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[Mercenaries 3 footage gives taste of canceled game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/mercenaries-3-footage-gives-taste-of-canceled-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/mercenaries-3-footage-gives-taste-of-canceled-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/mercenaries-3-footage-gives-taste-of-canceled-game/#comments When Pandemic shut down last year, it took several projects with it. Kotaku has obtained footage of what was to become Mercenaries 3: No Limits. It would appear this game is not related to the announced Mercs Inc., which is currently on assignment in Limbo.

The showreel is rough, giving an idea of new game concepts and revealing a character who sounds a little like Uncharted's Elena after swallowing bad-girl pills. Head on over to Kotaku to see the Mercenaries that once upon a time you may have been able to eventually pay for.

JoystiqMercenaries 3 footage gives taste of canceled game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsMercenaries-2Mercenaries-2-World-In-FlamesmicrosoftpandemicPandemic-Studiospcplaystationps3xboxMon, 15 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Killspace Entertainment pulling from ex-Pandemic, EALA; working on two unannounced games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/11/killspace-entertainment-pulling-from-ex-pandemic-eala-working/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/11/killspace-entertainment-pulling-from-ex-pandemic-eala-working/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/11/killspace-entertainment-pulling-from-ex-pandemic-eala-working/#comments Ever heard of Killspace Entertainment? Yeah, neither had we until Supererogatory spotted the unannounced development studio's website (replete with strange video). In a Digital Development Management brochure (warning: PDF link), the studio is advertised as having one "Original IP with major publisher" in development and one "Licensed IP -- TBA," though it's said to be working on games for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, iPhone, and Facebook. A quick search on LinkedIn shows that the dev house has been picking up employees from the likes of Obsidian Entertainment, Pandemic Studios, Red 5, and EALA, and will be focusing on "3rd and 1st person character action" titles. It also appears that some employees have been with the studio for over a year, meaning it's not exactly a brand new venture.

Odder still, it appears that one Douglas Markland of Killspace Entertainment is down as the contact on a WHOIS of both ApocalypseNowGame.com and WarIsNotAGame.net (though both sites are still devoid of content as of this writing). We've reached out to the studio for information on any of this and will update this post if we hear more.

JoystiqKillspace Entertainment pulling from ex-Pandemic, EALA; working on two unannounced games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocalypse-nowAppledouglas-marklandealaiPodkillspacekillspace-entertainmentkillswitch-entertainmentlinkedinMicrosoftobsidianobsidian-entertainmentpandemicpandemic-studiosred-5red-5-studioswarisnotagame.netXbox-360Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon offering Borderlands for $40, The Saboteur for $20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/amazon-offering-borderlands-for-40-saboteur-for-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/amazon-offering-borderlands-for-40-saboteur-for-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/amazon-offering-borderlands-for-40-saboteur-for-20/#comments If you've got a handful of twenties just lying around, then first, congratulations for staying so moneyed during trying financial times. Second, Amazon's got a couple new deals you should look at -- the online retailer recently knocked the price of Borderlands down to $39.99, further reducing the game's gun-to-dollar ratio to a staggering 1 to $0.0002.

If you're on a somewhat tighter budget, you can grab Pandemic's open-world swan song The Saboteur for just $19.99. Sure, it didn't receive as much critical acclaim as Borderlands, but if you pronounce its title with a hard "a," it turns into The Sabo-Tour, a sports simulator following the life of bespectacled Cincinnati Reds legend Chris Sabo. That's well worth the $20, in our humble opinion.

JoystiqAmazon offering Borderlands for $40, The Saboteur for $20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonborderlandsdealsgearbox-softwareMicrosoftpandemicsalethe-saboteurXbox-360Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exhibit B, Q or X: 'Legends' concept art from canceled Pandemic project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/05/legends-concept-art-from-canceled-pandemic-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/05/legends-concept-art-from-canceled-pandemic-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/05/legends-concept-art-from-canceled-pandemic-project/#comments Following Pandemic's closure last November, several "secret projects" previously handled by the EA-owned studio slipped further into obscurity. While Mercs Inc. is apparently still in the works at EALA with the help of former Pandemic staff, "Project B" and "Project Q" (code names once used by Pandemic) were reportedly canceled -- and the status of a third mystery game, "Project X," is unknown. The not-to-be Wii racer, The Next Big Thing, was supposedly Project B or Q, and the recently unarchived project, Legends, is likely the other of the two.

Former Pandemic artist Dorian Compo has posted alleged concept art of the so-called Legends project on his self-promotional blog. "This is a project I worked on for a while, but then it was canceled -- not sure why, because it would've been awesome," Compo writes alongside the series of art stills, which depicts a fantasy-type sky world complete with various aircraft designs.

More recently, Compo posted a set of "tarots" bearing a Mercs Inc. logo and said the game was also "canceled." While providing a seemingly erroneous update, perhaps Compo was merely suggesting that the particular version of Mercs Inc. he had once worked on is no more.

[Via superannuation]

JoystiqExhibit B, Q or X: 'Legends' concept art from canceled Pandemic project originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canceledcancelledconcept-artdorian-compoeaElectronic-Artslegendsmercs-incpandemicpandemic-studiosProject-BProject-QMon, 05 Apr 2010 18:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Recently laid-off devs rant about being recently laid off]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/15/gdc-recently-laid-off-developers-rant-about-being-laid-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/15/gdc-recently-laid-off-developers-rant-about-being-laid-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/15/gdc-recently-laid-off-developers-rant-about-being-laid-off/#comments I think we can all agree that, aside from being hit by a speeding train or dropping a hot meal you've been cooking for hours, being fired from your job is like, the worst thing that can happen to you. As such, we expected the speakers on last week's GDC rant panel, titled "Fired and Fired-up: Jobless Developer's Rant," to be especially inflammatory. We were not disappointed.

Just past the jump, we've highlighted three of our favorite presentations from the panel. Some of them get awfully, explicitly blue, so if you happen to find yourself reading this video game news site while at work, you might want to think twice about going beyond the break. (You should also get back to work, you lazy so-and-so!)

Continue reading Recently laid-off devs rant about being recently laid off

JoystiqRecently laid-off devs rant about being recently laid off originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carey-chicochris-heckerdeveloperdevelopmenteaElectronic-Artsensemblefiringgdc-2010layoffsmaxismicrosoftpandemicpanelpaul-bettnerrantMon, 15 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Concept art from Pandemic's Mercs Inc. sneaks onto the net]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/concept-art-from-pandemics-mercs-inc-sneaks-onto-the-net/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/concept-art-from-pandemics-mercs-inc-sneaks-onto-the-net/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/concept-art-from-pandemics-mercs-inc-sneaks-onto-the-net/#comments
 When art or information is leaked on a developer's personal web page, most (especially the bosses) would likely see it as a gaffe. But we eternal optimists like to take these moments as an opportunity to celebrate the artists that far too often are hidden in the shadows of their IPs and big-name studio chiefs.

Today, we spotlight Mr. Tony Ianiro, a concept artist who displayed some of his work on Pandemic's upcoming Mercs Inc. on his personal page. At least, he says it's from Mercs Inc., and while we have no apparent reason to doubt Mr. Ianiro's word, you know how concept artists are.

[Via VG247]

JoystiqConcept art from Pandemic's Mercs Inc. sneaks onto the net originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-Artsmercs-incpandemictony-ianiroTue, 19 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Kevin's Picks of 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/best-of-the-rest-kevins-picks-of-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/best-of-the-rest-kevins-picks-of-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/best-of-the-rest-kevins-picks-of-2009/#comments Halo Wars
Yeah, that's right, Halo Wars. I've already caught enough flak for putting this on my best-of list for 2009 (it's hard to even remember that it came out way back in February), but it deserves to be recognized ... so pay attention once your laughter has died down. Ensemble Studios (RIP) proved that you could bring a real-time strategy game to a console, and still make it enjoyable. Sure, you'll never have 1:1 parity mapping everything a full-sized keyboard offers onto a controller, but this game came close. It's a pity Ensemble closed, since we'll never see any expansion packs or a sequel. The good news is that, since it wasn't received with blaring trumpets and the sounds of cash registers ringing, you can pick this up for under 20 bucks for some good fun.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Kevin's Picks of 2009

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Kevin's Picks of 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applebattlefieldbattlefield-1943best-of-the-rest-2009canabaltclansdefense-griddefense-grid-the-awakeningdominionensemble-studiosflowergalaxy-truckergigamichalo-warsillusioiPodkillzonekillzone-2last-night-on-earthMicrosoftpandemicpcpower-gridpsnpuerto-ricopylosstarcraftstarcraft-2torchlightxblaXbox-360Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: The Saboteur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/review-the-saboteur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/review-the-saboteur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/review-the-saboteur/#comments You've got to feel for The Saboteur. Sean Devlin's one-man war against the Nazi party would have been a fine way to while away the summer hours, but here at the end of a holiday season -- filled with wonderful games -- it's tough to leave it thinking about anything other than its squandered potential.

It's a solid open-world action title, but it's one that hits just enough amazing, explosive crescendos to leave you wishing you could have seen it in an alternate reality, where developer Pandemic hadn't been shuttered and was able to give its swan song just a few more months of polish.

Gallery: The Saboteur

Continue reading Review: The Saboteur

JoystiqReview: The Saboteur originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicthe-saboteurXbox-360Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[The Saboteur's day-one DLC unlocks nudity, self-loathing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/the-saboteur-day-one-dlc-unlocks-nudity-self-loathing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/the-saboteur-day-one-dlc-unlocks-nudity-self-loathing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/the-saboteur-day-one-dlc-unlocks-nudity-self-loathing/#comments Here's at least one reason to buy your copy of The Saboteur new: All fresh copies of the game will ship with a code to download DLC, called "The Midnight Show," for free. The pack contains new Parisian hiding spots, a new minigame and, for better or for worse, the option to unlock nudity in the game.

If you buy the game sans code, you'll also be able to pick up the DLC for $2.99 / 240. But at that point, whether you'll admit it or not, you're basically paying to see digi-boobies ... and if you do that, we're just not sure we can be friends with you any more.

JoystiqThe Saboteur's day-one DLC unlocks nudity, self-loathing originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlceaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicthe-midnight-showthe-saboteurXbox-360Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Mercs Inc' officially announced, developed by Pandemic at EALA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/mercs-inc-officially-announced-developed-by-ea-los-angeles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/mercs-inc-officially-announced-developed-by-ea-los-angeles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/mercs-inc-officially-announced-developed-by-ea-los-angeles/#comments This morning's leaked footage, purported to belong to a new multiplayer-capable Mercenaries game called "Mercs Inc," just barely beat EA's official announcement of the (working) title to our front page. In development at EA Los Angeles, the latest toy in the destructive sandbox is paraded underneath the Pandemic banner, held aloft by the "core creative team" that survived the physical studio's recent closure. No target platforms have been announced.

According to EA senior VP and group GM, Nick Earl, the swift announcement "demonstrates our continued commitment to Pandemic's rich catalog of intellectual properties." As the press release innocently points out, "Mercs Inc will also be the first Pandemic game" to be released after this December's The Saboteur, the last Pandemic game. Oh, the previous one, we mean.

Joystiq'Mercs Inc' officially announced, developed by Pandemic at EALA originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionea-los-angelesealamercenariesmercenaries-3mercs-incpandemicpandemic-studiosTue, 24 Nov 2009 15:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Leaked video shows Mercenaries multiplayer sequel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/rumor-leaked-video-shows-mercenaries-multiplayer-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/rumor-leaked-video-shows-mercenaries-multiplayer-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/rumor-leaked-video-shows-mercenaries-multiplayer-sequel/#comments A leaked video that's rumored to show gameplay of a pre-production, multiplayer version of Mercenaries -- titled Mercs Inc. -- has been unearthed by Bitmob. The project is reportedly in pre-production at EALA, being created by two dozen or so of the Pandemic team that weren't let go when the studio's doors were closed last week.

The video features plenty of car-on-car and car-on-dude violence, as well as the extremely rare Triple Teabag, which hasn't been seen since the Ukranian Ice Hurling team's dramatic win over Poland in the 1906 Winter Olympics. It must be seen to be believed, and you can do just that right after the break.

Continue reading Rumor: Leaked video shows Mercenaries multiplayer sequel

JoystiqRumor: Leaked video shows Mercenaries multiplayer sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaealaElectronic-Artsmercenariesmercenaries-incpandemicrumorTue, 24 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Pandemic goes out with a bang, 'Office Space' style]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/video-pandemic-goes-out-with-a-bang-office-space-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/video-pandemic-goes-out-with-a-bang-office-space-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/video-pandemic-goes-out-with-a-bang-office-space-style/#comments There's no two ways about it: having your studio shut down does not feel good. However, it does feel good to be a gangsta. Damn good. To prove this ancient adage, some former Pandemic employees put together a little Office Space-inspired video to honor the house that brought us Mercenaries, the Star Wars Battlefront series and the upcoming release, The Saboteur.

Kotaku reports that the mercilessly destroyed printer was, in fact, used by the Saboteur team, giving the video an extra layer of sweet vengeance. A word to EA: if you're missing any red Swingline staplers, we might know where they are. Watch the (very NSFW) video after the break.

Continue reading Video: Pandemic goes out with a bang, 'Office Space' style

JoystiqVideo: Pandemic goes out with a bang, 'Office Space' style originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closureeaElectronic-ArtsfinancelayoffspandemicPandemic-StudiosrevengeMon, 23 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Saboteur goes gold despite developer going dark]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/21/the-saboteur-goes-gold-despite-developer-going-dark/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/21/the-saboteur-goes-gold-despite-developer-going-dark/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/21/the-saboteur-goes-gold-despite-developer-going-dark/#comments Though The Saboteur developer Pandemic Studios is losing its 200-person staff, the company's final game has just "gone gold" across Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. In a post on the studio's forums, Community Manager Mathew Everett noted that while "this has been a very difficult week for Pandemic Studios," The Saboteur will still be "available across Europe starting December 4 and throughout North America on December 8."

Unfortunately, it would appear that EA (the game's publisher) has forgotten about said release dates, choosing to offer as little marketing push as possible. We wish the folks at Pandemic Studios the best and offer our condolences to those who recently lost their jobs.

[Via PlanetXbox360]

Gallery: The Saboteur (11-10-09)

JoystiqThe Saboteur goes gold despite developer going dark originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsgoldMicrosoftpandemicpandemic-studiospcsaboteurthe-saboteurXbox-360Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pandemic closes physical doors, brand lives on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/pandemic-closes-physical-doors-brand-lives-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/pandemic-closes-physical-doors-brand-lives-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/pandemic-closes-physical-doors-brand-lives-on/#comments We've got a little more perspective on the closing of Pandemic, which was rumored earlier today. Though the studio will physically close, and the majority of its staff (some 200 people) will be sacked, the brand and IPs (like Mercenaries, Star Wars: Battlefront and The Saboteur) will continue, EA representative Holly Rockwood told Joystiq. Founders Josh Resnick, Andrew Goldman, Greg Borrud will leave the company.

A lucky few from Pandemic will continue the studio's work under the EALA roof in Playa Vista, reporting to GM Sean Decker. Here's hoping that those who aren't as fortunate won't have to go too long without work.

JoystiqPandemic closes physical doors, brand lives on originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closureeaealaeconomyElectronic-ArtsfinancelayoffspandemicTue, 17 Nov 2009 15:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Pandemic Studios to close its doors today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/rumor-pandemic-studios-to-close-its-doors-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/rumor-pandemic-studios-to-close-its-doors-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/rumor-pandemic-studios-to-close-its-doors-today/#comments Pandemic Studios, the house behind games like Mercenaries and the forthcoming The Saboteur will be shuttered by EA today, according to sources speaking to Kotaku. Reportedly, the developer's 200-some staffers will be informed at 2 p.m. EST that all but a few (who will be integrated into other EA teams) are to be let go. Pandemic had previously been rumored as one of the studios that would be hit hardest by EA's 1,500-member staff reduction. Current Pandemic projects will reportedly shift to EA's Montreal branch, which handles Army of Two.

This story, that of a developer who puts their all into a game only to be rewarded with a firing upon its completion, is staring to become alarmingly familiar. Sure, we understand the logistics, but that's cold comfort to those Pandemic employees who may have to start tomorrow off by looking for work. We'll keep after EA for official word.

JoystiqRumor: Pandemic Studios to close its doors today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaeconomyElectronic-Artslayoffsmercenariespandemicpandemic-studiosthe-saboteurTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: EA cuts targeting Maxis, Pandemic, C&C staff]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/rumor-ea-cuts-targeting-maxis-pandemic-candc-staff/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/rumor-ea-cuts-targeting-maxis-pandemic-candc-staff/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/rumor-ea-cuts-targeting-maxis-pandemic-candc-staff/#comments We already knew the announced cuts coming to EA's workforce (totaling some 1,500 jobs lost) would be deep but, if a recent Kotaku report is to be believed, we're starting to get an idea of just where the gashes will come. For starters, the site says it's been told by unnamed sources that almost every member of the Command and Conquer 4 team would be let go after the game's completion, which is the very last Halo Wars feature we wanted to see copied in C&C.

More cuts are rumored to be hitting Pandemic (the house behind Mercenaries and The Saboteur) and Maxis (yeah, again). We'll keep reaching out to EA to get the official story. In the meantime, our thoughts are with those affected.

JoystiqRumor: EA cuts targeting Maxis, Pandemic, C&C staff originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>command-and-conquereaElectronic-ArtslayoffsMaxispandemicthe-saboteurWed, 11 Nov 2009 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[New Saboteur screens show heartless, blimp-hating hero]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/10/new-saboteur-screens-show-heartless-blimp-hating-hero/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/10/new-saboteur-screens-show-heartless-blimp-hating-hero/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/10/new-saboteur-screens-show-heartless-blimp-hating-hero/#comments Okay, Mr. Saboteur. You're not going to listen to reason, are you? We asked nicely -- so very nicely -- that you stop blowing up those beautiful, elegant and endangered dirigibles. However, the latest batch of screenshots from your self-titled game have revealed that you haven't heeded our advice, and continue to detonate airships at the drop of your dusty, brown flat cap. That's how you want to do this, huh? Well, you can expect our harshly worded petition to surface within the next few days. Nope, sorry pal. Too late for apologies. This just got real, sir.

Gallery: The Saboteur (11-10-09)

JoystiqNew Saboteur screens show heartless, blimp-hating hero originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blimpeaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicscreenshotsthe-saboteurXbox-360Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Saboteur trailer displays intolerable blimp cruelty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/21/new-saboteur-trailer-displays-intolerable-blimp-cruelty/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/21/new-saboteur-trailer-displays-intolerable-blimp-cruelty/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/21/new-saboteur-trailer-displays-intolerable-blimp-cruelty/#comments Listen, Mr. Saboteur. We appreciate what you're going for here. Liberating France from Nazis is about as noble as goals get -- but your methods are questionable. Did you know that fewer than 100 zeppelins exist in the world today, placing them near the top of National Geographic's "Top 10 Most Endangered Means of Transportation" list? Well, it's true, and every time you buffet a blimp with a ballistic missile, that number dwindles even more.

Oh, don't try and deny it. We caught your latest act of blimp violence on camera, and placed it in the latest trailer for your self-titled video game, The Saboteur. We're fine with the street racing and the Nazi shooting -- but let's try to keep the rigid airship exploding to a minimum, okay?

JoystiqNew Saboteur trailer displays intolerable blimp cruelty originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blimpeaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicthe-saboteurtrailervideoXbox-360zeppelinWed, 21 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-order The Saboteur, get ... a knife]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/14/pre-order-the-saboteur-get-a-knife/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/14/pre-order-the-saboteur-get-a-knife/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/14/pre-order-the-saboteur-get-a-knife/#comments No, no, in the game, silly! If you pre-order The Saboteur you get a knife in the game. Specifically, those who pre-order the game from GameStop will receive a code to unlock "an exclusive Nazi knife," which can be used for stealth kills. Frankly, we find it just a tad strange that a game about a stealthy underground agent doesn't give you a cool Nazi knife to begin with, but hey, metal was in shorter supply in the days of World War II.

Also, just as a reminder, it's not a real knife. We're pretty sure EA learned its lesson since the last time.

[Via @PandemicStudios]

JoystiqPre-order The Saboteur, get ... a knife originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsMicrosoftpandemicpre-orderthe-saboteurXbox-360Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: The Saboteur's Tom French & Chris Hunt]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/interview-the-saboteurs-tom-french-and-chris-hunt/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/interview-the-saboteurs-tom-french-and-chris-hunt/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/interview-the-saboteurs-tom-french-and-chris-hunt/#comments
The Saboteur has been catching eyes since its announcement way back in 2007 and now, with the game only a few months from release on December 8th, we got the chance to sit down with lead designer Tom French and art director Chris Hunt to discuss Nazis, their black-and-white recreation of the city of Paris, and killing the one while running around the other.

French did a quick presentation before our interview, where he told the story of William Grover-Williams - the racecar driver-turned-saboteur that the game's protagonist, Sean Devlin, is based on - as well as the cinematic influences on The Saboteur, from Raiders of the Lost Ark to The Third Man. Afterwards, we sat down with both designers to talk about why you'll find plenty of color, but no ghost guns (you'll see) or multiplayer in their upcoming game.

Continue reading Interview: The Saboteur's Tom French & Chris Hunt

JoystiqInterview: The Saboteur's Tom French & Chris Hunt originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-hunteaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicpandemic-studiosthe-saboteurtom-frenchXbox-360Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: The Saboteur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/hands-on-the-saboteur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/hands-on-the-saboteur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/hands-on-the-saboteur/#comments
The Saboteur, Pandemic's latest open-world shooter about a rough and tumble Irish lad bringing color back to Nazi-occupied Paris, showed promise when we played an early build back at E3; but it definitely needed work.

Previewing a current build, I found that development has continued to progress. For one, you won't confuse The Saboteur with any other title this holiday season. The black-and-white landscape (part Casablanca, part Sin City; as lead designer Tom French describes it) is distinctive, with the "City of Lights" living up to its name and various splashes of Nazi-red creeping in among the buildings. The "look" of this game will definitely win some admirers, even if the gameplay doesn't end up quite as polished.

Gallery: Hands-on: The Saboteur

Continue reading Hands-on: The Saboteur

JoystiqHands-on: The Saboteur originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicpandemic-studiosthe-saboteurXbox-360Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:28:00 EST<![CDATA[New The Saboteur media sneaks into view]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/new-the-saboteur-media-sneaks-into-view/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/new-the-saboteur-media-sneaks-into-view/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/new-the-saboteur-media-sneaks-into-view/#comments When Irish protagonist Sean in The Saboteur isn't busy, uh, saboteuring, he likes to frequent the local gentleman's establishment, The Belle de Nuit. And about four seconds into the above clip, we totally get why he would: his passion for architecture. Look at the beautiful hanging chandeliers and balustrades in that building and tell us there's any other reason for the dude to be hanging around there. Yeah, we thought so.

After checking out the above video, head into the gallery below for some new screens.

Gallery: The Saboteur (09.21.09)

JoystiqNew The Saboteur media sneaks into view originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicpandemic-studiosthe-saboteurXbox-360Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[The Saboteur visits brothels, explodes Nazis, has an accent]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/18/the-saboteur-visits-brothels-explodes-nazis-has-an-accent/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/18/the-saboteur-visits-brothels-explodes-nazis-has-an-accent/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/18/the-saboteur-visits-brothels-explodes-nazis-has-an-accent/#comments
Nothing says, "I'm Irish ... really!" like Flogging Molly. And that's exactly the music that EA's Pandemic Studios chose for the new gameplay trailer of The Saboteur you see above. Sure, we enjoyed the game when we checked it out at E3 2009, even though it still looked a bit undercooked at the time.

And yes, sneaking around WWII-era Paris as a rogue Irishman with a penchant for chaos does sound good to us. But if this music is any indication of the game's attitude, we're feeling a bit wary about it. There's only so much cliché one can take, folks.

Update: EA would like us to point out that the trailer above is "made for Germany" and thus" had to be softened for their guidelines." We're pretty sure that means more blood and actual Nazis when the game ships Stateside. Er, um, not in Germany at least.

Gallery: The Saboteur

Continue reading The Saboteur visits brothels, explodes Nazis, has an accent

JoystiqThe Saboteur visits brothels, explodes Nazis, has an accent originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-Artsflogging-mollyMicrosoftpandemicpandemic-studiosparisthe-saboteurtrailerwwiiXbox-360Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Canceled Pandemic Wii title wanted to be 'The Next Big Thing']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/canceled-pandemic-wii-title-wanted-to-be-the-next-big-thing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/canceled-pandemic-wii-title-wanted-to-be-the-next-big-thing/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/canceled-pandemic-wii-title-wanted-to-be-the-next-big-thing/#comments
After EA shuttered the Australian arm of Mercenaries dev house Pandemic Studios, a few projects were lost to the ether. A game based on the enormously popular film Dark Knight for 360 / PS3 as well as an "open-world Nintendo Wii game" were both rumored to be on the way from the Brisbane, Australia-based studio.

Australian Gamer has apparently found footage of the Wii title -- said to still be owned by ex-Pandemic Australia employees -- to be called either "The Next Big Thing" or "No Limits Racing" (depending on your interpretation of the footage). The trailer (found after the break) teases a handful of pseudo-celebrity appearances, the ability to turn existing Miis into in-game characters, and show off your high scores on advertisements in friends' game environments.

EA confirmed to us yesterday that the Australian arm of Pandemic is closed, and said of the trailer, "On any given day, there are a lot of great game ideas under consideration at EA ... not all of them go all the way to market."

Continue reading Canceled Pandemic Wii title wanted to be 'The Next Big Thing'

JoystiqCanceled Pandemic Wii title wanted to be 'The Next Big Thing' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaaustralian-gamerdark-knighteaElectronic-ArtsNintendono-limits-racingpandemicpandemic-australiapandemic-studiosthe-next-big-thingWiiSat, 01 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Saboteur wreaking havoc on December 8]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/the-saboteur-wreaking-havoc-on-december-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/the-saboteur-wreaking-havoc-on-december-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/the-saboteur-wreaking-havoc-on-december-8/#comments
Oh my God, it's no mirage -- we're tellin' ya'll, it's ... The Saboteur release date! EA has revealed that the Nazi-murdering simulator will hit retail on December 8. Hey, that's just in time for the holidays! How better to celebrate the spirit of Christmas than to violently loosen the Third Reich's imperialistic grasp on France during World War II?

Finding it hard to get excited for all the wintertime Nazi brutalizing? Check out our preview from E3! Alternatively, just watch this trailer for Inglourious Basterds over and over again.

JoystiqThe Saboteur wreaking havoc on December 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicpcrelease-datethe-saboteurXbox-360Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: The Saboteur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/hands-on-the-saboteur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/hands-on-the-saboteur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/hands-on-the-saboteur/#comments Lead designer Tom French calls this world "Disneyland Paris." That's not exactly what came to mind as I jumped from rooftop to rooftop dodging Nazis, machine gun fire, and rockets, but French wasn't characterizing this bleak, occupied (and dangerous) World War II-era recreation of the city. The Saboteur features a scaled down, open-world Paris with oversize landmarks splitting the skyline (like Disneyland!) that trails off into countryside connected to parts of Germany.

The entire world has been stripped of color, save for those blood-red symbols of Nazism and oppression. As Sean Devlin (inspired by the real Grand Prix star turned SOE special agent William Grover-Williams), I attempted to bring a little color -- what Pandemic calls "Will to Fight" -- back to Paris as I took on a demo mission to destroy a pesky BFG.

Gallery: The Saboteur

Continue reading Hands-on: The Saboteur

JoystiqHands-on: The Saboteur originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2009eaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicthe-saboteurXbox-360Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Saboteur trailer blurs the good bits but still so sexy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/saboteur-trailer-blurs-the-good-bits-but-still-so-sexy/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/saboteur-trailer-blurs-the-good-bits-but-still-so-sexy/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/saboteur-trailer-blurs-the-good-bits-but-still-so-sexy/#commentsSure, it's a little distracting that EA decided to blur the mild nudity in the new trailer for Pandemic's The Saboteur. But thanks to a great soundtrack, our distrust of the exposed female anatomy and a bizarre fetish for things that are mostly but not entirely black-and-white, we still find the clip to be highly, highly erotic.

... We mean cool. Did we say erotic? No, no. Cool. That's what we meant.

JoystiqSaboteur trailer blurs the good bits but still so sexy originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 May 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicthe-saboteurtrailersXbox-360Fri, 29 May 2009 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq impressions: The Saboteur]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/joystiq-impressions-the-saboteur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/joystiq-impressions-the-saboteur/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/joystiq-impressions-the-saboteur/#comments
A race car driver. 1940s Paris. An Irish accent. Zeppelins. Black and white. If you tossed these items into an active blender -- and it would have to be a pretty big one, what with you chucking Paris in there -- the end result would probably resemble The Saboteur, which is more simply described as a World War II game that features no American presence. Can you believe it's been more than two years since it was announced?

We spent some time with the game recently (and a slew of other EA titles -- keep your eyes open for further coverage over the next few weeks), and talked to lead designer Tom French, from Pandemic, who guided us through the streets of Paris. Check out the gallery of brand new screens below, and head past the break to read all about this innovative WWII title -- now with vintage racing cars!

Gallery: The Saboteur

Continue reading Joystiq impressions: The Saboteur

JoystiqJoystiq impressions: The Saboteur originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftPandemicThe-SaboteurWWIIXbox-360Fri, 08 May 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Swine Flu-based games becoming an internet pandemic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/swine-flu-based-games-becoming-an-internet-pandemic/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/swine-flu-based-games-becoming-an-internet-pandemic/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/swine-flu-based-games-becoming-an-internet-pandemic/#comments

A GamePolitics article recently turned our attention to two new Flash-based titles based on every news outlet's current infatuation: Swine Flu. The first is noteworthy because it's actually pretty fun -- originally titled Sneeze but now going by the more timely moniker Stop Swine Flu, the game tasks you with spreading a disease among a crowded area by sneezing on as many folks as possible. Though the game was commissioned by uber-charity Wellcome Trust, it's caught a bit of flack from critics for awarding points for infecting toddlers. It's definitely worth checking out.

The other game is also noteworthy, but only because it doesn't make a freaking lick of sense. In Swine Flu: Hamdemic, players must slingshot infected pigs across the U.S. - Mexico border, using a six-shooter to keep said pork suspended in the air. Ah, yes. Of course. The origins of this potent malady have at long last been discovered.

JoystiqSwine Flu-based games becoming an internet pandemic originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 May 2009 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedflashpandemicsneezestop-swine-fluswine-fluwellcome-trustWed, 06 May 2009 00:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Swine Flu worries? Ian Bogost's Killer Flu will make you feel better]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/swine-flu-worries-ian-bogosts-killer-flu-will-make-you-feel-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/swine-flu-worries-ian-bogosts-killer-flu-will-make-you-feel-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/swine-flu-worries-ian-bogosts-killer-flu-will-make-you-feel-be/#comments
A few months back, Ian Bogost and his studio, Persuasive Games, were tasked with creating a game for the UK Clinical Virology Network to teach folks about seasonal and pandemic flus. Named Killer Flu, the game operates on a hexagonal board and, while learning about how to infect a populace by playing as the flu itself, the player is tasked with infecting various community members and sending them into buildings to infect their comrades.

His timeliness is incredible, considering only a few months have passed and we've nearly got a pandemic on our hands with the Swine Flu. Okay, okay, we're exaggerating a bit. If anything, Bogost's game schools our panic-inclined brains to the relative difficulty a virus faces in becoming an actual threat. "The truth is, pandemic flus are rare and unusual strains that are far harder to spread than popular discourse might make it seem," Bogost says in a post about the game on Gamasutra. So hard, in fact, that we lost repeatedly in our attempts to infect a decent chunk of the virtual population. Do yourself a favor: check out Killer Flu and assuage your worries about the upcoming apocalypse. Besides, we all know it's going to be zombies that do us in. Come on now!

[Via GamePolitics]

JoystiqSwine Flu worries? Ian Bogost's Killer Flu will make you feel better originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 May 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ian-bogostinfluenzakiller-flupandemicpersuasivegamesswine-fluuk-clinical-virology-networkMon, 04 May 2009 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Pandemic: The Saboteur announced too soon, EA acquisition bought 'more time']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/24/pandemic-the-saboteur-announced-too-soon-ea-acquisition-bought/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/24/pandemic-the-saboteur-announced-too-soon-ea-acquisition-bought/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/24/pandemic-the-saboteur-announced-too-soon-ea-acquisition-bought/#comments
Click image to sneak into our gallery
It's hard to believe, but The Saboteur was announced around this time ... in 2007. Crazy, right? We can hardly believe it's been so long, and since it was announced, we really haven't had much to talk about. Thanks to Tom French of Pandemic, we now know it's because the game was revealed too soon. Sabotaging The Saboteur, amirite?

In speaking with VG247, Pandemic's Tom French said the game is pretty ambitious and that the title was just revealed too soon. At the point where it was announced, most of the title was still on paper, with only a "small section of the world even built." Then, EA acquired Pandemic, which French said really helped The Saboteur out, allowing the team working on it to grow through inheriting people from other projects (he cites folks coming on board from Mercenaries, for example). French said the additions to The Saboteur team have helped "refine all those little details that we've been talking about but nobody had time to touch."

Gallery: The Saboteur

JoystiqPandemic: The Saboteur announced too soon, EA acquisition bought 'more time' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicpandemic-studiossaboteurthe-saboteurXbox-360Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Pandemic finds The Saboteur, launches official site]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/pandemic-finds-the-saboteur-launches-official-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/pandemic-finds-the-saboteur-launches-official-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/pandemic-finds-the-saboteur-launches-official-site/#comments
Announced sometime around the end of WWII itself, The Saboteur has managed to survive EA Pandemic's recent shake-up and is on track for 2009 release on 360 and PS3. We never really saw much of the game to begin with, so comparisons between how it looks now and did back then are difficult to draw. According to info on the newly launched official site, though, the core gameplay is still very much same as it ever was.

By that, we mean the "Will to Fight" mechanic, where more Parisians will join the player's fight against the Nazis as the city is gradually liberated. The site also makes a bullet-point out of the fact the game is the first to feature an open-world recreation of Paris. Hmm, we'll go with the former as the more exciting of the two "features." Unfortunately, all of the site's screenshots are tragically small and low-quality. Sabotage perhaps?

JoystiqPandemic finds The Saboteur, launches official site originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-ArtsMicrosoftpandemicsaboteurthe-saboteurXbox-360Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumorang: Star Wars Battlefront III 'not currently' at Pandemic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/10/rumorang-star-wars-battlefront-iii-not-currently-at-pandemic/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/10/rumorang-star-wars-battlefront-iii-not-currently-at-pandemic/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/10/rumorang-star-wars-battlefront-iii-not-currently-at-pandemic/#comments
Despite the rumor to the contrary, it appears that Star Wars: Battlefront III is not in development at Pandemic, the studio responsible for the first two games. Just last week an employee from Rebellion -- where Battlefront III development moved after its initial stint at Free Radical -- reportedly stated that development had shifted to Pandemic. According to Mathew Everett, community manager at Pandemic, the game "is not currently" with the studio. He added that only LucasArts would know the fate of the title at this point.

Depending on your point of view, this news is either a terrible blow or a tremendous relief (unless you're just middlin', of course). Given the popularity of the most recent Star Wars title, The Force Unleashed, we imagine Battlefront III will find a home somewhere. Here's hoping Jabba is finally playable.

[Via VideoGamer]

JoystiqRumorang: Star Wars Battlefront III 'not currently' at Pandemic originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefront-3pandemicpandemic-studiosstar-warsstar-wars-battlefront-3Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Star Wars Battlefront III goes home to Pandemic [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/rumor-star-wars-battlefront-iii-goes-home-to-pandemic/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/rumor-star-wars-battlefront-iii-goes-home-to-pandemic/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/rumor-star-wars-battlefront-iii-goes-home-to-pandemic/#comments
Update: According to Pandemic community manager Mathew Everett, the studio is not currently working on Star Wars Battlefront III.

Star Wars Battlefront III has been jumping developers like a frog on a hotplate. First under development at Free Radical, the title was then supposedly moved to Rebellion. Now that Rebellion is hard at work on Aliens Vs. Predator, the latest rumor has the game right back at square one: Pandemic. The rumor comes from website DarkZero, which claims that it received the news directly from a Rebellion employee.

It would make sense, given that Pandemic was responsible for the first two games. Considering the studio also just pushed Lord of the Rings: Conquest out the door, its Batman title was canceled and the only other project we know about is Saboteur, Pandemic doesn't exactly have a full plate.

JoystiqRumor: Star Wars Battlefront III goes home to Pandemic [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pandemicrebellionrumorstar-wars-battlefront-3Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Mirror's Edge and Mercenaries 2 fail to excite Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/20/mirrors-edge-and-mercenaries-2-fail-to-excite-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/20/mirrors-edge-and-mercenaries-2-fail-to-excite-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/20/mirrors-edge-and-mercenaries-2-fail-to-excite-japan/#commentsAnecdotal evidence suggests that neither Mirror's Edge nor Mercenaries 2 took off in Japan. This picture shows stacks of new copies of both games on sale for ¥1,980 ($21). Mirror's Edge was released on December 11 in Japan, and Mercenaries 2 followed one week later. Both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions are marked down, so the blame for poor sales doesn't fall solely on 360's lowly reputation in Japan.

Japan has no rental services, so people tend to buy games, complete them immediately, and then sell them back to stores asap, before the prices are slashed, leading to a precipitous drop in used prices of popular games. Even that isn't the case here -- these games are new, and retailer Sofmap's website shows used copies of Mirror's Edge at ¥4,780 for PS3 and 360, while new copies are marked down to a mere ¥1,980.

Would Mirror's Edge have benefited from a lead character redesigned for Asian audiences? Maybe, if that redesign had also encompassed not making the game a first-person shooter.

JoystiqMirror's Edge and Mercenaries 2 fail to excite Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A2MakihabaraEAElectronic-ArtsjapanMercenariesMercenaries-2Mercenaries-2-World-In-FlamesMicrosoftMirrors-EdgePandemicPandemic-Studiossandboxthird-person-shooterXbox-360Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Videos of Pandemic's canned 'Batman']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/rumor-videos-of-pandemics-canned-batman/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/rumor-videos-of-pandemics-canned-batman/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/rumor-videos-of-pandemics-canned-batman/#commentsFiled under:

A 3D animator by the name of Travis Ramsdale has updated his personal blog with a couple of interesting (and sad) items. Describing himself as, "an animator who just finished up at Pandemic Studios in Brisbane," Ramsdale confirms the studio's closure, saying, simply, "So yeah ... Pandemic closed ... I'm moving to Germany."

Ramsdale also posted what he says is his most recent demo reel, which contains two sequences from an "unreleased Pandemic title" (separated here). One, a rooftop chase; the other, a cinematic test. If you hadn't been following earlier rumors that Pandemic was working on a new Batman title -- which was later rumored to be canceled -- you'd think the footage was of just another action game.

Put all the pieces together, though, and these videos (first spotted on Kotaku) would certainly seem to be of work done for the Caped Crusader's ill-fated video game outing, but they are in no way confirmed as such by Ramsdale or other official sources. We've posted the additional cinematic test footage after the break.

Continue reading Rumor: Videos of Pandemic's canned 'Batman'

JoystiqRumor: Videos of Pandemic's canned 'Batman' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmaneaelectronic-artspandemicrumorMon, 26 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LOTR Conquest demo conjures 1 million downloads]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/lotr-conquest-demo-conjures-1-million-downloads/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/lotr-conquest-demo-conjures-1-million-downloads/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/lotr-conquest-demo-conjures-1-million-downloads/#commentsFiled under:


Pandemic Studios just informed us that the Lord of the Rings Conquest demo that released to the Xbox Live Marketplace a few weeks back has been downloaded over 1 million times. That means the demo download has bested Call of Duty: World at War and its nine week run on top.

Congrats to the crew over at Pandemic on their demo download success, but we have to ask; how well did those demo downloads translate into retail sales? One could argue that those sales figures are a tad bit more important.

JoystiqLOTR Conquest demo conjures 1 million downloads originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ealord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-conquestlotr-conquestpandemicpandemic-studiosWed, 21 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview -- Lord of the Rings: Conquest (PS3, 360)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/metareview-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-ps3-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/metareview-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-ps3-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/metareview-lord-of-the-rings-conquest-ps3-360/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


EA got the folks who made the rather excellent Star Wars: Battlefront II to make Lord of the Rings: Battlefront Conquest, so it, too, must be rather excellent? Despite the source material, developer pedigree and the fact that you can play as the bad guys, the reviews -- which admonish its "ropey visuals" and "redundant gameplay" -- do not smile kindly on this latest video game jaunt through Tolkien's Middle Earth. Sauron's eye casts its gaze on the scores and summaries below.
  • IGN (70/100): "Diehard fans of both online, class-based games and The Lord of the Rings might want to invest the sixty bucks, but if redundant and unimaginative gameplay are things you despise, you'll want to steer clear."
  • GameSpot (65/100): "The Lord of the Rings: Conquest is an exciting and action-packed way to experience Middle-earth, provided that you have the patience and fortitude to shoulder a few frustrating burdens."
  • Eurogamer (50/100): "While there is some enjoyment to be had here, it is hard-won and rarely fulfilling. The imprecision of the combat and its lightweight feel combined with the ropey visuals conspire to date the game considerably."
  • Official Xbox Magazine (40/100): "It'd be too easy to say that Conquest will appeal only to diehard Tolkien fans; in fact, they're the ones most likely to hate it."

JoystiqMetareview -- Lord of the Rings: Conquest (PS3, 360) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artslord-of-the-rings-conquestlotrmetareviewpandemicPS3Xbox-360Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Tech issues ruined Dark Knight game, pushed Pandemic AU to ruin]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/rumor-tech-issues-ruined-dark-knight-game-pushed-pandemic-au-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/rumor-tech-issues-ruined-dark-knight-game-pushed-pandemic-au-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/rumor-tech-issues-ruined-dark-knight-game-pushed-pandemic-au-t/#commentsFiled under:

At this point, we don't even have confirmation that Pandemic Brisbane is gone, but according to a report from Kotaku Australia, the axe dropped after the studio couldn't finish the oft-rumored Dark Knight game in time for the film's DVD / Blu-ray release. Blame allegedly goes to the short timeframe allotted to development and a lack of technology / tools needed to make the open-world title the team had in mind.

Reportedly, a second team was working on an open-world Wii title and managed to retain rights to the project after the studio closed. We're still waiting to discover the studio's fate, but in the meantime, the report is definitely worth a read. After the break, check out footage from a different -- some would say fake -- Dark Knight game.

Continue reading Rumor: Tech issues ruined Dark Knight game, pushed Pandemic AU to ruin

JoystiqRumor: Tech issues ruined Dark Knight game, pushed Pandemic AU to ruin originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmandark-knighteaelectronic-artslayoffspandemicpandemic-brisbanerumorrumorsthe-dark-knightFri, 16 Jan 2009 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: EA sets Pandemic Studios Australia free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/rumor-ea-sets-pandemic-studios-australia-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/rumor-ea-sets-pandemic-studios-australia-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/rumor-ea-sets-pandemic-studios-australia-free/#commentsFiled under: ,


Electronic Arts has bid adieu to Pandemic Studios' Brisbane office, according to a "reliable source" speaking to Kotaku. The site reports that the studio has been "set free" and tasked with finding a new publisher, as opposed to being shut down completely.

EA acquired the Australian branch of Pandemic during its acquisition of BioWare last year. The studio is best known for the Destroy All Humans! series, but was rumored to have been working on other unannounced projects. We'll update if any new information arises.

Update: EA's Mariam Sughayer issued the following response: "In December, EA announced a cost reduction initiative that will impact facilities and headcount. We do not expect to make any more public announcements until our earnings call in early February. Outside of our scheduled earnings call, we aren't providing any new information on the status of individual facilities."

JoystiqRumor: EA sets Pandemic Studios Australia free originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destroy-all-humanseaElectronic-Artspandemicpandemic-brisbanepandemic-studiosrumorWed, 14 Jan 2009 08:50:00 EST