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Joystiq Weekly: Battlefield delay, Dark Souls 2 DLC review, Dragon Age preview and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. This week hosted a smattering of high-profile release date changes. You thought you'd be playing Dragon Age: Inquisition in October? Nope! Figured you'd prowl through Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor on that same day? Wrooong. What about upholding the law in Battlefield: Hardline sometime in October? Sorry, criminals will go unchecked until next year. We suppose we'll persevere through the frightening uncertainty that is this dose of video game release dates, but we're not sure our frail hearts can handle any more excitement in this crazy life. Actually, we're fairly certain that frailty would combust into a five-story blaze if Destiny or Super Smash Bros. slip out of 2014. There was plenty more to this week than release-date musical chairs, though! There's details on how to get The Last Of Us: Remastered for cheap, when we can next expect Sonic Boom to break our hearts go fast, a review for Dark Souls 2's first bout of DLC, a video preview for DA: Inquisition and much more, all waiting for you after the break!
Get 'The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection' for free this month
It seems as if this week is a good one to get stuff on the cheap or even for free. First, Marvel announced a promo yesterday which gave access to its Unlimited comics service for 99 cents, and now EA has quietly revealed that it's giving away copies of The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection. You'll need to have Origin, EA's software distribution platform, installed on your machine to take advantage of this deal, but it's as easy as entering a code for old and new users alike. Just don't expect EA to keep supporting the classic game after you install it, since the publisher brought closure to that a few days ago. The Windows download on Origin will be available until July 31st at 1:00AM ET, which means there's plenty of time to let it all sink in and cancel whatever you had planned for the weekend.
The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection free through Origin this week
After recently ending official support for the PC version of 2004's The Sims 2, Electronic Arts is now offering all Origin users a copy of The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection for free, through the end of the month. Users can redeem the expansion-bundled freebie by entering the code "I-LOVE-THE-SIMS" after choosing "Redeem Product Code" from the Games tab after firing up the Origin front-end. Downloads will remain available through July 31st at 10 a.m. PDT, so act fast if you want to add the classic human-torment simulator to your Origin library. [Image: EA Maxis]
Sims 2 players get expansion-stuffed upgrade as EA ends support
After a decade of expansions and updates, EA is ending support for one of its PC big hits from the 2000s, The Sims 2. The 2004 sequel shipped at least 20 million copies across all platforms, and its 8 expansion packs didn't do too bad themselves. Maxis' life sim definitely can't be accused of living its own life unproductively. The good news is that EA is doing a solid by its players, apparently. The publisher says it's offering Origin-registered owners a free copy of the most-up-to-date version, The Ultimate Collection, which will appear in Origin in the next few days before support ends on July 22. Not only is it the latest version, but The Ultimate Collection also includes all the expansions and stuff packs, and players are able to transfer their save files across. EA says anyone who has "purchased and registered a digital copy of The Sims 2 on Origin will receive the Ultimate Collection." By the looks of it, registering the game on Origin isn't straightforward as you'll have to contact an EA Game Advisor, but it's probably worth it to lock some poor Sim in a toilet-less room with every single tool at your disposal. [Image: EA]
Madden 11, NBA Jam, Sims 2, other EA games go offline in January
If it's in the game, it's in the game, until the game gets too old and the servers are shut down. EA is taking some games offline starting on January 3rd, when FIFA Manager 11 for PC will cease online connectivity.Most of the unplugging will take place on January 11: that's when FIFA Soccer 11, FIFA Soccer 11 Ultimate Team, Madden 11 and its Ultimate Team, NBA Jam, NBA Live 10, NCAA 11, NHL 11, and NHL 11 Ultimate Team will lose their online capabilities. The loss of NBA Live 10 effectively ends online play for EA's NBA series.On the 14th the Sims 2 will end online service, and Trenches 2 for iOS will follow on the 19th.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Memory lane and the delights of anticipation
The clock is ticking -- 2011 is winding down (less than six weeks left!) and Guild Wars 2 fans everywhere have closed beta on the brain. This news has been out there for a very long time, but just to eliminate any confusion, I'll go straight to a recent quote from Martin Kerstein: "We will enter CBT before the end of the year, and depending on the results we get from it, we will decide on Open Beta and Launch." The phrase "small closed beta" has also been tossed around, so I seriously doubt ArenaNet plans to go all BioWare on us and start slinging hundreds of thousands of keys in every direction. (Of course, Star Wars: The Old Republic is exactly one month out from launch at this point, and Guild Wars 2 is definitely not.) That doesn't stop us, the fans, from having a pile of questions. When will the beta start? How many people will get in? How long will it last? Will it be ongoing or weekends only? What is the development team hoping to focus on? Only time will tell, but it doesn't stop us from waiting, wondering, and anticipating. (Aside to the developers: I'm out of town this Wednesday through Sunday. Please don't do anything then.) There's a lot to look forward to, but at the moment we're in the lull that comes after new information has been revealed, dissected, and discussed to pieces. We're waiting for whatever comes next, so I'm going to take the opportunity to look in the other direction: back. Follow along after the jump to join me on memory lane.
Hunt ghosts in the new Sims 3 Ambitions trailer
There's really only one important thing to take away from the new trailer for The Sims 3 Ambitions expansion. The expansion allows players to extend the lives of their sims, endowing them with many different career options, including inventor, fireman or a detective. None of that is important, though. What is important, is that the expansion allows you to be a Ghostbuster. Legal reasons probably prevent it from being called ghost busting, of course. Atari and EA's lawyers wouldn't want anyone crossing the memes, after all. Check out the ghost busting catching action -- along with the other professions -- in the trailer above. %Gallery-87729% [Via Big Download]
The Sims franchise celebrates 10th anniversary today
It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since we discovered how hilarious it was to lock a Sim in a doorless room with nothing but ovens to keep him company, but there it is: The Sims franchise has turned 10 years old today. The press release announcing the series' first decade also reveals that the franchise has sold 125 million units lifetime-to-date, which is an impressive figure -- especially when you consider EA is only reporting the PC franchise numbers. That figure doesn't include console ports. The Sims franchise has managed to generate $2.5 billion in revenue for EA. The latest iteration in the series, The Sims 3, was 2009's top-selling PC game and has sold 4.5 million copies so far worldwide. While one could argue the latest game's success is in large part due to the series' ability to appeal to just about every type of gamer, we'd argue that the inclusion of Ludwig Kietzmann really helped push it over the top.
Study finds 'action' video games can improve vision
So, we've got good and bad news for you. First, the good news: A study conducted by the University of Rochester has found that "the very act of action video game playing enhances contrast sensitivity." Rather, playing lots of Call of Duty might actually help keep your eyes in shape and the contrasts in color sharp as you age. But now, the bad news: Those 100+ hours you sunk into Fallout 3 may not have helped. The study explains that, of the "expert video game players" tested, the "VGP group" (group playing "action" games Unreal Tournament 2004 and Call of Duty 2) exhibited "enhanced contrast sensitivity" versus the "NVGP group" (the folks playing "non-action" game The Sims 2), especially in the light of the population differences' interactions with spatial frequencies. Wait, WHAT?! In so many words, majority percentages of the "VGP group" were clustering together on the high end of the scale while "NVGP group" numbers were clustering on the other end. Professor Gary Rubin, of the University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, sums up these findings rather nicely, saying, "This is a small study, showing a small effect, but it was carefully done, and merits further investigation."[Via BBC]
NPD lists top selling PC games in February
The debut of Dawn of War II and F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin did little to hold back the mighty power of the Lich King. NPD has released a list of February's top 20 selling PC games at US retail and, per usual, the World of Warcraft and The Sims 2 are a significant presence.Just to give an idea of how significant WoW and Sims 2 are in the PC space, nine out of the 20 titles on the list are held by some SKU of those franchises. Check out the full list after the break.
Fluent in Simlish? Unemployed writer? EA has a job for you
The Sims 2 website has a job posting seeking experienced freelance writers for "a variety of projects." This variety includes, but is not limited to: game manuals, in-game text and marketing copy. They would also prefer writers that live near the Sims HQ in Redwood Shores, California. Applicants must have a love for the Sims and should email their resume, along with two professional writing samples, to MaxoidDrea[AT]ea[dawt]com.Times are tough, and most of us don't automatically get a selection of jobs by reading a newspaper or checking the computer like those Sims. Best of luck to the applicants.[Via Twitter] [Image]
World of Warcraft tops most played list of 2008
Nielsen Research has published its January through October numbers about the top 10 PC games and top 10 consoles by amount of time played. Once again World of Warcraft tops the charts. In fact, WoW has more time played than the other nine titles listed - combined.Coming in at position 6 is Runescape, the browser-based game that could. It had just slightly less share than The Sims 2. Numbers for only October are available on the Nielsen website and show a different makeup for numbers 2-10, with WoW still in first. We can only imagine what this data will look like for November 2008 with the added game time of those who bought Wrath of the Lich King.
And our latest contest winner is...
Well, our latest giveaway has come to a close and it's about time we chose the winner. The winner of our prize pack is none other than: Adam, who will likely share the gift with his cheesecake Congrats to our winners and better luck next time to all of you. Keep your eyes on DS Fanboy. We'll be starting up another giveaway soon.
Reminder: NSMB DS Lite and 3 games up for grabs
Hey folks, you like free stuff, right? Of course you do! So have you checked out our latest giveaway yet? Well, if you haven't, you should, as we've got plenty of goodies up for grabs. Head right on over to the giveaway post here and see how to enter. Best of luck to you all and thanks for reading!
Thankswagging: Holiday prize pack up for grabs
We've got a special giveaway lined up for you this week. We're calling it Thankswagging, bundling together a bunch of items for one lucky reader as a thanks for, well ... just being you! We appreciate you guys (and gals!) stopping by every day to read us and make our cold, dark corner of the internet a little brighter. So, we're running this giveaway starting today and ending Sunday, November 30th at 11:59pm ET. The winner will be selected the following day via random drawing. To enter, simply tell us what you're thankful for this year. It can be gaming related or not. Just tell us what you're thankful for! One lucky reader will walk away with a New Super Mario Bros. DS Lite bundle ($150), along with a copy of Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ($20), N+ ($20), and The Sims 2: Apartment Pets ($20). Of course, we've got a couple of rules. For one, you have to be at least 18 years of age and a current and legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) and you may enter once per day. Also, before entering, read the official rules right here. Best of luck to you all and thanks for reading!
Asphinctersayswhat?
Look, we consider ourselves experts around here. Bungie tries to put one past us? Heck nah! Case closed. But then this little ditty hits our inbox and we're totally stumped. What is this? A game? Is this supposed to get us excited about something? You ever get the feeling, like, there's this whole other planet of other people who play other games...? Yeah, we got that feeling right now.
E308: Apartment Pets shining on the tiny screen
As much as we liked to question the philosophical and political ramifications of the Sims 2: Apartment Pets boxart (hey, we take our jobs seriously), we couldn't immediately condemn this latest trailer for abusing the high standards of Fanboy beliefs. Why? Because it's too damn tiny. Fair enough, E3 might not be a bastion of high quality media at all times, but come on. We love pets and apartments, so give us the goods!In any case, squint at the above video for admittedly pretty footage of Apartment Pets, and hope that it might turn out to be better than sucky.%Gallery-24370%
Nonsurprise: AoC top selling PC game last week of May
The NPD Group's sales figures for the week ending May 31 feature Age of Conan in first place. Funcom's MMO tribute to barbarism defeated Mass Effect, the highly anticipated single-player RPG from legendary studio BioWare. Most of the top 10 list is populated by various World of Warcraft and The Sims 2 retail packages, as per usual. The exceptions are Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Sins of a Solar Empire in the 8th and 9th spots, respectively.Go ahead and express all the criticisms about the game that you want (we know there are plenty to go around), but regardless of where you personally stand on AoC, it's impossible to deny that it's been a blockbuster hit when it comes to sales.
The Sims 2 Apartment games coming to PC, DS in August
Though EA puts a positive spin on bringing "the adventure, fun and drama of close quarters of apartment living to your Sims," life has shown us that putting a bunch of gibberish-spouting hipsters into an enclosed living space is a recipe for disaster. This latest Sims 2 expansion, Apartment Life, promises new social networks, character types, buildings and a "reputation meter," but it's all inevitably going to devolve into spats over how we left the toilet seat up or forgot the cat outside in the rain. Again.Incidentally, you'll probably want to avoid doing just that in The Sims 2 Apartment Pets, a matching "apartment adventure" just for the Nintendo DS. The portable pet sim will task you with taking care of a variety of pets -- including "cats and dogs, slithery snakes, hamsters, colorful birds, and cuddly rabbits" -- and realizing that putting them all in the same room is probably not a great idea. Both games are due on August 26 in North America and August 22 in European and Asia-Pacific regions. The Sims 2 Apartment Life will also be available in a Limited Collection, which includes The Sims 2 Double Deluxe ... and that would be The Sims 2, The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack, The Sims 2 Celebration Stuff and a DVD filled with "tips and tricks." Those should come in handy for defeating the final boss, Death.
Take this, animal-hating landlord
We've already seen The Sims get portable with pets, but now it's time to move those animal-loving sensibilities into trendy, high-rise apartments. Getting very specific with Sim titles these days, EA has announced The Sims 2: Apartment Pets for the DS. Don't leave the penthouse window open for Fido to go barrelling out.Apartment Pets features a bunch of different animals, including cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits and snakes. Question - can you let the snake loose in the loft with all the other furry critters? Can the snake be a King Cobra? Funny if possible, but highly unlikely.You can run your own pet spa, and interact with fellow upstart professionals who fill their lives with a bunch of wildlife. It'll be just like Seinfeld, only Jerry is a nonchalant house cat while Kramer is the wacky next-door macaw.Apartment Pets is scheduled for an August 28 release, and you can check out the first images in the gallery. We urge you to pay attention to your real pets for a while before this one comes along. They don't want some hot-shot hamster stealing the limelight. %Gallery-24370%
