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[Nintendo returning to Gamescom in 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/nintendo-returning-to-gamescom-in-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/nintendo-returning-to-gamescom-in-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/nintendo-returning-to-gamescom-in-2013/#comments Nintendo bailed on Gamescom last year in favor of its own "sampling events" throughout Europe. Nintendo will return to the world's largest video game convention for the 2013 iteration, which takes place in Cologne, Germany from August 21-25.

Other publishers attending this year include Bethesda, EA, Konami, WB, the newly gigantic Wargaming, and Deep Silver, who might suddenly have something to show (and something not to show). There's no word yet on whether Microsoft will attend, having skipped last year as well.

Continue reading Nintendo returning to Gamescom in 2013

JoystiqNintendo returning to Gamescom in 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsgamescomgamescom-2013nintendowiiwii-uWed, 20 Feb 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Seen@Gamescom: Gran Turismo 5's Audi R8 controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/23/seen-gamescom-gran-turismo-5s-audi-r8-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/23/seen-gamescom-gran-turismo-5s-audi-r8-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/23/seen-gamescom-gran-turismo-5s-audi-r8-controller/#comments SeenGamescom Gran Turismo 5's Audi R8 controllerThe city of Cologne, Germany, home to the country's annual Gamescom convention, is full of beautiful cars (proof!). During our week-long stay, I counted at least six Audi R8s in the wild. That includes this one, used to casually control a game of Gran Turismo 5 (by an underage driver, no less).

As you might imagine, a line held steady around the massive, moving Audi R8 shell. It certainly didn't hurt that the device was smack in the middle of a street fair many blocks away from Gamescom's enormous facilities on the other side of the Rhine. We can only imagine the line had it been anywhere near the hundreds of thousands of Gamescom attendees!

Continue reading Seen@Gamescom: Gran Turismo 5's Audi R8 controller

JoystiqSeen@Gamescom: Gran Turismo 5's Audi R8 controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi-r8gamescomgamescom-2012Gran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Solving the League of Legends community problem one player at a time]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/solving-the-league-of-legends-community-problem-one-player-at-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/solving-the-league-of-legends-community-problem-one-player-at-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/solving-the-league-of-legends-community-problem-one-player-at-a/#comments Riot's Travis George on solving League of Legends' community problem one player at a timeAs any of its millions of players will tell you, League of Legends is a fun game. Those same players will likely also tell you that the game has a tremendously steep learning curve. With more than 100 playable champions, a dizzying array of items and demanding gameplay, getting to know the ropes is no easy feat. Speaking with senior producer Travis George at Gamescom, I asked how developer Riot Games was going to address the issue of easing players into League of Legends.

The game already features bot training and a spectator mode, but what other systems could Riot implement to acclimate new players? His answer surprised me: The problem isn't the learning curve, it's the community.

Gallery: League of Legends (Gamescom 2012)

Continue reading Solving the League of Legends community problem one player at a time

JoystiqSolving the League of Legends community problem one player at a time originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescomgamescom-2012league-of-legendspcriot-gamestravis-georgeWed, 22 Aug 2012 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Co-opinion: XCOM: Enemy Unknown multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/20/co-opinion-xcom-enemy-unknown-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/20/co-opinion-xcom-enemy-unknown-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/20/co-opinion-xcom-enemy-unknown-multiplayer/#comments Coopinion XCOM Enemy Unknown multiplayer
Richard Mitchell: So Alexander and I got a chance to try out the XCOM: Enemy Unknown multiplayer mode at Gamescom. Both of us played single-player before, so we had some idea of what we were getting into - but multiplayer is an entirely different beast. Using a pool of points, players "purchase" the units that will comprise their team: XCOM soldiers, aliens, or a mix of both. The standard match has a pool of 10,000 points and a turn time of 90 seconds. For this press demo, we had a whopping 20,000 points and 120 seconds. It sounds like a lot of time, but it wasn't - more on that in a bit.

What units did you pick? (Keep in mind, folks, I had no idea what I was going to face on the field, and neither did Alexander.)
Alexander Sliwinski: I believe in the power of humanity! Actually, no, it's mostly that I'd never played an XCOM game prior to the E3 demo, and I had no idea about each race's powers. So, I went with three human soldiers, two Thin Men and then spent a massive 7,300 points on an assault gunner with an alloy cannon. I figured I'd wipe out any alien scum you threw at me.

Gallery: XCOM: Enemy Unknown (8/18/2012)

Continue reading Co-opinion: XCOM: Enemy Unknown multiplayer

JoystiqCo-opinion: XCOM: Enemy Unknown multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k2k-gamesco-opco-opinionfiraxisfiraxis-gamesgamescomgamescom-2012microsoftmultiplayerpcplaystationps3take-twotake-two-interactivexboxxcom-enemy-unknownMon, 20 Aug 2012 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Spector still wants Epic Mickey HD, needs your help]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/spector-still-wants-epic-mickey-hd-needs-your-help/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/spector-still-wants-epic-mickey-hd-needs-your-help/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/spector-still-wants-epic-mickey-hd-needs-your-help/#comments Warren Spector, long-term industry survivor and creative director of Disney's Junction Point Studios, still wants to do a high definition version of Wii-exclusive Epic Mickey for other consoles.

"It's been about four or five days since I've asked to get that project greenlit. It's not my call to make. I can't even tell you how much I want to see the first game with all the enhancements and improvements we've made on Xbox 360 and PS3," Spector told us today at Gamescom. "Just have all of your readers send emails to Disney corporation and say: 'Warren should make this game.'"

Spector told us there are two things he very much wants: "I want to make a duck game and I want to see Epic Mickey on next-gen platforms."

But this is Warren Spector we're talking about. Can't he just wave a magical paintbrush and make his dreams come true? He may not have his duck game, but he's got his duck comic.

"There's only so much clout," he admitted. "When you're talking about the kind of money games cost now, there's only so much you can do."

Well, what we can do is just slide the Disney Twitter over to you fine folks reading and you can decide whether to let them know if you want Epic Mickey on HD consoles.

JoystiqSpector still wants Epic Mickey HD, needs your help originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Epic-MickeyEpic-Mickey-2gamescomgamescom-2012junction-pointjunction-point-studiosmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3warren-spectorwiixboxFri, 17 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed into a new trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/sonic-and-all-stars-racing-transformed-into-a-new-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/sonic-and-all-stars-racing-transformed-into-a-new-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/sonic-and-all-stars-racing-transformed-into-a-new-trailer/#comments Sonic All Stars Karting whatever Gamescom trailer screens
All the way from Cologne, Germany, where Gamescom is taking place this week, here's the newest trailer for Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed, the upcoming kart (and boat and plane) racing game featuring the famous blue hedgehog and his crowd. Oh, and Wreck-It Ralph! And Danica Patrick, too.

The racing looks awfully colorful, which should make Sonic and Sega fans very happy indeed. As the trailer says, the game's due to arrive on November 20. There are a few new screenshots for you to browse through as well; just take a left turn into the gallery below.

Gallery: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Gamescom 2012)

JoystiqSonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed into a new trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsboatsgallerygamescomgamescom-2012microsoftnintendoplanesplaystationps3racingsegasonicsonic-and-allstars-racing-transformedtrailervideowreck-it-ralphxboxThu, 16 Aug 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Spun (God is a DJ)' and Remember Me's memory remixing are cut from the same creative cloth]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/spun-god-is-a-dj-and-remember-mes-memory-remixing-are-cut-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/spun-god-is-a-dj-and-remember-mes-memory-remixing-are-cut-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/spun-god-is-a-dj-and-remember-mes-memory-remixing-are-cut-f/#comments 'Spun God is a DJ' and Remember Me's memory remixing are cut from the same creative cloth
When I first saw Remember Me's "memory remix" sequence play out during Capcom's press conference at Gamescom, my first thought was another Capcom game: Ghost Trick. Creative lead Jean-Maxime Moris agreed that Ghost Trick is a fair comparison, but he denied that that was where Dontnod drew inspiration from when crafting its memory remixing. In fact, Remember Me's memory remixing was "already in place" when Ghost Trick launched in early 2011.

"We tried it, and we played it, and I liked it very much," Moris says. "The main difference is that we are carrying realistic narrative states in the memory remix, and there will be key revelations about the storyline within the memory remix, or in the way things are gonna pan out before and after the remix ... that's very different, 'cause Ghost Trick was very gamey. And I don't mean that in a negative way at all, but it didn't try to achieve what we're trying to achieve in terms of scenario."

Rather than Ghost Trick, Dontnod took inspiration from another source entirely: 2007's YouTube short by Double Edge Films, "Spun (God is a DJ)."

"Have you seen the short movie on YouTube, 'Spun (God is a DJ)'?" Moris asked me. I hadn't, but, watching it this morning, it was easy to see the inspiration shine through. "In the beginning, it was a massive inspiration for us, and one of the first things I did when I started to design the game was to go back to that and say, 'Well, this is the feeling we want to achieve. And how do we do that in the game?'" Moris admitted that Dontnod failed "two or three times" before the studio figured out the current version. "I'm confident we found the right way," he added.

In case you haven't seen the short, it's a clever riff on a DJified deity remixing the world around him, slightly altering events to create alternative outcomes (take a look above). In Remember Me, the game's protagonist Nilin commands that same deity-like power over others, remixing memories to elicit outcomes of her choosing (seen in a video after the break).

Like in "Spun," Nilin must first identify the "glitches" in her target's memory that allow for tweaking before she can begin altering the future. "One thing you didn't see in the video yesterday is that she first needs to identify where she's gonna be able to interact. And then, she can try out various combinations of objects," Moris said.

"Spun" mirrors this concept, where the all powerful DJ must first see what his remixing effects have on the world before he can correctly re-engineer the scenario. The only difference in the case of "Spun" is that the DJ, unlike Nilin, isn't trying to get someone to kill themselves.

Gallery: Remember Me

Continue reading 'Spun (God is a DJ)' and Remember Me's memory remixing are cut from the same creative cloth

Joystiq'Spun (God is a DJ)' and Remember Me's memory remixing are cut from the same creative cloth originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adriftcapcomdontnoddontnod-entertainmentdouble-edge-filmsgamescomgamescom-2012ghost-trickjean-maxime-morismicrosoftpcplaystationps3remember-mespunspun-god-is-a-djxboxThu, 16 Aug 2012 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft Gamescom media megapost: Rayman Legends, ZombiU, and more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/ubisoft-gamescom-media-megapost-rayman-legends-zombiu-and-mor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/ubisoft-gamescom-media-megapost-rayman-legends-zombiu-and-mor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/ubisoft-gamescom-media-megapost-rayman-legends-zombiu-and-mor/#comments Ubisoft Gamescom media megapost Rayman Legends, ZombiU, and moreJust in case you didn't get to see the Ubisoft press conference while it was streaming, don't worry. We saved all of the pictures and videos from the games they had on display, and have combined them all into this one easy-to-carry blog post for your viewing pleasure.

It took a while to figure out a way to pack all of these games into the same place, but below, you'll find new screenshots from the gorgeous Rayman Legends, videos from Ghost Recon Online and the two upcoming Might and Magic titles, and more media from upcoming titles like Avengers: Battle For Earth and the upcoming ZombiU. How convenient!

Continue reading Ubisoft Gamescom media megapost: Rayman Legends, ZombiU, and more

JoystiqUbisoft Gamescom media megapost: Rayman Legends, ZombiU, and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avengers-battle-for-earthgallerygamescomgamescom-2012gamescom2012ghost-recon-onlinemicrosoftmight-and-magic-heroesmight-and-magic-heroes-onlinenintendoplaystationps3rayman-legendsubisoftvideoswii-uxboxyour-shape-fitness-evolved-2013Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The wonderful mistakes of Far Cry 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/the-wonderful-mistakes-of-far-cry-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/the-wonderful-mistakes-of-far-cry-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/the-wonderful-mistakes-of-far-cry-3/#comments As our own Ludwig Kietzmann once wrote, Ubisoft's Far Cry 2 is at its best when your best laid plans go catastrophically wrong - when craftily assassinating a single target goes haywire and becomes a blood-soaked, bullet-ridden assault on an entire army. While I was only able to experience a tiny slice of the Far Cry 3 single-player campaign, I can happily report, at the very least, that things can definitely still go wrong.

Gallery: Far Cry 3

Continue reading The wonderful mistakes of Far Cry 3

JoystiqThe wonderful mistakes of Far Cry 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>far-cry-3gamescomgamescom-2012microsoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 15 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Remember Me's unforgotten past with Sony is just water under the bridge]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/remember-mes-unforgotten-past-with-sony-is-just-water-under-the/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/remember-mes-unforgotten-past-with-sony-is-just-water-under-the/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/remember-mes-unforgotten-past-with-sony-is-just-water-under-the/#comments Remember Me owned by Capcom, viewed as a franchiseDontnod and Capcom's collaboration on Remember Me is a relatively recent occurrence. The two came together in the last year, following a falling out between Dontnod and Sony in February 2011. Remember Me (formerly Adrift) was originally headed exclusively to Sony's consoles, it seems, given a publishing arrangement that the two companies worked out in February 2010.

"The Sony deal was signed February 2010 and ended a year later. We were totally independent, and had no publisher, but we were looking for one," Dontnod creative lead Jean-Maxime Moris told Joystiq in an interview this morning. So, what went wrong?

"I won't go into too many details, but basically they cancelled a bunch of projects, and we were just one of them," Moris said. "It felt bad at the time. And now, in retrospect, it's just one step toward where we are now."

Moris added that he's "very happy" to be working with Capcom today, and that Remember Me is a good fit for "the Capcom DNA." And as for what went down with Sony? "It's just the way things went."

Gallery: Remember Me

JoystiqRemember Me's unforgotten past with Sony is just water under the bridge originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adriftcapcomdontnoddontnod-entertainmentgamescomgamescom-2012jean-maxime-morismicrosoftpcplaystationps3remember-mesonysony-computer-entertainmentxboxWed, 15 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Claptrap Photobomb App available on Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/claptrap-photobomb-app-available-on-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/claptrap-photobomb-app-available-on-facebook/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/claptrap-photobomb-app-available-on-facebook/#comments ImageWe all know Claptraps like to dance. It is known, Khaleesi. So, when a bunch of the robots showed up at the club across the street from our hotel during Gamescom, we couldn't help but snap a pic. For those who aren't so lucky, there is now an app available on the the Facebooks that will do such a thing for you.

2K Games has put out the Claptrap Photobomb App on Facebook. It allows one to put Borderlands' mouthy robot into any photo - the app can also take immediate webcam pics. Uploading the photo to 2K will enter budding photojournalists into a contest to win an "ultimate loot chest," but the contest is available to US residents only. Shame we can't submit ours then.

JoystiqClaptrap Photobomb App available on Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>borderlands-2claptrapgamescomGamescom-2012gearboxgearbox-softwaremicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxWed, 15 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ lead wants game on consoles, 'having meetings' about it at Gamescom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/dayz-lead-wants-game-on-consoles-having-meetings-about-it-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/dayz-lead-wants-game-on-consoles-having-meetings-about-it-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/dayz-lead-wants-game-on-consoles-having-meetings-about-it-at/#comments Day Z becoming official projectDayZ project lead Dean Hall "really hopes" the game is successful enough to justify a console version. Speaking to us today at Gamescom, the developer, who has been thrust into the spotlight thanks to the incredibly successful Arma2 mod, told us the only stumbling block is DayZ needs to be successful enough to justify a console version.

"You're not going to put it on the consoles if you're only going to sell 100,000 units or something like that," he said. "DayZ will be driven by its PC development and it will innovative on that. And, once we're at a point, we'll take it and do a Mac version, 360 and PS3."

Asked if he's met with any of the console developers, he immediately chimed back, "We're meeting with them here."

DayZ's publisher, Bohemia Interactive, does have a console background, and Hall has been a producer on console games in the past and knows "the pitfalls and horror that's involved with it."

JoystiqDayZ lead wants game on consoles, 'having meetings' about it at Gamescom originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemia-interactiveday-zDayZDean-HallGamescomgamescom-2012Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Remember Me isn't Adrift anymore]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/why-remember-me-isnt-adrift-anymore/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/why-remember-me-isnt-adrift-anymore/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/why-remember-me-isnt-adrift-anymore/#comments Why Remember Me isn't Adrift anymoreAs of just "three or four months ago," Capcom and Dontnod's "Adrift" - first revealed during 2011's Gamescom Expo - wasn't yet named "Remember Me." Beyond "Adrift" being a code name, there's more to what precipitated the name change - a tonal shift for the game, for instance. "At the very beginning, memory wasn't even involved. We wanted to have a game of politics, economy, environment going 'adrift,'" Dontnod creative lead Jean-Maxime Moris told us in an interview this morning.

"And then, when we started the technology aspect of it, we decided to focus on social networks, and explore the memory theme," Moris added. As such, the name "Adrift" no longer fit into Dontnod's vision for the project - though we'd argue that it's still a pretty boss name, and certainly more interesting than "Remember Me."

Given the approximately four years of development Remember Me has thus far been lavished with, why change the name so late in the project? "Thinking of bringing the game to market, it wasn't a good fit anymore," Moris said. It also wasn't just up to Dontnod. "The proposal actually came from Capcom," Moris said. "We found it really together with Capcom."

Moris added that Remember Me fits as a name, "because it's personal, and that's what I really wanted for the game ... I want people to see our game as more about intimacy than about just hyper powers and enhancements." He's certainly not joking about that last claim - Moris took to Capcom's Gamescom press conference stage yesterday to relate a story of his first date with his girlfriend, where he tied the perception of that experience to the themes explored in Remember Me. He felt he was a failure during the date, and he wondered how things would've played out had he only done a few things differently. Thankfully for Moris, his lady friend saw things differently.

Dontnod and Capcom's Remember Me launches in May 2013 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

JoystiqWhy Remember Me isn't Adrift anymore originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adriftcapcomdontnoddontnod-entertainmentgamescomgamescom-2012jean-maxime-morisremember-meWed, 15 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Island's lifeblood was co-op, 4 million units shipped]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/dead-islands-lifeblood-was-co-op-4-million-units-shipped/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/dead-islands-lifeblood-was-co-op-4-million-units-shipped/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/dead-islands-lifeblood-was-co-op-4-million-units-shipped/#comments Dead Island's success was all due to that stunning trailer, right? Well, according to Guido Eickmeyer, development director and executive producer of games at publisher Deep Silver, the resort-vacation zombie simulator sold 4 million units because of its cooperative gameplay.

"This is why we got all the good reviews from users. This is why we got high user ratings, because it is the most exciting co-op experience that is on the market," Eickmeyer said.

Despite investing less than $25 million dollars in the project - low for a major triple-A video game - Dead Island has been played for 56,907,547 hours in co-op, which is approximately 6,500 years total.

After the success of the trailer, there were talks of forming the game around that, but there simply weren't the resources. Dead Island showed strong potential in its co-op, so the focus shifted to that and that game was a huge hit. Dead Island: Riptide is another "huge co-op experience" being revealed this week at Gamescom.

JoystiqDead Island's lifeblood was co-op, 4 million units shipped originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-islandDeep-silvergamescomgamescom-2012gdc-2012gdc-europe-2012microsoftpcplaystationps3techlandxboxTue, 14 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Half-Life 3' pops up on Gamescom product listing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/half-life-3-pops-up-on-gamescom-product-listing/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/half-life-3-pops-up-on-gamescom-product-listing/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/14/half-life-3-pops-up-on-gamescom-product-listing/#comments 'HalfLife 3' pops up on Gamescom product listingIs Valve showing Half-Life 3 at Gamescom 2012? One product list from the event's official page certainly thinks so, but ... well, come on now. We've been hearing about (or, rather, not hearing about) Half-Life 3 in some form or another for a few years now, all the while Valve Software stayed silent. As it stands, we're not sure what to make of this, but its place on an official product list from the gigantic gaming convention we're at makes it pretty hard to ignore.

Has the official Gamescom site been hacked, and a fake PDF uploaded? We sure hope not, but boy are we wary of anything Half-Life 3.

Also of note, Dragon Age 3 appears on the list, as do lots of other (known) titles. We've reached out to both Valve and the Gamescom folks to see what's up, and we'll let you know as soon as we hear more.

Update: Valve's VP of marketing Doug Lombardi told Lambda Generation in July, "We will have the Steam team there to meet with developers and publishers. No game showing planned." Sorry, folks! We'll be sure to take a look around Valve's booth as soon as Gamescom opens officially tomorrow.

Update 2: Gamescom organizers characterized the listings for both Half-Life 3 and Dragon Age 3 as "a mistake," but wouldn't explain to Eurogamer why the listings appeared. The plot thickens!

Update 3: Valve rep Doug Lombardi reconfirmed with us that, "We are not showing any games in Cologne this year." Welp, that's that, folks. Unless it's not, of course.

Update 4: Gamescom's organizers tell us, "We can not officially announce it. Please check our list for further changes. Please see the legend for information about the sources."

[Thanks Roelosaurus]

Joystiq'Half-Life 3' pops up on Gamescom product listing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescomgamescom-2012gdc-europe-2012half-life-3valvevalve-softwareTue, 14 Aug 2012 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefall tournament to be held at Gamescom, sponsored by ESL]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/firefall-tournament-to-be-held-at-gamescom-sponsored-by-esl/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/firefall-tournament-to-be-held-at-gamescom-sponsored-by-esl/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/firefall-tournament-to-be-held-at-gamescom-sponsored-by-esl/#comments Firefall tournament to be held at Gamescom, sponsored by ESLRed 5 Studios will be holding a Firefall beta tournament at Gamescom next week, so if you're in the neighborhood you could jump in and play in the ESL-sponsored tournament for a total of £10,000 in winnings.

Qualifying matches will be held on Thursday and Friday, August 16 and 17, after which semi-finals and finals will be held on Saturday with a final 5v5 Team Deathmatch. Players will be able to register on Red 5's own website, so stay tuned for that.

Red 5 just recently hit 500,000 registered beta users, so it can't be long now until we see an open beta and a full public release for the long-awaited free-to-play shooter.

JoystiqFirefall tournament to be held at Gamescom, sponsored by ESL originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaelectronic-sports-leagueeslfirefallfree-to-playgamescompcred-5-studiostournamentTue, 07 Aug 2012 05:45:00 EST<![CDATA[StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, WoW: Mists of Pandaria playable at Gamescom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/30/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-wow-mists-of-pandaria-playable/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/30/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-wow-mists-of-pandaria-playable/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/30/starcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarm-wow-mists-of-pandaria-playable/#comments Blizzard will attend Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, and bring its latest wares to the show. From August 15 to 19, Blizzard will showcase new content for Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft.

Attendees will be able to sample the new Terran, Zerg and Protoss units coming to multiplayer in StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, which is slated to launch sometime this year. Blizzard will also give patrons a chance to check out the starting zone in Mists of Pandaria, the fourth expansion for World of Warcraft.

Finally, Blizzard will have Diablo 3 available to play, but you're probably doing that now anyway.

Continue reading StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, WoW: Mists of Pandaria playable at Gamescom

JoystiqStarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, WoW: Mists of Pandaria playable at Gamescom originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jun 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddiablo-3gamescomgamescom-2012mists-of-pandariapcstarcraft-2-heart-of-the-swarmworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandariaSat, 30 Jun 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Castlevania: LoS sequel publicly playable at Gamescom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/metal-gear-rising-revengeance-castlevania-los-sequel-publicly/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/metal-gear-rising-revengeance-castlevania-los-sequel-publicly/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/metal-gear-rising-revengeance-castlevania-los-sequel-publicly/#comments Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, PES, Castlevania LoS sequel playable to public at GamescomKonami is bringing some treats to Germany's Gamescom this August, whipping up playable versions of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance for attendees. The company will also have a studio on the show floor, where it will broadcast news, interviews and other content; all available through various social media networks.

Gamescom will be the first time the public has the chance to cut up the competition in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, which will be avaiable "in the beginning of 2013" for Xbox 360 and PS3. This fall's 3DS game, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, which takes place 25 years after the events of the console Lords of Shadow, will also be available in a "playable version".

There's also a soccer game called PES 2013. You know, if Europeans would be into such a thing.

Continue reading Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Castlevania: LoS sequel publicly playable at Gamescom

JoystiqMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Castlevania: LoS sequel publicly playable at Gamescom originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscastlevania-lords-of-shadowcastlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fategamescomgamescom-2012kojima-productionsKonamimercury-steammetal-gear-rising-revengeancemetal-gear-solid-risingmicrosoftnintendoPES-2013playstationps3xboxThu, 28 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft skipping Tokyo Game Show and Gamescom to focus on 'smaller, more localized promotions']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/microsoft-skipping-tokyo-game-show-and-gamescom-to-focus-on-sma/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/microsoft-skipping-tokyo-game-show-and-gamescom-to-focus-on-sma/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/microsoft-skipping-tokyo-game-show-and-gamescom-to-focus-on-sma/#comments Microsoft's scaling back its three-fold approach to annual gaming conventions, today announcing that it'll skip both Germany's Gamescom in August and Japan's Tokyo Game Show in September. "This year, Xbox will be focusing on smaller, more localized promotions and experiences for press, partners, retailers and customers around the world," Microsoft director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb said on his blog this morning.

As a result of that "smaller, more localized" marketing focus, Microsoft's wares "won't be taking part in Gamescom or Tokyo Games Show this year." Hryb noted that "both are still important shows for the industry, and we do wish the organizers well." Microsoft is the second of the big three console manufacturers to bow out of Gamescom, with Nintendo announcing as much earlier this year. Microsoft also attended its last Consumer Electronics Show this past January, signaling to many that the company was turning to Apple-style one-off press events.

The Kirkland, Washington-based publisher showed off Halo 4 and "Smart Glass" as major components of its E3 2012 press conference. The company is apparently confident enough in its already announced holiday lineup to skip the largest public game show on the planet.

JoystiqMicrosoft skipping Tokyo Game Show and Gamescom to focus on 'smaller, more localized promotions' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescomgamescom-2012kinectlarry-hrybmajor-nelsonmicrosofttgstgs-2012tokyo-game-showtokyo-game-show-2012xboxThu, 14 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[No Call of Duty XP event planned for 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/no-call-of-duty-xp-event-planned-for-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/no-call-of-duty-xp-event-planned-for-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/08/no-call-of-duty-xp-event-planned-for-2012/#comments The Call of Duty franchise won't get its own dedicated expo in 2012, Activision confirmed to Joystiq. Last year's Call of Duty XP event was used to celebrate the franchise's huge fan base, while also setting the stage for Activision to reveal the Call of Duty Elite service.

Rather than hold the event, an Activision representative said that the company's plan is to put more of an emphasis on Cologne, Germany's Gamescom event this August. Activision didn't rule out the possibility of Call of Duty XP returning in the future.

Last year's event was the public, hands-on debut of Modern Warfare 3 from Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games. Proceeds from tickets sold to the event went to Activision's Call of Duty Endowment charity.

JoystiqNo Call of Duty XP event planned for 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-black-ops-2call-of-duty-xpe3-2012gamescomgamescom-2012multiplayertreyarchtreyarch-studiosFri, 08 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega also skipping Gamescom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/sega-also-skipping-gamescom/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/sega-also-skipping-gamescom/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/sega-also-skipping-gamescom/#comments Sega has decided to opt out of this year's Gamescom trade show, joining the likes of Nintendo and THQ as a proud member of the "Eh, Maybe Next Year" Club. Essentially, having a presence at a show in August (even if it is the largest gaming show in the entire world) just doesn't jive well enough with Sega's 2012 release calendar:

"Unfortunately the release timing of our 2012 AAA titles and new projects don't work with the mid- August scheduling of the show," reads a statement made by Sega to GamesIndustry. "The decision will not mean that Sega will never attend Gamescom in the future, this was simply a commercial decision made for 2012." Maybe the German market for interactive gaming toilets isn't as booming as originally thought?

JoystiqSega also skipping Gamescom originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gamescomgamescom-2012SegatoiletsSat, 12 May 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ won't have Gamescom booth either]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/thq-wont-have-gamescom-booth-either/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/thq-wont-have-gamescom-booth-either/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/thq-wont-have-gamescom-booth-either/#comments ImageTHQ won't have a booth at Gamescom, the world's largest gaming show this August in Germany, but it may have a minimal presence. As GamesIndustry reports, the situation could be similar to THQ's presence at E3. The publisher plans to have meetings in the expo's conference rooms, but no presence on the show floor. A THQ representative tells GamesIndustry International that "the team is still discussing options" for Gamescom.

THQ's Darksiders 2 was recently delayed until August. Gamescom is easily the largest video game consumer and trade show in the world, welcoming 275,000 visitors in 2011. THQ is currently going through some serious financial difficulties.

[wavebreaklimited via Shutterstock]

JoystiqTHQ won't have Gamescom booth either originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GamescomTHQSat, 12 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo not attending Gamescom 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/nintendo-not-attending-gamescom-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/nintendo-not-attending-gamescom-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/nintendo-not-attending-gamescom-2012/#comments
Nintendo Germany will not be attending the Gamescom convention in Cologne this summer, reports VG247. Instead of attending the massive event, Nintendo will be hosting "a number of sampling events throughout Germany" allowing fans to try out the Wii, 3DS and, of course, the upcoming Wii U.

Nintendo's absence is notable for a couple of reasons. First, the company always attends the convention. Second, skipping the largest games convention on the planet seems like a strange choice, especially given that Nintendo is releasing a brand new console later this year. Gamescom 2011 drew in 275,000 attendees from around the globe. That's a lot of hearts and minds that could be swayed with a little hands-on Wii U time. To put that in perspective, see the video above? That was Gamescom 2011. Now imagine all those people not playing a Wii U.

Nintendo's statement regarding the matter - which sheds no light on the company's reasoning - can be found after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo not attending Gamescom 2012

JoystiqNintendo not attending Gamescom 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsgamescomgamescom-2012nintendowiiwii-uThu, 12 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamescom selling Saturday tickets in advance to avoid shutdown repeat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/gamescom-selling-saturday-tickets-in-advance-to-avoid-shutdown-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/gamescom-selling-saturday-tickets-in-advance-to-avoid-shutdown-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/gamescom-selling-saturday-tickets-in-advance-to-avoid-shutdown-r/#comments
Gamescom, the largest gaming convention on the planet, which welcomed 275,000 attendees in 2011 to Cologne, Germany, will pre-sell tickets to avoid last year's shutdown drama. The Koelnmesse will only sell tickets for Saturday online this year, with no tickets available at the door for that day.

This is how it'll work: interested attendees need to register on the Gamescom website by March 17. In April, registered subscribers will receive an email with a code to purchase tickets early. The code will grant access to the Saturday tickets and tickets for any other public days ahead of the general public.

"The exclusive advance sales option will assist in better predicting visitor numbers and with other measures will help us optimize the admission situation especially on Saturday," said Gamescom project manager Tim Endres.

Last year's show got dangerously uncomfortable, as event organizers closed off entrances to the facility "temporarily" when the Koelnmesse hit its capacity of 62,000 people. Lines outside the complex were even worse, as ticket holders couldn't enter and crowds began amassing outside. These advance ticket sales are clearly a response to last year and will hopefully keep everyone safe.

Continue reading Gamescom selling Saturday tickets in advance to avoid shutdown repeat

JoystiqGamescom selling Saturday tickets in advance to avoid shutdown repeat originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GamescomGamescom-2012Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Resistance: Burning Skies preview: One axe, two sticks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/resistance-burning-skies-preview-one-axe-two-sticks/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/resistance-burning-skies-preview-one-axe-two-sticks/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/resistance-burning-skies-preview-one-axe-two-sticks/#comments Resistance: Burning Skies protagonist Tom Riley is having a rough day. He awakes at Ellis Island to find himself alone in a stretcher, an IV still embedded in his forearm, while a massive alien attack wages on all around him. Other than his handy fire axe and helmet, Riley's ill-equipped to take on enemies, nonetheless a swarm of Chimera who are hellbent on recovering their stolen technology from the human resistance.

But this is a game, after all, so I pilot Tom towards the nearest exit -- a planked up doorway which looks ripe for the axing. Success! I couldn't help but notice in my exploration of Resistance: Burning Skies' opening room that the game looks much improved over the series' previous portable spinoff on PSP. Textures are more detailed, colors are more varied, and environmental effects actually exist. While the game is certainly early (Chimeran faces resemble little more than goofy flat paper masks at the moment), it showed a lot of promise. And maybe more importantly, it demonstrated to me that the PlayStation Vita's twin analog sticks are more than sufficient at delivering shooters on the portable.

Gallery: Resistance: Burning Skies (Gamescom 2011)

Continue reading Resistance: Burning Skies preview: One axe, two sticks

JoystiqResistance: Burning Skies preview: One axe, two sticks originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescomgamescom-2011insomniacinsomniac-gamesnihilisticnihilistic-softwareplaystationplaystation-vitaps-vitaresistance-burning-skiessonyvitaMon, 22 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A fistful of new Shinobi 3DS screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/a-fistful-of-new-shinobi-3ds-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/a-fistful-of-new-shinobi-3ds-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/a-fistful-of-new-shinobi-3ds-screens/#comments Griptonite's wall crawling, kunai hurling, shuriken throwing ninja action homage Shinobi looked pretty dang good back at E3, and these new screenshots, hot from the Gamescom oven, are making us hungry for more.

Continue reading A fistful of new Shinobi 3DS screens

JoystiqA fistful of new Shinobi 3DS screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsgamescomgamescom-2011GriptoniteGriptonite-GamesnintendoSegashinobishinobi-3dsSun, 21 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dust 514 preview: Contractual murder]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/dust-514-preview-contractual-murder/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/dust-514-preview-contractual-murder/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/dust-514-preview-contractual-murder/#comments Here's that Gamescom preview where I tell you how shocked I was about a game I didn't expect to be all about. You've been warned. Still with me? Great. Dust 514, a first-person shooter MMO cross-platform experience from CCP Games, is without a doubt the biggest surprise for me of Gamescom. At the end of a long week of previewing dozens of games, I didn't expect to be blown away by the little hyped game from the Icelandic devs at CCP, but here we are.

As promised, Dust 514 ties the bizarre, often unbelievable world of EVE Online and its reality reflecting politics into an instanced first-person shooter MMO, seamlessly combining both games into a universe ("New Eden") that's been thriving for years now on PC. But CCP did more than offer lofty promises in a preview session I attended earlier today in a private hotel suite near Gamescom -- a team of devs from various CCP offices demonstrated the madness in real-time.

Make no mistake, Dust 514 is no Huxley. It's a very real MMOFPS with very deep economics and political systems tied to EVE Online, and it's already incredibly impressive, even though it's not set to launch until next summer.

Gallery: Dust 514

Continue reading Dust 514 preview: Contractual murder

JoystiqDust 514 preview: Contractual murder originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdust-514eve-onlinegamescomgamescom-2011playstationps3Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning preview: Reckon the combat is solid]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-preview-reckon-the-combat-is-soli/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-preview-reckon-the-combat-is-soli/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning-preview-reckon-the-combat-is-soli/#comments It's hard not to be skeptical about Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. An RPG, by known strategy developer Big Huge Games, that was rejiggered to fit into Curt Schilling's 38 Studios long-in-development MMO's universe after the developer's acquisition. In our March preview of the game at GDC we said that the developer "might just pull this off." Now, after playing Reckoning at Gamescom, I have to say that Big Huge Games could exceed expectations when the game launches February 7.

During my demo with Reckoning I played as a mage and warrior, the two had distinct animations, but at their core were similar when it came to the rules of combat. Both characters I tried were level 20, so I was dropped right into a high-level character without much training. It wasn't really a problem as the combat system is quite intuitive. If you've played Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bayonetta or Fable, you'll easily pick up the fantastical warfare.

Gallery: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (7/28/11)

Continue reading Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning preview: Reckon the combat is solid

JoystiqKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning preview: Reckon the combat is solid originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbig-huge-gamesEAElectronic-Artsgamescomgamescom-2011kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxSat, 20 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's how Dust 514's microtransactions work on your PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/heres-how-dust-514s-microtransactions-work-on-your-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/heres-how-dust-514s-microtransactions-work-on-your-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/heres-how-dust-514s-microtransactions-work-on-your-ps3/#comments When Dust 514 was revealed back in 2009, its Icelandic devs at CCP also explained that it'll be microtransaction-based when it launches sometime next summer. Given that the game is now heading exclusively to Sony's PlayStation 3, I couldn't help but wonder exactly how PlayStation Network would handle microtransaction purchases in the game, not to mention what kind of price point Dust 514 would launch at given its business model.

"You effectively pay what we call a 'cover charge,' we're looking at likely around $20 for the initial download. That download gets you the game client plus a bundle of virtual currency which has the equivalent in-game value of $20. So you're basically getting that bundle of cash that you're using to start the game, and from there if you choose to play for free and just grind, you're welcome to do that. But of course we know a lot of people will convert," a CCP rep explained to me this afternoon. As of now, the plan is to release Dust 514 exclusively via the PlayStation Network.

Additionally, the player-driven marketplace so popular in CCP's other big MMO, EVE Online, will also be made available to Dust 514 folks, giving gamers a chance to build up their virtual empires without the use of their hard-earned spondulicks. "Bought currency items and non-currency items can be freely exchanged between the players," creative director Atli Mar Sveinsson added. To CCP, the free flow of the two marketplaces will keep the user base from splitting into two separate factions. "It avoids the buy/win problem that some microtransaction-based games have."

Like EVE Online, CCP expects some players to never even touch the actual first-person shooter gameplay of Dust 514, and simply spend all their time acting as virtual businesspeople. "I wouldn't be surprised if we get quite a few EVE players that join Dust but actually don't play Dust at all, they're just on the market speculating ... and they never go into a match," the rep added with a laugh. Here we go again!

Gallery: Dust 514

JoystiqHere's how Dust 514's microtransactions work on your PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdust-514eve-onlinegamescomgamescom-2011Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield 3 co-op preview: Army of one]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/battlefield-3-co-op-preview-army-of-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/battlefield-3-co-op-preview-army-of-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/battlefield-3-co-op-preview-army-of-one/#comments If EA weren't already inviting so many comparisons between the two, maybe I'd feel guilty about juxtaposing the co-op section of Battlefield 3 that I played with the co-op ("Spec Ops") section of Modern Warfare 3 I played this week at Gamescom. Like MW3, my colleague Alexander and I were given hands-on time with a specific co-op mission in BF3 -- the same one played on-stage during EA's press conference.

Unlike Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games' demo, however, Battlefield 3's co-op section didn't feature any interesting kink in the experience. Moreover, Battlefield 3's co-op section wasn't co-op at all, other than the fact that I was playing it with a buddy. It could've been ripped from any section of the campaign and I'd have been none the wiser. While the Spec Ops mission we played in MW3 was built around the concept of cooperative play, with one player acting as eye in the sky and the other as bomb defuser, the mission in Battlefield 3, well, it wasn't. It was just a campaign mission with two people.

Gallery: Battlefield 3 (Gamescom 2011)

Continue reading Battlefield 3 co-op preview: Army of one

JoystiqBattlefield 3 co-op preview: Army of one originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3co-opdiceeaea-diceelectronic-artsgamescomgamescom-2011microsoftpcplaystationps3xboxSat, 20 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster preview: A children's game for adults]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/sesame-street-once-upon-a-monster-preview-a-childrens-game-fo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/sesame-street-once-upon-a-monster-preview-a-childrens-game-fo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/sesame-street-once-upon-a-monster-preview-a-childrens-game-fo/#comments I'll let you in on a little secret about me and Double Fine's next game, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster -- I played it back at E3, but unfortunately let my preview writeup fall to the wayside as the days after the big show continued. What's more shameful is that it was essentially the best game I played at E3, so I was more than happy to check out a new area at Gamescom and get a second opportunity to speak about it. A chance for redemption, if you will.

Luckily, nothing has changed, and Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster remains a magical experience two months later.

Gallery: Sesame Street: Once upon a Monster (Gamescom 2011)

Continue reading Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster preview: A children's game for adults

JoystiqSesame Street: Once Upon a Monster preview: A children's game for adults originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>double-finedouble-fine-productionsgamescomgamescom-2011microsoftsesame-street-once-upon-a-monsterwarner-broswarner-bros-interactivewarner-bros-interactive-entertainmentwarner-brothers-interactivewbwbiexboxFri, 19 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Asura's Wrath preview: Drunken boxing on the moon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/asuras-wrath-preview-drunken-boxing-on-the-moon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/asuras-wrath-preview-drunken-boxing-on-the-moon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/asuras-wrath-preview-drunken-boxing-on-the-moon/#comments We saw Capcom's bizarre CyberConnect2-developed action game Asura's Wrath back at E3, and JC wrote up an excellent preview at the time. Walking into the Gamescom presentation of a previously unseen part of the game, I was reticent to write up yet another preview just a scant few months later, but that feeling quickly vacated my brain and was replaced with pure, unadulterated madness -- madness that I'd be remiss not to share.

If you're not already sold on Asura's Wrath, here's why you should be: you fight a dude on the moon. Oh, is that not exciting enough? Would it be better if you knew the dude you fight is a god? Oh, and he's also obsessed with battle, constantly going on about how he "lives for it" and ... pffft, whatever, Asura's not listening. He's too busy being furious and punching that dude in the face with one of his six arms.

You'll excuse my lack of tact, but I came out of the presentation grinning like a child, ready to evangelize the uniquely bizarre experience that is Asura's Wrath.

Gallery: Asura's Wrath (Gamescom 2011)

Continue reading Asura's Wrath preview: Drunken boxing on the moon

JoystiqAsura's Wrath preview: Drunken boxing on the moon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asuras-wrathcapcomcyberconnect2gamescomgamescom-2011microsoftplaystationps3xboxFri, 19 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The evolution of the 'Asura Pose']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-evolution-of-the-asura-pose/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-evolution-of-the-asura-pose/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-evolution-of-the-asura-pose/#comments Back at E3, Joystiq Features Editor JC Fletcher took the best picture ever, as seen above. Little did we know that Capcom's Kazuhiro Tsuchiya and CyberConnect2's Hiroshi Matsuyama would be so keen to show off their latest version of "The Asura Pose" this week at Gamescom after demoing Asura's Wrath. Osuuuu!

Continue reading The evolution of the 'Asura Pose'

JoystiqThe evolution of the 'Asura Pose' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asuras-wrathcapcomcyber2connectgamescomgamescom-2011Hiroshi-Matsuyamakazuhiro tsuchiyaKazuhiroTsuchiyamicrosoftplaystationps3xboxFri, 19 Aug 2011 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Escape Plan preview: More than a touch of disappointment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/escape-plan-preview-more-than-a-touch-of-disappointment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/escape-plan-preview-more-than-a-touch-of-disappointment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/escape-plan-preview-more-than-a-touch-of-disappointment/#comments [Ed. note: Fun Bits address some of our issues with controls, as you can see in this interview.]

Can I tell you how excited I was to check out Escape Plan? 'Cause I was, like, really excited. It had potential game of the show written all over it, with its black-and-white aesthetic, quirky main characters, and bold showcasing of the PlayStation Vita's many control inputs. And after sitting through a presentation at Gamescom, I was promised hands-on the next day. Ooh, goody!

My excitement, however, was immediately rattled after putting just one finger on the game. I was trying to wake up Lil, the thinner of the game's main two characters and introductory plaything, but pushing on the screen to wake her initially didn't do much. After mashing my finger repeatedly against the Vita's touchscreen, Lil finally woke up. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of my problems.

Gallery: Escape Plan (Gamescom 2011)

Continue reading Escape Plan preview: More than a touch of disappointment

JoystiqEscape Plan preview: More than a touch of disappointment originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>escape-planfun-bitsfun-bits-interactivegamescomgamescom-2011ngpplaystationplaystation-vitaps-vitasonyvitaThu, 18 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Modern Warfare 3 Spec Ops preview: Walk slowly and carry a big gun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/modern-warfare-3-spec-ops-preview-walk-slowly-and-carry-a-big-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/modern-warfare-3-spec-ops-preview-walk-slowly-and-carry-a-big-g/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/modern-warfare-3-spec-ops-preview-walk-slowly-and-carry-a-big-g/#comments At first, I felt odd when I walked away from a hands-on co-op session of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 earlier today at Gamescom. My colleague Alexander and I had just spent the past 20 minutes carefully defusing IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices, for those of you who don't watch US broadcast news) and murdering potential assailants in a Berlin Spec Ops map, part of a mission named "Invisible Threat." Between laughs, furious button presses, and the occasional expletive, I realized we were having a lot of fun -- far more fun than two grizzled Battlefield vets expected to have with a Call of Duty title, anyway.

And soon after our play session, I understood why. That feeling I couldn't place was nostalgia, subtly reminding me that, yes, at one point I used to really enjoy Infinity Ward-developed shooters. As I carefully sniped oncoming baddies, Alex -- dressed in a "Juggernaut" bomb suit, a first for the series -- slowly lumbered around, dodging bullets/missiles/helicopters/tanks (seriously) while I assisted from above. Moreover, his ability to locate the remaining IEDs was based on me tossing up a UAV and spotting them from above, all the while dodging bullets/rockets myself. Of course, that meant I got to regularly drop missiles from said UAV onto the aforementioned waves of antagonists. Points!

Somewhere in there, it all clicked. I was back in college, shouting at my roommate to cover my back before we got clipped, frantically popping enemy after enemy, hoping to hold off the never-ending wave for just another few moments so we could complete the mission.

Continue reading Modern Warfare 3 Spec Ops preview: Walk slowly and carry a big gun

JoystiqModern Warfare 3 Spec Ops preview: Walk slowly and carry a big gun originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-duty-modern-warfare-3gamescomgamescom-2011infinity-wardmicrosoftmodern-warfare-3pcplaystationps3sledgehammer-gamesspec-opsspecial-opsxboxThu, 18 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard 'very, very serious' about console Diablo 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/blizzard-very-very-serious-about-console-diablo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/blizzard-very-very-serious-about-console-diablo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/blizzard-very-very-serious-about-console-diablo-3/#comments Blizzard is still playing coy about Diablo 3 on consoles, talking about the possibility without actually formally announcing anything. During a Gamescom press conference, lead designer Josh Mosqueira said Blizzard is "very, very serious about bringing the Diablo 3 experience to the console." According to Eurogamer, he followed up by affirming that the company is "trying to build the best console team at Blizzard" with the express intent of working on Diablo.

Last year, Blizzard said it was "exploring a Diablo-related concept." Earlier this year, CEO Mike Morhaime said the company was "doing an investigation" into the idea of Diablo on consoles. Then in June, it posted a job listing for a "PlayStation 3 Specialist" -- OK, that one's not particularly coy.

JoystiqBlizzard 'very, very serious' about console Diablo 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardDiablo-3gamescomjosh-mosqueiramicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 18 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live now topping 35 million users]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/xbox-live-now-topping-35-million-users/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/xbox-live-now-topping-35-million-users/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/xbox-live-now-topping-35-million-users/#comments Since last January, Xbox Live has grown by another five million users. That's what Xbox Live marketing manager for EMEA Robin Burrowes told me in a meeting this morning where he showed off the new Windows Phone 7 UI-inspired dashboard for the Xbox 360. "Our audience growth is up to 35 million people globally across those 35 countries on Xbox Live itself," he said, explaining that the growth was spurred by the addition of nine new countries at the tail end of 2010.

Though he couldn't speak to the divide in terms of paid Xbox Live members versus unpaid (last we heard, there were over 12 million Gold subscribers), he did note that Microsoft is earning "more revenue from the transaction space than the subscription space." That means Microsoft's banking more from digital content purchases (XBLA games, Zune Marketplace, etc.) than from folks paying for the service. Of course, only some of those 35 million users will be receiving the new features of the upcoming fall dash refresh when it launches later this year.

JoystiqXbox Live now topping 35 million users originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescomgamescom-2011microsoftmicrosoft-europerobin-burrowesxboxThu, 18 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Devil May Cry preview: From black to white]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/devil-may-cry-preview-from-black-to-white/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/devil-may-cry-preview-from-black-to-white/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/devil-may-cry-preview-from-black-to-white/#comments
With any luck, you'll forgive me for not having spent dozens of hours learning the fine mechanics of past Devil May Cry games. Action games of the extra hardcore variety never quite appealed to me (outside of Ninja Gaiden, perhaps). But games like Bayonetta have gone a long way in convincing me I've been wrong all along, and Ninja Theory's take on Devil May Cry may just push me over the edge.

Though Capcom's focus for the demo was DMC's combat system, I found myself most impressed by the malignant world of limbo that surrounded Dante.

Gallery: DmC: Devil May Cry (Gamescom 2011)

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JoystiqDevil May Cry preview: From black to white originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomdmc-devil-may-crygamescomgamescom-2011microsoftmotohide-eshironinja-theoryplaystationps3xboxWed, 17 Aug 2011 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[X-Men Destiny trailer encourages choice in your mutanthood]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/x-men-destiny-trailer-encourages-choice-in-your-mutanthood/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/x-men-destiny-trailer-encourages-choice-in-your-mutanthood/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/x-men-destiny-trailer-encourages-choice-in-your-mutanthood/#comments
While some folks in the X-Men universe didn't have much of a choice in their particular mutation, the characters of X-Men Destiny seem more than happy to forfeit their boring old humanity for a taste of the wild side. That very choice becomes yours when X-Men Destiny launches next month.

Continue reading X-Men Destiny trailer encourages choice in your mutanthood

JoystiqX-Men Destiny trailer encourages choice in your mutanthood originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiongameplaygamescomgamescom-2011microsoftplaystationps3silicon-knightstrailerX-Men-DestinyxboxWed, 17 Aug 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill HD Collection also heading to Xbox 360, Konami 'aiming' for simultaneous launch on both consoles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/silent-hill-hd-collection-also-heading-to-xbox-360-konami-aimi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/silent-hill-hd-collection-also-heading-to-xbox-360-konami-aimi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/silent-hill-hd-collection-also-heading-to-xbox-360-konami-aimi/#comments ' Silent Hill: Downpour producer Tomm Hulett announced -- in video form -- during Konami's Gamescom press conference that the upcoming Silent Hill HD Collection would also be coming to Xbox 360. It was initially announced for PlayStation 3 only. According to Hulett, the HD Collection's Xbox 360 version is coming as a result of fan response to the originally announced exclusivity.

Without giving a solid release date (the game is currently pegged for "September/October") Hulett noted that Konami is "aiming" to release Silent Hill HD Collection on both consoles simultaneously.

JoystiqSilent Hill HD Collection also heading to Xbox 360, Konami 'aiming' for simultaneous launch on both consoles originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescomgamescom-2011konamimicrosoftplaystationps3silent-hillsilent-hill-hd-collectiontomm-hulettxboxWed, 17 Aug 2011 05:39:00 EST