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Overheard@PAX: The sound of 1,000 knuckles cracking
There are few words one could use to describe the audio phenomenon which occurs at each Penny Arcade Expo, other than, of course, yucky. The video posted after the jump was captured at the first Penny Arcade panel at PAX East, in which everyone in the room simultaneously cracks their knuckles. It is really, really gross and nobody should watch it. We wish we hadn't seen it. We also wish we hadn't filmed it, and then copied it to our computer, and put it online, and put it in this post -- a process forcing us to relive that horrifying moment eight or nine times.
Nvidia announces GTX 470 and 480 cards
The opening day of PAX East in Boston was capped by a fairly humongous presentation from PC gaming hardware manufacturer Nvidia, representatives from which introduced two new graphic cards: The XLR8 GeForce GTX 480 1536MB and XLR8 GeForce GTX 470 1280MB. The new pieces of hardware are priced at $500 and $350, respectively, and have a tentative release window of mid-April. In addition to being capable of rendering some impressive visuals -- as seen in the presentation's 3D, multi-monitor demos of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Metro 2033 -- the two devices come loaded with some neat bonuses. Among these are a handful of download vouchers for high-def films from Sony Pictures and two tech demos titled Design Garage and Supersonic Sled. We really, really hope the latter can be fleshed out into a full-length game.
Breach expected to launch this summer on XBLA for $15
We popped by Atomic Games' booth here at PAX to check out Breach, the dev's attempt to take on DICE's online-only, digitally distributed Battlefield 1943. Atomic president Peter Tamte revealed during our play session that he hoped to get Breach on XBLA this summer (as previously estimated), and that the developer is targeting a $15 price point. Considering how polished the game was in the state we saw it, we certainly believe it can meet that deadline. Look for our hands-on impressions later today.
PAX Poll: Raise your hand if you like review scores
Okay, so maybe a few hands actually went up when Gaming Nexus Editor-in-Chief Charles Husemann asked attendees of a PAX East panel today to raise their hands if they liked review scores -- but no more than 10 hands. And then, when Husemann asked for a show of hands from those who don't like scores, the room practically exploded in armpit B.O. Interestingly, Husemann observed, a PAX Prime audience last September showed the opposite responses to the same questions. (We should note that Huesmann's polling at PAX East today immediately followed strong remarks from one of the panelists of PR representatives, who basically hates review scores, perhaps influencing the votes of the audience -- "Puppet Masters," indeed, as the panel was titled.) %Poll-43519%
Hands-on: Hydrophobia (XBLA)
It's been nearly five years since Dark Energy Digital began work on the water physics-based action-adventure game Hydrophobia. In that time, the developer has shown approximately nobody the game -- heck, before I heard about the game heading to Xbox Live Arcade last summer, there hadn't been a lick of info on it in nearly nine months. But with this week's announcement of the game's XBLA exclusivity (and subsequent playability at PAX East), Joystiq was offered its first chance to play the title this morning. I'm happy to report that ... it's pretty good! Alright, so, while Hydrophobia probably isn't going to be taking top spots on my 2010 GOTY list, I could certainly see it making an appearance on my "best of XBLA" list this year. The demo immediately made me think of playing Shadow Complex at last year's E3 -- it doesn't quite look like what you'd expect from XBLA, and the developers made sure to repeatedly affirm the game's "AAA quality" throughout my hands-on earlier this morning. Whether guiding the game's main character, Kate, through platforming areas or underwater, the gameplay itself felt like a solid base for what could be a very interesting (six-hour-ish) experience. %Gallery-74474%
No further plans for Battlefield 1943, 'another type of 1943' possible in future
Just exhale if you've been holding your breath for any Battlefield 1943 DLC, because it seriously sounds like the sun has set on the Pacific war. Speaking with DICE producer Gordon Van Dyke at PAX East, we asked if he could finally end the hopes and dreams that its successful downloadable experiment would receive more content. He informed us, "There's no plans. There's no plans for DLC." However, the PC version is still planned, and there is a patch incoming to address console issues, including mic problems on PS3. Van Dyke told us that Battlefield 1943 was a cool way to express a classic game like Battlefield 1942 using the company's Frostbite engine. He said that it opened up a lot of eyes to showing off what an older Battlefield game could be like with the new engine. When asked to elaborate if other classic Battlefield games would receive a reimagined bite-sized release he said, "I can't. There's no specific plans. The success of [1943] has given it an existence within our lineup, in our thoughts. You could possibly see another type of 1943 in the future. But it doesn't mean it's going to be based on 1942." When pressed, he continued, "Seriously, all options are open. We haven't closed our mind off to anything and we haven't locked down that we'll do anything specific." %Gallery-63331%
Hands-on: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (360)
Regardless of how you felt about Ubisoft's 2008 Prince of Persia, it represented a clear departure from the acclaimed Sands of Time trilogy -- an experiment, even. And although, on a granular level, The Forgotten Sands modifies the formula through the addition of elemental powers, they primarily strengthen the game's familiar basis of linear platforming mixed with light combat. It's a solid basis and one that Ubisoft clearly believes to be worth pursuing again this May (especially with movie buzz in the air), but it hasn't been swept clean of old problems. Even in the short snippet of gameplay on show at PAX East, the combat feels like filler. It's competent -- and the Prince's agility adds an exciting flourish to every strike and finishing blow -- but it never feels complex enough to stand out as anything more than "that thing you do between platforming segments." That's a problem Prince of Persia often shares with Tomb Raider.
Red Dead Redemption has 'surprising' multiplayer, to be revealed in early April
We just spent some time getting our filthy hands even filthier inside of Red Dead Redemption, where we actually skinned a horse and instantly felt like we'd killed Trigger. But no-good horse killin' aside, the big news here is that multiplayer is coming to Red Dead Redemption. We don't know how just yet, but a Rockstar representative told us that it would incorporate multiplayer in a "surprising" way. Surprising as in it doesn't totally suck like in GTA IV? Aw, snap. Yeah, we went there. Now we'll have to worry about being skinned. More details are coming directly from the horse's mouth (sorry, couldn't resist) the week of April 5th, so stay tuned for more details when Rockstar reveals the secrets of what we like to call Red Dead Redemption: Posse Galore. %Gallery-43816%
Hydro Thunder Hurricane racing to XBLA this Summer
It's scientific fact that racing games are roughly 200 percent more exciting when the genre's standard asphalt surfaces are replaced with good ol' H20. One of the clearest examples of this was Midway's classic arcade racer Hydro Thunder -- a franchise that's been dormant for over a decade. However, Microsoft Game Studios and developer Vector Unit today announced that they'll soon blow the proverbial dust off the series this summer with Hydro Thunder Hurricane, an Xbox Live Arcade-exclusive sequel to the arcade classic. Hydro Thunder Hurricane will include a number of multiplayer-oriented game modes, eight super hazardous race tracks and several returning speedboats from the series' original iteration. There's support for four-player local matches, eight-player online matches and a co-operative "Rubber Ducky" mode, which just sounds so intense. Vector Unit is showcasing the title at PAX East. We'll let you know how it handles.
Joystiq at PAX: Here's your schedule
a man chooses, a slave clicks for a larger image Did you know that PAX East was originally going to be called "the Joystiq Expo?" That's a flagrant lie, but considering the number of Joystiq-related events scattered throughout the show, you'd be hard pressed to think otherwise. If you want to hang out with the stars of the Joystiq Podcast and the rest of the Joystiq east coast crew – and even earn a chance to win one of these super limited edition Andrew Ryan figurines, courtesy of our pals at Irrational Games – make sure you stop by every one of these many events: Blueberry Muffin-Tops Breakfast brought to you by Malt-O-Meal Saturday, 8AM Start the day right with a free bowl of Justin McElroy's favorite breakfast cereal. Space will be limited, so make sure you follow @JoystiqBBMT on Twitter to find out how to get a wristband for entry to this exclusive event. [more info] Get Ready For Love: The Joystiq Podcast LIVE! Manticore Theatre - Saturday, 8:30pm It'll be just like the show you love, except you'll be forced throughout to stare at the terrifying visage of the hosts. So, in short, a spectacle in every sense of the word. Come early -- there will be giveaways. [more info] Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Game Journalism... Manticore Theatre - Sunday, 2:30pm Chris Grant and a team of esteemed gaming peons will answer any and all questions you have about the art and craft of getting paid to write about games (it's a tough life). Review scores. Swag. Junkets. Bias. The death of magazines. The rise of blogs. It's all fair game. [more info] Sequelitis Snake Oil: Quack Medicine for the Video Game Industry Manticore Theatre - Sunday, 4:00pm This panel will seek to diagnose the video game industry's purported "sequelitis" by way of discussion from thoughtful panelists, including Irrational Games' Ken Levine; Obsidian's Chris Avellone; Harmonix's Dan Teasdale; Giant Bomb's Jeff Gerstmann; and moderator Chris Grant (from Joystiq!). Mr. Levine is bringing five of the above, super limited edition Andrew Ryan figurines. There are only 200 of these in existence and they're not for sale anywhere – so come early. [more info] Also, do you want VIP access to Mafia II? 2K Games has graciously offered to give eight Joystiq readers a chance to get 30 minutes with the upcoming game, and exclusive swag. VIPs will be able to cut the line and get VIP access on Saturday, 4PM. Want access? The first eight commenters (that are at PAX East!) that respond to this post will get e-mailed instructions on how to get access.
Fans begin PAX East line-up
There are still a few moments until the show floor for PAX East even opens, but already throngs of people just like you are lining up to get their eyes, ears and (in some rare cases) tongues on the bounty of gaming goodness -- nay, greatness -- that the floor promises. We say it in the video, but it's no exaggeration: It's so very on.
Microsoft phasing out memory units and 120GB hard drive
Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has confirmed the inevitable to Joystiq: Xbox 360 Memory Units and the 120GB hard drive are being phased out. Acknowledging what's been in the stars since February, the Xbox spokesman stated that "the channel is being drained" of the storage options. The same goes for Memory Units, which, after today's official announcement of USB support, makes the MU even less useful. This makes the $130 250GB HDD the primary option ... well, at least until this fall, if the Xbox Slim comes to pass.
Xbox 360-branded 16GB drives from SanDisk coming in May
This morning at the PAX East Microsoft breakfast, Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb revealed the 16GB Xbox 360-branded Flash drive from SanDisk. Available in May, the not-yet-priced device comes pre-installed with the April 6 Dashboard update for those who shun the connectivity of Xbox Live. In a conversation with Joystiq, Hryb informed us that all data will be transferable to the USB device, except for installed games -- users will need to re-install those directly to the USB device once more. He assured us, however, that, "If you've got a 16GB and you only want to use 8, you can use the UI and throttle it back." Further, he reiterated to Joystiq that while this branded device is certainly one option, other Flash drives (including those larger than 16GB) will work in the same capacity.
Turbine offers PAX deals on LotRO and DDO
PAX East kicks off today, and Turbine is enjoying the giant party in their hometown of Boston. Even if you can't attend they want you to take part in the festivities, so if you're a fan of Lord of the Rings Online or Dungeons and Dragons Online check out the PAX specials that Turbine is offering. DDO fans will enjoy a hefty amount of bonus points for purchasing the largest Turbine Points bundle thanks to PAX Power Points. Spending $49.99 usually gets you 5,000 points, but between now and the 28th you'll get 6,900. We've been hearing quite a bit from Lord of the Rings Online lately, and if all the happenings in Middle-earth have made you consider giving the game a try, this is the weekend to get started. Until the 28th, Turbine is offering the complete LotRO edition all the way up to Siege of Mirkwood, for $9.99. Both offers last until Sunday night -- the same length as PAX -- so if you weren't able to attend it's a nice consolation gift to yourself. If you were able to attend, it's still a great deal, and we'll see you at PAX!
The Daily Grind: What are you most excited about seeing at PAX East?
2010 marks the first year that the Penny Arcade Expo -- PAX -- has traveled to the far east (read: Boston) to hold their gamer-friendly, geektastic convention. As you might expect, an elite squad of specially-trained Massively reporters will be on hand to extract as much crucial information as we can -- as much as possible under the limits of the Geneva Convention, of course. But before you hear our first reports from the scene of this exciting convention, we want to know: what are you most excited about seeing or hearing from PAX East? Is it the keynote speech by Star Trek: The Next Generation's Wil Wheaton? The hardcore, nailbiting Omegathon? Or perhaps -- just perhaps -- breaking news and revelations about some of your favorite MMORPGs from developers like Turbine, NCSoft, 38 Studios, EA and others? Take a gander through the official schedule and tell us what's got your attention!
PAX: Remember, Microsoft Tweetup Friday morning, free Avatar hoodie!
A reminder for all of you on a nerd pilgrimage to Boston for PAX East – Microsoft is hosting an "Xbox 360 Boston Tweetup" at its N.E.R.D. facility in Cambridge, MA this morning (that stands for New England Research & Development, in case you were wondering). Things kick off at 9:30am (remember, the show doesn't start until 2pm!) so if you're looking to kill some time in the morning, are interested in free coffee and snacks, and want to get the above pictured PAX East Avatar gear – which will only be available to the first 300 attendees at the Tweetup and those able to make it into Major Nelson's podcast panel on Saturday – you'll want to hop a train out to N.E.R.D. Here are some directions on how to get yourselves there and you can of course find more information on the good Major's site. A handful of Joystiqers will be there, so let us know if you're going to be coming in the comments. See you tomorrow morning!
Hydrophobia exclusive to XBLA, playable at PAX East
As if the thought of getting early hands-ons with Skate 3, Mafia 2, Red Dead Redemption, co-op Splinter Cell: Conviction and ... uh, well, tons of other games at PAX East wasn't enticing enough, we've just received word from Hydrophobia developer Dark Energy Digital that the game will also be available on the show floor. Moreover, the game has been announced as exclusive to Xbox Live Arcade (no word on whether the planned three-episode release will still get a retail counterpart). We'll be diving into Hydrophobia's flooded corridors this weekend and speaking with the developers, so feel free to dump a torrent of questions for us in the comment section below if you're so inclined. %Gallery-74474%
Behold, the PAX East Avatar hoodie
If you like rare Avatar gear, then this post is for you! As it did during PAX 2009, Microsoft is readying a special Avatar item for the very first PAX East. Initially revealed by Microsoft's Eric "e" Neustadt via Twitpic, Microsoft has provided us some higher fidelity images for you to enjoy. The front of the hoodie features the PAX East logo and the back sports the word "Boston" with Crackdown orbs for Os. Very spiffy. Microsoft hasn't announced how to get your digital hands on one of these babies. Assuming it works the same way as the PAX 2009 Avatar shirt, the PAX East hoodie will be given out exclusively at the event itself. Rest assured, if we come across any, we'll share the love and give them away.
Get a taste of Crackdown 2's multiplayer modes at PAX East
Those looking to travel into Pacific City can do so via Boston this weekend, as Crackdown 2 will greet PAX East attendees with a pair of playable multiplayer modes. "Team Deathmatch" will encourage four-on-four devastation in a playground littered with weapons, vehicles and, eventually, horribly disfigured egos. The full game will support up to 16 combatants, along with "Rocket Tag," the second mode being shown off at PAX. It's like tag, but with ... arugula? If you're keen on herban combat, be sure to swing by PAX East from March 26 to March 28! If you can't make it, just avoid reading about all the cool stuff that's happening there, okay? You'll feel better.
Visceral Games to stream Dead Space 2 panel live from PAX East
Can't make it to PAX East this year? We feel your pain -- while there are quite a few Joystiqeurs winging their way off to the East Coast to partake with Mike and Jerry and the gang, there are almost as many of us still stranded back at home with all of you. But fortunately, our friends at Visceral Games are doing their best to share the love -- they'll be Ustreaming their Dead Space 2 PAX East panel live this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. EST. We've included the feed on this very post, so bookmark this page right now, and then come on back Saturday afternoon. Producers Steve Papoutsis and Rich Briggs will be in attendance along with Art Director Ian Milham, and the guys will "bring players up to speed on the Dead Space universe and prepare them for what's to come in Dead Space 2." They're even showing a bonus look at "the all new Isaac suit," and they'll be answering questions live from the simultaneous Facebook chat, too. Of course, a Q&A with the Dead Space 2 producers is little consolation to missing out on eating breakfast cereal with professional hugger Justin McElroy, but those of us at home this weekend will have to take what we can get.
