Joystiq

Namco Bandai iOS games on sale through Monday

Mike Suszek — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST

For those looking to save a few bucks but want some new mobile games to play while waiting in check-out lines on Black Friday, Namco Bandai has you covered. The publisher recently put 20 of its apps on sale on the App Store, giving iPhone and iPad users through Monday, November 19 to cash in on games such as Pac-Man Championship Edition and SoulCalibur.

A full list of the games included in the sale can be found after the break.

Continue reading Namco Bandai iOS games on sale through Monday

Namco Bandai iOS games on sale through Monday originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Join the cause with '80s arcade propaganda art

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

Forget about minimalism, it's time to join the fight! Illustrator Steve Thomas has fashioned four propaganda-style posters urging all of us to push back against '80s arcade all-stars Donkey Kong, Joust, Frogger, and Dig Dug, contending you should "Find your place among the flying elite!" and "Defeat the beast!"

For prices ranging from $11.95 to $41.95 (starting at 11"x16" and getting as large as 35"x52"), you can snag yourself one of these beauts -- there are even framing options, should you be so inclined. That said, given the flood of folks rushing to purchase Justin Russo's aforementioned posters just last week, we'd suggest getting in on this one early before they're all gone.

[Via GameSetWatch]

Join the cause with '80s arcade propaganda art originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese Nintendo downloads: Fire Emblem Premake and Uno

JC Fletcher — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Just like last week, the original version of a game remade on DS has been released on Virtual Console in Japan: last week it was Kirby Super Star, and this week it's Fire Emblem. We're guessing this is a coincidence, otherwise it's a really weird initiative. Also like last week, Namco Bandai releases a pair of arcade games in the same series, this time the more recognizable Dig Dug. And WiiWare returns! ... With Uno.

On DS, there's another chunk of The Tower DS, more Japanese city maps, and some English training.

Fire Emblem: Dragon of Darkness and Sword of Light (Famicom, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)
Dig Dug (Arcade, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Dig Dug II (Arcade, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Uno (WiiWare, 1-6 players, 800 Wii Points)
The Tower DS: Challenge in front of the suburban train station! Gigantic Shopping Center (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points)
Pocket Rurubu: Kamakura and Pocket Rurubu: Osaka (DSiWare, 1 player, 800 DSi Points each)
High School English Foundation 400 Word Master (DSiWare, 1 player, 800 DSi Points)

Japanese Nintendo downloads: Fire Emblem Premake and Uno originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jonathan Kromrey to head up Namco's new Apple Games division

David Hinkle — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:00:00 EST

Namco is placing a lot of chips on the iPhone and other Apple platforms, as the company announced today that it is forming a new division called Apple Games. Apple Games will be managed by Jonathan Kromrey, former games designer and producer at Apple, who will be focusing on "creating new franchise opportunities, overseeing research, managing design and production from internal teams and worldwide external partners, and developing and publishing new and original content."

The company's previous support for the iPhone/iPod Touch included installments in popular franchises with Dig Dug and i Love Katamari. It's currently working on Pac-Man: Remix. We wish Kromrey the best of luck and hope he has some good stuff in mind -- that means no ports of Death by Degrees or Great Greed. Actually, the latter doesn't sound like such a bad idea ...

Jonathan Kromrey to head up Namco's new Apple Games division originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco Museum Essentials coming to PlayStation Home in July

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:05:00 EST

Japan's Namco Museum Essentials is crossing the pond to America's PlayStation Network this July. The downloadable app will serve as a hub for various Namco arcade games, such as Pac-man, Galaga, Dig Dug, Dragon Spirit, Xevious, and a new 1080p "re-envisioned" Xevious: Resurrection. In addition to the standard gamut of features (trophies, leaderboards), players will be able to unlock PlayStation Home rewards to proudly display in their virtual apartments.

Namco Bandai will also be launching a new destination within PlayStation Home simultaneously with the release of Museum Essentials. It will serve as the hub for all of Namco Bandai's upcoming downloadable games and will include a virtual arcade featuring a trial version of Museum Essentials. In addition to the free demo, PlayStation Home items can be unlocked for those who visit the space. All in all, it looks as though Home fans (casual and hardcore) will have a lot to look forward to.

Gallery: Namco Museum Essentials

Namco Museum Essentials coming to PlayStation Home in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dig Dug now overinflating iPhones and iPod Touches

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 09 May 2009 11:30:00 EST

In a continued attempt to put its classic, excavatory arcade game Dig Dug on every piece of consumer electronics known to man, Namco recently tossed the title into the infinite expanse known as the iPhone/iPod Touch App Store. This particular version, titled Dig Dug REMIX, features 256 levels, as well as the titular Remix mode, which adds a few power-ups and some high octane Trance beats to the standard game (probably). It's on the App Store right now for $5.99 -- perhaps that seems a tad costly, but hey, that's inflation for you.

We are really sorry about that one.

Dig Dug now overinflating iPhones and iPod Touches originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 May 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco releases downloadable arcade titles on Facebook

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:40:00 EST

Do you ever find yourself with too much free time whilst trolling around on Facebook? Between writing ominous truths in our acquaintances' honesty boxes, and attempting to form La Résistance against the new new Facebook, our time is admittedly limited -- though we might try to pencil in a brief session with Namco's recently launched, Facebookified versions of Pac-Man and Dig Dug.

The two games have some neat additional functionality, such as the ability to track stats and achievements on your Facebook profile. Sadly, the games can't be played in-browser -- it requires a small download to play. Even sadder: It's not free. Bumping the game up from a trial version to full version costs $9.99. We'll stick to our honesty box assaults -- anonymously hurting people's feelings is free, and far more satisfying.

Namco releases downloadable arcade titles on Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Friday: Convergence

Chris Greenhough — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:41:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console, WiiWare

Up until now, Virtual Console and WiiWare games in PAL regions have played nicely, each politely waiting their turn to appear on alternate Fridays. This week, they've both appeared on the same day, scrapping it out for your love. This is what we wanted to happen from the start, but since WiiWare appeared, Nintendo has had an excuse to offer less on the VC.

Anyhow, that's another rant for another post. Critter Round-Up and the totally obscure MaBoShi: The Three Shape Arcade are the latest WiiWare additions, while the Hanabi Festival continues with Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa (parts of which look like some of our dreams -- eating through miles of cake) and Dig Dug. Is Dig Dug really worthy of a Hanabi Festival release? Hasn't it already appeared on every format known to man?

Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa -- NES -- 600 Wii Points
Dig Dug -- NES -- 600 Wii Points
MaBoShi: The Three Shape Arcade -- WiiWare -- 800 Wii Points
Critter Round-Up -- WiiWare -- 1000 Wii Points

Munch your way through the break, which isn't made of cake, for footage of all four.

Continue reading VC Friday: Convergence

VC Friday: Convergence originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Home virtual arcade now includes Dig Dug, Galaga, Pac-Man, echochrome

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:06:00 EST

Filed under: PlayStation Network

If you're one of the few that's already in the Home beta, you may have already experienced the underwhelming virtual arcade, located in the Games Space within Home. The new version being released for Japan will expand the arcade offerings, and the new choices look yummy. Namco Bandai is offering seven games within Home, with four revealed already: Dig Dug, Galaga, Pac-Man and Xevious. Three more "secret" games will be revealed later.

More intriguing, a 2D Home-exclusive version of echochrome can also be accessed from within Home. With more and more game offerings being added to the online service, we're confident that everyone will want to access the virtual world at least once -- if only to play these games.

[Via Joystiq & Siliconera]

Home virtual arcade now includes Dig Dug, Galaga, Pac-Man, echochrome originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese Home beta opens, adds Namco classics

Randy Nelson — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:50:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Online

Sony has begun accepting applications for the next beta phase of Home ... in Japan. PS3 users can put their names in the hat (from which 10,000 will be chosen) directly from a new option in the Japanese PlayStation Store. Successful applicants will be notified via email before the beta officially kicks off at the end of August.

In related news, classic arcade games from Namco are showing up as virtual coin-ops in the Japanese Home client. Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaga, and Xevious have been rolled out so far, with three "secret" titles still on the way. It's interesting to note that Home users - at least in the beta - can play these games for free, whereas they are paid downloads on Xbox Live Arcade. We'll have to wait and see if this holds true for Home games from Namco and other publishers in the open beta (which is supposed to hit by year's end).

Source - Engadget
Source - Siliconera

Japanese Home beta opens, adds Namco classics originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq Exclusive: a sneak peek at the upcoming i am 8 bit show

Kevin Kelly — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Arcade, Culture, Retro, Galleries

We've been able to pry some exclusive images out of the i am 8 bit showrunners -- here they are in gallery-tastic form, just for you. As a wallpaper-friendly reminder, be sure to click the "Hi Res" button in the upper right corner to get some enormo versions of the art. It's the best way to have a technicolor Samus gracing your desktop.

The new gallery show will open on August 14th in Los Angeles, and will run through September 7th. If you can't make it West, don't worry ... Joystiq will have you covered. Check back on the evening of the 14th for a plethora of photos from the show. That is, if we haven't hocked our laptops to buy this Dig Dug meets Animal Crossing piece.

Gallery: i am 8-bit: 2008

Joystiq Exclusive: a sneak peek at the upcoming i am 8 bit show originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Tuesday: The Infernal Temptations of the Mask

JC Fletcher — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Virtual Console, Imports

The marquee release on the Japanese Virtual Console this week is Namco's sequel to its arcade/PC Engine horror-brawler Splatterhouse, in which Rick returns to the ruins of West Mansion, only to find -- he's trapped in the mask that makes him awesome once again! And there was another mansion hidden right behind the first one! How convenient! Nobody wants to play Splatteremptylot.

Also added this week: Seirei Senshi Spriggan, an anime-based shooter from Compile, and Dig Dug, which is Dig Dug.

Dig Dug (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)
Splatterhouse Part 2 (Mega Drive, 1 player, 600 Wii Points
Seirei Senshi Spriggan (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)

VC Tuesday: The Infernal Temptations of the Mask originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 6/9/08

David Hinkle — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: VC Monday Madness

Well, we've had enough time to play this week's Virtual Console releases, so it's time we made our video, eh? We've done just that, so grab some popcorn, a refreshment and that special someone in your life, because you're about to be entertained. Of course, the reality is the video above is horrible and lacking in any quality.

So, to make up for that, we've got some added stuff past the break.

Continue reading VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 6/9/08

VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 6/9/08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dig Dug and ... other game come to Virtual Console

Justin McElroy — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Retro, Nintendo Wii

Just when you think you've got Nintendo all figured out, along comes a morning like today. We receive our Wii-kly Update (their name, not ours) and we quickly skip to the new Virtual Console offerings:

Dig Dug (NES, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Become Dig Dug, the champion of love and justice, as you drill up, down, left and right, defeating any enemies in your path. Avoid the persistent Pooka and the deep-dwelling but whimsical Fygar as you defeat all the enemies in order to clear each stage. Defeat enemies by hitting them with the harpoon and pumping air into them, or by dropping rocks on them from above.

"Oh," we think, "how nice. Dig Dug. Nothing revolutionary, but it's good to see it." Then, our eyes scan further and we land on this:

Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa (NES, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa is an action game released in 1988, but it was never available outside of Japan. Players take on the role of baby Upa, a prince of the Akuyo kingdom. Upa must defeat the enemies he meets along the way by inflating them. Upa can then use these floating enemies to his advantage by bouncing off of or riding on top of them. The prince must also avoid deadly thorns and pits while keeping an eye out for helpful items such as milk (to restore health) and bells (for temporary invincibility) if he hopes to succeed.

...What? A royal, demon-inflating baby? How is that even a paragraph? (Oh, and P.S., he inflates enemies by hitting them with a rattle.) It's like someone put the most insane words they could think of in a refrigerator and set a nuclear bomb off next to it. We love you, Nintendo, but, in the parlance of our times, you so crazy.

Dig Dug and ... other game come to Virtual Console originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Monday Madness: My Pokemon Ranch, Dig Dug and BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA [update]

David Hinkle — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: VC Monday Madness

The steady flow of content continues this week, as those of us here in North America get our hands on some WiiWare goodness, as well as a pair of new Virtual Console titles. And, one of the Virtual Console downloads is an import, with the other being a classic that many are going to be waiting to download as soon as the clock strikes 12pm ET today.

Wii Ware download this week:

My Pokemon Ranch (1 player, 1,000 Wii Points)

Virtual Console downloads this week:

Dig Dug (NES, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)
BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA (NES, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)

So who's downloading what?

Update: Fixed the price on Dig Dug. Thanks to JJC for the heads up on the typo!

[Via press release]

VC Monday Madness: My Pokemon Ranch, Dig Dug and BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slew of SNK titles, along with Dig Dug, get rated by ESRB

David Hinkle — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Virtual Console

Fans of SNK and the Virtual Console, you'll be happy you're reading this post today. A couple of titles, Fatal Fury 2 and Art of Fighting 2 both popped up on the ESRB website with Wii listings, as well as Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown 2. Not only that, but classic title Dig Dug also popped up.

Now that's what we need! Some new, non-shooter titles on the Virtual Console are a welcome addition to the Wii's catalog.

[Via Codename Revolution]

Slew of SNK titles, along with Dig Dug, get rated by ESRB originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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