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[VGA 2009: Claudia Black talks about our favorite subject, Claudia Black]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/vga-2009-claudia-black-talks-about-our-favorite-subject-claudi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/vga-2009-claudia-black-talks-about-our-favorite-subject-claudi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/vga-2009-claudia-black-talks-about-our-favorite-subject-claudi/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from the voice of Chloe from Uncharted 2, and star of Farscape, Stargate, and more, Claudia Black..

So you've jumped genres from science fiction television shows to swashbuckling video games. How has that been?

Oh, I think it is all one in the same, isn't it? It is all part of the same genre. So I mean for me, it has been a very easy segue into this, and I think it has sort of corresponded at the same time with the industries starting to coalesce, too. You know, the film industry, which is sometimes considered, I think, to be a snobbish cousin of the gaming industry, is now really starting to take notice.

I'm sure the smell of money is helping a bit.

Yeah. I mean I think it really came to the floor when Van Helsing the film was kind of like the launch pad for the game, and the game was sort of more relevant and important, in a way, than the movie.

You've done a lot of video game voices, but was this the first time you did motion capture?

Yes, this was my first motion capture experience. I am a huge proponent of it because I think what impressed me about Naughty Dog's is that they respect and appreciate the magic that occurs over time between the performers. That you can have a great script, and you can have great voice actors in the booth, but you are never going to recreate that incredible alchemy that occurs with people in a room together. And they hired such amazing actors, you know, theater trained, very experienced actors to work together. And also, they were very specific and particular about whom they hired based on personalities because they wanted us to be a really tight knit family. And every single day it was fun. Every single day. And I know that games have become a very serious business, but they wanted the levity and the bonding to be the overriding essence on the set.

What is next for you?

Well I just wrapped up a little independent film called Rain from Stars which is written and directed by Steven Wallace and French Stewart, a wonderful comedic actor, and Jeremy London, Brian Krause ... a really lovely cast. It's called Rain from Stars, and is like 12 Angry Men meets Saw.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Claudia Black talks about our favorite subject, Claudia Black originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actingChloeClaudia-Blackinterviewred-carpetspike-vga-2009unchartedUncharted-2Uncharted-2-Among-Thievesvga-2009voiceoverSun, 20 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Cliff Bleszinski teases new projects, more to come 'when the weather's warm']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/vga-2009-cliff-bleszinski-teases-new-projects-more-to-come-wh/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/vga-2009-cliff-bleszinski-teases-new-projects-more-to-come-wh/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/vga-2009-cliff-bleszinski-teases-new-projects-more-to-come-wh/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Epic's Cliff Bleszinski.

So you segued from Gears into Shadow Complex ... what are you working on now?

I can't tell you that! It's actually quite agonizing for me right now, because there's a bunch of awesome shit we're working on, but I can't say a damn thing about it no matter how many alcoholic beverages you might try and feed me! Well, maybe if you bribe me with hookers and blow, that might work.

Shadow Complex will be on sale during the holidays. Was that Microsoft's idea or Epic's?

Microsoft is doing that promo. They're doing some other stuff as well to help drive the holiday sales. I mean, in this day and age look how crammed Christmas is, and it's like March is the new holiday. Everybody's moved out to March. I think it's good because the good games will rise, and the bad games will sink, right? I was getting tired of the fact that everyone had to cram everything into the holiday season. Hopefully we'll get some quality releases in March that will do well, and the gaming industry can sell more than 80% of its games outside of a three month period.

What are you playing right now?

I'm playing the hell out of Modern Warfare 2 and I hate those guys, because those guys are so awesome. Uncharted 2 I beat, which was absolutely stellar. Borderlands co-op is amazing ... that's the only way to play, really. I gush about it not just because it's our engine but because Randy and those guys are good friends, and it's the kind of game I really want to play. It's the perfect blending of the shooter and the RPG.

So when will we hear about this "awesome shit"?

Maybe sometime when the weather's warm, you'll be hearing something.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Cliff Bleszinski teases new projects, more to come 'when the weather's warm' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cliff-bleszinskicliffybEpicGears-of-WarinterviewMicrosoftred-carpetShadow-Complexspike-vga-2009vga-2009Xbox-360Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Bungie's Marty O'Donnell talks moody soundtracks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/vga-2009-bungies-marty-odonnell-talks-moody-soundtracks/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/vga-2009-bungies-marty-odonnell-talks-moody-soundtracks/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/vga-2009-bungies-marty-odonnell-talks-moody-soundtracks/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. HHere's what we learned from Bungie's Halo-matic composer, Marty O'Donnell.

Why was the music such a departure for Halo 3: ODST?

It was just a completely different story with different characters, it was a small scale, it took place in a lonely city where it was raining. It was a detective sort of story where one lone ODST was looking for his buddies. From the very beginning Joe Staten, the writer, wanted to create an atmosphere that felt very film noir, very detective story. I'm the main composer, but my partner Mike Salvatore in Chicago and a couple of other guys in Seattle, Stan Laparte and C. Paul Johnson contributed stuff. I tried to keep all of the themes in that noir, jazz, dark area. There's a few times where we're in the rooftops or doing some high-action regular old Halo stuff in vehicles and we went back to that big, bombastic, epic stuff, but I always wanted to bring it back to that noir feel.

Were there any musical references to classic Halo during those moments?

I didn't do any actual thematic callbacks. I still wanted to do .... well, number one was no monks. But I still thought the big orchestral epic sound had a place. With some other stuff, you know. Piano, guitar, etc. It's like three hours of music, and you can't narrow yourself down to a small palette, you have to really be as expansive as possible.

So now you're working on Reach?

Yes, we're premiering the first look at the opening section of Reach. It's right out of the game. I'm really excited about it. It has a really different feel.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Bungie's Marty O'Donnell talks moody soundtracks originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HaloHalo-3-ODSTinterviewmarty-odonnellMicrosoftReachred-carpetSoundtrackspike-vga-2009VGA-2009Xbox-360Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Nolan North talks about Nolan North]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/vga-2009-nolan-north-talks-about-nolan-north/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/vga-2009-nolan-north-talks-about-nolan-north/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/vga-2009-nolan-north-talks-about-nolan-north/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Nolan North.

You're quickly becoming one of the recognizable stars of video game voiceover acting. How did that happen?

You know ... I don't really know how that happened. I was lucky to land a lot of good roles in good games that became really popular ... Assassin's Creed, Uncharted, Prince of Persia, and they became really popular so fast and my name just happened to be attached to them. And you know, with the success of Uncharted -- the first one and then the second ... I don't know. It's just a phenomenon that I'm just lucky to be a part of.

Claudia Black told us that the motion capture sessions were the real key to making the relationship between Nathan and Chloe seem real. What do you think?

Absolutely. A lot of times we're just in a booth behind a microphone, unshaven and just ready to go ... and alone, more than anything. I mean, working with all of these actors, it's like doing theater somewhere. As a matter of fact, it's like what we used to call Black Box Theater back in college. There really wasn't much of a set ... we were just out there doing our thing, but the interaction was there and I think that's what translated so well to a video game.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Nolan North talks about Nolan North originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actingAssassins-CreedinterviewNolan-NorthPrince-Of-Persiared-carpetSpike-VGA-2009UnchartedVGA-2009VoiceoverFri, 18 Dec 2009 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Bungie explains lack of Halo 3: ODST DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-bungie-explains-lack-of-halo-3-odst-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-bungie-explains-lack-of-halo-3-odst-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-bungie-explains-lack-of-halo-3-odst-dlc/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. HHere's what we learned from Bungie's Curtis Creamer about Halo 3: ODST.

Was there a decision made to have no DLC for Halo 3: ODST?

Well, that was something that we didn't really think we could do for ODST because traditionally all of our DLC has been about competitive multiplayer. That's something that we had the systems in place for. But, since Firefight is more based on the co-operative campaign mode, that was a technology that we hadn't built up to a point where we could add DLC to the game. It would have been too much of an investment to make that happen.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Bungie explains lack of Halo 3: ODST DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BungieCurtis-CreamerDLCFirefightHaloHalo-3-ODSTinterviewMicrosoftred-carpetSpike-VGA-2009Xbox-360Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:15:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Assassin's Creed 2 developers on DLC, third game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-assassins-creed-2-developers-on-dlc-third-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-assassins-creed-2-developers-on-dlc-third-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-assassins-creed-2-developers-on-dlc-third-game/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Jean-François Boivin, Production Manager on Assassin's Creed 2.

So you have already announced two DLC packs. Will there be packs after that? How are you filling in Chapters 12 and 13? Is there a Chapter 15?

You guys will find out soon enough ... there's nothing really announced yet as to anything that would support the next two DLCs. It will all make sense. [Ed. note: here's that announcement, and we're springing out of our seats]

What has surprised you since launch?

One of the things that is really cool is that right now, the numbers show us that 40% of the people are actually finishing the game. What that tells us is that people are really submerging themselves into the world of Assassin's Creed.

Where would you want to set Assassin's Creed 3?

That's something we don't even know yet ourselves. Right now we're just taking a break after shipping this game. But we're thinking about where this license can go, and we're working on concepts in the next few months.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Assassin's Creed 2 developers on DLC, third game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creedassassins-creed-2interviewJean-Franois-BoivinMicrosoftred-carpetspike-vga-2009Ubisoftvga-2009Xbox-360Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Rocksteady's Paul Crocker talks Batman]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-rocksteadys-paul-crocker-talks-batman/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-rocksteadys-paul-crocker-talks-batman/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-rocksteadys-paul-crocker-talks-batman/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Paul Crocker at Rocksteady about Batman: Arkham Asylum.

So when are we getting real DLC?

We can't talk about DLC, I'm afraid. [Note: with the announcement of Batman: Arkham Asylum 2, if that indeed ends up being the name for the sequel, it seems highly unlikely that we'll get any more DLC for the first game. Rats.]

Well, that's not a no! What has surprised you all the most about the game since launch?

Well, for us we're just really happy that people liked it. We worked really hard to do the brand justice and to try and make a good Batman game. Obviously when you're working on something like that you're really inside a bubble, and you don't know what people really think. And the reaction has been quite cool, so everyone at Rocksteady is really excited.

Speaking about that reaction, how does it work for a developer on launch day? Is it like in the film industry where people get the box office numbers coming in right away? Are you getting sales figures? How do you know it's doing well?

In all honesty ... we look at websites. [laughs] I mean if some website says it sold X number of copies, we don't even know if that's true. I guess we're the last to find out. But we look at the reviews and read what people are actually saying about the game. The afternoon when all the reviews went live, we were all sitting in the office and it was just really exciting. If you get an 8 out of 10, you're like "Awww, that's bad" because the other ones were 9, you know? But we were seeing scores at 9 or more and it was an interesting afternoon, and quite a nice evening at the pub.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Rocksteady's Paul Crocker talks Batman originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arkham-AsylumBatmanBatman-Arkham-AsylumBatman-Arkham-Asylum-2interviewMicrosoftred-carpetRocksteadyspike-vga-2009vga-2009Xbox-360Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Tony Hawk talks disappointing sales and future plans]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-tony-hawk-talks-disappointing-sales-and-future-plans/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-tony-hawk-talks-disappointing-sales-and-future-plans/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-tony-hawk-talks-disappointing-sales-and-future-plans/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Tony Hawk about Tony Hawk Ride.

You've been very vocal about the negative reviews of the game. What made you want to strike back?

Because I feel like a lot of people ... not just bad reviews, but some of them were just mean-spirited. You know what I mean? I felt like that wasn't fair to us, and it was also turning people away from even trying it. I feel like it's not for everyone, but try it! I see kids love it. I see parents that take to it and really enjoy it, and I just wanted a fair chance for people to try it objectively. When I see people just coming down on me personally, that got me going and I was frustrated with it.

But at the same time, I'm totally proud of it, I love the game. I spent two years of my life getting it going, and it was my idea ... I brought it to Activision. For people to say "Oh, you just stick your name on the game and that's it," that's not what it is at all.

The sales figures came out and they were disappointing. Do you think Activision will keep going in the same direction with this game or will go back to the old Tony Hawk?

I don't know, I guess that remains to be discussed. I really feel like the board is a good device, and we can make more games based on it. I really want to do that. This wasn't a gimmick, I didn't want people to think they have to buy a new one next year. I wanted to make this board so ... it's a platform to do other things with.

Does the game have the ability to be mapped to a standard controller? Could Activision implement that via a download?

You know what, we looked into it ... the way that you physically play the game, it wouldn't translate to a very challenging game with a joystick. The control scheme would have to be completely different, and we didn't want to make a game that was confusing like that.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Tony Hawk talks disappointing sales and future plans originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionMicrosoftNintendored-carpetrobomodospike-vga-2009Tony-HawkTony-Hawk-RideVGA-2009WiiXbox-360Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:20:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Assassin's Creed 2 composer on music for a murderer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-assassins-creed-2-composer-on-music-for-a-murderer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-assassins-creed-2-composer-on-music-for-a-murderer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-assassins-creed-2-composer-on-music-for-a-murderer/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Jesper Kyd, music composer for Assassin's Creed 2.

How do you begin composing music for a 15th century assassin?

That was very hard to figure out. First, you have to stop thinking and start researching, because it can be overwhelming. The finished game had over three hours of music in it, so it's really about slowing down, experimenting, researching and seeing what sticks.

Did you compose the music for the minstrels and everything?

Every single note in there is my music! That was a lot of fun, some of those small bits.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Assassin's Creed 2 composer on music for a murderer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creedassassins-creed-2interviewJesper-KydMicrosoftMusicred-carpetspike-vga-2009Ubisoftvga-2009Xbox-360Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Infinity Ward on Medal of Honor, glitches]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-infinity-ward-on-medal-of-honor-glitches/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-infinity-ward-on-medal-of-honor-glitches/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-infinity-ward-on-medal-of-honor-glitches/#comments
This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Vince Zampella and Jason West from Infinity Ward about Modern Warfare 2.

So what do you all think about Medal of Honor going Modern Warfare?

Vince Zampella: Eh, good for them!

You're not saying, "Hey, this is our territory."

Vince: Nah.

Since the game shipped a month ago, Infinity Ward has been squashing bugs and reading feedback.

Vince: Absolutely. The benefit of making a game that all of our guys love to play is that all of our guys are playing it, and they're running into the same problems that any other player is, so we want to get that stuff fixed as soon as possible.

Jason West: Yeah, the studio has been shut down for all of December, but these guys are playing the game and they want to come in on their own time to fix it and patch it. Considering that they're all on vacation, the responsiveness of the team has been pretty awesome. [Note: based on the new unlimited ammo glitch, they still have some work to do. Unless there's a Christmas miracle]

Has anything really surprised you with multiplayer?

Vince: Well, yeah .. the Javelin thing, obviously [laughs]. Just the fact that somebody picked that out.

Jason: And the infinite Care Package one is pretty impressive, I mean you have to do this, do that and ...

Vince: I could see you accidentally doing it, but then how do you figure out how to go back and replicate it? That's crazy.

So if there's a Modern Warfare 3, what can you possibly pack in to top the Night Vision Goggles?

Vince: This time we'll have a version that comes with a complete tank.

Jason: Yeah, or a full-sized Ghillie suit would be awesome, too.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Infinity Ward on Medal of Honor, glitches originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionInfinity-WardinterviewJason-WestMicrosoftModern-Warfare-2red-carpetspike-vga-2009Vince-ZampellaXbox-360Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Felicia Day on Felicia Day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-felicia-day-on-felicia-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-felicia-day-on-felicia-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/vga-2009-felicia-day-on-felicia-day/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Felicia Day about, well ... Felicia Day.

How's the show going?

We just, a couple of weeks ago, the last episode of Season Three came out so we're between seasons right now. We're waiting for an update from Microsoft ... or Xbox. And I'm writing a comic book for Dark Horse before we start Season Four. Jim Rugg is the artist, but we have some amazing cover artists ... I can't say who yet, but when I get the art back I'm just blown away.

We talked with Blizzard about the 5 & 15 year anniversaries for Warcraft, and we asked them why there are no girls in the "What's Your Game" commercials and they asked us for suggestions. Why haven't you done one?

I know! You know, that would be a good call for me ... I'm one of those people who are recognized in certain circles, and not in others, and I like to keep it that way. But it would be great, I mean ... I'm a WoW girl, I love it!

So you think you could see yourself in one of those wacky commercials?

I would hope that they wouldn't be able to put my head on their character, like with the Mr. T one. Because that would just be too creepy. It already was creepy! I was trying to do like my "Thanksgiving" quest and I'm all "Stop with the Mr. T!" They were all over the place!

Are you working on anything now?

I'm filming the last episode of Dollhouse. The way that they wrap everything up is amazing, they really did it. I think I still have some apocalyptic dirt on my neck still. Also, I'm on an episode of Lie to Me ... I've been working for Fox a lot and I don't know why!

Are you playing anything else besides WoW right now?

Well, I play everything ... except I haven't played Uncharted 2 yet. I don't have a PS3. You know ... those are tax-deductible. Maybe I need to pick one up.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Felicia Day on Felicia Day originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Felicia-Dayinterviewred-carpetSpike-VGA-2009The-GuildWarcraftWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 17 Dec 2009 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Flower developers amidst the explosions and hype]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/vga-2009-flower-developers-amidst-the-explosions-and-hype/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/vga-2009-flower-developers-amidst-the-explosions-and-hype/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/vga-2009-flower-developers-amidst-the-explosions-and-hype/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Kellee Santiago and Jenova Chen from thatgamecompany about Flower.

Spike TV and the VGAs are all about naked women, shooters, and explosions. What's it like for Flower to be here?

Kellee Santiago: It's a very surreal experience. I think it shows that what are sort of seen as "artsy" games aren't niche, they appeal at the most commercial mass level, and that's very exciting for us.

Jenova Chen: We had Flower exhibit at the MOCA in Shanghai as an interactive art piece. It's quite interesting to see a video game stand next to these art installations. Being at these awards will hpefully give us even more exposure. The PlayStation Network had a sale during Thanksgiving, and a lot of people picked up Flower who had never heard of it before. Then we started to get a lot of emails thanking us for making the game. We know there are more people who haven't seen the game, and it would be great if they know what video games could be.

What's next? Could there be a sequel to Flower?

We're working on a third title for PlayStation Network right now, you'll see more soon. Hopefully you'll see something next year, but we don't know yet when it will come out.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Flower developers amidst the explosions and hype originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionFlowerinterviewJenova-ChenKellee-SantiagoPSNred-carpetSCEASonySony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaSpike-VGA-2009ThatGameCompanyWed, 16 Dec 2009 20:25:00 EST<![CDATA[VGA 2009: Naughty Dog's Evan Wells talks Uncharted 2 DLC, focuses on multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/vga-2009-naughty-dogs-evan-wells-talks-uncharted-2-dlc-focuse/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/vga-2009-naughty-dogs-evan-wells-talks-uncharted-2-dlc-focuse/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/vga-2009-naughty-dogs-evan-wells-talks-uncharted-2-dlc-focuse/#comments This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and - before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside - we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Naughty Dog's Evan Wells about Uncharted 2.

Are we going to see any campaign DLC?

Well, that certainly is a possibility but right now we're focusing on multiplayer. We're working on some new maps, we have a couple of new game modes in the works, and a lot of skins. So we're going to focus on that right now.

Has anything surprised you since launch?

Oh, completely. We've been updating our online functionality constantly. We have a new patch coming out later this month, we're improving the load times, we've added leaderboards, we've added clan tags. So really, we're continuing to expand on the online functionality.

JoystiqVGA 2009: Naughty Dog's Evan Wells talks Uncharted 2 DLC, focuses on multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Evan-WellsInterviewNaughty-DogRed-CarpetSpike-VGA-2009UnchartedUncharted-2Uncharted-2-Among-ThievesWed, 16 Dec 2009 17:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Swag Sunday: Band Hero for everything Nintendo [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/swag-sunday-band-hero-for-everything-nintendo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/swag-sunday-band-hero-for-everything-nintendo/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/swag-sunday-band-hero-for-everything-nintendo/#comments Update: We've closed the comments and will contact a winner this week. Check the email tied to your commenter name, folks!

For this week's not-quite-the-holidays-yet giveaway, we've got a Band Hero prize pack for the Nintendo Wii and DS lined up for one lucky winner. That's right! Not just Band Hero for your silly old home console, but also for your handheld (that is, unless you have a Nintendo DSi or XXL -- sorry!). Prepare to be embraced by friends and relatives as a genuine American (or Canadian, excluding Quebec) hero while playing along to your favorite Taylor Swift song.

In honor of last night's Video Game Awards (and the subsequent flood of news and trailers), we're asking you to tell us what your favorite trailer or news was from the World Premiere-stravaganza. We'll pick one winner at random this week, so as always, be sure to keep an eye on the inbox!
  • Leave a comment telling us what your favorite trailer or news was from last night's World Premiere-stravaganza (the VGAs).
  • You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec -- likely because of The Kids in the Hall).
  • Limit 1 entry per person per day
  • This entry period ends at 7:31PM ET on Monday, December 13
  • At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one copy of Band Hero for Nintendo DS ($50 ARV) and one copy of Band Hero for Nintendo Wii ($50 ARV).
  • For a list of complete rules, click here

What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. For more info on our policy, click here.

JoystiqSwag Sunday: Band Hero for everything Nintendo [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionband-heroDSgiveawayjoyswagmusicmusic-rhythmNintendorhythmspike-vga-2009swag-saturdayswag-sundayvicarious-visionsWiiSun, 13 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spike VGA 2009 Wrap-up: The awards, the trailers, the premieres]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/spike-vga-2009-wrap-up-the-awards-the-trailers-the-premieres/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/spike-vga-2009-wrap-up-the-awards-the-trailers-the-premieres/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/spike-vga-2009-wrap-up-the-awards-the-trailers-the-premieres/#comments As you can probably tell by looking at our front page, last night's Spike Video Game Awards show was a pretty prolific source of gaming news. From the big reveals of games like Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2, to new trailers for Crackdown 2 and Halo: Reach, to ... well, the actual awards, it was a pretty busy night for all parties involved.

We've collected all the stories, trailers, and winners of each award in this post to prevent you from hunting through our archives -- or our hateful, hateful liveblog -- to find what you're looking for. You'll find them all listed after the jump!

Continue reading Spike VGA 2009 Wrap-up: The awards, the trailers, the premieres

JoystiqSpike VGA 2009 Wrap-up: The awards, the trailers, the premieres originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsbatman-arkham-asylum-2crackdown-2deadliest-warriorgreen-day-rock-bandhalo-reachmedal-of-honorMedal-of-Honor-2010MicrosoftNintendoprince-of-persia-the-forgotten-sandsspec-ops-the-linespike-vga-2009star-wars-the-force-unleashed-2tron-evolutiontrue-crimeufc-undisputed-2010vgaWiiXbox-360Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get sandy with the first Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands footage]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/get-sandy-with-the-first-prince-of-persia-the-forgotten-sands-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/get-sandy-with-the-first-prince-of-persia-the-forgotten-sands-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/get-sandy-with-the-first-prince-of-persia-the-forgotten-sands-f/#comments We're not sure if it's possible to Gyllenhaalify a game, but that's exactly how we'd describe what's happened to the Prince in the latest trailer for Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. Premiering last night on the Spike Video Game Awards, the first footage from the game doesn't show us much in the vein of actual gameplay, but it does remind us repeatedly of the everlasting nature of sand. Unfortunately, we won't get to control Prince Dreamboat through Sandland until sometime in May. In the meantime, we have the trailer for you just after the break.

JoystiqGet sandy with the first Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands footage originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>prince-of-persiaprince-of-persia-the-forgotten-sandsspike-vga-2009the-forgotten-sandstrailerubisoftvga-2009Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[UFC Undisputed 2010 trailer reminds us of MJ, makes us sad]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/ufc-undisputed-2010-trailer-reminds-us-of-mj-makes-us-sad/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/ufc-undisputed-2010-trailer-reminds-us-of-mj-makes-us-sad/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/ufc-undisputed-2010-trailer-reminds-us-of-mj-makes-us-sad/#comments Aww, we were having such a good time watching last night's Spike Video Game Awards show -- then the trailer for the recently dated UFC Undisputed 2010 aired, and really soured our enjoyment of the event. See, the first minute of the video utilizes the transformative special effects featured in Michael Jackson's "Black or White" music video, so immediately we started thinking about how this would be our first Christmas without MJ in our lives. Nothing could revive our good spirits after that. Not even Kimbo Slice's beard, which may be filled with hidden candies.

Check out the trailer after the jump above, but feel free to skip to the 0:52 mark if you want to avoid the melancholy described above. Alternatively, skip to the 1:01 mark if you want to witness Kimbo's glorious, confection-rich facial hair.

JoystiqUFC Undisputed 2010 trailer reminds us of MJ, makes us sad originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fightingMicrosoftSpike-VGA-2009sportsthqtrailerufc-undisputed-2010videoXbox-360Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Crackdown 2's VGA trailer invites you to 'blow #&$^ up' with it]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/crackdown-2s-vga-trailer-invites-you-to-blow-and-up-with-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/crackdown-2s-vga-trailer-invites-you-to-blow-and-up-with-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/crackdown-2s-vga-trailer-invites-you-to-blow-and-up-with-it/#comments
As you might have already guessed, last night's Spike Video Game Awards show's "World Premiere" trailers have landed on the web via GameTrailers.com. First up for us this morning: Crackdown 2. Featuring the first campaign footage from the game that we've seen, it looks as though we'll be cooperatively taking down enemies with other agents when the game launches. Moreover, the entire trailer glories in the mass destruction introduced to us in the first Crackdown, backed up by a "Would you like to blow &%^$ up with me?" soundtrack. Color us excited.

Gallery: Crackdown 2 (11/24/09)

JoystiqCrackdown 2's VGA trailer invites you to 'blow #&$^ up' with it originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Actioncampaigncrackdowncrackdown-2gameplaymicrosoftRiot-Act-2ruffianruffian-gamesSandboxspike-vgaspike-vga-2009trailervga-2009Xbox-360Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Deadliest Warrior video game announced during VGAs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/deadliest-warrior-video-game-announced-during-vgas/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/deadliest-warrior-video-game-announced-during-vgas/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/deadliest-warrior-video-game-announced-during-vgas/#comments Oh, you've never heard of the television show known as Deadliest Warrior? We'll break it down for you: Each episode pits two different types of warriors from different time periods against each other to see who would win in various forms of combat. For instance, one episode might show the results of a Ninjas vs. Spartans throwdown. One might show how a conflict between Marines and Medieval Knights would resolve itself. Robots vs. Wizards? A bit less likely, but still within the realm of possibilities.

The VGAs brought great news involving this series -- Pipeworks Software is making a downloadable video game based on it. The announcement was accompanied by a lava-hot trailer showing a battle between a ninja and a heavily armored knight, which we've posted after the jump.

What? Who wins? The ninja does. Of course.

Continue reading Deadliest Warrior video game announced during VGAs

JoystiqDeadliest Warrior video game announced during VGAs originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deadliest-warriordeadliest-warrior-the-gamerevealspikespike-tvspike-vga-2009the-coolest-premise-for-a-game-anyones-ever-come-up-withvgaSun, 13 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[First gameplay footage of Medal of Honor revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/first-gameplay-footage-of-medal-of-honor-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/first-gameplay-footage-of-medal-of-honor-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/first-gameplay-footage-of-medal-of-honor-revealed/#comments It's been a while since the Medal of Honor franchise has found its way on to store shelves, but we're interested for what the series will bring to the crowded realm of modern shooters. At tonight's 2009 Video Game Awards, the first footage of the recently revealed Medal of Honor impressed with solid visuals and a metric ton of explosions.

Not enough for you? The gameplay trailer concluded with one NPC kicking a booby trapped prisoner through a high rise window. Now we're not marketing pros, but that should be the first bullet point on the back of the game's box. Check out the trailer -- in all its YouTube quality glory -- after the break.

Update: Hi-res version now available above.

JoystiqFirst gameplay footage of Medal of Honor revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diceeaEA-DICEealaElectronic-Artsmedal-of-honorMedal-of-Honor-2010MicrosoftSpike-VGA-2009Xbox-360Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[True Crime in Hong Kong revealed at Spike VGA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/true-crime-in-hong-kong-revealed-at-spike-vga/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/true-crime-in-hong-kong-revealed-at-spike-vga/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/true-crime-in-hong-kong-revealed-at-spike-vga/#comments The second world premiere of the VGAs was the full version of the teaser we saw a couple weeks ago -- you know, the one we initially presumed was for another installment in the True Crime series? Yeah, well, it was totally for another installment in the True Crime series, which is being developed by ModNation Racers creators United Front. Guess there's no more mystery as to what Activision's upcoming Hong Kong-set action title is, huh?

It'll be a little while before we can get the high definition version of the trailer up, but until then, check out a screengrabbed version of the trailer after the jump, and feel confident in the fact that we're very good guessers.

Update: We've added a hi-res version of the trailer above.

JoystiqTrue Crime in Hong Kong revealed at Spike VGA originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionactivisionhong-kongMicrosoftspike-vga-2009trailertrue-crimeTrue-Crime-Hong-Kongunited-front-gamesvgaXbox-360Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: Reach gameplay premieres with multiple Spartans (and some ladies!) [update: now with hi-res]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/halo-reach-gameplay-premieres-with-multiple-spartans-and-some-l/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/halo-reach-gameplay-premieres-with-multiple-spartans-and-some-l/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/halo-reach-gameplay-premieres-with-multiple-spartans-and-some-l/#comments
Update: Microsoft sent over a hi-res version of the trailer (seen above) as well as the screenshot in the gallery below. According to the publisher, Halo: Reach will follow the story of "Noble Team in their heroic stand to defend the planet Reach." The company also noted that a "multiplayer beta is coming [in] Spring 2010." Hooray!

As promised, Spike's 2009 Video Game Awards delivered the first footage (in-game, 'natch) of Halo: Reach to the masses. More Spartans? Check! Female Spartans? Check check! A skullfaced Spartan? Wait ... what?! Since the show just aired, we've got a low-res version of the trailer for you after the break and will have a prettied up version as soon as it's available.

Gallery: Halo Reach (VGA 2009)

JoystiqHalo: Reach gameplay premieres with multiple Spartans (and some ladies!) [update: now with hi-res] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesbungiebungie-studioshalohalo-reachmicrosoftpremierespike-vgaspike-vga-2009trailerXbox-360Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Liveblogging the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/liveblogging-the-2009-spike-video-game-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/liveblogging-the-2009-spike-video-game-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/liveblogging-the-2009-spike-video-game-awards/#comments Well, we've been watching UFC for the past hour, and we're totally ready to knee the Spike Video Game Awards in the face. By which, of course, we mean "give our expert analysis, keeping you informed on breakout news that comes from the event while occasionally making fun of the oblivious celebrity presenters."

Joining me for this event is Benjamin Gilbert and Xav de Matos. I'm not entirely sure they've covered a gaming awards show before, so I wholly expect one of them to be broken by the end of the proceedings. Kevin, our fairly seasoned veteran, is on the show floor, giving us first-hand scoops. Jump past the break to follow our coverage, and make sure to leave a comment with your own clever, possibly even pithy observations.

Watch: The 2009 Spike TV Video Game Awards

Continue reading Liveblogging the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards

JoystiqLiveblogging the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsliveblogspike-vga-2009televisionvgasSat, 12 Dec 2009 21:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Tron Evolution premieres at VGAs, coming Holiday 2010 [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/tron-evolution-premieres-at-vgas-coming-holiday-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/tron-evolution-premieres-at-vgas-coming-holiday-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/tron-evolution-premieres-at-vgas-coming-holiday-2010/#commentsAs promised, the Spike VGAs offered the first look at the new Tron game. Actress Olivia Wilde introduced the teaser trailer for Tron Evolution, featuring what might be real in-game footage of some neon-accented dudes dueling, and a light cycle race. As seen in the movie trailer, the light cycles can curve now, which is blasphemous. See it for yourself after the break, courtesy of YouTube's brysi.

According to the trailer, Tron Evolution will be out Holiday 2010. We're guessing it'll coincide closely with the December 17 release date for the Tron Legacy movie. The teaser also suggests it'll be a prequel to the events in Tron Legacy. But probably after the events in Tron.

Update: High-quality version now posted after the jump above.

JoystiqTron Evolution premieres at VGAs, coming Holiday 2010 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disney-interactiveMicrosoftspike-vgaspike-vga-2009trontron-evolutiontron-legacyXbox-360Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 revealed, intense [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/star-wars-the-force-unleashed-2-revealed-intense/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/star-wars-the-force-unleashed-2-revealed-intense/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/star-wars-the-force-unleashed-2-revealed-intense/#commentsThe world's coolest Jedi, Samuel L. Jackson (suck it, Yoda) has just taken the stage at the 2009 Video Game Awards to reveal Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2. In the announcement trailer -- Darth Vader's once apprentice -- codenamed "Starkiller" steps into a dark arena only to be faced with a creature hellbent on his destruction. Thankfully, Starkiller -- armed with two light sabers -- pounces to attack the gargantuan foe. Sadly, it was all CG, but we'll take any new Force Unleashed we can get.

Update: Trailer's out! Check past the jump above to see the blue saber-wielding Starkiller's epic strategy for Rancor euthanasia.

JoystiqStar Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 revealed, intense [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lucasartsMicrosoftspike-vgaspike-vga-2009star-warsstar-wars-the-force-unleashedstar-wars-the-force-unleashed-2Xbox-360Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:44:00 EST<![CDATA[MTV teases 'Green Day Rock Band' [update 2]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/mtv-teases-green-day-rock-band/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/mtv-teases-green-day-rock-band/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/mtv-teases-green-day-rock-band/#comments Update 2: Yeah, it's real. Check out this clip from the VGAs to see the eyeliner-wearing band's big announcement.

Update: We also spotted some of the trailer during the "Rehearsal Sneak Peek" video over at Spike, which Geoff Keighley followed up with "You gotta tune into the VGAs to see the announcement of the next Rock Band game." Sure sounds like a full Rock Band game to us!

While perusing the internet today, we happened upon a particularly interesting video of Green Day performing "American Idiot" on MTV.com -- though rather than the usual real-life version of Green Day, Rock Band avatars of the group took the position, followed closely by the logo you see above. Is it a full standalone Rock Band game with Green Day? Is it a really robust downloadable content pack? We'd bet our bottom dollar that we'll find out in a few hours when the Spike VGAs start. As per usual, we've fired off an email to MTV Games and Harmonix to find out what's up in the meantime. Check out the full video after the break.

[Via Jared Rea's Twitter]

Continue reading MTV teases 'Green Day Rock Band' [update 2]

JoystiqMTV teases 'Green Day Rock Band' [update 2] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-Artsgreen-daygreen-day-rock-bandharmonixmtv-gamesrock-bandspike-vga-2009Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop weekly claims UFC Undisputed 2010 'coming May 25']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/gamestop-weekly-claims-ufc-undisputed-2010-coming-may-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/gamestop-weekly-claims-ufc-undisputed-2010-coming-may-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/gamestop-weekly-claims-ufc-undisputed-2010-coming-may-25/#comments The Spike VGAs this evening may very well reveal the first gameplay of upcoming MMA-er UFC Undisputed 2010, but the most recent GameStop weekly is dropping release date bombs on us well before tonight's festivities kickoff. According to the ad, the game will be grappling onto store shelves on May 25 and, as you might imagine, you're welcome to "pre-order now!"

While we're normally reticent to trust release dates from retailers as absolute truth, the prominence of this information among a weekly advertisement -- and the fact that the game is getting "World Premiere" treatment on tonight's award show -- puts some confidence in our normally skeptical perception of situations like this. Either way, we're likely to confirm this report's veracity when the VGAs roll this evening.

[Thanks Erik!]

JoystiqGameStop weekly claims UFC Undisputed 2010 'coming May 25' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingadvertismentgamestopMicrosoftmmarelease-dateretailSpike-VGA-2009thqufcufc-2010ufc-undisputedufc-undisputed-2010Xbox-360Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reminder: Tune in for Joystiq's VGA liveblog tonight at 8 EST]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/reminder-tune-in-for-joystiqs-vga-liveblog-tonight-at-8-est/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/reminder-tune-in-for-joystiqs-vga-liveblog-tonight-at-8-est/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/reminder-tune-in-for-joystiqs-vga-liveblog-tonight-at-8-est/#comments We've been hurt so many times in the past, but we're holding out hope for this year's Spike Video Game Awards. It sounds like it will be absolutely rife with scoops, including footage from Halo Reach, the reveal of a new Star Wars game and a metric ton of new trailers. As is our custom, we'll put our hearts out on the line in order to liveblog the show for you, dear readers -- an exercise that will likely result in unrelenting anguish after the first ex-Mad TV cast member starts making the obligatory drug-or-fart-related jokes.

Join us at 8PM for the festivities. Unfortunately, Justin won't be fulfilling his usual role as MC, but we'll have more than enough Joystiqers on hand to make up for his absent humor. Also, we'll be doing shots anytime someone utters the words "World Exclusive." We expect things to get really weird, really fast.

JoystiqReminder: Tune in for Joystiq's VGA liveblog tonight at 8 EST originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>liveblogspikespike-vga-2009televisionvgavideo-game-awardsSat, 12 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Star Wars Legends' resurfaces on OFLC ratings database]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/star-wars-legends-resurfaces-on-oflc-ratings-database/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/star-wars-legends-resurfaces-on-oflc-ratings-database/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/star-wars-legends-resurfaces-on-oflc-ratings-database/#comments Speculation surrounding a new Star Wars game, which is set to be uncloaked at this weekend's Spike Video Game Awards, has now grown to include a database entry from Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification. "Star Wars Legends" seems to have slipped by undetected when it was classified back in June of this year, though it's unclear if the listing was withheld from public view until more recently. According to the online entry, Legends is being produced by LucasArts and published by Activision Blizzard.

Star Wars Legends was first spotted in a trademark filing in July 2008, when LucasArts claimed the title for use as "computer game software" and "entertainment service provided online."

Also: Many tired Star Wars references died to bring you this information etc.

[Via Kotaku.com]

Joystiq'Star Wars Legends' resurfaces on OFLC ratings database originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardlucasartsspike-vga-2009star-warsstar-wars-legendsvgaWed, 09 Dec 2009 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[2009 Spike VGAs to go without a host for the first year ever]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/2009-spike-vgas-to-go-without-a-host-for-the-first-year-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/2009-spike-vgas-to-go-without-a-host-for-the-first-year-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/2009-spike-vgas-to-go-without-a-host-for-the-first-year-ever/#comments Forget about your Samuel L. Jacksons and your Jack Blacks -- this year, the Spike Video Game Awards is totally going commando (if you're an awards show, "going commando" means without a host). Our sister site Big Download got worried recently when no host had yet been announced (the whole Joystiq Network was holding out for Shia LeBeouf), and got in contact with Spike TV to find out what was up.

"As of right now, we are going without a host, similarly to what we did for this year's Scream Awards," a representative said. A mess of presenters -- from Tony "I promise I won't talk about Ride" Hawk, to Mike "We're terrified and not making any more jokes" Tyson -- have been confirmed for the show, though it seems that none would step up to the host position.

You can catch us, like every year, liveblogging the event and cracking jokes from the comfort of our couches. It's almost like you're in our living room with us, except you don't have to wonder where that smell is coming from. Hooray!

Joystiq2009 Spike VGAs to go without a host for the first year ever originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awards-showhostspike-tvspike-vgaSpike-VGA-2009televisionMon, 07 Dec 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: Reach premiere at VGAs will be actual gameplay, says Keighley]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/halo-reach-premiere-at-vgas-will-be-actual-gameplay-says-keigh/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/halo-reach-premiere-at-vgas-will-be-actual-gameplay-says-keigh/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/halo-reach-premiere-at-vgas-will-be-actual-gameplay-says-keigh/#comments To clear up any misconceptions with "the kids on Twitter," Spike Video Game Awards host Geoff Keighley took to Major Nelson's podcast this weekend and explained that the Halo: Reach trailer on next week's show will be "actual gameplay." That's right, folks: none of that live-action or CG mumbo jumbo. "You'll get a first glimpse at the world of Reach," Keighley told the Major during this week's show. "I think it's going to be the biggest game next year by far."

When addressing the contents of the trailer -- something Keighley claimed to have not seen just yet -- he noted that he thinks people will be shocked by the direction than Bungie is taking, calling it a "huge leap forward." So, Mr. Keighley, it could be said that the studio is reaching new ground then?

... Hello? Where are you going?!

JoystiqHalo: Reach premiere at VGAs will be actual gameplay, says Keighley originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungiegeoff-keighleyhalohalo-reachmajor-nelsonpodcastSpike-VGA-2009Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Spike VGA's second 'mystery' teaser]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/spike-vgas-second-mystery-teaser/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/spike-vgas-second-mystery-teaser/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/spike-vgas-second-mystery-teaser/#comments And there it is, people: The second "mystery" teaser for this year's Spike VGA award show, shown first here on Joystiq. (The first, you'll recall, was 2K Games' franchise reboot of Spec Ops). Since we don't have any insider info on the developer or the publisher behind the game, we'll simply share what we know: This is a new, unannounced game that will be revealed for the first time at the VGAs; the trailer's narration is delivered by a "well-known actor" (Tom Wilkinson?); and the reveal at the VGAs will have actual gameplay.

Share your best educated guesses in the comments below and we'll bubble the best to the top. We'll start you out: That's a Hong Kong police badge, so we're saying True Crime 3: Hong Kong.

[Update: Internet sleuth superannuation posits that this mystery title is none other than Black Lotus, the as-of-yet-unnamed Activision-published, United Front-developed action title announced earlier this year. Just about the only thing we know about the project on the record is that it's "a new action-based game set in Hong Kong" by the studio working on ModNation Racers. Do we have a winner?]

JoystiqSpike VGA's second 'mystery' teaser originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionBlack-LotusMicrosoftSpike-VGA-2009United-Front-GamesXbox-360Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[New Star Wars game debuting during Spike Video Game Awards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/new-star-wars-game-debuting-during-spike-video-game-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/new-star-wars-game-debuting-during-spike-video-game-awards/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/new-star-wars-game-debuting-during-spike-video-game-awards/#comments Well, crap. Now we have a reason to watch the Spike Video Game Awards. See, while we can live without the WORLD EXCLUSIVE trailers for next year's big releases, we don't think we can skip out on the unveiling of a new Star Wars game in good conscience.

According to the latest teaser, viewers of the 2009 Spike VGAs will be able to find out "what's next" for the Star Wars gaming franchise. We've got our fingers triple-crossed for a new Jedi Outcast entry, but have also prepared our hearts for the icy embrace of Super Bombad Racing 2.

Continue reading New Star Wars game debuting during Spike Video Game Awards

JoystiqNew Star Wars game debuting during Spike Video Game Awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lucasartsrevealspikeSpike-VGA-2009star-warsteasertrailervgaWed, 25 Nov 2009 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Tron game teased, debuting at VGAs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/next-tron-game-teased-debuting-at-vgas/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/next-tron-game-teased-debuting-at-vgas/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/next-tron-game-teased-debuting-at-vgas/#comments
[Image Source]
Joining games the likes of Halo: Reach and 2K's new Spec Ops debuting at this year's Spike Video Game Awards is a new installment in the Tron franchise. It's not the first time we've heard of the game -- it was rumored to be in development back in January of this year. Still, its existence is confirmed by an all-too-brief teaser at GameTrailers, which promises a proper unveiling at Spike's awards show on Saturday, December 12.

Based on the teaser, the game may simply be titled Tron -- although the logo and art style found in the footage are very similar to that of the upcoming movie sequel, Tron: Legacy. We'll find out exactly what to expect on the Game Grid in just a little over two weeks' time. For now, check out the teaser after the break.

[Via That Videogame Blog]

Continue reading Next Tron game teased, debuting at VGAs

JoystiqNext Tron game teased, debuting at VGAs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disney-interactivedisney-interactive-studiosgametrailersSpike-TVSpike-VGA-2009trontron-legacyTue, 24 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mystery VGA teaser revealed as Spec Ops]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/21/mystery-vga-teaser-revealed-as-spec-ops/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/21/mystery-vga-teaser-revealed-as-spec-ops/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/21/mystery-vga-teaser-revealed-as-spec-ops/#comments It appears as though yesterday's mystery teaser for the upcoming Spike TV Video Game Awards, featuring a CGI scene of a war in Dubai, is actually not the newest teaser in the world. Revealed back in August, the clip is said to be from upcoming 2K Games franchise reboot Spec Ops.

Originally, the title was claimed by EGM rumor mill "Quartermann" to be in development in the shuttered magazine's July 2008 issue. 1UP claims the title to be confirmed by the 90-second teaser trailer that we've dropped after the break. We'd suggest checking it out simply for the fact that it contains more footage than the teaser from yesterday, but the fact that Björk is involved makes us all the more inclined to recommend a viewing. For those of you thirsting for more, your next chance to see the game will be at 2009's world exclusive-filled VGAs. We've contacted 2K Games for comment and will update this post if we hear more.

Continue reading Mystery VGA teaser revealed as Spec Ops

JoystiqMystery VGA teaser revealed as Spec Ops originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesegmquartermannspec-opsSpec-Ops-The-LineSpike-VGA-2009teaserYagerSat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: Reach premiere to pull in VGA audience Dec. 12]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/halo-reach-premiere-to-pull-in-vga-audience-dec-12/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/halo-reach-premiere-to-pull-in-vga-audience-dec-12/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/halo-reach-premiere-to-pull-in-vga-audience-dec-12/#comments Spike TV's Geoff Keighley has tweeted that Halo: Reach will make its video debut at the 2009 Video Game Awards on December 12. It's probably no stretch to think that this WORLD EXCLUSIVE will extend the audience of the awards show, who will thrust their DVRs into action to obtain the trailer.

... or, you know, they can just come around the internet ten minutes later. Whatever, their choice.

JoystiqHalo: Reach premiere to pull in VGA audience Dec. 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bungiehalohalo-reachMicrosoftSpike-VGA-2009Xbox-360Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Keighley promises even better exclusives at the VGAs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/23/keighley-promises-even-better-exclusives-at-the-vgas/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/23/keighley-promises-even-better-exclusives-at-the-vgas/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/23/keighley-promises-even-better-exclusives-at-the-vgas/#comments We're not convinced that Spike TV had the most quality people handling their interviews on the red carpet of the Scream 2009 awards. As you can see in this video interview, the ham 'n' egger behind the camera actually asked Geoff Keighley how he gets so many exclusives when everybody knows Geoff Keighley secretes exclusives glandularly.

The interviewer does do one thing right though, getting Keighley to promise that he'll have even better exclusives than last year in the 2009 VGA ceremony. He's made similar promises in the past and delivered, most notably during last year's show in which God of War 3 debuted. We just can't imagine how much spicy food he'll have to eat to pull that off.

That's right ... Geoff Keighley is basically Turbo Teen.

[Via BigDownload]

JoystiqKeighley promises even better exclusives at the VGAs originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geoff-keighleyspikeSpike-VGA-2009turbo-teenFri, 23 Oct 2009 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dean Geoff Keighley continues tenure at Spike TV]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/dean-geoff-keighley-continues-tenure-at-spike-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/dean-geoff-keighley-continues-tenure-at-spike-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/dean-geoff-keighley-continues-tenure-at-spike-tv/#commentsUnwilling to let the Dean of Video Game Journalism (Hon.) flit away to one of the many other cable networks covering games, Spike has locked Geoff Keighley (Jeff K., if you're nasty) into a new multi-year deal. How many years is multi? 2? 37? There's just no way to tell.

GK will continue with a full slate of activities, including producing the Video Game Awards and hosting "GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley," for which, considering the title, he seems to be the best candidate.

JoystiqDean Geoff Keighley continues tenure at Spike TV originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geoff-keighleyspike-tvSpike-VGA-2009Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:00:00 EST