Thu 09 September, 2010

Don't worry about it too much though, we're sure you'll find something to keep you busy for the rest of the month.
Continue reading Quantum Theory demo on Xbox Live 'later this month'
Quantum Theory demo on Xbox Live 'later this month' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The driving force behind this bitterness and resentment of Zygna is the company's derivative culture. "You're not smarter than your competitor. Just copy what they do and do it until you get their numbers," one employee recalls Zynga's founder, Mark Pincus, telling the team. The SF Weekly report shows clear examples of Zygna's copy-paste attitude: there's Farm Town (pictured right), which preceded FarmVille (left) by months; and Playfish's Restaurant City, coming before Zynga's Cafe World.
Zygna has already been sued by Digital Chocolate for the use of the Mafia Wars name. According to another employee, lawsuits have been accounted for, with the company mindful of possible settlements. "I was around meetings where things like that were being discussed, and the ramifications of things like that were being discussed -- the fact that they'd probably be sued by the people who designed the game," he says. "And the thought was, 'Well, that's fine, we'll settle.' Our case wasn't really defensible."
Supposedly, things are changing. With hundreds of millions of dollars invested in the company, the public has been placing much more attention on Zynga's upcoming games. The era of the quick copy-paste cash-in may be over for Zynga, with at least one employee saying that there's a "new emphasis on original content and more sophisticated applications to draw in and keep users."
Zynga employees speak out on 'doing evil' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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38 Studios also has a strict job creation schedule over the next three years. The developer must have 125 full-time jobs within a year of signing for the loan, another 175 the following year and 150 more the year after. That may just be numbers to many of you out there, but industry human resource representatives and studio directors just spit coffee all over their monitors. The studio will be penalized $7,500 per year for each of the 450 jobs it doesn't create. Obviously, if you do the math, it's cheaper not to hire for the full-time job and take the penalty.
38 Studios must also announce the location of its new studio operations and corporate headquarters by November 30, 2010 -- note: the company just has to say where it's going, not actually get there. Also, the closing of the loan requires a "signed, enforceable" 10-year lease for 38 to stay in Rhode Island. Looks like R.I. wants to make sure that it's not paying to raise a studio -- which, to date, hasn't released a single project -- and watch it leave for California or Canada after it gets all that cash.
38 Studios' loan from Rhode Island detailed in new report originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The Shark, compatible with PS3, PC and Mac systems, will retail for a whopping $90. The Barracuda and Piranha, only for PS3, will go for $70 and $50, respectively. Splitfish notes that its 2010 FragFX lineup will coincide with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops on November 9.
"It may look like the Pro," says endorser Dennis Dozier, the "#1 Global CoD Champ," comparing the Shark to last year's model (itself an upgrade of the 2007 original). "It is definitely not the Pro."
Continue reading SplitFish FragFX controllers continue to evolve, now more fishy
SplitFish FragFX controllers continue to evolve, now more fishy originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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add to furlWed 08 September, 2010


While Mario's 25th anniversary should warrant a far more festive attitude from Nintendo, it doesn't seem like Mario actually needs the added attention. Unlike most other gaming mascots, Mario's popularity hasn't waned in the 25 years since the NES game -- a testament to how beloved an icon he truly is.
Nintendo trademarks Super Mario anniversary logo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Retro consoles torn apart, ancient innards exposed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Contrary to the marketing line, you'll likely find less than you bargained for in Dragon Age: Witch Hunt, a disappointing and flimsy finale to the Dragon Age: Origins storyline. It's not a terrible chunk of content -- and it would have to do far worse before it could tarnish BioWare's other efforts in keeping the Dragon Age universe alive for almost a year now -- but the crucial failure to deliver a satisfying conclusion is hard to forget. We'll talk forgiveness later.
Continue reading Dragon Age: Witch Hunt DLC review: Build a bridge out of her
Dragon Age: Witch Hunt DLC review: Build a bridge out of her originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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[Thanks, Christian]
Continue reading Video: Creating the sounds of Halo: Reach
Video: Creating the sounds of Halo: Reach originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Speaking with Gamasutra, the Penny Arcade duo noted that the establishment of PAX not only serves gamers, but publishers as well. "[Publishers] need a place like PAX to promote [their products]," the team said. This year's show gave fans (and journalists!) an additional opportunity to check out games like Epic Mickey, Swarm, and Outland before release. PAX's timing, the Penny Arcade duo argue, allow for games to be spread more evenly throughout the year. "Before, if a game didn't make its Christmas launch it was a nightmare. This year was much more distributed as far as big releases."
Penny Arcade Expo will return to Boston next year for PAX East 2011, which will undoubtedly also turn up big numbers. But, PAX may have its eyes set on an international show. "A third PAX would likely take place in a different country," the Gamasutra report states. "Preferably somewhere the duo want to visit." PAX South Africa, perhaps? Cause we've got that covered!
PAX Prime 2010 had over 67k attendees; international show teased originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wait a second. What's that? Disney Guilty Party's actually fun? It doesn't look like the developers were locked in a closet throughout the design process? Oh, fine. I guess I'll give it a shot.
Continue reading Disney Guilty Party review: Waggle, She Wrote
Disney Guilty Party review: Waggle, She Wrote originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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For those unfamiliar with the game, the concept centers around the evolution of the shooter. Starting with the iconic intro stage to the original arcade game, Infinity Gene introduces new gameplay and visual elements as you reach certain score targets. The first upgrade allows you to move your ship freely across the X and Y axis, and eventually you'll be able to move along the Z-axis as well. The visuals transform from a monochromatic not-even-8-bit look, to a wild barrage of colorful vectors.
Like the rest of the recent Space Invaders games, Infinity Gene may be more fun to look at, than to actually play. The entire presentation is high-concept -- every time the bright white "EVOLUTION" screen appears on the screen, it's hard not to think how odd this title really is. It's definitely intriguing, but perhaps not everyone's cup of tea.
Continue reading Space Invaders Infinity Gene Xbox 360 & PS3 preview: a classic evolved
Space Invaders Infinity Gene Xbox 360 & PS3 preview: a classic evolved originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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At the very least, we know to expect dozens -- if not hundreds -- of videos showing Japanese people waving their arms and legs about, trying desperately to maintain control while piloting Kinect-based games. We can hardly wait.
Microsoft promises new Kinect games at Tokyo Game Show originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hey, a game where you pilot a flying UPS truck -- that could be pretty neat! Oh, sorry. See, I'm already forgetting HAWX 2. Let me get this all down before I move on to something more exciting, like a documentary on how they make packing peanuts.
Continue reading HAWX 2 review: The mild blue yonder
HAWX 2 review: The mild blue yonder originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Not that Wii gamers will be terribly surprised they're not invited to the online gaming party, but EA has confirmed that online play has been left out of the Wii version of NBA Jam.
Click here to read the full article
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But because of the addition of multiplayer, I was concerned about how mods will be shared now. The rep confirmed to me that players will be able to use the new multiplayer framework to find games incorporating mods but, better yet, all XP earned in these games will stay with your character. I was promised persistence across all games, be they mods or standard games.
One final interesting tidbit: all loot dropped in multiplayer games will be client specific. This means that the items you see in your game are only in your game. No need for mad dashes to grab all the high-level loot drops!
Torchlight 2 will offer free mod tools, full mod support in multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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You may have seen gameplay footage of the Keyboard in action in Rock Band 3, but now Harmonix has actually explained what's going on on-screen with this new developer video dedicated to the new instrument.
Click here to read the full article
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Continue reading Rock Band 3 trailer shows off the power of love (and keyboards)
Rock Band 3 trailer shows off the power of love (and keyboards) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Liara's return in Mass Effect 2 has had a rather divisive effect amongst fans, many of whom found disliked her unexpectedly dark turn. The prequel comic Mass Effect Redemption offers some insight into her drastic personality change -- her search for Shepard's body led to a messy exchange with the Shadow Broker, a mysterious entity that's been teased throughout both Mass Effect games. The DLC gives you new information on the Shadow Broker's whereabouts, courtesy of Cerberus, which gives you reason to return to Liara on Illium. Exactly who is the Shadow Broker and what does he do with the information at his disposal? How does Liara want to exact her revenge? These questions are all finally answered.
Continue reading Mass Effect 2 Shadow Broker DLC review: required reading
Mass Effect 2 Shadow Broker DLC review: required reading originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It turns out Nintendo was quietly planning a double-barreled assault on piracy this week, as it's released firmware updates for both of its leading consoles over the past 24 hours.
Click here to read the full article
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Continue reading Video: Halo: Reach 'Tip of the Spear' Bungie dev walkthrough
Video: Halo: Reach 'Tip of the Spear' Bungie dev walkthrough originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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According to GBAtemp.net, the affected carts include (but aren't necessarily limited to) the Acekard 2i, Supercard DSTwo, M3i Zero, iPlayer and DSTTi. A handful of carts are reportedly unaffected by the update, including the EZ-Flash Vi, iSmart DS and Hyper R4i.
And thus the cycle begins anew, with hackers diligently hacking away at Nintendo's new anti-piracy efforts (which didn't take too long last time). Joystiq does not condone piracy, but flash cartridges also have plenty of legal, entertaining uses. For example, did you know the DS makes a handy SCUMM emulator?
DSi firmware 1.4.1U update blocks certain flash carts originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue reading XBLA in Brief: Plants vs Zombies, Dance! It's Your Stage
XBLA in Brief: Plants vs Zombies, Dance! It's Your Stage originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Square recently adopted an educational stance in a "how to play" video, showing off the shooter's frantic, out-of-body respawning feature. lt looked a little rough, so a delay seems prudent . And besides, Q4 2010 is already packed.
Mindjack moves to 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The future of Kinect won't be entirely controller-free, either. While Sony has taken shots at the Kinect's lack of button input, Tsunoda says that "it's not like we're trying to take controllers out of the equation." While the current library is focused on an entirely controller-free experience, Tsunoda says that "games that involve both controllers and Kinect as well are totally possible."
"That's one of the unique things about the Xbox platform: we can do controllers; we can do controllers with Kinect, which is more than just motion control, it has voice and human recognition as well." So Kudo, when are you going to reveal the head-tracking enabled, voice-command Halo tactical FPS we just imagined?
Tsunoda describes Kinect's object-scanning, controller-wielding future originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The DIY Harmonix booth at PAX, replete with Han in carbonite and suit of armor originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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With Xbox Live coming to Windows Phone 7 in just a couple months, and rumors of PlayStation integration on the Android platform, things are about to get wild on the mobile gaming front. If you're the early adoption type, fire up iTunes and get downloading. If you're the wait-and-see type, maybe the early adopters will share their progress in the comments. We'll go first: Update complete, everything's working fine.
[Update: Things are still pretty spartan on the Game Center front. The service is up and running, but with just one game out that supports it - that would be the less-than-stellar iPhone port of Ms. Pac-Man - we're holding out for something better. C'mon Angry Birds! Quick feedback: You can't see your friends' friends, and you can't see their achievements either. We're assuming that changes if you each have the same game but, again, there's not a lot of software available right now. Anyone want to play some Fruit Ninja with OpenFeint?]
[Update 2: Touch Arcade is keeping track of the Game Center launch titles, and which ones have been updated, here. To put it more directly, that's the page you're going to want to sit on until Plunderland gets a "NOW LIVE!" note next to it.]
Download iOS 4.1 now, get Game Center (on your compatible iProduct) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Further investigation has yet to reveal additional details, but we can deduce using logic (and enthusiasm) that Ace Attorney fans will demand an English localization. Any rebuttals?
Ace Attorney Investigations 2 announced, coming to TGS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Xbox Live enforcement master Stephen Toulouse acknowledged the mistake and said that the training of his banhammer-wielding team had already been updated. Microsoft altered its Xbox Live policy earlier this year to allow acknowledgement of sexual orientation terms for people, following concerns over the company's policies toward the GLBT community.
Microsoft apologizes for suspending 'Fort Gay' gamer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Copyright L8RMEDIA 1998-2009 - Tous droits réservés - L'intégralité des articles est à consulter sur jeuxvideo.org
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He reiterated the original feature set - "4 brand new maps built in Frostbite, as well as Vietnam specific weapons, vehicles, persistence, unlocks, and achievements/trophies" - and, well, that's about it. We're shipping out to Tokyo next week where we'll rendezvous with the expansion and deliver the intel back here. Still think they're going to hit that "this winter" release window?
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam getting first showing at TGS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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King of all kings of the cosmos -- Katamari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy creator Keita Takahashi -- is leaving Namco, reports Play.tm. A Namco representative confirmed Takahashi's resignation.The developer expressed his dissatisfaction in the past with developing for the Japanese publisher, even saying he was disappointed with the support he received for Noby Noby Boy. He's also expressed interest in branching out to other careers, telling the BBC in 2005, "In 10 years time, I am not going to be making games any more." More recently, he got to work on plans for a playground in Nottingham, UK.
[Image credit: jontintinjordan]
Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi leaves Namco originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The premise is simple to a fault: You hop in a box with Roman slaves and then stab 'em until they're dead. That's it. For some, non-stop brawling makes for the best kind of action game; the beat-'em-up genre's survived on this kind of repetition. Gladiator even takes advantage of a handful of elements inspired by role-playing, which keeps things from getting stale too quickly.
Continue reading Gladiator Begins review: Do I not entertain?
Gladiator Begins review: Do I not entertain? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hi all - just confirmed with Netflix rep that they are in a limited release of a NEW disc that enables search functionality and has a new browsing interface. Unfortunately there's no way to opt in - seems like it's for new customers only at this point.
#speakup #netflix #wii
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Outside of FFIV's Kain and FFXIII's Lightning, no other playable characters have been confirmed. We get the feeling you'll see an expanded roster of fan-favorite brawlers at next week's Tokyo Game Show.
Dissidia Duodecim: Final Fantasy coming to PSP next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue reading Street Fighter High: The Musical, in 2 parts
Street Fighter High: The Musical, in 2 parts originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Show of hands: Who's excited about Batman Arkham City? Yeah, well pipe down. It's a long way off yet.
Click here to read the full article
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Each team has 3-4 active players, as determined by fan voting (with the exception of Gilbert Arenas, who made the cut but was left out of the voting after that handgun fiasco), explains ESPN, which obtained the complete game roster -- the West's stars to be posted next week. Additionally, most teams have a "legend" or two -- or three for the Knicks: Ewing, LJ and Starks (hey, they need help!) -- on hand, with a preference for the original arcade's stars (sorry Zo!). Some teams don't have a long or storied enough history to feature a legend, in which case EA has added the team's mascot to the bench -- or in the Pacers' case (a contractual hiccup with Reggie Miller), there's simply ... Schrempf.
Some late summer trades also contribute to a few oddities in the final rosters, with Courtney Lee (now a Houston Rocket) still on the Nets and Al Harrington (now in Denver) still a Knick. It's unlikely the Wii version will be patched after release, and EA Sports community manager Alain Quinto recently confirmed (in response to the question) that it wouldn't feature online multiplayer either.
Head past the break for the full Eastern Conference breakdown.
Continue reading NBA Jam East rosters revealed, legends included
NBA Jam East rosters revealed, legends included originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sortie : 21 octobre
Si l'on a beaucoup parlé des versions PS3 et 360 de Shaun White Skateboarding, nous n'avions pas encore vu tourner la version Wii. Heureusement, c'est désormais chose faite avec ce trail(...)
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Continue reading Halo: Reach 'Deliver Hope' live-action short released in full
Halo: Reach 'Deliver Hope' live-action short released in full originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Copyright L8RMEDIA 1998-2009 - Tous droits réservés - L'intégralité des articles est à consulter sur jeuxvideo.org
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Square Enix producer Yoshinori Kitase told Famitsu (via Gamasutra) that the new version was spurred by the launch of the remodeled 360 earlier this year, which aimed to bolster the console's install base in Japan. "We feel that there are ... a lot of people in Japan who own nothing but 360s. Thanks to the new system and such, the situation's a lot different than it was in July 2008," he explained. FFXIII will be the first Xbox 360 title released under Square's "Ultimate Hits" budget line, dropping at ¥4,980 ($59.50) on December 16.
Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International confirmed for Xbox 360 in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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You can see some examples in the Japanese trailer embedded below; pay attention or you'll miss the Pac-Man-themed challenge right around the one-minute mark. The game was announced today in Japan as a November 20th Japanese launch title for Kinect, and will retail for ¥6,279. No word yet on a US release, but with the Tokyo Game Show next week, we expect to learn more.
Dr. Kawashima trains brains on Kinect with Namco's 'Respond With Your Body: New Brain Training' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mike Fahey, Michael McWhertor, in the same podcast! That's crazy!! But it's true. And we'll be taking your calls and discussing the fall of gaming.
What are you hopes? What do you want to play? What do you still need to play? Why did it take me so friggin long to finally beat Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker? (Just last night, seriously) All this and more will be discussed during today's episode of Kotaku Talk Radio.
Don't forget to give us a ring — or listen live.
The weekly Kotaku Talk Radio podcast kicks off at 11:00 AM mountain time (1:00 PM ET) on Wednesday.
Call us on the air LIVE at (877) CHAT-212 or use Skype to dial in! You can also pick up a nifty, and free, iPhone App to listen to the show live here.
Non-U.S. listeners, use the feed below...
And don't forget to subscribe to "Kotaku Talk Radio" in iTunes to check out past interviews with the likes of Sid Meier, David Jaffe, Amy Hennig, Ken Levine, Tim Schafer, Greg Zeschuk, Todd Howard, Cliff Bleszinski, Jeremiah Slaczka, Jeff Gerstmann, Jordan Thomas, Stig Asmussen, Major Nelson and Randy Pitchford.
We'll also continue to provide direct downloads of the show a couple of hours after showtime each Wednesday.
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On the same day, the Kinect hardware will launch on its own at $150, alongside the Kinect 4GB Xbox 360 bundle for $300. There's also the option of purchasing the 250GB hard drive for the S version of the console separately, but that's $130. At this point, the latest announced bundle is the best value for those looking to get the whole package. Oh, and they still sell Xbox 360s that only come with plain ol' controllers, if that's your thing.
Kinect Xbox 360 250GB bundle announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Publisher Capcom insisted on its blog that "these are NOT official numbers," though we think they serve as a good, early indication of success. Two interesting things are at play here: Will the Case Zero experiment usher in a new type of demo experience? And if sales for Dead Rising 2 fall below expectations, will Capcom place the blame on a $5 demo that proved a little too satisfying?
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero downloaded over 300K times originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kapalka isn't suggesting that social games as a whole are going to die. Instead, he says it's the end of a "golden era," where the possibilities of the genre seemed limitless. Now that social gaming has taken root, the realities are becoming more evident: the extraordinary amount of competition, harsher restrictions from Facebook, slowing growth and dwindling margins will make it increasingly difficult for new social games to catch on. "Facebook can't go that much faster," Kapalka added. (Of course, Facebook would disagree.)
While Facebook and social games factor into PopCap's success so far, Kapalka doesn't seem too concerned about any sluggishness in the sector. The reason? PopCap has its hands in enough places to feel secure. "I feel PopCap's really diversified over the last ten years, we've never been necessarily the biggest company doing Xbox games or mobile games, but we've always been able to keep our hands in all these different areas, and sort of shift as necessary to whichever platforms are doing well." Plants vs. Zombies, for example, will continue its expansion to Xbox this week, and Nintendo DS next year.
PopCap CCO: Facebook gaming's 'golden era' may be at an end originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Konami has released a load of screenshots and a video of the Wii version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2011.
Click here to read the full article
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In addition to new visuals, the PS3 version of Dungeon Hunter will boast four player cooperative multiplayer, both online and off, making it one of Gameloft's most ambitious PSN games yet. Get a glimpse of the iPhone original after the break.
Continue reading Dungeon Hunter gets HD remake for PS3
Dungeon Hunter gets HD remake for PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Pour commencer, les joueurs pourront maintenant affronter tous les adversaires, quel que soit le type de contrôle utilisé (Wiimot(...)
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Continue reading Video game characters need business cards too
Video game characters need business cards too originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Of course, it's hard to name a game without knowing more about it. "In our shooter, there is a reason the world scrolls vertically, and a reason that you can't turn around," explains Futurlab, "everything is being sucked into a giant black hole!" Additionally, you'll be able to "save other people that are being sucked into the black hole" via your ship's unique teleporting ability. And ... well, that's all we know.
Hopefully, you can come up with something a bit more fitting than our suggestion -- COOKIESz.
You can name Futurlab's upcoming Minis space shooter originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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add to furlTue 07 September, 2010

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He won't leave it alone. Seemingly eager for the day he's proved right in his prediction that companies will start charging subs fees for multiplayer gaming, Michael Pachter has blamed the appeal of MP mode for the decline in software sales.
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Not shocking news, but apparently it hadn't been put on the record yet, and some folks were wondering if NBA Jam for the Wii would have online multiplayer support over the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. Answer: No.
EA Sports Vancouver confirmed it today, but I swear I'd heard it before. Maybe it's because of the Wi-Fi connection's poor reputation for this sort of thing that I assumed it wouldn't be supported. NHL Slapshot, the Wii hockey title also made by EA Vancouver, also does not have online multiplayer. That said, EA Sports' current Wii versions of Madden NFL, FIFA, Tiger Woods PGA Tour and last year's Grand Slam Tennis do.
Online multiplayer is absolutely a feature of the NBA Jam version that comes free with a one-use download code in retail copies of NBA Elite 11 on the PS3 and Xbox 360. However, that version will not have the Remix Tour, which supplies boss battles and unique challenges in single and - local - cooperative multiplayer modes.
All versions of the game will use the same lineup of players, secret characters, and NBA Legends.
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2K Sports will publish Top Spin 4, the latest edition of its tennis sim, in 2011, with versions for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.
In a statement issued today, Greg Thomas, 2K Sports' president of product development promised the game would deliver "an uncanny level of realism in the player and stadium models, authentic audio captured directly from real tennis matches, and all-new innovative controls."
The game is being developed by 2K Czech. Pam Development, the series' original studio, was bought by 2K Games and closed shortly after Top Spin 3 released. That game was generally praised for its superior presentation and realistic venues, tournaments and the depth of its player roster, but criticized for the difficulty of its control set.
A specific release date was not given. 2K Sports did say that preordering the game from GameStop will bring a free "vintage Andre Agassi" playable character (pictured above) when the game releases. The offer's good in North America only.
2K Sports rolled out five screens for the game in development. Check 'em out below.
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The Dark Knight returns to a more campy and colorful time in Batman: The Brave and the Bold for the Nintendo Wii, and he's brought friends.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold is the video game adaptation of the latest Batman animated series. In the cartoon, Batman teams up every week with a different DC Comics hero to take down a different DC Comics villain, usually learning something in the process. Wayforward Technologies takes that formula and applies it to a side-scrolling beat-em-up for Nintendo's Wii, giving fans a chance to battle through four episodes of the series with four different sidekicks and a handful of supporting characters lending a hand.
The Brave and the Bold cartoon is a delightful journey through the pages of DC Comics history. Can the video game keep up?
Loved
Batman and his Amazing Friends: Just like the animated series the game is based on, Batman: The Brave and the Bold features a cornucopia of DC Comics heroes and villains, from heavy hitters like Green Lantern and Aquaman to more obscure second and third stringers. I battled the likes of the Clock King, Gentleman Ghost, and Cat-Man, calling upon the powers of Plastic Man, the Red Tornado, and Captain Marvel to lend a hand along the way. It's nice to see some of DC's more obscure characters getting a chance to strut their stuff.
Wii Remote Controls: Pretty standard side-scrolling beat-em up gameplay is freshened up a little with the inclusion of Wii remote gesture controls for some of the game's more powerful attacks. Swiping the Wii remote side-to-side results in a more powerful attack. Swiping downwards while jumping brings Batman and his friends dropping down for a ground pound maneuver. Summoning helper characters during battles will see you shaking your Wii remote like a madman, adding more damage to the colorfully animated effects. The gesture-based controls aren't overused, instead providing a nice diversion from the standard punching, kicking, jumping gameplay here and there.
Episodic Format: Fans of the cartoon will be pleased to find the game follows the same episode formula followed in the show. Each of the four episodes start off with a brief, marginally related opening scene, giving villains like Flash's Rogues and the Clock King a brief moment in the spotlight, followed by the opening credits from the show and several levels' worth of beat-em up combat, glued together with a central storyline. Each episode features a controllable guest star: Robin, the Blue Beetle, Hawkman, or Guy Gardener - each with their own upgradeable weapons and gadgets. Each episode even teaches a message, from the dangers of making assumptions to learning to think before you act.
Upgrades: The monotony of bashing endless waves of enemies into submission over four lengthy episodes is broken up by the game's upgrade system. As you defeat enemies you collect coins, which can be used to upgrade the various gadgets Batman and his partners use throughout the game, making them more powerful and in some cases much more useful. Enemies giving Batman coins makes no sense of course, as his alter-ego Bruce Wayne is ridiculously wealthy, but it's something to do. Plus, the game charges you 100 coins when you die, so the upgrade system gives you a little more incentive not to buy the farm.
The Blue Beetle: Of the four guest characters that join Batman on his travels through The Brave and the Bold, none are quite as entertaining as the Blue Beetle, voiced by Will Friedle. Friedle stands out among a stellar voice cast, bringing an air of naiveté and charm to the fledgling third incarnation of the Beetle. Like Spider-Man at his finest, the Beetle tosses quips as readily as he does punches, and easily scores the best lines of the game. Bordering on breaking the fourth wall, he casually mentions how it feels like he and Batman are in a video game, and during a level involving flying a hover board continuously points out how the scenery seems to be scrolling past over and over again. I'd take a full Blue Beetle game any day.
DS Connectivity: Owners of the Nintendo DS version of Batman: The Brave and the Bold can connect the two games together in order to add a second or third player to the mix as Bat-Mite, a chibi Batman with the power to manifest items on the game screen. I played through several levels of the game with a friend controlling Bat-Mite using the DS touch screen, doling out health and combo power-ups, tossing bombs, and materializing anvils that more often than not hit me instead of my enemies. It's chaotic, a bit silly, and completely unnecessary, but it's nice to see someone making use of the DS as a Wii input device.
Hated
Repetitive Dialogue: This is a relatively common problem with games of this ilk. I understand that when two characters need to banter across game levels that could take differently-skilled players varying amounts of time to complete, there's going to be some repetition. I can handle that. When I am going through a training session in which the character Wildcat walks me through a set number of moves, however, it strikes me that a set number of congratulatory statements would have been easy enough to come up with. Instead he repeats the same three phrases of encouragement over and over again. This makes me wonder if the game wouldn't have been that much better if a bit more time was spent in the voice recording studio.
Guy Gardner: Green Lantern Guy Gardner is as annoying as the Blue Beetle is entertaining. It's not the fault of the characters voice actor, who does a fine job handling the dialogue, but rather the dialogue itself. Gardner spends the first half of his episode being an outrageously self-centered jerk, only to have a sudden realization that transformers him into whiny emo-Green Lantern. Both are equally insufferable, and since his is the last episode (technically), it ends the game on a down note.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold is based off of a cartoon meant to be enjoyed by both adults and children for different reasons. Children enjoy the colorful characters and action, while adult fans of DC Comics enjoy the intelligent dialogue while seeing classic heroes and villains come to life on the screen. The video game is much the same, catering to the younger set with colorful and simplistic gameplay while keeping the grown-ups hanging on to see who shows up next to lend Batman a hand.
While it might not win any awards for innovation, Batman: The Brave and the Bold is more than enough to keep children young and old glued to their seats for several hours of old-fashioned crime-fighting fun.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold was developed by Wayforward Technologies and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the Wii on September 7. Retails for $39.99 USD. A DS version of the game that connects to the Wii version retails for $29.99. A copy of both games was given to us by the publisher for reviewing purposes. Played through the main storyline via a combination of single player, two player, and single player with DS accompaniment.
Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.
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Sortie : 26 octobre 2010
Les fans de football propriétaires d'une Wii peuvent se réjouir puisqu'une première vidéo de gameplay très détaillée de PES 2011 vient d'être diffusée par Konami. Ils pourront y déc(...)
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Industry legend Warren Spector has revealed that he originally met with Disney to pitch a new sci-fi game - a title he felt would be considered the spiritual successor to Deus Ex.
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"A wallet assault", "twitchy", "random": These are some of the words ONM used to describe Tony Hawk's skateboard peripheral in their Tony Hawk's Ride review. Yet, the skateboarding peripheral will be making a return in his forthcoming follow-up, Shred, and the ex-pro skateboarder has now told the mag that it will work well with the game this time.
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2K Sports has announced another title in its long-running tennis franchise, Top Spin.
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Warren Spector has told
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Wii title Tales of Graces was so buggy that the game had to be recalled. A ported (and no doubt refined and hopefully bug-free version) is coming to the PS3.
The PS3 version is dubbed "Tales of Graces f" and features new in-game content and a rounded out story. The game also comes with codes for downloadable character costumes.
Priced at ¥8,397 (US$100), Tales of Graces f will be released on December 2. That is the day after Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is released for Japanese PSPs, and the day that the vast majority of Japanese gamers will be spending playing Monster Hunter.
Tales of Graces f [Official Site]
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Playing a Doctor Who Wii game with a Wii-Remote could be fun. This is better.
This fall, the British sci-fi series is getting a Wii title called Doctor Who: Return To Earth. The BBC has teamed with a peripheral maker to create a Sonic Screwdriver Wii controller.
A Sonic Screwdriver stylus will also be released for DS game Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth.
As the Official Nintendo Magazine UK points out, actor Matt Smith, who currently plays the doctor, is lending his likeness to the game as is Karen Gillan, who plays his cohort Amy Pond.
News: Doctor Who gets Sonic Screwdriver Wii Remote [Official Nintendo Magazine Thanks, Jekku!]
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