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[Razer tests the waters with Project Fiona at CES]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/razer-tests-the-waters-with-project-fiona-at-ces/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/razer-tests-the-waters-with-project-fiona-at-ces/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/razer-tests-the-waters-with-project-fiona-at-ces/#comments Razer's Project Fiona looks just like you'd expect a prototype to look. Despite a thick but standard tablet-style body and 10.1 inch touchscreen, it has some unfinished aluminum struts sticking out of either side, with not-quite-perfect joysticks and buttons placed unceremoniously on the top. In short, it's a manufactured idea and not a real product just yet. And Razer's purpose at CES last week was to judge, reps told me, just how good that idea actually was.

Playing with the Project Fiona tablet doesn't feel quite right, but not because the games don't work. The Intel Core i7 processor powers a full Windows 7 installation (though it will eventually run Windows 8, says Razer), and the two prototypes at the show had full PC games on them, including the excellent Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. It ran quite well, but it was still difficult to play -- those joysticks and buttons just aren't fully in the right places. My thumbs did find and learn to use them after a few minutes of play, but it's unclear why, when Razer is already borrowing the "console controller" setup, the buttons are so strangely placed.

After about twenty minutes of handling and playing with Project Fiona, I came to the biggest question about the prototype: Why?

Continue reading Razer tests the waters with Project Fiona at CES

JoystiqRazer tests the waters with Project Fiona at CES originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces-2012gamingmobilepcpc-gamespc-gamingproject-fionarazertabletMon, 16 Jan 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stardock's Brad Wardell talks about selling Impulse to GameStop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/31/stardocks-brad-wardell-talks-about-selling-impulse-to-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/31/stardocks-brad-wardell-talks-about-selling-impulse-to-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/31/stardocks-brad-wardell-talks-about-selling-impulse-to-gamestop/#comments "Not everyone's goal in life is to run a thousand person company," said Stardock founder Brad Wardell, who just today announced that he's sold the growing digital distribution arm of his company, Impulse, to GameStop for an undisclosed sum. "Certainly the path of least resistance would have been to just grow with Impulse and become a digital retailer, but that's not what I signed up for."

Impulse was originally started as a way for Stardock to distribute its own games and software digitally, and was opened up three years ago to other developers. Since then, it's grown to compete with the big player in digital distribution, Steam. Wardell, speaking with Joystiq in an interview today, said that the growth in revenue actually became a cause for concern. "When Impulse became our number one source of revenue," said Wardell, "I realized it was time for us to look at our options there."

Continue reading Stardock's Brad Wardell talks about selling Impulse to GameStop

JoystiqStardock's Brad Wardell talks about selling Impulse to GameStop originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad-wardelldigital-distributiongamestopimpulseinterviewpcpc-gamingsalestardockThu, 31 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Seen@PAX: One million billion computers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/05/seen-pax-one-million-billion-computers/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/05/seen-pax-one-million-billion-computers/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/05/seen-pax-one-million-billion-computers/#comments
To a non-PC gamer, the sixth floor of the Seattle Convention Center is currently filled with an impossible number of computers, all playing a number of dirty keyboard-and-mouse-controlled games, and all linked together in a nebulous Local Area Network. Their users are strange and otherworldly, and their ranks are unexpectedly strong.

To hardcore PC gamers, the sixth floor of the Seattle Convention Center is currently a vast, luminous sea of infinite pleasure.

JoystiqSeen@PAX: One million billion computers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computerlanpaxpax-2009pcpc-gamingSat, 05 Sep 2009 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NPD: Retail sales of PC games fell 14% in 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/npd-retail-sales-of-pc-games-fell-14-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/npd-retail-sales-of-pc-games-fell-14-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/npd-retail-sales-of-pc-games-fell-14-in-2008/#commentsFiled under:


The key word here, of course, is "retail." In fact, the real headline here should be "NPD data becomes 14% less relevant in regards to measuring the relative success or failure of the PC gaming industry," but we pay the guy who carves the headlines into the site by the letter. For what it's worth, here's the number: PC games brought in $701 million at retail last year.

As you know, that doesn't account for Steam, GoG or any of the many other platforms of digital distribution currently making up an increasingly large segment of PC game sales. As it stands, we're more inclined to report that 14% fewer people like owning boxes.

JoystiqNPD: Retail sales of PC games fell 14% in 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gogPCpc-gamingsteamFri, 16 Jan 2009 10:51:00 EST<![CDATA[The Best of Big Download: September 22-28]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/the-best-of-big-download-september-22-28/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/the-best-of-big-download-september-22-28/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/the-best-of-big-download-september-22-28/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Fall has arrived but don't let the leaves turning, the economy busting and the candidates feuding get you down. Big Download has been working hard to give its readers the best in PC game related news, features and downloads. Let's look at the highlights for the first week of autumn 2008.

Exclusive Features
  • Reviews: We give our verdict for the recent release of Introversion Software's multiplayer strategy game Multiwinia
  • Previews: We go hands-on with Atari's upcoming revival, Deer Hunter Tournament.
  • Black Ops PC Games: What major PC games are being developed that you might not know anything about? This feature article has the word on the super-secret games under development.
  • Resurgence of Yesteryear: Classic PC games can be revived but which ones should get new versions using their original graphics and technology? We pick 10 PC games that we want to see come back in their original form.
  • Big Iron: Our regular PC hardware column comes back with a look at how a recent message board discussion over FIFA 09 generated a look at console vs PC hardware.
  • Boot Disk: Our new column on retro PC gaming takes a look at the classic adventure title Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father
  • Mac Monday: Our look at the world of Macintosh gaming continues with examining the unusual action game Miriel the Magical Merchant.
  • MODmonday: Our weekly mod feature continues to look at Max Payne mods; this time its a Max Payne 2 total conversion called Sketchbook Sam that turns the game into a 2D stick figure.
  • Indie Showcase: Our weekly look at indie games continues with a look at titles from the recent Bootleg Demakes competition.
  • Big Ideas: Our weekly look at the "big" game themes goes over a recent Gamasutra article about game journalism
  • Alt-Tab: Our weekly op-ed talks about how "casual" gaming doesn't have to mean "simple"
  • Freeware Friday: It's our weekly look at free games; this time around its for the action-adventure Eternal Daughter
  • BigCast: Our weekly podcast is a special one as we chat with members of Mythic Entertainment to find out what's happening with Warhammer Online after its launch last week.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: September 22-28

JoystiqThe Best of Big Download: September 22-28 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-downloadMacmac-gamesPCpc-gamespc-gamingSun, 28 Sep 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Games for Windows Live goes free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/games-for-windows-live-goes-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/games-for-windows-live-goes-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/games-for-windows-live-goes-free/#commentsFiled under: ,

This topic sure to be a hotbed of commenting action. Yesterday Microsoft announced that Games for Windows Live, the PC-based equivalent of the Xbox Live service, has changed to a completely free business model. After a lukewarm launch against PC service powerhouse Steam the Games for Live service has ended the Gold/Silver distinction for PC gamers that Xbox Live subscribers are subjected to. Changing to a free model means gamers can compete in cross-platform gaming (where applicable) at no additional charge. The question now remains, does this move signify a a change that must be made to the Xbox Live structure or are the services two completely different beasts. Consider, only a handful of games and features exist on the PC side of Live and with strong competition from other free services it's a move Microsoft had no choice but to make to survive. So, what are your thoughts on Games for Windows Live going free?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in. Via Engadget]

JoystiqGames for Windows Live goes free originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>games-for-windowsgames-for-windows-livegfwgfwlivelivepc-gamingWed, 23 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Welcome Big Download (beta) to the family!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/welcome-big-download-beta-to-the-family/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/welcome-big-download-beta-to-the-family/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/welcome-big-download-beta-to-the-family/#commentsFiled under:


All you young whippersnappers probably love your computers, but did you know that you can actually play games on these newfangled technology boxes? Who would've thought?

Should you fall into the PC gamer crowd, though, you should check out our new sister site, Big Download. The site's only in its beta version at the moment, so be gentle, but it still has a lot to offer anyone interested in PC gaming. You can hit up Big Download to check out its shiny PC downloads engine, or just meander on over to read the latest gaming news -- whatever strikes your fancy. The site also has some neat-o features, like a file tracking system that remembers your favorite titles, and fee-less access to content such as demos, patches, mods, and then some.

Since it's only in its beta form, though, you may run into a few hiccups here and there. If so, be sure to report them, so that we (and by we, we mean tech savvy people that aren't actually us) can fix those right up.

JoystiqWelcome Big Download (beta) to the family! originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 May 2008 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-downloadpcpc-gamingThu, 08 May 2008 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Announcing Joystiq's newest sibling: Big Download (beta!)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/announcing-joystiqs-newest-sibling-big-download-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/announcing-joystiqs-newest-sibling-big-download-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/announcing-joystiqs-newest-sibling-big-download-beta/#commentsFiled under: ,



What's been missing from the Joystiq family? The console fans all have their homes, handhelds too, and even MMO enthusiasts and WoW players have a corner to call their own. Today we're happy to give PC gamers a place to call home at our new sister site, Big Download. In partnership with our good friends at GameDaily, we're taking the wraps off the beta version of a full-fledged, fast and free PC downloads engine married to a news and features blog powered by Joystiq -- chock full of all the Special Goodness TM our writers bring to you daily.

At Big Download you'll get all the news and views fit to print about PC gaming, a file tracking system that remembers your favorite titles, and no waiting, no fees access to demos, patches, mods, trailers and more. We're inviting you to come on in, make yourself at home and start poking everything with sticks. Like any modern web product we're launching in beta version -- there may be kinks and rough edges to be worked out, so bear with us, mind the dust and be sure to send us any feedback you have so we can make all the final fixes. Unlike certain products that stay in beta forever we hope to remove the beta tag with all due swiftness and come out with guns blazing. Big guns.

We hope to see you at Big Download, where all the news is big and all the downloads are above average!

JoystiqAnnouncing Joystiq's newest sibling: Big Download (beta!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-downloadbigdownloadbreakingnewspcpc-gamingThu, 08 May 2008 12:00:00 EST