Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Seen@GDC: The spherical future of video game interactivity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/seen-gdc-the-spherical-future-of-video-game-interactivity/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/seen-gdc-the-spherical-future-of-video-game-interactivity/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/seen-gdc-the-spherical-future-of-video-game-interactivity/#comments We don't just go to GDC in search of hot scoops. We're also constantly scanning our periphery for the next big movement in video game technology. This year, it came in the form of the VirtuSphere - a device we've heard about since 2006 but haven't seen in person until today. No, it's not a magical orb which infuses its user with moral excellence; it's a virtual reality peripheral controlled by its enveloped user's strut.

The technology was demoed on the show floor at GDC with a rudimentary first-person shooter. The player wears a visor (which changes the camera's view as the player looks around in real time) and holds a light gun peripheral. They can walk around the rolling sphere, which moves the player's in-game avatar around the level. Sounds too awesome to be true, doesn't it? Hey, we'd never lie to you. Check out a video demonstration of the device after the jump.

What? Did we try it out? No, unfortunately, we've got a thing about dizzy-puking in public.

Continue reading Seen@GDC: The spherical future of video game interactivity

JoystiqSeen@GDC: The spherical future of video game interactivity originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc-2010hamster-ballorbperipheralstechnologythe-futurevirtual-realityvirtusphereFri, 12 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildTangent to digitally distribute Kalypso titles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/09/wildtangent-to-digitally-distribute-kalypso-titles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/09/wildtangent-to-digitally-distribute-kalypso-titles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/09/wildtangent-to-digitally-distribute-kalypso-titles/#commentsFiled under: ,


We know that you've probably been racked by worry since it was revealed last week that WildTangent, developer of the pseudo-successful Fate (and alleged spyware distributor), would be closing its internal studios -- however, the company hasn't quite kicked the bucket. Its digital distribution platform, Orb (which former CEO Alex. St. John assured us would eventually replace the modern gaming console) is still in operation -- moreover, its catalog was recently bolstered as a result of a deal between WildTangent and UK developer Kalypso Media.

Kalypso, best known for its strategy title Sins of a Solar Empire, has given WildTangent the right to digitally distribute their entire back catalog, as well as the right to distribute all future titles they develop. Sure, it's not a giant step towards St. John's promised revolution, but it may be enough to keep the Grim Reaper from darkening WildTangent's doorstep for a while.

JoystiqWildTangent to digitally distribute Kalypso titles originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-distributionkalypso-mediaorbPCwildtangentSun, 09 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alex St. John: We're playing the 'last generation of consoles']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/alex-st-john-were-playing-the-last-generation-of-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/alex-st-john-were-playing-the-last-generation-of-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/alex-st-john-were-playing-the-last-generation-of-consoles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

orb
Congratulations! You're now a part of history ... or at least, a part of Alex St. John's alternate reality. Spend enough time with "the guy who talked Microsoft into the console business" and you might start seeing a big red countdown -- the kind that ends in KA-BOOM! -- tattooed on your gaming console, the UK's Telegraph reports. "I think we're looking at the last generation of consoles. There's not going to be an Xbox 720 or a PS4, I'll make that bet, not going to happen," St. John predicts.

Not surprisingly, St. John's grim prophecy doubles as a convincing plug for WildTangent's forthcoming virtual console: Orb. Orb will offer "enthusiast" games (BioShock and Assassin's Creed are two "possible" examples) for free on an ad-driven, session-by-session basis. In theory, this kind of digital platform could one day replace disc-based consoles, as it offers "free" gaming through an advertising model that consumers have accepted in other markets and cuts out the huge economic losses that console manufacturers can't seem to avoid (um, except for Nintendo!). "I'll take the heat if I'm wrong and don't mind being mocked in the future with people going 'Wow, was he wrong,'" St. John says of his market forecast, "But it doesn't happen to me very often."

JoystiqAlex St. John: We're playing the 'last generation of consoles' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-st-johnorbPCPS3WiiwildtangentXbox-360Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Crossbeam Studios cancelling entertainment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/crossbeam-studios-cancelling-entertainment/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/crossbeam-studios-cancelling-entertainment/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/crossbeam-studios-cancelling-entertainment/#commentsFiled under:


Even when it was called the Revolution, Crossbeam Studios decided to get their hands dirty and promote some big titles. The original three were Thorn, Midnight and Orb, and everyone was totally getting into the vibe of these promising projects.

Unfortunately, all those titles seem to be heading to the big recycle bin in the sky. The studio isn't going out of business; they are changing direction towards the PC and the early Wii projects simply aren't a priority, despite the fan following. A giant Falafelkid article on Crossbeam delves deep into the studio and its staff, which is a must-read for anyone interested in the core machinations of a smaller development team.

The games haven't been scrapped forever and ever, but you can stop thinking about saving up for any imminent pre-orders. Check out Cubed3's coverage and discussion with Greg Szemiot from Crossbeam, as well as the original dissection feature.

[Via Cubed3]

JoystiqCrossbeam Studios cancelling entertainment originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossbeam-studioscrossbeam-studios-entertainmentgreg-szerniotmidnightorbstudiosthornMon, 09 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildTangent unveils 'PC game console' Orb, Sierra and THQ pledge support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/wildtangent-unveils-pc-game-console-orb-sierra-and-thq-pledge/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/wildtangent-unveils-pc-game-console-orb-sierra-and-thq-pledge/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/wildtangent-unveils-pc-game-console-orb-sierra-and-thq-pledge/#commentsFiled under:


WildTangent announced today Orb, a new PC service aimed to give a game console experience. Orb will act as a portal for "console games," defined here as games designed for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and let you download and play games in its entirety or in play sessions, which will cost you via tokens or free through watching advertisements. THQ and Sierra have signed on, with Sierra promising to bring titles to the service "day and date" with console launches, according to WildTangent CEO Alex St. John.

In an interview with Joystiq, St. John explained how the cost per play session will depend on the game, but that it would be priced "fairly" based on statistics they derive in testing. That said, he presumes most will opt for the advertiser route. (In their casual portal, he said, 98% of the users opt for watching advertisements and playing for free.)

Games can be queued up for download in the background, but there's also an option for taking the games you want to play and having them sent to you for the cost of burning the DVD and shipping. The program will be offered in eight languages, including Chinese and Korean. No community features will included at launch, but St. John said he'd consider it in the future. It's a shame, too, because we think it's a key reason that programs like Steam and GameTap thrive.

The developer version will launch this week, with a consumer version poised for tomorrow. For users of the current WildTangent portal, which largely consists of what St. John calls casual gamers, they will be offered the client free for download when it launches. Orb will also be packaged with Dell and HP computers. Orb will be officially unveiled during a session tomorrow at GDC. We'll have more from our interview with St. John later this week.

JoystiqWildTangent unveils 'PC game console' Orb, Sierra and THQ pledge support originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-st-johnbreakingnewsgdc08orbPCwildtangentWed, 20 Feb 2008 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaked UK retail list raises questions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/leaked-uk-retail-list-raises-questions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/leaked-uk-retail-list-raises-questions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/leaked-uk-retail-list-raises-questions/#commentsFiled under:

Nanostray 2 ... on Wii? Orb, Thorn and Midnight all coming this year? When they leak retail information sheets in the UK, they do it right. Wii UK got their hands on a retail list (origin and destination unknown) with few concrete dates and a lot of unexpected, and even unknown games, as well as a few old favorites we're always happy to hear about. Hit the jump for the full list, but keep in mind that these are UK titles and games ... and since there's not much source information, you might want to keep a few grains of salt handy. But it's okay to get a little excited. We won't tell anyone.

Continue reading Leaked UK retail list raises questions

JoystiqLeaked UK retail list raises questions originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bowlingdartsLast NinjaLastNinjaLegend of the DragonLegendOfTheDragMidnightNanostray 2Nanostray2NintendoOrbpokerrelease listReleaseListretailrumorSims: The IslandSims:TheIslandThornWiiTue, 24 Apr 2007 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch internet TV on your 360 with Orb]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/watch-internet-tv-on-your-360-with-orb/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/watch-internet-tv-on-your-360-with-orb/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/22/watch-internet-tv-on-your-360-with-orb/#commentsFiled under: ,


IPTV may be a ways off for the Xbox 360, but that doesn't mean you can't have a little internet TV fun right now. Introducing Orb, a media streaming solution for the Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3. Orb allows users to stream video, photos, and music to selected devices, including our beloved Xbox 360. Of course, the Xbox handles streaming all by its lonesome, but Orb adds the option of streaming content from internet sources as well. While we've seen similar functionality in programs like TVersity, we've actually managed to get Orb up and running with minimal hassle. So far we've watched a little BBC and a Japanese rock concert with little trouble (over a wireless connection no less). The program takes some time to buffer (over a minute in our case) but the ease of use is appreciated. To give it a shot yourself, head over to Orb.com, read the Xbox 360 guide, download the software, and get cracking.

Keep in mind you will have to create an Orb account, but it's free (for now at least). Also, we have no knowledge of how reliable Orb is, so use it at your own risk. Give it a whirl and tell us what you think.

[Via TeamXbox. Thanks, Didlee]

JoystiqWatch internet TV on your 360 with Orb originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>orbstreamingstreamnig videoStreamnigVideoThu, 22 Mar 2007 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Crossbeam divulges more info on projects]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/15/crossbeam-divulges-more-info-on-projects/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/15/crossbeam-divulges-more-info-on-projects/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/15/crossbeam-divulges-more-info-on-projects/#commentsFiled under:


In an interview with Nintendo of Europe, indie development house Crossbeam Studios revealed some more on their three Wii projects. While the entire interview can be found here, it is only accessible to VIP members. Instead, we'll paraphrase the pertinent information for you.

In regards to Orb, this is the company's main project, followed by the other two proposed titles of Thorn and Darkness. Orb and Thorn are classified as adventure games, where Darkness is being classified as a more fear-based experience. See, the Earth has been overrun by forces of darkness and now mankind must make their last stand against these evil forces. The game will feature many branching paths to progress the story and lots of NPC interaction.

In commenting on the whole fear-based experience, Crossbeam's Greg Nichols said:

"Basically what I want you to feel when you turn off the game is that you're too afraid to turn the lights off. Think of when you were three years old, and the fear you had of basements, or the attic, or the dark. It's not the scare of the shock that I'm aiming for, what I want is the actual fear of the things that make you look over your shoulder. When I get afraid, my eyes start to water and a small tear comes out. I want that kind of fear to come out of the game."

JoystiqCrossbeam divulges more info on projects originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossbeamnintendoorbstudioswiiTue, 15 Aug 2006 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Revolution developer interview]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/22/revolution-developer-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/22/revolution-developer-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/22/revolution-developer-interview/#commentsFiled under: ,

Joystiq reports of an interview with the director of Crossbeam Studios, Greg Szemiot, one of the few independent developers currently working on bringing some titles to the Revolution. Their current catalogue of titles planned for the Revolution are Orb, Thorn, and Darkness. Greg goes on to state the reasons why he jumped aboard the Revolution to make titles; both the innovative control scheme and low development costs were major contributing factors for his studio.

Ross over at Joystiq makes a few wonderful points about some of the untapped potential of the upcoming Revolution. The lower development costs to attract smaller developers with bright, unique ideas and the possibilities of the Virtual Console make the Revolution a delicious buffet game developers should easily be saddling up to. Greg confirmed the team would be at E3, yet they would not be showcasing any of their work to the public, choosing  instead to shop for publishers.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqRevolution developer interview originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Mar 2006 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossbeame3nintendoorbrevolutionWed, 22 Mar 2006 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Orb developer interview]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/17/orb-developer-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/17/orb-developer-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/17/orb-developer-interview/#commentsFiled under: ,

With all the vague Revolution declarations we've had in the last few weeks, it comes as a refreshing gush of air to see someone actually fully committing to developing a Revolution game. The squares over at Cubed3 have posted an interview with just such a developer, Crossbeam Studios Entertainment, politely quizzing them about their forthcoming first-person RPG adventure, Orb.

Though the game has yet to find a publisher or a Revolution development kit, it's already being designed with Nintendo's console in mind. This isn't the first time we've seen a small team of developers making Revolution games on their mouse-driven computers, but it raises some fears as to whether or not it's a good idea to count your eggs before they've hatched. After all, there's a chance that no publisher will take interest in the game at hand--even Nintendo might politely decline.

"The only thing that worries me is Nintendo has thrown out far too many game ideas because they think it won't fly, when in fact they are great ideas. They are too scared of not making it. "

While that doesn't really sound like the Nintendo we know, there is a certain level of quality expected before you get that famous golden seal of approval stamped on your game.  Let's hope things turn out well for Orb. If not, there's always Xbox Live Arcade to fall back on...

JoystiqOrb developer interview originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Feb 2006 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Nintendo RevolutionNintendoRevolutionOrbRevolutionRole-Playing GamesRole-playingGamesRPGFri, 17 Feb 2006 11:41:00 EST