Joystiq

XBLA sales stats for first half of 2010, as deduced from leaderboard data

David Hinkle — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST

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

Gamerbytes has compiled a list of several Xbox Live Arcade games and their performance in the first half of 2010 based on data derived from leaderboards.

First, there are the top performers: Trials HD apparently had the biggest user base, jumping from 600,000 players to over a million during the first half of 2010 (not counting its DLC, which had almost 300,000 players over that period). But how about games that launched this year? Well, Perfect Dark enlisted 265,000, and Toy Soldiers and its DLC managed to recruit a combined 346,000 players. Risk: Factions and Snoopy Flying Ace have yet to reach 100,000.

Other games didn't fare so well, with several failing to capture the attention of even 1,000 users -- Voodoo Dice, Ben 10 and Fret Nice were near or below that mark -- and of the 24 new games that Gamerbytes catalogued, only 13 managed to reach 10,000 players.

Seeing how deals and promotions affected the growth of user bases on older titles is particularly interesting in the case of Zombie Apocalypse and TMNT: ReShelled, both of which came darn close to doubling their respective audiences when discounts were applied.

XBLA sales stats for first half of 2010, as deduced from leaderboard data originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Xbox division posts $165 million profit in fiscal Q3 on strength of Xbox Live business

JC Fletcher — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:35:00 EST

Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, the portion of the giant company responsible for Xbox operations (as well as Zune and Games for Windows) brought in $165 million in profits during the company's third quarter of fiscal 2010, which ended March 31. In the same period last year, the division lost $41 million.

The soaring profits were a result of a record third-quarter revenue haul of $14.5 billion for Microsoft, with the E&D division accounting for $1.67 billion of that total. CFO Peter Klein cited Xbox Live as one of the factors responsible for the company's growth. In fact, Xbox Live, and the reduced cost of Xbox 360 manufacturing, helped the E&D division profit despite console shipments falling year-over-year, from 1.7 million shipments in Q3 of fiscal 2009 to 1.5 million in 2010. Tacking on to the last reported figures, Xbox 360 shipments have now surpassed 40 million units worldwide.

With so many Xbox 360 units in the wild, Microsoft's Q3 Form 10-Q document [.docx] brings up a very good point: "Our hardware products such as the Xbox 360 console are highly complex and can have defects in design, manufacture, or associated software." You don't say.

Xbox division posts $165 million profit in fiscal Q3 on strength of Xbox Live business originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Prison Break escaping March 30; new screens released

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST

We have no doubt you've been counting the days (likely via tick marks on the wall), waiting for more information on Zootfly/Deep Silver's Prison Break, so you'll be glad to hear that the game finally got a solid release date (March 30) and a price ($49.99 on 360/PS3, $39.99 on PC) today from its publisher.

Along with the mess of new screens we've dropped below into a gallery, this is just about the most flush we've been with Prison Break info in the entire history of the game's development cycle -- and it's coming out in just under three weeks! As the game's coming from the developer of Mr. T: The Game, we're willing to give this one a shot just so we can support the company's upcoming adventure into madness.

Gallery: Prison Break (GDC 2010)

Prison Break escaping March 30; new screens released originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Street Fighter IV iPhone media arrives on US shores

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

Though we all got a first eyes-on with Street Fighter IV's iPhone appearance not too long ago via an exclusive early look from GamePro, Capcom just officially released the first video of the game as well as a smattering of new screenshots (all 32 of which have been conveniently compiled by Andriasang).

And while the trailer seen above features the same two fighters (Ken and Ryu) that the last video did, we certainly don't mind getting another chance to marvel at the uncanny vision of Street Fighter IV being played competitively on iPhones; it's quite like being drunk in North Korea -- something just doesn't feel right. The trailer also gives a "Coming March 2010" at the end, so it would seem that we don't have too much longer before we'll be able to marvel at the game from the comfort of our own phones.

Gallery: Street Fighter IV (iPhone)

New Street Fighter IV iPhone media arrives on US shores originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Final Fantasy XIV closed beta goes live March 11

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST

If you're anything like us (or our partners over at Massively), you were hurriedly clicking refresh on the official VanaFest 2010 website for news about the now eight-year-old Final Fantasy XI MMO last night. If you were, then you might've caught the momentary mention that the first wave of (closed) beta testing for the next Final Fantasy MMO (that's number 14, for those of you playing along at home) will be going live on March 11.

Square also assuaged fears of missing out on the closed beta by saying that "Those who were not selected in this drawing, fear not, for there will be other opportunities to come," adding that interested parties should "Be sure to stay tuned!" We figure if we're not invited, you know, all the more time to play that other Final Fantasy release, right?

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIV

[Via Massively]

Final Fantasy XIV closed beta goes live March 11 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Roundup: Wii and DS game release dates for 2010

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:40:00 EST

Today's Nintendo Media Summit played host to a whirlwind dating game with quite a few players. If all the excitement got your heart thumping but left your head spinning, then you'll be relieved to find our list of matches -- each game paired with its release date (or release window ... or release season) -- posted just after the break. You're welcome!

Continue reading Roundup: Wii and DS game release dates for 2010

Roundup: Wii and DS game release dates for 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

DSi XL releasing March 28 for $190 in North America

JC Fletcher — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:25:00 EST

[Business Wire]

At its Media Summit today, Nintendo just announced the North American release date for its new, enormous DSi, the DSi XL: March 28. On that day, you'll be able to walk into a store and pick up a DS that makes your hands (and Cammie Dunaway's head) look super tiny for $189.99; a $20 premium over the regular-sized DSi.

Hopefully, we'll hear about some new DS games to play on the vast expanses of DSi XL screen space today as the Nintendo Media Summit continues.

Update: The system will be available in Burgundy and Bronze at launch, and will be preloaded with both DSiWare Brain Age games, Photo Clock, the DSi Browser, and Flipnote Studio.

DSi XL releasing March 28 for $190 in North America originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Infinite Space lands on DS March 16

JC Fletcher — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:48:00 EST

Ready to leave your boring home planet and take off on a grand, spacefaring adventure in your very own spaceship? Like, with a crew and everything? Sega has issued the North American release date for Platinum Games and Nude Maker's Infinite Space for DS. You'll be able to build onto your spaceship, engage in space battles and do other space things on March 16. There's a new trailer above -- not as far above as space, just at the top of this post.

For some reason, every game from Platinum has been released in the first quarter of the year -- MadWorld in March 2009, Bayonetta in January 2010, and now Infinite Space in March. Will Vanquish debut in Q1 2011?

Infinite Space lands on DS March 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Blue Toad Murder Files coming March 25 to North American PSN

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:14:00 EST

Just because a game exclusively features powerful British accents doesn't mean said game can't be released outside of Europe. The episodic PSN mystery series Blue Toad Murder Files will make its way to North America on March 25. Episodes One, Two and Three can be purchased as a single bundle for $14.99, or separately for $7.49 apiece.

If you've got a hankering for some Layton-esque brainteasers wrapped in an overarching, cartoonish story, Blue Toad will probably scratch that itch. If you just want to hear a manly-voiced gentleman bellow the word "maaaahdaaaaahhh" over and over again, it should satisfy that desire too.

Blue Toad Murder Files coming March 25 to North American PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

EEDAR: Mass Effect 2 best-selling January release ever

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST

EEDAR vice president and analyst Jesse Divnich has sent out some surprising facts about game sales during the month of January. Well, okay -- it isn't exactly chart shattering that a crapton (that's 572,000) of Mass Effect 2 units were sold last month, but, according to EEDAR's calculations, the game managed to become the best-selling January release of all time in just six days of retail availability. Even with such a small window to achieve the record, Mass Effect 2 completely destroyed the previous record-holder: Poor, poor NFL Street for PS2 (with 325,000 units in sales, for the old record).

Though Mass Effect 2 certainly set a high bar for the quarter, Divnich's report suggests that game sales aren't likely to decline with blockbusters like Final Fantasy XIII and God of War III just around the corner. His firm also promises to closely watch sales of Dante's Inferno -- if the game can can beat its expected sales target of 500,000 units over the next three months, it means that those outlandish PR stunts were effective and we can look forward to more cake arms and $200 checks once Purgatorio is inevitably announced. Awesome.

EEDAR: Mass Effect 2 best-selling January release ever originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ghost Recon also headed to Wii, PSP, and DS; Wii version developed by a different team

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST

Among the handful of Ubiscoops about 2010's releases coming out of today's investor call, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot brought up the tactical Tom Clancy franchise Ghost Recon. Beyond the already revealed platforms for Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Guillemot detailed the franchise's further ubiquity, saying the next Ghost Recon game will "be on all platforms: 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, [and] DS." He noted that the Wii version of Ghost Recon will "be done by a different team" with a "different approach ... created for that Wii population." Presumably, the game will involve standing on the balance board to approximate a sniper's breathing -- and it'll also be made up entirely of mini-games. Whoa, whoa -- calm down there killer. We're just joshin' ya!

He also confirmed something we've been mentioning for months now: "There will be more competition in the first eight months than in the last four." Get your calculators and spreadsheets out, folks -- early 2010 is gonna be a bruiser like we've never seen before (on our bank accounts, that is).

Ghost Recon also headed to Wii, PSP, and DS; Wii version developed by a different team originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Runaway: A Twist of Fate gets a flood of media, March/April release date in the UK

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST

If you're reading this post from across the Atlantic, chances are you're wondering why we're announcing a release date for Runaway: A Twist of Fate, a game that was released in France and Germany four months ago. Well, you see, for those of you in the UK, the third game in the Runaway point-and-click adventure series is just arriving, with publisher Focus Home Interactive pinning March and April release dates on the PC/Nintendo DS title (respectively).

Aside from a website jam-packed with video of the game (including the trailer you see above and two more after the break), the publisher released a handful of screens that we've added to a gallery for your perusal just below. Don't say we never did nothin' for ya!

Gallery: Runaway: A Twist of Fate

Continue reading Runaway: A Twist of Fate gets a flood of media, March/April release date in the UK

Runaway: A Twist of Fate gets a flood of media, March/April release date in the UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dead to Rights: Retribution dated April 13 in NA, April 16 in Europe

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST

Along with yesterday's news of ninja dog pre-orders and a snazzy "noir style" graphics filter, Dead to Rights: Retribution has been given a release date of April 13 and April 16th for North America and Europe (respectively). That means you've got just under three months to start preparing for the reboot to the Dead to Rights series -- and three-ish months to prepare for some hard choices.

In case you'd forgotten, April is the month that brings us the much delayed Splinter Cell: Conviction, Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV and Monster Hunter Tri, as well as Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption. And yes, again, this is the busiest Q1 ever. Good luck!

Gallery: Dead to Rights: Retribution

Dead to Rights: Retribution dated April 13 in NA, April 16 in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video game release highlights for first half 2010

Joystiq Staff — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:40:00 EST

You know, we were having a heckuva time committing all the compelling first half retail releases of 2010 to memory, so then we thought, why not write them down?

Bookmark this calendar to track your most anticipated games. Check back for updates -- and let us know what's on your radar in the comments section. (Time to crack open that piggy bank, eh?)

Continue reading Video game release highlights for first half 2010

Video game release highlights for first half 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Capcom game delays cause lowered 2009 sales forecast

JC Fletcher — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST

Unsurprisingly, in the announcement of delays of several games out of Q1 2010, Capcom also lowered its financial forecast for that period (which is its fiscal Q4), and for the fiscal year as a whole. The publisher adjusted its expected net sales for the year from ¥95 billion ($1.04 billion) to ¥65 billion ($711.62 million) as a result.

In addition, the company is posting a "special loss" of 4.5 billion yen, associated with the costs of restructuring its businesses -- a move that mostly involved changes in the company's pachinko operations in Japan. Capcom closed two arcades, and plans to downsize its pachinko and arcade businesses to put more resources into home video games.

Source - Presentation Material of Forecast Revisions and Plan for the Next Fiscal Year (PDF link)
Source - Capcom Announces Special Loss and Forecast Revision

Capcom game delays cause lowered 2009 sales forecast originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3 delayed one more time

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:45:00 EST

News of yet another SOCOM delay should be unsurprising to those who have been following the franchise since Slant Six took the reigns from Zipper Interactive. Fans have only recently received the long-awaited SOCOM Confrontation 1.60 patch, one that fixed crucial game-crashing bugs; after months of suffering through bugs and game balance issues, Joystiq commenter Solace went so far as to call Confrontation a "glorified beta."

For reasons not yet revealed by SCEA, the upcoming PSP installment, Fireteam Bravo 3, has been pushed back from its already-delayed January 12 release date. Considering Sony's admitted failure at marketing the upcoming tactical shooter, a later date will certainly give the publisher more time to prepare the title for retail. A new release date will be announced "in the coming weeks," according to an SCEA rep, but we wonder if SOCOM fans will have any patience left when that day comes.

SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3 delayed one more time originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nintendo dates Endless Ocean 2, Pokemon HeartGold, more

JC Fletcher — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:40:00 EST

Nintendo's Q1 release schedule is as packed with new information as all Nintendo release schedules are. In addition to the announcements we've already covered, Nintendo confirmed the March 14 date for Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Endless Ocean 2, another game Nintendo has been silent about since E3, is now called Endless Ocean: Blue World, and e-divers will be able to start exploring it on February 22.

Some big WiiWare indies are on the way in Q1, including And Yet It Moves and Super Meat Boy. See the full list of releases, including a series of unannounced, Nintendo-published DSiWare games, after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo dates Endless Ocean 2, Pokemon HeartGold, more

Nintendo dates Endless Ocean 2, Pokemon HeartGold, more originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

FYI: WarioWare DIY does it on DS in March

JC Fletcher — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST

One of Nintendo's most exciting announcements from E3 was the localization of WarioWare DIY, a DS app that lets players create their own WarioWare games, with custom graphics, sound, and gameplay. Nintendo didn't happen to offer a date during the thrilling E3 presentation, and it's said nothing at all about what should be a major part of the publisher's DS lineup -- until today.

In its Q1 schedule, Nintendo provided a date of March 28. You're not buying anything in March, right? The company also offered a Q1 date for WarioWare DIY Showcase, the WiiWare game through which WarioWare DIY games can be uploaded and played on a big screen.

FYI: WarioWare DIY does it on DS in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

EEDAR: 2010 delays smart decision for game publishers

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:30:00 EST

With so many publishers intentionally pushing games out of the holiday season, Q1 2010 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive release windows in the history of gaming. Bayonetta, Army of Two, Dark Void, MAG, BioShock 2, Dante's Inferno, Lost Planet 2, Heavy Rain, Aliens Vs Predator, Final Fantasy XIII, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, God of War III, Mass Effect 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, No More Heroes 2, and Red Steel 2 are just some of the games to come out in the first three months of 2010. Doesn't it seem as though the industry is preparing for yet another cannibalistic quarter, akin to the holiday?

EEDAR's Jesse Divnich doesn't necessarily think so. He argues that "publishers who purposely diverted their AAA holiday titles into 2010 made the proper decision and will likely realize stronger sales with a post-holiday release than a holiday release." And the reasoning? The combination of Mario, Modern Warfare 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 predictably impacted the sales of all other games. "High quality games are selling less units in the 2009 holiday season compared to 2008," Divinich noted by analyzing the sales of games with Metacritic scores of 80 and above.

Still, we can't help but look at the first paragraph with awe. Can our wallets even survive an onslaught of that magnitude? We have an easy solution for publishers: there's an entire "summer" season to consider when releasing games.

EEDAR: 2010 delays smart decision for game publishers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Final Fantasy XIII launches March 9, 2010 on PS3, 360

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST

Download in HD from BigDownload
Final Fantasy XIII will launch in North America and Europe on March 9, 2010, just a few months after it debuts in Japan and nearly four years after it was originally announced. Since that time, Square Enix's flagship role-playing game has become a multiplatform project -- the English version will debut on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 simultaneously -- as well as the first part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series. It's also no longer the highest-numbered Final Fantasy game.

"We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of the franchise -- FINAL FANTASY XIII will exceed all expectations," said John Yamamoto, president, chief executive officer and official title shouter of Square Enix, Inc. "Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available to all players who are looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010."

And you'll have to look -- we hear Q1 2010 is already swamped with immersive gaming experiences. That's not a complaint!

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII

Final Fantasy XIII launches March 9, 2010 on PS3, 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rising Star's Q1 lineup for Europe includes Fragile, Way of the Samurai 3

JC Fletcher — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST

Rising Star Games has announced a European release for Fragile (as Fragile Dreams), Namco Bandai's action-adventure game about exploring a haunted, post-disaster Japan, in March 2010. That's around the same time XSEED plans to bring the Namco Bandai title to North America.

Also in March, the publisher will release Rune Factory Frontier on Wii, and Avalon Code and My World My Way on DS. Before that, in February, Rising Star will release Half-Minute Hero on PSP, and, through "affiliate label" Gamebridge, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Way of the Samurai 3. We've got Rising Star's full lineup listed after the break.

Continue reading Rising Star's Q1 lineup for Europe includes Fragile, Way of the Samurai 3

Rising Star's Q1 lineup for Europe includes Fragile, Way of the Samurai 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DSi XL dated for Q1 2010 release, Nintendo confirms

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Not only will the first few months of 2010 play host to the release dates of a squadron of delayed aught-nine blockbusters, it's also when we can expect to see the recently announced, seriously embiggened DSi XL hit North American and European store shelves. According to a Nintendo spokesperson, the new model of the handheld will be released stateside (and ... union-side?) in the first quarter of 2010.

That just leaves us with one final, appropriately oversized question: How much is it going to cost? Don't get us wrong, we love the idea of buying a bigger version of a smaller version of a smaller version of an originally bulky handheld -- but based on the sheer number of titles we'll be buying in the dawn of next year, we're probably going to be kinda strapped.

DSi XL dated for Q1 2010 release, Nintendo confirms originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Xbox division a bright spot on Microsoft's quarterly report

Christopher Grant — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Despite a year-over-year dip in both revenues (14%) and net income (18%) for the company as a whole, Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division - which houses the Xbox, Games for Windows, and Zune brands, amongst others - nearly doubled its operating income in the period ending September 30, thanks to "decreased Xbox 360 platform costs," meaning console production costs.

The company reports that "EDD revenue was flat with growth in Xbox 360 platform and PC game revenue offset by decreased revenue from the non-gaming portion of the business" (think: Zune, Windows Mobile). Even with "decreased revenue per console resulting from price reductions during the past 12 months," Xbox 360 platform and PC game revenue increased by 8% "due mainly to increased revenue from Xbox Live and Xbox 360 video games." While the 2.1 million Xbox consoles shipped for the quarter just misses the 2.2 million mark from last year, those reduced production costs help.

With the Xbox sharing top billing with Microsoft's flagship money maker, Windows, on the earnings announcement - both "exceed[ing] expectations due to strong consumer demand" - it seems that Microsoft finally has a consistent hit on its hands. Now, let's talk about accessory pricing ...

Source - Microsoft Reports First-Quarter Results
Source - Xbox Division Doubles Profit in Q1

Xbox division a bright spot on Microsoft's quarterly report originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Trek Online engaging retail Q1 2010, beta 'around the corner'

David Hinkle — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Cryptic executive producer Craig Zinkievich has confirmed with Videogamer that the upcoming Star Trek Online is set to launch during the first quarter of next year -- which falls in line with an Atari document we reported on back in May. Zinkievich also confirmed that Cryptic will soon offer gamers a taste of the experience to come, stating that the game's closed beta is "right around the corner."

Though Videogamer set its phaser to "pester," Zinkievich wouldn't budge on any details about release date beyond the quoted Q1 2010 placeholder, citing that he would receive the full wrath of the marketing department should he crack. We'd like to imagine said department being full of Klingons, but we all know Cardassians really make the best marketers.

Star Trek Online engaging retail Q1 2010, beta 'around the corner' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dark Void touching down January 12

Justin McElroy — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:40:00 EST

Sure, we were upset when the gorgeous and fun Dark Void got pushed into 2010, but we guess if you have to be next year, this isn't a bad spot: Capcom announced this morning that you'll be able to strap in to Will's jetpack and helmet on January 12th in the US and January 15th in Europe.

So, just hold on to that electric beard massager for an extra week or two before you exchange it, and Aunt Stephanie will have bought you a totally bitching Christmas gift.

Dark Void touching down January 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dante's Inferno escapes hell development in February

David Hinkle — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:10:00 EST

EA's jaunt into the underworld finally has a firm release date: February 9 in North America and February 12 in Europe. Dante's Inferno is set to release simultaneously on the PS3, PSP and Xbox 360, with an animated feature launching alongside the game and a comic arriving in December. If you're wondering what you should do with the months leading up to the game's release, might we suggest reading Divine Comedy to observe all of the differences between the game and the original work?

We don't mean to nitpick, but we've already noticed a few here and there.

Dante's Inferno escapes hell development in February originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

MAG deploying in North America on January 26, 2010

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:42:00 EST

The exact release date for Zipper Interactive's multi-multi-multi-man FPS MAG has been up in the air for a while now -- but a recent announcement on PlayStation.Blog has made the game's launch date decidedly cemented. It's hitting store shelves on January 26, 2010, landing atop an ever-expanding aggregate of first-quarter blockbusters. However, most of its seasonal competitors don't allow for four to the fourth power players to square off in a single battle, so we don't think it'll have any trouble holding its own.

Honestly, we'd hoped it would land a bit closer to the game's initial announced fall launch window -- but hey, at least now Zipper's got a bit of extra time to nail down an actual title for the game.

MAG deploying in North America on January 26, 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ship Simulator Extremes to blow the doors off ship simulation genre

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:00:00 EST

This ain't your papa's ship simulation game. This is Ship Simulator Extremes, the latest entry in Dutch developer VSTEP's series of nautical piloting sims. The press release which announced the game includes a lengthy list of features, but all you need to know is in the title -- it'll be "Extremes." Not just "Extreme," mind you -- but "Extremes." As in, more than one "Extreme." We can assume this means the game will take you to the razor-sharp edge of seafaring Extreme-ness, then, just for kicks, it'll take you a bit farther.

The game sounds like it'll go over quite well with the world's expansive community of boat enthusiasts -- we just hope it can stay afloat (nailed it!) in the crowded waters of Q1 2010.

[Via Big Download]

Ship Simulator Extremes to blow the doors off ship simulation genre originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Army of Two: The 40th Day joins the Q1 2010 party

David Hinkle — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

EA has announced that Rios and Salam's latest outing, Army of Two: The 40th Day, is headed to the crowded Q1 2010 quarter, specifically January 12 in the US and January 8 in Europe. It's a good time to release a game, really. Look at every one of these other games doing the same thing!

The press release also mentions a pre-order bonus for the game in "Extraction," a multiplayer mode available to those who pre-order The 40th Day. Everyone else will gain access one month later.

Army of Two: The 40th Day joins the Q1 2010 party originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments