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[MIT's relativistic OpenRelativity toolkit now freely available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/01/mits-relativistic-openrelativity-toolkit-now-freely-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/01/mits-relativistic-openrelativity-toolkit-now-freely-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/01/mits-relativistic-openrelativity-toolkit-now-freely-available/#comments
MIT Game Lab's OpenRelativity toolset, which powered its psychedelic first-person collection game/physics demonstration A Slower Speed of Light, is now available for free through Github. The toolkit works in both free and paid versions of Unity.

OpenRelativity allows for the real-time simulation of principles such as time dilation, Lorentz transformation and relativistic Doppler shift by allowing the designer to augment the ways in which light behaves. As it turns out, light moving at the speed it normally does is pretty dang essential to our world not transforming into a disorienting funhouse where cause and effect are meaningless. Who could have guessed?

JoystiqMIT's relativistic OpenRelativity toolkit now freely available originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-slower-speed-of-lightlinuxmacMITmit-game-labopenrelativitypcphysicsrelativityunitySat, 01 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Unity mobile tools go free for indies and small studios]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/unity-mobile-tools-go-free-for-indies-and-small-studios/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/unity-mobile-tools-go-free-for-indies-and-small-studios/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/unity-mobile-tools-go-free-for-indies-and-small-studios/#commentsUnity dropping Flash support Unity Technologies, creators of the multi-platform Unity engine and its tools, is making its mobile tools free to indies and small studios starting today, taking tools that cost around $800 and making them free. Unity currently supports Apple's iOS and Google's Android, with support for BlackBerry and Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 to be added at no additional cost in the future.

"Mobile games development is possibly the most dynamic and exciting industry in the world, and it's an honor to be able to help so many developers be so successful in fulfilling their visions and in building their businesses," said Unity CEO David Helgason. "We were able to make Unity free for the web and for desktop computers a while ago, but have been dreaming of doing the same for mobile for what seems like forever."

To contextualize this, Unity is already a beast in the mobile field in terms of market share and developer relations. The company just opened the flood gates further.

Continue reading Unity mobile tools go free for indies and small studios

JoystiqUnity mobile tools go free for indies and small studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidiosiphonemobileunityTue, 21 May 2013 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Notch launches Drop, inspired by Super Hexagon, Fez and letters]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/notch-launches-drop-inspired-by-super-hexagon-fez-and-letters/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/notch-launches-drop-inspired-by-super-hexagon-fez-and-letters/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/notch-launches-drop-inspired-by-super-hexagon-fez-and-letters/#comments Notch launches Drop, inspired by Super Hexagon, Fez and lettersIn lieu of his Ludum Dare game, Notch today launched a Unity game called Drop, available online for free. Notch is, of course, the mastermind behind Minecraft, and Drop is a quick exercise in rapid wordsmithery, spinning and catchy tunes.

Notch attributes inspiration for Drop to Super Hexagon, the ceiling of his apartment and the ending of Fez, and after playing for a little while, that all sounds about right. We would also throw in a vibe from Pippin Barr's 30 Flights of Loathing and Pottermore's Spells game.

If you have some time today, maybe make nimble your fingers and give Drop a go. But first try to say that sentence five times fast.

JoystiqNotch launches Drop, inspired by Super Hexagon, Fez and letters originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dropmacMarkus-PerssonnotchpcunitySun, 28 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Unity ending Flash support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/unity-ending-flash-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/unity-ending-flash-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/unity-ending-flash-support/#comments Unity dropping Flash supportMultiplatform game engine Unity is getting a little less multiplatform. "As of today, we will stop selling Flash deployment licenses," CEO David Helgason announced. " We will continue to support our existing Flash customers throughout the 4.x cycle."

Helgason said that the decision to stop supporting Flash was motivated by what Unity sees as a lack of commitment to Flash on the part of Adobe, because of player instability, canceled projects, and various other factors.

Besides which, "Developers are moving away from Flash, and while Flash publishing has gotten little traction, our own Unity Web Player has seen unprecedented growth in recent months."

JoystiqUnity ending Flash support originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flashpcunityWed, 24 Apr 2013 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Unity and 'Nintendo Web Framework' offer new Wii U dev tools]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/unity-and-nintendo-web-framework-offer-new-wii-u-dev-tools/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/unity-and-nintendo-web-framework-offer-new-wii-u-dev-tools/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/unity-and-nintendo-web-framework-offer-new-wii-u-dev-tools/#comments Nintendo Web FrameworkAnnounced during GDC yesterday, the Wii U's "Nintendo Web Framework" allows developers to use HTML5, Javascript, and CSS to make apps that can run on Wii U, supporting both GamePad and Wiimote controllers. We'd guess this would be most useful for app development, given the web focus of these languages, but it would be possible to make games as well.

A more directly game-focused tech developers can use is Unity. The popular multiplatform development environment is available for Wii U as well, Nintendo revealed. Both of these technologies are advertised on Nintendo's GDC site, which also offers links to the developer questionnaire for those interested in becoming licensed Nintendo developers.

JoystiqUnity and 'Nintendo Web Framework' offer new Wii U dev tools originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc-2013html5nintendonintendo-web-frameworkunitywii-uThu, 28 Mar 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony and Unity enter 'strategic partnership' for tools optimized for PlayStation platforms]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/sony-and-unity-team-up-to-create-unity-for-playstation/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/sony-and-unity-team-up-to-create-unity-for-playstation/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/sony-and-unity-team-up-to-create-unity-for-playstation/#comments Sony and Unity team up to create Unity for PlayStationSony has announced a partnership with Unity that will result in tools built for "optimized deployment" to the PlayStation 4, PS3, Vita and the PlayStation Mobile platform.

Games developed on the "Unity for PlayStation" platform will be able to take advantage of system-specific features - like the Vita's touchpads and cameras - and can integrate easily into the PlayStation Network. The tools also allow developers to more easily port titles across to other supported Unity devices, such as iOS and Android.

Sony's platforms already support Unity's tools, with Might & Delight's Pid and Funbits' Escape Plan built with the engine. The full Unity for PlayStation toolset will be available along with the rest of the PlayStation platform development tools later on this fall.

Continue reading Sony and Unity enter 'strategic partnership' for tools optimized for PlayStation platforms

JoystiqSony and Unity enter 'strategic partnership' for tools optimized for PlayStation platforms originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developersdevelopmentenginemobileplaystationplaystation-3playstation-4playstation-vitaps3sonyunityunity-for-playstationunity-game-enginevitaThu, 21 Mar 2013 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Unity co-founder Nicholas Francis leaving to make games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/unity-co-founder-nicholas-francis-leaving-to-make-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/unity-co-founder-nicholas-francis-leaving-to-make-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/unity-co-founder-nicholas-francis-leaving-to-make-games/#comments Unity cofounder Nicholas Francis leaving to make gamesUnity Technologies, licensor and proprietor of the popular 3D engine Unity, co-founder and COO Nicholas Francis revealed he will step down from the company. His next project: making games.

"So I will be leaving Unity in order to join your ranks and dedicate myself to creating games," Francis writes on the Unity site. Francis says that in more recent time he's actually felt more fulfilled when creating things in Unity, rather than working on the engine itself. "As great as it has been building Unity, I have come to feel that actually using it is what really scratches my itch. On days where I can just get into the zone and fidget around with some shaders, gamecode, a custom editor tool or whatnot, I feel really fulfilled."

Francis has yet to reveal what his new project is, whether he'll found a studio or, well, anything about what he's up to, really. But we're almost positive it'll be a mobile game ... running on the Unity engine.

JoystiqUnity co-founder Nicholas Francis leaving to make games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nicholas-francisunityFri, 22 Feb 2013 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA['The Drowning' controls distilled to taps and swipes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/the-drowning-controls-distilled-to-taps-and-swipes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/the-drowning-controls-distilled-to-taps-and-swipes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/the-drowning-controls-distilled-to-taps-and-swipes/#comments
The Drowning will forgo traditional emulated joysticks seen in other touch-interface shooters, instead opting for taps and swipes as the chief means of control.

Joystiq'The Drowning' controls distilled to taps and swipes originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>denaiosipadiphonemobilescattered-entertainmentthe-drowningunityTue, 19 Feb 2013 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Will work for Wasteland 2: inXile asks fans to create its Unity assets]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/will-work-for-wasteland-2-inxile-asks-fans-to-create-its-unity/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/will-work-for-wasteland-2-inxile-asks-fans-to-create-its-unity/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/will-work-for-wasteland-2-inxile-asks-fans-to-create-its-unity/#comments Wasteland 2 crowdsourcing experiment sees fans have a creative hand in assetsWasteland 2 is hosting a crowdsourcing experiment that feels more like a straight-up art contest: interested artists can create game assets in Unity, based on concept images, and inXile will review the entries. inXile will pay and credit artists to use any designs it likes in-game, with other creations that meet the requirements available for purchase in the Unity Asset Store.

The first batch of concept art is live now, and artists have one week to create something beautiful and submit it to the Unity Asset Store. inXile has a special start-up artist pack available for free here. The concept art will update weekly until inXile has all the cheap labor assets it can handle.

Continue reading Will work for Wasteland 2: inXile asks fans to create its Unity assets

JoystiqWill work for Wasteland 2: inXile asks fans to create its Unity assets originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artartistassetsinxile-entertainmentpcunitywasteland-2Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii U support coming to Unity engine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/wii-u-support-coming-to-unity-engine/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/wii-u-support-coming-to-unity-engine/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/wii-u-support-coming-to-unity-engine/#comments Nintendo has announced the Unity engine will be supported on Wii U, inking a deal with licensee Unity Technologies to offer its popular developer suite. The Unity engine is used by developers large and small, from the likes of Square Enix to smaller outfits like Rekoil Games (of Rochard fame).

Nintendo is free to "distribute the Unity development platform to its in-house, external, and third party licensee developers," while developers familiar with the engine should be able to bring their new and existing games to the Wii U audience.

Nintendo and Unity are collaborating on a Wii U add-on to the popular SDK right now, and plan to deploy to all 1.2 million of Unity's licensers next year. Happy developing!

Continue reading Wii U support coming to Unity engine

JoystiqWii U support coming to Unity engine originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendounityunity-technologieswii-uWed, 19 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Playdead's Project 2 uses Unity, may share 'ideas' with Limbo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/30/playdeads-project-2-uses-unity-may-share-ideas-with-limbo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/30/playdeads-project-2-uses-unity-may-share-ideas-with-limbo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/30/playdeads-project-2-uses-unity-may-share-ideas-with-limbo/#comments Almost everyone knows about Playdead's Limbo, but the followup to that project, so far known only as "Project 2," is still shrouded in secrecy. Project 2, revealed a little while ago in a Danish grant report and listed as a 2014 release, is being developed in Unity, according to game director Arnt Jensen.

Limbo was constructed with its own game engine, but using a third-party engine on Project 2 will both save time, says Jensen, and allow them to release the game to "as many people as possible."

The screenshot above is the only part of the game seen thus far is above. According to Jensen, the boy may be one of several similarities between Limbo and the new game. "Many ideas were cut" from the first game, "right up until the very end," Jensen says. With Project 2, "we're still working with some of the ideas that didn't make it into Limbo."

JoystiqPlaydead's Project 2 uses Unity, may share 'ideas' with Limbo originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arnt-jensenenginegame-directorlimbomicrosoftpcplaydeadplaystationproject-2ps3unityxboxMon, 30 Jul 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your Kinect to Mars [update: Kodu experience on PC only]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/get-your-kinect-to-mars/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/get-your-kinect-to-mars/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/get-your-kinect-to-mars/#comments Get your Kinect to MarsIf you want to experience what it's like being on Mars with NASA's Mars Rover, but don't want to die from the incredibly toxic atmosphere - and who wants to go through the hassle of traveling to Mars just for a gruesome death? - fire up your Xbox today.

A free Mars Rover Landing app on the Xbox Marketplace lets you use your body to guide the Curiosity rover to a safe landing, just like NASA would do if it didn't have specially designed equipment for more precise control of the device. There's also a Mars-focused experience in the Xbox PC version of the programming education app, Kodu.

Additionally, the new Unity app, Curiosity's Journey, lets you explore a 3D map of Mars' Gale Crater, following along with Curiosity's mission. Thanks for still being awesome, NASA.

Update: Microsoft contacted us to let us know that the new Mars material is only on the PC edition of Kodu, not the Xbox version. The Mars rover character is the first new character since launch, accompanied by three linear levels and several open levels, based on real Mars data.

JoystiqGet your Kinect to Mars [update: Kodu experience on PC only] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>curiositycuriositys-journeykinectkodumars-rover-landingpcunityxboxTue, 17 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Unity announces version 4 of its game engine, with new animation system and Linux support]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/unity-announces-version-4-of-its-game-engine-with-new-animation/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/unity-announces-version-4-of-its-game-engine-with-new-animation/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/unity-announces-version-4-of-its-game-engine-with-new-animation/#comments Unity announces version 4 of its game engine, with new animation system and Linux supportUnity has announced version 4 of its game engine, available now in pre-order form from the company's store. Unity is used in everything from indie iOS hits to browser-based MMOs, and the new version of the engine contains a slew of new updates, including a new animation tech called Mechanim, better visual quality and rendering, and new options for publishing online with Adobe's Flash and in Linux.

All developers who pay the rather heavy license fee for the engine (the Pro version, at least - the current version is available as a free download if you just want to play with it) will get access to the new beta for free. And Unity promises more news about what Unity 4 can do for game developers at the upcoming Unite12 event in Amsterdam later this year.

Gallery: Unity 4

JoystiqUnity announces version 4 of its game engine, with new animation system and Linux support originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddevelopersdevelopmentgame-engineiosipadiphonemobilepcunityunity-3unity-4Tue, 19 Jun 2012 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rochard now available in Mac App Store for just $2.99]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/rochard-now-available-in-mac-app-store-for-just-2-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/rochard-now-available-in-mac-app-store-for-just-2-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/rochard-now-available-in-mac-app-store-for-just-2-99/#comments As the first Unity-powered game on PlayStation 3, it should have been obvious that Recoil Games' Rochard would eventually find itself on other platforms supported by the famously cross-platform engine. The PC release followed some two months after the PS3 release, dropping just last month, and now this puzzle-platformer is also available on the Mac App Store. The best part: At just $2.99 (a 70% discount!) it's an effortless recommendation. We've asked Recoil if it plans to bring the Mac release to Steam and we'll let you know what we hear back.

JoystiqRochard now available in Mac App Store for just $2.99 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macrecoil-gamesrochardunityunity-engineSat, 24 Dec 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Pid' is a pretty platformer from Grin vets Might & Delight, planned for XBLA/PSN/PC in 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/pid-is-a-very-pretty-platformer-from-grin-vets-might-and-delight/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/pid-is-a-very-pretty-platformer-from-grin-vets-might-and-delight/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/pid-is-a-very-pretty-platformer-from-grin-vets-might-and-delight/#comments We're suckers for artsy platformers, so when Beefy Media's Adam Boyes took to Giant Bomb's livestream this evening with a debut trailer for Might & Delight's latest offering, "Pid," and the game was a gorgeous hand-drawn platformer, we were pretty excited to tell you all about it. In Pid, you'll control what appears to be a little boy in a colorful and mysterious world of platforms and robots -- like Limbo and Machinarium had a digital baby, if you will.

The trailer showed off a bit of co-op play, as well as a variety of different environments through which to romp. Pid is being built using the Unity engine (like that mystery Square Enix game, among many others), thus making its ubiquity across platforms all the easier.

While Boyes admitted the M&D folks don't have a publisher for the game yet, he said they've been actively speaking with publishers and are looking at an Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and PC release in "the back half of 2012." Expect more details and the trailer tomorrow, on Joystiq, when the game gets announced "officially." Head past the break for a quick snap of the game in action.

Continue reading 'Pid' is a pretty platformer from Grin vets Might & Delight, planned for XBLA/PSN/PC in 2012

Joystiq'Pid' is a pretty platformer from Grin vets Might & Delight, planned for XBLA/PSN/PC in 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-boyesbeefy-mediagrinmicrosoftmight-and-delightpcpidplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnq3-2012q4-2012release-dateunityunity-enginexblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeMon, 05 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Square Enix using Unity for Vita and PS3 title]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/square-enix-using-unity-for-vita-and-ps3-title/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/square-enix-using-unity-for-vita-and-ps3-title/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/square-enix-using-unity-for-vita-and-ps3-title/#comments Square Enix's 1st Production Department, the team for the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts franchises, is currently working on a PS3 and Vita project in the Unity engine. Andriasang dug up several job listings that mention the game is an action RPG, along with noting several other classic JRPG staples like airships, inns and world maps. Unity is a prolific game engine that currently works on many platforms (excluding microwave ovens... and Windows Phone 7).

At this point, we know more about what game engines Square Enix is using for its projects than we do about the actual games. The company also recently announced an original, Unreal-powered action RPG under the direction of Ryutaro Ichimura (Dragon Quest 8 and 9). The company later teased the project with some concept art.

JoystiqSquare Enix using Unity for Vita and PS3 title originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1st-production-departmentplaystationplaystation-vitaps3Square-EnixUnityvitaMon, 05 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Unity 'skipping' Windows Phone 7]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/unity-skipping-windows-phone-7/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/unity-skipping-windows-phone-7/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/unity-skipping-windows-phone-7/#comments Prolific and flexible game engine Unity will not support Windows Phone 7. Speaking with Develop, David Helgason, CEO of Unity Technologies, said the company is "skipping" WP7, but is looking at Windows Phone 8.

"[WP7] is a relatively closed system so you can't run native content, which means we can't really support it," explained Helgason. "We could, in theory, do what we've done with Flash, which is to rewrite the engine so it works inside a non-native environment. So it could be done, in theory, but it's very much in theory because that would require a huge amount of work and uncertain results."

With under 2 million WP7 units sold around May, sales don't really scream for Unity to go out of its way to ride the Redmond line. Meanwhile, Apple's recently launched iPhone 4S sold four million units in a weekend.

JoystiqUnity 'skipping' Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MicrosoftmobileUnityWindows-Phone-7WP7Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Roadeo: A game about a road versus a car]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/roadeo-a-game-about-a-road-versus-a-car/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/roadeo-a-game-about-a-road-versus-a-car/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/roadeo-a-game-about-a-road-versus-a-car/#comments
Regardless of who claims to have had the idea originally, we're totally on board with Roadeo, a game that pits asphalt against automobile. One player controls the road while the other tries to keep the car on the road. As you can see in the video above, it's easier read than done.

Now for the best part: you can totally play it right now. All you have to do is grab a friend, share the keyboard, and you're good to go. We've already ruined three friendships today playing it, but your mileage may vary.

JoystiqRoadeo: A game about a road versus a car originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>multiplayerpcroadeounityunity-3dWed, 02 Nov 2011 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Unity Technologies revenue up 258.7 percent, Asian pirates to blame (or thank)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/unity-technologies-revenue-up-258-7-percent-asian-pirates-to-bl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/unity-technologies-revenue-up-258-7-percent-asian-pirates-to-bl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/unity-technologies-revenue-up-258-7-percent-asian-pirates-to-bl/#comments Revenue for Unity Technologies, developer of the Unity 3D game-authoring tool, is up 258.7 percent year-over-year in Asian markets, with the most monthly users worldwide coming from Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai and Nei-Hu, Taiwan. Unity's general manager of Asia John Goodale is excited about the company's Asian prospects and the unexpected reason for the region's growth.

"In China, quite candidly, what is driving a lot of our growth, is piracy," Goodale said. "Even through a pirated version of Unity, we can still make revenue from that customer, for example through the Asset Store."

Korea's revenue pool grew 50 percent year-on-year, while China gained 280 percent and Japan exploded with 897 percent. Unity doesn't support piracy, of course, but it doesn't not support revenue growth, no matter the reason.

"We don't condone it, but it's also something we don't super-aggressively persue," Goodale said.

JoystiqUnity Technologies revenue up 258.7 percent, Asian pirates to blame (or thank) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaasian-marketpcpiracyrevenueunityunity-technologiesSat, 01 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Xperia Play pre-loaded with 'legendary' PS1 game, will launch with 50 games from 20 publishers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/xperia-play-pre-loaded-with-legendary-ps1-game-will-launch-wi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/xperia-play-pre-loaded-with-legendary-ps1-game-will-launch-wi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/xperia-play-pre-loaded-with-legendary-ps1-game-will-launch-wi/#comments Sony Ericsson has (finally!) officially announced details on the Xperia Play, aka PlayStation Phone. The device will come pre-loaded with a "legendary" PS1 game, according to Kazuo "Ridge Racer" Hirai and a number of PlayStation titles will be available through the Android Marketplace "exclusively to Xperia Play" for a limited time. PlayStation Suite will be available later in the year.

In addition, Ericsson has revealed that 20 publishers are working on content on the device, with up to 50 games available at launch. Some of the brands you can expect on the device include the not-so-dead Guitar Hero, Assassin's Creed, Battlefield, and Dead Space. Notably, EA's FIFA will be "the first multiplayer FIFA game on mobile."

Many of the games available on Xperia Play are ports, and a partnership with Unity -- a cross-platform engine -- will allow for easy and optimized ports to Sony's mobile device. But there are some exclusives beyond PSone games: Dungeon Defender Wave 2, for example, is exclusive to the platform. Today's announcements make it clear that Android's finally got game -- but are you interested?

Gallery: Xperia Play

JoystiqXperia Play pre-loaded with 'legendary' PS1 game, will launch with 50 games from 20 publishers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidericssonmobileplaystation-phoneps1psonepsp-phonesonysony-ericssonunityxperia-playSun, 13 Feb 2011 13:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Waste your Friday playing Fotonica]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/waste-your-friday-playing-fotonica/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/waste-your-friday-playing-fotonica/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/waste-your-friday-playing-fotonica/#comments C'mon, it's Friday. You know everybody else in the office is taking it easy. Check out Debbie, you think she's working on next week's ad budget? Nope. She's looking at pictures of her sister's birthday party on Facebook and wondering how she stays so skinny. Look at Rick in HR over there, you just know he's catching up on the scores from last night's [insert prominent sporting events here].

Why don't you head over to Kongregate and check out Fotonica, Santa Ragione's extremely cool new first-person running game you play with just one button. As you'll see in a trailer after the break, the game features a gorgeous wireframe aesthetic, so maybe you can convince your boss that you're making 3D ... work ... models, or something. Heck, he probably won't look up from The View long enough to notice.

Continue reading Waste your Friday playing Fotonica

JoystiqWaste your Friday playing Fotonica originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedflashfotonicakongregatepcsanta-ragioneUnityFri, 21 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect Hacks: Flash, HTML, Unity and Silverlight integration]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/kinect-hacks-flash-html-unity-and-silverlight-integration/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/kinect-hacks-flash-html-unity-and-silverlight-integration/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/kinect-hacks-flash-html-unity-and-silverlight-integration/#comments Blitz, an interactive marketing agency, has released its source code and scripts for a Kinect mod that outputs data compatible with Flash, HTML, Unity and Microsoft Silverlight. The company, which helped launch Halo: Waypoint with Microsoft and 343 Industries, explains that the device's standard C++ programming language was too limited for budding Kinect hackers.

Hit the jump for the tutorial video.

Continue reading Kinect Hacks: Flash, HTML, Unity and Silverlight integration

JoystiqKinect Hacks: Flash, HTML, Unity and Silverlight integration originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blitzblitz-agencyc++flashhtmlkinectkinect-hacksmicrosoftsilverlightunityxboxThu, 13 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zelda 2 remade in ... first-person]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/zelda-2-remade-in-first-person/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/zelda-2-remade-in-first-person/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/zelda-2-remade-in-first-person/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you just can't deal with Zelda as a side-scroller, good news: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link has been remade in 3D! Credit goes to one Michael A. Johnston, who designed this fan remake as a Unity-based game that you can play right in your browser. Zelda II FPS is an impressive feat, combining authentic 8-bit textures with brand new 3D models of all the creatures and environments.

It's also freaking impossible. Even the once docile slime enemies are now dangerous, since you can't tell when there are three of them right behind you. Enjoy being murdered repeatedly by weak enemies, for now, before Nintendo catches wind of this project -- which it will, now that people like us are telling everybody -- and likely shuts it down. Sorry!

[Via Kombo]

JoystiqZelda 2 remade in ... first-person originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendopcUnitywiiZeldaZelda-2-FPSZelda-2-The-Adventure-of-LinkFri, 04 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tron's Space Paranoids gets the browser game treatment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/08/trons-space-paranoids-gets-the-browser-game-treatment/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/08/trons-space-paranoids-gets-the-browser-game-treatment/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/08/trons-space-paranoids-gets-the-browser-game-treatment/#comments If you play video games because you're driven by a powerful desire to be the very best, you may want to consider skipping this one. 42 Entertainment and Disney Interactive recently paired up to release an online, Unity-based version of the arcade game featured in Tron, titled Space Paranoids. It's your basic first-person tank simulator, in which player navigate a maze while fending off enemy tanks and Recognizers. So, in that respect, we guess it's not all that "basic."

It's really fun, but regardless of how adroit you become at tank-shooting, you'll never be able to beat the top score of 999,000 set by "FLN." Still, if you can be satisfied by aspirations for second place, Space Paranoids is definitely worth checking out.

[Via BigDownload]

JoystiqTron's Space Paranoids gets the browser game treatment originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>42-entertainmentbrowserdisneyonlinespace-paranoidsspace-paranoids-onlinetronunitySat, 08 May 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Crytek interested in offering free development platform]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/crytek-interested-in-offering-free-development-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/crytek-interested-in-offering-free-development-platform/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/13/crytek-interested-in-offering-free-development-platform/#comments When Epic offered the Unreal SDK free to all users, it got Crytek to thinking -- specifically, thinking about doing the same thing. Speaking to Develop, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli said that his company is looking to offer a free platform for budding game developers "that will be up to speed" with CryEngine 3.

It's nothing new to Crytek, which offered free versions of its previous platforms to the modding community, but this new venture is something different -- a "standalone free platform that people can run independent of CryEngine that will also be up to speed with the latest engine," Yerli hopes. While he's quick to point out it's not the same thing as what Epic and Unity are doing -- another popular game development tool that offers a bit of variety in free and premium toolsets -- we're hard-pressed to find much of a difference between the two.

Crytek curently has no timetable for release of the new platform, nor has it commented on potential tech and licensing agreements stemming from the new venture.

JoystiqCrytek interested in offering free development platform originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cryenginecryengine-3crytekdevelopmentepicepic-gamestooltoolkittoolsetunityunity-3dunity3dUnrealunreal-engineunreal-engine-3Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jaffe comes out for a unified game console standard]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/jaffe-comes-out-for-a-unified-game-console-standard/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/jaffe-comes-out-for-a-unified-game-console-standard/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/jaffe-comes-out-for-a-unified-game-console-standard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Vocal support in the industry for a single-console solution continues to gather steam, with roustabout game developer David Jaffe airing the case for an uber-system on his blog. On the surface, his arguments have some merit, but we feel the the case for a "unified" console begins to break down when you really examine it. If you will, let us play a bit of devil's advocate with Jaffe's case:

"We have it with DVD, we had it with VHS. We have it with televisions (in the sense that- for the most part- every TV is capable of broadcasting the same signal). So what do we lose by having it for game consoles?"

Jaffe seems to be forgetting that VHS only became the monopoly "standard" after a bloody battle with JVC's Sony's competing Betamax format (edit: brain fart). There was no consortium of companies deciding what would be "best" for the market -- competition simply decided that one format was overwhelmingly better for the price. Sony had similar near-monopoly control in the PlayStation 1 and 2 eras, and it was competition, not cooperation, that brought it about. And for every cooperation success story like DVD, there's a flop like Phillips/MCA's LaserDisc format.

As for television signals, they require a monopoly of sorts because of the limited broadcast spectrum. When you take that away, you get the channel-building, selection-expanding competition between cable, satellite and FIOS TV services.

Continue reading Jaffe comes out for a unified game console standard

JoystiqJaffe comes out for a unified game console standard originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dOcompetitionconsole warsConsoleWarsconsortiumDavid-JaffeJaffePCPS3singly consoleSinglyConsoleunitywarWiiXbox-360Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:15:00 EST