Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PlayStation Network: ready for launch? [update 2]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/14/summary-of-ps3s-online-features/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/14/summary-of-ps3s-online-features/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/14/summary-of-ps3s-online-features/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Eurogamer's Rob Fahey provides a couple new details on some of the online features of the PlayStation 3.

Fahey asks a key question, but unfortunately never gets around to answering it: "Can a company whose online strategy in the last generation was so patchy, and their actual service so weak, really turn things around on the online front in time for the PS3's launch?"

Here's a summary of the write-up, lorry-loads of fluff removed:

  • The core OS of the system can be updated by Sony online [we knew this; it's expected in any online system]
  • Both PS3 SKUs include a hard drive, critical for downloading content [we also knew this, but it's worth repeating as an advantage of the lower-priced PS3 bundle versus the Xbox 360's lowest-priced system]
  • The system stores the profiles of different users within the household. Select a profile and the system logs that profile in, setting system configuration details according to the data stored with that profile. [We knew this.]
  • Settings are managed via an interface that looks like the PSP's settings interface. Configure network settings, passwords, and so on. [We knew this.]
  • "Fully-functional" web browser that will allow users to access "any site" on the internet. [We knew this.]
  • The system tracks the online status of the people on your friends list. Users can send friends text messages (via a PSP-style text messaging system or via USB keyboard), engage in voice and video chat [no voice mail?], and view pop-up notices as friend status changes. The system doesn't allow one to respond to these in-game status pop-ups, so you'll have to exit your game if you want to read the message you just received. [New detail?]
  • Account management: there are two types of PlayStation Network account: master accounts are like administrator accounts, while "associated accounts" can be restricted in some unspecified way. [New detail?]
  • Global sign-in IDs: like Xbox Live, global IDs make the process of finding and adding friends to your friends list an easier task than, say, punching in an obfuscated alpha-numeric code. [We knew this.]
  • PlayStation Store: obtain demos, purchase downloadable PSone and PS2 games, purchase downloadable extras (horse armor FTW), and pay for subscriptions to certain (premium) online games in local currency. Sony avoids getting eaten alive by transaction fees by requiring deposits of cash into a virtual wallet. Once cash is deposited to the wallet, it's spent the same way MS Points are spent. [Does this mean that credit cards are required for online purchases?] Game-specific mini marts will show premium content for a specific game only. [We knew this.]

Continue reading PlayStation Network: ready for launch? [update 2]

JoystiqPlayStation Network: ready for launch? [update 2] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Oct 2006 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationps2ps3PSPtgstgs06tokyo game showXbox-360Sat, 14 Oct 2006 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's Japan-only Blue Dragon bundle [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/07/microsofts-japan-only-blue-dragon-bundle/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/07/microsofts-japan-only-blue-dragon-bundle/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/07/microsofts-japan-only-blue-dragon-bundle/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you're wondering why us round-eyes ain't gonna see a price break on the Xbox 360 this holiday, Japan might have something to do with it.

See, Microsoft has put together this sweet, Japan-only Blue Dragon bundle that probably ain't gonna do much to enhance the company's bottom line (read: it's likely subsidized), but will (they hope) juice the 360's pitiable sales in that country.

For just ¥29,800 (approximately $252 at the time of this writing), Japanese gamers will walk off with a basic Xbox 360, the Blue Dragon game itself, a limited-edition faceplate (aren't they all?), and five Blue Dragon figurines, according to the fine folks over at Siliconera.

We've inserted images of the goods after the break.

[Update 1: Post comments have been locked as the bulk of comments posted were off-topic.]

Continue reading Microsoft's Japan-only Blue Dragon bundle [update 1]

JoystiqMicrosoft's Japan-only Blue Dragon bundle [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Oct 2006 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue dragonBlueDragonsakaguchitgstgs06tokyo games showXbox-360Sat, 07 Oct 2006 20:10:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Keeping booths afloat with airborne decoration]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/27/tgs-keeping-booths-afloat-with-airborne-decoration/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/27/tgs-keeping-booths-afloat-with-airborne-decoration/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/27/tgs-keeping-booths-afloat-with-airborne-decoration/#commentsFiled under: ,

Walking along the convention center, we were constantly reminded to look up and gaze at the massive floating ornaments signifying each booth. Square Enix's Chocobo and Slime floats were visible from anywhere on the floor, as were dozens of other air polluters. More pictures after the break.

Continue reading TGS: Keeping booths afloat with airborne decoration

JoystiqTGS: Keeping booths afloat with airborne decoration originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Sep 2006 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daitomacys day paradeMacysDayParadesquare enixSquareEnixtgstgs06Wed, 27 Sep 2006 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Cranking the Gears of War]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/26/tgs-cranking-the-gears-of-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/26/tgs-cranking-the-gears-of-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/26/tgs-cranking-the-gears-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Though it wasn't playable on the Tokyo Game Show floor -- not even in the booth with other mature-rated games like Riot Act (Crackdown) and Dead Rising -- Microsoft was giving press a tease of Gears of War, their fall lineup's killer app. Alan Willard, a technical designer at Epic Games and a giant scruff of a man with a penchant for terse answers, walked us through a demo level gleefully pointing out areas of interest. For example, the gratuitous splattering of blood and gore that spits onto the screen after the equally gratuitous chainsaw-bayoneting was his handiwork. "I did that," he said proudly. And, if you're curious, it's a particle effect.

Continue reading TGS: Cranking the Gears of War

JoystiqTGS: Cranking the Gears of War originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EpicEpic GamesEpicGamesGears of WarGearsOfWarTGSTGS06Tokyo Game ShowTokyoGameShowXbox-360Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS 'best of' video roundup, yeehaw!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/26/tgs-best-of-video-roundup-yeehaw/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/26/tgs-best-of-video-roundup-yeehaw/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/26/tgs-best-of-video-roundup-yeehaw/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


Our must-see-Tokyo Game Show list of videos delivers a jab straight to your optic core. This year's standouts are embedded after the jump. Click the links for larger and downloadable versions.

Tell us what your favorites were from the show and we'll add 'em to the lineup.

Continue reading TGS 'best of' video roundup, yeehaw!

JoystiqTGS 'best of' video roundup, yeehaw! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Sep 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioshockBlue Dragonbooth babesDSLairLost OdyseeyLost PlanetMetal Gear Solid 4Phoenix Wright 4PS3Resistance: The Fall of ManRidge Racer 7TGS06Trusty BellvideovideosWhite KnightXbox-360Tue, 26 Sep 2006 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: A passenger's seat view of Forza Motorsport 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/tgs-a-passengers-seat-view-of-forza-motorsport-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/tgs-a-passengers-seat-view-of-forza-motorsport-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/tgs-a-passengers-seat-view-of-forza-motorsport-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Following our showing of the slightly macabre Viva Piñata, we were shown the far more sedate racing-sim, Forza Motorspot II. The sequel promises more of what made Forza a success, with some notable additions. Chris Lee, the Group Product Manager at Microsoft, walked us through an early build of the game, making sure to point out that it's in an early stage and may exhibit some characteristic wonkiness. Of course, that's why it's being shown behind closed doors instead of being trotted out on the show floor (see: Coded Arms Assault).

While I didn't see any glitches or other anomolies that would have revealed the game's incomplete state, I did note a general lack of grittiness in the cars and environments. Lee said the art design for the series is intentionally clean and crisp but, somehow, it makes the vehicles look plasticine .... at least as long as the car is all in one piece. As in the first game, your car can and will take damage when you hit a wall or another car. In the example he showed us, the bumper fell off and remained on the track, interacting with the world and other cars, exhibiting its own physics.

Continue reading TGS: A passenger's seat view of Forza Motorsport 2

JoystiqTGS: A passenger's seat view of Forza Motorsport 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Sep 2006 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ForzaForza Motorsport 2TGSTGS06TokyoXbox-360Sun, 24 Sep 2006 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dad and son game together -- now that's parenting!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/dad-and-son-game-together-now-thats-parenting/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/dad-and-son-game-together-now-thats-parenting/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/dad-and-son-game-together-now-thats-parenting/#commentsFiled under: , ,

These photos (snapped on the train to the Tokyo Game Show on Saturday morning) demonstrate the rare skill known as "parenting." (Judging from the antiquated hardware, this also demonstrates another rare life skill known as "frugality.")

In six years of riding the New York City subway to work (and around town), I never saw a scene like this. Add these shots to the stack of evidence that demonstrates that gaming in Japan is both a family and a public affair, free from the stigma that plague the hobby in the United States.

Then again, we never did get a good look at the screen. They could have been paging through super ecchi manga on the thing, for all we know.

JoystiqDad and son game together -- now that's parenting! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Sep 2006 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendoportabletgstgs06Sun, 24 Sep 2006 03:51:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS undermonetized, but so what?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/tgs-undermonetized-but-so-what/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/tgs-undermonetized-but-so-what/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/tgs-undermonetized-but-so-what/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Advertising's omnipresence in Tokyo is so complete and thorough that we only take notice when it's missing. Like air, you only notice it when it's gone.

It's therefore notable that most prime Makuhari convention center facades lack advertising of any sort, even though they were clearly designed to support large-format ads. There are a few possibilities that might help explain what's going on:

  • Advertising's inneffective: Given limited budget, game companies appear to prefer to pour Yen into their booths, the babes that staff them, the bags the babes hand out, and other tangible improvements to enhance their show presences. Game promoters have other means of driving traffic to (and interest in) their booths and their games.
  • Bad placement: Advertising plastered on lofty facades might be worthless if everyone's got his nose buried in a portable game device
  • Operational challenges: Perhaps show organizers aren't too skilled at wringing money from companies in attendance (if there's one thing the E3 organizers did well, it's help companies shell out lots of dough).
  • Small potatoes: in the grand scheme of things, this show isn't that important. It's just three days out of a 24-7, 365-day effort to woo gamers. That might explain why Nintendo's nowhere to be seen.

JoystiqTGS undermonetized, but so what? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Sep 2006 02:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingconventionsmonetizationtgstgs06tokyo game showSun, 24 Sep 2006 02:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragon spotted in Tokyo subway system]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/dragon-spotted-in-tokyo-subway-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/dragon-spotted-in-tokyo-subway-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/dragon-spotted-in-tokyo-subway-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The 20? Near the exits of Chiba's Kaihin Makuhari train station, where a crack team of Microsoft marketeers established an outpost during morning rush hour each day of the Tokyo Game Show.

Their mission? Grab virgin mindshare before attendees could be dazzled by competitors' booths full of bleeps, bloops, babes and strobes.

Their weapon? A bag emblazoned with the Blue Dragon name and logo. As far as TGS schwag goes, these bags are like the thing. Attendees just gobble them up. Check my impersonation of a TGS attendee: "Hey! Free bag!"

It's clear that Microsoft's working hard to promote developer Mistwalker's Blue Dragon, but it's hard to believe that any single title will be the silver bullet that the company so badly needs in this market. They're working it, but to what end? We look forward to next week's Xbox 360 sales numbers for the Japan territory.

JoystiqDragon spotted in Tokyo subway system originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Sep 2006 02:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>schwagtgstgs06tokyo game showXboxXbox-360Sun, 24 Sep 2006 02:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Forget the Wii line, behold the TGS line]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/forget-the-wii-line-behold-the-tgs-line/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/forget-the-wii-line-behold-the-tgs-line/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/forget-the-wii-line-behold-the-tgs-line/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sure, the Wii line consumed entire days of weary E3 visitor's schedules, as Nintendo bottlenecked the fawning throngs into a single drip feed. But the open-to-the-public TGS line is on a scale all its own, extending from the entrance of the Makuhari Messe convention cener in Chiba, all the way to the trains from Tokyo that appeared to be delivering eager pilgrims to the event quicker than the event could absorb them into its fold.

This video clocks in at a foot-anchingly long twelve minutes. We don't recommend watching the entire thing ... maybe just jump from part to part. Or use a stopwatch to count down twelve minutes and then check in at the end. If we can assume that our walking speed was about 4mph (the average is three, but we were walking pretty fast), and it took us twelve minutes, the line was roughly 0.8 miles. And growing.

JoystiqForget the Wii line, behold the TGS line originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Sep 2006 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapanTGSTGS06Tokyo Game ShowTokyoGameShowSun, 24 Sep 2006 01:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: PaRappa the Rapper (PSP)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/joystiq-hands-on-parappa-the-rapper-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/joystiq-hands-on-parappa-the-rapper-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/24/joystiq-hands-on-parappa-the-rapper-psp/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When we heard PaRappa the Rapper was coming to the PSP, we were elated. When we discovered it would simply be a remake of the original title, we were conflicted. While we adore the original PaRappa, we also wouldn't mind a new installment to the franchise, with lessons learned from the underwhelming PaRappa 2.

The PSP demo shown on the floor is the exact same demo Sony used for the PS One PaRappa the Rapper demo, which is also the first level in the game. For those who don't remember, PaRappa the Rapper is a rhythm game in the vein of Simon Says. Your opponent will bust a few grooves, and by pressing the displayed button combinations in sync with the tempo you can spit your foe's words back in his or her face. The demo has PaRappa up against Chop Chop Master Onion, a karate teacher with an onion for a head.

The graphics have been cleaned up and the audio is a bit crisper than the original, but our lovable rhymester still stutters his words even when we hit the buttons perfectly. None of the new features have been revealed, including the promised multiplayer mode. We recommend dusting off the original game for now, and wait to see if the extra features / multiplayer warrant a new purchase.

Check out the awesome PaRappa sticker they had on the PSP demo units after the break.

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: PaRappa the Rapper (PSP)

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: PaRappa the Rapper (PSP) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Sep 2006 00:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>parappaparappa the rapperParappaTheRapperPSPTGStgs 06Tgs06Sun, 24 Sep 2006 00:45:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS 06: Lost Regnum impresses]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-06-lost-regnum-impresses/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-06-lost-regnum-impresses/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-06-lost-regnum-impresses/#commentsFiled under:

TGS 06: Lost Regnum impresses
One game that we haven't heard a lot about is Goshow's Lost Regnum, but the game, which is a dungeon-crawling hack 'n slasher, found its way to the Tokyo Game Show.

While currently it doesn't seem likely the game will make its way across the pond, IGN says the gameplay is straightforward enough that it should make for a great import.

In Lost Regnum, you control one of four characters and can team up with a pal to play two-player co-op throughout the game. Graphically, the game seems to be pretty impressive with nice textures and detailed characters that move very well. And to make it even better, loading was nearly non-existent. However, all good things come at a price, right? It seems Goshow had to cut some corners by limiting the draw distance by the ever-dreaded fog.

The biggest hurdle Goshow has, like any developer has in making a game of this ilk, is keeping the combat fresh and unrepetitive. If they can deliver, they may have a great game on their hands and one worthy of an import.

(Via IGN)

JoystiqTGS 06: Lost Regnum impresses originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crawlerdungeongamegoshowhacklostregnumshowslashtgstgs 06Tgs06tokyoSat, 23 Sep 2006 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Viewing Viva Piņata]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-viewing-viva-pi-ata/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-viewing-viva-pi-ata/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-viewing-viva-pi-ata/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Viva Piñata was our first in a series of Microsoft press events being held yesterday during the first day of the open-to-the-public portion of the Tokyo Game Show. Safely huddled away from the unwashed gaming masses filling the Makuhari Messe convention center to within an inch of its legal limitations, I pulled up a chair to be walked through Rare's holiday hopeful by Michael Johnson, a Global Product Manager at Microsoft

Though we're inclined to process their insistence that Viva Piñata offers a depth of play that makes the kiddie-happy "life simulator" appealing to older audiences as self serving (of course they think it will be), there are several elements of the game that strike me as a bit twisted, in a wry, British sort of way. In addition to being able to crack open your piñatas and watch their sugary entrails pour out, the sensitive issue of procreation is handled quite literally through a "romance dance." No Hot Coffee minigame here, just the right tunes and the right moves, and somehow a stork gets the message that he should whip up some offspring to be delivered in egg format -- no icky birthing process necessary!

Continue reading TGS: Viewing Viva Piņata

JoystiqTGS: Viewing Viva Piņata originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>RareTGSTGS06Tokyo Game ShowTokyoGameShowViva PinataVivaPinataXbox-360Sat, 23 Sep 2006 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Fuzion Frenzy 2 (Xbox 360)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/joystiq-hands-on-fuzion-frenzy-2-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/joystiq-hands-on-fuzion-frenzy-2-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/joystiq-hands-on-fuzion-frenzy-2-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: ,

Most of us know Fuzion Frenzy as that demo Xbox junkies play when they are sick of Halo but are too lazy to change discs. The full game was a fun but ultimately forgettable collection of minigames. Microsoft is giving the IP another go, and we got to check out one of the minigames from Fuzion Frenzy 2; it turns out, from what we played, the sequel is on track to becoming as forgettable as its predecessor.

The demo, also available on Xbox Live, is a 4-on-4 battle for coins. With flame thrower in tow, you move around a frozen arena while melting ice towers and torching your opponents. The potential in the concept far exceeds its execution here. Aiming proved tricky: you must stop before igniting the air and once the flames start your ability to turn diminishes greatly.

Is this demo -- a minigame that Microsoft deemed worthy to represent the rest of the gang -- indicative of another unimpressive collection? It's hard to say right now, as this is only one part of the final product. Based on this demo, however, we wouldn't expect anything great.

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Fuzion Frenzy 2 (Xbox 360) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fusion frenzyFusionFrenzyfuzion frenzyFuzionFrenzytgstgs06Xbox-360Sat, 23 Sep 2006 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Trusty Bell confirmed for US release]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/trusty-bell-confirmed-for-us-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/trusty-bell-confirmed-for-us-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/trusty-bell-confirmed-for-us-release/#commentsFiled under: ,

At least, that's assuming Namco Bandai is only releasing one RPG set within the mind of a dying composer next year. The official press release reveals a new RPG called Eternal Sonata and describes the inevitably epic story as such: The story of Eternal Sonata begins as a famous composer, on his deathbed, drifts between this life and the next. In his reverie, a happenstance encounter of a young girl who accepts her terrible destiny and a young boy fighting to save her, changes the destiny of the world.

Though piano maestro Chopin (not pronounced chop-in') isn't directly mentioned, it seems safe to assume that Eternal Sonata and Trusty Bell have his final and frighteningly colorful dreams in common. Judging by the TGS trailer, screenshots and IGN's preview, Eternal Sonata features absolutely charming graphics, classy music and a turn-based combat system that seems slightly reminiscent of those found in Xenogears and two thirds of Xenosaga. We certainly look forward to playing the English version next year and facing off against an evil, bio-mechanical Beethoven boss.

JoystiqTrusty Bell confirmed for US release originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChopinEternal-SonataJRPGMicrosoftNamco-BandaiRPGTGS06Tri-CrescendoTrusty-BellXbox-360Sat, 23 Sep 2006 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Ridge Racer 7 demo attracts loyal fan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-ridge-racer-7-demo-attracts-loyal-fan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-ridge-racer-7-demo-attracts-loyal-fan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-ridge-racer-7-demo-attracts-loyal-fan/#commentsFiled under: ,

It seems all that burning rubber and gratuitous nitro boosting in the Ridge Racer 7 demo took its toll on a lone PS3. Kotaku snapped this picture of a Sony rep bravely averting disaster by pointing some sort of advanced cooling mechanism into the console's compartment. System anomalies crop up at trade shows all the time -- we salute the fan-man for his keen sense of practicality. He probably doesn't lock his dog in the car while he's out shopping either.

[Thanks AK and mupwangle]

JoystiqTGS: Ridge Racer 7 demo attracts loyal fan originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>OverheatingPS3Ridge RacerRidge Racer 7RidgeRacerRidgeRacer7Riiiiidge RaaacerRiiiiidgeRaaacerTGS06Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Bauhaus booth: a black beauty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/sonys-bauhaus-booth-a-black-beauty/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/sonys-bauhaus-booth-a-black-beauty/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/sonys-bauhaus-booth-a-black-beauty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Sony's presence dominates the TGS show floor once again this year. In addition to leasing the most square footage (for the most fanboy frottage), Sony makes their presence felt through booth architecture that skillfully mixes art and technology.

Almost completely devoid of ornamentation, the matte-black cube seems to suck light and sound out of the air like the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. This is nearly the same booth that defined the Sony presence at last year's show, but it's evolved a bit. Sony dropped the grey cornice seen atop last year's booth and added a thin red accent in order to make the PlayStation name more prominent. That's an improvement.

Sony's also using all four sides of the booth to showcase PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable products this year. This decision moves some of the overwhelming booth traffic to the "sidewalk" outside the structure, a helpful move given the crush of bodies inside the booth.

Continue reading Sony's Bauhaus booth: a black beauty

JoystiqSony's Bauhaus booth: a black beauty originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationps2ps3pspsonytgs06tokyo game showWiiXbox-360Sat, 23 Sep 2006 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Lost Planet multiplayer (Xbox 360)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/joystiq-hands-on-lost-planet-multiplayer-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/joystiq-hands-on-lost-planet-multiplayer-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/joystiq-hands-on-lost-planet-multiplayer-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The following is a compilation of the best scenes we either experienced or watched during our time with Lost Planet's multiplayer game. Other than a few minor drops in framerate, we were very impressed with the 8-player battle. As our experience was only system link, it'll be interesting to see how the game fares over Xbox Live.

We start as the blue team in the bottom of an icy valley. As we move uphill, the red team ambushes, lobbing a half dozen grenades toward our group. We disband, and I climb left up a small hill behind the remains of a brick building. As one foe pursue me, I throw a gum grenade onto an adjacent wall. I run away and they pass the remains just as the bomb goes off, knocked down both the brick wall and my assailant.

Practicing with my grappling hook, I scale to the top of a nearby building and jump across the rooftops. Eventually I come upon a sniper rifle. Climbing up an adjacent lookout tower, I sight a lonely gunner from across the map. Locking him in my sights, I fire one shot into his stomach. He dashes left behind a wall, but I can still make out his cowering, tranlucent figure. I fire two shots that don't hurt him but knock down his cover, he continues left and jumps down into a hole. As his head finds its way into my cross hairs, an ill-timed framerate hiccup saved his life. I quickly realize the lag was caused by the giant mech who swiftly blows me away.

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Lost Planet multiplayer (Xbox 360)

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Lost Planet multiplayer (Xbox 360) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomLost PlanetLostPlanettgstgs06Xbox-360Sat, 23 Sep 2006 08:25:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: DOAX2 passes the "one hand" test]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-doax2-passes-the-one-hand-test/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-doax2-passes-the-one-hand-test/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-doax2-passes-the-one-hand-test/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Let's be honest: there is no reason to play Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 other than to gawk at the pixelated softcore porn. The gameplay is Xtremely simplistic to the point of boredom. With that perspective in mind, we can safely say that DOAX2 is easily playable using only one hand (we'll let you make the next logical step about what your idle hand can do).

We first tried our hand (har har) at the main game. With our middle and index finger we moved around our bubbly player, and our thumb moved between A and B buttons. To our knowledge, the shoulder buttons serve no purpose -- that, or they weren't needed to return the serves.

After that we moved on to water sports. The Jet Ski minigame (image after the break) is a simplified Wave Race. You move between yellow and red buoys trying to stay in between in order to earn boosts, which is not hard to do as the buoys are widely spread apart. Again, our fingers used the joystick to turn. This time, A is accelerate and B moves the camera in front of you so you can stare at the player's other assets to make sure no one is tailing you. Because of the buttons' respective placement, we could simply lay our thumb down on both A and B at same time, saving us the effort of having to win the race in order to gaze longingly into the racer's exaggerated cleavage.

Controlling your character takes about as much effort as fast forwarding through dialogue on a Skinemax film, which is only appropriate. DOAX2 fails as a game, but passes admirably as an interactive wet dream.

Continue reading TGS: DOAX2 passes the "one hand" test

JoystiqTGS: DOAX2 passes the "one hand" test originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 07:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dead or Alive Xtreme 2DeadOrAliveXtreme2DOAX2tecmoTGStgs06Xbox-360Sat, 23 Sep 2006 07:25:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Gears of War, WRU?!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-gears-of-war-wru/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-gears-of-war-wru/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-gears-of-war-wru/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Killzone 2 isn't the only highly anticipated shooter not rocking the TGS show floor this year. Epic Games' upcoming 360 would-be killer-app Gears of War isn't playable on the show floor, though it is represented in video and pamphlet form at Microsoft's booth.

So why is it that a surefire hit, just a couple months from shipping, isn't playable? Microsoft is doing everything they can to woo the heretofore elusive Japanese gamer, so why not trot out their prize-winning pony? Sure, they want to focus all eyes on Hironobu Sakaguchi's 360-exclusive JRPGs Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, but there's plenty of room for all three at TGS. And we know Japanese gamers tend to shy away from the hardcore shooters, but every little bit helps, right?

In reality, the real reason Gears of War isn't at TGS isn't as shady as the complete disappearance of Killzone 2 from all Sony communications, it's a problem with Japan's censors. You see, the extremely graphic nature of the game is currently giving Microsoft a little bit of trouble getting it approved. During a press screening of Gears, a Microsoft rep did note that while a TGS showing just wasn't to be, the game will be playable at next week's X06 event in Barcelona. Unfortunately, the European Xbox 360 market doesn't need all the help it can get. Japan does.

[Grotesque headshot image, courtesy carbonscoring.]

JoystiqTGS: Gears of War, WRU?! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EpicGears of WarGearsOfWarTGSTGS06Tokyo Game ShowTokyoGameShowX06Xbox-360Sat, 23 Sep 2006 06:25:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Killzone 2, WRU?!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-killzone-2-wru/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-killzone-2-wru/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-killzone-2-wru/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When Sony showed the now-infamous Killzone 2 trailer at E3 2005 I got goosebumps all over. Though we're all aware now that the trailer was merely CGI flimflammery, the memory still haunts those of us lucky enough to experience it in that darkened theater with sound so rich and deep it gave us a heart massage.

Therefore, it's with no small disappointment that we report that Killzone 2 remains AWOL. After mysteriously disappearing from the E3 2006 lineup, Killzone 2 failed to show up at TGS.

Some would suggest that this isn't a big deal as the Japanese gamer doesn't dig FPS games all that much. That excuse doesn't explain the huge presence of Resistance: Fall of Man in Sony's TGS booth. What gives?

JoystiqTGS: Killzone 2, WRU?! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 05:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Guerilla GamesGuerillaGameskillzoneKillzone 2Killzone2ps3tgstgs06tokyo game showSat, 23 Sep 2006 05:29:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Sony's snoozer, judge for yourself]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-sonys-snoozer-judge-for-yourself/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-sonys-snoozer-judge-for-yourself/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-sonys-snoozer-judge-for-yourself/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Apparently our transcription, with requisite PictoChat commentary, didn't convince everyone that Ken Kutaragi's keynote, titled "PS3 Creating Next Generation of Computer Entertainment," was a total snoozefest. So we followed up with an editorial explaining why, yet some remained unconvinced. So, in an attempt to remove ourselves from this equation, we present the translated audio from the event (.mp3) for your listening pleasure.* If you manage to make it through the whole thing, what do you think? What else, besides Killzone 2, was missing? Where was the PSP?

*We'd love to upload a cleaner sound file if any audio-inclined reader wants to clean it up.

See also:
Sony's trainwreck of a keynote
Blogging Ken Kutaragi's PS3 keynote

JoystiqTGS: Sony's snoozer, judge for yourself originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 04:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ken KutaragiKenKutaragikeynotePS3PSPSonyTGSTGS06Sat, 23 Sep 2006 04:25:00 EST<![CDATA[The booth babe lineup, a TGS tradition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/the-booth-babe-lineup-a-tgs-tradition/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/the-booth-babe-lineup-a-tgs-tradition/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/the-booth-babe-lineup-a-tgs-tradition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's a TGS ritual: when the clock strikes five, booth managers round up all of the lovely female 20-somethings that they paid to prettify their booths and line them up for a five-minute photo opportunity.

Show attendees oblige, whipping out their massive camera rigs, kneeling, zooming and snapping thousands of photographs in the fleeting moments before the booth managers lead the women away again.

Though we don't typically engage in such flights of fappery, we think it important to document this spectacle. (It makes us feel dirty to take these photos, but for you, readers, we subject ourselves to all manner of difficult game blog assignment.)

Click "continue" for more photos.

Continue reading The booth babe lineup, a TGS tradition

JoystiqThe booth babe lineup, a TGS tradition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 03:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booth babestgstgs06tokyo game showXbox-360Sat, 23 Sep 2006 03:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Game weapon lets us into our hotel room]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/game-weapon-lets-us-into-our-hotel-room/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/game-weapon-lets-us-into-our-hotel-room/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/game-weapon-lets-us-into-our-hotel-room/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pictured above: a life-size statue of Sora, the protagonist from hit action-RPG franchise Kingdom Hearts (PS2). We have it on good authority that he held that rictus grin all day, despite the sweaty photogs who shoved lenses in his face.

Pictured below: the key to our hotel rooms at the Century Hyatt in Tokyo. Coincidence? Yeah. That's just how some keys are made 'round here. But I'm obsessed with games, so whatever it is I think I see, becomes a tootsie roll to me.

JoystiqGame weapon lets us into our hotel room originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>keybladekingdom heartssoratgstgs06tokyo game showSat, 23 Sep 2006 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Daito's dance marathon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-daitos-dance-marathon/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-daitos-dance-marathon/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-daitos-dance-marathon/#commentsFiled under: , ,

On the way back to the press lounge from Sony's mammoth booth, we happened to catch the last 15 minutes of Daito's mind-bending dance show. Performers pulled quick costume changes and gave live interpretations of the games shown on the projector screen behind them, stepping to the rhythm of a pulsating playlist of J-pop songs.

A plethora of pictures await you after the break.

Continue reading TGS: Daito's dance marathon

JoystiqTGS: Daito's dance marathon originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 01:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dancejapantgstgs06Sat, 23 Sep 2006 01:25:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS for men, women and children [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-for-men-women-and-children/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-for-men-women-and-children/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-for-men-women-and-children/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

On our way to the Makuhari convention center this morning we decided to take a quick census to better describe the difference between TGS and E3 (and between gaming in America and gaming in Japan).

To gather this data, we stood at a chokepoint on the way to the convention center and counted the number of men, women and small children to walk by.

As the table below shows, women comprise approximately 25% of the attendees at TGS. The actual number of women here is somewhat higher because we conducted our census at 10 AM, after most of the booth ladies were required to be in costume and posted at their show-floor stations.

We lack similar data for E3, but our gut feeling is that there are at least triple or quadruple the number of women at this show, many of them arriving with significant others and children in tow.

Update 1: Reader Eric responds, "of course comparing the number of women at TGS and E3 is pretty irrelevent seeing as TGS is open to the public today and tomorrow, while E3 is not."

Great point. However, let's not kid ourselves. E3's "industry only" policy and age-restrictions were habitually ignored. That's part of the reason why exhibitors pulled the plug on E3: it was full of hardcore gamer nerds who had no business reason to be there. TGS at least doesn't even pretend to be "industry only." In the end, the people that showed up to E3 and the people that show up to TGS are the hardest of the hardcore. We think it's interesting that "hardcore" in Japan tends to include many, many more women.

JoystiqTGS for men, women and children [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 23:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanjapanesejpPS3tgstgs06tokyotokyo game showWiiXbox-360Fri, 22 Sep 2006 23:27:00 EST<![CDATA[More video goodness from TGS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/more-video-goodness-from-tgs/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/more-video-goodness-from-tgs/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/more-video-goodness-from-tgs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Videos keep pouring in from TGS, and you can find them embedded after the break. Click on the links for larger sizes and different formats.

Continue reading More video goodness from TGS

JoystiqMore video goodness from TGS originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSPS3TGSTGS06WiiXbox-360Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Metal Slug rolling onto XBLA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-metal-slug-rolling-onto-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-metal-slug-rolling-onto-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-metal-slug-rolling-onto-xbla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Metal Slug1UP reports of an SNK Playmore pamphlet circulating the halls of Tokyo Game Show, advertising Metal Slug for Xbox Live Arcade. Allegedly, the text translates to "the original," suggesting that Metal Slug 1 will arrive on Microsoft's download service. But when?

Aside from the XBLA pipeline being jammed full of pending titles, Metal Slug also has its unofficial successor, Alien Hominid, to contend with. With Hominid well ahead of Metal Slug in the queue, and (hopefully) a more dedicated effort from Microsoft to diversify XBLA content as the service evolves, SNK's classic could fall by the wayside. We predict a late 2007 rollout.

JoystiqMetal Slug rolling onto XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadMetal SlugMetalSlugSNKSNK PlaymoreSnkPlaymoreTGSTGS06Tokyo Game ShowTokyoGameShowXBLAXbox LiveXbox Live ArcadeXbox-360XboxLiveXboxLiveArcadeFri, 22 Sep 2006 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Paparazzi catch Phil Harrison at Sony Keynote]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/paparazzi-catch-phil-harrison-at-sony-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/paparazzi-catch-phil-harrison-at-sony-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/paparazzi-catch-phil-harrison-at-sony-keynote/#commentsFiled under: ,

From the Joystiq tip linecomes this secret spy shot of Phil Harrison (Executive VP of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) during the Ken Kutaragi keynote. We'll characterize his expression as "pensive" though some less kind observers have called it "somnolent."

Does Phil speak Japanese? Is his translation headset on the other ear?

JoystiqPaparazzi catch Phil Harrison at Sony Keynote originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationps3tgstgs06Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Coded Arms Assault (PS3)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/joystiq-hands-on-coded-arms-assault-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/joystiq-hands-on-coded-arms-assault-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/joystiq-hands-on-coded-arms-assault-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Whereas Ridge Racer 7 impressed us, Konami's Coded Arms Assault left us writhing in pain. The game was a comedy of errors and should never have been shown. Among the game's many, many technical flaws include:
  • A jerky frame rate that frequently slowed down when something happened, no matter how small (e.g. reloading your pistol)
  • Very low polygon count. We're pretty sure we've seen GameCube titles use more horsepower, which is not a good sign for a PS3 game.
  • Cheap-looking explosions.
  • Bullets and grenades left paths in the air that can best be described as "a line of sprites."
  • Horrendous load times (about 43 Mississippis seconds)
  • Unresponsive camera controls that had only two speeds (stop and spin wildly).
Beyond all that, Coded Arms Assault is just another derivative first-person shooter. It offers nothing to set itself apart from the crowd, including its paltry visuals (shown at 720p, though you'd be hard-pressed to notice). We'd consider this a mediocre PlayStation 2 game, and it's supposed to be next-gen? Tsk, tsk, ...

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Coded Arms Assault (PS3)

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Coded Arms Assault (PS3) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Coded ArmsCoded Arms AssaultCodedArmsCodedArmsAssaultKonamiPS3TGSTGS06Fri, 22 Sep 2006 05:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Devil May Cry 4 (PS3)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/joystiq-hands-on-devil-may-cry-4-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/joystiq-hands-on-devil-may-cry-4-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/joystiq-hands-on-devil-may-cry-4-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Don't let the new coat of polish fool you, just go by the title. Devil May Cry 4 is the fourth title in the relatively young series and, as a result, feels neither new nor exciting. You perform your combos, kill the baddies, collect some orbs, and repeat. The good news is that it's playable here at TGS, as opposed to the real time footage we feared.

While the environments are nicely detailed and the architecture appropriately atmospheric, the characters leave something to be desired. Dante Nero felt particularly clumsy in this build, going from a standstill to a full sprint with almost no transitional animation, a far cry form the series trademark fluidity. The enemies were also repetitive and uninspired and, perhaps due to the controller's lack of rumble, pounding on them lacked the visceral oomph the series is known for. The experience felt particularly detached.

The game did look good but, interestingly, after a brief system crash (hey, this is beta software after all), the Sony television display (the same one with the "Full 1080" sticker on the front) revealed this particular PS3 demo was running at a not-true and not-full 720p. Regardless of its technical pedigree, Devil May Cry 4 does illustrate that even pre-release PS3 games are graphically impressive, with none of those load times we've been worried about. Expect DMC4 to look even better when it gets released this Spring. As for the gameplay, if you've played the first three, we imagine you'll know exactly what you're getting into.

Apologies for the notably poor image ... Sony was not allowing any photographs of the games played at their booth, but we managed to snap this blurry mess before getting our pasty mitts slapped. Fortunately, they allowed Game Videos to get some video, which we've embedded after the break.

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Devil May Cry 4 (PS3)

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Devil May Cry 4 (PS3) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 04:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomDevil May CryDevil May Cry 4DevilMayCryDevilMayCry4DMC4PS3TGSTGS06Fri, 22 Sep 2006 04:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq hands-on: Ridge Racer 7 (PS3)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/joystiq-hands-on-ridge-racer-7-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/joystiq-hands-on-ridge-racer-7-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/joystiq-hands-on-ridge-racer-7-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 7 is gorgeous. After 36 minutes of waiting in line and 13 seconds of loading screens, we got a chance to play a track of one of the few PS3 games running in 1080p. The attention to detail is impressive, including:
  • Taillights blur and stretch while in tunnels
  • Effective shadowing and reflections against your car
  • When nitro is activated, giant flames blast out from the back of your car and the environments blur accordingly.
One thing we noticed was that you could not damage your car -- not by running into other cars, skidding against the side rails, or ramming straight into a wall. And while all tires left tracks, they would disappear by the next lap.

Everything else is what you'd expect from a racing game. Is it incredibly realistic? Not really, but the game was still pretty fun, and one of the few titles that pushed the PS3s graphics capabilities.

Favorite moment: Everyone in line, myself include, finished the race by drifting our cars to the point where we crossed the finish line backwards.

Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Ridge Racer 7 (PS3)

JoystiqJoystiq hands-on: Ridge Racer 7 (PS3) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 04:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>namco bandaiNamcoBandaiPS3ridge racerRidgeRacerTGStgs06Fri, 22 Sep 2006 04:25:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Bootlegged MGS4 trailer given clarity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-bootlegged-mgs4-trailer-given-clarity/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-bootlegged-mgs4-trailer-given-clarity/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-bootlegged-mgs4-trailer-given-clarity/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer we reported yesterday is now available in higher quality. Enjoy with more clarity Snake's oil drum-rolling antics (Snakes in a Barrel anyone?) and an incident involving bird poop and what might be Gray Fox / Frank Jaeger.

The video is embedded below for your convenience, compliments of Game Videos.

Continue reading TGS: Bootlegged MGS4 trailer given clarity

JoystiqTGS: Bootlegged MGS4 trailer given clarity originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 03:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hideo kojimaHideoKojimametal gear solidMetalGearSolidPS3solid snakeSolidSnakeTGStgs06Fri, 22 Sep 2006 03:55:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: PS3 game case revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-ps3-game-case-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-ps3-game-case-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-ps3-game-case-revealed/#commentsFiled under: ,

To the right of a long wall of playable PS3 demos (and a few trailers running on PS3s), Sony had on hand two PlayStation 3 units encased in cylindrical glass. Unlike previous viewings, this time Sony showed off what we presume is the final case design for its PS3 games.

The two cases shown were for Grand Turismo HD and Heavenly Sword. The case designs were identical to what IGN reported about a few weeks back. However, both their mockup and our my speculation were off regarding the outside shell, which is translucent and features only a tiny Blu-ray engraving in the top-left corner of the box.

More pictures of the cases after the break.

See Also:
PS3 box shot: Photoshop at its finest?

Continue reading TGS: PS3 game case revealed

JoystiqTGS: PS3 game case revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 03:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxcaseps3TGStgs06Fri, 22 Sep 2006 03:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's trainwreck of a keynote [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/sonys-trainwreck-of-a-presser/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/sonys-trainwreck-of-a-presser/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/sonys-trainwreck-of-a-presser/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In responding to our live coverage of Ken Kutaragi's keynote at TGS earlier this morning, one Joystiq commenter wrote, "Gee, if this keynote was as boring being there as it was to read about, then Sony's in for a world of hurt."

We're here to tell you that it was worse. Way worse. You, dear reader, can dismiss the browser window containing that text with a click of your mouse, confident that nothing important was said. We, however, had to sit through the entire painful hour next to a European fellow who, if he ever owned any deodorant, had surely not used it in the last 48 hours.

During the keynote, the DS pictochat room that had fallen silent sprang to life as bored attendees decided to entertain themselves, since it was clear that Ken Kutaragi had no intention of doing so. After the keynote, we head the words "meltdown," "total disaster," and "trainwreck" bandied about the press room. This keynote was worse -- way worse -- than Sony's E3 showing.

To be fair, part of the issue is that the translators Sony hired for this event were simply unable to keep up with the technical nature of the talk. They stumbled on common terms like VoIP. They used a limited vocabulary that made Kutaragi sound like a repetitive rambler who hit the sauce something fierce prior to the speech. (Of course, we don't know whether Kutaragi had a three-martini breakfast prior to the keynote, but we're wishing we had snuck in a flask of something to help us through the hour.)

Continue reading Sony's trainwreck of a keynote [update 1]

JoystiqSony's trainwreck of a keynote [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 02:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdmips3TGStgs06WiiXbox-360Fri, 22 Sep 2006 02:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PictoChat users sign off on Ken's keynote]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/pictochat-users-sign-off-on-kens-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/pictochat-users-sign-off-on-kens-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/pictochat-users-sign-off-on-kens-keynote/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


While waiting for Ken Kutaragi's Tokyo Game Show keynote to begin, we fired up our trusty DSs to capture the zeitgeist of the audience: a mixture of press, VIPs, camerapeople, and sneaky stowaways. Despite a slow start, the chatroom quickly filled up and, by the time the speech began, they were all chatting up a storm.

Yes, we know, that DS users feedback on Sony's latest and greatest may seem a bit unbalanced, but only if you subscribe to a one console, one gamer mentality. Many of the people in this chatroom were just as excited to be there as we were, and just as hopeful that Ken had an ace up his sleeve.

Read on for more clever quips and creative artwork from inside the Sony TGS keynote.

Continue reading PictoChat users sign off on Ken's keynote

JoystiqPictoChat users sign off on Ken's keynote originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 01:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSPictoChatPS3TGSTGS06Tokyo Games ShowTokyoGamesShowFri, 22 Sep 2006 01:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Dreamcast at TGS: a relic from the past]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/dreamcast-at-tgs-a-relic-from-the-past/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/dreamcast-at-tgs-a-relic-from-the-past/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/dreamcast-at-tgs-a-relic-from-the-past/#commentsFiled under: ,

Located across from the From Software lineup, the Sega Dreamcast's presence at this year's Tokyo Game Show was rather weak. Amounting to just one box from years past, this lonely Dreamcast box can do nothing but watch children play PS2 games from across the walkway.

Don't fret, Dreamcast, we still remember you. The last time Dreamcast officially had a TGS viewing was 2001 (we believe; correct us if we're wrong), when it announced Shenmue 2 wouldn't be released in the US.

[Update 1: forgot the "2" in Shenmue 2.]

JoystiqDreamcast at TGS: a relic from the past originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dreamcastsegaTGStgs06Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:55:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Blogging Ken Kutaragi's PS3 keynote [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-blogging-ken-kutaragis-ps3-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-blogging-ken-kutaragis-ps3-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/tgs-blogging-ken-kutaragis-ps3-keynote/#commentsFiled under: ,



It's hot and humid outside the room in which Sony's Ken Kutaragi will deliver the most anticipated keynote address of Tokyo Games Show. The journalists who are queuing up are sure to be tired and cranky by the time they get into the show, ensuring, perhaps, a properly sceptical reception for the tsu-hype-nami to follow.

After a raucous round of DS PictoChat, the keynote starts at 10:11am. Introducing Ken Kutaragi, CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment, reading from his latest work, "PS3 Creating Next Generation of Computer Entertainment."

Sony asks us to refrain from taking pictures of demo stuff. Fine, we'll oblige, but we won't like it. 'Cause you wouldn't want to show off the product you want everyone to buy in a couple months. Instead, we'll provide some additional color commentary, courtesy the press and attendees hanging out in the DS PictoChat chatroom.

Continue reading TGS: Blogging Ken Kutaragi's PS3 keynote [update 1]

JoystiqTGS: Blogging Ken Kutaragi's PS3 keynote [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ken KutaragiKenKutaragikeynotePS3TGSTGS06Tokyo Game ShowTokyoGameShowFri, 22 Sep 2006 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Metal Gear Solid 4 in late 2007, hopefully -- new trailer for now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/21/metal-gear-solid-4-in-late-2007-hopefully-new-trailer-for-no/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/21/metal-gear-solid-4-in-late-2007-hopefully-new-trailer-for-no/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/21/metal-gear-solid-4-in-late-2007-hopefully-new-trailer-for-no/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Metal Gear Solid 4According to a Famitsu report, Hideo Kojima estimates that Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will need at least another year's worth of development time before it's finished. While Kojima had previously promised to deliver in 2007, he's narrowed that window to late 2007 -- at the earliest. For now, Konami is offering a new trailer, which is currently premiering at Tokyo Game Show.

The new trailer -- partially captured in bootleg form from the show floor here & here -- is allegedly 100% gameplay, although Konami has tweaked the camera perspective for clarity. At just 6 minutes, it's significantly shorter than the E3 presentation, but reveals new gameplay elements, including stealth items (e.g. an oil drum), the Octocam suit, and a shift from stealth-orientated missions to player's choice gameplay (i.e. you have a goal and are free to decide how to achieve it).

[Thanks, nijah]

JoystiqMetal Gear Solid 4 in late 2007, hopefully -- new trailer for now originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HideoKojimaKonamiMetal GearMetal Gear SolidMetalGearMetalGearSolidPS3Solid SnakeSolidSnakeTGSTGS06Tokyo Game ShowTokyoGameShowtrailerThu, 21 Sep 2006 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tokyo Game Show videos aplenty [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/20/tokyo-game-show-videos-aplenty/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/20/tokyo-game-show-videos-aplenty/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/20/tokyo-game-show-videos-aplenty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Videos have started hitting the net from the Tokyo Game Show 2006, and they're already impressing us. It's nice to see so many new RPGs coming out. Here are some of the best for your viewing pleasure.

Continue reading Tokyo Game Show videos aplenty [update 1]

JoystiqTokyo Game Show videos aplenty [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blue DragonBlueDragonDead or Alive Xtreme 2DeadOrAliveXtreme2Eternal-SonataGod HandGodHandJRPGLost OdysseyLost PlanetLostOdysseyLostPlanetMicrosoftNamco-BandaiPS3RPGTGS06Tri-CrescendoTrusty-BellXbox 360 HD-DVDXbox-360Xbox360Hd-dvdWed, 20 Sep 2006 20:25:00 EST