Joystiq

The Best of Big Download: July 13-19

Joystiq Staff — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC, Meta (about Joystiq)

We may be in the summer doldrums in terms of new releases but there's a lot of new news and major files to talk about this week. Let's look at what happened in PC gaming in the past seven days:
Exclusive Features

The Top 2009 PC Games (So Far): We look back at the first half of the year to give our picks for the best PC games released so far and also pick a couple of game that didn't meet our high expectations.
Rebellion CEO reveals plans for new entries in former Vivendi Universal games: We got Rebellion's head man Jason Kingsley to give us the heads-up on plans for new games for Empire Earth, Ground Control and other game series.
Street Fighter IV PC review: We give our final verdict on the PC port for Capcom's hit fighting game.
Time Gentlemen, Please! review: We let you know what we think about this new indie retro-style adventure game from Zombie Cow
Mac Monday: Our regular look at Mac games goes old school with a review of the Mac version of te classic RTS game Warzone 2100.
Boot Disk: Our retro games column takes a look at Relic's debut title, the 3D RTS game Homeworld.
Big Ideas: SEX SEX SEX! Now that we have your attention, our weekly look at game themes deals with sex in games.
Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free PC games takes a look at the recent free release of the classic RPG Daggerfall.

Continue reading The Best of Big Download: July 13-19

The Best of Big Download: July 13-19 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese hardware sales, July 6 - July 12: Secret to success edition

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:00:00 EST

There's an underlying trend beneath this week's Japanese hardware sales rankings -- every console that Dragon Quest IX cannot be played on sank like a stone made of lead. Every console on which Dragon Quest IX can be played skyrocketed like a sky ... rocket. Do you see the lesson presented here, gaming hardware manufacturers? If you don't have Dragon Quest IX on your console, you should probably get up on that. Then again, you could just start painting your consoles red. That seems to work too.

The Squeenix-developed RPG -- which is apparently perfect -- sold an absolutely staggering 2,318,932 copies in its first two days on store shelves. After running the numbers, we've calculated that during those two steamy Akihabara nights, 13.2 copies of Dragon Quest IX were sold every second. (Seriously.) We've also discerned that Square Enix will harvest a million buckets of money from the Japanese sale of this game alone -- but it's nice to see Nintendo's catching a few pails of their own.

- DSi: 118,202 71,347 (152.27%)
- PSP: 26,527 6,322 (19.25%)
- Wii: 22,141 2,830 (11.33%)
- DS Lite: 10,161 2,654 (35.35%)
- PS3: 9,864 1,332 (11.90%)
- Xbox 360: 3,561 2,315 (39.40%)
- PS2: 3,508 226 (6.05%)

[Source: Media Create]

See: The steamy archives

Japanese hardware sales, July 6 - July 12: Secret to success edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google artist sneaks Triforce into logo, Google removes it

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST

Well that was quick! just as soon as the Internet caught The Legend of Zelda's Triforce in a handful of Google homepage logo designs, Google has altered said images, removing the easter egg. It appears as though the images were created for Google by artist Susie Sahim -- a woman whose personal blog contains a picture of her dressed up as LoZ's Link, might we add ... which is awesome.

We've contacted both Ms. Sahim and Google for comment, but, well, it's Sunday. Sunday evening. People gotta rest sometimes. With any luck, we'll have any update for you early this week. For now, peep all the original images over on Blogoscoped.

[Thanks, Matt M.!]

Google artist sneaks Triforce into logo, Google removes it originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BattleForge shuffling 60 new cards into August expansion

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

Our knowledge of the inner workings of Electronic Arts' microtransaction-infused RTS BattleForge is limited, but we're still pretty excited about the Renegade Edition expansion that's coming to the game this August. The add-on will add 60 new cards to the game, each representing new units and buildings. While we may not know exactly how those cards are used, our history with the Pokémon TCG taught us one hard and fast rule -- more cards is always a good thing.

However, we can't begin to guess the purpose of the "dual orb cards and special affinities" that the expansion will also bring to the game, but the announcement post on BattleForge's blog says they'll "deepen and enrich the strategical possibilities of the decks and the combat itself." We guess we'll take their word for it.

[Via Big Download]

BattleForge shuffling 60 new cards into August expansion originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pediatric journal boasts benefits of exergaming

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST

Kids-focused health journal Pediatrics recently published a study that would shock those who decry the health benefits of exergames. The study, which was performed by researchers from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, measured young people's energy expenditure while at rest, while playing Dance Dance Revolution at two different skill levels, while walking and running on a treadmill and while boxing and bowling on Wii Sports. That sounds like more physical exertion than we go through in a year.

Some of the comparisons between these activities yielded somewhat unsurprising results -- playing the video games burned three times the calories the kids spent at rest, of course. However, the researchers also found that playing these games was a comparable activity to "moderate to intense walking," despite the fact that Wii Sports requires little lower-body movement. It seems that for the first time in recent memory, we've got science on our side. Hooray!

[Via Kotaku]

Pediatric journal boasts benefits of exergaming originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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APB developer cryptic about subscription model

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

Despite the fact that we've known about Realtime Worlds' MMO APB for almost four years now, details surrounding the game are slim. One important piece of non-existent info: What's the subscription plan going to look like? Registration fees that are too steep (or too shallow, for that matter) have been known to sink MMOs in the past. We already knew the game would have an "untraditional" payment model -- but we aren't much closer to knowing any specifics.

In a recent interview with VG247, Realtime's Dave Jones explained the game (which has cost $30 million to develop and provide server support for) will be a "traditional game that you buy," but that players won't need to "subscribe to play the game every month." He also claimed the subscription plan will be "unique" and "flexible," and will allow players to "get" why they're paying. Our guess? Realtime's going to set up a jar which players will be forced to drop nickels into whenever they curse.

APB developer cryptic about subscription model originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft and Telltale serving up justice with CSI: Deadly Intent

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST

If you've always wanted to get elbow-deep inside a human chest cavity in the name of scientific justice, here comes your shining moment. Ubisoft and CBS are teaming up once again to release the seventh gaming adaptation of the popular crime-solving TV show, titled CSI: Deadly Intent (the debut trailer for which is posted after the break).

This time around, Telltale Games is developing it for the Wii, DS, 360 and PC, and it guest stars Lawrence Fishburne as lead investigator Dr. Raymond Langston. Sounds like a recipe for success. We bet it'll make (puts on sunglasses) a killing in the NPDs.

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Gallery: CSI: Deadly Intent (Xbox 360)

Continue reading Ubisoft and Telltale serving up justice with CSI: Deadly Intent

Ubisoft and Telltale serving up justice with CSI: Deadly Intent originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CharityWatch: TheSpeedGamers tackling Final Fantasy I - XII

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

We know, we know -- another Sunday, another gaming marathon for charity. Still, we figured that the 30 tips pointing us to this particular marathon which we received within the course of ten minutes meant people were interested in it. Still, if you do find yourself annoyed, then you can go screw right off. It's charity, dude.

The fine philanthropic folks over at TheSpeedGamers are spending this entire week completing Final Fantasy I - XII in an attempt to raise at least $20,000 for an autism treatment organization named ACT Today. By our calculations, that's 15,000 random encounters, 1,300 levels-up and about 200 unbearably long, villainous soliloquies over the course of seven days. That's enough to drive even the most hardcore Squeenix supporters insane -- why not go reward their self-abuse with a few bucks for charity?

CharityWatch: TheSpeedGamers tackling Final Fantasy I - XII originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii MotionPlus sells nearly 500K units before Wii Sports Resort releases

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST

We've got another week until Wii Sports Resort hits retailer shelves, but as per the recently released June NPD numbers, we already know that the Wii's MotionPlus has moved nearly half a million units. Our sister site Engadget dug up the numbers of individual units sold for the peripheral attachment (169,000) as well as the numbers that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 sold (272,400) -- a game that includes the MotionPlus in the box -- and found that, a full three weeks before the July 28th release of Wii Sports Resort, the MotionPlus is already in 441,400 consumers' homes.

We all know the old adage "Good software moves hardware," but in Nintendo's case, apparently "barely any software" is enough.

Wii MotionPlus sells nearly 500K units before Wii Sports Resort releases originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Weekly Webcomic Wrapup can see in the dark

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST

We've got a serious question for those of you not serving in the armed forces, police forces, private security forces -- any kind of force you can think of: Why the heck would you need the night vision goggles that'll be bundled with Modern Warfare 2's Prestige Edition? Sure, they look really neat, but what possible application could you have for them? To get the edge during your weekly laser tag sessions? To decorate your similarly unused Master Chief helmet? To better stalk Nathan Fillion in low-light conditions? Err -- not that we'd actually do that, or anything.

As we suffer through this awkward moment together, check out our seven favorite comics from the past week which we've listed below. Once the checking has commenced, venture past the jump, and vote for your favorite in the poll! While you're at it, why not eat a few carrots? They're nature's night-vision goggles, dont'cha know?

Gorram Covies (Virtual Shackles)
Turnabout Kirby Part 1 (Brawl in the Family)
My Son (Castle Vidcons)
The More Things Change (Penny Arcade)
Crest = Fallen (Dipswitch)
Thats-a-Lotsa-Mario (ExtraLife)
Prestigious (Digital Unrest)

Continue reading Weekly Webcomic Wrapup can see in the dark

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup can see in the dark originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft speaks out on Obama's Xbox remarks

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:00:00 EST

President Obama hasn't exactly been known for his positive stance on kids playing tons of video games (even though he owns a Wii and ran campaign ads on Xbox Live, ahem). Recently in a speech given to the NAACP, he pointedly noted that parents should be "putting away the Xbox," as well as other crazy ideas -- like "reading to your children" and "helping them with their homework." What-ever, President Obama.

Microsoft has responded with backhanded diplomacy, dropping knowledge on the US President in a statement released to the AP that says, "We agree with President Obama that it's a time for families to work together so that kids use media in ways that are safe, healthy and balanced ... Xbox 360 is the only console gaming system that has a timer feature allowing parents to set time limits for their kids, as well as parent controls to enable parents to set limits on what their kids are playing and watching." At this time, it's still unclear whether Microsoft followed that up with, "Word to your mother!"

[Via Game Politics]

Microsoft speaks out on Obama's Xbox remarks originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mafia II developer walks us through E3 demo

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST

One and a half months after we got a chance to check out 2K's next open-world crime drama, Mafia II, the developer has released a video walkthrough of the segment we laid eyes on at E3. We were quite taken by the excellent voice acting and explosive action featured therein, but we're curious what you think!

Check out the video after the break, but be forewarned -- they bleeped out all the totally sweet cursing out for this particular demo. What kind of third person, open-world crime drama doesn't have profanity? That's just f---ing silly. Whoa, what the f--k? Where did those f---ing letters -- oh s--t! What the f--k!?

Continue reading Mafia II developer walks us through E3 demo

Mafia II developer walks us through E3 demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Shaimus

Kevin Kelly — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

Shaimus is a band born out of Harmonix, featuring former employees Phil Beaudreau and Johannes "Rash" Raasina, and has been lucky enough to have songs in both Guitar Hero ("All Of This") and Rock Band 2 ("Like a Fool'). They recently launched a new album, and we caught up with them at one of their Los Angeles shows to see what it's like being a rock band in a video game about ... rock bands.

Read the interview after the break, and check out one of their free tunes right here.

Gallery: Shaimus

Continue reading Interview: Shaimus

Interview: Shaimus originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallout 3 will not get higher level cap

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST

Bethesda likes you just as you are, Capital Wastelander. At the very least you don't need to keep working on that level grind in Fallout 3, as Bethesda's Jeff Gardiner confirmed to MTV Multiplayer that the game's level cap won't be raised beyond 30. (Back in May, the game's Broken Steel DLC increased the maximum possible level from 20 to 30.)

He did, however, note that he's "sure we'll [Bethesda] look into addressing these concerns in future games." Though the company is farming out development of next year's expansion Fallout: New Vegas to Obsidian, the Fallout IP is still very much in Bethesda's hands -- making us wonder if we'll see what Mr. Gardiner is talking about as soon as next year.

Gallery: Fallout 3 Broken Steel DLC

Fallout 3 will not get higher level cap originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swag Saturday Redux: Droplitz (XBLA) (Update)

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

Update: We picked a winner! Congrats, DudeGuyMan! Try again next Saturday, everyone else!

We were left unsatisfied by the quartet of Droplitzes we passed out in the last Swag Saturday giveaway, so we thought we'd fire off yet another download code for Atlus' slime-filled puzzler. Good luck!

Leave a comment telling us what the greatest puzzle game of all time is. (Of course, it's Yoshi's Cookie, but we're curious about what you think.)

You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada, excluding Quebec. (Sorry, Quebeccians!)

Limit 1 entry per person.

This entry period ends at 7:00pm ET on Sunday, July 18. We'll randomly select one winner at that time to receive: one download of Droplitz for Xbox 360 (ARV $10.00).

For a list of complete rules, click here

Gallery: Droplitz

Swag Saturday Redux: Droplitz (XBLA) (Update) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars: The Old Republic documentary shows voice work, gameplay

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST

You may be sick of hearing about the extensive work BioWare is putting into supplying the voices for the countless characters in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Even if that's the case, you should still watch the video posted after the jump -- in addition to boasting about the game's beefy vocals, it shows the brief gameplay demo we got to see at E3. Watch as a Sith and a Bounty Hunter wreck shop up on an Imperial vessel, and just try not to get all antsy for this game. If you can pull that off, we're revoking your nerd card.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic documentary shows voice work, gameplay

Star Wars: The Old Republic documentary shows voice work, gameplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blow confirms a few details about next project

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

Following the pseudo-reveal of Jonathan Blow's next "philosophical, and quiet" puzzle-exploration title, we contacted the cerebral developer to see what details we could discern about the project. He responded, and explained that he got the idea for the game a few months before the launch of Braid, but developed some trepidation about tackling "a more-expensive, harder-to-make 3D game." During those doubt-filled days, he worked on the prototype projects (such as the 2D RPG) we heard about.

A few weeks ago, he began "working on the game in earnest," and is now hiring 3D artists to help realize his vision. He assumes it will be another downloadable title, but isn't sure -- it's not set to drop for two years if his team stays on schedule, and who knows what platforms will be around then? Blow said we should hear more concrete details about the title as his team begins to produce some concept art and in-game visuals. We'd suggest keeping an eye on his blog 'til then.

Blow confirms a few details about next project originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LittleBigPlanet and Gran Turismo in action on the PSP Go

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST

Across the Atlantic, the folks at Fase Extra got their hands on Sony's PSP Go and a couple of games recently -- LittleBigPlanet and Gran Turismo, specifically. Lucky for us, Sony Spain allowed them to grab some video of each game, that we've now conveniently dropped for you after the break.

Here's the thing: We've got another three months or so until the release of PSP Go, and, ya know, it's really pretty. So, while entertaining, these videos do little more for us than tantalize our already over-tantalized mind grapes. Thankfully though, three months should be plenty of time to put away, um, a lot of extra change for the $250 handheld.

Continue reading LittleBigPlanet and Gran Turismo in action on the PSP Go

LittleBigPlanet and Gran Turismo in action on the PSP Go originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising deploys October 6

Randy Nelson — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:00:00 EST

Codemasters has announced an October 6 release date for the latest installment in its hyper-realistic modern infantry shooter, Operation Flashpoint. As you can see in the newly released footage of Dragon Rising, the weapons at players' disposals are formidable and the action intense, although we take some issue with Codemasters' assertion that the game is "as close to war [as players] will want to get." As a matter of fact, some gamers do want to get closer to war, which is why they enlist in the various branches of the US military. Well, except for the Coast Guard. (Just kidding, guys.)

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising deploys October 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition exclusive to HMV in UK, GameStop in Ireland

Randy Nelson — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EST

UK retailer HMV has secured an exclusive on the Prestige Edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. (Y'know, the one with the night vision goggles.) The chain's online store confirms availability of the title on November 10 at a price of £149 ($243). It's noted that the edition will be in limited availability, although the limit of three to a customer is quite generous for a collector's item.

We've also received word from a retail source that GameStop will carry the set exclusively in Ireland, where it will sell for €149 ($211).

Did we mention it includes night vision goggles?

Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition exclusive to HMV in UK, GameStop in Ireland originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sega brings emulated Streets of Rage to the iPhone

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

Sega today announced intentions to bring Streets of Rage to the iPhone. When's it coming out you ask? How's about right now! That's right, folks. Because of Apple's policy on speaking about iPhone apps/games before release, Sega simultaneously announced the game's existence with its release.

Unfortunately, our friends at Touch Arcade were none too impressed with Sega's port, saying the game suffers from tremendous slow down and renders the game "unplayable on the 3GS." Oh no! We're too busy spending our time with Drop7 to play anything else on the iPhone, so how about you tell us, Joystiq Biomass[TM]. Anyone drop the $4.99 for Streets of Rage today and encounter any problems?

Sega brings emulated Streets of Rage to the iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Readers pick best webcomic: With Great Power

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EST

Oh, sure. They look harmless enough when placed within the confines of your portable gaming device, but when viewed through the lens of reality, Pokémon possess a startling amount of destructive capability. This intriguing viewpoint was inspired by last week's Weekly Webcomic Wrapup winner: VG Cats' "With Great Power." Congrats! Now, perhaps you could enlighten us on the unknown, terrible powers of Digimon.

Second and third place went to xkcd's "Cutting Edge" and Digital Unrest's "Motion Plus," respectively. If you want to submit a comic for tomorrow's wrapup, make sure you leave a comment or send in a tip with a quickness!

Readers pick best webcomic: With Great Power originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eagles of Death Metal in new DLC for Guitar Hero: World Tour

JC Fletcher — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST

A new track pack for Guitar Hero World Tour is available today, featuring three tracks from the Eagles of Death Metal, who are neither the Eagles nor a death metal band (Discuss.) The track pack features one single from each of the band's three albums, so it's kind of a sampler of the band's career to date. Or it's just a set of three songs that sound like they'd be fun to play on guitar. No need to overthink this stuff.

The set is 440 XBL or $5.49 on PSN, or you can get individual tracks for 160/ $1.99 PSN / 200 Wii Points.

Eagles of Death Metal in new DLC for Guitar Hero: World Tour originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NY State proposing ban on gaming while driving

David Hinkle — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:30:00 EST

New York doesn't want you distracted while steering that 2,500 lb. hunk of ~~metal~~ plastic, according to a recently passed bill brought to our attention by Buffalo Business First, banning all kinds of behind-the-wheel diversions. If you often enjoy a quick round of Retro Game Challenge or Patapon while at a stop light, know the cops would be able to confiscate your handheld and totally erase your game saves. Okay, we made that up. Offenders would actually get a $150 fine.

The new law (much like Hawaii's) doesn't just apply to games and, should it pass, will make a number of activities on your phone (text, surf the web, hold it up and look at it) illegal to do while driving. Sure, it has everyone's safety in mind, but we really think the government is crazy if it expects us to pull over and park every time we try to level up our Pidgey.

[Via Game Politics]

NY State proposing ban on gaming while driving originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WRUP: Point and click edition

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:00:00 EST

You are Blogcomb Readgood. You've been invited to the house of a very influential blogger (let's call him Ghris Mant) to play the latest Xbox 360 game. Ghris has left the room to procure some delicious gourmet pizza bagels. The problem: You've spilled Yoo-hoo all over his Xbox -- and it wasn't even your Yoo-hoo -- inducing the Red Ring of Death. You only have a few minutes to figure out what to do.

In your inventory:

A rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle
A PS3
A Wii
A six pack of Colt 45 malt liquor
An actual Colt. .45
Billy Dee Williams
A frozen hamster

Solve it.

(Perhaps glancing at what the Joystiq staff and its loyal readers are playing will help you in some way. Probably not though.)

Continue reading WRUP: Point and click edition

WRUP: Point and click edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Valkyria Chronicles 2 site launches

Jem Alexander — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:30:00 EST

Famitsu may have spilled the beans with regards to the Valkyria Chronicles 2 announcement, but Sega has now officially opened the game's website for business. There's not much there right now except for the first page in the developer's blog, though it contains a few screenshots from the game, one of which you can see above. It looks like the style of the original has been maintained, despite the lower-resolution PSP graphics.

The developer diary -- handily translated over at Andriasang -- notes that the game has been bought to the PSP "to expose the series to a greater variety of users," and is keen to state that "this is a true sequel." The game is set three years after the first game, with no sign of any of the characters from the original, though we'd be very surprised if one or two didn't make at least cameo appearances in the sequel.

[Via Andriasang]

Gallery: Valkyria Chronicles 2

Official Valkyria Chronicles 2 site launches originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: The Bigs 2

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST

In my mind, the world of sports games is equally divided between two realms, each with its own cadre of fanatical followers -- titles such as Madden (Year) and MLB (Year): The Show which revel in realism and rosters, and titles such as NFL Blitz which take copious poetic liberties with trivial things like physics and gravity to add arcadey flair to our nation's athletic pastimes.

While I certainly understand the appeal of the first group, I've never been a stringent follower of any sport -- therefore, the depth and simulation in these titles have no currency with me. When it comes to sports games, I want them loud, fun, fast and rewarding.

The Bigs 2 possesses all four of these properties in spades.

Gallery: The BIGS 2

Continue reading Review: The Bigs 2

Review: The Bigs 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBO: Joystiq Box Office, July 13 - July 17

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

For All Mankind (Blu-ray: $39.98 SRP):Quite possibly one of the most beautiful and touching Blu-ray discs you'll ever own. We're right in the middle of the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, and this Criterion Edition Blu-ray of For All Mankind is full of gorgeous, mostly unseen footage brought back from the Apollo missions. It's backed by quotes from the astronauts involved, and a fantastic Brian Eno score. If you watch this and don't tear up at least once, then you're dead inside.

Read for the full list on a system-by-system basis just after the break. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st ... well, actually we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.

Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, July 13 - July 17

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, July 13 - July 17 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Bit.Trip Core (WiiWare)

David Hinkle — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST

Gaijin Games returns with another installment in its Bit.Trip series: Bit.Trip: Core, and if you found yourself hyperventilating at the prospect of zapping pixels from a whole bunch of different directions, know those fears are well-founded. Bit.Trip: Core is very tough, but like its predecessor, it's not frustrating.

[Note: There's also a video review!]

Continue reading Review: Bit.Trip Core (WiiWare)

Review: Bit.Trip Core (WiiWare) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fans creating Star Fox sequel (it doesn't look like a SNES game)

David Hinkle — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:35:00 EST

Most of us know the Star Fox 2 saga by now. The sequel to the SNES game that started it all was in production and the Japanese version was all but finished when Nintendo decided to pull the plug in favor of creating a game for its new console, the N64. That hasn't stopped the Nintendo loyal from wanting to play the game, and for the last six years, a small group of fans have been working on their own version of a sequel.

The game is called Shadows of Lylat and will likely not be received so well at Nintendo HQ, though that hasn't stopped SOL Team from planning Windows, Mac OS, and Linux releases. If you're skilled in the ways of Code-Fu and want to lend your talents to the project, the team is looking for you! They can't promise you any money, but we're pretty sure you'll get all the disappointment you could ever want when the cease and desist letters start pouring in.

Gallery: Shadows of Lylat

[Via Ars Technica]

Fans creating Star Fox sequel (it doesn't look like a SNES game) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenberg: 360 only console outpacing 2008 sales, Xbox Live sales up 73%

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:10:00 EST

If you want some console war fightin' words, you can always count on Aaron Greenberg, Xbox group product manager. Speaking to Gamasutra, Greenberg noted that, out of the three major consoles, the Xbox 360 is the only one that has managed to outpace 2008 sales for the first six months of 2009. "Our console sales for the first half of the year actually grew 20 percent from January to June versus the same six months last year," said Greenberg. In addition, paid downloads on Xbox Live have seen a 73 percent jump from June 2008 through June 2009.

Speaking of Sony and the PlayStation 3, which saw significantly lower numbers in this month's NPD report, Greenberg says the company made a mistake in not targeting core gamers from the beginning. "I think for Sony, what in many ways kind of threw them off that strategy was what happened with the PS2 and the DVD player phenomenon. They kind of expected that to happen with the PS3 and the Blu-ray." He adds that Sony's current focus on core games is "probably the right thing for them to do."

Hit the source link for more facts, figures and oh no he didn't.

Greenberg: 360 only console outpacing 2008 sales, Xbox Live sales up 73% originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrities digitally fattened up for Fat Princess

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:45:00 EST

We're not sure who or what put together these images of fattened celebrities in celebration of upcoming PSN title Fat Princess, but we sure do think they're ~~swell~~ terrifying. UK tabloid The Sun has a whole mess of faux fat celebrities images, ranging from everyone's favorite Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham, to supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Though information coming out of Europe about Fat Princess' release date -- even from Sony -- has been less than accurate, the piece puts FP on track for an August PSN release. We've contacted Sony of Europe to ask for comment on the release date (as well as give us some idea where in the world these images came from).

And no, we have no idea what Madonna has on her head either. None.

Gallery: Fat Princess

[Thanks, hoypinoy!]

Celebrities digitally fattened up for Fat Princess originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet should be called OMG WANT

David Hinkle — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:20:00 EST

Guys, there's a sweet trailer for Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet making the rounds and if you haven't seen it, consider this post an invaluable service. You have to watch it, and we've made sure to tuck it past the break for that purpose. What? No more reading. Go watch it. Now!

...

Okay, now that you've witnessed its glory, it's only natural to feel a need to fork over some cash. As it turns out, that's exactly what Shadow Planet Productions needs right now, but before you go grabbing that hammer and giving your piggy bank the evil eye, Shadow Planet Productions probably needs more than the $15 you have in there. Good thing Joystiq's biggest demographic is CEOs for investment companies!

We've put in some questions to the minds behind this game, and will be sure to post them up as soon as we hear back. While you wait, may we suggest you watch the trailer again?

[Thanks, Tiago!]

Continue reading Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet should be called OMG WANT

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet should be called OMG WANT originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlus countdown pre-reveals Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

JC Fletcher — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:55:00 EST

Now this is a countdown site we can deal with. Atlus posted a teaser site for a mysterious new game, to be officially revealed July 24. The kind-of obscured teaser image shows Earth with a big hole in it.

Fans ended the suspense immediately by finding the URL for the logo for the teased game hidden in the site's source code. It's since been removed, but not before a Japanese blogger could save it! The logo for Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey can be seen above, along with what could be a release date.

There's still plenty to be revealed, like platform and, of course, what kind of game it is, but we feel a great sense of relief about not having to wait for the title.

Atlus countdown pre-reveals Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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G.I. Joe movie scribe talks up Halo adaptation

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST

Remember Stuart Beattie, the guy who wrote the first Pirates of the Caribbean film and made some waves with a new Halo adaptation -- based on The Fall of Reach -- including concept art? Now Beattie is making the rounds to promote his latest screenplay, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, and has put his Halo script back in the news, telling Sci Fi Wire of his efforts to get the movie into production. Beattie has been shopping his screenplay around Hollywood, and has sent copies to both Microsoft and 20th Century Fox, which was to develop Peter Jackson's Halo film before it was put on indefinite hold.

Beattie seems passionate about the project -- he claims to have read all the Halo books and played all the games -- though he says he's not ready to actually direct the project, at least not yet. "Maybe in a few years," he says, noting that if his next film, Tomorrow, When the War Began, is successful, he might get the chance to direct the Halo movie. He does note, however, that he'd be happy to see anyone direct the film and doesn't want to "stand in the way of it getting made."

Beattie believes that there haven't been any great video game adaptations thus far because those involved with them haven't been passionate about games. A fine sentiment, sure, but let's not forget that the Silent Hill film was supposedly a labor of love for both the writer and director, and we all know how that turned out. Still, we hope Beattie's script gets some attention. After all, if he can successfully adapt a theme park ride, we're sure he can handle a video game.

G.I. Joe movie scribe talks up Halo adaptation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Quest IX leads to increased DS sales in Japan

JC Fletcher — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:05:00 EST

Nintendo of America touted the DS's sales in June, noting that the handheld outsold every home console combined, according to the June NPD numbers. Nintendo of Japan has its own success to be proud of, thanks to the release of Dragon Quest IX, which -- can you believe it -- led to increased hardware sales last week.

According to Media Create, the DSi sold 118,202 units last week, up from the previous week's 46,855. That actually seems like a pretty minor boost given that Dragon Quest sold over two million copies, and given that the red DSi launched alongside it. The DS Lite even managed to sell 10,161 units, presumably because DSis were sold out.

[Via MCV]

Dragon Quest IX leads to increased DS sales in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brutal Legend's four-on-four multiplayer (vaguely) detailed

Randy Nelson — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:40:00 EST

Lo, what is this? Xbox.com's info page for Brütal Legend actually contains some noteworthy ... info on the game? It's true, and said info has to do with the game's yet-to-be-revealed multiplayer component -- y'know, the one that provided the basis for the single-player game's strategy elements?

According to the site, the game will include a four-on-four XBL skirmish mode which "marries action combat with a strategic unit-control mechanic," and sees each player battling "as the leader of one of the factions in the game." Given that the single-player game will feature showdowns between whole armies comprised of numerous specialized units, we can see this "skirmish" becoming a full-on war -- a "battle of the bands," if you will, only with lives on the line in lieu of recording contracts. (Isn't it always better that way, really?)

[Via Evil Avatar]

Brutal Legend's four-on-four multiplayer (vaguely) detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play, Create, Share, Watch the first ModNation Racers trailer

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:15:00 EST

"Play, Create, Share."

These are three words that should be very familiar to the PlayStation audience. First unveiled at Sony's E3 press conference, ModNation Racers is a kart racing game that follows in the footsteps of LittleBigPlanet. Unlike Media Molecule's platformer, however, the creation process of ModNation Racers looks much easier to use, with a full racetrack able to be created in minutes -- not days, as some LBP levels.

Of course, a game isn't worth much if it isn't actually fun to play. Thankfully, the physics-based gameplay of ModNation Racers -- and its wacky power-ups -- look to provide just that. With an avatar as adorable as Sackboy, and some very convincing animation, it's safe to say ModNation is also very easy on the eyes. We'll be keeping a close watch on this one.

Play, Create, Share, Watch the first ModNation Racers trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Layoffs hit Sony Online Entertainment

JC Fletcher — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:50:00 EST

Sony Online Entertainment sent word to Massively confirming that 41 full-time employees have been let go -- amounting to five percent of its full-time staff. The brief statement announcing the layoffs classifies the job cuts as a "a move to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs."

SOE did not specify the departments or games from which the affected jobs were lost, and it told Massively that it will not discuss the layoffs further. We don't think we'd want to either!

Layoffs hit Sony Online Entertainment originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: WipEout HD Fury

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:25:00 EST

If you haven't heard, WipEout HD's first expansion pack is coming to the PlayStation Network next week. The Fury pack doesn't come cheap -- at $9.99, it costs almost as much as the initial game itself. However, Fury goes beyond the norm, offering more than just new tracks. The addition of brand new gameplay modes makes for an experience that seems well worth the price of entry.

Almost immediately, it's apparent that Fury is a game's worth of content by itself. After installing the pack, players will choose the content they'd like to access. Selecting Fury will bring a drastic change to the interface, with its black background and intense red HUD. From there, players will be able to go through the Racebox and Grid as usual.

The single player grid repeats the same progression structure found in HD and PSP's Pulse. The grid in Fury will take players through the 12 new tracks. Once again, players will have to place in single races, fastest lap challenges, and Zone levels. However, in addition to the challenges found in the original game, Fury introduces three new modes: Eliminator, Zone Battle, and Detonator.

Continue reading Hands-on: WipEout HD Fury

Hands-on: WipEout HD Fury originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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