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Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:17:00 EST
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath remake coming to PS3 in 2011
Are you ready, Steef? Just Add Water is working on a high-definition remake of Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath. The Gravity Crash developer announced the project earlier today, highlighting it as the first in a "long and fruitful relationship" with the original game's developer, Oddworld Inhabitants. "Having a chance to update the great title and release it on PS3 is just a brilliant opportunity, not least for us, but for the fans too," added Just Add Water MD Stewart Gilray.
Set for release on PlayStation Network during Easter next year, the PS3 remake of Stranger's Wrath will offer enhanced 720p visuals, more detailed character models, remastered dialogue, PlayStation Move support and "additional bonus material."
When it launched on Xbox in January 2005, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath was notable for being, well, a really bizarre first-person shooter. It placed the franchise's environmental missive inside a wild and weird Western aesthetic, and replaced ammunition with ravenous fuzzballs. An EA-developed port for PlayStation 2 never made it to stores.  Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath remake coming to PS3 in 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:00:00 EST
KOF Sky Stage shoots up Japanese XBLA on September 15
SNK's oddball bullet hell shmup, KOF Sky Stage, has finally been dated for Xbox Live Arcade -- in Japan, at least. Masochists can check it out on September 15 for 800 MS Points ($10). That's a small price to pay to see Terry Bogard and company fly around and shoot stuff. And, y' know, play a super-tough game.
The game originally launched in Japanese arcades back in January. PSP users can also access KOF Sky Stage right now in Neo Geo Heroes, while those of us in the US can likely look forward to a localized release, so says an ESRB listing. If you're looking to get an early start at finding all of those sweet hiding spots to take refuge from the impending bullet swarms, head past the break for a new trailer. Continue reading KOF Sky Stage shoots up Japanese XBLA on September 15 KOF Sky Stage shoots up Japanese XBLA on September 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:00:00 EST
MakerBot mod turns PlayStation Eye into 3D scanner
Do you feel the inexplicable compulsion to map the contours of your grotesque visage on a professional level? MakerBot Industries has come up with a clever device that should let you do so using a gaming peripheral you might already own: The PlayStation Eye.
The MakerScanner (which isn't available for purchase yet, though interested parties can put their names on a mailing list) is designed to let users create a full 3D geometric scan of an object using the PS Eye and a laser line pointer. This results in a data map that can be used to create 3D models or, with the right -- presumably expensive -- equipment, a physical statuette. We think it would be worth the investment to fill our apartment with busts of ourselves. "Oh, this one," we'd tell our visitors, "this one's us in repose." MakerBot mod turns PlayStation Eye into 3D scanner originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:10:00 EST
Hands-on with the new Xbox 360 controller with transforming D-pad
Well, what do we have here? While visiting lovely and scenic Redmond, WA to spend some time (about two hours, to be exact) with Fable 3, we accepted an invitation to swing by one of the Xbox buildings and check out the new (and, yes, improved) Xbox 360 wireless controller with transforming D-pad. We not only played with a final prototype controller, but also got a first look at the retail packaging, lenticular image and all.
First, the obvious attraction: The new "transforming" D-pad. With a not-so-simple twist of the D-pad, the corner quadrants drop out of the way leaving just the cross-shaped D-pad. I say "not-so-simple" because it actually requires a little bit of effort; after all, you don't want to go from cross-shaped to old-fashioned in the middle of a hadouken. Using two thumbs to spin the D-pad improves the process though, when not being twisted deliberately, it remained firmly in place. We were told that engineering the transforming D-pad was no easy feat and the final product is not only the result of several prototypes, but all sorts of stress testing.
Continue reading Hands-on with the new Xbox 360 controller with transforming D-pad Hands-on with the new Xbox 360 controller with transforming D-pad originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:35:00 EST
It's Poker Night at the Inventory for Max, Tycho, Strong Bad, and the Heavy
 That mysterious Telltale mashup game teased last week? Telltale laid its cards on the table, revealing ... Poker Night at the Inventory, the second "pilot" game from the adventure publisher, which brings Team Fortress 2's Heavy, Penny Arcade's Tycho, Homestar Runner's Strong Bad, and Sam & Max's Max together for a little good-natured gambling. Now, we know what you're thinking. How can Strong Bad play cards with boxing gloves on?
Poker Night at The Inventory features fully voiced characters utilizing Telltale's dynamic dialog system," according to the announcement. "All the characters will talk trash, give unique tells, and react to the game dynamically as it is being played, providing a unique experience with each round played." It also features Steamworks integration, a first for the publisher. Oh, and pre-orders from Telltale for the fall release ($4.95!) come with coupons for 25% off your order. If we knew the first thing about poker, we'd totally relate that to a hand of cards you'd be confident about holding.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] It's Poker Night at the Inventory for Max, Tycho, Strong Bad, and the Heavy originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:00:00 EST
Bastion is Supergiant Games' first title, playable at PAX
When Supergiant Games opened its doors during GDC earlier this year, it revealed it was working on a digital title to be released in 2011. This week, Giant Bomb unveiled that title -- it's called Bastion and should be available for public consumption by next summer.
Supergiant explains Bastion as an "action role-playing game set in a lush imaginative world, in which players must create and fight for civilization's last refuge as a mysterious narrator marks their every move." The "mysterious," somewhat lyrical narrator makes his first appearance in the game's trailer -- which we've dropped after the break. Considering Supergiant's pedigree (ex-EALA Command & Conquer devs) and how beautifully detailed this initial media is, we have high hopes for Bastion.
The game will be playable at PAX Prime this weekend as part of the "PAX 10." Continue reading Bastion is Supergiant Games' first title, playable at PAX Bastion is Supergiant Games' first title, playable at PAX originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST
Pachter predicts $100 'Platinum' Xbox Live membership
The bump in cost for a Gold membership on Xbox Live is just the tip of the iceberg, according to game industry seer Michael Pachter. Predicting a $100 plan as the next evolutionary step in subscription options soon to be available to Xbox Live consumers, he told IndustryGamers reports that while the initial extra $10 "translates to around $100 to 150 million per year in additional revenue for Microsoft," the company will "reinvest at least this much in developing other new applications, and will roll out a premium service with $100 to 200 million worth of enhancements. If they can get 2 million users to switch from the $60 plan to the $100 plan, they'll make an extra $80 million a year, and can keep investing to try to grow that business."
It makes sense: Xbox Live is easily one of the biggest draws of the console and consumers have already shown they're willing to pay a premium for it. But even if Microsoft were to offer a "Platinum" service, what could justify what is comparably such a heftier price tag?
"For all I know, the Platinum plan might include virtual goods credits for various Microsoft games," Pachter posits. "If members could get specialized Halo armor or weapons worth the extra $40, they might be more willing to sign up, and it doesn't really cost Microsoft anything to offer things like that." You know what? We may know a few people willing to pay for something like that.
[Thanks, Mark] Pachter predicts $100 'Platinum' Xbox Live membership originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST
Inafune: Japanese devs have to 'get humble'
 At last year's TGS, Capcom producer Keiji Inafune had some pretty grim things to say about the Japanese game industry. "I said that comment hoping that the Japanese creators were going to wake up," Inafune told Videogamer in a new interview. "However, there has been no change whatsoever to the situation since last year, so I'm still very pessimistic."
Inafune said that some Japanese developers are "still living the glory of the '80s and '90s," when the NES, Super NES and Genesis delivered a steady stream of hit games from Japan to the world. "So they don't admit that there is a problem to start with." He advised his colleagues to "get humble and start learning what's going on."
Inafune also added that just buying Western companies isn't enough, unless publishers "start working with them properly, rather than just commissioning a game and then putting their name on the final product." One company must be feeling that one in its Extreme Edges. Inafune: Japanese devs have to 'get humble' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:30:00 EST
Xbox Live in September: Halo goodies, free Live Gold, cheap puzzle games
A feast of XBLA games may be headed to Xbox Live Marketplace soon, but that's not all there is. First up, there are a lot of festivities planned for the launch of Halo: Reach. Microsoft is dubbing September 14-20 "Invasion Week," and plenty of Halo goodies will be available "including new gear, exciting content, spectacular prizes and a chance to play with the creators of the game." Microsoft will also be offering opening up Xbox Live Gold features to Silver members from September 17-20. Finally, "all fans that jump online" can download a free "Invasion" theme. It's a bit unclear exactly what's meant by "jump online," whether it be players that play Halo: Reach or simply anyone that signs into Live. We've contacted Microsoft for clarification.
New Deals of the Week are headed down the pipeline as well, with Resident Evil 5 "avatar outfits and game add-ons" receiving as yet unspecified discounts next week. The week of September 13, several puzzle games will get the DoTW treatment. Bust-a-Move Live, Puzzle Chronicles and Tower Bloxx Deluxe are all being knocked from 800 MSP ($10) to 400 MSP ($5), while Gyromancer will drop from 1200 MSP ($15) to 800 MSP ($10).
If you still have money to spend after all that, some new Rock Band 3 Avatar items are now on Marketplace, as are two new Games on Demand, Bully: Scholarship Edition and Cabela's African Safari. Xbox Live in September: Halo goodies, free Live Gold, cheap puzzle games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST
Kojima wants a 'Complete' edition of MGS4, if someone else makes it
Poor ol' Hideo Kojima has apparently been on the receiving end of a plethora of demands from his rabid fanbase, all crying out for the integration of some of the PS3's patched-in features into Metal Gear Solid 4. The idiosyncratic developer took time out of his busy schedule of eating bizarre-looking foodstuffs to respond by saying, "I wanted to make a 'Complete Version' with trophy support and 3D, but if I did that I wouldn't be able to work on a new game. I wonder if someone else would make it for me."
Well, gang -- any takers? It really shouldn't be too hard. Just drop a trophy in for completing each boss fight, one for beating the game on its hardest difficulty, and one for beating the game using only your wits and a pornographic magazine. Give them some clever names ("I Only Read It For The Articles," for instance), and baby, you're good to go. Kojima wants a 'Complete' edition of MGS4, if someone else makes it originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:40:00 EST
Killzone 3 screenshots feature hoodies, pummeling
Before you and the many thousands of other yous gets a chance to go hands-on with Killzone 3 this weekend at PAX Prime, Famitsu has a smattering of new images to hungrily dig through for new information. One thing solidly confirmed by these shots? Dusters. Hooded dusters, no less!
And hey, if you ask us, there's a severe underuse of dusters in the world of video games. Unfortunately for the gentleman above, he seems to have been socked in the face several moments before the image was taken, so his duster is fluttering through the air along with his torso. Hopefully you'll fare better this weekend at PAX! Killzone 3 screenshots feature hoodies, pummeling originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:20:00 EST
2K Games to stream 'something big' from PAX tomorrow morning
Oh boy -- yes, this certainly seems like an announcement for an announcement, and you know how much we love those (not at all). But 2K Games' blog has posted that "something big is going to happen at the 2K Games booth" this weekend for PAX 2010, and it's got everyone riled up. If nothing else, just consider this a PSA that there will be a live stream starting tomorrow morning at 10AM PDT, in which we'll supposedly see "something big." An elephant? An Ubisoft Toronto game? Tom Hanks after a wish?
If it helps (it doesn't), Duke Nukem co-creator George Broussard has tweeted a link to a picture of pigs flying, which some folks have taken to mean that Duke Nukem For.. -- oh, never mind, we can't even bring ourselves to say its name. Let's just all wait patiently until the live stream starts tomorrow, and then we won't be disappointed when 2K announces that it has convinced President Christoph Hartmann to attend PAX in a silly gorilla suit. 2K Games to stream 'something big' from PAX tomorrow morning originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:20:00 EST
Ubisoft cautious over new IP, remains focused on established franchises
Ubisoft Europe managing director Alain Corre isn't one to parse words -- for instance, he told GamesIndustry.biz in a recent interview, "The games that are not triple-A are not profitable anymore. And that's changed in the last 18 months." He admitted that "we are still releasing some new franchises," citing Ruse as a calculated aberration. "It's a niche so we know the size of the market for real-time strategy games ... with niche games it's possible to have a hit more than in the triple-A space, especially in the fourth and fifth year of the console cycle."
To Corre, it's a question of investment risk. "To a certain extent it becomes less risky to invest more in a single game or franchise than spreading your investment between three or four games," he explained. "If those three or four games are not at the right quality level, you are sure to lose money. So the business model has changed and we're changing our way of making hardcore games." He said we might not see a new IP push from Ubisoft until the next generation of consoles, which he foresees to be "less than five years" from now.
Oddly, he doesn't bring up Ubisoft Toronto -- a studio headed by Assassin's Creed producer Jade Raymond -- that's said to be working on both "AAA-game" and new IP. Nor did he address the fate of the scantly brought up I Am Alive, supposedly coming out next spring. Based on Corre's statements, we've at least managed to come to the conclusion that Beyond Good & Evil 2 (not a new IP) should be getting a release date during this console cycle. That's ... something? Ubisoft cautious over new IP, remains focused on established franchises originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:50:00 EST
Mafia 2 likely to be profitable, Take-Two says
Speaking today during Take-Two's quarterly earnings call, CEO Ben Feder commented on Mafia 2's projected profitability. Perhaps directly rebutting one analyst's recent prediction, Feder assured investors, "Based upon the initial launch, we expect this to be another profitable title for Take-Two." He did not offer specific sales or shipment data for the game's first week at retail, nor did Feder note a general timetable for when to expect Mafia 2 to cross over into the black.
Mafia 2 was released on August 24 to somewhat favorable critical reception, following an eight-year development process that began when 2K Czech set to work on a custom game engine. Our first glimpse of the game (pictured above) came just over three years ago. Mafia 2 likely to be profitable, Take-Two says originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:40:00 EST
Red Dead Redemption pushes Take-Two Q3 revenue up to $354.1 million
Take-Two has reported that net revenue for its third fiscal quarter, which ended July 31, 2010, reached $354.1 million -- an increase of $259.2 million over the same period last year. The company attributed the rise primarily to Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption, which has shipped more than 6.9 million units life-to-date. And while several older games, including Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, NBA 2K10 and Borderlands, contributed to overall sales at retail, Take-Two highlighted digitally distributed content as a "meaningful component" of this quarter's outcome.
Operating income for the quarter landed at $12.4 million, a big turnaround compared to the $58.3 million loss suffered in the same quarter during 2009, and a minor dip from Q2 2010's $16.9 million. Take-Two's fourth quarter won't benefit from Red Dead's landing impact, but the company already has an extensive lineup of DLC planned for the coming months.
Red Dead Redemption pushes Take-Two Q3 revenue up to $354.1 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST
Infamous 2 at PAX: playable, panel and cool shirt
Infamous 2 is set to electrify (hopefully, not literally) the PAX crowd with seven demo kiosks on the show floor this weekend. The demos feature Cole's new glorified cattle prod weapon and will be set up at booth #122, where developer Sucker Punch will be giving away a "limited number" of t-shirts (pictured).
The crew from Sucker Punch will also be holding the "Creating Super Powers" panel in the Seattle Sheraton's Pegasus Theater at 6:30PM PT on Saturday. They'll show off the new Kinetic Pulse power and an enemy known as the "Ravager." It's sure to be electric ... boogie woogie woogie. Infamous 2 at PAX: playable, panel and cool shirt originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST
Outland developed by Housemarque, gameplay detailed
When Ubisoft first revealed Outland for PSN and XBLA earlier this week, the company didn't provide many details. Now, thanks to a preview on IGN, we've got a much clearer picture of the title. Outland is being developed by Housemarque, the studio behind the PSN shooter Super Stardust HD and the upcoming Dead Nation. According to IGN, the game is essentially "a cross between retro platformers like Prince of Persia or Out of This World and the color-switching of shoot 'em up Ikaruga."
If just the thought of those two play styles combined has you short of breath, we wouldn't blame you. Like Ikaruga, players can switch the protagonist between two forms, white and black, rendering him impervious to bullets of the same color. At the same time, players must navigate jungle settings on branching pathways looking for secrets and, of course, boss fights. Outland isn't scheduled for release until next year, but rest assured we'll be taking a closer look during PAX.
Outland developed by Housemarque, gameplay detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST
Tokyo is a battleground for animals in PS3's 'Tokyo Jungle'
 The latest game to be born from Sony's " PlayStation CAMP" initiative, which brought us both What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord!? and Patchwork Heroes, is simple to describe yet difficult to explain. Tokyo Jungle is about animals running free in the streets of Tokyo in the year 20XX, and doing their best to survive against the other creatures roaming the city.
Story Mode takes players through missions, each played as a different animal, including a race horse craving competition and a pet Pomeranian craving ... food. During these missions, you'll learn what happened to make the humans leave Earth. Survival Mode allows players to pick from over 80 different animals -- like elephants, chimps (in overalls!) and porcupines -- and survive as long as possible. Tokyo Jungle will arrive in the still-populated Japan this winter.
[Thanks, Copland] Tokyo is a battleground for animals in PS3's 'Tokyo Jungle' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST
Puzzle Quest 2 PSP only available via PSN, lacks multiplayer
Yesterday, we reported that Puzzle Quest 2 would make its way to PSP later this year, but we still had questions. Specifically, it was unclear if the game would see a UMD release and whether it'd be as full-featured as the console versions.
Steve Fawkner, CEO and president of Infinite Interactive, confirmed with Joystiq that the PSP game would only be available as a PSN download -- there will not be a UMD version. "Although we've received great support from D3 and Namco for all previous Puzzle Quest releases, PQ2 PSP is the first Puzzle Quest game that Infinite is doing by itself, without a publisher, so we're not really able to handle a full UMD release at this time," Fawkner told us. He went on to say that "it's important to get a PSP version out there for all the people who enjoyed the original PQ on PSP and wanted the second one."
Fawkner offered further insight into why Infinite would be publishing the PSP version itself (given that other versions were published by D3). "The truth is that most publishers really aren't keen to take a risk on PSP these days, which is kind of sad, because it's 'taking risks' that gets great games like Puzzle Quest published in the first place!"
As far as features go, Fawkner also confirmed that Puzzle Quest 2 for PSP would not include multiplayer. The multiplayer mode in the first Puzzle Quest was apparently not so popular among PSP players, so the team decided to focus on implementing Elite Mode (a tougher version of the single-player game that yields better rewards) into the PSP sequel, which it thought would be a better fit for the PSP demographic. Puzzle Quest 2 PSP only available via PSN, lacks multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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