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Joystiq Streams: Sex, lies, You Don't Know Jack, and free PS4/XB1 games
Something happens to people when they play anything made by Jackbox Games. You Don't Know Jack, Fibbage, Lie Swatter; these games bring out a cackling darkness that is both frightening and impossible to resist. Do friendships end because of the vicious yelling at the end of a round of You Don't Know Jack? Certainly, but just as many new alliances and unbreakable bonds are formed thanks to suppository jokes, deceit, and wordplay. If you've ever wanted to see the Joystiq staff destroy each other with language while also winning some free PlayStation 4 and Xbox One games, here's your chance. Starting at 4:00PM EST on Joystiq.com/Twitch, we'll be streaming select games from the Jackbox Party Pack. A murder of Joystiq editors will play alongside Jackbox's own Steve Heinrich, one of the creators and head writers on You Don't Know Jack. We'll also be doling out download codes for the Jackbox Party Pack on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Joystiq.com/Twitch broadcasts every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00PM EST, but we stream other times as well so make sure to follow us on Twitch. [Images: Jackbox Games]
Five-game Jackbox Party Pack drops today for PlayStation 4, PS3, Xbox One
Jackbox Games will launch a digital bundle that includes a new version of You Don't Know Jack alongside four additional party-ready games later today for the PlayStation 4, PS3, and Xbox One. You Don't Know Jack 2015 headlines the Jackbox Party Pack, offering 50 all-new episodes brimming with off-the-wall trivia and multiplayer shenanigans. Buyers will also receive Fibbage XL, an expanded version of this year's lie-detecting party game that features 50 percent more questions than the original release. The package also includes the new games Word Spud, Lie Swatter, and Drawful, all of which are optimized for multiple players and support tablet and smartphone input. A bundled Steam release for all five games is also in the works, though a release date is not yet known. [Video: Jackbox Games]
You Don't Know Jack dev's Fibbage cons its way onto PS4 and PS3
Jackbox Games has a new PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 game, and it's called _____. Cookie Masterson's Slow Roast Fun Time! You Don't Know Jane! Video Games: Serious Business! In Fibbage, the actual name of the game, eight players can enter whatever they want attempting to convince other players of their carefully crafted lie. If they believe you, you win. Previously only available on Xbox One and Amazon Fire TV, Fibbage is now a cross-buy game on PS4 and PS3, letting you purchase it on one and download it again on the other. Fibbage is in practice similar to the old parlor game Bullshit, but with a couple of twists. First, the game is hosted and narrated by the aforementioned You Don't Know Jack host Cookie Masterson. Second, it foregoes traditional controllers. While matches are limited to eight players, they can use their smartphone or tablet to play rather than a Dualshock. Game sessions generate a code which the players enter at Fibbage.com via their handheld and get going. The need for a screen keeps multiplayer sessions primarily local, but they can be also set up by streaming the game through Twitch. Show full PR text "YOU DON'T KNOW JACK®" Studio Releases Critically-Acclaimed Fibbage™ Today on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 - 8 Players Can Play Using Mobile Phones and Tablets as Controllers PlayStation®4 Twitch Integration Allows Multiplayer Fibbage Sessions Over Livestream CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – September 16, 2014 – Independent developer Jackbox Games today announced the release of Fibbage™: The Hilarious Bluffing Party Game as a digital-only title on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. The game was recently released to rave reviews as a digital-only title on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft via the ID@Xbox self-publishing program. Fibbage is the studio's newest, comedy-infused trivia party game. The game challenges players to fool their friends with lies, avoid selecting their friends' lies, and find the (usually zany) truths to some very unusual facts. Up to 8 players can play together on their PlayStation®3 system, PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One or Amazon Fire TV, simply by using their mobile phones or tablets (or even laptops) as controllers. Players log in via a website and type in a room code to join the game, thus eliminating the need for multiple controllers and expanding the number of people who can play on a console in one room at a game night or party. While Fibbage is primarily a live, couch-play game, it is also easily streamable and playable via Twitch. All you need is a device with an internet connection; find a Fibbage Twitch stream, enter the host-provided code on fibbage.com or scan the QR code on the page and you're in! "Fibbage, like all of the games we are working on, is easy-in," said Mike Bilder, GM of Jackbox Games. "You just need a mobile phone or tablet connected to the Internet. We've eliminated what we feel is the major sticking point for party video games – the need for a bunch of controllers and/or an entire set of fake musical instruments." Fibbage features outrageous but incomplete facts. For example, if asked the question: "The French have a pastry called Nun's ____," players could enter lies such as "Buns," "Muffin," or "Delight." Players can get as creative as they want, or use a suggestion if they get stuck. The game is hosted by popular YOU DON'T KNOW JACK emcee Cookie Masterson. Fibbage is a cross-buy title, meaning that if you buy it on the PlayStation®4 system, you also get it on the PlayStation®3 system, and vice versa. Fibbage was released recently on Xbox One and Amazon Fire TV to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Both games use mobile devices as controllers, eliminating a major friction point for live gameplay with big groups. For more information visit www.jackboxgames.com. To join the conversation, like the game on Facebook® and follow us on Twitter®. About Jackbox Games Jackbox Games, formerly Jellyvision Games, is a developer and publisher of games on leading gaming platforms. The studio's flagship title, YOU DON'T KNOW JACK, has been called "the greatest quiz-show game ever made" by The Onion's A.V. Club and "triumphant, hilarious, even enlightening" by The New York Times. Fibbage is the studio's first cross-platform console release since the most recent YOU DON'T KNOW JACK. The company is located in Chicago, Illinois.
You Don't Know Jack dev's 'Fibbage' now on Xbox One
Jackbox Games launched its party game, Fibbage, on Xbox One this week. The You Don't Know Jack developer launched the "humor-laden trivia party game" that emphasizes bluffing by its players on Amazon Fire TV in April. Up to eight players attempt to fool one another by using their mobile devices as controllers, logging in to the game's servers and plugging in a room code to play one another. It is hosted by Cookie Masterson, the iconic narrator of the humorous, often irreverent You Don't Know Jack games. Fibbage will arrive on PS4 and PS3 next month, and will be Cross-Buy compatible. The game costs $6.99 on Xbox One. [Image: Jackbox Games]
You Don't Know Jack dev brings two games to Amazon Fire TV
While the Amazon Fire TV is "absolutely not a game console," developers such as Telltale Games and now Jackbox Games are already supporting the media-streaming device. The Chicago-based developer launched both You Don't Know Jack Party and a new trivia party game Fibbage for free on the Fire TV today. You Don't Know Jack Party first arrived on iOS last fall. Fibbage, like You Don't Know Jack Party, uses smartphones and tablets as game controllers while linking up with the Fire TV for big-screen multiplayer sessions. In it, up to eight players trick one another by filling in the blanks of trivia statements with lies as they see fit. Each round of play lasts seven questions and includes special categories like "Celebrity Tweets" and "Road Trip." The free version of Fibbage offers a "handful" of questions, while the paid upgrade of Fibbage brings with it hundreds more. Jackbox didn't offer a price for the upgraded version, though it noted plans to launch DLC for the game in the future. Amazon just announced (and launched) the Fire TV today for $99. [Image: Jackbox Games]
You Don't Know Jack dev launches mobile word minigolf game
So what if you don't know jack? As long as you know words - and how to spell them - you'll do fine in Jackbox Games' new puzzler, Word Puttz. The free-to-play game, now available on iOS and Android, puts a spin on classic word games such as Scrabble and Words With Friends by having players place letter tiles not on a board, but a mini-golf course. Think of your words as both a way to score points and the route your ball will travel. You want to make good, high-value words, but also need to eventually wind up at the hole. Obstacles, pre-placed words and races against the AI add variety to the game's four courses, which feature more than 70 levels total. Oh yeah, and the in-game host is an octopus. Because reasons. [Image: Jackbox Games]
You Don't Know Jack Steam bundle celebrates 18 funny years
The You Don't Know Jack Classic Pack is now available on Steam. The $20 bundle offers players the original games in the series stretching back to 1995's Vol. 1 XL. Each of the nine trivia games are available individually for $2.99 save for Vol. 6, which costs $1.99. The Classic Pack is a $5.92 discount on the combined price of the games. Developer Jackbox Games, formerly Jellyvision Games, has since developed You Don't Know Jack for a number of platforms. The developer updated the Facebook and mobile versions of the latest entry in the trivia series to unlock free and unlimited daily access for all users, and the $2.99 "Royale" upgrade offers in-game bonuses and strips away ads from the game.
You Don't Know Jack goes free on Facebook, mobile
Jackbox Games released an update for the iOS, Android, and browser-based Facebook versions of its sassy-molasses trivia app You Don't Know Jack, unlocking unlimited play and free daily access for all players. Previously, You Don't Know Jack players were limited to a set number of plays per day, with additional sessions unlockable via in-app purchases. The latest update retains the ad-supported model of previous versions while eliminating daily limits. You Don't Know Jack also offers a $2.99 "Royale" upgrade, which unlocks ad-free play and a cornucopia of in-game bonuses.
Netflix adds movie selection service 'Max' today on PS3
Netflix will introduce "Max" on PlayStation 3 today, a new interactive way to find movies and TV shows. Created by Jellyvision Labs (which shares a founder in Harry Gottlieb of Jackbox Games, the studio behind kooky game show You Don't Know Jack), the Max app features a familiar vibe for anyone who has squared off against Cookie Masterson. And no, it's a different voice. Max is incorporated within the category sections of the PS3 Netflix browser – it's not a separate program. Once you click on it, you'll play a You Don't Know Jack-lite game. Max will offer up a movie, which you can start watching immediately, add to your queue or receive a 30-second pitch on. Todd Yellin, vice president of product innovation at Netflix, told us that Max was conceived of in 2007 when Jellyvision and the pair did some testing. The companies re-engaged in 2011 and Max is ready for its debut this week. Netflix will integrate Max into other platforms as time goes on. Also, no, this does not mean we should expect You Don't Know Jack movie trivia as a direct app within Netflix. We totally asked. Update: Jellyvision Labs and Jellyvision Games (now Jackbox Games) are wholly separate entities. We've updated the story to reflect this. Here is a statement from Marc Blumer, marketing director at Jackbox Games: "Just wanted to let you know that Netflix's 'Max' app, while awesome, is not a product of Jackbox Games, but instead was produced by Jellyvision Labs – a wholly separate entity that does share a founder in Harry Gottlieb but is in fact a different company altogether from our games development studio."
You Don't Know Jack maker Jellyvision becomes Jackbox Games
Jellyvision Games has been making variations of You Don't Know Jack for a while now, which is of course the irreverant and very popular trivia game. The title originally began as a series of PC and Mac games, though, of course, Jellyvision has taken the series to consoles, and then more recently to Facebook and iOS. Now, after nearly 20 years of work, the company has decided to rebrand itself, and Jellyvision is going to become Jackbox Games. The new branding makes a lot of sense: It definitely allows the company to focus on You Don't Know Jack and that brand, and it sets the company up as a multiplatform studio. Jellyvision always was, but this should give Jackbox a chance to do more with the upcoming next-generation platforms, as well as other devices like Roku and Ouya. Additionally, Jackbox has two more upcoming apps to release, in addition to the recent Lie Swatter. It is sort of a bummer to see a longtime brand pass on. But Jackbox is doing good work, and hopefully it'll be able to build an even stronger reputation with its new identity. Show full PR text JELLYVISION GAMES, MAKERS OF YOU DON'T KNOW JACK, RE-BRANDS AS JACKBOX GAMES Indie Trivia Game Developer Expands into New IP and New Generation Publishing, including Ouya CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – June 5, 2013 – Independent developer Jellyvision Games today announced its re-branding initiative with the new moniker: Jackbox Games. After nearly two decades of entertaining players with their landmark YOU DON'T KNOW JACK franchise, the former PC and console developer has expanded into a full-fledged new-generation publisher for multiple games on social and mobile platforms, Roku, and now Ouya. "The rebranding of our studio represents the completion of an evolution," said Mike Bilder, GM. "Today, Jackbox Games not only has the creative and technical resources to make great games, but we're seizing on the opportunity presented by new generation platforms to bring more games to market ourselves - however and wherever they best fit." In May 2012, YOU DON'T KNOW JACK was launched on Facebook as the studio's first social title, and it was met with critical acclaim – winning SPIKE TV's "Social Game of the Year." December 2012 saw the launch of the franchise on mobile, starting with iOS, and last spring the first new IP from the publisher hit the market in the form of Lie Swatter™. Last week, Ouya announced that the YOU DON'T KNOW JACK franchise will be ported to the Android-powered console platform as a launch title. The studio has also announced two upcoming apps for 2013: Clone Booth™ and Word Puttz™. "The big payoff for us has always been the engagement people feel when playing YOU DON'T KNOW JACK, which is really born out of our commitment to innovative design, top-notch writing, and high production values," said Harry Gottlieb, founder. "Our move to self-publishing on all these new platforms really frees us up to make a whole lot more of the kinds of games we like to play and to get them into the hands of the players who really want them." The Chicago-based studio has reached critical and commercial success since its 1995 introduction. The studio has sold more than five million units of YDKJ for PC and console. Last year, there were 3.5 million installs of YDKJ through Facebook, IOS and Android. The company's products have been showered with praise and hold more than 50 industry awards including the aforementioned SPIKE TV award and 2013 "Best Trivia Game" from the Best App Ever awards. As a mid-sized independent developer, the team has produced numerous significant industry innovations. YOU DON'T KNOW JACK was one of first games to use writing and audio to provide fully interactive gameplay, where players experience direct interaction with a virtual host. And now the studio has incorporated its brands directly into mid-sized games, previously the exclusive domain of mammoth publishers, expanding the independent monetization model.
Jellyvision Games is now Jackbox Games
Jellyvision Games, who you likely best know for You Don't Know Jack, changed its name to Jackbox Games today. In a press release, Jackbox says the new name better represents the Chicago studio's expansion into "a full-fledged new-generation publisher for multiple games on social and mobile platforms, Roku, and now Ouya." "The rebranding of our studio represents the completion of an evolution," said general manager Mike Bilder in the same press release. "Today, Jackbox Games not only has the creative and technical resources to make great games, but we're seizing on the opportunity presented by new generation platforms to bring more games to market ourselves - however and wherever they best fit." Much of Jackbox's success comes from its You Don't Know Jack series, which has sold more than five million copies on consoles and PC. Last year, You Don't Know Jack was installed over 3.5 million times after apps rolled out on Facebook and mobile devices. Jackbox introduced Lie Swatter, where you attempt to discern false statements from the truth, on iOS in April and has two other originals planned for 2013: Clone Booth and Word Putz.
