Joystiq

Xbox Live Countdown to 2013 daily deal: Dust, Deadlight and Hybrid

Mike Suszek — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST

Today's Xbox Live deal, as part of the Xbox Live Countdown to 2013, includes sales on Dust: An Elysian Tail, Deadlight and Hybrid.

Both Dust: An Elysian Tail and Deadlight are on sale for 600 Microsoft points, 50 percent off from their original prices. Hybrid can be downloaded for 400 Microsoft points, a 67 percent savings on its original 1200 point price tag. These deals are on for today only, so get downloading!

Gallery: Dust: An Elysian Tail (8/18/2012)

Xbox Live Countdown to 2013 daily deal: Dust, Deadlight and Hybrid originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrid review: A hop, skip and a pump shotgun

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST

Two hovering islands sit nestled in the skyline of a war-torn city. My decked-out soldier crouches behind a wall on one island, my opponent sitting comfortably behind cover on the other. A massive chasm separates us, but that's not a problem thanks to our handy jet packs. No, the problem is that traversing the gulf means launching myself into the air at the risk of becoming the world's biggest clay pigeon.

The ultimate goal is to take down my foe, sure, but the real challenge of Hybrid - and the real joy - is in bridging the gap between us.

Gallery: Hybrid (4/26/2012)

Continue reading Hybrid review: A hop, skip and a pump shotgun

Hybrid review: A hop, skip and a pump shotgun originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft local currency pricing on Xbox Marketplace items an 'error'

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST

Microsoft states local currency options on the Xbox Marketplace that showed up yesterday were a "display error." SaveandQuitGaming caught the real money options early in the day, which also appeared on the European marketplace as well.

"Today, a few Avatar items appeared with an option to purchase with local currency, instead of Microsoft Points," a company spokesperson told Joystiq. "This display error doesn't signal a change in payment options, but rather an error in how the offers were configured in our services which resulted in an inconsistent experience. It is in the process of being resolved."

Initially it appeared this conversion was the beginning of the rumor from earlier this year that Microsoft would do away with its space bucks in favor of real currency. But, that simply seems to not be the case at this time.

Continue reading Microsoft local currency pricing on Xbox Marketplace items an 'error'

Microsoft local currency pricing on Xbox Marketplace items an 'error' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrid pulled from Xbox Live Arcade [update: issue resolved]

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:11:00 EST

Hybrid, 5th Cell's third-person shooter that's been suffering server issues throughout its launch day, has been pulled from the Xbox Marketplace.

"We'd like to confirm that we have identified a problem and are in the process of finding a solution," Microsoft wrote in a statement. "We will make the game available as soon as we can, and we apologize for the inconvenience! Thank you for your patience in the meantime."

5th Cell creative director Jeremiah Slaczka wrote on the game's forum: "We are working with Microsoft to fix these server issues. Many people from both 5TH Cell and MS are working together to sort the problem out. We are making progress, but it will take time unfortunately. Sorry for the inconvenience, however we don't foresee this problem to continue once it's fixed."

We've been in touch with Microsoft for an estimated time of a fix. We'll update as soon as we hear more.

Update 2: Hybrid is back on the Marketplace.

Update: 5th Cell has told Joystiq the issue has been fixed, and the game will be back on Xbox Live tonight. Creative director Jeremiah Slaczka issued this statement:

"We have worked with Microsoft to diagnose and resolve the server issue surrounding Hybrid. Our entire team appreciates the overwhelming response of fans logging in on day-1 and for bearing with us during this short downtime. We expect a smooth gameplay experience from here on out."

Hybrid pulled from Xbox Live Arcade [update: issue resolved] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrid jumps onto Xbox Live Arcade, server problems abound

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST

Hybrid, the third-person shooter brought to us by 5th Cell - a studio best known for the wildly different series, Scribblenauts - is now available on Xbox Live Arcade. At least, the game itself is available. As of this writing, the servers are experiencing some rather serious issues, namely that they are generally unavailable.

We've managed to connect to and finish a single game, but that's it. 5th Cell's Jeremiah Slaczka has responded to the issue on the Hybrid forums, stating that Microsoft is "looking into the issue." It should be noted that you can't even get to the main menu without a server connection, so you might want to wait until the servers are up and running before plunking down $15.

Hybrid jumps onto Xbox Live Arcade, server problems abound originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBLA Summer of Arcade 2012 detailed, Tony Hawk kickflips it off on July 18

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:35:00 EST

XBLA's Summer of Arcade 2012 begins on July 18 with the HD-ified rebirth of Tony Hawk Pro Skater for 1200 MS Points ($15). The following week, Iron Galaxy's Angry Birds meets Boom Blox Kinect flinger Wreckateer arrives for 800 MS Points ($10), with Deadlight, Hybrid, and Dust: An Elysian Tail launching in the subsequent weeks, all for 1200 MS Points ($15) a pop.

Microsoft is offering an incentive (as always) to spur multiple Summer of Arcade purchases, giving those who snag "any three of the above titles" a free 400 MS Points ($5). From the look of things, that won't be too hard a sell.

Additionally, Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD is heading to PlayStation Network "a few weeks" after it launches on Xbox Live Arcade, but the rest of the Summer of Arcade games are exclusive to 360 (at least for now).

Continue reading XBLA Summer of Arcade 2012 detailed, Tony Hawk kickflips it off on July 18

XBLA Summer of Arcade 2012 detailed, Tony Hawk kickflips it off on July 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Summer of Arcade: Deadlight, Wreckateer, Tony Hawk HD, Dust: An Elysian Tale and Hybrid

David Hinkle — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:28:00 EST

During pre-show coverage of Microsoft's E3 press conference, Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer revealed the lineup of this year's Summer of Arcade promotion.

The first game he talked about was Hyrbid, 5th Cell's jetpack-driven multiplayer shooter. This was followed by a brief vignette of Deadlight, the Tequila Works side-scroller set in a post-apocalyptic world. Next was Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD from Robomodo, followed by Wreckateer for Kinect. Rounding out the list is Dust: An Elysian Tale.

There's no word on when Summer of Arcade kicks off - summer, right? - but considering Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD drops in on July 11, at least we have some idea of the Summer of Arcade window.

Summer of Arcade: Deadlight, Wreckateer, Tony Hawk HD, Dust: An Elysian Tale and Hybrid originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skyrockets in flight, Hybrid is a delight

David Hinkle — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST

Hybrid is an online-only, three-on-three, cover-based, third-person shooter - with jetpacks. Phew! Don't worry, movement is very simple. You point your reticle at a piece of cover and hit a button to initiate automated flight. While moving quickly through the air you can aim and strafe, and you can switch your cover destination mid-flight. Flying out of cover is a big risk, but fighting in the air leads to the exciting stuff: dogfighting and jousting.

Gallery: Hybrid (4/26/2012)

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Skyrockets in flight, Hybrid is a delight originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrid will cost $15; beta to kick off at 'the end of this month'

David Hinkle — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

5th Cell's XBLA-exclusive shooter, Hybrid, now has a price point: 1200 MS Points ($15). Producer Caleb Arseneaux confirmed the pricing with Joystiq during a preview session earlier this week.

Arseneaux also narrowed down the beta timeline. Initially set to launch the game sometime following GDC, 5th Cell is now targeting a live date by "the end of this month." Arseneaux wouldn't go into more detail, but reinforced how essential the beta would be to Hybrid's successful launch.

If you signed up for the closed beta, you should receive an email with your download code soon.

Hybrid will cost $15; beta to kick off at 'the end of this month' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sign up for the Hybrid beta right now

JC Fletcher — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST

5th Cell has opened registration for the beta of its upcoming XBLA game Hybrid -- true to its word, shortly after GDC. By going to the Hybrid site and signing up, you get a chance to receive one of a limited number of keys for the closed beta, which begins in "late April." Regardless of whether or not you get in -- or whether or not you sign up -- there's an exciting new trailer above.

The developer must be confident that every beta player won't find obnoxious glitches, because it holds firm to its summer 2012 release window.

Gallery: Hybrid (3/20/12)

Continue reading Sign up for the Hybrid beta right now

Sign up for the Hybrid beta right now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrid beta test begins on XBLA 'shortly after GDC'

JC Fletcher — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST

5th Cell's XBLA shooter Hybrid is ready for a semi-public debut. The developer announced an XBLA beta test this morning, with signups taking place "shortly after GDC" (which runs next week, March 5-9).

This may not be as welcome as news of a release date, but it does mean that the game is in a state to be played by at least a subset of the community, which strikes us as a positive development. Now, if you get into the beta, make sure you find all the bugs immediately so 5th Cell can release the game.

Hybrid beta test begins on XBLA 'shortly after GDC' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5th Cell's third-person ceiling shooter Hybrid arrives this summer

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

After pushing back its crazy shooter concept, Hybrid, to a 2012 launch window, Scrriblenauts dev 5th Cell is once more ready to talk about the forthcoming Xbox Live Arcade game. First things first: Hybrid is now scheduled for a summer 2012 launch window. Hooray!

Moreover, 5th Cell is promising a variety of major updates as a result of the delay time. Said promises include locking the shooter's framerate at 60FPS, a redesigned look, and a new twist on the in-air movement. Take a look at the improvements with the latest media straight from 5th Cell, above and below.

Gallery: Hybrid (XBLA)

5th Cell's third-person ceiling shooter Hybrid arrives this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5th Cell planning four games for 2012, including Hybrid

JC Fletcher — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:45:00 EST

While talking to 5th Cell creative director Jeremiah Slaczka about the new iOS game Run Roo Run, I couldn't help but check in regarding the developer's delayed XBLA shooter Hybrid. "Hybrid is coming along great," Slaczka told me. "The game has been heavily refined since we gave the first hands-on at GDC last year. All the same core concepts are there, but there's a lot of new surprises we want to show off. We'll be revealing a lot very soon actually."

Slaczka said that Hybrid is one of four new games 5th Cell expects to release this year. "Run Roo Run will be our first and Hybrid may or may not be our next, we'll see." Slaczka remained adamant that Hybrid would make a 2012 release. "We may be using Source Engine," he said, "but that doesn't mean we adhere to Valve Time."

5th Cell planning four games for 2012, including Hybrid originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5th Cell's Hybrid bumped to 2012

JC Fletcher — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:00:00 EST

Hybrid, developer 5th Cell's unique XBLA shooter, originally slated for a release sometime this year, can now be expected to provide an unexpected experience in 2012. 5th Cell announced the delay today, with creative director Jeremiah Slaczka explaining that "with an additional year, we can take what we've learned and really drill down on our ideas to hopefully transform this game into something great."

When we saw it a couple of months ago, it was a tactical shooter with movement mapped to the buttons. It's already a transformative experience. We kind of can't wait to see how the company is going to "transform" it further.

Continue reading 5th Cell's Hybrid bumped to 2012

5th Cell's Hybrid bumped to 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrid preview: A new breed

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

After getting turned around in the rain on the way to check out Scribblenauts developer 5th Cell's first XBLA game, Hybrid, I wandered into the initial presentation a few minutes late. And so, I missed creative director Jeremiah Slaczka explain what sets Hybrid apart from other third-person shooters -- which is nearly everything.

Ten minutes later I had my hands on an Xbox 360 controller and understood why Slaczka looked at me like my head was on backwards when I asked what makes the game different from other XBLA shooters. For starters, player movement is mapped to buttons -- a crucial aspect of Hybrid's bizarre, yet shockingly accessible controls -- leaving the right analog stick free to adjust the camera.

Slaczka and his team at 5th Cell mitigated the "circle-strafing with shotguns" play style of most online shooters by making movement more deliberate. The result is a game that plays like real-time, sped up, 3-on-3 Valkyria Chronicles. Which, to be clear, means it's a lot of fun.

Gallery: Hybrid (GDC 2011)

Continue reading Hybrid preview: A new breed

Hybrid preview: A new breed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5th Cell reveals sales for Scribblenauts, Drawn to Life

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST

5th Cell's focus on original IP has worked out quite well for the independent developer, selling millions of copies of its innovative titles. During a DICE 2011 presentation on the studio's development strategy, general manager and COO Joseph Tringali shared that it has sold 3.5 million units in the Drawn to Life series and 2.5 million of Scribblenauts games. We'd known previously that the original Scribblenauts was the fifth best-selling DS title of 2009.

The developer is currently working on Hybrid, its XBLA title expected to launch sometime this year. 5th Cell has been incredibly cagey on details, but creative director Jeremiah Slaczka told Joystiq that it'll have its big reveal at GDC next month.

5th Cell reveals sales for Scribblenauts, Drawn to Life originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How 5th Cell follows Naughty Dog's lead with Hybrid

Justin McElroy — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

"Expect the unexpected" may be a cliche all but robbed of meaning by overuse, but it's also a pretty helpful way of understanding the path of Scribblenauts developer 5th Cell. Creative director Jeremiah Slaczka explained why the studio's choice of Hybrid, a team-based shooter, isn't such an odd one for the up-to-now kid-friendly studio. Now that we have a slightly better understanding of Hybrid's persistent, ongoing, massively multiplayer war, we're starting to get where he's coming from.

5th Cell has been a two-project studio since it developed Scribblenauts alongside Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter for the DS, and Slaczka said the studio is still growing. "Right now our studio is at sixty people and still expanding with three full projects in development. We've learned a lot as a studio since the original Scribblenauts and I'm very proud of how our studio has matured in our development," he told Joystiq. "I think working on multiple projects simultaneously has really helped us to expand our talent base; we've always got the right person for the right job, which is indispensible for us as we are offered the opportunity to evaluate new platforms."

Gallery: Hybrid (1/26/11)

Continue reading How 5th Cell follows Naughty Dog's lead with Hybrid

How 5th Cell follows Naughty Dog's lead with Hybrid originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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God of War III demo included on District 9 Blu-ray

JC Fletcher — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST

If you're interested in checking out God of War 3 early, but don't want to play the first two God of Wars again, Sony corporate synergy has a solution for you! The Blu-Ray release of District 9, due December 29 (a bit later than the God of War Collection), will include a playable demo of God of War 3. Once you've played through the demo, a making-of featurette will be unlocked (for the game, not the movie).

While District 9 and God of War 3 are united in that they're both things that people presumably want to see, it strikes us as odd that this rather random collection is the first Blu-ray/game demo pairing for SCEA. The Watchmen movie and game actually related to one another in some way, and they came on separate discs.

God of War III demo included on District 9 Blu-ray originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrid DVD/Blu-ray disc released in Japan

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Blu-ray

Don't you wish your favorite Blu-ray movie could work at grandma's place? But drats, for some reason she just doesn't have a Blu-ray player. Thankfully, you own a hybrid DVD/Blu-ray disc, so you'll be able to watch your Blu-ray movie on a standard DVD player. It won't be in HD, but SD movie better than no movie, right?

This tech isn't far off. In fact, it's available now. Infinity Storage Media has released the first hybrid disc, which allows just that. By using a clever dual-layer process, DVD drives will be able to read a DVD layer, while Blu-ray drives will be able to read a Blu-ray layer. The image above shows the process in a rather simple way.

We're not sure how far this technology will reach, or if it will be adopted by other companies. For now, this is a strictly Japan-only product. We can see tons of studios capitalizing on the HD transition by releasing their movies on a hybrid disc like this.

[Via digg]

Hybrid DVD/Blu-ray disc released in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E308: EA Tiburon's quirky 2D platformer/puzzler reappears

Eric Caoili — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

Remember this khaki-clad British explorer, Hatsby? EA Tiburon's Kyle Gray introduced the character's charming sprite and his untitled puzzle/platforming DS game at GDC earlier this year, but we haven't seen or heard any news from him since! All we have had to go on all these months were the videos he left behind, which we've embedded past the break!

Artwork for the game has mysteriously popped up on the official site for Into the Pixel, an art exhibit collecting exemplary works of video game art and scheduled to open to the public at October's E for All Expo. The piece, titled "Puzzle World Twilight" and submitted by EA Tiburon concept artist Jay Epperson, shows Hatsby taking to the nighttime skies against a backdrop of Chinese paper cut outs.

Though we were already excited with the hybrid game's promises of an opera-singing boss, a robotic construct of Big Ben, and some unexplained touchscreen puzzle running alongside the platforming action, after seeing this gorgeous art, we can't contain ourselves! Tell us your secrets, Hatsby, you magnificent bastard!

Continue reading E308: EA Tiburon's quirky 2D platformer/puzzler reappears

E308: EA Tiburon's quirky 2D platformer/puzzler reappears originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC08: Now for some Monkey Business

Eric Caoili — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Video

As you already know, we're in love with wacky 2D platformers, the crazier the better. You need only look to our romantic exchanges with Barnyard Blast, Sanuk Software's low-budget Castlevania spoof, for evidence of our forbidden flirtations.

At an IGS session yesterday, EA Tiburon's Kyle Gray demonstrated a new DS game, tentatively titled Monkey Business, currently in development and after our own heart. The colorful game's hero, a British explorer named Hatsby, could be seen battling an opera-singing boss and a robotic construct of Big Ben.

The combo system seems reminiscent of The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night, and there's some unclarified puzzle mechanic played out on the touchscreen -- what's there not to love? We were surprised to hear that EA greenlit the project, even if only for its EA Casual Games division, but Kyle explained, "It's this weird new face of EA ... They're actually looking to do new things, now."

Swing past the post break for more videos from the Flash prototype of this very interesting platformer.

Continue reading GDC08: Now for some Monkey Business

GDC08: Now for some Monkey Business originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blue Dragon delayed indefinitely

Alisha Karabinus — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: News

We thought March might be a little sudden for Blue Dragon Plus, and it turns out we weren't alone. Mistwalker announced that the title has been pushed back, and there is no current release window in sight. No reason was given for the delay, but do we really need one? We'll just go ahead and assume that they need more than a few months to put together the sort of title we deserve.

Blue Dragon delayed indefinitely originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two Lites enter, one Lite leaves

Alisha Karabinus — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff

What if the Pikachu SE Lite and the Ice Blue DS got together and made little Lites? Thanks to eBay seller poptart574, now we know what such a devilish hybrid would look like. While the creator didn't use an actual Pikachu Lite for the top, but rather a replacement case (we think, from the wording in the listing), it still looks about the same -- that is, extremely yellow. And also blue. Just without that pesky Pokémon appearing.

It's an odd creation, to say the least. And it can be yours for the low, low price of ... well, a little more than whatever the current bid is. As we peruse the listing, that's $81, but the auction's reserve has not yet been met.

Continue reading Two Lites enter, one Lite leaves

Two Lites enter, one Lite leaves originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A closer look at Blue Dragon

Alisha Karabinus — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: News

The deluge of pre-Jump Festa info continues, and with it comes a three-page spread on Blue Dragon, complete with new images. Unsurprisingly, there's a lot of blue in the pictures. Who'd have thought?

We've seen and heard a lot of rumblings about whether or not Blue Dragon can make the leap from console to handheld, but it's worked for so many other games and franchises that we don't have any major worries. Certainly it will look good, but after the mediocre reaction to ASH, we've got fingers crossed concerning the game play. We'll have to wait a bit longer to see that, however. For now, you can check out the scans after the break.

Continue reading A closer look at Blue Dragon

A closer look at Blue Dragon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blue Dragon DS nothing to do with cards after all

Chris Greenhough — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

Remember those vicious rumors regarding Blue Dragon DS being a card-based RPG? Well, looks like they may have been wide of the mark, as a new scan gleaned from the pages of Japanese publication Shonen Jump suggests otherwise. Instead, the magazine describes the game as a "real-time simulation RPG," a label that brings to mind the recently released Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. Whatever the hell Mistwalker's game is -- and the screens do suggest a kind of real-time strategy/RPG hybrid -- there's certainly no mention of cards.

Pleasingly, that March 2008 Japanese release date seems to have held, which surely means we'll have more information on this in the not-too-distant future. Go past the break for the Shonen Jump scan.

Continue reading Blue Dragon DS nothing to do with cards after all

Blue Dragon DS nothing to do with cards after all originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: The questing continues some more

Eric Caoili — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

As if responding to the concerns we raised yesterday, D3Publisher announced what changes and additions gamers can expect with the Wii port of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. Shouldn't we have heard about these details at an earlier date, preferably before the game was shipped out?

Anyway, this new Wii version of the puzzle/RPG hybrid has rebalanced elements, a replay option for capturing monsters, and a two-player multiplayer mode. As we predicted, there are no online features, unlike the Xbox Live Arcade and PC releases. Developer Vicious Cycle Software did, however, make sure to integrate "waggle control options with the Wii Remote."

Were any of you actually hoping for motion-based controls? Or were you wishing, like we were, that the developer would focus its efforts on implementing the primary feature fans of the handheld versions were asking for? We'll probably pick up Puzzle Quest anyway; we just wish we could play against some of you online.

Wii Warm Up: The questing continues some more originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: The questing continues

Eric Caoili — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords was one of the biggest surprise hits of the year, its word-of-mouth success prompting a release on every relevant platform -- first the PSP and DS, then Xbox Live Arcade and Windows, and this week, the Wii and PS2 (with a Mobile version in the works). But with over eight months past since Puzzle Quest made its debut on handhelds and two months since its first console port, are you still interested enough in this game to pick it up?

We haven't seen any previews or impressions so far, so we can only assume that developer Vicious Cycle Software hasn't added anything to the original game beyond the bug fixes and balance tweaks that were already in place with the Xbox Live Arcade version. It's safe to assume that there won't be any sort of online functionality either, which is really disappointing when you consider that cheaper versions of Puzzle Quest have had support for online multiplayer battles for months now.

Wii Warm Up: The questing continues originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Famitsu deals out Culdcept scans and info

Eric Caoili — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:20:00 EST

Filed under: News, Screens, Imports

Almost a month since Sega announced it'll be publishing a Nintendo DS version of OmiyaSoft's Culdcept Expansion, Famitsu has revealed the first screenshots and details for the CCG/boardgame hybrid.

Far from a straight port, all of Culdcept Expansion's cards have been reviewed for balance, and every returning character has been redrawn. Culdcept DS will also receive new cards (now over 370 in total), Cepter symbols, and an achievement system. Since this will be the first portable version of the game, more focus will be placed on its versus options, nixing out any hopes for a new story mode.

The big question now is, "Will there be any support for online matches?" It would be a terrible decision to ship this sort of title without it, in our opinion. Roll the dice and hop past the post break for the scanned magazine pages and to see how this Monopoly-meets-Magic-the-Gathering title plays out.

Continue reading Famitsu deals out Culdcept scans and info

Famitsu deals out Culdcept scans and info originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sega dealing Culdcept to DS

Eric Caoili — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Imports

As champions of hybrid-genre games (e.g. Puzzle Quest), we've ached for a portable version of Culdcept ever since Penny Arcade's Tycho began touting Culdcept II for the PS2. That was over four years ago, but good things come to those who wait, as Sega announced today that it will publish Culdcept for the Nintendo DS in 2008. With Namco Bandai planning to bring Culdcept Saga for the Xbox 360 to North America early next year, there's actually a sliver of a chance that this DS entry to the niche series will also see localization.

For those of you unfamiliar with Culdcept, and we assume that's pretty much all of you, it's a board game/collectible-card-game mix that would be best-described as Monopoly meets Magic: The Gathering. Players roll a die to travel around the game board, summoning creatures to defend their property. Other players who've landed on your property can pay a toll or battle your monster to win the square. Of course, there are spells and items which can also be brought to play. Slap some online functionality on this bad boy, and this will be a day one purchase for us.

[Via Famitsu]

Sega dealing Culdcept to DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Puzzle Quest coming to Wii?

Eric Caoili — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

The latest mumbling amongst mumbling folk is that a Wii release might be planned for Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. Amazon has listed a Wii version of the Bejeweled/RPG hybrid at a budget price of $29.99, due this September 25th.

So what can we hope for with this port? New content? Honestly, we don't expect much beyond bug fixes. Added waggle controls, then? Not if we're lucky. Online battles, at least? Though this is implemented in the upcoming XBLA version, and the new product page mentions the ability to "Battle other Warlords for supremacy via wireless multiplayer," this seems like a fool's hope. That bullet-pointed feature was most likely gleaned from a previous press release, and it seems far too early for a niche release on the Wii to support online multiplayer.

You'll find no truer friends of Infinite Interactive than us, but there are just so many ways a port like this can be messed up.

[Via Joystiq]

Rumor: Puzzle Quest coming to Wii? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking for closure with Puzzle Quest

Eric Caoili — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff

For all its charms, Puzzle Quest is not a game that ends well. Once you've completed every mindless fetch mission and julienned the anticlimactic final boss, you're dropped back into the worldmap with hardly any ceremony save some brief epilogue text. The landscape appears just as you left it, unaffected by your victory or valor.

The New Gamer laments in its review, "I keep hoping that, finally, my character will have some complete and utter impact on the lands, that all those I've interacted in will pronounce the lands free of evil, free of conflict and that they can finally live their lives in peace." But your deeds are quickly forgotten by the townspeople you've saved, and there's little to indicate that you've had an impact on the kingdom of Etheria. In short, it never feels like the Challenge of the Warlords has actually been completed.

Though this lack of finality isn't exclusive to Puzzle Quest, we really expected more from an otherwise fantastic game. Hopefully, Infinite Interactive will take pains to address the issue before putting out its next puzzle/RPG hybrid, Galactrix. Until then, we'll be haunting Etheria's dusty roads, matching gems against any soul that stumbles across our path, sighing no matter what the outcome.

Looking for closure with Puzzle Quest originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Jun 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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