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[Riot in the streets, at a desk, in your hand: An indie documentary game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/riot-in-the-streets-at-a-desk-in-your-hand-an-indie-documenta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/riot-in-the-streets-at-a-desk-in-your-hand-an-indie-documenta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/riot-in-the-streets-at-a-desk-in-your-hand-an-indie-documenta/#comments Riot thing"Riots are powerful. They are moments in which lots of different people blend into a unique and cohesive mass to fight for their freedom. It is something that you cannot pursue for yourself, but only for a greater good. How can that not be incredibly emotive?"

Designer Mattia Traverso approaches rioting as an intense, human experience, from both sides of the kevlar: Rioters take to the streets for freedom and glory, while the authorities fight back in an equally fervid attempt to retain order. Riots are masses of thousands of stories about people, and Riot is a game about humanity.

Traverso, creator Leonard Menchiari and programmer Ugur Ister's Riot has raised almost triple its $10,000 funding goal on Indiegogo, and it still has 10 days to pull in more money. Money that the Italian trio will use to travel the globe, seeking out and documenting riots in Italy, Greece, Egypt, Russia and other countries, interviewing rioters and law enforcement officers, gathering videos, photos and eyewitness accounts - then throwing all of that into the game.

"Phisically visiting these places and joining the live riots is fundamental," Traverso tells me. "One cannot describe something he does not know, and that is something that the 'serious' movie industry knows very well: You need research. How could we even claim to describe such an important topic without having lived it multiple times or having talked with the rioters or the police?"

Continue reading Riot in the streets, at a desk, in your hand: An indie documentary game

JoystiqRiot in the streets, at a desk, in your hand: An indie documentary game originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcrowdfundingcrowdsourcingIndieIndieGoGoiosipadiphoneleonard-menchiarimacMattia-Traversomobilepcriotriotstravelugur-isterFri, 08 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hong Kong International Airport gets PS3 kiosks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/hong-kong-international-airport-gets-ps3-kiosks/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/hong-kong-international-airport-gets-ps3-kiosks/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/hong-kong-international-airport-gets-ps3-kiosks/#comments
[Image: Flickr user charchlam]
While we Americans are forced to spend our layovers trying not to get chosen for random cavity searches, folks who end up with some free time at Hong Kong International Airport are given a much more pleasant distraction. According to travel news site The Moodie Report, HKIA now plays host to more than a dozen PS3 "game poles," which give visitors a chance to check out a number of the platform's biggest titles, like Final Fantasy XIII and Uncharted 2. Sounds like a pretty neat idea -- we're just glad Modern Warfare 2 isn't one of the featured games. That'd be ... uncomfortable.

[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqHong Kong International Airport gets PS3 kiosks originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airportdemofinal-fantasy-xiiihong-konghong-kong-international-airportkiosksonytraveluncharted-2Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rent a PSP Go on your next South Korean flight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/rent-a-psp-go-on-your-next-south-korean-flight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/rent-a-psp-go-on-your-next-south-korean-flight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/rent-a-psp-go-on-your-next-south-korean-flight/#comments If you're planning on taking a flight into (or out of) South Korea and are hard-pressed for something to do during the flight, Jin Air, a subsidiary of Korean Air, is offering patrons the option to rent a 16GB PSP Go for a reasonable 4,000 won ($3.50), Siliconera reports. It apparently comes pre-loaded with games, none of which are specifically mentioned in the press release. That's a good way to get somebody to pay for something!

Anyway, we're just glad somebody's supporting the PSP Go, because it's not like Sony is.

[Thanks, John]

JoystiqRent a PSP Go on your next South Korean flight originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jin-airkorean-airpsppsp-gosouth-koreatravelFri, 15 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pokemon Center is a hot Japanese tourist destination]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/pokemon-center-is-a-hot-japanese-tourist-destination/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/pokemon-center-is-a-hot-japanese-tourist-destination/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/pokemon-center-is-a-hot-japanese-tourist-destination/#comments
There's plenty of essential sightseeing spots and activities any tourist must partake in during a visit to Japan, such as hitting up the local jumbo-sized arcades, dropping by the beautiful Sensoji Temple, and falling in love with a washed-up actor in a luxurious hotel. However, according to travel site TripAdvisor.com's Top 20 most popular Japanese tourist destinations in 2008, the third-hottest locale for visitors was Tokyo's Pokémon Center store.

It seems a little silly that a retail outlet dedicated to Poké-merch was so outrageously popular amongst Japan-bound travelers last year. Then again, where else are you supposed to heal your sick or injured pokémon -- the veterinary hospital? Don't be ridiculous.

[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqPokemon Center is a hot Japanese tourist destination originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-freakjapannintendopokemonpokemon-center-tokyotokyotourismtravelFri, 10 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Where in the World ...]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/ds-daily-where-in-the-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/ds-daily-where-in-the-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/ds-daily-where-in-the-world/#commentsFiled under:

... has your DS been?

Your DS likes to travel, you know! It enjoys seeing new cultures, and meeting new people. We know because it told us.

So today's question: where in the World have you taken your DS? Has anybody's handheld travelled with them to all seven continents? Well, okay, Antarctica is probably a tricky one, but ... has your portable seen the other six? If so, it's seen more of this planet than us!

JoystiqDS Daily: Where in the World ... originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsdtravelWed, 21 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Globe DS: a big blue marble of learning]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/globe-ds-a-big-blue-marble-of-learning/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/globe-ds-a-big-blue-marble-of-learning/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/globe-ds-a-big-blue-marble-of-learning/#commentsFiled under: ,

Everyone loves the Wii Forecast Channel. It's funny, because the most entertaining thing to do is spin the world really fast, randomly stop on a location and promise yourself that you will travel there. After that, you realize that you are dirt poor, you can't travel overseas because of those threatening references you made to the UN, and all your assets have been seized by the state. Sure, you did have that promising career in waste management lined up, but it's too late to do anything about that now!

... Ahem. So, there's a globe thing coming to the DS now. It's not an instant-weather application or anything, but rather a detailed map of various worldy data. In Earth mode, you can check out specific information for each country, including climate, population and economic details. In History mode, you can touch a region to learn about how it has evolved over time -- evidently dating back to 3100BC.
Finally, the Card mode lets you collect approximately 500 cards which have various puzzles and questions to answer. Obviously, the whole thing is in Japanese, but localization wouldn't be too much of a stretch considering the wealth of "edutainment" titles we see on the DS these days.

JoystiqGlobe DS: a big blue marble of learning originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>edutainmentfamitsuglobetravelMon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Yukemuri Suspense's real-world adventure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/yukemuri-suspenses-real-world-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/yukemuri-suspenses-real-world-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/yukemuri-suspenses-real-world-adventure/#commentsFiled under: ,

Zenrin's Yukemuri Suspense (Steam Suspense) uses real-world locations and maps of Japan in its mystery story, sending players (virtually) to landmarks and hotspots. More screens of the investigative adventure game have come out showing the digitized, realistic style of the game, and, well, we don't know what to say. We had this vague hope that the total-realism approach would imbue the game with a serious, dramatic tone. But it doesn't! It's just kind of goofy. We suppose you still have to hire realistic actors.

The latest Famitsu post about the game mentions that not only are the locations in this murder-mystery real, but so are the lodgings and the food served. It's a mystery game as a travel guide! We can look past silly faces and appreciate the innovation.

JoystiqYukemuri Suspense's real-world adventure originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventuremysterytravelyukemuri-suspensezenrinTue, 05 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel channel's Bourdain hits EA Vancouver studio, lands role in Boll's Far Cry]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/26/travel-channels-bourdain-hits-ea-vancouver-studio-lands-role-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/26/travel-channels-bourdain-hits-ea-vancouver-studio-lands-role-i/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/26/travel-channels-bourdain-hits-ea-vancouver-studio-lands-role-i/#commentsFiled under:


Anthony Bourdain is probably the flyest guy you've never heard of -- he's a life long student of the culinary arts, star of the popular show "No Reservations" on the unpopular Travel Channel, and is smarter and better-traveled than a handful of Ernest Hemingways. On top of a stack of best selling books and a successful culinary career, Bourdain now has a few more feats to tack on to his resume following his show's recent trip to Vancouver -- he's a special guest in EA Sports' FIFA Street 3, and and extra in Uwe Boll's next box office train wreck, "Far Cry".

Yes, during his trip to the Great White North, Bourdain not only had the opportunity to have a (hideous) character modeled after him at EA Vancouver's swanky headquarters, he also got to drop by the Far Cry set (check it out after the jump), where it seems he received a fairly cold reception from Boll. That's okay, though -- before taking the stage as "Dr. Gets Shot in the Chest", Bourdain added his own commentary about Boll's burgeoning career -- "Perhaps you know his work from such films as 'House of the Dead' and 'Bloodrayne'."

"And then," he says with a smug grin, "maybe not."

Continue reading Travel channel's Bourdain hits EA Vancouver studio, lands role in Boll's Far Cry

JoystiqTravel channel's Bourdain hits EA Vancouver studio, lands role in Boll's Far Cry originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AnthonyBourdainBollBourdainFar-CryFarCryNoReservationsTravelTravelChannelUweUweBollSat, 26 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Taking it with you]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/ds-daily-taking-it-with-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/ds-daily-taking-it-with-you/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/21/ds-daily-taking-it-with-you/#commentsFiled under:

... or, more specifically, taking it with you to family gatherings over the holidays. As in, will you be carrying your DS around? For holiday travel, it's a real boon; the DS can help with the monotony of long plane trips or drives (so long as you're not actually driving), or help deal with jet lag or insomnia from changing time zones. It can also be fun to share the joy and wonder of the world's best handheld with the uneducated masses. Did you do that last winter? If so, you may not be the only one sporting a DS at this year's holiday gatherings. Hey, maybe you'll be able to get some download play in!

JoystiqDS Daily: Taking it with you originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>holidashholidaystravelFri, 21 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Portability]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/wii-warm-up-portability/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/wii-warm-up-portability/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/wii-warm-up-portability/#commentsFiled under:

We all know that the DS is easy to lug around, but how about your Wii? Does it ever leave your house? Do you take it on planes, trains, and automobiles? Maybe your Wii has been all over the world, or maybe it's never left your living room. Simply put, do you ever travel with your Wii?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Portability originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PortableTravelSun, 25 Nov 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Talismoon's travel-sized, retractable sensor bar]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/talismoons-travel-sized-retractable-sensor-bar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/talismoons-travel-sized-retractable-sensor-bar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/talismoons-travel-sized-retractable-sensor-bar/#commentsFiled under:

Talismoon, the same company behind the swappable Wii slot gates and ninja-themed replacement shells, tinkered with Nintendo's sensor bar design to make it more compact for travel. The resulting $24.95 Sensor Wiire requires even less space than the already-low-profile standard bar and, thanks to its retractability, packs up without leaving a frustrating tangle of thin wires.

As an added bonus, you could probably use it as a pocket-sized garrotte if you don't have any other assassination tools handy. Protect ya neck and jump past the post break for more photos of Talismoon's Sensor Wiire setup.

Continue reading Talismoon's travel-sized, retractable sensor bar

JoystiqTalismoon's travel-sized, retractable sensor bar originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>retractablesensor-barsensorbartalismoontravelTue, 06 Nov 2007 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Traveling plans]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/ds-daily-traveling-plans/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/ds-daily-traveling-plans/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/ds-daily-traveling-plans/#commentsFiled under:

In honor of the (U.S.) holiday, we thought it might be a good time to talk about travel. One of the best features of the DS is its portability; you can take handhelds just about everywhere. But when planning for a trip, there are always a few questions to consider. Will you have a chance to actually use it? If you're going camping, say, do you really want to risk your DS ... particularly if you're the one likely to be behind the wheel? Where don't you take your DS? But if you're heading off for a plane ride and a few days in a hotel somewhere, the DS can be a welcome distraction. The question that remains is: how many games do you pack?

JoystiqDS Daily: Traveling plans originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>campingdsdsdlitepackplanetravelWed, 04 Jul 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Miis on the go]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/18/miis-on-the-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/18/miis-on-the-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/18/miis-on-the-go/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Shiggy-san?From some leaked developer documents some time ago, it was revealed that each Wiimote would have around 6 kb of memory built right in. Some believed it to be purely for the internal speaker, while others had crazier ideas: personalized settings, content, and once the Mii system was unveiled, perhaps even the storing of one's own digital avatar. Is it true? You bet your gold coins it is. Straight from the mouth of George Harrison, each Wiimote will be able to store up to 10 Mii creations for those on-the-go fixes of Wii Tennis.

Nintendo seems to be fostering the concept of a personalized Wiimote for each player, something never before attempted. If one can indeed store some settings (and a saved game or two? Maybe the internal memory was increased since then), the feeling would only increase. Get ready to show off your creations!

[Thanks, Jrathert!]

JoystiqMiis on the go originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MemoryPlay NintendoPlayNintendoSamuel JacksonSamuelJacksonShiggyStoreTravelWiiWiimoteWed, 18 Oct 2006 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii accessories list, courtesy of Gamestop [Update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/wii-accessories-list-courtesy-of-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/wii-accessories-list-courtesy-of-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/wii-accessories-list-courtesy-of-gamestop/#commentsFiled under:

It's so bad.EB Games/Gamestop/EB Gamestop or whatever they're called these days occasionally gets some inside information before the press. (I say occasionally; please hold off on the "my local EB Games employee told you the Wii was coming out December 17th" tips.) A quick search of Gamestop's online store in the accessories section yields some interesting results, shows as follows:

Wii Controller Glove 9.99
Wii G-Pak Travel Case 29.99
Wii Game Wallet 9.99
Wii HD Premium Component Cable 59.99
Wii Memory SD 1.0GB 59.99
Wii Memory SD 512MB 39.99
Wii S-Video Premium AV Cable 39.99
Wii Sling Bag 29.99
Wii Storage & Protection 1.0GB Kit 69.99

We knew about the Power Glove, but the SD cards just seem like a convenient excuse for Gamestop to take people's money; the prices are quite high. The premium component cable is insanely expensive, but hey, it's premium. Other than that, your classic game-toting sling-bag take-it-anywhere-but-not-really-because-no-one-ever-does-that accessories are on the list. With the immediate need for extra controllers, memory, and games at launch, is anyone going to pick up any of these other things?

[Thanks, Randy!]

[Update 1: Clarified that the SD cards are not officially from Nintendo, and realized that you can in fact get SD cards for far cheaper.]

JoystiqWii accessories list, courtesy of Gamestop [Update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Sep 2006 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AccessoryCableEB GamesEbGamesGamestopGloveMemoryPremiumProtectionSDSlingStorageTravelThu, 07 Sep 2006 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaming in West Africa: Only 7 years behind]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/gaming-in-west-africa-only-7-years-behind/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/gaming-in-west-africa-only-7-years-behind/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/22/gaming-in-west-africa-only-7-years-behind/#commentsFiled under: ,

To cut a long story short and to create a forced feeling of mystery and intrigue, I'll simply point out that, on my way back home from E3 last week, I was stranded for 24 hours in Senegal, a quaint little country situated in Western Africa. And by "quaint little country", I really mean a place that technology actively flees from in blind terror. When my laptop attempted to find an active Wi-Fi hotspot, canned laughter could be heard emanating from somewhere in the universe. And so, with Guitar Hero controller strapped to my back (simultaneously a piece of carry-on luggage and a bold image), I began to explore the vast and largely undeveloped wasteland that was the country's...airport building.

Leave it to a gaming nerd to find a store selling games in such an obscure place. Judging by the veritable cornucopia of new releases lining the shelves, the country's gaming scene is sure to take off. Some of the games burning up the Senegalese sales charts include:
  • Fifa '99 (don't worry, it plays the same as this year's version)
  • Shadow Warrior
  • Star Wars: Behind the Magic (which isn't even a game)
  • Pong
I would have taken the time to pre-order a Sega Saturn at the counter, but the French language barrier proved to be insurmountable. I'll be better prepared next time I get stranded here.

Continue reading Gaming in West Africa: Only 7 years behind

JoystiqGaming in West Africa: Only 7 years behind originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 May 2006 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AtariEAElectronic-ArtsFifaForeign gamingForeignGamingInternational gamingInternationalGamingPCPongShadow WarriorShadowWarriorStar WarsStarWarsTravelMon, 22 May 2006 19:25:00 EST<![CDATA[DS translator terrific for traversing Thailand]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/17/ds-translator-terrific-for-traversing-thailand/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/17/ds-translator-terrific-for-traversing-thailand/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/17/ds-translator-terrific-for-traversing-thailand/#commentsFiled under:

A pair of Nintendo commercials illustrates just how useful their new "traveler's notebook" translation software is when it comes to communicating to the people of a strange and foreign country. After a few taps on the touch screen, the DS displays a translated version of whatever message the young lady is trying to convey and is promptly shoved into the face of some hapless local. If that doesn't work, it can also read the sentence to you in a non-threatening electronic voice.

Allowing one to haggle a hat-seller or carefully avoid ordering food that might explode halfway down your throat are just more examples of how the DS is spreading its tendrils into the realms of non-gaming.

[Thanks yoorin!]

JoystiqDS translator terrific for traversing Thailand originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Apr 2006 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSDS LiteDsLiteNintendo DSNintendoDsThailandTranslationTravelMon, 17 Apr 2006 19:55:00 EST