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Attract Mode and Fangamer host all-ages video game art show Saturday night at PAX
If you're in Seattle this week – perhaps for PAX Prime – then your Thursday night plans have been taken care of. You'll be at Joystiq's Borderlands 2 party, and you'd better say hi when you see us there. But PAX goes for four days, you say – what about the rest of the weekend? We'll cover Saturday for you as well: "Videogame collective" Attract Mode and videogame apparel site Fangamer are teaming up to hold a great big live art and game show, starting at 7pm on Saturday, September 1 in Seattle.Cumulo Nimblers, Capy's Super Time Force, and Eric Zimmerman's Metagame will all be there and playable, 8-bit artist Danimal Cannon and hip-hop gamer MegaRan (he's good) will provide the tunes, and the whole show will be drenched in some of the best video-game related artwork you'll find (and which you can see examples of in the gallery below). It'll be a rad time indeed; it's an all ages show that's open to the public, and admission is $5.The event starts at 7pm and goes until 11 on Saturday September 1, and you can find it at the 1927 Events space, at 1927 3rd Ave. in Seattle. As for your Friday and Sunday nights at PAX, well, you'll have to find your own party space for those.%Gallery-163481%
Microsoft bringing blockbusters, Dream Build Players to PAX Prime
Microsoft is blowing out PAX Prime with playable demos of Halo 4 multiplayer, Forza Horizon, Resident Evil 6 and Tomb Raider, along with a bunch of previews for XBLA, Dream Build Play and Windows 8 games. Microsoft will also have a big Gears of War: Judgement surprise, which Major Nelson promises to reveal tomorrow, and features on FIFA 13 and Fable: The Journey.The XBLA games gracing PAX with their presence are State of Decay, Crash Course 2, Avatar Motocross Madness and Happy Wars, XBLA's first ever free-to-play title. Microsoft will host the 2012 Dream Build Play winners in its booth (#412), with the four Xbox 360 winners and top four from the Windows Phone division on display.
Watch The Last of Us from a dirty throne at PAX Prime
After waiting in line for (probably) hours to catch a glimpse of The Last of Us at PAX Prime later this week, Naughty Dog will usher you into their special demo area: a bathroom. More specifically, demos for The Last of Us will be stationed in an area modeled after a bathroom featured in the game's announcement trailer. The Last of Us will not be playable, Naughty Dog confirmed to Joystiq.If you get a chance to watch the demo, Naughty Dog is handing out exclusive t-shirts featuring survivors Ellie and Joel (see them after the break). In a PlayStation Blog post, Naughty Dog also revealed a gorgeous poster (seen above) developed by artist Alexander Iaccarino from That Kid Who Draws, that will be given away to PAX attendees.Game director Bruce Straley will be at the PlayStation booth (#222) on Saturday, September 1, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm and Sunday, September 2, from 11:00am to 12:00pm to sign posters.
Closure lights up Steam on September 7
Closure will jump from PlayStation Network to PC and Mac next week, Eyebrow Interactive confirmed today. On September 7, the 2012 Indie Game Challenge winner will be released on Steam for $10, coming in at $5 less than when it hit on PSN back in March. The light-orientated puzzle-platformer also brings extras to its Steam version, including a developer commentary mode unlocked after beating the game.Programmer Tyler Gliael and artist Jon Schubbe are showing the game off at PAX Prime this weekend, but in the meantime you can read Richard's review for a glowing reference.Check out its moody screens after the break.
PSA: Valve's Dota 2 championships begin prelims today, watch live
The International Dota 2 Championships begin today with preliminary rounds, running through August 28. The preliminary rounds don't eliminate any teams, but they decide the seed for the main competition starting Friday, August 31, at PAX Prime. The International runs through September 2, offering a first-place prize of $1 million.The preliminary rounds begin at 9 a.m. PDT each day from August 26 - 28, while the main event will begin at 10 a.m. PDT August 31 - September 2. Watch all the action of the preliminary rounds here, with main event streams to be posted as those games start.
Everyone's hair will be ruined by Nintendo's PAX Prime world record bubble gum attempt
Kirby's twentieth anniversary as a fluffy pink omnivore is coming up, and in addition to releasing a collection of his most popular games, Nintendo will also be attempting to join the Guinness Book of World Records in the little guy's honor.It shakes out like this: At 1 p.m. Pacific on September 1, Nintendo will try and round up at least 305 people at the PAX Prime Expo Hall Queue Area to beat the world record for "Most People Blowing a Chewing Gum Bubble Simultaneously," which is currently 304 people. An official Guinness adjudicator will be on site to verify the attempt's success or failure. Meanwhile, a college student in a Kirby outfit will be interacting with the crowd and wondering if they've made the right choices in life. The link between Kirby and bubble gum may be kind of weak (both pink, both round), but having a few hundred people blow bubbles at the same time is a lot more feasible than setting the world record for "Most People Inhaling Live Animals Simultaneously."
Play Borderlands 2 at the Joystiq, 2K Games and Amazon PAX Prime party
Heading up to Seattle, Washington for PAX Prime next week? Well, your pals at Joystiq – along with Gearbox Software, 2K Games and Amazon – have a party on Thursday night that we'd love for you to attend. You like being invited to party-type things, yes?On Thursday, August 30, from 7pm until 11pm, 2K Games and Amazon are taking over the PNK Ultra Lounge. PNK is located on the 4th level of the Pacific Place Shopping Center at 600 Pine street – here's a map – in downtown Seattle.There will be demo stations for Borderlands 2 set up at the event, and in-between furious bouts of loot farming you'll be able to chat with a few Handsome Jacks (or a Mike) from Joystiq and Gearbox. If you're old enough you can also enjoy the open bar, which goes on until 9pm. We'll see you there!
Watching TV together: The seasoned business strategy of Frost Wars
Austin Hice and Carlo Eugster began their professional careers in the film industry, working on television shows and on-camera, live entertainment in Los Angeles. When they decided to quit those jobs and start an independent game development studio in 2011, it wasn't simply to get away from the repetitive hierarchy of Hollywood – it was to fulfill a lifelong passion for gaming and engaging storytelling."Video games seemed like the natural tansition. We've both been avid gamers since we were very, very small," Hice tells Joystiq. "We saw an opportunity to take the experience we got in film and television and establish something new. That's how Lantern got its start."Lantern now has a dozen core staff and is working on its first game, Frost Wars: The Rise of Fatty Sparkles, which will debut at PAX on August 31 in the form of a booth with a four-player demo.Frost Wars is a turn-based strategy, comedy and adventure game planned to launch for iOS, Droid, PC, Mac and eventually Linux. It's set in the Arctic, where Toxi Co., a foreign corporation, interrupts the peaceful life of the Eskimos by drilling the ice and accidentally tapping into an ancient goo that, once released, mutates the native animals. The Eskimos and Toxi Co. employees are then thrown into a vicious war. Fatty Sparkles, for those wondering, isn't on either side; he's the arms-dealing polar bear pulling the strings behind the scenes.%Gallery-163178%
Indie Megabooth site up now for PAX Prime
PAX Prime's Indie Megabooth website is live now, featuring the full list of 30 developers, showcasing over 30-something projects. The collaborative buy-in for studios began at PAX East this year and was such a success that the tradition will carry on.The booth space will include the latest indie hotness, like Vlambeer's Luftrausers, Capy's Super T.I.M.E. Force, Carbon Games' AirMech and many other titles we don't mean to insult by not listing here. There are a lot of high-quality projects to check out in the not-so-little booth. PAX Prime 2012 is sold out and will take place next weekend, August 31 through September 2.
Hideo Kojima is talking all things Metal Gear at PAX Prime
Legendary game director Hideo Kojima – pictured top left, fondling an imaginary person during a Kinect-focused TGS 2010 panel – is taking his show on the road to PAX Prime 2012.Kojima will participate in a discussion dedicated to the past, present, and future of the Metal Gear franchise at the big Seattle-based fan event, at 1pm PST on Saturday, September 1, with GTTV host Geoff Keighley acting as moderator. PAX Prime runs from August 31 until September 2."The one hour introspective will focus on the history of the award winning franchise in celebration of Metal Gear's 25th anniversary this year," Konami says. Questions for Kojima will be decided by vote, via an upcoming poll on the official Metal Gear Solid Facebook page.The only question worth asking is obvious, though: "Metal Gear?!"
Indie Megabooth makes a triumphant return to PAX Prime
The Indie Megabooth proved to be a success at PAX East and is returning, bigger and better, to PAX Prime 2012, running August 31 - September 2. The PAX Prime Indie Megabooth will feature 29 independent studios and more than 30 games, each one shrouded in mystery and intrigue for now.PAX East Indie Megabooth had 17 developers and games, including Andy Schatz with Monaco, Ska Studios showing off Charlie Murder, Alexander Bruce with Antichamber and Capy's Super Time Force. For now, PAX Prime's Indie Megabooth has a website, Twitter and Facebook account to follow for more information as it is made available.
Massively Exclusive: RaiderZ boss fight video
With RaiderZ's closed beta rapidly approaching, it's not a half-bad idea to see the game in action before deciding to make the leap into it or not. Massively has obtained footage of a boss fight that shows a group of players taking on a mighty stone golem that's being piloted by a rather cute goblin. RaiderZ will go into closed beta on August 8th, and Perfect World wants to remind players that those who sign up for the beta will get a chance to win tickets to the sold-out PAX later this month. Senior Producer Mark Hill hopes that the company can build on the foundation it's already set for the game: "Players who already got a chance to try RaiderZ during the Alpha Test phase can also look forward to striving towards a new level cap of 30, exploring the Makot Village, and much more." You can watch the boss fight video after the cut!%Gallery-161571%
Origins of Malu to have playable demo at PAX Prime
If things have seemed quiet on the Origins of Malu front, it might be because Burning Dog Media has been working on a special treat for attendees of this year's PAX. Folks lucky enough to be milling about the convention this year have the opportunity for some hands-on experience with the up-and-coming sandbox! Teaming with Alienware, the studio is bringing a mini-game version of Origins of Malu to give players a peek into the world. Two eight-man teams will fight over the Chochobi (a true scaredy-chicken) for 20 minutes in a head-to-head battle. Players will be able to choose from the Toljon, Qulinta, or Jolah races and will have the chance to get used to the variety of spells, skills and talents they will be playing with before diving into the fray. This mini-game is only a glimpse of what's to come when the game releases (think 300-man battlegrounds), but is a great opportunity to sneak a peek first-hand. To participate, find Burning Dog at the Alienware arena. And we'll keep you posted on any further details as they come in.
Free On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 DLC coming 'soon,' fourth game coming
The first DLC offering for On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 is being finalized, Penny Arcade has announced. The free DLC pack, the first of two proposed free DLC packs, is called The Lair Of The Seamstress. No launch date has been finalized, but Jerry "Tycho" Holkins suggests it may be out in time for PAX Prime next month. "We don't know when, exactly, but apparently there's some kind of big convention or something next month; maybe we'll try and put it out then."Beyond Seamstress, there is also one more free DLC pack planned. After that, we'll see another full game. Tycho says Zeboyd Games is preparing to begin work on the fourth game and second free DLC pack for Precipice 3 starting tomorrow.
This year's PAX 10: JS Joust, Offspring Fling!, Puzzlejuice and more
The PAX 10, an illustrious group of indie games chosen annually to be spotlighted during PAX Prime in Seattle, have been selected. This year's rarified group include the likes of Johann Sebastian Joust, Offspring Fling! – a game we highlighted in length on the Super Joystiq Podcast – and hypnotic iOS darling Puzzlejuice.Other lesser-known titles include the latest from Cipher Prime, the studio behind Auditorium and Fractal, a Steam title called Splice, and puzzle games Containment: The Zombie Puzzler and The Bridge. Puzzle-platformer The Swapper is also represented, along with DigiPen's stealth-action game Deity and Catch-22. Turtle Sandbox's action-strategy hybrid Cannon Brawl rounds out the list of ten.All PAX 10 titles will be featured in their own special area at this year's PAX Prime, which goes down August 31 through September 2 in downtown Seattle, WA.
RaiderZ announces closed beta date, PAX trip giveaway
Are you starting to grow bored with summer? Do you wish there were something new to check out? Perfect World has the answer to summer duldrums, as its action-MMO RaiderZ is finally going into closed beta on August 8th. The new testing phase will raise the level cap to 30, add the Makot Village, and see numerous beta events. If getting into the beta isn't reward enough, Perfect World is also hosting a PAX Prime giveaway for testers. Anyone who registers for the closed beta will get a chance to win an "all-inclusive" trip for two to the sold-out PAX game show on August 31st. In the meanwhile, you can brush up on your RaiderZ knowledge by reading our impressions from E3 and PAX East. [Source: Perfect World press release]
MineCon digs out of Vegas, headed to Europe; Mojang attending PAX Prime
MineCon will return in 2012, though it won't be held in its previous Las Vegas digs. Mojang director of fun (seriously her title) Lydia Winters took to the company's blog and cursorily detailed the next MineCon as taking place in "a secret location" somewhere in Europe. Winters promised "ALL the details" as soon as Mojang signs the lease for its Europe-based convention.Additionally, Winters confirmed that Mojang will indeed be attending PAX Prime once more this August/September, though she didn't say what those Minecrafty folks will be showing off. We've got high hopes of seeing the next big update to Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition, and we suspect that 0x10c may also be in attendance.
The International Dota 2 Championships invade PAX Prime
Valve's International Dota 2 Championships 2012 will be held at PAX Prime in Seattle, running August 31 through September 2. The International kicked off last year at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, with the winning team, Ukraine's Na'vi, walking away with $1 million.Na'vi has received an invitation to defend its title, along with Chinese team DK; 16 teams will compete overall. The International will be broadcast for free in multiple languages, and Valve will release information about obtaining tickets in the coming weeks.
PAX Prime passes entirely sold out
Whelp, we hope you bought your PAX Prime pass already. In little over a week, everything has sold out – all three-day passes and all single-day passes. So if you didn't get in, you're out of luck."Sadly, we are 100 percent out of badges," Penny Arcade's President of Operations and Business Development, Robert Khoo, told Joystiq. "I wish the venue was larger, but it's just not – capacity limits and firecode only let us sell so many, so our hands are tied on the issue. We wish we could sell more, but unfortunately, what's out there is it."PAX Prime takes place from August 31 through September 2 in Seattle, Washington.
PAX Prime registration site officially open, registration opens next week [updated]
It's been almost a month since you attended PAX East, so you're probably ready to start preparing for this August's PAX Prime out in Seattle, no? The folks over at the official PAX website are hoping so, as the registration site officially opened today. What's that, you already had it bookmarked? Well look at you!Anyway, registration itself hasn't opened just yet, but the site promises it's on the way "soon." By last year at this time, said registrations had already opened, so we expect "soon" to really be "any day now." We've reached out to Penny Arcade for more specific info.Update: Penny Arcade's Robert Khoo says that registration "should reopen next week" after some technical hiccups earlier today.
