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[D&D: Chronicles of Mystara gets enhanced PS3 retail release in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/dandd-chronicles-of-mystara-gets-enhanced-ps3-retail-release-in-j/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/dandd-chronicles-of-mystara-gets-enhanced-ps3-retail-release-in-j/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/dandd-chronicles-of-mystara-gets-enhanced-ps3-retail-release-in-j/#commentsD&D Chronicles of Mystara gets enhanced PS3 retail release in Japan While Capcom's arcade brawler compilation Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara hits the PlayStation Network in North America tonight (and Xbox Live Arcade tomorrow), D&D fans in Japan might want to hold out for an upcoming PlayStation 3 retail release, which offers exclusive features and enhancements not found in the digital version.

The PS3 retail version's Facebook page describes the release as a treasure trove for retro gaming connoisseurs, comparing it to the well-received Street Fighter Alpha Anthology on the PlayStation 2. The collection includes a color-edit feature, and allows multiple players to play as same character. The retail edition also offers an in-depth series of options, allowing players to toggle features like random damage and breakable weapons. A similar "House Rules" system was announced for the digital release.

The digital version set for release this week is developed by Iron Galaxy, who previously produced arcade compilations like Darkstalkers Resurrection and Marvel vs. Capcom Origins. NeoGAF member toypop notes that the PlayStation 3 Blu-ray version of Chronicles of Mystara is developed by an internal Capcom team staffed by developers of the original Dungeons & Dragons arcade games.

The PlayStation 3 retail version of Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara will launch in Japan this August. Capcom confirmed with Joystiq that the retail edition is exclusive to Japan, and is not scheduled for a North American release.

JoystiqD&D: Chronicles of Mystara gets enhanced PS3 retail release in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomdungeons-and-dragons-chronicles-of-mystaraplaystationps3psnxblaTue, 18 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Brian Provinciano's Retro City Rampage talk from GDC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/watch-brian-provincianos-retro-city-rampage-talk-from-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/watch-brian-provincianos-retro-city-rampage-talk-from-gdc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/watch-brian-provincianos-retro-city-rampage-talk-from-gdc/#commentsBrian Provinciano's GDC talk now in The Vault One of our favorite talks from GDC was Brian Provinciano's session, in which the indie developer discussed bringing his game, Retro City Rampage, to just about every platform known to man. It's a valuable talk for many reasons, giving a clear picture of what it's like working with The Big Three[TM] and the types of hurdles a determined indie developer will inevitably hit.

Provinciano's determination to port Grand Theft Auto 3 to NES hardware escalated into a love letter to video games and pop culture. While Provinciano hasn't announced his next project yet, he says we should expect more humorous open-world games.

JoystiqWatch Brian Provinciano's Retro City Rampage talk from GDC originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-provincianogdc-2013microsoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3psnretro-city-rampagesteamvblank-entertainmentvitawiiwiiwarexblaxboxMon, 17 Jun 2013 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Tanks Xbox 360 Edition open beta in 'relatively near future']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/world-of-tanks-xbox-360-edition-open-beta-in-relatively-near-fu/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/world-of-tanks-xbox-360-edition-open-beta-in-relatively-near-fu/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/world-of-tanks-xbox-360-edition-open-beta-in-relatively-near-fu/#commentsWorld of Tanks Xbox 360 Edition open beta in 'relatively near future' World of Tanks Xbox 360 Edition will enter open beta in the "relatively near future," Wargaming General Manager Denny Thorley said during a demo at E3. The beta will begin in North America and Canada, and roll out to other countries later on. Beta registration is open now at the game's website.

The beta will likely include four maps and a majority of the full game's 60 total tanks at first, Thorley said.

World of Tanks Xbox 360 Edition won't feature cross-play between PC and console. It supports online multiplayer for up to 30 players - 15 vs. 15 - with no single-player or local multiplayer content at launch. Wargaming may add single-player tutorials or other comparable content in the future.

It's free-to-play for Xbox Live Gold members, and all other Live users will get a free seven-day trial. The monetization strategy on XBLA will be slightly different than its PC predecessor, though Thorley said he couldn't go into detail about specific packages.

"I think you're going to find some similarities," Thorley said. "There are areas that may be slightly different."

The major differences between the PC and Xbox 360 versions of World of Tanks will be the control scheme - surprise, the console edition uses a controller - and some user interface tweaks to better suit a couch perspective.

Gallery: World of Tanks Xbox 360 Edition (E3 2013)

JoystiqWorld of Tanks Xbox 360 Edition open beta in 'relatively near future' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-2013free-to-playmicrosoftwargamingworld-of-tanksXBLAxboxTue, 11 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft announces Crimson Dragon is exclusive to Xbox One [Update: Trailer added]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/microsoft-announces-crimson-dragon-coming-to-xbox-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/microsoft-announces-crimson-dragon-coming-to-xbox-one/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/microsoft-announces-crimson-dragon-coming-to-xbox-one/#comments
Microsoft has announced that Crimson Dragon, a planned XBLA Kinect title from Yukio Futatsugi, the creator of Panzer Dragoon, will release as an exclusive on Xbox One.

The company showed a quick video of the game during today's press conference, and it looks very similar to the original build, with dragon-riding, Kinect-controlled shooter gameplay. Stay tuned for more, including a release date, when we hear it.

Gallery: Crimson Dragon (E3 2013)

JoystiqMicrosoft announces Crimson Dragon is exclusive to Xbox One [Update: Trailer added] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimson-dragone3e3-2013exclusivekinectmicrosoftpanzer-dragoonProject-Dracoxblaxboxxbox-oneYukio-FutatsugiMon, 10 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Get free donuts this week in Battleblock Theater]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/08/get-free-donuts-this-week-in-battleblock-theater/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/08/get-free-donuts-this-week-in-battleblock-theater/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/08/get-free-donuts-this-week-in-battleblock-theater/#commentsThis week's Battleblock Theater prisoner is a cute little donut guyIn celebration of National Doughnut Day on Friday, The Behemoth announced the return of Battleblock Theater special prisoner Donuts. Players that log in to the game on Xbox Live any time from now until June 13 will receive the character for free.

Donuts originally appeared in the game as an unlockable Furbottom Features character. Donuts isn't alone, either, as this week's Furbottom Features unlock is a Lava Lamp character.

JoystiqGet free donuts this week in Battleblock Theater originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleblock-theaterdonutsdoughnutsfurbottoms-featuresmicrosoftThe-BehemothXBLAxboxSat, 08 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay review: Don't stop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/state-of-decay-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/state-of-decay-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/state-of-decay-review/#commentsState of Decay review Don't stop Don't stop or you'll die.

This is the prevailing theme of State of Decay, Undead Labs' sandbox survival-horror game for Xbox Live Arcade. It's a game focused on the chores of survival in a post-apocalyptic world: scavenging for supplies in vacant buildings; trading with and aiding neighboring groups; comforting and managing emotional states of your own survivors; and, of course, dealing with the occasional zombie attack on your home.

State of Decay is constantly pulling you in many directions, making it difficult to decide what mission you should take next or what resource you should hunt down. The deluge of missions, radio messages and scavenging cycles never stops, and the hostile nature of the environment itself hardly provides incentive for pause to soak in the scenery.

Gallery: State of Decay

Continue reading State of Decay review: Don't stop

JoystiqState of Decay review: Don't stop originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class3microsoftstate-of-decaysurvival-horrorundead-labsxblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeFri, 07 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Zeno Clash 2 punches XBLA next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/zeno-clash-2-punches-xbla-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/zeno-clash-2-punches-xbla-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/zeno-clash-2-punches-xbla-next-week/#comments Father-Mother lovers rejoice, Zeno Clash 2 is finally first-person punching its way to Xbox Live Arcade next week. After being available on PC since late April, the game will arrive on Microsoft's download platform on June 12, smack in the middle of E3.

We won't be playing Zeno Clash 2, but we'll still be first-person shoving our way through crowds to bring you the latest news.

JoystiqZeno Clash 2 punches XBLA next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace-teamatlusmicrosoftxblaxboxxbox-livexbox-live-arcadezeno-clash-2Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay rises on XBLA June 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/state-of-decay-rises-on-xbla-june-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/state-of-decay-rises-on-xbla-june-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/state-of-decay-rises-on-xbla-june-5/#commentsState of Decay rises on XBLA June 5 Undead Labs' zombie game State of Decay is set to launch on Xbox Live June 5 for 1,600 MS Points ($20). The news comes via Major Nelson on Twitter, with Undead Labs confirming the date on its blog. No word on a date for the PC port yet.

Undead Labs announced it was working on a zombie MMO in 2009. In early 2011, the company revealed a title codenamed Class3, which was positioned as an open-world zombie game targeting XBLA that would serve as a precursor to its announced MMO. In 2012, Undead Labs re-branded the downloadable game as State of Decay, which still retains its focus on survival mechanics in an open-world environment.

JoystiqState of Decay rises on XBLA June 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class3microsoftrelease-datestate-of-decayundead-labsxblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeMon, 03 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wolfenstein 3D returns to XBLA, PSN]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/wolfenstein-3d-returns-to-xbla-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/wolfenstein-3d-returns-to-xbla-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/wolfenstein-3d-returns-to-xbla-psn/#comments Wolfenstein 3D is back on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in North America after a brief absence, and is coming to PSN in Europe soon. You can snag id's seminal shooter for $5 on Xbox Live Arcade, PSN or Steam.

Activision had originally published Wolfenstein 3D on consoles just a few weeks after Bethesda acquired id Software in 2009. Bethesda's Pete Hines told Joystiq the re-rating was a necessity for both the ESRB and console manufacturers. "No changes. Was originally published through Activision, so now that it's reverted back to us we have to jump through ESRB (ratings go to the publisher, they don't "follow" the game to a new publisher) and console hoops (game has to be "re-certed" by the new publisher)."

A new entry in the series, Wolfenstein: The New Order, is currently in development at MachineGames, with a tentative launch window slated for later this year.

JoystiqWolfenstein 3D returns to XBLA, PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaidid-softwaremicrosoftpcplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnsteamwolfensteinWolfenstein-3Dxblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeFri, 31 May 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Capcom Arcade Cabinet all-in-one available now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/psa-capcom-arcade-cabinet-all-in-one-available-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/psa-capcom-arcade-cabinet-all-in-one-available-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/psa-capcom-arcade-cabinet-all-in-one-available-now/#comments
Your patience has paid off. Today, Capcom has issued the full Capcom Arcade Cabinet collection - a cheaper bundle of all 17 games previously issued in piecemeal packs and as individual downloads. The all-in-one pack is available starting today for 2,000 MS Points ($30), a saving of $15 over purchasing all five game packs.

Capcom Arcade Cabinet highlights games from the publisher's catalog spanning the years between 1984 and 1988. The full list of 17 games within the Capcom Arcade Cabinet are Black Tiger, Avengers, 1943, The Battle of Midway, Ghosts n Goblins, Gun Smoke, Section Z, Side Arms, Legendary Wings, Trojan, Commando, The Speed Rumbler, Exed Exes (Savage Bees), 1942, SonSon and Pirate Ship Higemaru. There are also two secret games: 1943 Kai and Vulgus.

JoystiqPSA: Capcom Arcade Cabinet all-in-one available now originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomcapcom-arcade-cabinetmicrosoftplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnxblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeFri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox One marketplace won't have separate XBLA, XBLIG channels]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-marketplace-wont-have-separate-xbla-xblig-channels/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-marketplace-wont-have-separate-xbla-xblig-channels/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-marketplace-wont-have-separate-xbla-xblig-channels/#commentsXbox One marketplace won't have separate XBLA, XBLIG channels Xbox One will not have separate sections for indie or download-only games, such as Xbox Live Indie Games and Xbox Live Arcade on the 360 - instead, Microsoft's new console will feature games, and "just games," Microsoft Corporate Vice President Phil Harrison told Eurogamer.

"In the past we had retail games which came on disc, we had Xbox Live Arcade and we had Indie Games, and they had their own discrete channels or discrete silos," Harrison said. "With Xbox One and the new marketplace, they're games. We don't make a distinction between whether a game is a 50-hour RPG epic or whether it is a puzzle game or whether it is something that fits halfway between the two."

In this new approach, indie games, AAA games and everything in-between will co-exist in the same "Games" marketplace. Harrison said this will solve discoverability problems that indie games face today, and Microsoft will still be able to highlight titles that it thinks players should pay attention to.

"We don't give up the ability to put a spotlight on the products that we think are going to be exciting to our user base, but in addition to that, what your friends are playing, what other people think is hot in your area, your country, your continent, will propagate up the most interesting and exciting games," Harrison said.

The Xbox One "Games" tab will feature game recommendations and trends, and will have catalog and search functions. The entire system is a blend of curated and popular games, Harrison said. Microsoft will maintain its current strategy with indie developers, meaning indies won't be able to self-publish their games on Xbox One, as they can on PS3, Vita, Wii U, Steam, and eventually, the PS4.

JoystiqXbox One marketplace won't have separate XBLA, XBLIG channels originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>IndiemarketplacemicrosoftXBLAxbligxboxxbox-onexbox-revealWed, 22 May 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Next-gen Microsoft: What the new Xbox can do for indies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/next-gen-microsoft-what-the-new-xbox-can-do-for-indies/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/next-gen-microsoft-what-the-new-xbox-can-do-for-indies/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/next-gen-microsoft-what-the-new-xbox-can-do-for-indies/#commentsWhat the Xbox can do the same, different for indies in next gen The Xbox 360 accrued an arguably bad reputation in terms of indie games publishing over the past few years. Many vocal observers - players, mostly - saw Xbox Live Arcade as a closed, unsupportive platform that asked developers for thousands of dollars to update their own games, and Xbox Live Indie Games was a stagnant hole filled with Minecraft clones and zombie games.

Microsoft may have to overcome this public perception with its next-gen Xbox conference today at 10 a.m. PT. But from an indie developer's standpoint, the issues in publishing with Microsoft are different - or nonexistent.

"Working with Microsoft is great," writes James Silva, one half of Ska Studios and creator of The Dishwasher series of XBLA games. "I have heard a few stories that contradict my experience, and I know quite a few people who are happier on platforms other than XBLA, and that's fine for them. XBLA is a closed, carefully curated platform with its own set of fairly rigid standards and protocols."

Ska Studios works with only Microsoft, publishing The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai after winning the Dream Build Play competition in 2007, and from there developing The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile for XBLA, I MAED A GAM3 W1TH ZOMB1ES 1N IT!!!1 on XBLIG and a version on Windows Phone, and now polishing another XBLA game, Charlie Murder.

Silva makes enough money developing games for Microsoft platforms to support a life of developing games for Microsoft platforms. He says that with Microsoft as a publisher, he retains full creative control, and Microsoft supports him in terms of bug-squashing, meeting goals, play-testing, and even taking him to dinner when he's in town.

"Shortly after The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai launched, I absolutely spent a night at my producer's cabin in Snoqualmie, drinking IPA and playing around with GarageBand," Silva says. "Yes, it was fine, it was fun, and it's unfortunate that 'everything's fine' doesn't really register as newsworthy, because there is currently a 'Microsoft is bad for indies' narrative trending in gaming news."

Continue reading Next-gen Microsoft: What the new Xbox can do for indies

JoystiqNext-gen Microsoft: What the new Xbox can do for indies originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Indiemicrosoftnext-xboxXBLAxbligxboxXbox-Live-Arcadexbox-live-indie-gamesxbox-nextxbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Freefall Racers for Kinect being published by Deep Silver, headed to XBLA [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/rumor-freefall-racers-for-kinect-being-published-by-deep-silver/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/rumor-freefall-racers-for-kinect-being-published-by-deep-silver/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/rumor-freefall-racers-for-kinect-being-published-by-deep-silver/#commentsRumor Freefall Racers, Kinect racer for XBLA, being published by Deep Silver Deep Silver will publish an upcoming gesture-based racing game for Kinect called Freefall Racers. The first breadcrumb in this trail comes from an Australian rating that has surfaced, outing Deep Silver as publisher.

The developer is Smoking Gun Interactive, whose most recent work includes two Kinect experiences, Mars Rover Landing and Home Run Stars, so a new Kinect project would make sense. The Vancouver-based studio at least partly funded Freefall Racers with help from the Canadian government, as evidenced by the $461,243 contributed through the Canada Media Fund (PDF) last year.

Our first glimpse of the game is courtesy of environmental artist Anthony Leonati, who published six screens from Freefall Racers on his personal website. [Update: The images have been pulled from Leonati's website.] In addition to the screens, he also pegs Freefall Racers for Xbox Live Arcade, though his LinkedIn profile indicates he has since moved on from Smoking Gun to become a senior environment artist at EA.

We've followed up with Deep Silver and Smoking Gun Interactive for comment and will update this post accordingly.

[Thanks, lifelower]

Gallery: Freefall Racers

JoystiqRumor: Freefall Racers for Kinect being published by Deep Silver, headed to XBLA [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deep-silverfreefall-racerskinectmicrosoftSmoking-Gun-Interactivexblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeThu, 16 May 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay pegged for June 5 release, according to GameStop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/state-of-decay-pegged-for-june-5-release-according-to-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/state-of-decay-pegged-for-june-5-release-according-to-gamestop/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/state-of-decay-pegged-for-june-5-release-according-to-gamestop/#commentsState of Decay pegged for June 5 release, according to GameStop database GameStop expects Undead Labs' zombie-packed Xbox Live Arcade survival horror game State of Decay to launch on June 5, according to a product listing obtained by IGN.

The retailer lists State of Decay at 1,600 Microsoft points ($20), putting it in the same premium price range as big-name XBLA releases like The Walking Dead and Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition. Developer Undead Labs has not officially announced a price for State of Decay, and only divulged a nebulous "June" release date when a trailer launched last month.

Undead Labs community director Sanya Weathers notes in a forum post that June 5 is the developer's launch goal, but a final release date has not been determined. "We have not completed certification," she explains. "Until we've completed certification, there is no date."

JoystiqState of Decay pegged for June 5 release, according to GameStop originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class3microsoftstate-of-decayundead-labsxblaxboxWed, 15 May 2013 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam is king in service wars, Humble Store a sleeping giant, indies say]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/steam-is-king-in-service-wars-humble-store-a-sleeping-giant-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/steam-is-king-in-service-wars-humble-store-a-sleeping-giant-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/steam-is-king-in-service-wars-humble-store-a-sleeping-giant-in/#commentsSteam is king in service wars, Humble Store a sleeping giant, indies say Twenty-one randomly selected indie developers walk into a digital room and ponder the question, "Which online distribution system has been the most effective for your games?"

If this were the set-up to a joke, the punchline would probably be, "Facebook." But for many indie developers, the question of which platform to publish their games on is a very serious one, with potentially dire consequences. Pared down, platform success is all about accessibility, upload and support, and in terms of those factors, there's a clear, unsurprising favorite: Steam.

But maybe not for long.

I asked 21 indie developers this question, and while the majority mentioned Steam in the same casual manner that begets an unchallenged king, there were consistent whispers of other platforms doing things well, perhaps even better than Steam, from a backend perspective. One of these platforms was the Humble Store, which received the second-highest number of solid votes and a handful of positive shout-outs.

"I owe pretty much my entire survival the last few years to iOS, the Humble Store, and to a lesser extent Android and Steam," Adam Saltsman, the creator of Canabalt, said. But iOS ran into some bad censorship issues, Android had discoverability problems and Steam was "obviously" too closed, he said. If Saltsman could choose just one of those platforms to release his next game on, it would be, "Humble Store," hands-down.

Continue reading Steam is king in service wars, Humble Store a sleeping giant, indies say

JoystiqSteam is king in service wars, Humble Store a sleeping giant, indies say originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androideShophumble-storeiosipadiphonemicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3PSNSTEAMvitawii-uXBLAxbligxboxTue, 14 May 2013 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Monaco unlocks XBLA, out now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/psa-monaco-unlocks-xbla-out-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/psa-monaco-unlocks-xbla-out-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/psa-monaco-unlocks-xbla-out-now/#comments Monaco: What's Yours is Mine has finally scarpered onto the Xbox Live Marketplace. After failing to launch last month thanks to a bug that caused disconnects during online play, the top-down indie sneaker is nab-able right now at a cool 1200 MSP.

Going by our review, at that price it's a steal (HA). Jess, a self-confessed crappy crook, gave Monaco four and a half stars, deeming it a "classic heist game for a modern audience."

JoystiqPSA: Monaco unlocks XBLA, out now originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 May 2013 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmonacopocketwatch-gamesXBLAXBLMxboxFri, 10 May 2013 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Doritos Crash Course 2 crunches into XBLA tomorrow for free]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/doritos-crash-course-2-crunches-into-xbla-tomorrow-for-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/doritos-crash-course-2-crunches-into-xbla-tomorrow-for-free/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/doritos-crash-course-2-crunches-into-xbla-tomorrow-for-free/#commentsDoritos Crash Course 2 crunches into XBLA tomorrow for free As free, corporate-sponsored games go, we enjoyed the 2D platforming approximation of Wipeout (the TV show) that was Doritos Crash Course. Also, it was, like most free, corporate-sponsored games, entirely free. This is rarely ever a bad thing. With all that in mind, it's cool to see a sequel coming to XBLA tomorrow, May 8. Yes, it's still free.

As per the first game, you're traversing your Xbox Avatar from left to right and as quick as poss, but this time in four new worlds including an icy one and a pirate-y one. There's online and offline multiplayer for up to four runners, and you can compare your speed against friends via "asynchronous" clips.

Remember, the game's free - no-one's forcing you to buy any chips to play it. At the very least that means free Achievements, which of course is the most important thing.

Gallery: Doritos Crash Course 2

JoystiqDoritos Crash Course 2 crunches into XBLA tomorrow for free originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 May 2013 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BHVRfreemicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosrelease-dateXBLAXBLMxboxTue, 07 May 2013 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon sequel could happen, says Biehn]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-sequel-could-happen-says-biehn/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-sequel-could-happen-says-biehn/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-sequel-could-happen-says-biehn/#comments Creative Director Dean Evans is interested in a follow-up to Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, at least according to Michael Biehn, the game's star voice talent. In an interview with Xbox's Major Nelson, Biehn said from his understanding Blood Dragon is exceeding Ubisoft's sales expectations by five times, and Evans is now considering a sequel to the retro spinoff.

"Dean was with me on the phone last night, he called me last night," Biehn said on Major Nelson Radio. "He was pretty jacked up. He was going into a meeting today, to.. I think he wants to turn it into some sort of franchise. He's got a sequel in mind."

We gushed about the "most excellent" Blood Dragon in our review, so seeing Sgt. Rex Colt return to a screen near us could be a great thing. Having said that, we do wonder if the comprehensively nostalgic game has anything left to add to the pastiche.

In the meantime, we've reached out to Ubisoft for comment.

JoystiqFar Cry 3: Blood Dragon sequel could happen, says Biehn originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>far-cry-3-blood-dragonmicrosoftpcplaystationps3PSNsteamubisoftubisoft-montrealXBLAXBLMxboxMon, 06 May 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Way of the Dogg out now on XBLA, PSN and mobile 'soon']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/way-of-the-dogg-out-now-on-xbla-psn-and-mobile-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/way-of-the-dogg-out-now-on-xbla-psn-and-mobile-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/way-of-the-dogg-out-now-on-xbla-psn-and-mobile-soon/#comments
Snoop Dogg's rhythm/fighting game Way of the Dogg is now available on XBLA for 800 MS Points, which is far less than the cost of changing your name and becoming a reggae artist - believe us, we looked into it. The Elite Beat Agents-esque game is also "coming soon" to PlayStation Network, iOS and Android, according to publisher 505 Games.

In other Snoop Dogg related news, we recently found a horrible bootleg hip-hop mixtape that we bought nine years ago at a thrift store for like $0.48. Early reports indicate that it is still completely awesome.

Gallery: Way of the Dogg (5/3/13)

Continue reading Way of the Dogg out now on XBLA, PSN and mobile 'soon'

JoystiqWay of the Dogg out now on XBLA, PSN and mobile 'soon' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>505-GamesAndroidEcho-PeakiOSmicrosoftmobileplaystationps3PSNsnoop-doggsnoop-lionXBLAxboxFri, 03 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monaco XBLA delay: Half of bug fixed, another patch to MS this week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/monaco-xbla-delay-half-of-bug-fixed-another-patch-to-ms-this-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/monaco-xbla-delay-half-of-bug-fixed-another-patch-to-ms-this-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/monaco-xbla-delay-half-of-bug-fixed-another-patch-to-ms-this-w/#comments Monaco XBLA delay Half of bug fixed, another patch to MS this weekMonaco was supposed to hit XBLA on April 24 alongside its PC version, but one day before launch, an issue forced developer Andy Schatz and Pocketwatch Games to delay the XBLA release. Today, Schatz explains that he submitted one fix for the bug, but it needs more work before it can officially launch on XBLA.

"It was a minor but important bug that was causing disconnects in online play," Schatz writes on Facebook. "I submitted an update to attempt to fix the bug early in the week, but unfortunately it only half fixed the problem. I'm working on another fix now that I'm hoping to submit this week. Once it's confirmed fixed it shouldn't take long to push it through and get the game out."

Schatz can't set a release date now since that decision is up to Microsoft, but he promises to share more information as soon as he steals has it.

"I do know that fans are starting to get a little impatient with the lack of information," he says. "I wish I could give you more specific information, but until I have a confirmed fix, I won't be able to give a date. Hoping to have a little more information for you and fill you in on more of the details as soon as I have it!"

For what it's worth (we know you don't get out of bed for less than six figures) we found the PC version of Monaco to be a complex and gorgeous strategy game in the vein of Ocean's 11, but with more pixels.

JoystiqMonaco XBLA delay: Half of bug fixed, another patch to MS this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy-schatzDelaymicrosoftmonacoPocketwatch-GamesXBLAxboxSun, 28 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Ultimate Collection gathers best XBLA games in the UK]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/xbox-ultimate-collection-gathers-best-xbla-games-in-the-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/xbox-ultimate-collection-gathers-best-xbla-games-in-the-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/xbox-ultimate-collection-gathers-best-xbla-games-in-the-uk/#comments
In the UK, Microsoft has initiated the Xbox Ultimate Collection program, a gathering of Xbox Live Arcade top dogs with biweekly battles where fans can vote to add a new game to the list. The winner is then available for purchase at half-price the following week.

The Xbox Ultimate Collection spans six different categories, each comprised of the top five games within said category. Games such as The Walking Dead, Peggle, Full House Poker and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD are all represented here, with five open slots of the total 60 awaiting fan-chosen games in the biweekly voting campaigns.

The full list of current Xbox Ultimate Collection games is available past the break. The Xbox Ultimate Collection program will span eight weeks in total. We've contacted Microsoft to find out if the program will be extended outside of the UK and will update this post with what we find out.

Continue reading Xbox Ultimate Collection gathers best XBLA games in the UK

JoystiqXbox Ultimate Collection gathers best XBLA games in the UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftthe-walking-deadukxblaxboxxbox-live-arcadexbox-ultimate-collectionThu, 25 Apr 2013 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles emerge from the shadows to show off some fighting]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-emerge-from-the-shadows-to-show-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-emerge-from-the-shadows-to-show-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-emerge-from-the-shadows-to-show-off/#comments
As demonstrated by "party dude" Michaelangelo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows' combat closely resembles Batman: Arkham Asylum and its sequel. But with more dancing.

JoystiqTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles emerge from the shadows to show off some fighting originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcplaystationps3psnteenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-out-of-the-shadowsxblaxboxWed, 24 Apr 2013 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Poker Night at the Inventory 2 launch trailer shuffles the pack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/poker-night-at-the-inventory-2-launch-trailer-shuffles-the-pack/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/poker-night-at-the-inventory-2-launch-trailer-shuffles-the-pack/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/poker-night-at-the-inventory-2-launch-trailer-shuffles-the-pack/#comments
A new Poker Night means a new group of familiar faces to read. GLaDOS is dealing in Sam, Ash, Claptrap, and Brock starting today on XBLA. The card game makes a split for Steam on April 26, and PSN on April 30.

JoystiqPoker Night at the Inventory 2 launch trailer shuffles the pack originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macmicrosoftpcplaystationpoker-night-at-the-inventory-2ps3psnsteamtelltale-gamesxblaxblmxboxWed, 24 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monaco delayed on XBLA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/monaco-delayed-on-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/monaco-delayed-on-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/monaco-delayed-on-xbla/#comments Monaco, the award-winning indie heist game from Andy Schatz will miss its launch date tomorrow on XBLA.

"We just discovered that there is an issue which requires that we push back our Xbox Live Arcade game release date a little," reads a missive posted on Facebook. "We've already submitted an update to Microsoft to fix the problem, and as soon as we know that the issue is fixed we'll have a new release date. I know our fans have been waiting a long time for the game, and hopefully they'll have the patience to wait just a little while longer. What's mine will be yours very, very soon!"

Monaco will still launch on PC via Steam tomorrow, April 24, as scheduled. Monaco won the IGF Seumas McNally Grand Prize in 2010, and we've been playing it in various stages of development in the years since.

Majesco is in charge of publishing the XBLA version, while Schatz and Pocketwatch Games are self-publishing the PC version (eventually to be joined by Mac). This is the final day to pre-order Monaco on Steam and grab that 10 percent-off price.

JoystiqMonaco delayed on XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DelaydelayedmicrosoftmonacoPocketwatch-GamesXBLAxboxTue, 23 Apr 2013 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon welcomes you to the retro party]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-welcomes-you-to-the-retro-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-welcomes-you-to-the-retro-party/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-welcomes-you-to-the-retro-party/#comments Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon welcomes you to the retro partyIf Far Cry 3's grim tale of survival was a poor fit for the game's exotic, often preposterous antics, there are no such fears for its seemingly disconnected spin-off. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is nothing short of ridiculous, and deliberately so. Ubisoft's standalone shooter celebrates the endearingly excessive sci-fi action of a bygone era in entertainment, when men wore cyber-armor over cyber-arms and when eyes glowed red.

An animated introduction transports us to the post-apocalyptic near future... of 2007. Our new cyborg hero is sent to an island to take out a rogue terrorist group - full of evil cyborgs. The intro has music so pungent of Terminator 2 that I half expect it to tell me it'll be back, and the first 10 or so minutes are filled with references to sci-fi and action movies from in and around the 1980s. Blood Dragon pays homage to an era full of sci-fi missteps and overblown heroes exuding machismo.

Gallery: Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (4/18/13)

Continue reading Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon welcomes you to the retro party

JoystiqFar Cry 3: Blood Dragon welcomes you to the retro party originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>far-cry-3-blood-dragonmicrosoftpcplaystationps3PSNsteamubisoftubisoft-montrealXBLAXBLMxboxTue, 23 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[God Mode out now on Steam and XBLA, coming to PSN April 23 [Update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/god-mode-out-now-on-steam-and-xbla-coming-to-psn-june-23/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/god-mode-out-now-on-steam-and-xbla-coming-to-psn-june-23/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/god-mode-out-now-on-steam-and-xbla-coming-to-psn-june-23/#comments
Old School Games' third-person shooter God Mode is now available on Steam and XBLA for $9.99 and 800 MSP, respectively. The arcade-styled action game will mosey on over to PSN on June 23.

God Mode has players fighting "demonic hordes" using a variety of weapons to get through the depths of hell. It features four-player online and LAN co-op as well as over 40 "Tests of Faith" and eight difficulty modifiers that bring variety to the game's five different stages.

Update: The game will come to PSN on April 23, not June 23.

Continue reading God Mode out now on Steam and XBLA, coming to PSN April 23 [Update]

JoystiqGod Mode out now on Steam and XBLA, coming to PSN April 23 [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atlusgod-modemicrosoftold-school-gamespcplaystationps3PSNrelease-dateSTEAMtrailerXBLAxboxSat, 20 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[XBLM deals: I Am Alive, Black Knight Sword, Hell Yeah!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/xblm-deals-i-am-alive-black-knight-sword-hell-yeah/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/xblm-deals-i-am-alive-black-knight-sword-hell-yeah/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/xblm-deals-i-am-alive-black-knight-sword-hell-yeah/#comments With all them next-gen doodads costing a pretty penny (albeit an unknown amount of pennies), we expect some of you are already on the scrimp. But you still need your gaming fix, so maybe you'll welcome this week's XBLA deals with open, rag-covered arms.

Ironically, the two Bionic Commando Rearmed games leap off the list initially; the first going for 320 MSP, the second for 480 MSP. Then we see that Grasshopper/Digital Reality collaboration Black Knight Sword is slashed in half to 400 MSP, while the savings cut even deeper for Hell Yeah! - it's down to 480 MSP from 1200 MSP, the exact same discount for Ubisoft's urban survivor I Am Alive.

There are also savings to be made on Gotham City Impostors, Warhammer 40K: Kill Team, Lara Croft: Guardian of Light, and stalwart of the XBLM deal circuit Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2. Of course, if you haven't yet bought the excellent Retro Evolved 2, then we will be forced to slap you. We're sorry, but them's the rules.

JoystiqXBLM deals: I Am Alive, Black Knight Sword, Hell Yeah! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftXBLAXBLMxboxxbox-liveWed, 17 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Capcom Arcade Cabinet lineup ends at the beginning]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/capcom-arcade-cabinet-lineup-ends-at-the-beginning/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/capcom-arcade-cabinet-lineup-ends-at-the-beginning/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/capcom-arcade-cabinet-lineup-ends-at-the-beginning/#comments
Capcom's planned releases of games for Capcom Arcade Cabinet come to an end today with Son Son and Pirate Ship Higemaru, illustrating the bizarre trajectory of Capcom's historical re-releases.

Rather than follow the history of the company in a linear fashion, Capcom released packs of games from 1987, then 1985, 1986, 1985 again, and finally 1984, with bonus games from 1988 and 1984 (Vulgus is Capcom's first arcade game). It's easy to overlook the haphazard plan behind these releases in favor of, you know, just enjoying some old games, but now that the push is over we're looking back for the first time and realizing: Capcom Arcade Cabinet is pretty odd.

JoystiqCapcom Arcade Cabinet lineup ends at the beginning originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcom-arcade-cabinetmicrosoftplaystationps3psnxblaxboxTue, 16 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez sold 200,000 copies on XBLA to date]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/fez-sold-200-000-copies-on-xbla-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/fez-sold-200-000-copies-on-xbla-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/fez-sold-200-000-copies-on-xbla-to-date/#comments Fez, Polytron Corporation's cute platforming game that made it into Joystiq's Top Ten of 2012 list, has sold over 200,000 copies on XBLA to date. The game crossed the 100,000 copies mark in late May 2012.

The figures come from creator Phil Fish, who took to Polytron's blog today to discuss the one year anniversary of Fez's release. Fish recently noted during a Reddit AMA that the game "should eventually be out on pretty much everything." Fez will arrive on PC on May 1.

JoystiqFez sold 200,000 copies on XBLA to date originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezmicrosoftphil-fishpolytronpolytron-corporationsalesXBLAxboxSat, 13 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Twisted Pixel Games Bundle spins onto XBLA for 800 MSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/twisted-pixel-games-bundle-spins-onto-xbla-for-800-msp/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/twisted-pixel-games-bundle-spins-onto-xbla-for-800-msp/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/twisted-pixel-games-bundle-spins-onto-xbla-for-800-msp/#comments Twisted Pixel's XBLA bundle is available for purchase as of this morning, and the price is not bad, not bad at all. At 800 MSP, the collection of 'Splosion Man, Ms. Splosion Man, The Maw, and Comic Jumper comes in at two ninths - or around 22 percent for non-fractionists - of the games' total cost when purchased separately.

If you've been waiting to twist on the talented Texas studio's XBLA collection all this time - is The Maw really four years old now? - then we'd say today your luck is in.

JoystiqTwisted Pixel Games Bundle spins onto XBLA for 800 MSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic-jumpermicrosoftms-splosion-manrelease-datesplosion-manthe-mawtwisted-pixelXBLAXBLMxboxFri, 12 Apr 2013 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flashback gets a do-over on XBLA, PSN]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/flashback-gets-a-do-over-on-xbla-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/flashback-gets-a-do-over-on-xbla-psn/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/flashback-gets-a-do-over-on-xbla-psn/#comments
Ubisoft has a remake of Flashback in the works for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. This Unreal-powered version is helmed by VectorCell, the French studio behind horror game Amy. It is owned by the original Flashback's lead designer, Paul Cuisset.

Flashback was first developed by Delphine Software and released over 20 years ago on the Amiga. The stylized platformer, which was later ported to Genesis, Mega-CD, PC and Mac (amongst others) centers on Conrad B. Hart, an amnesiac who finds a message - recorded by himself - warning of an alien plot threatening Earth.

Gallery: Flashback (Concept Art)

Continue reading Flashback gets a do-over on XBLA, PSN

JoystiqFlashback gets a do-over on XBLA, PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flashbackmicrosoftpaul-cuissetplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnubisoftvector-cellxblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeThu, 11 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon breathes neon onto XBLA, PSN, PC on May 1]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-breathes-neon-onto-xbla-psn-pc-on-may-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-breathes-neon-onto-xbla-psn-pc-on-may-1/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-breathes-neon-onto-xbla-psn-pc-on-may-1/#comments
Ubisoft roared confirmation Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon is an 80s-styled standalone shooter (you don't need FC3 to play it) headed for XBLA, PSN, and PC on May 1. The dragon's been out of the bag for a while, but today's announcement brings with it a new VHS-like trailer, along with news that PC pre-orders also get a copy of the game's bodacious soundtrack, as provided by Power Glove.

From what we've seen of Blood Dragon, the only narrative tie to Far Cry 3 is the open-world island setting. Beyond that, the game is a humor-laden spinoff with a new protagonist, Sgt. Rex Power Colt, a cyborg commando played by The Terminator and Aliens star Michael Biehn. It's set in a near future recoiling from "Vietnam War 2" and a recent nuclear attack on North America - well, by near future we mean one for the 1980s... which is 2007.

As the screens below show, Blood Dragon's look is far removed from the sunny skies and tropical greenery of Far Cry 3. However, players of Ubisoft's 2012 shooter will find the mechanics of this new game very familiar, both in terms of basic actions and the overall approach. You're capturing outposts once more, this time bases controlled by rogue cyborg military group Omega Force, and you're also hunting wildlife again, except now they're colossal reptiles called blood dragons whose bodies are literally lined with neon and who, just as literally, shoot lasers out of their eyes.

There's no word on a price - although a new Steam listing has it marked for $14.99 - but if you're after further details, or just further confirmation this isn't some pharmaceuticals-induced illusion, then make sure you check out our hands-on impressions soon.

Gallery: Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Continue reading Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon breathes neon onto XBLA, PSN, PC on May 1

JoystiqFar Cry 3 Blood Dragon breathes neon onto XBLA, PSN, PC on May 1 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>far-cry-3-blood-dragonmicrosoftpcplaystationps3PSNrelease-dateubisoftXBLAXBLMxboxThu, 11 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Play Battleblock Theater featured levels, unlock the Chicken Prisoner]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/play-battleblock-theater-featured-levels-unlock-the-chicken-pri/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/play-battleblock-theater-featured-levels-unlock-the-chicken-pri/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/play-battleblock-theater-featured-levels-unlock-the-chicken-pri/#comments Battleblock Theater 'Chicken Prisoner' wants you to play featured listsBattleblock Theater is rolling out spotlight collections of the best user-created levels, under the Furbottom's Features (story mode) and Arena Feature (multiplayer) tabs. As an incentive to try out some playlists from unprofessionals, The Behemoth is offering a new character to anyone who plays through all of the Furbottom's or Arena features, available for an undetermined, limited time: The Behemoth Chicken Prisoner.

If you are a professional unprofessional and want to get some levels on the Battleblock Theater featured tabs, check out The Behemoth's handy guide right here. Furbottom's and Arena features will be swapped out to highlight community-created content "in the near future."

JoystiqPlay Battleblock Theater featured levels, unlock the Chicken Prisoner originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleblock-theaterfurbottoms-featuresmicrosoftThe-Behemothuser-generated-contentXBLAxboxWed, 10 Apr 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Huge XBLM sale slashes prices on Counter-Strike, Marvel vs Capcom, Lara Croft, more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/huge-xblm-sale-slashes-prices-on-counter-strike-marvel-vs-capco/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/huge-xblm-sale-slashes-prices-on-counter-strike-marvel-vs-capco/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/huge-xblm-sale-slashes-prices-on-counter-strike-marvel-vs-capco/#comments The Xbox Live Deal of the Week is dropping prices on lots of great games over the next two weeks. This week, games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dungeon Defenders, Prince of Persia Classic, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and more are all 50 to 60 percent off. Next week, the same discount will be applied to Bionic Commando Rearmed, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Hell Yeah and others. And, if you still don't have it for some reason, Geometry Wars 2 will be cut down to a measly $2.50.

Head over to Major Nelson to see all the available games and prices.

JoystiqHuge XBLM sale slashes prices on Counter-Strike, Marvel vs Capcom, Lara Croft, more originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftxblaxblmxboxxbox-liveTue, 09 Apr 2013 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon listed on XBLM for May 1, stars Michael Biehn]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-listed-on-xblm-for-may-1-stars-michael-b/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-listed-on-xblm-for-may-1-stars-michael-b/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-listed-on-xblm-for-may-1-stars-michael-b/#comments Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon listed on XBLM for May 1, features Michael BeihnNot only is Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon very real and very, very neon, it also could be here in just over three weeks. The 80s-inspired Far Cry 3 spin-off emerged on the Xbox Live Marketplace this weekend, where its release date is listed as May 1. The listing confirms Blood Dragon as a standalone shooter which won't require a copy of Far Cry 3, likely only to be single-player given its online features are restricted to "leaderboards."

More important than that, or the confirmation of previously leaked screenshots (see the gallery below), is that Blood Dragon features the radness of Michael Biehn, he of Kyle Reese in Terminator and Corporal Hicks in Aliens fame. Biehn's starring role is just a part of the "80s VHS vision of the future" that is Blood Dragon, according to the XBLM listing.

It reads in full:
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon is THE Kick-Ass Cyber Shooter taking place on a bizarre open-world island crawling with evil. Welcome to an 80's VHS vision of the future. The year is 2007 and you are Sargent Rex Colt, a Mark IV Cyber Commando who's fighting against a cyborg army gone rogue. Your mission: get the girl, kill the baddies, and save the world. Experience every cliché of a VHS era vision of a nuclear future, where cyborgs, blood dragons, mutants, and Michael Biehn (Terminator, Aliens, Navy Seals) collide. Playing Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon doesn't require a copy of Far Cry 3.
Quite how Blood Dragon ties in to Far Cry 3 beyond the island remains to be seen.

We've reached out to Ubisoft for more info. While details are so far restricted to XBLA, Brazilian classification ratings point towards releases on PS3 and PC as well.

Gallery: Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon

JoystiqFar Cry 3 Blood Dragon listed on XBLM for May 1, stars Michael Biehn originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>far-cry-3far-cry-3-blood-dragonmicrosoftubisoftXBLAXBLMxboxxbox-liveMon, 08 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkstalkers Resurrection update adds Fight Requests April 12]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/darkstalkers-resurrection-update-adds-fight-requests-april-12/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/darkstalkers-resurrection-update-adds-fight-requests-april-12/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/darkstalkers-resurrection-update-adds-fight-requests-april-12/#comments Darkstalkers Resurrection will receive a new "Fight Request" feature via an April 12 patch, according to Shoryuken's translation of an update to the official Japanese website. Fight Requests, also found in Super Street Fighter 4 (among other games) allow players to queue up for online matches while practicing in offline modes, such as Arcade and Training.

The update also fixes various online matchmaking bugs, voice chat errors and in-game glitches, the full list of which can be found here, if you're into that sort of thing. For most people, however, the game will remain broadly unchanged.

JoystiqDarkstalkers Resurrection update adds Fight Requests April 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Capcomdarkstalkers-resurrectionfight-requestsmicrosoftpatchplaystationps3PSNupdateXBLAxboxSat, 06 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Battleblock Theater review: Bring some friends and beat 'em up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/battleblock-theater-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/battleblock-theater-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/battleblock-theater-review/#comments Every week, a group of friends and I get together to watch the television show, The Walking Dead. By "watch" I mean we make fun of the terrible acting and bemoan the missing parts that made the comic so good. It's a joyful, heartfelt tradition that we look forward to each week, and not much distracts us from this routine. Except, of course, a really good excuse to beat each other up.

This week we started our screen session with a local co-op round of The Behemoth's Battleblock Theater in Arena mode. Arena mode features a handful of four-player mini-games, all of which are co-op, two-on-two or every man for himself. We started with "Ball Game." After two hours of passing the controllers, running through various levels, rolling in laughter and punching each other whenever a sweet move went awry, someone suggested we start up The Walking Dead. The response was immediate.

"No way. We're playing this." And so we did, all night long.

Gallery: BattleBlock Theater (4/5/13)

CampaignCampaignCampaignArena ModeArena Mode

Continue reading Battleblock Theater review: Bring some friends and beat 'em up

JoystiqBattleblock Theater review: Bring some friends and beat 'em up originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleblock-theatermicrosoftthe-behemothxblaxboxxbox-livexbox-live-arcadeFri, 05 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Minecraft XBLA Title Update 9 out a day early, which is today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/minecraft-xbla-title-update-9-out-a-day-early-which-is-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/minecraft-xbla-title-update-9-out-a-day-early-which-is-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/minecraft-xbla-title-update-9-out-a-day-early-which-is-today/#comments Minecrafters waiting for 'The End' are in for a treat, as 4J Studios says Title Update 9 is rolling out for the XBLA game "right now." It was expected tomorrow, but the early release means, we suspect, more than a few people's weekends are going to start a day early.

The End, complete with Ender Dragon, isn't the only inclusion in TU9; you can check out the update's change log on the official Minecraft forums.

JoystiqMinecraft XBLA Title Update 9 out a day early, which is today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4j-studiosmicrosoftMinecraftmojangrelease-datetitle-update-9XBLAxboxxbox-liveThu, 04 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[XBLA sale: Mark of the Ninja, Trials and more cheap until Apr. 9]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/xbla-sale-mark-of-the-ninja-trials-and-more-cheap-until-apr-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/xbla-sale-mark-of-the-ninja-trials-and-more-cheap-until-apr-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/xbla-sale-mark-of-the-ninja-trials-and-more-cheap-until-apr-9/#comments Another sale has spread across Xbox Live Arcade, running until April 9. The sale's highlight is 50% off Mark of the Ninja from Klei Entertainment - one of Joystiq's favorite games of 2012 - bringing it down to 600 MS Points ($7.50).

Other cheap contenders include Trials Evolution for 800 MS Points ($10) and some discounted Pinball FX 2 tables. There's also Dust: An Elysian Tale and Deadlight for 600 MS Points ($7.50) to consider.

On top of this promotion highlighting Microsoft Studios games, there's also the ongoing Xbox Live Arcade Deal of the Week sale. Retro City Rampage has been knocked down to 600 MS Points ($7.50) and Quarrel is 200 MS Points ($2.50). The full list of both sales can be seen through the source links below.

JoystiqXBLA sale: Mark of the Ninja, Trials and more cheap until Apr. 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deadlightdeal-of-the-weekdust-an-elysian-tailmark-of-the-ninjamicrosoftmicrosoft-studios-saleretro-city-rampagetrials-evolutiontrials-hdxblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeTue, 02 Apr 2013 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[XBLA Minecraft blocks out April 5 for title update 9]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/xbla-minecraft-blocks-out-april-5-for-title-update-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/xbla-minecraft-blocks-out-april-5-for-title-update-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/xbla-minecraft-blocks-out-april-5-for-title-update-9/#comments

"The End" is nigh for Minecraft on Xbox 360. 4J Studios, developers of the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft, announced last night on Twitter that title update nine has passed certification and is scheduled for release this Friday, April 5.

4J Studios recently noted the XBLA version of Minecraft had sales surpassing six million units. A retail version of the Xbox Arcade's digitally distributed hit will arrive April 30. We're sure folks will dig it.

JoystiqXBLA Minecraft blocks out April 5 for title update 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4j-studiosmicrosoftMinecraftxblaxboxTue, 02 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST