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[See Zeus, Isaac Clarke throw down in PlayStation All-Stars]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/see-zeus-isaac-clarke-throw-down-in-playstation-all-stars/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/see-zeus-isaac-clarke-throw-down-in-playstation-all-stars/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/see-zeus-isaac-clarke-throw-down-in-playstation-all-stars/#comments
Sony will release downloadable characters Zeus and Isaac Clarke for PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale on March 19, along with a new stage that is a cross-over of MediEvil and The Unfinished Swan. According to a post on the PlayStation Blog from newly appointed Sony lead game designer Seth Killian, the stage will be free to play in online ranked matches, $1.99 to own.

Both Zeus and Isaac are being offered gratis to those who purchase God of War: Ascension, available through an included voucher; or you can buy each combatant for $4.99 through PSN on March 19. Above, you can see Isaac battle back the madness - hop past the break if you want to see Zeus choke Sackboy.

Gallery: PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale (Zeus and Isaac Clarke DLC)

Continue reading See Zeus, Isaac Clarke throw down in PlayStation All-Stars

JoystiqSee Zeus, Isaac Clarke throw down in PlayStation All-Stars originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-spacedead-space-2dead-space-3dlceagod-of-wargod-of-war-ascensionisaac-clarkemedievilplaystationplaystation-all-stars-battle-royaleplaystation-vitaps3sceasuperbot-entertainmentthe-unfinished-swanvisceral-gamesvitazeusThu, 28 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam's Halloween sale scares the prices off Dead Space, Amnesia, more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/29/steams-halloween-sale-scares-the-prices-off-dead-space-amnesia/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/29/steams-halloween-sale-scares-the-prices-off-dead-space-amnesia/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/29/steams-halloween-sale-scares-the-prices-off-dead-space-amnesia/#comments
The holidays are fast approaching and that means it's time for Steam to bombard us with irresistible sales. The "Steam Halloween Sale" is currently in effect, with over 80 games to treat yourself with that fall into some category of "spooky, creepy, scary and eerie."

Obvious gets for a mere $5 are Dead Space 1&2, Left 4 Dead 2, Fear 3, BioShock 2 and Amnesia. The latter should be played with the lights off, headphone and nerves of steel. If you're looking to spend some crazy amount of money like $10, there's a whole world of games to purchase.

JoystiqSteam's Halloween sale scares the prices off Dead Space, Amnesia, more originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2macpcsalesteamMon, 29 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space 2, Rock of Ages free on PlayStation Plus in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/02/dead-space-2-rock-of-ages-free-on-playstation-plus-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/02/dead-space-2-rock-of-ages-free-on-playstation-plus-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/02/dead-space-2-rock-of-ages-free-on-playstation-plus-in-europe/#comments If you are a PlayStation Plus member in Europe, your "Instant Game Collection" just got a little more space - Dead Space 2, to be specific. It's free with PlayStation Plus this month, and the offer is available through September 5. If you decide you want more, you'll find all the DLC, including weapon packs, suit packs, and the "Severed" expansion, at 50 percent off for the month.

Also free for European PS Plus subscribers: Rock of Ages, a sort of historical tower-defense action game that couldn't possibly be any more different from Dead Space 2.

JoystiqDead Space 2, Rock of Ages free on PlayStation Plus in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2europeplaystationplaystation-plusps3psnrock-of-agesThu, 02 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space 3's Isaac Clarke as 'the reluctant participant']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/dead-space-3s-isaac-clarke-as-the-reluctant-participant/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/dead-space-3s-isaac-clarke-as-the-reluctant-participant/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/dead-space-3s-isaac-clarke-as-the-reluctant-participant/#comments Dead Space 3's Isaac Clarke as 'the reluctant participant'The original Dead Space introduced us to Isaac Clarke: a masked, silent engineer doing his best to survive an extremely lonely and hostile environment. His weapons were that of an engineer, though they served Isaac well enough in strategically dismembering the ghouls that came creeping at him. The events of Dead Space 2 took Isaac on a similar mission, albeit through an enormous space colony known as "The Sprawl." Isaac once again battled creepy necromorphs, all in the name of survival.

Despite what you've seen of Dead Space 3 thus far - the action-heavy, co-op sequences from E3, for example - Isaac is as much "the reluctant participant" as ever. Visceral Games executive producer Steve Papoutsis explained as much to us in a recent interview. "He by no means is a vigilante for hire or any nonsense like that," Papoutsis said. "That's not what's going on with Isaac. And I don't want to get into the details too much 'cause that would kinda spoil the fun for folks, but let's just say after the events of The Sprawl - which was, as you may or may know if you played it, a massive disaster - he's kind of laying low. And he kind of wants to be left alone."

Papoutsis didn't speak to specifics of the game's intro - which, according to previous precedent, should be insane - but he was quick to stifle any idea that Isaac is on the offensive in Dead Space 3. "The events that kind of thrust him into action in Dead Space 3 will reveal themselves when people play the game, but by no means is he a willing participant in the story that's gonna unfold." It's unclear if Clarke's co-op buddy, Carver, plays into that "thrust," but the fact that he's a gun-toting government official can't hurt.

As for whether this is Isaac's last spin as a starring character in a Dead Space game, Papoutsis was less specific. "We didn't set out to make a trilogy," he said. "We would love to create many more Dead Space games, there's a lot of stories to tell of the Dead Space universe." He allowed one teensy nugget to slip through. "With Dead Space 3, it's definitely Isaac's story and we're trying to bring answers to this story. There's a lot of questions that have come in Dead Space 1 and 2, and with Dead Space 3 we really wanna answer a lot of questions."

JoystiqDead Space 3's Isaac Clarke as 'the reluctant participant' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-spacedead-space-2dead-space-3eaea-visceralelectronic-artsisaac-clarkemicrosoftpcplaystationps3steve-papoutsisvisceral-gamesxboxWed, 25 Jul 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space games are dead cheap on Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/dead-space-games-are-dead-cheap-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/dead-space-games-are-dead-cheap-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/dead-space-games-are-dead-cheap-on-steam/#comments If you've been waiting for a ridiculous deal before trying out the Dead Space series, your chance has arrived... again. Steam is selling Dead Space 1 and 2 for $5 each right now, as a "Midweek Madness" offer. You have until April 26.

JoystiqDead Space games are dead cheap on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dead-Spacedead-space-2pcsteamTue, 24 Apr 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Look at this incredible, fan-made Isaac Clarke figurine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/look-at-this-incredible-fan-made-isaac-clarke-figurine/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/look-at-this-incredible-fan-made-isaac-clarke-figurine/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/look-at-this-incredible-fan-made-isaac-clarke-figurine/#comments ImageWe tried making our own custom figure of Isaac Clarke from Dead Space, but it wound up looking like exactly what it was: a twisted mass of rainbow-colored pipe cleaners. This figure is much, much better.

JoystiqLook at this incredible, fan-made Isaac Clarke figurine originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artdead-space-2eaelectronic-artsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3toysvisceral-gamesxboxFri, 13 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA clarifies Origin's ability to 'auto-add' games from other libraries]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/ea-clarifies-origins-ability-to-auto-add-games-from-other-lib/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/ea-clarifies-origins-ability-to-auto-add-games-from-other-lib/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/ea-clarifies-origins-ability-to-auto-add-games-from-other-lib/#comments EA has not been crawling your computer, looking for that one file that you think is hidden really well, but is really just labeled "My Little Pony Season 1," right on your desktop. Hiding in plain sight and all that.

Yesterday some Origin users noticed that a few EA games they'd previously bought through other distributors -- Steam, mostly -- were automatically added to their Origin games list. EA has confirmed that it is testing out a feature to add older games to users' Origin libraries, but that it doesn't snag the games by accessing anyone's computer.

"At no time was any information on your computer accessed, all of this information was obtained directly from our game registration records," a statement from EA reads. Most likely the transfer is made via the email address users register their EA games under, though EA's statement, which you can read in full below, doesn't clarify directly.

Continue reading EA clarifies Origin's ability to 'auto-add' games from other libraries

JoystiqEA clarifies Origin's ability to 'auto-add' games from other libraries originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-adddead-space-2EAElectronic-Artsemaillibrarymass-effectoriginpcSTEAMTue, 28 Feb 2012 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Origin auto-adds EA games bought through Steam -- no, it's not creepy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/origin-auto-adds-ea-games-bought-through-steam-no-its-not-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/origin-auto-adds-ea-games-bought-through-steam-no-its-not-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/origin-auto-adds-ea-games-bought-through-steam-no-its-not-c/#comments EA's Origin service may know more about your gaming habits than even you realize: Remember Dead Space 2? All the hours you spent on Steam last year, searching for ammo and creeping through alien-infested day care centers, just to finish it and never boot it up again? Even if you don't remember, EA does. Muhahahaha.

EA is able to add games bought on other services, such as Steam, to players' Origin accounts, a forum post on Day One Patch reveals. Many players notice Dead Space 2 and Mass Effect titles popping up in their Origin game lists, even though the titles were bought through Steam. Origin is known to check out the file names on users' computers -- without reading or transmitting any private information back to EA, of course -- and it now uses that power to streamline your EA games lists. In other words, EA is using its power for good. And to better market its own titles.

[Thanks, Matt.]

JoystiqOrigin auto-adds EA games bought through Steam -- no, it's not creepy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-adddead-space-2EAElectronic-ArtsoriginpcscrapeSTEAMMon, 27 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space 1 and 2 sliced down to $5 on Steam this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/dead-space-1-and-2-sliced-down-to-5-on-steam-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/dead-space-1-and-2-sliced-down-to-5-on-steam-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/dead-space-1-and-2-sliced-down-to-5-on-steam-this-weekend/#comments Isaac Steam has taken the ol' plasma cutter to the price of the Dead Space series, offering one monster of a deal. This weekend you can pick up -- using telekinesis, preferably -- the original Dead Space or Dead Space 2 for five bucks each. You can use the money you've saved for some fresh underpants. You'll need them.

JoystiqDead Space 1 and 2 sliced down to $5 on Steam this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-spacedead-space-2eaelectronic-artspcsteamvisceral-gamesThu, 12 Jan 2012 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon offering dramatic discounts on digital EA games starting this Sunday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/amazon-offering-dramatic-discounts-on-digital-ea-games-starting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/amazon-offering-dramatic-discounts-on-digital-ea-games-starting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/amazon-offering-dramatic-discounts-on-digital-ea-games-starting/#comments Amazon doesn't care for your silly stack of unplayed, unopened games -- it simply wants to trick you into buying more with a variety of impressive deals, albeit on games that exist only in the digital realm. Starting this coming Sunday (the 15th) and running through the end of the week (the 21st), individual EA titles will be offered day by day at ridiculously discounted prices: Bulletstorm and Dead Space 2 for $7 a pop, for instance.

The daily itemized list is just after the break, should you be preparing for yet another (admittedly minor) assault on your bank account in the effort to catch up on 2011's best games. Might we suggest conquering the concept of time scarcity first?

Continue reading Amazon offering dramatic discounts on digital EA games starting this Sunday

JoystiqAmazon offering dramatic discounts on digital EA games starting this Sunday originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alice-madness-returnsamazonbattlefield-bad-company-2Bulletstormcrysis-2dead-space-2dragon-age-2dragon-age-originsmacmedal-of-honorpcThu, 12 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/best-of-the-rest-richards-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/best-of-the-rest-richards-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/best-of-the-rest-richards-picks-of-2011/#comments Everybody loves Rayman Rayman Origins
If you asked what my favorite game of the 2011 was, I would tell you it was Dark Souls, which made the number eight slot in our prestigious top ten. If, however, you asked me which game instilled me with the most pure, unbridled joy, I would say it was Rayman Origins without a moment's hesitation.

Providing both a fresh experience and an invigorating jolt of nostalgia for the days when platformers were king, Rayman Origins is a must-play.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2011

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-the-restbest-of-the-rest-2011dead-space-2dungeon-defenderskinectmicrosoftpcplaystationps3rayman-originsrise-of-nightmaresthe-gunstringerxboxWed, 04 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Big discounts on EA games, DLC on Xbox Live this week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/big-discounts-on-ea-games-dlc-on-xbox-live-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/big-discounts-on-ea-games-dlc-on-xbox-live-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/big-discounts-on-ea-games-dlc-on-xbox-live-this-week/#comments Dead Space 2: Severed Xbox Live is hosting some decent deals on Electronic Arts content this week. Notable games include Risk: Factions for $5, Shank for $7.50 or Dragon Age: Origins for $15.

Plenty of DLC is up for grabs as well, including Dead Space 2 "Severed" or Mass Effect 2 "Arrival" DLC for $3 each, or Dragon Age's "Witch Hunt" DLC for $4. You can check out the full selection of sale items - oddly split into two different lists - here and here.

JoystiqBig discounts on EA games, DLC on Xbox Live this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2dlcDragon-Age-Originsmicrosoftrisk-factionsshankxblaxboxxbox-liveTue, 03 Jan 2012 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2011/#comments
Dead Space 2
I am a passionate man. When Dead Space 2 was overlooked by several of my fellow editors, preventing it from attaining a rightful place in our top ten, I briefly contemplated a multi-city tour. The plan was simple: ring their doorbell, smack them across the face, cross their name off a list and move on to the next deserving victim. My main reason Dead Space 2 deserved a spot in our top ten:

At times, I forgot to breathe.

Dead Space 2 was a game of tension and release. I found myself gasping for air after several scenes, so focused on whatever new necromorph horror was trying to splay me that the part of my brain regulating natural respiration was overridden by the section screaming, "SHOOT IT! SHOOT IT WITH SO MUCH QUICKNESS AND RUN!"

For the sake of levity, if I had it my way, there would have been several moments where protagonist Isaac Clarke pulled out Handi-Snacks, lifted his visor and pouted about whatever danger he'd face beyond the next airlock.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2011

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3best-of-the-restbest-of-the-rest-2011dead-space-2driver-san-franciscodungeon-defendersmicrosoftmight-and-magic-clash-of-heroespcplaystationps3space-marinewarhammer-40k-space-marinexboxyou-dont-know-jackMon, 02 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA PC games are rather cheap on Amazon today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/ea-pc-games-are-rather-cheap-on-amazon-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/ea-pc-games-are-rather-cheap-on-amazon-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/ea-pc-games-are-rather-cheap-on-amazon-today/#comments You tried to be grateful, you really did. But with every Snuggie, Slanket and Opiate-Laced Cuddle Cocoon you opened, it became abundantly clear that you were getting none of the EA PC games you asked Santa for this Christmas.

Luckily, Amazon is there to set this sad situation right, with deeply discounted, digitally delivered diversions like Dead Space 2 ($4.99), Dragon Age 2 ($5.99), Mass Effect 2 ($4.99) and more. See the full list right here, and try to cut Santa some slack, okay? He always gets depressed this week.

JoystiqEA PC games are rather cheap on Amazon today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazondead-space-2digital-distributioneapcThu, 29 Dec 2011 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's Steam holiday sale discounts Dead Space 2, Tomb Raider, more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/todays-steam-holiday-sale-discounts-dead-space-2-tomb-raider/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/todays-steam-holiday-sale-discounts-dead-space-2-tomb-raider/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/todays-steam-holiday-sale-discounts-dead-space-2-tomb-raider/#comments You've probably heard of a few of the games discounted in today's installment of the Steam holiday sale. You know, Machinarium? Dungeon Defenders? Assassin's Creed 1, 2, Brotherhood and Revelations? A bunch of Tomb Raiders? Dead Spaces? You ... you have heard of those, right?

Continue reading Today's Steam holiday sale discounts Dead Space 2, Tomb Raider, more

JoystiqToday's Steam holiday sale discounts Dead Space 2, Tomb Raider, more originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-revelationsdead-spacedead-space-2machinariumpcsteamtomb-raiderWed, 28 Dec 2011 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumors: Dead Space expands into FPS and flight, Dragon Age goes multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/rumors-dead-space-expands-into-fps-and-flight-dragon-age-goes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/rumors-dead-space-expands-into-fps-and-flight-dragon-age-goes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/rumors-dead-space-expands-into-fps-and-flight-dragon-age-goes/#comments Kotaku cites an anonymous "insider" on two new rumors regarding two of Electronic Arts' biggest "new" franchises: Dead Space and Dragon Age. Though Dead Space 2 managed to ship over two million units in its first six months of release, EA wants to "make the series bigger and better," says the insider. The plan: A Dead Space first-person shooter, a Dead Space "flight game" and, lastly, a Dead Space "Uncharted-like game."

Apparently, that recent EA management shift in August "brought in new brass that nearly killed off Dead Space 3," if this insider is to be believed. But it's not dead and, as previous rumors suggested, Dead Space 3 takes place on ice planet Tau Volantis and will feature co-op.

Now for Dragon Age ... this one is good. Kotaku's insider says that, like BioWare's other major RPG brand, Dragon Age will get a multiplayer offering, reportedly powered by DICE's Frostbite 2 engine. This could be part of a future Dragon Age installment, let's call it Dragon Age 3, or a separate downloadable title; the gameplay will be arena-based, and feature both PvE and PvP combat, as well as ... dragons. Because Dragon Age, and all that.

Here's our advice, EA: If you want to increase awareness of the Dead Space brand, making games that aren't like Dead Space seems like a poor strategy. Also, a flight game? Are you trying not to sell games? And the problem with Dragon Age isn't a lack of multiplayer. The (extraordinarily) fast turnaround on Dragon Age 2 resulted in a rushed RPG that was dwarfed (and, frankly, embarrassed) by productions like The Witcher 2 and Skyrim (which managed to ship a not-so-shabby seven million units at launch).

JoystiqRumors: Dead Space expands into FPS and flight, Dragon Age goes multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredead-spacedead-space-2dead-space-3dragon-agedragon-age-3eaelectronic-artsmicrosoftplaystationps3visceral-gamesxboxWed, 30 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam Autumn Sale: The final countdown]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/steam-autumn-sale-the-final-countdown/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/steam-autumn-sale-the-final-countdown/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/steam-autumn-sale-the-final-countdown/#comments Another legendary Steam sale is coming to a close today -- it's day five of the Autumn Sale, which means we're in the final hours of snagging some sweet and savory fall deals. Right now, get Thief: Deadly Shadows and Dead Space 2 for $4.99 each, or Driver: San Francisco and Fable 3 for $24.99 each, along with 10 other deals. We don't think we need to write them all out, because you've probably already clicked over the actual sale page by now. That's right, do our work for us. Dance, monkey, dance.

JoystiqSteam Autumn Sale: The final countdown originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2driver-san-franciscofable-3pcSTEAMsteam-autumn-salethief-deadly-shadowsSun, 27 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameFly's 'Under $20' sale has too many good values]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/gameflys-under-20-sale-has-too-many-good-values/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/gameflys-under-20-sale-has-too-many-good-values/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/gameflys-under-20-sale-has-too-many-good-values/#comments LA Noire for $19.99? Dead Space 2 for $12.99? Vanquish for just $9.99? If watching broadcast news wasn't enough to convince you that the US economy is down in the dumps, GameFly's impressive "Under $20" sale is here to hammer the point home.

Everything from the aforementioned trio of titles to Disney Epic Mickey (and many more) are currently available from GameFly's insane sale, all being offered with free shipping. The discounts expire on October 24, so we'd suggest you get on that -- if you're not too busy zipping around Gotham, of course.

JoystiqGameFly's 'Under $20' sale has too many good values originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdead-space-2dsla-noiremicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3pspsonyvanquishwiixboxWed, 19 Oct 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA confirms closure of Visceral Melbourne, reaffirms support for Melbourne-based mobile studios]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/ea-confirms-closure-of-visceral-melbourne-reaffirms-support-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/ea-confirms-closure-of-visceral-melbourne-reaffirms-support-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/ea-confirms-closure-of-visceral-melbourne-reaffirms-support-for/#commentsFollowing reports last Friday that EA shuttered its Visceral Melbourne studio, the International Game Developer's Association Melbourne tweeted on Sunday, "Confirmation of EA closing Visceral has been received :( our best wishes to the 21 devs now out of a job #EAVisceral." Electronic Arts has finally weighed in on the matter, telling MCV, "With no active project in development at that location, we've decided to close the Visceral Melbourne office. They are talented individuals and may find other roles elsewhere in EA, if they choose."

The EA rep added, "EA continues to maintain its mobile studios in Melbourne which are both thriving and hiring." Those studios include the recently acquired Firemint, makers of Flight Control and Real Racing, and Iron Monkey Studios, the team behind the excellent Dead Space for iOS and Xperia Play.

Of course, this follows just weeks after LA Noire developers Team Bondi entered administration, a month after THQ shuttered two Australian studios, and less than a year after Krome severely downsized. We'll pour a Foster's out for you, Australian game devs.

JoystiqEA confirms closure of Visceral Melbourne, reaffirms support for Melbourne-based mobile studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdead-space-2eaelectronic-artslayoffsvisceral-gamesvisceral-melbourneTue, 20 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-order Battlefield 3 on Origin, get Dead Space 2 for free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/pre-order-battlefield-3-on-origin-get-dead-space-2-for-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/pre-order-battlefield-3-on-origin-get-dead-space-2-for-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/pre-order-battlefield-3-on-origin-get-dead-space-2-for-free/#comments That free game that Origin is offering for a Battlefield 3 pre-order? It's totally Dead Space 2! So now on top of early beta access and a host of DLC, EA is offering even more incentive by offering a great game.

Of course, there's a catch: there's only a limited number of copies of Dead Space 2 available. It's really silly, considering the free copy is a download. What's the matter, EA? No more storage space in the old digital warehouse?

If you want to go with Origin, you've got until September 19 to pre-order Battlefield 3 for your free ticket to the nightmarish space-romp.

JoystiqPre-order Battlefield 3 on Origin, get Dead Space 2 for free originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3dead-space-2dicedigital-distributioneaoriginpcvisceralvisceral-gamesFri, 16 Sep 2011 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Science picks Dead Space 2 as 360's scariest game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/science-picks-dead-space-2-as-360s-scariest-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/science-picks-dead-space-2-as-360s-scariest-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/science-picks-dead-space-2-as-360s-scariest-game/#comments You could rely on your friends, game critics or helpful GameStop sales associates to tell you which games are scary, but that's so two-thousand-and-late. We're sticking with science, thanks to this helpful feature from Gamasutra, which used player feedback and biometric data to rate not only the most frightening games, but their most horrifying moments. [Update: The study itself was conducted by Vertical Slice, so if you're looking for dream jobs in the research field, that's where we'd start.)

A victor was picked, but some of the study's other conclusions were more interesting. For instance: The threat of combat was typically scarier than combat itself. Also, gore, while provocative, wasn't, particularly frightening. The game that understood those concepts the best? Well, that would be Dead Space 2, which took the brass ring over Condemned, Alan Wake and Resident Evil 5.

Presumably, Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis was not in the running.

JoystiqScience picks Dead Space 2 as 360's scariest game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>condemneddead-space-2gamasutrahorrormicrosoftresident-evil-5xboxThu, 08 Sep 2011 19:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-order Battlefield 3 on Origin and get a free game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/pre-order-battlefield-3-on-origin-and-get-a-free-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/pre-order-battlefield-3-on-origin-and-get-a-free-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/pre-order-battlefield-3-on-origin-and-get-a-free-game/#comments We already knew that pre-ordering Battlefield 3 on Origin (the only place on PC to offer the game digitally) would net gamers access to an early beta in September, but it would seem EA is sweetening the pot with another offer: a free game. According to Ars Technica, one individual was sent the following statement via email after pre-ordering the game through Origin:
As a special thank you for pre-ordering Battlefield 3 early at Origin, we're offering you a bonus PC digital download game. Please apply the code below at the shopping cart to redeem one PC Digital version of one of our recommended shooter titles: Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2 or Medal of Honor. The price will be reduced to $0 after applying the code at your shopping cart. Hurry-this offer is only good for the month of August, and is exclusive to Origin customers only. See below for more details.
Regardless of how you feel about EA's new platform, the publisher has given you another reason to consider it.

JoystiqPre-order Battlefield 3 on Origin and get a free game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3dead-space-2diceeaea-originmass-effect-2medal-of-honororiginpcpre-orderMon, 15 Aug 2011 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Weekend Sale Roundup: Origin and Direct2Drive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/weekend-sale-roundup-origin-and-direct2drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/weekend-sale-roundup-origin-and-direct2drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/weekend-sale-roundup-origin-and-direct2drive/#comments
For a lot of people, Friday means pay-day, which means a weekend full of extravagant spending: a little boutique shopping, perhaps a night at da club, etc. If you're like us though, and the majority of your pay checks are followed by staying in rather than going out, fear not. Huge weekend sales mean you can still feel like a big spender without having to blow an entire check, all from the comfort of your own home.

Origin's $5 PC offerings are back, along with a slew of fairly-recent console titles like Dead Space 2 and Portal 2 for 40 percent off. Both sales run until August 9, and every console game purchased comes with a complimentary PC copy of Need for Speed Shift.

Direct2Drive, not to be left out of the fun, has both Bulletstorm and Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition marked down to $11.95 a piece. No sale expiration date is listed for either title, which could mean that both are ending right this very second, the thought of which instills a primal fear directly into the shopping cortex of your brain.

JoystiqWeekend Sale Roundup: Origin and Direct2Drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>borderlandsborderlands-game-of-the-yearborderlands-game-of-the-year-editionBulletstormDead-Space-2Direct2DriveEAmicrosoftNeed-for-Speed-ShiftOriginpcplaystationPortal-2ps3salexboxSat, 06 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Crysis 2 ships 3 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/crysis-2-ships-3-million-dead-space-2-at-around-2-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/crysis-2-ships-3-million-dead-space-2-at-around-2-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/crysis-2-ships-3-million-dead-space-2-at-around-2-million/#comments The most memorable sales numbers we've heard about an EA game recently were not good (see: Shadows of the Damned's disappointing debut). EA has some much happier numbers to report (about other games) in its latest quarterly earnings report.

According to the report, Crysis 2 has "sold in" (shipped) "approximately three million units" since its March release, adding another million since last quarter.

You want some more big numbers? How about 15 million FIFA 11 shipments (including various mobile and downloadable versions), and 9 million of Battlefield Bad Company 2? The document is full of large numbers in various denominations; we'll talk about some of the others soon.

JoystiqCrysis 2 ships 3 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Crysis-2dead-space-2eaearningselectronic-artsfy-2012microsoftpcplaystationps3q1salesxboxTue, 26 Jul 2011 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaikai partners with Walmart.com]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/gaikai-partners-with-walmart-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/gaikai-partners-with-walmart-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/gaikai-partners-with-walmart-com/#comments If you're a game streaming service like Gaikai that's looking to partner with online retailers, Walmart.com seems like a pretty good option. (In case you're reading this on a mobile platform that can't see italics, we put them on those last three words to emphasize that were were understating the point. Classic Joystiq!)

The retailer has, according to VentureBeat, added Gaikai in-browser game streaming to its GameCenter page for Dead Space 2 and possibly other titles. At the moment, none of us on staff can see the option to stream the game, but we know it's automatically disabled if you don't have the requisite bandwidth. Maybe we all just need to get fatter pipes?

Assuming it'll all work as designed sooner or later, this could set a pretty important preceden for online game shopping. We just selfishly hope you'll still read our reviews when Skynet lets you try everything before you buy it.

JoystiqGaikai partners with Walmart.com originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2gaikaigame-streaminggamecentermacpcwalmartTue, 21 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space 2 adding free multiplayer maps]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/dead-space-2-adding-free-multiplayer-maps/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/dead-space-2-adding-free-multiplayer-maps/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/dead-space-2-adding-free-multiplayer-maps/#comments EA is adding two new multiplayer maps for free to Dead Space 2 in a couple weeks. The "Outbreak Map Pack," which includes The Academy and The Concourse, will send players back to survive multiplayer evisceration in The Sprawl on May 31 and June 3 for Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively.

The sci-fi horror sequel has done well for EA, shipping over 2 million units and the DS2:Severed DLC mentioned as a digital sales highlight for the publisher. EA makes no mention of the Outbreak Map Pack for the PC version of the game.

JoystiqDead Space 2 adding free multiplayer maps originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2DLCEAElectronic-Artsmicrosoftplaystationps3visceral-gamesxboxMon, 23 May 2011 19:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space series' price dismembered on Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/dead-space-series-price-dismembered-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/dead-space-series-price-dismembered-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/dead-space-series-price-dismembered-on-steam/#comments Steam's week of Electronic Arts franchise discounts continues today with big reductions on the prices of its interstellar Necromorph surgery series. If you've never indulged in Dead Space or Dead Space 2, you can grab both on Steam for $4.99 and $23.99, respectively.

Continue reading Dead Space series' price dismembered on Steam

JoystiqDead Space series' price dismembered on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-spacedead-space-2ea-weekElectronic-Artspcsteamvisceral-gamesSat, 07 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Store offers scary good discount on Dead Space series for PC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/ea-store-offers-scary-good-discount-on-dead-space-series-for-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/ea-store-offers-scary-good-discount-on-dead-space-series-for-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/ea-store-offers-scary-good-discount-on-dead-space-series-for-pc/#comments The EA Store has taken a plasma cutter to the price of the Dead Space series. The downloadable PC versions of Dead Space and Dead Space 2 can be had for $12 and $24, respectively. The sale runs through Sunday, at which point prices will regenerate to their more terrifying original forms.

Continue reading EA Store offers scary good discount on Dead Space series for PC

JoystiqEA Store offers scary good discount on Dead Space series for PC originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 May 2011 03:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-spacedead-space-2eapcvisceral-gamesSat, 07 May 2011 03:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Replica Dead Space plasma cutter filled with deadly lasers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/replica-dead-space-plasma-cutter-filled-with-deadly-lasers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/replica-dead-space-plasma-cutter-filled-with-deadly-lasers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/replica-dead-space-plasma-cutter-filled-with-deadly-lasers/#comments Is your interplanetary mining platform infested with swarms of horrific, mutated Necromorphs? We've got nothing for you, sadly. However, if it's filled with swarms of helpless balloons, YouTube user Kipkay's got the tool you need: a super-powered replica Dead Space 2 plasma cutter.

Continue reading Replica Dead Space plasma cutter filled with deadly lasers

JoystiqReplica Dead Space plasma cutter filled with deadly lasers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 May 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2electronic-artslaserplasma-cuttervisceral-gamesFri, 06 May 2011 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA grows digital sales in Q4, stems losses for fiscal year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/ea-grows-digital-sales-in-q4-stems-losses-for-fiscal-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/ea-grows-digital-sales-in-q4-stems-losses-for-fiscal-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/ea-grows-digital-sales-in-q4-stems-losses-for-fiscal-year/#comments EA enjoyed solid growth in the final quarter of its 2011 fiscal year (ending March 31), thanks in large part to a bump in digital revenue. Digital sales were up $67 million from the same period a year ago to $211 million. Good ol' boxed games weren't slouching though, as packaged goods revenue increased $44 million up to $838 million. In all, EA rebounded from its rough Q3 to record $151 million in profit during the fiscal fourth quarter.

The engine for that growth was a surprisingly impressive quarterly lineup for the company. Seven of its titles from fiscal Q4 have surpassed 1 million units shipped, with Crysis 2, Dead Space 2 and Dragon Age 2 all over the 2-million-shipped mark. DLC for those titles (like Dead Space 2's "Severed" add-on) was the cornerstone of digital profits, as well. Over its entire 2011 fiscal year, EA shipped 12 million units of FIFA 11, 7 million copies of Bad Company 2 (released at the tail end of FY10), and five million each of Medal of Honor, Hot Pursuit and Madden 11.

But it seems that, in the grand scheme, these titles weren't enough to alter EA's fortunes for the fiscal year, which ended in a $267 million loss for the company. We suppose there's still a bit of a silver lining, however -- those losses would seem to sting considerably less than the $677 million lost by EA just one year prior.

JoystiqEA grows digital sales in Q4, stems losses for fiscal year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 May 2011 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-bad-company-2crysis-2dead-space-2dragon-age-2dseaearningselectronic-artsfifa-11financialfy-2011madden-nfl-11medal-of-honormicrosoftmobileneed-for-speed-hot-pursuitnintendopcplaystationps3pspq4salessonywiixboxWed, 04 May 2011 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[EA's various studios raise over a million dollars in charity for Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/eas-various-studios-raise-over-a-million-dollars-in-charity-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/eas-various-studios-raise-over-a-million-dollars-in-charity-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/eas-various-studios-raise-over-a-million-dollars-in-charity-for/#comments EA says that thanks to a variety of promotions and initiatives from quite a few of its studios, the company has raised over a million dollars for helping those affected by the recent natural disasters in Japan. There were quite a few different efforts going, from selling FIFA 11 DLC to auctioning off Dead Space 2 gear and even selling a brand new iOS app called Frog Minutes.

Employees at the Canada Burnaby campus also assisted by packing 100,000 meals with Kids Against Hunger, which were then sent out to affected areas in Japan. If you'd like to donate to the Red Cross and its efforts in Japan, you can do so right here.

JoystiqEA's various studios raise over a million dollars in charity for Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charitydead-space-2eaearthquakefifa-11frog-minutesjapanreliefSun, 24 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Direct2Drive knocking 15% off March's best sellers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/31/direct2drive-knocking-15-off-marchs-best-sellers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/31/direct2drive-knocking-15-off-marchs-best-sellers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/31/direct2drive-knocking-15-off-marchs-best-sellers/#comments In celebration of, um, March, Direct2Drive is reducing the price of this month's top fifteen games by fifteen percent. The list of titles includes the likes of Dead Space 2, Rift, Shogun 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Crysis 2 and Bulletstorm. Fifteen percent amounts to a reasonably hefty $9 discount on $60 titles and around $7.50 on $50 titles, and it also has the effect of lowering Magicka's already ridiculously low $10 price to just $8.50.

Head over to Direct2Drive to see the full list of titles, and enter the promo code "MARCHMAYHEM" at checkout to receive the discount.

JoystiqDirect2Drive knocking 15% off March's best sellers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bulletstormcrysisdead-space-2direct2drivefallout-new-vegasmagickapcriftshogun-2Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaikai is live with streaming demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2 and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/gaikai-is-live-with-streaming-demos-of-mass-effect-2-dead-space/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/gaikai-is-live-with-streaming-demos-of-mass-effect-2-dead-space/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/gaikai-is-live-with-streaming-demos-of-mass-effect-2-dead-space/#comments Following more than a year of media demos and beta testing, cloud gaming startup Gaikai is letting the public try out the fruits of its efforts: Demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2, Spore and The Sims 3 are all playable from within your web browser. That is, if you have the bandwidth -- we don't, apparently. (Granted, we're on gratis Wi-Fi here at GDC.)

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedcloud-gamingdavid-perrydead-space-2demogaikaigame-streamingmacMass-Effect-2pcsporethe-sims-3Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space 2 PC patch released, adds more suits and buttons]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/dead-space-2-pc-patch-released-adds-more-suits-and-buttons/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/dead-space-2-pc-patch-released-adds-more-suits-and-buttons/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/dead-space-2-pc-patch-released-adds-more-suits-and-buttons/#comments Oh dear Dead Space 2 PC players, don't be jealous of your console colleagues clad in all that fresh attire. A patch for your particular version of the game has been released, adding the weapon and armor packs that are available as premium DLC for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. These new armaments will simply show up in the in-game store for free; a sweet little bonus, and perhaps a minor act of contrition, considering the "Severed" expansion won't be coming to your native platform.

The patch also fixes an error with the limited save function of Hardcore mode and adds support for input binding for up to eight mouse buttons. Wait, eight mouse buttons? What kind of monstrosity are you guys clicking that has eight mouse buttons?

JoystiqDead Space 2 PC patch released, adds more suits and buttons originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2eaelectronic-artspatchpcupdatevisceral-gamesFri, 25 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space 2: Severed DLC lopping off limbs on March 1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/dead-space-2-severed-dlc-lopping-off-limbs-on-march-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/dead-space-2-severed-dlc-lopping-off-limbs-on-march-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/dead-space-2-severed-dlc-lopping-off-limbs-on-march-1/#comments We know that, following a week of intense psychotherapy, the shaken nerves and disturbed dreams you developed after playing through Dead Space 2 have started to disperse -- which is why we hate to share this news with you. Visceral Games has announced that the game's two-chapter-long expansion, Severed, will be available on the North American Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store on March 1 for 560 Microsoft Points ($6.99), and will arrive in Europe the following day. Check out a trailer after the jump to see the brand of horrors waiting for the pack's purchasers.

Sure, you could heed the advice of your thereputic advisor and pass on the add-on altogether -- but aren't you curious exactly whose and which limbs are going to get titularly dismembered? We certainly hope they don't belong to our dear, dear Dead Space Girl. You hear us, Necromorphs? Not a finger.

Continue reading Dead Space 2: Severed DLC lopping off limbs on March 1

JoystiqDead Space 2: Severed DLC lopping off limbs on March 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2dead-space-2-severeddlceamicrosoftplaystationps3release-datevisceral-gamesxboxWed, 23 Feb 2011 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[The Demise of Dead Space 2's Franco Delille: How Visceral Killed a Man in One Minute]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-demise-of-dead-space-2s-franco-delille-how-visceral-killed/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-demise-of-dead-space-2s-franco-delille-how-visceral-killed/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-demise-of-dead-space-2s-franco-delille-how-visceral-killed/#comments
Joystiq interviews Visceral Games and finds out how one gruesome minute of Dead Space 2 was made.

In the future, our starship captains won't be as blindly heroic as their television counterparts. Their years of virtual training -- inside holo-capsule games like Dead Space 13: Amputheater -- will impart every single reason to avoid stranded ships and suspect space colonies. Even here, in 2011, Dead Space 2 provides an uncomfortable glimpse at the scary doors, inadequate fluorescent lighting and snarling horrors that await us off-planet. And that's before you die and come back to vicious near-life as a necrotized bag of flesh, running around wildly with scissors for hands.

The inhospitable world of Dead Space 2 and the creatures that make a rickety existence within it hardly seem worthy of care or devotion, yet it's all you see in every fuggy, expertly lit scene. There's no better way to see the detail-driven efforts of developer Visceral Games than by narrowing your focus to just one minute of the game, in which you're forced to watch a man shed every semblance of humanity and transform into a grotesque mess of flesh.

It's probably not as painful as it looks, I found out, because the poor guy doesn't have a brain.

Continue reading The Demise of Dead Space 2's Franco Delille: How Visceral Killed a Man in One Minute

JoystiqThe Demise of Dead Space 2's Franco Delille: How Visceral Killed a Man in One Minute originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationdead-space-2franco-delilleisaac-clarkemicrosoftmodelingpcplaystationps3sloughingtony-gialdiniveronique-garciavisceralvisceral-gamesxboxMon, 21 Feb 2011 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Ops outmaneuvers Marvel vs. Capcom 3 on UK charts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/black-ops-outmaneuvers-marvel-vs-capcom-3-on-uk-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/black-ops-outmaneuvers-marvel-vs-capcom-3-on-uk-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/black-ops-outmaneuvers-marvel-vs-capcom-3-on-uk-charts/#commentsMarvel vs. Capcom 4 review Call of Duty: Black Ops received some marketing reinforcements last week in the UK to regain the top spot, its eighth time as king of the hill. The move stole Marvel vs. Capcom 3's premiere Thor thunder, as the fighter debuted in second place. Don't feel too bad for MvC3, though -- Chart-Track notes that the title sold as many copies in its first week as its predecessor did in its lifetime on PS2 and Xbox (the company doesn't have access to the XBLA and PSN figures).

Dead Space 2 stomped the space yard at third, with Test Drive Unlimited 2 downshifting its top gear premiere into fourth. The fifth and sixth spots are occupied by chart stalwarts FIFA 11 and Just Dance 2, respectively. Check out the full UK top ten after the break.

Continue reading Black Ops outmaneuvers Marvel vs. Capcom 3 on UK charts

JoystiqBlack Ops outmaneuvers Marvel vs. Capcom 3 on UK charts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Call-of-Duty-Black-Opschart-trackchart-track-weeklyDead-Space-2marvel-vs-capcom-3marvel-vs-capcom-3-fate-of-two-worldsmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3UKwiixboxMon, 21 Feb 2011 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Visceral on the believability of Dead Space's Isaac Clarke]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/visceral-on-the-believability-of-dead-spaces-isaac-clarke/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/visceral-on-the-believability-of-dead-spaces-isaac-clarke/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/visceral-on-the-believability-of-dead-spaces-isaac-clarke/#comments In its continuing series on profiling character design in games, IndustryGamers has posted a chat with Visceral creative director Wright Bagwell on Dead Space 2 protagonist, Isaac Clarke. According to Bagwell, it was very important from the beginning that Dead Space's main character was a "normal everyday kind of guy" and that he made logical sense in the game's universe.

"We didn't want you to play a superhero, and we didn't want your character to be a space marine as well," said Bagwell, which led to the idea of an engineer sent to help an abandoned space ship. Not only did this help players identify with Isaac, but it also gave him "a lot of interesting things to do in this world as well."

Dead Space 2 presented new challenges, thanks to Isaac's newfound ability to speak. According to Bagwell, the team at Visceral tried to prevent Isaac's dialogue from pulling players out of the game. Thus the team "focused a lot on having him say things that [the team] thought were situationally appropriate." Speaking from personal experience, we can certainly identify with Isaac hurling expletives during the more shocking moments in Dead Space 2.

Head over to IndustryGamers to read the whole piece, which includes insights on the characters of Nicole and Stross, as well as Visceral's insistence on using creepy nursery rhymes.

JoystiqVisceral on the believability of Dead Space's Isaac Clarke originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Character-designDead-spaceDead-space-2Electronic-artsMicrosoftMobilePlaystationPs3VisceralWright-bagwellXboxFri, 18 Feb 2011 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Why Dead Space Aftermath is like a Kurosawa film]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/video-why-dead-space-aftermath-is-like-a-kurosawa-film/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/video-why-dead-space-aftermath-is-like-a-kurosawa-film/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/video-why-dead-space-aftermath-is-like-a-kurosawa-film/#comments Comparing the Dead Space Aftermath to the works of Akira Kurosawa might seem strange but, believe it or not, this video explains that the animated film borrows from Kurosawa's Rashomon. Specifically, it's told through flashbacks. Also, it totally rips off the space zombie scene.

Continue reading Video: Why Dead Space Aftermath is like a Kurosawa film

JoystiqVideo: Why Dead Space Aftermath is like a Kurosawa film originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2dead-space-aftermatheamicrosoftpcplaystationps3visceral-gamesxboxThu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Riccitiello says it would take 'Dead Space 3' for franchise to produce a 5-million seller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/riccitiello-says-it-would-take-dead-space-3-for-franchise-to-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/riccitiello-says-it-would-take-dead-space-3-for-franchise-to-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/riccitiello-says-it-would-take-dead-space-3-for-franchise-to-p/#comments EA CEO John Riccitiello believes that the Dead Space franchise could reach the "five million unit cadence" with "Dead Space 3," though he didn't outright confirm the next sequel. Riccitiello was listing off the company's "strong, growing franchises" at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference, reports CVG, when he footnoted Dead Space as a franchise close to becoming one of EA's biggest. After rifling off names like Madden, FIFA and Need for Speed, the exec said, "That excludes Dead Space because I think it will probably take Dead Space 3 before we get into that five million unit cadence versus say three, four."

EA has already invested quite a lot in Dead Space, making it an expansive, transmedia property (spanning animated films, comics and a novel). That commitment seemingly paid off with the release of Dead Space 2 last month. The sequel trumped the first game's launch sales "2-to-1," according to EA.

Now, if only there was room in EA's purse to support just one more franchise.

JoystiqRiccitiello says it would take 'Dead Space 3' for franchise to produce a 5-million seller originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-spacedead-space-2dead-space-3eaJohn-riccitiellomicrosoftplaystationps3salesxboxWed, 16 Feb 2011 13:33:00 EST