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[Splinter Cell: Blacklist aims to take Conviction's promise to the next level and then some]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/splinter-cell-blacklist-aims-to-take-convictions-promise-to-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/splinter-cell-blacklist-aims-to-take-convictions-promise-to-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/splinter-cell-blacklist-aims-to-take-convictions-promise-to-th/#comments Splinter Cell Blacklist aims to take Conviction's promise to the next level and then some"I'm not going to go into the whole story," says Splinter Cell: Blacklist creative director Maxime Béland during an interview with Joystiq at PAX 2012, "but Conviction was kind of a rescue job for me." As the last game in the Splinter Cell series (that also served as a more action-oriented reboot), Conviction ended up doing fairly well at retail. But Béland says that he and another producer were "brought in because it wasn't going well. We changed the direction and kind of shipped the game in two years. So Conviction is very sweet and sour for me."

Soon after Conviction's release, Béland says he and his team sat down to put together a spreadsheet, going through over 80 reviews of the game and marking out what features were most mentioned, and which were most positively or negatively received. The black-and-white graphics during gameplay weren't well liked, so this past E3 when Béland announced Blacklist, one of the first things he said was that black-and-white was out.

Players felt the single-player part of Conviction "was too short, and the scope of the game wasn't big enough," so growing the world of Sam Fisher has become a priority for Blacklist. And the least-liked feature of Blacklist? Fans really missed the spy vs. mercs competitive gameplay mode. That's why for Blacklist, it's implemented right back in there. "Easiest decision of my life," says Béland.

Gallery: Splinter Cell: Blacklist (E3 2012)

Continue reading Splinter Cell: Blacklist aims to take Conviction's promise to the next level and then some

JoystiqSplinter Cell: Blacklist aims to take Conviction's promise to the next level and then some originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ghostinterviewmaxime-belandmicrosoftpantherpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3splinter-cell-blacklisttankxboxTue, 11 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cannon Brawl brings 2D RTS to the PAX 10]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/cannon-brawl-brings-2d-rts-to-the-pax-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/cannon-brawl-brings-2d-rts-to-the-pax-10/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/cannon-brawl-brings-2d-rts-to-the-pax-10/#comments Cannon brawlThe PAX 10 picked some excellent titles to show off right outside of PAX's Indie Megabooth in Seattle last weekend. Of the indie games on display, a 2D real-time strategy game called Cannon Brawl was my favorite. Cannon Brawl (formerly called Dstroyd) is the product of four developers calling themselves Turtle Sandbox Games, and was a winner of the Activision Independent Games Competition last year, picking up $175,000 and a chance to be published with Activision.

The game looks very different from the last time we saw it - the graphics are much cleaner, the interface is simple and well-designed, and while the gameplay is fast and complicated Cannon Brawl does a great job of mixing quick moves with solid and interesting strategical choices. The game's not done yet, but it's coming together very well. Odds are that we'll be seeing this game a lot more in the future.

Continue reading Cannon Brawl brings 2D RTS to the PAX 10

JoystiqCannon Brawl brings 2D RTS to the PAX 10 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2dcannon-brawlindiemicrosoftpax-10pax-2012pax-prime-2012pcrtsturtle-sandboxturtle-sandbox-gamesxboxThu, 06 Sep 2012 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Notch still working on 0x10c, despite a few stops and starts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/notch-still-working-on-0x10c-despite-a-few-stops-and-starts/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/notch-still-working-on-0x10c-despite-a-few-stops-and-starts/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/notch-still-working-on-0x10c-despite-a-few-stops-and-starts/#comments Notch still working on 0x10c, despite a few stops and startsSpeaking to Joystiq at PAX last weekend, Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson told us that while most of his days lately are taken up with "just discussing how to do stuff" ("and then Reddit," he added slyly), work continues on the 0x10c space game he announced a while ago. Oh, and in case you're still wondering how the title is pronounced, Notch calls it "ten-to-the-C."

"I have the game world fleshed out, all the soft stuff, like the setting," he says. "And I have the emulator for the CPU, which is probably the most complex part of it, all written. I had a prototype for walking around and trying out all of the graphics styles, but that wasn't really fun. So I kind of took a break to recharge my batteries and deal with some personal stuff, and then I'll probably start over again when I get back to Sweden." Starting over again means he'll just rework the graphical engine on the game, and "rethink how the rendering is done, how the physics is done for the character."

The team working on 0x10c did have a building interface in mind for players to design their own spaceships, and Notch said it was heavily based on the popular 3D Construction Kit. But the interface wasn't fun, he told us. "We had something kind of inspired by [the Kit], with cubes you could remove corners from to make angles, but it turned really annoying when you tried to build anything."

And Notch also confirmed that the game, whenever it is ready, will be released to the public in the way Minecraft was, in various states as it's being built. Notch says he got the idea to release games that way from the old roguelike genre, of all places. "The first version they release is just you can walk around in the dungeon and that's it, that's the extent of what you can do. That's where I got it from." That release schedule, he said, works well for games that fall back on sandbox or user-generated content. "If you're making like The Walking Dead or something, because it's story driven," he said, then obviously a half-finished version won't work. "You're just going to ruin it for people in the other versions."

JoystiqNotch still working on 0x10c, despite a few stops and starts originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>0x10ccodinginterviewnotchpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcphysicssci-fishipsspaceThu, 06 Sep 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Notch responds to Guncraft: 'I'm a huge fan of clones']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/notch-responds-to-guncraft-im-a-huge-fan-of-clones/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/notch-responds-to-guncraft-im-a-huge-fan-of-clones/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/notch-responds-to-guncraft-im-a-huge-fan-of-clones/#comments Notch responds to Guncraft 'I'm a huge fan of clones'Before PAX started up in Seattle last week, even before the booths were assembled in the convention center, we heard about Exato Games' plan to attract Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson's attention to its own Guncraft. "Notch, come have a beer with us," John Getty said through Joystiq last week. So how did that go?

At least on Saturday morning, when Joystiq sat down to chat with Notch, that beer hadn't yet been shared. "I saw some video going on, and it looked like Minecraft with guns," Notch told us, "which seems like a fairly interesting game if you don't make it fantasy." But he hadn't stopped by the booth, and it didn't sound much like he planned on doing so.

Notch that there was no drama between the two developers, however. "I'm a huge fan of clones," he said. "I think clones is how games evolve, I'm a huge proponent of patterns." At the same time, however, Notch says he's "been through hell and back" enough to know how trademarks work, and he's a fan of protecting those as well. "I think trademarks are great, because you can go this is our product, this is your product and it can all be seen by consumers."

That's Notch's real response to Guncraft's attempts to get his attention. "A lot of people will come up and say, 'Oh, so Guncraft is actually your new thing?' They're kind of maybe sort of kind of maybe implying that we're connected somehow, and we're not," Notch said to us. "It's just a clone. If they want to make a clone, that's awesome, as long as it's clear we're not related in any way."

JoystiqNotch responds to Guncraft: 'I'm a huge fan of clones' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guncraftinterviewmarkus-perssonminecraftnotchpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcThu, 06 Sep 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Learn more about Battleblock Theater's level editor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/learn-more-about-battleblock-theaters-level-editor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/learn-more-about-battleblock-theaters-level-editor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/learn-more-about-battleblock-theaters-level-editor/#comments The Behemoth reveals a fullfeatured level editor for Battleblock TheaterThe Behemoth teased us with a PAX reveal of Battleblock Theater's level editor, and the Castle Crashers developer didn't disappoint. There's a full-featured level editor included with the game, and it's the same one the designers have been using to make their own levels, controller and all.

Every type of block in the game is available to be placed by you within the editor, and you can color them however you like. Each level obviously needs an entrance and an exit, but what happens in between is up to you. You can choose any of the game's modes (and can even combine some of them), lay out resources to collect, and even build little Rube Goldberg devices with the various available components. One example shown to us used boulders and timed pneumatic devices pushing them onto switches, which created a sort of timed trap for characters to navigate. Extra creative users will come up with even more complex and varied setups, we suspect.

Even if you're not looking to create levels, The Behemoth has you covered. To start with, users will be able to share and send levels to each other. There's a "Level Lobby" in the game's main menu, where you can download playlists of created levels, see feeds for highest played and Behemoth favorites, and play and rate all of the levels you can find. Levels do need to be downloaded locally to be played, but they're tiny, so bandwidth and storage shouldn't be a problem.

We'll have to see how the level sharing system actually works post-launch to see how prominent it becomes (Castle Crashers, of course, suffered from connectivity problems during its release, which made playing multiplayer tougher than it should have been). But The Behemoth has created a powerful editor here, and it'll be fascinating, as with most user-generated content systems, to see what players can do with it.

JoystiqLearn more about Battleblock Theater's level editor originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleblock-theaterlevel-editormicrosoftpaxpax-2012pax-prime-2012releasethe-behemothxboxWed, 05 Sep 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How Guardians of Middle-earth innovates on the MOBA gametype]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/how-guardians-of-middle-earth-innovates-on-the-moba-gametype/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/how-guardians-of-middle-earth-innovates-on-the-moba-gametype/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/how-guardians-of-middle-earth-innovates-on-the-moba-gametype/#comments Five things Guardians of Middleearth has that other MOBAs don'tWe first saw Guardians of Middle-earth in action back at E3 this year, and it was quite impressive even then. Monolith has taken the PC-centric gameplay of the emerging MOBA (or DotA, or LoL, or even action RTS, whatever you like to call it) genre, and translated it over to a console and a controller. But since that first play at E3, I've gotten a few more chances to play the game at Comic-Con and PAX. GOME (acronyms!) is more than just a console clone of the popular League of Legends and the upcoming Dota 2.

Monolith has iterated on this complex strategy/action genre in a few different ways. Here's a list of five different things, whether you're a level 30 summoner or a Venomancer newbie, that you'll find new and interesting about Guardians of Middle-earth when it arrives for consoles later this year.

Continue reading How Guardians of Middle-earth innovates on the MOBA gametype

JoystiqHow Guardians of Middle-earth innovates on the MOBA gametype originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championsguardiansguardians-of-middle-earthheroesleague-of-legendsmicrosoftmobamonolithpax-2012pax-prime-2012playstationpreviewps3xboxWed, 05 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Loadout lets you create the weapon you want]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/loadout-lets-you-create-the-weapon-you-want/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/loadout-lets-you-create-the-weapon-you-want/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/loadout-lets-you-create-the-weapon-you-want/#comments Loadout lets you create the weapon you wantIf there's still any question in your mind that we're in the middle of a free-to-play trend, you can put it to rest right now: Most of the PAX show floor was taken up by indie titles currently in a closed beta, and heading towards a free-to-play "open beta release" later on this year. Firefall might be the highest profile of these, but Loadout, I think, deserves a spot right along Red 5's well-known title.

The game's being developed by Edge of Reality, an Austin-based developer that has been making ports (including console versions of Dragon Age: Origins) and doing contract work for over ten years now. Loadout is the studio's first original title, which means the team is finally applying its knowledge and experience to something it directly owns.

It shows in the game's current polish, even before the full beta launch: The graphics are fun and flashy, with really excellent touches in the controls and animation. It shows in team balance and mode choices, which are generally similar to Team Fortress 2 and other team-based shooters, but with some nice original flairs. And it shows most in the core mechanic, a custom weapon-building system that offers a lot of impressive possibilities for creating a gun that's entirely your own.

Gallery: Loadout (PAX Prime 2012)

Continue reading Loadout lets you create the weapon you want

JoystiqLoadout lets you create the weapon you want originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creationcustomcustomizationedge-of-realityloadoutpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcshooterWed, 05 Sep 2012 06:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Resident Evil 6's Mercenaries mode stacks the bodies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/resident-evil-6s-mercenaries-mode-stacks-the-bodies/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/resident-evil-6s-mercenaries-mode-stacks-the-bodies/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/resident-evil-6s-mercenaries-mode-stacks-the-bodies/#comments
During the final day of PAX Capcom had a stream going for Resident Evil 6, giving everyone a glimpse at how Mercenaries mode has changed. Players are much more mobile now, and can use traps (when available in the level) to dispatch large groups of enemies quickly.

JoystiqResident Evil 6's Mercenaries mode stacks the bodies originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcommicrosoftpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3resident-evil-6xboxTue, 04 Sep 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking free with your own IP: Insomniac's CEO on what's next (besides Ratchet & Clank)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/breaking-free-with-your-own-ip-insomniacs-ceo-on-whats-next/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/breaking-free-with-your-own-ip-insomniacs-ceo-on-whats-next/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/breaking-free-with-your-own-ip-insomniacs-ceo-on-whats-next/#comments There's a big craze these days with independent developers, though the idea isn't all that crazy. Developers, as it turns out, like to own the stuff they create - Ratchet & Clank developer Insomniac Games is no different. And here's something you might not know about Insomniac: the studio owns virtually none of the iconic characters or worlds it's created. Not Ratchet, not Clank, not the world of Spyro the Dragon. That last one cuts especially deep considering the vast riches Activision's reaped from its Spyro-based Skylanders game. The former two are Sony-owned.

With Fuse (which we think used to be Overstrike) and Outernauts, Insomniac is pushing in a new direction. "For us, we're at the point in our growth as a company where we can own our intellectual property," Insomniac president and CEO Ted Price told us in an interview last week. "That's been gratifying for us because, as creators, controlling your own destiny - controlling the IP that you build - is important." Beyond its financial importance, owning IP also means unfortunate spin-offs of properties you created can't be farmed out to other studios (see: Resistance: Burning Skies).

It's important to note what Price says about his studio not being able to own its previous projects. When Insomniac started in 1994, it produced only franchises owned by its publishers. Quite literally everything the company created up until Outernauts and Overstrike/Fuse was owned by outside forces. That's why you will assuredly see more Resistance games, despite Insomniac outright stating it won't work on any more (at least any time soon) - Sony owns the IP rights to the Resistance franchise and can do with them as it pleases.

Continue reading Breaking free with your own IP: Insomniac's CEO on what's next (besides Ratchet & Clank)

JoystiqBreaking free with your own IP: Insomniac's CEO on what's next (besides Ratchet & Clank) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>insomniacinsomniac-gamesintellectual-propertyipmacmicrosoftoverstrikepaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3ratchet-and-clankresistanceskylanders-spyros-adventureted-pricexboxTue, 04 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Card Hunter combines tabletop gaming with digital magic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/card-hunter-combines-tabletop-gaming-with-digital-magic/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/card-hunter-combines-tabletop-gaming-with-digital-magic/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/card-hunter-combines-tabletop-gaming-with-digital-magic/#comments Card Hunter combines tabletop gaming with digital magicJon Chey is a co-founder of Irrational Games, who recently formed up a brand new studio called Blue Manchu, to work on a new game called Card Hunter. Card Hunter might easily be mistaken for many similar games of much lower quality: It's a Flash game that runs in your browser, and it's going to be a free-to-play title monetized by microtransactions, using collectible cards to fuel the gameplay.

While Card Hunter may look shallow on the surface, it's anything but. Chey and his team have crafted what's essentially a love letter to tabletop gaming, combining mechanics usually meant for traditional board gaming (like game boards, cardboard cutouts, dice, and action cards) with a high-quality and well-designed video game.

Gallery: Card Hunter (PAX Prime 2012)

Continue reading Card Hunter combines tabletop gaming with digital magic

JoystiqCard Hunter combines tabletop gaming with digital magic originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>card-huntercardsdicedigitalflashfree-to-playgamingjonathan-cheynostalgiapax-2012pax-prime-2012pcrpgtabletopTue, 04 Sep 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Insomniac's 'Fuse' likely to be a reworked 'Overstrike']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/insomniacs-overstrike-and-fuse-are-almost-certainly-one-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/insomniacs-overstrike-and-fuse-are-almost-certainly-one-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/insomniacs-overstrike-and-fuse-are-almost-certainly-one-in/#comments
With Insomniac president and CEO Ted Price obliquely teasing an unknown project called "Fuse" during his PAX Prime 2012 keynote last week, it wasn't too difficult to put together the teaser image he produced and the teaser video released last year (above) for EA Partners project Overstrike. Price wouldn't admit as much to us during a followup interview last week, but he didn't really need to.

"I'm gonna point you to Fusegame.com," Price answered when asked about Overstrike's long absence from the public eye. Is it still a current-gen game (it was originally announced for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3)? He wouldn't say. When directly asked whether Overstrike and Fuse are the same game: "I'm being cagey here because I want to be consistent with how we're answering these questions," he said, deferring to his PR manager.

The PR man offered a bit more than Price would. "We're very deliberate in what we're showing right now, and that's why we're just pointing people to the website and saying, 'Hey, this is a process. We're going to share more information with you, stay tuned.'" That said, why in the world would the two guys be pointing us to a website for Fuse when we're asking about Overstrike? The answer seems pretty clear to us.

Price additionally refused to answer whether Fuse is an EA Partners project - Overstrike is an EA Partners-published four player co-op game.

Unsurprisingly, Game Informer is also positing that Overstrike is now named Fuse, calling it a "reworking" of the originally announced concept (what that means is up to your own interpretation). We'll presumably find out for sure when the Fuse website's countdown clock runs out in another seven days.

And wouldn't you know it, there's an upcoming Insomniac press event offering hands-on time with an unannounced game. Sounds like we'll find out what the mystery is all about soon enough.

JoystiqInsomniac's 'Fuse' likely to be a reworked 'Overstrike' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuseinsomniacinsomniac-gamesmicrosoftoverstrikepaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012playstationps3ted-pricexboxTue, 04 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Brothers in Arms: Furious 4 dead, new IP born]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/brothers-in-arms-furious-four-dead-new-ip-born/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/brothers-in-arms-furious-four-dead-new-ip-born/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/brothers-in-arms-furious-four-dead-new-ip-born/#comments Brothers in Arms Furious Four dead, new IP bornIt turns out Gearbox had a very good reason for letting the Brothers in Arms: Furious 4 trademark lapse: the name is dead. Development on the game continues, but Gearbox announced during a PAX panel that Furious 4 has become so different from the Brothers in Arms franchise that it has become a new IP entirely, Kotaku reports. Apparently that's what Randy Pitchford meant back in July, when he noted that the game had "evolved."

Further information about the game, including minor details like a name and release window, will have to wait for another announcement from Gearbox.

JoystiqBrothers in Arms: Furious 4 dead, new IP born originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brothers-in-arms-the-furious-4gearboxmicrosoftpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3ubisoftxboxTue, 04 Sep 2012 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Kirby-themed bubblegum record blown away at PAX]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/kirby-themed-bubblegum-record-blown-away-at-pax/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/kirby-themed-bubblegum-record-blown-away-at-pax/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/kirby-themed-bubblegum-record-blown-away-at-pax/#comments Kirby bubblegum record broken at PAXIn other news, 536 people blew bubblegum bubbles together. Also, it was a world record for simultaneous bubblegum blowing, which is lovely. The bubblegum blowers blew at PAX to celebrate Kirby's 20th anniversary, and the upcoming release of Kirby's Dream Collection on September 16

We were unsure Nintendo could rustle up enough blowers to blow a world record. But, like the bubblegum, we were blown away, as was the previous record of 304 achieved by Kirkwood Community College in 2010. We're sorry, Kirkwood, but 304 to 536 just blows.

JoystiqKirby-themed bubblegum record blown away at PAX originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kirbykirbys-dream-collectionnintendopax-2012pax-prime-2012wiiMon, 03 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ron Gilbert's platformer / adventure game 'The Cave' also headed to Wii U eShop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/ron-gilberts-platformer-adventure-game-the-cave-also-headed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/ron-gilberts-platformer-adventure-game-the-cave-also-headed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/ron-gilberts-platformer-adventure-game-the-cave-also-headed/#comments The Cave isn't just destined for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, apparently. During a demo at PAX Prime this afternoon, DoubleFine rep Greg Rice pointed out that the game's also headed to the Nintendo Wii U's eShop.

The platformer slash adventure game wasn't actually playable on Wii U at the studio's booth, so it's unclear how different (if at all) the game will be on Nintendo's next home console. We're hoping that the Wii U's tablet controller (the WiiPad[TM]) has a giant touchscreen button that simply says "Solve," though it'll probably be something more clever.

JoystiqRon Gilbert's platformer / adventure game 'The Cave' also headed to Wii U eShop originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>double-finedouble-fine-productionsdoublefineeshopgreg-ricemicrosoftnintendopaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3the-cavewii-uxboxSun, 02 Sep 2012 18:07:00 EST<![CDATA[How Cave Johnson's talking head got cut from Portal 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/how-cave-johnsons-talking-head-got-cut-from-portal-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/how-cave-johnsons-talking-head-got-cut-from-portal-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/how-cave-johnsons-talking-head-got-cut-from-portal-2/#comments How Cave Johnson's talking head got cut from Portal 2Cave Johnson, the eccentric, unstable president of Aperture Science, was going to have a more purposeful role in Portal 2, writer Erik Wolpaw said during the Plot vs. Play panel (co-hosted by Joystiq's Ben Gilbert) at PAX Prime today.

Wolpaw described the following scene, which was cut from the final version of Portal 2 after Valve realized it was too vague mechanically for players to enjoy: Cave Johnson's voice said, "I'm Cave Johnson" over the intercom, followed by, "No, really, I'm Cave Johnson. Look down." Cave's personality was trapped in a computer and he begged to be unplugged, while players found use in his hardware and had to push him against a wall to jump on a ledge.

In the end, the gameplay didn't fly and the scene - and story arc featuring Cave in a computer - was removed entirely. We like to think that means Cave got his wish, and he's not still trapped inside a box, screaming about lemons and plugs.

JoystiqHow Cave Johnson's talking head got cut from Portal 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Erik-WolpawmicrosoftPAXpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcplaystationplot-vs-play-2012portal-2ps3valvexboxSun, 02 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch a live stream of Joystiq's PAX panel with Erik Wolpaw, Tim Schafer, Kotaku [Update: It's over!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/watch-a-live-stream-of-joystiqs-pax-panel-with-erik-wolpaw-tim/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/watch-a-live-stream-of-joystiqs-pax-panel-with-erik-wolpaw-tim/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/watch-a-live-stream-of-joystiqs-pax-panel-with-erik-wolpaw-tim/#comments Joystiq at PAX Watch a live stream of our panel on Twitch TVJoystiq's Ben Gilbert is sitting down with Valve's Erik Wolpaw (writer on the Portal series), Double Fine's Tim Schafer (company president and fundraising maven) and Kotaku's Jason Shreier at PAX Prime today, to talk "Plot vs. Play."

This ragtag group will dissect the importance of narrative over gameplay, vice versa, inside-out and inverted, and it's all captured live for you to watch below via Twitch TV. The panel begins at 3 p.m. ET, or as the indoctrinated few call it, right now.

Update: The panel and live stream are now finished. If you missed the action, keep an eye on the PAX Prime 2012 page on Twitch TV, which should update with the day's recording.

JoystiqWatch a live stream of Joystiq's PAX panel with Erik Wolpaw, Tim Schafer, Kotaku [Update: It's over!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>double-fineErik-Wolpawjoystiqkotakupanelpax-2012pax-prime-2012Tim-Schafertwitchtwitch-tvvalveSun, 02 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 adds Grifball to the multiplayer menu]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/halo-4-adds-grifball-to-the-multiplayer-menu/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/halo-4-adds-grifball-to-the-multiplayer-menu/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/halo-4-adds-grifball-to-the-multiplayer-menu/#comments
Community-created mode Grifball is graduating to the big time in Halo 4. 343 Industries revealed during PAX this weekend that the popular sport would now be a major multiplayer mode in Halo 4, available for play at launch. For the unaware, Grifball pits two teams against each other as they fight to grab a bomb (or, ball, in this case) and deliver it to the enemy's base. Each team is armed with only hammers and energy swords.

Grifball in Halo 4 will be a bit different, as you can see in the video above. For one, players can now throw the ball, allowing for passes between teammates, and the mode has been adjusted to be more fast-paced - the ball will respawn much more quickly now when dropped. On top of that, using the sword to take out the ball carrier will now instantly give you the ball, rather than sending it flying away when killing with the hammer.

JoystiqHalo 4 adds Grifball to the multiplayer menu originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industrieshalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiospax-2012pax-prime-2012xboxSun, 02 Sep 2012 13:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Runic's post-Torchlight 2 plans: Mac port, patches, and a trip to the mountains]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/runics-post-torchlight-2-plans-mac-port-patches-and-a-trip-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/runics-post-torchlight-2-plans-mac-port-patches-and-a-trip-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/runics-post-torchlight-2-plans-mac-port-patches-and-a-trip-t/#comments Runic's CEO Max Schaefer seems both simultaneously relieved and nervous as he sits in the Torchlight 2 booth at PAX Prime 2012. Relieved, because his company finally announced a release date for its long-awaited game, and slightly nervous, because he knows the community's judgment is finally coming. But even launch won't bring a real break for Runic: Schaefer says the company has a clear plan laid out for post-release work.

A Mac port and language translations are first on the list, says Schaefer - both of those are real priorities for the team. Runic's also working on patching the game (if necessary), and getting the content editor up and running so both users and devs can make some mods and add-ons for the game. After that, says Schaefer, he's not sure. "We'll go up into the mountains or something and figure out what to do next."

Schaefer says that both a console port of Torchlight 2 and "an MMO" aren't out of the question, but there are problems with both of those ideas. "We will not be making a traditional MMO under any circumstances," he says, so a possible Torchlight MMO could look very different from what players might imagine - a pretty different stance from what we've heard in the past from Runic Games.

And while the studio had plenty of success with an Xbox Live port of its first Torchlight game (and Microsoft showed interest in a port of the second game), Schaefer says "it's a lot harder this time," given the way the game is built, to put together an Xbox port. All of that is a long way off, however - Schaefer's more concerned about getting this game released first.

JoystiqRunic's post-Torchlight 2 plans: Mac port, patches, and a trip to the mountains originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceomax-schaeferpaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012pcrunic-gamestorchlighttorchlight-2xbox-liveSun, 02 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tour Mojang's pop-up museum: view the beautiful lawsuit docs for Scrolls, the insides of a Creeper]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/tour-mojangs-pop-up-museum-view-the-beautiful-lawsuit-docs-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/tour-mojangs-pop-up-museum-view-the-beautiful-lawsuit-docs-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/tour-mojangs-pop-up-museum-view-the-beautiful-lawsuit-docs-for/#comments Tour Mojang's popup museum view the beautiful lawsuit docs for Scrolls, the insides of a CreeperMojang's more than just the studio that birthed Minecraft - it's also the studio that birthed the amazing fan art you see above. Beyond said art, Mojang erected a faux museum in honor of its short life on the PAX Prime 2012 show floor.

In it, we witnessed the actual legal documents served to Mojang head Marcus "Notch" Persson over Scrolls, the inner workings of a Creeper (its heart is dynamite!), and a very impressive set of Legos. Take the tour with us in the gallery below.

Gallery: Mojang Museum (PAX Prime 2012)

JoystiqTour Mojang's pop-up museum: view the beautiful lawsuit docs for Scrolls, the insides of a Creeper originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Minecraftmojangmojang-museummojang-specificationspaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012Sun, 02 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefall beta opens up its item store, sells Founder's Packages (on sale now)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/firefall-beta-opens-up-its-item-store-sells-founders-packages/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/firefall-beta-opens-up-its-item-store-sells-founders-packages/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/firefall-beta-opens-up-its-item-store-sells-founders-packages/#comments Firefall opens up its item store, sells Founder's Packages on sale nowRed 5 Studios is once again showing off its open world, free-to-play MMO Firefall (currently still in closed beta) at PAX, and the newest bit of content included is a set of in-game stores, allowing players to purchase items and features via microtransaction. Firefall lead designer David Williams promises the developer won't "sell power items or content areas to players." Instead, Firefall's item stores are all about aesthetic and convenience items, things that players can use to customize their character's look, or have some fun in the game world.

In addition to the company's just-announced 'Founders' content bundles (detailed above, and currently on sale during PAX), Williams showed us some special cosmetic items available for purchase, like shaggy dreadlocks or a flashy helmet, as well as items from an in-game store called Luau Larry's. Larry will happily sell you some fun items, like a little voodoo doctor pet, or a tiki torch that plays in-game music and causes everyone around it to dance when placed in the world.

Becoming a founder also grants priority access to Firefall's current beta build - along with XP boosts, real-world items, in-game currency and more based on purchased tier. And the items in the founders' packages are set to be available on September 24, so we may hear about a bigger update coming then. Meanwhile, the current price on all three packages ($15, $37, and $75, down from $20, $50, and $100) lasts through PAX weekend.

JoystiqFirefall beta opens up its item store, sells Founder's Packages (on sale now) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 20:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosmeticdavid-williamsfirefallfounders-packagesitemsmicrotransactionspaxpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcstoreSat, 01 Sep 2012 20:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes gameplay footage sneaks out of PAX 2012 [Update: Now with official footage!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroes-gameplay-footage-sneaks-out-of-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroes-gameplay-footage-sneaks-out-of-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroes-gameplay-footage-sneaks-out-of-p/#comments Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes gameplay footage sneaks out of PAX 2012
What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is the very first gameplay footage of Kojima's next non-Raiden oriented entry into the annals of Metal Gear history, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. As you can tell, Snake's ability to stealthily infiltrate a compound and mess up everyone's day has remained in-tact since Metal Gear Solid 4 launched in 2008. Sorry about the shaky-cam nature of this - Konami wasn't allowing direct streaming of the event, so here we are. We'll get a nicer version up for you as soon as it's released.

As we heard a couple days ago, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is an open world stealth game powered by Kojima Productions' proprietary Fox Engine. And yes, it did look super, super impressive.

Update: Konami's official release of the footage we saw earlier today has been embedded above for your viewing pleasure. Don't say we never got you anything.

JoystiqMetal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes gameplay footage sneaks out of PAX 2012 [Update: Now with official footage!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 17:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fox-engineKojima-Productionskonamimetal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesmicrosoftpax-2012pax-prime-2012playstationps3xboxSat, 01 Sep 2012 17:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is gorgeous, open-world, and not Metal Gear Solid 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroes-is-gorgeous-open-world-and-not/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroes-is-gorgeous-open-world-and-not/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroes-is-gorgeous-open-world-and-not/#comments Hideo Kojima divulged details on Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes at an "introspective" PAX session about the series today. The game's demo was shown recently to attendees at a Metal Gear 25th anniversary event in Japan, and involved Snake sneaking his way through an open world.

So what else is new about Ground Zeroes? It's a "prologue" to Metal Gear Solid 5, says Hideo Kojima. The open world of Ground Zeroes is literally the entire world - a helicopter can be called to help during missions or ferry Snake in and out of mission levels. Moreover, you can customize the music that the helicopter plays when it arrives to help you ("Flight of the Valkyries" played during the demo we were shown today - Kojima says the louder the song is, the more of a chance of you getting caught, so maybe Slayer wouldn't be the best choice).

Kojima reiterates that Ground Zeroes is a current-gen game, though Fox Engine is scalable for next-gen as well. He wouldn't give specifics on the name, but calls the game "a beginning" rather than an end for the series.

Is Ground Zeroes the "Project Ogre" we've been wondering about? That's still not clear. What we do know is it's headed to current-gen consoles (360 and PS3 were mentioned) rather than the next, yet-to-be-determined hardware generation.

JoystiqMetal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is gorgeous, open-world, and not Metal Gear Solid 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fox-enginehideo-kojimametal-gear-ground-zeroesmetal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesmicrosoftPAXpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012playstationproject-ogreps3xboxSat, 01 Sep 2012 16:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Kojima: Fox Engine could support Silent Hill, other Konami games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/kojima-fox-engine-could-support-silent-hill-other-konami-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/kojima-fox-engine-could-support-silent-hill-other-konami-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/kojima-fox-engine-could-support-silent-hill-other-konami-games/#comments During a Metal Gear 25th Anniversary panel at PAX 2012, designer Hideo Kojima talked about the development of the Fox Engine, which powers Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. Kojima spoke briefly about the engine's potential and versatility.

"The thing is, once we get the Fox engine moving as we do now. You can make an FPS, you can make an Uncharted, etc. But what I wanted to do is make an open-world game, and that's what I'm doing now," he said.

Kojima added that "other Konami studios may use it as well," and gave the Silent Hill series as an example.

JoystiqKojima: Fox Engine could support Silent Hill, other Konami games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fox-enginehideo-kojimaKonamimetal-gear-ground-zeroesPAXpax-2012pax-prime-2012silent-hillSat, 01 Sep 2012 16:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Seen@PAX: Disney artists will draw your favorite Disney character (from Epic Mickey 2)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/seen-pax-disney-artists-will-draw-your-favorite-disney-characte/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/seen-pax-disney-artists-will-draw-your-favorite-disney-characte/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/seen-pax-disney-artists-will-draw-your-favorite-disney-characte/#comments SeenPAX Disney artists will draw your favorite Disney character from Epic Mickey 2Of all the artist alleys we passed at PAX, we never expected to find a team of in-house Disney cartoonists hand-drawing popular characters for surprised attendees. Take a peek at the gallery below and see how some of Disney's iconic characters (featured in Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two) were brought to life.

Gallery: Epic Mickey 2 artist's alley @ PAX Prime 2012

JoystiqSeen@PAX: Disney artists will draw your favorite Disney character (from Epic Mickey 2) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artistscartoonistsmicrosoftnintendopaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012playstationps3wiixboxSat, 01 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft wants to shave your hair into a mohawk at PAX]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/ubisoft-wants-to-shave-your-hair-into-a-mohawk-at-pax/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/ubisoft-wants-to-shave-your-hair-into-a-mohawk-at-pax/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/ubisoft-wants-to-shave-your-hair-into-a-mohawk-at-pax/#comments Ubisoft wants to shave your hair into a mohawk at PAXJust like the publisher's Far Cry 3 booth at PAX East 2012 offered attendees a chance to get permanently inked, PAX Prime 2012 attendees can get their perfectly coiffed doos turned into a mohawk to promote Ubisoft's upcoming shooter. The idea is that the newly mohawked community will look just like "Vaas," FC3's masochistic main antagonist. He totally has a mohawk!

The first 60 participants that accept the complimentary buzz get a free copy of Far Cry 3 when it launches on December 4 in the US.

Gallery: Far Cry 3 (Mohawk Madness @ PAX Prime 2012)

JoystiqUbisoft wants to shave your hair into a mohawk at PAX originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>far-cry-3microsoftpaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3ubisoftxboxSat, 01 Sep 2012 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fortnite getting a closed beta 'early next year']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/fortnite-getting-a-closed-beta-early-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/fortnite-getting-a-closed-beta-early-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/fortnite-getting-a-closed-beta-early-next-year/#comments As a special prize for one lucky attendee of tonight PAX Prime 2012 Fortnite panel - a reprise of the Fortnite panel we saw at San Diego Comic Con earlier this year - Epic Games gave out a golden ticket that provides early beta entrance to next year's Unreal Engine 4 PC game. So ... wait, does that mean there's gonna be an open beta for Fortnite?

"TBD," Epic design director Cliff Bleszinski told us immediately following the panel. "There will definitely be a closed beta," producer Tanya Jessing added, but she also refused to confirm whether an open beta is also in the cards. But hey, that one lady who won the ticket? She's totally in.

JoystiqFortnite getting a closed beta 'early next year' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cliff-bleszinskiepicepic-gamesfortnitepaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012pctanya-jessingFri, 31 Aug 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Twisted Pixel's LocoCycle takes inspiration from some crazy places]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/twisted-pixels-lococycle-takes-inspiration-from-some-crazy-plac/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/twisted-pixels-lococycle-takes-inspiration-from-some-crazy-plac/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/twisted-pixels-lococycle-takes-inspiration-from-some-crazy-plac/#comments Lococycle goes a little nutsYou may think, after watching the initial trailer, that Twisted Pixel pulled LocoCycle (in which you control a renegade robotic motorcycle that shoots and karate-chops its way across the country) out of some loony creative cauldron of its own making. But that's not quite true, says studio director Michael Wilford, showing the game for the first time at PAX Prime 2012. There is a very clear inspiration, he says, and it's Ice Cube's 2004 motorcycle racing movie, Torque.

"It's a really shitty movie," Wilford tells us. "It tries to be Fast and the Furious on motorcycles." Twisted Pixel's art director gave a copy of Torque to the company's chief creative officer, Josh Bear, one day as a joke, and Bear was directly influenced by a viewing, especially a scene where two women battle with motorcycles. "Josh had a nightmare that night," says Wilford with complete sincerity, "and woke up the next day and said, 'We have to make a game about a fighting motorcycle.'"

Continue reading Twisted Pixel's LocoCycle takes inspiration from some crazy places

JoystiqTwisted Pixel's LocoCycle takes inspiration from some crazy places originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lococyclemichael-wilfordmicrosoftmotorcyclepaxpax-2012pax-prime-2012torquetwisted-pixelxboxFri, 31 Aug 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun playable at PAX Prime, trailer visible right here]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-playable-at-pax-prime-trailer-visible-righ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-playable-at-pax-prime-trailer-visible-righ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-playable-at-pax-prime-trailer-visible-righ/#comments Skulls of the Shogun gets new trailer, playable at Pax Prime
Skulls of the Shogun is coming to just about everything Windows 8; Windows 8 PCs, Windows 8 phones, Windows 8 tablets. Oh, and Xbox. The turn-based strategy game supports cross-platform play across all those Windows, a nifty feature PAX Prime attendees can sample for themselves this weekend.

Skulls of the Shogun comes crashing through all those Windows on October 26.*

*when Windows 8 launches

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun playable at PAX Prime, trailer visible right here originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitmicrosoftmobilepax-primepax-prime-2012pcskulls-of-the-shogunwindows-8windows-phone-8xboxFri, 31 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take this code and go play the Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault beta]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/take-this-code-and-go-play-the-ratchet-and-clank-full-frontal-ass/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/take-this-code-and-go-play-the-ratchet-and-clank-full-frontal-ass/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/take-this-code-and-go-play-the-ratchet-and-clank-full-frontal-ass/#comments Take this code and go play the Ratchet & Clank Full Frontal Assault betaThe next Ratchet & Clank - Full Frontal Assualt - isn't just the usual third-person platforming and shooting affair we're all so used to from Insomniac Games. Well ... it still has all that stuff, it's just also got a thorough base defense aspect the developer is hoping you'll beta test ahead of Full Frontal Assault's "fall" launch.

That beta, as it turns out, is going on right now (through next week). We've got some codes for you going out on our Twitter feed, and we've also got a link to this handy site where you can procure your own, should your hands not be speedy enough to catch a code otherwise.

Oh, also, the image above is full of codes that totally work (albeit for probably a super limited time). So there's that.

JoystiqTake this code and go play the Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betainsomniac-gamespaxpax-2012pax-prime-2012playstationplaystation-vitaps3ratchet-and-clank-full-frontal-assaultvitaFri, 31 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX coming to Australia, PAX Prime extended to 4 days next year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pax-coming-to-australia-pax-prime-extended-to-4-days-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pax-coming-to-australia-pax-prime-extended-to-4-days-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pax-coming-to-australia-pax-prime-extended-to-4-days-next-year/#comments PAX coming to Australia, PAX Prime extended to 4 days next yearDuring the Q&A session today, Penny Arcade proprietors Mike "Gabe" Krahulik and Jerry "Tycho" Holkins confirmed that PAX is indeed coming to Australia. On top of that, the duo announced that PAX Prime would last an extra day next year.

And for all of you hopeful for a UK stop on the PAX tour, it's something Penny Arcade is thinking about. "We want to go there," Krahulik responded when grilled by someone from the UK. Regardless, the duo doesn't have anything specific to announce right now.

JoystiqPAX coming to Australia, PAX Prime extended to 4 days next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiapaxpax-2012pax-australiapax-prime-2012penny-arcadepenny-arcade-expoFri, 31 Aug 2012 15:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-order Metal Gear Rising at PAX, get a T-shirt]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pre-order-metal-gear-rising-at-pax-get-a-t-shirt/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pre-order-metal-gear-rising-at-pax-get-a-t-shirt/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/pre-order-metal-gear-rising-at-pax-get-a-t-shirt/#comments Preorder Metal Gear Rising at PAX, get a TshirtIf you're at PAX, you can easily get a new t-shirt to cover your shiny cyborg torso and all of your pneumatic sinews. All you have to do is pre-order a copy of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance at the Konami booth, and you'll be rewarded with a t-shirt exclusive to the event. The pre-order will be fulfilled by Amazon, so you won't have to ... go find the booth again in February or something.

We have yet to see a picture of the exclusive item. You'll just have to be surprised (!) at the booth.

Continue reading Pre-order Metal Gear Rising at PAX, get a T-shirt

JoystiqPre-order Metal Gear Rising at PAX, get a T-shirt originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonmetal-gear-rising-revengeancemetal-gear-solid-risingmicrosoftpax-2012pax-prime-2012playstationpre-orderps3xboxFri, 31 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Zen Studios' Plants vs. Zombies pinball table lets in sunshine next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/zen-studios-plants-vs-zombies-pinball-table-lets-in-sunshine-n/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/zen-studios-plants-vs-zombies-pinball-table-lets-in-sunshine-n/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/zen-studios-plants-vs-zombies-pinball-table-lets-in-sunshine-n/#comments
Zen Studios' first mystery pinball table based on a PopCap franchise will be Plants vs. Zombies. The table, playable at PAX this weekend, features your favorite flora and undead continuing their epic battle with the assistance of giant silver balls.

The Plants vs. Zombies pinball table will be available on September 4 and 5 in North America and Europe, respectively, as a cross buy add-on for Zen Pinball 2 on PS3 and Vita. The table flips on in XBLA's Pinball FX2 on September 5. The table is $2.99 through the PlayStation Network, 240 Microsoft Points ($3) on Xbox 360.

Asked for a review of the table, Crazy Dave expounded, "Wabby-wibby woooo. Whaaaa! Wanna watta win."

JoystiqZen Studios' Plants vs. Zombies pinball table lets in sunshine next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpax-2012pax-prime-2012pinball-fx-2playstationplaystation-vitaPopCapPopCap-Gamesps3vitaxboxzen-pinball-2Zen-StudiosFri, 31 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aliens: Colonial Marines' Escape mode looks painful if you're a human]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/aliens-colonial-marines-escape-mode-looks-painful-if-youre-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/aliens-colonial-marines-escape-mode-looks-painful-if-youre-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/aliens-colonial-marines-escape-mode-looks-painful-if-youre-a/#comments Aliens: Colonial Marines' Escape mode looks painful if you're a human
Yesterday Sega and Gearbox announced Aliens: Colonial Marines' new 'Escape' multiplayer mode, a four vs. four, Xenomorphs vs Marines bloodbath. Today, they've sent us that bloodbath in video form, and it looks a bit painful for the marines.

It's up to the marines to escape the Alien planet's outpost by getting to the extraction point, while the Aliens just chase them down like dogs. There's a time limit too, meaning the marines must work together to make it out with their limbs and guts intact.

Should the idea of gutting or being gutted entice you, Aliens: Colonial Marines is playable at this weekend's PAX Prime. The game itself arrives next year on February 12 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. The Wii U release date remains unannounced.

JoystiqAliens: Colonial Marines' Escape mode looks painful if you're a human originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aliens-Colonial-Marinesgearboxmicrosoftnintendopax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3segawii-uxboxFri, 31 Aug 2012 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Aliens: Colonial Marines adds 'Escape Mode' to multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/aliens-colonial-marines-adds-escape-mode-to-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/aliens-colonial-marines-adds-escape-mode-to-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/aliens-colonial-marines-adds-escape-mode-to-multiplayer/#comments Debuting at PAX is a new multiplayer mode for Aliens: Colonial Marines, called "Escape Mode." It's a simple concept: a team of four players, as Xenomorphs, try to hunt down four Colonial Marines, and the team of four humans do their best to get the hell out of their way.

The Marines do more than scream and run, as they "blast their way through the fast-paced map" trying to reach the exit.

If you'd like to try it at PAX, the mode will be on display in Sega's booth, which covers the space of both #242 and #252. You won't miss it - what with the giant power loader statue and all.

Continue reading Aliens: Colonial Marines adds 'Escape Mode' to multiplayer

JoystiqAliens: Colonial Marines adds 'Escape Mode' to multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aliens-Colonial-Marinesescape-modemicrosoftnintendopax-2012pax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3wii-uxboxThu, 30 Aug 2012 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Dress up like XCOM's Thin Man, skip the lines at 2K's PAX booth]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/dress-up-like-xcoms-thin-man-skip-the-lines-at-2ks-pax-booth/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/dress-up-like-xcoms-thin-man-skip-the-lines-at-2ks-pax-booth/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/dress-up-like-xcoms-thin-man-skip-the-lines-at-2ks-pax-booth/#comments Dress like a character from XCOM, skip the PAX demo lineThe lines at PAX Prime can be the show's biggest pain. It's all open to the public, so playing a much-anticipated game like XCOM: Enemy Unknown can have you standing around for ages. Fortunately, the folks at 2K have cooked up a cheat to help you out: Just dress up as the game's Thin Man character and you'll get a VIP badge when you show off your costume at the show.

That badge will grant you access to play XCOM and Borderlands 2 without waiting, plus you'll be able to duck into the XCOM panel on Saturday. You can see what the Thin Man looks like above, and study some concept art on the official blog post, if you need it.

If you don't want to wear a costume but still want some quality hands-on time with Borderlands 2 (and some Joystiq staffers), be sure to stop by the PAX party tomorrow night. The bar is open there no matter who you're dressed as.

JoystiqDress up like XCOM's Thin Man, skip the lines at 2K's PAX booth originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesborderlands-2costumelinesmicrosoftpartypaxpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3thin-manxboxxcom-enemy-unknownWed, 29 Aug 2012 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Reminder: Play Borderlands 2 at the Joystiq, Gearbox and Amazon PAX party]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/reminder-play-borderlands-2-at-the-joystiq-gearbox-and-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/reminder-play-borderlands-2-at-the-joystiq-gearbox-and-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/reminder-play-borderlands-2-at-the-joystiq-gearbox-and-amazon/#comments Hey, whatcha doing on Thursday night? If you're in the Seattle area for PAX Prime, join us for a little shindig featuring Borderlands 2. The folks at Gearbox, 2K Games and Amazon are taking over the PNK Ultra Lounge in downtown Seattle from 7pm until 11pm, and you're invited.

PNK is located on the 4th level of the Pacific Place Shopping Center at 600 Pine Street. Need a map? Boom.

You'll have to be 17 or older to get in, and over 21 to partake in the open bar from 7pm until 9pm (cash afterward). Tell them Joystiq sent ya!

JoystiqReminder: Play Borderlands 2 at the Joystiq, Gearbox and Amazon PAX party originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesamazonborderlands-2microsoftpax-prime-2012pcplaystationps3xboxWed, 29 Aug 2012 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA['Sup, Notch: Why Guncraft got a booth next to Minecraft's at PAX]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/sup-notch-why-guncraft-got-a-booth-next-to-minecrafts-at-pax/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/sup-notch-why-guncraft-got-a-booth-next-to-minecrafts-at-pax/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/sup-notch-why-guncraft-got-a-booth-next-to-minecrafts-at-pax/#comments Confronting Notch Why Guncraft got a booth next to Minecraft's at PAXExato Games co-founder John Getty makes no apologies about the inspiration behind Guncraft. Yes, it's based on Minecraft. Problem?

Getty can afford to be flippant about Guncraft's origins because his game, while it resembles Minecraft, utilizes entirely different mechanics and goals, and it simply isn't a rip-off, he says. Guncraft spawned while Getty and his partner Alex Schlee were working on another game, Progenitor.

"Our artist and former programmer were having a talk about how Minecraft isn't objective-oriented enough," Getty recalls. "They thought that it would be awesome if it was like an FPS, which is an objective-driven genre, where you could also make use of the levels you intricately design. They also thought it would be awesome to be able to blow the crap out of said level, without getting banned from a server for trolling someone's masterpiece.

"I overheard the conversation and thought it was an awesome idea. After a week of drawing up some preliminary game-design documents, I pitched it to my partner, we both decided it was too good to pass up, and we postponed Progenitor in favor of Guncraft."

Guncraft is now a Kickstarter success story, raising more than $16,000 in March to continue development, and it's heading to PAX Prime in Seattle this week - in fact, it's heading to a very specific place on PAX's show floor. Guncraft has a booth right next to Minecraft's.

Continue reading 'Sup, Notch: Why Guncraft got a booth next to Minecraft's at PAX

Joystiq'Sup, Notch: Why Guncraft got a booth next to Minecraft's at PAX originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-schleeboothexatoGuncraftjohn-gettyminecraftpax-2012pax-prime-2012pcrip-offSandboxWed, 29 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gears of War: Judgment's Free-For-All mode playable this week at PAX Prime]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/gears-of-war-judgments-free-for-all-mode-playable-this-week-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/gears-of-war-judgments-free-for-all-mode-playable-this-week-at/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/gears-of-war-judgments-free-for-all-mode-playable-this-week-at/#comments More info on freeforall in Gears Judgment
The "Free-For-All" mode coming to Gears of War: Judgment will be playable at this weekend's PAX Prime show in Seattle. As you can tell by the name, the mode is essentially a full deathmatch, pitting each player against everyone else in a race for most kills.

The PAX demo will offer two new maps as well: Gondola features a series of apartments in the Agora foothills, with players fighting it out on various balconies and yards in a luxury living community; while Library is a huge archival building set in the Gears universe, featuring austere hallways and what are sure to be plenty of lore references to the setting of the game.

We'll definitely play through both this weekend at PAX, and you'll be able to play them yourself when the game arrives on March 19 next year.

JoystiqGears of War: Judgment's Free-For-All mode playable this week at PAX Prime originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epic-gamesgears-of-wargears-of-war-judgmentgow-judgmentmicrosoftpax-prime-2012xboxWed, 29 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzlejuice desktop debuting at PAX, coming to Steam Greenlight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/puzzlejuice-desktop-debuting-at-pax-coming-to-steam-greenlight/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/puzzlejuice-desktop-debuting-at-pax-coming-to-steam-greenlight/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/puzzlejuice-desktop-debuting-at-pax-coming-to-steam-greenlight/#comments Puzzlejuice desktop debuting at PAX, coming to Steam Greenlight Puzzlejuice is coming to PAX in a keyboard-only desktop version, which creator Asher Vollmer told us he plans to submit to Steam Greenlight soon. The iOS puzzle game is one of a select group to be spotlighted at this year's PAX.

We featured Puzzlejuice in our Portabliss column earlier this year, in which JC noted the game's fiddly touchscreen controls. Yet he found the bizarre mixture of Tetris, Boggle, and Match-3 so "irresistible" that he still heartily recommended it. If you're at PAX, you can find out if a keyboard helps resolve those control issues.

Meanwhile, Vollmer is celebrating Puzzlejuice's featured billing by releasing an updated version, which includes an 'impossible' difficulty mode and a new power-up. The game will also go on sale for $0.99. Vollmer also has other news to celebrate, as earlier this month he started work at thatgamecompany as their 'feel engineer.' Whatever that means.

JoystiqPuzzlejuice desktop debuting at PAX, coming to Steam Greenlight originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashley-vollmeriosipadiphonemacmobilepaxpax-prime-2012pcpuzzlejuicesteam-greenlightTue, 28 Aug 2012 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead Island studio unveils new game in development, 'Project Hell']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/dead-island-studio-unveils-new-game-in-development-project-hel/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/dead-island-studio-unveils-new-game-in-development-project-hel/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/28/dead-island-studio-unveils-new-game-in-development-project-hel/#comments Dead Island studio unveils new game in development, 'Project Hell' Techland today announced 'Project Hell', the codename for a new game the studio is developing. The developer launched a new blog for the project, revealing the game's prototype was borne out of an internally-created weapon mod for Dead Island.

Although there isn't much yet to go on, it looks like Project Hell, as the name suggests, won't stray far from Dead Island's bloodied roots. The team's opening post says that they prefer "breaking through hordes of undead minions" over stuff with "unicorns and fairies." The post also notes the game will use some of Dead Island's technology.

The announcement follows the news earlier this month that Dead Island shipped 4 million copies worldwide. Techland is also working on the next installment in that series, Riptide, which is reportedly set to debut at PAX Prime this weekend.

JoystiqDead Island studio unveils new game in development, 'Project Hell' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-islanddead-island-riptidepax-prime-2012project-helltechlandTue, 28 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST