City community. Our review of the final episode, "Cry Wolf," noted that the game's first season "lays the groundwork for the series that is (hopefully) to come, getting us invested in these pigs, these trolls, these witches, these toads, these people."
[Image: Telltale Games]

JoystiqThe Wolf Among Us down to $20 on Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureamazondealdiscountepisodeEpisodicmicrosoftplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4saleTellTale-Gamesthe-wolf-among-usvitaxboxxbox-oneWed, 07 Jan 2015 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Players report sporadic PSN connection issues]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/psa-players-report-sporadic-psn-connection-issues/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/psa-players-report-sporadic-psn-connection-issues/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/psa-players-report-sporadic-psn-connection-issues/#comments Sony is currently investigating PlayStation Network connection issues affecting a number of users this morning, citing "heavy network traffic" as a culprit via its support page.

"We're aware that some players are seeing drops on PSN," the official PlayStation Twitter account confirms. "Engineers are on the case and investigating."

Today's reports follow up on the recent restoration of PSN service after a disruptive DDoS attack on Christmas Eve. A timeframe for a fix is not yet known.

[Image: Sony)

JoystiqPSA: Players report sporadic PSN connection issues originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-networkplaystation-vitaps3ps4psavitaWed, 07 Jan 2015 11:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Jessica's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-jessicas-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-jessicas-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-jessicas-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Threes

Threes is ingenious. Its simplistic presentation belies beautiful, thoughtful design and butter-smooth mechanics. Threes isn't a matter of "less is more," it's fully encapsulated and pushed to the limits of what it intends to do, providing hours upon hours of repeated gameplay on that four-by-four tiled screen. On top of the brain-teasing numbers game, writer Asher Vollmer, illustrator Greg Wohlwend and composer Jimmy Hinson infuse Threes with personality, giving the numbers voices and faces, and tipping Threes from "Fun" to "Absolutely adorable. And, of course, fun."

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Jessica's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Jessica's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidasher-vollmerbest-of-2014best-of-the-restbest-of-the-rest-2014CroTeamdevolver-digitalgreg-wohlwendiosipadiphonejoystiq-best-of-2014macmatt-makes-gamesmicrosoftmobileMurasaki-Babyovosonicopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps4TelltaleTellTale-Gamesthe-talos-principlethe-walking-deadthe-walking-dead-season-2threestowerfalltowerfall-ascensionvitaxbox-oneWed, 07 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Update: Infamous First Light, Duke Nukem 3D]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/psn-update-infamous-first-light-duke-nukem-3d/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/psn-update-infamous-first-light-duke-nukem-3d/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/psn-update-infamous-first-light-duke-nukem-3d/#comments A new month means a new handful of games added to the libraries of PlayStation Plus subscribers. Beginning today, Plus members on PS4 can add the Second Son narrative expansion Infamous: First Light and indie darling The Swapper to their digital collection.

Also as reported, Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition is available for Plus users at no additional charge on the Vita, along with Whoa Dave! - from (rebranded) Bit.Trip dev Choice Provisions. DuckTales Remastered and Prototype 2 are this month's PS3 Plus offerings.

Rounding out new content this week is Ubisoft's Rocksmith 2014, which continues to expand with a Rage Against the Machine song pack ($15.99) and various Linkin Park tracks ($2.99 each/$13.99 bundle), and new costumes and a Christmas Module for Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd ($9.99 each). Pinball Arcade games and add-ons are this week's featured sale, with Season One table bundles reduced to as low at $14.99 on PS4.

JoystiqPSN Update: Infamous First Light, Duke Nukem 3D originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-vitaps3ps4PSN-TuesdayvitaTue, 06 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Sam's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-sams-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-sams-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-sams-picks-of-2014/#comments WildStar
I grew up during what I'd consider "the golden age" of MMO games. I was there for the launch of World of Warcraft, as well as earlier titles like EverQuest and Ultima Online. The genre has a very special place in my heart, and WildStar felt like the last, major, "true" MMO (as opposed to games like Bungie's Destiny that possess MMO-like features) release that we would see in a long time, possibly ever again. A last hurrah, if you will.

And what a hurrah it is. We don't really "review" MMOs here, but through a series of postcards, I chronicled my time with a game that is in no uncertain language a fantastic piece of craftsmanship. The visuals are bright and colorful, with a Pixar-esque personality evident throughout. The gameplay is fresh and fast, requiring constant focus instead of hotkey rotation memorization. And of course, the housing. Oh, how I could spend hours simply customizing my plot of land with various wallpapers, decor, even mini-quest objectives. WildStar is a thoughtfully-constructed game with a wealth of content.

True that it relied a bit too much on large-scale endgame raids and the promised monthly updates fizzled shortly after launch, but I don't regret a moment spent on Planet Nexus.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Sam's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Sam's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014fantasia-music-evolvedkinectmacmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4rogue-legacyvitawii-uwildstarWorld-of-WarcraftWoWxboxxbox-oneTue, 06 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Susan's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-susans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-susans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-susans-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Framed

Framed is so elegant and simple that it needs not a single word to teach you how to play. If you understand the basic function of the panels in a comic book and are able to poke things with your finger, you will swiftly understand the basics of how to make things happen in this brilliant mobile game. Arrange the panels one way, and your spy makes a daring escape from the police; position them another way, and he emerges from the wrong door right into the hands of the law.

From the very first level, which uses just two panels to illustrate how switching the order of the comic can change the outcome of its events, Framed builds on its simplicity, adding more panels, directionality and timing to create more complex puzzles in its stylish spy-vs-spy thriller. Each page of the comic is a puzzle complete unto itself, making Framed perfectly designed for short bursts of inspiration, or restricted play time. It's one of those games that's so damn clever, you wish you'd thought it up yourself.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Susan's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Susan's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroidbest-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014danganronpa-2-goodbye-despairdanganronpa-trigger-happy-havocframediosipadiphonejoystiq-best-of-2014lightning returns final fantasy xiiimicrosoftmobilenintendopersona qplaystationplaystation-vitaps3recommendedtales from the borderlandsvitaxboxTue, 06 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Clock Tower successor 'Project Scissors' becomes NightCry, gets live action teaser]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/clock-tower-successor-project-scissors-becomes-nightcry-gets/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/clock-tower-successor-project-scissors-becomes-nightcry-gets/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/clock-tower-successor-project-scissors-becomes-nightcry-gets/#comments
The spiritual successor to the Clock Tower survival horror series, Project Scissors, has a new name and a new live action teaser. The game is now called NightCry, and the trailer is definitely creepy, if a little light on information. One thing that Clock Tower fans will be sure to notice, however, is the presence of big, bloody scissors. Or, to put it more accurately, big scissors that appear to be made of blood.

The teaser is directed by Takashi Shimizu, director of the Ju-On horror film series and its American counterpart, The Grudge. Shimizu was revealed to be a part of the game project last year, along developer Nude Maker, which is led by the director of the original Clock Tower games, Hifumi Kouno.

NightCry is planned for iOS, Android and PlayStation Vita.
[Image: Nude Maker]

JoystiqClock Tower successor 'Project Scissors' becomes NightCry, gets live action teaser originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonemobilenightcrynude-makerplaystationplaystation-vitaproject-scissorsvitaMon, 05 Jan 2015 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[UK Charts: Captain Toad reports for duty in 16th]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/uk-charts-captain-toad-reports-for-duty-in-16th/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/uk-charts-captain-toad-reports-for-duty-in-16th/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/uk-charts-captain-toad-reports-for-duty-in-16th/#comments

JAN 5 2015

JOYSTIQ
THE INTERNET

TREASURE TRACKER REPORTING SAFE AND WELL STOP WE SECURED CAPTURE OF SIXTEENTH REGIMENT THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN ON UK MAINLAND FOR SOME TIME ALREADY STOP MUST GO THAT IS MY BUS STOP

CAPTAIN ARCHIE MONTGOMERY TOAD

Continue reading UK Charts: Captain Toad reports for duty in 16th

JoystiqUK Charts: Captain Toad reports for duty in 16th originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscaptain-toad-treasure-trackerchart-trackchart-track-weeklymacmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4ukvitawii-uxboxxbox-oneMon, 05 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Discussion: How do you tackle your gaming back log?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-discussion-how-do-you-tackle-your-gaming-back-log/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-discussion-how-do-you-tackle-your-gaming-back-log/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-discussion-how-do-you-tackle-your-gaming-back-log/#comments January is when the sheer scale of it hits you, when you stare into the inky abyss of your Steam library and wonder: when the hell am I going to play all of these games? Every time the sale starts, the back log grows. Five measly bucks for a copy of Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition! Who cares that I'm smack dab in the middle of three different RPGs? I can't let that pass me by! So the backlog swells, piling more and more games onto the proverbial, sometimes actual, stack.

Recently I took stock of my own considerable back log, counting up all the vintage cartridges, discs, recent releases that went on sale, and downloads I'd amassed but never actually fired up to play. Turned out there were 27 games that I'd simply never turned on. In January, I'm trying to tackle them one at a time. Pokemon Y and Silent Hill: Book of Memories are first up! Once I've knocked them down, I'll move on to two more.

It's not a perfect system, though. There are plenty of ways to tackle the back log. Do you take it slow? Do you not even bother and just let the back log grow? Or do you manage to keep up, finishing everything as you go. Take the poll, discuss below.



[Images: Nintendo]

JoystiqJoystiq Discussion: How do you tackle your gaming back log? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsjoystiq-discussionmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitapokemon-x-yps4vitawii-uxbox-oneFri, 02 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-sinans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-sinans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-sinans-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Dark Souls 2

I've been known to perch on treetops with many a RPG, but even by my standards this was a makeout-heavy year. Four of my five picks are of the role-playing variety, and I've put more than 250 hours into that quartet alone. 2014 was a super-solid time for the genre, and that's evidenced by the sheer range of RPGs in my Best of the Rest.

The only place to start this round-up is Drangleic. It was always going to take something truly special for Dark Souls 2 to stay out of its predecessor's shadow, at least for me. We are, after all, talking about following on from my game of the last decade. That proves a challenge too far for From's sequel, despite the many tweaks and additions it brings to the table. Crucially, Dark Souls 2 diminishes that sinking-into-quicksand helplessness, that sense of being lost, in every sense of the word. It is still there, but just that significant bit less so.

Yet Dark Souls 2 remains an all-encompassing adventure like few others this year. It draws from both Dark and Demon's Souls to juxtapose a deep, foreboding world against an elegant simplicity of swords, shields, dungeons and big bad monsters. There are more pretenders to the throne now, but Dark Souls 2 still stands out as an idiosyncratic, unpredictable experience.

For all my criticisms I plowed at least 100 hours into the world of Drangleic, and I'll be back on the plow when Dark Souls 2 hits PS4 and Xbox One in April.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014bravely-defaultchild-of-lightdark-souls-2divinity-original-sinjoystiq-best-of-2014macmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4recommendedthreesvitawii-uxboxxbox-oneFri, 02 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony to compensate PSN users with Plus extension, discount code]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/sony-to-compensate-psn-users-with-plus-time-discount-code/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/sony-to-compensate-psn-users-with-plus-time-discount-code/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/sony-to-compensate-psn-users-with-plus-time-discount-code/#comments Sony's offering five days of extra PlayStation Plus membership as its way of making up for the recent network outage. The gesture of goodwill isn't limited to Plus subscribers, as all PlayStation Network users are getting a one-time 10 percent discount code for the PS Store.

Sony's Eric Lempel said the company "wanted to show our appreciation" for users' patience after last month's PSN outage, which saw services like the Store and online multiplayer go AWOL. Both PSN and Microsoft's Xbox Live service went offline on Christmas Eve following distributed denial of service attacks.

Continue reading Sony to compensate PSN users with Plus extension, discount code

JoystiqSony to compensate PSN users with Plus extension, discount code originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddosdiscountplaystationPlayStation-Networkplaystation-plusplaystation-storeplaystation-vitaps3ps4psnsonyvitaFri, 02 Jan 2015 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Full PlayStation Plus line-up for January revealed [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/europes-full-playstation-plus-line-up-for-january-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/europes-full-playstation-plus-line-up-for-january-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/europes-full-playstation-plus-line-up-for-january-revealed/#comments Update: Sony's confirmed North America's PS Plus line-up for January is the same as Europe's. We've updated the post to reflect that and other details.

We already knew Infamous: First Light and The Swapper were coming to the Instant Game Collection next month, but now we've got the full January PlayStation Plus line-up. The two PS3 freebies headed to the continent are Prototype 2 and DuckTales: Remastered, while the Vita duo is Whoa Dave and Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition.

The line-up hits the PS Store stateside on Tuesday, January 6, 2015. As ever, Europe joins the PS Plus party the day after.

Continue reading Full PlayStation Plus line-up for January revealed [update]

JoystiqFull PlayStation Plus line-up for January revealed [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ducktales-remasteredDuke-Nukem-3Dduke-nukem-3d-megaton-editioneuropeinfamous-first-lightplaystationplaystation-plusplaystation-vitaprototype-2ps3ps4PSNrelease-datethe-swappervitawhoa-daveWed, 31 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Store sale extended following PSN downtime]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/30/playstation-store-sale-extended-following-psn-downtime/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/30/playstation-store-sale-extended-following-psn-downtime/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/30/playstation-store-sale-extended-following-psn-downtime/#comments Sony announced it's stretching out its PlayStation Store sales in response to the network woes endured over the last week. The storefront's Flash Sale now runs through until 12PM PT on December 31, 2014 (3AM ET on January 1, 2015), and the Holiday Sale now ends at 12PM PT on January 6, 2015 (3AM ET on Janury 7, 2015).

The Flash Sale features a 30-odd variety of this year's big hitters including Destiny, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Dragon Age: Inquisition and Middle-earth Shadow of Mordor. Not that the Holiday Sale is lacking on that count, with its discounted items including Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition for PS4, Alien: Isolation and Danganronpa 2.

On Saturday, December 27, Sony reported the PlayStation Network was back online following distributed denial of service attacks that began on Christmas Eve. However, as of last night, Sony says the service currently has "intermittent connectivity."

Yesterday, Sony tweeted out a PlayStation Support page suggesting PS4 users try changing their MTU settings to restore connectivity. Several hours later, Sony said it had made network updates that should forgo users having to delve into the settings menu. At the time of writing, our UK PS4 signed into PSN and we were able to access the PlayStation Store without issue.
[Image: Channel 4]

JoystiqPlayStation Store sale extended following PSN downtime originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-storeplaystation-vitaps3ps4psnvitaTue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[UK charts close out 2014 with CoD: Advanced Warfare as king]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/uk-charts-close-out-2014-with-cod-advanced-warfare-as-king/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/uk-charts-close-out-2014-with-cod-advanced-warfare-as-king/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/uk-charts-close-out-2014-with-cod-advanced-warfare-as-king/#comments Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is the last UK No. 1 of 2014, which isn't too surprising since this week's charts are nearly identical to last week's. You can check out that almost static top 10 below the break (along with the sometimes underwhelming but always customary music video). Meanwhile above the break, we're going to look back on a year of UK charts through the hallowed medium of statistics. And so:

Joystiq's Somewhat Scatterbrained UK Charts Statistics of 2014
  • 20 different games topped the charts in 2014 across 52 weeks
  • 5 of those were re-releases, with 7 weeks worth of No. 1s between them
  • Surprise surprise, FIFA 15 scored the longest run of consecutive No. 1s in 2014 (6)
  • Between them, FIFA 14 and FIFA 15 held the top spot for a total of 15 weeks
  • Add in Advanced Warfare and Titanfall, and that total goes up to 25 weeks
  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was Joystiq's lowest-rated game to earn a UK No. 1 (2 stars)
  • Grand Theft Auto 5 became the UK's all-time bestseller when it hit PS4 and Xbox One.
  • No. of times we've badly shopped Chelsea footballer Eden Hazard a la FIFA 15 into images of other games: 3, including this week.

Continue reading UK charts close out 2014 with CoD: Advanced Warfare as king

JoystiqUK charts close out 2014 with CoD: Advanced Warfare as king originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2014 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsActivisionActivision-Blizzardcall-of-duty-advanced-warfarechart-trackchart-track-weeklymicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4ukvitawii-uxboxxbox-oneMon, 29 Dec 2014 08:04:00 EST