Joystiq

Heavy Gear Assault kicks off its crowdfunding campaign

Mike Suszek — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 EST

Stompy Bot Productions and Mektek Studios have launched their Kickstarter project for Heavy Gear Assault, the return of the mech combat game originally introduced by Dream Pod 9, with later games published by Activision.

The multiplayer e-sports-focused, Unreal Engine 4-powered game is in development for PC and will be free-to-play with premium subscriptions options available for players. The development team is seeking $800,000 by June 29, with a dozen stretch goals already planned for the funding project.

Heavy Gear Assault kicks off its crowdfunding campaign originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spider mech infests MechWarrior Online ahead of Double XP weekend

Jordan Mallory — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 01:30:00 EST

It may not have eight legs or carry hundreds of thousands of its young around on a moist, throbbing abdomen, but MechWarrior Online's new Spider mech is the game's "most maneuverable and agile of all Light Mechs," according to the press release tucked away after the break. The game's new mechanical jam is already available in its store and can also be seen in the gallery below.

Since jumping around is universally the most fun thing you can do in a giant robot, we're expecting to see a lot of the Spider during MechWarrior Online's first ever Double XP weekend event, which starts at 1 p.m. Eastern on Friday, January 18 and ends at 1 p.m. Eastern on Monday, January 21. The event's double XP bonuses stack with other XP buffs, so those with Premium accounts will get even more of a boost than they already do.

Gallery: MechWarrior Online (1/15/13)

Continue reading Spider mech infests MechWarrior Online ahead of Double XP weekend

Spider mech infests MechWarrior Online ahead of Double XP weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MechWarrior Online gets 'Mechsgiving' update

Mike Schramm — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 04:30:00 EST

MechWarrior Online finally went into Open Beta late last month, and the team isn't wasting any time updating the game with new content. They're asking players to celebrate "Mechsgiving" later this week with a new mech called the Cataphract, which features a solid offense combined with jump jets and plenty of armor.

The update introduces the "Frozen City at Night" environment, along with new modules for targeting and the Beagle Active Probe, which can increase a mech's sensor range.

The folks at Pirahna Games will show the content live on Twitch.tv tomorrow, November 21 at 6pm PST, and invite players to jump in with them during that time. Pictures of the Cataphract (and its four variants) are in the gallery below.

Gallery: MechWarrior Online (Cataphract Mechs)

MechWarrior Online gets 'Mechsgiving' update originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hawken deploys second closed beta tomorrow

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:30:00 EST

Hawken's second closed beta is scheduled to attack November 8 - 13. This expands on the first beta round, which ran October 26 - 29.

To celebrate the second beta, pre-sale bundles of items and customization perks will be on discount for $5, $15, $30 and $60, and if purchased will be in players' garages once the game launches in open beta on December 12. Sign up to play Hawken on the game's main site.

Hawken deploys second closed beta tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The $1.35 million mech (and how to insure it)

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST

Mechs aren't just for video games, anime and tabletop gaming anymore. Suidobashi Heavy Industries now has a mobile suit named Kuratas available for - and, let's be honest, you'd pay anything to have this - the reasonable asking price of $1.35 million. That doesn't include extras like cup holder, in-cockpit phone adapter or pleather interior.

As you would expect, the robot does come with a weapons system - albeit a non-lethal one. Using "The Smile Shot," a smile-activated facial recognition weapons system, the mech can fire water bottle rockets or use its twin gatling guns to shoot 6,000 BB bullets a minute. That may not be lethal, but it sure sounds like it smarts.

We contacted State Farm to find out how much the insurance on this bad boy would cost us, but it wasn't able to give us a quote over the phone, passing us on to the Insurance Information Institute (III).

Continue reading The $1.35 million mech (and how to insure it)

The $1.35 million mech (and how to insure it) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hawken to be playable via Gaikai prior to official release

Mike Schramm — Sun, 20 May 2012 19:30:00 EST

Hawken keeps surprising us. First, we were surprised that the really great-looking mech shooter is being made by an indie studio, then it surprised us to learn that it would be free-to-play. And here's another surprise: Dave Perry's cloud gaming system Gaikai has signed a deal to let players see Hawken running through the service in advance of the planned December 12 release date.

Gaikai allows nearly any game to be streamed directly from its servers to any browser, which means that the first impression of the graphics-intensive Hawken will be playable anywhere Gaikai will run (including on some tablets, and computers of all shapes and sizes). This deal makes a lot of sense from both sides: Hawken needs a large audience to get its free-to-play engine running, and Gaikai could use a big title to connect users to its servers. The Gaikai demo will be on playhawken.com and a few other sites, so eyes open until then.

Continue reading Hawken to be playable via Gaikai prior to official release

Hawken to be playable via Gaikai prior to official release originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Hawken gameplay teaser doesn't look like an indie game

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST

Hawken, the free-to-play, first-person mech shooter from indie studio Adhesive Games, keeps looking better and better, especially now that its videos have lost the "this is a work in progress" warning. We guess raising $10 million will do that to a game. The latest teaser shows off gameplay during an intense battle from the inside of a mech suit that makes two things occupy our thoughts: rails guns and rockets.

Watch the teaser above and enlist in the Hawken beta right here.

New Hawken gameplay teaser doesn't look like an indie game originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hawken brings pretty multiplayer mech battles to the web Dec. 12

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST

We're sure you watched thousands of YouTube videos last year, but we bet only a handful featured flying robots with guns, and just one of those was an explosive multiplayer mech battle built on Unreal Engine 3 -- yeah, that one, right up there. Hawken, the breakout title from indie studio Adhesive Games, is scheduled to launch on Dec. 12, published by Meteor Entertainment.

Hawken will be web-based, free-to-play and feature fast-paced action in short bursts, styled after Call of Duty multiplayer, Adhesive co-founder Khang Le said. Players in Hawken will battle for survival and resources inside flying, rocket-equipped mechs in various regions of a barren industrial wasteland (or heaven, as we call it). Hawken is multiplayer only and will play in a session-based format similar to League of Legends, Le said.

For a further glimpse at Hawken's universe, hit up the video after the break, which displays desert gameplay. If that intrigues you, sign up for the closed beta right here -- get three friends (enemies, strangers) to enlist and guarantee your spot.

Continue reading Hawken brings pretty multiplayer mech battles to the web Dec. 12

Hawken brings pretty multiplayer mech battles to the web Dec. 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Gears of Wars 3 details emerge

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:35:00 EST

With this morning's Dashboard surprise (or slipup), we've learned that Gears of War 3 is scheduled to emerge on Xbox 360 next April. Given that Edge Online's earlier prediction of an April 2011 release for the game was spot on, the latest details from the site's anonymous source, said to be in US publishing, could certainly be accurate. From piloting a mech (allegedly appearing in single- and multiplayer modes) to the sequel's summer setting (reported to feature underwater levels, presumably to cool off), the report makes for an interesting read if you're wondering where Marcus and crew could possibly end up next year.

As for the bad guys, the Locust Horde is said to be evolving alongside the game's setting, spawning "tentacle-like appendages," which can attack players that are in cover. We've reached out to Microsoft and Epic for confirmation of any of these details, but, like Edge was told, we imagine the best we'll get is, "We don't comment on rumor or speculation."

Rumor: Gears of Wars 3 details emerge originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Armored Core 5: bigger fights, smaller robots

JC Fletcher — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST

As usual, Famitsu scans have beaten official sources to the punch, with scans of the magazine's reveal of Armored Core 5 now online. The article reveals that AC5 is a PS3/360 game, built, according to Siliconera, on the concept of "mayhem-like mecha action."

The "mayhem" is the result of the new "more complicated" three-dimensional stages, featuring many different heights from which to attack. These stages will be populated by smaller mechs -- the robots will come in at around five meters tall, instead of ten as in previous Cores. The smaller mechs will be more maneuverable, according to Andriasang's summary of the article, and able to traverse smaller areas of the environments, and even hide in some corners.

Armored Core 5: bigger fights, smaller robots originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mech room for Armored Core 5 in 2010 [update]

JC Fletcher — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:15:00 EST

From Software has been on a roll lately, with the hit Demon's Souls and the well-received 3D Dot Game Heroes. But what of the franchise that people most closely associate with From Software (among people who associate From Software with things) -- Armored Core?

At an Armored Core Silent Line Portable tournament in Tokyo, From Software dated the PSP version of Armored Core: Last Raven for March 4, and (more excitingly) announced a brand-new entry in the mech series, Armored Core 5. No details of the sequel were revealed beyond a release date, though the new AC5 site suggests that more information will be forthcoming January 14 (or when the Famitsu leaks hit). Mysteriously, clicking the big "5" on the site links to a Google search for the word "senjou," which means "battlefield." You mean there's going to be fighting in this mech combat game?

Update: Reader Kenoji has pointed us to some off-screen footage of the teaser trailer shown after the event. It's posted after the break.

Continue reading Mech room for Armored Core 5 in 2010 [update]

Mech room for Armored Core 5 in 2010 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESRB rates Armored Core 3 Portable for stateside release

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST

Giant robots on a tiny screen? How unthinkably farcical!

From Software managed to see beyond this astute observation earlier this year when it ported Armored Core 3, a six-year-old PS2 title, to the PSP in Japan. It looks like America will also be exposed to this amusing juxtaposition, as the ESRB recently rated a U.S. version of Armored Core 3 Portable. From Software has yet to officially reveal a stateside version of the mega-mech sim, but we predict we'll be hearing just such an announcement soon. Hopefully, it'll be accompanied by a English-language version of the above trailer. (Such drama! It's like a robot-centric soap opera!)

ESRB rates Armored Core 3 Portable for stateside release originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumorong: Steel Battalion Wii collapses like so many downed mechs

Chris Greenhough — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

Our hearts were briefly aflutter this morning upon seeing news of a Steel Battalion port for the Wii. Could it be? Were we about to get a second chance at buying that insane 40-button, $200 controller/dashboard that shipped with the Xbox original? Well, no, we weren't -- and for two reasons. Reason one: Capcom was planning to develop the game with support for the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk, the Wii Wheel, and the Balance Board, and sell it for a mere $45, sans amazing controller. Reason two: the story isn't actually real.

That's right: this was all a prank by Spanish site Vandal.net, which has now posted a disclaimer at the top of its article stating that the story was merely "a joke similar to the English April Fool's Day." Gutted. On the bright side, some sites are still reporting this as the real deal, which makes us feel a bit less stupid for believing it in the first place.

[Via Balance Board Blog]

Rumorong: Steel Battalion Wii collapses like so many downed mechs originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mech porn: Hella Front Mission screenshots

Eric Caoili — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: News, Screens

Though you wouldn't know it by the amount of advertising Square Enix has done so far for Front Mission, a total equal to nothing, the mech-filled SRPG stomps into stores next week. Those familiar with the series will agree -- as far as SRPGs for the DS go, this is the best one coming out in North America this year.

Just to make sure we've swayed as many of you over as we can, we have updated our gallery with over 65 new screenshots and artwork images from this remake of the original, never-been-localized SNES/PS1 game. If you prefer your pictures moving, Square Enix has also swapped out its completely uninformative, six-minute clip of a building exploding in slow-motion with a new English trailer at the official Front Mission site.

Mech porn: Hella Front Mission screenshots originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E307: Front Mission DS interview and media galore

Eric Caoili — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Screens

We've got a flood of Front Mission DS media for you today. In addition to the new screenshots viewable in the gallery below, there's also a minute-and-a-half-long trailer for the Square Enix SRPG past the post break. If you need more than just combat clips and menu hopping to get you going, scroll down a bit further for the original Japanese trailer.

Front Mission DS finally bring the series' first entry to the states, adding touchscreen controls, multiplayer battles (local only), and several new Wanzers to the mech-based title. While this release already includes the alternative UCS storyline from the PlayStation remake, five new missions specific to the DS version have also been added.

RPGamer had a chance to sit down with producer Koichiro Sakamoto to discuss the handheld port and his thoughts on bringing more Front Mission games to the DS. According to the interview, were it not for the campaigning of a particular team member, North America might not have received the game: "There was one [who] was very passionate about the game, and wanted to give players in the United States the chance to experience. He felt that Front Mission 3 and 4 proved that there is a userbase, and since the DS is currently very popular, the thinking went, 'Why not give it a try?'"

Continue reading E307: Front Mission DS interview and media galore

E307: Front Mission DS interview and media galore originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gundam Seed brings hot mech-on-mech action

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Gundam, Imports, Video

Who would've thought that a licensed anime game could ever look so enticing? Ruliweb got some hands-on time with the newly released Japanese import, and it looks absolutely fantastic. The battles look like a blast (pun intended), with some miraculous mech action on display. The game has all the production values from the original anime, from TM Revolution's intro to Souichiro Hoshi's grating adolescent voice. Gundam fans will have a tear come to their eye when they see Victory flash on the screen, with See-Saw's ending playing in the background. Is this not some truly spectacular fan service?

Check after the cut to see more screens of the game. For more details, check out our previous coverage.

[Via PSP-Vault]

Continue reading Gundam Seed brings hot mech-on-mech action

Gundam Seed brings hot mech-on-mech action originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Armored Core 4 on Xbox 360 in March

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:25:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Simulations

Xbox 360 will receive some love from an important Japanese franchise in early 2007. From Software's Armored Core 4 is scheduled to arrive on Microsoft's console on March 22 -- it's already available on PlayStation 3. The deal will be sweetened by a "special movies" DVD and art booklet, available to reservation makers.

Sega, which has signed on as publisher, plans to bring both versions of Armored Core 4 to North America. The Xbox 360 release marks the first time the Armored Core series will be available on a non-Sony platform (with the exception of mobile phone spin-offs).

See also: PS3 loses more exclusives

Armored Core 4 on Xbox 360 in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metareview - Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Action, Simulations, Metareviews

Logic demands that each launch lineup will inevitably feature a "worst" title; the weakest link. This time around, Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire is that game (Genji has narrowly escaped this fate).

We pity thle poor fellow who errantly added Gundam to his launch day shopping cart; or worse, the one who will be forced to feign appreciation after discovering this grotesque creation lurking beneath the wrapping paper. Please folks, inform your potential holiday gift-givers.

GameSpot (39/100) - "Even if you could get past the horrid frame rate problems, lackluster presentation, and lack of online multiplayer, the gameplay in Crossfire is practically identical to the half-dozen or more Gundam games that appeared on the PlayStation 2. If you're looking for a game to show off what your PlayStation 3 is capable of, Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire should be your last choice of all the launch titles."
Game Informer (38/100) - "Imagine that you've worked hard and saved for years, and finally bought the luxury sports car of your dreams. You open the door and get in for the first time, carefully adjust the mirrors, program the radio and then, once you're comfortable, take a giant dump on the seat ... That's essentially what you're doing if you spend the money on a fancy new PS3 and choose this as your launch game of choice ... I have nothing positive to say about this game. I even hate the menu screen."
1UP (20/100) - "So, the story is nonexistent, the gameplay is a joke, and the controls are unresponsive. Could Crossfire get any worse? Unfortunately, that's a resounding 'yes.' Poor level design cripples any hopes of enjoyment ... The game is an embarrassment to the Gundam name, and raises suspicions that it was rushed for the PS3 launch."

Metareview - Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wi-Fi robot with video feedback

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Mods, Video, Fan Stuff

Robots + PSP = the win. We showed you a cool application for the PSP that lets you drive a robot a while back. Well, it looks like it just got a bit better: it now has streaming video support so you can see what the robot sees in real-time. I'm now dreaming of a future where kids will play with their PSP robots and engage in Battlebot fights, from miles away from each other.

Wi-Fi robot with video feedback originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chromehounds claims a victim

Ken Weeks — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

For at least one gamer, the otherwise disappointing Chromehounds turned out to be a killer app -- as in it killed his 360:

I know you have covered the freezing in chromehounds, but I have something new. Not only did chromehounds freeze my box, but after i kept on trying to play it, i had to turn the box off, and then when i turned it back on there were three red lights in the ring of power (positions 1, 3, 4 while vertical). Turns out i cant play my 360 even with the game out, or with any other games.

Coincidence? Hopefully. I shudder to ask if this has happened to anybody else.

[Thanks Tim]

Chromehounds claims a victim originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Jul 2006 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zone of the Enders on PSP

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 02:05:00 EST

Filed under: News

Breaking news happens, even at 2 in the morning. Jeux-France revealed that Dengeki magazine has blown off the covers of yet another Kojima Productions title: a new Zone of the Enders game. The franchise is known for its incredible graphics and intense mech battling. Chances are, you missed out on playing this oft-forgotten gem, but if it does appear on the PSP, you'll have no excuse.

I can't wait for more details.

Zone of the Enders on PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 02:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battlefield 2142 hinted at by Digital Illusions producer

Dan Choi — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters, Online, Video

Producer Dan Blackstone of Digital Illusions CE has hinted at the imminent announcement of "something very big" in an interview with Shacknews, which GameSpot presumes is most likely Battlefield 2142, a most futuristic sequel.

The senior producer of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat for the 360 gave that little tidbit at the end of the interview, stating: "We're about to announce something very big, so stay tuned. One other interviewer asked this and I gave him a hint, so it's only fair that I do the same for you: 3213/3X2. Or said another way: S.R. 4588164." GameSpot subsequently put two and two together and came up with 2142, the square root of 4588164 as well as the result of (3213/3)*2, so it appears that Call of Duty and Ghost Recon are not the only FPS franchises taking their games into the future.

Continue reading Battlefield 2142 hinted at by Digital Illusions producer

Battlefield 2142 hinted at by Digital Illusions producer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Mar 2006 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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