Joystiq

Retailer taking pre-orders for God of War 4

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EST

Though it still doesn't exist officially, God of War 4 is now available for pre-order at BT Games, a South African retailer. This is the same BT Games that leaked Mass Effect 3's multiplayer and the Jak and Daxter Collection's, so there's precedence for this being more than an ambitious placeholder. We've also confirmed that they operate based on information given by local distributors.

The site gives "Feb 2013" as the game's expected ship date, but that's a bit more nebulous in its reliability at this point. Still, add this listing with Sony Santa Monica's search for a Senior Staff Concept Artist and Timothy Williams' affirmation that he is indeed working on God of War 4's orchestral score, and we feel confident in saying -- yes -- there may be yet another game in a super popular franchise.

Retailer taking pre-orders for God of War 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Santa Monica hiring for unannounced God of War title

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:55:00 EST

A job listing for Sony Santa Monica notes the studio is working on a new God of War, confirming that the sun will rise tomorrow and that McDonalds' french fries are, indeed, the best. The job listing is for a "Senior Staff Concept Artist," so, if you're available, we look forward to seeing your work translated in-game sometime in the next couple years.

In March, the studio was also on the hunt for a senior online programmer with experience in "designing and implementing systems and tools to support networking needs," which immediately got us thinking Gods of Wars, as in multiplayer.

The rumors are the next installment in the God of War franchise will eviscerate demons of Greek legend in new and gory ways during the 2012 holiday season.

Sony Santa Monica hiring for unannounced God of War title originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War: Origins Collection demo hits PSN tomorrow for Plus members, next week for everyone

Jordan Mallory — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST

The life of a Spartan is hard, you know? Not only do you spend the majority of your time battling the will of the gods and/or Freddy Krueger, but you've also got to deal with Ready at Dawn rebuilding your entire body from scratch. Being completely reconstituted from the ground up is a serious drag on a wrathful deity's love life, but it looks like the reconstruction process is nearly finished, as the God of War: Origins Collection demo will soon make its way into your living room.

PlayStation Plus members itchin' for some PSP-remake action can get their hands dirty as early as tomorrow, while plebeian un-Plus members will have to quell their bloodlust until September 6. Full stereoscopic 3D will be included in the demo as well, so if you've got a 3D-capable display and an action-capable attitude, the only thing keeping you from olympian glory is yourself. Unless you're not a PlayStation Plus member; that will also keep you from olympian glory, for one week.

God of War: Origins Collection demo hits PSN tomorrow for Plus members, next week for everyone originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ready at Dawn gets technical about God of War: Origins Collection on PS3

David Hinkle — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:30:00 EST

Oh, you just thought they tighten up the graphics a bit and call it a day, huh? No way, José -- converting PSP games that run at 480 x 272, 30 frames a second, to full 1080p, 60 frames a second is no small task. Ready at Dawn had to get its hands dirty and create a custom PS3 version of its internal engine for God of War: Origins Collection, Nathan Phail-Liff recounted on the PlayStation Blog today.

"We ended up going through every single character in the game and doubling or tripling polygon count by hand, as well as up-rezing and re-painting every texture across both games at 4x resolution on both characters and environments," Phail-Liff said. He also said Ready at Dawn had to re-render every cutscene from Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta in the new PS3 engine. Finally, there's also going to be full stereoscopic 3D support in both games.

God of War: Origins Collection launches for the PS3 on September 13, 2011.

Ready at Dawn gets technical about God of War: Origins Collection on PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War Master Collection 'currently' only for Germany

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:15:00 EST

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.

God 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.

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God of War 'Master Collection' spotted on Amazon.de

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST

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]

God 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.

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God of War Origins Collection announced, bringing PSP titles to PS3 with 3D support

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:46:00 EST

He just. Can't. Be. Stopped. As hinted at last month, everyone's favorite furious blade-spinner will return to the PS3 in God of War Origins Collection, a 3D-enabled compilation of God of War: Ghost of Sparta and Chains of Olympus -- Ready at Dawn's two PSP entries into the franchise. Keep an eye out for Origins in September.

God of War Origins Collection announced, bringing PSP titles to PS3 with 3D support originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War development team hiring online programmer

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

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.

God 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.

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Mass Effect 2 wins GOTY, RPG, storytelling awards at DICE 2011

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:46:00 EST

Tonight's 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (i.e., the DICE awards) saw Mass Effect 2 cruise off with honors for Game of the Year, RPG of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Story. However, Red Dead Redemption ended up with more trophies, riding away with wins for Action Game of the Year and Outstanding Character Performance, along with Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, Art Direction and Gameplay Engineering.

The portable and casual categories were filled with rage, as God of War: Ghost of Sparta won the award for Portable Game of the Year, while Casual Game of the Year went to the ferocious fowls of Angry Birds HD.

Check out the full list of award recipients after the break.

Continue reading Mass Effect 2 wins GOTY, RPG, storytelling awards at DICE 2011

Mass Effect 2 wins GOTY, RPG, storytelling awards at DICE 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Kratos in Mortal Kombat, exclusively on PS3

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST

It seems that the constantly furious Kratos of God of War fame could be appearing exclusively on the PlayStation 3 version of this February's Mortal Kombat. Fighting game site Shoryuken claims the January issue of PlayStation: The Official Magazine will detail as much, though copies of the magazine have yet to arrive in readers' hands.

The Grecian rage machine will purportedly not appear in the game's story mode, but will rip apart characters in versus. Also, if the rumor is true, we're putting this out there right now: fatality featuring a stampeding Pegasus. Just sayin'! Anyway, between the issue's impending release and the nearing VGAs, we hope to hear more on Kratos' cameo soon. Who's next? Link in the Wii version -- oh, wait a minute ...

[Thanks, Adam]

Rumor: Kratos in Mortal Kombat, exclusively on PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Kratos yourself' (or your cat) with God of War: Ghost of Sparta web app

Randy Nelson — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 03:15:00 EST

PlayStation UK has created a handy web app that can transform a normal headshot of yourself (or your dog, cat, life-size cardboard standee of Burt Reynolds, etc.) into the spitting image of the Ghost of Sparta himself, Kratos. Perfect for seeing if you can rock that red, full-face tattoo you want.

'Kratos yourself' (or your cat) with God of War: Ghost of Sparta web app originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Nov 2010 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War: Ghost of Sparta review: This Spartan stands tall

Randy Nelson — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:01:00 EST

The past 12 months have been very good to fans of the God of War franchise. Nearly a year ago, we got HD versions of the original PS2 game and its sequel, followed by the excellent God of War III for PS3. Then came the revelation that Ready At Dawn, developer of the knockout God of War: Chains of Olympus for PSP, was returning to the system with a brand new entry, God of War: Ghost of Sparta.

As great as Chains of Olympus had been, the idea that a portable God of War could satisfy after the epic PS3 iteration seemed, well, like it would take an act of ... gods. It's a good thing, then, that Ready At Dawn clearly drew on some otherworldly powers in creating Ghost of Sparta: a game that upholds the standard of quality in gameplay, storytelling and sheer wow factor of the series, while also -- like Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker before it -- blurring the lines between portable and console experiences with its amazing presentation.

Gallery: God of War: Ghost of Sparta

Continue reading God of War: Ghost of Sparta review: This Spartan stands tall

God of War: Ghost of Sparta review: This Spartan stands tall originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War Collection coming to PSN in November

Ludwig Kietzmann — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:31:00 EST

Does the very thought of standing up, walking to your PlayStation 3 and inserting a Blu-ray disc incite utter, uncontrollable rage? In an effort to counter vengeful rampages against Sony's higher management, the publisher has announced a downloadable version of God of War Collection.

Set to arrive on Tuesday, November 2, alongside God of War: Ghost of Sparta, the PlayStation Network compilation will feature the remastered God of War and God of War 2 -- both running in 720p native resolution at 60 frames per second -- but will not include any of the bonus content from the Blu-ray release.

According to the European PlayStation Blog, the greek growl-a-thons will be sold separately for €18/£14 each, or as a bundle for €30/£24. That's quite a bit higher than the cost of the Blu-ray collection, and we hope the observation won't apply to the US price when it's announced. You have enough reasons to be angry as it is -- just look at how far away the remote control is today.

Gallery: God of War Collection

God of War Collection coming to PSN in November originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War: Ghost of Sparta demo for PlayStation Plus next week

Randy Nelson — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST

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

Now this is totally cooler than discounts on PS3 service plans: next Tuesday, September 7, those with subscriptions to Sony's PlayStation Plus service will score an early download of the God of War: Ghost of Sparta demo. No word yet on a non-subscriber date for the demo. We'll keep you posted.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta demo for PlayStation Plus next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony invites public to God of War documentary taping in Los Angeles

Mike Schramm — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:00:00 EST

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

If you live in Los Angeles and love God of War, you're in luck. Sony is getting the directors of all of the God of War games so far -- that's David Jaffe, Cory Barlog, Stig Asmussen, Ru Weerasuiya and Dana Jan, for those of you keeping score -- together this Wednesday in the City of Angels to film a documentary extra for the upcoming Ghost of Sparta preorder bundle, and it's inviting the public to watch.

Starting at 4:00 p.m. PDT on September 1, fans can arrive at the El Portal theater in North Hollywood, and the first 150 on the scene (which means you better show up early) will get seats to see the show. You can RSVP on the Facebook page (though it doesn't appear that you have to -- it's just first come, first served) and you must be 18+ or accompanied by a parent to enter. Sony's also promising "gifts and prizes for all in attendance," so if you make it in, you'll probably get to take something home, too. We mean besides the insight and wit of David Jaffe and company.

Sony invites public to God of War documentary taping in Los Angeles originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War: Ghost of Sparta special edition PSP revealed

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:20:00 EST

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

PlayStation Blog released a few images of the special edition PSP, seen above, included in the God of War: Ghost of Sparta bundle. It just ... looks angry, doesn't it? Like, we rarely imbue inanimate objects with human emotions, but that thing looks like it wants to cut us while we sleep.

Continue reading God of War: Ghost of Sparta special edition PSP revealed

God of War: Ghost of Sparta special edition PSP revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spoof God of War movie trailer is so indie

Richard Mitchell — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:30:00 EST

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

Spoof 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.

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Preview: God of War: Ghost of Sparta

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

"Every end has a beginning," the trailer for God of War: Ghost of Sparta tells us. Yet, considering how savaged Greek mythology is by the end of God of War 3, Ghost of Sparta seems a bit out of place. A new God of War prequel from Chains of Olympus developer Ready at Dawn should be cause for celebration, but perhaps it's too soon after God of War 3 -- my excitement was definitely abated when I picked up the PSP system and started playing. It felt too safe, too familiar.

That's not to say that Ghost of Sparta is bad. In fact, it's very good -- Ready at Dawn's handheld wizardry has managed to improve even more, with visuals that seem impossible on Sony's aging portable. And it's not just a pretty face: there are some new gameplay features as well, including a few refinements carried over from the PS3 game. Chains of Olympus stands as the most critically acclaimed PSP game to date, and it seems Ghost of Sparta has a chance of besting such a lofty goal.

The core mechanics will be instantly familiar to anyone who has played a God of War game. At this point, Kratos' repertoire of dual-chain attacks should be part of muscle memory. There are a few additions that make the combat feel new and fun. The "Hyperion Charge," for example, allows you to run at enemies and tackle them. Additional button presses let you bash at the enemy, MMA style, or throw it as a meatbag projectile.

Gallery: God of War: Ghost of Sparta (E3 2010)

Continue reading Preview: God of War: Ghost of Sparta

Preview: God of War: Ghost of Sparta originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Los Angeles residents invited to playtest Ghost of Sparta

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:15:00 EST

If you live in Los Angeles, and are at least 18 years old, and you know your way around a God of War game, and you're capable of signing a Non-Disclosure agreement, then this is one heck of a coincidence. Sony is currently looking for people matching that very description to come check out Kratos' next handheld adventure: God of War: Ghost of Sparta, this Thursday.

To apply, just email SCEA Santa Monica with your name, address, phone number, and whether you'd prefer to join in the 11 a.m. to noon session, or the 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. session. We suggest going with the first one, so that you don't have to see them cleaning up the goat offal left over from their bacchanalian lunchtime feast.

Los Angeles residents invited to playtest Ghost of Sparta originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 May 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAFTA-winning God of War writer working on Shank

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:30:00 EST

While you wouldn't think a game with a title as brutally simple as Shank would need a heavyweight in the whole "writing" department, Electronic Arts recently announced that Marianne Krawczyk, who won a BAFTA award for her work on the God of War franchise, will contribute to Klei Entertainment's action-platformer.

In a recent EA press release, Krawczyk said, "we are creating a story that will allow gamers to explore a world where values like integrity and loyalty take on their own twisted meanings." We assume said story will be related between opportunities to stab things using two knives simultaneously -- a genre which is quickly becoming Krawczyk's literary bread-and-butter.

BAFTA-winning God of War writer working on Shank originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 May 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War novel ravages retail May 25, first chapter online

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 11 May 2010 22:30:00 EST

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.

God 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.

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God of War: Ghost of Sparta brings Kratos back to PSP

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:17:00 EST

God of Whoa: Click to browse high-res gallery.

It looks like we finally know what the "Spartans Stand Tall" teaser site was all about. Sony has just announced God of War: Ghost of Sparta, a new PSP-exclusive game developed by Ready At Dawn Studios, the same team responsible for Chains of Olympus. "Excitement for the God of War franchise is at an all-time high and we're thrilled to continue that momentum with God of War: Ghost of Sparta," Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA, said in a press release. "This new adventure will showcase Kratos on PSP like never before in an experience that fans and newcomers can enjoy on the go, anytime, anywhere."

Ghost of Sparta features Kratos once again, this time in an adventure that takes place after the first God of War on PS2 and delves into Kratos' rise to power. According to Sony, Ready At Dawn will utilize "state-of-the-art visual technologies" that will allow "higher quality environments and characters." In addition, Ghost of Sparta will offer "over 25% more gameplay" than its PSP predecessor, while adding more enemies on screen, and a greater number of boss encounters.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta is planned for release "later this year." We expect a lot more to be revealed at E3.

Gallery: God of War: Ghost of Sparta

God of War: Ghost of Sparta brings Kratos back to PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 May 2010 09:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How God of War 3 could have ended

JC Fletcher — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST

The 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.

How 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.

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Mystery Spartan stands tall on God of War teaser site

James Ransom-Wiley — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

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]

Mystery 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.

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March NPD: Pokemon and Kratos catch all the money

JC Fletcher — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:15:00 EST

The 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

March 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.

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Dille: God of War 3 took 'just a couple days' to sell one million

Randy Nelson — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:57:00 EST

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]

Dille: 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.

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'God of War Trilogy' boxset announced for Europe

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:45:00 EST

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

'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.

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God of War website teases 'Spartans Stand Tall'

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST

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!]

God 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.

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

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:45:00 EST

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

Get 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.

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Peruse the God of War copyright infringement judgment

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST

The Hollywood Reporter has uploaded the 27-page judgment [PDF link] in the God of War copyright infringement case. The case was already revealed as dismissed last week, but the full document bestows all the gritty details upon us mortals.

In her summary, Judge Marilyn Hall Patel notes, "An examination of articulable similarities between the plot, themes, dialogue, mood, settings, pace, characters and sequence of events of God of War and plaintiffs' works reveals far less similarity than would be required to overcome summary judgment, even if plaintiffs had proven access. Plaintiffs have pointed to no persuasive similarity in dialogue or narration that would suggest actual copying."

Reading the entire decision reveals that Sony was on the money with its original assertion that alleged similarities were "inaccurate, incomplete, abstracted and/or misleading."

Peruse the God of War copyright infringement judgment originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War III launch trailer reveals violent tendencies of the PS3

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:55:00 EST

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.

God 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.

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Kratos offers some 'Sex Therapy' in X-Play music video

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST

Real or not, this God of War music video is absolutely hilarious. Set to Robin Thicke's "Sex Therapy," the music video made its premiere on X-Play tonight. We've learned two things from watching this clip: 1) Kratos' character design looks ridiculous outside of the game's context and 2) Kratos should never, ever show his "softer" side.

Too bad this video isn't going to be used by Sony for promotional purposes. As revealed by this behind-the-scenes video, it's a rather elaborate experiment conducted by G4. It is quite possibly the greatest thing the network has ever done, and deserves a look after the break.

Continue reading Kratos offers some 'Sex Therapy' in X-Play music video

Kratos offers some 'Sex Therapy' in X-Play music video originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War copyright suit dismissed, Jaffe reveals document

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:45:00 EST

Game developer David Jaffe has posted on his personal blog what appears to be a dismissal notice of a 2008 lawsuit against him and Sony over God of War. There is no further explanation given, so unless Jaffe is starting some obtuse alternate reality game, we'll take the document at face value.

The lawsuit was an alleged copyright infringement claim, filed by a pair of plaintiffs who had submitted a screenplay entitled Olympiad to Sony Pictures in 2002. At the time, they claimed there were several similarities between their work and God of War. Sony called the alleged similarities "inaccurate, incomplete, abstracted and/or misleading." Apparently a judge in the northern district court of California agreed.

[Via Kotaku]

God of War copyright suit dismissed, Jaffe reveals document originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War 3 'right within budget' -- a $44 million budget

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:06:00 EST

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]

God 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.

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Review: God of War III

Justin McElroy — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST

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

Review: 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.

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Download an MP3 from the official God of War III soundtrack

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:15:00 EST

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.

Download 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.

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Kratos talks fashion in GameStop God of War 3 video

Justin McElroy — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST

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!

Kratos 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.

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God of War: Blood and Metal for $1.99

David Hinkle — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:42:00 EST

$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]

God 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.

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Kratos' Blade of Chaos up for sale, some strings attached

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST

We know that there are a few cutlery enthusiasts out there who read that headline and immediately clicked the source link to purchase Kratos' Blade of Chaos from retailer BUDK. Before you do so, you should take into account a few facts:

Kratos' weapons are being sold piecemeal on the site, so that $123.99 price tag only represents the cost of a single Blade. What's the point of having a single Blade of Chaos? Unless you're ironically cosplaying as Amputee Kratos, you're going to need two, so you should mentally jack that price up to $247.98.
Replica swords are dangerous.
Replica swords that you attach to your wrists with chains and then swing around like a madman are extremely dangerous.

Kratos' Blade of Chaos up for sale, some strings attached originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST

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

'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.

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