Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Last of Us tops E3 Game Critics Awards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/the-last-of-us-tops-e3-game-critics-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/the-last-of-us-tops-e3-game-critics-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/the-last-of-us-tops-e3-game-critics-awards/#comments Game Critics Awards weenarsOf the games shown at E3, The Last of Us has been named the best of them, according to the Game Critics Awards, the honors given to games by a shadowy secret cabal of attending journalists. Naughty Dog's survival game earned "Best of Show," "Best Original Game," "Best Console Game," and "Best Action/Adventure Game," along with a "Special Commendation for Sound."

There were a few awards that went to other games, surprisingly. Among the other big winners were the Wii U for Best Hardware, Dance Central 3 for Best Social/Casual Game and Best Motion Simulation Game, and Sound Shapes for Best Handheld/Mobile Game.

Continue reading The Last of Us tops E3 Game Critics Awards

JoystiqThe Last of Us tops E3 Game Critics Awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012game-critics-awardskinectmicrosoftnintendoplaystationplaystation-vitaps3the-last-of-usvitawii-uxboxTue, 26 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4, Dishonored and The Last of Us top Game Critics Awards nominations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/halo-4-dishonored-and-the-last-of-us-top-game-critics-awards-no/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/halo-4-dishonored-and-the-last-of-us-top-game-critics-awards-no/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/halo-4-dishonored-and-the-last-of-us-top-game-critics-awards-no/#comments E3 2012 Game Critics Awards nominees revealedThe nominees of the E3 2012 Game Critics Awards have been announced. Nominees for best of show include Dishonored, Halo 4, The Last of Us, Tomb Raider and Assassin's Creed 3. The games to receive the most nominations overall were Halo 4, The Last of Us and Dishonored, which each racked up four nominations. Meanwhile, the publisher to walk away with the most nominations was Sony Computer Entertainment at 12 nods, with Microsoft, Nintendo and EA tied in second place with eight each.

The nominees were voted on by various publications across print and the web, including our personal favorite: Joystiq. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 26.

You can see a full breakdown of nominations - sorted by category, genre and platform - on the Game Critics Awards website. Take in some more detailed stats - including platform and publisher nominations, and the number of nominations per game - right here.

JoystiqHalo 4, Dishonored and The Last of Us top Game Critics Awards nominations originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dse3-2012e3-2012-game-critics-awardsGame-Critics-Awardsmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitawiiwii-uxboxWed, 20 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Epic Mickey 3DS and the power of creation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/epic-mickey-3ds-and-the-power-of-creation/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/epic-mickey-3ds-and-the-power-of-creation/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/epic-mickey-3ds-and-the-power-of-creation/#comments Epic Mickey Power of IllusionWhile Epic Mickey 2 continues to mine Disney film history for its subject matter, Dreamrift Entertainment's Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion aims squarely at video game nostalgia, bringing back the Castle of Illusion from the classic Sega Genesis game, along with its villain, Mizrabel. It refreshes the vintage setting (and its attendant slow-paced platforming) with new designs and new touchscreen tricks.

The Castle of Illusion has fallen into Epic Mickey's "Wasteland," Dreamrift creative director Peter Ong explained to me during a meeting at E3. "Mickey's quest actually takes place in the Castle of Illusion in this game, but at the same time it's situated in Wasteland, so you'll see characters familiar to Epic Mickey and Wasteland such as Oswald being involved in Mickey's quest," Ong said.

Continue reading Epic Mickey 3DS and the power of creation

JoystiqEpic Mickey 3DS and the power of creation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdisney-epic-mickey-the-power-of-illusiondisney-interactivedreamrifte3-2012nintendoTue, 19 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Japan's fastest-growing game publisher isn't who you'd think]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/japans-fastest-growing-game-publisher-isnt-who-youd-think/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/japans-fastest-growing-game-publisher-isnt-who-youd-think/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/japans-fastest-growing-game-publisher-isnt-who-youd-think/#comments Japan's fastestgrowing game publisher isn't who you'd thinkSony's PlayStation Vita may still be brand new, and Nintendo's Wii U has yet to even hit store shelves, but Japanese developer/publisher/social platform GREE doesn't need a new console. Or any console, for that matter. Its platform is virtual, and its growth strategy is extremely aggressive. "We're hiring more than 30 people a month," GREE's US CEO (and international CFO) Naoki Aoyagi told us in an E3 2012 interview.

Those "more than 30 people a month" are filling not only GREE's 1,000-person-plus Japanese offices, but also its "almost 400 people" San Francisco-based office. "And we already also have some people in China (around 50 people). And 50 people in South Korea," Aoyagi said. That kind of growth is rare, especially during an international economic downturn. And it comes at a time when both Nintendo and Sony are seeing year-over-year revenue declines - even while new hardware from both manufacturers heads to market.

"Nintendo, they ship 200 or 300 million [units] for each platform. But I think it's gonna be more than double or triple in terms of the market size," Aoyagi told us. He spoke to the difference between GREE's focus on "smartphones, tablets, probably in the future Android TV or Apple TV" versus that of Nintendo and Sony. "On smartphones we can have access to South America, or East Asia, or the African market, or the Russian market. So it's gonna be much bigger than the consoles."

Continue reading Japan's fastest-growing game publisher isn't who you'd think

JoystiqJapan's fastest-growing game publisher isn't who you'd think originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androide3-2012greegree-incgree-social-platformiosipadiphonemobilenaoki-aoyaginintendosonyzombie-jombieThu, 14 Jun 2012 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ranking Japanese RPG publishers after E3 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/ranking-japanese-rpg-publishers-after-e3-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/ranking-japanese-rpg-publishers-after-e3-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/ranking-japanese-rpg-publishers-after-e3-2012/#commentsThis is a column by Kat Bailey dedicated to the analysis of the once beloved Japanese RPG sub-genre. Tune in every Wednesday for thoughts on white-haired villains, giant robots, Infinity+1 swords, and everything else the wonderful world of JRPGs has to offer.
E3 2012's Japanese RPG publisher power rankings
As I was going through my E3 schedule, I realized something remarkable. I found that I was actually more excited to be meeting with XSEED than with Square Enix. A far cry from 2009, to be sure, when I practically sprinted onto the show floor to play some Final Fantasy XIII.

Now that E3 2012 is over, for my column, I decided it would be an interesting idea to rank the current Japanese RPG developers based on the software lineup they showcased at the event.

Continue reading Ranking Japanese RPG publishers after E3 2012

JoystiqRanking Japanese RPG publishers after E3 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dse3-2012nintendoplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitawii-uWed, 13 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii U designed to allow free-to-play games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/wii-u-designed-to-allow-free-to-play-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/wii-u-designed-to-allow-free-to-play-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/wii-u-designed-to-allow-free-to-play-games/#comments JC, here is that thing I sent youNintendo president Satoru Iwata is notoriously less than jazzed about free-to-play games, but the Wii U's online architecture will be set up to support them, just in case someone else feels like doing that. "We have designed the system from a technical standpoint to allow developers to freely take advantage of things like free to play and micro transactions," Iwata said in an investor Q&A held during E3 and released today. The 3DS was recently updated to allow DLC as well; the architecture for Wii U microtransactions is likely the same.

Don't take that as an indication of Nintendo's own interest in the model, however. "Currently, we are not actively looking at free to play for our first-party content and I don't think that's a direction that we should go in right now," Iwata said. "But that doesn't mean for the future that there may not come a time where we have specific content that might be suited to that model."

JoystiqWii U designed to allow free-to-play games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012free-to-playnintendosatoru-iwatawii-uWed, 13 Jun 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[3DS digital releases to include Epic Mickey, Scribblenauts Unlimited, Kingdom Hearts [update: Nintendo says only first-party games]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/3ds-digital-releases-to-include-epic-mickey-scribblenauts-unlim/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/3ds-digital-releases-to-include-epic-mickey-scribblenauts-unlim/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/3ds-digital-releases-to-include-epic-mickey-scribblenauts-unlim/#comments 3DS digital releases to include Epic Mickey, Scribblenauts Unlimited, Kingdom HeartsWe knew that Nintendo planned to release the "majority" of its retail 3DS games digitally on eShop going forward, but a note in an E3 investor presentation from NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime reveals plans to release third-party games digitally as well.

"We've got a massive list of AAA content on the way from all of the biggest names in gaming," Fils-Aime said, "that are all proven franchises, all exclusive to our platform, and all coming to stores both in physical and digital formats in the second half of 2012." Accompanying this statement is a slide featuring confirmed eShop/retail releases New Super Mario Bros. 2, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, and Paper Mario: Sticker Star, along with third-party games Kingdom Hearts 3D, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, Scribblenauts Unlimited, and Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.

Unless this slide isn't meant to lay out the "massive list of AAA content," we can expect to see all of these games on the eShop alongside their retail releases.

Update: Nintendo added text to the explanation of the slide, to say "refers to first-party titles only" in regards to the dual digital/retail releases. It was just a super misleading slide, then.

Joystiq3DS digital releases to include Epic Mickey, Scribblenauts Unlimited, Kingdom Hearts [update: Nintendo says only first-party games] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscastlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fatedisney-epic-mickey-the-power-of-illusione3-2012eshopkingdom-hearts-3dkingdom-hearts-3d-dream-drop-distancenintendoWed, 13 Jun 2012 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Shigeru Miyamoto on how the Wii U could change games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/shigeru-miyamoto-on-how-the-wii-u-could-change-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/shigeru-miyamoto-on-how-the-wii-u-could-change-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/shigeru-miyamoto-on-how-the-wii-u-could-change-games/#comments The Wii U is designed to enable new gaming experiences, through the combination of motion controls and a small, personal screen. At E3, Nintendo showed games that rely on "asymmetric gaming," or giving different players different experiences; it showed games that use the Wii U's new controller as a touchscreen interface for a game on the TV; and it showed games being played on the WiiPad for situations when the TV is in use.

I wondered which of these would become the central message of the Wii U, the feature that would become emblematic of the system. For Shigeru Miyamoto, Senior Managing Director and General Manager, Entertainment Analysis & Development Division, it's none of those. "For me, personally, what's most important is the idea that when the family goes into the living room, that the first screen they'll interact with will be the Wii U screen," Miyamoto told me in an interview directly following Nintendo's E3 2012 press conference. "Whether they're doing that for social elements, or for watching television, or for games, that to me is the most important element of this new Wii hardware."

Continue reading Shigeru Miyamoto on how the Wii U could change games

JoystiqShigeru Miyamoto on how the Wii U could change games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012game-designnintendoshigeru-miyamotowii-uWed, 13 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii U achievements not mandatory for devs, friend codes to change for the better]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/wii-u-achievements-not-mandatory-for-devs-friend-codes-to-chang/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/wii-u-achievements-not-mandatory-for-devs-friend-codes-to-chang/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/wii-u-achievements-not-mandatory-for-devs-friend-codes-to-chang/#comments Wii U achievements not mandatory for devs, friend codes to change for the betterThere won't be a pervasive "achievement" system on Wii U, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime suggested to Kotaku. Referring to the 3DS's system-specific achievements, which honor StreetPass-based activities in the system software, "We will have that," Fils-Aime said. "Once you start getting into game-specific [Achievements] that's developer driven."

Fils-Aime hinted at changes to the friend code system for connecting to online friends, calling the new system "friend codes, but it's not the existing friend code system." He added, "you will be able to identify people as friends and have a certain level of interaction versus a different level of interaction for the more general population. The method by which you identify someone as a friend is a lot simpler than what's happening today with Friend Codes." However, he didn't go into detail.

Fils-Aime also had good news regarding the announced content filtering system. It turns out that messages that aren't flagged by an automatic scan won't be subject to manual scanning. If a message is flagged by that, and then by the community, then Nintendo steps in.

JoystiqWii U achievements not mandatory for devs, friend codes to change for the better originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementse3-2012friend-codesnintendoreggie-fils-aimewii-uTue, 12 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a cash grab, but not just a cash grab]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/new-super-mario-bros-2-is-a-cash-grab-but-not-just-a-cash-grab/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/new-super-mario-bros-2-is-a-cash-grab-but-not-just-a-cash-grab/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/new-super-mario-bros-2-is-a-cash-grab-but-not-just-a-cash-grab/#comments New Super Mario Bros 2 is a cash grab, but not just a cash grabThe new emphasis on collecting coins in New Super Mario Bros. 2 may seem like an insubstantial change for the series - after all, there have always been coins everywhere, and it's always been a good idea to collect them. But I think that this subtle shift in goals subverts the nature of Mario more than it seems to.

The chief goal in Mario games has always been survival. You're expected to traverse the level, defeating as many enemies as possible along the way, so that you reach the end without death. Coin collection, along with discovery of secrets and acquisition of points, have always been secondary goals. Now, coin collecting is front and center (well, still behind not dying) and those background elements are among the most important.

NSMB2 increases the importance of coins by keeping a running count through your whole game. It also makes sure money is on your mind by putting coins absolutely everywhere. They curve around moving platforms like in New Super Mario Bros. Wii (highlighting some engine improvements over the DS game), they fill up secret areas inside special gold pipes, and they just generally make up an overwhelming presence in the stages.

There's even a new powerup that's all about coins: a gold Fire Flower that causes everything in its explosive path (enemies, blocks) to turn into coins. The other powerup new to NSMB is the raccoon tail, which works just like in Super Mario Bros. 3. You know that one already. Coins were previously just a thinly veiled signpost to show you the path through a level, but now they're the central element of the level.

Having only played a single level, I don't know how pervasive or interesting the greed motif will be in the full game. I just love that it's possible to tweak a single element of a very familiar series to make something new. I also love coins, so it's a promising game.

JoystiqNew Super Mario Bros. 2 is a cash grab, but not just a cash grab originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dse3-2012eshopnew-super-mario-bros-2nintendoTue, 12 Jun 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Retail therapy: Wada's 'Project Happiness' is a shopkeeper's life]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/retail-therapy-wadas-project-happiness-is-a-shopkeepers-lif/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/retail-therapy-wadas-project-happiness-is-a-shopkeepers-lif/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/retail-therapy-wadas-project-happiness-is-a-shopkeepers-lif/#comments Retail therapy Wada's 'Project Happiness' is a shopkeeper's life
Harvest Moon creator Yasuhiro Wada and publisher Natsume revealed their next project together at E3. "Project Happiness" is a new IP in which you run a shop in a small village, buying and selling items to improve the shop and learning the stories of all the customers who come in over the years. Natsume later revealed plans to put it on 3DS and mobile; during an interview at E3, Wada said it was planned for a "variety of platforms."

Wada recruited top talent to create his new game. Character designs, for both humans and the adorable "sprite" creatures that inhabit the world, are by Pokemon character designer Atsuko Nishida. The music, including that heard in the above trailer, is composed by legendary Final Fantasy series composer Nobuo Uematsu.

Continue reading Retail therapy: Wada's 'Project Happiness' is a shopkeeper's life

JoystiqRetail therapy: Wada's 'Project Happiness' is a shopkeeper's life originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dse3-2012mobilenatsumenintendoproject-happinesstoybox-incyasuhiro-wadaMon, 11 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rayman Legends highlighted for Wii U, not necessarily exclusive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/rayman-legends-highlighted-for-wii-u-not-necessarily-exclusive/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/rayman-legends-highlighted-for-wii-u-not-necessarily-exclusive/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/rayman-legends-highlighted-for-wii-u-not-necessarily-exclusive/#comments
Ubisoft is "not really saying it's a Wii U exclusive," but Rayman Legends is certainly positioned as a major launch game for Nintendo's new hardware. Above: Senior Game Manager Michael Micholic gives us a brief recap of Rayman's next outing and some of the 3D enhancements made to the beautiful UbiArt framework.

JoystiqRayman Legends highlighted for Wii U, not necessarily exclusive originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012michael-micholicnintendorayman-legendsubiartubisoftwii-uMon, 11 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[No tower defense in Assassin's Creed 3, thank you very much]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/no-tower-defense-in-assassins-creed-3-thank-you-very-much/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/no-tower-defense-in-assassins-creed-3-thank-you-very-much/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/no-tower-defense-in-assassins-creed-3-thank-you-very-much/#comments
Mission Director Philippe Bergeron rules out tower defense in his commentary on Assassin's Creed 3, which shakes off some of the systems accumulated over the span of several games. Bergeron also addresses the difference between the game's "free-flow" missions, and those that are "more about explosions."

JoystiqNo tower defense in Assassin's Creed 3, thank you very much originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-3e3-2012microsoftnintendopcphillipe-bergeronplaystationps3wii-uxboxMon, 11 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq's favorite games of E3 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/joystiqs-favorite-games-of-e3-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/joystiqs-favorite-games-of-e3-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/joystiqs-favorite-games-of-e3-2012/#comments Joystiq staff picks E3 2012 favoritesNormally, after E3, some clear "best games" emerge - either the ones that everyone knew would be amazing going in and didn't disappoint on the floor, or surprises that dominated conversations online and in the press room.

After comparing notes over chicken and waffles, the Joystiq staff compiled their individual favorites from the industry's big show. While our scheduling makes it difficult for editors to see the same games as other staff (or every game at the show), a few heavy-hitters found their way to the top of our lists, including XCOM: Enemy Unknown and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. But if the variety of our favorite games list is any indication, there's no shortage of exciting experiences on the horizon.

Continue reading Joystiq's favorite games of E3 2012

JoystiqJoystiq's favorite games of E3 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-e3best-of-e3-2012e3-2012metamicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3wii-uxboxMon, 11 Jun 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Our miniature first look at Pikmin 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/our-miniature-first-look-at-pikmin-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/our-miniature-first-look-at-pikmin-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/our-miniature-first-look-at-pikmin-3/#comments PikminThe Pikmin 3 demo available on the show floor didn't directly indicate how the Wii U's new controller would improve the experience. In this demo, the screen on the new WiiPad was used for an overhead map, which was nice, but did little to augment the gameplay other than to show me where it would be taking place. In the final game, you'll be able to do other things -- like control four leaders at once, all in charge of groups of Pikmin, but that wasn't present in this version. The limited nature of the demo had the side effect of being an effective sales pitch for the Wii Pikmin 2 port out today, as playing Pikmin with the Wiimote and Nunchuk is totally great.

Even though I didn't get to experience the new controls, I did see new graphics and the new Rock Pikmin. The Wii U's HD output amplifies all the Pikmin-ness of the series: the forest looks more lush and beautiful (and still preternaturally clean), the Pikmin look even tinier and more ant-like, and there's a nice subtle tilt-shift effect to drive home the "tiny" look.

Continue reading Our miniature first look at Pikmin 3

JoystiqOur miniature first look at Pikmin 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012nintendopikmin-3wii-uMon, 11 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pokemon Conquest strategically designed to bring in new players]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/10/pokemon-conquest-strategically-designed-to-bring-in-new-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/10/pokemon-conquest-strategically-designed-to-bring-in-new-players/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/10/pokemon-conquest-strategically-designed-to-bring-in-new-players/#comments Pokemon Conquest meant to bring new players to the strategy genre
Going into my interview with Pokemon Conquest director Hisashi Koinuma, the DS strategy game seemed like the most inscrutably random agglomeration of properties imaginable. I couldn't begin to imagine a reason anyone would think to merge Pokemon with Nobunaga's Ambition, a strategy game about real Japanese warlords.

Koinuma cut through the confusion without trouble, in an instant. "It would be nice if players would become interested in Nobunaga's Ambition," Koinuma said in response to my question about Conquest as a Nobunaga's gateway. "But as Tecmo Koei has created a lot of simulation titles, we wanted to introduce the genre of simulation games to children. It's not so much that we want them to start playing Nobunaga's Ambition as an entry point, but just as an entry point to the genre of simulation games."

Of course! It all makes perfect sense as a first strategy game to pull kids into the genre. "Especially in Japan," he continued, "the number of users of simulation games has really dropped over the years, so in order to keep people interested in that genre, we hope that kids would play this game and would take it as a suggestion of 'oh, simulation games are like this.' Then in the future they'd continue playing simulation games."

Koinuma believes that the hardcore nature of strategy/simulation fans leads the games to become ever more difficult and less accessible to attempt to satisfy said fans. "At the same time, there are people who want to start trying simulation games, well, now the games on the market are a lot more difficult, so it's a lot harder to learn how simulation games. Some new users are kind of turned off by the genre because it's too difficult."

Gallery: Pokemon Conquest (E3 2012)

JoystiqPokemon Conquest strategically designed to bring in new players originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dse3-2012hisashi-koinumanintendonobunagas-ambitionpokemon-conquesttecmo-koeiSun, 10 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tank! Tank! Tank! is E3's least effective Wii U showcase, is fun regardless]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/10/tank-tank-tank-is-e3s-least-effective-wii-u-showcase-is-fun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/10/tank-tank-tank-is-e3s-least-effective-wii-u-showcase-is-fun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/10/tank-tank-tank-is-e3s-least-effective-wii-u-showcase-is-fun/#comments Tank! Tank! Tank!
Tank! Tank! Tank! may not be what I would have shown off at E3 with innovative new hardware. It's fun in a profoundly goofy, vintage-arcadey way, but it's hardly pushing any new ideas or making any graphical leaps. In fact, it's not even a new game -- it was originally released as an arcade cabinet in 2009.

It doesn't make particularly interesting use of the WiiPad, either. In the demo shown in Nintendo's booth, one player saw the action from behind their own tank, while up to four other players could play on the TV with Wiimotes -- after everyone passed the WiiPad around to snap avatar portraits. The gameplay was the same -- even the view was the same -- just on another screen.

Gallery: Tank! Tank! Tank! (E3 2012)

Continue reading Tank! Tank! Tank! is E3's least effective Wii U showcase, is fun regardless

JoystiqTank! Tank! Tank! is E3's least effective Wii U showcase, is fun regardless originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jun 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012namco-bandainintendotank-tank-tankwii-uSun, 10 Jun 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo's E3 2012 booth: the tour]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/nintendos-e3-2012-booth-the-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/nintendos-e3-2012-booth-the-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/nintendos-e3-2012-booth-the-tour/#comments Experience the Wii U in our Nintendo booth video tour
Sure, you couldn't be in Los Angeles with us for this year's E3, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the sights and sounds of the LA Convention Center's neon light-littered, bass-pounding show floor. Nintendo's booth is no exception, with approximately a trillion Wii U game kiosks, not to mention 3DSes attached to "booth models" with all variety of game. Take a gander just above to see for yourself.

JoystiqNintendo's E3 2012 booth: the tour originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dse3-2012nintendowii-uFri, 08 Jun 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Come on down to Amazon for all your E3 helicopter and bow games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/come-on-down-to-amazon-for-all-your-e3-helicopter-and-bow-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/come-on-down-to-amazon-for-all-your-e3-helicopter-and-bow-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/come-on-down-to-amazon-for-all-your-e3-helicopter-and-bow-games/#comments Come on down to Amazon for all your E3 helicopter and bow gamesAmazon identified two major tropes in this year's E3 games, and then, to our delight, rounded up all the games featuring these tropes in a promotional page. Allow us to present: "E3 Helicopter and Bow Titles."

Everything from Brave (bow) to Beyond: Two Souls (helicopter) to Tomb Raider (helicopter and bow) is conveniently collected for your helicopter and bow game needs. It even links out to a few already-released games featuring helicopters and bows, for the impatient helicopter/bow enthusiast.

JoystiqCome on down to Amazon for all your E3 helicopter and bow games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbowsdse3-2012helicoptersmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3wii-uxboxFri, 08 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Super Mario Bros. U gives multiplayer a 'boost']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/new-super-mario-bros-u-gives-multiplayer-a-boost/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/new-super-mario-bros-u-gives-multiplayer-a-boost/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/new-super-mario-bros-u-gives-multiplayer-a-boost/#comments New Super Mario Bros U gives multiplayer a 'boost'As evidenced by the ridiculous sales, many people love the chaotic multiplayer in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. However, it's possible you might have been annoyed by the frequent accidental deaths caused by bumping into other players, or ... the frequent intentional deaths caused by your friends throwing you into a pit.

For those of you in the second group, the new "Boost Mode" in New Super Mario Bros. U is just the thing, replacing the pseudo-competitive bumbling with a simple, but enjoyable, and almost entirely helpful interaction.

While the game is going on as normal on the television, one player can tap the touchscreen to place blocks, which dissipate as players stand on them. Ideally, these blocks are used to help the Wiimote-based players reach secret areas, make difficult jumps, and avoid falling into Piranha Plants or other obstacles below. It's also possible to be a jerk and place blocks in the way of jumps, but I found that less fun than being helpful.

You can also tap the block again to make a smaller block that spits out a bunch of coins, and tap enemies to stun them. Sure, it makes Mario an easier experience, but it's also fun for everyone involved -- I enjoyed trying to land platforms right under a falling Mario with perfect timing, and I liked working together with another player to get through a level efficiently. And I certainly didn't mind having another player in my game who wasn't going to accidentally jump on my head.

Gallery: New Super Mario Bros U (E3 2012)

JoystiqNew Super Mario Bros. U gives multiplayer a 'boost' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012new-super-mario-bros-unintendowii-uFri, 08 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scribblenauts Unlimited and the birth of the ferret-headed librarian-throwing lamp]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/scribblenauts-unlimited-and-the-birth-of-the-ferret-headed-libra/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/scribblenauts-unlimited-and-the-birth-of-the-ferret-headed-libra/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/scribblenauts-unlimited-and-the-birth-of-the-ferret-headed-libra/#comments Scribblenauts Unlimited and the birth of the ferretheaded librarianthrowing lampScribblenauts Unlimited on Wii U has a lot of new stuff not found in its predecessors, like an open world full of both traditional Scribblenauts levels and simple "Starite shard" challenges (requiring you to make one item on the spot, basically), fancy HD graphics, and multiplayer.

But by far the most revolutionary improvement for the sequel (in a series whose every improvement is pretty dang revolutionary) is the item editor, which lets you take any single item and change its color, add other items (or components thereof) to it, and then even change its behavior.

For example, I started with a "lamp." I painted the shade three different colors -- is argyle a color? -- and then generated a "ferret," whose head I detached and stuck to the top of the lamp. Why not. Then, I altered the properties of the lamp so that the lamp was alive. Then I made it a weapon. I set it so that it was the kind that shoots projectiles, and I replaced the standard "bullet" with "librarian," resulting in a constant arc of librarians issuing forth.

If, like me, you're proud of your work, you'll be able to share your items online. If you can't solve a problem with a regular item, why not ... mutate it cruelly?

JoystiqScribblenauts Unlimited and the birth of the ferret-headed librarian-throwing lamp originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5th-celle3-2012it-shoots-librariansnintendoscribblenauts-unlimitedWarner-Bros-Interactivewii-uThu, 07 Jun 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Reality Pump's Sacrilegium takes survival horror to modern Romania in 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/reality-pumps-sacrilegium-takes-survival-horror-to-modern-roman/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/reality-pumps-sacrilegium-takes-survival-horror-to-modern-roman/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/reality-pumps-sacrilegium-takes-survival-horror-to-modern-roman/#comments Sacrilegium, the next game from Two Worlds developer Reality Pump is just a little different from its previous fantasy-driven efforts. Taking a break from orcs and wizards, Sacrilegium is a survival horror title set in modern day Romania - and yes, Vlad the Impaler does figure in there somewhere, though Reality Pump is keeping mum on the subject until Gamescom later this year.

The story follows Alex - a 20-year-old Californian college student who is "fully aware of her breathtaking beauty," though "she never is looking to use it to her advantage" - as she battles vampires whilst traveling the land on an "appropriated police motorbike." The game promises cinematic combat, quick time events and "ultra-realistic motion capture," all powered by Reality Pump's new GRACE 2 engine.

We were told by publisher TopWare that Reality Pump hopes to return survival horror to its PlayStation 1 roots, eschewing modern horror's tendency for maximum firepower and jump scares in favor of more atmospheric terror. Somewhat paradoxically, the game is also promising a "deadly arsenal will whet all appetites."

Sacrilegium is slated for a Q2 2013 release on PC, Mac, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U. Check out the first screens and concept art in the gallery below.

Continue reading Reality Pump's Sacrilegium takes survival horror to modern Romania in 2013

JoystiqReality Pump's Sacrilegium takes survival horror to modern Romania in 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012macmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3sacrilegiumwii-uxboxThu, 07 Jun 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Wii U accessory onslaught begins in the Scribblenaut-iest way]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/the-wii-u-accessory-onslaught-begins-in-the-scribblenaut-iest-wa/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/the-wii-u-accessory-onslaught-begins-in-the-scribblenaut-iest-wa/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/the-wii-u-accessory-onslaught-begins-in-the-scribblenaut-iest-wa/#comments The Wii U accessory onslaught begins in the Scribblenautiest wayWith a new console comes a world of new accessories. I encountered my first Wii U accessory in PDP's booth, and it's glorious. To go with the Wii U version of Scribblenauts Unlimited, PDP has concocted a cover for the WiiPad designed to mimic Maxwell's "rooster hat."

Now that it exists, every Wii U controller that isn't in a rooster hat is a missed opportunity.

JoystiqThe Wii U accessory onslaught begins in the Scribblenaut-iest way originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriese3-2012maxwellnintendopdprooster-hatscribblenauts-unlimitedwii-uThu, 07 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[ZombiU is all about survival, but failure is pretty cool too]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/zombiu-is-all-about-survival-but-failure-is-pretty-cool-too/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/zombiu-is-all-about-survival-but-failure-is-pretty-cool-too/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/zombiu-is-all-about-survival-but-failure-is-pretty-cool-too/#comments ZombiU is all about survival, but failure is pretty cool tooUbisoft's ZombiU for Wii U combines common survival horror elements, like inventory management and limited ammunition, with FPS elements like shooting at things in first person. As a survivor in your standard issue zombie apocalypse, you must search and loot bodies to find necessary equipment, while taking out zombies with whatever weapons you have handy. Putting the backpack on the WiiPad forces you to be very alert about both screens, to work quickly, and to be nervous.

The WiiPad acts as a scanner, allowing you to ping for items, which are then highlighted on the main screen. You can use it to hack keypad locks, typing numbers quickly and frantically so you can get back to shooting. It also acts as a sight or scope for weapons, allowing you to aim with the gyroscope and line up the shot on the screen.

The coolest feature of ZombiU has absolutely nothing to do with the touchscreen. When you die (and you will, since one bite does the job) your character wakes up as a zombie, and you respawn into another randomly generated person in a nearby safehouse, with a quick caption popping up telling you that new person's name and age. My first character was male; after he died, I woke up as a 23-year-old blonde woman.

Those zombies representing your shortcomings continue to stalk around the area you died, and you can find them and kill them, thus erasing the evidence of your inability to survive the zombie apocalypse and getting the items back that were left on the body. It's kind of like going back for your body in a roguelike game, except your body is also going after you. It's an interesting gimmick, and it's more interesting because it's a game design gimmick in a lineup rife with interface gimmicks. And the interface gimmicks are also neat! Now, about the name ...

Gallery: ZombiU (E3 2012)

JoystiqZombiU is all about survival, but failure is pretty cool too originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012nintendoubisoftwii-uzombiuThu, 07 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Miiverse messages will be subject to moderation before posting]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/miiverse-messages-will-be-subject-to-moderation-before-posting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/miiverse-messages-will-be-subject-to-moderation-before-posting/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/miiverse-messages-will-be-subject-to-moderation-before-posting/#comments Miiverse messages will be subject to moderation before postingYou'll be able to communicate with friends using simple text and drawings through Nintendo's upcoming Wii U (and later 3DS/smartphone) Miiverse service - but Nintendo, famously concerned with keeping profane or otherwise improper communication away from younger users, has some safeguards in place for this seemingly more open system.

Speaking to Hero Complex, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed plans to implement three forms of filtering for Miiverse content. The first is algorithmic - automatic content filtering. The second is really, really hardcore: having a moderator read all posts before they're published. Finally, users can flag inappropriate content.

Iwata didn't say how long of a delay the moderation would cause, but he suggested "personally, I think 30 minutes should be acceptable."

JoystiqMiiverse messages will be subject to moderation before posting originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>censorshipe3-2012miiversenintendosatoru-iwatawii-uThu, 07 Jun 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a virtual stroll through PDP's E3 booth]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/take-a-virtual-stroll-through-pdps-e3-booth/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/take-a-virtual-stroll-through-pdps-e3-booth/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/take-a-virtual-stroll-through-pdps-e3-booth/#comments
If peripheral maker PDP's booth had a theme at E3 this year, it was to be as bright and colorful as possible. From "Rock Candy" controllers in a rainbow of colors to glowing controllers, headsets and even HDMI cables, everything was designed to stand out on drab, utilitarian entertainment centers everywhere.

Gallery: E3 2012: PDP booth tour

JoystiqTake a virtual stroll through PDP's E3 booth originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdse3-2012iosiphonemicrosoftmobilenintendoplaystationps3wiiwii-uxboxThu, 07 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget goes hands-on with Wii U's Pro Controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/engadget-goes-hands-on-with-wii-us-pro-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/engadget-goes-hands-on-with-wii-us-pro-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/engadget-goes-hands-on-with-wii-us-pro-controller/#comments
Our friends at Engadget are kinda way, way into tech. Perhaps you didn't know (you probably did). Anyway, they got their hands on Nintendo's Wii U Pro Controller this week and they've got this handy video above with their impressions. Spoilers: it's kinda similar to an Xbox 360 controller. Shock!

JoystiqEngadget goes hands-on with Wii U's Pro Controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012engadgetnintendopro-controllerwii-uwii-u-pro-controllerThu, 07 Jun 2012 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fire Emblem: Awakening coming to North America]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/fire-emblem-awakening-coming-to-north-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/fire-emblem-awakening-coming-to-north-america/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/fire-emblem-awakening-coming-to-north-america/#comments After a 3DS software showcase in which no new 3DS software was announced, Nintendo surprised us all by tweeting confirmation of a North American release for Fire Emblem: Awakening, the 3DS iteration of the popular strategy role-playing series. There's no release window, but Nintendo promised "more info to come" -- we'd expect a press release in the morning.

Turns out Twitter was the real news source the whole time, and this whole E3 thing was a red herring.

JoystiqFire Emblem: Awakening coming to North America originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dse3-2012fire-emblemfire-emblem-awakeningnintendoThu, 07 Jun 2012 00:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision talks Skylanders Giants and the future of the franchise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/activision-talks-skylanders-giants-and-the-future-of-the-franchi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/activision-talks-skylanders-giants-and-the-future-of-the-franchi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/activision-talks-skylanders-giants-and-the-future-of-the-franchi/#comments Activision talks Skylanders Giants and the future of the franchise

We had a quick chat with Mike Graham, a design producer at Activision, about Toys for Bob's extremely popular Skylanders franchise, and the second release in the series, Skylanders Giants. Graham kindly let us in on the reasoning behind the new game and bigger toys, and what other possibilities might be in store for Skylanders.

We also hear a little bit about where Spyro now fits in the Skylanders universe (That purple dragon that the whole series is based on? Remember him?) Turns out he's still in there, even if his name has been taken off the title for now.

JoystiqActivision talks Skylanders Giants and the future of the franchise originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisione3e3-2012microsoftmike-grahamnintendoplaystationps3skylandersskylanders-giantsskylanders-spyros-adventurespyrovideowiixboxWed, 06 Jun 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Epic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion also out November 18]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/epic-mickey-2-power-of-illusion-also-out-november-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/epic-mickey-2-power-of-illusion-also-out-november-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/epic-mickey-2-power-of-illusion-also-out-november-18/#comments During Nintendo's 3DS showcase, Warren Spector and Dreamrift's Peter Ong showed off Epic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion, and revealed that the 3DS game will join its console counterpart at retail on November 18.

JoystiqEpic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion also out November 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdisney-epic-mickey-the-power-of-illusione3-2012nintendoWed, 06 Jun 2012 21:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon will also launch digitally]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/luigis-mansion-dark-moon-will-also-launch-digitally/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/luigis-mansion-dark-moon-will-also-launch-digitally/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/luigis-mansion-dark-moon-will-also-launch-digitally/#comments http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2012/06/luigismansion2.jpgGhost-busting 3DS holiday title Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon will be available for purchase in both retail and digital formats. We were previously told that "in principle" Nintendo's first-party 3DS titles would be available in both, and it appears the company is keeping to it.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star will also be available both "physically and digitally" this holiday season, along with New Super Mario Bros. 2.

JoystiqLuigi's Mansion: Dark Moon will also launch digitally originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dse3-2012luigis-mansion-dark-moonnintendoWed, 06 Jun 2012 21:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate now featuring Alucard]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-now-featuring-aluc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-now-featuring-aluc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-now-featuring-aluc/#comments Castlevania Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate now featuring AlucardCastlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate will launch in fall this year and will include Symphony of the Night alum Alucard in some capacity, Konami announced at an E3 3DS press conference today.

Mirror of Fate will be one of developer Mercury Steam's final 3DS titles, along with its console iteration currently in development, Lords of Shadow 2. It will use StreetPass, we learned today.

JoystiqCastlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate now featuring Alucard originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscastlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fatee3-2012Konamimercury-steamnintendoWed, 06 Jun 2012 21:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Using the power of the people in Wii U's 'Project P-100']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/using-the-power-of-the-people-in-wii-us-project-p-100/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/using-the-power-of-the-people-in-wii-us-project-p-100/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/using-the-power-of-the-people-in-wii-us-project-p-100/#comments P100Among the Wii U's minigame collection-heavy E3 lineup was a weird, weird surprise: an original action game by Platinum Games. Project P-100 isn't just an anomaly among Wii U games, it stands out among Platinum's lineup. It's very cartoony and cute, adjectives I won't see applied to Bayonetta or Anarchy Reigns anytime soon. The main character does bear a resemblance to Viewtiful Joe by pre-Platinum Clover Studio, but he's way too tiny on screen to really make the connection.

It also abandons the "character action" style most associated with the studio in favor of, well, more characters. Your superhero protagonist can recruit a coterie of random citizens (by drawing a circle around them with the right analog stick) sort of Pikmin-style. However, instead of simply directing them toward the giant robot enemies, you wield your crew as weapons. You can hit a button to do basic "team attacks" that essentially use them as a bludgeon.

Gallery: Project P-100 (E3 2012)

Continue reading Using the power of the people in Wii U's 'Project P-100'

JoystiqUsing the power of the people in Wii U's 'Project P-100' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012nintendoplatinum-gamesproject-p-100wii-uWed, 06 Jun 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate will use StreetPass]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-will-use-streetpas/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-will-use-streetpas/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate-will-use-streetpas/#comments Castlevania Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate will use StreetPassCastlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, the 3DS title in development by Mercury Steam, will incorporate Nintendo's StreetPass feature, allowing players to swap game data simply by walking past one another. Mercury Steam and Konami confirmed its integration today at E3.

Mercury Steam developed a brand new engine for its 3DS installment and now has 100 people working on Mirror of Fate and its companion console title, Lords of Shadow 2. Both games operate in the same Lords of Shadow universe, at the same time, but Lords of Shadow 2 will conclude Dracula's storyline while Mirror of Fate tells the Belmonts' tale.

Mercury Steam will be finished with the Castlevania franchise after these titles launch.

JoystiqCastlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate will use StreetPass originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscastlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fatee3-2012Konamimercury-steamnintendostreetpassWed, 06 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Risky Business: The Injustice: Gods Among Us 'Clash' system]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/risky-business-the-injustice-gods-among-us-clash-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/risky-business-the-injustice-gods-among-us-clash-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/risky-business-the-injustice-gods-among-us-clash-system/#comments When I first watched the debut trailer for Injustice: Gods Among Us', my initial thoughts were something along the lines of "Okay, last year's Mortal Kombat with DC characters, I can get down with this." I've since discovered, however, that Injustice is not only unlike Mortal Kombat, but also unlike the majority of games in the fighting genre's illustrious and storied history.

There are many esoteric and subtle differences between the gameplay mechanics of Injustice and Mortal Kombat (such as the introduction of Street Fighter-style blocking, rather than NetherRealm's traditional block button system), but the main feature that sets the game apart is its fresh take on the combo breaker: The "Clash" system.

Gallery: Injustice: Gods Among Us

Continue reading Risky Business: The Injustice: Gods Among Us 'Clash' system

JoystiqRisky Business: The Injustice: Gods Among Us 'Clash' system originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012hands-oninjustice-gods-among-usmicrosoftNetherrealm-Studiosnintendoplaystationps3warner-brothers-interactive-entertainmentwii-uxboxWed, 06 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Theatrhythm franchise could cross Square Enix properties]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/theatrhythm-franchise-could-cross-square-enix-properties/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/theatrhythm-franchise-could-cross-square-enix-properties/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/theatrhythm-franchise-could-cross-square-enix-properties/#comments Theatrhythm franchise could cross Square Enix propertiesThere's a reason Theatrhythm received top billing in Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, as the game could expand into a series beyond the Final Fantasy franchise. Ichiro Hazama, producer at Square Enix's 1st Production Department, told us the publisher has plenty of intellectual properties where the formula could be applied.

"Our company has so many other IPs that create great music, so if you ask if I want to do it? I want to do it, but nothing is determined yet," said Hazama. "In my mind, it was my intention that if it expands to other franchises that would be great. That's why this title carries Theatrhythm first and Final Fantasy comes next."

Hmm, that opens up the series to possibilities like Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts... or Theatrhythm: Hitman.

Gallery: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (E3 2012)

JoystiqTheatrhythm franchise could cross Square Enix properties originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dse3-2012nintendoSquare-Enixtheatrhythmtheatrhythm-final-fantasyWed, 06 Jun 2012 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Experience the Wii U in our Nintendo booth video tour]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/experience-the-wii-u-in-our-nintendo-booth-video-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/experience-the-wii-u-in-our-nintendo-booth-video-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/experience-the-wii-u-in-our-nintendo-booth-video-tour/#comments Experience the Wii U in our Nintendo booth video tour
I stormed Nintendo's E3 booth yesterday to try some real Wii U games. Because simply seeing screens is no longer enough -- you have to see screens and the controller, with its screens -- I brought a camera crew with me.

Join us for gameplay snippets of Nintendo Land's "Takamaru's Ninja Castle" and "Animal Crossing: Sweet Day" minigames, Ubisoft's survival-oriented ZombiU, and ... Just Dance 4, in which I am the victim of the "Puppet Master." This is pretty embarrassing.

JoystiqExperience the Wii U in our Nintendo booth video tour originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012just-dance-4nintendonintendo-landnintendolandwii-uzombiuWed, 06 Jun 2012 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii U's Game and Wario makes me Wario-wary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/wii-us-game-and-wario-makes-me-wario-wary/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/wii-us-game-and-wario-makes-me-wario-wary/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/wii-us-game-and-wario-makes-me-wario-wary/#comments Game and Wario makes me WariowaryIt seems stubborn to lament a stylistic and gameplay shift for (essentially) the WarioWare series -- one built on hilariously frequent stylistic and gameplay shifts -- but the Wii U's Game & Wario dramatically shifts away from pretty much all the cornerstones of WarioWare, and toward conventional minigames.

To be fair, it isn't a WarioWare game, and that's acknowledged. Instead, it's a vaguely Game & Watch-inspired set of minigames, of which only four were shown, and all using the WiiPad heavily. Where WarioWare used a variety of simple 2D art styles, Game and Wario is straight-up, simple 3D. G&W has time limits like its microgame ancestors, but they're closer to five minutes than five seconds.

The games shown include one in which you tilt to steer disco skier Jimmy T. on a downhill course, an archery game in which you fire arrows from a Wario-nose bow to fight off toy Warios (a bit of the old magic there, at least conceptually!), a thief minigame in which you must surreptitiously steal fruit, then pass the WiiPad on to another player who will try to identify the on-screen thief, and a photography game about spotting, and taking the best pictures of, a series of known criminals.

It's way too early to judge Game & Wario definitively, but it has the unfortunate distinction of being derived from game that you can judge within ten seconds. The minigames are enjoyable, they're just ... safe. Without the rapid-fire presentation, Game & Wario is essentially just another minigame collection.

There's a good reason for the proliferation of safe choices: if all the games involved the WiiPad and five-second time limits, you'd have a great deal of difficulty managing two screens in that short time. And, of course, "a great deal of difficulty" is absolutely not what Nintendo wants to show off on the Wii U.

Gallery: Game & Wario (E3 2012)

JoystiqWii U's Game and Wario makes me Wario-wary originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012game-and-warionintendowii-uWed, 06 Jun 2012 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[A jaunt through Nintendo Land]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/a-jaunt-through-nintendo-land/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/a-jaunt-through-nintendo-land/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/a-jaunt-through-nintendo-land/#comments We took a quick stroll through Nintendo Land today, shortly after Nintendo implicitly positioned the game as the Wii U's educational answer to Wii Sports. It's launching alongside the hardware this holiday - though not necessarily inside a bundle - and breaks down all of the Wii U's standout features into friendly, easily digestible mini games.

Unlike the tennis and bowling in Wii Sports, the games here are embellished with Nintendo's vibrant characters and history, set within the context of an elaborate theme park visited by your Miis. When you enter the The Legend of Zelda section, dubbed Battle Quest, you and your friends don Link's iconic tunic in green, red and blue.

Gallery: Nintendo Land (E3 2012)

Continue reading A jaunt through Nintendo Land

JoystiqA jaunt through Nintendo Land originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>donkey-kongs-crash-coursee3-2012hands-onluigis-ghost-mansion-haunted-hijinksnintendonintendo-landnintendolandtakamarus-ninja-castlethe-legend-of-zelda-battle-questwii-uWed, 06 Jun 2012 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Miyamoto designing a new game, but it'll be a while]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/miyamoto-designing-a-new-game-but-itll-be-a-while/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/miyamoto-designing-a-new-game-but-itll-be-a-while/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/miyamoto-designing-a-new-game-but-itll-be-a-while/#comments Miyamoto designing a new game, but it'll be a whileShigeru Miyamoto told me during an E3 interview that he's working on a new game of his own, when his other job of being a very important executive allows it.

"One thing I want to clear up," Miyamoto told Joystiq, "people like to ask me if I want to do a small project with a small team. I do like working with a small team, and I'm working with a number of small teams on a lot of different ideas, but the problem is because of all these different roles that I have to fulfill, it takes me a long time to write the design document." In addition, working with small teams causes design work to take longer, he said, so "maybe this time next year I'll have something ready to show you that perhaps will illustrate that idea."

Miyamoto confirmed directly that he's working on design documents right now. "I have some storyboards that I have to draw before I finish this trip," he added. "It's fun. I use Flipnote Studio to draw my storyboards."

JoystiqMiyamoto designing a new game, but it'll be a while originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012nintendoshigeru-miyamotowii-uWed, 06 Jun 2012 10:15:00 EST