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[Game of Life and Monopoly are EA's first games on Samsung Smart TVs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/game-of-life-and-monopoly-are-eas-first-games-on-samsung-smart/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/game-of-life-and-monopoly-are-eas-first-games-on-samsung-smart/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/game-of-life-and-monopoly-are-eas-first-games-on-samsung-smart/#comments Game of Life and Monopoly are EA's first games on Samsung Smart TVsThanks to EA and Samsung, its now possible to play board games with your family while simultaneously negating the purpose of board games - which is to spend meaningful time with the people that you care about away from the noise and radiation of the all-engulfing boob tube.

Samsung Smart TV owners have access to virtual versions of both Monopoly and The Game of LIFE via their television's Samsung Apps marketplace. Each game costs $10 and features exactly what you'd expect from each: Buying/selling/trading property in Monopoly, becoming a teen widower in LIFE, etc. Players that also own Samsung smartphones (specifically the S1, S2 and S3) can download a free companion app that turns their phone into a motion controller for throwing dice and spinning wheels.

We'd also like to take this opportunity to announce that "Playing The Game of LIFE while staring at a giant, expensive television" wins Joystiq's Unintentional Irony of the Year Award.

JoystiqGame of Life and Monopoly are EA's first games on Samsung Smart TVs originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board-gamesboardgamesEAea-mobileElectronic-ArtsmonopolySamsungsamsung-smart-tvthe-game-of-lifeWed, 07 Nov 2012 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq interview: the EA/Hasbro game agreement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/joystiq-interview-the-ea-hasbro-game-agreement/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/joystiq-interview-the-ea-hasbro-game-agreement/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/joystiq-interview-the-ea-hasbro-game-agreement/#comments When it comes to the realm of board games, Hasbro is quite the ... player. Over the past couple of decades, it has absorbed Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley, Avalon Hill, Wizards of the Coast, Cranium, and others. Chances are that any board game, not to mention toys, you used to play with as a kid are now owned by Hasbro.

In 2007, Electronic Arts signed an exclusive agreement with Hasbro to produce games based on some of the items in its vaults, and so far we've seen Scrabble, Hasbro Family Game Night, Trivial Pursuit, and more. EA also just announced Hasbro Family Game Night 2 for the Wii and DS, due out later this fall, which will add Pictureka, Bop-It, Operation, Jenga and others to the mix.

But where are the titles like Risk, Axis & Allies, and Dark Tower? We spoke to Steve Flege, Senior Marketing Director for Hasbro Digital and Kyle Murray, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Electronic Arts about the deal, the first games we've seen, the pricing structure, and what's coming up next. The good news: we might be getting Risk on next-gen consoles. It's been on the PC, the PS1, the PS2, and the original Xbox, so it's about time. Roll those sixes!

Gallery: Hasbro Family Game Night: Xbox 360

Continue reading Joystiq interview: the EA/Hasbro game agreement

JoystiqJoystiq interview: the EA/Hasbro game agreement originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board-gamesboardgamescasualDSEAElectronic-ArtsHasbroHasbro-Family-Game-NightMicrosoftNintendoRiskScrabbleWiiXbox-360Wed, 13 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq impressions: Ubisoft's RUSE]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/21/joystiq-impressions-ubisofts-ruse/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/21/joystiq-impressions-ubisofts-ruse/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/21/joystiq-impressions-ubisofts-ruse/#comments
Randal Graves: I don't appreciate your ruse, ma'am.
Indecisive Video Customer: I beg your pardon?
Randal Graves: Your ruse. Your cunning attempt to trick me.

Clerks (1994)

Ubisoft is betting against Kevin Smith and hoping that you will appreciate its cunning attempts to trick you with this real-time strategy game that feels like a board game on steroids. Ubi announced the game at GDC earlier this year, but besides the strange Euro-trailer and a few screenshots, there wasn't much to go on. Thankfully, the publisher has released the above gameplay video that shows off the new IRISZOOM engine that powers the game -- now you can see what the game's all about.

RUSE has a very robust tabletop feel, and opens up to an impressive scale. Read on after the break to see just how the "ruses" work.

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

Continue reading Joystiq impressions: Ubisoft's RUSE

JoystiqJoystiq impressions: Ubisoft's RUSE originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardgamesMicrosoftreal-time-strategyrtsrusestrategytabletopubisoftworld-war-iiXbox-360Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:21:00 EST<![CDATA[You will not escape Dungeon Twister on XBLA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/you-will-not-escape-dungeon-twister-on-the-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/you-will-not-escape-dungeon-twister-on-the-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/you-will-not-escape-dungeon-twister-on-the-xbla/#commentsFrench board game Dungeon Twister will be joining the Xbox Live Arcade catalog of tabletop games gone digital, with Asmodée and Hydravision's announcement that the game's XBLA release will happen in Q3 2009.

The best way to describe Dungeon Twister is as a mix of monsters, magic and strategy. It's a game where you escape a dungeon and, well ... that's basically what you do. It's probably best that you read up on the backstory and (twisted) rules for yourself (PDF). You'll also be pleased to know that there's a library of game expansions, so downloadable content should be plentiful.

JoystiqYou will not escape Dungeon Twister on XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcadeasmodee-gamesboardgamesdungeon-twisterhydravisionhydravision-gamesMicrosoftxblaXbox-360Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zombies!!! board game to eat video game brains]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/zombies-board-game-to-eat-video-game-brains/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/zombies-board-game-to-eat-video-game-brains/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/zombies-board-game-to-eat-video-game-brains/#comments It's time to get the shotgun out of the cupboard, as Twilight Creations announced plans to bring its popular tile-based board game, Zombies!!!, to Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network as well as Steam in 2009. The company describes these as the 'initial' platforms for the project, and we fully expect Zombies!!! to scuffle onto others should the creeping undead take hold.

Interestingly, the game is being handled by Wisconsin-based Big Rooster, the same Big Rooster that recently had another tabletop-to-video game translation, Talisman, canned by would be publisher Capcom. Here's hoping that Zombies!!! doesn't suffer a similar fate, or at the very least if it does it can drag itself up from the grave.

[Thanks, J]

JoystiqZombies!!! board game to eat video game brains originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-roosterboard-gameboardgameboardgamestilesundeadzombieszombies-board-gameSat, 25 Oct 2008 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[E308: Dokapon Kingdom trailer is a delight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-dokapon-kingdom-trailer-is-a-delight/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-dokapon-kingdom-trailer-is-a-delight/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-dokapon-kingdom-trailer-is-a-delight/#commentsFiled under:



Atlus sure knows how to make a trailer exciting -- you can forget needing that cup of coffee after watching this.

While our interest was only mildly piqued before by the adorable-looking boardgame-meets-RPG known as Dokapon Kingdom, this video really managed to put the title on our radar, nearing the "Do Want" list. As for destroying friendships? That's fine by us. We never really liked those people we called "friends" anyway. Atlus also promises an enriching single-person experience, too, in case you've already burned those briges long ago without developer Sting's help.

Dokapon Kingdom should be hitting American shores on October 14th, retailing at $40.

JoystiqE308: Dokapon Kingdom trailer is a delight originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlusboard-gameboardgameboardgamesdokapondokapon-kingdome3-2008e308rpgstingWed, 16 Jul 2008 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Family Game Night is fun for the family]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/family-game-night-is-fun-for-the-family/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/family-game-night-is-fun-for-the-family/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/family-game-night-is-fun-for-the-family/#commentsFiled under:

Remember when your family used to put one night of the week aside to play board games, so that you'd grow closer to one another amongst bouts of innocent fun and mayhem? Yeah, neither do we. Hasbro does, though, which is why the company is bringing six of its most popular board games to the Wii, in one small package.

Called Family Game Night (not to be confused with Wii Fanboy's Game Night), this title includes the following classics:
  • Connect Four
  • Yahtzee (not the one that curses a lot)
  • Battleship
  • Boggle
  • Sorry!
  • Sorry! Sliders (who wants to tell EA and Hasbro that this doesn't count as a "sixth" game?)
We know that going digital is the wave of the future, but is anyone else slightly against the entire "board games turned video games" genre? Call us old-fashioned, but when we cheat at Battleship, we want to cheat with style -- not by looking at a TV screen.

If you think differently, though, keep an eye out for Family Game Night, which will hit European Wiis this fall.

[Via press release]

JoystiqFamily Game Night is fun for the family originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleshipboard-gameboard-gamesboardgamesboggleconnect-foureaElectronic-Artseuropefamily-game-nighthasbroHasbro-Family-Game-Nightsorrysorry-slidersyahtzeeFri, 16 May 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA announces Hasbro Family Game Night for Wii, PS2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ea-announces-hasbro-family-game-night-for-wii-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ea-announces-hasbro-family-game-night-for-wii-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ea-announces-hasbro-family-game-night-for-wii-ps2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Electronic Arts has finally revealed the fruits of its recent partnership with board game evangelist Hasbro, announcing Hasbro Family Game Night, a collection of classic board games for the Wii and PlayStation 2. Shipping this fall, the game will include a wide assortment of Hasbro properties -- six in all -- from Battleship, Yahtzee, Boggle, and Connect Four to Sorry! and its more recent incarnation in Sorry! Sliders.

Purists will be happy to know that they'll be able to play the classic games as they remember, though EA notes that new versions will also be included as well for those looking for a different way to play. In addition, the collection will let players build and decorate a virtual game room, earn trophies, and play various mini-games once they tire of sinking each other's battleships. However, even with support for between two and four players, we doubt the compilation will have us tossing out our boxed favorites just yet, though at least with this game we know we'll never have to go searching though couch cushions for missing pieces before we can play.

JoystiqEA announces Hasbro Family Game Night for Wii, PS2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 May 2008 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleshipboard-gamesboardgamesboggleconnect-fourconnectfoureaelectronic-artselectronicartshasbroHasbro-Family-Game-NightPS2sorryWiiyahtzeeFri, 16 May 2008 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultimate Board Game Collection stealthily releases in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/ultimate-board-game-collection-stealthily-releases-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/ultimate-board-game-collection-stealthily-releases-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/ultimate-board-game-collection-stealthily-releases-in-europe/#commentsFiled under:

You know, it's never an ideal business strategy to not previously announce a release date for your product. Releasing something like a videogame and then yelling surprise on the day of sale itself just makes one question why they even bothered. Apparently, Ultimate Board Game Collection has been out in the UK as of May 2. We've known for awhile the game was going to Europe, but we didn't think it would hit so soon.

Well, it is and it can only be bought at the GAME retail shops. The game is also out on the Wii and PS2; however, the PSP is the definitive version with the most number of games in the collection (24 in all) and with some added features only found on the handheld. A cool feature is the ability to use songs stored on your memory stick for BGM selection. You can also make jigsaw puzzles out of your photos.

North Americans don't get uppity over this sneakily released game; we've had this title on our store shelves for about one year now. This seems to be an evolving trend: swapping years-old games across the Atlantic. Anyway, if you're interested, check out the official website to see a full list of classic board games.

JoystiqUltimate Board Game Collection stealthily releases in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 May 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardgamesxplosivSat, 03 May 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Eidos goes on a Brain Voyage]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/eidos-goes-on-a-brain-voyage/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/eidos-goes-on-a-brain-voyage/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/eidos-goes-on-a-brain-voyage/#commentsFiled under: ,

The brain training bandwagon has gotten increasingly crowded over the last year, with everyone and their brother seemingly thinking it's their duty to churn out interactive tools to help the cerebrally infirm. The latest company to climb on board is Eidos with Brain Voyage, a new "stylish and challenging" noodle puzzler coming to the Nintendo DS later this year.

For board game enthusiasts, the game features "ingenious" puzzles designed by noted German game designer Dr. Reiner Knizia, known for such board games as Amun-Re, Modern Art, and Lord of the Rings. As for what sorts of puzzles we can expect, Eidos notes that the game will feature a sort of globe trotting mechanic, as players ponder 80 different geographically-relevant puzzles "ranging from easy to elaborately ambitious." Details remain cloudy on how exactly these puzzles will work, though that could simply be a side effect of our mental faculties being on increasingly shaky ground.

JoystiqEidos goes on a Brain Voyage originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board-gamesboardgamesbrain-trainingbraintrainingDSgermanKniziapuzzlesWed, 13 Feb 2008 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq interview: Namco Bandai stacks the deck with Culdcept Saga]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/joystiq-interview-namco-bandai-stacks-the-deck-with-culdcept-sa/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/joystiq-interview-namco-bandai-stacks-the-deck-with-culdcept-sa/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/joystiq-interview-namco-bandai-stacks-the-deck-with-culdcept-sa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


By all accounts Omiya Soft's Culdcept franchise has no business being as fun as it is. An admittedly bizarre meshing of board and collectible card game antics, the resulting gameplay potpourri comes across as one big happy accident, but one that has endured since well before the Saturn was pushing up daises. With iterations released in Japan for Sega's final console pair as well as the original PlayStation, North American gamers got their first taste of this unique hybrid in 2003 when NEC released Culdcept for the PlayStation 2 to modest critical acclaim.

Since that time, however, the franchise has faded into obscurity, but will soon be given another chance, this time under the banner of Namco Bandai for the Xbox 360. Culdcept Saga, which has been available for some time in Japan, marks a decidedly different sort of experience for Xbox 360 owners, one usually associated with XBLA downloads rather than a full-on retail release, though even trepidatious players may find the $39.99 price difficult to pass up, especially those looking for something different to play during their FPS downtime.

In advance of the game's early February release we managed to corner Namco Bandai's Nobu Taguchi, who is spearheading Culdcept Saga's localization here in North America. Taguchi was more than willing to set us straight on a number of topics, from the title's multiplayer gameplay to changes made regarding how DLC will be handled...and more.

Check out the full interview after the jump.

Gallery: Culdcept Saga

Continue reading Joystiq interview: Namco Bandai stacks the deck with Culdcept Saga

JoystiqJoystiq interview: Namco Bandai stacks the deck with Culdcept Saga originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board gamesBoardGamesccgculdcept sagaculdcept-sagaCuldceptSaganamconamco bandainamco-bandaiNamcoBandaiNobu TaguchiNobuTaguchiOmiya SoftOmiya-SoftOmiyaSoftXbox-360Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Analysts: Board games are the next big thing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/analysts-board-games-are-the-next-big-thing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/analysts-board-games-are-the-next-big-thing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/analysts-board-games-are-the-next-big-thing/#commentsFiled under:


Gamasutra got a cadre of analysts together to look into crystal balls, read tea leaves, and guess what the next big breakout genre will be following the rhythm game's ascension with Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The analysts' guess? The board game. Yes, the humble board game put on a TV (or in the case of Scene It?, being tweaked a bit) is what the group thought would be the next über genre.

Jesse Divnich of simExchange believes that Scene It?, which released last month, will be a "moderate success" and Ben Bajarian of Creative Strategies uses the term "social gaming" to describe this genre of titles. He says that families are still looking for a "board game" to play together, with the natural evolution being to do so on a console. It probably doesn't hurt their hypothesis that the board games we've seen translated to consoles so far (Scene It?, Carcassonne, Catan) have been very effective. With any luck, European games like Alhambra and Puerto Rico will become digital experiences to be enjoyed by those who missed out on them in America. Oh, and would someone get on Scotland Yard and Café International, please?

JoystiqAnalysts: Board games are the next big thing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystsboard-gamesboardgamesgamasutraTue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA and Hasbro start casual relationship]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/10/ea-and-hasbro-start-casual-relationship/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/10/ea-and-hasbro-start-casual-relationship/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/10/ea-and-hasbro-start-casual-relationship/#commentsFiled under:

Atari got lucky by jumping on Jenga when they did! As part of their new casual games initiative, EA has partnered with Hasbro to create games "based upon a huge array of Hasbro's intellectual properties, including Monopoly, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Nerf, Tonka and Littlest Pet Shop, to name a few."

We desperately want to make fun of the idea of Hasbro toys on Wii, but we've already got Nerf stuff, and board games actually seem to work out nicely on Xbox Live. Maybe more board games would be a good idea! The big deal for us would be online play, and we hope EA realizes that.

Littlest Pet Shop may not need to make the transition to video games, however. We can do without that one. We got a little creeped out just looking at those droopy-eyed characters.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqEA and Hasbro start casual relationship originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardgamescasualeahasbrolittlestpetshopmonopolyyahtzeeFri, 10 Aug 2007 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the Grid: Franchises, classics, and homogeny]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/09/off-the-grid-franchises-classics-and-homogeny/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/09/off-the-grid-franchises-classics-and-homogeny/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/09/off-the-grid-franchises-classics-and-homogeny/#commentsFiled under:


Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column on gaming away from the television screen or monitor.

Oh Barnes & Noble, what happened to you? Less than a year ago, your halls were flush with all the greatest board games, in honor of National Games Week. You carried Carcassonne. You sold Settlers of Catan. You retailed Robo Rally. Now, any semblance of that respect for the non-digital medium has gone out the window. Pictured above, witness the horror that is the Barnes & Noble "board game" selection.

The larger Barnes and Noble locations have always been more than happy to stock a few shelves with board games. The problem is that they're wary to stray from what will absolutely, positively sell. The result is an odd mix of familiar faces: Monopoly, Sorry!, Scrabble, Life, but also Spiderman, Transformers, Shrek, Friends, Grey's Anatomy. It's the worst kind of franchising: the kind that leads to an utter homogeny. It's clear that Barnes & Noble needs a gaming enema. Let's dig a little deeper to figure out hot to do it.

Continue reading Off the Grid: Franchises, classics, and homogeny

JoystiqOff the Grid: Franchises, classics, and homogeny originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barnesandnobleboardgamesbrandingoffthegridThu, 09 Aug 2007 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the Grid interviews Cheapass Games' James Ernest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/off-the-grid-interviews-cheapass-games-james-ernest/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/off-the-grid-interviews-cheapass-games-james-ernest/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/16/off-the-grid-interviews-cheapass-games-james-ernest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column on gaming away from the television screen or monitor.

We've been paying a lot of attention to James Ernest over the past few weeks. As the founder, president, and lead game designer at Cheapass Games, he's responsible for a slew of analog games, including Diceland, Enemy Chocolatier, Kill Doctor Lucky, and many others. Despite his busy schedule, Ernest was able to answer a few questions for Off the Grid, and allow us to pick his brain on a variety of topics.

Let's talk a bit about your history. How did you start doing game design? What brought you into the field?

There's probably a fine line between "designing" and "making up" games. I've been making them up forever. In high school I actually designed a chess variant as a key plot element in a fantasy novel. It's not so much a chess variant as a "game you can play with chess pieces," since all the pieces have different moves and different names. I was so interested in making sure the game worked that I spent most of my time testing the game, and not much time working on the novel. I eventually published the game as "Tishai" through Cheapass Games, first as a stand-alone title and later as part of a Chief Herman collection. The novel is, well, pretty much nowhere.

From what I understand, you left Magic: The Gathering publisher Wizards of the Coast to start Cheapass Games. What sort of work were you doing at Wizards, and what prompted the change?

I did work for Wizards of the Coast in various jobs from 1993-1995, but it was never the job I wanted. There was a round of layoffs in 1995 and I volunteered to be among them. At that point I'd designed one CCG that Wizards had optioned (they never published it), and I was building up a collection of original games that I was pretty sure I'd never sell, either to Wizards or anyone else. So I took some of those games and a couple of new ones, and started Cheapass Games in 1996.

Continue reading Off the Grid interviews Cheapass Games' James Ernest

JoystiqOff the Grid interviews Cheapass Games' James Ernest originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardgamescardgamescheapassgamesinterviewjamesernestnondigitaloffthegridMon, 16 Jul 2007 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Jenga CONFIRMED]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/jenga-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/jenga-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/06/jenga-confirmed/#commentsFiled under: ,


We recently reported that Atari would show a Jenga game at E3. We wondered if it was going to be just Jenga or some kind of expanded game based on the concept of Jenga. It's just Jenga.

What does the Wii bring to the table (so to speak) that the original game doesn't have? Well, the ability to play Jenga on top of a castle, or in front of a lighthouse, or in someone's living room-- and the ability to do so as an icon of a snowman.

Where Wii Jenga fails and real Jenga exceeds, however, is in the graphics. The original Jenga's wood texture looks absolutely lifelike, while the texture is quite blurry and unrealistic on the Wii.

Continue reading Jenga CONFIRMED

JoystiqJenga CONFIRMED originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atariblocksboard gamesBoardGamesjenganintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiipenguinpirateswiiFri, 06 Jul 2007 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the Grid reviews Enemy Chocolatier]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/off-the-grid-reviews-enemy-chocolatier/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/off-the-grid-reviews-enemy-chocolatier/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/14/off-the-grid-reviews-enemy-chocolatier/#commentsFiled under: ,

Every other week Scott Jon Siegel contributes Off the Grid, a column on gaming away from the television screen or monitor.

I never wanted to be a candyman. Gene Wilder's take on the role of confectionaire extraordinaire gave me the shakes, and Johnny Depp's recent attempt at the part just gave me a migraine. After playing Cheapass Games' Enemy Chocolatier, however, I feel a new sense of respect for the sweetest industry in the world. Just no Oompa-Loompas for me, thanks.

Enemy Chocolatier is a strategic board game of urban planning and secret recipes. Two-to-eight players act as rivals to the world's most beloved candy-maker, and take turns buying up property around the boss-man's factory in order to accrue the favor of the town's population, as well as the ingredients necessary to make the next big thing in sweets.

The game succeeds in being easy-to-learn, and pretty fun to play, but ultimately falls short due to an extensive list of required materials, and a runaway game mechanic that upends the level playing field in no time.

Continue reading Off the Grid reviews Enemy Chocolatier

JoystiqOff the Grid reviews Enemy Chocolatier originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardgamescheapassgamesoffthegridThu, 14 Jun 2007 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Guide to Itadaki Street characters]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/guide-to-itadaki-street-characters/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/guide-to-itadaki-street-characters/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/guide-to-itadaki-street-characters/#commentsFiled under:

Confession time! We haven't played a Dragon Quest game since the first one. And that was in the ancient times-- we were basically playing it on an oscilloscope. As such, we don't know any of the characters besides slimes (who could forget slimes?).

If you're like us (old and anachronistic), you might need a lesson on who all these adorable Dragon Quest characters are in Itadaki Street. That is exactly what Siliconera has done, because we asked for it just now. Oh, there we go with the anachronism again.

Finally, we know the names and origins of Guy Who Looks Kinda Like Dante and Spikey-Haired Guy. Now we're ready for the US version of the game, which will probably never exist.

JoystiqGuide to Itadaki Street characters originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angeloboardboard gamesBoardGamesdqdragondragon questDragonQuestdsds liteDsLiteenixitadakiitadaki streetItadakiStreetlitemarionintendonintendo dsNintendoDsquestsesquarestreetyangusFri, 08 Jun 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragon Quest, Super Mario, Boy and Girl in Itadaki Street DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/dragon-quest-super-mario-boy-and-girl-in-itadaki-street-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/dragon-quest-super-mario-boy-and-girl-in-itadaki-street-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/dragon-quest-super-mario-boy-and-girl-in-itadaki-street-ds/#commentsFiled under: ,

Itadaki Street DS apparently didn't have enough characters to choose from-- the entire Mario and Dragon Quest casts are just too limiting, you know? Besides, nobody can relate to wacky characters like a plumber and a plumber's brother, who is also a plumber.

Square Enix has nicely included some characters who will do less to draw players' attention away from the serious business of strategic board game play: "Boy" and "Girl." They look just like we would if we were three feet tall and didn't have noses!

We've got some screens of Boy and Girl, and of Itadaki Street in general, after the break. And check the link for character art and a few board layouts.

Continue reading Dragon Quest, Super Mario, Boy and Girl in Itadaki Street DS

JoystiqDragon Quest, Super Mario, Boy and Girl in Itadaki Street DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardboard gameboard gamesBoardGameBoardGamesboydonkey kongDonkeyKongdqdragon questDragonQuestdsds liteDsLiteenixgirlitadakiitadakistreetmarionintendonintendo dsNintendoDssquaresquare enixSquareEnixstreetwarioFri, 11 May 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A few more Itadaki Street screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/a-few-more-itadaki-street-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/a-few-more-itadaki-street-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/06/a-few-more-itadaki-street-screens/#commentsFiled under: ,

Any time mascot characters from different game companies converge, it's a big deal. As mascot-converging deals go, it doesn't get much bigger than Itadaki Street DS, which forcefully jams the worlds of Dragon Quest and Mario together onto a game board. There's also the fact that another long-time Square Enix franchise heading to the DS is likely to cause a sales supernova. We enjoy keeping tabs on this game in anticipation of that upcoming cosmic event.

While you wait for that June 21st release date, and ponder learning how to read "slime" in Japanese (????), why not take a look at some new screenshots?

Continue reading A few more Itadaki Street screens

JoystiqA few more Itadaki Street screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardboardgameboardgamescrossoverdqdragondragonquestdsds liteDsLitegamesitadakilitemarionintendonintendo dsNintendoDsqueststreetsupersuper marioSuperMarioFri, 06 Apr 2007 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Powerpuff Girls adapted to anime, anime adapted to minigames]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/powerpuff-girls-adapted-to-anime-anime-adapted-to-minigames/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/powerpuff-girls-adapted-to-anime-anime-adapted-to-minigames/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/05/powerpuff-girls-adapted-to-anime-anime-adapted-to-minigames/#commentsFiled under: ,

This news manages to be both supremely weird and completely banal at the same time. It's interesting conceptually, but mechanically, it's another licensed minigame set. Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z is the made-for-Japan adaptation of the Cartoon Network show, which was itself inspired by anime.

And just like you would expect for any anime, or, for that matter, anything popular in Japan (see also: food and walking) Powerpuff Girls Z is getting its own DS game. This has to be the most derivative game ever in terms of source material-- just surpassing the game adaptation of Street Fighter: The Movie.

Continue reading Powerpuff Girls adapted to anime, anime adapted to minigames

JoystiqPowerpuff Girls adapted to anime, anime adapted to minigames originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animeboardboardgamescartoondemashitadsds liteDsLitegamegirlsjapanlicenselicensedliteminigameminigamesnintendonintendo dsNintendoDspowerpuffpowerpuffgirlspowerpuffgirlszzThu, 05 Apr 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In Nintendo Monopoly, Mario is Boardwalk]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/09/in-nintendo-monopoly-mario-is-boardwalk/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/09/in-nintendo-monopoly-mario-is-boardwalk/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/09/in-nintendo-monopoly-mario-is-boardwalk/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


This one is for all the Nintendorks out there. When you're not playing Nintendo's video games, you're probably doing one of three things: cosplaying as famous Nintendo characters, quilting yourself a blanket featuring your favorite Nintendo characters, or wondering why those same Nintendo characters don't permeate every other facet of your life.

Courtesy of Rich Uncle Pennybags and the good folks at USAopoly comes Monopoly: Nintendo Collector's Edition. Yup, we're talking about an actual physical copy of Monopoly, not a video game version. The promotional shots they sent us don't show off the board very well (although we can tell that Mario is Boardwalk, natch), but they do show off all the little pewter figurines. They are: Mario's hat, Koopa shell, NES controller, Donkey Kong barrel, Link's boots (of the iron variety we assume), and Link's shield (of the Hylian variety).

Alright, we love Zelda as much as the next cosplaying Link fan, but two Zelda tokens and not a single Metroid one? Samus ain't gonna be happy. Expect to find it in stores in July for an suggested  retail price of $35.95. That's like one DS game, right? Plenty o' pics after the break.

Continue reading In Nintendo Monopoly, Mario is Boardwalk

JoystiqIn Nintendo Monopoly, Mario is Boardwalk originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jun 2006 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Board GamesBoardGamesDSGameCubeHasbroMonopolyNintendoWiiFri, 09 Jun 2006 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Video games meet board games with the Entertaible]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/04/video-games-meet-board-games-with-the-entertaible/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/04/video-games-meet-board-games-with-the-entertaible/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/04/video-games-meet-board-games-with-the-entertaible/#commentsFiled under: ,

While we all love video games, sometimes there are moments when you want to get a little more analogue. Philips are clearly banking on our secret board game urges with a new product called the Entertaible, an electronic tabletop device which will apparently let you enjoy both the interactivity of electronic games and the social aspects of board games.

Philips have grand visions for the device: new versions of old board game classics, games that are never the same twice, and games that provide social interaction between players. Whether they're conveniently ignoring all the products that already provide all of this (a common-or-garden PC, for example), or genuinely believe their product is better, we can't say. The important tests will come on its rollout to bars and casinos, though: how long does it last after someone's spilled their drink on it?

JoystiqVideo games meet board games with the Entertaible originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jan 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board gamesBoardGamesEntertaiblephilipsWed, 04 Jan 2006 14:00:00 EST