Joystiq

Joystiq answers your Wii U questions via Wii U Chat

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST

Keep track of all of Joystiq's Wii U launch coverage on our Wii U hub page!

We decided to try out Wii U's video chat application the other day - handily referred to as Wii U Chat - and since we were chatting anyway, we figured we might as well answer some reader questions about the Wii U itself.

Check out the video above, in which Joystiq Reviews Editor Richard Mitchell and Managing Editor JC Fletcher discuss the Wii U and, more importantly, draw funny things on each other's faces.

Joystiq answers your Wii U questions via Wii U Chat originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do Japanese RPGs need good stories?

Kat Bailey — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:29:00 EST

This is a column by Kat Bailey dedicated to the analysis of the once beloved Japanese RPG sub-genre. Tune in every Wednesday for thoughts on white-haired villains, giant robots, Infinity+1 swords, and everything else the wonderful world of JRPGs have to offer.

I'm going to sum up all of the cliches about Final Fantasy XIII in one sentence: "The battle system is pretty good, but the story is laughable." Gamasutra's Christian Nutt even went so far as to compare the direction of the series to the Star Wars prequels. I wish I could disagree.

For all that though, I'm willing to stick out Final Fantasy XIII-2's jaunt through time and space, banal anime archetypes and all. Whenever one of the cutscenes pop up, I just go and check my email. Either that, or I pick up a book. It's mostly the battles that keep me going. I'm also a big fan of putting hats on monsters, and Final Fantasy XIII-2 has that in spades.

The dirty secret is that I've always been more fascinated by RPG battle systems than the story within the game. In many ways, a character's mechanical growth is a story in and of itself. When the game begins, your character is a scrub with a wooden sword and a few potions. By the end, they can call down comets from the heavens and instigate supernovas. That's what I call a character arc.

Continue reading Do Japanese RPGs need good stories?

Do Japanese RPGs need good stories? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video from Sony's NGP panel: Uncharted Portable, Little Deviants, and augmented dino-reality

Christopher Grant — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST

In order to show developers precisely what NGP is capable of - and to break up the fifty plus slides used in the one hour presentation! - Sony shared three live demos of NGP software and we dutifully recorded them.

Apologies for the poor quality of the NGP screen - the combination of the bright OLED screen being captured on video, piped to a conference center projector, and then in turn captured by our camera has resulted in some ... less than stellar video quality. But you will be able to glean the input mechanics and the style of gameplay (or in the case of the augmented reality demo, dinosaurplay). Check out videos of Little Deviants, Uncharted Portable, and augmented reality after the break.

Gallery: Sony Next Generation Portable (NGP) GDC panel

Continue reading Video from Sony's NGP panel: Uncharted Portable, Little Deviants, and augmented dino-reality

Video from Sony's NGP panel: Uncharted Portable, Little Deviants, and augmented dino-reality originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: The Behemoth's 'Game 3'

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST

There's a part of me that likes examining games' sub-superficial levels -- the lingering inspiration behind the art, gameplay, story and all the rest of its aggregate components. Behemoth's Game 3 is difficult to dismantle in this manner, largely due to the fact that, even when compared to past entries in Behemoth's bizarre repertoire -- it's an unabashed labor of madness.

It could also be due to the fact that the speed at which I was forced to play the Game 3 PAX demo could best be described as blistering. Still, it didn't take much time to get what the game's core components are all about: Frantic multiplayer platforming action, the likes of which you haven't seen since Super Mario Bros. 3.

Continue reading Hands-on: The Behemoth's 'Game 3'

Hands-on: The Behemoth's 'Game 3' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: Heavy Rain introduces Scott Shelby

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST

I don't think I'm being too cynical or jaded when I say that it's hard for me to get legitimately excited for video games anymore. I love playing video games, and I heartily appreciate the good ones -- but the games that fill me with keep-you-up-at-night anticipation are few and far between.

After playing Heavy Rain for the first time on the show floor at PAX, something tells me my slumbers will soon be interrupted by Quantic Dreams' upcoming ... well, for lack of a better term, interactive movie.

Continue reading Hands-on: Heavy Rain introduces Scott Shelby

Hands-on: Heavy Rain introduces Scott Shelby originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Space Invaders father Nishikado calls today's games improved, recycled

Jason Dobson — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:45:00 EST

Games have come a long way since joystick jockeys first spent hours dropping quarters into Space Invaders. Now on the heels of Space Invaders Extreme's XBLA debut, series' creator Tomohiro Nishikado has spoken out on the state of games today, observing that originality has suffered despite advances in technology.

"I think the focus on unique concepts and gameplay has waned with the evolution of technology," commented Nishikado in a recent interview. While the iconic game designer praised new tech for allowing developers to create most anything they can imagine, he called out the industry for churning out "replicated gameplay formats and concepts," adding that "people are growing tired of playing the same thing." We'd be hard pressed to argue the point, though with games like Noby Noby Boy and Rhythm Heaven (a game Nishikado calls "excellent"), we still think there is a spark of originality out there. What about you?

Space Invaders father Nishikado calls today's games improved, recycled originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 May 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Point/Counterpoint: Is WiiWare a disappointment?

Alisha Karabinus — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: WiiWare, Point/Counterpoint

We've had WiiWare here in the U.S. for a little over a month, and already gamers are forming pretty solid opinions on the budding download service. Prior to launch, WiiWare was one of the most anticipated features the console had on offer ... and now that we have it, is it everything promised, or is WiiWare a disappointment? That's the question on the table between two of our bloggers today, so get ready to take sides and let your own voice be heard.


plctext		It burns us!

Point/Counterpoint: Is WiiWare a disappointment? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: On sequels

Alisha Karabinus — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

It seems as though every time a game is anything except an utter failure, someone decides that there should be a sequel (or six), with the exception of a few RPGs. Luckily, Square Enix pretty much has a lock on the RPG sequel, or we'd probably see more of those as well. From there, games often turn into full-fledged franchises, with a new title every year or so. So what do you think? Are we seeing too many sequels and franchises and not enough originality? Or do you actually prefer something familiar?

DS Daily: On sequels originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GripShift remixed on PS3; PSP owners to get sequel

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 20:35:00 EST

Filed under: News, Interviews, Gripshift

IGN blogger chubigans had the chance to talk to GripShift executive producer, Mario Wynands. Gripshift joins a number of games, such as Tekken: Dark Resurrection that are making the leap from PSP to PLAYSTATION 3. The "racing platformer" will feature some obvious improvements, such as HD visuals and real-time lighting, on the next-gen console.

However, PSP owners need not fret that they're being ignored. Mr. Wynands states, "It is definitely our intention to produce a full sequel of GripShift for PSP." While a sequel is exciting, what gets me truly revved up is the potential for a new original IP, something the PSP is certainly not unfamiliar with: " For PSP in particular, it's been interesting. We've certainly seen some great new IPs hit the handheld, made possible by the PSP being powerful but relatively cheap to develop for in comparison to console and also with a solid user base in place... We intend bringing more original IP to the PSP platform."

For the rest of this lengthy and revealing interview, head over to Club IGN.

GripShift remixed on PS3; PSP owners to get sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Dec 2006 20:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIY Xbox 360 controller only slightly bigger than the 'Duke'

Kevin Kelly — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Hacks, Retro, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360

This controller is just a couple of millimeters larger than the Xbox's original controller, so if you're looking for a throwback to that, or something that can double as the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey, then look no further. Sibling site Xbox 360 Fanboy has posted a link to instructables.com, where you can learn how to make one of your very own to hold and to love, and to use as a bed.

When we say massive, we really mean massive. There is no doubt that they could have also housed a couple of 360s inside this thing, hooked it up to two TVs, and made a Gears of War/Halo 2 gaming machine all in one.. A controller at each corner of the box, embedded plasma screens, surround sou ... okay, granted that's taking it a bit too far.

In a day and age of miniaturization, it's nice to see someone maximizing things. We'd really like to see a DS Lite this big, aw yeah.

DIY Xbox 360 controller only slightly bigger than the 'Duke' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA's Larry Probst denies PSP gamers original games

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews

Newsweek's N'gai Croal (awesome name) had a chance to talk to Electronic Arts' CEO, Larry Probst. Love them or hate them, EA is a major player in the industry, and their games have the power to move hardware units. Croal asked Probst about making original games for the PSP, something that seems outrageous to the CEO: I'm not so sure that I agree with the premise that we're strategically focused on building original product for the PSP. "That's news to me. It's more likely that we would target platforms like the PS3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii if we had an original in mind. Our strategy on PSP has typically been to take the franchises that we build on other platforms and exploit them on the PSP."

Croal points out the success of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories as one reason why publishers should look into making exclusive games for the handheld. However, Probst believes that without more units out there, the chances of original PSP games from EA is slim. Like the rest of the sane world, he notes that Sony should lower the price, and maybe even make a redesigned console, in order to reinvigorate sales.

Check out the rest of the interview to see Probst's other PSP thoughts, and why Nintendo matters.

See also:
Fun = DS, not PSP, says EA exec
EA makes a lot of money on PSP

[Via Joystiq; Image via Games Blog]

EA's Larry Probst denies PSP gamers original games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bidder ends up with 3 PS1s, not 1 PS3

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3

This proves that you need to read everything on every eBay auction before you hit that bid button, to the tune of $900. Obviously the buyer has only himself to blame, but check out how the seller tried to slant this, "HOT ITEM! Not PRE-ORDERED..HAVE IN HAND...All are American Systems. THERE IS NOWHERE TO FIND EVEN THE 20GB SYSTEMS THIS CHEAP....BUY THESE INSTEAD!"

Why even mention the 20GB systems in the ad? He clearly wanted some PlayStation 3 attention, and got it in a big way. Imagine how the bidder felt when he realized he punked himself for three original PlayStations, probably not even the PSone consoles. These can easily be picked up for around $100 or less, so bye-bye PS3 money. He could've bought three PSones and a PS3 for that dough.

Of course, seeing as how the winning bidder has zero feedback and is a new account, we're pretty sure he was the punkee and not the punker. As long as someone got punked here, we're good.

[Via Digg]

Bidder ends up with 3 PS1s, not 1 PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dead Head Fred interview

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, Dead Head Fred

Dead Head Fred was one of the games I said "you should keep your eyes on." And for good reason: it's an original action game, made exclusively with the PSP in mind. QJ had some time to sit down with Eric Peterson, president of Vicious Cycle Software to get some info on the game. Here are some of the more interesting comments:

"Dead Head Fred is a very ambitious game and we plan to deliver on all fronts. We want people to buy a PSP just to play Dead Head Fred."
"Currently our load times are extremely fast and we are pleased with the results... the E3 demo that we showed, allowed for 30 min of straight gameplay without the player ever experiencing a load time."
"The last thing we want people having to do is fight then camera when they should be fighting the enemies in the game."
You acquire new powers by attaching new heads to yourself. Here's a few examples of heads you'll find in the game:
"The Mutant head helps you survive radiation fields. The Scarecrow head lets you float on the water. The Stone Idol head makes you sink underwater. The Shrunken Head lets you get into tight spaces and glide along high wires. The Corpse head allows you to inflate with air and hover over obstacles; you can also fill it with water or gasoline to generate different effects and attacks. The Dummy head allows you to interact with citizens without scaring them out of their minds. "

The full interview has details on the graphics engine, combat, mini-games, and more. The developers would love to do a downloadable demo for the game, so hopefully we'll see one down the line. The game has still a lot of development time left: it comes out next year.

Dead Head Fred interview originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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