All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

#twig Mario returns to the heavens in Super Mario Galaxy 2, out today. Tuesday sees three big releases, two in motorsports (Blur and ModNation Racers) and one in bloodsport (UFC Undisputed 2010.) More »

We're picky and choosy about which video game-themed "action figures" make their way onto the empty spaces at Joystiq HQ, but we'd happily add this week's Swag Sunday prize: the Ratchet & Clank "Series 1 Ratchet with Transforming Clank" (seen above).

For a chance to adorn your abode with the pair, all you have to is tell us in the comments below what your favorite Ratchet & Clank game is and, more importantly, why. You see, we've got this ModNation Racers papercraft we've been itching to give to someone. Someone who's really eloquent, though. The kind of person who would thoughtfully explain their choice for favorite R&C game. But who do we know like that? Hmmm ...

• Leave a comment telling us what your favorite Ratchet & Clank game is and why.
  
• You must be 15 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
• Limit one entry per person.
• This entry period ends at 5:31PM ET on Monday, May 24.
• At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one package containing one Ratchet & Clank "Series 1 Ratchet with Transforming Clank" (ARV $19.99) and one winner to receive one ModNation Racers papercraft; check your emails!
• 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.

Before you enter an octagon full of belligerent fighters in UFC Undisputed 2010, why not prepare by visiting a strip mall full of sleepy nerds? GameStop is holding midnight launch events for the mixed martial arts title in 3,100 of its stores on the night of May 24. There, you'll be able to commune with your fellow UFC fans and pick up a new copy of the game at the earliest possible opportunity -- and you do want to buy it new. Check here to find out if any GameStops near you are participating.

If you pre-order the game before then, you'll get access to four unlockable fighters from the Ultimate Fighter TV series. If you pre-order the PS3 version, you'll get three more fighters, as well as a Blu-ray disc with footage of five classic UFC fights. That is indisputably a lot of bonuses.

From what we've heard from folks who got in on the game's multiplayer beta, Bizarre Creations' Blur has some surprisingly potent addictive properties. That's why we find this Steam deal so unashamedly sinister: If you pre-order the PC version of the racing title on the popular digital distribution platform, you'll get an equally (if not more) addictive game for free: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved.

Blur goes on sale this Tuesday, so if you're hoping to grab Bizarre's twin-stick time sink at no charge, you should probably pre-order the game ASAP.

[Via Big Download]

#clips The puck just dropped in Chicago, with the Blackhawks seeking to ice a 4-0 sweep in the NHL's Western Conference finals. Chicago sports a formidable 7-1 playoff road record, partly because they keep it loose with Mario Kart Wii. More »

Three weeks from today, we’ll be holding our 3rd E3 PlayStation 3 Meet-up. I’m hoping to be able to announce full details this week, but know that it’s going to be held in Downtown LA on June 13th starting at about 5pm, and will be better than last year’s (which was pretty good, if I recall correctly). Start planning now!

The PS Blog weekly reading list (Week of May 17, 2010)

• Metal Gear Creator Will Sign Your Copy Of Peace Walker – Kotaku
• ModNation Racers: IGN Creations – IGN
• Custom Delights: Heavy Rain custom is awesome (but a total spoiler) – TOMOPOP
• Movie Deal In Forecast For PlayStation 3 Serial Killer Game ‘Heavy Rain’ – Deadline.com
• News: Killzone 2 wins gaming’s first Ivor Novello – ComputerAndVideoGames.com
• How the PlayStation 3 Reformed a Pirate – Bitmob
• The Sony Situation: SCEA’s Rob Dyer Speaks – Gamasutra
• Hands-on: Toy Story 3: The Video Game (PS3) – Joystiq
• Hideo Kojima To Attend In-Store Signing Events In New York And Los Angeles – G4tv.com
• PREVIEW: ModNation Racers – jason.con.ca
• VIDEO: Famous game circuits recreated in ModNation Racers – GamesRadar
• Dragon Age: Origins Patched on PS3; Fixes Crashing – Shacknews
• PS3 Outshining Xbox 360 in Exclusives Category, shows Metacritic Data – IndustryGamers
• The 30 Best PSN Games – GamePro
• Hands-on: PlayStation Eye’s Kung-Fu Live – Joystiq
• Sesame Street x Street Fighter – Capcom Unity
• Remedy: Anybody who hasn’t played Heavy Rain should do so – Destructoid
• Video Game Review – ‘Red Dead Redemption’ Brings Old West to Life – NYTimes.com

Super Mario Galaxy 2 doesn’t hit Australia until July 1st. That leaves all of June to just waste away! Does this mean that most Aussie gamers will end up importing a copy? As you can see, the survey results show that most Aussie gamers are a patient crowd. I guess they have to [...]

#screengrab If Activision had made Team Fortress 2. By Steam forum user nofriends, seen yesterday by reader Zach. More »

All you’ll have to do is travel out to Greece to enjoy this unofficial Mario-themed snack bar. Thanks to BongoHerman for the heads up!

CAUTION - SPOILERS I’ve placed this video after the jump.

We’ve featured a lot of the great gaming art for sale on ArcadeArt’s Shop, but now there’s some savings going on! You might be able to pick up that piece of art you’ve wanted, now that it’s at a cheaper price! Hit up the link below and check out the deals!

Reader Ledfan has emailed in to show off the awesome art cel he picked up at a Best Buy launch event for Super Mario Galaxy 2. He also walked away with one of those “cinch sacks” that we showed off on the podcast. Not a bad haul for picking up the game!

ZDNet reports that "a pretty reliable tipster" has informed them that J Allard, Chief Experience Officer of Microsoft and overseer of the development and launch of the Xbox 360, is "on sabbatical and is unlikely to return to Microsoft." According to the tipster, Allard was upset by the sudden, surreptitious cancellation of the Microsoft Courier, which Allard has frequently talked up since it was first revealed last September.

Allard has been one of the main creative forces at Microsoft for ages, as well as one of the most charismatic individuals in the tech industry. It would be a real shame if these reports turn out to be accurate. We've contacted Microsoft to see if we can get a comment on ZDNet's report.

[Via 1UP]

Remember, I only do one of these posts a day now, and will continuously update this post if/when I come across more HD/max resolution screens/videos.

It’s a pretty good comic, and true too! I can’t wait to see what Pachter has to say about this. Full comic here

I don’t know why, but Australia and Europe will not be getting Rooms: The Main Building on Wii. For whatever reasons, only the DS version is making the jump across the pond. At least the game is going to make it over to those locations in some form. Better than missing out [...]