Joystiq

Resident Evil 6 multiplayer DLC now on PS3, Mercenaries map bundle in March

David Hinkle — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:15:00 EST

PlayStation 3 players can get their hands on Resident Evil 6's multiplayer DLC modes, which have been available on Xbox 360 since December. 'Predator' tasks one player with being the Ustanak, a giant bioweapon, while other players band together to take it down. 'Survivor' can be played in solo or with a team, with downed players resurrected as zombies to hunt human prey. Finally, 'Onslaught' pits two players against each other as they battle waves of enemies, each kill chain sending that many more enemies to the other player's area. Each mode is priced at $3.99 on PSN.

On top of the DLC modes, Capcom has also dated a collection of all released Mercenaries maps, including maps that were previously exclusive to pre-order customers. This one-stop Mercenaries map pack bundles together Rail Yard, Catacombs, High Seas Fortress, all available now for 80 MSP ($1) each, plus Stage Map Pack A (160 MSP/$2) and Map Pack B (160 MSP/$2). This collection will be available on Xbox Live worldwide and PSN in North America on March 5; European PS3 owners can snag the pack on March 6.

Resident Evil 6 multiplayer DLC now on PS3, Mercenaries map bundle in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Resident Evil 6 multiplayer DLC drops Dec. 18, Xbox gets first dibs [update: videos, patch info]

Jordan Mallory — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST

Three new multiplayer modes are headed to the Xbox 360 of Resident Evil 6 on Tuesday, December 18: "Predator," "Survivors" and "Onslaught."

Predator casts one player as the bioweapon Ustanak, while all other players attempt to bring the great beast down. Survivor mode augments regular solo/team vs. mode by making felled humans rise as zombies, who must chomp on some noggins before being able to respawn as a person.

Lastly, Onslaught sounds like a weird combination of Gear of War's Horde mode and Dr. Mario's multiplayer, where two players attempt to survive separate waves of enemies, with kill combos sending more zombies to the opponent's side.

Each mode will set you back 320 MS Points ($4) if purchased individually, or 720 MS Points ($9) if purchased as a bundle. No word on when this content will become available on other platforms.

Update: Capcom has uploaded some footage from each new mode - feel free to vault past the break to check it out. Also, Capcom-Unity confirms that a patch will come to Xbox 360 and PS3 at the same time. This free update allows players to adjust the camera's field of view, and adds co-op to the Ada campaign and the No Hope Left difficulty mode.

Continue reading Resident Evil 6 multiplayer DLC drops Dec. 18, Xbox gets first dibs [update: videos, patch info]

Resident Evil 6 multiplayer DLC drops Dec. 18, Xbox gets first dibs [update: videos, patch info] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stepto on Xbox Live hacker: 'He's not trying to help'

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST

"He got an old cell phone [number] of mine, and yeah, he called it occasionally," Xbox Live director of policy and enforcement Stephen "Stepto" Toulouse told us of the contact he'd had with the apparent hacker known as "Predator," who took control of Toulouse's Xbox Live account this past weekend. "I can play you a voice message if you want, to show you the nature of his contact with us." What followed was ... not suitable for printing. Expletives and derogatory terms were all that we could make out in the mess of a message.

Multiple voices could be heard, too. "I have a six minute one where he and his friend discuss all the different ways they're gonna have sex with my wife." Not exactly what Predator characterized as "reaching out" to Microsoft to offer his help resolving the security issues he's claimed to have exploited.

"I would say 'reaching out for contact' is an extremely generous phrase," Toulouse said. "Most of the stuff that he leaves on there is flat out harassment. It's not contact. He's not trying to help or do anything. He's mostly just insulting me. And I get that from time to time. It's just the nature of my role. The kids sometimes try to go after me -- it's not that big a deal."

In terms of what actually happened, Toulouse was quick to point out that his Xbox Live account wasn't "hacked" per se, but rather his personal site's web host failed to protect his information. The actual issue, he said, is social engineering (Predator's ability to manipulate the web host in order to reset Toulouse's password) -- an issue that "no one has solved."

Continue reading Stepto on Xbox Live hacker: 'He's not trying to help'

Stepto on Xbox Live hacker: 'He's not trying to help' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live hacker: 'All accounts are open' to attacks [update]

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST

He only had access for a limited period, but a self-proclaimed "hacker" managed to finagle his way into Xbox Live policy enforcement lead Stephen Toulouse's Xbox Live Gold account over the weekend. The hacker calls himself "Predator," and has created a six-minute video showing off his exploits. Predator allegedly used "social engineering techniques" and didn't employ any "programs," he told Joystiq this afternoon. Predator was able to alter Xbox Live account information after resetting Toulouse's password, all through Toulouse's personal website host, Network Solutions.

But despite his actions, "Predator" says he didn't go do it for malicious reasons. "I'm simply letting them know I'm willing to help them secure accounts from future hackers," he explained. "All accounts are open for hacking." That last statement rings especially true in light of last year's hacking of Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb's Xbox Live account.

And this isn't his first success, Predator claims. "I've done many illegal things on Xbox -- I've taken Trixie360's account, 15 Original Gamertags, 4 H3 Pro's [Halo 3 pros], and a few randoms," he told us. He also notes in his video (which has been pulled) that he's had "over 35" console bans, and points out that, as a result, Toulouse "had it coming, man." Predator, however, remains unconcerned about his own fate. He notes after explaining his past exploits that nothing has happened to him so far. Predator says his offer to help with Xbox Live security stands.

Update: We spoke with Stephen Toulouse, who offered his comments on the incident. Additionally, the video after the break has been removed as it is no longer available on YouTube.

Xbox Live hacker: 'All accounts are open' to attacks [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESRB: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Predator headed to PSP

David Hinkle — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:25:00 EST

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

While it pains us to report that our hopes for a Predator-infused Ghost Recon game have gone down the drain, it's not all bad: the ESRB has tossed up a classification for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Predator. It's apparently "an action game/third-person shooter" for the PSP, in which "players engage in combat missions as part of an elite military unit." The listing also mentions a variety of modern weapons and promises "realistic" gunfights.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this story is the disparity between the two listings -- the initial OFLC classification pegged the game for multiple platforms (as is the case with next year's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier), while the ESRB listing places the game solely on PSP. We've contacted Ubisoft for clarification and will be sure to relay whatever we hear back.

ESRB: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Predator headed to PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC: Making games to prevent violence against children

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

The highlight of yesterday's GDC Serious Game Summit panels focused on an appropriately consequential topic: How games can help protect children from the commonplace dangers they face from predators, both online and off. The panel was led by Child Safety Research and Innovation Center president Allan McCullough -- a man who's strived to develop games which teach young people how to identify and avoid dangerous situations.

The two Flash-based games which represent the fruits of McCullough's two decades of labor look deceptively simple on the surface. They are, after all, hand-illustrated, poorly animated educational games geared towards children, with budgets too small to allow the hiring of professional voice actors and experienced gaming professionals. However, beneath the crude surface of these games lie clever methods of imparting crucial information to their young players which could ostensibly help them avoid encounters with people who mean them harm.

Continue reading GDC: Making games to prevent violence against children

GDC: Making games to prevent violence against children originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Sex Box' exposé might be the greatest news report of all time

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:25:00 EST

Well, we know one up-and-coming reporter who's well on her way to Pulitzer City. Posted just after the jump is one of the most hard-hitting news reports on the dangers of online gaming we've seen in years. Oh, sorry -- did we say "hard-hitting?" We meant "sensationalized, irrational, unresearched, and absolutely hilarious." We get those two phrases mixed up with surprising frequency.

If we were only allowed to give you one piece of advice in our lifetime, it would be that you should watch the video posted after the jump. If we could give you two pieces of advice, they would be to watch the video, and never, ever let a reporter into your house. For any reason. Ever. Ever.

[Via Kotaku]

Continue reading 'Sex Box' exposé might be the greatest news report of all time

'Sex Box' exposé might be the greatest news report of all time originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Aliens vs. Predator trailer says it's about story, actually about gutting

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

This is one of those situations where we wish we could just call up Mr. Sega (that's who runs Sega, right?) and ask him what he was thinking. How could he have possibly claimed this latest Aliens vs. Predator trailer has something to do with "story?"

Here's the entire plot: There are humans, there are also Aliens, as well as a Predator. That's it! What else do you need, folks? Much like the snake and the mongoose (or 50 Cent and helicopters), these factions are natural enemies of each other. No story is required for them to make with the murdalizing -- they just do. Check out the trailer above for further confirmation of our position on the subject.

Gallery: Aliens vs Predator

New Aliens vs. Predator trailer says it's about story, actually about gutting originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian Attorney General offers insight into Aliens vs. Predator classification refusal

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:45:00 EST

We've heard from Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson in the past on why he thinks certain games shouldn't be available to Australian consumers. And when he was asked recently by ABC why the upcoming Aliens vs. Predator was refused classification in his country (read: banned), he echoed previous sentiments on the interactivity of games having a stronger affect on people than other mediums. "I accept that 98 percent, 99 percent of gamers will tell the difference between fantasy and reality, but the 1 to 2 percent could go on to be motivated by these games to commit horrible acts of violence," Atkinson said.

When the subject of AvP comes up, though, Atkinson put on his game reviewer cap and offered, "You don't need to be playing a game in which you impale, decapitate and dismember people." So, what're you thinking, Mr. Atkinson -- 5.0/10 maybe? 4.7/10? We're all ears.

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

Australian Attorney General offers insight into Aliens vs. Predator classification refusal originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three different Aliens vs. Predator bundles dated in Europe

JC Fletcher — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:20:00 EST

Sega, Rebellion, some Aliens, Predators, and even Space Marines are all teaming up in February to get your money. Sega announced that Aliens vs. Predator will be released in Europe on February 19 of next year.

The game will arrive in three versions, each for three different levels of enthusiasm about the FPS. The Standard Edition is for the average gamer looking for a new game. The Survivor Edition comes in the requisite steel case and includes codes for extra multiplayer maps, to be released after the launch date. The Hunter Edition is for the collector who may not even be opening the game, as it includes a facehugger model, a lenticular postcard, and a "Weyland-Yutani sleeve badge."

How do we sign up for the bundle Lance Henriksen's getting -- the one with your own likeness in the game? That one's probably really expensive.

Gallery: Aliens vs. Predator (2010): Packshots [PAL]

Three different Aliens vs. Predator bundles dated in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliens vs. Predator multiplayer trailer watches your back, stabs it

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Something's always struck us as kind of ... off about the title Aliens vs. Predator. For one, there are "colonial marines" up in there, mixing it up. More confusing, though, is the fact that both "Aliens" and "Predators" are, in fact, aliens. [And aren't all of them predators? - Ed.] At least Sega is keeping our minds diverted from these recondite questions with the latest multiplayer footage (found after the break).

Aside from trotting out a handful of European game writers who all tell the same "This game is SO awesome" story, we're treated to a smattering of gameplay snippets from all three sides of the equation. We're only left wondering one thing after watching them - if you can play as a predator against eight colonial marines, who would ever choose the marines side?

Gallery: Aliens vs Predator

[Thanks, Ikarop]

Continue reading Aliens vs. Predator multiplayer trailer watches your back, stabs it

Aliens vs. Predator multiplayer trailer watches your back, stabs it originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sega sticks with 'early 2010' AvP release, despite own website announcing February launch

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EST

Like a magnifying glass over a Xenomorphic ant (scariest image today!), Sega has quietly focused its release ray on February for Aliens vs. Predator's spawning at retailer. As noticed by Destructoid, the company's game page now gives the title a sub-orbital drop window of February, where the game previously had a vague early 2010 release.

We followed up with Sega and a company spokesperson stated, "Early 2010 is all we can confirm at the moment." Better talk to the website guys, huh?

Gallery: Aliens vs Predator

Sega sticks with 'early 2010' AvP release, despite own website announcing February launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliens Vs Predator details and teaser trailer unleashed

Jem Alexander — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:10:00 EST

As promised, Sega has revealed a couple more Aliens Vs Predator screenshots, as well as the first details of the game and a teaser trailer, which you can view above. The three screenies that our gallery now consists of show off what appear to be some impressive volumetric lighting effects from the perspective of an alien, a predator and a marine.

Each of the playable species has its own "distinct story-driven single-player campaign mode that interweaves with the campaigns of the other two species." In addition, the game will feature three-way online multiplayer, though the maximum number of online players is unspecified. Check out the Sega UK blog post for more details on the story and be sure to cast your eyes over the very brief teaser trailer above.

Gallery: Aliens vs Predator

Aliens Vs Predator details and teaser trailer unleashed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 May 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Missouri Police say adults shouldn't play Animal Crossing

Jason Dobson — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:10:00 EST

Son, turn the game box off and come over here. Now, since you turned 18 your mom and I have been meaning to talk with you about your little habit. No, not the smoking or the drinking. Really, we're fine with all of that. No, what we're concerned about is the time you spend exchanging friend codes with all those people in Animal Crossing: City Folk. We've been talking to Detective Andy Anderson of the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force, who says that he "cannot come up with any legitimate reason that an adult would be playing that particular game."

Now, heaven knows what you've been putting in all of those letters and gift boxes, but Anderson told ABC affiliate KMIZ that you, and others like you, are likely playing Animal Crossing and similar games "for the wrong reasons." Sure it's addicting, but it's also evil, so please, son, do us all a favor and put the controller down and go play something more your age. But before you go, tell your mom to put down that galdarned Peggle and bring me a turkey pot pie. I'm glad we had this little chat.

[Via Game Politics]

Missouri Police say adults shouldn't play Animal Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliens vs Predator screenshots surface

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Alien Vs Predator

The Magic Box recently stumbled upon new images of the upcoming PSP Aliens vs Predator game. It's coming from Rebellion, the same team behind the PSP-exclusive Star Wars Battlefront. It's hard to discern the quality of the game's visuals from these shots, but it's clear that Rebellion has some kind of love affair with PSP.

Supposedly, the game will be ready for for a December release in North America. [Update: Direct-feed screenshots from Sierra have arrived. Check them out in our gallery. And yes, this game is a PSP exclusive. Press release with more details, after the break!]

Continue reading Aliens vs Predator screenshots surface

Aliens vs Predator screenshots surface originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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