Joystiq

PBS mini documentary covers eSports' many bases

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:30:00 EST

Off Book, the PBS webseries that previously investigated what makes indie games so darn creative, has produced an eight minute documentary on the history of the eSports its four major facets: RTS, MOBA, FPS and fighting games, the latter of which are too cool for acronyms.

PBS mini documentary covers eSports' many bases originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live adding SkyDrive, CNET, Maxim, Karaoke apps in US today

Sinan Kubba — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST

A throng of new apps are coming to Xbox 360s worldwide, so if you've been feeling like your dash needs more squares with logos in them then today won't disappoint. Today sees the US launch of Maxim and CNET apps, with the latter also coming to Canada, while Karaoke and SkyDrive apps roll out worldwide (excluding Japan and United Arab Emirates for Karaoke).

As shown above, SkyDrive lets you view pictures and videos stored on your Microsoft cloud, allowing Jenny to guffaw at memories of her sister's apparently hilarious wedding dress by watching the recording on her TV. Aww.

Other Xbox 360 apps cropping up across the globe today include VEVO expanding to Spain, Italy, and France, and CinemaNow hopping over to Canada. Xbox spokesoldier Major Nelson also detailed a list of over 40 apps coming to various regions before spring 2013, including MTV, PBS, Flixster, and Vimeo apps for the US.

Xbox Live adding SkyDrive, CNET, Maxim, Karaoke apps in US today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PBS mini documentary showcases the creativity of indie games

Sinan Kubba — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST

The latest episode of PBS' Off-Book, a web-series on online arts, is a celebration of indie games and their creativity. While the mini documentary probably won't tell you anything you don't already know, it is an excellently produced primer for getting into indie games.

The seven-minute video is introduced by Kill Screen's Jamin Warren, then following on from Warren is SpellTower creator Zach Gage talking about the emotional and immersive value of game mechanics. Bastion creator Darren Korb then describes how he feels indie developers approach sound design differently from developers of AAA games. Eddy Boxerman and Andy Nealen explain the efforts they put into Osmos' art design, before Gamasutra's Leigh Alexander closes by looking at how indie games handle storytelling.

If you like watching interesting stuff about indie games (and why wouldn't you?) you should also check out Indie Game: The Movie, which came to Netflix earlier this week. On a side note, if you can name all the games featured in the Off-Book video, you'll almost certainly win something completely awesome*.

*by 'almost certainly' we mean 'definitely not'

PBS mini documentary showcases the creativity of indie games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Kinect hacks segment to air on PBS's 'Need to Know' tonight

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST

Ordinarily, a mainstream news report on how "hackers have repurposed the Kinect to allow people to control computers and the digital world" would have us bracing to put out the fire -- but this is PBS we're talking about. Set your DVR to tape tonight's "Need to Know" and go enjoy your Friday night!

Continue reading PSA: Kinect hacks segment to air on PBS's 'Need to Know' tonight

PSA: Kinect hacks segment to air on PBS's 'Need to Know' tonight originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sesame Street Kinect game being developed by Double Fine

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:55:00 EST

Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster will be brought to you this autumn by the letters D, F and K. Warner Bros. Interactive announced this morning that the children's television institution will be transformed into an "interactive experience" for Xbox 360's Kinect. The game will be developed by Double Fine Productions, the studio that's recently taken a new path with bite-sized downloadable titles like Costume Quest and Stacking.

Accompanied by Cookie Monster, Elmo and other fluffy residents of Sesame Street, you'll explore a "living storybook" (entitled Once Upon a Monster). Parents and children can get active in this journey through a set of minigames that encourage "dancing, jumping, flying and more."

From this initial announcement, it appears the game will be like an interactive Sesame Street episode. If Double Fine nails it, it holds serious potential for the studio that's only come close to having a break-out hit. Of course, if the series does take off (and remember, there's flying!) how is mom supposed to enjoy a quiet moment in the kitchen and a bottle of wine if she actually has to play along? Whatever happened to the good old days of television as babysitter?

Gallery: Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster (Xbox 360)

Sesame Street Kinect game being developed by Double Fine originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PBS to air 90-minute Video Games Live performance

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

If you've yet to experience the profound orchestral magic of the Tommy Tallarico-fronted musical outfit Video Games Live, you'll soon have the opportunity to do so from the safety and comfort of your own home. The group recently announced it will perform a 90-minute special for PBS, which will debut July 31, and then air on various PBS affiliates across the country throughout August. We suggest contacting your local affiliate to find out if the special will come to your neck of the woods.

If you're planning on tuning in, you can check out the trailer posted after the jump to see what you're in for, or read this press release to see what games the orchestra will be sampling during its performance. We don't see Gitaroo Man on said list, but we're hoping that's just an unfortunate omission on behalf of the copywriter.

Continue reading PBS to air 90-minute Video Games Live performance

PBS to air 90-minute Video Games Live performance originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video Games Live trying New Orleans concert for PBS again

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:25:00 EST

Video Games Live plans to record a show on April 1 (no joke) in New Orleans to be aired on PBS stations in July. As this is going on the tee-vees, special guests and spectacle are planned. Ralph Baer will play Pong against an audience member on stage, with the symphony providing the sound. Guests for the post-show "meet and greet" include Tommy Tallarico (Earthworm Jim/Advent Rising), Jack Wall (Myst/Mass Effect), Marty O'Donnell (Halo), Russell Brower (Blizzard), Gerard Marino (God of War), Christopher Tin (Civilization IV) and more.

VGL Executive Producer Tommy Tallarico tells Joystiq that the previous attempt to record the show in February fell through due to licensing and approval issues. Tickets for the show are available from Ticketmaster. Hopefully, the second attempt goes smoother.

Video Games Live trying New Orleans concert for PBS again originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PBS recording, airing Video Games Live concert in 2010

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:40:00 EST

The always enjoyable Video Games Live concert series will have a performance taped and shown on PBS stations next year. The recorded performance will occur February 5, 2010, at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. Tickets, which start at $15, go on sale Friday, December 18 at 10AM CST (check Ticketmaster or call 800-745-3000).

We contacted VGL Executive Producer Tommy Tallarico to find out about special guests for this televised concert. He told us that the performance is still in the early planning stages and wishes he had more to share. Tallarico explained, "The only thing I could really say for sure right now is that we are not only going to have special guests from the gaming world -- game composers and game designers from around the world -- we're also going to have special musical guests and celebrities not from the gaming world, but who are very well known and fantastic performers."

For the rest of us not near Mardi Gras land, the concert will begin airing in June on your local PBS station and a DVD/Blu-ray version will be distributed worldwide. All of this sounds like a very clever way for PBS to attract a younger demographic. Also, if you attend the taped concert, make sure to dress business casual. Greasy gamers in T-shirts and jeans don't make for good crowd shots.

PBS recording, airing Video Games Live concert in 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prince turned down Guitar Hero, prefers kids 'learn how to actually play'

David Hinkle — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:59:00 EST

When Prince isn't busy changing his name, starring in Hollywood movies, or giving your mother hot flashes, he enjoys making music. Nowadays, he's hawking his latest album at your local Target, which is the reason PBS caught up with the man for an interview.

The interview is pretty extensive, spanning a great deal of Prince's illustrious career, but of most interest to the gaming crowd are surely Prince's thoughts on Guitar Hero. When asked, Prince said, "Well, I ain't mad at them. I hear it made, like, $2 billion and they came to us and offered us a very small portion of that," which Prince, obviously, turned down. Prince thinks, "it's more important that kids learn how to actually play the guitar," even though he says it's incredibly tough to learn. According to him, the payoff is the joy of creating something from nothing.

Prince thinks that making music is the best thing in the world, but we think he's overlooking one important fact: You can create music with Guitar Hero's instruments.

[Via superannuation]

Prince turned down Guitar Hero, prefers kids 'learn how to actually play' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Life backlash gains momentum

Alexander Sliwinski — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO, Business

Second Life had a backlash coming. The overhyped virtual reality world with amazing public relations and highbrow academic love is now the focus of an increasing number of reports calling foul to their claim of 2.3 million residents. American Public Radio's Marketplace says it's actually more like 250,000.

Clay Shirky, a reporter for Fortune says, "So these aren't terrible numbers, but it's certainly a much more modest success than we've been led to believe by the business stories saying 'there are millions of people using Second Life and it's growing by leaps and bounds.'"

Linden Labs refused to comment on the Marketplace piece, which is par for the course at this point. Expect more stories like this in the near future because it's been a long time coming. Although it is good to see Linden Labs beginning to release some actual data to help diminish the backlash.

See also: Second Life millionaire pummeled with penises

Second Life backlash gains momentum originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quiet those kids with a in-car video server

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Hacks

Robert Cringely from PBS has built a video server in his minivan to have his kids stop bothering him. For only $190, he built a custom computer that would encode video in H.264 (AVC) codec and stream it to a PSP he had installed in the back of the vehicle. Why the PSP? Because it "plays movies beautifully."

While Bob doesn't go into details on how one would be able to fashion a video server for themselves, he does give a very interesting tidbit: "Though not advertised as such, the PSP is EXTREMELY water-resistant."

Of course, I haven't verified that claim. Nor will I try to.

[Via DCemu]

Quiet those kids with a in-car video server originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eight myths about video games debunked

Vladimir Cole — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Fighting

Henry Jenkins, director of comparative studies at MIT, debunks eight big myths about video games and their impact on society. If you're about to head into holiday get-togethers where others are wont to give you flak about your games hobby (or your games job), you should read up on these issues and to be prepared to set the record straight on games and violence, by force if necessary.

The myths are:

"The availability of video games has led to an epidemic of youth violence."
"Scientific evidence links violent game play with youth aggression."
"Children are the primary market for video games."
"Almost no girls play computer games."
"Because games are used to train soldiers to kill, they have the same impact on the kids who play them."
"Video games are not a meaningful form of expression."
"Video game play is socially isolating."
"Video game play is desensitizing."

[Via Torill Mortensen's excellent blog, thinking with my fingers]

See also: Penny Arcade and Game Critics interviews with Henry Jenkins.

Eight myths about video games debunked originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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