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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Rumor: Writer teases Dante's Inferno sequel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/24/rumor-writer-teases-dantes-inferno-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/24/rumor-writer-teases-dantes-inferno-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/24/rumor-writer-teases-dantes-inferno-sequel/#comments Sharp-eyed rumor hunter @supererogatory brings word that we might not have seen the last of EA's goofy Dante's Inferno franchise, despite the lukewarm reception of the first game. The official bio page for writer Joshua Rubin, who worked on Assassin's Creed 2, says he was "the sole writer for a Major Unannounced Sequel from Visceral Studios at EA Games."

Visceral is, of course, the EA label behind the Dead Space series and the first Dante's Inferno. Just to really rile up the rumormongers, Rubin's bio then links to a "hint" ... that leads to the Super Bowl trailer for Dante's Inferno.

The obvious implication is that Visceral's working on Dante's Inferno 2, which would be a sequel to an action game based on a 14th-century epic poem. We should probably start thinking up subtitles now. Dante's Back? Hell to Pay? Luciforever? Beatwice? Have at it.

JoystiqRumor: Writer teases Dante's Inferno sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodantes-inferno-2eajoshua-rubinmicrosoftplaystationps3visceral-gamesxboxThu, 24 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Dead Redemption lassos ten GANG audio award noms ... Dante's Inferno summons seven]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/red-dead-redemption-lassos-ten-gang-audio-award-noms-dantes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/red-dead-redemption-lassos-ten-gang-audio-award-noms-dantes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/red-dead-redemption-lassos-ten-gang-audio-award-noms-dantes/#commentsRed Dead Redemption audio When it comes to acknowledging the standout audio accomplishments in gaming every year, we look to the Game Audio Network Guild and its annual GANG awards, which selects five (or more!) nominees in categories like "Audio of the Year" and our personal favorite, "Best Use of Multi-channel Surround." It should come as no surprise that Rockstar's ode to the West, Red Dead Redemption, leads the pack with a whopping ten nominations including "Best Original Vocal - Pop" for both Ashtar Command's "Deadman's Gun" and Jose Gonzalez's (pictured) excellent "Far Away."

More of a surprise is the game with the second-most nominations: Dante's Inferno. For all the problems with Visceral's ode to ... God of War, its production values were never among them. Dante managed to snag seven nominations, including "Sound Design of the Year" and "Music of the Year." Ironically enough, the actual God of War 3 only managed to pull in six! Check out the full list of nominees after the break, and check back on Thursday, March 3rd when the winners will be announced during the Game Developers Conference.

Continue reading Red Dead Redemption lassos ten GANG audio award noms ... Dante's Inferno summons seven

JoystiqRed Dead Redemption lassos ten GANG audio award noms ... Dante's Inferno summons seven originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsDantes-Infernogame-audiogame-audio-network-guildGANGmicrosoftpcplaystationps3Red-Dead-RedemptionxboxTue, 08 Feb 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Call of Duty: Black Ops most pirated game in 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/report-call-of-duty-black-ops-most-pirated-game-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/report-call-of-duty-black-ops-most-pirated-game-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/report-call-of-duty-black-ops-most-pirated-game-in-2010/#comments
 TorrentFreak's annual report on the most pirated games of the year has Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops taking the dubious top honor for 2010. Even with Activision's attempts to play "good cop" with pirates, Black Ops is estimated to have been downloaded 4.27 million times on PC, with another 930,000 copies on Xbox 360. This would be the second year in a row that the Call of Duty franchise took the "prize," with Modern Warfare 2 allegedly being pirated over 4.1 million times in 2009.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 for Wii had over 1.47 million downloads, while Dante's Inferno took the top spot on Xbox 360 with 1.28 million downloads -- and we'll be damned if we can figure out why it was that game. Perhaps it was the game's marketing that instilled such sinful behavior.

JoystiqReport: Call of Duty: Black Ops most pirated game in 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardCall-of-Duty-Black-Opsdantes-infernomicrosoftnintendopcsuper-mario-galaxy-2TreyarchwiixboxWed, 29 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GameFly selling God of War 3, Mass Effect 2 and more for under $20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/gamefly-selling-god-of-war-3-mass-effect-2-and-more-for-under/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/gamefly-selling-god-of-war-3-mass-effect-2-and-more-for-under/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/gamefly-selling-god-of-war-3-mass-effect-2-and-more-for-under/#comments GameFly is currently running a decidedly insane sale on used copies of a handful of 2010 blockbusters until this Friday, September 17. If you've got $20 to spare, you can grab Darksiders, God of War 3, Alpha Protocol, Mass Effect 2 or Dante's Inferno -- all with free shipping to boot.

Continue reading GameFly selling God of War 3, Mass Effect 2 and more for under $20

JoystiqGameFly selling God of War 3, Mass Effect 2 and more for under $20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-protocoldantes-infernodarksidersgameflygod-of-war-3mass-effect-2microsoftplaystationps3xboxWed, 15 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno dev hiring for 'sequel to major new IP']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/dantes-inferno-dev-hiring-for-sequel-to-major-new-ip/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/dantes-inferno-dev-hiring-for-sequel-to-major-new-ip/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/dantes-inferno-dev-hiring-for-sequel-to-major-new-ip/#comments In a recent job listing on Gamasutra, EA's Visceral Games studio put out a feeler for "an experienced Environment Artist for an existing action/adventure franchise." We might normally excuse this as a job listing for the currently-in-development Dead Space 2, but the listing further details the project as "a major opportunity to contribute to a bold new franchise, heavily backed by the EA Games Label ... the sequel to a major new IP at the award-winning Visceral Games."

The listing concludes with another vaguely suggestive line about creating a sequel that will "set new quality standards and make the franchise the world-leader in the action/melee-combat genre." Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are mentioned as target consoles. All these clues add up to reasonable speculation that Visceral is recruiting for a sequel to this year's Dante's Inferno.

In December, the first game's producer was all for the idea of a sequel, but admitted that continuing to follow the path laid out by the The Divine Comedy source material, which would lead to Purgatory and perhaps on into Heaven, might not make for a great game -- especially in the action/melee-combat genre. Perhaps then, a Dante's Inferno sequel could take a few liberties with the story.

[Via Superannuation]

JoystiqDante's Inferno dev hiring for 'sequel to major new IP' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 May 2010 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodantes-inferno-2eaea-gamesea-games-labelElectronic-Artsjob-listingMicrosoftsequelvisceral-gamesXbox-360Tue, 18 May 2010 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield: BC, Mass Effect, Army of Two sequel sales all top 1 million; Dante's Inferno comes close in Q1 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/battlefield-bc-mass-effect-army-of-two-sequel-sales-all-top-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/battlefield-bc-mass-effect-army-of-two-sequel-sales-all-top-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/battlefield-bc-mass-effect-army-of-two-sequel-sales-all-top-1/#comments Electronic Arts' high-profile sequels helped the publisher fight its way to some positive cash flow in the final quarter of an otherwise traumatic fiscal year. Overall, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 led the charge with over three million units sold in the quarter across Europe and North America, with five million units sold to date.

Mass Effect 2 didn't do too shabby, selling 1.6 million units during the quarter in North America and Europe, while Army of Two: The 40th Day sold "over one million units worldwide in the quarter." It wasn't all sequel talk for the core titles,as Dante's Inferno got a mention too, having sold "almost one million units in the quarter" across Europe and North America. Oh, Dante, don't cry! It ain't easy for a new franchise in this world -- just ask EA's new IPs from last fiscal year.

JoystiqBattlefield: BC, Mass Effect, Army of Two sequel sales all top 1 million; Dante's Inferno comes close in Q1 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Daybad-company-2battlefield-bad-company-2dantes-infernoeaEA-Montrealelectronic artsElectronic-ArtsElectronicArtsmass-effect-2MicrosoftXbox-360Tue, 11 May 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno Avatar items escape the depths of Hell]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/03/dantes-inferno-avatar-items-escape-the-depths-of-hell/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/03/dantes-inferno-avatar-items-escape-the-depths-of-hell/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/03/dantes-inferno-avatar-items-escape-the-depths-of-hell/#comments On a crusade for some fresh Avatar gear? A couple of new Dante's Inferno items just popped up in the Avatar Marketplace, including the cuddly little Phlegyas Pet you see above. Look at the 'lil guy, ain't he cute?

On top of that, there's also a branded tee and hat, as well as the full outfit Dante sports in the game. Hey, it's gotta be better than watching your Avatar sew some thread through its flesh, right?

JoystiqDante's Inferno Avatar items escape the depths of Hell originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 May 2010 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatar-marketplaceavatarsdantes-infernoeavisceral-gamesxblmxbox-livexbox-live-marketplaceMon, 03 May 2010 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno 'Trials of St. Lucia' launched with new trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/dantes-inferno-trials-of-st-lucia-launched-with-new-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/dantes-inferno-trials-of-st-lucia-launched-with-new-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/dantes-inferno-trials-of-st-lucia-launched-with-new-trailer/#comments It's been a long time coming but the Trials of St. Lucia downloadable content for Dante's Inferno has arrived. Previously in the epic St. Lucia marketing campaign we've learned how the DLC's "trial" editor works, and picked up some survival tips from the development team. The launch trailer -- which we presume is the final trailer for the content -- gives us a longer look at the new playable character, St. Lucia, inspired by Christianity's Saint Lucy.

Dante's Inferno: The Trials of St. Lucia is now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network for 800 in MS funny money or 9.99 Earth dollars, respectively.

Gallery: Dante's Inferno: The Trials of St. Lucia

JoystiqDante's Inferno 'Trials of St. Lucia' launched with new trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodlcdownloadable-contentplaystation-networkPSN-Storetrials-of-st-luciaxbox-live-marketplaceThu, 29 Apr 2010 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno 'St. Lucia' trial editor explained on video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/dantes-inferno-st-lucia-trial-editor-explained-on-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/dantes-inferno-st-lucia-trial-editor-explained-on-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/dantes-inferno-st-lucia-trial-editor-explained-on-video/#comments So, you've learned how to stand a better chance at surviving the user-generated arenas in Dante's Inferno's upcoming DLC expansion, "Trials of St. Lucia." Aren't you curious as to how those titular trials get created? The video above has a pretty good primer on all the different options afforded to the game's more creative players, as well as a few tips on how to make your trial tough, but winnable. Hey, even folks condemned to the deepest pits of Hades deserve a fair shot.

JoystiqDante's Inferno 'St. Lucia' trial editor explained on video originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodev-diarydlceaElectronic-ArtsMicrosofttrials-of-st-luciavideovisceral-gamesXbox-360Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno dev gives tips on how not to die in Trials of St. Lucia]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/20/dantes-inferno-dev-gives-tips-on-how-not-to-die-in-trials-of-st/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/20/dantes-inferno-dev-gives-tips-on-how-not-to-die-in-trials-of-st/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/20/dantes-inferno-dev-gives-tips-on-how-not-to-die-in-trials-of-st/#comments The upcoming "Trials of St. Lucia" expansion for Dante's Inferno will put you up against a force far more malevolent than Beelzebub himself: The inherently mean spirit of the online gamer. Dante will have to conquer challenges crafted by other players, which will most assuredly be more difficult than any brawl that came packaged in the game. Why, you might ask? Because everyone on the internet wants you to be miserable.

Don't give up hope! Greg Rizzer, the game's lead designer, created the video posted above, which is chock-full of helpful tips to keep you from succumbing to this deluge of pain. (Oh, and we were just kidding about the 'everyone wants you to be miserable' thing. We, for one, only want to bring you joy.)

JoystiqDante's Inferno dev gives tips on how not to die in Trials of St. Lucia originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantedantes-infernodev-diarydlceaElectronic-ArtsMicrosofttrials-of-st-luciavideovisceral-gamesXbox-360Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[European PSN releases for March 18]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/european-psn-releases-for-march-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/european-psn-releases-for-march-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/european-psn-releases-for-march-18/#comments Though there's not much on the "new game front" in this week's European PSN update, there's plenty of new stuff for the games you already know and love. There's the release of Dragon Age: Origins: Awakening, new cars for Need For Speed: Shift, some LittleBigPlanet PSP love, the arrival of Patchwork Heroes and, of course, the Gaga-ization of the Rock Band Music Store. Check out the full list of releases after the jump!

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continue reading European PSN releases for March 18

JoystiqEuropean PSN releases for March 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodragon-age-origins-awakeninglittlebigplanetNeed-For-Speed-Shiftpsn-thursdayThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Dante's Inferno: The Trials of St. Lucia (DLC)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/dantes-inferno-the-trials-of-st-lucia-dlc-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/dantes-inferno-the-trials-of-st-lucia-dlc-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/dantes-inferno-the-trials-of-st-lucia-dlc-preview/#comments If there's one thing Dante's Inferno lacked, it was originality. Lacking the "holy sh-" impact of God of War III, Visceral Games' hack-n-slash felt incredibly pedestrian. That changes with "The Trials of St. Lucia," an upcoming premium DLC pack that introduces the game's first bit of originality.

The DLC add-on is made up of three new features: online co-op, user generated trials, and St. Lucia, a new playable character inspired by Christianity's Saint Lucy. Like Dante, Visceral's reimagining of her character is rather far-off from biblical canon. The playable martyr looks like an angel, and dons a move set that's completely unique from Dante's. (The differences between the two characters are comparable to those between Dante and Nero from Devil May Cry 4.)

The basics of her offensive powers are familiar: light and heavy attacks, and grabs. However, St. Lucia also has the ability to fly. Flight enables a brand new move set for players. I was able to quickly fly to the other side of a comabt arena, sweep multiple enemies, and then slam one of the larger enemies with a quick combo. The new flight dynamic is a lot of fun and, because St. Lucia's controls are so similar to those of Dante, it's easy to pick up and play.

Gallery: Dante's Inferno: The Trials of St. Lucia

Continue reading Hands-on: Dante's Inferno: The Trials of St. Lucia (DLC)

JoystiqHands-on: Dante's Inferno: The Trials of St. Lucia (DLC) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodlchands-onMicrosoftmultiplayerpsnrelease-datethe-trials-of-st-luciavisceral-gamesxblmXbox-360xbox-liveTue, 16 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[February NPD: Xbox 360 and BioShock 2 sales heat up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/february-npd-xbox-360-and-bioshock-2-sales-heat-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/february-npd-xbox-360-and-bioshock-2-sales-heat-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/february-npd-xbox-360-and-bioshock-2-sales-heat-up/#commentsMicrosoft's Aaron Greenberg is thrilled with February's NPD numbers, and for good reason. The Xbox 360 took the top spot in home console sales last month, despite not being a Wii. According to the NPD, it's the first time this has happened since the Halo 3 launch in 2007.

BioShock 2 seems to have had something to do with the boost, with the Xbox 360 version topping the software charts (and the PS3 version absent from the top ten). Other notable software milestones: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is now the third best-selling game of all time, and Just Dance seems to have made a better pact with Satan than even Dante's Inferno did. See the software top ten after the break.

-DS: 613K191K (45%)
-360: 422K89K (27%)
-Wii: 398K68K (-15%)
-PS3: 360K83K (30%)
-PSP: 133K33K (33%)
-PS2: 102K60K (143%)

Continue reading February NPD: Xbox 360 and BioShock 2 sales heat up

JoystiqFebruary NPD: Xbox 360 and BioShock 2 sales heat up originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshock-2dantes-infernojust-danceMicrosoftNintendonpdnpd-monthlysalesWiiXbox-360Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:02:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC: Dante's Inferno art show at San Francisco's Hotel des Arts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/gdc-2010-dantes-inferno-art-show-at-san-franciscos-hotel-des/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/gdc-2010-dantes-inferno-art-show-at-san-franciscos-hotel-des/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/gdc-2010-dantes-inferno-art-show-at-san-franciscos-hotel-des/#commentsDante's Inferno - cerberus
Wayne Barlow's 'Cerberus' ... gross
Held in conjunction with the Into the Pixel and Video Game Art Show exhibitions, San Francisco's Hotel des Arts is dedicating its entire fourth floor to "The Making of Dante's Inferno" through April 2010. We've got a sneak peek at the art on display in the gallery below, but if you want to see the real deal we'd suggest you make your way to the opening night reception being held at the Hotel des Arts on Thursday night, from 6pm to 10pm, smack dab in the middle of GDC week.

Gallery: Dante's Inferno at the Video Game Art Show

JoystiqGDC: Dante's Inferno art show at San Francisco's Hotel des Arts originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dantes-InfernoGDC-2010MicrosoftVideo-Game-Art-ShowVisceral-GamesXbox-360Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[A recap of Dante's Inferno's weird, awful (effective?) marketing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/a-recap-of-dantes-infernos-weird-awful-effective-marketing/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/a-recap-of-dantes-infernos-weird-awful-effective-marketing/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/a-recap-of-dantes-infernos-weird-awful-effective-marketing/#comments
 AdFreak's chronicle of the Dante's Inferno guerrilla marketing campaign is one hell of a good read. The piece covers ad agency Wieden + Kennedy's almost year-long viral and guerrilla campaign for the game, which allegedly cost $200,000 and "yielded 47 million impressions of coverage." The ad agency had a $20,000-a-month budget according to EA, but AdFreak tells Joystiq that W + K likely spent more (of its own money) in the pursuit of industry awards.

Although the final months of the campaign didn't really pop up on our radar, loyal readers will likely recall a few of the earlier ones: the misguided fake E3 protest, the apology-inducing "Sin to Win" contest and Mass: We Pray. Interestingly, the $200 check we at Joystiq decided to donate apparently caused the ad agency to come up with a third resolution to its "Greed" stunt. It's always fun when we're the ones to keep marketing on its toes. Whether it's bound for heaven or damnation, the Dante's Inferno campaign is certainly an interesting case study in modern marketing.

JoystiqA recap of Dante's Inferno's weird, awful (effective?) marketing originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adfreakdantes-infernoeaelectronic-artsMicrosoftwieden-kennedyXbox-360Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno for $40 at Target next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/27/dantes-inferno-for-40-at-target-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/27/dantes-inferno-for-40-at-target-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/27/dantes-inferno-for-40-at-target-next-week/#comments If you've been putting off that trip to Hell for financial reasons, it looks like Target might lend you a hand next week. Starting this Sunday, Dante's Inferno will be on sale for only $39.99, a full $20 off the normal retail price. Not a bad deal for a game that has thus far drawn passable reviews.

The store is also knocking ten bucks off the the price of NBA 2K10, making it a cool $29.99. Just be warned, while the price is right, you might be waiting a while before you can play a proper game online. Oh, you can also snag a free Ho-Oh or Lugia Pokémon if you pre-order either Pokemon SoulSilver or Pokemon HeartGold. We suggest you do that and pick up Dante's Inferno. It'll be really confusing to the cashier.

JoystiqDante's Inferno for $40 at Target next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernoMicrosoftnba-2k10pokemonsalestargetXbox-360Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Mega64 reveals the true origins of Dante's Inferno]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/mega64-reveals-the-true-origins-of-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/mega64-reveals-the-true-origins-of-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/mega64-reveals-the-true-origins-of-dantes-inferno/#comments Mega64's latest lampooning is a bit more historical than the troupe's other videos. Posted just after the jump is a video reenaction of the moment of Dante's Inferno's inception. We'd thought that a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Classic Literature major had planted the idea-seed in an EA executive's mind -- apparently, said gardening was actually performed by Ba'al Zebûb himself.

Check out the video after the jump -- though, if you're employed at a place which frowns upon the use of the word "boners," you can consider said video NSFW.

Continue reading Mega64 reveals the true origins of Dante's Inferno

JoystiqMega64 reveals the true origins of Dante's Inferno originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernoeaElectronic-Artsfunnymega64Microsoftsatanvideovisceral-gamesXbox-360Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NECA making action figures based on Borderlands, BioShock 2 and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/neca-making-action-figures-based-on-borderlands-bioshock-2-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/neca-making-action-figures-based-on-borderlands-bioshock-2-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/neca-making-action-figures-based-on-borderlands-bioshock-2-and/#comments
[Image via Figures]

If you appreciated the handiwork of the National Entertainment Collectibles Association on the BioShock 2 props revealed a couple weeks ago, then you'll be pleased to know the company has revealed that additional video game-themed products are in the works. According to a Figures forum post, five franchises will receive replicas by early 2011: BioShock 2, Street Fighter, Gears of War, Dante's Inferno and Dead Space 2. Three other projects were mentioned, but not detailed: Assassin's Creed 2, Splinter Cell: Conviction and Borderlands (which includes an "articulated Claptrap with sound effects").

You can find a full list of the characters that the company will toy-ify on the Figures forum. Most of them are based on the aforementioned franchises' nightmarish enemies -- but hey, if you feel like lining your desk with Necromorphs and Unbaptized Babies, that's your prerogative.

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqNECA making action figures based on Borderlands, BioShock 2 and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-figuresassassins-creed-2bioshock-2borderlandsdantes-infernodead-space-2gears-of-warnecasplinter-cell-convictionstreet-fightertoysTue, 16 Feb 2010 09:06:00 EST<![CDATA[LGJ: Dante's Infringement (or lack thereof)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/lgj-dantes-infringement-or-lack-thereof/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/lgj-dantes-infringement-or-lack-thereof/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/lgj-dantes-infringement-or-lack-thereof/#commentsFiled under:

Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:

While I'm still waiting for my copy of Dante's Inferno, I have been checking out the review sites, Achievement guides and message boards in preparation for the arrival of the game. One question that keeps being asked over and over again, between many different boards, is "How is EA not being sued over this game?" While the overwhelming majority of these posts reference God of War, I have even seen mention of a "license" to Inferno (as a part of the Divine Comedy). Before I begin, I know many people might have issue with me writing this before playing, but I can assure you between the videos available online and the demo, I've experienced enough of the game to be able to come to a simple conclusion: No infringement here.

Let's get the latter, more absurd suggestion off the table first. There's not now, nor will there ever a be, a license to Inferno, the epic poem by Dante. Why is that? It's a part of the public domain. It, as a work, would have been eligible for copyright had such laws been in place at the time, but even with the modern expansive rules, the copyright would have ended hundreds of year ago. After all, taking the normal 'life of the author plus 70 years' for works created after 1978 in the US, 70 years after Dante's death was 1391. We're well past 600 years after Dante's death at this point; in fact, 2021 will mark the 700 year anniversary of Dante's death, 10 times the length granted by statute. So, this particular statement was absurd even for forum posts, but the idea that Dante's Inferno infringes on God of War isn't much more sound.

Continue reading LGJ: Dante's Infringement (or lack thereof)

JoystiqLGJ: Dante's Infringement (or lack thereof) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrightdantes-infernogod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiiinfringementlawlaw-of-the-gamelawsuitlgjTue, 16 Feb 2010 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Dante's Inferno not heading to the United Arab Emirates]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/07/report-dantes-inferno-not-heading-to-the-united-arab-emirates/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/07/report-dantes-inferno-not-heading-to-the-united-arab-emirates/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/07/report-dantes-inferno-not-heading-to-the-united-arab-emirates/#comments
 According to bilingual gaming news site GamesLatest, the store shelves of the United Arab Emirates won't be stocked with fresh copies of Dante's Inferno any time soon. Electronic Arts reportedly published a statement explaining the company "decided not to release Dante's Inferno in the Middle East after an evaluation process which is based on consumer tastes, preferences, platform mix and other factors."

It might also have something to do with the territory's hesitance to distribute games dealing with religious matter. As GamesLatest points out, both Darksiders and God of War were banned in the territory for their deity-rich plots. Then again, maybe the UAE Media Council just has something against impossibly gravelly voices. Either way, we've contacted EA to get first-hand confirmation of the report.

Gallery: Dante's Inferno (04-28-09)

JoystiqReport: Dante's Inferno not heading to the United Arab Emirates originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bancensorshipdantes-infernoeaelectronic-artsmedia-councilmiddle-eastuaeunited-arab-emiratesvisceral-gamesSun, 07 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: Dante's Inferno]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/metareview-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/metareview-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/metareview-dantes-inferno/#comments Dante's Inferno isn't the best damn game out there, but it's not a hellish experience either. The game, which re-imagines ... is loosely based upon ... has some ephemeral connection to the literature, still delivers entertainment, according to reviews. Perhaps the sequel will be a more heavenly experience?
  • Game Daily (80/100): "Rounding out this impressive package are a series of cut scenes (both 2-D animation and 3-D computer generated movies) ... Obviously, critics will obsessively compare Dante's Inferno to other games, or complain about the quick time events, but don't let those nitpicky issues prevent you from experiencing this imaginative and fun adventure. It's one Hell of a good time."
  • IGN (75/100): "Dante's Inferno takes a bold, visually impressive take on a literary classic and adds in an intriguing action focus to create a different kind of action title. Unfortunately, some derivative combat sequences and a shallow combo system prevent the title from becoming a truly great experience."
  • Eurogamer (60/100): "But you can't ignore the fact this is a God of War clone at its core, and many of the ideas here feel tired, familiar and dated. Nor can you ignore the fact that God of War III is nearly here. If it's a toss-up between that game and this one, as it probably will be for PS3 fans, you're best off waiting to see how Kratos' next adventure turns out."
  • 1UP (C+): "The game is filled with lots of good and well-executed ideas, but they all seem to exist independently of one another. It's a popcorn movie that clearly took a good deal of talent to pull together, but comes up short of creating the grand adventure that it seems to be trying for."

Gallery: Dante's Inferno

JoystiqMetareview: Dante's Inferno originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernoeaelectronic-artsmetareviewMicrosoftvisceralvisceral-gamesXbox-360Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What's in the Joystiq source code?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/whats-in-the-joystiq-source-code/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/whats-in-the-joystiq-source-code/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/whats-in-the-joystiq-source-code/#comments
Coincidence? WE THINK NOT.

JoystiqWhat's in the Joystiq source code? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiracydantes-infernokiller-instinct-3secretssource-codeThu, 04 Feb 2010 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellacious marketing: Dante's Inferno is in the code]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/hellacious-marketing-dantes-inferno-is-in-the-code/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/hellacious-marketing-dantes-inferno-is-in-the-code/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/hellacious-marketing-dantes-inferno-is-in-the-code/#comments It seems the marketing team behind Dante's Inferno hasn't burnt out yet, with several ASCII art campaigns popping up in the source code for several popular websites. All direct to the same Dante's Inferno site.

The first image (above) appeared in digg's code, as noted by brentcsutoras, and other sites like IGN, GameSpot and Kotaku also had their source code altered to display Dante-related images. It's one of the cuter, somewhat classier approaches to this title's marketing, and that makes it oddly noteworthy.

If you're wondering why there's nothing in our source code (we're checking now just to make sure) ... we don't let anyone touch that. We consider it to be at least third base and you really have to get to know Joystiq before it's prepared to take the relationship to that level.

JoystiqHellacious marketing: Dante's Inferno is in the code originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingdantes-infernodiggeaElectronic-ArtshackMicrosoftvisceralvisceral-gamesXbox-360Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[European PSN releases for February 4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/european-psn-releases-for-february-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/european-psn-releases-for-february-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/european-psn-releases-for-february-4/#comments Hey, look at you, Europe! You finally got your hands on Final Fantasy VIII! Try not to get too jealous about the fact that we've been playing that jam for a couple of months now -- after all, you guys already got Vagrant Story. You jerks.

There are tons of other noteworthy items in this week's update, including a demo for Alien Vs. Predator and Battlefield Bad Company 2. You'll also find a few packs of downloadable souls for Dante's Inferno, some of which require real-life money to obtain. Basically, you purchase souls without having to actually play the game. As far as we're concerned, that's straight-up sloth.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continue reading European PSN releases for February 4

JoystiqEuropean PSN releases for February 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alien-vs-predatorbattlefield-bad-company-2dantes-infernofinal-fantasy-viiipsn-thursdayThu, 04 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Visceral begins shift from Dante's Inferno to Dead Space 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/visceral-begins-shift-from-dantes-inferno-to-dead-space-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/visceral-begins-shift-from-dantes-inferno-to-dead-space-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/visceral-begins-shift-from-dantes-inferno-to-dead-space-2/#comments
[Pictured: Isaac Clarke in Dead Space 2; adaptation]
A week from the launch of Dante's Inferno, no one would expect Visceral Games' Nick Earl to reveal any uncertainty about sales, but Industry Gamers did attempt to elicit a reaction from the senior VP -- by reminding Earl that his studio's new game will share a release date with BioShock 2 (never mind that it's surrounded on either month by other big-name releases). "In life, there's the things you can control and things you can't control," Earl said somewhat poetically. "I can't be too concerned with our competitive slate; our team has put so much time into Dante's Inferno, and I have a lot of faith in it."

Perhaps "faith" is a natural result of working with the source material, but more likely Earl can sleep at night because he knows he has the support of a strong marketing budget. As a work of public domain, Dante's Inferno is that rare double-bonus for EA: a recognizable property and free to adapt -- no strings attached. In turn, EA has invested in a resounding "buzz" that targeted game outlets early with memorable stunts and will culminate in an unprecedented Super Bowl spot. "There may have been [a Super Bowl ad] from Atari years ago, but it has not been done in recent memory, and it shows the confidence we have in Dante's Inferno," Earl said of the publisher's first Super Bowl commercial, which will air on Sunday.

With Dante's Inferno out of his hands, Earl confirmed that the majority of Visceral's staff is shifting to Dead Space 2 (while a small team continues to work on Dante's DLC). "We're more focused on the action than the horror this time," Earl said of the apparent ACTION-horror sequel. "We're more empowering to the player."

JoystiqVisceral begins shift from Dante's Inferno to Dead Space 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingdantes-infernodead-space-2eaElectronic-ArtshorrormarketingMicrosoftnick-earlvisceral-gamesXbox-360Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno: The Book based on The Game based on The Poem based on the Theology]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/dantes-inferno-the-book-based-on-the-game-based-on-the-poem-ba/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/dantes-inferno-the-book-based-on-the-game-based-on-the-poem-ba/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/dantes-inferno-the-book-based-on-the-game-based-on-the-poem-ba/#comments In the introduction to the EA Games-approved, Del Rey Books-published edition of the classic epic poem Inferno, Visceral Games Executive Producer Jonathan Knight asks a question about the video game Dante's Inferno that many people think they already know the answer to: "Is Dante Alighieri Laughing, or Rolling, in His Grave?" Plenty of game journalists, commentators, and fans who have seen the game's promotions and advertising would probably answer, "Of course he is!" but Knight lays out a reasoned and well-argued case that Visceral's new game follows in a long and esteemed tradition of interpreting Italian literature's most famous work. It may or may not change your mind, but Knight's position is definitely worth consideration.

Continue reading Dante's Inferno: The Book based on The Game based on The Poem based on the Theology

JoystiqDante's Inferno: The Book based on The Game based on The Poem based on the Theology originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksDantes-InfernoDel-Rey-BooksEAElectronic-ArtsJonathan-KnightMicrosoftVisceral-GamesXbox-360Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: CBS rejects Dante's inferno ad over tagline]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/report-cbs-rejects-dantes-inferno-ad-over-tagline/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/report-cbs-rejects-dantes-inferno-ad-over-tagline/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/report-cbs-rejects-dantes-inferno-ad-over-tagline/#comments According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS required some editing to EA's Super Bowl ad for Dante's Inferno before it would expose America's fragile hive mind to it. No, it's not because of all the demons and the brimstone and stuff, but rather due to the game's widely-used tag line "Go to Hell." As you can seen in the clip after the jump, it's replaced by "Hell Awaits."

The change is likely because of worries about offending conservative viewers, but we're secretly hoping that Doritos is launching a new super spicy chip during the big game and it just didn't want Dante copying its line.

[Via Eurogamer]

Continue reading Report: CBS rejects Dante's inferno ad over tagline

JoystiqReport: CBS rejects Dante's inferno ad over tagline originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingcensorshipdantes-infernoeaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftsuper-bowlvisceral-gamesXbox-360Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno Trials of St. Lucia DLC confirmed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/dantes-inferno-trials-of-st-lucia-dlc-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/dantes-inferno-trials-of-st-lucia-dlc-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/dantes-inferno-trials-of-st-lucia-dlc-confirmed/#comments We hate to ruin the surprise for you, but when you tear into your copy of Dante's Inferno you'll also be getting a sneak peek at what's next for the game. A packed-in trailer reveals the Trials of St. Lucia DLC with its player-created trials, online co-op in said trials and and a new playable character, the titular (pun-intended) St. Lucia. A Kotaku reader grabbed a shaky-cam version of the promo, which you can see right after the break.

It's a little early for us to be thinking about all that, what with the game still a week from hitting shelves. But it's nice to know that if we do have to go to hell, we'll have some company by April.

Continue reading Dante's Inferno Trials of St. Lucia DLC confirmed

JoystiqDante's Inferno Trials of St. Lucia DLC confirmed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodantes-inferno-trials-of-st-luciadlceaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftvisceralXbox-360Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New Games This Month: February 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/new-games-this-month-february-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/new-games-this-month-february-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/new-games-this-month-february-2010/#comments It may be the shortest month in terms of days, but February is no slouch when it comes to new releases. We've got plenty of heavy hitters including BioShock 2, Heavy Rain and Dante's Inferno.

You know, we heard it a lot when games kept getting delayed out of fall of 2009, but we think the reality is finally dawning on us just now: There will never again not be new games. We're not sure we can handle it, frankly.

Gallery: New Games This Month: February 2010

Puzzle Chronicles (DS, PSP)Star Trek Online (PC)White Knight Chronicles (PS3)BioShock 2 [PC, PS3, 360]Dante's Inferno (PS3, 360)

JoystiqNew Games This Month: February 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshock-2dantes-infernoDSheavy-rainMicrosoftnew-games-monthlyNintendoWiiXbox-360Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Visceral Games prepping DLC for Dante's Inferno]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/visceral-games-prepping-dlc-for-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/visceral-games-prepping-dlc-for-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/visceral-games-prepping-dlc-for-dantes-inferno/#comments In a recent interview with the New York Times, Dante's Inferno executive producer Jonathan Knight responded curiously to a query about the possibility of upcoming adaptations of the other two installments in the Divine Comedy, Purgatorio and Paradiso. According to the Times, "Knight said his team was focused on the release of Dante's Inferno as well as on additional downloadable content for that game," though he later confessed "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about that."

We think Visceral's missing out on a great chance to kill two birds with one stone -- why not make Purgatorio and Paradiso DLC packs for Inferno? For instance, a few months after the game comes out, release a patch that makes the game's load times last for 49 days. Boom. Purgatorio in the bag.

Update: As awesome as that sounds, it's more likely he was talking about the "Dark Forest" prequel DLC that will come bundled with the Limited Edition version of the game on PS3. We're still going to hold out hope, though!

JoystiqVisceral Games prepping DLC for Dante's Inferno originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodark-forestdigital-distributiondlceaElectronic-Artsjonathan-knightMicrosoftnew-york-timesparadisopurgatoriothe-divine-comedyvisceral-gamesXbox-360Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Your obligatory violent gameplay video of the day is Dante's Inferno]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/30/your-obligatory-violent-gameplay-video-of-the-day-is-dantes-inf/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/30/your-obligatory-violent-gameplay-video-of-the-day-is-dantes-inf/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/30/your-obligatory-violent-gameplay-video-of-the-day-is-dantes-inf/#comments There is no shortage of button-mashing action titles coming in 2010, and Dante's Inferno is right around the corner. Promising buckets of blood, brooding and boobs, the team at Visceral Games hope to capture the overlapping fans of both literary masterpieces and punching monsters in the face. It's like an obvious Venn diagram of awesome. Well, until someone finally turns Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret into a collectible card game.

JoystiqYour obligatory violent gameplay video of the day is Dante's Inferno originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernoeaelectronic-artsMicrosoftvisceral-gamesXbox-360Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: EA buys Super Bowl ad time for Dante's Inferno]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/report-ea-buys-super-bowl-ad-time-for-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/report-ea-buys-super-bowl-ad-time-for-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/report-ea-buys-super-bowl-ad-time-for-dantes-inferno/#comments Because the Dante's Inferno marketing department obviously knows what it's doing, IndustryGamers reports that EA bought up some ad time during next month's Super Bowl, presumably in the hopes that some of the people watching will care enough to pick up the game when it's releases two days later. We have to wonder how many of these sports-watching people -- who are ostensibly not as interested in 14th century epic poetry -- will care about a guy with a self-inflicted sewing nightmare on his chest waging war through Hell.

So, here's ample warning. When your parents inevitably drag you over to your uncle's house to watch the San Bernardino Flim-Flams take on the Texarkana Whatsits, and your little cousin -- you know, the one way too into Dashboard Confessional with the closet full of long-sleeve shirts with thumb holes cut out -- sees the ad and goes bananas, know that Joystiq gave you the heads up. We love you like that.

JoystiqReport: EA buys Super Bowl ad time for Dante's Inferno originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addantes-infernoeaElectronic-ArtsmarketingMicrosoftsuper-bowlvisceral-gamesXbox-360Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno special edition printing provides 'unique insight' into game's creation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/dantes-inferno-special-printing-provides-unique-insight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/dantes-inferno-special-printing-provides-unique-insight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/dantes-inferno-special-printing-provides-unique-insight/#comments
These are dire times for ye olde book industry. Dire indeed. A special printing of Dante's Inferno -- like, the book -- hopes to capitalize on "the hottest game around." Due January 19 in book stores, this new edition from Del Rey (of the Random House empire) features an introduction by executive producer Jonathan Knight and 16 pages of colorful artwork from "the action adventure blockbuster that's rocking the video-game world." There's a 14th-century epic poem squeezed in there, too.

Perhaps best used as a bargaining chip for kids desperate to convince their parents that they should be allowed to play a game based on a literary classic, however "mature" it might be, this damned tie-in is unlikely to ascend to the heavenly gates of the bestsellers list. Still, if Visceral Games' clone adaptation inspires even a single player to check out the original poem, then that would be a beautiful thing. Hell, it would be divine!

Gallery: Dante's Inferno (Trade Paperback)

Front CoverBack Cover

JoystiqDante's Inferno special edition printing provides 'unique insight' into game's creation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ballantine-booksbookdantes-infernodel-reyeaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpaperbackpoemrandom-housethe-divine-comedyvisceral-gamesXbox-360Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno 'Fraud' trailer makes you fight for your life]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/dantes-inferno-fraud-trailer-makes-you-fight-for-your-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/dantes-inferno-fraud-trailer-makes-you-fight-for-your-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/dantes-inferno-fraud-trailer-makes-you-fight-for-your-life/#comments We're ... we're just not sure we understand the reasoning behind Dante's Inferno's eighth circle, Fraud, depicted in the trailer above. See, Visceral Games has brought the concept of the circle's 10 Malebolges to life in the game in form of 10 arenas, where Dante must battle all the enemies he's fought in previous levels in succession. While doing so, he must navigate dark corridors where, according to art director Ash Huang, "you really can't see where you're going." Well, that actually sounds pretty faithful to the source material. It also sounds immeasurably frustrating.

Check out the trailer above to find out where politicians go, and make sure you tune in for the final Dante's trailer in February to catch a glimpse of Mr. Beel Z. Bubb himself.

JoystiqDante's Inferno 'Fraud' trailer makes you fight for your life originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernoeaElectronic-ArtsfraudhellMicrosofttrailervideovisceral-gamesXbox-360Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA['The Inferno' for iPhone shows how to adapt Dante's Inferno]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/the-inferno-for-iphone-shows-how-to-adapt-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/the-inferno-for-iphone-shows-how-to-adapt-dantes-inferno/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/the-inferno-for-iphone-shows-how-to-adapt-dantes-inferno/#commentsNo doubt inspired by both the development of a Dante's Inferno game and that game's wholesale appropriation of another game's play style, iPhone developer Xpressed has done a little appropriation of its own by releasing The Inferno before EA's big multiplatform title hits stores.

Instead of being a more offensive God of War, The Inferno is a top-down maze action game, in which Dante collects innocent souls to open exits out of trap-filled rooms. And despite the layout of Hell not really resembling that in the book, this game is quite a bit more faithful than Visceral's: rather than being a psychotic, musclebound mass murderer, Dante is a meek explorer being led through Hell by Virgil.

Oh, and it costs a dollar. Check out some gameplay footage after the break!

[Via Touch Arcade]

Continue reading 'The Inferno' for iPhone shows how to adapt Dante's Inferno

Joystiq'The Inferno' for iPhone shows how to adapt Dante's Inferno originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionAppledantes-infernoiPodthe-infernoxpressedTue, 29 Dec 2009 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno demo now available on XBLM]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/24/dantes-inferno-demo-now-available-on-xblm/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/24/dantes-inferno-demo-now-available-on-xblm/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/24/dantes-inferno-demo-now-available-on-xblm/#commentsFiled under:

Because nothing goes with the egg nog and sugar cookies as well as baby murder, right? As expected, the demo for Dante's Inferno has descended into the seventh level of the Xbox Live marketplace, which means that you Xbox Live Gold members can hack and slash your way past all of the buzz and see if the gameplay floats your ferry right across the River Styx.

The demo is 1GB in size, and while we didn't see it available on the console itself (though it should be there soon), you can follow this link on over to the Xbox website and queue up the download from there. Just don't come crying to us when Grandma's shocked after walking in and seeing what you're doing on the "gamebox." Make sure you know where the smelling salts are.

JoystiqDante's Inferno demo now available on XBLM originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodemodownloadfreexbox-livexbox-live-goldxbox-live-marketplaceThu, 24 Dec 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno producer hopes for sequel, despite challenges]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/dantes-inferno-producer-hopes-for-sequel-despite-challenges/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/dantes-inferno-producer-hopes-for-sequel-despite-challenges/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/dantes-inferno-producer-hopes-for-sequel-despite-challenges/#comments Would it be possible to use Dante Alighieri's spinning corpse in oil derricks, as as a sort of fleshy drill, or perhaps to power a large centrifuge? That might be a real opportunity if Dante's Inferno executive producer Jonathan Knight gets to make a follow-up to his forthcoming adaptation, a hope he elaborated on for G4.

There's a hitch though: While Knight knows that EA will want a sequel to the game if it performs well, he's not sure that the follow up in The Divine Comedy, Purgatorio, will lend itself as well to a game.

... So Visceral can turn one of the great literary works into a game about a scythe-wielding maniac fighting nipple-born monsters, but making a game about the seven-layer Mount of Purgatory that ends in Earthly Paradise is beyond it? Really?

JoystiqDante's Inferno producer hopes for sequel, despite challenges originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantedantes-infernoeaElectronic-Artsjonathan-knightMicrosoftsequelvisceral-gamesXbox-360Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Europe getting Dante's Inferno 'Death Edition,' includes playable Isaac Clarke]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/europe-getting-dantes-inferno-death-edition-includes-playabl/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/europe-getting-dantes-inferno-death-edition-includes-playabl/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/europe-getting-dantes-inferno-death-edition-includes-playabl/#comments In an inspiring attempt to try and take even more gratuitous liberties with the works of Dante Alighieri, Visceral Games has announced a Europe-only special edition bundle of its upcoming Hell-based action title, Dante's Inferno. The "Death Edition" bundle comes with a copy of the poem, some making-of documentaries, and an art book. However, its greatest bonus is a new skin for the game's scythe-wielding protagonist: The slot-helmeted outfit of Dead Space's hero, Isaac Clarke. Check out the full costume after the jump.

Now that we think of it, there's something pretty similar to this cross-promotion in the text of Dante's epic poem:

"I saw multitudes
to every side of me; their howls were loud
while, wheeling weights, they used their chests to push.
They struck against each other; at that point,
this space miner came in and killed them with this big scythe.
Needless to say, it was pretty [expletive deleted] radical."

Source: Console Planet (Google Translate)

Continue reading Europe getting Dante's Inferno 'Death Edition,' includes playable Isaac Clarke

JoystiqEurope getting Dante's Inferno 'Death Edition,' includes playable Isaac Clarke originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundledantes-infernodead-spacedeath-editioneaElectronic-Artseuropehellisaac-clarkeMicrosoftvisceral-gamesXbox-360Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno creators explain 'Violence' in latest dev diary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/dantes-inferno-creators-explain-violence-in-latest-dev-diary/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/dantes-inferno-creators-explain-violence-in-latest-dev-diary/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/dantes-inferno-creators-explain-violence-in-latest-dev-diary/#comments You might be wondering exactly how Visceral Games managed to get a level themed after "Violence" into Dante's Inferno -- a game where the lead character spends roughly 100% of his time killing anything near him. We were wondering too, and so it was really nice of Visceral Games and EA to release the above dev diary for the "month of violence" that the game's marketing campaign is currently embracing to promote the game's level based on the seventh circle of Hell.

The real question now: what can we expect EA's marketing team during this month's theme? We're not sure just yet, but given its recent track record, we're hoping no one goes to our Editor-in-Chief's house to give him a lesson or two in violence.

Gallery: Dante's Inferno

JoystiqDante's Inferno creators explain 'Violence' in latest dev diary originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-adventuredantes-infernodev-diaryeaea-redwood-shoresElectronic-ArtsgameplayMicrosoftpctrailerviolencevisceral-gamesXbox-360Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Dante's Inferno 'Divine Edition' heading exclusively to PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/dantes-inferno-divine-edition-heading-exclusively-to-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/dantes-inferno-divine-edition-heading-exclusively-to-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/dantes-inferno-divine-edition-heading-exclusively-to-ps3/#comments EA has detailed a special edition of Dante's Inferno, titled the "Divine Edition," which is coming exclusively to the PlayStation 3 next February. For the same $60 the Xbox 360 version costs, EA will give you the "special edition," which includes a developer commentary, a Wayne Barlowe "digital art book," the game's soundtrack, and ... wait for it ... a digitized "complete Longfellow translation of Dante Alighieri's Inferno." That's right, folks -- you can read the classic work on the same system that's being used to tear it apart. The demo is currently available on the PlayStation Network and will land on Xbox Live on December 24th.

Gallery: Dante's Inferno


Continue reading Dante's Inferno 'Divine Edition' heading exclusively to PS3

JoystiqDante's Inferno 'Divine Edition' heading exclusively to PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dante-alighieridantes-infernodivine-editioneaElectronic-Artsexclusiveinfernosoundtrackspecial-editionthe-divine-comedyvisceral-gamesThu, 10 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST