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Joystiq is giving away tens of thousands of Dizzel beta codes
We love games, you love games. That is why you are here reading this right now, it is the central component in our ineffable bond. Want to know what we love even more? Playing games a little bit early. Why wait when you can dive into the gory innards of a game as it's being made? Indulge in that impulse by participating in the Dizzel beta. OGPlanet and Neowiz's third-person shooter MMO is making its way to the US for the very first time and you can get in on the beta easily. How? Just click this link. It's that simple. After you've done that, follow the instructions below the break to redeem your code. [Images: OGPlanet]
Joystiq Giveaway: Score The Swapper and a free PS Vita
Say you were stranded on a derelict space station like the poor astronaut starring in Facepalm Games' The Swapper. After you wander its crumbling halls, collect as much food, water, and emergency supplies as you can find, and secure life support out in space, you've got a lot of time to kill. That's why a pocket gaming machine is ideal for survival; a little distraction can do wonders for your mental health! In the spirit of that astronaut's struggle and to mark The Swapper's release on PS3, PS4, and PS Vita this week, we're giving away a brand new PS Vita. One lucky winner will score the handheld, as well as a 16GB memory card and a copy of The Swapper. All you need to do to win is be a US resident and like Joystiq on Facebook using the Rafflecopter widget below before Friday, August 8. If you follow us on Twitter using the widget, that'll give you an extra chance to win. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway [Images: Facepalm Games] Official JoySwag Giveaway Rules
The Great E3 2014 Giveaway Week 2: 14 free PS Vita games
E3 is a console showcase. The Western world's premiere video game trade show is where the big money bruisers of console gaming have laid out their grand plans for nearly 20 years now. Before you scoff and point to the many PC-only games and other sundries announced over the years, just stop. When obsessives talk about who "won" E3, who do they talk about? Console makers, that's who. But despite the home console presence, handheld consoles have earned a special place at the E3 table. The Nintendo DS announcement in 2004; PSP's second wind push in 2009 with major announcements like Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (which was great) and Resident Evil Portable (which never existed); E3 is full of fine portable history. In the second week of our E3 2014 giveaway extravaganza, we're spotlighting modern handheld gaming's unsung hero, the PS Vita. From surrealist action like Gravity Rush to a cavalcade of independently developed gems like OlliOlli, PS Vita has got the goods despite a shaky E3 history. And hey, it almost had its own BioShock game. If you want to get your hands on 14 free PS Vita games, write to us at podcast@joystiq.com with the subject line "E3 2014 Giveaway Week 2" and tell us about a handheld game announced at E3 that you badly wanted to play but it never came out. The contest will close at 10AM EST on Monday, May 5. What 14 PS Vita games will one lucky winner get their hands on? The full list and contest rules after the jump.
The Great E3 2014 Giveaway: 14 free games each week until E3
Upon returning from PAX East, the Joystiq crew breathed a deep sigh of relief, content in the knowledge that some totally sweet games were being made. From Evolve to Below, from Project Morpheus to even lonely old Wii U, video games' immediate future filled us with patient curiosity. Then we got home and it hit us: badump bedump brodump tish BOOM I CAN FEEL E3 COMING IN THE AIR TONIGHT! It's coming June 10th through June 12th as a matter of fact. Oh yes, the E3 2014 engine is revving up as we speak. Just thinking about it has us all a little misty for the E3 mania of old, and you know what happens when we get misty: We start giving video games away. Every Friday between now and the end of E3 2014, Joystiq is giving away 14 games. Each week we'll bundle a selection of games around a specific theme. In turn, we want you to write to podcast@joystiq.com with the subject line "E3 2014 Giveaway Week (insert number here)" and share your favorite moment from E3s past related to that theme, all entries must be received by the following Monday at 10AM EST. For Week 1: Nintendo Freak Outs. Nintendo has a history of legendary E3 showings. There were exciting game announcements, but even more truly baffling performances. Sure, the Twilight Princess trailer was bananas good, but that Wii Music reveal? Pac-man Vs.? The Wii Vitality Sensor? Those were bananas in a totally different way. Write to us and tell us about the Nintendo E3 moment that made you think, "No way can this possibly be happening." What 14 Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, and DS games will one lucky winner get their hands on? The full list and contest rules after the jump. Note: Contest runs from Friday to Monday 10AM EST.
We're giving away Nether closed beta steam keys
Nether's spooky catchphrase is "prey or pray," but you'll be required to do neither to snag a key in today's beta giveaway. The closed-beta post-apoc sandbox is updating today with its Territory Wars patch that allows players to compete to control bases and buildings within the city. The patch also introduces playable female characters, an expanded loot system, and an underwear uniform for the most hardcore survivalists. Seriously. Joystiq and Massively have 2,000 Steam keys for Nether to give away, coinciding with the release of the new update. The Steam passes include closed beta access, 50 Nether gold, a Chosen-only exclusive in-game item, five 72-hour guest keys for your mates, forum access, and a highlighted forum name and rank for your account. Additionally, once the Steam bundles are gone, we've got 18,000 more guest keys that grant 72 hours of beta access without the other goodies. To redeem your Nether Steam key, install and launch the Steam client software and log into your Steam account (the client, not the Steam website!). Click the Games Menu, then Choose Activate a Product on Steam, and then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process. You and your friends can redeem your guest keys by creating an account on the Nether website and following the instructions therein to download the game. Steam is required for all keys. Have fun saving the world! Update: We're already out of Steam keys, but there are still guest keys left.
Joyswag: Win a free ticket to Good Game Club in San Francisco [Update: Contest over]
Update: The giveaway has come to a close and the ten winners have been selected and contacted. Keep an eye on your email! On November 13, a cadre of indie game developers will be showcasing their wares at a private event in San Francisco as part of Good Game Club. The kind folks running the event have offered us 10 tickets to give away to any readers who are within the San Francisco area. Want to check out games such as Betrayer, Videoball or Blood of the Werewolf? Head past the break and find out how you can win one of these tickets!
Invitation to war: Company of Heroes 2 beta key giveaway [Update: We're out of keys!]
Update: We're plum out of beta keys. Now go play it and tell us what you think in the comments.Company of Heroes 2 from the now Sega-owned Relic Entertainment is currently in closed beta testing, and Joystiq has infiltrated the publisher's stronghold and acquired 1,000 codes to give away to its most dedicated soldiers.The Company of Heroes 2 closed beta has a level cap of 40 and features six maps, including two areas not seen in previous testing. Multiplayer and skirmish modes are available across all maps for players to wage war versus AI or human members of their own personal axis of evil in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, or 4v4 battles.If you were lucky enough to acquire a code, redemption is simple: Select 'Add a Game,' then 'Activate a Product Code on Steam' and enter your unique key.
Defiance goodie giveaway: It's dangerous to go alone, take these
Defiance, a sci-fi-themed, persistent-world shooter from Trion Worlds that shares a setting and story with a SyFy series, will be out on April 2 on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. To help give Joystiq reader a greater fighting chance on the battleground, Trion has shared several codes to unlock content in the upcoming game.Each code unlocks a special piece of gear and can be used by all, once per account. Click the link below to retrieve the special codes, as well as instructions for redeeming them. GRAB YOUR SPECIAL DEFIANCE GEAR
Super Joystiq Podcast 043 Live: ARMA 3, Metro Last Light, StarCraft 2 Heart of the Swarm [Update: Watch the replay!]
Update: The live show is over, watch the replay above!This week on the live edition of the Super Joystiq Podcast, the team talks about a few games that have been taking up their time just before major industry events like GDC and PAX East.Xav enters the realistic world of ARMA 3 and has some closing thoughts on Tomb Raider which Ludwig is also playing alongside God of War: Ascension and Metro: Last Light. On the strategic side of things, Mike Schramm gives his thoughts on the second installment in the StarCraft 2 trilogy, Heart of the Swarm.For those looking to increase their own game collection, this week the team gives away three games to three lucky viewers: a PS3 copy of Black Ops 2, the Hitman: Absolution Professional Edition for PS3 and God of War: Ascension.To enter to win, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and send us a private message with your name and email address with "Episode 43" in the subject line. Winners will be randomly selected and contacted next week.What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. All winners of Joyswag are selected randomly. Only comments in the podcast post linked above will be entered in the random drawing.For more info on our policy, along with rules and regulations associated will all giveaways, click here.
Joystiq invites you into the Tactical Intervention beta [Keys are gone!]
Update: We're all out of codes!It's time for you and 5,999 of your closest friends to start getting stoked, because Joystiq is distributing six thousand beta keys for Tactical Intervention – and we're the only place on the web to get them.Developed by a team helmed by Minh Le – co-creator of Counter-Strike – Tactical Intervention is a free-to-play first-person shooter that features concepts Le always wanted to bring to Counter-Strike. Yeah, you've got all that shooting action between terrorist scum and the heroic CTs, but then you have driving missions, attack dogs, tactical maneuvers, and more.Joystiq readers with codes can play beginning March 4 through March 8. To use the code, go to the OGPlanet beta registration page, log in or sign up for an OGPlanet account, submit your unique key to gain access. The PC-only client will be available on Monday. Get your Tactical Intervention beta code
JoySwag PSA: Win Paper Mario Sticker Star and The Walking Dead from Joystiq
Each week on the Super Joystiq Podcast, the staff bundles games and other swag we're sent to give away to you, the lovely reader/listener. What? You didn't realize you were missing out on the free stuff? Well, let's remedy that by recapping what's available this week and what's coming up with the Joyswag PSA. Listen to this week's episode of the Super Joystiq Podcast and comment in that episode's post for your chance to win one of two downloadable goodies. This week we have one 3DS eShop code for Paper Mario: Sticker Star and a collection of XBLA codes for Telltale's episodic adventure game The Walking Dead. (Restrictions apply, see below or this post.)On this week's episode the team talks Wii U game reviews for New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendo Land, along with review impressions for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 and the Vita's Call of Duty: Black Ops 2: Declassified.Tune into next week's show (Episode 027 on November 23) for your chance to win a Limited Edition version of Assassin's Creed 3 for the Xbox 360. (Some restrictions apply. See below for details).What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. All winners of Joyswag are selected randomly. Only comments in the podcast post linked above will be entered in the random drawing.For more info on our policy, along with rules and regulations associated will all giveaways, click here.
JoySwag PSA: Win the Xbox 360 Halo 4 bundle or Limited Edition game from Joystiq
Each week on the Super Joystiq Podcast, the staff bundles games and other swag we're sent to give away to you, the lovely reader/listener. What? You didn't realize you were missing out on the free stuff? Well, let's remedy that by recapping what's available this week and what's coming up with the Joyswag PSA. Listen to this week's episode of the Super Joystiq Podcast for your chance to win one of two prize packs. The big pack includes the Limited Edition Halo 4 console bundle (above, which includes a standard edition of Halo 4) and the novel Halo: Cryptum: Book One of the Forerunner Saga. The second bundle includes the book along with the Halo 4: Limited Edition game. (Restrictions apply, see below or this post.)This week the staff gives first impressions of the Wii U hardware (which we just got in our offices), freelancer Brian Leahy joins Schramm and Xav to discuss DOTA 2 and other MOBAs. News looks at financials, and this week's staff profile is with Feature Content Director Xav de Matos.Tune into next week's show (Episode 026 on November 16) for your chance to win an eShop code for the new 3DS game Paper Mario: Sticker Star. We're also giving away a bundle of XBLA codes for all five episodes of Telltale's The Walking Dead, which we'll send to the winner after the last episode has been released. (Some restrictions apply. See below for details).What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. All winners of Joyswag are selected randomly.For more info on our policy, along with rules and regulations associated will all giveaways, click here.
Joyswag PSA: Win Assassin's Creed 3 from Joystiq
Each week on the Super Joystiq Podcast, the staff bundles games and other swag we're sent to give away to you, the lovely reader/listener. What? You didn't realize you were missing out on the free stuff? Well, let's remedy that by recapping what's available this week and what's coming up with the Joyswag PSA.Listen to this week's episode of the Super Joystiq Podcast to win either a standard edition copy of Assassin's Creed 3 for PlayStation 3 or the Limited Edition version for Xbox 360. To enter, you must post within the comments of the podcast.This week the staff discusses Halo 4, Assassin's Creed 3, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, the latest industry news and more.Tune into next week's show (Nov. 9) to find out how you can win one of two Halo 4 prize bundles. One winner will net a Limited Edition version of the game along with the novel Halo: Cryptum: Book One of the Forerunner Saga, while another winner will take home the novel and the Limited Edition Halo 4 Xbox 360 console bundle.What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. All winners of Joyswag are selected randomly.For more info on our policy, along with rules and regulations associated will all giveaways, click here.
Joyswag & Unboxing: 'Collector's Edition' World of Warcraft Monopoly
USAopoly and Blizzard have teamed up to develop a special, World of Warcraft-themed "Collector's Edition" Monopoly set, which lands at retailers tomorrow. Not only did we get a first look at the final product, the team at Joystiq is reluctantly giving it away to one lucky reader.Get a detailed look at the WoW-themed Monopoly set in the Joystiq gallery below.Entering the contest is easy! Just tell us where in Azeroth you'd buy the most real estate. Need some inspiration? Check out our latest coverage of WoW's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion.Rules and conditions for this giveaway are listed after the break.%Gallery-155647%
Joyswag: Kid Icarus Uprising AR Idol Cards
The "AR Idol Cards" for Kid Icarus: Uprising are pretty hard to find: Nintendo's only giving them away at certain retailer/publisher/industry events. But we know where ten of you can find a sealed pack of random cards: right here!Just tell us your favorite meal featuring eggplant, and you can enter for some cards to enhance your Kid Icarus experience. Enjoy the launch trailer above, read our review, then use the Power of Flight to soar past the break, and find the full rules.
Joyswag & Unboxing: Alan Wake PC Collector's Edition
At GDC 2012, Remedy Entertainment handed Joystiq two copies of the PC Collector's Edition for Alan Wake. We're passing them on to our readers!Distributed by Nordic Games in Europe and Legacy in North America, the Collector's Edition includes a number of bonuses. Like the Xbox 360 Collector's Edition, Alan Wake's retail release for PC includes a behind-the-scenes DVD, 'The Alan Wake Files' book, and more. There are also exclusive PC bonuses, like additional music on the soundtrack disc, Bright Falls postcards, and stickers.For a detailed look at the Collector's Edition, check out our unboxing video above. Find out how to enter the giveaway after the break.
What's your favorite Joystiq T-shirt design?
We've painstakingly compiled a gallery of all 118 entrants in our Joystiq T-shirt design contest. Now, this is where you come in: We need your feedback on the entries! You'll see the number of each design in the gallery (make sure you click through the whole thing). Just comment below with that number and a brief bit about why it's your favorite. Why does it make your heart thrum with passion? Why does it fill your blood with desire? This isn't really a vote, but how you guys and girls feel about the designs is going to be a huge factor in which winner we select. And since the victor will not only enter the annals of Joystiq history, but also win a game console with five games, there's a lot on the line. Note: We didn't want to bias you by making them too prominent, but if you check the file name on any image, you'll be able to find out the artist's name. Thanks so much to everyone that entered. We don't think we're overstating our point by saying we were honestly moved by some of the love put into these images. %Gallery-132198%
Reminder: Design a Joystiq T-shirt and win a console with games!
We're sure you're already feverishly working on your T-shirt designs for Joystiq; we just wanted to remind you that you've only got until Sunday to submit yours. One winner is going to get their T-shirt made by Joystiq and get a console of their choice with five randomly selected games, so get to designing. Complete rules and submission guidelines are after the break. Just a note: Don't feel like you have to prominently feature our logo. As our boy Petey M. demonstrates, our last winner had a really cool image with the Joystiq name just sort of lovingly placed at the side. Good luck! (Update: Technically, the winner of our T-shirt contest in 2006 was Mr. Philip Palermo. Here's his great shirt.)
Design a Joystiq shirt and win a console with games!
When you, freshly showered, throw open your bedroom closet and decide how you'll hide your shame that day, don't you wish a Joystiq garment could be among your options? In fact, don't answer that, it's rhetorical. You've been asking for years for another Joystiq T-shirt design contest, and it's finally happening: In the coming weeks, we'll soon be rolling out two Joystiq T-shirt designs for sale, perfect for shielding your thorax from the elements. Unlike the last time we did this, we've commissioned an artist to create a design for us, and you're just going to love what he's working on. Well, we bet you will -- he hasn't made it yet -- but he's done enough cool gaming-related stuff in the past that we have plenty of faith. But of course, the shirts are still going to be gracing the thoraxes of our readers and we wanted to give you the chance to leave your thumbprint on the annals of sartorial Joystiq history. We're not looking to con free work out of you pros, mind you -- we want everyone with a great idea, some gumption and a working knowledge of MS Paint to have a chance. (Of course, if you happen to be a pro who just wants to show off, we won't turn our nose up at you.) Besides, whatever money we make on the shirts, we're putting right back into free ones to give away at events. So come up with a cool, completely original design for a Joystiq shirt (rules and suggestions after the break) and send a high-quality JPEG our way. Between the Joystiq staff and readers, we'll select our favorite, and that artist will win their choice of a 360, PS3 or Wii and five randomly selected games for that system. Plus, assuming the design's dope enough, we'll make it into a real shirt! You've got two weeks, so what are you waiting for? Go get your ... you know, brushes or whatever it is one uses for T-shirt designing. We don't know. That's why you're doing it.
Joyswag: Come get free copies of this week's PSOne Imports
Was your interest piqued by Rapid Angel and Yakiniku Bugyou, the two import PlayStation games released on PSN this week by MonkeyPaw Games? Would you, perhaps, like your very own copy of the Japanese BBQ shop simulator Yakiniku Bugyou, or the anime brawler Rapid Angel? Would that be something you'd be into? Okay, we're going to stop speaking in questions now. We have 16 codes for each game, usable on the North American PSN, and we will place them on Facebook soon. If you want the best chance to win one of them, you should probably "Like" us to get an early alert when we add more. We'll also DM a couple to people who Like our page. The codes are courtesy of publisher MonkeyPaw Games, who also tends to hand out codes through its @MonkeyPawGames Twitter account.
