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[Gunpoint gears up for Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/gunpoint-gears-up-for-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/gunpoint-gears-up-for-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/gunpoint-gears-up-for-steam/#comments
Gunpoint, a 2D collusion of quiet intrusion, espionage and elusion, will be available for PC through Steam once it's complete. The game stands out for its romantic combination of spy and electrician, letting you divert power in devious ways between switches and several objects in the environment.

Lead designer Tom Francis has posted a new video (above) demonstrating Gunpoint's gadgets, some of which allow you to reprogram gun triggers, survive tremendous falls and scale steep surfaces.

Note on something that should have been mentioned earlier: Clicking play on the video above has likely electrocuted a stranger somewhere in the world.

JoystiqGunpoint gears up for Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gunpointpcstealthsteamtom-francisMon, 22 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark of the Ninja review: Kneel in the shadows]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/mark-of-the-ninja-review-kneel-in-the-shadows/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/mark-of-the-ninja-review-kneel-in-the-shadows/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/mark-of-the-ninja-review-kneel-in-the-shadows/#comments Stealth games are really about a guy trapped in a temporal loop, forced to repeat his actions until he can shake off the mysterious clumsiness that has overridden years of tip-toeing experience. "Why would I just roll into that spotlight like an idiot?" wonders the grizzled agent, now on his fifth run through a secret terrorist compound. "Crap, landing on that grate was much louder than I thought." Cue alarms and a return to the last save point.

Mark of the Ninja makes it awfully hard to be an oaf dressed in black. No, it hasn't been streamlined to the point of auto-play, and the inherent challenge of avoiding detection hasn't been crushed into a pulp to please the plebes. Rather, developer Klei Entertainment has flattened the genre into a legible, two-dimensional blueprint. That's why things are more likely to go according to plan.

Gallery: Mark of the Ninja (E3 2012)

Continue reading Mark of the Ninja review: Kneel in the shadows

JoystiqMark of the Ninja review: Kneel in the shadows originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>klei-entertainmentmark-of-the-ninjamicrosoftstealthXBLAxboxThu, 13 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[To Poke and Perturb: The Explicit Stealth in Mark of the Ninja]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/to-poke-and-perturb-the-explicit-stealth-in-mark-of-the-ninja/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/to-poke-and-perturb-the-explicit-stealth-in-mark-of-the-ninja/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/to-poke-and-perturb-the-explicit-stealth-in-mark-of-the-ninja/#comments Stealth games have a creepy cousin in the survival-horror genre. The relation manifests in an oppressive environment, which isn't clearly designed or signposted to let the player succeed as easily as he would in a spectacle-driven action game. But while horror is really about conserving quantifiable resources within the claustrophobic confines of an inhospitable world, stealth games expect you to wisely expend your movements and other reckless displays of presence. When it comes to guard patrols and impenetrable installations, as you'll see in XBLA's Mark of the Ninja, your currency is quieter and more abstract.

"In a stealth game you're fundamentally undetected. The world is just kind of running and it's on the player to poke and perturb it after observing it for a bit, and you can just do a lot more interesting things there," says Nels Anderson, Technical Designer at Klei Entertainment. To think of the world as an unpredictable beast, one that might bite off your finger if you prod it in the wrong place at the wrong time, might be a good way to understand the polarized, frustrated relationship some players have with the stealth genre.

According to Anderson, "the power dynamic that almost always falls out of that, to make that work, is that interplay between strength and weakness." Having the chance to study the environment and enemies is a huge advantage, but acting on that information can lead to failure. There's an expectation of perfection - I was spotted, so I have to revisit the last save and do it right! - yet a severe punishment of practice. Anderson thinks of it as a "gulf of execution," one that he thinks Mark of the Ninja can fill.

Gallery: Mark of the Ninja (E3 2012)

Continue reading To Poke and Perturb: The Explicit Stealth in Mark of the Ninja

JoystiqTo Poke and Perturb: The Explicit Stealth in Mark of the Ninja originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mark-of-the-ninjamicrosoftnels-andersonribcage-violencestealthxboxWed, 05 Sep 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Maxime Beland on the ghosts and panthers of Splinter Cell: Blacklist]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/maxime-beland-on-the-ghosts-and-panthers-of-splinter-cell-black/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/maxime-beland-on-the-ghosts-and-panthers-of-splinter-cell-black/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/maxime-beland-on-the-ghosts-and-panthers-of-splinter-cell-black/#comments
Are you a ghost or a panther? Maxime Beland, Creative Director on Splinter Cell: Blacklist, explains the game's cross-mode currency system, how Ubisoft Toronto remains cognizant of different player types, and where Blacklist's style fits between Splinter Cell: Conviction and fan favorite Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.

JoystiqMaxime Beland on the ghosts and panthers of Splinter Cell: Blacklist originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012maxime-belandmicrosoftpcplaystationps3splinter-cell-blackliststealthxboxMon, 11 Jun 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Deus Ex developers talk sneakery in new diary, 'Stealth']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/30/deus-ex-developers-talk-sneakery-in-new-diary-stealth/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/30/deus-ex-developers-talk-sneakery-in-new-diary-stealth/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/30/deus-ex-developers-talk-sneakery-in-new-diary-stealth/#comments
Playing an FPS like a sneaky, underhanded rat will never be as rewarding as in Deus Ex: Human Revolution, according to the above developer diary, titled "Stealth." Deus Ex devs delve into the secrets behind sneakery, which include a cloaking device, x-ray vision, silenced snipers and a crossbow, and suggest players eavesdrop on guards' conversations instead of shooting them at first sight.

Deus Ex already offers up to 40 hours of gameplay, but crawling on the floor and crouching behind every box you see might just bump that number up to 80. Or 800, depending on your crawl-speed.

JoystiqDeus Ex developers talk sneakery in new diary, 'Stealth' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deus-ex-human-revolutionmicrosoftpcplaystationps3Square-EnixstealthxboxSat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix and Hideo Kojima collaborating on ... something]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/square-enix-and-hideo-kojima-collaborating-on-something/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/square-enix-and-hideo-kojima-collaborating-on-something/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/square-enix-and-hideo-kojima-collaborating-on-something/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Extremely Twitter-happy Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto tweeted a picture of himself with Konami superstar Hideo Kojima and Metal Gear Solid art director Yoji Shinkawa today, cryptically noting (according to Andriasang's translation) that "A new promotion with Hideo Kojima is set. Details will be shared at a later date."

Kojima and Square Enix have collaborated on a set of Peace Walker figurines under the company's Play Arts Kai line; in addition, Front Mission content is one of the many tie-ins included in Peace Walker. It's likely the next collaboration will be something similar. The picture was taken somewhere that Front Mission Evolved was being shown -- a game that Andriasang notes is being produced by Hashimoto -- so that could be a hint that a Metal Gear series cameo might occur in the upcoming mech game. Or it could be more photographs of the developers, as a little gift for the fans.

JoystiqSquare Enix and Hideo Kojima collaborating on ... something originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Front-MissionFront-Mission-EvolvedHideo-KojimaKonamiMetal-Gear-Solid-Peace-WalkerMicrosoftShinji-HashimotoSquare-EnixStealthXbox-360Yoji-ShinkawaMon, 07 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Splinter Cell: Conviction now on iPhone]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/27/splinter-cell-conviction-now-on-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/27/splinter-cell-conviction-now-on-iphone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/27/splinter-cell-conviction-now-on-iphone/#commentsIs it no longer enough for you to be sneaky in Splinter Cell: Conviction? Would you also like the ability to be sneaky about playing it? Gameloft has just released an iPhone version of the stealth action game, so you could be playing Splinter Cell all day, with the people around you thinking you're just texting a lot.

Conviction on iPhone attempts to bring essentially the same visual style and gameplay to the handheld platform, with a similar third-person perspective, cover, and even Sam's mark-and-execute abilities. According to TouchArcade's review, problems with controls and AI keep it from quite achieving that goal -- you can see the guard AI in (in)action in the trailer after the break.

Splinter Cell: Conviction ($9.99): Splinter Cell Conviction?

Continue reading Splinter Cell: Conviction now on iPhone

JoystiqSplinter Cell: Conviction now on iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionApplegameloftiPodportsplinter-cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealthubisoftThu, 27 May 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alpha Protocol trailer asks, 'Who is Michael Thorton?']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/alpha-protocol-trailer-asks-who-is-michael-thornton/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/alpha-protocol-trailer-asks-who-is-michael-thornton/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/alpha-protocol-trailer-asks-who-is-michael-thornton/#comments Isn't he the guy who wrote Jurassic Park? No wait, that's Michael Crichton. Our bad.

Michael Thorton is protagonist super spy in Alpha Protocol, Obsidian's upcoming Espionage RPG[TM]. As you can see in the trailer above, he's a dude who likes to knee chumps in the face ... and run through laser-heavy hallways in slow motion, apparently.

We get it, broseph: you're a spy. You drink martinis, drive expensive automobiles and get all the exotic babes. That's all well and good, but we have one problem with the above highlight reel, Mr. Thorton: Don't ever go around blowing up helicopters. That job is best left in more capable hands.

JoystiqAlpha Protocol trailer asks, 'Who is Michael Thorton?' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 May 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-protocolmichael-thortonMicrosoftobsidianobsidian-entertainmentrpgsegastealththe-espionage-rpgXbox-360Wed, 05 May 2010 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIII and Splinter Cell 360 Elite bundles $40 off at Amazon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/final-fantasy-xiii-and-splinter-cell-360-elite-bundles-40-off-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/final-fantasy-xiii-and-splinter-cell-360-elite-bundles-40-off-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/final-fantasy-xiii-and-splinter-cell-360-elite-bundles-40-off-a/#comments Amazon has a pair of sweet deals for those in the market for an Xbox 360 console. Both the Final Fantasy XIII Elite bundle and Splinter Cell: Conviction Elite bundle are $40 off, down to a much more palatable $359.99. That's almost like getting the bundled game for free -- not to mention the value of a bigger, beefier 250gb hard drive and an extra controller.

[Via Cheap College Gamers]

Source - Splinter Cell bundle
Source - Final Fantasy XIII bundle

JoystiqFinal Fantasy XIII and Splinter Cell 360 Elite bundles $40 off at Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundlefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-13final-fantasy-xiiiMicrosoftrpgSplinter-Cellsplinter-cell-convictionsquare-enixstealthubisoftubisoft-montrealXbox-360Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Splinter Cell: Conviction freezing glitch and workaround [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/splinter-cell-conviction-freezing-glitch-video-and-workaround/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/splinter-cell-conviction-freezing-glitch-video-and-workaround/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/splinter-cell-conviction-freezing-glitch-video-and-workaround/#comments Update: Both Xbox Support and an Ubisoft representative have confirmed the issue has been resolved. Happy badassing!


Original: If you've played beyond the first mission of Splinter Cell: Conviction while connected to Xbox Live, you've likely run into a freezing glitch. A few minutes into the single-player campaign's second mission, the game just locks up -- but there's hope!

Thanks to a pretty comprehensive thread on the Ubisoft Forums, a temporary workaround has been discovered, which requires clearing the system hard drive cache and logging out of Xbox Live. "I assure you everyone is hard at work to resolve the issue," posted an Ubisoft technical support representative, who could not confirm when players can expect an official patch.

Check out the glitch and workaround in action above.

JoystiqVideo: Splinter Cell: Conviction freezing glitch and workaround [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freezingglitchMicrosoftSplinter-Cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealthubisoftubisoft-montrealvideoworkaroundXbox-360xbox-liveTue, 13 Apr 2010 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft on making Splinter Cell for a broader audience]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/ubisoft-on-making-splinter-cell-for-a-broader-audience/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/ubisoft-on-making-splinter-cell-for-a-broader-audience/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/ubisoft-on-making-splinter-cell-for-a-broader-audience/#comments Speaking to IndustryGamers, Splinter Cell: Conviction creative director Max Beland shared his thoughts on the new direction of the Splinter Cell series. According to Beland, the team at Ubisoft Montreal spent a lot of time looking at previous games in the series to decide what its core values are. Beland said that the series does a good job of providing the "fantasy" of Sam Fisher, but that the difficulty was turning off some players. "What was coming up all the time was, 'Man, that game's hard. I played the first map and I stopped. It was too difficult,'" said Beland. He admitted that sales of the Splinter Cell series declined from the first game to the fourth.

Thus, the team decided to focus on the values of Splinter Cell -- stealth, light vs. shadow, etc -- and look at them in a different way. "If you're the best elite agent in the world, if you're Sam Fisher," asked Beland, "why do you have to hang off a ledge and move at one centimeter per minute?" He added that the team wanted Sam Fisher "to be a predator, not a grandmother." This concept led to concepts like the Mark and Execute feature, giving players the feeling that they really are an elite agent.

According to Beland, such changes to Splinter Cell are part of the delicate balancing act in which the game industry is currently engaged. "We need to stop making games that are super hardcore," said Beland, "But we're afraid because we don't want to lose the hardcore people!" He added that "it's a real challenge" to make a game that is both accessible to the casual audience but still appealing to the hardcore.

The full interview also discusses Beland"s opinions of Natal, the fate of the Splinter Cell movie -- he says it's not in production -- and the maturing of the video game industry.

JoystiqUbisoft on making Splinter Cell for a broader audience originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionmax-belandMicrosoftSplinter-Cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealthubisoftubisoft-montrealXbox-360Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitman, UFC, American Idol added to Games on Demand]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/hitman-ufc-american-idol-added-to-games-on-demand/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/hitman-ufc-american-idol-added-to-games-on-demand/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/hitman-ufc-american-idol-added-to-games-on-demand/#comments Three new games have landed on Xbox Live Games on Demand this week. The games offer some vastly different experiences, so there should be something for everyone. For those who enjoy watching sweaty dudes pummel each other, UFC 2009: Undisputed is the game for you. If you prefer more discreet (perhaps even sneaky) violence, Hitman: Blood Money might be more up your alley. If, on the other hand, you'd rather have your singing talents mocked by a virtual Simon Cowell -- and who wouldn't -- it's Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 all the way. Each game runs $29.99 in North America. As usual, pricing and availability will vary in other regions.

Shortcut: Add UFC 2009: Undisputed to your download queue [via Xbox.com]
Shortcut: Add Hitman: Blood Money to your download queue [via Xbox.com]
Shortcut: Add American Idol Encore 2 to your download queue [via Xbox.com]

[Via Major Nelson]

JoystiqHitman, UFC, American Idol added to Games on Demand originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american-idolEidosgames-on-demandHitmanhitman-blood-moneyIO-InteractiveKaraoke Revolutionkaraoke-revolution-american-idolKaraokeRevolutionShooterStealthThird-Person-Shooterufcufc-2009ufc-2009-undisputedTue, 30 Mar 2010 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Splinter Cell Conviction demo drops March 18]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/15/splinter-cell-conviction-demo-drops-march-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/15/splinter-cell-conviction-demo-drops-march-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/15/splinter-cell-conviction-demo-drops-march-18/#commentsLast week, we brought you the incredibly exciting news that a Splinter Cell: Conviction demo was confirmed for release on Xbox Live. That thrilling news just got too awesome to bear: the demo will be out this week. March 18, in fact, according to a new Inside Xbox video.

If you're not worried about spoiling the demo for yourself (which, we suppose, would lead to spoiling a very tiny portion of the game by extension), you can see some of the gameplay the demo covers in the video. Or you can wait until you get to put yourself into Sam's goggles for yourself. Oh, did we say Sam's in it? And that there would be goggles? Whoops, spoilers!

[Thanks, Daniel!]

JoystiqSplinter Cell Conviction demo drops March 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demoMicrosoftsplinter-cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealthubisoftXbox-360Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[X10: Splinter Cell: Conviction hands-on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/x10-splinter-cell-conviction-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/x10-splinter-cell-conviction-hands-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/x10-splinter-cell-conviction-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There you are, old Sam Fisher, minding your own business at some unknown cafe when the waiter brings you a cell phone and Bluetooth earpiece, compliments of the caller. It's Grim, it's Third Echelon, and it's the end of his vacation. Some thugs have managed to upset his vacation -- now we know why he's always carrying 12 rounds and a pistol.

Gallery: Splinter Cell: Conviction (X10)

Continue reading X10: Splinter Cell: Conviction hands-on

JoystiqX10: Splinter Cell: Conviction hands-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hands-onMicrosoftsplinter-cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealthubisoftubisoft-montrealx10Xbox-360Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Splinter Cell: Conviction merely looks 'brilliant,' delayed to make it 'awesome']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/splinter-cell-conviction-merely-brilliant-delayed-to-make-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/splinter-cell-conviction-merely-brilliant-delayed-to-make-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/splinter-cell-conviction-merely-brilliant-delayed-to-make-it/#comments Ubisoft has apparently delayed Splinter Cell: Conviction for "a bit more polish," the publisher told Eurogamer. Although the common wisdom is that the delay occurred due to the unnaturally packed Q1 of triple-A goodness, a representative for Ubisoft stated, "The game looks brilliant, but we want it to be awesome."

Play this post off, Keyboard Cat Sam Fisher.

JoystiqSplinter Cell: Conviction merely looks 'brilliant,' delayed to make it 'awesome' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionMicrosoftsplinter-cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealthubisoftubisoft-montrealXbox-360Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[MGS: Peace Walker site says 'Piece Walker' is coming soon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/mgs-peace-walker-site-says-piece-walker-is-coming-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/mgs-peace-walker-site-says-piece-walker-is-coming-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/mgs-peace-walker-site-says-piece-walker-is-coming-soon/#comments Kojima's at it again, teasing something very odd: Piece Walker. The teaser image above comes from a page linked on the Japanese Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker site, which either confirms something entirely new is "coming soon" or one of Kojima's web people is in desperate need of a Webster's. We're leaning towards the former.

And that's pretty much it. There's really only an image to go on right now, but, personally, we're crossing our fingers for some kind of KFC tie-in. Can you imagine every 10 piece meal coming with a neat little cardboard box with a Snake action figurine hiding inside it? Sure, it could be another iPhone game or something, but we think our idea is way better.

[Via Siliconera]

JoystiqMGS: Peace Walker site says 'Piece Walker' is coming soon originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hideo-kojimakojimakojima-productionsmetal-gearmetal-gear-solidmetal-gear-solid-peace-walkerpeace-walkerpiece-walkerstealthTue, 29 Dec 2009 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New Splinter Cell Conviction trailer reveals co-op campaign]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/new-splinter-cell-conviction-trailer-reveals-co-op-campaign/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/new-splinter-cell-conviction-trailer-reveals-co-op-campaign/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/new-splinter-cell-conviction-trailer-reveals-co-op-campaign/#comments A new trailer for Splinter Cell Conviction has landed on Xbox Live, giving us the first official reveal of the rumored co-op mode. The game will feature an entire co-op campaign, which will serve as a prequel to the single-player story of Sam Fisher taking on his old organization, Third Echelon. The co-op campaign stars two special agents, an American Third Echelon agent named Archer and a Russian Voron agent named Kestrel. From what we can glean from the trailer, the two agents are paired up to stop a "rogue element within the Russian military" who has acquired "advanced warheads" to sell on the black market.

They do this by sneaking, killing hapless guards and blowing things up. In short, it looks like a lot of fun. Download the trailer yourself -- using the handy link below -- and expect some fresh impressions of the game right here on Joystiq very, very soon.

Shortcut: Add the Splinter Cell Conviction co-op trailer to your 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]

JoystiqNew Splinter Cell Conviction trailer reveals co-op campaign originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionco-opMicrosoftSplinter-Cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealthubisoftubisoft-montrealXbox-360Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Splinter Cell Conviction goes inside 'Third Echelon' for latest trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/splinter-cell-conviction-goes-inside-third-echelon-for-latest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/splinter-cell-conviction-goes-inside-third-echelon-for-latest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/splinter-cell-conviction-goes-inside-third-echelon-for-latest/#commentsWe've got another two months to go before the release of Splinter Cell Conviction. That's plenty of time, it would seem, for Ubisoft to tease us relentlessly with more information and gameplay snippets, as evidenced by the latest trailer. It's filled with a mess of information for returning Splinter Cell fans, and capped off by the realization that, "For the first time, you'll feel what it's like to be one of those NPCs hunted by a Splinter Cell." And yes, that prospect looks just as terrifying as it sounds.

Gallery: Splinter Cell Conviction

JoystiqSplinter Cell Conviction goes inside 'Third Echelon' for latest trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionMicrosoftsam-fishersplinter-cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealththird-echelontrailerubisoftubisoft-montrealXbox-360Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker creeping up on the UK next May]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-creeping-up-on-the-uk-next-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-creeping-up-on-the-uk-next-may/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-creeping-up-on-the-uk-next-may/#comments A Konami press release, laden with the heft of a UK release date for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, landed in our laps this morning. We don't think it had enough force to do any serious damage to -- what? Oh, right. Potential FOXHOUNDs living in the United Kingdom can get their hands on the co-op portable stealth title on May 28, 2010; or, as they'd likely call it, 28 May, 2010.

For those of you keeping score, now the UK and Japan both have release dates for the game. Who does a guy have to hide behind in a box and then put in an unrelenting sleeper hold to get a North American launch date around here?

JoystiqMetal Gear Solid: Peace Walker creeping up on the UK next May originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hideo-kojimakojima-productionskonamimetal-gear-solidmetal-gear-solid-peace-walkerpeace-walkerrelease-datestealthukThu, 03 Dec 2009 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Famitsu: Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker strides into Japan on March 18]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/famitsu-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-strides-into-Japan-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/famitsu-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-strides-into-Japan-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/famitsu-metal-gear-solid-peace-walker-strides-into-Japan-on/#commentsThis week's issue of Famitsu lifts the cardboard box off Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker's release date, outing the PSP title for a March 18, 2010 release in Japan. Given Konami's history of timely Metal Gear localizations, it might not be too long until the game reaches its excited Western audience.

We loved what we played at TGS and we're willing to bet those of you who braved the Japanese demo likely felt the same. If you were frightened by the lack of understandable words, have no fear -- an English demo is currently in the works!

JoystiqFamitsu: Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker strides into Japan on March 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionhideo-kojimajapankojima-productionskonamimetal-gear-solidmetal-gear-solid-peace-walkerrelease-datestealthTue, 01 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Splinter Cell: Conviction pre-order bonus is opposite of stealthy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/splinter-cell-conviction-pre-order-bonus-is-opposite-of-stealth/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/splinter-cell-conviction-pre-order-bonus-is-opposite-of-stealth/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/splinter-cell-conviction-pre-order-bonus-is-opposite-of-stealth/#comments
Listen, Ubisoft. You're taking your flagship stealth franchise in a decidedly un-stealthy direction -- we get that. We got it at E3 when you showed us the game's high-octane gunfights during the Microsoft press conference, and we certainly got it when you showed us hobo-Sam blowing up hot dog carts in a crowded park. Don't you think you're pushing the message a tad hard by making the pre-order bonus for Splinter Cell: Conviction an in-game semi-automatic shotgun? That's like, the least stealthy weapon in the world.

From the gameplay we've seen, it looks like players will be able to choose between stealth and brute force -- why not throw a free sneaky-themed weapon in there as well? Maybe a prison shank? A garrote? Or perhaps love -- the sneakiest weapon of them all. Yeah, man. That's deep.

[Via Destructoid]

JoystiqSplinter Cell: Conviction pre-order bonus is opposite of stealthy originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Microsoftpre-orderpre-order-bonusshotgunsplinter-cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealthubisoftXbox-360Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Splinter Cell banner seemingly reaffirms Xbox 360 exclusivity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/splinter-cell-banner-seemingly-reaffirms-xbox-360-exclusivity/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/splinter-cell-banner-seemingly-reaffirms-xbox-360-exclusivity/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/splinter-cell-banner-seemingly-reaffirms-xbox-360-exclusivity/#comments
click to hulk out banner
The recent re-emergence of Sam Fisher from the shadows of ... uh, awkward stealth game metaphors has prompted several questions: Where has the gravelly voiced assassin been for the last few years? Is Ubisoft still toying with social stealth? And is the game still exclusive to the Xbox 360?

A partial answer to the last question may be evident in the large Splinter Cell: Conviction banner draped across the Los Angeles Convention Center. It's notable not only for the distinct lack of self-pitying scruff, but for being the only banner to prominently display only the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live logos. Of course, as we've learned in the time since the game was first announced, "exclusive" doesn't always mean what we think it means.

JoystiqSplinter Cell banner seemingly reaffirms Xbox 360 exclusivity originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 May 2009 23:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2009Microsoftsplinter-cellsplinter-cell-convictionstealthubisoftXbox-360Sun, 31 May 2009 23:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Eidos Montreal's 'Thfourteeneff' now entering pre-production phase]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/thief-4-now-entering-pre-production-pha/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/thief-4-now-entering-pre-production-pha/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/thief-4-now-entering-pre-production-pha/#comments Eidos Montreal yesterday unveiled its second project, the curiously named and nigh-unpronounceable "Thfourteeneff." Though many speculate the fourth-coming game to be the latest title in the acclaimed Thief series, the unproven developer (which is also hard at work on the controversial Day o' Sex 3) has revealed little else beyond the moody logo seen above. Those hoping for a more substantial reveal may have a long wait ahead of them, as the studio's general manager, Stéphane D'Astous, told IncGamers that Thfourteeneff has yet to enter the pre-production phase.

With the conceptual stages behind it, Eidos Montreal is looking to hire an additional 40 designers, programmers, artists and other personnel to start full development and help "introduce this classic franchise to new fans." As for the target platforms ... well, who knows what we'll be playing on by the time the game arrives? "With the fast evolving world of hardware, there's a lot of things that will be happening in the following years so we need to be close to that," said D'Astous, "but either way, there's a lot of work to be done."

It remains to be seen how much Thfourteeneff will share with its supposed predecessors, created by Looking Glass Studios and then Ion Storm. If concept art, purported to be from the latter studio's efforts (see it after the break), is to be believed, Thief could have been (and may yet be) set in a more modern milieu. For the time being, all we're certain of is that Garrett will find himself in a fantasy world where a "4" sort of looks like the letter "E."

[Via VideoGamer.com]

Continue reading Eidos Montreal's 'Thfourteeneff' now entering pre-production phase

JoystiqEidos Montreal's 'Thfourteeneff' now entering pre-production phase originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Eidos-MontrealGarrettstealthThiefthief-2014Thief-4Tue, 12 May 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed 2 teaser site launches, includes severed arm [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/06/assassins-creed-2-teaser-site-launches-includes-severed-arm/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/06/assassins-creed-2-teaser-site-launches-includes-severed-arm/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/06/assassins-creed-2-teaser-site-launches-includes-severed-arm/#comments
It appears that the ANIMUS has been fired up once again. A teaser site has appeared for Assassin's Creed 2, along with a host of clues about the future of the franchise. While the teaser leaves a lot to the imagination, it does feature Leonardo da Vinci's famous Vitruvian Man quite prominently, lending credence to the rumor that the sequel is set in the Renaissance era.

Beyond snippets of 15th century artwork, the teaser site doesn't reveal any other details for the Assassin's second outing. The website does, however, include an interesting bonus: Printing off a logo of an artifact that displays at the end of the teaser video and holding it up to a web cam while on a special section of the website reveals a 3D model of Altair's hidden blade weapon -- which appears to be one of five images available. Spooky ... but, hey, marketing team! Wasn't Altair (and the rest of his assassin brethren) missing a finger?

Update: Thanks to our commenters who pointed out a backwards message that says "Game Informer 04.16.09." Expect more Assassin's Creed 2 news soon!

Gallery: Assassin's Creed 2 - Teaser Site


[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading Assassin's Creed 2 teaser site launches, includes severed arm [update]

JoystiqAssassin's Creed 2 teaser site launches, includes severed arm [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creedassassins-creed-2leonardo-da-vinciMicrosoftplatformerstealthteaserwebsiteXbox-360Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rikimaru's turn to impress in Tenchu: Shadow Assassins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/rikimarus-turn-to-impress-in-tenchu-shadow-assassins/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/rikimarus-turn-to-impress-in-tenchu-shadow-assassins/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/rikimarus-turn-to-impress-in-tenchu-shadow-assassins/#commentsFiled under:


Okay, now we're at a crossroads. Last time, we said that Tenchu's Ayame was edging her counterpart Rikimaru out as the ninja to fear in Tenchu: Shadow Assassins. In this latest trailer, Rikimaru delivers his own campaign platform. Between his gravelly, menacing voice (good job, Ubi!), his lightning-fast movements, and, well, all those dudes he kills, he makes a pretty good argument for his own badassery. And at the end of the day, no matter which ninja is cooler, the real winner is ... whoever isn't a guard in feudal Japan.

The trailer is after the break for reasons of violent, somewhat bloody content.

Continue reading Rikimaru's turn to impress in Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

JoystiqRikimaru's turn to impress in Tenchu: Shadow Assassins originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireactionfrom-softwarestealthtenchu-4ubisoftTue, 13 Jan 2009 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Tenchu: Accent Assassins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/tenchu-accent-assassins/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/tenchu-accent-assassins/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/tenchu-accent-assassins/#commentsFiled under:


We've taken two things away from this English-language trailer of Tenchu: Shadow Assassins: first, that Ayame is totally hardcore, and knows all kinds of ways to just kill a dude with her bare hands (and legs, and such). Although she has no compunctions about using weapons, either. Previous footage has presented Rikimaru as a badass, but for our money, Ayame is the scarier stone-cold killer.

The other thing we learned is that in the absence of a large British population in ancient Japan, locals were unable to properly learn to imitate British accents. We're impressed with the accuracy with which Ubisoft has rendered this historical fact.

JoystiqTenchu: Accent Assassins originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireactionstealthtenchu-4tenchu-shadow-assassinsubisoftThu, 08 Jan 2009 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Tenchu 4 devs worked to satisfy audiences of all skill levels]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/tenchu-4-devs-worked-to-satisfy-audiences-of-all-skill-levels/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/tenchu-4-devs-worked-to-satisfy-audiences-of-all-skill-levels/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/tenchu-4-devs-worked-to-satisfy-audiences-of-all-skill-levels/#commentsFiled under: ,


Acquire's goals with Tenchu 4 (Tenchu: Shadow Assassins, as they're calling it now) are pretty lofty. They wanted to create a game that expanded upon the classic Tenchu stealth gameplay in new ways that longtime fans and hardcore gamers would enjoy, while making the series more accessible.

In this interview with 1up's James Mielke, Acquire's Keisuke Kanayama and Takuma Endo described the ideas that informed Tenchu 4's design. "... We looked at this game as a way," Kanayama said, "with the Wii and its motion control, to allow someone to really feel like a ninja playing the game -- really attacking and blocking and hiding." And yet, Acquire made sure to include the ability to "go through cities in different ways using different tools, and to explore at their own pace ... " That seems like the kind of smart design that truly takes advantage of the platform.

The interview is also noteworthy for Acquire's rather diplomatic discussion of the Tenchu games developed in their absence, and the stories found within, as Endo alludes to in a statement about Rikimaru's apparent death in Tenchu and his mysterious resurrection later: "As I said earlier, we had our own ideas of where the story would go, but since it's already done, we will follow the already established Tenchu story where Rikimaru inexplicably survived."

JoystiqTenchu 4 devs worked to satisfy audiences of all skill levels originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireactionfrom-softwarestealthtenchu-4ubisoftMon, 29 Dec 2008 20:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Two bonuses for Tenchu 4: Better boxart and bandana]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/22/two-bonuses-for-tenchu-4-better-boxart-and-bandana/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/22/two-bonuses-for-tenchu-4-better-boxart-and-bandana/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/22/two-bonuses-for-tenchu-4-better-boxart-and-bandana/#commentsFiled under:


The Tenchu 4 (or, rather, Tenchu: Shadow Assassins) boxart we spotted on Ubisoft's site didn't really meet with the Internet's approval. While the image on the official site has yet to change, retailer GameCrazy is displaying a different boxart, which is quite likely to be a newer revision of Tenchu's North American box image.

We happen to think it looks better, though there's an odd mixture of art styles on display here due to the combination of art from the other American box and Japanese character art -- Rikimaru is a lot more realistic-looking than Ayame.

After the break, have a look at the preorder bonus being given away at Gamestop. It's pretty nice, for a video game-related bandana.

Continue reading Two bonuses for Tenchu 4: Better boxart and bandana

JoystiqTwo bonuses for Tenchu 4: Better boxart and bandana originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireactionboxartfrom-softwarestealthtenchu-4tenchu-shadow-assassinsubisoftMon, 22 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spike VGA Winners: GTAIV snags game of the year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/spike-vga-winners-gtaiv-snags-game-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/spike-vga-winners-gtaiv-snags-game-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/spike-vga-winners-gtaiv-snags-game-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under:


Here you go, a recap of all of last night's Spike TV Video Game Award winners that is viewable (in its entirety) after the break. And if you weren't already aware thanks to this blog's title, Grand Theft Auto IV beat out all other contenders for Game of the Year honors. It's a bit controversial to say the least, but then again, it is the Spike VGAs. Right?

Gears of War 2 came away with a pair of the colorful monkey awards, one for best shooter and another for best Xbox 360 game. Fallout 3 also did well and Valve's Left 4 Dead had nothing to be ashamed of either. Clicky the linky below to view it all.

Continue reading Spike VGA Winners: GTAIV snags game of the year

JoystiqSpike VGA Winners: GTAIV snags game of the year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Eidosgrand-theft-auto-ivgtaivHitmanHitman-Blood-MoneyIO-Interactiverockstarrockstar-gamesShooterspike-tvStealthThird-Person-Shootervgavga-08x3f-twitterMon, 15 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tenchu 4: Surprise boxart attack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/tenchu-4-surprise-boxart-attack/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/tenchu-4-surprise-boxart-attack/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/tenchu-4-surprise-boxart-attack/#commentsFiled under:

We don't know how long this preview boxart image for Tenchu 4 has been on Ubisoft's site. We suspect it hasn't been very long, because the name change (to Tenchu: Shadow Assassins) is a very recent development, showing up just last week on GameStop.com.

The image is regrettably tiny, but detailed enough for us to see what's going on -- and what's going on is that Rikimaru is cutting the head off of whoever picks the game up off the shelf. We've enlarged the image a bit. It's not as beautiful as the Japanese box, but it does have a certain "video game ninja" quality about it.

We're not sure the name change was the way to go; while Shadow Assassins is both more descriptive and exciting than 4, if we were Ubisoft, we'd want to emphasize however we could that this game was somehow different from all the other non-numbered Tenchu games not made by Acquire.

If you're in a Tenchu mood, be sure to browse the official website. And if you're Australian and in a Tenchu mood, good news! The OFLC has rated the game for release.

JoystiqTenchu 4: Surprise boxart attack originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireactionstealthtenchutenchu-4ubisoftThu, 20 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tenchu 4 videos are a neck-snapping good time]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/tenchu-4-videos-are-a-neck-snapping-good-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/tenchu-4-videos-are-a-neck-snapping-good-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/tenchu-4-videos-are-a-neck-snapping-good-time/#commentsFiled under:


IGN has uploaded a whole bunch of new videos from the Ubisoft-published Tenchu 4. While they're lacking in ninja cats, they aren't lacking in depicting the other stuff that excites us about the game: stealth ,slaughter, and REAL ULTIMATE POWER. As much as this game could be bad, we're holding out hope it'll be like the Tenchu of old. Or, you know, fun. It's currently set to release in North America and Europe early next year.

Sneak past the break to check out the videos.

Continue reading Tenchu 4 videos are a neck-snapping good time

JoystiqTenchu 4 videos are a neck-snapping good time originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>from-softwareninjastealthtenchutenchu-4ubisoftFri, 24 Oct 2008 16:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Tenchu 4: Stealth waggle]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/tenchu-4-stealth-waggle/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/tenchu-4-stealth-waggle/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/tenchu-4-stealth-waggle/#commentsFiled under: ,


There's been some confusion about the motion-control content of Tenchu 4, at least on our part -- how pervasive is it? Is it all waggle all the time, or is it basic Tenchu with added motion flavor? What we really needed was for someone to play it and describe it to us.

According to Siliconera, motions abound. Spencer describes lifting the remote to jump and shaking left and right to dive behind bushes. Stealth kills are accomplished by following QTE-style button prompts. In fact, Spencer said the game "felt more like a path of rapid fire quick time events rather than a traditional stealth game." So the motion controls are pretty frequently used.

JoystiqTenchu 4: Stealth waggle originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireactionfrom-softwarestealthtenchu-4ubisoftTue, 14 Oct 2008 20:09:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS08: Sneak through the Tenchu 4 demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/tgs08-sneak-through-the-tenchu-4-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/tgs08-sneak-through-the-tenchu-4-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/tgs08-sneak-through-the-tenchu-4-demo/#commentsFiled under:


You know, we've been watching Tenchu 4 for a bit now and we're holding out hope that it won't totally suck. Call us optimists or whatever, but we really thing the game can be a solid Wii title. For one, it's Tenchu and our fond memories of the early games keeps us hoping that the franchise will return to its roots again. Secondly, there isn't much in the way of compelling stealth-based games on the console, so a solid entry in the genre would benefit the library of games, in our eyes. Plus, it has kittens.

Above, you'll see the first video of three that takes you through the entire demo build available at TGS 2008. Head past the break for the other two.

Continue reading TGS08: Sneak through the Tenchu 4 demo

JoystiqTGS08: Sneak through the Tenchu 4 demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>from-softwareninjastealthtenchutenchu-4tgs-2008tgs08ubisoftThu, 09 Oct 2008 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Still images of Tenchu 4's motion controls]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/still-images-of-tenchu-4s-motion-controls/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/still-images-of-tenchu-4s-motion-controls/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/still-images-of-tenchu-4s-motion-controls/#commentsFiled under: ,


Tenchu 4 may purport to be a "return to form" thanks to the return of original developer Acquire, but it won't be exactly like the old games. While they've all had context-sensitive controls, Tenchu 4's will, of course, involve motion. Sometimes you'll be waving the Wiimote downward to put out lanterns, and sometimes you'll flick the remote left and right to stab someone in the back. We've seen motion at work in Tenchu 4 before, but these new screens show a bit more.

It's nice to know that Acquire decided on the WIi as a platform for Tenchu for reasons other than the low cost of development. For our tastes, traditional controls with a bit of added motion work great for action games.

JoystiqStill images of Tenchu 4's motion controls originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquirefrom-softwarestealthtenchu-4ubisoftWed, 24 Sep 2008 18:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Tenchu 4 sneaks onto North American and European rooftops in early 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/23/tenchu-4-sneaks-onto-north-american-and-european-rooftops-in-ear/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/23/tenchu-4-sneaks-onto-north-american-and-european-rooftops-in-ear/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/23/tenchu-4-sneaks-onto-north-american-and-european-rooftops-in-ear/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ubisoft's distribution deal with From Software and Acquire will benefit would-be assassins in North America and Europe early next year. The company has announced that they'll publish Acquire's Tenchu 4 in both regions within that time frame. People who go on and on about the lack of "core games" for Wii: here you go. This is one of those.

Along with the announcement, Ubisoft sent IGN the first English-language trailer, made mostly of footage from previous trailers with new English narration. It's cool and atmospheric enough to make us think that maybe this Tenchu really will be good, unlike all those other recent Tenchu games.

JoystiqTenchu 4 sneaks onto North American and European rooftops in early 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquirefrom-softwarestealthtenchutenchu-4ubisoftTue, 23 Sep 2008 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Velvet Assassin delayed until early 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/velvet-assassin-delayed-until-early-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/velvet-assassin-delayed-until-early-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/velvet-assassin-delayed-until-early-2009/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Gamecock's Velvet Assassin needs to polish its blades a bit longer before it's ready. Previously announced as a fall release, the silky stealth-action title stumbled on something in the shadows, falling back until sometime early next year.

According to Eurogamer, the move was made to make both the European and US launches more in line, while giving German dev Replay Studios more time to iron out any wrinkles in the fabric instead of rushing to add to the glut of an already crowded holiday shopping season.

JoystiqVelvet Assassin delayed until early 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamecockPCreplay-studiosreplaystudiosstealthvelvet-assassinXbox-360Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Tenchu IV's new Wii-style combat mode]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/tenchu-ivs-new-wii-style-combat-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/tenchu-ivs-new-wii-style-combat-mode/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/tenchu-ivs-new-wii-style-combat-mode/#commentsFiled under: ,


When your sneaky ninja assassin is discovered in Tenchu IV, the target shakes your hand, laughing heartily while exclaiming "Ohhhhh, you! You almost got me that time! I gotta watch this guy!" Of course we're kidding -- he tries to murder you. In situations when you've been noticed, rather than just giving up or retrying, you now have the option to actually fight in a new first-person mode.

In alternating attack and defense phases, you use Wiimote gestures to simulate a one-on-one swordfight, battling until one of you is dead or your sword breaks. It's like Rose & Camellia, except with to-the-death ninja fights instead of Victorian-era face-reddening! Being a ninja and therefore a total jerk, you can also throw knives while fighting.

JoystiqTenchu IV's new Wii-style combat mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireactionfrom-softwarestealthtenchu-4Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Tenchu IV to feature kittens, might be the best game ever]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/tenchu-iv-to-feature-kittens-might-be-the-best-game-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/tenchu-iv-to-feature-kittens-might-be-the-best-game-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/tenchu-iv-to-feature-kittens-might-be-the-best-game-ever/#commentsFiled under: ,

While it may look like some Laser Cats to most of you, us history buffs know that Lasers were not discovered in Japan until 1714, much later than when Tenchu IV takes place. So, these cats can't shoot lasers, but they can do other awesome things. Like look cute and distract enemies.

Thinking of a ninja's arsenal, kittens don't really come to mind. They're prone to make noise (which could mean certain death for a ninja) and they take up a lot of space in a satchel. This space could be used for more deadly ninja stars. But, hey, we're not complaining. We love kittens. Even the fake kind in video games.


[Via Go Nintendo]

JoystiqTenchu IV to feature kittens, might be the best game ever originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquirefrom-softwarelaser-catslazer-catsmartial-artsninjascanscansstealthtenchutenchu-4tenchu-ivubisoftWed, 23 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Born for Wii: Beyond Good & Evil]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/born-for-wii-beyond-good-and-evil/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/born-for-wii-beyond-good-and-evil/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/born-for-wii-beyond-good-and-evil/#commentsFiled under:

When Friedrich Nietzsche wrote his famous philosophical work Beyond Good and Evil in the late 19th century, odds are he didn't think that it would be a source of inspiration for video games over a century later. Namco proved him wrong with their trilogy of Xenosaga RPGs, each of which had a subtitle referencing a Nietzsche work (such as "Jenseits von Gut und Böse"). But it's another wannabe trilogy that owes its moniker to Nietzsche that's up for recognition.

Beyond Good & Evil was published at the height of the Christmas rush in December 2003, and despite its war-on-all-fronts release on the GameCube, PS2, Xbox, and PC, it simply failed to sell. The game received widespread critical acclaim, but competition from other games caused it to be given a jarring price drop mere weeks after its release. Even so, those in the know played Beyond Good & Evil and saw it for what it was -- a fantastic adventure with a unique world and an appealing cast of heroes. And though it took four years, Ubisoft finally gave a sequel the green light -- so it's time to show the original game some much-deserved love.

Continue reading Born for Wii: Beyond Good & Evil

JoystiqBorn for Wii: Beyond Good & Evil originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurebeyond-good-and-evilbeyond-good-and-evil-2bge2born-for-wiigamecubejoystiqfeaturesmichel-ancelpcportps2stealthubisoftxboxTue, 08 Jul 2008 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[OMGS4: Three million copies shipped worldwide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/omgs4-three-million-copies-shipped-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/omgs4-three-million-copies-shipped-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/omgs4-three-million-copies-shipped-worldwide/#commentsFiled under: ,


Solid Snake's swan song seems destined to be heard by many a PlayStation 3 owner, with Famitsu (translated by IGN) confirming that Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has shipped three million copies to various destinations worldwide. Speaking at a recent Sony investor meeting in Tokyo, SCE president Kaz Hirai reportedly noted that Hideo Kojima's opus has had a beneficial effect on PS3 hardware sales.

Though its effects have been quite clear in Japan, the UK's Chart-Track group has previously stated that MGS4, despite being a top seller, only managed to have "minimal impact" on the PS3's selling rate. Konami has made no announcement regarding US sales yet, though we expect to see plenty of Metal Gear sold action on next month's NPD report.

JoystiqOMGS4: Three million copies shipped worldwide originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Guns-of-the-PatriotsHideo-KojimaKojima-ProductionsKonamiMetal-Gear-SolidMetal-Gear-Solid-4Metal-Gear-Solid-4-Guns-of-the-PatriotsMGS4PS3StealthThu, 26 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST