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[ESA holding student competition, winners to be shown at E3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/esa-holding-student-competition-winners-to-be-shown-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/esa-holding-student-competition-winners-to-be-shown-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/esa-holding-student-competition-winners-to-be-shown-at-e3/#comments ESA E3 student game development competitionThe Entertainment Software Association is launching an E3 College Game Competition this year, designed to spotlight some solid student game creations at the upcoming E3 convention in Los Angeles. Over 400 schools have been invited to submit "story details and content assets" for a video game they might make, with the ESA (along with the help of industry veterans and professionals) planning to choose the best five by May.

Those five finalists will then be offered the opportunity to present at this year's E3, and get their games and ideas in front of the media and some of the biggest game developers and publishers in the world. IndieCade has been able to show off some of its games at E3 for a few years now, but this competition is designed to honor student work in the same way.

ESA president Mike Gallagher says the group "intends to honor student achievement and provide a deserved spotlight at E3." Interested teachers who haven't yet been contacted about the contest can find out more by emailing the ESA; you can find more info in the press release below.

Continue reading ESA holding student competition, winners to be shown at E3

JoystiqESA holding student competition, winners to be shown at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitione3-college-game-competitionentertainment-software-associationesagame-designgamesstudentstudent-game-designstudent-gamesMon, 04 Feb 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Riot Games' plan to standardize eSports]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/riot-games-plan-to-standardize-esports/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/riot-games-plan-to-standardize-esports/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/riot-games-plan-to-standardize-esports/#comments Riot Games' plan to standardize eSportsAsk a couple of Riot Games' employees what goes into choosing players for League of Legends' annual World Championships, and they'll rattle off a strange series of acronyms and words that represent tournaments from around the world: Major League Gaming, the IGN Pro League, ESL's Intel Extreme Masters Series, OGN, IPL, Dreamhack, Tales of the Lane, and so many more.

The route from just playing for free online to the top of the World Championship ladders is so confusing and circuitous that most press outlets don't cover it, most players don't follow it, and even most eSports fans couldn't explain it all. There's a jargon to it (littered with player and team names full of weird capitalization and strange spellings) that's about as complicated to understand as the notoriously complex game itself.

Riot's Vice President of eSports Dustin Beck even says that a recent tournament he attended was a big mess on its own: "The tournament kept pausing, it never started on time, you didn't have a schedule to know when your favorite teams were playing. It wasn't a fun experience, for me."

Still, eSports is one of the biggest factors in League of Legends' overwhelming popularity, with thousands of people attending these tournaments, and millions (almost ten million, in fact) watching live online. So how does Riot plan to smooth out those wrinkles that keep an even larger audience out of the game? The company will take the game into Season 3 within the next few weeks, and with it begins Riot's eSports headliner, the League of Legends Championship Series.

Continue reading Riot Games' plan to standardize eSports

JoystiqRiot Games' plan to standardize eSports originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championshipcompetitiondustin-beckesportslcsleague-championship-seriesleague-of-legendspcriot-gamesteamsWed, 30 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Indie Speed Run' online game jam judged by Kellee Santiago, Ron Gilbert, Notch, et al]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/indie-speed-run-online-game-jam-judged-by-kellee-santiago-ron/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/indie-speed-run-online-game-jam-judged-by-kellee-santiago-ron/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/indie-speed-run-online-game-jam-judged-by-kellee-santiago-ron/#comments 'Indie Speed Run' online game jam begins, results to be judged by Kellee Santiago, Ron Gilbert, Notch, et alIndie Speed Run, despite the name, is surprisingly not what we call the Friday nights we spend practicing our no-death VVVVVV runs. It is, however, the name of a new online game jam, one which runs from now until January 6.

The way it works is pretty straight-forward: Developers visit the official website and register as a participant. Once enrolled, each contender (and/or team of contenders) has 48 hours to create a game using two secret elements given only to them, and while those 48 hours must be consecutive, they can occur anytime between now and when the event ends in January.

Once the event does end, every game created during its span will be made freely available on the official site. Meanwhile, a star-studded panel of judges (Kellee Santiago, Ron Gilbert, Notch, Dino Patti, Trent Oster, Jason Rohrer and Vander Caballero) will determine which team is most deserving of Indie Speed Run's $2,500 grand prize and will announce a winner February 5.

Joystiq'Indie Speed Run' online game jam judged by Kellee Santiago, Ron Gilbert, Notch, et al originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionDino-Pattigame-jamindieindie-speed-runJason-RohrerKellee-SantiagoNotchpcRon-GilbertTrent-OsterVander-CaballeroWed, 28 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends playoffs postponed due to 'frequent disconnects']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/07/league-of-legends-playoffs-postponed-due-to-frequent-disconnect/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/07/league-of-legends-playoffs-postponed-due-to-frequent-disconnect/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/07/league-of-legends-playoffs-postponed-due-to-frequent-disconnect/#comments Riot Games announced a delay in the League of Legends season 2 playoffs in a news update yesterday. The delay comes after a "series of connectivity issues" at the event's LA venue.

"We'll be completing the last game of the CLG EU and Team WE quarterfinal match and finishing out the Semifinal Matches in the near future from a new location with a secure Internet connection," the announcement reads. The schedule for the remaining matches will be determined later this week and will still be streamed live, according to the League of Legends eSports Twitter account.

JoystiqLeague of Legends playoffs postponed due to 'frequent disconnects' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionesportsleague-of-legendspcplayoffsriot-gamesseason-2world-championshipsSun, 07 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: League of Legends playoffs continue today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/06/psa-league-of-legends-playoffs-continue-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/06/psa-league-of-legends-playoffs-continue-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/06/psa-league-of-legends-playoffs-continue-today/#comments The second season of the League of Legends world championships is happening right now, with quarterfinal and semifinals matches scheduled for today. The world championship match is set for Saturday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m. PST. The winning team will take home half of the $2 million prize pool given out to contestants.

Here's the schedule for today's events, viewable on Twitch.tv and the Riot Games site:
  • 12:00 p.m PST - Quarterfinals: WE vs CLG.EU
  • 2:00 p.m. PST - Semifinals: M5 vs TPA
  • 4:00 p.m. PST - Semifinals: Azubu vs TBD

JoystiqPSA: League of Legends playoffs continue today originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionesportsleague-of-legendsLiveStreampcriot-gamesstreamworld-championshipsSat, 06 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dream Build Play finalists for Xbox 360 and Windows Phone announced, winners soon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/dream-build-play-finalists-for-xbox-360-and-windows-phone-announ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/dream-build-play-finalists-for-xbox-360-and-windows-phone-announ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/dream-build-play-finalists-for-xbox-360-and-windows-phone-announ/#comments The 40 2012 Dream Build Play finalistsMicrosoft has announced the 40 finalists in its latest Dream Build Play competition, featuring standout titles developed with the Windows Phone Software Development Kit for the Xbox 360 or Windows Phone operating system.

The games entered were judged on qualities like innovation, the production quality, and the fun factor, and all of the entries were narrowed down to these 40, with 20 on each system. The final prize-winning games will be announced in a few weeks from now in early September.

The finalists come from developers all over the world, and include games like the zombie fighter RPG Dead Pixels, "fantasy flight game" Windhaven, and the electricity-powered puzzler, Super Volt. The final prizes in the competition include cash prizes and possible publishing agreements, but odds are that we'll see more than one of these titles make it out to public release after the competition, with or without Microsoft's involvement.

JoystiqDream Build Play finalists for Xbox 360 and Windows Phone announced, winners soon originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardscompetitiondesignfinalistsgamesmicrosoftmobileprizeswindows-phone-sdkwinnersxboxxbox-360Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:30:00 EST<![CDATA[IndieCade at E3: Hokra, a minimalist sports game with huge appeal, equal barriers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/indiecade-at-e3-hokra-a-minimalist-sports-game-with-huge-appea/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/indiecade-at-e3-hokra-a-minimalist-sports-game-with-huge-appea/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/indiecade-at-e3-hokra-a-minimalist-sports-game-with-huge-appea/#comments
IndieCade at E3 Hokra, a minimalist sports game with huge appeal, equal barriers
Of all the games littering the IndieCade floor at E3, just one of them truly belonged there in a way that the others just couldn't touch: Ramiro Corbetta's Hokra. It wasn't necessarily flashier, prettier or more famous than any of the other titles, but it was a game made for public exhibitions - literally.

"Hokra was originally created with the public space in mind, but it was also developed to be the kind of game that I'd like to play with my friends," Corbetta told Joystiq.

Hokra premiered on May 12, 2011 at the NYU Game Center's No Quarter exhibition, and Corbetta developed it with that venue specifically in mind.

"I developed Hokra to be a multiplayer game, and to be honest when I was first developing it I wasn't thinking about how to sell it," he said. "I was only thinking about how to make the best possible game, and since it was going to be displayed in a gallery space, I knew there would always be multiple people around to play it."

Hokra is a simplistic, competitive digital sports game for four local players, and only four local players. Not online, not three, two or one, but four physical people ideally using Xbox 360 controllers, always. This design choice stems from Hokra's gallery goal, but also from Corbetta's passion for local multiplayer titles.

Continue reading IndieCade at E3: Hokra, a minimalist sports game with huge appeal, equal barriers

JoystiqIndieCade at E3: Hokra, a minimalist sports game with huge appeal, equal barriers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitione3-2012exhibitiongalleryhokraIndieCadelocallocal-multiplayerpcramiro-corbettasportsTue, 12 Jun 2012 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Competing in the indie world is fun and games for IGF entrant Zarzecki]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/competing-in-the-indie-world-is-fun-and-games-for-igf-entrant-za/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/competing-in-the-indie-world-is-fun-and-games-for-igf-entrant-za/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/competing-in-the-indie-world-is-fun-and-games-for-igf-entrant-za/#comments Matthias Zarzecki was waiting anxiously for the IGF Student Showcase finalists to be announced on Sunday, Jan. 15, where his game, Unstoppaball, was an entrant. He had steeled himself to endure the five days between finalist announcements for the main competition and the student one by programming new games relentlessly; indie-developer therapy, he described it.

And then the Student Showcase finalists were announced on Friday, Jan. 13. Unstoppaball wasn't on the list, and Zarzecki could have let that pent-up anxiety and excitement explode in a livid email to the IGF for reporting incorrect announcement dates, or in a furious YouTube video calling on all developers to boycott the IGF -- but Zarzecki chose a different response.

"My reaction was something of a 'huh, those games are really good,'" Zarzecki told Joystiq. He was a one-man team and had absolutely no budget, so Zarzecki could see how, out of the 300 games submitted to the IGF student competition, he may have been out-performed. "In that way it is a little disappointing to see that I was probably beaten through factors that were outside my influence," he said.

Continue reading Competing in the indie world is fun and games for IGF entrant Zarzecki

JoystiqCompeting in the indie world is fun and games for IGF entrant Zarzecki originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionigfigf-student-showcaseigf-student-showcase-2012IndieMatthias-ZarzeckiNuclear-WombatUnstoppaballFri, 13 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield 3 preorders over 1.25 million already, beating Bad Company 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/battlefield-3-preorders-over-1-25-million-already-beating-bad-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/battlefield-3-preorders-over-1-25-million-already-beating-bad-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/battlefield-3-preorders-over-1-25-million-already-beating-bad-c/#comments EA's Battlefield 3 preorders number more than 1.25 million already. EA's CFO Eric Brown announced at the Citi 2011 Tech Conference today that Battlefield 3 has already racked up 1.25 million pre-orders, putting it "well ahead" of the previous Battlefield title, Bad Company 2, at the same time leading up to launch. Over ten times more, in fact.

That game sold 2.3 million copies in the first month of release, and has sold over 9 million copies according to the most recent financial reports. Presumably, Battlefield 3 is on track to do even better than that. Brown said that EA expects to make full use of "the advantage of a two-and-a-half week early launch window versus our competitor," Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Brown also spoke about pre-orders for EA's other big release this fall, Star Wars: The Old Republic, though declined to provide actual numbers. Star Wars: The Old Republic will have a smaller marketing budget than Battlefield 3 at launch, and EA expects to support it over a longer length of time. Brown said that SW:TOR would have "a different spend curve," -- so far, that demand "is tracking consistent with our expectations."

JoystiqBattlefield 3 preorders over 1.25 million already, beating Bad Company 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3battlefield-bad-company-2citi-tech-conferencecompetitiondemandeaeric-brownmicrosoftpcplaystationpreordersps3star-wars-the-old-republicxboxWed, 07 Sep 2011 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop pulls Deus Ex: Human Revolution PC versions from shelves]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/gamestop-pulls-deus-ex-human-revolution-pc-versions-from-shelve/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/gamestop-pulls-deus-ex-human-revolution-pc-versions-from-shelve/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/gamestop-pulls-deus-ex-human-revolution-pc-versions-from-shelve/#comments GameStop has apparently sent another message out to its retail locations, this time asking all of its stores to pull any PC copies of Deus Ex: Human Revolution from shelves, and place them in the backroom, eventually to be returned to publisher Square Enix. The email was sent after this afternoon's news that GameStop had directed its employees to pull coupons out of the boxes that offered free access to the OnLive cloud gaming service.

The latest email confirms that GameStop is indeed working on a competing service with its acquisition of Spawn Labs, and that because of an "agreement" with Square Enix, all of the game's copies will be recalled back to the publisher. The one exception is reserved copies, which will still be available for purchase, according to the memo.

GameStop has also pulled the PC version of the game from its website, though the console versions are still for sale. Joystiq has confirmed with local stores that the memo was received and copies were being pulled. We're also contacting GameStop corporate for an official statement on the matter.

JoystiqGameStop pulls Deus Ex: Human Revolution PC versions from shelves originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitioncontroversydeus-ex-human-revolutiongamestoponlivepcpublisherservicesquare-enixWed, 24 Aug 2011 20:07:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends Dominion preview: The squared circle]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/league-of-legends-dominion-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/league-of-legends-dominion-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/league-of-legends-dominion-preview/#comments League of Legends recently reached a total of 15 million registered players. Perhaps the most surprising thing is that all of those players have played their matches on just two different maps, one made specifically for Defense of the Ancients-style 5v5 play, and one made for 3v3 combat (there are a few other maps in the game, but they're used for training, not full game modes).

That's about to change. Last week, Riot Games invited Joystiq over to its headquarters in Santa Monica, California, to see a brand new game mode for the online competitive title. It's coming along with what Senior Producer Travis George calls "the biggest update we've ever made for League of Legends," a new content release subtitled Dominion.

Dominion is a brand new gametype and is especially notable because all of the games in the growing DotA (or MOBA) genre have basically used the same premise: two armies of minions fight with equal strength across a series of parallel lanes, and player champions fight minions and each other to gain ground and win the battle. Dominion, however, is a brand new set of rules, combining elements of the DotA genre with scoring, much more akin to EA's Battlefield games or Call of Duty's Domination mode.

Gallery: League of Legends: Dominion

Continue reading League of Legends Dominion preview: The squared circle

JoystiqLeague of Legends Dominion preview: The squared circle originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championscompetitiondominiondotaleague-of-legendsmobapcpreviewriot-gamestravis-georgeThu, 04 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BlizzCon 2011 will host two StarCraft 2 global tournaments and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/blizzcon-2011-will-host-two-starcraft-2-global-tournaments-and-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/blizzcon-2011-will-host-two-starcraft-2-global-tournaments-and-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/blizzcon-2011-will-host-two-starcraft-2-global-tournaments-and-m/#comments Blizzard has shared the plan for two big e-sports events at BlizzCon in Anaheim, CA, and it looks like there's going to be a full plate of noobs, ownage and ggs yet again this year. Not only will the Global Battle.net Invitational showcase some of the best StarCraft 2 players from Blizzard's online multiplayer service, but the 2011 Global StarCraft League Final matches will be held at the same event, pitting the best of the best at the game against each other.

Those are just the two StarCraft 2 events -- Blizzard traditionally also holds contests and tournaments for World of Warcraft arena matches and the World of Warcraft TCG at BlizzCon, and though we haven't seen an official announcement yet, it's possible we'll see some Warcraft 3 or even Diablo 3 e-sports play as well. Outside of competitive play, Blizzard usually also offers new content for attendees to play through, so Diablo 3 specifically, plus any other unannounced games, may be playable too.

Tickets for the October 21-22 event are sold out, but the tournament play will likely be streamed online through "virtual tickets" later on this year.

Continue reading BlizzCon 2011 will host two StarCraft 2 global tournaments and more

JoystiqBlizzCon 2011 will host two StarCraft 2 global tournaments and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-netblizzardblizzconblizzcon-2011competitione-sportsesportsfinalsglobal-starcraft-leaguepcstarcraft-2starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmtournamentWed, 13 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft holds Kodu game design competition for kiddos]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/microsoft-holds-kodu-game-design-competition-for-kiddos/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/microsoft-holds-kodu-game-design-competition-for-kiddos/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/microsoft-holds-kodu-game-design-competition-for-kiddos/#comments Microsoft released the full version of game creation utility Kodu Game Lab on PC today, and to celebrate the release of the free software suite, it's hosting a game design competition. Slow down, David Crane -- it's for kids.

The Kodu Cup 2011 is a competition for students aged 9-17 (divided up into two age groups), in which kids use the software to design their own game, for submission by May 10. Prizes include $5,000 awards for both individuals and schools, along a trip to NYC, laptops, Kinect bundles, and a Zune HD out of the warehouse.

JoystiqMicrosoft holds Kodu game design competition for kiddos originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitiongame-designkodukodu-cupkodu-game-labpcWed, 16 Mar 2011 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony: GT Academy round two ruined by cheaters, won't count]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/sony-gt-academy-round-two-ruined-by-cheaters-wont-count/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/sony-gt-academy-round-two-ruined-by-cheaters-wont-count/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/sony-gt-academy-round-two-ruined-by-cheaters-wont-count/#comments Sony's GT Academy competition, which was intended to provide the world's best Gran Turismo 5 players with a chance to win a spot as a real race driver using their virtual driving skills, has hit an ugly speed bump. The game's publisher has announced that the second round of the five-round tournament is being stricken from the records -- and the third round delayed -- because some participants were taking advantage of flaws in the game in order to achieve seemingly impossible lap times.

Specifically, cheaters were able to cut corners on the Rome and Madrid courses without being penalized by the game for doing so. Rather than reward the cheaters or end the competition entirely, Sony has decided to allow everyone who participated in round two to proceed to round three. Developer Polyphony Digital says that it's working to fix any potential exploits before conducting the third round of races, but can't put an ETA on the completion of the patch. That being the case, the planned start of round three on February 14, 2011 has been delayed indefinitely.

We're glad that the competition is (hopefully) being made fair for everyone, but have to admit that it would have been pretty funny to see one of the "winning" cheaters cutting corners on a real race track.

JoystiqSony: GT Academy round two ruined by cheaters, won't count originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheatingcompetitionGran-Turismo-5GT-Academygt5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3sonyTue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo's 2010 Wii tourney starts this Friday, July 16 in Jersey City]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/nintendo-2010-wii-tourney-starts-this-friday-july-16/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/nintendo-2010-wii-tourney-starts-this-friday-july-16/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/nintendo-2010-wii-tourney-starts-this-friday-july-16/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Nintendo is hosting a "Wii Games: Summer 2010" competition this summer in several US cities. Qualifying winners will receive a trip to Los Angeles to compete in the national championship this September. Kick-off details are posted after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo's 2010 Wii tourney starts this Friday, July 16 in Jersey City

JoystiqNintendo's 2010 Wii tourney starts this Friday, July 16 in Jersey City originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionnintendotournamentwiiWii-Games-Summer-2010Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii summer competition launches in July]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/wii-summer-competition-launches-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/wii-summer-competition-launches-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/wii-summer-competition-launches-in-july/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are you ready to totally destroy some people on vacation who felt like trying out a Wii game? Get to your local mall or Six Flags next month! This summer, Nintendo is holding a Wii Games: Summer 2010 competition, with initial matches held throughout the country, culminating in a final showdown in Los Angeles.

The five events to get way too serious about include Wii Sports Resort's Basketball and Bowling, Wii Fit Plus's Hula Hoop Challenge, New Super Mario Bros. Wii's Coin Battle, and Mario Kart Wii's Time Trial. The schedule and locations can be found at the competition's official site. Not anywhere near one of those locations? A "home version" will soon be available on the site, so you can try out your inappropriately intense game and trash talk on your own family.

Continue reading Wii summer competition launches in July

JoystiqWii summer competition launches in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionMario-Kart-WiiNew-Super-Mario-Bros-WiinintendowiiWii-Fit-PlusWii-Games-Summer-2010Wii-Sports-2Wii-Sports-ResortTue, 29 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Win $10K, meet Ringo during 2nd annual Rock Band casino competition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/win-10k-meet-ringo-during-2nd-annual-rock-band-casino-competit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/win-10k-meet-ringo-during-2nd-annual-rock-band-casino-competit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/win-10k-meet-ringo-during-2nd-annual-rock-band-casino-competit/#comments Harrah's casinos and MTV games are teaming up for the 2nd Annual "Total Rock, Total Rewards Rock Band Competition." The winners will receive $10,000 and the opportunity to kiss the starry rings of Ringo Starr.

The competitions will take place between now and June 13 at "Harrah's Total Rewards Casinos" and 15 additional US locations that host "Rock Band Bar Nights." The top scoring bands from each venue will have an opportunity to compete in the final copetition at Bally's Atlantic City on July 1-2. But wait, there's more: an online competition at Harrahs.com will find one band flying on a private jet to the finale.

So, if you think your band stands a chance, get registered.

JoystiqWin $10K, meet Ringo during 2nd annual Rock Band casino competition originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionharmonixharrahsMicrosoftmtv-gamesNintendorock-bandWiiXbox-360Thu, 06 May 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Court rules not to dismiss Datel antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/datel-antitrust-lawsuit-against-microsoft-not-dismissed-by-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/datel-antitrust-lawsuit-against-microsoft-not-dismissed-by-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/datel-antitrust-lawsuit-against-microsoft-not-dismissed-by-court/#commentsDatel's antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft will continue, now that a US District Court has rejected Microsoft's motion to dismiss the case. In all, five of Datel's six allegations against the Xbox 360 maker will be weighed. The court did dismiss Datel's claim that Microsoft would be blocking the company from competing in the console market, since Datel does not actually manufacture game consoles. (Find Datel's full announcement of the court's rejection posted after the break.)

The antitrust case claims that by locking out Datel's Max Memory Card with a firmware update, Microsoft used its status as the platform holder to unlawfully prevent competition. In Microsoft's motion to dismiss, it claimed that language in the "Additional Terms and Conditions" clause in the Xbox 360 product warranty barred the use of unauthorized peripherals. The company back upped its case by citing Apple's successful defense of its right to limit use of OS X to its own hardware.

The court rejected Microsoft's motion, however, finding the language in the "Additional Terms and Conditions" vague and too wide-reaching. For example, if Microsoft's interpretation of the terms was accepted, it could prevent the use of certain televisions with the console.

Since Datel's suit was first filed, of course, Microsoft has enabled the use any USB drive as a memory unit for the Xbox 360, which means that even if Datel is able to continue to sell the device, there likely won't be much demand for it. Meanwhile, Microsoft recently filed its own suit against Datel over claims that one of Datel's controllers is too similar in design to the official Xbox 360 gamepad.

Source - Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendant's Motion to Dismiss [PDF]

Continue reading Court rules not to dismiss Datel antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft

JoystiqCourt rules not to dismiss Datel antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustcompetitiondateldatel-max-memorylawsuitlegalmax-memory-cardmicrosoftXbox-360Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[P.B. Winterbottom competition underway, global pie deficit looming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/p-b-winterbottom-competition-underway-global-pie-deficit-loomi/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/p-b-winterbottom-competition-underway-global-pie-deficit-loomi/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/p-b-winterbottom-competition-underway-global-pie-deficit-loomi/#comments When we look at the charming puzzler The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, we don't think of it as a high-stakes competitive sport; however, 2K Play and The Odd Gentlemen recently announced a contest for the game's speedy completionists. Each week for the next month, a level from the game will be designated as a gruesome battleground, where players with the top ten fastest times will be eligible to receive P.B. Winterbottom-branded 360 faceplates and t-shirts.

Click past the jump to see the four levels on which you should start tirelessly practicing your insidious pie-thieving craft.

Continue reading P.B. Winterbottom competition underway, global pie deficit looming

JoystiqP.B. Winterbottom competition underway, global pie deficit looming originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-playcompetitioncontestpb-winterbottomspeed-runthe-misadventures-of-pb-winterbottomthe-odd-gentlemenxblaMon, 22 Feb 2010 15:16:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO developers sound off about World of Warcraft's dominance]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/mmo-developers-sound-off-on-world-of-warcrafts-dominance/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/mmo-developers-sound-off-on-world-of-warcrafts-dominance/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/mmo-developers-sound-off-on-world-of-warcrafts-dominance/#comments We remember a time when every young buck coming out of the MMO development stables would puff up its cheeks and proudly proclaim itself "The World of Warcraft-killer." However, the industry's a bit older and wiser now, and massive online game devs are at peace with the fact that they'll never catch up to Blizzard's irrationally lucrative MMORPG. A handful of these developers recently spoke to MCV about how it feels to compete with an unstoppable juggernaut. (In short: Not awesome.)

Even in an MMO-heavy year which will see the introduction of Star Trek Online, APB, Final Fantasy XIV and others, Jagex COO Rob Smith thinks 2010's online games "are unlikely to topple the likes of World of Warcraft from their throne, at least in the short term." He's probably right -- unless, of course, 2010 is the year that the FarmVille MMO which we all totally know is going to happen actually happens.

JoystiqMMO developers sound off about World of Warcraft's dominance originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcompetitioncryptic-studiosfuncomjagexmmommorpgonlinewowWed, 27 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega picks America's next top Bayonetta model in Maxim competition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/sega-picks-americas-next-top-bayonetta-model-in-maxim-competiti/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/sega-picks-americas-next-top-bayonetta-model-in-maxim-competiti/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/sega-picks-americas-next-top-bayonetta-model-in-maxim-competiti/#commentsSega and Maxim.com have selected a winner in their search for a model that best captures the lead character from forthcoming action title Bayonetta. The young lady, Andrea Bonaccorso, walks away (slowly, considering she has guns for shoes) with an Xbox 360, a copy of the game and a 50-inch Panasonic TC-P50X1 HDTV Plasma TV. She'll also appear on Maxim.com, in a sensible, dignified outfit, we're sure.
So how did she qualify for such an honor? This is really what it says in the press release: "While some entrants perfectly mirrored the outfit of the character and others simply donned librarian glasses, Andrea married both elements to come out on top."

So, there you have it. We're rewarding this girl for wearing both clothes and glasses.

Meanwhile, Joystiq and Joystiq.com selected a loser in Sega and Maxim.com's Bayonetta Model Search and it's all of us.

JoystiqSega picks America's next top Bayonetta model in Maxim competition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bayonettacompetitionmaximMicrosoftPlatinum GamesPlatinumGamessegaXbox-360Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[2BeeGames begins voting for its 2nd Indie Game Competition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/10/2beegames-begins-voting-for-its-2nd-indie-game-competition/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/10/2beegames-begins-voting-for-its-2nd-indie-game-competition/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/10/2beegames-begins-voting-for-its-2nd-indie-game-competition/#comments
The second Indie Game Competition from 2BeeGames has finally entered the public voting stage. Ten finalists (listed after the break) are eligible for a $10,000 prize and a publishing contract with Zoo Games. Last year, the first and second place winners (Auditorium and Storm, respectively) received deals to port their games onto XBLA, PSN, Wii and iPhone.

All ten finalist games will be playable at the NY Gaming Meetup tonight or online at the 2BeeGames website. It's not often that the general public can control which games get published, so you may want to take advantage of this rare opportunity.

Continue reading 2BeeGames begins voting for its 2nd Indie Game Competition

Joystiq2BeeGames begins voting for its 2nd Indie Game Competition originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2beegamescompetitionindie-gamesvoteTue, 10 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[So you want to play the Bayonetta demo early, do you?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/so-you-want-to-play-the-bayonetta-demo-early-do-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/so-you-want-to-play-the-bayonetta-demo-early-do-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/so-you-want-to-play-the-bayonetta-demo-early-do-you/#comments Sega just announced that 40,000 lucky Xbox 360 owners will get extremely early access to a demo for the upcoming action game Bayonetta. To be considered for the prize, gamers must register for a free Sega Pass -- essentially the publisher's newsletter -- and enter for a chance to be selected on the official Bayonetta demo site.

Registration for the "contest" will be open from Monday, November 9 to Friday, November 13. Winners will be notified on Monday, November 16. Those not selected will then be referred to as "the group least likely to win a 'boot-gun thing' firing contest" ... or PlayStation 3 players. Should you not get selected, you might want to take advantage of making a Japanese account.

JoystiqSo you want to play the Bayonetta demo early, do you? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionbayonettacompetitioncontestdemoMicrosoftPlatinum Gamesplatinum-gamesPlatinumGamessegaXbox-360Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Activision Showdown' series pits troops against pro athletes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/activision-showdown-series-pits-troops-against-pro-athletes/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/activision-showdown-series-pits-troops-against-pro-athletes/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/activision-showdown-series-pits-troops-against-pro-athletes/#comments
On Friday, July 24, NASCAR's Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will kick off a new promotional venture from Activision, where the games publisher will team up with Pro vs GI Joe to host competitions in Activision titles such as Guitar Hero and Call of Duty. The competitions will be comprised of sports athletes taking on active service members, with the first event featuring NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. and members of the Indiana National Guard throwing down in some Guitar Hero Smash Hits.

It's funny because Truex Jr. actually drives the Guitar Hero car. What a coincidence!

Joystiq'Activision Showdown' series pits troops against pro athletes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-showdownactivision-showdown-seriescompetitionpro-vs-gi-joeThu, 16 Jul 2009 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2010 Independent Games Festival accepting submissions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/2010-independent-games-festival-accepting-submissions/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/2010-independent-games-festival-accepting-submissions/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/2010-independent-games-festival-accepting-submissions/#comments
If you're ready to unleash your totally deviant, totally original and totally counter-cultural Tetris remake upon the world, your best chance to do so has arrived. The Independent Games Festival is now accepting entries into its Main and Student Showcase categories. You've got until November to get your submissions in, and finalists in the Main Competitions will be announced January 4.

If you're looking for reasons to enter your humble project, the festival's organizers have about 20,000 good ones, and by "ones" we mean dollars, by which we mean $20,000 is the grand prize for the competition. In addition, finalists will have their games exhibited on the GDC show floor, where they can be played, admired and possibly exalted by the gaming press -- a treatment received by titles such as World of Goo and Castle Crashers in the past. If your game is of that caliber, we highly suggest throwing your hat into the ring.

Joystiq2010 Independent Games Festival accepting submissions originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castle-crasherscompetitiongdcigfindependent-games-festivalindieworld-of-gooThu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Capcom opens 'Shadaloo Lounge' for Street Fighter IV exhibition this Thursday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/25/capcom-opens-shadaloo-lounge-for-street-fighter-iv-exhibition/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/25/capcom-opens-shadaloo-lounge-for-street-fighter-iv-exhibition/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/25/capcom-opens-shadaloo-lounge-for-street-fighter-iv-exhibition/#comments
If you live near Chinatown in Los Angeles, and can chuck Hadoukens with the best of them, then grab your gi from out of the closet and head down to the Mountain Bar tomorrow night from 7pm - 10pm for a Street Fighter IV competition. Sponsored by i am 8-bit and Capcom, this one-night tournament will see Bison's shady organization take over Mountain Bar for a tournament featuring sixteen of the best brawlers duking it out for a $2,000 cash prize.

And, hey, if you don't live on the West Coast, don't sweat it. We'll have someone there taking pictures and asking everyone what a Spinning Bird Kick is.

JoystiqCapcom opens 'Shadaloo Lounge' for Street Fighter IV exhibition this Thursday originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomcompetitioni-am-8-bitMicrosoftshadaloostreet-fighter-ivtournamentXbox-360Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[King of Fighters XII tourney in LA this Saturday, May 30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/king-of-fighters-xii-tourney-in-la-this-saturday-may-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/king-of-fighters-xii-tourney-in-la-this-saturday-may-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/king-of-fighters-xii-tourney-in-la-this-saturday-may-30/#comments
A King of Fighters XII battle to the death tournament will be held this Saturday in a little burg known as Los Angeles. The event will be held May 30, from 12-7PM at Element (location details after the break). Cosplayers are welcome and there will be "goodies" on hand.

Want to compete? The first 100 folks to RSVP to Paul[at]ignitionusa[dawt]com with their name and email address are good to go. We'll be covering the tournament this weekend in hopes of kicking our Iori Yagami addiction, so stay tuned for more.

Continue reading King of Fighters XII tourney in LA this Saturday, May 30

JoystiqKing of Fighters XII tourney in LA this Saturday, May 30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 May 2009 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionignitionignition-entertainmentking-of-fightersking-of-fighters-xiikof-xiilatournamentThu, 28 May 2009 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony launches official LittleBigPlanet YouTube page]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/sony-launches-official-littlebigplanet-youtube-page/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/sony-launches-official-littlebigplanet-youtube-page/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/sony-launches-official-littlebigplanet-youtube-page/#comments Sackboys have invaded YouTube. The official LittleBigPlanet UK YouTube page has launched today in conjunction with a new competition -- Around The World In 80 Sackboys. A video -- shamelessly parodying the Where The Hell Is Matt? viral series -- will introduce you to the competition at the top of the page. In order to take part, simply create a level based on any geographic location on the planet. Other users will vote on the best and the winner, chosen by Media Molecule, will win a pair of round-the-world tickets, 14 nights accommodation and £1000 spending money.

The YouTube page will be constantly updated with a "favourites section, featured users, tutorials from Media Molecule themselves, cultural collaborations, challenges, event promotions and footage." Hopefully, it won't be too long before Media Molecule add YouTube uploading to LittleBigPlanet via a patch, making entering this competition and having your LBP videos favorited much easier.

JoystiqSony launches official LittleBigPlanet YouTube page originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionlbplittlebigplanetyoutubeThu, 02 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVO 2009 Championship Series coming to Las Vegas in July]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/evo-2009-championship-series-coming-to-las-vegas-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/evo-2009-championship-series-coming-to-las-vegas-in-july/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/evo-2009-championship-series-coming-to-las-vegas-in-july/#comments
Fighting game fanatics, wonderful news comes courtesy of our good friends at Capcom: EVO 2009 is on! For those of you who aren't in the know, EVO is a huge fighting game tournament open to gamers from around the world. It's also an awesome search term on YouTube. This year's tournament will go down in Las Vegas from July 17 to July 19 and will feature a variety of Capcom games, as well as some other notable fighters like Soulcalibur IV and Guilty Gear XX Accent Core. The Capcom games to be featured include:
Sounds like quite the tournament, and we're very glad to see Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom getting some love. We're still holding out hope that it'll get localized some day, as unrealistic as that may be.

[Via Capcom Blog]

JoystiqEVO 2009 Championship Series coming to Las Vegas in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomcompetitionevoevo-2009fightingfighting-gamemarvel-vs-capcom-2ssfiithdrstreet-fighterstreet-fighter-3-third-strikestreet-fighter-ivsuper-street-fighter-ii-turbo-hdtatsunoko-vs-capcomtournamentTue, 03 Feb 2009 12:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Make your pets hate you, win a Wii and Animal Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/make-your-pets-hate-you-win-a-wii-and-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/make-your-pets-hate-you-win-a-wii-and-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/make-your-pets-hate-you-win-a-wii-and-animal-crossing/#commentsFiled under:


If you have no interest in actually paying for a Wii and Animal Crossing: City Folk, Nintendo has your back. For the next three weeks, the company is encouraging people (North Americans only) to dress their pets in adorable outfits, and send photos of the unamused, uncomfortable animal(s) to this website. Come November 16th, the fifty best will win a Wii, a copy of Animal Crossing: City Folk, and a WiiSpeak microphone. Maybe this is the excuse you've needed to justify buying a pug?

The rules encourage an Animal Crossing theme, meaning the entries featured so far on the site are fairly rubbish, with most people just putting a hat on a disgruntled labrador. We sense our own idea is a winner. Protip, though: getting a necktie on a giraffe is hell.


[Via press release]

KK says: buy Animal Crossing: City Folk to visit the city, reach out to friends, and make Iwata cry!

JoystiqMake your pets hate you, win a Wii and Animal Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimal-crossing-city-folkcompetitioncontestcutewiispeakTue, 28 Oct 2008 18:17:00 EST<![CDATA[New Mario Kart tournament keeps it simple]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/new-mario-kart-tournament-keeps-it-simple/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/new-mario-kart-tournament-keeps-it-simple/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/new-mario-kart-tournament-keeps-it-simple/#commentsFiled under:

The latest Mario Kart Wii tournament will go back to basics, totally stripping away items in a straightforward race to the finish on Luigi Circuit. Only karts are permitted, and you have to use the Wii Wheel.

This news takes us back to the announcement of the first Mario Kart competition, when yours truly got on his soapbox and wrote a grumpy post complaining about why the inclusion of opponents and items in these Mario Kart Wii tournaments "totally missed the point." At the time, most readers disagreed with our point of view, and so may not be happy with this far more simplistic approach. Personally, we prefer these trials; they just seem fairer. Now all we need to develop is the ability to play Mario Kart Wii well.

This new contest runs from October 15th to October 25th.


[Thanks, Josh!]

A fan of Mario Kart Wii? Us too, especially the tournaments, of which there have been quite a few. To check out previous contests, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Fancy yourself a good karter? Then check out Game Night for some of the community's best competition. You're probably better than Dave, if nothing else.

JoystiqNew Mario Kart tournament keeps it simple originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionmariomario-kartmario-kart-tournamentmario-kart-wiiracingtournamentFri, 10 Oct 2008 20:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Next Mario Kart tournament revealed early?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/rumor-next-mario-kart-tournament-revealed-early/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/rumor-next-mario-kart-tournament-revealed-early/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/rumor-next-mario-kart-tournament-revealed-early/#commentsFiled under:

For some reason, Nintendo's European website has posted details of a Mario Kart Wii tournament that is completely different from the current contest. We surmise that this will be the next tournament, starting on September 26th. This muddled development has shaken our tightly monitored weekly schedule to its very core, but we'll soldier on regardless.

This (probable) future tournament takes place on the Thwomp Desert battle map, only the giant Thwomp has now been replaced by an equally giant Pokey, who insists on rudely launching attacks at your kart. Hit your spiky foe three times to wrap things up. From September 26th. Maybe. Until then, get collecting coins.


[Via Go Nintendo]

A fan of Mario Kart Wii? Us too, especially the tournaments, which there have been quite a few of. To check out the previous tournaments, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. And if you fancy yourself a good karter, check out Game Night for some of the community's best competition.

JoystiqRumor: Next Mario Kart tournament revealed early? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionmariomario-kartmario-kart-tournamentmario-kart-wiiracingtournamentMon, 15 Sep 2008 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Parsons hosting LittleBigPlanet level making marathon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/parsons-hosting-littlebigplanet-level-making-marathon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/parsons-hosting-littlebigplanet-level-making-marathon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/parsons-hosting-littlebigplanet-level-making-marathon/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Despite a well-documented obsession with LittleBigPlanet and its emphasis on user-generated content, our skills pretty much begin and end with penis-themed level design. This is probably why Sony has tapped New York's Parsons The New School For Design and not us to host a LittleBigPlanet level-making competition.

The event, taking place in New York City from September 21-22, aims to pit 120 students in teams of five against each other over a 24-hour period in order to see which group can create the best custom level as judged by developer Media Molecule, as well as members of the media and Parsons faculty. Winners will see their creation make it into LittleBigPlanet as "a specially branded Parsons section" of the game. We can't wait to see what comes out of the competition. As for the penis levels, that's something best left to the masters.

JoystiqParsons hosting LittleBigPlanet level making marathon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionlbp-ugclevelslittle-big-planetlittlebigplanetmedia-moleculemediamoleculeparsonsPS3sonyThu, 11 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Mario Kart tourney is for the gold diggers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/latest-mario-kart-tourney-is-for-the-gold-diggers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/latest-mario-kart-tourney-is-for-the-gold-diggers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/latest-mario-kart-tourney-is-for-the-gold-diggers/#commentsFiled under:


Or, rather, those that dig collecting gold coins. Get it? Get the joke we made there? Hello? Bueller?

Anywho, this latest Mario Kart Wii tournament takes place from September 15th to September 25th. Racers will need to collect coins on the track SNES Mario Circuit 3. Also, this one is only open to those of you rocking karts. No bikes, sorry.


[Via WiiFolder]

A fan of Mario Kart Wii? Us too, especially the tournaments, which there have been quite a few of. To check out the previous tournaments, click here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. And if you fancy yourself a good karter, check out Game Night for some of the community's best competition.

JoystiqLatest Mario Kart tourney is for the gold diggers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitionmariomario-kartmario-kart-tournamentmario-kart-wiitournamentThu, 11 Sep 2008 19:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft 'can't say' whether they'll beat Nintendo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/microsoft-cant-say-whether-theyll-beat-nintendo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/microsoft-cant-say-whether-theyll-beat-nintendo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/microsoft-cant-say-whether-theyll-beat-nintendo/#commentsFiled under:

Is the Xbox 360 vessel struggling to stay afloat in the murky waters of the console race? Well, not quite, but Microsoft bigwig Don Mattrick doesn't sound convinced that his company will reclaim first place from the Wii. "I'm not at a point where I can say we're going to beat Nintendo," he told Business Week. He's probably correct. The Wii continues to outsell the 360 in every region, with only the small Polynesian island of Tuvalu holding out.*

But Mattrick isn't preparing the lifeboats just yet, to take our tortured ships/consoles analogy one step further. "We will sell more consoles this generation than Sony," says he. Like we care, Mattrick. It's all about number one, baby!

* This just in: Wii took over there as well.

[Via Go Nintendo]

JoystiqMicrosoft 'can't say' whether they'll beat Nintendo originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscompetitiondon-mattrickmicrosoftps3sonyxbox-360Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony on Wii: 'It's not hurting us']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/sony-on-wii-its-not-hurting-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/sony-on-wii-its-not-hurting-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/sony-on-wii-its-not-hurting-us/#commentsFiled under:


That Howard Stringer is a rascal, isn't he? The Sony CEO recently spoke to German publication Die Welt about the various pies Sony currently has its fingers in, and clearly wanted to shatter a few myths regarding videogames and the current console race.

First of all, the Wii isn't more fun than the PS3, no -- it's just different. PlayStation 3 titles are "designed for those who play a lot." And anyway, it could have been oh-so-different for Sony, as Stringer reckons his company was first to discover the new gamers who have flocked to the Wii. "For a while, we held the same target group with the SingStar karaoke game," opined our man in the know. "But perhaps we neglected to pursue that avenue."

Stringer then confesses that Nintendo may have hit upon a superior business model by selling more consoles and making more money on hardware, before weakly claiming, "the Wii is not succeeding at our expense -- it is not hurting us." For a console that's not hurting Sony, Howard sure likes to talk about the Wii a lot. But it's definitely not hurting them.

[Via Edge Online]

Malice, snide remarks, and backstabbing in a bid to reach the top. No, not another day in Wii Fanboy HQ, but the constant snipes between grown-up gaming CEOs happy to dismiss the Wii as a novelty, or pretend they never really wanted those customers anyway.

JoystiqSony on Wii: 'It's not hurting us' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscompetitionhoward-stringerindustrysonyThu, 28 Aug 2008 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Iwata: iPhone not a threat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/iwata-iphone-not-a-threat/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/iwata-iphone-not-a-threat/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/iwata-iphone-not-a-threat/#commentsFiled under: ,

Think Nintendo overlord Satoru Iwata is bothered by suggestions that Apple's iPhone poses a threat to the DS? Then think again, chump!

Speaking to Forbes, Iwata admitted that he uses the iPhone himself, and regards the device as an attractive product. Yet in the Nintendo President's eyes, the iPhone and DS are just about different enough to find their own markets. "When I look carefully at the iPhone's users vs. the users of our Nintendo DS, I understand there are some overlaps," remarked Iwata-san, cool as a cucumber. "And if you ask 'Is the overlap too big?,' my answer is no, not so much."

We're right behind Iwata on this one. People aren't about to suddenly drop the 70 million DSes sold worldwide to date, and let's not forget how the DS convincingly beat another sleek, multimedia device to occupy top spot.

JoystiqIwata: iPhone not a threat originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitioniphoneiwatamarketsatoru-iwataWed, 23 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tallyho, guv'na -- UK Smash Showdown at Gamestation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/tallyho-guvna-uk-smash-showdown-at-gamestation/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/tallyho-guvna-uk-smash-showdown-at-gamestation/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/tallyho-guvna-uk-smash-showdown-at-gamestation/#commentsFiled under:

If you like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and you happen to live in the UK, then this announcement might have some kind of connection with you. Twenty Gamestation stores across the nation will each be hosting a 64-person Super Smash Bros. Showdown on June 28. This is no slouchy, bored-marketing-guy tournament either. Every winner from every store will take home a 40" Samsung LCD TV and a Samsung Home Theater System, with all the DVD and surround sound trimmings.

Tournaments are great and all, but this one is really something else. The prizes are actually extremely good, and you only need to win six matches to take home the grand prize. Only one Fanboy blogger lives in the UK, but fortunately he is awful at Brawl. In fact, he doesn't even own the game. Or pants.

Register for your local tournament at the official website -- it's probably going to fill up fast, so make like a tree and hurry.


[Via press release]

JoystiqTallyho, guv'na -- UK Smash Showdown at Gamestation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brawlcompetitionenglandgamestationsamsungssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawltournamentukTue, 17 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Create your own creature to appease Little King]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/create-your-own-creature-to-appease-little-king/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/create-your-own-creature-to-appease-little-king/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/create-your-own-creature-to-appease-little-king/#commentsFiled under: ,

Remember all those coloring contests when you were a kid? As you grew older, it became fun to scoff at the children's feeble attempts to color within the lines, and chortle at their crayon selection when a pencil was clearly the superior implement. Well, since we're all so great at drawing and coloring, it's probably a good idea to enter the Little King's Story "UMA" Contest.

A UMA is an Unidentified Mysterious Animal. Create one, and your entry is complete! Little King's Story features a whole range of wacky inhabitants, and one UMA entry will be chosen to become an in-game creature! The top 100 entries will also be featured at a museum within the kingdom.

Release some creative tension, because there is no limitation on what you can make -- be it an animal, person, entity, or even a higher plane of existence. Just keep it in this dimension, okay? Hit up the contest details, along with some sample creations, right here. Happy drawing, and good luck!


[Via press release]

JoystiqCreate your own creature to appease Little King originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cingcompetitioncontestking-storylittle-kings-storymarvelousproject-oRPGRTSstrategyuma-contestunidentified-mysterious-animalxseedXSeed-JKSFri, 13 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendads? Father-son Brawl tournament]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/12/nintendads-father-son-brawl-tournament/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/12/nintendads-father-son-brawl-tournament/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/12/nintendads-father-son-brawl-tournament/#commentsFiled under:


Nothing shows Dad your life-long appreciation more than kicking his butt at Super Smash Bros. Brawl, further affirming to him that he is now a lost soul in a whole world of new technology. Well, that could be the case, but plenty of parents have proven their dedication to gaming in the past, so the chil'n may not have the upper hand.

Stroll on down to the Nintendo World store in New York City on Father's Day for an official Brawl tournament, where fathers and sons will engage in battle, bond lovingly, and question each other's sexuality upon choosing Peach or Zelda.

Save any household fussin' and feudin' for the tournament, as pent-up male rage is set to explode in an ocean of umbrellas, star wands and banana peels. Nintendo is awarding two Wii consoles, two copies of Brawl and a winner's trophy for whichever dynamic duo takes the tournament crown. All the action goes down from 1 - 4pm on Sunday, June 15.

JoystiqNintendads? Father-son Brawl tournament originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brawlcompetitionfathers-daynew-yorknintendo-world-storesmash-bros-brawlssbbsuper-smash-bros-brawltournamentThu, 12 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST