Archive | November, 2008
Filed under: Mac, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 Bad news, everybody: 2008 is the new 2007. Those of us lucky enough to have survived last year's unyielding flood of exquisite games expected the new holiday to provide some respite -- perhaps an influx of blessedly mediocre games -- but alas, our wallets are once again tugged in every $60 direction.But what's worse? The deafening din of desirable games, or that irresistible impulse to play and master every adventure the very second it becomes available? Provided you can defeat the latter reflex, we have a simple suggestion: Live in the past. It's cheaper!We've dredged up our decisive, if ever-so-slightly controversial list of the ten best games of Oh Seven, hoping you'll find a fantastic experience you mistakenly overlooked. You'll find that the passage of time has taken a pleasing toll on the recommended price of admission. In fact, we've traveled forward in time to this very moment, hoping to pick up our 2007 nominees on the cheap. What do you think? Should we make Portal our Game of the Year?Continue reading Holidaze 2008: Live in the past, it's cheaperHolidaze 2008: Live in the past, it's cheaper originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Mac, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 Bad news, everybody: 2008 is the new 2007. Those of us lucky enough to have survived last year's unyielding flood of exquisite games expected the new holiday to provide some respite -- perhaps an influx of blessedly mediocre games -- but alas, our wallets are once again tugged in every $60 direction.But what's worse? The deafening din of desirable games, or that irresistible impulse to play and master every adventure the very second it becomes available? Provided you can defeat the latter reflex, we have a simple suggestion: Live in the past. It's cheaper!We've dredged up our decisive, if ever-so-slightly controversial list of the ten best games of Oh Seven, hoping you'll find a fantastic experience you mistakenly overlooked. You'll find that the passage of time has taken a pleasing toll on the recommended price of admission. In fact, we've traveled forward in time to this very moment, hoping to pick up our 2007 nominees on the cheap. What do you think? Should we make Portal our Game of the Year?Continue reading Holidaze 2008: Live in the past, it's cheaperHolidaze 2008: Live in the past, it's cheaper originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Puzzle Though much of his PlayStation Blog post is spent ram-bling about Tuesday's PSN release of Street Fighter II Turbo Something Something HD, John Diamonon sneaks in a quick release window for Capcom's forthcoming downloadable puzzler, Flock. Baah-ring any unforeseen delays, it seems the shear excitement will commence in January -- a good way to avoid the holiday rush, which is usually mutton but trouble for low-profile titles.We're sure to have herd more by the time the game releases on XBLA, PSN and PC, but for now, ewe would be right in grazing an important question: How much will it cost? Unless Capcom wishes to avoid a proper lambasting, players are almost certain to get it on the sheep.Gallery: Flock (XBLA, PSN, PC)PSN, XBLA, PC puzzler Flock wool be out in January originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Culture, Features, PC, MMO Joystiq's sister site Massively.com has all the news you'll need about MMOs. Here's the best, brightest, and most interesting stuff from the last week, all in one convenient place for your MMO minute. Massively's exclusive pre-launch Moria interview with Jeffrey SteefelMassively chats with Jeffrey Steefel, Executive Producer for Lord of the Rings Online the night before the release of LotRO's first expansion. Mines of Moria is now live, and from the sounds of things the servers and players are having a great time of it. Massively's ArenaNet interview: The past, present and future of Guild Wars PvP Massively catches up with ArenaNet Game Designer Isaiah "Izzy" Cartwright for a brief interview regarding the past, present and future state of PvP in Guild Wars. Follow along after the cut for the full interview and some exclusive PvP screenshots supplied to us by ArenaNet. Massively checks in on The Agency with Lead Designer Hal MiltonMassively talks over the current state of The Agency's development with the animated and always-interesting lead designer Hal Milton. Hal shares with us a bit of insight into what they're currently working on, give us a few fun facts to chew on, and makes us actually look forward to next year's summer con season. Continue reading Massively week in ReviewMassively week in Review originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, MMO Diehard Final Fantasy XI players who've not been beckoned away from Vana'diel by the siren call of World of Warcraft or Warhammer Online will be pleased to know that three "scenario expansions" for Square Enix's MMO were recently announced at VanaFest, a FFXI fan event in Japan. The three add-ons will be downloadable from the PlayOnline Viewer over the course of 2009, each going for "around $10.00."The expansions won't be adding any new locales to Vana'diel's geography, but will attempt to "deepen the storylines running through pre-existing areas by ushering in all-new plots and intrigues." The three scenarios are titled A Crystalline Prophecy - Ode of Life Bestowing (which will be available next Spring), A Moogle Kupo d'Etat - Evil in Small Doses and A Shantotto Ascension - The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born (which will be available in the months following the first expansion). Brief synopses for the scenarios, which were explained in a recent press release, are available after the break.Continue reading Square Enix announces three downloadable expansions for Final Fantasy XISquare Enix announces three downloadable expansions for Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Culture, Mac, PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Online Synergy. Can you dig it? Sony does, finally noticing those 14 million accounts stranded on the console-side of PlayStation Network. We imagine the meeting went a little something like this: Exec One: You see, we've got 14 million people over here [*motions to his right*]. But what if we could take them [*lifts his hands up*] and stick 'em over here, too? [*motions back to his left*] Exec Two: So are you gonna eat that last Mint Milano or what? Exec One: No -- well ... let's split it. Exec Two: Deal. The result? PSN IDs are being incorporated into PlayStation.com and, at a later date, PlayStation.Blog. Doing so will make your friends list and other features accessible through a web browser -- oh my! On a solemn note, these changes bring PlayStation Underground to its inevitable end, but members can hold on to some of the good times by merging their Underground accounts with their PSN IDs. And this is only the beginning, promises PSN senior director Susan Panico: "before this year is over we'll have more enhancements for your gamer profile." Dare we say, a New PlayStation Experience?PSN IDs on PlayStation.com, 'Underground' closes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Simulations If you're still exploring the galaxy and seeding obscure planets with your peculiar race of tripedal penguins, you'll be pleased to note the arrival of Spore Patch 3, which not only strangles several known bugs but gives you a hand in creature creation. Well, 24 hands in fact, or 24 exoskeleton appendages to be more precise. We encourage you to welcome these latest members of the "Free DLC" club and promptly slap them onto your latest creations.In order to download the patch (corrections are listed after the break), simply hop online with Spore or launch the EA Download Manager -- you'll be placed in arm's way automatically. Though the game is still locked up tight in DRM prison, it's nice to see it enjoying some free limb.[Via Big Download]Continue reading New Spore patch removes bugs, adds appendagesNew Spore patch removes bugs, adds appendages originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Nintendo DS, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure Normally, we'd be satisfied with a trailer depicting just a few of Lara's transitional talents. Perhaps a brief clip of her leaping over an ominous pit, or a quick snapshot of her scurrying up the side of a cliff. You know, that sort of thing.But it seems we underestimate the lithe leading lady's prowess in Tomb Raider: Underworld, her first built-for-next-gen adventure in archeology and endangered animal slaughter. Or in the case of one particular and rather large tentacled beast, endangering animal slaughter. See what we mean by viewing the trailer after the break.Continue reading Tomb Raider: Underworld launch trailer is crackin'Tomb Raider: Underworld launch trailer is crackin' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Mac, PC, Meta (about Joystiq) The holiday shopping season is about kick into high gear....keep your stress down about buying presidents for your mother-in-law by checking out a week's worth of highlights from Big Download:Exclusive features Playing Together: Co-op in PC FPS Games: Doom started the whole co-op mod in PC shooters and we look back at the trend on the eve of the launch of Left 4 Dead. Microsoft talks about Games For Windows Live plans: Microsoft's Michael Wolf gives us the 411 on their plans to revamp their Games For Windows Live service include their upcoming Marketplace additions. America's Army AA3 screenshot comparisons: America's Army is developing an Unreal Engine 3 revamp of their free multiplayer shooter and we have detailed screenshot comparisons of both the current and upcoming versions. League of Legends interview: We chat with Riot Games about their upcoming multplayer fantasy action-strategy game. Reviews: We review the latest American McGee's Grimm episode King Midas MODMonday: Our mod column this week is about a graphical revamp of Wolfenstein 3D, WolfGL Big Iron: Our hardware column this week takes a look at the perils of system restores in PC rigs Mac Monday: This week's look at gaming on the Mac takes a look at the recent fantasy RPG Kivi's Underground. Independent Minds: Our regular look at the indie game scene takes a look at titles made with the Unity platform. Boot Disk and Virtual Bargain Bin: Both our retro gaming and value priced game columns this week are about the turn based strategy game Disciples: The Sacred Lands. Big Ideas: Our regular look at trends in gaming is all about game reviews and how useful they really are. Freeware Friday: Our regular look at free games this week is about the procedural RTS game Dyson. BigCast: Our weekly podcast on PC gaming has some guest chatters this time round from sister sites Joystiq and GameDaily. Contests: We are giving our readers a way to win one of three copies of the PC version of Quantum of Solace and we still have beta codes to give out for Battleforge. Continue reading The Best of Big Download: November 10-16The Best of Big Download: November 10-16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Action, First Person Shooters Although Orange Box Extreme might have been more apt, Valve's Complete Pack is a rather blatant title expressing what you'll get with the deal. For $99, the Complete Pack on Steam includes pretty much every one of the developer's titles, including its forthcoming Left 4 Dead.The individual price of all the games on the service would be $235, but for those who aren't multiplayer fanatics, you probably wouldn't be buying half those titles anyway. It's still a great deal for those interested in grabbing or gifting the Valve library at a reasonable price.Sweeter than an Orange Box: Valve 'Complete Pack' $99 on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Culture, Mac, PC Family. Family is a beautiful and precious thing in all its many forms. It gives a sense of love and belonging in an otherwise hostile world. The smile of your child, the eyes of your lover, the loving embrace of a parent. Family. Go and enjoy yours while you can because time takes away all things.Oh yeah, a World of Warcraft player named Nymh, on EU server Drek'thar, has hit the new level 80 cap in the expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, within a day. For those who don't know what that means, it basically involves tapping a keyboard, staring at a monitor and rubbing your mouse around for way too long.Now, go get some hugz.[Via WoW Insider]Player already reaches new WoW level cap, we hug our families originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Casual Get back behind the sandbags, soldier! No, not those, they're far too realistic. These, more cartoony bags are much better suited to protect your rounded corners and chiseled jaw while waiting for Electronic Arts to decide when Battlefield Heroes will roll onto the front lines. EA once more postponed the official release of its free-to-play shooter, while the closed beta will soon go dark until sometime next year.James Salt, senior producer on Battlefield Heroes, broke the news on the game's website, writing that the beta will close down Friday night at 6pm CET so the team can focus on "polishing the backend." In the meantime, we expect many brokenhearted, animated grenadiers to keep polishing their oversized rifles until early 2009.[Via Big Download]Battlefield Heroes beta in ceasefire until early '09 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PCclick for more Games for Windows Live screenshots With little (no?) fanfare, Microsoft has rolled out an update to its also-ran Games for Windows Live service, ready to shed some of that bad name just in time for this holiday's GFW-branded lineup (think Fallout 3 and GTA IV). So what's in store for you, PC gamers? Mostly, a much needed UI refresh. Gone is the ill-advised, console-inspired Blades interface - in its stead is a much slicker (much quicker!) menu that pops down from the top of the display. All the features you'd expect to be there are there: gamertag, friends list, messaging, achievements. As announced earlier this year, they've also done away with the tiered subscription service for PC gamers. No more "Gold" service - all of this is free, including TrueSkill matchmaking.Gallery: Games for Windows LiveIndeed, there isn't much new in the way of functionality with one notable exception: the Marketplace. Though it's not available just yet (we'll let you know when "in the next few weeks"), the standalone Marketplace app will be akin to its 360 counterpart, offering publishers and developers a place to host trailers, demos, and DLC - all integrated into the game. Available now: the ability for a game to alert you to patches, and then download them and seamlessly patch them into your game. Boot it up again and - voila! - you're running the latest release. No messy files to download or delete.We'll have our writeup of the latest installment in the GFW Live saga tomorrow; however, for now, flip through some of these screenshots from yesteryear to see what's changed. If you've taken it for a spin, let us know what you think. Oh, hell with it: you'll let us know what you think regardless! (Full presser after the break).Gallery: Games for Windows Live (old)Continue reading Games for Windows Live redesigned - screenshots, detailsGames for Windows Live redesigned - screenshots, details originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Nintendo DS, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 We almost took the coward's way out for the third week running, insisting that there were too many great games to just feature one. But you know what? We're better than that. So it's Mirror's Edge, and you're just going to have to live with that.We know that if you like multiplayer first-person shooters you're stoked about Call of Duty: World at War, and if you're an MMO fan, the highlight of your week ... nay, your calendar year is the release of Wrath of the Lich King. But we're picking Mirror's Edge, because it's a new IP and it looks fantastic. So there.Continue reading New games this week: Mirror's Edge editionNew games this week: Mirror's Edge edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action The fourth and final animated teaser trailer for Mirror's Edge has made the leap, rolled, and landed safely on the 'net. (All without a net, naturally.) This installment of the lead-up to the actual game's release on Nov. 11 takes a stylized look at the role of Runners in the game world. (Hint: they run ... okay, and deliver stuff.)Want to be a better Runner in the Mirror's Edge demo's time trial mode? Check out this excellent, player-made, annotated video run-through of the Edge "course." We've managed to shave several seconds off our previous best time thanks to it. Download in HD (102MB) Catch this Mirror's Edge 'Runner' trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
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