sadness
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'Persona 5' delayed in the US until February 2017
Unlike Final Fantasy XV, which will be released simultaneously in Japan and the US, Persona 5 will have a split release, and the English translation won't come until February 14th, 2017. That's five months after the Japanese release date of September 15th, 2016.
Heartwarming Pokemon comic will make you experience all the feels
Ash Ketchum, eat your heart out; this comic about the lives of a Venusaur and the baby Charmander it adopts, all to the tune of "You Are My Sunshine," will teach you more about friendship, love and caring than that 11-year old and his electric rodent ever could. The comic comes from Tumblr blog The Very Worst Thing (some art NSFW), but we'd argue this is kind of the opposite of the worst. D'awwww.
Storyboard: Grieving in character
Grief is not the same as being sad. Being sad is something I've discussed before, and it's a temporary emotional state. Grief is a filter, something that colors your whole perception and pushes you into a holding pattern of regret and sorrow. Real grief colors even things you do that make you happy so that even as you're smiling and laughing there's a pall over what you do. It's the way you feel when you lose a parent. Or a lover. Or a nation. Or almost anything profoundly important that you can lose, that you weren't ready to lose, that you don't know how to exist without. The point is that it's a very important human emotion, one that is going to come up in roleplaying. But it's also a problematic one because you have to convey what is in large part an internal sensation externally. So how do you get the sense of grief across without just making your character into a constant font of moping?
Sony confirms production end for PlayStation 2 worldwide
It's not just Japan that's ending production of the PlayStation 2, apparently. Sony tells The Guardian that production is over on a worldwide scale. Of course, it shouldn't be too hard to find one anytime soon, as Sony says over 150 million units are already out in the wild. Of course, the first production run of Sony's PlayStation 3 also included full PS2 backwards compatibility, so that number's magnified even more. And then there's always the possibility that Sony will eventually put many (or most) of its PlayStation 2 games online in some form. Regardless, it's a sad day for Sony's most popular console, and we're pouring out a cold one for the console that helped birth modern gaming. We'll miss ya, dude. It was a good run.
Storyboard: Sadface
I have, on occasion, joked that all of my roleplaying characters are either looking for a tragedy or recovering from one. It's not an intentional thing, but for whatever reason, an awful lot of my characters tend to have a whole lot of pain and sorrow wrapped up in their heads. My attempts at making a joke character usually derail to the point that said character is even more depressing, like the mage I played who was supposed to be eccentric and wound up being desperately lonely due to her horrendous inability to focus on any one thing for too long. While it's very easy to go into the depressingly morbid side with a tragic character, we're not going into that this week. (Another week -- you know how I roll by now.) No, this week's problem is much simpler. If you're playing a character who's beset on all sides by misfortune, eventually you're just going to wind up with sadness-induced apathy. You're going to get tired of the fact that your character always fails and never wins and that things get worse every time he or she tries to fix problems. In short, you're going to not want to play the character because said character is just plain depressing.
Composer says Wii's 'Sadness' was cancelled, releases soundtrack
Finally, resolution to a story we've been following for several years -- though it's a bit disappointing. Nibris's Wii horror title Sadness (what did you think we were talking about?) has been canceled, after years of disappearing websites, slipping release dates, nonexistent demos and a generally game-free history. The news comes from a Polish-language blog post from April, announcing the release of composer Arkadiusz Reikowski's soundtrack for the game. The post notes that, according to Reikowski, the game was cancelled before work on the music was complete. So that soundtrack is basically the closest part of the game to "finished" -- and it's still in a preliminary state itself. [Via Original Sound Version; thanks, Aquacharger!]
Sadness website is gone ... don't even feign shock
With posts that go back to 2006, the public embarrassment that is Sadness is far more interesting than the game could have ever been. The epic tale of vaporware, which is comparable to Duke Nukem Forever, receives another notch in its timeline today. The latest is that the Sadness website is gone and the URL is up for grabs. Developer Nibris has yet to speak on the matter and, frankly, whatever they say doesn't really matter. Dare we say this is the end of Sadness? Heck no. Where there's a developer and a desperate fan base, there's a way. %Gallery-2910% [Via GoNintendo]
Nokia E72 prototype gets manhandled, torn asunder
If you stop to think, really, about how much we take pleasure in seeing pictures of phones get utterly dismembered, it's quite disturbing. So don't think about it, and instead hit up the read link for a gallery showcase copious amounts of a prototype Nokia E72 innards, ripped apart alongside an E71 (on the right in the image above) for comparative purposes. There's a very brief question-and-answer session just after the photos, but it's definitely not gonna keep you satisfied between now and its third quarter launch window.
Prepare for Sadness: Nibris showing something at E3
Sadness "developer" Nibris sent out a message to its YouTube channel's subscribers, indicating that something related to the developer will be shown at E3 this year. Note that the message doesn't specify the vaporous Sadness game, or that a game will be shown at all -- merely an "update." Which means that even in the unlikely event that Nibris shows up and displays something, it could still be disappointing.Nibris is still holding to a Fall 2009 date for Sadness, so it's quite likely that this "update" is intended to be related to the mythical horror game. We hope Sadness actually does show up -- we'd love to add the day the game becomes real to our timeline (which we posted in 2007).
Pioneer finally kills production of its remaining laserdisc players
Yes, we're just as shocked and horrified to hear the news as you are, but it seems to be true. Pioneer, the last major electronics manufacturer to continue production of laserdisc players, has announced they'll discontinue all three of the models they currently offer, leaving dozens of hardcore fans in the dust. But cheer up: we'll always have the memories, and this poster.
Rub your eyes: Sadness 'footage' emerges, disappears again [Update 1]
Go Nintendo's RawMeatCowboy recently received an email from an anonymous, shadowy figure calling themselves "rabbits can't be sad." That's pretty weird, but stranger still, the email contained something we almost never expected to see: footage of Nibris' "vaporware" title, Sadness. Despite the unconventional method of its delivery, it definitely looked like the real deal.We say "looked" because now it's gone, pulled down by RawMeatCowboy, who (we're guessing) was asked to remove the footage. In his amended post, RMC simply writes: "Sorry for the inconvenience, but I unfortunately have to remove this post. That is all I can say at this time."So after being relentlessly mocked (not least by us), has Nibris actually been making a game all along? Really, really slowly?[Update 1: Some enterprising soul grabbed the footage before it was pulled, and added it to YouTube -- thanks, DaisukeKiriyama!]%Gallery-12425%[Via Go Nintendo] Previously, we've had plenty of reasons to believe that Sadness is about as likely to exist as Bigfoot: just take a look at our timeline of the game to see what we mean.
Nibris Web site promises Sadness for Fall 2009
Previously on The Young and the Sadness.*A mysterious stranger, Nibris, enters the scene*Nibris: Come away with me, and I'll make all your mature-themed, Wii horror gaming dreams come true.Joystiq: Can it be? Is it true?Nibris: It is true! Just listen to my story and you'll know in your heart that it is so.Joystiq: I'm just not sure I can believe in you.Nibris: Look, I bring you concept art to prove my fidelity.Joystiq: Lies! I heard you're already planning to run out on me.Nibris: Would I release these official screenshots if I was planning to halt development?Joystiq: I just don't know what to think! *Sobs*And now, today's episode:Nibris: Look at my new Web site. I promise you, Sadness will be out by Fall of 2009. Meet me at the Leipzig Games Convention if you still have faith in me. In us.Joystiq: Sorry, dear, I've moved on. Give me a ring when you're ready to show me a playable demo.[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]
Sadness website does nothing to dispel vaporware rumors
Hold on, what's all this? A Sadness rumor that actually came true? This can't be right -- and it sort of isn't. The website is there, and it's got stuff on it, but the stuff is old and it's a pretty amateur attempt at a website. It's just, you would think that the creators of the most talked-about Wii game pretty much ever would make the effort to put together a good show, but it looks somewhat awful.The screens are old and tiny, the text is formatted all wrong (and translated poorly), and there is no trailer, although it will be "Coming soon (this vacation maybe)." Maybe? Maybe? Whatever.To top it off, the release is scheduled for Fall 2009. That is, over a year from now. On the plus side, Nibris representatives will be attending the Leipzig Game Convention this year, so if nothing turns up at E3 we might find something there.%Gallery-12425%[Via GoNintendo]
Inconsequential Sadness news #287 -- website, more details 'coming'
There's nothing left to say. Sadness is the definition of sadness, and it always will be. We'll post about this "news", oh yes -- but until a physical copy of the game is actually in a Nintendo Wii console, right in front of us and running properly, we won't be certain of its existence. Forward motion is a myth.The latest on Sadness is thus: the official website will be launched next week, along with some new images. A chap from Fog Studios (because they're so damn hazy on the details) says it's all real, and Nibris is still working away without a publisher. The lack of a publisher means a lack of a release date. If the game exists.Rest assured, if any of the above actually happens, we will let you know. We know what a promise from anyone remotely associated with Sadness is worth, so don't hold your breath.%Gallery-12425%[Via GoNintendo]
Wii Warm Up: A little Sadness
Yes, it's back, in IGN-forum-rumor form: Sadness, the game that ain't, or may be eventually. Back in April, after an appearance by poster "nibris" in the IGN Wii Lobby when a screenshot surfaced, we were expecting more media and a trailer by the end of May. Well, Twiilight_Prince recently returned, with an all-new possible screenshot (seen above), and a statement that the website was supposed to go live by the end of May. A third of the way into June, it's nowhere to be seen ... but should we expect more from a company that apparently has some dude on the internet doing their PR?Sadness makes us, well, sad. We're sad because it's such a great idea and because it seems to be going nowhere ... or, if it's going somewhere, it's really, incredibly slow about it. On the one hand, we would be almost tempted to cut a new dev a little slack. Making games is hard (notice we're not doing it), and making a game that sounds cool is even harder. But damn, y'all. Stop making promises already, since you've yet to keep a single one. If they'd just do that, we would probably be more inclined to believe it when something does surface. Because we want to believe. As it is, however ... we just don't.But let's talk about this possible screenshot. Real? Fake? Awesome? Not? Tell us.See also: A look back through time: Sadness[Update: Corrected the spelling of the poster's name.]%Gallery-12425%
Nibris licenses Gamebryo for Sadness
Could it be -- possible forward motion on Sadness? According to a recent press release, Polish developer Nibris has licensed Emergent's Gamebryo platform for the long-discussed, never-seen title ... and word is that the recent screenshot was real. Gamebryo is the base of several recent and forthcoming titles, including Civilization IV, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Fallout 3. Of course, it's also being used for Chiquititas.But don't get excited just yet. Nibris has been promising screenshots and video from purported black-and-white thriller Sadness for two years now, but according to the press release, they've only recently chosen the Gamebryo engine and have been working on the title for "several months." They recently said we'll see something concrete next month, and while we're not holding our breath, we will be pleasantly surprised if the game actually seems to be under active development.%Gallery-12425%[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Gamebryo floats on vapor, powers Sadness
We do declare Emergent Technologies, you must have caught the vapors. The middleware company's Gamebryo engine, which lurks beneath the hood of a number of games including Oblivion and the forthcoming Fallout 3, has been licensed by Nibris for its vaporous Wii title Sadness.The Polish company celebrated the news by offering up what it calls the first official screenshot from the oft-delayed black-and-white "crime noir thriller," which we've posted above for your perusal. Says Nibris project manager Tomasz Wisniowski, the team is using the tech to include "quite a few graphical effects...which some believe are impossible to attain on the Wii." We have to wonder, however, if one of those effects includes actually making it to retail? Gallery: Sadness
Nibris returning with more promises
clicky clicky Most companies choose to issue media via press releases or exclusive articles. But here we're talking about companies with actual games, not just a campaign of windbaggery and empty promises. Nibris, where they tend to focus on the latter, apparently feels releasing what is purportedly the first and only screenshot of Sadness to date (two years late, mind) to some random dude on the Internet is what makes for good PR.The IGN Wii boards have blown up over the past few days due to the unending campaign of one Nibris supporter, a single purported screenshot, and a few cryptic remarks from the Nibris president himself, who is long known to frequent message boards. The numerous threads are a mess, so we'll attempt to sum up: user Twiilight_Prince posted the above, stating it was an actual in-game screenshot from Sadness and that he had received it from Nibris. He then apparently received messages from the user posting as Nibris, asking him to remove it. He did. Someone else also posted it, and received similar messages. Eventually, the reported PMs were posted. In them, Nibris (who we assume is president Piotr Babieno) did in fact ask for the shot's removal ... and also promised that there would be screens from Sadness and a trailer next month.Now where have we heard that before? It's same to assume we're not holding our breath around here -- but here's the apparent screenshot for your perusal.[Thanks, Joe!]
Gamer's erased Xbox 360 story comes to a happy close
Like they say, all's well that ends well -- and that's certainly true in the case of a gamer named Nathaniel. If you'll recall, the Xbox 360 owner had sent his very personalized console into Microsoft for repairs, making very clear that the signed and drawn-on system had great sentimental value to him... which the technicians in Redmond promptly ignored. After the console returned to him wiped clean of the aforementioned "value," it seemed like all hope was lost. Luckily, the kind souls at Bungie have taken it upon themselves to try and right the wrongs perpetrated in this case, and have mailed Nathaniel a super-ultra-mega awesome package, featuring a Legendary Edition helmet signed by most of the Bungie studio staff, the soundtrack disc signed by Martin O'Donnel, a jacket, t-shirt, limited edition wireless controllers, and much, much, much more. Hit the read link to get the full story, and check out Nathaniel's thanks to the gaming community and Bungie.[Thanks, Saad]
Finally, a game about the Library of Congress classification system [Updated]
Since the inception of the video game, there have been those who would try to re-purpose electronic interactive entertainment for more ... educational pursuits. As a rule we're typically supportive of these efforts, but a recent project by students at Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center has just pushed us too far. They've just used a game called Within Range to ... teach the Dewey Decimal System. [Update: It's the Library of Congress classification system. See below paragraph for more insight into how this error was made.]We've made it clear how we feel about libraries (or as we think of them, the crappy, flammable Internet that also has homeless people), so you can understand why this is so offensive to us. That's doubled by the fact that the fun has been filed under "N" for "non-existent." Think all games deserve a fair shake? Go ahead, but don't say we didn't warn you.[Thanks, Michael S.]
