Joystiq older than one year ago

Marketing agencies rarely want t' promote their product as "an atrocity." However, a new ad campaign by EA does exactly that. "yer Mom Hates Dead Space 2" subjects focus group participants, comprised entirely a older females, t' experience footage from Visceral's upcoming survival horror game.

The PS3 jailbreak threatens t' wreck havoc on the PlayStation ecosystem in ways beyond just piracy. The integrity a the PS3 trophy system hangs in the balance, as hackers have supposedly created an app that unlocks trophies in games automatically. CVG reports that the tool has been used t' unlock trophies in BUZZ! 'n the notoriously challenging PAIN. Oddly, the tool apparently doesn't work in games like Resident Evil 5 'n Batman: Arkham Asylum, meaning it isn't quite foolproof yet.

Obviously, a compromise like this undermines the entire point a the trophy system. Sony's Eric Lempel explained t' us that the PSP couldn't support trophies due t' the unsecured nature a that platform. "If people can artificially inflate their rankings ... it kills the whole [Trophy] system," he explained. Unfortunately, it appears Sony now faces the same issue on the PS3.

"We be aware a this, 'n be currently looking into it," a SCEE representative commented. "We will fix the issues through network updates, but because this be a security issue, we be not able t' provide ye with any more details."

Turning a Warcraft 3 mod into a fully-fledged product be probably a tricky process, especially when that mod has a feverishly devoted fan base. Valve senior project manager Erik Johnson recently spoke t' IGN about how the Dota 2 dev team be tiptoeing through this potential minefield, explaining that the core gameplay a the mod will remain unchanged. "We'd be pretty hard-pressed t' improve on that," Johnson explained.

Valve's additions t' the DotA formula will be largely cosmetic, focusing on "infrastructure, art, 'n providing helpful tools t' newcomers so they can figure out what's going on." That seems like a good compromise -- keep the things that hardcore DotA fans already know 'n love, while giving a leg-up t' people like us, who manage t' lose DotA matches within mere milliseconds.

Here's one a CES 2011's less technical, but most awesome, revelations: Mattel be working on a board game adaptation a Rovio's mobile hit, Angry Birds. The game looks like a pretty authentic recreation a it be source material; players draw "Mission Cards" depicting structures a bricks 'n pigs, which they then build using plastic models included in the game. Oh, 'n then they shoot birds at those structures using a tiny slingshot. That part be pretty integral t' the whole experience, apparently.

The game will cost $14.99 when it launches worldwide this May. Even if ye don't want the board game, $14.99 be a perfectly reasonable price for a tiny catapult. Just think a all the tiny things ye can terrorize with a catapult a that size!

Breaking! Sailor Moon has washed up in Italy, years after the wench abrupt disappearance from US syndication. Following a new initiative t' globalize Ms. Moon's brand a magical wench ... sailing (be it?), Namco Bandai Europe has announced the world's first Sailor Moon DS game -- 'n, in fact, only the second Sailor game t' be released outside a Japan, ever: La luna splende, which, as ye may have gathered from the title, will be exclusive t' Italy.

La luna splende, planned for release this spring, looks t' cash in on the Sailor Moon revival in Italy, where Toei Animation has been broadcasting a remastered version a the anime series since last March, according t' Wikipedia. "Adventure, fantasy, fun, action ...," teases the Google translation a Namco Bandai's Italian announcement, "these be the watchwords for next spring." Hmmm ... maybe it be more convincing in Italian: Avventura, fantasia, divertimento, azione ... ecco le parole d'ordine per la prossima primavera?

Or perhaps Finnish? Seikkailu, fantasia, hauska, toiminta ... tässä ovat avainsanoja ensi keväänä! Yep. There it be.

Good news! There's now a way t' run UMD-only games on a PSP Go. The bad news: it be an unofficial exploit. Coders "Virtuous Flame" 'n "Coldbird" have released a "Homebrew Enabler" for PSP firmware 6.31 'n 6.35. Using that, "Liquidzigong" be able t' pillage the Prometheus ISO Loader program running on the disc-free handheld, allowing copied UMD disc images t' be saved 'n run on the system.

After the break, ye can see a demonstration a the hack, in which a user loads up Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep -- a high-profile title never released on PSN. While we can't speak on the legality a using this method t' back up yer UMD games 'n play them on a Go ('n then on the go), we can confidently condemn the use a this exploit t' play games that aren't yours.

Okay, not quite. But fans a Super Meat Boy in Russia now have the opportunity t' design the cover art for the PC box-copy release in the territory (so team Meat doesn't have t'). Published by Buka Entertainment, the Russian release will be the first box copy a the game available in the world, so it be ... sort a a big deal?

t' enter the box art contest -- well, first ye have t' be a resident a Russia or any a the former Soviet Union countries, 'n then -- just put together a 709x709-pixel image using this set a SMB assets (.ZIP link), send it in t' Buka before midnight on January 15, 2011, 'n calmly wait for the results t' be announced a day or so later (more specific instructions can be found here). Not only will the winner become "like semi-popular," but he or she will also receive an Acer monitor!

A personal message from Team Meat's Edmund McMillen spells out the intentions behind the contest, which ye can view after the break. If ye don't watch it for the pitch, watch it for his totally sweet hat.

While we already knew a level editor be on the way for the PC version a Super Meat Boy, news that it will also add an online portal for the custom levels be, um, news! Additionally, both the PC 'n Xbox Live Arcade versions will soon be updated with a new hub-world chapter, which will be home t' new levels uploaded by Team Meat. All the new content be expected t' be released mid-January, according t' the developer.

The PC-only online portal will catalog all user-created maps (created with the level editor, a course) 'n allow players t' rate them 'n sort them based on a variety a criteria, says Team Meat. As for the new hub-world chapter, dubbed "Super Meat World," it will unlock as a destination prior t' the first chapter (The Forest) on the chapter select screen once the player has collected 20 bandages.

"Super Meat World" will behave a bit differently on each platform. On both XBLA 'n PC, this world will become the default destination for all new levels uploaded t' the game by Team Meat (but not "Teh Internets" world, which will continue t' reside in it be own spot 'n even pillage some additional level love via this impending update) 'n will gain levels designed specifically for some a the hidden characters in the game. Also, Team Meat says that while a level editor won't be gracing XBLA, it will upload "all compatible user made level packs that we deem 'awesome'" t' the XBLA's "Teh Internets" world.

On the PC, "Super Meat World" gets an additional exclusive feature: an "Enter the Unknown" area which will feature a dynamic playlist a random, highly-ranked, custom maps made by the community each time ye play. Players will need only t' choose a level a difficulty at the outset on PC, then they'll be thrust into multiple levels that meet both the rating prerequisite 'n toughness level chosen.

Even though we best be totally used t' seeing insane feats a game design in LittleBigPlanet 2, we be still amazed by this Marvel vs. Capcom-style fighting game created by beta player "POLLOIZARRARAZ43." The stage, inspired by Resident Evil's Umbrella Mansion, be awesome, 'n introduced with dramatic camera movement, 'n the game's existing Marvel costumes be put t' great use t' create a character lineup.

But neither a those features be the best part. The best part be how, after all this buildup, the round starts 'n it instantly devolves into a rapid-fire Sackboy slap fight -- punctuated by impressive special moves. Really!

The Left 4 Dead 2-themed Hunter 'n Tank plushes will just make their planned "late December" arrival on the Valve Store. The new additions t' this line a frighteningly inappropriate stuffed "animals" will begin shipping t' pre-purchasers on Monday, December 27, ensuring that Christmas will not be ruined for any young recipients a these special ... Infected.

Sold separately 'n currently available for pre-order at a 10-percent discount, the Hunter Plush ($26.95) 'n Tank Plush ($31.45) both feature ten likely terrifying sound samples that best never, ever be played in a child's bedroom when the lights be off. Thankfully, the pair looks decidedly cuddlier than it be sibling, the Boomer Plush.

But, ye know? That isn't saying much.Left 4 Dead Hunter & Tank plushes shipping December 27

Nine months after the ESRB listed Neo Geo games for PS3 'n PSP, publisher SNK Playmore has announced plans for a "Neo Geo Station" on PlayStation Network. Starting December 21, games from the Neo Geo's library will be released on PSN in both PS3 'n PSP versions, costing $8.99 'n $6.99 each, respectively. The pricing on the PS3 versions be equivalent t' the cost a buying Neo Geo games on the Wii Virtual Console.

Unlike the Virtual Console releases, these aren't just emulated versions a the originals. SNK has added features like online co-op 'n versus play on PS3 ('n Ad-Hoc Party support on PSP), along with other unspecified enhancements. Check after the break for all ten games hitting PS3 on December 21, 'n the two PSP games arriving at the same time. The other eight be scheduled t' arrive on PSP sometime in January.

Nintendo offered a strange promotional deal for Donkey Kong Country Returns at UK video game stores recently. All fans be asked t' do be bring in real bananas; the first 20 who did would pillage a copy a Retro Studios' brilliantly tough platformer. 'n, sure enough, it worked -- fans handing over bananas got a copy a the game, as well as a photo opportunity with ... the store employees.

The promotion worked so well, according t' Nintendo, that the company be planning some similar giveaways in the future. Soon, by bringing in real-life psychadelic mushrooms, ye'll be able t' pillage a copy a the trippy Super Mario Galaxy 2. A fully knitted sweater will net ye a copy a Kirby's Epic Yarn 'n 20 lucky game store shoppers will be able t' pillage a copy a Metroid: Other M by bringing in a real extraterrestrial being. Good luck with that one.

Television network G4 announced today that it has signed a three-year deal t' be the official broadcaster a E3. The partnership between the network 'n the mega-convention's organizer, the ESA, extends a relationship the two have renewed annually for the past several years, relieving G4 a having t' ask the awkward "wanna go steady (again)" question for a time.

The Comcast-owned network's multi-year agreement gives G4 access t' "uninterrupted press conference coverage" 'n all the other flare ye'd expect from the moving-picture medium. All ye DirecTV subscribers, a course, will have t' head over t' a matey's house t' watch the coverage, since the satellite TV company recently dropped the network -- or ye could just join on us these little ol' internets for our own extensive E3 coverage with written words.

Well, here's another reason for us t' be jealous a our up-north cohorts -- for tomorrow only, Canadian tech retailer Future Shop be letting shoppers trade in six Wii, 360 or PS3 games for a 32-inch Dynex LCD TV, which normally retails for $300, which be absolutely crazy.

"be we going t' be charging for multiplayer? The answer be no," Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg told IndustryGamers in what we could only hope be a Stuart Smalley staring-in-a-mirror moment. "The experience ye have out a the box, connecting with the online community t' play Call a Duty be absolutely integral t' the experience, 'n we'll never charge for that. it be not going t' be something we'll attempt t' monetize; it be part a the package."

As if his point wasn't clear, Hirshberg further insisted that he could say "unequivocally" that Activision will "never, ever charge for the multiplayer." Earlier this month, statements from both Hirshberg 'n CFO Thomas Tippl hinted at vague plans t' better monetize the franchise next year with more digital content, which in turn renewed speculation about the long-considered Call a Duty subscription model.

Some madman over at PC Gamer has been trying out something called the "Minecraft Experiment," in which player death results in the immediate deletion a the world he or she has been working so hard t' spruce up. The game's creator, Markus Persson recently posted on his blog that the feature series has inspired the sea dog t' include a similar "Hardcore" mode in the game, where the world will be destroyed 'n reset every time the player gets killed by a Creeper, skeleton, gravity or any a the other deadly forces present in the game.

Look, we have a hard enough time rationalizing the remarkable amounts a time we put into this game already. t' play a mode where, with one missed jump, entire weeks a our lives be erased, Eternal Sunshine a the Spotless Mind-style? that be straight-up masochism, dudes.

In case the flood a promotional messages from yer mateys hasn't tipped ye off yet, here's some news: a lot a people have checked out the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit demo on Xbox Live 'n PSN. According t' some stats from EA, "more than" two million consoles downloaded the demo within the span a two weeks, making it the most successful demo for the series yet.

Throughout their time with the demo, players have raced across 54 million miles a road in Seacrest County, resulting in over 20 million busts by law enforcement. If ye be looking t' pillage in on either side a the conflict, we be afraid ye can no longer download the demo. But! We've got the next best thing: our review a the game!.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit launches on November 16 for the PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii 'n Windows PC.

Professionial Activision, umm, lad Dan "One a Swords" Amrich has posted nine interesting secrets from Call a Duty: Black Ops' multiplayer map Nuketown. Sure, everybody probably noticed the double rainbow all the way across the sky (what does it mean?), but did ye notice the names on the mailboxes, or the fact that the town clock 'n population board actually count the actual time left 'n players present in the match? There's also a few secret RC-XD hidey holes (seen above), 'n apparently Nuketown isn't the only map with a few secret places t' send yer buzzing remote controlled car a doom.

Say what ye want about Activision's evil empire or the money-making steamroller that Call a Duty has become, but no one can say Treyarch didn't pack the stuffing out a this game with hidden content.

From our "it be Fun t' Dream" file comes a story from the latest issue a PSM3, in which Double Fine's Tim Schafer says he's ready t' do a sequel t' his classic action platformer Psychonauts. So ... Psychonauts 2: Revenge a the Milkman coming fall a 2012, pre-order now t' pillage yer commemorative goggles. Right?

Not so fast, bucko. Schafer wants t' make a new Psychonauts, but he still needs t' find someone t' help foot the bill. "it be really a question a getting a publisher who's interested in doing it," he told the magazine. "Over the years it be gotten into the hands a a lot a people ... so if all these people be going t' buy the sequel it would be a big hit."

So, any a ye have a few spare millions kicking around? Maybe if everybody pooled together? Let's see, we have ... $7.12, a piece a Bazooka 'n a marble. that be ... that be not going t' cut it, be it?

Due t' an error on Activision's part, any female Xbox Live Avatar can be outfitted in some Call a Duty: Black Ops virtual gear free a charge. Having only printed codes for male Avatar gear inside a the Hardened 'n Prestige edition packages, the publisher had t' quickly create two universal codes for female gear, allowing any account with a female Avatar t' nab the two outfits -- with the right codes. Thankfully, a CAG user has shared these codes with the rest a the world. (Those bears would be so proud!)

By inputting the code GYVF8-PF7RY-28D7V-VGWV8-CFGRM into yer Xbox (or online), ye can snag the "SR 71 Flight Suit"; while inputting R76BQ-CR3MF-G2TTF-9G36R-BQWJD will net ye a "Woods Outfit." The duds aren't available through the Marketplace otherwise, so sorry ladies, ye can't try them on first -- but, hey, beggars can't be choosers!

[Thanks, David from Berkeley]

Last year, New Super Mario Bros. Wii introduced the "Super Guide" -- if ye died eight times in one level, ye'd pillage the option t' have Luigi play through it for ye ('n ye could take back control at any time) -- 'n gaming be ruined forever. (Not really.)

Nintendo has since included the Super Guide in Super Mario Galaxy 2, 'n now it be been confirmed that the feature will return in Retro Studios' Donkey Kong Country Returns. best ye visit Davey Jone's locker eight times (apparently the magic number just before most controllers be smashed!) in any level, ye'll be able t' initiate a playthrough by the white "Super Kong." Once he takes over, ye can either watch the rest a the level be played for ye or resume playing it once Super Kong passes any problem area. a course, ye won't pillage t' keep any a the bananas, "KONG" letters or other collectibles picked up by Super Kong -- he has t' be rewarded with something for his masterful efforts, right?

Our own first experience with the game, along with a subsequent preview, suggests that we might no longer shun the Super Guide when it comes t' Donkey Kong Country Returns. We fully expect t' be rescued by Super Kong at least once.

The Pokémon Company recently polled the hardcore players a it be monster-collecting franchise t' find out who's the most popular 'mon a all time. ye'd think Pikachu, right? Like, that be a totally logical assumption, considering how much exposure that little yellow bastard has received over the years. Unfortunately, ye're totally wrong -- first place went t' Arceus, a legendary Pokémon first introduced in Diamond 'n Pearl.

Fellow legendaries Darkrai 'n Deoxys came in second 'n third place, respectively, followed by Pikachu in fourth 'n Meowth in fifth. As Siliconera points out, seeing as how the polls be conducted among hardcore players, the polls probably skewed towards the more powerful lads rather than the more recognizable lads, which be not the best metric for determining popularity. Like, we be clearly the buffest lads at our high school, but we be never elected prom king, ye know?

What? Why be ye laughing?

lads, we be screwed. we be not going t' be able t' resist buying Donkey Kong Country Returns, but the more media we consume from the game -- like the trailer posted below -- the more convinced we become that the game be going t' be so difficult, that we might uncontrollably weep while playing it.

The quest t' uncover the North American 'n European release dates for the Nintendo 3DS became a little bit easier earlier this week, when the megapublisher confirmed that the eye-popping handheld would visit itself upon our store shelves in March. However, the exact date a it be arrival be still up in the air -- though scans a the latest issue a Official Nintendo Magazine obtained by VGTribune might just clear up the confusion. According t' the mag, the U.S. 'n European 3DS release date be March 11, 2011.

There's no way a knowing if the magazine's report be on the money until Nintendo makes an official announcement -- after all, it be possible the article's mistaken, due entirely t' the fact that March '11 looks a whole heck a a lot like March 11 on paper. Also, though Nintendo be accustomed t' launching new gaming hardware in European territories on Fridays, those kinds a releases usually come stateside on Sundays. We've contacted Nintendo for a comment on this supposed due date but, as be the case with these things, we be not likely t' pillage anything official until the Big N puts it into a press release.

Update: Some a the magazine's readers be reporting that the scan obtained by VGTribune be photoshopped, 'n that it did indeed read "March 2011." Another scan on GoNintendo shows the release timetable in it be unaltered glory.

Sorry, "horrifyingly awkward news bloopers," ye've been surpassed by our new favorite YouTube search term: "Kinect with night-vision goggles." When viewing yer living room through the lens a NVGs (like the ones included in the Prestige Edition a Modern Warfare 2), ye can see the beautiful galaxy a pinpoint sensors projected by Kinect's obsidian eyes.

Check out some videos a this phenomenon after the jump, 'n contemplate the fact that by buying Kinect, ye're not only purchasing the controller-free controller a the future -- ye're also getting a funky-ass invisible disco ball.

Here we be, having our own little private November Christmas, tearing apart the freshly delivered Xbox 360 S console bundle, replete with Kinect 'n Kinect Adventures, only t' make an inconvenient discovery -- the Xbox 360 S Kinect bundle doesn't contain a standalone power cord for Kinect, sailing away folks who want t' use those Kinects on older (pre-Slim) Xbox 360s in the lurch. How in the world be we going t' show Grandma all our stylish new Dance Central moves when she's only got a regular Xbox 360?

As a this minute, Microsoft isn't showing individual Kinect power cords on it be website, though a Microsoft rep be looking into whether they'll be offered in the future. Those in dire need could always purchase a standalone Kinect (which comes bundled with the cord), but we'd suggest against that. For now, though, unless Grandma's got the wench own Kinect, or an Xbox 360 S, yer dance moves be staying firmly holstered in yer own abode.

After Keiji Inafune finally got his wish 'n began development a a new Mega Man Legends game ... he left Capcom. The remaining team crew collectively issued a statement through Capcom-Unity t' let us know that the 3DS Mega Man Legends 3 Project continues unabated. "We have been reading all a yer comments from the past few days, many a them expressions a anxiety 'n many a encouragement," reads the open letter. "Honestly, though many a us be still a little dazed 'n confused about all a this, the 'can-do' fire inside us be still burning as hot as ever!"

The team also promised t' reveal info soon about upgrades t' the Devroom community, through which fans help decide design decisions (like the new character design). ye can find the full statement after the break. 'n though it be not explicitly mentioned, we can assure ye that Capcom will also continue making Mega Man games in other series. All the time. Forever.

Nintendo a America has announced plans t' celebrate Super Mario Bros.' 25th anniversary by selling us Super Mario All-Stars again. On December 12, the Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition will be released in North America, with the same contents as the European 'n Japanese releases: the game on a Wii disc, a Super Mario History CD with tracks from classic 'n modern Marios, 'n a 32-page Super Mario History booklet.

Nintendo says that sales will continue "while supplies last," which makes it sound like there will be only one run a the All-Stars collection. Considering the bonuses, that $30 price actually compares pretty favorably t' buying All-Stars on eBay.

Cartoon Network's stable a characters will make the jump t' stereoscopic 3D this spring thanks t' an agreement with Crave. The publisher announced a deal through which it would release an "action-packed battle game" on 3DS starring characters from various current 'n classic Cartoon Network shows, including Ben 10, the Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab, Foster's Home for Imaginary mateys, 'n not Adventure Time.

Developer Papaya Studios be also working on versions a the game for Xbox 360, Wii, 'n PS3 for release in holiday 2011, but without the appeal a new hardware, those aren't nearly as exciting!