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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hands-on: Mirror's Edge]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/hands-on-mirrors-edge/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/hands-on-mirrors-edge/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/hands-on-mirrors-edge/#commentsFiled under:

You've all no doubt seen the original trailer for Mirror's Edge (and if not, where've you been?), which means you know the first part of this Mirror's Edge level pretty well. Looks easy, right? I thought so too, until I had my hands on the controls and I was plummeting to my death for the fifth time. Mirror's Edge looks incredibly stylish in the trailers, but it's easy to assume there's not much actual gameplay there. The reality is, this is one of the most intriguingly controlled games that you'll play this year.

The controls essentially boil down to two buttons and two analogue sticks; L1 is the "up" button, L2 is the "down" button and the sticks do exactly what you'd expect. This rather bizarre control set up takes some getting used to, but after a little while feels very fluid. Everything's context sensitive, so pushing L1 as you're running, standing, in mid-air or against a wall will result in different actions. Pressing L2 mid-jump, for example, will pull your legs up, allowing you to jump further. Pressing the same button just before you land after a long fall will preserve momentum by allowing you to execute a forward roll.


Continue reading Hands-on: Mirror's Edge

JoystiqHands-on: Mirror's Edge originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diceeajoystiqfeaturesmirrors-edgepax-08pax-2008Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Dead Space]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/hands-on-dead-space/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/hands-on-dead-space/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/hands-on-dead-space/#commentsFiled under:

In Dead Space no-one can hear you s- ... No, never mind. Dead Space deserves better than an intro like that. I'm not sure whether you've heard, but this game is fast becoming a favorite for GOTY throughout the Joystiq network. We've seen it several times now between E3, Leipzig and PAX and each time we come out impressed. The latest build, shown off at the Penny Arcade Expo, put more emphasis on the anti-grav platforming and puzzle solving, further cementing in my mind that this may be one of this year's greatest titles.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what gives me that impression. It's not one specific element of the game, but rather the way all of Dead Space's facets fit together in the package. Graphically and stylistically the game is designed to put you on edge. It's not comfortable. You're an everyman, trapped in a spaceship overrun with zombie-like aliens. Everything feels very gothic and dark. Even the main character's space suit makes him look monstrous.

You've heard about the menus before, no doubt. How they pull you into the game by being a part of the game world. I could've spent hours navigating those holographic projection menus, watching Isaac's head move as he watches you check out your inventory, almost voyeuristicly. Item drops appear similarly, with a holographic window appearing as you approach, showing what's on the ground. Again, these exist in real space and can be seen from all sides as you rotate your camera around.

Gallery: Dead Space

Continue reading Hands-on: Dead Space

JoystiqHands-on: Dead Space originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dead-spaceEAjoystiqfeaturesPAX-08PAX-2008redwood-shoresMon, 08 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Interview: Resistance Retribution's Sam Villanueva]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/joystiq-interview-resistance-retributions-sam-villanueva/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/joystiq-interview-resistance-retributions-sam-villanueva/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/joystiq-interview-resistance-retributions-sam-villanueva/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

click to embiggen
Resistance Retribution was a surprise hit last month at E3, and we had another chance to play it at last week's Penny Arcade Expo. With more playtime, however, come burning questions that need to be answered. Thankfully, Sam Villanueva, Senior Designer at Bend Studio, was at hand to answer our queries and make sure we could sleep soundly again.

Will you be optimizing Resistance Retribution for the PSP Brite?

That's a good question. We'll be evaluating this. We're pretty deep in development right now. We'd like to optimize, but that could potentially mess with launch time. If we can do it without affecting the date our game comes out, we will.

How does the game fit into the series?

Retribution fits nicely between Resistance 1 and Resistance 2. It's a continuation of the European campaign, whereas Resistance 2 is the start of the American campaign. You are James Grayson and you're going in to destroy another Chimeran tower. We wanted the story to deal with some pretty deep, dark stuff. Lots of drama and mystery. The game starts with your brother being infected and you're forced to kill him, for example.

Is there a multiplayer mode?

Absolutely. We've got lots of cool multiplayer stuff which we'll be announcing soon.

Gallery: Resistance: Retribution

Continue reading Joystiq Interview: Resistance Retribution's Sam Villanueva

JoystiqJoystiq Interview: Resistance Retribution's Sam Villanueva originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Actionbend-studioFPSinsomniacjoystiqfeaturesPAX-08PAX-2008PS3PSPResistanceResistance-retributionRetributionSCEAShooterSonySony-BendSony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaFri, 05 Sep 2008 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Insomniac confirms drop-in/drop-out Resistance 2 co-op]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/pax-2008-insomniac-confirms-drop-in-drop-out-resistance-2-co-op/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/pax-2008-insomniac-confirms-drop-in-drop-out-resistance-2-co-op/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/pax-2008-insomniac-confirms-drop-in-drop-out-resistance-2-co-op/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Last weekend at PAX, we sat down with Bryan Intihar, the Community Manager / Hand Model (yes, that is on his business card) for Insomniac to go over Resistance 2. We were able to get some fascinating details about the secretive co-op mode (drop-in/drop-out confirmed!), as well as some interesting story tidbits (evidently this time around, Hale remembers he can talk).

To start things off, could you give us a quick rundown of changes from the first Resistance?

Sure, there's a lot of course -- but in terms of the campaign we've put a lot more emphasis on Nathan Hale and that comes through in the story and how we're presenting the story. In R1, it was much more of a narrative approach with Rachel Parker telling the story, giving it a third-person feel. This time around it's all about Hale.

Gallery: Resistance 2

Continue reading PAX 2008: Insomniac confirms drop-in/drop-out Resistance 2 co-op

JoystiqPAX 2008: Insomniac confirms drop-in/drop-out Resistance 2 co-op originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>insomniacjoystiqfeaturespax-08pax-2008PS3resistance-2Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Appealing to an MMO Newbie]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-appealing-to-an-mmo-newbie/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-appealing-to-an-mmo-newbie/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-appealing-to-an-mmo-newbie/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Worth it or not, to me personally, pay-to-play MMOs always felt like a ridiculous proposition. Paying to play a game I already paid for is like paying $5 to bite into a delicious burger I just got at the drive-through. Still, the genre continues to spawn new titles as proven at the 2008 Penny Arcade Expo.

While many MMO titles were on display, two were the most talked-about massively multiplayer role-playing games of the show: Warhammer Online and Aion: The Tower of Eternity. Realizing my limited experience with MMOs in the past, the team at Joystiq tasked me with learning as much as I could about each title and see if they could appeal to a genre newbie willing to jump into the online fray.

Continue reading PAX 2008: Appealing to an MMO Newbie

JoystiqPAX 2008: Appealing to an MMO Newbie originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityea-mythicjoystiqfeaturesmythic-entertainmentncsoftpax-08pax-2008pax2008PCwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 04 Sep 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Penny Arcade Adventures producer gushes about Episode 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-penny-arcade-adventures-producer-gushes-about-episode/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-penny-arcade-adventures-producer-gushes-about-episode/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-penny-arcade-adventures-producer-gushes-about-episode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Last week during PAX 2008, we sat down with Hothead COO and Penny Arcade Adventures Producer Joel DeYoung as he guided us through Episode 2 and improvements to the engine. The gist of it is: if you liked Episode 1, you'll like Episode 2 that much more. Here's the rundown from our talks:
  • Highlighting points of interest has been made easier! "If you have your proximity putting you close enough to 2 or 3 things, you can slide through that with bumpers," said DeYoung.
  • There are now difficulty levels, including an Insane Mode (unlockable only after beating the game). Special collectibles and pickups are only available if you play Insane Mode. Comparatively, Episode 1's difficulty is "a little easier" than medium.
  • All the weapons have been replaced. Tycho gets a shotgun, Gabe has new fist upgrades and your player now possesses -- wait for it -- a hoe! Also changed are the special attack minigames.
  • You now have, among other new items, a revive potion. Healing won't be enough to bring your troops back to life. "Just adds a little bit of depth to it," said DeYoung.
  • The real-time reaction for defense has been made more obvious (e.g. "Block!" now appears when you need to push block), but nothing analogous for attacking has been added.
More after the break.

Gallery: Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2

Continue reading PAX 2008: Penny Arcade Adventures producer gushes about Episode 2

JoystiqPAX 2008: Penny Arcade Adventures producer gushes about Episode 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hotheadhothead-gamesinterviewjoel-deyoungjoystiqfeaturesMacpaa-episode-2pax-08pax-2008PCpenny-arcadepenny-arcade-adventurespenny-arcade-expoPS3Xbox-360Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: One hour with full version of Fallout 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-one-hour-with-the-full-version-of-fallout-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-one-hour-with-the-full-version-of-fallout-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-one-hour-with-the-full-version-of-fallout-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Click for all our Fallout 3 coverage
We were given one hour with Fallout 3 at this year's PAX, and we don't mean some pared down, nerfed, demo-ized level; this was the full version. Not only that, but the Bethesda folks showed it to us in the tricked out Fallout 3 Airstream Trailer, complete with a nuclear family peering in.

Lead designer Emil Pagliarulo started us out roughly an hour into the game, when you exit the vault for the very first time. We missed the whole "growing up" phase in order to rush right into the action. We didn't mind. but what of our first 18 or so years? Maybe you start out on the cellular level, and fight your way out in a glorious Spore/Fallout hybrid. Your guess is as good as ours.

Gallery: PAX 2008: The Fallout 3 Airstream Trailer

Continue reading PAX 2008: One hour with full version of Fallout 3

JoystiqPAX 2008: One hour with full version of Fallout 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaBethesda-Game-StudiosBethesda-Softworksfalloutfallout-3hands-onimpressionsjoystiqfeaturespax-08pax-2008PCpenny-arcade-expoRPGXbox-360Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Poll: Best cosplay of PAX 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/joystiq-poll-best-cosplay-of-pax-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/joystiq-poll-best-cosplay-of-pax-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/joystiq-poll-best-cosplay-of-pax-2008/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click to see the top 15 cosplayers
Of the 100 or so cosplayers we saw (and snapped pictures of) at PAX 2008, we've whittled down the gallery to our favorite 15 costumes. Now we want to know who you thought was the best cosplayer:

View Poll

Gallery: PAX 2008: Best of Cosplay

Continue reading Joystiq Poll: Best cosplay of PAX 2008

JoystiqJoystiq Poll: Best cosplay of PAX 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosplaycosplayerspaxpax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expoThu, 04 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008 hands-on: Valkyria Chronicles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-hands-on-valkyria-chronicles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-hands-on-valkyria-chronicles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-hands-on-valkyria-chronicles/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Final Fantasy Tactics meets X-Com in a Miyazaki-esque, Advance Wars universe. With watercolors. That's what you get when you play Sega's upcoming strategy RPG, Valkyria Chronicles. The PS3 exclusive is already out in Japan but will be heading West before the end of the year and, from what we saw of the game at PAX, it will be Sega's console gem of the year.

We were guided through the game's tutorial by the producer, Christopher Kaminski, who showed off the basic gameplay mechanics. It's a strategy RPG, but there's no grid. Instead, you have a "fuel" meter, which depletes as you move farther, giving the game more of an action RPG feel.

Gallery: Valkyria Chronicles (Leipzig 2008)

Continue reading PAX 2008 hands-on: Valkyria Chronicles

JoystiqPAX 2008 hands-on: Valkyria Chronicles originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands-onimpressionsjoystiqfeaturespax-08pax-2008playstation-3PS3Segavalkyria-chroniclesThu, 04 Sep 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008 Interview: Felicia Day (The Guild)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax-2008-interview-felicia-day-the-guild/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax-2008-interview-felicia-day-the-guild/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/pax-2008-interview-felicia-day-the-guild/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Felicia Day at the Jonathan Coulton concert

During PAX 2008 we had a chance to sit down (on very comfortable bean bags, mind you) and talk with Felicia Day, producer and star of The Guild and star of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Day also sang "Still Alive" with Jonathan Coulton the first night of the convention. Some notes from the interview:
  • Filming for Season 2 will begin next month. HD cameras will be used, not so much for web streaming but for potential download and the Season 2 DVD. The 13- to 15-episode season will be "a little bit longer," approximately 5 to 6 minutes apiece.
  • Day has a level 66 Warlock and level 63 Priest. As an example of life imitating art, Day explains that her fans from the show and the actors who play Zaboo, Vork and Bladezz all play in a guild together.
  • She signed the chest of one Dr. Horrible cosplayer and saw another with "actual Wonderflonium." (Warning: Interview contains spoilers.)
  • Day guest stars as the patient in episode 2 of the upcoming season of House, but she does not have Lupus.
  • Not mentioned: Her demand that Tycho groom her.



[MP3] Download the interview

(Note: When the interview starts, Day is talking about a planned live introduction for a showing of The Guild at Dragon*Con the day before.)

JoystiqPAX 2008 Interview: Felicia Day (The Guild) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dr-horriblefelicia-dayjoystiqfeaturespax-08pax-2008the-guildWed, 03 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008 hands-on: Spore, have we seen enough already?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-hands-on-spore-have-we-seen-enough-already/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-hands-on-spore-have-we-seen-enough-already/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-hands-on-spore-have-we-seen-enough-already/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The last stop on our Electronic Arts booth tour at PAX was dedicated to Spore. That's right, it's more Spore news. It's not a real day on Joystiq unless you get some minor Spore news, or a definitive hands-on experience. With the game actually coming out (can it be?!) in five days, maybe you'll start to see these die down a bit. Unless, of course, there's a secret Hot Coffee level that we find during our explorations.

But is the game coming out a bit too late, or just in time? It feels like it's starting to wear out its welcome just a bit. Like that house guest that just won't leave, is Spore in danger of becoming a bore? German gamer mags have already given the game fairly disappointing scores, and in all honesty, we were ready to leave our demo early, even though we went hands-on with the whole thing. Find out why after the break.

Gallery: Spore

Continue reading PAX 2008 hands-on: Spore, have we seen enough already?

JoystiqPAX 2008 hands-on: Spore, have we seen enough already? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Electronic-ArtsPAXPAX-08PAX-2008PAX2008PCPS3SporeWill-WrightXbox-360Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BigCast Special Edition Recap]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/bigcast-special-edition-recap/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/bigcast-special-edition-recap/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/bigcast-special-edition-recap/#commentsFiled under: ,


While adventuring to PAX 2008, the team at Big Download recorded three special edition episodes. While the audio quality in the first was laughably bad, the episode is a hilarious look into the minds of tired Warhammer Online developers, Paul Barnett, Jeff Hickman and Josh Drescher. Give it a listen, if you can! In the second special edition, GameDaily's Robin Yang joined the team to discuss everyone's favorite titles at the show. In the final installment of the special series, former 1UP editorial director and co-founder of WhatTheyPlay.com, John Davison, went into some detail on the sex and violence in games debate. Check out the episodes if you get a chance -- we assure you the first audio hiccup was corrected in episodes two and three.

JoystiqBigCast Special Edition Recap originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturespax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expopenny-arcade-expo-2008podcastTue, 02 Sep 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008 hands-on: Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-hands-on-magic-duels-of-the-planeswalkers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-hands-on-magic-duels-of-the-planeswalkers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-hands-on-magic-duels-of-the-planeswalkers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Wizards of the Coast has been very busy talking about the 4th edition of Dungeons and Dragons, which came out this year, as well as its Star Wars and D&D miniatures and the online version of Magic: The Gathering. So, we were really caught off guard when we stopped by the Wizards booth at PAX and happened across this new version of Magic for the Xbox Live Arcade. We did a double take, tapped our mana, and found out more. Find out about the long-titled Magic: The Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers after the break.

Gallery: Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers


Continue reading PAX 2008 hands-on: Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers

JoystiqPAX 2008 hands-on: Magic: Duels of the Planeswalkers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CCGDuels-Of-The-PlaneswalkersjoystiqfeaturesMagicMagic-The-GatheringPAXPAX-08PAX-2008PAX08PAX2008PlaneswalkersWizards-Of-The-CoastXbox-360Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sackboys build the Joystiq logo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/sackboys-build-the-joystiq-logo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/sackboys-build-the-joystiq-logo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/sackboys-build-the-joystiq-logo/#commentsFiled under: ,


Download to PSP

So LittleBigPlanet is complete. You know this from our interview at Leipzig. We've been covering the game pretty closely since its reveal at GDC 2007, so we wanted something a little special for our PAX 2008 coverage. What could be more special than building the Joystiq logo and stickering the thing to death, before riding off in a fully-functional tank? We've sped it up and added some music you might be familiar with, to give you a bite sized, level building experience. Hopefully, for the LittleBigObsessed, we'll have the full 15 minute video available for you to check out soon.

JoystiqSackboys build the Joystiq logo originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Joystiqlittlebigplanetpax-08pax-2008Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: The Penny Arcade Interview]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-the-penny-arcade-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-the-penny-arcade-interview/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-the-penny-arcade-interview/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Note: Photo above taken at interview
A few hours before PAX 2008 opened its doors to the public last Friday, we had a chance to speak with Penny Arcade creators Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik -- for simplicity's sake referred to here by their respective pseudonyms Tycho and Gabe -- about the Expo, its future expansion, the intensity of Jenga and the Duke Nukem Forever Omegathon round that never was. Audio embedded below; we've also gone ahead and transcribed highlights from the interview. (Note: To make it easier to read, we've put Gabe's name in red and Tycho's name in blue.)

[MP3] Download the Interview

Gallery: PAX 2008: Omegathon Final

Continue reading PAX 2008: The Penny Arcade Interview

JoystiqPAX 2008: The Penny Arcade Interview originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gabeinterviewjoystiqfeaturespaxpax-08pax-2008pax-eastpax-ecpaxecpenny-arcadetychoTue, 02 Sep 2008 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Sex and Violence in Videogames Panel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-sex-and-violence-in-videogames-panel/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-sex-and-violence-in-videogames-panel/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/pax-2008-sex-and-violence-in-videogames-panel/#commentsFiled under:


The last panel at PAX 2008 was the highly anticipated discussion on Sex and Violence in Videogames between former Nintendo executive Perrin Kaplin, Grand Theft Childhood co-author Dr. Cheryl K. Olson and What They Like Inc., president John Davison. Moderated by Newsweek tech writer N'Gai Croal, the trio attempted to dissect the mainstream media misnomer that "videogames are toys" with both informative and hilarious results.

Continue reading PAX 2008: Sex and Violence in Videogames Panel

JoystiqPAX 2008: Sex and Violence in Videogames Panel originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesngai-croalpax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-exposexviolenceTue, 02 Sep 2008 03:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Population 58,500]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-population-58-500/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-population-58-500/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-population-58-500/#commentsFiled under:

The show is over and the numbers are in. Said Penny Arcade business guru Robert Khoo to BigDownload, this year's PAX recorded 58,500 people in three days, placing it near the echelon of "Old E3." Previous guesstimations put the attendance at 45,000 to 50,000, which still would have eclipsed the PAX 2007 population of 37,000.

So, what's to be done for PAX 2009? More expansion, of course, to ease overcrowding. "At 2 or 3 of the main theatre events 3-4% of the line wasn't able to make it," said Khoo, "but we hear those 3-4% loud and clear. We have a few ideas to manage that problem for 2009 including wristbands for popular events or just a straight-up hard count of people in line. The worst thing is if people line up for something and end up not getting in." The next PAX will take place again in late August, with the first PAX East Coast opening its Bostonian doors in late March 2010.

JoystiqPAX 2008: Population 58,500 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewspaxpax-08pax-2008pax-2009pax-2010penny-arcadepenny-arcade-exporobert-khooMon, 01 Sep 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Family Feud not so family friendly]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-family-feud-not-so-family-friendly/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-family-feud-not-so-family-friendly/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-family-feud-not-so-family-friendly/#commentsFiled under:

The 2008 edition of PAX's Family Feud could have easily followed the "Sex and Violence in Video Games" panel, because it too had a healthy dose of sex and violence. Really, PAX Family Feud (or should we say Family Freud?) could best be described with three adjectives: entertaining; intense; and overly sexual. As attendees clapped to the Feud's theme song music, both teams (sans Joystiq readers, for shame!) answered questions ranging from, "Name a power-up used by Mario," (yay for fire flower!) to "What's your favorite Penny Arcade character?" Fruit "lover" got our vote.

Everything was quite tame, albeit a bit verbally violent as the show's host received constant heckling from the audience due to his sometimes ... questionable hosting abilities. But then things turned towards sex, sex, sex when Feud players were asked, "What do you do when the electricity goes out at home?" We thought it to be an innocent enough question, but then we remembered that PAX attendees answered the questions. As a result, things got interesting.

Continue reading PAX 2008: Family Feud not so family friendly

JoystiqPAX 2008: Family Feud not so family friendly originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>family-feudjoystiqfeaturespax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-exposexMon, 01 Sep 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: The LittleBigJoystiq level]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-the-littlebigjoystiq-level/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-the-littlebigjoystiq-level/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-the-littlebigjoystiq-level/#commentsFiled under: , ,

To demonstrate LittleBigPlanet's level creation tools in a way that we haven't seen or written about ad nauseum, the gang at the PAX 2008 Sony booth helped us model the Joystiq logo and vomit stickers all over it. The entire video initially clocked in at just over 10 minutes, so in the interest of time we've sped up the creation part.

Here's the full LittleBigJoystiq logo -- click for a (slightly) higher-resolution version:

JoystiqPAX 2008: The LittleBigJoystiq level originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqlbplittlebigplanetpax-08pax-2008penny-arcadepenny-arcade-expoPS3Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008 hands-on: WipEout HD]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-hands-on-wipeout-hd/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-hands-on-wipeout-hd/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-hands-on-wipeout-hd/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's been a long time coming, but WipEout HD is, we're assured, almost with us. Now improved and 100% epilepsy free, the game was available to play on the PAX show floor at Sony's booth. With idle hands leading to all sorts of terrible things, it seemed only right that we put them to work on something constructive by taking a futuristic hover car for a test drive.

It's easy to forget just how pretty WipEout HD is, seeing as the last time we saw it was at Leipzig 2007. The art style is so strong and works so well in HD -- we saw it draw many people passing by to stop and watch. Screenshots are one thing, but the game in motion is a joy to behold. Even whilst close up to the screen, the game looked sharp, with aliasing being almost imperceptible on some levels. Though, having said that, it was more visible on other levels, but never was it a distraction from WipEout HD's overall visual quality.

Gallery: WipEout HD

Continue reading PAX 2008 hands-on: WipEout HD

JoystiqPAX 2008 hands-on: WipEout HD originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesPAX-08PAX-2008PS3Sonywipeout-hdMon, 01 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Meet the Fallout 3 Vault-boy puppet dance troupe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-meet-the-fallout-3-vault-boy-puppet-dance-troupe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-meet-the-fallout-3-vault-boy-puppet-dance-troupe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-meet-the-fallout-3-vault-boy-puppet-dance-troupe/#commentsFiled under: ,

While waiting for the (much-delayed) final Omegathon to start last night, over a dozen Vault-boy puppets (of Fallout 3 fame) congregated to show off their grooving and shaking skills to a crowd of bemused onlookers. It's really what made the cheesy music infinitely more anti-meh. Check out their moves in the video above, as well as in our Omegathon gallery.

Gallery: PAX 2008: Omegathon Final

JoystiqPAX 2008: Meet the Fallout 3 Vault-boy puppet dance troupe originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BethesdaBethesda-Game-StudiosBethesda-Softworksfallout-3omegathonomegathon-2008paxpax-08pax-2008penny-arcadepenny-arcade-expopuppetRPGvault-boyvaultboyMon, 01 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Omegathon finale crowns Geko, Gabe as winners]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-omegathon-finale-crowns-geko-gabe-as-winners/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-omegathon-finale-crowns-geko-gabe-as-winners/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-omegathon-finale-crowns-geko-gabe-as-winners/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Within 15 minutes, it was all over. After Tycho and Gabe revealed this year's final PAX 2008 Omegathon challenge, 1987's Vs Excite Bike, finalists Fallout (blue rider) and Geko (red rider) went at each other with all they had. Unfortunately, the close competition didn't last, as Geko won every round to become this year's best Omeganaut, winning an expenses-paid trip to Tokyo Game Show in October.

Following Geko's winning victory, Tycho and Gabe picked up the Famicon controllers to challenge each other as the blue and red riders, respectively. The race was once again painted red, as Tycho kept overheating his bike and crashing after the ramps. He managed a victory in the 3rd round after knocking down Gabe twice in a row, but every other round went to Gabe and red rider, giving the Penny Arcade co-creator a two-win streak after his 5-2 Halo 3 victory last year. After the race was over, Tycho and Gabe stood up to thank the crowd, who promptly began to shuffle out and away from the now-concluded convention. Geko took the stage one final time, plush Marissa's bunny in tow, to talk to the few who stayed behind.

Stay tuned, we'll have more on the pre-Omegathon "puppet troupe" later today. Gallery quick-jump:

Gallery: PAX 2008: Omegathon Final

JoystiqPAX 2008: Omegathon finale crowns Geko, Gabe as winners originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>excitebikegabejoystiqfeaturesomegathonomegathon-2008pax-08pax-2008penny-arcadetychovs-excitebikeMon, 01 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Conduit gets MotionPlussed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/the-conduit-gets-motionplussed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/the-conduit-gets-motionplussed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/the-conduit-gets-motionplussed/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Wii Sports Resort might not be the only title to showcase the Wii MotionPlus when the dinky add-on launches next spring. GameSpot went hands-on with The Conduit at PAX 2008, and revealed that the shooter will feature MotionPlus support. The Conduit is currently set for a March launch, so has this new information also inadvertently dated Wii Sports Resort and the MotionPlus?

Whether it has or not, MotionPlus for The Conduit is Pretty Big News -- so much so, that we're afraid it may overshadow some of the other eye-catching details in GameSpot's report. These include:
  • In the final game, High Voltage hopes to have a completely customizable head-up display, in which any HUD element can be dragged and dropped to different parts of the screen.
  • There will be nine missions in total, with the singleplayer campaign lasting "about ten hours."
  • Cut scenes won't be used; rather, the story will be developed through news or radio broadcasts, much like the Half Life series.
  • Some projectiles can be guided using the cursor, which sounds a lot like the Nikita launcher in Metal Gear Solid, automatically making it ZOMGAWESOME.

[Via Go Nintendo]

JoystiqThe Conduit gets MotionPlussed originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conduitcontrolsfpshigh-voltagemotionpluspax-08the-conduitwii-motionpluswiimoteMon, 01 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy go-nuts for doughnuts at the PlayStation Blog PAX meetup]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/ps3-fanboy-go-nuts-for-doughnuts-at-the-playstation-blog-pax-mee/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/ps3-fanboy-go-nuts-for-doughnuts-at-the-playstation-blog-pax-mee/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/ps3-fanboy-go-nuts-for-doughnuts-at-the-playstation-blog-pax-mee/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click to satisfy appetite.
Like PlayStation? Like doughnuts? PS3 Fanboy loves both, so a PlayStation Blog PAX meetup at a local doughnut cafe in Seattle seemed like a match made in heaven. Check out the PS3 Fanboy photo gallery from the event, which shows off the many attendees, competitive WipEout Pulse players (one of whom won a MGS4 PS3) and swag. Did we mention there were many free and tasty doughnuts as well?

Gallery: PlayStation Blog PAX 2008 meetup

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy go-nuts for doughnuts at the PlayStation Blog PAX meetup originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>meetupPAX-08PAX-2008PlayStation-blogPS3PSPSonyMon, 01 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008 hands-on: Need for Speed Undercover, rollcage edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-hands-on-need-for-speed-undercover-rollcage-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-hands-on-need-for-speed-undercover-rollcage-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-hands-on-need-for-speed-undercover-rollcage-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


From the depths of the M.C. Escher nightmare of Dead Space we slid into the sweet embrace of a high-octane car. Need for Speed: Undercover knew that it needed to impress people with something besides picture-pretty cars racing along at high speed through city streets, so it wrapped itself inside a glorious steel gaming cage. A gaming cage that looked like something they'd use to teach driver's ed out of in the future. Find out all about this must-have, but can't-buy gaming accessory after the break.

Gallery: Need For Speed Undercover

Continue reading PAX 2008 hands-on: Need for Speed Undercover, rollcage edition

JoystiqPAX 2008 hands-on: Need for Speed Undercover, rollcage edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-Artsgaming-cageMaggie-QNeed-For-SpeedPAXPAX-08PAX-2008PAX2008UndercoverXbox-360Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008 hands-on: Mirror's Edge, even edgier with an audience]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-hands-on-mirrors-edge-even-edgier-with-an-audience/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-hands-on-mirrors-edge-even-edgier-with-an-audience/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-hands-on-mirrors-edge-even-edgier-with-an-audience/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Our first stop on the whirlwind tour of EA's heavy hitters was with our favorite running, jumping, sliding, wall-climbing, Faith. Mirror's Edge continues to impress, and we were lucky enough to get a few minutes on a kiosk with her. However, the best thing about it isn't in the game, it was the cheering crowd behind us. Head behind the break to get the full skinny on our PAX experience this data-running hottie.

Gallery: Mirror's Edge

Continue reading PAX 2008 hands-on: Mirror's Edge, even edgier with an audience

JoystiqPAX 2008 hands-on: Mirror's Edge, even edgier with an audience originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EAElectronic-ArtsFaithjoystiqfeaturesMirrors-EdgeparkourPAX-08PAX-2008PAX08PAX2008PS3Xbox-360Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Cosplay, day three]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-cosplay-day-three/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-cosplay-day-three/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/pax-2008-cosplay-day-three/#commentsFiled under: ,


click above to enter the gallery
Day three and our the final lookg at our collection of people embracing nerd culture to the fullest extent. We're continually impressed by what we've seen here so far with the cosplayers, in both selection and execution. And don't forget, if you come without a costume, you can always make one out of whatever they're handing out. Be sure to keep checking out our general PAX 2008 showfloor gallery, which shows you every square foot of what PAX was all about.

Gallery: PAX 2008: Cosplay (Full)


Gallery: Penny Arcade Expo 2008

JoystiqPAX 2008: Cosplay, day three originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosplaycosplayerscostumesjoystiqfeaturesPAXPAX-08PAX-2008PAX08PAX2008Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:10:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: And the final Omegathon challenge is ... Vs Excite Bike!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-and-the-final-omegathon-challenge-is-vs-excite-bik/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-and-the-final-omegathon-challenge-is-vs-excite-bik/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-and-the-final-omegathon-challenge-is-vs-excite-bik/#commentsFiled under:

Vs Excite Bike! We think it's a fitting end to this year's Penny Arcade Expo. We can now present you the final Omegathon 2008 lineup:
  • Round 1: Peggle
  • Round 2: Boom Blox
  • Round 3: Geometry Wars
  • Round 4: Rock Band (Our guess is Rock Band 2)
  • Round 5: Jenga (let me show you my moves!)
  • Final Round: Vs Excite Bike
We'll have more on the final round once it's over, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Penny Arcade Expo 2008

JoystiqPAX 2008: And the final Omegathon challenge is ... Vs Excite Bike! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewsomegathonpaxpax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expoSun, 31 Aug 2008 21:05:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Count all the pretty pieces in the tabletop gaming gallery]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-count-all-the-pretty-pieces-in-the-tabletop-gaming-gal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-count-all-the-pretty-pieces-in-the-tabletop-gaming-gal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-count-all-the-pretty-pieces-in-the-tabletop-gaming-gal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


One of the best things about PAX is that it's not just all about video games. There are legions of people who still enjoy doing it old school, and that includes board games, tabletoppers, and RPGs. We witnessed people playing everything from the massive, sprawling, plastic-fest of Twilight Imperium to the simple wordplay of Apples to Apples. Heck, even the final elimination round of the Omegathon was a Jenga showdown.

Check out the gallery below that's filled with people who still love how a pair of dice feels in their hands. To those about to roll, we salute you.

Gallery: PAX 2008: Tabletop Gaming

JoystiqPAX 2008: Count all the pretty pieces in the tabletop gaming gallery originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board-gameBoard-GamesPAXPAX-08PAX-2008PAX2008RPGtable-toptabletopSun, 31 Aug 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Omeganaut shows us his special Jenga move]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-omeganaut-shows-us-his-special-jenga-move/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-omeganaut-shows-us-his-special-jenga-move/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-omeganaut-shows-us-his-special-jenga-move/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ben Gray, aka MNC Dover from Monday Night Crew, was eliminated from the Omegathon on Saturday, but they were nice enough to let him pass along his words of wisdom, and his ultra-secret Jenga move. If you want to know how to get a leg up on the competition, check out the video above.

One thing's for sure, if you use this move you'll never get invited to play Jenga ever again. Which might be exactly what you're looking for.

JoystiqPAX 2008: Omeganaut shows us his special Jenga move originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ben-GrayJengaMNC-DoverOmegathonPAXPAX-08PAX-2008PAX08PAX2008Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Experience PAX 2008 vicariously through Big Download]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/experience-pax-2008-vicariously-through-big-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/experience-pax-2008-vicariously-through-big-download/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/experience-pax-2008-vicariously-through-big-download/#commentsFiled under:


Good news for us East Coast Joystiqers, the rapidly expanding Penny-Arcade Expo will be making its way to our humble Atlantic shores sometime in 2010. Sadly, for now, it's exclusively held in Seattle, a city so far away that the webstrip tycoons might as well hold their blossoming event on the moon. Fortunately for us, our WASD lovin' sister site Big Download has a fairly comprehensive gallery that accurately captures the PC gaming elements of PAX. If you love fishtank case mods, Team Fortress 2 cosplayers, and Brawndo (you know, the thirst mutilator) as much as we do, you should give some serious consideration to checking out the gallery below.

(P.S. ... We've got quite a huge gallery, too!)

Gallery: Big Download at PAX08

Gallery: Penny Arcade Expo 2008


Gallery: PAX 2008: Cosplay (Full)

JoystiqExperience PAX 2008 vicariously through Big Download originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-downloadgallerypax-08pcSun, 31 Aug 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtually @ PlayStation.Blog PAX meet up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/virtually-playstation-blog-pax-meet-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/virtually-playstation-blog-pax-meet-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/virtually-playstation-blog-pax-meet-up/#commentsFiled under:


Click for bigger doughnuts
Were you at the PlayStation Blog PAX 2008 meet up at Top Pot Doughnuts yesterday? If not, you missed out on some tasty pastry, plus the chance to win a Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle. There was a huge turnout (apparently gamers can't say no to free coffee and doughnuts, who knew?) and we were there to take pictures. So check out the gallery to see brave, sugar-filled WipEouteers competing for the big prize, plus the gone-before-we-arrived swag bags and a second floor balcony that's about to collapse under the weight of over 130 PlayStation fans.

JoystiqVirtually @ PlayStation.Blog PAX meet up originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityjoystiqfeaturesPAX-08PAX-2008playstation-blogSun, 31 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Halo 3 Assembly hands-on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-halo-3-assembly-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-halo-3-assembly-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-halo-3-assembly-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: ,

As part of their Penny Arcade Expo presence, team Bungie lifted the mysterious curtain on their latest Halo 3 multiplayer map called Purple Reign Assembly, giving PAX attendees a new map to frolic about in. But knowing that it isn't a Midship, Gemini or any other Halo map remake, the big question is whether or not Assembly plays splendidly or if it is any fun at all. And we're pleased to tell you that, yes, it's an unbelievably well designed map that ranks high among our Halo 3 favorites. Impressions after the break.

Continue reading PAX 2008: Halo 3 Assembly hands-on

JoystiqPAX 2008: Halo 3 Assembly hands-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assemblybungiebungie-studioshalo-3joystiqfeaturespax-08pax-2008Xbox-360Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008 hands-on: Demigod]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-hands-on-demigod/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-hands-on-demigod/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-hands-on-demigod/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Following an interview with Gas Powered Games at PAX 2008, we got some hands on time with their newest creation, Demigod. The first thing we noticed while watching it running on glowing, envy-inducing PCs was how deliberate much of it looked. Everything from the unit/map design to the ease-of-use control scheme oozed hours of careful consideration on developer GPG's part. While the concept of Demigod tends to bewilder many who hear it -- ourselves included -- understanding the idea only took us a few minutes of playing the atypical strategy game.

Players only control their Demigod and its set of abilities. Our time was spent with the RPG-style Torchbearer, a Norse flavored character that can switch between ice and fire modes. We were digging his armored-burn-victim look, which just so happened to feature more armor and less burn. The Torchbearer is all about freezing everything before switching to fire and watching the screen light up as your enemies burn. Our magical offensive certainly got us some kills, but it wasn't moving the battlefront at all. Once we began to work more attentively with our AI-controlled troops of the non-Skynet variety, the battle quickly shifted to our favor.

Our actions in-game where peppered by murmurs of, "Oh, whoa." and "I want this game, now" from various onlookers behind us. We were starting to agree with this sentiment. It surprised us to find out that the game is actually running on a version of the Supreme Commander engine, as we saw more visual variety in 30 minutes with Demigod than we ever did playing hours of SupCom. GPG assured us that the system requirements are designed to include low-end machines, which is very much due to the fact that Demigod doesn't try to do a thousand things at once on-screen while you play it. (our wallets say thanks) Looking at the game, it was fairly hard to imagine that the harpy-like creatures and wiggling death-plant-things were living in the same engine that featured angular robot-spiders and hover tanks that bogged down our computers just a year and half ago. All in all, Demigod looks like it's going to steal away our precious personal time when it eventually ships on Stardock's Impulse service next year.


[MP3] Download this interview in MP3 format

JoystiqPAX 2008 hands-on: Demigod originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demigodgas-powered-gameshands-onimpressionsjoystiqfeaturespax-08pax-2008pax08PCSun, 31 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: TellTale talks Wii, IP licensing and the future]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-tell-tale-talks-wii-ip-licensing-and-the-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-tell-tale-talks-wii-ip-licensing-and-the-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-tell-tale-talks-wii-ip-licensing-and-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


TellTale, purveyors of all things pointy and clicky, were kind enough to have a natter with us on the PAX show floor. Designer, Mark Darin, and PR Manager, Emily Morgant, chat to us regarding developing for the Wii, how deals for the Sam and Max, Homestar Runner and Wallace and Gromit franchises came about and plans for the future. Hint: we won't be finding out about any more TellTale products for a little while.

Are there any plans to bring any of TellTale's properties on to XBLA or PSN?

Mark: Start with the hard questions! I don't really have too many answers to that. I know that we're looking to get on as many platforms as we can. We're talking to people about opportunities but no solid plans right now.

Emily: I would add to that that when we announced that we coming out with a WiiWare game and it was already in production and that it would be coming out a few months later, everybody was very surprised. We do things and don't talk about them.

How has your experience been with Nintendo's platform versus the PC?

Mark: Working with Nintendo's been pretty good. Actually our production process is kind of streamlined and our TellTale Tool is created to work well with multiple systems. So for us there's really no bottleneck, it's the same as working on the PC environment. All the help that Nintendo's been giving us and allowing us the opportunity to be on WiiWare has been great for our company and great for getting titles like SBCG4AP out there to a new audience who maybe isn't used to Adventure games. It's been a great partnership with Nintendo so far.


Continue reading PAX 2008: TellTale talks Wii, IP licensing and the future

JoystiqPAX 2008: TellTale talks Wii, IP licensing and the future originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"That has to be the coolest piece of schwag ever made." People were honestly saying this about the coveted Vault-Boy puppet that Bethesda was giving away after their Fallout 3 panel. It was hard to come by too, since you had to attend the panel, get a special Fallout 3 fat boy (read: atomic bomb) card, bring it by Bethesda's booth afterwards, and hope you got the puppet as a prize instead of the t-shirt (which was pretty damn cool too).

Check out the gallery below, which is full of the Vault-Boy puppet. Is he good? Is he evil? We hope to find out before he kills Ross.

Gallery: PAX 2008: The Pip-Boy Puppet

JoystiqPAX 2008: The Vault-Boy Puppet originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PAX-08PAX-2008PAX08PAX2008vault-boySun, 31 Aug 2008 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Polly wants a tank rush]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-polly-wants-a-tank-rush/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-polly-wants-a-tank-rush/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-polly-wants-a-tank-rush/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Although we missed the presentation ourselves, the gang at Robot Martini caught Ubisoft's demonstration of Tom Clancy's EndWar audio power at PAX 2008. To do so, they pitted two parrots against each other in a multiplayer match. Check out the video yourself after the break. When Polly says "deploy tanks," you take cover and hide your crackers (har).

Continue reading PAX 2008: Polly wants a tank rush

JoystiqPAX 2008: Polly wants a tank rush originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>end-warpaxpax-08pax-2008penny-arcadetom-clancy-endwarubisoftXbox-360Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Pink Godzilla revisited]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-pink-godzilla-revisited/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-pink-godzilla-revisited/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-pink-godzilla-revisited/#commentsFiled under: ,

Feeling that we didn't do it enough justice the first time, we've updated the Pink Godzilla booth tour gallery from this year's PAX. Click on the golden NES for more.

Gallery: PAX 2008: Pink Godzilla Tour

JoystiqPAX 2008: Pink Godzilla revisited originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expopink-godzillaSun, 31 Aug 2008 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2008: Cosplay, day two]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-cosplay-day-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-cosplay-day-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-cosplay-day-two/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Day two of our collection of people embracing nerd culture to the fullest extent. We're continued to impressed by what we've seen here so far with the cosplayers, in both selection and execution. And don't forget, Darth Vader can rock a mean Alanis Morissette. We've also mega-expanded our general PAX 2008 showfloor gallery to show you every square foot of what you're missing.

Gallery: PAX 2008: Cosplay (Full)


Gallery: Penny Arcade Expo 2008

JoystiqPAX 2008: Cosplay, day two originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosplaycosplayersjoystiqfeaturespaxpax-08pax-2008penny-arcade-expoSat, 30 Aug 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Penny Ar-cake makes Gabe cry, us drool]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/penny-ar-cake-makes-tycho-cry-us-drool/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/penny-ar-cake-makes-tycho-cry-us-drool/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/penny-ar-cake-makes-tycho-cry-us-drool/#commentsFiled under:


Click to giganticize
Penny Arcade's Mike/Gabe told us in an interview that he hates all cake coverage. The good news is, you can't hate our cake and eat it too. So, it's with love and appreciation that we present this glorious photo of a sweet-looking, sugary Penny Arcade cake, featuring deliciousness from the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness.

Gabe, you might hate cake, but we think the masses would decimate this Penny Arcade pastry piece with vim and vigor. It was created by cakesmith Brian Kurtz, who is also available for weddings, bar mitzvahs, your LAN party, or "any other situation that calls for a bad-ass 3D cake that will make your guests crap their pants in disbelief." Stay tuned for our interview with Tycho and Gabe later this week.

JoystiqPenny Ar-cake makes Gabe cry, us drool originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cakeOn-The-Rain-Slick-Precipice-Of-DarknesspastryPAXPAX-08PAX-2008PAX08PAX2008Penny-ArcadePenny-Arcade-AdventuresSat, 30 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST