Joystiq

Wolfenstein 3D recreated (with alarming accuracy) in LittleBigPlanet 2

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:45:00 EST

If you're a game developer who isn't Media Molecule, you should be quivering with fear right now: LittleBigPlanet 2 beta player "RAPHAEL" has created a near-perfect mock-up of Wolfenstein 3D using the game's creation tools. See? We tried to warn you guys. LBP 2 is every game.

Continue reading Wolfenstein 3D recreated (with alarming accuracy) in LittleBigPlanet 2

Wolfenstein 3D recreated (with alarming accuracy) in LittleBigPlanet 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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id's Carmack wants to support current franchises, new IPs unlikely

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST

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

Rage represents a rather large milestone for Carmack's id team. Not only is it the first game to use id Tech 4, it's the first id game to be published by new owner Bethesda. It's also the first new IP from the team in over a decade, since 1996's release of Quake. If a recent interview in the Official PlayStation Magazine (via CVG) is to be believed, it's likely that the new new IP from id will be just as far away.

"I doubt we're going to do another IP," Carmack told OPM. "We want to support Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake -- and hopefully we can add Rage onto that. ... Obviously, if Rage is a success then we'll want to do a Rage 2." Considering the lengthy development cycles at id (evidenced by the currently-MIA Doom 4) who knows when the next new IP will bubble out of the company?

Especially with that Commander Keen reboot getting in the way, right?

id's Carmack wants to support current franchises, new IPs unlikely originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zenimax gets unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake ports pulled from Android Market

David Hinkle — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:44:00 EST

Android and Me points out some ports of popular id games were once available on your snazzy superphone, including Quake, Wolfenstein and Doom. They didn't last long, however, as Zenimax has managed to get the games pulled from Google's Android Market service due to copyright infringement.

It's only natural for ZeniMax to want to get the titles pulled and doubly so if the publisher is thinking about releasing id's classics on the platform, though that's just speculation on our part based on id's readiness to work on the competing iPhone platform. Head past the break to check out some footage of what you missed out on, courtesy of the unofficial Android version of Doom.

We've asked ZeniMax to comment on any commercial plans for these titles on Android and to clarify the nature of Doom's open source codebase and why it was included in this takedown request.

[Update: A ZeniMax spokesperson got back to use, writing: "We did issue a DMCA takedown notice to the Android store to remove the unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake games as they contain our trademarks and copyrighted assets, including graphics, artwork, storylines and audio. Open source relates to the underlying engine source code, not to a game's content, trademarks and assets, all of which remain proprietary. If the game was a total conversion and did not use any of our trademarks or assets, that would be fine. But none of our data can be repackaged and nobody is authorized to make a Doom, Wolfenstein or Quake product."]

[Via Game Politics]

Continue reading Zenimax gets unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake ports pulled from Android Market

Zenimax gets unofficial Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake ports pulled from Android Market originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Futureshop slashing prices on Dragon Age, Left 4 Dead 2, NFS: Shift

Xav de Matos — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:15:00 EST

Hey Canadians! Yeah, you guys and gals huddled together attempting to maintain sustainable body heat. Just a friendly reminder that big-box retailer Futureshop is currently slashing prices on a slew of new video game titles. Dragon Age: Origins, Left 4 Dead 2, Brutal Legend and Need for Speed: Shift are all on sale for $39.99. Wait, what's this? NHL 10? Oh, Canada. You're so adorably predictable!

The online and in-store sale ends on December 3, so make sure to defrost your car, dust off your skates and hit the store ASAP. And before you ask: Yes, Rock Band 2's special edition is priced at $99 and does include a free mullet kit. We don't know what that is, but we know we want it. More Canadian deals can be found after the break.

Update: Best Buy Canada is offering similar discounts.

Continue reading PSA: Futureshop slashing prices on Dragon Age, Left 4 Dead 2, NFS: Shift

PSA: Futureshop slashing prices on Dragon Age, Left 4 Dead 2, NFS: Shift originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PC version of Wolfenstein gets crash-fixing patch

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:00:00 EST

Though the PC version of Wolfenstein has been out for nearly two months now, the game's been persistently affected by a number of minor bugs. Nothing really huge, mind you -- just a handful of game-crashing, save file-corrupting, SecuROM-breaking errors which are capable of completely crippling your enjoyment of the title. Like we said, no biggie.

Fortunately, id Software recently released patch 1.11 for the title, which is designed to fix all of the above bugs, effectively restoring your Nazi-massacring experience. Sadly, the patch doesn't include a fix for the glitch which prevents Robo-Hitler from spawning at any point in the game. What gives, guys?

[Thanks, Merrick.]

PC version of Wolfenstein gets crash-fixing patch originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein headlines Amazon day of game deals

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:58:00 EST

The latest Wolfenstein is Amazon's "deal of the day" special, accompanied by more games offered during today's "lightning deals." A one-way trip to the spooky-Nazi locale of Wolfenstein will cost $40 for Xbox 360 and PS3, $30 on PC (while supplies last). Meanwhile, today's lightning deals are teased as:

9AM Eastern: Ghostbusters: Slimer Edition (Wii)
12PM Eastern: Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS)
4PM Eastern: "Pyramid Head welcomes you home." [Likely, Silent Hill Homecoming]
7PM Eastern: "Zombies eat brains."
10PM Eastern: "Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back." [Likely, Xbox 360 and PS3 version of Ghostbusters]

Wolfenstein headlines Amazon day of game deals originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein demo marches onto Xbox Live

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST

If you've been itching to give Wolfenstein a try but aren't willing to plunk down any cash -- a likely possibility at this point -- you'll be happy to know that a Wolfenstein demo is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace in Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom and United States.

If you are somehow unfamiliar with the game allow us to sum up. There are Nazis. They are doing evil, occult-y things. You, the good guy, must stop them. With guns. And magic. If your experience varies significantly from this description, please check the game title. You're probably playing something else.

Add the Wolfenstein demo to you 360 download queue

[Via Major Nelson]

Wolfenstein demo marches onto Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Activision pulls Wolfenstein in Germany over swastika use

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:32:00 EST

Activision has reportedly and voluntarily removed Wolfenstein from German store shelves. Turns out that the German localization team charged with removing the thousands of swastikas found in the latest Nazi frag-fest apparently missed one.

Germany's no swastika rule in video games has existed for a long time, and the general guideline on the symbol's use is that it can only be utilized in a historical or artistic context -- yeah, let's ignore the "games as art" conversation. We've followed up with Activision for comment and to find out if the game will be re-released in the region at a later date.

In related news, the uncensored Xbox Live demo is out today in: Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom and United States. Nope, Germany's definitely not on the list. [Shortcut: Add Wolfenstein Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue]

[Via Kotaku]

Rumor: Activision pulls Wolfenstein in Germany over swastika use originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein sells 106k units in first week, all bets off

David Hinkle — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST

When the NPD released its figures for August, we noticed Wolfenstein was absent from the top-sellers list. Sure, the title was only available for purchase during a few days of August (it released August 21 on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC), but one of those versions had to have sold more than Fossil Fighters, which was in tenth place on the sales chart with 92,000 sold, right? Gamespot says, no.

Apparently, id's resurrected shooter only sold 106,000 across all platforms -- 59,000 units on Xbox 360, 30,000 on PS3 and 16,000 on PC. In other words, the PS2 version of Madden alone outsold combined sales of Wolfenstein. Disappointing, for sure, since you must have really been hoping to get your money back.

Wolfenstein sells 106k units in first week, all bets off originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storm the castle against Wolfenstein devs tonight

Xav de Matos — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST

Those of you looking to throw down in a challenging series of class-based WWII shootouts should be on the look out on Wolfenstein multiplayer tonight. From 6PM (that's now!) to 8PM EDT developers from Raven Software -- the ones that are left, we assume -- and id Software will be on hand to battle for glory against Xbox Live Gold members in another rousing session of Game with Developers.

Unlike the last GwD event, gamers don't have to pre-purchase content in order to play with the game's development team! Well, unless you count the game itself. Which, technically, we guess you have to.

Continue reading Storm the castle against Wolfenstein devs tonight

Storm the castle against Wolfenstein devs tonight originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone It In: Wolfenstein RPG

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:28:00 EST

I've come to expect a certain modicum of brevity in games played on my iPhone. Games like Doom Resurrection and Worms proved problematic, taking far too long to get into and out of games, or simply pushing my little 3G's processor to the limit (and being choppy as a result). Meanwhile, smaller titles like Drop7 and Baseball Slugger: Home Run Race 3D excel due to their size.

Wolfenstein RPG shocked me in this respect. I thoroughly enjoyed the deeper experience that the RPG elements offered (a leveling system and well-rewarded exploration), while save-anywhere functionality and short load times encourage quick gameplay sessions. In so many words, it offers the best of both worlds: a deep experience with jump in/jump out functionality.

Gallery: Wolfenstein RPG (iPhone/iPod Touch)

Continue reading iPhone It In: Wolfenstein RPG

iPhone It In: Wolfenstein RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Sports Resort barely bests Wolfenstein in the UK

Randy Nelson — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:30:00 EST

We're not sure what's more impressive: That a cricket game was actually outselling Wii Sports Resort for two weeks in the UK, or that Nintendo's latest minigame melange only outsold Wolfenstein by 2,000 copies for the week of August 16 to 22. That's what the latest numbers and report from Chart Track show, placing the id Software / Raven shooter at the top of the PS3, 360 and PC charts for its first week on sale.

We'll have to wait for NPD's numbers to see how the FPS fared on this side of the pond, but it's pretty obvious that -- the world over -- everybody loves killing some Nazis. Take a peek after the break to see what else the Brits have been buying up lately.

Source -- Chart Trak, week ending 8/22
Source -- Wii Sports Resort keeps Wolfenstein at bay

Continue reading Wii Sports Resort barely bests Wolfenstein in the UK

Wii Sports Resort barely bests Wolfenstein in the UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Wolfenstein multiplayer team struck with layoffs

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST

GI.biz reports that an unspecified number of employees from Wolfenstein's multiplayer developer, Endrant Studios, were laid off today. Adding insult to injury, today just happens to mark the official launch of the game. Making matters even worse, Wolfenstein is the studio's first title.

According to an Endrant spokesperson, now that the Wolfenstein development cycle is complete, the studio has "regrettably been forced to make adjustments to staff and headcounts," adding that the laid-off staff members "worked incredibly hard on [Endrant's] latest title." The spokesperson also issued the studio's hope that the former employees "land on their feet quickly."

For our part, we hope they do too.

Report: Wolfenstein multiplayer team struck with layoffs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QuakeCon 2009: The Wolfenstein launch trailer

Christopher Grant — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:20:00 EST

Before sharing the very first video footage of Rage with the crowd at QuakeCon today, id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead shared the final piece of video marketing material for another title: the launch trailer for the Raven Software-developed Wolfenstein. Despite being in development for what seems to be an eternity (we first heard about this one-time Xbox 360 exclusive in 2005!) the game hits retail next week. Let us know if this launch trailer makes your wallet itchy.

Download in HD (124MB)

QuakeCon 2009: The Wolfenstein launch trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raven dev to reimburse your Wolfenstein purchase ... if

David Hinkle — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST

And folks, it's a BIG if. Raven Software designer Manveer Heir tweets that if the upcoming Wolfenstein manages to surpass sales of Madden 10 this month, he'll happily pay you back for the money you spent on his game. Of course, there are a few stipulations:

Offer only applies to sales in August
NPD figures will be used to calculate the totals
You have to follow Manveer Heir on Twitter
Limit one copy per person -- with receipt!

Obviously, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of this happening, but we'd be lying if we said we weren't crossing our fingers for the little nazi-killing-sim-that-could to tackle the gridiron giant.

[Thanks, "Sammy Davis Jr."; via Destructoid]

Raven dev to reimburse your Wolfenstein purchase ... if originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein RPG escapes onto the iPhone

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:02:00 EST

After a premature release on the App Store back in May, Wolfenstein RPG is now officially available for iPhone/iPod Touch. TouchArcade reports the release of the game was held off because of possible customer confusion with Wolfenstein 3D, which was released a little while back.

Wolfenstein RPG on iPhone features improved graphics from its original mobile incarnation, and all that turn-based Nazi killin' can be yours for $5.

Wolfenstein RPG escapes onto the iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein pre-order goodies revealed

David Hinkle — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST

If you're a diehard B.J. Blazkowicz fan looking to pre-order id's recently delayed WWII FPS, Wolfenstein, then know a few outlets are offering exclusive pre-order bonuses. According to the game's official site, four different retailers will provide extra incentive to pre-purchase:

GameStop: 2,000 in-game gold pieces for multiplayer (also listed for PC)
Best Buy: Early access to the Flammenwerfer weapon
Game Crazy: Limited edition collector's medal
Amazon: Free copy of Wolfenstein 3D for PSN or Xbox Live

Personally, we think Amazon has the best bonus, but we know full well the appeal of limited edition collector's medals.

[Via VG247]

Wolfenstein pre-order goodies revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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News flash: Wolfenstein has a castle

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EST

You'd better be sitting down, gaming enthusiasts. Activision has released a new video of Wolfenstein that will blow your mind and, this time, it won't be done by filling your eyeballs with cheese. Above, you will find a brief video look at Wolfenstein's "Castle" environment. That's right. A castle ... in a Wolfenstein game.

All kidding aside, the video basically encapsulates everything that typifies the series: Castles, Nazis, the occult and blowin' stuff up. Give it a watch.

News flash: Wolfenstein has a castle originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's your order of two Wolfenstein motion comics with extra cheese

David Hinkle — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:00:00 EST

If you've been keeping up with these motion comics for Wolfenstein, then you've likely come into this post prepared. There's plenty of cheese to be had here, as we've got not one new comic, but two. We'll just say this: These comics make any Command & Conquer FMV scene look like Citizen Kane.

You can find the other video ... *dramatic pause* ... past the break.

Gallery: Wolfenstein

Continue reading Here's your order of two Wolfenstein motion comics with extra cheese

Here's your order of two Wolfenstein motion comics with extra cheese originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Wolfenstein 'featurette' features more stuff you already know

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST

Alright, look, Activision -- we've seen quite enough of Wolfenstein already. What with the recent comic strips and the constant stream of trailers since last July, it feels like we're writing something about BJ Blazkowicz every day. For the most part, the trailers have become fairly repetitive at this point -- lucky you, this one's a "featurette."

We were wondering to ourselves -- after watching the four minutes of torturous explanation in the video above -- what does "featurette" mean, exactly? Dictionary.com calls it a "short movie." Though we wouldn't exactly classify the video above as a "short movie," it is short and there are moving things in it, so we guess it'll have to do while we wait for the game to release a week later than expected.

Gallery: Wolfenstein

New Wolfenstein 'featurette' features more stuff you already know originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision confirms delay of Wolfenstein to 'week beginning August 17'

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST

(click to mecha-Hitler size)

Joystiq received official word from Activision this afternoon that, corroborating recent retailer listings, the upcoming Raven Software-developed Wolfenstein reboot is being pushed back to "the week beginning August 17." Earlier today, Shacknews discovered listings on GameStop and Amazon's websites proposing a two week delay, with the game presumably arriving on store shelves August 18. According to Activision, the new release date is "to facilitate a simultaneous global release window" -- we're hoping that's all a ruse and Raven's actually sneaking in Wolfenstein 3D's amazing final boss.

The good news? The game still features a horde of Nazis, lining up to meet their fate at the business end of your peacemaker. The bad news? It's also still a fairly generic shooter set in World War II (albeit an alternate reality version). With any luck, a demo for the game will be hitting Xbox Live and PlayStation Network just before the game's release and you can find out for yourself just how much (or how little) you need to get your feet into B.J. Blazkowicz's shoes.

Gallery: Wolfenstein

Activision confirms delay of Wolfenstein to 'week beginning August 17' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cheese stick: second Wolfenstein motion comic recounts 'Spear of Destiny'

Randy Nelson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:30:00 EST

On the one hand, we think it's kind of cool that Activision is producing a series of short "video graphic novels" retelling the events of past Wolfenstein games leading up to the series' latest installment. On the other, we have to say that they're ~~simply awful~~ OK, they're sort of funny.

Released today, the second cheese-tastic chapter brings Spear of Destiny: A Wolfenstein Adventure to life through the magic of red & black Flash animation. For the uninitiated -- or, more likely, those who watch the comic and can't figure out what's happening -- this game actually served as a prequel to the first Wolfenstein and had players on a mission to steal the (drum roll, please) Spear of Destiny (a.k.a. the Holy Lance) from the Nazis before they could use it ... for evil!

The comic ends with series protagonist William "B.J." Blazkowicz using the fancy stick to slay a demon, an act that somehow manages to come off more hokey than heroic. That had to be what they were going for, right?

Cheese stick: second Wolfenstein motion comic recounts 'Spear of Destiny' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein motion comic serves up action with a side of cheese

Richard Mitchell — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST

GameTrailers has posted a new Wolfenstein motion comic. We're not quite sure how to feel about it really. Sure, it's nice to see B.J. Blazkowicz doing what he does best. We also like that Wolfenstein's famous chain gun-wielding Hitler once again gets what he deserves. Still, the whole thing is just so cheesy. If we didn't know better, we'd say that B.J. is trying to fill the one-liner chasm that has been left by the dearly departed Duke Nukem.

Don't take our word for it though, watch it after the break and see what you think.

[Via BigDownload]

Continue reading Wolfenstein motion comic serves up action with a side of cheese

Wolfenstein motion comic serves up action with a side of cheese originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein includes comprehensive Nazi death stat tracker

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:59:00 EST

Stat tracking is nothing new for FPS games, but we have to hand it to Raven for being thorough. According to MTV Multiplayer, the upcoming Wolfenstein keeps track of not only how many Nazis you kill, but the manner in which they died. Multiplayer asserts that it saw a stat screen at 36 percent completion, which noted that 639 kills had been made. Using some simple math, the blog calculated that a total of 1638.4 Nazis will meet their doom by the end of the game.

Now, we hate to criticize, but that's assuming the rate of Nazi influx is constant, which it almost assuredly is not. Still, regardless of exactly how many have fallen by the end, we take comfort in the fact that we'll know exactly how many were dissolved, dismembered, burned and electrocuted. Strangely, the game doesn't appear to keep track of the number that have killed the old fashioned way: with a bullet.

Wolfenstein includes comprehensive Nazi death stat tracker originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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id Software bringing external development back in-house

Christopher Grant — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST

When Raven Software's long-in-development Wolfenstein (remember when it was an Xbox 360 timed exclusive back in 2005?) finally hits store shelves this August, it'll mark the end of an era ...

... oh no! Not of Wolfenstein games - there are plenty more of those coming - but of outside developers working on id Software's hallowed franchises. John Carmack told Joystiq today that bringing external development back in-house at id is "exactly what's going to be happening." Carmack says that while id's had some hits (Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory springs to mind) and some misses (Enemy Territory: Quake Wars springs to mind) the externally developed titles haven't "had the same record that our internally developed titles have." We'd have to agree with him there.

With the lead team cranking on Rage for EA Partners, they created a second development team to work on Doom 4, with a still-formative third team currently toiling away on Quake Live. "We'll have three teams," Carmack told us. "We'll have Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake, and Rage and one of them will be taking a vacation each cycle and that will depend on what we want to be doing each time." So don't worry, you'll have plenty of all of the above to go around.

id Software bringing external development back in-house originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZeniMax's id buyout doesn't affect Wolfenstein and Rage

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST

We're just one day into the freshly forged relationship between id Software and publishing powerhouse ZeniMax, and we may well be on our way to a bona fide lover's squabble. See, though yesterday's press release from ZeniMax boasted that the company's "library of powerhouse franchises will include DOOM, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, QUAKE, Wolfenstein and RAGE," Electronic Arts and Activision have announced that they're retaining their publishing duties for Rage and Wolfenstein, respectively.

ZeniMax referenced these two parties in the same press release, stating that it would publish all of id's future games "other than upcoming releases previously committed to other publishers." Though both EA and Activision's partnerships with id Software are limited to the aforementioned games, and will effectively end when said titles are released, the temporary presence of these two concubines should make things pretty awkward in the newly built idMax household.

ZeniMax's id buyout doesn't affect Wolfenstein and Rage originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Architect's Journal ranks top 10 gaming worlds

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST

Before you start furiously clicking through the source link to see where on the list of Architect's Journal's "Top 10" gaming worlds Second Life falls, we're just going to tell you upfront that it's number seven. That's three full spots ahead of the (apparently) FAT-inspired Super Mario World! Outrageous, we know, we know.

The list is rounded out by some rather ... interesting choices -- from Jet Set Willy's house to Halo's ring world, and everything in between, which are all discussed in highfalutin terms that we simply can't wrap our heads around. "Gemutlich?" "Miminalism" (note: not "minimalism")? We're sticking with the video games, thank you very much.

[Via Kotaku]

Architect's Journal ranks top 10 gaming worlds originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest Wolfenstein trailer looks at what lurks in the shadows

David Hinkle — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:15:00 EST

Assassins are usually very discreet and very deadly, and those found in upcoming Wolfenstein appear to be no different. In the trailer above, we get a good glimpse at what these near-invisible, blade-wielding stalkers can do (see: stab you silly). Thankfully, BJ has his trusty Veil Sight to help him spot what's hiding around him, and lots of guns to put these baddies down.

And because we couldn't waste this gem of a one-liner: Assassins do it in the dark.

Latest Wolfenstein trailer looks at what lurks in the shadows originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST

E3 was brütal! If you blinked, for a split/second, you missed something. Even if you were trine to keep up, it was a blur -- staying a.wake like that, you only pushed yourself to the brink of your own dark void. That's where Joystiq comes in; to crackdown on the madness; to reach out ... with conviction -- phew! Crysis averted.

We've scoured the dark corners and survived the inferno to piece together this roundup of all things Xbox at E3. Why? Just 'cause we love you. So, draw nier and shift your eyes past the break.

Continue reading E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup

E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein E3 trailer returns to familiar territory

David Hinkle — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:30:00 EST

Admittedly, there are plenty of new things in Wolfenstein. Veil Sight, a bigger, badder Nazi opposition, and new, destructive weapons are just a few of these things. But, as much as things change, some things stay the same, including protagonist BJ Blazkowicz and his penchant to shoot first and ask later. You know, if BJ tried to talk it out instead of resorting to violence at the drop of a Nazi helmet, he might have less problems in his life. But, then again, if that was the case, you wouldn't be reading this amazing post on Joystiq.com.

Wolfenstein E3 trailer returns to familiar territory originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein 3D confirmed for XBLA and PSN next week

David Hinkle — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:30:00 EST

Big surprise, we know, considering the evidence of late, but we're happy to be able to officially confirm that Wolfenstein 3D is in fact coming to Xbox Live and PSN on June 4 and June 5, respectively (no price mentioned). Playing through Wolfenstein 3D will also offer more incentive than the sheer joy of mowing down a gigantic Hitler, as the classic will allow players to "earn accolades and be awarded gold for customizable weapon upgrades" in the new Wolfenstein, which is slated for an August 4 release.

We've put in word for clarification on the price of Wolfenstein 3D and will get back to you as soon as we hear something.

Wolfenstein 3D confirmed for XBLA and PSN next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 May 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crash the castle, 'Wolfenstein' ships August 4

Xav de Matos — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:00:00 EST

Activision has announced the first-person shooter Wolfenstein will hit store shelves on August 4. As is customary, Wolfenstein will put players behind the gun of American soldier BJ Blazkowicz as he battles a horde of horrific monsters (also known as Nazis) as well as actual supernatural beasts.

Originally announced as an Xbox 360 timed-exclusive at Microsoft's X05 event in Amsterdam, the Raven Software developed sequel to the classic franchise will be made available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. A World War II-era cameo from Wolverine (also developed by Raven) has yet to be confirmed.

Gallery: Wolfenstein

Crash the castle, 'Wolfenstein' ships August 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Wolfenstein RPG goes up on App store, then pulled

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:01:00 EST

Japanese site AppBank managed to grab some video of what is allegedly Wolfenstein RPG, which apparently leaked early on the App store. From the video, which we've placed after the break, it looks like the iPhone version is graphically improved from its original mobile incarnation.

We've reached out to EA Mobile for an estimated launch date. If Wolfenstein RPG did actually launch on the AppStore in error, it would appear the game is "finished." We'll update if we hear anything back.

Update: A representative for EA Mobile let us know that the company hasn't announced an official release date for Wolfenstein RPG on iPhone.

[Via PocketGamer]

Continue reading Rumor: Wolfenstein RPG goes up on App store, then pulled

Rumor: Wolfenstein RPG goes up on App store, then pulled originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 May 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfenstein 3D gets Xbox.com splash page

Justin McElroy — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:45:00 EST

Remember back in March when an ESRB listing hinted at a possible Xbox Live/PSN release for FPS progenitor Wolfenstein 3D? Yeah, that's totally happening. A splash page for the game has appeared on Xbox.com, which is just a hair short of full confirmation, but it still seems like a pretty safe bet.

We're not sure if it'll have some extra graphical polish, but if something in that above image doesn't trigger something deep and primal within you, you're in need of more assistance than we can provide.

[Via GamerBytes]

Wolfenstein 3D gets Xbox.com splash page originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 May 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Composer Bill Brown returns to soundtrack Wolfenstein

Majed Athab — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:01:00 EST

Those of you who've played through Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War and found enjoyment in the BGM will certain also love the soundtrack for the upcoming (and modestly titled) Wolfenstein. Composer Bill Brown will be returning once again to work on a fitting score for the action-packed, Nazi-punishing shooter.

If you haven't played Tides of War before, then maybe you've heard Brown's work in these other well-known games and shows: Command & Conquer: Generals, CSI:NY, Ali and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. No? Well then, get out from under your rock and listen to some of Brown's samples at his official website to get a taste of what to expect.

Composer Bill Brown returns to soundtrack Wolfenstein originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 May 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Disintegrate bad people with Wolfenstein's particle cannon

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:30:00 EST

If destroying Nazis is on your agenda, nothing quite gets the job done like a particle cannon. Why futz with bullet-riddled corpses or, even worse, exploded viscera? With the particle cannon, enemies simply disintegrate, making for vary little mess and easy cleanup. You can see it in action in the latest trailer for Wolfenstein. This particular particle cannon is fairly effective, though it does seem to harbor one small design flaw: it disintegrates everything but hats.

We're guessing the Allies probably consulted with the ACME Corporation on the particle cannon's design.

Disintegrate bad people with Wolfenstein's particle cannon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 May 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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id Software promises 'new stuff' at E3

JC Fletcher — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:40:00 EST

id Software's Todd Hollenshead has told Gamespot that E3 attendees should expect to see some surprises from the developer. "... What I expect is," Hollenshead said, "I expect that we'll be showing Wolfenstein at E3, I expect that we'll have some new stuff at E3 that we haven't announced yet." Because id is no longer an ESA member, there won't be an "official" id presence -- rather, "It'll be games that will be there in other publishers' booths."

In the same interview, Hollenshead offers some new information about two id projects that seem likely for E3, in addition to the unannounced games. Rage is apparently going to be super-massive, at least in terms of file size: "The game, ultimately, when it's done on our servers, will be huge. I don't know, 100GB?" id expects the game to fill a Blu-Ray, and span multiple DVDs on 360 and PC. Doom 4 is "not a sequel to Doom 3, but it's not a reboot either." Despite the 4 in the title!

[Via Big Download]

id Software promises 'new stuff' at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC09: Wolfenstein hands-on

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST

During our Activision GDC preview, we got a closer looks at id Sofware's Wolfenstein reboot and the game's supernatural aspect, "the Veil" -- or as we like to call it, "turning on the HUD." This new Wolfenstein features mystical powers that are learned during the course of the game and activated through the d-pad or button combos. It's an element that's fairly common in many games today, but it's still the only feature of Wolfenstein that makes it anything more than a ho-hum World War II shooter.

The drawbacks we noted in our Comic Con preview are still present in the current build, especially the poor enemy AI. There were times when enemies were clearly looking at us and tracking our movements, yet weren't firing their guns. It was almost as if they were saying, "Just go ahead and shoot us. We're Nazis. We deserve it."

Gallery: GDC09: Wolfenstein (3/30/09)

Continue reading GDC09: Wolfenstein hands-on

GDC09: Wolfenstein hands-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC09: Upcoming EA iPhone game list fully revealed, screens and info on Tiger

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:30:00 EST

Just before the deluge of GDC 2009 news started this week, Travis Boatman, VP of worldwide studios at EA Mobile, confirmed the upcoming release of a veritable smörgåsbord of EA franchises coming to the iPhone. Today, we have confirmation from Meghan Rathman (representing EA) of the exact titles on the way to the iPhone/iTouch as well as a handful of screens from Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Unfortunately, according to Ms. Rathman, the rest of the games in development are "still too early" and don't have screens. Considering the turnaround time on iPhone/iTouch games though, we're willing to bet you'll see those shots ~~by the end of the week~~ pretty soon!

The full list of games we received from EA is as follows: Tiger Woods PGA Tour, The Sims 3, FIFA, Madden NFL Football, Spore Creatures, Mystery Mania, Wolfenstein RPG, American Idol, Connect Four, Battleship, Need for Speed, RISK, Monopoly and Clue. Differing from reports at the GDC Mobile event earlier this week, we're seeing the addition of The Sims 3 and Need for Speed. In turn, we're losing the first SSX in two years, Red Alert, NBA Live 10, American Idol, Star Trek. But hey, Tiger Woods!

The press release from EA on Tiger Woods PGA Tour tells us that the game is of the "touch" rather than of the "shake" variety, comes with achievements and offers a way to compare achievements with your friends. Of the key features listed, notably missing is "playing against friends wirelessly," though it does promise the ability to "affect your ball spin direction" using your finger. Those are comparable features, right? We'll keep on EA and let you know as soon as we find out more on their upcoming iPhone/iTouch assault.

Gallery: Tiger Woods PGA Tour on iPhone

GDC09: Upcoming EA iPhone game list fully revealed, screens and info on Tiger originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC09: EA quietly announces iPhone versions of major franchises

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:54:00 EST

Of the many GDC 2009 announcements taking place this week, we were most shocked to see EA sneakily introducing some of the company's most popular franchises to the Apple device some are calling the newest gaming platform -- the iPhone. Travis Boatman, VP of worldwide studios at EA Mobile, made the announcement at GDC Mobile, naming SSX, Wolfenstein RPG, Red Alert, FIFA 10, Madden 10, NBA Live 10, American Idol, Spore Creatures, Clue, Risk, Mystery Mania, Connect Four, Battleship, Tiger Woods and Star Trek, according to reports from Patrick Klepek (former MTV Multiplayer writer) and Shacknews.

While most of the titles are the to-be-expected EA mutliplatform titles like Madden 10 and NBA Live 10, the SSX series will be getting its first update in two years according to this announcement. Also of note, Wolfenstein RPG is of no relation to the just released Wolfenstein 3D for the iPhone; rather, it makes up half of the two iPhone games id Software is purportedly working on. Details are unfortunately scant at the moment but we've reached out to EA for comment.

On a personal note, we'd like to extend our personal "WHAT THE HELL?!" regarding Risk being announced for the iPhone and still not hearing a peep on it coming to XBLA/PSN. Seriously, EA. What the hell?!

[Via Shacknews]

GDC09: EA quietly announces iPhone versions of major franchises originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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