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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is, like, totally popular and stuff]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/04/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-is-like-totally-popular-and-stuff/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/04/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-is-like-totally-popular-and-stuff/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/04/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-is-like-totally-popular-and-stuff/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Stop the presses! We are like, so totally stoked right now. Cut to the 14:28 mark of the latest Penny Arcade podcast, "Making an Impression." So speak'th the cartoon-inclined hosts:

"Hey, Disincentives won best webcomic for that week."

"Yeah, we did ... it's always nice to win."

"I feel like champion (my fri-end)."

Oh yeah, baby, that's right, we're famous enough to be on the second-greatest podcast around! So while we clutch the (CW)TB signature we have written on the back of a business card from when we ran into Tycho at GDC 2007 (note: thanks for putting up with our "trade show noob" geek-out 14 months ago, T-Bo), check out our picks for the week's best game-related webcomics; voting is after the break.

Continue reading Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is, like, totally popular and stuff

JoystiqWeekly Webcomic Wrapup is, like, totally popular and stuff originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 May 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc07penny-arcadewebcomicSun, 04 May 2008 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at GDC 2007]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Next week, the Joystiq crew will pack their precious belongings (a laptop, some clothes, and a towel) before flying off to the 2008 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. So now seems about as good a time as any to reflect back on last year's GDC for a taste of what's to come. Sure, there's a dearth of playable demos when compared to E3 or TGS, but what other trade show can say they redefined the role of adhesive in internet conversations?

Keep reading for our remembrances of the keynotes (what's Game 3.0 again?), last year's big news (Harmonix and EA are doing what?), the sessions and interviews (the Wii is how many Gamecubes duct-taped together?), and the whole culture of GDC (Miyamoto made quite a splash).

Continue reading A look back at GDC 2007

JoystiqA look back at GDC 2007 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-look-back-gdc07DSgdcgdc07gdcaigfjoystiqfeatureskeynotenintendoPCPS3sonyWiiXbox-360Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at GDC 07: interviews and sessions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-07-interviews-and-sessions/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-07-interviews-and-sessions/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-07-interviews-and-sessions/#commentsFiled under: ,


Beyond the keynotes and news stories, the 2007 Game Developers Conference packed an incredible amount of content within the walls of San Francisco's Moscone Center. A number of memorable sessions leave us teary-eyed with nostalgia, as we wonder if GDC 08 can possibly top the frenetic schedule of last year's event.

Before GDC proper even began, the Mobile Game Innovation Hunt passed out free beer and noisemakers to its filled-to-capacity crowd for the most professional form of game criticism. And speaking of professional criticism, Maxis developer Chris Hecker certainly made waves at the Game Publisher's Rant session, when he infamously referred to the Wii as "two Gamecubes duct-taped together," generating enough fanboy fuel to power a small star. The small but oh-so-significant comment unfortunately became the focus of the session's media coverage, but we were still able to talk to Vivendi's Nichol Bradford about her own impassioned presentation.

Elsewhere, music was most certainly in the air, as iNiS VP Keiichi Yano discussed the success of Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan on DS, and the difficulties of bringing the quirky rhythm title to the US as Elite Beat Agents. Musical inspiration could most definitely be found in Nintendo composer Koji Kondo, who made his first public appearance in America at GDC, and discussed the secrets of designing good game audio.

Continue reading A look back at GDC 07: interviews and sessions

JoystiqA look back at GDC 07: interviews and sessions originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-look-back-gdc07GDCgdc-07gdc07Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at GDC 07: all the news thats fit to post]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-07-all-the-news-thats-fit-to-post/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-07-all-the-news-thats-fit-to-post/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-07-all-the-news-thats-fit-to-post/#commentsFiled under: ,


GDC is always a hotbed for game-related news, and 2007 was no different as a flurry of announcements made during the annual event gave attendees plenty to talk about while waiting in line for sessions or sipping unspecified beverages in a haze of drunken exhaustion. Let's take a look back at which announcements came to pass, which were left unceremoniously forgotten, and which ones still have us scratching each other's heads like a pack of spider monkeys.

It was at GDC 07 where EA finally broke the silence and confirmed that it had slipped into bed with rhythm game virtuoso Harmonix with plans to publish the studio's next game. That game, of course, was Rock Band, though at the time the future of that announcement was the subject of much debate. After all, it's still popular to look at EA as an evil megacorp, and the partnership between it and indie fave Harmonix was not met with universal acclaim. Not that it matters now, as we're far too busy belting out lyrics to Roxanne.

Continue reading A look back at GDC 07: all the news thats fit to post

JoystiqA look back at GDC 07: all the news thats fit to post originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-look-back-gdc07GDCgdc-07gdc07Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at GDC 07: a taste of culture]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-07-a-taste-of-culture/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-07-a-taste-of-culture/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/a-look-back-at-gdc-07-a-taste-of-culture/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We're definitely not big-time executives getting driven around everywhere, so make no mistake about it, running around and covering GDC can be exhausting! Need evidence? Well, in the picture above you'll see the blogger photo-frenzy that occurred one evening after our dear editor Mr. Grant passed out cold of exhaustion (no liquor or pharmaceuticals involved). Sure, there's a lot of news and business related things going on at GDC, but we still find time to have some fun and write about the cultural things going on within the industry.

There was definitely one big name at GDC last year who requires no introduction: Miyamoto. People waited in an incredibly long line last year to hear the father of Mario, Link -- and in many ways, Nintendo -- speak. Some people had life altering experiences after meeting with his holiness, while others showed their love by simply serenading the man; however, the best use of Miyamoto's time at GDC was certainly his guest appearance in a Mega64 skit where he gave an award-winning performance as a man faced with the horror of seeing his own creation in cos-play form.

Continue reading A look back at GDC 07: a taste of culture

JoystiqA look back at GDC 07: a taste of culture originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-look-back-gdc07gdcgdc07Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Witness 'The Metagame' in action, thanks to MTV]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/witness-the-metagame-in-action-thanks-to-mtv/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/witness-the-metagame-in-action-thanks-to-mtv/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/witness-the-metagame-in-action-thanks-to-mtv/#commentsFiled under:


It ran at GDC 2007; we reported on it, but you didn't get to see it. Now, MTV has hosted a special edition of The Metagame game show, as part of their "Gamer's Week" Coverage, and Stephen Totilo has posted the highlights for mass consumption.

The Metagame, designed and hosted by Frank Lantz of area/code and Eric Zimmerman of Gamelab, pits two teams against each other in a battle of video game smarts. Each round, teams move pieces on the game board to form comparative statements between two games (such as "Halo would make a better movie than Half-Life," or "Virtua Fighter is sexier than Super Mario 64."), and argue these statements to earn points. Vying for victory this time are MTV's Stephen Totilo and Tim Kash, versus Newsweeks' N'Gai Croal, and fellow journalist Heather Chaplin, author of Smart Bomb.

The debate is heated, hilarious, and only the slightest bit pretentious. We'd definitely enjoy watching more designers, developers, and press-members argue the semantics and specifics of the industry's most influential games. Any chance of picking up the show full-time, MTV?

Update: Due to silly legal restrictions, the video posted above is not viewable in the UK or Canada. Apologies for any confusion or irritation this might cause.

JoystiqWitness 'The Metagame' in action, thanks to MTV originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>area/codeeric-zimmermanericzimmermanfrank-lantzfranklantzgamelabgdcgdc07heather-chaplinheatherchaplinmetagamemtvngai-croalngaicroalstephen-totilostephentotilotim-kashtimkashThu, 15 Nov 2007 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS hands-on: Metal Gear Solid 4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/21/tgs-hands-on-metal-gear-solid-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/21/tgs-hands-on-metal-gear-solid-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/21/tgs-hands-on-metal-gear-solid-4/#commentsFiled under:


Imagine yourself, surrounded by hundreds, nay thousands of people, bustling about. A constant murmur rings in the background, as the sounds of endless explosions, gunfire, and bouncy anime music intertwine in a cacophony of disarray. Finally, come to the grasp that you must navigate a complex game in a language which you are completely unfamiliar with. It was under these extraneous circumstances that we've come to play Metal Gear Solid 4 on the Tokyo Game Show floor, having survived the hours-long wait for a brief time with Hideo Kojima's latest.

Simply thrown into the game was a daunting challenge, one that borders on insurmountable. Once again, Snake has an incredible variety of moves at his disposal -- and he must use them in order to survive the challenges at hand. Metal Gear Solid 4 is far from the most intuitive game we've played, and unguided play didn't lead to much success in the battlefield. It's clear that, in spite of its warlike setting, the game remains true to its "tactical espionage" roots. Stealth is highly rewarded, and bravado will usually lead to some trialling battles that undoubtedly end in death. For example, a tank will be able to gun down Old Snake in all but a few seconds: sneaking past the tank, and the troops that support it, is essential for mere survival. Navigating through the environments felt natural, and the context-sensitive icons that appear at the bottom of the screen are certainly a refreshing addition. Snake will be able to walk, crouch and crawl with relative ease, and with the improved camera, navigating the environment has become far easier. The box and barrel, in which Snake can hide, both appear in the TGS demo, and give Snake a few options in remaining hidden in the environment.

But, it's not like Snake will be helpless in the face of combat. Old Snake still has access to his CQC moves, and when faced with enemies one on one, they'll likely face a quick death. The gunplay has been improved, though. The game's over the shoulder mode feels natural, allowing Snake to move and shoot at the same time. The targeting reticule is surprisingly intelligent, indicating when objects and walls get in the course of your shot. Although some may be able to play MGS4 as a quasi-FPS game, the number of enemies will make that a daunting challenge.

Continue reading TGS hands-on: Metal Gear Solid 4

JoystiqTGS hands-on: Metal Gear Solid 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc07metal-gear-solidmetal-gear-solid-4mgsmgs4Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Reggie talks about third-party support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/reggie-talks-about-third-party-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/reggie-talks-about-third-party-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/reggie-talks-about-third-party-support/#commentsFiled under: ,

Newsweek's N'Gai Croal chatted with Reggie Fils-Aime at GDC, and since that show was so rich with creamy, flavorful news, this interview has only now found its way onto the site. The interview is largely on the subject of third-party support for the Wii and DS, and for the most part, Reggie takes personal responsibility for what he sees as positive developments.

For example, Reggie seems to credit his own meetings with former Take Two CEO Paul Eibeler for the advent of Wii Manhunt 2. He also claims that his conversations with Laurent Dutoc of Ubisoft led to ... pretty much half the stuff on the Wii. We aren't business experts, so we don't know, but could it really be as simple as that? Is Reggie charismatic enough to personally influence publishers' plans? Or is he using personal terms as a shorthand for more complicated business dealings?

JoystiqReggie talks about third-party support originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc07manhuntnintendonintendo wiireggierockstartaketwothirdpartyubisoftwiiMon, 02 Apr 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Miyamoto calls out third parties]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/31/miyamoto-calls-out-third-parties/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/31/miyamoto-calls-out-third-parties/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/31/miyamoto-calls-out-third-parties/#commentsFiled under: ,

Shigeru Miyamoto sat down with Newsweek's N'Gai Croal earlier this month and aired out his concerns with third party developers not putting their best efforts behind games for Nintendo systems. Companies often find that their biggest competition on consoles like the Wii and DS is Nintendo themselves, but according to Miyamoto, most third parties aren't rising to the challenge with their top development groups. Instead, they're depending on third- or fourth-string teams to produce their titles.

While not every game from Nintendo is a blockbuster hit, Miyamoto says that the company makes sure to put its best people behind titles that are "designed to really support and sell hardware." Can most third parties say they're doing the same? If not, then how much longer will it take before developers approach their Wii releases seriously and start using their star teams to create AAA titles for the console?

JoystiqMiyamoto calls out third parties originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developdeveloperseagdcgdc07miyamotonewsweeknintendonintendowiishigerushigerumiyamotothirdpartiesthirdpartyubisoftwiiSat, 31 Mar 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the Grid: I was a student scholar]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/off-the-grid-i-was-a-student-scholar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/off-the-grid-i-was-a-student-scholar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/off-the-grid-i-was-a-student-scholar/#commentsFiled under: ,

Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column on gaming away from the television screen or monitor.

Since I couldn't find anyone to play Robo Rally with me this week, I thought I'd take this opportunity to instead discuss my experience as one of the IGDA's Student Scholars at this year's Game Developers Conference.

For the past seven years, the International Game Developers Association has been sending students interested in a future career in video games to GDC. A panel of professional game developers judges all the submitted applications, and each year 25 students are selected to receive free passes to the event. Each student is also paired with an industry mentor, and all the scholars are given an orientation session for the conference, and a tour of a local studio. I was honored to have been chosen as one of this year's student scholars, and found my first GDC experience to be all the more worthwhile as a result.

The three-day conference started on Wednesday, so Tuesday morning we met as a group for a special orientation session. A few of the scholars had already met up the previous night, as part of an unofficial pre-GDC get-together. Some of the student scholars were undergrads, but others were graduate students, and the group ranged widely in age. The disciplines and interests of the students varied widely as well, with artists, designers, coders, and audiophiles all equally represented. Part of our orientation had to do with simply meeting each other, exchanging business cards and conversing with peers who might very well be industry bigwigs in a few years; some of them just give off that vibe.

Continue reading Off the Grid: I was a student scholar

JoystiqOff the Grid: I was a student scholar originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GDCgdc07igdaoffthegridFri, 23 Mar 2007 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Readers pick best webcomic: Hecker the Traitor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/readers-pick-best-webcomic-hecker-the-traitor/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/readers-pick-best-webcomic-hecker-the-traitor/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/readers-pick-best-webcomic-hecker-the-traitor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It may have required some background knowledge of 300 and Chris Hecker to understand, but the Joystiq webcomic lovers chose via parliamentary procedure 2P Start's entry as the best webcomic of last week.

Second place went to Penny Arcade and third from Scott Johnson's Extra Life. Thanks to everyone who voted and be sure to let us know of any gaming comics you stumble upon this week!

Continue reading Readers pick best webcomic: Hecker the Traitor

JoystiqReaders pick best webcomic: Hecker the Traitor originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2p startchris heckerChrisHeckerextra lifeExtraLifegdcgdc 07Gdc07heckerpenny arcadePennyArcadeweb comicWebComicWiiThu, 22 Mar 2007 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Remixed medley of The Legend of Zelda's soundtrack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/18/remixed-medley-of-the-legend-of-zeldas-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/18/remixed-medley-of-the-legend-of-zeldas-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/18/remixed-medley-of-the-legend-of-zeldas-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: ,

One of our favorite touches of the new Phantom Hourglass' trailer shown at this year's GDC event was its use of the reworked Hyrule Castle theme from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. If there's one thing we love, it's retro tracks brought back for another round. That's why we're featuring a medley of songs from the original Zelda game (NES) remixed by electronica musician Ochre, for your Sunday listening pleasure.

We imagine that trying to add anything on top of Koji Kondo's classic work without ruining it is a difficult task, but this arrangement doesn't miss a step. Ochre's interpretation blends the 8-bit pieces with his own playful style, taking the listener through a six-minute daydream of Link's adventures. If you're a fan of lush synths and summery rhythms, we definitely suggest downloading this song along with Ochre's other remixes and original offerings at his site.

[Via The New Gamer]

JoystiqRemixed medley of The Legend of Zelda's soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Mar 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alinktotthepastgdcgdc07hyrulekojikondolegendofzeldamedleymp3musicphantomhourglassremixsoundtrackthelegendofzeldathemetrailerzeldaSun, 18 Mar 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese hardware sales, Mar. 5 - Mar. 11: GDC ruined everything edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/17/japanese-hardware-sales-mar-5-mar-11-gdc-ruined-everything/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/17/japanese-hardware-sales-mar-5-mar-11-gdc-ruined-everything/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/17/japanese-hardware-sales-mar-5-mar-11-gdc-ruined-everything/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Much like the gruesome aftermath of an unexpected shark attack, it was difficult to miss the fact that a crucial part of us recently went missing. Last week, the Japanese sales charts were mysteriously absent, leaving nothing but a festering hole on the front page and a severe bout of dizziness for all involved. Of course, the blame is to be firmly placed on the shark -- here meaning the Game Developer's Conference held in San Francisco.

We were ill-prepared when it devoured our energy in one terrifying gulp and by the time we filmed a special video "skit," it had become all too apparent that we had little acting, humor, writing or basic conversational abilities. Instead, we present a gallery of miscellaneous GDC images, many of which depict Joystiq staffers in various states of tomfoolery and general ineptitude. If you are truly outraged by the lack of last week's charts (presented after the break!), use these images to identify us and then punch us in the face.

- DS Lite: 108,512 3,302 (2.95%)
- PSP: 56,175 9,981 (15.09%)
- Wii: 44,494 13,477 (23.25%)
- PS3: 32,115 11,885 (27.01%)
- PS2: 14,585 779 (5.07%)
- Xbox 360: 3,333 46 (1.36%)
- Game Boy Micro: 812 7 (0.87%)
- GBA SP: 679 59 (7.99%)
- Gamecube: 240 63 (20.79%)
- DS Phat: 119 7 (6.25%)
- GBA: 13 12 (48.00%)

Source: Media Create]

See also: Previous Japanese hardware sales charts

Gallery: Joystiq @ GDC07

Continue reading Japanese hardware sales, Mar. 5 - Mar. 11: GDC ruined everything edition

JoystiqJapanese hardware sales, Mar. 5 - Mar. 11: GDC ruined everything edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Mar 2007 01:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSGameCubeGDCGDC07Japanese hardware salesJapaneseHardwareSalesPS2PS3PSPWiiXbox-360Sat, 17 Mar 2007 01:12:00 EST<![CDATA[The past (and future?) of Miis]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/the-past-and-future-of-miis/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/the-past-and-future-of-miis/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/the-past-and-future-of-miis/#commentsFiled under:

During his keynote at GDC earlier this month, Shigeru Miyamoto confessed that the representations we now know as the loveable Miis have haunted him for some time. He also said that another team managed to get close to what he'd always wanted ... for a DS game. Now we can see the story of that DS software -- the seed of the Miis that are cropping up everywhere today. While the article is all in Japanese (and automatic translation makes it seem like something out of a nursery rhyme nightmare), we can get a fair picture of just how pervasive this idea of face creation has been for Nintendo.

Of course, the thing we all want to know now is if we'll see this on the DS. Wouldn't it be great to use your Mii in even the smallest aspects of games? In Clubhouse Games, for instance, instead of a user icon, it's a tiny image of your Mii's face. That could really add a nice level of personalization to future DS games, and all without getting into something big. One might also wonder if this will someday be a part of the coming Wii-DS interactivity that remains somewhat mysterious beyond Pokémon Battle Revolution.

JoystiqThe past (and future?) of Miis originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSgdc07MiiMiyamotoNintendoWiiFri, 16 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's flattest game video: Super Paper Mario]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/todays-flattest-game-video-super-paper-mario/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/todays-flattest-game-video-super-paper-mario/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/todays-flattest-game-video-super-paper-mario/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We fought through the GDC crowds to give you our impressions, and this GameTrailers interview about Super Paper Mario shows off the game's creative controls. While it's just one of the Wii's titles, here's hoping this April game brings showers to counter the perception of the Wii game drought.

Anticipate the rain -- and watch the video -- after the break.

Paper cutout Mario and friends image from Paper Forest and GotOrion.

Continue reading Today's flattest game video: Super Paper Mario

JoystiqToday's flattest game video: Super Paper Mario originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>droughtGDCgdc07hottest videoHottestVideosuper paper marioSuperPaperMarioWiiFri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Possibility of some Valve action on the Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/possibility-of-some-valve-action-on-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/possibility-of-some-valve-action-on-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/possibility-of-some-valve-action-on-the-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,

Looks like the folks at Valve are a little late to the Wii party. We can forgive them; after all, they've been busy crafting some of the best games ever. But in this new interview with GameTrailers, Valve's Director of Marketing, Doug Lombardi admits that they didn't really get the console's potential. "I'm just going to be blunt with you -- we missed the Wii," he said. Well, at least he's honest. While Lombardi said they have no plans at the moment to develop anything for the Wii, he did add that he "wouldn't be surprised" if someone came up with an idea they just had to pursue. Well. At least now we have a candidate for today's most vaguely optimistic news award.

He did assure us that they are all "super big fans" of Nintendo over there at Valve. We're certainly reassured. Now get in the studio and build us some games! We've included the video after the jump, though the Wii-relevant information is all the way at the end.

Continue reading Possibility of some Valve action on the Wii

JoystiqPossibility of some Valve action on the Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Doug LombardiDougLombardigdc07NintendoPortalValveWiiThu, 15 Mar 2007 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's best friendiest video: Fable 2 dog]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/todays-best-friendiest-video-fable-2-dog/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/todays-best-friendiest-video-fable-2-dog/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/todays-best-friendiest-video-fable-2-dog/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We previously covered Peter Molyneux's Fable 2 talk at GDC, and now the most-watched video at GameTrailers shows off Fable 2's dog, letting us take a closer look for tonight's video. Molyneux stresses not to scrutinize the graphics and that only the dog is worth looking at in the demo's current state. Overlooking the work left to be done, the dog seems to be well animated and deliver a lot of emotion; hopefully this companion will add more depth to the game.

See the dog demo after the break.

Continue reading Today's best friendiest video: Fable 2 dog

JoystiqToday's best friendiest video: Fable 2 dog originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dogfable 2Fable2GDCgdc07hottest videoHottestVideopetpeter molyneuxPeterMolyneuxXbox-360Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview reveals Symphony of the Night to include updated vocals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/interview-reveals-symphony-of-the-night-to-include-updated-vocal/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/interview-reveals-symphony-of-the-night-to-include-updated-vocal/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/interview-reveals-symphony-of-the-night-to-include-updated-vocal/#commentsFiled under: ,


You may remember a little title that got everyone talking a few weeks ago: Castlevania. Ever since its incredible debut, Konami has remained silent on this hotly anticipated revival of Rondo of Blood, the only Castlevania title never to be released in the States. The upcoming Castlevania X Chronicles not only includes a 3D remake of Rondo of Blood, but includes the fan-favorite Symphony of the Night as well. Games Radar has an incredible interview with Koji Igarashi from GDC available, and here are some highlights:
  • After years of working on GBA/DS games, the power of the PSP has been startling: "It's better than what I expected, actually. I'm very happy about the quality. Especially with the graphic quality. The PSP hardware system allows a very high resolution."
  • Symphony of the Night will be getting a few enhancements: "So basically, it's mostly a straight port from the original SOTN on PlayStation. I wasn't happy about the quality of the PlayStation SOTN voiceover, so I'm trying to do something about it on the PSP."
Don't forget to check out Games Radar for the rest of this brilliant interview.

See also:
The Symphony of the Night we won't get

JoystiqInterview reveals Symphony of the Night to include updated vocals originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevaniadracula xDraculaXgdc07koji igarashiKojiIgarashirondo of bloodRondoOfBloodsotnsymphony of the nightSymphonyOfTheNightTue, 13 Mar 2007 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo quiet at GDC due to Japanese stock situation?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/nintendo-quiet-at-gdc-due-to-japanese-stock-situation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/nintendo-quiet-at-gdc-due-to-japanese-stock-situation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/nintendo-quiet-at-gdc-due-to-japanese-stock-situation/#commentsFiled under:

Before going into GDC07, we all thought Nintendo would remain relatively quiet. And, they kind of did. Miyamoto reassured us that Super Mario Galaxy would be arriving this year and even told us about a new Channel. So, it depends on how you look at it, but we consider the show to be a success here at HQ.

Regardless of what we thought, many others are saying that Nintendo really didn't have a presence at the show. And these folk are pointing to the current Japanese stock situation as the reason why Nintendo didn't reveal much at the show. So what does that mean for us? Nintendo is going to stay "hush hush," for awhile. But, when you think about it, hasn't Nintendo always been kind of "hush hush?"

JoystiqNintendo quiet at GDC due to Japanese stock situation? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdcgdc07japanmiyamotonintendonintendowiistockwiiTue, 13 Mar 2007 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Goodbye GDC: Booze, games, and a lonely Zune]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/goodbye-gdc-booze-games-and-a-lonely-zune/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/goodbye-gdc-booze-games-and-a-lonely-zune/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/goodbye-gdc-booze-games-and-a-lonely-zune/#commentsFiled under: ,


It's finally time to say goodbye to our GDC coverage. As a fond farewell, we give you a handful of pictures of Microsoft's presence in the North Hall. It was really more interesting than the actual Microsoft booth, which was more oriented towards scheduling meetings and working with XNA. Microsoft basically owned the lobby of the North Hall, with lots of demo stations and some pumping music. Granted, the games on display weren't exactly the new hotness -- Gears of War, Homecourt, etc. -- but they sure looked nice on the HD displays.

Continue reading Goodbye GDC: Booze, games, and a lonely Zune

JoystiqGoodbye GDC: Booze, games, and a lonely Zune originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GDC-2007gdc07microsoftnorth hallNorthHallTue, 13 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Castlevania's Koji Igarashi: 2D games will never die!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/castlevanias-koji-igarashi-2d-games-will-never-die/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/castlevanias-koji-igarashi-2d-games-will-never-die/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/castlevanias-koji-igarashi-2d-games-will-never-die/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Bringing his GDC presentation, "The Light and Dark Sides of 2D Game Production," to a flag-waving close, Konami's Koji Igarashi defiantly declared (via an enthusiastically projected slide) that "2D games will never die!" Though the Castlevania designer's train of thought seemed to switch several times during the talk -- no doubt exacerbated by the wonky on-the-fly translation -- his point eventually emerged as a light at the end of the tunnel.

Igarashi explained that as 3D games grow more complex and require greater effort from artists, 2D games provide an advantage by being easier and cheaper to design. Though he argued that the perspective generally allows players to better judge distance in action games, he was largely focused on the production side of things. Pixel art and backgrounds can be reused throughout multiple titles, he noted, allowing designers to spend more of their time on other aspects of the game.

A unique challenge for modern consoles, however, is adapting to the much higher display resolutions. More on-screen pixels means more detailed art, in which case drawing beautiful 2D assets might become just as strenuous and laborious as creating 3D character models. As such, Igarashi is treating the upcoming 2.5D Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles as an experiment -- can the dynamic presentation of 3D titles and the cost-effective design of 2D gaming get along? We'll find out later this year.

Gallery: Koji Igarashi @ GDC

JoystiqCastlevania's Koji Igarashi: 2D games will never die! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlucardCastlevaniaDracula-X-ChroniclesDSGDCGDC07KojiIgarashiKonamiPSPSymphonyOfTheNightXbox-360Tue, 13 Mar 2007 06:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Spore's power struggle: freedom vs. beauty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/spores-power-struggle-freedom-vs-beauty/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/spores-power-struggle-freedom-vs-beauty/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/spores-power-struggle-freedom-vs-beauty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What is a magic crayon? If you're envisioning Harold and his purple outlet of creativity, you wouldn't be far off from the intended metaphor. Chaim Gingold, design lead for Spore's editors and cell game, described the magic crayon as a toy that is simple to use and yet gives the user enough power to create something they'll appreciate.

Gingold kicked off his presentation, one of the last after a marathon of lectures and roundtables at this year's Game Developers Conference, by defining a magic crayon through example. Photoshop is not a good magic crayon, for example, because it is very hard for most people to use. Neither is Super Mario Bros., since you are not changing anything in the world. Kid Pix fits the schema for a magic crayon, as does the Mii creator, which is an "absolutely beautiful, wonderful magic crayon," he said.

Continue reading Spore's power struggle: freedom vs. beauty

JoystiqSpore's power struggle: freedom vs. beauty originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chaim gingoldChaimGingoldeaElectronic-Artsgdcgdc 07Gdc07kid pixKidPixmaxisPCphoto shopPhotoShopsim citysporeThe-Simswill wrightWillWrightwrightMon, 12 Mar 2007 22:59:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC's i am 8-bit preview art exhibit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gdcs-i-am-8-bit-preview-art-exhibit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gdcs-i-am-8-bit-preview-art-exhibit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gdcs-i-am-8-bit-preview-art-exhibit/#commentsFiled under: ,


Though we didn't manage to make our way to the i am 8-bit art show last night at San Francisco's Gallery 1988SF, we did stop by the preview exhibit at Moscone's North Hall. Situated between the IGDA lounge and the XNA challenge area. What we found rendered our cerebral functions momentarily shut down.

According to the showcase's description, "the theme is simple -- over 100 artists put their old-school 80's gaming memories to paint, ink, sculpture, plush, and other bizarre mediums all in the name of pixels! It's an experiment in interpretation, shining a spotlight on an era when games were dominated by character." We're fond of the Mega-Man fanboy's dismayed loss.

The full gallery, dubbed Version 2.007, will be on display April 17 through May 21.

Gallery: i am 8-bit at GDC

JoystiqGDC's i am 8-bit preview art exhibit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artGDCGDC07iam8bitMon, 12 Mar 2007 20:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Mega 64's "ruined" Mario skit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/mega-64s-ruined-mario-skit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/mega-64s-ruined-mario-skit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/mega-64s-ruined-mario-skit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mega64 contributed a few new skits to the Game Developers Choice Awards last week to much applause and laughter, including a pretty poignant piece on Feel the Magic XX / XY (we're still waiting for that one to pop up on the internet). One in particular made the crowd scream more than anything else that night. The YouTube description reads thusly: "A skit that went great until some guy made it all awkward."

We won't spoil the rest, so check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Mega 64's "ruined" Mario skit

JoystiqMega 64's "ruined" Mario skit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdcgdc 07Gdc07gdcamega 64Mega64miyamotoshigeru miyamotoShigeruMiyamotoMon, 12 Mar 2007 19:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Suda 51 announces 'The Silver Case' remakes for DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/suda-51-announces-the-silver-case-remakes-for-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/suda-51-announces-the-silver-case-remakes-for-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/suda-51-announces-the-silver-case-remakes-for-ds/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

the silver caseDuring a GDC presentation last week Grasshopper Manufacture frontman Suda 51 revealed that his studio would be remaking its first two games, porting them onto DS. The two installments of a mystery-riddled adventure series, The Silver Case (PS1) and The Silver Case Word 25 (mobile) were released only in Japan. Because these are both text-heavy adventures, there's a good chance the remakes will never be localized for non-Japanese markets either (Objection?!). Sure, you could import, but if you can't read the text featured in the image here, don't bother.

But don't fret either, Killer 7 fans jonesing for a Suda fix have No More Heroes to look forward to. Peep the new footage and decide if this Wii game will live up to its ultra-violent billing.

[Via DS Fanboy]

Continue reading Suda 51 announces 'The Silver Case' remakes for DS

JoystiqSuda 51 announces 'The Silver Case' remakes for DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSGDCgdc07GrasshopperJapanNoMoreHeroesPortRemakeSuda51The Silver CaseTheSilverCaseWiiMon, 12 Mar 2007 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 07: Igarashi, "2D games will never die!"]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gdc-07-igarashi-2d-games-will-never-die/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gdc-07-igarashi-2d-games-will-never-die/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gdc-07-igarashi-2d-games-will-never-die/#commentsFiled under: ,


Koji Igarashi, the producer of recent entries in the Castlevania series and assistant director of Symphony of the Night, gave a presentation on 2D games at GDC last week. Specifically, his presentation centered on the differences between developing 2D games and 3D games. Igarashi noted a few philosophical differences between 3D and 2D games, but also noted a few advantages that hadn't occurred to us. For instance, 2D games are easier to produce, faster to design, and faster to implement. Of course, all of this is generally cheaper than 3D production as well.

Continue reading GDC 07: Igarashi, "2D games will never die!"

JoystiqGDC 07: Igarashi, "2D games will never die!" originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevaniaGDC-2007gdc07koji igarashiKojiIgarashisotnMon, 12 Mar 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Inafune talks RE4 engine and the Wii [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/inafune-talks-re4-engine-and-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/inafune-talks-re4-engine-and-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/inafune-talks-re4-engine-and-the-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,

During the recently-concluded GDC 07, Keiji Inafune (do we really need to tell you who he is?) talked about the problems of porting new-gen titles over to the Wii. First, he commented on the possibility of bringing over engines from two of the company's latest new-gen games, Dead Rising and Lost Planet. The possibility, it turns out, is non-existent, as he said these titles' engines were optimized for cross-platform use.

What will take their place? The Resident Evil 4 engine, it would seem. While Keiji commented that the industry is really craving photorealistic graphics, he is still interested in creating the types of franchises that enjoy iconic mascots, such as Mega Man. Mr. Inafune even commented that Capcom is working on a secret project, to be revealed at a later date. He did not comment, however, if the title would be for the Wii.

[Update: loltypo. Thanks, Markus!]

JoystiqInafune talks RE4 engine and the Wii [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomgdcgdc07inafuneinfaunekeijinintendonintendowiire4residentevilwiiMon, 12 Mar 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC: More Fable 2 feature goodness]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gdc-more-fable-2-feature-goodness/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gdc-more-fable-2-feature-goodness/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gdc-more-fable-2-feature-goodness/#commentsFiled under: , ,


As we slowly recover from GDC jet-lag, we thought it would be best to post some of the other features that Peter Molyneux confirmed for Fable 2. After all, a dog can't be the only new feature in Fable 2. There really is quite a bit to consider, so we'll just dole out the info in bite sized bits via a handy bulleted list. Everyone likes lists.
  • Players can pick a male or female hero
  • Players can choose to have protected or unprotected sex (and yes, there are STDs)
  • Female heroes can get pregnant
  • Players can have children
  • The world responds to your "hero-ness"
  • Two new character morphs (besides Good/Evil): cruelty/kindness and wealth/poverty
  • Own every single piece of property
  • Players can become king
Let's look at these more closely.

Continue reading GDC: More Fable 2 feature goodness

JoystiqGDC: More Fable 2 feature goodness originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fablefable 2Fable2GDC-2007gdc07liionhead studioLiionheadStudiolionheadlionhead studiosLionheadStudiosmolyneuxpeter molyneuxPeterMolyneuxMon, 12 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another side to Chris Hecker's duct tape rant]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/another-side-to-chris-heckers-duct-tape-rant/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/another-side-to-chris-heckers-duct-tape-rant/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/another-side-to-chris-heckers-duct-tape-rant/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you've followed the Game Developers Conference at all, you probably heard about Maxis programmer Chris Hecker comments that the Wii is nothing more than two GameCubes duct tape together (though, to be fair, that's a 0.5 upgrade from comments that the Wii is "GameCube 1.5"). We're willing to wager that "Product X is just two Product Ys duct tape together" is on track to becoming a popular phrase in gaming circles.

Kim Pallister of Microsoft Casual Games has risen to Hecker's defense, which ultimately led to an apology we feel was somewhat coerced by his overlords at EA and Maxis. The major point in Hecker's argument is that having an innovative control system "should not give them a 'get out of jail free card' on the fact that they have delivered an underpowered machine," according to Pallister's interpretation. And by underpowered, Hecker is referring to computations and not the graphics system, which puts his rant in line with what he said last year that the PS3 and Xbox 360 also underperform in terms of computational power while focusing on a graphics-heavy system.

We're not going to take sides on his point that Nintendo needs to "recognize and push games as a serious art form," though the statement does make for a great discussion. We will say all three companies have pushed for more involvement with independent developers. (Microsoft has Castle Crashers and Roboblitz, Sony has flOw and LittleBigPlanet and Nintendo has Line Rider and possibly Telltale's Sam & Max.)

Don't forget about the heap of praise that the IGDA community gave Hecker just last year after winning the Community Contribution Award. Though, to be fair, that award is just two IGF awards duct taped together.

JoystiqAnother side to Chris Hecker's duct tape rant originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris heckerChrisHeckercultureduct tapeDuctTapeeaElectronic-Artsgdcgdc 07Gdc07maxismicrosoft casual gamesMicrosoftCasualGamespallisterpublishers rantPublishersRantrantMon, 12 Mar 2007 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[GameJew stalks Miyamoto, sings him a song]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gamejew-stalks-miyamoto-sings-him-a-song/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gamejew-stalks-miyamoto-sings-him-a-song/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/gamejew-stalks-miyamoto-sings-him-a-song/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Most fans stalk their role models for a handshake, an autograph, or a quick photo. Not Jonathan Mann, a.k.a. GameJew. Sporting a full Mario costume and carrying a guitar, Mann tailed Shigeru Miyamoto at this year's GDC hoping to get a chance to sing him "his song." It took five days and several brush-bys, but in the end Jonathan got his wish. Check out the video and pray to the gods on Mt. Olympus that the song doesn't get stuck in your head.

Although it is kind of catchy.

JoystiqGameJew stalks Miyamoto, sings him a song originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GDCgdc07miyamotomusicvideoMon, 12 Mar 2007 10:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Are gay characters becoming a 'non-troversy'?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/are-gay-characters-becoming-a-non-troversy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/are-gay-characters-becoming-a-non-troversy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/are-gay-characters-becoming-a-non-troversy/#commentsFiled under: ,

For the second year GLBT members of the gaming industry had roundtable discussions to explore their place in the business. Issues like an International Game Developers Association special interest group were discussed, along with establishing Human Rights Campaign corporate equality index numbers for all game companies. The developers who didn't have domestic partner benefits at their companies believed that it was a simple oversight, not a decision point, by their employer. One of the stand-out moments was the discussion over the 'non-troversy' of gay game characters.

Designer Jeb Havens who led the roundtable sessions coined the "non-troversy" phrase to explain the Bully boy-on-boy kiss. An incident that many believed would blow up, but ended up being a bullet point. The non-troversy continued last week with Peter Molyneux's announcement that gay relationships would be allowed in Fable 2, even though it was an "accident" in the original Fable. As the roster of gay characters increases, which according to a recent study are wanted much more in RPGs, could gay characters become non-troversies in games like a Gears of War sequel? The film V for Vendetta was used as a prime example of how the gaming industry could incorporate gay issues that don't distract from the game's story, but actually help propel the plot.

JoystiqAre gay characters becoming a 'non-troversy'? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bullyfableGDCgdc07nontroversysexsexualityMon, 12 Mar 2007 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Moving The Sims from PC to Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/moving-the-sims-from-pc-to-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/moving-the-sims-from-pc-to-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/moving-the-sims-from-pc-to-wii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

At GDC, Maxis Game Designer Robin Hunicke spoke about her process of transferring The Sims to the Wii. Her team was excited to be working on a Wii title because of its new controller and Nintendo's history, but Hunicke's most important lesson was to stay true to the defining elements of a franchise instead of starting over for a new console.

Hunicke said, "The Wii is so cool ... oh my gosh. ... Almost everyone on my team is a Nintendo fan. Almost all game developers are Nintendo fans. ... We were really excited to build a [Wii] game." But since the team began work well before the console's launch, they only had tradeshow experiences and Nintendo ads to approach the MySims design.

Hunicke noticed the clean lines, family oriented approach, and tactile aesthetics of the early Wii marketing material. She followed those elements instead of trying to build the game around flailing controller movements. Hunicke said, "We wanted to bring The Sims to the Wii in a way that we could say we were at home on the Wii."

Gallery: MySims design process

Continue reading Moving The Sims from PC to Wii

JoystiqMoving The Sims from PC to Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllerdesignGDCgdc07My SimsMySimsPCportrobin hunickeRobinHunickeThe SimsTheSimsWiiMon, 12 Mar 2007 04:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy narrowly avoids drug endorsement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/final-fantasy-narrowly-avoids-drug-endorsement/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/final-fantasy-narrowly-avoids-drug-endorsement/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/final-fantasy-narrowly-avoids-drug-endorsement/#commentsFiled under: ,


The Final Fantasy series has long been known for its highly addictive properties, though this has never been highlighted quite as well as in a Square Enix GDC presentation held on Friday. Localization director for the RPG powerhouse, Richard Honeywood, talked extensively about the challenges faced in the alteration of a Japanese game for Western audiences. Of course, the transition is often less than perfect, as evidenced by the English title of a scrapped Final Fantasy compilation -- Final Fantasy Heroins.

The rest of the talk, which was notably devoid of substance abuse, centered on Square Enix's central localization philosophy. The key element, said Honeywood, is constant communication between the translators and the game developers. He also pointed out several examples of why this concept, in conjunction with extended release schedules, can result in a superior game for Western audiences. Dragon Quest VIII, for instance, benefited from an overhauled interface, voice acting and an orchestral soundtrack during its localization process. Frequently, even a game's animations are motion captured again so as to include more culturally appropriate motions -- Final Fantasy X's blitzball greeting was cited as being a little questionable in the Japanese release.

Towards the end of the presentation, Richard Honeywood acknowledged the efforts of fan translators who spend so much of their personal time converting games which may not see English releases. "Legally we can't condone these fan translations," he said, "but we like reading them and seeing how others interpret the text." For a quick demonstration of why localization is so important, check out a direct machine translation of this post after the break.

Continue reading Final Fantasy narrowly avoids drug endorsement

JoystiqFinal Fantasy narrowly avoids drug endorsement originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Final FantasyFinalFantasyGDCGDC07LocalizationSquare EnixSquareEnixMon, 12 Mar 2007 03:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: The Wii-mic ... and Harry Potter will use it]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/rumor-the-wii-mic-and-harry-potter-will-use-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/rumor-the-wii-mic-and-harry-potter-will-use-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/rumor-the-wii-mic-and-harry-potter-will-use-it/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Although there hasn't been an official announcement yet, we expect to see the Wii-mic by Q3. Rumors have surfaced and GoNintendo confirmed that NDA was broken -- so, yeah, about that Wii-mic. The writing was on the wall earlier this week when High School Musical was announced for the Wii. The Karaoke Revolution-esque game by Disney Interactive will use a microphone. Unless the game is using the Gamecube's mic to be stuck in on top of the Wii, that means a microphone attachment will soon be officially announced by Nintendo.

The real NDA breaking rumor has EA working on a Harry Potter game using the mic in conjunction with gestures to cast spells. Now that's the type of Wii title we're talking about! "Wingardium Leviosah" FTW! Sadly, those who attended the EA Wii event on Wednesday signed NDAs -- so there's a lot of people out there sitting on information they can't confirm, deny or share with their readers.

Update: Statement from GoNintendo, "The NDA I am talking about has nothing to do with the mic for the Wii. I was just mentioning the mic part because we already knew it was coming according to High School Musical info. The NDA deals with something else completely. If EA talked about a mic at their party, I didn't hear anything about it. "

JoystiqRumor: The Wii-mic ... and Harry Potter will use it originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 23:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GDCgdc07harry potterhigh school musicalmicrophonewiiwii-micSun, 11 Mar 2007 23:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Alienware shows off developer PCs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/alienware-shows-off-developer-pcs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/alienware-shows-off-developer-pcs/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/alienware-shows-off-developer-pcs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Alienware launched a new developer workstation and showed off a recent laptop at GDC. The company was tucked away in the meeting rooms of the North hall, and we stopped by unannounced to ogle the hardware.

The MJ-12 8550i is the new high-end desktop machine with two quad-core Xeon processors, DDR2 memory, and other industry-leading specs. Alienware decided to ship this machine with the consumer-level Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX so that developers don't need to switch machines to test their progress. (Alienware reps even suggested getting in a game of F.E.A.R. while waiting for a recomplie.)

We asked about a dual video card configuration, and we were told that that may happen; the company is even considering a switch that would toggle between pro and consumer cards connected to a single monitor.

Keeping the desktop machine company, Alienware also showed the m5790 laptop that ships with a 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo. And Alienware is so confident in the stability of the chip that it can overclock it under warranty to 2.66GHz.

Prices for the systems vary by configuration, with the laptop starting at $1,300 and the workstation at $2,500. Of course, both are able to run thousands of dollars higher.

Gallery: Alienware at GDC

JoystiqAlienware shows off developer PCs originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alienwarearea 51area-51Area51GDCgdc07over clockoverclockPCSun, 11 Mar 2007 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 07: ... and that's a wrap!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-and-thats-a-wrap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-and-thats-a-wrap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-and-thats-a-wrap/#commentsFiled under:

Well, now that GDC '07 has come to an end, it's time to look back over the DS Fanboy experience. Here, you'll find all of the GDC news and content in one convenient location. Even without a lot of direct information from Nintendo, it was still a great show for DS fans.

News:
Classic Suda 51 weirdness hitting the DS
The Ward sneaks into the news
Miyamoto keynote reveals design inspiration
The making of Ouendan and Elite Beat Agents
Barnyard Blast: Swine of the Night
Makeup and Japanese housewife sims
Housewife Superstar: home-ec minigames
Square Enix demos game development game

Hands-on impressions:
Phantom Hourglass impressions
Pokemon Pearl impressions
Phantom Hourglass multiplayer mode demoed

Video:
Phantom Hourglass footage

Miscellaneous:
Even Reggie's limo driver is famous!
DS Fanboy lands at GDC: what to expect

JoystiqGDC 07: ... and that's a wrap! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSgdc07Housewife SuperstarHousewifeSupersMiyamotoNintendoPhantom HourglassPhantomHourglasSquare EnixSquareEnixSuda 51Suda51the wardTheWardSun, 11 Mar 2007 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 07: ... and that's a wrap!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-and-thats-a-wrap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-and-thats-a-wrap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-and-thats-a-wrap/#commentsFiled under:

Well, now that GDC 07 has come to an end, it's time we collected all of our coverage together into one nice, organized post. Here, you'll find all of the GDC 07 news, interviews and anything else pertaining to the show. It's been a great ride, if we may say so, and we're sad to see it end. Regardless, we must get to doing our thing, so without further ado let's get to the coverage:

GDC 07 news:
He feels bad and stuff: a public apology from the Wii ranter
fl0w was almost on Wii
Mark Rein talks Unreal Engine 3 on Wii (again)
Super Paper Mario meta ... preview?
Twilight Princess and Wii Sports take awards at show
Spore deveoper rants on Wii
Wii dev training to take place at GDC
MySims goes to the Wii, gets rid of pee

GDC 07 keynotes:
Look at that Miyamoto keynote line!
Miyamoto keynote video
Super Mario Galaxy screenshots and footage from the Miyamoto keynote
Liveblogging the Miyamoto keynote
Koji Kondo and the art of interactive music

GDC 07 game impressions:
Super Paper Mario impressions
Pokemon Battle Revolutions impressions
Big Brain Academy impressions
Mario Strikers Charged impressions
Vicious tries a new control scheme

GDC 07 culture and other fun stuff:
Nintendo execs on nerdiest shirt ever
Popularity Channel? A Wii Fanboy staff reaction
Reggie plays Wii Sports: Tennis with journalists, takes names
Wii Fanboy lands at GDC: what to expect

JoystiqGDC 07: ... and that's a wrap! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdcgdc07gdcwrapnintendonintendowiiwiiSun, 11 Mar 2007 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 07: MySims goes to Wii, gets rid of pee]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-mysims-goes-to-wii-gets-rid-of-pee/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-mysims-goes-to-wii-gets-rid-of-pee/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-mysims-goes-to-wii-gets-rid-of-pee/#commentsFiled under:


"OMG! The Wii is so cool," an enthusiastic female developer screams during a GDC session. That developer is Robin Hunicke, designer of the upcoming Wii-exclusive MySims. Designing the title began long before the team had a chance to get their hands on the system, so they had to rely on the "aesthetic" of Nintendo's advertising. "We wanted to bring The Sims to the Wii in a way that we could say we were at home on the Wii," she said, trying to find a unique look, style and feel for the Wii version.

Converting a game for play on Wii doesn't necessarily mean changing everything. What the team focused on was how it feels to touch the characters on screen with the Wiimote: wild, flailing actions probably wouldn't be appropriate for a title such as this. One of the biggest changes that needed to be made was how the game was managed: there was a great deal of opposition to focusing on a single character (rather than a large family), and there was an even greater uproar against the loss of urination, and other micromanagement features.

Streamlining The Sims process was key to moving the franchise to the Wii, and that's where the character designs came from. Although they look strangely like Mii, the look wasn't based on Nintendo's character creation system. The lead character designer, when showing off her simplified look for Wii Sims, was told: "it's perfect."

See also:
Joystiq: Moving The Sims from PC to Wii
Gallery: MySims design process
Gallery: MySims

JoystiqGDC 07: MySims goes to Wii, gets rid of pee originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdcgdc07maxismysimsrobin hunickeRobinHunickesimsthe simsTheSimsSun, 11 Mar 2007 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 07: Vicious tries a new control scheme]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-vicious-tries-a-new-control-scheme/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-vicious-tries-a-new-control-scheme/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/gdc-07-vicious-tries-a-new-control-scheme/#commentsFiled under:


The Vicious Engine was on display at GDC, and I'd have to say I came away unimpressed. The engine, which is scalable for PSP use, didn't seem to push any "next gen" or even "new gen" graphics. It's currently being used in the WIi/PSP title Alien Syndrome, which may be indicative of a somewhat distressing trend: are graphics on the Wii comparable to those on PSP? Will publishers look to make quick ports that look similarly on Sony's handheld and on Nintendo's latest console?

At least the Vicious Engine promises to offer Wii developers the ability to easily create motion controls. The software includes built-in controls that developers can easily access. One interesting control scheme allowed one to control the camera using the nunchuck: tilting the nunchuck would adjust the camera. Certainly, it's an interesting alternative to a dual analog setup, but the build that was playable didn't seem to feel 100% intuitive.

JoystiqGDC 07: Vicious tries a new control scheme originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alien syndromeAlienSyndromegdcgdc07vicious engineViciousEngineSun, 11 Mar 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Overheard at GDC 07: Disney's to blame for no downloadable movies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/overheard-at-gdc-07-disneys-to-blame-for-no-downloadable-movie/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/overheard-at-gdc-07-disneys-to-blame-for-no-downloadable-movie/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/overheard-at-gdc-07-disneys-to-blame-for-no-downloadable-movie/#commentsFiled under:

Sony was supposed to offer full-resolution downloadable movies for the PSP, but the service has never come to fruition, citing "DRM problems." On the GDC showfloor, I overheard one Sony employee talking about how there's one giant stumbling block for Sony's potential movie download service: Disney. The giant media corporation doesn't want to make its catalog of movies available to Sony, most likely due to restrictions caused by their deal with Apple's iTunes Store.

But, why not go forth even without Disney's backing? Surely, Sony Pictures' vast library of movies would be more than enough to satiate a PSP-owning movie lover's tastes. However, as Connect proved, a half-assed attempt at digital distribution usually ends up quite fruitless.

JoystiqOverheard at GDC 07: Disney's to blame for no downloadable movies originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneydrmgdcgdc07pspsonySun, 11 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST