Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Activision lays off 30 people, expects fewer licensed games in 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/activision-lays-off-30-people-expects-fewer-licensed-games-in-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/activision-lays-off-30-people-expects-fewer-licensed-games-in-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/activision-lays-off-30-people-expects-fewer-licensed-games-in-2/#comments Activision laid off 30 full-time employees, noting that this year it intended to launch fewer games based on licensed properties. Activision provided a statement to Joystiq:

"In 2013, we expect to release fewer games based on license properties and as a result are realigning our structure to better reflect the market opportunities and our slate," the publisher said. "Approximately, 30 full-time employees have been impacted globally, which represents approximately one half of one percent of Activision Blizzard's employee population."

Activision's lineup of licensed games in 2013 included The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, Deadpool and the first three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games, and there was something up with the James Bond games.

A portion of the 30 layoffs came from Call of Duty developer Treyarch, though Activision said it was a "minimal reduction" that wouldn't affect the launch of any DLC for Black Ops 2.

JoystiqActivision lays off 30 people, expects fewer licensed games in 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activisionlaid-offlayoffslicenselicensed-gamesmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3wii-uxboxTue, 19 Feb 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[CBS bringing Diagnosis Murder, some other stuff to gaming platforms]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/cbs-bringing-diagnosis-murder-to-gaming-platforms/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/cbs-bringing-diagnosis-murder-to-gaming-platforms/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/cbs-bringing-diagnosis-murder-to-gaming-platforms/#comments CBS announced today that it's bringing a wide array of its TV programming to the video game world, mainly via the PC, Wii and DS. As you can see after the break, the company revealed equally insipid-sounding game versions of Survivor, Hollywood Squares, The Amazing Race, and Criminal Minds, but we don't see how we're supposed to care about any of it when it was also revealed that a Diagnosis Murder game is in the works.

We're assuming it's a Visceral-developed "dark" take on the DM mythos, with a Gothic Dr. Mark Sloan walking a demonic version of Los Angeles, solving murder mysteries with a caduceus-shaped staff dipped in angel blood. We assume this because we laid out the design doc pretty clearly in our letters, and we can't fathom why CBS would want to disappoint us.

Continue reading CBS bringing Diagnosis Murder, some other stuff to gaming platforms

JoystiqCBS bringing Diagnosis Murder, some other stuff to gaming platforms originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cbscriminal-mindscsidiagnosis-murderDSghost-whispererlegacy-interactivelicensed-gamesludiamerscomMicrosoftmindscapeNintendosurvivortelevisionthe-amazing-racethe-hollywood-squarestvubisoftWiiXbox-360xbox-live-tvWed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel game tie-in coming in early December]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/alvin-and-the-chipmunks-the-squeakquel-game-tie-in-coming-in-earl/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/alvin-and-the-chipmunks-the-squeakquel-game-tie-in-coming-in-earl/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/alvin-and-the-chipmunks-the-squeakquel-game-tie-in-coming-in-earl/#commentsIf there's one wonderful thing we can say about movie game trailers, it's that they keep us on top of what's happening with the kids these days. Take for instance Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel -- we didn't even know there was a second film coming out!

What we can glean from the trailer above is that there will be some form of illicit chipmunk love affair angle to the film that will play into the game's story. Also, it may or may not be music-rhythm game of some form. As you can imagine, we were so entranced by the slurry of colors and sounds that it was hard to discern any clear information. We did discover, however, that the game will be coming to the Nintendo Wii and DS on December 1.

JoystiqAlvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel game tie-in coming in early December originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alvin-and-the-chipmunksalvin-and-the-chipmunks-the-squeakquelDSlicensed-gamesmovie-tie-inmusicNintendorelease-daterhythmWiiThu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Avatar's first gameplay trailer unsurprisingly full of blue people]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/avatars-first-gameplay-trailer-unsurprisingly-full-of-blue-peop/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/avatars-first-gameplay-trailer-unsurprisingly-full-of-blue-peop/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/avatars-first-gameplay-trailer-unsurprisingly-full-of-blue-peop/#commentsWe imagine you're just as excited for James Cameron's upcoming film, Avatar, as we are. How can you go wrong with blue people, right? The game's first trailer though -- it unfortunately lives up to our expectations for games based on licensed properties, including cheesy rock music right on cue at the one minute mark. We're hoping a demo lands before the game's planned December release window.

As pointed out in our hands-on with the game, the visuals certainly do pop with color, but the action itself seems to lean toward the generic side of things. That being said, we hear the blue giants are playable in the game. That's something different, right? Right?!

... where are you going?

JoystiqAvatar's first gameplay trailer unsurprisingly full of blue people originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarjames-cameronjames-camerons-avatarlicensed-gamesMicrosofttrailerubisoftXbox-360Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gearbox gives up on Heat, says IP is up for grabs ... kinda]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/02/gearbox-gives-up-on-heat-says-ip-is-up-for-grabs-kinda/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/02/gearbox-gives-up-on-heat-says-ip-is-up-for-grabs-kinda/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/02/gearbox-gives-up-on-heat-says-ip-is-up-for-grabs-kinda/#commentsEver since Heat's 1995 cinematic debut, aggression-soaked psychos (like ourselves) have been clamoring for a game adaptation of the crime drama. Gearbox Software prez Randy Pitchford agreed as well, optioning the rights to develop a game back in the mid-oughts. Fast forward to 2009, and GameSpot drops the hammer on him during a Borderlands press tour. "So what is the current status of the Heat game?"

In so many words: Kaput. "In a nutshell, we're nowhere," Pitchford said. And it's not for a lack of trying, as "filmmakers, game makers, and publishing partners" are all still apparently on board. He says, more or less, it's a matter of time -- or lack thereof. Due to time constraints, Pitchford says that his studio won't be keeping the rights to the game adaptation of Heat any longer. "We're not keeping the IP locked down anymore ... if somebody else were in a spot where they could do it, and everybody was comfortable with that, then conceivably that could happen."

So, how about it, aggression-soaked entrepreneurs? Hmmm?

JoystiqGearbox gives up on Heat, says IP is up for grabs ... kinda originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamespotgearboxgearbox-softwareheatheat-gameinterviewlicensed-gamesmichael-mannrandy-pitchfordSun, 02 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tigon's Ian Stevens: For Hollywood, 'making video games has been the same thing as making action figures']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/tigons-ian-stevens-for-hollywood-making-video-games-has-been/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/tigons-ian-stevens-for-hollywood-making-video-games-has-been/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/tigons-ian-stevens-for-hollywood-making-video-games-has-been/#comments
Running Tigon Studios is a bit of a strange job to have. Ian Stevens, the man in charge, is responsible for not just organizing development talent to make games like this year's Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, but also working with Hollywood. And, unsurprisingly, he says it's a bit of an uphill battle, telling GamesIndustry.biz, "It's really hard to take something that's native to a certain medium and just draw a line, which is what people are usually trying to do [with games based on movies.]"

He equates the attention Hollywood has been giving to game versions of its films with "action figures, pictures on cereal boxes, and [themed] pajamas," saying it's just part of the "licensing and merchandising" of a property, rather than creating something unique and well-crafted from the start. Furthermore, Stevens says that the development studios who are working with nothing (think Ben 10) and making something -- anything -- out of it, are the real talent in the industry. "If you gave that team in Newcastle [Midway Newcastle] - through all that they've struggled with, technology, corporate business, all these different things - the kind of opportunity that someone like Valve has," he says, leaving us to postulate on the ending there. We'll let you guys fill that in all by yourselves.

JoystiqTigon's Ian Stevens: For Hollywood, 'making video games has been the same thing as making action figures' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chronicles-of-riddickchronicles-of-riddick-assault-on-dark-athenagamesindustry.bizhollywoodian-stevenslicensed-gamesmidwaymidway-newcastletigontigon-studiosubisoftvin-dieselTue, 30 Jun 2009 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rebellion: Timing poses biggest challenge for movie-licensed games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/rebellion-timing-poses-biggest-challenge-for-movie-licensed-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/rebellion-timing-poses-biggest-challenge-for-movie-licensed-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/rebellion-timing-poses-biggest-challenge-for-movie-licensed-gam/#comments
We've always assumed that licensed games suck because publishers rely on the character's face -- rather than high quality -- to get games off the shelves. And we're right. But according to Rebellion, the developer responsible for Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and Miami Vice: The Game, scheduling is the major factor working against movie-based games.

"The problem is it's actually quicker to make a movie than it is to make a game these days, by quite a big margin," CTO Chris Kingsley told Develop. "That's always a big problem, because often you're not given enough time to make the game. So you have to fit to the schedule that you have."

So, if that's the problem, Joystiq Biomass, what's the solution?

JoystiqRebellion: Timing poses biggest challenge for movie-licensed games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 May 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>licensed-gamesrebellionWed, 06 May 2009 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dan Aykroyd prefers Ghostbusters for Wii, says romance got axed for gameplay]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/dan-aykroyd-prefers-ghostbusters-for-wii-says-romance-got-axed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/dan-aykroyd-prefers-ghostbusters-for-wii-says-romance-got-axed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/dan-aykroyd-prefers-ghostbusters-for-wii-says-romance-got-axed/#comments Dan Aykroyd really likes the 2004 film, The Incredibles. So much so, in fact, that he believes himself to look like an Incredibles-esque superhero in the upcoming Ghostbusters game for Wii, telling Newsweek, "I love the way we look in the Wii platform ... anybody who looks like an Incredible is automatically a superhero." Though we're not sure if there's a direct correlation between the two, Aykroyd firmly believes so, continuing, "I was so pleased that they shaved off at least 60 pounds from my current bulk."

Apparently Aykroyd's current poundage isn't all that was shaved in translation from movie to game, as the romantic elements between Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver have been omitted from the forthcoming title. Aykroyd says "the format of ghostbusting lends itself to a video game beautifully," while apparently the finesse required in convincing Sigourney Weaver to fornicate with Bill Murray doesn't so much. Not even a minigame, folks? We kid! It probably didn't help that Ms. Weaver declined to be part of the game, huh?

Gallery: Ghostbusters (Wii)

JoystiqDan Aykroyd prefers Ghostbusters for Wii, says romance got axed for gameplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionAtaribill-murraydan-aykroydDSfilmghostbustersGhostbusters-The-Video-Gamelicensed-gamesMicrosoftnewsweekNintendoRed-FlyRed-Fly-Studiossigourney-weaverTerminal-RealityWiiXbox-360Zen-StudiosMon, 13 Apr 2009 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft spawning 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' tie-in games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/ubisoft-spawning-cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-tie-in-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/ubisoft-spawning-cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-tie-in-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/ubisoft-spawning-cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-tie-in-games/#comments
We'll be straight with you: We got the press release from Ubisoft for the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs tie-in games yesterday ... on April Fool's Day. Being the anti-societal recluses we are, we were completely unaware of the upcoming movie by the same name and therefore considered the release to be a feeble attempt at ballyhoo. And apparently there's a children's book as well? Where was our childhood?!

Information about the forthcoming games is scant, though we know it's coming to Xbox 360/PlayStation 3/Wii/DS/PSP/PC (no PlayStation 2 version?) and will arrive in tandem with the movie's release on September 18th. According to the game's website, it's set to feature 20 levels of town saving, employing "outrageously fun and wacky gadgets." If Surf's Up is any indication of Cloudy's quality, maybe we'll end up enjoying this one more than most movie licensed-based games.

JoystiqUbisoft spawning 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' tie-in games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballscwacomDSlicensed-gamesMicrosoftNintendoubisoftWiiXbox-360Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Brash goes out with a fascinating bang]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/brash-goes-out-with-a-fascinating-bang/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/brash-goes-out-with-a-fascinating-bang/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/brash-goes-out-with-a-fascinating-bang/#commentsFiled under:


OK, clear the next half hour or so of your day, because you simply have to read Ben Fritz' stunning piece on the downfall of Brash (oh, you remember, it was the game studio that aimed to change the image of terrible licensed games by making horrible licensed games). For example, did you know Brash created its sales projections on Space Chimps assuming it was made by Fox animation (the house behind mega-hit Ice Age) when in fact, Fox was only releasing the film? It's true!

You owe it to yourself to see all the games Brash had in development, where its cash went, its "Wall Street" MMO and, of course, the Mickey Mouse story. With Brash officially dead, this is pure rubbernecking at the scene of the crash ... but that's not honestly going to stop you, is it?

JoystiqBrash goes out with a fascinating bang originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brashbrash-entertainmentlicensed-gamesmoviesTue, 02 Dec 2008 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Paramount getting into the games business]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/paramount-getting-into-the-games-business/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/paramount-getting-into-the-games-business/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/paramount-getting-into-the-games-business/#commentsFiled under:


We knew that Paramount was 'very, very excited' about the games space, but today we're getting the first look at how that enthusiasm will translate into a publishing business. Variety reported today on Paramount's expanded interactive department, which will put a focus on mobile, handheld and casual games because ... well, because they're cheap to develop and businesses like money.

The games wing isn't completely separate from the films business though, Paramount will only be putting its muscle behind new licenses and catalog titles (it will continue to license properties out to other companies). So ... catalog titles, eh? Dare we hope? Is it finally time for the whip-snapping, bullet-dodging action ... of Pootie Tang: The Game?

JoystiqParamount getting into the games business originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>licensed-gamesparamountFri, 28 Mar 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Licensed games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/05/wii-warm-up-licensed-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/05/wii-warm-up-licensed-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/05/wii-warm-up-licensed-games/#commentsFiled under:

We usually don't have high hopes when it comes to games that are based on movies, television shows, brands, or other licenses. With that said, though, we know that there are some good ones around. What is your favorite licensed game? And, if that license is not on the Wii yet, would you like it to be?

Also, are there any movie or other licenses that haven't been gobbled up yet that you'd like to see on the Wii? Or, would you rather that these types of games stop being made in the first place?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Licensed games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>licenselicensed-gamesSat, 05 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST