BlazBlue Continuum Shift trailer blazes appropriately
Mar/100
At the end of the trailer, after the release date, is a brief reminder of the new character added to the console version of Continuum Shift: the new character μ-12. Aksys Games has yet to announce a localized version of Continuum Shift, but if you absolutely have to buy a new BlazBlue disc, the company released the PSP port of the first BlazBlue this week.
[Via GameVideos]
BlazBlue Continuum Shift trailer blazes appropriately originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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THQ’s Bilson: Research and focus testing will ‘usually destroy’ creativity
Mar/100
During an interview at the 2010 Game Developers Conference, THQ executive VP of Core Games Danny Bilson told Joystiq that market research creates “bland” titles, citing it is not a process his group is willing to utilize for future development. “We don’t do research to find out what people want to play. If you need to do that kind of research you must not be playing games yourself,” Bilson said, noting that research and overusing focus tests can “misguide creative forces.”
According to Bilson, his core group at THQ is ruled by creating “excellent” titles. Put simply, Bilson says he will not ship a game if it’s not “really good” — noting that doing otherwise will make it impossible for him to “sleep at night.” As an example of this process, Bilson noted his decision to push Darksiders from a 2009 release into the early-2010 calendar in order to ensure the game was of high quality. (Darksiders currently holds an average Metacritic rating of 83.)
“Inspiration comes from one place and research and focus testing will usually destroy it. It will usually create ‘bland’ and create something for everyone and really nothing for anyone,” he said, praising the idea that publishers should not ship a game until it’s ready. “If my teams make really good games, in the long run, that’s what people relate to. They’re not buying advertising, they’re not buying Wall Street nonsense. They’re buying what’s on that disc.”
THQ’s Bilson: Research and focus testing will ‘usually destroy’ creativity originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes trailer offers taste of high-def wizardry
Mar/100
Following up yesterday’s announcement that Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes is getting an HD facelift and coming to Xbox Live and PSN, Ubisoft has revealed the first teaser trailer for the game. Amidst all of the quoted accolades and plumes of smoke are some actual tidbits of gameplay.
In short: this looks purty.
Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes trailer offers taste of high-def wizardry originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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February NPD: Xbox 360 and BioShock 2 sales heat up
Mar/100
BioShock 2 seems to have had something to do with the boost, with the Xbox 360 version topping the software charts (and the PS3 version absent from the top ten). Other notable software milestones: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is now the third best-selling game of all time, and Just Dance seems to have made a better pact with Satan than even Dante’s Inferno did. See the software top ten after the break.
-DS: 613K
191K (45%)
-360: 422K89K (27%)
-Wii: 398K
68K (-15%)
-PS3: 360K83K (30%)
-PSP: 133K33K (33%)
-PS2: 102K60K (143%)
Continue reading February NPD: Xbox 360 and BioShock 2 sales heat up
February NPD: Xbox 360 and BioShock 2 sales heat up originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mass Effect 2 DLC ‘Kasumi’s Stolen Memory’ lands on Apr. 6 (don’t forget!)
Mar/100
While Mass Effect 2’s in-game DLC pipeline, The Cerberus Network, continues to transport new weapons (and soon, a new vehicle) to players for free, BioWare has announced the game’s first pack of paid downloadable content. “Kasumi’s Stolen Memory” finally completes Commander Shepard’s dirty dozen, adding a confident female thief to your anti-Reaper repertoire. It’s currently scheduled to launch for Xbox 360 and PC on April 6th.
After downloading the DLC, players can get in touch with Kasumi on the Citadel, either in the middle of an ongoing Mass Effect 2 game or after the completion of the main story (lesson learned from Mass Effect 1 DLC!). Once recruited, Shepard aids Kasumi on a secretive mission of recovery, which requires a suave disguise and a run-in with an influential and predictably corrupt art collector. The content, which also provides the “Locust” SMG, a flash-bang grenade loyalty power and a new Achievement, should take about an hour and a half to complete.
BioWare is currently in the midst of “internal discussion” to determine the price of the DLC, but we’ll keep you updated as soon as it’s finalized. Look for some impressions of “Kasumi’s Stolen Memory” on Joystiq later today. Spoiler: It looks great.
Mass Effect 2 DLC ‘Kasumi’s Stolen Memory’ lands on Apr. 6 (don’t forget!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Bad Company 2 to offer free March 30 ‘mapathy’ cure
Mar/100
Oh man, EA’s pursuit of Modern Warfare 2 just got hot, as DICE has announced via the Battlefield Blog that on March 30 — the same day the Stimulus Package DLC will boost Modern Warfare 2’s map count — Battlefield: Bad Company 2’s VIP members will receive the free “VIP Map Pack 2,” which adds a Conquest mode scenario to the Arica Harbor map and Rush mode to Laguna Presa.
Both maps aren’t new to the game, however neither has been available for play in the “unlocked” game modes noted above. So, that kinda qualifies as a “map pack,” right? Regardless, it’s free, as DICE boldly proclaims in its stab at Activision and Infinity Ward: “How to avoid ‘mapathy‘ without paying!”
[Thanks, Qwaint]
Bad Company 2 to offer free March 30 ‘mapathy’ cure originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Interview: Microsoft on integrating Xbox Live into Windows Phone 7 Series
Mar/100
Windows Phone 7 isn’t just Microsoft’s attempt to compete against Apple’s iPhone. It’s also the introduction of the first portable Xbox platform. During GDC today, we talked to Xbox Live GM Ron Pessner and XNA Game Studio manager Michael Klucher about how games integrate into the mobile platform and what gamers and developers can expect in the future.
For the purpose of this interview, Pessner and Klucher merged into one entity (they spoke over each other a lot!) to answer our questions:
Microsoft plans to separate games that do and don’t support Xbox Live functionality on Windows Phone. Are there any concerns that this will turn off indie developers?
Pessner and Klucher: The short answer is “no.” The way that we built the Phone and Marketplace experience makes it very easy to search for what you’re looking for. With XNA Game Studio 4.0, you can use the same set of tools to build an Xbox Live game or non-Xbox Live game on the platform. The benefit that developers get for working with Game Studio is everything we just described.
We also are very interested in seeing concept submissions from the indie community, and we’re out talking to a lot of independent developers. Fortunately, we’re working with a lot of these folks in context of the console today, and many of the console titles that have come to us through the Indie Channel or Xbox Live Arcade, we think will also make fantastic mobile titles. So we’re reaching back out to these developers and accepting submissions for ideas as a way to help make those Xbox Live titles. It’s up to the developer in terms of what they want to do on the platform, but we’re really excited with the response we’ve seen so far.
Continue reading Interview: Microsoft on integrating Xbox Live into Windows Phone 7 Series
Interview: Microsoft on integrating Xbox Live into Windows Phone 7 Series originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ubisoft prepping short film, a Ghost Recon: Future Soldier prequel
Mar/100
The project is in line with Ubisoft’s ongoing strategy to expand its scope of media to include more than just video games. Last year, the company released the Assassin’s Creed: Lineage short film series to promote Assassin’s Creed II. Later in the year, Ubisoft Montreal’s Yannis Mallat envisioned a future where Ubisoft crafts films and games using the same assets, which is precisely what it did with Lineage. Given the talent and financial backing behind the Future Soldier film, it looks like Mallat’s future could be a bright one.
[Via Big Download]
Ubisoft prepping short film, a Ghost Recon: Future Soldier prequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Former Baltimore mayor’s telltale Xbox 360 now on eBay
Mar/100
Here’s a bit of backstory for those of you who don’t follow the hot Baltimore news scoops: Sheila Dixon, once mayor of Baltimore, became the former mayor Baltimore after being indicted for embezzlement earlier this year. One of the main pieces of evidence in her trial was an Xbox 360 prosecutors claimed she purchased with gift cards given to her by local developers, which were supposed to be given to various charities.
The telltale 360 recently appeared in an eBay listing, attracting a number of prospective buyers hoping to get their hands on the game console/slice of Baltimore history. If you’re interested in owning a device which is capable of single-handedly ending someone’s mayoral career, the auction is still running. Its price is significantly higher than a standard console, but you’ve got to pay a premium for all that history.
[Via Baltimore Sun]
Former Baltimore mayor’s telltale Xbox 360 now on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Liked Battle Chess? Meet Battle vs. Chess
Mar/100
Battle vs. Chess appears to bring Battle Chess to a new generation, with a similar hook and a name that just skirts a potential copyright lawsuit. With “upbeat combat visuals & mechanics,” the game sounds like a modern update of the classic chess game that let us watch chess pieces beat the stuffing out of each other. There don’t appear to be any videos showing BvC’s animations. The real draw of the original Battle Chess was each piece had a unique way of dispatching its foe — a modern update would hopefully have more varied animations.
The title is being developed for several platforms, including PC, Mac, DS, Wii and Xbox 360. Battle vs. Chess touts that it uses the Fritz! chess algorithm software and it is currently making moves for a May 2010 release.
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