Joystiq

Fist Face Fight throws down April 18 on iOS, Android

David Hinkle — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:20:00 EST

Jared Bailey of developer Nocanwin has confirmed to Joystiq that Fist Face Fight will be available on Thursday, April 18. Fist Face Fight will be a free download on both Android and iOS devices, ad-supported with in-app purchases of in-game currency. Any in-app purchase will disable advertisements permanently.

Fist Face Fight is a self-described "frenetic physics based arena combat game" in which you defend your heart by punching back waves of encroaching ninja. They want your heart; punch them.

Gallery: Fist Face Fight (iOS, Android)

Fist Face Fight throws down April 18 on iOS, Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Theatrhythm soundtracks are really Final Fantasy 1-13 albums, out now

Sinan Kubba — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:30:00 EST

Square Enix released four Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy soundtracks onto iTunes today, each comprising songs from a particular mode of the 3DS and iOS game. There's a soundtrack each for the game's Event, Field, and Battle gameplay modes, each one priced $8.97, along with one for the Chaos Shrine mode, priced $9.99.

The game aside, what these essentially represent are Final Fantasy 1-13 compilations, with the Event, Field, and Battle soundtracks each including one song in its original version from each of the first 13 main FF games. Take the Battle one, which includes a piece of battle music from each game, though not always the main one; FF7 and FF10 are represented by "One Winged Angel" and "Fight With Seymour," for example.

The Field soundtrack comprises a mixture of the games' main themes and songs you hear in particular locations, while the Event soundtrack picks some of the iconic songs (mostly) from the 13 games, like "Celes's Theme" from FF6 and "Waltz for the Moon" from FF8.

Finally, the 15 songs of the Chaos Shrine are much more scattered. Nonetheless, there are some excellent ones in there such as the melancholy "Zanarkand" of FF10 and the rousing "Blinded by Light" of FF13.

Theatrhythm soundtracks are really Final Fantasy 1-13 albums, out now originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rayman Jungle Run grabs App Store GOTY award

Sinan Kubba — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST

Accomplished auto-run platformer Rayman Jungle Run is the App Store Game of the Year 2012. Ubisoft's iOS evolution of Rayman Origins, which received 10 free bonus levels earlier this month, pipped word game Letterpress to the award.

On the iPad-specific front, Fireproof's 3D puzzler The Room came away with the main prize. The runner-up spot went to IGF finalist and Joystiq favorite Waking Mars.

There are at least a few pairs of raised Joystiq eyebrows at Super Hexagon being omitted, but Terry Cavanagh's twitch game did at least pick up the Runner-Up award from the App Store's UK branch. To celebrate, Cavanagh slashed 66 percent off the game's price, making it available for a limited time at a bargainous $0.99.

Rayman Jungle Run grabs App Store GOTY award originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anarchy Reigns soundtrack available for download

JC Fletcher — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST

Platinum Games and Sega have released the official Anarchy Reigns soundtrack, on iTunes and Amazon MP3 for $8.99/£7.99. The album features a new track by Dilated Peoples, which you can hear in the above video.

It's up to you to decide whether this early soundtrack release counts as a gesture to ease the protracted wait for Anarchy Reigns' Western release, or as a cruel tease. Anarchy Reigns will finally, finally, probably be released in North America on January 8.

Anarchy Reigns soundtrack available for download originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jet Set Radio soundtrack reappears on iTunes, Amazon

JC Fletcher — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST

The Jet Set Radio soundtrack was originally due to be released on iTunes and in both digital and CD form on Amazon on September 18. However, when the appointed day arrived, the pre-order listings mysteriously disappeared.

Jet Set Radio's original soundtrack - featuring a selection of the Sega-produced tracks by Richard Jacques, Hideki Naganuma and Toronto - is finally available on iTunes. In addition, you can buy the CD from Amazon, though the MP3 version is not available there for some reason.

Its reappearance isn't the only surprise: iTunes also offers a Jet Set Radio Future soundtrack. The two collections cost $9.99 each. That explains why the JSRF bonus tracks have been replaced by ... graffiti sound effects in the JSR collection.

Jet Set Radio soundtrack reappears on iTunes, Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jet Set Radio soundtrack disappears from retail

JC Fletcher — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST

Sad news out of Tokyo-to this morning, as the reissued Jet Set Radio soundtrack has vanished from online retailers. The music collection was available for pre-order on Amazon and iTunes, but on its official release date - today - the listings are no longer present on either site. The CD version of the soundtrack is listed on Amazon as "out of stock."

We've contacted Sega to ascertain the issue and find out when the soundtrack will be available again. In the meantime, you can hear Jet Set Radio's music in ... the actual game.

[Thanks, Jonathan!]

Jet Set Radio soundtrack disappears from retail originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bastion heading to iPad tomorrow [updated]

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:18:00 EST

The kid is sauntering over to Apple's iPad tomorrow in Bastion from Supergiant Games. New Zealanders - beyond the beautiful rolling hills and verdant greenery - get iOS games ahead of the rest of the planet due to the position of the sun and how that relates to our definition of time, you see, so it's already available in that territory. The game has a set launch date of August 30, but some territories are already in the future.

Anyway, Bastion's iPad-only for now, which Supergiant says was a decision made due to "technical reasons." Additionally, the team, "felt the game experience would not translate well to the iPhone's smaller screen."

When it arrives on the US App Store, it'll cost $4.99 and there's no demo version - you could always try it out in Google Chrome first? Don't hesitate to let us know if you see it pop up on our digital shores, which should be sometime tonight around 11PM ET. And head over to Supergiant's page for a ton more info about the new release.

Update: This story was updated to reflect the official announcement of Bastion on iOS.

Bastion heading to iPad tomorrow [updated] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jet Set Radio soundtrack download up for pre-order

JC Fletcher — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:45:00 EST

As great a game as Jet Set Radio is, the best thing about it is its soundtrack. And said soundtrack will be released on iTunes and Amazon on September 18, coinciding with the PSN release of the updated game.

The 17-track soundtrack is all Hideki Naganuma originals, plus Richard Jacques' "Everybody Jump Around" and Toronto's "Electric Tooth Brush." It doesn't include the licensed tracks, like any of the iconic Guitar Vader songs. The game itself has a more complete soundtrack, in case you just had a mini-panic attack.

Jet Set Radio soundtrack download up for pre-order originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EGLS to 'modify some parts' of its iOS MMO in wake of Torchlight asset theft accusations

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST

Chinese developer Entertainment Game Labs will remove "some parts" of its game, Armed Heroes Online, the company tells Joystiq. Those "parts," it sounds like, are the ones that Runic Games is saying were stolen from its Torchlight franchise. "Players always come first," EGLS said in a statement. "There, we prefer to modify some parts of Armed Heroes Online where have caused those disputes rather than go on arguing. As long as this carves out a way out of angry disputes, it will be definitely worth our efforts," the statement reads.

Despite the alterations coming to AHO, its developer sticks by the game, remaining defiant that any of Runic's Torchlight assets were used in the creation of its iOS MMO. "We want to make clear, if necessary, that we would like to submit the documents, files, and other materials related to the game developing to Apple to prove the originalities of the game and the efforts we devoted into the game developing," the statement says.

Runic Games president Travis Baldree contends that he's already looked through AHO's files, however, and that they're far more damning that EGLS wants to admit. "I also downloaded the app, and you can just unzip them and look at any iPhone app. And there was a sound manifest that listed all the sound files in the game, and they were verbatim all of our sound files, including our own misspellings," Baldree told us in an interview yesterday. "Our technical artist Adam Perin did voices for a sword called 'The Sword of Adam.' And it had goofy little things that he would say when you swung the sword. And those were in there [Armed Heroes Online], even in one of their videos," he said.

For Runic, this solution - should it actually play out - is exactly what Baldree was hoping would happen. "We're really just trying to get the thing pulled down from the App Store and to have them use their own assets. We were a little baffled by their initial response, and we'd be more than happy to talk to them and see what's up," he said. As of right now, Armed Heroes Online isn't available via the iTunes App Store, and it's seemingly been pulled by Apple following Runic's takedown request.

See the full statement from EGLS after the break.

Continue reading EGLS to 'modify some parts' of its iOS MMO in wake of Torchlight asset theft accusations

EGLS to 'modify some parts' of its iOS MMO in wake of Torchlight asset theft accusations originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swift Stitch collects shinies on iOS this week via Nicalis

JC Fletcher — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST

Continuing its partnerships with interesting indies (Studio Pixel, Nifflas, etc.), developer and publisher Nicalis is bringing Sophie Houlden's vector-style racing/puzzle/maze game Swift Stitch to iOS on July 5.

It's difficult to explain the mechanics - hold a button to turn, hit certain barriers to flip horizontal or vertical direction - so instead allow us to direct you to this browser-based demo. The simple one-button controls seem perfectly matched to touchscreen devices, though maybe our brains aren't perfectly matched to the game, as our frequent and sudden meetings with walls would suggest.

The iOS version will be free to download, with ten levels available in the initial version. The full game is available as an in-app purchase for .99, or $1.99 after launch week.

Gallery: Swift Stitch

Continue reading Swift Stitch collects shinies on iOS this week via Nicalis

Swift Stitch collects shinies on iOS this week via Nicalis originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indie Game: The Movie available digitally on June 12

JC Fletcher — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:00:00 EST

Steam has proven to be a boon for indie games like Super Meat Boy. Now we'll see if it's similarly helpful for movies about Super Meat Boy. Following its limited theatrical run, Indie Game: The Movie will be released digitally through Steam on June 12. Pre-orders are open for $9; normal price is $10. It'll also be streamable or downloadable from iTunes and the movie's own site the same day.

If you want it on a disc (remember those?) you can pre-order that, as well.

Indie Game: The Movie available digitally on June 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 May 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take the sounds of Sanctuary with you with the Diablo 3 soundtrack

JC Fletcher — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:30:00 EST

Here's the perfect way to keep your excitement going while you wait to get into the Diablo 3 server. The 23-track Diablo 3 soundtrack is now available for download on iTunes for $11.99 - a soundtrack that was acclaimed by iTunes reviewer BigJeff71 as "Surprisingly good and not too scary."

If you're still waiting to play after those 23 tracks elapse, you can also buy "The Music of Diablo 1996-2011," a $12 anthology of classic tracks, and the Diablo 2 soundtrack.

Take the sounds of Sanctuary with you with the Diablo 3 soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy the greatest song ever written (and other Sonic soundtracks) on iTunes [update]

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:00:00 EST

The pinnacle of all human achievement, "Open Your Heart" from the Sonic Adventure soundtrack, is now available on iTunes, as are a plethora of other Sonic-related albums from across the breadth of time and space. The soundtracks to Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic CD and others can be yours for the paltry sum of $9.99 each, which is a small price to pay for 20 to 30 tracks per album of gloriously ridiculous nostalgia-metal.

Soundtracks for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 and Episode 2 will be available before too long, according to Sega. Head on through to the other side for a full list of what's available now and how to get it.

Update: As it turns out, these soundtracks have been available since last year or earlier. Sega decided to nest the announcement of forthcoming Episode 1 and Episode 2 soundtracks within a reiteration of the availability of its other musical offerings.

Continue reading Buy the greatest song ever written (and other Sonic soundtracks) on iTunes [update]

Buy the greatest song ever written (and other Sonic soundtracks) on iTunes [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space iOS on sale, first episode free

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:30:00 EST

Sam and Max may have gone beyond the boundaries of time and space in their latest series of episodic adventures, but does that mean they must also travel beyond the boundaries of your budget?

Nay, says Telltale Games, and to prove it the developer has made the first episode of Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space on iOS totes free, and discounted the other four episodes to $2.99 a piece. These aren't permanent pricing changes, of course, so anyone looking to get their adventuring feet wet with something a little more family friendly than the alternative should take note.

Continue reading Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space iOS on sale, first episode free

Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space iOS on sale, first episode free originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 May 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: The 7th Guest free on iOS and Mac App store today

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:45:00 EST

In 1993, we were too busy getting our chat room trolling on to play classic adventure games like The 7th Guest. Thankfully for us, modern technology lets us revisit older works via new platforms. The 7th Guest, for instance, has been available for quite some time on iOS and OS X.

But hey, maybe you - like us - have yet to purchase Trilobyte's seminal work? You'll be glad to hear, then, that the OS X and iOS versions of The 7th Guest are totally free today in celebration of May Day. We're not second-guessing it either! Free game!

PSA: The 7th Guest free on iOS and Mac App store today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WWE WrestleFest on iOS today, coming to XBLA, PSN, PC, Android in 2012

JC Fletcher — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

Well, this is definitely the craziest thing to happen in wrestling games in quite some time -- and wrestling is a sport built entirely on human insanity. WWF WrestleFest, the classic arcade game by Technos, has been updated for release on iOS by THQ. The new "WWE Wrestlefest" has smoother graphics and an updated roster of wrestlers (a rostler, if you will) including John Cena and Randy Orton, alongside old-school wrestlers like the late "Macho Man" Randy Savage. It's also been modernized with "an extensive downloadable content program."

The app is available in a free "Lite" version and a $2.99 "Premium" version for iPhone, and both "Lite" and paid for iPad.

THQ also plans to release this new WrestleFest on XBLA, PSN, Android, and PC, sometime in 2012. So we hope the new version is good.

Continue reading WWE WrestleFest on iOS today, coming to XBLA, PSN, PC, Android in 2012

WWE WrestleFest on iOS today, coming to XBLA, PSN, PC, Android in 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Call of Duty Elite iOS App now available

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:20:00 EST

As promised, the Call of Duty Elite app for iOS is now available via the iTunes App Store, and just like its console counterpart, it's totally free. The Elite app offers a chance for Modern Warfare 3 players to track stats, player progression, revisit past matches, and a variety of other services, though we're told it's all the more thrilling if you're paying for the annual Elite subscription. The application is expected to arrive on Android devices next week.

PSA: Call of Duty Elite iOS App now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alien Hominid: PDA Games adds new trial levels

David Hinkle — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST

We get it. In this tough economy, it's hard to scrape together cash for a game sometimes, even if it is only a buck. And so you've been rationing the trial levels in Alien Hominid: PDA Games. Well, today The Behemoth has added more trial levels for its frugal fans.

You can download the free version over on iTunes and, should you change your mind about that buck, you can purchase the full game in-app. The full version sports 20 different achievements across 500 levels.

Alien Hominid: PDA Games adds new trial levels originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iMame app pulled from iOS App Store after a few short days of freedom

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Apple has officially pulled iMame, the free, ROM-playing arcade unit emulator, from its App Store, killing one of the very few venues for getting old arcade games onto your iOS device of choice. The move is presumably due to Apple's long-standing policy of not allowing applications running on its devices to play emulated software (despite a few exceptions in Capcom and Atari).

As with other emulators to have somehow sneaked past Apple's App approvals process, it wasn't long before Apple got wind of iMame's uses and shut it down. That said, if you already snagged yourself a copy of the free App, it can't be taken away, though it can't exactly receive updates either. Unfortunate, yes, but at least you've got a few months of unadulterated, portable, emulated gaming ahead of you!

iMame app pulled from iOS App Store after a few short days of freedom originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crazy Dave's Wabby Wabbo being sold on iTunes for charity

Mike Schramm — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST

Crazy Dave, whom you might remember as Plants vs. Zombies' power-up purveyor, can't speak English. But that hasn't stopped him from producing a rap song, apparently, which PopCap is now selling for 99 cents on iTunes in order to raise some money for charity this holiday season. The single, which features "Cray-Z" murmuring over a bombastic beat, has already picked up over 600,000 views on YouTube, and PopCap says all profits on the song's sale are going to Concern Worldwide.

What's Concern do with its nonprofit funds? It helps grow plants, of course. How else are we going to take on the coming zombie bobsled threat?

Crazy Dave's Wabby Wabbo being sold on iTunes for charity originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spin-dash to iTunes for downloadable Sonic soundtracks

JC Fletcher — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:40:00 EST

Sega has released a bunch of Sonic the Hedgehog game soundtracks to iTunes, allowing you to speed up your workday with appropriate background music.

The available albums include the Japanese soundtrack to Sonic CD, featuring a couple of new arrangements by Crush 40; Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 collections for rainbow followers; Heroes; and a collection of "greatest hits" called Super Sonic Songs - The Best of Crush 40. Sega even announced two non-Sonic-related projects from series musicians: "Song of Hope," a charity single by Crush 40, and an album of performances by composer Jun Senoue. Ever wanted to hear a Sega musician from Japan play "The Star-Spangled Banner" on guitar? You do now!

Because we wanted a nice image for the header of this post, and because we haven't had an excuse to talk about this yet, the image above is Good Smile Company's Nendoroid Sonic the Hedgehog figure, coming out in Japan next April. It's amazing.

Spin-dash to iTunes for downloadable Sonic soundtracks originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiny Invaders enlarged for iPad

David Hinkle — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:00:00 EST

Hogrocket, a new development studio comprised of ex-Bizarre Creations talent, put out its first game last month, Tiny Invaders. Up until now, the visual merits (on top of its merit merits) of the game have been available exclusively to the smaller-screened iOS devices, but that's changed.

Tiny Invaders' latest update adds iPad support, as well some social media integration and some different languages -- French, German and Italian. Not included: the satisfaction that comes from ruling all of mankind.

Continue reading Tiny Invaders enlarged for iPad

Tiny Invaders enlarged for iPad originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Double Fine Action Arcade Soundtrack' collects Flash game hits

JC Fletcher — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EST

Have you ever bought the soundtrack to a Flash game before? You might want to now. The "Double Fine Action Arcade Soundtrack" contains 40 tracks from the developer's Flash games, including Tasha's Game, My Game About Me, and Host Master and the Conquest of Humor., composed by Bert Chang and Razmig Mavlian. The $9.99 download also throws in several bonus tracks from the two Double Fine musicians.

If you'd like to hear the soundtrack before buying, you can preview the soundtrack on iTunes, or you can, you know, just go play those Flash games with your speakers on.

[Thanks, Shawn!]

'Double Fine Action Arcade Soundtrack' collects Flash game hits originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Decide-o-tron app from Penny Arcade will help you decide which games to buy

David Hinkle — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:00:00 EST

With so many different games and platforms out there, deciding what to play is a tough task. We sympathize, we really do -- and now the Penny Arcade guys are looking to take some of the guess work out of the whole thing with a new iOS app.

The app will be free of charge when it launches next month and will suggest games based on your preferences. It'll also feature wishlists you can share and "play lists" of notable online and gaming personalities, beginning with Penny Arcade's Gabe and Tycho themselves, Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins.

Hit the jump for the full press release. There's also a website you can check out, if that's more your speed.

Continue reading Decide-o-tron app from Penny Arcade will help you decide which games to buy

Decide-o-tron app from Penny Arcade will help you decide which games to buy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Wizard's Castle

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EST

Indie developers are the starving artists of the video-game world, often brilliant and innovative, but also misunderstood, underfunded and more prone to writing free-form poetry on their LiveJournals. We at Joystiq believe no one deserves to starve, and many indie developers are entitled to a fridge full of tasty, fulfilling media coverage, right here. This week, we ask the father and son duo behind Wizard's Castle how working with family can help (or hurt) a fledgling indie title.

What's your game called, and what's it about?

Wizard's Castle -- for iPhone 4 and HD for iPad 2 -- is a match and remove game for all ages. The player enters the castle to find that the friendly Wizard has cast a spell and colored, magic balls are raining down from the ceiling. The goal of the game is to prevent the room from filling up with balls during each three-minute round. Players match and remove balls by touching groups of two or more balls of the same color. While manageable at the lowest levels, the game quickly presents a difficult challenge to both hand-eye coordination and finding a winning strategy.

Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Wizard's Castle

The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Wizard's Castle originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portabliss: Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer (iOS)

Justin McElroy — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EST

Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Ascension.

Though digital versions of card games are certainly convenient, their most attractive quality may just be secrecy.

The secretary may or may not have been playing Solitaire until the exact moment you arrived at her desk, but thanks to the miracle of the desktop personal computer, you'll never know the difference.

Or to use a more relevant example: I'm relishing the iOS version of Ascension, because if I ever audibly said "I'm going to use the Yggdrasil Staff's ability to transform four runes into three honor points" I'd fire myself from my own life and replace me with someone more palatable.

Continue reading Portabliss: Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer (iOS)

Portabliss: Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer (iOS) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cinemaware doing iPhone games, Defender of the Crown now available

Justin McElroy — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST

For those of us of a ... certain age, the name Cinemaware summons up images of some of the most stunning graphics of the mid-to-late-80s, whether that be in Rocket Ranger or It Came From the Desert!. Now, the futuristic citizens of 2011 can experience the company's most popular release, Defender of the Crown, with a $2.99 iPhone port of the Amiga version, just released by Cinemaware.

Our hope is that the youth of today won't too harshly what we once thought to be the bleeding edge of graphical fidelity. Remember: Judge not, lest ye be judged by the snot-nosed, hologrid-loving kids of 2025.

Cinemaware doing iPhone games, Defender of the Crown now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Make-A-Wish recipient's Allied Star Police now available from PopCap

Justin McElroy — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:30:00 EST

You may not remember the name Owain Weinert, but you probably remember his story. The 9-year-old, who's been living with leukemia since 2010, had a dream fulfilled by the Make-A-Wish foundation when he designed a game in conjunction with PopCap.

Today, the product of that collaboration -- Allied Star Police -- arrives on iOS platforms courtesy of PopCap's 4th and Battery branch. Better yet, the top-down arcade RTS tower defense game (ambitious for a rookie!), is available for free on the App Store right now. Well, what are you waiting for? What are you, made of stone?

Continue reading Make-A-Wish recipient's Allied Star Police now available from PopCap

Make-A-Wish recipient's Allied Star Police now available from PopCap originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play For Japan: The Album helps rebuild Japan, available now

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST

Announced last May and originally slated for a June release, Play For Japan: The Album is finally available for your listening pleasure. The album features original tracks by 18 of gaming history's greatest composers, including Silent Hill's Akira Yamaoka, Metal Gear Solid 4's Nobuko Toda, and if you buy the album from iTunes, Super Mario Bros.'s Koji Kondo.

The album is already available via iTunes in the US, Canada, and UK, and will be available everywhere else (from iTunes and Amazon) starting July 15. It costs $9.99 USD, one hundred percent of which benefits the Japanese Red Cross' efforts in rebuilding Japan's infrastructure. It also benefits your eardrums. The full track listing is after the jump.

Continue reading Play For Japan: The Album helps rebuild Japan, available now

Play For Japan: The Album helps rebuild Japan, available now originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA calls NPD's monthly report a 'misrepresentation of the entire industry'

David Hinkle — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

EA's calling out NPD's lack of digital sales tracking in its monthly report -- makes sense, since the company has seen increased revenue in the digital space. NPD, which changed its reporting practices late last year, doesn't track digital distribution channels including Steam, Xbox Live, PSN and the iTunes App store in the report we post every month, though the firm has created a separate report for just that. The accuracy and scope of this new report is unknown, since the press doesn't get to see it.

"Using NPD data for video game sales is like measuring music sales and ignoring something called iTunes," EA corporate communications exec Tiffany Steckler told CNN Money. "We see NPD's data as a misrepresentation of the entire industry." David Riley from the NPD countered in an email to the piece's author by saying EA's discrepancy is "being blown out of proportion."

With the increasing prevalence and revenue that comes from digital channels, EA certainly has a point, but it's not like it's NPD's choice -- the purveyors of these digital distribution platforms certainly aren't going to freely offer over all sales data. And for all of its hemming and hawing, the retail space is still one of the most crucial to a game's success and NPD is the industry standard for that information in North America.

EA calls NPD's monthly report a 'misrepresentation of the entire industry' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The amazing and humble success story behind iPhone game Trainyard

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST

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

Going from the barebones outline seen above to the top of the iTunes App Store in approximately 16 months, Matt Rix's Trainyard is a runaway success. Rix details the game's development -- and astronomical sales -- on his blog, showing its humble beginnings scribbled in a notepad, development delays due to his other job (he developed Trainyard at home in his personal time), and how the birth of his son allowed him to finish the game last May.

He also delves into the relatively small amount of money he made from Trainyard early on, and how offering a free version of the game (Trainyard Express) dramatically drove sales. "I released Trainyard Express on September 30th ... A day later, an editor at a prominent Italian blog discovered the game and wrote a fantastic article about it. The game shot up the Italian charts and quickly became the #1 free app in Italy, netting 22,795 downloads in its first day at #1. Along with the Express downloads, the paid sales in Italy also started getting higher, and within a day of reaching #1, I had beaten my single-day launch profit record of $140 with $240 in a single day. It was awesome to know that the up-sell was working."

More importantly, however, word started spreading of the train-based puzzle game and soon the free version was charting in the UK. So much so, in fact, that Apple contacted Rix to feature his game in the iTunes paid apps list -- he describes the effect it had by saying, "It's like winning a lottery, but a lottery where you work really really hard to buy your ticket." Most recently, Rix has dropped the price of Trainyard "for a short time" to $.99 (from $2.99), resulting in his game beating out Angry Birds for the number two spot in the US. Perhaps fittingly, Rix even has a humble reaction to the monstrous success of his recent sale: "Mission accomplished."

Head over to Rix's blog entry for his far more thorough account (not to mention an adorable picture of his baby son -- congrats, Matt!), and check out Trainyard in action after the break or head to iTunes to pick it up.

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The amazing and humble success story behind iPhone game Trainyard originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scott Pilgrim game soundtrack coming to iTunes next week

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:23:00 EST

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

Do you wish you had the soundtrack to the recently released Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, so that you had the appropriate tunes for your favorite exercise routine? That routine being, of course, beating the coins out of Canadian hipsters. The 8-bit quartet Anamanaguchi, which crafted the beat-em-up's score, recently announced that the soundtrack will be released August 24 on iTunes through ABKCO Music and Records.

If you're forced to deal with a small group of menacing Canadian hipsters standing outside right at this moment, you can stream clips from the soundtrack on ABKCO's site to get pumped up. Or, if you'd just like to hear a few more selections from the 'Guch, you can do so on the band's official site.

[Thanks Vivas!]

Scott Pilgrim game soundtrack coming to iTunes next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IGN's Casamassina now Apple's global editorial games manager

JC Fletcher — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST

Apple 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]

IGN'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.

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iPad Geometry Wars game available before the iPad

JC Fletcher — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:25:00 EST

A $10 iPad version of Bizarre Creations' Geometry Wars is already available from iTunes, two days before the device's launch. Geometry Wars Touch features all the modes found in the original Geometry Wars, plus "Titans!," a new iPad-exclusive mode.

You probably won't want to splash out for an iPad just to get another version of a game you have on Xbox (and possibly Wii and DS as well), but we imagine those vector-inspired graphics are going to look really cool on the iPad screen. Besides, if you've already ordered one of the things for whatever reason, well, now you'll have something to do with it.

Geometry Wars Touch ($9.99)

[Thanks, Dan!]

iPad Geometry Wars game available before the iPad originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Give a Gift' of your favorite iPhone app with new iTunes option

JC Fletcher — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:00:00 EST

Want to send your favorite iPhone fart app to all your friends? You can do that now! Apple has added an app gifting function to the iTunes store (the one on your computer, not the App Store on your phone). To find it, just click the little arrow next to the price on any app, and choose to "Gift This App." There, you'll be able to specify recipients, write a personal message, and send the certificate either through email or by printing it out.

Sadly, this functionality arrived too late for you to send out copies of the $400 Zits & Giggles -- Apple removed the game following Tommy Refenes's Indie Game Maker Rant.

'Give a Gift' of your favorite iPhone app with new iTunes option originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple allegedly cracking down harder on adult App Store content

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST

Wobble iBoobs -- an ... ahem ... adult App for the iPhone -- was recently kicked from Apple's digital distribution store due to "overtly sexual content" that the publisher at one point deemed acceptable for sale (to the tune of $300,000 AUD/$269,820 USD). The application's outraged developer has since posted the letter from Apple on his personal blog and aired his grievances more thoroughly over the course of another 11 pieces.

He certainly makes a strong argument against the claimed "overtly sexual" charge from Apple, starting off with the fact that Wobble iBoobs doesn't actually come with any pictures. "Yep, no content - it ships without any pics at all - how can it be overtly sexual, people use their own pics." Further, he lays out what he claims are an Apple rep's answers when he requested the new criteria for App submission, of which include "No skin" and "No silhouettes that indicate that Wobble can be used for wobbling boobs" (like this). While the blog's writer, iPhone app promoter Jon Atherton from Glentwood, has some sound arguments, we would maybe suggest renaming the App. Just a thought is all.

[Via CasualGaming.biz]

Apple allegedly cracking down harder on adult App Store content originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Dark Void soundtrack now available on iTunes, Amazon

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:30:00 EST

We know we've already been diligent in keeping you abreast of the status of Bear McCreary's epic soundtrack for Dark Void, so consider this our penultimate update on the topic: The game's score is now available to download through iTunes, Amazon and a number of other retailers. It's very, very good. If you have some extra cash lying around, and enjoy the occasional non-lyrical musical offering, you should purchase it post-haste.

In addition, you can consider this our final post in which we proclaim our musical man-crush on Bear McCreary. That is, until he reveals the next game he's working on, at which point we'll probably pick right up where we left off.

PSA: Dark Void soundtrack now available on iTunes, Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broken Sword: The Director's Cut now on iPhone

Justin McElroy — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST

We love the trend of adventure classics that maybe didn't get their due the first time around coming to iPhone, so we're excited to see it continuing this morning with the release of Broken Sword: The Director's Cut to the App Store. Not only does the Revolution Software release feature new art by Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons, it's also around 20 percent longer than the original.

But Joystiq, is it possible that all this could be available for just $6.99? Indeed it is, little guy. Indeed it is.

Broken Sword: The Director's Cut now on iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And the best-selling, top-rated iPhone games of 2009 are ...

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:28:00 EST

Apple's iTunes store has listed the best-selling and top-rated apps for this third-to-last year of humanity's existence. It appears the big boys of game publishing are doing quite well on the App Store, with the ten top grossing games making room for only one independent studio. Gamasutra states Firemint's Flight Control, with its 99 cent price tag, sold 1.5 million copies and grabbed the number seven spot.

The top-rated titles have much more indie spirit, as Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor, Real Racing and Zenonia wrap up the top three spots. Check out the lists for both categories after the break.

[Via Gamasutra]

Continue reading And the best-selling, top-rated iPhone games of 2009 are ...

And the best-selling, top-rated iPhone games of 2009 are ... originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Killzone 2 soundtrack assaults iTunes

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST

Do you want to transform your boring morning commute into an epic war set in an alien battlefield? If the answer is "yes," you may want to pick up the newly released Killzone 2 soundtrack from iTunes. The 29-track digital album can be downloaded for $9.99 and includes composer Joris de Man's orchestral accompaniment to warfare. With titles like "Heavy Resistance" and "Nuked," you can expect every piece of this score to be quite rousing.

[Via PlayStation.Blog]

Killzone 2 soundtrack assaults iTunes originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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