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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Visceral Montreal studio staffing up for Army of Two, Dead Space franchises]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/visceral-montreal-studio-staffing-up-for-army-of-two-dead-space/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/visceral-montreal-studio-staffing-up-for-army-of-two-dead-space/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/visceral-montreal-studio-staffing-up-for-army-of-two-dead-space/#comments A series of job openings in EA Montreal's Visceral Games division point unsurprisingly to ongoing projects associated with the studio's homegrown Army of Two franchise, as well as for Dead Space. Positions for a senior producer, art director and lead environmental artist for Army of Two have been posted on the EA jobs site, in addition to a number of non-franchise-specific roles.

Also of note, the studio is looking for a senior development director for the Dead Space franchise, in addition to a lead writer (in English) and senior AI programmer for a "new action adventure IP."

The EA Montreal location includes Visceral Games Montreal, EA Mobile, BioWare Montreal and other groups. The now Visceral-branded studio is best known for its pair of Army of Two games, which have sold millions -- fist bump! -- despite mixed critical reception. Additionally, the Montreal studio collaborated with EA's Redwood Shores outfit to develop Dead Space 2.

While EA has made no official statement about new iterations of these franchises, we clearly haven't seen the last of them. And you can put your bro on that!

JoystiqVisceral Montreal studio staffing up for Army of Two, Dead Space franchises originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoarmy-of-two-3dead-spacedead-space-3ea-montrealhiringjob-listingvisceral-gamesvisceral-games-montrealThu, 14 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SSX 'Descent' sites registered]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/ssx-descent-sites-registered/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/ssx-descent-sites-registered/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/ssx-descent-sites-registered/#comments With Shaun White now taking it to the streets, perhaps there's an opening on the slope for EA's snowboarding franchise, SSX, to reemerge from hibernation. A mess of newly registered domains points to the possibility of a reboot of the series, which has been sidelined since 2007's pedestrian Wii release, Blur.

Professional domain registration outfit Corporate Domains, Inc. (what a gig!) has locked down URL variations of "SSX: Deadly Descent," plus an "SSX: First Descent" domain -- suggestive of the popular reboot motif: the origin story. While none of this activity is confirmation of a new SSX game, EA has worked through Corporate Domains in the past in advance of public announcements, most recently to secure web real estate for potential Need for Speed names (though Hot Pursuit was ultimately recycled) and The Sims Medieval.

As for SSX, it's been more than a year since EA Montreal's Alain Tascan left open the possibility for a new entry in the series, saying in September 2009, "If the market is there and is ready for a new one, then we'll consider it." Perhaps through Move and Kinect, EA Montreal sees its ready market and an opportunity to build on the motion-controlled framework established in its Blur effort. Of course, fans of the last-generation games might prefer to see the series' original developer, EA Canada, stage the comeback. And what a meta-comeback story it could be! (The studio could use a big win following the NBA Elite 11 fail, after all.)

Still, all this domain fuss could just as easily be over the naming of the SSX iPhone game, which has been -- quietly -- in the works for too long.

JoystiqSSX 'Descent' sites registered originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corporate-domains-incdomaindomain-registrationeaea-canadaea-montrealea-sportsregistrationssxssx-2012ssx-deadly-descentsssx-first-descentTue, 09 Nov 2010 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield: BC, Mass Effect, Army of Two sequel sales all top 1 million; Dante's Inferno comes close in Q1 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/battlefield-bc-mass-effect-army-of-two-sequel-sales-all-top-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/battlefield-bc-mass-effect-army-of-two-sequel-sales-all-top-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/battlefield-bc-mass-effect-army-of-two-sequel-sales-all-top-1/#comments Electronic Arts' high-profile sequels helped the publisher fight its way to some positive cash flow in the final quarter of an otherwise traumatic fiscal year. Overall, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 led the charge with over three million units sold in the quarter across Europe and North America, with five million units sold to date.

Mass Effect 2 didn't do too shabby, selling 1.6 million units during the quarter in North America and Europe, while Army of Two: The 40th Day sold "over one million units worldwide in the quarter." It wasn't all sequel talk for the core titles,as Dante's Inferno got a mention too, having sold "almost one million units in the quarter" across Europe and North America. Oh, Dante, don't cry! It ain't easy for a new franchise in this world -- just ask EA's new IPs from last fiscal year.

JoystiqBattlefield: BC, Mass Effect, Army of Two sequel sales all top 1 million; Dante's Inferno comes close in Q1 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Daybad-company-2battlefield-bad-company-2dantes-infernoeaEA-Montrealelectronic artsElectronic-ArtsElectronicArtsmass-effect-2MicrosoftXbox-360Tue, 11 May 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day DLC fix coming soon, EA says]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/army-of-two-the-40th-day-dlc-fix-coming-soon-says-ea/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/army-of-two-the-40th-day-dlc-fix-coming-soon-says-ea/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/army-of-two-the-40th-day-dlc-fix-coming-soon-says-ea/#comments Has your brotainment been at an all-time low with Army of Two: The 40th Day's campaign DLC, Chapters of Deceit? Well, according to Eurogamer, EA is well aware of the issue regarding faulty Achievement and Trophy unlocks and is currently working on a fix.

"There is a known issue affecting Achievements in an Army of Two DLC pack," an EA spokesperson said. "We are looking into a solution and hope to provide an update soon." In the meantime, we suggest you enjoy one of those other games that inspired The 40th Day. It's not a bad way to pass the time until you wait for "soon" to come around.

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day DLC fix coming soon, EA says originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsArmy-of-TwoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Daychapters-of-deceitdlceaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsglitchMicrosofttrophiestrophyXbox-360Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New Army of Two: The 40th Day campaign DLC coming in April]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/23/new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-campaign-dlc-coming-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/23/new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-campaign-dlc-coming-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/23/new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-campaign-dlc-coming-in-april/#comments Electronic Arts has announced that new Army of Two: The 40th Day downloadable content is on the way. Entitled "Chapters of Deceit," the pack contains two campaign maps (once again set in the city of Shanghai) where "players stumble upon information that could lead to ending the invasion by Jonah and his 40th Day Initiative army." The DLC will arrive for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on April 1 and will cost $9.99 and 800, respectively.

Since the game flaunts its strength as a co-op shooter right in the title, EA Montreal's new content seems like a natural extension. Here's hoping it maintains the impressive level design and high degree of polish we experienced the first time around.

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day (DLC)

JoystiqNew Army of Two: The 40th Day campaign DLC coming in April originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Daydlceaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftshooterXbox-360Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:34:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Need for Speed: Shift 'Ferrari Racing Series' DLC now available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/psa-need-for-speed-shift-ferrari-racing-series-dlc-now-avail/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/psa-need-for-speed-shift-ferrari-racing-series-dlc-now-avail/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/psa-need-for-speed-shift-ferrari-racing-series-dlc-now-avail/#comments Those with a taste for fine racing games and fine automobiles take note: As we reported last week, the Ferrari Racing Series DLC for Need for Speed: Shift is now available from the Xbox Live Marketplace at a cost of 800 ($10). A quick refresher: The expansion reintroduces the Italian automaker's cars to the NFS franchise after seven years without 'em -- bringing with it 10 classic rides and a new series of race, hot lap, mixed track, time attack, race series, eliminator, endurance and world tour events. Basically, any real racing game fan will lap this up.

And now, your handy-dandy Xbox Live Marketplace link.

JoystiqPSA: Need for Speed: Shift 'Ferrari Racing Series' DLC now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlceaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsFerrarineed-for-speedNeed-For-Speed-ShiftSlightly-Mad-StudiosxblmTue, 16 Feb 2010 16:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Skate 3 hands-on: co-op career mode]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/skate-3-hands-on-co-op-career-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/skate-3-hands-on-co-op-career-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/skate-3-hands-on-co-op-career-mode/#comments We'd heard how EA was hoping to evolve its successful skateboarding franchise by introducing team play in Skate 3, which is due in May. Last week, we finally got to try it for ourselves. While it was admittedly only a small part of what looked to be a fairly meaty experience, the co-op play was surprisingly fun.

After an introduction by members of the Black Box development team, we got to team up with a couple other journos and hit the abundant pavement of Port Carverton. We played as the host for a three-player game, and, as such, had the ability to access a sub-menu that showed the various locations within the game world and the team challenge types available at each. We could then either move the team there, or put it up for a vote.

Gallery: Skate 3 (02-15-10)

Continue reading Skate 3 hands-on: co-op career mode

JoystiqSkate 3 hands-on: co-op career mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-boxco-opeaea-black-boxea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftskateskate-3skateboardingXbox-360Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA tells NCAA Basketball games to hit the showers, 'reviewing' future of franchise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/10/ea-tells-ncaa-basketball-games-to-hit-the-showers-reviewing-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/10/ea-tells-ncaa-basketball-games-to-hit-the-showers-reviewing-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/10/ea-tells-ncaa-basketball-games-to-hit-the-showers-reviewing-f/#comments "We do not have an NCAA Basketball game in development at this time, and we're currently reviewing the future of our NCAA Basketball business," said EA Sports' senior director of communications David Tinson in a recent Game Informer interview. "This was a difficult decision, but we remain a committed partner to the NCAA and its member institutions."

It's an odd move, considering EA's biggest rival, 2K Sports' NCAA College Hoops series, hasn't seen any new releases since its 2K8 installment, leaving the market wide open. Tinson confirmed that the team responsible for the series won't be laid off, but rather assimilated into the NBA Jam and NBA Live teams at EA Canada, dashing our hopes that an EA-developed Harlem Globetrotters game could come from this.

JoystiqEA tells NCAA Basketball games to hit the showers, 'reviewing' future of franchise originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>basketballea-montrealMicrosoftnba-jamnba-livencaancaa-basketballncaa-basketball-10sportsXbox-360Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day for The 40 Dollars]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/army-of-two-the-40th-day-for-the-40-dollars/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/army-of-two-the-40th-day-for-the-40-dollars/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/army-of-two-the-40th-day-for-the-40-dollars/#commentsLooking to add some more psychotic mercenaries to your life in increments of two, but light on cash in this ridiculously overstuffed Q1? Look to Amazon's Video Game Deal of the Day to fulfill your Army of Two: The 40th Day-related needs. For today only (or until the retailer runs out), both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the co-op shooter are marked down to $39.99.

If that's still a bit much to pay (and if you're really desperate for some masked mayhem in a game), we'd like to suggest employing the same "buddy system" that Salem and Rios use. Buy it with a friend, play it together, and strengthen your relationship! You know, while blowing stuff up.

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day for The 40 Dollars originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonarmy-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Daydeal-of-the-daydealseaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftsaleshooterXbox-360Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: Army of Two: The 40th Day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/metareview-army-of-two-the-40th-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/metareview-army-of-two-the-40th-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/metareview-army-of-two-the-40th-day/#comments You've already heard our incredibly well-thought-out critique of Salem and Rios' latest mercenary endeavor, Army of Two: The 40th Day -- however, we understand your impulse to shop around. Here's what some of the other reviewers have been saying about the supremely bromantic game.
  • IGN (85/100): "A disaster movie in a game package, Army of Two: The 40th Day capitalizes on its co-op play to deliver an awesome action experience that's incredibly fun to play."
  • Official Xbox 360 Magazine (80/100): "Marry that to some satisfyingly chunky gunplay and the odd spectacular, building-levelling explosion and you have an action game that is far more fun than it has any right to be. You get plenty of co-op games, but not that many 'buddy' games and this is a fine example - a frantic, punchy bullet-storm that's best enjoyed with a friend."
  • 1UP (B): "Even though I think they ultimately contributed to the Army of Two's inconsistent tone, which moves from "flippant" to "serious business about how messed up people can get," the morality moments are what I'll remember most about The 40th Day."
  • Game Informer (65/100): "With so many great co-op experiences available to gamers, it's tough to recommend The 40th Day. Lacking a cohesive story, solid controls, key multiplayer features, and polish, this sequel fails to close the gap of mediocrity running through its core game design."

JoystiqMetareview: Army of Two: The 40th Day originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayco-opeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsmetareviewMicrosoftXbox-360Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[EA confesses to bad ideas in first Army of Two]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/ea-confesses-to-bad-ideas-in-first-army-of-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/ea-confesses-to-bad-ideas-in-first-army-of-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/ea-confesses-to-bad-ideas-in-first-army-of-two/#comments EA Montreal boss Alain Tascan admitted to Videogamer.com that the first Army of Two game "piss[ed] off a lot of people" with some of its missteps; most notably the killing of terrorists for cash in areas in which real soldiers were dying. So the mistake was, basically, the whole game.

Before we pile on EA too much, we'd like to remind you that the stuffing of tampons into bullet wounds was actually cut from the game, so the final version of Army of Two didn't have nearly as many bad ideas in it as it could have.

Tascan went on to say that "the new one I feel is still very funny, but at least it's more 'Bruce Willis funny' than 'Steven Seagal funny.'" Well great, guys, you've gone from pissing off overly sensitive people to pissing off Steven Seagal. Talk about leaping from the frying pan into the fire that also happens to be a reincarnated, part-time deputy sheriff.

JoystiqEA confesses to bad ideas in first Army of Two originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alain-TascanArmy-of-TwoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftXbox-360Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: Army of Two: The 40th Day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/review-army-of-two-the-40th-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/review-army-of-two-the-40th-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/review-army-of-two-the-40th-day/#comments
Never did I think that, after finishing the original Army of Two, I'd ever be re-enlisting for a sequel. Sure, it sold well, but its myriad not-quite-fulfilled ideas and irritating "Dude! Bro!" lead characters just made me want to shrug off the game and move on with my life. So I sit here writing this pretty amazed at how good the sequel is. It's not, say, Assassin's Creed to Assassin's Creed 2 good -- but a very solid improvement on the core co-op action concept, shedding just the right things and finally delivering an experience that actually plays off the strengths of being a two-man fighting force. Plus, it does so with a high degree of polish and prettiness, not to mention reworked characters that are -- and I can't believe I'm saying this -- actually funny and ... cool.

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day

Continue reading Review: Army of Two: The 40th Day

JoystiqReview: Army of Two: The 40th Day originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Army-of-TwoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Dayeaea-montrealelectronic-artsMicrosoftshooterXbox-360Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[The Army of Two infiltrates GameStop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/the-army-of-two-infiltrate-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/the-army-of-two-infiltrate-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/the-army-of-two-infiltrate-gamestop/#comments Army of Two: The 40th Day's Salem and Rios are no strangers to the modern world. Sure, they may have acted a bit ... out of place during previous visits to EA Montreal and EA Headquarters, but that doesn't mean they're not fit for retail life. Take, for instance, the video above of the two trying their best to lend a hand to the fine folks at GameStop.

They might be a bit rough around the edges, but that doesn't mean that they didn't get the most magazine upsells for the month of December (they did!) or that they aren't capable of re-alphabetizing the used PS2 section six or seven hundred times a day (they are!). Give them a chance, folks. Under the inhuman terror mask and bullet-proof chest padding beats the heart of a human being.

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day

JoystiqThe Army of Two infiltrates GameStop originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementarmy-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealElectronic-Artsgamestoplive-actionMicrosoftsalem-and-riosXbox-360Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New Army of Two trailer previews multiplayer modes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/05/new-army-of-two-trailer-previews-multiplayer-modes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/05/new-army-of-two-trailer-previews-multiplayer-modes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/05/new-army-of-two-trailer-previews-multiplayer-modes/#commentsSo, okay, Army of Two: The 40th Day is kind of the definition of a multiplayer mode: "All co-op, all the time." But on top of the constant comradery of the core campaign, this sequel also features several traditional multiplayer modes inspired by other popular multiplayer games.

This latest trailer chronicles the classic struggle between the colors Red and Blue across the game's four muliplayer modes: Warzone, Co-op Deathmatch, Control, and Extraction. Sadly, it appears that the So You Think You Can Fist Bump competition didn't make the cut.

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day

JoystiqNew Army of Two trailer previews multiplayer modes originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftmultiplayerXbox-360Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day multiplayer inspired by Counter-Strike, Killzone 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/army-of-two-the-40th-day-multiplayer-inspired-by-counter-strike/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/army-of-two-the-40th-day-multiplayer-inspired-by-counter-strike/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/army-of-two-the-40th-day-multiplayer-inspired-by-counter-strike/#comments While Army of Two's focus has always been cooperative gameplay, EA Montreal's Eric Chartrand is responsible for designing the competitive multiplayer aspects of The 40th Day. In an interview with with That VideoGame Blog, Chartrand notes that one of the big changes for the AoT sequel is to adapt the multiplayer aspect, and make it play differently from the campaign mode. Whereas the story can feature designed bottlenecks (such as doors that require both players to open), multiplayer cannot, simply because humans play differently than AI. "The toolset we use in single-player has to be different from the one we use in multiplayer," Chartrand explains.

Interestingly, Chartrand notes two games as his main inspiration for The 40th Day's multiplayer offerings: the decade old Counter-Strike and the recently-released Killzone 2. "What works in Counter-Strike is that you don't get progression," a stark contrast to the level-up gimmick common in most online shooters. "So why it works is because the gameplay in it. The second-to-second, the movement of the character, the shooting, the intensity of the combat is still fresh, even ten years after. So that's why we wanted to craft an experience that is as close to this as possible."

Chartrand has even more praise for Guerrilla's FPS. "Killzone 2 has great maps, probably the best maps out there," he admits. However, what inspired Chartrand the most appear to be the game's community features, particularly its stats-laden website. "This link between stats, profile, friends, leaderboard ... all the community aspects, I think the Killzone guys did a very good job and we strive to imitate them."

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day multiplayer inspired by Counter-Strike, Killzone 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Army-of-TwoArmy-of-Two-The-40th-Daycounter-strikeea-montrealeric-chartrandkillzone-2MicrosoftmultiplayerXbox-360Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day PSP: no demo today, but have a trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/army-of-two-the-40th-day-psp-no-demo-today-but-have-a-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/army-of-two-the-40th-day-psp-no-demo-today-but-have-a-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/army-of-two-the-40th-day-psp-no-demo-today-but-have-a-trailer/#commentsFeeling left out by today's Army of Two demo news, PSP owners? You may not get to play the PSP version of Army of Two: The 40th Day today, but EA sent out a trailer, ensuring that you'll be able to ... watch it being played. And this trailer does feature a good amount of footage of the Commando/Ikari Warriors-esque top-down shooter.

Not that you won't get the chance to step into the shoes of a masked, bloodthirsty murderer before the January 13 release in North America. A PSP demo will be available on PSN January 7 (January 14 in Europe). Just try to hold out until then. Maybe seek comfort from one good friend.

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day PSP: no demo today, but have a trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftshooterXbox-360Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Army of Two: The 40th Day demo on XBL]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/psa-army-of-two-the-40th-day-demo-on-xbl/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/psa-army-of-two-the-40th-day-demo-on-xbl/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/psa-army-of-two-the-40th-day-demo-on-xbl/#comments A reminder from your friendly neighborhood Joystiq: The Army of Two: The 40th Day demo promised earlier this week is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Weighing in at a less-than-diminutive two gigabytes, the demo allows players to try out a part of the first level of the game. And, since Army of Two kind of depends on cooperative play, the demo thankfully offers both offline and online co-op for two players.

The demo may or may not also contain bro hugs. We hope it does.

Shortcut: Add the Army of Two: The 40th Day demo to your 360 download queue
[Via Xbox.com]

JoystiqPSA: Army of Two: The 40th Day demo on XBL originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Army-of-TwoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Daydemoeaea-montrealelectronic-artsxblmThu, 17 Dec 2009 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day demo coming in less than 40 days]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/army-of-two-the-40th-day-demo-coming-in-less-than-40-days/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/army-of-two-the-40th-day-demo-coming-in-less-than-40-days/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/army-of-two-the-40th-day-demo-coming-in-less-than-40-days/#comments Actually, according to the EA press release we just received, the demo for Army of Two: The 40th Day will be released in significantly less than 40 days. It'll arrive on the PSN and Xbox Live Marketplace on December 17, and the PSP demo will drop on January 7 (January 14 in Europe). The preview will allow players to get a sneak peek at most of the game's first level, which takes place in Shanghai -- but you know what? None of that is important. What is important is seen in the trailer for the demo, which we've posted above.

Now, jump to a little bit before the halfway mark, and keep an eye out for the strange interaction between the game's two beefy protagonists. What is that? It's like ... the future of fist-bumping technology. The forearm-bump. More subtle, yet still triumphant. Less aggressive, but still dripping with bravado. An alternative manly salutation or congratulation for the gentleman's mercenary. Study the technique, friends. This thing's gonna catch on like wildfire.

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day demo coming in less than 40 days originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-two-the-40th-daydemoeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftshootertrailerXbox-360Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Shanghai blow up in Army of Two: The 40th Day's intro]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/watch-shanghai-blow-up-in-army-of-two-the-40th-days-intro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/watch-shanghai-blow-up-in-army-of-two-the-40th-days-intro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/watch-shanghai-blow-up-in-army-of-two-the-40th-days-intro/#comments Modern Warfare 2 has made blowing up American capitals so passé. EA Montreal is far more visionary, preemptively blowing up the largest city of our future masters: Shanghai. The explosive intro to Army of Two: The 40th Day certainly fits the studio's new "blockbuster-type" focus and reassures doubters that this game will be a more serious affair than the first. Perhaps you've noticed the deliberate lack of bromance in this clip?

JoystiqWatch Shanghai blow up in Army of Two: The 40th Day's intro originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Army-of-TwoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-Dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsintroMicrosoftvideoXbox-360Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Montreal shifting focus to 'big, blockbuster-type titles']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/ea-montreal-shifting-focus-to-big-blockbuster-type-titles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/ea-montreal-shifting-focus-to-big-blockbuster-type-titles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/ea-montreal-shifting-focus-to-big-blockbuster-type-titles/#comments According to comments made to Edge by EA Montreal general manager Alain Tascan, you can expect more big action titles like Army of Two: The 40th Day from the studio. While previous Wii games, including Skate It, Boogie Superstar and the recently released Need for Speed: Nitro, have enjoyed acceptable levels of success, Tascan believes that targeting HD consoles with "fewer and bigger things" might yield improved results. It's a prudent approach, no doubt stemming from the publisher's recent layoffs.

Tascan explains that the Wii market is "a little bit unpredictable these days," further encouraging a shift to additional "big, blockbuster-type titles." We probably don't need Tascan to point out that Army of Two is "the most successful original IP EA has had in the last few years," since it's the first to get a big, blockbuster sequel ahead of Dead Space and -- can we dream? -- Mirror's Edge.

JoystiqEA Montreal shifting focus to 'big, blockbuster-type titles' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoarmy-of-two-the-40th-dayboogieboogie-superstareaea-montrealelectronic-artsMicrosoftskate-itXbox-360Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day to offer weapon customization, garish camo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/army-of-two-the-40th-day-to-offer-weapon-customization-garish/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/army-of-two-the-40th-day-to-offer-weapon-customization-garish/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/army-of-two-the-40th-day-to-offer-weapon-customization-garish/#comments We've never felt satisfied by the weapon customization options afforded to us by first-person shooters. Oh, three different kinds of scopes? An optional grenade launcher attachment? Yeah, those are pretty cool, we guess -- however, we'd also like a different stock, ammo clip, suppressor and barrel on there as well. Hey, while we're at it, we also need a blender. You know, for when we require a cool coconut smoothie in the middle of a heated firefight.

The latest trailer for Army of Two: The 40th Day gives us a look into the weapon customization engine we've always dreamed of, giving us unparalleled control over our in-game boomsticks. You can quickly turn your military grade M107 into a hulking, unwieldy monstrosity, complete with hideous, circus-themed camouflage. Sadly, the above trailer doesn't show off any kitchen appliance attachments -- we're sure they'll show up as DLC shortly after the game launches on January 12.

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day to offer weapon customization, garish camo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosofttrailervideoweapon-customizationweaponsXbox-360Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day co-op video is fist bump free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/09/army-of-two-the-40th-day-co-op-video-is-fist-bump-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/09/army-of-two-the-40th-day-co-op-video-is-fist-bump-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/09/army-of-two-the-40th-day-co-op-video-is-fist-bump-free/#comments While we must absolutely stress that the above headline is true, it's also misleading. It's true that the video above contains no fist bumps whatsoever; the bulk is comprised of the various co-op tactics that can be performed in Army of Two: The 40th Day, including back-to-back gun play, lifting, hostage grabbing and -- our personal favorite -- mock surrender. That said, there is bumping in the video, specifically the bumping of forearms.

So why the change? What is the social significance of the forearm bump? Is it a sign of greater manliness, or are the characters in Army of Two simply trying to fight the spread of deadly germs? Please, contribute your theories in the comments.

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day co-op video is fist bump free originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Army-of-TwoArmy-of-Two-The-40th-Dayeaea-montrealelectronic-artsMicrosoftXbox-360Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[New Army of Two: The 40th Day viral video has its priorities straight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-viral-video-has-its-priorities-str/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-viral-video-has-its-priorities-str/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-viral-video-has-its-priorities-str/#commentsAll work and no play may make Jack a dull boy, but for the folks at EA Montreal making Army of Two: The 40th Day, playing is no longer an option -- unless they're playing their own game as a part of their job. That's what this latest viral video marketing the game shows, as Rios and Salem continue checking in with their developers and try to keep them on the right track.

One thing we will say is that this new video is decidedly more downbeat than the pair's previous jaunt through the office. What's the matter, guys? Does somebody have a case of the Mondays?

JoystiqNew Army of Two: The 40th Day viral video has its priorities straight originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoarmy-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftriossalemviralviral-videoXbox-360Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS 2009: Hands-on: Army of Two: The 40th Day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/24/tgs-2009-hands-on-army-of-two-the-40th-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/24/tgs-2009-hands-on-army-of-two-the-40th-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/24/tgs-2009-hands-on-army-of-two-the-40th-day/#comments Andrew: "Oh my god, you shot her in the face!"
Ross: "Hey, we're an army of two. I don't want a third wheel."

Seconds after booting up the Tokyo Game Show demo of Army of Two: The 40th Day, we managed to completely botch a hostage "rescue" operation, while brutally murdering the four terrorists involved. Our morality meter went down quite significantly after that, we're sure. Had we managed to progress with some more finesse, we would've been able to sneak behind two enemies, grab them and "negotiate" a solution for the others. Is there a morally "good" way out of a situation like that? Perhaps, but we'll never know.

While it's easy to simply accuse Ross of insatiable bloodthirstiness, his less-than-graceful approach at this scenario could be blamed on the (admittedly early) build's choppy framerate, and the sometimes confusing controls. Ross found it difficult to stick to cover, and move from one place to another; I found myself inadvertently switching between crouching, cover and something in between.

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day (TGS 2009)

Continue reading TGS 2009: Hands-on: Army of Two: The 40th Day

JoystiqTGS 2009: Hands-on: Army of Two: The 40th Day originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaEA-MontrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosofttgs-2009the-40th-dayXbox-360Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[New AoT: 40th Day screens drop shield, charge head first]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/new-aot-40th-day-screens-drop-shield-charge-head-first/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/new-aot-40th-day-screens-drop-shield-charge-head-first/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/new-aot-40th-day-screens-drop-shield-charge-head-first/#comments We're misleading you a bit. The screenshots aren't quite dropping anything themselves, so much as the stars of upcoming bromance sequel, Army of Two: The 40th Day, are putting down their shields. Donning masks with flames -- so as to terrify enemies into thinking they're being advanced upon by White Zombie, of course -- Salem and Rio are clearly concerned with meeting attire standards for the professional workplace: sporty, yet hardcore.

That's what those bad guys get for standing in the way of movie night!

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day (TGS 2009)

JoystiqNew AoT: 40th Day screens drop shield, charge head first originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaEA-MontrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftriosalemscreenshotstgstgs-2009Xbox-360Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA[EA done with Boogie franchise for now, SSX revived if market is 'ready']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/ea-done-with-boogie-franchise-for-now-ssx-revived-if-market-is/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/ea-done-with-boogie-franchise-for-now-ssx-revived-if-market-is/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/ea-done-with-boogie-franchise-for-now-ssx-revived-if-market-is/#comments In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, EA Montreal general manager Alain Tascan discussed the possibility of a SSX franchise revival, saying, "If the market is there and is ready for a new one then we'll consider it." While Wii gamers have already hit the slopes with SSX Blur, the closest PS3 and Xbox 360 users have been to the franchise is through shoddy backwards compatibility features.

Tascan also discounted a new installment in the rhythm music franchise, Boogie. According to Tascan, the franchise has been a success for EA and, while the publisher is proud of its work with the series, there are no plans for Boogie to return at this time. Thankfully, the games industry has plenty of music games to spare nowadays.

[Via G4TV]

JoystiqEA done with Boogie franchise for now, SSX revived if market is 'ready' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alain-tascanboogieboogie-superstarea-montrealelectronic-artsNintendossxssx-2012ssx-deadly-descentsssx-next-genWiiFri, 18 Sep 2009 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Montreal VP unconvinced by movies that 'really respect' games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/14/ea-montreal-vp-unconvinced-by-movies-that-really-respect-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/14/ea-montreal-vp-unconvinced-by-movies-that-really-respect-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/14/ea-montreal-vp-unconvinced-by-movies-that-really-respect-games/#comments During an interview with Videogamer, EA Montreal VP Alain Tascan expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming Army of Two movie, most notably for Scott Z. Burns' script. Tascan seems to be satisfied with what he's seen so far, describing EA's approach to the film as being quite hands-off. "We're working together," he said. "We explain what the world is about, what the missions are about, and then we leave the guy to do his job."

While this shows confidence in Burns, Tascan seems worried about the effects of an overbearing game bible. "So far, when movies try to really respect the games they're not always the best quality," Tascan remarked.

Well, that explains it: game adaptations have just been too slavishly devoted to the source material. Oh, if only DOA: Dead or Alive hadn't been so intent on including the franchise's trademark nanobots and assassin sunglasses.

JoystiqEA Montreal VP unconvinced by movies that 'really respect' games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alain-Tascanarmy-of-twoArmy-of-Two-movieeaea-montrealelectronic-artsmoviesscott-burnsscott-z-burnsuniversalMon, 14 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day just got even more serious]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/19/army-of-two-the-40th-day-just-got-even-more-serious/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/19/army-of-two-the-40th-day-just-got-even-more-serious/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/19/army-of-two-the-40th-day-just-got-even-more-serious/#comments We're not entirely sure what's going on with the mood swings of Army of Two: The 40th Day. On one hand, it's a bromance buddy comedy. On the other hand, it is about some serious stuff. The latest trailer debuted at GamesCom looks intense, showing feats of terrorism that send chills down our spines. Split-screen co-op is highlighted in this trailer, reminding us of the series' emphasis on teamwork. In spite of the first game's faults, The 40th Day looks like a strong contender in the crowded Q1 lineup.

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day just got even more serious originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoarmy-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealElectronic-Artsgamescom-2009MicrosoftXbox-360Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day joins the Q1 2010 party]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/army-of-two-the-40th-day-joins-the-q1-2010-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/army-of-two-the-40th-day-joins-the-q1-2010-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/13/army-of-two-the-40th-day-joins-the-q1-2010-party/#comments EA has announced that Rios and Salam's latest outing, Army of Two: The 40th Day, is headed to the crowded Q1 2010 quarter, specifically January 12 in the US and January 8 in Europe. It's a good time to release a game, really. Look at every one of these other games doing the same thing!

The press release also mentions a pre-order bonus for the game in "Extraction," a multiplayer mode available to those who pre-order The 40th Day. Everyone else will gain access one month later.

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day joins the Q1 2010 party originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-daydelayseaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftq1-2010Xbox-360Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Salem and Rios visit EA Montreal in bizarre Army of Two trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/salem-and-rio-visit-ea-montreal-in-bizarre-army-of-two-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/salem-and-rio-visit-ea-montreal-in-bizarre-army-of-two-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/salem-and-rio-visit-ea-montreal-in-bizarre-army-of-two-trailer/#comments We're not exactly sure what this new trailer for Army of Two: The 40th Day is supposed to tell us. Salem and Rios, the two masked stars of the series, stop by EA Montreal's office to play their own game and goof off. The ensuing mayhem results in the destruction of a defenseless copy machine -- without it, the game is certainly going to miss a 2009 release!

Perhaps this bizarre trailer is meant to emphasize that the game isn't all about serious stuff, like morality ... and explosions. Perhaps this marks the return of the series' trademark "bromance"?

JoystiqSalem and Rios visit EA Montreal in bizarre Army of Two trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftthe-40th-dayXbox-360Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Army of Two: 40th Day trailer takes aim at morality]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/new-army-of-two-40th-day-trailer-takes-aim-at-morality/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/new-army-of-two-40th-day-trailer-takes-aim-at-morality/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/new-army-of-two-40th-day-trailer-takes-aim-at-morality/#commentsRios and Salem have a tough choice to make in this latest trailer for Army of Two: The 40th Day. The clip highlights the game's new morality system, a set of scripted events where the player (or players, if you're rocking co-op) must make a choice, shaping the way the game plays out. In the video above, the same scene we saw at E3, Rios and Salem find a gun stash, but a nearby officer walks in and catches the two in the act. As one might assume, he's not to happy with what he sees. Do Rios and Salem put the guns back? Do they take them anyway? Do they just shoot the crap out of the cop? You'll just have to watch to find out! (We've already made our choice.)

The trailer also reveals that noted comic artists Chris Bachalo and Jock have signed up to do some illustrations for the game. Bachalo's even on hand at Comic-Con right now signing stuff, so if you're attending, hit up booth #5213.

Gallery: Army of Two: 40th Day Illustrations

JoystiqNew Army of Two: 40th Day trailer takes aim at morality originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-daychris-bachaloeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsjockMicrosoftXbox-360Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Army of Two: The 40th Day: All the gunplay, half the bromance]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/17/army-of-two-the-40th-day-all-the-gunplay-half-the-bromance/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/17/army-of-two-the-40th-day-all-the-gunplay-half-the-bromance/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/17/army-of-two-the-40th-day-all-the-gunplay-half-the-bromance/#comments Army of Two: The 40th Day will tone down the gratuitous bouts of fist-bumping and other high-octane manlove celebrations so liberally sprinkled throughout the first game, developers have told USA Today. The shoot-everything-then-chest-bump-each-other mechanic of the first game will receive less emphasis than moral choices, which will require you to make difficult decisions at certain intervals throughout the game.

It's a shame about all of the brolebrations, though, because we think they added a lot to the game. Well, okay, a lot for us to make fun of.

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day

JoystiqArmy of Two: The 40th Day: All the gunplay, half the bromance originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftXbox-360Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Army of Two: The 40th Day (PSP)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/hands-on-army-of-two-the-40th-day-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/hands-on-army-of-two-the-40th-day-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/hands-on-army-of-two-the-40th-day-psp/#comments
With all the complex new methods of interactivity and storytelling we saw out on the show floor, we desperately longed for something a bit less groundbreaking -- a palette cleanser, if you will. Our unique thirst was quenched during our EA booth tour, in which we got our hands on Army of Two: The 40th Day for PSP.

The portable version of the bullet-riddled buddy flick doffs the third-person shooter gameplay of the first Army of Two in favor of a top-down multi-directional shooter format, ala Smash TV. Two players can take their mercenarial show on the road through the locales of the console version of the game, blasting foes, using cover and managing aggro as they move from point A to point B. EA Montreal has taken a lot of care to port as much as they could of the console experience to the PSP version, and from what we saw, most of it worked really well.

Is it revolutionary? No -- but with two players, a lengthy enough campaign and low enough price tag, it could prove to be a welcome portable distraction in what's shaping up to be an intense holiday gaming season.

JoystiqHands-on: Army of Two: The 40th Day (PSP) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMon, 08 Jun 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Impressions: Inside an Army of Two: The 40th Day weapons cache]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/03/impressions-inside-an-army-of-two-the-40th-day-weapons-cache/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/03/impressions-inside-an-army-of-two-the-40th-day-weapons-cache/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/03/impressions-inside-an-army-of-two-the-40th-day-weapons-cache/#comments Much like our initial reaction to Army of Two: The 40th Day, we were constantly impressed during a behind-closed-doors demonstration of the game at E3 this week. While much of the demo, overseen by executive producer Reid Schneider and creative director Alex Hutchinson, was a rehash of the finer points covered in our earlier preview, we did get a closer look at a new element, which we think illustrates a key dynamic of the more -- potentially -- humanistic sequel.

EA Montreal is giving you (and your partner) "opportunities to express who you are in this environment," explains Hutchinson. More specifically, the game's environment (Shanghai in the midst of a violent invasion) is one in which everything goes horribly wrong and the "core story is about saving yourselves." So, what means will justify that end? The choices become yours. Enter: The weapon locker.

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day

Continue reading Impressions: Inside an Army of Two: The 40th Day weapons cache

JoystiqImpressions: Inside an Army of Two: The 40th Day weapons cache originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-daye3-2009eaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftXbox-360Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Eyeball explosion: New Army of Two: The 40th Day screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/eyeball-explosion-new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/eyeball-explosion-new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/eyeball-explosion-new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-screens/#comments
Click image for more bro-saving-bro action
EA has assaulted our inbox in the most extreme way possible, unloading some fresh screens from upcoming bro-love simulator, Army of Two: The 40th Day. The new screens show off a lot of what you'd come to expect from this series: explosions; testosterone; and teamwork. There does seem to be a kid involved this time around, though, so that's new. Sadly, these screens lack the appropriate amounts of fist-bumping, but we're sure EA is saving the best stuff for last.

Gallery: Army of Two: 40th Day (5.26.09)

JoystiqEyeball explosion: New Army of Two: The 40th Day screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 May 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftXbox-360Tue, 26 May 2009 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Need for Speed Nitro]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/joystiq-hands-on-need-for-speed-nitro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/joystiq-hands-on-need-for-speed-nitro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/joystiq-hands-on-need-for-speed-nitro/#comments
Just one note: there's no actual Need for Speed Nitro gameplay featured in the above video. If EA Montreal managed to make the game look that good, the Wii would be untouchable in sales. Oh wait, it already is. The fact of the matter is, Nintendo's darling is actually getting a Need for Speed title, and the sales numbers of that console are one big reason the franchise is leaping consoles with nitrous-assisted boosts.

But if that doesn't represent gameplay, then what does Nitro look like on the WIi? We're glad you asked, because there are some images waiting for you in the gallery below. Images that actually came from the game. Read on to learn how it plays!

Gallery: Need for Speed NITRO

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Need for Speed Nitro

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Need for Speed Nitro originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 May 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAEA-MontrealElectronic-ArtsNeed-For-SpeedNeed-For-Speed-NitroNintendoRacingWiiWed, 20 May 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Army of Two: The 40th Day trailer gets serious]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-trailer-gets-serious/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-trailer-gets-serious/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/new-army-of-two-the-40th-day-trailer-gets-serious/#comments
The most official, new trailer for Army of Two: The 40th Day has at last been released. You'll get to see Shanghai being overrun by the so-called 40th Day Initiative, which is apparently laying waste to everything and everyone in sight. One thing we noticed very quickly is that the tone of the trailer is very serious. The buddy comedy vibe present in trailers for the original Army of Two is almost completely absent, save for a single modest one-liner at the end.

Oh, and don't worry, there are plenty of explosions too.

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day


Editors' Note: This post was first published at 5:30 p.m. on April 30. It has since been altered from its original form, which is viewable after the break.

Continue reading New Army of Two: The 40th Day trailer gets serious

JoystiqNew Army of Two: The 40th Day trailer gets serious originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealelectronic-artsMicrosoftXbox-360Fri, 01 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq impressions: Army of Two: The 40th Day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/joystiq-impressions-army-of-two-the-40th-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/joystiq-impressions-army-of-two-the-40th-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/joystiq-impressions-army-of-two-the-40th-day/#comments
click to bro-size Let's be honest: when we first heard EA was prepping a sequel to Army of Two, we didn't imagine it would be anything like what we saw in action last Friday in San Francisco's Chinatown district. (Well, 27 floors above it, to be accurate.) In our minds, we were expecting ... the first game, only set in Shanghai. Within 30 seconds of it loading up, we realized that EA Montreal's imagination is obviously a lot more vivid than ours.

Executive Producer Reid Schneider was on hand to act as our tour guide, but much of what we saw really did speak for itself. Particularly about how this game is already anything but a minor improvement over the first.

Gallery: Army of Two: The 40th Day

Continue reading Joystiq impressions: Army of Two: The 40th Day

JoystiqJoystiq impressions: Army of Two: The 40th Day originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>army-of-twoArmy-of-Two-2army-of-two-the-40th-dayeaea-montrealelectronic-artsMicrosoftXbox-360Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq impressions: Fight Night Round 4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/joystiq-impressions-fight-night-round-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/joystiq-impressions-fight-night-round-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/13/joystiq-impressions-fight-night-round-4/#comments
click to enlarge
Just seeing Fight Night Round 4 in action, it's a knockout. Yesterday we had the chance to watch Tyson vs. Ali coming to blows in the latest build of the game, which is due in final form this June. There's no saying how it plays, but we did take away some details on how it will differ from -- and improve on -- Round 3.

There's obviously been a dramatic visual improvement, which is made even more impressive when you consider the game is running on the same generation of hardware as its predecessor. EA has gone to great lengths to ensure "no punch looks exactly the same," using procedural techniques to send sweat (and blood) flying in the right directions -- the former tuning to mist and slowly dissipating in the air. Through slowed-down instant replays, we were able to watch as the boxers' musculature flexed under their skin, which itself ripples when hit thanks to a complex variant of cloth simulation.

Gallery: Fight Night Round 4


Continue reading Joystiq impressions: Fight Night Round 4

JoystiqJoystiq impressions: Fight Night Round 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaEA-Canadaea-montrealea-sportselectronic-artsfight-night-round-4FightingMicrosoftSportsXboxXbox-360Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lube your fists! EA confirms Army of Two: The 40th Day, for 360, PS3 ... and PSP?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/12/ea-confirms-army-of-two-the-40th-day-for-360-ps3-and-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/12/ea-confirms-army-of-two-the-40th-day-for-360-ps3-and-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/12/ea-confirms-army-of-two-the-40th-day-for-360-ps3-and-psp/#comments Looks like our tipster was spot on - EA just confirmed that Salem and Rios are back in EA Montreal's bro-tastic sequel to Army of Two, titled (as expected) Army of Two: The 40th Day. Again, the focus is on co-op (in case it wasn't clear, they use the term six times in this morning's press release) with you and a loved one of your choosing in the roles of "the ultimate two-man private military team." The 40th Day changes the scenery from war-torn wherever to Shanghai, China and - like every buddy cop flick since the Carter administration - Rios and Salem are in "the wrong place" at "the wrong time." Really, it says that.

Perhaps most notably, the PS3 and Xbox 360 are no longer their own army of two; the PSP has been added to the mix. There's not a lot of detail on what that particular version will include; however, with a limited number of buttons compared to its console counterparts, we're hoping the PSP release doesn't do away with the dedicated fist bump button. Without that, what's the point, right? You'll be able to crotch hoist your bros in Army of Two: The 40th Day "this winter."

For more possible details on The 40th Day, check out the rest of the info our tipster dropped on us last week.

JoystiqLube your fists! EA confirms Army of Two: The 40th Day, for 360, PS3 ... and PSP? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Army-of-TwoArmy-of-Two-2Army-of-Two-The-40th-DayEAEA-MontrealElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftXbox-360Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:05:00 EST