Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:45:00 EST
Hey, someone's making Two Worlds II
So this is kinda confusing, try to roll with us. Developer Reality Pump announced that it's working on Two Worlds II, due this winter. Only ... it had already announced a sequel to Oblivion-esque FPS RPG called Two Worlds: The Temptation. We're pretty sure the team just decided to go with the number instead of the subtitle, but we guess we'll never know. (Yeah, we've emailed them.) Set two years after the original, TW II promises "completely overhauled AI and balancing standards, experienced authors, [an] active combat system and the brand-new engine." Here's hoping the changes can make the sequel not so ... you know ... wretched? [Via Eurogamer]  Hey, someone's making Two Worlds II originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:45:00 EST
Video Games Live to have several special shows in July
Video Games Live continues touring with a few special shows during the month of July. On July 10, the National Symphony Orchestra (which did two sold-out shows at the Kennedy Center in DC) will perform at the WolfTrap Feline Center in Virginia. Sid Meier, Civilization IV vocalist Ron Ragin and game composer Grant Kirkhope ( Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye, Banjo-Kazooie, Viva Pinata) will all be in attendance. For Texans, Halo composer Mike Salvatori will make a "special guest appearance" at the Ft. Worth show on July 14. A few days later, The Houston Symphony will perform the show in its namesake city for two shows on July 18, in collaboration with MusiCON 09. The special afternoon show is entitled "Blizzard Live!" and will showcase songs from the Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo games. Five Blizzard composers will attend and participate in a Q&A panel. There will also be a performance at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 23 at the outdoor Embarcadero Marina Park, which will include synchronized fireworks. Tickets are available at the Video Games Live site. Check out the full list of July tour stops after the break. Continue reading Video Games Live to have several special shows in July Video Games Live to have several special shows in July originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, June 29 - July 3
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly, and Blu-ray each week.
Recommendation of the Week:
 Sunshine (Blu-ray: $29.99): We all know about Danny Boyle and Slumdog Millionaire; winning a few Oscars will do that to your movie, particularly if it's great. However, his sci-fi masterpiece Sunshine is severely underrated and underwatched. The Sun becomes an ominous character in this taut thriller, which, granted, has a plot point that could be completely jettisoned to make for a perfectly streamlined film. However, the sound, the action, and the attention to detail in this movie make this a must see in HD.
Read for the full list on a system by system basis just after the break, this time with a bent toward the upcoming Independence Day holiday this Saturday. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st ... well, actually we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift.
Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, June 29 - July 3 JBO: Joystiq Box Office, June 29 - July 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST
Three games to light up your 4th
The founding of a nation is pretty significant and well worth getting excited about. The best way to display said excitement is, of course, with massive, colorful airborne explosions, a.k.a. fireworks. Tomorrow night, towns across the USA will be putting on fireworks displays, big and small -- but why should you have to wait for it to get dark? The games you'll find after the break will let you get all explode-y from the comfort of your living room, without the charred mess and frantic 911 call. So, put on your favorite patriotic tune (it's " The Stars & Stripes Forever" for us) and make with the clicking! Continue reading Three games to light up your 4th Three games to light up your 4th originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST
WRUP: If America hadn't gained independence edition
My Dearest Felicity, Prithee, I hope this letter finds thee well. Our distance makes my heart yearn for you, like an A misses Zed. I spend my days contemplating napkins and seeing the colour of your eyes in the tweed jackets of the commoners walking by. The hours are long here in The Colonies. Bennington tells me that, at Her Majesty's University of New Yorkshire, they are on the verge of perfecting a machine that allows one to play games through the telly. Imagine that! To have such a magnificent device in 2009 would be ever so pip-pip hooray in passing the time. I plan to put on my finest wig tomorrow and travel there to experience their first "video game" for this device. What sport are you participating in currently? Humbly yours, Sir Robin Woolcott Ellington Spencer of Covington Crossing, Virginia Continue reading WRUP: If America hadn't gained independence edition WRUP: If America hadn't gained independence edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST
Valve: Steam sales even boost retail games
Worried that those pesky digital shelves are going to put your local brick-and-mortar out of business in the next few weeks? Worry not, friends, as Valve's Doug Lombardi is here to put all your worries to bed. Talking to GamesIndustry.biz, Lombardi claimed that "free weekend" sales on Steam (among others) actually help to bolster sales at physical retail locations as well as online. "Recently we've seen data that shows Left 4 Dead free weekends increase the sales of Left 4 Dead on Steam, at retail and on the Xbox 360, which we would never have guessed could have happened, but it's just that word of mouth," says Lombardi. Furthermore, he waves off talk of bad blood between Valve and GameStop over the developer's Steam service, saying, "We spent more money at GameStop in the US promoting Left 4 Dead than we did at any other chain ... we sold more copies of Left 4 Dead at Gamestop than we did at any other chain ... for us, whichever cash register you want to pay at, that's fine." Not that it matters to GameStop anyway, given the lack of a threat posed for at least another five years, right? Valve: Steam sales even boost retail games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST
Sony patents more motion tech, uses everyday objects
We'd be lying if we didn't say we're a bit worried about the future of gaming controllers. Between the Nintendo's MotionPlus, Microsoft's Project Natal and Sony's ... erm ... motion thing, our precious game pads get more and more antique looking every day. And according to a recent patent filed by Sony that Siliconera found, our precious controllers have one more thing to fear: everyday objects. That's right, friends -- in the future, we could be using our real-life keys to open doors, our swords to slice up fools, and our guns (not outside of the US) to shoot up the screen "accidentally." The patent shows off a PlayStation Eye-based system that can recognize 3D objects and use them in-game based on various actions taken by the player -- something Microsoft claims it's Natal is also capable of doing. Various household items will be affected in different ways, the example given being a U-shaped object that, when turned upwards, becomes a sword, versus a U-shaped block when facing downwards (think Halo's Covenant Energy Sword). Apparently the system is able to scan a whole mess of objects and store them in a databank for future use. Like so much future tech we've seen recently, we're taking this one with a full truckload of salt until we get some face time. Sony patents more motion tech, uses everyday objects originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST
Visceral explains the controls of Dead Space Extraction
"Working on the Nintendo Wii was a pretty exciting thing for us. We were excited about the unique controls and what they brought to the gamer," explains Steve Papoutsis in this new dev diary. Extraction, the Wii-exclusive prequel to Dead Space, as with many Wii games, takes advantage of multiple control modes, depending on whether you use the Wii Remote or Zapper. Either way, the game utilizes some clever Wii-specific tricks, like switching to alt-fire by simply turning the controller on its side. The footage showcased in the latest dev diary highlights some of the best visuals we've seen on Wii so far. One of the co-op segments highlighted in the video combines puzzle-solving and monster-blasting in a rather smartly designed (and terrifying) way. Even worse, the two players will have to switch off during the puzzle as enemies continue to jump in. With so many clever ideas being thrown about, Extraction may have a shot at making us all scream in terror. Visceral explains the controls of Dead Space Extraction originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST
Interview: Valve's Doug Lombardi
Valve's PR overlord, Doug Lombardi, answered our burning Left 4 Dead 2 questions at a recent event in London. We discuss PS3 development, the new cast and clarify some of the game's features, so read on.
Laughs. Stay tuned! No news on that today. Worth a try! What's the real deal with PS3 development? At the end of last year you seemed quite up on the idea and then nothing since then.
We're still up on the idea. The thing that we've come to the conclusion on is that we've got to get some PS3 developers at Valve. We always look at everything as if we were customers of our products -- what would we want and what would we expect? If you look at The Orange Box -- PC: 96 on Metacritic, 360: 96 on Metacritic, PS3 like... 84 or something. And then you look at Left 4 Dead, I think it was 89 or 90 on both platforms. Continued after the break.Continue reading Interview: Valve's Doug Lombardi Interview: Valve's Doug Lombardi originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST
Rumor: Skate 3 in the works
Apparently EA is working on a sequel to Skate 2, if the Epicly Trife twitter is to be believed. Epicly Trife ( NSFW) is a site dedicated to skating, and its twitter account said the following: "I just got told 'tonight we gotta celebrate,' one of the bro's got offered to be in SKATE 3." By no means a confirmation, we're still excited, as Skate 2 was not only a great sequel, but pretty much the best skating sim around. Plus, it's much easier to get up after falling down four flights of stairs in a video game, as gravity is a much more harsh mistress in real life. We've put in word to EA for comment, but with almost everyone taking the day off today, don't hold your breath for a response. We sure aren't. [Via Kotaku] Rumor: Skate 3 in the works originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST
Analyst: 2 more GTA IV episodes on the way, GTA V by fiscal 2011
Do you want more Grand Theft Auto? Well, that's what Todd Mitchell, analyst for Kaufman Bros. Equity Research wants. Nay, expects! Speaking to GI.biz, Mitchell stated that he's anticipating two more downloadable GTA IV episodes to launch after The Ballad of Gay Tony. "It's been indicated to me that would be the case," he said. Additionally, with Microsoft's exclusivity deal covering only two episodes, these DLC add-ons may also appear on PS3. In addition to new GTA IV episodes, the analyst believes GTA V will debut some time in the 2011 fiscal year. The only reason it wasn't announced or teased in any way during E3, he believes, is "Rockstar's track record with delivering on time." The most curious of statements Mitchell made was regarding the possibility of a new Grand Theft Auto hitting the PlayStation 2 system. No, you read that right. He believes a PS2 port of the PSP port of the formerly DS-exclusive Chinatown Wars may hit the aging Sony system, although he admits he's not too "confident" about that prediction. Pachter, eat your heart out. Analyst: 2 more GTA IV episodes on the way, GTA V by fiscal 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:45:00 EST
Activision explains DJ Hero pricing, says game offers 'tremendous value'
(click to Afrika Bambaataa-size)
The retailer pricing of DJ Hero found recently -- $120 bucks! -- has some folks wondering why Activision may have upped the price for its usual game-plus-peripheral combo. The company has offered an explanation answer to Eurogamer, saying, "We believe that DJ Hero will provide tremendous value for our consumers by delivering an all-new interactive music experience with over 100 individual songs that are highlighted in over 80 unique mixes, a wide variety of ..." ... Sorry, we nodded off there for a minute. Between the $250 for The Beatles: Rock Band and another $120 for Tony Hawk: Ride, we're up late a lot, worrying about affording all these plastic game controllers -- and a bigger house to put them all in. Activision explains DJ Hero pricing, says game offers 'tremendous value' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST
Trine dev: Project is 'a big mess'
To be clear, Frozenbyte spokesman Joel Kinnunen wasn't saying that the company's fantasy action platformer itself is a mess, but everything surrounding it -- like price point disparity between regions and territories -- has become quite the kerfuffle. The problem, apparently, is that Trine started life as PC game before migrating to PSN and ( maybe) XBLA. While that may be good for getting the game to as many people as possible, it's not ideal for a game launch. " Trine as a project is a big mess," Kinnunen said, "as opposed to Trine as a game, which is pretty sweet. Ultimately it's the game part that really matters and helps us sleep at night, though." Trine dev: Project is 'a big mess' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST
Military gets its own gaming network, the MOG
Though you might think they'd welcome a break from shoot-'em-ups, members of the military are known to be a rich breeding ground for hardcore gamers. Now, just in time for Independence Day, they have their very own space in which to catch each other in the friendliest of fire: The Military Online Gaming program, a Global Gaming League-powered service that kicks off on the 4th with a Call of Duty: World at War tournament. Though support will start with the 360, a rep from the group responsible, Pro vs. GI Joe, told Shacknews that our fighting men and women will soon be able to blast one another on PC and PS3 too. Military gets its own gaming network, the MOG originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:15:00 EST
Alpha Protocol: The Espionage RPG: The Release Date
 Sega of America has announced the release date for Obsidian's Alpha Protocol, whatever that is. Oh, it's " The Espionage RPG." How helpful! That game will be out on October 6. In addition to the date announcement, Sega released the North American box art, which can be found in our gallery. We must warn you, however, before you rush into the gallery, full of hope for a more exciting, distinctive box art image: it's exactly the same as the UK box art seen yesterday, with the "PAL" label changed to "NTSC" and the PEGI rating box changed to an ESRB box. It's still the same Pseudo-Bourne standing up in front of geography class. Alpha Protocol: The Espionage RPG: The Release Date originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST
Pew! Pew! Kid becomes Mega Man, melts our hearts
Isn't this kid absolutely adorable? Yeah, he is. But thanks to the power of the interwebs, you can see him in motion learning how to become everyone's favorite blue bomber, Mega Man! (Check it out after the break!) This is guaranteed to warm your heart ... ... Unless it's 15 years in the future, and you're the kid that stars in this video. Then, you're horribly embarrassed and you hate your parents. [Via Capcom-Unity] Continue reading Pew! Pew! Kid becomes Mega Man, melts our hearts Pew! Pew! Kid becomes Mega Man, melts our hearts originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EST
Get iPhone Columns as a free 4th of July treat from Sega
If you've been gaming as long as we have, you know that Columns is one of Sega's great puzzle games. Like most puzzle games, the object is simply to line up four same-colored gems -- horizontally, vertically or diagonally -- and watch them explode. Whether you're familiar with the game or not, we've got some good news: Sega is giving away the iPhone version of Columns for free in celebration of USA's Independence Day. The app will be free starting midnight, Friday, July 3, all the way through Monday, July 6. Sega didn't specify a timezone, so we suggest you avoid downloading it if the price reads anything other than free. Granted, Columns Deluxe -- which includes ports of Columns and Puyo Pop -- is only $1.99 normally. It hasn't received terrific reviews either. But hey, it's hard to argue with free. Get iPhone Columns as a free 4th of July treat from Sega originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:15:00 EST
Risen rising to retail rOctober recond ... argh, second
Developer Piranha Bytes has announced that its RPG, Risen, will try to take a bite out of retail on October 2. Big Download took note of the press release's proud statement that the game is completely done and going through three separate quality assurance teams. That last bit likely has a little something to do with the developer's most recent game, Gothic 3, being a tad buggy. Three months will, hopefully, be enough time to work any issues out.
[Via Big Download] Risen rising to retail rOctober recond ... argh, second originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:45:00 EST
New Batman: Arkham Asylum dev diary gives Batman a terrible evening
As Rocksteady's Sefton Hill and Paul Dini eagerly explain in the video above, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a game about torturing Batman. Okay, okay, maybe not directly, but by way of Joker setting up a nasty ruse for Gotham's greatest hero at Arkham Asylum itself. Trapping Mr. Wayne inside with all of his most fearsome enemies, when he thought he was just stopping by to deposit a criminal, leaves him at the mercy of the now-in-control Joker. From what we played of the game's campaign back at E3, we're not sure exactly how Eidos/Warner Bros. plan to keep the game's T-rating, as evidenced by the few gameplay snippets you see in the developer diary above. We are, however, surprisingly excited for the game's release in late August -- and glad we don't have to bring along Mom to buy us the game. New Batman: Arkham Asylum dev diary gives Batman a terrible evening originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:15:00 EST
Fallout 3 50 percent off on Steam
You really have no excuse for not owning Fallout 3 at this point. Not only is it a really excellent game, it's packing tons of value with all the different DLC available. And let's not forget the indescribable pleasure of having Danny Kaye songs endlessly stuck in your head. Now that the game's been slashed to $24.99 for the weekend on Steam, you have less than no excuse. It's like ... negative excuse, which we believe means you're legally obligated to buy a copy, even if you already own one. Fallout 3 50 percent off on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:45:00 EST
Marvelous looking into HD ports of Wii games
"Wii has no hardcore games" is about as old, lame and untrue as "the PS3 has no games," and "Xbox 360 has only shooters." Real gamers know that each of the platforms has its gems -- but not everyone can afford all three gaming consoles. Marvelous may be expanding its portfolio to include more non-Nintendo systems. Already, the publisher is working on a PS3 and Xbox 360 game, Rainy Woods; however, according to a report by Siliconera, the publisher may look into porting some of its diverse Wii lineup onto the HD systems. Games like No More Heroes and the upcoming Muramasa would certainly appeal to the hardcore PlayStation and Xbox crowds. In fact, Suda 51's most recent comments suggest an HD future for his franchise. With just a little bit of polish, those two could easily transform from good-looking Wii games into gorgeous PS3 and 360 titles. [Thanks, tmacairjordan87!] Marvelous looking into HD ports of Wii games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:15:00 EST
Cliff Bleszinski explains why there are so many bald space marines
If you think Unreal Engine 3 games feature too much gray and brown, laden with "pillars and girders," all being stomped around on by bald space marines, Cliff "Young Clifford" Bleszinski wants you to blame the tech. Speaking with Develop recently, the man that birthed Marcus Fenix said, "The technology of this generation just happens to be very good at rendering metals and stones and dramatic lighting." He argues that "translucent effects" are much harder to pull of with the technology given and as such, "the tech is good at showing off armor and it's not that good at doing hair ... that's why we have bald space marines." Though we'd argue that there are lots of bald men in our lives who happen to not be space marines -- CheapyD and Dr. Manhattan prime among them -- we can appreciate how Marcus Fenix may be more equipped to take down the Locust than an omnipotent blue man. Wait a minute! Interestingly, Bleszinski also notes during the interview that he's got "like five projects going on right now" -- we're counting Shadow Complex and another (still unannounced) Gears of War, which leaves three unannounced projects? Something is afoot at Epic Games. And it almost certainly involves bald space marines. Cliff Bleszinski explains why there are so many bald space marines originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:20:00 EST
Man your download stations for Battlestations: Pacific DLC
Click image to fire a volley of screens at your eyeballs
Eidos just fired off a press release, scoring a direct hit on our inbox, informing that Battlestations: Pacific will receive two resupply convoys in the form of the Mustang Pack and the Carrier Battle Map Pack. The first pack is available for download today and offers six new units (including the P-51 Mustang bomber, US Navy Alaska Class battleship, and Japanese Yamato Class battleship), along with 18 different pieces of nose art to be used online or off, and will set players back a cool 160  ($2). A more substantial DLC offering will come with the Carrier Battle Map Pack, a collection of four new maps that will be playable across all five multiplayer modes. These maps consist of locales such as the Philippine Islands, the Leyte Gulf, and Aleutian Islands, and will fetch a premium price of 800 ($10) when the pack releases on July 23. Man your download stations for Battlestations: Pacific DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:55:00 EST
'Drug Wars' offers fresh start for Merchants of Brooklyn
If people can clean their hands with a simple name change, then why can't games? Paleo Entertainment recently re-dubbed its bargain-priced shooter, Merchants of Brooklyn, as "Drug Wars." Currently exclusive to Steam, Merchants of Brooklyn suffered an embarrassing release in mid-March when an alpha version was mistakenly sold in place of the final code and apparently failed to recover any credibility. Its Metacritic score of "36" ranks near the bottom of all 2009 games to date. "Drug Wars," on the other hand, ranks decidedly better with a "No Score Yet" rating. The new name wasn't exactly pulled from thin air (well, at least not this time), as "Drug Wars" was adopted from last month's free, beta-release multiplayer update by the same name. Paleo is clearly shifting focus away from the original single-player campaign -- which has since been " reworked" -- and toward the Drug Wars multiplayer mode. Of course, the fresh start also means building a player base from scratch. Currently, we count three -- and a fourth player who "can't find it to play it." Sounds like this is one of those cold kinda wars, eh? Keep that fire burning, Mr. Elite Neanderthal Fighter. Keep that fire burning. 'Drug Wars' offers fresh start for Merchants of Brooklyn originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST
Valve 'up' on idea of PS3 development, waiting to build talented PS3 team
Valve isn't quite as against the idea of developing games for the PS3 as we previously thought. Speaking to Valve's Doug Lombardi at the Left 4 Dead 2 event in London today (look out for the full interview soon), we discovered that the company is still "up on the idea" of developing for the PS3 -- it's just waiting until it has hired some decent PS3 coders. "If you look at The Orange Box -- PC: 96 on Metacritic, 360: 96 on Metacritic, PS3 like... 84 or something. That's not even close to where we are right now with the 360 and PC and the reason is people." Lombardi went on to say that "we have to get people under our roof who are dedicated, talented PS3 guys and then all bets are off. We can take the same sort of strides and get the quality out of the box and offer the same support post-launch on that platform, as well." Sounds like Valve-developed PS3 games are more a case of "when" than "if," nowadays. When asked whether Valve is actively seeking to hire PS3 developers, he noted that "Valve is always looking to hire people. So yeah, definitely." Are you a dedicated PS3 coder who wants to make Left 4 Dead 3 for the system? You know what to do. We look forward to seeing your handiwork in late 2010. Valve 'up' on idea of PS3 development, waiting to build talented PS3 team originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:05:00 EST
Fez coming to XBLA in 2010
With just the simple image you see above, developer Polytron announced that its dimensional-shifting platformer Fez would arrive on the Xbox Live Arcade platform at some point next year. Though we've seen a date of 2009 in a previous trailer, the teaser image is the best indication we've had so far in terms of a concrete platform for the game. Though we can't say it's a huge surprise (we spotted an Xbox "A" button in the game back in March), it's nice to have it officially official. Fez coming to XBLA in 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:40:00 EST
PSP Go processor more than 40% faster than original
The PSP Go isn't just smaller than the original PSP series -- it's more powerful. In fact, it features a processor that's more than 40% faster than the original. The original PSP (1000-3000) series include a processor capable of reaching 333MHz speeds. FCC documents reveal that the PSP Go (N1001) includes a processor that can go up to 480MHz. It's unclear what the added processor power will be used for. It may be necessary for PSP Go-specific features, like in-game XMB. But will it be used in more traditional gaming applications? If so, could we possibly see PSP Go-exclusive games? Perhaps. Nintendo has released a very small number of applications exclusively for the upgraded DSi, which also features a much beefier processor than its predecessor so there's portable precedence. [Via Sony Insider] PSP Go processor more than 40% faster than original originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:15:00 EST
Capcom's mystery game is Sengoku Basara 3
 Capcom's latest teaser site, which was last showing the number 1600, was generally believed (and hoped) to be leading up to the announcement of a new Onimusha game. However, the game being teased is actually a new entry in Capcom's other action series starring fictionalized versions of real feudal Japanese warlords: Sengoku Basara, (barely) better known here as Devil Kings -- a series which features Onimusha's bad guy Oda Nobunaga as the protagonist and title character. No platforms or really any other information were revealed about Sengoku Basara 3, other than the logo, two character silhouettes, and a 2010 date. Previous Sengoku Basara games have been released on PS2, PSP, and Wii (along with an arcade-based 2D fighting spinoff). The series isn't that well-known in North America, but in Japan, its popularity (and the sudden popularity of actual Japanese history) is boosted by the tie-in anime series. Capcom's mystery game is Sengoku Basara 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:45:00 EST
Splinter Cell: Conviction (aka Badass: The Game) will take about 12 hours
Splinter Cell: Conviction will take 12 hours to complete on normal says the game's creative director, Maxime Beland, in the latest issue of OXM. There will certainly be a harder difficultly level for folks that are into trial and error for 30 hours, but the "normal gamers" will get a well-sized adventure. Beland says this was done because he wants people to actually finish the game. That's quite a good idea. Also, at around 12 hours of gameplay, Badass: The Game won't wear out its welcome -- if it keeps the action going. Of course, there'll be multiplayer to extend the experience, but we likely won't be able to crack skulls in urinals there ... or maybe we will, which would then confirm Splinter Cell as game of the year. [Via 1UP] Splinter Cell: Conviction (aka Badass: The Game) will take about 12 hours originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST
Video Tour: Kodu, Microsoft's DIY game builder
Microsoft released its Kodu Game Lab yesterday, giving gamers everywhere the opportunity to create their very own games. Just for you, we snapped up the tool and set to work creating the Next BIg Thing in video gaming. Well, either that or we created a dinky little 2D shooter. Still, it's hard not to feel some pride after creating a real, honest-to-goodness, functioning game. And we did it all without laying a finger on a standard keyboard. Check out our video tour and see what created. Add the trial version of Kodu Game Lab to your Xbox 360 download queueVideo Tour: Kodu, Microsoft's DIY game builder originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:15:00 EST
Techland's Dead Island still shambling about
You know Techland, right? No no, not that weird Discovery Zone ripoff your Dad used to take you to when you were a little kid -- the Polish developer! You know, the comany that makes Call of Juarez and ... ummm ... not much else. Anyway, while speaking recently with G4TV, the company's international brand manager, Blazej Krakowiak, confirmed a second title from the developer, albeit one announced way back in 2007, named Dead Island. Unfortunately, the game's website tells us little to nothing about the game's current status. So, we emailed Techland this afternoon and Krakowiak told us, "As far as Dead Island goes, nothing has changed regarding our media silence .... the game's worldwide publisher is still waiting for their best moment to strike and reveal the awesome stuff we're preparing for zombie fans and gamers." He also confirmed to us the game's still in-development status, saying, "The game's still alive (or better yet, still Dead) and doing great." As G4TV rightly points out, when the game was shown last it was without a publisher, so if anything, this means good things for Techland's zombie game. After all, we're still wondering what happened to the company's open-world FPS game, Warhound ... Techland's Dead Island still shambling about originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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