Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Freddie Prinze Jr. to voice Mass Effect 3's James Vega]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/freddie-prinze-jr-to-voice-mass-effect-3s-james-vega/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/freddie-prinze-jr-to-voice-mass-effect-3s-james-vega/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/freddie-prinze-jr-to-voice-mass-effect-3s-james-vega/#comments
We've already heard about James Vega, one of the new companions for Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3, and now we know that when you hear him it'll be Sarah Michelle Gellar's husband talking. Freddie Prinze, Jr. has signed on as the voice for the rambunctious soldier companion, and talks about his role in this official video from BioWare, which you can watch below.

He also waxes poetic about the characters in the series overall, saying that "sometimes you want to be evil. Sometimes you want to punch somebody instead of saying, 'You should have been there.'" Hey, Cole Ortiz -- remember in day eight when you messed up and lost both Jack Bauer and the nuclear rods to the terrorists? Yeah, about that. You should have been there.

Continue reading Freddie Prinze Jr. to voice Mass Effect 3's James Vega

JoystiqFreddie Prinze Jr. to voice Mass Effect 3's James Vega originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecole-ortizcompanionsfreddie-prinze-jrgametrailersjames-vegamass-effect-3me3microsoftpcplaystationps3voicexboxSat, 21 Jan 2012 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Let GLaDOS guide you to your destination, you monster]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/let-glados-guide-you-to-your-destination-you-monster/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/let-glados-guide-you-to-your-destination-you-monster/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/let-glados-guide-you-to-your-destination-you-monster/#comments She's certainly not the first celebrity to do some voice work for the GPS industry, but she's by far the coolest. Joining the likes of Snoop Dogg, Homer Simpson and Yoda is GLaDOS, available in a new fan-made custom voice pack over on Reddit.

It's a zip file with a bunch of wav files in it, compatible with Garmin Nuvi units -- the files should also work with Garmin Mobile XT units -- and is available as a free download to everyone who wants to be berated by an artificial intelligence while hunting down the closest Burger King. Don't say we didn't warn you!

JoystiqLet GLaDOS guide you to your destination, you monster originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gladosgpsmicrosoftpcplaystationportal-2ps3valvevoicevoice-packxboxTue, 10 Jan 2012 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Resident Evil 6 listed in voice actor's résumé]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/resident-evil-6-listed-in-voice-actors-resume/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/resident-evil-6-listed-in-voice-actors-resume/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/resident-evil-6-listed-in-voice-actors-resume/#comments Here's your first sign that production has actually started on a Resident Evil 6 -- besides, you know, all those Capcom producers saying it's going to be a long, long wait. Voice actor Joe Cappelletti (whose voice you might not know but have probably heard anyway) lists the unannounced game as one of his recent voice credits, as you can see on the page with the distracting background above.

Cappelletti also has Combat Wings listed as a Capcom title, however, and there is currently no game that Capcom makes with that name. There is a Combat Wings: Battle of Britain by City Interactive, but nothing Capcom has announced. Maybe Cappelletti is just confused -- he also lists Steel Battalion on there, but presumably that is the Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor title coming to Kinect. Not that he wouldn't know what he worked on, but clearly he's been busy.

At any rate, if Resident Evil 6 production is underway, that's good to know -- hopefully we've got one or two of the eight years it's expected to take out of the way already.

JoystiqResident Evil 6 listed in voice actor's résumé originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actingcapcomcombat-wingscreditsjoe-cappellettiresident-evil-6resumetitlevoicevoice-actorTue, 29 Nov 2011 06:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Valkyria Chronicles DLC lacks English voice track]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/valkyria-chronicles-dlc-lacks-english-voice-track/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/valkyria-chronicles-dlc-lacks-english-voice-track/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/valkyria-chronicles-dlc-lacks-english-voice-track/#comments Folks who are currently working their way through Valkyria Chronicles' recently released DLC pack, Challenge of the Edy Detachment, have noticed something strange about the content's English-language voice overs: They don't exist. The add-on pack only includes two audio settings: Japanese and silent. Of course, you can still follow the DLC's plot through English subtitles, but hey -- we came here to blow up tanks with other tanks, not to read.

Siliconera suggests that the absence of words we can understand could be attributed to the fact that this DLC is going live six months after the game was released in the U.S., so it's possible the English voice cast couldn't be brought back together for an encore recording. We've contacted Sega for an official explanation and to find out why the English-language omission in the DLC wasn't announced before people, you know, bought it.

JoystiqValkyria Chronicles DLC lacks English voice track originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcenglishrpgsegastrategyvalkyria-chroniclesvoicevoice-oversFri, 26 Feb 2010 12:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Fable II tried 'gimmicky' voice controls]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/fable-ii-tried-gimmicky-voice-controls/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/fable-ii-tried-gimmicky-voice-controls/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/fable-ii-tried-gimmicky-voice-controls/#comments
Fable II's canine companion was introduced as a means to connect gamers to the world of Albion, and although players could interact with the four-legged friend at the touch of a button, Lionhead initially tested microphone interaction as well.

In an interview with MTV Multiplayer, Peter Molyneux said the team behind Joystiq's GOTY tested voice commands in the game but ultimately found them to be too gimmicky. Had the feature been included in the game, players would be able to whistle into their headsets to call on their loyal pet -- a concept Molyneux didn't criticize, but felt wouldn't add to Fable II's overall gameplay experience. Besides, wasn't including the dog revolutionary enough for you?

JoystiqFable II tried 'gimmicky' voice controls originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Actionfable-2LionheadLionhead-StudiosMGSMicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosmtv-multiplayerpeter-molyneuxrevolutionaryRPGvoicevoice-commandsXbox-360Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: British talk show host lending voice to Fable 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/11/rumor-british-talk-show-host-lending-voice-to-fable-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/11/rumor-british-talk-show-host-lending-voice-to-fable-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/11/rumor-british-talk-show-host-lending-voice-to-fable-3/#comments
British talk show gadabout Jonathan Ross let slip on his Twitter feed that he's lending his voice to none other than Fable 3. Writes Ross, "Goodnight all. Must go to bed. Got asked to do voice in Fable 3 tonight. Subarashi. Oyasuminasia. Woss out."

Now, it goes without saying that a follow-up to Joystiq's favorite game of 2008 will someday be made, but it seems far too early to be recording voices already. Still, could this latest remark mean that the sequel is further along than we dare hoped? Microsoft has offered no comment. However, Ross' following tweets read like mild psychosis mixed with a panic attack; Molyneux and his goon squad are not to be trifled with.

JoystiqRumor: British talk show host lending voice to Fable 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Actionfable-2fable-3jonathon-rosslionheadLionhead-StudiosMGSmicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-StudiosoopsRPGrumorvoiceXbox-360Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[AGDC08: The Screen Actors Guild wants you to hear its game voice(s)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/agdc08-the-screen-actors-guild-wants-you-to-hear-their-game-voi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/agdc08-the-screen-actors-guild-wants-you-to-hear-their-game-voi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/agdc08-the-screen-actors-guild-wants-you-to-hear-their-game-voi/#commentsFiled under: ,


We've seen the Screen Actor's Guild booth at a lot of gaming and interactive events recently, from SXSW to GDC in San Francisco, so we finally decided to stop by and see what they're doing there. Normally, when you think about video game development, SAG isn't the first thing that springs to mind. It turns out that they have contracts that will allow developers with every type of budget to work with their stable of professional actors.

So, rather than having Bob from Accounting (sorry, Bob) record the lines of Beelzebub the Destroyer for your new MMO, you can hire someone who can really sound like something from the depths of hell. We sat down with actors David Sobolov and David Anthony Pizzuto and director of new media for SAG, Mark Friedlander, to find out what why SAG has been appearing at gaming events. Plus, the guys do some of their many voices. Check out the highlights, see a video of a typical day in the booth, and listen to the audio of the interview after the break.

Continue reading AGDC08: The Screen Actors Guild wants you to hear its game voice(s)

JoystiqAGDC08: The Screen Actors Guild wants you to hear its game voice(s) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdcagdc-08agdc-2008agdc08agdc2008audioAustinGDCSAGScreen-Actors-GuildvoicevoiceoverWed, 17 Sep 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Reminder: Mario Kart Wii has voice chat, it's called XBL, PSN, Skype, etc.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/reminder-mario-kart-wii-has-voice-chat-its-called-xbl-psn-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/reminder-mario-kart-wii-has-voice-chat-its-called-xbl-psn-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/reminder-mario-kart-wii-has-voice-chat-its-called-xbl-psn-s/#commentsFiled under: ,

We thought it'd be best to reprint our advice from the Super Smash Bros. Brawl release: if you want to chat up your friends while doing laps in Mario Kart Wii, here are five options we found -- harnessing the power of other consoles or a com-pu-ter -- for chatting up your friends. (Looking for a place to share your Kart friend codes? We'll set up a über-list post closer to tonight's US release. Here's a link to the über-list.)
  • Xbox Live: Or as we've come to know it -- Kart LIVE(R). Just set up private chat and off you go. Got more than one friend? Go into a Halo 3 lobby (you do have Halo 3, right?).
  • PSN: Start up a new chat under the "friends" section of the XMB. Invite all the friends you want and wait for them to join. Works and sounds exceptional! USB and Bluetooth compatible.
  • Skype: Set up a conference call.
  • TeamSpeak or Ventrilo: Guilds, clans and other computer types know these services. Perfect for guildies racing together.
  • Nintendo DS: Use Metroid Prime Hunters or Pokémon Diamond or Pearl. Warning: More inane codes required to pull this option off. There are also homebrew options.
Of course, if none of these options are viable, might we suggest using a classic: The phone.
Need a Kart fix? Check out all our coverage of Mario Kart Wii!

JoystiqReminder: Mario Kart Wii has voice chat, it's called XBL, PSN, Skype, etc. originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mariomario-kartmario-kart-wiinintendopsnskypeteamspeakventrilovoicevoice-chatWiixbox-liveSat, 26 Apr 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Separated at birth: Wii Fit Balance Board and Aperture Science turret]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/separated-at-birth-wii-fit-balance-board-and-aperture-science-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/separated-at-birth-wii-fit-balance-board-and-aperture-science-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/16/separated-at-birth-wii-fit-balance-board-and-aperture-science-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Is Nintendo an ancestor of Aperture Science? A dummy corporation? We recently recorded the North American voice of the Wii Fit Balance Board, and it bears an uncanny resemblance to Portal's happy little turrets. Even the hierarchy of henchmen follows Portal. Aperture science has GLaDOS, and Wii Fit has a male- or female-voiced personal trainer.

Yes, there are still a few differences. The Balance Board voice -- and we presume nefarious AI -- comes through the Wii and out a TV, while the turrets are all self-contained. Plus the balance board might not be trying to kill us. The verdict is still uncertain, but be warned.

Aperture Science turret


Wii Fit Balance Board

JoystiqSeparated at birth: Wii Fit Balance Board and Aperture Science turret originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aperture-sciencebalance-boardgladosnintendoPCportalPS3voiceWiiwii-fitwiifitXbox-360Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Rosenbaum gives voice to Dark Sector]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/rosenbaum-gives-voice-to-dark-sector/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/rosenbaum-gives-voice-to-dark-sector/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/rosenbaum-gives-voice-to-dark-sector/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Although he's best known for playing Lex Luthor on Smallville, Michael Rosenbaum has some significant voice-acting credits to his name and will give sound to the lead role of D3's Dark Sector. Although the game is slated for a Spring '08 release now, it's a bit strange that D3 just announced Rosenbaum would voice the protagonist considering the game was originally supposed to release last year.

The Rosenbaum announcement is actually the first we've heard of Dark Sector since it went ... well, dark late in '07. Hopefully this will be the beginning of the announcement wagon for the game and we'll have something to play over the summer -- once we dig ourselves out of the Q4 '07 games.

JoystiqRosenbaum gives voice to Dark Sector originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dark-sectorPS3rosenbaumvoicevoice-actorXbox-360Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Voice chat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/ds-daily-voice-chat/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/ds-daily-voice-chat/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/01/ds-daily-voice-chat/#commentsFiled under:

I have one.To date, only two ... well, okay, three ... games have utilized voice chat: Metroid Prime: Hunters and Pokemon Diamond/Pearl. It can only be done with those who have exchanged friend codes (wouldn't want to see those crazies, you know), but is it even adequate?

Our experiences with voice chat have been spotty at best. Unless the other user has a new DS headset ... highly unlikely ... the incoming audio can be very difficult to comprehend. Is this a feature you'd like to see implemented in more DS games, or do you think it's not even worth it? Is it even important to the gaming experience in general?

JoystiqDS Daily: Voice chat originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chatdsdheadsetvoiceTue, 01 May 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DS headsets thrown into ring, forced to fight to the death]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/22/ds-headsets-thrown-into-ring-forced-to-fight-to-the-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/22/ds-headsets-thrown-into-ring-forced-to-fight-to-the-death/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/22/ds-headsets-thrown-into-ring-forced-to-fight-to-the-death/#commentsFiled under: ,

Did you pick up a DS headset today along with your preorder of Pokémon Diamond/Pearl? What will you be using to take advantage of the online voice chat feature? Nintendo's official headset, Turtle Beach's Earforce D2, or Datel's Communicator? Or will you be slumming it with the handheld's built-in microphone?

If you're still in the market for a headset solution, Nintendo Gal has posted a comparison chart and her analysis on the three products. Testing their comfort, durability, sound output, and recording quality, she was able to determine which one deserves our hard-earned allowance money. There are even recording samples available that you can listen to and weigh in on yourself.

We're surprised that the Earforce D2 was judged as the best of the lot, but seeing that it's also the most expensive at $19.99 (Nintendo's headset is on sale for $9.99 at Amazon), it's good to know that you're not paying that premium for nothing. Turtle Beach's headset outclassed the official one in every category except recording quality, while Datel's Communicator was laughed out of the competition.

JoystiqDS headsets thrown into ring, forced to fight to the death originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chatcommunicatord2dateldsearforceearforced2headsetnintendonintendodsturtlebeachvoicevoicechatvoipwifiSun, 22 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates opening video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles-ring-of-fates-opening-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles-ring-of-fates-opening-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/29/final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles-ring-of-fates-opening-video/#commentsFiled under: ,

We can't fault Square Enix for milking Final Fantasy 3 DS' graphics engine -- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, the latest DS title to use the engine, looks fantastic in motion.

A new video of the multiplayer RPG's opening cutscene has been posted, parading the game's character and environment models. The movie clip is a little on the boring side if you can't follow the Japanese dialogue, but it shows off a feature we didn't see in the original GameCube game: full voice acting. Check past the post break to watch the video.

Continue reading Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates opening video

JoystiqFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates opening video originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystalchroniclescutscenedsff3ff3dsffccfinalfantasyfinalfantasycrystalchroniclesnintendonintendodsringoffatessquaresquareenixvideovoicevoiceactingThu, 29 Mar 2007 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pokephone Diamond and Pearl]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/pokephone-diamond-and-pearl/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/pokephone-diamond-and-pearl/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/16/pokephone-diamond-and-pearl/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's white.In the latest Nintendo press release regarding the upcoming guaranteed mega-hit Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl, Nintendo extols the virtues of Wi-Fi trading, an in-depth and sophisticated adventure, and zOMG awesome grafix. One point that Nintendo seems more than willing to drive home, however, is the fact that the pair of games will feature Wi-Fi voice-chat, as did Metroid Prime: Hunters in March 2006.

It's a nice feature, but the DS speakers and built-in microphone were hardly up to task of quality conversation; thus, Nintendo has decided to release its DS headset right along with it. Listed at a paltry $14.99 and shipping one day later than Pokemon D&P, it certainly looks like a decent pick-up for those interested in free hot-spot chatting. And can you imagine the trash-talking?

"Your Machop is more like your mom-chop, ohhhhh snap."

Umm ... in retrospect, we apologize for submitting you to that.

JoystiqPokephone Diamond and Pearl originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChatDiamondHeadsetPearlPokemonVoiceVoiPFri, 16 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese Hardware Sales: 15 Jan - 21 Jan: Voiceover edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/japanese-hardware-sales-15-jan-21-jan-voiceover-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/japanese-hardware-sales-15-jan-21-jan-voiceover-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/japanese-hardware-sales-15-jan-21-jan-voiceover-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,


Do these even have anything to do with the sales numbers anymore? Ah well. There's some slight profanity at the end, FYI.

- DS Lite: 127,647 38,360 (42.96%)
- Wii: 86,395 7,313 (7.80%)
- PSP: 37,032 11,772 (24.12%)
- PS3: 21,105 4,426 (17.34%)
- PS2: 20,169 2,494 (11.00%)
- Xbox 360: 7,041 1,994 (22.07%)
- Game Boy Micro: 1,864 95 (4.85%)
- GBA SP: 1,498 49 (3.17%)
- Gamecube: 554 57 (9.33%)
- DS Phat: 123 82 (200.00%)
- GBA: 94 15 (18.99%)

[Source: Media Create]

Also see: Joystiq's Weekly Sales Charts

JoystiqJapanese Hardware Sales: 15 Jan - 21 Jan: Voiceover edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EditionHardwareJapaneseMovieNumbersSalesTrailerVoiceFri, 26 Jan 2007 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese Hardware Sales: 15 Jan - 21 Jan: Voiceover edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/japanese-hardware-sales-15-jan-21-jan-voiceover-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/japanese-hardware-sales-15-jan-21-jan-voiceover-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/26/japanese-hardware-sales-15-jan-21-jan-voiceover-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,


Do these even have anything to do with the sales numbers anymore? Ah well. There's some slight profanity at the end, FYI.

- DS Lite: 127,647 38,360 (42.96%)
- Wii: 86,395 7,313 (7.80%)
- PSP: 37,032 11,772 (24.12%)
- PS3: 21,105 4,426 (17.34%)
- PS2: 20,169 2,494 (11.00%)
- Xbox 360: 7,041 1,994 (22.07%)
- Game Boy Micro: 1,864 95 (4.85%)
- GBA SP: 1,498 49 (3.17%)
- Gamecube: 554 57 (9.33%)
- DS Phat: 123 82 (200.00%)
- GBA: 94 15 (18.99%)

[Source: Media Create]

Also see: Joystiq's Weekly Sales Charts

JoystiqJapanese Hardware Sales: 15 Jan - 21 Jan: Voiceover edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwarejapanesemovienumberssalestrailervoiceFri, 26 Jan 2007 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii - now with bonus Bluetooth functionality? [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/wii-now-with-bonus-bluetooth-functionality/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/wii-now-with-bonus-bluetooth-functionality/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/22/wii-now-with-bonus-bluetooth-functionality/#commentsFiled under:

Techie.You'd think a company like Nintendo would hype up all the features of its new console to the point of abject sin, right? Well, all you savvy tech guys out there, there may be at least one Nintendo isn't telling you about.

Some readers over at the Official Nintendo Forums are claiming an interesting ability of the Wii: it has the capability of receiving Bluetooth signals from various devices, including cellular phones. Apparently, one is able to go right into the Photo Channel of the Wii and immediately access pictures from a nearby Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, with no hassle or setup, as long as an SD card is inserted into the system. This is an extremely convenient way to view pictures from a cell phone on a larger screen, and would be a welcome addition to the functionality of the Photo Channel.

With the Wii's apparent ability to receive and transmit Bluetooth to any generic device, might we see Bluetooth headset compatibility for voice chat in the future? Not having to buy a proprietary headset would be awesome, no?

[Update 1: Alas, this has been proven 100% false. Why are people such jerks?]

[Thanks, Nick!]

JoystiqWii - now with bonus Bluetooth functionality? [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlueToothCellChannelDeviceFunctionalityHeadsetPhonePhotoPicturesVoiceWed, 22 Nov 2006 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gurumin to feature accomplished VAs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/03/gurumin-to-feature-accomplished-vas/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/03/gurumin-to-feature-accomplished-vas/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/03/gurumin-to-feature-accomplished-vas/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tara Strong, voice of Final Fantasy X's Rikku, joins a surprisingly strong voice acting cast for the upcoming PSP RPG Gurumin. Other VAs include Amber Hood (Psychonauts), Dee Bradley (Viewtiful Joe), Kim Mai Guest (Metal Gear Solid), Robin Atkin Downes (Prince of Persia), and more. The voice acting will be directed by Kris Zimmerman, the voice director of all the Metal Gear Solid games (all of which feature excellent voice acting).

It's great to see a PSP RPG finally get some solid voice acting. We've had way too many quests with minimal voice acting-- hopefully, publisher Mastiff sets a standard for all PSP RPGs to come. We'll have more on the ultra-cute Gurumin in the future.

[Via GameDaily]

JoystiqGurumin to feature accomplished VAs originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amber hoodAmberHooddee bradleyDeeBradleyguruminjrpgkim mai guestKimMaiGuestkris zimmermanKrisZimmermanmastiffmetal gearmetal gear solidMetalGearMetalGearSolidmgsprince of persiaPrinceOfPersiarikkurobin atkin downesRobinAtkinDownesrpgtara strongTaraStrongvaviewtiful joeViewtifulJoevoicevoice actingVoiceActingzimmermanFri, 03 Nov 2006 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Oblivion's vocal and line repetition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/18/oblivions-vocal-and-line-repetition/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/18/oblivions-vocal-and-line-repetition/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/18/oblivions-vocal-and-line-repetition/#commentsFiled under: ,

With the six month anniversary of Bethesda's epic single-player RPG Oblivion on store shelves, we've all gotten a pretty good handle on its highlights and flaws. Highlights being that for $60 you get a world so big that its mass exudes a gravitational force. However, the flaw is that like Amistad Maupin's Tales of the City, which seemed to only have six people living in all of San Francisco, Oblivion has six voice actors spouting the same few lines all over Tamriel.

Over at the Game Chair they explore this redundantly repetitive flaw in Oblivion and blame it on the industry's lack of emphasis on writing. The writer of the piece makes some interesting points, and then throws all credibility out the window when he pimps his writing out and offers up his body to Bethesda.

JoystiqOblivion's vocal and line repetition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaBethesda-SoftworksoblivionrepetitionvoiceMon, 18 Sep 2006 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ving Rhames to be lead voice for Vice City Stories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/29/ving-rhames-to-be-lead-voice-for-vice-city-stories/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/29/ving-rhames-to-be-lead-voice-for-vice-city-stories/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/29/ving-rhames-to-be-lead-voice-for-vice-city-stories/#commentsFiled under: ,

According to IMDb, Ving Rhames will be voicing the lead character of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The actor is noted for roles in Kojak, Mission: Impossible, Con Air and Pulp Fiction, to name a few. With his a commanding authority in his voice, Ving Rhames seems to be appropraitely cast. The 47 year old actor is no stranger to video games, having done voice roles for Driver and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories will release exclusively for the PSP in October.

[Via QJ]

JoystiqVing Rhames to be lead voice for Vice City Stories originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cinematicalgrand theft autoGrandTheftAutogtaimdbkojakvice city storiesViceCityStoriesving rhamesVingRhamesvoiceTue, 29 Aug 2006 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Tales of Phantasia features new goodies on PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/01/tales-of-phantasia-features-new-goodies-on-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/01/tales-of-phantasia-features-new-goodies-on-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/01/tales-of-phantasia-features-new-goodies-on-psp/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bandai Namco sure loves the PSP. They're responsible for at least four Tales games on the PSP: Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of Eternia, Tales of the World, and a remake of Tales of Phantasia. None of these games have any plans on crossing over to America (why?!), so avid Tales fans have no choice but to look to import shops. To add insult to injury, Bandai Namco released new screens and details about Tales of Phantasia: Full Voice Edition. If it wasn't obvious from the title, the game features full voice acting, a great plus for fans of seiyuu. There's also a new gameplay element: Grade Shop, where players can trade their Grade points to alter gameplay mechanics, like experience points, difficulty, HP and more. It sounds very similar to Tales of Symphonia's system.

Also, those who pre-order the game will also receive a: "special DVD, containing an original drama, interviews with voice actors, an artwork gallery and trailers of cherished event scenes." For you blokes that don't live in Japan, you can import it from YesAsia.com for $50, shipped.

See also:
New screenshots from Game Watch

[Via IGN Boards]

JoystiqTales of Phantasia features new goodies on PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game watchGameWatchgradephantasiapre-orderscreenshotstalesvoiceyesasiaTue, 01 Aug 2006 08:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Yakuza nabs celebrities, takes their voices]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/17/yakuza-nabs-celebrities-takes-their-voices/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/17/yakuza-nabs-celebrities-takes-their-voices/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/17/yakuza-nabs-celebrities-takes-their-voices/#commentsFiled under: ,


What do Michael Madsen (Mr. Blonde), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor from Smallville), Eliza Dushku, (Faith from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Rachel Leigh Cook (She's All That), and Mark Hamill (uhh, Luke Skywalker) all have in common? Yup, none of them are Japanese and all of them are lending their voices in Sega's American-ization of their Japanese crime-game Ryu ga Gotoku, now Yakuza. Thing is, none of em are playing Kazuma, the title's lead.

For some more on the selection process, check out Gamespot's interview with Justin Lambros, the US producer. Hoping to keep the Japanese dialogue track for that authentic Ryu ga Gotoku feel? Tough luck, says Lambros, "We were hoping to include the Japanese dialogue as an alternate track, but unfortunately there just wasn't enough room on a single disc to put both sets of voice files."

JoystiqYakuza nabs celebrities, takes their voices originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Jun 2006 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amusement-VisionMark-HamillMichael-MadsenPS2Ryu-ga-GotokuRyu-ga-Gotoku-1SegaVoiceYakuzaYakuza-1Sat, 17 Jun 2006 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO VoIP: cross-reality calling]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/08/mmo-voip-cross-reality-calling/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/08/mmo-voip-cross-reality-calling/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/08/mmo-voip-cross-reality-calling/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Telecoms startup Vivox has an intriguing vision, and an ambitiously-named product; "Immersion" aims to add voice chat to online games, with both persistent chat for guilds and dynamic chat for instancing. The product also seems to tie together various text-based chat methods, including regular messengers such as Yahoo and AIM as well as in-game chat.

By supplying the (scalable) infrastructure for this service, Vivox hope Immersion will take the burden of providing voice chat away from game manufacturers, while making communication centralised and seamless for players. However, there are already several products that already achieve this -- many guilds have Ventrilo or TeamSpeak servers, while Xfire provides cross-game chatting. Vivox can go either way; it could corner another segment of this fragmented market, or -- if the company manage to deal directly with game developers -- it could become the one-stop-shop communication solution for gamers regardless of their MMO of choice.

It'll be interesting to see which way the company goes; voice chat is certainly billed as the next stage of interactivity with MMOs, with Xbox Live gamers testifying to the added dimensions voice can add to various game genres. A recent press release on Vivox's website points to another direction in which the technology could become useful -- adding voice and centralised communication to online dating and social sites -- but reaching saturation point is going to be a tricky ride.

[Via Gamesblog; City of Heroes screenshot from GameAmp]

JoystiqMMO VoIP: cross-reality calling originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Apr 2006 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarsgamesblogmmommorpgPCteamspeakventrilovirtual selvesVirtualSelvesvoicevoipSat, 08 Apr 2006 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chris Grant co-host on Gaming Steve podcast]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/23/chris-grant-co-host-on-gaming-steve-podcast/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/23/chris-grant-co-host-on-gaming-steve-podcast/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/23/chris-grant-co-host-on-gaming-steve-podcast/#commentsFiled under:

GDC '06 with Peter Moore, Cesar Menendez, and Joystiq's Christopher GrantJoystiq's very own Christopher Grant is not only posting from the 2006 Game Developers Conference, he's also starring in a podcast.

Okay, so technically he's just co-hosting an episode of an ongoing podcast with Gaming Steve, but you can't miss this opportunity to hear Chris's laid-back, sweetly smooth voice. (There are reports that Chris also sounds somewhat like a stoner, but we wouldn't be able to tell you what those kind of people sound like anyway, so what can we say?)

As for the podcast itself, Chris and Steve go into the events of the last day, enthusiastically sharing about Microsoft's bloggers breakfast with Peter Moore (inset), Phil Harrison's PS3 keynote, what the new Battlestar Galactica might have to do with games, and everything else that they saw in San Jose. And, hey, maybe if we're lucky, we'll get another guest Joystiqer co-hosting with Steve today. More from GDC as we get it...

See also:

JoystiqChris Grant co-host on Gaming Steve podcast originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Mar 2006 04:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Battlestar GalacticaBattlestarGalacticabloggers breakfastBloggersBreakfastChristopher GrantChristopherGrantco-hostGame Developers ConferenceGameDevelopersConferenceGaming SteveGamingSteveJoystiqerkeynotelaid-backPeter MoorePeterMoorePhil HarrisonPhilHarrisonpodcastSan JoseSanJosesmoothstonervoiceThu, 23 Mar 2006 04:04:00 EST