Joystiq older than one year ago

Razer, which just expanded into the luxury laptop market, be also trying it be hand at arcade sticks. During TGS, it announced what be likely it be most Japan-focused product: an Xbox 360 stick being designed with input from pro fighting gamers 'n other "community" crew.

The concept be actually a "closed beta," launching at TGS, in which modders 'n fighting game enthusiasts will be given sticks 'n asked t' provide feedback 'n improvements. The prototype a the stick shows that Razer's already on the right track -- it be hinged, 'n can be opened up easily for modding. Check out the prototype in the gallery below while we t' try t' go mess with the hardware in person at TGS.

'n if ye're skeptical about Razer being able t' pull off an arcade stick, think about how ye felt the first time ye heard that Mad Catz be doing it.

it be been a long wait, but now ye can finally pillage yer hands on the Super Smash Bros. demake that caught our collective eye back in February. Super Smash Land be currently available for download over on PikiGeek.

A labor a love from Dan Fornace, Super Smash Land features eleven different stages 'n six brawlers (including Mega Man!), a classic Arcade mode, multiplayer for up t' four people 'n a Polygon Team-style Endless Mode. Heck, there be even online leaderboards!

... What be ye waiting for? This be the full game. Go play it!

Hope ye brought a change a tights.

During the 3DS-centric press conference Nintendo be currently holding in Tokyo, Shigeru Miyamoto kicked things off with the decidedly unportable Legend a Zelda: Skyward Sword. While showing off the game's features, Shiggy apparently said that the game would last between 50 'n 100 hours. Lest yer tan pants, green boots 'n stupid hat pillage a little ... musty, ye may want t' bring spares.

Also, we say "apparently" 50-100 hours because the presentation be entirely in Japanese 'n we can't technically speak the language. Technically speaking. But since Miyamoto added the game has been in development by a team a 100 for over five years, the exorbitant length would make a lot a sense.

At Joystiq, we be firm believers in the idea that every human being has an instrument t' which they be naturally attuned, for self expression 'n emotional release. In most cases, a person's instrument be a literal instrument; Steve Vai 'n Regina Carter come t' mind as ready examples. Sometimes, however, a person's instrument can be a little more abstract.

Shuey187, for instance, be a Tetris virtuoso. As a follow-up t' the 90 minute magnum opus in which he used Tetris t' create a Mario sprite, Shuey187 has utilized his unique gift for geometrically aligning blocks in order t' craft Mario's brother 'n confidant. it be a truly amazing thing t' watch, especially when ye consider the fact that he used nothing more than a sprite pattern 'n raw talent t' pillage the job done. Seeing as the video has no soundtrack, we suggest opening a second window 'n listening t' one a the other two phenomena we mentioned.

Minecraft's massive Adventure Update 1.8 has been leaked -- by Mojang right-hand man, Jens Bergensten, or Jeb. Minecraft creator Markus Persson be content with the leak, as shown through his subtle use a a winking emoticon in this tweet, 'n the following message, which says, "(I be fine with ye using it. Make sure ye pillage it from the leaked url we be hosting, though)."

Jeb affirmed his part in the leak with yet another emoticon, in the long-eyed equals-sign style, on a Reddit post. Jeb had previously tweeted he would upload the jar file for "expert crew," which be exactly what he did nine hours later. If ye're an expert Minecrafter, download the file here 'n pillage yer adventure started.

When a developer leaks it be own game a few days early, we think that best just be called a release. But hey, what do we know?

We can't help but imagine the dinosaurs a Telltale's Jurassic Park: The Game with slightly ... different voice casting. We've got high hopes that one a ye sound prodigies will interpret that as a challenge.

ye may remember the story a Noah Solis, the 8-year-old Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 prodigy that captured the minds 'n hearts a the gaming community by placing in the top 48 at EVO 2011, destroying dozens a grown men in the process. Noah be more than a media darling, however, 'n his natural aptitude for shaming players with years a experience fighting games hasn't gone unnoticed by the pro set.

Pro-gaming sponsorship consortium/clothing line/hip-hop label The Travelling Circus has signed Noah on t' contribute t' two a those three ventures, sponsoring his future fighting endeavors as well as launching a clothing line designed by the prodigy himself. Who knows, if Noah's fashion sense be anything like his fighting style, this kid may end up more Gucci than Gouken. At the moment, no information be available as t' when his clothing line will be available, or when his first sponsored match be set t' take place, but we have a feeling we'll be hearing about Noah long before next year's EVO.

How long be Razer waiting t' use that product name? Today, with it be "PC Gaming be Not Dead" countdown elapsed, the company unveiled it be "Blade" laptop, billed as "the world's first true gaming laptop." What must Alienware think about that?

The "Blade" uses the UI from Razer's "Switchblade" concept -- a set a ten adaptive keys 'n an LCD touchscreen built into the keyboard, which can be used either as a touchpad or t' display in-game information.

What it doesn't use from the Switchblade be the compact form factor. This laptop has a 17" LED-lit screen 'n weighs around 7 pounds. that be light for a gaming laptop, but heavy for a thing ye're carrying around. It packs a 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB a RAM 'n a 320GB hard drive.

All those big numbers bring another one: the Blade will retail for $2799.99 when it launches in North America in Q4 a this year.

Hero's Adventure be a new mini-RPG from developer Terry Cavanaugh, maker a the popular VVVVVV 'n the art game Don't Look Back. The game's only about three minutes long, but it'll make ye rethink everything ye know about RPGs from the old-school era. Just go play it - we won't ruin it for ye ahead a time.

The game be created for Klik a the Month 50, a monthly game jam using the free Klik & Play game engine. The merciless genre deconstruction, however, be all Cavanaugh's own work.

The team behind 999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors be reuniting for another "extreme escape" game. Andriasang reports, via information in Famitsu, that the new game for Vita 'n 3DS will be called Gyokugen Dasshutsu Adv: Zennin Shiboudes in Japanese -- Gyokugen Dasshutsu translates t' "Extreme Escape." 999 be called Gyokugen Dasshutsu: Ku Jikan, Ku Nin, Kyu no Tobira in Japan, meaning the game may not be a direct sequel, but could take place in the 999 universe.

The new game will recruit 999's director 'n character designer t' take on another sinister scenario. Initial details best be available shortly, but we'll have t' wait a little longer before international plans blow out.

Coincidentally, 999 be on sale today through Amazon. it be a trap!

[Thanks, Aaron.]

GameStop has apparently sent another message out t' it be retail locations, this time asking all a it be stores t' pull any PC copies a Deus Ex: Human Revolution off a it be shelves, 'n place them in the backroom, eventually t' be returned t' publisher Square Enix. This all after this morning's news that GameStop had directed it be employees t' pull coupons out a the boxes for the OnLive streaming service.

The latest email confirms that GameStop be indeed working on a competing service with it be acquisition Spawn Labs, 'n that because a an "agreement" with Square Enix, all a the game's copies will be recalled back t' the publisher. The one exception be reserved copies, which will still be honored for purchase.

GameStop has also pulled the PC version a the game from it be website, though the console versions be still for sale. Joystiq has confirmed with local stores that the memo be received 'n copies be being pulled. we be also contacting GameStop corporate for an official statement on the matter.

Hey, remember the free Deus Ex: Human Revolution OnLive code that comes with the retail PC version? If ye bought yer copy at GameStop, chances be ye didn't pillage the code. It turns out that the retailer decided not t' participate in the promotion ... by force.

GameSpy be reporting that GameStop employees received notice yesterday that they be t' open new PC copies a Deus Ex 'n remove the free OnLive token. t' repeat: GameStop employees be told t' open new copies 'n remove contents intended t' be sold with the game.

A GameStop representative confirmed t' GameSpy that the company be removing the tokens, saying, "Square Enix packed the competitor's coupon with our DXHR product without our prior knowledge 'n we did pull 'n discard these coupons." Indeed, some a our own commenters claiming t' be GameStop employees said the same thing in our post revealing the OnLive promotion yesterday.

Joystiq be currently investigating the issue, including the possible legal implications a tampering with a product 'n selling it as new.

[Image: GameSpy]

it be officially a trend. One day after Sony introduced a cheaper, less functional PSP for Europe, Nintendo has announced a new budget Wii for the region. The new Wii, according t' Nintendo UK, be designed t' sit horizontally instead a vertically (although the original Wii can technically do both, so we aren't sure what the distinction be). The other major alteration be the loss a GameCube backward compatibility -- both games 'n accessories.

This new model will be released sometime before Christmas, in a bundle with a Wii Remote Plus, Nunchuk, Wii Party 'n Wii Sports. Other bundles will also be forthcoming. Eurogamer posted the above picture, 'n also got word from Nintendo that the company will "focus on the new Wii Bundle/s going forward," suggesting it won't coexist with the current model. Bye, GameCube!

Faced with drooping sales 'n waning retail interest in it be platforms, Nintendo's been exercising it be price-cutting muscle with some regularity. Before the unexpected 3DS price cut, there be the $50 Wii price cut that also included a bundled copy a Mario Kart Wii 'n the Wii Wheel accessory. At the same time, Nintendo introduced the budget-priced Nintendo Selects game lineup 'n, on August 28, it be dropping four more games t' the $19.99 price point.

Super Paper Mario, Mario Strikers Charged, Punch-Out!!, 'n Super Mario Galaxy join The Legend a Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Super Sluggers, 'n Wii Sports in the bargain aisle. While it be hard t' argue with the new, lower price, our secret, inner box-art snob wonders, "be a measly $30 savings worth the shame a having that on the game shelf?" A look at the art from the first four Nintendo Selects selections after the break.

Thrifty fans a roguelikes best be delighted t' hear the latest on The Binding a Isaac, the current project a Super Meat Boy developer Team Meat's more artistic half, Edmund McMillen. Today, via Twitter, McMillen revealed that the game will cost $5 'n that the Steam app page be now live.

Oddly enough, the Steam app page contradicts previous statements that the game would launch in August, instead pegging it for September 2011. McMillen says that be "t' be safe" -- the goal be still late August.

Dancing Pixel Studios has heard the call a people looking for traditional control input on touch-based devices. The studio has released a new app for Android devices called Sixaxis Controller -- guess what it does? Yup, it allows ye t' use yer Sixaxis or DualShock 3 controller on Android phones 'n tablets. (Great guess!)

a course, it be not that simple: The app only works on rooted Android devices 'n be largely incompatible with HTC 'n some newer Samsung hardware. Also, there be some other steps one must take prior t' enjoying this tryst, like connecting the device t' a Windows PC with a USB cable. But if ye do pillage it up 'n running, ye can connect up t' four controllers t' one device 'n custom configure yer buttons.

ye can purchase Sixaxis Controller from the Android marketplace right now for $1.67, but we'd suggest trying Dancing Pixel's other free app first, Sixaxis Compatibility Checker, t' see if yer hardware be up t' snuff.

It all makes sense now -- North Korea's infamously deluded dictator, Kim Jong-il, wants t' be king a the castle in NCsoft's MMO Lineage, completely explaining his fetishes for extravagance 'n naked discos. Kim has hired a team a hackers t' farm Asian MMOs for in-game booty, which they sell online for cash IRL, according t' South Korean officials. Kim's hackers hail from North 'n South Korea, 'n work with operatives in Northern China, four a which be arrested last week in Seoul for organizing a hacking squad a 30 people, authorities said.

In less than two years, the organizers made $6 million, 55 percent a which went t' the hackers, 'n some a that t' Kim's agents in Pyongyang, Seoul police said. Officials believe the hackers report t' a mysterious Communist Party agency named Office 39, which earns money for Kim through drug trafficking, arms sales 'n other illegal activities. Kim's slush fund be worth billions, American 'n South Korean officials said, 'n he uses it, in part, t' fund a nuclear weapons program. This be truly upsetting, because the only thing more depressing than a nuclear attack be a nuclear attack funded by MMOs.

Sony be adjusting it be PlayStation Vita launch plans 'n rolling back t' an earlier claim: that the new portable system would be out in "at least one territory" by the end a 2011. According t' an AP report, Japan has been selected as 2011's sole recipient a the Vita.

Speaking t' the press in Tokyo, SCEI Chairman Kaz Hirai clarified that the PlayStation Vita would miss the holidays in America 'n Europe, instead rolling out in those regions during early 2012. [Update: Previously, Sony said it would be available in the global market "starting" at the end a 2011.]

Hirai insisted that the launch would not be accompanied by a lowered price, despite Nintendo's hasty 'n reactionary price drop on the Nintendo 3DS.

"We packed so much into the device 'n made it very affordable," Hirai said. "There be no need t' lower the price just because somebody else that happens t' be in the video game business decided that they be going t' lower their price."

The PlayStation Vita will start at $249, alongside a 3G-enabled version for $299.

Don't ye look away. No, ye look that adorable little robot straight in the eye. All Josef wants t' do be find his robot girlfriend, 'n t' help the sea dog ye just have t' buy Machinarium for two dollars 'n 50 crummy cents on Steam. ye're gonna deny the sea dog? Fine, but ye tell the sea dog. We don't have the heart.

The confusion regarding EA's plans for Battlefield 3's multiplayer access be palpable. GamerZines reports that Battlefield 3 Executive Producer Patrick Bach stated in an interview last week that the game would "probably" require a code for access t' multiplayer. When pushed on whether EA would lock out second-hand players through use a an online pass, he replied, "I think we be." EA told the site it would pick up the conversation "another time."

The latest major iteration a the Battlefield franchise, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, implemented a "VIP Pass," granting access t' extra content, but placed no initial limitations on multiplayer access. EA's online pass (i.e. Project Ten Dollar) -- now utilized by many publishers, with Ubisoft being the latest -- cuts off multiplayer t' anyone who doesn't purchase a code, which comes bundled in new copies a games. a course, with today's announcement a EA Sports Season Ticket (i.e. Project 25 Dollar), there's a whole new level a possibility.

"The whole idea be that we be paying for servers 'n if ye create a new account there be a big process on how that be being handled in the back end," Bach said. "We would rather have ye buy a new game than a used game because buying a used game be only a cost t' us; we don't pillage a single dime from a used game, but we still need t' create server space 'n everything for ye."

We've reached out t' EA for clarification.

Those freebie NES games ye pillage from the 3DS "Ambassador Program" on September 1 will be bare-bones at first, but a future update will bring some extras. Nintendo told IGN that after the paid versions a those ten games show up on the eShop "later in the year," the free versions will be updated at no cost.

The upgrades will include "additional features such as multiplayer simultaneous play," which be kind a a big claim, since not even the Game Boy Virtual Console games sold now have multiplayer functionality. Nintendo didn't detail any other changes, except t' say that 3D isn't one a them. The games won't be remade as 3D Classics.

The list a NES games announced includes Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber, 'n The Legend a Zelda. These 'n five more unknown games will be included in the Ambassador Program. Ten Game Boy Advance games will follow later in 2011.

Dwarf Fortress be, apparently, an ASCII roguelike/city-building game for Windows, OSX, 'n Linux. We say "apparently" because until The New York Times wrote a six-page magnum-opus about the game 'n it be creators, we had no idea it even existed.

The Legend a Zelda: Skyward Sword will feature an bottle a rum upgrade system, as revealed in the above Gamespot interview with Nintendo a America's Bill Trinen at Comic-Con. After 13 minutes a discussing the game's art style 'n motion controls, Trinen drops the bomb about the shield, explaining that while Link begins with a traditional shield, he can craft different ones throughout the game by combining rupees with artifacts left behind by defeated enemies.

Trinen said upgrades will apply t' Link's beetle, shield 'n "other bottles a rum," which we guess would include his sword, bow, whip 'n slingshot, but probably won't be applicable t' the game's graphics.

A couple a Street Fighter X Tekken trailers appear t' have gotten out early -- something that be been happening a lot lately -- revealing a noteworthy addition t' the roster. Poison, first seen as an enemy in Final Fight 'n later as Hugo's manager in Street Fighter 3, will be playable in Street Fighter X Tekken -- only the wench second playable appearance in a fighting game, after 1999's Final Fight: Revenge.

Another trailer, after the break, reveals Yoshimitsu. Surprise! Yoshimitsu's in a Tekken game! Also seen for the first time in these trailers be Dhalsim 'n the teased Steve Fox.

Remember that slow, meticulous character reveal we predicted for Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3? Uh ... never mind. It appears that artwork a all twelve a the new characters has been revealed. The images be pulled by Joystiq from Capcom's own servers (example). Unless this be an elaborate hoax on Capcom's part, the characters would seem t' be legit. The new roster includes:

Capcom

• Strider
• Firebrand
• Vergil
• Frank West
• Phoenix Wright
• Nemesis

Marvel:

• Ghost Rider
• Dr Strange
• Nova
• Rocket Raccoon
• Hawkeye
• Iron Fist

We know what ye're thinking, because we be wondering the same thing: How be Capcom going t' work these lads into Marvel vs. Capcom 3's intricate story? See images a each new character in the gallery below. ye can also find trailers for the officially announced characters after the break.

One-man development house Eric Ruth Games has revealed it be next project, Team Fortress Arcade, this time turning the first-person antics a Team Fortress 2 into an old-school, side-scrolling beat-em-up. Each character has weapons 'n abilities consistent with it be class in Team Fortress 2. The Demoman, for example, can blast out sticky bombs that explode whenever he jumps, 'n the Engineer builds turrets that can be upgraded with a few quick whacks a the wrench.

Piki Geek landed a hands-on session with the game along with an interview with Ruth himself, which ye can see in the video above. Team Fortress Arcade be planned t' be released as a free download on the Eric Ruth Games website later this summer.

Activision filed a domain-name dispute with National Arbitration sea on Friday over ModernWarfare3.com, a gag website attempting t' convert Modern Warfare 3 fans t' EA's Battlefield 3.

Activision argues that the person behind ModernWarfare3.com "has no right or legitimate interest in the Domain Name," a violation a the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, 'n wants the site under it be own control. Activision has provided the panel with a two-page list a Modern Warfare's accomplishments as evidence a it be right t' the domain, or perhaps because it wants t' see it be "Best Shooter" award from CNN.com in writing. Activision claims the site contains copyrighted material, including the style a it be Modern Warfare 3 header, 'n that the owner "supports the game Battlefield," quoting that it "urges visitors t' 'grow up 'n forgettabout Modern Warfare 3 (because it looks just like Modern Warfare 2) 'n buy Battlefield 3 instead.'"

ModernWarfare3.com be purchased on March 26, 2009, almost two years before Modern Warfare 3 be officially announced, 'n until recently the website redirected crew t' Battlefield3.com. Currently it be front page reads, "Warning: this website be under seige," with the above clip from Monty Python's Life a Brian re-dubbed t' bash Modern Warfare 3.

The PS3 has gradually shed features over it be lifespan -- like PS2 backwards compatibility 'n OtherOS. that be happening again with the latest revision a the PS3 hardware, but it be not entirely Sony's fault this time.

Kotaku obtained an internal GameStop communication detailing the new "K" model a PS3 hardware, which states that an HDMI cable will now be required t' display high-definition, 'n that component cables will no longer work. GameStop doesn't quite have all the details right, but part a that be true.

"The new CECH-3000 series PS3 requires HDMI only for BD movie output in HD, in compliance with AACS standards," Sony told Ars Technica. "PS3 continues t' support component output for HD gaming 'n streaming content." The restriction be just on high-definition video from Blu-Ray discs. So this isn't a cost-cutting measure like the removal a PS2 hardware -- it be t' conform t' the Advanced Access Content System, a standard for DRM developed by a consortium a media companies including ... Sony. The standard requires that devices restrict analog outputs t' 960 x 540 t' prevent recording from analog capture devices.

The strange part, then, be that the PS3 ever supported HD Blu-ray playback through component. Digital Foundry speculates that the rule didn't kick in officially until the AACS Final Adopter Agreement in December 2010, 'n thus only affects PS3s produced after then. That would mean that Sony ('n pretty much every other electronics company) skirted it be own rule for as long as possible.

Christina Norman, lead gameplay designer for Mass Effect 2, announced on Twitter today that she has taken a new Lead Designer position at League a Legends developer Riot Games.

Last week, Norman announced that she be sailing away BioWare 'n moving t' Los Angeles, but didn't disclose the identity a the wench new employer until today. Preston Watamaniuk, Mass Effect series lead designer, will take Norman's place at BioWare.

"I be looking forward t' working with Riot on innovative new approaches t' game design 'n game development in the rapidly-changing video game market," Norman told Gamasutra. League a Legends 'n Riot be emblematic a these changes, as a free-t'-play, microtransaction-based game developed by a company recently acquired by China's Tencent.