All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

#univision Hispanic gamers are more likely to buy console video games, less influenced by price points in their choices, and consider themselves gaming novices, according to a survey by Univision, which will team with GameSpot to produce a Spanish-language games portal. More »

#disturbanceintheworkforce Readers, I'm sorry to report that Activision Blizzard's investment in Kotaku is not paying the dividends that we'd originally hoped and that Koticku will be ending its brief run, effectively immediately. All remaining Koticku staff has been let go. More »

Hi Everyone – It’s time for the weekly PlayStation Store Update.

This week’s Spring Fever highlights celebrate puzzle games! Find echochrome (PS3) on sale for $4.99 (regular price $9.99) and echoshift for $7.49 (regular price $14.99). Offers good through 4/7/10.

Price Updates

Cuboid Sale (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Digger HD Sale (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Magic Orbz Sale (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom Sale (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Mushroom Wars Sale (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Smash Cars Sale (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos Sale (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
UNCHARTED Eye of Indra Motion Comics Bundle (Includes episodes 1-4) ($2.49)
Bonus: Buy the bundle and get (2) Free Multiplayer skins (Rika Raja & Daniel Pinkerton) for US in the multiplayer modes.

Qore

Qore Episode 23: April 2010 ($2.99)
Episode 23 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network brings viewers an in-depth look at God of War III, races at breakneck speed with Split/Second: Velocity, gets nostalgic with 3D Dot Game Heroes, and explores the tech behind 3D gaming.
File size: 1.55 GB

Qore Annual Subscription: April 2010 ($24.99)
Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network is a monthly interactive video production covering the world of PlayStation. Qore provides its audience with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to developers and their games, from both the SCE Worldwide Studios and the third-party community, where the audience member can freely navigate through the content.
File size: 1.55 GB

Downloadable Games

NBA Unrivaled ($14.99)
Paying homage to the old school look and feel of the arcade classics, NBA UNRIVALED brings back all of the intensity and pulse pounding action—AMPLIFIED! Featuring the 2009-2010 NBA season’s team and player rosters with current stats, logos and jerseys. Ball your way up to the top of the league with unthinkable slams and outrageous plays to get the crowd pumped for momentum on your side!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 175 MB

The Tester

The Tester Episode 7
On hand to evaluate who’s got all the right moves is God of War III’s Director of Product Development, John Hight. A industry veteran with dozens of titles to his credit and a Cinematic Arts Professor at USC to boot John’s got an excellent eye for talent.
File size: 413 MB (SD) 986 MB (HD)

PSone Classics

TNN Motorsports Hardcore 4×4 ($5.99)
Things are sure to get dirty in this off-road racing game. Drive six vehicles through snow, sand, and more in a grueling test to the finish line!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 89 MB

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet April Fools – Fragrances Costume (free)
A new costume for Sackboy!
File sizes: 1.04 MB

Heavy Rain: Chronicle One – The Taxidermist ($4.99)
Featuring investigative journalist Madison Paige, this prequel lets you take part in one of her first cases tracking down a serial killer.
File sizes: 907 MB

Army of Two: The 40th Day Chapters of Deceit DLC ($9.99)
Army of Two: The 40th Day – Chapters of Deceit contains two all new campaign levels entitled “Collateral Damage” and “The Assassination”!
File size: 400 MB

Dante’s Inferno Godlike Pack ($2.99)
This pack includes the ‘Heavens Embrace’ holy magic ability as well as the ‘Serpent of Thieves’ relic that unlocks a special scythe move.
File size: 100 KB

Dragon Age: Origins Feastday Combo Pack ($2.99)
Throughout Thedas, the great holiday of Satinalia is marked by sumptuous feasts, wild celebration, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. Amid the feasting, it is customary for friends, lovers, and traveling companions to exchange gifts and pranks.
File size: 1.59 MB

Dragon Age: Origins Feastday Gifts ($1.99)
Throughout Thedas, the great holiday of Satinalia is marked by sumptuous feasts, wild celebration, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. Amid the feasting, it is customary for friends, lovers, and traveling companions to exchange gifts.
File size: 799 KB

Dragon Age: Origins Feastday Pranks ($1.99)
Throughout Thedas, the great holiday of Satinalia is marked by sumptuous feasts, wild celebration, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. Amid the feasting, it is customary for friends and traveling companions to play pranks on each other.
File size: 818 KB

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast Ultimate Warriors Pack 3 (free)
“Dragon Ball: Raging Blast” Character Pack #10 is now available! The tenth release is the “Ultimate Warriors Pack 3!” This pack contains Vegeta (Scouter), Vegeta, Trunks (Sword), Vegito and Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta! The long-awaited warriors finally enter the arena! Prevail against the life-and-death battles and become the strongest warrior in the universe!
File size: 116 KB

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce HD Quest Pack 3 (free)
Quest Pack #3 – Enhance your Strikeforce experience with these new missions and challenges. Also includes all previous Quest Packs. The following quests will be added to the city’s “Noticeboard”. To learn more about this pack and about Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce go to www.tecmokoeiamerica.com/strikeforce.
Defense of Yi
Battle of Tong Gate
Martial Contest 3
File size: 101 KB

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing – Ryo with Forklift Character ($4.99)
Drive as Ryo Hazuki from Shenmue in his signature forklift truck. Download this exclusive vehicle.
File size: 100 KB

Guitar Hero 5
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

• “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99)
• “Gimme Three Steps” by Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99)
• “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Freebird”, “Simple Man”, and “Gimme Three Steps” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

File sizes: 44 MB – 86 MB (singles), 192 MB (track pack)

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “Up from the Skies”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “Spanish Castle Magic”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “Wait Until Tomorrow”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “Ain’t No Telling”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “Little Wing”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “If 6 Was 9″— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “You Got Me Floatin’”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “Castles Made of Sand”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “She’s So Fine”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “One Rainy Wish”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “Little Miss Lover”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “Bold as Love”— The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• “Valleys of Neptune”— Jimi Hendrix ($1.99)
• Axis: Bold as Love (Album) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($19.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: Axis: Bold as Love (Album).

File sizes: 13 MB – 34 MB (singles), 223 MB (track pack)

Game Videos (free)

Pulse 4/1 Edition
Join host Christina Lee for PULSE presented by the PlayStation Network. In this edition, we drop into the action of Section 8, get geared up with a free MAG add-on, investigate a new chapter of Heavy Rain, preview Qore Episode 23, and show off the top downloaded dynamic themes. New video releases include The Blind Side, Sherlock Holmes, and UFC 111.
File size: 233 MB (HD) 404 MB (1080)

Patchwork Heroes Trailer
File size: 43 MB (HD) 77 MB (1080)

MLB 10 The Show Road to the Show Trailer
File size: 66 MB (HD) 111 MB (1080)

God of War III – Machinima.com’s Art of the Game EPISODES 1 – 5
File sizes: 224 MB (HD) – 268 (HD)

Kane & Lynch 2: Welcome to Shanghai Trailer
File size: 63 MB (HD)

Major League Baseball 2K10 Opus Trailer
File size: 122 MB (HD)

Mafia II: Boom Boom Trailer
File size: 62 MB (HD)

PS3 Themes

Patchwork Heroes City Theme (free)
File size: 3.96 MB

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Theme 2 (free)
File size: 6.12 MB

Beez Pleeeeze Theme ($0.99)
File size: 2.69 MB

Geisha Hook-Ups Theme ($1.99)
File size: 3.53 MB

Jungle Girl Hook-Ups Theme ($1.99)
File size: 3.4 MB

Warhawk Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
File size: 8.36 MB

40’s WWII Pinups Premium Theme ($1.99)
File size: 7.13 MB

Wallpaper (free)

Patchwork Heroes Warship Wallpaper
File size: 325 MB (SD) 1.26 MB (1080)

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 Storefront)

BUZZ!: Master Quiz ($15.99)
Take the popular game show host on the road with BUZZ!: Master Quiz for the PSP system! BUZZ!: Master Quiz includes over 3,000 unique questions on topics including music, celebrities, TV, sports, science, nature, movies and more. Put your knowledge to the test at home or on the move, and challenge others in three multiplayer modes.
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 436 MB

Dead or Alive Paradise ($29.99)
Indulge in some fun under the sun activities with the sexy girls from Dead or Alive! On your own private island, you are free to mingle, flirt, play and take snapshots of these beauties. Store them in your one-of-a-kind private album along with video clips for viewing and editing later. Your own private paradise in the palm of your hand. Take your girls anywhere…and play with them anytime.
ESRB Rated M
File size: 572 MB

BlazBlue Calamity Trigger ($24.99)
Take the ultimate 2D fighting game on the go! BlazBlue features all of the console modes—Arcade, Versus, Score Attack, Training, and Story…in addition to the all-new Shop and Legion modes, where you control your own party of fighters in an attempt to conquer the world of BlazBlue.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 879 MB

Add-on Game Content (also available from PS3 Storefront)

THE EYE OF JUDGMENT LEGENDS Card Expansion Pack 1 ($1.99)
Expand your digital card collection with this add-on card pack! Give your duels an upper hand with 5 cards not found in the full game, including rare and ultra rare cards. Add these cards to your deck for unique combinations to win battles against the computer, or head-to-head online against other players. Unlike other cards, these can’t be traded or earned any other way.
File size: 1.51 MB

LittleBigPlanet PSP Island Costume (free)
PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere.
LittleBigPlanet’s critically acclaimed “PLAY, CREATE, SHARE” experience, makes its way to the PSP system with a completely new Sackboy adventure.
Get these free costumes from the Islands Theme Pack.
NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 2.41 MB

LittleBigPlanet PSP Island Theme Pack ($2.99)
PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere.
Download a new set of costumes and CREATE materials to create your own Islands levels! The Islands Theme Pack includes 3 Costume items, 13 CREATE Materials, 15 Stickers, 1 Music kit, and 1 Background.
NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 2.57 MB

Game Videos (free)

The Tester Episode 7
File size: 177 MB

Pulse 4/1 Edition
File size: 40 MB

Patchwork Heroes Trailer
File size: 7.94 MB

PSP Themes (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Patchwork Heroes Enemy Theme (free)
File size: 401 KB

Geisha Hook-Ups PSP Theme ($1.99)
File size: 310 KB

Jungle Girl Hook-Ups PSP Theme ($1.99)
File size: 371 KB

Beez Pleeeeze PSP Theme 1 ($0.99)
File size: 438 KB

Beez Pleeeeze PSP Theme 2 ($0.99)
File size: 327 KB

The AK PSP Theme 1 ($1.49)
File size: 522 KB

The AK PSP Theme 2 ($1.49)
File size: 513 KB

40’s WWII Pinups PSP Theme 3 ($1.49)
File size: 583 KB

40’s WWII Pinups PSP Theme 4 ($1.49)
File size: 561 KB

Abstract PSP Theme 1 ($1.49)
File size: 541 KB

Abstract PSP Theme 2 ($1.49)
File size: 617 KB

PSP Wallpaper (also available from PS3 Storefront) (free)

Patchwork Heroes Warship Wallpaper
File size: 150 KB

Ubisoft's PC game DRM has done an excellent job of keeping people from playing its games. Sadly, the people barred from the games are the ones who actually purchase them. The latest issue to pop up involves the Australian release of The Settlers 7. Players are reporting that the game pops up a "Server not available" message after the initial loading screen, preventing the game from even starting.

The culprit this time isn't exactly the always-on nature of the DRM: it's an issue with authenticating multiplayer profiles ... which, unfortunately, is done before the single-player game can start. Ubisoft released a new patch today, but apparently it's still not fixing the issue. However, users have reported that Ubisoft can resolve the issue if called. If you want to play Settlers 7 today, you may have to settle for talking to tech support about it.

[Via GamePolitics]

Atlus' first-person dungeon crawler hits the DS.

Done with everything in Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver? Of course you are -- it's been like two whole weeks. Luckily, Nintendo is supplying some new downloadable content, in the form of the Pokewalker route "Yellow Forest." To get it, you have to enable "Mystery Gift" and connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection between now and May 5 to download the route.

The Yellow Forest, as you might guess from the name, is loaded with Pikachus. In fact, if you get enough steps on the Pokewalker, you can get a special Pikachu with the Surf or Fly abilities! ... You're already downloading this, aren't you? We could type anything here and you'd have no idea. Or we could even just leave in the middle of

[Via 1UP]

#ipad As with just about every iPhone/iPod touch application (that doesn't rely on a camera), Konami's Metal Gear Solid Touch is making the upgrade leap to the iPad. It's already available on the iTunes App Store for the iPad you don't have. More »

Are you late to the Xbox Live game? If you've been delaying the jump to Gold membership (which you can try for free right now), this might be what you've been waiting for. The kit includes a 12-month Xbox Live gold subscription card (retails for $49.99), the Xbox Live Text Messaging Kit that includes the chatpad and a headset (normally $29.99), and Project Gotham Racing 4 (retails for $19.99). Normally all of that would go for about a hundred bucks, but Amazon has the pack for $52.54 with free shipping (it usually lists for $69.99).

It's a great deal if you're needing to jump back in or renew, and you pick up a game and a chatpad in the process. We wish they'd included something sexier than PGR4, especially because you'd have to be nuts to pick that up for $19.99. But at this price, it's practically a freebie.

April Fools! Ha, see, we totally got you by not posting the update until it's almost April 2 to the people who'd actually care about it. Oh, not funny? Fine then, we will come up with something more clever (cleverer?) next year. Check out the full update after the jump!

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

State of Play: Are DLC offerings like Modern Warfare 2's Stimulus Package just scams?

#clips With apologies to Hobbes, life in the American West also was nasty, brutish and short. And also hellaciously violent, as Rockstar's second trailer shows in the variety of encounters you'll have - and survive - in Red Dead Redemption. More »

State of Play: Are DLC offerings like Modern Warfare 2's Stimulus Package just scams?

This is the current listing for Flip’s Twisted World over at GameFly. Last we heard, this title was due to ship in just over a week. Could we be seeing yet another massive delay for this platformer?

#ipad The iPad games are live on iTunes now — more than 700 of them. We may not have an iPad, but it doesn't mean we are not excited about the following (sorta expensive) games: More »

#salesget Tecmo Koei's latest beat 'em up Hokuto Musou—also known as Fist of the North Star 'round these parts—went all "Ya-ta-ta-ta-ta!" on its Japanese rivals this week, with the PlayStation 3 version of the game pummeling competition, sales-wise. More »

Well, we’re one step closer to that release, which just so happens to be less than 2 months away! I can’t believe we’re that close to the game, and ratings popping up around the world just prove a little bit more that the game is on schedule!

IGN dominates San Francisco. And Jessica Chobot finally joins Beyond!

Sparkster returns to save a world at war.

#clips Here's the official trailer for Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, which is a lot like the developer diary released early last month, only without developers inconsiderately talking over it so we can get to know this new/old Prince. More »

#wii Xenosaga and Baten Kaitos developer Monolith Soft are giving the Japanese role-playing game another go with Nintendo, bringing Xenoblade to the Wii sometime in 2010... at least in Japan. Will the game's newest trailer make you demand an import? More »

Want to avoid mapathy? We're going to be giving away five codes for the recently released map pack for Modern Warfare 2. How do you enter? Simply join our Facebook page. Then, check the page beginning around 4PM ET for the entry form post. Once it's live, leave a comment on the Facebook post to enter the giveaway. Commenting on this post will NOT earn you an entry!

To enter this giveaway:

• Join the Joystiq fan page on Facebook. At around 4PM ET, leave a comment on the entry form.
• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
• Limit 1 entry per person.
• The entry period ends at 4:30PM ET on Thursday, April 1.
• At that time, we'll select 5 winners from the eligible commenters to receive a code for the Modern Warfare 2 "Stimulus Pack" DLC (ARV $15). Make sure your privacy settings allow for direct messages to receive a code.
• 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.

What the Mushroom Kingdom was like in 1981.

Stick rocking that Xbox Live Silver account but have an itch to play some online sessions of [insert flavor of the month online game here]? Just a friendly reminder that from April 1 (12PM ET) until April 5 (12PM ET) Xbox Live is free for everyone. That means you can finally participate in social media programs like Facebook and Twitter as well as video chat with all of your friends! (Because those are the real reasons Gold members pay for the service.)

You could participate in online multiplayer sessions and create Xbox Live Parties to save your ears from the gutters of Xbox Live, but then you won't be Tweeting! The free weekend also means everyone has access to Microsoft's Xbox Live Deal of the Week program -- not to be confused with the "Inventory Blowout" promotion ending April 7, which is already available to Silver members. As you can see, the possibilities are endless! As long as those possibilities specifically include social media, talking to people on camera and playing games. Anything other ideas you have are just greedy.

Lost memories will be found in this premium download.

Game Center CX has made it to 100 episodes in Japan, and that very episode focuses in on the challenges of Wrecking Crew. I don’t get how this show is so popular in Japan, yet networks like SpikeTV and G4 haven’t tried doing the same thing over here. It’s a reality show that [...]

Does that make it four worlds?

The best strategy RPG/dating sim ever?