Joystiq [PlayStation] http://playstation.joystiq.com Joystiq [PlayStation] http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://playstation.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq [PlayStation] http://playstation.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Interview: Spoiling Heavy Rain with David Cage]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/interview-spoiling-heavy-rain-with-david-cage/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/interview-spoiling-heavy-rain-with-david-cage/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/interview-spoiling-heavy-rain-with-david-cage/#comments
Once a major release has been completed and propelled to the top of the sales charts, the critical discussion surrounding it typically evaporates just as the Next Big Thing appears on the horizon. But Heavy Rain -- whether you like it, love it or loathe it -- has been kept afloat in popular opinion, with critics still debating its controversial design and embarrassing themselves as they attempt to shoehorn water puns like "afloat" and "evaporates" into ham-fisted introductory paragraphs.

We drew Heavy Rain's director and writer, the soft-spoken, passionate and occasionally enigmatic David Cage, into the ongoing discussion and asked him to elaborate upon the game's story, its technology and its critical reception. Oh, and the nature of the Origami Killer, which means ...

SPOILER WARNING: The following interview contains massive, big-huge spoilers for Heavy Rain. If you have not completed Quantic Dream's cinematic adventure, do not proceed beyond the break -- and don't even think about reading the comments. Just turn around and slowly R2 away.

Continue reading Interview: Spoiling Heavy Rain with David Cage

JoystiqInterview: Spoiling Heavy Rain with David Cage originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventuredavid-cagegdc-2010heavy-raininterviewmysteryquantic-dreamsonyFri, 19 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band Weekly: X, Carrie Underwood, Little Fish, Ace Frehley, OneRepublic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/rock-band-weekly-x-carrie-underwood-little-fish-ace-frehley/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/rock-band-weekly-x-carrie-underwood-little-fish-ace-frehley/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/rock-band-weekly-x-carrie-underwood-little-fish-ace-frehley/#comments Despite American punk rock band X being next week's featured Rock Band DLC pack artist, we decided to go with a picture of Carrie Underwood. Why? Isn't it obvious?! Her single, "All-American Girl," available next week, speaks to the struggles of the middle-class American female. Of gender roles, a father's love and providing babies for your husband. It's like the "American Pie" of a new generation. So that's why Underwood gets featured with that "how do I spend my next million, y'all?" look.

Check out the full release list after the break.

Continue reading Rock Band Weekly: X, Carrie Underwood, Little Fish, Ace Frehley, OneRepublic

JoystiqRock Band Weekly: X, Carrie Underwood, Little Fish, Ace Frehley, OneRepublic originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ace-freshleycarrie-underwoodlittle-fishonerepublicrock-bandrock-band-2rock-band-dlcrock-band-weeklyrock-band-wiirock-band-wiiklyxFri, 19 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG gets free 'Trooper Gear Pack' DLC next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/mag-gets-free-trooper-gear-pack-dlc-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/mag-gets-free-trooper-gear-pack-dlc-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/mag-gets-free-trooper-gear-pack-dlc-next-week/#comments Ten-hut, soldiers! HQ has just sent word that some new gear will be shipping to the front lines of MAG next week, free of charge: the Trooper Gear Pack. In this parcel, we'll finally get access to the Flashbang grenade -- which should help us confuse and outwit the enemy. But, that's not all: our supplier, Zipper Interactive, also reports it's bundled in some new LMGs (Raven's APEX 100SE, S.V.E.R.'s RTK-74 Vla, and Valor's Mk 46 Mod 1) and uniforms.

The full rundown is available via Zipper's site, where it's also revealed that next weekend (March 25 - 28) there will be double XP out on the battlefield. It's a nice bonus for our continued service, however we feel it's bad timing. Operation PAX East will be in full effect by the 25th, so we doubt we'll find time to benefit from the extra incentive to hoist the S.V.E.R. flag.

JoystiqMAG gets free 'Trooper Gear Pack' DLC next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcflashbangmagtrooper-gear-packzipper-interactiveFri, 19 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Dead Redemption videos show off pre-order options]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/red-dead-redemption-videos-show-off-pre-order-options/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/red-dead-redemption-videos-show-off-pre-order-options/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/red-dead-redemption-videos-show-off-pre-order-options/#comments Rockstar sent along videos showcasing each of the Red Dead Redemption pre-orders currently available, and we just can't decide which one to go with -- they all look so good. You can see all three of them over on the game's website. Pre-ordering from Amazon, you'll remember, will get you a Golden Guns pack, pre-ordering the game at GameStop will nab you the fan-selected Deadly Assassin Outfit and ordering the game from Best Buy will get you the War Horse, which you can see in the video above.

Wait a minute -- we just decided. We're totally going with the horsie. His name will be Roger and we will hug him and feed him and dodge explosions and shoot bad guys from his back and it will be the awesomest. Roger is the best horse ever. He's tougher than any other horse!

JoystiqRed Dead Redemption videos show off pre-order options originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbest-buybonusesdeadly-assassin-outfitgamestopgolden-gunsoptionspre-orderpre-ordersred-dead-redemptionrockstarRockstar-San-Diegoroger-the-war-horsevideoswar-horseFri, 19 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Majin and the Forsaken Trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/majin-and-the-forsaken-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/majin-and-the-forsaken-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/majin-and-the-forsaken-trailer/#commentsHe's huge, he's covered in foliage -- he's Majin, and in this latest trailer for Maijn and the Forsaken Kingdom, we get to see him and his friend some guy fighting the evil forces that have made the kingdom so forsaken. Majin may be cuddly, but he won't hesitate to straight up drop a wall on some monsters. He will emit lightning, should the situation require it. In addition, we see that even without his BFF Majin around, the kid can do some platforming and acrobatic fighting on his own.

Majin is currently scheduled to arrive on PS3 and Xbox 360 this summer.

Continue reading Majin and the Forsaken Trailer

JoystiqMajin and the Forsaken Trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionadventuremajinmajin-and-the-forsaken-kingdommajin-the-fallen-realmnamco-bandaiFri, 19 Mar 2010 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[See Sonic 4's Splash Hill Zone, Eggman]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/see-sonic-4s-splash-hill-zone-eggman/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/see-sonic-4s-splash-hill-zone-eggman/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/see-sonic-4s-splash-hill-zone-eggman/#commentsFor those of you who have yet to decide to boycott Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Sega has released some new media of the downloadable rodent-racing platformer. Including ... the second known character to appear in the game. Okay, before more of you start boycotting, it's just Eggman (or Dr. Robotnik, or whatever). And he's shown in one of his spheroid flying vehicles, implying that he's in the game in boss capacity only.

The site also features a few screens, music and a description of Splash Hill Zone, which can be summed up as "Green Hill Zone in HD." And that's a good thing, right?

JoystiqSee Sonic 4's Splash Hill Zone, Eggman originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mustangpsnsegasonicsonic-the-hedgehogsonic-the-hedgehog-4sonic-the-hedgehog-4-episode-1wiiwarexblaThu, 18 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe on UMD in North America this April]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/pixeljunk-monsters-deluxe-on-umd-in-north-america-this-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/pixeljunk-monsters-deluxe-on-umd-in-north-america-this-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/pixeljunk-monsters-deluxe-on-umd-in-north-america-this-april/#commentsFor that cross-section of the PSP audience that likes both PixelJunk Monsters and tangible objects, Q-Games's Dylan Cuthbert has announced a UMD release of PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, due to launch in North America at "participating retail outlets" on April 27 for $19.99. The tower defense title has been available digitally since last fall.

Interestingly, Cuthbert originally cited piracy as the reason for the lack of a worldwide release for the UMD of Deluxe, previously released in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. Try not to pirate this one, so we can see more nice discs like this in the future.

JoystiqPixelJunk Monsters Deluxe on UMD in North America this April originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dylan-cuthbertpixeljunkpixeljunk-monsterspixeljunk-monsters-deluxeq-gamesumdThu, 18 Mar 2010 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten minutes of co-op sneaking exposed in Peace Walker video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/ten-minutes-of-co-op-sneaking-exposed-in-peace-walker-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/ten-minutes-of-co-op-sneaking-exposed-in-peace-walker-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/ten-minutes-of-co-op-sneaking-exposed-in-peace-walker-video/#comments Though we don't possess the thorough comprehension of the Japanese language required to understand what's happening in the video posted above, we know that we like what we see. If you've got some time to kill, check out the ten minute co-op demonstration of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker at the top of this post. It shows of a few of the game's neat multiplayer tactics, including an invisibility gun and the increasingly iconic "four-legged tank maneuver." Judging by those two alone, it certainly looks like Peace Walker's capacity for hijinks is going to be near-limitless.

JoystiqTen minutes of co-op sneaking exposed in Peace Walker video originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>co-opdemokojimakonamimetal-gear-solidmetal-gear-solid-peace-walkervideoThu, 18 Mar 2010 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Thursday: Sam & Max pre-order, Heavy Rain soundtrack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/psn-thursday-sam-and-max-pre-order-heavy-rain-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/psn-thursday-sam-and-max-pre-order-heavy-rain-soundtrack/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/psn-thursday-sam-and-max-pre-order-heavy-rain-soundtrack/#comments Max: Lissssten to my voice, you will pre-order Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse for $30.

We will pre-order Sam & Max

Max: You will also watch the next episode of The Tester.

We will also ... wait, do we have to?

Check out the full PSN update after the break.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continue reading PSN Thursday: Sam & Max pre-order, Heavy Rain soundtrack

JoystiqPSN Thursday: Sam & Max pre-order, Heavy Rain soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1942-joint-strikegroovin-blocksPSNPSN-StorePSN-Thursdaysam-and-maxsam-and-max-the-devils-playhousesam-and-max-the-devils-playhouse-episode-1-the-penal-zoneThu, 18 Mar 2010 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Move input latency analyzed by Digital Foundry]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/playstation-move-input-latency-analyzed-by-digital-foundry/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/playstation-move-input-latency-analyzed-by-digital-foundry/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/playstation-move-input-latency-analyzed-by-digital-foundry/#comments The amount of latency between a user's input on a game controller and the in-game reflection of that input is an incredibly important factor when comparing motion controllers. Sony has been boasting that the input latency for the PlayStation Move would be "under a frame" -- though Digital Foundry concluded otherwise during its brief tech demo with the sphere-tipped peripheral.

Digital Foundry conducted a fairly rudimentary experiment in which a person filmed himself sharply moving the controller, then counted how many milliseconds it takes for the screen to reflect his movement. Though there were a few variables to the experiment (such as the unknown, natural latency of the television display used in the demo), Digital Foundry estimates the device's latency to be in the ballpark of 133ms (around eight frames), which they claim is "fine for most of the applications you would want from such a controller." You can check out a video of Digital Foundry's simple latency experiment on Eurogamer.

JoystiqPlayStation Move input latency analyzed by Digital Foundry originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-foundrylaglatencymotion-controlperipheralplaystation-movesonyThu, 18 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PixelJunk Eden's Baiyon creating music visualizer for PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/pixeljunk-edens-baiyon-creating-music-visualizer-for-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/pixeljunk-edens-baiyon-creating-music-visualizer-for-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/pixeljunk-edens-baiyon-creating-music-visualizer-for-ps3/#comments Q-Games is teaming up with Japanese artist Baiyon once again for another PSN collaboration. Baiyon, who created the visuals and sound for PixelJunk Eden and Encore, is directing an interactive music visualizer for the PS3, to be distributed via the PlayStation Network.

Unlike Q-Games' Earth visualizer, this upcoming project will not be built into the PS3 operating system. Instead, this will be a standalone application, akin to .deTuned. This is terrific news for Trophy hunters, as they should be familiar with how easy it is to get PSN XP with these standalone art applications.

JoystiqPixelJunk Eden's Baiyon creating music visualizer for PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baiyongdc-2010pixeljunkpixeljunk-edenq-gamesvisualizerThu, 18 Mar 2010 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap (PSN)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/hands-on-pixeljunk-racers-2nd-lap/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/hands-on-pixeljunk-racers-2nd-lap/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/hands-on-pixeljunk-racers-2nd-lap/#comments As the first PixelJunk game from Q-Games, Racers was largely misunderstood by most. Now, after the success of Monsters, Eden and Shooter, Q-Games is ready to go back to its first concept and give it a second chance. PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap isn't just an add-on to the original PSN game, but a new game (with new features like Trophies) that warrants a second look from fresh PixelJunk fans.

Like the original, 2nd Lap is a unique interpretation of classic top-down racers of yore. However, Q-Games' take on the genre makes it more of a puzzle or rhythm game, rather than a racing game -- an easy mistake for players to make, considering both the game's look and title. While some modes do require "winning" a race, most are about achieving rather specific goals. For example, you may need to complete a number of laps in a constantly-accelerating vehicle, while avoiding all the other cars on the road. "Sunday Drive" will have you trying to get past as many slow-driving cars as possible. It's a frustrating recreation of being stuck in traffic, yet it's oddly compelling.

In its second iteration, PixelJunk Racers remains essentially a collection of car-themed minigames, with the ultimate goal of scoring as high as possible on the leaderboards. Thankfully, 2nd Lap has been made considerably easier and more accessible than the first game, easing players into a much easier single-player experience. The addition of YouTube recording support should appease the show-offs, while the presence of PSN Trophies may make the overall package far more rewarding. (Don't worry Trophy hunters, Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert told us that they've learned from PixelJunk Eden and Monsters, and will make the Trophies much easier, akin to PixelJunk Shooter.)

Continue reading Hands-on: PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap (PSN)

JoystiqHands-on: PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap (PSN) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dylan-cuthbertgdc-2010hands-onpixeljunkpixeljunk-racerspixeljunk-racers-2nd-lappsnq-gamesThu, 18 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA: Episodes From Liberty City for PC, PS3 delayed two weeks due to 'minor content changes']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/gta-episodes-from-liberty-city-for-pc-ps3-delayed-two-weeks-du/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/gta-episodes-from-liberty-city-for-pc-ps3-delayed-two-weeks-du/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/gta-episodes-from-liberty-city-for-pc-ps3-delayed-two-weeks-du/#comments If you've waited this long for Episodes from Liberty City, another two weeks shouldn't hurt, right? Rockstar Games has pushed back the PS3 and PC releases of the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto IV expansions by two weeks due to "a request by Sony Europe to make some minor content changes to the PAL PS3 version of the game." According to the press release, "the minor changes made to the game will not affect the gamers enjoyment of the games, these will not affect any gameplay elements and were not related to any local ratings requirements."

All versions of the add-ons -- including the downloadable episodes "The Lost & Damned" and "The Ballad of Gay Tony" -- have been delayed to April 13th for North America, and April 16th for all other countries. A Rockstar Games blog post further elaborated on the decision to do a global delay, ensuring that "everyone can experience multiplayer simultaneously, take part in online events together, be on level ground on leaderboards, etc."

JoystiqGTA: Episodes From Liberty City for PC, PS3 delayed two weeks due to 'minor content changes' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delaydlcgrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-4grand-theft-auto-ivgrand-theft-auto-iv-episodes-from-liberty-citygrand-theft-auto-iv-lost-and-damnedGTAgta-ivgta-iv-dlcrelease-daterockstarrockstar-gamesThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[God of War website teases 'Spartans Stand Tall']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/god-of-war-website-teases-spartans-stand-tall/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/god-of-war-website-teases-spartans-stand-tall/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/god-of-war-website-teases-spartans-stand-tall/#comments Earning a Platinum Trophy in God of War III will give you an elusive reward: a link to a secret page, hidden on the God of War website. The "Spartans Stand Tall" website doesn't feature much right now, other than falling rain and a shield with an upside-down V, possibly a Lambda sign -- wait, does this mean we're finally getting the Half-Life/God of War crossover we've been waiting for?

This could simply be a placeholder website for upcoming God of War DLC. Or, this could be hinting at a new Ready at Dawn-developed PSP game we've heard murmurs about. In fact, Chains of Olympus was revealed in exactly the same way, via a website hidden in God of War II on PS2. Considering the franchise's penchant for announcing new installments alongside the latest releases, we wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being a brand new game in the God of War universe. Stay tuned.

[Thanks, Bryan!]

JoystiqGod of War website teases 'Spartans Stand Tall' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>god-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-chains-of-olympusgod-of-war-iiigod-of-war-spartans-stand-tallspartans-stand-tallThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[European PSN releases for March 18]]>http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/european-psn-releases-for-march-18/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/european-psn-releases-for-march-18/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/european-psn-releases-for-march-18/#comments Though there's not much on the "new game front" in this week's European PSN update, there's plenty of new stuff for the games you already know and love. There's the release of Dragon Age: Origins: Awakening, new cars for Need For Speed: Shift, some LittleBigPlanet PSP love, the arrival of Patchwork Heroes and, of course, the Gaga-ization of the Rock Band Music Store. Check out the full list of releases after the jump!

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continue reading European PSN releases for March 18

Joystiq PlaystationEuropean PSN releases for March 18 originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dantes-infernodragon-age-origins-awakeninglittlebigplanetNeed-For-Speed-Shiftpsn-thursdayThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free DLC for Echoshift available through April 1]]>http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/free-dlc-for-echoshift-available-through-april-1/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/free-dlc-for-echoshift-available-through-april-1/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/free-dlc-for-echoshift-available-through-april-1/#comments Have you tried out Echoshift, the excellent new puzzle game for PSP? Whether or not you've bought the game, SCEA has a pretty sweet deal for you to take advantage of. Starting later today (once the PSN update is live), current owners and new purchasers will be able to get an additional set of seven levels absolutely free. For current owners of Echoshift, you'll be able to find it by searching for "Echoshift" in the PlayStation Store.

New purchasers will be able to take advantage of the promotion by simply buying a new bundle -- which includes both the original game and additional levels -- from the PlayStation Store for $14.99. This is a limited time offer, so if you want to take advantage of this deal, you'll need to act before April 1st.

Joystiq PlaystationFree DLC for Echoshift available through April 1 originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealechoshiftplaystation-storepsnThu, 18 Mar 2010 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake (PSP)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/fat-princess-fistful-of-cake-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/fat-princess-fistful-of-cake-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/fat-princess-fistful-of-cake-preview/#comments Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake is a great match for the PSP. The game's structure, its very nature, means it can be segmented in a very effective way on a handheld platform -- a quick match during your morning subway ride or while taking a break from work is when Fistful of Cake works best.

[Note: Be sure to check out our video preview, as well. We spent all night slaving over a hot stove to bake it just the way you like it!]

Continue reading Hands-on: Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake (PSP)

JoystiqHands-on: Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake (PSP) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fat-princessfat-princess-fistful-of-cakesony-santa-monicasuper-villainvideoThu, 18 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 trailer shows off online team play]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/tiger-woods-pga-tour-11-trailer-shows-off-online-team-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/tiger-woods-pga-tour-11-trailer-shows-off-online-team-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/tiger-woods-pga-tour-11-trailer-shows-off-online-team-play/#comments EA Sports' latest attempt to breathe new life into the Tiger Woods PGA Tour franchise's eleventh installment is an online multiplayer mode, previewed in the "Ryder Cup" trailer posted above. Players will be able to align themselves into teams, and go head-to-head (to-head-to-head, and so on) in an attempt to dominate the lush, rolling greens.

The only question that remains is what team you'll choose to enlist in. Will it be team Tiger Woods, who's repeatedly proven his prowess for hitting golf balls into faraway holes? Or will it be team Rory McIlroy, who is exactly one vowel away from being totally awesome?

JoystiqTiger Woods PGA Tour 11 trailer shows off online team play originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>golfpgarory-mcilroyryder-cuptiger-woodstiger-woods-pga-tour-11trailerThu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Do you want to become a PlayStation Home community volunteer?]]>http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/do-you-want-to-become-a-playstation-home-community-volunteer/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/do-you-want-to-become-a-playstation-home-community-volunteer/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/do-you-want-to-become-a-playstation-home-community-volunteer/#comments Now that PlayStation Home is twelve million strong, Sony is looking for community volunteers to help newcomers ease their way into the PS3 virtual world. Applicants need to be "friendly and knowledgeable" as they help new users navigate the various community events available online. According to a recent call for applicants, the program "offers a great outlet to the most passionate Home users to help give back to the community."

To submit an application, you must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the US, and have "dependable access to email and Internet." Also, not only will you need to describe your most embarrassing PlayStation Home experience, you'll also have to answer this very telling question: "Do you have more friends in real life or in Home? Which do you prefer?" Don't worry, you should answer truthfully. We won't judge you.

Joystiq PlaystationDo you want to become a PlayStation Home community volunteer? originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>homeplaystation-homepsnsceavolunteerThu, 18 Mar 2010 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Finally: Final Fight Double Impact arrives April 14 and 15]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/finally-final-fight-double-impact-arrives-april-14-and-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/finally-final-fight-double-impact-arrives-april-14-and-15/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/finally-final-fight-double-impact-arrives-april-14-and-15/#commentsWe've been waiting patiently for Capcom to release Final Fight yet again, this time in the form of the PSN/XBLA Final Fight: Double Impact set (which also includes Magic Sword). Capcom just let us know that the magical combination of classic brawling and online play will be available on Xbox Live April 14, and on the PlayStation Store April 15.

In case you haven't been keeping up with old game news, Double Impact features optional graphical filters, remixed soundtracks, and, most importantly, drop-in co-op. Capcom doesn't explicitly mention this, but each purchase also contributes to the Mike Haggar mayoral campaign fund.

JoystiqFinally: Final Fight Double Impact arrives April 14 and 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomfinal-fightfinal-fight-double-impactmagic-swordpsnrelease-dateretroxblaThu, 18 Mar 2010 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Heavy Rain patch development complete, release 'very soon']]>http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/heavy-rain-patch-development-complete-release-very-soon/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/heavy-rain-patch-development-complete-release-very-soon/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/heavy-rain-patch-development-complete-release-very-soon/#comments While the Joystiq staff hasn't experienced a game-ending Heavy Rain crash, there are a number of vocal members of the PlayStation forums that have reported some serious issues, most notably save file corruption. Quantic Dream is working on a new patch for the adventure game, one that "address a range of minor issues," but isn't "targeted purely at the issues reported." According to Sam_Protagonist, SCEE has had difficulty in reproducing the reported bugs, but hopes that the patch should fix various "contributing factors" that may be at the root of Heavy Rain's issues. "We're optimistic that this patch resolves your problems but cannot guarantee that this will be the case."

Development on the patch is now complete, and is undergoing the "final stages of testing." Let's hope the patch actually does its job -- otherwise, angry Heavy Rain owners will be left with nothing to play but Press X to Jason.

[Via VG247]

Joystiq PlaystationHeavy Rain patch development complete, release 'very soon' originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heavy-rainpatchquantic-dreamsceeThu, 18 Mar 2010 12:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings: War in the North announced by WBIE; Snowblind developing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/wbie-announces-lord-of-the-rings-war-in-the-north-from-snowblin/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/wbie-announces-lord-of-the-rings-war-in-the-north-from-snowblin/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/wbie-announces-lord-of-the-rings-war-in-the-north-from-snowblin/#commentsIf you've been nervously tapping your fuzzy Hobbit toes in anticipation of the project behind the trademarked "Lord of the Rings: War in the North," then prepare for a delicious second breakfast of information. Warner Bros. Interactive has officially announced the game which, as it turns out, is an RPG from Champions of Norrath / Justice League Heroes developer Snowblind Studios, due for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in 2011.

It sounds like it will be familiar gameplay to fans of those games, as well. Snowblind head Ryan Geithman calls it "a natural evolution of the acclaimed RPG gameplay that Snowblind has consistently delivered over the past years." In this online co-op RPG, up to three players will take part in the War of the Ring, visiting areas and meeting characters from the films and uncovering "unseen lands, story elements and characters from Middle-earth."

The game will receive a full reveal in PlayStation: The Official Magazine's May issue, which will be on shelves April 6. Head past the break for a trailer.

Continue reading Lord of the Rings: War in the North announced by WBIE; Snowblind developing

JoystiqLord of the Rings: War in the North announced by WBIE; Snowblind developing originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-war-in-the-northRPGsnowblind-studiosWarner-Bros-InteractiveWBIEThu, 18 Mar 2010 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield: Bad Company 2 sells 2.3 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/battlefield-bad-company-2-sells-2-3-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/battlefield-bad-company-2-sells-2-3-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/battlefield-bad-company-2-sells-2-3-million/#commentsNot content to wait for March to end, EA went ahead and announced that "Battlefield: Bad Company 2 tops March sales charts." The somewhat hasty press release goes on to explain that with 2.3 million copies sold so far, Bad Company 2 is "on pace" to be the top selling title in March 2010. It is already, according to EA, the best-selling March release yet, which lends credence to EA's early claim of March dominance.

We look forward to seeing if this claim rings true at the end of the month, after Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver have had two weeks to sell. Or maybe that's why EA issued the "we won" press release now?

JoystiqBattlefield: Bad Company 2 sells 2.3 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefieldbattlefield-bad-company-2diceeaea-diceFPSsalesThu, 18 Mar 2010 11:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Skate 3's 'Skate School' as taught by Coach Frank]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/skate-3s-skate-school-as-taught-by-coach-frank/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/skate-3s-skate-school-as-taught-by-coach-frank/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/skate-3s-skate-school-as-taught-by-coach-frank/#commentsThere's nothing quite as satisfying as learning how to skateboard from a crazy old coot named Coach Frank (as played by ex-pro skateboarder Jason Lee -- you know, the guy from Mallrats?). Experts that they are, the folks at EA developer Black Box are well aware of the attraction, and they've employed the character to teach Skate 3's "Skate School" mode.

Frank acts as a framework for the fleshed out Skate 3 tutorial, teaching players how to nail tricks and polish their execution -- it probably helps that he's full of goofy, if occasionally awkward, humor to lighten up the mood as well. And hey, if we learned anything from the previous two Skate games, we're going to be spending a ton of time just figuring out how to ollie without faceplanting over and over (and over), so we could use the levity.

JoystiqSkate 3's 'Skate School' as taught by Coach Frank originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-boxcoach-frankeaea-black-boxjason-leeskateskate-3skateboardingtrailervideoThu, 18 Mar 2010 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Get into a silly pose for this Power Gig: Rise of the Sixstring trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/get-into-a-silly-pose-for-this-power-gig-rise-of-the-sixstring/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/get-into-a-silly-pose-for-this-power-gig-rise-of-the-sixstring/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/get-into-a-silly-pose-for-this-power-gig-rise-of-the-sixstring/#commentsSure, you saw our impressions from GDC of Power Gig: Rise of the Sixstring -- the first music/rhythm game to feature an actual, working electric guitar -- but have you seen the unbelievably silly first trailer for the game, apparently filmed during last week's developer convention? Now you can, as we've dropped it just a few inches up for your enjoyment.

If you were hoping for a better look at the game itself, you're just gonna have to wait for the next trailer, because this one exclusively features people playing the game's peripheral while either jumping or rocking or ... well, you get the idea -- no gameplay. That said, the guitar solo that takes place about halfway through reminds us that this is absolutely a real guitar, so that's something, right? Right? Where are you going?! We brought punch!

JoystiqGet into a silly pose for this Power Gig: Rise of the Sixstring trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>power-gigpower-gig-rise-of-the-sixstringseven45seven45-studiostrailerThu, 18 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Toy Story 3, Brunswick Pro Bowling added to PlayStation Move lineup]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/toy-story-3-brunswick-pro-bowling-added-to-playstation-move-lin/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/toy-story-3-brunswick-pro-bowling-added-to-playstation-move-lin/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/toy-story-3-brunswick-pro-bowling-added-to-playstation-move-lin/#comments Sony has added two titles to the PlayStation Move's launch lineup that we haven't seen before. Not only will you be able to get your Move on in Slider, Sports Champions and all of the other announced launch titles, but we can now add Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3 and Brunswick Pro Bowling into the mix as well. Toy Story 3 is of course a tie-in to the movie, and Brunswick is in there because you can't have a motion controller in 2010 without a bowling game attached.

No seriously, you can't. Which is weird, because the future of gaming sure does look a lot like the 2007 of gaming. Only with better graphics.

[Via PSLS]

JoystiqToy Story 3, Brunswick Pro Bowling added to PlayStation Move lineup originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brunswick-pro-bowlingcontrollerdisneylaunchmotion-controllermovepixarplaystation-movepro-bowlingslidersports-championstoy-story-3Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation.Blog Share lets fans chime in most-wanted features]]>http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/playstation-blog-share-lets-fans-chime-in-most-wanted-features/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/playstation-blog-share-lets-fans-chime-in-most-wanted-features/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/playstation-blog-share-lets-fans-chime-in-most-wanted-features/#comments Tired of yelling CROSS GAME CHAT into every post on the PlayStation.Blog? Thankfully, there's a new venue for you to take advantage of. PlayStation.Blog Share lets fans submit requests and vote on new features to implement across Sony's family of consoles. The requests range from the ever-popular cross game chat option to more specific options, like enabling PSP Remote Play of PS2 games.

It's certainly an interesting social experiment, but we wonder if fans will see any requests (large or small) come to fruition. At the very least, Share gives Sony the appearance of listening, and should reduce the obnoxious comment spam that oftentimes clutters the PlayStation.Blog.

Joystiq PlaystationPlayStation.Blog Share lets fans chime in most-wanted features originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationplaystation-blogplaystation-blog-sharesonyWed, 17 Mar 2010 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The monsters you didn't see in BioShock]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/the-monsters-you-didnt-see-in-bioshock/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/the-monsters-you-didnt-see-in-bioshock/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/the-monsters-you-didnt-see-in-bioshock/#commentsThe world of Rapture as it appeared in the first BioShock may have seemed totally complete, but Irrational Games revealed some elements that were kept behind the development curtain from us -- basically, monsters. The company revealed some rejected enemy designs from its "Vault," including some mutants that were much more ... mutated than the Splicers we saw in the final game.

We imagine that people wouldn't look back so fondly on their experience in Rapture if it had been populated by melting guys and people that were in the process of turning into giant bugs. Creepy little girls seem just a bit less creepy in comparison.

JoystiqThe monsters you didn't see in BioShock originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesbioshockirrational-gamesWed, 17 Mar 2010 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kevin Butler shows that PlayStation Move only does time travel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/kevin-butler-shows-that-playstation-move-only-does-time-travel/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/kevin-butler-shows-that-playstation-move-only-does-time-travel/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/kevin-butler-shows-that-playstation-move-only-does-time-travel/#commentsNot only does PlayStation Move enable realistic motion controls for PS3 games -- it also allows for corporate dispatches from the future. We didn't hear about that at any press conference! But there's Kevin Butler, addressing us from November 2010 about advances in nutrition and the success of the PlayStation Move. That means, according to Sony's time travel technology, the Move should be out sometime in November at the latest.

This commercial features plenty of footage of some guy completely battering air in Motion Fighter, along with some not-so-subtle callouts of the motion-based competition, and even a little bit of reverent Tretton worship. Check the ad out after the break.


[Thanks, Antony!]

Continue reading Kevin Butler shows that PlayStation Move only does time travel

JoystiqKevin Butler shows that PlayStation Move only does time travel originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingcommercialkevin-butlermotion-controlplaystation-moveWed, 17 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get a 1,000 hit combo in God of War 3 the easy way]]>http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/heres-an-easy-way-to-get-a-1-000-hit-combo-in-god-of-war-3/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/heres-an-easy-way-to-get-a-1-000-hit-combo-in-god-of-war-3/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/heres-an-easy-way-to-get-a-1-000-hit-combo-in-god-of-war-3/#comments Are you working your way to a Platinum in God of War III? You may want to check out this video, which helps you net Hit Man, one of the more challenging Trophies in the game. To get the award, you must perform a 1000 hit combo. Should your fighting skills not be up to snuff, there are two easy (but time consuming) ways of getting the achievement. It can take upwards of 20 minutes of mindless button mashing, but it's a sure-fire way of making sure you get the Bronze Trophy.

Check out the (rather cheap) strategies after the break.

[Via N4G]

Continue reading Get a 1,000 hit combo in God of War 3 the easy way

Joystiq PlaystationGet a 1,000 hit combo in God of War 3 the easy way originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combogod-of-wargod-of-war-3god-of-war-iiitipstrophyWed, 17 Mar 2010 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Impressions: Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse - The Penal Zone (PS3)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/impressions-sam-and-max-the-devils-playhouse-the-penal-zone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/impressions-sam-and-max-the-devils-playhouse-the-penal-zone/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/impressions-sam-and-max-the-devils-playhouse-the-penal-zone/#comments You wouldn't expect to find "We've tightened up the graphics on Episode Three" among the usual list of noted improvements between Telltale's episodic releases. After all, with endearing, demented characters like Sam and Max taking up quite a bit of the screen, who cares how many polygons are left for that potted plant in the corner?

"We wanted to bump everything up presentation-wise for this season," said designer Chuck Jordan, drawing attention to the Telltale engine's impressive -- nay, tight -- visual enhancements. The Penal Zone, the first of five monthly episodes comprising Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse, features noticeably improved lighting, real-time shadows and more expressive facial animation. As Jordan pointed out, "an expression can sell a joke for the first time."

Based on the demo I saw at the Game Developers Conference, it's also apparent that the improved graphics do make a difference to that potted plant. Because you transform into one. "When you finally get to control Max," Jordan said, "it's really weird." Like, really really weird.

Continue reading Impressions: Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse - The Penal Zone (PS3)

JoystiqImpressions: Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse - The Penal Zone (PS3) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurechuck-jordanepisodicgdc-2010sam-and-maxsam-and-max-the-devils-playhousesam-and-max-the-devils-playhouse-the-penal-zonetelltaletelltale-gamesWed, 17 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Yep, there's a world map in Final Fantasy Versus XIII]]>http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/yep-theres-a-world-map-in-final-fantasy-versus-xiii/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/yep-theres-a-world-map-in-final-fantasy-versus-xiii/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/yep-theres-a-world-map-in-final-fantasy-versus-xiii/#comments With Final Fantasy XIII finally done and in stores, Square Enix fans are now scouring the internet for the next big project in the Final Fantasy series: The still-PS3-exclusive Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Character designer and director Tetsuya Nomura was interviewed on Twitter, an appropriate venue that forces brevity and a general lack of detail. According to Nomura (as translated by Andriasang), "not everything is connected together" in Versus, "so the various areas have different levels of progress." He did manage to reveal at least two facts about the upcoming game: "You can fly across the world map in an air ship."

Adding both world maps and controllable air ships should help appease Final Fantasy fans disappointed by their absence in XIII. While Versus represents a spin-off for the franchise, it sounds like it may be closer to a traditional FF experience than its counterpart. For hardcore Square Enix fans, that news alone should be enough to restart the long wait to the next Final Fantasy game.

Joystiq PlaystationYep, there's a world map in Final Fantasy Versus XIII originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airshipfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-versus-13final-fantasy-versus-xiiitetsuya-nomuraWed, 17 Mar 2010 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New EA Sports MMA trailer starts a fight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/new-ea-sports-mma-trailer-starts-a-fight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/new-ea-sports-mma-trailer-starts-a-fight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/new-ea-sports-mma-trailer-starts-a-fight/#comments "Now it's a fight," this new trailer for EA Sports MMA proudly proclaims. And it's true -- EA Sports has a huge fight ahead of it. Not only is EA Sports MMA a latecomer to the genre, it's missing the UFC license and some of the biggest fighters in the business. Still, the game looks to stay true to its promise of showcasing "authentic Strikeforce environments," and the animation does look particularly good (and very reminiscent of the Fight Night series).

Still, it's hard to know if EA Sports has what it takes to go up against THQ in the MMA arena. Will EA get its foot in the ring, or will it be KO'd before the fight even begins?

JoystiqNew EA Sports MMA trailer starts a fight originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea-sportsea-sports-mmastrikeforcetrailervideoWed, 17 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monster Hunter Freedom Unites with PSP Go in Japan]]>http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/monster-hunter-freedom-unites-with-psp-go-in-japan/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/monster-hunter-freedom-unites-with-psp-go-in-japan/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/monster-hunter-freedom-unites-with-psp-go-in-japan/#commentsAfter almost six months, we're going to see sales for the PSP Go pick up in Japan starting tomorrow. How can we be so sure? Today, Sony announced that not only is the PSP hit Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (called Monster Hunter Freedom Unite here) being released as a download on March 18 -- a voucher for the title will also be given away with new PSP Gos. The downloadable game by itself will cost ¥1,600 ($17.69) from the PlayStation Store.

Even though over three million people already have this on UMD -- and even though Monster Hunter Portable 3 was just announced for PSP -- we still anticipate a lot of sales for this. People in Japan are just that thrilled about Monster Hunter.

[Via Andriasang]

Joystiq PlaystationMonster Hunter Freedom Unites with PSP Go in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq Playstation on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundlecapcomjapanmonster-huntermonster-hunter-portable-2nd-gpsp-goWed, 17 Mar 2010 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Atlus offers video walkthrough of 3D Dot Game Heroes, Twilight fanfic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/atlus-offers-video-walkthrough-of-3d-dot-game-heroes-twilight-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/atlus-offers-video-walkthrough-of-3d-dot-game-heroes-twilight-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/atlus-offers-video-walkthrough-of-3d-dot-game-heroes-twilight-f/#comments Atlus has proven to be the distributor of some of the funniest press releases we regularly receive. The party responsible for a majority of that humor, PR manager Aram Jabbari, recently stopped by Playstation.Blog HQ to give a brief video demonstration of 3D Dot Game Heroes, which you'll find posted above.

The video shows a walkthrough of one of the game's Zelda-esque dungeons and, appropriately, includes a number of irreverent jabs at 8-bit classics. Though legal reasons prevent Jabbari from naming specific games the title lampoons, he was more than happy to show off his homemade Vampire protagonist's massive sword, remarking, "I'm sure Bella will find that impressive." Oh, Aram. Don't ever change.

JoystiqAtlus offers video walkthrough of 3D Dot Game Heroes, Twilight fanfic originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-dot-game-heroesaram-jabbariatlusdemofrom-softwarejoyfiqpreviewvideoWed, 17 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: Lead & Gold: Gangs of the Wild West]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/lead-and-gold-gangs-of-the-wild-west-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/lead-and-gold-gangs-of-the-wild-west-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/lead-and-gold-gangs-of-the-wild-west-preview/#comments Multiplayer first-person shooters are a dime a dozen lately, meaning Lead & Gold: Gangs of the Wild West has a lot to prove for itself. The gameplay is definitely fun, but it's clear that its main selling point is the format. As a downloadable game (confirmed for PC, planned for XBLA and PSN), it's one of the most polished multiplayer shooter experiences available in the space.

Priced at $15, Paradox Interactive's shooter is competing against the likes of Battlefield 1943. Like DICE's shooter, the production values are impressive and highlight by colorful, animated visuals. The style is reminiscent of Team Fortress 2, with the characters donning an almost psuedo-cel shaded look. Combined with the Wild West theme, it can oftentimes look identical to Valve's shooter.

Of course, there are far worse places to look for inspiration. In many ways, the gameplay is also similar to Team Fortress 2. There are four classes for players to choose from, and each features distinct and valuable traits. The primary difference between the four classes is their range: some classes are equipped with shotguns, best for short range fighting, while the requisite sniper is obviously equipped to handle long distances. Beyond their weapons, each class is equipped with a special ability. One can throw dynamite, while another can "mark" an enemy. (Marked enemies take twice the normal rate of damage.)

Continue reading Hands-on: Lead & Gold: Gangs of the Wild West

JoystiqHands-on: Lead & Gold: Gangs of the Wild West originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc-2010hands-onlead-and-goldlead-and-gold-gangs-of-the-wild-westxblaWed, 17 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kane & Lynch's Dog Days begin on August 24]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/kane-and-lynchs-dog-days-begin-on-august-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/kane-and-lynchs-dog-days-begin-on-august-24/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/kane-and-lynchs-dog-days-begin-on-august-24/#comments Though it seems like we just got back from Shanghai, it appears we're going to be booking another flight soon. Square Enix has announced that Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days will kick off "48 hours of hell" for its duo of miscreant protagonists on August 24 in North America and August 27 in Europe.

If you'd like to spend the interim months preparing for the sequel, there's a new trailer from IGN available directly after the break. (Side note: How weird is it to see the Square Enix logo at the beginning? Totally weird, that's how weird.)

Continue reading Kane & Lynch's Dog Days begin on August 24

JoystiqKane & Lynch's Dog Days begin on August 24 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eidosio-interactivekane-and-lynchkane-and-lynch-2q3-2010release-datesquare-enixWed, 17 Mar 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Dead Redemption trailer offers taste of life in the old west]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/red-dead-redemption-trailer-offers-taste-of-life-in-the-old-west/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/red-dead-redemption-trailer-offers-taste-of-life-in-the-old-west/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/red-dead-redemption-trailer-offers-taste-of-life-in-the-old-west/#comments
Based on all the movies and old shows we've seen, we feel like we know exactly how it was in the old west: people sat around all day, drank whiskey from unmarked bottles, hit up the brothel when they had some spare cash and did their best not to get in Clint Eastwood's way. Pretty cut and dry, right?

Well, Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption paints a different picture of the west, one filled with picturesque landscapes and small towns, where clusters of folk tried to earn a living and make a life. A place in the grip of the Industrial Revolution, an uncertain time of transition from the old lawless ways of the west to the modern comforts and progress enjoyed by Americans in the east.

This recreation of life back then isn't just for show, however, as players will be able to go all Ted Nugent on it and hunt and skin animals, selling their hides to merchants for valuable goods or services. There's also the job of ranch protector, should you wish to guard the land from potential night-time rustlers. You can even herd cattle and fight a mountain lion or two, if the idea of mowing down countless NPCs puts a hitch in your giddy-up.

JoystiqRed Dead Redemption trailer offers taste of life in the old west originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>life-in-the-westred-dead-redemptionrockstarrockstar-gamestake-twovideoWed, 17 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on: ModNation Racers PSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/modnation-racers-psp-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/modnation-racers-psp-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/modnation-racers-psp-preview/#comments The PSP has become home to a growing number of PS3 ports, from Super Stardust to LittleBigPlanet, but rarely has a portable rendition of a PS3 game remained so faithful to the original as ModNation Racers on PSP. (Well, perhaps with the exception of PixelJunk Monsters.) ModNation Racers is launching simultaneously on PSP and PS3, and unlike many previous cross-platform titles, this racer loses almost nothing in its portable conversion.

The career mode is nearly identical on both platforms, even featuring the same CG animated cutscenes in both. The much-touted creation tools also make an appearance on the PSP, allowing you to create and share levels rather easily. And most importantly, unlike LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers retains multiplayer options, offering both Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure connections.

Even the control schemes between the two platforms feel nearly identical. The PSP version also uses the R-button for acceleration, just like its big console counterpart. It makes sense, but for some reason, I expected the handheld to use the X-button for gas, and Mario Kart players may need some time to adjust; especially considering ModNation's very different drift mechanic.

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JoystiqHands-on: ModNation Racers PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdc-2010hands-onmodnation-racersmodnation-racers-pspWed, 17 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Maybe Nier comics will help us understand Nier]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/maybe-nier-comics-will-help-us-understand-nier/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/maybe-nier-comics-will-help-us-understand-nier/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/maybe-nier-comics-will-help-us-understand-nier/#commentsWant to understand what Nier's all about, you know, besides yelling at books? Square Enix is giving us all a chance to study the backstory of Cavia's action RPG, with a Nier comic series produced by DC's Wildstorm Studios. The three-part series will tell three separate, but overlapping, stories in the Nier universe before the game's April 27 release date.

In addition to introducing the main characters -- including Nier himself, his "disease-stricken" daughter, Yonah, a "conflicted" companion in Kaine, and the talking book "with an attitude," Grimoire Weiss -- the comics will reveal what caused the "Black Scrawl" disease and the cataclysmic event that led to the condition of the world (as it is in the game).

The Nier comics will be available on the Nier website, and through the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store. See the cover of the first issue after the break.

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JoystiqMaybe Nier comics will help us understand Nier originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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