Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[CD Projekt Red teases futuristic RPG for tomorrow's livestream]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/cd-projekt-red-teases-futuristic-rpg-for-tomorrows-livestream/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/cd-projekt-red-teases-futuristic-rpg-for-tomorrows-livestream/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/cd-projekt-red-teases-futuristic-rpg-for-tomorrows-livestream/#comments ImageCD Projekt Red is working on something new in partnership with GOG.com, who had been traditionally much more apt at handling older things. Tomorrow a livestream press conference will reveal a new RPG with a futuristic setting, evidenced by Rayban Charles up there.

He's some concept art that CD Projekt Red released to tease tomorrow's stream, which you can catch over on Facebook or at thewitcher.com. And with the stream taking place over on the latter, that blip about The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf from earlier today seems like another candidate for an announcement tomorrow. The plot thickens.

The livestream takes place tomorrow at 1pm ET. To see the rest of Rayban's centerfold, you'll need to grab the hoverboard and cruise past the break.

Continue reading CD Projekt Red teases futuristic RPG for tomorrow's livestream

JoystiqCD Projekt Red teases futuristic RPG for tomorrow's livestream originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cd-projektcd-projekt-redgoggog.comrpgTue, 29 May 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo 3 review: Hitting the jackpot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-3-review-hitting-the-jackpot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-3-review-hitting-the-jackpot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-3-review-hitting-the-jackpot/#comments ImageHack-and-slash action RPGs, pioneered by Blizzard's Diablo, are essentially slot machines. You click the mouse, and every time you do there's a chance you'll get the loot you want . Yes, the trappings of role-playing and combat mechanics are there, weaker in some cases and stronger in others, but in terms of brain chemistry you're playing for the jackpot.

As anyone who's been to Vegas will tell you, there are different kinds of slot machines. There's the rickety old unit sitting in the gas station near the airport. And there's the junky Jokers Wild machines blinking and chirping in that one casino downtown, where the air smells too much like your grandmother's bathroom.

And then there are the machines in that one room in the Bellagio, where velvet seats wait underneath crystal chandeliers. That's where the shahs from Dubai come to play with thousand dollar tokens, where pretty ladies serve you drinks as you play, and where a private concierge will happily help you order up a steak, buy a Brooks Brothers suit, or get you anything else you might want. Blizzard's Diablo 3 is that Bellagio room, high stakes and luxurious and ready to cater to your every dungeon crawler need.

Gallery: Diablo 3 (10/21/11)

Continue reading Diablo 3 review: Hitting the jackpot

JoystiqDiablo 3 review: Hitting the jackpot originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgblizzarddiabloDiablo-3error-37onlinepcreal-money-auction-houserpgsocialMon, 21 May 2012 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Lionhead listing for 'MMO-like title for next generation consoles']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/lionhead-listing-for-mmo-like-title-for-next-generation-console/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/lionhead-listing-for-mmo-like-title-for-next-generation-console/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/lionhead-listing-for-mmo-like-title-for-next-generation-console/#comments ImageLionhead's latest job post brings up two salient points:
  • That listing for a multiplayer level designer with "a deep understanding of online multiplayer games" may encompass more than a simple FPS title with online capabilities.
  • Microsoft could be looking to bring MMOs to its console market in a big way.
The most recent want ad, spotted by Superannuation and since removed, described the potential game as an "MMO-like title" and an original IP for the "future generation of platforms." It "will be an RPG-based game with a radical new take on how co-operative and multiplayer gameplay feeds into the experience, while blending online and single-player into one complete experience," the listing read, as reported by MCV.

The title "will have a complex progression system, multiple routes through the campaign and an MMO-like multiplayer experience that will affect the outcome of the player experience, and many other attributes surrounding their profile (such as the environment and the outcome of certain actions)." Superannuation notes that it was labeled as a multithreaded RPG with four-player co-op.

Lionhead's specific use of "MMO-like" and the description's emphasis on a "radical new" genre leaves the game's direction open to interpretation, while nodding at the style of former creative lead Peter Molyneux.

MMOs can be a big gamble, even for an established studio, and especially if its audience is tethered to a single console unfamiliar with the genre as a whole. Good luck, Lionhead. You may need it.

JoystiqLionhead listing for 'MMO-like title for next generation consoles' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectLionheadLionhead-Studiosmicrosoftmmooriginal-iprpgxboxWed, 16 May 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CD Projekt Red hiring for RPG in a 'brand new setting']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/cd-projekt-red-hiring-for-rpg-in-a-brand-new-setting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/cd-projekt-red-hiring-for-rpg-in-a-brand-new-setting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/cd-projekt-red-hiring-for-rpg-in-a-brand-new-setting/#comments CD Projekt Red, the makers of The Witcher and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, has posted a boat-load of job openings for an unannounced "RPG in a brand new setting" over on its official blog. "We're looking for people who would rather work on an entirely new and different IP," reads the listing, "a vast RPG for which we want to assemble the best possible staff. It represents an opportunity for you to create a grand new project from the ground up!"

The listing also makes reference to the developer's existing "mature dark-fantasy world," distinguishing this new project as likely separate from The Witcher (at least in location), and as one for those who "can't stomach dwarves, elves or sorceresses who put their ample charms on display in Playboy magazine."

If you're an artist, programmer or designer looking for work in Poland, give it a shot! There's never any harm in trying. Well, unless you're trying to teach synchronized swimming to an uncooperative bear - there's probably a lot of harm in that.

JoystiqCD Projekt Red hiring for RPG in a 'brand new setting' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CD-Projektcd-projekt-redemploymenthiringjobsRPGthe-witcherthe-witcher-2the-witcher-2-assassins-of-kingsunannouncedSat, 12 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Indie-core' collective funding retro action-RPG on Kickstarter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/indie-core-collective-funding-retro-action-rpg-on-kickstarter/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/indie-core-collective-funding-retro-action-rpg-on-kickstarter/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/indie-core-collective-funding-retro-action-rpg-on-kickstarter/#commentsLegend of the Time Star has all the potential to be a brand new nostalgia bomb whose inherent paradox rips a hole in the thinly woven fabric of space and time itself, but only if we allow it to. We think that sounds like a pretty cool thing we'd like to witness, but in the end it's up to the larger community on Kickstarter to decide if this retro, side-scrolling action RPG will be made. It's kind of like building the atomic bomb, but with more citizen input.

Legend of the Time Star is in development by Attack Mountain, an "indie-core" collective based in New York City with the goal to "bring that warm, fuzzy feeling back to gaming by providing players with polished and engaging games that have just the right amount of old and new." The game itself features a protagonist named Hero, a villain who looks like Rasputin and a robust world built with a classic SNES RPG art style.

Attack Mountain is asking for $57,500 to create Legend of the Time Star, and with 21 days to go it has raised $5,700. Donate here if you're intrigued and follow progress on Attack Mountain's tumblr.

Joystiq'Indie-core' collective funding retro action-RPG on Kickstarter originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 May 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Action-RPGattack-mountainfundingindie-corekickstarterlegend-of-the-time-starNYCpcrpgsnesThu, 03 May 2012 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Why skills are in, attributes are out in modern role-playing games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/why-skills-are-in-attributes-are-out-in-modern-role-playing-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/why-skills-are-in-attributes-are-out-in-modern-role-playing-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/why-skills-are-in-attributes-are-out-in-modern-role-playing-gam/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This is a weekly column from freelancer Rowan Kaiser, which focuses on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
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It took four or five levels gained for me to realize something was different. I was playing the Diablo 3 open beta last weekend, merrily leveling my monk up, when I noticed that half the time a gained level just happened, without me needing to do anything. Sometimes I could choose new skills, yes, but I wasn't given five points to distribute to my core attributes like Strength, Vitality, etc. There's a little bit of text that notes which attributes have improved, but that's all. Diablo 3 isn't the only major recent role-playing game* to downplay the importance of its characters' core attributes. Mass Effect 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, both released within six months of Diablo 3, avoid core attributes entirely.

Skyrim and Mass Effect 3 don't include attributes at all, in fact, something that would have been unthinkable for a computer role-playing game at the dawn of the genre. But the lessened importance of attributes isn't necessarily a sign of the simplification of the genre (although that's often part of it). Instead, it's part of a trend in which skills, not attributes, serve as the most important statistical measure of an RPG character.

Continue reading Why skills are in, attributes are out in modern role-playing games

JoystiqWhy skills are in, attributes are out in modern role-playing games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnDiablo-3microsoftpcplaystationps3rpgxboxFri, 27 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What makes role-playing game combat good?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/what-makes-role-playing-game-combat-good/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/what-makes-role-playing-game-combat-good/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/what-makes-role-playing-game-combat-good/#commentsThis is a weekly column focusing on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
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Last week's column on changes in role-playing combat systems through history ruffled a few feathers, so I thought it would be a good idea to discuss what, in my opinion, makes for good RPG combat systems. I had no intention of sounding like I hated turn-based combat (since my two favorite RPGs use it!), or that every new game was better than old.

Responsiveness may be the single most important component of a good combat system. I mean "responsive" in a broad fashion, specifically encompassing four different forms of responsiveness that can all work together: pace, information, animation, and sound.

Responsive pace means that when you press the button to have something happen, that thing happens quickly. In Jagged Alliance 2, one of the greatest tactical RPGs of all time, you click your mouse and you immediately see what happens. Your choices register instantly. Or, in games like The Elder Scrolls: Arena and Daggerfall, your sword follows your mouse when you hold the attack button, and you see the effect instantly. On the other hand, there are games like Anachronox, a fascinating Ion Storm homage to Japanese classic Chrono Trigger. Anachronox does extremely well at setting a tone for the game with interesting characters and narrative, but its sluggish combat is a major drawback and renders the game extremely frustrating in battle-heavy areas.

Continue reading What makes role-playing game combat good?

JoystiqWhat makes role-playing game combat good? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcrowan-kaiserrpgrpgsFri, 06 Apr 2012 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Browserquest: an MMO tech demo made to work in browsers everywhere]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/browserquest-an-mmo-tech-demo-made-to-work-in-browsers-everywhe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/browserquest-an-mmo-tech-demo-made-to-work-in-browsers-everywhe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/browserquest-an-mmo-tech-demo-made-to-work-in-browsers-everywhe/#comments Browserquest is a game put together by Mozilla (the company behind the popular Firefox browser) and intended to show off WebSockets, a technology that allows constant communication between your browser and a server online. But outside of the tech, it's a nice little streamlined MMORPG. There's no story to speak of, but you can explore a beautiful world, meet NPCs, and kill creatures while upgrading your items.

Browserquest is also impressive because it's as cross-platform as these things get -- even just resizing your browser screen will change the way the HTML 5 game is displayed, so it works great on your big-screen monitor, mobile devices, or anything else you run it on. If you happen to be a coder, the full source is also available on Github, so you can see how it's all done, and even use that code to build your own games.

The graphics and gameplay are charming enough that you'll wish it was filled out more, but Browserquest already works as a template for what browser-based games might be like in the future.

JoystiqBrowserquest: an MMO tech demo made to work in browsers everywhere originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>githubmmorpgmobilemozillapcrpgtech-demowebsocketsThu, 29 Mar 2012 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo's Descendants]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/diablos-descendants/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/diablos-descendants/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/diablos-descendants/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This is a weekly column focusing on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
With Diablo 3's release date set, I decided to take a look back as the series' legacy --and play some of the better Western-style action/role-playing games around. Last week I talked about how Fallout, not Diablo, became the model for a generation of blockbuster role-playing games.

But Diablo did wield some influence. The first initial wave of clones didn't make much of a splash, but around the time Diablo II came out in 2000, the action/RPG style began to grab more attention. In 2002, Dungeon Siege and Divine Divinity were both released to some acclaim, but they never really fit the model of a Diablo clone. Dungeon Siege was as much Ultima VII and Baldur's Gate as it was Diablo, while Divine Divinity merged many concepts from Fallout and similar games with a real-time core. Missing from both? The constant clicking that, to me, defined Diablo.

Continue reading Diablo's Descendants

JoystiqDiablo's Descendants originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastiondeathspankdiablodiablo-3divine-divinitypcrowan-kaiserrpgtitan-questTue, 27 Mar 2012 20:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallout: The first modern role-playing game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/fallout-the-first-modern-role-playing-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/fallout-the-first-modern-role-playing-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/fallout-the-first-modern-role-playing-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This is a weekly column focusing on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
It wasn't supposed to be Fallout. After the role-playing game genre crashed in 1995, new models for the style began to appear. Smart money would have been on the wildly popular Diablo to become the trendsetter, where Fallout was an underdog from the start. At the 2012 Game Developers Conference, Fallout's lead producer, Tim Cain, described its creation: he was the only Interplay employee assigned to the game for months, it was almost canceled twice, and when it shipped Cain was told it was a "risk" despite the low level of company investment.

Despite all that, the original Fallout has become widely known as one of the greatest and most influential games of all time, and the model for the biggest RPGs of recent years. Several weeks ago I argued that Ultima was the most important game series of all time, but Ultima's influence through new games was almost gone in 1997. Fallout was its replacement; it was the first modern role-playing game.

Continue reading Fallout: The first modern role-playing game

JoystiqFallout: The first modern role-playing game originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>falloutinterplaypcrpgtim-cainFri, 16 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[You can now help fund Wasteland 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/you-can-now-help-fund-wasteland-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/you-can-now-help-fund-wasteland-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/you-can-now-help-fund-wasteland-2/#comments Fans of classic PC games (with a post-apocalyptic setting) can help fund a sequel to Wasteland starting today. Just as inXile head Brian Fargo promised, a Kickstarter page for Wasteland 2 is now live. The goal is $900,000 -- as of writing this post, $380,897 had been raised.

Wasteland 2 will be a DRM-free PC title. "It'll finally be the game worthy to be a Wasteland sequel, as challenging and rewarding as the original, with all added capacity and dazzle of games today," the Kickstarter page says. Many of the original designers are returning for the sequel, and Fallout composer Mark Morgan will create the tunes. Jason Anderson, co-creator of Fallout, will handle Wasteland 2's story.

Fans will be able to offer input during the development of Wasteland 2 through the forums. And of course there are the usual Kickstarter benefits, ranging from the soundtrack to various special boxed copies of Wasteland 2 and a collectible coin and cloth map. Wasteland 2 is slated to launch in October of 2013.

JoystiqYou can now help fund Wasteland 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inxile-entertainmentkickstarterpcrpgwastelandwasteland-2Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What can Japanese RPG developers learn from Rayman: Origins?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/what-can-japanese-rpg-developers-learn-from-rayman-origins/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/what-can-japanese-rpg-developers-learn-from-rayman-origins/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/what-can-japanese-rpg-developers-learn-from-rayman-origins/#commentsThis is a column by Kat Bailey dedicated to the analysis of the once beloved Japanese RPG sub-genre. Tune in every Wednesday for thoughts on white-haired villains, giant robots, Infinity+1 swords, and everything else the wonderful world of JRPGs has to offer.
I wish more Japanese RPGs were like Rayman: Origins.

Alright, I'll give you a moment to wrap your brain around that statement, then I'll explain. As most of you know, Rayman: Origins is a completely beautiful platformer that captures everything that is great about the genre -- precise controls, expansive levels, and high challenge. It's at the forefront of the genre's mini-renaissance, which has been ongoing for a few years now.

I want all that for Japanese RPGs. More to the point, I think that it can happen, if only an enterprising publisher or developer were to pick up the baton.

At the moment, I think there's something of a taboo against the classic form, at least among the larger developers. Even Dragon Quest -- long the bastion of reliability -- has been shaking things up with its multiplayer innovations. The unspoken mandate is that the genre must evolve or die.

Continue reading What can Japanese RPG developers learn from Rayman: Origins?

JoystiqWhat can Japanese RPG developers learn from Rayman: Origins? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsjrpgmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3rayman-originsrpgvitawiixboxFri, 09 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Etrian Odyssey IV coming to the 3DS in Japan, classes detailed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/etrian-odyssey-iv-coming-to-the-3ds-in-japan-classes-detailed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/etrian-odyssey-iv-coming-to-the-3ds-in-japan-classes-detailed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/etrian-odyssey-iv-coming-to-the-3ds-in-japan-classes-detailed/#comments Atlus has officially confirmed that Etrian Odyssey IV is on its way to the Nintendo 3DS in Japan later this year. The fourth in the series of popular RPGs (Etrian Odyssey 3 arrived in North America last year) will have an easier casual difficulty setting, and will boast seven different classes, including Rune Masters, Medics, Snipers, Swordsmen, Fortress units, and Dancers.

Art for the game is being provided by Nizo Yamamoto (one of the artists on Princess Mononoke). Etrian Odyssey veterans Yuji Himukai, Shin Nagasawa, and Yuzu Koshiro are also on board. Daisuke Kaneda, taking reins as game director, served as battle advisor on the original game and directed Trauma Team.

Atlus says the game will be out in Japan on July 5. Since older Etrian Odysseys have eventually found their way over to North America, there's a chance we'll see this one here too.

JoystiqEtrian Odyssey IV coming to the 3DS in Japan, classes detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsartatlusdsetrian-odysseyetrian-odyssey-3-the-drowned-citygamejapanjapanese-releasejrpgnintendorpgTue, 28 Feb 2012 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[inXile plans to launch Kickstarter drive for Wasteland reboot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/inxile-plans-to-launch-kickstarter-drive-for-wasteland-reboot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/inxile-plans-to-launch-kickstarter-drive-for-wasteland-reboot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/inxile-plans-to-launch-kickstarter-drive-for-wasteland-reboot/#comments Developers must have Kickstarter fever right now. After one of the most successful campaigns ever with Double Fine, inXile Entertainment has announced intentions to start its own Kickstarter fundraiser.

The Hunted: The Demon's Forge developer wants to use Kickstarter to fund a reboot of Wasteland, CEO Brian Fargo told IGN. Fargo, who recently acquired the rights to the classic PC RPG, is one of the creators -- apparently fans have been bugging him for a new game since they saw Double Fine achieve success. Soon after, Fargo was having meetings and mapping out a production schedule.

The idea is only 48 hours old at this point, but Fargo is on board. He likes the Kickstarter model since it would eradicate publisher influence on the project, but warns that a reboot would likely need a million dollars.

Fargo hopes to launch the Kickstarter campaign sometime next month.

JoystiqinXile plans to launch Kickstarter drive for Wasteland reboot originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-fargoinxile-entertainmentkickstarterpcrpgwastelandwasteland-2Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[East Is West: How Two Classic RPGs Prove the Stereotypes False]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/east-is-west-how-two-classic-rpgs-prove-the-stereotypes-false/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/east-is-west-how-two-classic-rpgs-prove-the-stereotypes-false/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/east-is-west-how-two-classic-rpgs-prove-the-stereotypes-false/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This is a weekly column focusing on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
"Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet," - Rudyard Kipling

Conventional wisdom holds that role-playing games are easily divided into two categories: Japanese and Western, or, before the technical lines got blurred a decade ago, console and computer games. We can name the stereotypes easily. JRPGs are story-based, WRPGs are system-based. JRPGs are action-based, fast, and simple, whereas WRPGs are strategic, slow, and complex. JRPGs have bright, cartoonish graphics and catchy music, WRPGs have realistic graphics and darker music. JRPGs linear, WRPGs open. In JRPGs, your characters are given to you, in WRPGS you create your characters. And so on.

It's not true, though. What's more, it never was.

Continue reading East Is West: How Two Classic RPGs Prove the Stereotypes False

JoystiqEast Is West: How Two Classic RPGs Prove the Stereotypes False originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betrayal-at-krondorcolumnlands-of-lorepcrowan-kaiserrpgThu, 16 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Side 'Cause It Looks Cool: The Failings of Moral Choice in Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/dark-side-cause-it-looks-cool-the-failings-of-moral-choice-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/dark-side-cause-it-looks-cool-the-failings-of-moral-choice-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/dark-side-cause-it-looks-cool-the-failings-of-moral-choice-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This is a weekly column focusing on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
Morality systems have become role-playing. Or at least, a significant amount of people have come to believe this. To take one example, this review of The Old Republic is premised on the concept that BioWare's style of moral choices are effective character-building mechanics. It's a fine review, but it's one that I can't agree with because I find the model of game morality used in The Old Republic and many other role-playing games ineffective at creating a moral system.

In order for a moral choice to have weight, it needs to have two components. First, meaningful choices have to cause the player to lose something in order to gain power. Something has to change, or be expected to change, within the game in order for the decision to matter. In Mass Effect, at one point in the game, you have to choose which of two party members to rescue - the other dies. Or, in Fallout: New Vegas, working with Caesar's Legion turns the New California Republic into an enemy, and vice versa.

Second, a moral choice has to be a difficult choice. The old adage "If doing the right thing were easy, everyone would do it" applies here. This is where games usually fail. They can do it with little choices, like with stealing even when you won't get caught in New Vegas. Take the owned items and you'll lose karma, which might be a small hit compared to the benefits of a new weapon. Alternately, in some games, honorable characters will simply refuse payment for quests, forcing money to be acquired by other means.

Continue reading Dark Side 'Cause It Looks Cool: The Failings of Moral Choice in Games

JoystiqDark Side 'Cause It Looks Cool: The Failings of Moral Choice in Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columndragon-age-originsfallout-new-vegasmass-effectmicrosoftpcplaystationps3rpgstar-wars-the-old-republicThe-Old-RepublicxboxFri, 10 Feb 2012 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhorse licenses CryEngine 3 for still-unannounced RPG jam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/warhorse-licenses-cryengine-3-for-still-unannounced-rpg-jam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/warhorse-licenses-cryengine-3-for-still-unannounced-rpg-jam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/warhorse-licenses-cryengine-3-for-still-unannounced-rpg-jam/#comments You remember Warhorse, right? The studio from Prague that's making that unannounced RPG for those unannounced next-gen consoles? Well it turns out the studio is employing Crytek's third CryEngine iteration for said unnamed project, according to a press release issued by Crytek earlier today.

Warhorse exec producer Martin Klima explained his studio's logic behind employing CryEngine 3 by saying, "We looked at every major technology out there and CryEngine 3 suits our needs perfectly." The Warhorse folks didn't offer any more information about the RPG in production, unfortunately, and we're betting it'll be some time before we hear anything more solid on the seemingly very early in production game. Thankfully we've got these infinite dragons and quests to deal with in Skyrim in the meantime!

Continue reading Warhorse licenses CryEngine 3 for still-unannounced RPG jam

JoystiqWarhorse licenses CryEngine 3 for still-unannounced RPG jam originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cryengine-3crytekmartin-klimarpgwarhorsewarhorse-studiosFri, 10 Feb 2012 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Rhythm Of The Quest in Fallout 3 and New Vegas]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-rhythm-of-the-quest-in-fallout-3-and-new-vegas/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-rhythm-of-the-quest-in-fallout-3-and-new-vegas/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-rhythm-of-the-quest-in-fallout-3-and-new-vegas/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This is a weekly column focusing on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
Have you ever been horribly frustrated by one part of a game, only to think of it as the best and most memorable section of that game in retrospect? It's the ruins of D.C. for me. I played Fallout 3 on the PC a year or so after release, so the first thing I did was load up on mods, introducing different play balance, graphics, more weapons, and most motivating of all, more music for Galaxy News Radio. But at the start of the game, GNR is in trouble and the station's signal is weak. So I went to fix it as soon as I could.

When I went into the ruins of D.C., I wasn't ready. By heading in that direction almost immediately, I skipped doing smaller-scale quests, which would have provided more experience and better equipment. D.C. was a slog. I scrambled for ammo, for health. I explored nooks and crannies that I didn't need to, because I hadn't even really figured out the game's compass yet. It was nail-bitingly tense, it was fresh, it was new, it took me hours. It was a pain, too. I died multiple times, but oh was it magnificent.

Continue reading The Rhythm Of The Quest in Fallout 3 and New Vegas

JoystiqThe Rhythm Of The Quest in Fallout 3 and New Vegas originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fallout-New-Vegasmicrosoftpcplaystationps3rowan-kaiserrpgxboxThu, 02 Feb 2012 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking Bad RPG concocted in video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/breaking-bad-rpg-concocted-in-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/breaking-bad-rpg-concocted-in-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/breaking-bad-rpg-concocted-in-video/#comments
Fans of Breaking Bad will find loads to love about this faux-game video created by College Humor: accurate character dialog, comical asides that break the fourth wall and perhaps the greatest Duck Hunt clone known to man. Chemistry!

JoystiqBreaking Bad RPG concocted in video originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amcamc-tvbreaking-badcollege-humorcollegehumormicrosoftrpgWed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima: Most. Important. Game Series. Ever.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/ultima-most-important-game-series-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/ultima-most-important-game-series-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/ultima-most-important-game-series-ever/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This is a weekly column focusing on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, and their inanity.
Hey there. Whatcha playing? No, actually, don't tell me. You're playing Ultima. You don't know you're playing Ultima, but you are. If you're playing an open-world game, you're dealing with Ultima. If you're playing a massively-multiplayer game, you're dealing with Ultima. If you're playing a game with a morality system, Ultima. Even something as simple as three-dimensional graphics - either in perspective or overall representation - have ties to Ultima. How?

Open-world gaming: From the beginning, the Ultima games took place in worlds which were as big as possible given the tech constraints. You traveled across swamps, oceans, and hills, discovering what the world had to offer. The world was rarely "gated", letting exploration proceed in a non-linear fashion. What's more, the developments of open-world gameplay throughout the course of the series presaged the open-world games to come.

Ultima VI (1990) may be the most important open-world game of all time. Previous games in the series had switched perspective based on your context - dungeons were first-person, combat was top-down, and exploration on the world map had a completely different scale than exploration of towns. In Ultima VI, perspective was consistent. Your party walked into a town in the same way that it walks through a dungeon. It was a seamless, consistent world, that felt lived-in, and that open-world games from Grand Theft Auto to Skyrim owe a huge debt to.

The deeper into the series you go, the more complex the world. Want to quit adventuring for a while and bake bread? You could do that. Want to explore dungeons that are totally irrelevant to the plot? That was an option. Grab a cannon and start slaughtering guards so you can steal everything in the town? Well, you could do that, but there were consequences.

Continue reading Ultima: Most. Important. Game Series. Ever.

JoystiqUltima: Most. Important. Game Series. Ever. originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcrowan-kaiserrpgultimawrpgThu, 26 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[King Arthur 2 demo fuses dark fantasy with deep strategy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/king-arthur-2-demo-fuses-dark-fantasy-with-deep-strategy/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/king-arthur-2-demo-fuses-dark-fantasy-with-deep-strategy/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/king-arthur-2-demo-fuses-dark-fantasy-with-deep-strategy/#comments King Arthur II: The Role-Playing Wargame combines the massive armies and strategic elements from games like Shogun 2: Total War and sets them in the dark fantasy world of Arthurian legend, complete with Sidhe (faeries), magic, and The Knights of the Round Table. The demo is available now, giving players a chance to see if they have what it takes to be king and hold Camelot together.

This demo includes the game's tutorial and first mission, which is about an hour's worth of gameplay. System requirements are shown after the jump.

Download the King Arthur 2 demo (1.66 GB)

Gallery: King Arthur II: The Role-Playing Wargame (PC)

Continue reading King Arthur 2 demo fuses dark fantasy with deep strategy

JoystiqKing Arthur 2 demo fuses dark fantasy with deep strategy originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demoking-arthur-2neocore-gamesParadox-InteractivepcrpgstrategyThu, 26 Jan 2012 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[State of the Western RPG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/state-of-the-western-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/state-of-the-western-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/state-of-the-western-rpg/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Greetings, readers, and welcome to Joystiq's new weekly column on western role-playing games! RPGs are usually my favorite games, and they have been for years. Beyond that, they're among the most popular and interesting games of any era. It's true for every generation of gaming, from Wizardry through Dungeon Master, Ultima, Fallout, Morrowind, and Dragon Age. No other genre has been so consistently important through every era of home video gaming.

But unlike adventure games or flight simulators, which have been driven into tiny niches, RPGs are still prominent. Skyrim, World Of Warcraft, and Mass Effect are among the most important games of this generation, which is not to mention cult hits like The Witcher or Torchlight.

Continue reading State of the Western RPG

JoystiqState of the Western RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3rowan-kaiserrpgxboxFri, 13 Jan 2012 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlestar Galactica, as retold by a 16-bit RPG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/battlestar-galactica-as-retold-by-a-16-bit-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/battlestar-galactica-as-retold-by-a-16-bit-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/battlestar-galactica-as-retold-by-a-16-bit-rpg/#comments
Feel like reliving the bizarre twists and turns of Battlestar Galactica without, you know, actually having to watch it again? College Humor has put together a handy (and fake) retro RPG that handily condenses the series' most memorable plot points (and holes). Oh, and: Spoiler warning. Duh.

JoystiqBattlestar Galactica, as retold by a 16-bit RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>16-bitbattlestar-galacticacomedyrpgsnessuper-nintendoFri, 06 Jan 2012 00:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Atlus teases new SRPG on Twitter, could be 'Gungnir']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/atlus-teases-new-srpg-on-twitter-likely-us-release-of-gungnir/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/atlus-teases-new-srpg-on-twitter-likely-us-release-of-gungnir/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/atlus-teases-new-srpg-on-twitter-likely-us-release-of-gungnir/#comments There's teasing and then there's just plain teasing. Atlus is engaging in what must certainly be the much more annoying second kind by outright daring its Twitter followers to guess the company's next release, and giving them only three tidbits of information to go on. It's a strategy RPG title (good), it starts with "G," and ends with "R."

Intrepid Atlus followers have two main guesses: First, a new Growlanser game, part of the tactical RPG series which Atlus has published in Japan in the past. Or (and this seems somewhat more likely) a game called Gungnir (subtitled Inferno of the Demon Lance and the War of Heroes), which Atlus published earlier this year in Japan. Most of the titles in the Dept. Heaven series have already been published in the US in some form, so it makes sense that Atlus would be publishing this one as well.

Did we guess right, Atlus? Enough with the teasing!

JoystiqAtlus teases new SRPG on Twitter, could be 'Gungnir' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlusgrowlansergungnirjapanpublishrpgseriesstrategy-rpgtactical-rpgususaWed, 14 Dec 2011 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott talking with EA about Ultima Online 2 [update: apparently not]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/garriott-talking-with-ea-about-ultima-online-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/garriott-talking-with-ea-about-ultima-online-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/garriott-talking-with-ea-about-ultima-online-2/#comments There's been a lot of talk lately about new and bold MMOs, ones which feature angel-people, Jedi and pandas. But what about games that feature real-ass gaming industry visionaries operating under a pseudonym? More specifically: What about Lord British? His reign may not have come to an end quite yet: In an interview with Eurogamer, Richard Garriott explained that he's currently talking to EA about publishing a new entry in the Ultima Online franchise.

"I would love to have access to the Ultima property," Garriott explained. "We've had discussions at very high levels with Electronic Arts about access to the property." He explained that "counter-forces" at the company have been hesitant about such an undertaking, adding, "So far we've not put a deal together, but of course, yeah, I would be very open to it." Check out the full interview for what Garriott has in mind besides medieval real estate and spaceships.

Update: EA head of corporate communications Jeff Brown recently contradicted Garriott's statements to IndustryGamers, explaining, "I'm not sure what Richard Garriott is referring to. But no one at EA is discussing partnership or licensing opportunities related to the Ultima Online franchise."

A spokesperson for Garriott further clarified, "Richard is not CURRENTLY having conversations at high levels with Electronic Arts regarding the Ultima franchise. He never said that he is. I can assure you, however, that those conversations have taken place in the past." This seemingly contradicts Garriott's sentiment that "We're in discussions with Electronic Arts even now about a possible marketing and distribution relationships and things of this nature," though we suppose he could have been talking about his Ultimate Collector project, the title of which does start with "Ultima."

JoystiqGarriott talking with EA about Ultima Online 2 [update: apparently not] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eammorpgpcrichard-garriottrpgultimaultima-onlineTue, 13 Dec 2011 23:31:00 EST<![CDATA[What makes JRPGs worth playing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/what-makes-jrpgs-worth-playing/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/what-makes-jrpgs-worth-playing/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/what-makes-jrpgs-worth-playing/#commentsThis is a column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that.
It's easy to think of a role-playing game as an amalgamation of two main components, narrative and gameplay, jammed together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes they fit together nicely; other times they're as awkward and frustrating as that one weirdly-shaped Tetris block that always falls into the gap where you need an L.

I'm sure you've seen the message board posts. Declarations like "well, the mechanics are OK but the story is great" or "the characters suck but I love the combat" are frequently dropped everywhere from NeoGAF to GameFAQs. Gamers have this tendency to turn games into mathematical equations, breaking them into lists of components like "presentation" and "mechanics" and judging each one on its own merits.

The problem with this attitude is that it ignores everything that makes Japanese role-playing games great. When you cut a JRPG into sections, it is resoundingly subpar. Books have better stories. Platformers have more engaging mechanics. Movies have much more elegant presentation.

So why do we play JRPGs? Because the good ones are better than the sum of their parts.

Continue reading What makes JRPGs worth playing

JoystiqWhat makes JRPGs worth playing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialjapanese-role-playing-gamejrpgjrpgsrpgFri, 09 Dec 2011 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Game of Thrones heading to Europe via Focus Home Interactive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/game-of-thrones-heading-to-europe-via-focus-home-interactive/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/game-of-thrones-heading-to-europe-via-focus-home-interactive/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/game-of-thrones-heading-to-europe-via-focus-home-interactive/#comments Though it'll take place in the periphery of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels, Cyanide Studio's role-playing Game of Thrones looks to convey the grim "ambience" that goes with the author's merciless body count. Atlus is publishing it on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC next year in North America, while Focus Home Interactive takes custody in Europe.

Cyanide's "most ambitious project" offers an assortment of classes, fighting styles, loot and equipment augmentations, but more interestingly promises access to lethal political skills. The press release warns never to "underestimate the power of a silver tongue to solve a critical situation."

Well, that's assuming "lethal" political skills and a "silver tongue" aren't simply euphemisms for decapitating your opponents mid-conversation -- just how we used to do it in the varsity debate team.

Gallery: Game of Thrones (PC/360/PS3)

Continue reading Game of Thrones heading to Europe via Focus Home Interactive

JoystiqGame of Thrones heading to Europe via Focus Home Interactive originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012a-game-of-thronesa-game-of-thrones-rpgatluscyanide-studiocyanide-studioseuropefocus-home-interactivegame-of-thrones-rpgmicrosoftpcplaystationps3rpgxboxMon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[KlickNation is no more; long live BioWare Sacramento]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/klicknation-is-no-more-long-live-bioware-sacramento/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/klicknation-is-no-more-long-live-bioware-sacramento/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/klicknation-is-no-more-long-live-bioware-sacramento/#comments If you've made a habit of frequenting the free-to-play worlds of Six Gun Galaxy, Age of Champions or Starship Command, you're probably familiar with their developer, KlickNation. Then again, maybe you aren't -- but you're about to be. The independent social game developer was recently acquired by EA and, as is their custom, given it a regionally appropriate rebranding as part of one of EA's development branches. Behold: BioWare Sacramento.

KlickNation co-founder Mark Otero added in a press release, "Joining with BioWare and EA is an opportunity to realize our vision for bringing high-quality RPG titles to the fast-growing, highly-engaged core gamers looking for deeper experiences on social platforms." You think that's what we're looking for? No way, man. We're just looking for new and exciting ways to ask our real-life friends to help us water virtual eggplants.

JoystiqKlickNation is no more; long live BioWare Sacramento originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-sacramentoeafree-to-playklicknationpcrpgsocialSat, 03 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DeNA and Square Enix bringing Final Fantasy Brigade to Japan's smartphones]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/dena-and-square-enix-bringing-final-fantasy-brigade-to-japans-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/dena-and-square-enix-bringing-final-fantasy-brigade-to-japans-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/dena-and-square-enix-bringing-final-fantasy-brigade-to-japans-s/#comments Square Enix's smartphone-based social RPG, formerly titled Final Fantasy x Mobage, was detailed and properly titled during a recent press conference hosted by Japanese cell network operator DeNA. It's now titled Final Fantasy Brigade, and will allow players to team up with their friends' characters and perform quests while exploring the world, unlocking series-standard jobs and summons along the way.

You can check out a few screens (like the one posted above) over at 4Gamer, and take a moment to soak in its Theatrhythm-esque charm. Or, you know, be completely disgusted by it. We're not going to tell you how to live.

JoystiqDeNA and Square Enix bringing Final Fantasy Brigade to Japan's smartphones originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>denafinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-brigadejapanmobagemobilerpgFri, 02 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xenoblade Chronicles arrives in the US in 'April 2012' [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/xenoblade-chronicles-america-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/xenoblade-chronicles-america-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/xenoblade-chronicles-america-release-date/#comments
After this morning's accidental retail reveal of Xenoblade Chronicles coming to North America, Nintendo has made the game's launch official, pinning an "April 2012" release date to the much hyped Wii RPG. Nintendo teased the reveal earlier today with a new gallery of Xenoblade artwork that mysteriously popped up on Facebook, though at the time there was no news attached to said tease.

Despite Nintendo not giving a date to the game, this morning's image indicated an April 3 launch. GameStop's website, however, reflects an April 2 date, post-official announce. We're just gonna go with "early April" for now.

So, after this, now all the Operation Rainfall folks need to do is get those other two Wii RPGs to come out in the US, and we'll be all set! We'll get right back to helping with that just as soon as we get through Skyward Sword and Xenoblade Chronicles. In, like, 120 hours, give or take.

Update: According to the official PR that Nintendo of America just sent out, the game will be sold exclusively through GameStop retail outlets and Nintendo.com's website for $49.99.

JoystiqXenoblade Chronicles arrives in the US in 'April 2012' [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookmonolith-softmonolithsoftnintendoq2-2012release-daterpgwiixenobladexenoblade-chroniclesFri, 02 Dec 2011 13:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIII-2 trailer shows off combat system improvements]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/final-fantasy-xiii-2-trailer-shows-off-combat-system-improvement/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/final-fantasy-xiii-2-trailer-shows-off-combat-system-improvement/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/final-fantasy-xiii-2-trailer-shows-off-combat-system-improvement/#comments
Final Fantasy XIII-2 won't just append an additional number and some monster-collecting mechanics to the (thirteenth) original, you know. Check out the trailer above to see the "Enhanced" combat system in action. (Read: Quick-Time Events!)

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII-2 (12/1/11)

JoystiqFinal Fantasy XIII-2 trailer shows off combat system improvements originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasy-xiiifinal-fantasy-xiii-2microsoftplaystationps3rpgsquaresquare-enixxboxThu, 01 Dec 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Europeans get their own transforming weapon for Final Fantasy XIII-2 pre-order]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/europeans-get-their-own-transforming-weapon-for-final-fantasy-xi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/europeans-get-their-own-transforming-weapon-for-final-fantasy-xi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/europeans-get-their-own-transforming-weapon-for-final-fantasy-xi/#comments What is it with Square Enix and transforming weaponry? Gun swords and bow swords and now a spear sword? What's next, a gun that shoots swords? Actually, that doesn't sound half bad, but we digress.

Not to be mistaken with GameStop's PowerUp Rewards member-exclusive transforming Genji Bow, the above weapon will be available to those who pre-order Final Fantasy XIII-2 from select European retailers, Square Enix reveals. It's the Muramasa, a combination dual-blade and spear weapon for Noel that increases chain bonuses in battle.

JoystiqEuropeans get their own transforming weapon for Final Fantasy XIII-2 pre-order originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcfinal-fantasy-xiii-2muramasapre-order-bonusrpgsquare-enixTue, 22 Nov 2011 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Skyrim console commands give the unlimited power you crave]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/skyrim-console-commands-give-the-unlimited-power-you-crave/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/skyrim-console-commands-give-the-unlimited-power-you-crave/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/skyrim-console-commands-give-the-unlimited-power-you-crave/#comments Players who have already dipped into the seemingly infinite world of Skyrim already know the power of words. For instance, a clearly-spoken "Fus" has the ability to send the contents of a meticulously set dinner table into an adjacent room. Despite the strength of your shouts, there's another language that carries even more otherworldly potency: Console commands.

PC Gamer has corralled all the console commands for the PC (duh) version of Skyrim; a codex which includes spells like "sexchange" (which changes your character's gender) and "killall" (which kills all things). Give them a look, provided you're playing the appropriate version of Bethesda's epic RPG, and are also a cheater-cheater-pumpkin-eater.

JoystiqSkyrim console commands give the unlimited power you crave originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaBethesda-Softworkscheatsconsole-commandselder-scrolls-5pcrpgskyrimthe-elder-scrolls-v-skyrimFri, 18 Nov 2011 12:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens are exactly what you need]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/final-fantasy-xiii-2-screens-are-exactly-what-you-need/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/final-fantasy-xiii-2-screens-are-exactly-what-you-need/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/final-fantasy-xiii-2-screens-are-exactly-what-you-need/#comments Admit it: There's a hole in your heart that's just waiting to be filled with obscenely pretty environments, effeminate hairstyles and inscrutable RPG progression systems. We got you -- or rather, the Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens located in the gallery below got you.

Continue reading Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens are exactly what you need

JoystiqFinal Fantasy XIII-2 screens are exactly what you need originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftplaystationps3rpgsquare-enixxboxThu, 17 Nov 2011 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Fatshark announces Krater, a post-apocalyptic RPG coming to PC in 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/fatshark-announces-krater-a-post-apocalyptic-rpg-coming-to-pc-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/fatshark-announces-krater-a-post-apocalyptic-rpg-coming-to-pc-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/fatshark-announces-krater-a-post-apocalyptic-rpg-coming-to-pc-i/#comments
Believe it or not, Fatshark has had the same game on its mind for ten years. It's called Krater, a top-down RPG focusing on crafting, exploration and consequence. "Consequence brings not only the ability for the characters to level up and improve themselves, but also permanent injuries and death," the press release reads.

Fatshark gave IGN additional details, including the post-war-torn and bio-weapons-ravaged Sweden the game takes place in. A weapon leaves a gigantic crater in the earth, revealing fresh drinking water and an oasis in an otherwise barren land. Players should expect both single-player and multiplayer missions, and a 2012 launch on the PC via Steam.

Gallery: Krater

Continue reading Fatshark announces Krater, a post-apocalyptic RPG coming to PC in 2012

JoystiqFatshark announces Krater, a post-apocalyptic RPG coming to PC in 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012fatsharkkraterpcrpgsteamFri, 04 Nov 2011 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy 5 and 6 all coming to PSN in coming weeks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/chrono-cross-final-fantasy-5-and-6-all-coming-to-psn-in-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/chrono-cross-final-fantasy-5-and-6-all-coming-to-psn-in-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/chrono-cross-final-fantasy-5-and-6-all-coming-to-psn-in-coming/#comments If you, like us, have felt jilted as other territories received a glut of Square Enix RPGs while the U.S. got table scraps, it's time to relieve yourself of your worries. PlayStation Blog has just announced the "Winter of RPGs" campaign, which will see the release of three much-desired PSOne Classics on the PSN: Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy 5 and Final Fantasy 6.

You'll be able to grab the character-rich Chrono Cross next Tuesday, November 8, the career-oriented Final Fantasy 5 on November 22, and the positively operatic Final Fantasy 6 on December 6. It's nice that they'll finally be on there -- though forcing them to compete for our free time with Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3 and Assassin's Creed: Revelations seems, well, kind of mean.

JoystiqChrono Cross, Final Fantasy 5 and 6 all coming to PSN in coming weeks originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrono-crossfinal-fantasy-5final-fantasy-6final-fantasy-vfinal-fantasy-viplaystationps3psnpsone-classicspspq4-2011release-daterpgsonysquare-enixThu, 03 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dungeon Defenders dev diary gets to the RPG meat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/dungeon-defenders-dev-diary-gets-to-the-rpg-meat/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/dungeon-defenders-dev-diary-gets-to-the-rpg-meat/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/dungeon-defenders-dev-diary-gets-to-the-rpg-meat/#comments
Want to know how you'll be able to upgrade, customize, bolster and generally bad-assify your hero in Dungeon Defenders? Wonder no more: The developer diary posted above dives into the specifics of the game's cornucopia of RPG mechanics.

JoystiqDungeon Defenders dev diary gets to the RPG meat originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>D3Publisherdev-diarydungeon-defendersmicrosoftreverb-publishingrpgtrendy-entertainmentxboxWed, 12 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The RPG/RTS that Irrational never made: 'Dungeon Duel']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/the-rpg-rts-that-irrational-never-made-dungeon-duel/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/the-rpg-rts-that-irrational-never-made-dungeon-duel/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/the-rpg-rts-that-irrational-never-made-dungeon-duel/#comments Back in 2002, the folks leading up development of next year's highly anticipated, high-flying FPS, BioShock Infinite, were hard at work on a game that never made it off the ground. It was a role-playing game crossed with a real-time strategy title, and it was aimed at consoles. As revealed on the Irrational Games blog, the game was known as "Dungeon Duel" never got past the concept stage.

The gameplay seems to be a mix of dungeon crawl and card-based strategy, with cards representing actual monsters and spells rather than operating on a numbers level. Combat was described as both "fast-paced" and "real-time," though the design doc fails to go into too much detail -- it's an early pitch, after all. A handful of concept art shots and in-game artwork were also made available, which you can see over on the Irrational blog.

JoystiqThe RPG/RTS that Irrational never made: 'Dungeon Duel' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamescanceledcancelleddungeon-duelirrationalirrational-gamesrpgrtsFri, 23 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of Apocalypse commands you to check out his screens, trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/lord-of-apocalypse-commands-you-to-check-out-his-screens-traile/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/lord-of-apocalypse-commands-you-to-check-out-his-screens-traile/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/lord-of-apocalypse-commands-you-to-check-out-his-screens-traile/#comments
One of the two new games Square Enix announced for the Vita (in this case, also for the vanilla PSP), Lord of Apocalypse looks to be another JRPG affair, full of love, loss and betrayal -- at least, that's what we assume. All of this stuff is in Japanese!

Gallery: Lord of Apocalypse (TGS 2011)

JoystiqLord of Apocalypse commands you to check out his screens, trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 02:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jrpglord-of-apocalypseplaystationplaystation-vitaps-vitapsprpgsonysquare-enixtgs-2011vitaSat, 17 Sep 2011 02:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Bravely Default: Flying Fairy summons screens and a Japanese trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/bravely-default-flying-fairy-summons-screens-and-a-japanese-tra/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/bravely-default-flying-fairy-summons-screens-and-a-japanese-tra/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/bravely-default-flying-fairy-summons-screens-and-a-japanese-tra/#comments
We know that Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is among the least descriptive titles ever applied to a video game -- that's why Square Enix and Nintendo decided to release a few screenshots and a Japanese trailer to accompany the RPG's announcement. How sweet of them!

Continue reading Bravely Default: Flying Fairy summons screens and a Japanese trailer

JoystiqBravely Default: Flying Fairy summons screens and a Japanese trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsbravely-default-flying-fairydsnintendorpgsquare-enixtgs-2011Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST