Joystiq

Rumor: FarmVille 2 revealed by resume

Mike Schramm — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

A San Francisco copywriter's resume appears to hint that Zynga has given the green light to making a sequel to its popular flagship Farmville title. Writer Alex Harvey, while listing out his work for "communications agency" Isobar, says he participated in the "successful" pitch for Farmville 2. That tells us that Farmville 2 was at one point a suggested thing, and that Zynga has said yes to it becoming a real thing.

For now, that's all we know. It's probably fair to say, however, that there will be cows, and you will click them.

Update: We reached out to Zynga to ask if there was any news on this front, but the company declined to comment on "rumors and speculation." Fair enough.

Rumor: FarmVille 2 revealed by resume originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tex Murphy may be revived as a Kickstarter proposal

Mike Schramm — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST

Before we say anything here, make sure you've got a firm grasp on your wallet because it might just jump out of your pocket. The odds are very good that Tex Murphy is coming back in a new game ... funded by Kickstarter. Whoa there! Hang on to that wallet, there's no place to spend your money just yet, kid!

As announced by the trailer above, Big Finish Games indeed has plans to start up a Kickstarter page on May 15, and try to round up fan-based funding for a sixth game in the fondly remembered full-motion video adventure series. What they're asking for right now is ideas on what to offer in the Kickstarter campaign, as well as written or video testimonials from fans extolling the series' virtues, to be delivered to the company's contact page.

On May 15, the page is supposed to go live, and at that point you can donate to your heart's content. Chris Jones, who both designed the games and plays Tex Murphy himself, is obviously on board, because you can see him mugging in character with the latest People magazine right there in the video.

Tex Murphy may be revived as a Kickstarter proposal originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Baldur's Gate teaser site gets a countdown and a soundtrack

Mike Schramm — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:15:00 EST

BaldursGate.com just appeared back at the end of February with naught more than a poem and a rumor, and it's lain dormant since then -- until now. Just this evening, a countdown has appeared on the site, along with a tune (more on that in a second), both that seem to be hinting at a big reveal coming up in just about twelve hours from now, at 11am Pacific on Thursday morning.

The music, which is reminiscent of the theme from the legendary singleplayer RPG (and sounds great) is indeed linked to a file on Beamdog.com, which is former BioWare designer Trent Oster's website, and has previously published an enhanced remake of BioWare's MDK2. Considering that the sound file is actually located at "files/overhaul/theme.mp3," it's probably a good bet that the announcement is some sort of Baldur's Gate remake from Oster's studio, Overhaul Games.

For exactly what platforms however (PC, iOS, or even consoles), we'll have to wait until the official word arrives. The good news is that there's not too long to wait. If you hurry, you can listen to the minute-long theme music about 720 more times before the big reveal arrives.

Baldur's Gate teaser site gets a countdown and a soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: THQ reduces AU staff by 14, Japan office set to close [update: THQ responds]

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

One "anonymous source" speaking to Kotaku's Australian arm believes that more layoffs are affecting THQ, this time specifically targeting 14 AU-based employees and the remainders of the company's Japan-based office. As has been the company line throughout the the past week of intermittent layoffs, "THQ's five internal studios have not ben affected," the piece says, referencing THQ San Diego, Relic, Volition, Vigil and THQ Montreal.

The rumor seemingly falls in step with last week's news of "administrative and publishing departments" being affected, as THQ's Australian and Japanese presence amounts to little more than distribution offices. The rumors follow two confirmed rounds of layoffs at the ailing publisher, whose stock price is trading at roughly $.70 currently.

THQ had yet to return request for comment as of publishing, but we'll update this post as we hear more. The publisher will report its financial third quarter results this Thursday, where it's promising more information about recent restructuring.

Update: THQ issued a response to Joystiq, which reads: "The actions in APAC [Asia-Pacific] are related to our reduction in force from last week - same statement applies. However, 'closing' is not accurate as we still have staff on the ground there and our OZ office has always handled our business relationships in APAC."

Rumor: THQ reduces AU staff by 14, Japan office set to close [update: THQ responds] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pokemon Plus Nobunaga's Ambition could have been Dynasty Warriors: Pokemon

Mike Schramm — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:00:00 EST

The newest Pokemon title will combine Nintendo's popular catch-em-all creatures with the Japanese historical setting of Nobunaga's Ambition, but it turns out that wasn't the first choice of historical periods. Originally, according to the latest Famitsu, the spinoff was going to combine Pokemon with the very popular Tecmo Koei Dynasty Warriors series and its historical setting, which is instead based on the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history.

Nintendo felt the Dynasty Warriors series was a little too violent to be matched up with its cute little creatures, however, and so Tecmo Koei pitched the series known more for strategy than action, which Nintendo eventually agreed with. Famitsu also says that though both companies are working on the game, Tecmo Koei is heading up day-to-day development during production.

Pokemon Plus Nobunaga's Ambition could have been Dynasty Warriors: Pokemon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Sony working on a Smash Bros-esque fighter featuring Sony all-stars

Jordan Mallory — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:40:00 EST

The hat of "Sony Mascot" has been worn by many, many different critters and folk since the days of Crash Bandicoot and, uh, Croc. In fact, Sony's stable of lovable household names is so fully stocked that they've decided to pit their creations against one another to determine who lives and who dies.

Okay so, that last part might be a little hyperbolic, but the rumor mill is operating at full capacity over Title Fight, a Super Smash Bros.-ish cross-franchise brawler reportedly in development at SuperBot Entertainment, according to The Paul Gale Network. If rumors are to be believed, the game will feature a cast of Sony-console specific characters like Nathan Drake, Sweet Tooth, Sly Cooper, that guy from Killzone and Fat Princess. Fights will take place in various Sony related locations such as Sandover Village or a golf course from Hot Shots Golf.

The gallery of images below, which shows Sweet Tooth, a blank female form that may or may not be Heavenly Sword's Nariko and a debug screen that mentions Kratos, were tweeted (and subsequently deleted) by SuperBot Entertainment's senior level designer Chris Molina. Apparently, this hullabaloo is also what that franchise-rich teaser trailer from September was all about, which would also indicate the inclusion of Parappa the Rapper, as well as a representative from FOXHOUND.

If all this pans out, Title Fight will be the latest in a long, proud history of SCEA-published fighting games like Battle Arena Toshinden and Cardinal Syn. We'll keep our ear to the ground for more as this story develops.

Gallery: Title Fight (Tentative, Leaked)

Rumor: Sony working on a Smash Bros-esque fighter featuring Sony all-stars originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Ned Luke is GTA V's leading man

Mike Schramm — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:30:00 EST

That man above is actor Ned Luke, whose Internet Movie Database page now lists him as playing a character named Alberto De Silva, whom fans believe is the gravelly-voiced lead in the trailer for Grand Theft Auto 5. The connection was also mentioned in a tweet by an actor named Jimmy Taenaka, who says his friend Luke is "the lead voice and profile" in the new Rockstar game. You can also watch Luke's demo reel on IMDb, and while we're not experts in bioacoustics, he certainly looks and sounds like our guy.

Rockstar hasn't yet confirmed the voice or portrayal, and while a Twitter account attributed to Luke appeared for a short time (probably a hoax), it's since been deleted completely. It's not clear why all the secrecy, however; if Luke is our guy, he seems like a fine choice for a Dad looking to make good on a life of crime.

Rumor: Ned Luke is GTA V's leading man originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mass Effect 3 Private Beta live now for some Xbox Live users (Update: more pictures, more users)

Arthur Gies — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:35:00 EST

According to a tipster, some Xbox Live users who received access to the Dashboard Preview Program today had another surprise waiting for them: early access to the Mass Effect 3 Beta. We haven't gotten official confirmation from EA yet, so we can't confirm with one hundred percent certainty whether or not this is really-real. The picture is, um, pretty convincing, though.

EA announced the Mass Effect 3 Beta/demo a short time ago, specifying that it would eventually be open to all, but available early to purchasers of Battlefield 3. We guess it didn't mean available earlier-est.

Update: Well, that didn't take long. Lightning fast posters over at NeoGAF have downloaded the client and have started posting pictures.

Continue reading Mass Effect 3 Private Beta live now for some Xbox Live users (Update: more pictures, more users)

Mass Effect 3 Private Beta live now for some Xbox Live users (Update: more pictures, more users) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Disney trademarks Castle of Illusion, but M-I-C-K-E-why?

Mike Schramm — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:00:00 EST

Disney has put in a new trademark request for the term "Castle of Illusion," which presumably refers to the old Sega Genesis game, Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse. The trademark is specifically targeted at video game software.

We're not sure what Disney intends to use this trademark for, if anything. It could be a brand new release also set in the castle that Mickey platformed through while trying to save Minnie, or it could be a re-release of the old game on a new platform, like Virtual Console release or even iOS. Whatever its release plans, Disney is apparently laying out the legal groundwork for something.

Disney trademarks Castle of Illusion, but M-I-C-K-E-why? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mysterious Gears of War 3 maps revealed by leaderboard, no you can't play them

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST

Gears of War 3 may not see its first infusion of downloadable goodness until November, but the xenophobic chainsaw sculpting simulator may have already given us a glimpse at the battles yet to come: Tucked away in the leaderboards are listings for three unannounced and currently inaccessible maps: Rustlung, Azura, and Blood Drive.

Now, we're not entirely prepared to call this thing a duck, despite its rather convincing quacking. These maps could be part of a future DLC pack, true, but they could just as easily be developer levels used for testing; maps which will never, ever be released to the public. For now, all we can do is wait, and speculate.

[Thanks, Laurence!]

Gallery: Gears of War 3 (Azura, Blood Drive and Rustlung)

Mysterious Gears of War 3 maps revealed by leaderboard, no you can't play them originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nyko Zoom potentially delayed one month [update]

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

Look honey, we know you're anxious to start waving your arms around, but your Kinect might need a little more time to get over its fear of intimacy. We know you were hoping the Nyko Zoom, the close-encounters enabling Kinect lens cover, would bridge the gap between you two. We know you've been looking forward to that August 13 release date with bated breath, but it looks like you're going to have to wait a little longer.

According to Amazon and Gamestop listings for the product, the peripheral-peripheral's launch has been pushed back until September 13. We've reached out to Nyko for confirmation, but at the moment it looks like your tiny dormroom will remain Kinectimals-free for another month. Your Kinect loves you, it really does, it just needs its space right now, you know?

Update: We've heard back from Nyko, and things are exactly as they seem: "Due to overwhelming demand from consumers and retailers we're increasing our initial production run and pushing the launch date back accordingly to ensure that all our partners are adequately supplied on launch day."

[Thanks, Sacra!]

Nyko Zoom potentially delayed one month [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mass Effect 3 will/won't have multiplayer, part 4: Xbox World cover edition

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST

First it did, and then it didn't, and then it might, and now it seems the plot has thickened once again. Mass Effect 3's on-again-off-again love affair with multiplayer is decidedly on again, as the cover of Xbox World Issue 108 (above) teases new multiplayer details, indicating that hey, this game has multiplayer. We're hoping this means BioWare has finally listened to our mailing campaign and implemented an Xbox Live/PSN-enabled head-to-head argument mode.

Mass Effect 3 will/won't have multiplayer, part 4: Xbox World cover edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Games at Google service revealed in job listing

Mike Schramm — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:20:00 EST

Search engine giant Google is apparently looking to get even further into the gaming market, according to a job listing on its corporate site. The prospective employee would serve as a Product Manager for Games at Google, and "design strategies for game distribution and discovery, player identity, game mechanics, and more" as well as "initiate and prioritize projects within engineering, assist in determining the best technical implementation methods, track product development, and develop product launch plans."

Unfortunately, there's not much to go on so far -- the listing does refer to a "gaming platform" at Google, as well as "developer relations," so in between the lines here there's the idea of some service that would involve other developers in some way. But whether that means games actually developed and released by Google or just a portal to games online, we'll have to wait and see.

Games at Google service revealed in job listing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: New God of War coming September 2012, PSM3 says

Mike Schramm — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:15:00 EST

Look, PSM3, can't you just be happy with the crowded slate of titles we're already expecting in 2011? Do you really need to start stoking the fires for 2012? Whether we want it to or not, the UK-based magazine is fanning the flames on rumors of a new God of War for PS3 early, citing a source who claims the game will be out in September of 2012.

Sure, we've heard murmurs about another installment in the franchise, and Sony Santa Monica is supposedly looking into online functionality in a future title, but who says the studio has to make another God of War? It's not like the last one sold that well or anything. What? Oh.

Rumor: New God of War coming September 2012, PSM3 says originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Alleged Dance Central 2 survey hints at potential feature list

Mike Schramm — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST

Pretty dark days over at Harmonix recently, but apparently the developer isn't letting the gloom get to its creativity. Kotaku says it has in its possession an email survey from Microsoft Games Studios containing a nice long list of possible features for Dance Central 2, the sequel that's been in "pre-production" since last year.

The suggestions run the gamut, from the ability to create custom dances and play as backup dancers -- or even singers! -- to more convenient features like the ability to replay certain sequences or get more specific feedback on your dancing. The survey is also said to mention a number of new game types, including a possible "fitness mode" and a number of online / offline multiplayer contests. Players may be able to connect socially, either through the game itself as Xbox Live Avatars or video silhouettes, or through social networks by sharing video and photos of their dancing.

~~If you've received the survey in question, drop us a line at~~ ~~tips@joystiq.com~~ ~~and attach a screenshot of it. Doing so will have us dancing with gratitude!~~ Thanks to Spencer for the screengrabs below!

Gallery: Dance Central 2 survey

Alleged Dance Central 2 survey hints at potential feature list originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Raven's Bond game shows up in animator's reel

Justin McElroy — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:12:00 EST

Rumors started circulating yesterday about the rebirth of a Raven-developed James Bond game. Today, a poster on NeoGAF has unearthed footage that could very well be from that project in the demo reel of Hanjin Song, an animator on Raven's recent sci-fi FPS, Singularity.

While the gameplay bears a surface resemblance to Bizarre Creations' just-released James Bond 007: Blood Stone, the screencap above show's a different UI, a new environment and what appears to be a more detailed model of Bond star Daniel Craig. In Song's clip, we see the super spy engaging in some death-defying parkour, sneaking around behind cover and, of course, shooting incompetent minions.

We haven't heard back from Activision nor Song -- so don't start pre-ordering just yet -- but if we're not looking at the rumored Raven project, we're having a tough time imagining what else it could be.

Continue reading Rumor: Raven's Bond game shows up in animator's reel

Rumor: Raven's Bond game shows up in animator's reel originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Dead Space 2 to feature 'Soldier vs. Necromorphs' multiplayer

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST

According to reports coming out of a recent GameStop conference in Texas, Dead Space 2 will be getting a multiplayer mode in which players will control either Necromorphs or "soldiers" (presumably not welders, then?). GamerNode claims that the mode will consist of "deathmatch-style combat" and will be just one of several multiplayer game modes included when the game launches in early 2011.

Additionally, the source claims that pre-orders of the game at any outlet would net purchasers a free download of Dead Space: Ignition. If you pre-order it at GameStop, you'll allegedly get another bonus: a rivet gun.

Update: EA could only confirm the inclusion of multiplayer in Dead Space 2 to Joystiq, saying, "Dead Space 2 will feature multiplayer where you'll be able to strategically dismember your friends for the first time." Hopefully we'll hear more soon.

Rumor: Dead Space 2 to feature 'Soldier vs. Necromorphs' multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Ubisoft releasing Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia trilogies on PS3

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EST

According to Amazon France listings spotted by The Sixth Axis, both Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia franchises could be getting the Blu-ray treatment in the coming months. Unfortunately, other than a 39.95 Euro ($54) price tag and a November 2 release date, neither listing provides any real detail on what the trilogies might contain.

If Ubisoft is planning to re-release these games as compilations, it's possible that they might feature updated graphics, much like last year's God of War Collection. With a Sly Cooper collection on the way -- and rumors of a Team Ico Collection refusing to go away -- we'd hardly be surprised to see third-party publishers giving their own classics another spin.

Rumor: Ubisoft releasing Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia trilogies on PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Google invests $100+ million in Zynga, preparing to launch gaming platform

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:45:00 EST

Google has "secretly" invested an undisclosed amount of money (estimated to be between $100 million and $200 million) in virtual Ville creator Zynga Games, TechCrunch claims. Why would one highly profitable company dump such a large amount of duckets into another successful company's coffers? TechCrunch believes that it's part of a strategy to partner with Zynga Games in the forthcoming launch of something called "Google Games."

The service is said to use Google logins and will presumably run the Zynga titles popularized by Facebook, albeit with a different payment system (allegedly Google Checkout rather than PayPal). Though these claims are still unsubstantiated -- neither Google nor Zynga have officially confirmed the report -- a recent Google job listing for a "Project Management Leader, games" seems to lend the idea some credence.

Rumor: Google invests $100+ million in Zynga, preparing to launch gaming platform originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumorong: Test Drive Unlimited servers not going offline next year

Mike Schramm — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:00:00 EST

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

Reports have been floating around the 'net that Atari would be shutting off the servers for the first Test Drive: Unlimited game as early as January of 2011, presumably to make way for the open world racing game's sequel. But Atari tells Joystiq that the rumors are blatantly untrue -- "they are not dropping the servers at all," a representative told us this afternoon. The rep said that it's possible that French developer Eden Games may be moving the servers in some way, but anything like that would make no difference for players of the game at all.

So keep on driving, Test Drivers -- your virtual O'ahu isn't going anywhere.

Rumorong: Test Drive Unlimited servers not going offline next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Hulu coming to Xbox Live, currently tied up in red tape

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:25:00 EST

It's probably fair to say that few things would excite internet dweebs like us more than television and film streaming service Hulu arriving on a gaming console already connected to the internet and, more importantly, to our televisions. Tech site Gear Live has a rumor that Hulu streaming functionality is coming to the Xbox 360, to be announced at this year's E3. 1UP has a similar rumor that reads "a Hulu application for the Xbox 360 definitely exists" -- unfortunately, said application is allegedly being held back by rights issues with Hulu's content owners (read: NBC, CBS, etc.).

Both sites source an anonymous person "close to Microsoft" as the origin of the rumor -- perhaps embittered soon-to-be ex-employees Robbie Bach and J. Allard have hit the streets with huge leaks?! Yeah, we don't think so either. Regardless, we've reached out to Microsoft for the inevitable "We don't comment on rumors or speculation," but we'll let you know what the company officially says of the rumors if we hear back.

Update: Microsoft responded with "We don't comment on rumor or speculation." Surprise!

Source - 1UP
Source - Gear Live (Via Engadget)

Rumor: Hulu coming to Xbox Live, currently tied up in red tape originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Michael Jordan to grace the cover of NBA 2K11

David Hinkle — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:20:00 EST

You know that little dude doing a slam dunk on your shoes? That's not like some kind of corporate logo or something -- that's MIchael Jordan. Oh, you knew that? Well, thanks for ruining our opening paragraph. We guess we'll just get right to it then.

Sources close to ESPN say the legend himself will grace the cover of NBA 2K11, marking the first time a retired player and team owner has appeared on the cover of an NBA 2K title. Jordan recently became majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Further tantalizing "Jumpman 23" fans is the prospect of an in-game Mike, which ESPN posits is a strong possibility. This has supposedly lead to 2K pursuing other players from the past in an attempt to recreate some of Jordan's highlights in the game. With E3 fast approaching, we're certain we'll have confirmation one way or the other soon enough. We'll keep you posted.

[Via Eurogamer]

Rumor: Michael Jordan to grace the cover of NBA 2K11 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 May 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Project Natal priced at $150; bundled with Arcade SKU for $300

David Hinkle — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:00:00 EST

If a report by Edge proves accurate (wait till E3), then Pachter's estimation that Project Natal will cost less than an average game is off. Instead, a source backed by Edge has alleged a $150 price point (with plenty of room to drop) for the forthcoming Xbox 360 motion tech camera -- or $300 when bundled with the Xbox 360 Arcade console. Additionally, the source has suggested an October 26 worldwide release -- give or take "a few weeks."

Of course, both the rumored pricing and release date remain uncorroborated (we repeat: wait till E3). But, hey, that doesn't mean we can't have a bit of fun with the supposed intel. And by "fun," we mean, "host an online poll asking if you'd spend $150 on Project Natal" ...

View Poll

Rumor: Project Natal priced at $150; bundled with Arcade SKU for $300 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Sony to reveal 'PSN+' subscription service at E3 2010

Xav de Matos — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:05:00 EST

According to Joystiq's sources, Sony is set to reveal a premium tier of the PlayStation Network service, labeled PSN+, during its 2010 E3 media briefing. Unlike Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold service, PSN+ will focus on giving paid subscribers additional bonuses without limiting online multiplayer between paying and nonpaying users.

Many of the features included in the premium service mimic those featured in a supposed survey released late last year. Sources tell us that subscribers will have access to a rotating list of PSP Minis and PSone Classics, exclusive in-game DLC, discounts to the PlayStation Store and "first hour" demo access to full retail titles. Following the first hour of gameplay, players will have the ability to purchase the full title; however, demo access will only be available once the entire title has been downloaded.

As PSN+ subscribers, gamers will also receive protection for their consoles with the recently announced PlayStation Protection Plan, as well as exclusive access to the long-awaited cross-game voice chat. Additional features are said to be in the works following the launch of PSN+, including the previously rumored cloud-based saving system.

Joystiq has been informed that PSN+ subscribers will also have the ability to enable an auto-patching feature, which will detect, download and install updates for recently played PS3 titles on the system.

Pricing and a release for the PSN+ service is unknown, though one source speculates PSN+ may cost $9.99 per month. When contacted, a Sony representative said the company does not "comment on rumors or speculation."

Rumor: Sony to reveal 'PSN+' subscription service at E3 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 May 2010 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: J Allard leaving Microsoft due to Courier cancellation

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:30:00 EST

ZDNet reports that "a pretty reliable tipster" has informed them that J Allard, Chief Experience Officer of Microsoft and overseer of the development and launch of the Xbox 360, is "on sabbatical and is unlikely to return to Microsoft." According to the tipster, Allard was upset by the sudden, surreptitious cancellation of the Microsoft Courier, which Allard has frequently talked up since it was first revealed last September.

Allard has been one of the main creative forces at Microsoft for ages, as well as one of the most charismatic individuals in the tech industry. It would be a real shame if these reports turn out to be accurate. We've contacted Microsoft to see if we can get a comment on ZDNet's report.

[Via 1UP]

Rumor: J Allard leaving Microsoft due to Courier cancellation originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 May 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Space Invaders Infinity Gene cloned for XBLA and PSN

David Hinkle — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:02:00 EST

A trusted Joystiq source has confirmed that Taito's mobile and iPhone game Space Invaders Infinity Gene is coming to Xbox Live Arcade and PSN. Further corroborating our source's intel is Australian ratings board the OFLC, which has published a rating for an unspecified "multiplatform" release of Infinity Gene. Ubisoft, which distributes Square Enix titles in Australia is listed as the publisher. (Square Enix is the parent company of Taito.)

With some neat functionality -- the iPhone version lets players generate levels based on their stored music -- and an HD facelift, we'd be willing to bet Space Invaders Infinity Gene wouldn't find much opposition on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN. Previously, Taito released a version of its handheld series Space Invaders Extreme on XBLA to positive reception.

Rumor: Space Invaders Infinity Gene cloned for XBLA and PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 May 2010 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Image of 3DS motherboard submitted to FCC leaked

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:00:00 EST

A recent Federal Communications Commission filing made by Nintendo has been the source of no small amount of speculation over the past few days. The seemingly innocuous entry on the FCC's site was submitted to get the Nintendo DS Wi-Fi card approved for U.S. distribution -- however, the image submitted alongside the filing (which has since been removed) is believed by some to give a few hints about the internal composition of the Nintendo 3DS.

Digital Foundry has a great breakdown of the image, which appears to exhibit the motherboard of a DS test kit or development kit. The tech site points out that one of the screens adheres to the 4:3 aspect ratio of current DS models, while one screen appears to be substantially wider. If this is a stripped-down version of the 3DS, this could indicate that only one of its two screens uses 3D display technology.

Also worth noting is the "CTR" designation the hardware is given in the FCC listing. As Digital Foundry points out, each model of the DS has had a three-letter codename for internal use: The DSi was called "TWL," the DSi XL was called "UTL," and so on. CTR is a whole new callsign, which may indicate that this is a whole new piece of hardware. We've contacted Nintendo to see if we can get a comment on the filing -- at the very least, we should learn the accuracy of this speculation during Nintendo's E3 press conference on June 15.

Rumor: Image of 3DS motherboard submitted to FCC leaked originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: GameCrazy closing all remaining stores

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 01 May 2010 15:00:00 EST

[Effluent Suburbia]

After a handful of reports from several current GameCrazy employees and about a dozen calls to GameCrazy outlets across the country, we believe that the retailer will in fact be shuttering its remaining 250 or so locations in the coming weeks. Speaking with one such GC employee in central Pennsylvania, we were told, "Movie Gallery as a whole [GameCrazy's parent company] yesterday filed for Chapter 7, which indicates that the whole company is going through liquidation. I was in on the conference call yesterday ... it looks like this week and the week after they're going to go through finding a liquidation company to buy [the remaining products]. It's going to be business as usual for the next two weeks, we'll see our releases for the next two weeks, but we'll likely be closed by the end of June."

The alleged bankruptcy filing has yet to appear on Movie Gallery's stock page or in the SEC database. We've attempted to gain official word from corporate, but the company refuses to acknowledge whether the chain is closing. Whether there was any internal documentation, one employee told us, "Unfortunately, there aren't any new memos on the intranet related to it... the last one was on 4-21 ("Important Closing Store Update"), and then there were a few on 4-20 ("Select In-Store Programs Cease" and "Letter from Roger Dunlap - Closing Store Announcement") and one on 4-19 ("Special Order Games Department Closing") The newest stuff was on the conference call yesterday, which I wasn't apart of."

That said, our past experience with GameCrazy has shown that when several employees tell identical stories about store closures across multiple states, they're not likely colluding on an elaborate ruse. Additionally, we were told by an employee that "after the 18th [of May], we're done with pre-orders." He also encouraged customers with pre-orders to come in and pick up any deposits they've placed on games being released any time beyond the immediate future. If you're a current GameCrazy employee with information you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Rumor: GameCrazy closing all remaining stores originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Xbox Live TV channel pitched to Microsoft by ex-News Corp head

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:03:00 EST

Our laziness, it knows no bounds: We just can't stand changing out game discs from our systems (hooray digital distribution!), not to mention the agonizing chore of pushing the source button on our TV remote to flip back to broadcast programming. And that's why we're especially happy to hear a rumor from Bloomberg today that ex-News Corp president Peter Chernin is engaged in talks with Microsoft to possibly launch an Xbox Live television channel.

Allegedly, during an April 12 meeting at Microsoft's Redmond, Wash. offices, Chernin proposed a channel native to the Xbox 360 that would feature "reruns and original shows" for an additional $1 to $2 per month on top of the standard Xbox Live Gold subscription fee. Chernin's publicist, Allan Mayer, says of the deal, "Peter is talking to lots of people about lots of ideas in the digital space," while a representative for Microsoft refused to comment.

The report also claims that Chernin pitched the idea to Conan O'Brien's reps, presumably, to land Conan in one of the channel's time slots. Seeing as that supposed deal with Conan fell through, may we humbly propose X3F TV?

[Via Edge Online]

Rumor: Xbox Live TV channel pitched to Microsoft by ex-News Corp head originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Natal test kit photos reveal 'motorized tilt mechanism,' power cord

Ludwig Kietzmann — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST

Motion camera meta-voyeurism news now, with an alleged Project Natal test kit capturing every movement of a man ... taking pictures of it. According to Italian gaming site Multiplayer.it, the photos originate from a tester, who was tasked with having an unreciprocated conversation with the Xbox 360 peripheral in order to test its speech recognition capabilities.

The surprisingly cheerful documentation included with the supposed test kit explicitly warns against tilting the camera manually, as it's already equipped with a "motorized tilt mechanism" -- all the better to see you with, my dear. The "Quick Start Guide" also shows how the early model of the camera connects to an Xbox 360 development kit via USB and a power outlet via a split cable.

It's not known how representative these photos are of early Project Natal development kits, nor how much of it will change by the time the final product arrives this holiday. Microsoft did not comment on the veracity of the images, with a representative telling Joystiq: "We announced earlier this year that Project Natal will launch this holiday, and our teams are working hard to bring the best experiences to life. We have nothing further to announce at this time."

[Via Engadget]

Rumor: Natal test kit photos reveal 'motorized tilt mechanism,' power cord originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Mr. Freeze and Talia al Ghul to appear in Arkham Asylum 2

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST

The original Batman: Arkham Asylum's large cast of antagonists was awfully daunting for any detective to face off against -- even if that detective has pointy ears and is equipped with exploding Vaseline. Two reports have begun to circulate about the first pair of villains we'll be buffeting with all manner of bat-shaped weaponry in Arkham Asylum 2: Talia al Ghul (daughter of immortal mastermind Ra's al Ghul), and everyone's favorite horrible pun-smith, Mr. Freeze.

According to Gaming Target, Talia's appearance was confirmed on Twitter by her apparent voice actor, "Castle" star Stana Katic -- though any Tweets to that effect have since been pulled. Freeze was similarly confirmed by voice actor Maurice LaMarche (who voiced the latter half of "Pinky and the Brain") in an interview with the GeekCast Radio Network. These certainly seem like reasonable choices for the next game's cast -- however, we're going to pray that if Mr. Freeze is actually included in the game (in a capacity greater than his cameo in the first Arkham Asylum), his dialogue won't sound anything like, well, you know.

[Thanks John!]

Rumor: Mr. Freeze and Talia al Ghul to appear in Arkham Asylum 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

EU Harmony of Despair trademark hints at new Castlevania

Mike Schramm — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST

Siliconera dug up a European trademark filed by Konami for something called "Harmony of Despair," and they correctly point out that it certainly sounds like another Castlevania game. Since the classic Symphony of the Night, Castlevania games are often subtitled with music-themed "X of X" titles, including Lament of Innocence and Aria of Sorrow, and the upcoming Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

There's no indication in the trademark exactly what the game will be (it's just marked as "video game software" and related services), and while Dawn of Sorrow, the series' first DS title, gave an acronymic hint to the system, obviously Harmony of Despair doesn't. Wait -- "H.D."? It must be for the rumored iPhone HD releasing later this year! Mystery solved!

EU Harmony of Despair trademark hints at new Castlevania originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Musician announces licensed song for LittleBigPlanet 2

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST

It looks likely that LittleBigPlanet 2 in the works. Musician Christopher Leary (aka Ochre) announced on his Twitter that his song, "Infotain Me" has been licensed to Sony for use in LitteBigPlanet 2 on PS3. This would be the second accidental mention of a sequel to Media Molecule's platformer in under a month.

First spotted by IGN, Sony refused to offer comment on the tweet, simply stating it "does not comment on rumors and speculation." Hopefully, if this sequel is real, it will provide full backwards compatibility with the original game -- something that was promised by Media Molecule's Alex Evans. Listen to the track after the break.

Continue reading Musician announces licensed song for LittleBigPlanet 2

Musician announces licensed song for LittleBigPlanet 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Slant Six enacts 'temporary' layoffs; Star Wars Battlefront Online rumored to be canceled

JC Fletcher — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:30:00 EST

SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo and Confrontation developer Slant Six has instituted layoffs, according to statements given to GameSpot by managing director Brian Thalken. Thalken called the dismissals "temporary," with the goal to bring back as many of the affected staff as possible at a later date. He did not specify just how many employees had been laid off, but said the company will continue to offer benefits to those affected.

"Our current project needs do not align with our current staffing levels," Thalken told GameSpot. The studio's last release was SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 in February.

Additionally, Kotaku reports that, according to its sources, the rumored Star Wars Battlefront Online, which Slant Six was reportedly developing, has been canceled by publisher LucasArts. The game was never announced, and its existence was only suggested by an earlier rumor. As such, its possible relationship to the recent studio layoffs is unconfirmed. We've contacted Slant Six to clear up the issue.

Slant Six enacts 'temporary' layoffs; Star Wars Battlefront Online rumored to be canceled originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Gears of Wars 3 details emerge

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:35:00 EST

With this morning's Dashboard surprise (or slipup), we've learned that Gears of War 3 is scheduled to emerge on Xbox 360 next April. Given that Edge Online's earlier prediction of an April 2011 release for the game was spot on, the latest details from the site's anonymous source, said to be in US publishing, could certainly be accurate. From piloting a mech (allegedly appearing in single- and multiplayer modes) to the sequel's summer setting (reported to feature underwater levels, presumably to cool off), the report makes for an interesting read if you're wondering where Marcus and crew could possibly end up next year.

As for the bad guys, the Locust Horde is said to be evolving alongside the game's setting, spawning "tentacle-like appendages," which can attack players that are in cover. We've reached out to Microsoft and Epic for confirmation of any of these details, but, like Edge was told, we imagine the best we'll get is, "We don't comment on rumor or speculation."

Rumor: Gears of Wars 3 details emerge originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Microsoft's Live support coming to free Windows games; Minesweeper, Solitaire and more

David Hinkle — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:05:00 EST

Microsoft is allegedly preparing to implement Live functionality into the free suite of games that comes with all Windows-enabled PCs: Solitaire, Chess, Checkers, Spades, Hearts, Backgammon, Minesweeper, Purple Place, Spider Solitaire and Freecell. This tip comes courtesy of our trusted source (who accurately predicted Lucidity, NBA 2K10 Draft Combine and Tecmo Bowl: Throwback). Reportedly, each Windows game will not only get Achievements, but also chat and leaderboard support. While unconfirmed by our source, we'd anticipate this to be a free update.

If true -- and hey, our tipster's batting a thousand (that's sports talk for reliable) -- adding Live functionality to these games would be an ideal gateway for Microsoft to usher new users into Live and the Achievements system. After registering a free Games For Windows Live account, a new user would be able to instantly start building Gamerscore cred with the free games included on Windows PCs. It's Drug Dealing 101 -- give 'em the first fix for free, and they'll be hooked!

Rumor: Microsoft's Live support coming to free Windows games; Minesweeper, Solitaire and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Gears of War film troubled, scaled back

David Hinkle — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST

If you've been impatiently waiting for the complex narrative and endearing characters of Gears of War to be captured in a Hollywood blockbuster, a report by the LA Times is set to disappoint you. Citing "sources" familiar with the matter, it claims director Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard and the Underworld movies) may be abandoning the director's chair in favor of thriller "Nocturne."

The production studio is also allegedly looking to make significant cuts to the project. What was planned to be an epic, $100 million endeavor is now said to be shrinking, calling for a rewrite of Chris Morgan's initial work on a Stuart Beattie script. Wiseman hasn't officially bailed yet, though the LA Times posits that it's likely to happen in the future.

On the plus side, if Wiseman ditches the project, that could put The Rock back in the running to play Marcus Fenix. Surely we've all forgotten about Doom by now ...

Rumor: Gears of War film troubled, scaled back originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Infinity Ward loses two development leads

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST

According to an unnamed source "close to the studio" who spoke with Kotaku, lead designer Todd Alderman and lead software engineer Francesco ("Frank") Gigliotti recently resigned from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 development house Infinity Ward. Alderman's LinkedIn profile (seen after the break) corroborates that April was apparently his last month of employment with the studio, though Gigliotti's LinkedIn account appears to be unavailable at this point in time (Kotaku has an alleged screengrab of Gigliotti's profile that appears to legitimize the claim).

This report comes just weeks after studio co-heads Vince Zampella and Jason West vacated their positions at Infinity Ward, filed a lawsuit against Activision, and headed for the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood. We've asked Activision and Infinity Ward for an official response and will let you know if we hear anything back.

Continue reading Rumor: Infinity Ward loses two development leads

Rumor: Infinity Ward loses two development leads originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BioWare shoots first to kill Star Wars: The Old Republic Xbox 360 rumor

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:57:00 EST

There was a great disturbance in the rumor-Force yesterday when VG247 acquired a memo from UK retailer GAME with an alleged upcoming release list for Xbox 360 -- a docket that included a listing for Star Wars: The Old Republic. While the better part of the day was spent hypothesizing about which button would be mapped to "Kill Dude With Lightsaber" (right bumper, of course), BioWare wasted no time in squashing the rumor.

"While we recognize that there are other operating systems and platforms available for games today, our development is specific to the personal computer using the Windows operating system at this time," BioWare's Sean Dahlberg explained. As to why the game was on the Xbox 360 release list, Dahlberg hadn't the foggiest idea, but reassured that the game "should not be on there."

[Via Massively]

BioWare shoots first to kill Star Wars: The Old Republic Xbox 360 rumor originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

App Store leak hints at iPad versions of Plants vs. Zombies, Worms

Mike Schramm — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:31:00 EST

Looks like you early iPad adopters will have something good to play -- PadGadget noticed yesterday that Apple's App Store listings accidentally included a few unannounced iPad launch games in their store listings, even though the games aren't available for download yet. A few games, like Flight Control HD and Labyrinth 2 HD - both high definition iPad versions of their iPhone counterparts - had already been announced by their respective developers but there were at least two big titles on the list that gamers might appreciate: Plants vs. Zombies HD and Worms HD. Yup, looks like both PopCap's popular topiary tower defense game and the old fightin' invertebrates are coming to the iPad on day one.

Of course, this could just be a slip-up on Apple's end -- these could be placeholder names, or they could just be testing the app store for iPad titles. But considering the popularity of PopCap's titles on the portable platforms, odds are very good that as soon as you get home from the Apple Store on iPad on April 3rd, iPad day, Tall Nut and all of his other buds will be ready to play.

[Via Touch Arcade]

App Store leak hints at iPad versions of Plants vs. Zombies, Worms originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments