Joystiq

Avalanche teaser images were steampunk sandbox game now 'on ice'

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:00:00 EST

Avalanche Studios founder Christofer Sundberg's pictorial tweet teases - generally thought to be Just Cause 3 or a Mad Max game - were actually a steampunk sandbox game the studio was working on five years ago. Speaking to Edge, Sundberg explained it's a game the studio had in development but has now been "put on ice."

Sundberg tweeted this morning, "The steampunk game was shut down in 2008. We lost ~90 [developers] in the process. Now, 5yrs later [Avalanche] is doing better than ever."

"I really love that art style, and to combine it with sandbox gameplay is a dream of mine," he told Edge. "Fortunately, being an independent developer I can control my own destiny and we'll make something in that world sooner or later."

Another "almost" Avalanche Studios project was a "massive, open world" Star Wars game, but that fell through and now is more unlikely than ever. Whatever Avalanche is really working on will hopefully be revealed by E3.

Avalanche teaser images were steampunk sandbox game now 'on ice' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avalanche teases Just Cause 3 announcement

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:45:00 EST

Avalanche Studios founder Christofer Sundberg is being a coquet, teasing what appears to be Just Cause 3 - or a modern Mad Max game.

Sundberg tweeted out the above image yesterday, which came a couple weeks after the same character model was teased in an action scene on a bike.

Although Just Cause 3 is the natural assumption from the images - since the character model has similar features and accessories to series protagonist Rico Rodriguez - there is still the outlying possibility it's the Mad Max game. We've known that game had been in production at Avalanche under God of War 2 director Cory Barlog until early last year.

Sundberg told Eurogamer at the time of Barlog's departure, "I can't comment on our project, but all I can say is that the projects we've been working on for the last two years and the one we recently started up in NY are sailing along like never before."

Avalanche teases Just Cause 3 announcement originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam Holiday Sale, day 9: Assassin's Creed, Prototype, Left 4 Dead franchises and more

Jordan Mallory — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:00:00 EST

The majority of mainstream shopping holidays have now reached a complete stop, but the sales live on - especially in the case of Valve's annual Steam Holiday Sale, which today enters its ninth day of dealing out discounted digital sundries.

PC gamers can save 25 to 75 percent on every game in the Assassin's Creed series, 75/50 percent off Prototype and Prototype 2 respectively, get Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 for a cold dead $7.49, Limbo for a spooky $2.49, Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion for an astronomically low $13.59 and Just Cause 2 for a justified $3.74.

Yesterday's deals also remain active for another 20 hours or so, including LA Noire for $4.99, FTL for $4.99 and 33 percent off XCOM: Enemy Unknown. As always, flash sales and community choice sales change throughout the day.

Steam Holiday Sale, day 9: Assassin's Creed, Prototype, Left 4 Dead franchises and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sleeping Dogs DLC dresses you up in Square Enix costumes

JC Fletcher — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST

Forgive us for the least cute post you'll see today with "dress up" and "dogs" in the headline. Instead of corgis in costumes, the topic of conversation is Sleeping Dogs, which offers some crossover costume DLC today, including a vaguely unsettling bald cap.

The cap is attached to the Hitman suit in the "Square Enix Character Pack" launching today, which also includes a Deus Ex-inspired outfit and a Rico Rodriguez getup from Just Cause. It'll be available tomorrow on Xbox Live and Steam worldwide, and PSN in Europe, for two bucks or its local equivalent. North American PSN users will have to wait until November 20 to make their game look like other games.

Check out the Deus Ex outfit above; you can see a vignette with the Hitman outfit after the break.

Continue reading Sleeping Dogs DLC dresses you up in Square Enix costumes

Sleeping Dogs DLC dresses you up in Square Enix costumes originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon has Absolutely Great Square Enix sale, $165 of games for $10

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST

The Absolutely Great Square Pack from Amazon offers seven games and one piece of DLC in digital form, all of which would normally cost $165, for just $10: Deus Ex: Human Revolution Augmented Edition and "The Missing Link" DLC, Hitman: Blood Money, Just Cause 2, Just Cause, Quantum Conundrum, Supreme Commander 2, and The Last Remnant.

That's a savings of 94 percent, in case it wasn't clear how absolutely great this sale is. Buying the pack also grants $5 toward a pre-order of Hitman: Absolution. These deals run through October 20 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Don't be a square and miss out on this sale.

[Thanks, Ignatius]

Amazon has Absolutely Great Square Enix sale, $165 of games for $10 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Just Causes on sale this weekend on Steam

David Hinkle — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:59:00 EST

This weekend's Steam deals include two very different experiences, one about sneaking around and another about being very loud and explosive. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is 33% off until August 27, bringing the price down on Ubisoft's latest to $33.49. If you want the deluxe edition - which includes two exclusive maps and tons of in-game weapons and skins - it'll cost $36.84.

More into hijacking helicopters, skydiving and blowing up stuff in a tropical paradise? Avalanche Studios' Just Cause series is 75% off on Steam until August 27: the original Just Cause is $2.49; the sequel, Just Cause 2, is $3.74.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Just Causes on sale this weekend on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Upcoming XBL deals: Amalur and Saints Row DLC, Bejeweled 3

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST

In addition to the bizarre, surprising news that Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is getting online multiplayer, Major Nelson has revealed new Xbox Live content including upcoming Deals of the Week. This week's deal features half-price DLC for the ill-fated Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which knocks both 'Teeth of Naros' and 'Legend of Dead Kel' down to $5 each, while a weapons and armor bundle is available for $2.50. Also up for grabs this week is Bejeweled 3 for $7.50.

Next week, three bits of Saints Row: The Third DLC - 'Gangstas in Space,' 'Genkibowl VII,' and 'The Trouble with Clones' - will be available for $3.50 each. The 'Missing Link' DLC for Deus Ex: Human Revolution will also be discounted $7.50, while a handful of Just Cause 2 DLC will be available for $1 a pop.

Upcoming XBL deals: Amalur and Saints Row DLC, Bejeweled 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSN update includes some sweet sales, permanent price changes

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:08:00 EST

Sony has updated the PlayStation Network with a slew of semi-high-profile prices, on sale and with permanent price changes, including Resident Evil: Code Veronica X HD on sale for $10, the God of War: Origins Collection for $28, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood at $21, and Just Cause 2 with a permanent price drop to $20.

This has been a busy week for PSN, with Plus subscribers getting Journey one week early and a bunch of other goodies, and the PSN Gamers' Choice Awards announced and discounted. Peek the price fixes for PSN this week below:

Continue reading PSN update includes some sweet sales, permanent price changes

PSN update includes some sweet sales, permanent price changes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Square Enix Xbox Marketplace sale includes Deus Ex, Lara Croft

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST

Square Enix is holding a sale this week on the Xbox Marketplace, taking half off DLC for Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Just Cause 2, along with discounts on several of Lady Croft's adventures and its associated DLC.

The highlights of the sale are certainly the Deus Ex's Missing Link DLC and co-op adventure Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light for 600 MSP ($7.50). There's also some attempted discounts on full downloads of Battlestations: Pacific, Just Cause 2 and Tomb Raider: Underworld; but chances are you can find better in your local bargain bin.

Another game worth checking out is updated original Tomb Raider: Legend: Anniversary, available in two chunks at 400 MSP ($5) apiece (caveat is you'll need to own TR: Legend since it's the DLC). So, try the first two levels before you buy the whole thing. Find the full list of discounts after the break.

Continue reading Big Square Enix Xbox Marketplace sale includes Deus Ex, Lara Croft

Big Square Enix Xbox Marketplace sale includes Deus Ex, Lara Croft originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Steam Summer Camp Sale ends today

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST

It's time to strip down your bunks, throw your macaroni necklaces in a suitcase and get back to town -- it's the final day of the Steam Summer Camp Sale. Today Steam is featuring some of the sale's biggest titles (which means you probably already have them), including franchise deals on Fallout, Battlefield, Borderlands, Just Cause and Assassin's Creed.

One game you may not have bought yet, Terraria, is also 50 percent off today. If there's a better way of forming one last Summer Camp memory than a 2D, Minecraft-inspired sidescrolling goldmine of fun, we can't think of it.

PSA: Steam Summer Camp Sale ends today originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OnLive celebrates Indie-pendence Day with an explosive sale

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST

OnLive is celebrating "Indie-pendence" Day with a massive sale on -- you guessed it -- a random selection of mainstream blockbusters and popular underground games.

The sale includes Batman: Arkham Asylum, Darksiders, Just Cause 2, a pre-order deal on Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and of course an inundation of hit indie titles such as Braid, The Maw, Osmos and Amnesia: The Dark Descent. OnLive's "Indie-pendence" Day Sale runs through the completely unrelated day of July 4, so hurry and check out your options after the jump before this thing vanishes like smoke after a firework.

Update: OnLive is sending all PlayPack subscribers a free game of their choice this Tuesday, and as long as you sign up for the monthly unlimited-gaming service before midnight Pacific on July 4, you can snag a free game too. Thanks, Silent Killer01!

Continue reading OnLive celebrates Indie-pendence Day with an explosive sale

OnLive celebrates Indie-pendence Day with an explosive sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avalanche founder talks piracy, hires a lot of people with 'hacker' backgrounds

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 22:10:00 EST

If you can't beat them, hire them, provided that they have the necessary credentials and skillsets required to achieve the task that you're hiring for. That's a little wordy to serve as a business motto, but it's a philosophy possessed by Just Cause 2 developer Avalanche Studios founder Christofer Sundberg. In a recent interview with CVG, Sundberg explained that though piracy is worrying, "50 percent of the people that work for me come from a hacker background."

Sundberg added that though some pirates "see us as evil," that "in Sweden the [hacking] scene was huge... As a studio, we've found that there's definitely a lot of talent [in that community]." Also, it has the added bonus of cutting down on piracy, since all those hired pirates (privateers?) are probably going to get free copies of the game they made, anyways. That's just smart.

Avalanche founder talks piracy, hires a lot of people with 'hacker' backgrounds originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best of the Rest: Ben's picks of 2010

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST

1 vs. 100
Remember when Microsoft confirmed that there would be no more 1 vs. 100 and your heart broke in half? I remember that day. It was the first time I'd ever experienced anything akin to an MMO shutting down -- I was an active player in a weekly live game with thousands of other people, and it was closing. Like no other game I've played before, 1 vs. 100 brought together all of my friends -- gaming and non-gaming alike -- for a weekly shared experience. Couple that unique experience with my love for trivia (I totally dominated history and video game-themed nights), and 1 vs. 100 was a clear choice for one of my favorite games in 2010. It's a real shame there's no way to play it anymore.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Ben's picks of 2010

Best of the Rest: Ben's picks of 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2010

Alexander Sliwinski — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST

Dance Central
This is how the dancing genre should be done. Harmonix brought it on and stepped it up with Dance Central, a full-body follow-the-choreography game that showed off Microsoft's Kinect tech and ended up being the device's killer app at launch. Authoritative, yet fun, Dance Central felt like the first step in a franchise that could potentially have an amazing future.

Dance Central 2 is a given and I can't wait to see what it delivers. Harmonix has shown us with Rock Band that it can rapidly build upon a core foundation. Chained dance routines? Online dance battles? Customizable routines? It's probably all on the table... and I would dance on that table using a stripper pole for all of it. But, my gawd, I would give anything for the option to remove or exchange freestyle sections for more moves.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2010

Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shop for an item shop in Steam's holiday sale

JC Fletcher — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST

By now you know the drill for Steam's holiday sale. We'll link incredible deals, and you'll spend tiny amounts of money you didn't expect to spend. For Day 3 (until 1PM ET), the objects of your impulse buying include the quirky item shop RPG Recettear ($6.80), Bully ($3.75) and Just Cause 2 ($7.50).

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Shop for an item shop in Steam's holiday sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix profits down, but not out as familiar franchises keep sales alive

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:15:00 EST

If you think we're going to explain that mess of scribbles above -- fuggedaboutit! What we have parsed from Square Enix's six-month financial report (April-September 2010) is a rather slight net income: ¥1.723 billion ($21.4 million). While any company would take pocket change over a loss, Square Enix profits are indeed down 36 percent from the same period last year, and software sales for the first half of this fiscal year have relied heavily on "contribution from highly profitable carryover sales of major titles released in March" -- in other words: Final Fantasy XIII picked up the slack.

And who were the slackers? Square Enix highlighted five "major titles" released during the period:

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 (DS) - 1.28 million units sold (Japan-only)
Final Fantasy XIV (PC) - 630K units sold (worldwide)
Just Cause 2 (multiplatform) - 560K units sold (worldwide)*
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (multiplatform) - 1.12 million units sold (worldwide)
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (PSP) - 510K units sold (worldwide)*

*Title released in some regions prior to April 2010; sales only reflect those recorded in the six months ending September 30, 2010.

Finally, Square Enix heralded its recent partnership with Chinese online games publisher Shanda Games; a deal indicative of two of the company's three proclaimed growth strategies: globalization and becoming "network centric." As for the third? Square Enix's three-pronged attack also stresses "strengthening our own-IPs." So when's that next Final Fantasy coming out again?

[Image: Year-over-year comparison of monthly revenues from existing outlets; source: Square Enix]

Square Enix profits down, but not out as familiar franchises keep sales alive originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2 now a PS3 Classic, 360 Platinum Hit in the UK

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST

Despite the shortcomings of the product as a whole, there's a lot to love in Just Cause 2 -- most of which having to do with the many, many things you can do with a parachute, grappling hook and some ingenuity. By our calculation, that should earn the game a spot in the video game history books; and it seems Sony and Microsoft agree. The game has reached Platinum Hits and PS3 Classics status in the U.K., with an associated drop in price to £19.99.

We've contacted Square Enix to see if the game will receive a similar treatment in the U.S.. We certainly don't see why not. We love explosive stunts just as much as our overseas cohorts.

Just Cause 2 now a PS3 Classic, 360 Platinum Hit in the UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause film optioned, screenwriter attached

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST

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

Eric Eisner's L+E Productions has optioned the rights to a Just Cause movie script written by Michael Ross, reports Variety. Producer Adrian Askarieh is helping the production company flesh out the project "before shopping it to the studios." L+E Productions' first project, Hamlet 2, was picked up by Focus Features for a reported $10 million in 2008, giving some hope to the possibility of Just Cause actually appearing in theaters at some point in the future. Askarieh also helped to get the Hitman film out the door, to which a sequel is currently in production.

The Just Cause film will apparently focus on the story of Rico "The Scorpion" Rodriguez as he takes on "deadly missions for the US government that come in the form of creating chaos and destrabalizing rogue nations from within and turning the bad guys against each other." Sound familiar? Let's just hope the adaptation doesn't take any of that ... questionable NPC chatter along for the ride.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Just Cause film optioned, screenwriter attached originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mad Max game at Avalanche Studios

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST

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

God of War 2 director Cory Barlog is likely working on the Mad Max game (a supposed tie-in with the 2012 movie sequel) at Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios. Eurogamer reports Avalanche Studios' founder Christofer Sundberg told the site, "I can't comment on the projects we are working on, but Cory is working here with us in Stockholm."

We've known Barlog had been working on a Mad Max game since 2008, with production reportedly still going on last year -- we just never knew exactly where he was making the game.

The studio's Avalanche Engine would actually be fantastic for driving an enormous, lush Mad Max game -- well, if "lush" existed in the Mad Max vocabulary. The engine certainly proved its graphical power in Just Cause 2. Now, if Barlog could only help deliver a cohesive concept, instead of just an empty sandbox, that could be a truly beautiful thing.

Report: Mad Max game at Avalanche Studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy 13, Just Cause 2, Supreme Commander 2 cheap on Amazon today

JC Fletcher — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:47:00 EST

Last Thursday, Amazon discounted a random trio of Square Enix games for its Deal of the Day. Today, three more Squeenix games receive a temporary discount -- and this time, none of them are Nier.

If you have yet to decide whether the time-release fun of Final Fantasy 13 is for you, the decision is slightly easier today: it's available for $29.99 on both Xbox 360 and PS3. It's joined by revolutionary mayhem simulator Just Cause 2, which is down to $36.99 on the same two platforms, and $26.99 on PC. Finally, Supreme Commander 2 is supremely cheap at $26.99 on Xbox or $19.99 on PC. Given Amazon's recent Deal of the Day history, if you were planning to buy any other recent Square Enix releases, perhaps you should sit on that purchase for a week, just in case.

Final Fantasy 13, Just Cause 2, Supreme Commander 2 cheap on Amazon today originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2 gets free rocket-launching Tuk Tuk DLC

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:30:00 EST

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

Ah, the Tuk Tuk. Almost universally recognized as the most useless vehicle of all time in regards to its implementation in video games. (You ever try to rack up a huge crash score while driving a Tuk Tuk in Burnout 3? It is impossible.) Avalanche, however, recently gave the poor, pod-shaped vehicle a facelift with a new piece of free DLC for Just Cause 2: Introducing the "Tuk Tuk Boom Boom" (pictured right), available today through Xbox Live, PSN and Steam.

You'll notice that Avalanche has peeled the roof off of this particular model of the vehicle, leaving just enough room for a massive, powerful cannon. It's also faster and handles better than the rollover-friendly standard version, meaning the Tuk Tuk Boom Boom might just become your new mode of transportation of choice when it's time to raid that enemy base -- or, you know, that impoverished civilian village.

Just Cause 2 gets free rocket-launching Tuk Tuk DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2: Black Market Aerial Pack now available

Justin McElroy — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST

We don't know how one tires of wreaking havoc across the countryside of a third-world island nation. What more do you need? But if you have, you'll be happy to be reminded that the "Black Market Aerial Pack" is now available for Just Cause 2. For 160 /$2 you can add the the chaingun-toting F-33 DragonFly Jet Fighter, a multi-lock missile launcher and a hangtime-extending parachute thruster to your cavalcade of chaos.

The destruction's already begun on Xbox Live, but you can look for it to continue on PS3s when the PSN update arrives today.

Xbox.com: Add Just Cause 2: Black Market Aerial Pack ($2) to your download queue

Just Cause 2: Black Market Aerial Pack now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Just Cause 2 DLC pack coming May 25 [update]

Mike Schramm — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:28:00 EST

The Just Cause 2 website has official news on the game's first two DLC packs. We'd already heard about the April 29 "Black Market Aerial Pack" (which will give you a new Jet Fighter to play with, along with a parachute addon to create a little more breeze), but less than a month later, ~~May 29~~ [update: May 25] will bring the "Black Market Boom Pack," with a Quad Rocket Launcher, Cluster Bomb Launcher, and an Air Propulsion Gun, which fires jet blasts powerful enough to send both soldiers and vehicles flying. You don't really get bonus points for saying, "This... is my boom pack," after sending said enemies into the air, but we'll pretend that you do.

Both packs will be $1.99 on PSN, or 160 ($2) from the Xbox Live Marketplace. Also on the official Just Cause 2 blog: you'll find YouTube videos of the game being played back at both slow- and fast-speed, showing off slow motion and time-lapse views of the impressive in-game world. We've put both of them after the break in case you want to give them a look.

Continue reading Second Just Cause 2 DLC pack coming May 25 [update]

Second Just Cause 2 DLC pack coming May 25 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2 and BioShock 2 getting DLC April 29

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST

The latest Xbox Live Newsbeat update included release dates for two pieces of downloadable content that we didn't even know existed. We typically don't care for surprises, but we're willing to make an exception if it means we get more maps for the multiplayer component of BioShock 2 and more things to explode in Just Cause 2.

On April 29, six new multiplayer maps will be added to BioShock 2 as part of the "Rapture Metro Map Pack." For 800 ($10), players get the new arenas, three new masks, a "Kill 'Em Kindly" Melee deathmatch mode, and three new Achievements. Just Cause 2 will receive the "Black Market Aerial Pack," a 160 ($2) booster which adds the chaingun-toting F-33 DragonFly Jet Fighter, a multi-lock missile launcher and a parachute thruster which extends your airtime whilst leisurely sailing across the Panauan landscape. How... unexpextedly soothing!

Just Cause 2 and BioShock 2 getting DLC April 29 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Dance just can't help being tops on UK sales charts

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:25:00 EST

At this point, just give into the madness: Ubisoft's Just Dance is an unstoppable beast on the UK all-formats sales chart. According to Chart-Track, the title has been the top-selling Wii game every week in 2010 (except New Year's week) and boogies down as the third-largest third-party Wii game ever in the UK -- Sega's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games and Take-Two's Carnival Funfair Games are the top two, respectively.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 regained some ground, crawling back to the second spot, as Just Cause 2 parachuted down another spot to third. Modern Warfare 2 held its ground at fourth as Wii Sports Resort moved up one notch to fifth. The rest of the top ten has some Pokémons sprinkled in there. Check out the complete UK top 10 after the break.

Source - Ubisoft Can't Stop Dancing [GFK Chart-Track]
Source - Latest UK Software Charts [GFK Chart-Track]

Continue reading Just Dance just can't help being tops on UK sales charts

Just Dance just can't help being tops on UK sales charts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2 gets free 'pimped-up' ice cream truck DLC

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST

Since it's universally accepted that Just Cause 2 is completely butt-crazy-gonzo, we weren't really surprised by today's release of a free, downloadable, "pimped-up" (according to the Xbox Live listing) ice cream truck for all platforms of the game. The "Chevalier Ice Breaker" features ultra low suspension (for those hairpin mountainous curves), front-mounted bull bars (for the ramming of things) and, presumably, more ice cream sandwiches than you could shake a Popsicle stick at.

Xbox.com: Add Chevalier Ice Breaker to your Xbox 360 download queue

Also available via PlayStation Store later today and for PC.

Just Cause 2 gets free 'pimped-up' ice cream truck DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK charts: Just Cause 2 just defied by Just Dance

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST

Apparently the word "just" resonates deeply with UK buyers, as Just Dance and Just Cause 2 take the top spots on the UK all-formats sales chart, respectively. Just Dance sales rose 56 percent over the Easter holiday, hopping the rhythm title back to the top spot, which it previously held during the second and third weeks of 2010. The international success of Just Dance is absolutely fascinating and we're curious to see its impact on E3 this year. Clones must be in the cards.

Just Cause 2 sales glided down 21 percent after riding the top of the charts last week. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 held its ground at third, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Pokémon SoulSilver rounded out the top five. You'll find the complete UK top 10 after the break.

Source - Just Dance Just Beats Just Cause [GFK Chart-Track]
Source - Latest UK Software Charts [GFK Chart-Track]

Continue reading UK charts: Just Cause 2 just defied by Just Dance

UK charts: Just Cause 2 just defied by Just Dance originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2 grapples to top of UK sales chart

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:27:00 EST

In true revolutionary fashion, Just Cause 2 took the top spot on the UK all-formats sales chart last week. The sandbox title that's more fun when you ignore your objectives beat out Pokémon SoulSilver and HeartGold, which fought to the second and fourth spots, respectively.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 kept on the pressure in third, while the unstoppable Just Dance took fifth. Kratos fell down the charts, like he tumbled out of the good graces of Mt. Olympus, as God of War III went from first to seventh. Check out the complete UK top 10 sales list after the break.

Source - Just Cause 2 Swoops in Ahead of Pokémon [GFK Chart-Track]
Source - Latest UK Software Charts [GFK Chart-Track]

Continue reading Just Cause 2 grapples to top of UK sales chart

Just Cause 2 grapples to top of UK sales chart originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joyswag: Just Cause 2 (Xbox 360) [update]

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:40:00 EST

Update: The contest is now over and two winners will be emailed, so keep an eye on your commenter-tied inboxes.

We understand that, during the game flood this March, you might be forced to choose your battles (financially speaking) carefully, possibly to the detriment of a game like Just Cause 2. And while we respect your decision, we'd like to inform you politely that:

A.) The game's (mostly) a lot of fun! Didn't you read our review?
B.) We've got a couple of copies for the Xbox 360 that you're welcome to try and win by entering our week-long contest.

All you've gotta do is let us know which of the many, many Just Cause 2 trailers was your favorite in the comments below. Next Wednesday we'll pull two of you at random and forward a copy for the Xbox 360! Does March seem a bit less stressful now? Good! Oh, and keep an eye out for us at PAX East -- we've got some JC2 swag to put in your eager hands.

Leave a comment telling us which of the many, many Just Cause 2 trailers was your favorite.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
Limit 1 entry per person per day.
This entry period ends at 12:01AM ET on Wednesday, March 31.
At that time, we'll randomly select two winners to receive one copy each of Just Cause 2 for Xbox 360 (ARV: $59.99).
For a list of complete rules, click here.

What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.

Gallery: Just Cause 2

Joyswag: Just Cause 2 (Xbox 360) [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avalanche opens casual online studio Expansive Worlds

Randy Nelson — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:30:00 EST

The Hunter (well, technically, the hunted)

Having created massive worlds for the Just Cause series, Swedish developer Avalanche has formed a new studio called Massive Worlds focusing on games in the casual online space. GamesIndustry.biz (login required) reports that the new unit will (unsurprisingly) be developing games using Avalanche's in-house game engine -- the same engine that powers Just Cause 2 -- but hasn't announced any specific titles just yet.

The company recently acquired full rights to the free-to-play online hunting sim The Hunter, which it co-developed with UK studio Emote. Further development of the game -- along with the rest of the studio's titles -- will be overseen by Stefan Pettersson, who joins Expansive Worlds as managing director. Prior to taking the job, Pettersson worked as a consultant and, at one point, a producer/designer at Avalanche. (We're sure that had nothing whatsoever to do with his selection.)

Avalanche opens casual online studio Expansive Worlds originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Just Cause 2

Justin McElroy — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST

You have to promise me you won't play Just Cause 2.

Now, don't misunderstand me, because you should absolutely buy Just Cause 2. It's got a lush, almost dauntingly large world to explore (and destroy); it's got a combination of grappling hook and parachute travel that lets you swoop through the world in a way that's just as, if not more thrilling than anything the Spider-Man series has ever cooked up; and it's got a lot of explosions.

But the moment you play as intended, helping CIA agent Rico Rodriguez as he attempts to eject dictator "Baby" Panay from the island of Panau, you'll discover the sad truth: The tools at Rico's disposal are a hell of a lot more fun than what he's asked to use them on.

Gallery: Just Cause 2

Continue reading Review: Just Cause 2

Review: Just Cause 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kmart selling Just Cause 2, not just another discount

Mike Schramm — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST

Reader Glenn just noticed that Kmart's Sunday ad has the just-about-released Just Cause 2 listed for the low price of just $44.99. The offer is just available for the dates of March 23-27, so just as soon as the game releases, you can just run on over to the store and just walk away with the game after paying just $45. The police can't even stop you -- your actions will be just.

Just saying -- it's just a really good deal. Even if you pick the game up just for kicks, a price like that is just wonderful. We're not sure why Kmart is selling the game so cheap, but why question it? Just consider this your just deserts.

Kmart selling Just Cause 2, not just another discount originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You can expect 'a lot' of Just Cause 2 DLC

Justin McElroy — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST

Say you were to jump a sweet speedboat off an even sweeter ramp, then climb onto that speedboat and shoot a rocket at a dude in a tower (which is a real thing that happens in Just Cause 2) for 15 to 20 hours. Afterward, if someone asked you how much more time you wanted to spend doing things like that, we imagine the answer would be "a lot." Perhaps it's no coincidence, then, that that's exactly how much DLC lead designer Peter Johansson tells Eurogamer is coming to the Just Cause 2: "a lot."

And that's on top of all the content already on the game disc, which, by all external signs, is pretty darn imposing. Johannsson claims that his 60-percent-complete save file is about 55 game hours worth of playtime, which, if you let the math play out, means that if you were to play all 100 percent of the game, it would take roughly 73,000 hours. Roughly.

You can expect 'a lot' of Just Cause 2 DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2 trailer analyzes anatomy of the 'Rocket Launcher Jump' stunt

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST

Though we've thoroughly enjoyed Just Cause 2's "Anatomy of a Stunt" videos, we're not sure the one you see posted above is accurately titled. Though the name "Rocket Launcher Jump" does capture some of the components of the stunt, it fails to mention a few other important buzzwords; namely "speedboat," "ramp," "explosion," "death," "aerial," and "unimaginably awesome."

Do yourself a favor and check out the video above, which we've chosen to remoniker "Unimaginably Awesome Speedboat Ramp Jump Aerial Rocket Launcher Explosion Death."

Gallery: Just Cause 2

Just Cause 2 trailer analyzes anatomy of the 'Rocket Launcher Jump' stunt originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reminder: Just Cause 2 demo grapples XBLM

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:45:00 EST

As promised, the Just Cause 2 demo is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. While this post was written as a reminder of that fact, the game itself also serves as a reminder. You see, it reminds just how incredibly handy grappling hooks are. Watching the various trailers released for the game thus far, it's kind of hard to imagine starting a revolution without one. Just remember to bring your parachute.

Shortcut: Add the Just Cause 2 demo to your Xbox 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]

Reminder: Just Cause 2 demo grapples XBLM originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European PSN releases for March 4

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:45:00 EST

You don't know it yet, but today's going to be a very good day. The PSN has been flooded with new content, including the "Desperate Escape" Resident Evil 5 DLC, demos for Just Cause 2 and Patchwork Heroes, and about 8,000 Karaoke Revolution songs. Click past the jump to see all of this week's offerings!

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continue reading European PSN releases for March 4

European PSN releases for March 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2 demo drops in March 4

David Hinkle — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:21:00 EST

Just as promised, operative, you'll soon get your chance to bone up on your rocket car skills before entering the field, as the Just Cause 2 demo has been set for release next Thursday, March 4. The demo will arrive on Xbox Live, PSN and Steam and will grant access to 35 square miles of the Lautan Lama Desert -- one of the islands making up the game's promised 400 sq. miles of explorable Panau archipelago. So oil up that grappling gun and get your best black ops duds off to the dry cleaners. We want Rico looking mucho suavé out there!

Just Cause 2 is set to dive into retail on March 23 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Games for Windows platforms.

Just Cause 2 demo drops in March 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2 plays chicken in second 'Anatomy of a Stunt' trailer

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST

If Just Cause 2's previous trailers have taught us anything, it's that the second game in Eidos' "do crazy sh##" series will absolutely relish in the lengths to which it enables you to live out its mission statement.

As evidenced once more in the second "Anatomy of a Stunt" trailer, wherein the game's main character mounts a speeding fire engine and takes on an aircraft, the game certainly seems to be jam-packed with the kind of insanity we like from our games (ask Red Faction Guerrilla!). Just wait until the trailers introduce a shark into that equation -- and the shark's on fire! But hey, you gotta save something for March 23 when the game comes out, right?

Gallery: Just Cause 2

Just Cause 2 plays chicken in second 'Anatomy of a Stunt' trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Just Cause 2 trailers dissect the 'Anatomy of a Stunt'

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST

We love that Just Cause 2's trailers have simply devolved into demo reels showing off the ridiculous destructive powers the player can harness using a hookshot, a parachute and a bit of ingenuity. Two such videos were recently released by Square Enix, subtitled "Anatomy of a Stunt." The first, which shows a rather exhilarating car jump over explosive-lined jet fuel tanks, is posted above. The second, embedded after the jump, shows all the clever ways one can dispatch enemies using gravity.

Sorry, Square Enix marketing team, but we're not comfortable classifying "murder" as a "stunt," no matter how creative said "murder" might be.

Continue reading New Just Cause 2 trailers dissect the 'Anatomy of a Stunt'

New Just Cause 2 trailers dissect the 'Anatomy of a Stunt' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Cause 2 trailer focuses on 'Freedom and Chaos'

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST

Look, we were going to start off this post by making some ham-fisted joke about how the Just Cause 2 trailer posted above shares a moniker with our rippling biceps -- that is to say, "Freedom and Chaos." We're not going to do that, though. We're simply going to advise you to press that little play button (assuming you're of age, of course), and skip ahead to the 35 second mark. Don't even watch the beginning of the trailer -- just skip to that point, and watch it. We'll wait.

Holy crap, right? Okay, feel free to watch the rest of the video. There's some pretty great stuff in the remainder; but nothing quite as rad as an improvised personal space shuttle.

Just Cause 2 trailer focuses on 'Freedom and Chaos' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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