Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[League of Legends updates co-op vs. AI mode, more improvements coming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/league-of-legends-updates-co-op-vs-ai-mode-more-improvements-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/league-of-legends-updates-co-op-vs-ai-mode-more-improvements-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/league-of-legends-updates-co-op-vs-ai-mode-more-improvements-c/#comments
When Riot Games first announced that it was adding the ability to play co-operatively against AI bots to League of Legends, it expected it to be used by noobs, says producer Mark Norris. "When we put it out there, we put it out there with sort of the sole intent of having new players get an introduction to League of Legends."

But what the company found was that the game mode, which takes some of the human element out of the MOBA genre's relatively steep learning curve, was actually being used by all sorts of players. "One thing that kept coming up was the majority of the people who play League of Legends will play, every week, at least one co-op vs. AI game. And it's actually the primary game mode for a surprisingly large percentage of players."

With that insight, then, it's probably not surprising to hear that Riot is updating the co-op vs. AI game mode, enabling AI bots for 40 of the game's champion characters, as well as adding play on the Dominion game mode to the mix.

Continue reading League of Legends updates co-op vs. AI mode, more improvements coming

JoystiqLeague of Legends updates co-op vs. AI mode, more improvements coming originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aibotsco-op-vs-aidominiongame-modeleague-of-legendslolpcriot-gamesrise-of-the-botsTue, 24 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends announces ranked team play, Summoner Spell changes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/league-of-legends-announces-ranked-team-play-summoner-spell-cha/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/league-of-legends-announces-ranked-team-play-summoner-spell-cha/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/league-of-legends-announces-ranked-team-play-summoner-spell-cha/#comments Riot Games has announced that Season Two will bring ranked team play to the online MOBA title League of Legends. Previously, players have had their own individual gameplay rankings, but starting with the game's Season Two update, teams will be able to form up on either the 5v5 or 3v3 maps, and get their own rankings as a group. Teams will need a captain to create and invite or remove members, and will be able to choose a name and tag to go with their rating.

The company is also tweaking the in-game Summoner Spell abilities. The Rally and Fortify spells, which Riot calls "underused," are being removed from play, and in their place will be Surge and Promote. Surge will allow Summoners who chose it to boost themselves up with an aura buff, empowering their champions and anyone around them with extra combat effectiveness. And the Promote spell has made its way over from the Dominion gametype, so players who choose it will be able to beef up a minion in the standard game now.

Season Two doesn't have a release date yet, but it will also bring the long-awaited Spectator Mode to the game, which has already been seen on the servers in preview form. Odds are that we don't have too much longer to wait for the full update.

JoystiqLeague of Legends announces ranked team play, Summoner Spell changes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>league-of-legendslolpcpromoterallyriot-gamesseason-twospellssummonersupdateWed, 09 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends splits European servers into two regions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/league-of-legends-splits-european-servers-into-two-regions/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/league-of-legends-splits-european-servers-into-two-regions/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/league-of-legends-splits-european-servers-into-two-regions/#comments Riot Games made the decision this week to split up its European server into two separate platforms in order to help out with lag and other issues. The company is now running both "EU West" and "EU Nordic and East" servers on the Old Continent, each offering League of Legends matches and services to their various regions.

Feedback on the official forums is mostly positive (and the split should provide faster games to those on either of the new servers), though a lot of players seem concerned that there's another division between the two regions. You can read the full press release after the jump -- Riot says each server is designed to support "hundreds of thousands of concurrent players." Just between us, though, if they could send a little extra lag to Evelyn players, there'd be no problems with that.

Continue reading League of Legends splits European servers into two regions

JoystiqLeague of Legends splits European servers into two regions originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eueu easteu westEuEastEuWestleague-of-legendslolnordicpcriot gamesRiotGamesserversSat, 02 Jul 2011 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Preview: League of Legends, Season One]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/20/preview-league-of-legends-season-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/20/preview-league-of-legends-season-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/20/preview-league-of-legends-season-one/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Riot Games' League of Legends has been winning accolades and fans since it released last year for a few different reasons. It's a highly polished version of Defense of the Ancients, the company has supported the game with continuous updates and new content, and oh yeah -- it's a free-to-play title.

Lately, Riot has been working on a major update they're calling "Season One," designed to make the game a little more compatible with competitive play, as well as implement some of the most requested features for the game. The update should be out within a few weeks, they told us, but on the floor of E3, we got to see some of the new tweaks in action.

Gallery: League of Legends Season One (E3 2010)

Continue reading Preview: League of Legends, Season One

JoystiqPreview: League of Legends, Season One originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defense-of-the-ancientsdotae3-2010league-of-legendsleague-of-legends-season-onelolpcriot-gamesseason-oneSun, 20 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Banned PSN player appeals court decision, sues Sony again for $180k]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/banned-psn-player-appeals-court-decision-sues-sony-again-for-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/banned-psn-player-appeals-court-decision-sues-sony-again-for-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/banned-psn-player-appeals-court-decision-sues-sony-again-for-1/#comments
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Erik Estavillo made headlines in the gaming blogosphere last summer for his $55,000 lawsuit against Sony, launched in retaliation for being banned from the PlayStation Network. As predicted, the judge dismissed his case after determining the First Amendment did not apply to Estavillo's claim.

Estavallo isn't going to be stopped by a mere district judge's ruling, though. In addition to filing an appeal, Estavillo is also filing another lawsuit against Sony -- this time, a civil suit seeking $180,000 in damages; more than three times the amount of his original, dismissed suit. According to GamePolitics, Estavillo will once again opt out of using a lawyer, choosing to represent himself for both upcoming cases. We wish Estavillo the best of luck.*

*Ed.'s Note: While we'd normally end on a punchline, our fear of irrational and baseless lawsuits prevents us from doing so.

JoystiqBanned PSN player appeals court decision, sues Sony again for $180k originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealerik-estavillolawsuitlegallolplaystation-networkpsnsceasonySony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaTue, 27 Oct 2009 09:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Singularity delay: new release window has fewer 'competitive titles']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/lol-singularity-delayed-to-avoid-competitive-titles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/lol-singularity-delayed-to-avoid-competitive-titles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/lol-singularity-delayed-to-avoid-competitive-titles/#comments
While Singularity's delay is old news, we couldn't help but laugh at this remark from Activision's latest financial results:

"Activision Publishing has moved the anticipated release date for Raven's upcoming sci-fi first-person action title, Singularity, from 2009 to the first quarter of 2010. The new launch window, which has fewer competitive titles releasing, should improve the probability of achieving stronger results and establishing Singularity as a first-person action franchise for the company." (Emphasis ours.)

You're wrong, Activision. Really, really, really, really, really wrong.

JoystiqSingularity delay: new release window has fewer 'competitive titles' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisiondelaylolMicrosoftsingularityXbox-360Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Player sues Sony after being banned from PlayStation Network]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/player-sues-sony-after-being-banned-from-playstation-network/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/player-sues-sony-after-being-banned-from-playstation-network/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/player-sues-sony-after-being-banned-from-playstation-network/#comments
It's pretty difficult to get banned from the PlayStation Network. You have to be a total jerk-face to get booted off PS3's online community. However, that's what Erik Estavallo managed to do whilst playing Resistance. With access to the game cut off, Estavallo decided to take part in the most appropriate action possible: a lawsuit.

Estavallo argues that a ban from the PlayStation Network goes against his First Amendment rights. "The plaintiff was exercising his First Amendment Rights to Freedom of Speech in the game's public forum when he was banned from, not only [Resistance], but also banned from playing all other games online via the PlayStation Network," a court document retrieved by GamePolitics reveals. This, in turn, has caused "pain and suffering" because the PS3 is "the only way the plaintiff can truly socialize since he also suffers from Agoraphobia."

Estavallo is asking for $55,000 in punitive damages and demands Sony no longer implement bans of any sort. He alleges that "PlayStation 3 is the only system that incorporates this type of wide-ranged ban. As where Nintendo does not ban customers at all. And Microsoft Xbox rarely bans."

JoystiqPlayer sues Sony after being banned from PlayStation Network originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>erik-estavillolawsuitlolplaystation-networkpsnresistanceTue, 21 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy 4th of July! Here's Alex Mercer with boobs, Cole McGrath in a bikini]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/04/happy-4th-of-july-heres-alex-mercer-with-boobs-cole-mcgrath-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/04/happy-4th-of-july-heres-alex-mercer-with-boobs-cole-mcgrath-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/04/happy-4th-of-july-heres-alex-mercer-with-boobs-cole-mcgrath-i/#comments
In the celebration of all things great and American, we're proud to present the characters of inFamous and Prototype cross-dressing. YAY! (See inFamous' Cole after the break.)

Okay, so you're probably wondering where these images came from. Yahtzee presented a challenge to the development teams of these two games after he couldn't decide which game was better in a recent episode of Zero Punctuation. So, he jokingly said the "winner" would be whichever team sends in an image of the other game's protagonist cross-dressing.

And now the world is a much better place.

Continue reading Happy 4th of July! Here's Alex Mercer with boobs, Cole McGrath in a bikini

JoystiqHappy 4th of July! Here's Alex Mercer with boobs, Cole McGrath in a bikini originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cross-dressinginfamouslolMicrosoftprototypeXbox-360zero-punctuationSat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: We write some jokes for Tim Schafer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gdc09-we-write-some-jokes-for-tim-schafer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gdc09-we-write-some-jokes-for-tim-schafer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gdc09-we-write-some-jokes-for-tim-schafer/#comments
Hosting the annual Game Developer Choice Awards is no joke -- but one does require plenty of amusing witticisms to make it off the stage alive. Double Fine's Tim Schafer has foolishly agreed to host the show again this year, prompting a mad quest to find the lolz necessary to combat the lulls. If you want to pretend to help him out, you can play the amazing adventure game, Host Master and the Conquest of Humor.

Us? We're going to rescue the man from catastrophic embarrassment by offering the following jokes, free of charge:
  • "Grand Theft Auto IV's a big contender tonight. Is anybody surprised? I know I'm not the only one who had a great time cruising around in stolen vehicles, running over prostitutes, doing stylish, drive-by shootings -- and then thought, 'Man, somebody should make a game out of this!'"

Continue reading GDC09: We write some jokes for Tim Schafer

JoystiqGDC09: We write some jokes for Tim Schafer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>double-finegame-developer-choice-awards-2009gdc-2009jokeslollolmaoroloflroflroflmaotim-schaferTue, 24 Mar 2009 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Manhunt 2's extra-scary, extra-late UK date]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/manhunt-2s-extra-scary-extra-late-uk-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/manhunt-2s-extra-scary-extra-late-uk-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/03/manhunt-2s-extra-scary-extra-late-uk-date/#commentsFiled under: ,

Rockstar has taken a long-form approach to scaring people with Manhunt 2. They've waited very quietly, very still, until everyone in the UK forgot that it was there, and then they JUMPED OUT AND ANNOUNCED A RELEASE DATE! "BOO! Manhunt 2 is coming out on October 31!"

This version of Manhunt 2 is different from the one the US got, having been "heavily reworked" (as IGN describes it) in a desperate bid for BBFC approval. They got the right to release the game in December, but by then Halloween had already passed, and what's the point of releasing a horror game on any other date?

JoystiqManhunt 2's extra-scary, extra-late UK date originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbfccensorshiphorrorlolmanhunt-2manhunt2rockstarFri, 03 Oct 2008 20:05:00 EST<![CDATA[LOL makes a lot more sense now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/lol-makes-a-lot-more-sense-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/lol-makes-a-lot-more-sense-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/lol-makes-a-lot-more-sense-now/#commentsFiled under:

This Gamasutra interview with Q? Entertainment's Reo Yonaga is interesting not just for the talk about the history of Tetsuya Mizuguchi's company (and the Sega UGA studio that preceded it), but also for little-known insights about Japanese gaming culture. For example, did you know that there were expansive, gaming bulletin boards populated entirely by women and children? "Because kids are so blunt, for WiFi games that involve rescue missions - you know what I'm talking about - crazy verbal battles break out. "

The most interesting bit of the interview has absolutely nothing to do with Q. Yonaga describes the creation of Route-24's Archime-DS, known here as LOL. "I don't know how many months it took them, but the staff created that game by getting together every Saturday like you would for any extracurricular activity."

LOL seems a bit less ridiculous as a side project that just ended up getting published than as a product created for a market. A multiplayer-only game with no premade content almost seems anti-commercial. But, as a "product of indie activity initiated by existing industry members," it seems very cool.

JoystiqLOL makes a lot more sense now originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archimeindielolpartyq-entertainmentMon, 21 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DS releases for the week of May 26th]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/ds-releases-for-the-week-of-may-26th/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/ds-releases-for-the-week-of-may-26th/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/ds-releases-for-the-week-of-may-26th/#commentsFiled under:


Happy holiday weekend to those of us in the US! Looks like everyone not in the UK has at least a few games to look forward to this week. We have some particularly exciting titles ourselves, including the much-anticipated Super Dodgeball Brawlers, but importers may also want to cast an eye toward Japan, as there's some excitement to be had there as well.
  • LOL
  • Looney Tunes Cartoon Concerto
  • Super Dodgeball Brawlers
  • USA Today Crosswords

Continue reading DS releases for the week of May 26th

JoystiqDS releases for the week of May 26th originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 May 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lolmayreleasessuper-dodgeball-brawlersusa-today-crosswordsMon, 26 May 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[European dates for Etrian Odyssey, LOL, Pokemon Explorers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/european-dates-for-etrian-odyssey-lol-pokemon-explorers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/european-dates-for-etrian-odyssey-lol-pokemon-explorers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/european-dates-for-etrian-odyssey-lol-pokemon-explorers/#commentsFiled under:

News of a European release date for Super Smash Bros. Brawl has dominated coverage of Nintendo's latest European release schedule, but there are a number of tasty morsels on the list for DS owners.

For a start, the continent will finally be getting Atlus roguelike Etrian Odyssey, and it's about time -- lest we forget, the title made its U.S. debut last May! Notably, there are also dates (of varying specificity) for Race Driver: GRID (May), the new Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games (July 4th), New International Track & Field (Q2 2008), and Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat? (June), the European version of Cooking Navi. "ArchimDS" appears on the list as well, though we presume this refers to LOL, or Bakushow as it'll be known in Euroland.

Add all of those to this morning's Final Fantasy IV announcement, and Europe has quite the line-up of games to look forward to. Check past the break for the full list!

Continue reading European dates for Etrian Odyssey, LOL, Pokemon Explorers

JoystiqEuropean dates for Etrian Odyssey, LOL, Pokemon Explorers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace-attorneyadventurearchimebakushowetrian-odysseyetrianodysseyeuropeexplorers-of-darknessexplorers-of-timelolminigamesmystery-dungeonpartypokemonrace-driverrace-driver-gridracingrogueliketrack-and-fieldukThu, 24 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What the? Did IGN sneak onto my Okami boxart?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/what-the-did-ign-sneak-onto-my-okami-boxart/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/what-the-did-ign-sneak-onto-my-okami-boxart/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/what-the-did-ign-sneak-onto-my-okami-boxart/#commentsFiled under:


Personal story time, kiddies. I went out this morning to run some errands and pick up Okami, when, as I was leaving the Target, I noticed something weird about the boxart. I didn't recall us posting it on the site, so I spent some time glancing at the cover. It was then I noticed something very weird around Ameratsu's mouth: an IGN watermark.

"No, I didn't just see that," I told myself, as I placed the game back into the plastic bag the cashier put it in. Then, when I got back to the office, I checked a second time. And there it was again, sitting right where it was when I first spotted it. I quickly got online to see if anyone else caught this and lo and behold, our cruel overlords had reported on a thread at NeoGAF all about this.

So yeah, now I feel like I want to return it. I know the watermark shouldn't bother me (it's pretty lultastic), but ... but it just does.


[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqWhat the? Did IGN sneak onto my Okami boxart? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxartcapcomignlollol-wutokamiSun, 20 Apr 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: OMG LOL, amirite]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/ds-daily-omg-lol-amirite/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/ds-daily-omg-lol-amirite/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/ds-daily-omg-lol-amirite/#commentsFiled under:

Skip, the creators of Chibi-Robo, surprised us last year with Archime-DS, one of the most bizarre games on a system known for bizarre games (seriously, its most popular games are about doing math and walking dogs). Then Agetec surprised us by announcing plans to (sort of) release it in the U.S.! It's about the weirdest and most simplistic concept for a game we can think of, basically a chat client with a configurable timer and a voting mechanism.

We normally don't like to rely on our friends to create a game's content, but at the same time we can't deny that Pictionary is fun -- and LOL is even more freeform than Pictionary. It's designed with the idea of voting on the best answer to player-submitted questions, or best prompted drawings, but you can kind of do whatever you want. There's definitely the possibility of fun to be had here, but do you think you'll be able to get past the strangeness of the game to seek it?

JoystiqDS Daily: OMG LOL, amirite originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archimedrawinglolpartyroute24skipFri, 11 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Europeans get to LOL with Bakushow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/europeans-get-to-lol-with-bakushow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/europeans-get-to-lol-with-bakushow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/europeans-get-to-lol-with-bakushow/#commentsFiled under:

We won't bombard you with more details about LOL (we can really only LOL so many times in one day), but news just rolled in that Rising Star would be bringing the game to Europe. Instead of being called LOL, though, it will be titled Bakushow, which means "big laugh" in Japanese.

There's no word yet on whether Rising Star will follow in Agetec's footsteps and make the game available online only, but even if it is available in stores, we're sure it won't be the easiest game to find. Rising Star also gently reminds us that "Billy No Mates need not apply," since this software includes no single player mode. You probably already knew that, but we just wanted an excuse to write "Billy No Mates."

If that doesn't deter you, we've added some new screens to our gallery (for the love of all that is holy, we get it, you can ask people to draw pandas!) should you feel so inclined to check them out.



[Via press release]

JoystiqEuropeans get to LOL with Bakushow originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agetecarchimebakushowcomedydrawinglolmultiplayerpartyrising-starrising-star-gamesskipThu, 10 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Look Online for LOL]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/look-online-for-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/look-online-for-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/look-online-for-lol/#commentsFiled under: ,


Skip and Route24's LOL is seemingly a very freeform game. It has no prescribed content, just an open canvas with which you can design your own trivia or drawing game -- or anything else you want that involves sending pictures and text between DS systems. It provides the infrastructure and a timer, and that's pretty much it! But LOL is defined as much by its constraints as it is its freedom, in that it is a strictly multiplayer-only game. Don't have any friends around? It doesn't work.

Now it seems there's another restriction: according to Agetec's product page, LOL will only be available online when it is released on May 30th. This has the effect of ensuring that what was once going to be just a bizarre game will be a very expensive bizarre game within a year's time. Also found on the product page: new screens (in our gallery!) and the boxart, with the ESRB "Game Experience May Change During Online Play" notice. Online play?



[Via Siliconera]

JoystiqLook Online for LOL originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agetecarchimedrawinglolpartyskipThu, 10 Apr 2008 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[A multiplayer-only drawing game? LOL!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/a-multiplayer-only-drawing-game-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/a-multiplayer-only-drawing-game-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/a-multiplayer-only-drawing-game-lol/#commentsFiled under: ,

"If the game is boring, you are boring." That's how Agetec is choosing to market a localized version of Skip's bizarre Archime DS, a multiplayer-only game that is entirely dependent on user-generated content. And we mean entirely.

LOL DS is little more than a networked drawing pad. One player issues challenges to the others and determines a time limit. It is then up to the other players to fulfill that challenge using drawings or words. The group then votes on a winner, who is then the leader of the next round. And that's LOL!

Is this emergent gameplay, or no gameplay? It's a very bold move on Agetec's part to release this, much as it was for Skip to release it in Japan.



[Via press release]

Continue reading A multiplayer-only drawing game? LOL!

JoystiqA multiplayer-only drawing game? LOL! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agetecarchimedrawinglolpartyMon, 17 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Laugh at Agetec's new DS game, 'LOL']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/laugh-at-agetecs-new-ds-game-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/laugh-at-agetecs-new-ds-game-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/laugh-at-agetecs-new-ds-game-lol/#commentsFiled under: ,


"If the game is boring, then you are boring." So says the motto of Agetec's newly announced DS game, "LOL." Billed as a "unique, free-form gaming experience," our first reaction to LOL is to erupt with laughter. A veritable LOLcano if you will, like the one we LOLlerbladed down whilst on LOLiday in MongLOLia.

"As long as you are a fun-loving person with a little bit of an imagination, there should be no reason you find LOL to be anything less than a great time with your friends," says Agetec producer, Hiro Fukuoka. Indeed, you'll have to imagine most of the gameplay come this May, as LOL consists entirely of players writing and sending "challenges" to each other in the form of on-screen messages. The answers to the challenge (remember, the "crazier the challenge, the more fun everyone will have") are then shared between participants who then choose a winner amongst themselves. If they can find one.

So confident is Agetec in the power of imagination that it hasn't even bothered to include a single-player mode. "We decided not to include a single player mode in the game because that would defeat the purpose," says Mark Johnson, seemingly unaware of the purpose's execution-style offing at the hands of Pictochat years ago. "LOL concentrates on the comedic joy of using the imagination of everyone in the room." You'll probably have to lock the door though, LOL!

Gallery: LOL (DS)

JoystiqLaugh at Agetec's new DS game, 'LOL' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AgetecDSLOLFri, 14 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[We totally believe you, New Duck Hunt video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/we-totally-believe-you-new-duck-hunt-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/we-totally-believe-you-new-duck-hunt-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/we-totally-believe-you-new-duck-hunt-video/#commentsFiled under:


Yeah, we know, most of you guys are going to be skeptical of this video, which appears to depict a "New Duck Hunt" game for the Wii that imitates the original completely in every way except for 3D graphics. You think that the story given along with the video (that a Hudson employee's kid found an unlabeled disc in his father's desk that turned out to be a near-final New Duck Hunt) is dubious at best.

You cynics think that this is some kind of hoax, right? A simple 3D animation played on the TV while a guy waggles randomly? Open your hearts, people! You've all been on the Internet too long if you can't believe a mysterious, suspicious video of an unannounced, yet complete, game.

[Via Game|Life]

JoystiqWe totally believe you, New Duck Hunt video originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>duck-huntlolTue, 15 Jan 2008 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii prototype auction is disappointing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/31/wii-prototype-auction-is-disappointing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/31/wii-prototype-auction-is-disappointing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/31/wii-prototype-auction-is-disappointing/#commentsFiled under:


eBay seller funky_fruits put one of the rarest items we've ever seen on eBay: a one-of-a-kind Wii prototype system, complete with pre-production controller. Produced well in advance of the final system's design, this item features unique properties like "Sensor Bar port for detection of anyone coming within 5m of Nintendo Wii[TM] prototype - automatically vaporises intruders," "Accessory port on bottom of Wii Remote which can also control your TV and VCR," and "Wireless Free."

How could we possibly be disappointed by an item that is so powerful that "Everything is just shoved into memory because there is so much of it - blinking fast"? Because the auction has been ended early by the seller. Nintendo must have gotten to him and threatened to vaporize him like they did the 10 scientists who originally created the system while living in a deserted Japanese airfield.

JoystiqWii prototype auction is disappointing originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dreamcastebaylolprototypeMon, 31 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Punniversary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/wii-warm-up-punniversary/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/wii-warm-up-punniversary/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/wii-warm-up-punniversary/#commentsFiled under:


This week, as part of our extended Wii anniversary celebration, we had a look at some of our favorite Wii puns found in other sites' (and our own) Wii-related coverage. But there's no way (no Wii, lol) we could possibly highlight every Wii pun on the Internet. There are too many and most of them are extremely (extWiimely, rofl) awful. But within the context of awful puns, some of them are fun.

Now's your chance to step in and prove your expertise about a very specialized subject. What's your favorite Wii pun? We're sure you've seen a couple that we didn't mention.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Punniversary originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Nov 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lolpunsSat, 24 Nov 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Seriously, Project Gotham Racing 3 is not a PS3 game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/seriously-project-gotham-racing-3-is-not-a-ps3-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/seriously-project-gotham-racing-3-is-not-a-ps3-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/18/seriously-project-gotham-racing-3-is-not-a-ps3-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Alright, this is getting ridiculous. For the third time in almost as many months, a sports model from Project Gotham Racing 3 has becoming an unwitting spokesmodel for Sony's PlayStation 3. Having already been mistaken for Gran Turismo HD and used to promote the PS3 in a KIA ad, Microsoft's exotic car racer now finds itself inside Dutch magazine, Mediamarkt, as posted in the Bizarre Creations forums. The depicted Saleen has likely been in those pages before... just not in an article discussing the PlayStation 3's future.

Is this indicative of some deeply rooted desire for a multiplatform excursion for the series? Perhaps it's some subtle commentary on the lack of distinguishing features in the racing genre? We'll ponder these questions and more once we've finished our race in the Forizmo demo. Or whatever.

[Thanks, v]

JoystiqSeriously, Project Gotham Racing 3 is not a PS3 game originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2007 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ForzaForza 2Forza2Gran TurismoGranTurismoLOLPGRProject Gotham Racing 3ProjectGothamRacing3PS3Xbox-360Fri, 18 May 2007 19:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Archime DS screens: enjoy them alone while you can]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/28/archime-ds-screens-enjoy-them-alone-while-you-can/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/28/archime-ds-screens-enjoy-them-alone-while-you-can/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/28/archime-ds-screens-enjoy-them-alone-while-you-can/#commentsFiled under: ,

Savor your solitude; once Archime DS actually gets released, your enjoyment of the game will hinge on the participation of the masses. Or at least the people you've shared friend codes with.

These screenshots mostly show example play sessions-- one player writing a question, and then everyone voting on the best answer, or each player's version of a panda drawing. Since most of the content in this game is created on the fly, previews seem a little hollow. We can't really preview what you and your friends will draw, you know?

We trust Skip (Chibi Robo, Giftpia) to make a compelling experience, but this program does have the air of non-gameness about it. It's not a training game, but it's not a traditional game either. It's in the "toy" category of non-games along with Jam Sessions and Electroplankton, we suppose.

Continue reading Archime DS screens: enjoy them alone while you can

JoystiqArchime DS screens: enjoy them alone while you can originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archimedrawingdsds liteDsLitelitelolnintendonintendo dsnintendodsskipwifiSat, 28 Apr 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Archime DS = LOL]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/09/archime-ds-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/09/archime-ds-lol/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/09/archime-ds-lol/#commentsFiled under:

We haven't heard much about Route24's mystery project, LOL DS, since developer Kenichi Ishi (Chibi Robo) first announced the game over a year ago. After months of leaving us in the dark without any screenshots or information beyond its acronymous title, the Route24 team has broken its silence, publishing a teaser site and revealing a new name: Archime DS.

Archime DS is as far away from a traditional video game as you can imagine. Strictly multiplayer -- with no single-player modes planned -- the title promises to deliver a handheld twist on "Oogiri"-styled Japanese comedy . A leader asks a question or poses a challenge with a set limit, and players earn points by using their DS to present the best answer. It's a lot like the final round of Jeopardy, but with a humorous theme.

Skip Ltd. will be publishing Archime DS in Japan this summer, selling the game for about $18. We're hoping that the English-translated official page foreshadows a future North American release, but we wouldn't be surprised if the screwy title missed our market.

JoystiqArchime DS = LOL originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archimearchimedscomedydsdslitehumorjeopardykenichiishilolmultiplayernintendodsoogiriroute24skipskipltdMon, 09 Apr 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Top five tips we turned down this week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/25/top-five-tips-we-turned-down-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/25/top-five-tips-we-turned-down-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/25/top-five-tips-we-turned-down-this-week/#commentsFiled under: ,

Every day, Joystiq receives innumerable tips from people eager to guide our way through the world of video game news and culture. Most of the time, everything goes swimmingly: an interesting link pops up, you let us know, and we write it up. Sometimes, it doesn't go so smoothly.

When we reject a tip, it may be because we've already reported on the story, or because the content of the tip isn't right for Joystiq. Other times, the rejected tip is dead wrong. Usually this is the fault of the source, not the tipster. Very often, rejected tips are also ones that, for whatever reason, make us laugh.

This post is dedicated to the tipsters behind the tips that we didn't use this week.

Continue reading Top five tips we turned down this week

JoystiqTop five tips we turned down this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Jun 2006 05:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chris GrantChrisGrantEBayFanboiFanboyFunnyhahaHumorJoystiq tipsJoystiqTipsK THX BAIKThxBaiLaughlolNintendoPS3RaidenRaymanRejected tipsRejectedTipsRyanTipsTips turned downTipstersTipsTurnedDownTop five tipsTopFiveTipsWiiSun, 25 Jun 2006 05:05:00 EST