Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Miyamoto: Ocarina of Time could have been in first-person perspectivehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/shigeru-ocarina-of-time-could-have-been-in-first-person-perspec/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/shigeru-ocarina-of-time-could-have-been-in-first-person-perspec/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/shigeru-ocarina-of-time-could-have-been-in-first-person-perspec/#commentsFiled under: ,


There aren't many gamers who don't harbor fond memories associated with the Nintendo 64's classic adventure (and to many, the greatest installment in the Hylian franchise), Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. In addition to its beloved story and incredible visuals, it was a groundbreaking third-person adventure through an intricately detailed fantasy world -- but would we (and Game Rankings) still hold the triforce-hunting adventure in such high regard if we had experienced Hyrule directly through the point-eared protagonist's eyes?

In a recent discussion between Nintendo president Satoru Iwata and revolutionary game developer (and Time's most influential person of 2008) Shigeru Miyamoto, it was outed that Shiggy secretly possesses a penchant for first-person shooters (notably, Rare's seminal N64 shooter Goldeneye), and that he'd considered creating Ocarina of Time using an Oblivion-esque first-person perspective. We're not quite sure how this would have affected the title -- but we're certainly terrified of the prospect of witnessing Darunia's sexy dance of seduction first-hand.

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]]>fpsgoldeneyeiwatalegendofzeldan64nintendoocarinaoftimeootshigerushigerumiyamotozeldaGriffin McElroy2008-05-11T12:30:00+00:00Readers pick best webcomic: Visceration Station http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/readers-pick-best-webcomic-visceration-station/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/readers-pick-best-webcomic-visceration-station/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/readers-pick-best-webcomic-visceration-station/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Big thanks to Supafine's "Legend of Zelda: Visceration Station" webcomic for finally (and logically) explaining the heart system to us. The least we, as the Joystiq community, can apparently do is bestow you the honor of best game-related webcomic of the week.

Second and third place went to XKCD and College Humor, respectively. Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to let us know of any gaming comics you stumble upon this week!

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]]>college-humorlegend-of-zeldalegendofzeldalinksupafinewebcomicxkcdzeldaRoss Miller2008-04-16T15:30:00+00:00Rumor: Legend of Zelda manga coming statesidehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/legend-of-zelda-manga-coming-stateside/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/legend-of-zelda-manga-coming-stateside/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/legend-of-zelda-manga-coming-stateside/#commentsFiled under:

Usually, we don't often partake in "the mangas." Sometimes you have to read them backwards, which makes our heads hurt, and frankly, we don't think our black jeans are comically baggy enough to pull the whole "manga reader" look off. That said, we think we'll be forced to make an exception for a Legend of Zelda manga that's reportedly coming stateside.

In an effort to make no more than one manga-related post per month, we also wanted to let you know that GoNintendo got its hands on the cover for the Phoenix Wright manga headed our way. It's totally uninspiring, save for the presence of Godot, the coolest prosecutor since Sam Waterston. ... Crap, are we going to have to buy two mangas? We're going to have to go get our jeans let out.

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]]>legend-of-zeldamangaphoenix-wrightzeldaJustin McElroy2008-04-04T10:00:00+00:00April Fools' Alert #3: Legend of Zelda movie by IGNhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-alert-3-legend-of-zelda-movie-by-ign/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-alert-3-legend-of-zelda-movie-by-ign/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-alert-3-legend-of-zelda-movie-by-ign/#commentsFiled under:


IGN has a little fun this April Fools' Day with its exclusive Legend of Zelda movie trailer. The preview plays out like one giant cliché with fan service and a distinctive Uwe quality to it. We'd love to embed the preview and show you, but the code is broken and all we seem to get is some PSP-licker (and game butt-rubber) hosting a show.

Last year we had another impressive Zelda-inspired April Fools' joke with a preview for a Legend of Zelda game set in a future/Star Wars version of Hyrule. We can't help but think IGN's trailer would have been better (and more over the top) had Link been walking down the street of some poor provincial town and people started bursting out singing like the opening of La Belle et la Bête Beauty and the Beast.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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]]>aprilfools08ignlegendofzeldamovietrailerzeldaAlexander Sliwinski2008-04-01T10:30:00+00:00Today's most retro hack: Four-player Ocarina of Timehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/todays-most-retro-hack-four-player-ocarina-of-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/todays-most-retro-hack-four-player-ocarina-of-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/todays-most-retro-hack-four-player-ocarina-of-time/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Take what many consider the greatest game of all time. Add multi-player support, which everyone knows makes any game better. What do you get. An even greaterest game of all time, of course, which is what this four-player Ocarina of Time hack could very well be.

Okay, maybe we're overselling what is, at this point, just a video of an early, choppy test version the hack. But considering it comes from the same people that brought us the ability to play as Dark Link and fight an Arwing in Ocarina of Time, we have no doubt he'll be able to pull it off. Whether the final result turns out more like Four Swords Adventures or The Wand of Gamelon, though, is still anyone's guess.

[Thanks Tanks]

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]]>four-playerlinkmultiplayerocarinaocarina-of-timeOoTzeldaKyle Orland2008-03-12T03:00:00+00:00These girls are more Link than you'll ever behttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/these-girls-are-more-link-than-youll-ever-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/these-girls-are-more-link-than-youll-ever-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/these-girls-are-more-link-than-youll-ever-be/#commentsFiled under:


Is it possible that, much like the role of Peter Pan in the theater, the role of elvish man-boy Link can only be truly portrayed by a lady? These two girls, caught capturing the Hyrulian savior's less verdant side, definitely make a convincing argument.

We don't know if its their pixie-like features or their horrifically deformed ears, but these ladies appear to have nailed Link better than any dude we've ever seen. Also, the results are in, and they are cute. If you're interested, our friends at DS Fanboy have an unsettling number of other pictures for you to lecherously peruse at your leisure.

Gallery: Cosplaying Link Duo

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]]>cosplaylinkzeldaJustin McElroy2008-03-05T10:40:00+00:00Wii hacked for homebrew, with Pong proof of concepthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/wii-hacked-for-homebrew-with-pong-proof-of-concept/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/wii-hacked-for-homebrew-with-pong-proof-of-concept/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/wii-hacked-for-homebrew-with-pong-proof-of-concept/#commentsFiled under: ,


Intrepid hackers have figured out a way to run homebrew code on the Wii, through an exploit available through none other than Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

By using a specially hacked Zelda save file, hackers have been able to run unsigned code straight off of the Wii's SD card. The hack is still in its early stages, but one user has made a pseudo-functional version of Pong that runs on the console. There are no working controls, and the whole thing moves at a snail's pace, but the community seems optimistic that this is a very good sign.

Check out a video of the hack in "action" after the break.

[Via Engadget]




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]]>homebrewpongzeldaScott Jon Siegel2008-02-14T06:00:00+00:00The surreal Nintendo artwork of Jimi Benedicthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/the-surreal-nintendo-artwork-of-jimi-benedict/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/the-surreal-nintendo-artwork-of-jimi-benedict/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/the-surreal-nintendo-artwork-of-jimi-benedict/#commentsFiled under:

We love unique, video game inspired artwork just as much as the next guy -- our weary-spined copy of "i am 8-bit" can vouch for that. However, we also love our preserved, cherished memories of our NES era heroes. These two feelings conflict when looking at Jimi Benedict's surreal video game art -- our inner Andy Warhol loves Benedict's incredibly unique and lovingly detailed portraits, but the traditionalist in us prefers not to think of Link as a gap-toothed, Sloth-faced dwarf.

You can see both full portraits after the jump, but to see the rest of Benedict's art (including what appears to be a mock-up title screen to the lesser known NES game Obama: Take the Power Back), you'll have to go to his website -- a swirling vortex of complete madness and totally rad drawings.

[Via DSF]



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]]>ArtIam8bitJimiBenedictJimiyolinkmariopaintingsurrealzeldaGriffin McElroy2008-02-09T11:00:00+00:00And the greatest video game horse is ...http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/and-the-greatest-video-game-horse-is/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/and-the-greatest-video-game-horse-is/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/and-the-greatest-video-game-horse-is/#commentsFiled under:


MTV Multiplayer has been on a quest recently to find the very best video game animal, and they've begun with man's best ... non-mechanical mode of transportation, the horse. Now a panel of experts, that included 2K Boston's Ken Levine and Penny Arcade's Mike "Gabe" Krahulik, are back with their decision: Epona, Link's trusty steed in several Legend of Zelda games.

But controversy is a-brewin' dear reader. For while the esteemed panel chose Epona, the readers have selected Agro of Shadow of the Colossus fame. Which one will go on to do battle with the other members of the animal kingdom? We're sure the competitors wait with baited, oat-scented breath to learn.

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]]>horsesken-levinepenny-arcadezeldaJustin McElroy2008-01-30T11:00:00+00:00Sheik returns in Smash Bros. Brawlhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/sheik-returns-in-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/sheik-returns-in-smash-bros-brawl/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/sheik-returns-in-smash-bros-brawl/#commentsFiled under: ,


Gamers concerned that their favorite gender-confused Zelda alter-ego would be absent from Brawl have absolutely nothing to worry about. The Hyrulian princess's down-special move will still transform her into Sheik, now re-imagined to match the visual style of Twilight Princess.

According to the official Smash Bros. Brawl blog, Sheik's look is based on an early design drafted during development of Twilight Princess, meaning that at one point Sheik was a shoe-in for Link's grittiest adventure to date. Sheik appears to retain the needle storm, chain, and vanishing moves from Melee, and shares the "Light Arrow" Final Smash with Zelda.

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]]>brawlnintendosmash-bros-brawlsmashbrosbrawlssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawlzeldaScott Jon Siegel2008-01-16T08:03:00+00:00Four Zelda games in 48 hourshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/12/four-zelda-games-in-48-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/12/four-zelda-games-in-48-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/12/four-zelda-games-in-48-hours/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've all, at some point, had a game that we decided not to put down until the closing credits. Whether you uncompromisingly soldiered on through a Warcraft III campaign, or decided to topple Bowser before turning in for the day, we're all familiar with marathon gaming. However, a small gathering of Zelda enthusiasts are attempting a seemingly impossible gauntlet of non-stop dungeon raiding -- all four 3D Zelda games (Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess) in just 48 hours.

That's four water temples, three Ganondorf confrontations, and a whole mess of heart containers, stretched over a two day period. With nearly thirty hours to go, the CameronBanga.com team have already bested Ocarina of Time, and are currently trudging through the most tedious of all the Zelda titles, Majora's Mask. We can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday night than watching these goons sink into sweet, Hyrulian madness via their live webstream -- but then again, we're what most camp counselors would call "indoor kids".

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]]>CameronBangaMajorasmaskMarathonNintendoOcarinaoftimeSpeed RunSpeedRunTwilightprincesswindwakerZeldaGriffin McElroy2008-01-12T11:45:00+00:00Best of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2007http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/best-of-the-rest-ludwigs-picks-of-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/best-of-the-rest-ludwigs-picks-of-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/best-of-the-rest-ludwigs-picks-of-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii)

Though its puzzles may occasionally infuriate, the real source of frustration regarding Zack & Wiki stems from the fact that nobody bought it. Every year has its share of titles that deserve an audience yet never find one, and in this regard, Zack & Wiki is easily one of the most tragic games to put an uncontrollable smile on your face. Relentlessly charming and beautifully presented, the debut of Capcom's choc-chomping pirate and his simian sidekick challenges the mind and warms that cynical, meh-spouting lump in your chest. How refreshing it was to overcome obstacles and bosses by choosing the power of the mind over an impossibly large bazooka.


Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PlayStation 3)

Don't praise this game as the PlayStation 3's long-awaited killer app. Don't praise it for its guided tour of Cell and Blu-ray possibilities. Rather heap your kind words on Naughty Dog's impeccable design, snappy writing and tight grip on the very concept of "adventure." It may not be a riot of innovation -- Gears of Indiana Jones and whatnot -- but the game's likable characters and cinematic flair make sure that the edge of your seat is as far as you go.


Pac-Man: Championship Edition (Xbox Live Arcade)

If I was to envision a mental calendar representing what I was doing with my life for most of the year, there'd be a mysterious black patch, lasting several weeks, around the time Pac-Man: Championship Edition saw release. The truth is, in-between the game's addictive modification of the Pac-Man formula and a constant high score war with folks on my friends list, my life outside of games became a complete blur. If it didn't help me plot a more efficient way of devouring ghosts, it was irrelevant.


Tomb Raider Anniversary (PC)

Honestly, I'm tired of having to explain this game to friends who raise an eyebrow and say, "But dude, hasn't Tomb Raider been rubbish for the last twenty games or so?" The series had its Batman Begins reboot with Tomb Raider: Legend and has been totally awesome since. Dude. Anniversary remakes Lara's iconic debut, melding Legend's superior controls and fluidity with the original game's intelligent level design. Trust me, the result is better than the game in you imperfectly remember.


Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)

It's impossible for me to tell if this is the best Metroid Prime overall, but there are certain things which it's best at compared to the previous two and utterly fantastic games. Prime 3 is perfectly paced, to the point where "just one more missile upgrade" becomes "just one more area." Next you'll be wanting to do "just one more planet," only you've finished the game and remarked that the end of the trilogy finally brings with it a truly engaging story. The Wii's controller also delivers the best combat yet -- I think we can drop that "First-Person Adventure" nonsense now and call this one a shooter.


DiRT (Xbox 360)

The only game to cause me personal injury, Dirt is the most thrilling racer to come along in years. From out of nowhere, Codemasters produced an amazing graphics and physics engine, one conveying every bump, jolt and ill-advised jump on the track. Choose an interior viewpoint and watch out for the trees!


Phoenix Wright 3: Trials & Tribulations (DS)

Let's face it, there's not a whole lot going on here in terms of pure gameplay. Strange then, that the game I had the most fun playing was Phoenix Wright's third and final turn(about) as the most chronically and comically unprepared attorney in the world. A great cast of characters and a story which thrives on ridiculous twists make it a great read... but what makes it a good game? I know exactly what the answer is now. It's the swell of excitement that arrives when you make the connection, when the amazing soundtrack kicks in and you flip an impossible case around at the very last and desperate moment.


Disappointments
  • The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) -- Bad poetry says it best: A bore, a snore and a chore. It took me several months to claw my way through this game, as all desire to play it quickly evaporated every time I touched my DS and remembered that yet another return to the Temple of the Ocean King awaited me. I could forgive the bland music, dull environments and utterly dreadful sailing, but this was one bad design boomerang I loathed. I desperately wanted a sequel to my beloved Wind Waker... just not this one.
  • Blue Dragon (Xbox 360) -- Assembled by a JRPG dream team, I think it's fair to say that Blue Dragon delivered what I expected. Exactly what I expected and what I thought I wanted. It turns out the line between "traditional" and "old fashioned" isn't always clear, a fact which Blue Dragon learns throughout its unevenly paced adventure. I liked it, but I should have loved it. The feeling that Mr. Final Fantasy phoned this one in just couldn't be avoided.
  • Super Paper Mario (Wii) -- I send my condolences to the families of the developers responsible for this charming title. As I understand it after playing the game, the entire team was mysteriously killed halfway through development, leaving the disastrous second half to random amateurs. What a shame.
  • Stranglehold (PS3) -- Though it captured the destructive action of Hard Boiled fairly well, it also did a good job of capturing silly aspects of game design. Do we really need irritating bosses that, for some reason, absorb 10,000 bullets before keeling over? Certainly no more than we need poor checkpointing, sluggish aiming and the ugliest implementation of Unreal 3.0 to date.
  • The Darkness (Xbox 360) -- A surprisingly forgettable game, The Darkness was carried by its morbid atmosphere and highly entertaining use of vicious tentacles. There was a decent game here, but every mechanic felt woefully underdeveloped. The last part of the game is a complete mess, deluging you in abrupt cutscenes (depicting things you could do yourself!) and leading you to believe that there's an important choice to be made. There isn't.

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]]>Best-of-the-rest-2007BlueDragonDirtGOTY-2007Metroid-PrimeMetroidPrime3Pac-ManPhantom-HourglassPhantomHourglassPhoenix-WrightPhoenixWrightStrangleholdSuperPaperMarioTheDarknessTomb-RaiderTombRaiderAnniversaryUnchartedZack-and-WikiZackAndWikiZeldaLudwig Kietzmann2008-01-02T06:30:00+00:00Best of the Rest: James' Picks of 2007http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/best-of-the-rest-james-picks-of-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/best-of-the-rest-james-picks-of-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/best-of-the-rest-james-picks-of-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

pac-man ce
Pac-Man Championship Edition (XBLA)

If not worthy of a Top 10 spot, then certainly Pac-Man deserves Joystiq's 'Comeback Player of the Year' award. I covered Pac-Man CE's overblown launch in early June, but it wasn't until I became a devoted player at home that I realized the sheer genius of the first true Pac-Man sequel since 'the Ms.' hit the maze in '82. Designer Toru Iwatani managed to scrape off a quarter-century of rust and fashion a remarkably relevant game that held me down during an otherwise punishing summer drought. Geometry Wars might be the most celebrated, but Pac-Man CE is Xbox Live Arcade's true star.

everyday shooter
Everyday Shooter (PSN)

A sublime work of art that bleeds indie blood and stirs the soul. A very personal experience. Kudos to creator Mr. Mak.

crackdown
Crackdown (Xbox 360)

Admittedly, Crackdown has become a fading memory, but a good one. Realtime World's sandbox will be remembered as the most satisfying online co-op game of the year, and not as my golden ticket to the Halo 3 Beta.

mlb 07
MLB 07: The Show (PSP)

Baseball? Yes'ir. As my Fightin' Phils battled to their first playoff appearance in 14 years (fourteen!), MLB 07 rarely left my PSP all season. (Okay, I confess, the game hasn't come anywhere near my handheld since the 'Filthies' agonizing first-round exit.)

picross
Picross (DS)

Corny subject matter doesn't diminish Picross' addictive gameplay. "Just one more" should be the motto for this year's best puzzler to feature blocks.

symphony of the night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (XBLA)

Does a decade-old game belong on a list of noteworthy 2007 titles? Definitely. Revisiting this classic in late March, I realized how ineptly I had judged SotN in my youth. After I feverishly destroyed the XBLA super-port - 200.6% completion, plus a Richter run-through - I was left with one lingering question: Is this the greatest game of all time...?

honorable mention
Honorable Mention

 Shoutouts to Super Stardust HD (PSN), Puzzle Quest (PSP) and Jeanne d'Arc (PSP).

disappointments
Disappointments
  • Heavenly Sword (PS3): Absolute mediocrity. I jonesed so hard for this one, but once in my PS3, I didn't experience a single high.
  • Phantom Hourglass (DS): I'm still searching for that 'Zelda' I fell in love with in '88, reaffirmed in '92 and pledged my soul to in '98.
  • Lost Planet (Xbox 360): Mostly 'meh,' but shoddy controls ruined occasional pockets of fun.
  • Mass Effect (Xbox 360): Moronic AI and generally broken combat has me baffled. Am I playing this wrong?
  • Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360): The essential gameplay elements (climbing and combat) are superb, but the supporting tasks are too few and flawed.
resolutions
New Year's Resolutions

I promise to finally play Metroid Prime 3 (Wii) and Uncharted (PS3).

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]]>assassins-creedassassinscreedbest-of-the-rest-2007castlevaniacastlevania-symphony-of-the-nightcrackdowneverdayshootereveryday-shooterGOTY-2007heavenly-swordheavenlyswordjeanne-darclost-planetlostplanetmass-effectmasseffectmlb-07pac-manpac-man-cepac-man-championship-editionphantom-hourglassphatomhourglasspicrosspsnpuzzle-questpuzzlequestsuper-stardust-hdsuperstardusthdsymphony-of-the-nightsymphonyofthenightxblazeldaJames Ransom-Wiley2008-01-01T13:30:00+00:00Today in Joystiq: December 11, 2007http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/today-in-joystiq-december-11-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/today-in-joystiq-december-11-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/today-in-joystiq-december-11-2007/#comments Though not as much of a technical achievement as the Pac-Man tree, we love any and all holiday video game references. This picture of a Triforce atop a 50-foot tree was reportedly snapped by Nick and Will from Gnatline podcast. Shall we cry Photoshop? Nah, it's the holiday spirit, we'll let our lingering doubts lie elsewhere for the night. Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Readers pick best webcomic: Karma
Today's manliest video of manliness: TNA Impact trailer

News
Xbox Live Video Marketplace live in Canada, UK, and elsewhere
Rainbow Six Vegas 2 teaser has glam, forgets gameplay footage
MS explains why you can't use exact change on XBL
Witness Super Mario Galaxy's deepest secrets
Patapon to arrive in U.S. in February 2008
Rock Band Weekly: You're such a punk
Battlefield: Bad Company trailer takes stab at humanity
Reminder: New Halo 3 maps available now
Mass Effect amasses a million in sales
Slot machines to become more like video games
Square wins plagiarism case against Korean music video
Hudson developing games for iPhone and iPod Touch
Stringer: 'Actual innovation' and PSN expansion in Sony's future
GameFly opens Tampa, Florida distribution center
Nvidia drops new GEFORCE 8800 GTS 512 MB
LittleBigPlanet demo not coming this year
Hot Shots Golf 5 swings into US March 2008
EA: European developers more creative than American developers
GameStop opens inaugural tournament center
Rebellion to develop Shellshock sequel for sure
Lost Odyssey gets found in North America Feb. 12; free DLC with pre-order
Passage is a lifetime in five minutes

Rumors & Speculation
Rumor: PSP Silent Hill being ported to PS2
Rumor: Bizarre working on James Bond game
Analysts: Board games are the next big thing

Culture & Community
The Gaming Club sounds off on the year in video games
Gamecock sorry about crashing Ken Levine's VGA speech
Time magazine names Halo 3 game of the year
Rock out with your block out: i am 8-bit guitar straps

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]]>christmaschristmas-treedailyrecapholidaylegend-of-zeldalinkloztreetriforcezeldaRoss Miller2007-12-11T23:59:00+00:00Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland: meanest Nintendo game ever?http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/tingles-rosy-rupeeland-meanest-nintendo-game-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/tingles-rosy-rupeeland-meanest-nintendo-game-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/tingles-rosy-rupeeland-meanest-nintendo-game-ever/#commentsFiled under: ,


It might never get released in the States, but that won't stop MTV's Stephen Totilo from dissecting Freshly Picked: Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, the Nintendo DS anti-Zelda game that's, apparently, all about the Benjamins.

According to Totilo, Rosy Rupeeland makes money the center of everything. Tingle's health meter doubles as his wallet, which means players are taking damage every time they spend money. This would be a minor problem, except that Rosy Rupeeland turns practically every interaction into a transaction. The game even allows you to sell your in-game map, sacrificing navigational assistance for a few extra rupees.

As if that wasn't cruel enough, characters who are gracious enough to pay you actually ask how much you want, and either chastise you for asking too much or mock you for asking too little. Totilo argues that the game seeks to undermine the good-natured currency exchange of normal Zelda titles by making the player stress about money. Maybe it's the American capitalism talking, but sign us up. Anyone else have a renewed interest in Tingle and his Rosy Rupeeland?

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]]>nintendotingletingles-rosy-rupeelandtinglesrosyrupeelandvanpoolzeldaScott Jon Siegel2007-12-03T17:57:00+00:00See the sexy new Zelda, Nintendogs DS bundleshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/see-the-sexy-new-zelda-nintendogs-ds-bundles/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/see-the-sexy-new-zelda-nintendogs-ds-bundles/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/see-the-sexy-new-zelda-nintendogs-ds-bundles/#commentsFiled under:


We already knew this was coming, but Nintendo affirmed today that we'll be seeing two new DS models on the day after Thanksgiving, and they sent along these sexy new box shots to prove it. The first is a Phantom Hourglass bundle that comes with a "glimmering Gold edition" of the DS. If you're ready to take DS gaming from something you can do in public places to something you can do in dimly-lit public places full of non-judgmental people, this is the package for you.

For the ladies there's the Rose DS (check it out after the break), which comes bundled with Nintendogs. It's the "Best Friends" edition of the game, the one that should be rated M for "Most Adorable Thing Ever". Both packages are available for the bargain price of $150.


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]]>black-fridaydsnintendodsnintendogszeldaJustin McElroy2007-11-20T08:35:00+00:00October NPD: Wii, DS dethrone Xbox 360http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/october-npd-wii-ds-dethrone-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/october-npd-wii-ds-dethrone-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/october-npd-wii-ds-dethrone-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


After the NPD group's short-lived hesitation in providing monthly US console sales data spawned many an unhappy emoticon, it comes as a great relief to present October's magnificent results. This is especially true considering that all platforms have ducked out of last month's Halo effect and returned to their familiar positions -- the Wii and DS are back on top and the PlayStation 3 is, well, you know.

GameDaily notes that the industry once again saw over $1 billion dollars leaving wallets at uncanny speeds, placing total sales for the year (through October) at $10.5 billion. At the same time last year, the amount had "just" reached $7 billion.
  • Nintendo Wii: 519K (5 million total)
  • Nintendo DS: 458K (13.6 million total)
  • Microsoft Xbox 360: 366K (7.1 million total)
  • Sony PSP: 286K (8.8 million total)
  • Sony PlayStation 2: 184K (39.4 million total)
  • Sony PlayStation 3: 121K (1.9 million total)

Halo 3 continued to top the software top 10 (US sales now total 3.7 million copies), followed by multiple versions of Activision's hugely successful strummer, Guitar Hero III: Somewhat Superfluous Subtitle. Unsurprisingly, the PS2 versions sold in the greatest numbers, followed by the Xbox 360 and Wii packages. And don't ask us about the whereabouts of the PS3 version. That question is better directed at fellow absentees, Ratchet & Clank.
  1. Halo 3 (all three SKUs - Xbox 360) -- 433.8K
  2. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock w/ guitar (Xbox 360) -- 383.2K
  3. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock w/ guitar (Wii) -- 286.3K
  4. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock w/ guitar (PS2) -- 271.1K
  5. Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) -- 262.8K
  6. Wii Play (Wii) -- 239.7K
  7. The Orange Box (Xbox 360) -- 238.4K
  8. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock standalone (PS2) -- 231.7K
  9. FIFA Soccer '08 (PS2) -- 129.7K
  10. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day (DS) -- 116.9K

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]]>BreakingNewsGH3Guitar-HeroGuitarHeroGuitarHero3Halo3legendofzeldaNPDorangeboxzeldaLudwig Kietzmann2007-11-15T19:34:00+00:00Today's most epic music video: Cal marching band's gaming medleyhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/todays-most-epic-music-video-cal-marching-bands-gaming-medley/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/todays-most-epic-music-video-cal-marching-bands-gaming-medley/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/todays-most-epic-music-video-cal-marching-bands-gaming-medley/#commentsFiled under: ,

Facing off against Washington State, the University of California, Berkeley's Golden Bears needed to show their might, their strength, and their willingness to perform a fatality if given a chance. During their half-time show, Cal's marching band performed a medley of video game songs, complete with gaming-themed drills (i.e. the band forms a giant Triforce and Master Sword while playing music The Legend of Zelda).

Keep an ear out for Zelda, Mortal Kombat, and various Mario tunes, among others. The Golden Bears went on to defeat Washington State 20-17, thus ending their three-game losing streak. Video is embedded after the break.

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]]>collegehottestvideolinkmarching-bandmariomortal-kombatmortalkombatmusiczeldaRoss Miller2007-11-15T01:00:00+00:00Zero Punctuation hates on Zelda: Phantom Hourglasshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/zero-punctuation-hates-on-zelda-phantom-hourglass/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/zero-punctuation-hates-on-zelda-phantom-hourglass/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/zero-punctuation-hates-on-zelda-phantom-hourglass/#commentsFiled under: ,


This week on Zero Punctuation, the ornery Yahtzee puts into video form (after the break) the same basic ideas discussed on the last Joystiq podcast regarding Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Luckily for Yahtzee, he's embedded in Uluru and need not fear reprisals like most members of the gaming press do when speaking ill of Zelda.

Everything he says about the Zelda franchise and Nintendo has pretty much been said before, just not in a sexy, angry, British accent using a grab-bag of verbs and adjectives. The real kudos (you know, for people who don't fear for their life) come at the end of the piece when he implies that the next time Nintendo wants to make another Zelda... they should just make Okami.

[Thanks Sam]

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]]>escapistlegend-of-zeldaphantom-hourglassphantomhourglassyahtzeezeldazero-punctuationzeropunctuationAlexander Sliwinski2007-11-07T15:22:00+00:00Today's most retro montage: Zelda adshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/todays-most-retro-montage-zelda-ads/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/todays-most-retro-montage-zelda-ads/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/todays-most-retro-montage-zelda-ads/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Currently popular on GameTrailers, we missed Skullkid700's montage of Zelda commercials from earlier in the year. Since this sort of thing only gets better with age, we're highlighting it here. We've come a long way.

See the montage after the break. Yes, it includes the Zelda rap. You have been warned.

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]]>adcommercialhottest-videohottestvideolegend-of-zeldalegendofzeldalinknintendoretrovideozeldaZack Stern2007-11-06T01:19:00+00:00