Joystiq

Awesomenauts to launch as planned on PSN tomorrow, XBLA naut known [Update: XBLA now known!]

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Awesomenauts will launch as scheduled on PSN in North America tomorrow, Sony announced via Twitter today. The future of Awesomenauts was thrown into disarray yesterday when news broke that its publisher, dtp entertainment, had filed for insolvency. Developer Ronimo said it was working with dtp to get Awesomenauts published.

Awesomenauts will be free for PS Plus subscribers, Sony said. It was scheduled to launch on XBLA on May 2, but that release is still unconfirmed. We've contacted Microsoft for clarification.

Update: Ronimo has confirmed to Joystiq that Awesomenauts will launch as scheduled on XBLA, on May 2. Microsoft has yet to respond, but this is heartening news for potential Awesomenauts fans everywhere.

Awesomenauts to launch as planned on PSN tomorrow, XBLA naut known [Update: XBLA now known!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Walking Dead shambles into certification this week

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST

The Walking Dead is getting closer -- grab the shotgun! -- and is expected to be submitted for certification on XBLA and PSN this week, with a release soon after, Telltale CEO Dan Connors told Digital Trend at GDC. Connors expects the certification process to take about six weeks, with the launch soon after, placing it in late April or May. He didn't specify the launch process for other platforms, including PC.

Telltale wants to capitalize on the "popularity" of the TV show, whose second season ends March 18, Digital Trend wrote. "Popularity" is of course a loaded term, but personally we've come to enjoy the show with a drinking game -- take a drink every time Lori is mad for a ridiculous reason; take two drinks every time an awkward silence lasts longer than four seconds; finish your drink every time someone shoots more bullets than their gun actually holds.

That said, we're looking forward to Telltale's adaptation; either we'll finally get to enjoy the comic in a new form, or we'll have to buy some more beer.

The Walking Dead shambles into certification this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One post for three very different Vita launch trailers

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST

The Vita supports a cornucopia of differing games, developers and play styles, and today we bring you the launch trailers for just three of the bunch: Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen, Touch My Katamari and Escape Plan.

One of these is a serious sword-based fighter, one a showcase of Vita's black and white capabilities and the other an awkward, slightly dirty rainbow event. We'll let you figure out which is which.

Continue reading One post for three very different Vita launch trailers

One post for three very different Vita launch trailers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alan Wake extending launch deal on Steam for another week

David Hinkle — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST

While Remedy has locked down a retail partner for the boxed release of Alan Wake in Europe, a North American deal still hasn't been worked out. Because of this, Remedy has decided to extend the availability of the Alan Wake collector's edition on Steam for another week.

The collector's edition includes everything in the standard edition -- both DLC episodes, The Signal and The Writer, the original soundtrack, some posters and stickers and a manual -- plus optional commentary and background information that can be turned on during the game.

We recently spoke with Remedy's Oskari Hakkinen about Alan Wake's PC debut and the possibility of XBLA follow-up Alan Wake's American Nightmare on the platform. We may be biased, but we think it's a pretty good read.

Alan Wake extending launch deal on Steam for another week originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy 2 get 1 free on select Vita games at GameStop starting today

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

In true local-furniture-store fashion, purchasing any 2 first-party Vita games on this list will land you a third title (also from that list) free of charge. The deal runs between now and February 25, and while it excludes non-SCE games, it'll help you save some skrill for a memory card.

Continue reading Buy 2 get 1 free on select Vita games at GameStop starting today

Buy 2 get 1 free on select Vita games at GameStop starting today originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Stardust Delta is the free 3G Vita game

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST

Those who buy the 3G + Wi-Fi version of the PlayStation Vita and activate an AT&T data plan can download Super Stardust Delta plus the Blast Pack DLC for free, Sony has announced. The publisher teased a free game back in January, but this marks its official coming out party.

The Vita will launch in two waves, with the First Edition Bundle dropping for $350 on February 15, and the standard version on February 22 for $300. Data plans run $15 for 250MB, or $30 for 3GB through AT&T -- and it's with them that you'll get Super Stardust Delta for free.

Super Stardust Delta is the free 3G Vita game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning launches with trailer

Mike Schramm — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:01:00 EST

Four years ago, Curt Schilling opened a game studio. Two years later he told us the team's upcoming game woud be a marriage between God of War and Oblivion." And today, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning launches, letting you decide whether that union's worth the money. (Don't worry, we'll help you with our upcoming review!)

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning launches with trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Serious Sam 3: BFE has some semblance of a story

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST

If there's one thing that Serious Sam needs, it's more story. Also, there's a gun that shoots enormous balls. So it's still totally Serious Sam.

Serious Sam 3: BFE has some semblance of a story originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars: The Old Republic supply artificially limited at launch

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST

In an attempt to prevent its servers from collapsing under the weight of a million Force-hungry MMO-players, EA will artificially limit the number of copies -- both digital and retail -- of Star Wars: The Old Republic available at launch. An EA representative reportedly revealed the strategy at a Gamescom demo, but didn't divulge any details such as how many copies would be available, or how long it would take for more copies to be released once the quota is met.

We suppose this strategy makes sense, though we can't help but imagine the excuses BioWare and EA are going to have to come up with to explain why their downloads are sold out. "Bits? You want bits? Sorry friend. We're fresh out of those. Bytes too! Sorry about that. The drought's hitting us awful hard. The ... the technodrought."

Star Wars: The Old Republic supply artificially limited at launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hunted: The Demon's Forge launch trailer: co-op partners are so happy together

Mike Schramm — Tue, 31 May 2011 14:00:00 EST

This launch trailer for Hunted: The Demon's Forge doesn't do the game too many favors, unfortunately, as it's a little dark and too chaotic to show off much of the co-op-centered gameplay. But the song choice makes up for those faults -- it's just plain inspired.

Continue reading Hunted: The Demon's Forge launch trailer: co-op partners are so happy together

Hunted: The Demon's Forge launch trailer: co-op partners are so happy together originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dirt 3 slow-motion slides into release with launch trailer

Mike Schramm — Wed, 25 May 2011 05:00:00 EST

This Dirt 3 launch trailer doesn't bother getting into the nitty-gritty of what makes this sequel so excellent. Not that it has to when it can simply flaunt the game's stunning good looks.

Continue reading Dirt 3 slow-motion slides into release with launch trailer

Dirt 3 slow-motion slides into release with launch trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 May 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MX vs. ATV Alive launch trailer gets appropriately dirty

Mike Schramm — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

If you like two- and four-wheelin' around dirt pits, up ramps and into the air, you'll probably want to watch this launch trailer for MX vs. ATV Alive. Or ... you'll want to go do those things outside. Don't let us keep you!

Continue reading MX vs. ATV Alive launch trailer gets appropriately dirty

MX vs. ATV Alive launch trailer gets appropriately dirty originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3DS sales reach 113K units during UK launch weekend, 330K across EU

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:10:00 EST

Following its announcement of the 3DS's record US launch, Nintendo has revealed that the device was pocketed by roughly 113,000 UK buyers this past weekend, and by about 303,000 eager adopters across all of the European Union; and this despite the delay of the much-anticipated launch title Super Celery Man: 4D3D3DS.

According to Nintendo, the 3DS is now the fastest-selling handheld the company has ever released in the UK. As Nintendo was keen to point out, the 3DS even beat "the number achieved by Nintendo's market-leading home console Wii" in the region. Apparently, the third dimension resonates deeper with consumers than waggle tech. Who knew!

But even with all these record-breaking launches around the world, the 3DS seems unlikely to reach Nintendo's stated goal of 4 million units shipped by the end of March (which is to say, "by yesterday").

3DS sales reach 113K units during UK launch weekend, 330K across EU originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steel Diver trailer fire, fire, fire, fires away

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:40:00 EST

We bet you're tuning into the Steel Diver launch trailer posted below because you're trying to decide whether or not to add it to your 3DS launch purchases. Little do you know that you're actually tuning in because you want to hear the word "Fire!" squawked through a radio about 40 times.

Continue reading Steel Diver trailer fire, fire, fire, fires away

Steel Diver trailer fire, fire, fire, fires away originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battlefield Play4Free plans staggered launch, open beta on April 4

Mike Schramm — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 04:30:00 EST

Joystiq got to see Battlefield Play4Free in action late last night at GDC 2011 and, while a full interview is still incoming, we were able to get details on the plans for next month's beta launch. Right now the game is in closed beta, and we were told that at peak times, developer EAsy has "a few thousand" players enjoying the game so far.

On March 31, EA plans to send out codes for the beta to players of other Battlefield games, including the also free-to-play Battlefield Heroes, and Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Then, on April 2, invites will go out to selected followers on Twitter and Facebook, and finally, on April 4, EA will open the game up for a public beta, with an official launch later on this year.

So mark your calendars: Assuming everything goes according to EA's plan, you could be sniping fools and earning battlefunds as soon as 4/4. Stay tuned for more about the title from the hands-on event.

Battlefield Play4Free plans staggered launch, open beta on April 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikkei: All 400,000 Japanese 3DS units sold out, more on the way

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST

Japanese news outlet Nikkei (via Andriasang) has put a number on the nation's early adoption rate for Nintendo's new, steroscopic handheld: According to their report, Nintendo shipped 400,000 3DS units to Japanese retailers, which managed to just about sell out during its first 24 hours of availability. Who would have thought that there'd be more than 400,000 tech-savvy Nintendo acolytes that lived in Japan? (Us. We would have thought that. As would everyone else.)

If you didn't manage to grab one of the elusive, endangered handhelds, you'll get a second chance soon. According to Andriasang, a number of Japanese tech retailers reportedly received another shipment of 3DS this morning. Which ... probably already sold out by now. Hey, maybe you'll be able to get down on the third shipment! Let's keep hope alive, shall we?

Nikkei: All 400,000 Japanese 3DS units sold out, more on the way originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White launch event coming to Nintendo World Store

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST

You should probably clear your schedule on the afternoon of Saturday, March 5 -- unless, of course, you want to miss out on the coolest* party of the year. On the eve of the launch of Pokémon Black and White, Nintendo's hosting a launch shindig at its Nintendo World Store in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Attendees can check out original Pokémon artwork, and can collect stamps on a "passport," which they can exchange for a limited edition Poké-T-shirt. We're guessing the passport allows you to travel to cooltown**.

Attendees can also go to a special download station to grab a Liberty Pass, a key item which lets players catch the new legendary Pokémon Victini -- which you'll also be able to do from home over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

* - least cool
** - anywhere but cooltown

Continue reading Pokemon Black and White launch event coming to Nintendo World Store

Pokemon Black and White launch event coming to Nintendo World Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo 3DS to launch with 18 games in North America, $40 each for most

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST

The North American launch details for Nintendo 3DS have been finalized. In addition to Face Raiders and AR Games, both pre-installed on the hardware, the system will launch with three first-party games: Pilotwings Resort, Steel Diver, and nintendogs + cats. Each first-party game has a suggested retail price of $39.99.

Thirteen third-party games will be available on March 27th, including Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition and Rayman 3D. Nintendo promises that thirty games will be available for the platform by E3 expo. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and a new Mario Kart game will all be available before year's end.

You'll find the complete launch lineup listed after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo 3DS to launch with 18 games in North America, $40 each for most

Nintendo 3DS to launch with 18 games in North America, $40 each for most originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Test Drive Unlimited 2 slammed with game-breaking launch bugs

Mike Schramm — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:30:00 EST

Bad news for those who picked up Test Drive Unlimited 2 this week: the game is apparently falling apart, thanks to a few game-breaking bugs across various systems, including "permanent loading screen" problems and issues where the game's save file will get corrupted or not load. A number of network-reliant game components have been taken offline already, and the official Twitter account says the Eden Games team is working as fast as it can to sort things out. Programmers have been pulled in from other projects with the dev promising that "no one is going home until we get this working."

So, if you bought the game and encountered these issues, sit tight. If you were thinking about picking up the game this weekend, it might be prudent to wait until everything gets sorted out. In the meantime, there are lots of other games to play, or there's even this thing called "outside" we've heard about, whatever that is.

Update: The producer has posted on the forums to say that most issues have been fixed, and all content should be back online. Enjoy virtual Ibiza -- "outside" isn't that big a deal anyway.

[Thanks, Tony]

Test Drive Unlimited 2 slammed with game-breaking launch bugs originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3DS UK launch lineup revealed, Pilotwings makes the cut

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:40:00 EST

Here's a thing that is weird: Nintendo has announced the software lineup set to drop day-and-date with the UK launch of the 3DS -- and it blows the handheld's Japanese launch titles right out of the water. There are 15 games due out on March 25, including four first-party offerings: Pilotwings Resort (which isn't listed on the Japanese launch roster) and three different Nintendogs and Cats games.

Ubisoft's also making a strong showing on the launch lineup, providing Splinter Cell 3D, Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars and Rayman 3D on day one. Check out the full list after the jump, and keep your fingers crossed for an equally attractive North American launch list. Heck, you could even wish for a more attractive list, if you're feeling particularly optimistic.

Continue reading 3DS UK launch lineup revealed, Pilotwings makes the cut

3DS UK launch lineup revealed, Pilotwings makes the cut originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EEDAR's Jesse Divnich estimates NGP will cost $300 to $350

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EST

Electronic Entertainment Design and Research analyst Jesse Divnich has a few ideas about what Sony meant by "an affordable price that's appropriate for the handheld gaming space" when talking about the NGP's launch price. Speaking with GamesIndustry, Divnich predicted that the device would retail for between $299 and $349 at launch, which ... um, seems a little high when compared to other contenders in the "handheld gaming space."

Divnich says that such a price wouldn't be prohibitive to your average Joe or Jane, explaining "The market is ripe for portable high-end gaming. The NGP will be a serious threat to all forms of portable entertainment," and later adding, "After seeing the specs today, if the NGP can't succeed, it is clear that the portable gaming landscape has forever changed." Wait, you're saying the popularity of casual mobile games like Angry Birds might last forever? Forever-ever? Forever-ever?

EEDAR's Jesse Divnich estimates NGP will cost $300 to $350 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony wants NGP hardware to be profitable and affordable

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST

The more responsible gaming hardware enthusiasts among you have probably reserved your excitement over the recently announced NGP until you learn the device's ever-important launch price. Given the impressive specs of the handheld -- as well as Sony's infamous tendency to overcharge for its new gaming hardware at launch -- we wouldn't blame you for worrying. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe boss Andrew House recently provided Eurogamer with the first potential hints about the console's MSRP, saying, "I can't put a ballpark on it in terms of figures, but what I would say is that we will shoot for an affordable price that's appropriate for the handheld gaming space."

However, Sony's not going to be giving the things away; House also shot down a Eurogamer source who claimed Sony would be selling the device at a loss. House explained, "we would want to have our hardware be profitable, in addition to our software," later adding, "We've experienced both sides and we know which one we like to be on!" That seems like a tricky balancing act: How exactly is Sony planning on introducing new (assumedly high-investment) technology at an affordable consumer price point and still hope for the NGP to remain profitable? Wizardry? Alchemy? Both?

As far as a firm number, Game Informer was the only outlet able to get anything out of Sony's biggest wigs -- when GI brought up the enormous launch price of the PS3, Sony Computer Entertainment president of worldwide studios Shu Yoshida laughed, and replied, "It's not going to be $599." We're glad events unfolded in that order -- had he said "It's not going to be $599," then laughed maniacally, we would have started to get really nervous.

Sony wants NGP hardware to be profitable and affordable originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 400K 3DS systems available on Japanese launch day

JC Fletcher — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST

Of the four million 3DS systems Nintendo plans to produce in the fiscal year ending in March, Nintendo has earmarked a million and a half for Japan. According to a retailer's blog, translated by Andriasang, the portion of that allotment that will be available on launch day is just 400,000. The retailer suggests that anyone hoping to get one of those Japanese systems should pre-order one.

Nintendo has yet to reveal official launch-day numbers for other territories -- of course, these Japanese launch-day numbers are unofficial, so it has yet to reveal those as well. But if supplies are going to be so tightly constrained in the home market, expect to have to pre-order elsewhere.

Report: 400K 3DS systems available on Japanese launch day originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: 3DS to launch in Japan with around 10 games

JC Fletcher — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:20:00 EST

It's likely we'll find out for sure what the launch lineup for the Japanese 3DS release will be tomorrow, during the Nintendo World 2011 event. However, Inside-Games claims to know the number of titles launching with the handheld on February 26: approximately 10.

According to Andriasang's translation of the rumor post, third parties have "a large number" of games ready for the launch window, to be distributed throughout February and March. But as for day-one, between Nintendo and third parties, it'll be about 10 games. Expect them all to come from the 15 playable titles at the Nintendo World event.

The site also claims that pricing for 3DS games will run around 1,000 yen ($12) more than the standard 4,800 ($57) yen DS game price, with more expensive games (your Square Enix stuff) running 2,000 yen higher. It's hard to tell how that will translate to American prices, considering the difference in base price between America and Japan.

Rumor: 3DS to launch in Japan with around 10 games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gran Turismo 5 speeds past 430K sold to top weekly sales in Japan

James Ransom-Wiley — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:30:00 EST

Not quite Pokémon numbers, Gran Turismo 5's launch week sales were still plenty enough to land the long-awaited racing sim firmly in first place atop Japan's bestsellers list for the week ending November 28. With 430,707 units sold (by Media Create's count) in its first four days at Japanese retail, GT5 is well on its way to recouping development costs that were estimated at $60 million a year ago and becoming a commercial success for Sony.

But slow down, tiger -- Yamauchi's latest "game" is still far from topping the series' standout entry, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, which has amassed lifetime sales of 1.89 million units in Japan (14.89 million worldwide), according to developer Polyphony Digital.

Back to the present: Sony also enjoyed a tremendous spike in PS3 hardware sales last week in Japan, with 68,840 units sold -- nearly a 140-percent increase from the previous week. Complete Japanese software and hardware sales for the GT5 launch week are listed after the break.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 Racing Pack (Japan)

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 speeds past 430K sold to top weekly sales in Japan

Gran Turismo 5 speeds past 430K sold to top weekly sales in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA hosts Need for Speed Hot Pursuit launch party in Hollywood

Mike Schramm — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:21:00 EST

EA hosted a launch party for its new Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit game last night at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood. Among the celebrities and performers Chiddy Bang, we found Criterion Games' creative director Craig Sullivan right before he introduced the game to the audience. "It's been amazing," he said of the response to the game so far.

"We're really really happy with it." Sullivan's been a fan of Need for Speed since the original 3DO game, and along with the rest of Criterion, he says he was thrilled to get the chance to make an official title. "When we got our shot at the title, everybody was really up for it and we just kind of went crazy."

We asked about DLC for the game, but Sullivan was still mum. "Given the fact that Criterion Games did a year of downloadable content for Burnout Paradise," he admitted, "I would be very surprised if we didn't do any followups or downloadable content for Need for Speed." But when pressed on what that DLC might be, he declined to comment until later on.

Still, the party was a good time -- EA invited about 5,000 members of the public to come enjoy the game in a club that only held about 2,000 people. You can see pictures of the event in the gallery below.

Gallery: Need for Speed Hot Pursuit launch party

EA hosts Need for Speed Hot Pursuit launch party in Hollywood originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GameStop expects Black Ops launch day to be 'the biggest' in history

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 10:45:00 EST

Hey, buddy -- how're you feeling? Perhaps a little fatigued, due to your late-night odyssey to your local games retailer to grab a hot and fresh copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops? According to GameStop merchandising senior VP Bob McKenzie, you probably did just that. In a recent interview with Gamasutra, McKenzie explained that he's "convinced it'll be the biggest launch that we've ever had, that the industry has ever seen."

McKenzie attributes his claim to the unprecedented number of pre-orders the game has pulled in, as well as a general consumer interest shown by GameStop shoppers. He added, "I think it's a loyal fanbase for the franchise and [Activision has] done a great job of really getting out in front of it and really making this an event." Yeah, like a gamer holiday! Thanksgunving! Gunnoween! Gunchristmas?

GameStop expects Black Ops launch day to be 'the biggest' in history originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect's first purchasers talk about camping out, system's potential

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST

Did you want to be the first person to buy Kinect? You were well beaten. The first person -- in a warm purple hoodie -- arrived on Monday, more than two days ago. Thankfully, he had some friends to keep him company. We chatted with the collective group, and asked about what compelled them to wait in the New York City cold. "The deal! It's just so good," one person shouted. "The deal is just -- that's what attracted me. You're getting $160 free and you're buying a $150 system." Certainly, being the first person on line is one way of guaranteeing access to the deal.

Unfortunately, there is a downside to waiting on line for the Kinect, other than the cold, the hunger and inconvenient bathroom breaks. Whilst standing at the entrance of the Times Square Toys R Us, you could faintly see Microsoft's extravagant dance performance (of 600 people!), a block away. "You can be first on line, but you miss everything else," one person lamented. "It's a tease."

But what about the games? "Dance Central looks good. I actually like Kinect Adventures -- that free one that they're giving? That rafting one?"

Continue reading Kinect's first purchasers talk about camping out, system's potential

Kinect's first purchasers talk about camping out, system's potential originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grab Super Scribblenauts early at LA launch party

JC Fletcher — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EST

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

After holding the first Scribblenauts launch event in New York, Warner Bros. Interactive has decided to modify the party for Super Scribblenauts with a couple of adjectives, like "sunny" and "smoggy." The launch party for the DS puzzle-adventure sequel will be held at the GameStop on Sunset and Vine in Los Angeles on October 10.

There, you'll be able to buy the game early, of course, and also participate in a Super Scribblenauts costume contest, solve puzzles on a magnetic wall and meet the 5TH Cell team responsible for the game. The celebration is only going on from 11AM-2PM -- if you're late, you'll have to buy the game on its regular October 12 date, like everyone else in America.

Update: See the invitation after the break.

Continue reading Grab Super Scribblenauts early at LA launch party

Grab Super Scribblenauts early at LA launch party originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Capcom hosts a Dead Rising 2 party at Greene's Hardware

Mike Schramm — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 08:31:00 EST

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

Capcom rented out some empty retail space in East Los Angeles last night to set up Greene's Hardware. The company invited the public by for a "Super Sale," and held a pre-release party instead. Lots of Dead Rising 2's best implements were on display out front, and in back, the full game was playable on a roomful of demo units.

The pizza and soda flowed freely, and Capcom held a few contests -- participants were tasked with building actual zombie-killing items out of plastic toys, and they came up with a few good ideas, including a plastic sword shuriken and some sort of pencil stabbing thing (it looked very effective). Winners took home the prize above -- a Dead Rising 2 t-shirt cleverly disguised as a roll of duct tape. You can browse through all the festivities in the gallery below.

Gallery: Greene's Hardware (Dead Rising 2)

Capcom hosts a Dead Rising 2 party at Greene's Hardware originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stardock CEO apologizes for lashing out over Elemental pre-launch criticisms

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:06:00 EST

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

Stardock CEO Brad Wardell has apologized for statements he made on the Quarter to Three forums, which PC Gamer subsequently referenced as evidence that folks should wait to purchase Elemental: War of Magic.

In the statement to Joystiq, Wardell expressed that after a "lengthy and heated debate" over issues in the pre-launch version of the game, he spoke hastily and says, "As a result, I want to apologize to our fans for speaking so harshly. It should be said that some of the issues in question from the PC Gamer UK article, in fact, did not appear in any of our beta testing. We were surprised by these issues and, after working days on end with little sleep, I was very frustrated. I should not have engaged in an online debate about these issues, as my haste to defend what we feel is a great product only served to hurt the fans who have supported us and the team who has been so dedicated to this project."

The PC Gamer piece urges its readers not to purchase Stardock's latest release. "We've held off from finishing our review because of the launch problems, but felt this warranted an early warning," PC Gamer's Tom Francis says, claiming the launch version of Elemental "on two very different machines with the latest drivers for everything ... crashed or hit a game-breaking bug every ten minutes."

It should be noted that while our staff experienced similar issues in the game's beta version, we never encountered those bugs in the retail copy. A large patch issued last night is said to have fixed the frequent crashes, though it allegedly made tactical battles unplayable.

Additionally, multiplayer servers are said to be running, but the mode won't be turned on until sometime next week due to "team exhaustion," a rep on the game's forums said. "The early release meant a lot of people who were expecting this weekend off to rest from the grueling last few weeks had to come in. So we're going to let them get a couple of days off later this week and open up the MP next week." With that in mind, it may be a few days before another patch arrives for Elemental. We've placed Wardell's full statement to Joystiq after the break, along with a poll asking for players to let us know if they've run into these bugs.

Continue reading Stardock CEO apologizes for lashing out over Elemental pre-launch criticisms

Stardock CEO apologizes for lashing out over Elemental pre-launch criticisms originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guinness: Modern Warfare 2 had biggest entertainment launch ever

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST

There's been some dispute as to whether Modern Warfare 2 had the biggest first-day sales presence in the entire entertainment industry. Sure, its $401 million launch day revenue topped literally every other piece of entertainment media ever released, but in terms of units sold, it was surpassed by the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book and ticket sales for The Dark Knight.

However, in an attempt to clear up any obscurity, the Guinness Book of World Records proclaimed that the game had the "Most Successful Entertainment Launch of All-Time." Though we shudder to think that we live in a world where success is measured in the amount of money earned, and not the number of lives a book, movie or game touches, we suppose congratulations are in order. So, congratulations, Modern Warfare 2! Guinness says you did it.

Guinness: Modern Warfare 2 had biggest entertainment launch ever originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenberg promises surprises from first-year Natal games

JC Fletcher — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:40:00 EST

Aaron Greenberg, product manager for Xbox Live and Xbox 360, told Edge magazine (excerpted by CVG) to expect a wide variety of games in Project Natal's lineup. Well, actually, the way he puts it, you can't expect it: "I think people will be surprised even in the first year by the variety of experiences you'll get," he said, also noting that the company has "thought out the portfolio years in advance." We'll be able to evaluate the variety of that early lineup at Microsoft's E3 Natal event, according to previous statements made by the company.

Seemingly transforming into Bizarro Reggie, Greenberg went on to channel the Nintendo promoter's gift of gab as he espoused the wonders of the Natal platform. "The beauty of Natal is that it brings you, male or female, young or old, an experience that everyone can enjoy," he said. "Whether it's gaming experiences or lifestyle experiences, everything we're doing in the design is about thinking of a way anyone can step in front of it and be able to use it in a matter of seconds."

Greenberg promises surprises from first-year Natal games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infinite Space puts two launch videos into orbit

Mike Schramm — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:37:00 EST

Did you pick up Infinite Space yet? The DS spaceventure was released from its docking station by Platinum Games yesterday, and so far the reviews are actually better than we expected. We've got two more launch trailers to share with you: one above which seems to be the intro to the game (complete with Star Wars-style crawl and the weird narration we've come to expect from this game); and another after the break which will walk you through the game's battle tutorial.

If you've tried the game out, let us know what you think below. The battle system seems different and the story isn't supposed to be too bad, either. You wouldn't think that an infinite void of open space would have that much going on, but maybe it's worth a shot.

Continue reading Infinite Space puts two launch videos into orbit

Infinite Space puts two launch videos into orbit originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toy Story 3, Brunswick Pro Bowling added to PlayStation Move lineup

Mike Schramm — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST

Sony has added two titles to the PlayStation Move's launch lineup that we haven't seen before. Not only will you be able to get your Move on in Slider, Sports Champions and all of the other announced launch titles, but we can now add Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3 and Brunswick Pro Bowling into the mix as well. Toy Story 3 is of course a tie-in to the movie, and Brunswick is in there because you can't have a motion controller in 2010 without a bowling game attached.

No seriously, you can't. Which is weird, because the future of gaming sure does look a lot like the 2007 of gaming. Only with better graphics.

[Via PSLS]

Toy Story 3, Brunswick Pro Bowling added to PlayStation Move lineup originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OnLive launch titles 'in the teens,' 50-60 games by 2011

Randy Nelson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:00 EST

Following today's GDC keynote from OnLive CEO Steve Perlman, his COO, Mike McGarvey, fielded questions about the game streaming service that's launching June 17. Unfortunately, just how much full games will cost on top of the $14.95 monthly subscription fee was not one that he answered.

McGarvey did confirm that the service will launch with a lineup of titles "in the teens," comprised of some that will have been on shelves for a few months -- Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins were examples -- and others that will release closer to OnLive's debut, such as Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. The catalog will grow from fewer than 20 games on day one to "50 to 60" by the end of 2010, according to McGarvey. These (and all) games on the service will be playable "for years" after release, he said, addressing concerns that buying a game "hosted" by the company could be a risky investment.

Some details are being saved for an announcement at or leading up to E3, including when the OnLive micro-console will be available and, of course, game pricing. McGarvey would say that the company is looking to offer incentives (free games, perhaps?) to build the subscriber base, and that those who sign up "may get some free content" for the monthly fee ... at some point. The micro-console may also be offered free with a service commitment, McGarvey stated, though it will "potentially" be sold on its own.

Saying that more than 250,000 people signed up (but weren't all accepted) for the OnLive beta, McGarvey admitted that the company expects "demand will far outweigh capacity" for the service's launch -- we'll be interested to find out how many people actually "pre-subscribe" and if the company changes its outlook leading up to mid-June.

OnLive launch titles 'in the teens,' 50-60 games by 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIII launch party equips +10 awkwardness

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:00:00 EST

What do Cerny Games' Mark Cerny, Gas Powered Games' Chris Taylor, Microsoft's Corrinne Yu, and Obsidian's Feargus Urquhart have in common, besides being game developers? Absolutely nothing. Yet, Square Enix managed to sit them down for an hour long roundtable discussion to talk about one thing: how awesome Final Fantasy (and Final Fantasy VII, in particular) is. To say it was awkward is a tremendous understatement.

Certainly, there's much cause for celebration. With the game first announced nearly four years ago, the impending release of Final Fantasy XIII feels like a much needed breath of relief. It was Square Enix's night to celebrate its work, and with a red carpet entrance for key producers and voice actors it carried an aura appropriate for the return of the long-awaited flagship franchise. With some glowing reviews, this launch party could have rested solely on the game's merits.

A cheerful (and perhaps slightly mistranslated) speech from Square Enix president Yoichi Wada set the right tone for the evening, with Wada wearing a Fal'cie tattoo on his hand calling the audience to join him in a quest to save the world; however, the evening took a quick turn for the bizarre. A visually breathtaking 3D trailer for Final Fantasy XIII was marred by the host's obnoxious desire to watch it a second time in quick succession. The roundtable discussion that followed highlighted the franchise's accomplishments, twisting them into an overview of these developers' shortcomings. There was an almost defeated attitude with the panel, many admitting their inability to match the sheer production values of a Square Enix joint.

The evening escalated to quite possibly one of the most awkward toasts we've ever encountered. A Microsoft spokesperson took the stage, congratulating Square Enix on bringing Final Fantasy XIII to Xbox 360. Shortly thereafter, a Sony spokesperson also took the stage, emphasizing how Final Fantasy is a PlayStation franchise, and how XIII is best on PS3, on a single Blu-ray disc -- the way it was meant to be played. The audience was abuzz like a Joystiq comments thread, and champagne was had by all. Congratulations on releasing Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix!

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII Launch Event

Final Fantasy XIII launch party equips +10 awkwardness originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Borderlands kicks it up a Knoxx with third content pack's launch trailer

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:20:00 EST

Alongside today's release of The Secret Armory of General Knoxx DLC for Borderlands (on the Xbox 360, at least -- it's this Thursday for PC and PlayStation 3), Gearbox Software has unveiled a new trailer touting the many new features of its third content pack. As you can likely guess, a multitude of guns, creatures, dudes, and the destruction thereof, makes up the majority of what you see above -- there's also some pulse-pounding music to go right alongside that, if you're so inclined.

With a raised level cap and a lack of arena-based combat (at least as far as we know), General Knoxx could very well be the most enticing content add-on to date for Borderlands. And that's exactly why we're standing near a couch when reviewing it, hoping to be knoxx'd off our feet. (Sorry, there was no getting around that one.) We'll let you know in a few.

Gallery: Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx

Borderlands kicks it up a Knoxx with third content pack's launch trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White Knight Chronicles launch DLC ready to go

Mike Schramm — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

Sony made us wait a few years for a North American release of White Knight Chronicles, but it's not waiting at all to give us a chance to spend more money on the game -- the official Sony blog has news that the first DLC for the game will be out ASAP, offering up microtransactions for items to fill out the in-game "Georama" space, as well as a $4.99 "key" that will allow you to completely re-customize your character without having to start the game all over again. Of course, Sony guarantees that "there is PLENTY for you to work with in the game itself," but just in case you want to pay a little more of your hard-earned paycheck, Sony will be happy to take it.

And finally, just in time for launch day, it's offered up a brand new trailer. That won't cost you anything but a click on the link below, as it's available to watch after the break.

[Via VG247]

Continue reading White Knight Chronicles launch DLC ready to go

White Knight Chronicles launch DLC ready to go originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy 3rd birthday, PlayStation 3!

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST

We can hardly believe that it's been three whole years since we first enjoyed the splendor of the PlayStation 3 in our own homes. Sure, there weren't a million fantastic games for the console right at launch, and there were a few issues at some stores with poor crowd management, but here we are three years later with a heap of great memories. Remember that nightmare inducing baby ad? How about Sony's response to PlayStation Home being leaked?

These days, we have hilarious commercials, a smattering of great exclusive games both on disc and through the PlayStation Network - hell, the system even lost some weight (and half its original price)! We're spending the day celebrating the PS3s lifespan by ... folding proteins like mad! If you're so inclined to join along, we've got this convenient 300 person strong team set up. It's a celebration foldathon, folks - ya dig?

Happy 3rd birthday, PlayStation 3! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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