Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogobig.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[The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Jamsouls]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-jamsouls/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-jamsouls/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-jamsouls/#commentsIt's not that there are too many indie games; it's that there aren't enough hours in a day to play all of them. The Joystiq Indie Pitch curates the best indies to play now and watch out for in the future.

The Joystiq Indie Pitch Jamsouls
What's your game called and what's it about?

Our game is called Jamsouls. We took inspiration from the famous tale of Pandora's Box to create crazy battles between naughty evil creatures in a vivid and colourful arena!

How have sales and visibility been on XBLIG? Is $1 a good price point for Jamsouls?

XBLIG has poor visibility compared to other games featured on the Xbox Marketplace. We feel that the platform is dying slowly, and that Microsoft is not really interested in this indie scene anymore, which is a shame.

We chose the price of $1 because we wanted the game to have maximum exposure. The price of 80 points is very reasonable for anyone wanting to try the game out.

Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Jamsouls

JoystiqThe Joystiq Indie Pitch: Jamsouls originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromatic-dreamgreenlightIndiejamsoulsjoystiq-indie-pitchmicrosoftpcsteam-greenlightxbligxboxWed, 22 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Don Mattrick: 'If you're backwards compatible, you're really backwards']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/don-mattrick-if-youre-backwards-compatible-youre-really-bac/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/don-mattrick-if-youre-backwards-compatible-youre-really-bac/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/don-mattrick-if-youre-backwards-compatible-youre-really-bac/#commentsDon Mattrick 'If you're backwards compatible, you're really backwards' The Xbox One won't play Xbox 360 discs or XBLA games, and that doesn't really bother Microsoft Head of Interactive Entertainment Business Don Mattrick.

"If you're backwards compatible, you're really backwards," he told the Wall Street Journal.

Mattrick said only 5 percent of customers play games from previous generations on new consoles, so spending time to make that possible isn't worth it. Sony's PlayStation 4 isn't backward compatible from a hardware standpoint, but with cloud service Gaikai, it should offer a way to play games from the PS3 and older consoles.

It's been eight years since the previous generation transition, meaning players have had longer than ever to build up their libraries. That's a lot to lose - and even more so with the onset of downloadable games in the middle of this generation.

JoystiqDon Mattrick: 'If you're backwards compatible, you're really backwards' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backward-compatiblebackwards-compatibilitydon-mattrickmicrosoftxboxxbox-onexbox-revealWed, 22 May 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ignite won't power FIFA 14 on PC; Xbox One trailer was pre-rendered]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/ignite-wont-power-fifa-14-on-pc-xbox-one-trailer-was-pre-rende/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/ignite-wont-power-fifa-14-on-pc-xbox-one-trailer-was-pre-rende/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/ignite-wont-power-fifa-14-on-pc-xbox-one-trailer-was-pre-rende/#commentsFIFA 14 doesn't use Ignite on PC Ignire trailer used prerendered graphics FIFA 14 on PC won't use Ignite, the new engine EA Sports announced at yesterday's Xbox One conference. Ignite will power FIFA 14 on Xbox One and PS4, EA Sports Global Communications Manager Steve Frost told Joystiq.

"Ignite will be the engine that drives our sports games on PS4 and Xbox One," Frost said. "It will not be used for FIFA 14 on PC."

Ignite also runs Madden NFL 25, EA Sports UFC and NBA Live 14, as EA Sports said on the Xbox One stage - right before it showed off pre-rendered footage of all of these games.

"The video uses assets pulled directly from the in-game engines, and was rendered to create this first look multi-product trailer," Frost said. "It's representative of where we expect our games will be when they launch."

EA Communications Specialist Brad Hilderbrand promised us a closer look at Ignite at E3.

"Yes, given the timing and planning required for the Xbox One reveal event the EA Sports Ignite video was developed in a pre-rendered video format," Hilderbrand said. "We'll be showing off the game using in-game assets at E3."

JoystiqIgnite won't power FIFA 14 on PC; Xbox One trailer was pre-rendered originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EA-Sportsea-sports-ufcfifa-14igniteignite-enginemadden-nfl-25Microsoftnba-live-14pre-renderxbox-onexbox-revealWed, 22 May 2013 13:30:00 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[Xbox One pre-orders, info lists live via Game, Amazon, Microsoft Store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-pre-orders-info-lists-live-via-game-amazon-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-pre-orders-info-lists-live-via-game-amazon-microsoft/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-pre-orders-info-lists-live-via-game-amazon-microsoft/#commentsXbox One preorders already happening at Amazon, M$ and GAME We don't know when it's coming out, but the Xbox One is available for pre-order at European retailers Game and Zavvi. It's also up for "pre-order notifications" on Amazon, the Microsoft Store, GameStop and Best Buy. Best Buy's ad lists the Xbox One with a "holiday 2013" release window, though all we know officially is that it's coming "later this year."

Game lists a pre-order holding price of £20 for the Xbox One, while Zavvi's pre-order down payment is £400. Zavvi also has a lineup of Xbox One games for £50, including Call of Duty: Ghosts and four EA Sports games.

Continue reading Xbox One pre-orders, info lists live via Game, Amazon, Microsoft Store

JoystiqXbox One pre-orders, info lists live via Game, Amazon, Microsoft Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonBest-Buygamegamestopmicrosoftmicrosoft-storepre-orderxboxxbox-onexbox-revealzavviTue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Huffpost Live tackles Xbox One with our reviews editor, Richard Mitchell [Update: watch the replay]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/huffpost-live-tackles-xbox-one-with-our-reviews-editor-richard/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/huffpost-live-tackles-xbox-one-with-our-reviews-editor-richard/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/huffpost-live-tackles-xbox-one-with-our-reviews-editor-richard/#comments
Update: The live segment is over, but you can watch the recording right here.

Huffpost Live is diving into today's Xbox One announcement at 6:20 ET tonight - right now, even - for Tech Tuesday. Of course the Huffpost team needs an expert on the matter, so it brought in Joystiq Reviews Editor Richard Mitchell - after all, he spent the day immersed in Xbox One news.

Watch Huffpost Live's "Tech Tuesday Talks Xbox, Apple & Microsoft!" right here, right now.

JoystiqHuffpost Live tackles Xbox One with our reviews editor, Richard Mitchell [Update: watch the replay] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>huffington-posthuffpost-livemicrosoftrichard-mitchellxboxxbox-onexbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's message to indies with Xbox One: 'It was sort of weird']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/microsofts-message-to-indies-with-xbox-one-it-was-sort-of-wei/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/microsofts-message-to-indies-with-xbox-one-it-was-sort-of-wei/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/microsofts-message-to-indies-with-xbox-one-it-was-sort-of-wei/#commentsMicrosoft's message to indies with Xbox One 'It was sort of weird' Microsoft's reveal of its next-gen console, the Xbox One, was high on broad entertainment apps such as Skype, interactive programming, media management and Kinect-powered features. Games saw a smaller showing, with two new announcements and a trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts. Indie games got an even smaller nod - that is, none at all.

E3 is right around the corner, with the Microsoft conference on June 10. Maybe that's where all of the Xbox One games are hiding, along with the console's indie plan. We asked a handful of indie developers what Microsoft's presentation today said to them specifically, and what they want to see at E3. Below we have responses from Rami Ismail of Ridiculous Fishing fame, Octodad's Philip Tibitoski, DLC Quest's Ben Kane, Charlie Murder's James Silva, Retro City Rampage's Brian Provinciano and Fez's Phil Fish.

Continue reading Microsoft's message to indies with Xbox One: 'It was sort of weird'

JoystiqMicrosoft's message to indies with Xbox One: 'It was sort of weird' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ben-Kanecharlie-murderDLC-QuestfezGoing-Loud-StudiosIndiemicrosoftoctodadoctodad-2phil-fishphilip-tibitoskirami-ismailridiculous-fishingska-studiosvlambeerxboxxbox-onexbox-revealyoung-horsesTue, 21 May 2013 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft: Xbox One isn't always online, but requires internet connection]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/microsoft-xbox-one-isnt-always-online-but-requires-internet-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/microsoft-xbox-one-isnt-always-online-but-requires-internet-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/microsoft-xbox-one-isnt-always-online-but-requires-internet-c/#commentsMicrosoft Xbox One isn't always online, but requires internet connection Xbox One, Microsoft's next-gen console, does not require users to be constantly connected to the internet, but it does require an internet connection, a Q&A post on Xbox Wire said. The post itself has since been removed.

The answer said the Xbox One "does not have to be always connected, but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet."

Developers are able to use Microsoft's Azure cloud computing service with Xbox One - this could potentially shift certain computations to the cloud and require players to be online, even for single-player runs, Wired reports.

For pre-owned games, the Xbox One is designed "to enable customers to trade in and resell games," Microsoft said in the same Q&A post, promising more details later.

All games can be installed to the Xbox One's 500GB hard drive, removing the need for a disc entirely after the initial load-up, Microsoft tells Wired. If a second account wants to play that game the player will be asked to pay a fee and install the game on his own console. Whether this is a mandatory installation for every game, Microsoft says, "On the new Xbox, all game discs are installed to the HDD to play."

JoystiqMicrosoft: Xbox One isn't always online, but requires internet connection originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>always-onalways-onlineazurecloudInternetmicrosoftxboxxbox-onexbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 15:12:00 EST<![CDATA['Quantum Break' from Remedy comes to Xbox One [Update: Trailer]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/quantum-break/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/quantum-break/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/quantum-break/#comments
Quantum Break is a new game from Remedy, developer of the Alan Wake series, coming to the Xbox One, Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer said.

The Quantum Break tagline is, "Time is the fire in which we burn." The teaser video opens with a live-action family preparing to leave their house, and a little girl with some sort of special power. The game footage shows a ship as it crashes into a large bridge - and then time stops and reverses.

"The actions you take and the choices you make shape your experience as the story unfolds," Spencer said.

Update: Don't believe us? Check out the trailer for yourself.

Joystiq'Quantum Break' from Remedy comes to Xbox One [Update: Trailer] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftRemedyremedy-entertainmentxboxxbox-onexbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox One allows group Skype video calls]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-allows-group-skype-video-calls/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-allows-group-skype-video-calls/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-allows-group-skype-video-calls/#commentsXbox One allows group Skype video calls
Microsoft's next-gen console, the Xbox One, will offer Skype in widescreen HD and will allow group video calls, Yusuf Mehdi said during the next-gen Xbox reveal event today.

Skype on Xbox One will run with the Snap feature, which allows multiple apps to run simultaneously, as demonstrated by David Jurenka and his beautifully groomed living room, shown alongside a movie.

JoystiqXbox One allows group Skype video calls originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftskypexboxxbox-onexbox-revealTue, 21 May 2013 13:19:00 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[Molyneux's Godus goes mobile, Mobage with publisher DeNA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/molyneuxs-godus-goes-mobile-mobage-with-publisher-dena/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/molyneuxs-godus-goes-mobile-mobage-with-publisher-dena/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/molyneuxs-godus-goes-mobile-mobage-with-publisher-dena/#comments22Cans' Godus gets publisher, DeNA Godus, the Kickstarted god game from Peter Molyneux's 22Cans, will be published on mobile devices by DeNA in western territories, Japan and Korea. Godus raised £526,563 ($852,000) with Kickstarter in December, exceeding its goal of $£450,000 ($730,000). It will launch on PC and Mac, alongside mobile devices Android, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Godus will use DeNA's Mobage platform for mobile and social games, joining previous handheld iterations within the No More Heroes, Final Fantasy and Professor Layton franchises, to name a few.

Continue reading Molyneux's Godus goes mobile, Mobage with publisher DeNA

JoystiqMolyneux's Godus goes mobile, Mobage with publisher DeNA originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>22CansandroidDenagodusiosipadiphonemobagemobilePeter-MolyneuxTue, 21 May 2013 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam weekly: Rochard, Strike Suit Zero, Sleeping Dogs, Unreal deals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/steam-weekly-rochard-strike-suit-zero-sleeping-dogs-unreal-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/steam-weekly-rochard-strike-suit-zero-sleeping-dogs-unreal-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/steam-weekly-rochard-strike-suit-zero-sleeping-dogs-unreal-d/#commentsSteam weekly Sleeping Dogs, Rochard cheapskies This week's round of Steam weekly deals includes Sleeping Dogs for $12.50, Rochard for $2.50, Strike Suit Zero for $10, and the Unreal Deal Pack for $10. The Unreal Deal Pack includes Unreal Gold, Unreal 2: The Awakening, Unreal Tournament 2004: Editor's Choice Edition, Unreal Tournament 3 Black and Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition.

Other games on sale for up to 75 percent off this week are Jagged Alliance: Back in Action, Wasteland Angel, Lords of Football, Spectraball: Extended Edition and Steel Storm: Burning Retribution. In software (and Greenlight) titles, game design tool articy: draft SE is $67 during this week's sale.

The weekly Steam sale ends on May 27 at 10 a.m. PT.

JoystiqSteam weekly: Rochard, Strike Suit Zero, Sleeping Dogs, Unreal deals originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jagged-alliance-back-in-actionlords-of-footballmacpcrochardSleeping-DogsspectraballSTEAMsteel-stormStrike-Suit-ZeroUnrealWasteland-AngelMon, 20 May 2013 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Syndicate Wars inspires 5 Lives Studios to get a Kickstarter in June]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/syndicate-wars-inspires-5-lives-studios-to-get-a-kickstarter-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/syndicate-wars-inspires-5-lives-studios-to-get-a-kickstarter-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/syndicate-wars-inspires-5-lives-studios-to-get-a-kickstarter-in/#comments

Five Lives Studios is teasing a Kickstarter project for something called Satellite Reign - and all signs point to a game inspired by Syndicate Wars. The Kickstarter is scheduled for June, with a countdown on the Satellite Reign site.

The teaser video reads, "In 1996, this man -" referring to Syndicate Wars lead Mike Diskett, it would seem "- created a Bullfrog masterpiece. In 2013, with your help, we will redefine the genre."

The original Syndicate Wars launched for the PlayStation and DOS in October 1996 as a real-time tactics game. Syndicate got an FPS reboot from Starbreeze Studios and EA in February 2012.

JoystiqSyndicate Wars inspires 5 Lives Studios to get a Kickstarter in June originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5-lives-studioskickstartermike-diskettrebootsatellite-reignsyndicatesyndicate-warsMon, 20 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FIFA 14 goes next-gen in tomorrow's Xbox reveal event]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/fifa-14-goes-next-gen-in-tomorrows-xbox-reveal-event/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/fifa-14-goes-next-gen-in-tomorrows-xbox-reveal-event/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/fifa-14-goes-next-gen-in-tomorrows-xbox-reveal-event/#commentsFIFA gets fired up not fried up for Xbox reveal tomorrow
The FIFA franchise will have a next-gen something to show off during Microsoft's Xbox reveal event tomorrow, according to the series' new Facebook cover image and event.

"RSVP if you're ready to hear about the next generation of FIFA," the event description reads. "Tune in to hear news on FIFA 14 during the worldwide livestream of Xbox: A New Generation Revealed."

FIFA 14 comes out on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC - and not Wii U - this fall. Microsoft is gearing up for a large next-gen Xbox event tomorrow, May 21, at 10 a.m. PT. We'll have live coverage from the event in Redmond, Washington, and we'll also be reporting remotely - here's hoping things don't get too Messi.

JoystiqFIFA 14 goes next-gen in tomorrow's Xbox reveal event originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FIFAfifa-14microsoftnext-gennext-xboxxboxxbox-nextMon, 20 May 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultimate Editions decimate PSN: DMC, AC3, Persona 4 Arena, 7 more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/ultimate-editions-decimate-psn-dmc-ac3-persona-4-arena-7-mor/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/ultimate-editions-decimate-psn-dmc-ac3-persona-4-arena-7-mor/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/ultimate-editions-decimate-psn-dmc-ac3-persona-4-arena-7-mor/#commentsUltimate Editions decimate PSN DMC, AC3, Persona 4 Arena, 7 more The latest round of PS3 Ultimate Edition bundles sure is decadent, offering 10 games and all of their DLCs discounted up to 65 percent for standard PSN members, and 75 percent for PS Plus members. The Ultimate Editions hit the PS Store tomorrow, May 21, and the sale lasts until May 27.

The new Ultimate Editions are Assassin's Creed 3, Batman: Arkham City, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, DMC: Devil May Cry, Far Cry 3, Max Payne 3, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Persona 4 Arena, Starhawk and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.

Once the launch sale ends, each Ultimate Edition will still be available on for up to 40 percent off the standard game-and-DLC price, under the Ultimate Edition tab on the PS Store.

JoystiqUltimate Editions decimate PSN: DMC, AC3, Persona 4 Arena, 7 more originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCplaystationps3PSNSONYUltimate-EditionMon, 20 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS4 E3 teaser video boxes it all up [Update: Close-up shots capped]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/ps4-e3-teaser-video-boxes-it-all-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/ps4-e3-teaser-video-boxes-it-all-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/ps4-e3-teaser-video-boxes-it-all-up/#comments

Sony's official E3 teaser video shows a blurry, black box. Is this the future of gaming, also known as Cube?

Sony's E3 conference takes place in Los Angeles on June 10 at 6 p.m. PT. Perhaps we'll get a clearer idea of what the PS4 looks like at that time, along with a price and release date. Right now we have "Holiday 2013," a timeframe that Sony settled on when it announced the PS4 in February.

Microsoft is prepping to reveal its own next-gen console - the new Xbox - tomorrow, May 21, at 10 a.m. PT. We'll have live coverage of that event.

Update: Joystiq reader rcoutant points us to an imgur album of the PS4 hardware in focus and really close-up, pulled right from the video.

JoystiqPS4 E3 teaser video boxes it all up [Update: Close-up shots capped] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2013playstation-4ps4SONYMon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spicy Horse's Oz game is OZombie: 'If I only had some brainsss']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/spicy-horses-oz-game-is-ozombie-if-i-only-had-some-brainsss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/spicy-horses-oz-game-is-ozombie-if-i-only-had-some-brainsss/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/spicy-horses-oz-game-is-ozombie-if-i-only-had-some-brainsss/#commentsSpicy Horse's Oz game is OZombie 'If I only had some brainsss' Spicy Horse's Oz game combines the undead with "an Oz not of our remembering" - it's called OZombie, and it stars Dorothy, Toto, the Lion and the Tin Woodsman. The Scarecrow, who always wanted brains, is cast as the villain in this iteration, and instead of carrying around a basket, Dorothy gets a repeater.

Spicy Horse is unsure which game it will make next, OZombie or Alice: Otherlands, and it all depends on whether the studio can regain the Alice rights from EA. If Spicy Horse and EA work out a good deal, then Alice it is. If not, OZombie gets the green light and probably a Kickstarter.

"Actually, the more I think about it - and the more I see/hear feedback from you guys - the more I'm personally leaning towards Oz," Spicy Horse founder American McGee writes on the OZombie Facebook page. "There's so much fun stuff to explore, so many interesting characters and locations to discover. Wonderland will also be there, if not today, if not the next project, then perhaps the one after that?"

Keep in mind (and mind your brains) that OZombie is entirely separate from American McGee's Oz, the game Atari canceled in 2004.

JoystiqSpicy Horse's Oz game is OZombie: 'If I only had some brainsss' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alice-otherlandsandroidiosipadiphonemobileozozombiepcspicy-horsethe-wizard-of-ozWizard-of-OzSun, 19 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Terry Cavanagh picks up 'proper, meaty puzzle game,' Halting Problem]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/terry-cavanagh-picks-up-proper-meaty-puzzle-game-halting-pro/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/terry-cavanagh-picks-up-proper-meaty-puzzle-game-halting-pro/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/terry-cavanagh-picks-up-proper-meaty-puzzle-game-halting-pro/#commentsTerry Cavanagh working on 'Halting Problem,' a puzzle game Terry Cavanagh throws a ton of game ideas into the online hive mind, and it looks like he found one that sticks with Halting Problem (tentative title). Last week Cavanagh posted a set of Vines - "Pushing a block" and "Fistbump" - and this weekend he wrote in his blog that Halting Problem will probably be his "main focus for a while."

"A proper, meaty puzzle game is something I've wanted to make for ages, and I'm having lots of fun just messing around with the mechanics for this one and seeing what I can make out of them," Cavanagh said. It's inspired by DROD, but also things like Qrostar games, Zachtronic games, and my flatmate Increpare's games."

Cavanagh said he's really excited about this one - and so is that happy little sprite.

JoystiqTerry Cavanagh picks up 'proper, meaty puzzle game,' Halting Problem originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halting-problemIndiepcterry-cavanaghSun, 19 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Arkham Origins stars Deathstroke in some playable capacity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/arkham-origins-stars-deathstroke-in-some-playable-capacity/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/arkham-origins-stars-deathstroke-in-some-playable-capacity/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/arkham-origins-stars-deathstroke-in-some-playable-capacity/#commentsAmazon listing shows Deathstroke playable in Arkham Origins A Batman: Arkham Origins pre-order image on Amazon offers Deathstroke as a playable character via DLC. Check it out in a rolling image header here.

Batman and Deathstroke went head-to-head in last week's teaser video, but there was no word on how the striker of mortality would be incorporated into Arkham Origins. This could be a Catwoman in Arkham City situation, where she got an entire spin-off campaign, or it might be something entirely new.

One aspect of Arkham Origins is confirmed today - Kevin Conroy will return as a voice actor.

JoystiqArkham Origins stars Deathstroke in some playable capacity originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbatman-arkham-originsDeathstrokeDLCmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3wii-uxboxSun, 19 May 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kevin Conroy returns for Batman: Arkham Origins [Update: But not as Batman]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/kevin-conroy-returns-for-batman-arkham-origins/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/kevin-conroy-returns-for-batman-arkham-origins/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/kevin-conroy-returns-for-batman-arkham-origins/#comments

Update: Kevin Conroy will be in Arkham Origins, but not as Batman, despite his storied career with that character. Arkham Origins stars Roger Craig Smith as Batman and Troy Baker as the Joker, Warner Bros. announced on May 20.

Original story: Kevin Conroy will be in Batman: Arkham Origins, and he's already spent 10 months in the studio recording those gruff-yet-dulcet tones. Conroy confirmed his involvement at Dallas Comic-Con, but didn't specify if he plays The Bat himself - not that he has to. He opened the panel with, "I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman." Because, you know, he is.

NAG magazine reported in April that Warner Bros. had passed on Conroy for Arkham Origins.

Conroy voiced Batman in both Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, and he was the man behind Bruce Wayne in Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Beyond and subsequent DC universe cartoon spin-offs. Arkham Origins is scheduled to launch on October 25 for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Wii U.

JoystiqKevin Conroy returns for Batman: Arkham Origins [Update: But not as Batman] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Batmanbatman-arkham-originskevin-conroymicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3wii-uxboxSun, 19 May 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller launches episode 3, The Oracle]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/cognition-an-erica-reed-thriller-launches-episode-3-the-oracle/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/cognition-an-erica-reed-thriller-launches-episode-3-the-oracle/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/cognition-an-erica-reed-thriller-launches-episode-3-the-oracle/#comments

Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller, the Kickstarted adventure game from Phoenix Online Studios and Gabriel Knight writer Jane Jensen, is now on its third episode and things are really heating up. Watch the trailer and that line is funny, we promise. Well, funnier.

Episode three is subtitled The Oracle, and it continues the tale of Erica, a psychic FBI agent, as she tracks down a serial killer.

"Cognition's third episode picks up right where the last left off, with a body hurtling down the Enthon Towers' 33 stories to smash onto a parked police cruiser," the press release describes. Players are able to control Erica and the serial killer as the (gruesome) story unfolds.

Cognition will have four parts in total, with the final called The Cain Killer. Grab The Oracle and any previous episodes via Phoenix Online - with sales live through tomorrow, May 17 at 3 p.m. ET - and if you like the series, vote for Cognition on Steam Greenlight.

Gallery: Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller (Episode 3: The Oracle)

Continue reading Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller launches episode 3, The Oracle

JoystiqCognition: An Erica Reed Thriller launches episode 3, The Oracle originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurecognitionjane-jensenmacpcPhoenix-Online-StudiosThu, 16 May 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo: 3DS software sales up 52% year-on-year in US]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/nintendo-3ds-software-sales-up-52-year-on-year-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/nintendo-3ds-software-sales-up-52-year-on-year-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/nintendo-3ds-software-sales-up-52-year-on-year-in-us/#comments Nintendo's 3DS is holding on strong to its place in the hardware charts, backed up by some successful software - and by "some" we mean "2.1 million first-party titles" in the first four months of 2013, in the US only. This is an increase of 52 percent over the same period last year.

Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins sold 94,000 physical and digital copies in the US since its launch on April 24 and hit No. 9 on the April NPD chart. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon sold 140,000 units in April, for a lifetime total of 530,000 in the states.

Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter expected the 3DS to be the only major console with sales up from April 2012, with the Wii, Xbox 360, PS3 and Vita down year-over-year. Pachter found the Vita down 57 percent, while the 3DS was up 46 percent with 185,000 sales.

Continue reading Nintendo: 3DS software sales up 52% year-on-year in US

JoystiqNintendo: 3DS software sales up 52% year-on-year in US originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dshardwarenintendosalessoftwareThu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reus, 2D god game featuring four giants, blows through PC today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/reus-2d-god-game-featuring-four-giants-blows-through-pc-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/reus-2d-god-game-featuring-four-giants-blows-through-pc-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/reus-2d-god-game-featuring-four-giants-blows-through-pc-today/#comments

Reus, the 2D god game from Abbey Games, is available today, right now, for $10 (€10, £7) on Steam, GOG, Desura and Gamersgate. It's PC only for now, with Mac and Linux ports planned.

Reus offers a twist on the standard god game narrative, asking players to find balance in the world by controlling nature with four giants. The humans have a strong will of their own, and the player is tasked with ensuring they can thrive, but not too much, lest they become corrupted and destroy the planet.

Reus is on sale on Steam, GOG and Desura, for 10 percent off ($9). If you want to show Abbey Games your full monetary appreciation today, Gamersgate is the way to go.

JoystiqReus, 2D god game featuring four giants, blows through PC today originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2dabbey-gamesgod-gameIndiepcreusThu, 16 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Indie platform confessional: Steam, Humble Store, Apple, Android]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/indie-platform-confessional-steam-humble-store-apple-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/indie-platform-confessional-steam-humble-store-apple-android/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/indie-platform-confessional-steam-humble-store-apple-android/#commentsIndie platform confessional Steam, Humble Store, Apple, Android
The internet is kind of like a classic confessional - except it's not a box, it's a lot brighter and everyone can hear what you have to say. Still, we asked a handful of independent developers for their thoughts on what exactly makes a platform effective, and they spilled it all, dissecting the pros and cons of the most popular, current models of distibution.

Today, we feature answers from Ridiculous Fishing's Rami Ismail, Canabalt's Adam Saltsman, Octodad's Philip Tibitoski, Retro City Rampage's Brian Provinciano and others. This group of developers had specific thoughts about Steam, the Humble Store, Apple's app stores and the Android hub, Google Play.

This follows yesterday's batch of answers from the Steam, Humble Store, iOS and Android camps. Let the confessions begin:

Continue reading Indie platform confessional: Steam, Humble Store, Apple, Android

JoystiqIndie platform confessional: Steam, Humble Store, Apple, Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidIndieindie-confessionaliosipadiphonemobilepcThu, 16 May 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Metro: Last Light dev warns against changing FOV with coming patch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/metro-last-light-dev-warns-against-changing-fov-with-coming-pat/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/metro-last-light-dev-warns-against-changing-fov-with-coming-pat/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/metro-last-light-dev-warns-against-changing-fov-with-coming-pat/#commentsMetro Last Light devs respond to field of view requests Metro: Last Light features a fixed field of view, and while we didn't have a problem with that, other players have. Developer 4A Games heard the feedback and has a fix in the next title update coming to Steam - but it comes with a warning. Changing the field of view could trigger a range of bugs, including breaking cut scene animations and decreasing game performance in general.

"We had considered offering three FOV pre-sets, but this would still require significant work to re-do every animation, adjust the HUD and UI and other seemingly small but incredibly time consuming tasks," 4A writes on the game's Steam discussion board. "Even with a wider but still fixed field of view, Artyom's hands would look too far away. We know - we tried."

4A is looking at other possible solutions, but for now the next title update's fix will have to do.

"This may well trigger a number of issues listed above - you have been warned!" 4A says.

JoystiqMetro: Last Light dev warns against changing FOV with coming patch originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4a-gamesfield-of-viewfovmetro-2033-last-lightmetro-2034metro-last-lightpatchpctitle-updateWed, 15 May 2013 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Fotonica lands a $1 sale for six days]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/fotonica-lands-a-1-sale-for-six-days/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/fotonica-lands-a-1-sale-for-six-days/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/fotonica-lands-a-1-sale-for-six-days/#comments

Fotonica comes from Italian development house Santa Ragione, which makes sense considering how positively vogue the game is. It's a one-button, first-person runner in duotone with a smooth, blippy soundtrack - and right now it's all just $1. Fotonica is 80 percent off direct from Santa Ragione's site (using that handy Humble Store widget), now and for six more days.

Fotonica supports PC, Mac and Linux, and it's available through Desura, Indievania, OnLive and the Mac App Store, though that $1 deal is via Santa Ragione only. The developers would like to see Fotonica on Steam and are making a leap with Greenlight - if it gets voted in, Santa Ragione will create new levels, modes and music for all Fotonica players.

JoystiqFotonica lands a $1 sale for six days originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fotonicahumble-storeIndieLinuxmacpcsalesanta-ragioneWed, 15 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Guacamelee]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-guacamelee/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-guacamelee/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-guacamelee/#commentsIt's not that there are too many indie games; it's that there aren't enough hours in a day to play all of them. The Joystiq Indie Pitch curates the best indies to play now and watch out for in the future.

The Joystiq Indie Pitch Guacamelee
What's your game called and what's it about?

Guacamelee! is all about kicking ass and saving the girl.

Sell Guacamelee in one sentence:

Guacamelee is a Mexican-themed cross-platform cooperative multiplayer metroidvania dimension-swapping brawler. Warning: reading this sentence out loud may cause seizures or loss of bowel control.

Gallery: Guacamelee!

Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Guacamelee

JoystiqThe Joystiq Indie Pitch: Guacamelee originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drinkbox-studiosguacameleejoystiq-indie-pitchplaystationplaystation-vitaps3vitaWed, 15 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Indie platform confessional: PSN, XBLA, eShop, 'all of the above']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/indie-platform-confessional-psn-xbla-eshop-all-of-the-above/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/indie-platform-confessional-psn-xbla-eshop-all-of-the-above/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/indie-platform-confessional-psn-xbla-eshop-all-of-the-above/#commentsIndie platform confessional, part 1 PSN, XBLA, eShop, 'all of the above' The internet is kind of like a classic confessional - except it's not a box, it's a lot brighter and everyone can hear what you have to say. Still, we asked a handful of independent developers for their thoughts on what exactly makes a platform effective, and they spilled it all, dissecting the pros and cons of the most popular, current models of distibution.

Today, we feature answers from SpyParty's Chris Hecker, Retro City Rampage's Brian Provinciano, Ska Studios' James Silva, Thomas Was Alone's Mike Bithell, and others. This group of developers had specific thoughts about Sony's PlayStation Network, Microsoft's Xbox Live Indie Games and Arcade services, the Nintendo eShop, and the dream of having it all.

Tomorrow we'll feature answers from the Steam, Humble Store, iOS and Android camps. Let the confessions begin:

Continue reading Indie platform confessional: PSN, XBLA, eShop, 'all of the above'

JoystiqIndie platform confessional: PSN, XBLA, eShop, 'all of the above' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Indieindie-confessionalWed, 15 May 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Play launches game services for mobile, social, cloud gaming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/google-play-launches-game-services-for-mobile-social-cloud-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/google-play-launches-game-services-for-mobile-social-cloud-gam/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/google-play-launches-game-services-for-mobile-social-cloud-gam/#commentsGoogle Play launches game services for mobile, social, cloud gaming Google is kicking off games services on its Play Store that allows developers to add achievements, social and public leaderboards, cloud saving, and real-time multiplayer. The games service goes live today and works completely on Android, and mostly on iOS or other "connected devices" - that second batch won't support multiplayer.

Google Play's games services differs from Apple's Game Center in that it offers backend support, rather than a standalone application.

Anyone making a game with Google Play has access to its developer services. A handful of games already have these services incorporated: World of Goo, Super Stickman Golf 2, Beach Buggy Blitz, Kingdom Rush, Eternity Warriors 2 and Osmos.

"We won't make it a mandatory exercise, or have any certification process around it," Google lead product manager Greg Hartrell told Engadget. "We create fantastic services that allow developers to create these great game experiences, and help promote their discovery, help retain their users and keep them engaged."

Check out the games services on Google's developer site.

Continue reading Google Play launches game services for mobile, social, cloud gaming

JoystiqGoogle Play launches game services for mobile, social, cloud gaming originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 May 2013 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgamesgames-servicesgooglegoogle-gamesgoogle-io-2013google-playiosipadiphonemobileWed, 15 May 2013 12:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Andy Schatz lets slip scrapped competitive modes for Monaco]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/andy-schatz-lets-slip-scrapped-competitive-modes-for-monaco/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/andy-schatz-lets-slip-scrapped-competitive-modes-for-monaco/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/andy-schatz-lets-slip-scrapped-competitive-modes-for-monaco/#commentsAndy Schatz and Austin Wintory AMA Andy Schatz took some time off from thievery in his recent release, Monaco, and sat down with the fine people of Reddit to answer all of the questions they threw at him, such as, "Which features didn't make it into the game?"

"Cops and Robbers, and Thief vs Thief," Schatz replied. "We wanted to add two additional competitive game modes to the game. We got them to playable, but we discovered that for both modes the balance didn't really work within the existing levels."

Thief vs Thief had players compete in a single stage, to see who could collect the most coins, grab the trophy and get out first - but the player who left the gate first had a huge advantage, sucking up all of the coins, and the mode didn't turn out to be as fun as Schatz had hoped, he said. Cops and Robbers added a police officer to every level, but the early stages were too easy and the later stages too difficult.

With some tweaks, Schatz said he hoped to bring Cops and Robbers to Monaco "at some point," possibly as DLC.

Monaco's characters evolved along with the gameplay, and Schatz described how each of them spawned, early in development: "The Gentleman used to be a hypnotist, The Lookout used to be the Prowler (parkour expert), The Mole used to be The Muscle, The Pickpocket used to be The Rat (could rat out teammates to save himself). The Redhead had a taser or a pistol at one point. The Pickpocket started out as dwarf twins instead of a man with a monkey." Stranger things.

Once Monaco's final touches were all settled, Schatz said he had an idea to develop a "good console RTS (or at least simple-controls RTS) that is as strategically as deep as the competitive RTSes." First, he has to work on the Monaco level editor, expansions and maybe more ports - he singled out Vita and PS4, while Mac and Linux ports are already on the books.

JoystiqAndy Schatz lets slip scrapped competitive modes for Monaco originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy-schatzIndiemicrosoftmonacopcPocketwatch-Gamesredditreddit-amaxboxTue, 14 May 2013 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Hawken employees genderflip CEO's sexy lady poster, have a laugh]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/hawken-employees-genderflip-ceos-sexy-lady-poster-have-a-laugh/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/hawken-employees-genderflip-ceos-sexy-lady-poster-have-a-laugh/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/hawken-employees-genderflip-ceos-sexy-lady-poster-have-a-laugh/#commentsHawken pub employees genderflip CEO's sexy lady poster, have a laugh Hawken publisher Meteor Entertainment has a handle on the gender equality gig, with ladies making up a solid half of its executive branch, according to a female employee's post on The Hawkeye Initiative.

"Our gender awareness standards, compared to the industry at large, are top shelf," she writes. "We are talking Amelia Earhart in Atlantis, at a five star resort, getting a mani-pedi from Jensen Ackles. I have it good."

But CEO Mark Long (a dude, if that wasn't apparent) had a penchant for the sexy lady poster above (on the left, if that wasn't apparent), and the writer didn't particularly care for it. It was blown up to poster size and placed in his office so that it was the first thing the writer - and all visitors - saw upon entering, and the last thing when leaving.

"This little lady's undermeats have been the open- and close-parens to my work world for the last six months," she described. "I loathe this picture."

So she did something about it. The writer roped in a co-worker and artist, Sam Kirk, to whip up a gender-swapped version of the poster, which they named Brosie the Riveter. They blew it up to the same poster size, and on April 1, they swapped it with the female one in their CEO's office.

When Long saw the poster, he flipped. But then he came up to the writer and said something truly touching:

"That was a brilliant prank. You called me on exactly the bullshit I need to be called on. I put up pictures of half-naked girls around the office all the time and I never think about it. I'm taking you and Sam to lunch. And after that, we're going to hang both prints, side by side."

And so they did. The end.

JoystiqHawken employees genderflip CEO's sexy lady poster, have a laugh originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adhesiveAdhesive-gamesequalitygendergender-equalityhawkenmark-longMeteor-EntertainmentpcTue, 14 May 2013 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Pachter: Wii U sales hit 55,000 in April, 20,000 below Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/pachter-wii-u-sales-hit-55-000-in-april-20-000-below-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/pachter-wii-u-sales-hit-55-000-in-april-20-000-below-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/pachter-wii-u-sales-hit-55-000-in-april-20-000-below-wii/#comments Nintendo's Wii U sold 55,000 units in April, down 19 percent from March, while the Wii sold 75,000 in April, down 16 percent from last year, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter estimates. To compare, he says Microsoft sold 205,000 Xbox 360 units and Sony snagged 165,000 sales of the PlayStation 3 this April. By these numbers, sales of the Xbox 360 are down 13 percent and PS3 sales are down 5 percent year-over-year.

Nintendo hit 185,000 sales of its 3DS last month, a 46 percent jump in sales from the previous year, Pachter says. Sony's Vita is down 57 percent from 2012, selling just 30,000 units this April. These are of course the standard Pachter estimates, which can only mean one thing - the official numbers are on their way, via the NPD. Those figures are expected on Thursday.

As of March 31, the Wii U has sold 3.45 million units since its launch, below Nintendo's initial forecast of 5.5 million, and even January's adjustment to 4 million. Nintendo expects to have sold 9 million Wii U consoles by next fiscal year, ending March 2014, with sales spurred by the release of "key Nintendo titles."

JoystiqPachter: Wii U sales hit 55,000 in April, 20,000 below Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsestimatesMichael-Pachtermicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3saleswiiwii-uxboxTue, 14 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[VP Joe Biden: 'No legal reason' the US can't tax violent media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/vp-joe-biden-no-legal-reason-the-us-cant-tax-violent-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/vp-joe-biden-no-legal-reason-the-us-cant-tax-violent-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/vp-joe-biden-no-legal-reason-the-us-cant-tax-violent-media/#commentsBiden says there's no legal reason the US can't tax violent media Vice President Joe Biden has been on the front lines of the gun violence debate since the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in December. In January, Biden led a task force assigned by President Barack Obama to examine possible means of curtailing gun violence in the US, and his findings prompted Obama to call for scientific research into the effects of violent media on young minds.

Earlier in May, Biden met behind closed doors with 20 representatives from faith-based organizations to discuss gun control and immigration, and he briefly addressed video games, Politico reports. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, proposed to Biden that "media and entertainment that portray violence should be subject to a special tax, with the proceeds going to help victims and their families," according to Rabbi Julie Schonfeld.

Biden replied that there was "no restriction on the ability to do that; there's no legal reason why they couldn't" place a tax on violent media, Sister Marjorie Clark told Politico. Biden again emphasized the need for more research into the subject, Clark added: "He said they really need a good scientific study, which they've done on things like smoking."

During his initial fact-finding meetings in January, Biden expressed particular interest in speaking with inter-faith organizations, though he met with a wide swathe of communities, including entertainment companies, advocacy groups, youth organizations, the mental health community and the NRA.

JoystiqVP Joe Biden: 'No legal reason' the US can't tax violent media originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gun-violencejoe-bidenpoliticstaxtaxesunited-statesUSATue, 14 May 2013 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Konami pre-E3 show gives the scoop on MGS5, Castlevania on June 6]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/konami-pre-e3-show-gives-the-scoop-on-mgs5-castlevania-on-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/konami-pre-e3-show-gives-the-scoop-on-mgs5-castlevania-on-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/konami-pre-e3-show-gives-the-scoop-on-mgs5-castlevania-on-june/#commentsKonami preE3 show gives the scoop on MGS5, Castlevania on June 6 Konami's third annual pre-E3 show is penciled in for June 6 at 1 p.m. ET, streaming live online via Konami's events site, on Gamespot and via the Xbox Live Gamespot app. For the second year in a row, Konami will show off a new trailer for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, which was announced during last year's pre-E3 briefing.

Konami also plans to show off some behind-the-scenes footage of the next Pro Evolution Soccer game, and will have "new announcements" from Kojima Productions. Kojima recently made a splash with the Joakim Mogren marketing campaign for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. Surely nothing will be able to compete with that.

Continue reading Konami pre-E3 show gives the scoop on MGS5, Castlevania on June 6

JoystiqKonami pre-E3 show gives the scoop on MGS5, Castlevania on June 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2e3-2013Kojima-ProductionsKonamimetal-gear-solid-5metal-gear-solid-ground-zeroesmicrosoftpcplaystationpro-evolution-soccerpro-evolution-soccer-2014ps3the-phantom-painxboxTue, 14 May 2013 15:15:00 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[The Novelist takes 'ghostwriting' to a new, emotional level]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-novelist-takes-ghostwriting-to-a-new-emotional-level/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-novelist-takes-ghostwriting-to-a-new-emotional-level/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-novelist-takes-ghostwriting-to-a-new-emotional-level/#comments

The Novelist stars three characters: Dan Kaplan, a father attempting to finish writing the most important book of his career; Dan's wife and their young son - and you won't play as any of these people. Instead, players control an omniscient presence in the family's summer cabin, able to watch their daily lives, read their thoughts, enter their memories and influence their actions. The only catch is that the ghost must stay out of sight.

"It's up to you to decide how Dan's career and family life will evolve, but choose carefully; there are no easy answers, and every choice has a cost," The Novelist's description reads. "Dan's relationships - to his work, his wife and his son - react and shift in response to your choices. With a different sequence of events in every playthrough, The Novelist gives life to a unique experience each time you play.

"The decisions you make will define the Kaplans' lives, but they may also tell you something about yourself."

The Novelist is the brain child of Kent Hudson, who worked on AAA titles such as BioShock 2, Thief: Deadly Shadows, Deus Ex: Invisible War, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, and maybe even more games with subtitles. He left the mainstream industry in 2011, and has been working on The Novelist ever since. We hope he wasn't working all the time, though - all work and no play make Kent a dull boy.

The Novelist is due out on PC and Mac this summer, with pre-orders live now at a 25 percent discount ($15) via Hudson's site, with a Steam Greenlight page ready to roll.

Gallery: The Novelist

JoystiqThe Novelist takes 'ghostwriting' to a new, emotional level originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Indiekent-hudsonmacpcpre-orderthe-novelistMon, 13 May 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam weekly deals: Hitman: Absolution, Hydrophobia, Anodyne]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/steam-weekly-deals-hitman-absolution-hydrophobia-anodyne/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/steam-weekly-deals-hitman-absolution-hydrophobia-anodyne/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/steam-weekly-deals-hitman-absolution-hydrophobia-anodyne/#commentsSteam weekly deals Hitman Absolution, Hydrophobia, more This week on Steam, Agent 47 takes more than a few lives - he knocks 50 percent off the price of Hitman: Absolution, bringing it down to $12.50. Also on sale for up to 75 percent off on Steam is the moody, 16-bit adventure Anodyne, Dark Energy Digital's Hydrophobia: Prophecy, 2002 strategy game Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood, adventure game The Book of Unwritten Tales, Postal 2 Complete (again) and puzzler Critical Mass.

The sale ends on May 20 at 10 a.m. PT, even though Valve's weekly news post still says "May 6th." Shh - nobody tell Valve and let's see how long before someone on the team notices.

JoystiqSteam weekly deals: Hitman: Absolution, Hydrophobia, Anodyne originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anodynecritical-masshitman-absolutionhydrophobia-prophecyLinuxmacpcpostal-2-completerobin-hood-the-legend-of-sherwoodsaleSTEAMthe-book-of-unwritten-talesMon, 13 May 2013 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadow of the Eternals gets a secondary Kickstarter campaign]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/shadow-of-the-eternals-gets-a-secondary-kickstarter-campaign/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/shadow-of-the-eternals-gets-a-secondary-kickstarter-campaign/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/shadow-of-the-eternals-gets-a-secondary-kickstarter-campaign/#commentsShadow of the Eternals gets a secondary Kickstarter campaign Precursor Games has launched a second, simultaneous crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for Shadow of the Eternals, the episodic horror game serving as a spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. This is a supplement to the crowdfunding project that Precursor launched on its own site on May 6. The Kickstarter campaign looks to raise $1.35 million, while Precursor's campaign asks for $1.5 million.

"Due to overwhelming popular demand, we are happy to announce that an official Kickstarter campaign has launched for Shadow of the Eternals," Precursor says. "This gives potential pledgers even more options to contribute to the game."

Precursor's campaign accepts payments through PayPal - unlike Kickstarter - and doesn't necessarily have to reach its goal to take whatever money it raises. That campaign has 24 days remaining and has raised $156,000. The Kickstarter campaign has 36 days to reach its goal, otherwise Precursor won't receive any of that money.

Precursor will use the money raised in its crowdfunding efforts to launch a pilot episode in Q3 2014, and pay for the engine and core system development. Future episodes of Shadow of the Eternals - there will be 12 in total - will be "significantly cheaper and faster to produce," and Precursor will announce more episodes based on the success of its fundraising(s).

JoystiqShadow of the Eternals gets a secondary Kickstarter campaign originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingeternal-darknessfundraisingkickstarterpcPrecursor-Gamesshadow-of-the-eternalsMon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WWE 2K14 throws down at retailers on October 29]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/wwe-2k14-throws-down-at-retailers-on-october-29/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/wwe-2k14-throws-down-at-retailers-on-october-29/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/wwe-2k14-throws-down-at-retailers-on-october-29/#comments WWE 2K14 is scheduled to launch on October 29 for Xbox 360 and PS3, Take-Two Interactive confirmed in its fiscal year 2013 financial report. Take-Two snagged the rights to the WWE franchise in February, through a deal that went down before THQ's public bankruptcy auction in January. The deal gives Take-Two exclusive rights to publish WWE games "across all major platforms and distribution channels."

WWE 2K14 is in production from series developer Yukes, based in Japan, and 2K Sports.

JoystiqWWE 2K14 throws down at retailers on October 29 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 May 2013 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2K-Gamesmicrosoftplaystationps3Take-Twowwe-14wwe-2k14xboxMon, 13 May 2013 16:27:00 EST