Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/No GTA IV effect on Iron Man openinghttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/no-gta-iv-effect-on-iron-man-opening/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/no-gta-iv-effect-on-iron-man-opening/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/no-gta-iv-effect-on-iron-man-opening/#commentsFiled under:


Talk of Grand Theft Auto IV possibly hurting Iron Man's opening was clearly wrong. According to Variety, the movie made $104.2 million during its opening weekend, proving Paramount's Rob Moore right when he said that young males can carve out two hours to see Iron Man.

Variety did explore GTA IV's impact on the home video market recently, which showed no major releases targeted at the young male demo for the week. Probably the best comparison would be to see how the Iron Man video game did in sales when NPD comes out next month, and we know we're going out on a limb on this one, but we're pretty sure GTA IV won that battle.

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]]>grand-theft-auto-ivgrandtheftautoivgta-ivgtaiviron-manironmanvarietyAlexander Sliwinski2008-05-05T13:25:00+00:00Joystiq impressions: Iron Man (Xbox 360)http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/joystiq-impressions-iron-man-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/joystiq-impressions-iron-man-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/joystiq-impressions-iron-man-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Of course Iron Man is yet another movie cash-in, a title that will sit on the shelf and call to you as you march out the cinema with glitzy, superhero shenanigans still fresh in your memory. But aside from all that, wanting to play as the eponymous, metal-clad cad is a desire that doesn't just come from the foul wells of corporate synergy and marketing. Nigh indestructible and capable of dishing out destruction from the palm of his hand, it's no challenge to see the appeal in controlling Iron Man -- a literal can of whoop-ass.

It does come as a major concern then, when his in-game movements display more than a little clumsiness. It's not entirely Iron Man's fault -- he's a flying tank that performs best when it maintains momentum and moves in a straight line -- but the 3rd-person action shown to us by a Sega representative seemed hampered by the controls and camera. While there's a great sense of speed and freedom conveyed by soaring across a desert, it's only when Iron Man cools his jets and starts punching things that issues arise.

Gallery: Iron Man



In the category of things to be punched, you'll encounter enemy tanks, helicopters, turrets and other contraptions that litter the game's large, open-ended environments. Stationary or slow-moving objects are easiest to deal with, as Iron Man can employ his projectile weapons from afar before delivering a close-up, contextual coup de grâce which, much like those found in God of War, allow him to his tear enemies apart. Replace the blood with showers of sparks and you'll have a pretty good idea of how those actions work. There's also a modicum of forethought involved in these assaults, with Iron Man being able to allocate his energy to four different aspects of his suit, namely thrusters, weapons, shield and melee ability.

When approaching nimbler targets such as fighter jets, Iron Man appears to become a bit more unwieldy. Attempts to grab or fire at a circling jet seemed severely hampered by an inability to lock on to the target and keep it in the camera's view. As annoying as the constant reorientation is likely to be for players, we imagine it's much worse for poor Tony Stark who's spinning around in an enclosed, metal suit. GAME OVER: You drowned in your own vomit.

That isn't to say Sega's take on Iron Man constantly evokes nausea. His in-game model is clearly the graphical star, and an array of different suits is sure to please the superhero fashion police. Naturally, the game's story and environments all go "beyond the movie" (look for that phrase on the back of the box), with developer Secret Level delving into Marvel's catalogue of comics for additional characters. Provided the movie isn't complete rubbish, it'll be hard to begrudge fans who just want to grab an incoming missile and hurl it back like an explosive javelin.

Still, if one were to sever the Iron Man connection and examine this as a straight-up action title, the apparent targeting and camera flaws would push it into a wishy-washy mass of overlooked titles. There's still time to address these concerns, but with the movie demanding companionship across all current platforms in May, not that much time.

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]]>Iron-ManIronManMarvelSecret-LevelSegaLudwig Kietzmann2008-04-01T11:05:00+00:00Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard give voices to 'Iron Man' video gamehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/robert-downy-jr-terrence-howard-give-voice-to-iron-man-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/robert-downy-jr-terrence-howard-give-voice-to-iron-man-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/robert-downy-jr-terrence-howard-give-voice-to-iron-man-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Much to our (elated) surprise, the Iron Man video game is looking good. Adding a few more mega fonzies to our Cool-O-Meter is the addition of a few actors from the film. Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard and Shaun Toub will all lend the voices to the game, according to a Sega press release.

To catch up the few people who live under a rock, Downey plays Tony "Iron Man" Stark, Howard plays Lt. Colonel James Rhodes (who later becomes War Machine). Toub has a more minor role, playing fellow Afghanistan captive Yin Sen. We wonder if he'll fill in the same role as Bruce "Don't call me Ash" Campbell in the Spider-Man games as a tutorial guide. The Iron Man game is expected to arrive just before the film's May 2 release.

[Via Press Release]

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]]>iron-manironmanrobert-downey-jrsegaterrence-howardRoss Miller2008-03-20T19:30:00+00:00Iron Man trailers are increasingly awesomehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/iron-man-trailers-are-increasingly-awesome/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/iron-man-trailers-are-increasingly-awesome/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/iron-man-trailers-are-increasingly-awesome/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If there's one thing that can make us more apprehensive than a movie-based-game, it's a comic book-based-movie-based-game. We've found that the fewer levels of adaptation a product is forced through, the better off it is for it. However, after watching the VGA premiere trailer and the recent "Iron Flight" trailer for Sega's Iron Man, we must admit, it's becoming difficult to maintain this trepidatious front -- the game looks rad. Between the Black Sabbath, the missile suplex, the blue stealth armor, and the halving of not one, but two tanks, we're pretty sure the pleasure centers in our brain just burst. We highly suggest checking out that trailer while we attempt to drive to the nearest emergency neurologist.

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]]>blacksabbathironflightironmanironmangamemarvelsegatonystarktrailerGriffin McElroy2008-03-16T19:30:00+00:00Iron Man's new trailer looks unexpectedly awesomehttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/iron-mans-new-trailer-looks-unexpectedly-awesome/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/iron-mans-new-trailer-looks-unexpectedly-awesome/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/iron-mans-new-trailer-looks-unexpectedly-awesome/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We know, we know, it's just a video clip. And yes, we know that we've been burned by sexy trailers for mediocre licensed games before. But this new trailer for Iron Man (shown during last night's Spike VGAs) is just so freaking good, we're finding it hard to keep our cynical composure.

How about when Iron Man throws a fighter jet, or when it grabs a missile and redirects it? How about the original gray armor? Awesome. Everything here is. There is one thing that troubles us though: At one point, Tony Stark flies through a ring. If it's a stylish move, all's well, but if Iron Man's going to get into some Superman 64 shenannigans, things are going to get hectic.

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]]>iron-manironmansegaspikesuperman64vgas-2007Justin McElroy2007-12-10T11:20:00+00:00First footage of Sega's Iron Man, with developer walkthroughhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/first-footage-of-segas-iron-man-with-developer-walkthrough/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/first-footage-of-segas-iron-man-with-developer-walkthrough/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/first-footage-of-segas-iron-man-with-developer-walkthrough/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Despite Sega telling us not to worry, we've been concerned over the fate of Tony Stark and the latest Iron Man title. The current director of S.H.I.E.L.D. has had more than a few reasons to sneak into the bottom of a bottle over the years, his PlayStation and GBA outings not the least of his problems. Still, with the film shaping up brilliantly (so says the early reports), there may yet be hope.

Check out the footage straight from Comic-Con after the break. Keep in mind that the game's release is to coincide with the films, so the folks at Sega have until the Summer of 2008 to fiddle with it.

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]]>comic-conironmanmarvelsegaskrullJared Rea2007-07-27T16:35:00+00:00Sega reveals oodles of game dateshttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/10/segas-reveals-oodles-of-game-dates/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/10/segas-reveals-oodles-of-game-dates/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/10/segas-reveals-oodles-of-game-dates/#commentsFiled under: ,


Yes, perhaps we have heard of practically all the games Sega says they're showing at E3, but we now know a bit more specifically when we'll get our soon-to-be-E3-cramped mitts on them. Due this fall are Bleach: Shattered Blade (Wii and DS), NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Wii), SEGA Rally Revo, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, PC) Sonic Rush Adventure (DS), Universe at War: Earth Assault (PC) and Virtua Fighter 5 (Xbox 360). In the holiday season, expect Ghost Squad (Wii), The Golden Compass (Multi), Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii, DS).

Next year, look for Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Xbox 360, PS3) in February, Iron Man (Multi) in spring, Universe at War: Earth Assault (Xbox 360) in Q1, The Club (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) in winter, and Space Siege (PC) at some point during the year. If you want to learn more about any of these, we've taken the liberty of posting the whole release after the jump.

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SEGA unveils its most diverse multi-platform lineup at E3 2007
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (July 10, 2007) - SEGA(R) of America, Inc. and SEGA(R) Europe Ltd. today announced a stellar lineup of video games to be presented at the E3 Business & Media Summit 2007. SEGA will debut 13 titles consisting of original and high profile licensed properties developed for the Wii[TM] system from Nintendo, the Xbox 360[TM] video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system. In addition, SEGA continues its strong support of the PC and Games for Windows - Live, handheld systems including the Nintendo DS[TM], and the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, as well as the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system,. SEGA will be located in booth #313 in the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport.

"SEGA's mission is to publish fun and entertaining games for people wherever and whenever they want to play," said Simon Jeffery, President and COO, SEGA of America. "For some titles like The Golden Compass we'll provide a compelling and similar game experience across all the major systems, and for other games like Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games or NiGHTS we create specific gameplay unique to the capabilities of a platform like the Wii or DS. And with Universe at War we are leading the pack as the first third-party publisher to announce a game that takes advantage of cross platform play between an Xbox 360 and Windows. We are proud to show the world all of these games and more this week at E3."

SEGA's lineup of high quality entertainment games to be featured at E3 includes the following titles.

Bleach: Shattered Blade[TM] (Wii) - Release: Fall 2007
Bleach: The Blade of Fate[TM] (DS) - Release: Fall 2007
The award-winning Bleach[TM] anime series, currently featured on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, is coming to the Wii and Nintendo DS this fall. Timed with the launch of the highly-anticipated second season, gamers will get to experience the cinematic, sword fighting action of Bleach: Shattered Blade on the Wii and Bleach: The Blade of Fate on the DS. The series follows the life of a 15-year-old boy named Ichigo Kurosaki who is able to see spirits and becomes a Soul Reaper with supernatural powers.

The Club[TM] (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) - Release: Winter 2008
From the developer behind the critically acclaimed racing series, Project Gotham Racing, Bizarre Creations brings a whole new breed of third-person shooter known as The Club. The Club mixes the best elements from action shooters with fast-paced run and gun gameplay, destructive environments, lethal weapons and online multiplayer. Players will fight to survive in a shadowy underground blood-sport controlled by faceless, obscenely wealthy and influential elite who place their bets on who will survive as the bloodbath ensues before them. Take control of up to eight unique trained killers motivated by greed, driven by pure insane bloodlust, and hell bent on earning respect on a global level.

Condemned 2: Bloodshot[TM] (Xbox 360, PS3) - Release: February 2008
The city is spiraling deeper into social decline evident by the startling increase in riots, looting and murder. People are scared. Local and government agencies are doing all they can to control the situation. Playing as Ethan Thomas in this brutally realistic first-person action thriller, you're fighting a more personal battle. Cast out of the police force, your life has since taken a downward spiral and you find yourself drifting aimlessly. You have questions about yourself and the mysterious dark influence ebbing over mankind that no one can answer. Wanting to numb your internal plight, you've turned to alcohol and isolation. Your continuing drive to hunt down serial killers and save the city will send you on a personal journey to learn the terrifying truth about yourself.

Ghost Squad[TM] (Wii) - Release: Holiday 2007
SEGA's top-grossing light gun game from 2005, Ghost Squad, comes to the Wii system and replicates the excitement of the arcade experience in your home for 1-4 players. The Ghost Squad is a Special Forces unit established in strict secrecy by the U.N. to combat terrorism and carry out special highly-classified missions without leaving a trace. As an elite member of the Ghost Squad, players will complete dangerous missions such as eliminating terrorist groups, releasing hostages, deactivating bombs, and even rescuing the U.S. President when terrorists hijack Air Force One. Using the Wii Remote[TM], players will utilize revolutionary selectable weapons including a high-powered rifle, submachine gun and shotgun, or even engage in hand-to-hand combat.

The Golden Compass[TM] (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, DS, PSP, Mobile) - Release: December 2007
Immerse yourself in the magical world of The Golden Compass, the upcoming video game based on the highly anticipated new film from New Line Cinema. It is a world where witches fly through frozen skies, giant armored bears fight to defend their kingdom and where sinister Gobblers kidnap children and carry them to a frozen wasteland. And it is a world of intense danger and amazing adventure for the rebellious Lyra Belacqua, her animal daemon, Pan, and a giant and powerful bear named Iorek. Together they embark on an epic journey of action, exploration, collaboration and discovery.

Iron Man[TM] (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, DS, PSP) - Release: Spring 2008
Marvel and SEGA bring this invincible armored hero to theaters and video game platforms in 2008. Iron Man, one of Marvel's most indestructible crime fighters, is blasting onto video game platforms and the big screen next year! Armed with a high-tech suit and a variety of weapons, the player will take on entire armies on constantly evolving and chaotic battlefields. The epic, action-packed Marvel Studios production will be directed by John Favreau and stars Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow. Thrilling sequences from the film will be featured in this third-person action game, immersing the player in the explosive militaristic combat with loads of additional content created exclusively for the game.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games[TM] (Wii, DS) - Release: Holiday 2007
Two of the most beloved icons in the world, Mario[TM] and Sonic[TM], are joining forces to star in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Developed exclusively for the Wii video game system and the Nintendo DS system, this momentous agreement marks the first time these two renowned stars will appear together in a game. Featuring an all-star cast of characters from the amazing worlds of both Mario and Sonic, players will be able to compete as or against a range of familiar characters including Mario, Sonic, Luigi[TM], Knuckles[TM], Yoshi(R), Tails[TM] and more. Innovative usage of the Wii and DS control systems to maneuver your favorite character will allow players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, leap over the high jump or churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much sought after Olympic gold medal. With up to four players on the Wii and on the DS, the stage is set to catch the fever this holiday with Mario and Sonic.

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams[TM] (Wii) - Release: Fall 2007
As a fantasy jester called NiGHTS, players will fly through Nightopia, a rich and vibrant world where dreams come to life. With the innovative Wii Remote, gamers will experience a heightened sense of gliding, spiraling, and looping through a variety of mystical dream worlds packed with high-flying adventure. Players must find inventive ways to confront the "Nightmarens" from the neighboring dark world of Nightmare using amazing acrobatic skills, freedom of flight, and other special abilities to protect Nightopia. NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is an adventure filled with courage, hope and inspiration that the whole family will enjoy.

SEGA Rally Revo[TM] (PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, PC) - Release: Fall 2007
For the first time ever, experience real-time terrain deformation with SEGA Rally Revo's proprietary GeoDeformation[TM] technology. Select tire treads according to the track surface, then drive one of more than 30 playable licensed cars around a wide variety of next-gen looping courses, each featuring assorted weather conditions and ground surfaces which dynamically deteriorate throughout the race. No two laps are ever the same, resulting in a fast-action arcade racing experience which requires reflexes and skill to win.

Sonic Rush Adventure[TM] (DS) - Release: Fall 2007
Sonic returns to the Nintendo DS with all the classic 2D, dual screen action the fans loved in Sonic Rush[TM], as well as a new island hopping 3D adventure where he clashes with ruthless pirates. As Sonic, players will set off from Windmill Village to explore seven action-packed levels featuring the classic 2D gameplay that the Sonic series is known for. Now players will get to explore the action stages to uncover valuable items and materials which allow Tails to build new ships that help Sonic explore the high seas and discover new islands. With a fleet of up to five ships, including a submarine, water bike, and hovercraft, players will use the touch screen technology in exciting new ways to control their ships as they race from island to island gathering rings, busting tricks, and torching pirate ships in fierce ship-to-ship battles. At the end of each level, players will test their skills in epic 3D boss battles that span both screens, including the ultimate showdown with the evil pirate, Captain Whisker. Let the adventure begin!

Space Siege[TM] (PC) - Release: 2008
During a massive alien attack on Earth, five colony ships attempt a daring evacuation in a desperate attempt to save the human race. Only one of the ships survives. In Space Siege, you take on the role of Seth Walker, a battle-hardened robotics specialist. Your objective is to protect the human race from being completely annihilated by this alien species. Ultimately, you must make a horrific choice: will you sacrifice your own humanity to save the human race? A game of tactics, combat-heavy action, and decision making, Space Siege is an all-new science fiction themed action-RPG being developed by gaming master Chris Taylor and Gas Powered Games(R), the creators of Dungeon Siege(R) I & II and Supreme Commander[TM].

Universe at War: Earth Assault[TM] (PC) - Release: October 2007(PC), Q1 2008 (Xbox 360)
Earth has become an intergalactic battleground for three warring alien factions in Universe at War: Earth Assault, the new real-time strategy game from Petroglyph, the developers of last year's Star Wars: Empire at War. Each of the game's factions will play in a totally different manner from each other, with their own resource model, units, and abilities. The game's customization system, Tactical Dynamics, gives players further control by letting them change units on-the-fly to overcome any challenge. Universe at War: Earth Assault will be the first third-party title to support Microsoft's new Games for Windows - Live system, allowing PC players to compete head to head against their Xbox 360 counterparts. Universe at War: Earth Assault will be DirectX(R)9 and DirectX(R)10 compatible, and will run on both Windows XP[TM] and Windows Vista[TM].

Virtua Fighter [TM]5　(Xbox360) - Release: Fall 2007
Virtua Fighter 5, the game that pioneered the 3D fighting genre is back with featuring online versus mode. The latest installment in the popular series is currently under development for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and will release this fall. Virtua Fighter 5 raises the bar for console fighting games including all the features fans know and love plus enhanced gameplay mechanics, leaderboards, and online multi-player.

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]]>condemnedironmanmarionightssegasonicJustin McElroy2007-07-10T11:28:00+00:00Sega pulls a Tony Stark, intuits their comic titles being radhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/sega-pulls-a-tony-stark-intuits-their-comic-titles-being-rad/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/sega-pulls-a-tony-stark-intuits-their-comic-titles-being-rad/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/23/sega-pulls-a-tony-stark-intuits-their-comic-titles-being-rad/#commentsFiled under:


If you're like us and you're overly defensive about your nerd books, you're probably scared that Sega's wrangling of the Iron Man license could warrant them doing something crazy like resurrecting old Vectorman code. Sega's VP of marketing, Scott Steinberg, gave Next Generation a few reasons why we should at least be able to sleep at night.

In earlier eras, Steinberg recalls, Hollywood studios would dump a licensed property into the laps of snatch-happy developers with six months to develop and market the beast. With properties like Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Captain America under the hand of Sega at the moment, they're looking to avoid the typical gauntlet that has churned out titles such as Fantastic Four and Ghost Rider.

Steinberg goes on to say that "The whole industry, both industries, have coupled together and have evolved or advanced their craft to a point where both are taken extremely seriously and that just wasn't the case two years ago." And if they fail? We toss them in the Negative Zone.

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]]>ironmanmarvelJared Rea2007-04-23T15:27:00+00:00Sega picks up rights to Hulk, Captain America, Thorhttp://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/18/sega-pics-up-rights-to-hulk-captain-america-thor/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/18/sega-pics-up-rights-to-hulk-captain-america-thor/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/18/sega-pics-up-rights-to-hulk-captain-america-thor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


A limited number of the Avengers assemble! It may lack the punch of the standard battle cry, but it seems to be the one on Sega's lips as they add The Hulk, Thor and Captain America to their character roster. What unites these three characters? Are there a handful of designers at Sega with a bold vision to bring these favorites to life on consoles ... or could it be that all three are the subject of forthcoming blockbuster films? Well, Reuters says that Sega's already got a team on The Hulk in anticipation of the June 2008 film starring Edward Norton, if that helps narrow it down.

Sega is already creating an Iron Man game internally for consoles in conjunction with the Robert Downy Jr. flick due out next year and Reuters reports that the game is being made "using next-generation technology," so it should be an instant classic. We're anxious to see what Sega does with the heroes, but allow us to make one small suggestion: Wiimote + Thor's hammer = funtastic. That's all we're saying.

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]]>captainamericaironmansegathehulkthorJustin McElroy2007-04-18T10:57:00+00:00