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[God of War Master Collection 'currently' only for Germany]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/god-of-war-master-collection-currently-only-for-germany/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/god-of-war-master-collection-currently-only-for-germany/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/god-of-war-master-collection-currently-only-for-germany/#comments As much as we love writing about video games here at Joystiq, it pales in comparison to our real hobby: crushing hopes and dreams. If you were looking forward to playing through every single God of War game in the God of War Master Collection that was spotted on Amazon's German site, and you don't actually live in Germany, you're out of luck.

When asked about the listing, Sony informed Joystiq that the Master Collection is "currently only slated for the German market." It seems a bit unlikely that such a collection would be exclusive to a single region, so we wouldn't be surprised to see it announced for other regions as well. Of course, we'll take all the dream crushing we can get, even if it is only temporary.

JoystiqGod of War Master Collection 'currently' only for Germany originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-warGod-Of-War-3God-Of-War-Chains-Of-Olympusgod-of-war-ghost-of-spartaplaystationps3santa-monica-studiosonySony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaMon, 25 Jul 2011 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War 'Master Collection' spotted on Amazon.de]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/god-of-war-master-collection-spotted-on-amazon-de/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/god-of-war-master-collection-spotted-on-amazon-de/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/god-of-war-master-collection-spotted-on-amazon-de/#comments If God of War Collection didn't collect game well enough for you, we just might have some good news. A listing for "God of War Master Collection" has been spotted on Amazon Germany. The listing has no image or description, though it clearly states that the PS3 collection includes every single God of War title -- well, except for God of War: Betrayal. In case you've lost track, that's God of War 1, God of War 2, God of War 3, Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta.

Given Sony's penchant for fancy collections these days, a new, complete God of War compilation certainly makes sense. We've contacted Sony for confirmation on the Master Collection.

[Thanks, Josh]

JoystiqGod of War 'Master Collection' spotted on Amazon.de originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-2god-of-war-3God-Of-War-Chains-Of-Olympusgod-of-war-ghost-of-spartagod-of-war-master-collectionplaystationps3Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: New God of War coming September 2012, PSM3 says]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/rumor-new-god-of-war-coming-september-2012-psm3-says/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/rumor-new-god-of-war-coming-september-2012-psm3-says/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/rumor-new-god-of-war-coming-september-2012-psm3-says/#comments Look, PSM3, can't you just be happy with the crowded slate of titles we're already expecting in 2011? Do you really need to start stoking the fires for 2012? Whether we want it to or not, the UK-based magazine is fanning the flames on rumors of a new God of War for PS3 early, citing a source who claims the game will be out in September of 2012.

Sure, we've heard murmurs about another installment in the franchise, and Sony Santa Monica is supposedly looking into online functionality in a future title, but who says the studio has to make another God of War? It's not like the last one sold that well or anything. What? Oh.

JoystiqRumor: New God of War coming September 2012, PSM3 says originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>God-Of-War-3god-of-war-4gow4official-playstation-magazine-3playstationps3psm3rumorsonysony-santa-monicaWed, 20 Apr 2011 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War development team hiring online programmer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/god-of-war-development-team-hiring-online-programmer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/god-of-war-development-team-hiring-online-programmer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/god-of-war-development-team-hiring-online-programmer/#comments Sony Santa Monica isn't really known for creating games with compelling online user experiences, or ... um, any online user experiences ... but that might be changing with the developer's next project. The God of War developer has posted a hiring notice for a senior online programmer with experience in "Designing and implementing systems and tools to support networking needs," specifically in-game chat systems, matchmaking and leaderboards.

It would be irresponsible to jump the gun and say Sony Santa Monica's working on an online-enabled God of War game, but we'll be damned if that's going to keep us from coming up with a bunch of prospective titles. God of War: Kratos and the Gang. God of War: Massively Mythological RPG. God of War vs. Free Realms. Gods of Wars.

JoystiqGod of War development team hiring online programmer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-warGod-Of-War-3multiplayerplaystationps3pspsonysony-santa-monicaWed, 30 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Uncharted 2 GOTY, God of War 3 and others become latest PS3 'Greatest Hits' for $30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/uncharted-2-goty-god-of-war-3-ps3-greatest-hits/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/uncharted-2-goty-god-of-war-3-ps3-greatest-hits/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/uncharted-2-goty-god-of-war-3-ps3-greatest-hits/#comments Sony has promoted four of its favorites to PS3 "Greatest Hits," dropping the price of each to $30. The most significant addition to Sony's growing lineup of discounted bestsellers of yesteryear is the "Game of the Year" Edition of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, which includes a plethora of extra content not included in the original release.

God of War 3, Heavy Rain and ModNation Racers were the three other first-party titles to be made Hits. Additionally, THQ's UFC Undisputed 2010 was recognized as one of last year's best, representing the first third-party game to become part of the PS3's 2010 hall of fame class.

Continue reading Uncharted 2 GOTY, God of War 3 and others become latest PS3 'Greatest Hits' for $30

JoystiqUncharted 2 GOTY, God of War 3 and others become latest PS3 'Greatest Hits' for $30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-war-3greatest-hitsheavy-rainmodnation-racersplaystationps3ps3-greatest-hitsufc-undisputed-2010Uncharted-2Uncharted-2-Among-ThievesFri, 25 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: 2010's bestselling game releases by platform]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/npd-2010s-bestselling-game-releases-by-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/npd-2010s-bestselling-game-releases-by-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/npd-2010s-bestselling-game-releases-by-platform/#comments Gamasutra has obtained NPD data that puts a new filter on last year's US box-copy software sales, ranking the top ten bestselling 2010 releases for each console and handheld platform (PC excluded). Like the monthly NPD breakdowns, these rankings don't include actual sales numbers, but they do reveal some interesting trends.

By omitting Nintendo's so-called "evergreen" titles (i.e., games released before 2010), Gamasutra found that -- perhaps unsurprisingly -- Just Dance 2 was last year's top-selling 2010 release for Wii, and among six additional third-party games that made the top ten in sales for the platform. On DS, however, Nintendo games filled out half of the top ten, and Pokemon SoulSilver and HeartGold were the only titles to surpass sales of one million units each.

At first glance, PSP software sales look even bleaker, with Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep on top and, according to Gamastura, the only PSP title to break 300K units sold; with the other top ten games each falling below 200K. Of course, these rankings don't include digital sales or box-copy games bundled with hardware, so it's unlikely that Birth by Sleep (which isn't available on the PlayStation Store) was the true #1 bestseller among 2010's PSP releases -- let alone the most pirated.

What is certain is that Call of Duty: Black Ops dominated torrents, as well as the games legitimately sold for PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2010. Still, both Sony and Microsoft saw two first-party releases make their console's respective top ten sales charts for the year; though each publisher's most critically-acclaimed release of 2010 -- at least, from Joystiq's perspective -- was not present. Perhaps telling of the two console's core player bases, Madden 11 beat out God of War 3 for the #2 spot on the PS3 chart, but fell to #3 beneath Halo: Reach in the Xbox 360 ranking.

Finally, we have to wonder just what were they thinking? They, of course, being all those Xbox 360 owners that purchased Fable 3 and Fallout: New Vegas instead of Mass Effect 2. Three and a half stars plus four still doesn't add up to the Game of the Year, people.

Check out Gamastutra for the complete breakdown of 2010's bestselling releases by platform.

JoystiqNPD: 2010's bestselling game releases by platform originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010call-of-duty-black-opsdsfable-3fallout-new-vegasgod-of-war-3halo-reachjust-dance-2kingdom-hearts-birth-by-sleepmadden-nfl-11mass-effect-2microsoftnintendonpdplaystationpokemon-heart-goldpokemon-soul-silverps3pspsalessoftwaresonyusawiixboxMon, 07 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The (admittedly incomplete) history of gaming in 4 minutes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/the-admittedly-incomplete-history-of-gaming-in-4-minutes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/the-admittedly-incomplete-history-of-gaming-in-4-minutes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/the-admittedly-incomplete-history-of-gaming-in-4-minutes/#comments An (almost) one-shot video chronicling the evolution of console gaming by design students from Germany may be incomplete (they acknowledge as much), but it's the clever presentation that makes it worth watching. The piece hits major points by kicking off with the Oscilloscope from 1958, the NES from the 80s and then does its best to keep up after the 16-bit generation kicks in during the '90s.

Remember, it's a student project that was assembled in a brief amount of time. However, if some souls out there think they can do a better, professional full-scale version, we'd love to see that -- heck, we bet everyone would.

Continue reading The (admittedly incomplete) history of gaming in 4 minutes

JoystiqThe (admittedly incomplete) history of gaming in 4 minutes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>God-Of-War-3historynintendoplaystationps3wiiThu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Randy's picks of 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/02/best-of-the-rest-randys-picks-of-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/02/best-of-the-rest-randys-picks-of-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/02/best-of-the-rest-randys-picks-of-2010/#comments
 Super Mario Galaxy 2
This is my personal favorite game of 2010 for many reasons, all of which you can read in the review I wrote back in May. In a nutshell: It's the best Mario game ever -- in my opinion, but I've been told I'm not alone -- and can pretty much claim the title of best-ever platformer while it's at it. The experience is magical, the design is masterful and if there were one game I could be stranded on a desert island with ... well, this is it.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Randy's picks of 2010

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Randy's picks of 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-the-rest-2010Darksidersepic-mickeygod-of-war-3halo-reachmetal-gear-solid-peace-walkerNeed-for-Speed-Hot-Pursuitsuper-mario-galaxy-2VanquishSun, 02 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Griffin's picks of 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/best-of-the-rest-griffins-picks-of-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/best-of-the-rest-griffins-picks-of-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/best-of-the-rest-griffins-picks-of-2010/#comments Cave Story
I am mad at everyone I've ever known for not telling me to play Cave Story before I grabbed it late last year. Within two months, I had beaten it four times across two different platforms. It's arguably the most charming game I've ever played, with deep layers of Metroidvania-esque exploration and a level of difficulty which expertly straddles the line between challenging and frustrating. It's one of the most polished games I played during the year, and if you find yourself with an overabundance of virtual Nintendo currency, you absolutely need to own it. Twice, if you have the means.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Griffin's picks of 2010

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Griffin's picks of 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-the-rest-2010cave-storydsgod-of-war-3microsoftminecraftnintendopcplaystationpokemon-heart-goldpokemon-soul-silverps3sleep-is-deathsuper-mario-galaxy-2wiiworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmxboxWed, 29 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Have a look at what God of War 3 left on the cutting room floor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/god-of-war-3-deleted-scenes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/god-of-war-3-deleted-scenes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/god-of-war-3-deleted-scenes/#comments Few would describe God of War 3 as an abridged action-adventure. "I would say we cut less" compared to the previous games, director Stig Asmussen told 1UP in a video interview covering the topic of the game's "deleted scenes." Still, cut they did.

"There were a couple of big moments that we lost," Asmussen recounted. "We had a [water-based] puzzle with this guy named Ixion [...] He was a really cool character. The inspiration was -- I don't remember his name -- but he was the flying guy from The Road Warrior." The objective, of course, was to drown Ixion.

"The big cut," Asmussen then revealed, "was the end of the game" -- an unpolished, three-way rumble between Gaia, Zeus and Kratos (pictured). "It was a tough cut, but it's something that needed to be done."

Hear more from Asmussen and producer Steve Caterson and see alpha footage of the deleted scenes in the video embedded after the break.

Continue reading Have a look at what God of War 3 left on the cutting room floor

JoystiqHave a look at what God of War 3 left on the cutting room floor originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deleted-scenesGod-Of-War-3playstationps3Santa-Monica-StudioSony-Santa-MonicaSteve-CatersonStig-AsmussenThu, 04 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alan Wake, Epic Mickey among award-nominated video game scores]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/alan-wake-epic-mickey-among-award-nominated-video-game-scores/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/alan-wake-epic-mickey-among-award-nominated-video-game-scores/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/alan-wake-epic-mickey-among-award-nominated-video-game-scores/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Set to be announced in advance of the Hollywood Music In Media Conference running November 18-20, 2010 in -- where else -- Hollywood, CA, the 2010 Hollywood Music In Media Awards nominees include nine video game scores under the category of Visual Media. The bombastic orchestral sounds of God of War 3 and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood are joined by the more moody fare of Alan Wake and -- a bit out of left field -- the score to Disney Epic Mickey.

The winning score will be revealed on November 11, 2010, and you can find the complete list of nominees after the break. Cue dramatic end-of-post theme.

Continue reading Alan Wake, Epic Mickey among award-nominated video game scores

JoystiqAlan Wake, Epic Mickey among award-nominated video game scores originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanAlan-Wakeassassins-creed-brotherhoodbioshock-2epic-mickeygod-of-war-3halo-reachMedal-of-Honor-2010microsoftnintendopcplaystationprince-of-persia-the-forgotten-sandsps3pspsonywiixboxSun, 17 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War: Ghost of Sparta includes downloadable Deimos for GoW 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/god-of-war-ghost-of-sparta-includes-downloadable-deimos-for-gow/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/god-of-war-ghost-of-sparta-includes-downloadable-deimos-for-gow/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/god-of-war-ghost-of-sparta-includes-downloadable-deimos-for-gow/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It must be really, really hard being the brother of the God of War series' surly protagonist, Kratos. Not only was the ash-covered warrior probably a brutal roughhouser in his youth, but his siblings more than likely get pummeled with guilt at family reunions: "Why can't you be more like your brother? He's killed like, twenty gods, you know?" You'll get to suffer these slings and arrows if you pick up Ghost of Sparta, as early, specially-marked copies of the game will include a voucher to download a character skin modeled after Kratos' bro, Deimos, for use in God of War 3.

Deimos, who bears a strong familial resemblance to the titular Ghost of Sparta, isn't just more hirsute than his brother, he also comes with "enhanced combat damage and the ability to receive 4x the amount of Health, Magic and God Orbs," according to PlayStation Blog. The voucher will be available in early copies of the game, in the hardware-bundled Entertainment Pack and for PSP Go users who purchase the title from November 2-9 on the PlayStation Store. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience to play through a God of War game with a full head of lustrous, waxen hair.

Check out a new, extremely bald trailer for God of War: Ghost of Sparta after the jump.

Continue reading God of War: Ghost of Sparta includes downloadable Deimos for GoW 3

JoystiqGod of War: Ghost of Sparta includes downloadable Deimos for GoW 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonusdeimosgod-of-war-3God-of-War-Ghost-of-Spartaplaystationps3pspready-at-dawnsonySony-Computer-EntertainmentThu, 07 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameFly selling God of War 3, Mass Effect 2 and more for under $20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/gamefly-selling-god-of-war-3-mass-effect-2-and-more-for-under/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/gamefly-selling-god-of-war-3-mass-effect-2-and-more-for-under/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/gamefly-selling-god-of-war-3-mass-effect-2-and-more-for-under/#comments GameFly is currently running a decidedly insane sale on used copies of a handful of 2010 blockbusters until this Friday, September 17. If you've got $20 to spare, you can grab Darksiders, God of War 3, Alpha Protocol, Mass Effect 2 or Dante's Inferno -- all with free shipping to boot.

Continue reading GameFly selling God of War 3, Mass Effect 2 and more for under $20

JoystiqGameFly selling God of War 3, Mass Effect 2 and more for under $20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-protocoldantes-infernodarksidersgameflygod-of-war-3mass-effect-2microsoftplaystationps3xboxWed, 15 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[160GB PS3 bundles appear on GameStop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/160gb-ps3-bundles-appear-on-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/160gb-ps3-bundles-appear-on-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/160gb-ps3-bundles-appear-on-gamestop/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A PlayStation 3 Slim with a 160GB hard drive has mysteriously shown up on GameStop's site, available right now for the same $300 price as the standard 120GB model. Previously, the 160GB model has only been available in Japan. Further adding to the mystery is an image on the GameStop front page touting this model of PS3 as "Just Announced," even though it hasn't been officially announced by Sony. "Just announced privately to GameStop," maybe.

This new model is available through GameStop in a standard hardware bundle ($299.99), as part of a $404.97 God of War 3 bundle containing the game and two controllers, and in a $379.97 Accessory Bundle with two controllers and a Bluetooth remote. We're checking in with Sony about this (sort of) announcement, about its possible retail exclusivity, and about whether the 320GB model will also become available.

[Thanks Maverick!]

Joystiq160GB PS3 bundles appear on GameStop originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>160GB160gb-ps3Gamestopgod-of-war-3playstationps3ps3-slimMon, 16 Aug 2010 18:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Spoof God of War movie trailer is so indie]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/17/spoof-god-of-war-movie-trailer-is-so-indie/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/17/spoof-god-of-war-movie-trailer-is-so-indie/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/17/spoof-god-of-war-movie-trailer-is-so-indie/#comments Whatever you may have imagined a God of War movie would be like, there's a very good chance it was nothing like this. Who would have thought Kratos was just an upper-crust prep school kid with real problems? Really, the only things missing from this trailer are Ellen Page and Jason Schwartzman.

Continue reading Spoof God of War movie trailer is so indie

JoystiqSpoof God of War movie trailer is so indie originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cultureGod-of-WarGod-Of-War-3playstationps3pspSat, 17 Jul 2010 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kmart instore deals next week include Mass Effect 2, BFBC2, Heavy Rain]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/kmart-instore-deals-next-week-include-mass-effect-2-bfbc2-heav/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/kmart-instore-deals-next-week-include-mass-effect-2-bfbc2-heav/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/kmart-instore-deals-next-week-include-mass-effect-2-bfbc2-heav/#comments Kmart is having some nice instore deals during E3 week, June 13-19. Although there are heavy discounts on Battlefield Bad Company 2, God of War 3 and Heavy Rain -- the real standout deal is Mass Effect 2 for $20. With those credits saved on the ME2 purchase, it's totally worth grabbing Kasumi's Stolen Memory and next week's Overlord DLC from the Cerberus Network. Check out all the discounts after the break.

Continue reading Kmart instore deals next week include Mass Effect 2, BFBC2, Heavy Rain

JoystiqKmart instore deals next week include Mass Effect 2, BFBC2, Heavy Rain originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Battlefield-Bad-Company-2God-of-War-3Heavy-RainkmartMass-effect-2microsoftplaystationps3xboxFri, 11 Jun 2010 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War 3 for $37 on Amazon today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/god-of-war-3-for-37-on-amazon-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/god-of-war-3-for-37-on-amazon-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/god-of-war-3-for-37-on-amazon-today/#comments We'd like to imagine even a dude as angry as Kratos could stow his seething rage when stumbling upon a good deal. It's got to be tough to be upset with the Gods when you've just saved a bunch of money, right?

Today Amazon is offering God of War 3 for a reduced price of $37 -- the equivalent of about 1,782 red orbs. And, frankly, it's easily worth that much.

JoystiqGod of War 3 for $37 on Amazon today originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonGod-of-War-3SCEASony-Computer-EntertainmentSony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaSony-Santa-MonicaMon, 07 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New game sales up in GameStop's fiscal Q1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/new-game-sales-up-in-gamestops-fiscal-q1/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/new-game-sales-up-in-gamestops-fiscal-q1/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/new-game-sales-up-in-gamestops-fiscal-q1/#commentsGameStop reported earnings for its fiscal first quarter (February-April). Sales are up five percent over the first quarter of 2009, to $2.08 billion.

Some of that growth is no doubt due to strong sales of new games. The retailer announced that new software sales increased 13.3 percent in the quarter -- a trend that the GameStop should be happy to see, now that EA and THQ are taking aim at the used games business.

The company identified five games in particular that drove revenue growth: Battlefield Bad Company 2, God of War 3, Final Fantasy XIII, Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and BioShock 2. We all love buying sequels at GameStop, apparently.

JoystiqNew game sales up in GameStop's fiscal Q1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 May 2010 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-bad-company-2bioshock-2earningsfinal-fantasy-xiiifinancial-reportfinancialsfy-2010gamestopgod-of-war-3pokemon-heartgoldpokemon-soul-silverq1retailsalessoftwareThu, 20 May 2010 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War novel ravages retail May 25, first chapter online]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/god-of-war-novel-ravages-retail-may-25-first-chapter-online/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/god-of-war-novel-ravages-retail-may-25-first-chapter-online/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/god-of-war-novel-ravages-retail-may-25-first-chapter-online/#comments The official God of War novel, based on the "thrilling video game," will spill its entrails of words all over bookstore shelves May 25, 2010. In the meantime, the prologue and first chapter of the book are available for Medusa's gaze online [PDF link]. Be warned, however, Kratos' transition from video game to literature may be a little tough to swallow. An excerpt:

"His only dream now is of oblivion.
He has been called the Ghost of Sparta. He has been called the Fist of Ares and the Champion of Athena. He has been called a warrior. A murderer. A monster.
He is all of these things. And none of them.
His name is Kratos, and he knows who the real monsters are."

If you're comfortable with that, then the rest won't feel like a grueling Olympic event.

JoystiqGod of War novel ravages retail May 25, first chapter online originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 May 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookgod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-novelliteraturenovelTue, 11 May 2010 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How God of War 3 could have ended]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/how-god-of-war-3-could-have-ended/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/how-god-of-war-3-could-have-ended/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/how-god-of-war-3-could-have-ended/#commentsThe God of War trilogy ended in the recent God of War 3 with Kratos [redacted]. But each God of War game before 3 (directed by Stig Asmussen) had a different director, and, as Asmussen told GamePro, each director had a different idea of how to end the saga of Angry Man Kratos.

Series creator David Jaffe had stories in mind beyond Greek myth. "Basically, you destroy Greek mythology and then Norse mythology is right around the corner," Asmussen recounted. "That's the next thing that Kratos would go after. It becomes clear at the end that he's going to become this harbinger of death across different mythologies in the world and maybe carry the series on from there." God of War 2 director Cory Barlog's ending, according to Asmussen, would turn Kratos into Death. "He pretty much becomes the Grim Reaper at the end of the game and his blades become sickles."

1UP points out that Jaffe had issues with both claims. On Twitter, Jaffe said that the Norse mythology idea was more complicated than Asmussen made it sound. "There is an element of truth but it goes far beyond." Later, he clarified further: "For the love of the Gods, I was NOT proposing Kratos go thru each mythology one by one and milk the series with new myths each time. It was to be a focused singular story that INVOLVED Norse myths- among others." He also mentioned that the "Death" idea attributed to Barlog was actually his.

JoystiqHow God of War 3 could have ended originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cory-barlogdavid-jaffegod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiisony-santa-monicastig-asmussenThu, 29 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mystery Spartan stands tall on God of War teaser site]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/mystery-spartan-stands-tall-on-god-of-war-teaser-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/mystery-spartan-stands-tall-on-god-of-war-teaser-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/mystery-spartan-stands-tall-on-god-of-war-teaser-site/#comments
Click to enlarge A mystery figure has appeared in the latest update to the God of War teaser site "SpartansStandTall." His reflection (captured above) momentarily flashes on screen during the video loop of the site's rendered thunderstorm. This is the second update to the site; its URL is revealed to players that unlock the God of War 3 Platinum Trophy.

The apparent meter that circles the icon in the upper right corner of the full screen (not pictured) is now three-quarters full (it was one-quarter full to start and was filled to halfway upon the first update), suggesting that the next update will display a full meter and perhaps the ultimate reveal. (DLC? Spin-off? 3D Blu-ray movie? It's anyone's guess.) The icon itself is thought to be representative of the Spartan army's shield; the upside-down "V" being the Greek letter Lamba, standing for "Lacedaemon" (what the ancient Greeks called Sparta).

So who is this mystery man? He certainly looks like he could be angry. And anger has always fueled this franchise, which still has some venting to do.

[Thanks, Geoff]

JoystiqMystery Spartan stands tall on God of War teaser site originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiispartans-stand-tallteaserupdateWed, 28 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop offering God of War 3 for under $40]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/gamestop-offering-god-of-war-3-for-under-40/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/gamestop-offering-god-of-war-3-for-under-40/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/gamestop-offering-god-of-war-3-for-under-40/#comments God of War 3 has already received a $10 cut to its regular price at Amazon and GameStop, but we'd surely anger the consumer gods by not mentioning that there's another $11.75 in discounts to be had. Gamerdeals.net points out that bargain warriors who enter the following codes when buying Kratos' conclusion from GameStop will receive a further price slashing.

Enter promo codes at checkout:
  • 10AUTO
  • 15NEW
  • SAVER
The discount codes work on other titles beyond God of War 3. You could use them to pick up the God of War Collection and have the entire trilogy for about the same as what the latest adventure cost at launch.

JoystiqGameStop offering God of War 3 for under $40 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazondealgamestopgod-of-war-3god-of-war-collectionsonyMon, 19 Apr 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[March NPD: Pokemon and Kratos catch all the money]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/15/march-npd-pokemon-and-kratos-catch-all-the-money/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/15/march-npd-pokemon-and-kratos-catch-all-the-money/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/15/march-npd-pokemon-and-kratos-catch-all-the-money/#commentsThe ill-timed announcement of the 3DS wasn't enough to scare consumers off from purchasing new DS systems. Thanks to the combination of a new hardware variant (the big, big, big DSi XL) and new Pokemon games, the dual-screened platform sold like gangbusters. Meanwhile, hardware shortages kept the PS3 from massive sales despite the fact that it had the best-selling game of March (God of War 3).

Speaking of software, we've learned a lot about you from this month. For example, Final Fantasy fans strongly prefer PS3, Battlefield fans strongly prefer 360, and Pokemon fans' dollar votes went to SoulSilver over HeartGold by quite a lot. How do you even decide something like that? Seriously, one of the 1.78 million or so of you who bought it -- take us through your process!

-DS: 701K88K (14%)
-Wii: 558K160K (40%)
-360: 338K>84K (-20%)
-PS3: 314K46K (-13%)
-PSP: 120K13K (-10%)
-PS2: 118K16K (16%)

See the top 10 games after the break.

Continue reading March NPD: Pokemon and Kratos catch all the money

JoystiqMarch NPD: Pokemon and Kratos catch all the money originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSdsi-xlfinal-fantasy-xiiigod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiiMicrosoftNintendonpdnpd-monthlypokemonWiiXbox-360Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: God of War Trilogy retail partners still being worked out]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/psa-god-of-war-trilogy-retail-partners-still-being-worked-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/psa-god-of-war-trilogy-retail-partners-still-being-worked-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/psa-god-of-war-trilogy-retail-partners-still-being-worked-out/#comments There seems to be a tiny bit of confusion going on over in Europe after the God of War Trilogy bundle was removed by some retailers. Eurogamer clarifies that the set isn't canceled, but that Sony is still working out who the retail partners will be for the special edition. The takeaway here is that not all shops will sell the item, which explains the pre-order cancellations we've received tips about.

Barring any hiccups, the Trilogy should release the last week of April in PAL lands for €89.99 (£64.99). Oh, and if you're wondering about picking up God of War 3, well, we liked it.

Gallery: God of War Collection


[Thanks, Miguel B.]

JoystiqPSA: God of War Trilogy retail partners still being worked out originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europegod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiigod-of-war-trilogyretailsonysony-santa-monicaTue, 13 Apr 2010 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dille: God of War 3 took 'just a couple days' to sell one million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/dille-god-of-war-3-took-just-a-couple-days-to-sell-one-milli/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/dille-god-of-war-3-took-just-a-couple-days-to-sell-one-milli/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/dille-god-of-war-3-took-just-a-couple-days-to-sell-one-milli/#comments
Its star may be known for constantly seeing red, but the latest installment in the God of War series evidently has Sony seeing a whole lot of green. IGN reports that Peter Dille, senior VP of marketing for SCEA, told the audience at yesterday's MI6 marketing summit that God of War III had surpassed the one million unit sold mark in "just a couple days."

The figure was provided without any other details, so Dille could have been lumping sales from other regions into it. We're getting in touch with SCEA for clarification and to see exactly where sales of the game stand as of this week.

[Via 1UP]

JoystiqDille: God of War 3 took 'just a couple days' to sell one million originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-3mi6-2010peter-dillesalessceasonySony-Computer-Entertainment-Americasony-santa-monicaFri, 02 Apr 2010 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[The Art of God of War III at Gallery Nucleus]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/the-art-of-god-of-war-iii-at-gallery-nucleus/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/the-art-of-god-of-war-iii-at-gallery-nucleus/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/the-art-of-god-of-war-iii-at-gallery-nucleus/#comments The God of War III art team held a panel this past weekend in Alhambra, California, at a place called Gallery Nucleus. In front of an audience packed to capacity, artists (from left to right above) Scott Seeto, Jung Ho Park, Izzy, Andy Park, Cecil Kim, and Andrew Kim spoke and answered questions about how they'd come up with the art designs for Kratos' final story ("as far as I know," Cecil Kim said, "there is no more God of War").

They were first asked about bringing the game into the HD generation, and how that affected their work on the games. Mostly, it just meant more work for them -- they pointed out that even when the camera isn't close-up on Kratos, you can still see the muscles in his back tense as he pulls out his blades. Art designers in HD have to be meticulous about details, and as a result, character development takes about six times longer. The team also said that they were impressed by the PS3 hardware -- on the PS2 versions of the game, the developers knew how far they could push the older console, but on the PS3, "we still don't know what we can do with it."

Gallery: The Art of God of War at Gallery Nucleus

Continue reading The Art of God of War III at Gallery Nucleus

JoystiqThe Art of God of War III at Gallery Nucleus originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart-teambladesconceptsdesigndetailsgallery-nucleusgenerationgod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiihdkratosMon, 29 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joyswag: God of War 3, guide & Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/joyswag-god-of-war-3-and-guide-and-guinness-world-records/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/joyswag-god-of-war-3-and-guide-and-guinness-world-records/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/joyswag-god-of-war-3-and-guide-and-guinness-world-records/#comments Update: Congratulations to our grand prize winner, Chris W., and our 4 first prize winners!


Read any good books lately? We've got a couple you might be interested in: Guinness World Records 2010: Gamer's Edition and the God of War III Signature Series Strategy Guide. We're giving away 5 copies of each, courtesy of Guinness World Records and Brady Games. Plus, one lucky reader will also win a copy of the God of War III game!

To enter this giveaway:
  • Leave a comment with the correct multiple-choice answer to the following trivia question:
    At the launch party for God of War II (in April 2007), Sony made headlines for which controversial display:
    • (A) Scantily clad women dancing in cages
    • (B) A headless goat
    • (C) A model of the Parthenon desecrated by graffiti
    • (D) A boneless chicken
  • You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
  • Limit 1 entry per person.
  • This entry period ends at 3:00PM ET on Wednesday, March 31.
  • At that time, we'll randomly select 1 grand prize winner from the eligible commenters who answer correctly to receive the God of War III game (ARV $59.99), the God of War III Signature Series Strategy Guide (ARV $19.99) and the Guinness World Records 2010: Gamer's Edition book (ARV $14.99); and 4 first prize winners to receive the God of War III Signature Series Strategy Guide (ARV $19.99) and the Guinness World Records 2010: Gamer's Edition book (ARV $14.99); check your emails!
  • For a list of complete rules, click here.
What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here. Oh, and if you're stumped by the trivia question above, this hint should help you choose the right answer.

JoystiqJoyswag: God of War 3, guide & Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brady-gamesgod-of-war-3guinness-world-recordsguinness-world-records-gamers-editionjoyswagstrategy-guidetriviaMon, 29 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kratos stands atop Mt. UK, Metro 2033 has strong sales debut]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/kratos-stands-atop-uk-sales-metro-2033-has-strong-debut/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/kratos-stands-atop-uk-sales-metro-2033-has-strong-debut/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/kratos-stands-atop-uk-sales-metro-2033-has-strong-debut/#comments
 God of War III quick time-evented the top spot from Final Fantasy XIII on the UK all-formats sales chart last week. Kratos' latest adventure outsold God of War II during its launch week 2.65 to 1, according to Chart-Track. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 retained the second spot for the week, while Final Fantasy XIII sales slipped 80 percent to summon third.

Where's the stalwart Just Dance, you ask? Why, it's in fourth place, of course. Surprisingly, THQ's Metro 2033, another quality title from the reinvented publisher, premiered in fifth -- a strong debut week for the post-apocalyptic dark horse, which had previously been a faint blip on the Q1 2010 radar.

Source - God of War 3 rules supreme [GFK Chart-Track]
Source - Latest UK Software Charts [GFK Chart-Track]

Continue reading Kratos stands atop Mt. UK, Metro 2033 has strong sales debut

JoystiqKratos stands atop Mt. UK, Metro 2033 has strong sales debut originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-bad-company-2chart-trackfinal-fantasy-xiiigod-of-war-3just-dancemetro-2033salessoftwareukMon, 22 Mar 2010 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA['God of War Trilogy' boxset announced for Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/god-of-war-trilogy-boxset-announced-for-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/god-of-war-trilogy-boxset-announced-for-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/god-of-war-trilogy-boxset-announced-for-europe/#comments We don't know how one box (unless it belongs to Pandora) can contain this much rage, but the God of War Trilogy boxset will rip Europe asunder in April. If it wasn't obvious from the title, the package contains all three titles in the anger management epic. Releasing at the same time as the God of War Collection, which includes the original game and the first sequel in one box, the Trilogy will cost €89.99 (£64.99), while the Collection requires a sacrifice of €39.99 (£24.99). Kratos's Blu-ray battle against the gods begins:
  • UK, Ireland, Germany and Austria: April 30, 2010
  • Australia and New Zealand: April 29, 2010
  • The remainder of PAL lands: April 28, 2010

We're currently following up with Sony America to find out if the Fates deem the States worthy of the trilogy set. Check out the full box after the break.

Update: There is no announcement for the Trilogy set in the States.

Gallery: God of War Collection

Continue reading 'God of War Trilogy' boxset announced for Europe

Joystiq'God of War Trilogy' boxset announced for Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-2god-of-war-3god-of-war-collectiongod-of-war-trilogySCEASONYSony-Computer-Entertainment-Americasony-europeMon, 22 Mar 2010 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War website teases 'Spartans Stand Tall']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/god-of-war-website-teases-spartans-stand-tall/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/god-of-war-website-teases-spartans-stand-tall/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/god-of-war-website-teases-spartans-stand-tall/#comments Earning a Platinum Trophy in God of War III will give you an elusive reward: a link to a secret page, hidden on the God of War website. The "Spartans Stand Tall" website doesn't feature much right now, other than falling rain and a shield with an upside-down V, possibly a Lambda sign -- wait, does this mean we're finally getting the Half-Life/God of War crossover we've been waiting for?

This could simply be a placeholder website for upcoming God of War DLC. Or, this could be hinting at a new Ready at Dawn-developed PSP game we've heard murmurs about. In fact, Chains of Olympus was revealed in exactly the same way, via a website hidden in God of War II on PS2. Considering the franchise's penchant for announcing new installments alongside the latest releases, we wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being a brand new game in the God of War universe. Stay tuned.

[Thanks, Bryan!]

JoystiqGod of War website teases 'Spartans Stand Tall' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-chains-of-olympusgod-of-war-iiigod-of-war-spartans-stand-tallspartans-stand-tallThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Get a 1,000 hit combo in God of War 3 the easy way]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/heres-an-easy-way-to-get-a-1-000-hit-combo-in-god-of-war-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/heres-an-easy-way-to-get-a-1-000-hit-combo-in-god-of-war-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/heres-an-easy-way-to-get-a-1-000-hit-combo-in-god-of-war-3/#comments Are you working your way to a Platinum in God of War III? You may want to check out this video, which helps you net Hit Man, one of the more challenging Trophies in the game. To get the award, you must perform a 1000 hit combo. Should your fighting skills not be up to snuff, there are two easy (but time consuming) ways of getting the achievement. It can take upwards of 20 minutes of mindless button mashing, but it's a sure-fire way of making sure you get the Bronze Trophy.

Check out the (rather cheap) strategies after the break.

[Via N4G]

Continue reading Get a 1,000 hit combo in God of War 3 the easy way

JoystiqGet a 1,000 hit combo in God of War 3 the easy way originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combogod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiitipstrophyWed, 17 Mar 2010 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War III launch trailer reveals violent tendencies of the PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/god-of-war-3-launch-trailer-reveals-violent-tendencies-of-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/god-of-war-3-launch-trailer-reveals-violent-tendencies-of-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/god-of-war-3-launch-trailer-reveals-violent-tendencies-of-ps3/#comments
There are a lot of totally awesome things in the God of War III launch trailer above: skydiving demigods, mountain-sized Titans, giant blue scorpions, and, of course, everyone's favorite chained antihero, Kratos -- to name a few. However, we'd like to specifically highlight the bit of PS3 marketing that ends all commercials for Sony-published games. This time around, it brags that the console only does "vengeance," "rage" and "everything," in that order.

We're imagining a scenario in which a Best Buy shopper asks a friendly sales clerk which gaming system would be the most appropriate for his kids ... and which one would be capable of "doing vengeance" on his in-laws.

JoystiqGod of War III launch trailer reveals violent tendencies of the PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-3santa-monica-studiosonysony-santa-monicatrailervideoTue, 16 Mar 2010 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War 3 'right within budget' -- a $44 million budget]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/god-of-war-3-has-44-million-dollar-budget/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/god-of-war-3-has-44-million-dollar-budget/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/god-of-war-3-has-44-million-dollar-budget/#comments Anger management simulator God of War III cost $44 million to create, according to director of production development John Hight, which is "right within budget." Speaking with Giant Bomb, Hight revealed that the team of 132 staff required to finish the third installment was more than double the crew (of about 60) on hand to wrap up God of War II, with the biggest growth occurring in the graphics and art departments.

Considering the ultimate Kratos adventure will likely go on to become a phenomenal sales hit, the $44 million budget isn't as ridiculous as it might seem. Consider that Gran Turismo 5's budget, at last count, had reportedly ballooned to around the $60 million mark. On the other hand, Ken Levine previously put the first BioShock's budget at about $15 million. With such variation in current-gen development costs, in the end, the price is just a number -- and in the case of God of War III, it was certainly worth the dough.

Gallery: God of War 3


[Via Edge]

JoystiqGod of War 3 'right within budget' -- a $44 million budget originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budgetgod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiijohn-hightsanta-monica-studiosony-santa-monicaTue, 09 Mar 2010 11:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: God of War III]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/08/god-of-war-3-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/08/god-of-war-3-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/08/god-of-war-3-review/#comments You know how Kratos' battle against the gods of Olympus is known for its massive, insane action sequences spread throughout? Well, some genius (or likely several geniuses) at Sony's Santa Monica Studio had the brilliant idea of making a whole game just out of those incredible moments. It was rare that I went 15 minutes without my jaw dropping at the immense size, stunning beauty or sheer creativity of the set piece I was now scaling or destroying.

I'm willing to agree that God of War III is just "God of War HD," provided that "HD" stands for "Holy Shit."

Gallery: God of War 3

Continue reading Review: God of War III

JoystiqReview: God of War III originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiisanta-monica-studiosonysony-santa-monicaMon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Download an MP3 from the official God of War III soundtrack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/download-an-mp3-from-the-official-god-of-war-iii-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/download-an-mp3-from-the-official-god-of-war-iii-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/download-an-mp3-from-the-official-god-of-war-iii-soundtrack/#comments Like good, sane people, our friends at AOL Radio are huge fans of God of War. They've not only managed to add the entire God of War III original soundtrack to the Video Games Score station, but they're also giving away a free downloadable MP3 from the upcoming PS3 game. "Brothers of Blood," composed by Cris Velasco, has everything you'd expect from a God of War instrumental track: a brass-heavy orchestral score with dramatic choral singing.

Should you want your morning commute to get a little more vengeance-y, head over to the AOL Radio blog to download the MP3 onto your favorite MP3 player.

JoystiqDownload an MP3 from the official God of War III soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadgod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiimp3soundtrackFri, 05 Mar 2010 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Kratos talks fashion in GameStop God of War 3 video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/kratos-talks-fashion-in-gamestop-god-of-war-3-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/kratos-talks-fashion-in-gamestop-god-of-war-3-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/kratos-talks-fashion-in-gamestop-god-of-war-3-video/#comments You've got to hand it to those PlayStation and GameStop marketing people: They know how to speak our language. Take note, wannabees: If you've got an exclusive God of War III outfit to show off, you could show Kratos flipping out and killing people in it. But why do that when you could show him having a polite conversation with a mythological beast about his ensemble choice? Why indeed.

Fun fact: Kratos has more dialog in this trailer than in God of War I and II combined. It's true!

JoystiqKratos talks fashion in GameStop God of War 3 video originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiisanta-monica-studiosonyThu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War: Blood and Metal for $1.99]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/god-of-war-blood-and-metal-for-1-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/god-of-war-blood-and-metal-for-1-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/god-of-war-blood-and-metal-for-1-99/#comments $2 isn't much to ask for when delivering something one can really bang his (or her!) head to -- and you can nab God of War: Blood and Metal for that price right now. Featuring six different previously detailed artists, this particular mixture of metal madness celebrates God of War III and will be included in the Ultimate Edition box set.

Of course, you probably already knew that, considering you already built a shrine around your pre-order receipt. We really like the crimson candles, by the way. Nice touch.

[Via VG247]

JoystiqGod of War: Blood and Metal for $1.99 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blood-and-metaldream-theatergod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-blood-and-metalgod-of-war-iiikillswitch-engagemutiny-withinopethsoundtracktaking-downtriviumWed, 03 Mar 2010 15:42:00 EST<![CDATA['Revenge Starts Here' in European God of War III TV ad]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/revenge-starts-here-in-european-god-of-war-iii-tv-ad/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/revenge-starts-here-in-european-god-of-war-iii-tv-ad/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/revenge-starts-here-in-european-god-of-war-iii-tv-ad/#comments Although it commanded a large presence at E3, Sony has been otherwise quiet about God of War III. With the game's release only weeks away, Sony has opened the floodgates, revealing new footage, highlighting new levels, and most importantly, advertising the game on TV. The European markets are treated to an ad which simply states "Revenge Starts Here." The ad doesn't need a gimmick: it simply relies on real-time footage of the game.

Check it out after the break.

[Via TheSixthAxis]

Continue reading 'Revenge Starts Here' in European God of War III TV ad

Joystiq'Revenge Starts Here' in European God of War III TV ad originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurecommercialeuropegod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiiMon, 01 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: John Hight, God of War III director of product development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/god-of-war-3-product-development-john-hight-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/god-of-war-3-product-development-john-hight-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/god-of-war-3-product-development-john-hight-interview/#comments John Hight runs Sony's Santa Monica studio and oversees the entire God of War 3 team. He makes sure that everyone is happy, that the game is going to ship on time, and that it's going to be something you'll want to play. Read on to learn more from him about the the future of the franchise, the possibility of multiplayer, the God of War movie and why he hasn't played Dante's Inferno (yet).

Continue reading Interview: John Hight, God of War III director of product development

JoystiqInterview: John Hight, God of War III director of product development originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>God-of-WarGod-of-War-3God-of-War-IIIinterviewJohn-Hightsanta-monica-studioscesonysony-santa-monicaMon, 01 Mar 2010 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Adam Puhl, God of War III's combat designer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/god-of-war-3-lead-combat-designer-adam-puhl-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/god-of-war-3-lead-combat-designer-adam-puhl-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/god-of-war-3-lead-combat-designer-adam-puhl-interview/#comments As lead combat designer of God of War III, Adam Puhl has the enviable position of creating an arsenal of weapons and abilities fit to take down the gods. I recently spoke with Adam about the design process for such a titanic task and the pressures of surpassing the first two God of War games. Additionally, Adam offered his gameplay reactions to Dante's Inferno and Darksiders, two recent action-adventures that owe a lot to the God of War series.

Read on after the break for the full interview.

Gallery: God of War 3

Continue reading Interview: Adam Puhl, God of War III's combat designer

JoystiqInterview: Adam Puhl, God of War III's combat designer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-puhlgod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiiinterviewsanta-monica-studioscesonysony-santa-monicaMon, 01 Mar 2010 12:57:00 EST