Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/JoystiqThe Joystiq Podcast combines insightful commentary on the week's video game news and culture with several disembodied, often spooky, voices. Voices may or may not belong to Chris Grant, Ludwig Kietzmann, Joystiq.com editors, or their guests. Spookiness not guaranteed where prohibited, please check local laws. More information available at www.joystiq.comSting, Tool join Guitar Hero World Tour's lineuphttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/sting-tool-join-guitar-hero-world-tours-lineup/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/sting-tool-join-guitar-hero-world-tours-lineup/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/sting-tool-join-guitar-hero-world-tours-lineup/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Joining Hendrix, Ozzy and others, Sting will be walking around the virtual concert halls of Guitar Hero World Tour. According to the press release, you can play as Sting during the vocal career "or play alongside him" in the Police track, "Demolition Man." Additionally, three songs from Tool (who are not bringing their likenesses to the game) have been confirmed: Parabola, Schism, Vicarious.

We now know about 65 tracks of the reported "over 85" tracks. With about seven weeks to go before its October 26 North American launch, when do we get to learn the rest of the tracklist? More importantly, where's our virtual likeness of Lars Ulrich?
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]]>activisionguitar-heroguitar-hero-world-tourneversoftstingtoolFri, 05 Sep 2008 14:20:00 ESTVenJuvo's Trade4Cause sends old console's value to charityhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/venjuvos-trade4cause-sends-old-consoles-value-to-charity/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/venjuvos-trade4cause-sends-old-consoles-value-to-charity/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/venjuvos-trade4cause-sends-old-consoles-value-to-charity/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


We're starting to head into the holiday season, which means our collective capitalist guilt tells us it's time to start thinking about the less fortunate for five seconds as we spend $4 on a Frappuccino. Electronics trade-in site VenJuvo.com is now offering its Trade4Cause program. The program appears to be fairly painless: Pick your console from the list (we did the PS2), get a quote on its value ($35), choose the charity from the dropdown menu to receive the donation, print the shipping label, pack and send. The company tests the product once it's received and donates the payment on your behalf to the charity.

Another nice touch is that if the charity you're looking for isn't on the company's list, there's also the option of filling in the organization's information. Obviously, we're big fans of Child's Play, but there are plenty of other worthwhile gamer-centric causes out there. VenJuvo also has a no-cost recycling program for products that qualify, just in case you're looking to be charitable to our little planet this holiday.
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]]>charityrecycletrade4causevenjuvoThu, 04 Sep 2008 05:00:00 ESTFour more GH World Tour tracks leak, Aussie release date revealedhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/four-more-gh-wt-tracks-leak-aussie-release-date-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/four-more-gh-wt-tracks-leak-aussie-release-date-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/four-more-gh-wt-tracks-leak-aussie-release-date-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It may seem odd that we're still talking about leaking Guitar Hero World Tour tracks, especially when we've had a full set list for the competing Rock Band 2 for months now (heck, we've had the whole thing ranked by difficulty for a week). Nonetheless, four more included tracks were revealed at an Activision press conference in New Zealand. The newly revealed songs (as reported by Gamespot) are:
In addition, the event revealed a Nov. 12 release date for the game in Australia. With 64 tracks already confirmed by various sources, we have to wonder when the rest of the reported "over 85" tracks will finally be revealed.
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]]>activisionghwtguitar-heroguitar-hero-world-tourred-octaneThu, 04 Sep 2008 01:00:00 ESTClassic rockers re-record tracks for Guitar Hero World Tourhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/classic-rockers-re-record-tracks-for-guitar-hero-world-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/classic-rockers-re-record-tracks-for-guitar-hero-world-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/classic-rockers-re-record-tracks-for-guitar-hero-world-tour/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Who says you can't teach old bands new tracks? (Insert groans from audience). Activision sent word today that the Guitar Hero World Tour track list will include three classic songs that have been re-recorded just recently. First off, MC5's 40-year-old classic "Kick Out the Jams" has been "updated and modernized" by MC5's Wayne Kramer, with help from Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell and Guns 'N' Roses Gilby Clark. The Sex Pistols will be offering up a newly recorded version of 1969's "Pretty Vacant" and Motörhead came back to the studio to re-record their 1979 hit "Overkill" for the game.

Activision is casting these re-recorded classics as a way for fans to get "a unique experience of old yet new legendary sounds." Still, we have to wonder if the decision might have had more to do with missing or incomplete master recordings, a problem that afflicted the "Who's Next" DLC that was planned for Rock Band. Either way, it's nice to see some classic rock stars coming together to support a thoroughly modern interpretation of their songs. If only they all felt that way.
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]]>activisionghwtguitar-heroguitar-hero-world-tourred-octaneWed, 03 Sep 2008 19:30:00 ESTSmashing Pumpkins single to debut as GH: World Tour DLChttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/smashing-pumpkins-single-to-debut-as-gh-world-tour-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/smashing-pumpkins-single-to-debut-as-gh-world-tour-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/smashing-pumpkins-single-to-debut-as-gh-world-tour-dlc/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Aural squash annihilation news now, with Activision already promoting Guitar Hero: World Tour DLC in the form of a Smashing Pumpkins track pack. In addition to the hits "1979" and "The Everlasting Gaze," the downloadable pack will feature the exclusive debut of a new single dubbed "G.L.O.W." Unsurprisingly, you can expect the content to become available for download sometime after the game's launch later this year.

Those hoping to find lead singer Billy Corgan on the game's disc won't be disappointed either as, well, he's actually on there. Corgan will appear as an in-game and undoubtedly creepy character, singing and gyrating (probably) through the band's "Today," or whatever other career song you choose to fling at him. Be gentle.
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]]>ActivisionDLCGuitar-HeroGuitar-Hero-World-TourPSNXbox-LiveTue, 02 Sep 2008 17:00:00 ESTNew Games This Month: Sept. 2008http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/new-games-this-month-sept-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/new-games-this-month-sept-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/02/new-games-this-month-sept-2008/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Wow. We know we talked about it in our weekly new games post, but the fall is in full swing. We're featuring 17 big releases this month, and we didn't even have room for all of the ones we wanted to talk about. Is the first time we're going to go broke in September?

By the way, we're not complaining.

New Games This Month: September 2008







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]]>joystiqfeaturesnew-games-monthlyTue, 02 Sep 2008 13:00:00 ESTMetareview - Mercenaries 2: World in Flameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/metareview-mercenaries-2-world-in-flames/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/metareview-mercenaries-2-world-in-flames/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/metareview-mercenaries-2-world-in-flames/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


No doubt your eyes have already darted to that score at the bottom, recoiling in shock at the sight of a number so low, it actually manages to spell something: catastrophe. Five out of ten? What happened?

Well, it seems not everybody is blown away by Mercenaries 2 and its highly delayed destructive, open-world gameplay. Most reviews think the game accomplishes what it set out to do (i.e. set charges and blow the world to smoldering smithereens), but there's an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the supposedly shallow combat, dubious AI, the adherence to the previous game's formula and, of course, the bugs.
  • 1UP (B+): "While Mercs doesn't do anything particularly new or interesting, the formula is inherently fun (as long as you enjoy blowing things up like I do). I can keep complaining about the quirks -- ridiculously repetitive voice samples from NPCs, a climax that consists of a trial-and-error button-pushing session -- but the wealth of smaller problems are insubstantial in light of the effective fundamentals."
  • IGN (79/100): "For every time I cursed the stupid AI, I cheered at the demolition of another building. For every bug that got me stuck in some bushes, there was an attack chopper waiting to be jacked. If Mercenaries 2 had more polish, it would have been a great game. As is, it's still worth playing - and enjoyable - but falls far short of its promise."
  • WorthPlaying (76/100): "Cars will flip for no reason, your character's legs will get stuck in the environment, things will explode for no reason, etc. It's impossible to play without encountering bugs on a regular basis."
  • Eurogamer (50/100): "We'd now go a little further than that: apart from some cool explosive effects and solid controls, Mercenaries 2 is utterly mediocre in almost every sense that matters. From the initial sorties onwards it's bogged down by the worst kind of brain-dead cannon fodder enemies, lead-you-by-the-hand level design, arbitrary boundaries, and some technical howlers."
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]]>EAMercenariesMercenaries-2PandemicMon, 01 Sep 2008 19:30:00 ESTNew games this week: Mercenaries 2 editionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/new-games-this-week-mercenaries-2-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/new-games-this-week-mercenaries-2-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/new-games-this-week-mercenaries-2-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We hate to be the ones to break the news to you, but, with the season still three weeks away, the fall onslaught has officially begun. The biggest release is the oft-delayed Mercenaries 2, sure, put you've also got a new Viva Pinata, Trouble in Paradise, and Facebreaker, which ... well, at least it has Snoop Dogg in it.

See the rest of the week's releases right after the jump.
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Continue reading New games this week: Mercenaries 2 edition

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]]>eamercenaries-2mercenaries-2-world-in-flamesnewgamespandemicMon, 01 Sep 2008 11:00:00 ESTJapanese hardware sales, Aug. 18 - Aug. 24: Packs 2008 editionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/japanese-hardware-sales-aug-18-aug-24-packs-2008-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/japanese-hardware-sales-aug-18-aug-24-packs-2008-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/japanese-hardware-sales-aug-18-aug-24-packs-2008-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


It was an easy enough mistake to make, really. After forty-eight hours of driving, the exit to Tacoma, Washington, looks terribly similar to the exit to Seattle. Eyes made weary from two straight days of travel could easily confuse a radio tower for the Space Needle. The absence of a Starbucks on every street corner should have been a dead giveaway, but my typically keen observation skills weren't at their sharpest following my lengthy PAX-bound pilgrimage. Yes, unrelenting fatigue had brought me to Tacoma -- but some other force, be it fate or coincidence, had arranged for the 2008 Packs Convention to kick off in tandem with my accidental arrival.

I would later discover that the Packs Convention (or PacksCon, as their annual attendees have affectionately nicknamed it) was not, in fact, a video game expo hosted by the creators of a certain wildly popular webcomic. It was a celebration of portable textile containers; an unparalleled trade show for backpacks, fanny packs, attache cases, satchels, purses, man purses, handbags, duffel bags, gym bags, totes, luggage, and rucksacks. Booths lined the halls of the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, representing major players in the industry and their experimental designs. Though not my intended destination, I was fortunate enough to witness the future during the past 72 hours -- and the future involves edible briefcases.

It wasn't until I was halfway through yesterday's Jansport panel that I had realized the mix-up. Cursing my ambitious travel arrangements, the PacksCon administrators, and the concept of homonyms, I began to wonder if there would be a major gaming convention this year that I wouldn't miss out on. However, I found some small amount of solace in my newfound knowledge of the textile container industry -- and, following a number of grief purchases, how incredibly easy it was to store my belongings for the long trip home.

- DS Lite: 55,995 22,671 (28.82%)
- PSP: 47,604 16,809 (26.10%)
- Wii: 35,173 17,863 (33.68%)
- PS3: 9,020 2,373 (20.83%)
- PS2: 8,420 1,748 (17.19%)
- Xbox 360: 3,551 3,807 (51.74%)

[Source: Media Create]

See: The travel-weary archives
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]]>japanese-hardware-salesjapanesehardwaresalesSun, 31 Aug 2008 22:00:00 ESTGuitar Hero director knocks Rock Band 2 cymbalshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/guitar-hero-director-knocks-rock-band-2-cymbals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/guitar-hero-director-knocks-rock-band-2-cymbals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/guitar-hero-director-knocks-rock-band-2-cymbals/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We knew that as we came closer to the games' respective release dates, the feud between Harmonix/EA's Rock Band 2 and Neversoft/Activision's Guitar Hero: World Tour would reach critical mass. In the quarrel's latest smack talk salvo, Guitar Hero director Brian Bright discussed rival Harmonix's cymbal attachments for their sequel's drum kit peripheral with Eurogamer, providing some highly quotable zingers -- and buddy, we don't mean snack cakes.

Bright condemns Rock Band 2's cymbals for being "dual-mapped", meaning they'll share the functions of one of the pads of the standard kit, making the attachments somewhat unneccessary. He also dismisses them for being a panicked copycat reaction to World Tour's cymbal-equipped kit -- based on the familiar gameplay we've seen from the latest installment in the Guitar Hero franchise, we assume Neversoft would be the unparalleled experts on matters duplicative.
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]]>activisioncymbalseaguitar-hero-world-tourharmonixneversoftrock-band-2Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:00:00 ESTLego Batman cartoon coming, same Lego Bat-time, same Lego Bat-Channel!http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/lego-batman-cartoon-coming-same-lego-bat-time-same-lego-bat-ch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/lego-batman-cartoon-coming-same-lego-bat-time-same-lego-bat-ch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/lego-batman-cartoon-coming-same-lego-bat-time-same-lego-bat-ch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Lego Batman is going to use his grappling hook to swing from consoles to television screens sometime in the near future. Traveller's Tales producer Rich Earl dropped the news that an unnamed studio is working on a spinoff animated show. Right now, it's a one-off 20 minute production, but they're undoubtedly looking to make it into a series. You've got Lego, you've got Batman... what else do you need?

We wouldn't mind seeing an Indiana Jones and the Mysterious Lego show either. The tongue-in-cheek humor that appears in these games is perfect for animated shows, and it could prep young, malleable minds to become Robot Chicken fans down the line. Speaking of which, where's Robot Chicken: The Game? Curse you television, for warping our young minds. Now pass us that video game controller.
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]]>BatmanLegoLego-BatmanFri, 29 Aug 2008 07:00:00 ESTPS3 Fanboy gets its hands on Starpex's wooden guitarhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/ps3-fanboy-gets-its-hands-on-starpexs-wooden-guitar/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/ps3-fanboy-gets-its-hands-on-starpexs-wooden-guitar/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/ps3-fanboy-gets-its-hands-on-starpexs-wooden-guitar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Our friends at PS3 Fanboy recently had a chance to try out the guitar equivalent of the ION Drum Rocker: Starpex's premium (i.e. not plastic) guitar controller, which more or less looks like a gutted Fender Stratocaster. Their verdict is that the Starpex plays very well, but the $180 price tag is likely to turn off more than a few people. Bonus points for being fully compatible with both Guitar Hero and Rock Band, but no word on an Xbox 360 version. The Starpex will be available for PlayStation 3 and PS2 rockers, with a Wii version reportedly on the way later.

Gallery: Starpex Guitar

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]]>guitarguitar-heropeakrock-bandstarpexThu, 28 Aug 2008 10:15:00 ESTRock Band 2 getting full albums from Foo Fighters, Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, morehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/rock-band-2-getting-full-albums-from-foo-fighters-chili-peppers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/rock-band-2-getting-full-albums-from-foo-fighters-chili-peppers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/rock-band-2-getting-full-albums-from-foo-fighters-chili-peppers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Rather than parsing the info out in tantalizing nuggets, Harmonix/MTV has just given us an expansive look at the future of Rock Band, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly. The magazine revealed six of the full albums headed to Rock Band 2, which we'll now happily pass along to you:
  • Foo Fighters -- "The Colour and the Shape"
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers -- "Blood Sugar Sex Magik"
  • Jane's Addiction -- "Nothing's Shocking"
  • Megadeth -- "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying"
  • Stevie Ray Vaughn -- "Texas Flood"
The last album is a best-of No Doubt compilation made specifically for the game. Rather than try to impose our own musical tastes on you, we'll just pass the mic your way and ask which of those records has your head banging in anticipation.

[Thanks, Jon]
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]]>BreakingNewsdlceaharmonixmtvrock-bandrock-band-2Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:15:00 ESTJoystiq hands-on: Guitar Hero World Tourhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/joystiq-hands-on-guitar-hero-world-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/joystiq-hands-on-guitar-hero-world-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/joystiq-hands-on-guitar-hero-world-tour/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

"Hang on a minute," I thought as I played Guitar Hero: World Tour at Activision's booth at the Leipzig Games Convention, "Isn't this Rock Band?" The layout on the World Tour screen is almost identical to Harmonix's series, with the guitars on either side, the drums scrolling down the middle (with the same horizontal bars displaying bass notes, except in World Tour they're purple, not orange) and the vocals on top. The star power meter, along with the rock meter, is kept in the top left, which means that if you're playing drums or bass guitar, it's not very easy to see.

It took a little while to get used to the drums. The two-tier structure with the cymbals feels great, but can be slightly confusing at first. The drums are a lot bouncier than the Rock Band ones, making them not only quieter, but more fun to play. With Rock Band, the bounce seems to come more from the way the sticks are held, rather than out of the structural nature of the pads. Not hearing the constant thok, thok is definitely preferable too, as anyone who has bought silencing pads for their Rock Band drums will know. [Editor's note: Rock Band 2 also features quieter, bouncier drums.]
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Continue reading Joystiq hands-on: Guitar Hero World Tour

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]]>activisionguitar-heroguitar-hero-world-tourjoystiqfeaturesleipzig-08lgc08neversoftWed, 27 Aug 2008 19:50:00 ESTFan's Labyrinth: del Toro approves of Team ICOhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/fans-labyrinth-del-toro-approves-of-team-ico/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/fans-labyrinth-del-toro-approves-of-team-ico/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/fans-labyrinth-del-toro-approves-of-team-ico/#commentsFiled under: ,

In an interview with Edge, Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy director Guillermo del Toro establishes two very interesting facts:
  1. del Toro, who has been enamored with gaming's charming beeps and boops since the days of Pong, lavishes a considerable amount of praise on Sony's Team ICO. "There are only two games I consider masterpieces," he says. "Ico and Shadow of the Colossus."
  2. The popular filmmaker has excellent taste in games.
Those are far from the only titles he appreciates, however, as he tells Edge that he "absolutely loved BioShock." In addition, he approves of Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and Silent Hill, which he likens in particular to a "Lynch, Polanski or Romero type of horror experience." It seems our only point of disagreement can be found in his "happy" working experience with Konami's Hellboy: The Science of Evil. Nobody's perfect, eh?

[Via PS3 Fanboy]
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]]>Guillermo-del-ToroIcoPans-LabyrinthShadow-of-the-ColossusTeam-IcoWed, 27 Aug 2008 19:20:00 ESTJoystiq interview: Guitar Hero World Tour's Brian Brighthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/joystiq-interview-guitar-hero-world-tours-brian-bright/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/joystiq-interview-guitar-hero-world-tours-brian-bright/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/joystiq-interview-guitar-hero-world-tours-brian-bright/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We spent almost at an entire day at the Activision booth at Leipzig, playing and chatting with developers. They had a decent bunch of games to show to us, though the big attraction was Guitar Hero: World Tour. Before getting a go on the drums and guitar (check back later for our full hands-on) we had a natter with project director Brian Bright to learn more about some of the game's more web 2.0 features.

So I noticed when you were going through the track maker during the press conference that it didn't look like you could record vocals. Is it possible to do that?

You can record vocals while you're playing, so that you can create real songs, voice and all. If you also add a keyboard track to the song, this will act as the vocal melody. Obviously, it won't read what words you're saying, you'll just be able to hum along. But you can do the same with any singing game available now.
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Continue reading Joystiq interview: Guitar Hero World Tour's Brian Bright

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]]>activisionguitar-heroguitar-hero-world-tourjoystiqfeaturesleipzig-08lgc08neversoftTue, 26 Aug 2008 09:58:00 EST18+ hour boss battles nixed from Final Fantasy XIhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/18-hour-boss-battles-nixed-from-final-fantasy-xi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/18-hour-boss-battles-nixed-from-final-fantasy-xi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/18-hour-boss-battles-nixed-from-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We've heard of 18-hour bras, but 18-hour boss battles? Ridiculous! A couple weeks back, we reported on a Final Fantasy XII guild that attempted to take down one of the game's new big bads, the Pandemonium Warden, only to succumb to fatigue, hunger, sleep deprivation, and general near-deathness at the 18-hour mark. Square Enix now says it has heard the fan outcry against the idea of such longevity-rich enemies and is fixing things.

"In response to these events, we have determined that further alterations are required to prevent such battles from exceeding a certain predetermined length of time," reads the latest community update from PlayOnline. What will these "alterations" consist of? "Included in the version update scheduled for early September will be modifications to the degree of difficulty of Pandemonium Warden (and associated pets), Absolute Virtue (and associated pets), and Jailer of Love. The aim of these changes is to create battles where a decisive outcome may be reached within a shorter period of time."

Square's statement also reaffirmed the company's continued "commitment to a healthy and wholesome game environment." You know, one where players aren't passing out while playing.

[Via Massively]
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]]>final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xipatchsquare-enixTue, 26 Aug 2008 03:01:00 ESTNew games this week: Tales of Vesperia editionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/new-games-this-week-tales-of-vesperia-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/new-games-this-week-tales-of-vesperia-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/new-games-this-week-tales-of-vesperia-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We had a little trouble picking our favorite release this week. Though Mario Super Sluggers made a compelling case, in the end, we had to go with the little game that helped the 360 rise, phoenix-like from the ashes in Japan (before, you know, it dug right back in to those comfy ashes the following week): Tales of Vesperia.

Portable players get some good news this week too with the handheld release of N+. Check the full list right after the break.
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Continue reading New games this week: Tales of Vesperia edition

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

]]>new-gamesnewgamestales-of-vesperiaMon, 25 Aug 2008 08:00:00 ESTJapanese hardware sales, Aug. 11 - Aug. 17: Back to school editionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/japanese-hardware-sales-aug-11-aug-17-back-to-school-editi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/japanese-hardware-sales-aug-11-aug-17-back-to-school-editi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/japanese-hardware-sales-aug-11-aug-17-back-to-school-editi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Here's a fun fact you may not be aware of -- a majority of Joystiq's readers fall into the 65 - 80-year-old age bracket, explaining why a majority of our ads are for prescription arthritis medication, Stouffer's Seasoned Bread Stuffing, and seasons of Matlock on DVD. As such, only a select few of you know that many schools across the country will be back in session tomorrow. The anguish among the nation's young people is almost tangible -- excluding those whose schools operate on a quarterly schedule, or homeschoolers, or Guitar Hero aficionados with irresponsible hippie parents.

With all the superb, high-quality games that dropped this summer, we wouldn't blame you for feeling like your scholastic minds aren't exactly at their sharpest. Instead of doing your summer reading of The Sun Also Rises or attending your bi-weekly Algebra Club meetings, you focused your attention on moving up the ranks of Battlefield: Bad Company or toiling through the story modes of Soul Calibur IV. Luckily, the repercussions of your educational neglect aren't as severe as you might fear -- somewhat subliminally, these Japanese hardware sales posts have provided subtle instruction over the long, humid summer months.

Don't believe us? Perhaps you don't recall the various history lessons we've snuck into your consciousness. It seems you also don't realize the firm understanding of the statistical sciences we've surreptitiously imbued into your unaware mind. How quickly you've forgotten the important baking lesson that will certainly serve you well as you enter your incredibly challenging Home Economics course. Finally, think back to the valuable lessons of acceptance, resourcefulness, and stick-to-itiveness we imparted as we faced our own work-related hardships.

Hemingway is for the birds; we'd wager that as you grace the halls of your learning establishment tomorrow morning, you'll find yourself better equipped than your contemporaries for the mental challenges provided by your educators -- and for that, we have just one thing to say. You're very, very welcome.

- DS Lite: 78,666 18,232 (30.17%)
- PSP: 64,413 5,912 (10.11%)
- Wii: 53,036 14,530 (37.73%)
- PS3: 11,393 1,720 (17.78%)
- PS2: 10,168 1,665 (19.58%)
- Xbox 360: 7,358 17,604 (70.52%)

[Source: Media Create]

See: The scholastic archives
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]]>japanese-hardware-salesjapanesehardwaresalesSun, 24 Aug 2008 20:30:00 ESTNew Tomb Raider: Underworld footage is Thai-tastichttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/new-tomb-raider-underworld-footage-is-thai-tastic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/new-tomb-raider-underworld-footage-is-thai-tastic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/new-tomb-raider-underworld-footage-is-thai-tastic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We're so jealous of Lara Croft. Not for her frequent adventures, or her physical fitness, or her swanky pad, or even her loyal manservant -- with the lifestyle and wages of a professional video game blogger, all of those things become readily available. There's one aspect of her life we still manage to covet, however -- her international travels. Sure, we occasionally get to head to the west coast, or Germany, but in her latest title, Tomb Raider: Underworld, Ms. Croft manages to hit up Mexico, the Arctic Sea, and in the above video, the lush jungles of Thailand.

The sneak preview features some excellent shots of the second level of Underworld, not to mention a fantastic look at Lara's beautiful ... platforming animation. Considering the unlikelihood of the Thailand Video Game Expo ever existing, we regret to admit that it's probably the closest we'll ever come to The Land of Smiles.
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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

]]>crystal-dynamicseidoslara-croftthailandtomb-raider-underworldtrailerSat, 23 Aug 2008 19:30:00 EST