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[Windows 8 sells over 100 million copies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/windows-8-surpasses-100-million-copies-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/windows-8-surpasses-100-million-copies-sold/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/windows-8-surpasses-100-million-copies-sold/#comments Over 100 million individuals have purchased Windows 8 licenses from Microsoft in roughly six months.

Tami Reller, co-head of Microsoft's Windows division, told Reuters an OS update is due by the end of the year, code-named Windows Blue. "We've considered a lot of different scenarios to help traditional PC users move forward as well as making usability that much better on all devices," she said. One thing the update will do is make Windows 8 more friendly to smaller tablets, such as seven and eight-inch models.

Reller couldn't say exactly what would be in the update, nor could she confirm if Microsoft would manufacturer a smaller version of its Surface tablet. In the first quarter of 2013, Microsoft has sold 900,000 Surface tablets, compared to 19.5 million iPads and 8.8 million Samsung tablets.

JoystiqWindows 8 sells over 100 million copies originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmicrosoft-surfacepcsalessurfacewindows-8windows-blueWed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Surface with Windows 8 Pro tablet coming Feb. 9]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/surface-with-windows-8-pro-tablet-coming-feb-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/surface-with-windows-8-pro-tablet-coming-feb-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/surface-with-windows-8-pro-tablet-coming-feb-9/#comments Microsoft's Surface with Windows 8 Pro tablet is going to miss its planned January launch, but not by much. The tablet will now launch on February 9. The Surface with Windows 8 Pro sports much beefier internals than the Surface with Windows RT. The difference is right there in the name, as the Pro features a full version of Windows 8, meaning it should run most Windows applications, including games. That said, don't expect the internal graphics processor to churn out high settings for most recent releases.

The Surface with Windows 8 Pro comes with 64GB of storage for $899 or 128GB of storage for $999. The Touch and Type keyboard covers can be purchased separately for $120 or $130, respectively.

JoystiqSurface with Windows 8 Pro tablet coming Feb. 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcrelease-datesurfacesurface-prosurface-with-windows-8-prowindowsTue, 22 Jan 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pac-Man Championship Edition DX surfaces on Windows 8]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/pac-man-championship-edition-dx-surfaces-on-windows-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/pac-man-championship-edition-dx-surfaces-on-windows-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/pac-man-championship-edition-dx-surfaces-on-windows-8/#comments Originally due in November, the Windows 8 and Windows RT version of Pac-Man Championship Edition DX are available now. Being compatible with both Windows 8 and Windows RT, you don't have to try to remember exactly which Surface tablet you bought; it'll work on any of them.

Pricing on the Windows 8 version is consistent with the XBLA and PSN versions, at $9.99/8.49€. We assume the ghost count is also consistent, at so many ghosts.

Continue reading Pac-Man Championship Edition DX surfaces on Windows 8

JoystiqPac-Man Championship Edition DX surfaces on Windows 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mobilepacman-championship-edition-dxpcrelease-datesurfacewindows-8Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/feeding-on-undead-armies-in-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/feeding-on-undead-armies-in-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/feeding-on-undead-armies-in-skulls-of-the-shogun/#comments Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the ShogunHere's your high-concept, catch-all elevator pitch for Skulls of the Shogun: samurai zombies meets turn-based strategy, and a dash of Words With Friends thrown in for flavor. 17-BIT's charming top-down strategy title captures the action-flavored flow of the Advance Wars series, though it ditches the grid-based world in favor of more natural radial movement. The whole package comes together around an ambitious multi-platform release that features asynchronous multiplayer match-ups and a meaty, multi-hour campaign.

Don't let the "multi-platform" thing fool you. Skulls is 100 percent a Microsoft exclusive. You'll simply be able to play it on anything that runs Windows or some approximation of it. Xbox Live Arcade, yes, but also Surface tablets, Windows Phone devices, and Windows 8 PCs via the new operating system's app store.

As you might have read in our earlier previews or our recent Joystiq Indie Pitch, the 10-15 hour campaign casts players in the role of a recently deceased samurai lord from feudal Japan. Horrified at being forced to wait in line for half a millennium before being admitted into the afterlife, our General Akamoto takes matters into his own hands. He enlists an army of zombie Ronin to fight by his side and sets out to carve his way into the great beyond.

Gallery: Skulls of the Shogun

Continue reading Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun

JoystiqFeeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-BITmicrosoftMicrosoft-Studiosmobilepcskulls-of-the-shogunSurfaceWindows-PhonexboxFri, 14 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Surface Pro launching in January starting at $899]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/microsoft-surface-pro-launching-in-january-starting-at-899/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/microsoft-surface-pro-launching-in-january-starting-at-899/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/microsoft-surface-pro-launching-in-january-starting-at-899/#comments Microsoft Surface Pro starting at $899, launching in JanuaryMicrosoft has pinpointed the price points for both versions of its forthcoming Surface Pro tablet, which is set to release sometime in January. When the new year does roll around, the 64GB Surface Pro will cost $899, while its 128GB twin will go for $999.

Both versions come with a stylus and otherwise identical internal specifications, although neither SKU includes a Touch/Type Cover, which costs an extra $120/$130 respectively. What your money does net you, however, is a higher-resolution screen than the Surface Pro's baby sister, a Core i5 processor, Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics thingy, 4 gigs of RAM and (most importantly) the full version of Windows 8 Pro.

Due to its upgraded internal doohickies, the Pro's battery life is expected to be around half of that enjoyed by the Surface RT, which translates to a little over four and one-half hours of doin' stuff, according to our friends at Engadget. Which, should be plenty of time for the person you're sitting next to on that business flight to ask what kind of iPad you're using.

JoystiqMicrosoft Surface Pro launching in January starting at $899 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftMicrosoft-Surfacepcpriceprice-pointpricingrelease-windowsurfacesurface-prosurface-RTwindows-8Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Skulls of the Shogun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-skulls-of-the-shogun/#comments

Indie developers are the starving artists of the video-game world, often brilliant and innovative, but also misunderstood, underfunded and more prone to writing free-form poetry on their LiveJournals. We like that. This week, Skulls of the Shogun lead designer Jake Kazdal discusses developing a game for four platforms at once, and what happened to that "launch alongside Windows 8" promise.

The Joystiq Indie Pitch Skulls of the Shogun
What's your game called and what's it about?

Skulls of the Shogun is an arcade-strategy game coming to XBLA, Windows Phone, Windows 8 and Windows RT (Surface) very soon. It's an original title, developed by a small team of highly experienced AAA developers over the past 3.5 years. It's a mash-up of tactical turn-based strategy, with a feel that is very arcade-like and action-packed. No grids, very few menus and quick, snappy rounds give it a very unique and charming aesthetic, easy for action gamers to adapt to, but with all the depth a good strategy game lover needs.

Why did you choose to go exclusively Microsoft? Is there any chance of Skulls of the Shogun launching through Steam or anywhere else?

Microsoft's XBLA group is full of old friends and co-workers from my past in this industry, they're close by so we can zip over there for lunch and meetings, and they have my favorite game console, along with a phone and a tablet and a new operating system.

For a micro-studio like us to be able to launch on four platforms simultaneously was a huge incentive. We own the IP and would like to do more with it in the future (not only gaming) but Microsoft is the publisher for these versions and that has kept our hands quite full for now.

Gallery: Skulls of the Shogun

Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Skulls of the Shogun

JoystiqThe Joystiq Indie Pitch: Skulls of the Shogun originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitjoystiq-indie-pitchmicrosoftmobileskulls-of-the-shogunsurfacewindows-8windows-phone-8windows-rtxboxMon, 26 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's 'Surface for Windows RT' tablet launches Oct. 26 for $500/$600]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/microsofts-surface-for-windows-rt-tablet-is-500-600/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/microsofts-surface-for-windows-rt-tablet-is-500-600/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/microsofts-surface-for-windows-rt-tablet-is-500-600/#comments Microsoft's "Surface for Windows RT" tablet (the ARM-powered one, not the one with full Windows 8) will cost $499 for the 32-gig model and $599 for the 64-gig version when the device launches on Friday, October 26. Pre-orders are now open at Microsoft's official store.

Its worth noting the Surface's trademark fancy keyboard covers aren't included in the purchase price -- the Touch Cover carries a $120 premium, and the Type Cover rings up at $130. There is a bundle, however, that packages the 64-gig model and a Touch Cover for $700.

Gallery: Microsoft Surface

JoystiqMicrosoft's 'Surface for Windows RT' tablet launches Oct. 26 for $500/$600 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MicrosoftmobilepcpriceSurfaceSurface-for-Windows-RTTue, 16 Oct 2012 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Surface launching alongside Windows 8 this October]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/30/microsoft-surface-launching-alongside-windows-8-this-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/30/microsoft-surface-launching-alongside-windows-8-this-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/30/microsoft-surface-launching-alongside-windows-8-this-october/#comments Microsoft Surface launching alongside Windows 8 this OctoberMicrosoft's Surface is launching on (or near) October 26, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing. "The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on October 26, 2012. At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices," the report reads.

The Surface launches in two flavors: Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro, the latter carrying beefier specs. It's unclear if both will launch simultaneously, and no pricing has been set on the two varieties of Surface. At least one game will be available at launch - Skulls of the Shogun - with others expected alongside it.

JoystiqMicrosoft Surface launching alongside Windows 8 this October originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmicrosoft-surfacemobilepcq4-2012release-dateskulls-of-the-shogunsurfacewindowswindows-8windows-rtMon, 30 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun launching alongside Windows 8 this October [Update: Delayed]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/skulls-of-the-shogun-launching-alongside-windows-8-this-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/skulls-of-the-shogun-launching-alongside-windows-8-this-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/skulls-of-the-shogun-launching-alongside-windows-8-this-october/#comments Skulls of the Shogun launching alongside Windows 8 this October
Skulls of the Shogun isn't just an Xbox Live Arcade game, y'all. It's also a Windows 8 game, a Windows Phone 7 game, and a Surface game. So when Microsoft announced the launch date for Windows 8 yesterday, we couldn't help but wonder if that meant Skulls of the Shogun would launch alongside it. "The plan is to sim-ship on Win 8 (desktop, and both versions of Surface), Windows Phone 7 and XBLA in the same week," 17-bit's Jake Kazdal told us. So, uh, sounds like it!

He added one caveat. "We're certainly shooting for day one release with Win 8, and it looks very likely, but nothing is set in stone yet," he said. Windows 8 launches on October 26, meaning you'll likely have your hands on those shogun skulls ahead of Halloween. And considering the dev studio's former name is Haunted Temple, that seems rather fitting, no?

Update: Skulls of the Shogun missed its Windows 8 launch, but is now scheduled to hit on January 30 for XBLA, Windows 8, Windows Surface and Windows Phone.

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun launching alongside Windows 8 this October [Update: Delayed] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bithaunted-temple-studiosjake-kazdalmicrosoftmobilepcskulls-of-the-shogunsurfacewindows-8windows-phone-7xblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeThu, 19 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows 8 to be launched on October 26]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/windows-8-launching-october-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/windows-8-launching-october-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/windows-8-launching-october-26/#comments Microsoft's Windows 7 successor will be available to both new and upgrading customers on October 26, Microsoft has announced. Windows 8, in addition to doing all that productivity stuff people buy operating systems for (yawn), is also replete with a suite of new features that make life more interesting for Xbox and Windows Phone gamers.

SmartGlass, for instance, blasts ancillary information about the game/tv show/movie your Xbox is playing to your mobile device or tablet, and allows for continuous playback of movies and shows between devices. All first-party 360 games will support SmartGlass going forward, so you may want to keep an eye out for new Windows 8 devices if expanded Halo experiences are your jam.

JoystiqWindows 8 to be launched on October 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmobilepcrelease-datesmartglasssurfacewindows-8xboxWed, 18 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 will work with Microsoft's new tablet ... somehow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/11/halo-4-will-work-with-microsofts-new-tablet-somehow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/11/halo-4-will-work-with-microsofts-new-tablet-somehow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/11/halo-4-will-work-with-microsofts-new-tablet-somehow/#comments Halo 4 will work with Microsoft's new tablet somehowMicrosoft's President of Interactive Entertainment Business, Don Mattrick, says Halo 4 will interact with Microsoft's upcoming tablet computer, Surface. Exactly how the two will interact, however, remains a mystery. Mattrick noted the news during a VentureBeat event in San Francisco yesterday; later, he reconfirmed the functionality with a reporter on-hand but refused to give any more details.

If we had to guess, though, we'd say the only functionality between the two will be the already announced SmartGlass features from E3 (say, using Halo Waypoint, or viewing the game's encyclopedia). After all, Microsoft told us at E3 that SmartGlass will be part of all Microsoft Studios games going forward after its fall 2012 launch.

Of course, Microsoft could always go totally off the rails and add full-on gamepad support via Surface's touchscreen. Or maybe just a personal Cortana app where she freaks out and yells at you randomly while you're playing. Maybe they should just stick with the Waypoint stuff.

JoystiqHalo 4 will work with Microsoft's new tablet ... somehow originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesdon-mattrickhalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studiosmicrosoft-surfacemobilesmartglasssurfacexboxWed, 11 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun gives asynchronous, cross-platform play a turn]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/skulls-of-the-shogun-gives-asynchronous-cross-platform-play-a-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/skulls-of-the-shogun-gives-asynchronous-cross-platform-play-a-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/skulls-of-the-shogun-gives-asynchronous-cross-platform-play-a-t/#comments Skulls of the Shogun gives asynchronous, crossplatform play a turnSkulls of the Shogun will feature Skulls Anywhere mode, which offers cross-platform play and asynchronous multiplayer across all of its launch platforms: XBLA, Windows Phone, Windows 8 PC and Windows 8 tablet, a la Microsoft Surface. Players with the required devices will be able to take turns independently of one another, for up to four players, and the single-player campaign will be accessible across all Windows platforms through cloud saves.

"The turn-based nature of the game makes for perfect asynchronous play across every platform we're shipping on," 17-BIT's Jake Kazdal says. "You can start playing a game at home on your Xbox, then head out and play a few turns from the same game on your phone. You might be playing against someone on a PC or a tablet - everyone's connected via Xbox Live. And regardless of platform, everyone's having the same great experience, because it's the exact same game across all those devices."

Skulls of the Shogun will still feature online, real-time multiplayer, called Skulls Online, and the standard local multiplayer matches.

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun gives asynchronous, cross-platform play a turn originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitasynchronouscross-platformmicrosoftMicrosoft-Surfacemobilepcskulls-anywhereskulls-of-the-shogunsurfacewindowswindows-7windows-8xboxThu, 28 Jun 2012 21:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft announces Surface tablet at Los Angeles event]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-announces-surface-tablet-at-los-angeles-event/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-announces-surface-tablet-at-los-angeles-event/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-announces-surface-tablet-at-los-angeles-event/#comments Microsoft announces the Xbook at Los Angeles eventThe Microsoft Big Announcement Speculation Game can finally come to an end, as the company announced a new tablet device called Microsoft Surface this afternoon during a Los Angeles press event. Microsoft calls it the "companion hardware innovation" for Windows 8, an OS that was designed to work on mobile devices specifically.

The Surface includes a kickstand built in to the device, as well as an optional cover that contains a touch-typing, super thin keyboard and a multitouch trackpad. Because the device runs a full version of Windows 8, it presumably will run any games that work on that OS, but we'll have to wait and see how those games play. We can also presume that the Surface will work right alongside any other Smart Glass features to be announced for the Xbox later on. We'll have more on Surface in the future, so stay tuned.

Continue reading Microsoft announces Surface tablet at Los Angeles event

JoystiqMicrosoft announces Surface tablet at Los Angeles event originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwaremicrosoftmobilepcsteve-ballmersurfacetablettechtouchscreenwindowswindows8Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Portal and Flight Simulator played on Microsoft Surface]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/portal-and-flight-simulator-played-on-microsoft-surface/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/portal-and-flight-simulator-played-on-microsoft-surface/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/portal-and-flight-simulator-played-on-microsoft-surface/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Robotics Lab have adapted an "on-screen joystick" for use on Microsoft's Surface table with Portal and Flight Simulator. The DREAM (Dynamically Resizing Ergonomic and Multi-touch) controller is activated by putting five fingers on the table. The joystick will then resize itself to the user.

The controls don't look nearly as efficient as a keyboard and mouse, or as comfortable as a gamepad, but it gives a good idea of the interface we may eventually use on the "iPad XL." Check out the video after the break for the full effect (and be prepared to mute the audio).

Continue reading Portal and Flight Simulator played on Microsoft Surface

JoystiqPortal and Flight Simulator played on Microsoft Surface originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flight-simulatorMicrosoftMicrosoft-SurfacePortalSurfaceUMASSUmass-LowellUniversity-of-Massachusetts-LowellThu, 09 Sep 2010 18:04:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East: Tour Microsoft's N.E.R.D. Cambridge office with us]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/pax-east-tour-microsofts-n-e-r-d-cambridge-office-with-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/pax-east-tour-microsofts-n-e-r-d-cambridge-office-with-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/pax-east-tour-microsofts-n-e-r-d-cambridge-office-with-us/#comments
click to New England-size

Just because you don't live in the Northeast (or couldn't afford to hop on a bus/train/plane/cattle cart to PAX East 2010) doesn't mean that you can't tour Microsoft's New England Research & Development Center with us. Sure, you might not be here in the physical sense, but our hi-res gallery below should assist you in achieving a semblance of the zeitgeist in Cambridge yesterday morning.

Xbox's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, Stephen "Stepto" Toulouse, Laura "Lollipop" Massey, and Eric "E" Neustadter ate breakfast with us (and two or three hundred of their closest friends), handed out some prizes, and even gave everyone a chance to check out a Surface. If you're so inclined, flip through the gallery below and tour N.E.R.D. with us, won't you?

Gallery: Microsoft's New England Research & Development Center

JoystiqPAX East: Tour Microsoft's N.E.R.D. Cambridge office with us originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eric-neustadterlarry-hryblaura-masseymajor-nelsonMicrosoftnew-england-research-and-development-centerpaxpax-eastpax-east-2010stephen-toulousesurfaceXbox-360Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bring Dungeons and Dragons to your $15,000 game table]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/bring-dungeons-and-dragons-to-your-15-000-game-table/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/bring-dungeons-and-dragons-to-your-15-000-game-table/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/bring-dungeons-and-dragons-to-your-15-000-game-table/#commentsWhat happens when you marry board games and video games? The electrical pixel explosion of that chocolate into peanut butter hasn't been fully realized yet, so besides a handful of Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne and Hasbro Family Game Nights, there's not a heck of a lot going on. However, what happens when you force role-playing games and video games into a shotgun wedding? Pure magic for rich people.

During GDC we took a look at a student project called SurfaceScapes that brings D&D to the Microsoft Surface. It's not just a simple "Ooooh, touch the screen to activate your character sheet!" port of the pen and paper game, but a touch-tastic experience that will blow your mind. Plot a miniature down on the Surface, and it recognizes your character. You can pull up radial menus for actions, spells, and attacks, see your line of sight, move your character, and run the entire game just using your power of touch.

Continue reading Bring Dungeons and Dragons to your $15,000 game table

JoystiqBring Dungeons and Dragons to your $15,000 game table originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DDDungeons-and-DragonsGDC2010RPGSurfaceSurfaceScapesWizards-of-the-CoastSat, 27 Mar 2010 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[D&D rolls with the changes, ported to Microsoft Surface]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/dandd-rolls-with-the-changes-ported-to-microsoft-surface/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/dandd-rolls-with-the-changes-ported-to-microsoft-surface/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/dandd-rolls-with-the-changes-ported-to-microsoft-surface/#comments By the time your average Dungeons and Dragons player has failed his third death save and gone off to that great dungeon in the sky, he or she's spent nearly $800,000 on miniatures and various-sided dice. (Trust us, it adds up.) Keeping that number in mind, we'd like to turn your attention to an alternative to tangible tabletop gaming: Surfacescapes, an in-development application for the Microsoft Surface, which attempts to recreate the D&D experience on an outrageously large touch screen. As the Surface currently costs $12,500, the lifetime savings would be abundant.

Sure, there's a few kinks to work out -- the dice roll a little slow for our tastes, though this would make saving throws infinitely more dramatic. There's also the small matter of how introducing this technology into the game might diminish the whole "role-playing" element. If used just for combat encounters, it could be a powerful streamlining tool. For everything else, it would need to be fitted with an Imagination Manifestation Drive[TM], and those don't exist yet.

Check out a demo of Surfacescape's proof of concept in the video after the jump.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading D&D rolls with the changes, ported to Microsoft Surface

JoystiqD&D rolls with the changes, ported to Microsoft Surface originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d-and-ddungeons-and-dragons-onlinemicrosoftMicrosoft-SurfaceRolePlayingrpgsurfacesurfacescapestabletoptabletop-gamingwizards-of-the-coastTue, 20 Oct 2009 11:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft reveals Ruse surprise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/ubisoft-reveals-ruse-surprise/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/ubisoft-reveals-ruse-surprise/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/ubisoft-reveals-ruse-surprise/#comments
For those of you with the $15,000 Microsoft Surface at home, good news! You'll be able to play Ruse on it, apparently. We hope the five of you out there enjoy it immensely. Ubisoft is showing off the real-time strategy game at E3 on a Surface table, which really lends a lot of credibility to the Euro-trailer we made so much fun of before. Talk about an overpriced peripheral. Maybe next time they'll go mini and demo it on an iPhone. Either way, it's a smudgefest.

JoystiqUbisoft reveals Ruse surprise originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2009microsoftRusesurfaceUbisoftTue, 02 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Surface: that big table computer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/microsoft-surface-that-big-table-computer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/microsoft-surface-that-big-table-computer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/20/microsoft-surface-that-big-table-computer/#commentsFiled under:


Our friends at Sarcastic Gamer are at it again. Last week we got the parody of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire," and this week we get a nice (and surprisingly sarcastic) look at Microsoft Surface. While many of us watched the first videos of Surface and said, "cool," Sarcastic Gamer -- like any good satirist -- saw the same video and said, "why?" If you weren't wowed by Microsoft's multi-touch, object recognizing table computer, then this video is for you. If, on the other hand, you love Surface ... well, you should still watch because the video is funny.

JoystiqMicrosoft Surface: that big table computer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacesarcastic gamerSarcasticGamersurfaceWed, 20 Jun 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Surface: gaming's future?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/microsoft-surface-gamings-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/microsoft-surface-gamings-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/microsoft-surface-gamings-future/#commentsFiled under:

You may have heard rumblings of the new Microsoft product called Surface. Essentially, Surface is a multi-touch computing surface. The applications for Surface, as outlined by Microsoft, include things like sharing photos, sharing music, ordering lunch, and purchasing your next mobile phone plan. We have to ask though, how can it be used for gaming? Our friends at Joystiq suggest games like Puzzle Quest or Starcraft. Keep in mind, the 360 will be long gone by the time Surface becomes a widespread consumer device (come to think of it, the next Xbox might be gone by then). The possibilities remain mighty intriguing though. What kind of games can you see working for the wonder machine?

See a video of Surface in action after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft Surface: gaming's future?

JoystiqMicrosoft Surface: gaming's future? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 May 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoft surfaceMicrosoftSurfacesurfaceThu, 31 May 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The video with most gaming potential: Microsoft Surface]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/the-video-with-most-gaming-possibilities-microsoft-surface/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/the-video-with-most-gaming-possibilities-microsoft-surface/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/the-video-with-most-gaming-possibilities-microsoft-surface/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Today Microsoft unveiled its vision for the coffee table of the future: Surface. Though many years off for a consumer model (and even longer for an affordable one), Microsoft is envisioning functions such as effortless connectivity with cell phones and cameras.

Of course, when we watch the video embedded after the break, all we can think about is how we'd love to mod it for gaming: Starcraft, Eye of Judgment, even Bejeweled or Puzzle Quest.

We think you'll be seeing game-related potential, too, and we want to hear your best ideas. Ready. Set. Theorize.

Continue reading The video with most gaming potential: Microsoft Surface

JoystiqThe video with most gaming potential: Microsoft Surface originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 May 2007 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engadgetmicrosoftsurfaceThu, 31 May 2007 00:01:00 EST