Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Steam weekly: Rochard, Strike Suit Zero, Sleeping Dogs, Unreal deals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/steam-weekly-rochard-strike-suit-zero-sleeping-dogs-unreal-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/steam-weekly-rochard-strike-suit-zero-sleeping-dogs-unreal-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/steam-weekly-rochard-strike-suit-zero-sleeping-dogs-unreal-d/#commentsSteam weekly Sleeping Dogs, Rochard cheapskies This week's round of Steam weekly deals includes Sleeping Dogs for $12.50, Rochard for $2.50, Strike Suit Zero for $10, and the Unreal Deal Pack for $10. The Unreal Deal Pack includes Unreal Gold, Unreal 2: The Awakening, Unreal Tournament 2004: Editor's Choice Edition, Unreal Tournament 3 Black and Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition.

Other games on sale for up to 75 percent off this week are Jagged Alliance: Back in Action, Wasteland Angel, Lords of Football, Spectraball: Extended Edition and Steel Storm: Burning Retribution. In software (and Greenlight) titles, game design tool articy: draft SE is $67 during this week's sale.

The weekly Steam sale ends on May 27 at 10 a.m. PT.

JoystiqSteam weekly: Rochard, Strike Suit Zero, Sleeping Dogs, Unreal deals originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jagged-alliance-back-in-actionlords-of-footballmacpcrochardSleeping-DogsspectraballSTEAMsteel-stormStrike-Suit-ZeroUnrealWasteland-AngelMon, 20 May 2013 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dust: An Elysian Tail scampers onto Steam May 24]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/dust-an-elysian-tail-scampers-onto-steam-may-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/dust-an-elysian-tail-scampers-onto-steam-may-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/dust-an-elysian-tail-scampers-onto-steam-may-24/#comments Next week marks the Steam debut of Humble Heart's XBLA darling, Dust: An Elysian Tail. Dean Dodrill, animator and creator of Dust, took to Twitter to announce the May 24 launch date; though there is currently no Steam product page.

Dust: An Elysian Tail is a 2D action platformer in the vein of Metroid and Castlevania, featuring beautiful hand-drawn sprites throughout. Aside from being visually appealing, it's also a delight - a game our review said "doesn't do much to innovate the platform-adventure sub-genre, but it does manage to look and play beautifully throughout, and sometimes that's enough."

JoystiqDust: An Elysian Tail scampers onto Steam May 24 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 May 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dean-dodrilldust-an-elysian-tailhumble-heartpcsteamSat, 18 May 2013 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 'Robotic Boogaloo' update tangos with Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/team-fortress-2-robotic-boogaloo-update-tangos-with-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/team-fortress-2-robotic-boogaloo-update-tangos-with-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/team-fortress-2-robotic-boogaloo-update-tangos-with-steam/#comments
The first community-created updated for Team Fortress 2 has rolled out: 'Robotic Boogaloo.' Continuing the robot theme of previous Team Fortress 2 updates, Robotic Boogaloo adds 57 new artisanal hats, helmets, bonnets, turbans, crowns, toppers and other headgear - all created by the community.

Robotic Boogaloo isn't all hats but, naturally, it's mostly hats. Each new Team Fortress 2 item can be found within RoboCrates - rare drops after June 3 - that can be opened with a key from the Mann Co. store, each costing $2.50. The revenue from these items will then be shared amongst all creators responsible for Robotic Boogaloo content.

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 'Robotic Boogaloo' update tangos with Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 May 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitymacpcrobotic-boogaloosteamTeam-Fortress-2updatevalveFri, 17 May 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[The Swapper switches it up on May 30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-swapper-switches-it-up-on-may-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-swapper-switches-it-up-on-may-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-swapper-switches-it-up-on-may-30/#comments

The Swapper - the Indie Fund-ed, clay model-animated, puzzle platformer put together by a few Finnish university students - has been set to hit Steam on May 30. The game has a lone space explorer wandering an alien cave, with a "weapon" that allows him to create clones of himself to solve puzzles and move around.

Facepalm has released a brand new trailer showing that gameplay and the title's excellent graphics, which were created by animating photos of actual clay. The initial release will be for PC, with Mac and Linux coming later, and "maybe something else" after that.

JoystiqThe Swapper switches it up on May 30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facepalmfacepalm-gameslinuxmacmay-30pcreleaserelease-datesteamthe-swapperThu, 16 May 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Game Dev Tycoon, Bleed, Riot head up batch of six at Steam Greenlight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/game-dev-tycoon-bleed-riot-head-up-batch-of-six-at-steam-green/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/game-dev-tycoon-bleed-riot-head-up-batch-of-six-at-steam-green/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/game-dev-tycoon-bleed-riot-head-up-batch-of-six-at-steam-green/#comments
Steam revealed today that Game Dev Tycoon, Bleed and other standout titles are featured in the latest batch of games to earn community approval and platform distribution rights through Steam Greenlight.

Green Heart Games' simulation title Game Dev Tycoon earned a devoted following upon its release last month for its clever in-game approach to anti-piracy protection. Bootdisk Revolution's Bleed, a one-man effort that premiered for Windows and the Xbox Live Indie Games service late last year, combines frantically paced platforming with time-bending, quadruple-jumping gameplay mechanics.

Other games to pass through the latest round of Greenlight approvals include ConcernedApe's open-ended RPG Stardew Valley, The Leonard's "playable documentary" Riot, AustinHand's survival horror title The Legend, and Aterdux Entertainment's Kickstarted strategy-RPG Legends of Eisenwald.

JoystiqGame Dev Tycoon, Bleed, Riot head up batch of six at Steam Greenlight originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bleedgame-dev-tycoongreenlightlegends-of-eisenwaldmacpcriotstardew-valleysteamsteam-greenlightthe-legendwindowsThu, 16 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam: Borderlands 2 for $13.59, Mass Effect 1 and 2 for $10, CS:GO F2P weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/steam-borderlands-2-for-13-59-mass-effect-1-and-2-for-10-cs/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/steam-borderlands-2-for-13-59-mass-effect-1-and-2-for-10-cs/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/steam-borderlands-2-for-13-59-mass-effect-1-and-2-for-10-cs/#comments "Hear ye, hear ye," the Newellville town crier bellowed out across the crowded, bustling market. "It is by royal decree, that for the 24 hours proceeding forthwith, respectable denizens of His Highness' Great Sovereign Nation of Valve may acquire the first two entries in the Mass Effect series of merrymaking programmes for $9.99."

"Ad interim," the crier continued, "patrons may avail themselves of substantial discounts on select digital comestibles found within the Royal Steam Marketplace, making it possible to obtain a single issuance of Borderlands 2 for $13.59, or four for $40.79, until May 20. In addition, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will be free for interested parties through 1 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday. Should customers enjoy the experience, a 50 percent abatement will be applied to the purchase price."

JoystiqSteam: Borderlands 2 for $13.59, Mass Effect 1 and 2 for $10, CS:GO F2P weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>borderlands-2counter-strike-global-offensivemacmass-effectmass-effect-2pcsalesteamvalveThu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Finally, those Maroon 5 songs you wanted are available in Rocksmith]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/finally-those-maroon-5-songs-you-wanted-are-available-in-rocksm/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/finally-those-maroon-5-songs-you-wanted-are-available-in-rocksm/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/finally-those-maroon-5-songs-you-wanted-are-available-in-rocksm/#commentsFinally those Maroon 5 songs you wanted are in Rocksmith on Steam Just in case the thing that prevented you from buying Rocksmith on Steam was the lack of Maroon 5 songs, we'll just remove that musical obstacle for you right here and now. Valve reports that "Misery," "She Will Be Loved," and "Harder to Breathe" have all been added to the game.

You can buy each song for $2.99, or pick them all up together for $7.99. Once purchased, you can play through the songs with a standard electric or bass guitar, and each song also adds a new authentic tone to play with on the game's Amp mode. Sweet Maroon 5-style haircuts are, unfortunately, sold separately.

JoystiqFinally, those Maroon 5 songs you wanted are available in Rocksmith originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcdownloadabledownloadable-contentguitarmaroon-5musicmusic-gamepcrocksmithsongssteamvalveTue, 14 May 2013 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam is king in service wars, Humble Store a sleeping giant, indies say]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/steam-is-king-in-service-wars-humble-store-a-sleeping-giant-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/steam-is-king-in-service-wars-humble-store-a-sleeping-giant-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/steam-is-king-in-service-wars-humble-store-a-sleeping-giant-in/#commentsSteam is king in service wars, Humble Store a sleeping giant, indies say Twenty-one randomly selected indie developers walk into a digital room and ponder the question, "Which online distribution system has been the most effective for your games?"

If this were the set-up to a joke, the punchline would probably be, "Facebook." But for many indie developers, the question of which platform to publish their games on is a very serious one, with potentially dire consequences. Pared down, platform success is all about accessibility, upload and support, and in terms of those factors, there's a clear, unsurprising favorite: Steam.

But maybe not for long.

I asked 21 indie developers this question, and while the majority mentioned Steam in the same casual manner that begets an unchallenged king, there were consistent whispers of other platforms doing things well, perhaps even better than Steam, from a backend perspective. One of these platforms was the Humble Store, which received the second-highest number of solid votes and a handful of positive shout-outs.

"I owe pretty much my entire survival the last few years to iOS, the Humble Store, and to a lesser extent Android and Steam," Adam Saltsman, the creator of Canabalt, said. But iOS ran into some bad censorship issues, Android had discoverability problems and Steam was "obviously" too closed, he said. If Saltsman could choose just one of those platforms to release his next game on, it would be, "Humble Store," hands-down.

Continue reading Steam is king in service wars, Humble Store a sleeping giant, indies say

JoystiqSteam is king in service wars, Humble Store a sleeping giant, indies say originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androideShophumble-storeiosipadiphonemicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3PSNSTEAMvitawii-uXBLAxbligxboxTue, 14 May 2013 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam weekly deals: Hitman: Absolution, Hydrophobia, Anodyne]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/steam-weekly-deals-hitman-absolution-hydrophobia-anodyne/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/steam-weekly-deals-hitman-absolution-hydrophobia-anodyne/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/steam-weekly-deals-hitman-absolution-hydrophobia-anodyne/#commentsSteam weekly deals Hitman Absolution, Hydrophobia, more This week on Steam, Agent 47 takes more than a few lives - he knocks 50 percent off the price of Hitman: Absolution, bringing it down to $12.50. Also on sale for up to 75 percent off on Steam is the moody, 16-bit adventure Anodyne, Dark Energy Digital's Hydrophobia: Prophecy, 2002 strategy game Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood, adventure game The Book of Unwritten Tales, Postal 2 Complete (again) and puzzler Critical Mass.

The sale ends on May 20 at 10 a.m. PT, even though Valve's weekly news post still says "May 6th." Shh - nobody tell Valve and let's see how long before someone on the team notices.

JoystiqSteam weekly deals: Hitman: Absolution, Hydrophobia, Anodyne originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anodynecritical-masshitman-absolutionhydrophobia-prophecyLinuxmacpcpostal-2-completerobin-hood-the-legend-of-sherwoodsaleSTEAMthe-book-of-unwritten-talesMon, 13 May 2013 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Forest inspired by Cannibal Holocaust, walking the paid alpha path]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-forest-inspired-by-cannibal-holocaust-walking-the-paid-alph/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-forest-inspired-by-cannibal-holocaust-walking-the-paid-alph/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-forest-inspired-by-cannibal-holocaust-walking-the-paid-alph/#comments Last week, we got our first taste of The Forest, an upcoming first-person survival-horror game for PC and Oculus Rift, set in a mysterious forest where players must scavenge supplies, build and prepare to defend against a nocturnal indigenous society of cannibals. If you read that last sentence aloud in one dizzying breath, then you have a good idea how excited we are for The Forest.

But here's the thing: there isn't much information out there. So we contacted developer Ben Falcone for a tour of The Forest.

Gallery: The Forest

Continue reading The Forest inspired by Cannibal Holocaust, walking the paid alpha path

JoystiqThe Forest inspired by Cannibal Holocaust, walking the paid alpha path originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben-falconeoculus-riftpcsteamsteam-greenlightsurvival-horrorthe-forestMon, 13 May 2013 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Get Black Ops 2 for $40, Trials Evolution for $15 on Steam this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/get-black-ops-2-for-40-trials-evolution-for-15-on-steam-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/get-black-ops-2-for-40-trials-evolution-for-15-on-steam-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/get-black-ops-2-for-40-trials-evolution-for-15-on-steam-this/#comments Steam's deals for this weekend are action-packed, as Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is 33 percent off ($40.19), while the Deluxe Edition also on sale for $53.59 until May 13. Early birds can play the game for free until 1pm Pacific on Sunday.

Trials Evolution is also part of the weekend sale, as the game's Gold Edition is 25 percent off ($14.99) until May 13. The special edition of the game also includes the single-player tracks and skill games from Trials HD.

JoystiqGet Black Ops 2 for $40, Trials Evolution for $15 on Steam this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionCall-of-Duty-Black-Ops-2MicrosoftpcredlynxsaleSTEAMsteam-weekend-dealTreyarchtrials-evolutiontrials-hdUbisoftweekendSat, 11 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: System Shock 2 on Steam, 30 percent off until May 17]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/psa-system-shock-2-on-steam-30-percent-off-until-may-17/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/psa-system-shock-2-on-steam-30-percent-off-until-may-17/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/psa-system-shock-2-on-steam-30-percent-off-until-may-17/#comments System Shock 2 is now available on Steam for $6.99. The first-person survival-horror game is 30 percent off until May 17.

System Shock 2 found its way to the platform courtesy of Night Dive Studios, the outfit who picked up the rights as the game's publisher in February, when System Shock 2 also launched on GOG.com. To those of you that have yet to play this game: You're running out of excuses.

JoystiqPSA: System Shock 2 on Steam, 30 percent off until May 17 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 May 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Irrational-GamesKen-Levinelooking-glass-studiosnight-dive-studiospcpsaSTEAMsystem-shock-2Fri, 10 May 2013 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Bit.Trip games 25-to-75% off on Steam until May 20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/bit-trip-games-25-to-75-off-on-steam-until-may-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/bit-trip-games-25-to-75-off-on-steam-until-may-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/bit-trip-games-25-to-75-off-on-steam-until-may-20/#comments Nearly everything in Gaijin Games' esteemed Bit.Trip series has been marked down on Steam, from now until Monday, May 20.

For instance: Bit.Trip Collection, which includes Bit.Trip Beat, Bit.Trip Runner, Bit.Trip Core and Bit.Trip Void, has had its price cut by 75% and is now just $11.98. Likewise, all of those games can be purchased individually at a discounted price of $2.49. Even last year's gorgeous Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien has had its price dropped to less than $12 - we recommend gettin' while the gettin's good, as our very southern mom would say.

JoystiqBit.Trip games 25-to-75% off on Steam until May 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 May 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bit-tripbit-trip-beatbit-trip-coreBit-Trip-RunnerBit-Trip-VoidGaijin-Gameslinuxmacpcrunner-2runner-2-future-legend-of-rhythm-aliensaleSteamThu, 09 May 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA['The Forest' puts on Oculus Rift, goes exploring]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-forest-puts-on-oculus-rift-goes-exploring/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-forest-puts-on-oculus-rift-goes-exploring/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-forest-puts-on-oculus-rift-goes-exploring/#comments
The Forest is a first-person horror game currently in development for the PC and Oculus Rift. After surviving a plane crash at the outset of the game, players must build and thrive in a mysterious forest, scavenging materials throughout the day and defending against an indigenous enemy by night.

Developer Ben Falcone promises changing weather and tides that shift with the day/night cycle. Players will have to chop down trees to build and make fires, scavenge food or plant seeds to grow, while traps will be necessary to maintain a safe perimeter and defend the home. On the game's about page, the nocturnal ne'er-do-wells are described as "a clan of genetic mutant enemies that have beliefs, families and morals."

The Forest is tentatively scheduled to launch in late 2013, and is now vying for a spot on Steam Greenlight.

Joystiq'The Forest' puts on Oculus Rift, goes exploring originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben-falconeexplorationoculus-riftopen-worldpcsteamsteam-greenlightsurvival-horrorthe-forestThu, 09 May 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam Greenlight pulls in 2 million voters, has a chat with its indies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/steam-greenlight-pulls-in-2-million-voters-has-a-chat-with-its/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/steam-greenlight-pulls-in-2-million-voters-has-a-chat-with-its/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/steam-greenlight-pulls-in-2-million-voters-has-a-chat-with-its/#commentsSteam Greenlight pulls in 2 million voters, has a chat with its indies Getting accepted through Steam's community-voting service, Greenlight, is an ongoing, complex project for many indie developers - and for Steam itself. Valve hosted a chat with Greenlight developers this week to discuss concerns, suggestions and propose what Greenlight may look like in the future.

Valve is "actively looking into" releasing the Steamworks API so developers can prepare their games prior to being Greenlit, though it has no timeframe to make that public. Currently all games go to the same Greenlight, but Valve said it would discuss the idea of separating the service by "games that are ready to go" and "games that are in development."

On May 1, Valve Greenlit a mini batch of games, and this system will most likely be the new standard, the team said: "Unfortunately, we have limited resources at the moment, so we cannot ship every game that we want. We're working toward having an open platform that Gabe has talked about, but we're not there yet."

Continue reading Steam Greenlight pulls in 2 million voters, has a chat with its indies

JoystiqSteam Greenlight pulls in 2 million voters, has a chat with its indies originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 May 2013 20:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdsourcinggreenlightIndieLinuxmacpcSTEAMsteam-greenlightvalveThu, 09 May 2013 20:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Thunder Wolves descend on Steam May 15]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/thunder-wolves-descend-on-steam-may-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/thunder-wolves-descend-on-steam-may-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/thunder-wolves-descend-on-steam-may-15/#comments
Most Wanted Entertainment's explosion-filled, arcade-style helicopter action game Thunder Wolves will light up the skies over Steam next Wednesday, May 15, publisher bitComposer Games announced today. Folks who pre-order will receive 20 percent off the game's regular price of $10, though the game's Steam page does not appear to be live as of press time.

BitComposer reiterated in its announcement that Thunder Wolves is also coming to XBLA and PSN, though no release date or price points for those versions have been released.

Continue reading Thunder Wolves descend on Steam May 15

JoystiqThunder Wolves descend on Steam May 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bitcomposer-gamesmost-wanted-entertainmentpcpre-orderrelease-datesteamthunder-wolvesWed, 08 May 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[The Showdown Effect adds pair of new maps, heroes in free update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/the-showdown-effect-adds-pair-of-new-maps-heroes-in-free-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/the-showdown-effect-adds-pair-of-new-maps-heroes-in-free-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/the-showdown-effect-adds-pair-of-new-maps-heroes-in-free-update/#comments
Owners of The Showdown Effect can download some free DLC, adding a pair of new maps and playable heroes to Arrowhead Game Studios' latest. South Eastwood is an old west town, while Fort Fiesta follows a Mexican fort motif - both maps were heavily inspired by Spaghetti Westerns, Italian-produced films for Hollywood such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

The first new hero to fight her way onto The Showdown Effect's roster is Thelma Vaine, a pink-haired British spy armed with a cloaking device. The other new combatant is Dr. Johnny Bionic, whose robotic drill-saw-arm is plagued with a murderous lust. Sounds like that'd be a benefit, given the situation.

Finally, this free update is rounded out by a "series of Reddit costume pieces." These can be purchased through the in-game store using unlocked currency.

JoystiqThe Showdown Effect adds pair of new maps, heroes in free update originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arrowhead-game-studiosmacparadoxParadox-Interactivepcspaghetti-westernsteamthe-showdown-effectWed, 08 May 2013 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Might & Magic Heroes 6 activation issues resolved]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/might-and-magic-heroes-6-activation-issues-resolved/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/might-and-magic-heroes-6-activation-issues-resolved/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/might-and-magic-heroes-6-activation-issues-resolved/#comments Activation problems with Might & Magic Heroes 6 have been resolved, according to Ubisoft. Earlier this week, players encountered issues with the game, and many were unable to activate the game, which refused to accept the activation keys given to players upon purchase. "We have fixed the authorization issues for every specific version of the game," Ubisoft notes. "Your content is now unlocked, so please reboot the game in order to apply the modifications."

Even with the fixes, those who bought Might & Magic Heroes 6 and the Shades of Darkness expansion on two different digital platforms will be unable to merge the two games. Both games, however, will still be playable via the platform on which they were purchased.

JoystiqMight & Magic Heroes 6 activation issues resolved originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Might-and-Magic-Heroes-6pcsteamubisoftuplayWed, 08 May 2013 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve measures sweat during Left 4 Dead play]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/valve-measures-players-sweat-when-they-play-left-4-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/valve-measures-players-sweat-when-they-play-left-4-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/valve-measures-players-sweat-when-they-play-left-4-dead/#commentsValve measures players' sweat when they play Left 4 Dead Valve tinkers with a lot of things - whatever it feels like, mostly - but has a particular interest in biometrics and direct player feedback within games. At the Neurogaming Conference last week, Valve Experimental Psychologist (seriously, whatever if feels like) Mike Ambinder described a few tests he'd recently run, as reported by Venture Beat.

In one test, Valve measured how much players sweat while playing Left 4 Dead, as correlated to their levels of arousal - just as Valve boss Gabe Newell specified back in March, concerning biometrics in the Steam Box. Another experiment gave players four minutes to shoot 100 enemies, and the game would move more quickly as the player showed signs of nervousness.

Valve also created a successful version of Portal 2 controlled with players' eyeballs, but it was necessary to separate aiming and viewpoint - where your eyes are looking and where your head is facing - for that to work properly.

The Steam Box will host some sort of biometric scheme, Newell said in that March interview.

"What we've found is you can directly measure player state and it turns out to be very useful," Newell said. "You need to be able to directly measure how aroused the player is, what their heart rate is, things like that, in order to continue to offer them a new experience each time they play."

JoystiqValve measures sweat during Left 4 Dead play originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biometricbiometricsL4DLeft-4-Deadmacmicrosoftpcplaystationps3STEAMvalvexboxTue, 07 May 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Trials Evolution: Gold Edition PC demo out now, sale starts May 9]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/trials-evolution-gold-edition-pc-demo-out-now-sale-starts-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/trials-evolution-gold-edition-pc-demo-out-now-sale-starts-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/trials-evolution-gold-edition-pc-demo-out-now-sale-starts-may/#commentsTrials Evolution Gold Edition demo available now, sale starts May 9th Ubisoft has released a free demo version of RedLynx's racing-platformer, Trials Evolution: Gold Edition, via Steam in advance of an upcoming sale later this week.

The sale, which starts May 9 and continues through May 13, will drop the price of Trials Evolution: Gold Edition from $19.99 to $14.99, or from £15.99 to £11.99 for buyers in Europe.

Trials Evolution: Gold Edition includes all content from 2012's Xbox Live Arcade release Trials Evolution, along with all tracks from its predecessor Trials HD. The game also includes an in-game track editor and level-sharing functionality, giving players access to a treasure trove of virtual injuries and other motorcycle-related mishaps.

JoystiqTrials Evolution: Gold Edition PC demo out now, sale starts May 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demopcredlynxsalesteamtrials-evolutiontrials-evolution-gold-editionubisoftTue, 07 May 2013 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve weekly deals: The Bridge, Special Forces: Team X, more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/valve-weekly-deals-the-bridge-special-forces-team-x-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/valve-weekly-deals-the-bridge-special-forces-team-x-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/valve-weekly-deals-the-bridge-special-forces-team-x-more/#commentsValve weekly deals The Bridge, other stuff Today through May 13 at 10 a.m. PT, grab the following games for up to 75 percent off their standard asking prices: Avencast: Rise of the Mage, Ankh: Heart of Osiris, Ankh: Battle of the Gods, Jack Keane, Trainz Simulator 12, The Bridge, Blue Toad Murder Files and Special Forces: Team X.

We're particularly tickled to see The Bridge, an indie puzzler with M.C. Escher twists (literally) on this list, available for 33 percent off, or $10. Special Forces: Team X is also notable this week for its permanent price drop to $10 following this sale, which puts the game at $5 - that's a 67 percent discount from its current price of $15. But don't worry about the math and take a look at the Steam sale games right here.

JoystiqValve weekly deals: The Bridge, Special Forces: Team X, more originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macpcsalespecial-forces-team-xSTEAMThe-BridgevalveTue, 07 May 2013 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: QUBE DLC out now on Steam, 10 percent off until May 13]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/psa-qube-dlc-out-now-on-steam-10-percent-off-until-may-13/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/psa-qube-dlc-out-now-on-steam-10-percent-off-until-may-13/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/psa-qube-dlc-out-now-on-steam-10-percent-off-until-may-13/#comments The Against the Qlock DLC for puzzler QUBE is out now on Steam, and is 10 percent off ($5.39) until May 13. Against the Qlock challenges players to beat ten levels in record time to top the scores of their friends.

QUBE will be coming to Wii U the form of QUBE: Director's Cut. "Quite possibly," it may also make its way to Vita. No release date for either platform has been announced.

JoystiqPSA: QUBE DLC out now on Steam, 10 percent off until May 13 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 May 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>against-the-qlockmacpcpsaqubeSTEAMtoxic-gamesMon, 06 May 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[XCOM: Enemy Unknown Mac version not on Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/xcom-enemy-unknown-mac-version-not-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/xcom-enemy-unknown-mac-version-not-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/xcom-enemy-unknown-mac-version-not-on-steam/#comments Though XCOM: Enemy Unknown Elite Edition arrived on Mac on April 25, one place it didn't launch was Steam. A representative of the Mac version's developer, Feral Interactive, told Joystiq that it "does not release games on Steam."

This isn't the only game that Feral has shipped on platforms not owned by Valve, as the developer is credited with creating Mac versions of BioShock 2, Grid and both Batman: Arkham City and Arkham Asylum, among many other games. When asked about whether any games from its catalog would launch on Steam at any point, the representative said they "do not talk about future products."

Feral is offering XCOM: Enemy Unknown on the Mac App Store, among other online retailers listed on its site.

JoystiqXCOM: Enemy Unknown Mac version not on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 May 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesferal-interactivefiraxismacmac-app-storeSTEAMxcom-enemy-unknownMon, 06 May 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Special Forces: Team X getting price drop after going on sale on Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/special-forces-team-x-getting-price-drop-after-going-on-sale-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/special-forces-team-x-getting-price-drop-after-going-on-sale-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/special-forces-team-x-getting-price-drop-after-going-on-sale-on/#commentsSpecial Forces Team X getting price drop after going on sale on Steam Special Forces: Team X, the third-person shooter from Blacklight: Retribution developer Zombie Studios, is taking its price down to $5 on Steam from May 6 at 10 a.m. PT, through May 13. After the sale, Special Forces: Team X will get a permanent price drop to $10, forever and ever, or until Zombie Studios, publishers Atari and/or Microprose decide to change that number again. Before 10 a.m. PT today, Special Forces: Team X costs $15.

Special Forces: Team X is a cel-shaded, cover-based shooter with more than 100 possible map combinations and five multiplayer modes. When it first hit Steam in February, the game had a bug that could randomly reset character XP, but that issue has been resolved via a series of patches, Microprose says in a press release. A Title Update for the XBLA version is in testing now.

"We are hoping that this price drop will bring players into the game that may have been scared away by the initial launch problems," the press release reads.

Continue reading Special Forces: Team X getting price drop after going on sale on Steam

JoystiqSpecial Forces: Team X getting price drop after going on sale on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AtariMicroProsepcprice-dropsalespecial-forces-team-xSTEAMzombie-studiosMon, 06 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Might & Magic Heroes 6 currently unplayable for many [update: Ubisoft responds]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/might-and-magic-heroes-6-currently-unplayable-for-many/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/might-and-magic-heroes-6-currently-unplayable-for-many/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/might-and-magic-heroes-6-currently-unplayable-for-many/#commentsMight & Magic Heroes 6 currently unplayable for many update Ubisoft responds Update: Ubisoft has issued a new response on Facebook, apologizing for the problems users are facing. The post lists possible solutions to some issues, though it seems that those with problems redeeming keys or with inaccessible content will have to wait. Ubisoft is preforming maintenance today to reauthorize players and "gradually set everything back to normal."

Many Steam and Ubisoft customers are complaining that Heroes of Might & Magic 6 has become unplayable since the release of its recent expansion, Shades of Darkness, and the 2.1 patch that accompanied it. The issue seems to center around Ubisoft's Uplay service, which refuses to accept the download codes issued to customers after they buy the game.

Users are saying that the problem arises after downloading the game and activating their key within Uplay. Upon booting the game, the in-game store page asks for the same key. If the key is entered again, the game produces an error message that the key has already been redeemed. After this, players have access to the Heroes 6 expansions, but are unable to play the main campaign (it's grayed out in the menu).

For its part, Ubisoft has acknowledged the issue on its own forums, assuring users that their keys are "not broken and will be fixed as soon as possible." The company is also recommending a workaround discovered by forum user ElektroDragon, which involves manually downloading and installing the patch instead of allowing the game to do it automatically.

Meanwhile, Steam users have started a petition against Ubisoft, specifically its use of 3rd party DRM via Uplay. The publisher has a rocky history with its PC games, often releasing them long after their console counterparts and saddling them with restrictive DRM. Earlier this year, Ubisoft's Uplay director, Stephanie Perotti, said that the company is working to improve its relationship with the PC community.

We've contacted Ubisoft regarding this latest issue and will update this story if we hear anything new.

Update: The specifics of the problem have been clarified. Thanks to commenter LamiaMistral for providing the image above.

JoystiqMight & Magic Heroes 6 currently unplayable for many [update: Ubisoft responds] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 May 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drmMight-and-Magic-Heroes-6pcsteamUbisoftuplayMon, 06 May 2013 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon sequel could happen, says Biehn]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-sequel-could-happen-says-biehn/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-sequel-could-happen-says-biehn/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-sequel-could-happen-says-biehn/#comments Creative Director Dean Evans is interested in a follow-up to Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, at least according to Michael Biehn, the game's star voice talent. In an interview with Xbox's Major Nelson, Biehn said from his understanding Blood Dragon is exceeding Ubisoft's sales expectations by five times, and Evans is now considering a sequel to the retro spinoff.

"Dean was with me on the phone last night, he called me last night," Biehn said on Major Nelson Radio. "He was pretty jacked up. He was going into a meeting today, to.. I think he wants to turn it into some sort of franchise. He's got a sequel in mind."

We gushed about the "most excellent" Blood Dragon in our review, so seeing Sgt. Rex Colt return to a screen near us could be a great thing. Having said that, we do wonder if the comprehensively nostalgic game has anything left to add to the pastiche.

In the meantime, we've reached out to Ubisoft for comment.

JoystiqFar Cry 3: Blood Dragon sequel could happen, says Biehn originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>far-cry-3-blood-dragonmicrosoftpcplaystationps3PSNsteamubisoftubisoft-montrealXBLAXBLMxboxMon, 06 May 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate the day before Cinco de Mayo with Steam's Star Wars Collection sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/celebrate-the-day-before-cinco-de-mayo-with-steams-star-wars-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/celebrate-the-day-before-cinco-de-mayo-with-steams-star-wars-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/celebrate-the-day-before-cinco-de-mayo-with-steams-star-wars-co/#commentsCelebrate the day before Cinco de Mayo with Steam's Star Wars Collection sale It's May 4, which means we're only one day away from Cinco de Mayo. What other reason would there be for Steam to put a collection of Star Wars games on sale? May the fourth day of this month be remembered as the day you could buy 14 games for $50 on Steam, a 50 percent discount on a bundle that includes a list of games seen after the break.

Continue reading Celebrate the day before Cinco de Mayo with Steam's Star Wars Collection sale

JoystiqCelebrate the day before Cinco de Mayo with Steam's Star Wars Collection sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 04 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Knights-of-the-Old-Republic-2KOTOR-2KOTOR-2-The-Sith-LordsLucasArtsmacpcsalestar-wars-collectionstar-wars-dark-forcesstar-wars-knights-of-the-old-republicStar-Wars-Knights-of-the-Old-Republic-2-The-Sith-LordsSTEAMSat, 04 May 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Left 4 Dead 2 Linux beta is live]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/left-4-dead-2-linux-beta-is-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/left-4-dead-2-linux-beta-is-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/left-4-dead-2-linux-beta-is-live/#commentsLeft 4 Dead 2 Linux beta now live Valve has announced a beta build of Left 4 Dead 2 for Linux is now live. Left 4 Dead 2 owners should see a special beta version of the game in their Steam library; if not, a client reboot is required.

The Linux beta offers access to the Extended Mutation System, authoring tools and dedicated servers - on par with what's been available to PC and Mac versions of the title. This latest beta build also offers updates for Windows and Mac users, plus cross-play between all three platforms.

JoystiqLeft 4 Dead 2 Linux beta is live originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 04 May 2013 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaL4D2Left-4-Dead-2left-4-dead-2-betalinuxsteamsteam-for-linuxsteam-linuxvalveSat, 04 May 2013 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Painkiller Hell & Damnation fires off 'Full Metal Rocket' DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/painkiller-hell-and-damnation-fires-off-full-metal-rocket-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/painkiller-hell-and-damnation-fires-off-full-metal-rocket-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/painkiller-hell-and-damnation-fires-off-full-metal-rocket-dlc/#commentsPainkiller HD gets Full Metal Rocket DLC pack The latest DLC for Painkiller Hell & Damnation is now available for purchase on Steam. The $4 Full Metal Rocket DLC bolsters the multiplayer side with five additional maps - three classic Painkiller maps in Meatless, Blink and Mines; two new locales called Town and Prison - and a pair of skins, plus a new weapon and two new enemies: the Executioner and the Beast.

Painkiller Hell & Damnation is the HD remake of the original Painkiller, which launched for the PC in 2004. Console ports for Painkiller HD are currently in the works, while ports for Mac and Linux are expected to drop this spring.

Gallery: Painkiller Hell and Damnation - Full Metal Rocket

JoystiqPainkiller Hell & Damnation fires off 'Full Metal Rocket' DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcfull-metal-rocketnordic-gamespainkiller-hell-and-damnationpcsteamThe-farm-51Fri, 03 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pinball FX 2 flips onto Steam May 10 with Windows 7 support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/pinball-fx-2-flips-onto-steam-may-10-with-windows-7-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/pinball-fx-2-flips-onto-steam-may-10-with-windows-7-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/pinball-fx-2-flips-onto-steam-may-10-with-windows-7-support/#comments
Pinball FX 2 rides the Steam ramp on May 10. The XBLA and Windows 8 game arrives next week as a free download, with six packs available at launch for $9.99 each.

The sextet includes Star Wars Pinball, Marvel Pinball, Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtue, Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles, Pinball FX2 Core Collection, and Zen Classics.

The Steam version brings Windows 7 support to the pinball platform. As Zen Studios VP Mel Kirk tells us, the Steam version is compatible with Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and even good old Windows XP.

Continue reading Pinball FX 2 flips onto Steam May 10 with Windows 7 support

JoystiqPinball FX 2 flips onto Steam May 10 with Windows 7 support originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcpinball-fx-2release-datesteamZen-StudiosFri, 03 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Q.U.B.E. 'Against the Qlock' DLC coming to Steam May 6]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/q-u-b-e-against-the-qlock-dlc-coming-to-steam-may-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/q-u-b-e-against-the-qlock-dlc-coming-to-steam-may-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/q-u-b-e-against-the-qlock-dlc-coming-to-steam-may-6/#comments
Q.U.B.E. is blocking out May 6 on its qalendar for new time-trial DLC titled 'Against the Qlock.' The DLC brings ten more levels to the Portal-like puzzler, with players trying to beat the timer as well as leaderboard scores. There's also a batch of new achievements.

While Q.U.B.E. is currently contained on PC and Mac, the game we deemed " a delightful on-screen Rubik's Cube" looks set to break out onto Wii U and maybe Vita.

JoystiqQ.U.B.E. 'Against the Qlock' DLC coming to Steam May 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCmacpcrelease-datesteamtoxic-gamesFri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Everything Tomb Raider 50 percent off on Steam this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/everything-tomb-raider-50-percent-off-on-steam-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/everything-tomb-raider-50-percent-off-on-steam-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/everything-tomb-raider-50-percent-off-on-steam-this-weekend/#comments Steam is offering a 50 percent discount on assorted Tomb Raider games this weekend. The sale drops the price of the latest Tomb Raider game to $25, with the Survival Edition knocked down to $28.

The Tomb Raider Collection, which features 10 games from the series (including this year's entry), is also part of this weekend's deal. That sizable bundle of games can be bought for $35. Steam's weekend sale ends at 10am Pacific time on Monday, May 6. PS3 owners can still pick up Lara Croft's recent adventure on PSN for $30 this weekend.

JoystiqEverything Tomb Raider 50 percent off on Steam this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 May 2013 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Crystal-DynamicspcsaleSquare-Enixsteamsteam-weekend-dealTomb-Raidertomb-raider-2011tomb-raider-2012tomb-raider-2013tomb-raider-collectionThu, 02 May 2013 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez fan art takes that spreadsheet joke to a whole new coordinate]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/fez-fan-art-takes-that-spreadsheet-joke-to-a-whole-new-coordinat/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/fez-fan-art-takes-that-spreadsheet-joke-to-a-whole-new-coordinat/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/fez-fan-art-takes-that-spreadsheet-joke-to-a-whole-new-coordinat/#commentsFez fan art takes that spreadsheet joke to a whole new coordinate In 2011, Fez developer Phil Fish said, "PCs are for spreadsheets." When he announced Fez would hit PC, fans and haters jumped on the "spreadsheet machine" dig. After Fez's successful XBLA and PC launches, this fan art by Steam user McKack is a good stopping point for the joke. All the jokes, even.

Continue reading Fez fan art takes that spreadsheet joke to a whole new coordinate

JoystiqFez fan art takes that spreadsheet joke to a whole new coordinate originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 May 2013 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fan-artFezpcphil-fishpolytronpolytron-corporationspreadsheetspreadsheetsSTEAMThu, 02 May 2013 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Cloudbuilt trailer hits full speed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/cloudbuilt-trailer-hits-full-speed/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/cloudbuilt-trailer-hits-full-speed/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/cloudbuilt-trailer-hits-full-speed/#comments

Cloudbuilt, the futuristic platformer from Coilworks, is still in polishing stages, but it looks better every month. The new trailer shows how that fast-paced action plays out at full speed, including blasts from the main character's ray gun. Cloudbuilt is up for a Steam launch on Greenlight.

JoystiqCloudbuilt trailer hits full speed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 May 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudbuiltcoilworksgreenlightpcSTEAMsteam-greenlightThu, 02 May 2013 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stonehearth builds a giant tips bucket on Kickstarter [update: goal met]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/stonehearth-builds-a-giant-tips-bucket-on-kickstarter/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/stonehearth-builds-a-giant-tips-bucket-on-kickstarter/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/stonehearth-builds-a-giant-tips-bucket-on-kickstarter/#comments
Stonehearth, a blocky sandbox strategy game from Radiant Entertainment, has taken to Kickstarter for funding. Set in a fantasy realm, Stonehearth is a Windows PC game in which you nurture the development of a small band of humans.

Stonehearth utilizes procedurally generated terrain and dynamic AI encounters to instill variety into each play session. The game's also been built to be highly moddable; it will ship with tools and guides to help people customize just about everything.

By the time you're reading this, Stonehearth will in all likelihood have met its goal of $120,000, with 28 days left to go. [Update: Just as we thought, Radiant has met its goal of $120,000.] If $200,000 is raised, Mac and Linux ports will be developed. Meanwhile, you can also vote for Stonehearth on Steam Greenlight.

JoystiqStonehearth builds a giant tips bucket on Kickstarter [update: goal met] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 May 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kickstarterpcradiant-entertainmentsteamsteam-greenlightstonehearthThu, 02 May 2013 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Life 2 mod 'Minerva' gets Director's Cut on Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/half-life-2-mod-minerva-gets-directors-cut-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/half-life-2-mod-minerva-gets-directors-cut-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/half-life-2-mod-minerva-gets-directors-cut-on-steam/#commentsDirector's Cut version of HalfLife 2 mod Minerva hits Steam Six years after its initial release, Adam Foster's acclaimed Half-Life 2 mod MINERVA has been re-released as a free "Director's Cut" version on Steam.

MINERVA is an atmospheric first-person adventure game in which players explore an underground Convent base with help from Minerva, an unseen companion character. The mod was impressive enough to land Foster a job at Valve, where he still works today. Friendly pressure from co-workers resulted in the game's eventual overhaul and Steam release.

Foster notes that the Director's Cut boasts "tweaked visuals, bug fixes, better puzzles and all kinds of subtle improvements." MINERVA is available as a free download, though it requires players to have Half-Life 2: Episode One installed in order to play it.

JoystiqHalf-Life 2 mod 'Minerva' gets Director's Cut on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half-life-2minervamodpcsteamWed, 01 May 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jack Lumber whittles away its price on Steam through May 7]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/jack-lumber-whittles-away-its-price-on-steam-through-may-7/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/jack-lumber-whittles-away-its-price-on-steam-through-may-7/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/jack-lumber-whittles-away-its-price-on-steam-through-may-7/#commentsJack Lumber on Steam today Jack Lumber, the anti-tree iOS game from Owlchemy Labs, is now available on Steam, on sale for $5 through May 7.

Mr. Lumber is a supernaturally powered wood-chopping fiend who holds a powerful grudge against trees of all kinds, and gameplay involves viciously slicing through logs of various shapes and sizes. Even better, Jack Lumber isn't afraid to employ a little harmless punning.

"A tree killed his granny and now he is out for revenge," Owlchemy's description reads. "Meet Jack Lumber, the supernatural lumberjack who hates trees, loves animals, and hates trees. Did we say that twice? The guy really hates trees, and boy does he have an axe to grind."

Don't lie - you laughed.

JoystiqJack Lumber whittles away its price on Steam through May 7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jack-lumberowlchemy-labspcsaleSTEAMWed, 01 May 2013 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Anomaly 2 marches to PC, Mac and Linux May 15]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/anomaly-2-marches-to-pc-mac-and-linux-may-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/anomaly-2-marches-to-pc-mac-and-linux-may-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/anomaly-2-marches-to-pc-mac-and-linux-may-15/#comments 11bit Studios' tower-offense sequel Anomaly 2 will launch on May 15. The sequel adds new units and the ability for them to morph into a secondary class type, as well as incorporating live multiplayer for the first time in the series.

Anomaly 2 is the sequel to Anomaly: Warzone Earth and its expansion, Anomaly: Korea. Unlike its predecessors, Anomaly 2 will forgo mobile platforms at launch, favoring Steam for PC, Mac and Linux. All pre-orders are currently 10 percent off the standard $15 asking price.

JoystiqAnomaly 2 marches to PC, Mac and Linux May 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11bit-studiosanomaly-2macpcrelease-datesteamWed, 01 May 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam Greenlight gets a mini round: Edge of Space; Papers, Please]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/steam-greenlight-gets-a-mini-round-edge-of-space-papers-pleas/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/steam-greenlight-gets-a-mini-round-edge-of-space-papers-pleas/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/steam-greenlight-gets-a-mini-round-edge-of-space-papers-pleas/#commentsEdge of Space, three more get Greenlit Steam accepted a mini batch of games and software on Greenlight today, picking up four new, community-voted titles to eventually launch on Steam. The three games are Edge of Space, Venetica and Papers, Please, and the software title is Substance Designer 3, a texturing toolset.

Edge of Space is a 2D terraforming experiment set on a distant, rogue planet; Venetica is an adventure set in historical Venice and starring Scarlett, the daughter of Death; and Papers, Please is an intense immigration checkpoint simulator.

Steam will likely continue Greenlighting games in smaller batches so the entire process can move more quickly, this round's announcement reads.

"These titles were selected on the same criteria we have been using in the past: Votes in Greenlight give us a hugely valuable point of data in gauging community interest along with external factors such as press reviews, crowd-funding successes, performance on other platforms, and awards and contests to help form a more complete picture of community interest in each title," the announcement says.

JoystiqSteam Greenlight gets a mini round: Edge of Space; Papers, Please originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>edge-of-spacegreenlightpapers-pleasepcSTEAMsteam-greenlightveneticaWed, 01 May 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Fez flips platforms, lands on PC today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/psa-fez-flips-platforms-lands-on-pc-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/psa-fez-flips-platforms-lands-on-pc-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/psa-fez-flips-platforms-lands-on-pc-today/#commentsPSA Fez flips platforms, lands on PC today One year after its high-profile launch on XBLA, Fez is available on PC via Steam, the Humble Store and GOG today for $10. For $5 more on Steam, grab the game and its super-cool original soundtrack by Disasterpeace, or grab the soundtrack by itself for $7. Steam: Giving you all the options to spend your money.

By April 13, Fez sold 200,000 copies on XBLA and we thought it was positively joyful. Creator Phil Fish suggests hopeful PC players purchase Fez via the Humble Store, since he gets 95 percent of that revenue, compared to 70 percent from Steam and GOG. If Fish insulted your grandmother and you really want to get back at him, go ahead and buy Fez through Steam or GOG and have a wonderful time playing it. That'll show him.

JoystiqPSA: Fez flips platforms, lands on PC today originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezgog.comhumble-storepcphil-fishpolytronSTEAMWed, 01 May 2013 14:00:00 EST