Source: www.engadget.com --- 8 days ago Filed under: Gaming 10:23: We're en route to Sony now, stay tuned! 11:11: We're waiting outside the entrance. Tons of people in front of the entrance to the show. Veronica Belmont is getting tons of fan response for Qore. People are taking pictures with her. 11:25: We've just taken our seats at Sony's conference in front of what could only be described as a wall of screens: 7 main screens and roughly 64 smaller screens. OMG, Vaio LCD's everywhere. You'd think this was a Sony event. Continue reading Engadget & Joystiq live from Sony's E3 2008 keynote Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Source: www.engadget.com --- 9 days ago Filed under: Gaming We're here! The line is already mad long, but we must admit, it feels great to have E3 back at the convention center. 9:47 am PT: Alright! We're waiting in line for the MS press conference! We're feigning excitement through gratuitous use of exclamation points! 9:49 am PT: An MS representative asks us if we have our "passports." We assume she means our press badges and isn't about to whisk us to another country. Mind you, we've always wanted to see the Swiss Alps. Oh, and the chocolate and... okay, we're getting sidetracked. 9:51 am PT: So, if you were trying to spot us in this line, we'd be the ones holding laptops in one hand and typing with the other. We keep bumping into the person in front when the line comes to a halt, what with our eyes glued to our screens. Also, person behind us. STOP READING OVER OUR SHOULDERS. ALSO, YOU SMELL BAD. Continue reading Engadget & Joystiq live from Microsoft's E3 2008 keynote Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 2 days ago Filed under: PC We hook you up with two different kinds of games in the JFGC. The first are just titles that we hope you'll think are fun. The second are ones we've been paid to post about by the Chinese government to make the English-speaking world less productive. Posting about Kongai ... well, let's just say if you want to go to a fancy meal that will cost no more than 457 yuan, you don't even need to worry about it. We've got you . Kongai is a really excellent digital collectible card game hosted by Kongregate. The strategy is sufficiently deep so that explaining here wouldn't really be practical but, in short, you'll pit three or five character cards against three or five of an enemy's. You'll then have to balance choosing the right attack for the right situation with knowing when to retreat. Continue reading The Joystiq Free Game Club: Kongai Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 8 days ago Filed under: Culture , Features , PC , Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Adventure , E3 We'll make a promise to you: not once in this preview will we reference the "Things that occur in Vegas" advertising slogan that seems to pop up every time someone mentions the mecca of mischievousness in the middle of Nevada. Except for that one time. No more. This is Vegas is a game dreamed up by an assistant. Senior Associate Producer Trevor Ellington told us the real story behind the Sin City-based open-world humor game: an executive assistant at Midway came up with the idea of a game that replicated all of the wild fun to be had in Vegas, and thus was born TiV . During the demo we saw here at E3, the game presented four various scenarios: Fight, Party, Game, Drive, but by the time the game is released in 2009, they'll all be melded into what's supposed to be a sandbox of a good time. Continue reading Joystiq E3 impressions: This is Vegas Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 2 days ago Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Strategy , E3 "Attack the enemy base!" "Yes sir, I'll enter a foot race." "No, launch the missiles!" "We'll harvest all nearby thistles." "Attack the enemy units. Please, listen to me." "Downloading latest DLC." "Oh ... just forget it." This doesn't happen in Tom Clancy's EndWar . It may be a sad comment on the history of in-game voice commands, but the best compliment one can give to Ubisoft's robust interface is that it works. There's no need to plead with it in a robotic tone or a slowed pace, and no voice training is required beforehand. Despite slipping in an "uh" here and there while contemplating orders, EndWar understood everything we said. Well, everything aside from the muttered curses prompted by our utter defeat. Gallery: Tom Clancy's EndWar (PS3, Xbox 360) Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Tom Clancy's EndWar Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 3 days ago Filed under: Nintendo DS , PC , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Puzzle , RPGs Puzzle Quest Galactrix takes the fantasy world of the original Puzzle Quest and injects it with a healthy dose of sci-fi. The "match three" gameplay is still present, as are the RPG elements, and it all comes together in a Puzzle Quest experience for those who prefer interstellar drama over orcs and goblins. We're going to write the rest of this hands-on with the idea that the reader has played the original Puzzle Quest , because if they haven't, they should go out and rent/buy it right now. For those who played the first Puzzle Quest and didn't like it, Galactrix won't convert them, unless the sci-fi concept is the only thing they felt was missing from the original. %Gallery-16892% Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Puzzle Quest Galactrix Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/ ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 12 days ago Filed under: PC , Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 Part of this year's Into the Pixel collection is a sketch from "Half Life EP3" (wonder what that could be), coming to Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3. We're not exactly surprised to learn there's concept art for Episode 3 , but it's still nice to a glimpse. We're still not betting on a surprise E3 performance. Check out the highlights for today: Joystiquery BigDownload plays conference-wide PC bingo DS Fanboy Lite: July 5 - July 11 Joystiq Podcast 057 - Girls or vacations edition Nintendo E3 2008 press conference: Let's play bingo This Week in Review is preparing for the storm WRUP: One million polygons per second edition News Mainstream jumps on Xbox 360 price cut bandwagon 505 Games sinks its teeth into new DS Buffy game Major features cut from Warhammer Online Sega announces console-specific RTS in Stormrise Midway launches online arcade, digital storefront Don't be sad, but a Far Cry 2 demo isn't happening Variety: Microsoft to show 'singing game' at E3 (read: Lips) We just noticed: Rhythm Tengoku Gold coming to Japan July 31 Sony CFO: PS3 'plan is to not reduce the price' Flagship Studios confirms layoffs, extent unknown Ion reveals $299.99 price for premium Rock Band drums MTV Games finds Konami's Rock Band lawsuit 'surprising' Rumors & Speculation Rumor: Motus Games' Darwin is Xbox 360's motion controller Rumor: Animal Crossing, Punch-Out!! Wii being revealed at E3 Rumor: ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 2 days ago Filed under: Features , Sony PlayStation 2 , Sony PlayStation 3 , Nintendo Wii , Microsoft Xbox 360 , E3 Sonic has had a hard time since he discovered the third dimension. Not only is he now chubbier, but his adventures in 3D-land have been met with lukewarm reception. The general consensus is that the last great Sonic game was on the Sega Genesis. With Sonic Unleashed Sega are hoping to reinvigorate the franchise with a focus on speed and platforming, as well as evolving the character (literally) into something unique. The first thing you notice about Unleashed is that it's very pretty. Even with rough shadows and unfinished lighting physics, the game looks gorgeous. It looks like it might also play quite nicely, depending on controls. There are two different styles of gameplay in Unleashed which, together, could satisfy most Sonic fans. For a lot of people the name Sonic is synonymous with "speed," and the day-time missions in Unleashed reflect this. The first level seemed simple enough -- hold the analog stick in the right direction and watch Sonic go, making sure to jump in time. Obviously, this won't be true throughout the game, later levels will feature more precise platforming sections and less non-stop running. There are also different routes to take throughout the levels, which require a specific button combination press in order to reach. Gallery: Sonic Unleashed Continue reading Joystiq E3 eyes-on: Sonic Unleashed Perm ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 2 days ago Filed under: Features , Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Strategy , E3 Real Time Strategies have never been a good fit for consoles, thanks to their over-reliance on a mouse and keyboard. The Creative Assembly are hoping to change that with Stormrise by creating a fully intuitive, pad-based control system. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to try the controls out for ourselves, but from what we saw it has some potential. Selecting units is as simple as flicking the right analogue stick. Holding it in any direction will bring up a radar screen, showing your troops throughout the level relative to your currently selected unit. Rotating the right stick will let you highlight your units and, letting go of the stick, select them. Quickly "whipping" the right stick in any given direction will select the nearest unit in that direction, allowing you to switch between units swiftly. Once selected, the game's viewpoint switches to above and behind the unit, allowing you to see what they see. They can then be moved to any visible ground using a 3D cursor. This seemed to work well, but there are also other methods of controlling units that seemed to work even better, depending on your play style. Continue reading Joystiq E3 eyes-on: Stormrise Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new ga ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 8 days ago Filed under: Culture , Microsoft Xbox 360 We really don't care for those flimsy, frilly faceplates, but we think we've finally discovered one with some redeeming qualities. Glimpsed by one of the whiteboard cameras at Microsoft's E3 press conference and consequently by everyone in attendance, the unsanctioned, Joystiq-branded Xbox 360 faceplate has been a source of great mystery for those who spend their days posting inconsequential filler insightful commentary on this very website. Is it real? Who made it? Why would they go through that sort of effort? Is it all just an elaborate marketing ploy? And most importantly, where can we get one? We hope to find the answers -- and the faceplate itself -- sometime before the week is out. It's not like we have anything better to do. Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 10 days ago Filed under: E3 This is the scene earlier today at Los Angeles Convention Center's North Hall. Just two years ago, this hall was alive and booming, with ginormous Titan Quest posters. Check out the highlights for the weekend: Joystiquery The Best of Big Download: July 6-12 Big Versus compares Civilization Revolution to PC predecessors Joystiq @ E3 2008: We've arrived! Massively plays conference-wide MMO bingo Our E3 2008 armaments: This is how we blog PS Fanboy Week in Review: 7/7 - 7/12 News First Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe gameplay trailer is toasty Fight the Foo with the Rock Band 2 gameplay debut Gears of War 2's 'Day-One' map, multiplayer bots revealed Fallout 3 teaser trailer will never, ever let you down Saw director takes a stab at Dead Space with 'Loved Ones' trailer Flagship Studios' entire staff fired, all intellectual property lost Target confirms $299 Xbox 360 Pro; Arcade still $280, says CC Microsoft confirms: Xbox 360 60GB for $349, 20GB now at $299 First Puzzle Quest: Galactrix trailer is rather hexy Spector's Junction Point working on Disney / Pixar collaboration Fable 2 won't have heads-up display, pre-rendered cut scenes SKU too? Xbox 360 Elite for $400 at Amazon Penny Arcade Adventures only $10 this weekend on Steam A pair of Dragon Age: Origins trailers let loose the dogs of war Neopets creators reveal monster taming MMO Twin Skies Project Origin's FEARsome E3 trailer Source: Geometry Wars 2 announced tomo ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 3 days ago Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Action , Adventure , First Person Shooters , RPGs , Interviews , E3 Hopefully we're not in danger of providing Fallout 3 overload , and if you haven't gotten the idea yet, we're really looking forward to this game. It's literally a cool science fiction series skin slapped on top of Oblivion , but we're not complaining about that. Blowing away mutants in the wasteland? Yes, please. Here's the meat and bones from our time with Bethesda's Todd Howard, and you can listen to the full audio interview below. After the break, find out some tidbits like the size of the world, how many radio stations are in the game, and why you won't be dual-wielding or buying horse armor. Oh, and be sure to pay attention to the exploding pants achievement. Continue reading Joystiq interview: Bethesda's Todd Howard on Fallout 3 Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/ ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 3 days ago Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , Action PixelJunk Eden is a simple concept boosted by its visuals, sound and co-op gameplay. Much like PixelJunk Monsters , Eden' s simplicity in design hides a surprising amount of depth and Q-Games' PixelJunk brand now adds one more feather to its cap, presenting another piece of stand-out quality on the PlayStation Network. We actually played Eden with the game's producer, Deb Mars , who, despite having shown off the game for the umpteenth million time, either has the patience of Solomon Job, or actually, genuinely, enjoys introducing people to Eden . As she went through the basic gameplay, it was easy to understand and gave a good sense that, much like PixelJunk Monsters , Eden really shines when it's played with a friend. %Gallery-26872% Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: PixelJunk Eden Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/ ...
Source: www.gamesradar.com --- 3 days ago Joystiq: "Like flOw, it's really hard for us to confidently form an opinion on the abstract idea. We hope Sony decides to release a demo with this game. Videos and previews will not do flower justice; it's a game worth trying for yourself. " Full preview after the jump ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 3 days ago Filed under: PC , Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , First Person Shooters Adding on to our hands-on with Far Cry 2 a couple months ago, our most recent experience at E3 gave us the same feeling that we'd only begun to scratch the surface of this title. For a general overview of what to expect in Far Cry 2 , check out our previous hands-on with the game. Here we're going to get into a little bit more detail about our experience within the game. For starters, the African Serengeti, the open-world venue for the game looks the same on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. The location has some great level design put into it with our 20-minute experience presenting us with several locales. After a battle in one particular village, we got on a boat and drove through a well-detailed ravine; while in another instance we drove to a location in a car along dirt roads. The driving in the game is surprisingly good, making sense depending on what terrain is being driven over, and we didn't find ourselves unnecessarily fighting with the controls at all. Now, let's discuss the surprising AI in the game. Gallery: Far Cry 2 Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Far Cry 2 Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 4 days ago Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360 , Strategy After all this time we finally got to touch Halo Wars and ... it was good. There's visual polishing to be done, but the user interface (UI) is as intuitive as developer Ensemble Studios has been hyping since (what feels like) the time of the Forerunners. This is an RTS game clearly made for a console first. The UI is incredibly intuitive. Left analog moves the camera, right analog zooms, A selects, X is the move/attack button and Y activates special moves. If you've played other RTS games ported to the Xbox 360, this is a very different experience. %Gallery-1676% Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Halo Wars (Xbox 360) Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/ ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 4 days ago Filed under: Nintendo Wii How does an adult -- a gamer -- explain Nintendo's strongly touted Wii Music without conveying an overwhelming feeling of dread? It's like the Fisher-Price version of music games and in some dark nightmare it could become a major hit. The skill required to play Wii Music is comparable to putting a three-year-old in front of a toy piano and just letting them bang away, but no matter what key the child hits it continues to play the correct note to create a song. Wii Music is not a game, it's a toy; another glorified tech demo to keep Wii Sports and Wii Play company. If music snobs dismiss the skill required to play games like Rock Band or Guitar Hero , which do require talent to play and succeed, then those folks are going to have a full-blown aneurysm if Wii Music becomes a best seller. Our experience with the game was interesting, but we can't imagine spending more time with it beyond testing out the features or using it to entertain a child toddler when company comes over and the adults want to talk. Gallery: Wii Music Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Wii Music Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 4 days ago Filed under: Nintendo Wii , Sports What Wii Sports did for the Wiimote, Wii Sports Resort does for the Wii MotionPlus . The added precision of the Wii MotionPlus gets to show off in the title and, from the three minigames we experienced, it gives an idea of how other games could benefit from the accessory. We had a chance to try out Disc Dog, Power Cruising and, our favorite, Sword Play. Nintendo says the Wii MotionPlus gives 1:1 control, but that's stretching the truth just a little. The controls certainly feel more precise than the Wiimote in its current state, but we're not exactly sure just yet if it'll fulfill gamer fantasies of precise lightsaber duels. Gallery: Wii Sports Resort Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Wii Sports Resort Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 4 days ago Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , E3 How did Killzone come to carry such a burden? I asked myself this as I slogged through an early level in Killzone 2 . PlayStation 2 wanted its " Spartan " and the original Killzone was called to task, failing miserably. And then, almost forgotten, Killzone emerged again through a dazzling display of smoke and mirrors at E3 2005. Three years later, we're inching ever closer to Killzone 2's release in February 2009. Now that the smoke is settling we wonder if a true "Halo killer" stands before us. The E3 2008 demo begins with a beach landing (what else?), and continues with a crawl up into the bowels of a hellish place. This is a gray and lonely world, an industrial city of towering steels and concrete. The views are beautiful though. This is a gorgeous game -- Guerrilla has delivered on that promise. Where Halo offers relief from the horror of its subject matter with rich, 'toonish colors, Killzone plunges your senses deep into the despair and grotesqueness of a world at war. The stark environments are enriched by a distinct art design. There's cinema here. But we're not idly watching, are we? %Gallery-28043% Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Killzone 2 Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, ...
Source: www.joystiq.com --- 4 days ago Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , Action The easiest way to describe Fat Princess for PSN is to say it's Team Fortress 2 populated by demented My Sims . It's a multiplayer "capture the flag" game, except that the flag is a princess who is more difficult to carry back to base the more the opposing team feeds her cake, which magically grows in the forest around the castle. The action takes place in a colorful fantasy land where opposing teams need to reach the other's base, grab their princess and get back to the castle. The princess will lose the weight if she's not constantly fed, so if a team focuses on just combat instead of feeding the princess, the opposing team will have an easier time carrying her away once they inevitably infiltrate the castle. Gallery: Fat Princess Continue reading Joystiq eyes-on: Fat Princess Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
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Filed under: Gaming 10:23: We're en route to Sony now, stay tuned! 11:11: We're waiting outside the entrance. Tons of people in front of the entrance to the show. Veronica Belmont is getting tons of fan response for Qore. People are taking pictures with her. 11:25: We've just taken our seats at Sony's conference in front of what could only be described as a wall of screens: 7 main screens and roughly 64 smaller screens. OMG, Vaio LCD's everywhere. You'd think this was a Sony event. Continue reading Engadget & Joystiq live from Sony's E3 2008 keynote Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Filed under: Gaming We're here! The line is already mad long, but we must admit, it feels great to have E3 back at the convention center. 9:47 am PT: Alright! We're waiting in line for the MS press conference! We're feigning excitement through gratuitous use of exclamation points! 9:49 am PT: An MS representative asks us if we have our "passports." We assume she means our press badges and isn't about to whisk us to another country. Mind you, we've always wanted to see the Swiss Alps. Oh, and the chocolate and... okay, we're getting sidetracked. 9:51 am PT: So, if you were trying to spot us in this line, we'd be the ones holding laptops in one hand and typing with the other. We keep bumping into the person in front when the line comes to a halt, what with our eyes glued to our screens. Also, person behind us. STOP READING OVER OUR SHOULDERS. ALSO, YOU SMELL BAD. Continue reading Engadget & Joystiq live from Microsoft's E3 2008 keynote Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Filed under: PC We hook you up with two different kinds of games in the JFGC. The first are just titles that we hope you'll think are fun. The second are ones we've been paid to post about by the Chinese government to make the English-speaking world less productive. Posting about Kongai ... well, let's just say if you want to go to a fancy meal that will cost no more than 457 yuan, you don't even need to worry about it. We've got you . Kongai is a really excellent digital collectible card game hosted by Kongregate. The strategy is sufficiently deep so that explaining here wouldn't really be practical but, in short, you'll pit three or five character cards against three or five of an enemy's. You'll then have to balance choosing the right attack for the right situation with knowing when to retreat. Continue reading The Joystiq Free Game Club: Kongai Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Filed under: Culture , Features , PC , Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Adventure , E3 We'll make a promise to you: not once in this preview will we reference the "Things that occur in Vegas" advertising slogan that seems to pop up every time someone mentions the mecca of mischievousness in the middle of Nevada. Except for that one time. No more. This is Vegas is a game dreamed up by an assistant. Senior Associate Producer Trevor Ellington told us the real story behind the Sin City-based open-world humor game: an executive assistant at Midway came up with the idea of a game that replicated all of the wild fun to be had in Vegas, and thus was born TiV . During the demo we saw here at E3, the game presented four various scenarios: Fight, Party, Game, Drive, but by the time the game is released in 2009, they'll all be melded into what's supposed to be a sandbox of a good time. Continue reading Joystiq E3 impressions: This is Vegas Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Strategy , E3 "Attack the enemy base!" "Yes sir, I'll enter a foot race." "No, launch the missiles!" "We'll harvest all nearby thistles." "Attack the enemy units. Please, listen to me." "Downloading latest DLC." "Oh ... just forget it." This doesn't happen in Tom Clancy's EndWar . It may be a sad comment on the history of in-game voice commands, but the best compliment one can give to Ubisoft's robust interface is that it works. There's no need to plead with it in a robotic tone or a slowed pace, and no voice training is required beforehand. Despite slipping in an "uh" here and there while contemplating orders, EndWar understood everything we said. Well, everything aside from the muttered curses prompted by our utter defeat. Gallery: Tom Clancy's EndWar (PS3, Xbox 360) Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Tom Clancy's EndWar Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Filed under: Nintendo DS , PC , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Puzzle , RPGs Puzzle Quest Galactrix takes the fantasy world of the original Puzzle Quest and injects it with a healthy dose of sci-fi. The "match three" gameplay is still present, as are the RPG elements, and it all comes together in a Puzzle Quest experience for those who prefer interstellar drama over orcs and goblins. We're going to write the rest of this hands-on with the idea that the reader has played the original Puzzle Quest , because if they haven't, they should go out and rent/buy it right now. For those who played the first Puzzle Quest and didn't like it, Galactrix won't convert them, unless the sci-fi concept is the only thing they felt was missing from the original. %Gallery-16892% Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Puzzle Quest Galactrix Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/ ...
Filed under: PC , Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 Part of this year's Into the Pixel collection is a sketch from "Half Life EP3" (wonder what that could be), coming to Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3. We're not exactly surprised to learn there's concept art for Episode 3 , but it's still nice to a glimpse. We're still not betting on a surprise E3 performance. Check out the highlights for today: Joystiquery BigDownload plays conference-wide PC bingo DS Fanboy Lite: July 5 - July 11 Joystiq Podcast 057 - Girls or vacations edition Nintendo E3 2008 press conference: Let's play bingo This Week in Review is preparing for the storm WRUP: One million polygons per second edition News Mainstream jumps on Xbox 360 price cut bandwagon 505 Games sinks its teeth into new DS Buffy game Major features cut from Warhammer Online Sega announces console-specific RTS in Stormrise Midway launches online arcade, digital storefront Don't be sad, but a Far Cry 2 demo isn't happening Variety: Microsoft to show 'singing game' at E3 (read: Lips) We just noticed: Rhythm Tengoku Gold coming to Japan July 31 Sony CFO: PS3 'plan is to not reduce the price' Flagship Studios confirms layoffs, extent unknown Ion reveals $299.99 price for premium Rock Band drums MTV Games finds Konami's Rock Band lawsuit 'surprising' Rumors & Speculation Rumor: Motus Games' Darwin is Xbox 360's motion controller Rumor: Animal Crossing, Punch-Out!! Wii being revealed at E3 Rumor: ...
Filed under: Features , Sony PlayStation 2 , Sony PlayStation 3 , Nintendo Wii , Microsoft Xbox 360 , E3 Sonic has had a hard time since he discovered the third dimension. Not only is he now chubbier, but his adventures in 3D-land have been met with lukewarm reception. The general consensus is that the last great Sonic game was on the Sega Genesis. With Sonic Unleashed Sega are hoping to reinvigorate the franchise with a focus on speed and platforming, as well as evolving the character (literally) into something unique. The first thing you notice about Unleashed is that it's very pretty. Even with rough shadows and unfinished lighting physics, the game looks gorgeous. It looks like it might also play quite nicely, depending on controls. There are two different styles of gameplay in Unleashed which, together, could satisfy most Sonic fans. For a lot of people the name Sonic is synonymous with "speed," and the day-time missions in Unleashed reflect this. The first level seemed simple enough -- hold the analog stick in the right direction and watch Sonic go, making sure to jump in time. Obviously, this won't be true throughout the game, later levels will feature more precise platforming sections and less non-stop running. There are also different routes to take throughout the levels, which require a specific button combination press in order to reach. Gallery: Sonic Unleashed Continue reading Joystiq E3 eyes-on: Sonic Unleashed Perm ...
Filed under: Features , Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Strategy , E3 Real Time Strategies have never been a good fit for consoles, thanks to their over-reliance on a mouse and keyboard. The Creative Assembly are hoping to change that with Stormrise by creating a fully intuitive, pad-based control system. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to try the controls out for ourselves, but from what we saw it has some potential. Selecting units is as simple as flicking the right analogue stick. Holding it in any direction will bring up a radar screen, showing your troops throughout the level relative to your currently selected unit. Rotating the right stick will let you highlight your units and, letting go of the stick, select them. Quickly "whipping" the right stick in any given direction will select the nearest unit in that direction, allowing you to switch between units swiftly. Once selected, the game's viewpoint switches to above and behind the unit, allowing you to see what they see. They can then be moved to any visible ground using a 3D cursor. This seemed to work well, but there are also other methods of controlling units that seemed to work even better, depending on your play style. Continue reading Joystiq E3 eyes-on: Stormrise Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new ga ...
Filed under: Culture , Microsoft Xbox 360 We really don't care for those flimsy, frilly faceplates, but we think we've finally discovered one with some redeeming qualities. Glimpsed by one of the whiteboard cameras at Microsoft's E3 press conference and consequently by everyone in attendance, the unsanctioned, Joystiq-branded Xbox 360 faceplate has been a source of great mystery for those who spend their days posting inconsequential filler insightful commentary on this very website. Is it real? Who made it? Why would they go through that sort of effort? Is it all just an elaborate marketing ploy? And most importantly, where can we get one? We hope to find the answers -- and the faceplate itself -- sometime before the week is out. It's not like we have anything better to do. Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Filed under: E3 This is the scene earlier today at Los Angeles Convention Center's North Hall. Just two years ago, this hall was alive and booming, with ginormous Titan Quest posters. Check out the highlights for the weekend: Joystiquery The Best of Big Download: July 6-12 Big Versus compares Civilization Revolution to PC predecessors Joystiq @ E3 2008: We've arrived! Massively plays conference-wide MMO bingo Our E3 2008 armaments: This is how we blog PS Fanboy Week in Review: 7/7 - 7/12 News First Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe gameplay trailer is toasty Fight the Foo with the Rock Band 2 gameplay debut Gears of War 2's 'Day-One' map, multiplayer bots revealed Fallout 3 teaser trailer will never, ever let you down Saw director takes a stab at Dead Space with 'Loved Ones' trailer Flagship Studios' entire staff fired, all intellectual property lost Target confirms $299 Xbox 360 Pro; Arcade still $280, says CC Microsoft confirms: Xbox 360 60GB for $349, 20GB now at $299 First Puzzle Quest: Galactrix trailer is rather hexy Spector's Junction Point working on Disney / Pixar collaboration Fable 2 won't have heads-up display, pre-rendered cut scenes SKU too? Xbox 360 Elite for $400 at Amazon Penny Arcade Adventures only $10 this weekend on Steam A pair of Dragon Age: Origins trailers let loose the dogs of war Neopets creators reveal monster taming MMO Twin Skies Project Origin's FEARsome E3 trailer Source: Geometry Wars 2 announced tomo ...
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , Action , Adventure , First Person Shooters , RPGs , Interviews , E3 Hopefully we're not in danger of providing Fallout 3 overload , and if you haven't gotten the idea yet, we're really looking forward to this game. It's literally a cool science fiction series skin slapped on top of Oblivion , but we're not complaining about that. Blowing away mutants in the wasteland? Yes, please. Here's the meat and bones from our time with Bethesda's Todd Howard, and you can listen to the full audio interview below. After the break, find out some tidbits like the size of the world, how many radio stations are in the game, and why you won't be dual-wielding or buying horse armor. Oh, and be sure to pay attention to the exploding pants achievement. Continue reading Joystiq interview: Bethesda's Todd Howard on Fallout 3 Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/ ...
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , Action PixelJunk Eden is a simple concept boosted by its visuals, sound and co-op gameplay. Much like PixelJunk Monsters , Eden' s simplicity in design hides a surprising amount of depth and Q-Games' PixelJunk brand now adds one more feather to its cap, presenting another piece of stand-out quality on the PlayStation Network. We actually played Eden with the game's producer, Deb Mars , who, despite having shown off the game for the umpteenth million time, either has the patience of Solomon Job, or actually, genuinely, enjoys introducing people to Eden . As she went through the basic gameplay, it was easy to understand and gave a good sense that, much like PixelJunk Monsters , Eden really shines when it's played with a friend. %Gallery-26872% Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: PixelJunk Eden Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/ ...
Joystiq: "Like flOw, it's really hard for us to confidently form an opinion on the abstract idea. We hope Sony decides to release a demo with this game. Videos and previews will not do flower justice; it's a game worth trying for yourself. " Full preview after the jump ...
Filed under: PC , Sony PlayStation 3 , Microsoft Xbox 360 , First Person Shooters Adding on to our hands-on with Far Cry 2 a couple months ago, our most recent experience at E3 gave us the same feeling that we'd only begun to scratch the surface of this title. For a general overview of what to expect in Far Cry 2 , check out our previous hands-on with the game. Here we're going to get into a little bit more detail about our experience within the game. For starters, the African Serengeti, the open-world venue for the game looks the same on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. The location has some great level design put into it with our 20-minute experience presenting us with several locales. After a battle in one particular village, we got on a boat and drove through a well-detailed ravine; while in another instance we drove to a location in a car along dirt roads. The driving in the game is surprisingly good, making sense depending on what terrain is being driven over, and we didn't find ourselves unnecessarily fighting with the controls at all. Now, let's discuss the surprising AI in the game. Gallery: Far Cry 2 Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Far Cry 2 Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360 , Strategy After all this time we finally got to touch Halo Wars and ... it was good. There's visual polishing to be done, but the user interface (UI) is as intuitive as developer Ensemble Studios has been hyping since (what feels like) the time of the Forerunners. This is an RTS game clearly made for a console first. The UI is incredibly intuitive. Left analog moves the camera, right analog zooms, A selects, X is the move/attack button and Y activates special moves. If you've played other RTS games ported to the Xbox 360, this is a very different experience. %Gallery-1676% Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Halo Wars (Xbox 360) Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/ ...
Filed under: Nintendo Wii How does an adult -- a gamer -- explain Nintendo's strongly touted Wii Music without conveying an overwhelming feeling of dread? It's like the Fisher-Price version of music games and in some dark nightmare it could become a major hit. The skill required to play Wii Music is comparable to putting a three-year-old in front of a toy piano and just letting them bang away, but no matter what key the child hits it continues to play the correct note to create a song. Wii Music is not a game, it's a toy; another glorified tech demo to keep Wii Sports and Wii Play company. If music snobs dismiss the skill required to play games like Rock Band or Guitar Hero , which do require talent to play and succeed, then those folks are going to have a full-blown aneurysm if Wii Music becomes a best seller. Our experience with the game was interesting, but we can't imagine spending more time with it beyond testing out the features or using it to entertain a child toddler when company comes over and the adults want to talk. Gallery: Wii Music Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Wii Music Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Filed under: Nintendo Wii , Sports What Wii Sports did for the Wiimote, Wii Sports Resort does for the Wii MotionPlus . The added precision of the Wii MotionPlus gets to show off in the title and, from the three minigames we experienced, it gives an idea of how other games could benefit from the accessory. We had a chance to try out Disc Dog, Power Cruising and, our favorite, Sword Play. Nintendo says the Wii MotionPlus gives 1:1 control, but that's stretching the truth just a little. The controls certainly feel more precise than the Wiimote in its current state, but we're not exactly sure just yet if it'll fulfill gamer fantasies of precise lightsaber duels. Gallery: Wii Sports Resort Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Wii Sports Resort Permalink | Email this | Comments ...
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , E3 How did Killzone come to carry such a burden? I asked myself this as I slogged through an early level in Killzone 2 . PlayStation 2 wanted its " Spartan " and the original Killzone was called to task, failing miserably. And then, almost forgotten, Killzone emerged again through a dazzling display of smoke and mirrors at E3 2005. Three years later, we're inching ever closer to Killzone 2's release in February 2009. Now that the smoke is settling we wonder if a true "Halo killer" stands before us. The E3 2008 demo begins with a beach landing (what else?), and continues with a crawl up into the bowels of a hellish place. This is a gray and lonely world, an industrial city of towering steels and concrete. The views are beautiful though. This is a gorgeous game -- Guerrilla has delivered on that promise. Where Halo offers relief from the horror of its subject matter with rich, 'toonish colors, Killzone plunges your senses deep into the despair and grotesqueness of a world at war. The stark environments are enriched by a distinct art design. There's cinema here. But we're not idly watching, are we? %Gallery-28043% Continue reading Joystiq E3 hands-on: Killzone 2 Permalink | Email this | Comments SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, ...
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3 , Action The easiest way to describe Fat Princess for PSN is to say it's Team Fortress 2 populated by demented My Sims . It's a multiplayer "capture the flag" game, except that the flag is a princess who is more difficult to carry back to base the more the opposing team feeds her cake, which magically grows in the forest around the castle. The action takes place in a colorful fantasy land where opposing teams need to reach the other's base, grab their princess and get back to the castle. The princess will lose the weight if she's not constantly fed, so if a team focuses on just combat instead of feeding the princess, the opposing team will have an easier time carrying her away once they inevitably infiltrate the castle. Gallery: Fat Princess Continue reading Joystiq eyes-on: Fat Princess Permalink | Email this | Comments ...