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Win a copy of Triazzle for iPhone and iPod touch
Triazzle [iTunes link] is a fun, quick game for you puzzlers out there. It's a casual thing, but with beautiful graphics and sound and a nice replay factor. David reviewed it here. Now you can win one of 3 promo codes and get Triazzle for free! Just follow the directions below. Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older. To enter leave a comment on this article. The comment must be left before Tuesday, September 8, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. Three winners will be selected in a random drawing. Prize: One promo code for Triazzle (Value: US$2.99) Click Here for complete Official Rules.
Sony unveils waterproof universal remotes for deep-sea TV addicts
If you're very clumsy (or you love watching TV in the bathtub) Sony Japan has just the thing for you. The Rimotokomanda RM-PZ3SD universal remote comes in a palette of soothing colors, works with a wide variety of sets (including those by Panasonic / National, Toshiba, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Victor / JVC, Sanyo, Aiwa, Sharp, Funai / PRECIOUS, NEC, Fujitsu, Pioneer, Philips, and, of course, Sony), and offers at least a modicum of water-resistance for wet-handed TV viewing (we'll leave that part up to your imagination). To be unleashed on the Japanese buying public "soon" for ¥2,468 (around $26). More pics after the break. [Via Boing Boing]
Xbox 360 Fancast 132 -- Flexibility
We've got an interesting show this week. We spend quite a bit of time talking about the Elite price cut as well as the "flexibility" offered by not including HDMI or component cables in the new bundle. We also grill Alexander about GamesCom and his recent trip to Germany. Of course, there's all the other usual malarkey and hullabaloo as well. Enjoy. [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in Zune Marketplace (MP3). [RSS MP3] Add the Xbox 360 Fanboy Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Hosts: Richard Mitchell (SenseiRAM), Dustin Burg (SuperDunners), Alexander Sliwinski (Sli Xander) Produced by Richard Mitchell Music: Intro/Outro: "Electromooq" by Uma Floresta. Break: "I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1" by Ska Studios.
Cryptic: MS holding back Xbox 360 Champions Online
Do we sense a trend in the world of Xbox 360 MMOs? Speaking to VG247, Cryptic CCO Jack Emmert made it known that Microsoft is seemingly the only thing standing between Champions Online and the Xbox 360. Said Emmert, "It just takes time for the big beast known as Microsoft to get moving," adding that he had no better explanation for the hold up and "it's as baffling to developers as it is to everyone else." Concerning when the title might actually hit the console, Emmert said, "This year? I don't know," and noted that "the ball is firmly in [Microsoft's] court" and that Cryptic is "ready to go." Apart from a Final Fantasy XI port, the Xbox 360 has yet to see a single MMO land in its disc drive. With Final Fantsy XIV apparently held up in red tape as well, and Age of Conan still a complete mystery, we're beginning to wonder if it ever will.
Rock Band Weekly: Talking Heads, The Jam, Oasis, Rage
Why, hello! Next week's Rock Band Weekly brings a heaping serving of Talking Heads. No, no, not television talk show guests and nightly news anchors ... the band, you know? You ... you don't know? This is awkward. Best educate yourself before we have to silently crack some skulls. The Wii will get another massive injection of tracks from the back catalog, including a whole slew of Judas Priest. Hold up, you don't know who Judas Priest is? Seriously, why are you even reading this? Go check out all the track coming to the various forms of Rock Band after the break. Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:
PSN Friday: Better late than never
Was it worth the wait? Actually, this week's PSN update is rather substantial, offering up The Legend of Han Tao (don't be fooled by its cheesy name, it's not that bad) and several demos worth checking out, including WET getting wild at the top of the list. Let's not overlook the classics either, as PS1's Tomb Raider 2 and SimCity 2000 are both available for $6. There's plenty more content to check out after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Entelligence: Will Snow Leopard's Exchange support earn Apple a new entourage?
Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide. Apple, Microsoft and the Mac have an interesting history: Microsoft was among the first developers for Macintosh, yet not long after, Apple would sue Microsoft for copying the look and feel of Mac OS in Windows. By the late 90s, Microsoft made a huge splash at Macworld with an announced 150 million dollar investment in Apple and promises of further development of Office and Internet Explorer for Macintosh. Office in particular was a major issue as it was a key requirement for business users. Early on, Office applications for Mac were far more advanced than their Windows counterparts. Excel was actually introduced for Mac users before Windows users could get their hands on it. But by the mid 90s, all that changed, the Mac versions of Office lagged behind Windows in terms of features and performance. It took forever to get things such as a common set of file formats, so that users of Office on the two different platforms could exchange documents with ease (it seems like something we take for granted but having managed and supported PC and Mac users in mixed shops, it was a nightmare to deal with). The latest version of Office for Mac, Office 2008 showed that Microsoft could produce top quality Macintosh software. I personally, think Office 2008 for Mac is the best version of the software that Microsoft has ever done (far better than Office 2007 for Windows, as it preserved the core part of the Mac UI while co-existing nicely with the ribbon UI). Obviously, however, a situation with such broad inconsistency is untenable.
Command & Conquer 4 subtitled 'Tiberian Twilight'
Here at Joystiq, we endeavor to have something for everyone. For example, we thought you real-time strategy fans would be interested to hear that the fourth installment of Command and Conquer had been subtitled "Tiberian Twilight," presumably because it supposedly brings the Tiberium story arc to a close. EA says more than 15,000 fans voted to select the name. For you non-strategy fans, we've provided the following zingers on the subtitle. "Tiberium Twilight? That series should have been put to bed years ago." "Tiberium Twilight? Is that because it'll put us right to sleep?" "Tiberium Twilight? As if it wasn't bad enough, now they're adding vampires that sparkle in the sunlight?" "Tiberium Twilight? Wouldn't 'The Newest Command and Conquer Until Around Six Months From Now When We Release Another' have been more accurate?" For you who can't be troubled to feel one way or the other, we put a video of a kid getting hit by a giant slingshot after the break. Don't ever let it be said we're not inclusive.
Sins of a Solar Empire 'Diplomacy' beta begins fall, releases winter 2010
The second micro-expansion for PC sleeper hit Sins of a Solar Empire will release in winter 2010. The Diplomacy add-on will increase the number of ambassadorial options to players in their conquest of the galaxy. You know, sometimes it helps to talk through the issues. Ironclad and Stardock plan to have a beta for the expansion this fall in order to work out any Vasarian bugs. Entrenchment and Diplomacy have both suffered delays while jumping into the digital distribution galaxy. A third micro-expansion for Sins was previously announced, so the full 4X RTS space opera experience should be completed sometime next year -- unless there are more delays, of course. %Gallery-15134%
Metareview: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360, PC)
We had hoped that, at this point, this kind of glowing criticism would be enough to make your buying decisions for you. But, sadly, it seems you still want to hear what others have to say about Batman: Arkham Asylum. Very well. Though it pains us, we oblige: Game Informer (95/100): "Batman: Arkham Asylum is this year's BioShock, not just from the connection established with the world, but from its ability to innovate where new ideas are needed, and moreover, deliver an adventure unlike any other. Strategy Informer (95/100): "A full repertoire of moves makes playing as Batman an experience that's not only uniquely satisfying, but also incredibly empowering - exactly as it should be. The Dark Knight is a superhero, and in Arkham Asylum, he actually feels like one, stalking enemies with a predatory prowess befitting of the iconic character." Play.tm (94/100): "So, is Arkham Asylum finally the game that Batman deserves then? Yes. Yes it is. And a whole lot more besides. ... It is to games what Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are to movies - Batman: Arkham Asylum is without doubt the most definitive videogame realisation of the character yet. It's also unreservedly brilliant to boot." Eurogamer (90/100): "Most of the gameplay concerns are minor when taken in the context of how much Arkham Asylum gets so gloriously right. Rarely does a game do a character justice in such a satisfying way. Arkham Asylum finds room for every major aspect of Batman's enduring appeal, and it does so in a game compelling enough to work even without its masked star." %Gallery-64370%
Xbox 360 Fancast 131 -- The Pursuit of Chairness
So, Shadow Complex came out last week. In case you haven't heard, we kind of liked it. So, we thought it would be a good opportunity to wrangle some time with Donald Mustard, creative director of Chair Entertainment, the studio behind Shadow Complex. Download the show to learn about the game, the Mustard family and just how the Chair name came to be. [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in Zune Marketplace (MP3). [RSS MP3] Add the Xbox 360 Fanboy Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Hosts: Richard Mitchell (SenseiRAM), Dustin Burg (SuperDunners). Produced by Richard Mitchell Guest: Donald Mustard, Creative Director of Chair Entertainment Music: Intro/Outro: "Electromooq" by Uma Floresta. "New Year's Eve" by Special Patrol.
Horseman VCC Pro adds a bellows and large-format functionality to your DSLR
Okay, so we don't think Horseman is marketing the $2,000 VCC Pro technical camera movement adapter to people like us who just want to make our DSLRs look fun and old-timey, but hey -- in addition to giving photographers ultra-precise control over depth of field and perspective, it also makes your DSLR look fun and old-timey. Comes in Nikon and Canon versions, as you'd expect, and it'll be available soon at pro photography shops. The rest of us will stick to wearing high-waisted pants and growing comical mustaches. [Via SlashGear]
EA, Ubisoft pleased as punch post-PS3 price plummet
As happy as you might have been to read about the PS3's price being slashed to $299 in the US, trust us: Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot and EA Games president Frank Gibeau were much, much happier. Not only will, theoretically, more systems fly off shelves but buyers will have a little extra cash in their pockets for the companies' games. "It's exceptional news, actually. I think the machine is a great machine, with the Blu-ray," said Guillemot, who was having kind of a rough day with English it would appear. Gibeau shared his enthusiasm, telling GamesIndustry.biz, "It's an old line, but it still rings true for us: 'We make the ammunition for the hardware wars.' So the lowest priced hardware possible is a good thing for us." Also, we never noticed how much Gibeau looks like Radar O'Reilly.
Arduino binary clock doesn't care to be useful, just wants to be admired
If there's one thing we love about DIY projects, it's the feeling that the outcome is more than the mere sum of its parts. This here binary clock is a prime example, being composed of scrap plastic, some dirt-cheap parts and a homemade Arduino board. And yet, after a few licks of polish and the inevitable LEDs, it looks like a true monument to geekdom, which is only amplified by the fact you can't even use the thing without being familiar with binary code. But then again, if utility was a standard by which we judged homebrewed projects, we'd have a lot less to talk about. [Via Make]
Modern Warfare 2 bringing $60 price tag to PC games
Well, PC gamers, you had to know it couldn't last forever. Even though you've traditionally enjoyed paying $10 less than your console brethren for big new releases, your luck, it seems, has run out, with Gamestop, Amazon and Best Buy showing a $60 price tag for the standard edition of Modern Warfare 2. On the bright side, the price is still hovering around $50 at Walmart. We're sure Activision's crunched the numbers, but doesn't PC gaming have enough working against it without pricing hikes? Oh well, we're sure it's just a one-time occurrence. ... Right? ... Guys?
Lessons from GDC Europe: The 'seven pillars' of a Remedy IP
During his speech at GDC Europe – exhaustively titled "From Max Payne to Alan Wake: Creating Intellectual Properties the Remedy Way" (air!) – Remedy Managing Director Matias Myllyrinne laid out the seven pillars the company uses for its games: 1. Strong Lead Character -- Main character is iconic and easy to get on the surface. Things went wrong when Myllyrinne wanted the Max Payne sequel to simply be called The Fall of Max Payne. The compromised title admittedly didn't work out in the sales department. He didn't mention anything about Rockstar's reimagined Max Payne in the latest sequel. 2. Mainstream approachability -- Avoiding niche and cliché settings (for video games that would mean no WWII setting, dragons, sci-fi, etc.). Having gameplay mechanics that are approachable (low barrier of entry to start playing the game). 3. Cinematic -- Taking lessons learned from movies. The presentation of Max Payne makes this pretty obvious. With Alan Wake the company is focusing on the trinity of the flashlight, Alan himself (see: pillar one), and the gun. This also lead Myllyrinne to an anecdote about presentation, saying "It's not what things are, it's what the audience thinks things are." He mentioned the Ingram gun was made bigger in Max Payne because people expect that gun to be larger than it actually is in real life.
Xbox 360 Fancast 130 -- An Absolute Steal
We talk about a lot of things on this episode of the Fancast. We talk about Steven Spielberg, Halo and some other mishegoss. The really important thing is that we talk about this week's XBLA release, Shadow Complex. We've all had our hands on the game for a while now and, as it turns out, it's pretty good. Of course, if you read Joystiq, you already know that. But why settle for reading a review of the game when you can hear us talk about it? Yeah, case closed. [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in Zune Marketplace (MP3). [RSS MP3] Add the Xbox 360 Fanboy Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Hosts: Richard Mitchell (SenseiRAM), Dustin Burg (SuperDunners), Alexander Sliwinski (Sli Xander), Xav de Matos (Snypz). Produced by Richard Mitchell Music: Intro/Outro: "Electromooq" by Uma Floresta. "Geekquilibrium" by Dr. Awkward
Crytek CEO asks GDC audience to kill 'killerspiel' law, won't leave Germany unless forced out
During his keynote address at GDC Europe in Cologne, Germany, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli requested the audience support the petition against the host-country's bill, which is seeking to ban any games in the region "where the main part is to realistically play the killing of people or other cruel or un-human acts of violence against humans or manlike characters." Yerli told the audience toward the conclusion of his presentation: "[This law] means that Crytek will be literally forced out of the country." Yerli's tone about the German law was more serious than his previous statement on the subject, so we caught up with him after the keynote. We asked if he's threatening to leave the country if the law passes, or if he thinks the company will be pushed out. He told us, "This is the point, two or three years ago we were thinking 'What is this?' This is like disrespecting our company.' We said we will not change our strategy. Today we think we are literally forced to make a change." It appears that Yerli still isn't looking to change Crytek's direction, despite the government threats. And it appears he really doesn't want to move, telling us, "If you move a company, you think of it as: let's move the company strategically, so we get more benefit out of this country. But moving it because a law comes in is too reactive for us. We're not thinking of moving unless the law happens." [Image: Dennis Stachel]
Rock Band Weekly: Foo Fighters, Blur, Dropkick Murphys, Blind Melon
So, are we all getting used to Rock Band Weekly across the various platforms being combined in one serving every Friday? No ... um, tough noogies. This is the way it's going to be for the time being. Next week brings a new Foo Fighters pack to the PS3 and Xbox 360, while the Wii gets a whole mess of Red Hot Chili Peppers songs. Meanwhile, Ms. Benatar and Coheed and Cambria make their way to Unplugged. Check it all out after the break.. Select a platform below to view complete DLC listing:
eBook Roundup: 8 Apps for iPhone readers
An e-book (or ebook, or eBook, depending upon who you ask) is the digital equivalent of a paper book. According to KiwiTech, the publishers of Classics2Go, the market for eBooks has increased more than 60% over the last six years and growth from this point is expected to be very strong. We can reasonably connect the start of this burgeoning market to the release of the Amazon Kindle in 2007. Strong sales convinced some wary readers that this was a viable option. You could carry a few hundred books under your arm, and the reading experience was, well, acceptable. Going on a long trip? Wouldn't it be nice to take about 20 pounds of paper out of your luggage? 2007 also marked the introduction of the iPhone; it took about a year for eBook apps to appear on the iPhone. Now there are so many of them that finding the right one for your purposes can be a confusing prospect. I would like to clarify all this a bit by categorizing the four types of eBook apps, at least so far, and letting you know what you can expect from each. In deciding upon an eBook reader you need to consider: what sort of material you will be reading, how much you are willing to spend (if anything) and the quality of the viewing experience. Last year, Andrew Kazmierski and Phill Ryu released Classics (iTunes link). Their idea was to take a bunch of books in the public domain, 22 in the current release, and control all aspects of the user experience. We covered the first release of Classics upon its original release when its price was $2.99. Since then, the price has dropped to .99 and the number of books has increased. This app looked so impressive that it was featured in an Apple iPhone commercial. Upon launch, the reader is presented with a nicely rendered wooden bookshelf displaying colorful dust jackets. Click on a book and start reading. There is no wait, since all the books were downloaded with the app. Future updates bring more books. The books are all the kind of classics that are on school reading lists ranging from Frankenstein and Dracula, to Hound of the Baskervilles. The feature set is slim. Tap the right side of the screen or swipe right to left and the sepia toned pages turn using a pleasing animation. There are two buttons on the top of the screen. One brings down a maroon and gold bookmark and sends you to the bookshelf. When you click on the book again, you are brought to where you left off. The second button takes you to a table of contents. The bottom of the screen tells you the name of the chapter you are reading and what page you are on. The top of the screen displays the title of the book. Illustrations in books like Alice in Wonderland are nicely rendered, and the text is attractively formatted. A change in color of the title bar gives you an idea of where you are in the book.
