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[Valve now selling a Balloonicorn plushie, with in-game code]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/valve-now-selling-a-balloonicorn-plushie-with-in-game-code/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/valve-now-selling-a-balloonicorn-plushie-with-in-game-code/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/valve-now-selling-a-balloonicorn-plushie-with-in-game-code/#commentsValve now selling a Balloonicorn plushie You can now buy a Balloonicorn Plushie straight from Valve's official Team Fortress 2 store. The cute pink union of a balloon and a unicorn is 14.5 inches from horntip to tail and comes with a code for a genuine Balloonicorn in-game item, for $24.99.

The Balloonicorn serves as the "Municipal Ombudsman" of Pyroland, which is the cute and creepy world as seen through the Pyro's eyes. Like the best things in life, it's adorable yet horrifying.

JoystiqValve now selling a Balloonicorn plushie, with in-game code originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balloonicorncollectiblefunmeet-the-pyropcplushieTeam-Fortress-2toyvalveTue, 07 May 2013 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 gets a retro 2D platformer, thanks to an April Fools' joke]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/guild-wars-2-gets-a-retro-2d-platformer-thanks-to-an-april-fool/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/guild-wars-2-gets-a-retro-2d-platformer-thanks-to-an-april-fool/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/guild-wars-2-gets-a-retro-2d-platformer-thanks-to-an-april-fool/#comments Guild Wars 2 gets a retro 2D platformer, thanks to an April Fools' jokeArenaNet, the developer behind Guild Wars 2, has released a 2D platformer called Rytlock's Critter Rampage, available to play for free in your browser.

The game's derived from an '80s-style commercial the company made as an April Fools' joke earlier this month. The commercial itself was for a 3D platformer called Super Adventure Box, which ArenaNet also created for real inside its popular MMO.

ArenaNet says Rytlock's Critter Rampage was going to be cobbled together from a few sprites for the sake of the joke, but cinematic artist Delly Sartika had wanted to build a retro platformer and did the whole thing in about three weeks.

JoystiqGuild Wars 2 gets a retro 2D platformer, thanks to an April Fools' joke originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-fools-jokearenanetcinematic-artistfreefunGuild-Wars-2pcplatformerreleaserytlocks-critter-rampagesuper-adventure-boxWed, 24 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band Weekly: Andrew W.K., Fun., P!nk and Hot Chelle Rae]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/rock-band-weekly-andrew-w-k-fun-p-nk-and-hot-chelle-rae/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/rock-band-weekly-andrew-w-k-fun-p-nk-and-hot-chelle-rae/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/rock-band-weekly-andrew-w-k-fun-p-nk-and-hot-chelle-rae/#comments Rock Band Weekly Andrew WK, Fun, P!nk and Hot Chelle RaeAndrew W.K. is gonna "Party Hard" on the Rock Band music store for Xbox 360 right before the New Year, while other consoles are going to have to wait a bit. Next week's update is December 30 on Xbox 360, but due to the update schedules of other consoles, the hard partying will need to be fashionably late in January on Wii and PS3.

Continue reading Rock Band Weekly: Andrew W.K., Fun., P!nk and Hot Chelle Rae

JoystiqRock Band Weekly: Andrew W.K., Fun., P!nk and Hot Chelle Rae originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-wkfunHarmonixhot-chelle-raemicrosoftnintendopinkplaystationpnkps3Rock-Band-3rock-band-weeklywiixboxFri, 28 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mass Effect 3 goes trick-or-treating with a Halloween Challenge]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/mass-effect-3-goes-trick-or-treating-with-a-halloween-challenge/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/mass-effect-3-goes-trick-or-treating-with-a-halloween-challenge/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/mass-effect-3-goes-trick-or-treating-with-a-halloween-challenge/#comments Mass Effect 3 Halloween challenge
BioWare is celebrating Halloween with a special trick and treat-inspired multiplayer challenge in Mass Effect 3. Beginning today and running through November 5, there are three new tasks for players to take on to earn a special holiday reward: Players need to run five extractions on the Firebase Ghost map (or its Hazard version), earn 7500 points against zombies (also known as husks or abominations in the Mass Effect parlance) and earn 10,000 points against monsters (which includes brutes, scions, praetorians, and banshees). Completing the tasks on any difficulty will earn players a Halloween Challenge Banner.

What's too bad is that you won't get the Halloween-themed characters teased above to join your gang. Bioware doesn't say, but we're pretty sure they're crew members for some other Mass Effect 3 team, maybe helmed by one Commander SCARE-perd of the USS Norman-DIE! Boooooo! [Ed. Note: You're fired.]

JoystiqMass Effect 3 goes trick-or-treating with a Halloween Challenge originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementbannerbiowarechallengecommander-shepherdearningfunhalloweenholidaymass-effectmass-effect-3microsoftplaystationps3xboxWed, 31 Oct 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield Heroes gets new map, weapons with special Halloween content]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/21/battlefield-heroes-gets-new-map-weapons-with-special-halloween/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/21/battlefield-heroes-gets-new-map-weapons-with-special-halloween/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/21/battlefield-heroes-gets-new-map-weapons-with-special-halloween/#comments
EA's free-to-play Battlefield Heroes shooter is going trick-or-treating with a new set of Halloween content, as seen in the trailer above and the gallery below. The holiday update will bring a brand new map called the Perilous Port, as well as new Machete weapons, and a few different spooky items and outfits to wear.

There are also some new rewards to earn: Winning 10 games on the new map on ranked servers will earn you a faction-specific Halloween t-shirt, and there are also Trick or Treat-themed supply drops, with random chances to win other great stuff. Additionally, all of the other Halloween content from the game's previous years is back online as well, so jump on in and have yourself a frighteningly fun time.

Gallery: Battlefield Heroes (Halloween 2012)

JoystiqBattlefield Heroes gets new map, weapons with special Halloween content originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Oct 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-heroescostumeseafree-to-playfunhalloweenholidaypcperilous-portseasonaltrick-or-treatSun, 21 Oct 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: What if Call of Duty was a Pokemon game?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/video-what-if-call-of-duty-was-a-pokemon-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/video-what-if-call-of-duty-was-a-pokemon-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/video-what-if-call-of-duty-was-a-pokemon-game/#comments The problem with Pokemon is that it's pretty embarrassing to tell people you play it, especially if you're over the age of 13 -- just ask Griffin. They're great games, don't get us wrong. It's just that we're adults, with actual utility bills and Netflix memberships, and alive and breathing significant others. We can't risk losing all of that.

That's why we want to draw your attention to this Call of Duty and Pokemon mash-up clip, available just past the break. By incorporating the two, we can maintain our adult facade, while enjoying the deep and robust RPG experience Nintendo's line of games offers without all the kiddie stuff. It's the best of both worlds!

Continue reading Video: What if Call of Duty was a Pokemon game?

JoystiqVideo: What if Call of Duty was a Pokemon game? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-dutydsfunmash-upmicrosoftModern-Warfare-2nintendopcplaystationpokemonps3spoofxboxThu, 26 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sonic Spinball coaster coming to UK theme park]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/09/sonic-spinball-coaster-coming-to-uk-theme-park/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/09/sonic-spinball-coaster-coming-to-uk-theme-park/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/09/sonic-spinball-coaster-coming-to-uk-theme-park/#comments Sonic fans have to be the most hardcore fan base out there right now. Who else would have been able to survive all of the disappointments over the last decade? But don't worry -- Sega is rewarding your everlasting fandom with ... a rollercoaster ride. Rumor has it that the UK's Alton Towers is rebranding its Spinball Whizzer ride as "Sonic Spinball," and a rep from the park says that the retheme will "coincide with the relaunch of Sonic" in 2010.

A 2010 relaunch of Sonic, you say? Color us interested. The teal structure of the ride is apparently being repainted a nice Sonic blue, and this isn't the first time the hedgehog has appeared in the park, either. Here's an old appearance in the park's "Toyland Tours" ride. The coaster is scheduled to be ready for running again in February, so if you happen to be in the UK, you can queue your way up for it then.

[Thanks Michael!]

JoystiqSonic Spinball coaster coming to UK theme park originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alton-towersfanfunmiles-prowerproject-needlemouserelaunchrollercoastersegasonicsonic-spinballspinball-whizzertheme-parkSat, 09 Jan 2010 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fit fit for two year olds, and other revelations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/wii-fit-fit-for-two-year-olds-and-other-revelations/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/wii-fit-fit-for-two-year-olds-and-other-revelations/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/wii-fit-fit-for-two-year-olds-and-other-revelations/#commentsFiled under: ,


Perhaps avoiding the humiliation of getting back on the board himself, JC Fletcher over at Wii Fanboy has been throwing all sorts of crazy stuff on the Balance Board, and seeing how inanimate objects, and also a kitty, measure up.

What has he learned? For one, the latest year of birth possible in Wii Fit is 2006, and the shortest height is an astounding one foot, eight inches. This means that a two-year-old can actually play Wii Fit which is, if nothing else, creepy.

Also, Fletcher's bagless vacuum cleaner is sadly underweight, with a body mass index of 7.11. His cat, on the other hand, could stand to lose a few pounds (BMI of 21.5!), and has very poor balance. Check out the post for a few more fun experiments, such as how Wii Fit performs on Wii Fit. The mind boggles.

JoystiqWii Fit fit for two year olds, and other revelations originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 May 2008 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balance-boardfunnintendoWiiwii-fitFri, 30 May 2008 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The best kind of celebration]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/the-best-kind-of-celebration/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/the-best-kind-of-celebration/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/the-best-kind-of-celebration/#commentsFiled under:


After all the holiday-foo was complete, we're willing to bet many of you relaxed with video games. It's just a feeling we have (probably because many of us did the same thing!). You know what that means? It means we have an excuse to round up a few things that celebrate both Easter and gaming. Holidays are fun!

Continue reading The best kind of celebration

JoystiqThe best kind of celebration originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cakecraftseastereggsfunsmash-bros-brawlSun, 23 Mar 2008 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stringer: PS3 games 'infinitely more fun' than Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/stringer-ps3-games-infinitely-more-fun-than-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/stringer-ps3-games-infinitely-more-fun-than-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/stringer-ps3-games-infinitely-more-fun-than-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony Chairman Howard Stringer is showing both teeth and scientific breakthrough. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Stringer was exuberant over the PlayStation 3's recent one-week triumph over Nintendo Wii in Japanese hardware sales. "I'm happy the Wii seems to be running a bit short of hardware," he said, before following up with the quip that the PS3 "will come into its own because its [high-end games] are infinitely more fun, demanding and exciting."

Infinitely more fun, you say? So how does one define infinite fun? Let's arbitrarily assign Wii games with a base number, we'll call 'W.' For conversion purposes, we'll let W equate to one anti-meh. Infinity itself is an abstract notion that we can obtain through various roundabout methods. For example, take the limit as 'n' approaches 0 of anti-meh divided by 'n.' (You can't directly divide by zero without the power of the Cell processor.)

This approach works for all scalars of anti-meh: oh, gee whiz, golly, awesome, sweet, wow, etc., which is convenient if a Wii game really is fun, then we can apply the limit (let's arbitrarily call it the "Sony limit") and obtain infinity, knocking the wind out of Nintendo's fun factor.

Continue reading Stringer: PS3 games 'infinitely more fun' than Wii

JoystiqStringer: PS3 games 'infinitely more fun' than Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-mehfunhoward-stringerlimitmathnintendoPS3seriessonyWiiThu, 13 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Companies looking to make work more like games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/companies-looking-to-make-work-more-like-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/companies-looking-to-make-work-more-like-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/companies-looking-to-make-work-more-like-games/#commentsFiled under: ,

Wish you could play games at work? You know, without having to sneak around? Soon you might be able to. Entrepreneur.com has a short report on the growing number of companies and government agencies that are making their work interfaces more like games.

The article doesn't go into much detail, but organizations from IBM to Microsoft and even the military are looking to integrating games into their work processes. The move comes partly because an increasing part of the workforce are growing up with "neuropathways ... being formed around game logic," according to John Beck, co-author of The Kids Are Alright.

It's fine in concept, but we're skeptical that any game can make the drudgery of cubicle life more enjoyable. Regardless, playing games at work will bring a new meaning to the term daily grind. *rim shot*

JoystiqCompanies looking to make work more like games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funofficeseriousseriousgamesworkFri, 27 Jul 2007 15:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Slate: Serious games are seriously boring]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/slate-serious-games-are-seriously-boring/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/slate-serious-games-are-seriously-boring/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/27/slate-serious-games-are-seriously-boring/#commentsFiled under: ,

For all the bluster about serious games being the wave of the future, most examples of the form thus far are missing that key element of ... what's the word ... oh yeah, fun! Slate takes a withering look at the state of the serious games industry by asking the simple question: "Can a game still be called a game if it isn't any fun?"

It's a good question, and one that doesn't reflect kindly on many of the serious games out there. The author is especially derisive of training games that mirror the repetitive, mindless nature of the workplace -- games that are "less alluring to people who love games and more alluring to people who don't. Your boss, for example."

The author suggests that developers who want to make learning fun should focus on the fun first and the learning second. We couldn't agree more. We learned more about urban planning from SimCity than we ever learned about arithmetic from Math Blaster -- mainly because we kept playing SimCity long after Math Blaster got donated to the secondhand store. In other words: you can lead a player to an educational game, but you can't make them play. They have to want to do that.

JoystiqSlate: Serious games are seriously boring originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boringcivilizationeducationaledugamingfunMath BlasterMathBlasterPCseriousserious gamesSeriousGamesSimCityWed, 27 Jun 2007 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[SXSW: Serious Games: Can Learning Be Hard Fun?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-serious-games-can-learning-be-hard-fun/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-serious-games-can-learning-be-hard-fun/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-serious-games-can-learning-be-hard-fun/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


When you combine the words "serious" "learning" and "hard" in the same sentence, chances are you're going to end up with something that gamers won't like. But that's what the Serious Games Initiative is all about, developing games for "non-entertainment" purposes. Of course, the problem is games for non-entertainment tend to scare people away faster than the phrase "edutainment."

That's the main problem facing Serious Games, how do they make it seem like they aren't hiding the broccoli under the meatloaf? All of the games shown off were educational in one form or another, having to do with zapping cancer cells inside the human body, or how to interact with people in the workplace. Seriously, there is a game about the proper way to run a meeting, collaborate with coworkers, and generally function in an office. Too bad it's not running on the Unreal Engine. Zing!

Continue reading SXSW: Serious Games: Can Learning Be Hard Fun?

JoystiqSXSW: Serious Games: Can Learning Be Hard Fun? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developmentedutainmentfungame developmenthard funlearningPCSerious GamesSeriousGamessxswsxsw07Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SXSW: ARG! The Attack of the Alternate Reality Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/sxsw-arg-the-attack-of-the-alternate-reality-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/sxsw-arg-the-attack-of-the-alternate-reality-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/11/sxsw-arg-the-attack-of-the-alternate-reality-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Ever since the success of The Beast, the alternate reality game created to help pimp Spielberg's A.I. back in 2001, alternate reality games (ARGs) have been popping up left and right, most notably the I Love Bees ARG that was used to launch Halo 2. Based on what the panelists were telling us, there are a lot more coming down the pipeline.

However, one of the problems was that the panel promised to help define the term "alternate reality game," but that never happened. Wikipedia calls it "an interactive narrative that uses the real world as a platform, often involving multiple media and game elements, to tell a story that may be affected by participants' ideas or actions." Which is quite a mouthful. But that makes us wonder, does it have to use the web as a medium to be an ARG? When people used to play T.A.G. or Killer on college campuses, that was definitely an ARG ... but where did those games go?

Continue reading SXSW: ARG! The Attack of the Alternate Reality Games

JoystiqSXSW: ARG! The Attack of the Alternate Reality Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 21:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007A.I.AIalternatealternate realityalternate reality gamesargaudiaustinDan Honevangelistfuni love beesMicrosoftmind candyPCperplex citySXSWSXSW07The BeatXboxSun, 11 Mar 2007 21:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's retro-iest game video: iPod with NES controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/14/todays-retro-iest-game-video-ipod-with-nes-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/14/todays-retro-iest-game-video-ipod-with-nes-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/14/todays-retro-iest-game-video-ipod-with-nes-controller/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We've seen people turn the NES controller into a remote control, turn the NES console into an alarm clock, and even shove a Mac mini inside. Now folks are even cramming things into the NES controller itself. When will the madness end? Nintendo probably had no idea that this thing would be so versatile when they invented it. If someone ever makes one that can heat up pop-tarts, we're sold.

Check out the wackiness after the jump, and start figuring how else you can hack this sucker.

Continue reading Today's retro-iest game video: iPod with NES controller

JoystiqToday's retro-iest game video: iPod with NES controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Jan 2007 03:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplecontrollercramfunhackiPodmodneatNESNintendoSun, 14 Jan 2007 03:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Today's most geometric game video: Geometry Wars PC 'Vista']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/todays-most-geometric-game-video-geometry-wars-pc-vista/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/todays-most-geometric-game-video-geometry-wars-pc-vista/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/09/todays-most-geometric-game-video-geometry-wars-pc-vista/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved has had its own little evolution, going from minigame, to full-fledged console game, and now it'll be dropping onto PCs everywhere and we've got the video to prove it. Yes, it's retro gaming action that takes you back to the land of arcade quarter-eaters like Tempest and Qix ... and it's incredibly addictive fun.

Check out the Vista version in action after the jump. It looks pretty spiffy on that monitor, or else the brightness levels are just kicked up to 11. Either way, PC users can finally toss Minesweeper and Solitaire away, because this will be the new king of the timesuck in cubicle-land.

Continue reading Today's most geometric game video: Geometry Wars PC 'Vista'

JoystiqToday's most geometric game video: Geometry Wars PC 'Vista' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 01:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionarcadeawesomeBizarreBizarre-CreationsfunGames for WindowsGamesForWindowsGeometry WarsGeometry-WarsGeometry-Wars-Retro-EvolvedMicrosoftPCpuzzleretroShmupvistaWindowsXBLAXbox-360Tue, 09 Jan 2007 01:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii: sucking in the seniors, bit by bit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/wii-sucking-in-the-seniors-bit-by-bit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/wii-sucking-in-the-seniors-bit-by-bit/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/08/wii-sucking-in-the-seniors-bit-by-bit/#commentsFiled under: , ,


There's nothing quite like seeing a video game bringing families together, even if the above image does look like a page out of a slightly wacked IKEA catalog. Reader Jim has sent in his own entertaining tale about mom and dad proceeding to get hooked and pwn in Wii Sports, particularly bowling, as you can tell from his dad's nice form in the above photo.

Our own parental units were never really sucked in by the glitz and polygon counts of the other consoles, so it's great to see a new generation of gamers getting drawn in by the Wii-novation. Are we every going to declare a moratorium on adding Wii to words? You swear you'll never do it again, and then *bam* there it is. Wii apologize.

[Thanks, Jim! Check out his upcoming comic book too, nifty stuff.]

JoystiqWii: sucking in the seniors, bit by bit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bowlingDadfunMomnew gamersNintendo Wiiold folksseniorssportsWiiyoung gamesMon, 08 Jan 2007 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War -- single-player cross-stitching action]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/11/gears-of-war-single-player-cross-stitching-action/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/11/gears-of-war-single-player-cross-stitching-action/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/11/gears-of-war-single-player-cross-stitching-action/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


[Click image to enlarge]

One of our readers has the coolest grandmother ever. She cross stitched the Gears of War logo for him, and just look how nice it is all framed and ready to go next to the family photos in the hallway. Our grandmother would never have stitched this for us ... even if we'd begged her. The closest we could probably get would be a quilted gingham checkerboard.

Now what we really want to know is: does your grandma play the game? Have her hit us up in multiplayer and show us if those skills with a needle translate to a chainsaw.

[Thanks, Alex -- and thank granny for us too]

JoystiqGears of War -- single-player cross-stitching action originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artartworkcross stitchEpicfunGears of WarGearsOfWargrandmagrandmotherlogoneedlepointXbox 360Xbox-360Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Play Tetris on your fridge [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/10/play-tetris-on-your-fridge/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/10/play-tetris-on-your-fridge/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/10/play-tetris-on-your-fridge/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tetris has achieved an iconic pop culture status like Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros. Its simple and logical gameplay is addictive to the point of madness, and we wore out at least two Game Boys while trying to master it. However, we sure can pack a bag or load a truck a heck of a lot better now.

Tetris has appeared on practically every video game platform since it was introduced in 1985, and regularly pops up in the most unexpected places.
The block stacking phenomenon has appeared in Japanese comedy acts, on the side of a building in milkcrate form, as a set of shelves, as the basis for a Honda commercial, on a merit badge, off the side of Interstate 95 in Rhode Island, as a lotto ticket in Quebec, and on an episode of the Simpsons.

Tetris has spawned dozens of clones, appeared in other Nintendo games like Dr. Mario, and lives on today as Hexic, which was designed by Tetris creator Alexey Pazhitnov. In fact, most of today's popular puzzle games like Bejeweled can trace their roots back to Tetris, which is itself a sort of bizarre twist on Breakout, and that leads directly back to Pong, which takes us back to the beginning of time and makes our heads hurt.

Today it appears on your refrigerator as "Tetrius," courtesy of Art. Lebedev Studio in Russia. It can adorn your fridge this Christmas for only 278 rubles, which is about ten bucks. Check out the other products they offer, it's a bizarre collection of odd products that won't improve your productivity, but will make life a bit more fun.

Joystiq's stocking had better have one of these in it come December, or else we'll make a clone of our own.

[Thanks, laserboyjc! My bad for not thanking you earlier, great find]

JoystiqPlay Tetris on your fridge [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSfunmagnetretroTetrisXbox-360Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Wingnuts 2 released]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/14/wingnuts-2-released/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/14/wingnuts-2-released/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/14/wingnuts-2-released/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Freeverse has released Wingnuts 2, a $29.95 OMG (original Mac game) that has been billed by the game's creator as the "ultimate arcade game." Based on the time we've spent with a pre-release version of the game, we're tempted to agree. Wingnuts 2 is a bucket of fun to play, and it happens to look great too.

According to Freeverse's minimum system requirements, you'll need at least an 800MHz G4, 32MB of VRAM, 512MB of system RAM and just under 1GB of Hard Drive space to run and store the game. You can download the demo here and watch a movie of the game in action here. Expect a full review of the game from us in the next few days.

JoystiqWingnuts 2 released originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jun 2006 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arcade gamingArcadeGamingFreeverseFreeverse InteractiveFreeverseInteractiveFUNMacMinimum requirementsMinimumRequirementsOMGOriginal Mac GamesOriginalMacGamesWingnutsWingnuts 2Wingnuts 2: Ariana's RevengeWingnuts2Wingnuts2:Ariana'sRevengeWed, 14 Jun 2006 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 3 has a happy ending, or how I learned to love YTMND]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/halo-3-has-a-happy-ending-or-how-i-learned-to-love-ytmnd/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/halo-3-has-a-happy-ending-or-how-i-learned-to-love-ytmnd/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/halo-3-has-a-happy-ending-or-how-i-learned-to-love-ytmnd/#commentsFiled under:

The animated .gif addicts over at YTMND have been very busy lately revealing the truthiness behind recent video game rumors. Here are some of those OMIGOD NEWS FLASH! announcements from YTMND's gaming posse:
YTMND's formula is never going to get old, simply because there will never be a shortage of fanboy ideas and rumors to make fun of.

[Via Xbox360Fanboy]

More: The Wii zeitgeist, via YTMND, Wiill Ferrell tests Wii accelerometer technology and Dick Hunt!

JoystiqHalo 3 has a happy ending, or how I learned to love YTMND originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jun 2006 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesARTBungieDickDuck HuntDuckHuntEndingFPSFUNFUNNYHAHAHalf-LifeHalf-Life 2Half-life2HaloHalo 3Halo-2Halo3HL2HumorLAUGHMaster ChiefMasterChiefMicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-StudiosMiyamotoNintendoPlaystation 3Playstation3PS3RevealedshigeruShigeru MiyamotoShigeruMiyamotoSHiggySHOCK and AWEShockAndAweSpoilersWiiXbox-360YTMNDMon, 12 Jun 2006 13:55:00 EST