Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Check out Razer's Mechwarrior Online 'Artemis' prototype and other peripherals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/09/check-out-razers-mechwarrior-online-artemis-prototype-and-oth/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/09/check-out-razers-mechwarrior-online-artemis-prototype-and-oth/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/09/check-out-razers-mechwarrior-online-artemis-prototype-and-oth/#comments Check out Razer's E3 offerings Razer's E3 booth was fully stocked with both retail and prototype peripherals this year, the most interesting of which was the Artemis, an experimental controller array designed specifically for MechWarrior Online. The prototype, designed and built in a month, features a flight stick on the right, an array of buttons on the left and a 10 inch screen in the middle. Razer hopes to have a retail version of the peripheral ready sometime this year.

The rest of the booth was populated by the company's ambidextrous, 8200 dpi Taipan mouse ($79.99, July), a Battlefield 3-branded, helicopter-style Blackshark headset ($129.99, July) and the Blade laptop, all of which can be seen in the gallery below.

Gallery: Razer (E3 2012)

JoystiqCheck out Razer's Mechwarrior Online 'Artemis' prototype and other peripherals originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Battlefield-3BlacksharkBladee3-2012MechWarrior-OnlinepcRazerRazer-BladeTaipanSat, 09 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget evaluates Razer Blade performance]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/engadget-evaluates-razer-blade-performance/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/engadget-evaluates-razer-blade-performance/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/engadget-evaluates-razer-blade-performance/#comments Our fellow bloggers at Engadget have gotten their hands on the Blade laptop from Razer (the very first commercial fruits of that "Switchblade" concept seeded so long ago), and the unit gets some high marks, despite some significant flaws. The worst issue with the laptop seems to be the audio (the built-in speakers are so bad that Engadget suspected their unit was broken somehow), but in general the problem with the Blade seems that it's tuned for a mix of portability and performance, which means neither gets to be perfect.

Yes, the Blade is sleek and super thin for a PC laptop, but it trades on that build by being a "gaming" unit that doesn't play StarCraft 2 on its highest settings perfectly. (see update) For the sticker price of $2,799, Razer traded a little too much performance for the admittedly impressive form factor.

But while Engadget doesn't recommend the laptop wholeheartedly, the site does praise the Blade's "bright and delectably tactile" LED buttons. The article surmises we'll see those types of controls again soon, either in Razer hardware, or units from other device manufacturers.

Update: Engadget has discovered that they didn't have the latest drivers for the graphics card, and with those, apparently Skyrim runs much better. Engadget is working on updated benchmarks for all of the Blade's performance aspects.

JoystiqEngadget evaluates Razer Blade performance originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bladebuttonshardwarepcpc-gamesrazerrazer-bladerazer-switchbladereviewWed, 22 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[NerdHeist 2011: Razer Blade prototypes stolen from Razer R&D]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/nerdheist-2011-razer-blade-prototypes-stolen-from-razer-randd/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/nerdheist-2011-razer-blade-prototypes-stolen-from-razer-randd/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/nerdheist-2011-razer-blade-prototypes-stolen-from-razer-randd/#commentsAfter what we can only imagine was an exciting and Hollywood worthy laser-grid-circumnavigating vault heist, two experimental Blade prototypes have been stolen from a Razer research and development laboratory in the San Francisco bay area, according to a Facebook post made by Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan.

It's unclear as to whether or not these were the only two prototypes, but it's safe to say that any loss like this is a significant one, and that the prototypes are worth far more than the $2,800 retail price originally quoted for the laptop. Tan is asking for anyone with information about the theft to send an email to cult at razerzone dot com.

The Blade, revealed earlier this year at PAX, makes use of a proprietary user interface and LCD touchpad; trade secrets which Razer must desperately (and understandably) want to keep out of the hands of the competition. We're not saying this was corporate espionage, of course, but we are heavily implying that.

Gallery: Razer Blade (Announcement)

JoystiqNerdHeist 2011: Razer Blade prototypes stolen from Razer R&D originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bladeheistlaptopmodelpcprototyperazerrazer-bladestolentheftMon, 14 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Razer unveils $2800 'Blade' laptop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/razer-unveils-2800-blade-laptop/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/razer-unveils-2800-blade-laptop/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/razer-unveils-2800-blade-laptop/#comments
How long was Razer waiting to use that product name? Today, with its "PC Gaming Is Not Dead" countdown elapsed, the company unveiled its "Blade" laptop, billed as "the world's first true gaming laptop." What must Alienware think about that?

The "Blade" uses the UI from Razer's "Switchblade" concept -- a set of ten adaptive keys and an LCD touchscreen built into the keyboard, which can be used either as a touchpad or to display in-game information.

What it doesn't use from the Switchblade is the compact form factor. This laptop has a 17" LED-lit screen and weighs around 7 pounds. That's light for a gaming laptop, but heavy for a thing you're carrying around. It packs a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and an Nvidia GeForce GT 555M with 2GB of video memory.

All those big numbers bring another one: the Blade will retail for $2799.99 when it launches in North America in Q4 of this year.

Gallery: Razer Blade (Announcement)

JoystiqRazer unveils $2800 'Blade' laptop originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bladelaptoppax-2011pcrazerswitchbladeFri, 26 Aug 2011 12:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Marvel Pinball gets Blade table; you get new screens and a trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/marvel-pinball-gets-blade-table-you-get-new-screens-and-a-trail/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/marvel-pinball-gets-blade-table-you-get-new-screens-and-a-trail/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/marvel-pinball-gets-blade-table-you-get-new-screens-and-a-trail/#comments When not busy saving us from vampires, Blade usually kicks it in his hideout -- only he and Kris Kristofferson know the entry code. Inside, he's got a Gazelle, full garlic juice bar (not bad, actually!) and a custom pinball machine, which, coincidentally, is the latest table revealed for Marvel Pinball.

Continue reading Marvel Pinball gets Blade table; you get new screens and a trailer

JoystiqMarvel Pinball gets Blade table; you get new screens and a trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bladedlcmarvel-pinballmicrosoftplaystationps3xboxzen-studiosTue, 14 Dec 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blade seeks Nunchuk: Wesley Snipes wants Wii, work]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/blade-seeks-nunchuk-wesley-snipes-wants-wii-work/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/blade-seeks-nunchuk-wesley-snipes-wants-wii-work/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/blade-seeks-nunchuk-wesley-snipes-wants-wii-work/#commentsFiled under:

Wesley Snipes, star of such films as Blade and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, wants a Wii. In fact, the actor -- a self-confessed non-gamer -- told MTV, "I want to de-virginize myself into the Wii," when interviewed during the Sundance film festival. (No, we didn't realize he was out of prison either.)

Clearly excited by the idea of finding a Wii (tip: try eBay, we hear they have a lot of listings), Snipes jokingly (we hope) remarked that he'd be up for making a movie about being the "Wii champion of the universe," saying that he "needed the work." We're pretty sure Fred Savage does, too. Hey, maybe the two could pull together for an unlikely team-up, and even more unexpected (nay, unwarranted) sequel to The Wizard.

Wesley, if you're reading this and you found a Wii, might we suggest a couple of games for you, based on your films? For Blade and Passenger 57, we'd recommend No More Heroes, since it prominently features a blade and was made buy the numerically monikered Suda51. Demolition Man has us thinking Boom Blox. Play those and you'll be well on your way to total de-virginization.

Catch the master thespian's landmark interview in full after the break.

Continue reading Blade seeks Nunchuk: Wesley Snipes wants Wii, work

JoystiqBlade seeks Nunchuk: Wesley Snipes wants Wii, work originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bladewesley-snipeswiiMon, 19 Jan 2009 21:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Liner before the tugboat: Hydrophobia dev. talks sequel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/liner-before-the-tugboat-hydrophobia-dev-talks-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/liner-before-the-tugboat-hydrophobia-dev-talks-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/liner-before-the-tugboat-hydrophobia-dev-talks-sequel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Survival action game Hydrophobia has been running silent and deep since it was unveiled over a year ago for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. Recently, Sony's "semi official" Euro blog ThreeSpeech did a three-part piece on the game. Now, PS3 Attitude has an interview with the developers at Blade Interactive, revealing that the game already has a location all set for the sequel. Could we kindly get a release date for the first one?

Whereas the first Hydrophobia takes place on a sinking ship, The Queen of the World (loosely based on the Freedom Ship), the sequel will occur in a "drowned Boston." We'll now have to wait and see if the first game is any good before we commit our excitement to a sequel taking place in PAX's 2010 East Coast location.

Gallery: Hydrophobia (old)

JoystiqLiner before the tugboat: Hydrophobia dev. talks sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bladeblade-interactivehydroenginehydrophobiaPCPS3Xbox-360Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Hydrophobia announced, very wet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/hydrophobia-announced-very-wet/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/hydrophobia-announced-very-wet/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/hydrophobia-announced-very-wet/#commentsFiled under: ,

WorthPlaying has the game announcement and synopsis for Hydrophobia, a survival adventure game that pits you on a city sized ship in the middle of the ocean. Unfortunately for you, there's a terrorist attack on the boat and your character, Kate Wilson, is not only part of the security detail on the Queen of the World, but she's also a hydrophobic, which she developed in her early teens. A slew of screens and a full breakdown of how the gameplay and story meld is available by following the "Read" link. The use of the HydroEngine for the water is very promising and worth the read. Is this a potential sleeper hit?

[Via Digg]

JoystiqHydrophobia announced, very wet originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BladeBlade InteractiveBladeInteractiveHydroEngineHydrophobiaTue, 08 May 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hydrophobia: Snooker dev names secret project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/15/hydrophobia-snooker-dev-names-secret-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/15/hydrophobia-snooker-dev-names-secret-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/15/hydrophobia-snooker-dev-names-secret-project/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

concept artBlade Interactive has put a name to its "top secret" project: Hydrophobia. Best known for its World Championship Snooker series, Blade looks to have ditched the cue for a waterworld action-adventure. Despite "several years" of development time, Blade remains stingy, holding back details. With only a sampling of concept art released, it's difficult to discern what Hydrophobia will offer.

We do know that the game is likely destined for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (a PC version is possible too). The concept art hints at a Joanna Dark-looking heroine, up to her neck in water, battling a corporate foe (Electrocorp). With titles like Bioshock nearing completion, Hydrophobia is gonna have to rise above a boiler plate plot to be successful; that or it's back to the pool hall for Blade.

[Via Eurogamer]

JoystiqHydrophobia: Snooker dev names secret project originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360BladeBlade InteractiveBladeInteractiveHydrophobiaPS3SnookerWorld Snooker ChampionshipWorldSnookerChampionshipXbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview - Marvel Ultimate Alliance]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/metareview-marvel-ultimate-alliance/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/metareview-marvel-ultimate-alliance/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/metareview-marvel-ultimate-alliance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Metareview - Marvel Ultimate Alliance
The ongoing debate over which superhero universe reigns supreme may never be settled, but Marvel Comics is looking like the clear winner in the gaming space with Activision's release of Marvel Ultimate Alliance. There's no Incredible Hulk (he's in Vivendi's game), but just about everyone else from the House of Ideas makes an appearance, which amounts to at least 20 playable characters on each platform. Where Ultimate Alliance really shines over Justice League Heroes is in the stronger focus on teamwork, not to mention a more impressive cast of villains. <Your team name here>, assemble!
  • Game Informer (93/100) likes the new transparent rejuvenation system: "In this game, you no longer need to stock potions. When an enemy is slain, there's a chance that the fallen will gift you with a cluster of healing orbs that automatically zoom to your character. This change not only removes the clunky system of healing, it makes you feel more like a hero. Your focus is always on the battlefield, not a meter."

  • GamePro (90/100) appreciates the challenging enemy AI: "The major boss battles are head and shoulders above anything you've seen in the past. The roster of villains changes with such frequency that you never get a chance to get sick of them. Stronger ones boast talents like healing and immunity to certain attacks, while others carry shields that force your active crew of four to work as a team."

  • TeamXbox (88/100) was dazzled by the production quality: "The opening cinematic by Blur Studios is perhaps the finest I have witnessed in a videogame...but it's worth mentioning that the in-game footage cut scenes by Raven are no slouches either. Raven's in-game work is really nice too. Characters all have that comic book look, but have been updated to have their own edge. The backgrounds are just as sweet, flexing a bunch of post-production effects and lots of animations."

JoystiqMetareview - Marvel Ultimate Alliance originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action rpgActivisionavengersbladeblur studioscaptain americadr. doomelektrafantastic fourgalactusghost rideriron manlokimarvel comicsMarvel Ultimate AlliancePCPS2Ravensilver surferspider-mansuperherothorultronwolverinex-men legendsXboxXbox-360Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[First impressions: Xbox 360 dashboard update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/06/first-impressions-xbox-360-dashboard-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/06/first-impressions-xbox-360-dashboard-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/06/first-impressions-xbox-360-dashboard-update/#commentsFiled under: ,

Xbox 360We installed the new Xbox 360 dashboard update the moment we awoke this morning, literally, before stepping out of bed. We fired up our 360 using the remote, only to have the system lockup while attempting to sign into Xbox Live. Maybe releasing the first major dashboard update on such an ominous date (6-6-6) was not such a great move after all ... But, a simple reboot successfully set the gears in motion, and the update was installed in no time (roughly 10 seconds).

Continue reading First impressions: Xbox 360 dashboard update

JoystiqFirst impressions: Xbox 360 dashboard update originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bladedashboarddownloadDVDHitmaniPodmarketplacesoundtrackUnoupdateXbox LiveXbox Live ArcadeXbox-360XboxLiveXboxLiveArcadeTue, 06 Jun 2006 13:25:00 EST