Joystiq

Ludum Dare hosting anti-SOPA game jam, Notch is in

Mike Schramm — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST

Wikipedia and a few other sites around the Internet will be going under a blackout on Wednesday to protest SOPA, PIPA, and any other legislation that threatens to shut down parts of the Internet for the interests of a few in power. But shutting down for the day is a less creative way to go about it, so Ludum Dare has a better idea: Why not make some indie games instead?

The famous indie game competition is hosting a virtual game jam throughout the day, asking indie game developers (or anyone off from usual work) to make games inspired by the fight against SOPA. There are already a few submitted, and you can make and add your own, or see what other developers have done throughout the day. It's just a freeform jam, so there aren't any real prizes to be had, except that we all get some fun (or crazy, or hastily designed) indie games to play afterwards.

The #sopajam hashtag is being used to follow the conversation on Twitter, and at least one major indie developer has taken up the cause himself. Last time Notch jammed on a game it turned into a real Mojang release, so who knows what we'll get this time?

Ludum Dare hosting anti-SOPA game jam, Notch is in originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pi Studios reportedly shuttered, ex-staff form Category 6 Studios [update: Pi Studios status unclear]

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST

Houston-based game developer Pi Studios has closed its doors, reports Big Download via a reliable source. The studio had a hand in several notable titles, including Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty: World at War, Wolfenstein and the PS2 and Wii versions of several Rock Band games. Most recently, the studio was working on Bonk: Brink of Extinction, the 3DS version of which was reportedly canceled earlier this month. Assuming the report of the studio's closure is accurate, the XBLA, WiiWare, and PSN versions are presumably canceled as well.

Prior to today's report, several former members of Pi Studios recently formed Category 6 Studios, led by Kenn Hoekstra. The new company today announced its first title, Blackout, an Unreal Engine-powered survival horror game in development for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Update: Additional investigation by Big Download and Joystiq has uncovered conflicting reports as to the operational status of the Pi Studios business. Pi Studios may still be operational but the extent of its operations remains unclear. Joystiq has once again reached out to Pi Studios for an official response."

Pi Studios reportedly shuttered, ex-staff form Category 6 Studios [update: Pi Studios status unclear] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avoid getting beaten up by funding Boll's next film

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

We've all said more than a few not-so-kind words about the collected works of the German film-mangler known as Uwe Boll -- a fact that divides the gaming community into two different groups: The Punched, and The Soon To Be Punched. Sorry, gang. It's an inevitable conclusion. You messed with the Boll, and now you're gonna get the horns.

Maybe, just maybe, he'll take you off his list if you help pay for his next film -- he's currently asking his supporters (and his bizarrely dedicated detractors) to help him foot the $18.5 million bill required to produce Blackout, his potentially upcoming "terrorist disaster epic". We assume he's talking about the plot of the film there, and not just previewing the buzzwords reviewers will use when critiquing the picture.

Kookily enough, avoiding pending pummeling isn't the only thing contributors have to gain from their donations -- hundreds will be chosen from the pool of would-be producers and rewarded with small roles in the film, as well as cash prizes ultimately equaling half of the amount Boll is asking people to donate. Also, at the end of next year, Boll will hold another raffle in which over 300 contributors will receive 20 percent of the film's annual profits; or, in simpler terms, absolutely nothing.

Avoid getting beaten up by funding Boll's next film originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last Halo 3 Legendary Map is Blackout, remake of H2's Lockout

Christopher Grant — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

click to enlarge

While you're busy downloading the now free Heroic Map Pack, indulge yourself with news of even more maps coming to Halo 3. Coming on the heels of Ghost Town and last week's Avalanche - itself a remake of Halo 1's Sidewinder - and rounding out the triptych of new battlegrounds is the above pictured Blackout, a remake of Halo 2's Lockout map. As promised, Bungie has dropped details of the final map, including pics (hit up the gallery below) and an interview with four of the contributors to the project. The Legendary Map Pack is scheduled for release on April 15th for 800 points ($10) and, if it follows the basic model laid out by its Heroic predecessor, should be free-of-charge in roughly late July.

[Thanks, herr zrbo]

Gallery: Halo 3 DLC: Legendary Map Pack

Last Halo 3 Legendary Map is Blackout, remake of H2's Lockout originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eleven year olds sing badly about video games

Kyle Orland — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox

Horrible songs sung by horrible singers are nothing new in the realm of internet video. So we weren't too surprised when we stumbled across the off-key ramblings of Black Out, a trio of eleven year olds that blithely warble about their love of video games in the appropriately titled "Video Games." Still, the group's shaky singing and absolutely inane lyrics bring bad internet music videos to new heights. "Game Cube, X-Box, Play Station 2 / Know all about them as soon as they are new." So... you knew about them six year ago? When you were five?

What really got us about this teeny-bopper act, though, was the breathless press release trying to sell them and their song as a new wave in music. Apparently, according to the release, this awful song "elicits laughter and nods of recognition each time a new crowd hears it - from kids as well as their forty to fifty-something parents." We'd like to meet these people and ask them what sort of blunt force trauma they suffered to derive enjoyment from this claptrap.

Misery loves company, so check out the high-pitched squeaking for yourself after the jump. Don't say we didn't warn you, though.

Continue reading Eleven year olds sing badly about video games

Eleven year olds sing badly about video games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AP ignores Paris, who should we ignore?

Alexander Sliwinski — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

Yesterday the Associated Press, the wire service depended upon by almost every news organization on the planet, admitted to experimenting with a weeklong blackout on the "celebutant" Paris Hilton. GameSetWatch took note of this and discussed how former head of the Electronic Software Association, Doug Lowenstein, condemned the gaming press for granting legitimacy to Jack Thompson by writing about him and thus feeding the beast. In essence, saying the gaming press should have put a blackout on Thompson ages ago.

The thing is that if the gaming press ignores Jack Thompson, he doesn't just go away. By reporting on Thompson and his antics, which get ever more desperate over time, we chronicle the man. When mainstream media organizations Google search Thompson, they find the gaming press' work. It gives them a better understanding of Thompson and his work. So, other than Thompson, is there anyone or anything the gaming press should take a cue from the AP and ignore within the industry?

AP ignores Paris, who should we ignore? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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