Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Play the game Notch made in 48 hours]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/play-the-game-notch-made-in-48-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/play-the-game-notch-made-in-48-hours/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/play-the-game-notch-made-in-48-hours/#comments This weekend's iteration of the occasional Ludum Dare game-making marathon, in which entrants have 48 hours to create a game from scratch, had a celebrity participant: Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson, who spent the weekend developing a first-person dungeon crawler called Prelude of the Chambered.

If you'd like to see what happens when Notch rushes (in contrast to the still unfinished Minecraft) you can play the game in a browser window. Like, right now. Here's the link. "It takes about 20-30 minutes to beat the game," said Notch, suggesting you might be able to get back to work today. Of course, he immediately followed with "if you die, you need to start over from the beginning," throwing your workday back into question.

JoystiqPlay the game Notch made in 48 hours originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-gamejavaludum-darenotchpcprelude-of-the-chamberedMon, 22 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Carcassonne coming in Android, BlackBerry flavors]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/carcassonne-coming-in-android-blackberry-flavors/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/carcassonne-coming-in-android-blackberry-flavors/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/carcassonne-coming-in-android-blackberry-flavors/#comments The heralded 2001 board game Carcassonne, designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede of Germany, has already been quite excellently adapted for XBLA and iOS, by two different developers no less. Now a third, German studio exozet, is working on a version for Android, BlackBerry and Java-based mobile platforms.

Teased on an Xperia Play handset, exozet's adaptation looks to crisply capture the popular game -- which centers on building cities and deploying followers called "meeple" -- on the little screen. It's due out by year's end the end of Q2.

JoystiqCarcassonne coming in Android, BlackBerry flavors originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidblackberryCarcassonneexozetjavamobileFri, 18 Mar 2011 19:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Minecraft surpasses 500K sales, Persson explains how he did it]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/minecraft-surpasses-500k-sales-persson-explains-how-he-did-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/minecraft-surpasses-500k-sales-persson-explains-how-he-did-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/minecraft-surpasses-500k-sales-persson-explains-how-he-did-it/#comments According to the official Minecraft stats page, more than 500,000 of the nearly 1.6 million registered players have already purchased a license for the game, which is still in the alpha phase of development. That's pretty much unprecedented in the history of game development -- certainly indie game development -- and perhaps only comparable to a big-budget marketing effort; one that might secure those kinda pre-release purchase numbers through pre-orders and offer a limited "beta" trial of the game through a highly-controlled channel. So, yeah, Minecraft's "alpha stage" success is unprecedented.

Is it just luck? The one-man mastermind behind it all, Markus Perrson, doesn't think so. "I think originality and easy access is much more important than luck," he told Develop in a recent interview. "If you make a game that's genuinely good, and it's relatively unique, you can get a lot potential customers. If you make sure they don't have to jump through too many loops to play or even pay for the game, you can convert those into actual customers." Currently, almost 60 percent of Minecraft users are playing for free.

Continue reading Minecraft surpasses 500K sales, Persson explains how he did it

JoystiqMinecraft surpasses 500K sales, Persson explains how he did it originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>javamacMarkus-PerssonMinecraftMojang-SpecificationsnotchpcsalesFri, 29 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blast the internet with 'Asteroids' applet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/blast-the-internet-with-asteroids-applet/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/blast-the-internet-with-asteroids-applet/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/blast-the-internet-with-asteroids-applet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Andy writes to tell us his buddy has completed work on the new American Eagle site. No, we aren't directing you to seasonal Zelda jammies (would you wear those?) -- the update includes a "hidden" Asteroids mode! Just add "?mode=asteroids" to the end of any page url to crack this Easter egg open.

Continue reading Blast the internet with 'Asteroids' applet

JoystiqBlast the internet with 'Asteroids' applet originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american-eagleappletasteroidsbrowser-basedeaster-eggerik-rothoff-anderssonjavajavascriptkick-assmacpcretroTue, 12 Oct 2010 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioShock Infinite's Columbia city gets Minecrafted]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/bioshock-infinite-columbia-in-minecraft/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/bioshock-infinite-columbia-in-minecraft/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/bioshock-infinite-columbia-in-minecraft/#comments A team of crafters led by one "DrKamina" has pieced together BioShock Infinite's floating city, Columbia, in the suddenly popular indie creation game Minecraft. The 3D model incorporates design elements adapted form screenshots and concept art, video and, of course, sheer imagination.

The group's vision of Columbia is housed on DrKamina's "City of Rapture" server, which is also home to adorable recreations of BioShock's underwater utopia and Half-Life 2's City 17 and Black Mesa. Visitors be warned: Kamina and company run a tight server, as evidenced by the prominent graveyard for the banned. RIP Snifflles, Errorz and Deerman -- we hardly knew ye!

Continue reading BioShock Infinite's Columbia city gets Minecrafted

JoystiqBioShock Infinite's Columbia city gets Minecrafted originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshock-infinitedrkaminafanmadejavamicrosoftminecraftpcplaystationps3xboxMon, 20 Sep 2010 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The best thing you'll play today: Left 4K Dead]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/24/the-best-thing-youll-play-today-left-4k-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/24/the-best-thing-youll-play-today-left-4k-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/24/the-best-thing-youll-play-today-left-4k-dead/#commentsFiled under: ,

Normally we'd save this for Free Game Club, but it's Christmas Eve and we know a lot of you are reading this with family, away from your gaming PC and / or console of choice. If you need an outlet to vent your frustration, check out Left 4K Dead, an entry into the 2009 Java 4k Competition and, as the name suggests, a project no larger than 4KB in size.

Unlike its high-end Valve doppelganger, however, you must face the zombie horde by your lonesome and armed with only one nondescript gun. The Director AI is also a bit loopy here, so think of the zombie and power-up placement as being ... random. And if you end up ignoring your loved ones today, don't say we didn't warn you.

[Thanks, Josh]

JoystiqThe best thing you'll play today: Left 4K Dead originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4kbjavajava-4kleft-4-deadleft-4k-deadleft4deadMacPCWed, 24 Dec 2008 12:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray sales growing, PS3 getting interactivity update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/blu-ray-sales-growing-ps3-getting-interactivity-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/blu-ray-sales-growing-ps3-getting-interactivity-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/blu-ray-sales-growing-ps3-getting-interactivity-update/#commentsFiled under:


Blu-ray is, once again, dominating over HD DVD. One film in particular - the new record holder for highest selling dual format HD movie - was recognized as being a huge boon for the format. 300 on Blu-Ray outsold its HD-DVD counterpart by a ratio of 2:1. Total sales now exceed 400,000 across both platforms. 300, in particular, resonated quite well with the PS3 demographic.

PS3 will also receive a firmware update in the future which will "boost its Blu-ray interactivity functionality." Hi-Def Digest thinks it might be be an upgrade which allows the PS3 to support Blu-Ray Profile Spec 1.1. Currently, many Blu-ray discs are crippled by the lack of Java interactivity. A simple firmware update should make Blu-ray even more competitive and give it access to high definition content that's been exclusive on HD DVD.

[Via N4G]

JoystiqBlu-ray sales growing, PS3 getting interactivity update originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>300blu-rayjavaFri, 12 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Play with echochrome's OLE Coordinate System now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/play-with-echochromes-ole-coordinate-system-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/play-with-echochromes-ole-coordinate-system-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/play-with-echochromes-ole-coordinate-system-now/#commentsFiled under: ,


echochrome surprised everyone at Sony's E3 press conference. The mind-bending puzzler has players looking at perspective in a whole new way ... and now you can try it for yourself on your computer.

The technology behind echochrome is something called the "OLE Coordinate System." Through this Java demo, you'll be able to create your own echochrome-styled levels. It's not the full game -- but it's a small taste of things to come.

[Thanks, Rabish12!]

JoystiqPlay with echochrome's OLE Coordinate System now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>echochromejavaolecoordinateTue, 24 Jul 2007 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile Live Anywhere still a bridge to be built]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/17/mobile-live-anywhere-still-a-bridge-to-be-built/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/17/mobile-live-anywhere-still-a-bridge-to-be-built/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/17/mobile-live-anywhere-still-a-bridge-to-be-built/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

live anywhere
During E3, Microsoft invited us to suffer through a 30-minute Xbox Live marketing spiel (we were lured by the promise of Xbox Live Arcade content -- there wasn't any), puffed with ridiculous figures like the 3 billion hours we've spent collectively on Xbox Live as a community that will soon surpass America's largest city, New York, in total population. Xbox Live general manager JJ Richards acted out these statistics with sweeping gestures and broad smiles, and an air of braggadocio. It was JJ's job to make sure we left that room knowing Microsoft commanded the leading online service for consoles. We did (though we knew it already, thank you).

JJ was there to demonstrate that Microsoft had fulfilled all of its goals and then some since the last E3, using terminology like "neighborhoods" and "districts" to imagine for us a bustling virtual metropolis catering to all types of consumers. He spoke of a "bridge" that had been erected across the ever-flowing void to Windows, connecting an untapped community of gamers to the Xbox Live vision. But further down the void, a second bridge, still under construction, has stalled. When we brought up the topic of Xbox Live for mobile, JJ became visibly peeved, as if we had just smudged the picturesque canvas he was painting aloud. He dodged the topic, firing off some jargon about "pacing" before getting back to the success story.

Microsoft has been busy expanding Xbox Live into Games for Windows Live and the apparently groundbreaking Video Marketplace. So it's not surprising that the mobile aspect, complicated by numerous variables, has been removed from the vision's foreground. But we're still curious. After all, back at that last E3, we had seen a working prototype of mobile Live Anywhere, through which PR man John Porcaro was able to browse our Gamertag profile using his phone. It's exciting technology that the community could use. No rush, but we'd appreciate an actual update. How about it, Microsoft?

JoystiqMobile Live Anywhere still a bridge to be built originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E3e307gfwgfwlivejavaLive-AnywhereLiveAnywhereMobilePCWindowsMobileXbox-360Xbox360XboxLiveTue, 17 Jul 2007 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Scratch teaches game programming, commenting etiquette]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/scratch-teaches-game-programming-commenting-etiquette/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/scratch-teaches-game-programming-commenting-etiquette/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/17/scratch-teaches-game-programming-commenting-etiquette/#commentsFiled under: ,


We here at Joystiq are big proponents of teaching via video games. That's why we were happy to stumble across Scratch, a super simple programming language created by researchers at MIT. Using an incredibly intuitive drag-and-drop interface, Scratch gives you all the tools you need to make simple interactive Java applets, complete with graphics and sound, without any advanced programming knowledge.

How easy is it? To find out, we put together the simple program shown above. It took about an hour, and that's without even reading the FAQ or watching the handy instructional movies. In fact, the biggest time expenditure was coming up with comments that would actually be useful and helpful to our readers. Like we said, we're big proponents of teaching via video games.

[Via The Tech Savvy Educator]

JoystiqScratch teaches game programming, commenting etiquette originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2007 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computereducationedugamingjavaMITPCprogrammingscratchThu, 17 May 2007 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Zelda, Metroid, Castlevania ... roguelikes?!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/zelda-metroid-castlevania-roguelikes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/zelda-metroid-castlevania-roguelikes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/10/zelda-metroid-castlevania-roguelikes/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Santiago Zapata has done something horribly, horribly geeky. As if The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Castlevania weren't retro enough, Zapata has re-created each game as an ASCII roguelike. Now, instead of hopping across pools of lava to collect an energy tank, you press "D" to jump, then tap the arrow keys to scoot across slightly darker characters that symbolize higher ground. Despite the obvious limitations the roguelike style presents, Zapata has managed to accurately emulate the feel of each game. You know, even though Link is a purple @ symbol.

All three games include a full arsenal of music and sound effects, and CastlevaniaRL packs its own graphical tileset. Very little documentation is provided at the moment (the games are still works-in-progress), so start pressing buttons and you'll get the gist of things. Fortunately they aren't nearly as complex as most roguelikes, so you don't need to remember that "Q" stands for "quaff" which means "drink".

JoystiqZelda, Metroid, Castlevania ... roguelikes?! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomcastlevaniafanfanmadeindependentindiejavametroidnintendopcretroroguelikezeldaTue, 10 Apr 2007 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Details on final Opera browser]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/01/details-on-final-opera-browser/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/01/details-on-final-opera-browser/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/01/details-on-final-opera-browser/#commentsFiled under:

AZNGOOGLEOver the past several years, our quest for information has lead us down defined roads, ones that very obviously do not lead to simply asking a company to divulge critical secrets. They are, of course, led by evil PR demons who stem the flow of knowledge in a manner than would leave many medieval theocracies rife with envy.

This is why, when playNintendo simply sent an E-mail with a bunch of questions regarding the final release of the Opera browser, we expected nothing of it. Lo! Data rains down when least expected, and although many questions could not be answered, here are the highlights:
  • The final release of the browser will be coming in late March or early April. Sweet.
  • Though Opera will not be directly involved in the support of USB keyboards, Nintendo has not denied any possibilities. The wording seems to imply a special, Wii-branded keyboard is en route.
  • The browser will be regularly updated by Opera.
Things that wouldn't get answered: will Java be supported? Will those black bars above and below the pages be eliminated? Where's the tabbed browsing? Hmmm ....

JoystiqDetails on final Opera browser originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserFinalJavaOperaReleaseThu, 01 Mar 2007 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Wake up with Java for PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/24/wake-up-with-java-for-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/24/wake-up-with-java-for-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/24/wake-up-with-java-for-psp/#commentsFiled under:

A Google group, java4psp, has been working hard on making Java ME programs work on the PSP (through homebrew, obviously). The current build is based off of Kilobyte Virtual Machine (KVM), and doesn't feature the a very friendly GUI. Because there are a wide assortment of Java programs available, PSP homebrewers can wake up right today, knowing that eventually, they'll have access to an even greater variety of programs to run on their systems.

[Via PSP Hacks]

JoystiqWake up with Java for PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Jan 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>homebrewjavajava4pspWed, 24 Jan 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Who needs a Wii when you can play Nintendo games on your PS3?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/who-needs-a-wii-when-you-can-play-nintendo-games-on-your-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/who-needs-a-wii-when-you-can-play-nintendo-games-on-your-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/12/who-needs-a-wii-when-you-can-play-nintendo-games-on-your-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Who needs Wii and its Virtual Console library when we can take our PS3 online via its kickass browser and check out any number of free flash games totally free?! Only problem: no Java support.

JoystiqWho needs a Wii when you can play Nintendo games on your PS3? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Nov 2006 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserjavanintendonintendowiiplaystationps3sonyps3virtualconsolewiiSun, 12 Nov 2006 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Cellda: cell phone, not cel-shaded, Zelda]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/06/cellda-cell-phone-not-cel-shaded-zelda/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/06/cellda-cell-phone-not-cel-shaded-zelda/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/06/cellda-cell-phone-not-cel-shaded-zelda/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

More like Cellda, amirite?

So, we all agree that most cell phone games are really, really boring (we agree on this, right?), but here's one that we think any red-blooded gamer can still muster some excitement over: The Legend of Zelda. That's right, the plain-old, original Zelda ... but with a twist. The homebrew heroes behind this project have seen fit to update all that old, pixelated stuff with new, Minish Cap-ish graphics, and they're looking good.

Don't believe us, check out these hi-res maps or -- better yet -- download the latest demo (featuring dungeons one through three) for your Midp2-compatible phone. Don't have one of those? Then try out the PC executable. Can't run one of those? Sorry, bub.

[Via Flicker Gaming]

JoystiqCellda: cell phone, not cel-shaded, Zelda originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CellCell phoneCellPhoneJavaLegend of ZeldaLegendOfZeldaMinish CapMinishCapNESZeldaThu, 06 Jul 2006 20:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Bang! Howdy now in open beta]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/25/bang-howdy-now-in-open-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/25/bang-howdy-now-in-open-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/25/bang-howdy-now-in-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Those on the lookout for an online game that doesn't involve orcs, elves or magic may find Bang! Howdy refreshing. From Three Rings, the makers of Puzzle Pirates, Bang! Howdy is a western-themed online strategy game.

Although we featured it in our MMO roundup, it's not the same sort of MMO as Puzzle Pirates -- it features small-scale multiplayer strategy matches rather than a large persistent world. It's a Java-based game, meaning it runs on PC, Mac and Linux happily, and today it entered open beta. The game itself will be free, but with micropayments for various in-game features.

JoystiqBang! Howdy now in open beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 May 2006 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bang howdyBangHowdybetadownloadablejavalinuxmacmmoPCpuzzle piratesPuzzlePiratesstrategythree ringsThreeRingswild westWildWestwindowsThu, 25 May 2006 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile market shows signs of stagnation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/02/mobile-market-shows-signs-of-stagnation/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/02/mobile-market-shows-signs-of-stagnation/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/02/mobile-market-shows-signs-of-stagnation/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mobile gaming research firm M:Metrics has published data showing March 2006 from a mobile gamer's perspective. The firm claims that the mobile market is stagnating; the number of mobile gamers is remaining constant month-on-month with only a tiny fraction of mobile phone users (0.5%) downloading their first game in March.

The percentage of phone users who use their handset for downloadable games is low, with the UK standing at 4.7% and the US at 2.7%. Given the millions of mobile phones in the market, that still represents a large number of consumers, many of whom are repeat customers. However, a lack of compelling reasons to buy new titles -- as well as high prices -- are putting consumers off. After all, already-downloaded and preinstalled games fit the interstitial nature of mobile gaming just as well as brand new releases.

JoystiqMobile market shows signs of stagnation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 May 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casual gamesCasualGamesdownloadable gamesDownloadableGameseconomicsfiguresinterstitialjavamobilemobile gamingMobileGamingngagestatisticsTue, 02 May 2006 16:55:00 EST