Joystiq

Molyneux's Populous rebuilt as Caplin's Reprisal, play God now

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:00:00 EST

The first true god game for PC, Peter Molyneux's Populous, unleashed its fury in 1989. Today, that omniscient rage has been remapped, revamped and softened in designer John Caplin's first title, Reprisal, an ~~homage~~ offering to the deity that is Populous.

Reprisal is browser-based and free, playable right here. So far Reprisal has snagged more than 1 million players, going by the game's Universe Population counter. Maybe give your fingers a good stretch first -- we hear playing god isn't so easy a task.

Molyneux's Populous rebuilt as Caplin's Reprisal, play God now originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix's mystery game is browser-based Crystal Conquest

JC Fletcher — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST

The fantasy game teased by Square Enix recently is called Crystal Conquest, the company revealed today. It's a browser game for the Japanese Yahoo! Games service, which seems to combine real-time strategy and action.

Two teams of 20 players, trying to defeat one another using summoned creatures and special abilities in a side-scrolling brawler-type environment. Players can assign those skills from decks of cards they've assembled before going into battle.

Square Enix will hold an alpha test for the game from April 12 through April 16, for which it's taking email signups through April 9. The game will be available to all (in Japan) this summer.

Square Enix's mystery game is browser-based Crystal Conquest originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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8BitMMO, an indie sandbox MMO from Archive Entertainment

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST

Sort of like a two dimensional Second Life, but without the thriving sex industry, 8BitMMO is a top-down, java-based sandbox construction game currently under development at Archive Entertainment.

Its world, built entirely from scratch by users, supports up to 250 concurrent players in a persistent environment, who can either craft on their lonesome or join with others to create collaborative constructions. A "grief protection system" prevents malicious ne'er-do-wells from jackin' with your craft, should you choose to build alone. There's also "basic" PvP and PvE combat, as well as "amusing quests and unusual enemies" like the Lawyercat.

Despite still being under construction, the latest build is available for free at the game's official site.

Gallery: 8BitMMO (Announcement)

Continue reading 8BitMMO, an indie sandbox MMO from Archive Entertainment

8BitMMO, an indie sandbox MMO from Archive Entertainment originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Competitive bumbling now available in two-player QWOP

JC Fletcher — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:10:00 EST

Yes, it's true. You can share the experience of not being able to walk at all with a friend or bitter rival, in a new two-player version of Bennett Foddy's footrace to the bottom, QWOP. Following last Sunday's showing at Juegos Rancheros, Foddy has released the competitive browser game online.

The game suggests a second keyboard "for best results," but both players can actually share a single keyboard. This is a much more awkward situation, and thus seems more appropriate.

Competitive bumbling now available in two-player QWOP originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Mario Bros. Crossover version 2 mashes up Mario worlds

JC Fletcher — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST

Remember Super Mario Bros. Crossover? We hope you wouldn't be able to forget something like that -- it's the browser game that lets you go through Super Mario Bros. as Ryu Hayabusa, Contra's Bill Rizer, Link, and others.

Developer Jay Pavlina just released version 2, and it's a heartbreakingly beautiful work of retro-gaming. Now there are multiple versions of all the characters, including NES, SNES, and Game Boy styles, and you can cycle randomly through versions of all the levels in those styles.

Best of all? Among those styles are Demon Returns and Super Demon Returns, the Super Mario Bros.-style game from the DS's Retro Game Challenge 2. So you can totally play as the tank from Blaster Master in Super Mario Bros. levels that look like Retro Game Challenge.

The characters include Mario, Luigi, Link, Samus, Simon Belmont, Mega Man, Bass, Bill Rizer, Ryu, and Sophia the 3rd -- all with alternate looks, and character-appropriate special abilities. Did we mention this runs in your browser, and that therefore you could be playing it right now?

Super Mario Bros. Crossover version 2 mashes up Mario worlds originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 firmware update speeds up web browsing

JC Fletcher — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST

If you signed into PSN on your PS3 to, say, try to buy a Vita game, you'll have run into this already: surprise! There's a new mandatory system update. According to Sony, version 4.10 accounts for the change in the name of your account, from "PSN account" to "SEN account."

The update also makes improvements to the PS3 browser, including "improved display speed." We'd compare it for you, but the one time I personally tried to use the PS3 browser in the past, it froze my system and I had to pull out the power cord to reset. So if the new browser doesn't do that, it's a dramatic improvement.

PS3 firmware update speeds up web browsing originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Command and Conquer: Tiberium Alliances headed to browsers, mobile

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:15:00 EST

EA continues the expansion of its "play4free" portfolio with the announcement of Command and Conquer: Tiberium Alliances, developed by Phenomic. The browser- and mobile-based strategy MMO will begin a closed beta on December 15. Interested generals can sign up at the game's official site.

The mobile Command and Conquer comes hot on the heels of last weekend's announcement of Command and Conquer: Generals 2, currently in production at BioWare Victory for launch on PC in 2013.

Gallery: Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances

Continue reading Command and Conquer: Tiberium Alliances headed to browsers, mobile

Command and Conquer: Tiberium Alliances headed to browsers, mobile originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco's Tales series going on a browser-based 'Dice Adventure'

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

If you are enthralled by the addictive world of high-stakes gambling and the even-more-addictive world of social games, Namco Bandai has a soul-crushingly-addictive announcement for you. According to Siliconera, the publisher's Tales series of role-playing games is making the jump to the free-to-play browser-based realm with Tales of the World: Dice Adventure.

The game, which will hit Japanese browsers next Spring, will let players team up with characters from the prolific Tales series, assumedly entering into games of chance using numbered cubes. (Or numbered Icosahedrons, if they go the Dungeons and Dragons route.) Little else is known about the title -- until Namco reveals more information, the whole thing is going to be a crapshoot.

Namco's Tales series going on a browser-based 'Dice Adventure' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Chrome will add native gamepad support, more video and audio hooks

Mike Schramm — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:56:00 EST

Google's Paul Kinlan spoke at Develop Liverpool last week, and revealed that Google is aiming to add some more plug-and-play hardware support to its Chrome browser, including gamepad support. The update will also add connections to webcams and microphones, which means that Chrome could, after these updates, directly use those accessories for games and other services.

It should probably be noted that Firefox's API already allows for gamepad support, so Chrome here is just filling out the alternative. Google is also planning to cook in native support for WebRTC, an open source video chat initiative that it has helped run in the past. At this point, developers are basically just lining up APIs to work together, but setting up these built-in solutions could eventually help bring cloud gaming services right into a native Internet browser.

Google Chrome will add native gamepad support, more video and audio hooks originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gaikai powers streaming Dead Rising 2 demo

JC Fletcher — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:00:00 EST

We're never going to to be comfortable with the kind of alchemy Gaikai is capable of. Capcom has partnered with the company to offer a demo of Dead Rising 2, right in your browser. You'll be so impressed you won't even mind it's a year late!

It's the actual game, inside a browser window. Being a demo, there are some restrictions: you can't save, and you can only play for 30 minutes. But it's still enough to give you a taste of the game, and to be really impressed with Gaikai.

Gaikai powers streaming Dead Rising 2 demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poleriders: The new browser game from QWOP creator

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:00:00 EST

If you've just finished Dark Souls and are looking for an entirely new method of torturing yourself through video games, this new project from QWOP developer Bennet Foddy should suit your needs quite well. It's called Poleriders, and it's a competitive, two-player pole vaulting game. Only, instead of trying to use a pole to clear a raised bar, you're trying to either kick a ball through your opponent's goal, or kick your opponent's head, which is also tantalizingly ball-shaped.

Truth be told, we didn't find it nearly as difficult as QWOP -- though, we suppose difficulty will change based on the relative pole vaulting skill of your adversary. Vaulting against your roommate? No problem. Vaulting against four-time US Nation Outdoor Champion vaulter Jeff Hartwig? Well then, buster, you're in for a world of hurt.

Poleriders: The new browser game from QWOP creator originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team Fortress 2 running via web browser, world's fate in question

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:20:00 EST

When future civilizations dig up the remnants of our civilzation, they will learn that our fall was predicated by a single event. Namely, Brandon Jones' porting of Team Fortress 2 to WebGL (i.e. web browsers). Thankfully, it's merely a demonstration and isn't actually playable - yet. Frankly, if someone manages to make Team Fortress 2 even more accessible, we're not sure humanity will have the mental fortitude to withstand it.

You can learn more about the technical aspects of the demo (or even download the source code) over at Jones' website, TojiCode.

Team Fortress 2 running via web browser, world's fate in question originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Browser-based Pixeljunk Monsters coming later this year

JC Fletcher — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST

Yesterday, during the Casual Connect conference, Q-Games' Jesse Venbrux revealed the new browser-based PixelJunk Monsters game, the first PixelJunk game not to be tied to a PlayStation platform.

A press release from Q-Games offered just a bit more information about the upcoming game, which appears to be officially titled PixelJunk Monsters: Social Network Version. The browser version will be free-to-play when it launches this year. As seen in the first screenshot, it features a new world map.

Speaking of screenshots, Q-Games included a couple more, which we've placed in the browser-based, free-to-play gallery below.

Gallery: PixelJunk Monsters: Social Network Version

Continue reading Browser-based Pixeljunk Monsters coming later this year

Browser-based Pixeljunk Monsters coming later this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PixelJunk Monsters migrating to browsers

Justin McElroy — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST

As the nation's nerd and nerd-adjacent humans sully themselves with the masses at Comic-Con, attractive casual game developers are wining and dining at Casual Connect in Seattle. Sandwiched in between said wining and simultaneous dining are talks like the one today from Q-Games designer Jesse Venbrux. As promised last week, Venbrux unveiled the new Q-Games project: A browser-based PixelJunk Monsters game.

According to PSN Stores, the new version of the tower defense title will feature a less linear design, smaller levels, new towers and monsters and, of course, additional social features to compliment services like Facebook. From what little information is available, it seems like there's little that won't be revamped in the browser that is, for the moment, untitled.

PixelJunk Monsters migrating to browsers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3DS browser lacks Flash, can view 3D photos

JC Fletcher — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:13:00 EST

In an update to its Japanese website, Nintendo detailed the web browser coming to 3DS next week as part of a fairly large firmware update. Unfortunately, the browser will support neither Flash nor PDFs, dashing your hopes of getting some work done on your game device.

What it will do is let you save JPG images from the web to an SD card, upload pictures from the camera, and display 3D pictures in MPO format from within the browser. You can set parental controls for the browser using the 3DS settings, along with the i-Filter software for further restrictions.

3DS browser lacks Flash, can view 3D photos originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let Adult Swim's 'Soul Brother' possess your browser

JC Fletcher — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST

Adult Swim continues to be a venue for brilliantly weird browser games from indie talent, following up games like Robot Unicorn Attack and Cream Wolf with Soul Brother, by Superflat Games (developer of the Silent Hill 2 demake Soundless Mountain II).

The beautifully pixel-illustrated Soul Brother gives you control of a variety of creatures with different abilities, all controlled by killing your current host body and then inhabiting the new one as a ghost. Each body has a skill that can be used to pass certain obstacles in the Metroidvania-esque game, like flight or double-jumping.

While you're at Adult Swim, we also encourage you to check out Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars by Auntie Pixelante, probably our favorite maze game about slavery.

Let Adult Swim's 'Soul Brother' possess your browser originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'World's Biggest Pac-Man' connects user-created mazes in your browser

JC Fletcher — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:30:00 EST

Yesterday at the MIX11 conference, Microsoft revealed a project undertaken with Soap Creative and Namco Bandai: The World's Biggest Pac-Man, an HTML 5 version of the iconic arcade game with user-created levels. Every maze is connected, allowing players to use the "exits" on the side of a maze to enter another one -- even if it feels really wrong to leave a maze partially completed (so wrong). The rapidly expanding continent of Pac-Man mazes currently includes 1420 separate screens.

The app requires users to sign into Facebook before creating new mazes, but no login is required to explore the growing selection of levels. It should run on any browser (despite being released as promotion for Internet Explorer 9), but based on our experience iOS devices aren't compatible.

'World's Biggest Pac-Man' connects user-created mazes in your browser originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Try to come to GIRPs with QWOP creator's new game

JC Fletcher — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST

With QWOP, Bennet Foddy took the simple act of running and turned it into a baroque puppeteering masterclass (minus the teacher). Now, Foddy has taken QWOP's gameplay style and applied it to something that's already hard: rock climbing.

The browser game GIRP assigns each handhold on a rock face to a button on the keyboard, with a hapless climber's muscles mapped to the shift keys or mouse button. You have to hold on to one handhold while flexing to pull yourself up and reaching for the next one, taking time out to untwist your fingers at regular intervals. Oh, and also there's water rising up underneath your character.

Ironically, despite the fact that rock climbing is much more difficult than putting one foot in front of the other in real life, GIRP is a bit easier than QWOP. We were able to make nonzero progress in our very first attempt!

Try to come to GIRPs with QWOP creator's new game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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URL Hunter offers a whole game in your browser's address bar

Mike Schramm — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST

Perhaps you saw (and even played) URL Hunter when it was being passed around the Internets a little while back -- it's a tiny little HTML 5 game that takes place all inside a long Uniform Resource Locator in your web browser's address bar. The HTML script moves a few little "a" characters around, and you can line them up in your sights with arrow keys, pressing space to fire and shoot as many as possible within a time limit.

Developer Corey Johnson, formerly of Maxis and now working at Github, says the game was developed over just a few hours of programming time. After reading about HTML 5's address bar API, he decided to try and make it interactive, and came up with URL Hunter. He had "lots of ideas at first, but cut most of them because of my self-imposed time constraints" of only a few hours of work.

Johnson says that HTML 5's Canvas element offers much more "potential" for browser-based games than his URL hacking. But that hasn't stopped us from getting the initial funding together for Joystiq Publishing's first browser-based product, Call of Document Object: Model Web Design 2.

URL Hunter offers a whole game in your browser's address bar originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gaikai is live with streaming demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2 and more

Randy Nelson — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:25:00 EST

Following more than a year of media demos and beta testing, cloud gaming startup Gaikai is letting the public try out the fruits of its efforts: Demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2, Spore and The Sims 3 are all playable from within your web browser. That is, if you have the bandwidth -- we don't, apparently. (Granted, we're on gratis Wi-Fi here at GDC.)

You might have better luck at home: You can visit Gaikai's site where you'll be prompted to launch Mass Effect 2. "Just wait and if your connection quality to our Server is fast enough," instructs CEO David Perry, "one of several pop-up designs will appear."

Additionally, taking a survey about the service will grant you access to the Dead Space 2 demo. Spore and The Sims 3 trials can be found here and here, respectively.

Gaikai is live with streaming demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2 and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Robot Unicorn Attack to live in harmony, harmony with your iPhone June 1

JC Fletcher — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:00:00 EST

Robot Unicorn Attack, developer Spiritonin's excessively magical browser-based game about a unicorn running through a dreamscape and smashing stars, is bringing its Erasure-fueled wonder to the iPhone, where it can always be with you. Entertainment Weekly reports that the Adult Swim-published browser game will be available on the App Store on June 1, for $2.99.

Adam Atomic's Canabalt, also a game about running forever and jumping between platforms, similarly started as a pretty amazing browser game before becoming a smash hit on iPhone. We suspect that unicorn magic will help Robot Unicorn Attack achieve Adult Swim's wish for a hit iPhone game.

[Via @superpac]

Robot Unicorn Attack to live in harmony, harmony with your iPhone June 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blinkbox movie and TV streaming service now available on PS3

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:45:00 EST

Good news for UK PS3 owners. Blinkbox, a provider of online streaming movies and TV shows, has created a new PS3-friendly version of its website. Navigating to blinkbox.com in the PS3 internet browser will launch a specially formatted site, reminiscent of PS3-optimized versions of YouTube and BBC iPlayer. Based on a few videos we tested, we'd say the site is rather easy to navigate with the DualShock controller, and the video playback runs smoothly.

Programming available for non-UK residents is rather limited with James Earl Jones' Blood Tide as one of the few free options available for US residents. UK residents, however, can enjoy free TV series and movies, in addition to paid rentals, starting at £0.39 for a TV show and £0.99 for a movie.

It's an interesting alternative to Sony's own PlayStation Store video content, especially for those that want to instantly watch video, instead of waiting on lengthy downloads through PSN.

[Via Edge]

Blinkbox movie and TV streaming service now available on PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 May 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tron's Space Paranoids gets the browser game treatment

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 08 May 2010 17:00:00 EST

If you play video games because you're driven by a powerful desire to be the very best, you may want to consider skipping this one. 42 Entertainment and Disney Interactive recently paired up to release an online, Unity-based version of the arcade game featured in Tron, titled Space Paranoids. It's your basic first-person tank simulator, in which player navigate a maze while fending off enemy tanks and Recognizers. So, in that respect, we guess it's not all that "basic."

It's really fun, but regardless of how adroit you become at tank-shooting, you'll never be able to beat the top score of 999,000 set by "FLN." Still, if you can be satisfied by aspirations for second place, Space Paranoids is definitely worth checking out.

[Via BigDownload]

Tron's Space Paranoids gets the browser game treatment originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA's Lord of Ultima browser-based MMO officially launches next week

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

EA's latest attempt to rejuvenate the Ultima franchise, the browser-based MMORTS Lord of Ultima, will exit open beta and go fully live on Tuesday, April 20. The game breaks from the franchise's usual norm of medieval vigilante heroism, and places you in the fur-lined boots of an up-and-coming ruler, who must build his kingdom through trade, diplomacy and neighborly acts of sabotage.

If you're curious how the game operates, you can check out some gameplay clips from the beta on YouTube. Or, alternatively, you could just hop into the beta yourself. Or you could just be patient -- it's coming out in a week. Can't you wait a single week? Geez.

EA's Lord of Ultima browser-based MMO officially launches next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq highlights a game of the year 2009

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST

Here it is, folks: The moment you've all been waiting for. Team Joystiq has been scouring the list of games that came out in 2009, attempting to pick the best of the best, then present them to our readership in an enumerated fashion. Unfortunately, we got bored with that, and instead started playing 2009: The Game, which is, in fact, a game of the year 2009. We apologize for the misleading headline.

It's more or less an "avoid-these-things-lest-you-die" game flash game which takes quick, topical jabs at the year's low points. However, it's a great reminder of some of the ridiculous shenanigans we had to put up with this year. Like, remember Swine Flu? Hoo boy.

Joystiq highlights a game of the year 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlaySega without having to PaySega

JC Fletcher — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST

Sega's casual games portal PlaySega has just added Genesis classics to its lineup. If, like us, your attention has yet to turn to the browser-based service since its December launch, now would be a good time to check it out.

N-Europe reports that you can access a free 10-day trial of the paid "VIP" service now, which allows you to play, in addition to the collection of free games, those that are normally behind a pay wall -- like all the Genesis games, including Sonic the Hedgehog, which also includes (get ready to freak out) a level editor.

If you like the service and then sign up for a three-month ($14.95) subscription, Sega will send you one of the Saturn-style USB controllers seen here. Just don't sign up for the controller and forget you've subscribed, or you'll end up paying a lot more than you wanted to.

PlaySega without having to PaySega originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Internet Channel now free, with updated Flash [update]

JC Fletcher — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:59:00 EST

Nintendo just dropped the price of the Wii Opera browser in Japan and PAL markets to nothing, its original "price" during the system's launch, when the browser was in beta. VOOKS photographed the Wii message that announced the price drop, which also revealed that the version of Flash used in the Wii browser has been updated from Flash 7 to Flash Lite 3.1-- which should make the Internet Channel much more useful. Users who paid 500 Wii Points for the browser will receive a refund of sorts in October -- a credit that can be used on any NES game.

In Japan, the same refund offer applies, and Nintendo is providing more opportunities for free Virtual Console games. Since early this year, Nintendo of Japan has offered 500-point bonuses to Wii owners for helping others get online. Starting October 21, Nintendo will expand this program with new rewards: those who achieve "Helper Meister 10" status (by helping 10 others connect) will gain access to every Nintendo-published Famicom game. "Helper Meister 20" will unlock all Virtual Console games on every platform! That should get people going door to door.

Update: The Internet Channel is now free in North America, and the NES Virtual Console download credit will be extended to those who purchased the browser in the region.

Wii Internet Channel now free, with updated Flash [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doom, Heretic and Hexen: Now gibbing demons in-browser

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:30:00 EST

Hey, how's it going? Having a nice day? Got a busy schedule, huh? Lots of work to do, right? We're sorry to hear that -- see, here's how we see the next week or so playing out:

You'll fire up this recent, spot-on Flash port of Doom, Heretic and Hexen.
You'll play them until you're about to starve to death.
You'll eat.
You'll repeat steps 2 and 3 until, regrettably, you forget to do step 3.

Seriously, folks -- a Newgrounds Flash aficionado (simply named "Mike") has created one of the most accurate, free-est ports of three of id's gibbiest shooters (or wand-ers, in Heretic and Hexen's case). We highly suggest checking them out.

[Via Rock Paper Shotgun]

Doom, Heretic and Hexen: Now gibbing demons in-browser originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 May 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DSiCade brings free games to your DSi browser

David Hinkle — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:25:00 EST

If you're like us, then you've probably been enjoying Dr Mario Express and trying to find a place where you can enjoy WarioWare Snapped. And that's probably where your free 1,000 DSi points went, so how else can you enjoy free games on your DSi? Enter DSiCade.com.

DSiCade allows you to play games on your DSi through its browser, as well as chat with other members on the site through the Shout Box! feature. The site itself is kind of bare bones at the moment, with only Missile Command and Simon Says clones available to play, but based on how well these games play, we'd say you should keep an eye on the site. We're no Simon, but we say that this will be a great destination for your DSi's browser in the future -- when there's more content on offer.

[Via Pocketgamer]

DSiCade brings free games to your DSi browser originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play classic Sierra adventures for free -- with multiplayer

JC Fletcher — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:48:00 EST

Hopefully this gets to you before the inevitable cease-and-desist: right now, a site called Sarien (named after the antagonists in the original Space Quest) is offering a selection of vintage Sierra adventure games, playable right in your browser. If you've never known Leisure Suit Larry to be anything but a terrible minigame collection, you can check out the real game here, along with Police Quest, The Black Cauldron, and the first two wonderful Space Quest games.

As if a free, simple interface for enjoying these games weren't enough, Sarien adds a bizarre twist: (optional) multiplayer. When you go into a game, you'll be surrounded by identical avatars, all playing their own adventures. You can watch them explore and type commands (that's right, typing), or you can provide tips to your fellow players. It can be pretty disorienting to adventure game fans (and creators) but once you get used to the crowd, it's an interesting variation on these old games.

[Via What They Play, Offworld]

Play classic Sierra adventures for free -- with multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Donkey Kong Generation Gap Edition

JC Fletcher — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST

This week in Ask Joystiq Nintendo, unfortunately, is all about stuff that just isn't going to happen. The DS might have gotten a browser update with the DSi, but the update wasn't in the area people really wanted.

In the process of discussing your questions (which you can send to us by email at asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com!), we also reveal that I am a fossil.

Continue reading Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Donkey Kong Generation Gap Edition

Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Donkey Kong Generation Gap Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Interwebs Edition

JC Fletcher — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST

This week in Ask Joystiq Nintendo, we deal mostly with issues relating to the DS and the Internet -- how to get online with a DS system, and interfacing with the Internet once you get there. We also start the Countdown to New DSi Colors, for the benefit of those of you who are somehow unsatisfied with the blue DSi (or the Gyakuten Kenji white DSi).

Do you have a question for the sages experts dudes at Joystiq Nintendo? Simply email your query to asknintendo AT joystiq DOT com, and we will stare at it until an answer becomes apparent!

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Ask Joystiq Nintendo: Interwebs Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS browser vs. DSi browser

JC Fletcher — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST

Back in the days when the DSi was young (November), Eric demonstrated how slowly the system's browser operated, documenting the agonizing process of trying to read DS Fanboy on the device. Agonizing only in that it took a long time, we must clarify -- reading any incarnation of our site is a soothing and life-affirming experience, of course. But how much more or less agonizing is the process on the DSi browser than on the DS/DS Lite Opera browser? DotEd of the Opera N+ blog did a comparative speed test to find out.

According to science (i.e. the one test seen in the video after the break), the DSi's browser loads the New York Times site much quicker than the DS Lite version; even better, it loads the text first, so you can read even while images are coming in. The browser on the DSi will end up getting a lot more use than the other one (on account of being free and not requiring two separate cartridges), so it's kind of nice that it actually works better.

[Thanks, Fernando!]

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DS browser vs. DSi browser originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: PS3 leads Wii ... in web browsing

Randy Nelson — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii

If you've ever wondered "Does anyone actually browse the web on consoles?," Market Share has an answer for you: yes, but not very many people. The firm reports that .04% of all web browsing is performed on PS3, compared to the .01% of Wii, the only other current-gen console with a browser.

Of course, PS3's browser is built-in; Wii's particular version of Opera costs 500 Wii Points ($5) and, well, people have to seek it out among the other WiiWare offerings. So, tell us, are you reading Joystiq on a console, and if so, which one?

[Via Edge Online]

Report: PS3 leads Wii ... in web browsing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More people browse the net on PS3 than Wii

David Hinkle — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: News

According to a business statistics group, Market Share, the PS3 delivers more web traffic than the much more popular Wii. Stats put the PS3 at a 0.04 share of the overall internet market, with the Wii trailing behind at 0.01. With more Wii consoles out there than PS3s, and a superior method of browsing (controller vs. Wiimote, Wiimote wins), we're a tad bit shocked.

Of course, one must take into account the fact that the Wii's web browser is no longer free. For a large part of the console's first year on the market it was, so that likely has a lot to do with how many folks are using their console to surf the web. The PS3's browser has always been absolutely free.

How many of you use your Wii to cruise the seedy backstreets of this intertron we all know and love?

More people browse the net on PS3 than Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Internet Channel updating next month with WiiSpeak support, tabs, huge buttons

JC Fletcher — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:22:00 EST

Filed under: News

The Internet Channel will finally receive a significant update next month, according to GameReactor Magazine. We haven't been able to find the exact location of this item in GameReactor, so we're currently relying on GoNintendo's summary.

The new version will support the WiiSpeak microphone in some unknown capacity. It will finally allow tabbed browsing in the form of an exceptionally wacky Tab Cube, each side of which shows a tab. It'll also include the ability to check your Wii messages from inside the browser interface. On top of that, the browser has been updated with big, ugly navigation buttons.

The new browser will probably be a free update for current Internet Channel owners, and 500 points for everyone else.

Internet Channel updating next month with WiiSpeak support, tabs, huge buttons originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo DSi: The Unboxening and Impressioning

Eric Caoili — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Reviews, Video, Imports

Yes, several other outlets have already posted their unboxing photos and first impressions of the Nintendo DSi, but we've put together our own article documenting the imported system's arrival, as we have a few new things that we can share with you, those things being:

Photos of a cat stalking the box while we unearthed the DSi
Surprises that we didn't expect with the DSi
Video of us trying to load DS Fanboy on the DSi's new Browser
Video of DSi Sound's 14 music visualizers
Music from a renowned Wu-tang Clan rapper

All of that, past the post break!

Continue reading Nintendo DSi: The Unboxening and Impressioning

Nintendo DSi: The Unboxening and Impressioning originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: Browsing

Alisha Karabinus — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

Thanks to the DS homebrew community, you can enjoy at least one rudimentary web browser, and thanks to Nintendo, you can enjoy ... well, one official rudimentary browser. Come the time of the DSi, a browser will be included, and web browsing will just become a part of the DS experience.

Or will it? Not only was the official browser not very engaging, but we just never felt much need for net-surfing from the DS. Does that appeal to you?

DS Daily: Browsing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WiiPlayer optimizes iPlayer for Wii

Chris Greenhough — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

It still puzzles us that the BBC was so keen to make its (admittedly excellent and very popular) iPlayer catch-up service compatible with the Wii. Are there really that many Wii owners out there with internet-ready PCs who would opt to use the service on the Wii's slightly clunky Opera browser? Why not just use your PC to watch the latest editions of Gavin & Stacey and The Apprentice? You know: the one you're using to read these words, right at this very second?

Not only that, but the iPlayer on the Wii is hardly user-friendly. Text is so small that it's almost unreadable, loading times are hardly ideal, and the low resolution of the Wii's browser makes navigation awkward. Cue the intervention of WiiPlayer, a hacked version of the iPlayer that has been optimized for Nintendo's console, and is now available for use at http://defaced.co.uk/wiiplayer.

It won't work on your PC, and it goes without saying you'll still have to reside in the UK to use this, but WiiPlayer does do a sterling job, replacing the iPlayer's teensy text and browser-taxing layout with pleasingly chunky, Wiimote-friendly icons and a cleaner, less cluttered appearance.

Gallery: WiiPlayer

[Via Tech Digest]

WiiPlayer optimizes iPlayer for Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Wi-Fi for DS no more at North American McDonald's now

David Hinkle — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, Nintendo Wi-Fi

Personally, we can't remember the last time we were in a McDonald's, so this news comes as, uh, well ... news to us. You see, the partnership between McDonald's and Wayport actually expired back in November of last year. Canadians are also up the same creek without a paddle, as the deal with Fatport also expired. This is not to say you can't still get online at McDonald's, it'll just take a bit more for you to get online with your DS.

Apparently, using the DS Opera Browser or a wi-fi dongle with a laptop will still allow you to get your DS online. But, as one might imagine, these alternatives aren't the best. Unless you go with the second choice, you won't even be able to enjoy a game online. Oh well, if it forces you to get wireless internet in your home, it can't be all that bad of a thing, right?

Free Wi-Fi for DS no more at North American McDonald's now originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 May 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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