Mike Suszek
Articles by Mike Suszek
The 1920s are roaring in A Golden Wake next week
A Golden Wake, the 1920s-themed adventure game published by Blackwell series studio Wadjet Eye Games, will launch next Thursday, October 9. The publisher wants to give players a chance to check the game out in advance, so it is offering a demo, which players can download for PC, Mac or Linux through the game's website or via Steam. Developed by Grundislav Games, the studio behind the episodic Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator, A Golden Wake was first announced in late June. It stars real estate agent Alfie Banks, whose financial goals in the pre-Depression era land him in a compromising position with the mob. Those that purchase the point-and-click adventure game prior to its October 9 launch will receive a free digital version of its jazzy official soundtrack. [Image: Wadjet Eye Games]
Twitch seeks transparency for promotional broadcasts
Twitch will begin instituting new policies that clearly label sponsored broadcasts on its channels, the video streaming platform announced on its blog. "We want complete transparency and unwavering authenticity with all content and promotions that have a sponsor relationship," Twitch wrote. Copy and graphics for future Twitch-driven campaigns will now have labels to indicate that they are promotional in nature. For instance, the front-page video carousel will include a new "sponsored" graphic when applicable, and Twitch will add sponsored labels to its content newsletters as well. Future tweets from the streaming platform's official accounts will also include language that indicates if the broadcast is promotional as well. Twitch isn't the only company opting for more transparency in how sponsored content is listed; Valve introduced new policies for Steam Curators to openly disclose paid recommendations this week as well. [Image: Twitch]
Steam now requires disclosure from sponsored Curators
Valve updated its policies for Steam Curators this week, requiring that curators disclose any compensation received for recommending games on the service. The company introduced Curators late last month, allowing any person or brand (such as good old Joystiq) to list their favorite games on the distribution service while linking out to reviews, videos or blogs about the games. Additionally, Gunpoint developer Tom Francis noted on Twitter that "Steam actually has just given devs the ability to curate which Curators appear on our Store pages" in its update. With Steam Curators being one large piece of a major shift in Steam's increasingly hands-off storefront, paid placement on curator's lists was among the biggest concerns both developers and the service's top Curator, TotalBiscuit, told Joystiq last month. Valve's updated rules alleviate those worries, providing curators adequately disclose sponsored placement: "If you've accepted money or other compensation for making a product review or for posting a recommendation, you must disclose this fact in your recommendation," the policies state. Valve also added that recommendations "should not link to or promote any stores other than Steam." [Image: Steam]
Spend $100 on PSN in October, get $15 back
Sony's latest promotion is dishing cash back to those that buy goods on PSN this month. As of October 1, players that spend at least $100 using their Sony Entertainment Network wallets will receive $15 in credit. The credit will be delivered to those taking advantage of the offer "on or before November 7" via email or PS4, PS3 or Vita system notification in redemption code form. The promotion runs through Tuesday, October 28. Players will have until December 5 to redeem their $15 credit codes. Now the question is: What ever shall you spend that $100 on? PS4 players may consider the recently-launched and excellent Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, or may choose to pre-order Alien: Isolation via PSN. Or you could just blow it all on repeated rentals of Hocus Pocus. Your call. [Image: Sony]
Indie Royale's ten-game Mystery Bundle could be anything
Well this is awkward. See, we were hoping to tell you about Indie Royale's new "Mystery Bundle," but there are only two confirmed games we can really talk about. We can say for sure that the ten-game bundle features The Sun at Night and Hero of the Kingdom, PC games packed with Steam and Desura keys as well as DRM-free download options available to buyers. While Indie Royale values the bundle at $70, it's available now for the pay-the-minimum price of 99 cents. Here's the catch: Indie Royale will reveal a new game in the bundle each day and will increase its price by 30 cents with every reveal, so those buying in today while the bulk of the games are unknown will get the whole lot at its lowest price. We hate to speculate, but what if Indie Royale is pulling an Oprah on us and one of the eight other games is actually a new car? What if one title is the leg lamp from A Christmas Story, or the concept of love? The possibilities are endless. The Mystery Bundle ends on Wednesday, October 15. [Image: Indie Royale]
The Walking Dead seasons start October 14 on PS4, Xbox One
Telltale's The Walking Dead seasons one and two will arrive on Xbox One and PS4 this month. That much we knew with certainty as of September. Now according to IGN, the first season will go next-gen on October 14 followed by the second season one week later, October 21. Xbox 360 and PS3 owners will get to enjoy each full season on October 21 as well. The release dates align with previous listings offered by Amazon. Those dates are for North American players; fans in Europe will have to wait a few extra days to receive both seasons on PS4 and Xbox One on October 24. Likewise, Vita players won't have access to the full second season until November 4. The adventure game series began with the launch of episode one in April 2012, and wrapped with the underwhelming fifth episode of Season 2 in late August. [Image: Telltale Games]
Star Citizen earns Guinness world record for crowdfunding efforts
As Star Citizen recently crossed $55 million in funding, Roberts Space Industries founder Chris Roberts announced that the game is entering the Guinness Book of World Records "not as the largest crowdfunded game of all time, but as the largest crowdfunded anything of all time."
PlayStation Plus fees increase in multiple regions
PlayStation Plus subscription fees are on the rise in various regions, Sony confirmed. "We slightly increased prices for PlayStation Plus in South Africa, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and India regions due to various market conditions," a representative told Joystiq via email. "Currently, price adjustments are not being planned for PS Plus in the SCEA [North American] region." The confirmation follows a report from iAfrica that stated subscription costs were due to rise within 24 hours of email notifications sent to PS Plus subscribers. The emails reportedly stated that "the price of a three month subscription will rise from R145 to R219" as of today ($12.88 and $19.46). The change represents a 51 percent increase in the three-month PS Plus prices. Additionally, a second email seemingly noted a change in the annual PS Plus costs in South Africa from R489 to R749 ($43.45 to $66.55, a 53 percent increase). [Image: Sony]
LittleBigPlanet 3 PS4 console bundle spotted on Amazon UK
A new PS4 bundle appeared on Amazon UK this week, packing LittleBigPlanet 3 in with the 500 GB console. While the bundle has yet to be confirmed by Sony, it is listed at £386.78 ($627.26) on the retailer's site. One other listing for the bundle surfaced last week on Amazon's Spain site, though without a price attached. LittleBigPlanet 3 is the next entry in Sony's popular platforming brand, first announced at Sony's E3 2014 press conference in June. The game will launch on November 18 PS3 and PS4. Likewise, the Amazon UK listing for the bundle includes a November 21 release date for the console package. We reached out to Sony to confirm the bundle's existence and whether it will launch in North America. [Image: Amazon UK]
NHL 2K faces off on iOS, Android today [Update: Nope, it's delayed]
Update: This just in from 2K - "The global launch of NHL 2K is being delayed to ensure we are able to offer our fans the best gaming experience possible, on all compatible mobile devices. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, but will keep you updated on the title's expected availability as it is confirmed." The mobile return of NHL 2K takes center ice today on iOS and Android, 2K confirmed to Joystiq. Announced last month, the game is the first in 2K Sports' hockey series to launch in four years since NHL 2K11 for Wii and iOS. The "complete and portable All-Star NHL experience" costs $7.99 and will receive live roster updates as the hockey season carries on. Developed by Visual Concepts and Virtuos, NHL 2K includes 2K's trademark multi-season My Career mode (which WWE 2K15 will also feature in its own way) as well as a quick Mini-Rink three-on-three mode. Players can also participate in asynchronous turn-based shootouts with one another or take their favorite teams through a full NHL season. NHL 2K also includes a Winter Classic outdoor arena as well as a Free Skate mode for players to practice their skills. [Image: 2K Sports]
Pre-order Alien: Isolation digitally, watch it download in terror
Digital pre-orders for Creative Assembly's frightful first-person game Alien: Isolation are now available. Players can put money down in advance of the game's impending launch in one week on Steam, PSN and Xbox Live to pre-download the game and pick up its season pass. Xbox One players can pre-purchase the game's Nostromo Edition on Microsoft's store, which includes the full game as well as the "Crew Expendable" bonus content. PS4 and PS3 players can scoot over to PSN to pre-order either the Nostromo Edition or the Season Pass bundle, with individual passes available on launch day, October 7. Likewise, the Nostromo Edition as well as the Digital Deluxe Edition are available to pre-purchase on Steam, the latter of which also includes the game's season pass. The $30 season pass give players access to Alien: Isolation's survivor mode map packs. [Image: Sega]
Get a push, win the belt in WWE 2K15's 'My Career' mode
2K Sports offered details today on WWE 2K15's other career mode, My Career. Much like the mode of the same name in Visual Concepts' NBA 2K series, in My Career, players take a custom wrestler through the career path of a WWE superstar. The mode begins by having players learn the ropes at the Orlando-based WWE Performance Center, eventually headlining WrestleMania and winning the top championship titles in the company. The mode features seasoned trainer Bill DeMott and general manager Vickie Guerrero, the latter setting matches and giving wrestlers goals to advance their career. As the journey unfolds, wrestlers improve their attributes and unlock new abilities and moves while developing alliances and rivalries with others on the WWE roster. With each decision a player makes in My Career, the crowd's reaction will change and "multiple branching storylines, surprises, twists and turns" will manifest, complimenting the game's other, historical career mode, 2K Showcase. WWE 2K15 will launch October 28 for Xbox 360 and PS3, arriving later on November 18 for PS4 and Xbox One. [Image: 2K Sports]
Wii U gets organized with folders in latest update
Much like a prospective office assistant, Nintendo's Wii U can now put "good organization skills" on its resume. Thanks to a new system update this week, the console will now allow players to sort their home screen icons into folders. The Wii U menu also added a download management icon in the latest update and updated the home menu's layout. The system's quick start menu, which was added this summer to cut down on the Wii U's boot times, also received two small changes in the firmware update. The menu will now display when the Wii U is powered on from the GamePad's TV remote menu. Additionally, players can choose software to hide from the quick start menu in the system's power settings. The console manufacturer was a little slower to learn icon management this time around; Nintendo added folder sorting to the 3DS just over a year after the system's launch compared to nearly two years after the Wii U arrived. [Thanks, Deric!] [Image: Nintendo]
Project Cars targets 1080p on Xbox One, PS4
Visual fidelity has always been important to players, especially when the resolution between two versions of a game doesn't match. A class-action lawsuit was even filed over a multiplayer game that failed to live up to its promised resolution. With that in mind, racing fans will be happy to know that Project Cars is aiming for 1080p and 60 frames per second on PS4 and Xbox One. Slightly Mad Studios' Andy Tudor told Eurogamer that while recent Xbox One demos of the racer were "not quite 1080p at the moment," the developer is "still aiming to get there." "Towards the end of the game you're always optimizing, and during development it's a rollercoaster. Sometimes you look at the game and think oh god, that's not working, that's not working. But other days you hit 60 fps, and it's awesome," Tudor said. He explained that the "physics underneath runs at 600 times a second," and that the developer calculates "the input you're doing on the controller 250 times per second." The racing sim will launch on the next-gen systems as well as PC on November 18, arriving in 2015 on SteamOS and Wii U. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Rejoice! Visceral says Battlefield Hardline 'will work' at launch
Battlefield Hardline will operate as expected at launch, according to Ian Milham, creative director at Visceral Games. "What you're basically asking is, 'Is your game going to work?' And the answer is yes, it's gonna work," Milham told Game Revolution. The statement follows a rough launch for the last game game in the series, DICE's Battlefield 4, which suffered months of connectivity issues after its October 2013 arrival. That led to multiple law firms alleging that publisher EA issued "materially false and misleading statements" regarding Battlefield 4's playability. When a CEO like EA's Andrew Wilson publicly deems a game's launch as "unacceptable," questions about the next game's stability will certainly come up.
The Crew closed beta drifts to consoles next week
The Crew will enter its closed beta phase on consoles next Tuesday, September 30. The game took multiple pre-release spins through PC tracks in July and August, but those hoping to be picked to play the game early on PS4 and Xbox One will need to register on Ubisoft's official website for the game. The Crew presents an open-world-style recreation of the United States, or at least as it appears through the window of a car driving at least 80 miles per hour. Following a delay nearly one year ago, The Crew will launch November 11 for PC, Xbox One and PS4. Ubisoft is aiming to reach 60 frames per second on PC, but the game will be locked to 30 fps on consoles. For a lengthy look at The Crew, take a joyride with us in our hour-long archived Joystiq Stream of the PC beta from July, or check out our video preview from April. [Image: Ubisoft]
Metareview: Middle-earth Shadow of Mordor
Our five-star review of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor reassured players that an appreciation for J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings universe isn't necessary to enjoy the deep action game. "What would have otherwise been a competent sandbox game with solid combat mechanics and an interesting twist on a known fantasy world is elevated by the Nemesis System," which greatly personalizes your experience. The game's unique systems means our Nemesis in Shadow of Mordor differed from that of other critics, yet reviews around the web are mostly positive about the game. Head past the break to get a better sense of the collective opinion on the game, which launches next Tuesday, September 30 for PS4, Xbox One and PC. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game were delayed to November 18 earlier this month.
Shooter-platformer Rive heading to PS4, Xbox One, Wii U
When Two Tribes announced Rive in July, it revealed the 2D shooter for PC and unspecified consoles. The developer pulled the curtain back on Rive's destined systems today on Twitter, announcing its development for PS4, Xbox One and Wii U in addition to Steam. The "metal wrecking, robot hacking simulator" has players altering their enemies' behavior using hacks, leaping across levels and firing in 360 degrees. The game is the first from the studio since its January reboot, in which its staff was cut down to two, now three for the development of Rive. Two Tribes will handle the Rive's PC and Wii U development in-house and will work "closely with a porting partner for PS4 and Xbox One." The Toki Tori developer "did 90 percent of the PlayStation 4 technology late last year when we were porting Toki 2 to it," and will let its partner studio of choice "finish it." Rive is expected to launch in early 2015. [Image: Two Tribes]
Bungie closes Destiny's 'Loot Cave,' discusses future fixes
Well that was fun while it lasted. The infamous "Loot Cave" that allowed Destiny players to collectively shoot into the darkness and reap massive rewards has been fixed by Bungie. "The Hive of the holy 'Treasure Cave' have realized the futility of their endless assault on Skywatch and have retired to lick their wounds and plan their next attack," the developer wrote in its latest update notes. Bungie also issued notes on some of Destiny's other issues that it plans to address in the future, in which it said that "shooting at a black hole for hours on end isn't our dream for how Destiny is played." Aside from addressing the Loot Cave exploit, Bungie will "increase engram drops from completing activities" and allow players to opt-in to voice chat during online matchmaking sessions. The developer also plans to increase damage dealt by players and reduce the impact from bosses during Strike missions as well as issue a number of balance changes to impact the effectiveness of weapons at different ranges. [Image: Activision]
No 'Bad Blood' DLC for Watch Dogs on Wii U
The Wii U version of Watch Dogs won't receive the game's Bad Blood downloadable content, Ubisoft confirmed via Twitter. It's unclear if the console will be without the add-on entirely or only at launch or whether Ubisoft's tweet refers to all future downloadable content, as the publisher said on the social media channel, "No, the Wii U version will not have the DLC." We reached out to Ubisoft for clarification on the matter and will update as we learn more. Watch Dogs was given a Wii U release date earlier this month; it will launch on November 18 in North America and November 21 in Europe. The game arrived on PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in May. The Bad Blood DLC launched yesterday for those systems, though Ubisoft is still working to get the add-on in the hands of Xbox 360 owners "in the upcoming days." [Image: Ubisoft]