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WoWathon 2 has begun: Playing WoW for charity
They're baaaack! The intrepid WoW players who take turns playing two characters in one long marathon session for charity are at it again. Child's Play, the charity started and organized by the gang at Penny Arcade, is still the recipient of their efforts. Like last year, the WoWathoners are on camera and streaming their gameplay 24 hours a day, taking turns for sleep and hygiene. Unlike last year, they are playing Horde on a PvP realm. I'll be interviewing them again this year, but they answer questions from the chat channel so you can talk to them yourselves if you like. 100% of the donations through ChipIn go to Child's Play and they accept any amount. Every little bit helps. Their first goal to play past level 20 is $800, but they're only at $310 as of this writing. If you like the idea of watching people grind, level and take requests from viewers -- and I know you do -- head on over and hang out with them. They'd love to have you and the sick children they are helping will appreciate it too.
PAX Prime 2010 three-day passes still available [update: sell-out was a glitch]
Update: Apparently, the PAX ticketing site was displaying the sold out message due to a glitch. Three-day badges are still available for $55 for the time being. We apologize for the confusion. Previous post: Looking for a sign that you've been hesitating too long to register for PAX Prime? The event's stockpile of $55 three-day badges are now sold out, leaving only $35 single-day passes for all you slowpokes. If you're going, you better act fast -- these things have a tendency to sell like hotcakes.
Sunday Morning Funnies: Huff huff bing!
This week's list is long, so I'll get straight to the point! Note: If you're the artist of one of the comics on this list, please pass through the break for a special, clearly super secret club message. Out of World #21 (this missed the deadline last week). GU Comics: Dammit Greg. Also, Dammit Greg II and Dammit Greg III. Fourth Wall: This Happens a Lot More than it Should. [Thanks Coffinshaker!] Drunken Pirates Guild. I've linked the first one so you guys can catch up. [Thanks BladedDingo!] Torment of the Week: Unlikely. Also: Azarizotza's Interrogation. Coffin Comics: Goblin TV Commercial. Daily Quests: Insert Title Here. Travels with Tenthunders: Interview with Grief Chicken. LFG #371 and #372. Beyond the Tree: Captain on Deck. Also: Window of Opportunity. AFR: All Out of Character. Byron, the Tauren Rogue. Fail Druid! NPC: Night Bandit. Also: No Hugs for Holo's and Idle Chatter. Slash AFK: OP Troll. Also: Stanky. Tales from the Crossroads: Once Smitten Twice Wry. The Warcraft Hero in: First-Day Mage. Teh Gladiators: For Hoofrich! Click next for part 2. Dark Legacy Comics: Minty Scrambled Eggs. Guilded Age. Complex Actions: I Bet Chuck Norris Would Approve! Also, Ode to Gearing. Equinox vs. Marvah. Cru the Dwarf: Fruition. Also: Fever for the Flavor of Dissention. K's Grab Bag: Why Did They Even Make This a Pet? World of Warcraft, eh?: Making Progress. This week, I have devoted a special section to comic artists who chose to comment on the Real ID fiasco through their art. GU Comics: Jimmy McAlister. Penny Arcade: The Grim Curriculum. Nerf NOW!!: ID, Please. [Thanks for the tip, Cyclone Duke!] Ctrl+Alt+Del: Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe. Edit: A Troll by Any Other Name. [Thanks Blurgarian!] Slash AFK: Too Fast. (This isn't about the forums, but it is about Real ID). Experience Points: This ID Just Got Real.
Greenhouse implementing InstantAction streaming tech
InstantAction, which provides the neat embeddable player for games like The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, has teamed up with Greenhouse, Penny-Arcade's indie digital distribution store. The good news is that Greenhouse will employ InstantAction's streaming technology on its site, allowing you immediate access to selections from its catalog. "Indie devs think the same way we think about it," Penny-Arcade's Robert Khoo told Big Download, "which is that since they have the option to embed the games into pretty much anywhere, it's a win-win for everyone involved." The bad news is that you'll have to ... wait for that immediate access. The Greenhouse site is currently down while the new InstantAction stuff is being implemented. Khoo said that it would be back up before PAX, which starts September 3.
The Game Archaeologist and the Legend of the Sims: The history
The Sims Online was one of the odder entrants into the MMO genre this past decade, an online iteration of an immensely popular game franchise that promised deeper social interaction. With EA at its back and the Will Wright name affixed to the front, TSO (not to be confused with Cryptic's STO) had a solid shot at cracking the big time. It did not. It went over as well as a fish flopping out of water to make a go for it on dry land, eventually realizing that it was both going nowhere and dying slowly. The end result? It stunk. And yet it was an interesting failed experiment in MMO gaming, especially considering that the concept wasn't as off-base as we once thought. With social "dress up" games booming -- Second Life, Habbo Hotel, Club Penguin, Hello Kitty Online, even elements of LEGO Universe -- The Sims Online could be seen as a prophet of the future, mistreated in its own time. Return with us to the days of pixelated 2-D isometric glory, as the Game Archaeologist interprets the Simlish of ancient tomes for your benefit.
PAX Prime 2010 performers and exhibitors announced
PAX Prime, which is largely considered to be the O.G. of Penny Arcade Expos, doesn't kick off until the weekend of September 3, but that doesn't mean we can't start getting excited right now. A portion of the 70-strong exhibitor list has been released alongside the announcement of this year's musical acts -- a ledger (posted in full after the break) which leads us to the inevitable conclusion that PAX Prime 2010 might be the comic's largest gala to date. PAX Prime's "bigger and better" convention hall will play host to big names like 2K Games, Capcom, EA, Microsoft, Nintendo and Ubisoft. The main stage will see a cadre of returning musical acts, including Anamanaguchi, Jonathan Coulton, MC Frontalot, Metroid Metal, The Minibosses, Paul and Storm and The Protomen. Tickets are available now at $35 for single-day passes and $55 for three-day passes. Given the incredible speed with which tickets for PAX East sold out earlier this year, interested parties probably shouldn't hesitate to register.
Sunday Morning Funnies: Where the engines are
This week, in addition to your regularly scheduled comic updates, I'll be adding in links to the few comics that slipped through the cracks while I was in, and just returning from, WiFi hell (and the wonderful Kelly Aarons filled in). This week's list is pleasantly long, but I'm always looking to stretch it. Was something overlooked? Did a comic update late? Do you know of a comic that isn't featured on this list, but is related to WoW? Leave a tip in the comment section! Speaking of the comment section, this week's discussion topic involves pointing out a few of your favorite panels of artwork from any of this week's comics and saying a bit about why you love them. Don't forget to mention your favorite one-liner, too!
Penny Arcade Scholarship now accepting applications
Wondering what it feels like to be on the receiving end of the benevolence frequently exhibited by the creators of Penny Arcade? If you're a college student with starry-eyed ambitions to change the video game industry for the better, you might be able to bask in the warm light of their generosity by receiving the fourth annual Penny Arcade Scholarship, a $10,000 academic grant set aside for a special student with a GPA over 3.3 and the aforementioned revolutionary aspirations. Applications for the scholarship are currently being accepted and must be sent in by May 30, along with two letters of recommendation, an academic transcript, an essay on how you plan to change the industry and your photograph, which will only be seen publicly if you're the winner, as displayed on the scholarship's page. It's not like the Penny Arcade guys are basing their decision on prettiness or anything. [Via GamePolitics]
Swag Saturday: Reading! [update]
Update: We've closed the comments and will be contacting a winner shortly. Thanks for entering (and keep an eye on your commenter-tied inbox)! We know you're probably asking yourself, "What the heck is this? I want Joyswag to include something coo! Like a PS3 on fire with zombie monkeys coming out of it! What's with this homework junk?!" Well, hear us out. Every single one of you enjoys playing games, right? We're also hoping that in the grand scheme of things, some of you might actually end up making games one day. This is your first step down that road. We're not just giving you swag, we're giving you knowledge. To paraphrase the ancient Chinese proverb: "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Give him a slew of books about gaming, make him develop a bestselling game." Plus, in the effort of not being entirely boring, about half of these books are actually fun. Here's what you get on the development side: Real-Time Cameras: A Guide For Game Designers and Developers, Artificial Intelligence for Games, Digital Art Masters Volume IV, and 3D Game Textures: Second Edition (complete with a DVD). On the fun side, you get Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts, The Splended Magic of Penny Arcade: The 11 1/2 Anniversary Edition, and Halo Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe. Leave a comment telling us what you'll do with your newfound knowledge. You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec -- you know why). Limit 1 entry per person per day. This entry period ends at 3:00PM PT on Sunday, April 11. At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one copy of Real-Time Cameras: A Guide For Game Designers and Developers (ARV $59.95), Artificial Intelligence for Games (ARV: $74.95), Digital Art Masters Volume IV (ARV: $39.95), 3D Game Textures: Second Edition (ARV: $49.95), Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts (ARV $60), The Splended Magic of Penny Arcade: The 11 1/2 Anniversary Edition (ARV: $24), and Halo Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe (ARV: $14.99). For a list of complete rules, click here. What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.
Time readers rank Penny Arcade co-creators as more influential than President Obama
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/time-readers-rank-penny-arcade-co-creators-as-more-influential-t/'; Happy final Easter everyone! Wait, what? You didn't get the memo about this being the last Easter? Yeah, apparently the recent 2010 Time 100 Poll, which ranks the most influential people on the planet, is actually a sign of the impending end of days. Yeah, that was the only explanation scholars could come up with when they saw that Lady Gaga was in the lead (with approximately 150k votes), ranking above global humanitarians and, you know, world leaders. Carving out their own little slice of notoriety are Penny Arcade co-creators Mike "Gabe" Krahulik and Jerry "Tycho" Holkins, whose 9th place position (at the time of this writing) has pinned them as more influential human beings than Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey. Hey, as nutty as that sounds, we've never bought a video game based solely on recommendations from the latter three. [Via Kotaku]
PAX West pre-registration now open
With the BBMT-fueled madness of PAX East 2010 still fresh in our minds (and bodies), it's already time to pre-register for PAX Prime in Seattle. The official PAX website is already counting down to the event, which will take place from Friday September 3 through Sunday, September 5. Single day badges are available at $35 each, while a three day pass runs $55. The PAX site notes that prices are slightly higher this year thanks to the Seattle public event tax. Also, remember that the prices above are for pre-registration only. All prices will go up by $5 come September 3. We'd suggest grabbing your tickets now before the event inevitably sells out. After all, you don't want to miss magical moments like this, do you? [Via Kotaku]
PAX East 2010 Gallery
Penny Arcade creators Gabe and Tycho brought the ever-growing Penny Arcade Expo to the Bay State this weekend, with nerdfolk from all over pouring into Boston, MA for PAX East. As the sole WoW.com rep at the show (with Spiritual Guidance's Fox Van Allen in attendance as "just a dude" instead of "dude with a press badge"), I stomped the floor with the Joystiq and Massively crew, who squeezed every last drop of relevant info from the expo at record speed. "Hello my boss Chris Grant of Joystiq fame," I would tap out on my smartphone, "here's a pretty hot gaming scoop just revealed moments ago!" He would reply three seconds later with "Already posted," with an image attached of his frowning face. As for my site's particular field of interest -- was there a lot of Blizzard-related news? Not really! Thankfully, on top of news about other MMOs, there was some other stuff going on, which you can see in this gallery. There was WoW-related stuff worth writing about though, which'll be posted in the next day or so. A special thanks to all the readers who stopped by to say hello to me! We love you guys, and we'll see you at BlizzCon in full effect.%Gallery-89201%
Sunday Morning Funnies: Drink the satisfaction
This week's list is long and full of new things as well as old favorites. As always, if you have any tips, leave a comment. I'm always on the lookout for WoW-related comics! Don't forget to read through the comments section; this week, there are a couple of comics that haven't updated. Often, the artists will stop by and leave a link if the comic was only a little bit late getting posted. In a related note, Manic Graffiti is back sort of! It isn't on a regular schedule of updates, but every now and then, something will come up. This week's challenge: In the comments section, leave a link or two from your favorite WoW-related artist, or for a comic that perhaps no longer updates; because if other people haven't seen it, it's new to them.
PAX East's Omeganauts assemble, the Omegathon begins
Click to Omega-size Behold: The ledger containing the names of all 32 Omeganauts participating in the inaugural PAX East Omegathon. Earlier today, their names were randomly drawn during Wil Wheaton's keynote presentation, they were paired into teams of two, and tossed immediately into the unforgiving gauntlet known as Mario Kart: Double Dash. Already, 16 of these contestants have been culled by the first round of the competition. Those who survived must now face three more rounds before claiming the lofty prize of an all-expense paid trip to GAMESCOM and $2,500 spending cash -- rounds which will pit them against one another in Geometry Wars 2, an unknown rhythm game, and PAX's' always entertaining mystery finale. Stay tuned! %Gallery-89124%
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.
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!
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.
PAX East 2010 Omegathon in the hands of fate
True champions of the Omegathon have always had to rely on skill to preserve them. But in the PAX East 2010 edition of the event, the oft-cruel hand of fate will play a much larger role. As revealed today, competitors will be selected (at random!) at the convention and then partnered up (purely by chance!). Once paired, the 32 combatants will be put through the following grueling trials: Round 1: Mario Kart: Double Dash Round 2: Geometry Wars 2 The Semi-Finals: A Rhythm Game The Final Round: A Mystery! The lucky duo that escapes fate's grasp will walk away with tickets, airfare and hotel accommodations for GAMESCOM and $2,500 a piece. But is that prize worth tempting chance's unpredictable wrath? ... Well, yeah, pretty much.
PSN Thursday: Super Puzzle Fighter price drops, Penny Arcade Adventures gets bundled up
The PSN update this week is casual. You know, nothing big, but not bad. There are some deals, like the seriously reduced Penny Arcade Adventures bundle. It has a couple neat demos, like Just Cause 2. Oh, oh, and there's a new episode of The Tester. We know you're loving that, but not as much as you're loving Ru Paul's Drag Race (confess!). It's a T-shirt and jeans kind of update this week. Check out the full PSN update after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Penny Arcade 'hoping' for Episode 3 reveal at PAX East
While it's been some time since we last heard about the third installment in the Steampunkian Penny Arcade Adventures series, a glimmer of hope resides in the coming months with PAX East. A Penny Arcade representative confirmed to Joystiq that, "They [Penny Arcade] are hoping to have something to announce by PAX East. Unfortunately, we won't have anything before then." Presumably, we'll exclaim "oooooh" when we do finally see the game, as Mike "Gabe" Krahulik explained when we last heard from the duo about the game's absence.Jerry "Tycho" Holkins further confirmed the possibility of an appearance for PAA: Episode 3 at PAX East, telling MTV Multiplayer, "Listen very closely to the announcements at PAX!" We're certainly ready to "feel the vigor in all our limbs," as Holkins claimed we would last September, but it's been so long we're not sure we'll remember that city-saving, hobo-beating, purple pantaloon-wearing protagonist of ours ... oh ... well, maybe not.
