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Splatterhouse producer talks blood, guts and paying homage
Controversy is not new to games, but few tend to attract it as eagerly as the upcoming Splatterhouse remake. Following our E3 preview of the game, we were unsure if Namco Bandai's effort would be little more than fodder for your local news looking to stir up viewers. I chatted with producer Dan Tovar at Comic-Con last week to find out if there's more to Splatterhouse than blood, guts and a sensational headline.
"I was a huge fan of Splatterhouse since as far back as I could remember," Tovar told me. "Played the crap out of all three of the original games back in the '80s and '90s, and so when I came to Namco years ago, they were looking for concepts to get going in the next couple of years. I asked them, 'Are we going to be able to do old properties?' and they said yes. Splatterhouse was on the top of my list, so we just went to work trying to get a concept together, and it just snowballed from there."
Medal of Honor beta ending tomorrow on PS3 and PC, August 9 on 360
All good things must come to an end, friends, but -- wait a second, is war really a good thing? We guess not. In that case -- hey, great news! The virtual streets of Kabul are about to become a great deal more peaceful, as the Medal of Honor beta is slated to come to an abrupt stop tomorrow on PS3 and PC, and August 9 on Xbox 360.
We know you're sad, but think about all the good you've done, figuring out all the things that were wrong with the game's online multiplayer component before it came out. Think about all the grief you saved your future self -- and, for that matter, our future self! We owe you a great debt of gratitude. Or rather, we will. In the future.
Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 demo now available on Japanese PSN
Do you want to play some Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 before it comes out later this year? If you're a hardcore enough Naruto fan, you'll want to navigate the Japanese PlayStation Store to find the demo (under New Releases). If your kanji isn't up to snuff, don't worry. PSN Stores has recorded a video of the demo that you can watch after the break.
Insomniac to announce new game before PAX, demo it there
In the latest Insomniac Games newsletter, the company hints that it will be releasing news about a brand new title in the coming weeks, specifically for the PlayStation 3, ruling out its multi-platform project with EA. "Sometime between now and the Penny-Arcade Expo over Labor Day weekend," says the newsletter, the Burbank-based studio will pull the curtain off of the project. And during PAX 2010 there will be a panel in the Serpent Theater on September 4 at 6:30 p.m., moderated by G4's Adam Sessler, that will see Insomniac "discuss (and demo!) our upcoming PlayStation 3 project."
So we can all agree that it's Resistance 3, right?
Medal of Honor LE tied up with Battlefield 3 beta invite
EA announced today that, in addition to some generally underwhelming digital goodies like early access to shotguns, the Medal of Honor Limited Edition will come with an invitation to the Battlefield 3 beta, being developed by MoH's multiplayer team at DICE. As for when to expect that beta to begin, an EA representative tells Joystiq that the company has "no further details" and that it'll start "within 12 month of Medal of Honor's release."
Check out our multiple previews on Medal of Honor to find out what your Tier 1 self is in for when the game begins its retail assault on October 12.
inFamous 2 Comic-Con panel acknowledges Cole's fear of fences
Sucker Punch Productions' Comic-Con 2010 panel offered a fairly comprehensive look at the past, present and future of the inFamous franchise, discussing a variety of topics ranging from protagonist Cole McGrath's creative origins to the inspirations behind his new crimefighting venue, New Marais. Of course, the biggest revelation came at the end of the panel, when the development team was forced to address Cole's biggest oft-criticized weakness: his selective inability to climb chain link fences.
Will our hero be able to conquer these sinister, interwoven palisades in the upcoming sequel? Answers await in PlayStation.Blog's video wrapup of the panel, posted just after the jump.
LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy gets stuck in Limbo
Can't be bothered to pony up the $15 entry fee for Limbo? Don't fret, miser -- just check out PSN user bra2008's take on the Summer of Arcade title in the PS3 platformer platform, LittleBigPlanet. As seen in the video below, the level does a nice job of capturing the aesthetic of its inspiration.
Report: retailer lists 'Hardened,' 'Prestige' editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops
Last year's "Hardened" and "Prestige" editions of Modern Warfare 2 set a precedent -- a precedent apparently being reinforced by similar "limited editions" for Call of Duty: Black Ops, as spotted by IGN. The listing was seen over on Buy.com (it has since been pulled) for "Hardened" and "Prestige" editions of the forthcoming CoD sequel for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, though unfortunately no details are given in the listings.
For its part, Activison told Joystiq "We haven't made any announcements to date," but we would be downright shocked if the two editions don't pop up in a press release in the coming weeks; we're only a few months out from the game's release, after all. As for what we can expect to be packed in with the two versions -- listed at $80 and $150 (just like last year) -- we're not so sure. Perhaps an actual, working ghillie suit to combine with those night vision goggles? We can only dream.
DJ Tiesto joins the cast of DJ Hero 2
Well, Activision and FreeStyleGames have gone ahead and signed on some pretty big guns to craft mixes for their upcoming rhythm title, DJ Hero 2 -- it makes sense that they'd go after the biggest gun. We're talking about DJ Tiesto, a man who most leading scientists in the field agree is made of beats. Like, his physical structure is composed entirely of beats and high synth, and also glowsticks.
Don't believe us? Check out the video after the jump to see some of Tiesto's in-game work. Just don't blame us if you're reading this post at your job, and then you get fired when you start uncontrollably full-on raving.
Curve Studios 'focusing only on' PS3 version of Explodemon
Yesterday, Curve Studios announced a Q4 2010 launch window for the PSN version of its retro-inspired blow-em-up platformer, Explodemon, though the WiiWare, PSP and PC versions were not mentioned. We contacted the developer about these omissions, and PR Manager Ed Fear confirmed our suspicions, explaining, "For the moment, we're focusing only on the PS3 version."
Fear added, "We're a small(ish) company, so it doesn't make sense for us to split our limited resources between several different versions, especially given that there'd be quite major graphical differences for the Wii/PSP editions. So, in order to really make Explodemon shine, we're putting all of our efforts into the PS3 version." Fear did note that the studio still wants to see the game on as many platforms as possible, though Curve will have to "seriously evaluate other targets once we've shipped the PS3 version."
Rock Band Weekly: Blondie, Decemberists and many more
There will be no track packs in next week's Rock Band DLC update. Instead, eight individual songs will be released, demonstrating a wide array of artists. Several bands will even be making their Rock Band debuts, including The Decemberists and dc Talk.
It's an eclectic group of singles on deck -- check out the full details after the break.
For the last time: RUSE to deploy Sept. 7
We understand your apprehension when it comes to trusting in a launch date for RUSE, Ubisoft's oft-delayed WWII-based RTS. While befitting of the game's title, the publisher's habit of announcing a release date and then (surprise!) changing it -- numerous times over the course of the year -- has grown from a bothersome trick to just plain mean. When Ubisoft's Aymeric Evennou recently tweeted that the date was now set for September 7 (September 9 in Europe; and September 10 in the UK), we couldn't help but feel we were being set up again.
However, Ubisoft has independently confirmed with Joystiq that Evennou's posted release dates were accurate and that RUSE will launch in the US on September 7 across PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. (We should note that this confirmation came without a pinky swear.)
Ron Gilbert digs iPhone, hopes DeathSpank inspires other devs
GamerBytes has a nice long interview with DeathSpank creator Ron Gilbert, and while he waxes philosophical on all sorts of stuff found in the excellent XBLA/PSN hack-'n-slash title, he says he's not sure what he plans to do next. But iPhone gaming has grabbed his attention for the moment: "iPhone games are very interesting to me right now. I play a lot of them, and they're neat because then you can do two- or three-people teams to make those things," he says.
Making DeathSpank was tougher than expected, according to Gilbert -- he started out wanting to make Monkey Island meets Diablo, but the Diablo half of the game was more difficult to balance than he'd thought it would be. Not only did he have to balance weapons and combat, but he had to deal with DeathSpank's own character attributes. A class system was originally planned, but Gilbert wanted to play his character (which originally came from a Flash cartoon series), not yours, so the team eventually went with the "Hero Cards" system.
Gilbert also says he hopes that DeathSpank influences the downloadable market -- rather than simply house reissues of older games or big budget titles, he hopes that downloadable game platforms can be a place for originality, and that "we can get some really good, interesting games in the download space." We'll hack and slash to that!
HAWX 2 recruits your friends for multiplayer dogfights
The competitive multiplayer of the first Tom Clancy's HAWX game was limited to a single deathmatch-type experience. In Tom Clancy's HAWX 2: HAWX HARDER, there will be a full-on multiplayer mode in addition to the four-player co-op capabilities of the campaign, survival, free-flight and arcade modes, providing players with the opportunity to play the Iceman to their friend's Maverick through local and online multiplayer.
Eurogamer has the goods on the new feature, which will see up to eight players take to the virtual skies for six different mission types in any of the game's 32 selectable planes -- play won't be limited to just your usual deathmatch variant this time around. Sadly, Ubisoft wasn't showing anything beyond team deathmatch, so there's little else to report. In the meanwhile, we suggest you gather some buds and kill time like real pilots.
HAWX 2 flies the unfriendly skies on September 7 in the US.
Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes del Ring wrestler roster revealed
Oh, man. We'll be the first to admit that we know less than nothing about the apparently radical world of professional Mexican wrestling, but after reading the recently revealed list of of fighters in Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes del Ring, it would be irresponsible for us not to get involved. Por ejemplo, included on this 31-strong line-up are three different wrestlers by the names of Killer Clown, Psycho Clown and Zombie Clown. That is bananacakes, and we are so, so down with it.
Check out the rosters for the 360, PS3 and Wii versions of the wrestling title posted after the jump, and try to decide which of the Clown triplets you're going to throw your support behind.
Transformers: War for Cybertron offers double XP this weekend
Transformers: War for Cybertron developer High Moon Studios is offering two distinct ways to accrue extra experience through the game this weekend. The first is by doubling all XP players earn in the game's multiplayer component from tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET until Monday at 3 a.m. ET.
Preview: DC Universe Online 'Play as Iconic' arena battle mode
We've seen DC Universe Online several times now over the course of its development, and it's failed to much impress us. Still, the game continues to generate interest, if only because Sony Online Entertainment is bringing it to the PS3, and many gamers have been waiting for a new console MMO, polished or otherwise, for a long time.
Last week at Comic-Con, SOE showed off the latest build of DCU and spotlighted a new feature with the awkward name "Play as Iconic." ("Iconic" is what the licensed DC comics characters are referred to as in the game.) In the main game, you will play as your own custom characters, getting guidance and help from established veterans like Batman and Superman. But, as you've probably deduced, in the Play as Iconic bonus mode, you'll get to play as DC heroes (or villains) in a 2-on-2 PvP match.
Killzone 3 and inFamous 2 being 'fully localized' for Latin America
Sony will release "fully localized" versions of Killzone 3 (in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese) and inFamous 2 (in Spanish) in Latin America next year. According to the company, the localization will include "actors, action, dialog, effects and every inch of gameplay." We have no idea how "action" and "effects" are different in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, but it sounds fascinating. Speaking specifically about inFamous 2, Sony states localization for the region will create new elements that will "allow gamers to discover this open world in a relevant and unique way."
Also set for Latin American release: a pair of "Gamer Kit" bundles for PS2 and PSP this August. The PS2 bundle includes a system, two DualShocks, an 8MB memory card and "three top games." The PSP one features the handheld, a travel case and "three popular games." The announcements come a year and a half after Sony expanded into the other half of the Americas with PlayStation products, which, according to it, are now available in 18 countries on the same day as the US and Canada.
PlayStation Move Starter Pack includes nine demos in the UK
The PlayStation Move is set to launch in the US on September 19 alongside several bundles. The Starter Pack -- a $99 bundle including one PlayStation Move controller, a PlayStation Eye camera and a copy of Sports Champions -- is apparently going to be a bit different when it launches in the UK on September 15. MCV reports that the UK Starter Pack won't include a full copy of Sports Champions, instead giving gamers a taste of nine different titles.
The nine demos included in the package include snippets of six retail Move titles: Sports Champions, Start the Party, The Shoot, EyePet: Move Edition, TV Superstars and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11. The remaining three demos will be for PSN games: Echochrome 2, Tumble and Beat Sketchers. In the UK, the Starter Pack will have a suggested retail value of £49.99.
Sony Studio Liverpool staffing up for new project, probably not Wipeout
Despite having culled its workforce earlier this year, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Studio Liverpool -- which has historically produced the Wipeout franchise and is bunked up with former Evolution Studios (MotorStorm) staff -- is hiring once again. In this case, it's looking for a senior designer to pitch in on a yet-unannounced title. One that, from the want ad, sure sounds like a third- or first-person (or both) action game. Last we checked, neither Wipeout nor MotorStorm would fall under that heading.
The job posting calls for an individual who has "shipped at least one successful action game" and possesses an "encyclopaedic knowledge of games, especially 3rd / 1st person action." The studio also desires that its ideal candidate be an "enthusiastic, confident, positive personality," which pretty much rules out any of us for the position, though we probably never had a chance and couldn't care less.
There's no specific platform experience mentioned in the listing, so the target platform for whatever the title is could be PS3, PSP, PS4, PSP2 or jump right to the PS5 (although it's probably 99.99 percent for one or both of the first two). We'll let you know when we learn more.
Woohoo! Vanquish has 'Casual Auto' and 'God Hard' modes
"Once you get your target on the enemy, the rest is easy as pie," Mikami said in the blog post announcing the mode. "I'm sure saying it that way makes it sound totally uninteresting, but when you actually give it a shot, the tempo it gives the game play will make you jump up and say, 'Woohoo!'" That's the other way in which Vanquish echoes Bayonetta: exclamations. It's "Woohoo!" from the player, versus "Wuhhh!!" from Bayonetta. "You know ... 'Wuhhh!!'"
Vanquish also includes an unlockable "God Hard" difficulty. "I think our fans will get where this one is going," Mikami teased. We suspect apocalyptic beatdowns are to be found within this mode.
Earthworm Jim HD wriggles onto PSN August 3
PS3 owners who've been jealous of nearly every other platform's chance to get their hands on the unbridled power of "puh-laaazmuh" will be pleased to learn Gameloft's HD remake of Earthworm Jim, appropriately titled Earthworm Jim HD, will hit the PlayStation Store next Tuesday, August 3.
So, what bonus features has Gameloft injected into this version of the game as an apology for its tardiness? Well, it's available for $9.99, which is ... the exact same price as the Xbox 360 version. However, you don't have to do any conversions to arbitrary "Microbucks" -- it's just ten dollars, plain and simple. That's what the PS3 version offers: Convenience.
Preview: Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock
It seems silly to describe the "new features" that have been added to Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock without acknowledging the basic stuff the franchise still doesn't get right. For example, do you want to see the difficulty of a song before jumping into it in campaign mode? Nope, you can't do that. Want to filter and sort songs by multiple criteria? Forget about it. Compared to Rock Band 3's feature set -- keyboard, vocal harmonies, "Pro" mode -- it's clear that Activision has been surpassed. But maybe all you want from Guitar Hero is a "story" and the ability to bust through the five-star ranking system. 32x multiplier and 60 stars, YEAH!!!
You could argue that Warriors of Rock isn't regressive; it's an homage to the franchise's origins, a celebration of hardcore guitar music. The 90 songs included on the disc support drums and vocals, but it's clear what the focus of the game is: being a guitar hero. If the franchise's penchant for crazy note maps hasn't satiated your strumming skills, you'll be glad to know that Warriors of Rock ups the ante by including the entirety of Rush's "2112" -- as a boss, of course.
Final boss? Yes, Warriors of Rock's big new feature is a Quest Mode, narrated by KISS' Gene Simmons. While I could rant about how it feels like it was written by (and for) twelve year old boys, I'll let Activision do the work. The fact sheet describes it as a "journey from the infamous stage of CBGBs to the molten lava fields of rock treachery ... to help the Demi-God of Rock take down 'The Beast' and save rock 'n roll." Tim Schafer would be rolling in his grave (if he were dead).
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock's song list (so far)
Formerly known as Guitar Hero 6, Warriors of Rock promises the largest on-disc set list so far, with over 90 songs. Here's a look at the list of songs that have been announced to date.
Review: Clash of the Titans
I played the video game version of Clash of the Titans for around seven hours and, according to the game, have finished 31 percent of it.
This would usually be unsatisfactory for a review, but in much the same way you'd only need to poll a small percentage of the population before you could confidently say that no one likes seeing immediate family members hit in the face with a ball-peen hammer, I feel like I've pretty much got the lay of the land here.
This is a very bad game.
Amazon discounts Crystal Bearers, other Square Enix oddities
In addition, Amazon is selling another starkly non-traditional Final Fantasy game, the PSP's Dissidia: Final Fantasy, at a special one-day price of $14.99. It's normally $20 in stores and on PSN -- which means that you should probably buy it along with something else to qualify for free shipping, or you're not really saving anything.
Also, Nier for PS3 is on sale.
Sony's PlayStation division sees sales increase, still operating at a loss
As analysts predicted, Sony finished the first quarter of its fiscal year (ending June 30, 2010) with a net income of ¥25.7 billion ($295M), a significant increase from the ¥37.1 billion ($426M) loss during the same quarter last year. Overall, sales were up 3.8 percent year-over-year to ¥1.7 trillion ($18.7B).
Compared to the same time last year, the division that houses the PlayStation brand is in a much better place, even though it still operates at a loss. While sales increased 32 percent this year to ¥326 billion ($3.7B), bumped up by PC and PlayStation 3 hardware and software, the division had an operating loss of ¥3.8 billion ($43 million) -- a vast improvement from the ¥36.7 billion ($422M) loss last year. The company expects hardware sales of the PS3 to continue increasing this year and software sales to remain flat.
Explodemon detonating on PSN in Q4 2010
Explodemon, a platformer featuring a supergroup of inspirations such as Super Mario Bros., Bangai-O and 'Splosion Man, has been given a release window by developer Curve Studios. The chemically unstable title will land on the PSN sometime during Q4 this year. The PSP and WiiWare versions weren't referenced at all in the studio's press release -- we've contacted the developer just to make sure those two versions haven't been blown to smithereens.
While you wait, check out the latest batch of screenshots for Explodemon in the gallery below. We could try to use some synonym for "explosive" to describe them but, honestly, that well's running a little dry.
More 'sluggish' sales plague Capcom financials
Capcom experienced another "sluggish" performance in its latest financial quarter -- the first of Fiscal 2010, from April 1 to June 30 -- and consequently blamed slow growth of Lost Planet 2 sales, among other things. Net sales for the quarter were down 2.4 percent year-over-year at 19 million yen ($219 million) and net income dropped a dramatic 90 percent from last year to the tune of 213 million yen ($2.5 million).
Although titles like Super Street Fighter IV and Monster Hunter Frontier Online showed what Capcom calls "steady growth," LP2 and Monster Hunter Tri only sold at a "sluggish pace." The first two weeks of Ghost Trick sales were also met with disappointment, although the game premiered at number two in its first week of Japanese sales.
The Japanese publisher also lamented "shrinking" US and European markets "under the stagnating economy," as well as fluctuating exchange rates. Though sales across the board were lower than expected, Capcom considers its financial forecast for this fiscal year to be unaffected.
These talking GlaDOS Curiosity Spheres probably want to kill you
"Well, you found me. Congratulations. Was it worth it? Because despite your violent behavior, the only thing you've managed to break so far ... is my heart. Maybe you could settle for that and we'll just call it a day? I guess we both know that isn't going to happen."
A daring Dragon's Lair game collection
Syd Bolton, who runs the Personal Computer Museum in Brantford, Canada, really enjoys Dragon's Lair in all its many, many incarnations. Bolton owns almost every version of Dragon's Lair ever released, which is saying a lot considering that game has been ported more times over the last 30 years than a Carnival Cruise ship. However, he hasn't got them all, telling Joystiq that he's missing the mobile phone version from 2005 (because it wasn't available in his area) and the Amstrad CPC versions from the mid-'80s.
The picture above contains 47 versions of the game and its sequels. Bolton mentions that the image doesn't contain the whole collection, as a few copies are in storage. We've listed every copy of the game featured in the picture after the break.
Ads featuring new Japanese PS3 spokesperson leek onto internet
Rather than just copy SCEA's smarmy spokesperson outright (like some companies have chosen to do), Sony Japan has settled upon a new mascot for its advertisements: a scallion. Or rather, several scallions, sharing a central ... bulb thingy. Fine, you caught us. We just don't know much about onions.
Two Worlds 2 'Sordahon's Journey' videos contain vinyl, padding, humility
Look, Two Worlds had issues. You know it. We know it. Everyone knows it. Apparently "everyone" includes the folks at SouthPeak, who have released the first episodes in a new video series entitled "Sordahon's Journey."
The series follows the villainous Sordahon as he strives to break free from the shackles of his master and the stigma of the first Two Worlds. Granted, you won't learn a lot about Two Worlds 2, but you're guaranteed a chuckle or two, and it's nice to see game creators poking fun at themselves.
Go behind the scenes with Red Dead Redemption's accompanists
Seeing that Red Dead Redemption takes place in a primitive world predating the car stereo, Rockstar San Diego had to come up with another way of injecting music into the title. Their solution: an interactive, Spaghetti Western-inspired score -- the making of which can be seen in the video below.
This is the third Kane & Lynch comic cover
Yeah, that's right: This is what the third cover for the Kane & Lynch comic, coming this October from DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint, looks like. Got a problem with that? No? Good. Drawn by Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) it can be seen in full after the break.
HAWX 2 spreads its wings September 7
In addition to the date (provided to Big Download by Ubi PR), Ubisoft has updated the game's official website (see the "news" page here) with some new I.N.F.O. Unlike the first HAWX, you now have the option to fly at speeds under 1,000 miles per hour. That's ... exciting?
Scott Pilgrim vs. the world of video games
I saw the upcoming Scott Pilgrim vs. The World movie at Comic-Con last weekend, and while our purview is still just interactive entertainment, the film is an indication of just how prevalent video games have become in popular culture. Just like the popular indie comics on which it's based, the film is chock full of video game references and even has some big plot points that invoke old-school video game clichés. Gaming is woven into the language of this story and this movie.
I got a chance earlier this week to sit down with director Edgar Wright, Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O'Malley, and the movie's cast to talk about the flick, video games in general and how mainstream audiences will react to seeing games used onscreen in this way. We also got some new insight on the retro-style Scott Pilgrim vs. The World game.
SOCOM 4 takes its fight to 2011
Zipper Interactive's latest in the SOCOM series has seen its release delayed into 2011, the developer has confirmed via the franchise's official blog. Having appeared in playable form as early as GDC 2010, SOCOM 4 was scheduled to ship this fall and has been used by Sony as a key "core" title in demoing PlayStation Move.
"While we're certainly aware that you've been looking forward to playing SOCOM 4 this year, we don't want to take any shortcuts. Instead, we want to deliver the best and most immersive SOCOM game we possibly can and we're going to use our extra time to do just that," read the statement,penned typed by Zipper community manager Jeremy Dunham.
SCEA's senior corporate communications director, Patrick Seybold, told Joystiq, "We can confirm that SOCOM 4 will be released in 2011. The team is focusing on additional features which will help to deliver the most compelling and immersion SOCOM experience yet. Please look out for further updates and announcements over the coming months."
As soon as a more specific release window for the title is announced, you'll read it here.
[Thanks, Solace]
Metalocalypse: Dethgame bangs its head no more
Sad news for fans of the animated series Metalocalypse, as Siliconera reports that Adult Swim "pulled the license" on Metalocalypse: Dethgame. Originally under development at Frozen Codebase, the beat-'em-up was set to appear on Xbox Live and PSN at the tail-end of 2009, courtesy of Konami. So much for that.
We've followed up with Konami to confirm, but it looks like Dethgame ain't happening. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a Hatredcopter to board and a target to attack that has nothing to do with this news. Nope, nothing whatsoever.
IO Interactive takes us behind the scenes of Kane & Lynch 2
Wondering what's changed from the first Kane & Lynch title to the second? The folks at IO Interactive are here to tell you, with a peek behind the scenes of the upcoming sequel. Aside from adding online co-op to the game's main campaign, a mess of other mechanics have been tweaked in the game, apparently to quell issues fans had with the first.
Unfortunately, the issues named are things like "cover system," "aiming and shooting," and "AI," which kind of ... worries us. That said, art director Rasmus Poulsen promises the game is going to be "so visceral, so intense, so in your face, that you're gonna be left without any skin left." So, you know, there's that. Join us behind the scenes just after the break, won't you?
"I was a huge fan of Splatterhouse since as far back as I could remember," Tovar told me. "Played the crap out of all three of the original games back in the '80s and '90s, and so when I came to Namco years ago, they were looking for concepts to get going in the next couple of years. I asked them, 'Are we going to be able to do old properties?' and they said yes. Splatterhouse was on the top of my list, so we just went to work trying to get a concept together, and it just snowballed from there."
Continue reading Splatterhouse producer talks blood, guts and paying homage
Splatterhouse producer talks blood, guts and paying homage originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Medal of Honor beta ending tomorrow on PS3 and PC, August 9 on 360
We know you're sad, but think about all the good you've done, figuring out all the things that were wrong with the game's online multiplayer component before it came out. Think about all the grief you saved your future self -- and, for that matter, our future self! We owe you a great debt of gratitude. Or rather, we will. In the future.
Medal of Honor beta ending tomorrow on PS3 and PC, August 9 on 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 demo now available on Japanese PSN
Continue reading Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 demo now available on Japanese PSN
Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 demo now available on Japanese PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Insomniac to announce new game before PAX, demo it there
So we can all agree that it's Resistance 3, right?
Insomniac to announce new game before PAX, demo it there originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Medal of Honor LE tied up with Battlefield 3 beta invite
Check out our multiple previews on Medal of Honor to find out what your Tier 1 self is in for when the game begins its retail assault on October 12.
Medal of Honor LE tied up with Battlefield 3 beta invite originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
inFamous 2 Comic-Con panel acknowledges Cole's fear of fences
Will our hero be able to conquer these sinister, interwoven palisades in the upcoming sequel? Answers await in PlayStation.Blog's video wrapup of the panel, posted just after the jump.
Continue reading inFamous 2 Comic-Con panel acknowledges Cole's fear of fences
inFamous 2 Comic-Con panel acknowledges Cole's fear of fences originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy gets stuck in Limbo
Continue reading LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy gets stuck in Limbo
LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy gets stuck in Limbo originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Report: retailer lists 'Hardened,' 'Prestige' editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops
For its part, Activison told Joystiq "We haven't made any announcements to date," but we would be downright shocked if the two editions don't pop up in a press release in the coming weeks; we're only a few months out from the game's release, after all. As for what we can expect to be packed in with the two versions -- listed at $80 and $150 (just like last year) -- we're not so sure. Perhaps an actual, working ghillie suit to combine with those night vision goggles? We can only dream.
Continue reading Report: retailer lists 'Hardened,' 'Prestige' editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops
Report: retailer lists 'Hardened,' 'Prestige' editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
DJ Tiesto joins the cast of DJ Hero 2
Don't believe us? Check out the video after the jump to see some of Tiesto's in-game work. Just don't blame us if you're reading this post at your job, and then you get fired when you start uncontrollably full-on raving.
Continue reading DJ Tiesto joins the cast of DJ Hero 2
DJ Tiesto joins the cast of DJ Hero 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Curve Studios 'focusing only on' PS3 version of Explodemon
Fear added, "We're a small(ish) company, so it doesn't make sense for us to split our limited resources between several different versions, especially given that there'd be quite major graphical differences for the Wii/PSP editions. So, in order to really make Explodemon shine, we're putting all of our efforts into the PS3 version." Fear did note that the studio still wants to see the game on as many platforms as possible, though Curve will have to "seriously evaluate other targets once we've shipped the PS3 version."
Curve Studios 'focusing only on' PS3 version of Explodemon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Rock Band Weekly: Blondie, Decemberists and many more
It's an eclectic group of singles on deck -- check out the full details after the break.
Continue reading Rock Band Weekly: Blondie, Decemberists and many more
Rock Band Weekly: Blondie, Decemberists and many more originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
For the last time: RUSE to deploy Sept. 7
However, Ubisoft has independently confirmed with Joystiq that Evennou's posted release dates were accurate and that RUSE will launch in the US on September 7 across PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. (We should note that this confirmation came without a pinky swear.)
For the last time: RUSE to deploy Sept. 7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Ron Gilbert digs iPhone, hopes DeathSpank inspires other devs
Making DeathSpank was tougher than expected, according to Gilbert -- he started out wanting to make Monkey Island meets Diablo, but the Diablo half of the game was more difficult to balance than he'd thought it would be. Not only did he have to balance weapons and combat, but he had to deal with DeathSpank's own character attributes. A class system was originally planned, but Gilbert wanted to play his character (which originally came from a Flash cartoon series), not yours, so the team eventually went with the "Hero Cards" system.
Gilbert also says he hopes that DeathSpank influences the downloadable market -- rather than simply house reissues of older games or big budget titles, he hopes that downloadable game platforms can be a place for originality, and that "we can get some really good, interesting games in the download space." We'll hack and slash to that!
Ron Gilbert digs iPhone, hopes DeathSpank inspires other devs originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
HAWX 2 recruits your friends for multiplayer dogfights
Eurogamer has the goods on the new feature, which will see up to eight players take to the virtual skies for six different mission types in any of the game's 32 selectable planes -- play won't be limited to just your usual deathmatch variant this time around. Sadly, Ubisoft wasn't showing anything beyond team deathmatch, so there's little else to report. In the meanwhile, we suggest you gather some buds and kill time like real pilots.
HAWX 2 flies the unfriendly skies on September 7 in the US.
HAWX 2 recruits your friends for multiplayer dogfights originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes del Ring wrestler roster revealed
Check out the rosters for the 360, PS3 and Wii versions of the wrestling title posted after the jump, and try to decide which of the Clown triplets you're going to throw your support behind.
Continue reading Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes del Ring wrestler roster revealed
Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes del Ring wrestler roster revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Transformers: War for Cybertron offers double XP this weekend
Continue reading Transformers: War for Cybertron offers double XP this weekend
Transformers: War for Cybertron offers double XP this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Preview: DC Universe Online 'Play as Iconic' arena battle mode
Last week at Comic-Con, SOE showed off the latest build of DCU and spotlighted a new feature with the awkward name "Play as Iconic." ("Iconic" is what the licensed DC comics characters are referred to as in the game.) In the main game, you will play as your own custom characters, getting guidance and help from established veterans like Batman and Superman. But, as you've probably deduced, in the Play as Iconic bonus mode, you'll get to play as DC heroes (or villains) in a 2-on-2 PvP match.
Continue reading Preview: DC Universe Online 'Play as Iconic' arena battle mode
Preview: DC Universe Online 'Play as Iconic' arena battle mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Killzone 3 and inFamous 2 being 'fully localized' for Latin America
Also set for Latin American release: a pair of "Gamer Kit" bundles for PS2 and PSP this August. The PS2 bundle includes a system, two DualShocks, an 8MB memory card and "three top games." The PSP one features the handheld, a travel case and "three popular games." The announcements come a year and a half after Sony expanded into the other half of the Americas with PlayStation products, which, according to it, are now available in 18 countries on the same day as the US and Canada.
Continue reading Killzone 3 and inFamous 2 being 'fully localized' for Latin America
Killzone 3 and inFamous 2 being 'fully localized' for Latin America originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
PlayStation Move Starter Pack includes nine demos in the UK
The nine demos included in the package include snippets of six retail Move titles: Sports Champions, Start the Party, The Shoot, EyePet: Move Edition, TV Superstars and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11. The remaining three demos will be for PSN games: Echochrome 2, Tumble and Beat Sketchers. In the UK, the Starter Pack will have a suggested retail value of £49.99.
PlayStation Move Starter Pack includes nine demos in the UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Sony Studio Liverpool staffing up for new project, probably not Wipeout
Despite having culled its workforce earlier this year, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Studio Liverpool -- which has historically produced the Wipeout franchise and is bunked up with former Evolution Studios (MotorStorm) staff -- is hiring once again. In this case, it's looking for a senior designer to pitch in on a yet-unannounced title. One that, from the want ad, sure sounds like a third- or first-person (or both) action game. Last we checked, neither Wipeout nor MotorStorm would fall under that heading.The job posting calls for an individual who has "shipped at least one successful action game" and possesses an "encyclopaedic knowledge of games, especially 3rd / 1st person action." The studio also desires that its ideal candidate be an "enthusiastic, confident, positive personality," which pretty much rules out any of us for the position, though we probably never had a chance and couldn't care less.
There's no specific platform experience mentioned in the listing, so the target platform for whatever the title is could be PS3, PSP, PS4, PSP2 or jump right to the PS5 (although it's probably 99.99 percent for one or both of the first two). We'll let you know when we learn more.
Sony Studio Liverpool staffing up for new project, probably not Wipeout originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Woohoo! Vanquish has 'Casual Auto' and 'God Hard' modes
"Once you get your target on the enemy, the rest is easy as pie," Mikami said in the blog post announcing the mode. "I'm sure saying it that way makes it sound totally uninteresting, but when you actually give it a shot, the tempo it gives the game play will make you jump up and say, 'Woohoo!'" That's the other way in which Vanquish echoes Bayonetta: exclamations. It's "Woohoo!" from the player, versus "Wuhhh!!" from Bayonetta. "You know ... 'Wuhhh!!'"
Vanquish also includes an unlockable "God Hard" difficulty. "I think our fans will get where this one is going," Mikami teased. We suspect apocalyptic beatdowns are to be found within this mode.
Woohoo! Vanquish has 'Casual Auto' and 'God Hard' modes originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Earthworm Jim HD wriggles onto PSN August 3
So, what bonus features has Gameloft injected into this version of the game as an apology for its tardiness? Well, it's available for $9.99, which is ... the exact same price as the Xbox 360 version. However, you don't have to do any conversions to arbitrary "Microbucks" -- it's just ten dollars, plain and simple. That's what the PS3 version offers: Convenience.
Earthworm Jim HD wriggles onto PSN August 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Preview: Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock
You could argue that Warriors of Rock isn't regressive; it's an homage to the franchise's origins, a celebration of hardcore guitar music. The 90 songs included on the disc support drums and vocals, but it's clear what the focus of the game is: being a guitar hero. If the franchise's penchant for crazy note maps hasn't satiated your strumming skills, you'll be glad to know that Warriors of Rock ups the ante by including the entirety of Rush's "2112" -- as a boss, of course.
Final boss? Yes, Warriors of Rock's big new feature is a Quest Mode, narrated by KISS' Gene Simmons. While I could rant about how it feels like it was written by (and for) twelve year old boys, I'll let Activision do the work. The fact sheet describes it as a "journey from the infamous stage of CBGBs to the molten lava fields of rock treachery ... to help the Demi-God of Rock take down 'The Beast' and save rock 'n roll." Tim Schafer would be rolling in his grave (if he were dead).
Continue reading Preview: Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock
Preview: Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock's song list (so far)
Continue reading Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock's song list (so far)
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock's song list (so far) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Review: Clash of the Titans
This would usually be unsatisfactory for a review, but in much the same way you'd only need to poll a small percentage of the population before you could confidently say that no one likes seeing immediate family members hit in the face with a ball-peen hammer, I feel like I've pretty much got the lay of the land here.
This is a very bad game.
Continue reading Review: Clash of the Titans
Review: Clash of the Titans originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Amazon discounts Crystal Bearers, other Square Enix oddities
In addition, Amazon is selling another starkly non-traditional Final Fantasy game, the PSP's Dissidia: Final Fantasy, at a special one-day price of $14.99. It's normally $20 in stores and on PSN -- which means that you should probably buy it along with something else to qualify for free shipping, or you're not really saving anything.
Also, Nier for PS3 is on sale.
Amazon discounts Crystal Bearers, other Square Enix oddities originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Sony's PlayStation division sees sales increase, still operating at a loss
Compared to the same time last year, the division that houses the PlayStation brand is in a much better place, even though it still operates at a loss. While sales increased 32 percent this year to ¥326 billion ($3.7B), bumped up by PC and PlayStation 3 hardware and software, the division had an operating loss of ¥3.8 billion ($43 million) -- a vast improvement from the ¥36.7 billion ($422M) loss last year. The company expects hardware sales of the PS3 to continue increasing this year and software sales to remain flat.
Sony's PlayStation division sees sales increase, still operating at a loss originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Explodemon detonating on PSN in Q4 2010
While you wait, check out the latest batch of screenshots for Explodemon in the gallery below. We could try to use some synonym for "explosive" to describe them but, honestly, that well's running a little dry.
Explodemon detonating on PSN in Q4 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
More 'sluggish' sales plague Capcom financials
Although titles like Super Street Fighter IV and Monster Hunter Frontier Online showed what Capcom calls "steady growth," LP2 and Monster Hunter Tri only sold at a "sluggish pace." The first two weeks of Ghost Trick sales were also met with disappointment, although the game premiered at number two in its first week of Japanese sales.
The Japanese publisher also lamented "shrinking" US and European markets "under the stagnating economy," as well as fluctuating exchange rates. Though sales across the board were lower than expected, Capcom considers its financial forecast for this fiscal year to be unaffected.
More 'sluggish' sales plague Capcom financials originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
These talking GlaDOS Curiosity Spheres probably want to kill you
Continue reading These talking GlaDOS Curiosity Spheres probably want to kill you
These talking GlaDOS Curiosity Spheres probably want to kill you originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
A daring Dragon's Lair game collection
The picture above contains 47 versions of the game and its sequels. Bolton mentions that the image doesn't contain the whole collection, as a few copies are in storage. We've listed every copy of the game featured in the picture after the break.
Continue reading A daring Dragon's Lair game collection
A daring Dragon's Lair game collection originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Ads featuring new Japanese PS3 spokesperson leek onto internet
Continue reading Ads featuring new Japanese PS3 spokesperson leek onto internet
Ads featuring new Japanese PS3 spokesperson leek onto internet originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Two Worlds 2 'Sordahon's Journey' videos contain vinyl, padding, humility
The series follows the villainous Sordahon as he strives to break free from the shackles of his master and the stigma of the first Two Worlds. Granted, you won't learn a lot about Two Worlds 2, but you're guaranteed a chuckle or two, and it's nice to see game creators poking fun at themselves.
Continue reading Two Worlds 2 'Sordahon's Journey' videos contain vinyl, padding, humility
Two Worlds 2 'Sordahon's Journey' videos contain vinyl, padding, humility originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Go behind the scenes with Red Dead Redemption's accompanists
Continue reading Go behind the scenes with Red Dead Redemption's accompanists
Go behind the scenes with Red Dead Redemption's accompanists originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
This is the third Kane & Lynch comic cover
Continue reading This is the third Kane & Lynch comic cover
This is the third Kane & Lynch comic cover originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
HAWX 2 spreads its wings September 7
In addition to the date (provided to Big Download by Ubi PR), Ubisoft has updated the game's official website (see the "news" page here) with some new I.N.F.O. Unlike the first HAWX, you now have the option to fly at speeds under 1,000 miles per hour. That's ... exciting?
HAWX 2 spreads its wings September 7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the world of video games
I got a chance earlier this week to sit down with director Edgar Wright, Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O'Malley, and the movie's cast to talk about the flick, video games in general and how mainstream audiences will react to seeing games used onscreen in this way. We also got some new insight on the retro-style Scott Pilgrim vs. The World game.
Continue reading Scott Pilgrim vs. the world of video games
Scott Pilgrim vs. the world of video games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
SOCOM 4 takes its fight to 2011
"While we're certainly aware that you've been looking forward to playing SOCOM 4 this year, we don't want to take any shortcuts. Instead, we want to deliver the best and most immersive SOCOM game we possibly can and we're going to use our extra time to do just that," read the statement,
SCEA's senior corporate communications director, Patrick Seybold, told Joystiq, "We can confirm that SOCOM 4 will be released in 2011. The team is focusing on additional features which will help to deliver the most compelling and immersion SOCOM experience yet. Please look out for further updates and announcements over the coming months."
As soon as a more specific release window for the title is announced, you'll read it here.
[Thanks, Solace]
SOCOM 4 takes its fight to 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Metalocalypse: Dethgame bangs its head no more
We've followed up with Konami to confirm, but it looks like Dethgame ain't happening. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a Hatredcopter to board and a target to attack that has nothing to do with this news. Nope, nothing whatsoever.
Metalocalypse: Dethgame bangs its head no more originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
IO Interactive takes us behind the scenes of Kane & Lynch 2
Unfortunately, the issues named are things like "cover system," "aiming and shooting," and "AI," which kind of ... worries us. That said, art director Rasmus Poulsen promises the game is going to be "so visceral, so intense, so in your face, that you're gonna be left without any skin left." So, you know, there's that. Join us behind the scenes just after the break, won't you?
Continue reading IO Interactive takes us behind the scenes of Kane & Lynch 2
IO Interactive takes us behind the scenes of Kane & Lynch 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.