Joystiq Weekly: Let's joust, Chief!

It's officially that time of year where so much is going on, it disappears from the front page almost as quickly as it's published. "But there has to be a better way, Mr. Joystiq?" you cry, fingers bleeding from all that scrolling. There is now!

Welcome to the Joystiq Weekly, our weekend recap of the previous week's biggest news, best features, and more. Now, go ahead and jump into this post for an easy to consume digest of carefully curated content links. You earned it.

Put This In Your Earholes

• Super Joystiq Podcast 025: Wii U, DOTA 2, Paper Mario 3DS
  This week Richard, JC and Xav talk about the Wii U hardware, which we now have in our offices along with Paper Mario: Sticker Star and Primal Carnage. Freelancer Brian Leahy joins the show to discuss DOTA 2 and other MOBA games with Mike Schramm and Xav. News is packed with financials, for all you number lovers! And of course, we have another big giveaway this week. Listen in!

• Super Joystiq Podcast Special: A chat with Jordan Mechner on Karateka
  Joystiq talks to legendary game designer Jordan Mechner about bringing back his classic game Karateka.

We Heard You Like Original Features

• J.S. Joust, Hokra, Pole Riders, and BaraBariBall unite as 'Sportsfriends'
  Joystiq Managing Editor JC Fletcher explores the crowd-funded bundle of four unique, local multiplayer games for the PlayStation 3 and PC. Included in the set? J.S. Joust! Do yourself a favor, and read this piece.

• Surviving the basics of DOTA 2
  Freelancer (and DOTA crazy) Brian Leahy gives you details on all the basics you need to keep your teammates from hating you in Valve's free-to-play DOTA 2.

• The Wii U: Joystiq gets up close and personal [Video Feature]
  Reviews Editor Richard Mitchell has some quiet, personal time with Nintendo's new Wii U hardware. Watch as he examines it from all angles ... in the sexiest way possible.

• Dead Space 3 preview: Balancing horror and action
  Can Visceral Games keep the Dead Space franchise from getting too action-focused? That's what the developer is attempting to do in Dead Space 3.

• Connecting worlds with Dust 514 and CCP chief marketing officer David Reid
  Joystiq discusses the upcoming, free-to-play console exclusive shooter Dust 514 with developer CCP Games.

• Mists of Pandaria and the new age of World of Warcraft
  Contributing Editor Mike Schramm explores the beautiful landscapes offered in Mists of Pandaria, the latest expansion for World of Warcraft. After almost a decade of being online, can the expansion explore new territory or does it retread old terrain?

• The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Beast Boxing Turbo
  "Beast Boxing Turbo is a first-person monster boxing game for PC and Mac," the developer tells us. Shh, shh, shh ... that's all we needed to hear.

Joystiq Editorial Columns – We Have Opinions, Too!

• On Sega's continued commitment to retro games, even Toejam & Earl
  JC Fletcher's "Living in the Past" column focuses what's new in the world of old games. This week he commends Sega for its updates to re-releases of retro titles. From online multiplayer in ToeJam & Earl to the special Christmas content in NiGHTS, Sega is doing right by fans.

• Putting an end to fail states
  Xav de Matos examines fail states, those moments in games where developers force you exactly how to play their game, in his new "Invisible Walls" column. "Forget all the mechanics you've learned, all you have to do to win this part is press X!" A look at some of the worst offenders and a request that we move beyond that particular game design decision

• Persona 4 Golden takes an interesting page from Dark Souls
  Regular columnist Kat Bailey loves her some Persona 4, but even the game's Vita re-release held a few surprises. See how one new mechanic in particular reminded Kat of From Software's devilishly difficult Dark Souls.

Wherein Joystiq Reviews All The Video Games

• Halo 4 review: Chief Operating Officer by Ludwig Kietzmann
  Sure, the Halo 4 review was last week, but Halo 4 just launched this week! Check back and see what we thought of Microsoft's biggest release of 2012 and the first game from 343 Industries (Spoiler: It's pretty good.)

• LittleBigPlanet Karting review: Making tracks by Richard Mitchell
  Sackboy returns ... with his driver's license! The new game from Modnation Racers and Sleeping Dogs dev United Front Games combines a kart racing experience with the creative world of LittleBigPlanet.

• Hotline Miami review: Dial M by Richard Mitchell
  So you wanted a super violent, retro-looking game with sweet executions and an outstanding soundtrack? Oddly specific fantasy delivered.

• Pid review: Ups and downs by Garrett Martin
  Freelancer Garrett Martin has butler issues. Read all about them, and why Pid doesn't quite hit the mark, in this review.

• WWE 13 review: Gimme a hell yeah by Mike Suszek
  Resident sportsball expert and Weekend Editor Mike Suszek jumps into the squared circle to raise eyebrows, split lips, spit promos and tombstone all over the place. Oh, and THQ's latest WWE game is good too.

• Primal Carnage review: Roar games by Xav de Matos
  Just like you heard about in history class, humans and dinosaurs face-off in multiplayer-only, class-based warfare. What more do you need to know?