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[Doritos Crash Course 2 crunches into XBLA tomorrow for free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/doritos-crash-course-2-crunches-into-xbla-tomorrow-for-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/doritos-crash-course-2-crunches-into-xbla-tomorrow-for-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/doritos-crash-course-2-crunches-into-xbla-tomorrow-for-free/#commentsDoritos Crash Course 2 crunches into XBLA tomorrow for free As free, corporate-sponsored games go, we enjoyed the 2D platforming approximation of Wipeout (the TV show) that was Doritos Crash Course. Also, it was, like most free, corporate-sponsored games, entirely free. This is rarely ever a bad thing. With all that in mind, it's cool to see a sequel coming to XBLA tomorrow, May 8. Yes, it's still free.

As per the first game, you're traversing your Xbox Avatar from left to right and as quick as poss, but this time in four new worlds including an icy one and a pirate-y one. There's online and offline multiplayer for up to four runners, and you can compare your speed against friends via "asynchronous" clips.

Remember, the game's free - no-one's forcing you to buy any chips to play it. At the very least that means free Achievements, which of course is the most important thing.

Gallery: Doritos Crash Course 2

JoystiqDoritos Crash Course 2 crunches into XBLA tomorrow for free originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BHVRfreemicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosrelease-dateXBLAXBLMxboxTue, 07 May 2013 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-Cryptic, Gazillion CEO John Needham is new Lionhead boss]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/ex-cryptic-gazillion-ceo-john-needham-is-new-lionhead-boss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/ex-cryptic-gazillion-ceo-john-needham-is-new-lionhead-boss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/ex-cryptic-gazillion-ceo-john-needham-is-new-lionhead-boss/#commentsExCryptic, Gazillion CEO John Needham is new Lionhead bossJohn Needham is now the new boss of Lionhead Studios. Needham's previous posts include CEO of Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online) for nearly three years and CEO at Gazillion Entertainment (Marvel Universe Online) for almost two years.

"Our vision is focused on building innovative gaming services and triple-A experiences at Lionhead, and the rest of Microsoft Studios, which take advantage of Microsoft's incredible hardware and software platforms," Needham says in the MCV report. A glance at Needham's LinkedIn profile shows a legacy well-versed in MMOs, subscription-based services and free-to-play games.

Lionhead was in the headlines last year when longtime boss Peter Molyneux left to start 22 Cans and put out his first experiment, Curiosity. Lionhead Studios was purchased by Microsoft in 2006. The studio's last game was the Kinect action-adventure game, Fable: The Journey.

JoystiqEx-Cryptic, Gazillion CEO John Needham is new Lionhead boss originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 May 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>john-needhamlionheadlionhead-studiosmicrosoft-studiosFri, 03 May 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon rolls out free 1000 Club DLC tomorrow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/forza-horizon-rolls-out-free-1000-club-dlc-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/forza-horizon-rolls-out-free-1000-club-dlc-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/forza-horizon-rolls-out-free-1000-club-dlc-tomorrow/#comments Forza Horizon will get a free infusion of new content tomorrow. Entitled the 1000 Club, the DLC adds over 1000 challenges to complete, along with some new Achievements. The DLC will automatically suggest challenges based on whatever cars a player owns. Based on the trailer, the challenges offer more than racing, tasking players with everything from making huge jumps to just crashing into things. The 1000 Club will also include two new cars, the 1956 Ford F100 and the 1995 RUF CTR2.

Microsoft tells Joystiq that the pack will feature unique challenges for every single car in the game, including the cars from the standard game and those that have been released as DLC.

JoystiqForza Horizon rolls out free 1000 Club DLC tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1000-clubdlcforza-horizonkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosplayground-gamesturn-10xboxMon, 15 Apr 2013 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay gets new trailer, coming to XBLA in June]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/state-of-decay-gets-new-trailer-coming-to-xbla-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/state-of-decay-gets-new-trailer-coming-to-xbla-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/state-of-decay-gets-new-trailer-coming-to-xbla-in-june/#comments
Undead Labs has announced a June release window for State of Decay on Xbox Live Arcade. The game, formerly known as Class3, features a whole mess of zombies and survival horror action. While State of Decay will come to PC in addition to XBLA, the release window announcement from Undead Labs only specifically notes that the Xbox 360 version will launch in June.

The developer recently unveiled a new trailer for the game as well, which we've embedded above.

JoystiqState of Decay gets new trailer, coming to XBLA in June originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class3microsoftmicrosoft-studiospcrelease-windowstate-of-decaytrailerundead-labsxboxSat, 13 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Orth no longer with company]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/report-microsoft-studios-creative-director-adam-orth-no-longer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/report-microsoft-studios-creative-director-adam-orth-no-longer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/report-microsoft-studios-creative-director-adam-orth-no-longer/#comments Adam Orth, the Microsoft Studios creative director who caused a stir among consumers last week by tweeting his opinions on "always-on" devices, is no longer a Microsoft employee, according to "two sources" speaking with Polygon.

Last week, Microsoft publicly apologized for Orth's comments, saying that "this person is not a spokesperson for Microsoft, and his personal views do not reflect the customer centric approach we take to our products or how we would communicate directly with our loyal consumers."

We have reached out to Microsoft for a statement on the situation and will update this story if we learn more.

JoystiqReport: Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Orth no longer with company originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-orthalways-ondurangomicrosoftmicrosoft-studiostwitterxboxWed, 10 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Studios creative director dismisses 'always-on' console concerns]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/microsoft-studios-creative-director-dismisses-concerns-over-alw/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/microsoft-studios-creative-director-dismisses-concerns-over-alw/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/microsoft-studios-creative-director-dismisses-concerns-over-alw/#comments Adam Orth, creative director at Microsoft's video game division, doesn't "get the drama around having an 'always on' console." Orth took to Twitter yesterday to publicly dismiss criticisms of always-online consoles, likely in response to Kotaku sources recently saying the next-generation Xbox will require an online connection to play games.

While Orth has since protected his account, his tweets were screencapped on Reddit and NeoGAF. Orth, who's been with Microsoft for 15 months having previously worked at LucasArts and PopCap, kicked off heated discussion by tweeting, "Sorry, I don't get the drama around having an 'always on' console. Every device now is 'always on.' That's the world we live in. #dealwithit" Orth went on to say he wants every device to be 'always on.'

Orth's comment caught the attention of BioWare's Manveer Heir, who tweeted back, "Did you learn nothing from Diablo III or SimCity? You know some people's internet goes out right? Deal with it is a shitty reason."

Orth responded, "Electricity goes out too." He later reiterated his 'deal with it' comment.

While Orth made it clear he was expressing his personal opinion, his comments drew a sizable backlash from online communities; his conversation with Heir made it to Reddit's front page. It all follows continued speculation the as-yet-unannounced next Xbox, believed to be codenamed Durango, will feature an always-online Internet connection as a barrier to second-hand games. In contrast, Sony Worldwide Studios chief Shuhei Yoshida said the PS4, expected this year, doesn't need to be always online.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

JoystiqMicrosoft Studios creative director dismisses 'always-on' console concerns originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-orthdurangomanveer-heirmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosFri, 05 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4's second run of McFarlane toys includes exclusive DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/halo-4s-second-run-of-mcfarlane-toys-include-exclusive-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/halo-4s-second-run-of-mcfarlane-toys-include-exclusive-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/halo-4s-second-run-of-mcfarlane-toys-include-exclusive-dlc/#comments Halo 4 toy unlocks 'exclusive content'McFarlane Toys' second run of Halo 4 action figures will include special vouchers for exclusive DLC in 343 Industries' game. Master Chief, Elite Ranger, Storm Jackal and two different Spartan figures will be offered - plus a deluxe nine-inch tall Didact figure, planned for the fall.

In a blog post over on the McFarlane Toys site, nothing is revealed regarding the exact nature of the DLC, just that more information on the specifics are promised for later. The first run of Halo 4 figures from McFarlane didn't include any complementary DLC.

JoystiqHalo 4's second run of McFarlane toys includes exclusive DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesdidacthalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxTue, 02 Apr 2013 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 as a love story: The personal origins of Cortana's breakdown]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/halo-4-as-a-love-story-the-personal-origins-of-cortanas-breakd/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/halo-4-as-a-love-story-the-personal-origins-of-cortanas-breakd/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/halo-4-as-a-love-story-the-personal-origins-of-cortanas-breakd/#comments Halo 4 as a love story The personal origins of Cortana's breakdownThe Halo universe's sentient artificial intelligence programs - smart AIs - have a limited lifespan. After seven years, they begin to break down, acting irrationally and eventually thinking themselves to death. This process is known as Rampancy and closely resembles humanity's own end-of-life conditions such as dementia. In Halo 4, the rampancy of Master Chief's personal AI, Cortana, serves as a central element of the story, putting the Chief in a desperate bid to save the life of his longtime companion.

Speaking during a Halo 4 postmortem at GDC, 343 Industries franchise creative director, Josh Holmes, revealed that telling such an emotional story within the confines of a first-person shooter was no easy task. "At the beginning of our campaign in Halo 4, Cortana is 8 years old, and she's struggling to keep hold of her mental faculties," said Holmes, "and the Chief is faced for the first time with an obstacle that he may not be able to overcome." He's charged not only with saving the galaxy, but with saving his best friend. It was a radically different direction for a Halo game, and one that was difficult for the team. "There was a lot of skepticism from members of the team [about] whether this was something we should even take on."

"Early on, [senior writer Chris Schlerf] was having a crisis of confidence. He was literally tearing his hair out, because he didn't know how to tell this story," said Holmes. "There were times when he came to me, and he said, 'Maybe we shouldn't do it. Maybe we should just focus on the A story and put this story aside, because I don't see how we're going to be able to tell it.'" But for Holmes, telling the story of the relationship between Chief and Cortana was very important. It was "the human heart of Halo 4's campaign." And, as Holmes soon revealed, some of the inspiration for Cortana's breakdown came from a very personal place.

Gallery: Halo Reborn postmortem (GDC 2013)

Continue reading Halo 4 as a love story: The personal origins of Cortana's breakdown

JoystiqHalo 4 as a love story: The personal origins of Cortana's breakdown originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesgdc-2013halo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxTue, 02 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forward Unto Dawn and staying true to Halo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/forward-unto-dawn-and-staying-true-to-halo/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/forward-unto-dawn-and-staying-true-to-halo/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/forward-unto-dawn-and-staying-true-to-halo/#comments Forward Unto Dawn and staying true to HaloYou might think that the biggest challenge in creating Halo 4's Forward Unto Dawn series was translating one of gaming's most beloved franchises into a live-action film that was not only true to the source material, but also worth watching. You'd be right, of course, but for fans the biggest challenge was in making sure Master Chief sounded right.

During the Forward Unto Dawn postmortem at GDC, 343 Industries franchise development director Frank O'Connor noted that the casting of Master Chief was "a source of much consternation" for series fans. "We did a couple of tests using the actor who plays Master Chief in the game, and he's an older guy," said O'Connor.

The ending of Forward Unto Dawn reveals that the superhuman Spartan soldiers are just as young as the film's UNSC cadets, so giving Master Chief the gravelly voice we all know and love would be out of place. "He can't sound like he's 50," said O'Connor, "and so we had to find a young actor whose voice sounded like his voice might eventually grow into the Chief's."

Continue reading Forward Unto Dawn and staying true to Halo

JoystiqForward Unto Dawn and staying true to Halo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesforward-unto-dawngdc-2013halo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxWed, 27 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Freddy Rodriguez is in Lococycle, wishes it was Call of Duty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/freddy-rodriguez-is-in-lococycle-wishes-it-was-call-of-duty/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/freddy-rodriguez-is-in-lococycle-wishes-it-was-call-of-duty/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/freddy-rodriguez-is-in-lococycle-wishes-it-was-call-of-duty/#comments
We're starting to understand how Twisted Pixel managed to wrangle all the actors featured in LocoCycle.

JoystiqFreddy Rodriguez is in Lococycle, wishes it was Call of Duty originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freddy-rodriguezlococyclemicrosoftmicrosoft-studiostwisted-pixelxboxFri, 15 Mar 2013 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War: Judgment's scribes recount the narrative process]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-scribes-recount-the-narrative-process/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-scribes-recount-the-narrative-process/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-scribes-recount-the-narrative-process/#comments During a preview event last week, I asked Rob Auten and author Tom Bissell, the writers and one pair of "many parents" for Gears of War: Judgment, about the gig and how they were going to instill some drama into a franchise whose calling card is killing underground-dwelling monster men.

Gallery: Gears of War: Judgment (3/4/13)

Continue reading Gears of War: Judgment's scribes recount the narrative process

JoystiqGears of War: Judgment's scribes recount the narrative process originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epic-gamesgears-of-war-judgmentmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiospeople-can-flyrob-autentom-bissellxboxMon, 04 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War: Judgment's multiplayer comfort food]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-multiplayer-comfort-food/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-multiplayer-comfort-food/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-multiplayer-comfort-food/#comments I am an unabashed Gears of War multiplayer fanatic.

I was immediately hooked by Gears of War and its intoxicating blend of third-person cover-based shooting. I struggled through the muddled mess that was Gears of War 2's launch, yet kept playing regardless. Gears of War 3 made up for a lot of missteps with the most solid multiplayer offering yet, and found in me a stalwart soldier for over a year.

So when Epic Games announced not only a new control scheme in Gears of War: Judgment, but a smattering of new modes and changes, I was a bit worried - as I'm sure some of you were and perhaps still are. Taking off the press cap and putting on the fan hat, I found my few hours in Gears of War: Judgment's multiplayer suite a reassuring slice of grandma's apple pie - a comfort food not entirely as I remember it, but still as rich and full of empty calories as I could hope.

Continue reading Gears of War: Judgment's multiplayer comfort food

JoystiqGears of War: Judgment's multiplayer comfort food originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epic-gamesgears-of-war-judgmentmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiospeople-can-flyxboxMon, 04 Mar 2013 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War: Judgment's 'Aftermath' builds a bridge to Gears 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-aftermath-builds-a-bridge-to-gears-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-aftermath-builds-a-bridge-to-gears-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/gears-of-war-judgments-aftermath-builds-a-bridge-to-gears-3/#comments
Gears of War: Judgment will have a special unlockable mini-campaign taking place during the events of Gears of War 3, called Aftermath. The Aftermath campaign is an epilogue to Judgment's main story, centering on Baird, Cole and Clayton Carmine's mission to track down reinforcements before the COG invade Azura during Gears of War 3.

Senior producer at Epic Games, Alan Van Slyke, says the choice to include Aftermath is two-fold. "Aftermath is two things. One, for the Gears 3 fans who wanted more traditional Gears 3 content, it's there to satisfy them," he said. "Two, I think it gives us a chance to bookend the trilogy, so we have Cole and Baird leaving to go get reinforcements at the end of Gears 3 and we're able to build upon that. So it gives Judgment this nice additional content to be able to bookend the trilogy with something that happened right after Emergence Day prior to Gears 1, and also plays off of the traditional Gears 3 content."

Aftermath will be unlocked after players compete the main campaign in Gears of War: Judgment.

JoystiqGears of War: Judgment's 'Aftermath' builds a bridge to Gears 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftermathepic-gamesgears-of-war-judgmentmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiospeople-can-flyxboxMon, 04 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War: Judgment offers up 'VIP Season Pass' for $20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/gears-of-war-judgment-offers-up-vip-season-pass-for-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/gears-of-war-judgment-offers-up-vip-season-pass-for-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/gears-of-war-judgment-offers-up-vip-season-pass-for-20/#comments Epic Games is following in the footsteps of Gears of War 3, offering up a season pass for proposed multiplayer maps and other content in Gears of War: Judgment.

The VIP Season Pass, available for 1600 Microsoft Points ($20) when Gears of War: Judgment launches, will include six multiplayer maps, two game modes and "nine exclusive unlocks," including a permanent double XP modifier, five weapon skins and four armor skins. VIPs also get early access to add-on multiplayer maps.

The Gears of War 3 Season Pass totaled $30 and covered four different DLC installments, running the gamut from multiplayer maps to singleplayer DLC campaigns. While the VIP pass for Gears of War: Judgment is cheaper, the reduced price seems to come at the cost of singleplayer DLC.

JoystiqGears of War: Judgment offers up 'VIP Season Pass' for $20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epic-gamesgears-of-war-judgmentmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosmultiplayerseason-passvip-season-passxboxTue, 26 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'Meguiar's Car Pack' DLC puts pedal to metal March 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/forza-horizon-meguiar-s-car-pack-dlc-puts-pedal-to-metal-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/forza-horizon-meguiar-s-car-pack-dlc-puts-pedal-to-metal-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/forza-horizon-meguiar-s-car-pack-dlc-puts-pedal-to-metal-march/#comments
The Forza Horizon monthly rollout of shiny new DLC drives continues with Meguiar's Car Pack', which is revving up for a March 5 release. The DLC comes without cost to those with the game's season pass, while other can gain access via a 400 MSP pit stop.

The six cars included are the 2013 Audi RS4 Avant, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG, the 2013 BMW M135i, the 2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale, the 2004 Peugeot 206 RC, and the 1998 Nissan R390. If you're looking to take the DLC out for a test drive, the Nissan R390 is a free sample this month. Meanwhile, season pass owners get the 2010 Joss JT1 as a bonus.

Gallery: Forza Horizon (March Meguiar's Car Pack)

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'Meguiar's Car Pack' DLC puts pedal to metal March 5

JoystiqForza Horizon 'Meguiar's Car Pack' DLC puts pedal to metal March 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCforza-horizonmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosplayground-gamesturn-10-studiosXBLMxboxxbox-liveTue, 26 Feb 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War: Judgment registers the Markza for murder]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/gears-of-war-judgment-registers-the-markza-for-murder/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/gears-of-war-judgment-registers-the-markza-for-murder/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/gears-of-war-judgment-registers-the-markza-for-murder/#comments
The newest gun in the COG arsenal is the Markza, a semi-automatic mid-range rifle that we like to imagine was named after a mid-'90s rapper who spits rhymes with an over-the-top italian accent.

JoystiqGears of War: Judgment registers the Markza for murder originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epic-gamesgears-of-war-judgmentmarkzamicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxMon, 25 Feb 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Learn how to rush rockets in Halo 4's Landfall map]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/learn-how-to-rush-rockets-in-halo-4s-landfall-map/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/learn-how-to-rush-rockets-in-halo-4s-landfall-map/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/learn-how-to-rush-rockets-in-halo-4s-landfall-map/#comments
Here's a video for the Landfall map in Halo 4, with is part of the upcoming Majestic Map Pack. The rockets are in the back. What else do you need to know?

JoystiqLearn how to rush rockets in Halo 4's Landfall map originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industrieshalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxThu, 21 Feb 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Baird cracks wise about Gears of War: Judgment multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/baird-cracks-wise-about-gears-of-war-judgment-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/baird-cracks-wise-about-gears-of-war-judgment-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/baird-cracks-wise-about-gears-of-war-judgment-multiplayer/#comments
Gears of War: Judgment shakes up the Gears formula on the multiplayer side, adding a host of new weapons and tweaking established ones. For example, grenades now stick to enemies when tossed. The video above showcases some of the content found in the upcoming prequel, including OverRun and Domination, a capture-point game type where two teams battle to control three different rings in the environment.

Narrated by Baird, the video gives us a look at the new prize box system, which yields XP bonuses, characters and weapon skins after each multiplayer match based on performance. As you get more ribbons in a multiplayer match, you improve your odds when it comes to opening the prize box.

The last big change is the multi-storied maps. In Gears of War: Judgment, maps aren't as flat as they've been in the past, and players will need to keep an eye out for other players dropping in and, in the case of the video above, firing off a boomshot in their faces.

Continue reading Baird cracks wise about Gears of War: Judgment multiplayer

JoystiqBaird cracks wise about Gears of War: Judgment multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epic-gamesgears-of-war-judgmentmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosmultiplayerpeople-can-flyxboxTue, 19 Feb 2013 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Librarian, meet Dr. Halsey in Halo 4 Spartan Ops ep. 9]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/librarian-meet-dr-halsey-in-halo-4-spartan-ops-ep-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/librarian-meet-dr-halsey-in-halo-4-spartan-ops-ep-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/librarian-meet-dr-halsey-in-halo-4-spartan-ops-ep-9/#comments
If you've been entrenched in the story of Halo 4's Spartan Ops mode, prepare yourself for this latest episode. Dr. Halsey meets the Dydak's wife, the Librarian, and learns her role in humanity's fate is bigger than she imagined.

JoystiqLibrarian, meet Dr. Halsey in Halo 4 Spartan Ops ep. 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industrieshalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxTue, 12 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-order Gears of War: Judgment at Walmart, get Gears 2 or 3 for free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/pre-order-gears-of-war-judgment-at-walmart-get-gears-2-or-3-fo/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/pre-order-gears-of-war-judgment-at-walmart-get-gears-2-or-3-fo/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/11/pre-order-gears-of-war-judgment-at-walmart-get-gears-2-or-3-fo/#comments Those who purchase Gears of War: Judgment will score a copy of the original Gears of War gratis, this much we know; however, Walmart is further sweetening the deal for those who pre-order through the retailer by offering Gears of War 2 or Gears of War 3 free as well.

If you're on the fence, a public demo of the new OverRun mode will be made available to Xbox Live Gold subscribers on March 19, but that just so happens to also be the launch date for Gears of War: Judgment - so that won't be much help for your decision. If you want to score the additional two free games and included Classic Hammerburst skin from Walmart, you're going to have to pre-order before then.

JoystiqPre-order Gears of War: Judgment at Walmart, get Gears 2 or 3 for free originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epic-gamesgears-of-wargears-of-war-2gears-of-war-3gears-of-war-judgmentmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiospeople-can-flywalmartxboxMon, 11 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hit List Q&A: Frank O'Connor, 343 franchise development director]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/hit-list-qanda-frank-oconnor-343-franchise-development-director/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/hit-list-qanda-frank-oconnor-343-franchise-development-director/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/hit-list-qanda-frank-oconnor-343-franchise-development-director/#comments In the "Hit List" from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, the video game industry's top talents describe their current gaming addictions, their most anticipated releases and more. This week: 343's Franchise Development Director Frank O'Connor.

Hit List Q&A Frank O' Connor
Frank O'Connor has worked in and around the gaming industry for about twenty years, starting in the gaming press in the UK, where he edited and wrote for several magazines before making the move to the States. After several years working on games publications here, he took an opportunity to work at Bungie studios as a community manager, working on consumer relations, marketing efforts and game fiction.

When Bungie spun out of Microsoft during Halo Reach, he decided to stay with the Halo franchise and has been there since the inception of 343 Industries. He's lived through every single console and computer game transition, and he is just as excited about the impending one as he was when Pong gave way to the Atari 2600.

At Frank's forthcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit session with Microsoft Game Studios/343 Industries' Executive Producer Kiki Wolfkill, Frank will co-present on "Changing the Universe - Three for Three." This session will explore the trials, tribulations, and opportunities in building and rebuilding a cultural phenomenon, expanding a beloved universe into live action and transmedia storytelling, all while creating a AAA-game studio from scratch.

Continue reading Hit List Q&A: Frank O'Connor, 343 franchise development director

JoystiqHit List Q&A: Frank O'Connor, 343 franchise development director originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343343-industriesaiasdice-2013frank-o-connorhalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxThu, 07 Feb 2013 12:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Dance Central 3 gets Bieber, One Direction, Ellie Goulding, B.O.B.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/dance-central-3-gets-bieber-one-direction-ellie-goulding-b-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/dance-central-3-gets-bieber-one-direction-ellie-goulding-b-o/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/dance-central-3-gets-bieber-one-direction-ellie-goulding-b-o/#comments Dance Central 3 gets Beiber, One Direction, Ellie Goulding, BOBDance Central 3 is set to receive a hefty infusion of new tracks this month. One Direction and its ubiquitous "What Makes You Beautiful" will drop on February 5. On February 12 the Beebs returns with two new jams in "Justin Bieber Dance Pack 01," which features "Beauty And A Beat" and "All Around the World." The pack will run $5, or each track will be available individually for $3.

On February 19 you can grab the number one song on your jogging megamix, Ellie Goulding's "Lights." The month is rounded out on February 26 with "Airplanes" by B.O.B., though we're not really sure what music from a 16-bit action game is doing in Dance Central.

Continue reading Dance Central 3 gets Bieber, One Direction, Ellie Goulding, B.O.B.

JoystiqDance Central 3 gets Bieber, One Direction, Ellie Goulding, B.O.B. originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dance-central-3dlcharmonixkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxMon, 04 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'February Jalopnik car pack' DLC hits the open road Feb. 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/forza-horizon-february-jalopnik-car-pack-dlc-hits-the-open-roa/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/forza-horizon-february-jalopnik-car-pack-dlc-hits-the-open-roa/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/forza-horizon-february-jalopnik-car-pack-dlc-hits-the-open-roa/#comments
Six rides are being added to Forza Horizon on Tuesday: the 2013 Subaru BRZ, '91 Ferrari 512 TR, 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser, '70 Nissan Datsun 510, and '73 Mazda RX-3. The pass is included with the game's Season Pass or separately for 400MS Points ($5). As a special bonus, the '66 Ford Country Squire will be free for all speed demons.

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'February Jalopnik car pack' DLC hits the open road Feb. 5

JoystiqForza Horizon 'February Jalopnik car pack' DLC hits the open road Feb. 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcfebruary-jalopnik-car-packforza-horizonkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosPlayground-Gamesturn-10turn-10-studiosxboxFri, 01 Feb 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 Spartan Ops ep. 8 trailer exposes the dangerous life of scientists]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/halo-4-spartan-ops-ep-8-trailer-exposes-the-dangerous-life-of-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/halo-4-spartan-ops-ep-8-trailer-exposes-the-dangerous-life-of-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/halo-4-spartan-ops-ep-8-trailer-exposes-the-dangerous-life-of-s/#comments
If video games have taught us anything, it's that the life of a scientist is always in jeopardy. Their labs are invaded, their projects go awry and, as illustrated in the latest Spartan Ops trailer, aliens try to murder them. It's no wonder STEM education is so important - our scientists keep dying.

Gallery: Halo 4 (Spartan Ops: Episode 8)

JoystiqHalo 4 Spartan Ops ep. 8 trailer exposes the dangerous life of scientists originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesdlchalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosspartan-opsxboxWed, 30 Jan 2013 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World Series of Poker: Full House Pro coming to XBLA, Windows 8]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/world-series-of-poker-full-house-pro-coming-to-xbla-windows-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/world-series-of-poker-full-house-pro-coming-to-xbla-windows-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/world-series-of-poker-full-house-pro-coming-to-xbla-windows-8/#comments Xbox Live just can't get enough poker, apparently, with Microsoft today announcing a free-to-play sequel to Full House Poker. Entitled World Series of Poker: Full House Pro, the new game ups the ante (geddit?) with ESPN announcers Lon McEachern and Norman Chad and the inclusion of real-world casinos.

Players start each day with a free stack of chips, which can be played at single tables or in tournaments. Furthermore, the game will be playable across Xbox 360 and Windows 8, with players able to start a game on one platform and continue on another. World Series of Poker: Full House Pro will launch this spring.

Gallery: World Series of Poker: Full House Pro

Continue reading World Series of Poker: Full House Pro coming to XBLA, Windows 8

JoystiqWorld Series of Poker: Full House Pro coming to XBLA, Windows 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmicrosoft-studiospcpipeworksrelease-dateworld-series-of-poker-full-house-proxboxxbox-liveWed, 16 Jan 2013 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Wordament hits iOS, complete with Xbox Live Achievements]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/22/wordament-hits-ios-complete-with-xbox-live-achievements/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/22/wordament-hits-ios-complete-with-xbox-live-achievements/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/22/wordament-hits-ios-complete-with-xbox-live-achievements/#comments Wordament hits iOS, with Xbox AchievementsWordament, one of the first Xbox Live-enabled games Microsoft brought to Windows 8, is now available for free on iOS devices. The tournament-based word game connects to Xbox Live and is capable of cross-platform play, as it uses the same servers as the Windows 8 and Windows Phone versions.

Wordament is a Boggle-style word finding game, and includes "frenemies" lists, stat tracking and global leaderboards. Additionally, players that log in to their Xbox Live accounts in the game can also earn up to 50 gamerpoints from the its 10 achievements.

JoystiqWordament hits iOS, complete with Xbox Live Achievements originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AchievementsiosipadiphoneMicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosmobilewordamentXbox-LiveSat, 22 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon Rally expansion drifts onto XBL next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/forza-horizon-rally-expansion-drifts-onto-xbl-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/forza-horizon-rally-expansion-drifts-onto-xbl-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/forza-horizon-rally-expansion-drifts-onto-xbl-next-week/#comments
As Vin Diesel and Bow Wow taught us in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, drifting is the coolest possible way to travel from Point A to Point B, regardless of situation, circumstance or the amount of neon lights underneath your car.

We bring this up because Forza Horizon's latest bundle of DLC is a rally racing expansion pack, available next Tuesday, December 18, for 1,600 MS Points. The "Rally" expansion includes five new rally-purposed cars, new stages, new online multiplayer events and even co-driver announcements, so you can keep your damn eyes on the road you lunatic.

Anyone who purchased Horizon's $50 Season Pass will get the Rally expansion for free, along with an exclusive 2003 Ford Focus SVT. Under any other circumstances, a 10-year-old Ford Focus isn't really what we'd call a "motivating incentive."

JoystiqForza Horizon Rally expansion drifts onto XBL next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCforza-horizonkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosPlayground-Gamesquarter-mile-at-a-timerally-expansionseason-passtokyo-driftturn-10xboxFri, 14 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/feeding-on-undead-armies-in-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/feeding-on-undead-armies-in-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/feeding-on-undead-armies-in-skulls-of-the-shogun/#comments Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the ShogunHere's your high-concept, catch-all elevator pitch for Skulls of the Shogun: samurai zombies meets turn-based strategy, and a dash of Words With Friends thrown in for flavor. 17-BIT's charming top-down strategy title captures the action-flavored flow of the Advance Wars series, though it ditches the grid-based world in favor of more natural radial movement. The whole package comes together around an ambitious multi-platform release that features asynchronous multiplayer match-ups and a meaty, multi-hour campaign.

Don't let the "multi-platform" thing fool you. Skulls is 100 percent a Microsoft exclusive. You'll simply be able to play it on anything that runs Windows or some approximation of it. Xbox Live Arcade, yes, but also Surface tablets, Windows Phone devices, and Windows 8 PCs via the new operating system's app store.

As you might have read in our earlier previews or our recent Joystiq Indie Pitch, the 10-15 hour campaign casts players in the role of a recently deceased samurai lord from feudal Japan. Horrified at being forced to wait in line for half a millennium before being admitted into the afterlife, our General Akamoto takes matters into his own hands. He enlists an army of zombie Ronin to fight by his side and sets out to carve his way into the great beyond.

Gallery: Skulls of the Shogun

Continue reading Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun

JoystiqFeeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-BITmicrosoftMicrosoft-Studiosmobilepcskulls-of-the-shogunSurfaceWindows-PhonexboxFri, 14 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nike+Fitness Training 360 bundle now shipping, game downloadable on Dec. 25]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/nike-fitness-training-360-bundle-now-shipping-game-downloadable/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/nike-fitness-training-360-bundle-now-shipping-game-downloadable/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/nike-fitness-training-360-bundle-now-shipping-game-downloadable/#comments NikeFitness Training 360 bundle now shipping, game downloadable on Dec 25Winter holidays are, statistically speaking, the very best holidays, due to their general abundance of twice-baked potatoes and various pies. But when every serving at every meal contains at least three sticks of butter, those extra pounds can really pile up.

Nike and Microsoft recommend solving your tummy troubles by doing crunches in your living room while a virtual man watches, or as the system is commercially known, Nike+Kinect Training. They've even got an Xbox 360 bundle for it and everything, which includes a 4GB console, Kinect, Nike+Kinect Training, Kinect Adventures and a month of Xbox Live Gold for $250, as seen above. That price tag is only valid through January 5, we should point out. After that, the bundle is kicked up to $300.

Microsoft has also announced that the game itself will be digitally available through Xbox Live on December 25, at a smooth $50/4,000 MS points.

Gallery: Nike+ Kinect Training

JoystiqNike+Fitness Training 360 bundle now shipping, game downloadable on Dec. 25 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundleconsole-bundledigitalDLCkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosnike-kinect-trainingpierelease-dateSumo-Digitaltwice-baked-potatoesxboxWed, 05 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ilomilo plus finds a companion in Windows 8]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/ilomilo-plus-now-on-windows-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/ilomilo-plus-now-on-windows-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/ilomilo-plus-now-on-windows-8/#comments ilomilo plus now on Windows 8Southend Interactive's adorable bipartisan platformer/puzzle game, ilomilo, has made its way to Microsoft's latest operating system, in the form of ilomilo plus. Available on the Windows 8-centric Windows Store for $6.99, plus is an enhanced port of the XBLA version of the game, with two new characters, additional creatures, new cubes, more chapters and support for keyboard, touchscreen and gamepad control schemes.

That last bit means you'll be able to play ilomilo plus on your new Surface for Windows RT and/or Surface Pro without shelling out $100-plus for one the available hardware keyboards.

Joystiqilomilo plus finds a companion in Windows 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ilomiloilomilo-plusMicrosoftmicrosoft-studiospcrelease-dateSimogoSouthEnd-InteractiveWindows-8Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Groupon: 4GB Xbox 360 bundle with Forza 4, Alan Wake for $200]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/groupon-4gb-xbox-360-bundle-with-forza-4-alan-wake-for-200/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/groupon-4gb-xbox-360-bundle-with-forza-4-alan-wake-for-200/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/groupon-4gb-xbox-360-bundle-with-forza-4-alan-wake-for-200/#comments Groupon offering 4GB Xbox 360 bundle for $200Groupon has posted the rare gaming-centric deal. For the next two days, you can purchase a 4GB Xbox 360 S console with included copies of Forza Motorsport 4 and Alan Wake for $200. If you feel it's a good enough deal to buy in bulk, you can purchase up to three through this promotion.

This exact bundle was introduced during the holidays last year, albeit with a 250GB console. Also of note is the included copy of Alan Wake, which is not a physical disc but rather a download code. Consider it the tutorial puzzle preamble to Wake's nightly meandering through the Pacific Northwest.

JoystiqGroupon: 4GB Xbox 360 bundle with Forza 4, Alan Wake for $200 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alan-Wakeforzaforza-motorsport-4grouponmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosturn-10xboxMon, 03 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Remaining Halo 4 multiplayer Specializations now available to some]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/01/psa-remaining-halo-4-multiplayer-specializations-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/01/psa-remaining-halo-4-multiplayer-specializations-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/01/psa-remaining-halo-4-multiplayer-specializations-now-available/#comments When Halo 4 launched way, way back on November 6, only those that purchased the game's Limited Edition were granted access to all eight multiplayer Specializations; normal players could only make use of two. As of today, however, a slightly greater number of people will be able to utilize the other six classes originally reserved for the cool kids.

Codes to download "Specialization Priority Alpha" are currently being emailed to anyone that participated in Halo 4's multiplayer prior to November 20, Kotaku reports. The DLC acts as a key that unlocks Engineer, Tracker, Rogue, Stalker, Patherfinder and Operator Specializations, all of which grant unique armor and abilities after Level 50.

For anyone that doesn't meet that criteria, well, you can always make your own unique armor out of cardboard and duct tape. Other players won't be able to see it, granted, but you'll know. And, in the end, isn't that the important thing?

JoystiqPSA: Remaining Halo 4 multiplayer Specializations now available to some originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesDLChalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosmultiplayerPSAspecializationsxboxSat, 01 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4's Spartan Ops: Episode 4 out Monday, teaser out right now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/24/halo-4s-spartan-ops-episode-4-out-monday-teaser-out-right-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/24/halo-4s-spartan-ops-episode-4-out-monday-teaser-out-right-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/24/halo-4s-spartan-ops-episode-4-out-monday-teaser-out-right-now/#comments
The next episode of Halo 4's Spartan Ops campaign lands Monday morning at 2 a.m. Pacific, but you can watch the teaser trailer right now if that's what you're into. Episode 4, "Didact's Hand," appears to have a lot of holograms, more political intrigue and more moral relativist drama. Also, aliens.

JoystiqHalo 4's Spartan Ops: Episode 4 out Monday, teaser out right now originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Nov 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industriesepisode-4halo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosspartan-opsteaserxboxSat, 24 Nov 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 players cry out from atop Mt. Dew, 'Where's our double XP?' [Update: Microsoft responds]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/halo-4-players-cry-out-from-atop-mt-dew-wheres-our-double-xp/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/halo-4-players-cry-out-from-atop-mt-dew-wheres-our-double-xp/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/halo-4-players-cry-out-from-atop-mt-dew-wheres-our-double-xp/#comments The promotional union between Halo 4 and PepsiCo, the latter being proprietor of the vast Doritos and Mountain Dew empires, is drawing ire from the game's community today - not for the delicious blend of accelerated promotion and bold spices, but because it's not working. Players are running into issues getting their bonus experience points.

Halo 4 owners must register on a promotional website before applying their codes to the game, but even those who have done so are claiming their double XP rewards as missing in action. Microsoft has yet to respond to the Halo Waypoint forums in which the complaints originate.

We've contacted Microsoft to see if this is an acknowledged issue and, if so, what steps are being taken to rectify it. In the meantime, it may behoove you to hold back on the double XP and level up like the common people.

Update: A Microsoft spokesperson told Joystiq that the company is aware of the issue and has already resolved it. "Last week we were made aware that some users were not being properly rewarded Double XP, and we promptly addressed the situation. Double XP rewards are now working as intended. There are still a few users that we are currently working to credit their accounts with Double XP games that were lost."

[Thanks, Graeme.]

JoystiqHalo 4 players cry out from atop Mt. Dew, 'Where's our double XP?' [Update: Microsoft responds] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugDoritosdouble-xpglitchHalo 4halo-4microsoftMicrosoft Corpmicrosoft-studiosMountain Dewmountain-dewPepsiCoSci/TechxboxTue, 13 Nov 2012 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Minecraft XBLA bug extermination adds Golden Apples, Pumpkin Seeds]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/minecraft-xbla-bug-extermination-adds-golden-apples-pumpkin-see/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/minecraft-xbla-bug-extermination-adds-golden-apples-pumpkin-see/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/minecraft-xbla-bug-extermination-adds-golden-apples-pumpkin-see/#comments Minecraft XBLA gets golden apples in bug fix, raises $500k for charityMinecraft XBLA's Adventure Update 1.8.2 is live and kicking, probably because it's fending off nasty, blocky bugs. The 1.8.2 Bug Fix Title Update doesn't have a release date yet, but it contains dozens of fixes and adds recipes for Golden Apples and Golden Pumpkin Seeds. Fixes include chest lids not working correctly, glass panes and iron fence hitbox problems, tools taking damage in creative mode, and many more. Hit the break for the complete list.

4J Studios provides more insight on its Twitter feed, adding that the Golden Apples and Pumpkin Seeds are crafted with gold ingot for now, but gold nuggets are on their way and the recipe will use those once they're in-game. Additionally, players will eventually be able to climb vines, and the next update will add villagers.

In other mining news, sales of Minecraft XBLA's Halloween Skin Pack (again, that sounds pretty gross) raised more than $500,000 in under two weeks for the four charities chosen by Mojang, 4J Studios and Microsoft Studios: Block by Block, SANDS Lothians, Child's Play and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Continue reading Minecraft XBLA bug extermination adds Golden Apples, Pumpkin Seeds

JoystiqMinecraft XBLA bug extermination adds Golden Apples, Pumpkin Seeds originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.8.24j-studiosadventure-updatebugsfixmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosMinecraftminecraft-xblaupdateXBLAxboxSun, 11 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'Bondurant Car Pack' DLC coming Nov. 6]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/forza-horizon-bondurant-car-pack-dlc-coming-nov-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/forza-horizon-bondurant-car-pack-dlc-coming-nov-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/forza-horizon-bondurant-car-pack-dlc-coming-nov-6/#comments Though we suspect you'll be busy doing donuts in Master Chief's Warthog on November 6, the date also marks the release of the "Bondurant Car Pack" for Microsoft's other first-party fall release, Forza Horizon.

Priced at 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live Marketplace, the November DLC includes a six-pack of new vehicles to augment the moments our review called "incredibly beautiful." But who needs to stop and smell the roses when you can inhale the sweet fumes of a 1965 Shelby Cobra or that 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon? (Okay, we probably should have used the new Lamborghini Gallardo as our second example.)

Full list and details on the new rides can be seen after the break.

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'Bondurant Car Pack' DLC coming Nov. 6

JoystiqForza Horizon 'Bondurant Car Pack' DLC coming Nov. 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCDownloadable-Contentforza-horizonmicrosoftMicrosoft-StudiosTurn-10Turn-10-StudiosXBLMxboxXbox-Live-MarketplaceFri, 02 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 midnight launches at 4,400 US GameStops]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/halo-4-midnight-launches-at-4-400-us-gamestops/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/halo-4-midnight-launches-at-4-400-us-gamestops/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/halo-4-midnight-launches-at-4-400-us-gamestops/#comments Halo 4 midnight launches at 4,400 GameStops across the USDare we assume you'll be out at midnight on Monday, driving from store to store in the hopes that just one will sell you a copy of Halo 4? It's a pretty safe assumption, but just to be certain that you know, GameStop has announced 4,400 of its US locations will be open at midnight to ring you up for a copy of Halo 4.

All participating stores will kick off the festivities starting at 9pm local time - though, if you're on the east coast, Hurricane Sandy may have thrown a monkey wrench into the midnight launch plans like it did with Assassin's Creed 3. Some east coast stores are likely to cancel or alter their midnight launch plans, so GameStop suggests calling ahead.

JoystiqHalo 4 midnight launches at 4,400 US GameStops originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesgamestophalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosmidnight-launchxboxFri, 02 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Billboard: Halo 4 highest-charting game soundtrack yet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/billboard-halo-4-highest-charting-game-soundtrack-yet/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/billboard-halo-4-highest-charting-game-soundtrack-yet/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/billboard-halo-4-highest-charting-game-soundtrack-yet/#comments Halo 4 won't be out for a few more days, but the official soundtrack from composer Neil Davidge has been widely available since the middle of October - and it's done well. Billboard ranked it in the #50 spot for its Billboard 200, which is the highest a video game soundtrack has ever reached on the charts.

Davidge's score sold 9,000 copies in its first week and Billboard says it outperformed all the series' predecessors in the Top Soundtracks category. That includes the Halo: Reach soundtrack, which made it to number eight back in 2010. The official Halo 4 soundtrack reached third in Top Soundtracks.

The Halo 2 soundtrack still has a record over Halo 4's score, however. It managed to move more than 9,000 albums during its second week on shelves. The previous record holder for top video game soundtrack on the Billboard 200 was the soundtrack to Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock at 107. Yup, the honor goes to an album of a video game in which you play along to that album.

JoystiqBillboard: Halo 4 highest-charting game soundtrack yet originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesbillboardbillboard-chartshalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosneil-davidgesoundtrackxboxThu, 01 Nov 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 review: Our new Chief Operating Officer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/halo-4-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/halo-4-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/halo-4-review/#comments Halo 4 is adamant about proving its competence and convincing you of its necessity. You don't often see a monolithic franchise putting up a fight for fans, but the departure of Bungie has awakened doubt - enough to incur a fierce response from Halo's new custodians at 343 Industries. And so the developer launches the best kind of protest, which is to wave an impressive, throbbing shooter in your face. Trust me, you want this.

The speed at which that uncertainty evaporates is the real surprise. You enter with a fair fear of Halo being stale; then Master Chief exits the cryogenic casket like a crisp piece of let-us-start-killing-things. Meanwhile, his companion Cortana skirts around fatigue, madness and Microsoft metaphor - the inevitable fate of software that's been in service for much too long. But she too comes out stronger, more endearing and heroic than ever before. Maybe she's just been inserted into one too many alien plinths over the years.

Gallery: Halo 4 (Campaign, Spartan Ops, War Games, Forge) - 11/01/12

Continue reading Halo 4 review: Our new Chief Operating Officer

JoystiqHalo 4 review: Our new Chief Operating Officer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industrieshalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxThu, 01 Nov 2012 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'SmartGlass Experience' app now available on Windows 8]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/forza-horizon-smartglass-experience-app-now-available-on-windo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/forza-horizon-smartglass-experience-app-now-available-on-windo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/forza-horizon-smartglass-experience-app-now-available-on-windo/#comments If you've ever been playing Forza Horizon and thought "Man, I wish I could look at a tablet to see the map instead of having to hit the pause button like some kind of cave man," Microsoft has solution for your oddly specific wish.

Available now on Windows 8 and other platforms "soon," the Forza Horizon "SmartGlass Experience" moves Horizon's map from the game's pause menu to the screen of a Windows 8 tablet. There, the map continues to perform all of the same duties as it does in-game, allowing the player to set GPS destinations, get information on events, etc.

Now, however, instead of having to pause the game to look at the map, all the player has to do is put down the controller and pick up a second device to perform the same functions. Whether they pause the game first, or go careening into the side of a mountain, is entirely up to them.

Gallery: Forza Horizon (Smartglass)

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'SmartGlass Experience' app now available on Windows 8

JoystiqForza Horizon 'SmartGlass Experience' app now available on Windows 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forza-horizonkinectmicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosmicrosoft-studiospcPlayground-Gamessmartglassturn-10xboxTue, 30 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST