Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Pain DLC delayed a week, trophies toned downhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pain-dlc-delayed-a-week-trophies-toned-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pain-dlc-delayed-a-week-trophies-toned-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pain-dlc-delayed-a-week-trophies-toned-down/#commentsFiled under: ,

Like a hot nurse kissing a mime, there's something good and something bad in today's update from the always-busy developers behind the PS3's bone-breaking simulator, Pain. First, the bad news: the downloadable "Uncle Jimmy's Fun Park" level, originally planned for release tomorrow, has been delayed, and is currently targeted for release on the ominous date of Sept. 11.

Why was it delayed? Well that's the good news: the development team has been spending its time scaling back the difficulty of the somewhat ridiculous trophies it announced last month. Seems testers didn't have too much fun grinding their way through the "one billion points" trophy, among others. The new trophy list, which is copied below the break, is also set to be downloadable on Sept. 11
GOLD TROPHIES
  • King of Pain: Get All Downtown Trophies plus Trill and Grenade-a-Maid
  • Affliction Addiction: Get One 100 Million Points in Downtown (Change from 1 Billion)

SILVER TROPHIES

  • Harder Dick's Balls: Get all of Dicks Balls in the Block Party Dumpster w/o reset
  • Rodeo Clown: Use Ed to Explode 500 barrels in Clown Toss (Change from 5,000)
  • Ninja pwn: Hit the Target Stuffed Ninja in every Amusement Park Mode
  • 2 Mill Club: Get "Pain in the Park" and "D-Town Destruction" (Change from 10 Mil)
  • Trill: Get Painful Bullseye Trophy with Scurv Dogg or Hung Lo add-on characters (Instead of Tosser)

BRONZE TROPHIES

  • Dude Abides: Use "The Dude" to score 30 Strikes in Bowling (Change from 50 Strikes)
  • D-Town Destruction: Get 2,000,000 score in Paindemonium and Aftermath (Change from 10 million)
  • Pain in the Park: Get 2,000,000 score in Abusement and After Hours (Change from 10 million)
  • Combo Mambo: Get 15x Combo in Paindemonium, Aftermath, Block Party, Demolition (Change from 20x)
  • Horsin' a Clown: Take the Clown for a ride on the Roller Coaster
  • Glutton: Make 30 "Eat It!" shots in "Call da Shot"
  • Constipated: Get 100 Strikes in Bowling (Change from 250 Strikes)
  • Pain and Mane: Play 100 Games of Trauma or Horse
  • Attention Spam: Get every type of PAIN (Groin, Head, Arm, Hand, Leg, Foot and Body) combo in Paindemonium, Aftermath, Block Party, Demolition.
  • Grenade-a-Maid: Get Exploded 200 times with any female launchable add-on character*(Change from 500 times)

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>DLCdownloadpainPS3PSNsonytrophiestrophyKyle Orland2008-09-04T00:00:00+00:00Target cards reveal possible LittleBigPlanet release datehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/target-cards-reveal-possible-littlebigplanet-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/target-cards-reveal-possible-littlebigplanet-release-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/target-cards-reveal-possible-littlebigplanet-release-date/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Target is offering up pre-sale cards for LittleBigPlanet that claim an October 21st release date for this eagerly awaited game. We've known it would be coming (hopefully, keep your cute little fingers crossed) in October of this year, and hopefully this date won't be changing. Plus we're still itching to get our hands on a demo before then so we can practice our sponge-collecting skills.

There's still no definitive word if Sony will be offering this up for download as well as the retail Blu-ray version. In this Gamespot video at about three minutes in, they say "We're hoping to have it on the Playstation Network Store as well." Maybe Sony's planning on releasing a trimmed-down version of the game for download, and opening up the full game to retail customers, similar to what EA has done by putting out the Spore Creature Creator as a free download in advance of the full Spore game coming later? Either way, October can't get here fast enough. Free candy and LittleBigPlanet? Sold.

[Thanks, Eric!]

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>DownloadLittleBigPlanetOctoberPlaystation-NetworkTargetKevin Kelly2008-07-21T13:28:00+00:00Mötley Crüe single downloaded on Rock Band five times more than on iTuneshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/motley-crue-single-downloaded-on-rock-band-five-times-more-than/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/motley-crue-single-downloaded-on-rock-band-five-times-more-than/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/motley-crue-single-downloaded-on-rock-band-five-times-more-than/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We've heard tell of the incredible success Harmonix has seen with their weekly downloadable tracks for Rock Band. Often, their sales numbers are matched up against those of Guitar Hero III, where tracks are more seldom, but also sell like diamond-encrusted hotcakes. As enjoyable as these track packs are, we've yet to see any comparison between them and actual music retailers, digital or otherwise -- that is, until Mötley Crüe's new single simultaneously rocked the faces off of music downloaders and DLC collectors alike.

The song, "Saints of Los Angeles", came from the glam-band's upcoming album, and dropped onto iTunes, Zune, Amazon, and the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band on April 15. In it's first week of availability, digital distributors sold 10,000 copies of the single, but dedicated faux-rockers downloaded 47,000 copies of the track from the 360 Rock Band Music Store, according to Reuters. Could this inspire more record labels to debut new albums and singles on Harmonix's golden goose title? We certainly hope so.

[Via Evil Avatar]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>amazondlcdownloadharmonixitunesmotleycruemusicrockbandsaintsoflosangeleszuneGriffin McElroy2008-05-24T18:00:00+00:00Mock TV downloads spotted in US PS3 adhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/mock-tv-downloads-spotted-in-us-ps3-ad/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/mock-tv-downloads-spotted-in-us-ps3-ad/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/mock-tv-downloads-spotted-in-us-ps3-ad/#commentsFiled under:


Click to embiggen
Some sharp eyes have spotted an interesting blip in a recent PlayStation 3 video, "What you Need." If you take look at the picture above (click for a higher-resolution shot), you can clearly see a section of the PS Store for television channels, including NBC, HBO, The CW, Cartoon Network (listed twice), MTV, Discovery Channel and others.

Television content from these channels are also currently available via Xbox Live Marketplace. Is this just a mockup from an overzealous ad firm, or a hint at an impending announcement? With E3 just around the corner, we'll likely know soon enough. Video embedded after the break.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>downloadplaystationsonystreamingtelevisiontvvideoRoss Miller2008-05-13T17:30:00+00:00Joystiq impressions: Assorted Sierra XBLA gameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/joystiq-impressions-assorted-sierra-xbla-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/joystiq-impressions-assorted-sierra-xbla-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/joystiq-impressions-assorted-sierra-xbla-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Sierra recently showed off its upcoming crop of XBLA games at a media event. While a couple have promise, most could be buried by the quantity or quality of competitors. All are confirmed only for XBLA, but Sierra is considering PSN versions of most. All will be out this Summer.

Assault Heroes 2 is yet another top-down, two-player, cooperative shooter. Either sharing a screen or connecting online, players move with one control stick and fire in any direction with the other. On-foot, in land-based vehicles, or in spaceship levels, the enemies just keep coming. A few team-based super-attacks seemed interesting, and the weapon upgrades have promise. But the 3D-perspective art-design feels like the game's most unique aspect. While the fights unfold in a 2D-plane, perspective effects show enemies swooping in from overhead or from the side. It's a nice touch in a genre shooter.


Sea Life is aimed at kids, putting them in an on-rail, underwater photo-hunt. In each dive, players frame and snap pictures of ambient life. In my tour, the amount of on-screen action was limited, but I was impressed by the sharp details of shoals and fish. Some of the 60 critters only come out at certain times, so players will probably take a few sessions to complete the five areas. Your guide looks strikingly like Steve Zissou; here's hoping the legal teams let that one drift by.


Zombie Wranglers looked great in my peripheral vision before I was able to try it. The style reminded me of Jet Grind Radio's 2D-shaded, 3D world. But the gameplay seems derivative; you repetitively wander through towns, helping quell a zombie invasion. Individual characters add mild variety, with a couple different weapons. And a few end bosses are unique. But Zombie Wranglers otherwise layers a lot of monotony.


Card games on display included Gin Rummy and Lost Cities. They both allow up to four players online, but there's no split screen since you'll want to hide your hand. If you like card games but don't like cards, these could make your list. You can't just play Uno, can you?

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>assault-heroesassault-heroes-2downloadgin-rummylost-citiesonlinepsnsea-lifesierra-spring-event08xblazombie-wranglersZack Stern2008-04-28T05:00:00+00:00Joystiq hands-on: World of Goo (WiiWare)http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-hands-on-world-of-goo-wiiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-hands-on-world-of-goo-wiiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/joystiq-hands-on-world-of-goo-wiiware/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Cute graphics and sounds: Check. Clever puzzle mechanic: Check. Irresistible gameplay: Check. World of Goo hits the required bullet points to be an indie game darling. And comfortable Wii Remote controls make it a perfect fit to be in Nintendo's WiiWare lineup.

Players build simple structures by pointing and dragging living, bouncing goo balls. These spherical wonders extend a few arms to their closest neighbors, becoming rigid when the Remote button is released. Gamers have to figure out how to build bridges, towers, and other structures without toppling them over, all while trying to use as few balls as possible. In the end, they're trying to lead the remaining balls to a mysterious pipe that sucks them away at the end of the level.

I tried the action-puzzler at the Nintendo Media Summit and am anticipating its release sometime this year. (Developer 2D Boy says its work will be complete in the Summer, and Nintendo will schedule the release after that.) World of Goo felt great and could be poised to be an indie game that crosses over into commercial success.

Gallery: World of Goo


Like most great games, World of Goo gradually adds depth to its gameplay. The standard, black goo balls first introduce the basic structure types, but I played with several other creatures. Green balls form three arms -- so players need fewer to make large objects -- and they can also be re-used. Balloons automatically attached themselves to objects when I brought them near, lifting a group of hardened goo balls up to their goal. And more ball types arrive later in the game. For example, 2D Boy developers Kyle Gabler and Ron Carmel told me about the rotund beauty ball, which is too heavy to be lifted but can be prodded to the left or right.

The gameplay hooked me, but the terrific art, animation, and sounds complete the presentation. Goo balls are happy to please, eagerly hopping into the ominous pipes, squeaking and chirping with glee. This wry humor and style should lift the game above other downloadable competitors.

World of Goo will be released simultaneously for PC, Mac, and Linux alongside its WiiWare debut. Those computer editions will be nearly the same game, although only the Wii version will allow cooperative multiplayer. 2D Boy hadn't yet determined the number of people who can play at once, but at least two gamers will be able to point and position balls at the same time.

Look for World of Goo sometime this year, hopefully not to far from now.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>2d-boydownloaddownloadablegoogoo-ballkyle-gablerlinuxmacnintendo-media-summit-08ron-carmelwiiwareworld-of-gooZack Stern2008-04-15T08:00:00+00:00Call of Duty 4 map pack comes to PSN late Aprilhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/call-of-duty-4-map-pack-comes-to-psn-late-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/call-of-duty-4-map-pack-comes-to-psn-late-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/call-of-duty-4-map-pack-comes-to-psn-late-april/#commentsFiled under: ,

Infinity Ward' Fourzerotwo has announced on his blog that the Call of Duty 4 Variety Map Pack is coming to the PlayStation 3 approximately 21 days after the Xbox Live release. Given the 360 pack is expected April 3 or 4, that puts the PS3 release on or near Thursday, April 24.

PlayStation 3 owners will pay the same $10 price for the four maps: Creek, Broadcast, Chinatown and Killhouse. Fourzerotwo also said they were working out the logistics to bring the maps to the PC. No word on a Call of Duty 4 "Game of the Year" edition for PS3 owners.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>call-of-duty-4callofduty4cod4dlcdownloadmapsRoss Miller2008-03-27T18:55:00+00:00WiiWare Japanese launch info round-uphttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/wii-ware-japanese-launch-info-round-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/wii-ware-japanese-launch-info-round-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/wii-ware-japanese-launch-info-round-up/#commentsFiled under: ,

The day you've been waiting for is here -- if you're a Japanese Wii owner with a hankering for downloadable games, that is. Yes, Nintendo's game download service WiiWare has finally launched in Japan and, with the help of our friends over at Wii Fanboy, we've rounded up a bunch of information on the roll out from around the web, including:
We're also following news about the service's implementation of downloadable content, which has shown up in three games so far. Look for more on that in a bit.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>DLCdownloaddownloadableWiiWareKyle Orland2008-03-25T10:56:00+00:00N+ developers rail against glut of bad XBLA gameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/n-developers-rail-against-glut-of-bad-xbla-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/n-developers-rail-against-glut-of-bad-xbla-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/n-developers-rail-against-glut-of-bad-xbla-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Here at Joystiq, we think Metanet's sadistic platformer N+ is one of the best original games we've seen on Xbox Live Arcade for a while. So maybe it's not too surprising that the game's developers feel the same way. What is surprising is their willingness to diss the entire download service in public.

Talking to Gamasutra, N+ creators Raigan Burns and Mare Sheppard railed against Xbox Live Arcade's bloated catalog of copycat games. "The real problem, I think, is that the same people who are deciding what retail games get greenlit are deciding what Live Arcade games get greenlit," Burns said. "Those decisions that are ruining Live Arcade... it's like, who greenlit Word Puzzle? Who greenlit that hoverboard game that's just shit?" It wasn't always like this, according to Burns. "When we started out ... there were 30 games on Live Arcade. If N was one of them, it would stand out. Now there's like a hundred games, and they're all shit. ... If I was a consumer, I could see not even looking at Live Arcade games anymore if I had downloaded 10 or 20 demos, because at a certain point, you're like, 'Whatever. Maybe there's a good game in here.'"

The full interview contains more thoughts on the Xbox Live certification process, the effect of game demos on buzz, and the stupidity of charging for gamerpics and themes. A word of warning: Microsoft fanboys should take their heart medicine before clicking the read link.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>crapDLCdownloadNninjaXBLAxbox live arcadeXboxLiveArcadeKyle Orland2008-03-21T14:10:00+00:00Joystiq impressions: 1942: Joint Strike (XBLA/PSN)http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/joystiq-impressions-1942-joint-strike-xbla-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/joystiq-impressions-1942-joint-strike-xbla-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/joystiq-impressions-1942-joint-strike-xbla-psn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Capcom and Backbone Entertainment are shipping 1942: Joint Strike for XBLA and PSN this Summer. The HD remake -- hmm, part of a bona fide trend -- takes inspiration from 1942 and the other 194X games. But the top-down WWII shooter strives to be its own title, with unique levels, enemies, and updated weapons.

I recently checked out an alpha version of the game on a 360. The graphics looked sharp, with light sepia effects evoking a news-reel quality at times. Other times, colors popped against high-definition backgrounds. While the 3D world exists in a top-down angle, tall buildings leaned with the perspective, adding another visual hook to the shooter.

Gallery: 1942: Joint Strike (XBLA/PSN)


The responsive gameplay seemed similar to other scrolling shooters. Lots of action bursted on-screen, and two players can collaborate on a single system or online. But other than a team-attack that drew a lightning net over enemy swarms, I didn't notice much that sets it apart in a crowded market. Players earn power-ups, fight bosses, and otherwise follow other games in the well-established genre. But if shooters are your game, 1942: Joint Strike could win your $10 or 800 Microsoft Points when it lifts off soon.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>19421942-joint-strike1943194xarcadebackbone-entertainmentcapcomcasualdownloadjoint-strikepsnremakeshooterxblaZack Stern2008-03-13T12:30:00+00:00Japanese Wii Ware promo page shows off 11 gameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/japanese-wii-ware-promo-page-shows-off-11-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/japanese-wii-ware-promo-page-shows-off-11-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/japanese-wii-ware-promo-page-shows-off-11-games/#commentsFiled under: ,

While American Wii owners have to wait until May to enjoy original downloadable Wii Ware games, Japanese Wii owners are gearing up for the March launch of the service with a screenshot-filled promotional web page.

The site's list of 11 games (translated to English below) is conspicuously missing Western -developed titles like Telltale's Frontier's (edit: typo) Lost Winds and Mastiff's Major League Eating, although that last omission might be considered a bonus for Japan. It's not clear which of the listed games will be available for the service's Japanese launch, but you can bet the initial lineup will be better line up than the three games that are currently confirmed for the service's U.S. debut.

Games listed on the Japanese Wii Ware site:
  • FFCC: The Young King and the Promised Land
  • StarSoldierR
  • Word Puzzle Mojipittan Wii
  • Pokemon Ranch
  • Dr. Mario's Virus Buster
  • Marubou Shikaku
  • Magnetica
  • Bomberman
  • Okiraku Ping-Pong Wii
  • Angels' Solitaire
  • Joysound Wii
[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>downloadjapanlaunchwii warewiiwareKyle Orland2008-03-03T15:00:00+00:00Three Overlord DLC packs on Live Marketplacehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/17/three-overlord-dlc-packs-on-live-marketplace/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/17/three-overlord-dlc-packs-on-live-marketplace/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/17/three-overlord-dlc-packs-on-live-marketplace/#commentsFiled under: , ,


In last year's onslaught of groundbreaking, AAA titles, there was a a good chance for smaller gems to get lost in the shuffle -- case in point: Overlord. With wallets tightened in preparation of the year's later blockbuster releases, not many people shelled out the cash to pick up this clever Pikmin-esque treat, and our hopes for the previously announced trio of downloadable expansions for the game faded as the winter months passed.

However, just as surreptitiously as the game hit American store shelves, the three Overlord DLC packs recently crept onto Xbox Live Marketplace. For 800 MS Points you can grab the "Raising Hell" expansion, which adds some new levels and challenges to the single player campaign. The "Challenge Pack" goes for 400 MS Points, and adds 7 new multiplayer maps and a new campaign difficulty. And, for the low, low price of free, you can download a split-screen multiplayer mode to enjoy with a good friend, or better yet, your most trusted minion.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>codemastersdlcdownloadexpansionmultiplayeroverlordtriumphstudiosxbmxboxlivemarketplaceGriffin McElroy2008-02-17T12:30:00+00:00PGR4 DLC brings new cars, modes, achievementshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/pgr4-dlc-brings-new-cars-modes-achievements/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/pgr4-dlc-brings-new-cars-modes-achievements/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/pgr4-dlc-brings-new-cars-modes-achievements/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Not content to let their premiere racer rest with just a release and a quick update, Bizarre Creations is offering up new downloadable content for Project Gotham Racing 4. The content is split into two downloadable packs:

Free Challenge Pack (free download!)
  • A playable, hydrogen-powered Peugeot Flux
  • Tourist Mode - Just drive around the city and admire the scenery with no explicit goal
  • "Free Roam" Cat and Mouse Mode - Implements the delayed updates previously discussed here
  • Seven unlockable achievements
Premium Challenge Pack (400 MS points)
Includes all the content of the Free Challenge Pack, PLUS:
  • Seven new cars - Including the "1987 BMW M3 E30 DTM," whatever that means
  • World Challenge Arcade Mode - With 20 new events in three themed chapters
  • Three more unlockable achievements
The packs will be available for download on Feb. 14, just in time to play Cat and Mouse with your valentine.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bizarrebizarre-creationsDLCdownloadPGR4project-gotham-racingproject-gotham-racing-4Xbox LiveXboxLiveKyle Orland2008-02-08T12:10:00+00:00Cheaper indie Rock Band DLC raised to standard pricehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/cheaper-indie-rock-band-dlc-raised-to-standard-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/cheaper-indie-rock-band-dlc-raised-to-standard-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/cheaper-indie-rock-band-dlc-raised-to-standard-price/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Update: It's been brought to our attention that Harmonix originally announced that these songs would be available "for a limited time ... at a special holiday price of $0.99." Joystiq regrets the implication that the price increase was unannounced.

Price-conscious and/or pretentious Rock Band fans were understandably giddy when Harmonix decided to release five downloadable indie tracks for the bargain price of 99 cents (or the equivalent number of Microsoft points) in late December. We hope those fans didn't procrastinate, though, because the price for all five tracks has been raised to the more conventional $1.99 as of yesterday.

While there was no indication at the outset that the lower price would be in any way temporary, (see above update) The increase has been rumored for a couple of weeks now. When Harmonix announced the Rock Band DLC program they said individual track prices would range anywhere from $0.99 to $2.99, but they also stressed that the "vast majority" of tracks would hit the $1.99 sweet spot.

Does this increase mean that future songs are less likely to be released at 99 cents? "I don't think that's necessarily what it means," said a spokesperson for MTV/Harmonix, though he added that future 99 cent releases would probably "be the same situation, with the discounted price for a limited time." We've asked for confirmation of the official policy on this score and will let you know if and when we hear back about it.

[Thanks, Keith]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>breakingnewscostDLCdownloadmoneymusicpricerock bandrock-bandRockBandsongsvalueKyle Orland2008-02-01T16:30:00+00:00XBLA size limit causing difficulties for Street Fighter HDhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/xbla-size-limit-causing-problems-for-sf2hd/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/xbla-size-limit-causing-problems-for-sf2hd/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/xbla-size-limit-causing-problems-for-sf2hd/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Oh, Microsoft. When will you learn that downloadable games are sometimes going to want to be bigger than a memory unit. First, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night bumped up against the then-50MB limit for XBLA games, leading to a ceiling raise. Then promising platformer Eternity's Child got chased to the Wii when it ran up against the new 150MB limit. Now, anticipated HD remake of Street Fighter II is apparently having trouble squeezing all its high-res graphics and remixed music into the imposed size limit.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com, director David Sirlin said that it was "difficult to store so many 1080p graphics in such a small download size." According to Sirlin, the 150MB limit "also makes it difficult or impossible to include all the original game's music AND [an] all remixed set of music."

Xbox-owning fighting fans shouldn't lose hope, though -- Sirlin says his team is "still doing our best to fit within the limit we've been given." Still, we have to wonder why they should have to go through the aggravation at all. To satisfy the three hardcore fighting fans that own a 360 but not a hard drive? Don't punish the many for the questionable purchasing decisions of the few, Microsoft.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>150MBcapcomdavid-sirlindownloadHDmicrosoftsizesize-limitssf2hdsstf2thdrstreet-fighter-2XBLAKyle Orland2008-01-30T17:00:00+00:00High-def video on demand coming to Japanese PS3http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/high-def-video-on-demand-coming-to-japanese-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/high-def-video-on-demand-coming-to-japanese-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/high-def-video-on-demand-coming-to-japanese-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While Microsoft has embraced downloadable video content in a big way with the Xbox 360, Sony has stuck with Blu-ray discs as the major video-delivery method of choice on the PS3. This looks like it might be set to change, though, as Variety is reporting that Sony is planning to bring high-definition video on demand content to the Japanese PlayStation 3, at least.

So far, the announced offerings on the service seem a little slim -- a BBC documentary and some video about car racing to promote the Dec. 13 release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. The Variety story does promise "pics and other video content from [Sony Pictures Entertainment] and other companies," but until we hear about what specific content is coming, or details of a stateside release, we remain underwhelmed.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>blu-raydownloadJapanmoviesPS3sonyvideoKyle Orland2007-11-30T16:20:00+00:00iTunes gets 'Guitar Hero Essentials'http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/itunes-getting-guitar-hero-essentials/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/itunes-getting-guitar-hero-essentials/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/itunes-getting-guitar-hero-essentials/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


While armchair rockers eagerly await this fall's showdown between Rock Band and Guitar Hero, Activision has released a series of song compilations now available from the iTunes Store featuring music from all four Guitar Hero games, including Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. The so -called "Guitar Hero Essentials" collection is made up of more than 1300 different tracks, including "nearly every song" from the rhythm game franchise, making us curious as to just what songs didn't make the cut.

In addition, unlike the lion's share of the covers featured in earlier released Guitar Hero titles, these songs are the original artist master recordings from bands such as Pearl Jam, Aerosmith, Rage Against the Machine, and Metallica. Also included in the set are also guitar-themed playlists from Steve Jones and Slash, no doubt ideal for those who cannot get enough of living life vicariously through their favorite guitar virtuosos.

However, before you jump off the deep end and begin offering money to the iTunes gods for downloading rights, Activision notes that while some songs from the Guitar Hero series represent newly re-recorded master recordings, these appear to not be included in this collection, making this less an "essential" compilation of Guitar Hero tracks, and more just an assembly of rocking tunes. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>activisiondownloadguitar heroGuitarHeroitunesLegends of RockLegendsOfRockMetallicamusicSlashSteve JonesSteveJonesJason Dobson2007-10-23T12:34:00+00:00Today's future-of-advertising-video: Yaris gamehttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/todays-future-of-advertising-video-yaris-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/todays-future-of-advertising-video-yaris-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/todays-future-of-advertising-video-yaris-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Remember that Yaris XBLA game to be released free on Wednesday? Gametrailers user, warchiefgrim, uploaded a clip. We hope this video convinces you to save the precious bandwidth of the internet and pass on the game; even "free" costs too much.

Things we learned:
  • The 4-Door Sedan Yaris comes in such focus-group-approved colors as "Jade Sea Metallic," and "Flint Mica."
  • Northbound on 101 goes straight up (and straight down) as often as it goes north.
  • The Yaris is powered by the constant desire to catch a cat toy mounted on its roof. Sadly, the toy is always just out of reach.
See the video, and add your own observations after the break.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>adadvergameadvergamingadvertismentdownloadfreehottest-videohottestvideotoyotavideoxblayarisZack Stern2007-10-09T01:30:00+00:00NHL 2K8 charges $5 to unlock feature already on gamehttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/nhl-2k8-charges-5-to-unlock-feature-already-on-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/nhl-2k8-charges-5-to-unlock-feature-already-on-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/nhl-2k8-charges-5-to-unlock-feature-already-on-game/#commentsFiled under: ,


2K Sports released the 2K Reelmaker add-on for NHL 2K8 yesterday at 400 MS Points ($5 USD); the program allows a variety of video recording and playback options for the game. According to 1UP, the download for this feature is a puny 108K, which means consumers are paying to unlock a feature that is already on the game's disc. We are not amused.

If a feature is already on a disc, it should be accessible. Essentially 2K Sports is charging consumers more money for something they already bought, selling them a key to a door they already own. At least the ridiculous COG tag videos were something you actually downloaded from the marketplace, it may have been wasteful, but it was content not already on the Gears of War disc. We hope 2K doesn't become the new EA of the Xbox marketplace, nobody likes that.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>consumerdownloadmicrotransactionsnhl2k8payingforstuffyoualreadyboughtAlexander Sliwinski2007-09-20T11:50:00+00:00Today's cuddliest video: LocoRoco Cocoreccho trailerhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/15/todays-cuddliest-video-locoroco-cocoreccho-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/15/todays-cuddliest-video-locoroco-cocoreccho-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/15/todays-cuddliest-video-locoroco-cocoreccho-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Little LocoRocos, you're so happy, you make us happy, too. We love watching you bounce and squish. Oh, to tickle a LocoRoco would make us burst with joy. We'd explode with rainbows, of course. (That's a mildly NSFW link, all you weekend laborers.)

Sony's PS3 LocoRoco Cocoreccho! "interactive screensaver" um, thing will launch next week in many parts of the world. But the Sixaxis might not let us pet the little creatures. Cocoreccho! isn't quite a game, and we're still not quite sure what it is. But this newest trailer at least annotates some of things players can do, while the earlier video left us guessing.

Watch the cuteness after the break, or imagine it on a crisp HDTV with the direct HD feed.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>adcutedownloadhottestvideolocorocoplaystationnetworkps3psnsixaxissonytrailervideoZack Stern2007-09-15T00:00:00+00:00