Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Final Fantasy wears Prada]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/the-final-fantasy-wears-prada/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/the-final-fantasy-wears-prada/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/the-final-fantasy-wears-prada/#comments ImageSquare Enix revealed this morning that the latest issue of male fashion mag Arena Homme+ features the cast of Final Fantasy XIII-2 in... Prada's 2012 Spring/Summer men's collection.

The issue goes on sale April 12 and features Lightning, Noel, Snow, Sazh and Hope in Prada, which is certainly an upgrade from wearing all those clothes with extraneous buckles. (Note: Buckles are for belts, not hats, shoes or sleeve liners.)

"I've always been interested by the power of video games and their place in society, and the amount of work that's gone into this project blows my mind. We're incredibly pleased with the result," Max Pearmain, Editor of Arena Homme+, said of the collaboration.

This isn't the first time designer fashion and video games have collided, but this one is most clearly intentional -- unlike Dance Central's Lanvin ad and the whole Pyramid Head model thing.

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Prada 2012 Men's Spring/Summer Collection)

JoystiqThe Final Fantasy wears Prada originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-hommearena-homme+bizarreclothingcrosspromotionfinal-fantasy-xiii-2max-pearmainPradaSquare-EnixWed, 04 Apr 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect-powered theme park opens in South Korea]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/kinect-powered-theme-park-opens-in-south-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/kinect-powered-theme-park-opens-in-south-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/kinect-powered-theme-park-opens-in-south-korea/#comments While South Korea's cousins to the north are busying themselves with their new glorious leader, the folks in the south's Ilsan districts of Gyeonggi-do are being entranced by American technology. An entire theme park has been created using Microsoft's Kinect tech combined with RFID wristbands that allow attendees to create avatar representations of themselves and move through the park while interacting with its various "attractions."

But what are these attractions, you ask? They're just as bizarre as you might think, with things like "The Ender Mirror" allowing photo-taking powered by smiles, "Live360," which creates a 360-degree video game "with multiple story endings in a huge space," and much more. The park is being touted as "the world's first 4D avatar theme park," which we find hard to argue with. The question then becomes whether the world asked for such a theme park, which we find much, much easier to dispute.

JoystiqKinect-powered theme park opens in South Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarrekinectliveparkmicrosoftsouth-koreatheme-parkxboxWed, 25 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TIGA: UK 'brain drain' sees nearly half of laid-off devs leaving country]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/tiga-uk-brain-drain-sees-nearly-half-of-laid-off-devs-leaving/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/tiga-uk-brain-drain-sees-nearly-half-of-laid-off-devs-leaving/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/tiga-uk-brain-drain-sees-nearly-half-of-laid-off-devs-leaving/#comments Britain's developer workforce has fallen 10 percent since 2008, and 41 percent of studio employees laid off between 2009 and 2011 have relocated out of the country, UK-games trade association TIGA reports. TIGA is publishing a survey from Games Investor Consulting that covers three-fourths of the UK games industry and warns of a brain drain in the UK.

Bizarre Creations, a Liverpool studio that closed in 2010, saw one-third of its former employees leave the UK for new jobs in the games industry, according to the report. It also claims that countries such as Canada can entice UK talent because they benefit from tax breaks that reduce the cost of game development. The UK currently doesn't have comparable tax breaks, but "the video games industry is exactly the kind of sector that the Government should be supporting to help rebalance the UK economy," TIGA CEO Richard Wilson says.

JoystiqTIGA: UK 'brain drain' sees nearly half of laid-off devs leaving country originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BizarreBizarre-Creationsbrain-drainbritainlayoffsmacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3TigaukxboxThu, 19 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In Memoriam: Twelve studios we lost in 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/in-memoriam-twelve-studios-we-lost-in-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/in-memoriam-twelve-studios-we-lost-in-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/in-memoriam-twelve-studios-we-lost-in-2011/#comments Beyond the game industry's expected annual layoffs and studio closures, 2011 saw a variety of surprisingly high-profile devs shut their doors ... forever. From Geometry Wars/Project Gotham Racing dev house Bizarre Creations in the UK to LA Noire creator Team Bondi in Australia and even Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom devs Game Republic in Japan, it wasn't a good year to need a stable job in game development.

IGN has a rundown of twelve especially notable losses (including the aforementioned studios, sans Game Republic), which run the gamut of industry publishers. As it turns out, it's not one particular publisher that's especially willing to cut studios in the face of financial loss -- it's all of them.

[Image credit: Flickr user 'age_six_racer']

JoystiqIn Memoriam: Twelve studios we lost in 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarrebizarre-creationsgame-republicmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3team-bondiewiixboxThu, 01 Dec 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre fell into 'making games to fill slots,' says ex-creative director]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/bizarre-fell-into-making-games-to-fill-slots/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/bizarre-fell-into-making-games-to-fill-slots/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/bizarre-fell-into-making-games-to-fill-slots/#comments Members of defunct developer Bizarre Creations recently provided Edge with more insight into what eventually led to the studio's shuttering. The general impression, beyond former design manager Gareth Wilson's reiteration of a "perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances," is that Bizarre's independent culture began to deteriorate following the Activision acquisition.

"We weren't an independent studio making 'our' games anymore," said former creative director Martyn Chudley. "We were making games to fill slots. Although we did all believe in them, they were more the products of committees and analysts. The culture we'd worked on for so long gradually eroded just enough so that it wasn't 'ours' anymore."

Chudley also claimed that the studio was given the opportunity to buy itself back, but as commercial manager Sarah Chudley explained it, the studio had grown considerably since the Activision takeover and "we just didn't have the skills, capability or finances to look after over 200 people." Without a third party coming in to assume control, it seemed wiser for everyone to walk away.

JoystiqBizarre fell into 'making games to fill slots,' says ex-creative director originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBizarreBizarre-CreationsBlurclosuremicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3wiixboxWed, 06 Apr 2011 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-Bizarre devs form 'micro-studio' Hogrocket]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/ex-bizarre-devs-form-micro-studio-hogrocket/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/ex-bizarre-devs-form-micro-studio-hogrocket/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/ex-bizarre-devs-form-micro-studio-hogrocket/#comments As you peruse the smoldering remains of Bizarre Creations, you catch the faintest stirring out of the corner of your eye. You turn just in time to see, there, rising from the ashes, it's ... a pig in a spaceship?

Okay, so we don't know why Bizarre refugees Ben Ward (studio communications), Peter Collier (former level designer) and Geometry Wars creator Stephen Cakebread settled on "Hogrocket" as the name for their new UK studio, but we're glad to see them getting back to work.

The freshly announced "micro-studio" says it'll target iPad/iPhone with its first batch of games. It may be a little early for such proclamations, but if Hogrocket turns out mobile games as addictive as Geometry Wars with any regularity then ... well, this little piggy will be going to our wallets more times than we care to think about.

JoystiqEx-Bizarre devs form 'micro-studio' Hogrocket originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bizarrebizarre-creationsgeometry-warshogrocketindieiosipadiphonemobileWed, 23 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre's Wilson: 'perfect storm' led to studio's death]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/bizarres-wilson-perfect-storm-led-to-studios-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/bizarres-wilson-perfect-storm-led-to-studios-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/bizarres-wilson-perfect-storm-led-to-studios-death/#comments Less than a week after we said "goodbye" to Bizarre Creations, the Blur-ry details of what killed the developer are starting to come into focus. Eurogamer has an interview with Gareth Wilson, former design manager at the studio, who has since gone on to take a position at Sumo Digital. Wilson called Bizarre's death a "perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances."

Wilson explained that getting attention for Blur, a new IP, at this point in the console cycle, was difficult -- especially with high-quality breakouts and juggernaut competition on the field. He believes that the quality of the competition, along with the state of the global economy, meant that gamers weren't ready to "take a risk." He points out several other quality IPs like Enslaved, Alan Wake and Vanquish that also struggled in 2010.

Wilson now feels that the "middle ground," selling two to three million units is "getting hard to find," explaining "Games either 'break out' and sell four million plus, or really struggle to break even."

JoystiqBizarre's Wilson: 'perfect storm' led to studio's death originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardBizarreBizarre-CreationsBlurGareth-Wilsonmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3wiixboxThu, 24 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision finds no Bizarre buyers, recommends closure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/activision-finds-no-bizarre-buyers-recommends-closure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/activision-finds-no-bizarre-buyers-recommends-closure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/activision-finds-no-bizarre-buyers-recommends-closure/#comments Activision has recommended Bizarre Creations for closure, saying it has exhausted other options. Speaking with Develop, Activision Worlwide Studios' COO Coddy Johnson said he wanted "to be clear" that the publisher tried to keep the group together by finding a buyer, but after exploring leads with "pretty much anyone you can imagine in the industry," they were left with the option of "last resort."

Activision made it known in early November that the Liverpool-based studio had entered a consultation period, a 90-day phase under UK law that warns of potential closure. On the same day as the announcement, Activision closed Iowa-based Budcat in the US. At the time, Activision said that, despite a substantial investment in creating a new IP, Blur did not find a commercial audience.

If you are an employee of the studio and have anything more to share, please feel free to contact us.

JoystiqActivision finds no Bizarre buyers, recommends closure originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBizarreBizarre-CreationsBlurlayoffsmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3wiixboxWed, 19 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bond behind the wheel in new Blood Stone trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/james-bond-007-blood-stone-driving-and-vehicles-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/james-bond-007-blood-stone-driving-and-vehicles-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/james-bond-007-blood-stone-driving-and-vehicles-trailer/#comments In the words of designer Sandy Lockie, Bizarre Creations has "a fantastic pedigree" when it comes to racing games -- "just such a good fit for a Bond game." Lockie himself also has a fantastic pedigree for rad hair. Scraggly chin beard? That too.

Continue reading Bond behind the wheel in new Blood Stone trailer

JoystiqBond behind the wheel in new Blood Stone trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 20 Oct 2010 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch this James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer by any means necessary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/watch-this-james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-by-any-means-nece/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/watch-this-james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-by-any-means-nece/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/watch-this-james-bond-007-blood-stone-trailer-by-any-means-nece/#comments Your task isn't nearly as daunting as the one facing Bizarre's Bond in Blood Stone. The iconic spy is sent to Istanbul to intercept the sale of "mission-critical biotechnology," and is granted inevitably catastrophic permission to do so "by any means necessary." The only thing in Istanbul we don't feel sorry for is the drill on loan from Total Recall.

Continue reading Watch this James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer by any means necessary

JoystiqWatch this James Bond 007: Blood Stone trailer by any means necessary originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionBizarreBizarre-Creationsdaniel-craigjames-bondjames-bond-007-blood-stonemicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 25 Aug 2010 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[James Bond 007: Blood Stone hurled through holiday release window, courtesy of Bizarre]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/james-bond-007-blood-stone-hurled-through-holiday-release-windo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/james-bond-007-blood-stone-hurled-through-holiday-release-windo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/james-bond-007-blood-stone-hurled-through-holiday-release-windo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Assassinating months of speculation, Activision has finally announced its new James Bond game, helmed by Project Gotham Racing and Blur developer Bizarre Creations. Featuring an original story by Bruce Feirstein (who penned the screenplay for GoldenEye and the script for 2003's Bond game, Everything or Nothing), James Bond 007: Blood Stone features a mix of third-person cover-based shooting, hand-to-hand combat and "adrenaline-fuelled driving sequences" on land and sea -- and air, if there are enough exploding ramps.

Daniel Craig will reprise his role as suave spy guy (it's not like they need him for a movie right now) alongside Judi Dench, who once again plays stern boss lady "M." Grammy award-winning singer Joss Stone will be playing Blood Stone's obligatory gun-toting temptress, presumably because Oliver Stone couldn't quite pull off the evening gowns. Stone -- that's Joss -- will also provide the game's original theme song, "I'll Take it All," with the aid of Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics.

Bizarre's James Bond 007: Blood Stone is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this holiday season. N-Space is developing a DS version for the same time frame. You can watch the trailer for the console version here.

Gallery: James Bond 007: Blood Stone (first screens)

JoystiqJames Bond 007: Blood Stone hurled through holiday release window, courtesy of Bizarre originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>007activisionBizarreBizarre-CreationsBlood-StoneBruce-FeirsteinDaniel-CraigdsJames-BondJames-Bond-007-Blood-StoneJoss-StonemicrosoftN-SpacenintendoOliver-Stonepcplaystationps3RacingRolling-StoneShooterStone-Cold-Steve-AustinxboxFri, 16 Jul 2010 09:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: Blur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/blur-game-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/blur-game-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/blur-game-review/#comments Blur is a great proof of concept. Bizarre Creations set out to update Mario Kart's tried and true formula with real cars in a "mature" setting -- and for the most part, the developer succeeded. Racing has a great sense of speed, enemy AI isn't nearly as elastic (even in the harder levels) as in Nintendo's kart racer and the power-up mechanics offer a balanced selection of weapons, making gameplay more tactical than dependent on dumb luck.

However, between a poorly paced campaign, a small handful of available race modes and an uninspired sense of style (from the announcer to the menu layouts), I found myself wanting much more from the single-player campaign. The best part of the game is its plain-Jane racing but, unfortunately, Blur forces you to complete its two lesser modes (Destruction and Checkpoint) in order to get to all of it. Combine that with an exponentially increasing difficulty level in the game's later competitions and you've got Blur: a fun, interesting racing game with terrible structure.

Gallery: Blur

Continue reading Review: Blur

JoystiqReview: Blur originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionactivision-blizzardbizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftracingXbox-360Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: Blur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/metareview-blur/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/metareview-blur/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/metareview-blur/#comments Reviews have begun to inch out for Bizarre's new arcadey racer Blur and, at the risk of spoiling the metareview in the first sentence, they're pretty darn good! Maybe not "change your life" good, but at least "put this in your game box and fun will come out" good. What? That's not specific enough for you? OK, fine, here:
  • Telegraph (9/10): "Every inch of Blur feels like it's crafted with the player in mind, offering them a huge, slick and exciting racing package. While it can frustrate, with the balance of powerups occasionally off-kilter, it only serves to push you onto the next race, to undo the injustice, to mete out your revenge."
  • GameInformer (8.5/10): "Blur is a game built on versatility. Power-ups aren't simply offensive or defensive; they are tools you can use in different ways depending on the situation. A Barge blast is always handy to disrupt any cars in your immediate vicinity, but it can also be deployed as a momentary shield. Likewise, most power-ups come with an alternate fire option. For instance, your garden-variety Nitro boost can alternately be used to slow you down - useful for those really tight corners."
  • Eurogamer (8/10): "Handling is rich and dramatic. Acceleration and drifting are sympathetic enough to correct the rear if you're showing your inexperience, but the relationship between gas, brake, traction and apex remains complex. And it's fast."

JoystiqMetareview: Blur originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 May 2010 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurmetareviewMicrosoftracingXbox-360Wed, 26 May 2010 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur's French TV spots are far from feminist]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/blurs-french-tv-spots-are-far-from-feminist/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/blurs-french-tv-spots-are-far-from-feminist/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/blurs-french-tv-spots-are-far-from-feminist/#comments Look, we're not experts in the way of marketing things to the French, but we're pretty sure the advertising for Blur is all kinds of wrong. Seemingly tapping the region's most beautiful women to represent in-game power-ups, arguing their superiority over their peers, each spot concludes with the ladies throwing down in a faux race -- which is more an excuse for them to show off skin than to show off the game. Have you ever had to hit so many buttons while playing a racing game before? Yeah, we didn't think so.

Head past the break to check out the two commercials. Bonus points if you can spot the exact moment where feminism has been set back 30 years.

[Via VG247 and UK:Resistance]

Continue reading Blur's French TV spots are far from feminist

JoystiqBlur's French TV spots are far from feminist originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 May 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftXbox-360Tue, 25 May 2010 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur trailer and screens highlight Team Race, Team Motor Mash modes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/blur-trailer-and-screens-highlight-team-race-team-motor-mash-mo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/blur-trailer-and-screens-highlight-team-race-team-motor-mash-mo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/blur-trailer-and-screens-highlight-team-race-team-motor-mash-mo/#commentsIn the latest trailer for Blur, lead designer Gareth Wilson takes us for a lap around the upcoming racer's bevy of team events. First, Wilson breaks down some tactics in Team Race, your run-of-the-mill us-vs-them race mode, in which teams duke it out on the track. Here, players can swap mods and lend assistance in a variety of ways -- all in an effort to finish the race in the best position possible, thus earning more points than the enemy team.

The second portion of the trailer focuses on Team Motor Mash, another points-based team mode in which points aren't simply earned through pole position, but rather through the judicious application of power-ups. Players can also earn points by smashing into rival drivers, giving this mode a Destruction Derby-like feel.

Aside from the new trailer, we've also got some new screens for you to check out in the gallery below. Blur races to the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on May 25.

Gallery: Blur - Team Tutorial

JoystiqBlur trailer and screens highlight Team Race, Team Motor Mash modes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 May 2010 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurmediaMicrosoftmotor-mashmultiplayerscreensscreenshotsteam-motor-mashteam-racevideoXbox-360Thu, 20 May 2010 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur multiplayer beta updated; new trailer races into view]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/blur-multiplayer-beta-updated-new-trailer-races-into-view/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/blur-multiplayer-beta-updated-new-trailer-races-into-view/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/blur-multiplayer-beta-updated-new-trailer-races-into-view/#commentsActivision must be in a celebratory mood, as it's just announced over a million drivers have downloaded the Blur multiplayer beta. Remember, you've only got until May 10th at 2am PT to take it for a spin yourself. Before the finished game launches on May 25, the beta will play host to some expanded playlist settings and other changes.

Starting now, you'll be able to play with A-Class cars in the standard playlists. The Supercar Racing Playlist also offers two new races, Tokyo and Amboy, and power-up placement has been shuffled to be different in each race. Finally, the amount of fans you can earn for each race has been doubled, placing the illustrious Rank 15 within reach.

If you have yet to sample the Blur beta's brand of multiplayer mayhem, check out the brief trailer above or read our impressions.

JoystiqBlur multiplayer beta updated; new trailer races into view originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 May 2010 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbetabeta-updatebizarrebizarre-creationsblurblur-betablur-multiplayer-betaMicrosoftracingupdateXbox-360Thu, 06 May 2010 11:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision registers new domain for GoldenEye game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/activision-registers-new-domain-for-goldeneye-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/activision-registers-new-domain-for-goldeneye-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/activision-registers-new-domain-for-goldeneye-game/#comments The saga of a new GoldenEye game -- or the possible re-release of the original -- has acquired yet another new wrinkle. Said wrinkle comes in the form of a new internet domain registered by Activision. The domain in question, uncovered by superannuation, is goldeneyegame.com, which certainly points to some sort of revival for the storied title. While the prospects of an actual re-release of Rare's N64 classic have been all but crushed, an artist's resume discovered in October 2009 did mention work on a GoldenEye 2010 for Activision.

Assuming the resume was accurate, Activision could be securing the domain in advance of an announcement. It's also unclear if any of this ties into James Bond: Bloodstone, the alleged title of the Bond game in development at Bizarre. We know Activision has Bond plans for 2010, but could the company be preparing us for a double-0 dose of espionage, perhaps rolling out a new version of GoldenEye to drum up interest for Bloodstone? Or maybe the company is simply getting its ducks in a row in case it does decide to revive GoldenEye.

Whatever it is, something is definitely stirring shaking at Activision.

JoystiqActivision registers new domain for GoldenEye game originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarregoldeneyegoldeneye-007-2010goldeneye-2010james-bondrareFri, 23 Apr 2010 18:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur trailer takes a lap around the world, pulls into the virtual garage]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/blur-trailer-takes-a-lap-around-the-world-pulls-into-the-virtua/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/blur-trailer-takes-a-lap-around-the-world-pulls-into-the-virtua/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/blur-trailer-takes-a-lap-around-the-world-pulls-into-the-virtua/#commentsXbox 360 owners can actually sample Blur's particular brand of chaos right now -- a decision we'd say is "most wise." For the rest of you, the only solace we can offer is via a new trailer, admittedly awesome in its own right due to a high volume of hot whips.

From licensed cars to completely fictional autos, it's all covered in the video above. There's even a rundown of the 14 different locations you'll be able to deposit some burnt rubber, if that's what you're after. Check it all out in the video above.

JoystiqBlur trailer takes a lap around the world, pulls into the virtual garage originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurkart-racingMicrosoftracingXbox-360Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur multiplayer demo now available on Xbox Live]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/blur-multiplayer-demo-now-available-on-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/blur-multiplayer-demo-now-available-on-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/blur-multiplayer-demo-now-available-on-xbox-live/#comments Are you anxious to take Bizarre's chaotic arcade racer, Blur, out for a spin? The multiplayer demo -- previously exclusive to beta players -- is now accessible to all Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Pull into the demo section of Marketplace to download the one gigabyte sampler.

Blur will launch on May 25 in the U.S. and May 28 in Europe.

[Via Major Nelson]


Xbox.com: Add Blur Multiplayer Beta demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

JoystiqBlur multiplayer demo now available on Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurdemoMicrosoftracingXbox-360Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live Deal of the Week: Geometry Wars 2 for $5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/05/xbox-live-deal-of-the-week-geometry-wars-2-for-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/05/xbox-live-deal-of-the-week-geometry-wars-2-for-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/05/xbox-live-deal-of-the-week-geometry-wars-2-for-5/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Though the Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 leaderboards have all rocketed to unsurpassable heights since its release in summer 2008, Xbox Live Gold subscribers shouldn't be afraid of picking it up this week for the temporarily reduced price of 400 ($5). We mean, you should be afraid of its propensity for stealing your evenings away from you as you desperately attempt to unlock that pesky "Wax Off" Achievement. But hey, at least those attempts are pretty fun! (Or, at least, the first hundred are.)

Shortcut: Add Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 to your download queue [Via Xbox.com]

JoystiqXbox Live Deal of the Week: Geometry Wars 2 for $5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionActivisionArcadeBizarrebizarre-creationsdeal-of-the-weekGeometry-Warsgeometry-wars-2geometry-wars-retro-evolved-2MicrosoftShmupxblaXbox-360xbox-live-marketplaceMon, 05 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[No plans for Geometry Wars 3, Bizarre says]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/no-plans-for-geometry-wars-3-bizarre-says/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/no-plans-for-geometry-wars-3-bizarre-says/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/no-plans-for-geometry-wars-3-bizarre-says/#comments While Bizarre Creations is hard at work getting Blur out of the garage and onto the road, many fans are still preoccupied with the developer's hit dual-stick series Geometry Wars. Well, it looks like Bizarre has no plans for another sequel -- at least, not at the moment.

"Right now, we don't have any plans for Geometry Wars 3," Bizarre's Gareth Wilson told Kotaku. But, that doesn't mean the series has been retired, as Wilson said that should Stephen Cakebread, the designer of Geometry Wars, get an inspiration, he could start working on a new sequel -- but as of now Cakey's "working on all sorts of other projects."

JoystiqNo plans for Geometry Wars 3, Bizarre says originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsgeometry-warsgeometry-wars-3MicrosoftxblaXbox-360xbox-live-arcadeThu, 01 Apr 2010 16:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur issues Twitter challenges between friends, across platforms]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/blur-issues-twitter-challenges-between-friends-across-platforms/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/blur-issues-twitter-challenges-between-friends-across-platforms/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/blur-issues-twitter-challenges-between-friends-across-platforms/#comments Not only are the cats and dogs living together, but they're using Twitter. According to MTV Multiplayer, upcoming racer Blur will allow some social interaction not only between players, but between different platforms. Whether you're on Xbox Live -- silver or gold -- or PlayStation 3, you'll be able to issue competitive challenges to friends, with Twitter acting as a neutral intermediary. Think of it as that time you had to pass messages between your feuding parents, only you're telling Dad that Mom just utterly destroyed his pathetic lap record.

Speaking at a Blur presentation, lead designer Gareth Wilson offered an interesting anecdote as explanation: "I've got a friend from university who lives in Australia, and I can't play with him, because he's available at night time when I'm sleeping. So the Friends Challenge thing was really, 'How do we get people together to play who might not be able to.'" And while PS3 and Xbox 360 racers might not be able to play together in real time once the game launches on May 25, Bizarre Creations thinks of the Twitter connection as an innovative way to foster some healthy, cross-platform rivalry.

Wilson also notes that the social integration won't be a "horrible, spammy thing." So no Facebook support, then.

JoystiqBlur issues Twitter challenges between friends, across platforms originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftracingsocialtwitterXbox-360Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur arrives May 25 in the U.S., May 28 in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/blur-arrives-may-25-in-the-u-s-may-28-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/blur-arrives-may-25-in-the-u-s-may-28-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/blur-arrives-may-25-in-the-u-s-may-28-in-europe/#comments
Click image to slide into our gallery

With the Blur multiplayer beta going live on March 8, we're anxious to get some quality time with Bizarre Creations' upcoming racer. In the interim, the game's official blog details what players can expect from the beta, but perhaps more interesting is what's tucked at the bottom of the update: a release date of May 25. Europeans will have to wait a few extra days, as the game won't be in shops until May 28 over there.

While you wait, might we suggest you check out some new screens in our gallery below? That is, if you want to -- no pressure or anything!

Gallery: Blur (3.2.2010)

JoystiqBlur arrives May 25 in the U.S., May 28 in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftracingrelease-dateXbox-360Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Blur trailer meant to be watched with friends]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/new-blur-trailer-meant-to-be-watched-with-friends/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/new-blur-trailer-meant-to-be-watched-with-friends/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/new-blur-trailer-meant-to-be-watched-with-friends/#commentsIf you and your buddies were wondering what the upcoming real-life kart racer (with realistic cars), Blur, has to offer in terms of multiplayer content, the latest trailer for the game was made specifically with y'all in mind. Like Super Mario Kart -- the game is often said to be a direct inspiration for Bizarre Creations' latest endeavor -- local split-screen seems to be a prominent component of the multiplayer experience, unlike the online-focused games we're so used to at this point.

Oddly, though, the trailer speaks repeatedly of the "social" aspect of the game, while no mention whatsoever of any online components are made (and what of that multiplayer beta, eh?). We're not exactly flummoxed quite yet though, as Blur still only has a "2010" release window and we've hardly seen it since last year's PAX Prime. That could always be, though, that, you know, we missed it. It is a blur, after all.

Gallery: Blur

JoystiqNew Blur trailer meant to be watched with friends originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftmultiplayerracingsuper-mario-karttrailervideoXbox-360Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:42:00 EST<![CDATA[USK: Multiplayer Blur demo for Xbox 360 in the works]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/05/usk-multiplayer-blur-demo-for-xbox-360-in-the-works/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/05/usk-multiplayer-blur-demo-for-xbox-360-in-the-works/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/05/usk-multiplayer-blur-demo-for-xbox-360-in-the-works/#comments Leadfoots looking to put the pedal to the metal in Bizarre Creations' upcoming racer, Blur, may just get their chance, as Germany's USK database has posted (machine translation) that a Xbox 360 multiplayer demo is in the works. The listing makes no mention of a PS3 demo, though we wouldn't suggest our PS3 brethren start taking long walks off short piers just yet. Odds are if a Xbox 360 demo makes its way onto Microsoft's console, a similar demo will also eventually end up on PS3, right?

Blur is currently geared up to race onto consoles sometime in 2010.

[Via VG247]

JoystiqUSK: Multiplayer Blur demo for Xbox 360 in the works originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurdemogermanyMicrosoftracinguskXbox-360Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blur crossing finish line in 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/blur-crossing-finish-line-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/blur-crossing-finish-line-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/blur-crossing-finish-line-in-2010/#comments
Blur won't be making its scheduled November release, as Activision has officially pulled the arcade racer from the track, pushing it toward a 2010 launch. According to Activision CEO Mike Griffith, the move is being made to "fully optimize the vision [Bizarre] set out to create for Blur including a distinctive and groundbreaking multiplayer mode that will appeal to a broad audience." The vision for Blur!

Activision still has plenty on its plate this holiday season with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and DJ Hero. Then again, with the early part of 2010 as packed as it is with pushed releases, who knows what delays are still lurking.

Gallery: Blur

JoystiqBlur crossing finish line in 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activistionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurdelaysMicrosoftracingXbox-360Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2009: Blur gets Twitter support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/04/pax-2009-blur-gets-twitter-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/04/pax-2009-blur-gets-twitter-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/04/pax-2009-blur-gets-twitter-support/#comments
Bizarre Creation's arcade-style racer, Blur, has received a nitrous-level boost of social networking. Initially, the social component of the game was limited to mock text messages and emails sent from AI racers in the game, who you build love/hate relationships with over the course of your races against each other. Additionally, Blur features faux social networking sites like "Inner Tube" (a Bizarre version of YouTube). Today, real Twitter support has been confirmed for the game, although current details can be summed up in less than 140 characters.

Here we go: Twitter apparently working in both 360 and PS3 versions of Blur. Update example: "I just won 1st place at Hackney!" etc.

So, will we be tweeting from our existing accounts? Is the Xbox 360 version's integration independent of the Xbox Live partnership? Can we see tweeted replies in-game? Can we post Twitpics of our victories? Will the Fail Whale be drivable? We want answers -- and we shall get them!

JoystiqPAX 2009: Blur gets Twitter support originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBizarreBizarre-CreationsBlurMicrosoftPAXPAX-2009racingTwitterXbox-360Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre stands to make $40m if Blur is a hit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/20/bizarre-stands-to-make-40m-if-blur-is-a-hit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/20/bizarre-stands-to-make-40m-if-blur-is-a-hit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/20/bizarre-stands-to-make-40m-if-blur-is-a-hit/#comments
If you doubt the potential for success with Blur, the first racing game under the protective wing of new mother bird Activision, then you don't know how popular Bizarre's Project Gotham Racing franchise has been. We didn't either, to tell the truth, until Bizarre's Chris Pickford revealed to Develop that the franchise has sold over seven million.

This is the kind of runaway success Activision is looking for in Blur, as Bizarre could make $40 million should the game meet projected sales by 2012/13. While we don't know what the target sales are, Blur will have close to three years to reach the goal set by Activision when it releases later this year, so we'd say something around the four million mark is definitely not out of the question.

JoystiqBizarre stands to make $40m if Blur is a hit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftproject-gotham-racingracingXbox-360Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre: Racing games not meeting sales expectations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/bizarre-racing-games-not-meeting-sales-expectations/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/bizarre-racing-games-not-meeting-sales-expectations/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/bizarre-racing-games-not-meeting-sales-expectations/#comments
We're not certain whose expectations Bizarre Creations' communications manager, Ben Ward, was referring to in his recent -- and incredibly vague -- statements about supposedly disappointing sales of (equally unspecified) racing games, but they must belong to someone. "I won't name any names, [but] more recent titles that were really good, critically acclaimed and we all played them, they didn't sell as well as can be expected," Ward posited to VideoGamer.com.

It's difficult to argue against Ward, as he doesn't suggest anything concrete, but racing games have been competitive in the sales charts this generation (if that's recent enough). Console exclusives such as MotorStorm, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (a glorified demo!) and Forza 2 all rank among the top 10 bestselling games to date on their respective platforms, and Burnout Paradise has succeeded both at retail and digitally in its lengthy, multiplatform run. Sure, a niche racer like GRID is never going to gain mass appeal (nor is it intended to) and certain staple franchises, like Need For Speed, have dwindled in popularity and quality (hence the reboots), but the racing genre is right where it should be -- at least, in terms of our expectations.

Perhaps Ward and Bizarre just have greater expectations for their upcoming racer, Blur, which we called "a hyper-realistic Mario Kart." That puts Blur in good company, as Mario Kart Wii -- what Ward calls "the exception rather than the rule" -- has sold in excess of 15.4 million units by last count in May. But, really, there's nothing realistic about expecting those kinda numbers.

JoystiqBizarre: Racing games not meeting sales expectations originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblursalesFri, 19 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Blur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/hands-on-blur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/hands-on-blur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/hands-on-blur/#comments
Blur is a hyper-realistic Mario Kart. There is no sugar coating it.

After being behind the development wheel of realistic racing titles like PGR (well, realistic at least in look), Bizarre Creations has decided to do away with its half-and-half arcade style and create a different kind of racing experience. That experience is Blur, published by (new parent company) Activision.

As we sat down at the (ridiculously loud) Activision booth in the West Hall during E3 2009, we were greeted by an enthusiastic Bizarre employee who explained this was the game the developer always wanted to make. A fun, almost party-game style racer where players jump behind the wheel of powered-up, real-world vehicles. Yes, strangely, Blur features licensed cars -- with unreal abilities.

Gallery: Blur

Continue reading Hands-on: Blur

JoystiqHands-on: Blur originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurhands-onMicrosoftracingXbox-360Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Blur can damage its cars]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/why-blur-can-damage-its-cars/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/why-blur-can-damage-its-cars/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/why-blur-can-damage-its-cars/#comments
Car manufacturers are notoriously cranky about letting their autos show damage in racing games. So why will you find bumps and bruises on the cars in Blur but not in Bizarre's other racing title Project Gotham? Apparently, it's all about the make.

Because a game like Blur doesn't have to have companies like Porsche and Ferrari, Bizarre is able to focus on the ones that will let Bizarre beat up its cars. Plus, according to Bizarre's Gareth Wilson, car-crunching games like GRID and DiRT helped to pave the way.

Just out of curiosity, how much does damage modeling matter to you?

JoystiqWhy Blur can damage its cars originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 May 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftXbox-360Wed, 27 May 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre Creations' Blur to trade paint this fall]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/19/bizarre-creations-blur-to-trade-paint-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/19/bizarre-creations-blur-to-trade-paint-this-fall/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/19/bizarre-creations-blur-to-trade-paint-this-fall/#comments
After a few weeks of kind of announcing it, Activision finally got around to actually announcing Blur, Bizarre Creations' new title, today. The arcade racer, once described as "Mario Kart meets Forza," is due on PS3, 360 and PC this fall.

With little more than a non-working official site to go off, we still don't have a great sense of how the game will play. At this point, we know it features 20 "photo-realistic" cars battling it out with offensive and defensive power-ups in locales like L.A. and Barcelona. There's also apparently some kind of narrative that evolves as players compete online. ... Yeah, we can't make heads or tails of that either.

For a better take on the game, you -- like us -- are just going to have to wait for E3.

JoystiqBizarre Creations' Blur to trade paint this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 May 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurMicrosoftracingXbox-360Tue, 19 May 2009 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre Creations discusses Microsoft relationship, Activision acquisition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/bizarre-creations-discusses-microsoft-relationship-activision-acqui/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/bizarre-creations-discusses-microsoft-relationship-activision-acqui/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/bizarre-creations-discusses-microsoft-relationship-activision-acqui/#comments
Bizarre Creations and Microsoft used to be BFF. Together, the two produced a number of great racing games, the latest being two racers for the Xbox 360 -- PGR3 and PGR4. In October of 2008, however, Bizarre Creations found itself under the caring wing of mother bird Activision, and creative director Martyn Chudley told Edge that the studio has been better off because of it.

Chudley described Microsoft's presence near the end as "corporate and cocky," attributing most of that to the shift in power between Microsoft and Sony this generation. He added that the company has always been too focused on the Forza games, seemingly neglecting to give the PGR franchise the marketing push and focus Bizarre Creations always felt it deserved.

Enter Activision, which showed a lot of interest, especially considering the lack of a proven racing franchise to call its own. Bizarre Creations hopes to produce such a hit with Blur, its first title following its acqusition by Activision. We expect to see more of the game -- including that franchise potential -- during this year's E3.

JoystiqBizarre Creations discusses Microsoft relationship, Activision acquisition originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 May 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsblurmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosXbox-360Thu, 07 May 2009 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Return and burn: Fake 'PS2' systems retailers took for real]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/return-and-burn-fake-ps2-systems-retailers-took-for-real/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/return-and-burn-fake-ps2-systems-retailers-took-for-real/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/return-and-burn-fake-ps2-systems-retailers-took-for-real/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click to enlarge the fine wood craftsmanship
They say there are some things you just can't make up. The accompanying photos, received today from an anonymous tipster who works at one of Sony's distribution centers, are definitely some of them.

What you see are "PS2 consoles" returned to retailers -- such as Best Buy and Walmart -- then subsequently sent to Sony for credit. We're not sure what's more silly: that someone would try to pass off a wooden replica PS2 for return, or that someone would actually take the time to make a wooden PS2 with such detail. The question of "Who would accept these for return?" must also be raised.

We'll take a moment to answer "Yes," "Yes" and "Maybe" to the following questions in advance: "Are those ladies dumbbells inside a PS2?," "Is that PS2 stuffed with towels?" and "Is that some sort of Chinese PS2 knockoff?" We hope that helps ease the pain.

Gallery: Absurd PS2 Returns

JoystiqReturn and burn: Fake 'PS2' systems retailers took for real originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarrePS2retailThu, 05 Feb 2009 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Economy Wars: Galaxies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/economy-wars-galaxies/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/economy-wars-galaxies/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/economy-wars-galaxies/#commentsFiled under:

We fear that this deal will sell out in the time it takes for us to get the post up, but it's a risk we're going to have to take! Geometry Wars: Galaxies is Amazon's Deal of the Day, dropping for today only to ten damn dollars. In these harsh times, we understand that some of us can't drop even ten dollars on unexpected impulse purchases. If you are safely in possession of enough disposable income to bring some awesome shooty action home -- and if you've got plenty saved up -- you could do a lot worse than to throw a little bit of money towards some awesome portable shooty action!

Our post image is an encore from a previous Geo Wars sale post. Eric's image was just so perfect that we wanted to highlight it once again!

JoystiqEconomy Wars: Galaxies originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionArcadeBizarreBizarre-CreationsGeometry-WarsGeometry-Wars-GalaxiesKujuKuju-EntertainmentShmupSierraWed, 21 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GeoWars 2 muzzak Remix'd]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/geowars-2-muzzak-remixd/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/geowars-2-muzzak-remixd/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/geowars-2-muzzak-remixd/#commentsFiled under:

As a special bonus to fans, Bizarre Creations has released a special Geometry Wars 2 music remix developed by Chris Chudley of Audio Antics. The 13-minute-long track is titled, "46860 Choices," and includes some of the music from the entire Geometry Wars series. Our friends at GamerTagRadio have the free 13-minute long special remix available for download. Download it today.

JoystiqGeoWars 2 muzzak Remix'd originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionActivisionArcadeBizarreBizarre-CreationsGeometry-WarsGeometry-Wars-2Geometry-Wars-Retro-Evolved-2musicShmupXBLAMon, 12 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Beefwatch: Totilo beats Soulja Boy! ... at Geometry Wars 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/beefwatch-totilo-beats-soulja-boy-at-geometry-wars-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/beefwatch-totilo-beats-soulja-boy-at-geometry-wars-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/beefwatch-totilo-beats-soulja-boy-at-geometry-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sure, our favorite game journalist, Stephen Totilo, may have promptly lost the last two games he played against the Braid-loving rap auteur in Gears of War 2 and Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix. But for one glorious moment, Soulja Boy's lunch had been eaten, and Totilo's face was covered in crumbs.

If you've got the notion, you can watch the full battle over on MTV's site. On a side note, we think we may have turned the corner on Soulja Boy. We think ... we think maybe we're totally into him.

JoystiqBeefwatch: Totilo beats Soulja Boy! ... at Geometry Wars 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionActivisionArcadeBizarreBizarre-CreationsGeometry-WarsGeometry-Wars-2Geometry-Wars-Retro-Evolved-2MicrosoftShmupsoulja-boyXBLAXbox-360Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre working on new Bond and racer projects]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/bizarre-working-on-new-bond-and-racer-projects/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/bizarre-working-on-new-bond-and-racer-projects/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/bizarre-working-on-new-bond-and-racer-projects/#commentsFiled under:


Industry rumors either turn out to be true or false and in the case of Bizarre Creations' future projects, every racing and Bond rumor you heard over the last year has turned out to be ... well, true.

As part of Activision's Massive upfront (the same one that announced Modern Warfare 2), we learn that Bizarre is hard at word on an original James Bond game as well as an original racer IP that's being described as a "Mario Kart meets Forza." As is the norm, release details and game specifics were not given.

All said, we're glad to see Bizarre hard at work on new projects, but would like to see some fresh Geometry in 2009. We're proud Geometry addicts.

JoystiqBizarre working on new Bond and racer projects originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>007activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsjames-bondjames-bond-007-blood-stoneThu, 04 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre making Bond title for '09, new racing IP is 'Mario Kart meets Forza']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/bizarre-making-bond-title-for-2009-new-racing-ip-is-mario-kart/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/bizarre-making-bond-title-for-2009-new-racing-ip-is-mario-kart/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/03/bizarre-making-bond-title-for-2009-new-racing-ip-is-mario-kart/#commentsFiled under:

At a summit held by Massive for in-game advertising, Activision confirmed that Bizarre Creations is working on a new third-person Bond title for release in 2009. According to the Twitter feed of Newsweek's N'Gai Croal (trust us, he's legit), the game is being touted as "racing and driving focused." The executive also mentioned Bizarre's new racing IP, describing it as "Mario Kart meets Forza." It's not much (in fact, it's somewhat paradoxical), but it does hint at a departure from Project Gotham Racing's realism -- relative to Mario Kart!

The executive also reportedly said the next Call of Duty Modern Warfare is due out Fall 2009. We're uncertain if that's confirmation of the next COD's setting or just a glib way of saying "Infinity Ward's COD series." We're reaching out to Activision for clarification on all these statements.

JoystiqBizarre making Bond title for '09, new racing IP is 'Mario Kart meets Forza' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>007activisionbizarrebizarre-creationsbondcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-2codjames-bondjames-bond-007james-bond-007-blood-stonemodern-warfareWed, 03 Dec 2008 16:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Geometry Wars sucks in 1 million players]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/25/geometry-wars-sucks-in-1-million-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/25/geometry-wars-sucks-in-1-million-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/25/geometry-wars-sucks-in-1-million-players/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you have yet to try Bizarre Creations' classic Geometry Wars or their latest Geometry Wars 2 on the 360, then you're in the minority and should be ashamed. Ashamed not only because you're missing out on two great games, but because 1 million gamers have already experienced the visual love that GeoWars brings.

No joke, Bizarre just revealed that over 1 million players (how unique, we're not sure) have logged GeoWars scores since November 2005. It's an amazing accomplishment and something YOU should be a part of. Grab the XBLA good here and here.

JoystiqGeometry Wars sucks in 1 million players originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarrebizarre-creationsgeometry-warsgeometry-wars-2geometry-wars-retro-evolved-2xblaTue, 25 Nov 2008 15:45:00 EST