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[WSJ: PlayStation 4 will launch this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/wsj-playstation-4-will-launch-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/wsj-playstation-4-will-launch-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/wsj-playstation-4-will-launch-this-year/#comments
If your heart hadn't already made up its mind regarding the subject of last night's PlayStation tease, the Wall Street Journal flat-out said this morning the PlayStation successor is launching this year.

The financial publication cites sources familiar with the matter who say the event on February 20 will debut the new console. Sony will reportedly incorporate more social gaming aspects into the device and was driven in its design by how people interact with the unit, rather than by hardware upgrades.

The WSJ also mentions that Sony had considered removing the optical disk drive to make the device download only. However, and this is merely speculation on our part, this idea was dropped when company execs were visited by the ghost of the PSP Go.

So, there you go, next PlayStation being announced February 20.

JoystiqWSJ: PlayStation 4 will launch this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-4ps3ps4wall-street-journalwsjFri, 01 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wall Street Journal, Ford, Gol Stadium apps added to Xbox Live]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/wall-street-journal-ford-gol-stadium-apps-added-to-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/wall-street-journal-ford-gol-stadium-apps-added-to-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/wall-street-journal-ford-gol-stadium-apps-added-to-xbox-live/#comments Wall Street Journal, Gol Stadium apps added to Xbox LiveThe Wall Street Journal has launched "WSJ Live," a news streaming app for Xbox Live Gold subscribers, Major Nelson announced today. The app, which provides unlimited access to the Journal's complete library of video material, also streams four hours of live tech/business/misc news programming per day.

Additionally, ad fiends can watch their favorite Ford-based commercials on the new Ford app described by Major Nelson as "a new advertising app." We love ads!

Meanwhile, "Gol Stadium" was also launched for Xbox Live Gold members in Spain. The futball-focused Gol Televisión app streams live sportsball events (among other content) to XBL Gold subscribers who happen to also be Gol Televisión subscribers.

JoystiqWall Street Journal, Ford, Gol Stadium apps added to Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appgol-stadiumgol-televisionmicrosoftwall-street-journalwsjxboxXbox-LiveWed, 31 Oct 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newscorp app adds Fox, IGN, the Wall Street Journal and Fox News to Xbox 360 in 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/newscorp-app-adds-fox-ign-the-wall-street-journal-and-fox-news/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/newscorp-app-adds-fox-ign-the-wall-street-journal-and-fox-news/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/newscorp-app-adds-fox-ign-the-wall-street-journal-and-fox-news/#comments Microsoft's Craig Davison had some surprise news during the company's CES 2012 keynote this evening, bringing out word that Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp is developing an application for the Xbox 360. Several Newscorp content providers will be pushing out news and commentary via the free application, including the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and IGN. Beyond "2012," Davison didn't allow any more specific a date to slip out.

JoystiqNewscorp app adds Fox, IGN, the Wall Street Journal and Fox News to Xbox 360 in 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces-2012foxignmicrosoftnewscorpthe-wall-street-journalwall-street-journalwsjxboxMon, 09 Jan 2012 22:42:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN and GameStop forge partnership, combine traffic, learn the power of sharing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/ign-and-gamestop-forge-partnership-combine-traffic-learn-the-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/ign-and-gamestop-forge-partnership-combine-traffic-learn-the-p/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/ign-and-gamestop-forge-partnership-combine-traffic-learn-the-p/#comments Major corporation cooperation news now, with a report from The Wall Street Journal's Kara Swisher announcing a "partnership" between News Corp's gaming megasite IGN and retail (and recycling) behemoth GameStop. While it's not clear how extensive this partnership will be, Swisher reports that IGN will be creating (and presumably selling) ads on GameStop.com; IGN editorial content will appear on GameStop.com; and, inversely, IGN.com will inherit plenty of GameStop.com e-commerce buttons.

Perhaps most notably, IGN and GameStop will merge their traffic, to better appeal to advertisers and further cement IGN's pole position amongst video game websites. GameStop has 7.2 million monthly unique visitors which will be added to IGN's 28.9 million, resulting in a post-rollup total of more than anyone else.

We've got notable questions regarding the businesses which overlap. For example, what happens to Game Informer, the GameStop-owned video game magazine and site that competes with IGN? And what about IGN's Direct2Drive PC gaming retail arm? And what about concerns that this extensive of a retail relationship is a little cozy for an editorial outlet? We'll update this post when we learn more.

JoystiqIGN and GameStop forge partnership, combine traffic, learn the power of sharing originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GamestopIGNWSJMon, 06 Dec 2010 11:21:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ: Apple working with EA on 'tablet's game capabilities']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/wsj-apple-working-with-ea-on-tablets-game-capabilites/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/wsj-apple-working-with-ea-on-tablets-game-capabilites/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/wsj-apple-working-with-ea-on-tablets-game-capabilites/#comments
When a handful of video game outlets (including Joystiq) got invites to Apple's much-hyped January 27th media event to unveil its 'latest creation' - rumored to be a tablet of some sort - it became rather obvious that whatever this creation is, it would have something to do with gaming. If a Wall Street Journal report this morning - detailing everything from book, magazine and newspaper partnerships to a TV subscription service - is to be believed, "Apple is also working with videogame publisher Electronic Arts Inc. to show off the tablet's game capabilities, according to one person familiar with the matter."

Insomuch as this rumored tablet is a big-sized iPod Touch, and insomuch as the iPod Touch is totally the 'best portable device for gaming,' games are an obvious component of this mystery device, and the iPhone-friendly devs at EA are an obvious partner for Apple. Whether this has anything to do with EA Mobile's announced support for suspected Apple Tablet-competitor, the Amazon Kindle, remains to be seen, but we've reached out to EA for comment. Knowing Apple's "loose lips" policy, we don't expect much.

[Update: "EA refuses any comment on this topic," we've been told. We'll just need to wait until next Wednesday then!]

JoystiqWSJ: Apple working with EA on 'tablet's game capabilities' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleEAElectronic-ArtsipadiphoneiPodislateitablettabletWSJThu, 21 Jan 2010 10:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Why you shouldn't get your video game news from The Wall Street Journal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/why-you-shouldnt-get-your-video-game-news-from-the-wall-street/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/why-you-shouldnt-get-your-video-game-news-from-the-wall-street/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/why-you-shouldnt-get-your-video-game-news-from-the-wall-street/#comments
When you want the very latest on old guys, money and old guys' money, you turn to The Wall Street Journal. When you want news about video games, you could probably do better, as evidenced by this quote from a Dow Jones Newswire piece the publication ran today about that THQ takeover speculation:

"Take-Two has a number of strong franchises and a number of wholly owned Internet Protocols. Wholly owned IPs not only carry higher profitability, but also are more valuable to media companies because they could be adapted into movies, TV serials and online destinations."

We'd make a joke here, but there's literally nothing we could say that would be funnier than that quote.

[Thanks Leigh!]

JoystiqWhy you shouldn't get your video game news from The Wall Street Journal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facepalmipstake-twothqwall-street-journalwsjWed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ: Marvel inks 10-year MMO deal with upstart Gazillion Entertainment [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/wsj-marvel-inks-10-year-mmo-deal-with-upstart-gazillion-enterta/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/wsj-marvel-inks-10-year-mmo-deal-with-upstart-gazillion-enterta/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/wsj-marvel-inks-10-year-mmo-deal-with-upstart-gazillion-enterta/#comments
The Wall Street Journal reports this evening that Marvel Entertainment has struck a 10-year exclusivity agreement with upstart Gazillion Entertainment to produce online multiplayer titles based on its comic book properties. The paper's website indicates that the deal will be officially announced tomorrow.

Marvel's previous foray into the MMO space, Marvel Universe Online, was eventually canceled by its publisher, Microsoft Game Studios. The title was announced for Xbox 360 and Games for Windows at the 2006 X06 showcase, and was in development at Cryptic Studios, makers of the upcoming Champions Online. Marvel and Gazillion will be going head-to-head with DC Universe Online, a joint venture between Sony Online Entertainment and DC Comics. More details as they hit.

[Update: VentureBeat reports that Gazillion Entertainment, which was until today operating under the name "NR2B Research," employs more than 300 staff across four development studios. Its first title utilizing Marvel characters will be Super Hero Squad, an online game slated for 2010 that ties into a kid-friendly Cartoon Network series launching this fall. In big news for the MMO crowd, Gazillion's San Mateo, CA based Gargantuan studio is confirmed as developing a Marvel universe MMO for PC and consoles.]

[Thanks, J Blackthorn]

JoystiqWSJ: Marvel inks 10-year MMO deal with upstart Gazillion Entertainment [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gazillion-entertainmentmarvelmarvel-comicsmmowsjMon, 16 Mar 2009 21:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Book covers creation of PS3's Cell processor, how Microsoft cribbed it for Xbox]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/book-covers-creation-of-ps3s-cell-processor-how-microsoft-crib/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/book-covers-creation-of-ps3s-cell-processor-how-microsoft-crib/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/book-covers-creation-of-ps3s-cell-processor-how-microsoft-crib/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Written by two designers of the Cell processor, The Race for a New Game Machine, is a new book covering the creation of Sony's ambitious PlayStation 3 chip, and how Microsoft got a hold of its architecture for the Xbox 360. The Wall Street Journal, which gave a rather gloomy forecast for the PS3 earlier this week, has an extensive preview.

According to the book, Sony, Toshiba and IBM started working on the Cell in 2001 and planned to spend $400 million over five years. If everything went according to plan, the PlayStation 3 would be out by Christmas 2005. In 2002, Microsoft approached IBM about making a chip for what would later be known as the Xbox 360. IBM ended up making a new chip "built around the core" of the Cell it was currently creating for Sony. In the end, Xbox made the 2005 launch (with a time bomb under the hood) and Sony came out a year later.

As the WSJ points out, for all the power and money behind Microsoft and Sony's consoles, Nintendo has outsold both using a "sound strategic vision" with the less-powerful Wii.

JoystiqBook covers creation of PS3's Cell processor, how Microsoft cribbed it for Xbox originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellcell-processoribmmicrosoftPS3sonytoshibawall-street-journalwsjXbox-360Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ: 'Hope Fades for PS3 as a Comeback Player']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/wsj-hope-fades-for-ps3-as-a-comeback-player/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/wsj-hope-fades-for-ps3-as-a-comeback-player/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/wsj-hope-fades-for-ps3-as-a-comeback-player/#commentsFiled under: ,

If a console's feelings can be hurt, you might want to look in the corner for a rocking, sobbing PS3. Not even a month after being dubbed a "sinking ship" by Silicon Alley Insider, the Wall Street Journal has published an ouch-inducing article titled "Hope Fades for PS3 as a Comeback Player."

In the wake of NPD numbers for November showing the console solidly in third place and Black Friday sales of Xbox 360 pegged at 3-to-1 over PS3, the WSJ points out that holiday sales of PS3 are down 19% over the same period last year; Wii and Xbox 360, on the other hand, were up - 100% and 8%, respectively.

The Journal quotes Wedbush Morgan analyst, Michael Patcher, as predicting a price drop on PS3 hardware in April 2009, the beginning of Sony's new fiscal year. The paper says that if the sales gap can't be closed by such measures, "[Sony] could risk making the PS3 an afterthought to game publishers." Gloomy much?

JoystiqWSJ: 'Hope Fades for PS3 as a Comeback Player' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NPDPS3SonyWSJMon, 29 Dec 2008 16:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Mainstream jumps on Xbox 360 price cut bandwagon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/mainstream-jumps-on-xbox-360-price-cut-bandwagon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/mainstream-jumps-on-xbox-360-price-cut-bandwagon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/mainstream-jumps-on-xbox-360-price-cut-bandwagon/#commentsFiled under: ,


The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and we expect a few other mainstream news outlets, are finding it in vogue to report the $50 price drop for the Xbox 360 Pro is imminent. As evidenced by our gallery below, we're fairly certain that the new $299 price for the Pro console will be in effect by this Sunday.

Microsoft still has not confirmed the Pro price drop, which is making us wonder. We're slowly gathering evidence, and it's still too early to say for sure, but there's a niggling suspicion that Microsoft is pulling a repeat of Sony's great PS3 clearance sale switcharoo from 2007, but that's just a rumor for now.

Source -- WSJ (Subscription required)
Source -- Reuters

Gallery: Xbox 360 $299 price drop

GameStopBest BuyRadio ShackBest BuyKmart

JoystiqMainstream jumps on Xbox 360 price cut bandwagon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftprice-cutprice-dropreuterswall-street-journalwsjXbox-360xbox-360-price-cutFri, 11 Jul 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wall St. Journal talks about Monster Hunter and PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/wall-st-journal-talks-about-monster-hunter-and-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/wall-st-journal-talks-about-monster-hunter-and-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/wall-st-journal-talks-about-monster-hunter-and-psp/#commentsFiled under: ,


If you ever needed a summary of proof that Monster Hunter is huge in Japan, this Wall Street Journal article would be it. The international financial newspaper credits the incredible success of the PSP in Japan over the past year to Monster Hunter. It outlines the appeal of the series, summarizing the mechanics of the game which allow a group of friends play together in co-op mode to battle monsters and gather materials for weapons and armor.

Writer Yukari Iwatani Kane asserts that the Japanese are "uncomfortable with the idea of playing video games with strangers over the Internet," and Capcom "overcame that hurdle" by incorporating the Ad Hoc mode on the PSP into Monster Hunter. This brought in unconventional fans such as a 37-year-old Tokyo architect who held a "weekend retreat" with his 14 friends, which included a doctor and corporate executives, to play Monster Hunter together. Members of fan-sites such as Oyaji Hunters (Old Geezer Hunters in Japanese) "participate in regularly scheduled face-to-face get-togethers."

Statistics obtained by the WSJ from Enterbrain Inc. shows that as of June 8th, 9.3 million PSPs were sold in Japan, compared with 4.75 million units in February of 2007 before the release of the first PSP Monster Hunter game. The combined sales of the two games have reached almost 4 million, and they are the only PSP games that have sold more than one million copies in Japan -- Kane attributes these sales partly to the fact that each player needs one copy of the game to play together. The article finally ends with some negative observations, stating that "Capcom hasn't made a serious effort to market the games in the U.S." and noting that the next Monster Hunter game will be on the Wii, rather than the PS3.

Though the article makes some legitimate points, it is hard to trust someone that contradicts herself ("uncomfortable with the idea of playing video games with strangers" vs. "participate in regularly scheduled face-to-face get-togethers") lists "Evil May Cry" as a popular Capcom series.

JoystiqWall St. Journal talks about Monster Hunter and PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>monster-hunterwall-street-journalwsjTue, 24 Jun 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rockstar's Houser talks EA takeover]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/rockstars-houser-talks-ea-takeover/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/rockstars-houser-talks-ea-takeover/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/rockstars-houser-talks-ea-takeover/#commentsFiled under:


In a recent piece about Rockstar Games' head honcho, Sam Houser, The Wall Street Journal probes the mind of the "secretive, demanding workaholic" about numerous topics, including EA's hostile takeover of its parent-company Take-Two. Houser says he sees some appeal in being under EA and that his company would be a "much smaller fish in a much bigger pond."

Houser, who was turned down for a job at EA in the '90s, says it's unlikely he'll seek EA's approval on game content. A major point in the Activision/Vivendi merger was that Blizzard remained as untouchable as it was under Vivendi. Whether Rockstar will have that luxury in a hostile takeover remains to be seen.

JoystiqRockstar's Houser talks EA takeover originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 May 2008 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-Artshouserrockstartake-twowall-street-journalwsjMon, 12 May 2008 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Wall Street Journal says Sony stock is a 'bargain']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/wall-street-journal-says-sony-stock-is-a-bargain/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/wall-street-journal-says-sony-stock-is-a-bargain/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/wall-street-journal-says-sony-stock-is-a-bargain/#commentsFiled under:

Sony's stock has dropped 26% in the past year, for a number of reasons. Undoubtedly, the high costs of PS3 manufacturing and its sluggish performance hasn't helped Sony's corporate image.

However, the Wall Street Journal is suggesting that this is actually a good thing for investors. Sony's stock has always been "undervalued" according to their analysis. However, in recent time the stock has "become even more attractive."

The video game unit's quarterly profit and increasing demand for the PS3 is making Sony a much more desirable company to invest in. Analysts have been quick to call Sony the ultimate "winner" of this generation of consoles, and the recent victory of Blu-ray in the format war is a huge help for the company. After such troubled performance, it's only a matter of time before Sony's stock goes back on the rise. Perhaps now is the time to invest.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqWall Street Journal says Sony stock is a 'bargain' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>sonystockwall-street-journalwsjWed, 12 Mar 2008 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Wall Street Journal takes on Wiimote hacking]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/wall-street-journal-takes-on-wiimote-hacking/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/wall-street-journal-takes-on-wiimote-hacking/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/wall-street-journal-takes-on-wiimote-hacking/#commentsFiled under: ,


The Wall Street Journal has a brief piece -- and an even briefer video accompaniment -- covering Wiimote hacking of all things. Notable: they're calling it the "Wii-mote," not Wii Remote. Even more notable: the article's front page status!

The Wii continues its mainstream media march, with the WSJ making their way to all the things we've been enjoying for months: Wiimote air guitar; air drums; Wii DJing; Wii loop machine ... and we're just scratching the surface. A very dry Nintendo spokesperson said, simply, "The Wii Remote was created to play on the Wii system only." Oh yeah? And we bet the NES controller wasn't meant to be a cell phone, TV remote, or dockable iPod controller either!

JoystiqWall Street Journal takes on Wiimote hacking originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 29 Apr 2007 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>WiiwiimotewiimotehacksWSJSun, 29 Apr 2007 18:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Weekly Webcomic Wrapup: mainstream edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/24/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-mainstream-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/24/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-mainstream-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/24/weekly-webcomic-wrapup-mainstream-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Instead of trying to fill this part with meaningless dribble (at which we rock), we've decided to take a look at the comic world through two articles from this week's stream of mainstream media.

Our first article is a blurb from the Wall Street Journal's Career Journal, which recently highlighted what it would entail to choose comic-book artist as a career. Two suggestions: (1) be sure to attend conventions and network with publishers, show off your work and (2) make sure your work doesn't suck.

The other piece comes from Time magazine that discusses the proliferation of webcomics. It even includes complimentary blurbs about Penny Arcade and PvP Online, credited with being one of the first webcomics. Congratulations guys!

Now here are some of our picks for the week's best game-related webcomics, be sure to vote for your favorite!*
Rejected Wii channels
Check. It. Out.
Convincing rebuttal
Spectrobes, original IP
Like watching paint dry
Our old tricks
How awesome? So awesome.
Games have weird premises
Living achievements vicariously


* and gripe about the choices in the comments below. We know you will, we know you want to, we just hope you also suggest some of the gems we missed.

JoystiqWeekly Webcomic Wrapup: mainstream edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>penny arcadePennyArcadepvp onlinePvpOnlinetimewall street journalWallStreetJournalweb comicWebComicwsjSat, 24 Mar 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wall Street Journal's Mossberg picks Wii over PS3 [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/29/wall-street-journals-mossberg-picks-wii-over-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/29/wall-street-journals-mossberg-picks-wii-over-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/29/wall-street-journals-mossberg-picks-wii-over-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Wall Street Journal columnist Walt Mossberg (pictured) is possibly the most influential technology writer in the country. So when Mossberg compares the Wii and the PS3 by saying Nintendo's system is "the more exciting, fun and satisfying of the two new game machines," it shouldn't be taken lightly.

Mossberg and a group of four 20-something volunteer testers were duly impressed with the PS3's graphics and multimedia functions, but no so much so that they thought it was worth the extra price over the Xbox 360. The testers were much more excited about the Wii's motion-sensitive controls and the way they made games easier to get into. One of the female testers, a college athlete and non-gamer, said the Wii was the first time she ever felt successful playing a video game.

Mossberg's reputation doesn't mean he's infallible -- the column erroneously suggests gamers will need to spend $100 on HDMI cables for the PS3 and that a classic controller is required for all Wii classic downloads. Outside of the factual errors, though, the opinions expressed by Mossberg and his testers might be more than a little worrying to Sony and its supporters.

[Update: Changed Read link below to a version that requires no registration. Thanks Clay.]

JoystiqWall Street Journal's Mossberg picks Wii over PS3 [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mainstreammossbergnintendoPS3sonywall street journalWallStreetJournalWiiWSJWed, 29 Nov 2006 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ concerned about Wii owner health]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/25/wsj-concerned-about-wii-owner-health/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/25/wsj-concerned-about-wii-owner-health/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/25/wsj-concerned-about-wii-owner-health/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Capitalist's Bible, also known as the Wall Street Journal, gives a backhanded compliment to the Wii today saying it gets people off the couch, but "is turning out to be more exercise than some players bargained for." The article explores how people are beginning to develop -- wait for it -- "Wii elbow." One after another the WSJ serves up another poor soul who has been exerted by the Wii-ness. For example, Ryan Mercer lifts weights during the week but Wii Sports' boxing is pwning him, "I was soaking wet with sweat, head to toe -- I had to go take a shower." The following morning he was so sore he had trouble getting his shirt on.

Nintendo's name-dropping spokesperson Perrin Kaplan is quoted in the piece saying she hasn't received any complaints about soreness. Serving back WSJ's backhanded compliment she says, "It was not meant to be a Jenny Craig supplement ... if people are finding themselves sore, they may need to exercise more."

So the answer is to train up before you Wii and you won't get sore, but please remember you can always play the Wii like a toolbox.

JoystiqWSJ concerned about Wii owner health originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exercisewall street journalwiiworkoutwsjSat, 25 Nov 2006 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Viva Piņata featured in WSJ (wha?)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/17/viva-pi-ata-featured-in-wsj-wha/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/17/viva-pi-ata-featured-in-wsj-wha/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/17/viva-pi-ata-featured-in-wsj-wha/#commentsFiled under:


Nintendo may have created the first generation of (pocket) monster controlled mindslaves, but Microsoft is hoping to snare the next generation with piñatas. And it looks like they just might hit the big time. That's right, Viva Piñata has been featured in the money-grubbingest of all publications, the Wall Street Journal. A subscription is required to read the article, and we certainly don't make WSJ caliber money around here. Lucky for us, the fine folks of Gamerscoreblog have picked out a tasty snippet,

"And in the New York showroom of Playmates Toys Inc. on Wednesday, 70 or so tradable Viva Piñata figurines and a hand-held electronic game -- made by Playmates -- will be unveiled. The toys offer more avenues for marketing partnerships that would connect Viva Piñata with kids when they step away from their TVs and are designed to link the components of a piñata universe that has been carefully concocted to boost the videogame."

It just drips with the trappings of a master plan, doesn't it? Any of you planning on picking up Viva Piñata for the kids? For yourselves?

JoystiqViva Piņata featured in WSJ (wha?) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamerscoreblogthewallstreetjournalviva pinataVivaPinatawall street journalWallStreetJournalwsjTue, 17 Oct 2006 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Suck at gaming? Get a tutor (seriously) [update 2]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/26/suck-at-gaming-get-a-tutor-seriously/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/26/suck-at-gaming-get-a-tutor-seriously/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/26/suck-at-gaming-get-a-tutor-seriously/#commentsFiled under:

The Wall Street Journal reports on some gamers who're using their 1337 skillz to actually pay the billz. And they're not trotting out the same old story about professional gamers (we get it, they play games!), they're talking about gaming tutors.

The logic behind these enterprises is brilliant though. Aging gamers have no time to hone their skills through trial and error while high school dropouts, like Gaming-lessons.com's Tom Taylor, have nothing but time, so the arrangement works like this: you pay Taylor $45 clams an hour, he turns your pasty, corpulent game playing attempts into 100% chiseled, Master Chief-approved fragging skillz.

We know what you're thinking. If 8 year old Lil Poison is scraping in $25 an hour teaching grown men to play Halo 2, then you've made some serious miscalculations in your life plan. We're wondering why, if these guys are so good, they aren't playing professionally. Does the old adage, "Those who can't do, teach," apply to the curriculum of video games as well? We were wondering why they didn't play professionally until we learned (thanks, guys!) that Tom Taylor is in fact T Squared (Tom Taylor, duh!), the very same professional gamer who just signed a fat $250,000 contract. See, high school dropout isn't always a pejorative.

[Thanks, Leshrac]

[Update: corrected professional gaming errors and decidedly un-1337 spelling of 1337.]

JoystiqSuck at gaming? Get a tutor (seriously) [update 2] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wall Street JournalWallStreetJournalWSJWed, 26 Jul 2006 21:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Stringer: The Xbox 360 is an "obsession"]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/07/stringer-the-xbox-360-is-an-obsession/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/07/stringer-the-xbox-360-is-an-obsession/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/07/stringer-the-xbox-360-is-an-obsession/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Howard Stringer obsessed with the Xbox 360Well, you know what they say about what to do when you have nothing nice to say ... erm, say that the competing gaming platform (in this case, the 360) is an "obsession"?

That's exactly what Sony CEO Howard Stringer had to offer in an interview with Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal recently. While sharing how The Da Vinci Code from Sony beat up on "X-Men 3" (aka The Last Stand) over in Europe, he seemed to mistakenly throw in "Xbox 3" in the stead of Fox's great summer blockbuster hope. Following Mossberg's correction, Stringer is reported to have retorted, laughing, "There's an obsession!"

We don't know if he's referring to the media's obsession with the corporate gaming rivalry, his own obsession with the console that would dethrone the PlayStation, or some combination of the two (irony really doesn't help here), but he does seem to at least outwardly admire Bill Gates' salesmanship (as well as his hypocrisy in delaying Windows Vista while lambasting the PS3 delay). Of course, a lot of supposed compliments could go both ways, so we've provided a few handy links below to check out what other "nice" things hardware execs have had to say about their competitors lately. We're sure it's all in good fun.

[Thanks, JC & SickNic; also via GameDaily BIZ]

See also:

JoystiqStringer: The Xbox 360 is an "obsession" originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Howard-StringerPS3WSJXbox-360Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[South Park Republican defends video games in WSJ op-ed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/south-park-republican-defends-video-games-in-wsj-op-ed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/south-park-republican-defends-video-games-in-wsj-op-ed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/02/south-park-republican-defends-video-games-in-wsj-op-ed/#commentsFiled under:

"South Park Republicans" is a term coined to reflect the often libertarian viewpoint represented on the television show of the same name. The term's become so popular there's even a book named after it. Based on those beliefs, it should come as no surprise that the author of that book, Brian C. Anderson, wrote an impassioned defense of video games that ran in the Wall Street Journal's op-ed page today.

Anderson repeats many of the arguments we've come to rely on while exposing much of the hypocrisy and double standards employed by would-be critics of gaming. He ends with as level headed a suggestion as we've read in the mainstream media: "Video games are popular culture at its best. Critics would do better to drop the hysterical laments and pick up a joystick." Considering most critics haven't rolled a level 60 character in World of Warcraft, we're inclined to agree.

This isn't the first major conservative outlet to come to the defense of video games. In April, the influential National Review Online ran a (very) similar piece defending video games and our right to play them. With such notable conservative outlets carrying a common message, while popular liberal politicians like Hillary Clinton continue to vilify gaming, has the debate over gaming become a mirror of today's polarized political landscape?

[Thanks, DMark]

JoystiqSouth Park Republican defends video games in WSJ op-ed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jun 2006 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wall Street JournalWallStreetJournalWSJFri, 02 Jun 2006 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wright rocks out with the mainstream media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/31/wright-rocks-out-with-the-msm/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/31/wright-rocks-out-with-the-msm/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/31/wright-rocks-out-with-the-msm/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Will Wright has had a very busy month thanks to his upcoming game, Spore. Everyone that saw the gameplay video from GDC '05 knew that the real highlight of this May's E3 would be Wright's presentation. Although his presentation at E3 didn't reveal too much that we didn't already know about Spore, the slightly more mainstream appeal of E3 has resulted in some well deserved coverage from the mainstream media. The positive endorsement by Robin "Sniper" Williams can't have hurt either.

The two most notable examples of MSM picking up this story are featured in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) and the BBC. The Beeb covered Spore and Wright from an angle of user generated content, comparing it to current and past titles that have popularized the concept (e.g. Second Life, The Sims and the popularity of mods like Counter-Strike). The quirky video interview with Wright that runs alongside the article also gives a good idea of how much Wright values user generated content (i.e. a lot).

The WSJ picked up the story from a more general "profile of Wright" viewpoint, although it was displayed very prominently. If you picked up last Saturday's edition of the paper it's possibly the first article you would have seen, it being on the front page and all. One of the world's most recognizable and respected business publications profiling a game developer on the front page: they've finally wised up!

Read - BBC video interview with Wright
Read - Wall Street Journal Spore article

JoystiqWright rocks out with the mainstream media originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 May 2006 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BBCInterviewMainstream MediaMainstreamMediaMSMSporeWall Street JournalWallStreetJournalWill WrightWillWrightWSJWed, 31 May 2006 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ: Xbox 360 is home of hacker hoedown]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/31/wsj-xbox-360-is-home-of-hacker-hoedown/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/31/wsj-xbox-360-is-home-of-hacker-hoedown/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/31/wsj-xbox-360-is-home-of-hacker-hoedown/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The illustrious Wall Street Journal sullied its white gloves while getting down and dirty with the Xbox 360 hacking scene yesterday. They profiled superstar hacker Bunnie Huang (he wrote Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering) and his desire to duplicate his earlier success on the 360.

When Microsoft bragged about how hack-proof their console was, we wrote, "Going out of your way to boast about how hack-proof your next product is going to be is probably the only surefire way to get an army of hackers on your ass." Turns out we were right. Huang says of his motivation, "It's about overcoming the challenge Microsoft has set out there ... They've bragged about the security for the Xbox 360, so now it's like: Well, let's see."

While Huang hasn't had many successes himself, another 360 hacker (who goes by the hacker alias "Acid Burn" "The Specialist") has had a couple, exploiting the console's DVD-drive's firmware. Huang rightfully doesn't consider it a full decoding of the system, but acknowledges he might not be the one to do it either. "Things are different from a few years ago ... The stakes are higher for Microsoft and the hacking community has intensified its efforts."

JoystiqWSJ: Xbox 360 is home of hacker hoedown originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 May 2006 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andrew HuangAndrewHuangBunnie HuangBunnieHuangMSFTMSMThe SpecialistTheSpecialistWall Street JournalWallStreetJournalWSJXboxXbox-360Wed, 31 May 2006 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live: Microsoft's bet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2005/12/30/xbox-live-microsofts-bet/http://www.joystiq.com/2005/12/30/xbox-live-microsofts-bet/http://www.joystiq.com/2005/12/30/xbox-live-microsofts-bet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today's Wall Street Journal has delved into the ins and outs of Microsoft's gamble to expand online gaming to every gamer with the Xbox 360. Aiming to entice at least 50% of customers online--a figure previously unheard of with Xbox Live, although Nintendo's wifi venture has approached it--Microsoft have spent an estimated $1 billion on the Live service.

That's a lot of money to spend in order to get customers signed up and spending their own money in return--the question is whether the gamble will pay off. The WSJ have also put together a flashy comparison of the three next-gen offerings from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, for anyone who's been living under a rock for the last year. One of the key online differences is the lack of a planned centralised online service in Sony and Nintendo's lineup, but that's offset by the lack of service fees, so may see more absolute signups. It's going to be a tough battle, and online gaming will be the only clear winner.

JoystiqXbox Live: Microsoft's bet originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Dec 2005 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>multiplayerwsjXboxxbox liveXbox-360XboxLiveFri, 30 Dec 2005 08:00:00 EST