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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><itunes:author>Joystiq</itunes:author><itunes:image href="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/Joystiq_podcast_cover.png" /><itunes:summary>The Joystiq Podcast combines insightful commentary on the week&apos;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.com</itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Games &amp; Hobbies"><itunes:category text="Video Games" /></itunes:category><item><title>Sins of a Solar Empire sells 500,000 copies</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/sins-of-a-solar-empire-sells-500-000-copies/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/sins-of-a-solar-empire-sells-500-000-copies/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/sins-of-a-solar-empire-sells-500-000-copies/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20026"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/sinsofasolarempiresmain.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Stardock has revealed that its sleeper PC hit <a href="http://joystiq.com/tag/sins-of-a-solar-empire"><em>Sins of a Solar Empire</em></a> has sold over half a million copies. The company's CEO Brad Wardell tells <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20026">Gamasutra</a> that 400,000 units were sold at retail, while 100,000 in sales came from digital downloads. Not bad for a full-bodied PC strategy game that cost less than a million dollars to make.<br /><br />Wardell is certainly becoming an <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/sins-publisher-stardock-keeps-piracy-in-perspective/">interesting</a> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/joystiq-interview-demigod-sins-and-the-death-of-pc-gaming/">character</a> in the narrative of this industry, with relatively small publisher Stardock really <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/stardock">stepping up</a>. He explains part of <em>Sins</em>' success is that it was designed to run on a "four-year-old video card" and still look good. He says there might be a "piddly super-mega effect" that gets missed, but the result is more sales for the game, a strategy which sounds similar to <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/world-of-warcraft-will-slowly-update-graphics-to-stay-fresh/">Blizzard's take</a> on being a PC developer. <em>Sins</em>' first mini-expansion, <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/stardock-reveals-sins-of-a-solar-empire-entrenchment/">Entrenchment</a></em>, will be available for $10 later this year.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://news.bigdownload.com/2008/09/04/over-500-000-total-sins-of-a-solar-empire-units-sold/">Big Download</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/sins-of-a-solar-empire-sells-500-000-copies/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1304498/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/sins-of-a-solar-empire-sells-500-000-copies/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>expansions</category><category>impulse</category><category>sins-of-a-solar-empire</category><category>stardock</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Surprise!: Spartans are awesome in Halo Wars</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/surprise-spartans-are-awesome-in-halo-wars/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/surprise-spartans-are-awesome-in-halo-wars/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/surprise-spartans-are-awesome-in-halo-wars/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://halowars.com/news/articles/archive/2008/09/02/Halo-Wars_3A00_-Spartans-in-a-Strategy-Game.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/halo-warzzzz-490w.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Though Master Chief is little more than an <em>adorable baby </em>during the events of <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Halo-Wars/">Halo Wars</a></em>, it should come as no surprise that his Spartan brethren are a pretty big factor on the battlefield. Ensemble recently <a href="http://halowars.com/news/articles/archive/2008/09/02/Halo-Wars_3A00_-Spartans-in-a-Strategy-Game.aspx">went into detail</a> about the role of the Spartan in a fight on their official site.<br /><br />The secret to nailing the right feel for the Spartan according to Ensemble? Not nerfing them. Spartans aren't just dudes in good armor: They're one-man tipping points, able to grab an enemy vehicle and turn the tide. Sounds good to us; now, if there were only some way to get some <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/behold-halo-wars-box-art/">more Spartans</a> on the box.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/09/03/halo-wars-its-all-about-the-spartans/">X3F</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://halowars.com/news/articles/archive/2008/09/02/Halo-Wars_3A00_-Spartans-in-a-Strategy-Game.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/surprise-spartans-are-awesome-in-halo-wars/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1304273/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/surprise-spartans-are-awesome-in-halo-wars/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>ensemble-studios</category><category>halo</category><category>halo-wars</category><category>master-chief</category><category>spartans</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:56:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>PAX 2008 hands-on: Valkyria Chronicles</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-hands-on-valkyria-chronicles/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-hands-on-valkyria-chronicles/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-hands-on-valkyria-chronicles/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/features/" rel="tag">Features</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/valkyriachronicles030908490.jpg" /><br /></div>
<em>Final Fantasy Tactics</em> meets <em>X-Com</em> in a Miyazaki-esque, <em>Advance Wars</em> universe. With watercolors. That's what you get when you play Sega's upcoming strategy RPG, <em>Valkyria Chronicles</em>. The PS3 exclusive is already out in Japan but will be heading West before the end of the year and, from what we saw of the game at PAX, it will be Sega's console gem of the year.<br /><br />We were guided through the game's tutorial by the producer, Christopher Kaminski, who showed off the basic gameplay mechanics. It's a strategy RPG, but there's no grid. Instead, you have a "fuel" meter, which depletes as you move farther, giving the game more of an action RPG feel.<br />%Gallery-30124%<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-hands-on-valkyria-chronicles/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX 2008 hands-on: Valkyria Chronicles</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-hands-on-valkyria-chronicles/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1300183/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/pax-2008-hands-on-valkyria-chronicles/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>hands-on</category><category>impressions</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>pax-08</category><category>pax-2008</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>PS3</category><category>Sega</category><category>valkyria-chronicles</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jem Alexander]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>See PSN title Savage Moon in action</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/see-psn-title-savage-moon-in-action/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/see-psn-title-savage-moon-in-action/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/see-psn-title-savage-moon-in-action/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/39468.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/savage-moon-490w.jpg" /></a><br />
<div align="left"> We've just watched the first, straight-from-PAX video of upcoming PSN title <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Savage-Moon/">Savage Moon</a></em> (don't worry, we've put it after the break for you) and it looks (as Sony said it would) like a sophisticated tower defense game, albeit a <em>really</em> attractive one.<br /><br />We do have one quibble we feel compelled to pass on though: The decision to put crowd noises into the game is a bizarre one. They're almost louder than the guns! C'mon, Sony, get it together! Who wants to hear that?!</div>
</div><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/see-psn-title-savage-moon-in-action/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>See PSN title Savage Moon in action</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/39468.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/see-psn-title-savage-moon-in-action/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1303076/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/see-psn-title-savage-moon-in-action/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>pax-2008</category><category>psn</category><category>savage-moon</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Download Red Alert for free (also legally)</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/download-red-alert-for-free-also-legally/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/download-red-alert-for-free-also-legally/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/download-red-alert-for-free-also-legally/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/retro/" rel="tag">Retro</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.ea.com/redalert/news-detail.jsp?id=62"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/not-very-offensive-hitler-joke.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Apparently convinced that it can no longer make loads of cash from a 13-year-old PC game, publisher EA has combined motivated marketing with measured magnanimity and released real-time strategy classic <em>Command &amp; Conquer: Red Alert</em> for free. Where? Right at the bottom of this <a href="http://www.ea.com/redalert/news-detail.jsp?id=62"><em>Red Alert 3</em> promotional page</a>, which also dangles a free copy of <em>Red Alert 2</em> in front of your nose. To get it, all you need to do is pre-order the game's third, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/red-alert-3-cast-not-likely-to-be-taken-seriously/">deliciously cheesy</a> installment.<br /><br />And hey, if you're not sure what all this <em>Conquer and Command</em> stuff is, now's as good a time as any to shake Hitler by the hand and irrevocably wreck the timeline. <br /><br />[Thanks, <a href="http://screwattack.com/liag">WiNG</a>]<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.ea.com/redalert/news-detail.jsp?id=62>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/download-red-alert-for-free-also-legally/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1301112/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/download-red-alert-for-free-also-legally/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Command-and-Conquer</category><category>EA</category><category>Free</category><category>Red-Alert</category><category>Red-Alert-2</category><category>Red-Alert-3</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>PAX 2008: Count all the pretty pieces in the tabletop gaming gallery</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-count-all-the-pretty-pieces-in-the-tabletop-gaming-gal/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-count-all-the-pretty-pieces-in-the-tabletop-gaming-gal/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-count-all-the-pretty-pieces-in-the-tabletop-gaming-gal/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/puzzle/" rel="tag">Puzzle</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/pax-2008-tabletop-gaming/"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/tabletoppingmain.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
One of the best things about <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/pax-2008">PAX</a> is that it's not just all about video games. There are legions of people who still enjoy doing it old school, and that includes board games, tabletoppers, and RPGs. We witnessed people playing everything from the massive, sprawling, plastic-fest of <a href="http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ti3.html"><em>Twilight Imperium</em></a> to the simple wordplay of <a href="http://www.otb-games.com/apples/apples_partybox.html"><em>Apples to Apples</em></a>. Heck, even the final elimination round of the Omegathon was a <em>Jenga</em> showdown.<br /><br />Check out the gallery below that's filled with people who still love how a pair of dice feels in their hands. To those about to roll, we salute you.<br />%Gallery-30902%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-count-all-the-pretty-pieces-in-the-tabletop-gaming-gal/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1300482/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-count-all-the-pretty-pieces-in-the-tabletop-gaming-gal/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>board-game</category><category>Board-Games</category><category>PAX</category><category>PAX-08</category><category>PAX-2008</category><category>PAX2008</category><category>RPG</category><category>table-top</category><category>tabletop</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Kelly]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>PAX 2008: Omeganaut shows us his special Jenga move</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-omeganaut-shows-us-his-special-jenga-move/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-omeganaut-shows-us-his-special-jenga-move/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-omeganaut-shows-us-his-special-jenga-move/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/puzzle/" rel="tag">Puzzle</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="490" height="410" id="viddler_3e98c05c"><param name="movie" value="http://www.viddler.com/player/3e98c05c/" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://www.viddler.com/player/3e98c05c/" width="490" height="410" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" name="viddler_3e98c05c" ></embed></object> Ben Gray, aka MNC Dover from <a href="http://www.mondaynightcrew.com/">Monday Night Crew</a>, was eliminated from the <a href="http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com/faqs.php#faq15">Omegathon</a> on Saturday, but they were nice enough to let him pass along his words of wisdom, and his ultra-secret <em>Jenga</em> move. If you want to know how to get a leg up on the competition, check out the video above.<br /><br />One thing's for sure, if you use this move you'll never get invited to play <em>Jenga</em> ever again. Which might be exactly what you're looking for.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-omeganaut-shows-us-his-special-jenga-move/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1300634/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-omeganaut-shows-us-his-special-jenga-move/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Ben-Gray</category><category>Jenga</category><category>MNC-Dover</category><category>Omegathon</category><category>PAX</category><category>PAX-08</category><category>PAX-2008</category><category>PAX08</category><category>PAX2008</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Kelly]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:15:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>PAX 2008 hands-on: Demigod</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-hands-on-demigod/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-hands-on-demigod/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-hands-on-demigod/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/features/" rel="tag">Features</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/pax08demigod490.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
Following an interview with Gas Powered Games at <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/pax-2008">PAX 2008</a>, we got some hands on time with their newest creation, <em>Demigod</em>. The first thing we noticed while watching it running on glowing, envy-inducing PCs was how deliberate much of it looked. Everything from the unit/map design to the ease-of-use control scheme oozed hours of careful consideration on developer GPG's part. While the concept of <em>Demigod</em> tends to bewilder many who hear it -- ourselves included -- understanding the idea only took us a few minutes of playing the atypical strategy game.<br /><br />Players only control their <em>Demigod</em> and its set of abilities. Our time was spent with the RPG-style Torchbearer, a Norse flavored character that can switch between ice and fire modes. We were digging his armored-burn-victim look, which just so happened to feature more armor and less burn. The Torchbearer is all about freezing everything before switching to fire and watching the screen light up as your enemies burn. Our magical offensive certainly got us some kills, but it wasn't moving the battlefront at all. Once we began to work more attentively with our AI-controlled troops of the non-Skynet variety, the battle quickly shifted to our favor.<br /><br />Our actions in-game where peppered by murmurs of, "Oh, whoa." and "I want this game, now" from various onlookers behind us. We were starting to agree with this sentiment. It surprised us to find out that the game is actually running on a version of the <em>Supreme Commander</em> engine, as we saw more visual variety in 30 minutes with Demigod than we ever did playing hours of <em>SupCom</em>. GPG assured us that the system requirements are designed to include low-end machines, which is very much due to the fact that <em>Demigod</em> doesn't try to do a thousand things at once on-screen while you play it. (our wallets say thanks) Looking at the game, it was fairly hard to imagine that the harpy-like creatures and wiggling death-plant-things were living in the same engine that featured angular robot-spiders and hover tanks that bogged down our computers just a year and half ago. All in all, <em>Demigod</em> looks like it's going to steal away our precious personal time when it eventually ships on Stardock's Impulse service next year.<br /><br /><object width="290" height="24" data="http://www.weblogsinc.com/media/audio_player.swf" x-shockwave-flash="" application="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.weblogsinc.com/media/audio_player.swf" /> <param name="FlashVars" value="soundFile=http://podcasts.aolcdn.com/joystiq/files/pax08knhdemigod.mp3" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="menu" value="false" /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object><br />[<a href="http://podcasts.aolcdn.com/joystiq/files/pax08knhdemigod.mp3">MP3</a>] Download this interview in MP3 format<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-hands-on-demigod/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1300276/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-hands-on-demigod/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>demigod</category><category>gas-powered-games</category><category>hands-on</category><category>impressions</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>pax-08</category><category>pax-2008</category><category>pax08</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>PAX 2008: Polly wants a tank rush</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-polly-wants-a-tank-rush/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-polly-wants-a-tank-rush/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-polly-wants-a-tank-rush/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/simulations/" rel="tag">Simulations</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.robotmartini.com/community/viewpost/753"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/polly-endwar-490.jpg"  alt="" /></a></div>
Although we missed the presentation ourselves, the gang at <a href="http://www.robotmartini.com/community/viewpost/753">Robot Martini</a> caught Ubisoft's demonstration of <span style="font-style: italic;">Tom Clancy's EndWar</span> audio power at <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/pax-2008">PAX 2008</a>. To do so, they pitted two parrots against each other in a multiplayer match. Check out the video yourself after the break. When Polly says "deploy tanks," you take cover and hide your crackers (<a href="http://instantrimshot.com/">har</a>).<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-polly-wants-a-tank-rush/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX 2008: Polly wants a tank rush</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.robotmartini.com/community/viewpost/753>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-polly-wants-a-tank-rush/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1300210/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/pax-2008-polly-wants-a-tank-rush/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>end-war</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-08</category><category>pax-2008</category><category>penny-arcade</category><category>tom-clancy-endwar</category><category>ubisoft</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ross Miller]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>PAX 2008 hands-on: Defense Grid: The Awakening</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-hands-on-defense-grid-the-awakening/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-hands-on-defense-grid-the-awakening/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-hands-on-defense-grid-the-awakening/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/features/" rel="tag">Features</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/12defgrid.jpg"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/defgridmain.jpg" /></a><br /><em>Click to enlarge</em><br /><br />
<div align="left">I have to confess this right off the bat: I don't have a high end PC gaming rig. Heck, I don't even have a PC, I use a Mac. Sure, I could load Boot Camp on this thing, but frankly my hard drive is far too crammed with music, photos, and scant room for anything gaming related. I even had to delete my free copy of the "Chess" app to make room for more.<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="left"><br />However, that is going to have to change. Early this morning I spent some quality hands-on time with <em>Defense Grid: The Awakening</em>. It's a tower defense game that starts out fairly easy, and then quickly gets hard. In fact, I had my ass handed to me pretty squarely when I tried out the "hard" level, and I'm going to have to grab a PC to game on so I can beat the damn thing. They have an Xbox 360 version in the works, but it will come out some time after. Check out the gallery of screenshots below, including two new exclusives, and then hit the break to find out more about the game.<br />%Gallery-30801%</div><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-hands-on-defense-grid-the-awakening/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX 2008 hands-on: Defense Grid: The Awakening</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.hiddenpath.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-hands-on-defense-grid-the-awakening/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1299708/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-hands-on-defense-grid-the-awakening/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Defense-Grid</category><category>Hidden-Path</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>PAX</category><category>PAX-08</category><category>PAX-2008</category><category>PAX2008</category><category>Tower-Defense</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Kelly]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Stardock reveals Sins of a Solar Empire: Entrenchment</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/stardock-reveals-sins-of-a-solar-empire-entrenchment/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/stardock-reveals-sins-of-a-solar-empire-entrenchment/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/stardock-reveals-sins-of-a-solar-empire-entrenchment/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/sinsship.jpg" /><br /></div>
Did you ever finish a six-hour long match of <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Sins%20of%20a%20Solar%20Empire">Sins of a Solar Empire</a> </em>and think, "What I really want is <em>more</em>"? If so, you have some serious, clinical mental problems. But, you've also got some good news coming your way: Today <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Stardock/">Stardock</a> announced the first expansion to the game: <em>Entrenchment</em>.<br /><br />We're not even going to try to decode what the $9.95 expansion (due late this year) adds to the game, so here it is straight from the space horse's mouth: "<em>Entrenchment</em> promises to bring fans a Starbase defense platform for each race (extremely powerful and armored bases housing a variety of weapons and other upgrades capable of defending an entire planet), turret upgrades for each race to make them more powerful mine fields and a Subspace Inhibitor platform that will slow enemy ships within its range."<br /><br />...Umm, great?<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/stardock-reveals-sins-of-a-solar-empire-entrenchment/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1299044/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/stardock-reveals-sins-of-a-solar-empire-entrenchment/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>dlc</category><category>expansions</category><category>impulse</category><category>sins-of-a-solar-empire</category><category>stardock</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>GameTap Thursday: Grimm dirties another tale, Puzzle Quest drops some runes</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/gametap-thursday-grimm-dirties-another-tale-puzzle-quest-drops/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/gametap-thursday-grimm-dirties-another-tale-puzzle-quest-drops/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/gametap-thursday-grimm-dirties-another-tale-puzzle-quest-drops/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/mac/" rel="tag">Mac</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/puzzle/" rel="tag">Puzzle</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="360" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/grimmgirlnohands.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
<a href="http://joystiq.com/tag/grimm"><span style="font-style: italic;">American McGee's Grimm</span></a> continues on <a href="http://joystiq.com/tag/gametap">GameTap</a> this week with <span style="font-style: italic;">The Girl Without Hands</span> -- yup, it's getting darker.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Same as every week, the episode is free to non-subscribers for the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/american-mcgees-grimm-all-episodes-free-for-first-24-hours/">first 24 hours after release</a>. The service also gets into the drug trade by adding the addictive <span style="font-style: italic;">Puzzle Quest</span>.<br />
<ul>
    <li><a href="http://www.gametap.com/grimm/"><em>Grimm</em></a>: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Girl Without Hands</span> (Windows) - Katamari <em>Grimm</em>-acy do your thing!<br /></li>
    <li><em><a href="http://www.gametap.com/play/gameDetails/000527450">Puzzle Quest: Challenge of Warlords</a></em> (Windows) - It's time to finally play this game if you've somehow missed out on it.<br /></li>
</ul>
There aren't any additions to GameTap's <a href="http://www.gametap.com/home/play/free.html">gratis games lineup</a> this week, but the full list of free-to-play titles can be found after the break.<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/gametap-thursday-grimm-dirties-another-tale-puzzle-quest-drops/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>GameTap Thursday: Grimm dirties another tale, Puzzle Quest drops some runes</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://gametap.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/gametap-thursday-grimm-dirties-another-tale-puzzle-quest-drops/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1297333/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/gametap-thursday-grimm-dirties-another-tale-puzzle-quest-drops/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>gametap</category><category>gametapthursday</category><category>grimm</category><category>puzzle-quest</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alexander Sliwinski]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Alien Crush remake heading to North American WiiWare</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/alien-crush-remake-heading-to-north-american-wiiware/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/alien-crush-remake-heading-to-north-american-wiiware/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/alien-crush-remake-heading-to-north-american-wiiware/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/retro/" rel="tag">Retro</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/simulations/" rel="tag">Simulations</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/alien_crush_topper.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
Nintendo's WiiWare service has apparently sparked a renewed interest in developing games with one pixelated foot rooted in the past. Following both <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/mega-man-9">Capcom</a> and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/gradius-rebirth-announced-for-wiiware/">Konami's</a> head start, Hudson has likewise decided to dip into its archives, returning with news to bring the Wii-make of its TurboGrafx-16 sci-fi pinball game,<em> Alien Crush</em>, to North America. <br /><br />Descriptively titled<em> Alien Crush Returns</em>, the download was released today in Japan and is based on the 1988 classic, which itself is available on WiiWare's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/virtual-console">sister service</a>. While a date for the game's North American debut has not yet been announced, Hudson notes the follow-up will again be played across two screens and an unspecified number of boards, each no doubt filled with galactic baddies with a lust for silver balls. Most interesting, however, is news that <em>Alien Crush Returns</em> will support two-player online play as well as include online leader boards, with Hudson promising multiple online tournaments for the pinball-obsessed to throw down with their E.T. crushing skills.<br />%Gallery-30489%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/alien-crush-remake-heading-to-north-american-wiiware/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1295333/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/alien-crush-remake-heading-to-north-american-wiiware/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>alien-crush</category><category>alien-crush-returns</category><category>aliencrushreturns</category><category>remake</category><category>turbografx-16</category><category>turbografx16</category><category>wiiware</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason Dobson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>New Halo Wars unit goes 'pew, pew, pew' at flying enemies</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/new-halo-wars-unit-goes-pew-pew-pew-at-flying-enemies/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/new-halo-wars-unit-goes-pew-pew-pew-at-flying-enemies/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/new-halo-wars-unit-goes-pew-pew-pew-at-flying-enemies/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/online/" rel="tag">Online</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://halowars.com/GameInfo/vehicledepot.aspx#Wolverine"><em><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/wolverine.jpg" /></em></a><br /></div>
<em>Halo</em> doesn't have a ton of airborne combat in it, but if you've ever been on the receiving end of a non-stop Banshee spawnkilling attack, you know how frustrating the skies can be. Thankfully, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/halo-wars"><em>Halo Wars</em></a> feels your pain and is <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/08/25/halo-wars-introduces-the-unsc-wolverine/">introducing a new unit</a>: the UNSC Wolverine.<br /><br />It's armed with two anti-aircraft missile pods that can be lowered to target ground units as well, and it features a front-mounted heavy grenade launcher to take out "soft targets," like meat-shield infantry puppets. However, it looks like the thing is pretty vulnerable and will need plenty of ground support so it doesn't get blown to smithereens after it launches its first missile volley. We can't wait to see if they include this in the upcoming PAX demo. WOLVERINES!<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://halowars.com/GameInfo/vehicledepot.aspx#Wolverine>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/new-halo-wars-unit-goes-pew-pew-pew-at-flying-enemies/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1294661/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/new-halo-wars-unit-goes-pew-pew-pew-at-flying-enemies/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Ensemble-Studios</category><category>Halo</category><category>Halo-Wars</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>RTS</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Kelly]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:40:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Behold: Halo Wars box art</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/behold-halo-wars-box-art/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/behold-halo-wars-box-art/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/behold-halo-wars-box-art/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/halo-wars/997406/full/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="halo wars" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/halo.wars.box.art.jpg" /></a><br /><small><em>click to enlarge</em></small></div>
<br />Well, we've got a box (from the same team that doodled the <em>Halo 2</em> and <em>Halo 3</em> art, no less). That's a start. Unfortunately, we're no closer to nailing down a release date for <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/halo-wars"><em>Halo Wars</em></a>. The "first half of 2009" is where the date stands.<br />%Gallery-30406%<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/behold-halo-wars-box-art/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1294287/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/behold-halo-wars-box-art/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>box-art</category><category>breakingnews</category><category>ensemble-studios</category><category>halo</category><category>halo-wars</category><category>microsoft-game-studios</category><category>rts</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Ransom-Wiley]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:15:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Joystiq Free Game Club: Epic War</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/joystiq-free-game-club-epic-war/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/joystiq-free-game-club-epic-war/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/joystiq-free-game-club-epic-war/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.kongregate.com/games/rudy_sudarto/epic-war"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/epicwar.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Video games based on the <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Lord%20of%20the%20Rings">Lord of the Rings</a> </em>franchise have been a mixed bag at best, but, as you know, there's one sure-fire equalizer when it comes to quality: Freeness (or is it freeosity)? Using that logic, Kongregate and ArtLogicGames' <em><a href="http://www.kongregate.com/games/rudy_sudarto/epic-war">Epic War</a>, </em>an <em>LOTR</em>-inspired strategy game, may just be the best of the lot.<br /><br />The premise is simple: you defend your castle with a turret and an army of Tolkien-created creatures, all the while trying to get your forces to the enemy castle to demolish it. No, it's not exactly canon, but that's good news, because it means you can inexplicably throw out an army of dwarves, elves and hobbits with no worries of watching a favorite character die.<br /><br />As you progress through the battles on the world map, you'll earn experience you can use to train your units, acquire new types like wizards and dragons and gain new powers for your turret. It's hard to break the addiction cycle when the upgrade or character is just a quick battle away.<br /><br />Give it a whirl, let us know what you think. And if you know of a free game that you'd like us to feature, let us know in the comments.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.kongregate.com/games/rudy_sudarto/epic-war>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/joystiq-free-game-club-epic-war/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1294071/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/joystiq-free-game-club-epic-war/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>epic-war</category><category>free-game-club</category><category>kongregate</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:35:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>Kojima: Metal Gear Acid for PSN 'possible'</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/kojima-metal-gear-acid-for-psn-possible/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/kojima-metal-gear-acid-for-psn-possible/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/kojima-metal-gear-acid-for-psn-possible/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/psp/" rel="tag">Sony PSP</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=221689"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/gam_metalgearacid2_490.jpg" /></a><br />As our stack of thick, leather bound binders filled from end to end with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PSvWR4dZKc">valuable Pok&eacute;mon cards</a> will attest, we're suckers for collectible card games. You could probably also tell from our proclivity to creep around the local Wal-Mart with a black bandana crudely <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullet_(haircut)">wrapped around our greasy mullets</a> that we're also diehard fans of stealth action. As such, it would seem logical to assume we're big supporters of the PSP-exclusive <em><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Metal%20Gear%20Acid">Metal Gear Acid</a> </em>titles -- unfortunately, one look at our barren ludological library will show that we possess <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/gamestop-not-concerned-about-digital-distribution/">a powerful, unnatural fear of video game packaging</a>.<br /><br />Thankfully, our hopes for a downloadable version of the <em>Acid</em> titles were lifted somewhat by a brief blurb from series creator Hideo Kojima <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/leipzig-08/">at Leipzig yesterday</a>. Kojima explained that while there's currently no plans concerning the two titles, <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=221689">it's "possible" that the card battlers</a> could be uploaded onto <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/PSN/">PSN</a>. We certainly would have preferred a more substantial tease from the <em>Metal Gear</em> maven, a "probable" or "likely", perhaps -- but we suppose beggars can't be choosers.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=221689>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/kojima-metal-gear-acid-for-psn-possible/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1293086/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/23/kojima-metal-gear-acid-for-psn-possible/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>hideo-kojima</category><category>leipzig-08</category><category>metal-gear-acid</category><category>metal-gear-acid-2</category><category>psn</category><category>psp</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Griffin McElroy]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Sat, 23 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>GC 2008: Ubisoft announces ANNO 1404</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/gc-2008-ubisoft-announces-anno-1404/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/gc-2008-ubisoft-announces-anno-1404/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/gc-2008-ubisoft-announces-anno-1404/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/anno-1404/990704/full/"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="306" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/anno-1404-anno4_kathedrale_490px.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><small><em>click to enlarge</em></small></div>
<br />Ubisoft took the opportunity afforded by the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/Leipzig-2008/">Leipzig Games Convention</a> to announce <span style="font-style: italic;">ANNO 1404</span>, the publisher's first ANNO offering after acquiring the popular PC "building-strategy" property and its German publisher in 2007. In <em>ANNO 1404</em> - scheduled for release worldwide in March 2009 anno domini - "players will get to know the culture and technology of the ancient Orient while learning the tricks of local trade, diplomacy and economy in order to build their own metropolis." We'll see if Ubisoft's international marketing muscle can help the ANNO titles find an audience outside of ol' Europe. <br />%Gallery-30168%<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/gc-2008-ubisoft-announces-anno-1404/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>GC 2008: Ubisoft announces ANNO 1404</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.ubi.com/US/News/Info.aspx?nId=5398>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/gc-2008-ubisoft-announces-anno-1404/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1290487/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/gc-2008-ubisoft-announces-anno-1404/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Anno-1404</category><category>Leipzig-2008</category><category>Ubisoft</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Christopher Grant]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:27:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>GC 2008: Sega screenshot roundup</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/gc-2008-sega-screenshot-roundup/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/gc-2008-sega-screenshot-roundup/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/gc-2008-sega-screenshot-roundup/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ds/" rel="tag">Nintendo DS</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 2</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/wii/" rel="tag">Nintendo Wii</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/fighting/" rel="tag">Fighting</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/sega.leipzig.roundup.490.jpg" alt="" /></div>
Sega has a mighty lineup on public display (and behind closed doors) at <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/leipzig-08">Leipzig Games Convention 2008</a>, comprised of titles from the East and West. <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/madworld"><span style="font-style: italic;">MadWorld</span></a> and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/bayonetta"><span style="font-style: italic;">Bayonetta</span></a>, its collaborations with former <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/clover-studios">Clover Studios</a> staff, are there, as are <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/sonic-the-hedgehog"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sonic</span></a> games, strategy titles, DS wares, and more. But there's nary a sign of PSP support to be found. And it was doing so well with games like <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/crush" style="font-style: italic;">Crush</a>. Ah well. You can check out screenshot galleries of everything Sega has on show after the break.<br />%Gallery-30113%<br />%Gallery-30114%<p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/gc-2008-sega-screenshot-roundup/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>GC 2008: Sega screenshot roundup</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/gc-2008-sega-screenshot-roundup/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1290524/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/gc-2008-sega-screenshot-roundup/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>alpha-protocol</category><category>bayonetta</category><category>bleach-dark-souls</category><category>dino-king</category><category>empire-total-war</category><category>golden-axe-beast-rider</category><category>leipzig-08</category><category>madworld</category><category>samba-de-amigo</category><category>screenshots</category><category>sega</category><category>sonic-chronicles</category><category>sonic-unleashed</category><category>stormrise</category><category>valkyria-chronicles</category><category>yakuza-2</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Randy Nelson]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:30:00 EST</dc:date></item><item><title>GC 2008: Red Alert 3 cast not likely to be taken seriously</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/red-alert-3-cast-not-likely-to-be-taken-seriously/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/red-alert-3-cast-not-likely-to-be-taken-seriously/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/red-alert-3-cast-not-likely-to-be-taken-seriously/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/strategy/" rel="tag">Strategy</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1188849&amp;highlight="><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="204" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/red-alert-3-dudes.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
The thing about camp, i.e. the utter failure of seriousness, is that it's often difficult to judge whether it's intentional or not. The live-action cutscenes populating EA's (and Westwood's before that) <em>Command &amp; Conquer</em> games have always had an aura of sincere goofiness about them, the source of which can be traced to somewhat respected actors playing all-too-silly roles all too seriously. But is this done on purpose, or did the director read about "tongue-in-cheek storytelling" in a review somewhere and just decide to go with that? <br /><br />Either way, we're more than happy to see EA unveil a "star studded" cast (complete list after the break) for <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/red-alert-3"><span style="font-style: italic;">Command &amp; Conquer: Red Alert 3</span></a>, which includes George Takei, <span class="modBodyTxt">Tim Curry and J.K. Simmons, who plays the "anti-communist U.S. President." Simmons, who <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTTkXDV33d0">doesn't give a wooden nickel about your legacy</a>, thinks video games "</span><span class="modBodyTxt">are one of the new frontiers for actors" and thought of the role as a "</span><span class="modBodyTxt">great opportunity for a character actor like me to have some fun." <br /><br />Also allowed to open her mouth in the press release: Jenny McCarthy, who plays Allied commando Tanya. "</span><span class="modBodyTxt">What I realized is Red Alert 3 is not just a video game, it's absolutely an interactive movie. T</span><span class="modBodyTxt">his is where the people at home get to move the story forward, and where seeing the plot thicken is a reward for a job well done." In case you weren't aware, "that's really cool."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Red Alert 3</span> is out on Xbox 360 and PC this fall in both regular and Premier editions.<br /></span><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/red-alert-3-cast-not-likely-to-be-taken-seriously/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>GC 2008: Red Alert 3 cast not likely to be taken seriously</em></a></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://investor.ea.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=88189&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1188849&amp;highlight=>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/red-alert-3-cast-not-likely-to-be-taken-seriously/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1289672/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/red-alert-3-cast-not-likely-to-be-taken-seriously/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /><p><font size="1"><hr>SPONSORED BY: <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game</a> Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">AOE3</A> introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/DEI/go/wblgsxbx0080000528dei/direct/01/">http://www.ageofempires3.com/</a></font></p>]]></description><category>Command-and-Conquer</category><category>EA</category><category>FMV</category><category>leipzig-08</category><category>Red-Alert</category><category>Red-Alert-3</category><category>RTS</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ludwig Kietzmann]]></dc:creator><dc:date>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:05:00 EST</dc:date></item></channel></rss>