Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, May 6 - 12: Sega Saturn edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/stiq-figures-may-6-12-sega-saturn-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/stiq-figures-may-6-12-sega-saturn-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/stiq-figures-may-6-12-sega-saturn-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter.

This week on Stiq Figures, we're looking back at the surprise launch of the Sega Saturn at E3 1995. Namely, we're watching this strange promotional video for the system, which features clips of launch games along with creepy people that live in your nightmares.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, May 6 - 12: Sega Saturn edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, May 6 - 12: Sega Saturn edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 May 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 19 May 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, April 29 - May 5: Arcade cabinet edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/stiq-figures-april-29-may-5-arcade-cabinet-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/stiq-figures-april-29-may-5-arcade-cabinet-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/stiq-figures-april-29-may-5-arcade-cabinet-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, April 29 May 5 Arcade cabinet edition
Reddit user mystery_smelly_feet recently posted a gallery of photos showing off the construction process for a custom arcade cabinet. The cabinet sports a classic Nintendo theme, complete with iconic grey, red and black controls that are vaguely similar to the NES game pad we all know and love. We're looking at it this week on Stiq Figures out of pure awe and jealousy. Make one for us, Mystery Smelly Feet!

Continue reading Stiq Figures, April 29 - May 5: Arcade cabinet edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, April 29 - May 5: Arcade cabinet edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 May 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 12 May 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures: April 22 - 28: Live-action Minecraft edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/stiq-figures-april-22-28-live-action-minecraft-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/stiq-figures-april-22-28-live-action-minecraft-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/stiq-figures-april-22-28-live-action-minecraft-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

We'd like to thank Joystiq reader Colin for pointing us to this week's Stiq Figures topic: a live-action Minecraft-based video. Live-action gaming-inspired videos are nothing new, and not always that noteworthy. What draws us to YouTube channel CCMegaproductions' video this week is how it ends: much more graphic and intense than it began.

Continue reading Stiq Figures: April 22 - 28: Live-action Minecraft edition

JoystiqStiq Figures: April 22 - 28: Live-action Minecraft edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 May 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 05 May 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, April 15 - 21: Animated backgrounds edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/stiq-figures-april-15-21-animated-backgrounds-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/stiq-figures-april-15-21-animated-backgrounds-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/stiq-figures-april-15-21-animated-backgrounds-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, April 15 21 Animated backgrounds edition
Reddit user RudeBootie recently offered up a collection of fighting game backgrounds as animated GIFs in an Imgur album, 125 of them to be exact, each just begging to be picked as your new desktop wallpaper.

Once each game's HUD and characters are stripped away, the locales of these fighting games appears much more serene and less chaotic. Perhaps that's an artistic statement on the merits of choosing peace over war. Or maybe we've been looking at these pictures for far too long.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, April 15 - 21: Animated backgrounds edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, April 15 - 21: Animated backgrounds edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 28 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, April 8 - 14: Gentlemon edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/stiq-figures-april-8-14-gentlemon-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/stiq-figures-april-8-14-gentlemon-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/stiq-figures-april-8-14-gentlemon-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, April 8 14 Pokestache edition
Here at Stiq Figures, we haven't shied away from looking at anything and everything related to Pokemon, from Poke-pants to glitches, even to deeper topics such as cloning. So if you thought we'd avoid ooh-ing and ahh-ing at adorable pictures of Pokemon with mustaches this week, then you thought wrong.

These artistic interpretations of "Gentlemon" with facial hair come from Australian digital illustrator Nicholas Poulos, as seen on his Behance portfolio. The gallery for the mustache'd minions includes eight in total, which by our count simply isn't enough.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, April 8 - 14: Gentlemon edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, April 8 - 14: Gentlemon edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 21 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, April 1 - 7: Tax Evaders edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/stiq-figures-april-1-7-tax-evaders-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/stiq-figures-april-1-7-tax-evaders-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/stiq-figures-april-1-7-tax-evaders-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, April 1 7 Tax Evaders edition
This week on Stiq Figures, we're creeping far too close to our deadline in filing taxes. We figure the best way to spend this time without pushing papers is by playing Tax Evaders, a browser-based game in which players control an angry mob of citizens that shoot large fists at corporations that allegedly don't pay their share of taxes to the US government. The game is largely political in origin, as the Tax Evaders site lists a number of sources and allies that support the politi-game's statement.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, April 1 - 7: Tax Evaders edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, April 1 - 7: Tax Evaders edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 14 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, March 25 - 31: LucasArts edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/07/stiq-figures-march-25-31-lucasarts-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/07/stiq-figures-march-25-31-lucasarts-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/07/stiq-figures-march-25-31-lucasarts-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

With the recent closure of LucasArts by Disney, we're taking some time this week to watch this news report from 1990. The report by KPIX-TV in San Francisco features designers Brian Moriarty, Ron Gilbert and Hal Barwod, each listed as "Computer Games Creators" in the video's lower-thirds. The game designers talk about games such as Monkey Island and LOOM.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, March 25 - 31: LucasArts edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, March 25 - 31: LucasArts edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 07 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, March 18 - 24: RBI Baseball edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/stiq-figures-march-18-24-rbi-baseball-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/stiq-figures-march-18-24-rbi-baseball-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/stiq-figures-march-18-24-rbi-baseball-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

To celebrate the beginning of baseball season, we're looking at YouTube user scottimus432's amazing display of athleticism in the 1987 Namco game RBI Baseball. The video above shows one of the most impressive feats in all of baseball on display: a perfect game.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, March 18 - 24: RBI Baseball edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, March 18 - 24: RBI Baseball edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 31 Mar 2013 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, March 11 - 17: GDC 1999 edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/stiq-figures-march-11-17-gdc-1999-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/stiq-figures-march-11-17-gdc-1999-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/stiq-figures-march-11-17-gdc-1999-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, March 11 17 GDC 1999 edition
With GDC coming up this week, we're looking back at the keynote address of GDC 1999, delivered by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto. Watching the talk on the GDC Vault site, it's interesting to hear the ways Miyamoto discusses the concepts of game design from nearly 14 years ago. Comparing his vision of the industry's future with the reality of today's struggles and triumphs is fascinating, and makes for a great palate cleanser heading into this week's conference.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, March 11 - 17: GDC 1999 edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, March 11 - 17: GDC 1999 edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 24 Mar 2013 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, March 4 - 10: NCAA Basketball edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/17/stiq-figures-march-4-10-ncaa-basketball-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/17/stiq-figures-march-4-10-ncaa-basketball-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/17/stiq-figures-march-4-10-ncaa-basketball-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

Okay, we weren't fair with last week's game trailer selection, as NCAA Final Four 99 isn't quite representative of the great college hoops games of the past. To make up for it, we're watching gameplay video this week of Nintendo's own SNES college basketball game, appropriately titled NCAA Basketball. Join us in looking back with fondness to a time when the system's Mode 7 tech would allow a rotating court in the midst of blue chaos to look so awesome.

We know what you're thinking: Two weeks of NCAA basketball talk just because it's Selection Sunday? That's why it's known as "March Madness," friends. Now fill out those brackets!

Continue reading Stiq Figures, March 4 - 10: NCAA Basketball edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, March 4 - 10: NCAA Basketball edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 17 Mar 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, February 25 - March 3: Final Four 99 edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/stiq-figures-february-25-march-3-final-four-99-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/stiq-figures-february-25-march-3-final-four-99-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/stiq-figures-february-25-march-3-final-four-99-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

With Selection Sunday just one week away, we're looking back to the good old days when NCAA basketball games were still being developed. But instead of taking a look at College Hoops 2K8, we're going to watch this trailer for NCAA Final Four '99, which features multiple shots of the referee picking up the ball and bringing it to the center circle on the court.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, February 25 - March 3: Final Four 99 edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, February 25 - March 3: Final Four 99 edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Mar 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 10 Mar 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, February 18 - 24: Movie poster edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/03/stiq-figures-february-18-24-movie-poster-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/03/stiq-figures-february-18-24-movie-poster-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/03/stiq-figures-february-18-24-movie-poster-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, February 18 24 Movie poster edition
This week on Stiq Figures, we're appreciating the work of Detroit-based artist Marinko Milosevski. Milosevski's site showcases a number of prints he's created, each celebrating a different video game in a movie poster-like style.

Milosevski created quite a few based around the Legend of Zelda series, but our favorite just might be the Super Metroid one seen above. Head to Milosevski's site to see the full versions of his work.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, February 18 - 24: Movie poster edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, February 18 - 24: Movie poster edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 03 Mar 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, February 11 - 17: Crime City edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/24/stiq-figures-february-11-17-crime-city-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/24/stiq-figures-february-11-17-crime-city-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/24/stiq-figures-february-11-17-crime-city-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

If you search the web for "Crime City," you'll find a few social games developed in recent years. But if you hopped in a time machine and set the dial to 1992, you'll be greeted with Impressions Games-developed Crime City, a point-and-click PC and Amiga adventure game that tasks players with proving their father's innocence in a murder trial.

The game came with a time limit; spend too much time in your investigation (or sleeping at your desk) and your father will be declared guilty. Crime City also provided its own walkthrough in the game's "readme" file. At least that was the case with our neighbor's copy of the game.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, February 11 - 17: Crime City edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, February 11 - 17: Crime City edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Feb 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 24 Feb 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, January 28 - February 3: Jaguar edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/10/stiq-figures-january-28-february-3-jaguar-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/10/stiq-figures-january-28-february-3-jaguar-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/10/stiq-figures-january-28-february-3-jaguar-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

No, this week's Stiq Figures isn't discussing the finer points of the Jacksonville Jaguars' new and improved logo. Instead, we're using the "rational" part of our brains to contemplate the cost of video game consoles by watching this old Atari Jaguar commercial. Yes, these were the "good old days" of game advertising.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, January 28 - February 3: Jaguar edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, January 28 - February 3: Jaguar edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Feb 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 10 Feb 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, January 21 - 27: Bo Knows edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/03/stiq-figures-january-21-27-bo-knows-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/03/stiq-figures-january-21-27-bo-knows-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/03/stiq-figures-january-21-27-bo-knows-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

Happy "Day of The Big Game," readers. To celebrate Super Bowl Sunday, we're looking back at one of the greatest virtual athletes to grace any sports video game: Bo Jackson. Jackson was a phenomenal athlete, whose mark in both baseball and football will be remembered for years.

But it's Jackson's impact on gaming that we're celebrating today. This iconic video shows 8-bit Bo at his finest: running out an entire quarter in one play in Tecmo Bowl for NES. Take a moment to imagine a real-life player scrambling around the field from one end zone to the other, evading an endless array of diving tackles. Yeah, people can talk about Marshawn Lynch or Adrian Peterson all they want, but Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl encompassed "beast mode" before the term ever existed.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, January 21 - 27: Bo Knows edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, January 21 - 27: Bo Knows edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 03 Feb 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, January 14 - 20: Poke-non Edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/27/stiq-figures-january-14-20-poke-non-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/27/stiq-figures-january-14-20-poke-non-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/27/stiq-figures-january-14-20-poke-non-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

In every traditional Pokemon game, players are forced to make a difficult decision: choosing their first Pokemon of the three available starters. Of course, the game doesn't offer players the opportunity to experience the world of Pokemon without the adorable minions.

What is a Pokemon game without Pokemon? YouTube user AndrewFMs found out in 2008 by hacking through the first generation Game Boy games in order to go without Pokemon. The result is beautifully glitchy.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, January 14 - 20: Poke-non Edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, January 14 - 20: Poke-non Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 27 Jan 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, January 7 - 13: Bacon in the pan edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/20/stiq-figures-january-7-13-bacon-in-the-pan-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/20/stiq-figures-january-7-13-bacon-in-the-pan-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/20/stiq-figures-january-7-13-bacon-in-the-pan-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

No, this week's Stiq Figures isn't discussing the merits of actual bacon in a frying pan. Rather, it's a reference to this 1995 commercial for the totally awesome Nintendo-published SNES racing game Uniracers. In the ad, a few young gentlemen discuss the wicked tricks players can perform with their riderless unicycles.

Come to think of it, can we get another Uniracers game, Nintendo? That would be swell.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, January 7 - 13: Bacon in the pan edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, January 7 - 13: Bacon in the pan edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Jan 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 20 Jan 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, December 31 - January 6: Wolfman edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/13/stiq-figures-december-31-january-6-wolfman-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/13/stiq-figures-december-31-january-6-wolfman-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/13/stiq-figures-december-31-january-6-wolfman-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

With the recent news of the PlayStation 2 being discontinued worldwide, we're looking at this David Lynch-directed PS2 ad from the system's glory years. Lynch directed a number of strange commercials for the system, and this "Wolfman" one might be our favorite.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, December 31 - January 6: Wolfman edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, December 31 - January 6: Wolfman edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 13 Jan 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, December 17 - 23: Chaos in the Windy City Edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/30/stiq-figures-december-17-23-chaos-in-the-windy-city-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/30/stiq-figures-december-17-23-chaos-in-the-windy-city-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/30/stiq-figures-december-17-23-chaos-in-the-windy-city-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

You've probably heard of Shaq Fu. While Shaquille O'Neal is known in the gaming world for the atrocious 2d fighting game bearing his name, the greatest basketball player of all time went a little more under the radar. Michael Jordan kept his likeness out of the cherished NBA Jam (as he reached his own licensing agreement with the NBA in 1992).

So we're looking back on a game Jordan did star in, and it's not Jordan vs. Bird; it's the awful 1994 SNES platformer Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City. I'll be the first to admit that I played this game a lot, probably too much for my own good. Although any amount of time with this game is too much for one's well-being.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, December 17 - 23: Chaos in the Windy City Edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, December 17 - 23: Chaos in the Windy City Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 30 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, December 10 - 16: E.T. edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/23/stiq-figures-december-10-16-e-t-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/23/stiq-figures-december-10-16-e-t-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/23/stiq-figures-december-10-16-e-t-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

Those hoping to unwrap the latest, hottest game this week should hope they don't accidentally warp back in time 20 years, as they might accidentally get E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. Not the movie, sadly, but the awful licensed Atari 2600 game.

To sympathize with kids that were stuck with this movie tie-in game in 1982, we're subjecting ourselves to this Christmas commercial for the Atari atrocity. Okay, maybe we're not being fair, there might be someone out there that likes this game.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, December 10 - 16: E.T. edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, December 10 - 16: E.T. edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 23 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, December 3 - 9: Pokepants edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/stiq-figures-december-3-9-pokepants-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/stiq-figures-december-3-9-pokepants-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/stiq-figures-december-3-9-pokepants-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

Pokemon is a money magnet for Nintendo, no doubt, and its due in no small part to the franchise's great translation to merchandise. Goods like Pokemon trading cards and figures have been all the rage for fans of the series since its inception. High sales for popular merchandise arguably has something to do with good advertising, which leads us to this 1998 commercial for Pokemon figures.

The highlight of the ad, aside from the audible "yikes!" when finding a wild Meowth in a pizza box, is easily the vacuum-like pants the kid at the end is wearing. "Gotta catch 'em all" has taken on new meaning.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, December 3 - 9: Pokepants edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, December 3 - 9: Pokepants edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 16 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, November 26 - December 2: ATV Offroad edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/09/stiq-figures-november-26-december-2-atv-offroad-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/09/stiq-figures-november-26-december-2-atv-offroad-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/09/stiq-figures-november-26-december-2-atv-offroad-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, November 26 December 2 ATV Off Road edition
ATV Offroad Fury doesn't feel like an old game, even though it launched in 2001 for PS2. When taking one look at the game's official website, its age certainly shows.

Of all the old websites for games we've looked at on Stiq Figures, this one certainly stands out. Not only is it complete with a rather awful flash game, but it also allows viewers to get a 360 degree panoramic view of a few of the game's tracks. Arguably the best (read: worst) part is the site's ATV builder section, which features two tire types: a large set "for the adventurer" and a small set "for wussies." These web designers weren't messing around, apparently.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, November 26 - December 2: ATV Offroad edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, November 26 - December 2: ATV Offroad edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 09 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, November 19 - 25: Madden 2000 edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/02/stiq-figures-november-19-25-madden-2000-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/02/stiq-figures-november-19-25-madden-2000-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/02/stiq-figures-november-19-25-madden-2000-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

One thing floating around the web this week was a wonderful reminder of the intro to Madden NFL 2000, the hard-hitting EA Sports football game that had more of a chip on its shoulder than Madden games seem to have today.

With the constant concerns for player safety in the NFL, it's hard to imagine EA Sports glorifying some of the big hits seen in this intro video today. But if Ludacris took Ray Lewis' spot in the intro video to Madden NFL 13, we're not sure there would be many complaints.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, November 19 - 25: Madden 2000 edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, November 19 - 25: Madden 2000 edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 02 Dec 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, November 12 - 18: Game Gear edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/25/stiq-figures-november-12-18-game-gear-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/25/stiq-figures-november-12-18-game-gear-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/25/stiq-figures-november-12-18-game-gear-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

This commercial for Sega's 1991 handheld system, the Game Gear, features actor Ethan Suplee (My Name is Earl) playing a Game Boy with a total lack of enthusiasm. The message in the commercial is pretty clear: Game Boy + dead squirrel = Game Gear.

There are six AA batteries somewhere in that equation for the Game Gear, not that battery life has been a great aspect of Nintendo's more recent portable efforts.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, November 12 - 18: Game Gear edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, November 12 - 18: Game Gear edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 25 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, November 5 - 11: Paperboy edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/18/stiq-figures-november-5-11-paperboy-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/18/stiq-figures-november-5-11-paperboy-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/18/stiq-figures-november-5-11-paperboy-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

This week, we look up briefly from our new Wii U systems to watch this commercial for the 1988 Mindscape-published NES version of Paperboy. With rolling tires, erratic lawnmowers and carefree skateboarders on the loose, Paperboy is seen doing what he does best in this ad: avoiding obstacles and breaking the windows of any house in the neighborhood that he can.

These live-action classic gaming commercials never get old to us, especially when they end with a faux-disclaimer that encourages players to "try this at home."

Continue reading Stiq Figures, November 5 - 11: Paperboy edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, November 5 - 11: Paperboy edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 18 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, October 29 - November 4: Spider The Video Game edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/stiq-figures-october-29-november-4-spider-the-video-game-edi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/stiq-figures-october-29-november-4-spider-the-video-game-edi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/stiq-figures-october-29-november-4-spider-the-video-game-edi/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

When your video game has a spider holding a gun and a knife on the cover, you know it should be a sure-fire masterpiece. That turned out to be half-true for Boss Game Studios' 1997 PlayStation game, Spider: The Video Game.

The game's description, at least according to the above intro video, is certainly part of the masterpiece side of the game: "The mind of a genius. The body of a spider. A mortally wounded scientist accidentally implants his consciousness in a nano-tech marvel - a cybernetic spider. Now shrunk to the size of a bug you must fight to stay alive."

While its platforming and general gameplay elements certainly didn't get prettier with age, Spider: The Video Game should at least remind us that firing missiles as as creepy critter should happen much more than it does in gaming.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, October 29 - November 4: Spider The Video Game edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, October 29 - November 4: Spider The Video Game edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 11 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, October 22 - 28: Po-clone-mon edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/04/stiq-figures-october-22-28-po-clone-mon-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/04/stiq-figures-october-22-28-po-clone-mon-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/04/stiq-figures-october-22-28-po-clone-mon-edition/#commentsWelcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Pokemon is typically known for its shiny, polished nature. Fans contemplate the many ways the series hasn't changed, and even what a Pokemon MMO would be like (oh, to dream). There is also a dark side of Pokemon to consider, and not exactly the type that PETA likes to take up on occasion.

This take on the series from Nightmare Mode addresses the cultural implications of the series from its inception, from the economy of the Kanto region to the segregation of people and Pokemon in the first games that appeared on Game Boy. The article also briefly discusses The Silph Company's monopoly and the controversial topic of cloning in relation to Mew, Mewtwo and the famous MissingNo glitch.

The Nightmare Mode piece is worth the read, especially for those that already miss Halloween and love kind of creepy things.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, October 22 - 28: Po-clone-mon edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, October 22 - 28: Po-clone-mon edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 04 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, October 15 - 21: Immortality edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/28/stiq-figures-october-15-21-immortality-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/28/stiq-figures-october-15-21-immortality-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/28/stiq-figures-october-15-21-immortality-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

This week, we're looking back at a rad 1991 TV commercial for the legendary add-on device, the Game Genie. This "pass-through" style cartridge allowed players the chance to input cheat codes for their favorite games on a number of consoles.

The ad above focused on the NES version of the Game Genie while paying homage to the comedic duo Bill and Ted. What stood out wasn't just the exploding television, but the use of "live forever" as a selling point for the peripheral. The phrase popped up in other Game Genie commercials, and clearly referred to the common cheat code players could plug in to nearly any game, unlimited lives.

The prospect of immortality in video games was strong enough for players to buy the device, and for Sega to stamp its seal of approval on it. Apparently, the Game Genie is still immortal, as it was resurrected by Hyperkin this year for PS3.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, October 15 - 21: Immortality edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, October 15 - 21: Immortality edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 28 Oct 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, October 8 - 14: Ape Escape edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/21/stiq-figures-october-8-14-ape-escape-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/21/stiq-figures-october-8-14-ape-escape-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/21/stiq-figures-october-8-14-ape-escape-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, October 8 14 Ape Escape edition
Last week on Stiq Figures, we paged through the official Final Fantasy VIII website. Taking a nostalgic ride through a tiny Flash site was so fun that we visited another one this week: the official site for Sony's PS1 classic, Ape Escape.

Ape Escape, which released in June 1999, was considered innovative in its use of Sony's DualShock controller, as players moved a boy named Spike while swinging a net to capture monkeys by using both analog sticks on the controller.

Naturally, the game's official site drove the point home, as the Flash-based webpage included an image of a DualShock controller for viewers to use for navigation. The still-active site also contains two mini-games for players to toy with, one of which is seen above. Now, bask in the collective cringes from web designers across the globe.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, October 8 - 14: Ape Escape edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, October 8 - 14: Ape Escape edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 21 Oct 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, October 1 - 7: Final Fantasy VIII edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/stiq-figures-october-1-7-final-fantasy-viii-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/stiq-figures-october-1-7-final-fantasy-viii-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/stiq-figures-october-1-7-final-fantasy-viii-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, October 1 7 Final Fantasy VIII edition
Final Fantasy VIII isn't exactly an obscure game. As my personal favorite of the franchise, Squaresoft's (now Square Enix's) 1999 PlayStation entry in the series maintains the sci-fi stylings of the arguably more popular Final Fantasy VII while improving CG techniques to make it prettier. The game is also four discs long, which still kind of amazes me.

A few interesting facts about the game can be found on its still-operating official site. Namely, a Nazi-styled uniform was removed when the game was localized to European territories, and it cost 3 billion yen to develop. The site still has "coming soon" labels for its strategy guide and hints sections, but we wouldn't hold our breath on that ever coming to life.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, October 1 - 7: Final Fantasy VIII edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, October 1 - 7: Final Fantasy VIII edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Oct 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 14 Oct 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, September 24 - 30: Colossal edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/07/stiq-figures-september-24-30-colossal-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/07/stiq-figures-september-24-30-colossal-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/07/stiq-figures-september-24-30-colossal-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, September 24 30 Colossal edition
For a game that's just turning seven years old, Team ICO's Shadow of the Colossus has quite the legacy in gaming. A game with the level of commonly accepted importance in the medium such as Shadow of the Colossus tends to receive its share of tributes.

The above tribute artwork is one of 18 from a collection by artist James Gilleard, and can be seen at OhNo!Doom's "Belligerent & Numerous" art gallery in Chicago. The gallery is open for public viewing until November 3.

For those that can't make the trip to Illinois in the next month, the rest of the images can be seen on Gilleard's blog and on Venus Patrol.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, September 24 - 30: Colossal edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, September 24 - 30: Colossal edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Oct 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 07 Oct 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, September 17 - 23: Funky Kong edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/30/stiq-figures-september-17-23-funky-kong-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/30/stiq-figures-september-17-23-funky-kong-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/30/stiq-figures-september-17-23-funky-kong-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

A majority of gamers are familiar with Donkey Kong, one of Nintendo's core video game characters. The words Donkey Kong Country will likely remind players of their time with the classic SNES game. Unless they live in France, in which case it could also bring back memories of a 1996 French television show that featured CG-animated characters from the games interacting with real-life actors.

This clip from the show demonstrates just how well apes can sing, dance and generally rock. The show was originally called "La planète Donkey Kong" (translated as "The Planet of Donkey Kong"), and was televised in a variety of regions, including the US. Still, it didn't quite reach the level of popularity that it received in France, its country of origin.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, September 17 - 23: Funky Kong edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, September 17 - 23: Funky Kong edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 30 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, September 10 - 16: Super Spike edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/23/stiq-figures-september-10-16-super-spike-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/23/stiq-figures-september-10-16-super-spike-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/23/stiq-figures-september-10-16-super-spike-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, September 10 16 Super Spike edition
With the release of Double Dragon Neon this month, we're looking at one game that the fighting duo Billy and Jimmy have cameoed in, Super Spike V'Ball for the NES. This high-powered volleyball game has always been a favorite of mine, and was one of the few sports games for the system in which I managed to beat the campaign mode on multiple occasions while using the Double Dragon heroes.

I also beat the game without the use of any Game Genie-type devices, which enabled the use of debug codes for now-retro games. Had I known that four unused teams were laying dormant in Super Spike V'Ball's code, I might have reconsidered my use of a Game Genie device to unlock them in the game. The fact that the second team of ladies hidden in the game have rad mullets turns this piece of missing content into a travesty.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, September 10 - 16: Super Spike edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, September 10 - 16: Super Spike edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 23 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, September 3 - 9: WWF WrestleMania edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/16/stiq-figures-september-3-9-wwf-wrestlemania-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/16/stiq-figures-september-3-9-wwf-wrestlemania-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/16/stiq-figures-september-3-9-wwf-wrestlemania-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Last weekend, I celebrated my older brother's wedding. During the rehearsal dinner, he gave me a few gifts for being his best man, one gift being a copy of WWF WrestleMania for NES. Complete with the original box, manual, and poster of the game, we immediately reminisced about the notoriously bad (yet so, so great) wrestling game and its impact on our childhood.

Game manuals from the late 80s tend to be loaded with gems, such as WWF WrestleMania's detailed instructions on how to turn the system on, including step three: "You'll first see an awesome picture of the explosive Hulk Hogan and he's ready to take on any challenger (Especially if it's you!)."

I'm not sure anything beats the profile of Andre the Giant in the manual, though, which reads, "He wears a size 22 boot. And in addition to having very big feet, he accomplished very big feats. Like his claim that he's never been defeated."

Continue reading Stiq Figures, September 3 - 9: WWF WrestleMania edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, September 3 - 9: WWF WrestleMania edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 16 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, August 27 - September 2: Tabletop gaming edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/09/stiq-figures-august-27-september-2-tabletop-gaming-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/09/stiq-figures-august-27-september-2-tabletop-gaming-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/09/stiq-figures-august-27-september-2-tabletop-gaming-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.



Video games thrive as masters of the digital realm, but there was a time when asking a friend, "Do you want to play a game?" meant meeting that person somewhere, sitting down together, sharing a pizza and staring at a tabletop all night. There was also a time when that question meant Jigsaw was right behind you, but this particular fear has long since passed.

Tabletop gaming has existed in some form since at least 3500 BC, when the first board game, Senet, was documented in Predynastic Egypt. Even in the modern era of blockbuster digital entertainment, tabletop gaming is alive and well. Wil Wheaton, professional nerd extraordinaire, highlights the diversity and entertainment of the craft in Geek & Sundry's TableTop online series, alongside notable names in gaming and geek culture.

Now we learn Terry Cavanagh, developer of Super Hexagon, has two board games under his belt, and earlier this year our very own Mike Schramm rekindled his love for the tabletop in the form of a card game he created when he was 16.

Game on, tabletoppers.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, August 27 - September 2: Tabletop gaming edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, August 27 - September 2: Tabletop gaming edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 09 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, August 20 - 26: Poke-nightmare edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/stiq-figures-august-20-26-poke-nightmare-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/stiq-figures-august-20-26-poke-nightmare-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/stiq-figures-august-20-26-poke-nightmare-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, August 20 26 PokeBurton edition
We'd wager that fans of the Pokemon series would hate to see these creatures jumping out of the tall grass at night. Unless they also happen to be huge Tim Burton fans, of course. These excellent Pokemon illustrations are the work of Vaughn Pinpin, a student at The UP College of Fine Arts, and take inspiration from Burton's twisted style.

These redesigned first-generation starter Pokemon seem to get progressively creepier as they evolve. While some don't stray far from their original designs, such as Caterpie, others begin to look like demented characters from Ratatouille (see: Raticate). Even more character illustrations can be found on Pinpin's Tumblr, which notes plans to complete the first 151 creatures.

Now if only we could get these redesigns in an actual Pokemon-styled game called The Nightmare Before Johto. Who wouldn't play that?

Continue reading Stiq Figures, August 20 - 26: Poke-nightmare edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, August 20 - 26: Poke-nightmare edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 02 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, August 13 - 19: SkiFree edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/26/stiq-figures-august-13-19-skifree-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/26/stiq-figures-august-13-19-skifree-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/26/stiq-figures-august-13-19-skifree-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, August 13 19 SkiFree edition

SkiFree is one of those games that I felt completely hopeless while playing. No matter how well I navigated around rocks and trees, the speedy yeti-like monster would always catch my skier, gobbling his entire body in one gulp.

Released in 1991 by developer Chris Pirih, SkiFree would eventually be included in the Best of Windows Entertainment Pack alongside games like JezzBall and Chip's Challenge. According to Pirih's official site for the game, he began work on a second version in 1993 that would later be abandoned. SkiFree 2.0 was slated to include multiplayer, robot opponents, network play and enhanced physics.

Thanks to DeviantArt user Omny87, who recently crafted a more terrifying version of the monster, I'm definitely never going skiing again. And yes, I anticipate that every comment on this post will start with "Press 'F' to go faster." I wouldn't have it any other way.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, August 13 - 19: SkiFree edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, August 13 - 19: SkiFree edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 26 Aug 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 26 Aug 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, August 6 - 12: Ridiculously intense edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/19/stiq-figures-august-6-12-ridiculously-intense-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/19/stiq-figures-august-6-12-ridiculously-intense-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/19/stiq-figures-august-6-12-ridiculously-intense-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, August 6 12 Ridiculously intense edition

It's "ridiculous game trailer week" on this week's Stiq Figures, and there's no better trailer to watch than one recently released for RAWR Interactive's new game, Count to a Billion.

Debuting on iOS last week, Count to a Billion gives players 90 seconds to score billions of points using all of their fingers. If its $1 price isn't enticing enough, the power thirst-styled trailer above might do the trick. The thought of all those delicious points was enough for us to give it a look.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, August 6 - 12: Ridiculously intense edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, August 6 - 12: Ridiculously intense edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 19 Aug 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, July 16 - 22: Pepsiman edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/29/stiq-figures-july-16-22-pepsiman-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/29/stiq-figures-july-16-22-pepsiman-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/29/stiq-figures-july-16-22-pepsiman-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.
Stiq Figures, July 16 22 Pepsiman edition

It's "hilariously terrible gameplay video week" on this week's Stiq Figures. While some folks find product placement offensive, Pepsiman would tell those people, "Relax, and drink this Pepsi I just picked up while running through the neighborhood."

Released in Japan in 1999 for PlayStation, Pepsiman is an "on-rails running game" featuring the soft drink company's former mascot. Check out the gameplay video above while quietly drinking a two-liter bottle of Pepsi. Caffeine is a hell of a drug, friends.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, July 16 - 22: Pepsiman edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, July 16 - 22: Pepsiman edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 29 Jul 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapaneseHardwareSalesstiqfiguresSun, 29 Jul 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stiq Figures, July 9 - 15: Carmen Sandiego edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/22/stiq-figures-july-9-15-carmen-sandiego-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/22/stiq-figures-july-9-15-carmen-sandiego-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/22/stiq-figures-july-9-15-carmen-sandiego-edition/#comments Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something - meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition.

Keeping in line with yesterday's Webcomic Wrapup theme of kleptomania, we're looking back at one of gaming's greatest thieves: Carmen Sandiego. The mysterious and crafty lady in red first appeared on Apple II computers in 1985 as the main villain of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? by Broderbund Software.

Broderbund kept its hit educational series going through 2001, though it saw a series of tumultuous corporate changes in the mid-90's, when the company pulled out of a merger agreement with Electronic Arts in 1994. In June 1998, Broderbund was acquired by The Learning Company (ironically, the same company Broderbund attempted to purchase three years earlier). The Learning Company proceeded to lay off 500 Broderbund employees before being purchased by Mattel. The Learning Company's entertainment holdings, which included the Carmen Sandiego and Myst series of games, would go through a few hands before landing with Ubisoft.

Carmen Sandiego solidified her place as one of gaming's greatest thieves early on. In the 1989 title Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?, Sandiego's henchmen are responsible for the theft of Napoleon's hat and Paul Revere's horse. The games even spurred on a series of educational TV game shows (seen in the video above). In fact, a movie adaptation of the educational series was announced in late June 2012.

Continue reading Stiq Figures, July 9 - 15: Carmen Sandiego edition

JoystiqStiq Figures, July 9 - 15: Carmen Sandiego edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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