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Reader ryandesu used paper cutouts to dress up a poster he got with God of War III today. "Since this may be Kratos' last game, he's gotta get a real job, but can't go to interviews in his normal attire." More »

We've spent quite a bit of time with the new and improved Battle.net, both in the StarCraft 2 beta and on its lonesome. It seems like it wouldn't be a bad platform for other, non-Blizzard games. The Escapist asked Blizzard VP Rob Pardo at GDC last week about just such a possibility.

"It's something that we've definitely always talked about," Pardo told The Escapist. "The problem for us is that it takes a lot of work from our other teams. Every time we have the discussion, we try to figure out what's going to happen if let's say a Blizzard game was coming out and a third party game was coming out at the same time. Could we be agnostic in that way? Could we offer the same level of support that we offer our games to third parties? We just never know. It just seems like a big job for us."

It's certainly an interesting question, one which we'd say begs comparison to other digital distribution platforms like Steam. The two aren't identical by any stretch, but in essence both deliver content. We'd say emulating Steam and its competitors certainly wouldn't be the worst first step in making Battle.net a viable service for third parties.

Blizzard ponders merits of licensing Battle.net to third parties originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've spent quite a bit of time with the new and improved Battle.net, both in the StarCraft 2 beta and on its lonesome. It seems like it wouldn't be a bad platform for other, non-Blizzard games. The Escapist asked Blizzard VP Rob Pardo at GDC last week about just such a possibility.

"It's something that we've definitely always talked about," Pardo told The Escapist. "The problem for us is that it takes a lot of work from our other teams. Every time we have the discussion, we try to figure out what's going to happen if let's say a Blizzard game was coming out and a third party game was coming out at the same time. Could we be agnostic in that way? Could we offer the same level of support that we offer our games to third parties? We just never know. It just seems like a big job for us."

It's certainly an interesting question, one which we'd say begs comparison to other digital distribution platforms like Steam. The two aren't identical by any stretch, but in essence both deliver content. We'd say emulating Steam and its competitors certainly wouldn't be the worst first step in making Battle.net a viable service for third parties.

Blizzard ponders merits of licensing Battle.net to third parties originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers at MIT are coaxing molecules to automatically arrange themselves into useful patterns on microchips, possibly allowing for much smaller chip features.

The most interesting parts of Microsoft's Mix conference have come to a close, leaving us with two steaming news lumps: One for Windows Phone 7, and one for Internet Explorer 9. Here's what's in them! More »

When Battlefield: Bad Company 2 riffed on rival Modern Warfare 2's "Mapathy" promo last week, it could be seen as a playful poke. This, however - a comprehensive parody of October's infamous "F.A.G.S." video - is a straight-up nutshot. More »

Between the recent filing to trademark ... something regarding Bungie's first FPS Marathon, and a filing for the name "Bungie Aerospace," we're not exactly sure what to make of whatever it is that's going on over at the house that birthed Master Chief. Both filings, spotted by Superannuation, represent still unknown plans for the studio. And aside from the logo you see above, we know little very, very little about either.

As for the Marathon trademark, it could very well just be an update to an existing filing. The inclusion of references to several past Bungie logos in the Bungie Aerospace filing, however, suggests a possible rebranding of the studio -- something we wouldn't be particularly surprised with considering the break with Microsoft way back in 2007, not to mention the fact that this fall's Halo: Reach marks the last Halo game from the studio before Microsoft's 343 Studios fully absorbs the IP.

Oh, and no, Bungie won't be joining the Richard Garriotts and John Carmacks of the world in heading into outer space, as both trademark filings fall under the usual USPTO video game classification. A Bungie representative told Joystiq "No comment" when asked about the listings, but for now you're free to speculate along with us to your heart's content.

Source 1 - USPTO
Source 2 - USPTO

[Via Superannuation]

Bungie registers Marathon and 'Bungie Aerospace' trademarks originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When I first read about Solar Roadways—super-tough solar panels with built-in LED signs designed to turn roads into power plants—I thought that they were never going to happen. Well, here's a prototype. [Solar Roadways via GadgetReview] More »

Microsoft is downplaying the problem, but Core Security says the vulnerability could allow an attacker to bypass security defenses to compromise virtualized Windows systems.

Having seen it at GDC, Totilo gave us his impressions of EA Sports MMA yesterday. Today, EA Sports released a batch of 16 screens. How about that ballroom setting? Nothing like fine dining while two guys pound each other senseless. More »

As advertised, Namco Bandai brought a prototype of its new Pac-Man Battle Royale to the 2010 Amusement Expo. Arcade Heroes captured some off-screen footage of the multiplayer arcade title (posted after the break), revealing a cross between the GameCube's Pac-Man Vs. and the XBLA hit Pac-Man: Championship Edition.

Instead of putting certain players in the roles of ghosts as Pac-Man Vs. did, however, Battle Royale takes the direct approach and pits four cannibalistic Pac-Men against each other, as they compete to eat the most dots, ghosts and even each other. The game would be totally brutal if the cocktail-style cabinet didn't make it all appear so classy. Hopefully, Namco Bandai will use that cabinet for the final version of the game, due for a September release, as well.

[Via GameSetWatch]

Continue reading Pac-Man Battle Royale: competitive Pac-Man for omnivores

Pac-Man Battle Royale: competitive Pac-Man for omnivores originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Complaint accuses company of using stolen log-in credentials to buy stocks at inflated prices while selling stocks for a profit through legitimate accounts.

The IBM 305 RAMAC, which debuted in 1956, was the first computer with a hard drive. It was 16 square feet, weighed over a ton, and had to be transported by plane. But it sure as Hell beat punch cards. More »

GameStop to begin selling upper-end model of Microsoft's console bundled with two top-rated games--and the Halo: Reach MP beta access--tomorrow.

Get the full article at GameSpot

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Only answer if you're also wealthy enough to afford the form-fitting suit that made Samus Aran more of a sex object after Metroid: Zero Missions, because this custom-made Zero Suit probably won't go cheap. More »

If only Sony had waited until after the South by Southwest festival to release Heavy Rain, the publisher could have printed several glowing quotes from a known Xbox consorter on the back of the PS3-exclusive's game box. Oh, well -- there's always the "Game of the Year" edition.

During a a one-on-one conversation with writer Frank Rose at SXSW this week, Fabled designer Peter Molyneux heaped praise on Heavy Rain, calling it "absolutely brilliant."

"I recommend anyone who wants to start to see the first glimpses of the future of video games to go out and buy it," Molyneux advocated, before exposing his softer side to the audience. "But, personally, I could not bring myself to play more than 90 minutes, because the world that was there was so dark and so emotionally involving I felt emotionally beaten up." Aww, Mr. Molyneux ...

"But there's no question in my mind that games like Heavy Rain -- games that have a new fidelity in the way that they present their experiences; obviously made with cinematography and motion capture in mind -- can really show the way forward to a new form of entertainment, which is evolving the story and choices and consequences." Molyneux steadfastly declared, having apparently recovered from the painful memories of the game's early moments (perhaps cries of Jason? Jason? Jason! still faintly echoing in his head).

Molyneux also commended developer Quantic Dream's design choices, observing that the QTE interface "really meant that you had to pay attention all the time because you didn't know whether these quick-time events were going to come up"; though he noted that such gameplay mechanics "may be a little bit tired after a while." Still, he said, "I have to take my hat off to [Quantic Dream] ... There's a couple of things they do in that game which were really revolutionary, and what they do with quick-time is fantastic."

"Us designers were just laughing because we thought quick-time was dead, but that really was part of the drama of Heavy Rain."

Molyneux says Heavy Rain offers the 'first glimpses of the future' of games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Although previous versions of Windows Mobile have long supported a clipboard to move content around, the Windows Phone 7 Series devices due out this year won't have that ability.

Eidos and WBIE's rerelease of Rocksteady's acclaimed action adventure packing 3D upgrade, glasses on consoles, four previously released DLC maps.

Get the full article at GameSpot

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We're still waiting to get Android 2.1 on our Droids, but at least Verizon has shared the details of what's coming: More »

Dear Microsoft, you did a good job at out-Appling Apple with the Windows Phone 7. At least on paper. But instead of trying to beat them completely, it seems that you want to screw it all with two stupid decisions. More »

Nintendo announces deal with Tecmo Koei to bring next installment in Dynasty Warriors spin-off exclusively to its latest console.

Two years ago, Koei introduced its historical Japanese action series to the Wii with Samurai Warriors: Katana. However, the first-person on-rails action game deviated from formula, eschewing the third-person hack-and-slash gameplay for which the franchise and its many sibling series had become known.

That game flopped with critics, but now Koei (Tecmo Koei, to be precise) is attempting a more traditional adaptation of Samurai Warriors for the console. Nintendo today announced "a unique partnership" with the publisher to bring the Wii-exclusive Samurai Warriors 3 to North America this fall. The game was released in Japan in December.

Samurai Warriors 3 will forgo the system's motion controls entirely, instead allowing players to hack through battlefields full of fodder with a Wii Remote-and-Nunchuk combo, the Classic Controller (Pro or "amateur"), or a GameCube pad. Although it seeks to return to the form of previous games in the series, Samurai Warriors 3 will include a handful of new gameplay features, including" kaiden" special moves that go above and beyond the existing "musou" attacks.

The game will also include two-player online and offline cooperative gameplay with some form of sharing feature, as well as a new gameplay mode based on a Nintendo Entertainment System game never released outside of Japan, Nazo no Murasamejo (The Mysterious Murasame Castle).

For more on the next installment of Samurai Warriors 3, check out GameSpot's hands-on coverage of the Japanese edition of the game, straight from the 2009 Tokyo Game Show.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

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Mario as veteran spec ops commando and Peach as kidnappable scientist in "Super Mario Warfare" by the talented and regularly featured Agent Scarlet, as seen at DeviantArt via GameFreaks. (Thanks, Morris!) More »

Kaleidoscopes: Fun for five minutes when you were a kid until you discover the joy of the opposite gender. KaleidoVid, however, is fun for considerably longer, because it involves your phone! More »

Have you seen those Dos Equis commercials, with the "Most Interesting Man in the World?" He doesn't always drink beer, but when he does, he prefers Dos Equis? No? Go ahead and watch the commercials now before heading past the break and watching the latest 3D Dot Game Heroes trailer. You'll find it a lot funnier that way.

Even if you aren't well-versed in the culture of beer commercials, you'll find some impressive gameplay footage in the trailer, including giant (and, of course, blocky) bosses. Just try not to be mesmerized by the hero's speaking voice.

Continue reading 3D Dot Game Heroes trailer satisfies thirst for adventure

3D Dot Game Heroes trailer satisfies thirst for adventure originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Have you seen those Dos Equis commercials, with the "Most Interesting Man in the World?" He doesn't always drink beer, but when he does, he prefers Dos Equis? No? Go ahead and watch the commercials now before heading past the break and watching the latest 3D Dot Game Heroes trailer. You'll find it a lot funnier that way.

Even if you aren't well-versed in the culture of beer commercials, you'll find some impressive gameplay footage in the trailer, including giant (and, of course, blocky) bosses. Just try not to be mesmerized by the hero's speaking voice.

Continue reading 3D Dot Game Heroes trailer satisfies thirst for adventure

3D Dot Game Heroes trailer satisfies thirst for adventure originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The active-shutter glasses will work on any major manufacturer's TV when they arrive in June, according to the company.

After vowing yesterday a patch fixing a bad multiplayer glitch and punching up the game's AI had been "fast-tracked" for delivery, MLB 2K10's team backed it up today with the arrival of the game's first Xbox 360 patch, sometime overnight. More »

When chipmakers slim down their silicon, they need finer and finer tools to organize all that circuitry. With MIT's latest self-assembling chips, the detail work is handled by molecular strands that, freakishly, just know where to go. More »

To: Ash More »

Joystiq has obtained an internal IGN memo sent by company president Roy Bahat announcing layoffs at the media site today. We currently have no accurate estimate for the number of people let go today, nor do we know if any divisions have been shut down entirely.

Bahat states in the memo, "We're doing this to reduce costs. While we've been doing well -- we're profitable and our audience continues to grow -- we're still feeling the effects of the economy, and we need to make sure we can invest where there is opportunity. Over the past couple of years, we have been focusing IGN on areas where we can not only grow, but be best in the world: serving gamers online, and serving advertisers looking to reach men. To do that successfully, we have to be as efficient as possible in our core businesses. The difficult actions we're taking today get us to where we need to be."

We will continue to update this story as we learn more. If you're an IGN employee, you're of course welcome to contact us with any information you'd like to share. Find Bahat's full memo to employees after the break.

Continue reading IGN layoffs hit all divisions of media giant

IGN layoffs hit all divisions of media giant originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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