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[New games this week: Afro Samurai edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/new-games-this-week-afro-samurai-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/new-games-this-week-afro-samurai-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/new-games-this-week-afro-samurai-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Take note, game publishers: There are two ways to take the featured slot on our weekly release list. 1. Be a hotly anticipated game or 2. Have your top competition be MLB Front Office Manager. Yes, Afro Samurai may have taken the road less traveled, but it's hard to argue with the results.

Also, we're not saying that we're going to go out of our way to play new series entry Iron Triangle, but we're compelled to point out that "Nobunaga's Ambition" is still one of the best names for a video game ever.

Continue reading New games this week: Afro Samurai edition

JoystiqNew games this week: Afro Samurai edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afro-samuraiDSjoystiqfeaturesnewgamesPCPS2PS3PSPWiiXbox-360Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[X3F TV: Introducing the 'Porto Circuit' from SimBin's RACE Pro]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/exclusive-x3f-reveals-porto-circuit-for-simbins-race-pro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/exclusive-x3f-reveals-porto-circuit-for-simbins-race-pro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/exclusive-x3f-reveals-porto-circuit-for-simbins-race-pro/#commentsFiled under:


Today at X3F we're happy to help reveal a brand new circuit for SimBin's upcoming RACE Pro, exclusively to our readers. The Porto track in Portugal, known as Circuito da Boavista, is a street circuit with a history that reaches as far back as the late 1950's. Taking brave racers through tight alleys in between small homes and onto cobblestone streets, the Porto track was deemed too dangerous in 1960 and was closed. In 2005, the track was reopened and adjusted, adding to its length that now sits at 5.333km. Ladies and gentlemen, the final street circuit to be added to the World Touring Car Championship: the Porto track, Circuito da Boavista.


JoystiqX3F TV: Introducing the 'Porto Circuit' from SimBin's RACE Pro originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atariexclusivejoystiqfeaturesrace-prosim-binsimbintrailerx3f-featurex3f-tvx3f-twitterFri, 23 Jan 2009 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fanboy Review: Ultimate Shooting Collection]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/wii-fanboy-review-ultimate-shooting-collection/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/wii-fanboy-review-ultimate-shooting-collection/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/wii-fanboy-review-ultimate-shooting-collection/#commentsFiled under:

A compilation of shooters on the Wii may seem a bit unnecessary or even redundant. The Wii already has what could be dubbed the "Ultimate Shooting Collection" -- though not on a single disc. The Virtual Console is loaded with a surfeit of shooters, including many of the best games in the genre's history. The Ultimate Shooting Collection, in comparison, is composed of just three games, some or all of which you may never even heard of. But just like there usually is an argument for a new game over an old one you've played, there is content of interest here that doesn't exist in the downloadable space.

The games in Ultimate Shooting Collection are a great showcase for the evolution of the shooter genre, which may seem stagnant or even dead, in the modern age. Even with the piles upon piles of existing shooters, there aren't any like these on the Virtual Console.

Continue reading Wii Fanboy Review: Ultimate Shooting Collection

JoystiqWii Fanboy Review: Ultimate Shooting Collection originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chaos-fieldjoystiqfeatureskarousmilestoneradilgyshooterufo-interactiveultimate-shooting-collectionFri, 23 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy review: Savage Moon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/ps3-fanboy-review-savage-moon/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/ps3-fanboy-review-savage-moon/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/ps3-fanboy-review-savage-moon/#commentsFiled under:

For a relatively new genre, Tower Defense games have become incredibly popular. Among the PS3 crowd this is in no small part thanks to Pixeljunk Monsters, but that hasn't stopped other developers trying their hand at competing. For Tower Defense fans variety can only be a good thing, but how do they stack up against each other. Savage Moon has a very different aesthetic to Pixeljunk Monsters, but is difference in gameplay worth the purchase?

The gameplay follows the same basic principles of every other Tower Defense game. Your base is at one of the level and beasties (in this case, Insectocytes) approach from the opposite end. It's your job to build a series of gun towers in their path to prevent them from reaching and damaging your base. Simple stuff, on paper. Not so easy in practice.

Savage Moon builds you up and, to begin with, lulls you into a false sense of security. The first few levels will train you up via an extensive tutorial, which is necessary because the game is slightly more complex than most in the genre. As usual you'll spend money on different sorts of towers and you'll receive money from each individual beasty you kill. The levels are laid out so that there are areas of rocky mountains, level ground and lava. Lava cannot be built upon and usually marks the Insectocytes' pathways. Towers can be built everywhere else but are much more protected when on large rocks.

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy review: Savage Moon

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy review: Savage Moon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fluffylogicjoystiqfeaturesreviewsavage-moonThu, 22 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fanboy Review: High Voltage Hot Rod Show]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/wii-fanboy-review-high-voltage-hot-rod-show/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/wii-fanboy-review-high-voltage-hot-rod-show/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/wii-fanboy-review-high-voltage-hot-rod-show/#commentsFiled under: ,


High Voltage Software's High Voltage Hot Rod Show is an arcade racer fetching 1,000 Wii Points on WiiWare. Is it worth that price? How fun is it? These questions, and more, are answered in our review past the break.

Continue reading Wii Fanboy Review: High Voltage Hot Rod Show

JoystiqWii Fanboy Review: High Voltage Hot Rod Show originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcadearcade-racinghigh-voltagehigh-voltage-hot-rod-showhigh-voltage-softwarejoystiqfeaturesracerracingWed, 21 Jan 2009 13:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/bury-the-shovelware-jake-hunter-detective-chronicles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/bury-the-shovelware-jake-hunter-detective-chronicles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/bury-the-shovelware-jake-hunter-detective-chronicles/#commentsFiled under:



Pedigree

Well, we've found one of the weirdest game company names in existence: Aksys Games. It's right up there with "Infogrames" and "Camerica." I was surprised to learn that they're not as obscure as their name would lead one to imagine: they're the folks behind the Guilty Gear series.

Jake Hunter was developed by Arc System Works, which is a large Japanese developer and publisher who publishes overseas via Aksys Games. That'll be something I've gotta keep an eye on in the future: the same-developer-same-publisher factor. I'd probably have to talk to a few people who work for a development team or a publisher to learn more about that one. Any such folks reading this who'd like to help me out? Come on, I know you're out there.

The Critics Said ...

IGN was quick to note that this is a Phoenix Wright-inspired adventure, but also added that "Jake is a stereotype, and the stories are straight forward, humorless affairs." Game Informer followed suit, stating that the game "takes itself way too seriously." So ... the game is being criticized for not being closer to what inspired it? This leaves me a bit befuddled. If Jake Hunter copied Phoenix Wright to a T, it would be criticized for not being original. But when it decides to take a serious approach (as opposed to PW's humorous presentation), it's criticized for not being enough like the original. Poor Jake Hunter can't do anything right.

Criticism of critics aside, the two reviews were basically on-par with their peers: the game holds a 47% aggregate score at Metacritic.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jake-hunterjake-hunter-detective-chroniclesjoystiqfeaturesphoenix-wrightshovelwareWed, 21 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fanboy Review: Family Glide Hockey]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/wii-fanboy-review-family-glide-hockey/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/wii-fanboy-review-family-glide-hockey/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/wii-fanboy-review-family-glide-hockey/#commentsFiled under:

Family Glide Hockey had serious potential. A series of cheap, simple downloadable sports games in the Wii Sports tradition is a fantastic idea -- one that, if done right, would easily be one (or more) of the WiiWare service's killer apps. Glide Hockey's predecessor Family Table Tennis actually delivered on the promise of the cheapo family sports game, giving me hope for the series.

Plus, air hockey, the arcade attraction on which the WiiWare game is based, is generally awesome and underrepresented in games. The combination of good family sports game series and air hockey seemed like a natural winner.

"Natural" and "winner" are two appelations that fail to describe Family Glide Hockey in any way.

Continue reading Wii Fanboy Review: Family Glide Hockey

JoystiqWii Fanboy Review: Family Glide Hockey originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air-hockeyaksysarc-system-worksfamily-glide-hockeyjoystiqfeaturessportsWed, 21 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Born for Wii: Blade Runner]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/born-for-wii-blade-runner/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/born-for-wii-blade-runner/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/born-for-wii-blade-runner/#commentsFiled under:

It's always dark in the city. Always raining. The light from a thousand neon signs is refracted and scattered by the smog that hangs in the air, ominous and ever-present. Spinners pass by quietly overhead while those too poor to own a car travel by foot, hurrying with umbrellas clutched tightly and collars upturned against the cold and rain. A handful aren't even real -- fake, synthetic, the creations of man in his own image, now considered a threat and forbidden to walk the streets of L.A. For them, the chase is a fight for survival. They have no right to life. For you, it's just another day on the job. Retiring replicants is your business. You're a blade runner.

More than 25 years after its release, Ridley Scott's Blade Runner still stands as one of the best science fiction movies of all time. It's a haunting dystopian noir, a gripping mystery, and a special effects marvel. In a fitting tribute to the film, Westwood Studios revisited L.A. circa 2019 in their 1997 adventure game, simply titled Blade Runner. The events of the game play out in parallel to the story of Rick Deckard, as rookie blade Ray McCoy hunts down his own set of dangerous replicants. Westwood's point-and-click adventure was an ambitious project for 1997, but it succeeds on all fronts: it's consistently atmospheric, delivers a solid and well-acted script, and alters the traditional gameplay enough to be a fresh take on the genre.

NEXT >>


Every week, Born for Wii digs into gaming's sordid past to unearth a new treasure fit for revival on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out last week's entry in the series, BattleTanx: Global Assault, and for more great titles that deserve your attention, take a look at Virtually Overlooked.

JoystiqBorn for Wii: Blade Runner originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureblade-runnerborn-for-wiieajoystiqfeaturespcpoint-and-clickportwestwoodTue, 20 Jan 2009 11:48:00 EST<![CDATA[VC Monday Madness: MUSHA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/vc-monday-madness-musha/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/vc-monday-madness-musha/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/vc-monday-madness-musha/#commentsFiled under:


MUSHA (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)
Wii Fanboy says: download it!

MUSHA is a great shmup. It's fast, fun, and very challenging. There's plenty of crazy weapons and the difficulty level makes things engaging throughout. It's a very solid shmup and a great way to drop 800 Points.

Each week, we here at Wii Fanboy like to check out the latest Virtual Console releases in our VC Monday Madness feature, in the hopes that you can make the most sound decision possible regarding purchasing retro titles from the Wii Shop Channel.

JoystiqVC Monday Madness: MUSHA originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesmusasegasega-genesisshmupMon, 19 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 5: Jury's Still Out]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/top-5-jurys-still-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/top-5-jurys-still-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/top-5-jurys-still-out/#commentsFiled under:


In this little hobby of ours, there are undeniable classics. Only an utterly clueless fanboy will ignore Shigeru Miyamoto's contributions to gaming, and any Nintendo enthusiast can never deny the quality of a series like Halo or God of War. No matter the platform, there are games which make up the foundation of this medium as we've come to know it.

Traditionally, the formula would seem to be game made by a respectable company + a few years to let it sink in = indisputable classic. Yet there are a few that still provoke debate.

These are games that are neither universally adored nor hated. They almost always spark conversation, and are considered by some to be an acquired taste. Here are the Top 5 games that we all can't decide if they're classics or not.



The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.

JoystiqTop 5: Jury's Still Out originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-of-linkjoystiqfeatureslistlistsmariostar-foxstar-fox-adventuressuper-mario-bros-2super-mario-sunshinethe-wind-wakertop-5wind-wakerzeldazelda-2Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaming to Go: Crosswords DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/gaming-to-go-crosswords-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/gaming-to-go-crosswords-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/gaming-to-go-crosswords-ds/#commentsFiled under:



Ready to slow things down a bit? Sure, sitting down with a good ol' crossword puzzle might not get the blood pounding, but there's something simple and serene about filling in the grids at a leisurely pace. It's a game of patience and dedication, not to mention smarts -- not the typical fare for today's high-adrenaline gaming, but definitely a worthy alternative when you want a pleasant distraction next time you're on the go.

Crosswords DS, yet another Nintendo entry in the Touch! Generations lineup, provides such a distraction. It's simple, fun, and caters to crossword puzzlers of all skill levels. Add to that numerous word searches and anagrams and you have a pretty well-rounded package, one that even a staunch anti-puzzler could find something to like in. Want to hear more? Check out this week's edition of Gaming to Go and see for yourself if it's time to switch out the Sunday paper for your trusty DS.


NEXT >>


JoystiqGaming to Go: Crosswords DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anagramscrosswordcrosswords-dsjoystiqfeaturespuzzletouchgenerationswordsearchMon, 19 Jan 2009 11:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask PS3 Fanboy: Volume 18]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/ask-ps3-fanboy-volume-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/ask-ps3-fanboy-volume-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/ask-ps3-fanboy-volume-18/#commentsFiled under:

And, we're back! Missed us? We missed you -- and all your questions, too. You know what that means. Yep, we're going straight into them. Send us some questions!

Keep checking back every weekend -- we'll be sure to answer all intelligent, fun, and relevant questions that you may have. If you haven't asked us anything yet ... why haven't you? Send an e-mail to majed @ ps3fanboy.com with the subject "Ask PS3 Fanboy." We'd like to stress, if your e-mail doesn't include that subject heading, your question will not be answered. If you've got PSP-related questions, be sure to ask them on Ask PSP Fanboy.

Continue reading Ask PS3 Fanboy: Volume 18

JoystiqAsk PS3 Fanboy: Volume 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask-ps3-fanboyjoystiqfeaturesSun, 18 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Revolutionary: 3rd Party Control]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/revolutionary-3rd-party-control/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/revolutionary-3rd-party-control/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/revolutionary-3rd-party-control/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Last week at CES, Nyko surprise announced their first entry into the 3rd party Wiimote market, the Wand. Though it has been beaten to market by a few other Wiimote clones, this may be the first Wii Remote you'll find encroaching on Nintendo's shelf space in your local game shop. We won't begin to speculate why no one else's products can be readily found in brick 'n' mortars, but we'll be grateful to finally have some choice.

So far, this has been an unusual generation for controller-makers on all platforms. Microsoft doesn't license out its wireless technology, so 3rd party gamepads have to connect via USB. Sony's gyrating, vibrating, rechargeable DUALSHOCK 3 controllers may just be too complex for 3rd parties to replicate in full functionality when the userbase is too small to make a profit from. And the 3rd parties have seemed to be satisfied raking in the dough with non-essential add-ons and shells for Nintendo's own brand of controller. It does indeed come as a surprise that Nyko is now bringing out a Wiimote, and an enhanced one at that. Before we've had a chance to review the Wand, let's examine why its introduction has been long overdue.

Continue reading Revolutionary: 3rd Party Control

JoystiqRevolutionary: 3rd Party Control originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesnykonyko wandNykoWandRevolutionaryFri, 16 Jan 2009 09:54:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube caters to Wii users with YouTube for Television]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/youtube-caters-to-wii-users-with-youtube-for-television/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/youtube-caters-to-wii-users-with-youtube-for-television/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/youtube-caters-to-wii-users-with-youtube-for-television/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


YouTube has unleashed its beta for YouTube for Television, a more Wii-friendly version of the popular video site. Being the curious folk that we are, we've dived into the service and produced a handy little walkthrough on how to get started checking out videos. There's a neat little search function that remembers your content, as well. So, hit the button below to start the tour, then boot up that Wii and watch some videos yourself!


[Via Gemaga]

JoystiqYouTube caters to Wii users with YouTube for Television originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesyoutubeyoutube-for-televisionyoutube-tvThu, 15 Jan 2009 16:23:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy hands-on: dress]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/ps3-fanboy-hands-on-dress/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/ps3-fanboy-hands-on-dress/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/ps3-fanboy-hands-on-dress/#commentsFiled under:

You might think that something called dress is all about frills, plunging necklines and eating disorders, but that's really only half the story. There's more to the modestly named paid service from Japan, including some rather odd yet somehow relevant mini-game tie-ins (you know, stuff that actual gamers care about). And from the looks of things, there's only going to be more coming.

So, dress in a nutshell is part fashion sim, part clothing ad and part mini-game collection. It's an interesting mix to say the least; however, after having "played" with it for awhile, it's a combination that just doesn't seem to work. In retrospect, it's still very much a young service which will be expanding with new content as time goes by, though there are still so many missing elements to this service that could've made it a great addition to something like Home. All in all, it's one great experiment and we're interested in the concept of this unique collaborative effort. Hopefully you're still with us on this and reading on to find out more as we go inside dress. That ... that doesn't sound right.

Continue reading PS3 Fanboy hands-on: dress

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy hands-on: dress originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beams-tdresshands-onjoystiqfeaturespumascejThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What's in store for PSP in the future? Sony's latest survey may hold some clues]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/whats-in-store-for-psp-in-the-future-sonys-latest-survey-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/whats-in-store-for-psp-in-the-future-sonys-latest-survey-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/whats-in-store-for-psp-in-the-future-sonys-latest-survey-may/#commentsFiled under:


Click for high-res version
An ESPN subscription for your handheld? How about Purple PSP units? These are just some of the ideas being thrown around in Sony's latest survey regarding PSP. While surveys are never an indication of what is truly in the works, they're usually more of an indication of what companies are open to pursuing if interest be high enough and to test if consumers are digging the competition.

With that in mind, it's not surprising to hear that one of the questions in the survey asked: How likely would you be to buy a new PSP if the version had... followed by such options as Bluetooth, touch screens and an internal hard drive. iPhone much? The survey also asked about interest in regards to bringing other PlayStation Network features over to the PSP such as Trophies, Home and Friend's Lists. The past hasn't been forgotten either, it seems Sony is still gauging interest for the GPS and TV Turner peripheral as well.

Now that we know a bit about some of the thoughts Sony might be playing around with, it's a bit saddening to think that some of this -- if not most, might never come true. Which features do you think Sony should focus on? While you mull that over, have a look at a bit more of the survey after the break. We think you'll find it most interesting.

[Thanks Skor!]

Gallery: Sony PSP Survey 2009

Continue reading What's in store for PSP in the future? Sony's latest survey may hold some clues

JoystiqWhat's in store for PSP in the future? Sony's latest survey may hold some clues originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturespspsonysurveyThu, 15 Jan 2009 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Fanswag: Castlevania Judgment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/fanswag-castlevania-judgment/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/fanswag-castlevania-judgment/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/fanswag-castlevania-judgment/#commentsFiled under:


Another fanswag giveaway is upon us and this time we're unloading one copy of Castlevania Judgment ($50). Want it? Simply leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite Castlevania game of all time is. You should have plenty to choose from!

Of course, we've got a couple of rules. For one, you have to be at least 18 years of age and a current and legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). Also, you may only enter once per day. Entries must be in before Wednesday, January 21 at 11:59PM ET. Before entering, make sure you read the official rules right here, too!

Best of luck to you all and thanks for reading!

JoystiqFanswag: Castlevania Judgment originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dcastlevaniacastlevania-judgmentfanswagfighterfightingjoystiqfeaturesThu, 15 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LGJ: Pirates are grumpy, underutilized customers?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/lgj-pirates-are-grumpy-underutilized-customers/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/lgj-pirates-are-grumpy-underutilized-customers/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/lgj-pirates-are-grumpy-underutilized-customers/#commentsFiled under:

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:

This week I've been at the Game::Business::Law Conference, and one of the speakers was Jason Holtman, Director of Business Development / Legal Affairs for Valve. Jason set out a fascinating theory on piracy: The majority of 'pirates' are just underutilized customers.

This certainly sets forth an interesting business proposition, but also interesting possibilities for legal strategies related to piracy management and IP protection. I do want to caveat that this is building on a theoretical basis, and that doesn't necessarily mean any of these strategies is optimal for any given company. I want to summarize Jason's viewpoint to better frame the discussion. His view, and his research suggests, that piracy is heavily mitigated by ensuring worldwide cross-market releases.

Continue reading LGJ: Pirates are grumpy, underutilized customers?

JoystiqLGJ: Pirates are grumpy, underutilized customers? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consumerscustomerscustomerservicejoystiqfeatureslawlaw-of-the-gamelgjpiracyWed, 14 Jan 2009 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten Forgotten Xbox Games that Deserve a Sequel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/ten-forgotten-xbox-games-that-deserve-a-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/ten-forgotten-xbox-games-that-deserve-a-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/ten-forgotten-xbox-games-that-deserve-a-sequel/#commentsFiled under:

Even though it fell into a casket when the Xbox 360 launched in 2005, the original Xbox still holds a special place in our heart. Hater's thoughts aside, Xbox had a pile of impressive software in its library that ultimately stands forgotten in time due to poor sales numbers. Don't believe us? Count how many of these studios have been either closed or are in financial trouble.

From Crimson Skies to Jet Set Radio Future, here are our picks for Ten Forgotten Games that Deserve a Sequel on the Xbox 360. Jump into the comments and tell us what games you'd like to see return to the current HD-era, such as honorable mentions: Metal Arms, MechAssault and Shenmue.

Continue to the feature
Ten Forgotten Games that Deserve a Sequel

JoystiqTen Forgotten Xbox Games that Deserve a Sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionjoystiqfeaturesMajescoMicrosoft-Game-StudiosPhantom-DustStrategyten-xbox-games-that-deserve-a-sequelx3f-featuresx3f-twitterWed, 14 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/bury-the-shovelware-cesar-millans-dog-whisperer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/bury-the-shovelware-cesar-millans-dog-whisperer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/bury-the-shovelware-cesar-millans-dog-whisperer/#commentsFiled under:



You know, I usually have a fairly decent idea of where most of these shovelware titles are going. That's not to say that I haven't been disappointed or pleasantly surprised before, but judging a book by its cover is often appropriate with shovelware. Yet I honestly have no clue what this game will have me do. Is it a Nintendogs clone? Will I be tapping dogs on the neck in a tap-happy minigame? Will I have to make that "tchsszzt" noise into the DS's microphone? Let's find out.

Pedigree

One word: UBISOFT. That's correct; the "not-a-bad-company-per-se-but-still-known-for-creating-copious-amounts-of-shovelware" gaming bigwig both developed and published this title.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesar-millandog-whispererjoystiqfeaturesnintendogsshovelwarethe-dog-whispererWed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Born for Wii: BattleTanx: Global Assault]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/born-for-wii-battletanx-global-assault/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/born-for-wii-battletanx-global-assault/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/born-for-wii-battletanx-global-assault/#commentsFiled under:

Sometimes looking back at the games of our childhood days can be painful. More than a decade later, it's hard to imagine how Combat Cars for the Sega Genesis was ever...well, fun. Ah, the indiscretion of youth: hoarding your money, saving for that one, glorious moment when you pick out a new game to take home and devour, only to realize, years later, how terrible it really was. Still, blind purchases could occasionally lead to good things, and a few weeks ago I went home and recovered my Nintendo 64 from its years of storage exile for the express purpose of reliving some of those magical gaming sessions of my youth. In this case, the game in question was BattleTanx: Global Assault.

Likely one of the few good games to ever come out of the offices of the now-defunct 3DO, BattleTanx is about as straightforward as its name implies. The game turns 10 years old in 2009, and despite the fact that it looks and play like a Nintendo 64 game from 1999, it's still a lot of fun. Simple, arcadey gameplay, a multitude of tanks and a solid lineup of secondary weapons guarantee hours of mindless fun. The single-player is easy to plow through in short order, but fun enough to come back to -- and the real draw lies in the multiplayer, which rivaled Goldeneye, Smash Bros., and Mario Kart for four-player mayhem. Ready to take up arms with Battlelord Griffin Spade and Born for Wii as we assault the post-apocalyptic globe? Hit the link below.

NEXT >>

Every week, Born for Wii digs into gaming's sordid past to unearth a new treasure fit for revival on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out last week's entry in the series, Super Mario Sunshine, and for more great titles that deserve your attention, take a look at Virtually Overlooked.

JoystiqBorn for Wii: BattleTanx: Global Assault originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dobattletanxbattletanx-global-assaultborn-for-wiijoystiqfeaturesn64portTue, 13 Jan 2009 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Dawn of War 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/joystiq-hands-on-dawn-of-war-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/joystiq-hands-on-dawn-of-war-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/joystiq-hands-on-dawn-of-war-2/#commentsFiled under: ,


We learned a valuable lesson at CES last week: Don't demo an RTS game on a trade show floor. Why? Because it's nigh-impossible to hear a developer's instructions over the deafening noise of geek-outs. It turns into something like this dialogue snippet from our hands-on experience with Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War 2:

Relic: "So, you'll quickly want to set a rally point here." *taps screen*
Joystiq: *clicks on random units* [units march off-screen]
Relic: "Okay, so if you look at this icon, you'll see that your character is earning zeal. You might want to build some heavy firepower units for support."
Joystiq: *attacks enemy power generator* [cue: bad move!]

It was just too darn loud at CES to get good instructions, and Relic only had one demo station on hand, which obviously did not feature any PVP gameplay. Naturally, we had StarCraft 2 in mind as we fooled around with Dawn of War 2, measuring Relic's RTS against what we've played of Blizzard's next blockbuster. We can say that Dawn of War 2 is currently winning in the looks department. As we watched an Imperial Tank literally roll through walls and crush them into powder while Space Marines jumped over the action with jetpacks, we were remiss to have left our drool bib back home in the hamper.

We've embedded a pair of videos from our session after the break, including producer Mark Noseworthy blowing stuff up!

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Dawn of War 2

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Dawn of War 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESces-2009dawn-of-wardawn-of-war-2hands-onjoystiqfeaturesPCrelicrtswarhammerwarhammer-40000-dawn-of-war-iiMon, 12 Jan 2009 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[VC Monday Madness: Castlevania III]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/vc-monday-madness-castlevania-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/vc-monday-madness-castlevania-iii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/vc-monday-madness-castlevania-iii/#commentsFiled under:


Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)
Wii Fanboy says: download it!

We love Castlevania. And the release of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is a welcome trip down memory lane. For the small sum of 500 Wii Points, we'd suggest you take the trip yourself and enjoy some classic Castlevania for the NES. There isn't any other way to enjoy it unless you actually have a working NES and the cartridge (or you want to play it on your PC).

Each week, we here at Wii Fanboy like to check out the latest Virtual Console releases in our VC Monday Madness feature, in the hopes that you can make the most sound decision possible regarding purchasing retro titles from the Wii Shop Channel.

JoystiqVC Monday Madness: Castlevania III originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevaniacastlevania-3castlevania-iiijoystiqfeatureskonamiMon, 12 Jan 2009 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 5: Worst. Cutscenes. Ever.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/top-5-worst-cutscenes-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/top-5-worst-cutscenes-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/top-5-worst-cutscenes-ever/#commentsFiled under:


According to Activision (and after all, they made Pitfall!), video games will "eclipse" all other forms of media. Head honcho Mike Griffith went on to say that "Movies, recorded music and TV - these are all stagnating or contracting entertainment sectors."

I'm not sure how much I agree with that statement. Strictly in terms of cash flow, it's already happening. Gaming is a fairly pricey hobby, and it's been outpacing the other forms of media for several years (in terms of growth). Yet I have a difficult time imagining a time where video games are everyone's preferred form of escapism. Although their respective industries may see drastic changes with direct, indirect, or unrelated connections to gaming, music and film will always have a place. As much as I love gaming, it's not rare that I find myself preferring to zone out with TV or just listen to music and read instead of playing a video game.

What I do see is a further merging of the three into ubiquitous, all-purpose media devices. Microsoft and Sony currently do this, and it's only a matter of time before Nintendo catches up. While most households currently don't rely on gaming consoles as their sole provider of film / TV and music, I imagine that this will change. Perhaps the mediums will start to bleed into one another. With Metal Gear Solid blurring the lines between game and film and Audiosurf doing the same for games and music, perhaps media will merge and propagate a completely new and unique form of entertainment. Interesting stuff.

What was this Top 5 about, again? Oh, right: cut scenes. A lot of them stink. Here's the 5 worst ones.



The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.

JoystiqTop 5: Worst. Cutscenes. Ever. originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevaniacastlevania-judgmentcd-icut-scenecut-scenescutscenecutsceneshotel-mariojoystiqfeaturesmariomortal-kombatresident-evilresident-evil-deadly-silenceresident-evil-dsresidentevilsuper-paper-mariozeldaMon, 12 Jan 2009 12:42:00 EST<![CDATA[New games this week: Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/new-games-this-week-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/new-games-this-week-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/new-games-this-week-lord-of-the-rings-conquest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Just as in the climax of The Two Towers, the evil forces of Saruman and the post-holiday game drought were about to overwhelm us, when Lord of the Rings: Conquest hopped astride Shadowfax Gandalf-style and rode down a hill to our rescue. Unlike in the film, we did not cry like the mothers of scarlet fever-infected children while we watched it.

If you're a PC gamer in the mood for something a bit more action-oriented, you'll be happy to hear that Mirror's Edge has finally reached your platform of choice. If you're not a PC player, it looks like it's Middle Earth or nothing.

Gallery: Lord of the Rings: Conquest

Continue reading New games this week: Lord of the Rings: Conquest

JoystiqNew games this week: Lord of the Rings: Conquest originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-Artsjoystiqfeatureslord-of-the-rings-conquestnewgamesPCPS2PS3WiiXbox-360Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Seen @ CES 2009: A man too tough for gadgets]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/seen-ces-2009-a-man-too-tough-for-gadgets/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/seen-ces-2009-a-man-too-tough-for-gadgets/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/seen-ces-2009-a-man-too-tough-for-gadgets/#commentsFiled under: , ,


On the way to Microsoft's booth, we encountered a man clearly so tough that he doesn't even need to class up one of the world's largest electronics shows by including shirt sleeves. Just in case that didn't get the point across, the writing on the back of the shirt says it all. This is clearly a man who ain't takin' any lip from some puny HDTV pitchman. Even Scrat in the back can't believe his attire.

JoystiqSeen @ CES 2009: A man too tough for gadgets originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESCES-2009clothingjoystiqfeaturesredneckshirtsSun, 11 Jan 2009 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Seen @ CES 2009: The Lady Fitness Workout Kit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/seen-ces-2009-the-lady-fitness-workout-kit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/seen-ces-2009-the-lady-fitness-workout-kit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/seen-ces-2009-the-lady-fitness-workout-kit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ladies, how often have you taken a look at your poor little Wii Fit, and thought "If only there were some sort of peripheral to let the world know that I'm both concerned about my fitness aesthetics, and was emblazoned with pink"? Probably so often that you've lost count. As you know, pink is completely 100% the only color women are allowed to love and/or get accessories in. So the Lady Fitness Workout Kit has your name on it. Sorry, boys.

JoystiqSeen @ CES 2009: The Lady Fitness Workout Kit originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESCES-2009joystiqfeaturesLady-FitnessperipheralWiiWii-FitSun, 11 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2009: The Microsoft outer hub of booth games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/ces-2009-the-microsoft-outer-hub-of-booth-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/ces-2009-the-microsoft-outer-hub-of-booth-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/ces-2009-the-microsoft-outer-hub-of-booth-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Situated in the exact opposite corner of the CES Central Hall, Microsoft must have been strategically placed so that no wars would break out between the two juggernauts. Although Justin McElroy thinks it's so that an employee from Microsoft won't fall in love with an employee from Sony and cause complete chaos. That's definitely more plausible.

However, just like Sony, Microsoft only had a tiny section devoted to gaming. You could get some hands-on time with Fallout 3, Lips, the new Scene It, Gears of War 2, Dawn of War II and Halo Wars. The rumor we'd heard that Fallout's upcoming Operation: Anchorage DLC would be there turned out to be untrue, so we spent most of our time beating young girls at karaoke with Lips. Okay, we kid. We geeked out on Dawn of War II. More on that soon. Meanwhile, enjoy the gallery below for you booth addicts.

Gallery: CES 2009: Microsoft Booth

JoystiqCES 2009: The Microsoft outer hub of booth games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-Game-StudiosBethesda-SoftworksboothCESCES-2009dawn-of-war-2Fallout-3joystiqfeaturesMicrosoftOperation-AnchoragePCRPGXbox-360Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2009: The gaming sliver of Sony's ginormous booth]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/ces-2009-the-gaming-sliver-of-sonys-ginormous-booth/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/ces-2009-the-gaming-sliver-of-sonys-ginormous-booth/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/ces-2009-the-gaming-sliver-of-sonys-ginormous-booth/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sony's a pretty big company. Shocker, right? They're busy putting out things like new digital cameras, wafer-thin displays, televisions that show realistic 3D images, and some new piece of tech that replaces your brain with a network of recycled Memory Sticks. Amazing.

Still, with all that going on they do still manage to churn out games. Only a tiny part of their booth at CES was dedicated to gaming, but they managed to fit in Patapon 2, Killzone 2, Resistance: Retribution, Flower and an in-progress EyeToy game. Check them all out in the gallery below.

Gallery: CES 2009: Sony

JoystiqCES 2009: The gaming sliver of Sony's ginormous booth originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BoothCESCES-2009joystiqfeaturesKillzone-2Patapon-2PS3PSPResistanceRetributionSonySun, 11 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2009: Hands on Paleo Entertainment's Merchants of Brooklyn]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/ces-2009-hands-on-paleo-entertainments-merchants-of-brooklyn/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/ces-2009-hands-on-paleo-entertainments-merchants-of-brooklyn/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/ces-2009-hands-on-paleo-entertainments-merchants-of-brooklyn/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There was one gaming title at CES that wasn't produced by Sony, Capcom, Microsoft or Activision, that was Paleo Entertainment's Merchants of Brooklyn. Here's an excerpt from their presser: "You take the role of an elite neanderthal fighter with a taste for blood. Having had your arm unwillingly detached from your body courtesy of a chainsaw, your new prototype biomechanical arm transforms into different twisted and brutal weaponry to aid you in the slaughter." So, does this sound like Bionic Commando meets The Flintstones?

There's not much to see right now, but the level we played was pretty fragtastic and it's rendered in a cell-shaded art style that we don't see enough of. It's running on Crytek's CryEngine 2, and should be out for the PC/Xbox 360/PS3 set later this year. There wasn't enough of the game in the demo to get a feeling for what it'll become, but being able to pick up your enemies body parts and charge them up to toss grenade-style was fun. If a caveman merged with tech is your dream come true, you won't have to wait much longer. In fact, you can check out the trailer after the break!

Gallery: Merchants of Brooklyn

Continue reading CES 2009: Hands on Paleo Entertainment's Merchants of Brooklyn

JoystiqCES 2009: Hands on Paleo Entertainment's Merchants of Brooklyn originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ces-2009joystiqfeaturesMerchants-Of-BrooklynPaleoPaleo-EntertainmentPCPS3Xbox-360Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2009: The Gaming Showcase of Mystery]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/ces-2009-the-gaming-showcase-of-mystery/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/ces-2009-the-gaming-showcase-of-mystery/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/ces-2009-the-gaming-showcase-of-mystery/#commentsFiled under: ,


Imagine, if you will, that all of CES (which includes over 130,000 attendees) has been shrunk down to a scale model roughly the size of a football field. Or better yet, the map room in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Off in the far corner, there's an extremely small, tiny, miniscule hut. Way back behind the big temples and buildings and such. See it? Probably not. Well, there's no headpiece to the Staff of Ra to illuminate it, but that's representative of the "Gaming Showcase" at CES.

The real thing is off the beaten path, and none of the people staffing the information booths had heard of it. They kept sending us in endless loops back to the Hilton, where it most definitely is not located. In fact, we saw so much of the Hilton (which is now sadly missing the defunct Star Trek: The Experience) that we memorized the entire layout of the place. Finally, after throwing away all of our maps and tosing caution to the winds, we accidentally stumbled across it in the South Hall.

It was full of wholesalers, the ever present Entropia Universe, Boomchairs, third-party peripheral accesory makers, headphone manufacturers, and a very sad dearth of games. In fact, we only saw one game being shown off. It's called Merchants of Brooklyn from Paleo Entertainment, so check back for a writeup on it shortly. Until then, enjoy the Gaming Showcase gallery below, and pray for us to unearth another secret room contaning the Ark of the Covenant of gaming. Or some energy drinks and granola bars.

Gallery: CES Gaming Showcase 2009

JoystiqCES 2009: The Gaming Showcase of Mystery originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CESces-2009gamingjoystiqfeaturesMerchants-Of-BrooklynPaleo-EntertainmentSat, 10 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2009: Activision's Keyno-thing of interest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/ces-2009-activisions-keyno-thing-of-interest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/ces-2009-activisions-keyno-thing-of-interest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/ces-2009-activisions-keyno-thing-of-interest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Activision's CES keynote should have been titled "Remedial Gaming 101: A History of Gaming." Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith took us through a not-so-brief history of gaming, from Pong to Pac-Man to "even games that used to feature trackballs, and yes, even joysticks." Although, that's not the point when the chap in the photo above fell asleep -- that happened much earlier.

Oddly, Activision didn't manage to fit in a single plug for its upcoming game Prototype, which was apparently left out on the show floor for this one. No banners, no teaser, not even a still. Instead the stage was littered with games from 2008: Call of Duty: World at War, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, Madagascar 2, Quantum of Solace, Guitar Hero: World Tour, and so on. It was deja vu, and we found ourselves literally checking our badges to make sure we weren't at E3 2008. Note to Activision: You've got a captive audience sitting in seats and (mostly) paying attention -- take advantage of 'em!

Continue reading CES 2009: Activision's Keyno-thing of interest

JoystiqCES 2009: Activision's Keyno-thing of interest originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionCESces-2009DSguitar-heroguitar-hero-metallicajoystiqfeaturesmike-griffithPS3PSPWiiXbox-360Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[LGJ: Here comes the FTC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/lgj-here-comes-the-ftc/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/lgj-here-comes-the-ftc/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/lgj-here-comes-the-ftc/#commentsFiled under:

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:

GamePolitics is reporting that the Federal Trade Commission is ready to look into "consumer protection" related to digital rights management tools. To many people, this may seem like a great idea. In general, it's not. It would be nice to give consumers some protection from some of the most draconian or horribly flawed DRM systems that have been put into use. On the other hand, those of us who have been around the "government regulation" block know that these protections rarely solve the problem they set out to resolve, and in turn, generally put more hurdles in the way of those who want to get a product into the marketplace, which raises the cost of production and usually the consumer price, too.

Consumer protection regulations do just what they sound like: they protect consumers. There are hundreds of these regulations at both the state and federal level in the U.S., and most are targeted at an industry level. There are consumer protections related to everything from debt collecting to auto repair to purchasing a franchised business. Many of these laws were enacted in response to a perceived or actual abuse by producers toward consumers. So, the government set out to level the playing field and to give consumers a way to deal with their grievances. All in all, the intent was good.

Continue reading LGJ: Here comes the FTC

JoystiqLGJ: Here comes the FTC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnsftcgovernmentjoystiqfeatureslawlaw-of-the-gameWed, 07 Jan 2009 23:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: 2008 in Review]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/bury-the-shovelware-2008-in-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/bury-the-shovelware-2008-in-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/bury-the-shovelware-2008-in-review/#commentsFiled under:



We're barely one week into 2009 and I'm already prepared to make a judgment about the current year: I don't like it one bit. With that in mind, I've decided to take a nostalgic look back to an easier, care-free time: 2008.

Our study began on the 2nd of July with a look at the laughably terrible Homie Rollerz. It will continue indefinitely (in other words, until my overlords decide to give me the axe), or until we can come to a concrete and atomic definition of "shovelware."

That's not to say that we've been woolgathering this past half-year. Indeed, we've learned quite a bit about what constitutes shovelware and what doesn't. Here's a handful of our most acute observations:

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: 2008 in Review

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: 2008 in Review originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008joystiqfeatureslistreviewshovelwareWed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fanboy Review: Sandy Beach]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/wii-fanboy-review-sandy-beach/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/wii-fanboy-review-sandy-beach/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/wii-fanboy-review-sandy-beach/#commentsFiled under: ,


While not all of Hudson's WiiWare offerings are necessarily successful in terms of sales or critical response, they've been responsible for some of the best, and best-selling, games on the service. And even when they don't do so well, effort is evident. So why can't Hudson's parent company, Konami, take a lesson from their subsidiary? Since the launch of the service, they've released only two games: Critter Round-Up and this. So they've released, like, one and a quarter games.

Sandy Beach is a baffling release -- in that I can't fathom how Konami saw this and decided there was enough game to be worth releasing. It's really two games, but the sum fails to provide enough value for the 500 Wii Point cost.

Continue reading Wii Fanboy Review: Sandy Beach

JoystiqWii Fanboy Review: Sandy Beach originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildingfrozen-codebasejoystiqfeatureskonamisandy-beachsimulationtower-defenseWed, 07 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Fanboy Interview: Headstrong talks House of the Dead: Overkill]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/wii-fanboy-interview-headstrong-talks-house-of-the-dead-overki/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/wii-fanboy-interview-headstrong-talks-house-of-the-dead-overki/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/wii-fanboy-interview-headstrong-talks-house-of-the-dead-overki/#commentsFiled under:


House of the Dead: Overkill launches pretty much everywhere next month, and looks set to be a mini-upheaval for Sega's venerable lightgun series.

While shooting zombies in the face still plays a major role, Brit developer Headstrong Games has introduced a '70s horror theme, time manipulation, new enemies, and a ton of extra content. We lined up Lead Designer Alastair Halsby in our shotgun reticles, and fired several rounds of questions his way. Join us after the break for a discussion on grindhouse, censorship, and the "ballistic ballet of zombie destruction." Heads up!

Continue reading Wii Fanboy Interview: Headstrong talks House of the Dead: Overkill

JoystiqWii Fanboy Interview: Headstrong talks House of the Dead: Overkill originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>headstronghouse-of-the-deadjoystiqfeaturesoverkillsegawii-zapperTue, 06 Jan 2009 14:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Born for Wii: Mario Sunshine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/born-for-wii-mario-sunshine/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/born-for-wii-mario-sunshine/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/born-for-wii-mario-sunshine/#commentsFiled under:

Now that 2008 is tightly packed away into our memories and the glorious new year is unfolding before our very eyes, we're caught between looking backwards at what 2008 imparted upon us and anticipating what 2009 has to offer. Even though Born for Wii is all about looking backwards, it's hard not to be excited about what this year is bringing to the Wii: in just a couple months, the New Play Control version of Pikmin will be hitting the States, and it will be good times. But we've still got awhile to wait until then, and this week we're highlighting a sorely underappreciated Nintendo game of last generation: Super Mario Sunshine.

Mario Sunshine was released in 2002 as the first real successor to the groundbreaking Mario 64, and it was clear from the beginning that things were going to be a little different. For starters, Mario was on vacation on a tropical island, and soon found himself equipped with a water pack for cleaning up sludge. Though it was generally well-reviewed, Mario Sunshine has since become somewhat of a whipping boy in the fan community, and many claim that it didn't live up to groundbreaking pedigree Mario 64 established years earlier. Mario Galaxy managed to exceed its predecessors in virtually every way possible, but in the end, Sunshine still has things worth going back for. The wonderful tropical locale, the FLUDD-less levels, and some fun water pack puzzles all made Mario Sunshine a worthwhile endeavor, and a New Play Control version would give Nintendo the chance to polish its shortcomings and give Mario the vacation he deserved.

NEXT >>

Every week, Born for Wii digs into gaming's sordid past to unearth a new treasure fit for revival on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out last week's entry in the series, NBA Jam, and for more great titles that deserve your attention, take a look at Virtually Overlooked.

JoystiqBorn for Wii: Mario Sunshine originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>born-for-wiigamecubejoystiqfeaturesmariomario-sunshineplatformerportsuper-mariosuper-mario-sunshineTue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP games to look for in 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/psp-games-to-look-for-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/psp-games-to-look-for-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/psp-games-to-look-for-in-2009/#commentsFiled under:


PSP has no games? WRONG. The dreadful PSP games drought is over, my friends. 2009 has barely begun, and we already know of more than a dozen titles to look for this year. And trust us, there are even more games coming that just haven't been announced. LocoRoco 2, Resistance Retribution, Phantasy Star Portable, Dissidia ... the list keeps on going. In fact, it keeps on going here.

JoystiqPSP games to look for in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009joystiqfeaturespspMon, 05 Jan 2009 20:36:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 games to look for in 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/ps3-games-to-look-for-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/ps3-games-to-look-for-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/ps3-games-to-look-for-in-2009/#commentsFiled under:


2008 was "The Year of the PS3?" Pfft. Excuse me, but even PS3's fantastic 2008 library won't be able to compete with the likes of 2009. In one year, you'll see the likes of Killzone 2, Uncharted 2 and Heavy Rain. And there's tons of other exclusives, PlayStation Network titles, and third party titles that are bound for the system. (And to think, there are still games that haven't been revealed yet!)

The following list includes games that are currently scheduled for a 2009 release. However, as was the case in 2008, some of these games may stumble into delays. The list is broken up in order, with PS3 exclusives coming first. (And boy, are there a lot!)

JoystiqPS3 games to look for in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009joystiqfeaturesplaystation-3ps3Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaming to Go: The Quest Trio]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/gaming-to-go-the-quest-trio/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/gaming-to-go-the-quest-trio/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/gaming-to-go-the-quest-trio/#commentsFiled under:



You've played this game before. Probably. See, here's the thing -- The Quest Trio isn't a singular title so much as it is a collection of games, as an in-depth analysis of the title would probably suggest. For your money you'll get a variant of Bejeweled, an interesting version of Solitaire, and a pretty decent take on Mahjong, three classic games that should be fairly familiar to just about every person ever. The Quest Trio gets interesting, however, when you consider that two of the titles in the package have been previously sold as standalone products -- and for everyone's favorite handheld, no less!

It might sting a wee bit to discover you already own one member of the trio. It might hurt a hell of a lot to discover you already own two of them, in which case I'd advise you sit this one out and find a warm corner to cry in. For everyone else who loves the sound of three great games bundled together for your gaming pleasure, click that big button down there and see if this week's edition of Gaming to Go covers just the sort of puzzle compilation you've been questing for.


NEXT >>


JoystiqGaming to Go: The Quest Trio originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbejeweledjoystiqfeaturesmahjongpuzzlequesttriosolitairethequesttrioMon, 05 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST