Joystiq

Take a stroll through NYC in Crysis 3

David Hinkle — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST

This clip from Crysis 3 starts with a stealthy stroll through a lush, dilapidated New York City and expands into all-out conflict. This is why we don't venture in Central Park at night.

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Take a stroll through NYC in Crysis 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NYC's oldest arcade re-opened as 'a cross between a Dave & Busters and a Chuck E. Cheese'

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:00:00 EST

When Chinatown Fair suddenly closed early last year, the prospects for a re-opening were slim. A variety of owners of the arcade weren't able to agree to a lease negotiation with the property's owner, and the doors to Chinatown Fair in its original form closed for good in late February 2011. This past weekend, those doors re-opened, and what The Gothamist saw inside wasn't quite the same as the Chinatown Fair that shut down last year. For one, the ownership changed.

"We're kind of a cross between a Dave & Busters and a Chuck E. Cheese," new owner Lonnie Sobel said. "We're trying to do the best of both worlds." While a handful of classics were spotted - Dance Dance Revolution and Terminator: Salvation, for instance - the changes were apparent: Guitar Hero and Fruit Ninja machines sit next to skee-ball and air hockey, all dispensing redeemable prize tickets.

Sobel promises more fighting game fare in the future, and pins the current lack to "no really great fighting games" being out at the moment. We ... don't agree with that statement, but our disagreement won't change things, unfortunately.

[Image credit: Gothamist]

NYC's oldest arcade re-opened as 'a cross between a Dave & Busters and a Chuck E. Cheese' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Indie-core' collective funding retro action-RPG on Kickstarter

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:15:00 EST

Legend of the Time Star has all the potential to be a brand new nostalgia bomb whose inherent paradox rips a hole in the thinly woven fabric of space and time itself, but only if we allow it to. We think that sounds like a pretty cool thing we'd like to witness, but in the end it's up to the larger community on Kickstarter to decide if this retro, side-scrolling action RPG will be made. It's kind of like building the atomic bomb, but with more citizen input.

Legend of the Time Star is in development by Attack Mountain, an "indie-core" collective based in New York City with the goal to "bring that warm, fuzzy feeling back to gaming by providing players with polished and engaging games that have just the right amount of old and new." The game itself features a protagonist named Hero, a villain who looks like Rasputin and a robust world built with a classic SNES RPG art style.

Attack Mountain is asking for $57,500 to create Legend of the Time Star, and with 21 days to go it has raised $5,700. Donate here if you're intrigued and follow progress on Attack Mountain's tumblr.

'Indie-core' collective funding retro action-RPG on Kickstarter originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 May 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'5th Avenue Frogger' is exactly what it sounds like (incredible, that is)

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST

Tyler DeAngelo is a problem solver. He sees Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, what with its rampant traffic and potential life-ending danger, and he turns peril into a game. Well ... not quite. He's taken a virtual approach to crossing said road, revamping the classic gameplay of Frogger with real-time data from cars traveling down Fifth Avenue. And then he - and two cohorts assisting the process - took things a step further.

Like George Costanza before him, DeAngelo grabbed a Frogger arcade machine with his hands and pulled it down to the streets of New York City. Unlike Costanza, however, DeAngelo invited passersby to play it. Many frogs died in the process - naturally - but, you know, they're virtual.

The whole process is run by rigging a camera with a clear view of the street up to a computer which translates the positional data of cars into in-game cars that your frog must avoid. It's all quite amazing, honestly, and we're inclined to believe it's actually dark magic rather than math. We've dropped a video of the game straight from the streets just below the break, should you be interested in having your mind partially blown this morning.

Continue reading '5th Avenue Frogger' is exactly what it sounds like (incredible, that is)

'5th Avenue Frogger' is exactly what it sounds like (incredible, that is) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jordan Mechner speaking at NYU Game Center next week

JC Fletcher — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:59:00 EST

Would you like to hear the (honestly) thrilling story of Prince of Persia data transfer firsthand? Jordan Mechner is speaking at NYU as part of its Game Center lecture series on Thursday, April 26.

Officially, the talk will cover "his work, provide insights into his creative process, and share stories from a career that ranges from creating games on his own to leading large game development projects to collaborating on big budget Hollywood movies," but we're sure there will be room in the program for talking about old disks!

Jordan Mechner speaking at NYU Game Center next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indie Game: The Movie heads to NYC on May 17

David Hinkle — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:30:00 EST

We've already seen the maximum thrills version of Indie Game: The Movie. Next month, you'll get a chance to sit down and soak in the more serious, real-life version of the film -- if you live in or around New York, that is.

On May 17, Indie Game: The Movie will have two screenings in New York City: a 7:30pm showing and a 9:45pm showing, both at the IFC Center. Filmmakers Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky will also be in attendance and plan on conducting a post-screening Q&A session with attendees. Tickets are available for purchase right now.

Indie Game: The Movie heads to NYC on May 17 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: NYC arcade Chinatown Fair reopening

JC Fletcher — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST

Kurt Vincent was shooting around the location of the old, defunct Chinatown Fair arcade this week, for his movie about the downfall of that beloved game center, when he discovered that it was actually not as dead as it seemed. Awkward!

Vincent posted on his blog that he'd heard rumors of the Fair being reopened, and then ran into who he believes to be the new owner on the site. He was there cleaning out the space and moving games in.

For NYC residents, this means a return of one of the fixtures of game culture. For Vincent, it means a storyline change for the movie. And, best of all, for Chinatown Fair, it means somebody is cleaning the place.

Report: NYC arcade Chinatown Fair reopening originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skylanders creative lead eying Wii U's NFC for the future; mobile game explained

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:20:00 EST

"Giants is the idea for the future," Toys for Bob CEO and development lead Paul Reiche III told me during an interview this morning, just ahead of this weekend's Toy Fair 2012. His company's latest project, Skylanders, is up for an award at the big show, not to mention an award or two at DICE 2012 (also this week), but he's already looking into the future. To an extent, at least.

"In terms of the Wii U, we're looking at it," he said in response to a question regarding the Wii U's recently announced NFC functionality -- functionality that's very similar to that found in the RFID-enabled Skylanders. "All of the details about the NFC technology haven't been released to the public yet, and it's really interesting," Reiche added, but he wouldn't budge on how much experience his company had with the Wii U's tech just yet ("I can't talk about that, I'm afraid.").

As for that other Skylanders game that was announced today -- the mobile one -- Reiche was able to be a bit more verbose, though not much. "We will be having new mobile associated with Giants, but we are also still working on a very fun experience using your toys in the Skylanders world that's for mobile," he told me. So, two games then! "I played it, I like it, I don't know what its release schedule is. This one isn't being implemented within Toys for Bob," Reiche added.

So, how does it work? Reiche couldn't get too specific, but he did say it'll use the web-based Skylanders experience to draw information to the mobile game. "No NFC phone necessary. We want anyone to be able to enjoy it. We want someone who just buys a toy to have a meaningful experience on someone else's mobile device."

Skylanders creative lead eying Wii U's NFC for the future; mobile game explained originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Videogame Critics Circle announces first annual awards show

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST

Look, we're gonna be upfront about this, we're a little biased -- okay, I'm a little biased -- toward any news involving the New York Game Critics Circle (I'm the standing member for Joystiq), but we're putting together an awards show and it's gonna be totally boss. On February 2, a gaggle of us are taking over New York University's Cantor Film Center and holding an awards show to honor the best games of 2011 -- what we consider to be 2011's best, anyway.

Founding member (and occasional NPR correspondent) Harold Goldberg is heading up the proceedings with some assistance from various NYGCC members, while an unannounced, well-known voice man is on tap to MC the event. The first annual awards show will take place on February 2 and we've dropped the entire list of nominees after the break. It'll also be open to the public with limited seating, which we'll have more info on in the coming weeks.

Wondering who voted for said nominees? That list is right here, but rest assured that everyone involved is totally your favorite.

Continue reading New York Videogame Critics Circle announces first annual awards show

New York Videogame Critics Circle announces first annual awards show originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Vita meetups begin next week

JC Fletcher — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:00:00 EST

We don't want you to miss your date with the PlayStation Vita, after it's gone to all the trouble of prettying up, polishing its screen and ... all right, this is getting creepy quick. We'll cut to the chase: the Vita "Social Club" events begin next Tuesday, January 17 in Chicago, Miami and NYC.

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PSA: Vita meetups begin next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare docs defend subscription model, tease free-to-play iteration of classic IP

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:45:00 EST

Understandably, BioWare heads Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk seem tired of beating the drum for Star Wars: The Old Republic's subscription-based business model. I didn't actually bother asking them about their thoughts on subscription vs free-to-play gaming during an interview early last week, but Zeschuk launched into a spirited defense nonetheless, perhaps conditioned by being asked over and over in the run up to SW: TOR's launch last Monday.

"You look at the online space in general and it's fragmenting into all these different areas, but the core still works. The subscription model still works," Zeschuk said. "We know a lot of people say, 'Oh, everything's just going free-to-play.' But that's just one slice. There's one slice that's free-to-play, there's one slice that's social, there's traditional subscription still going." He was also quick to point out that, "it's obviously been the free-to-play guys trumpeting this," though his own company certainly isn't above working in the free-to-play space, as evidenced by Warhammer: Wrath of Heroes.

"I'm not saying it's better or worse. It just doesn't supplant the other things. 'Cause we can do some things no one else can," Zeschuk added. In his eyes, a free-to-play dev isn't able to throw the same amount of resources and time at an MMO project, and that marks a big differentiation between the two business models. "The free-to-play people can't invest to the level we can invest, and can't create something of the size and scale of something we can create," he said. The idea that free-to-play will take over all other MMO business models, he said is, "from a business perspective, ridiculous."

Continue reading BioWare docs defend subscription model, tease free-to-play iteration of classic IP

BioWare docs defend subscription model, tease free-to-play iteration of classic IP originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare docs explain how to stay true to your roots while expanding massively

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:15:00 EST

With eight (eight!) studios around the globe as of the end of 2011, BioWare label heads Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk have kind of a lot going on at any given time. When I spoke with them earlier this week at Times Square's NASDAQ building, though, they were remarkably calm after ringing the financial institution's opening bell (surrounded by and emblazoned in Star Wars accoutrement), and launching the six-years-in-development Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Beyond the aforementioned accomplishments, the doctors' division of EA has been rapidly expanding -- over just the last six months, BioWare has added a Sacramento office, a San Francisco office, and an Ireland office, to say nothing of "BioWare Victory," the studio heading up Command & Conquer: Generals 2. That's a whole lot of people (501 - 1000, approximately, according to LinkedIn)! How do two guys that started out with eight people in a studio apartment manage that kind of expansion without diluting the original values they began with?

BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka offered an explanation by way of example:

"You're seeing how we're doing that in The Old Republic. We're merging story in in a really seamless way. It doesn't feel tacked on or added, it's actually there from the ground floor. It's actually adding to the experience and increasing that emotional engagement, which, you go back to our vision, that's what it's all about. Building that emotional engagement."

The concept of "emotional engagement" was one that both Muzyka and his long-time business partner Dr. Greg Zeschuk touched on repeatedly during the interview. Muzyka called it a "pillar" of the label's vision, but also emphasized that story -- BioWare's traditional method for engaging players on an emotional level -- isn't the only way to evoke an emotional response from players.

Continue reading BioWare docs explain how to stay true to your roots while expanding massively

BioWare docs explain how to stay true to your roots while expanding massively originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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thatgamecompany's Kellee Santiago on Vita, and her ongoing argument with Roger Ebert

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:15:00 EST

With Flow and Flower, Kellee Santiago and Jenova Chen's 12-person dev studio, thatgamecompany, completed two thirds of its three-game contract with Sony. And when Journey arrives some time in 2012, that three-game contract will come to an end, leaving Santiago and co. to an unknown future in the game industry. At a recent Sony press event in New York City, Santiago wouldn't say what the future holds for TGC ("Right now we're really focused on finishing Journey," she told me), but she did speak to her own interest in the PlayStation Vita.

"I could definitely see all of thatgamecompany's titles on the Vita," Santiago said. "But, as you said, we're a team of 12, so for us in each title we just try to focus on the specific platform we're distributing on, and then leave the future to the future." The studio's first game, Flow, ended up on Sony's last handheld system, so the idea of Flower and Journey ending up on the Vita isn't exactly a far-fetched one.

Given Santiago's apprehension at speaking about TGC after Journey, I instead prodded her about her interactions with famous (infamous?) film critic Roger Ebert. Had anything transpired since her last note? Santiago laughed before telling me, "He seems to have conceded that while he has his opinion, he can't really have it 'cause he doesn't play games anyway." In her last response, Santiago even offered to send Ebert a PlayStation 3 with Flower.

"We did send him a PlayStation 3 with Flower," she said. But has he played it? "At least of the last writing on it, he has not played it." Maybe she should've sent an employee to play the game for him as well?

[Image credit: TED Blog]

thatgamecompany's Kellee Santiago on Vita, and her ongoing argument with Roger Ebert originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The third-person witchcraft of Sorcery

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

I didn't feel like a magician, sorcerer, witcher, or warlock after playing through a combat demo of Sony's PlayStation Move-exclusive game, Sorcery, at a recent NYC press event. I wasn't sure how I felt, actually. The game didn't leave a huge impact on me, and perhaps that's telling as Sorcery doesn't seem to be remarkably deep or impressive, as much as it is fine.

When working on this preview, I was asked if Sorcery's Move mechanic "felt like a tech demo," as so many games for the PlayStation Move have (The Shoot , The Fight: Lights Out, and Sports Champions come to mind). "It feels deeper than that," I responded. "But not by much." As it turns out, that phrase is pretty representative of my whole experience with Sorcery.

Gallery: Sorcery (PS3)

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The third-person witchcraft of Sorcery originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avalanche Studios opens NYC studio, working on 'Project Mamba' for 2014

Christopher Grant — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST

Right on schedule, Swedish developer Avalanche Studios announced the official opening of its new New York City studio today, headed up by Activision and Atari veteran David Grijns. Avalanche, best known for its work on the Just Cause titles and this year's downloadable Renegade Ops, says the NYC location has 10,000 square feet of space with "an option on an additional 3,000 square feet for future expansion." That space will house "up to 50 new staff within the next 12 months," including a "core team comprised of senior staff from Avalanche's Stockholm headquarters."

This is all in service of Project Mamba, the unannounced AAA title teased in June when the expansion plans were first revealed. While the initial announcement only pointed to "next-generation platforms" for the 2014 project, today's announcement cites "console platforms and PC."

"Today is a great day for Avalanche Studios as we have achieved yet another goal by establishing a new studio in the greatest city in North America. We are one of the few independent, AAA-budget studios remaining in the world after the disastrous economic recession of the last few years," Avalanche Studios founder Christofer Sundberg said in a press release. "While this was a huge wake-up call for everyone in our industry, we have prepared for this expansion for over three years and it is a great feeling to execute our plans with such resounding success."

With some of the most expensive real estate in North America, an increasingly competitive AAA video game industry, and a global recession with no end in sight, we're not quite ready to call Avalanche's new studio a "resounding success" just yet, but we wish them all the best regardless.

Continue reading Avalanche Studios opens NYC studio, working on 'Project Mamba' for 2014

Avalanche Studios opens NYC studio, working on 'Project Mamba' for 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get Zelda: Skyward Sword a day early at launch event, get Penny Arcade comic now

JC Fletcher — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:03:00 EST

You won't have to go on a treasure hunt through dungeon-like NYC game stores to get a head start on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. If you're in the city, you'll be able to purchase the game a day early, and celebrate the launch with some fellow Triforce enthusiasts while you're at it.

Nintendo will host a launch event on Saturday, November 19, from 9am to 1pm at its Nintendo World Store in Rockefeller Center. During the event, people who pick up copies of the Wii game (one day before its official release date!) will get a "limited-edition poster." Nintendo will also unveil a "Master Sword replica," give away prizes, and offer demos.

If you can't make it to the event, at least you can ... look at some pictures of Link. Try doing that at the launch event ... ! Nintendo has partnered with Penny Arcade to produce a special weekly Skyward Sword comic, and the first page is up already online.

Continue reading Get Zelda: Skyward Sword a day early at launch event, get Penny Arcade comic now

Get Zelda: Skyward Sword a day early at launch event, get Penny Arcade comic now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Witness preview: Peering through the Myst

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

"Hey man, come in," a weary looking Jonathan Blow said. He was welcoming me into his temporary New York City abode, a swanky hotel in midtown where he'd been put up for a few days to show off a preview build of his next game, The Witness. His bare feet indicated to me that I'd either just woken him up, or that he was very comfortable with strangers. It turned out to be a combination of both, as Blow's PR-less presentation style (and sleepy demeanor) soon revealed.

"We started the game about two years ago, for real. I actually started it as a prototype earlier than that, before I finished Braid. I wasn't convinced I really wanted to do it, because I was still in the mindset of 'I'm the lone indie developer who types everything in himself and this is gonna be a much more ambitious project.' So I didn't wanna do it for a while, then I played with some other game ideas. Kinda liked those, but decided I really wanted to do this," Blow cursorily explained before I jumped in. While the dev process has seen contract workers, Blow's new studio (the ... uniquely named Thekla, Inc.) still only employs three full-time devs, himself included. "We're gonna be going into more of a production-type phase this next year," he added.

The work of just one 3D artist has made the game's mysterious, puzzle-filled island alive with bright, colorful, abstract flora. In fact, outside of a handful of expected bugs I encountered, The Witness is shaping up to be another standout work from a developer already well-respected in his field. Blow left me with one final note before I jumped in: "What you play here is basically the game, it's just gonna be a better version of this that we show."

Gallery: The Witness

Continue reading The Witness preview: Peering through the Myst

The Witness preview: Peering through the Myst originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Pxl Pushr' blends Kinect and iPad play to impressive, multicolor results

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:35:00 EST

Among the dozen or so games strewn about New York City's Museum of Modern Art (during last week's Kill Screen-curated "Arcade" event) two titles had their playable debuts: Eric Zimmerman and Nathalie Pozzi's "Starry Heavens" ("a physical game of power and betrayal"), as well as Matt Boch and Ryan Challinor's "Pxl Pushr" ("something akin to a full-bodied theremin blended with a puzzle game"). Considering what the two freshman entries were up against -- critically acclaimed games like Limbo, Canabalt, and Echochrome -- it was impressive that both games had lengthy lines throughout the evening.

I mean no offense when I say this, but Pxl Pusher looks like what would've happened if Kinect technology had existed in the Coleco Vision days. In the same way that your Dad's sweet 1973 Lacoste track jacket still looks totally rad, so does Pxl Pushr. The bizarre look is both a measure of the dev duo's style -- their day jobs are as designers at Harmonix -- and of the short-term development cycle. "Over the past four weeks-ish we've been messing around building this game," Boch explained.

In Pxl Pushr, one player places dots on an iPad, while another player attempts to catch as many dots as possible by using the contortions of their body (via Kinect). The player contorting their body is scored on how many pixels he/she is able to "push" versus the ones they miss. It's a simple concept for sure, but one that had many attendees smiling while making very silly poses. Not that the crowd's reaction was foreign to Boch and Challinor, two gentlemen who spend their working hours with Dance Central 2.

Gallery: 'Talk to Me' art exhibit, NYC MoMA

Continue reading 'Pxl Pushr' blends Kinect and iPad play to impressive, multicolor results

'Pxl Pushr' blends Kinect and iPad play to impressive, multicolor results originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walk with me through the MoMA's 'Talk To Me' gaming exhibit

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST

This past Wednesday evening, high-brow gaming mag Kill Screen teamed up with a handful of developers, several sponsors, and New York City's Museum of Modern Art to celebrate "Talk To Me," an exhibit at the MoMA focusing on "Design and the communication between people and objects." Kill Screen's "Arcade" event brought together games from a variety of well-respected developers to highlight that very concept.

We headed over to the "Arcade" event and snapped a mess of photos of both that night's happenings and the exhibit itself -- a virtual walkthrough, if you will. "Talk To Me" will be on display at the MoMA through November 7, so you still have a few more months to head over and experience it firsthand if you like what you see. Sadly, there won't be a variety of games strewn throughout the museum when you visit, but perhaps playing Canabalt on your phone as you peruse the exhibit will offer some minor verisimilitude.

Gallery: 'Talk to Me' art exhibit, NYC MoMA

Walk with me through the MoMA's 'Talk To Me' gaming exhibit originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch game trailers and short films on an NYC rooftop

JC Fletcher — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:20:00 EST

Kill Screen magazine is hosting a short video game film festival in the skies of NYC on July 30. The festival will include entries like that one Dead Island trailer, Super There Will Be Blood, and an excerpt from Mojang: the Story of Minecraft. And since it's on a rooftop, maybe Batman will show up!

Continue reading Watch game trailers and short films on an NYC rooftop

Watch game trailers and short films on an NYC rooftop originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Gabe Newell's excellent Games for Change keynote in full right here

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST

Sure, you read our thorough coverage of Valve co-founder and president Gabe Newell's Games for Change keynote last month, but we know how you like moving pictures. We do too! And that's why we're doubly happy to finally present the entire, highly entertaining speech, just above.

Watch Gabe Newell's excellent Games for Change keynote in full right here originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NYC Museum of Modern Art to co-host 'Arcade' event with Kill Screen

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST

It seems the "Games as Art" debate is over, as New York City's Museum of Modern Art is co-hosting a game-centric event later this month with haute gaming mag Kill Screen. Titled "Arcade," the one-night soiree on July 27 features several great indie games (Bit.Trip Beat, Canabalt, Limbo, and "a new motion-based Kinect project" from current Harmonix employees Ryan Challinor and Matt Boch, as seen here). The games will be playable throughout various parts of the museum, including the MoMA's gorgeous sculpture garden. That's where we'll be hanging out, in case that wasn't clear.

You may be wondering how the folks at Kill Screen finagled a gaming night at one of the world's most famous art museums, and we were too. It turns out that the event is part of MoMA's "Talk to Me" exhibit, which explores "the communication between people and objects." Video games seem like a perfect fit, no?

If the incredible location and selection of great games weren't enough to convince you, tickets are just $16 in advance and $20 at the door, which entitles you to "an exclusive viewing, a cocktail reception, a tote bag," as well as the aforementioned opportunity to play games at the MoMA. We'll also be there in our sharpest outfit handing out exaggerated high fives, so keep an eye out!

Update: This post originally pegged Ryan Challinor and Matt Boch as former Harmonix employees, when in fact they are both still employed at the studio. Sorry guys!

NYC Museum of Modern Art to co-host 'Arcade' event with Kill Screen originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Al Gore shares an incontestable truth: 'Games are the new normal'

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST

"Games have clearly arrived as a mass medium," former Vice President Al Gore professed to a crowd of Games for Change conference attendees this afternoon. Gore gave the event's keynote address at New York University earlier today, where he looked especially sleepy from a redeye flight out of Tokyo. "This is a very large, extremely significant industry, with a radically diverse and growing audience of players on all kinds of platforms," he added, citing the ubiquity of gaming over the past few years as a result of efforts by major console manufacturers, smartphone makers, and (of course) Facebook. "Games are the new 'normal' for hundreds of millions of users every month."

Gore went on to speak about his own admittedly short past with gaming, saying that the last game where he felt he "was best in the world, potentially" was Pong. He did, however, recently convert his book "Our Choice" into an eBook for iOS devices. He related this experience with the world of "serious games," where gaming is used to "illuminate issues that can seem intractable and overly complex." In so many words, it was an arduous process for him to convert the book -- just as it's difficult to convert complex concepts to the gaming medium.

The secret sauce, he claimed, was in working with a group of "really good partners who know what they're doing." Identifying those partners, however, is where things get tricky. "How you insure that the integrity of the content is not in any way compromised, but rather enhanced," he pointed out, is another major issue. Without providing a roadmap for how to navigate that issue, Gore put it on conference attendees to take up the task -- not to mention the hundreds of millions of gamers worldwide. Gaming is the new "normal," after all, so shouldn't gamers be involved?

Continue reading Al Gore shares an incontestable truth: 'Games are the new normal'

Al Gore shares an incontestable truth: 'Games are the new normal' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avalanche Studios to open New York City studio this fall

Christopher Grant — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:15:00 EST

"Kaos and THQ Digital suffers from the twists and turns of the games biz. You are more than welcome to join the Avalanche Studios US family!" Avalanche Studios founder Christofer Sundberg teased on Twitter yesterday. Today, there's a proper announcement of a new North American expansion for the Swedish-based Avalanche and it's located in ... New York City?

Yup, it's true! Just days after THQ closed its NYC-based Kaos Studios - the publisher was never shy about the prohibitive cost of operating a developer in one of the most expensive locations in the country - Avalanche has announced the expansion, to be headed by Activision and Atari veteran David Grijns and opened in the fall of this year. The studio is expected to hire "up to 50 new staff" in its first two years of operation, to work on "large-scale, online-enabled original IP for next-generation consoles, handhelds and PC."

That whole "original IP" bit makes it seem unlikely that Avalanche's long-rumored Mad Max project will be developed in the NYC office. The press release says that the studio's "premiere project is an unannounced AAA title directed by Roland Lesterlin, former Creative Director at Mindspark Interactive, and targeted for release on next generation platforms in 2014." The NYC studio will include "senior staff" from Stockholm and will be recruiting other candidates from, say, recently closed AAA studios in the area.

Avalanche Studios to open New York City studio this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second annual 'No Quarter' exhibit to be held in NYC May 12

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 07 May 2011 16:30:00 EST

We assume that everyone reading this blog post are unswervingly hip individuals living in New York City -- if that is indeed the case, you should leave space in your social calendar for the 2nd Annual No Quarter games exhibit this coming Thursday, May 12 at 7PM EST. The event is a showcase of new titles from indie developers including Terry Cavanagh (creator of VVVVVV), Ramiro Corbetta, Charley Miller and Luke O' Connor.

The totally free expo will feature new creations from these developers -- for example, Cavanagh's Nidhogg was commissioned for No Quarter last year -- as well as a public appearance by the indie game-stuffed Winnitron 1000 arcade cabinet. If that doesn't float your boat, perhaps this will: Free refreshments. Check out the flier after the jump for more details on how you can book your ticket on this gravy train. (Man, we hope gravy is one of the aforementioned refreshments.)

Continue reading Second annual 'No Quarter' exhibit to be held in NYC May 12

Second annual 'No Quarter' exhibit to be held in NYC May 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AR Drones loosed on unsuspecting Central Park

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST

Though the video of two AR Drones dogfighting in New York City's Central Park -- demonstrating AR game Flyingace -- is amazing enough on its own, we imagine the two dudes staring intently at their iPhones while controlling the drones are even more amazing to see.

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AR Drones loosed on unsuspecting Central Park originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Let's Tap, and more get theatrical adaptations in NYC

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EST

Yes, someone has decided to turn Wii Tennis into a real theatrical production. Ars Nova, a theater "committed to ... support[ing] outside-the-box thinking," will present a series of plays -- The Wii Plays -- each named after a title in Nintendo's motion controlled library. There are some familiar names here, including Marvel Superhero Squad and Tomb Raider: Anniversary, as well as some especially odd choices. Let's Tap? Bob the Builder: Festival of Fun? Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games? Really?

While there's undoubtedly some copyright infringement at work, The Wii Plays won't be around long enough to cause too much trouble. Ten different plays will be shown off-Broadway from February 1-12. Tickets will go for $15 each.

With musical accompaniment from a live band, The Wii Plays might warrant the price of admission based on novelty alone. Check out the full list of adapted works in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Let's Tap, and more get theatrical adaptations in NYC

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Let's Tap, and more get theatrical adaptations in NYC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look inside PlayStation's New York City store

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST

The PlayStation Store is now open in Midtown Manhattan, in the lower level of the Sony Style store. We stopped by to check out what it has to offer.

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Look inside PlayStation's New York City store originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Lounge opening tomorrow in Manhattan

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:40:00 EST

We know you probably shut your brain off after reading the words "PlayStation Lounge," assuming it was just a newly opened Home Space -- fortunately, that's not the case. Sony announced that tomorrow afternoon, it will turn the ground floor of its HQ in New York into the aforementioned Lounge, where shoppers can play demos of upcoming PS3 and PSP games, or test out currently available products like PlayStation Move.

Tomorrow's opening day festivities will see attendees shmoozing with a man-sized Sackboy, taking part in raffles for PlayStation Move bundles and drinking expensive martinis while enjoying a live performance from Robert Goulet. Actually, we made that last thing up, but what kind of a "Lounge" would it be if that option wasn't made available?

PlayStation Lounge opening tomorrow in Manhattan originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Come play Sonic Colors in Bryant Park today

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST

It may be raining here in NYC today, but that doesn't mean Sega's canceling its Bryant Park Sonic Colors ice skating party. Well, okay, the ice skating part is kinda off, but that whole "playing Sonic Colors early and seeing Cash Cash perform the game's theme song" thing is still totally on.

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PSA: Come play Sonic Colors in Bryant Park today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo World Store closed for remodeling

JC Fletcher — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:20:00 EST

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

We hope you didn't have an urgent need for a Waluigi doll. The Nintendo World Store in New York City closed its doors last night for remodeling. It'll open again at 9AM on November 1, with new DSi and DSi XL stations, and twice the space devoted to displaying rare and vintage Nintendo items in the Nintendo Showcase.

Then, on November 7, Nintendo will hold a "grand re-opening" event that will run throughout the day. There's no information yet about what exactly will occur at the event, but you can probably expect to meet some kind of industry personality and pick up some kind of free item. And wait in line.

Nintendo World Store closed for remodeling originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Come see Peter Molyneux at tonight's Engadget Show, live in NYC (and on 'the internet')

Christopher Grant — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EST

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

If you happen to live in or around the New York City area (or have an internet connection at home) and happen to like things that are awesome, have we got a treat for you!

Tonight, Wednesday, August 4th 2010, the stars have aligned to bring you a Very Special Engadget Show: Peter Molyneux, head lion at Lionhead Studios, creative director (and chief feature promiser!) for Microsoft Game Studios Europe, Kinect pitchman, and also designer on a little game called Fable 3. If you want to see Peter talk (and talk and talk) we highly suggest you get yourself to the Times Center in NYC tonight. Ticketing begins at 5:30, doors open at 7:30, and the show begins at 8. No worries if you're not in NYC and can't make it. The show will be streaming live at Engadget starting at 8:05pm ET and, as always, will be available for download later this week.

If you want to hear what one of gaming's most consistently thoughtful and enthusiastic creators has to say about everything from Kinect to Milo to who knows, you'll want to be there. For more details, and directions, click that Source link below.

Come see Peter Molyneux at tonight's Engadget Show, live in NYC (and on 'the internet') originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hideo Kojima autograph signings scheduled for Los Angeles and New York

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:45:00 EST

Did you miss your chance to meet Hideo Kojima for the launch of Metal Gear Solid 4? You'll have yet another opportunity, this time to coincide with the launch of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Provided you're willing to travel to Los Angeles or New York, you'll be able to say "Hi!" to the man most famously known for his involvement in the Zone of the Enders franchise.

Kojima will make his appearance in New York on June 11, at Uniqlo from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and at Best Buy Union Square from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.. West Coasters will want to stop by the Universal Citywalk GameStop in Los Angeles on June 13 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Don't forget to mark your calendars. And, if you want to guarantee a visit with the game designer, you best start waiting in line ... now.

Hideo Kojima autograph signings scheduled for Los Angeles and New York originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 May 2010 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Go behind the tech of PlayStation Move at the Engadget Show this Saturday

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST

The Engadget Show is teaming up with Joystiq's very own Chris Grant this Saturday in a brand new episode that features the newly unveiled PlayStation Move motion controller. Sony's Richard Marks will take the stage, bringing some brand new tech demos that highlight what the controller is capable of. This will be the first time the general public will be able to get their hands on the device, with random members of the audience being able to play with the Move live on stage. And there's going to be a special surprise ...

If you're in the NYC area, go to Engadget to find out more details on how to score a ticket for the show. If you can't make it, don't worry! Both Joystiq and Engadget will have a live stream of the episode available for you to watch this Saturday, March 20th at 5PM EST. Hope to see you there!

Go behind the tech of PlayStation Move at the Engadget Show this Saturday originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crysis 2 takes the crisis to New York

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST

The supersuit-enhanced cat has officially leaped out of the bag, folks -- Crysis 2 will be set in New York City. According to a "World Exclusive" Twitter image of the next PlayStation: The Official Magazine's cover (partially seen above), the upcoming sequel plans to give players a chance to blast off the faces of "aliens invading NYC," employing the already teased "Nanosuit 2.0."

As the Crysis 2 cover is set for the March issue of PTOM, we expect to start hearing more details on the sequel over the next few weeks as subscribers start getting their copies (and subsequently begin filling the internet with said details).

Crysis 2 takes the crisis to New York originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reminder: Today's Engadget Show to feature Joystiq's Chris Grant!

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Are you in New York City today wondering what to do at 5PM? We suggest you head to the below address in NYC's beautiful East Village where The Engadget Show is being taped, featuring not just HTC's Drew Bamford, but also Joystiq's very own head honcho Chris Grant! They'll be talking games and giving out an Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 bundle to one lucky attendee. Seating is limited to 450 and tickets are available ... right now at the Tishman Auditorium. We're serious! Head over this minute!

Tishman Auditorium at Parsons The New School for Design

66 W. 12th Street

New York, NY 10011

Reminder: Today's Engadget Show to feature Joystiq's Chris Grant! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rockstar's Beaterator subbing for music teachers in some NYC public schools

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

Despite a relatively low-key launch on the PSP this past Fall, Rockstar Games' Beaterator is showing back up in the news this week for reasons that we couldn't have seen coming from a mile away. It turns out that kids in some NYC public schools are getting their music education by means of the beat making application and PSPs, with a custom workshop being taught by Dubspot.

CBS2 News reports that students from the East Side High School in Manhattan are being instructed on not just using Beaterator's tools, but also creating fully fleshed out tracks. "They're able to learn music theory in a different format ... it's the same information, just a different way of presenting it," the class' teacher says. Copies of Beaterator and PSPs are being provided for free, as is the classroom. We've contacted Rockstar to see if it plans on expanding the program into other cities.

[Via Rockstar Games]

Rockstar's Beaterator subbing for music teachers in some NYC public schools originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Super Mario Bros Wii launch event in NYC this Saturday

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST

Nintendo is holding a little family-friendly launch fiesta for New Super Marios Bros. Wii this Saturday, November 14, at its flagship store in New York City. The House of Mario will "transform" Rockefeller Plaza into the Mushroom Kingdom, providing demo stations, "costumed characters, trivia challenges, prize giveaways (while supplies last)."

The event takes place from 3-7PM and NSMBW is available to purchase early from the Nintendo World Store during that time. The game officially launches the following day, November 15. If getting it a day early seems worth the trip, remember to add NYC's lovely (8.875%) sales tax to your budget.

New Super Mario Bros Wii launch event in NYC this Saturday originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is Modern Warfare 2's official launch party

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

It seems a bit silly to have a launch party for a game that pretty much "launched" already. NYC became host to the official Modern Warfare 2 launch, where enthusiasts were able to wait on line for their chance to play the game. After the festivities, they could walk one block away to GameStop to buy a copy of the game at midnight -- and no sooner.

Funnily, a good percentage of people waiting on line already had a copy of the game. Why bother going to the launch event, then? Perhaps the swag proved too enticing: XL Modern Warfare 2 t-shirts and the chance to oogle at IGN's Jessica Chobot were more than enough reason to wait on line for upwards of an hour.

Considering this is arguably the biggest game release of the year, the event ended up being a bit underwhelming. Other than the dozens of Xbox 360 demo kiosks (with nary a PS3 in sight), Activision didn't offer much else to see or do. For the sake of this blogger, a more "ridiculous" marketing budget would have offered a far more spectacular launch party, one filled with fireworks, ninjas and dedicated servers.

This is Modern Warfare 2's official launch party originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We get beaten up at Capcom's NYC Fight Club so you don't have to

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

So what if you weren't able to make it out to Capcom's second annual NYC Fight Club last night? Don't worry, we went -- and got trounced by the competition -- in your stead. Though Super Street Fighter IV was only there for Capcom to demo (and give a small handful of community members time with), we snapped pictures of everything. We also played a mess of Tatsunoko vs Capcom in a next to final build (yes, we put the two recently revealed characters through their paces), and even shot some video of legendary Street Fighter player turned Capcom employee Seth Killian demoing new SSFIV characters in front of a roaring crowd (550 or so people over the course of the night, a rep approximated for us -- more than double last year's attendance numbers).

As we weren't able to get our hands on the three new fighters being showcased (Juri, Deejay, and T. Hawk), we talked to Jamal Brewster, a gentleman who exchanged kindness for some time with Deejay during one of the night's four live demos. "He doesn't feel cheap or overpowered .. he does feel good though, like he belongs in the game -- a lot of his moves have been retained from previous games," Brewster told us, echoing sentiments from Seth Killian earlier in the night. But how did you get chosen to play the game, you lucky dog? "One of the representatives here, she was almost passing out in the corner over there, and a friend of mine and I noticed this, so we did our best to try to help her out. We sat her down, gave her some water, and the people here were so grateful that they offered me a chance to play Super Street Fighter IV and they gave me an autographed hoodie of Tatsunoko vs Capcom."

In case it wasn't already clear: Yes, Capcom Fight Club is most certainly for the fans. Hit the break for a video of the new characters in action (sorry about the quality -- it was really dark) and be sure to peep the gallery below -- it's just like you were there! We'll have a hands-on of Tatsunoko vs Capcom's final two characters later on. Promise.

Gallery: Capcom Fight Club NYC (Year 2)

Continue reading We get beaten up at Capcom's NYC Fight Club so you don't have to

We get beaten up at Capcom's NYC Fight Club so you don't have to originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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