Joystiq

Batman: Arkham City swoops to PC on November 18

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST

Warner Bros. has deemed today the day to reveal Batman: Arkham City's delayed PC launch date as November 18, one month to the day after its arrival on consoles.

The Games for Windows version was delayed last month via a terse WB announcement, which didn't provide an explanation at the time. We can exclusively reveal why today: Bruce Wayne is exhausted, y'all. He's got a lot going on, between film and TV and video games, and he just needed a few weeks to chill. Okay, that and PC version bug fixes.

Continue reading Batman: Arkham City swoops to PC on November 18

Batman: Arkham City swoops to PC on November 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger half off on Games for Windows

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

If you're the type of fighting enthusiast who fancies time-traveling gothic witches, and shooting ice-wolves at demonic cat-girls, then we've got some good news, you weirdo! Games for Windows has marked down Aksys Games' high-def acid trip BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger by 50 percent through June 29th.

Continue reading BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger half off on Games for Windows

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger half off on Games for Windows originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City preview: Left 2 Die

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City certainly isn't Left 4 Dead, but I wouldn't blame you for confusing the two. ORC is, after all, a four player co-op zombie shooter, featuring a variety of zombie types that largely resemble what both Left 4 Dead games featured before it (a large tank-like zombie, a zombie who scurries on the ceiling and reels you in with his tongue, etc.).

In fact, other than a third-person perspective and a Resident Evil landmark setting, I was getting some serious déja vu playing ORC. Except for one crucial point: it wasn't quite as fun as Left 4 Dead.

Gallery: Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (E3 2011)

Continue reading Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City preview: Left 2 Die

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City preview: Left 2 Die originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fable 3 will be crowned on Steam as well as Games for Windows

Christopher Grant — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:32:00 EST

Despite what you learn in Fable 3, not everyone gets to be king. When it comes to PC gaming digital distribution platforms, there's only one king and its name is Steam ("Your Highness" will suffice). Microsoft, also known as the lowly Duke of Games for Windows, has finally seen fit to recognize Steam's monarchy and, as a form of tribute, will be offering its own Fable 3 on the reigning platform as well as its own.

But nothing is ever that simple in court politics! While both digital releases, as well as the retail version, will be simultaneous, only Games for Windows Marketplace shoppers will be treated to a free copy of Fable: Lost Chapters, the expanded update of the original Fable. Steam shoppers will get the far less desirable Rebel's Weapon & Tattoo Pack, featuring some, uh ... weapons and tattoos for your hero. Retail shoppers get the security of a box and a disc, so that's something.

Fable 3 is due on PCs on May 17 in North America and shortly thereafter elsewhere.

Continue reading Fable 3 will be crowned on Steam as well as Games for Windows

Fable 3 will be crowned on Steam as well as Games for Windows originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Street Fighter IV, Square Enix titles 50% off on GFW marketplace

Randy Nelson — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:30:00 EST

Microsoft is putting the hurt on prices for select titles on the Games For Windows marketplace through next week. Capcom's PC version of Street Fighter IV is half off the usual price during the promotion -- $14.99 -- as are 16 titles from Square Enix. The sale is effective through next Wednesday, February 16.

You'll find a full list of discounted titles after the break. We're shoryuken find something you'll want on it.

Continue reading Street Fighter IV, Square Enix titles 50% off on GFW marketplace

Street Fighter IV, Square Enix titles 50% off on GFW marketplace originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Games for Windows Marketplace gets competitive, relaunching Nov. 15

David Hinkle — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:01:00 EST

In November, Microsoft will reboot its Games for Windows Marketplace. In doing so, the company aims to beef up its online portal with more games -- and not just those few that align themselves with the Games for Windows Live branding -- and provide a more competitive and comprehensive retail experience. Peter Orullian, who helped develop digital distribution strategies for Xbox Live, has been tapped to effectively manage the relaunch.

Gallery: Games for Windows Marketplace mock-up images (November 2010 relaunch)

Continue reading Games for Windows Marketplace gets competitive, relaunching Nov. 15

Games for Windows Marketplace gets competitive, relaunching Nov. 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Xbox Game Room pricing, partners detailed

Xav de Matos — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:50:00 EST

The pricing structure for Microsoft's newly announced Avatar-occupied Game Room has been detailed in an online fact sheet, and we'd suggest you stock up on Microsoft funny money. Players have three options: 400 ($5) grants a dual-platform license for one game (for unlimited play on Xbox 360 and PC), 240 ($3) gets you the virtual arcade cabinet on one platform (Xbox 360 or PC), or, for the old-fashioned types, 40 ($0.50) is just "two quarters" worth of playtime on a select title -- for the authentic arcade experience, minus the sticky floors. Additionally, when visiting friends' game rooms, you can "try" their games before you pump in Microsoft Points of your own.

The Game Room itself -- developed by third-party outfit Krome Studios (Viva Piñata: Party Animals, Star Wars: Republic Heroes) -- will be free for users to download. Customization options are mentioned in the fact sheet, but pricing for these features is not addressed. At launch the service will include 30 original arcade titles -- with "over 1000" planned for the future -- from multiple publishers, including Atari, Activision, Intellivision, and Konami. (A list of 31 confirmed titles is posted after the break.)

Games will be presented in 1080p (because that's why you bought that HD set) and will support multiplayer for up to two players, as well as cross-platform leaderboards and Achievements. Microsoft's ~~Home~~ Game Room is slated to launch this spring.

Gallery: Xbox Game Room

Source - "Game Room" Fact Sheet [.doc]

Continue reading Xbox Game Room pricing, partners detailed

Xbox Game Room pricing, partners detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Games For Windows getting 'easier' for indies, Microsoft eager for multi-touch games

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:30:00 EST

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced an initiative to streamline the certification process of games coming to its Games for Windows platform. In doing so, the company effectively offered an olive branch to small developers and publishers who had previously been unable for a variety of reasons -- be they financial, time or size-related -- to release games on the platform. Perri Munsell, director of Windows consumer product management, told Joystiq today that the relaunch means good things for both the little guys and the big guys.

"Now, through the self-certification process, we really allow any developer -- indie on up, from one, two-man teams all the way up to a major publisher -- everyone receives the same automation tools." It's not just a question of making the certification process easier for everyone though, as Munsell says that before, indie devs couldn't even approach the GFW platform. "It goes beyond 'easier' -- it makes it possible."

When asked about Microsoft's criteria for "showcasing" certain games at its events, Munsell says rather unsurprisingly, it has to do with what the company is promoting and how that ties into its plans. For next month's Windows 7 release, the company will be courting game developers large and small that are working on multi-touch games. "[At our events] we have different developers at different times based on what the core message is. One example is that Windows 7 has multi-touch built into it, and so we're actively looking at developers today -- some of them indie -- that have some great examples of multi-touch capability. And it really shows off the technology. 'Cause multi-touch by itself? There's no magic there. Multi-touch with a great partner application? That's where the magic exists."

And sure, we asked when games would be downloadable and if Microsoft's working on cross-platform play, but got the boilerplate "nothing to tell you today, unfortunately" (though we should note there was an audible pause when we asked when we would be hearing more, before the PR handler chimed in). We were promised we'll be "kept posted" on those items, but for some reason, we're thinking "no" on holding our breath.

Games For Windows getting 'easier' for indies, Microsoft eager for multi-touch games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 Games for Windows Live announcements? Not so much!

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:55:00 EST

Do you like Games for Windows? Oh, you do? How about E3? Great! Now here's the rub: You can't have them together. According to our brothers from other mothers at Big Download, the GFW announcements at E3 2009 are going to be, well, non-existent. A Microsoft PR rep said that the company doesn't feel as though the game is aimed at PC gamers, but rather console-focused.

And while Microsoft plans on holding a Windows 7 reception at E3 where a variety of PC games will be demoed using the new operating system, the press conference set to "completely transform how people think about home entertainment" (does that mean we'll pay someone else to think about it for us?) won't feature any new GFW newsplosions.

E3 Games for Windows Live announcements? Not so much! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 May 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Street Fighter IV PC comes packin' ... a fightpad

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 09 May 2009 20:30:00 EST

For the few of you out there waiting for a PC version of Street Fighter IV and who, simultaneously, had not prepared for playing the game with a keyboard and mouse, Capcom has luckily thought ahead. It's including a MadCatz Fight Pad in the $60 Games for Windows version of SFIV that'll be sold at your local brick and mortar. We're wondering how many folks are willing to snag one of these for the controller alone!

Problematically, the company has at once solved your problem and caused another -- how are you going to play against friends in your house with only one controller? Knowing that the arcade controllers released have come in fairly short supply, here's hoping the introduction of PC Street Fighter IV brings with it a bevy of the unfortunately necessary controllers to the market.

Street Fighter IV PC comes packin' ... a fightpad originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 May 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

PC version of Street Fighter IV to feature Games For Windows Live

Justin McElroy — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:45:00 EST

Poor Games For Windows Live. The branding and service have been so neglected that it actually gives us a little spring in our step to see someone embracing it, like the way we like to hear about Brad Pitt buying mosquito nets for poor countries.

Its latest benefactor is Street Fighter IV on the PC, which will use the service to provide multiplayer and Achievements when it arrives on home computers this summer. Out of curiosity, have any of you been waiting for a PC release to polish up your Tiger Uppercut?

[Thanks, The Weaponeer!]

PC version of Street Fighter IV to feature Games For Windows Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Games for Windows update to address piracy, DLC

Xav de Matos — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:05:00 EST

Microsoft has revealed new plans for the Games for Windows Live platform, focusing on copy protection and downloadable content, according to Develop. The features built into a new GFW update will help game companies prevent game piracy before a product's street date with server-side authentication -- including "authentication for online play".

GFW users will also be able to save general settings to an account, which can be carried over to games played on any "compatible and connected Windows PC," which sounds similar to the Xbox 360 General Settings feature, sans the cloud preferences are saved on.

Microsoft also plans to encourage downloadable content by simplifying the process. Using new APIs, developers will be able to create in-game store fronts to make DLC access a streamlined process for customers while "providing developers and publishers with new revenue streams."

Microsoft promises that the GFW team is hard at work on "several projects" tied directly to the Live platform and hope to build "new developer relationships" to get the most out of the platform. It seems Games for Windows Live is slowly creeping up to the functionality of the Xbox 360 Live platform. We're finally here! Quick, someone check the temperature in Hell.

Games for Windows update to address piracy, DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fallout 3's 'The Pitt' dated March 24, new screens

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:55:00 EST

Bethesda just made the release date of Fallout 3's second DLC pack, "The Pitt," officially official: Tuesday, March 24. Like last month's "Operation: Anchorage," the upcoming DLC will come in at 800 ($10) on Xbox 360 and Games for Windows Live simultaneously. Also, Pete Hines from Bethesda confirmed that the recently released patch for the game "is specific to DLC and is required to play The Pitt. It doesn't address anything with the base game outside of that."

In tandem with the confirmed release date, Bethesda also dropped a trio of new screens that you can check out below in our gallery.

Gallery: Fallout 3: The Pitt

Fallout 3's 'The Pitt' dated March 24, new screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Games for Windows Live redesigned - screenshots, details

Christopher Grant — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:06:00 EST

Filed under: PC

click for more Games for Windows Live screenshots

With little (no?) fanfare, Microsoft has rolled out an update to its also-ran Games for Windows Live service, ready to shed some of that bad name just in time for this holiday's GFW-branded lineup (think Fallout 3 and GTA IV). So what's in store for you, PC gamers? Mostly, a much needed UI refresh. Gone is the ill-advised, console-inspired Blades interface - in its stead is a much slicker (much quicker!) menu that pops down from the top of the display. All the features you'd expect to be there are there: gamertag, friends list, messaging, achievements. As announced earlier this year, they've also done away with the tiered subscription service for PC gamers. No more "Gold" service - all of this is free, including TrueSkill matchmaking.

Gallery: Games for Windows Live

Indeed, there isn't much new in the way of functionality with one notable exception: the Marketplace. Though it's not available just yet (we'll let you know when "in the next few weeks"), the standalone Marketplace app will be akin to its 360 counterpart, offering publishers and developers a place to host trailers, demos, and DLC - all integrated into the game. Available now: the ability for a game to alert you to patches, and then download them and seamlessly patch them into your game. Boot it up again and - voila! - you're running the latest release. No messy files to download or delete.

We'll have our writeup of the latest installment in the GFW Live saga tomorrow; however, for now, flip through some of these screenshots from yesteryear to see what's changed. If you've taken it for a spin, let us know what you think. Oh, hell with it: you'll let us know what you think regardless! (Full presser after the break).

Gallery: Games for Windows Live (old)

Continue reading Games for Windows Live redesigned - screenshots, details

Games for Windows Live redesigned - screenshots, details originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Games for Windows Live goes free

Xav de Matos — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Xbox Live

This topic sure to be a hotbed of commenting action. Yesterday Microsoft announced that Games for Windows Live, the PC-based equivalent of the Xbox Live service, has changed to a completely free business model. After a lukewarm launch against PC service powerhouse Steam the Games for Live service has ended the Gold/Silver distinction for PC gamers that Xbox Live subscribers are subjected to. Changing to a free model means gamers can compete in cross-platform gaming (where applicable) at no additional charge. The question now remains, does this move signify a a change that must be made to the Xbox Live structure or are the services two completely different beasts. Consider, only a handful of games and features exist on the PC side of Live and with strong competition from other free services it's a move Microsoft had no choice but to make to survive. So, what are your thoughts on Games for Windows Live going free?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in. Via Engadget]

Games for Windows Live goes free originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

DirectX 11 detailed; Vista and DX 10 / 10.1 hardware supported

Christopher Grant — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: PC

At its GamesFest event in Redmond today, Microsoft shared the first details of DirectX 11 - the numerically superior successor to DirectX 10.1 - which will feature full support for Windows Vista, as well as future versions of the popular operating system. Worried about hardware? DirectX 11 won't just ignore your fancy DirectX 10 or 10.1 cards - nope, it offers support for both of those standards, as well as for new DirectX 11 hardware.

But what's new and exciting about DirectX 11, you ask incredulously. How about a "new compute shader technology" that gets your GPU ready to do more than just boring old 3D graphics - instead "developers can take advantage of the graphics card as a parallel processor"? Not doing it for you? How about "multi-threaded resource handling that will allow games to better take advantage of multi-core machines" since, y'know, most every computer nowadays has multiple cores? Or "support for tessellation" which allows "developers to refine models to be smoother and more attractive when seen up close"? Something in there has to tickle your fancy.

What it probably means for most of you is this: as hardware manufacturers develop new chipsets to take advantage of DirectX 11's new features, you should be able to snag some of that older 10.1 gear for a song.

DirectX 11 detailed; Vista and DX 10 / 10.1 hardware supported originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft makes Games For Windows Live free for all

Randy Nelson — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:44:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Business

Microsoft's struggling Games For Windows Live service, which promised an Xbox Live like online experience with voice chat, unified friend lists, and cross-platform play between PC and console, is about to shrug off its chief criticism: cost. MS announced today that it is ending the XBL-style tiered pricing structure - which put a year of Gold membership at $49.99 - and making the service free for all users.

The change is effective immediately, affecting all current GFW Live titles (such as Halo 2 and Shadowrun) as well as future releases. MS is also set to expand the service through a GFW Live Marketplace, due this fall. Like the XBL Marketplace, the PC-centric store will offer free and paid downloadable content, demos, and trailers (is this PC Live Arcade?)

In addition to these announcements, MS is working to make the GFW Live interface "much more PC friendly" (read: not like the Xbox 360's now deprecated "Blades" interface) along with reducing the technical requirements for developers. One criticism of the interface from the development camp has been that it must be built into every GFW title, rather than a stand-alone client such as Steam.

Microsoft makes Games For Windows Live free for all originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Print gaming journalism may be on its way out, says 1UP's Cox

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

We can still fondly recall those afternoons during our formative years when, while returning from school, we would notice a rolled-up, plastic sheathed bundle of gaming journalism joy poking out of our mailbox. We're sure it's an occasion that most of you can warm-heartedly remember as well, whether your poison was Nintendo Power or Electronic Gaming Monthly. Unfortunately, in a recent interview with the mighty Ombudsman, 1UP's Simon Cox spoke about the closing of Games For Windows magazine, and how EGM (as well as print gaming journalism as a whole) may have an expiration date.

Cox explained that "dollars and eyes," particularly the beady, sunken eyes of PC gamers, are continually moving away from print media and towards internet publications, stripping the ink-and-papers of their subscribers, advertisers and, eventually, life. Cox remarked that while EGM still has a great deal of spunk, and is supported by a body of loyal readers, it too will eventually be crushed by the incipient, grim claw of new media. The fact that you're reading this right now may support his claim -- have your gaming news consuming habits changed over the past few years?

Print gaming journalism may be on its way out, says 1UP's Cox originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

CES 2008: New titles join Games for Windows portfolio

Ludwig Kietzmann — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: PC, CES

In another CES 2008 announcement, Microsoft has highlighted nine new additions to its Games for Windows endeavor, promising to "continue the momentum for Windows-based gaming in 2008" and "revive" the PC gaming space. The titles due to be dressed in Microsoft's colors include:

Alone in the Dark (Atari)
Bionic Commando (Capcom)
Conflict: Denied Ops (Eidos Interactive)
Empire: Total War (SEGA)
LEGO Indiana Jones (LucasArts)
Microsoft Train Simulator 2 (Microsoft Game Studios)
Sins of a Solar Empire (Stardock)
Space Siege (SEGA)
Tomb Raider: Underworld (Eidos Interactive)

The list not only cements the "Underworld" subtitle to Eidos' next Tomb Raider, but provides reassurance as to the longevity of Microsoft's initiative. Games for Windows is sure to be around for quite some time if Alone in the Dark manages to arrive under its banner. Microsoft's polite press release is also keen to remind us that other expected 2008 titles -- Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Borderlands, The Club, Fallout 3 and Frontlines: Fuel of War -- will stand beneath the flapping emblem.

CES 2008: New titles join Games for Windows portfolio originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mobile Live Anywhere still a bridge to be built

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Online, E3, Business, Mobile, Casual

During E3, Microsoft invited us to suffer through a 30-minute Xbox Live marketing spiel (we were lured by the promise of Xbox Live Arcade content -- there wasn't any), puffed with ridiculous figures like the 3 billion hours we've spent collectively on Xbox Live as a community that will soon surpass America's largest city, New York, in total population. Xbox Live general manager JJ Richards acted out these statistics with sweeping gestures and broad smiles, and an air of braggadocio. It was JJ's job to make sure we left that room knowing Microsoft commanded the leading online service for consoles. We did (though we knew it already, thank you).

JJ was there to demonstrate that Microsoft had fulfilled all of its goals and then some since the last E3, using terminology like "neighborhoods" and "districts" to imagine for us a bustling virtual metropolis catering to all types of consumers. He spoke of a "bridge" that had been erected across the ever-flowing void to Windows, connecting an untapped community of gamers to the Xbox Live vision. But further down the void, a second bridge, still under construction, has stalled. When we brought up the topic of Xbox Live for mobile, JJ became visibly peeved, as if we had just smudged the picturesque canvas he was painting aloud. He dodged the topic, firing off some jargon about "pacing" before getting back to the success story.

Microsoft has been busy expanding Xbox Live into Games for Windows Live and the apparently groundbreaking Video Marketplace. So it's not surprising that the mobile aspect, complicated by numerous variables, has been removed from the vision's foreground. But we're still curious. After all, back at that last E3, we had seen a working prototype of mobile Live Anywhere, through which PR man John Porcaro was able to browse our Gamertag profile using his phone. It's exciting technology that the community could use. No rush, but we'd appreciate an actual update. How about it, Microsoft?

Mobile Live Anywhere still a bridge to be built originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Joystiq impressions: Crysis

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:28:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Action, First Person Shooters, Strategy, E3, Galleries

Rob Letts, executive producer of Crysis, wandered over to a chicken that was milling about outside a military compound and scooped the plump bird up into his arms. He turned around, headed about 20 yards to the edge of the water, pointed his sights (and the chicken) up and out over the ocean, activated his nanosuit's strength ability and tossed the bird some 40 feet into the air. He drew his assault rifle and opened fire, landing a few scattered shots into the carcass before it disappeared into the water.

Letts followed his execution with a dip, swimming out past a loading dock, admiring a few crabs that scuttled about the ocean floor and a school of snaking fish off in the distance. Letts assured us that there were -- or would be -- sharks in deeper waters; the type that would be drawn to a slowly bleeding North Korean soldier launched from your arms into the depths.

Crysis is a joy for its subtleties, and for its complexities. We watched as Letts haphazardly caused enough commotion for an enemy combatant to fire a flare out over the tree tops. A minute later, reinforcements arrived by boat and by jeep. Some time later, over the ridge, troops who had spotted the flare earlier where still on alert. Letts spoke of a basic set of variables (the whos, whats, and wheres), which when applied to a dynamic environment, provide the player with ever-unpredictable "action bubbles." While there is a narrative structure to Crysis and a series of well-documented twists (two major environmental upheavals that change the nature of gameplay), Letts seemed most proud of the "sandbox" nature of Crytek's tactical shooter. 'Sandbox' might be a waning buzzword that's propelled too many lazily-developed borefests, but Crysis is clearly a title that will defend the legitimacy of such a fundamental design choice. If you've got the right rig for the job, peep Crysis when it drops (by the end of the year).

Gallery: Crysis

Joystiq impressions: Crysis originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

First video of Gears of War on PC

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:15:00 EST

Filed under: PC, E3, Video

The just-announced Gears of War looks fantastic on the PC. The already-beautiful Unreal Engine 3 is pushed even further on Games For Windows as can be seen in this first ever footage of the game running on the PC. With new levels, a level editor, and more surprises on the way, will Xbox 360 owners cry at feeling neglected by this "super-awesome" version?

First video of Gears of War on PC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gears of War and Viva Pinata go to PC

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:07:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Action, E3

Gears of War is no longer a Xbox 360 exclusive. Neither is Viva Pinata. Two of Microsoft's premiere console titles is now getting the Games For Windows treatment. The Game of the Year-winning shooter from Epic will gain a few enhancements on the PC, such as five new levels, a new editor, and "some very big surprises." Could the game look even prettier on a DirectX 10 PC? Believe it. Thankfully, the game will run on both Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Viva Pinata and a major list of new Games for Windows titles were revealed at the Microsoft keynote, including titles such as Age of Empires 3: The Asian Dynasties, Stranglehold, Blacksite: Area 51, and Kane and Lynch: Dead Men.

Gears of War and Viva Pinata go to PC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Podcast Rodeo for June 24: E.A.R.

Justin McElroy — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 10:35:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Features, Fashion

Aww, snap. The Ro-to-the-deo feels just terrible. Not only did we take a week off, we also neglected to give a link to someone who mentioned us on the podcast, which, much like telling a waiter at Chili's it's your birthday, is a guaranteed way to get a freebie.

So, we're sorry, GFW Radio, it's been corrected. We hope that our two nations can now live together in peace. You should absolutely go listen to GFW this week, there's a rap battle, you'll love it. Here's a tip to everyone else though, if you give the shout out, let us know when you do and where in the podcast it's located. Sometimes we go through the Wendy's drive thru and we may turn the radio down, and you don't want to miss your moment in the sun because of a Frosty, do you? More picks after the jump.

Continue reading Podcast Rodeo for June 24: E.A.R.

Podcast Rodeo for June 24: E.A.R. originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Jun 2007 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Parallels 3.0 brings 3D PC games inside Mac OS X

Christopher Grant — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:22:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC

With Apple's transition to Intel hardware came the promise of playing PC games on your Mac. Some months later, with the introduction of Boot Camp, that promise became a reality. And now, with the launch of Parallels 3.0, you don't even need to leave Mac OS X and boot into Windows to play your Windows games. The popular virtualization app has just released version 3.0 (has it been that long already?) and the killer new feature is: 3D graphics (with OpenGL and DirectX -- XP now, Vista later) support.

Parallels 3.0 currently retails for $80 ($50 if you're upgrading), or you can register and receive a 15-day trial key. Peep Quake 4 played inside Mac OS after the break.

[Via TUAW]

Continue reading Parallels 3.0 brings 3D PC games inside Mac OS X

Parallels 3.0 brings 3D PC games inside Mac OS X originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Podcast Rodeo for June 3: Eared Science

Justin McElroy — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Features, Fashion

Much to your chagrin, the old man is back, and he will continue to be back until we go one week without someone commenting on his whoop-tushie headphones. Podcasts. Dig 'em.

BitCast: It's like Bits Bytes Pixels Sprites that you read with your ears! The only difference this week is that they've temporarily done away with the Canadian that normally resides on their program. We're notoriously xenophobic here at Joystiq, so that's good enough reason for us to link them. Also, one of the guys sounds exactly like Kevin Bacon.

CAG Cast: The First Rule of Podcast Rodeo(C): You do talk about Podcast Rodeo. Second rule: If you do, we will probably totally link to you. This CAG Cast is good, but it gets especially good at about 8:58. Oh, and if you were curious, the third rule is "no shirt, no shoes," which I don't even fully understand.

Continue reading Podcast Rodeo for June 3: Eared Science

Podcast Rodeo for June 3: Eared Science originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Podcast Rodeo for May 20: Ear's Johnny

Justin McElroy — Sun, 20 May 2007 10:05:00 EST

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

This week at the P-Cast Ranch, game audio had to compete for ear time with the release of a new They Might Be Giants album. Was it tough to find the time? You bet. Was it worth it to help our beloved readers out? Yes, yes, 1,000 times, yes.

Downloadable Content: As many of you have pointed out, the Penny Arcade guys have taken much more regular breaks from earning mad coin to record their podcast. Here, Gabe does battle with V.Smile and (as near as we can tell) is defeated.

Continue reading Podcast Rodeo for May 20: Ear's Johnny

Podcast Rodeo for May 20: Ear's Johnny originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 May 2007 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Podcast Rodeo for May 13: Mutinear

Justin McElroy — Sun, 13 May 2007 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Features, Nintendo Wii, Online

Hey, it's time for the Podcast Rodeo once more. This is the very special episode where we learn a little something about ourselves. Hopefully, you'll come with us on this very emotional journey.

1UP Show: The show returns for the summer with a hot new theme song, Odin Sphere video, a preview of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings and tons of stuff on Team Fortress 2, which still looks incredible.

Gamers With Jobs Conference Call: The old, old men of GWJ celebrate their 30th episode with special guest star Big Huge Games' Brian Reynolds talking about the making of Catan. Also, there's some interesting discussion of the debacle, if you've not yet grown tired of the topic.

Continue reading Podcast Rodeo for May 13: Mutinear

Podcast Rodeo for May 13: Mutinear originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 May 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The final days of Ziff Davis games according to Folio

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 07 May 2007 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

Folio Magazine, a magazine about the magazine industry, has as their cover story for May "Ziff's Last Stand." An in-depth look at how the once great magazine empire is falling apart like a leper. Sure, it's still functional, but it isn't looking too pretty anymore. It's no secret that the games division has been up for sale with no buyers. The article lays out in no uncertain terms that the relevance of game magazines is on the decline and uses Ziff Davis' issues as the poster-child of the future to come.

The prime example Folio uses is a scuffle between Edelman (a major PR firm) and an editor of PC Magazine. The battle concerned Senior VP at Edelman, Steve Rubell, publicly stating that he throws out his free subscription to the magazine. For any gaming media, when the PR guys stop reading your stuff, you can kiss access, interviews, information and general livelihood goodbye. And, in what really is the cherry on this story, the whole thing played out online.

According to the article, buyers of the ZD game division are actually interested in 1UP, the company's online portal and its 13 million monthly visitors. 1UP currently competes against Gamespot and IGN's 20 million monthly visitors. The path sounds pretty solid at this point. The magazines will continue to lose readers and relevance and, if the staff survives, will probably be transferred to online.

[Via GameSetWatch]

The final days of Ziff Davis games according to Folio originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2007 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Podcast Rodeo for May 6: Ear's Mud in Your Eye

Justin McElroy — Sun, 06 May 2007 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Features, Business

It's a fun week in the Rodeo, the sort of week driven by slow news and few releases, the sort of week that forces hosts to dig deep, let go of the magic feather and try to find the entertainment power that was inside them all along.

The Hotspot: A story of tragedy, triumph and boredom on the Hotspot as a caller tells about working in an arcade while Billy Mitchell was trying to break the Pac-Man record. Long story short: A kid unplugs the machine, tragedy and hilarity ensue.

Continue reading Podcast Rodeo for May 6: Ear's Mud in Your Eye

Podcast Rodeo for May 6: Ear's Mud in Your Eye originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 May 2007 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Joyswag: Free 1-year subscription to Games for Windows magazine

Christopher Grant — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 12:05:00 EST

Filed under: Joyswag

[Update: "Thank you for your interest in Games for Windows. Unfortunately, this promotion has ended." And with that, our Games for Windows: The Official Magazine promotion has run its course; exhausted from a non-stop barrage of subscription requests, it finally toppled over and died. See what you've done? Enjoy!]

Sure, they've got a new corporately-sanctioned identity, but beneath the glitz and glamour of the Games for Windows branding, it's the same old Computer Gaming World magazine, one of the longest-running gaming mags around. To maintain their street cred, the editorial team introduced some risky features, like a new scoring system that ranks a 5 out of 10 as "average," and sounded off on their trepidation about upgrading to Vista, Microsoft's latest and greatest and, ostensibly, the very reason behind their magazine's name change.

So what is this all about? We've teamed up with Ziff-Davis, the publishers behind Games for Windows: TOM, to give away 25,000 free 1-year subscriptions (to US readers only ... sorry!). How free? You won't need to provide your credit card information; your subscription won't be automatically renewed at the end of the year; and you will need to "opt-in" to renew your subscription before receiving any bill for the magazine. Free.

Thanks, Joystiq readers!

Joyswag: Free 1-year subscription to Games for Windows magazine originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Today's sneakiest game video: Frontlines - Fuel of War hidden tour

Kevin Kelly — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, PC, Action, Adventure, Simulations, Video, Competitive Gaming

Sneaky hidden videos will always score high on our list, particularly if they don't involve Britney, Paris, and Lindsay. It's time we reclaimed their 15 minutes because they've run into serious overtime.

So, the story behind this video is as follows: 'Games For Windows' Magazine recently filmed a totally unathorized, hidden video tour of Kaos Studios for a piece about Frontlines: Fuel of War. They weren't thrilled about having their HQ filmed Geraldo-style, but THQ (the publisher) didn't want to retaliate against the magazine, for fear that they would give them a bad review in return.

So, once all the smoke has cleared, what does that leave us with? Frankly, not too much. Either it's a well planned "fake" secret video, or else it's a new wave of marketing going into effect that really embraces the old adage "there's no such thing as bad publicity." Of course, nothing really groundbreaking or damaging was revealed in this video ... or was it? Does this mean we can start running around developer HQs with a camera, knowing that they won't want us to pan their upcoming games?

Hmmmmmm ...

Today's sneakiest game video: Frontlines - Fuel of War hidden tour originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Games for Windows Magazine hits newsstands

Vladimir Cole — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC, Business

The first-ever issue of Games for Windows: The Official Magazine (formerly Computer Gaming World) hit newsstands Friday. Weighing in at 134 pages, the magazine's new focus on games for Windows allows the editorial staff to focus on the PC as a platform to rival consoles "minus the annoying Linux and Mac noise" according to the magazine's editor.

A few highlights from issue 01:

Nice, light design. Most game magazines have a heavy, dark feel to them. GFW's art and layout are lighter and easier on the eyes, though almost all of the advertising is still annoyingly black.
GFW's editor (Jeff Green) promises that Microsoft has no say in anything that his staff prints between the covers of the magazine. It's still an independent editorial venture, "despite that big honkin' Windows logo on the front cover." That's important.
If you didn't care for the magazine before, it's unlikely that the renaming and new design will change your mind. The magazine's contents are still the same because it's still staffed by the same staff sitting in the same seats at the same desks covering the same games. This is the same book with a different cover.
The most exciting change is GFW's new scoring system. In a ballsy move, GFW has recalibrated their score system: a score of 5 out of 10 is "average." Anything above a five is "above average" and anything below five is "below average." Games that previously might have earned 8 or 9 might now be earning scores of 6 or 7! Let's see how long they'll stick to their guns on this one, as they're sure to catch a lot of heat from game publishers. Stay strong, guys! You're on the side of the gamer with this change.

Games for Windows Magazine hits newsstands originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Nov 2006 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments