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[GamersGate offering Bethesda's best for cheap this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/gamersgate-offering-bethesdas-best-for-cheap-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/gamersgate-offering-bethesdas-best-for-cheap-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/gamersgate-offering-bethesdas-best-for-cheap-this-weekend/#commentsGamersGate offering Bethesda's best for cheap this weekend GamersGate is hosting a big sale on Bethesda titles this weekend, featuring games from the last few years of the company's history on sale for a fraction of the usual price. Dishonored, for example, is available for a low $14.99, or you can get Skyrim for $14.95, Rage for $9.95, or Fallout: New Vegas' Ultimate Edition for $9.95. Brink, Oblivion, Fallout 3, and Morrowind are all listed at bargain prices as well.

A few of the titles have dropped out of stock already, which means that GamersGate has run out of digital keys for them. But as long as the title is still available for purchase, you can buy it, and then GamersGate will deliver a key when more are available. The deals last through the weekend, so now's your chance to fill out that Bethesda back catalog you've been missing.

JoystiqGamersGate offering Bethesda's best for cheap this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 May 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksdealdiscountdishonoredelder-scrolls-5fallout-3gamersgatepcragesaleskyrimthe-elder-scrolls-v-skyrimFri, 10 May 2013 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored pre-order DLC gets bundled and sold May 14]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/dishonored-pre-order-dlc-gets-bundled-and-sold-may-14/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/dishonored-pre-order-dlc-gets-bundled-and-sold-may-14/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/dishonored-pre-order-dlc-gets-bundled-and-sold-may-14/#comments Downloadable content for Dishonored, previously only made available as pre-order exclusives, are being gathered and sold in a DLC pack set to arrive later this month. 'The Void Walker's Aresenal' downloadable content bundle will arrive on May 14 for $4 (320 MS Points).

The Void Walker's Arsenal includes four different bone charm bonus configurations, each designed to support a certain style of play: the Acrobatic Killer pack is for nimble assassins, with boosts to drop-down kills and increased dodging ability; the Shadow Rat pack is more for stealth, with a bonus that dampens noise when you break glass; the Backstreet Butcher pack aids in more direct conflict, providing greater whiskey bottle explosions and advantages when sword-fighting; and the Arcade Assassin pack is for mystical murderers, with increased power damage and duration.

The Void Walker's Arsenal will be available on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. European PS3 players will have to wait until the following day, May 15. The full list of included content in the bundle pack is listed after the break.

Gallery: Dishonored (Pre-Order Bonuses)

Continue reading Dishonored pre-order DLC gets bundled and sold May 14

JoystiqDishonored pre-order DLC gets bundled and sold May 14 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 04 May 2013 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkane-Studiosbethesdadishonoreddlcmicrosoftpcplaystationps3void-walkers-arsenalxboxSat, 04 May 2013 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored shaves off 50% for Amazon's weekly deal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/dishonored-shaves-off-50-for-amazons-weekly-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/dishonored-shaves-off-50-for-amazons-weekly-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/dishonored-shaves-off-50-for-amazons-weekly-deal/#comments Dishonored is so 50 percent off on Amazon, you guysDishonored slices off half of its price on Amazon this week, available for $30 for Xbox 360, PS3 or PC. Meanwhile, NBA 2K13 and Gears of War Judgment are both $40 as part of the weekly sale.

Outlet deals available now include Madden NFL 13 for PS3 for $29, and Xbox 360 version of Forza Horizon for $44, PS3's Battlefield 3 Premium Edition for $40 and Asura's Wrath for Xbox 360 for $18, plus quite a few more. Check out Amazon's weekly deals and outlet sales right here. Happy Sunday shopping.

JoystiqDishonored shaves off 50% for Amazon's weekly deal originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazondishonoredmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3wiiwii-uxboxSun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Black Ops 2, Dishonored, Forza Horizon DLC out today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/psa-black-ops-2-dishonored-forza-horizon-dlc-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/psa-black-ops-2-dishonored-forza-horizon-dlc-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/psa-black-ops-2-dishonored-forza-horizon-dlc-out-today/#comments Today is the day that the game about military battles in 2025 also becomes about Mafiosi battling zombies in the 1930s, and our world becomes incrementally stranger in the process. Black Ops 2's "Uprising" DLC is available on the Xbox Live Marketplace now for 1200 MSP.

Other noteworthy, perspective-shifting DLC today brings "The Knife of Dunwall" to Dishonored. It's available now on Xbox and will be released today on PS3 and PC. And Forza Horizon's "1000 Club" expansion offers new challenges for every car.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

JoystiqPSA: Black Ops 2, Dishonored, Forza Horizon DLC out today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1000-clubblack-ops-2Call-of-Duty-Black-Ops-2dishonoreddlcforza-horizonmicrosoftpcplaystationps3the-knife-of-dunwalluprisingxboxTue, 16 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam offers Limbo for $2.50 today, Dishonored for $30 this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/steam-offers-limbo-for-2-50-today-dishonored-for-30-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/steam-offers-limbo-for-2-50-today-dishonored-for-30-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/steam-offers-limbo-for-2-50-today-dishonored-for-30-this-week/#comments Dishonored for $30 on Steam this weekend, Limbo for $250 todaySteam is chopping half off Arkane's Dishonored, bringing the price down to $29.99. The deal precedes next week's release of "The Knife of Dunwall," a new single-player add-on that explores a different assassin operating in parallel to the main game's plot.

In fiscally related news, Farming Simulator 2013 is also discounted by 50 percent to $13.99. Both deals have already started and they'll last through Monday morning.

Meanwhile, creepy indie charmer Limbo is on Steam sale for $2.50 until midnight.

JoystiqSteam offers Limbo for $2.50 today, Dishonored for $30 this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dishonoredfarming-simulator-2013half-offlimbopcsalesalessteamupdateweekendThu, 11 Apr 2013 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored with some The Knife of Dunwall gameplay]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/dishonored-with-some-the-knife-of-dunwall-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/dishonored-with-some-the-knife-of-dunwall-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/dishonored-with-some-the-knife-of-dunwall-gameplay/#comments

Dishonored's "The Knife of Dunwall" downloadable content pack is the type of meaty addition we're looking for from an expanded universe experience. If you've yet to play Dishonored and are sensitive about spoilers, we'd actually recommend not watching the above trailer, as it revolves around the the opening moments of the game. However, it's the central idea of why the assassin Daud, who you'll play in this expansion, is having a bad couple months.

Daud's quest for "Delilah" will begin on April 16. It'll cost $9.99 in whale oil or its equivalent to play the add-on pack for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Gallery: Dishonored - The Knife of Dunwall (PAX East 2013)

JoystiqDishonored with some The Knife of Dunwall gameplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkaneArkane-Studiosbethesdadishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 11 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools: Dishonored creators lie about everything in their own game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/april-fools-dishonored-creators-lie-about-everything-in-their-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/april-fools-dishonored-creators-lie-about-everything-in-their-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/april-fools-dishonored-creators-lie-about-everything-in-their-o/#comments

Every year on April 1, the barrage of joke videos and announcements roll in, and every year, there's a clear winner in the "Oh, man, that's good" category. This year's frontrunner is a subtle, hilarious walkthrough video from Dishonored co-creators Raf Colantonio and Harvey Smith. Watch in wonderment as the pair spout off inaccuracies about their own game, all delivered in calm, professional tones.

Listen for a few of our favorite lines, such as, "The thickness of the air is simulated," "This is the player's love interest," "The plants grow at real-time in the game," "For the rest of his life he has no legs," and the conversation about Fabrice's door-lighting expertise.

JoystiqApril Fools: Dishonored creators lie about everything in their own game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-foolsapril-fools-2013Arkane-StudiosBethesda-Softworksdishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxMon, 01 Apr 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live's April 1 DLC sale includes Fallout 3, AC3, BF3, Dishonored]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/xbox-lives-april-1-dlc-sale-includes-fallout-3-ac3-bf3-disho/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/xbox-lives-april-1-dlc-sale-includes-fallout-3-ac3-bf3-disho/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/xbox-lives-april-1-dlc-sale-includes-fallout-3-ac3-bf3-disho/#comments Xbox Live's April 1 DLC salesAlthough some may consider this a joke, Xbox Live will hold a downloadable content sale for April Fools' Day. The discounts on recent games include the Assassin's Creed 3 Season Pass for $20 (33 percent off). There's also the Battlefield 3 Aftermath DLC for $7.50 (50 percent off).

For those who never picked up any of the DLC for Fallout 3, each of the game's five pieces of additional content are 75 percent off for $2.50 apiece. If you must select only a couple, "Broken Steel" and "Point Lookout" are the way to go. We feel obligated to note that Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, which includes the full game plus all the DLC, retails for $20.

The sale does not start until tomorrow, April 1, but head on over to Major Nelson for details on some other discounts.

JoystiqXbox Live's April 1 DLC sale includes Fallout 3, AC3, BF3, Dishonored originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-3battlefield-3dishonoredfallout-3microsoftxboxxbox-liveSun, 31 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bethesda launches online store featuring merch from Skyrim, Fallout and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/bethesda-launches-online-store-featuring-merch-from-skyrim-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/bethesda-launches-online-store-featuring-merch-from-skyrim-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/bethesda-launches-online-store-featuring-merch-from-skyrim-fall/#comments Bethesda opens online store, sells perhaps our favorite mug everUntil now, there just hasn't been a suitable place to pick up a pair of snazzy Vault 101 sneakers or a tasteful lithograph of the Skyrim landscape. Bethesda has solved that problem with a brand new online store, hocking wares that run the gamut from t-shirts to that recently announced and expensive Dragonborn statue.

The store also hosts Elder Scrolls merch, Dishonored pendants, and a nearly convincing Vault-Tec work shirt - you know, in case you pick up that quest to infiltrate a robot manufacturing plant.

JoystiqBethesda launches online store featuring merch from Skyrim, Fallout and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdadishonoreddoomelder-scrolls-5elder-scrolls-onlineid-softwaremicrosoftpcplaystationps3skyrimthe-elder-scrolls-v-skyrimwolfensteinxboxThu, 14 Mar 2013 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored's 'The Knife of Dunwall' DLC comes down in April]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dishonoreds-the-knife-of-dunwall-dlc-blinks-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dishonoreds-the-knife-of-dunwall-dlc-blinks-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dishonoreds-the-knife-of-dunwall-dlc-blinks-in-april/#comments Dishonored's 'The Knife of Dunwall' DLC blinks in AprilDishonored will fill in one of the curiouser elements of the game's story with "The Knife of Dunwall" downloadable content pack. The add-on has players taking on the role of Daud, whose assassination of a key figure in Dunwall sets the core story of Dishonored into motion. After the murder, Daud seeks redemption and is visited by The Outsider, a morally ambiguous and ethically flexible supernatural figure.

Daud will explore "never-before-seen districts" of Dunwall and search for Delilah, a new name we hadn't heard of before. He will also have access to new weapons and powers not available to the wronged Corvo Attano, the protagonist of Dishonored. The DLC will swarm Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on April 16 for $9.99 (800 MSP).

Gallery: Dishonored - The Knife of Dunwall

JoystiqDishonored's 'The Knife of Dunwall' DLC comes down in April originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkane-StudiosBethesda-Softworksdishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 13 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Journey, Dishonored and The Room win big with BAFTA game awards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/journey-dishonored-and-the-room-win-big-with-bafta-game-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/journey-dishonored-and-the-room-win-big-with-bafta-game-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/journey-dishonored-and-the-room-win-big-with-bafta-game-awards/#comments British Academy honors Journey, Dishonored, more with Games AwardsJourney took top honours at this year's BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) game awards, with five different gongs going to thatgamecompany for Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, Best Online Multiplayer, Best Game Design, and Best Original Music.

The Unfinished Swan picked up two awards, for Game Innovation and Debut Game. Dishonored won the award for Best Game in 2013, and iOS tactile puzzler The Room picked up an award for the Best British Game.

Valve's Gabe Newell was given an Academy Fellowship award for his storied career, while the "Ones to Watch" award (meant to showcase the best young game dev talent) was given to a game called Starcrossed, made by students working with the Dare to Be Digital competition.

Continue reading Journey, Dishonored and The Room win big with BAFTA game awards

JoystiqJourney, Dishonored and The Room win big with BAFTA game awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsbaftabritishbritish-academy-games-awardsdishonoredjourneypcplaystationps3starcrossedthatgamecompanythe-unfinished-swanTue, 05 Mar 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Borderlands takes over Xbox Live Ultimate Game Sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/02/borderlands-takes-over-xbox-live-ultimate-game-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/02/borderlands-takes-over-xbox-live-ultimate-game-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/02/borderlands-takes-over-xbox-live-ultimate-game-sale/#comments The lineup for day five of the Xbox Live Games on Demand sale is a star-studded one, as nine games are at least half-off for today only. Highlighting today's deals are Borderlands and Borderlands 2, available for $9.99 and $29.99, respectively.

Other games in today's deal include Fable 3, Dead Island and Fallout: New Vegas for $9.99 each. Batman: Arkham City, Portal 2 and Red Dead Redemption can be downloaded for $14.99 each, while Dishonored rounds out the group at $29.99.

The Ultimate Game Sale ends March 4, and while these games are on sale for today only, there's still a sizable list of games at low prices for the length of the promotion.

JoystiqBorderlands takes over Xbox Live Ultimate Game Sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batman-arkham-cityborderlandsborderlands-2dead-islanddishonoredfable-3fallout-new-vegasgames-on-demandmicrosoftportal-2red-dead-redemptionsalesxboxXbox-LiveSat, 02 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored 'Other Side of the Coin' DLC trophies emerge]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/dishonored-other-side-of-the-coin-dlc-trophies-emerge/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/dishonored-other-side-of-the-coin-dlc-trophies-emerge/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/dishonored-other-side-of-the-coin-dlc-trophies-emerge/#comments Trophies for unannounced Dishonored DLC, titled 'The Other Side of the Coin,' were tossed up onto PS3Trophies today. There are ten trophies in total, the same as for the game's first DLC, 'Dunwall City Trials,' suggesting a similar $5/400 MSP price tag for the new content.

While Dunwall City Trials is a collection of challenge maps, this new DLC apparently offers a story-based campaign, with rewards for completing it in various ways. When approached about the trophy listing, a spokesperson for publisher Bethesda told us, "No comment."

JoystiqDishonored 'Other Side of the Coin' DLC trophies emerge originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkane-studiosbethesdabethesda-softworksdishonoredDLCmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxMon, 25 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This homemade Dishonored whalebone rune is cool, a little creepy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/this-homemade-dishonored-whalebone-rune-is-cool-a-little-creepy/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/this-homemade-dishonored-whalebone-rune-is-cool-a-little-creepy/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/this-homemade-dishonored-whalebone-rune-is-cool-a-little-creepy/#comments This homemade Dishonored whalebone rune is cool, a little creepyLet's say you find yourself in possession of a whale bone. What should you do with it? If you're Reddit user Ragebarf, the choice is obvious: You painstakingly create a real-world version of a whalebone rune from Dishonored.

The rune design was carved with a Dremel, and the bone itself is affixed to the wooden board with leather straps. The board has been appropriately aged, as has the name plate and, if we do say so, the whole thing is very impressive. Kind of creepy, but impressive nonetheless. Check out pictures of the rune's creation from from start to finish right here.

JoystiqThis homemade Dishonored whalebone rune is cool, a little creepy originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkane-StudiosBethesda-Softworksdishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 22 Feb 2013 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored includes 'Dunwall City Trials' at GameStop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/dishonored-includes-dunwall-city-trials-at-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/dishonored-includes-dunwall-city-trials-at-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/dishonored-includes-dunwall-city-trials-at-gamestop/#comments Those who purchase Dishonored at their local GameStop between now and January 27 will receive a code for "Dunwall City Trials" at no extra charge. Dishonored publisher Bethesda also notes the retailer will include the official game guide from Brady Games. The offer is only valid in-store for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game.

We now feel obligated to point out that the game is $52 on Amazon, so even with the $5 "Dunwall City Trials" included at GameStop, the math isn't that great for consoles (oh, the game guide? Here). On PC, the game was just $30 during the Steam Holiday sale, so you'll probably get a similar deal the next time another sale happens. Since this is Steam we're talking about, um, let's say sometime in the next month. Perhaps some clockwork heart and Valentine's Day tie-in?

However, if you've got plenty of GameStop credit just sitting around, one of the best games of 2012 is definitely worth spending it on.

JoystiqDishonored includes 'Dunwall City Trials' at GameStop originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dishonoredDLCdunwall-city-trialsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 16 Jan 2013 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored sneaks onto Games on Demand next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/dishonored-sneaks-onto-games-on-demand-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/dishonored-sneaks-onto-games-on-demand-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/dishonored-sneaks-onto-games-on-demand-next-week/#comments Well, we say "sneaks" in the headline, but Dishonored could just as easily stab and/or blunderbuss its way onto Xbox Live Games on Demand - it's all a matter of personal preference, really. At any rate, Arkane Studios' whale-punk powerhouse will be available through Microsoft's digital distribution platform on Tuesday, January 29, for an indeterminate price.

Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013 will also be available on Games on Demand next Tuesday, accompanied by Catherine's European, Middle Eastern and Asian releases on the service. Meanwhile, Just Dance 4's "Dance Pack 4" DLC boogies onto XBLA for 240 MS Points, while various Max Payne 3 and Red Dead Redemption DLC packs are marked down by 50 percent until January 28.

So! If you've been dishonored by a dangerous hunt, or are feeling max-payne over Catherine, or were told to "just dance for redemption" at gunpoint during a bank heist, Tuesday might be an emotional trigger day for you. Otherwise, enjoy your digitally distributed whatever.

JoystiqDishonored sneaks onto Games on Demand next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkane-StudiosBethesda-Softworkscabellas-dangerous-hunts-2013catherinedishonoredDLCgames-on-demandjust-dance-4max-payne-3microsoftred-dead-redemptionsaleXBLAxboxTue, 15 Jan 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam's Holiday Encore Weekend reprises discounts on Dishonored, XCOM and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/steams-holiday-encore-weekend-reprises-discounts-on-dishonored/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/steams-holiday-encore-weekend-reprises-discounts-on-dishonored/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/steams-holiday-encore-weekend-reprises-discounts-on-dishonored/#comments Steam's Holiday Encore Weekend reprises discounts on Dishonored, XCOM and moreSteam's Holiday Encore Weekend has kicked off, and it's essentially the digitally distributed PC gaming equivalent of one of those Top 40 best-of compilation CDs: Now That's What I Call The Best of Steam's 2012 Holiday Sale, Vol. 1.

Running until 1 p.m. Eastern on Monday, January 7, the sale encompasses much of Joystiq's 2012 Game of the Year list, including The Walking Dead, Dishonored and XCOM: Enemy Unknown, as well as a few of our favorite games from last year, such as Skyrim and Saints Row: The Third. There's 24 deals in all, some of which span multiple games in a franchise, like the Batman, Borderlands and Portal sales. We doubt this compilation will see a Vol. 2, however, so best "get while the gettin's good," as our southern grandmothers would have said.

JoystiqSteam's Holiday Encore Weekend reprises discounts on Dishonored, XCOM and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dishonoredencore-weekendmacpcsaints-row-the-thirdskyrimSteamsteam-holiday-salesteam-holiday-sale-2010Steam-Holiday-Sale-2012the-walking-deadxcom-enemy-unknownSat, 05 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2012: Dishonored]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2012-dishonored/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2012-dishonored/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2012-dishonored/#comments
Dishonored is a convoluted work, and key in reclaiming the word "convoluted" for the purposes of praise. Simplicity has a place in the finest games, but sometimes you just want to get wrapped up in things. A scarf metaphor might have gone here, had it not come from the paranoia induced by Dishonored's deadly contempt for unshielded necks.

There's dignity and integrity to Dishonored's vision, projected from creators who have pursued their ideals with conviction. "This is what we think video games are about," says Arkane Studios. They're about being a rogue catalyst with power(s) and agency, wedged inside a tightly wound coil of combat mechanisms, traversal techniques and environments that communicate an alternate world, history and life without using words. They're about finding paths and learning how to exploit your abilities. They're about blocking a painter's view of his subject, just to be a dick. They're about emptying a safe before you sell the combination to an ignorant buyer. And yes, they're about stabbing necks and piling the attached bodies beneath the mansion's stairwell. Maids hate their lives while a vengeful assassin is on the loose.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2012: Dishonored

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2012: Dishonored originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkane-studiosbest-of-2012bethesdadishonoredgoty-2012joystiq-best-of-2012microsoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 02 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam Holiday Sale continues with Dishonored, Future Soldier, Darksiders franchise and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/steam-holiday-sale-continues-with-dishonored-future-soldier-da/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/steam-holiday-sale-continues-with-dishonored-future-soldier-da/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/steam-holiday-sale-continues-with-dishonored-future-soldier-da/#comments Steam Holiday Sale continue with Dishonored, Future Soldier, Darksiders franchise and moreValve's unceasing quest for the bottom of your bank account continues today with six new daily deals, as part of its ongoing annual Steam Holiday Sale promotion.

Today's stable of temptations include Dishonored for $30, Darksiders and Darksiders 2 (plus a wealth of DLC) for $13.59, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier for $15 (or as part of a massive $68 Tom Clancy's franchise pack), all three FEAR games (plus DLC) for $13.71, as well as SimCity 4 and Psychonauts for less than five bucks each.

As always, various Flash Sales will come and go throughout the day, so remember to check the store periodically. Alternatively, add games you're interested in to your wishlist, and Valve will email you if they happen to go on sale.

JoystiqSteam Holiday Sale continues with Dishonored, Future Soldier, Darksiders franchise and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Darksidersdarksiders-2DishonoredDLCFearFEAR-2fear-3ghost-recon-future-soldiermacpcpsychonautssimcity-4Steamsteam-holiday-saleSteam-Holiday-Sale-2012ValveFri, 21 Dec 2012 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Dishonored 'Dunwall City Trials' blinks to PC, 360 and PS3 today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/11/psa-dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-blinks-to-pc-360-and-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/11/psa-dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-blinks-to-pc-360-and-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/11/psa-dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-blinks-to-pc-360-and-ps3/#comments PSA Dishonored Dunwall City Trials comes to PC, 360, PS3 todayDishonored's first DLC pack, "Dunwall City Trials," is available right now on Steam and Xbox 360. It will be available later today on the PlayStation Network following the weekly update. Dunwall City Trials is priced at $5 (400 MSP) and includes "10 challenge maps" that test your supernatural assassination skills.

More Dishonored DLC is expected in 2013 in the form of two story-driven add-ons. What we do know about the upcoming expansions is that supernatural assassin Daud is the second pack's focus. Bethesda has determined with the the assistance of The Outsider that the DLC will be available in "spring 2013."

Gallery: Dishonored - Dunwall City Trials

JoystiqPSA: Dishonored 'Dunwall City Trials' blinks to PC, 360 and PS3 today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkane-StudiosbethesdaBethesda-Softworksdishonoreddlcmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 11 Dec 2012 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials trailer gets street]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-trailer-gets-street/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-trailer-gets-street/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-trailer-gets-street/#comments

Having run out of creepy little girls to sing Dishonored songs in trailers, Bethesda has apparently gone down a different route. We leave it up to you if this is an improvement. Be prepared, it sets off at the :38 mark.

JoystiqDishonored: Dunwall City Trials trailer gets street originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkaneArkane-StudiosbethesdaBethesda-Softworksdishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 06 Dec 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored sales exceed Bethesda's expectations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/dishonored-sales-exceed-bethesdas-expectations/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/dishonored-sales-exceed-bethesdas-expectations/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/dishonored-sales-exceed-bethesdas-expectations/#comments The sales of Dishonored thus far have been high enough for Bethesda to consider it the beginning of a new franchise, the company has told Destructoid. Bethesda VP of marketing Pete Hines said that Dishonored is "far exceeding our sales expectations." He added that the game did "terrific numbers again" over Thanksgiving weekend, both at retail and also via Steam, where it was the best selling game over the weekend. Overseas sales have been strong as well. "Clearly we have a new franchise," said Hines.

Bethesda didn't disclose specific sales numbers, though we do know that it moved 460,200 boxed copies of Dishonored in North America during its launch month of October, an impressive number for a new IP launching at the beginning of the crowded holiday shopping season. Factor in overseas sales, Black Friday and digital sales, and Dishonored looks to be a hit.

JoystiqDishonored sales exceed Bethesda's expectations originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkane-Studiosbethesdadishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 28 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials' DLC dated for Dec. 11]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-dlc-dated-for-dec-11/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-dlc-dated-for-dec-11/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-dlc-dated-for-dec-11/#comments ImageDishonored invites players to participate in the "Dunwall City Trials" on December 11. The first add-on pack for the game includes "10 challenge maps," that publisher Bethesda notes will have players battle waves of various enemies, test their supernatural assassination skills and "take out targets in a non-stop run of drop assassinations."

Dunwall City Trials will cost $5 (400 MSP) and will be available worldwide in two weeks for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Bethesda previously stated Dishonored would add a second and third DLC pack in 2013, with the future content focusing on story-driven elements. Supernatural assassin Daud will be the focus of the second pack, which the publisher mentioned would be available in "spring 2013."

Gallery: Dishonored - Dunwall City Trials

Continue reading 'Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials' DLC dated for Dec. 11

Joystiq'Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials' DLC dated for Dec. 11 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkane-StudiosbethesdaBethesda-Softworksdishonoreddlcdunwall-city-trialsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 27 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop Cyber Monday deals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/gamestop-cyber-monday-deals/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/gamestop-cyber-monday-deals/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/gamestop-cyber-monday-deals/#comments GameStop Cyber Monday dealsGameStop posted its Cyber Monday deals this morning, with discounts and bonuses that can be redeemed in store, while others are marked as online only.

Highlights include a $25 gift card with the purchase of a 3DS or 3DS XL, or the 3DS with Super Mario 3D Land with a free copy of Nintendogs or Steel Diver. There's also significant discounts on games like Dishonored and Skyrim, which are half-off, while XCOM and Borderlands 2 take $20 off the top.

Go roam GameStop's virtual aisles and see if anything else triggers your itchy mouse-clicking finger.

JoystiqGameStop Cyber Monday deals originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdishonoredgamestopmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3xboxMon, 26 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Journey leads Spike VGA 2012 nominations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/journey-leads-spike-vga-2012-nominations/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/journey-leads-spike-vga-2012-nominations/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/journey-leads-spike-vga-2012-nominations/#comments VGA 2012 nominees revealed, festivities to air on Spike, Xbox Live and the webThe nominees for this year's Spike Video Game Awards have been outed, featuring a cavalcade of 2012's best titles. Journey led the pack with seven nods this year, including Game of the Year. Other stand-outs include The Walking Dead, Assassin's Creed 3 and Dishonored, which are each nominated for five awards. The complete list of nominees and special "Viewer Voted" categories are available on Spike's award page.

In addition to being broadcast on television, the Spike VGAs will be presented on Xbox Live with special SmartGlass functionality. Viewers can check out the festivities through their Xbox 360 on December 7 at 9pm ET when Samuel L. Jackson takes the stage as host.

JoystiqJourney leads Spike VGA 2012 nominations originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroiddishonoreddsiosipadiphonejourneymacmicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3samuel-l-jacksonspike-vga-2012spike-video-game-awardsspike-video-game-awards-2012the-walking-deadvga-2012vitawiiwii-uxboxThu, 15 Nov 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Dishonored sold 460K in October, XCOM hit 114K]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/npd-dishonored-sold-460k-in-october-xcom-hit-114k/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/npd-dishonored-sold-460k-in-october-xcom-hit-114k/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/npd-dishonored-sold-460k-in-october-xcom-hit-114k/#comments October had two scrappy underdogs in Dishonored and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The meticulous murder-em-up sold 460,200 units, according to the NPD, while the XCOM revamp from Firaxis sold 114,000 units.

Dishonored and XCOM: Enemy Unknown launched on October 9 for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and through digital distribution, and later shared shelf space with big hitters like Assassin's Creed 3, NBA 2K13, Forza Horizon and NBA Baller Beats (kidding).

The NPD only chronicles boxed retail sales in North America, so we don't have a full picture of the sales performance of either Dishonored or XCOM: Enemy Unknown. We already followed up with 2K for XCOM specifics, but the publisher told us it does not "comment on sales figures."

JoystiqNPD: Dishonored sold 460K in October, XCOM hit 114K originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesarkane-studiosbethesdadishonoredfiraxis-gamesmicrosoftnpdpcplaystationps3take-twoxboxxcom-enemy-unknownThu, 08 Nov 2012 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA['Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials' DLC this December]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-dlc-this-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-dlc-this-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/dishonored-dunwall-city-trials-dlc-this-december/#comments ImageDishonored will get its first piece of downloadable content, "Dunwall City Trials," this December. Dunwall City Trials adds "10 challenge maps" that will have players battle waves of enemies, participate in time challenges and "a gravity-defying run of drop assassinations."

Bethesda also announced Dishonored will add a second and third DLC pack in 2013, each offering a story-driven campaign. Daud, the supernatural assassin, is the focus of the second pack, which is scheduled for "spring 2013."

Dunwall City Trials will be available for $5 (400 MSP) sometime in December. The other two packs will reveal their prices closer to launch.

Joystiq'Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials' DLC this December originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 25 Oct 2012 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[FIFA fo fum, we see sales of Skylanders to English mums]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/22/fifa-fo-fum-we-see-sales-of-skylanders-to-english-mums/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/22/fifa-fo-fum-we-see-sales-of-skylanders-to-english-mums/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/22/fifa-fo-fum-we-see-sales-of-skylanders-to-english-mums/#comments
Skylanders Giants review Big toys, small changes
Welcome to the fourth consecutive week of FIFA 13 topping the UK Charts. No need to feign surprise. Also, don't expect FIFA's run to end by next week, unless Medal of Honor: Warfighter shocks and awes us all. Then again... there's always Forza: Horizon. Racing games can be a wild card on the UK charts.

The big debut this week was Activision Blizzard's Skylanders Giants. The sequel outdid the premiere of its predecessor with a second place start, while the original Skylanders, Spyro's Adventure, debuted at number 16, but saw great success after.

Bethesda's Dishonored slipped to third and -- there it is! -- the insidious Just Dance 4 keeps working its way up the charts. You can't turn your back on it for a second. Soon it'll be number one and working all that Gangnam Style. Now saddle dance past the break for the UK top ten.

Continue reading FIFA fo fum, we see sales of Skylanders to English mums

JoystiqFIFA fo fum, we see sales of Skylanders to English mums originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainchart-trackchart-track-weeklydishonoredfifa-13just-dance-4microsoftpcplaystationps3skylanders-giantsukxboxMon, 22 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored is 2012's biggest new IP launch in UK, FIFA 13 sees 1st place hat trick]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dishonored-is-2012s-biggest-new-ip-launch-in-uk-fifa-13-sees-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dishonored-is-2012s-biggest-new-ip-launch-in-uk-fifa-13-sees-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dishonored-is-2012s-biggest-new-ip-launch-in-uk-fifa-13-sees-1/#comments FIFA 13 was - and, probably still is - the top selling game in the UK. For the third week in a row the footie sportsball game, despite a 63 percent decline in sales last week, retained its premier position.

Bethesda's Dishonored actually debuted in second place. According to Chart-Track, it's the biggest new intellectual property launch of the year, besting Square Enix's Sleeping Dogs. Even combining sales of Pokemon Black (#3) and White (#5) Version 2, Dishonored would still hold its second place position.

The other major launch last week, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, premiered in seventh place behind the insidious Just Dance 4. The aliens are winning. Check out the UK top ten after the break.

Continue reading Dishonored is 2012's biggest new IP launch in UK, FIFA 13 sees 1st place hat trick

JoystiqDishonored is 2012's biggest new IP launch in UK, FIFA 13 sees 1st place hat trick originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainchart-trackchart-track-weeklydishonoreddsfifa-13microsoftnintendopcplaystationps3ukxboxMon, 15 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Flicks: Dishonored and Leon The Professional]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/stiq-flicks-dishonored-and-leon-the-professional/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/stiq-flicks-dishonored-and-leon-the-professional/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/stiq-flicks-dishonored-and-leon-the-professional/#commentsStiq Flicks - from film and video game industry freelance writer Kevin Kelly - examines video games and attempts to pair them with matching films. It's like wine and cheese, but with more aliens.
Stiq Flicks Dishonored and Lon The Professional
Dishonored puts you into the shoes (and mask) of a mysterious bodyguard who has been framed for the murder of his Empress employer. Saved from death by a band of insurgents, he becomes an assassin who stalks in the shadows and kills silently ... or with extreme noise, depending on how you play the game. Whatever way you decide to go at it, Corvo's ultimate goal is to find and protect the Empress' daughter, Emily.

Which brings us to our film pairing for the game. In 1994, Luc Besson wrote and directed Léon, which was called The Professional in the United States. It starred French actor Jean Reno as a Léon, a skillful hitman "cleaner" working for the mob who takes a very young Mathilda (Natalie Portman) under his wing after her family is murdered by crooked cops.

The character of Léon is a fleshed-out version of a similar cleaner character that Jean Reno played in La Femme Nikita, and Besson himself has said, "Now maybe Jean is playing the American cousin of Victor. This time he's more human." Which is an understatement. Although Léon is a hitman, he's more human than plenty of the heroes of cinema.

Gallery: Dishonored (4/26/12)

Continue reading Stiq Flicks: Dishonored and Leon The Professional

JoystiqStiq Flicks: Dishonored and Leon The Professional originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dishonoredmicrosoftOpinionpcplaystationps3Stiq-FlicksxboxSun, 14 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meeting Atypical Aliens and Assassins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/meeting-atypical-aliens-and-assassins/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/meeting-atypical-aliens-and-assassins/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/meeting-atypical-aliens-and-assassins/#commentsYou're reading Reaction Time, a weekly column that claims to examine recent events, games and trends in the industry, but is really just looking for an excuse to use the word "zeitgeist." It debuts on Fridays in Engadget's digital magazine, Distro.
This holiday's unceasing glut of games is a go, with store shelves making room for the onslaught of snarling aliens, sneering assassins, and slow-mo soldiers walking away from large explosions - or sometimes partially melted helicopters. These are the usual, commercially sexy suspects.

It's best not to judge a game by its cover, though, and this week's front-facing embellishments are exceptionally deceptive. At a shallow glance, XCOM: Enemy Unknown may seem like another case of meathead military dudes mowing down extraterrestrials. Dishonored, meanwhile, conveys a stylish stab-a-thon with its masked, supernaturally talented anti-hero out for revenge. Look longer and you'll find that both have roots in classic PC gaming, and both sell something console owners might not even know they want.

Continue reading Meeting Atypical Aliens and Assassins

JoystiqMeeting Atypical Aliens and Assassins originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesArkane-StudiosbethesdadishonoredFiraxis-Gamesmicrosoftpcplaystationps3reaction-timexboxxcom-enemy-unknownFri, 12 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Tuesday: Dishonored, Sherlock Holmes, Retro City Rampage, tons more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/psn-tuesday-dishonored-sherlock-holmes-retro-city-rampage-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/psn-tuesday-dishonored-sherlock-holmes-retro-city-rampage-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/psn-tuesday-dishonored-sherlock-holmes-retro-city-rampage-to/#comments PSN Tuesday Dishonored, Sherlock Holmes, Retro City RampageToday's PS Store dump includes a barrage of full games as part of Sony's Day 1 Digital promotion and its ongoing indie focus. For full games, we have Dishonored, Birds of Steel, Devil May Cry HD Collection and The Testament of Sherlock Holmes.

PSN gets Retro City Rampage, The Walking Dead Episode Four: Around Every Corner, Derrick the Deathfin, Machinarium, Worms Revolution and more. Retro City Rampage is also hitting Vita, alongside Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock, Spy Hunter and Sunflowers.

Vita is getting three new PSOne Classics, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 4, Destrega and Saiyuki: Journey West. There's also a free demo for this week's big release (that isn't Dishonored), XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and the Mechromancer DLC for Borderlands 2. Check out the complete lineup here.

JoystiqPSN Tuesday: Dishonored, Sherlock Holmes, Retro City Rampage, tons more originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>borderlands-2derrick-the-deathfindestregadishonoreddr-whomachinariumplaystationplaystation-vitaPS-Storeps3PSNpsn-tuesdayretro-city-rampageromance-of-the-three-kingdomssaiyuki-journey-westspy-huntersunflowersthe-testament-of-sherlock-holmesthe-walking-deadvitaworms-revolutionXComxcom-enemy-unknownTue, 09 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: Dishonored]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/08/metareview-dishonored/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/08/metareview-dishonored/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/08/metareview-dishonored/#comments Our own Alexander Sliwinski enjoyed the world of Dishonored, and hopes to see it fleshed out even further in future games - the birth of a franchise, if you will. Other reviewers may not be on the same train, but they're certainly on the same track: In a crowded fourth quarter, Dunwall has managed to stand out as a top tourist destination.
  • IGN (92/100): "It's a shame that Dishonored's story isn't greater than the sum of its decidedly memorable parts, but its gameplay absolutely is. Each mission is built as an elaborate network of choices for players to explore, and the same can be said for Corvo himself. Each player's selection of powers, perks and other upgrades will inform how they see and interact with this world, and no two play-throughs will be exactly the same. Dishonored is a game you'll talk with your friends about, and that you'll want to play multiple times. In this game there are always other paths to be taken and other challenges to conquer, and that's a refreshing thing indeed."
  • Gamespot (90/100): "It's a rare game that feels so compulsively replayable, but Dishonored is such a game. The compelling abilities, the bold artistic design, the colorful characters, and above all, the freedom of choice--these are the things that mark Dishonored as one of the truly remarkable games of this year."
  • Game Informer (87/100): "Though I was frustrated by the chaos system and how it steers your actions, the heart of Dishonored is about being inventive, adaptable, and ruthless. The team at Arkane Studios has injected an array of cool possibilities into the simulated city of Dunwall, and discovering them all is a blast. When you come face-to-face with the people who wronged you, your only dilemma is deciding which poetic method of elimination will produce the coolest result."
  • Eurogamer (80/100): "This is a muscular and confident game, one with the utmost faith in its own fiction and a dedication to gameplay satisfaction at a microscopic level, paid off in dozens of situations that feel completely random and organic, even when they've clearly been planted there for you to find. Tighter control and a more generous approach to replay value would elevate Dishonored to true classic status, but it stands as one of the year's best all the same."
  • Giant Bomb (80/100): "An excellent game, and one worthy of your attention. Dishonored's greatest contribution to the genre games like Deus Ex helped establish will be best appreciated by those who've been with it from the start, but Arkane has made a game rooted in manipulating artificial intelligence that plays just as well to the guy or gal who wants to shoot stuff. That's impressive."

Gallery: Dishonored (10/8/12)

JoystiqMetareview: Dishonored originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dishonoredmetareviewmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxMon, 08 Oct 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored devs sneaking off to Austin tonight to sign game copies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/08/dishonored-devs-sneaking-off-to-austin-tonight-to-sign-game-copi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/08/dishonored-devs-sneaking-off-to-austin-tonight-to-sign-game-copi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/08/dishonored-devs-sneaking-off-to-austin-tonight-to-sign-game-copi/#comments
If you're going to pick up a copy of Dishonored tonight, and if your want that copy signed by the developers behind it, and if you live anywhere near Austin, then boy are you in the right post. That's because Arkane Studios staff, including co-creative directors Harvey Smith and Raphael Colantonio, are signing copies of the game tonight in the Texan team's hometown.

Continue reading Dishonored devs sneaking off to Austin tonight to sign game copies

JoystiqDishonored devs sneaking off to Austin tonight to sign game copies originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkane-studiosbethesdabethesda-softworksdishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3signingxboxMon, 08 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored review: A whale of a tale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/08/dishonored-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/08/dishonored-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/08/dishonored-review/#comments Dishonored is something special. It's a self-contained first brick in what is sure to become a larger universe; a stealth action game that lets you play as a creeping assassin, or abandon that notion and go through it as a first-person shooter with mystical powers. Don't want to kill anybody? That's a perfectly executable idea. There are so many options that revisiting the full story more than once for various outcomes is part of the experience.

You are Corvo Attano, royal protector to the unmarried Empress Jessamine Kaldwin and her daughter Emily. It is immediately apparent that extreme care and effort went into the setting of Dunwall, a fantastical city overrun by a rat-spread plague, but it's not like the city of Rapture was to BioShock. BioShock fully explores the story of Rapture, it is the story of Rapture. Dishonored, on the other hand, is not the story of Dunwall - it is merely set there.

There are many elements emphasized regarding life in Dunwall, but hardly any of them are explored in this specific story. It creates a bit of dissonance over time, since set pieces and locales you'd swear should be included are not. This is all to say that Dishonored is the specific story of Corvo Attano and his reaction to the conspiracy against Empress Kaldwin.

Gallery: Dishonored (10/8/12)

Continue reading Dishonored review: A whale of a tale

JoystiqDishonored review: A whale of a tale originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkane-StudiosbethesdaBethesda-Softworksdishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxzenimax-mediaMon, 08 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored interactive trailer goes down the path to revenge, contains light spoilers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/dishonored-interactive-trailer-goes-down-the-path-to-revenge-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/dishonored-interactive-trailer-goes-down-the-path-to-revenge-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/dishonored-interactive-trailer-goes-down-the-path-to-revenge-co/#comments
Through the use of internet magic, Arkane Studios lets us sample a mission from Dishonored ahead of its October 9 launch. Just be warned: this is an actual mission from the game, with light spoilers.

JoystiqDishonored interactive trailer goes down the path to revenge, contains light spoilers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkane-studiosbethesdabethesda-softworksdishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 04 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored's attempt to Cure Violence with revenge, by Vice]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dishonoreds-attempt-to-cure-violence-with-revenge-by-vice/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dishonoreds-attempt-to-cure-violence-with-revenge-by-vice/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dishonoreds-attempt-to-cure-violence-with-revenge-by-vice/#comments

Vice, founded as a punk zine in 1994, is now a major global brand with a network of television, documentary and digital production studios, an online hub, magazine, record label, publishing house and advertising agency. It's notorious for brash exposition and unapologetic presentation, finding the dark yet honest angle in its productions.

Vice has taken on Bethesda's Dishonored as its first attempt to market a single product, and while it doesn't have to dig far to find the dirt in an assassination video game, it managed to take the "revenge" angle in an unexpected direction, as noted by Gapers Block. Vice filmed Chicago Interrupted, a documentary chronicling the violence-prevention group Cure Violence as its members attempt to diffuse dangerous street situations, ending with a plea for America to not become desensitized.

Chicago Interrupted begins with an advertisement for Dishonored, whose tagline is "Revenge solves everything," and the documentary was featured on Eye for an Eye, Vice's multimedia project to market the game, before being pulled yesterday. Part one is embedded above and still features the Bethesda and Dishonored intro.

One of Dishonored's draws is the ability to play the entire game in stealth mode, without killing anyone, but it is an action assassination game at heart. Perhaps the juxtaposition of real-world violence is supposed to make us think twice about killing people in-game, but that street travels both ways. Showing how fun it is to slit people's throats in the digital realm right before chronicling the grim reality of violence marks the very desensitization Cure Violence stands against.

As gaming becomes an increasingly mainstream endeavor, new companies will handle its subject matter in various ways to find a sweet spot of marketing and social sensitivity. Vice may have just stumbled on one of those thresholds.

JoystiqDishonored's attempt to Cure Violence with revenge, by Vice originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbethesdaBethesda-Softworkschicago-interruptedcure-violencedishonoredmarketingmicrosoftpcplaystationps3VicexboxThu, 27 Sep 2012 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored's complete 'The Tales from Dunwall']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dishonoreds-complete-the-tales-from-dunwall/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dishonoreds-complete-the-tales-from-dunwall/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dishonoreds-complete-the-tales-from-dunwall/#comments
Dishonored concluded its three-part webisode series The Tales from Dunwall today. We thought it would be nice to put them all in one place for you. The vignettes cover the backstory leading into Dishonored's revenge tale.

Continue reading Dishonored's complete 'The Tales from Dunwall'

JoystiqDishonored's complete 'The Tales from Dunwall' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkaneArkane-StudiosbethesdaBethesda-Softworksdishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 27 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DVR alert: Dishonored on Face Off tonight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/dvr-alert-dishonored-on-face-off-tonight/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/dvr-alert-dishonored-on-face-off-tonight/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/dvr-alert-dishonored-on-face-off-tonight/#comments DVR Dishonored on Face Off tonightSyfy's special-effects makeup competition, Face Off, will feature Dishonored on tonight's episode. The artists will be tasked with creating creatures and makeup that evokes Arkane's steampunk-inspired setting of Dunwall.

Given the stylized looks of Dunwall's citizens, it'll be interesting to see how the contestants avoid going overboard. Face Off is on at 9PM Eastern/Pacific.

JoystiqDVR alert: Dishonored on Face Off tonight originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dishonoredface-offmicrosoftpcplaystationps3syfyxboxTue, 25 Sep 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dishonored's lore explained in new 'The Tales from Dunwall' shorts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/dishonoreds-lore-explained-in-new-the-tales-from-dunwall-shor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/dishonoreds-lore-explained-in-new-the-tales-from-dunwall-shor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/dishonoreds-lore-explained-in-new-the-tales-from-dunwall-shor/#comments
Dishonored kicks off a three-part webisode series entitled The Tale from Dunwall today. The first episode, "The Awakening", tells the rise and end of Esmond Roseburrow, the man who discovered the energy source that makes Dunwall's whale oil-punk universe possible.

Continue reading Dishonored's lore explained in new 'The Tales from Dunwall' shorts

JoystiqDishonored's lore explained in new 'The Tales from Dunwall' shorts originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkane-StudiosBethesda-Softworksdishonoredmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 25 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST