You know, we always thought GLaDOS ran the Portal simulation just so she could discover the true value of friendship, but it may really have been in the name of public service. In the video after the break — created by Freddie Wong, who you probably recognize from his ridiculous (and hilarious) Guitar Hero video — we get a glimpse at the likely ramifications of improper Portal gun training and how a few apathetic “friends” can ruin one of the most exciting experiences ever. And here, all this time, we thought GLaDOS was the bad guy!
Note: For those of you who spot that weird frame at the end of the video — yep, with all that gibberish — don’t bother to decipher it. It’s apparently just another gag from Freddie and “friends.” Yuk-yuk-yuk.
Continue reading PSA: Portal guns are for trained professionals only
PSA: Portal guns are for trained professionals only originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Bodycount says: One! One new gallery of screens from Codies’ new IP
Taking aim at the “whack-a-mole mechanics” of your typical cover-based shooter, Codemasters is finally ready to take the wraps off Bodycount, the new first-person shooter IP in production at Codemasters Studios Guildford under the direction of Black creator Stuart Black. “Our shredding tech enables us to create a different kind of gameplay, where players and AI can’t hide behind indestructible cover,” says Black. “Here the environment is constantly changing as the game world is shot to hell; it’s going to be a huge amount of fun.”
That huge amount of fun will be built on the EGO Game Technology Platform, an evolution of Codemasters’ EGO Engine, for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The story has something to do with killing ‘Targets’ – those are the bad guys – on behalf of the ‘Network’ – ostensibly the good guys. In addition to a full campaign, Bodycount will feature expected FPS enhancements like online multiplayer and co-op modes.
Codies’ “first internally produced new IP for many years” will be shredding environments in Q1 2011. We’ll let executive producer – and former Sony London director – Tom Gillo have the last comically hyperbolic word on Bodycount: “From the jaw-dropping devastation caused by firing into enemies or shredding the world around you in a hail of bullets, Bodycount will crystalize that moment of pulling the trigger into an exhilarating sensory overload of action.”
Bodycount confirmed for Xbox 360, PS3; early 2011 release originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s been an incredibly busy and surprising week for PC games — and GDC hasn’t even started yet! Let’s check out what’s been happening in the last seven days, shall we:
Exclusive features
- Star Trek Online review: We give our final verdict to Cryptic’s latest MMO effort.
- Boot Disk: Our retro games feature checks out Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2.
- All You Need To Know: We give you the big facts surrounding Command and Conquer 4.
- Freeware Friday: This week’s free PC game is the unusual indie title Rescue: The Beagles.
- Contests: We still have a few beta keys to give away for Mytheon.
Continue reading The Best of Big Download: March 1-7
The Best of Big Download: March 1-7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Over the next two days, a significant chunk of the Joystiq staff will be boarding planes, trains and dirigibles, all heading towards the sunny environs of San Francisco for GDC 2010. Of course, the folks aboard the dirigibles will probably arrive a few weeks late, because airships outside of the Final Fantasy canon are awfully slow. Except, of course, for the one Balloon Boy almost made his maiden voyage in. Then again, we suppose its top speed was boosted by the fact that there wasn’t actually a child in its undercarriage. Wait, what were we talking about? Oh, yeah — GDC! Be there.
Below are our seven favorite webcomics from this past week. Check them out, and vote for your favorite after the jump. We’ll tally up the votes on Friday, provided we’re not too busy getting beaten up for all the mean things we’ve said about various games this past year.
Dr. Wily’s Blueprints (Brawl in the Family)
Modern Business (Digital Unrest)
ApocalyPS3: Party Like It’s 1999 (Another Video Game Webcomic)
Suck My Brock (Dueling Analogs)
Halo: ODTB (Virtual Shackles)
The Next Chapter (Penny Arcade)
We Require More Beta Codes (Monday Night Crew)
Continue reading Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is packing its bags tonight, pre-flight
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is packing its bags tonight, pre-flight originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Open up that 40 oz. of Bawls and pour one out for Walter Day, who just this past week announced his intentions to retire as head of the gaming world’s official scorekeepers, Twin Galaxies. In an interview conducted by TG’s Josh Houslander, the regularly pinstripe-clad referee and musician took the time to not only spell out his future plans (he’s focusing on his music), but also detail the upcoming inauguration of the International Video Game Hall of Fame and Museum in Ottumwa, Iowa (a town in Iowa that’s vying for the title you see above).
“I like to dream big and shoot for the stars, and that’s what I’m doing now,” Day says in the lengthy video interview (found in full after the break). He says that he’ll be on hand for the inaugural ceremonies on August 5 – 8, but in the future, Day will be little more than an attendee at various Twin Galaxies events. Everyone here at Joystiq would like to wish Day the best in his future endeavors.
[Via GameSetWatch]
Continue reading Walter Day retires from Twin Galaxies, gaming hall of fame to be opened
Walter Day retires from Twin Galaxies, gaming hall of fame to be opened originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Click to enlargeBackbreaker may be the greatest football game no one will ever play. While I can attempt to detail its incredible use of the Euphoria physics engine, its spectacular graphics and truly innovative gameplay, all these features are moot thanks to the crippling fact that the game does not have the NFL license. Without the license, the annual Madden devotee won’t have this on his (or her!) radar — ironic, because Backbreaker makes good on the lofty promises of Madden 06’s teased “CG movie” effect, which EA Sports has yet to deliver on, even four years later.
It’s easy to get jaded about sports games as they iterate, releasing slightly improved games year after year. We’ve grown accustomed to complacency. But simply watch a video of Backbreaker and you’ll probably agree: this game is a breath of fresh air no one expected from the genre. It goes to show that with proper competition, there’s a lot of room for innovation.
Perhaps the most obvious thing to discuss are Backbreaker’s animations, powered by the same tech used in Grand Theft Auto IV and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Euphoria allows game characters to react to their virtual environment and create dynamic animations. Unlike canned ragdolls, these animations are surprisingly lifelike, and because they can be generated on the fly, ensure the game feels spontaneous. Backbreaker has one huge advantage over games like The Force Unleashed, though: it’s developed by NaturalMotion, the studio that made the Euphoria tech.
Continue reading Impressions: Backbreaker
Impressions: Backbreaker originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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True champions of the Omegathon have always had to rely on skill to preserve them. But in the PAX East 2010 edition of the event, the oft-cruel hand of fate will play a much larger role. As revealed today, competitors will be selected (at random!) at the convention and then partnered up (purely by chance!). Once paired, the 32 combatants will be put through the following grueling trials:
Round 1: Mario Kart: Double Dash
Round 2: Geometry Wars 2
The Semi-Finals: A Rhythm Game
The Final Round: A Mystery!
The lucky duo that escapes fate’s grasp will walk away with tickets, airfare and hotel accommodations for GAMESCOM and $2,500 a piece. But is that prize worth tempting chance’s unpredictable wrath? … Well, yeah, pretty much.
PAX East 2010 Omegathon in the hands of fate originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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According to Gamasutra, a recently released report from the NPD Group claims online gaming increased by 10 percent in 2009. Furthermore, the number of games purchased via digital distribution increased by 20 percent in the same period, marking a 19 percent increase over the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of gamers that play online decreased by 2 percent. The overall increase in online gaming was the result of gamers playing online longer — an average of eight hours per week, up from 7.3 the previous year.
Breaking it down by platform, the PC sees the most use overall with 85 percent of PC owners playing online. Among gaming consoles, the Xbox takes the online cake, with 43 percent playing it online. The PS3 and Wii both tie at 30 percent, though it’s worth noting that PS3 online use is up 10 percent over the previous year.
The question has to be asked: What are all those Wii owners playing? There can’t be that many copies of Mario Kart Wii out there. Oh, wait …
NPD: Online gaming up 10 percent in US originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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If you’re the sort who can get as far as “shows jet packs” and want to read these words rather than just going below the break and watching a purported Halo Reach beta trailer from a Taiwanese site called GNN for yourself, there’s just nothing we can do for you. So we’re just going to assume you’ve watched it.
That said … DUDE! Jet packs! Assassinations! Load outs! New modes! The only feature Bungie forgot to list that was also included in that trailer? Like 50 million boners.
This is the part where we have to say that since it’s not official, we don’t know for a fact it’s real. But if it’s not on the level, it’s the most elaborate video hoax in all of human kind (except for the moon landing). Tell you what, you let us worry about stuff like that. Meanwhile, why don’t you start digging through the clip and let us know what else you find in the comments.
[Via Game Informer]
Continue reading Leaked Halo Reach Beta trailer shows jet packs, assassinations
Leaked Halo Reach Beta trailer shows jet packs, assassinations originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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First, a mom hit the jackpot when one of the random games she was selling with an old NES turned out to be Bandai’s super-rare Stadium Events, which went on eBay for $13.105. Following the excitement about that auction, someone else sold their sealed copy of the NES exercise game (which you’ve most likely played under its other name, World Class Track Meet) for a staggering $41,300. And then it got ridiculous.
Seller acuraboi12’s sealed Stadium Events reached a high bid of $800,200. Unfortunately for acuraboi12, we doubt that’s anything but a joke bid. We may be in the midst of an odd Stadium Events gold rush, but that is beyond excessive, considering that the previous $41,300 was the highest known price commanded by an NES game to date. Not even Bubble Bath Babes could command $800k, and it’s got nudity.
[Thanks, NiteOwl]
Stadium Events auction hits an unbelievable $800K originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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