Joystiq

Steam weekly sales: Secret World, Lucius, Monday Night Combat

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:15:00 EST

Steam's week-long deals this time around are a mix of horror, action and doughuts, with up to 75 percent off of Grotesque Tactics 2: Dungeons and Donuts, Binary Domain, Cities XL Platinum, Lucius, Monday Night Combat, Disciples 3: Renaissance Steam Special Edition, Jagged Alliance 2 Gold and The Secret World.

The Secret World, a modern MMORPG from Funcom, is on sale for $22.50, down from $30. Indie horror fest Lucius is discounted 66 percent (fitting, really) to $8.50 and Monday Night Combat is half off, $2.50. Check out all the sales (and doughnuts) right here.

Steam weekly sales: Secret World, Lucius, Monday Night Combat originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live Marketplace sales bonanza, starting today [update]

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST

Microsoft is taking a set of sharp blades and ravenously cutting prices across the board on Xbox Live Marketplace content, starting right now. Already inexpensive (and wonderful) title Outland will cost you a cool 400 MS Points ($5), while deep multiplayer fare like Monday Night Combat and Section 8: Prejudice are going for 600 MS Points ($7.50) and 800 MS Points ($10), respectively.

Also, hey, if you're not one of the over 2 million people who own and adore Trials HD, here's another chance to grab it on the cheap (600 MS Points/$7.50). It's unclear when the "Extreme Shopping" sale will end, so we've asked Microsoft for more info. For now, enjoy the sweet, sweet savings while you can.

Update: This post originally had ilomilo listed as on sale for $5, which is false. Sorry about that!

[Image credit: Ronald Wong]

Continue reading Xbox Live Marketplace sales bonanza, starting today [update]

Xbox Live Marketplace sales bonanza, starting today [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uber Entertainment explains Super Monday Night Combat's lessened lethality

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST

Later this year or early next year, Uber Entertainment's going to try and thread a fairly dangerous needle. The studio, which saw success with its very first product, the XBLA and PC shooter Monday Night Combat, is trying to branch the franchise out into the increasingly populated free-to-play space. To do so successfully, it'll need to maintain its community's good will with some substantial -- but not too substantial -- changes.

"Super Monday Night Combat is going to be the same basic world," Uber Entertainment creative director John Comes explained to us at PAX last week. "We still have the same kind of lightheartedness, with the announcer and the mascot -- that same happy, fast, punchy game." The development team won't leave the formula entirely untouched, however. "Some of the balance has changed," Comes added. "Mainly, the lethality has been lowered a bit, which we've found makes for more frantic fights."

Gallery: Super Monday Night Combat (8/20/11)

Continue reading Uber Entertainment explains Super Monday Night Combat's lessened lethality

Uber Entertainment explains Super Monday Night Combat's lessened lethality originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat gets Sunday Afternoon Sale on Steam, now $3.75

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST

In about 30 hours, it's going to be Monday night -- do you want to be the only person on the planet not doing the prescribed amount of Combat? If you don't already possess Uber's frantic class-based shooter yet, Steam's got it on sale today for $3.75.

Continue reading Monday Night Combat gets Sunday Afternoon Sale on Steam, now $3.75

Monday Night Combat gets Sunday Afternoon Sale on Steam, now $3.75 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat update allows you to ride a giant chicken

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST

Monday Night Combat is one of those games that you don't want to turn your back on for too long -- see, whenever you're not looking at it, it goes ahead and adds things like gigantic chicken rodeos. Yes, that's the unbelievable new addition that arrived in the PC version of MNC's "Uncle Tully's Funland" update, which adds said Funland as a playable arena in Crossfire mode.

The new arena includes new bot spawners to help build your Moneyball-hungry army, as well as a giant chicken, which you can attempt to ride for money, or shoot for a buff for your whole team. The chicken even has a name: Chickey Cantor. That's ridiculous on two counts, the first being that the name itself is silly, and the second being that chickens don't have names. Check out the full list of updates, as well as a trailer for the new playground, after the break.

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Monday Night Combat update allows you to ride a giant chicken originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One-day XBLA sale: Half-price Monday Night Combat, Limbo, Trials and more

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Microsoft is running a one-day sale on some of its best XBLA titles. Today only, you can grab Monday Night Combat, Limbo, Trials HD, Castle Crashers or Shadow Complex for the wallet-friendly price of 600 points ($7.50) each.

Continue reading One-day XBLA sale: Half-price Monday Night Combat, Limbo, Trials and more

One-day XBLA sale: Half-price Monday Night Combat, Limbo, Trials and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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April Fools: Monday Night Combat goes all Smash TV

Richard Mitchell — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:40:00 EST

Those who have been gaming long enough have probably noticed the similarities between Monday Night Combat and Smash TV (and its often forgotten sequel, Smash TV: Public Access). It appears the influences weren't lost on Uber Entertainment either, as the company has just released some April Fools Day media for Smash MNC, a carnage-fueled, game show-themed parody of Smash TV. Uber even added a bald head to the Jackbot boss. And don't worry about what platforms you own, as Uber promises compatibility "across all platforms past and future."

Check out Smash MNC screens in the gallery below and find a video after the break.

Gallery: Smash MNC (Uber Entertainment April Fools 2011)

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April Fools: Monday Night Combat goes all Smash TV originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat is free to play on Steam this weekend

David Hinkle — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

Looking for something to do on the cheap this weekend? Sure, you could go down to the lake to go swimming or hang outside the laundromat like you had planned, or you could boot up the old Compy 386 and play a free game!

Uber Entertainment's Monday Night Combat is free to play on Steam this weekend, until 1pm PT on Sunday, March 20. Additionally, if you like what you play and want to buy the game, it's 33 percent off ($10.04) on Steam until Monday, March 21 at 10am PT.

Now, we're not telling you what to do, but think about it: does the lake or laundromat have hot female assassins who can turn invisible at will? Yeah, we thought so -- and if that is the case, you've got bigger problems to worry about. We'd suggest talking to a realtor.

No, not the one who sold you the house in Assassintown.

Monday Night Combat is free to play on Steam this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat update adds Cardboard Samurai outfit, All-Star ratings

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:00:00 EST

Just because you weren't able to make the Bostonian pilgrimage for PAX East doesn't mean you'll be left out of the festivities entirely. Uber Entertainment has launched an update for the PC version of Monday Night Combat which unlocks a decidedly Penny-Arcadey outfit for the game's Assassin archetype: the garments of the honorable Cardboard Tube Samurai.

There's also a new All-Star ranking system, which should let you know exactly how you stack up against the game's other frequent Bullseye-busters. Check out all the new features, as well as a trailer for the CTS outfit, posted after the jump!

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Monday Night Combat update adds Cardboard Samurai outfit, All-Star ratings originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What's in a Name: Uber Entertainment

Christopher Grant — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST

Bob Berry is the CEO of Uber Entertainment, which launched its debut title, Monday Night Combat, on Xbox Live Arcade last August. Here's his story on the origin of his studio's name:

"At least since the late 90s the term 'uber' has been thrown around in online gaming communities. It's always meant 'powerful,' 'over-powered,' or just 'awesome.' It so happens that I was playing a good deal of Team Fortress 2 in the fall of 2007 when Uber Entertainment was conceived. 'Uber' was the perfect word to reflect many aspects of our business. It spoke to the kinds of games we would make, the fans we would connect with, and it would embody our general philosophy of hiring great people. The goal was to create a company that was indeed 'Uber.'

"The company was born of a desire to make games differently. A fundamental part of this philosophy is our 'whiteboxing' process (there are many terms for it), whereby we create our core gameplay and do the majority of our iteration with placeholder art assets. The core team that was assembled shared the same philosophy and vision for making games. One such person was our art director Chandana 'Eka' Ekanayake, who took it upon himself to embody this philosophy in our company logo. The abstract man holding up the giant white box in an Atlas-like pose represents both our development philosophy and the Uber nature of the people that are the company."

Uber's Monday Night Combat is currently available from the Xbox Live Marketplace for $15.

Like this feature? Be sure to check out the What's In A Name Archives.

What's in a Name: Uber Entertainment originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat receives 'Steamy Valentine' update

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST

There are two distinctly wonderful things included in Uber Entertainment's latest patch for the PC version of Monday Night Combat -- appropriately titled the "Steamy Valentine" update. The first is a cornucopia of Valentine's Day-related new content, including some lovey-dovey character skins, a pink paint job for the game's much abused mascot, and a "Rose Petal Death Effect" for anyone who gets got while wearing the new Valentine's gear. Check out all the new additions and fixes after the jump.

Also posted after the jump is the second of the update's big surprises: A music video, in which Bullseye professes his undying love for Pit Girl in the smoothest fashion imaginable. It is not to be missed under any circumstances.

Continue reading Monday Night Combat receives 'Steamy Valentine' update

Monday Night Combat receives 'Steamy Valentine' update originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Xbox Live game launches of 2010

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST

It's a curious way to organize data, but Microsoft's Major Nelson has posted the top Arcade and Indie games of 2010, based on "full versions purchased" during a game's first seven days of activity.

Topping the Arcade list is Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, which definitely owns its place as Capcom's "most dynamic sales weapon" ever. Capcom's other Dead Rising 2 standalone tie-in, Case West, also did some faaaaa-ntastic numbers, taking the seventh spot. Limbo, which was one of our top games of 2010, took the second spot, while the Perfect Dark refresh can be spied in third. Super Meat Boy, prime at five on our best of 2010, hunkered down on this list at spot 17.

In the Indie section, Baby Maker Extreme popped up in first place, followed by several games that have "Avatar" in the title. A game called Try Not To Fart also made it into the list. Check out the top 20 Arcade and Indie titles after the break.

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Top Xbox Live game launches of 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat PC launched; includes TF2 crossover, 'Juice Bot'

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:41:00 EST

Monday Night Combat is embracing its PC launch with Team Fortress 2 crossover apparel and an homage to Penny Arcade. Uber has announced that purchases made by February 1 will grant access to crossover costumes from (and in) Team Fortress 2 and Monday Night Combat.

The PC version of MNC will also feature "Juicebot," a familiar robot who will share time with the game's regular big-headed Mascot and provide extra Juice upgrades and money to players. Of course, "Juicebot" is based on Penny Arcade's Fruit F*cker, a character which featured prominently in the defunct Penny Arcade Adventures games. The PC debut trailer featuring the costumes and robotic produce-molester can be found after the break.

Continue reading Monday Night Combat PC launched; includes TF2 crossover, 'Juice Bot'

Monday Night Combat PC launched; includes TF2 crossover, 'Juice Bot' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bacon your pardon: Monday Night Combat PC release delayed a week

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 02:00:00 EST

We know PC gamers are itching to get their hands dirty in Monday Night Combat's neverending struggle between man, woman, machine and mascot -- but they're going to have to wait just a little longer. Uber Entertainment art director Chandana Ekanayake recently posted on the Steam forums to inform users that the game's January 17 release date had magically transformed into a January 24 release date.

Ekanayake chalked the delay up to a desire to ensure "a solid launch with more bug fixes and more time to polish as well as add some new content." That all sounds good, but out of principle, we're going to stay mad at Uber Entertainment for exactly 10 minutes, starting ... right now.

[Thanks, Steve!]

Bacon your pardon: Monday Night Combat PC release delayed a week originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat reduced to half price on Xbox Live Arcade

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST

Uber Entertainment's über entertaining Monday Night Combat is on sale today for 600 Microsoft Points ($7.50), 50 percent off the regular price. If you decide to grab the inventive multiplayer shooter, don't forget to download the free "Spunky Cola Special" DLC, which adds more maps, more bacon, all-star leveling, protags and ... churros!

Monday Night Combat is currently in beta for PC, with an official launch date of Monday, January 17. When it launches, you'll have to shake $15 out of your moneyball. We'll watch.

Gallery: Monday Night Combat (Spunky Cola Special DLC)

Monday Night Combat reduced to half price on Xbox Live Arcade originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat's Steam beta live

JC Fletcher — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:00:00 EST

Want to get in on the Steam version of Monday Night Combat before its first official "Monday Night" -- specifically, Monday, January 17, the release date? If you pre-purchase the arena shooter on Steam now, you can play it on Steam now: the beta is now live, and open to anyone who buys it before release.

Remember, when you play a beta, you're not just having fun: you also bear a Sacred Duty to help make the game better. Anyone who played the XBLA version at launch would tell you to be really thorough with your testing.

Monday Night Combat's Steam beta live originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat brings home the bacon to Steam next month

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:25:00 EST

Much like that super precious emotion we call "love," Monday Night Combat is something that becomes exponentially better as the number of people who share it increases. That being said, we can't wait to see what this announcement does to the class-based shooter's player base: On January 17, Monday Night Combat will make its way to the PC, arriving on the Steam marketplace for $14.99.

Given the popularity of fellow class-based shooter Team Fortress 2 among Steam users, Uber Entertainment's shiny Summer of Arcade gem should be well-received at its new home. If it sounds like the kind of thing you could get into, you might want to consider pre-ordering -- it'll knock 10 percent off the price of the game, and give you early access to the beta whenever it goes live. Check out the simply delightful announcement trailer posted after the jump for more details on the game's PC version.

Continue reading Monday Night Combat brings home the bacon to Steam next month

Monday Night Combat brings home the bacon to Steam next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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December XBLA deal: Buy two games, get 400 MS Points free

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:14:00 EST

In yet another Xbox Live Arcade deal, Microsoft is now offering a free batch of 400 MS Points for purchasing two qualifying XBLA games. Don't run off downloading games just yet though, because you'll need to head over to the Xbox Live Events page and download the Arcade Offer gamer picture to register for the giveaway first (the direct link to the gamer picture is currently broken, but it's the first one listed on the events page).

Once that's done, snag two of the games listed after the break (including favorites like Limbo, Lara Croft, Monday Night Combat, Super Meat Boy and more). Within four weeks, the free points will be added to registered Live accounts automatically or sent as redemption code via email. If you're planning to pick up any of the eligible games, you might as well get some free points too, right? The promotion ends December 20, so get to it.

[Thanks, Grand Kerfuffle]

Continue reading December XBLA deal: Buy two games, get 400 MS Points free

December XBLA deal: Buy two games, get 400 MS Points free originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat's free 'Spunky Cola Special' DLC out tomorrow

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:40:00 EST

If you still spend a majority of your evenings on the colorful, brutal battlefields of Monday Night Combat, you should brace yourself for the extremely imminent addition of two new areas for you to cover in blood, money and bacon. The "Spunky Cola Special" DLC pack will arrive on XBLA tomorrow, adding the titular Spunky Cola Arena for the game's competitive Crossfire mode, and the Survivitol Arena for the co-operative Blitz mode. Best of all, unlike the game's catalog of upgrades and turrets, the new content will be absolutely free of charge.

Check out a trailer for the "Spunky" pack, as well as a full list of the new modes, gameplay options and class changes therein, just past the jump. There's a lot to read, but make sure your eyes don't absentmindedly pass over the announcement about the new Churros power-up without taking a moment to appreciate how breathtaking said announcement really is.

Continue reading Monday Night Combat's free 'Spunky Cola Special' DLC out tomorrow

Monday Night Combat's free 'Spunky Cola Special' DLC out tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat statues are looking to capture your Money Ball

David Hinkle — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:30:00 EST

The problem with reality is that you can't take a PitGirl or Assassin with you everywhere you go. Actually, you probably could, but that'd technically be kidnapping. Let's try that again: The problem with reality is that you can't lock your own PitGirl or Assassin in a room for you to ogle at your convenience. Okay, we're really bad at this.

Clean slate: Uber Entertainment is finally offering figurines based on characters in its XBLA game, Monday Night Combat. $69.99 will net you a nine inch tall statue of either PitGirl, Assault or Assasin. The Tank is a bit taller at 10 inches and a bit pricier at $89.99.

Monday Night Combat statues are looking to capture your Money Ball originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Monday Night Combat DLC brings two maps, tons of changes

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EST

We're sure there are plenty of Monday Night Combat fans that were pleased at all the changes implemented by the recent title update. Taking a gander at what Uber has planned for the first (and free) DLC pack -- scheduled to release this November -- there are a lot more fixes and changes where that came from. First and foremost, the 'Spunky Cola Special' DLC will add two new maps.

Crossfire mode gets the very purple Spunky Cola Arena, which offers up only one lane of attack, which should lead to some hot and heavy battles right from the start. Blitz mode also gets the new Survivitol Arena. In addition to the new maps, the DLC will introduce a whole host of fixes, changes and balance tweaks. It's not just the classes either, as the arenas themselves will be fixed and rearranged in various ways.

The most important addition, however, is still veiled in mystery. Bacon is easily the most sought after (and most delicious) power-up in Monday Night Combat, but apparently a new one is on the way. Referred to only as "tasty pickup," all we know is that it rewards players with "something awesome." Find the DLC change list after the break. Get yourself something to eat, because it's long.

Gallery: Monday Night Combat (Spunky Cola Special DLC)

Continue reading Free Monday Night Combat DLC brings two maps, tons of changes

Free Monday Night Combat DLC brings two maps, tons of changes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat title update goes live

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Uber Entertainment's fantastic XBLA game, Monday Night Combat, has finally received that desperately needed title update. According to the developer, the update was submitted to Microsoft for certification over a month ago and got caught up in "a perfect storm" that delayed it until now. Allegedly, the first DLC pack, which will be free, should be out now "sooner than later."

The title update fixes several technical hiccups and also addresses the exploits that plagued the game shortly after launch. We're looking forward to jumping back into the Monday Night Combat arena and really hope future exploit-fixing updates don't get caught up in cert -- losing isn't fun, but losing to cheaters is the worst. Check out the full list of changes in the title update after the break.

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Monday Night Combat title update goes live originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castlevania HD, Lara Croft, Monday Night Combat sales analyzed

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:20:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Gamasutra has posted its Xbox Live Arcade sales analysis for August, and the results appear mixed for the final three Summer of Arcade titles. While the piece notes that every 2009 Summer of Arcade title managed to garner 80,000 players in their respective first weeks, this year's batch is less consistent. Based on leaderboard data, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair had only 44,601 players in its first week, with sales declining each following week to close out the month with just over 75,000 players. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light -- perhaps due to the lack of online co-op -- befell a similar fate, acquiring 44,733 players in its first week and adding 22,498 more the following week to cap off August with 67,231 players.

Meanwhile, Monday Night Combat -- which launched between Castlevania and Lara Croft -- debuted with over 86,000 players, followed by strong additions the next two weeks for a total of nearly 172,000 in August. Granted, these numbers are all culled from leaderboards and don't necessarily translate directly to sales, it seems like this year's Summer of Arcade failed to drum up the same interest as last year's event, which packed in the likes of Shadow Complex, 'Splosion Man, and Trials HD. Check out the full article on Gamasutra for more stats than you can shake a slice of bacon at.

Castlevania HD, Lara Croft, Monday Night Combat sales analyzed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat patch, free DLC pack incoming

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Uber Entertainment has announced that a big Monday Night Combat patch has entered testing and will soon be ready for certification. The title update is set to fix several issues with the game, notably the ability for players to damage Moneyball shields, and host migration problems. Several classes will receive tweaks as well, with the brunt going to the Support and Assassin. Devious Support players will be displeased to know they won't be able to hack through walls anymore, while Assassins will be happy to hear that grapples won't take as long to recharge after a whiff.

The updated version of MNC will be playable at PAX this week, and Uber is also bringing along plenty of swag, including the T-shirts above. Furthermore, Uber will soon release the first of three DLC packs for the game that will contain "new content, gameplay adjustments, and more bug fixes." According to Uber's Chandana "Eka" Ekanayake, the studio is "very invested" in the MNC community -- as such, the first DLC pack will be free.

Hopefully we'll hear more details about the DLC at PAX. In the meantime, head past the break for the full list of fixes in the title update.

Continue reading Monday Night Combat patch, free DLC pack incoming

Monday Night Combat patch, free DLC pack incoming originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat grabs XBLM charts by the Moneyball

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Following the trend of Summer of Arcade titles landing in the top spot on the XBLA sales charts during their release weeks, Monday Night Combat was top dog on last week's chart, which was released by Major Nelson. The online shooter also placed a respectable 11th on the Xbox Live Activity chart, leaps and bounds ahead of all other XBLA titles. Additionally, Limbo held its own with a second-place finish on the sales charts, one spot ahead of the more recent Castlevania: Harmony of Despair.

Meanwhile, Baby Maker Extreme slipped to fourth on the Indie Games chart. Now we're going to be worried about it all week. Click past the jump to see how the rest of the console's offerings fared.

Continue reading Monday Night Combat grabs XBLM charts by the Moneyball

Monday Night Combat grabs XBLM charts by the Moneyball originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joyswag: Suit up for Monday Night Combat [update: giveaway closed]

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:30:00 EST

Update: That's it! The giveaway is now closed and the winners have been notified. Check those inboxes!

Dear readers, we understand your confusion. After all, it's obviously Wednesday and not Monday. It's very unorthodox, we'll admit, but maybe this will help: We're giving away five copies of Monday Night Combat for Xbox Live Arcade. It's pretty great -- just read our review -- and you should really enter the giveaway. Winning would be almost better than bacon. Almost.

To enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling us about your greatest bacon-related experience
You must be 13 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
Limit 1 entry per person.
This entry period ends at 6:00PM ET today, Wednesday, August 11.
At that time, we'll randomly select five grand prize winners to each receive a download code for Monday Night Combat (ARV $15). [Code requires an Xbox Live account to redeem.]
For a list of complete rules, click here.

Joyswag: Suit up for Monday Night Combat [update: giveaway closed] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat 'on the fly' updates explained

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:34:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We mentioned in our Monday Night Combat review (you should read it!) that the game would feature the ability to make balance tweaks "on the fly without needing to do a patch." Considering most Xbox 360 games require a full title update even for the most rudimentary fixes, this makes Monday Night Combat something of a standout. Now, thanks to Penny Arcade, we have an explanation. According to Uber Entertainment's John Comes, the magic comes courtesy of "Title Managed Storage" (TMS), an amount of storage space on Xbox Live servers that Microsoft allows for its developers.

"So what we did," said Comes, "is put a text file with all of our balance numbers up there [on TMS] and when the game starts up it overwrites the balance numbers with any numbers it pulled down off of TMS." As an example, Comes noted that if Uber were to discover that Snipers earn ability-enhancing Juice too fast, the company can easily adjust the corresponding number in TMS. The next time a player boots the game, the adjusted number overwrites the original. Voila, instant balance fix. Now, if someone would just turn the Assassin's cloak ability up to "infinite," we'd be much obliged.

Monday Night Combat 'on the fly' updates explained originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Monday Night Combat

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST

It's dangerously simple to refer to a new product as an amalgam of other known quantities, but in the case of Monday Night Combat, it's the most effective sell. Here's the pitch: Imagine the class-based, team-oriented play of Team Fortress and then mix it with the escalating play of tower defense. Toss in a bright, campy sports entertainment aesthetic and you've got Monday Night Combat. And it's a blast.

Gallery: Monday Night Combat (8/7/10)

Continue reading Review: Monday Night Combat

Review: Monday Night Combat originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Monday Night Combat is all about Support

Richard Mitchell — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST

While the first Monday Night Combat developer walkthrough introduced us to the Tank, today's video shows off the Support. As his name implies, the Support ... erm ... supports the team by hacking turrets, healing teammates and calling in air strikes. See him in action after the break.

Continue reading Video: Monday Night Combat is all about Support

Video: Monday Night Combat is all about Support originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat gameplay walkthrough is full of bacon

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:00:00 EST

Monday Night Combat, out next Wednesday, will be the penultimate game in the XBLA Summer of Arcade promotion. The video after the break features a pretty good overview of the gameplay and, well, BACON! Who doesn't like bacon? Even vegetarians love bacon. It's true.

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Monday Night Combat gameplay walkthrough is full of bacon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat's Assassin will stab you in the back, slap you around a little

David Hinkle — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

Don't sleep on Monday Night Combat's Assassin character -- aside from being incredibly quick and deadly, she has the unique ability to cloak herself, giving her ample opportunity to plant pointy things in your soft, flabby back. Sure, maybe if you worked out you'd have a tougher back, but we both knew when you bought that gym membership you'd never go. Now you see where you're at?

You may not be able to change the stabability of your back, but you can know your enemy and, remember, knowing is half the battle. So put some wrinkles in that noggin of yours and head past the break to watch the Assassin in action. Then maybe check with some doctors about undergoing a full-on stainless steel backiotomy, if you've got the cash -- your back is home to, like, 30 different vital organs. We read that somewhere once.

Monday Night Combat will be available on Xbox Live Arcade on August 11 for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).

Continue reading Monday Night Combat's Assassin will stab you in the back, slap you around a little

Monday Night Combat's Assassin will stab you in the back, slap you around a little originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat trailer schools us on sniping

David Hinkle — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:45:00 EST

Aside from having to deal with a grumbling tummy, we can't imagine there's much to being a sniper. But according to both Tom Berenger and the latest trailer for Monday Night Combat just past the break, there's plenty more to it.

Aside from being a bit off, every good Monday Night Combat sniper should have a repository of skills to call upon -- including traps that freeze your enemies in their tracks and a rather neat grapple skill that allows for some flashy melee maneuvers. Whoever said snipers never get their hands dirty?

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Monday Night Combat trailer schools us on sniping originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Summer of Arcade XBLA games dated and priced

JC Fletcher — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Microsoft's suggestion for how to pass those hot summer afternoons: spend 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), repeatedly. The company released the official dates and prices for the XBLA games in this year's Summer of Arcade promotion -- or, rather, dates and price, since they all share the aforementioned 1200 MSP price tag.

Like last year's Summer of Arcade, purchasing all five games in this year's lineup entitles the buyer to a 1200-point rebate (essentially buy four, get one free). Additionally, if you buy three of the five, you'll get 400 MSP back! As for the release schedule:

Limbo: July 21
Hydro Thunder Hurricane: July 28
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair: August 4
Monday Night Combat: August 11
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light: August 18

Summer of Arcade XBLA games dated and priced originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castlevania: Harmony of Despair announced via Xbox Live 'Summer of Arcade' 2010 promo

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

It appears Konami's leaked-pulled-and-then-leaked-again Castlevania: Harmony of Despair is very much a real thing. The rumored 2D multiplayer Castlevania game is part of the Microsoft's returning Summer of Arcade promotion. The junior year's games include:

The press release hasn't mentioned any added bonuses for purchasing all of the games, but previous years promised a refund of 800 Microsoft Points ($10) with purchase of all five participating titles. It's likely this year's Summer of Arcade will do the same, but we'll follow up.

[Thanks, mrmbado!]

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair announced via Xbox Live 'Summer of Arcade' 2010 promo originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat video highlights 6 character classes

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:13:00 EST

After the break, we've posted a 4-minute video from the upcoming XBLA multiplayer shooter, Monday Night Combat. You've read our hands-on with the assassin, but this trailer showcases all 6 character classes (in the following order): Assault, Gunner, Sniper, Support, Assassin and Tank. After watching the video, comparisons to Valve's Team Fortress 2 will seem all the more warranted -- but that's certainly not a bad thing.

In addition to the various classes, the video also highlights the in-game upgrade menu. By using cash that you earn throughout a match, you'll be able to upgrade the various skills your character has access to. It's a lot of information to take in, but the video does a great job of explaining how diverse the gameplay of Monday Night Combat is.

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Monday Night Combat video highlights 6 character classes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: Monday Night Combat

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:25:00 EST

Why are so many good online shooters hitting XBLA? Monday Night Combat is Uber Entertainment's upcoming arena shooter, made exclusively for XBLA. Like Lead & Gold, it evokes a Team Fortress 2 vibe, thanks largely to its cartoon graphics and focus on squad-based play. Yet, it manages to have a unique flavor of its own, thanks to its satisfying close quarters combat, and original tower defense-inspired gameplay.

Monday Night Combat was one of the most populated booths at PAX East, an impressive feat considering the high-profile competition offered by the bigger publishers. Perhaps the long lines could be attributed to Gabe and Tycho's glowing endorsement of the game at their first Q&A panel. Or, it might be because the game is, put simply, fun.

I jumped into a round and chose the Assassin class. I've always preferred speed and stealth over gunplay, and this class was perfectly suited to my play style. Like the Scout class from TF2, this character is very agile, and can jump long distances. The Assassin has the special ability to cloak for a brief period of time, and can also launch smoke grenades. The cloak isn't infallible, as players will notice a shimmer where you're located; however, in the middle of a frantic firefight, it'll be relatively easy to sneak up behind a player and brutally stab him in the back.

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Hands-on: Monday Night Combat originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get caught up in this Monday Night Combat 'Crossfire' trailer

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:45:00 EST

Monday Night Combat sort of came out of the blue when it was announced earlier this year. At the time, we were impressed by the game's visuals and the promise of class-based shooter action all contained in a bite-sized XBLA form factor. Now, a new trailer has been released and, thankfully, the gameplay is more complex than it appeared at first glance. The mode showcased in the trailer, called "Crossfire," plays out something like a capture the flag or king of the hill mode with a few twists. Each side attempts to breach its opponents' defenses and destroy their "Money Ball" in order to win the match. In order to do this, players upgrade their abilities, place defensive turrets and push through with the help of AI-controlled robots. The trailer shows off several different classes, including a deadly sniper, lithe assassin/scout and a 'heavy' wearing some mean looking mech armor.

Unfortunately, the trailer fails to answer the most important question about Crossfire mode: Will you get caught up in it?

[Via XBLA Ratings]

Get caught up in this Monday Night Combat 'Crossfire' trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Combat announced for XBLA

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:45:00 EST

Uber Entertainment has announced a brand-spankin' new Xbox Live Arcade title by the name of Monday Night Combat. Just what is Monday Night Combat, you ask? Paraphrasing our own JC Fletcher, it looks a bit like Team Fortress 2 ... if Team Fortress 2 were a game show. Presented as a game show and "sport of the future," Monday Night Combat is a class-based third-person shooter, in which teams compete for "the real American dream: cash, fame and endorsements."

The game sports six different character classes, a create-a-class feature and two gameplay modes, the co-operative Blitz mode and the competitive Crossfire mode. This one really came out of nowhere, but if it's anywhere near as good as the trailer makes it out to be, we could be in for a real treat. Expect it to arrive later this year.

Monday Night Combat announced for XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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