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[The Orange Box gets a much needed makeover]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/the-orange-box-gets-a-much-needed-makeover/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/the-orange-box-gets-a-much-needed-makeover/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/30/the-orange-box-gets-a-much-needed-makeover/#commentsFiled under:

Ever since we laid our eyes on the Half-Life 2: Orange Box cover art we have been a little perplexed by its simplistic design. The cover art featured a mostly orange background with white text explaining the contents and that was about it. We accepted the cover though and never made a fuss. But now it looks like Valve has had a change of heart and design philosophy. TeamXbox is reporting that Valve decided to re-design the Orange Box cover and now it actually features artwork! Indeed, it shows off beautiful Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2 and Portal artwork! We're glad to see Valve add more art to the cover art and spiffy up the Orange Box, because it really looks good. Check out TeamXbox's supplied Half-Life 2: Orange Box cover viewable after the break.

Continue reading The Orange Box gets a much needed makeover

JoystiqThe Orange Box gets a much needed makeover originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cover artCoverArthalf life 2half life 2 orange boxhalf-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2HalfLife2OrangeBoxorange boxOrangeBoxportalteam fortress 2TeamFortress2valveSat, 30 Jun 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TF2 devs play cross-platform, but you won't]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/tf2-devs-play-cross-platform-but-you-wont/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/tf2-devs-play-cross-platform-but-you-wont/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/tf2-devs-play-cross-platform-but-you-wont/#commentsFiled under:


So, Shacknews posted a lengthy preview of Team Fortress 2. At first, everything was normal, no different than what we expected. Multiple classes, fun gametypes, cool maps, protestations that the Medic is fun to play: everything was copacetic. According to the review, Team Fortress 2 will not feature cross-platform play. That's all well and good, except Valve -- developer of the PC and Xbox 360 versions (EA UK is handling the PS3 version) -- "regularly play cross-platform multiplayer games." Why then, are we denied such pleasure? According to Valve's Doug Lombardi, it "introduces more problems than it is worth." He further notes that Valve would only implement cross-platform play in a title that was designed for it from the start.

Ah well, looks like we'll have to be satisfied with fragging fellow 360 fanboys.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqTF2 devs play cross-platform, but you won't originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artsElectronicArtshalf life 2half-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2hl2orange boxOrangeBoxteam fortress 2TeamFortress2tf 2Tf2the orange boxTheOrangeBoxvalveWed, 20 Jun 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2: The Orange Box ships in October]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/half-life-2-the-orange-box-ships-in-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/half-life-2-the-orange-box-ships-in-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/half-life-2-the-orange-box-ships-in-october/#commentsFiled under:

Talking with a Valve representative, Shacknews was able to pry a firm release from their lips for a little box set known as Half-Life 2: The Orange Box. The game will hit retailers on October 9th, so we advise circling the date on your calendar with an orange marker so you don't forget. Orange marker, because it's the orange box ... get it? And to refresh your memory, The Orange Box is a bundle that will include Half-Life 2, Episode 1, Episode 2, Team Fortress 2 and Portal for the low, low, next gen price of $59.99. How we see it is that October will be all about carving pumpkins, eating candy corn, and playing a whole lot of Half-Life 2. Cavities be damned!

JoystiqHalf-Life 2: The Orange Box ships in October originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artsElectronicArtshalf life 2half life 2 the orange boxhalf-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2HalfLife2TheOrangeBoxorange boxOrangeBoxvalveFri, 15 Jun 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, Team Fortress 2 shipping October 9th]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/half-life-2-episode-two-portal-team-fortress-2-shipping-octob/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/half-life-2-episode-two-portal-team-fortress-2-shipping-octob/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/15/half-life-2-episode-two-portal-team-fortress-2-shipping-octob/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Politely telling naysayers who expected the games to miss their 2007 launch to eat crowbar, Valve has confirmed to Chris Remo of Shacknews that its upcoming Source trio will ship for all intended platforms on October 9th. The suite is comprised of warped puzzler Portal, stylized multiplayer shooter Team Fortress 2, and continued scientist savior sim Half-Life 2: Episode Two. The collection will be sold through Valve's online Steam service as well as in a retail package.

The EA-distributed Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, which also contains Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One, will be available on PS3 and Xbox 360 for $59.99, with the PC version priced at $49.99. There once existed a Black Box (containing the three new titles only) for those PC gamers unwilling to take the digital distribution route, but it was promptly buried in the hope of fostering a strange sort of philanthropy amongst gamers. Still, in featuring five games -- two of them proven classics -- there's little question that the Orange Box offers great value, especially if you're a newcomer to Valve's first-person shooters.

[Thanks, Gogandantis]

JoystiqHalf-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, Team Fortress 2 shipping October 9th originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FPSHalf-LifeHalf-Life 2Half-life2HalflifeHalflife 2Halflife2MicrosoftPCPortalPS3Team-FortressTeam-Fortress-2ValveXbox-360Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve: our downloadable content will be free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/valve-our-downloadable-content-will-be-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/valve-our-downloadable-content-will-be-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/25/valve-our-downloadable-content-will-be-free/#commentsFiled under:

When perusing our comment threads, you may see comments from Team Fortress 2 fans that will be opting for the PC version over the 360 version? Why? Lots of free content. Specifically, lots of free user-made content. While it may be some time before user-made content heads to the 360, we are happy to report that any downloadable content for the Orange Box will be free. Eurogamer reports that Valve will not charge for its DLC. According to Team Fortress 2 designer, Robin Walker, "You buy the product, you get the content," who adds, "We make more money because more people buy it, not because we try and nickel-and-dime the same customers." We imagine that someone at EA -- publisher of the Orange Box -- has just imploded. Free content is always good, especially when you consider that TF2 will ship with only 6 maps.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqValve: our downloadable content will be free originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artsElectronicArtshalf life 2half-lifehalf-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2orange boxOrangeBoxportalteam fortress 2TeamFortress2valvevalve softwareValveSoftwareFri, 25 May 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 classes get broken down]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/team-fortress-2-classes-get-broken-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/team-fortress-2-classes-get-broken-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/24/team-fortress-2-classes-get-broken-down/#commentsFiled under:


It seems Team Fortress 2 is fast becoming the best reason to own the Half-Life 2 Orange Box. In every preview of the game, various outlets are describing it as the most outstanding feature of the entertainment-packed package. With some particularly impressive visuals and reportedly rock-solid gameplay to boot, it's easy to see why. IGN recently got their turn to try out Team Fortress 2 and have done us the favor of breaking down every single character class in the game. With 9 classes from which to choose, finding your favorite might be a difficult task, especially considering that the support classes are actually fun to play.

Honestly, we're torn so many ways we don't know what to think. Do we pick the Demoman and his sticky bombs, the Pyro and his flamethrower, or the Engineer and his deadly turrets? What about the chameleon-like Spy, or the cool-as-nails Sniper, or the well-rounded Soldier? Of course, there is the Medic, who's capable of making players and himself briefly invulnerable, and there's the Scout, who can change direction mid-jump. Then again, there's always the Heavy Weapons Guy ... and his beloved Sasha.

Who's your favorite so far?

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 classes get broken down originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half life 2half life 2 orange boxhalf-lifehalf-life 2half-life 2 orange boxHalf-life2Half-life2OrangeBoxHalfLife2HalfLife2OrangeBoxorange boxOrangeBoxteam fortress 2TeamFortress2valveThu, 24 May 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2 Orange Box -- console owners get a steal [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/19/wanted-the-black-box-for-half-life-2-well-its-gone/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/19/wanted-the-black-box-for-half-life-2-well-its-gone/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/19/wanted-the-black-box-for-half-life-2-well-its-gone/#commentsFor the uninitiated, Valve initially intended to release Half-Life 2 in two different options for the consoles. One was the Black Box that contained HL2: Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. The other is the Orange Box that contained the aforementioned plus Half-Life 2 and Episode 1 expansion. Notice our tenses. One was. One is. That's right -- the Black Box is gone.

Doug Lombardi, Valve's marketing director confirmed it. "The Black Box has been cancelled. We're going to have one package, The Orange Box, available on the PC (US$49.99) as well as the 360 and PS3 (US$ 59.99)." While we're sad to see a cheaper alternative go down the garbage disposal, it's for the better. Getting the whole package is always a better alternative to getting a partial package. The only ones who seem to get screwed here are the PC owners. If they've already got the original game, they've got to buy it again if they want to get all three new products. Buying them separate might prove more expensive, anyway. Well, at least the console-lovers get everything at once, right?

[Update: Changed the title of the article to better reflect the idea of the post -- indeed, the Black Box was due out only on PC, as it would be silly to not give console owners the actual game. But console owners get a fantastic deal with the Orange Box, no?]

JoystiqHalf-Life 2 Orange Box -- console owners get a steal [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 May 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Who touched Sasha? Who touched my gun?" is made hilarious once more by this Heavy Weapons Guy video, slated for the Team Fortress 2 packaged with the big Orange Box for the PS3 (it includes Half-Life 2, Episode 1, Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2). The video is set up like a documentary to show you the inner-workings of Heavy Weapon Guy's psyche and you know what? It's pretty funny. Check out the video, see the style of the game and give us your thoughts. We approve.

JoystiqHalf-Life 2: Orange Box cracks out a Team Fortress 2 video originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Half-Life 2Half-life2PlayStation 3Playstation3PortalPS3SonyTeam Fortress 2TeamFortress2Wed, 16 May 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 gets cheeky]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/team-fortress-2-gets-cheeky/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/team-fortress-2-gets-cheeky/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/team-fortress-2-gets-cheeky/#commentsFiled under:


One part The Incredibles, one part Sony's crazy European bathtub ad, the new Team Fortress 2 trailer gets cheeky with "The Heavy." Although we are looking forward to continuing the Half-Life 2 story with the Black and Orange Box this fall, it feels like Portal and Team Fortress 2 is starting to grab our attention a lot more. Although, all that Half-Life 2 goodness in the Orange Box for those who've never played should be hard to resist.

The comic-style first-person shooter of Team Fortress 2 might help grab some XBL players who aren't into the ultra-serious, super-hardcore, lifestyle that Halo 3 online will be. Team Fortress 2 could very well shape up to be the "other" multiplayer shooter for the Xbox 360 and some great multiplayer action for PS3 owners.

[Via Xbox360Fanboy]

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 gets cheeky originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2007 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationgordan freemanhalf-life 2halosteamteam fortressTeamFortressTue, 15 May 2007 18:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Team Fortress 2's amazing animation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/video-team-fortress-2s-amazing-animation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/video-team-fortress-2s-amazing-animation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/15/video-team-fortress-2s-amazing-animation/#commentsFiled under:


The Team Fortress 2 aesthetic has been compared to The Incredibles more than once, and it really shows up in this video, with amazing animation and some decent shtick. This video, to put it simply, is gorgeous. We wish there was more to say about it, but honestly, that's pretty much it. The facial animation is damned near perfect, and the character has real personality. Rather than spoil anything else, we suggest you go ahead and watch it. You'll be glad you did.

The Half-Life 2 Orange Box is starting to look better all the time, isn't it?

JoystiqVideo: Team Fortress 2's amazing animation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic artsElectronicArtshalf life 2half life 2 orange boxhalf-life 2half-life 2 orange boxHalf-life2Half-life2OrangeBoxHalfLife2HalfLife2OrangeBoxorange boxOrangeBoxteam fortress 2TeamFortress2valveTue, 15 May 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 may unite 360 and PC gamers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/team-fortress-2-may-unite-360-and-pc-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/team-fortress-2-may-unite-360-and-pc-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/team-fortress-2-may-unite-360-and-pc-gamers/#commentsFiled under:


In an interview with IGN, Valve's own Doug Lombardi and Robin Walker talk specifics about that Orange Box game Team Fortress 2. The interview shines new light on how gameplay works, graphics changes, and delves into Valve's experience on gaming consoles. When talking about console coding, Walker says that "we did the Xbox port of Half-Life internally, and we did that because we wanted to have the expertise from doing that" and says "the same guys that did that are working on TF2". With all the Xbox coding experience under their belts they also revealed that the team's work on cross platform play has been implemented into the game. Right now, TF2 allows Xbox 360 and PC gamers to duke it out and is running swimmingly, but hasn't been officially confirmed because it still may be pulled before release. We'll just have to wait until this Fall to see if TF2 can live up to its older bro and also include some cross platform play.

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 may unite 360 and PC gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game Informer recently got some hands on time with the upcoming Team Fortress 2, a new twist on a classic game, set to be included in the Half-Life 2 Orange Box along with Portal. Team Fortress 2 will include multiple player classes, ranging from the sneaky spy to the more-bullets-than-brains heavy weapons guy, and it looks like each class will actually play very differently. For instance, the Pryo, with his short range flame thrower, is perfect for tight quarters. The super speedy Scout, on the other hand, is the best choice for lightning fast recon and flag captures. Team Fortress 2 features several game types involving territorial control and, of course, capture the flag.

On a slightly disappointing note, the game is set to ship with only 6 different maps. Also worth noting, only one map is set up for capture the flag at this point. Of course, this could change with the release of downloadable content, but it's still disappointing.

All in all, the game looks like a great deal of fun. What's more, with so many character classes from which to choose, anyone should be able to find a niche that's actually fun to play (yes, even the Medic). Hit the "read" link to check out the full preview, including a breakdown of every character class and their respective loadouts.

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 has a lot of class(es) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half-life 2Half-life2hl2orange boxOrangeBoxTeam-FortressTeam-Fortress-2the orange boxTheOrangeBoxValveThu, 29 Mar 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve interview from GameTrailers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/valve-interview-from-gametrailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/valve-interview-from-gametrailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/valve-interview-from-gametrailers/#commentsFiled under:


GameTrailers has posted an interview with Valve's Doug Lombardi discussing the upcoming Orange Box for Xbox 360. The Orange Box, for those who don't know, contains Half-life 2, HL2 episode 1 and 2, Team Fortress 2, and Portal. Lombardi talks about the revisions to the source engine since Half-Life 2 first launched and what is possible with multiple core processors. He discusses some of Gabe Newell's comments about the PS3 and Valve's current opinion of the Wii as well. Also, sprinkled throughout the video are some very pretty snippets of the games included in the Orange Box. For fans of Half-Life, it's definitely worth a look. Give it a watch and tell us what you think.

JoystiqValve interview from GameTrailers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half life 2half-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2hl2hl2 episode 2hl2 episode oneHl2Episode2Hl2EpisodeOneorange boxOrangeBoxportalteam fortress 2TeamFortress2valveWed, 14 Mar 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve unleashes Half-Life 2: Orange screenshots]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/14/valve-unleashes-half-life-2-orange-screenshots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/14/valve-unleashes-half-life-2-orange-screenshots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/14/valve-unleashes-half-life-2-orange-screenshots/#commentsFiled under:


Half-Life 2: Orange, as we now call it, has been forever delayed and will only show up much later this year. But what are eager Half Life fanboys supposed to do until that time comes ... wait? Yes, you will have to wait, but Valve understands your pain by offering some screenshot love. They just released a massive amount of screens from the Half-Life 2: Orange bundle including Portal and Team Fortress 2. All the games are looking pretty good, but Portal and Team Fortress 2 lack visual goodness that Half-Life 2 offers, which is probably intended. Check out the nifty gallery Joystiq put up and come back to post your thoughts on what is sure to be one great compilation.

JoystiqValve unleashes Half-Life 2: Orange screenshots originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>episode 1episode 2Episode1Episode2half lifehalf life 2half life: 2half-life 2Half-life2half-life: 2Half-life:2HalfLifeHalfLife2HalfLife:2portalteam fortress 2TeamFortress2valveWed, 14 Feb 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jade is Latina, Asian, Black ... who knows?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/11/jade-is-latina-asian-black-who-knows/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/11/jade-is-latina-asian-black-who-knows/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/11/jade-is-latina-asian-black-who-knows/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Earlier this week, a story by Jason Ellis traveled around the intertubes listing 11 black video game stars. The list was tragic, highlighting that black leading characters, especially original intellectual properties, are few and far between. However, the topic of most debate had to do with the appearance of Jade, from Beyond Good and Evil, on the list. Jade was black?

It was the immediate thing we wondered about on our staff. Latina, Asian and "just tan," were terms we came up with. The crew over at Wired apparently had a similar issue. Writing up a column on racially ambiguous characters. Chris Kohler says, "The reaction to Ellis' piece would suggest that Michel Ancel and his team got it perfect with Jade. Because only a few people are suggesting that Jade 'looks' black or 'seems' Asian. They say with conviction that she is black, is Asian, is 'clearly' Latina. Everyone is right, and no one is right."

Half-Life is also master of the racially ambiguous. Alyx Vance could be a mix of anything, her look is truly exotic. Then there is always the question of Gordon Freeman. Not the most stereotypically "white" name, you never actually see him, and other than the box art -- we'd never know. Was making Freeman white, or showing him at all, a last minute marketing decision? It's a fun experiment to take Freeman and just change the pigment of his skin, it's amazing how well it works. The main point is when things are ambiguous, we see what we want to see. Personally, we don't care what race Jade is, we just want to see that girl in a sequel!

JoystiqJade is Latina, Asian, Black ... who knows? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Feb 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alyx vancebeyond good and evilethnicitygordon freemanGordonFreemanhalf-life 2jadePCPS2raceXboxXbox-360Sun, 11 Feb 2007 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2: Episode Two boxes dropping this Fall]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/half-life-2-episode-two-boxes-dropping-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/half-life-2-episode-two-boxes-dropping-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/07/half-life-2-episode-two-boxes-dropping-this-fall/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's all a big misunderstanding. When Valve declared that the Half-Life franchise would adopt an episodic distribution model, the world mistakenly assumed that the familiar television format served as the inspiration. However, with the announcement of a Fall 2007 worldwide release for Half-Life 2: Episode Two (previously scheduled for Christmas 2006 and then Summer 2007), Valve has made it abundantly clear that their idea of episodic content is actually based on the Star Wars episodes, which saw six episodes released in the span of about 30 years.

Ah, we jest to hide the inherent bitterness left by a further delay to the EA-published Half-Life 2 packages, The Black Box (PC) and The Orange Box (Xbox 360, PS3). Both sets include Episode Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2, while the latter adds a lot of bang for the lowly buck in the form of Episode One and a graphically enhanced Half-Life 2. You know, like the Star Wars special edition trilogy.

Remember: Gordon shoots first!

JoystiqHalf-Life 2: Episode Two boxes dropping this Fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsFPSHalf-LifeHalf-Life 2half-life-2half-life-2-episode-twoHalf-life2PCPortalPS3Team Fortess 2TeamFortess2ValveValve-SoftwareXbox-360Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New Havok release supports PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/25/new-havok-release-supports-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/25/new-havok-release-supports-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/25/new-havok-release-supports-ps3/#commentsFiled under:

Havok has officially unleashed Havok 4.5, the latest version of their comprehensive animation and physics toolset for developers. The update adds full optimization for the PS3 and its Cell architecture, and is derived from Havok's cooperation with Evolution Studios in the construction of Motorstorm's physics system. Upcoming games utilizing the 4.5 variant are expected to handle Havok instructions between five and ten times faster than the previous release.

"Havok 4.5's ability to allow developers to massively scale game content will make it possible to develop even more compelling, realistic and complex worlds that harness the full power of new generation architectures," says Havok's David O'Meara. Though the emphasis remains on crafting "realistic" worlds, one might also consider the impact that robust physics and animation have on "unrealistic", fantasy games. When objects and clothing behave as you expect them to, it can lend even the most unusual world a sense of believability and cohesion. It's not all sliding crates and rolling barrels, you know.

JoystiqNew Havok release supports PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationHalf-Life 2Half-life2HavokMotorstormphysicsPS3Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[CNNMoney picks 10 best gifts for gamers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/20/cnnmoney-picks-10-best-gifts-for-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/20/cnnmoney-picks-10-best-gifts-for-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/20/cnnmoney-picks-10-best-gifts-for-gamers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

CNNMoney picks 10 best gifts for gamersHaving already advised gamers to hold off from buying a PlayStation 3, it's not surprising that CNN's Chris Morris has no PS3 goods on his holiday shopping list. Besides, only a few brave (and crazy) souls have managed to procure Sony's "non-competitive" new console. Instead, Morris recommends the following titles for CNNMoney's game gift guide:
Not a very sports-friendly list (no Hawk or Madden?), and PSP owners are also left out in the cold. Anything else missing?

JoystiqCNNMoney picks 10 best gifts for gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brain AgeChris MorrisDSElder Scrolls IVExcite Truckgame guideGears of WarGuitar Hero 2Half-Life 2holiday gaming listKingdom Hearts 2Legend of ZeldaNew Super Mario BrothersOblivionOkamiPCPS2Twilight PrincessWiiXbox-360Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More in-game commentary coming next-gen?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/17/more-in-game-commentary-coming-next-gen/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/17/more-in-game-commentary-coming-next-gen/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/17/more-in-game-commentary-coming-next-gen/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


MTV News takes a look at one of Half-Life 2: Episode One's best secrets: the in-game commentary track. Much like the DVD format's popular director's commentary feature, Valve stuck in audio commentary from the game's developers. Hit the little floating text bubble and be treated to commentary on everything from design conceits (like apologizing for artificial barriers) to eye-candy techniques (yup, that's HDR lighting).

The problem is, according to Valve's own statistics, only 15% of the gamers who've played Episode One have activated the feature. Regardless of its popularity, Valve project manager Erik Johnson says, "There isn't really any chance of us leaving it out in our future titles." That's good news for those of us interested in the commentary feature. Unfortunately, not every game developer is going to keep it in, even if they got there first.

Factor 5 included developer commentary on their Star Wars: Battle for Naboo title on the N64, an impressive feat for a cartridge system. They've included commentary on every title since then, so a commentary track on the PlayStation 3's Lair (with its copious amounts of Blu-ray space) would seem to be a perfect touch. Insomniac Games has commentary plans for their next game (following PS3 launch title Resistance), but that 15% number may make them nervous. Insomniac's Ted Price said, "If gamers want audio commentary, they have to let it be known." Okay, Ted. So, gamers, were you amongst Valve's 15% and if not, why?

Continue reading More in-game commentary coming next-gen?

JoystiqMore in-game commentary coming next-gen? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CommentaryDirector's CommentaryDirector'sCommentaryFactor 5Factor5GameCubeHalf LifeHalf-Life 2Half-life2HalfLifeHL2PCPS3Rebel StrikeRebelStrikeRogue Leader II: Rebel StrikeRogueLeaderIi:RebelStrikeValveXbox-360Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[360 gets Source, developers cheer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/16/360-gets-source-developers-cheer/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/16/360-gets-source-developers-cheer/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/16/360-gets-source-developers-cheer/#commentsFiled under:


Valve announced today that it is now offering the 360 optimized version of its Source engine. The Source engine powers Valve's very successful Half-life 2, as well as the upcoming Portal and Team Fortress 2. Gabe Newell, president of Valve, had this to say:

"The combination of Source and the Xbox 360 provides game designers throughout the industry the chance to create powerful entertainment experiences. Whether they're pursuing a traditional FPS, RTS, RPG or delving into new genres, Source and the Xbox 360 are designed to offer the flexibility and tools to allow designers to pursue any design imaginable."

The availability of this engine to 360 developers means two things. One, developers can make games quickly and more efficiently. Two, Valve will be making oodles of money. At any rate, it looks like the Unreal Engine just got some new competition (maybe more when the Offset Engine shows up). In the end, it's not like it really matters. We just want our Counter-Strike Source, am I right?

[Via OpenXBOX360]

Joystiq360 gets Source, developers cheer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>counter strike sourcecounter-strike sourceCounter-strikeSourceCounterStrikeSourcehalf life 2half-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2portalsourcesource engineSourceEngineteam fortress 2TeamFortress2valveMon, 16 Oct 2006 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2 on Mac, without Windows]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/04/half-life-2-on-mac-without-windows/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/04/half-life-2-on-mac-without-windows/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/04/half-life-2-on-mac-without-windows/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A Mac gamer has been running Half-Life 2 on a MacBook using the public beta of CrossOver Mac, a tool to run PC apps on Intel Macs without Windows. Half-Life 2 and other games previously required booting into XP to work on Intel Macs. The CrossOver gamer documents his process and results; expect glitches and bugs.

While CrossOver Mac is still in beta and may never acceptably run PC games, the future of Mac games is uncertain. Will tools like Cider, which let PC publishers quickly port titles to Intel Macs, cause more Mac games? Or will Mac releases slow down because gamers can play new PC titles by booting into XP?

[Via Xlr8yourmac.com]

JoystiqHalf-Life 2 on Mac, without Windows originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CiderCross overCrossOverCrossOver MacCrossoverMachalf-life 2Half-life2MacPCWed, 04 Oct 2006 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2 gets all tactical and stuff]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/03/half-life-2-gets-all-tactical-and-stuff/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/03/half-life-2-gets-all-tactical-and-stuff/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/03/half-life-2-gets-all-tactical-and-stuff/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SMOD: TacticalPrimotech has posted a rundown of the new Half-Life 2 mod, SMOD: Tactical. This mod-of-a-mod transforms geeky Gordon Freeman into a Counter-Terrorist super-soldier, who can slow time and put down baddies with a few well-placed shots.

Tactical's most striking elements are the remodeled weapon set and hip visual effects. You'll blast through City 17 with new toys like the 1911 .45 caliber pistol, M4 carbine with EOTech Holographic Weapon Sights, and Artic Warfare Magnum sniper rifle. The experience is heightened by depth-of-field and screen-blur effects and the aforementioned "bullet time" feature.

Download the alpha version (191.55 MB .rar file) here.

[Thanks, Alex]

JoystiqHalf-Life 2 gets all tactical and stuff originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Oct 2006 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Half-LifeHalf-Life 2Half-life2modPCSMODSMOD: TacticalSmod:TacticalValveTue, 03 Oct 2006 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Japan gets HL2 Survivor, we get videos of it]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/18/japan-gets-hl2-survivor-we-get-videos-of-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/18/japan-gets-hl2-survivor-we-get-videos-of-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/18/japan-gets-hl2-survivor-we-get-videos-of-it/#commentsFiled under: ,


And here we thought Japanese gamers could care less about FPSs. Just because Halo releases don't result in new sales records over there, doesn't mean the FPS has no place in their hearts. Take, for example, this arcadization (?) of gaming's most celebrated first person shooter: Half-Life 2. Taito and Valve teamed up, buddy copy style, to adapt the PC classic to Taito's Type X arcade board (not much of a challenge, since it's a PC already, Windows and everything).

What did take some extra work was adapting Half-Life's intimate, story driven affair from the long-form to the arcade form; that's even shorter than the episodic releases! They've created three game types: story mode (single player), mission mode (co-op), and battle mode (multiplayer).

Don't expect to stumble upon one in America's limping arcade market though; they're still rocking broken House of the Dead machines from five years ago. Lucky for us, 1UP grabbed some videos of the game from the recent JAMMA show in Tokyo, which we've embedded after the break.

Continue reading Japan gets HL2 Survivor, we get videos of it

JoystiqJapan gets HL2 Survivor, we get videos of it originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Half-Life 2Half-life2HL2JAMMAJapanSurvivorTaitoVavleMon, 18 Sep 2006 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Grok Half-Life 2: E2's five gameplay demos]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/12/grok-half-life-2-e2s-five-gameplay-demos/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/12/grok-half-life-2-e2s-five-gameplay-demos/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/12/grok-half-life-2-e2s-five-gameplay-demos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Having trouble getting used to Valve's eight-month episodic cycle? We can sympathize, we keep dreaming of Alyx also (don't worry, our shrink says this is totally normal).

So we're only ... uh, four and a half months away from Half-Life 2: Episode 2's planned February 2007 release date and it's still not getting any easier. But Valve, empathic as they are, felt our pain last week and added the five gameplay demos they were showing off at the Leipzig Games Convention to Steam so we can download and enjoy them in lovely high-def. Don't want to bother with all that? We've also added all five in blocky embed-o-vision after the break.

[Image credit: Planet of the Geeks]

Continue reading Grok Half-Life 2: E2's five gameplay demos

JoystiqGrok Half-Life 2: E2's five gameplay demos originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Half-LifeHalf-Life 2Half-Life 2: Episode 2Half-life2Half-life2:Episode2HL2E2PCTue, 12 Sep 2006 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video Valve: HL2: Ep 2, Portal & Team Fortress 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/10/video-valve-hl2-ep-2-portal-and-team-fortress-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/10/video-valve-hl2-ep-2-portal-and-team-fortress-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/10/video-valve-hl2-ep-2-portal-and-team-fortress-2/#comments

Here's a long clip from the 1Up Show featuring awesome footage of Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2. Is this the best value in triple A gaming or what?

JoystiqVideo Valve: HL2: Ep 2, Portal & Team Fortress 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Sep 2006 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half-life 2Half-life2portalteam fortressTeamFortressvalvevideoSun, 10 Sep 2006 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Modding about Fallingwater; Frank Lloyd Wright house in HL2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/05/modding-about-fallingwater-frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-hl2/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/05/modding-about-fallingwater-frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-hl2/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/05/modding-about-fallingwater-frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-hl2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If talking about music is like dancing about architecture, then what is writing about architecture like? Anyone with an affinity for the art and science of designing great buildings knows there is no better way to experience them than to walk through them; to experience the sense of scale intimately; see how light affects the space; see how the location affects the light, and so on. Unfortunately, that dictum still holds true, but for how long?

One architecture student slash level modder chose Frank Lloyd Wright's tree-nestled modern masterpiece Fallingwater (aka the Kaufmann House) to recreate using Half-Life 2's Source engine. Anyone who's visited western Pennsylvania and taken the time to stop by Fallingwater knows the value of experiencing it first-hand.

The video walkthrough (embedded after the break) does give some sense of scale, but lacks the same polish that all video games exhibit on closer inspection. Though you miss the craftsmanship in the details, you do get an unparalleled appreciation for the way Wright tucked his house into the woods. Using "noclip" mode, the video's tour guide takes us up above the house and the waterfall providing a point-of-view entirely absent from the real experience.

[Via Boing Boing]

Continue reading Modding about Fallingwater; Frank Lloyd Wright house in HL2

JoystiqModding about Fallingwater; Frank Lloyd Wright house in HL2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArchitectureFallingwaterFrank Lloyd WrightFrankLloydWrightHalf-LifeHalf-Life 2Half-life2HL2Kauffman HouseKauffmanHouseModsPCSourceTue, 05 Sep 2006 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2: Episode Two delayed 'til Feb 2007 [Update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/25/half-life-2-episode-two-delayed-til-feb-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/25/half-life-2-episode-two-delayed-til-feb-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/25/half-life-2-episode-two-delayed-til-feb-2007/#commentsFiled under: ,

Doug Lombardi, of Valve fame, announced that Half Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal will all be pushed back to February of next year. The reason? Valve was a bit aggressive with their release date. Too aggressive, they say. As a shift in management practice, Lombardi says: "our thing is always that we're trying to make really good experiences and so we're going to manage to that rather than the schedule." Good for you guys. Really.

Now, about Portal... seems Lombardi is interested in the idea, so much so that he wants to toss it into future episodes. It's that cool and fun to play with. This brings up memories of the gravity gun. You know, that insanely neat tool/weapon/toy used in the main game of Half-Life 2. Just for fun, what was your greatest moment with the gravity gun? Rig up any incredibly complicated traps just to get that one enemy? With that in mind, are you looking forward to playing with the portal gun on your PS3? Or PC, but PS3 eventually.

[update: fixed image... brain farts are not uncommon when portals are involved. Thanks, insane_cobra!]

JoystiqHalf-Life 2: Episode Two delayed 'til Feb 2007 [Update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Aug 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Doug LombardiDougLombardiHalf-Life 2Half-life2Playstation 3Playstation3PortalPS3Team Fortress 2TeamFortress2ValveFri, 25 Aug 2006 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ Gangs of London code leaked, Sony not amused]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/03/gangs-of-london-code-leaked-sony-not-amused/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/03/gangs-of-london-code-leaked-sony-not-amused/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/03/gangs-of-london-code-leaked-sony-not-amused/#commentsFiled under: , ,

An internal beta of Gangs of London, a forthcoming spectacle of urban violence on the PSP, has been leaked onto BitTorrent sites across the net. After vowing to never again take firewall advice from Gabe Newell, Sony Computer Entertainment UK urged gamers to avoid downloading the game -- not because it's illegal or morally reprehensible, but because the game is so full of bugs. "It is not the complete game and it has anomalies in the code since it hasn't been through our QA process yet."

Content with having spared code kleptomaniacs the inconvenience of encountering technical anomalies, Sony's David Wilson goes on to condemn piracy, noting that "there are proven links that exist between counterfeiting and organised crime and that has some serious consequences (and victims) that people should give due consideration."

Be sure to give this issue your due consideration before purchasing the game later this year and running about London, stealing and killing things.

Joystiq Gangs of London code leaked, Sony not amused originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Aug 2006 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Code theftCodeTheftGangs of LondonGangsOfLondonGrand Theft AutoGrandTheftAutoHalf-Life 2Half-life2PSPSCEA UKSceaUkSony UKSonyUkThu, 03 Aug 2006 21:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Students snatched up to develop Portal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/31/students-snatched-up-to-develop-portal/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/31/students-snatched-up-to-develop-portal/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/31/students-snatched-up-to-develop-portal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's an interesting rags to finely rendered riches story to be found in an interview conducted with Valve's newest employees -- the DigiPen students responsible for Narbacular Drop, a crazy foray into transitive gameplay that now serves as the inspiration for Valve's mindbending Portal. Kim Swift, one of the developers on the project, notes how rapidly their run-in with Gabe Newell changed their careers and their lives:

"Gabe watched our demo and basically hired us on the spot. It was kind of shocking. We stood around in the parking lot afterwards gibbering to ourselves for about 20 minutes."

The rest of the interview clarifies some issues regarding the Half-Life 2: Episode Two companion, ruling out multiplayer (for now) and firmly labeling the game as a level-based adventure of puzzles and experiments gone awry. Swift was slightly lethargic in sharing information with regards to where exactly Portal fits into the Half-Life universe, though we'd bet a headcrab or two that the protagonist will be a Black Mesa alumni. Perhaps Adrian Shepherd has become an unwitting test subject for the Aperture Science Laboratories?

That suggestion isn't too outlandish, at least not to the same degree as this response from Swift when she seemingly misunderstands a question about EA potentially purchasing Valve:

"As far as I know, Valve has no plans of purchasing EA."

Win-win scenario in an alternate universe: Valve-EA releases a Half-Life game on time, every year.

Previously:

JoystiqStudents snatched up to develop Portal originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Jul 2006 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BarneyDigiPenEAElectronic-ArtsEpisdoe ThreeEpisdoeThreeEpisode OneEpisode TwoEpisodeOneEpisodeTwoHalf-LifeHalf-Life 2Half-life2HLHL2Narbacular DropNarbacularDropOpposing ForcesOpposingForcesPCPortalPS3ValveXbox-360Mon, 31 Jul 2006 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Half-Life 2 on PSP?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/23/rumor-half-life-2-on-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/23/rumor-half-life-2-on-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/23/rumor-half-life-2-on-psp/#commentsFiled under:


The research people of Penn, Shoen, and Berlan Association Inc. are notorious for slipping future releases of games. In fact, they revealed the Xbox 360 version of Half-Life 2 a full three days before Valve admitted to working on it. Considering how Half-Life 2 is branching out to other platforms, is PSP next? Well, according to an IGN post by Nirvanakicks [Insider membership required], a new survey from Penn, Shoen, and Berlan Association Inc. seems to suggest "yes". While I'm skeptical, it would be an amazing addition to the PSP library, even without fancy HDR lighting.

JoystiqRumor: Half-Life 2 on PSP? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Jul 2006 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half life 2half-life 2Half-life2HalfLife2rumorsurveySun, 23 Jul 2006 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 is so 'incredibles']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/19/team-fortress-2-is-so-incredibles/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/19/team-fortress-2-is-so-incredibles/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/19/team-fortress-2-is-so-incredibles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Valve released this teaser trailer for Team Fortress 2 today. The game is definitely funked out with a Pixar-esque twist. Now couple this with what we saw in the Portal peek yesterday, throw in HL2 with Episodes 1 & 2 tacked on, and Valve looks to be on the verge of releasing an uber-impressive package for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 -- and hopefully in time for the holidays. Happy, happy. Joy, joy.

A note from Valve PR: All the footage shown in this trailer was created using Source. Some of the effects, namely depth of field and motion blur, were applied via post-processing features built into the Source engine technology.

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 is so 'incredibles' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Jul 2006 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsHalf-Life 2Half-life2MicrosoftPCPS3Team-FortressTeam-Fortress-2ValveXbox-360Wed, 19 Jul 2006 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[First trailer of Valve's Portal released]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/18/first-trailer-of-valves-portal-released/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/18/first-trailer-of-valves-portal-released/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/18/first-trailer-of-valves-portal-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

One of the announced games to be featured alongside the upcoming PC and console versions of Half-Life 2: Episode Two is one that promises to obliterate your concepts of traditional level design and generally assault your brain with a large rolling pin. It's called Portal and, should the name not be explanatory enough, it deals primarily with gaping holes in time and space which magically transport you to different locations. Where Human Head's Prey took you for a wacky ride through these portals, Valve's title equips you with a sterile looking gun and urges you to make your own entry and exit points with wild abandon.

The trailer (embedded in the second part of the post) aptly demonstrates the powers of the portal gun, the dangers of getting caught in an infinite loop and, of course, how using rampant teleportation can enable you to solve puzzles involving crates of some kind. As they say, hilarity ensues.

[Thanks Easy_G!]

Continue reading First trailer of Valve's Portal released

JoystiqFirst trailer of Valve's Portal released originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FPSGabe NewellGabeNewellHalf-LifeHalf-Life 2Half-life2HL2PCPortalportalsPreyPS3Team Fortress 2TeamFortress2ValveXbox-360Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2 gets a few episode boosts on PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/half-life-2-gets-a-few-episode-boosts-on-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/half-life-2-gets-a-few-episode-boosts-on-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/14/half-life-2-gets-a-few-episode-boosts-on-ps3/#commentsFiled under: ,

Near the end of 2006 we can expect a lovely port of the more than lovely Half-Life 2 to the XBox 360 and the Playstation 3. But, we don't just get the great game, we also get the great two "episodes" also being released separately for the PC. The episodes are basically extensions to the story, sometimes explaining unclear parts of the main story. Oh, and they're insanely fun.

PC players won't feel too bad about the consoles getting the two episodes included with their copy of the game. At the same time it's released on consoles, PC gamers will have two other games to choose from: Team Fortress 2 and Portal. Still, would a console gamer be able to handle all that awesome in one package? Spacing it out on the PC may have been necessary to save our lives.

JoystiqHalf-Life 2 gets a few episode boosts on PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jul 2006 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Half-life 2Half-life2Playstation 3Playstation3portalPS3team fortressTeamFortressXBoxXbox 360Xbox360Fri, 14 Jul 2006 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Internet survey lists Half-Life 2 for Xbox 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/10/internet-survey-lists-half-life-2-for-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/10/internet-survey-lists-half-life-2-for-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/10/internet-survey-lists-half-life-2-for-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PSB survey
A recent survey (see above), conducted by Penn, Shoen, and Berlan Association Inc., included Half-Life 2 in a list of "soon to be released games for Xbox 360." While this is in no way official confirmation that a port is in the works, it's the second time we've seen Half-Life 2 for Xbox 360 listed -- EB Games & GameStop did it back in May.

While Valve continues to remain tight-lipped, a Half-Life 2 port that includes multiplayer and expansion capabilities is the obvious candidate for the company's confirmed Xbox 360 project. That's not to say we wouldn't prefer a wholly original title instead; but, seeing as how it took Valve five years to craft the initial version of Half-Life 2, perhaps it's in the company's best interests to continue to milk the title for all its worth. After all, a game as superb as Half-Life 2 deserves proper console treatment -- that Xbox version just didn't cut it.

JoystiqInternet survey lists Half-Life 2 for Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Jul 2006 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Half-Life 2Half-life2ValveXbox-360Mon, 10 Jul 2006 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Couch co-op gives way to internet teamplay]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/10/couch-co-op-gives-way-to-internet-teamplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/10/couch-co-op-gives-way-to-internet-teamplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/10/couch-co-op-gives-way-to-internet-teamplay/#commentsCo-op mode in video games is often a very popular feature, probably because of the added intensity of competing with A.I. in partnership with a friend. Games like Halo and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory become entirely different (and better) games when played in co-operative mode. Of course, the early innovator was Contra, which, without a co-op mode, would have been just another side scrolling shooter. With the greats of the co-op gaming genre in mind, Vic over at Bits & bytes & pixels & sprites has written up a feature calling for a next-generation renaissance in co-operative games.

Couch co-op has never been an assured feature with games, especially recently. Since 2000, developers on the PC platform have clearly ignored the co-op mode in favor of dedicated multiplayer modes with big name first person shooters like Half-Life 2, Doom 3 and Quake 4 skipping on the mode. Games with teamplay orientated multiplayer modes like Counter-Strike and Call of Duty have picked up the fundamentals of co-op based games and thanks to their easy accessibility over the internet, have become wildly popular as a result (especially in comparison to the limit of 2-4 players in a usual co-op game).

There will always be developers that include couch co-op modes in their games (Bungie, Blizzard and Ubisoft come to mind), but there's unlikely to be a massive resurgence in the number of couch co-op games mainly due to an internet based takeover of team based gameplay.

[Thanks, Daniel Zuccarelli]

JoystiqCouch co-op gives way to internet teamplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Jul 2006 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bits and bytes and pixels and spritesBitsAndBytesAndPixelsAndSpritesBlizzardBungieCo-opCo-operativeContracouch co-opCouchCo-opdoom 3Doom3gamesgametypegaminghalf-life 2Half-life2quake 4Quake4renaissanceUbisoftMon, 10 Jul 2006 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2 half-confirmed for 360?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/08/half-life-2-half-confirmed-for-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/08/half-life-2-half-confirmed-for-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/08/half-life-2-half-confirmed-for-360/#commentsFiled under:

For what it's worth, Half-Life 2 showed up in a marketing survey on a list of soon to be released Xbox 360 games. This port pretty much maxed out the original Xbox's capabilities. Isn't it about time big bro got a shot?

[Thanks Andy]

JoystiqHalf-Life 2 half-confirmed for 360? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Jul 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half-life 2Half-life2portsvolitionSat, 08 Jul 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Play the news: kill Al Qaeda's al-Zarqawi]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/26/play-the-news-kill-al-qaedas-al-zarqawi/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/26/play-the-news-kill-al-qaedas-al-zarqawi/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/26/play-the-news-kill-al-qaedas-al-zarqawi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you've recently witnessed the news on TV or your disagreeable neighbor's house getting blown to smithereens, you'd likely be aware that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, was killed in a decisive US air strike earlier this month.  If this is the first time you're learning of it, the news is reaching you in a way quite dissimilar to the way in which the people behind Kuma Reality Games want it to. Reaching you is just the beginning for them -- they want it to grab you by the arm and yank you into a Source-powered, 3D recreation.

The goal of Kuma\War is elaborate and intriguing, though much like a minefield, it's also laced with topical traps that require careful movements to navigate successfully. For every major battle or newsworthy event that takes place in the ongoing war on terror, Kuma\War offers a free, downloadable counterpart, plunging you right into the war-torn boots of an American soldier and tasking you with carrying out the very same mission. Just a scant few weeks after al-Zarqawi's death, Kuma\War will be offering "players" the opportunity to call in the airstrike that killed him or, alternatively, rush his house with a group of comrades in tow.

Continue reading Play the news: kill Al Qaeda's al-Zarqawi

JoystiqPlay the news: kill Al Qaeda's al-Zarqawi originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Al Qaedaal-ZarqawiAlQaedaCall of Duty 2CallOfDuty2Half-Life 2Half-life2IraqKumaWarPCSourceWar gamesWar on terrorWarGamesWarOnTerrorWW2Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve gets all Big Brother with HL2:E1 stats]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/25/valve-gets-all-big-brother-with-hl2-e1-stats/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/25/valve-gets-all-big-brother-with-hl2-e1-stats/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/25/valve-gets-all-big-brother-with-hl2-e1-stats/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Valve has been using their episodic superstar, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, to pry into the private lives of gamers everywhere. Hey, 19.05% of gamers who played through HL2:E1 on Easy! Yeah, Valve's got your number, n00b. All that 5 hours to beat it stuff? Bzzzt! Looks like most of us (especially the aforementioned 19.05%) are breezing through it in the 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hour range. (Note: the "Average completion time" is 5 hours exact due to some stragglers beefing that number up ... c'mon, 10 hours?)

Actually, according to Valve, "Episode 1 ... includes a reporting mechanism which tells us details about how people are playing the game. We're sharing the data we collect because we think people will find it interesting, and because we expect to spot emergent problems earlier, and ultimately build better products and experiences as a result."

Pretty cool stuff that supports one of the foundational tenets of the episodic manifesto: that they're already working on tweaking future episodes based on feedback, both automated and submitted. So, you've already played through Episode 1, what say ye, episodic gamer?

[Update: corrected the percentages; apparently, nearly one out of five Episode One'rs did the deed on Easy while 6.69% played through on Hard -- some didn't even know it! Thanks for the numbers, Jon.]

JoystiqValve gets all Big Brother with HL2:E1 stats originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Jun 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EpisodicHalf-Life 2Half-life2HalfLife2HL2HL2:E1PCSteamValveSun, 25 Jun 2006 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[HL2: E1 for $8 means you have to buy it]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/14/hl2-e1-for-8-means-you-have-to-buy-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/14/hl2-e1-for-8-means-you-have-to-buy-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/14/hl2-e1-for-8-means-you-have-to-buy-it/#commentsFiled under: , ,


One of the primary tenets of episodic distribution is a lower price for a shorter game. In the case of Half-Life 2: Episode One that means $20 for about 5 or so hours of Gravity Gun-wielding fun. Err, rather, that meant $20 for 5 hours but, if you cash in on the current promotion at retailing box-store Circuit City, you'll nab it for the low, low price of $8! That's like $1.60/hour if you're good. If you suck, you're talking about a pretty phenomenal dollar to hour investment.

The jig is up June 17th, and it isn't available online, so you best get going before the eBayers start grabbing em all. Indeed, at this stage in their evolution, they can smell a deal; their senses are acutely tuned to major retail discounts. For anyone who's already purchased a copy, don't feel bad ... cause you got to play yours earlier, right? Alright, you can feel bad.

[Thanks, Andy; via Insane Central]

JoystiqHL2: E1 for $8 means you have to buy it originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheapCircuit CityCircuitCityEpisodicHalf-life 2Half-life2HL2HL2: E1Hl2:E1PCRetailSteamValveWed, 14 Jun 2006 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 3 has a happy ending, or how I learned to love YTMND]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/halo-3-has-a-happy-ending-or-how-i-learned-to-love-ytmnd/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/halo-3-has-a-happy-ending-or-how-i-learned-to-love-ytmnd/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/halo-3-has-a-happy-ending-or-how-i-learned-to-love-ytmnd/#commentsFiled under:

The animated .gif addicts over at YTMND have been very busy lately revealing the truthiness behind recent video game rumors. Here are some of those OMIGOD NEWS FLASH! announcements from YTMND's gaming posse:
YTMND's formula is never going to get old, simply because there will never be a shortage of fanboy ideas and rumors to make fun of.

[Via Xbox360Fanboy]

More: The Wii zeitgeist, via YTMND, Wiill Ferrell tests Wii accelerometer technology and Dick Hunt!

JoystiqHalo 3 has a happy ending, or how I learned to love YTMND originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jun 2006 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesARTBungieDickDuck HuntDuckHuntEndingFPSFUNFUNNYHAHAHalf-LifeHalf-Life 2Half-life2HaloHalo 3Halo-2Halo3HL2HumorLAUGHMaster ChiefMasterChiefMicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-StudiosMiyamotoNintendoPlaystation 3Playstation3PS3RevealedshigeruShigeru MiyamotoShigeruMiyamotoSHiggySHOCK and AWEShockAndAweSpoilersWiiXbox-360YTMNDMon, 12 Jun 2006 13:55:00 EST