EnGames

Jerry Bruckheimer Games explodes onto scene Halo 3

2009-05-15T00:16:00.000+07:00

MTV and Hollywood movie baron Jerry Bruckheimer made their union official this morning, lifting the 17-month shroud of secrecy off their joint venture, oh-so-creatively dubbed Jerry Bruckheimer Games. The new studio will be steered by former Microsoft exec and Halo 3 executive producer, Jim Veevaert, as the company's president of production. Veevaert will share the wheel with Jay Cohen, who joined the studio in March, his role now revealed as the company's president of development.

What Cohen and company will be developing exactly, however, remains a mystery, with the studio saying only that it will create original IPs that "convey and reflect the high standards of entertainment value set by Jerry Bruckheimer." For fans of shaky cams and explosions, one thing's for certain -- finally there's a studio out there with your best interests at heart.

'Call of Duty 7' revealed

2009-05-14T00:12:00.004+07:00

Duty is a hell of a thing. It's always calling you to it, and it would appear that Activision is already in production of the Treyarch follow-up to Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2, as is the company's pattern. And that's where David Kim's LinkedIn profile comes into play (check out his personal site here), which mentions that he's currently working as senior animator on Call of Duty 7.

With Modern Warfare 2 expected to deploy this holiday season, though, we likely won't hear anything substantial on this new Call of Duty for some time. But, considering how Activision likes to pump out the sequels to its key franchises, it's probably a safe bet to expect Call of Duty 7 sometime in 2010. We actually knew that before this listing popped up.

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Lego Batman PS2 bundle available now for $150

2008-09-26T01:00:00.000+07:00

The PS2 Lego Batman bundle is now available, which was originally announced at E3 2008. The package will retail for $150 and includes the slim PS2 console with Lego Batman and Justice League: The New Frontier DVD.

Next bundle we'd like to see from Sony: PS3 bundled with PS2. Or the return of backwards compatibility ... just sayin'.

Metareview - Pure

2008-09-25T00:57:00.001+07:00

We're been excited for Pure since E3, when we first got our hands on the ATV racer. Built by Blackrock Studios (formerly known as Climax Racing) Pure is gorgeous, with a Burnout-esque structure and a "why has no one thought of this" boosting risk/reward system that's just brilliant. Here's what the rest of the internet thought:

GameDaily (90/100): "When it comes right down to it, though, Pure has some of the best racing action we've seen all year. The throttling gameplay, gorgeous presentation and sweet multiplayer options make it a ride you cannot miss."
IGN (86/100): "Pure delivers an outrageous, arcadey off-road racing experience with style and slickness. The controls are intuitive, the tracks are pure eye candy and the tricks are so crazy and over-the-top that you'll find yourself gasping with glee when you land your first Lazy Girl."
1UP (83/100): "Thrilling on the ground, downright heart-stopping in the air, and beautiful throughout, Pure's a blast from start to finish. A career mode would've gone further than the game's 'World Tour' in fully eliminating repetitiveness, but Black Rock has otherwise built a real winner here."
Gameplanet (85/100): "This is a great example of what can be achieved if fun is the primary aim. Massive tricks, amazing scenery, hugely modifiable bikes - what more do you want?"

Travelling Without Moving wants your videogame photos

2008-09-17T18:49:00.002+07:00

It seems that, these days, the video game industry doesn't place much of a premium on exploration for exploration's sake. Oh sure, you can get an achievement or trophy for uncovering enough of a map, but it seems that's detracted from the simpler joy of just finding what you can find.

A new web project, "Traveling Without Moving," doesn't see things that way. It's looking for pictures by gamers from games, a collaborative travelogue of images from every corner of the virtual world. If you need examples, the project's creator has begun documenting his own travels here.

Yes, it's in its infancy and yes, it may be that some of you can't make the distinction between meaningful photo and screenshot. But if Traveling Without Moving works the way it's intended, you might find yourself once again combing the digital hillsides for little more than the satisfaction of having been there.

Harmonix: 'No immediate plans' to put Jukebox Mode back into Rock Band 2

2008-09-17T18:46:00.001+07:00

We were admittedly pretty bummed when our copy of Rock Band 2 was lacking a Jukebox mode, which would let our game go on autopilot while our virtual avatars rock out and we have some jamming party tunes and some fun visuals. The official word from Harmonix via a forum post is that the mode "was removed ... in the final stages of development. We have no immediate plans to bring this feature back to the platform in the future." The posting also reaffirmed that the 20 free DLC songs are still coming later this fall.

Ubisoft Announces Far Cry 2 Preorder Edition

2008-09-10T01:58:00.002+07:00

Want more variety in your AAA-game special editions? Of course you do. In a press release today, Ubisoft announced a new Limited Preorder Edition of Far Cry 2 exclusive to GameStop stores. This isn't the Limited Edition we reported on Friday; instead it's regularly priced and only available for pre-ordering at GameStop. The Preorder Edition comes packed with six bonus missions promising about three extra hours of gameplay, a fold-out map, and exclusive packaging. We have no word on whether this new packaging is the same wooden box promised with the other LE set.

In the same press release, the company reconfirmed the game's previously reported October 21 release date, so you'll know when to order by. So which is more important to you: a t-shirt, art book, and DVD, or three hours of bonus missions? Or if you preorder the Limited Edition, do you get both the Limited Edition and Preorder Edition contents? What's the end result of all of this special edition mixing and matching? Our heads just exploded.

PS3 Rock Band Also Getting Export Feature

2008-09-10T01:55:00.001+07:00

Do you remember the song export feature we reported on last week that will allow Rock Band songs to be played on Rock Band 2? Do you remember how it was only available for the Xbox 360? Well, that's changing this week.

According to the official Rock Band forums, PlayStation 3 users will be able to download a patch this Thursday that will include the song export feature and finally make the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Les Paul controller compatible with Rock Band.

Harmonix hasn't indicated whether or not PlayStation 3 users will have to pay the additional $5 in licensing fees to export the songs to the sequel, but since the sequel is not coming out on that system for an extra month, we have some time to find out. We're guessing yes.

MMO features that haven't made it into Warhammer Online

2008-09-04T19:38:00.002+07:00

Among the legions of fortunate Warhammer Online fans that have played through beta and the preview weekend is Syp from the Waaagh! blog. He's always entertaining and it's clear he's passionate about Warhammer Online. So when he writes about features in other MMOs that he'd like to see in WAR, you know he's not bashing a game that's not even out of the gate yet. Rather, he's genuinely looking at ways the game could be better.

Syp puts forth his ideal WAR feature set, which includes capturable and trainable pets similar to World of Warcraft's system and the player-created content and sidekicks of City of Heroes. Syp would also like to see WAR include an in-game music player like EVE Online, and other features drawn from Everquest 2 and Lord of the Rings Online. Have a look at the Waaagh! "10 features" post and see if you agree with him on what could make Warhammer Online a better title.

The Daily Grind: From MMO to TV Show?

2008-09-04T19:33:00.003+07:00

So we've talked before about TV shows that you'd like to see as MMOs, and numerous times in our ongoing dialogue the connection between television and MMOs have been made. Just yesterday a new IP MMO was announced, bringing Buffy Summers to the world of XP and zoning. What we'd like to ask you about today is just the opposite. Though it sounds like Sci-Fi Channel is attempting to hybridize the two mediums, we know we'd love to see some TV shows based on our favorite MMOs. We'll throw out the gimme: wouldn't a World of Warcraft animated series be fantastic?

What would you like to see? An EQ-based comedy/drama? Maybe a Tabula Rasa war epic? Throw out your ideas for a TV show based on an MMO in the comments!

PSP Fanboy's five ways to make PSP better

2008-08-30T21:44:00.001+07:00

Suggestion No. 1: Give 'em away! Just kidding – our fine friends at PSP Fanboy, undeterred by yesterday's less-than-glowing appraisal of their favorite system's future, have outlined five (clever) ways that Sony could improve the system. And we're not just talking gimmicky peripherals that will never see the light of day in the US.

So check out their ideas, drop them some of your own in comments, and tell 'em Joystiq sent you. (If they say "Never heard of 'em," it's probably because we still have their UMD copy of MVP: Most Valuable Primate.)

Postcards pitch LittleBigPlanet to the masses

2008-08-30T21:43:00.002+07:00

Weren't sure how serious Sony is about getting everyone hyped about LittleBigPlanet? On the heels of news that LBP's Sackboy is being positioned as the new (fabric) face of PS3 comes a Best Buy blitz of lovely postcards extolling the game's many virtues to customers who'd otherwise look at it and say, "Huh?"

The crew at PS3 Fanboy has the whole lot of them scanned in all their cute-yet-informative glory. Give them a look!

You choose Battlefield Bad Company Conquest maps

2008-08-30T21:39:00.002+07:00

Already registered via Xbox Live to vote in November's general election? Here's a different vote to rock: EA is letting players have a say in which two existing Battlefield: Bad Company multiplayer maps will be tweaked to become Conquest battlegrounds when the free Conquest Map Pack deploys this fall.

The six maps are up for vote at EA's Bad Company site, and include Acta Non Verba, Crossing Over, Par for the Course, Ghost Town, Welcome to Bad Company, and Crash and Grab. Developer DICE will pick the two top vote-getters on September 2. The golf course themed Par for the Course is currently way out in front, but, hey, you might change that. DICE is working on two more Conquest maps to join the fan favorites.

By the way, we've checked, and your vote really will count. You know, unlike a certain Spider-Man: Web of Shadows poll Activision conducted last month.

Lag a 'huge problem' for Street Fighter IV online

2008-08-28T17:11:00.001+07:00

The UK's official Xbox 360 magazine posed an inevitable question to Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono: How's it going to play online? For his part, Ono was quite frank, saying, "Obviously lag will be a huge problem for online play. We're working on it. It's quite difficult for 3D Street Fighter at the moment."

Asked how the developer is going about, er, combating the problem, Ono got technical. "In order to prevent the lag we're thinking about trying to balance it up at [the] user interface level and input timing," he said. "We still haven't got a complete plan as yet. We're still working on it. That's all we can say at the moment." Okay ... we'll let you get back to that, then.

3D Realms: 'Several hours' of Duke Nukem Forever sort of done

2008-08-28T17:08:00.002+07:00

Is that the sound of Satan sharpening his skates? According to a new interview with Team Xbox, 3D Realms boss George Broussard implies that – dare we say? – development of Duke Nukem Forever is going along swimmingly. You know, just like it has been since ... 1998.

All most kidding aside, Broussard tells the site that the developer has "several hours of fairly polished game to play," and that, "It's fun, it's in focus, we know what bits are fun and which are not, and it's just a matter of time now." But clearly, time moves a little slower in 3D Realms', er ... realm. Given that the company has already denied reports that it's coming this year, we'll have to make due with Duke Nuken 3D on XBLA "sometime in September." Of 2008. Really. Promise.

Guitar Hero World Tour features lots of brands (except Gibson!)

2008-08-28T16:44:00.001+07:00

An Activision press release that just landed in our inbox breathlessly details every single promotional tie-in that Guitar Hero World Tour's packing. Really, it's a huge list! Here it is, straight from the release: "Ampeg, Audio-Technica, EMG Pickups, Ernie Ball, Evans Drumheads, Guitar Center, Krank Amplification, Mackie, Marshall, Orange County Drum & Percussion, Pork Pie Percussion, Regal Tip, Sabian cymbals, Vox and Zildjian drumsticks."

Notice anything missing? Considering it's busy trying to sue everyone but Activision, even retailers, it's unsurprising that guitar-maker (and patent-claimer) Gibson is nowhere to be seen. Of course, the total absence of any Gibson branding on Guitar Hero World Tour's Genericasters was our first clue but it would appear that lack of cooperation extends to the in-game experience as well. So, while you trick out your virtual drum kit with gear from the above purveyors, your axe will remain hopelessly generic. Isn't there any game in town besides Gibson and Rock Band BFF's Fender?

Xbox 360 TF2 getting yummy sandvich by year's end

2008-08-23T22:53:00.002+07:00

The much ballyhooed Team Fortress 2 Heavy Update that Valve released this past Tuesday will be heading to the Xbox 360 by year's end, according to Gamespot. At last, you can start cracking your knuckles and bone up on your sandvich eating skillz. Just watching those videos made us want to start playing TF2 again. We know, you're saying, "What?! Why'd you put it down in the first place?"

New maps, new weapons, and new achievements? What's not to love? Anything that can extend the wonderment of TF2 is just fine by us. Now get cracking on a massive Portal update, already. The XBLA title is only going to keep us sated for so long.

WRUP: Lite Brite edition

2008-08-23T22:48:00.003+07:00

In honor of the new PSP Brite moniker, we present the Lite Brite. Here's what we'll be playing this weekend. Be sure to let us know what games will be occupying your time!

Alexander Sliwinski: Well, after a debilitating incident where some new RAM killed my PC weeks ago, I should have my baby back to me today with several new upgrades. First up: Some glorious all-levels-on-max Sins of a Solar Empire. Also making some headway with the Fable II Pub games (without cheating) and some Civ Rev multiplayer.
Andrew Yoon: Finally, I'm going to spend some alone time with Braid. <3
Christopher Grant: I've got a full plate of partially played games – I need to hunker down, pick one, and make some progress. Too Human, Fable 1, Bionic Commando Rearmed, Pixel Junk Eden, and Siren. Oh, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed should be in my hands next week, so I don't have much time to take care of all this. Why is life so hard?
Griffin McElroy: I'm still working on Final Fantasy IV, which I've purposefully slowed progress on as I approach one of the saddest moments in video game history. I don't want to get all misty-eyed in public, you see. Perhaps I'll play a little more Geometry Wars 2 as well, if Justin can finally manage to beat my score on Pacifism (the only reason I could be persuaded to return to that unforgiving grid).
Kevin Kelly: Fable 2 Pub Games for me, plus I'm demoing a tabletop game called Monsterpocalypse that looks like a ton of fun. And I'm still finding a way to cram Halo 3 into the nooks and crannies of my free time, and I'm looking to have that addiction checked out soon.
Kyle Orland: Now that I'm done with "Moving to Pittsburgh: The Game" I'll be practicing my drumming for the impending Rock Band 2 release. I'm also still struggling to get those last few puzzle pieces in Braid and resisting the urge to use an FAQ because Jonathan Blow doesn't want me to.
James Ransom-Wiley: Jonesing to finish up Bionic Commando Rearmed, but I'm headed out of town ... why is Remote Play so laggy? Thinking I might cop Bangai-O Spirits...
Jason Dobson: With one week to go till I move across the country, the consoles are packed and the only game I'm playing is fighting with the moving company to make sure my stuff is there when I arrive. I've lost two men so far.
Justin McElroy: If there's a merciful God in heaven above I'll be able to solve the Too Human game tape and finally move on with my life.
Ludwig Kietzmann: With a patch on the way, I've decided to halt my progress through Alone in the Dark. I still have a survival-horror itch to be scratched and/or violently torn out, so I'll return to Silent Hill: Origins on my soon-to-be-outdated PSP Slim. While I'm there, I'll kill Crisis Core's final boss and close the chapter on that time-sucking mess of side missions. Lastly, I'll try and make some time for No More Heroes, which I've neglected for far too long.
Randy Nelson: I'm off on a Quest for Booty this weekend – after I've finally gotten my fill of saving the same several hundred people over and over (and over) again in The Last Guy demo.
Ross Miller: I'm taking a break from the ION drum set until I can try it with Rock Band 2 (the verdict with RB1 wouldn't be so good, as the cymbals don't register without some serious drum thwacking). Instead, I will be working through his first week of homework (one more semester to go!) and, when time permits, run through The Force Unleashed demo. Maybe I'll pick up Too Human and see what all the fuss is about.

Kojima: Metal Gear Acid for PSN 'possible'

2008-08-23T22:44:00.002+07:00

As our stack of thick, leather bound binders filled from end to end with valuable Pokémon cards will attest, we're suckers for collectible card games. You could probably also tell from our proclivity to creep around the local Wal-Mart with a black bandana crudely wrapped around our greasy mullets that we're also diehard fans of stealth action. As such, it would seem logical to assume we're big supporters of the PSP-exclusive Metal Gear Acid titles -- unfortunately, one look at our barren ludological library will show that we possess a powerful, unnatural fear of video game packaging.

Thankfully, our hopes for a downloadable version of the Acid titles were lifted somewhat by a brief blurb from series creator Hideo Kojima at Leipzig yesterday. Kojima explained that while there's currently no plans concerning the two titles, it's "possible" that the card battlers could be uploaded onto PSN. We certainly would have preferred a more substantial tease from the Metal Gear maven, a "probable" or "likely", perhaps -- but we suppose beggars can't be choosers.

New Call of Duty 4 playlists in the works

2008-08-20T13:53:00.002+07:00

In his latest report from Infinity Ward HQ, community confidant Fourzerotwo brings word that the Call of Duty 4 battlefront could see some changes soon. No less than eight new multiplayer playlists are in development, of which four are currently being tested, and at least one can pass through the servers without a patch: Hardcore Headquarters. But we're taking a keen interest in another playlist, Hardcore Ricochet, which turns teamkillers' attacks against them. It's like we're rubber, they're glue -- whatever they shoot, bounces off us and ... burrows deep into their treacherous guts!

Peep the full descriptions and statuses of all the planned playlists on Fourzerotwo's blog.

Watch new Godfather II, Tom Clancy's EndWar trailers

2008-08-20T13:49:00.001+07:00

From making rival gangsters offers they can't refuse, to using your voice to command soldiers not to refuse orders, these fresh-off-the-editing-computer videos from EA's The Godfather II and Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's EndWar are presented for your viewing pleasure (and "Should I pre-order either of them?" evidence pool). The EndWar trailer is the same one being trotted out at the Leipzig Games Convention 2008; the first look at EA's gangster sequel was shown to the press last week at the publisher's annual Studio Showcase. But you don't have to travel to Germany (or even the Bay Area) to watch 'em – just click through after the break.

Source – Godfather II at GameTrailers
Source – Tom Clancy's EndWar at GameTrailers

Akuma smacking evil back into Street Fighter IV

2008-08-18T20:01:00.002+07:00

We're not exactly sure if it was supposed to be a secret, considering we've seen his ginger likeness in media for the game before, but Capcom recently revealed a few Street Fighter IV screenshots featuring the series' crimson-haired big bad, Akuma. Apparently, he only rears his nefarious head when an arcade player is doing a little too good, and hasn't fed the machine any precious quarters in a while. While he may seem like SFIV's official toll collector, the video posted after the jump proves that he can, in fact, be whooped up upon -- and that he's also a Hadoken-spamming jerk.

Final Fantasy XIII Demo Will Last Two Hours

2008-08-18T19:58:00.002+07:00

Playable demos are nothing new, but usually they last no more than about a half hour -- just enough to give you a taste and leave you wanting more. Square Enix, apparently, isn't worried you won't be left wanting more. The latest issue of Famitsu reports (via PlayStation Universe) that the Final Fantasy XIII PlayStation 3 demo will last upwards of two hours long. That is, in fact, about 20 minutes longer than the original cut of the movie it comes with.

The demo, as you've surely read, will be included with the Blu-ray release (March, 2009 in Japan) of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, an extended cut of the original 101 minute CG film with deleted or unfinished scenes added in. But with a two-hour-long demo packed in, it makes you wonder which part of the deal will end up feeling like the "bonus" -- we suspect many PS3 owners won't purchase it with Advent Children at the top on their agenda.

Famitsu also confirmed that the demo will be based on the opening segment of the game, and that it'll come on a separate disc of its own. No word yet on whether (or when) a U.S. version of the demo is planned.

Analyst: Potter movie delay could push back release of EA's game

2008-08-18T19:55:00.002+07:00

Fans of J.K. Rowling's uber-successful series of wizardly novels received some heartbreaking news Friday -- the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been delayed from its initial release date of November 21, 2008 to a distant July 17, 2009. Electronic Arts has yet to announce how this major delay will affect the release window of their similarly titled video game adaptation of the film/book, though many gaming industry analysts, such as Signal Hill's Todd Greenwald, are predicting that EA will follow suit, with hopes that the film will whip up a Half-Blood frenzy that will boost sales of the game.

The repercussions of a Potter game delay could be bad for Electronic Arts, as both their holiday profits and fiscal 2009 revenue could take a hit without the title -- however, it could mean good news for those waiting on a truly stellar Harry Potter video game. Greenwald claims the title is "pretty much done and ready", meaning a delay would give EA an extra eight months to perfect the movie tie-in. We'll let you know what EA decides to do once they make an official statement.

New games this week: Too Human edition

2008-08-18T19:48:00.002+07:00

Wow, we can't believe we finally got to type that headline. This week, we get to welcome one of the few games that's actually older than Joystiq itself: Too Human, Denis Dyack's epic story of cybernetically enhanced, Norse-inspired technogods.

Elsewhere in the gameosphere, PS3 owners can download the new Ratchet and Clank adventure, and PC players can buy Two Worlds: Epic Edition, the title of which just ripped off our Irony Meter and kicked it down three flights of stairs.

Xbox 360:

Too Human
Smash Court Tennis 3

Xbox Live Arcade:

Galaga: Legions

PSN:

Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty

Nintendo Wii:

Super Pick Ups

PS2:

Falling Stars
Shepherd's Crossing

PSP:

Fading Shadows

Nintendo DS:

Commando Steel Disaster
The Cheetah Girls: Passport to Stardom

PC Games:

Two Worlds Epic Edition
Adventure Anthology
Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm
Murder in the Abby
Sinking Island
Dracula 3: Path of the Dragon
Space Siege
Shattered Suns
Tank Universal
MindHabits