Joystiq

Google commemorates Atari's Breakout in interactive fashion

Sinan Kubba — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 EST

Atari's Breakout turned 37 last month, and that apparently (but not unsurprisingly) is enough of an excuse for yet another Google easter egg. If you type 'Atari Breakout' into Google Images' search, instead of finding graphics of the classic game, the screen will transform into a playable Breakout clone made up from those images. Clever, no?

So, if by the end of today you're wondering where all the Joystiq posts have gone, be sure to blame/thank Google.

Google commemorates Atari's Breakout in interactive fashion originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitman Absolution easter egg delivers ice cream at high speeds

Mike Suszek — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST

This video shows off an easter egg in Hitman: Absolution, in which the ice cream truck Agent 47 drives at the beginning of the game comes back with a vengeance.

Courtesy of GameFront, the embedded video explains the steps it takes to find the easter egg, which occurs in the game's "End of the Road" mission. Obviously, that means the video also contains some plot spoilers, so viewer discretion is advised.

Hitman Absolution easter egg delivers ice cream at high speeds originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain Scarlett hails Mr. Bubbles in Borderlands 2 'Pirate Booty' DLC

David Hinkle — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST

There's an interesting easter egg in the new Borderlands 2 DLC, Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty. The iconic Big Daddy (AKA Mr. Bubbles) from the BioShock series makes an appearance at some point in the add-on adventure and - well, we don't want to ruin it for you. In the interest of spoilers, we've embedded the video showing off the Pandora version of everyone's favorite child social worker past the break.

Continue reading Captain Scarlett hails Mr. Bubbles in Borderlands 2 'Pirate Booty' DLC

Captain Scarlett hails Mr. Bubbles in Borderlands 2 'Pirate Booty' DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Check out this Minecraft easter egg in Borderlands 2

Mike Suszek — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST

This video shows you how to reach a hidden Minecraft-inspired area in Borderlands 2, which includes Creepers and familiar blocks just begging to be broken. Be warned: the video includes minor spoilers for the game (and a lot of awesome).

Check out this Minecraft easter egg in Borderlands 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We require you to Google 'zerg rush'

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:05:00 EST

Stop reading. Start Googling. Just try to take out a few of the little buggers before you're overrun, okay?

We require you to Google 'zerg rush' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Easter egg: Pac-Man is on Pac-Man in Street Fighter x Tekken

David Hinkle — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:30:00 EST

You may not have noticed during the frenzy of battle, but Pac-Man's got something interesting going on with his battle bot in Street Fighter X Tekken. On the back, there's an animated classic Pac-Man game board where Pac's chasing down his next ghastly snack!

Too bad nobody will be able to notice the intricate Easter egg mid-fight. Instead, you'll probably want to check it out in the customization screen - or, by simply hitting the play button on the video above.

[Thanks, Robert.]

Easter egg: Pac-Man is on Pac-Man in Street Fighter x Tekken originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Battlefield 2143' easter egg hidden in Back to Karkand DLC

Mike Schramm — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:30:00 EST

A couple of eagle-eyed Battlefield 3 players have spotted the above easter egg in the recent "Back to Karkand" DLC pack. It's just a stencil on a virtual wall, but of course the number "2143" (at least we're guessing that's the remains of a 4, and not a triangle) would hint at a followup to DICE's Battlefield 2142, the not-quite-as-successful futuristic spinoff of the Battlefield 1942 series. The Battlefield 3 Blog points out that a similar easter egg was hidden back in the Battlefield 2: Euro Force map pack back in 2006, and that egg was eventually the first sign of 2142's release later that year.

Don't start hoping for a sequel just yet, however. While some fans would probably enjoy a return to the 2142 universe, odds are this is just DICE having a little fun, and reminding us that while many players might have forgotten about the futuristic spinoff already, DICE's own developers haven't just yet.

'Battlefield 2143' easter egg hidden in Back to Karkand DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Batman gets a big head in this Arkham City Easter egg

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST

Wondering how to take Batman's already Arkham-sized head and make it into something more Gotham-sized? The Rooster Teeth folks have figured it out, releasing a tell-all video (watch out for the F-bomb!) on Batman: Arkham City's "Big Head Mode," which can apparently be applied using the Cryptography Sequencer.

The guys warn that the mode is only available in "Normal or higher" difficulties, though it'll also work in New Game Plus mode. Essentially, by holding down both triggers and maneuvering each analog stick in opposite circles of movement, the Big Head mode Easter egg will activate, rendering all forms of Batman and Catwoman (as well as enemies) with enormous noggins and puffy hands. And yes, in case you can't watch the video above just yet, it is absolutely adorable.

[Thanks, Geoff.]

Batman gets a big head in this Arkham City Easter egg originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft easter egg makes its way into Skyrim

David Hinkle — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST

Who says a nasty legal battle means you can't appreciate each other's work? A nice little nod to Minecraft made its way into Skyrim, Ology reports. Neat!

Pictured above is the Notched Pickaxe, which looks an awfully lot like the one from Minecraft -- Notch, you likely know, is the creator of the game. Hats off to the Bethesda devs for including this in the game. If you want to see it for yourself (and perhaps use it to kill a few of the smaller dragon pups), you can find it in The Throat of the World. It shouldn't be too hard to find the one-of-a-kind pickaxe stuck in the biggest mountain in the game.

Minecraft easter egg makes its way into Skyrim originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frank West can be Proto Man in Dead Rising 2: Off the Record

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST

There's a surprise lurking in Dead Rising 2: Off the Record that is most decidedly not undead -- Proto Man! You can unlock Proto Man's outfit, shield and a working arm cannon through a series of steps so strangely complex that we're shocked anyone figured this easter egg out at all.

Apparently you can snag the boots no problem, but to get the shield and blaster you have to beat the game with an S rank, medal in all 30 challenges, defeat Jack in a game of poker at the safe house, and then start that file again (not a new game), htka of GameFAQs posted. Or you can just watch the above video and pretend you're controlling Proto Frank West Man. You can even make your own sound effects. We won't tell anyone.

If you'll remember, there was a similar unlock in Dead Rising, but it was bluer.

Frank West can be Proto Man in Dead Rising 2: Off the Record originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Breaking Bad Easter Egg discovered in Rage

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 07:00:00 EST

Fans of Rage probably already caught the game's appearance in an episode of Breaking Bad from earlier this season. Now, fans of Breaking Bad can catch a neat reference to the show in Rage. Check out the video above to see the toothy Easter Egg in question.

Breaking Bad Easter Egg discovered in Rage originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rage's Wolfenstein room is filled with pixelated treasure

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:10:00 EST

Frankly, we're not sure what's better, the fact that there's a Wolfenstein 3D room in Rage, or imagining the reactions from gamers too young to know what Wolfenstein 3D is.

Continue reading Rage's Wolfenstein room is filled with pixelated treasure

Rage's Wolfenstein room is filled with pixelated treasure originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Cluckshot is Gears of War 3's fabulous hidden weapon, here's how to get it

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST

Standard issue anything is such a drag, you know? These days, you have to accessorize and customize just to get noticed on the battlefield, and even then it's become such a chore to stand out while staying alive. Sure, golden Lancers are cool and everything, but experienced COGs know that flashy blinged-out weapons only exist to give away your position and get you killed.

What's a Gear like you to do, then? Well friend, take it from the fashionistas over at GameFront: Chickens are the new black. Their helpful how-to video (above) details every little thing you need to do in order to unlock the Cluckshot, Gears of War 3's avian-themed (and rather literal) easter-egg weapon. With this trendy new weapon, you'll be the cock of the walk, and those fashion-backward Locusts will have egg on their faces!

The Cluckshot is Gears of War 3's fabulous hidden weapon, here's how to get it originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gears of War 3's Gridlock map has a special nod to Gary Jules' 'Mad World'

David Hinkle — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:55:00 EST

A few years ago there was no escaping the Gears of War ad that used Gary Jules' cover of "Mad World." Well, it's made its way into Gears of War 3, and right into the Gridlock map. It's a nice piece of fan service that you can check out in our video above.

Gears of War 3's Gridlock map has a special nod to Gary Jules' 'Mad World' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Examine Halo 4's Warthog in Forza 4's 'Auto Vista' mode

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:08:00 EST

Ever wanted to know the deep lore behind and automotive specs inside Halo's most abundant form of military transportation? You can and you will, provided you pick up Turn 10's upcoming racer, Forza Motorsport 4. At last night's Halo Fest event, the studio announced that the new, Halo 4 model of the ubiquitous Warthog would be featured as an easter egg in the game's spectatorial "Auto Vista" mode.

This means that you'll be able to sail around the new iteration of the car (using either a controller or Kinect-based gestures), manipulating its every feature and learning more about its backstory thanks to some 343-penned narration. The best part? Those voiceovers are performed by Jen Taylor, the actor behind Halo's luminous guide, Cortana.

The worst part? The Warthog's only viewable in Auto Vista mode, and won't be driveable in actual races. We suppose that would be unfair, because, you know, chaingun.

Examine Halo 4's Warthog in Forza 4's 'Auto Vista' mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 secrets GLaDOS didn't tell you in Portal 2

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:45:00 EST

You solved all the normal puzzles in Portal 2, which is good for a human test subject. But you want to be great, don't you? You want to be the best tester at Aperture. You want GLaDOS to love you like your mom never did. Don't you? CVG is here to help with 10 secrets to impress in Portal 2.

10 secrets GLaDOS didn't tell you in Portal 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Ops: Call of the Dead's Wunderwaffe-ful Easter egg revealed

Randy Nelson — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:20:00 EST

It's no secret that the new Call of the Dead map for Call of Duty: Black Ops packs some major star power, but it also contains some well-hidden firepower. NextGenTactics details how to unlock the map's secret Wunderwaffe DG-2, an Achievement and some hilarious cameos in the video after the break.

Continue reading Black Ops: Call of the Dead's Wunderwaffe-ful Easter egg revealed

Black Ops: Call of the Dead's Wunderwaffe-ful Easter egg revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 May 2011 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gears of War 3 beta gets a long-eared Easter egg

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST

If you've managed to snag yourself access to the Gears of War 3 beta, you ... need to go play it. Right now. Don't watch the video after the jump, just go experience the magic for yourself. Everyone else, check out the beta's one-day Easter egg after the jump. It's both gory and adorable.

Continue reading Gears of War 3 beta gets a long-eared Easter egg

Gears of War 3 beta gets a long-eared Easter egg originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portal 2's egg-shaped turrets get their own easter egg

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST

Think you've seen all there is to see in the deadly, paneled catacombs of Aperture Science? You might have missed this Portal 2 easter egg: A quartet of hidden-away, musically-oriented turrets, a video of which is posted after the jump. Or maybe you didn't miss it. We're not mind readers, you know.

Continue reading Portal 2's egg-shaped turrets get their own easter egg

Portal 2's egg-shaped turrets get their own easter egg originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portal 2 Easter egg: Valve never meta-ARG it didn't like

JC Fletcher — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 22:30:00 EST

A hidden room somewhere within Portal 2 (see the video after the break for more information about its location, if you want) contains a mysterious message from "Adam Foster," which plays a really annoying sound file that turns out to hold three encoded images.

What do you find upon deciphering this hidden message? A brief history of hidden Portal-related messages. The three image files encoded in the sound turn out to be slides detailing the ARG that led to the reveal of some Portal 2 info -- also using SSTV-coded images.

It turns out that said ARG had a budget of just $100, and used a BBS that was running on a vintage computer with a genuine 2400 BPS modem. You can see all three images in full here, and see (and hear) the coded message in Portal 2 after the break.

Continue reading Portal 2 Easter egg: Valve never meta-ARG it didn't like

Portal 2 Easter egg: Valve never meta-ARG it didn't like originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portal 2 contains an 'interactive teaser' for JJ Abrams' Super 8

Christopher Grant — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST

Buried in Portal 2's "Extras" menu is an "interactive teaser" for Super 8, this summer's J. J. Abrams-helmed sci-fi monster movie. "What exactly is an interactive teaser?" you ask, half-knowing the answer.

Do you remember that original teaser for Super 8, in which a train crashes and something lets itself out of a train car? This is like that, except interactive (thanks, Source Engine!), and it takes place from the point-of-view of someone inside the train. You can find it in that copy of Portal 2 you've undoubtedly already purchased or, if you're still stuck at work like we are, watch a video after the break.

Continue reading Portal 2 contains an 'interactive teaser' for JJ Abrams' Super 8

Portal 2 contains an 'interactive teaser' for JJ Abrams' Super 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bulletstorm's 'Red Ring of Death' easter egg exposed

David Hinkle — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:45:00 EST

While it may be lost on those playing Bulletstorm on the PC or PS3, Xbox 360 gamers will instantly recognize the cheeky jab at Microsoft for that whole Red Ring of Death thing.

Continue reading Bulletstorm's 'Red Ring of Death' easter egg exposed

Bulletstorm's 'Red Ring of Death' easter egg exposed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Bowl 'Rio' commercial reveals secret behind Angry Birds easter egg

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST

Last night's blockbuster football contest might not have featured the most hee-larious advertisements in all of Super Bowl history -- but you can't say they weren't rewarding. Take, for instance, the trailer for 20th Century Fox's Rio, which featured a split-second image of one of the avian protagonists of Angry Birds, as well as the numbers "13-12." A few of the game's more dedicated players have cracked that riddle -- firing off the birds in a specific sequence and direction on said stage unlocks a special, Super Bowl-themed level, provided you've updated to the most recent version of the game.

Check out a video after the jump to see how the bird-firing maneuver is properly executed. Also, we'd like to see more video game easter eggs in television commercials, please. Trust us, ad executives, it's good for you too -- we must have watched that freaking Rio commercial like, twenty times now.

Continue reading Super Bowl 'Rio' commercial reveals secret behind Angry Birds easter egg

Super Bowl 'Rio' commercial reveals secret behind Angry Birds easter egg originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Billy Mitchell's tie makes cameo in Donkey Kong Country Returns

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:45:00 EST

Donkey Kong Country Returns developer Retro Studios doesn't just have a knack for successfully rebooting beloved Nintendo franchises, it's also got a wicked eye for bold fashion statements. For instance, the star-spangled signature necktie of Donkey Kong high-score contender Billy Mitchell (pictured right; from The King of Kong film) must have ensnared the attention of somebody at Retro, as the familiar pattern managed to sneak its way into DKC Returns, hidden in the backdrop of World 3-2 (pictured left).

Now, if only the developer could have found a way to sneak in Mitchell's undying admiration of hot sauce, or, you know, his overall winning personality.

Billy Mitchell's tie makes cameo in Donkey Kong Country Returns originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops' fabled 'Mannequin Easter Egg' revealed

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:37:00 EST

A few days ago, Activision's Dan Amrich hinted at an Easter Egg located on Call of Duty: Black Ops' fast-paced multiplayer map, Nuketown, accessible by popping the heads of all the mannequins therein with a quickness. After a couple days of trying, one group of players struck gold.

Continue reading Call of Duty: Black Ops' fabled 'Mannequin Easter Egg' revealed

Call of Duty: Black Ops' fabled 'Mannequin Easter Egg' revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blast the internet with 'Asteroids' applet

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Andy writes to tell us his buddy has completed work on the new American Eagle site. No, we aren't directing you to seasonal Zelda jammies (would you wear those?) -- the update includes a "hidden" Asteroids mode! Just add "?mode=asteroids" to the end of any page url to crack this Easter egg open.

Continue reading Blast the internet with 'Asteroids' applet

Blast the internet with 'Asteroids' applet originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Reach Racer' minigame found in Halo: Reach

JC Fletcher — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST

Already tired of the mundane "shoot aliens" game in Halo: Reach? Thanks to this video from Achievement Hunter, you can move onto "Reach Racer," a two-Warthog racing game buried in Reach. Accessing it is as simple as getting two players to certain spots in ONI: Sword Base. Find out exactly how it works after the break.

Continue reading 'Reach Racer' minigame found in Halo: Reach

'Reach Racer' minigame found in Halo: Reach originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Halo: Reach data pad location guide videos

David Hinkle — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:50:00 EST

Over on Halo Reach Planet -- the fansite, not the actual planet -- all 19 of Halo: Reach's hidden data pads have been discovered and their locations documented. Head past the break for the video walkthroughs -- only after you've finished the campaign on your own, of course ... having undoubtedly missed a few of these side-story Easter eggs.

Continue reading Halo: Reach data pad location guide videos

Halo: Reach data pad location guide videos originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sarcastic announcer Easter egg uncovered in Wave Race: Blue Storm

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

A NeoGAF forumite going by the moniker "Raoul Duke" recently uncovered a timeworn Easter egg hidden within the folds of the aquatic GameCube racer, Wave Race: Blue Storm -- and appropriately enough, this egg is awfully rotten. By entering in a super-obscure code on the game's audio settings screen, players can change the typically pleasant (and omnipresent) pit crew commenter to a sardonic so-and-so who talks smack about your every action.

You can check out a video of this old-new Easter egg posted just after the jump, or, if you feel like taking a hit to your self-esteem for some reason, you can learn the arcane measures you have to follow to find the secret voice track over on NeoGAF.

Continue reading Sarcastic announcer Easter egg uncovered in Wave Race: Blue Storm

Sarcastic announcer Easter egg uncovered in Wave Race: Blue Storm originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crackdown 2 save unlocks Agent 4 in Perfect Dark multiplayer

David Hinkle — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:04:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We're now only days away from the release of Crackdown 2, and in a stroke of corporate synergy, Microsoft Game Studios has hatched a cross-game promotion between Ruffian's impending sandbox shooter and the recent HD remake of Perfect Dark for Xbox Live Arcade. With a Crackdown 2 save on your console, you can unlock a new playable character in Perfect Dark: Agent 4.

No codes, no impossible speed runs -- Agent 4 is unlocked in Perfect Dark's Combat Simulator (multiplayer mode) as soon as your Crackdown 2 save is detected. Happy hunting, agents!

Gallery: Agent 4 in Perfect Dark

Crackdown 2 save unlocks Agent 4 in Perfect Dark multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock 2 special edition posters have hidden messages

David Hinkle — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST

[BioshockFan52]

Those of us who have played BioShock 2 likely don't see anything out of the ordinary in the above image. Almost all of Rapture's propoganda has been smeared by Sophia Lamb and her followers in-game, so it only makes sense that 2K would do as much with the game's real world promotional items. And according to this thread on the 2K Games site, a black light is all you need to unlock this "hidden" feature in those neat posters you got with your Special Edition.

The forums users in the thread aren't yanking The Great Chain here, folks. Our sister site Big Download confirms the Easter egg in its Special Edition poster, as well -- there's even a gallery showing off all of the hidden messages to be found. Remember: a man chooses to display his BioShock 2 posters under a black light, a parasite complains about the increased electric bill.

[Thanks, Alex]

BioShock 2 special edition posters have hidden messages originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RE5 'Lost in Nightmares' Easter egg: the classic cam

David Hinkle — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:30:00 EST

There's a neat throwback to the first time Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield went stomping around a creepy old mansion in "Lost in Nightmares," the new DLC episode for Resident Evil 5. By going to the front door of the mansion and attempting to open it a few times (remember what happened the first time you tried that?), you'll eventually get a "?" message and the camera will shift to Resident Evil's classic, isolated point of view.

More than anything, the Easter egg is a nostalgic reminder of the olden days of survival horror, before Chris Redfield had to juice up just to get out of bed in the morning.

RE5 'Lost in Nightmares' Easter egg: the classic cam originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google artist sneaks Triforce into logo, Google removes it [update]

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST

Well that was quick! just as soon as the Internet caught The Legend of Zelda's Triforce in a handful of Google homepage logo designs, Google has altered said images, removing the easter egg. It appears as though the images were created for Google by artist Susie Sahim -- a woman whose personal blog contains a picture of her dressed up as LoZ's Link, might we add ... which is awesome.

We've contacted both Ms. Sahim and Google for comment, but, well, it's Sunday. Sunday evening. People gotta rest sometimes. With any luck, we'll have any update for you early this week. For now, peep all the original images over on Blogoscoped.

Update: Google got back to us about the existence, and subsequent disappearance, of the symbols, saying, "Our doodles aim to celebrate interesting events and anniversaries around the world that reflect Google's playful personality and love of innovation. As for our Triforce Easter egg, we're glad people discovered it and enjoyed it before it vanished back into the Zeldasphere. We appreciate people around the world looking into our artwork so closely!" Now, just to find that Zeldasphere ...

[Thanks, Matt M.!]

Google artist sneaks Triforce into logo, Google removes it [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donkey Kong Easter egg cracked 26 years late

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:30:00 EST

Who knew? You can put a price on obscure video game secrets, after all. Buried in 25,000-odd lines of game code for twenty-six years, an ancient "Easter egg" has been uncovered -- thanks to a modest cash reward -- from the Atari 8-bit port of Donkey Kong. Hint: You're looking at it (pictured above). Don't see it? It's the initials: LMD. Yeah, that's it.

Last year, in an unabridged blog post about early-80s programming for Atari, celebrated coder Landon M. Dyer offhandedly remarked, "There's an Easter egg [in the Donkey Kong port], but it's totally not worth it, and I don't remember how to bring it up anyway." Still, game databaser Digital Press thought it worth it enough to offer up a $75 reward for discovering the hidden treasure; or, more accurately, a reward for discovering the process by which the Easter egg is triggered, as it was known that the bonus itself was simply the programmer's initials displayed on the title screen. In turn, the seventy-five bucks was worth it enough to a Mr. Don Hodges to scour the game code and dig up the dusty trail to the Easter egg. There are plenty of eggs left to crack, too, if you're looking for adventure that pays.

Head past the break for the suspenseful reveal. The video's got quite the build-up. Be patient.

Continue reading Donkey Kong Easter egg cracked 26 years late

Donkey Kong Easter egg cracked 26 years late originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Konami Code Easter eggs dug up across the web

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 09 May 2009 07:00:00 EST

Remember the short-lived Unicornification of ESPN.com which could be viewed by entering in the Konami Code? Turns out that's not the only site that can be modified by entering in everyone's favorite sequence of keystrokes. Check out the extremely aptly named KonamiCodeSites.com to see a list of pages that respond in various ways to the familiar tune of Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start (or Enter).

For instance, Facebook adds a lens flare effect once the code is entered. AdventureQuest Worlds shows a short flash clip featuring ... unicorns! (We're beginning to see a pattern here.) The best we've seen? The official site of jQuery, a JavaScript library program, loads up a Java-based Guitar Hero game when you input the code. Oh, and Joystiq? Every time you enter the code here, an angel gets its wings.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Konami Code Easter eggs dug up across the web originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 May 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sly Cooper 4 spotted in inFamous demo

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:33:00 EST

Those who have access to the early inFamous demo will want to go Empire City's cinema. At the top of the list of fictional titles on display is Sly Cooper 4.

This where you scream "OMG!" and run around like a man on fire. We'll wait.

Done? Good. Of course, this tease may be a simple Easter egg, placed to simply stir up fanboy passions. Or, it could be a hint at what's to come ... We'll let you decide in the comments.

[Thanks, Noshino! Via TAWKN]

Sly Cooper 4 spotted in inFamous demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 May 2009 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve jokingly drops MMO code into latest Team Fortress 2 patch

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:30:00 EST

If you needed further proof that the folks over at Valve are cheeky, cheeky scoundrels, you need not look further than a recent piece of code in the latest patch for Team Fortress 2:

// TF2 MMO
"TF_MMO_LFG" "Looking For Group"
"TF_MMO_Quest1" "You must kill %s1 %s2 to complete this quest."
"TF_MMO_Monster1" "Boars"
"TF_MMO_Monster2" "Rats"
"TF_MMO_Monster3" "Bats"
"TF_MMO_Monster4" "Wolves"
"TF_MMO_Monster5" "Spiders"

Great, Valve. That's really great. Now we can't stop thinking about how much we want to play an MMO'd version of TF2. We've already got a debilitating addiction to WoW. Now we're addicted to the idea of a spy-checking, sentry-sapping, rocket-jumping, chaingun-toting MMO. That's just what we needed.

Valve jokingly drops MMO code into latest Team Fortress 2 patch originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 May 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Konami Code turns ESPN.com into a Lisa Frank wonderland [update]

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:30:00 EST

Update: ESPN got wise, and removed the mysterious Unicornification ability reported below. It was fun while it lasted!

You need to stop what you're doing right now, and go to ESPN's Web site, because something magical is going on, and we don't know how long it will last. Once the front page loads, enter in the Konami Code (which we shouldn't have to tell you by now, but just in case -- Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A). Then start pressing Enter on your keyboard. Something will happen that isn't even remotely sports related. Is it an Easter egg? A well-executed hack? A hilarious practical joke from a disgruntled ESPN web programmer? We don't know, but we offer an enthusiastic Kudos to whoever pulled this one off.

[Via FourZeroTwo's Twitter]

Konami Code turns ESPN.com into a Lisa Frank wonderland [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FF7's Cloud spotted in BSG spin-off, Caprica

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:30:00 EST

Battlestar Galactica and gaming culture seem to go together like carrots, celery and onion (what, mirepoix too fancy for ya?). And so it's with little shock that we bring you the screen you see above from the upcoming Battlestar Galactica spin-off series, Caprica, captured by a gracious Joystiq reader. Is that ... Cloud? Cloud Strife? It is! Well, sorta, kinda.

Though the show isn't set to air until the beginning of next year on the ~~Sci-Fi~~ Syfy Channel, the two-hour pilot premiered via DVD and non-analog download this past week. Clearly the show's writers and/or set designers ... err ... someone on the set, decided to show their love for the critically acclaimed game and drop an Easter egg into the pilot in the form of Final Fantasy VII's protagonist. And while the image is a cartoony representation of the sharp-haired young gentleman, we'd be hard-pressed to not recognize that stance anywhere.

[Thanks, Thomas P.!]

FF7's Cloud spotted in BSG spin-off, Caprica originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obligatory video game Easter eggs post: 2009 Edition

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST

Yeah, we know. Every Easter, we write up a historical account of well-hidden Easter eggs featured in video games over the years. You've heard them all by now, we're sure -- the guerrilla credits of Adventure, the "Secret Cow Level" in Diablo II, Yoshi's appearance in Super Mario 64, GTA IV's "Heart of the City," A Link to the Past's Chris Houlihan room, and Symphony of the Night's hidden audio track, to name a few. For more info about these tried and true surreptitious extras, we suggest checking out this GameSpot post.

However, this past year saw the arrival of a heretofore undiscovered Easter egg in a title you all know and love -- ladies and gentlemen, we present "The Goldeneye Breakdancing Glitch," viewable in the video after the jump. Apparently, tilting the Goldeneye cart in the middle of a game leads to hilarious impromptu b-boying from any and all on-screen characters. You simply must check it out -- and while you're down there, tell us your favorite video game Easter eggs in the comments!

Continue reading Obligatory video game Easter eggs post: 2009 Edition

Obligatory video game Easter eggs post: 2009 Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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