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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Amnesia dev shares secrets of evolving the horror genre]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/amnesia-dev-shares-secrets-of-evolving-the-horror-genre/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/amnesia-dev-shares-secrets-of-evolving-the-horror-genre/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/amnesia-dev-shares-secrets-of-evolving-the-horror-genre/#comments ImageFrictional Games proved it knows how to make a game that would scare the bejeezus out of Beelzebub himself with Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but there's always room for improvement. Frictional's Thomas Grip has compiled a list of 10 items that can "take horror games to the next level," and (surprisingly) it doesn't begin with "Everything opposite of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City." It does, however, touch on a few points that could have put the "horror" back into that particular survival-horror title.

Grip suggests "minimal combat," "long build-up" and "doubt" are essential to evolve the horror genre, and we've already seen these aspects work wonderfully in Amnesia. Another aspect Grip notes is "no enemies," which he clarifies as follows: "What I mean is that we need to stop thinking of any creatures that we put into the game as 'enemies.' The word enemy makes us think about war and physical conflict, which is really not the focus in a horror game."

Grip's list seems to focus on different approaches to immersion and connecting to players on an emotional, human level before ensuring they won't be able to sleep properly for a few weeks at least. All 10 points are described in full on Frictional's blog.

Perhaps we'll see a few of these fleshed out in Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, a sequel in development by thechineseroom and overseen by Frictional itself.

JoystiqAmnesia dev shares secrets of evolving the horror genre originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amnesia-a-machine-for-pigsamnesia-the-dark-descentFrictional-GameshorrorpcthechineseroomThomas-GriptipsTue, 01 May 2012 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Bethesda teases first concept of Mikami's 'Zwei,' explains what 'pure survival horror' means]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/bethesda-teases-first-concept-of-mikamis-zwei-explains-what/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/bethesda-teases-first-concept-of-mikamis-zwei-explains-what/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/bethesda-teases-first-concept-of-mikamis-zwei-explains-what/#comments ImageAfter Tango Gameworks head and veteran game dev Shinji Mikami outed news on his current game, "Project Zwei," to Famitsu earlier this week, publisher Bethesda apparently decided to do its own big debut. In an email missive early this morning, Bethesda announced Mikami's project as "the realization of *pure* survival horror" (Bethesda's asterisks, not ours), and included a collage of various environments in Zwei, "that communicate the tone and direction that the production is taking."

Mikami said true survival horror is a situation "in which the player confronts and overcomes fear." From that note, we can only assume that the Black Eyed Peas must play some role in Zwei. Mikami added, "I've found my focus and once again I'm striving for pure survival horror. I am being very hands-on in the development of this game to ensure that the quality is there. Rest assured."

As reported earlier, the game is still in the initial stages of development (as evidenced by the collage of environments above). It's expected to launch on "HD consoles" at some point in 2013.

JoystiqBethesda teases first concept of Mikami's 'Zwei,' explains what 'pure survival horror' means originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-game-studiosbethesda-softworksconcepthorrormicrosoftplaystationproject-zweips3shinji-mikamisurvival-horrortangotango-gameworksxboxzenimax-mediazweiThu, 26 Apr 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs aims to frighten you, even if you know what to expect]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs-aims-to-frighten-you-even-if-you-kn/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs-aims-to-frighten-you-even-if-you-kn/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs-aims-to-frighten-you-even-if-you-kn/#comments Amnesia proved, among other things, that atmosphere is one of the most important aspects in a horror title, trumping jumpy music, grotesque character designs and top-of-the-line graphics -- but now imagine Amnesia's panicked, clammy tone coming from a game as dark and beautiful as Dear Esther. Pure terror.

This is what Amnesia developer Frictional Games has charged Dear Esther's thechineseroom with accomplishing in Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.

"The thing is, if we don't frighten people as much as the original, then we've failed," Dan Pinchbeck of thechineseroom told Gamasutra. "But now we have to frighten people that know what to expect. The big design challenge is: How do we protect the things that make Amnesia great, and how do we evolve everything else to make a really fresh experience?"

Pinchbeck wants players to be reminded of the original Amnesia with each shiver of fear, but to be so enthralled by the new, horrific world that it will feel as if "something has burrowed into your head and is just scratching its nails at you. But you're so hooked. Inside, you're peeling away like bodies from a pile and you just can't stop yourself," Pinchbeck said.

Now that sounds like fun.

JoystiqAmnesia: A Machine for Pigs aims to frighten you, even if you know what to expect originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amnesiaamnesia-a-machine-for-pigsamnesia-the-dark-descentdan-pinchbeckFrictional-GameshorrorpcthechineseroomThu, 29 Mar 2012 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Creepy Japanese title Nanashi no Game phones in a sequel (in Japan)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/creepy-japanese-title-nanashi-no-game-phones-in-a-sequel-in-jap/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/creepy-japanese-title-nanashi-no-game-phones-in-a-sequel-in-jap/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/creepy-japanese-title-nanashi-no-game-phones-in-a-sequel-in-jap/#comments

Call us masochists, but we were really looking forward to the stateside release of Japanese horror title Nanashi no Game, or its sequel, Nanashi no Game Me (trailer above) for the DS. Neither of these made the trip -- evil spirits are afraid of flying, we assume -- and now there is one more Nanashi no Game title we can feel left out on, Nanashi no Appli, out today for iOS devices in Japan.

Nanashi no Appli follows the same story as its predecessors, Andriasang reports, where you play as someone who downloads a cursed RPG, which gives you one week (whisper: seven days) to complete it before you die. Nanashi no Appli features Twitter connectivity, a virtual OS that decomposes as the game progresses, and 3D sound, so you never know exactly where those disembodied voices are coming from.

An Android version will be released in February, also in Japan. Maybe it's better that way.

JoystiqCreepy Japanese title Nanashi no Game phones in a sequel (in Japan) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcreepydshorroriosipadiphoneJapanmobileNanashi-no-Applinanashi-no-gamenanashi-no-game-2nintendothe-ringThu, 26 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Home' is a pixel-art horror adventure game from Benjamin Rivers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/home-is-a-pixel-art-horror-adventure-game-from-benjamin-rivers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/home-is-a-pixel-art-horror-adventure-game-from-benjamin-rivers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/home-is-a-pixel-art-horror-adventure-game-from-benjamin-rivers/#comments
We've got a bit of a penchant for the macabre here at Joystiq, and as far as we're concerned, horror themes are drastically underrepresented in both adventure games and pixel art. It's a massive oversight in the industry, but one-man indie development studio Benjamin Rivers may fill that esoteric void in our blackened little hearts with Home, a "unique horror adventure."

In Home, players wake to find themselves trapped in a strange and mysterious house, with no recollection of how they got there, or who put them there. Beyond its charming aesthetic, Home's main selling point is its dynamic plot, which is said to unfold in a myriad of different ways, depending how the player completes certain tasks, and in what order. No word yet on platform, price or anticipated release date, though we suspect a PC/Steam release to be most likely. Consider our interest thoroughly piqued.

Gallery: Home (10/23/2011)

Joystiq'Home' is a pixel-art horror adventure game from Benjamin Rivers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurebenjamin-rivershomehorrorindiepixel-artSun, 23 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Science picks Dead Space 2 as 360's scariest game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/science-picks-dead-space-2-as-360s-scariest-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/science-picks-dead-space-2-as-360s-scariest-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/science-picks-dead-space-2-as-360s-scariest-game/#comments You could rely on your friends, game critics or helpful GameStop sales associates to tell you which games are scary, but that's so two-thousand-and-late. We're sticking with science, thanks to this helpful feature from Gamasutra, which used player feedback and biometric data to rate not only the most frightening games, but their most horrifying moments. [Update: The study itself was conducted by Vertical Slice, so if you're looking for dream jobs in the research field, that's where we'd start.)

A victor was picked, but some of the study's other conclusions were more interesting. For instance: The threat of combat was typically scarier than combat itself. Also, gore, while provocative, wasn't, particularly frightening. The game that understood those concepts the best? Well, that would be Dead Space 2, which took the brass ring over Condemned, Alan Wake and Resident Evil 5.

Presumably, Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis was not in the running.

JoystiqScience picks Dead Space 2 as 360's scariest game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>condemneddead-space-2gamasutrahorrormicrosoftresident-evil-5xboxThu, 08 Sep 2011 19:56:00 EST<![CDATA[FEAR 3 trailer gets in the heads of John Carpenter and Steve Niles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/fear-3-trailer-gets-in-the-heads-of-john-carpenter-and-steve-nil/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/fear-3-trailer-gets-in-the-heads-of-john-carpenter-and-steve-nil/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/fear-3-trailer-gets-in-the-heads-of-john-carpenter-and-steve-nil/#comments Few people on this Earth know more about spooking the meek like director John Carpenter and comic writer Steve Niles. Check out the video below to see them talk about the scares they contributed to FEAR 3 -- don't worry, the video itself isn't too terrifying. Unless you're afraid of mustaches.

Continue reading FEAR 3 trailer gets in the heads of John Carpenter and Steve Niles

JoystiqFEAR 3 trailer gets in the heads of John Carpenter and Steve Niles originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Day-1-StudiosFear-3horrorjohn-carpentermicrosoftpcplaystationps3steve-nilesWarner-Bros-InteractivexboxFri, 17 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Suda and Mikami get silly in Shadows of the Damned dev diary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/suda-and-mikami-get-silly-in-shadows-of-the-damned-dev-diary/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/suda-and-mikami-get-silly-in-shadows-of-the-damned-dev-diary/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/suda-and-mikami-get-silly-in-shadows-of-the-damned-dev-diary/#comments Watch as famous game designers Goichi Suda and Shinji Mikami pretend to strangle each another, act like zombies and generally goof off. The point? They're promoting Shadows of the Damned, the new survival-horror title they're co-developing for EA. Oh, there's plenty of gameplay footage in here, too.

Continue reading Suda and Mikami get silly in Shadows of the Damned dev diary

JoystiqSuda and Mikami get silly in Shadows of the Damned dev diary originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actioneaElectronic-Artsgoichi-sudagrasshopper-manufacturehorrormicrosoftplaystationps3shadows-of-the-damnedShinji-Mikamisuda-51xboxFri, 29 Apr 2011 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Realms of the Haunting added to GOG lineup]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/realms-of-the-haunting-added-to-gog-lineup/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/realms-of-the-haunting-added-to-gog-lineup/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/realms-of-the-haunting-added-to-gog-lineup/#comments

This week's GOG addition is fairly easy to convey, provided you're addressing a crowd of people who love goodish, old-ish PC games. Realms of the Haunting, developed by Gremlin Interactive (which eventually became part of Infogrames), combines nearly every endearing and sometimes ill-advised artifact of many story-driven adventure games from the '90s.

It has oddly paced and compressed-to-death FMV sequences, a clunky inventory system, some awkward first-person exploration and shooting, and at least one decapitated rat. If nostalgia and a desire for a paranormal mystery are looking for a spooky rendezvous, they might find one in Realms of the Haunting for $5.99.

GOG's also looking to add something a bit more modern -- the PC version of Arc System Works fighter Guilty Gear X2 #Reload is coming to the service "soon."

JoystiqRealms of the Haunting added to GOG lineup originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureGOGgremlin-interactiveguilty-gear-x2-reloadhorrorpcRealms-of-the-HauntingWed, 06 Apr 2011 03:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Best case scenario: Del Toro's 'Lovecraftian' THQ game in 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/best-case-scenario-del-toros-lovecraftian-thq-game-in-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/best-case-scenario-del-toros-lovecraftian-thq-game-in-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/best-case-scenario-del-toros-lovecraftian-thq-game-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Pan's Labyrinth director and The Strain co-author Guillermo Del Toro has confirmed earlier reports that he's collaborating with THQ on high-profile video games. Speaking to MTV news, Del Toro said talks involved "huge games, huge world creation and long deadlines." How long, exactly?

"With THQ we're looking at around a three year developing deadline for each game," he said. Though it's unclear how many projects are encompassed by the deal, the director claimed each is being explored in a "serious" manner. "Expect the first game, best case scenario, 2013." You can also expect it to be a "Lovecraftian thing" and a "very different type of horror game."

Del Toro also recounted his experience with the cancelled "Sundown," one of several games that he had pitched in 2006. "It was eerily similar to Left 4 Dead, which I adore and am addicted to and that, in the household, is considered a 'family game.'"

Wait ... if that's a family game, can you imagine how scary this THQ collaboration will be? We were just going to go with a "Boo Blox" joke, you know?

JoystiqBest case scenario: Del Toro's 'Lovecraftian' THQ game in 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013guillermo-del-torohorrorinsanethqWed, 29 Sep 2010 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Get uncomfortable with Saw 2 release date and new art]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/get-uncomfortable-with-saw-2-release-date-and-new-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/get-uncomfortable-with-saw-2-release-date-and-new-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/get-uncomfortable-with-saw-2-release-date-and-new-art/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When Konami suggested a Halloween release for Saw 2: Flesh & Blood at E3, it apparently meant Halloween-ish. Uncertainty is part of setting a devious trap, after all. The publisher today announced the October 19 release date of the game, "just in time for the release of Saw VII 3D, the seventh installment of the popular horror franchise from Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures."

Along with the date, Konami has sent out some new Saw 2 concept art. "Just the silhouette of the character in the trap had to make the viewer uncomfortable," producer John Williamson explains. "You had to know instantly that something bad was going to happen to this person if you didn't get them out." If you're thinking, "Why on Earth would I want to be uncomfortable," you aren't the target market for this game.

Gallery: Saw 2: Flesh & Blood (Concept Art)

Continue reading Get uncomfortable with Saw 2 release date and new art

JoystiqGet uncomfortable with Saw 2 release date and new art originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HorrorKonamimicrosoftplaystationps3q4-2010Release-datesaw-2saw-2-flesh-and-bloodSurvival-HorrorxboxZombie-StudiosMon, 23 Aug 2010 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill 2 movie production currently stuck in limbo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/silent-hill-2-movie-production-currently-stuck-in-limbo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/silent-hill-2-movie-production-currently-stuck-in-limbo/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/silent-hill-2-movie-production-currently-stuck-in-limbo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In a recent interview with Fangoria, prolific horror film producer Don Carmody gave an update on the sequel to the 2006 film adaptation of Silent Hill. Things are going less than awesome, as Carmody explained production is "a little stalled now because of [writer/director] Roger Avary's [legal problems], so a little unsure yet." Carmody is referring to Avary's one-year prison sentence, which he received after being charged with vehicular manslaughter following a fatal 2008 car accident.

Carmody went on to explain, "the original plan was Roger writing and polishing the screenplay, and when he had finished his thing, we'd begin full-blown preproduction. I'm not sure what's going on with that. We know we want to make Silent Hill 2 and have a basic outline for it. We'll have to see." According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department website, Avary has been released from prison -- whether or not he's in the screenwriting mood remains to be seen.

JoystiqSilent Hill 2 movie production currently stuck in limbo originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>don-carmodyhorrorkonamiroger-avarysilent-hillsilent-hill-2silent-hill-movieThu, 12 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space lives in two new formats: animated movie and graphic novel out this winter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/23/dead-space-lives-in-two-new-formats-animated-movie-and-graphic/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/23/dead-space-lives-in-two-new-formats-animated-movie-and-graphic/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/23/dead-space-lives-in-two-new-formats-animated-movie-and-graphic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Dead Space universe just got a bit less lonely. EA announced two more projects for the property, this time an animated feature called Dead Space Aftermath, available January 2011, and a graphic novel called Dead Space Salvage, expected out December 2010. Perfect for those of you who love Dead Space, but somehow hate video games.

The animated Aftermath tells the story of a group sent by the Government to the site of the Aegis VII disaster, specifically to be exposed to Marker shards, in order to create a carrier for a "Marker blueprint." Of course, the people don't know that's why they've been brought there, and since it's horror (and Dead Space) we can expect the expedition to go ... well, not great. The Salvage comic, published by IDW, is about a group called the "Magpies" who come across the abandoned Ishimura, which is full of candy Government agents and necromorphs.

We'll learn more details about these projects during today's Comic-Con panel, "Building a Horror Entertainment Franchise: Dead Space 2."

JoystiqDead Space lives in two new formats: animated movie and graphic novel out this winter originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationDead-Spacedead-space-2Dead-Space-AftermathDead-Space-SalvageEAgraphic-novelhorrorIDWmicrosoftmoviepcplaystationps3survival-horrorvisceral-gamesxboxFri, 23 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space 2 launches on January 25, 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/dead-space-2-launches-on-january-25-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/dead-space-2-launches-on-january-25-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/dead-space-2-launches-on-january-25-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Deftly avoiding the commercial kill zone of the holidays, Dead Space 2 is putting its foot down in the early 2011 window -- which, if it's anything like 2010, will eventually be stuffed with feet anyway. Horribly severed feet.

Launching on January 25, 2011 in North America (and January 28th in Europe), Dead Space 2 grants engineer-turned-monster-surgeon Isaac a new suit and sends him straight into a new environment, the dystopian and violent Sprawl. Visceral Games has also promised to lift up the metaphorical helmet and flesh out Isaac's tortured persona in the game. "My god, it's full of scars. Eww."


JoystiqDead Space 2 launches on January 25, 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-space-2eahorrormicrosoftpcplaystationps3q1-2011release-dateshootervisceralvisceral-gamesxboxMon, 14 Jun 2010 17:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Obscure: The Aftermath is half-price until June 15]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/obscure-the-aftermath-is-half-price-until-june-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/obscure-the-aftermath-is-half-price-until-june-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/obscure-the-aftermath-is-half-price-until-june-15/#comments If you could use a bit more cheesy B-movie horror on your PSP, Playlogic's Obscure: The Aftermath may be right up your alley. Sure, the game's reviews could be described as tepid at best -- however, from today's PSN update until June 15, the title will have its price reduced from $30 to $15. If you haven't already had your fill of budget-priced, comedically lo-fi survival horror games, you might want to pick up Aftermath within the next two weeks.

JoystiqObscure: The Aftermath is half-price until June 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealshorrorobscure-the-aftermathplaystation-storeprice-cutpsnsaleTue, 01 Jun 2010 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA['Plenty' of Dead Space material planned, producer wary of diluting franchise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/plenty-of-dead-space-material-planned-producer-wary-of-diluti/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/plenty-of-dead-space-material-planned-producer-wary-of-diluti/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/plenty-of-dead-space-material-planned-producer-wary-of-diluti/#comments Speaking at a recent EA showcase in London, Dead Space executive producer Steve Papoutsis explained that while Visceral Games has plenty of ideas for the deep space horror series, the studio doesn't intend to run the franchise into the ground. According to Videogamer.com, Papoutsis told attendees, "we've mapped out plenty of games worth of stuff. But there has to be an interest, right?" He added, "we don't want to cheapen what we're doing. We're really focused on quality with it. Hopefully if people like this one, we get to make another one."

Papoutsis then told the crowd, "it would be great to just keep making more and more of them. We're thinking kart racer, a fitness game... joke!" Yeah, we're not sure a Dead Space fitness game would go over so well. You know, considering Isaac Clarke's main technique for weight loss is to forcibly remove excess appendages with the aid of futuristic power tools.

Joystiq'Plenty' of Dead Space material planned, producer wary of diluting franchise originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-spacedead-space-2dead-space-extractioneaElectronic-ArtshorrorMicrosoftsequelsteve-papoutsisvisceral-gamesXbox-360Wed, 19 May 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Cube' director wants to make a video game adaptation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/cube-director-wants-to-make-a-video-game-adaptation/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/cube-director-wants-to-make-a-video-game-adaptation/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/cube-director-wants-to-make-a-video-game-adaptation/#comments There are few cinematic guilty pleasures we hold closer to our hearts than the Cube franchise. Here's a breakdown of the films, in case you happened to overlook them: A group of strangers must find their way out of a multi-roomed, cube-shaped prison, which is filled with gruesome, deadly traps. If you think that sounds like an awesome plot for a video game, you're not alone -- the director of the original Cube, Vincenzo Natali, recently told MTV that he'd love to make a video game adaptation of the film.

Natali told MTV that, while writing the film, he repeatedly asked, "are we writing a film or are we writing a game?" His desire to do the latter is apparently pretty strong, as he used the MTV interview to broadcast, "if there are any game designers out there, give me a call." Well, folks, you heard the man. Pick up a phone book, and let's get this thing done.

Joystiq'Cube' director wants to make a video game adaptation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adaptationcubefilmhorrormovievincenzo-nataliFri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Live-action Alan Wake prequel premieres on Xbox Live April 25]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/live-action-alan-wake-prequel-premieres-on-xbox-live-april-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/live-action-alan-wake-prequel-premieres-on-xbox-live-april-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/live-action-alan-wake-prequel-premieres-on-xbox-live-april-25/#commentsIf Alan Wake's TV show-like presentation isn't, well, enough like a TV show for you, here's some good news: next week, the first episode in a six-part live-action Alan Wake series will be available on Xbox Live.

Bright Falls, shot on location in Oregon, acts as a prequel to the events in the game -- which hopefully means that at least some weirdness was taking place in the game's location before the arrival of Mr. Wake. Otherwise, we'll be watching six episodes about a really pleasant town. Allaying the concern we just expressed, Microsoft promises that the series "evokes the same ghostly chills as 'Twin Peaks' did when it premiered 20 years ago this month."

The first two episodes will be available for Xbox Live Gold members on April 25, for everyone else on Xbox Live on April 26, and on brightfalls.com on April 27, with one new episode releasing each week until May 17's two-part finale. That date happens to be one day before the Xbox 360 game's release date, at which point you'll get to see the rest of the story in the game -- and the short story included with the collector's edition.

JoystiqLive-action Alan Wake prequel premieres on Xbox Live April 25 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan-wakebright-fallshorrorlive-actionMicrosoftrelease-dateremedy-entertainmentthrillertwin-peaksXbox-360xbox-liveThu, 22 Apr 2010 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[New Grasshopper Manufacture project not called 'Closer']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/new-grasshopper-manufacture-project-not-called-closer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/new-grasshopper-manufacture-project-not-called-closer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/new-grasshopper-manufacture-project-not-called-closer/#comments After cyber spy Superannuation shed light on a U.S. copyright document, filed by Grasshopper Manufacture in August 2008, internet speculation concluded that the idiosyncratic developer's next game would be called "Closer." However, Grasshopper's international representative has told Joystiq that the name is no longer being used for any projects currently in development.

"As for 'Closer,' we currently don't have any projects under that name in development. Closer was one of the names considered for a project, but that name has since been abandoned." Grasshopper's most mysterious project -- announced in August 2008 -- is an action horror game empowered by the mind-boggling collaboration of Suda 51, Shinji Mikami, Akira Yamaoka and EA Partners. And Unreal Engine 3.

Sadly, the quelling of this rumor also brings the demise of hopes that "Closer" was to be the name of Suda 51's edgy re-imagining of Kyra Sedgwick's television drama, "The Closer." It would have all of the show's intense confrontation, but Kyra's face would be an 8-bit parody of commercialism and she'd save the game by clipping her nails over an empty wastebasket. Oh well.

JoystiqNew Grasshopper Manufacture project not called 'Closer' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokacloserea-partnersgrasshopper-manufacturehorrorshinji-mikamisuda-51Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Newell intent on 'scaring' players with next Half-Life]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/newell-intent-on-scaring-players-with-next-half-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/newell-intent-on-scaring-players-with-next-half-life/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/26/newell-intent-on-scaring-players-with-next-half-life/#comments In a recent interview with CVG, Valve head honcho Gabe Newell responded to questions about the mood of future Half-Life installments with a decidedly spooky answer. "I feel like we've gotten away from genuinely scaring the player more than I'd like, and it's something we need to think about, in addition to broadening the emotional palette we can draw on," Newell explained.

While he's probably referring to intense encounters like the the zombified village of Ravenholm from Half-Life 2, we personally can't think of a scarier development for the franchise than a loose 2015 release window for the franchise's next entry.

JoystiqNewell intent on 'scaring' players with next Half-Life originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fpsgabe-newellhalf-lifehalf-life-2horrorsteamvalveFri, 26 Mar 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Alan Wake rated Teen, five minutes of footage illuminated]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/alan-wake-rated-teen-five-minutes-of-footage-illuminated/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/alan-wake-rated-teen-five-minutes-of-footage-illuminated/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/alan-wake-rated-teen-five-minutes-of-footage-illuminated/#comments New footage of Remedy's upcoming mystery thriller Alan Wake has found its way online, showcasing some of the demonic thoughts scrawled on paper by the game's title character. Five minutes of footage found at French site GameBlog.fr (posted after the break) showcases some gorgeous environments and some of the action we experienced at Microsoft's X10.

Considering half of the Joystiq staff wasn't even born yet when the game was first announced*, we're just happy to help Alan Wake figure out what's happening in the small mid-western town of Bright Falls.

But we're not expecting a gruesome adventure, as the ESRB has rated Alan Wake T for Teen. We can't blame Alan: when you're fighting for your life you need as many gamers as you can get on your side.

*Okay, not really.

Continue reading Alan Wake rated Teen, five minutes of footage illuminated

JoystiqAlan Wake rated Teen, five minutes of footage illuminated originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan-wakeesrbhorrorMicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosRemedyremedy-entertainmentthrillerXbox-360Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Remedy's Matias Myllyrinne on Alan Wake]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/interview-remedys-matias-myllyrinne-on-alan-wake/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/interview-remedys-matias-myllyrinne-on-alan-wake/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/interview-remedys-matias-myllyrinne-on-alan-wake/#commentsX10 was a special day for Remedy's long-in-development Alan Wake: the release date was announced at last, officially bringing the psychological thriller within a few months of release. On this occasion, Matias Myllyrinne, managing director of Remedy, shared his thoughts with Joystiq about episodic gaming, the inevitabillity of digital distribution, and high-profile competition.

Joystiq: It was announced earlier that there would be episodes of Alan Wake.

Matias Myllyrinne: It was just announced in CES by Robbie Bach.

Did you guys take a look at the experiment with Fable 2? That was surprising. What are your thoughts on that?

I think it's interesting to see how those new forms of enjoying entertainment -- how to distribute that, and get through to people in the way they want to enjoy it. I think it'll be really cool to see what happens with the Fable episodic delivery stuff. I think the jury's still out on how people want to consume media such as games. I think it's also an evolving thing, as well. If you think back to music, it's not that long ago that we all bought CDs. That changed. I thought it would happen like in two years, but it actually took more like seven for the music industry to shift and tilt.

Gallery: Alan Wake (X10)

Continue reading Interview: Remedy's Matias Myllyrinne on Alan Wake

JoystiqInterview: Remedy's Matias Myllyrinne on Alan Wake originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan-wakehorrorinterviewmatias-myllyrinneMicrosoftremedyremedy-entertainmentthrillerx10Xbox-360Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Visceral begins shift from Dante's Inferno to Dead Space 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/visceral-begins-shift-from-dantes-inferno-to-dead-space-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/visceral-begins-shift-from-dantes-inferno-to-dead-space-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/visceral-begins-shift-from-dantes-inferno-to-dead-space-2/#comments
[Pictured: Isaac Clarke in Dead Space 2; adaptation]
A week from the launch of Dante's Inferno, no one would expect Visceral Games' Nick Earl to reveal any uncertainty about sales, but Industry Gamers did attempt to elicit a reaction from the senior VP -- by reminding Earl that his studio's new game will share a release date with BioShock 2 (never mind that it's surrounded on either month by other big-name releases). "In life, there's the things you can control and things you can't control," Earl said somewhat poetically. "I can't be too concerned with our competitive slate; our team has put so much time into Dante's Inferno, and I have a lot of faith in it."

Perhaps "faith" is a natural result of working with the source material, but more likely Earl can sleep at night because he knows he has the support of a strong marketing budget. As a work of public domain, Dante's Inferno is that rare double-bonus for EA: a recognizable property and free to adapt -- no strings attached. In turn, EA has invested in a resounding "buzz" that targeted game outlets early with memorable stunts and will culminate in an unprecedented Super Bowl spot. "There may have been [a Super Bowl ad] from Atari years ago, but it has not been done in recent memory, and it shows the confidence we have in Dante's Inferno," Earl said of the publisher's first Super Bowl commercial, which will air on Sunday.

With Dante's Inferno out of his hands, Earl confirmed that the majority of Visceral's staff is shifting to Dead Space 2 (while a small team continues to work on Dante's DLC). "We're more focused on the action than the horror this time," Earl said of the apparent ACTION-horror sequel. "We're more empowering to the player."

JoystiqVisceral begins shift from Dante's Inferno to Dead Space 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingdantes-infernodead-space-2eaElectronic-ArtshorrormarketingMicrosoftnick-earlvisceral-gamesXbox-360Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lance Henriksen reprises 'Bishop' role in Aliens vs. Predator]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/lance-henriksen-reprises-bishop-role-in-aliens-vs-predator/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/lance-henriksen-reprises-bishop-role-in-aliens-vs-predator/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/lance-henriksen-reprises-bishop-role-in-aliens-vs-predator/#comments Lance Henriksen, who was most memorably cleaved asunder as android (ahem, "artificial lifeform") Bishop, will see another continuation of his Aliens film role in Rebellion's Alien vs. Predator game. Henriksen plays Karl Bishop Weyland, the descendant of Weyland-Yutani corporation founder Charles Bishop Weyland. The 69-year-old actor is happy with his virtual likeness (seen above) and is quoted as saying, "I might score from this game!" Joystiq is quoted as saying, "Maybe if it's from a facehugger, Lance."

Considering Henriksen's appearance in one of the most gore-riffic scenes in film (at the time), we should reiterate that Aliens vs. Predator will release in February 2010 on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC -- in countries that don't require toned-down violence. Rebellion has stated that it will not be "releasing a sanitized or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices." Sorry, Australia and Germany.

JoystiqLance Henriksen reprises 'Bishop' role in Aliens vs. Predator originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aliens-vs-predatorfpshorrorlance-henriksenMicrosoftrebellionsci-fishooterXbox-360Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Dementium 2 (DS)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/hands-on-dementium-2-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/hands-on-dementium-2-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/hands-on-dementium-2-ds/#commentsHaving not played Renegade Kid's first survival/horror-FPS on the Nintendo DS back in 2007, Dementium: The Ward, I had few expectations going into my recent hands-on with the game's sequel, the aptly titled Dementium 2. I knew that the first game enjoyed critical acclaim for more than adequately bringing survival/horror tropes to Nintendo's handheld, and ultimately scored pretty well with reviewers, but ever since Metroid Prime Hunters I've been wary of first-person mechanics on the DS.

Thankfully, when first faced with manipulating Dementium 2's main character, it became quickly obvious that the game's slow pace helps to account for any discomfort issues that might arise from the control scheme. Over the course of 45 minutes, I put together puzzles, traveled between two dimensions multiple times, and even fought a boss who tried to throw up on me from the ceiling (what a jerk!). Though its content and storytelling seems to be a carefully crafted amalgam of games from the three or so genres it mashes up (fps, adventure, survival/horror) - a handheld Half-Life meets Silent Hill on Monkey Island, almost - the time I spent with a preview build of Dementium 2 earlier today felt like the beginning of what could be a very interesting game.

Gallery: Dementium II

Continue reading Hands-on: Dementium 2 (DS)

JoystiqHands-on: Dementium 2 (DS) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dementiumdementium-2DSfpshands-onhorrorNintendorenegade-kidsouthpeaksurvivalsurvival-horrorFri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Hudson survival horror trailers are Calling]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/new-hudson-survival-horror-trailers-are-calling/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/new-hudson-survival-horror-trailers-are-calling/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/new-hudson-survival-horror-trailers-are-calling/#commentsHudson released a pair of trailers for Calling, due out in Japan on November 19. We don't know if this will reflect on the actual scare content of the game, but the trailer above is creeeepy, bearing all the hallmarks of Japanese horror -- by which we mean terrifying little girls getting in your face, and that weird head-rattling motion (in this case performed by dolls).

After the break, see another video demonstrating gameplay. Not only can the Wiimote be used to simulate the in-game cell phone, but apparently that phone can be used as a teleportation device? But ... that would only be possible if you were some kind of ghost. We're scared.

Continue reading New Hudson survival horror trailers are Calling

JoystiqNew Hudson survival horror trailers are Calling originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>callinghorrorhudsonjapansurvival-horrorWed, 11 Nov 2009 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Splatterhouse opens its doors in Q3 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/splatterhouse-opens-its-doors-in-q3-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/splatterhouse-opens-its-doors-in-q3-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/splatterhouse-opens-its-doors-in-q3-2010/#comments
Click to enter SplattergalleryWe had kind of forgotten that, despite the closure of developer BottleRocket, Namco Bandai's current-gen Splatterhouse revamp was still in the works. And even if we had remembered that, we would have assumed that the supposed 2010 release had been quietly canceled in the interim. However, October is the right time for horror games and Namco Bandai has decided to surprise us all by releasing the game five screenshots!

These new screens look pretty different from what we've seen, seeming to show a little bit of a cel-shaded effect and, for some reason, reduced muscle definition on Rick. We didn't really expect Namco to be messing around with the basic look of the game, but there it is.

The company also adjusted the previous "early 2010" release date we'd heard: now the game is slated for "Q3 2010." We're kind of hoping the extra time goes into the graphics. At least into getting them back to the state they were in last year.

Gallery: Splatterhouse (10/13/09)

JoystiqSplatterhouse opens its doors in Q3 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionbottlerockethorrorMicrosoftnamco-bandaisplatterhouseXbox-360Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[JU-ON to settle its Grudge on Oct. 13]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/ju-on-to-settle-its-grudge-on-oct-13/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/ju-on-to-settle-its-grudge-on-oct-13/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/ju-on-to-settle-its-grudge-on-oct-13/#comments
Hopefully the decision to ship JU-ON: The Grudge on Rocktober October 13 -- as revealed by Nintendo -- won't prove an unlucky one for publisher XSEED. Yes, the game will be met at retail by the likes of Brütal Legend and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, but the "haunted house simulator" possesses something those games don't (we think): The ability to kill you one week after you play it. Oh, wait -- that was the tape from The Ring, wasn't it? Still, JU-ON will probably manage to scare up some sales.

JoystiqJU-ON to settle its Grudge on Oct. 13 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>horrorju-onju-on-the-grudgemarvelousthe-grudgexseedTue, 15 Sep 2009 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill haunted house spooking Orange County this Halloween]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/10/silent-hill-haunted-house-spooking-orange-county-this-halloween/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/10/silent-hill-haunted-house-spooking-orange-county-this-halloween/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/10/silent-hill-haunted-house-spooking-orange-county-this-halloween/#comments
Sinister Pointe, an Orange County, Calif.-based haunted house attraction, has got something special in mind for gamers this Halloween -- their annual gore-filled maze will be Silent Hill themed this time around. There's a few details on the company's site -- including an endorsement from Konami, it seems -- but no early looks at the attraction are given. We're guessing Pyramid-headed gentlemen and bloody, faceless nurses will be incorporated.

We're not certain how much a production like this costs, but if they're aiming for capturing the true Silent Hill experience, they must be spending a freaking mint on fog machines.

[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqSilent Hill haunted house spooking Orange County this Halloween originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halloweenhorrorkonamimazeorange-countysilent-hillsinister-pointeMon, 10 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Resident Evil movie will be in 3D, will spawn new film trilogy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/next-resident-evil-movie-will-be-in-3d-will-spawn-new-film-tril/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/next-resident-evil-movie-will-be-in-3d-will-spawn-new-film-tril/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/next-resident-evil-movie-will-be-in-3d-will-spawn-new-film-tril/#comments
Anyone who's seen one of the live-action films based on Capcom's Resident Evil franchise are aware of how in-your-face the movies' terribleness tends to be. However, horror film news site Shock 'Til You Drop recently got a terrifying piece of news from producer Paul W.S. Anderson at San Diego Comic Con -- the next film in the series, titled Resident Evil: Afterlife, will be presented in 3D. We're thrilled about the stereoscopic Jovovichian action -- we're somewhat less enthusiastic about the bump in ticket prices that'll come about to provide the necessary eyewear.

Anderson went on to explain the film would kick off an entirely new trilogy of Resident Evil films, saying he regards it "as a re-tooling and rebirth of the entire franchise." We know what you're thinking -- does this mean the films will finally remotely follow the plot of the games? Oh, don't be silly. It's Anderson, man.

[Via VideoGamer]

JoystiqNext Resident Evil movie will be in 3D, will spawn new film trilogy originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dcapcomfilmhorrormilla-jovovichpaul-ws-andersonresident-evilsdcc-2009trilogyFri, 24 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comic-Con 2009: Left 4 Dead 2 Swamp Fever hands-on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/comic-con-2009-left-4-dead-2-swamp-fever-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/comic-con-2009-left-4-dead-2-swamp-fever-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/comic-con-2009-left-4-dead-2-swamp-fever-hands-on/#comments
Electronic Arts hosted a studio showcase in San Diego yesterday, just before the start of Comic-Con. Inside the Onyx Lounge were bright cheerful lights, colorful pastel colors, fresh-baked cookies and ... The Littlest Pet Shop. However, if you headed downstairs to the basement, it was very dark, mysterious and crammed with things like Brütal Legend and Left 4 Dead 2. We couldn't resist the siren call of more zombie slaying, so we plunged straight into the new Swamp Fever level being shown off.

Head on beyond the break for our writeup. Later, look for our interview with Chet Faliszek, writer for L4D2 at Valve, where, according to him, "everyone is a designer!" But for now, it's time to find out why you'll want to catch "Swamp Fever."

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2: Swamp Fever

Continue reading Comic-Con 2009: Left 4 Dead 2 Swamp Fever hands-on

JoystiqComic-Con 2009: Left 4 Dead 2 Swamp Fever hands-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>horrorl4d2Left-4-Dead-2MicrosoftSDCC-2009Swamp-FeverValveXbox-360zombiesFri, 24 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hudson's 'Calling' revealed once again]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/hudsons-calling-revealed-once-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/hudsons-calling-revealed-once-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/hudsons-calling-revealed-once-again/#commentsLast year, footage of an unannounced Wii horror game from Hudson, Calling, appeared on the publisher's PR server, and was quickly pulled from both the server and YouTube. Nothing has been heard about Calling since, until today, when the game was officially revealed in Famitsu magazine.

Calling: Kuroki Chakushin (Dark Call) features an in-game cell phone through which players will send and receive messages, and record audio and video, all of which will almost certainly be spooky. According to NeoGAF, the game is 70% complete, which makes sense given that it's been in the works since at least October.

JoystiqHudson's 'Calling' revealed once again originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>callingfamitsuhorrorhudsonWed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Impressions: Ju-on: The Grudge (Wii)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/07/impressions-ju-on-the-grudge-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/07/impressions-ju-on-the-grudge-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/07/impressions-ju-on-the-grudge-wii/#comments Making a horror game for a "casual" audience requires a reorganization of priorities. While something like Resident Evil is intent on scaring the player, there are a lot of gameplay elements aside from fear, like inventory management and even accuracy. These elements make for a well-rounded game, but they can actually prevent the player from experiencing all the game's scares.

AQ Interactive's Ju-On: The Grudge, being released in North America this October by XSEED, takes out all the "survival" from a survival horror game to create what XSEED calls a "haunted house simulator," focused entirely on scaring the crap out of players over and over again. And from what we saw, it works.

Gallery: Ju-On: The Grudge (Wii)

Continue reading Impressions: Ju-on: The Grudge (Wii)

JoystiqImpressions: Ju-on: The Grudge (Wii) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2009horrorju-onmarvelousNintendothe-grudgeWiixseedSun, 07 Jun 2009 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Open up your eyes for Alan Wake media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/open-up-your-eyes-for-alan-wake-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/open-up-your-eyes-for-alan-wake-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/open-up-your-eyes-for-alan-wake-media/#comments You read about people watching a new Alan Wake trailer. You may have even watched people watch the trailer on video streams. And now, you can watch the trailer, just like you were sitting at Microsoft's E3 keynote! Except it's not followed by several minutes of searching for "Rusty." And also it's probably not on a gigantic screen with an executive standing in front of it. Maybe it is. We haven't been to your house.

If the trailer isn't Wakey enough for you, check out our gallery! And then download this Xbox Live Premium Theme!

Gallery: Alan Wake

JoystiqOpen up your eyes for Alan Wake media originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurealan-wakee3-2009horrorMicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosremedyXbox-360Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[XSEED shocks us with Ju-On localization announcement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/xseed-shocks-us-with-ju-on-localization-announcement/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/xseed-shocks-us-with-ju-on-localization-announcement/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/xseed-shocks-us-with-ju-on-localization-announcement/#commentsWe were minding our own business, not really paying attention, when an XSEED press release JUMPED into our email inbox and scared us half to death. Feel Fear: Ju-On, a teaser for which was just released in Europe, is coming to North America to scare our North American pants off (and imported pants as well) in October of this year.

The press release announcing Ju-On: The Grudge offers a few new details about the gameplay. To the dismay of those expecting a third- or first-person survival horror game, XSEED bills Ju-On as a "haunted house simulator," in which players explore scary environments with a pointer-controlled flashlight, driven to "proceed forward even after being frightened and running away from the initial threat." The game includes the ability for a second player to trigger scares using a second Wiimote, causing the other player to "jump and hate you forever."

So if you want your friends to hate you forever, check out Ju-On: The Grudge this October!

Gallery: Ju-On: The Grudge (Wii)

JoystiqXSEED shocks us with Ju-On localization announcement originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 May 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>feelfeelplushorrorju-onthe-grudgexseedFri, 22 May 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Teaser for new European Wii game 'Feels' like Ju-On]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/teaser-for-new-european-wii-game-feels-like-ju-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/teaser-for-new-european-wii-game-feels-like-ju-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/teaser-for-new-european-wii-game-feels-like-ju-on/#commentsRising Star Games sent out a video teasing the announcement of a new game at the upcoming London MCM Expo. The video features people holding Wiimotes in a dark room in front of a flickering TV, and then having the crap scared out of them -- an idea last used for Nintendo's hilarious Fatal Frame IV commercials.

A brief image shown at the end of the trailer pretty definitively confirms the mystery title to be Kyoufu Taikan Ju-On (translated by Siliconera as "Feel Fear Ju-On"), the Wii horror title being made under the supervision of The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu. If Rising Star is picking this up for Europe, we should be able to expect a North American version from either XSEED, who works with Rising Star owner Marvelous on North American publishing, or Ignition, who publishes many AQ Interactive titles like Blue Dragon Plus and Boing! Docomodake DS. The video is available after the break.

Continue reading Teaser for new European Wii game 'Feels' like Ju-On

JoystiqTeaser for new European Wii game 'Feels' like Ju-On originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 May 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aq-interactivefeelhorrorju-onlondon-mcmrising-star-gamesMon, 18 May 2009 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Prepare for Sadness: Nibris showing something at E3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/prepare-for-sadness-nibris-showing-something-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/prepare-for-sadness-nibris-showing-something-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/prepare-for-sadness-nibris-showing-something-at-e3/#commentsSadness "developer" Nibris sent out a message to its YouTube channel's subscribers, indicating that something related to the developer will be shown at E3 this year. Note that the message doesn't specify the vaporous Sadness game, or that a game will be shown at all -- merely an "update." Which means that even in the unlikely event that Nibris shows up and displays something, it could still be disappointing.

Nibris is still holding to a Fall 2009 date for Sadness, so it's quite likely that this "update" is intended to be related to the mythical horror game. We hope Sadness actually does show up -- we'd love to add the day the game becomes real to our timeline (which we posted in 2007).

JoystiqPrepare for Sadness: Nibris showing something at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 May 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2009horrornibrissadnessunlikelyWed, 06 May 2009 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Space: Extraction gameplay footage & prod interview]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/dead-space-extraction-gameplay-footage-and-prod-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/dead-space-extraction-gameplay-footage-and-prod-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/dead-space-extraction-gameplay-footage-and-prod-interview/#commentsIn the IGN video interview embedded after the break, Dead Space: Extraction producer Steve Papoutsis discusses the motivation for the "guided first-person experience" design for the Dead Space prequel, as well as the storyline, the controls, and the co-op modes. That's great, and of course it's wonderful to hear such ideals behind the game's design.

But the real attraction here is footage. The video is interspersed with gameplay footage from Extraction, mostly consisting of the disarming (and dislegging) of creepy spider-dudes. In our estimation, at least, EA is delivering the graphics it needs to ensure that the game is appropriately atmospheric. And by "atmospheric" we mean "eeeeeeeee."

Continue reading Dead Space: Extraction gameplay footage & prod interview

JoystiqDead Space: Extraction gameplay footage & prod interview originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-spacedead-space-extractioneaElectronic-ArtshorrorNintendorail-shooterspinoffWiiThu, 09 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Konami will seize 'Saw' license]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/konami-will-seize-saw-license/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/konami-will-seize-saw-license/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/konami-will-seize-saw-license/#comments
Konami's upcoming Silent Hill "re-imagining" doesn't mark its only forthcoming foray into the horror genre. According to The Cut Scene, the publisher has confirmed that it will seize Saw for an upcoming licensed game, hoping to balance the film franchise's gore and depraved puzzles with ... well, the gore and depraved puzzles one might expect to encounter in a video game.

Konami's marketing director, David Daniels, saw fit to label the move as a no-brainer, what with Saw having seen ticket sales of "over $600 million worldwide" and having sold over 16 million DVDs. Once considered as deceased publisher Brash's last chance at rising above mediocrity, the Saw game will be completed by developer Zombie and released alongside the next film -- Saw VI, in case you lost track -- this Fall on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Tasking you with navigating an asylum and defusing Jigsaw's trademark deathtraps, the Saw game promises to adopt an overt style of horror and make you "turn away from the screen for just a moment because of the visual intensity." Experience some of that visual intensity for yourself in the gallery below:

Gallery: Saw: The Game

JoystiqKonami will seize 'Saw' license originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brashconquered-the-gamehorrorkonamiMicrosoftpcsawsaw-the-gameXbox-360Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[New Alan Wake information doesn't tell us much]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/new-alan-wake-information-doesnt-tell-us-much/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/new-alan-wake-information-doesnt-tell-us-much/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/new-alan-wake-information-doesnt-tell-us-much/#commentsFresh Alan Wake information text has made its way online, with a cryptic message appearing on the official Alan Wake forums. The paragraph, penned by Alan Wake himself, was posted by the forums' community manager and supposedly comes from developer Remedy Entertainment. It reads:
"The amount of pages keeps growing each night. There are also new edits on the old pages. They keep getting more aggressive. The story is rewriting itself. The protagonist is now my namesake, and his wife is called Alice. The most worrying aspect: the genre seems to be shifting. It's turning into a horror story. I can no longer be certain whether the hero can succeed or even survive. Apart for jumbled fragments of bad dreams and an oppressive feeling, I can remember nothing of the process when I wake up. But this morning, a breakthrough! When I came to my senses, I could smell her perfume on my shirt. I am close. I know it. I must push on.

- Alan Wake"
So, some pages are being re-written, a horrible horror story is starting and there's perfume that smells like shirts ... or something. Honestly, we have no idea what this all means, but feel free to share your thoughts. Who knows, maybe there's a new trailer or a release date hidden in there somewhere.

[Via IGN]

JoystiqNew Alan Wake information doesn't tell us much originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan-wakehorrormgsMicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosremedyremedy-entertainmentXbox-360Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST