Joystiq Staff
Articles by Joystiq Staff
Madden 07 demo on Xbox Marketplace
Weighing in at 750.71MB, the Madden NFL 07 demo is now up and ready to be downloaded by those who may have held some reservations toward purchasing yet another Madden title. Reviews have been decent with Game Rankings listing 83% as the average score.Available only in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, the demo limits you to playing as either the Steelers or Seahawks. Enjoy your short stay, because quarters are only a minute in length. Is there enough gameplay there to sell you on it?
Fake Wii "news" allegedly pulled from trash bin [update 1]
Go Nintendo sure is rife with rumors this weekend. The latest fakery involves a speech transcript allegedly intended for use by Reggie Fils-Aime at the big Nintendo event to be held in NYC on September 14. Here are a few of the Wii fantasies embedded in the document: Hint at possible Apple partnership $175 U.S. price Launch date of Oct. 2 1.5 million units shipped to U.S.; 1.5 million units shipped to Japan; 1 million units shipped to Europe Wii package includes: Black or white Wii console; one Wii remote; one nun chuck device; one classic controller; copy of Wii Sports; built-in WiiConnect24 service; voucher for 1,000 coins for Virtual Console; built-in Web browser; remake of Duck Hunt; 512MB SD card. 21 launch titles New Kid Icarus game for Wii Check out the individual fake pages here:Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5[Update: We made it clear in the headline and first paragraph that we don't believe this for a second, but it's appropriately zany and fun for a weekend post.]
Destructoid takes early lead in Party of One battle
Inspired by our own Party of One, Destructoid decided to pull off its version complete with an impressive showcase of old-school video games and systems that should be in an attic somewhere collecting dust and cobwebs. We're impressed Mr. Destructoid, but let this be known: You may have won this round, but this isn't the last you've seen of us. Expect a full-scale assault response at some point next weekend with our own video. As if riding our coat tails in the pizza party genre wasn't enough, Mr. Destructoid has also sought to increase his dap in the Hot Video Game Industry Guy of the Week contest over at Girl Gamer by showing off his guns. Hmmm, there's nothing quite like a little friendly competition within the gaming blogosphere to get us pumped. When bloggers start getting drug-tested (and busted) for juicing, you'll know it's gone too far.
Rumor: Will Nintendo punk us with the Wii?
Go Nintendo points to French gaming blog ActuJV which claims to have information from an "inside source" concerning Nintendo and its attempt to hide the real graphical power of the Wii. Perhaps to capture even more attention as we approach a final launch date, rumor has it Nintendo will take the gaming world by storm by revealing the real goods behind their system. According to ActuJV's source, this is what has been goin' down:Nintendo has been playing us the fool all along. They have been showing us trailers for games that have deliberately downgraded graphics compared to what the Wii can actually do. This is to create an element of surprise for the press during Nintendo's next media event.That next media event in discussion could be the Sept. 14 affair which Nintendo has set up in NYC. Rest assured, Joystiq will be there all day to get the goods of that event as perhaps the real Wii and games will be showcased.
XBLA Unplugged Vol. 1 coming on Sept. 5
Microsoft has just announced that the Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Vol. 1 compilation for the 360 will be hitting store shelves on Sept. 5 for a robust price of $39.99. The whole package will include six XBLA games plus a free month of Xbox Live Gold subscription and three downloadable XBLA demos.The games included are: Geometry Wars, Wik: Fable of Souls, Outpost Kaloki X, Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Hardwood Backgammon, and Texas Hold 'em.At $39.99 and with a free month of Gold service, is this a good deal for the games offered or not quite enough to warrant a purchase?
No online support for 3rd-party Wii devs until 2007
Buried at the bottom of an IGN preview for the Wii's Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam is the news that not only is this game not going to feature any online component, but every 3rd-party game that comes out for the Wii won't support anything online either. Not until 2007 will publishers be able to offer up Wi-Fi gaming to eager players who picked up a Wii. Gamers hoping for an online component, however, are in for bad news, because one isn't planned. Activision would not say why, but IGN has separately learned from multiple development sources that Nintendo will not release Wii Wi-Fi Connection libraries to third parties until early 2007, which means that no third party launch title will have an online mode. Well, that's pretty awful. Seems like a pretty dumb move not to allow your third-party developers to offer online play with your launch titles. Online gaming has arguably become essential for most players and considering your system isn't in high-def or truly next-gen graphics wise, what other incentive besides a different control scheme would a gamer have in picking up your product? Check after the break for the possible launch titles that would certainly be affected by this.
EA replacing faulty NCAA 07 PSP games
There's a game crippling bug that found its way into Electronic Arts' NCAA 07 for the PSP and because of it the company has decided to go ahead and replace a user's copy for a version that will work. Apparently the was a huge ball marking bug that was eating away at the experience of a large number of players. GameSpot broke it down like this:There's nothing like taking control of a running back, slipping a few attempted tackles by the defense, and marching onward for a huge run. On the other end of the spectrum, there's nothing like pulling off the preceding maneuver only to have the ball taken back to the spot of initial contact because of a glitch in the game.If you've had this problem, we've got EA's response and mailing address after the break.
IGN says PS3 aces 360 in Virtua Tennis
As IGN was checking out the new Virtua Tennis 3 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 at Leipzig, they made note of the "slight" differences between the two versions saying that the PS3 edged out the 360 when it came to graphical dominance. Plainly put, the PS3 looked a little better with sharper textures and incredibly detailed player models. It was almost eerie when we noticed the veins sticking out in our character's forehead. To be fair, however, IGN does say that the different versions are being worked on by two different companies -- which could account for the slight differences. But, we're sure this won't stop the many fanboys ready to defend their camp on this new info. [Thanks, HEYYOUTHERE]
Family Guy cast signs up to voice game
2K has announced that the entire Family Guy cast has signed on to voice the upcoming game based on the cartoon series. Expected to ship at some point this fall, this is the first game to be based on Family Guy.Seth MacFarlane will set the comedic tone in the game's world by providing his "freakin' sweet" voice over for the game's main playable characters such as the lovable oaf Peter Griffin, his world domination-obsessed son Stewie, and Brian Griffin, the family dog. Additional actors will be reprising their roles, such as Alex Borstein voicing Lois Griffin, Mila Kunis doing Meg Griffin, Seth Green as Chris Griffin, and Adam West as the Mayor of Quahog.As for the gameplay itself, GameSpot broke it down like this during E3: Gamers will be able to switch back and forth between three characters: bumbling patriarch Peter Griffin, matricidal maniac Stewie, and martini-swigging canine Brian. Each playable character will have its own storyline -- Peter is out to stop Mr. Belvedere from taking over the world, Stewie goes up against his archenemy Bertram, and Brian tries to escape his wrongful imprisonment.
Is Texas Hold 'em on XBLA broken?
While some of us who downloaded Texas Hold 'em haven't noticed any particular game breaking issues, some players have some meaningful gripes they've brought to the table. One such blogger brings up a slew of issues that he feels should have been fixed before the game was allowed to be released. To most it may seem like mere subjective annoyances, but some complaints are warranted. We've already heard of one glitch or bug that hasn't been addressed: Apparently if everyone goes all in on the first hand, all players come out a winner and the person who actually wins the hand gets a substantial sum. Check after the break for a complete rundown of the issues brought to light and feel free to share you own XBLA poker horror story. We suppose that old saying may be true: "You get what you pay for."
Ad critic: Dell gaming goes FTW!
As we opened up this month's Wired magazine and flipped through the various pages, something interesting suddenly popped up and caught our eye. It wasn't some new gadget, but instead an ad for Dell's gaming PC lineup. Hijacking the 1337 speak of gamers everywhere, Dell has adopted "FTW" (For the win) to push their PC gaming rigs.Now, some of us at the office think this is the coolest thing since sliced wheat bread, but there's also a group of us who feel whenever we see corporate America take something near and dear to our nerdy hearts, it's a signal that that phrase or terminology is now dead in the water. How do you feel about it? Once phrases like "FTW" or "O Rly?" pop up everywhere, does it suddenly mean it's not cool to say anymore? See also: Ad critic: Dungeon Siege reaches new low, Ad critic: Wii-nimilast print ad, Ad critic retro: Perfect Dark, Ad critic: "Racist" PSP ad, Ad critic: Superman, Ad critic: Auto Assault, Ad critic: Oblivion , Ad critic: Tomb Raider, Ad critic: Hitman
Viva Pinata more like Muerte Pinata [update 1]
Stopping by the Viva Piñata booth at the Leipzig convention, a couple of the boys from 1Up noticed that the game maybe wasn't ready for public viewing. Besides not really knowing what to do, the guys also experienced some deadly frame rate issues -- sometimes having their screen freeze on them. From the video, the game kind of looks like a Tim Burton rendition of Animal Crossing. But, putting a less-than playable version of such a much-hyped game on the show floor probably wasn't the smartest move for Microsoft. [Thanks, Andrew Yoon] [Update: Microsoft has responded to 1Up's video via the Gamerscore blog. Check after the break for the explanation.]
Analyst plays Dr. Doom for PS3 launch numbers
Analyst group Mitsubishi UFJ Securities has reduced its PlayStation 3 launch estimate from 6 million units to 3 million units. This announcement is in reaction to Sony's *ahem* clarification that it plans to ship 4 million units before the end of this year followed by two million by the end of the fiscal year.The group says it doesn't think Sony can secure enough parts for the PS3 in order to meet expectations. Sony shares dropped 3.2 percent this morning leading Mitsubishi UFJ Securities analyst Masahiko Ishino to say, "In the medium term this [shortage] would mean that it would take longer for Sony to recover its huge investment in PS3 and thus we are downgrading the stock."
Rumor: Black and Pink DS Lites coming in September to U.S. [update 1]
Two Nintendo fan sites are claiming that "inside sources" have informed them that pink and black DS Lites are coming to North America in September. Random Nintendo claims:A reliable, retail source close to Random Nintendo recently informed us that Nintendo is gearing up for the release of two new DS Lite colors next month. According to our source, both black and pink DS Lite colors will be brought Stateside on September 10.4cr says something very similar:Inside sources tells 4cr that Pink DS lites will start appearing on North American shelves in early/mid September.If both sites turn out to be true, will you be turning in your white DS Lite for a black or pink version?[Update: This story has since been confirmed by Nintendo.]
New Half-Life 2, Portal, and Team Fortress vids
YouTube continues to prove its worth as we've just been tipped to a whole bunch of new Valve-related videos from the Leipzig convention in Germany. With such good physics gameplay, it's certainly hard to play favorites on this one because they all look completely worthwhile.Either click the links or check out the videos after the break. Which one impresses you the most? Portal Team Fortress 2 Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (Part 1) Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (Part 2) Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (Part 3) Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (Part 4) Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (Part 5) [Thanks, Sub]
Reminder: Just Cause demo available tomorrow
As reported earlier, the upcoming free-roamer Just Cause will be ready for download on the 360 and PC tomorrow at 6 a.m. Pacific. Shipping on Sept. 27, gamers will be able to get a month-long head start into familiarizing themselves with the title's unique stunt technique gameplay. While the game itself is a massive 250,000 acres, the demo will take place on an island one twentieth the size of that. According to Eidos, you will be able "to liberate a village, assassinate some political leaders, and explore the beautiful island of San Esperito at top speed on a vehicle of your choice."
Joystiq quick visit: Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops
Last month I was able to get my man hands on the latest Metal Gear Solid to hit the Sony PSP: Portable Ops. Lumped in with a couple other swanky journos, we were shown a quick overview of how multiplayer would work, then were handed the PSPs ourselves as we battled in a 4-person free-for-all deathmatch. The most important aspect of any PSP game, especially shooters, is controls. They're always a concern, and more times than not, a huge problem -- I blame that stupid nub. Sadly, Portable Ops was not able to leap this tall hurdle for PSP developers. While the gameplay was nicely paced and it was fun to roam and take out my enemies, the controls were just not as solid as they could have been had the PSP been a tad more smartly designed for these kinds of games. The controls work like this: Left Shoulder: brings up weapon; Right Shoulder: first person; Directional Pad Left, Right: strafe; Square: attack, shoot when weapon is equipped, melee when not; X: duck or tumble roll; O: switch weapons; Triangle: stealth; Analog: move around. Even though moving your player around, aiming, and shooting were a bit on the shaky side, the game is a positive step in the right direction for PSP users. The fact that it will take advantage of PSP infrastructure play, makes the game even more of a must-have than just having Metal Gear Solid slapped onto the box. For those interested in more screenshots and some of the features that will be included, check after the break.
New MGS4 trailer is up for your pleasure
What can we say? Every time a new video of Metal Gear Solid 4 pops up, our mouths get all watery with anticipation for this game. This latest trailer captured from the show floor at Leipzig is no different.Check out the video for yourself and prepare to dissect every detail. Even though it's only three minutes this time, it's a delicious three minutes. What's funny, though, is that you can hear some Sonic ring collecting in the background.
Reminder: Download free poker tonight on XBLA
In case some of you have forgotten, Microsoft will make Texas Hold 'em available tonight for free on Xbox Live Arcade. The catch? You have to act fast because it will only be on the cheap for 48 hours. Once it's 1:01 a.m. Pacific Friday, the title will cost you 800 Microsoft Points if you don't take advantage of the offer.The game will feature a persistent online bankroll and XBLA tournaments. So, warm up your 360 and prepare for some poker action beginning at 1 a.m. Pacific Wednesday.
Video rundown of the 360 peripherals
GameVideos has a sweet walkthrough of a few of the peripherals that will be coming out for the 360 this fall. We get to see things like how the force feedback steering wheel will work and be mounted, what the wireless headset looks like, and the cool effect the Xbox Live Vision camera will have on your 360 dashboard background.It looks as if there are quite a few neat little features with the camera, including adding effects to the pictures and video you take with it. It is noted that there are controls in place to allow parents to make sure their kid isn't seeing the eventual porn that is sure to pop up with this thing. Make sure you watch the whole video, because at the end, the HD-DVD drive is shown in all its glory -- though it is not a final model.