Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Blizzard acquires IGN's Pro League tech, staff]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/blizzard-acquires-ign-pro-league/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/blizzard-acquires-ign-pro-league/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/blizzard-acquires-ign-pro-league/#comments Blizzard acquires IGN's pro gaming techBlizzard has purchased the IGN Pro League (IPL) technology and assets from IGN. The developer has also hired members of the IPL staff to create high-quality content in support of Blizzard's eSports. IGN will now go "agnostic" in its competitive gaming coverage, seeking to partner "with multiple organizations" to cover the events.

"This is a team of passionate gamers with a proven track record, and we're looking forward to now leveraging their expertise and technology to support a variety of online efforts," said Itzik Ben-Bassat, Blizzard's EVP of publishing.

The IGN ProLeague 6 event, scheduled for late March, was officially canceled early last month. IGN is currently going through a review of resources following its acquisition by Ziff Davis.

JoystiqBlizzard acquires IGN's Pro League tech, staff originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentigniplipl6Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN cancels IPL6 eSports tournament]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/ign-cancels-ipl6-esports-tournament/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/ign-cancels-ipl6-esports-tournament/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/ign-cancels-ipl6-esports-tournament/#comments ImageThe IGN ProLeague 6 event - intended to take place at the end of the month from March 28-31 - has officially been canceled, following rumors of its demise last week.

"Now there are more tournaments than ever before competing for people's time and attention, so we're no longer in a position to commit the resources required to run another major independent event," IGN explained in its official statement. "You should also know that we are working on finding a new home for the IPL team and IGN will continue to broadcast partner tournaments in the future."

Full refunds for the event and for reservations made at IPL6's intended venue at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas are available. Those with non-refundable plane tickets still have someplace to go, but nothing to see. It's Vegas, we're sure there's something to do.

The cancellation follows a review of resources at IGN after its acquisition by Ziff Davis. The organization experienced layoffs a couple weeks ago.

JoystiqIGN cancels IPL6 eSports tournament originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ignipl6ziff-davisMon, 04 Mar 2013 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: IGN's IPL6 eSports tournament canceled]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/rumor-igns-ipl6-esports-tournament-canceled/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/rumor-igns-ipl6-esports-tournament-canceled/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/rumor-igns-ipl6-esports-tournament-canceled/#comments ImageThe IGN ProLeague 6 event scheduled for later this month in Las Vegas has reportedly been canceled. GameSpot has been putting the pieces together, which include sponsors receiving products back that had been shipped for the event, links being removed on the IPL site for hotel reservations and certain international qualifiers being canceled.

The news isn't exactly surprising following the acquisition of IGN by Ziff Davis, which has already led to layoffs and reorganization of editorial. IPL is currently in the process of being sold to interested buyers.

IGN has not responded to our request for comment by this writing. We'll update if we receive official word.

JoystiqRumor: IGN's IPL6 eSports tournament canceled originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ignipl6ziff-davisFri, 01 Mar 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN hit with layoffs; 1UP, Gamespy and UGO shutting down]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/ign-layoffs/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/ign-layoffs/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/ign-layoffs/#comments http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2013/02/ign.jpgIGN was hit with editorial layoffs today, with sites 1UP, UGO and Gamespy expected to be shut down.

"We are focusing on our two flagship brands, IGN and AskMen. Unfortunately, as a result, we have made the decision to close sites and restructure our teams accordingly," a company spokesperson confirmed to Joystiq.

The news comes less that a month after IGN was purchased by j2 Global through its Ziff Davis subsidiary.

JoystiqIGN hit with layoffs; 1UP, Gamespy and UGO shutting down originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askmengamespyignlayoffsugoziff-davisThu, 21 Feb 2013 14:10:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN acquired by Ziff Davis]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/ign-acquired-by-ziff-davis/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/ign-acquired-by-ziff-davis/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/ign-acquired-by-ziff-davis/#comments IGN acquired by Ziff Davis IGN and its related sites have been acquired by j2 Global through its Ziff Davis subsidiary. Although the sale price was undisclosed, Bloomberg cites sources who claim it was less than the $100 million News Corp was asking for the bundle. Ziff Davis will now take over IGN, UGO, 1UP and AskMen.com. According to j2, these sites have over 600 advertisers and 53 million global monthly unique visitors.

The historical context for all this gets crazy and incestuous, so strap in, we'll try to make this easy. The zombie Ziff Davis at the heart of this current deal was acquired by j2 Global for $167 million in late 2012, after Ziff's years of financial difficulty and bankruptcy.

The incarnation of Ziff Davis that game industry watchers probably remember is the one that once upon a time ran 1UP and EGM. Those properties were sold in 2009 to the Hearst corporation, which had also acquired UGO earlier. This led to the death of EGM and reinterpretation of 1UP.

Two years later, News Corp., which owned IGN, took over the Hearst properties and, thusly, the former Ziff Davis site 1UP and Hearst's UGO.

So, now, here we are, with the reincarnated Ziff Davis taking over IGN. We think we got all that right.

JoystiqIGN acquired by Ziff Davis originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1upacqusitionignj2ugoMon, 04 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ouya names Roy Bahat chairman of the board, hires leadership staff]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/30/ouya-names-roy-bahat-chairman-of-the-board-hires-leadership-sta/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/30/ouya-names-roy-bahat-chairman-of-the-board-hires-leadership-sta/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/30/ouya-names-roy-bahat-chairman-of-the-board-hires-leadership-sta/#comments Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman announced Roy Bahat as chairman of the board Friday. Bahat served as president of IGN Entertainment for five years before joining Ouya.

Uhrman also revealed that Steve Chamberlin will lead Ouya's engineering division while Raffi Bagdasarian is in charge of the software side of operations, including services for developers and user experience. Chamberlin previously was Senior Development Director for Trion Worlds, developers of Rift. Bagdasarian spent over five years working with Sony on its Crackle streaming service.

Uhrman added that "over a thousand" game developers have been in contact with Ouya since its Kickstarter campaign ended in August, and that more than 50 distributors have applied to carry the system when it launches.

JoystiqOuya names Roy Bahat chairman of the board, hires leadership staff originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chairmancrackleignjulie-uhrmanouyaraffi-bagdasarianriftroy-bahatSONYsteve-chamberlintrion-worldsSun, 30 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newscorp app adds Fox, IGN, the Wall Street Journal and Fox News to Xbox 360 in 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/newscorp-app-adds-fox-ign-the-wall-street-journal-and-fox-news/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/newscorp-app-adds-fox-ign-the-wall-street-journal-and-fox-news/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/newscorp-app-adds-fox-ign-the-wall-street-journal-and-fox-news/#comments Microsoft's Craig Davison had some surprise news during the company's CES 2012 keynote this evening, bringing out word that Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp is developing an application for the Xbox 360. Several Newscorp content providers will be pushing out news and commentary via the free application, including the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and IGN. Beyond "2012," Davison didn't allow any more specific a date to slip out.

JoystiqNewscorp app adds Fox, IGN, the Wall Street Journal and Fox News to Xbox 360 in 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces-2012foxignmicrosoftnewscorpthe-wall-street-journalwall-street-journalwsjxboxMon, 09 Jan 2012 22:42:00 EST<![CDATA[GameFly acquisition of Direct2Drive official]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/gamefly-acquisition-of-direct2drive-official/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/gamefly-acquisition-of-direct2drive-official/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/gamefly-acquisition-of-direct2drive-official/#comments Today, game rental service GameFly confirmed last week's rumor that it will acquire the digital game retailer Direct2Drive from IGN. The acquisition of Direct2Drive will add more than 3,000 PC and Mac games to GameFly's existing library of console titles. While terms of the deal are not disclosed in the announcement, IGN will gain a minority equity stake in GameFly but have no direct role in its operations or governance.

"Only GameFly can offer a complete library of physical and digital games for the PC, Mac and consoles in one place." David Hodess, CEO of GameFly gloats. Although Direct2Drive currently offers a small handful of downloadable game rentals, no plans for including PC and Mac rentals through GameFly are discussed in the announcement; however, Joystiq confirmed with David Hodess that the option is being explored. "We know that consumers are interested in PC/Mac rentals and intend to investigate this opportunity thoroughly," Hodess told us. He also confirmed that Direct2Drive promotions like IGN membership discounts and the refer-a-friend program will continue after the acquisition is complete.

Continue reading GameFly acquisition of Direct2Drive official

JoystiqGameFly acquisition of Direct2Drive official originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 May 2011 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>David-Hodessdirect2drivegameflyIGNmacpcWed, 25 May 2011 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: IGN selling Direct2Drive to Gamefly]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/rumor-ign-selling-direct2drive-to-gamefly/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/rumor-ign-selling-direct2drive-to-gamefly/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/rumor-ign-selling-direct2drive-to-gamefly/#comments http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/gameflyd2dwithhearts530px.jpg IGN's Direct2Drive is allegedly being sold to GameFly, MCV reports. An official announcement is expected next week. Direct2Drive does offer a limited selection of game rentals, which fits in directly with GameFly's business model. Sources, while unable to confirm the sale, do tell us that IGN has been looking to unload D2D for some time.

This would be the second major announcement out of News Corp's IGN in under a month. The company announced in early May it was merging with UGO, and reports indicated that the company would spin off from News Corp.

IGN and GameFly told Joystiq in perfect harmony that neither company will "comment on rumors or speculation."

JoystiqRumor: IGN selling Direct2Drive to Gamefly originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 May 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>direct-2-drivedirect2driveGameFlyIGNpcFri, 20 May 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: IGN and UGO to merge, spin off from News Corp]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/report-ign-and-ugo-to-merge-spin-off-from-news-corp/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/report-ign-and-ugo-to-merge-spin-off-from-news-corp/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/report-ign-and-ugo-to-merge-spin-off-from-news-corp/#comments http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/ignandugoinloveheaderimg530px.jpg News Corp's IGN and Hearst Corporation's UGO are merging, with an official announcement expected this week, reports AllThingsD's Peter Kafka. The alleged plan after that is to take the merged entity in the near future and create a standalone business that focuses on video games outside of News Corp -- the notion being that IGN, which is said will make $10 million in profit this year off $100 million in revenues, will do better outside of News Corp's influence.

News Corp is also supposedly looking to take on investors for IGN before the split and may also be looking to acquire more properties before the spin-off occurs. Comscore data claims IGN has an audience of 19.7 million U.S. visitors, while UGO apparently has 13.1 million.

If you want to put this into some grander context, this merger actually combines IGN, UGO, GameSpy, WhatTheyPlay.com and the remnants of the 2009 gutting of 1UP/EGM.

JoystiqReport: IGN and UGO to merge, spin off from News Corp originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 01 May 2011 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AllThingsDHearsthearst-corporationIGNNews-CorpUGOSun, 01 May 2011 21:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Direct2Drive bringing game rentals to UK, Europe this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/direct2drive-bringing-game-rentals-to-uk-europe-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/direct2drive-bringing-game-rentals-to-uk-europe-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/direct2drive-bringing-game-rentals-to-uk-europe-this-year/#comments Direct2Drive's downloadable game rentals kicked off in North America this past January, and the program has been so popular that it's coming to Europe later on this year. That's the word from head of international digital distribution Paul Herron, who says that "publishers are positive and gamers love the service, with the conversion from rental to purchase remaining extremely high."

It's not clear yet which games will be available for rental in the regions. North America still only has about six titles on tap, and Herron says the publisher is "securing content" for the European launch. In many European countries, the company doesn't even have the download service up and running yet, so, yeah: first things first, guys.

JoystiqDirect2Drive bringing game rentals to UK, Europe this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>direct-2-driveeuropegamegames-on-demandignnorth-americapcrentalsalesFri, 08 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN's 'Indie Open House' teams selected, move in]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/igns-indie-open-house-teams-selected-move-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/igns-indie-open-house-teams-selected-move-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/igns-indie-open-house-teams-selected-move-in/#comments The five indie dev teams selected by IGN to receive free office space at the media outlet's HQ in San Francisco moved in this week. The "Indie Open House" program grants those groups free office space for the next six months, along with access to available resources.

The teams include: students from Carnegie Mellon working on a medieval combat game; a group working on a steam punk action game with Parkour mechanics; and another assembling a cooperative platformer with furry aliens for up to 100 players.

Some advice for the devs: You're at IGN. Buy the features editor shots until they agree to do a 1,200 word piece and don't take anything less than an 8 from the reviews editor -- it helps to copy their hard drive for blackmail material. See: access to available resources.

Continue reading IGN's 'Indie Open House' teams selected, move in

JoystiqIGN's 'Indie Open House' teams selected, move in originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>IGNindie-open-housepcThu, 13 Jan 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN and GameStop forge partnership, combine traffic, learn the power of sharing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/ign-and-gamestop-forge-partnership-combine-traffic-learn-the-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/ign-and-gamestop-forge-partnership-combine-traffic-learn-the-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/ign-and-gamestop-forge-partnership-combine-traffic-learn-the-p/#comments Major corporation cooperation news now, with a report from The Wall Street Journal's Kara Swisher announcing a "partnership" between News Corp's gaming megasite IGN and retail (and recycling) behemoth GameStop. While it's not clear how extensive this partnership will be, Swisher reports that IGN will be creating (and presumably selling) ads on GameStop.com; IGN editorial content will appear on GameStop.com; and, inversely, IGN.com will inherit plenty of GameStop.com e-commerce buttons.

Perhaps most notably, IGN and GameStop will merge their traffic, to better appeal to advertisers and further cement IGN's pole position amongst video game websites. GameStop has 7.2 million monthly unique visitors which will be added to IGN's 28.9 million, resulting in a post-rollup total of more than anyone else.

We've got notable questions regarding the businesses which overlap. For example, what happens to Game Informer, the GameStop-owned video game magazine and site that competes with IGN? And what about IGN's Direct2Drive PC gaming retail arm? And what about concerns that this extensive of a retail relationship is a little cozy for an editorial outlet? We'll update this post when we learn more.

JoystiqIGN and GameStop forge partnership, combine traffic, learn the power of sharing originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GamestopIGNWSJMon, 06 Dec 2010 11:21:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN's 'Indie Open House' gives indie devs office space, promotional support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/igns-indie-open-house-gives-indie-devs-office-space-promotio/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/igns-indie-open-house-gives-indie-devs-office-space-promotio/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/igns-indie-open-house-gives-indie-devs-office-space-promotio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Look, guys -- we know IGN has, like, office space to give you and all, but if you needed a crash pad, you shoulda came to us. We could probably better recreate a habitat you're used to: dirty laundry on the floor; shades drawn; a daily diet of Ramen noodles. Wouldn't you be more comfortable with that?

Anyway, we're not holding a grudge -- being able to access IGN's San Francisco-based offices 24 hours a day and having direct access to publishers and developers (including booth space promoting your game at GDC 2011) sounds like a heck of a trade-off for just being you. We'd have probably done the same thing, but it doesn't mean we don't want our mix tape back.

JoystiqIGN's 'Indie Open House' gives indie devs office space, promotional support originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>IGNindie-open-houseThu, 16 Sep 2010 03:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Halo: Reach Achievements made easy (and cheat-y)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/video-halo-reach-achievements-made-easy-and-cheat-y/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/video-halo-reach-achievements-made-easy-and-cheat-y/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/video-halo-reach-achievements-made-easy-and-cheat-y/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Halo: Reach isn't even out in stores, but IGN has already found a way to exploit part of the game for the sake of easy Achievements. In this video, its outlines a surefire method for farming up a good amount of the game's cheevos by tweaking the customized Firefight system to be really hard and then giving yourself invincibility. Which means "you can basically shoot around in circles, and get massive amounts of points." Seems like fun ... we guess?

If nothing else, this shows off just how customizable the multiplayer system in Reach actually is. Bungie has made it so that the priority is coming up with fun gametypes with your friends, not just tweaking for as many points towards Achievement as possible. Not that we don't appreciate sweet, sweet cheevos, but that's not the only reason we're Firefighting against the Covenant, right? Right?

Continue reading Video: Halo: Reach Achievements made easy (and cheat-y)

JoystiqVideo: Halo: Reach Achievements made easy (and cheat-y) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementbungiecheatingfarminghaloHalo-Reachignjessica-chobotmicrosoftxboxThu, 09 Sep 2010 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Half of Mass Effect 2 players imported a save (and other stats!)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/half-of-mass-effect-2-players-imported-a-save-and-other-stats/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/half-of-mass-effect-2-players-imported-a-save-and-other-stats/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/half-of-mass-effect-2-players-imported-a-save-and-other-stats/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mass Effect 2 Executive Producer Casey Hudson has shared some juicy statistics about the game with IGN. Basic takeaways are that people really did treat the game as a "shooter," with the soldier class chosen more than every other combined. Also, the women's lib movement for intergalactic saviors still has some work to do, with 80 percent of players choosing the male Shepard.

The "anonymous player data" collected by BioWare is obviously meant to inform the studio in designing future titles. For example, players skipped 15 percent of conversations in the game, most of the time in "non-critical moments like in the hub worlds." Hudson says that if the company found people skipping 80-90 percent of the lines that they'd have to "reevaluate the work" the team put into digital acting -- and we'd have to reevaluate why people are playing Mass Effect in the first place. Check out IGN's piece for more on how the stats support current decisions and influence future projects.

Gallery: Mass Effect 2 ("Lair of the Shadow Broker" DLC)

JoystiqHalf of Mass Effect 2 players imported a save (and other stats!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarecasey-hudsonEAElectronic-ArtsIGNMass-Effect-2microsoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 07 Sep 2010 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[EEDAR releases preliminary E3 interest stats]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/26/eedar-releases-preliminary-e3-interest-stats/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/26/eedar-releases-preliminary-e3-interest-stats/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/26/eedar-releases-preliminary-e3-interest-stats/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) has released a report listing various attention metrics from gamers from two sites, GameTrailers and IGN.com, regarding the most "popular" titles from E3. We put "popular" in quotes there because these stats are for things like trailer streaming and page views rather than a scientific survey -- this is a general feel of the zeitgeist on these two specific sites rather than a comprehensive view of what gamers thought of E3.

But there are interesting things to note even in this limited set of stats, especially when you compare it to our own anecdotal show floor and "chatter" data from you commenters. We heard from quite a few of you during the show that Nintendo's press conference was the most popular event, and this list agrees. Likewise, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was one of the most popular titles on the show floor, and there's no shortage of Link representation here. Kirby's Epic Yarn is probably the biggest unannounced-before E3 title on the lists, and Marvel vs. Capcom 3 captured a lot of attention -- not much was revealed at the show itself, but it was placed front and center on the floor of the West Hall.

At the same time, there are some weird conclusions here. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, an expansion which didn't even make an appearance at E3, registered in the top 20 in the GameTrailers stats and Red Dead Redemption, a game that's already out, picked up spot No. 8 on IGN's Page Views list of big E3 titles. EEDAR also notes that the Nintendo 3DS didn't rank on any of these lists, but given the lines at the Nintendo booth to see it, the new handheld garnered plenty of attention. So you can't really bank on these titles yet. But if you're interested, you can check out EEDAR's top 10 in each category after the break.

Continue reading EEDAR releases preliminary E3 interest stats

JoystiqEEDAR releases preliminary E3 interest stats originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2010eedargamesgametrailersignmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-swordwiixboxSat, 26 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reports: 3DS more powerful than Wii, doesn't use Nvidia chips]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/reports-3ds-more-powerful-than-wii-doesnt-use-nvidia-chips/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/reports-3ds-more-powerful-than-wii-doesnt-use-nvidia-chips/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/reports-3ds-more-powerful-than-wii-doesnt-use-nvidia-chips/#commentsReports from anonymous sources are starting to paint a rather surprising picture of the mysterious Nintendo 3DS. Both IGN and Eurogamer report that developers have said off-the-record that the handheld won't use the Nvidia Tegra chip, as it was rumored to do. Eurogamer's sources claim that the 3DS hardware is internally known as "CTR," suggesting that the motherboard image submitted to the FCC in May, which noted the "CTR" codename, was indeed related to the 3DS.

According to IGN, "Several developers that have experienced 3DS in its current form have reported, off the record, that it has processing capabilities that far exceed the Nintendo Wii and bring the device with abilities that are close to HD consoles such as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360."

We'll find out for ourselves when Nintendo unveils the thing at E3, but this sounds rather uncharacteristic. Nintendo's handhelds have always been designed to use not-quite-cutting-edge technology, to keep costs down and battery life long. We suppose a certain level of processing power is required to generate 3D imagery, especially on two screens, but if these reports are true, the 3DS would represent a totally new strategy for Nintendo.

Source: Eurogamer
Source: IGN

JoystiqReports: 3DS more powerful than Wii, doesn't use Nvidia chips originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3DSCTRdsEurogamerIGNnintendoNintendo-CTRNvidiaNvidia-TegraMon, 07 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN's Casamassina now Apple's global editorial games manager]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/igns-casamassina-now-apples-global-editorial-games-manager/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/igns-casamassina-now-apples-global-editorial-games-manager/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/igns-casamassina-now-apples-global-editorial-games-manager/#commentsApple has taken an important step toward helping us make sense of the bajillions of games on the iPhone App Store, by hiring a new global editorial games manager -- and it's someone you might be familiar with. IGN's "Editor-at-Large" Matt Casamassina, who wrote Nintendo coverage for most of his tenure with the site, announced his departure from IGN, and his new title at Apple, yesterday on his blog.

"In a nutshell, I will be leading the charge for games on the App Store," Casamassina explained," so whether you browse through iTunes, iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, the games content you see will be handpicked and organized by me and my team." Perhaps editorial oversight will help developers get attention for their games without relying on brand identity or a 99-cent price.
[Thanks, David]

JoystiqIGN's Casamassina now Apple's global editorial games manager originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeappleignipadiPoditunesMatt-CasamassinaFri, 23 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Master Chief Sings: a 19-disc set of John 117's best]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/master-chief-sings-a-19-disc-set-of-john-117s-best/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/master-chief-sings-a-19-disc-set-of-john-117s-best/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/master-chief-sings-a-19-disc-set-of-john-117s-best/#comments With all of that space travel going on, there's got to be plenty of downtime for the last Spartan in existence. Sure, Master Chief can just hop into a cryo-chamber and saw some wood between Halo games -- but every now and then, when nobody's around, MC likes to exercise the old pipes. You would not believe how dynamic his range is, clearly exhibited in the video past the break from IGN.

Oh, and before you watch the video (and inevitably call that number to order your own set), know that we think we've finally figured out John 117's identity: Michael McDonald.

[Via LazyGamer]

Continue reading Master Chief Sings: a 19-disc set of John 117's best

JoystiqMaster Chief Sings: a 19-disc set of John 117's best originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesbungiehalohalo-2halo-3ignmaster-chiefmaster-chief-singsMicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosparodysatirespoofXbox-360Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:27:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools: Halo film finishes the fight for love]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/april-fools-halo-film-finishes-the-fight-for-love/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/april-fools-halo-film-finishes-the-fight-for-love/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/april-fools-halo-film-finishes-the-fight-for-love/#comments Of all the April Fools jokes created for today, IGN may have just unleashed the best. It's the missing trailer for the once-was-gonna-happen Halo film. We don't want to ruin it for you, but let's just say that Master Chief is uniquely able to straddle the line between being a fighter and a lover. Where else did you think all of that Spartan research money went?

Anyway, hit up the Man Cannon and fly past the break to finally see the face of Master Chief!

Continue reading April Fools: Halo film finishes the fight for love

JoystiqApril Fools: Halo film finishes the fight for love originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-fools-2010bungiecortanahalohalo-movieignmaster-chiefmicrosoftXbox-360Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN layoffs hit all divisions of media giant]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/ign-layoffs-hit-all-divisions-of-media-giant/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/ign-layoffs-hit-all-divisions-of-media-giant/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/ign-layoffs-hit-all-divisions-of-media-giant/#comments Joystiq has obtained an internal IGN memo sent by company president Roy Bahat announcing layoffs at the media site today. We currently have no accurate estimate for the number of people let go today, nor do we know if any divisions have been shut down entirely.

Bahat states in the memo, "We're doing this to reduce costs. While we've been doing well -- we're profitable and our audience continues to grow -- we're still feeling the effects of the economy, and we need to make sure we can invest where there is opportunity. Over the past couple of years, we have been focusing IGN on areas where we can not only grow, but be best in the world: serving gamers online, and serving advertisers looking to reach men. To do that successfully, we have to be as efficient as possible in our core businesses. The difficult actions we're taking today get us to where we need to be."

We will continue to update this story as we learn more. If you're an IGN employee, you're of course welcome to contact us with any information you'd like to share. Find Bahat's full memo to employees after the break.

Continue reading IGN layoffs hit all divisions of media giant

JoystiqIGN layoffs hit all divisions of media giant originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ignlayoffsmemoroy-bahatTue, 16 Mar 2010 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN holding charity event for Haiti recovery efforts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/23/ign-holding-chartiy-event-for-haiti-recovery-efforts/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/23/ign-holding-chartiy-event-for-haiti-recovery-efforts/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/23/ign-holding-chartiy-event-for-haiti-recovery-efforts/#comments Though it may lack the star-studded cast of last night's Hope for Haiti telethon, IGN will be holding its own charity drive to help the nation get back on its feet after last week's devastating 7.0 earthquake. The news site will be taking donations from readers next Wednesday during a 12-hour "online webathon," the proceeds from which will go to Habitat for Humanity. The site will also be holding a number of online auctions for items donated by altruistic members of the gaming industry -- such as the gold-plated Bayonetta gun seen above.

Check out the IGN for Haiti event page for more details -- and make sure tune in at 9 a.m. PST next Wednesday to watch the webathon unfold!

JoystiqIGN holding charity event for Haiti recovery efforts originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charitydonationshabitat-for-humanityhaitiigntelethonwebathonSat, 23 Jan 2010 17:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision pursuing 'online monetization models' for Call of Duty franchise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/activision-pursuing-online-monetization-models-for-call-of-dut/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/activision-pursuing-online-monetization-models-for-call-of-dut/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/activision-pursuing-online-monetization-models-for-call-of-dut/#comments For quite some time now, Activision execs have been hinting at the idea of MMO monetization being implemented in games other than Blizzard's behemoth World of Warcraft. Speaking at the BMO Capital Markets Conference this past week, another Activision exec - CFO Thomas Tippl - was tasked with the question of whether or not WoW's "successful online business model" (read: monthly subscription fees) would end up in other Activision properties.

"It's definitely an aspiration that we see potential in, particularly as we look at different business models to monetize the online gameplay," Tippl says, according to an IGN report. "I think it's been mutually beneficial, and you should expect us to test and ultimately launch additional online monetization models of some of some of our biggest franchises like Call of Duty." He also notes that "there is demand from the core gamers to pay up for that," which likely means that many of you who got Activision's survey back in June supported this.

Shame on you.

[Via CVG]

JoystiqActivision pursuing 'online monetization models' for Call of Duty franchise originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbmo-capital-marketsbmo-capital-markets-conferencebusinesscall-of-dutyCall-of-Duty-MMOcfoignmmomonetizationpay-to-playthomas-tipplSun, 15 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What They Play's John Davison makes leap to GamePro]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/what-they-plays-john-davison-makes-leap-to-gamepro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/what-they-plays-john-davison-makes-leap-to-gamepro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/06/what-they-plays-john-davison-makes-leap-to-gamepro/#comments More and more, we're seeing evidence that the days of favorite faces being permanently associated with certain outlets are a thing of the past. GamePro announced today that John Davison (formerly of What They Play and 1UP) would serve as executive vice president of content at its long-running magazine and website, a week after Garnett Lee left 1UP to head editorial content for GameFly. Davison's most recent project was recently sold to IGN.

In an official statement, Davison said he hopes to "reshape GamePro as a thoroughly modern integrated media brand," a strategy that we give five screaming happy faces out of five.

JoystiqWhat They Play's John Davison makes leap to GamePro originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gameproGamePro-MediaIDGIGNjohn-davisonwhat-they-playTue, 06 Oct 2009 16:57:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN buys WhatTheyPlay.com]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/24/ign-buys-whattheyplay-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/24/ign-buys-whattheyplay-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/24/ign-buys-whattheyplay-com/#comments IGN took a lap around the acquisition block and decided to show WhatTheyPlay.com the back of its big white van ... which many sites have seen before. WhatTheyPlay.com was started two years ago by former 1UP VPs John Davison and Ira Becker (before the walls fell) to give parents useful insight into what their spawn are doing with those "PlayBoxes" and "X-stations." The site is also a great resource for non-parents, like the time it taught us that parents apparently find gay kissing slightly more offensive than a "graphically severed human head."

Now IGN just needs a website for geriatric gamers and it will complete the demographic circle of life. Smart readers will take this as an opportunity to start ReallyTooOldtoPlay.com and CripplingArthritisWontStopMe.com.

JoystiqIGN buys WhatTheyPlay.com originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionbusinessignwhat-they-playwhattheyplaywhattheyplay.comThu, 24 Sep 2009 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaikai closed beta coming to Europe first]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/09/gaikai-closed-beta-coming-to-europe-first/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/09/gaikai-closed-beta-coming-to-europe-first/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/09/gaikai-closed-beta-coming-to-europe-first/#comments Cloud computing service Gaikai will be entering closed beta "later this month" in Europe, company head Dave Perry announced earlier today. Perry explains that since "all three founders are European" they've decided to "start [the] closed beta in Europe later this month," and plan on bringing the beta to North America next (you can sign up fairly quickly right here). Perhaps unsurprising, his announcement comes just one week after OnLive, that other cloud computing-based service, opened its own public beta in North America.

IGN recently got its hands on Gaikai and snagged a video (that we've dropped after the break) of the service running through Windows 7 on a new MacBook. It appears to be working just as smoothly as when we last saw it, though now in the hands of an outside party. Our concern comes with the choice of games being demoed here: World of Warcraft and Mario Kart 64, not the most demanding apps we could imagine, especially when OnLive is showing off Crysis.

Continue reading Gaikai closed beta coming to Europe first

JoystiqGaikai closed beta coming to Europe first originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacloud-computingdave-perrydigital-distributioneuropegaikaiignpcWed, 09 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2009: Uncharted 2's Nathan Drake catches a train]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/06/pax-2009-uncharted-2s-nathan-drake-catches-a-train/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/06/pax-2009-uncharted-2s-nathan-drake-catches-a-train/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/06/pax-2009-uncharted-2s-nathan-drake-catches-a-train/#comments
Naughty Dog has been more than happy to explain to us how complicated it is to have a moving character on a moving surface, like on the floor of a collapsing building or the top of a moving train. But we have no idea how to quantify these things. We play games ... we're not math and physics experts. But if you have a barrel that needs blowing up, or a crate that needs smashing open, we're your guys.

Uncharted 2's creative director Amy Hennig explained that most game levels tend to use a moving background that makes the object your character is standing on appear to be moving, and then augment that with physics. Not so with Nathan Drake. He gets to clamber over fully-modeled train cars and diveroll through actual collapsing buildings. No smoke and mirror tricks for this fortune hunter.

To prove the point, the developer showed us a live demo of the game where Drake hauls himself onto the back of a speeding train while simultaneously fending off baddies on the train, and a heavily-armed helicopter that decides Drake needs to be swatted off. You'll have to fight your way forward towards an RPG if you want to survive. Hint: there's a loud, whining noise before the chopper fires its rockets, and also watch out for low-hanging lights.

All of this takes place on a fully modeled and realized moving train, and it looks gorgeous, but we'll just have to take Naughty Dog's word for it as far as the mega-model railroad set that was design for this. Or, you can see what you think! Check out the new footage just after the break.

Continue reading PAX 2009: Uncharted 2's Nathan Drake catches a train

JoystiqPAX 2009: Uncharted 2's Nathan Drake catches a train originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amy-HennigignNathan-DrakeNaughty-DogPaxPAX-2009UnchartedUncharted-2Uncharted-2-Among-ThievesSun, 06 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First screens for The Ballad of Gay Tony go airborne]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/29/first-screens-for-the-ballad-of-gay-tony-go-airborne/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/29/first-screens-for-the-ballad-of-gay-tony-go-airborne/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/29/first-screens-for-the-ballad-of-gay-tony-go-airborne/#comments
Earlier today, Rockstar Games released its first volley of screens for upcoming GTA IV expansion, The Ballad of Gay Tony. From what we can see in the four images -- handed "exclusively to fan sites," according to the Rockstar Games website -- it appears as though air-based warfare will be the focus this time around.

Eagle-eyed fans will also notice that the protagonist is wearing the same letterman jacket found in the teaser image Rockstar released last week for the game's second DLC, still scheduled to arrive this Winter, further confirming his main characteriness. All will be revealed this Tuesday we hope, with the arrival of the first trailer (and hopefully some new media alongside that). For the time being, peep all four images right here.

Gallery: GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony



[Thanks, Adriaan!]

JoystiqFirst screens for The Ballad of Gay Tony go airborne originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-distributiondlcgrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgtagta-ivgtaivignign-grand-theft-auto-hoodMicrosoftrockstarrockstar-gamesscreenshotsthe-ballad-of-gay-tonyXbox-360Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pitchford on Borderlands cover: The game 'will blow your mind']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/pitchford-on-borderlands-cover-the-game-will-blow-your-mind/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/pitchford-on-borderlands-cover-the-game-will-blow-your-mind/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/pitchford-on-borderlands-cover-the-game-will-blow-your-mind/#comments
Gearbox Software prez Randy Pitchford says upcoming post-apocalyptic shooter Borderlands will "blow your mind." After issuing the game's daring cover this past week, the development studio head talked to IGN about it and claimed, "The motive is about the goals of a box cover - you want to evoke something, get attention and have something honest to say about the promise of the game."

Though he admits some were worried at Gearbox as well as at publisher 2K Games, he believes it was the right decision to choose that cover in the end. "Judging from the response so far, it looks like it was the right call." We absolutely agree, Mr. Pitchford. Will gamers pick it up at the store this October next to Brütal Legend and other AAA titles? That remains to be seen -- but all these games that have been pushed back to 2010 couldn't hurt, right?

Gallery: Borderlands cover art

borderlandspcborderlandsps3borderlandsx

JoystiqPitchford on Borderlands cover: The game 'will blow your mind' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>borderlandsbox-artbrutal-legendcovergearboxgearbox-softwareignMicrosoftrandy-pitchfordXbox-360Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Are you sitting down? 'Asteroids' movie has a plot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/25/are-you-sitting-down-asteroids-movie-has-a-plot/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/25/are-you-sitting-down-asteroids-movie-has-a-plot/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/25/are-you-sitting-down-asteroids-movie-has-a-plot/#comments
You know that epic three-hundred page screenplay you've been polishing over the last decade for a film adaptation of Asteroids? Throw it away, because Universal has it nailed down. Speaking to IGN, producer Lornezo di Bonaventura said the upcoming film will focus on two brothers who must have "a seminal experience" to figure out their relationship against a backdrop of rocks in space. Riveting.

Bonaventura -- who will soon help ruin your childhood with G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra -- added that his attraction to the Asteroids license was because it promises an action-packed affair with "some guys in spaceships blowing stuff up." Also, he thinks it tells moviegoers "that there's going to be this big thing in space." So, we can only assume that Universal Studios buys movie licenses by scanning a dictionary.

[Via Shacknews]

JoystiqAre you sitting down? 'Asteroids' movie has a plot originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asteroidsasteroids-moviefilm-adaptationgi-joe-the-rise-of-cobraignLornezo-di-BonaventurastrangeuniversalSat, 25 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LucasArts games also going Direct2Drive starting with Monkey Island SE]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/lucasarts-games-also-going-direct2drive-starting-with-monkey-isl/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/lucasarts-games-also-going-direct2drive-starting-with-monkey-isl/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/lucasarts-games-also-going-direct2drive-starting-with-monkey-isl/#comments
If, for some reason, you should find yourself in need of an alternative to Steam but don't want to miss out on LucasArts's recent reissuing of back catalog titles, you're in luck. IGN has sealed a deal to distribute the publisher's titles via its Direct2Drive service, beginning today with The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition for $9.95.

Unfortunately, the announcement makes no mention of what other LucasArts games will be offered, saying only that there will be others. At some point. We've contacted IGN to find out if its lineup will mirror Steam's, or if there'll be any notable additions (or omissions).

JoystiqLucasArts games also going Direct2Drive starting with Monkey Island SE originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>direct2driveignlucasartsMonkey-IslandpiratesThe-Secret-of-Monkey-Islandthe-secret-of-monkey-island-special-editionThu, 16 Jul 2009 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN shows us Milo's future]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/03/ign-shows-us-milos-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/03/ign-shows-us-milos-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/03/ign-shows-us-milos-future/#comments
Concept and execution are two totally different worlds. Although the concept and initial presentation of Lionhead Studios' Milo blew everyone away at E3 2009, what does fate have in store for the little digital boy's longterm execution? IGN attempts to answer that question in a little sketch they put together. We all know Milo will lose his innocence once he's in the hands of normal people, but just how bad will it become? Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading IGN shows us Milo's future

JoystiqIGN shows us Milo's future originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ignlionhead-studiosMicrosoftmilopeter-molyneuxXbox-360Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: The Conduit (Wii)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/metareview-the-conduit-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/metareview-the-conduit-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/metareview-the-conduit-wii/#commentsWhile you're patiently waiting for the end of the week so you can cash that paycheck and pick up High Voltage Software's The Conduit for your Nintendo Wii, why not take a gander at what the rest of the interweb had to say about the game? Considering the lack of correlation between Metacritic scores and the sales numbers of Wii games, though -- at least according to Peter Moore -- you probably shouldn't let these numbers get to you too much.
  • GamePro (70): "The Conduit is the closest you will get to recapturing the magic of Goldeneye ... To be blunt, The Conduit is a by the numbers shooter that offers a couple of thrills but ultimately doesn't make much of an impact ... anyone who loved Goldeneye will want to give a look as well if only to get a nice dose of nostalgia, but the rest of you shouldn't feel a need to abandon your favorite next-gen shooter for this one."
  • GamesRadar (80): "The Conduit is fun, controls well, and is, at times, quite beautiful ... Both humans and alien drones are animated with competent physics and personality that puts High Voltage Software's Quantum3 engine outside the realm of the "GameCube 1.5" criticisms ... The truth is you probably wouldn't bat an eye at The Conduit had it appeared on PC, PS3 or Xbox 360 ... The solid, yet unremarkable single-player won't win any awards, but The Conduit still features the most finely honed online outings available on Wii."
  • IGN (86): "The Conduit is not a revolutionary first-person shooter, but it's a damned good one ... the title features the tightest, most comfortable control scheme of any console-based first-person shooter to date ... The Conduit features a robust list of modes and maps to play online and nearly 20 weapons to use as you rip through arenas blasting foes ... it's not revolutionary, but The Conduit is a great first-person shooter designed just for Wii owners."

Gallery: The Conduit

JoystiqMetareview: The Conduit (Wii) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>first-person-shooterfpsgameprogamesradarhigh-voltagehigh-voltage-softwareignmetacriticmetareviewNintendopeter-moorereviewssegaWiiWed, 24 Jun 2009 13:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Interstellar Marines still exists, has actual landsharks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/interstellar-marines-still-exists-has-actual-landsharks/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/interstellar-marines-still-exists-has-actual-landsharks/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/interstellar-marines-still-exists-has-actual-landsharks/#commentsSo here's the thing: When you cross sharks with marines, things get hilarious and, ya know, kind of bloody. It gets even weirder when the title in question is a relic from 2006 -- a game we've only seen in trailers for three years now! -- named Interstellar Marines.

All joking aside, the game looks to be in good shape and seems to be distinctly more defined than in our last look at it. Seriously, what could be better than real landsharks? A giant robot ... maybe. And this video's got that too! Check out all the landsharkery just a couple inches up.

Gallery: Interstellar Marines

JoystiqInterstellar Marines still exists, has actual landsharks originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 May 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fpsigninterstellar-marinesMicrosoftpcsci-fitrailerXbox-360zero-point-softwareThu, 28 May 2009 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN analyzes the GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony announcement]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/ign-analyzes-the-gta-iv-the-ballad-of-gay-tony-announcement/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/ign-analyzes-the-gta-iv-the-ballad-of-gay-tony-announcement/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/ign-analyzes-the-gta-iv-the-ballad-of-gay-tony-announcement/#comments
IGN took a microscope to yesterday's announcement and came up with some with some ideas on what to expect from Rockstar's latest GTA IV DLC episode. We already know about Tony's fall from financial grace in the main GTA IV campaign, so IGN surmises that this latest episode will focus on Tony's attempt to reclaim his lost riches through the exploits of his assistant, Luis.

When The Lost and The Damned released, it included updates to Liberty City's LCHC and Liberty Rock stations, and IGN expects the same to happen for K109, Electrochoc and The Vibe, which hold Liberty's club-dwelling populace's interest.

There's a good chance that The Ballad of Gay Tony will mostly take place in Algonquin, IGN writes. Considering that Lopez's Dominican friends operate out of Northern Algonquin, and Gay Tony's empire spanned most of the south eastern part of the island, it's a safe bet to assume Luis will be handling business in the area when the DLC releases this fall.

JoystiqIGN analyzes the GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony announcement originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 May 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcgtaivignMicrosoftrockstartake-twothe-ballad-of-gay-tonyXbox-360Wed, 27 May 2009 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[MadWorld places relationship between online hype and actual sales in doubt]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/madworld-places-relationship-between-online-hype-and-actual-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/madworld-places-relationship-between-online-hype-and-actual-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/madworld-places-relationship-between-online-hype-and-actual-sale/#commentsAnalytics firm OTX Research seems to already be making a name for itself after announcing intentions last month to track game sales. Speaking at the LA Games Conference, OTX's Nick Williams explained the surprisingly weak connection between strong online awareness of a game versus actual, hard sales numbers, citing Sega's recently released MadWorld as a striking example.

Noting the game's top position among IGN.com's games with the "highest level of unique interest," MadWorld came in at a paltry number 41 using OTX's "GamePlan" metric, a system that measures "1,000 gamers on a weekly basis, tracking 400 games at any given time." This translates to a bleak eight percent of Wii owners having even heard of the title, much less purchasing it (that's .32 percent according to April's MadWorld sales data compared with the 20 million Wii owners in the US currently). Hmm, we wonder what that data would look like for Grand Theft Auto's recent foray onto Nintendo's massively popular handheld!

It took an awful lot of numbers right there to explain an idea we've all quietly agreed upon for so long now -- hype and marketing in the "hardcore" gaming world doesn't necessarily equal copies moving at retail. Now, if you'll excuse us, we'll be over here playing BlazBlue.

JoystiqMadWorld places relationship between online hype and actual sales in doubt originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysisgamasutraignla-games-conferencemadworldmetricsnick-williamsNintendootxotx-researchplatinum-gamessegaWiiWed, 29 Apr 2009 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Rising 2 multiplayer not confirmed, Capcom says]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/dead-rising-2-multiplayer-not-confirmed-capcom-says/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/dead-rising-2-multiplayer-not-confirmed-capcom-says/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/dead-rising-2-multiplayer-not-confirmed-capcom-says/#comments
Just like every other year, GDC in 2009 brought with it a bevy of new information (and the ubiquitous Pat Benatar rumor). And unfortunately, during the rush to post information, it's easy for publishing outlets (including ourselves) to mishear something, misconstrue a piece of information and/or not have time to follow up with the information source. So when Jeff Haynes of IGN heard Laura Scholl of middleware developer mental mill on a Dead Rising 2 panel speaking about "6000 characters onscreen during multiplayer sessions," he reported on the piece of information just as he heard it.

Unfortunately for Mr. Haynes though, Laura Scholl apparently misspoke. We contacted mental mill this morning for comment on the quote -- a quote that would ostensibly confirm an unnannounced mode for Dead Rising 2, mind you -- and Loretta Stevens told us that she was present at the panel when Ms. Scholl misspoke, saying, "She meant multiplatform." And so we went one step further and contacted Chris Kramer at Capcom to find out what he had to say about all of this: "Here's how it is: I believe what one person says about this project, Inafune-san. I don't know anything about this middleware provider."

When we asked him straight up if the game will have multiplayer or not, he had this to say, "We have not announced much about the game at this point," remaining clandestine on the subject altogether. So while Dead Rising 2 may contain some form of multiplayer, as of right now, it's officially not confirmed.

UPDATE: Laura Scholl has contacted us with further clarification of her statement, writing, "In my 'Making of Dead Rising 2' presentation at GDC this past Friday, while I was describing how Blue Castle is using mental mill technology in character development, I mistakenly referred to the game as multiplayer instead of multiplatform. I apologize for the confusion. The game is indeed multiplatform, and Blue Castle has done an amazing job creating incredibly photorealistic characters - from their skin tone to their clothing - in heavily populated and complex levels throughout the game. Gamers are going to be thrilled with how the game feels, looks and plays."

JoystiqDead Rising 2 multiplayer not confirmed, Capcom says originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomchris-kramerdead-rising-2gdc-2009ignjeff-hayneslaura-schollloretta-stevensmental-millMicrosoftXbox-360Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony dismisses IGN's PSP2 rumors, disses IGN]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/sony-dismisses-igns-psp2-rumors-disses-ign/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/sony-dismisses-igns-psp2-rumors-disses-ign/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/27/sony-dismisses-igns-psp2-rumors-disses-ign/#commentsFiled under:


Wow, not only did Sony take the time to deny an IGN rumor about the PSP2, but the company took the opportunity to flat out insult the site. IGN recently cited "several credible sources" in a report on Sony's next handheld, allegedly featuring a touch screen, Bluetooth support, hard drive and GPS. MCV then spoke to Sony about the rumor -- that's when the sparks flew.

"Clearly, being a quiet time of year, many, what we thought to be credible websites, are making up stories about PSP2, and how it allows you to teleport across the globe, travel through time, and will be powered by the horns of baby rhinoceroses," Sony explained. "Hopefully, you can sense a mild tone of sarcasm, which should hopefully indicate how 'on the money' IGN are. Needless to say, we don't comment on rumour or speculation, but this is nonsense."

We don't know who to feel embarrassed for right now, but it's certainly going to be awkward if IGN is right.

Source - Rumor: PSP2 coming soon. (IGN)
Source - PSP 2 Rumors are "nonsense." (MCV)
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JoystiqSony dismisses IGN's PSP2 rumors, disses IGN originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ignmcvpsppsp-2rumorsonyTue, 27 Jan 2009 09:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Sega of America lays off 30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/rumor-sega-of-america-lays-off-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/rumor-sega-of-america-lays-off-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/rumor-sega-of-america-lays-off-30/#commentsFiled under: ,


An inside source has informed IGN that Sega of America laid off 30 employees today. We've followed up with the publisher, but calls, emails and IMs for confirmation (even about unrelated stories) have been met with an eerie silence.

We'll certainly update when more information becomes available.

JoystiqRumor: Sega of America lays off 30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyignlayoffssegasega-of-americaTue, 20 Jan 2009 18:16:00 EST