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 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Lumines changes hands, returning on iOS and Android]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/lumines-changes-hands-returning-on-ios-and-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/lumines-changes-hands-returning-on-ios-and-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/lumines-changes-hands-returning-on-ios-and-android/#comments Mobcast acquired the Lumines and Meteos properties from Q Entertainment, the Japanese smartphone game developer announced this week, as translated by Gematsu. Additionally, a new Lumines game is on the way for iOS and Android, and will be a collaboration with the colorful puzzle series' creator, Tetsuya Mizuguchi.

Mizuguchi will work on the latest Lumines at his new California-based studio, Enhance Games. The Rez and Space Channel 5 creator co-founded Q Entertainment in 2003 following his departure from Sega. Mizuguchi left the developer in March. The last Lumines game to launch was 2012's Lumines: Electronic Symphony (seen above).
[Image: Q Entertainment]

JoystiqLumines changes hands, returning on iOS and Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jan 2015 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireacquisitionacquisitionsandroidenhance-gamesiosipipadiphonelumineslumines-electronic-symphonymeteosmobcastmobilepropertypuzzleQ-Entertainmenttetsuya-mizuguchiWed, 28 Jan 2015 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Deals: Android Game Developer Bundle]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/joystiq-deals-android-game-developer-bundle/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/joystiq-deals-android-game-developer-bundle/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/joystiq-deals-android-game-developer-bundle/#comments Today, Joystiq Deals serves up the Android Game Developer Bundle, a seven-course selection that will put you on the road to launching a fully fledged mobile game studio.

The package includes the No-Coding-Required Game Building Course, the Beginner Game Reskinning Course, the Android Lollipop Complete Development Course, the Unity3D 2D-Game Development Course, the All-Level Unity3D C# Game Development Course, the Intro To C# Programming & Scripting for Games in Unity, and the All-Level Android App Development Course. All seven courses can be yours for $49 through this Saturday.

Joystiq Deals is a partnership between AOL and StackSocial. A portion of sales goes to funding this site. Deals are curated by StackSocial independently of the Joystiq editorial team.

JoystiqJoystiq Deals: Android Game Developer Bundle originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidjoystiq-dealsmobileMon, 26 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[On my iPad: Helix]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/on-my-ipad-helix/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/on-my-ipad-helix/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/on-my-ipad-helix/#commentsThis is On my iPad, a quick look at an iOS game we think you'll enjoy.

We can't seem to put down Michael Brough's Helix. Here's a brief video explaining why the retro-inspired avoidance game is special to us. The challenging, "hectic piece of momentary action" is available on iPhone and iPad for $2.99.
[Image: Michael Brough]

JoystiqOn my iPad: Helix originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionhelixindieiosipadiphonemichael-broughmobileon-my-ipadrecommendedMon, 26 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Giveaway: SteelSeries Stratus XL iOS controller times 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/joystiq-giveaway-steelseries-stratus-xl-ios-controller-times-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/joystiq-giveaway-steelseries-stratus-xl-ios-controller-times-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/joystiq-giveaway-steelseries-stratus-xl-ios-controller-times-2/#comments So you're playing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on your iPhone and you're thinking, "Man, it sure would be a lot easier to slice this Dark Jedi directly in their stupid cowled faces if I was using a controller." Than you're playing BioShock on your iPad and you're all, "Stupid Big Daddy wouldn't have drilled a giant hole in my abdomen if I were using a controller." The thought comes again and again while you play Limbo, XCOM, and myriad other games.

Don't worry about it! Joystiq has your back. We're giving away two, that's dos, SteelSeries Stratus XL iOS controllers. These babies work with any iOS device with a Lightning connector and running iOS 7 or higher.

Here's how to get the prizes: Just use the Rafflecopter widget below between January 23 and January 30. Winners will be selected at random and contacted via email (so make double sure you use an email we can actually contact you at!) Full rules and details after the break.
SteelSeries Stratus XL iOS controller times 2
[Images: SteelSeries]

Continue reading Joystiq Giveaway: SteelSeries Stratus XL iOS controller times 2

JoystiqJoystiq Giveaway: SteelSeries Stratus XL iOS controller times 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshockgiveawayiosipadiphonemobilestar-wars-knights-of-the-old-republicsteelseriesFri, 23 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jon Snow brings lack of knowledge to Game of Thrones Episode 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/jon-snow-brings-lack-of-knowledge-to-game-of-thrones-episode-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/jon-snow-brings-lack-of-knowledge-to-game-of-thrones-episode-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/jon-snow-brings-lack-of-knowledge-to-game-of-thrones-episode-2/#comments
The second episode of Telltale's six-part Game of Thrones saga debuts early next month, starting February 3 for PC, Mac, PS4 and PS3. Titled "The Lost Lords," the episode is also coming to Xbox One and 360 on February 4, iOS on February 5 and Android at a later date.

The Lost Lords continues the story of House Forrester, a Westeros family who in history have aligned with the Starks - not always the wisest alignment, it has to be said. Telltale's game is interwoven with HBO's TV series, and the plot takes place between the end of the third season and the start of the fifth.

If you've played the first episode then you've already had a few chit-chats with Cersei Lannister, her brother Tyrion, Margaery Tyrell and the huggably lovely Ramsay Snow. As the teaser trailer below the break reveals, another Snow is coming to the game in Episode 2.

Continue reading Jon Snow brings lack of knowledge to Game of Thrones Episode 2

JoystiqJon Snow brings lack of knowledge to Game of Thrones Episode 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jan 2015 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgame-of-thrones-a-telltale-games-seriesgame-of-thrones-episode-2HBOiosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationps3ps4release-datetelltale-gamesxboxxbox-oneFri, 23 Jan 2015 08:20:00 EST<![CDATA[The Witcher Battle Arena launches]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/the-witcher-battle-arena-launches/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/the-witcher-battle-arena-launches/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/the-witcher-battle-arena-launches/#comments Geralt of Rivia and friends are available now for a witchin' good time on tablets. The Witcher Battle Arena, a MOBA designed by Fuero Games and CD Projekt RED specifically for tablets, is available now for iOS and Android devices.

"We will have different modes in the future. There will be a monster-hunting mode, kind of an isometric multiplayer. There will be a boss mode, where you will be able to fight the bosses - that will be purely a (player verses enemy) experience. And we are thinking of other competitive modes," said Tadek Zielinski, project manager on the game to us at E3. "We have a classic one-lane MOBA experience with towers, but we have a different approach because we don't want to have minions, we don't want to have farming."

The game is free-to-play with in-app purchases, but all content is unlockable by playing. If you're into The Witcher or want to see a MOBA in action on a tablet, it won't cost you a bit of gold to take it for a spin.

JoystiqThe Witcher Battle Arena launches originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iosipadmobilethe-witcher-battle-arenaThu, 22 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox apps, DVR, cross-platform streaming heads to Windows 10 [Update: Video]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/xbox-apps-dvr-cross-platform-streaming-heads-to-windows-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/xbox-apps-dvr-cross-platform-streaming-heads-to-windows-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/xbox-apps-dvr-cross-platform-streaming-heads-to-windows-10/#comments

Windows 10 will feature Xbox system-level apps, including friends lists, activity feeds, messages, clip sharing and clip recording services, Microsoft announced during a conference today. The Xbox app will appear on every Windows PC and tablet. Each user's list of games in Windows 10 will be platform-agnostic, meaning Steam games are listed next to Windows games, and so on. Windows 10 PC players will be able to record 30-second game clips - after the fact - just like on Xbox One.

Players will be able to stream any Xbox One game to any Windows 10 PC or tablet. Fable Legends will launch on Windows 10 PCs in addition to Xbox One, and it will feature cross-platform co-op. Additionally, Windows 10 universal apps are on their way to Xbox One. Unity is adopting DirectX12, which consumes half the power that DirectX11 does, Xbox head Phil Spencer said.

Microsoft posted a list of some coming Windows 10 Xbox functions, shared below.
[Image: Engadget]

Continue reading Xbox apps, DVR, cross-platform streaming heads to Windows 10 [Update: Video]

JoystiqXbox apps, DVR, cross-platform streaming heads to Windows 10 [Update: Video] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2015 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmobilepcwindows-10Windows-10-Eventxbox-oneWed, 21 Jan 2015 13:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows 10 is a free upgrade for 7, 8.1 users]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/windows-10-is-a-free-upgrade-for-7-8-1-users/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/windows-10-is-a-free-upgrade-for-7-8-1-users/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/windows-10-is-a-free-upgrade-for-7-8-1-users/#comments Windows 10, the new operating system from Microsoft, will be available as a free upgrade for one year after launch for current Windows 8.1, Windows 7 and Windows Phone 8.1 users.

"I'm very excited to announce that for the first year after Windows 10 is available we will be making available a free upgrade to Windows 10," Microsoft EVP of Operating Systems Terry Myerson said during a conference today.

For anyone gaming on Windows, this means one fewer roadblock to keeping that library current. Xbox will receive "core components" of Windows 10 in an update this year, and Microsoft is poised to deliver Xbox news during today's conference.
[Image: Engadget]

JoystiqWindows 10 is a free upgrade for 7, 8.1 users originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2015 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mobilepcwindows-10Windows-10-EventWed, 21 Jan 2015 12:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Humble Card Game Bundle deals out Scrolls, Star Realms]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/humble-card-game-bundle-deals-out-scrolls-star-realms/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/humble-card-game-bundle-deals-out-scrolls-star-realms/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/humble-card-game-bundle-deals-out-scrolls-star-realms/#comments Humble Bundle has a new promotion on deck: digital card games. From Mjoang's newest (and previously most litigious) Scrolls to the granddaddy of deck-builders Dominion, the Humble Card Game Bundle has plenty to offer those looking for a reprieve from that pesky Hearthstone addiction.

The "pay what you want" portion of the bundle includes copies of Scrolls (PC, Mac), SolForge: Dino Starter Deck (PC), Star Realms (a personal favorite for PC, Mac and Android), Talisman: Digital Edition and Talisman: Prologue (PC, Mac). Purchasing the bundle for more than the average price, which currently rests at $6.71, adds Magic 2015: Duels of the Planeswalkers Special Edition (PC), Dominion Online (Browser-based) and additional decks for SolForge.

Purchasing the bundle for $12 will unlock additional expansions for Dominion Online, a Deluxe Edition of Scrolls and add the basic edition of the free-to-play browser game Card Hunter. For $35 players can also gets their hands on a physical copy of Star Realms with an exclusive card and a t-shirt.

The bundle will be available to purchase for two weeks with proceeds going to charity organizations Block by Block, Save the Children and World Land Trust.
[Image: Humble Bundle]

JoystiqHumble Card Game Bundle deals out Scrolls, Star Realms originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidHumble-BundleHumble-Card-Game-BundlemacmobilepcTue, 20 Jan 2015 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Her Story' FMV crime fiction game coming from Silent Hill: Shattered Memories designer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/her-story-fmv-crime-fiction-game-coming-from-silent-hill-shat/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/her-story-fmv-crime-fiction-game-coming-from-silent-hill-shat/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/her-story-fmv-crime-fiction-game-coming-from-silent-hill-shat/#comments
The latest game from Silent Hill: Shattered Memories designer and writer Sam Barlow is a little different. It's not survival horror, it doesn't have motion controls and ... it's entirely full-motion video. Entitled Her Story, the game revolves around a police database containing several taped interviews with a female subject, concerning the disappearance of her husband.

Rather than interacting directly with the game, players "type search queries and the database returns clips of the answers where the woman speaks those words." Barlow claims, "If you can Google, you can play Her Story," elaborating that, while the search mechanic is simple, it "quickly reveals its richness and complexity." Non-linear storytelling seems to be the game's hallmark, with Barlow himself calling it "a sculptural way of viewing a story."

We're still not clear on exactly how it will work, whether players will directly affect the narrative or solve the mystery, or just soak in a unique, interactive crime fiction story. Either way, it certainly sounds different.

Her Story is set to arrive early this year on PC, Mac and iOS, and it's currently listed on Steam Greenlight.
[Image: Sam Barlow]

Continue reading 'Her Story' FMV crime fiction game coming from Silent Hill: Shattered Memories designer

Joystiq'Her Story' FMV crime fiction game coming from Silent Hill: Shattered Memories designer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>her-storyiosipadiphonemacmobilepcsam-barlowTue, 20 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bounden, Fingle studio closes its doors in April]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/bounden-fingle-studio-closes-its-doors-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/bounden-fingle-studio-closes-its-doors-in-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/bounden-fingle-studio-closes-its-doors-in-april/#comments Game Oven Studios, the independent Dutch team behind body-morphing mobile games Bounden, Bam fu, Fingle and Friendstrap, will be disbanded in April, studio co-founder Adriaan de Jongh announced in a blog post today. Game Oven will release its final game, Jelly Reef, in March on iOS and Android. Game Oven developers de Jongh and Bojan Endrovski will continue to support Bounden, Fingle, Bam fu and Jelly Reef, but they will remove Friendstrap from stores on February 1.

De Jongh and Endrovski founded Game Oven in November 2011 with their first game, Fingle, which was nominated for an IGF Nuovo award. Bounden, a two-player dancing game for mobile, is nominated this year for an IGF Nuovo prize and a GDC Innovation Award. Game Oven received financial support for Bounden from the Dutch grant program, Game Fund, and worked with the Dutch National Ballet to create the choreography.

And, despite Game Oven's closure, Bounden is doing "really well," de Jongh told me today.

"We're not making millions, no, but Bounden's profit is larger than the development costs, so maybe awards are not that disconnected from the financial success of the game," he said. "With Fingle, IGF helped us build an audience, helped us reach that critical mass, and even though we no longer do any marketing effort for Fingle, we still make one minimum wage from the game every month. The way things look now, it seems like Bounden is on that same road."

Continue reading Bounden, Fingle studio closes its doors in April

JoystiqBounden, Fingle studio closes its doors in April originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidboundenclosuredutchdutch-game-gardenFingleGame-Ovengdc-2015igf-2014igf-2015IndieiosipadiphonemobileTue, 20 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Deals: Java Developer Course Bundle]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/joystiq-deals-java-developer-course-bundle/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/joystiq-deals-java-developer-course-bundle/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/joystiq-deals-java-developer-course-bundle/#comments Want to build up your Java programming skillset? Today, Joystiq Deals is offering the Java Developer Course Bundle, a collection that features more than 70 hours of in-depth instructional content.

The package includes the Beginner Java Essentials for Android Course, the Dynamic Website Building with Java Course, the Java Spring Framework Course, the Beginner Java Programming Course, the Java Data Structures & Algorithms Course, and the All-Level Java Swing Course. Normally priced at $399, the six-course package is available today through Joystiq Deals for only $39.

Joystiq Deals is a partnership between AOL and StackSocial. A portion of sales goes to funding this site. Deals are curated by StackSocial independently of the Joystiq editorial team.

JoystiqJoystiq Deals: Java Developer Course Bundle originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidjavajoystiq-dealsmobileMon, 19 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sid Meier's 'Starships' blasts off this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/sid-meiers-starships-blast-off-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/sid-meiers-starships-blast-off-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/sid-meiers-starships-blast-off-this-year/#comments
The house Sid Meier built, Firaxis, will send out an "interstellar strategy game" for PC, Mac and iPad in early 2015. According to 2K's initial announcement, players will research new technologies and spaceship designs, pierce through the unknown reaches of the galaxy and fight in turn-based combat, all hinged on "distinctive" maps and dynamically created combat missions.

"My goal was to create an experience that focuses on starship design and combat within a universe filled with interstellar adventure, diplomacy, and exploration," says Meier.

Publisher 2K is also teasing cross-connectivity between Starships and last year's turn-based Civilization spin-off, Beyond Earth.

Continue reading Sid Meier's 'Starships' blasts off this year

JoystiqSid Meier's 'Starships' blasts off this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2015 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k2k-gamesfiraxisFiraxis-Gamesiosipadmacmobilepcsid-meiers-starshipsstarshipsMon, 19 Jan 2015 08:38:00 EST<![CDATA[WWE Immortals is free-to-play wrestling kombat for mobile]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/18/wwe-immortals-is-free-to-play-wrestling-kombat-for-mobile/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/18/wwe-immortals-is-free-to-play-wrestling-kombat-for-mobile/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/18/wwe-immortals-is-free-to-play-wrestling-kombat-for-mobile/#comments Have you ever found yourself playing NetherRealm's Injustice: Gods Among Us and thought, "You know, I like Superman and all, but what if he was actually John Cena?" Alternatively, perhaps you've looked at Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and wondered, "What if this guy were an actual, literal rock-man?" Well, you might want to check your brain for transmitting devices, because NetherRealm and Phosphor Games have made your thoughts reality with WWE Immortals, which is now available on iOS and Android devices.

Revealed just last month, WWE Immortals transforms various WWE superstars into warriors, mages, ninjas, knights and monsters, then pits them in touch-based battles with each other. The game is free to play and features support cards to bolster your fighting rosters' power. There's also a story about a magical lamp and alternate dimensions, but really, this is a game about men and women who get paid to fake-punch each other being transformed into mythical warriors. Plot is not going to be its strong suit.
[Image: Warner Bros. Interactive]

JoystiqWWE Immortals is free-to-play wrestling kombat for mobile originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonemobileNetherrealm-Studiosphosphor-gamesWarner-Bros-Interactivewwewwe-immortalsSun, 18 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Minecraft getting in-game name changes, Pocket Edition sells 30 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/minecraft-getting-in-game-name-changes-pocket-edition-sells-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/minecraft-getting-in-game-name-changes-pocket-edition-sells-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/minecraft-getting-in-game-name-changes-pocket-edition-sells-30/#comments Minecraft players will be able to change their in-game name soon, development studio Mojang has announced. The process is set to go live on February 4, and looks to be pretty straightforward; once the name-changing system is in place, players can change their in-game name simply by logging into their account. Any name that is not being used by another player will be available, but players will have to wait 30 days before they can change again.

If you're worried about someone swiping your name while you wait said 30 days to come back to it though, don't be: it takes 37 days for an old name to become available for someone else. So if you were to change your name from, say, "MinecraftMasta" to something else, we wouldn't be able to swipe MinecraftMasta for ourselves before you had a chance to reclaim it. Changing names does not change inventory or character status, meaning if someone has blocked you, changing your name won't allow you to circumvent said block.

Mojang also announced that to date, Minecraft: Pocket Edition has sold a combined total of more than 30 million copies. Pocket Edition surpassed 21 million copies back in April, and expanded its reach to Windows Phone users in December, though Mojang did not share how many of the 9 million new sales were due to releasing on a new platform.
[Image: Mojang]

JoystiqMinecraft getting in-game name changes, Pocket Edition sells 30 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Jan 2015 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonemicrosoftMinecraftminecraft-pocket-editionmobilemojangplaystationps3ps4xboxxbox-oneSat, 17 Jan 2015 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Monument Valley made $5.8 million, over 80 percent on iOS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/monument-valley-made-5-8-million-over-80-percent-on-ios/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/monument-valley-made-5-8-million-over-80-percent-on-ios/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/monument-valley-made-5-8-million-over-80-percent-on-ios/#comments Monument Valley developer Ustwo earned $5,858,625 from sales for the game as of this past Monday, as highlighted in a fancy infographic breaking down the puzzle game's earnings. Of that revenue, 81.7 percent was earned on iOS, compared to 13.9 percent on Android (where it was released about a month later) and 4.3 percent on Amazon. Ustwo says Monument Valley was installed on over 10 million unique devices, though its profits come from 2,440,076 official sales.

The original game took $852,000 to develop while its eight-level Forgotten Shores update cost the developer $549,000. It first arrived on iOS in April 2014 and recouped its development costed in its first week; Ustwo has now clarified that its launch day on the App Store amounted to $145,530 in revenue.
[Image: Ustwo]

JoystiqMonument Valley made $5.8 million, over 80 percent on iOS originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddataIndieiosipadiphonemobilemonument-valleypiracyprofitspuzzlerevenuesalesustwoustwo-studioThu, 15 Jan 2015 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC survey: eSports rising, consoles cresting]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/gdc-survey-esports-rising-consoles-cresting/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/gdc-survey-esports-rising-consoles-cresting/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/gdc-survey-esports-rising-consoles-cresting/#comments The Game Developers Conference revealed its third annual "State of the Industry" survey results, which found that 79 percent of North American game developers believed eSports is a "sustainable business." GDC surveyed over 2,000 developers, 12 percent of which said they are working on an eSports-style, skill-based, competitive multiplayer game.

The State of the Industry survey also found that 21 percent of developers said they made most of their profits from microtransactions, whereas 29 percent said "direct sales to consumers or digital sales" was their biggest draw. This compares to 13 percent of the developers surveyed, which pointed to sales at retail as the source of the majority of their profits. Of those surveyed, 41 percent said profits for their companies were higher in 2014 compared to the previous year.

Lastly, 56 percent of the polled developers said their current projects would launch on PC and 50 percent said their games would reach smartphones or tablets. 26 percent said they were currently working on a game for PS4 while 22 percent said they were developing an Xbox One game. Head over to GDC's site for a more detailed breakdown of its State of the Industry survey results.
[Image: GDC]

Continue reading GDC survey: eSports rising, consoles cresting

JoystiqGDC survey: eSports rising, consoles cresting originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>esportsgame-developers-conferencegdcmicrosoftMicrotransactionsmobilepcplaystationps4state-of-the-industrysurveyxbox-oneThu, 15 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Deals: One Free Month of OnLive PlayPack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/joystiq-deals-one-free-month-of-onlive-playpack/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/joystiq-deals-one-free-month-of-onlive-playpack/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/joystiq-deals-one-free-month-of-onlive-playpack/#comments Today at Joystiq Deals, we're giving away one free month of OnLive PlayPack, letting you check out the service's 250-game catalog free of charge.

No game downloads are required - all you need is a compatible PC, TV, or tablet device to start streaming games directly from the cloud. Just sign up through Joystiq Deals and your trial month will begin instantly.
Joystiq Deals is a partnership between AOL and StackSocial. A portion of sales goes to funding this site. Deals are curated by StackSocial independently of the Joystiq editorial team.

JoystiqJoystiq Deals: One Free Month of OnLive PlayPack originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidjoystiq-dealsmobileonlivepcThu, 15 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Get an IGF 2015-nominated game for free today only]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/get-an-igf-2015-nominated-game-for-free-today-only/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/get-an-igf-2015-nominated-game-for-free-today-only/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/get-an-igf-2015-nominated-game-for-free-today-only/#comments PRY, a finalist in Excellence in Narrative at the 2015 Independent Games Festival, is free today on the App Store. PRY is a hybrid game, containing elements of film, literature and gaming. It tells the story of a Gulf War demolitions expert, allowing players to dive into his thoughts and explore his past, present and subconscious with the flicking or pinching of fingers.

The free day is in celebration of the IGF nod, PRY's feature on FWA as Mobile of the Day, and the game's release on iPhone. PRY is broken into two parts; the first installment was previously out for iPad at $3. Once part two launches in March, the full-game price will go up slightly - but those who buy part one before March will receive the second half as a free update. PRY comes from two-person art collective and development studio Tender Claws, which focuses on the intersection of writing, art and technology.

"Nomination by IGF is already an incredible validation," Tender Claws co-founder Samantha Gorman tells Joystiq. "We are a small team of two people who have looked up to and been inspired by current and past IGF nominees. It's so nice to know that our interventions in this space of storytelling are being seen and considered. Of course an IGF award would mean a great deal going forward. It would further give us license to establish our studio and continue to push the bounds of narrative in gameplay."

The 2015 IGF awards will be held on Wednesday, March 4, during GDC in San Francisco.
[Image: Tender Claws]

Continue reading Get an IGF 2015-nominated game for free today only

JoystiqGet an IGF 2015-nominated game for free today only originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>experimentalfreeigfigf-2015IndieiosipadiphonemobilePRYtender-clawsWed, 14 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaming philosopher Pippin Barr takes on the art world]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/gaming-philosopher-pippin-barr-takes-on-the-art-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/gaming-philosopher-pippin-barr-takes-on-the-art-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/gaming-philosopher-pippin-barr-takes-on-the-art-world/#comments Again.

Pippin Barr - game developer, philosopher, artist - has launched a game within a picture frame, complete with the player's own reflection transposed in real-time over the glass. The game is a snippet from one of Barr's earlier works, Let's Play: Ancient Greek Punishment, and it uses the camera on your computer or mobile device to throw your own image over the top of the action, as if you were staring at the piece of art in a well-lit gallery.

Barr's inspiration stems from an exhibition of his work at Australia's Andrew Baker Gallery late last year. He took a photo of a print of his Prometheus scene in Let's Play: Ancient Greek Punishment and imagined turning the photo itself into a game, he says.

"So I made a version of the Prometheus game that runs 'inside' the picture frame," Barr says. "To add to the effect, I also worked on ways to make the digital version of the frame picture reflective in the way it was in the gallery. This extends to (in the best scenario) a live webcam-based reflection that works on desktop versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, a video-based reflection that works in Internet Explorer and Safari, and an animated image-based reflection in mobile browsers. It was quite the technical challenge for me, working with new web technologies I've not encountered before."

Play Let's Play: Ancient Greek Punishment: Art Edition Edition right here in your browser, or here on your mobile device. Or, see it in action in the video below. It's a fairly cool experience, even if you'll never win the game. Seriously, you won't.

Continue reading Gaming philosopher Pippin Barr takes on the art world

JoystiqGaming philosopher Pippin Barr takes on the art world originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2015 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidartexperimentalIndieiosipadiphoneLets-Play-Ancient-Greek-PunishmentLets-Play-Ancient-Greek-Punishment-Art-Edition-EditionmacmobilepcPippin-BarrWed, 14 Jan 2015 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Deals: Android Lollipop Coding Course]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/joystiq-deals-android-lollipop-coding-course/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/joystiq-deals-android-lollipop-coding-course/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/joystiq-deals-android-lollipop-coding-course/#comments The mobile marketplace presents a great opportunity for up-and-coming developers, and Joystiq Deals is giving you a chance to join in the fun with the Android Lollipop Coding Course, a comprehensive tutorial that will walk you through many key aspects of app creation.

Featuring over 30 hours of video instruction and a collection of hands-on app-building exercises, the Android Lollipop Coding Course covers an array of topics, ranging from Java to SQLite to Google APIs. Normally priced at $499 when purchased individually, you can get access to all of our featured courses today for only $89.

Joystiq Deals is a partnership between AOL and StackSocial. A portion of sales goes to funding this site. Deals are curated by StackSocial independently of the Joystiq editorial team.

JoystiqJoystiq Deals: Android Lollipop Coding Course originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidjoystiq-dealsmobileTue, 13 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle & Dragons exceeds 42 million downloads worldwide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/11/puzzle-and-dragons-exceeds-42-million-downloads-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/11/puzzle-and-dragons-exceeds-42-million-downloads-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/11/puzzle-and-dragons-exceeds-42-million-downloads-worldwide/#comments
In case you're not sure how the match-three puzzle RPG Puzzle & Dragons is managing a Super Mario Bros. crossover, here's some perspective: Puzzle & Dragons has earned 42 million downloads across iOS, Android and Kindle Fire HD devices worldwide since its release in February 2012, according to a press release from GungHo Online Entertainment. Japan is to thank for roughly 33 million of those downloads, but more than 6 million of the total is attributed to the North American audience.

Last year's eShop-only Pokemon Battle Trozei offered gameplay that resembles elements of Puzzle & Dragons, but Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition will be Nintendo's first by-name contribution to the series. GungHo America has mentioned plans for an "overseas release" in relation to Super Mario Bros. Edition, but with a Nintendo representative referring to the game as a "Japanese-only announcement," Super Mario Bros. Edition's Western arrival could certainly use a stronger confirmation.
[Image: GungHo Online Entertainment]

JoystiqPuzzle & Dragons exceeds 42 million downloads worldwide originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jan 2015 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonekindle-fire-hdmobileSun, 11 Jan 2015 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Princess Bride game on iOS in 2015? Inconceivable!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/11/a-princess-bride-game-on-ios-in-2015-inconceivable/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/11/a-princess-bride-game-on-ios-in-2015-inconceivable/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/11/a-princess-bride-game-on-ios-in-2015-inconceivable/#comments A video game released in 2015 that's based on a movie from 1987? As you wish. A new iOS game by Gameblend based on the beloved Rob Reiner-directed film, The Princess Bride, is now available on iTunes for $3.99.

Using cartoon graphics and simple controls, the game recreates moments from the famous story, including climbing the Cliffs of Insanity, battling shrieking eels, and dueling with Inigo Montoya. We're not sure if the game forces you to start left-handed on that last one.

Considering this game's release and the release of Run Forrest Run last year, we have to wonder what other classic movie properties are on the table for a mobile adaptation. Sixteen Candles: The Game, anyone? If not, then for now, enjoy storming the castle!
[Image: Gameblend]

JoystiqA Princess Bride game on iOS in 2015? Inconceivable! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jan 2015 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gameblendiosipadiphonemobilethe-princess-brideyou-killed-my-father-prepare-to-dieSun, 11 Jan 2015 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Apps earn more than $10 billion in App Store revenue in 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/11/apps-earn-more-than-10-billion-in-app-store-revenue-in-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/11/apps-earn-more-than-10-billion-in-app-store-revenue-in-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/11/apps-earn-more-than-10-billion-in-app-store-revenue-in-2014/#comments
Mobile marketplaces can feel dramatically over-saturated, but lest you wonder if developers are even chasing a worthwhile audience in that space, Apple has shed some light on just how much cash is in play: Developers earned more than $10 billion in revenue across the App Store's 24 software categories during 2014, with almost half a billion being spent across apps and in-app purchases in the first week of January 2015 alone.

Apple puts the lifetime total earned by developers through the App Store at $25 billion. Considering the App Store launched in 2008, that means about 40 percent of total revenue earned by App Store developers was pulled in within the last year. It's worth noting that added store options, like last year's arrival of app previews and app bundles, have likely helped developers sell more than what was feasible in the App Store's infancy. Still, 2014's $10 billion revenue total shows the potential for success in the mobile space, so long as a developer can manage to garner visibility in the flood of apps that are currently available.

All those Minecraft, Flappy Bird and Threes piggyback clones make a little more sense now, don't they?
[Image: Apple]

JoystiqApps earn more than $10 billion in App Store revenue in 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storeappleiosipadiphonemacmobilesalesSun, 11 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDCA 2015 finalists led by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/gdca-2015-finalists-led-by-middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/gdca-2015-finalists-led-by-middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/gdca-2015-finalists-led-by-middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor/#comments The finalists for the 2015 Game Developers Choice Awards were revealed today, led by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, which received five nominations. Monolith's third-person action game was nominated for Game of the Year, Innovation, Best Design, Best Narrative and Best Technology awards at the ceremony (on top of also being Joystiq's favorite game of 2014).

The other nominees for the 15th annual GDCA's Game of the Year award are Bayonetta 2, Alien: Isolation, Destiny and Hearthstone. Blizzard's collectible card game received three nominations in total, the other two for Best Design and Best Handheld/Mobile Game. Destiny also received two other nominations for Best Audio and Best Technology. The ceremony for this year's Game Developer's Choice Awards will be held during the Game Developers Conference on Wednesday, March 4 at 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT) at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center. Head past the break to see the full list of nominees.

Continue reading GDCA 2015 finalists led by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

JoystiqGDCA 2015 finalists led by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jan 2015 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroidawardsBlizzardgame-developers-choice-awardsgame-developers-choice-awards-2015gdcagdca-15gdca-2015hearthstonehearthstone-heroes-of-warcraftiosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmiddle-earth-shadow-of-mordormobileMonolithMonolith-Productionsnintendopcplaystationps3ps4Warner-Bros-Interactive-Entertainmentwbiewii-uxboxxbox-oneFri, 09 Jan 2015 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Deals: Last chance to enter the Double Nexus giveaway]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/joystiq-deals-last-chance-to-enter-the-double-nexus-giveaway/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/joystiq-deals-last-chance-to-enter-the-double-nexus-giveaway/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/joystiq-deals-last-chance-to-enter-the-double-nexus-giveaway/#comments What's better than winning one Nexus device? Winning two Nexus devices. Joystiq Deals is currently hosting a giveaway that includes both a Nexus 6 phone and a Nexus 9 tablet, a duo collectively valued at over $1,000. No purchase is necessary and entry requires only that you register a valid email address.

There is a catch, however: The giveaway is rapidly drawing to a close. Prospective Nexus owners have only three days left to enter the giveaway, and less time to share the promotion on Twitter to earn additional entries. For full rules and information on tossing your name in the virtual hat, visit the Joystiq Deals website.
Joystiq Deals is a partnership between AOL and StackSocial. A portion of sales goes to funding this site. Deals are curated by StackSocial independently of the Joystiq editorial team.

JoystiqJoystiq Deals: Last chance to enter the Double Nexus giveaway originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidjoystiq-dealsmobilenexusFri, 09 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Transistor get() 600,000+ sales, Bastion breach() 3 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/transistor-get-600-000-sales-bastion-breach-3-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/transistor-get-600-000-sales-bastion-breach-3-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/transistor-get-600-000-sales-bastion-breach-3-million/#comments Transistor carved its way to more than 600,000 sales in 2014, Supergiant Games revealed this week. The PS4 and PC action-RPG looks set to become the dev's second million-seller, though it's still way off the "more than 3 million" copies sold to date by Bastion.

In this week's announcement, Supergiant's Greg Kasavin noted the majority of Bastion's sales arrived "many months after the game first came out on Xbox 360 and PC. So we were very happy to see Transistor selling even faster relative to Bastion during the first couple of months after its launch."

Kasavin's talked about that long sales tail before. Speaking at E3 2013 about future Transistor ports, he said, "For us, it's really important to not be tied down for the long haul, because Bastion's success was not made on any one platform. That being said, our focus is absolutely on a successful PS4 launch and also our Steam PC launch, because if that does not go well, there will not be other versions of the game, most likely and so forth."

Continue reading Transistor get() 600,000+ sales, Bastion breach() 3 million

JoystiqTransistor get() 600,000+ sales, Bastion breach() 3 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastioniosipadiphonelinuxmacmicrosoftmobilepcplaystationplaystation-vitaps4salestransistorvitaxboxFri, 09 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Xbox avatars to get a facelift on Xbox One]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/report-xbox-avatars-to-get-a-facelift-on-xbox-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/report-xbox-avatars-to-get-a-facelift-on-xbox-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/report-xbox-avatars-to-get-a-facelift-on-xbox-one/#comments Xbox avatars may soon return in an upgraded form on the Xbox One, PC platforms, and mobile devices, a pair of recent Microsoft job postings indicate.

"As we cross the threshold to a unified operating system and product experience across Microsoft, it is time to for Xbox avatars to also advance to the next level," the latter posting reads. "Come with us, as we take Xbox avatars on their biggest adventure yet in new Xbox experiences. You will be part of the broader Xbox Experiences team, which owns the Xbox One Shell, and the Xbox experiences across console, desktop, slate, mobile, iOS, and Android."

Created by Microsoft-owned studio Rare, Xbox avatars made their debut as part of an Xbox 360 firmware update in 2008, allowing Xbox Live members to associate digital characters with their gamertags. Though avatars and purchasable customization items remain a focus on the Xbox 360, the characters aren't currently given the same treatment on the Xbox One, where they only appear as part of a gamerpic photo app.

"We're always looking for talented people to innovate now and in the future," a Microsoft spokesperson told Eurogamer in response to a request for clarification. "We don't have any further comment on this or any other job posting."

[Image: Microsoft]

JoystiqReport: Xbox avatars to get a facelift on Xbox One originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidavatariosipadiphonemicrosoftmobilepcreportxboxxbox-avatarsxbox-oneThu, 08 Jan 2015 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Minecraft was YouTube's second-most popular search query of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/minecraft-was-youtubes-second-most-popular-search-query-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/minecraft-was-youtubes-second-most-popular-search-query-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/minecraft-was-youtubes-second-most-popular-search-query-of-2014/#comments Mojang's breakout hit Minecraft took second place in a Google-issued list of the most popular YouTube search queries of 2014, ranking immediately behind the word "music" in terms of search frequency.

According to Google, the word "Minecraft" was more frequently searched on YouTube in 2014 than the term "movies." Gaming personality PewDiePie also ranked among the service's most popular searches in 2014, trailing queries for Disney's Frozen and for artists Drake and Beyonce.

Continue reading Minecraft was YouTube's second-most popular search query of 2014

JoystiqMinecraft was YouTube's second-most popular search query of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonemicrosoftminecraftmobilemojangpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4vitaxboxxbox-oneyoutubeThu, 08 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Joystiq Podcast Live: Best of 2014 [Update: Watch the replay!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/super-joystiq-podcast-live-best-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/super-joystiq-podcast-live-best-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/super-joystiq-podcast-live-best-of-2014/#comments


Starting at 3:30PM EST right here and on Twitch, it's JOYSTIQ DOME! Ten games enter! Ten games get robustly examined while 13 editors jaw at one another before examining the year 2014 in detail!

Yes, it's the Super Joystiq Podcast Live! Thrill as Ludwig Kietzmann tries to defend Watch Dogs. Swoon as Susan Arendt and Anthony John Agnello defend Lightning Returns with the fury of a thousand burning suns. Chortle as Alexander Sliwinski tries to resist playing Hearthstone. Jess Conditt talks Walking Dead, Danny Cowan digs Shovel Knight, Earnest Cavalli loves Sunset Overdrive, Sam Prell digs into Dragon Age: Inquisition, Richard Mitchell bets on Bayonetta, Xav de Matos feels Far Cry 4, Sinan Kubba delights in Dark Souls 2, Mike Suszek survives Desert Golfing, and Thomas Schulenberg gives Super Smash Bros. for Wii U a what for all over again. And that's just how it starts.

Tune in right here and on Twitch.tv/Joystiq at 3:30PM EST for a live, all staff round table discussion on the best games of 2014, our personal favorites, and a look back on the gaming year that was.
[Images: WBIE]

JoystiqSuper Joystiq Podcast Live: Best of 2014 [Update: Watch the replay!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroidbest-of-2014iosipadiphonejoystiq-streamsmicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4vitawii-uxboxxbox-oneThu, 08 Jan 2015 15:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Deals: The OnePlus One Giveaway]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/joystiq-deals-the-oneplus-one-giveaway/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/joystiq-deals-the-oneplus-one-giveaway/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/joystiq-deals-the-oneplus-one-giveaway/#comments Joystiq Deals is giving away a OnePlus One Android smartphone this week, giving you the opportunity to own a cutting-edge piece of technology before it hits retail.

For a chance to win, sign up with Joystiq Deals and submit your e-mail address. You can also refer a friend to earn an additional contest entry and increase your odds of winning. Good luck!

Joystiq Deals is a partnership between AOL and StackSocial. A portion of sales goes to funding this site. Deals are curated by StackSocial independently of the Joystiq editorial team.

JoystiqJoystiq Deals: The OnePlus One Giveaway originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidjoystiq-dealsmobileWed, 07 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-ludwigs-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-ludwigs-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-ludwigs-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Jazzpunk

Jazzpunk is likely to be misunderstood, or impossible to understand, by design. You could say explanation comes as an insult to its eccentricity.

The gist of it is that you're a spy completing missions in a surreal, robot-dominated world, the kind you might dream up after dozing off in the middle of a late-night Leslie Nielsen movie marathon. And while the convoluted wordplay wouldn't feel out of place in a Zucker spoof - in Japan, for example, you're asked if you prefer kimonos or kistereos - the barbs of reality are what really make Jazzpunk stick.

Take its odd vision of dystopia, which is regularly mocked through one-off minigames (like a first-person shooter dubbed ... Wedding Quake). Here, you can put on a special visor that lets you see and blast nonsensical Wi-Fi passwords as they dance in the air around you. I mean, that's weird, but ... think about it. The concept is kind of weird to begin with, right here on Earth. Taken as a form of escapism, then, Jazzpunk is silly without taking you too far from the truth.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-the-rest-2014crossy-roaddonkey-kong-country-tropical-freezeforza-horizon-2gods-will-be-watchingiosipadiphonejazzpunkjoystiq-best-of-2014macmicrosoftmobilemonument-valleynidhoggnintendopcplaystationps3ps4recommendedroundaboutstarwhal-just-the-tiptitanfallwatch-dogswii-uxboxxbox-oneWed, 07 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IGF 2015 finalists: The Talos Principle, 80 Days, Invisible Inc.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/igf-2015-finalists-the-talos-principle-80-days-invisible-inc/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/igf-2015-finalists-the-talos-principle-80-days-invisible-inc/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/igf-2015-finalists-the-talos-principle-80-days-invisible-inc/#comments Finalists for the $30,000 Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the 17th annual Independent Games Festival awards are Klei Entertainment's Invisible Inc., Croteam's The Talos Principle, Inkle Studios' 80 Days, Patrick Smith's Metamorphabet, 11 Bit Studio's This War of Mine and Team Outer Wilds' Outer Wilds. These games make appearances across other categories - Exellence in Visual Art, Narrative, Design, Audio and the Nuovo Award for unconventional game development - as well.

Other games up for awards from the IGF are Lumino City, Else Heart.Break(), Pry, Three Fourths Home, Framed, Killer Queen, Shovel Knight, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, The Sailor's Dream, Desert Golfing, Elegy for a Dead World, Bounden and more, listed in full on the IGF website. The IGF jury nominated more than 30 games from a judging pool of almost 650.

The IGF awards are held during GDC, alongside the Game Developers Choice Awards, on Wednesday, March 4 in San Francisco. Congrats to all the finalists!
[Image: Klei Entertainment, Invisible Inc.]

JoystiqIGF 2015 finalists: The Talos Principle, 80 Days, Invisible Inc. originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroidgdc-2015igfigf-2015Indieiosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationps3ps4wii-uxboxxbox-oneWed, 07 Jan 2015 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Jessica's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-jessicas-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-jessicas-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-jessicas-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Threes

Threes is ingenious. Its simplistic presentation belies beautiful, thoughtful design and butter-smooth mechanics. Threes isn't a matter of "less is more," it's fully encapsulated and pushed to the limits of what it intends to do, providing hours upon hours of repeated gameplay on that four-by-four tiled screen. On top of the brain-teasing numbers game, writer Asher Vollmer, illustrator Greg Wohlwend and composer Jimmy Hinson infuse Threes with personality, giving the numbers voices and faces, and tipping Threes from "Fun" to "Absolutely adorable. And, of course, fun."

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Jessica's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Jessica's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidasher-vollmerbest-of-2014best-of-the-restbest-of-the-rest-2014CroTeamdevolver-digitalgreg-wohlwendiosipadiphonejoystiq-best-of-2014macmatt-makes-gamesmicrosoftmobileMurasaki-Babyovosonicopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps4TelltaleTellTale-Gamesthe-talos-principlethe-walking-deadthe-walking-dead-season-2threestowerfalltowerfall-ascensionvitaxbox-oneWed, 07 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monument Valley dev: 5% of Android players paid to play]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/monument-valley-dev-5-of-android-players-paid-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/monument-valley-dev-5-of-android-players-paid-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/monument-valley-dev-5-of-android-players-paid-to-play/#comments Monument Valley developer Ustwo revealed that only five percent of the game's installs on Android are "paid for." It divulged "interesting data" about the game in recent tweets, clarifying that a "small number" of the other 95 percent of installs were legitimate. Additionally, the data does not account for the one promotional day in which Monument Valley was free on the Amazon Store. By comparison, Ustwo said that 40 percent of the installs for the game on iOS were paid for.

Piracy isn't a new problem for the Android platform, as indicated by games such as Lucky Frame's Gentlemen!. The Edinburgh, Scotland-based independent developer announced in August 2013 that just 144 of the 50,000 downloads for Gentlemen! on Android were legitimate. Ustwo first launched Monument Valley on iOS in April 2014 before it arrived on Android one month later. The game reached one million copies sold in July after having recouped its development costs after one week on the App Store. It received eight new levels on iOS in November and earned a year-end award from Apple last month.
[Image: Ustwo]

JoystiqMonument Valley dev: 5% of Android players paid to play originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgoogle-playmobilemonument-valleypiracypuzzleustwoTue, 06 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Thomas' picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-thomas-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-thomas-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-thomas-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved

I love listening to music alone. When no one's looking, I'm free to tap out drum beats, put on emotional lip-synchs and flail in synch with a song's swelling heights. Playing Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved is a lot like those solo jam sessions in the way it grants a free pass to completely lose myself in a song's components. Sure, I look ridiculous, but I have to! Matching notes with halfhearted swipes and restrained punches just leads to broken combos, as if the Kinect is the all-knowing gaze of an instructor ready to belittle a cold, tired performance.

Substituting instruments and creating remixes adds a welcome element of experimentation to Fantasia, but it's the core focus of moving with music that brings me back each week. It's increasingly difficult to ignore life's noise while playing a game as I grow older, but Fantasia's peak moments tune out every distraction, leaving me with an uninhibited excuse to enjoy twisted, endearing remixes of songs that I love.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Thomas' picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Thomas' picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbest-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014disney-fantasia-music-evolveddonkey-kong-country-tropical-freezefantasia-music-evolvedfibbagehearthstonehearthstone-heroes-of-warcrafthyrule-warriorsiosipadiphonemacmicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationps3ps4pushmo-worldrogue-legacysouth-park-the-stick-of-truthterra-battlewii-uwolfenstein-the-new-orderxboxxbox-oneTue, 06 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Susan's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-susans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-susans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-susans-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Framed

Framed is so elegant and simple that it needs not a single word to teach you how to play. If you understand the basic function of the panels in a comic book and are able to poke things with your finger, you will swiftly understand the basics of how to make things happen in this brilliant mobile game. Arrange the panels one way, and your spy makes a daring escape from the police; position them another way, and he emerges from the wrong door right into the hands of the law.

From the very first level, which uses just two panels to illustrate how switching the order of the comic can change the outcome of its events, Framed builds on its simplicity, adding more panels, directionality and timing to create more complex puzzles in its stylish spy-vs-spy thriller. Each page of the comic is a puzzle complete unto itself, making Framed perfectly designed for short bursts of inspiration, or restricted play time. It's one of those games that's so damn clever, you wish you'd thought it up yourself.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Susan's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Susan's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroidbest-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014danganronpa-2-goodbye-despairdanganronpa-trigger-happy-havocframediosipadiphonejoystiq-best-of-2014lightning returns final fantasy xiiimicrosoftmobilenintendopersona qplaystationplaystation-vitaps3recommendedtales from the borderlandsvitaxboxTue, 06 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Clock Tower successor 'Project Scissors' becomes NightCry, gets live action teaser]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/clock-tower-successor-project-scissors-becomes-nightcry-gets/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/clock-tower-successor-project-scissors-becomes-nightcry-gets/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/clock-tower-successor-project-scissors-becomes-nightcry-gets/#comments
The spiritual successor to the Clock Tower survival horror series, Project Scissors, has a new name and a new live action teaser. The game is now called NightCry, and the trailer is definitely creepy, if a little light on information. One thing that Clock Tower fans will be sure to notice, however, is the presence of big, bloody scissors. Or, to put it more accurately, big scissors that appear to be made of blood.

The teaser is directed by Takashi Shimizu, director of the Ju-On horror film series and its American counterpart, The Grudge. Shimizu was revealed to be a part of the game project last year, along developer Nude Maker, which is led by the director of the original Clock Tower games, Hifumi Kouno.

NightCry is planned for iOS, Android and PlayStation Vita.
[Image: Nude Maker]

JoystiqClock Tower successor 'Project Scissors' becomes NightCry, gets live action teaser originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosipadiphonemobilenightcrynude-makerplaystationplaystation-vitaproject-scissorsvitaMon, 05 Jan 2015 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: GOTY Edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/metareview-goty-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/metareview-goty-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/metareview-goty-edition/#comments
Over the weekend the Joystiq hive mind concluded its annual hive dance and deemed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor the top dawg of 2014. Monolith's action-RPG may have hacked and slashed its way to the top of our list, but a glance at The Rest of the Internet makes one thing clear: When it comes to 2014's GOTY awards, there isn't One Game to rule them all.

With that in mind, we've taken the Metareview format we use to collate other outlets' reviews and given it a GOTY paint job. As ever, it's just a sampling of all the publications out there and plenty of places have yet to dole out their awards. Nonetheless, here's a wee look at the best games of 2014 according to everyone else.

Continue reading Metareview: GOTY Edition

JoystiqMetareview: GOTY Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bayonetta-2best-of-2014destinydragon-age-inquisitionhearthstonehearthstone-heroes-of-warcraftiosipadmario-kart-8metareviewmicrosoftmiddle-earth-shadow-of-mordormobilenintendopcplaystationps3ps4wii-uxboxxbox-oneMon, 05 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Mike's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-mikes-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-mikes-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-mikes-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Desert Golfing

Imagine you're stranded in the middle of a vast desert with nothing but a golf club and ball, rolling hills of sand stretching as far as the eye can see. You're not going anywhere soon. May as well play a few thousand rounds and work on your swing, right? Whoa, did you see that cactus on hole #316? Maybe it was a mirage, but I swear I found a rock on hole #537.

This delightfully minimal, endless version of golf doesn't drown players in features. Instead, Desert Golfing perfectly mimics life on a desert golf course: Serene. Sometimes maddening.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Mike's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Mike's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-golden-wakeandroidbest-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014desert-golfinggeometry-wars-3-dimensionshitman-goiosipadiphonejoystiq-best-of-2014madden-nfl-15microsoftmobilepcplaystationps3ps4recommendedxboxxbox-oneFri, 02 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST