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DJ Hero gameplay, controller options detailed in latest Game Informer

by Xav de Matos { May 19th 2009 at 2:50PM }

Scans of the latest issue of Game Informer detail controller options and gameplay for Activision's upcoming mixmaster sim, DJ Hero. According to the scans (via Raging Gamer), gameplay will feel at home for Guitar Hero fans, setting tunes upon a three-note track with the outside tracks (green and blue) crossfading left and right. As a note track shifts in position, players must use the crossfader switch on the controller to correctly play the note (think of it as drawing within the lines).

Similar to drum fill sections in Rock Band, DJ Hero allows players to customize certain sections of gameplay with an effects dial on the controller. Certain note tracks will ask players to scratch the controller's platter to successfully complete the note. Also, a rewind setting allows gamers to replay sections of a tune and, of course, the game includes a Star Power-esque multiplier (dubbed "Euphoria"), activated by a button.

Left handed gamers can also join in on the fun as the two-piece controller can be separated and swapped. Looks like Activision is pro-mutant. Kidding, lefties! For all the info make sure to check out the latest issue of Game Informer -- which you probably have nine subscriptions to... and don't even know it.

Gallery: DJ Hero

A Boy and His Blob detailed in latest Nintendo Power

by Ben Gilbert { Mar 3rd 2009 at 7:30PM }

Remember earlier today when we revealed the first image of A Boy and His Blob from Nintendo Power's exclusive story? Well, we lied a little bit when we said that the pixelated image you saw then wasn't going to be revealed until March 5. No folks, we got the full details (well, the first full page of details at least) early from our good buddies at Nintendo Power, and are happy to report that A Boy and His Blob looks to recreate all the enjoyment you had with the original.

Jellybean-related gameplay and the game's story are back for a second run in the Majesco-published, WayForward-developed Wii game and it's set to hit retailers this Fall, according to the NP piece. WayForward, known for recent WiiWare horror/puzzler LIT and technologically impressive Shantae for Game Boy Color, will be hand-drawing all the (yes, 2D) visuals. It's also adding to the original's defensive and puzzle-solving jellybeanery with beans that turn your blob into various offensive items (some examples given are anvil dropping and ground removing). If you want more details (and an interview with the game's director) you'll just have to wait until you get your grubby little mitts on the April issue of Nintendo Power.

Gears of War 2 details emerge from X360 magazine

by Griffin McElroy { May 24th 2008 at 7:00PM }

Though other shooters have surpassed it in terms of Xbox Live activity, we still hold a dear, dear place in our heart for the multiplayer portion of Gears of War -- a place intricately carved by an enemy chainsaw. Sure, the character advancement of Call of Duty 4 and Vegas 2 led to a more compelling overall experience, but they lacked a certain panache that only a well-timed curb stomp can supply.

Imagine our excitement when we caught wind of the intimidating flood of details for the sequel's multiplayer component in the upcoming issue of UK's X360 magazine. There's a full list of said details on our Microsoft-related sister site, but to inspire you to continue reading, here's a few tantalizing buzzwords you'll find behind that link: Meatflag, Poison gas grenade, Flamethrower, Ten person multiplayer, Chainsaw duels, and last but certainly not least, Verandas. If that didn't sell you, we don't know what will.

[Via X3F]

Gay gamer survey results with large hetero inclusion

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 26th 2007 at 3:01AM }

In the summer of 2006, after receiving academic approval from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Jason Rockwood opened up the "Gaymer Survey" to the public. Rockwood expected 600 participants -- if he was lucky -- for the first-of-its-kind approved study exploring the social and behavioral demographic of gay video game players and the role of sexual orientation on gaming habits. The survey was discussed in some regional lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) publications and filtered out to the gaming press. The survey, with over 10,000 respondents, became a sexually inclusive survey of gamers -- gay, straight and bi.

The study originally broke new ground for not only being the first study exploring LGBT gamers, but it was the first academic study of any gamer group. There is currently no academic studies of female gamers or gamers of color. In a 2006 interview, Rockwood said, "The main purpose of the survey was to be a census. Before we can ask more intelligent questions we need to know who we are dealing with. First, we need to prove that homosexual gamers even exist. Yeah, it sounds ridiculous, but that's where you have to start on something like this. This survey is an attempt to quantify the existence of an invisible minority."

Continue after the break for some highlights from the survey

Continued →

Dragon's Quest IX gameplay snippets

by Jason Wishnov { Dec 14th 2006 at 8:00AM }

So, Dragon's Quest IX was announced for the DS recently, and though your classic J-RPG senses tingle, they may in fact go quite unsatisfied. As the mainstay series moves to a portable platform, there will also be some significant shifts in the classic DQ experience.

DQIX seems to be leaning toward the action-RPG end of the role-playing spectrum, as the traditional random battles have been replaced by a Chrono Trigger-style "see the enemies in the field of play" approach. As all four characters' motion and actions are controlled independently, Square-Enix is pushing a four-player cooperative mode (via Wi-Fi? We still don't know) into the game. The players need not stay together; for instance, one player could journey into a nearby cave in search of treasure, while another can head back to town to pick up some much-needed curative supplies. Sounds simple, yet cool.

Stylus control will be implemented, though details remain sketchy; Dragon's Quest IX will be released in 2007, and details remain awesome.

The interactive Wii cost calculator [update 2]

by Jason Wishnov { Sep 21st 2006 at 5:09PM }

Let's face it: the true "price" of the Wii is nowhere close to two hundred and fifty dollars. It varies wildly from person to person, dependent on launch titles, extra controllers, and virtual console points. That's why some clever folks at N-sider.com have put together a lovely calculator for you, to determine how much you'll be spending come November. It gives accurate descriptions of all confirmed launch titles, and takes into account just about everything you could possibly desire ... except, unfortunately, an SD card. Still, with the limited number of Virtual Console titles at launch, the chances that you'll be needing a additional storage immediately are pretty slim. Check below for the entire Wii Fanboy staff's expected costs!

Jason Wishnov - $476.94
Extra controller w/nunchuk, classic controller
Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
2000 Virtual Console points

David Hinkle - $667.70
Extra controller w/nunchuk
Elebits, Excite Truck, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Red Steel, Zelda: Twilight Princess, Trauma Center: Second Opinion
2000 Virtual Console points

Alisha Karabinus - $635.90
Extra controller w/nunchuk, classic controller
Excite Truck, Red Steel, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Zelda: Twilight Princess
2000 Virtual Console points

Nikki Inderlied - $558.99
Extra controller w/nunchuk, classic controller
Zelda: Twilight Princess, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Red Steel, Rayman Raving Rabbids
500 Virtual Console points

What are you guys spending? Let us know!

[Update 1: Added in Alisha's projected costs.]

[Update 2: Added in Nikki's projected costs.]

Aussie Wii for AUD399.95 on Dec. 7

by Kyle Orland { Sep 15th 2006 at 10:45AM }

Nintendo of Australia has just sent out a press release announcing the Wii will cost just over 399 Australian dollars when it is released there on Dec. 7. The release is short on further details, but does indicate Wii Sports will come packed in and that roughly 20 games will be available before the end of the year in the land down under. More details as we get them.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

U.S. Nintendo presser somewhat-liveblogging [update 8]

by Kyle Orland { Sep 14th 2006 at 10:00AM }

Our man on the ground in NYC for the U.S. Wii information event has been delayed [update 1: He's there and feeding information below the jump], but we're keeping up with the news via sites like GoNintendo and Engadget (who provided the above photo). A lot of the stuff was already revealed in the Japanese press conference early this morning but here's what seems to be new:

Confirmed price of $249.99 on Nov. 19 in U.S. with Wii Sports pack-in. Worldwide debut is in U.S. Reggie: "One price, one config, one color: white." Included in box seems similar to Japanese system, besides Wii Sports.
Games will cost roughly $49.99.
Virtual console games will be $5 for NES, $8 for SNES, $10 for N64. Super Mario 64, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong and Legend of Zelda at launch.
Thirty titles in U.S. by year's end, about half at launch. Launch games include (compiled from GoNintendo/Engadget): The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Excite Truck, Trauma Center, Madden 07, Need for Speed: Carbon, Elebits, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, Metal Slug Anthology, Rayman: Raving Rabids, Red Steel, Barnyard, Cars, Avatar, Blazing Angels, Far Cry: Vengeance.

Continue reading for more direct from the press conference.

Continued →

USA Today confirms U.S. Wii price, date

by Kyle Orland { Sep 14th 2006 at 9:25AM }

With Nintendo's American conference set to start any minute, USA Today is confirming the U.S. Wii launch date of Nov. 19 and price of $250 in the U.S. (the news was originally broken early this morning by the New York Times). The USA Today story also includes confirms $5 -$10 pricing for most virtual console games and has a picture of what seems to be the U.S. box for the system (above) complete with a big note that Wii Sports is indeed included.

Keep checking Joystiq for all the news coming out of Nintendo HQ today.

[Thanks Marty]