Joystiq

Bungie confirms leak of story info, concept art for Destiny

Mike Schramm — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:30:00 EST

An IGN reader has provided the site with a bundle of Destiny art and story materials that it says were compiled by an ad agency. Destiny is the long-rumored secret project that will serve as Bungie's followup to the Halo series. The art shows an Earth in a future "littered with the ruins of man's Golden Age," according to the materials, with a huge alien ship sitting above the planet. There are also shots of various soldiers and war vehicles, along with a more final logo similar to the one we've seen before.

And now Bungie has added to the collection with its own official piece of concept art above. On the official Bungie blog, the company vaguely confirms the leaks, saying, "Go ahead. Take a peek. It's alright. We weren't quite ready, but we will be soon, and we can't wait to finally show you what we've really been up to."

The leaked documents describe Destiny as "fun and accessible to all," and say the property's goal is "to create a universe as deep, tangible and relatable as that of the Star Wars franchise." That leaked contract between Bungie and publisher Activision about the project suggests that this title will involve four games, as many DLC releases, and stretch across the next console generation, so it's possible that this art reveals the very first step in what might be a long journey forward.

Bungie confirms leak of story info, concept art for Destiny originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Power officially closes, last issue should be out December 11

Sinan Kubba — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST

Yesterday marked the day Nintendo Power, after running for 24 years, officially closed. The news of the magazine's end broke back in August, but yesterday some of the now former staffers revealed on Twitter they'd completed the last issue, and the office had closed its doors. That final issue should be out on December 11.

You can read the favorite memories of many Nintendo Power staffers here, as well as reminisce with us and other writers as we remember a publication so prominent in our gaming childhoods.

Nintendo Power officially closes, last issue should be out December 11 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK magazines Xbox World, PSM3 ceasing publication by December

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST

Independent UK magazines Xbox World and PSM3 will release its final issues on December 12, Future Publishing tells CVG. Future has plans to focus on digital growth and will redistribute all employees of the canceled magazines to other areas of the company.

Xbox World announced its closure on Facebook, writing, "In all seriousness - we're really, really sad to see the mag end. We've always had loads of fun making it, and we hope you've had fun reading it. We're working on the final issue now, cramming in as many fond memories of the mag as we can."

This year Future US announced it would shut down Nintendo Power and PlayStation: The Official Magazine, both with final issues planned for this holiday.

UK magazines Xbox World, PSM3 ceasing publication by December originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Power remembered

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:55:00 EST

Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to remember Nintendo Power. Not its passing, but its life. Nintendo Power will conclude 24 years of publication with a final issue this December. We've experienced the loss of many magazines over the years, but Nintendo Power's conclusion is different for many of us. Directly attached to childhood memories of so many, it was the publication of both the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super NES at the dawn of the console era, with children of the late 80s and early 90s eagerly awaiting the magazine's arrival every month.

We've gathered some fond Nintendo Power memories from today's media after the break. Please feel free to share your happy memories too.

Continue reading Nintendo Power remembered

Nintendo Power remembered originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony patents method of turning TV ads into interactive mini-games

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST

Sony holds the patent for turning television commercials into interactive video games, taking humanity one step closer a future resembling Wall-E, while the likelihood of Blade Runner fades to a distant, neon second. The patent describes one method of gaming as advertisement as a "commercial overlaid on frames of the television program allowing the user to play the game while the television program is displayed."

Sony's patent provides visuals of various implementation processes, some of which include using the PlayStation console itself, along with the PS Eye, the Move or DualShock controllers, or a microphone. The controllers would allow viewers to play mini-games designed to sell products while they entertain, and they would enable people to purchase items directly from the ad. One drawing shows someone ordering a pizza by using the Move to select a large "Buy" button, and another has someone voting for a character with the X, O, square and triangle buttons.

The patent also shows a microphone hooked up to the PlayStation console, enabling viewers to vocalize whether they want an action or romantic commercial. Another voice-input idea makes viewers yell out brand names to continue their shows, pictured above.

The patent appears to work with internet TVs or screens attached to network-enabled devices, such as the PlayStation. If you've yet to disable your cable and hook up your PC to an HD flatscreen, now may be the time - or maybe consider that Steam Big Picture box when it launches. They can take our TVs, but they'll never take our PCs.

Please scream "Joystiq!" to continue.

Sony patents method of turning TV ads into interactive mini-games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Critical Path, more than an archive of interviews with your favorite devs

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:30:00 EST

Critical Path is, for now, a series of individual documentaries with influential game developers, allowing them to speak freely about the industry and what the future of gaming may come to be. For now, the interviews are candid, short and sweet, but documentary filmmaker David Grabias has plans to turn this project into much more than an online interview storage space.

"We have a few goals," Grabias tells Joystiq. "We want to provide a documentary-based venue for critical discussion about the art of making video games. We hope to provide developers with a place where they can come for nuggets of inspiration. We also want to provide players with insight into their game experience, and hopefully make them aware of the great minds behind the great games. Finally, we feel we are in a fascinating era in game development. We want to document it for future generations."

Critical Path currently offers 121 video clips, 30-120 seconds each, distilled from more than 30 hours of interviews with developers such as Cliff Bleszinski, Sid Meier, Ken Levine, Jordan Mechner, Chris Hecker, Peter Molyneux, Will Wright and Hideo Kojima. There are "a ton more videos in the pipeline," Grabias says, but Artifact is waiting to see how people handle the current offering and will take feedback about other subjects and developers fans are interested in.

Critical Path has a few more "transmedia" stages under development, including a feature-length television documentary about the art and anatomy of games, and a mobile app that will go live "hopefully sooner rather than later," Grabias says.

Continue reading Critical Path, more than an archive of interviews with your favorite devs

Critical Path, more than an archive of interviews with your favorite devs originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reset trailer is almost as interesting as its single-player co-op gameplay

Jessica Conditt — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST

The above debut trailer for Theory Interactive's Reset is made entirely with a unique in-game engine, Praxis, and doesn't include any added effects, CGI or Peter Jackson-level motion capture. We swear. Well, Theory Interactive swears, so they're the ones that will have to deliver on this hefty promise.

If the trailer isn't tantalizing enough, Reset's gameplay premise is captivating too. In this first-person puzzle game, players have the ability to travel back in time to solve puzzles cooperatively with themselves, meaning the phrase "single-player co-op" makes an impossible amount of sense.

Theory Interactive comprises just two people, Alpo Oksaharju and Mikko Kallinen, but we're inclined to believe it's really just one person and his future self, who has brought back advanced innovations with the sole purpose of crafting this wonderfully entrancing debut game trailer. And, we hope, a game to live up to its promises.

Reset trailer is almost as interesting as its single-player co-op gameplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future US eliminates 19 jobs, not shuttering any brands

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST

Future Publishing US eliminated 19 jobs today as part of overall changes taking place at the company. None of its brands, which include Nintendo Power, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, OXM and @Gamer, will be discontinued.

"Future US is currently working to reposition itself in the marketplace to transform the company from an old school publisher to a hybrid publisher," Future COO Rachelle Considine told Joystiq. "While many 'old school' publishing companies and outlets have folded completely, Future US is in process of retooling and reshaping the organization to succeed, and thrive in the digital era."

Future announced late last year that it was merging its US and UK operation, following the resignations of its CEO and CFO.

Future US eliminates 19 jobs, not shuttering any brands originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESA members asked individually about SOPA, some respond

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Rock, Paper, Shotgun collaborated in obtaining responses.

The Entertainment Software Association's support of the "Stop Online Piracy Act" has led us to ask every member of the video game industry's lobbying and political group to publicly declare its stance on the bill. The ESA's continued support means every member, by proxy, is a supporter of the bill.

Some companies have pulled their logos from supporting SOPA documentation to dodge ire, while others are hiding behind rhetoric, as you'll see below. Joystiq contacted every member of the ESA and requested a declarative statement on SOPA. After the break we've listed the responses we've received, along with others we found. We continue to seek clarity on this issue from every member of the ESA.

This will become the page we update as we receive responses and clear declarative statements, so feel free to bookmark.

(Joystiq does not support SOPA, nor does our parent company.)

Continue reading ESA members asked individually about SOPA, some respond

ESA members asked individually about SOPA, some respond originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future Publishing combining UK and US branches

David Hinkle — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:01:00 EST

Following the departure of its CEO and CFO, Future Publishing's new CEO, Mark Wood, has a plan: The UK-based company will combine resources with its US branch, merging the two together. Wood hopes this move will "enable us to operate more efficiently and return the U.S. business to profitability." Future's US branch is responsible for Nintendo Power, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, OXM and @Gamer, among others.

Future has been planning to shift its resources away from print to online for a few months now, following significant year-over-year losses. "The changes will also mean that we can accelerate our transition to a digital business model and start to sell our entire range of digital content to high-value audiences in the U.S. and other key markets," Wood added.

Future Publishing combining UK and US branches originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future Publishing CEO and CFO quit

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:25:00 EST

With the end of Future Publishing's fiscal year fast approaching on November 24, and the news not expected to be good, the company's chief executive Stevie Spring and chief financial officer John Bowman have resigned.

"The recent restructuring which positions the company for its digital future has allowed the Board this opportunity to achieve substantial savings by eliminating an entire tier of corporate overhead," Future said in a statement. The company's stock has dropped 60 percent this year.

The company ominously announced late last month that it was "considering a wider range of strategic options in respect of its US operations." Future US's magazine business currently includes all three official console magazines, PC Gamer and Best Buy's @Gamer. The company stated in July it plans to take the US to a primarily digital model.

Future Publishing CEO and CFO quit originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future making hard choices about US publications

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST

A note to investors from publishing giant Future portends dark happenings for the company's US arm. The UK-based publisher has found continued operations in the US "significantly more challenging," due to a smaller scale operation and the business model for magazines in the States. In July, Future announced it was moving its Future US into a primarily digital business (i.e. non tree-based magazines), but things have apparently escalated.

"With trading conditions in the U.S. reflecting ongoing weakness and decreasing visibility at newsstand, and an acceleration in the year-on-year growth rate in digital revenues, the Board is now considering a wider range of strategic options in respect of its U.S. operations," the note reads.

Future US's magazine business currently includes all three official console magazines, along with PC Gamer and Best Buy's @Gamer. The question now revolves around whether the "wider range of strategic options" includes the publisher cutting its losses in the magazine space or moving to sell off the division. Future plans to share more details at the end of its fiscal year November 24.

Future making hard choices about US publications originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WoW Magazine calling it quits

Mike Schramm — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST

After just five issues, the official World of Warcraft Magazine is calling it quits. Future US has posted a notice on the website, and subscribers can either get a refund for the issues they didn't receive, or a voucher for six in-game World of Warcraft pets. Future recommends subscribers who want to keep up with the game in a dead tree format can subscribe to its PC Gamer publication, and it's possible Blizzard may try to publish something itself, though there are apparently no plans for that yet.

It's kind of a shame -- the WoW Magazine did offer a lot of solid coverage about the game (and some good looks inside the workings of Blizzard's Irvine, CA campus), but the publication was also torn between its status as an official outlet and a separate press entity. Dan Amrich, the magazine's first editor-in-chief (who left even before the first issue was published, and is now working as an official Activision blogger) recently wrote about some of the troubles he had dealing with Blizzard's licensing department and their control over the magazine.

When you combine that with the fact that MMO fans tend to prefer digital over analog, then apparently the whole venture just wasn't worth it. Like we said, shame.

WoW Magazine calling it quits originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Pragmatica

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 22:30:00 EST

Indie developers are the starving artists of the video-game world, often brilliant and innovative, but also misunderstood, underfunded and more prone to writing free-form poetry on their LiveJournals. We at Joystiq believe no one deserves to starve, and many indie developers are entitled to a fridge full of tasty, fulfilling media coverage, right here. This week, we unlock HiVE's apocalyptic puzzler, Pragmatica.

What's your game called, and what's it about?

This is Pragmatica. It's a programming-based puzzler set in a not-too-distant future, in which robots have, somewhat controversially, all but replaced humans as the world's industrial labour force. The largest and most powerful robotics firm, Pragmatica, hires you as a programmer, tasking you with writing programs to solve tasks using their expensive and highly volatile robots. Gameplay-wise, this means combine actions and conditions (SEE-WALL, TURN-RIGHT) into a program, then hitting the launch button and watching the robots execute it to complete the task, or crash and burn trying.

Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Pragmatica

The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Pragmatica originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK's PC Zone magazine shutting down after 17 years

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

The UK's first PC gaming magazine, PC Zone, will end its 17-year, 225-issue run in September. Future Publishing is closing the magazine following a "strategic review," which probably had something to do with the magazine's sales of 11,000 copies a month.

Both the BBC and Guardian have full articles on the magazine's demise and legacy. In a statement, Future Publishing stated it will focus its efforts on "market leader" PC Gamer going forward, which has twice the circulation of PC Zone.

UK's PC Zone magazine shutting down after 17 years originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy taps Future US for new game mag: @Gamer

David Hinkle — Tue, 11 May 2010 22:00:00 EST

Andy Eddy seems like a regular guy. He's got some sweet scruff and nothing on his Facebook page looks out of the ordinary, so -- wait, what's this? Apparently Mr. Eddy is "working at Future US in the Future Plus group on a new publication called @Gamer, the 'official games magazine of Best Buy.'" For real?

It's news to us and certainly the first that Kyle Orland, ex-Joystiq blogger and devilishly handsome chap who noticed the blurb, has heard about it. While we're inclined to point out the obvious to Best Buy (uh, game mags are pretty dead, bro), we're interested in seeing how far this will go. Real editorial content or a glorified shopper's guide? We can't wait to find out!

[Via The Game Beat]

Best Buy taps Future US for new game mag: @Gamer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 May 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All but one Future publication saw circulation dip in 2009

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:01:00 EST

[Image credit: benben]

Can you guess which of Future Publishing's nine magazines didn't lose readership in 2009? If your money was with Edge, you've got our permission to give yourself a nice big pat on the back. Go ahead, we'll wait. Done? Good. Like we were saying, the UK game mag publisher saw shrinking circulation numbers in 2009 -- the same year that saw the closure of PlayStation World by Future and the shuttering of long-running US gaming mag EGM by Ziff-Davis.

While Edge circulation numbers rose by (a somewhat meager) 109 readers, Games Master dropped by 6,636 (to 34,313), PC Zone by 7,666 (to 11,357), and Xbox World 360 by 5,156 (to 25,874). While those numbers might seem a bit on the low side, that has more to do with the smaller size/population of the UK than anything else (though, of course, dropping readership numbers don't mean good things for any publication house).

According to the GamesIndustry.biz report, Future blames the circulation drops on "slowing sales and ad spend [advertisers spending on print advertising]." We've dropped the entire list of circulation numbers after the break (care of the UK Audit Bureau of Circulations), should you be so inclined to peruse all the stats.

Continue reading All but one Future publication saw circulation dip in 2009

All but one Future publication saw circulation dip in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wada emphasizes online delivery, advises devs to shift focus

Xav de Matos — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Square Enix president Yoichi Wada estimates digital distribution and server-based gaming is poised for "exponential growth" within the next decade, advising developers to prepare for the shift. "In the past the platform was hardware, but it has switched to the network. A time will come when the hardware isn't even needed anymore," he said in an interview with MCV.

According to Wada, consoles as we know them will change dramatically, as "any kind of terminal becomes a potential platform on which games can be played." Wada believes platform holders have been preparing for the shift to network-based games and delivery systems since 2005, forcing his company to respond by increasing production of social and browser games. Square Enix is also preparing a beta release for the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV in 2010.

While the Square Enix boss believes this shift has a greater global impact, especially in regions which do not have large console markets, our major fear is having to download an entire single-player Final Fantasy. Seriously, that's a lot of gigs.

Wada emphasizes online delivery, advises devs to shift focus originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future, Blizzard launch World of Warcraft: The Magazine

Justin McElroy — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:27:00 EST

It's a sad fact, World of Warcraft players, but an unavoidable one: You have to go to the bathroom. Though that most private of times was once filled with the WoW player's kryptonite (self-reflection) you can now while away the minutes with World of Warcraft: The Magazine, a joint endeavor from Future and Blizzard. The subscription-only magazine will launch simultaneously in English, French, German, and Spanish.

We're happy to see companies taking a chance on a new publication, and we think there's a shot that this more specialized approach can work. What we're a little bit less sure about is the price: $39.99 for four quarterly issues. Here's hoping the (admittedly advertising-free) content can live up to the premium charge.

Future, Blizzard launch World of Warcraft: The Magazine originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSW magazine shuttered by Future

Justin McElroy — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Future has announced that it's closing British PlayStation magazine PSW. "It's always incredibly sad when we close a title as established as PSW, but the decision was taken in response to decreasing demand," games portfolio publishing director James Binns told MCV. On the bright side, one displaced staffer has already been reassigned, and four others are in talks for a job with the company.

We know that, technically, print magazines and other outlets are our competition, but it still sucks hard when one of them closes. The print horizon is increasingly sparse, and we hate to see another stalwart pulled out of the skyline.

PSW magazine shuttered by Future originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future US president calls it quits

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:55:00 EST

Yes, 12-year-old Billy Caruthers, projected winner of the 2036 presidential election has decided to resign from his pending office in order to dodge controversy surrounding his pending extramarital affair. He -- oh, wait. We totally misread that headline. The president of magazine publisher Future US, Jonathan Simpson-Bint, is stepping down August 31 in order to start up his own business. Simpson-Bint has been working with the company for 18 years, and oversaw the launch of PSM, IGN.com and DailyRadar.com.

Future is currently looking for Simpson-Bint's replacement -- if you've got experience managing humongous publishing companies, yet find yourself working as a lowly fry cook at your local Carl's Jr., perhaps its time you gained some upward mobility.

Future US president calls it quits originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future's UK numbers down in 2008, 19 laid off from US offices [update]

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:02:00 EST

Gamesindustry.biz reports that Future Publishing's numbers in the UK were almost uniformly down in 2008. The only magazines in the publisher's stable that saw sizable increases in readership were Playstation: The Official Magazine and PSW (which is unofficial, incidentally). Playstation: The Official Magazine in particular did well, adding over 7,500 new readers. The only other magazine to see any growth at all was Official Nintendo Magazine, which increased its readership by an incredible 41 people. All other Future gaming publications in the UK, including stalwarts like PSM 3, Edge, Official Xbox Magazine and PC Gamer, saw significant decreases in readership.

Additionally, VG247 is reporting that 19 employees are being laid off from Future's San Francisco and New York offices. A Future UK spokesperson referred to the laid off employees as "redundancies," saying, "These changes were made in line with Future's stated strategy of focusing on structure and costs in a severe global economic downturn." The report does not specify which departments the layoffs affected.

The news comes in the wake of lower revenues and readerships for Future's US publications and an increase in users on Future's websites. It raises the question: Just what kind of future there is for Future's print business?

(Update: We've confirmed via a Future US employee -- who wishes to remain anonymous -- that none of the 19 positions eliminated were from editorial. Sales and marketing were the only departments affected.)

Source -- VG247 - Future lays off 19 staff from SF and NY offices
Source -- gi.biz - Circulations slide for majority of Future games magazines

Future's UK numbers down in 2008, 19 laid off from US offices [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future's future in print not looking bright in the US

Jem Alexander — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:30:00 EST

Despite an uptick in UK magazine sales it seems that Future Publishing is not seeing quite as encouraging numbers in the US. Its magazines in the region (Nintendo Power and the official Microsoft and Sony mags) have seen the company's revenue fall by 2% over the last three months, calling into question how sustainable that particular medium is in the current economic climate.

Print advertising revenues fell by 4% during the same period, while online advertising revenue increased by 25%. 2 million new users have been accessing its web content (which includes GamesRadar) since September, bringing the total to over 20 million. A far larger reach than is realistically possible with a magazine. All the signs are pointing to the death of print media in the US; you need only think back a few weeks to the closure of EGM to realize that.

Future is putting on a brave face, stating that it will "remain confident that we're in the best shape we can be to deal with whatever challenges lie ahead and are on track to deliver against expectations for the full year." The company's gaming section is proving to be less resilient to the economic crisis than its other sectors, such as music or technology. With almost a third of its entire library devoted to video games, however, this decline is certainly troubling.

Future's future in print not looking bright in the US originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: What's going to be great about 09?

David Hinkle — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

Around this time last year, we asked you all the same question about 2008. It only seemed appropriate that we now ask you about the next year, 2009.

So, what are you anticipating to be a highlight for next year? Is it the Nintendo DSi release in North America? Is it a particular game? Let us know!

DS Daily: What's going to be great about 09? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Nintendo Magazine launching down under

Chris Greenhough — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

Cheer up, Aussies and Kiwis -- even though your local Club Nintendo appears to have gone completely AWOL (checking ... nope, still nothing), you'll shortly be getting your very own version of Official Nintendo Magazine, basically the UK equivalent of Nintendo Power. That's ... almost as good. Right?

Like its Brit cousin, Official Nintendo Magazine - Australia and New Zealand will be assembled by the talented folks at Future, the same name behind such excellent time-wasting periodicals as N64 Magazine, Amiga Power, and Arcade, and who currently churn out Edge. The first issue, a special edition no less, should be hitting shelves in December for AU$8.95.

[Via press release]

Official Nintendo Magazine launching down under originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AGDC: The Bruce Sterling keynote - The Future of Entertainment

Kevin Kelly — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, GDC, Business

Bruce Sterling is a science fiction author, a futurist, and one of the founders of cyberpunk. He provided the tent-pole keynote for the Austin Game Developers Conference, although in all honesty it seemed more like a run through of a new short story draft. Several developers were walking out, scratching their heads and going "Wha... huh?" afterward.

The topic was "Computer Entertainment 35 Years from Today," and Sterling came out not as Sterling, but as a time traveler from 35 years in the future and a graduate student of Dr. Sterling's. He provided visual demonstrations of nanotech networks and fiber-based computers, much to the amusement of the audience, and told us how the future might seem surprising to us at first, but it's old hat to someone like him. He bastardized a quote from Sir Arthur Clarke and said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from garbage." Words to live by.

Read the full text of the keynote after the break. It'll be interesting if web surfers in the future look back on this post and laugh.

Continue reading AGDC: The Bruce Sterling keynote - The Future of Entertainment

AGDC: The Bruce Sterling keynote - The Future of Entertainment originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crytek predicts 'next-gen' consoles will arrive in 2011 / 2012

Ludwig Kietzmann — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

We are all interested in the future. Indeed, as the great Criswell so astutely observed, "We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives." And it wouldn't be much of a life if it wasn't spent playing the latest video games, no doubt powered by trillions of tetraflops and a giggle-inducing number of gigabytes. Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli has seen this future (it's where he bought his Crysis-capable computer), and has concluded that the next generation of consoles -- as in the Xbox 720 and the PlayStation 4 -- could arrive in 2011 or 2012.

Discussing "The Future of Gaming Graphics" at Leipzig's GC Developer Conference, Yerli estimated that Microsoft and Sony's next offerings would arrive "in three to four years' time, although there are good reasons why it should be 2010 already...but we'll see." Crytek, which most recently worked on Crysis Warhead, has also pinned 2012 as the debut year for its next in-house engine and follow-up to last year's impressive CryEngine2.

Regardless of timing, we're pleased to see that not everybody thinks the current cavalcade of consoles is our last.

Crytek predicts 'next-gen' consoles will arrive in 2011 / 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next-gen.biz to become Edge Magazine Online

Kyle Orland — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:26:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Hacks, Business

GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that Future's news portal Next-Gen.biz will be re-branded as the online version of the prestigious British magazine Edge on Monday, just in time for E3. There's no word on whether the change will affect the site's editorial focus, but Future spokesman Will Guyatt told GI.biz that the newly branded site will "do what Edge has done for year's in print, but online." Great news for those of us who love the magazine's thoughtful content but don't want to shell out the big bucks to import a subscription.

Next-Gen has been reprinting selected Edge magazine articles online since last May, and the magazine's previous web address currently redirects to Next-Gen's site. The move represents the re-death of the Next Generation brand, which was originally put out to pasture with the closing of the well-respected American magazine in 2001. On the plus side, when someone says "next-gen" from now on, we won't have to parse whether they mean the adjective or the web site. That was getting confusing!

Next-gen.biz to become Edge Magazine Online originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Infinity Ward giving Call of Duty 6 a sci-fi setting

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: First Person Shooters

Following the tremendous success of Infinity Ward's well-received Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, fans were generally disappointed to learn that the next installment in the wartime franchise would not only have a different developer, but would also be replacing their M4s with M1s, taking the series back to its World War II roots. If a recently uncovered rumor is credible, we're not entirely sure these same fans would approve of Infinity Ward's plans to throw the bullet-riddled franchise into the DeLorean, gun it to 88, and take it to where they don't need roads.

This rumor (and accompanying clumsy "Back to the Future" reference) finds its origins in a statement from an Infinity Ward insider, who mentioned the company is working on "a sci-fi title", and that further details concerning said title may or may not be made available during E3. It's extremely possible that Infinity Ward would get their hands back on the Call of Duty franchise once Treyarch has had its way with it, but would they really introduce elements of unrealism into such a history-steeped series, or could they be working on an entirely new, space marine-flavored franchise?

Rumor: Infinity Ward giving Call of Duty 6 a sci-fi setting originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony introducing monthly 'Qore' episodes to US PSN on June 5

Ludwig Kietzmann — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:20:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3

Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced an exclusive development agreement with Future US, Inc., publisher of PlayStation: The Official Magazine, to introduce Qore, "a highly interactive, monthly original program that covers the world inside PlayStation," to the PlayStation 3 on June 5. The "interactive online magazine" term that was first trademarked by Sony a few weeks ago seems to be a fitting description of the program slash show, which will provide subscribers with a monthly dose of "exclusive multimedia news, developer interviews, in-depth game previews and behind-the-scene looks at the hottest PLAYSTATION games," as well as special game demos, betas, add-ons and other interactive tidbits.

Now, you'll have noted the word, "subscribers," in the previous paragraph. The first episode of Qore will be available on the PlayStation Store for the "introductory price" of $2.99, with annual subscriptions (providing 13 episodes) costing $24.99. For a limited time, annual subscribers will also receive a free copy of David Jaffe's Calling All Cars.

Sony labels Qore as "truly interactive," stating that members will be able to access and view the content as they wish, with multiple windows, picture-in-picture and other features altering the presentation. Oh, and it's hosted by our favorite high school detective and vampire slayer, Veronica Belmont. See for yourself in a preview video after the break.

The first episode of Qore will feature "exclusive and never-before released content" on several upcoming PS3 games, including SOCOM:US. Navy SEALs Confrontation, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Secret Agent Clank, Soul Calibur 4 and Afro Samurai. It will also include a SOCOM: Confrontation theme, art galleries and an invitation to the shooter's upcoming beta.

Update: A SCEE rep has told PS3 Fanboy that Qore "is an SCEA only initiative at this time."

Continue reading Sony introducing monthly 'Qore' episodes to US PSN on June 5

Sony introducing monthly 'Qore' episodes to US PSN on June 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analysts predict console war outcome, fanboys riot in streets

Scott Jon Siegel — Fri, 30 May 2008 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

Over at GameDaily, analyst group DFC Intelligence has made a few observations regarding recent trends in the video game industry, and has a prediction for the result of the current-generation "console wars." According to DFC, the Nintendo Wii will ultimately secure its first place position, with the PS3 overtaking the Xbox 360 in 2009 for a strong second-place showing.

In terms of longevity, DFC believes that by 2012 the Playstation 3 will surpass the Wii in terms of software sales (no doubt assuming a staying power similar to the console's little brother, the PS2). They also predict that the slowed economy in North America will actually benefit video game sales, as high gas prices encourage consumers to stay home and play games, rather than going out. Several other interesting tidbits and predictions can be found in their full report.

Analysts predict console war outcome, fanboys riot in streets originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 May 2008 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red Rant discusses the future of the PS3 with PS3 Fanboy

Jem Alexander — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

Remember the ThreeSpeech podcast debacle? That was these guys. They've managed to remain mostly uncontroversial since then and have continued to release regular podcasts. This week they discuss the future of the PS3 and their current likes and dislikes within the game library. Not only that, but they've got a special guest host -- our own Jem Alexander. So if you've been lamenting his absence from the PlayStation Nation podcast (we're working on it) then be sure to give it a listen. Check out their large back catalogue for more episodes related to all things gaming and Apple.

Talking about oneself in the third person is a bit creepy.

Red Rant discusses the future of the PS3 with PS3 Fanboy originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 May 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Promotional Consideration: Advertising with Power, revisited

Eric Caoili — Sun, 11 May 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Promotional Consideration

If you recall, back in November, we put up a short piece on the increasing number of ads in Nintendo Power after the magazine was handed over to Future US, the same publisher behind the official Xbox and PlayStation magazines.

Chris Slate, Nintendo Power's new editor in chief, explained the ad-bloated issues: "Love or hate the ads, their number should go down significantly over the next couple of issues as we move away from the busy holiday selling season. We saw a huge upswing in ad pages last month because more games than ever are being released right now for the red-hot Wii and DS. However, new titles will slow down midway through December, and the ads will follow suit."

So, now that we've put a few months in between us and December, has the magazine kept its promise, scaling back the number of ads in favor of delivering more news, reviews, and previews? Jump past the post break for the breakdown.

Continue reading Promotional Consideration: Advertising with Power, revisited

Promotional Consideration: Advertising with Power, revisited originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentagon project to put game-like display on contact lenses

Kyle Orland — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hacks, Simulations, Fashion

Using contact lenses to simply change your eye color is so passé. Using contact lenses to augment reality is where it's at. At least it is for the Pentagon, which has put out a request for information on a system to display data "not unlike information provided to players of first-person, shooter-type video games" directly on the surface of the human eye. Sounds kind of like those TV display glasses you hear about sometimes, except, y'know, actually cool.

The technology is a little out there, but it's not a total pipe dream. Researchers at the University of Washington are already working on a nano-scale prototype, and the Pentagon wants actual results out the project in three to five years. The means the technology could trickle down into the consumer market in about ten to fifteen years, just in time to be integrated into the Sony PlayStation 5 and the MicroTendo HyperBox 1080. We can't wait!

[Via Wired]

Pentagon project to put game-like display on contact lenses originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Departing Midway CEO bullish on company outlook

Kyle Orland — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: Business

Having to fire a CEO is never a good sign for a company, especially when that company has recently seen massive losses and a board restructuring. But there's still one person willing to defend Midway's business strategy, and that person is, surprisingly enough, departing CEO David Zucker.

To be fair, Zucker was interviewed before his replacement by an interim CEO yesterday, but if he saw the writing on the wall he didn't let it show. "We expect to significantly grow our revenues in 2008," Zucker told GamesIndustry.biz last week, adding that naysayers have been predicting the company's demise for "for five years or so." Zucker emphasized that a combination of investment in new technology and established franchises like Mortal Kombat and NFL Blitz will provide the company's saving grace. That might well be true, but any turnaround will unfortunately come too late to be the saving grace for Mr. Zucker.

Departing Midway CEO bullish on company outlook originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mexican game industry worth $1B by 2010

Kyle Orland — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

Mexico is often treated as the neglected stepchild of the North American video game market, trying its best to garner the attention of publishers while the U.S. and Canada get showered with releases just for existing. That situation might not last for long, though, as the analysts at Research and Markets say the Mexican video game business could be worth over $1 billion by the end of the decade.

Of course they have good reason to talk up the Mexican sector, as they're trying to sell a new, expensive report about it. But they make a good argument that an aging population of Mexican "young, unmarried gamers, or YUGS" could drive growth. In short, Mexican youths are getting married older and older on average, meaning they live with their parents longer and have more disposable income to use on games -- what the report calls "a decade of cash-flush YUGGIES of prime gaming age." Just what we need ... another country full of socially reclusive gamers living in their parents' basements.

Report: Mexican game industry worth $1B by 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today's most Microsoft Surface-y video: Firefly demo

Kyle Orland — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: PC

It's been a while since we first speculated on the gaming potential of Microsoft's Surface multi-touch tabletop computer -- long enough, in fact, that that potential has now become somewhat more actual. Sarcastic Gamer has the video of a Carbonated Games demo for Firefly, a simple game that, appropriately enough, involves gathering fireflies into jars (sorry Whedon fans, no Reavers here).

The multi-touch abilities of the Surface are put to good use in the video -- even with three hands and up to 15 fingers pushing the little flies around, the Surface doesn't seem to miss a beat. Our favorite part, though, has to be the ability to squash opposing players bugs with your actual fingers. Try doing that with one of today's consoles. We dare ya.

Continue reading to see why the future of gaming is as bright as a squished firefly's bottom.

Continue reading Today's most Microsoft Surface-y video: Firefly demo

Today's most Microsoft Surface-y video: Firefly demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future Publishing buys share of N4G.com

Kyle Orland — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Hacks, Business

Editorial judgment? Original content? What are those? Everyone who's anyone knows the hot new thing is letting readers vote on what counts as news on sites like Digg, StumbleUpon and N4G, the last of which got a cash infusion from mega-publisher Future U.S., it was announced today.

The publishing giant behind all three official U.S. gaming magazines spent an undisclosed sum to obtain an undisclosed minority share of the site. It might be a sound investment -- according to the press release, "N4G received 3.65 million visits in January 2008, with 17.8 million page views and nearly a million unique visitors." Not bad for a site that makes its readers do all the work.

Future Publishing buys share of N4G.com originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: What's going to be great about '08?

Chris Greenhough — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

With the receding hairline of 2007 about to become the implausible comb-over of 2008, we've been pondering the future quite a lot here in the DS Fanboy dungeons. As we've already taken time out to reflect on the DS's output during the last twelve months, the next question must inevitably be: what DS-related events are you most looking forward to in 2008?

Perhaps you can't wait to sink your teeth into Final Fantasy IV, to begin barking orders in Advance Wars 2, or for a certain Professor to arrive on western shores. Then again, maybe you're just giddy about the prospect of purchasing another DS. Who knows? Well, we don't. So tell us!

DS Daily: What's going to be great about '08? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel predicts camera-powered, controller-free game system

Kyle Orland — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: Hacks, Nintendo Wii, Wireless

While waggling your Wii remote around provides a decent approximation of natural motion, Intel predicts a future where cameras will provide highly accurate motion data to a game system. "We imagine some future generation of [Nintendo's] Wii won't have hand controllers," Intel Chief Technology Officer Justin Rattner, told Business Week. "You just set up the cameras around the room and wave your hand like you're playing tennis."

It should be noted that there's nothing in the article to indicate that Rattner has any insider info on Nintendo's plans -- more than likely he was just theorizing about what he'd like to see in a future system. Still, the idea of a camera-based 3D motion-sensing setup has incredible potential for gaming. More than the simple video transposition of the Xbox Live Vision Camera or the PlayStation Eye, a multi-camera system could model your three-dimensional movements in real time, in effect placing a digital version of you in the game. The result could revolutionize the way we play games and even how they're made -- after all, why should developers use motion captured performances when the players can provide them for themselves?

Such a theoretical system would take quite a bit of processing power, though, which might explain why Intel is talking it up -- after all, they already have a chip that can perform one trillion calculations a second. The future's so bright, we're using our Wii remotes as makeshift shades.

Intel predicts camera-powered, controller-free game system originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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