Joystiq

Patent troll Lodsys sues Gameloft, Disney and more for using in-app purchases

Mike Schramm — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:30:00 EST

A company named Lodsys has filed suit against a number of mobile game developers, including Gameloft, Gamevil, and Disney, claiming that they're infringing on patents describing the technology behind in-app purchases. Lodsys is well known for its patent battles, previously filing suits against a number of smaller iOS developers, which forced Apple to get involved to say that it had already licensed Lodsys' patents and any other claims were superfluous. That case is scheduled to go to trial later this year.

The new lawsuits all name one specific title from each company: Gameloft is targeted for the in-app purchases in Real Soccer 2012, and Disney's suit mentions Where's My Water? [pictured]. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has also posted about the lawsuits, calling Lodsys a "patent troll" and asking for legal help to fight the company.

Patent troll Lodsys sues Gameloft, Disney and more for using in-app purchases originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Halo 4 getting new Forge Island map for free on April 11

Mike Schramm — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST

343 Industries has announced at PAX East this weekend that Halo 4 is getting a new Forge map, with plenty of blank, open canvas for Halo level makers to paint their creativity on. As you can see in the quick video on IGN's page, "Forge Island" actually has three different islands of varying size, all completely flat and round, to give map makers lots of room to build whatever they want.

The map will also come with some new Forge pieces, which the developers have already used to build a copy of Hang 'Em High. 343 specifically asked at the panel if a fan would be kind enough to remake Blood Gulch on the biggest island, so that's possible too. The new map and related tools are all being released for free on April 11, just a few days after the Castle Map Pack arrives on April 8.

Halo 4 getting new Forge Island map for free on April 11 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony and Unity enter 'strategic partnership' for tools optimized for PlayStation platforms

Mike Schramm — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:40:00 EST

Sony has announced a partnership with Unity that will result in tools built for "optimized deployment" to the PlayStation 4, PS3, Vita and the PlayStation Mobile platform.

Games developed on the "Unity for PlayStation" platform will be able to take advantage of system-specific features - like the Vita's touchpads and cameras - and can integrate easily into the PlayStation Network. The tools also allow developers to more easily port titles across to other supported Unity devices, such as iOS and Android.

Sony's platforms already support Unity's tools, with Might & Delight's Pid and Funbits' Escape Plan built with the engine. The full Unity for PlayStation toolset will be available along with the rest of the PlayStation platform development tools later on this fall.

Continue reading Sony and Unity enter 'strategic partnership' for tools optimized for PlayStation platforms

Sony and Unity enter 'strategic partnership' for tools optimized for PlayStation platforms originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Keflings dev NinjaBee to debut 'Nutjitsu' at PAX East

Mike Schramm — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:59:00 EST

Developer NinjaBee (makers of XBLA hits like Cloning Clyde, A Band of Bugs and A World of Keflings) is revealing a brand new game at this weekend's PAX East show, titled Nutjitsu. That title is all we have so far; NinjaBee says it'll be playable at the show (booth #599, if you're going), but doesn't say anything else about what it is. It's kung-fu fighting squirrels, right? Can it be kung-fu fighting squirrels?

In addition to the new game, NinjaBee is also showing off A World of Keflings for Wii U and the recently released version for Windows 8. It's also giving away prizes, including a free copy of Kingdom of Keflings for PC to anyone who plays any of the demos, and 1600 Microsoft points to the high scorer on Nutjitsu every day. If you can't be at the show, don't worry, because we will. Stay tuned for coverage this weekend.

World of Keflings dev NinjaBee to debut 'Nutjitsu' at PAX East originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Payday 2 will feature a 'contract database,' coming this summer

Mike Schramm — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:45:00 EST

Starbreeze has revealed new features, game upgrades, and a release window for Payday 2, the sequel the Overkill-developed multiplayer shooter Payday: The Heist. According to a new fact sheet released today, Overkill's latest is due out this summer as a downloadable game on Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network, and the PC via Steam.

The first game only offered a few different "heists" to play, but the sequel features CRIMENET, a "contract database" offering dozens of different jobs to take, which can take place across multiple stages and change according to certain equipment purchases (like a faster escape car or an inside man). Additionally, each level has a new amount of dynamic content, including random layouts or rare events, and finishing each job rewards loot like new masks, weapons, or other accessories.

Players also get to choose a profession of Mastermind, Enforcer, Ghost or Technician, each with its own skills and equipment to use, and can work their way up from the lowest thug on the totem pole to high-end heisters as they play. That summer release is coming up quick, so we should see more of the game very soon.

Payday 2 will feature a 'contract database,' coming this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dev shares prototype footage of never-made Star Wars fighting game

Mike Schramm — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST

Josh Tsui, current president of Robomodo and veteran game developer on titles like Mortal Kombat 4, Fight Night Round 3, and Tony Hawk Shred, has shared some video on Twitter of an old prototype for a Star Wars-based fighting game.

The footage, which you can watch in full below, features Anakin Skywalker and Darth Maul going at it with lightsabers, hacking away and using the force for throws until one of them is able to skewer the other.

As the description on the video says, the footage is fairly "repetitive," but it was simply designed to show off all of the potential moves a game like this could make. There was a presentation paired with the video as well, and Tsui says it was part of a pitch for a new game back when he was working at Studio Gigante in Chicago. We'd say his team might want to return to the idea for the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII, but perhaps it's better if the Jedi knights stay away from fighting games in general.

Continue reading Dev shares prototype footage of never-made Star Wars fighting game

Dev shares prototype footage of never-made Star Wars fighting game originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon adds in-app microtransactions for PC, Mac and browser game devs

David Hinkle — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:00:00 EST

Up until now, developers of Windows PC, Mac and browser-based games offered through Amazon haven't been able to present microtransactions to consumers. Total bummer, right? Beginning today, however, developers can offer a multitude of extra power-ups or goofy hats in game for nominal fees, allowing players to enhance their experience while slowly bleeding out their wallets.

With the new service available now, developers can begin selling content at any time. In-app purchases will be billed through a player's selected Amazon, making the process of paying for those piecemeal items easier. With in-game content and toilet paper available for purchase from Amazon, the argument for the existence of any other store is becoming less compelling.

Continue reading Amazon adds in-app microtransactions for PC, Mac and browser game devs

Amazon adds in-app microtransactions for PC, Mac and browser game devs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MechWarrior Online gets 'Mechsgiving' update

Mike Schramm — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 04:30:00 EST

MechWarrior Online finally went into Open Beta late last month, and the team isn't wasting any time updating the game with new content. They're asking players to celebrate "Mechsgiving" later this week with a new mech called the Cataphract, which features a solid offense combined with jump jets and plenty of armor.

The update introduces the "Frozen City at Night" environment, along with new modules for targeting and the Beagle Active Probe, which can increase a mech's sensor range.

The folks at Pirahna Games will show the content live on Twitch.tv tomorrow, November 21 at 6pm PST, and invite players to jump in with them during that time. Pictures of the Cataphract (and its four variants) are in the gallery below.

Gallery: MechWarrior Online (Cataphract Mechs)

MechWarrior Online gets 'Mechsgiving' update originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alt-Minds is a 'transmedia fiction' from Amy publishers, coming November 5

Mike Schramm — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:00:00 EST

Lexis Numérique is setting its sights on its next title: Alt-Minds, a game the publisher claims will feature "a true transmedia fiction." Its first title since launching the less-than illustrious horror game Amy, the European publisher says that Alt-Minds will arrive on both PC and Mac on November 5, along with a companion app.

Alt-Minds follows the story of five young scientists working on a mysterious physics experiment. While the PC/Mac game will tell the core story, players will also be able to use the location-based app to find story clues in the real world, and get (oh so not creepy) texts and phone calls directly from the story's characters.

The experience will take place over eight weeks, with participants being given clues or missions at any time during the period. If you can't be on your computer all of the time, the game will also have a "catch-up mode," to access past missions and re-play live events. To help tell its story, Alt-Minds will have a web series of ten seven-minute episodes, explaining the scientific background of the proceedings as they unfold.

The full experience will be free for everyone for a week. After that, players will need to pay about $5 per episode or around $30 for the entire series.

Continue reading Alt-Minds is a 'transmedia fiction' from Amy publishers, coming November 5

Alt-Minds is a 'transmedia fiction' from Amy publishers, coming November 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Wasteland 2 screenshot is only the beginning of development

Mike Schramm — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 23:00:00 EST

The screenshot above is your very first look at the Kickstarter-funded Wasteland 2, presenting some environment and character art from the game as it's being worked on. The project hit its goal of $900k easily on the nearly ubiquitous crowdfunding service, and ended up with nearly $2.9 million.

Over on the official blog, the developers say they're releasing this early shot for feedback, and that they're also almost done with the game's main site, which is where backers will be able to update their support if they'd like to do so. The props found above are largely part of Unity's own database of in-game items, customized for the Wasteland world. As the team members learn to use the Unity engine, they're hoping this is only the beginning of the way the game looks.

Presumably, they'll will have some help: Obsidian Entertainment promised to pitch in if the Kickstarter reached at least $2.1 million.

First Wasteland 2 screenshot is only the beginning of development originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Critical Path, more than an archive of interviews with your favorite devs

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:30:00 EST

Critical Path is, for now, a series of individual documentaries with influential game developers, allowing them to speak freely about the industry and what the future of gaming may come to be. For now, the interviews are candid, short and sweet, but documentary filmmaker David Grabias has plans to turn this project into much more than an online interview storage space.

"We have a few goals," Grabias tells Joystiq. "We want to provide a documentary-based venue for critical discussion about the art of making video games. We hope to provide developers with a place where they can come for nuggets of inspiration. We also want to provide players with insight into their game experience, and hopefully make them aware of the great minds behind the great games. Finally, we feel we are in a fascinating era in game development. We want to document it for future generations."

Critical Path currently offers 121 video clips, 30-120 seconds each, distilled from more than 30 hours of interviews with developers such as Cliff Bleszinski, Sid Meier, Ken Levine, Jordan Mechner, Chris Hecker, Peter Molyneux, Will Wright and Hideo Kojima. There are "a ton more videos in the pipeline," Grabias says, but Artifact is waiting to see how people handle the current offering and will take feedback about other subjects and developers fans are interested in.

Critical Path has a few more "transmedia" stages under development, including a feature-length television documentary about the art and anatomy of games, and a mobile app that will go live "hopefully sooner rather than later," Grabias says.

Continue reading Critical Path, more than an archive of interviews with your favorite devs

Critical Path, more than an archive of interviews with your favorite devs originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unity announces version 4 of its game engine, with new animation system and Linux support

Mike Schramm — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 02:30:00 EST

Unity has announced version 4 of its game engine, available now in pre-order form from the company's store. Unity is used in everything from indie iOS hits to browser-based MMOs, and the new version of the engine contains a slew of new updates, including a new animation tech called Mechanim, better visual quality and rendering, and new options for publishing online with Adobe's Flash and in Linux.

All developers who pay the rather heavy license fee for the engine (the Pro version, at least - the current version is available as a free download if you just want to play with it) will get access to the new beta for free. And Unity promises more news about what Unity 4 can do for game developers at the upcoming Unite12 event in Amsterdam later this year.

Gallery: Unity 4

Unity announces version 4 of its game engine, with new animation system and Linux support originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft planning to expand Toronto studio to 800 employees within 10 years

Mike Schramm — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:00:00 EST

Ubisoft Montreal, as we've reported before, is a huge video game outfit with a large team of developers coordinating multiple projects at a time, across up to six different studios. Ubisoft wants to repeat that structure in its new Toronto studio, according to the Financial Post. The French company is adding over 600 employees to the current staff of 210 over the next 10 years, which means an investment of over $500 million in that time.

That has big ramifications, not only for Ubisoft's future as a publisher and developer, but for Toronto's Wallace Avenue neighborhood as well (where these employees will live, work, and spend all of this money). As for the studio itself, it's currently at work on five upcoming Ubisoft titles, including the next Splinter Cell. As more and more is invested in the operation there, that list will probably grow.

Ubisoft planning to expand Toronto studio to 800 employees within 10 years originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indie Fund selects The Swapper as next investment

Mike Schramm — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 01:00:00 EST

Eerie and remarkable puzzle platformer The Swapper, last seen at Indiecade last year, has been chosen as the next financed title by the Indie Fund. The fund, put together by a team of indie developers, is designed to make sure developers of great games get the money they need to reach players. Past recipients of the Fund include games like Q.U.B.E. and Dear Esther, both of which recouped their investment very quickly.

So if you weren't already on the lookout for The Swapper, time to get out the telescope. The game is made by two young developers from the University of Helsinki (who told Joystiq that the title's unique graphical look was made using pictures of models built with clay), and though they've said it will likely arrive on "PC and Mac, maybe something else," they haven't announced release plans just yet.

Indie Fund selects The Swapper as next investment originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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7Sixty releasing Western version of HurricaneX2 on XBLA as Kung Fu Strike

Mike Schramm — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:00:00 EST

Rumors of developer 7Sixty being hard at work on a kung fu project, based on the Chinese game HurricaneX2, are true. The game is coming to an Xbox Live Arcade near you as Kung Fu Strike: The Warrior's Rise. The teaser trailer above doesn't show much in terms of gameplay, but you can see the screenshots below for more (and there's gameplay of the Eastern version out there as well).

The title looks like a quick and stylistic arcade beat-em-up, a genre that certainly has its fans. 7Sixty says the game, which comes with local co-op and versus modes, is showing up on XBLA "early this year." Expect to see more "very soon."
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7Sixty releasing Western version of HurricaneX2 on XBLA as Kung Fu Strike originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft's Reflections studio nominated for Innovation Award, now hiring

Mike Schramm — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:00:00 EST

Ubisoft's Reflections studio, the developers of Driver: San Francisco, Just Dance 3, and currently working on Far Cry 3, has been nominated for an Innovation Award by the UK's Royal Television Society of the North East, spotlighting "exceptional contributions to technological and production innovations." In other words, they produce games real good, ya hear?

The awards will be handed out on Saturday in a ceremony at Newcastle upon Tyne in Northeast England. Reflections also tells Joystiq that the company is growing and hiring at the moment, so if you want to make games and live in the UK (or are willing to move there), there might be an opening for you.

Continue reading Ubisoft's Reflections studio nominated for Innovation Award, now hiring

Ubisoft's Reflections studio nominated for Innovation Award, now hiring originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook looking to expand Credits to other gaming portals

Jordan Mallory — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EST

Facebook's thick, sinewy tendrils continue to twist and worm their way through every facet of the internet's expansive infrastructure, as the social giant has unceremoniously announced plans to expand the Facebook Credits system to other sites. Sandwiched between payment system and graph API updates on the Platform Update developers blog, the brief entry names Gamehouse's Collapse! Blast as the project's initial testbed, adding that interested developers should get in touch.

Rather than using Paypal or their credit cards, users now sign into Collapse! Blast via Facebook, at which point their existing Facebook Credits can be spent on virtual goods. Should the expansion progress beyond these initial testing phases, Facebook Credits may provide appsperience developers with a solution that's easier and cheaper to implement than a proprietary one. Facebook's massive existing install base doesn't hurt things either, and since adoption is the key to standardization, maybe this is the first step towards a Star Trek-esque credits-based utopian future society.

Facebook looking to expand Credits to other gaming portals originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IndieCade 2011: Tom Sennett cares about Deepak Fights Robots

Mike Schramm — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:45:00 EST

When Tom Sennett stepped on stage to pick up the Game Design award at this year's IndieCade, his entire speech suggested strongly that he doesn't, um, really care. But here's his secret: He actually does. "I take the work very seriously," he said. When it comes to Deepak Fights Robots (currently available on Mac, Windows and Linux), Sennett actually cares very much.

Sure, the graphics look like they were created with free software and a mouse (they were), the action ranges from surreal to nonsensical, and the game's funky soundtrack and aesthetic (that extended even to the signs around Sennett's IndieCade display, as seen above) might make you think Deepak Fights Robots is just a joke. It is funny, but once you dive into the game mechanics at play here, there's a surprising amount of depth and insight built on just a few standard platformer-style tropes.

Continue reading IndieCade 2011: Tom Sennett cares about Deepak Fights Robots

IndieCade 2011: Tom Sennett cares about Deepak Fights Robots originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trion picks up David Luehmann to head third-party dev program

Mike Schramm — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:30:00 EST

Trion Worlds has hired on games developer David Luehmann to take care of its third-party development arm, and Luehmann says he'll be working on "two, three or four more" titles for the company to develop and publish in conjunction with third parties. Luehmann formerly worked with Microsoft Game Studios, a division that knows quite a bit about dealing with cross-company development, having acquired Rare and Lionhead, as well as dealing with other developers like Epic Games, Double Fine, and lots of other solid game houses.

Trion Worlds of course made and released the popular MMO Rift, and is currently working on an MMORTS title in conjuction with Petroglyph called End of Nations. Luehmann says that Trion isn't looking for any specific number of third party games to publish, but that the company is looking for "something that will turn into a fantastic experience" from a studio that's working on "connected" titles.

Trion picks up David Luehmann to head third-party dev program originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadian Game Development Talent Awards announced

Mike Schramm — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:05:00 EST

The Alliance numérique is a Canadian digital industry network that's putting together, in conjunction with the Canadian Interactive Alliance, the first-ever Canadian Game Development Talent Awards. This ceremony will honor Canadian finalists and winners in a number of different categories around video gaming, putting a spotlight on the creative talent available in America's neighbors to the north.

The Canadian video game industry is growing by leaps and bounds. Not only is the audience surprisingly large up there, but Pierre Proulx, General Manager of Alliance numérique, says that Canada is "now the third most important cluster in terms of video game development in the world," presumably after Japan and the United States.

The awards ceremony is being chaired by developer Jason Della Rocca, and will take place on November 2, 2011 at the Montreal International Game Summit. You can see the full announcent after the break.

Continue reading Canadian Game Development Talent Awards announced

Canadian Game Development Talent Awards announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Puddle preview: Liquid assets

Mike Schramm — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:20:00 EST

Discovered among the demo units at Konami's pre-E3 event yesterday, sandwiched in between much less surprising titles like Burgertime: World Tour and Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour (with names as generic as their gameplay) was Puddle, an intriguing little game wrapped around a splashy concept.

The Konami rep running Puddle didn't have a lot of information on the game's origins, but a little Googling reveals something surprising: Puddle was a winner in the Independent Games Festival's Student Showcase at GDC 2010 earlier this year, put together by a team from the French school ENJMIN. The Konami display listed Neko Entertainment as the developer for the release on display, so presumably the French developer has hired those students to release the PC title (still available for download) on Xbox 360 and PS3.

The PS3 version is Move compatible (the Xbox version is controller-only, I was told), and that's how I played it. While the version on display was clearly still a work in progress, with most levels missing and lots of placeholder code in the UI, it was enough to see there's something special about this game.

Continue reading Puddle preview: Liquid assets

Puddle preview: Liquid assets originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metacritic drops individual developer ratings for good

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST

Though Metacritic's recent policy of not only applying scores to video games, but also the individual people who created those games, drew some ire from the site's users, we thought it was a masterstroke. Assigning people arbitrary scores based on their past achievements? Seriously, the person who came up with that had to be, like, at least a 93. Sadly, the ratings were short-lived, and in a recent GamesIndustry interview, Metacritic founder Marc Doyle (a known 77) said, "We have no plans to bring it back."

Ultimately, Mr. 77 said the site isn't meant to "fuel some larger discussion over what person is more worthy than some other person." That's actually kind of a nice sentiment, but it's that lack of bloodthirstiness that's keeping Mr. Doyle from breaking into the low 80s.

Metacritic drops individual developer ratings for good originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live Indie Games moved to 'Specialty Shops' on new Dashboard, devs not happy

Mike Schramm — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:30:00 EST

The new Xbox 360 Dashboard Update makes the whole interface look smoother and cleaner, but it has rubbed one part of the community the wrong way. Xbox Live Indie Game creators are bummed over on the Microsoft Developer Network forums, as their creations have been relegated to the "Specialty Shops" section of the new Dashboard, hidden behind the Avatar Marketplace and away from most of the game and demo traffic.

Most developers actually sound resigned to their fate, admitting that, while there are a few indie game breakouts, the category in general wasn't a big moneymaker for Microsoft, so it's not surprising it didn't get the spotlight when the update came around. But other devs say it's a chicken-and-the-egg problem, that indie games won't get the sales without the exposure, and hiding them away only dooms them to more failure.

That said, there's no sales data yet off of the new Dashboard; we'll just have to wait and see what effect this new placement has.

[Thanks, Richard!]

Xbox Live Indie Games moved to 'Specialty Shops' on new Dashboard, devs not happy originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Xbox Live Achievements work

Mike Schramm — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

This post is for eggheads only -- we won't be talking about how to get Xbox Live achievements, or how the system of earning Gamerscore actually works. Nope, the latest Xbox Engineering blog post gets down and dirty with the actual software and hardware behind the Xbox Live Achievements system, and not only how your Xbox actually learns from whatever game you're playing that you just earned some points, but how you friends get to know it as well.

Turns out the sound we most connect with the whole system (that "Achievement Unlocked" beep) was an afterthought -- originally, Microsoft's team wasn't planning on having any notification of point scoring at all. The idea of achievements has evolved over time as well -- they did start out with the 5-50 and 1000 Gamerscore requirements, but since launch, devs have better learned how to use Achievements and how to customize them. Apparently there's a whole bunch of code and science behind the whole thing. Go figure! We always thought it was unicorn magic of some kind.

How Xbox Live Achievements work originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Wideload Games' Patrick Curry talks Disney Guilty Party, life after 'Stubbs'

Mike Schramm — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:00:00 EST

Some of the most fun to be had during multiplayer video games isn't actually in the game itself -- it's outside of the games, where players chat with each other for fun, break down a strategy during co-op, or trash talk in-between deathmatches. You don't usually get XP for taunting over voicechat or telling your team where the enemy is, but there's a reward nevertheless, a social bonus completely independent of the code that developers write.

Wideload Games has done a great job of focusing on that gameplay in Disney Guilty Party. I got to play the same co-op Party Mode as Randy at a pre-E3 event this week, and while it's definitely a family game, it competently serves up custom-made mysteries for families to take on. In hunting down and accusing various colorful suspects, that out-of-game conversation and interaction becomes just as important and fun as the in-game button pressing and Wiimote waggling.

Game Director Patrick Curry was my partner-in-crime-solving, and since we have common roots in Chicago (I used to work in the same building, one floor below Wideload's studios), we had a quick chat about the studio's direction towards family games, and its acquisition by Disney Interactive.

Continue reading Interview: Wideload Games' Patrick Curry talks Disney Guilty Party, life after 'Stubbs'

Interview: Wideload Games' Patrick Curry talks Disney Guilty Party, life after 'Stubbs' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo once again tops the Develop 100

Mike Schramm — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:30:00 EST

Develop magazine has published its latest Develop 100, a list of 100 video game developers ranked by the amount of money they made at UK retail. There's a digital version of the whole book online, but the list is available in quick-browse form over on the website, and there are plenty of big industry names. Nintendo has topped the list -- it did the same thing a few years ago before Blizzard stole the No. 1 spot last time around (down to No. 80 this year).

Infinity Ward, a development house whose best days may be behind it, sits at No. 2. The biggest surprise in the top 10 may be Yuke's at No. 9, the company behind a long history of wrestling titles and creators of the popular UFC Undisputed line. It's been around this list before, though, having reached as high as No. 8 a few years ago. Midway Newcastle is on the list at No. 90, despite having shut down last year.

The US claims both the most studios on the list (40 percent) as well as the most profit earned (£484.78 million). And, in general, profits are up from previous years -- Nintendo itself is making about £70 million more than it did the last time it was in first place. Remember, these are all UK totals, but Develop has worked hard to make a fairly representative list of worldwide developers.

Nintendo once again tops the Develop 100 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 May 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skate 3: Good times with product placement

Mike Schramm — Fri, 07 May 2010 06:33:00 EST

Self-identification through product choice is a mainstay of the skateboarding scene, from t-shirts to shoes to skate decks to the soundtracks on skate videos. It's all part of the culture, so it's only fitting that a skateboarding game - say, Skate 3 - shares in that. To celebrate this common thread, let's play spot the product placement after the break!

Continue reading Skate 3: Good times with product placement

Skate 3: Good times with product placement originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 May 2010 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Blizzard dev starts Atomic Operations game studio

Mike Schramm — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Industry veteran Chris Millar has been around -- he's been with Blizzard since the WarCraft II days, and has worked on everything from Black and White 2 to Fat Princess - but now he's off to head up his own company called Atomic Operations. In this quick Q&A with Gamasutra, he says that the company will be a grab-bag of methods and products, all using "an evolved production method similar to that of movies." They've already got a project out the door, too: Atomic is the company that's supporting Fat Princess, with the bugfixes released the other day and presumably more to come.

Millar and Atomic Operations join the multitude of other Blizzard veterans off working on their own companies. Let's see, there's Keith Lee and his crew at Booyah, the ex-Blizzard folks at Red 5 Studios, the unfortunate souls at Castaway Entertainment and Flagship Studios (now Gravity Bear and Gargantuan Studios), new WoW TCG licensees Cryptozoic, and a few other little developers and divisions headed up by ex-Blizzard devs. Whew, that's a whole lot of babies -- Blizzard is like the Zeus of gaming studios lately. What are they serving in the cafeteria over there, startup cola?

Former Blizzard dev starts Atomic Operations game studio originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK moves forward with game tax relief

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:55:00 EST

[Flickr: Bashed]

Following exhaustive lobbying by TIGA, the UK will implement tax relief for video game developers. The change will allow game companies to keep more profits from successful products and receive tax credits to reduce losses when their games don't perform well.

TIGA CEO Richard Wilson believes that the relief will "protect 3,550 graduate level jobs, increase or safeguard £457 million in development expenditure and encourage developers to adopt new business models and create new intellectual property." He continued that it was a "decision at the right time for the right industry."

The UK games industry has been hit particularly hard by the current economic climate and further affected by a lack of recognition for the sector. In stark contrast is Canada, with its favorable tax breaks, as proven once again this past week as Warner Bros. announced it was opening a major studio in Montreal.

UK moves forward with game tax relief originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft bringing 'the full lineup' of Natal titles to E3

Mike Schramm — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:00:00 EST

GDC 2010 is the hotness this week, but according to Microsoft's Mindy Mount (speaking at a tech conference in NYC), E3 should be fun this year, too. As you might expect, Microsoft is bringing "the full lineup" of Project Natal titles to the convention in June.

We know there are a whole bunch of developers working on Natal titles, including EA, Capcom, Forza Motorport's Turn 10, and SpawnPoint Studios. Mount promises that Microsoft is "putting some of our best people on coming up with great game ideas for this, and we're going to have some great stuff." We'll start working out now to make sure we have enough stamina to flail our limbs all week long.

Microsoft bringing 'the full lineup' of Natal titles to E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The9 invests nearly $15 million into Red 5 Studios, Fire Rain

Mike Schramm — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:00:00 EST

The9 didn't have the best year in 2009 -- Blizzard decided to take away its ability to run World of Warcraft in China, and as a result, the company reported a Cataclysmic drop in revenues. But the company doesn't want you counting it out of the MMO game just yet: Reuters says that The9 has invested almost $15 million into the ailing Red 5 Studios (which, coincidentally, is staffed by some ex-Blizzard employees) as well as China-based developer Fire Rain. Last we'd heard of Red 5, it was working on some kind of fantasy MMO, though that may have since changed to an MMOFPS. There's definitely an MMO game of some kind; The studio told our buds at Massively that even with The9's help, the game will be aimed at a worldwide market, not just Chinese players.

Time will tell if The9 has a solid strategy to rebound after the big loss of WoW, or if it's desperately trying to invest the last bit of capital to keep the company alive. Red 5's work has always seemed interesting -- here's hoping this infusion is enough to get it to a worthwhile release.

The9 invests nearly $15 million into Red 5 Studios, Fire Rain originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Levine goes behind the scenes on System Shock 2

Mike Schramm — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

Irrational Games continues to empty out its vault of memories and secrets over on its newly commissioned blog -- Ken Levine and the crew are revealing so much old insider information over there you have to wonder how long they'll keep it up. Today, it's "what might have been" on System Shock 2, as Levine relates what they would have liked to do with the SHODAN showdown game, given more time and resources. The game was originally designed as an Apocalypse Now-style assassination in space, and it included some zero-G gameplay ideas (that sound pretty similar to what Dead Space pulled off years later). The ending also had to be rewritten, as the cinematic that Levine got back didn't have much to do with the script that he had originally put together.

And perhaps the most disturbing factoid is that the entire game was created in just 900 square feet of office space, full of overworked (and smelly) game developers. Wandering around the Von Braun was scary and all, but spending 11 months in a tiny room full of developers on crunch? No wonder Levine sounds ecstatic he survived.

Ken Levine goes behind the scenes on System Shock 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brain drain hurting UK's game development industry, government to rethink subsidies

Majed Athab — Tue, 19 May 2009 04:01:00 EST

[Image credit: ZDNet]

The UK is not only looking to remedy its ailing game development scene by rallying against outsourcing, but is also in need of finding a better solution to the bigger, and arguably more pressing, issue of brain drain. Professionals in the British game industry are leaving their native land for places like Canada and France, where game developers receive tax breaks and other incentives not offered in the UK. Tax breaks are among the most sought after subsidies for British devs, and if they're not getting it, they're obviously going to have to look elsewhere. And, look elsewhere they have -- on record, there are at least 30,000 British expats in BC, Canada alone.

The Guardian reports that communications minister, Lord Stephen Carter, is currently weighing out the best options of support to combat shrinkage, though it's not certain if and when these incentives will come into effect. The British developer landscape has become quite barren; dev studios and projects have been axed in recent times, while others have been sold to foreign companies. Of course, consumers in Britain are unaware of the state its development industry is in; they're too busy buying the latest fitness thingamabobs from Japan.

Brain drain hurting UK's game development industry, government to rethink subsidies originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 May 2009 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surprise! Nintendo dismisses WiiWare sales threshold as 'rumour and speculation'

JC Fletcher — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST

Whenever a topic comes up that Nintendo doesn't want to address, the company responds with, "We don't comment on rumors and speculation." Basically, anything other than a press release or recorded statement from an executive is considered rumor and speculation. MotionPlus release date? Rumors and speculation! A new DS model? Rumors and speculation! (Well, "research and speculation," just to keep it fresh!)

And so it is with the WiiWare sales threshold story presented yesterday. A Nintendo UK spokesperson told Edge that the information was "rumour and speculation." Technically, it's true to say that -- statements from unnamed developers really are rumors, just like estimates of Wii manufacturing costs are speculation. But it's no less frustrating. Even so, it's worth noting that the rep followed up not with a denial of the payment scheme, but, "The terms, conditions and contracts between Nintendo and developers is a private and confidential matter."

Surprise! Nintendo dismisses WiiWare sales threshold as 'rumour and speculation' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: WiiWare sales threshold factors in dev profit

David Hinkle — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST

Nintendo's WiiWare service has a minimum sales threshold set for each individual region, according to a new Gamasutra report. If indie developers fail to reach the established minimum sales mark, then they don't see one dime. Gamasutra speculates that the mystery figure is somewhere in the thousands for North America and Europe.

So is WiiWare still a worthwhile destination for indie developers to pursue? That's hard to say, as Wii's large install base and the relative ease of developing for the platform (both monetarily and architecturally) have to be appealing, despite the pressure of the alleged threshhold. One thing is certain, though: WiiWare developers should be relieved a storage solution is finally in place. Hopefully, that will prove to help more than one studio sell its wares.

Report: WiiWare sales threshold factors in dev profit originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SXSW 2009: Games By the People, For the People

Kevin Kelly — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:30:00 EST

So you enjoy playing video games, right? That's what probably brought you to Joystiq in the first place. But have you ever thought about making your own? Right now you're probably thinking, "But, Kevin... doesn't that take millions of dollars and a huge development team?" Well you happen to be in luck, because the answer is no. You can pretty much do it all on your own for pennies. But what's the secret to making it awesome? 5 out of 5 panelists agree: you need to have a good story, or a really interesting idea. Simple, right? Start thinking, and find out more after the break.

Continue reading SXSW 2009: Games By the People, For the People

SXSW 2009: Games By the People, For the People originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston mayor forms game development expansion committee

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST

Thomas Menino, who has served as mayor of Boston for nearly 16 years, is one of the most intriguing political figures in the gaming realm. He first antagonized the gaming industry in 2007 by endorsing a Jack Thompson-authored bill that would treat the retail practices of mature games (as deemed by the state) like the retail practices of pornography. It failed miserably, and we doubt any of the many Boston-based game studios sent him any fruit baskets to console him.

In the midst of this political blunder, Mayor Menino announced he was interested bringing more game developers to work in the city. We thought it was solely a political soundbite -- but the city recently formed an advisory "Steering Committee," composed of local industry figures, to inform the mayor on how to bring further game development to Boston. In addition, the city launched PoweringUpBoston.com, which provides info and resources to Boston's game studios and potential new developers. Wicked Ahhhsome!

Boston mayor forms game development expansion committee originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey: Xbox 360 has the most console developers

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Console wars

We're not exactly how much impact this will have the next time a civilized conversation with a gaming buddy sinks into the depths of fanboy warfare, but here it goes: According to a recent survey conducted by Game Developer Research, as reported by IGN, there are more developers working on Xbox 360 projects than there are on the Playstation 3 or Wii. Specifically, 78% of those surveyed were working on 360 projects, 58% were working on PS3, and 42% were working on Wii. As the numbers imply (notice they don't add up to 100%), they include both cross-platform games and developers that happen to be working on more than one console. This also means that the 360 doesn't necessarily have the most games in development. Still, it has the most individual developers of any console.

Now just find some way to spin that into a catchy slogan and you've got some new fanboy ammunition (fanmunition?) to go with your new (toy) fanboy gun.

Survey: Xbox 360 has the most console developers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: DS Developer Daily

JC Fletcher — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

The low cost of DS game development and the extraordinarily high popularity of the system make the DS an excellent way for new developers to find an audience. 5th Cell is a notable company who has done great with the DS -- which is why they've made this Gamasutra list of breakthrough developers. Level-5 has been huge for a while, thanks to Dragon Quest VIII, but Professor Layton upped their profile significantly.

Have any developers come to your attention since you started playing the DS? Old or new, have you become a fan of a company for their DS output? We're sure there are some out there without the number 5 in their name.

DS Daily: DS Developer Daily originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One hundred ... WiiWare ... games!

Phil Larsen — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: News, Nintendo Wi-Fi, WiiWare

It's a good thing developers actually man up to their commitments. Speaking to IGN, Nintendo's senior director of project development, Tom Prata, made the announcement that around 100 games are currently in development for WiiWare. With a few solid titles already in the homes of Wii gamers around the world, the law of averages ensures we've got to expect a real gem or two in the forthcoming pile.

Prata also answers several general questions regarding WiiWare, and affirmed the quality and potential of downloadable content in comparison to standard games on Optical Disc. Developers have every resource available to them for ensuring a WiiWare game includes Wi-Fi, WiiConnect24 and multiplayer functionality. That's fantastic, because we don't want any of this "done the first few levels, let's ship it and and grab a burger" nonsense.

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

One hundred ... WiiWare ... games! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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