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[PS3 Guitar Hero III getting free God of War track in June [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/ps3-guitar-hero-iii-getting-free-god-of-war-track-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/ps3-guitar-hero-iii-getting-free-god-of-war-track-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/ps3-guitar-hero-iii-getting-free-god-of-war-track-in-june/#commentsFiled under: ,


With Xbox 360 players getting a Halo 3 musical number for free last Thanksgiving, the gods of rock have now smiled down on PS3 owners as well. Tucked away in the latest PlayStation Underground newsletter comes word that PS3 armchair rockers will be able to download a free God of War-themed track for Guitar Hero III to rock out to on Thursday, June 5.

No other details have been revealed, including what selection exactly will be released. Even so, free is free, though honestly we're racking our brains trying to come up with a single piece of God of War music that's memorable enough to warrant a living room encore.

Update: It has a name! "The End Begins (to Rock)." [Thanks, Dan; via Guitar Hero Community]

JoystiqPS3 Guitar Hero III getting free God of War track in June [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 May 2008 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freegh3god-of-wargodofwarguitar-hero-iiiPS3Thu, 22 May 2008 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon and Gamestop offering God of War III pre-orders, claim March 2 release]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/amazon-and-gamestop-offering-god-of-war-iii-pre-orders-claim-ma/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/amazon-and-gamestop-offering-god-of-war-iii-pre-orders-claim-ma/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/amazon-and-gamestop-offering-god-of-war-iii-pre-orders-claim-ma/#commentsFiled under: ,


We know that a vast majority of the gaming media consumers out there have a fairly negative outlook when it comes to pre-orders for popular titles (did anyone really have a hard time finding Halo 3 last September?), but that's not why we're writing about the recent pre-order listings on Amazon and Gamestop for the next (Barlog-less) installment in the well-received God of War franchise. What we find intriguing is the March 2 release date listed on both websites -- three quarters earlier than the last rumored launch window for the title. Is this wishful thinking from these two gaming retailers, or could the further adventures of everyone's favorite ashy Spartan hit shelves much sooner than expected?

JoystiqAmazon and Gamestop offering God of War III pre-orders, claim March 2 release originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 May 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbarloggamestopgod-of-war-3godofwarkratosplaystation3preorderps3sonySun, 11 May 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zero Punctuation takes on the God of War]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/zero-punctuation-takes-on-the-god-of-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/zero-punctuation-takes-on-the-god-of-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/zero-punctuation-takes-on-the-god-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Zero Punctuation's Yahtzee isn't content with taking on just God of War: Chains of Olympus this week. No, he takes on the whole bloody franchise. What we end up getting is almost four minutes of Yahtzee admitting that he's nitpicking and that the series helps give us relief from our 9 8:30 to 5 6 (with a half-hour lunch break) lives. The trademark Yahtzee anger just isn't there in this review, but considering it was overflowing in last week's Smash Bros. piece, an easing of tension might be good for a week.

This week's NSFW review eviscerating God of War: Chains of Olympus can be found after the break.

Continue reading Zero Punctuation takes on the God of War

JoystiqZero Punctuation takes on the God of War originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>escapistgod-of-wargod-of-war-chains-of-olympusgodofwarPSPyahtzeezero-punctuationzeropunctuationWed, 30 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The God of War PSP bundle looks like this]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/the-god-of-war-psp-bundle-looks-like-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/the-god-of-war-psp-bundle-looks-like-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/26/the-god-of-war-psp-bundle-looks-like-this/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click to enlarge

We consider packaging to be quite effective when you can tell at a glance just what awaits you inside of it. Take this God of War Entertainment Pack, for example. There's the "Deep Red" PSP, the Superbad UMD, the critically praised God of War: Chains of Olympus and ... well, there's also a PSN voucher for Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, which isn't pictured. To be fair, that's simply due to the lack of excitement incurred by a piece of paper with some obscure code on it.

Also not pictured is the price tag of $199.99 and, perhaps most importantly, a disappointing label which reads, "Not for sale until June."

JoystiqThe God of War PSP bundle looks like this originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chains-of-OlympusGod-of-WarGodofWarPSPPSP-2000PSPliteWed, 26 Mar 2008 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Art student creates Kratos sculpture]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/art-student-creates-kratos-sculpture/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/art-student-creates-kratos-sculpture/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/art-student-creates-kratos-sculpture/#commentsFiled under:


For every Greek God, there is a statue. For what better way is there to immortalize an immortal than to construct an effigy? You know you've made God status when mortals start sculpting your very likeness. Today, we have Humber College student Sheldon P. to thank for this lovingly violent sculpture of God of War's hero Kratos.

The sculpture, titled "Ghost of Sparta," is currently on display at the 2008 Humber Art Show: Thou Art Your Art. If you're interested in seeing the sculpture in person or just have nothing to do next week, you can still catch the exhibition on March 24 and 25 up in Toronto. Or, why not make your own Kratos sculpture? In the words of Neil Buchanan: try it yourself!

Have another look at the sculpture after the break.

Continue reading Art student creates Kratos sculpture

JoystiqArt student creates Kratos sculpture originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-chains-of...godofwargodofwarchainsofolym...Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War composer talks about Chains of Olympus, future projects]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/god-of-war-composer-talks-about-chains-of-olympus-future-projec/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/god-of-war-composer-talks-about-chains-of-olympus-future-projec/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/god-of-war-composer-talks-about-chains-of-olympus-future-projec/#commentsFiled under: ,


God of War games, as you all know, are epic. A major contributing factor to that legendary atmosphere is undoubtedly the game's musical score -- to that we have Gerard Marino to thank. In a recent interview with Music 4 Games, Marino discussed what went into making the music compositions for Chains of Olympus as well as shed some light on his future projects.

Marino says that the music in Chains of Olympus is "a bit lighter" than the previous games. The reason for this is that there's a certain character in the game that isn't as grim as the usual cast of war-hardened soldiers, and the apathetic Pantheon. Despite only composing fifteen minutes worth of new material, the game's sound should have enough freshness to it. This has to do largely in part by a huge effort to remix old tracks; they take the old tracks apart, restructure them, and then use the various arrangements in a way that ensures each scene has its own unique sound. He also calls the music on Chains of Olympus "more intimate" than what we've seen previously.

Marino also revealed some interesting trivia about the God of War series. For example, did you know that Kratos was originally supposed to be named Dominus? Now how about the future you ask? Marino shared that he will be indeed working on God of War III for the PS3. Another epic game, another rocking music score. There are a lot of other alluring tidbits in the interview, so why not have a read of it for yourself?

JoystiqGod of War composer talks about Chains of Olympus, future projects originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gerard-marinogerardmarinogod-of-wargodofwarready-at-dawnFri, 07 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nega-review: God of War: Chains of Olympus]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/04/nega-review-god-of-war-chains-of-olympus/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/04/nega-review-god-of-war-chains-of-olympus/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/04/nega-review-god-of-war-chains-of-olympus/#commentsFiled under: , ,

"Chains of Olympus doesn't quite live up to the other God of War games." (4) "Ready at Dawn didn't mess with the franchise's proven formula whatsoever, which is ... one of our ... gripes for the game." (3) "Gameplay-wise, nothing much has changed ... You still run around and beat the beejezus [sic] out of enemies and then meet up with the occasional boss fight." (5) "I wish that Ready at Dawn had added something new the canon rather than just re-using what's been done in the past." (7)

"The game feels a bit too familiar ... [and] at times you do feel like you've played the game before." (7) That said, "the game is missing some of the features from other God of War games. ... you won't find the ability to use your blades on grappling points, the Icarus Wings, Rage of the Gods, rope traversal, rope swinging, a fourth magic, etc." (4) "I find myself disappointed ... that the game doesn't quite have the same feeling of showing you something new around every corner that the previous games did." (4)

"The game is also brutally linear: you're constantly running from point A to point B, stopping to administer the occasional beatdown." (5) It could also be described as "a very linear experience, (3) that "may be a touch linear." (9) "Toward the end, combat got pretty repetitious, relying really heavily on the mechanic of blocking you into a room and not letting you out until you finished taking down the waves of enemies." (1) "It would have been nice to have seen a little experimentation here or there to mix things up. (3) "Altogether, ... the game feels like a bit less of an adventure and more of a straightforward action game." (4)

Continue reading Nega-review: God of War: Chains of Olympus

JoystiqNega-review: God of War: Chains of Olympus originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains of olympuschains-of-olympusChainsOfOlympusCoOgod of wargod-of-warGodOfWarnegareviewPS2PSPReady at DawnReadyAtDawnSonyTue, 04 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War III confirmed on Chains of Olympus manual]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/god-of-war-iii-confirmed-on-chains-of-olympus-manual/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/god-of-war-iii-confirmed-on-chains-of-olympus-manual/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/god-of-war-iii-confirmed-on-chains-of-olympus-manual/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We know that most of you haven't read an instruction manual since the days of Gyromite -- not that we can judge you. Aside from the occasional steamy Sonic the Hedgehog fanfiction, we try to avoid video game literature as well. Lucky for us, IGN recently cracked the narrow spine of the God of War: Chains of Olympus instruction manual and discovered this treat on the back cover -- an advertisement for a new God of War game for the PS3, presumably the third chapter in the series.

While the series' tremendous sales success and God of War II's cliffhanger ending didn't leave much room for doubt that the threequel was on it's way, we didn't think we'd be hearing from our good pal Kratos so "soon" after the release of Chains. Ah, well; no rest for the familicidal, as they say.

JoystiqGod of War III confirmed on Chains of Olympus manual originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains-of-olympuschainsofolympusgod-of-wargodofwargodofwarchainsofolympusgodofwariiiPS3PSPsonySat, 01 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War: Chains of Olympus goes gold]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-goes-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-goes-gold/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-goes-gold/#commentsFiled under: ,


We typically don't do posts when games go gold, but Ready at Dawn's declaration that God of War: Chains of Olympus is ready to print on UMDs has two things going for it. First, GoW: Chains of Olympus is arguably the most high-profile PSP release outside Japan EVAR. Second, well, there are just some awesomely fun photos of the team's celebration after the game was finally done.

Ready at Dawn's jamboree also means that Chains of Olympus should most definitely make its March 4 release date. Don't have a PSP and still need to get your Kratos on? If the rumor mill holds true the game will see its day on the PS2 at some point in the future. Congrats to the team at Ready at Dawn, may your hangovers be kind and gentle.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Gallery: God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)

JoystiqGod of War: Chains of Olympus goes gold originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains-of-olympuschainsofolympusgod-of-war-chains-of-olympusgodofwargodofwarchainsofolympuskratosportPSPready-at-dawnreadyatdawntrendTue, 12 Feb 2008 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: PSP God of War being ported to PS2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/rumor-psp-god-of-war-being-ported-to-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/rumor-psp-god-of-war-being-ported-to-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/rumor-psp-god-of-war-being-ported-to-ps2/#commentsFiled under: ,


Although EGM's Quarterman rumor column in the March issue whispers sweet nothings about Dead Rising 2 and a PS2 Wiimote, the most credible rumor is that God of War: Chains of Olympus may be heading to PS2. EGM's resident man of mystery writes that Chains of Olympus may head to the PS2 later down the line, sometime after its release on PSP. It's worth wondering how much of this is rumor reporting, as opposed to "common expectation" at this point.

Many high-profile PSP games have made the jump to PS2 in recent years, and GoW: Chains of Olympus could certainly fit that category. Just recently, Silent Hill Origins and Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters made the leap from portable to big screen. We'll be sure to welcome Kratos from a safe distance if he ever decides to make the jump.

JoystiqRumor: PSP God of War being ported to PS2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains-of-olympuschainsofolympusgod-of-war-chains-of-olympusgodofwargodofwarchainsofolympuskratosportPS2PSPtrendTue, 05 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: God of War III waits until Christmas 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/rumor-god-of-war-iii-waits-until-christmas-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/rumor-god-of-war-iii-waits-until-christmas-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/rumor-god-of-war-iii-waits-until-christmas-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

After flexing his muscle in last year's God of War 2, Kratos may need to take a little break. Games Radar is claiming (via Games World UK) that inside sources tell them God of War 3 won't be released until at the earliest Christmas 2009. That date seems to fall under common sense, given that two years passed between the first two God of War titles and the next iteration is taking a leap to the more technically-proficient PlayStation 3.

An earlier rumor from EGM suggested the game would come out this Christmas alongside an also-rumored release of Gears of War 2. The third God of War, sans outgoing lead developer Cory Barlog, is expected to feature ultra-fancy graphics, motion controls and rumble.

JoystiqRumor: God of War III waits until Christmas 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-war-3god-of-war-iiigodofwargow3kratosPS3rumorsonyWed, 23 Jan 2008 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Cory Barlog says God of War III in good hands]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/cory-barlog-says-god-of-war-iii-in-good-hands/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/cory-barlog-says-god-of-war-iii-in-good-hands/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/cory-barlog-says-god-of-war-iii-in-good-hands/#commentsFiled under: ,


Cory Barlog, lead developer on God of War II, wrote in his blog today that God of War III is in good hands. Barlog says Sony's Santa Monica team is very talented and he already did the story and design for the third game before parting ways with Sony, he says Kratos' finale will end with a "very big, very epic bang though."

Barlog doesn't give any indication what he's currently working on, simply saying he's "cooking up several things." Poor Kratos seems to chew up and spit out his lead developers. All we need now is the Ready at Dawn lead on God of War: Chains of Olympus to quit after production and we'll have a bona fide curse on our hands -- it'll be the Madden curse of action games.

[Via GameDaily]

JoystiqCory Barlog says God of War III in good hands originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barlodcory-barlongod-of-wargod-of-war-iiigodofwarPS3sonyThu, 03 Jan 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq's Top 10 of 2007: God of War II]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/game-of-the-year-09-god-of-war-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/game-of-the-year-09-god-of-war-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/game-of-the-year-09-god-of-war-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


QTE. Quick Time Events. It stands proud as one of the most annoying video game design clichés in use today. You might remember them from games like Resident Evil 4 and the original God of War, described by game developers as a device that makes you feel like you're playing a cutscene, as opposed to watching it. It was so cool when we first saw it -- but when every single game ever decided to add QTE, it became less ... welcome.

So, how did God of War II trick us into having so much fun with its QTE-riddled cinematics? Probably because the game remembered exactly what made these sequences fun. There was the all-important feeling of empowerment from these moment, where every button pressed felt like it had consequence. When we cracked Theseus' head open by slamming it into a door over and over again, we felt the same blood thirst that Kratos must have undeniably felt. We weren't pressing buttons simply because the game told us to. Rather, we pressed buttons because it intrinsically made so much sense. We were one with Kratos. RARGH!



Some may argue that God of War II doesn't innovate enough to warrant any GOTY accolades. Hey, it's not like the first one really broke new ground either. (And that didn't stop the original from winning GOTY.) Instead, God of War II so finely executes what has already been done before. Giant boss battles are nothing new to video games, but those found here are exceptionally well placed (and paced!) throughout the game. Even the first level's backdrop is a giant animated statue that you ultimately go sword-to-face with. Each battle is filled with a ferocity, a viciousness that reminds you that these are very powerful gods and demons you're fighting.

God of War II shows that the PS2 is still capable of producing wonderful gaming experiences. It highlights the true value of excellent design over pure technology, and offers so much of that all-important commodity we seek from games: fun.

Gallery: God of War 2



Extreme fever! ->

JoystiqJoystiq's Top 10 of 2007: God of War II originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Game-of-The-YearGod-of-WarGodofWarGodofWar2GOTY-2007GoWGoW2KratosPS2SCEASony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaTue, 01 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP God of War's boosted clock speed comparison]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/psp-god-of-wars-boosted-clock-speed-comparison/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/psp-god-of-wars-boosted-clock-speed-comparison/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/16/psp-god-of-wars-boosted-clock-speed-comparison/#commentsFiled under: ,


God of War and its sequel for the PS2 had a reputation for being the dreamiest guy in school -- the Zack Morris of the system, if you will. So it makes sense that developer Ready at Dawn would want their latest project, God of War: Chains of Olympus, to hold a similar honor for the PSP -- and since the release of firmware update 3.50 for the system earlier this year, Sony has made their job much, much easier.

The firmware update unlocks the system's true capabilities, upping the system's measly 222MHz processing speed to a respectable 333MHz. It doesn't make your old games look any better, but developers of new games on the system can reap the rewards of the 50 percent processing speed boost. Just check out the video comparison of the game running at the two different clock speeds above, and see how Ready at Dawn gussied up their handheld take on the PS2 swan song.

JoystiqPSP God of War's boosted clock speed comparison originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GodofWarGodofWarChainsofOlympusPSPReadyatDawnSonySun, 16 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ready at Dawn drawn to current-gen consoles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/ready-at-dawn-drawn-to-current-gen-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/ready-at-dawn-drawn-to-current-gen-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/ready-at-dawn-drawn-to-current-gen-consoles/#commentsFiled under:


With work on God of War: Chains of Olympus coming to an end in March, developer Ready at Dawn is already planning an excursion beyond the PSP's portable realm. In a lengthy interview with 1UP, the studio discusses how easily the Greek-on-the-go got the green light thanks to the hard work put into the well-received Daxter. "The first meeting just went like 'we should make a God of War PSP game' and they were like 'yeah you should.' And that was pretty much it," quipped the game's director, Ru Weerasuriya.

Once Kratos is out of the way, Ready at Dawn hopes to put on a similarly impressive show on that system you currently have chained to your television. "This team is ready to move onto something pretty big, and we've [been] planning it for quite a while, and this team needs to show what they're capable of doing on next-gen or current-gen." Expect to hear more about Something Pretty Big as soon as the team gives Okami its deserved second chance on the Wii.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

JoystiqReady at Dawn drawn to current-gen consoles originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chains-of-OlympusGod-of-WarGod-of-War-Chains-of-OlympusGod-of-War-PSPGodofWarKratosOkamiPSPReady-At-DawnReadyAtDawnThu, 13 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GOW:COO-SE:BOADD now shipping]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/gow-coo-se-boadd-now-shipping/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/gow-coo-se-boadd-now-shipping/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/gow-coo-se-boadd-now-shipping/#commentsFiled under: , ,

god of war
The wait is finally over ... for your demo. As promised, God of War: Chains of Olympus - Special Edition: Battle of Attica Demo Disc -- or simply, 'GoWCoOSEBoADD' -- has been pressed, printed, and popped in the mail. In just a matter of days you'll be tearing off the plastic seal and enjoying a full fifteen minutes of gameplay! But don't rush it -- you gotta make this one last. March 4th is still 158 days away.

JoystiqGOW:COO-SE:BOADD now shipping originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains-of-olympusChainsOfOlympusdemogod-of-wargod-of-war-pspGodOfWarpspFri, 28 Sep 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cyclops gets murdered in today's GoW vid]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/cyclops-gets-murdered-in-todays-gow-vid/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/cyclops-gets-murdered-in-todays-gow-vid/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/12/cyclops-gets-murdered-in-todays-gow-vid/#commentsFiled under: ,


Yet another interview surfaced from GameSpot today, showing off even more enemies in Ready at Dawn's upcoming God of War: Chains of Olympus. Yes, you'll have to sit through some obvious moments of marketing propaganda, but chances are: you'll like it. Once again, you must be 17 years or older to see this new footage, featured after the break.

[Thanks, PSP_Amigo!]

Continue reading Cyclops gets murdered in today's GoW vid

JoystiqCyclops gets murdered in today's GoW vid originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympusgod-of-wargodofwarWed, 12 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kratos fights Persian King in brutal new video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/kratos-fights-persian-king-in-brutal-new-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/kratos-fights-persian-king-in-brutal-new-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/11/kratos-fights-persian-king-in-brutal-new-video/#commentsFiled under: ,


Spoiler alert? The upcoming God of War: Chains of Olympus demo disc will feature an absolutely gory battle with the Persian King (video embedded, after the break). In this Gamespot preview, we see that the graphics, the voice acting, and the violence have all been retained from the PS2 original. It's exciting to see a small glimpse of the upcoming game (dated for a March release), but those that don't want to ruin the experience may want to look away.

This is an M-rated game, and you must be 17 years or older to watch the video.

[Thanks, PSP_Amigo!]

Continue reading Kratos fights Persian King in brutal new video

JoystiqKratos fights Persian King in brutal new video originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympusgod-of-wargodofwarpersiankingTue, 11 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War: Chains of Olympus UMD-capitates March 4, '08]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-umd-capitates-march-4-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-umd-capitates-march-4-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-umd-capitates-march-4-08/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Kratos gets ready to break free from the Chains of Olympus on March 4, 2008 according to Gamespot. They were given the information while on a visit to developer Ready at Dawn today. The game still has no price or rating, but thank Olympus we can finally grasp a release date. Hopefully the launch of God of War: Chains of Olympus will herald the God of War III announcement.

Ready at Dawn is also aware that March is a long way off. Beyond the game's demo releasing sometime this month, which we had a chance to get some hands-on with at E3, those who already signed up for the demo on the official website will receive "a special-edition demo UMD containing a portion of a playable level as well as additional content, including a behind-the-scenes video of the game's development." Those who didn't sign up for the demo UMD can get their hands on a standard demo featuring only the level portion later this year. Although we're a little bummed that Chains of Olympus won't be out this year, at this point we take games coming out early '08 as a blessing.

Gallery: God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)

JoystiqGod of War: Chains of Olympus UMD-capitates March 4, '08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympusgodofwarpspFri, 07 Sep 2007 19:35:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War: Chains of Olympus hits March 4th]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-hits-march-4th/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-hits-march-4th/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-hits-march-4th/#commentsFiled under: ,


Gamespot is reporting that God of War: Chains of Olympus will hit store shelves on March 4th, 2008. No price or ESRB rating has been announced yet. This prequel to the original God of War seems like a far away release, but thankfully, the UMD demo coming this month with its new unseen level will help pass the time. And if you're not getting that demo in the mail, one (which may or may not be the same as the UMD) will be available on the Internet, and of course, hosted in our demo section as well.

JoystiqGod of War: Chains of Olympus hits March 4th originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympusgodofwarreadyatdawnFri, 07 Sep 2007 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Downloadable God of War demo will also be available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/downloadable-god-of-war-demo-will-also-be-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/downloadable-god-of-war-demo-will-also-be-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/downloadable-god-of-war-demo-will-also-be-available/#commentsFiled under:


What if you didn't get selected to receive the upcoming God of War UMD demo disc? Don't worry! YourPSP will be hosting a downloadable demo, at least according to German Dutch OPM (as discovered by PSP Demo Center's Benjami). Whether or not it will have the same content as the upcoming disc demo is unclear, but this should come as good news for those that weren't eligible for the limited edition demo. And as always, once the demo goes live, PSP Fanboy will also be hosting it for you.

[Thanks, phinal!]

JoystiqDownloadable God of War demo will also be available originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympusgodofwarThu, 06 Sep 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War demo disc to feature unrevealed level]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/god-of-war-demo-disc-to-feature-unrevealed-level/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/god-of-war-demo-disc-to-feature-unrevealed-level/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/05/god-of-war-demo-disc-to-feature-unrevealed-level/#commentsFiled under:


The press has only played one level from God of War: Chains of Olympus. Whether at E3 or PAX, Ready at Dawn has been incredibly secretive of its PSP exclusive title. For once, gamers will have the first look at the game, able to see a never-before-revealed level, the Cave of Eos. "In this level, the player is introduced to Eos, the goddess of Dawn. She will reveal events of the story that will lead you further in your quest, but getting to her is no easy task. You will have to defeat a multitude of enemies to progress, one of which is a new take on a God of War classic, the blood-lusting Minotaur. The rewards awaiting you are a new magic granted by Eos that adds to the vast array of mechanics Kratos already posses. But to advanced to the end of the level, Kratos will have to prove himself by using his new abilities to solve a challenge so deadly it could have only been created by the Gods of Olympus."

We can't wait. The demo is unleashed to the world later this month.

JoystiqGod of War demo disc to feature unrevealed level originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caveofeoschainsofolympusgodofwarreadyatdawnWed, 05 Sep 2007 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Contest: Cosplay as Kratos, win a PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/contest-cosplay-as-kratos-win-a-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/contest-cosplay-as-kratos-win-a-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/contest-cosplay-as-kratos-win-a-psp/#commentsFiled under: , ,


[Update: Submission period is over! We'll be picking the winner soon.]

To help promote Kratos' first portable outing, Sony has offered us a PSP to give away to one lucky reader. But it's not so simple. Now that God of War has gone mobile in God of War: Betrayal, we thought we'd ask readers to, well, go mobile as the god of war. Wherever you're likely to break out your cellphone to eviscerate some minotaurs kill some time, we're asking you to:
  • Take a picture of yourself dressed as Kratos in a mundane location; think: bus stop, DMV, waiting in line, etc.
  • Submit your image in .jpg format, no smaller than 800px wide, to joyswag.submissions+kratos AAT gmail DAWT com between now and 5pm on 9/5/07
  • You may submit one entry each day, giving you more chances to win
  • Winners will be selected based on creativity, uniqueness, and humor
  • Please, no real weapons, we don't want anyone to get hurt. Try cardboard or styrofoam instead!
Please consult the official rules for more details. You can purchase God of War: Betrayal on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, or by texting KRATOS to 4SONY.

JoystiqContest: Cosplay as Kratos, win a PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ContestGodofWarGodofWarBetrayalWed, 29 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Phil Cohen talks up God of War: Betrayal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/phil-cohen-talks-up-god-of-war-betrayal/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/phil-cohen-talks-up-god-of-war-betrayal/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/29/phil-cohen-talks-up-god-of-war-betrayal/#commentsFiled under: ,

We never thought we'd have a canonical God of War game on the cell phone but that's exactly what happened. We asked Phil Cohen, producer and designer of God of War: Betrayal, what it was like to squeeze such a huge franchise into such a limited platform.

How hard is it to get a high-paced action game onto a mobile device like a phone with limited memory and processing power?

"Hard" is a relative term. Every project is hard in its own way. For God of War, that had to do with getting all of Kratos' look, animations, combat and abilities that everyone expects to see, the variety of enemies and their deaths, and the isometric look to the environment. It really comes down to the tools, and our developer, Javaground, has the best mobile toolset that we've ever used. Of course, with every project you try to push certain perceived limits of the handsets and try to figure a way around them ... be it God of War or a casual game like Spider-Man 3 Puzzle. That's always a hard, but fun part of the development process.

What struggles did you and your development team encounter upon creating the visual aspect of this title?

With just a few hundred kb and much less on most handsets, we spent a lot of time coming up with a single tileset and palette swapping scheme that was diverse enough to portray multiple environments and lived up to the SCEA God of War team's high standards. That was probably the hardest part. Our Art Director, Nathan Leland, did a fantastic job.

How long was the development process for God of War: Betrayal?

I wrote the initial design document between September and October 2005 when I first got hired on, then it sat and stewed for a year before revisiting it in August 2006, the same month development started. The versions for high-end handsets were completed 9 months later in April. We wrapped up the final versions for low-end handset over the next 2 months, completing the 1st 6 handsets in June 2007. After that, the porting team took the game to over 200 handsets in a matter of weeks.

Continue reading Phil Cohen talks up God of War: Betrayal

JoystiqPhil Cohen talks up God of War: Betrayal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>godofwargodofwarbetrayaljoystiqfeaturesphilcohenWed, 29 Aug 2007 16:38:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War: Chains of Olympus called best of LGC07]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/27/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-called-best-of-lgc07/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/27/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-called-best-of-lgc07/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/27/god-of-war-chains-of-olympus-called-best-of-lgc07/#commentsFiled under: ,


The Leipzig Games Convention has come and gone, and the critics agree: God of War: Chains of Olympus is the best PSP game on the show floor. The jury stated "'God of War' elevates the action genre to an art form, including on the PlayStation Portable: where other titles descend into brutish slaughter, God of War lends the battlefield a sombre beauty."

Chains of Olympus should be ready some time next year.

JoystiqGod of War: Chains of Olympus called best of LGC07 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympusgodofwarlgc07Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GoW: Chains of Olympus delayed until Q1 2008 [Update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/23/gow-chains-of-olympus-delayed-until-q1-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/23/gow-chains-of-olympus-delayed-until-q1-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/23/gow-chains-of-olympus-delayed-until-q1-2008/#commentsFiled under:


Fresh from Leipzig, Sony has announced a delay for their highly anticipated title, God of War: Chains of Olympus. Originally expected to ship before Christmas as part of the holiday rush, the title has been pushed back until early 2008. Annoyingly, this comes less than three weeks after Ready at Dawn confirmed that God of War was on track for a holiday release.

No reason was given for the delay, but if they need more time to polish up Kratos' newest adventure -- it's worth waiting a couple more months. Plus we get a demo in September to keep us happy anyway, so it won't be an entirely Spartan-free Christmas.

[Update: Ready at Dawn responds: "I'm not really sure where this is coming from since we have not announced a date for God of War: Chains of Olympus for the North American marketplace yet. So I would say this falls into the rumor and speculation category."]

JoystiqGoW: Chains of Olympus delayed until Q1 2008 [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympusdelaygodofwarkratosThu, 23 Aug 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War dev buys homemade God of War PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/god-of-war-dev-buys-homemade-god-of-war-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/god-of-war-dev-buys-homemade-god-of-war-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/god-of-war-dev-buys-homemade-god-of-war-psp/#commentsFiled under: ,


Remember this incredible piece of God of War fandom? This user-modded system caught our eye for its close attention to detail and fine use of "kicking ass." But the story isn't over ... It looks like Ramon Stokes, creator of the system, got a lot more than the winning bid of $1725 in his eBay auction.

Chains of Olympus dev team, Ready at Dawn, took notice of Ramon's system and decided to fly him out to their studios "to make sure the PSP wouldn't get damaged during shipping." Yeah, sure.

Ramon was also able to play the upcoming Chains of Olympus demo, talk to the development team, and get treated like a God of Olympus. Looks like this God of War hit the jackpot for his fandom (and we're jealous!).

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqGod of War dev buys homemade God of War PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebaygodofwarpspramonstokesreadyatdawnThu, 16 Aug 2007 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[GoW: Chains of Olympus developer buys God of War PSP for $1725]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/gow-chains-of-olympus-developer-buys-god-of-war-psp-for-1725/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/gow-chains-of-olympus-developer-buys-god-of-war-psp-for-1725/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/gow-chains-of-olympus-developer-buys-god-of-war-psp-for-1725/#commentsFiled under: ,


Late last month we posted a story on a PSP designed to be the ultimate piece of God of War modded art. Turns out the eventual winner of that auction, with a bid of $1725 (with 15% going to Child's Play charity), was Ready at Dawn Studio, the company behind God of War: Chains of Olympus. But the story doesn't stop there.

Turns out that Ready at Dawn decided to fly the guy who created the GoW PSP out to Southern California to hand-deliver it himself. Ramon Stokes, who created the PSP, then got to play the Chains of Olympus demo and hang out for a bit. Sure, this is one of those over-the-top PR sorts of things that y'all can be bitter and jaded about, but it's still cool to see someone make a piece of art and have it be recognized.

Gallery: God of War modded PSP

JoystiqGoW: Chains of Olympus developer buys God of War PSP for $1725 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctiongodofwargowpspstokesThu, 16 Aug 2007 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Chains of Olympus will "change the course of the GoW mythology"]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/03/chains-of-olympus-will-change-the-course-of-the-gow-mythology/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/03/chains-of-olympus-will-change-the-course-of-the-gow-mythology/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/03/chains-of-olympus-will-change-the-course-of-the-gow-mythology/#commentsFiled under:


A lot of random snippets of information was released in today's chat with the God of War: Chains of Olympus development team. In the chat held for fans, Ready at Dawn revealed a few facts about the game:

  • The game is still on track for a Winter release.
  • Set ten years before the original God of War, Kratos will meet many characters from the previous PS2 God of War titles through his adventure. After the murder of his family, Kratos renounces his service to Ares, and he decides to serve the other gods of Olympus to try and rid him of his nightmares. Voice actors from previous games will return in Chains of Olympus. Linda Hunt will return to narrate the game.
  • "You will have multiple weapons with a new twist on how they integrate into the storyline."
  • The game has been in development since Daxter shipped.
  • The game will have counter attacks -- but whether or not it will be similar to God of War II's Golden Fleece was not revealed.

Continue reading Chains of Olympus will "change the course of the GoW mythology"

JoystiqChains of Olympus will "change the course of the GoW mythology" originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympusgodofwarreadyatdawnFri, 03 Aug 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your Qs ready: God of War chat scheduled for Friday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/get-your-qs-ready-god-of-war-chat-scheduled-for-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/get-your-qs-ready-god-of-war-chat-scheduled-for-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/get-your-qs-ready-god-of-war-chat-scheduled-for-friday/#commentsFiled under:


Those lucky enough to participate in the upcoming God of War chat should have received an email with further details. In attendance will be Ready at Dawn's Dana Jan, Garret Foster, Marc Turndorf and Ru Weerasuriya.

The chat is scheduled for this Friday at 4PM PST (7PM EST). Obviously, you'll want to get there early if you want the best (virtual) seats in the house. If for some reason, you can't attend, you can also submit questions via e-mail at: playstation_community_support @ playstation.sony.com.

We love what Sony's doing for its rabid God of War fan base. We'll be there, just like you, eyes glued to the answers that the Ready at Dawn team will provide. See you there.

JoystiqGet your Qs ready: God of War chat scheduled for Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympuschatgodofwarreadyatdawnWed, 01 Aug 2007 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Bringing the epic God of War to PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/28/bringing-the-epic-god-of-war-to-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/28/bringing-the-epic-god-of-war-to-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/28/bringing-the-epic-god-of-war-to-psp/#commentsFiled under: ,

It wasn't an easy task bringing God of War to the handhelds. A brand new engine (Ready at Dawn Engine 2.0) had to be created, and the controls had to be adapted to a whole new system. Our time with the game at E3 proved that Ready at Dawn has been successful in recreating the God of War experience on the handheld ... but how did they do it? This new video documentary provided by Sony attempts to go behind the scenes of the game, and showcases tons of new gameplay footage.

[Thanks, Random!]

Download MP4 for PSP

JoystiqBringing the epic God of War to PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behindthesceneschainsofolympusdocumentarygodofwarreadyatdawnSat, 28 Jul 2007 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War team prepares live chat for fans]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/god-of-war-team-prepares-live-chat-for-fans/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/god-of-war-team-prepares-live-chat-for-fans/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/god-of-war-team-prepares-live-chat-for-fans/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ready at Dawn, the developers of the upcoming PSP-exclusive God of War: Chains of Olympus, is preparing a special treat for those that have been selected to receive the playable UMD demo. The developers are planning a special live chat with their fans. However, they'd like to remind fans that they'll need a PlayStation.com user ID before July 30th to participate.

Details of the chat are still forthcoming, but be sure that we'll have all the information here on PSP Fanboy when it goes live.

JoystiqGod of War team prepares live chat for fans originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chainsofolympuschatgodofwarreadyatdawnFri, 27 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Today in Joystiq: July 24, 2007]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/today-in-joystiq-july-24-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/today-in-joystiq-july-24-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/today-in-joystiq-july-24-2007/#commentsFiled under:

Another shot of this gorgeous God of War-themed Sony PSP. Here's hoping the artist makes another one for the PSP Lite. Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Readers pick best webcomic: Worms!
Today's most Bowie video: Rock Band's Suffragette City

News
Sony updates PS3 to 1.90, PSP to 3.52
New Metal Gear digital graphic novel bound for PSP
Konami announces Metal Gear Solid for mobile phones
Metal Gear Online beta starts in Japan this August
All-Pro Football demo on Xbox Live despite bum hip
Xbox Live having some issues
Video of Metal Gear Solid 4 demo is predictably awesome
New tunes from Tanguy Ukulele Orchestra: Alex Kidd, Double Dragon, Duck Tales
Early Butterfly Garden screens have us curious
Nintendo uses beach nurses to promote Brain Age in Greece
Army of Two dated for November 15 in NA and Europe
Activision overtakes EA as top third party publisher
Non-'spastic' Mario Party 8 returns Aug. 8 to Europe
Puzzle Quest rated for PS3, Mac by ESRB
Video of how Activision became number one
No Splinter Cell Conviction until 2008
9 Million smoking the Warcraft pipe
Cartoon Network MMO debuting at Comic-Con
Condemned 2 developers working closely with ESRB
Shane Kim: RE5 was 360's 'big announcement' at keynote
James Cameron selects Ubisoft for MMO project Avatar
Halo 2 tournament at library causes ire

Culture & Community
Finally, Lara Croft papercraft!
"Handheld" arcade games hit eBay
German S.T.A.L.K.E.R. players go on strike
Rock Band playable at PAX
God of War-themed PSP rules Mt. Olympus

JoystiqToday in Joystiq: July 24, 2007 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dailyrecapgodofwarPSPTue, 24 Jul 2007 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War-themed PSP rules Mt. Olympus]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/god-of-war-psp-rules-mt-olympus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/god-of-war-psp-rules-mt-olympus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/god-of-war-psp-rules-mt-olympus/#commentsFiled under: ,


We really wish this wasn't an eBay auction item, but it's still incredibly cool nonetheless -- and 15% of the final sale goes to Child's Play, so we don't feel that guilty featuring it. Anyway, this is an actual modded PSP which, beyond the accoutrements, was painted in an "18-step process" and then tarnished to match Kratos' armor. Currently the system is up to $590 so it's inching to the combined cost of four PSPs; but it's the labor, detail and charity aspect that make it a nice deal.

Beyond the paint job, the unit also features red LEDs in the shoulder buttons which stay lit through playing and charging time. The modder says he used Sony's premium rechargeable power pack so the accent lighting didn't hurt the battery life. Beyond that there's a bunch of hand sculpted elements so that it fits "comfortably in the hands." It also comes with a second faceplate which mimics Kratos' tattoos. Certainly a nice piece of art and an obvious, albeit nerdy, conversation piece.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Gallery: God of War modded PSP

JoystiqGod of War-themed PSP rules Mt. Olympus originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionchildsplayebaygodofwarpspTue, 24 Jul 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[One of a kind God of War modded PSP on sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/one-of-a-kind-god-of-war-modded-psp-on-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/one-of-a-kind-god-of-war-modded-psp-on-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/one-of-a-kind-god-of-war-modded-psp-on-sale/#commentsFiled under: ,


This is for the ultimate God of War fan. In preparation for the upcoming Chains of Olympus, someone took the liberty to meticulously craft this modded PSP. "The PSP console itself was airbrushed with a deep metallic bronze in an 18-step process and then strategically tarnished to create a battle-worn armor look (like the chest plate worn in the game!)." Wow.

How many hundreds of dollars would you give for a machine like this? That's a good question, because the system's available on eBay. As of writing, the winning bid was a reasonable $366. Will you try and snag this one-of-a-kind machine?

[Thanks, Jeremy!]

JoystiqOne of a kind God of War modded PSP on sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebaygodofwarpspTue, 24 Jul 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: God of War: Chains of Olympus]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/15/joystiq-hands-on-god-of-war-chains-of-olympus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/15/joystiq-hands-on-god-of-war-chains-of-olympus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/15/joystiq-hands-on-god-of-war-chains-of-olympus/#commentsFiled under: , ,


When Sony said they were unleashing the full power of the PSP for God of War, they weren't kidding. God of War: Chains of Olympus plays and looks gorgeous beautiful amazing gorgeutifulzing. The fact that its a hand-held game on a small screen should not turn people off to this title, it's like a normal PS2 game in a little package and there is no denying it gives the full God of War experience. So much so, that before finishing the demo level in the game, we had to hand it off to somebody else or we'd have ripped the PSP out of the station and walked away to play the demo version until the game released this holiday season -- on the bright side, the demo releases this September.

Developer Ready at Dawn has done a great job at capturing the controls of God of War. Thankfully you hardly used the second analog stick (only used for dodging) in the PS2 version, so the PSP's one nubbin along with planned button mashing brings it all together. The animation is smooth -- so very, very smooth. Smooth to the point where we'd almost believe the PS2 GoW titles could hopefully one day come to PSP. All you really need to know about GoW on PSP is that everything you've come to expect from a PS2 version is here. This Kratos ain't watered down and he might even help sell some PSPs. This is a true God of War experience in a hand-held package that no fan can miss.

Gallery: God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: God of War: Chains of Olympus originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Jul 2007 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains of olympuse3e307god of wargodofwarhandsonkratosPSPSun, 15 Jul 2007 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: God of War: Chains of Olympus]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/15/hands-on-god-of-war-chains-of-olympus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/15/hands-on-god-of-war-chains-of-olympus/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/15/hands-on-god-of-war-chains-of-olympus/#commentsFiled under:


September can't come soon enough. That's when the public will be able to get their hands on the incredible God of War: Chains of Olympus demo that we got to play at E3. The game is everything a God of War fan could possible want: beautiful, gory, and utterly exhilarating.

The controls are incredible intuitive, and it was within mere seconds that we were able to start pulling off combos and dodges with relative ease. Kratos' basic moves return unchanged, but there are a few new special attacks, exclusive for the PSP edition. We were surprised to see the dodge return, in spite of the second analog stick. In order to jump out of an enemy's way, pressing down on both shoulder buttons whilst using the analog nub will allow Kratos to jump away. It's surprisingly intuitive and easy to use.

It should go without saying that the game is beautiful, taking advantage of all 333MHz the system has to offer. It is everything a PS2 God of War game should be ... but on a handheld. And knowing Ready at Dawn, we knew they'd be able to pull it off.

JoystiqHands-on: God of War: Chains of Olympus originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Jul 2007 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains of olympusChainsOfOlympuse307god of warGodOfWarSun, 15 Jul 2007 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War e-mail treats fans to concept art]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/god-of-war-e-mail-treats-fans-to-concept-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/god-of-war-e-mail-treats-fans-to-concept-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/28/god-of-war-e-mail-treats-fans-to-concept-art/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sony has just sent an e-mail to members of the PlayStation Underground, with an exclusive piece of concept art and a new screenshot. Ru Weerasuriya, director of Chains of Olympus, mused over developing the title:

"It's no easy task bringing God of War to the PSP. Fans have come to expect these huge landscapes, complex gameplay, and visceral combat that God of War I and II gave them. To bring that same experience on the PSP, we are pushing the hardware further than ever before. We're really pleased with what we have so far but we're not done yet. We still have a few tricks up our sleeves. I'm also really proud of the story of Chains of Olympus and I can assure you that there'll be some mind-bending puzzles in there for you guys."

While it's true that this doesn't provide us with any new details on the game, we're pleased that Sony is still reaching out to its most dedicated fans. We're confident that Ready at Dawn will produce a title of the same magnitude as its console brethren, and hope to get some play time at E3.

JoystiqGod of War e-mail treats fans to concept art originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains of olympusChainsOfOlympusgod of warGodOfWarready at dawnReadyAtDawnru weerasuriyaRuWeerasuriyaThu, 28 Jun 2007 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behold the wonder: God of War mobile isn't bad]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/behold-the-wonder-god-of-war-mobile-isnt-bad/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/behold-the-wonder-god-of-war-mobile-isnt-bad/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/behold-the-wonder-god-of-war-mobile-isnt-bad/#commentsFiled under: ,

When our own reporter came back from the Sony gamer's day and said God of War: Betrayal for the cell phone was good, we feared the poor man had cracked. But now comes word from IGN, which gave the game a 90 that it is, in fact, a good solid game. We may never look at our mobile the same way again.

God of War: Betrayal takes place after Ares' defeat but before the events of God of War II. IGN says the game is a 16-bit "glory days" 2D side-scroller and is a God of War title "through and through." Guess for those who can't wait for God of War: Chains of Olympus on PSP and have a compatible phone, maybe it could be worth checking out this mobile game. We hope this doesn't make us reexamine mobile gaming entirely -- let's call this a one hit wonder for now.

JoystiqBehold the wonder: God of War mobile isn't bad originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betrayalGodOfWarGodofWarBetrayalmobileWed, 27 Jun 2007 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War to use PSP's full processor speed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/26/god-of-war-to-use-psps-full-processor-speed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/26/god-of-war-to-use-psps-full-processor-speed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/26/god-of-war-to-use-psps-full-processor-speed/#commentsFiled under: , ,


God of War: Chains of Olympus creative director, Cory Barlog, has posted a follow-up to his "Inside the Developers Studio" Sony blog debut in order to "add some more of what you're asking for." Apparently, you were asking if Kratos would find his PSP adventure enhanced by the recent lifting of the system's processor speed restriction. Barlog confirms that developer Ready at Dawn will indeed take advantage of the unthrottled CPU, no doubt using it to render an alarming number of snarling mouths, serrated limbs and somewhat pointy breasts -- frequently all on the same creature, if the rest of the God of War series is any indication.

Barlog, who notes that he prefers a hands-on approach to game development versus his overseeing role on Chains of Olympus, is currently working on God of War III an unannounced PlayStation 3 project. Industry insiders strongly suggest that it's a survival horror title featuring an undying James Lipton.

Gallery: God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)


JoystiqGod of War to use PSP's full processor speed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains of olympusChainsOfOlympuscory barlogCoryBarlogGod of warGod of war PSPGodOfWarGodOfWarPspPSPReady at DawnReadyAtDawnTue, 26 Jun 2007 09:27:00 EST