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[Kinect helping robots see and recognize environment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/kinect-helping-robots-see-and-recognize-environment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/kinect-helping-robots-see-and-recognize-environment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/kinect-helping-robots-see-and-recognize-environment/#comments Wired has a fascinating (if a little long) read up about how Microsoft's Kinect hardware is changing the robotics industry. For a long time, robotics has been held back, not by technology that defines how robots move, but by a lack of understanding of their environments -- a robot that can't "see" or recognize its surroundings won't have any idea where to go. Most solutions to this problem were too expensive or unwieldy to use in a lot of robotics applications.

But the Kinect has made that much easier, providing what's basically a sub-$500 kit that can recognize humans, their movements and almost any other objects around the room. And while Kinect hacks first began as a push by unofficial open source engineers, Microsoft has more or less made that kind of stuff official, both by providing developer kits for programmers and by supporting community mods.

So let it be known: Just a few years from now, when Skynet is chasing you down after capturing your loved ones to work in the slave camps, it'll be thanks to Kinect that those robots can see and hunt you while moving across the post-apocalyptic wasteland.

JoystiqKinect helping robots see and recognize environment originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-kinectroboticsrobotssciencewiredxboxTue, 21 Jun 2011 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo's Kaigler: Hardcore Wii game sales could go long tail ... maybe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/nintendos-kaigler-hardcore-wii-game-sales-could-go-long-tail-maybe/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/nintendos-kaigler-hardcore-wii-game-sales-could-go-long-tail-maybe/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/nintendos-kaigler-hardcore-wii-game-sales-could-go-long-tail-maybe/#comments
If there's one thing that Nintendo VP of corporate affairs Denise Kaigler knows, it's first-party game sales. In a recent Wired interview, she happily expounded on the "long tail" that Nintendo first-party games tend to enjoy (we're looking at you, anything with Mario in the title), though couldn't say as much for third-party sales on Wii -- especially those of the "hardcore" variety.

When asked about slow sales of critically acclaimed titles MadWorld and The Conduit, Kaigler said that both games could follow the non-traditional Nintendo sales trend (the aforementioned "long tail"), but her comments seemed rooted in speculation. "You know, I don't know ... it could be titles have the same type of sales curve that a lot of Nintendo titles have -- titles [that] don't follow that traditional sales curve where they launch big and then that's it." She said that Nintendo remains "hopeful" that the titles will move more units in the future, calling them both "deep experiences," though we're not sure those kind words will help soothe Sega's assuredly dented coffers.

JoystiqNintendo's Kaigler: Hardcore Wii game sales could go long tail ... maybe originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdenise-kaiglerinterviewmadworldNintendothe-conduitWiiwiredWed, 29 Jul 2009 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[28 years ago today: World's first software patent successfully filed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/28-years-ago-today-worlds-first-software-patent-successfully-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/28-years-ago-today-worlds-first-software-patent-successfully-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/28-years-ago-today-worlds-first-software-patent-successfully-f/#commentsAnd so it was, approximately 40 years ago, that Satya Pal Asija created Swift-Answer, a piece of software used for "full text, free-form, narrative, information input, storage and retrieval." With his creation, Asija set forth on a quest to get his software patented -- not copyrighted, mind you -- in order to offer software creators the same protection from imitators that other inventors were offered. And 28 years ago, on May 26, the world's first software patent was approved.

It took another six years (and a law degree) before he was able to file his patent for Swift-Answer and, after that, a seven year court battle over his right to patent software. On May 26, 1981, Satya Pal Asija was granted US patent number 4,270,182, making him the first person to patent a piece of software and leading the way for thousands of others. And oh yeah, dude's still at it!

[Via Patent Arcade]
[Image credit]

Joystiq28 years ago today: World's first software patent successfully filed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 May 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>legalpatentpatent-arcadesatya-pal-asijasoftwaresoftware-patentswift-answerwiredTue, 26 May 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Two guys want to make a Gizmondo movie]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/two-guys-want-to-make-a-gizmondo-movie/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/two-guys-want-to-make-a-gizmondo-movie/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/two-guys-want-to-make-a-gizmondo-movie/#comments
Remember Bo Stefan Eriksson, the Gizmondo bigshot that wrecked that sweet Ferrari Enzo and then went to jail? His life hasn't been too great lately, but apparently his trials and tribulations are interesting enough for a Hollywood movie. We guess driving drunk and running a company into the ground makes for entertaining cinema ...

But, we digress. The men who want to turn this sad tale into a sad tale starring more beautiful people for the silver screen are writer-director Craig Zobel and producer Beau Flynn. These two have optioned Wired's "Gizmondo's Spectacular Crack-up," which was written by Randall Sullivan and chronicles the events that led up to that infamous crash. Flynn's production company Contrafilm will handle most of the heavy lifting.

When you think about it, though, is this really movie theater entertainment? Wouldn't this be a good cautionary tale for an after school special or that Intervention show?

[Via Engadget]

Read - Film gets optioned
Read - The original Wired article

JoystiqTwo guys want to make a Gizmondo movie originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 May 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-flynncontrafilmcraig-zobelenzoferrariferrari-enzogizmondogizmondos-spectacular-crack-upstefan-erikksonwiredFri, 01 May 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metamorial: Game writers remember Dave Arneson]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/metamorial-game-writers-remember-dave-arneson/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/metamorial-game-writers-remember-dave-arneson/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/metamorial-game-writers-remember-dave-arneson/#comments
Somewhere between co-creating Dungeons & Dragons and teaching at Full Sail College, Dave Arneson left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape. Every time we roll for initiative or challenge the dungeon master's ability to adapt, Arneson's guiding hand can be felt.

We've gathered sentiments shared by our colleagues around the internet for you here, and encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments section below, about the man that helped move role-playing into the limelight of gaming.

Ars Technica: "Get out your classic rule books. Invite some friends over. Keep a chair empty for a fallen friend, and play for a few hours. Not online, in person. Order a pizza ... Remember Dave Arneson, a man who wasn't satisfied with the game when his parents brought home an Avalon Hill title. When he began changing the rules, he began changing the world."

Continue reading Metamorial: Game writers remember Dave Arneson

JoystiqMetamorial: Game writers remember Dave Arneson originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ars-technicacrispy-gamerdave-arnesondungeons-and-dragonsescapistgamelifekotakumemorialmetawiredThu, 09 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wired hails Duke Nukem Forever as 2008's vaporware king, baby]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/wired-hails-duke-nukem-forever-as-2008s-vaporware-king-baby/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/wired-hails-duke-nukem-forever-as-2008s-vaporware-king-baby/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/wired-hails-duke-nukem-forever-as-2008s-vaporware-king-baby/#commentsFiled under:


Wired, embracing the redundancy of doing so, has named Duke Nukem Forever as the top piece of vaporware in 2008. As we've made abundantly clear in the past, much has happened since Nukem's latest adventure was first announced back in 1997. Wired was going to leave the perennial favorite off the list this year because "even the best jokes get old eventually," but obviously thought the DNF horse -- with a DNR order -- still had enough life left in it for one more jab.

Keeping the dream alive that DNF may be coming to the end of a very, very (x12) long development cycle was its appearance on the Jace Hall show earlier this year. However, that was followed up by more teaser images. Keep hope alive, Duke faithful. Keep hope alive.

Gallery: Duke Nukem Forever (yes, really)

JoystiqWired hails Duke Nukem Forever as 2008's vaporware king, baby originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-realmsduke-nukemduke-nukem-forevervaporwarewiredMon, 29 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video sharing nixed from Home beta]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/video-sharing-nixed-from-home-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/video-sharing-nixed-from-home-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/video-sharing-nixed-from-home-beta/#commentsFiled under:


Though it once seemed an ideal channel for showing friends and loved ones videos of two people having intercourse, it seems that we'll need to find a method other than Sony's Home for furthering our hobby of filth propagation. Wired reports that the previously announced video sharing feature of the service has been axed, at least for now.

Sony says it's "looking into it," but it's looking less and less likely to us, especially considering the considerable legal hurdles Sony would have to overcome to implement the functionality. So, it seems to feed our curious habit of public pornography distribution, we'll be forced to turn to other channels. Speaking of which .... do any of you know any really good skywriters?

JoystiqVideo sharing nixed from Home beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>homehome-betaPS3sonywiredThu, 18 Sep 2008 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Shane Kim: First console to 100 million wins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/shane-kim-first-console-to-100-million-wins/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/shane-kim-first-console-to-100-million-wins/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/shane-kim-first-console-to-100-million-wins/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Microsoft's Shane Kim now sees the end to the console war as a new magic number: first system to 100 million units sold wins, he tells Wired. That's an increase of 90 million over the 10 million mark Microsoft used to promote as the bellwether of victory. Kim believes consumers are still deciding what system to choose and that this console generation is different from the others. (Yeah, it's the first time Microsoft actually has a chance.)

Kim explains that Sony won the last couple generations, but Nintendo is clearly in first place this time around; however, he wonders if Nintendo can keep that momentum going up to 100 million (at Nintendo's rate of supply, it could take decades). He even questions it there'll be a clear-cut winner this generation. Finally, Kim assures that the Microsoft hardware guys are still working on reducing the cost of Xbox 360, in order to hit that "mass market" price point.

JoystiqShane Kim: First console to 100 million wins originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 May 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-raceconsole-warconsoleskimPS3salesshane-kimWiiwiredXbox-360Wed, 21 May 2008 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Miyamoto: 'America has always been better at creating unique products']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/miyamoto-america-has-always-been-better-at-creating-unique-pro/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/miyamoto-america-has-always-been-better-at-creating-unique-pro/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/miyamoto-america-has-always-been-better-at-creating-unique-pro/#commentsFiled under: ,


WiiWare's up and running now in North America and not a single one of those games comes from the big N itself. Speaking to Wired, Shigeru Miyamoto, head of Nintendo's game development division, says the company wanted to foster indie games, which are more prolific in the US than Japan, with Wiiware. In fact, Miyamoto says, "I think America has always been better at creating unique products."

Excuse us one moment while we crack open a Bud and beat our chests ... OK, back. Miyamoto explains that US indie developers have managed to acquire the skills and hardware needed to "let their own personality and their own kind of unique interests really flourish." Asked if he would ever consider getting involved in making a small-scale game again, the Nintendo guru responded that it might be "fun" to do.

JoystiqMiyamoto: 'America has always been better at creating unique products' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 May 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>miyamotoWiiwiiwarewiredMon, 12 May 2008 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Harmonix's top tips for fledgling Rock Band drummers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/12/harmonixs-top-tips-for-fledgling-rock-band-drummers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/12/harmonixs-top-tips-for-fledgling-rock-band-drummers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/12/harmonixs-top-tips-for-fledgling-rock-band-drummers/#commentsFiled under:

Have you found it difficult to transition to the higher difficulty drum tours on Rock Band? Nursing blistered palms after your fifteenth attempt of "Won't Get Fooled Again"? Do your calves throb after putting them through the bass pedal gauntlet known as "Maps"? Don't fret -- Harmonix recently descended from their throne of rock to help guide your feeble attempts to be the next Keith Moon (though none of their helpful tips include "destroy every drum set you ever play on, then overdose at the age of 31.")

In a recent article for Wired, the Rock Band developers shared some valuable advice for the percussionist-in-training, including how to properly use the bass pedal, and, of course, a detailed explanation of the mighty paradiddle. We've been paradiddling all night, and we must say, our hands are getting awfully tired. Perhaps the creamy embrace of Rock Jam will expedite our fevered training.

[via Evil Avatar]

JoystiqHarmonix's top tips for fledgling Rock Band drummers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drumsdrumtrainingharmonixrock-bandrockbandwiredSat, 12 Jan 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band store accessories and the drum bag]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/rock-band-store-accessories-and-the-one-necessity/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/rock-band-store-accessories-and-the-one-necessity/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/rock-band-store-accessories-and-the-one-necessity/#commentsFiled under: ,


Harmonix's Rock Band store is mostly full of unnecessary merchandise, but there are a few things that might help in protecting your $170 "music platform." As the drum set taking up a square meter of real estate in the living room grows into an eyesore, the one handy thing the store has is the Rock Band drum bag.

The $50 drum bag is an easy storage solution when "company" comes over. Nobody likes the first question out of a new visitor during the holidays when they see the drum kit to be, "What the hell is that thing?!" There are also guitar and drum stick sleeves, plus new drum sticks and stickers in the store that are neat, but the drum bag does feel like an obvious solution to something that will be an issue in time. Disassembling the kit and putting it into a Bloomingdales Big Brown Bag just seems wrong. But if someone finds other DIY storage solutions we're all ears.

Gallery: Rock Band accessories

JoystiqRock Band store accessories and the drum bag originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitarperipheralpriceps3rockbandwiredwirelessXbox-360xbox360Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Comparing Rock Band to Guitar Hero in difficulty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/comparing-rock-band-to-guitar-hero-difficulty/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/comparing-rock-band-to-guitar-hero-difficulty/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/comparing-rock-band-to-guitar-hero-difficulty/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Games Radar has put together a little piece comparing the difficulty of Guitar Hero to Rock Band. Their basic conclusion is that "Guitar Hero III hard = Guitar Hero II expert" and "Rock Band Expert = Guitar Hero II hard." They say that Guitar Hero is tough to jump into and Rock Band may be too easy at the medium level for seasoned vets.

Having had significant time with Rock Band on a visit to Harmonix on Tuesday, we can say that when comparing the guitar portion of the game, Rock Band on hard feels close to Guitar Hero II on medium -- except you do have to deal with that pesky orange button, so in essence it feels the same. That doesn't mean that there isn't a challenge in there for the average player, it's just a point of reference for jumping in. Now that's just the guitar, we're not even talking about the beasts of drumming and singing, nor the extreme joy the social interaction of the game provides.

JoystiqComparing Rock Band to Guitar Hero in difficulty originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ghIIIguitarguitarheroperipheralpricePS3rockbandwiredwirelessXbox-360Thu, 15 Nov 2007 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Going kamikaze in Halo 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/going-kamikazee-in-halo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/going-kamikazee-in-halo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/going-kamikazee-in-halo-3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Despite the many improvements to its predecessor's multiplayer mode, Bungie's Halo 3 is still not friendly to the newcomers. Wired's Clive Thompson is one of those players who don't have enough time or willpower to end up anywhere but last place in online matches. He's found a way to cope, however: suicide bombing.

Specifically, Thompson (in-game) runs straight at his assailant so that with his last breath he can lob a sticky grenade with deadly precision, so that his opponent dies with him. This leads to an interesting, however shallow (a point Thompson himself makes), observation on the psychology behind playing a game with the intent of throwing yourself into suicidal positions.

"The best players have dozens of free hours a week to hone their talents, and I don't have that luxury," he said. "This changes the relative meaning of death for the two of us. For me, dying will not penalize me in the way it penalizes them, because I have almost no chance of improving my state. I might as well take people down with me."

Those at Joystiq who can't own at Halo 3 have found a very different approach to feeling better about our gaming skills: we play as the medic in Team Fortress 2 and let everyone else rack up the kills while we rack up the assist points.

[Image via 1UP]

JoystiqGoing kamikaze in Halo 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesbungieBungie-Studiosclive-thompsonFPShalohalo-3halo3MicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-StudioswiredXbox-360Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Consumer check: Make sure Wal-Mart's Guitar Hero 3 bundle is one you want]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/28/consumer-check-make-sure-wal-marts-guitar-hero-3-bundle-is-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/28/consumer-check-make-sure-wal-marts-guitar-hero-3-bundle-is-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/28/consumer-check-make-sure-wal-marts-guitar-hero-3-bundle-is-one/#commentsFiled under: ,


As many prepare to rock with Guitar Hero III today, we've received a few tips about consumers accidentally getting wired Xbox 360 controllers at Wal-Mart instead of the much ballyhooed wireless guitars. According to Wal-Mart's website, they are currently carrying several bundles of Guitar Hero III -- including ones with a wired x-plorer guitar for Xbox 360 (pictured) and SG controller for PS2. Target also has a similar bundle currently. The only reason we haven't started our voodoo to punish Activision and Red Octane for this trickery is that there actually is a price adjustment for these bundles. The Xbox 360 bundle and PS2 wired bundles are both $10 less than their wireless counterparts.

The basic thing to do in this situation is to make sure you go to the store and read the box. If they don't have the one you want, it's your right as a free consumer to go shopping someplace else. We've been informed that some Wal-Marts only have one version of the bundle -- it may not be fair, but all we can do is let you know to check the box before you buy. Oh, but if they are selling the wired bundles for the same price as the wireless ones, then we'll call our voodoo priestess and start the incantations.

[Thanks Nick and everyone else who sent this in]

JoystiqConsumer check: Make sure Wal-Mart's Guitar Hero 3 bundle is one you want originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gh3ghIIIguitarsPS2wiredXbox-360Sun, 28 Oct 2007 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band FAQ: Part 1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/rock-band-faq-part-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/rock-band-faq-part-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/rock-band-faq-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


MTV's Multiplayer blog has posted answers to frequently asked questions regarding the corporate fustercluck (MTV/EA/Harmonix) published rhythm game Rock Band. We could bother to put the question and the answer, but if y'all can't figure out what the original question was you can hit up Multiplayer:
  • No other hardware combinations have been announced yet beyond the standard (guitar, drum, mic) bundle. And yes, the bass guitar is just a second guitar controller which you probably have lying around ...
  • ... because Harmonix will keep an "open platform philosophy" and games will be compatible with third-party controllers "that conform to the various platform controller standards."
  • If you're short on guitars but want to play head to head, the online play will be both cooperative and competitive.
  • The Xbox 360 gee-tar will come with a USB hub (remember the guitar in the bundle is wired).
  • A Wii version has not been announced ... yet.
Now, we don't have insta-access to Rock Band like MTV's Multiplayer blog, but we can try to get some questions answered too -- we're scrappy like that. So if you have some lingering Rock Band questions (and there are plenty good ones still left), leave 'em in the comments and we'll try to get some answers. And automatic name calling to the people who ask questions already answered by bullet points above.

JoystiqRock Band FAQ: Part 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitarHarmonixperipheralpricePS2ps3RockBandwiredwirelessXbox-360xbox360Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: Rock Band $170 on Nov. 23 for Xbox and PS3; PS2 version coming Dec. 10 at $160]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/confirmed-rock-band-170-with-nov-23rd-date-ps2-version-comin/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/confirmed-rock-band-170-with-nov-23rd-date-ps2-version-comin/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/confirmed-rock-band-170-with-nov-23rd-date-ps2-version-comin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's official folks, Rock Band will be $170 for Xbox 360 and PS3 and release Nov. 23. A Friday ... wait, Black Friday? Yes, more on that in a second. The PS2 version will release Dec. 10 for $160. Our spidey sense started tingling that something was up when we received info that Amazon was listing Rock Band for $169 -- a $30 reduction from the $199 they've had listed for months. Turns out that they received the official price today. The bundle includes the game (reg. $60, $50 on PS2), the guitar (reg. $60, but wired on Xbox 360, wireless is separate and $80), the wired drums (reg. $80), and wired microphone (reg. $30).

Now the big question: What were the powers that be thinking with November 23rd? Nov. 23rd is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, the high holy "oh my gawd we're going to get trampled when the stores open" day of the year. Can you imagine what it's going to be like trying to pick up your game at retail on that day? Don't know about the rest of you, but if there were ever a time to get your game by mail -- this would be that time!

[Thanks to all those that sent info in]

JoystiqConfirmed: Rock Band $170 on Nov. 23 for Xbox and PS3; PS2 version coming Dec. 10 at $160 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewsguitarperipheralpricePS2ps3rockbandwiredwirelessXbox-360xbox360Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Harmonix CEO confirms Rock Band's Xbox 360 bundle guitar is wired]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/08/harmonix-ceo-confirms-rock-bands-xbox-360-bundle-guitar-is-wire/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/08/harmonix-ceo-confirms-rock-bands-xbox-360-bundle-guitar-is-wire/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/08/harmonix-ceo-confirms-rock-bands-xbox-360-bundle-guitar-is-wire/#commentsFiled under: , ,


In the latest OXM Podcast, Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos confirms that the Xbox 360 guitars for Rock Band are wired in the bundles. There will be wired and wireless versions available for the Xbox 360, but once again, the retail bundles will come with a wired guitar. The PS3 guitars are all wireless. The Xbox 360 bundle will also come with a USB hub for all the peripherals to plug into. On both the Xbox 360 and PS3 version the microphone and drum kit will be wired. Rigopulos says, "The cost of wireless technology on the Microsoft side is higher and to be able to offer those bundles at a price point that would be reasonable for consumers it was necessary ... on the 360 side we are also bundling a hub."

And no, there is no official price yet. It's starting to look like the $20 difference between the Xbox 360 wired and wireless guitar we reported after receiving an internal Game Crazy memo is holding up. So, that's that, the Xbox 360 bundle of Rock Band has a wired guitar and you'll get a little hub to plug everything in. Now comes the question if Microsoft will loosen their grip on the cost of licensing the proprietary wireless tech if the PS3 version of Rock Band sells stronger (comparatively given its lower install base) due to its wireless advantage. In the end, we don't blame Harmonix/EA/MTV for this wired issue -- although it was shady of them to hide it this long -- we're more upset that the consumer is going to get an inferior product due to an obnoxious licensing issue. It's deja vu all over again.

[Thanks sm0ke]

Gallery: Rock Band

JoystiqHarmonix CEO confirms Rock Band's Xbox 360 bundle guitar is wired originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Sep 2007 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitarperipheralpriceps3rockbandwiredwirelessXbox-360xbox360Sat, 08 Sep 2007 13:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Wired drops Halo 3 content bomb]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/wired-drops-halo-3-content-bomb/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/wired-drops-halo-3-content-bomb/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/wired-drops-halo-3-content-bomb/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you're eagerly awaiting Halo 3 like a good gamer, you're probably looking for any scrap of new info you can find on the game. Good news: Wired magazine is cordially inviting you to feast. That link will take you to a fascinating article about how Halo 3 was scientifically tuned to rock your face off. Don't miss the color-coded maps that show Bungie when one side of a playing field has an advantage. (And you thought that you were playing the beta for fun!)

There are also pictures of Bungie staffers, a video primer of Halo and, of course, gorgeous screenshots. Unfortunately, after sating your Halo 3 thirst with this new content, you're probably just going to want the game even more. We're sorry. It's a vicious cycle.

[Via X3F]

JoystiqWired drops Halo 3 content bomb originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungiehalo3wiredXbox-360Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wired chronicles the development of Halo 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/wired-chronicles-the-development-of-halo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/wired-chronicles-the-development-of-halo-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/wired-chronicles-the-development-of-halo-3/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you've moseyed on by your local newsstand, or whatever the kids call 'em these days, you may have seen the Master Chief plastered on the cover of Wired magazine. As our more astute readers have probably surmised, the issue contains a lengthy article on Halo 3. Specifically, the article deals with the extensive testing process that Halo 3 has undergone to ensure that the game is as close to perfect as it can be. Believe it or not, Bungie knows that lots of people were unsatisfied with Halo 2 (many Bungie employees weren't satisfied with it). The combat wasn't balanced, there were plenty of glitches, and the story, well, the story wasn't what Bungie wanted it to be. This time though, Bungie has employed an army of testers to make sure that the game is satisfying to everyone from the pros to Halo n00bs to Grandma (well, maybe not Grandma). As noted by the article, the Halo 3 testing process leans more towards science than artistry. Bungie recorded play sessions, recorded players' reactions during those play sessions, had players stop to note their satisfaction every 20 minutes, and much more. The amount of statistics recorded is really staggering, and all of it done to make sure that Halo 3 -- particularly Halo 3's campaign -- is the best damned game it can possibly be.

The article hasn't made it online yet, so you'll have to pick up a copy of Wired if you want the full scoop.

[Image: 360WTF]

JoystiqWired chronicles the development of Halo 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesbungieBungie-StudiosbungiestudiosFPShaloHalo-3halo3mgsMicrosoft-Game-StudiosmicrosoftgamestudioswiredMon, 20 Aug 2007 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EA confirms Rock Band in US 2007 despite AU and EU delays [Update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/ea-confirms-rock-band-in-us-2007-despite-au-and-eu-delays/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/ea-confirms-rock-band-in-us-2007-despite-au-and-eu-delays/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/15/ea-confirms-rock-band-in-us-2007-despite-au-and-eu-delays/#commentsFiled under: , ,


According to Red Octane COO Charles Huang "multiple territories ... will not see Rock Band this Christmas." Now remember, Red Octane makes Guitar Hero and is the competitor to the Harmonix developed, EA published, Rock Band. Huang believes Australia and New Zealand are out this year and expects those territories to pay $275 Australian for the game and peripherals. Speaking with Gamespot AU, he says possible release delays can be attributed to peripheral manufacturing output and that this could reach beyond the Asia-Pacific region. Huang says, "I'm not singling out Australia -- probably it will be multiple territories that will not see Rock Band this Christmas is my guess." EA Australia won't confirm the information, but GameSpot UK was told by their EA rep, "We don't think [Rock Band] will be released in Q4."

EA confirmed with Joystiq that Rock Band is still coming to the US in 2007. Although there is still no announced release date, no confirmed peripheral price, and we've heard hardly a peep about the game from the corporate side since the good buzz generated by E3. And we know we were working with "prototype" peripherals that hadn't gone into mass production at E3. We've asked for comment from EA about what's going on with the game and its peripherals. We'll update as soon as we hear back.

Update: EA got back to us and said that "everything is on track to launch the game on time" in the US. They'd also like to clarify that no European or Australian ship dates were ever announced and "at this point everything else is pure speculation." They won't answer specific questions regarding US peripheral supplies, we asked if they can guarantee at least a guitar for every copy of the game, but they do say that they're "working as hard as [they] can to produce as many copies of the game as quickly as [they] can." And finally, in terms of a release date, "We're almost there! Rock Band will ship this holiday in North America for the PS3 and Xbox 360."

JoystiqEA confirms Rock Band in US 2007 despite AU and EU delays [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaeuropeguitarperipheralpriceps3rockbandwiredwirelessXbox-360xbox360Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band bundles have wireless guitar on PS3 and wired on Xbox]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/07/rock-band-bundles-have-wireless-guitar-on-ps3-and-wired-on-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/07/rock-band-bundles-have-wireless-guitar-on-ps3-and-wired-on-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/07/rock-band-bundles-have-wireless-guitar-on-ps3-and-wired-on-xbox/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've been working on getting answers to what's going on with Rock Band's peripheral pricing for a long time. There are still no "official" prices to be found, but there is one anomaly regarding the wireless Xbox 360 guitar that is really starting to kick up questions. This $20 difference in the prices between the Xbox 360 wired and wireless guitar, which Joystiq first reported on back in May, has come back around in a sneaky way with the Rock Band bundles. Both Amazon and GameStop currently sell the Rock Band bundle for $199, with one key difference: The PS3 version comes with a wireless guitar and the Xbox 360 version is wired.

So, for gamers looking to avoid the currently marked $20 difference between the PS3 ($59.99) and Xbox 360 ($79.99) wireless guitar prices, the bundle is apparently not the answer. We also spoke with Red Octane yesterday, following up on questions we had at E3 about the price point of their Xbox 360 wireless guitar. Given Red Octane's already dramatic history on this wireless issue with Microsoft, we wanted to know if licensing issues and cost to the consumer had been worked out for this guitar and Guitar Hero III's release. They couldn't officially answer at this time, but the GH III bundles are currently identically priced on GameStop's website.

"Officially" none of this information means anything at this point. Although consumers should be made aware that the Rock Band bundles they're currently purchasing on GameStop and Amazon for the Xbox 360 are officially marked as wired, while the PS3 version is marked as wireless.

[Thanks Zachary]

JoystiqRock Band bundles have wireless guitar on PS3 and wired on Xbox originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitarperipheralpriceps3rockbandwiredwirelessXbox-360xbox360Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Geekdad gets Halo 3 voice-acting cameo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/geekdad-gets-halo-3-voice-acting-cameo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/geekdad-gets-halo-3-voice-acting-cameo/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/geekdad-gets-halo-3-voice-acting-cameo/#commentsFiled under: ,


Remember, if you meet Bungie's Marty O' Donnell be sure to get him liquored up real nice, good things can only come from it. Wired's own Geekdad did just that a few years back while chatting it up over dinner and got a Halo 3 voice-acting cameo out of the deal. Back then, Marty (sipping the wine) jokingly promised the Geekdad a recording session in Halo 3 and stuck to his word allowing Geekdad to come to Seattle this week to record a few lines for the game. Not only did he get to record for the game, but also got to see (under NDA) Halo 3 in all its glory, drool over the mixing tables, etc. etc. Lucky little Wired Geekdad. Check out video above where Marty explains how the Halo 3 announcement trailer music came to be and be sure to make the jump to read Geekdad's full recap.

Oh, and for the Halo-curious out there, Geekdad posted the list of lines he read for the game. Maybe you can find some Halo 3 storyline snippets in there ... probably not.

JoystiqGeekdad gets Halo 3 voice-acting cameo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesbungieBungie-StudiosFPShalohalo 3Halo-3Halo3marty o donnellMartyODonnellMicrosoft-Game-StudioswiredWed, 25 Apr 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wired EIC talks Halo 3, voice acting]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/wired-eic-talks-halo-3-voice-acting/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/wired-eic-talks-halo-3-voice-acting/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/24/wired-eic-talks-halo-3-voice-acting/#commentsFiled under: ,

You probably wish you had Chris Anderson's life. Not only is the guy the head of Wired Magazine and the author of best-selling book The Long Tail, but he also got a sneak peek at Halo 3 through connections with Bungie Audio Director Marty O'Donnell. Oh yeah, Anderson also got to lend his voice to a few nameless grunts in the game. Jealous much?

Anderson unfortunately can't reveal much new information about the game because of a non-disclosure agreement, but he did say in a blog post that he was particularly impressed with the game's previously-discussed replay function. He was also able to share scans of a couple pages of dialogue from the game, including such scintillating bombshells as "Ooh-rah! Damn right!" and "There! Over there!" Wow! Who says video game script writing sucks?

JoystiqWired EIC talks Halo 3, voice acting originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halo3longtailsoundVoiceActingWiredXbox-360Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[No more mile high club for Japanese gamers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/no-more-mile-high-club-for-japanese-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/no-more-mile-high-club-for-japanese-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/no-more-mile-high-club-for-japanese-gamers/#commentsFiled under:

Most airlines don't allow you to use wireless devices on airplanes. In Japan however, gamers have been able to multiplay to their heart's content while in flight. That's changing now though. Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport has decided to ban wireless gaming from all flights. The reason for the move is because apparently wireless devices can interfere with the airplane's instruments. Maybe this move was done because a small Japanese child controlled a plane with his stylus. That or it's just precautionary (but I do like the touch screen pilot idea).

[Via Wired]

JoystiqNo more mile high club for Japanese gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japan airlinesJapanAirlinesmultiplayerwiredwireless bannedWirelessBannedWed, 28 Mar 2007 22:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo featured in the Wired 40]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/nintendo-featured-in-the-wired-40/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/nintendo-featured-in-the-wired-40/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/nintendo-featured-in-the-wired-40/#commentsFiled under:


If you're unfamiliar with the Wired 40, don't panic, it's nothing more than a "list of the 40 most wired companies in the world." The inclusion of Nintendo comes as such a surprise since the company is the only new entrant in the list, which has long been dominated by the likes of Google and Apple. In the list of the top 40, the Wii debuts with a very impressive slot of sixth place. As you can see above, it's the fun control scheme that won them over, as well as the incredible sales numbers, not the graphics.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqNintendo featured in the Wired 40 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nintendonintendowiiwiiwiredwired40Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo in The Wired 40: Here comes a new challenger!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/nintendo-in-the-wired-40-here-comes-a-new-challenger/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/nintendo-in-the-wired-40-here-comes-a-new-challenger/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/nintendo-in-the-wired-40-here-comes-a-new-challenger/#commentsFiled under: ,


Nintendo sits as the lone new entrant in the top 10 of Wired's 10th annual Wired 40, a "list of the 40 most wired companies in the world" ... got it? While the other nine top slots were dominated by familiar faces from previous lists -- Google and Apple flipped first and second place -- Nintendo made the biggest splash debuting at an impressive number six. What's the rationale? The Wii, of course. The "acrobatic controller," coupled with brisk sales and buzz you can't buy, was enough to earn the Big N a place amongst other tech pantheons all while throwing in the requisite dig at Sony.

Other notable gaming highlights from the list include Nvidia, creeping up to number 10; Electronic Arts dropping to 20; IBM down to 38 (provides "chips powering all three top game consoles"); and Microsoft, scraping by at 40. For the statistically curious (or just impatient), pick up this month's issue 15.03; for everyone else, we imagine the entire list will make it onto their website shortly.

JoystiqNintendo in The Wired 40: Here comes a new challenger! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NintendoWiiWiredWired40Fri, 23 Mar 2007 11:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Hotel Dusk: worth reading or worth playing?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/13/hotel-dusk-worth-reading-or-worth-playing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/13/hotel-dusk-worth-reading-or-worth-playing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/13/hotel-dusk-worth-reading-or-worth-playing/#commentsFiled under: ,


In his attempts to solve the enigma buried within the story of Hotel Dusk: Room 215, Wired's Clive Thompson gets caught up in another mystery entirely. Is Hotel Dusk a game or a novel? While the general consensus is that the DS adventure is somewhat of a novel game (see what we did there?), the copious amounts of text, glacial pacing and rigorous story lead Thompson to believe that the distinction between Hotel Dusk and an "average airport novel" is less than clear.

Interestingly, he suggests that interactive elements like branching dialogue are the prime culprits in not only seperating the game from a novel, but preventing it from telling a story on par with the best of books. The piece concludes that games like Hotel Dusk and Phoenix Wright represent compromises between the interactive nature of games and the unresponsive presentation of books -- terms like "novel" and "interactive" don't quite capture the experience the games try to convey.

It's a good read, but we'd be remiss not to append our own conclusion: Hotel Dusk is a choose-your-own-adventure novel!

JoystiqHotel Dusk: worth reading or worth playing? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSHotel DuskHotel Dusk Room 215HotelDuskHotelDuskRoom215Interactive FictionInteractiveFictionWiredTue, 13 Feb 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wired trains its brain]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/29/wired-trains-its-brain/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/29/wired-trains-its-brain/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/29/wired-trains-its-brain/#commentsFiled under: ,

The January issue of Wired magazine includes a few short columns about writers trying to improve their abilities; Joshua Green's story about improving his brain functions relies on Nintendo's Brain Age game, a better diet, and more sleep. His non-scientific study left him with a brain age improvement from 44 to 34 after four weeks of work.

Now that Brain Age has been out for a while, do you think it has sharpened your mind? Anecdotally, we like the game, but we think it just makes us better at Brain Age.

JoystiqWired trains its brain originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brain AcademyBrain AgeBrain TrainingBrainAcademyBrainAgeBrainTrainingDSWiredFri, 29 Dec 2006 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Finally: a wired solution]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/13/finally-a-wired-solution/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/13/finally-a-wired-solution/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/13/finally-a-wired-solution/#commentsFiled under: ,

OMG Fire HazardNintendo including wireless capabilities seemed like a boon for many ... similar add-ons for other systems can cost upwards of a hundred dollars. Still, for those not quite on the send-information-zipping-on-airwaves bandwagon, the lack of an ethernet port on the system meant either buying a router or one of Nintendo's silly USB dongles. Even if wireless is available, many users prefer the stability of a wired network anyway, and those USB ports on the back of the Wii have as of yet been unused. Until...

Through some sort of electronic melding procedure, an unofficial ethernet-to-USB adapter (KINAMAX USB 2.0 to RJ45 Fast Ethernet 10/100 Base-T Network Adapter, found for sale at NewEgg here for $20) seems to send all the necessary 1's and 0's to the Wii. Why this adapter works and others not, we have no idea. Still, it's best not to look a gift horse in the mouth; if you wanted a wired connection, you've got one. Check after the break for a video demonstration.

Continue reading Finally: a wired solution

JoystiqFinally: a wired solution originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdapterConnectionDongleEthernetInternetUSBWiredWirelessWed, 13 Dec 2006 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Orson Scott Card laments publishers' grasp on creativity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/10/orson-scott-card-laments-publishers-grasp-on-creativity/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/10/orson-scott-card-laments-publishers-grasp-on-creativity/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/10/orson-scott-card-laments-publishers-grasp-on-creativity/#commentsFiled under: ,

Author Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game) told Wired that he's fed up with the state of gaming and not optimistic about the future. Card notes that today's gameplay is repetitive and the storytelling is minimal at best. The problem, Card says, is the publishers who don't understand the medium and are prone to financing / pushing safe bets, essentially leaving the developers pigeonholed.

Let's sympathize with the publisher's position first. They largely hold a fiduciary stance, which means they act in the financial interest of the company. The goal of a business is to make money, after all, and unfortunately the safest bets are generally the same gameplay mechanics known for decades with prettier graphics and more particle effects.

Assuming developers have the ability to innovate in the industry (as Card implies), is it the responsibility of publishers to advance the medium through risk-taking -- say, one art house game for every 2-3 mindless shooters, annual sports iterations, or licensed action romp? With game development costing in the tens of millions of dollars and more, and shelf space limited in brick-and-mortar stores, innovation is a hard pill to swallow for profit-seeking corporations. The hope, perhaps, lies in digital distribution or even simply online purchasing. At that point, however, the responsibility lies with the consumer to use his or her wallet and make a stance for innovation.

[Thanks, trumaine]

JoystiqOrson Scott Card laments publishers' grasp on creativity originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Nov 2006 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ender's gameEnder'sGameorson scott cardOrsonScottCardwiredFri, 10 Nov 2006 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Tingle's weird Wired ride]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/05/tingles-weird-wired-ride/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/05/tingles-weird-wired-ride/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/05/tingles-weird-wired-ride/#commentsFiled under: ,


Let's face it, Tingle isn't exactly a normal guy. So when he gets his very own game, it's only fitting that someone step up with a review to match the man-fairy. Wired's Chris Kohler took up the challenge with his recent impressions of Tingle's Freshly-Picked Rose-Colored Rupee Land -- or is it Freshly-Pickled -- whatever, that Tingle RPG.

The thrust of which is that you, as brightly-colored Tingle, need to collect a veritable peck of rupees in order to climb that stairway to Rupee Land, a heaven filled with good food, good times, and good women.

Yeah, Tingle. With the women.

But all questions of beards aside (though Tingle's is mighty fine), Kohler offers a nice breakdown of the game and a lot of jokes at our sassily dressed hero's expense. But beware of spoilers, as he's pretty blunt about how things go in the first dungeon.

Mogitate Tingle no Barairo Rupee Land is now out in Japan. We wonder if importing it would make the game any more or less strange.

JoystiqTingle's weird Wired ride originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Sep 2006 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NintendoRPGrupeeTingleWiredTue, 05 Sep 2006 07:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Wired asks if the PS3 can save Sony]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/29/wired-asks-if-the-ps3-can-save-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/29/wired-asks-if-the-ps3-can-save-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/29/wired-asks-if-the-ps3-can-save-sony/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


If you're a loyal Wired reader like some of us here at Joystiq, then you would have noticed a great article in this month's edition on the PlayStation 3 and its role as savior for Sony. The article is online and we suggest you read it because it's a very objectively written piece on the PS3 and its place in Sony's past, present, and future. This graph near the end of the story sums it up best:

In 30 years, Sony has transformed itself from a consistently profitable consumer electronics company with annual sales of $1.6 billion to a dangerously wobbly consumer electronics-entertainment-financial services behemoth 40 times that size. Sony Electronics needs to embrace the networked world, obviously, but does it really need to be allied with a Hollywood film studio and a consumer-wary global music label in a global campaign against Microsoft? Probably not. It just needs to make cool products for the century we live in.

The article delves into Sony's risky and controversial decisions and how some of those risks have both failed and succeeded. If you're looking for a non-fanboy, purely objective look on what the PS3 means to Sony and the gaming community, then do yourself a favor and check this out.

[Thanks, Richard Mitchell]

JoystiqWired asks if the PS3 can save Sony originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PS3WiredXbox-360Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Why it's OK to suck at games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/17/why-its-ok-to-suck-at-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/17/why-its-ok-to-suck-at-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/17/why-its-ok-to-suck-at-games/#commentsFiled under:

Why it's OK to suck at gamesClive Thompson over at Wired wants us to know that thrills can be experienced in defeat when it comes to certain video games. A study conducted by psychologists over in Helsinki (the same place where they produce that hair restoration formula) shows that gamers experience a measure of joy even when failing to complete an objective in a particular game.

While playing Super Monkey Ball 2's bowling mini game, test subjects hooked up to biosensors elicited "positively valenced high-arousal" after rolling gutter balls. In other words, watching a trapped monkey plummet to his death is cool. Thompson validated these results by playing the game himself and experiencing the same loser high.

Is it a sign of good game design when positive feedback mechanisms accompany all possible outcomes, or do these studies simply underscore our ability to laugh at ourselves in the midst of failure? The article also mentions Burnout Revenge and GTA as examples of games that provide pleasure even when you're failing to accomplish your goal. What other games succeed in this way?

JoystiqWhy it's OK to suck at games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jul 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnout revengeclive thompsongrand theft autogtasuper monkey ball 2wiredMon, 17 Jul 2006 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forget Wiimotes, we need beer controllers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/05/forget-wiimotes-we-need-beer-controllers/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/05/forget-wiimotes-we-need-beer-controllers/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/05/forget-wiimotes-we-need-beer-controllers/#commentsFiled under:


Wired News' Lore Sjöberg considers the popularity of novelty controllers like the Guitar Hero axe and Nintendo's revolutionary console controller ("and its myriad attachments") and follows it to its logical conclusion: we need a beer controller!

Well, he doesn't arrive right at beer controller. His argument evolves from action-figure controller ("Remember when you'd take two action figures and 'make them fight'"?) to brick controller ("It would be great to have a game where you take down enemies by heaving an actual brick at them. I guess it would have to be a foam brick ...") to a roadie controller ("And the controller for all this exciting work in the world of sweaty entertainment? Your trusty Leatherman, of course.") ultimately arriving at the delicious, refreshing beer controller, of which Sjöberg pines, "The controller could have a light that goes off when you're supposed to drink, a tilt sensor to make sure you're drinking, and a motion sensor to call 911 when you drop it due to the onset of alcohol poisoning."

Then, and only then, would we buy the whole gaming addiction thing. Make it happen, Nintendo.

[Via Boing Boing]

JoystiqForget Wiimotes, we need beer controllers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Jul 2006 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ControllersGuitar HeroGuitarHeroLore SjöbergLoreSjöbergWiredWed, 05 Jul 2006 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Clive Thompson on episodic gaming (he's in love with Alyx too)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/29/clive-thompson-on-episodic-gaming-hes-in-love-with-alyx-too/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/29/clive-thompson-on-episodic-gaming-hes-in-love-with-alyx-too/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/29/clive-thompson-on-episodic-gaming-hes-in-love-with-alyx-too/#commentsFiled under:

Wired's Clive Thompson does the "episodic games are cool" thing and rounds all the usual bases: 24 and Lost are the television paradigms; episodic games are great for busy adults; Alyx is worthy of your adoration of geek lust. He writes, "There's an intimacy to episodic stories, and it's all the more intensified in a game because you literally go through hell with these folks. After Half-Life 2 and Episode One, I was pretty much in love with Alyx, one of the spunkiest and best-acted virtual characters I've ever seen."

Hear hear! While Alyx played a pivotal role in HL2, she's playing alongside you in Episode One. Valve calls it "single-player co-op" and, like the paradigm of co-op multiplayer, Alyx feels like a buddy you're running through the game with. Like the lives of your favorite soap stars (or Jack Bauer, whatever) Alyx will be as important as the serialized story or the additional gameplay in convincing gamers to return for each consecutive HL2 episode. Now if they could only start getting these things out the door monthly ... weekly ... daily ...

[Via collision detection]

JoystiqClive Thompson on episodic gaming (he's in love with Alyx too) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jun 2006 20:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24Clive ThompsonCliveThompsonEpisodicLostPCWiredThu, 29 Jun 2006 20:35:00 EST<![CDATA[$40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/40-xbl-vision-camera-and-uno-bundle-detailed-by-ms-source-along-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/40-xbl-vision-camera-and-uno-bundle-detailed-by-ms-source-along-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/40-xbl-vision-camera-and-uno-bundle-detailed-by-ms-source-along-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

UNO and the Live Vision Camera: a match made in online heavenOur friendly anonymous source at Microsoft has provided us with a few more details concerning the 360 accessories announced back at E3.

Perhaps the most important involves the bundling of the Xbox Live Vision camera with a wired headset, the popular Live Arcade title UNO, and a month of Live Gold service for $39.99 when it releases in the States on September 19, 2006.

Granted, this is still an unofficial report (based on a leak of "official" info), so understand that you're probably not gonna get much confirmation from MS until they're good and ready to give it. If you'd like information on what other peripherals are coming out "Holiday 2006" (so sometime in the 4th quarter) and at what price, read on for more.

Continue reading $40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories

Joystiq$40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20GB256 MB256Mb360360-compatible64 MB64Mbaccessoriesaccessoryadd-onanonymousbundlecameracompatibleCoredatedateddatesE3faceplatefaceplatesForzaGoldHalohard diskhard drivehard-diskhard-driveHardDiskHardDriveHDHD-DVDHD-DVD playerHd-dvdPlayerHDDheadsetHoliday 2006Holiday2006LiveLive ArcadeLive GoldLive MarketplaceLiveArcadeLiveGoldLiveMarketplaceMarketplacememory unitMemoryUnitMicrosoftMSMUnon-bundlednonbundledofficialPCPC-compatibleperipheralpriceprice pointPricePointpricespricingPS3 launchPs3Launchpurchaseracing wheelRacingWheelrumorrumoredserviceSKUSKUssourcetwo-tieredun-bundledunbundledUNOunofficialupgradeupgradesVisionViva PinataVivaPinatawebcamwheelWinter 2007Winter2007wiredwirelesswireless gaming receiverwireless racing wheelWirelessGamingReceiverWirelessRacingWheelXBLXBL VisionXblVisionXboxXbox LiveXbox Live VisionXbox-360XboxLiveXboxLiveVisionFri, 02 Jun 2006 00:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Totally awesome E3 games that everyone missed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/19/totally-awesome-e3-games-that-everyone-missed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/19/totally-awesome-e3-games-that-everyone-missed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/19/totally-awesome-e3-games-that-everyone-missed/#commentsFiled under: ,

Lore Sjöberg of Wired took a look at the games from his imagination this year's E3 that no-one wanted to play. In his own words, all these games contained the best mini game of all "not standing in line." So did he find any gems in his mind at E3? Here's a selection of what he imagined saw:
  • Sandbox -- playing off the popularity of open-ended GTA style games comes Sandbox, a game that's 100% true to its genre. Sandbox exposes children to the delights of a real life sandbox, sans the real life sand. The developers told Sjöberg that they'd like to include a shovel and bucket in the final game, "but that may not be a realistic goal."
  • Mission: Marketplace --  this game progresses the demand for downloadable content and episodic games to its climax. Mission: Marketplace's innovation is that it requires players to purchase all the content separately -- alternatively you can just plunk down $200 and watch the credits roll. We can't wait for this one.
That's not all: he also discovered Pac-Man Boulevard, a game that demonstrates the continued advantages of sequels over original franchises and Casual Game: The Game, a game so casual that engaging your brain (or even possessing one) reduces your overall enjoyment. We're like, totally hyped about these completely revolutionary games, so get your arse over to Wired and read all about 'em.

[Image credit: art.com]

JoystiqTotally awesome E3 games that everyone missed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 May 2006 07:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadable contentDownloadableContentE3e32006episodic gamesEpisodicGamesImaginationMarketplacesandSandboxSarcasmWiredFri, 19 May 2006 07:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Video: Wired Spore Event, featuring Will Wright and Robin Williams [update 3]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/11/joystiq-video-wired-spore-event-featuring-will-wright-and-robi/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/11/joystiq-video-wired-spore-event-featuring-will-wright-and-robi/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/11/joystiq-video-wired-spore-event-featuring-will-wright-and-robi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Last night, Randall Bennett and I had the good fortune to attend a special Wired event featuring Will Wright showing off his next masterpiece, Spore, with a wonderful guest appearance by Robin Williams. We managed to get footage of the entire event and we even scored interviews with both Wright and Williams. Thanks to everyone over at Wired for inviting us!

In the interest of getting this to you as soon as possible, we've uploaded the full 40 minute, 420MB file, which you can access via this link: [link]. Please right-click and save the file locally before viewing. It's 480x360 3ivx wrapped in Quicktime and should play nicely on your video-capable iPod, should you own one.

If you feel like waiting a bit and think that 420MBs is ginormous, then give us about an hour and we'll update this post with some separate chapter-sized versions of the video. Enjoy!

Get the video
[Huge] Get the full enchilada
[Cutdown1] Get the first 10 minutes (Will Wright introducing character creation)
[Cutdown2] Get the next 10.
[Cutdown3] Get the following 10.
[Cutdown4] Get the final 10.

Update: Someone was kind enough to make a torrent: [link].

JoystiqJoystiq Video: Wired Spore Event, featuring Will Wright and Robin Williams [update 3] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 May 2006 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E3E32006EAElectronic-ArtsMAxisPCRobin WilliamsRobinWilliamsSporeWill WrightWillWrightWiredThu, 11 May 2006 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 pad loses DualShock name and vibration but picks up Wii-esque motion detection and wireless connectivity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/ps3-pad-loses-dualshock-name-and-vibration-but-picks-up-wii-esqu/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/ps3-pad-loses-dualshock-name-and-vibration-but-picks-up-wii-esqu/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/ps3-pad-loses-dualshock-name-and-vibration-but-picks-up-wii-esqu/#commentsFiled under:

Revised PS3 pad rear-view shot
In a shocking turn of events, the PS3 controller has gone from banamerang to wireless DualShock 3, except without the DualShock name and vibration.

If you take a good look at the back of the new control pad (see the close-up above), you'll notice that the DualShock 2 brand name imprinted on the old controller has now been supplanted by a row of LED lights to show which input has been set, either wirelessly or via the wired USB recharge port. Sony's now the only name in-line for PS3 controllers either on the pad or in the press releases (see "the new PS3 controller").

Continue reading PS3 pad loses DualShock name and vibration but picks up Wii-esque motion detection and wireless connectivity

JoystiqPS3 pad loses DualShock name and vibration but picks up Wii-esque motion detection and wireless connectivity originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 May 2006 00:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360adaptadaptedadaptsadoptadoptedadoptsanalogbanamerangbananabatarangbatteriesbatteryBluetoothboomerangbrand nameBrandNamebumpercasecasingconnectconnectivitycontrol padcontrollercontrollersControlPadcourtdetectdetectingdetectionDual ShockDual Shock 2Dual Shock 3DualShockDualShock 2DualShock 3DualShock2DualShock3force feedbackforce-feedbackForceFeedbackfunctionalityGuidehaptichardwareImmersionin-lineincorporateinputinterfacelaterallawsuitLEDLED lightsLedLightsmanufacturermotionnamenewNintendooldpadpatentpitchPlayStationPlayStation 2Playstation2portpredecessorpress releasepress releasesPressReleasePressReleasesPS2rechargeRevolutionrollrumblesensingshouldersix-axisSonysupporttriggerUSBUSB recharge portUsbRechargePortvibrationweighweighsWiiWii-moteWiimotewiredwirelesswirelesslyX-Y-ZXboxXbox 360Xbox LiveXbox360XboxLiveyawTue, 09 May 2006 00:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Inside the game: La Fuga]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/19/inside-the-game-la-fuga/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/19/inside-the-game-la-fuga/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/19/inside-the-game-la-fuga/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"I just fought my way up a wind tunnel, scrambled through a ventilation duct, clambered across 40 yards of rope netting, rolled under a fence, and burrowed through a mass of grapefruit-sized plastic spheres. Now I'm facing two doors. One leads to freedom. The other to a room with something nasty in it, possibly involving torture."

The author of this piece isn't playing a console or PC game--he's playing Negoné's La Fuga ('The Escape') for real. Based in Madrid, the game combines an obstacle course, puzzles and interactive storytelling to break the fourth wall, creating a real-world game that realises many video game concepts.

It sounds exciting and inventive; if Spain is too far away, then the game will be coming to Manhattan next year. However, immersive gaming may prove too specialised--sometimes we like to be in the comfort of our own living rooms, knowing that ingame bruises are only temporary, with the ability to pause it all and have a cup of tea when we feel like it.

[Via /.]

JoystiqInside the game: La Fuga originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamela fugaLaFugareal life gamingreality gamingRealityGamingRealLifeGamingsimulationsslashdotthe escapeTheEscapewiredSun, 19 Mar 2006 11:00:00 EST