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[Former Bizarre Creations and Tiny Invaders studio Hogrocket closed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/24/former-bizarre-creations-and-tiny-invaders-studio-hogrocket-clos/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/24/former-bizarre-creations-and-tiny-invaders-studio-hogrocket-clos/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/24/former-bizarre-creations-and-tiny-invaders-studio-hogrocket-clos/#comments Hogrocket, the mobile game development team comprised of former Bizarre Creations staff is on "indefinite hiatus." Hogrocket was one of three studios formed in the wake of Bizarre Creations' closure in February 2011. "This was due to a combination of factors, ranging from geographical to financial. It's sad but the three of us all learned a lot," Hogrocket's Peter Collier told GamesIndustry.biz.

The England-based "micro studio" released Tiny Invaders on iOS in March 2011, and Bizarre Creations was known for its work on the Project Gotham Racing series as well as the creation of Geometry Wars. Stephen Cakebread, Technical Director at Hogrocket and Geometry Wars designer, left Hogrocket in September 2011 according to his LinkedIn profile.

JoystiqFormer Bizarre Creations and Tiny Invaders studio Hogrocket closed originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bizarre-CreationsGeometry-WarshogrocketmobileProject-Gotham-Racingtiny-invadersSat, 24 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TIGA: UK 'brain drain' sees nearly half of laid-off devs leaving country]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/tiga-uk-brain-drain-sees-nearly-half-of-laid-off-devs-leaving/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/tiga-uk-brain-drain-sees-nearly-half-of-laid-off-devs-leaving/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/tiga-uk-brain-drain-sees-nearly-half-of-laid-off-devs-leaving/#comments Britain's developer workforce has fallen 10 percent since 2008, and 41 percent of studio employees laid off between 2009 and 2011 have relocated out of the country, UK-games trade association TIGA reports. TIGA is publishing a survey from Games Investor Consulting that covers three-fourths of the UK games industry and warns of a brain drain in the UK.

Bizarre Creations, a Liverpool studio that closed in 2010, saw one-third of its former employees leave the UK for new jobs in the games industry, according to the report. It also claims that countries such as Canada can entice UK talent because they benefit from tax breaks that reduce the cost of game development. The UK currently doesn't have comparable tax breaks, but "the video games industry is exactly the kind of sector that the Government should be supporting to help rebalance the UK economy," TIGA CEO Richard Wilson says.

JoystiqTIGA: UK 'brain drain' sees nearly half of laid-off devs leaving country originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BizarreBizarre-Creationsbrain-drainbritainlayoffsmacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3TigaukxboxThu, 19 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In Memoriam: Twelve studios we lost in 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/in-memoriam-twelve-studios-we-lost-in-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/in-memoriam-twelve-studios-we-lost-in-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/in-memoriam-twelve-studios-we-lost-in-2011/#comments Beyond the game industry's expected annual layoffs and studio closures, 2011 saw a variety of surprisingly high-profile devs shut their doors ... forever. From Geometry Wars/Project Gotham Racing dev house Bizarre Creations in the UK to LA Noire creator Team Bondi in Australia and even Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom devs Game Republic in Japan, it wasn't a good year to need a stable job in game development.

IGN has a rundown of twelve especially notable losses (including the aforementioned studios, sans Game Republic), which run the gamut of industry publishers. As it turns out, it's not one particular publisher that's especially willing to cut studios in the face of financial loss -- it's all of them.

[Image credit: Flickr user 'age_six_racer']

JoystiqIn Memoriam: Twelve studios we lost in 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarrebizarre-creationsgame-republicmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3team-bondiewiixboxThu, 01 Dec 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg on True Crime, Bizarre Creations, the 'Hero' franchise, and transparency]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/activision-publishing-ceo-eric-hirshberg-on-true-crime-bizarre/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/activision-publishing-ceo-eric-hirshberg-on-true-crime-bizarre/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/activision-publishing-ceo-eric-hirshberg-on-true-crime-bizarre/#comments When Eric Hirshberg stepped into the role of CEO of Activision Publishing last July, the company had just begun an ugly, public battle with the founders of Infinity Ward, having fired the creators of the company's Call of Duty cash cow just four months prior. Frequently villainized in the press, the appointment of Hirshberg seemed to indicate that Activision was eager to turn its brand identity around. Hirshberg cut his teeth as CEO and chief creative officer of marketing firm Deutsch LA making ad campaigns for brands like PlayStation -- you may not recognize that name, but if you've seen a Kevin Butler commercial, you know his work. And as Activision Publishing narrows its focus and energies into a few key brands, notably the aforementioned Call of Duty, tasking a marketing man with running a game publisher starts to make a lot of sense.

Last month I had the opportunity to speak with Hirshberg in his office at Activision headquarters in Santa Monica. It was less than a week after a massive leak upended the company's carefully prepared marketing plan for the latest in the blockbuster Modern Warfare series and, for Hirshberg, it was a chance to connect with that audience. "We woke up with a marketing crisis," Hirshberg told me, "and wanted to go to bed with a marketing win." Throughout our conversation, Hirshberg mentioned the need to be transparent with consumers, so I challenged him to explain some of the company's more controversial decisions since he's been CEO: the cancellation of True Crime; the closure of Bizarre Studios; and the very public retreat from the Guitar Hero and DJ Hero games.

Continue reading Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg on True Crime, Bizarre Creations, the 'Hero' franchise, and transparency

JoystiqActivision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg on True Crime, Bizarre Creations, the 'Hero' franchise, and transparency originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardActivision-Publishingbizarre-creationsdj-herodj-hero-2eric-hirshbergguitar-heroguitar-hero-warriors-of-rocktrue-crimeTrue-Crime-Hong-KongWed, 22 Jun 2011 13:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Video report catches up with new studios born from Bizarre's closure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/video-report-catches-up-with-new-studios-born-from-bizarres-clo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/video-report-catches-up-with-new-studios-born-from-bizarres-clo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/video-report-catches-up-with-new-studios-born-from-bizarres-clo/#comments Though the studio behind gems like Project Gotham Racing and Geometry Wars may be dissolved, the individuals behind those projects have not dissolved, which is very, very fortunate for them. Rather, a number of ex-Bizarre Creations staffers have moved on to create three independent studios (so far) -- all of which are the subject of a recent video report from Eurogamer.

Check out the 14-minute video for an in-depth look at Lucid, Hogrocket and Curly Rocket's strategies for making their post-Activision ventures a success. If we might make one humble suggestion: Lucid should probably change its name to something with "rocket" in it. Just think of the powerful media conglomerate you three could create if aligned under the same jet-propelled banner!

JoystiqVideo report catches up with new studios born from Bizarre's closure originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarre-creationscurly-rockethogrocketlucidMon, 11 Apr 2011 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre fell into 'making games to fill slots,' says ex-creative director]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/bizarre-fell-into-making-games-to-fill-slots/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/bizarre-fell-into-making-games-to-fill-slots/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/bizarre-fell-into-making-games-to-fill-slots/#comments Members of defunct developer Bizarre Creations recently provided Edge with more insight into what eventually led to the studio's shuttering. The general impression, beyond former design manager Gareth Wilson's reiteration of a "perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances," is that Bizarre's independent culture began to deteriorate following the Activision acquisition.

"We weren't an independent studio making 'our' games anymore," said former creative director Martyn Chudley. "We were making games to fill slots. Although we did all believe in them, they were more the products of committees and analysts. The culture we'd worked on for so long gradually eroded just enough so that it wasn't 'ours' anymore."

Chudley also claimed that the studio was given the opportunity to buy itself back, but as commercial manager Sarah Chudley explained it, the studio had grown considerably since the Activision takeover and "we just didn't have the skills, capability or finances to look after over 200 people." Without a third party coming in to assume control, it seemed wiser for everyone to walk away.

JoystiqBizarre fell into 'making games to fill slots,' says ex-creative director originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBizarreBizarre-CreationsBlurclosuremicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3wiixboxWed, 06 Apr 2011 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Hogrocket's Ben Ward speaks out on Bizarre closure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/hogrockets-ben-ward-speaks-out-on-bizarre-closure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/hogrockets-ben-ward-speaks-out-on-bizarre-closure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/hogrockets-ben-ward-speaks-out-on-bizarre-closure/#comments Bizarre Creations community manager-turned-Hogrocket co-founder Ben Ward recently spoke to Eurogamer about the steps that led to his change of employ. The most important query -- what the hell is a Hogrocket? -- goes sadly unanswered. However, Ward explained how his former studio changed with its Activision acquisition, explaining, "for better or worse Bizarre became more 'corporate'."

Ward explained he wasn't hurt by the closure, saying, "Those guys wouldn't be top of their game if they didn't make difficult decisions." He added his former publishing partner "has strived to redistribute Bizarre peeps to other Activision studios throughout the world." As for the future of Hogrocket, Ward shot down the obvious answer for the studio's indie game debut: "It's not Geometry Wars," Ward said. "What Hogrocket is working on now is a completely new IP."

Trigonometry Battles? We can only hope.

JoystiqHogrocket's Ben Ward speaks out on Bizarre closure originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionben-wardbizarre-creationshogrocketindieWed, 30 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-Bizarre devs form 'micro-studio' Hogrocket]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/ex-bizarre-devs-form-micro-studio-hogrocket/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/ex-bizarre-devs-form-micro-studio-hogrocket/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/ex-bizarre-devs-form-micro-studio-hogrocket/#comments As you peruse the smoldering remains of Bizarre Creations, you catch the faintest stirring out of the corner of your eye. You turn just in time to see, there, rising from the ashes, it's ... a pig in a spaceship?

Okay, so we don't know why Bizarre refugees Ben Ward (studio communications), Peter Collier (former level designer) and Geometry Wars creator Stephen Cakebread settled on "Hogrocket" as the name for their new UK studio, but we're glad to see them getting back to work.

The freshly announced "micro-studio" says it'll target iPad/iPhone with its first batch of games. It may be a little early for such proclamations, but if Hogrocket turns out mobile games as addictive as Geometry Wars with any regularity then ... well, this little piggy will be going to our wallets more times than we care to think about.

JoystiqEx-Bizarre devs form 'micro-studio' Hogrocket originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bizarrebizarre-creationsgeometry-warshogrocketindieiosipadiphonemobileWed, 23 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Bizarre employees create 'Lucid Games']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/former-bizarre-employees-create-lucid-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/former-bizarre-employees-create-lucid-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/former-bizarre-employees-create-lucid-games/#comments Some former staff of Bizarre Creations, which was shut down this month by owner Activision, have announced the formation of a new studio called Lucid Games. In an announcement, new managing director Pete Wallace said, "With the great history of Bizarre behind us, we are proud to be part of Lucid and are committed to the UK game development community." Lucid is expected to create more than 50 new jobs.

In doing so, Lucid will have assistance from economic development company Liverpool Vision, which hopes to keep the Bizarre talent in Liverpool. "This world class talent combined with a very credible and experienced management team, we believe offers the best future for a sustainable and viable business within the significant Liverpool gaming sector," said Liverpool Vision digital industry director Steve Smith. "It should be stressed that Bizarre was very successful and Activision's actions were driven by global economics and not by any failure of the creative talent based in Liverpool."

Lucid plans to "build a studio which encourages open communication with its partners, customers and other developers," according to Wallace. Lucid is currently accepting CVs via email, and representatives of the studio will be on hand at GDC next week to meet with interested parties.

Continue reading Former Bizarre employees create 'Lucid Games'

JoystiqFormer Bizarre employees create 'Lucid Games' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarre-creationsliverpoollucid-gamesukFri, 25 Feb 2011 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre's Wilson: 'perfect storm' led to studio's death]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/bizarres-wilson-perfect-storm-led-to-studios-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/bizarres-wilson-perfect-storm-led-to-studios-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/bizarres-wilson-perfect-storm-led-to-studios-death/#comments Less than a week after we said "goodbye" to Bizarre Creations, the Blur-ry details of what killed the developer are starting to come into focus. Eurogamer has an interview with Gareth Wilson, former design manager at the studio, who has since gone on to take a position at Sumo Digital. Wilson called Bizarre's death a "perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances."

Wilson explained that getting attention for Blur, a new IP, at this point in the console cycle, was difficult -- especially with high-quality breakouts and juggernaut competition on the field. He believes that the quality of the competition, along with the state of the global economy, meant that gamers weren't ready to "take a risk." He points out several other quality IPs like Enslaved, Alan Wake and Vanquish that also struggled in 2010.

Wilson now feels that the "middle ground," selling two to three million units is "getting hard to find," explaining "Games either 'break out' and sell four million plus, or really struggle to break even."

JoystiqBizarre's Wilson: 'perfect storm' led to studio's death originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBizarreBizarre-CreationsBlurGareth-Wilsonmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3wiixboxThu, 24 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre Creations lead Gareth Wilson now Sumo Digital lead designer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/bizarre-creations-lead-gareth-wilson-now-sumo-digital-lead-desig/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/bizarre-creations-lead-gareth-wilson-now-sumo-digital-lead-desig/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/bizarre-creations-lead-gareth-wilson-now-sumo-digital-lead-desig/#commentsBizarre Creations was a UK studio well-known for its street racing games, the first of which was on a Sega console. So if there's anywhere else design manager Gareth Wilson would feel at home, it's at Sumo Digital, the British studio responsible for developing the modern OutRun games and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing for Sega.

Wilson is the first known Bizarre staffer to announce a new position after the sad closure of that company. He is now the lead designer at the Foundation 9-owned Sumo, and will no doubt be in charge of a great many racing games.

JoystiqBizarre Creations lead Gareth Wilson now Sumo Digital lead designer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarre-creationsgareth-wilsonsumo-digitalukMon, 21 Feb 2011 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre Creations farewell video is legitimately sad]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/bizarre-creations-farewell-video-is-legitimately-sad/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/bizarre-creations-farewell-video-is-legitimately-sad/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/bizarre-creations-farewell-video-is-legitimately-sad/#comments We wouldn't check out the video after the jump if you're planning on having a day of unbridled happiness and positivity. It's Bizarre Creations' farewell video, released today, the last day of the studio's existence -- and, as you might imagine, it's super poignant and sad. We'll miss you, Bizarre!

Continue reading Bizarre Creations farewell video is legitimately sad

JoystiqBizarre Creations farewell video is legitimately sad originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBizarre-creationsClosureGeometry-warsGeometry-wars-retro-evolvedMicrosoftPcPlaystationPs3ShutdownXboxFri, 18 Feb 2011 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre Creations closes its doors this Friday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/bizarre-creations-closes-its-doors-this-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/bizarre-creations-closes-its-doors-this-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/bizarre-creations-closes-its-doors-this-friday/#comments Though Activision's recent decisions will result in the wholesale freezing of a number of its business units, let's not forget one developer that was sentenced to a similar fate last November: Bizarre Creations. According to Develop, the studio will permanently shutter the doors of its Liverpool studio this coming Friday, February 18.

We know this is kind of bummer news to share with you on Valentine's Day, but let's look at it this way: Here's a chance for us to talk about all our favorite Bizarre titles! (What's that? Cho Aniki Zero? No, no -- Bizarre Creations titles.) Feel free to use the comments to send a little love out to this deserving developer.

Continue reading Bizarre Creations closes its doors this Friday

JoystiqBizarre Creations closes its doors this Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarre-creationsclosureshutdownMon, 14 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision finds no Bizarre buyers, recommends closure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/activision-finds-no-bizarre-buyers-recommends-closure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/activision-finds-no-bizarre-buyers-recommends-closure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/activision-finds-no-bizarre-buyers-recommends-closure/#comments Activision has recommended Bizarre Creations for closure, saying it has exhausted other options. Speaking with Develop, Activision Worlwide Studios' COO Coddy Johnson said he wanted "to be clear" that the publisher tried to keep the group together by finding a buyer, but after exploring leads with "pretty much anyone you can imagine in the industry," they were left with the option of "last resort."

Activision made it known in early November that the Liverpool-based studio had entered a consultation period, a 90-day phase under UK law that warns of potential closure. On the same day as the announcement, Activision closed Iowa-based Budcat in the US. At the time, Activision said that, despite a substantial investment in creating a new IP, Blur did not find a commercial audience.

If you are an employee of the studio and have anything more to share, please feel free to contact us.

JoystiqActivision finds no Bizarre buyers, recommends closure originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBizarreBizarre-CreationsBlurlayoffsmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3wiixboxWed, 19 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[007: Blood Stone is 050 percent off on Amazon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/007-blood-stone-is-050-percent-off-on-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/007-blood-stone-is-050-percent-off-on-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/007-blood-stone-is-050-percent-off-on-amazon/#commentsDotcom; Amazon dotcom. The online retailer has bled half the price off of Bizarre's non-movie-affiliated James Bond game, James Bond 007: Blood Stone. For today only, you can pick up the latest Daniel Craigventure for $29.99 on PS3 and Xbox 360. The PC and DS versions aren't part of the deal, selling for $44 and $24 respectively.

Here's our insane theory: if enough people buy this today (like, eight million or so, depending on how many of these Amazon has in stock), then either Activision will reverse its decision to shutter Bizarre Creations, or some other company will become more eager to throw money at it.

Joystiq007: Blood Stone is 050 percent off on Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbizarre-creationsdeal-of-the-dayjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftplaystationps3xboxFri, 31 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Publishing CEO says perception of the company is different from reality]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/activision-publishing-ceo-says-perception-of-the-company-is-diff/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/activision-publishing-ceo-says-perception-of-the-company-is-diff/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/activision-publishing-ceo-says-perception-of-the-company-is-diff/#comments As co-CEO at ad company Deutsch LA, Eric Hirshberg was partially responsible for turning the PlayStation 3 from something that freaked us out into a platform for the VP of Awesome. Now, HIrshberg is able to comment on a similar turnaround at Activision. As the CEO of the publishing group, he says that "some of Activision's reputational challenges are not based in the reality of the company that I've experienced here so far. ... What I can tell you is since I've been here there's not a day or an hour that goes by without a conversation or focus on creative excellence in delivering great gaming experiences to our fans. That's what this place is focused on and about."

Yes, Activision may have put a "for sale" sign on UK racing studio Bizarre, laid off staff at Neversoft and Radical Entertainment and elsewhere, and weakened studio after studio, but Hirshberg says all the cuts are indicative of just how tough this business can be. And even in a tough business, says Hirshberg, "we do everything we can to make the relationships with our developers work, and to find a commercially viable use of their talents, and it's only when we've exhausted every other opportunity that [shutdowns and layoffs] happen."

The video game industry, he says, is "a high stakes game when everyone's trying to get into that upper echelon of performance and there's no middle class," which means, presumably, that Activision has to be judicious when choosing who gets to keep working. That may be true, but Hirshberg's going to need more than that if he wants to turn Bobby Kotick into PlayStation's KB.

JoystiqActivision Publishing CEO says perception of the company is different from reality originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-publishingbizarre-creationsceodeutsch-laeric-hirshbergkevin-butlerneversoftplaystationraven-softwareThu, 16 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Bizarre Creations staff morale boosted by buyer talks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/report-bizarre-creations-staff-morale-boosted-by-buyer-talks/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/report-bizarre-creations-staff-morale-boosted-by-buyer-talks/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/report-bizarre-creations-staff-morale-boosted-by-buyer-talks/#comments Develop reports that anonymous staffers at recently put-on-the-market development studio Bizarre Creations have claimed that morale around the offices has received a boost following a company meeting earlier today. According to Develop's sources, that meeting brought word that a number of interested parties have surfaced who could possibly acquire Bizarre -- though the source didn't name any of those parties, for fear of scaring them away. See, big corporations? They're like baby deer when it comes to acquisitions.

One of Develop's sources mentioned Microsoft as one of Bizarre's potential suitors. That might not be the smoothest transition, considering some of the harsh words Bizarre's higher-ups have said about their former relationship. You know whose loving arms we think they should run back to? 1996-era Psygnosis. Now, that there? That was a match made in heaven.

JoystiqReport: Bizarre Creations staff morale boosted by buyer talks originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionactivisionBizarre-CreationsbuyoutmicrosoftreportxboxWed, 17 Nov 2010 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision closing Bizarre Creations [Update: Activision confirms, options include 'potential sale']]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/activision-reportedly-closing-bizarre-creations/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/activision-reportedly-closing-bizarre-creations/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/activision-reportedly-closing-bizarre-creations/#comments Well, this blows.

Beginning with a NeoGAF thread and followed up by Giant Bomb and VG247, comes rumor that Activision is closing Bizarre Creations, the studio behind the just-released Bond title Bloodstone. It was responsible for Blur, The Club, the Project Gotham Racing series, and downloadable favorite Geometry Wars. The studio, founded in 1994, was acquired by Activision just over three years ago.

Giant Bomb's source says that Bizzarre Creations will undergo a "90-day consultation period, statutory redundancy." That sounds ... bad. According to the VG247 report, the cuts would mean a loss of over 200 staffers. We'll let you know as soon as we hear anything official. Stay tuned.

[Update: Getting some context for the above quote: Apparently Bizarre isn't closed yet; the 90-day period is required in the UK (where Bizarre is located) before shuttering a business. That 90-day period also serves as a 90-day notice to employees that their company is likely to be closed/sold/downsized/etc. - an official statement should be along shortly.]

[Update 2 2:01pm: Activision's statement: "Over the past three years since our purchase of Bizarre Creations, the fundamentals of the racing genre have changed significantly. Although we made a substantial investment in creating a new IP, Blur, it did not find a commercial audience. Bizarre is a very talented team of developers, however, because of the broader economic factors impacting the market, we are exploring our options regarding the future of the studio, including a potential sale of the business."]

[Update 3 5:55pm: Activision additionally confirmed the closure of Budcat Creations, as well as redundancies in its California-based quality assurance team.]

JoystiqActivision closing Bizarre Creations [Update: Activision confirms, options include 'potential sale'] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionBizarre-Creationsblurfiringsjames-bond-007-blood-stonelayoffsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 16 Nov 2010 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[James Bond: Blood Stone review: Sonic the James Bond]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/james-bond-blood-stone-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/james-bond-blood-stone-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/james-bond-blood-stone-review/#comments In a month where, after almost a two-year hiatus, we see two new Bond games thrown at us, PS3 and Xbox owners can't help but feel a little jaded when they see the re-vamped GoldenEye headed solely to the Wii.

"They got the new GoldenEye with a fancy new controller and all we got was another rip-off 3rd person shooter!" the masses say, clutching their well-worn N64 controller, wracked with guilt over not playing Quantum of Solace in 2008 or, worse, having played GoldenEye: Rogue Agent in 2004.

Allow me to squelch your rage with four simple words, angry mob: Blood Stone is fun.

Gallery: James Bond 007: Blood Stone (Istanbul)

Continue reading James Bond: Blood Stone review: Sonic the James Bond

JoystiqJames Bond: Blood Stone review: Sonic the James Bond originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionBizarre-Creationsbondjames-bondjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftPS3XBoxFri, 05 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[007: Blood Stone will infiltrate retail without a demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/007-blood-stone-will-infiltrate-retail-without-a-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/007-blood-stone-will-infiltrate-retail-without-a-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/007-blood-stone-will-infiltrate-retail-without-a-demo/#comments Look, we're all curious what a Bizarre-crafted Bond game is going to look like -- but we're going to have to wait just a little longer than we expected to satisfy that curiosity. When asked during an interview with VG247 whether a 007: Blood Stone demo would arrive on PSN and Xbox Live before the game's release, director Jeff Lewis replied, "unfortunately not."

Sure, it's kind of a bummer that we have to wait until the game's November 2 release date to try our hand at it, but we understand why Bizarre would want to keep a trial version of the game tabled. After all, it would be difficult for the demo to hide the major plot twist that Joss Stone is the Blood Stone, and is actually made of diamonds. Whoops!

Joystiq007: Blood Stone will infiltrate retail without a demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionBizarre-Creationsdemojames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftplaystationps3xboxFri, 22 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bond behind the wheel in new Blood Stone trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/james-bond-007-blood-stone-driving-and-vehicles-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/james-bond-007-blood-stone-driving-and-vehicles-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/james-bond-007-blood-stone-driving-and-vehicles-trailer/#comments In the words of designer Sandy Lockie, Bizarre Creations has "a fantastic pedigree" when it comes to racing games -- "just such a good fit for a Bond game." Lockie himself also has a fantastic pedigree for rad hair. Scraggly chin beard? That too.

Continue reading Bond behind the wheel in new Blood Stone trailer

JoystiqBond behind the wheel in new Blood Stone trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 20 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer highlights henchmen woes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-highlights-henchmen-woes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-highlights-henchmen-woes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-highlights-henchmen-woes/#comments We've never actually met a "henchman" before, but we sure hope they get a good health plan. If this James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer is any indication, they're going to need a good doctor ... and an even better dentist.

Continue reading James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer highlights henchmen woes

JoystiqJames Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer highlights henchmen woes originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionBizarre-Creationsjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxMon, 20 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[James Bond 007: Blood Stone dev diary shakes (not stirs) things up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/james-bond-007-blood-stone-dev-diary-shakes-not-stirs-things/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/james-bond-007-blood-stone-dev-diary-shakes-not-stirs-things/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/james-bond-007-blood-stone-dev-diary-shakes-not-stirs-things/#comments It's an odd sensation for us to feel excited about a James Bond development these days, but it's hard for us not to get moderately pumped by this dev diary for Blood Stone. It's got shooting, punching and stunt driving? That's like a delicious salsa, only with awesome things instead of vegetables.

Continue reading James Bond 007: Blood Stone dev diary shakes (not stirs) things up

JoystiqJames Bond 007: Blood Stone dev diary shakes (not stirs) things up originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionBizarre-Creationsjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftplaystationps3xboxMon, 13 Sep 2010 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[James Bond: Blood Stone preview: 20 percent driving, 80 percent combat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/james-bond-007-blood-stone-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/james-bond-007-blood-stone-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/james-bond-007-blood-stone-preview/#comments
 With veteran racing game developer Bizarre Creations at the helm of James Bond 007: Blood Stone, you might think there would be a heavy emphasis on driving in the next Bond adventure. Not so -- only about 20 percent of the game is played behind a steering wheel, Activision associate producer Michael O'Donnell told me during a recent preview event for the game. Most of Blood Stone is devoted to cover-based shooting and stealthy takedowns.

"This is the Bond event, if you will, of the year," O'Donnell proclaimed, perhaps as a friendly challenge to his Activision colleagues developing the GoldenEye remake (also due out this year). O'Donnell's words were backed up by the highly polished build of the game on hand at the event. I wasn't permitted to play the first area of the demo -- a jungle infiltration mission where Bond must gain entry to a massive base on the side of a steep cliff -- but I was almost grateful because, damn, there was a lot to just see.

Gallery: James Bond 007: Blood Stone (9/13/2010)

Continue reading James Bond: Blood Stone preview: 20 percent driving, 80 percent combat

JoystiqJames Bond: Blood Stone preview: 20 percent driving, 80 percent combat originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionBizarre-Creationsjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxMon, 13 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch this James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer by any means necessary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/watch-this-james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-by-any-means-nece/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/watch-this-james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-by-any-means-nece/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/watch-this-james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-by-any-means-nece/#comments Your task isn't nearly as daunting as the one facing Bizarre's Bond in Blood Stone. The iconic spy is sent to Istanbul to intercept the sale of "mission-critical biotechnology," and is granted inevitably catastrophic permission to do so "by any means necessary." The only thing in Istanbul we don't feel sorry for is the drill on loan from Total Recall.

Continue reading Watch this James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer by any means necessary

JoystiqWatch this James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer by any means necessary originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionBizarreBizarre-Creationsdaniel-craigjames-bondjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 25 Aug 2010 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[European Blur demo comes with a chance to win a BMW]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/04/european-blur-demo-comes-with-a-chance-to-win-a-bmw/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/04/european-blur-demo-comes-with-a-chance-to-win-a-bmw/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/04/european-blur-demo-comes-with-a-chance-to-win-a-bmw/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's rare that playing a video game will actually bring you closer to performing those in-game activities in the real world. A successful Madden career won't earn you a spot on the Bengals' bench. Skills in Final Fantasy won't make hoisting comically large swords above your head any easier. However, Activision's offering folks who download and play the Blur demo from the European PlayStation Store a chance to drive a fast car for driving fast cars.

The fast car in question is a BMW 125i coupé, which Activision and Sony will reward to one random player who downloads the European demo and reaches the rank of level 5. Three runners-up will receive copies of Blur, which is ... roughly the same, right? Yeah, not much disparity there. For full rules and regulations for the contest, check out PlayStation Blog.

JoystiqEuropean Blur demo comes with a chance to win a BMW originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBizarre-CreationsBlurbmwdemoplaystationplaystation-storeps3psnWed, 04 Aug 2010 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch the James Bond 007: Blood Stone opening credits]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/watch-the-james-bond-007-blood-stone-opening-credits/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/watch-the-james-bond-007-blood-stone-opening-credits/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/watch-the-james-bond-007-blood-stone-opening-credits/#commentsJames Bond 007 Blood Stone With Bond 23 canceled, Activision's James Bond 007: Blood Stone may be your only dose of Bond for some time. It's a good thing they're going all out with the production then, with Daniel Craig in the starring role (sorry, EastEnder) and siren Joss Stone stepping into the appropriately fancy shoes of Bond Girl. You can hear her pipes in the non-titular title song "I'll Take it All" in the trailer here, and see her doing her best Bond Girl impersonation in the gallery below.

Gallery: James Bond 007: Blood Stone (Joss Stone)

Continue reading Watch the James Bond 007: Blood Stone opening credits

JoystiqWatch the James Bond 007: Blood Stone opening credits originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBizarre-Creationsjames-bondjames-bond-007-blood-stonejoss-Stonemicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 22 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Preview: James Bond 007: Blood Stone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/preview-james-bond-007-blood-stone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/preview-james-bond-007-blood-stone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/preview-james-bond-007-blood-stone/#comments Bond is back in Bizarre Creations' James Bond 007: Blood Stone. I got a first look at the game's opening act during an Activision media event in San Diego yesterday, where I also spoke with designer Sandy Lockie about the development of this original Bond adventure.

Primarily a third-person shooter, Blood Stone immediately drew comparisons to Bizarre's other shooter, The Club, when it was announced last week. Indeed, Lockie confirms that the new Bond game has its roots in the studio's previous effort. "It's basically the Club team," he tells me. "We rolled off on The Club and started working on this straight away." But while The Club was all about scoring points and more points, Bizarre is designing Blood Stone to be "a much deeper shooting experience."

Gallery: James Bond 007: Blood Stone (first screens)

Continue reading Preview: James Bond 007: Blood Stone

JoystiqPreview: James Bond 007: Blood Stone originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarre-creationscomic-con-2010james-bondjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 22 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer is for your eyes only]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-is-for-your-eyes-only/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-is-for-your-eyes-only/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-is-for-your-eyes-only/#comments James Bond is a man of action. Mere screenshots can't do his daring justice. But a trailer? Now we're talking. See Bond run, gun and generally blow things up good in the first trailer for James Bond 007: Blood Stone, which you'll find after the break. It's the kind of stuff that will leave fans of Her Majesty's top super-spy shaken and stirred.

Continue reading James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer is for your eyes only

JoystiqJames Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer is for your eyes only originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>007ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBizarre-CreationsJames-Bondjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftplaystationps3RacingShooterxboxFri, 16 Jul 2010 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[James Bond 007: Blood Stone hurled through holiday release window, courtesy of Bizarre]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/james-bond-007-blood-stone-hurled-through-holiday-release-windo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/james-bond-007-blood-stone-hurled-through-holiday-release-windo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/james-bond-007-blood-stone-hurled-through-holiday-release-windo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Assassinating months of speculation, Activision has finally announced its new James Bond game, helmed by Project Gotham Racing and Blur developer Bizarre Creations. Featuring an original story by Bruce Feirstein (who penned the screenplay for GoldenEye and the script for 2003's Bond game, Everything or Nothing), James Bond 007: Blood Stone features a mix of third-person cover-based shooting, hand-to-hand combat and "adrenaline-fuelled driving sequences" on land and sea -- and air, if there are enough exploding ramps.

Daniel Craig will reprise his role as suave spy guy (it's not like they need him for a movie right now) alongside Judi Dench, who once again plays stern boss lady "M." Grammy award-winning singer Joss Stone will be playing Blood Stone's obligatory gun-toting temptress, presumably because Oliver Stone couldn't quite pull off the evening gowns. Stone -- that's Joss -- will also provide the game's original theme song, "I'll Take it All," with the aid of Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics.

Bizarre's James Bond 007: Blood Stone is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this holiday season. N-Space is developing a DS version for the same time frame. You can watch the trailer for the console version here.

Gallery: James Bond 007: Blood Stone (first screens)

JoystiqJames Bond 007: Blood Stone hurled through holiday release window, courtesy of Bizarre originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>007activisionBizarreBizarre-CreationsBlood-StoneBruce-FeirsteinDaniel-CraigdsJames-BondJames-Bond-007-Blood-StoneJoss-StonemicrosoftN-SpacenintendoOliver-Stonepcplaystationps3RacingRolling-StoneShooterStone-Cold-Steve-AustinxboxFri, 16 Jul 2010 09:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision studios head brings development strategy into focus]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/activision-studios-head-brings-development-strategy-into-focus/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/activision-studios-head-brings-development-strategy-into-focus/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/activision-studios-head-brings-development-strategy-into-focus/#comments "It doesn't make sense anymore," Activision executive VP of worldwide studios Dave Stohl declared to us in a small office, hidden away from the noisy E3 show floor. "You've really got to focus." The executive, who oversees every development studio that Activision owns, was reflecting on the old business model that encouraged studios to take on multiple projects at once. Today, the industry's leading third-party publisher has a new mantra: one game per studio.

"People want the freedom to put all their resources against the big opportunity, and that's what we're trying to do," Stohl explained during our conversation at last month's show. We wondered if the shift in strategy was less ingenuity and more a sign of the times. Last year's holiday season was headlined by two major events: the slowdown of music game sales and the ridiculous success of Modern Warfare 2.

Continue reading Activision studios head brings development strategy into focus

JoystiqActivision studios head brings development strategy into focus originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-studiosActivisionbizarre-creationsbusiness-strategycall-of-dutyDave-Stohle3-2010modern-warfare-2sledgehammer-gamesspider-man-web-of-shadowsWed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ModNation Racers' top 15 finish sets slow pace for May racing game sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/modnation-racers-top-15-finish-sets-slow-pace-for-may-racing/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/modnation-racers-top-15-finish-sets-slow-pace-for-may-racing/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/modnation-racers-top-15-finish-sets-slow-pace-for-may-racing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Split/Second
Despite three high-profile launches in May, the racing genre got lapped that month, according to NPD sales data. Sony's PS3-exclusive ModNation Racers, Activision's Bizarre-developed Blur and Disney's excellent Split/Second all fared poorly on the retail circuit with ModNation squeezing its way into the top 15 (on just one platform, mind you), while the other two multiplatform titles didn't crack the top 30.

Analyst Michael Pachter told IGN that he "thought the ModNation number was respectable, since the game came out only on May 25." Blur came out on the same day, so, relatively, its sales were disappointing.

While sales figures weren't provided for any of the above games, Pachter writes in his monthly NPD analysis that Blur "sold well below our estimate of 100,000 units," giving us some insight into how both it and Split/Second performed. However, Split/Second was released a week earlier than ModNation and Blur.

With two much higher-profile racing games coming out this fall, in Gran Turismo 5 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, it remains to be seen if the racing genre itself is toxic at the checkout counter or if gamers have simply passed over May's hybrid concepts, content to wait for the new models of their favorite makes.

JoystiqModNation Racers' top 15 finish sets slow pace for May racing game sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBizarre-CreationsBlack-Rock-StudiosBlurDisney-InteractivemicrosoftModNation-RacersNPDplaystationps3Split-SecondUnited-Front-GamesxboxFri, 02 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur marked down $30 for Amazon Deal of the Day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/27/blur-marked-down-30-for-amazon-deal-of-the-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/27/blur-marked-down-30-for-amazon-deal-of-the-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/27/blur-marked-down-30-for-amazon-deal-of-the-day/#comments Amazon's current Deal of the Day is on Bizarre Creations' grown-up kart racer, Blur, which is temporarily available for $29.99 on PS3 and 360, and $19.99 on PC. We suggest spending the extra $30 you save on this transaction on a few sessions with a grief counselor -- you'll need it after the tenth time you get Shunted one centimeter from the finish line.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

JoystiqBlur marked down $30 for Amazon Deal of the Day originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionAmazonbizarre-creationsBlurdrivingSun, 27 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: Blur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/blur-game-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/blur-game-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/blur-game-review/#comments Blur is a great proof of concept. Bizarre Creations set out to update Mario Kart's tried and true formula with real cars in a "mature" setting -- and for the most part, the developer succeeded. Racing has a great sense of speed, enemy AI isn't nearly as elastic (even in the harder levels) as in Nintendo's kart racer and the power-up mechanics offer a balanced selection of weapons, making gameplay more tactical than dependent on dumb luck.

However, between a poorly paced campaign, a small handful of available race modes and an uninspired sense of style (from the announcer to the menu layouts), I found myself wanting much more from the single-player campaign. The best part of the game is its plain-Jane racing but, unfortunately, Blur forces you to complete its two lesser modes (Destruction and Checkpoint) in order to get to all of it. Combine that with an exponentially increasing difficulty level in the game's later competitions and you've got Blur: a fun, interesting racing game with terrible structure.

Gallery: Blur

Continue reading Review: Blur

JoystiqReview: Blur originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionactivision-blizzardbizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftracingXbox-360Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Dead Redemption tops UK charts again; Blur loses out to Split/Second]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/red-dead-redemption-tops-uk-charts-again-blur-loses-out-to-spli/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/red-dead-redemption-tops-uk-charts-again-blur-loses-out-to-spli/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/red-dead-redemption-tops-uk-charts-again-blur-loses-out-to-spli/#comments Rockstar's western opus, Red Dead Redemption, has saddled up and rode for first once again in the GFK Chart-Track derby. Even though it's suffered a 40% drop in sales -- likely a byproduct of those shortages -- it was enough to best UFC Undisputed 2010, which debuted at second place.

Also of note is the debut of Blur at the 14th spot -- well below Black Rock Studio's previously released arcade racing rival Split/Second (6th) and United Front Games' ModNation Racers (12th).

Source - Top 40 Entertainment Software, Week Ending May 29 2010
Source - Red Dead Redemption Still Riding High at No. 1

JoystiqRed Dead Redemption tops UK charts again; Blur loses out to Split/Second originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarre-creationsblurchart-trackMicrosoftred-dead-redemptionrockstarrockstar-gamesthqufc-2010ufc-undisputed-2010ukXbox-360yukesTue, 01 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Try Blur at Best Buy to Blur your wall at home]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/try-blur-at-best-buy-to-blur-your-wall-at-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/try-blur-at-best-buy-to-blur-your-wall-at-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/try-blur-at-best-buy-to-blur-your-wall-at-home/#commentsSure, there's a Blur demo on Xbox Live, but if you'd rather try out the Bizarre racer in a more public place -- or if you don't have an Xbox on which to test drive it -- select Best Buy stores will host in-store demos this Saturday and Sunday. You can check here to see if your local store is among the illustrious 200 to play host to these demos.

For your trouble, you'll get -- not only the chance to play the arcade-style racing game but also -- a Blur poster. You can tell your non-gamer friends that it's a poster for the band, who just happens to really like cars.

Gallery: Blur

JoystiqTry Blur at Best Buy to Blur your wall at home originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 May 2010 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbest-buybizarre-creationsblurdemoMicrosoftracingXbox-360Fri, 28 May 2010 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: Blur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/metareview-blur/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/metareview-blur/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/metareview-blur/#comments Reviews have begun to inch out for Bizarre's new arcadey racer Blur and, at the risk of spoiling the metareview in the first sentence, they're pretty darn good! Maybe not "change your life" good, but at least "put this in your game box and fun will come out" good. What? That's not specific enough for you? OK, fine, here:
  • Telegraph (9/10): "Every inch of Blur feels like it's crafted with the player in mind, offering them a huge, slick and exciting racing package. While it can frustrate, with the balance of powerups occasionally off-kilter, it only serves to push you onto the next race, to undo the injustice, to mete out your revenge."
  • GameInformer (8.5/10): "Blur is a game built on versatility. Power-ups aren't simply offensive or defensive; they are tools you can use in different ways depending on the situation. A Barge blast is always handy to disrupt any cars in your immediate vicinity, but it can also be deployed as a momentary shield. Likewise, most power-ups come with an alternate fire option. For instance, your garden-variety Nitro boost can alternately be used to slow you down - useful for those really tight corners."
  • Eurogamer (8/10): "Handling is rich and dramatic. Acceleration and drifting are sympathetic enough to correct the rear if you're showing your inexperience, but the relationship between gas, brake, traction and apex remains complex. And it's fast."

JoystiqMetareview: Blur originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 May 2010 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurmetareviewMicrosoftracingXbox-360Wed, 26 May 2010 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur's French TV spots are far from feminist]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/blurs-french-tv-spots-are-far-from-feminist/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/blurs-french-tv-spots-are-far-from-feminist/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/blurs-french-tv-spots-are-far-from-feminist/#comments Look, we're not experts in the way of marketing things to the French, but we're pretty sure the advertising for Blur is all kinds of wrong. Seemingly tapping the region's most beautiful women to represent in-game power-ups, arguing their superiority over their peers, each spot concludes with the ladies throwing down in a faux race -- which is more an excuse for them to show off skin than to show off the game. Have you ever had to hit so many buttons while playing a racing game before? Yeah, we didn't think so.

Head past the break to check out the two commercials. Bonus points if you can spot the exact moment where feminism has been set back 30 years.

[Via VG247 and UK:Resistance]

Continue reading Blur's French TV spots are far from feminist

JoystiqBlur's French TV spots are far from feminist originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 May 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftXbox-360Tue, 25 May 2010 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-order Blur on Steam, get Geometry Wars Retro Evolved free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/pre-order-blur-on-steam-get-geometry-wars-retro-evolved-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/pre-order-blur-on-steam-get-geometry-wars-retro-evolved-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/pre-order-blur-on-steam-get-geometry-wars-retro-evolved-free/#comments From what we've heard from folks who got in on the game's multiplayer beta, Bizarre Creations' Blur has some surprisingly potent addictive properties. That's why we find this Steam deal so unashamedly sinister: If you pre-order the PC version of the racing title on the popular digital distribution platform, you'll get an equally (if not more) addictive game for free: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved.

Blur goes on sale this Tuesday, so if you're hoping to grab Bizarre's twin-stick time sink at no charge, you should probably pre-order the game ASAP.

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqPre-order Blur on Steam, get Geometry Wars Retro Evolved free originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 May 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarre-creationsblurbonusgeometry-warsgeometry-wars-retro-evolvedpre-ordersteamSun, 23 May 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Trio of Blur tutorials explain the value of fans]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/22/trio-of-blur-tutorials-explain-the-value-of-fans/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/22/trio-of-blur-tutorials-explain-the-value-of-fans/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/22/trio-of-blur-tutorials-explain-the-value-of-fans/#comments We understand the value of a good fan just as much as the next guy, whether said fan is reading our humble video game news site, or keeping us cool in the humid summer months. In Bizarre Creations' arcadey racer Blur, they're even more valuable, serving as the player's main form of character progression. In addition, fans will offer a few bonuses which will pop up in the middle of each race, including Fan Runs, Fan Demands and Fan Targets.

Bizarre Creations recently released video tutorials for all three of these bonuses, posted above and after the jump. We'd suggest checking them out if you're planning on picking up the game when it gets released next Tuesday.

Continue reading Trio of Blur tutorials explain the value of fans

JoystiqTrio of Blur tutorials explain the value of fans originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 May 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarre-creationsblurdrivingfansMicrosoftracingtrailertutorialvideoXbox-360Sat, 22 May 2010 21:30:00 EST