Joystiq

Darksiders 2: Death in the shadow of the colossus

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:30:00 EST

Darksiders 2's Death is apparently not good at the maths. A man runs at 10MPH. A horse can trot at 30MPH. A colossus lumbers along faster than both. Don't kill the colossus, Death! Put out a picnic near the back of one of its shoulders and casually relax to your destination.

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Darksiders 2: Death in the shadow of the colossus originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 fashions head to Xbox Avatars

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:30:00 EST

Darksiders 2, which was recently delayed to August, has a collection of premium Avatar gear for the Xbox 360. We're not sure if "adorable" is a word we'd ever use to describe Death, but for 400 MSP ($5) the "Reaper Armor" is just about the cutest outfit (demonstrating demonic power) your Avatar could slip into.

Prices on the items and props range from 80 to 400 MSP ($1-$5), but there's also a free T-shirt designed by Joe Madureira available if you "like" the Darksiders 2 page. The shirts are limited by codes, so if you're jonesing for some Avatar swag better click on through to the other side.

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Darksiders 2 fashions head to Xbox Avatars originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 launch delayed until August

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:26:00 EST

THQ announced this morning that Darksiders 2 has been officially delayed until August 2012. The financially troubled publisher said in February that Darksiders 2 would launch on June 26. According to Vigil, the additional time is meant for "polish and to ensure that all aspects of Darksiders 2 meet the high-quality bar the team is targeting."

The word comes a week after THQ EVP Danny Bilson claimed in an interview that Darksiders didn't have an announced launch date and that "the team is working really, really hard." He added, "We're not going to ship it before it's done."

Darksiders 2 launch delayed until August originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 launch date in question following THQ remarks

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST

THQ's conviction over Darksiders 2's June 26 launch date is wavering, according to a recent interview and in our follow-up with the publisher. In an interview between RipTen and THQ EVP Danny Bilson, a PR rep interrupts the interview following a question about the game's launch window to say the company "honestly" can't confirm the release date.

Pushed further, Bilson responds, "We haven't announced anything... but the team is working really, really hard. We're not going to ship it before it's done."

Attempting to clarify the statement, we got in contact with THQ, which told us: "No new announcements have been made at this time."

Financially troubled publisher THQ revealed on Valentine's Day that Darksiders 2 would launch on June 26.

Darksiders 2 launch date in question following THQ remarks originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium MMO now single-player game, 118 laid off

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST

Troubled publisher THQ announced today that Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online will drop the "online" portion of its name and become a solo experience -- with multiplayer aspects. Actual product details will be made later.

"As previously announced, we have been actively looking for a business partner for the game as an MMO. However, based on changing market dynamics and the additional investment required to complete the game as an MMO, we believe the right direction for us is to shift the title from an MMO to a premium experience with single and multiplayer gameplay, robust digital content and community features," THQ CEO Brian Farrell wrote in a statement.

As a result of this change, THQ raises the body count of its collapse, with 79 full-time employees let go at Vigil Games in Austin and another 39 employees at Relic Entertainment.

Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium MMO now single-player game, 118 laid off originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 will be a 'day one' Wii U launch title

David Hinkle — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:45:00 EST

Darksiders 2 is set to launch on the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 on June 26. The Wii U is slated to launch sometime around the "year-end season." When Nintendo unleashes its newest system on the world, Darksiders 2 will be there.

Word comes from Hayden Dalton, lead designer at Vigil Games, who revealed the info in an interview with Digital Spy. "That's been very interesting to see what those guys are doing, and they're making efforts to make sure we do use it in more than a slapdash way," Dalton said in regards to how Darksiders 2 will use the Wii U's unique controller. "It's basically the core game, but then with added abilities to do certain things that you can't do on the other consoles."

"We're not basically heavily changing the core game to support the control system, but the control system will be an enhancement of the core game," Dalton said. One example he provided was possibly being able to switch equipment on the fly -- as the player is running, they can tap on the controller and instantly change equipment, rather than having to pause and navigate through a menu. "That's huge, it's not breaking up the game in a way, I'm not going into a menu and assigning it, I'm literally just tapping as I'm playing."

Darksiders 2 will be a 'day one' Wii U launch title originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 asks fans to vote for Collector's Edition cover art

David Hinkle — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:30:00 EST

You know that newly announced Collector's Edition for Darksiders 2? Well, aside from your input of money, THQ is also looking for fans to help decide what will be on the cover of the thing. Death? That's our guess.

If you want to vote, you'll have to head over to Facebook. One cover features the main character, Death, and two more feature, well ... they also feature Death. He's kind of the star of the game, you guys.

Fans are eligible to vote every day. Three lucky Facebook users will win a signed Collector's Edition of Darksiders 2.

Darksiders 2 asks fans to vote for Collector's Edition cover art originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 pre-orders upgraded to 'Limited Edition,' Collector's Edition detailed

Jordan Mallory — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:30:00 EST

Don't be fooled by the fancy-dancy nomenclature, when THQ says "Limited Edition," what it's actually saying is "pre-order bonus." All existing and future pre-orders for Darksiders 2 will be automatically upgraded to the Limited Edition version, which is just the standard version and a packed in DLC voucher.

THQ's press release describes the DLC in question, "Argul's Tomb," as "the game's first single-player downloadable content pack." It also states that the Limited Edition voucher can be used "once [the DLC] becomes available," implying that it may not be released on day-one.

Furthermore, a $99 pre-order-only Collector's Edition of the game has also been announced, which includes a DLC voucher, life-sized Death Mask with stand, exclusive in-game armor and scythe set with "enhanced stats," a "digital version" of the soundtrack, and a hardcover art book. We can't wait; this is exactly what we need to finish our Casey Jones costume.

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Darksiders 2 pre-orders upgraded to 'Limited Edition,' Collector's Edition detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THQ 'actively seeking a partner' for Warhammer Dark Millennium Online

JC Fletcher — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST

Good news! THQ is back to "making decisions regarding the planned MMO" -- like, for example, the decision to look for help. During the Q&A portion of its investor conference call, THQ CEO Brian Farrell revealed that THQ is looking for a partner for the development of the expensive Dark Millennium Online.

"While the game in development promises to be a high-quality consumer offering," Farrell said, "because of the large financial commitment and associated risks, we are being realistic about our resources and we are actively seeking a partner for this compelling MMO."

It would seem that the publisher is trying its best not to cancel the MMO, despite being short of resources.

THQ 'actively seeking a partner' for Warhammer Dark Millennium Online originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 steps out of the shadows this June

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EST

Darksiders 2 is scheduled to launch in June 2012, THQ's Q3 fiscal report reveals. It lists the ambitious action-adventure game for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Darksiders 2 is coming to Wii U as well, although Nintendo's platform isn't set to drop until the "year-end season."

Darksiders 2 steps out of the shadows this June originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 media traces the history of Death

JC Fletcher — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Fun fact: as this Darksiders 2 trailer reveals, Death has been around for quite some time. All right, you probably knew that, but we bet you didn't know about his hobby as an artist's model.

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Darksiders 2 media traces the history of Death originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 introduces Death's swiss army scythe

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:00:00 EST

Have you ever wondered what Death, the dude, is really like? Who hasn't? Thankfully, the Darksiders 2 devs at Vigil Games prepared this intro video for us, full of sincere remarks about a mythical horsemen of the apocalypse and how he acts in their upcoming game.

Darksiders 2 introduces Death's swiss army scythe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2's latest tease gets up close and personal with Death

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST

There's a possibility that the Darksiders 2 tease above is actually referencing Skeletor and/or Glenn Danzig, but we're pretty sure it's that other horseman of the apocalypse, Death. Either way, we're gonna go listen to the Misfits and watch Masters of the Universe for a bit. Just in case.

Darksiders 2's latest tease gets up close and personal with Death originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 extended announcement trailer (re)introduces Death

David Hinkle — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:23:00 EST

Look, we can suspend our disbelief with the best of them, but one thing irks us about this extended version of the Darksiders 2 announcement trailer: how can Death speak without a mouth? Last time we checked, you needed lips and a tongue to talk.

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Darksiders 2 extended announcement trailer (re)introduces Death originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2's artwork is all dark and gloomy and stuff

David Hinkle — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:00:00 EST

We were never goth kids -- though if we were, we imagine that we would've hung this Darksiders 2 concept art all over our lockers.

If your appreciation for Darksiders 2 extends beyond paintings of creepy cliffs and thrones of stone, hit up Game Informer for a spirited interview with Vigil Games art director Han Randhawa. Of course, creative director and comic artist Joe Madureira chimes in a bit about the overall style of the Darksiders series, too.

Darksiders 2's artwork is all dark and gloomy and stuff originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 video shows "God"-like combat skill

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:10:00 EST

He may be named "Death," and the last Darksiders game may have starred "War," but the first combat gameplay from Darksiders 2 certainly reminds us of another mythological god of war. Watch as Death wields his "dual scythes," juggling opponents and pulverizing them in the process! It's almost as if he's got dual blades ... attached with chains to his arms ... okay, it's basically like the combat in the God of War series. There -- we said it. Head over to Game Informer and take a peek for yourself!

Darksiders 2 video shows "God"-like combat skill originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bone up on Darksiders 2 with this trailer

JC Fletcher — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST

War -- what is he good for? Absolutely nothing in Darksiders 2, because Death is the one handling all the fighting. Game Informer got hold of the first trailer, featuring the new, bony protagonist jumping, swinging his scythe around, and delivering vague threats.

And, in case you needed further confirmation of this unbelievable fact after yesterday's reveal, the video clearly shows that ... his pants are made of bone.

Bone up on Darksiders 2 with this trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 darkens the cover of July's Game Informer

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:40:00 EST

Darksiders 2 is featured on the July issue of Game Informer, along with new protagonist Death -- brother of the first game's anti-hero, War. Their uniformly grim appearance, you'll recall, is due to the fact they're a pair of horsemen of the apocalypse.

Game Informer also claims that the sequel will "deliver a richer experience," including new (and more) NPCs, a "detailed loot system" and some fresh new dungeons to explore. More specifically, Death will be traveling through "the world of Abyss," doing exactly the opposite of what you'd expect a guy named "Death" to be doing: trying to restore humankind.

Head over to Game Informer for a full image depicting the double-scythe-wielding star.

Darksiders 2 darkens the cover of July's Game Informer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders is 75% off on Steam this weekend

David Hinkle — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 23:30:00 EST

Got $10.00 and a few hours to kill? We can hardly think of a better thing to do than picking up Darksiders on Steam, which is on sale for the aforementioned 10 bucks until 10am PT on Monday, March 21. Seriously, think about it. Is there anything else that will give you so much bang for little?

Yeah, thought so -- though if you know how good a time Darksiders is, you may have already played it (or read this site, we guess), in which case we'd suggest you tell a friend. What kind of monster would keep that kind of knowledge to themself?

Darksiders is 75% off on Steam this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders 2 will star new character, take place alongside events of first game

David Hinkle — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:20:00 EST

Cue that one sad song ...

During his keynote speech at the IGDA Leadership Forum, THQ wunderkind Danny Bilson revealed some info on Darksiders 2, the sequel to Joe Mad's inspired take on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Instead of taking up the mantle of War again, the sequel will offer a new playable character -- one of the other three horsemen of the apocalypse, perhaps?

"When we do the Darksiders sequel, it'll be a different character and take place simultaneously to the other story," Bilson said. "There's only one apocalypse -- I couldn't very well have four different apocalypses, one for each rider. It has some new mechanics and some very robust features that differentiate it a lot and grow it from the first game because you have to build on the first one, you can't repeat it. I think that's very important in franchise-building."

It tied into the rest of the keynote, which revolved around Bilson and THQ's take on sequels and how to approach them when trying to create franchises. Look for our full write-up of Bilson's candid keynote speech soon.

Darksiders 2 will star new character, take place alongside events of first game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Retailers offer free games with Darksiders PC pre-order

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Though you may lack the alchemical expertise to do so under normal circumstances, folks who are planning on picking up the PC version of Darksiders when it comes out this Thursday can turn their one-game purchase into a two-game purchase. (Ooh! Aah!) This opportunity comes from a handful of digital retailers, who are offering complimentary THQ games along with pre-orders for the apocalyptic action-adventure title.

These retailers include Steam, which gives pre-orderers a digital copy of Titan Quest Gold Edition; Direct2Drive, which is handing out Red Faction: Guerrilla and Gametap, which is offering a free copy of Company of Heroes with each pre-order. Sure beats the Hell out of a keychain or scented sticker set, doesn't it?

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Retailers offer free games with Darksiders PC pre-order originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THQ merchandises the Hell out of Darksiders

JC Fletcher — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Sure, you might have liked Darksiders well enough, but we know what you really wanted from the game: your very own War to lead his own tiny Apocalypse into your living room. THQ is obliging this desire with a line of Darksiders merchandise produced in collaboration with partners in the publishing and toy industries.

Udon Entertainment is producing an Art of Darksiders book featuring "a comprehensive collection of concept art from the game, including original artwork from creative director and comic book legend, Joe Madureira." And SOTA Toys will release a 14" doll action figure statue of War and his horse Ruin. SOTA says that this is just the first item in an eventual Darksiders line.

Both of these items will debut at Comic-Con, which takes place from July 22-25. Preorders for the statue will open on SOTA's site at the same time.

THQ merchandises the Hell out of Darksiders originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer 40K Dark Millennium Online trailer gives taste of the far future

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST

The Warhammer 40K MMO, Dark Millennium, may still be another two years away, but the trailer after the break gives us a small glimpse of the in-development title's graphics and user interface. Of course, being two years away, almost all of that can (and likely will) change.

Continue reading Warhammer 40K Dark Millennium Online trailer gives taste of the far future

Warhammer 40K Dark Millennium Online trailer gives taste of the far future originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders PC release announced, arrives in June

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST

THQ and Vigil announced today that Darksiders is bringing its apocalyptic brand of action adventure to the PC. The game will hit the platform this summer, with THQ offering only a June release window. It's being optimized for the PC, with Vigil's David Adams promising "key features such as user-defined resolutions, interface and both keyboard and game pad control sets."

Darksiders released earlier this year on Xbox 360 and PS3. It received decent reviews -- from both Joystiq and the industry at large -- and it enjoyed healthy sales, something THQ was quite keen to announce. No doubt THQ hopes to see some of that success repeated on the PC.

[Via Big Download]

Darksiders PC release announced, arrives in June originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders dev David Adams gushes about THQ

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:00:00 EST

Unlike the less than wonderful relations some developers are currently having with their publishing partners, Vigil Games' general manager David Adams says things between his studio and THQ couldn't have been better during the development of Darksiders. "We were pretty lucky, just because our publisher had this weird, insane faith in us that I don't necessarily think any other publisher would have had ... our take was that if we just did really cool stuff, people would see that -- they'd want to jump on the bandwagon and support us, and THQ did," Adams tells GamesIndustry.biz in a recent interview.

Adams adds that his studio is constantly "trying to be more efficient, do stuff quicker, using less money," so that certainly can't hurt how THQ feels about Vigil, especially given the last year of "restructuring" the publisher underwent to become financially solvent once again. "THQ went through a lot of pain and restructuring -- they took a lot of bullets so we could continue to make our game, and that's a good indication of their faith in us, and their drive to make great-quality products." We'd like to point out that, in this situation, we're all winners because THQ has seemingly become a competitive publisher again, due to producing quality products that we get to play -- and hey, tons of people don't lose their jobs.

Darksiders dev David Adams gushes about THQ originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reminder: Hefty Darksiders demo out today

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:45:00 EST

A quick note for all the apocalyptic adventure-seekers out there: The promised Darksiders demo is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. As previously announced, this is no ordinary demo, either. No, this sucker contains the game's first dungeon in its entirety, a chunk of gameplay that should take approximately 90 minutes to complete for the "average player." It's not often that publishers give away that much game for free, so be sure to give it a go.

Oh, and don't forget to post your completion time here in the comments. We're curious to see how close to the mark THQ's estimate is.

Shortcut: Download the Darksiders demo to your Xbox 360 [Via Xbox.com]

Reminder: Hefty Darksiders demo out today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders' free Red Faction promo open to anyone who bought it new, no code required

Randy Nelson — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST

Got yourself a copy of Darksiders but, for whatever reason (admit it, you lost it), don't have the slip of paper it came with containing the "mystery code" redeemable for a free copy of Red Faction Guerrilla and digital art book? Seems you're not out of luck -- unless you bought it second-hand (or "pre-played," if you will).

Vigil has announced via its official Darksiders blog that those without codes, but who purchased the game new can still get the free RFG and disc full o' artwork. It's a little more work than simply clicking a link and typing in a code, but, hey, free is free. Those who want in on the promotion must fill out a form, provide "your original purchase receipt of a NEW copy of Darksiders," the barcode from the cover insert and, like everything else, pay shipping and "handling" (we never quite got what that is, exactly).

You have until March 7 to get in on the promotion, whatever your situation may be.

[Thanks, NBA Kirkland]

Darksiders' free Red Faction promo open to anyone who bought it new, no code required originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Extensive' 90-min Darksiders demo on XBL, PSN Feb. 25

Randy Nelson — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:59:00 EST

If a batch of positive reviews has yet to sway you towards picking up Darksiders, THQ and developer Vigil Games are hoping to change that by means of a demo planned to hit Xbox Live and PlayStation Network on February 25. Not just any demo, mind you, but one its publisher claims will "take approximately 90 minutes to complete for the average player." That claim is backed up by the fact that it will include the entire first dungeon -- which is home to two bosses -- from the retail release.

Vigil general manager David Adams explains in the demo's announcement that the dev "really wanted to give gamers a true idea of the variety of gameplay that the game offers," adding, "rather than just making a standard 20-minute demo version of the first few levels, we decided to give away this massive level and reveal the true essence of the game."

Here's what we want you to do. Bookmark this post, then, once the demo hits, come back here and leave a comment letting us know how long it took you to complete. Nothing official-like, but it'll be fun to put THQ's estimate to the test. Just remember -- it said "for the average player." We know you're all well above average.

'Extensive' 90-min Darksiders demo on XBL, PSN Feb. 25 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst: Darksiders likely didn't sell enough for THQ

Justin McElroy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:46:00 EST

Poor Darksiders. Like an overeager child, it tried to win THQ's approval with its solid mechanics and colorful doomsday aesthetic, but, according to Signal Hill analyst Todd Greenwald, it likely missed the mark. He estimated for Gamasutra that the game has sold less than a million units, especially disappointing considering -- again, Greenwald's assertion -- the two to three years of development for the game and "heavy marketing dollars." Making matters worse is the fact that the game was discounted two weeks after its release.

Here's hoping that a poor first outing for the Horseman doesn't necessarily mean Armageddon for his series.

Analyst: Darksiders likely didn't sell enough for THQ originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digital Foundry analyzes Darksiders post-patch

Justin McElroy — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST

Removing screen tearing from a game requires plenty of work (probably!), so Digital Foundry was understandably skeptical when a patch to the 360 version of Darksiders, less than a month after its launch, claimed to help the game's image quality. But according to DF's analysis, Vigil and THQ were able to pull it off, reducing tearing by as much as 50 percent.

How'd they do it? It would appear that this feat was achieved by locking the frame rate at 30 per second rather than letting the game push out as many frames as it could at any given moment. That seems like good news for fans and great news for all those poor, torn screens.

Digital Foundry analyzes Darksiders post-patch originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders screen-tearing patch out tomorrow

David Hinkle — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST

Starting tomorrow, the screen-tearing present in the Xbox 360 version of Darksiders will (hopefully) be a thing of the past, as the game's official blog reports the patch will be available for download starting tomorrow. You'll find the update available starting tomorrow at 2am PT (5am ET).

We'd like to be a bit more excited about it, but knowing that everyone ever in the world will eventually succumb to the apocalypse ... well, we're finding it a bit difficult to get pumped about an update to some video game. If you'll excuse us, we're going to call our families and tell 'em how awesome they are.

[Via VG247]

Darksiders screen-tearing patch out tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK charts: Just Dance on Modern Warfare 2's grave

David Hinkle — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:45:00 EST

For nine straight weeks, the UK's gamer populace has been mesmerized by the siren's song of Modern Warfare 2. Today, that's all changed, with the latest Chart-Track data showing a new entry usurping Modern Warfare 2's top spot: Just Dance. Ubisoft's quirky dance title for the Wii has enjoyed a level of success there we would never have thought possible. Can its performance be attributed to good advertising or simply the United Kingdom's unrestrained love of Kevin Bacon?

And MW2 wasn't even in the second spot, either. Wii Fit Plus managed to grab the silver, while Infinity Ward's shooter was bumped down to a respectable bronze. Newcomers Bayonetta and Darksiders also managed to stay on the list, along with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed 2, which stealthily secured the tenth spot.

UK charts: Just Dance on Modern Warfare 2's grave originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snag Darksiders for $40 at Newegg

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:15:00 EST

If you've been waiting for a good reason to pick up Darksiders on your Xbox 360, we might just have one. Newegg is currently selling the game for a cool $39.99, a full $20 off the standard $59.99 price. The $40 price includes shipping, too, so it's really a pretty significant savings. For what it's worth, we enjoyed the game quite a bit, despite its flaws. A $40 price point could only make it better, right?

Says Justin McElroy, who reviewed the game for Joystiq, "You're crazier than Jeff Zucker if you don't buy Darksiders for $40 /topical." So there you go.

Snag Darksiders for $40 at Newegg originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metareview: Darksiders (Xbox 360, PS3)

David Hinkle — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:15:00 EST

Now that the definitive source on these here vidya games has weighed in on the intense debate regarding the quality of Darksiders, it's time we opened up the floor to other opinions and thoughts. Below, in our usual style, we've organized several viewpoints for your perusing. The majority of reviews laud Vigil's title as a genuinely fun time, so check out the links below and be sure to wage war with your own opinions in the comments section below!

GameInformer (85/100): "Even without a clear narrative purpose, Darksiders never wavers from being an enjoyable adventure. I had a blast playing it, and strangely enough, the obvious nods to other games added to the fun. Despite a lame last boss fight, the setup planted for the sequel has me counting the days until it arrives."
GameTrailers (84/100): "Darksiders has a lot of staples in its stable. And, yes there's even a horse. And a flying section. And even some gun segments. They're all fun, but nothing to blog home about. It's able to emulate its idols very well, so whatever War is doing, it's bound to be enjoyable. But anyone who's attracted to this sort of game, or action games in general, is going to feel more familiar than floored."
GameSpot (80/100): "Darksiders unapologetically borrows gameplay ideas and mechanics from all over the spectrum and is constantly cramming new ones in all the way up to the very end. While it's not innovative by any stretch of the imagination, neither is it entirely derivative, as these myriad features not only gel together surprisingly well, but when put together even feel fresh again. Though it's hobbled by a disappointing story and excessively complex controls (as well as some technical issues on the Xbox 360), Darksiders is a fun and entertaining adventure with a host of fair but challenging puzzles, a lengthy single-player campaign, and an engaging combat system."
Eurogamer (80/100): "Still, while on the surface of it Darksiders feels like a game with a lot of good ideas but only a few of its own, where even a brief flying section on an angelic mount owes rather a lot to Panzer Dragoon, overall the silly old story and wonderful art style give terrific heft to the universe, and the clockwork of the puzzles and game systems are precision-engineered in a manner that you come to trust implicitly. It may be a game of betrayal and redemption, but you won't feel hard done by if you choose to begin 2010 in its company."
IGN (78/100): "Just as War is on a quest to alter how he's perceived, it seems Darksiders itself is on a quest for its own identity. It draws heavily from mechanics established in the 3D Legend of Zelda games and mixes in a forgiving combat system along with elements from a host of other popular titles. It's a goulash of collection mechanics, exploration, and combat we've all seen before, but to Vigil's credit all these elements are adeptly combined in the same product and executed well overall. While the game world could have been developed more, the boss fights leave a lot to be desired, and more interesting things could have been done with the combat and puzzles, the game as it stands is still thoroughly entertaining. If it's successful and a sequel is eventually produced, it'd be great to see a game filled with terrors wielding powers of unknowable strength take a few more risks and step into territory less well-traveled. In the meantime, we should just enjoy the solid puzzle and combat mechanics Vigil is offering, as well as the opportunity to stomp demons as a Horseman of the Apocalypse."
GameDaily (70/100): "All of this amounts to a game that, while entertaining, falls short of being a triple A experience. Darksiders has an engaging story, beautiful visuals and plenty of badass characters, but THQ/Vigil Games' reliance on tired concepts prevent it from being a must buy."

Source - Darksiders reviews (Xbox 360)
Source - Darksiders reviews (PS3)

Gallery: Darksiders

Metareview: Darksiders (Xbox 360, PS3) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Darksiders

Justin McElroy — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:45:00 EST

It's impossible to review Darksiders without the conversation beginning and ending with its influences. Though it's not technically a copy cat, this is a game that wears its inspirations on its bone-armored sleeve. It's a gutsy move by newcomer Vigil Games, considering it's inviting comparisons to some of the gaming's heaviest hitters, but it's one that -- for the most part -- pays off.

You're War, the angriest of the Four Horsemen, and you've just been tricked into starting Armageddon. Now, all the people on Earth are dead and you've been given one chance to travel to the post-apocalyptic planet and take your vengeance on the party responsible, whoever that may be.

Gallery: Darksiders: Wrath of War (9/30/08)

Continue reading Review: Darksiders

Review: Darksiders originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swag Saturday: Darksiders for the PS3 + loot galore! [update]

Kevin Kelly — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST

Update: We've closed the comments and will contact a winner this week. Check the email tied to your commenter name!

Do you like action figures, t-shirts, and books? Good, then we've got just the thing for you. Darksiders has been keeping us occupied ever since its somewhat bizarre release date of January 5, so we'd like to pass this newfound addiction straight on to you, the reader. You can outfit yourself with a War action figure (complete with his lovely, flowing, white locks and his megasword Chaoseater), a sweet Darksiders t-shirt (size large), and a hardbound Darksiders art book that'll tell you everything you need to know about the game.

Wait, what's this? You want the game, too? A toy, a garment, and some reading material won't do it for you? Fine. We'll also toss in a PS3 copy of the game, free from all of the glitchified bugs tearing up the Xbox 360 version. To enter, just tell us what you'd name your own ginormous, soul-devouring sword

Leave a comment telling us what moniker you'd apply to your own giant sword.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec, because of something Clint Hocking said -- at least that's what we heard).
Limit 1 entry per person per day
This entry period ends at 11:31AM ET on Sunday, January 10.
At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one copy of Darksiders for PS3 ($59.99 ARV), one Darksiders t-shirt, size large ($10 ARV), one Darksiders art book ($14.99 ARV), and one action figure featuring War from Darksiders ($19.99 ARV).
For a list of complete rules, click here

What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. For more info on our policy, click here.

Swag Saturday: Darksiders for the PS3 + loot galore! [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darksiders patch to sew up Xbox 360 screen-tearing issue

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:40:00 EST

You'd think some screen tearing was only natural in the aftermath of ... the Apocalypse -- but apparently it's an unintended hiccup in the Xbox 360 version of Vigil Games' Darksiders. Speaking to IGN, studio head Joe Madureira confirmed that Vigil is aware of the issue and is planning a title update to address it. "It's something that's really not a difficult fix for us, and so we're going to implement a patch to resolve the problem," Madureira assured. "We're fairly certain it'll happen really soon, so look out for it."

Phew! It's good to know that the end of the world will be running a little smoother in no time.

Gallery: Darksiders

Darksiders patch to sew up Xbox 360 screen-tearing issue originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Darksiders to never see the light in the UAE, kept 'under the table'

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:04:00 EST

With little explanation offered (alright, so, basically no explanation whatsoever), the United Arab Emirate states have reportedly banned the distribution and sale of THQ and Vigil's Darksiders: Wrath of War. According to UAE-based GamesLatest, the game was deemed to "contradict with the UAE's customs and traditions" -- a standard phrase used to near-universally describe banned games in the Middle Eastern states.

Unfortunately, that task of enforcing such a ban can be a mighty difficult one. Many retailers in the UAE simply order from wholesalers, bypassing importing laws altogether, and sell their games under the table (and untaxed, might we add). And then, of course, there's always the internet -- we hear you can buy stuff through it.

Gallery: Darksiders

[Via GamePolitics]

Report: Darksiders to never see the light in the UAE, kept 'under the table' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hollywood interested in doing a Darksiders movie

David Hinkle — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST

Apparently Hollywood wouldn't mind tossing Darksiders up on the silver screen, as Vigil's Joe Madureira confirmed to VG247 that THQ's already been contacted for projects outside of the video game realm. "We've gotten some interest from Hollywood, we've talked about doing a comic series," said Madureira. Obviously, a comic wouldn't be much of a stretch for the creative director, given his past experience with the medium.

"It's really a THQ thing, but I know they are definitely talking to people and I would be surprised if some of that stuff didn't happen," he added. While we can't really say whether the prospect of either is a good thing at this point -- we're still playing Darksiders for review -- we'll be sure to let you all know either way.

Report: Hollywood interested in doing a Darksiders movie originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vigil says no Darksiders DLC, multiplayer nixed 'early on'

Randy Nelson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST

For a game based on, well, the end of everything, the fact that Darksiders won't be receiving any DLC isn't exactly a revelation. But it's true -- Vigil Games creative director and famed comic book illustrator behind the game's visual style, Joe Madureira, confirmed in an interview with Eurogamer that DLC and multiplayer weren't part of the developer's plan, nor does it intend to tackle them post-launch.

"We were a new team building new tech and a new IP. We had our work cut out for us," Madureira explained when asked about both, adding, "Vigil has a very strong all-or-nothing mentality, and if we're not confident we can pull it off, we're not doing it. So we focused on making the most kick-ass single-player game possible." Not to say that multiplayer was never a possibility -- it was just a short-lived one: "We realized early on that we wouldn't be able to pull off the scope of game we wanted to and have it be multiplayer," he said.

Of course, should the game do well, we'll no doubt be seeing the unthinkable: a sequel to the Apocalypse.

Vigil says no Darksiders DLC, multiplayer nixed 'early on' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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