Joystiq

2011 Holiday Buyers Guide: PlayStation Network

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:11:00 EST

Did you ravenously unwrap a gift this holiday season, only to discover a redeemable PSN card within? Don't despair -- that card can actually be turned into video games!

We've got a bunch of suggestions on which 2011 video games you should transmogrify your e-money into after the jump. Whether you're using a PS3 or PSP, we've got you covered.

Continue reading 2011 Holiday Buyers Guide: PlayStation Network

2011 Holiday Buyers Guide: PlayStation Network originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TGS 2011's shopping area, in (too many) pictures

JC Fletcher — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST

We can't buy everything in the TGS merchandise sales area -- of course, some of the merch is, like, pillowcases with naughty pictures on them, so maybe we don't want to buy everything. Regardless, it's much cheaper to just take a bunch of pictures of the stuff there and remember it that way.

So that's exactly what we did, to excess. Enjoy a super-sized gallery of the convention's shopping area, and try to imagine what your house would look like with that much Monster Hunter swag in it.

Gallery: TGS 2011 (Shopping)

TGS 2011's shopping area, in (too many) pictures originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online shopping comes to Wii in Japan November 1

JC Fletcher — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:50:00 EST

Nintendo's Wii no Ma Channel currently provides videos to Wii users in Japan. During an investors presentation, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata introduced plans to add an online shopping component to the service. On November 1, three department store companies and Nintendo will launch the new Wii no Ma Shopping portal, which will carry goods from those department stores in addition to exclusive items like stickers and stamps with Mii images on them. "In addition to exclusive commodities only available at Wii-no-Ma," Iwata said, "there will always be more than 10,000 items to choose from, including foods, daily commodities, fashion items and furniture."

Iwata has high hopes for the shopping service: "Wii is a game console which can be enjoyed by any member of a family regardless of age, gender and gaming experiences, and by deploying services that are unique to Wii with such characteristics, we are trying to make it even more useful for facilitating communication between people," he said. "If we can maintain the high active-use ratio of Wii through that process, people will keep using Wii as a game console. Overall, we are also hopeful that we will be able to increase the social acceptance of video games, which is one of our long-term goals."

Don't expect to buy stuff through your Wii: the Wii no Ma Channel remains unavailable outside of Japan.

Online shopping comes to Wii in Japan November 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NPD issues outlook for consumers' holiday shopping habits

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:00:00 EST

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

The NPD Group recently conducted a poll among American consumers to track their "spending intentions" for the rapidly approaching holiday shopping rush. Of the poll's 2,003 participants, 9 percent said they plan to spend more money than they did last holiday season (down from 11 percent in 2009), 61 percent said they plan to spend the same (up from 59 percent) and the number of people who plan to spend less than they did last year remained steady at 30 percent. A responsible 30 percent.

The poll also inquired what hot items would end up in respondents' checkout baskets -- 15 percent of those polled said they were planning on purchasing video games, a 5 percent decrease from last year. We know what you're thinking: "If people aren't buying video games, they're probably buying fragrances, right?" Wrong. Fragrances fell from 19 percent to 13 percent. Seeing as how those two items are consistently all we ask for during the holidays, we're not sure what everyone else is dropping their cash on.

NPD issues outlook for consumers' holiday shopping habits originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TGS 2010 shopping area shrinks down, but still tempts

JC Fletcher — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:15:00 EST

Last year, the shop portion of the TGS show floor took up an entire hall by itself. This year, it was squeezed into the corner of one of the two halls housing game demos. That isn't to say that the downsized area didn't find ways to take money from obsessed fans, as there was certainly a lot to see and buy.

We hope our gallery helps you experience the thrill of buying a Solid Snake cell phone strap, without the cost or the crowds.

Gallery: TGS 2010 Shopping

TGS 2010 shopping area shrinks down, but still tempts originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NPD discovers why people braved the Black Friday crowds

JC Fletcher — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:00:00 EST

NPD, known in the video game world for its US sales charts, has released its first study of the Black Friday phenomenon. "The Anatomy of Black Friday 2009" is based on a survey of 1,700 shoppers about their Black Friday shopping activities. Why, exactly, did shoppers wake up at ridiculous times and stand out in the cold just for the privilege of being crammed into Best Buy or wherever like sardines? For 35% of Black Friday shoppers, it was a specific item. "I saw an item I wanted advertised on sale" was the top response, followed by "I was just curious to see what was out there."

The top reason for not subjecting themselves to the crowds and queues to buy anything on Black Friday? No, it wasn't "I'm not crazy," it was "no money."

NPD discovers why people braved the Black Friday crowds originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed for Black Friday: Old Navy giving Lego Rock Band with $20 clothing purchase

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:10:00 EST

We hope you've been putting off purchasing that that new fleece jacket you've had your eye on, because Old Navy will be running one hell of a video game deal this coming Black Friday. As suggested by a supposedly leaked circular earlier this month, anyone who spends $20 on the store's merchandise will receive Lego Rock Band for free on the platform of their choice.

The rumored deal was recently confirmed by a television spot (which unfortunately has yet to find its way online). We contacted a handful of locations in Texas, Ohio and Illinois, all of which said the offer would be valid at their stores. However, both the advertisement and the store representatives we spoke to mentioned that copies of the game will be "extremely limited," so we suggest getting to your nearest store as close to its 3 a.m. opening time as your tryptophan-infused body will permit.

Check out Joystiq's Black Friday Game Deals Hub or jump to a retailer guide below:

For more Black Friday coverage, check out Black Friday Deals, Cyber Monday Sales,
And other Black Friday 2009 stories today from Walletpop.com

Confirmed for Black Friday: Old Navy giving Lego Rock Band with $20 clothing purchase originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Stores printing PC games on location

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Though the recently opened Microsoft Store in Scottsdale, Arizona contains all the electronic doodads and software you'd expect to find in a Microsoft-branded retailer, there's one pleasant surprise waiting there for PC gaming enthusiasts. That VideoGame Blog reports that kiosks are distributed throughout the store which allow shoppers to order a Games for Windows title, leave their name with a customer service representative, then have the game, case, insert and other accouterments printed on the spot in under four minutes.

We imagine the whole process is similar to the teddy synthesis featured in Build-a-Bear Workshops, only without all the haunting, ever-gurgling vats of stuffed animal guts featured prominently on the sales floor.

Microsoft Stores printing PC games on location originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TGS 2009: Tokyo Game ... Shopping

Ludwig Kietzmann — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 04:00:00 EST

click to enlarge

Aside from hosting playable game demos and extravagant cosplayers, the Tokyo Game Show offers up something for those less-than-frugal attendees on the prowl for nerdish knickknacks. Consider doing some window shopping (also Mac compatible) in our gallery below, perhaps lamenting the fact that:

A) you're not here to buy that Aloha Slime shirt.
B) somebody will actually pay $75 for the Cloud Strife Eau de Toilette.

Gallery: TGS 2009: Shopping

TGS 2009: Tokyo Game ... Shopping originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: Procrastinators, unite!

David Hinkle — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

With this being Christmas Eve and all, it's the last shopping day before Santa comes shuffling down that chimney. So, do you have to pick up any last-minute gifts? If not, did you pick up any gaming gifts this year? Wii stuff? If the particular individual reads us and knows your account name, then, uh, lie.

Wii Warm Up: Procrastinators, unite! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unsurprisingly, Wii Fit sells big on Black Friday

David Hinkle — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: News

Even though the Wii reigned supreme on eBay, other retailer sites saw crazy demand for Nintendo's fitness package, Wii Fit. For major retail site Amazon.com, the Wii and Wii Fit were the top-selling video game items throughout the day on Friday. On eBay-owned Shopping.com, the top searches were for Wii Fit and the Nintendo Wii. And during a season that is expected to generate $29 billion, that's a lot of green for Nintendo.

Any of you snag a Wii or Wii Fit to gift someone this holiday season?

[Via Gamasutra]

Unsurprisingly, Wii Fit sells big on Black Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reminder: Tomorrow is Black Friday

Ross Miller — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business

This is just a friendly reminder as you lounge idly on the couch watching TV while your stomach defrags a large Thanksgiving meal. Tomorrow is Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year in the US. Whether you're getting ready for a morning onslaught, getting comfortable with your computer's refresh button, or simply planning trips around shopping centers, here's a guide to finding the hottest deals.

Click on a store above to view its Black Friday Guide

Reminder: Tomorrow is Black Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK shoppers try to hunt down Wii Fit for this holiday

David Hinkle — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:42:00 EST

Filed under: News

Online analyst Hitwise is reporting that folks in the UK who're searching online for the perfect gift are searching for Wii Fit. With Reggie saying there won't be that many on store shelves, we can't blame them for heading online to try and track one down for the holidays. As you can see, the second item that UK shoppers seek is the Wii. Two years in and it's still going strong. We're expecting North Americans are searching for the same two items right about now.

Are any of you trying to pick up Wii Fit or the Wii this holiday? Is it a gift for a friend, loved one, family member, or yourself?

[Via CVG]

UK shoppers try to hunt down Wii Fit for this holiday originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon offering release date delivery for big-name games

Kyle Orland — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

For gamers, there's usually a push-and-pull battle involved in deciding to order a new game from an online retailer. On the plus side, ordering online means not having to deal with clueless game store employees, not fighting off the harsh rays of the sun and, most importantly, not leaving the comfort of the couch! On the downside, though, those online delivery people will sometimes arrive days after a game is available in stores, losing you precious time you could be spending pwning n00bs.

Amazon is looking to get rid of that major online ordering negative with their Release Date Delivery program for some of the season's biggest games. Shoppers that pay an extra $5.98 can get Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Fable 2 and Gears of War 2 delivered to their doors the same day they're available in stores (you may remember Amazon tested the program last month with Soul Calibur IV). Amazon Prime members can get this service for free, but it's only currently available in the continental U.S., so residents of foreign lands (not to mention the freak states) should be prepared to hoof it to their nearest brick and mortar game retailers.

Source - Press Release
Source - More Details

Amazon offering release date delivery for big-name games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: Hitting the streets

Chris Greenhough — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

My aversion to communicating face-to-face with other people means that I've rarely seen the inside of a bricks 'n mortar videogame store since ... well, since I worked in one last year! I also have a keenness to keep as much of my money as possible -- we all know that shopping online can guarantee excellent bargains.

On the other hand, I occasionally miss the days of rooting around in GAME's bargain bin and finding F-Zero X incorrectly priced at £0.99. I used to find some enjoyment in collecting loyalty points, of scooping neat pre-order bonuses that were exclusive to high street stores, and of having new stuff in my hands instantly.

Do any of you fine folk still prefer shopping at your local games emporium? If so, what are the perks for you? Are there perhaps specific products you will only buy at said stores? And a broader question: what do you think high street retailers could do to combat the growing threat from their online rivals?

DS Daily: Hitting the streets originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq Holidaze: explaining the Xbox 360 SKUs

Ross Miller — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Features, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

We'd love to say picking up Xbox 360 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it. For better and worse, this generation of consoles gives consumers many choices at the (potential) expense of causing confusion at the store.

So it's with this in mind that we present you this handy guide for discerning the difference between the various Xbox 360 versions (aka SKUs) out there. Please note that the red and green coloring is not only festive decor for the holiday season but also a subjective highlight of what each version excels in (or subsequently lacks).

	Elite	Halo Edition	Pro	Arcade	Core

Hardware
Price	$449.99	$399.99	$349.99	$279.99	$199.99*
Storage	120GB HDD	20GB HDD	20GB HDD	256MB memory card	none
Color	Black	Green/Orange	White	White	White
HDMI port	Yes	Yes	Certain models**	Yes	Certain models**
Bundled Accessories
Ethernet cable	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Headset	Wired	Wired	Wired	No	No
Play & Charge Kit	No	Yes	No	No	No
Video cables	HDMI 1.2, Component, Composite	Component, Composite	Component, Composite	Composite	Composite
Controller	Wireless	Wireless	Wireless	Wireless	Wired
Other
Xbox Live	Silver, 1 Month Gold	Silver, 1 Month Gold	Silver, 1 Month Gold	Silver, 1 Month Gold	Silver
Backwards Compatibility	Yes	Yes	Yes	No***	No***

Notes:

* The Core model has been discontinued. The $199.99 price tag is based on the GameStop refurbished price.
** See explanation below
*** Hard Drive required

And just in case you still have questions, we've gone ahead and written up a F.A.Q. after the break.

Continue reading Joystiq Holidaze: explaining the Xbox 360 SKUs

Joystiq Holidaze: explaining the Xbox 360 SKUs originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The DS Life: A corner to play in

Eric Caoili — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff, GBA, The DS Life

The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.

This week's scene is taken from a winter afternoon in Osaka, Japan. The boy's parents are shopping for gifts for the holiday season, so he finds a secluded spot to wait while they wander the department store. He sits on the tiled floor, right next to the fire extinguisher stand, where no one will disturb or trip over him.

Cold seeps through the window behind him, but the slight chill actually feels refreshing on the back of his neck. He flips open his GBA SP and continues where he left off during the subway ride here, too engrossed to look up at the people walking by, too rapt to even pause his game before reaching for a sip from his drink.

Continue reading The DS Life: A corner to play in

The DS Life: A corner to play in originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Secret child shoppers wanted to check retailers

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

The National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF) is looking for underage kids to secretly shop for Mature and AO rated video games. You know, like many departments of public health do with cigarettes. Just ignore the irony of putting a kid through the paces of purchasing something they aren't supposed to. The final report is expected in December to scare the jeepers out of parents right before Christmas. Also, expect reports on toys with chocking hazards and deadly Doctor Who-style killer Christmas trees.

Previously the NIMF said the industry and retailers were doing a better job, while many parents started breeding before learning concepts like responsibility. The NIMF also discovered that the 58% of parents who play video games, more than half the time is spent is playing with their children. The NIMF report will be interesting to watch over the years as more gamer parents start popping up that know better than to let their 8-year-old play GTA -- well, at least we hope so.

[Via GamePolitics]

Secret child shoppers wanted to check retailers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii developers talk shop

John Bardinelli — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Online

A recent sit-down with a group of Nintendo programmers uncovers the secret world of the Wii Shop channel's creation. Their goal was to create a product-centric experience that didn't present shoppers with too much information. Along the way, the team had to deal with economic issues, delays with server uploads, cross-cultural linguistics, and much more.

If the Wii Shop interface feels a little different than the rest of the Wii menus, that's because a team coordinator was nominated to do the design. With Nintendo's devs teams working on other projects, Wii Shop lead Haruhana-san asked Shigeru Miyamoto if he could borrow someone from another group to help with the design. The answer, of course, was no, and Miyamoto asked Haruhana to do it instead.

Wii developers talk shop originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VC Friday: Straight up killing

Alisha Karabinus — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Virtual Console

It's all about destruction this week in Europe on the Virtual Console. Either you're blasting space dudes, wrecking ghosts and perhaps a few ghouls, or perhaps yourself while playing Double Dungeons ... either way, something is going to die. And people say gaming isn't exciting anymore!

This week on the VC in Europe:

Double Dungeons (600 Wii points) -- TurboGrafx
Galaga (500 Wii points) -- NES
Super Ghouls n' Ghosts (800 Wii points) -- SNES

VC Friday: Straight up killing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii woes: some win, some lose, some sing blues

Kevin Kelly — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 10:46:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Nintendo Wii

Wrapping paper has been torn open, ribbons unraveled, and bows ... unbowed. Did you score yourself a next-gen console? We noticed while driving around the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex that some enterprising entrepreneurs decided to sell PlayStation 3s out of the back of their car trunks for $800. However, no one was lining up to buy 'em. A sad sign advertising Wiis for sale was discarded in the ditch near the same sellers, leading us to believe that they'd run through their supply of Wiis.

Further confirmation came when we found this article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in the form of a play detailing the trials and tribulations of finding a Wii this holiday season. Did you have as hard of a time? We checked a few area retailer shelves, and they all had the same story: accessories galore, consoles none. What about you?

Wii woes: some win, some lose, some sing blues originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Joystiq Holiday Gift Guide: for gamers

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Portable, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure, Driving, Fighting, First Person Shooters, Online, Sports, Peripherals, Rhythm, Fashion

If you're used to waiting until the last minute to do your holiday shopping because you're way too busy gathering every tag in Gears of War, then this is for you. Hit the pause button, drop the controller, take this gamer gift guide with you, fight the massing crowds, snatch up some of these recommendations, fight the massing crowds (again) and beat the level boss: a line long enough to stretch from the register to eternity. Just when you think you've beaten everything and are on your way back home the Final boss strikes. Gift wrapping.

Continue reading The Joystiq Holiday Gift Guide: for gamers

The Joystiq Holiday Gift Guide: for gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NYC Virgin Megastore dominated by 360

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff, Console wars

360 Fanboy reader, Nick, sent us some pictures he took of the New York City Virgin Megastore's revamped videogame section (and a few shots of the HD DVD drive at Circuit City). Looking at the pictures, it seems like the 360 practically is the videogame section. Our tipster points out that there are six(!) demo kiosks and that the 360 has most of the prime shelf space -- note the 360 themed pillars in the above image. We'd like to see some shots of the competition for comparison, but either way, this is a mighty impressive showing for Microsoft's white box. To be fair, this doesn't mean that Virgin prefers the 360. More likely, the company knows that 360s will actually be in stock this holiday and hopes to sell as many as possible. It's a subject that's been beaten to death, but the sell out nature of the PS3 and Wii means that plenty of 360 purchases will be made by desperate gift givers.

Has anyone else been to this store? Send us some pictures of the Sony and Nintendo sections, and we'll post 'em.

[Thanks, Nick]

NYC Virgin Megastore dominated by 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Fanboy holiday gift guide

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Software

It's Black Friday... You know what that means. The holiday shopping season has begun! Because all the other major gaming sites are doing it, we decided to make a holiday gift guide as well! These are the games that I think will make any good PSP owner happy.

$50 or below
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories - Quite possibly the biggest portable adventure yet. GTA fans and fans of 80s pop culture will dig this game.

$40 or below
Daxter - The great graphics and lack of load times makes this platformer a great technical showcase.
Gitaroo-Man Lives! - My favorite PSP game of the year. Get it for the music lover.
Loco Roco - Sony proves that there are games for kids on its system. This one is it.
SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2 - The online tactical shooter returns. Online junkies will love this game.
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror - Although not an FPS, the game's controls and extensive multiplayer modes is perfect for shooter lovers.
Tekken: Dark Resurrection - It's the only fighting game you'll want to give to a PSP owner.

$30 or below
Lumines II - With nearly a hundred different musical skins to unlock, this easy-to-learn puzzle game is perfect for anyone, especially if they missed the original game.

$20 or below
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - For less than $20, the original LCS sports a ton of gameplay at an insanely affordable price.
Mega Man: Powered Up - This 2D platformer features great graphics, classic gameplay, and a level editor that lets you share creations. At under $20, it's a steal.
Wipeout Pure - This launch game still sports some of the system's best graphics. With tons of free downloadable content, this is a great value.

PSP Fanboy holiday gift guide originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Nov 2006 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Friday: Wii/PS3 launch -- Part 2

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Business

Tomorrow is "Black Friday," the notorious unofficial start of the holiday shopping season in the United States, but this Black Friday also heralds the second shipment of Wiis and PS3s going on sale. Many Best Buys, Targets, Wal-Marts, Gamestops, EB Games and the like have been sitting on their second shipment of consoles much of the week and will unleash them tomorrow. Now gamers who missed the first launch will compete with all the mothers and grandmothers getting up at 5AM to camp out until the store opens after listening to their children badger them about wanting a console all through Thanksgiving dinner. Set your alarms early people because nothings gonna stop a momma on a mission.

Black Friday: Wii/PS3 launch -- Part 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: EB Games/GameStop with fresh inventory for Friday

Alisha Karabinus — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: News

Remember that missing nunchuk? Here it is, Wednesday, and there's still no multiplayer beyond most of Wii Sports ... but after a few calls to the local store regarding the fact that it was supposed to be there Monday, suddenly they've "just received" a shipment. This looks very like confirmation of increased stock for Black Friday.

Of course, it just makes sense -- say what you will about GameStop (I've said a few things myself this past week ...), but they are too savvy to let America's biggest holiday shopping day pass without new inventory. We all expected new shipments of Wii-related goodies (and some for the other guys), but for those who are still sans Wii, it's nice to have confirmation. Happy camping!

Confirmed: EB Games/GameStop with fresh inventory for Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: EB and GameStop to stock up for Black Friday

Alisha Karabinus — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:30:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

Crushed because you came away from the Wii launch empty handed? Dealing with waffling salespeople at your favorite retail outlets? Concerned that it may be a while before you can get your hands on one? Relax, dearest fanboys, because a little birdie told us that GameStop and EB are getting in new shipments for this Friday and they're going to open up a few hours early -- we're hearing 7AM. There's no word on the number of units allocated for the forthcoming madness on the year's biggest shopping day, but we expect no less than preorder numbers and likely more.

On a related note -- we spoke with some folks at Best Buy also, and while they couldn't give us a firm date on when they would receive their next shipment, the did tell us that several shipments arrive at stores each week, with games, accessories, and yes, more consoles. So if you're trying to find an extra nunchuk (like we are), a Wiimote, or even to find out when your Best Buy will receive more Wii units, give them a call in the mornings -- keep fishing and you'll catch one.

1UP is also reporting that new shipments are expected, and it seems some of the commenters talked to our little birdie or one of his co-workers, as the 7AM story is repeated there.

So who's camping this week to remedy the lack of Wii?

Rumor: EB and GameStop to stock up for Black Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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$100 Xbox 360 Core up for election

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360, Online, Business

Amazon has kicked off its first week of "Customer's Vote" (user votes decide a weekly deal) with a doozie: $100 Xbox 360 Core Systems. There's some stiff competition though, including perennial holiday favorites like the Mongoose bike ($30) and Barbie doll ($10). There's a catch too, if selected, the Xbox 360 bargain would be limited to 1,000 units.

Let's assume the $100 Core is voted in and you secure a unit. Naturally, your end-goal is an Xbox 360 Premium System. So you'll need to invest in a hard drive ($100), wireless controller ($40), and HD cables ($40); bringing your total (including Core) to $280. That's still $120 less than the standard Premium bundle, plus you'll have an extra wired controller (and spare AV cables) -- it's also a better value than Micro Center's current rebate promotion.

Go vote! (The winner will be announced next Wednesday at 11 am PT; and will go on sale Thanksgiving morning!)

[Thanks, Vin]

$100 Xbox 360 Core up for election originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Friday megadeals for Xbox 360

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:35:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360

Sister site Xbox 360 Fanboy got the goods on some upcoming Black Friday deals yesterday. For those of you who may not know, Black Friday (so very appropriately named) is the Friday immediately after Thanksgiving, when stores feature gargantuan sales in an effort to suck shoppers in and kick-start the Christmas shopping season.

Best Buy is having an $18.99 sale featuring:

Amped 3
Condemned
NBA Live '06
Rockstar Games Presents: Table Tennis
The Outfit (apparently you can score this one for only $9.99 if you buy it in-store before noon)

Circuit City offers a different set at $16.99:

Full Auto
Gun
Perfect Dark Zero
Quake 4
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland

Our advice is to call the stores to find out if these deals will be available online and stay inside. Black Friday is normally a hellish experience with a lot of pushing, shoving and greed. In fact, we're surprised Rockstar hasn't made a video game version yet.

Your mission: take out other shoppers before they can get your sale items.

Black Friday megadeals for Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free basic service on "PlayStation Network Platform"

Dan Choi — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Wireless, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Online, Business

Going by the working title "PlayStation Network Platform," Sony has announced that the basic level of its online service will be free (at least at first).

While the company's "Live-killer" will readily support the PS3 at launch in November, it is not known to what extent the "PNP" (er, "PSNP"?) will support the PS2 and PSP.

What are supported, however, are voice/video chat, messaging, matchmaking, ranking, game data uploading/downloading, shopping, content downloading, micro payments, subscriptions, and entitlement (i.e., user access) management. All of this will be tied together with a Live-like user login ID/handle name. Hello, 360... More P(S)NP pics follow.

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Free basic service on "PlayStation Network Platform" originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Mar 2006 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live Diamond Cards printing and on the way

Dan Choi — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Online, Business

Xbox Live Diamond Cards are now printing for those whose registration has been accepted, which means these cards may be in our hands within the next 2-3 weeks.

According to an e-mail this blogger just received, confirmations of Diamond Card registrations are going out to Live subscribers who've signed on for 12 months or more at XboxLivediamond.com.

Continue reading Xbox Live Diamond Cards printing and on the way

Xbox Live Diamond Cards printing and on the way originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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