All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

GameSpy to host summit to celebrate and inspire iconic online games of the future.

A portion of a 1up review… Maybe the only way Square’s old-time developers can make a game that hearkens back to the days of classic, demanding RPGs is to dress it up in cute graphics and disguise it as a Final Fantasy game, but so be it. I’m glad they pulled it off. 4 Heroes of [...]

Nexon America kicks off Vindictus' brutal open beta with new dungeon, boss monsters.

Meet the mysterious Noxian.

We've been getting some emails asking a lot of the same questions answered on the Mann-Conomy F.A.Q., so we thought we'd go ahead and send the link around again for those who missed it.

We'll admit it: We couldn't keep our months shut. Not just that -- we couldn't keep our eyes from bulging out of their sockets and our feet from skipping up and down the LA Convention Center halls. The 3DS technology was that impressive in person (in the midst of an otherwise fairly ho-hum E3 year, especially). In fact, we were so wrapped up in our glee, we didn't notice Nintendo was watching. Very closely, apparently.

During Nintendo of Japan's analysts meeting yesterday, it was suggested that the now official ¥25,000 ($300) price point for the handheld might be pushing consumer limits, as reported by Bloomberg (via Andriasang). (It should be noted that prices have not been set for other regions; though at least one analyst expects the 3DS to retail for $250 in the U.S.) In response, Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata said the price was set by a number of factors that went unspecificed, save for one: reaction to the device at E3.

Rest assured, we're already practicing our poker faces for the next time Nintendo unveils the future before our very eyes.

IndieCade introduces a new award category to recognize pioneers of the independent game development community.

#patch The 2.0 patch for Sony's MAG went live today, bringing with it PlayStation Move support and enough game tweaks and changes it could be considered a whole new game. More »

We got a chance to play a small section from early on in the freshly revealed Beyond Good & Evil HD yesterday evening at Ubisoft Digital Day 2010. Jade and Pey'j definitely looked higher-poly, while the textures were still clearly in the process of being swapped out. The framerate was a little inconsistent at this stage, but just by running at 1080p the game looked remarkable, even seven years after its 2003 debut.

Ubisoft couldn't confirm if this remastering should be taken as a sign that Beyond Good & Evil 2 had become a higher priority project at the company. You can, however, bet it will be keeping a close eye on sales of Beyond Good & Evil HD as a gauge of just how quickly it needs to get the sequel out the door.

Here’s a rather weird detail that Nintendo didn’t really trumpet during their press conference. The Super Mario 25th Anniversary DSi (not DSi XL) is only going to be available at 7-Eleven locations. Even though 7-Eleven has exclusivity rights for the DSi, they are still dropping the price to ¥14,800. While there, you [...]

#oddities I am to be congratulated, it seems. More »

Electronic Arts announced this morning that its massively marketed Medal of Honor reboot, launching October 12, has had the highest number of "pre-sells," as it calls them, "in the franchise's 11-year history." Considering the franchise's shaky history for the past eight years, and the absence of bonus goodies like Battlefield 3 beta access, that achievement is kinda like winning the Tour de France on a Harley.

No actual pre-sell figures were shared by EA. We'll get our first retail reports from the UK charts next month, followed by a much clearer picture from the NPD report in November. Our blessings go out to all the games getting involved in that brutal month's retail warfare.

A great pinch hitter for Link.

Looking for a little more arcade-style NBA action before NBA Jam hits next week? If so, you still have time to check out Hoopworld. It might be a great way to bone up for Jam! Those of you that have already picked up the game know that it can be pretty tough [...]

Scott Pilgrim is getting a DLC pack, and we got to play it.

One of the interesting side effects of shipping free updates for Team Fortress 2 over the years has been a large and devoted group of people who write us asking if they can simply buy game items directly. We also get regular feedback from the bean counters on our fourth floor, who -- after watching with tooth-grinding irritation as we shipped over 120 free updates to a three-year-old game -- gently suggested that we "make some f$*&ing money already."

Then it hit us: it'd make everybody happy if we really DID let players buy items directly. Players'd be happy because we actually listened to them for once, and the bean counters would be happy because in-game stores are the future of everything, including making some f$*&ing money already.



Flash forward a few months, and we're proud to introduce the in-game Mann Co. Store. And, because we'd hate to satisfy the bean counters completely, we've decided community item contributors will get paid based on the sales of their items. So you can make some f$*&ing money already too. Now, I'm sure you have dozens of questions, so just this once we put together a nifty F.A.Q. Of course the best way to find out more is to fire up the game yourself and check out the new Mann Co. Store for yourselves!

New collection coming next month.

A painful new perspective on pixelated passings.

A painful new perspective on pixelated passings.

A painful new perspective on pixelated passings.

A painful new perspective on pixelated passings.

Ubisoft has confirmed to Joystiq that "development activities in its Brazilian studios will ramp down by the end of this year." The publisher states that due to the current market conditions, it can't "achieve the goals initially set for the studios." There is no set date when the Brazil shops will close, but it will be before the end of the calendar year.

There are currently 25 people working between the two studios in Brazil, who are "finishing DS and PSP projects which they will see to completion." The company could not confirm the official number of layoffs, as "some" team members may take positions at other Ubi studios.

The Brazil studios had worked on the casual Imagine series, which doesn't currently fit in with the company's focus on major franchises -- a priority for the major, new (subsidized) Toronto studio.

Ubisoft plans to continue its business presence in Brazil and is "currently evaluating opportunities." Overall, the publisher states that its "production headcount" should remain stable this year.

Bandai hasn’t officially confirmed that they’re producing a Mega Man X action figure, but they are showing off a prototype design. Mega Man X was the runner-up in their poll of consumers to see what figures they wanted. I’d say with a prototype put together, a retail release is probably one the way.

#gallery The 3DS may be one of the most impressive pieces of gaming hardware ever promised, but it also may be the least photogenic. The glasses-free 3D graphics just don't show well unless you see them in person. More »