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[It's Guitar Hero Day in New York, apparently]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/its-guitar-hero-day-in-new-york-apparently/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/its-guitar-hero-day-in-new-york-apparently/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/its-guitar-hero-day-in-new-york-apparently/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The city of New York must have a lot of time on its hands. After all, they have enough time to spare to declare today, Sept. 26, 2007, as Guitar Hero day throughout the city.

Never mind that Guitar Hero III doesn't actually come out until Oct. 28, or that the original game came out on Nov. 7, 2005. Never mind that publisher Activision is based in Santa Monica and developer Neversoft is from Westlake Village, CA. Never mind that the city saw a massive publicity blitz for another game as recently as yesterday.

Forget all that... "fans are ready to rock the streets of Manhattan," according to the press Activision press release, with "thousands ... expected to gather in celebration of the day, with guitar controllers in hand." This is kind of surprising to us, seeing as we hadn't even heard about the event before today, but we suppose getting thousands of people together on short notice can't be too hard in a city of millions.

Apparently, the day is just "one of many Guitar Hero events taking place in New York City this week," including an opportunity for members of the public to actually play Guitar Hero III at the DigitalLife festival starting tomorrow. So while we're generally against pointless publicity stunts like this, we suppose we can turn a blind eye given the public demo. Citizens of New York, do yourselves a favor and go check it out.

JoystiqIt's Guitar Hero Day in New York, apparently originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionguitarheroguitarheroIIIneversoftnewyorknewyorkcityPS2PS3WiiXbox-360Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Style screens for travelers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/ds-style-screens-for-travelers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/ds-style-screens-for-travelers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/ds-style-screens-for-travelers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Screens of three new Square Enix DS "games" have made it to Famitsu. Before you get too excited, these are not new RPGs or anything, but rather three of the World Walking programs in Square Enix's DS Style series. There's sort of an upper bound to the enthusiasm that can be generated by maps, unless you're a cartographer, we suppose.

In the absence of megaton-level hype, we'll just say that these programs look very well-designed and incredibly useful for Japanese travelers. We love that they keep time for Japan and for the destination region, and we quite wish our maps were more automated, searchable, and compact.

Read - World Walking Taiwan
Read - World Walking New York
Read - World Walking Hawaii

JoystiqDS Style screens for travelers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsstylehawaiinewyorknongamestaiwanworldwalkingThu, 06 Sep 2007 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[NY game bill awaits passage in July]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/ny-game-bill-awaits-passage-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/ny-game-bill-awaits-passage-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/ny-game-bill-awaits-passage-in-july/#commentsFiled under: ,

Though two pieces of video game legislation passed in New York -- one in the Senate and one in the Assembly -- a compromise was not reached in time for a vote before the current session ended yesterday, reports Game Politics. The compromise was reached, however, and a unified bill is expected to pass when the legislature reconvenes in July.

According to Lower Hudson Online, the agreement still makes it a felony to sell "violent and obscene video games to minors." The bill would also have manufacturers equip game consoles with parental control settings (already available in the newest consoles) and retailers would have to label violent and obscene games (already done with the ESRB, though this bill reportedly requires another sticker).

If the bill, which Vicarious Visions called troubling in an Albany Times-Union op-ed, passes in July, expect the Entertainment Software Association to go after the bill with the First Amendment. And so far they have a pretty good track record.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

JoystiqNY game bill awaits passage in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game politicsGamePoliticslegislationnew yorkNewYorkFri, 22 Jun 2007 16:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Wiimbledon tomorrow, no sign of strawberries and cream]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/wiimbledon-tomorrow-no-sign-of-strawberries-and-cream/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/wiimbledon-tomorrow-no-sign-of-strawberries-and-cream/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/22/wiimbledon-tomorrow-no-sign-of-strawberries-and-cream/#commentsFiled under: ,

Where were we weeks ago? We so would have made a pilgrimmage to Brooklyn to get our Wii tennis on. Maybe next year we can get in on this, since we hope tomorrow's Wiimbledon Wii Sports tennis tournament is the beginning of a yearly event. And where are the other Grand Slams, people? Get to work!

Unfortunately, Wiimbledon is closed to new entrants at this point -- the 128 player pool is full -- but hey, the tournament is being held in a bar, so if you're in the area, can you really lose if you head out to watch? We think not.

Wiimbledon gets going at 11 am at Barcade in Brooklyn, New York, and entrants are encouraged to "dress with moxy" like our man Richie Tenenbaum here. We encourage spectators to do the same. Just leave the bird at home.

[Thanks, Conor!]

JoystiqWiimbledon tomorrow, no sign of strawberries and cream originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barcadegrand slamGrandSlamnew yorkNewYorkroyal tenenbaumsRoyalTenenbaumstennistournamentwii sportswiimbledonWiiSportsFri, 22 Jun 2007 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Marketers head for the hills, a fond farewell to Kaplan and Harrison]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/07/rumor-marketers-head-for-the-hills-a-fond-farewell-to-kaplan-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/07/rumor-marketers-head-for-the-hills-a-fond-farewell-to-kaplan-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/07/rumor-marketers-head-for-the-hills-a-fond-farewell-to-kaplan-a/#commentsFiled under:

It's sad to see her go.
It's a wild week in the world of Nintendo's upper management in marketing ... we think. Recently, Nintendo's marketing department was told they'd need to ship off to either New York or San Francisco from their current homes in Redmond. According to Game Informer, as astounding 90% decided to remain in the area and take severance pay. What's even more shocking are that Beth Llewelyn (senior director of public relations), Perrin Kaplan (vice president of marketing and corporate affairs) and George Harrison (senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications) are among the dearly departed. From Nintendo, we mean.

Those are some big names dropping from Nintendo's ivory towers, and we've got to sad we're sad to see them go. George was always a nice, candid fellow, and who can forget drunk Perrin (pictured above)? Now that was a classic. We would like to reiterate that Game Informer's claim has not yet been corroborated, so we'll post an update with confirmation or denial when we get it.

[Thanks, Jensonb!]

JoystiqRumor: Marketers head for the hills, a fond farewell to Kaplan and Harrison originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>affairsbethcommunicationcorporategeorgeharrisonkaplanllewelynmarketingnew yorkNewYorkperrinredmondsan franciscoSanFranciscoThu, 07 Jun 2007 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Vicarious Visions pens op-ed on troubling NY game bill]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/vicarious-visions-pens-op-ed-on-troubling-ny-game-bill/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/vicarious-visions-pens-op-ed-on-troubling-ny-game-bill/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/05/vicarious-visions-pens-op-ed-on-troubling-ny-game-bill/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Albany Times-Union today ran an op-ed piece by the CEO and president of Vicarious Visions (Marvel Ultimate Alliance), a New York based development company, about the New York video game bill legislation going down. They discuss being "deeply troubled" by the legislation currently being fast-tracked making games different from other protected speech.

The disturbing nature of the bills apparently can't be stressed properly at this point. The key feature sending chills up many game advocates' spines is that selling a game considered "depraved" to a minor would be considered a felony, with a minimum sentence of one to four years according to the New York penal code.

Vicarious Visions' CEO, Kathik Bala, and president, Guha Bala, write, "Just like movies, books, photographs, music and other forms of art and entertainment, video games are fully protected speech under the U.S. Constitution. In fact, nine federal courts in the last six years have ruled that legislation in other states substantially similar to what is being proposed in New York violates free speech protections. States have wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to defend these statutes. Several states and municipalities have been ordered to pay more than $1.7 million to the video game industry for legal fees. Given New York's pressing economic needs, it can ill afford to spend money enacting and then having to defend this proposal."

And therein lies the rub. In the end, these bills fail in court. The states involved are forced to pay the ESA for the cost of defending the industry from unconstitutional legislation. How many times do they need to play out the same plot line over and over again? The outcome remains the same. But it looks like state after state will pop in another quarter and try again.

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqVicarious Visions pens op-ed on troubling NY game bill originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balabillslanzalegislationnew yorkNewYorkvicarious visionsTue, 05 Jun 2007 14:53:00 EST<![CDATA[NY game retail bills pass; retailers could face felony charges]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/ny-game-retail-bills-pass-retailers-could-face-felony-charges/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/ny-game-retail-bills-pass-retailers-could-face-felony-charges/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/ny-game-retail-bills-pass-retailers-could-face-felony-charges/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Two bills from the New York state legislature -- one backed by Republicans in the Senate and one by Democrats in the Assembly -- have been passed. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R) and Governor Eliot Spitzer have both made comments leaning toward an agreement being made between the two houses, but no further details are known.

The Assembly measure, A08696, has some strong words for game retailers who sell games with "depraved violence and indecent images," defined as "rape, dismemberment, physical torture, mutilation or evisceration of a human being." Those caught selling such games to minors will be charged with a class E felony and could be sentenced for up to four years in prison. GamePolitics reports that "it is believed this is the bill favored by [Spitzer]."

The Entertainment Merchants Association have already condemned the Assembly bill, and we expect the industry-led lawsuit against the legislation be inevitable. The current session ends June 21, so both houses will have to act pretty quickly to reach a compromise.

[Via Law of the Game]

JoystiqNY game retail bills pass; retailers could face felony charges originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 May 2007 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emagame politicsGamePoliticsnew yorkNewYorkpoliticsThu, 31 May 2007 18:26:00 EST<![CDATA[New York tests limits of game legislation with felony bill]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/30/new-york-tests-the-limits-of-game-legislation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/30/new-york-tests-the-limits-of-game-legislation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/30/new-york-tests-the-limits-of-game-legislation/#commentsFiled under:

The latest bill proposed in New York would actually make selling or renting a game to a minor which has "depraved violence and indecent images" a class E felony. What is that exactly in prison time? According to New York penal law, "For a class E felony, the term shall be fixed by the court, and shall not exceed four years." However, it must be over one year imprisonment to be considered class E. But wait, it gets better. "Depraved" is defined by the bill as anything showing "rape, dismemberment, physical torture, mutilation or evisceration of a human being." So, many M rated games would fall under this category. Boiled all the way down, this new law would have a kid working at Gamestop, Best Buy, or the local Blockbuster potentially get sent to OZ for 1 - 4 years because he sold or rented a minor an M rated video game. With politicians like these, who needs Jack Thompson?

This bill, A08696 by Democrat Assemblyman Joseph Lentol will have to share the spotlight with a similar bill proposed by Sen. Andrew Lanza (R), which is backed by Senate Republicans. All of this is about Gov. Eliot Spitzer's promise to legislate video games. According to GamePolitics, the enforceable parts (the Class E felony) would go into effect 120 days after the bill passes. The State Assembly goes into recess on June 21, so this bill needs to be on the fast track to make it. New York is getting really creepy with this game legislation.

JoystiqNew York tests limits of game legislation with felony bill originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 May 2007 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>legislationlimitsnew yorkNewYorkpoliticiansWed, 30 May 2007 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[First footage of Driver 76]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/first-footage-of-driver-76/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/first-footage-of-driver-76/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/first-footage-of-driver-76/#commentsFiled under: ,

Driver 76 is heading to PSP soon, and IGN seems to have an early build in their hands. They take the game for a spin, and it looks a lot like Grand Theft Auto. What it doesn't look like, though, is New York. Having lived in NYC all my life, I can't say the low-level buildings and the general lack of life in the game create an authentic facsimile of the city I love. Maybe you can judge for yourself by reading IGN's preview and checking out all of their videos.

JoystiqFirst footage of Driver 76 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>driver 76Driver76ignnew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCitynycubisoftTue, 01 May 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq at the Pokemon launch party in NYC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/joystiq-at-the-pokemon-launch-party-in-nyc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/joystiq-at-the-pokemon-launch-party-in-nyc/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/joystiq-at-the-pokemon-launch-party-in-nyc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Thousands of Pokemon fans stormed the Nintendo World Store for their incredible Pokemon Diamond & Pearl launch party. Getting into the event was no easy task, as the line stretched across a New York avenue. Once inside, fans were treated to equally long lines to purchase the game, and a myriad of activities to partake in. A scavenger hunt had Pokemaniacs survive the heat and go through all the stations set up for fans.

Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori from Game Freak stopped by to answer fan's questions and sign autographs. In spite of the surprising success of the Pokemon franchise, the two were incredibly humble and seemed jovial in the presence of their adoring fans. Children (of all ages) crowded the plaza for a chance to meet some of the people responsible for this global phenomenon.

To end the festivities, Nintendo made an incredible donation to Earth Day NY: a giant check (is there any other kind?) for $10,000 was presented to the eco-friendly charity. The event was a blast, and everyone appeared to be in high spirits. Considering the thousands of people in attendance, it's safe to say that the Pokemon phenomenon is still going strong.

Gallery: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl launch in NYC

JoystiqJoystiq at the Pokemon launch party in NYC originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>donationDSearth dayearth day nyEarthDayEarthDayNygame freakGameFreakjunichi masudaJunichiMasudanew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCitynintendonintendo worldnintendo world storeNintendoWorldNintendoWorldStorenycpokemonpokemon diamondpokemon pearlPokemonDiamondPokemonPearlshigeru ohmoriShigeruOhmoriMon, 23 Apr 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix brings lifestyle titles to DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/square-enix-brings-lifestyle-titles-to-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/square-enix-brings-lifestyle-titles-to-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/square-enix-brings-lifestyle-titles-to-ds/#commentsFiled under:

Continuing its praiseworthy support for the Nintendo DS, Square Enix has announced DS Style, a new line of software for the casual gaming audience. According to the latest issue of Famitsu, the company is venturing away from its RPG franchises for a moment, focusing instead on leisure activities like yoga, classical music, and gardening. It might not sound as exciting as SRPG battles or Chocobo mini-games, but different strokes for different folks.

Square Enix will also be releasing DS travel guides based on the popular World Walking tour book series in Japan. These guides will provide maps and other useful information for sightseers visiting countries like France or Thailand. Check past the post break for the full list of destination guides and verbose titles from Square Enix's DS Style lineup.

[Via NeoGAF]

Continue reading Square Enix brings lifestyle titles to DS

JoystiqSquare Enix brings lifestyle titles to DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasualsclassicalclassicalmusicdsstyleenixflowerflowerbloomingflowersfrancegardengardeninghawaiiitalylifelifestylemusicnewyorknintendodsnintendodslitenongamesquaresquareenixstyletaiwanthailandtourguidetourguidesworldwalkingyogayogalessonsWed, 04 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New York may confiscate unrated games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/new-york-may-confiscate-unrated-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/new-york-may-confiscate-unrated-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/new-york-may-confiscate-unrated-games/#commentsFiled under: ,

New York has a few game laws attempting to pass which are retail-oriented at the moment. However, the latest bill by Rep. Brian Kolb goes a little above and beyond the others. Bill A02787 seeks to provide the courts with the power to confiscate any games that do not have a rating label. When does any game going through standard retail channels not have an ESRB rating?

The bill also encompasses any game that "glamorizes the commission of a violent crime, suicide, sodomy, rape, incest, bestiality, or sado-masochism ... [and] directs sellers of such video games to restrict access to such recordings by storage in a sealed and locked container behind a service counter or in an area inaccessible by the general public." It's another games as porn law. Not to mention we can't think of the last game "glamorizing" suicide, sodomy, rape, incest and/or bestiality.

JoystiqNew York may confiscate unrated games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian kolbempire stategame lawsnew yorkNewYorkTue, 13 Mar 2007 21:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: GTA IV to be in New York City?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/rumor-gta-iv-to-be-in-new-york-city/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/rumor-gta-iv-to-be-in-new-york-city/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/rumor-gta-iv-to-be-in-new-york-city/#commentsFiled under:

While we're going to categorize this as a rumor until we get a better insight upon the release of the trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV on the 29th, it definitely is worth consideration. Apparently, word on the street is that GTA IV will be taking place in New York City and have NYC stylized music. When we first got wind of this, the first thing that popped into our heads was, "Uh, wasn't the Liberty City from Grand Theft Auto I, GTA III, San Andreas, and Liberty City Stories supposed to be at the very least an homage to New York City (with a hint of New Jersey)?"

If you look at the map for Liberty City from GTA I (pictured above), it's even more apparent. Or this could be a completely new direction for Rockstar, where instead of doing fictional places that are inspired by real world locations, they cut the middle man as it were, and just use the actual city. Either way, we could see a return to Liberty City, or Rockstar's rendition of the real life counter part. Which would you rather play in?

JoystiqRumor: GTA IV to be in New York City? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>G T A 4G T A IVGrand Theft Auto 4Grand Theft Auto IVGrandTheftAuto4GrandTheftAutoIvGTA4GTAIvLiberty CityLibertyCityN Y CNew YorkNew York CityNewYorkNewYorkCityNYCRockstarRockstar NorthTake 2Take 2 InteractiveTake TwoTake Two InteractiveTake2Take2InteractiveTakeTwoTakeTwoInteractiveTue, 13 Mar 2007 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rockstar using graffiti to promote The Warriors]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/rockstar-using-graffiti-to-promote-the-warriors/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/rockstar-using-graffiti-to-promote-the-warriors/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/09/rockstar-using-graffiti-to-promote-the-warriors/#commentsFiled under: ,


While I was walking in downtown NYC, something interesting caught my eye: a spray-painted tag of The Warriors on the sidewalk. While it's true that Rockstar's offices are located in my fine city, I'm sure Mayor Bloomberg won't be too pleased about this apparent graffiti advertising. Remember when Sony tried the same thing? They were busted, and fined. Will Rockstar also get caught?

JoystiqRockstar using graffiti to promote The Warriors originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>graffitinew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCitynycrockstarthe warriorsTheWarriorswarriorsFri, 09 Feb 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The root of gaming addiction exposed?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/15/the-root-of-gaming-addiction-exposed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/15/the-root-of-gaming-addiction-exposed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/15/the-root-of-gaming-addiction-exposed/#commentsFiled under:

brain gamesResearchers are just now realizing that video games may fulfill psychological needs like autonomy, competence, and relatedness. University of Rochester and Immersyve Inc. investigators have determined that it's not just a shallow sense of fun that enables the so-called gaming addiction. Where have these guys been?

What seems obvious to us is still a mystery to many. As the industry grows, as gamer populations swell, we're bound to come under the microscope more and more. There is a great urge among the uninitiated to justify our passion for video games. If only they'd stop questioning and simply join the "fun" ... Conform!

JoystiqThe root of gaming addiction exposed? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Immersyve Inc.ImmersyveInc.New YorkNewYorkRochesterUniversity of RochesterUniversityOfRochesterMon, 15 Jan 2007 19:16:00 EST<![CDATA[NY Times says Wii succeeds]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/29/ny-times-says-wii-succeeds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/29/ny-times-says-wii-succeeds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/29/ny-times-says-wii-succeeds/#commentsFiled under:

The NY Times' Seth Schiesel recently had some very nice comments for Nintendo's Wii console, praising several of the console's titles, such as Wii Sports, Rayman Raving Rabbids, and Madden '07, stating that the fun factor of all these titles, as well as the console itself, is what sets it apart from it's competition.

"The Wii is about rescuing gaming from the clutches of the hard-core young male demographic that has dominated the industry's thinking for years. It is about making video games accessible again by providing a simple, intuitive, relatively inexpensive entertainment experience that an entire family can actually enjoy together. At that, the Wii succeeds admirably."

Schiesel also goes on to comment that however much fun the console is, it just won't work as the primary console for the hardcore gamer. With strong first-party titles behind them like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 Corruption, Nintendo is undoubtedly seeking that hardcore gamer. What do you guys think? Will the Wii forever be doomed to 'extra console' status and never get itself into the spotlight?

JoystiqNY Times says Wii succeeds originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>newyorknewyorktimesnintendonintendowiinynytimeswiiWed, 29 Nov 2006 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[It's finally here: Nintendo Wii Fanboy Times Square Footage]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/21/its-finally-here-nintendo-wii-fanboy-times-square-footage/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/21/its-finally-here-nintendo-wii-fanboy-times-square-footage/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/21/its-finally-here-nintendo-wii-fanboy-times-square-footage/#commentsFiled under: ,


Sorry for the delay, folks! You know how those Mac users always muck things up, them and their video editing and whatnot.

Seriously though, a very special thank you to Doug Keller, who devoted his time and effort for no real reason at all. Rock on, Doug. Expect some sillier clips from the event in the near future, but for now, sit back and enjoy the excellent and oh-so-professional reporting by yours truly. All right, so an Anchorman I'm not.

(And yes, Nintendo fanboys seem to have mysterious issues with counting down. It's weird, we know.)

JoystiqIt's finally here: Nintendo Wii Fanboy Times Square Footage originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FootageLaunchMidnightNew YorkNewYorkPartyTimes SquareTimesSquareVideoTue, 21 Nov 2006 03:30:00 EST<![CDATA[T-minus seven days (Times Square coverage)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/t-minus-seven-days-times-square-coverage/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/t-minus-seven-days-times-square-coverage/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/t-minus-seven-days-times-square-coverage/#commentsFiled under: ,

Gonna be sweet.
While some lucky members of our staff are able to enjoy the Wii as we speak, most of us have to wait. We've been waiting for a long, long time. It's felt like agony at points, some ethereal event that would never really happen. We are seven days away, people, one lousy week. Get ready for the tents, the bitter cold, the local DS multiplayer, and the greasy fast food runs. Get ready for the lines, the excitement, the anticipation and the reward.

With that in mind, we'd like to inform you that Nintendo Wii Fanboy will be on location in Times Square, New York for the official global launch party of the Nintendo Wii. We'll be doing live updates from the event (pending hot spot availability) and video coverage as well. If you live within reasonable distance, we encourage you to come ... it's gonna be one hell of a party.

JoystiqT-minus seven days (Times Square coverage) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Nov 2006 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CityDaysLaunchNew YorkNewYorkSevenTimes SquareTimesSquareWaitWeekSun, 12 Nov 2006 14:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii advertisement New York City style]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/30/wii-advertisement-new-york-city-style-working-on-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/30/wii-advertisement-new-york-city-style-working-on-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/30/wii-advertisement-new-york-city-style-working-on-this/#commentsFiled under:

We have seen huge ads in our days but this ad straight pwns. Call it small town syndrome but if the photographer is anything like us, the second we would have rounded the corner on that chilly NYC street to see the most awesome ad evah would have resulted in messed pants. For serious.

With the launch of the Wii only 19 days away, it is great to see more and more ads dedicated to the system. The Wii ads are way better than those strange and extremely boring PS3 commercials. Don't you think?

[Thanks for the shot Student!]

JoystiqWii advertisement New York City style originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York City's Times Square was overwhelmed by Final Fantasy fans as Square-Enix premiered the English language version of the upcoming Final Fantasy XII, which will be playable at this week's DigitalLife conference, which starts tomorrow. The trailer, shown to great excitement amongst fans, featured great visuals (as expected) and some truly impressive voice acting. For those of you that have HDTVs, you'll be glad to know that the US version has been enhanced with new anamorphic widescreen (16:9) functionality.

Check out a shaky-cam version of the trailer, and some pics from the event after the break.

Continue reading Joystiq at NYC's Final Fantasy Day festivities

JoystiqJoystiq at NYC's Final Fantasy Day festivities originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital lifeDigitalLifeff12ffxiifinal fantasyfinal fantasy 12final fantasy xiiFinalFantasyFinalFantasy12FinalFantasyXiinew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCitynynycPS2squaresquare enixsquare-enixSquareEnixtimes squareTimesSquaretrailerWed, 11 Oct 2006 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Old Grandma Hardcore is Nintendo's Grandparent of the Year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/11/old-grandma-hardcore-is-nintendos-grandparent-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/11/old-grandma-hardcore-is-nintendos-grandparent-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/11/old-grandma-hardcore-is-nintendos-grandparent-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

Who could have anticipated that they'd be sending a 70 year-old ringer into Nintendo's Coolest Grandparent of the Year competition, huh? Barbara St. Hilaire, better known to the gaming community as Old Grandma Hardcore, took the top honors in the contest, held on Grandparents' Day at the Nintendo World Store in New York. Contestants battled in Brain Age, and OGH took home two DS Lites and ten new games after vanquishing the competition. Since she already owns both a Phat and a DS Lite, we wonder if she'll pass the booty on to one or two of her 13 grandchildren.

From her blog, OGH certainly seems like the coolest grandparent around, so we approve. In fact, we'd like to steal her to be the official DS Fanboy Grandma, but we're afraid she'd kill every time we break out Mario Kart.

JoystiqOld Grandma Hardcore is Nintendo's Grandparent of the Year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Sep 2006 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brain AgeBrainAgecompetitionDSDS LiteDsLitegrandparentsgrandparents' dayGrandparents'DayNew YorkNewYorkNintendoOld Grandma HardcoreOldGrandmaHardcorephatMon, 11 Sep 2006 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[September 14: the new "it" day?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/23/september-14-the-new-it-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/23/september-14-the-new-it-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/23/september-14-the-new-it-day/#commentsFiled under:

So, how 'bout that keynote at Leipzig? Wasn't it exciting to hear about the release date for the Wii, and the pricing, and the ponies ... no, no, that didn't happen at all. The hugely anticipated speech revealed none of the details rabid Nintendo fans have been dying to learn. Y'know, the tough questions, like "when's the console being released, and how much will it cost?"

We know. Sometimes it's hard to open up. There, there.

So now the hearts and minds of Nintendo fans turn toward September 14, when Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime will be on hand at a media event in New York. Forget celebration of video games -- Wii want to celebrate some news.

JoystiqSeptember 14: the new "it" day? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Aug 2006 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>New YorknewsNewYorknintendoReggile Fils-AimeReggileFils-aimerelease dateReleaseDateseptember 14September14wiiWed, 23 Aug 2006 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Lite launch partay!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/11/ds-lite-launch-partay/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/11/ds-lite-launch-partay/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/11/ds-lite-launch-partay/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Engadget's Paul Miller and Ryan Block dropped by Nintendo's official DS Lite U.S. launch party in New York over the weekend. Their write-up features a few dozen photos of the interior of the Nintendo World Store, including the above picture of Ryan being molested hugged by a giant Mario. They also snapped shots of people in the queue playing with their imported DS Lites (oh, the sweet fanboy irony), the first person to officially purchase a DS Lite in the U.S. and a functional Gulf War-damaged Game Boy.

Update: Should have been "Lite", not "lite."

JoystiqDS Lite launch partay! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jun 2006 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSDS liteDsLiteEngadgetGameCubelaunch partyLaunchPartyMarioNew YorkNewYorkNintendoPARTAY!Paul MillerPaulMillerRockefellerRockerfellerRyan BlockRyanBlockWiiSun, 11 Jun 2006 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Overheard in New York...]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/01/overheard-in-new-york/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/01/overheard-in-new-york/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/01/overheard-in-new-york/#commentsFiled under: ,

HydrolysisOverheard in New York (City) poster, Everclear, caught this snippet of a conversation on the 2 train near Borough Hall:

SAT* prepping kid #1: What's 'hydrolysis'?
SAT prepping kid #2: Dude, don't you play Grand Theft Auto? Hydrolysis is what makes the cars bump up and down.
SAT prepping kid #3: Um ... Hydrolysis is the splitting of things in water.
SAT prepping kid #2: Whatever. Same thing.

*standardized test

[Thanks Lex!]

JoystiqOverheard in New York... originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jun 2006 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Grand Theft AutoGrandTheftAutohydrolysisMTANew YorkNewYorkRockstarSATThu, 01 Jun 2006 15:55:00 EST