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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Alpha Protocol's protagonist can be a real jerk sometimes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/alpha-protocols-protagonist-can-be-a-real-jerk-sometimes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/alpha-protocols-protagonist-can-be-a-real-jerk-sometimes/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/24/alpha-protocols-protagonist-can-be-a-real-jerk-sometimes/#comments The latest trailer for Obsidian's "Espionage RPG," Alpha Protocol, exposes one of the most useful tools a spy has at his disposal: His ability to converse. The video above explains the delicate balance you must maintain while questioning a source. And by "delicate balance," we mean, "be nice to him until he lets his guard down, then repeatedly strike him about the head with a half-full bottle of Ketel One." Hey, this "spy" stuff is easier than we thought!

Fine, there's a little bit more to it than that. Check out the video above to see how your words are just as effective as your bullets, except in instances where you need to shoot someone.

JoystiqAlpha Protocol's protagonist can be a real jerk sometimes originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-protocoldialogueMicrosoftobsidianrpgsegaspytrailervideoXbox-360Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Maxis employee working on new project, SpyParty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/former-maxis-employee-working-on-new-project-spyparty/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/former-maxis-employee-working-on-new-project-spyparty/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/former-maxis-employee-working-on-new-project-spyparty/#comments If you enjoyed the bioengineering action of Spore, you owe Chris Hecker a debt of gratitude. He was a contributing developer for the title, and is a six-year employee at Maxis -- rather, he was an employee, until he was let go from the company during Maxis' recent round of layoffs. However, he's not recovering from the downsizing by crying into his ice cream -- instead, he's using his newly found free time to develop one of the most interesting-sounding independent games we've heard of in a while.

Hecker's project, SpyParty, pits two players against each other in two different roles -- one plays the eponymous Spy, who must move around a party, discreetly completing objectives and blending in with the other guests. The other player is a Sniper who must identify the Spy's movements, and, well, snipe them. The game was received fairly well when demoed at GDC earlier this year -- now, we hope Hecker will have the time he needs to crank out a finished product. Best of luck, Chris!

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqFormer Maxis employee working on new project, SpyParty originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We thought Valve had straight up flipped their melon (whatever that means) when they started announcing the upcoming changes to Team Fortress 2's hawk-eyed class, the Sniper. A bow and arrow? Okay, fine -- but a shield that prevents you from getting backstabbed? Why not just allow them to turn on God Mode? However, our worries were assuaged by the latest revelation for the Sniper update, in which said Sniper gets Julius Caesar'd by a Spy -- the proud recipient of yet another TF2 update.

The betrayal-prone class will be getting two new tools in the update -- the Cloak and Dagger Spy Watch, which allows you to stay camouflaged indefinitely (as long as you're standing completely still) and the Dead Ringer Spy Watch, which instantly cloaks you for eight seconds when you get hit, dropping a fake corpse in your stead. Oh, we're going to do terrible, terrible things with that.

JoystiqTeam Fortress 2's Spy murders Sniper, both receive updates originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 16 May 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fpspatchsniperspyteam-fortress-2tf2updatevalveSat, 16 May 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Los Angeles Quantum of Solace launch event fizzles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/los-angeles-quantum-of-solace-launch-event-fizzles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/los-angeles-quantum-of-solace-launch-event-fizzles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/los-angeles-quantum-of-solace-launch-event-fizzles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Are people getting less excited about midnight launches? Or does it just depend on the game, or even the event itself? We'll have a chance to test that theory this week with what looks to be yin and yang launches. Last night we went to the midnight launch of Activision's James Bond game Quantum of Solace, and at the other end you've got Gears of War 2 launching on Friday. We'll have to see how they compare, because last night's Quantum of Solace launch was a big Dr. No.

Gallery: Quantum of Solace Launch

Continue reading Los Angeles Quantum of Solace launch event fizzles

JoystiqLos Angeles Quantum of Solace launch event fizzles originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>007ActivisionAston-MartinDaniel-CraigJames-BondmoviePS3Quantum-Of-SolacespyTreyarchWiiXbox-360Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq eyes (only) on: James Bond in Quantum of Solace: The Game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/joystiq-eyes-only-on-james-bond-in-quantum-of-solace-the-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/joystiq-eyes-only-on-james-bond-in-quantum-of-solace-the-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/joystiq-eyes-only-on-james-bond-in-quantum-of-solace-the-gam/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


James Bond, always too busy to stop and smell the flowers.

James Bond returns to movie theaters this fall in Quantum of Solace, and this time he'll be back in video game format as well. Treyarch has been developing a Quantum of Solace game in conjunction with the new flick, enjoying carte blanche from the producers to photograph and use everything from the movie in the game, including blonde Bond Daniel Craig. You can count on his stoic visage making an appearance, not to mention his recognizable voice. Find out what we learned from this first peek at the game, freshly declassified.

Gallery: Quantum of Solace: The Game

Continue reading Joystiq eyes (only) on: James Bond in Quantum of Solace: The Game

JoystiqJoystiq eyes (only) on: James Bond in Quantum of Solace: The Game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>007ActivisionDaniel-CraigJames-BondPS3Quantum-Of-SolacespyTreyarchXbox-360Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Team Fortress 2 Spy update details leaked]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/rumor-team-fortress-2-spy-update-details-leaked/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/rumor-team-fortress-2-spy-update-details-leaked/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/rumor-team-fortress-2-spy-update-details-leaked/#commentsFiled under: ,


Reader Ian G. recently submitted an image to us that he accidentally discovered using a StumbleUpon toolbar, which appears to be an early draft of an upcoming update for Team Fortress 2's most innocuous of classes, the Spy. The origins of said image are unknown -- perhaps it's a leak from Valve's vault? A convincing photoshop from a dedicated fan? Perhaps Ian is in possession of a magical StumbleUpon toolbar, capable of stumbling into the future?

While it certainly looks convincing, we're leaning towards "convincing photoshop" -- especially considering most of the text is copied and Elmer's school glued from Valve's official Pyro update. As credible as the new weapons (such as the silenced PPK and the Garrote) and achievements (Joykill: Backstab a laughing enemy) look, we doubt the legitimacy of these supposed details about our masked, nicotine-infused friend.

Update: Given the final line of the copyright information at the bottom of the page, which reads "Hoax by Ka anin :P!", we're ready to go ahead and file this one under B, for bunko.

JoystiqRumor: Team Fortress 2 Spy update details leaked originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>orange-boxPCrumorspyspy-updateteam-fortress-2tf2updatevalveSat, 28 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet The Agency's two factions: ParaGON and U.N.I.T.E.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/17/meet-the-agencys-two-factions-paragon-and-u-n-i-t-e/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/17/meet-the-agencys-two-factions-paragon-and-u-n-i-t-e/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/17/meet-the-agencys-two-factions-paragon-and-u-n-i-t-e/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It has been our experience that all great spy organizations come in rivaling pairs -- take, for example, SD-6 and the CIA, CONTROL and KAOS, UNITY and H.A.R.M., and of course, the aptly titled Spy vs. Spy. Sony Online Entertainment's much anticipated MMO for the PS3, The Agency, appears to follow the conventions of spy fiction by including two main factions players must choose between: The United Nations Intelligence and Tactical Experts (U.N.I.T.E.) and The Paramilitary Global Operations Network (ParaGON).

The above trailer is a delicious morsel of the espionage-heavy atmosphere featured in the title, but it doesn't do much to persuade us to either side. We mean, enlisting in a spy organization is serious business -- does U.N.I.T.E. have dental? What kind of insurance policy does ParaGON provide? We've heard good things about U.N.I.T.E.'s retirement options, but can we afford to miss out on ParaGON's frequent company picnics to Dollywood? Decisions, decisions!

JoystiqMeet The Agency's two factions: ParaGON and U.N.I.T.E. originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 May 2008 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agencymmoparagonplaystation3ps3sonysonyonlineentertainmentspytheagencyu.n.i.t.e.Sat, 17 May 2008 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamecock's WWII stealth shooter 'Sabotage' becomes 'Velvet Assassin']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/gamecocks-wwii-stealth-shooter-sabotage-becomes-velvet-assas/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/gamecocks-wwii-stealth-shooter-sabotage-becomes-velvet-assas/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/gamecocks-wwii-stealth-shooter-sabotage-becomes-velvet-assas/#commentsFiled under: ,


We doubt that many of you had even heard of Sabotage, an up-and-coming Gamecock joint based on the incredible true story of World War II hero (for the Allies, at least) and secret agent extraordinaire Violette Szabo, but we think it's worth mentioning when a game upgrades from a title as generic as "Sabotage" to something unique; something that sounds purchase-worthy. That's why we're totally behind developer Replay Studios' decision to remoniker the stealth action shooter Velvet Assassin.

Lucky Austintonians will get a chance to check out the newly eponymed game at Gamecock's E.I.E.I.O expo this coming Thursday -- the rest of us will have to wait for Velvet Assassin's Fall 2008 release to digitally fill Violette Summers' sneaky leather shoes.

JoystiqGamecock's WWII stealth shooter 'Sabotage' becomes 'Velvet Assassin' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GamecockGamecockMediaGroupPCReplay-StudiosReplayStudiosSabotagespystealthVelvet-AssassinviolettevioletteszaboWWIIXbox-360Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wired: National intelligence seeking terrorists in WoW]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/23/wired-national-intelligence-seeking-terrorists-in-wow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/23/wired-national-intelligence-seeking-terrorists-in-wow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/23/wired-national-intelligence-seeking-terrorists-in-wow/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The average World of Warcraft player has a number of annoyances to deal with during his day-to-day exploits in Azeroth -- gold farmers, gold sellers, ninja-looters, and overzealous paladins, to name a few. Unfortunately for subscribers, another soon-to-be-unpopular community is about to hit Blizzard's servers: Big Brother (that is to say, government intelligence agencies, not the reality TV show).

Wired reports that U.S. intelligence is planning on developing a data mining program using World of Warcraft that will help root out violent extremists that play MMOs. The ultimate goal of the "Reynard project" is to develop software that is capable of "automatically detecting suspicious behavior and actions in the virtual world." On one hand, we can see why they'd want to keep an eye on a community that's 10 million strong (fun fact -- there's 142 countries with a smaller population than WoW). On the other, we're not sure we want The Man looking over our shoulder every time we craft a Big Iron Bomb.

JoystiqWired: National intelligence seeking terrorists in WoW originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardCIAintellegencemmommorpgPCspyterrorismterroristwowSat, 23 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undercover: Dual Motives returns after being pushed back]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/undercover-dual-motives-returns-after-being-pushed-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/undercover-dual-motives-returns-after-being-pushed-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/24/undercover-dual-motives-returns-after-being-pushed-back/#commentsFiled under: ,

We'd forgotten all about Undercover: Dual Motives, the prequel to PC game Undercover: Operation Wintersun, because we haven't seen anything on it in so long. But how could we forget these gorgeous visuals? Sure, they'll probably be as static and stationary as the mounted moose head on Uncle Jim Bob's wall, but that doesn't make the game any less attractive. DS-X2 has a passel of new (and old) screens for your perusal if you need to re-whet the old appetite. And why would you need to? Because it seems the game, which was originally slated for March, will hit shelves next month.

And you know we're all about adventure games. There's just something about all that pointing and clicking that makes us happy down to the very tips of our toes.

JoystiqUndercover: Dual Motives returns after being pushed back originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureanacondadualmotivesprequelsproingspyundercoverTue, 24 Jul 2007 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Become an elite spy in new online shooter, The Agency]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/become-an-elite-spy-in-new-online-shooter-the-agency/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/become-an-elite-spy-in-new-online-shooter-the-agency/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/become-an-elite-spy-in-new-online-shooter-the-agency/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Video games are all about wish fulfillment and role playing. Previous games have glamorized the life of the rock star (Guitar Hero), the football player (Madden), and the janitor (Mario Sunshine). Sony Online Entertainment is ready to make gamers turn into something cooler than all of that: an international spy. In The Agency, a new online shooter for the PS3, players will be globe-trotting all around the world, taking on missions ripped straight out of the James Bond series.

"The inspiration for The Agency came from the spy and espionage genre. We want to put players in the heart of the action to experience what it's really like to live the life of an elite agent," said Hal Milton, Lead Designer at SOE. "Players will jet set around this virtual world to exotic locales, infiltrate enemy organizations to steal secrets and perpetrate sabotage, all the while building their own agency with an eye towards global domination."

Agents will have to use a variety of skills to achieve their objectives. Level objectives will range from sneaky assassination attempts to all out assaults. Not only will players want mastery of their guns, truly successful spies will also control a variety of vehicles, and partake in mini-games at the local casino.

Gallery: The Agency

Continue reading Become an elite spy in new online shooter, The Agency

JoystiqBecome an elite spy in new online shooter, The Agency originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agencysoesony online entertainmentSonyOnlineEntertainmentspythe agencyTheAgencyMon, 11 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN's weeklong MGS feature highlights [Update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/igns-weeklong-msg-feature-highlights/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/igns-weeklong-msg-feature-highlights/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/igns-weeklong-msg-feature-highlights/#commentsFiled under:


We told you IGN was going to make their Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops coverage a week-long event. However, some of you may have forgotten. Here are a few highlights from the week so far:
  • As you may already know, the story begins with Snake thrown into a South American jail six years after the events of Snake Eater. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Russia abandoned many of its soldiers, leaving one military commander named Gene very sour. He plans on sabotaging the negotiations between Russia and the US by using nuclear technology stolen from both countries. Obviously, Snake will be in the middle of all of this.
  • The character-generation system uses data from both the access point and PSP system information.
  • You'll want to rotate characters in your party, as they'll suffer from exhaustion, and in the worst case scenario, fall unconscious during a mission. Let them heal their wounds.
  • There's a lot to manage: "During your mission briefings, you'll be overseeing seven separate units for your army: Sneaking, Spy, Technical, Medical, Independent, Rookies and Prisoners."
  • You can enter a unique Sleep mode which will transfer character data to any nearby PSP that's also in Portable Ops sleep mode.
  • There's a mode called "Cyber-Survival," which is turn-based and similar to the Metal Gear Acid series.
  • "Real Combat" is high stakes: if a character dies in multiplayer, they're dead in singleplayer as well. For obvious reasons, Snake can't partake in this mode.
Is this too much info for you? Well, don't forget that these are just highlights. The real meat of the stories can be found on IGN. Prepare to never have a life again starting December 5th.

[Update 1: MGS. Yes. That's what happens when Andrew-bot writes stories. Bad, evil things. Typo corrected!]

JoystiqIGN's weeklong MGS feature highlights [Update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cuban missile crisisCubanMissileCrisiscyber survivalcyber-survivalCyberSurvivalgeneignkojima productionsKojimaProductionskonamimetal gear solidMetalGearSolidmgsnuclearportable opsPortableOpsreal combatRealCombatrussiasnakesnake eaterSnakeEaterspyFri, 01 Dec 2006 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo DS is the next Bond watch [Update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/27/nintendo-ds-is-the-next-bond-watch/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/27/nintendo-ds-is-the-next-bond-watch/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/27/nintendo-ds-is-the-next-bond-watch/#commentsFiled under:

Nintendo's marketing department never ceases to amaze, do they? The Nintendo DS will act as an all-in-one espionage gadget in the upcoming Generic Teen Spy Movie 18 Stormrider, the first in a long line of Alex Rider stories by author Anthony Horowitz. From the press release:

"After the murder of his uncle and guardian, the MI6 British spy agency recruits the reluctant 14-year-old Alex Rider to take over his uncle's mission. Like any good spy, during training he receives his key piece of gadgetry: a Hot Rod Red Nintendo DS. He also gets several game cards that transform his DS into an eavesdropping device, a wiretap detector or a smoke bomb."

Uhm, why can't our dual-screened wonders do all that? I wonder if the villains use PSPs which fire out UMDs at rapid speeds. Oh snap.

[Update 1: Added PSP villains, thanks, Ludwig]

JoystiqNintendo DS is the next Bond watch [Update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Jun 2006 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alex RiderAlexRiderAnthony HorowitzBondMI6SpyStormriderTue, 27 Jun 2006 15:35:00 EST