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Stiq Figures, April 29 - May 5: Arcade cabinet edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. Reddit user mystery_smelly_feet recently posted a gallery of photos showing off the construction process for a custom arcade cabinet. The cabinet sports a classic Nintendo theme, complete with iconic grey, red and black controls that are vaguely similar to the NES game pad we all know and love. We're looking at it this week on Stiq Figures out of pure awe and jealousy. Make one for us, Mystery Smelly Feet!
Stiq Figures: April 22 - 28: Live-action Minecraft edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. We'd like to thank Joystiq reader Colin for pointing us to this week's Stiq Figures topic: a live-action Minecraft-based video. Live-action gaming-inspired videos are nothing new, and not always that noteworthy. What draws us to YouTube channel CCMegaproductions' video this week is how it ends: much more graphic and intense than it began.
Stiq Figures, April 15 - 21: Animated backgrounds edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. Reddit user RudeBootie recently offered up a collection of fighting game backgrounds as animated GIFs in an Imgur album, 125 of them to be exact, each just begging to be picked as your new desktop wallpaper.Once each game's HUD and characters are stripped away, the locales of these fighting games appears much more serene and less chaotic. Perhaps that's an artistic statement on the merits of choosing peace over war. Or maybe we've been looking at these pictures for far too long.
Stiq Figures, April 8 - 14: Gentlemon edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. Here at Stiq Figures, we haven't shied away from looking at anything and everything related to Pokemon, from Poke-pants to glitches, even to deeper topics such as cloning. So if you thought we'd avoid ooh-ing and ahh-ing at adorable pictures of Pokemon with mustaches this week, then you thought wrong.These artistic interpretations of "Gentlemon" with facial hair come from Australian digital illustrator Nicholas Poulos, as seen on his Behance portfolio. The gallery for the mustache'd minions includes eight in total, which by our count simply isn't enough.
Stiq Figures, April 1 - 7: Tax Evaders edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. This week on Stiq Figures, we're creeping far too close to our deadline in filing taxes. We figure the best way to spend this time without pushing papers is by playing Tax Evaders, a browser-based game in which players control an angry mob of citizens that shoot large fists at corporations that allegedly don't pay their share of taxes to the US government. The game is largely political in origin, as the Tax Evaders site lists a number of sources and allies that support the politi-game's statement.
Stiq Figures, March 25 - 31: LucasArts edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. With the recent closure of LucasArts by Disney, we're taking some time this week to watch this news report from 1990. The report by KPIX-TV in San Francisco features designers Brian Moriarty, Ron Gilbert and Hal Barwod, each listed as "Computer Games Creators" in the video's lower-thirds. The game designers talk about games such as Monkey Island and LOOM.
Stiq Figures, March 18 - 24: RBI Baseball edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. To celebrate the beginning of baseball season, we're looking at YouTube user scottimus432's amazing display of athleticism in the 1987 Namco game RBI Baseball. The video above shows one of the most impressive feats in all of baseball on display: a perfect game.
Stiq Figures, March 11 - 17: GDC 1999 edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. With GDC coming up this week, we're looking back at the keynote address of GDC 1999, delivered by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto. Watching the talk on the GDC Vault site, it's interesting to hear the ways Miyamoto discusses the concepts of game design from nearly 14 years ago. Comparing his vision of the industry's future with the reality of today's struggles and triumphs is fascinating, and makes for a great palate cleanser heading into this week's conference.
Stiq Figures, March 4 - 10: NCAA Basketball edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. Okay, we weren't fair with last week's game trailer selection, as NCAA Final Four 99 isn't quite representative of the great college hoops games of the past. To make up for it, we're watching gameplay video this week of Nintendo's own SNES college basketball game, appropriately titled NCAA Basketball. Join us in looking back with fondness to a time when the system's Mode 7 tech would allow a rotating court in the midst of blue chaos to look so awesome.We know what you're thinking: Two weeks of NCAA basketball talk just because it's Selection Sunday? That's why it's known as "March Madness," friends. Now fill out those brackets!
Stiq Figures, February 25 - March 3: Final Four 99 edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. With Selection Sunday just one week away, we're looking back to the good old days when NCAA basketball games were still being developed. But instead of taking a look at College Hoops 2K8, we're going to watch this trailer for NCAA Final Four '99, which features multiple shots of the referee picking up the ball and bringing it to the center circle on the court.
Stiq Figures, February 18 - 24: Movie poster edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. This week on Stiq Figures, we're appreciating the work of Detroit-based artist Marinko Milosevski. Milosevski's site showcases a number of prints he's created, each celebrating a different video game in a movie poster-like style.Milosevski created quite a few based around the Legend of Zelda series, but our favorite just might be the Super Metroid one seen above. Head to Milosevski's site to see the full versions of his work.
Stiq Figures, February 11 - 17: Crime City edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. If you search the web for "Crime City," you'll find a few social games developed in recent years. But if you hopped in a time machine and set the dial to 1992, you'll be greeted with Impressions Games-developed Crime City, a point-and-click PC and Amiga adventure game that tasks players with proving their father's innocence in a murder trial.The game came with a time limit; spend too much time in your investigation (or sleeping at your desk) and your father will be declared guilty. Crime City also provided its own walkthrough in the game's "readme" file. At least that was the case with our neighbor's copy of the game.
Stiq Figures, January 28 - February 3: Jaguar edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. No, this week's Stiq Figures isn't discussing the finer points of the Jacksonville Jaguars' new and improved logo. Instead, we're using the "rational" part of our brains to contemplate the cost of video game consoles by watching this old Atari Jaguar commercial. Yes, these were the "good old days" of game advertising.
Stiq Figures, January 21 - 27: Bo Knows edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. Happy "Day of The Big Game," readers. To celebrate Super Bowl Sunday, we're looking back at one of the greatest virtual athletes to grace any sports video game: Bo Jackson. Jackson was a phenomenal athlete, whose mark in both baseball and football will be remembered for years.But it's Jackson's impact on gaming that we're celebrating today. This iconic video shows 8-bit Bo at his finest: running out an entire quarter in one play in Tecmo Bowl for NES. Take a moment to imagine a real-life player scrambling around the field from one end zone to the other, evading an endless array of diving tackles. Yeah, people can talk about Marshawn Lynch or Adrian Peterson all they want, but Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl encompassed "beast mode" before the term ever existed.
Stiq Figures, January 14 - 20: Poke-non Edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. In every traditional Pokemon game, players are forced to make a difficult decision: choosing their first Pokemon of the three available starters. Of course, the game doesn't offer players the opportunity to experience the world of Pokemon without the adorable minions.What is a Pokemon game without Pokemon? YouTube user AndrewFMs found out in 2008 by hacking through the first generation Game Boy games in order to go without Pokemon. The result is beautifully glitchy.
Stiq Figures, January 7 - 13: Bacon in the pan edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. No, this week's Stiq Figures isn't discussing the merits of actual bacon in a frying pan. Rather, it's a reference to this 1995 commercial for the totally awesome Nintendo-published SNES racing game Uniracers. In the ad, a few young gentlemen discuss the wicked tricks players can perform with their riderless unicycles.Come to think of it, can we get another Uniracers game, Nintendo? That would be swell.
Stiq Figures, December 31 - January 6: Wolfman edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. With the recent news of the PlayStation 2 being discontinued worldwide, we're looking at this David Lynch-directed PS2 ad from the system's glory years. Lynch directed a number of strange commercials for the system, and this "Wolfman" one might be our favorite.
Stiq Figures, December 17 - 23: Chaos in the Windy City Edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. You've probably heard of Shaq Fu. While Shaquille O'Neal is known in the gaming world for the atrocious 2d fighting game bearing his name, the greatest basketball player of all time went a little more under the radar. Michael Jordan kept his likeness out of the cherished NBA Jam (as he reached his own licensing agreement with the NBA in 1992).So we're looking back on a game Jordan did star in, and it's not Jordan vs. Bird; it's the awful 1994 SNES platformer Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City. I'll be the first to admit that I played this game a lot, probably too much for my own good. Although any amount of time with this game is too much for one's well-being.
Stiq Figures, December 10 - 16: E.T. edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. Those hoping to unwrap the latest, hottest game this week should hope they don't accidentally warp back in time 20 years, as they might accidentally get E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. Not the movie, sadly, but the awful licensed Atari 2600 game.To sympathize with kids that were stuck with this movie tie-in game in 1982, we're subjecting ourselves to this Christmas commercial for the Atari atrocity. Okay, maybe we're not being fair, there might be someone out there that likes this game.
Stiq Figures, December 3 - 9: Pokepants edition
Welcome to Stiq Figures, where the sales data is after the break and the posts don't matter. Every week, we take a look at, uh, something – meanwhile, the previous week's Japanese hardware sales figures are posted after the jump, and a discussion of said figures takes place in our comments. It may not be conventional, but it's a time-honored Joystiq tradition. Pokemon is a money magnet for Nintendo, no doubt, and its due in no small part to the franchise's great translation to merchandise. Goods like Pokemon trading cards and figures have been all the rage for fans of the series since its inception. High sales for popular merchandise arguably has something to do with good advertising, which leads us to this 1998 commercial for Pokemon figures.The highlight of the ad, aside from the audible "yikes!" when finding a wild Meowth in a pizza box, is easily the vacuum-like pants the kid at the end is wearing. "Gotta catch 'em all" has taken on new meaning.
