All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

#browsergames After a little over four months on the job, Google's "game developer advocate" is no longer with the company. The development follows his discussion at GDC-Europe of Google's revenue plans for games sold over its Chrome Web Store More »

[Rock, Paper, Shotgun] DoubleBear Productions, an indie developer composed of Bethesda and Troika vets, has finally revealed what was only known as "ZRPG" up until now: Dead State. It's an RPG set in the fictional town of Splendid, TX, which is in the grips of a full-on zombie apocalypse. As one might expect, the object is to keep one's self off the breakfast, brunch, lunch, lupper, supper and evening snack menus.

Players operate out of a local school, which serves as a hub and sanctuary from the horrors that have befallen the rural community. From here, you strike out into the wilds, hunting down supplies and (hopefully) other survivors, but can also use resources to beef up your pad. But, as you've seen in countless zombie films and other works of fiction, not every survivor is a friend -- or sane, for that matter.

Combat will be turn-based and the player will be able to issue commands to the whole group or individuals. For more on the design of the game, check out DoubleBear's FAQ page. The game is fueled by the Age of Decadence engine and will be available for the PC, initially only through digital distribution services.

#speakup Yes, we're back to this again. This week on Speak-Up on Kotaku, Subterpunk, AnnexOne, StrategyMonk, and Mr. Pie! punctuate the return of this feature with Extreme-G, console knock-offs, some awesome shoes, and the sad state of the Dreamcast. More »

Two Insomniac titles coming next year.

Here’s this week’s PlayStation Store Digital Comics update.

We begin with a comic based on the acclaimed and hugely popular video game Starcraft! And it’s even free! Yes. This sizzling sci-fi action comic, set just before the events of Starcraft II, follows the War Pigs, a disbanded team of shady outlaws reunited for one last mission. Follow this intriguing bunch of characters as they cross paths with zergs, special Cerebus units, protoss, and other familiar Starcraft characters… and events. You can read more about the comic and all the thinking that went behind it in this interview of writer Simon Furman. In the meantime, make sure you get your free copy while it lasts!

But that’s not all, if you’re more of a horror and infected towns kind of person, or if you simply happen to like Silent Hill we have the perfect comic for you! All five issues of Silent Hill: Dying Inside are coming to PlayStation Network today. And it’s not just the setting that’s good – the comic itself was so popular that the first two issues sold out in record time, and it is completely justified: written by NY Times bestselling author Scott Ciencin, with art by Ben Templesmith (too many good comics to list – but Wormwood fans here know what I mean) and Aadi Salman, and a suitably chilling and gripping story to boot. It’s just as good as it sounds.

And because big cities look just as nice infected, join a group of outcasts fighting Coney Island’s zombie infestation in We Will Bury You #4. Awesome comic featuring zombies on fire and a very good audio piece by writers Brea and Zane Grant.

Also out in the store this week is a slice of vintage comic goodness with Journey Into Mystery (1952) #83 to #86. Issue #83 sees Stan Lee introduce the mighty Thor for the very first time; he has famously said that comic books were the mythology of modern days, and therefore set out to create this god-like new hero… Check out his vision here!

And finally you can also pick up issue #1 of new series Raising Amy, the adventures of a little girl with a very big attitude (you’ll see). Officially “born to be wild”, Amy is a bit of a terror but it’s safe for you readers – just sit back and laugh with this very funny comic strip.

Here’s the complete list:

• 2000AD Prog # 1694
• The Authority # 7
• Bayou # 8
• The Beagle Boys and the Coastguard Caper
• Breathe # 3
• Criminal: The Sinners (2008) # 5
• DMZ # 19
• Ex Machina # 6
• Fables # 21
• Gen13 # 27
• Green Lantern: No Fear # 3
• Growing Up Enchanted # 2
• The Hammer # 1
• Hit Monkey (2010) # 2
• Jonah Hex # 19
• Journey Into Mystery (1952) #1 – #4
• Justice League: Generation Lost # 8
• Planetary # 8
• Raising Amy # 1
• Safe Inside # 3
• Silent Hill: Dying Inside #1 – #5
• Sonic Universe #3 & #4
• Starcraft # 1
• Stormwatch PHD # 19
• Street Code # 2
• Superduck #14 & #15
• Ultraheroes # 8
• We Will Bury You # 4
• Wildcats # 7
• Wizards of Mickey II # 2
• Y: The Last Man # 4

As always check http://www.us.playstationcomics.com for the full PlayStation Store Digital Comics catalog along with pricing info.

While discussing the fate of Square Enix's upcoming crystal-centric MMO Final Fantasy XIV with VG247, producer Hiromichi Tanaka revealed the reason for the game's late arrival on the PS3: "The main reason was the memory," Tanaka explained via his translator. He added, "They are adjusting the memory size and customizing it; it took longer then we were expecting. But we're really working hard to bring it out as soon as possible."

When asked if the size restriction in question was due to the Blu-ray or the HDD, Tanaka simply repeated the word "memory." While he's likely referring to the RAM issues that continue to plague MMO developers on the console, we can't help but wonder -- what if it doesn't have anything to do with the PS3's actual hardware? What if the game got delayed on the PS3 because Square Enix just ... forgot about it? Someone get them some extra-strength ginkgo, stat!

A budget-priced downloadable chunk of an earlier budget-priced cartridge.

Japan's biggest DSiWare brand launches in America.

#lawsuit Popular Facebook game Mafia Wars comes under fire today as creator Zynga is sued for trademark violation by Digital Chocolate, the creator of the Mafia Wars mobile phone game series. More »

Before you get your hopes too high, we feel morally compelled to inform you that the video posted after the jump, a purported gameplay clip from Sonic and Knuckles 3D, isn't culled from any upcoming licensed game. In fact, it's not even from a fan-made game -- rather, it's just a pre-rendered video from a skilled 3D artist and YouTube user by the username of BlobVanDam.

Spin-dash past the jump if you want to see the Mushroom Hill Zone Act 2 that never-will-be. Actually, that's a pretty defeatist attitude to adopt. We're sure that someday, in the fullness of time, this delightful vision will be realized. Until then: Sonic 4!

Continuing the never ending cycle that is The Pirate Game, The Ninja Game and The Zombie game, 2K Games will release its Wii version of Sid Meier's Pirates! on October 5 in North America. (No date for the West Indies, sorry.)

The conversion was handled by 2K China and incorporates motion control for the game's ship-boarding saber duels, along with a couple new minigames (bombardment and lock picking). In fact, even the classic original (and its 2004 update) basically comprised a mixture of minigames, from nautical combat, to diplomacy, to land battles and ... ballroom dancing. Who said pirates aren't classy? Not the dead men -- they tell no tales!

#clips When McWhertor got a second look at James Bond 007: Blood Stone last week in Germany he said the game may have won him over. More »

That’s right — we are proud to announce that on September 19th, we will release a free update patch that will enable PlayStation Move support in our PSN title Planet Minigolf! It’s a match made in heaven, as adding PlayStation Move to the mix adds a new level of realistic and immersive gameplay to your favorite mini golf game. Check out the trailer below to see the PlayStation Move controller in action.

So, how does PlayStation Move make Planet Minigolf better? Well, think about how you play mini golf in real life on a course with a putter and you’ll get the idea. Hold the PlayStation Move controller like a putter and putt away. The guys in the studios have worked really hard on the putting gameplay mechanic and we’ve really nailed it. Depending on how hard you swing the club, you expect the ball to go a certain distance, so we took that concept and built around it so the physics of the ball and the force driving the ball are accurate. We can’t really think of a better way to experience the PlayStation Move controller!

If you are familiar with Zen Studios, then you know that we are committed to releasing content and updates even after we ship the initial game. With that said, we invite you to stay tuned for another soon-to-be-made Planet Minigolf announcement…any guesses out there? We will leave you to ponder while you check out the new screens and video.

Some of you lucky jerks might be living near a Toys R Us that didn't immediately sell out of Band Hero and DJ Hero earlier today -- a side-effect of a two-day, $50 discount on the two titles. Not excited? Here, we'll help you out with a little equation: DJ Hero = $70 - $50 = $20 = TOTALLY INSANE.

#clips Getting into the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm beta is all about having fun and experiencing new content, right? Wrong! Machinima.com sets Cataclysm beta testers straight in this guide to winning the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm beta test. More »

Rock out with your stylus out.

A lot has been made of the fact that Portal 2 will be significantly longer than the original. Having watched the latest instructional trailers, we think we've discovered how. While both trailers illustrate puzzle solutions in under two minutes, we're guessing it would have taken our top Joystiq scientists several hours to come up with the same solution. Watch and be amazed.

#worldofwarcraft I never did put much stock in the idea that video games were "just games." More »

Though North America's still a few weeks away from getting its collective hands on Phantasy Star Portable 2, Sega's Satoshi Sakai announced to Famitsu that a fancy, extended version of the game will be released in Japan this year. Subtitled Infinity, the expansion will feature new visual lobbies in online multiplayer modes (similar to the original Phantasy Star Online), a respeccing tool for lower-level characters, a new playable race for advanced players, and a completely new campaign storyline which takes place after the events of the original PSP2.

The new edition is slated to arrive in Japan some time this winter. The non-Infinity version of Phantasy Star Portable 2 is set to drop in North America on September 14. For more info on Infinity's super esoteric changes and improvements, check out 1UP's overview of the Famitsu reveal.

#clips Need For Speed Hot Pursuit continues its cross country tour with Electronic Arts bringing the upcoming racing title to Chicago to show it off to some gamers, non-gamers and celebrities. More »

Mediatonic has announced that its PlayStation Mini, Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess, has finally made the move to Xbox Live Indie Games. The vertical platformer can be had for 240 MSP ($3). If you're squeamish about killing (likely) guilty monsters, a free trial version is also available. If you're unfamiliar with the Duke and his incredible jumping prowess, check out a trailer after the break.

#apple It's time for another Apple event next Wednesday, with music themed news of some sort teased by this fruity guitar picture. What other news could be coming on September 1? More »

International juried festival to honor the best independent games from around the world.

#3d I heard from a reader who has already experienced his own glasses-free 3D gaming... at a casino. I've not seen this myself; I'm not sure I want to. More »

Avoiding hype for upcoming games. That’s pretty much impossible if you spend your time on the internet. There are hype articles, previews, spoilers, preorder bonuses and so much more all around the web. It’s hard not to hit upon some information on a game that will hype you up. That might [...]

To help convince you to roll directly from Dragon Quest IX to another Square Enix DS RPG, Square Enix has partnered with retailers to offer pre-order bonuses for Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, in addition to throwing a bonus item into first-run copies.

Every copy of the game in the initial pressing will include a very cute poster of the characters emerging from a book. Pre-orders from GameStop will get you another poster, featuring the dragon image from the game's box art (also in our gallery). Finally, Amazon pre-orders will include something that isn't a poster, but is welcome nonetheless: a $10 credit on a future game purchase.