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[Rice University offers course on Old Norse mythology, Skyrim]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/rice-university-offers-course-on-old-norse-mythology-skyrim/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/rice-university-offers-course-on-old-norse-mythology-skyrim/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/rice-university-offers-course-on-old-norse-mythology-skyrim/#comments Look, you don't need an expensive piece of paper from some institution to know that you're the Dohvakiin. You know it, we know it, the guy you yelled at until he died knows it -- that's all that really matters in the long run. But, if for some reason you did want to expand your knowledge of the ancient legends behind your ancient legend, Rice University has you covered.

"Scandinavian Fantasy Worlds: Old Norse Sagas and Skyrim" is a new course at Rice University in Houston, TX, which "introduces students to fantasy as both psychological concept and driving force in gamer culture" by having students "read selections from Old Norse and Old Icelandic sagas (in translation) as they play different quests within Skyrim."

As you can imagine, enrollment availability is limited to actual, bona fide students at Rice University. Additionally, the class is only available this semester, which is sad considering that beating Skyrim will most likely take longer than passing the course.

JoystiqRice University offers course on Old Norse mythology, Skyrim originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classcollegeelder-scrolls-5microsoftpcplaystationps3RICErice-universityskyrimstudythe-elder-scrolls-v-skyrimuniversityxboxSat, 20 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dungeon Defenders trailer shows off the Monk]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/dungeon-defenders-trailer-shows-off-the-monk/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/dungeon-defenders-trailer-shows-off-the-monk/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/dungeon-defenders-trailer-shows-off-the-monk/#comments
The latest trailer for Dungeon Defenders takes a look at the Monk, the last class available in the tower defense/hack-and-slash mashup title. The Monk is the game's healer, and can not only use projectiles and combat directly, but can also lay down auras to help friends and hurt foes, providing a little more positional strategy to the proceedings.

He can also pop two boost abilities, one for heroes and one for built defenses. So if you're the support type, he'll probably be the character you'll look for when the game goes live on XBLA and PC on October 19.

JoystiqDungeon Defenders trailer shows off the Monk originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classdungeon-defendersmicrosoftpcthe-monktower-defensetrendy-entertainmentxboxFri, 30 Sep 2011 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard announces a handful of WoW: Cataclysm class changes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/blizzard-announces-a-handful-of-wow-cataclysm-class-changes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/blizzard-announces-a-handful-of-wow-cataclysm-class-changes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/blizzard-announces-a-handful-of-wow-cataclysm-class-changes/#comments Blizzard recently announced a cadre of class-specific additions coming to its upcoming ruinous expansion pack, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. If you're currently rolling through Azeroth, owning fools while playing as a Death Knight, Hunter, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock or Warrior, you can get an early glimpse at some of the new powers and revamped mechanics the expansion will bring your way.

If you're having a hard time understanding what all these changes really mean, we suggest checking out our loot-obsessed sister site, WoW.com, for a detailed analysis of these changes. For instance, we just learned that the Rogue's new "Smoke Bomb" ability will change them from merchants of death into invisible merchants of death. How fun!

JoystiqBlizzard announces a handful of WoW: Cataclysm class changes originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardcataclysmclassexpansionmmommorpgworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmwowSat, 10 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools: Old Republic's final, final class revealed: Sarlacc Enforcer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/april-fools-old-republics-final-final-class-revealed-sarlacc/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/april-fools-old-republics-final-final-class-revealed-sarlacc/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/april-fools-old-republics-final-final-class-revealed-sarlacc/#comments We can see why BioWare and LucasArts decided to post about The Old Republic's "Sarlacc Enforcer" class in a joking manner, rather than actually including it in the game. Can you imagine the balancing issues which would surface when dealing with an archetype which can't move, but can instantly devour nearby players? That's a veritable PvP nightmare.

Check out the game's official site for the full dossier on the sand-mouth's weapons, abilities and planet-destroying psychic lasers. Really, how's a mere Bounty Hunter or Smuggler supposed to stand up against that?

JoystiqApril Fools: Old Republic's final, final class revealed: Sarlacc Enforcer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-fools-10biowareclassjokelucasartsmmommorpgsarlaccsarlacc-enforcerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicThu, 01 Apr 2010 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Fortress 2 updates won't stop after final class gets new content]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/team-fortress-2-updates-wont-stop-after-final-class-gets-new-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/team-fortress-2-updates-wont-stop-after-final-class-gets-new-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/team-fortress-2-updates-wont-stop-after-final-class-gets-new-co/#comments There's just one Team Fortress 2 class that's scraping by without the support of post-launch additional content: The hard hatted, begoggled Engineer. It makes sense that Valve will get to the crafty class sooner or later -- but many have wondered whether the developer will keep expanding on the title once the Engineer's update goes live. Fortunately, a Community Fortress interview with Valve's Robin Walker confirmed that new TF2 content would drop before and after the final class gets its new equipment.

When pressed about the studio's post-Engineer plans, Walker explained, "we've got multiple updates in the works still, at least one of which will land before the Engineer pack." He later added, "as always, we haven't planned too much out beyond that point, because we want to see what feedback we get from the community." Well, community? What would you like to see? Some new weapons? Different styles of hats? Any support whatsoever for the console versions of the game?

[Via 1UP]

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2 updates won't stop after final class gets new content originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classengineerfpssteamteam-fortress-2updatevalveWed, 20 Jan 2010 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bioware profiles first Old Republic class: Bounty Hunter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/21/bioware-profiles-first-old-republic-class-bounty-hunter/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/21/bioware-profiles-first-old-republic-class-bounty-hunter/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/21/bioware-profiles-first-old-republic-class-bounty-hunter/#comments
If your prospective career path in Bioware's upcoming MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic doesn't involve lightsabers or force powers, you might want to turn your attention to the game's official site, where the developer recently posted the first class profile page, giving details, screenshots and short videos about the cutthroat, money-wise Bounty Hunter.

It looks like Bioware is preserving the intricacies of the manhuntin' profession as detailed by the films -- those who roll a Bounty Hunter will find themselves with a sweet arsenal of handheld ordnances, Mandalorian armor, jetpacks, wrist-mounted flamethrowers, and the ability to get totally sad when you see your dad get decapitated right in front of you.

[Via Massively]

JoystiqBioware profiles first Old Republic class: Bounty Hunter originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebounty-hunterclassmmopcstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicSat, 21 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Reading "The Divine Comedy" ... or playing PSP?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/reading-the-divine-comedy-or-playing-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/reading-the-divine-comedy-or-playing-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/reading-the-divine-comedy-or-playing-psp/#commentsFiled under: ,


This is certainly one of the most interesting marketing campaigns we've seen in some time. Sony's Italian division has been distributing fake hands that appear to be holding a copy of The Divine Comedy. However, when one flips the fake hands around, one can see instructions on how to play a PSP in class, while looking like a diligent student. We doubt the ploy will work too well ... but it's great to see Sony come up with an ingenious way of promoting PSP play amongst the younger crowd.

Continue reading Reading "The Divine Comedy" ... or playing PSP?

JoystiqReading "The Divine Comedy" ... or playing PSP? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementclasshandsschoolthe divine comedyTheDivineComedyMon, 02 Jul 2007 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Harvard class invades Second Life]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/12/harvard-class-invades-second-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/12/harvard-class-invades-second-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/12/harvard-class-invades-second-life/#commentsFiled under: , ,


A new Harvard class entitled CyberOne: Law in the Court of Public Opinion will be jointly held in the real Harvard Law School and in the virtual world of Second Life. The course, which starts this week, deals with making persuasive arguments in virtual spaces such as web sites, wikis, and, of course, virtual online universes. While registration for the course is currently full, the virtual classroom and lecture materials will be available to Second Life users at-large during non-class hours.

While this isn't the first time a college course has been held in-game, this offering from a school as prestigious as Harvard shows that this trend may be growing. Would you attend a class in a virtual world?

[Thanks nsomneia]

JoystiqHarvard class invades Second Life originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiaclassPCsecond lifeSecondLifeTue, 12 Sep 2006 10:15:00 EST