Joystiq

XSEED bringing The Sky Crawlers to North American Wiis

by Griffin McElroy { 55 minutes ago }

If you have a comprehensive knowledge of Japanese literature or flight combat games that never saw an American release, you probably already know about The Sky Crawlers. We fell in love with Namco-Bandai's book-to-game adaptation when we were teased with tons of gameplay footage last year -- sadly, the game was never visited by the localization fairy, and never made it to the States. Since then, we've been sad all over.

Fortunately, a recent XSEED press release has turned our melancholy into melan-jolly (ugh) -- the capitalized company has purchased the North American publishing rights for The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, due out this holiday season on the Wii. The game, which was developed by Ace Combat veterans Project Aces, will have players using the Wiimote and Nunchuck to simulate actual flight controls. It's a bit overdue, but we're thrilled about the Americanization of this aeronautical gem nonetheless.

Super Meat Boy character select screen reveals playable Alien Hominid

by Ben Gilbert { 2 hours ago }

Things are on the up and up for Super Meat Boy developer Edmund McMillen. After releasing This is a Cry for Help last year and subsequently announcing SMB for WiiWare, he put his indie cred on display for the world in adding Braid's Tim to his upcoming game. And now, during a live video interview with Bytejacker, McMillen revaealed The Behemoth's Alien Hominid as another playable character!

Quickly panning to his computer screen during the interview and teasing it, one of our wonderful readers snagged a screen grab so we could share it with the world. Now the real question: Castle Crashers characters playable as well? Hmmmm, McMillen? Hmmm?

(We love you. Please?)

(Thanks, Zack!)

Dante's Inferno trailer features hellish gameplay footage

by Griffin McElroy { 4 hours ago }

You're probably getting sick of our frequent comparisons between the God of War series and EA's upcoming poem-to-game conversion of Dante's Inferno. Well, GameTrailers recently got its hands on the first Infern-al gameplay footage to hit the internets, so now we invite you to make your own judgment on the two franchise's similarities. The video's posted after the break -- go ahead and watch it, we'll wait.

...

See? We know! Crazy, right?

Gallery: Dante's Inferno (E3 2009)

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Steve Harris hints at the future of the reborn EGM

by Ben Gilbert { 6 hours ago }

When Electronic Gaming Monthly closed its doors back in January, it not only left behind an issue that never got published but also a brand that gamers everywhere easily recognized. The magazine's original founder, Steve Harris, recently bought back the rights to the magazine (as well as online rights), and this week he spoke with Publishing Executive to detail a bit of his plans for his new venture.

"The new Electronic Gaming Monthly will let you take your magazine and its content from print to computer to wireless devices -- even to your television," he says in the piece, continuing, "Content will be delivered via a digital device included with each issue." He doesn't go on to explain whether he means a thumb drive or a CD or what, but we're just as curious as you are to know more about the rebirth of a magazine we grew up reading -- and hated after hours spent trying to find Sheng Long. Curse you, early-to-mid-90s game magazine editors!

[Via Bitmob]

Micro-transaction model a possibility for WoW

by Griffin McElroy { 8 hours ago }

VideoGamer.com's recent interview with Blizzard's Tom Chilton, game director for the totally underground MMO World of Warcraft, is full of interesting tidbits for the WoW-innoculated -- info on the possible new races and classes that could make their way into the new expansions, in-game territories yet to be explored, etc. However, one blurb from the interview has the online gaming world a-buzzin' -- probably because said blurb references the possibility of a free-to-play, micro-transaction business model for the monolithic title.

Don't get your dander up too fast -- Chilton merely said, "I certainly think it's possible that we could do some kind of micro-transaction stuff," later adding that, "whether we ever shift to a free-to-play model is really too hard to say at this point." It's unlikely they'll make the switch as long as the game continues to be a veritable assembly line for giant bags of money, however. What do you guys think? Would you support a transaction-based WoW?

The first video of N+ dev's 'Robotology'

by Ben Gilbert { 9 hours ago }

In fairness, Metanet Software's first video for Robotology (found after the break) is more physics demo than it is gameplay demo -- or even proof of concept, for that matter. Though considering the pedigree behind the game (Metanet made N+, this week's Xbox Live deal!), we're willing to overlook the less than thrilling minute-plus video in celebration of the sheer tenacity with which Metanet attacks its game development.

In fact, according to the Metanet website, the action in the video represents, "almost 800 lines of code, painstakingly hand-transcribed from graph paper and Flash mockups" -- oh my! Here's hoping it all pays off when the game ships ... eventually. And now, friends, we play the waiting game.

[Via Eurogamer]

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Weekly Webcomic Wrapup totally loves America

by Griffin McElroy { 22 hours ago }

Happy Birthday, America! Let us be the first to say -- and we really mean this -- you've aged spectacularly well. How old are you? Two-hundred and thirty-three? No, that can't be right. Seriously, you look like you're still in your thirties! No wrinkles, no unsightly varicose veins, no ... well, okay, your Dakotas are sagging a bit, and your Florida has certainly seen better days, but on the whole, you've still got it goin' on. You know what they say -- two-hundred and thirty-three is the new twenty, you saucy, saucy cougar.

While not celebrating our decadent independence or hitting on entire nations, we managed to find our seven favorite gaming-themed webcomics from this past week. We've posted them below for your viewing pleasure, and then listed them in a poll after the break for your ... well, for your voting pleasure, we guess. Celebrate your democracy, dear friends!

Mountain Cracks (Brawl in the Family)
Party Favors (Digital Unrest)
In Which We Declare Our Independence (Dipswitch)
Actually, I'm Just Not Going to Buy It (Virtual Shackles)
The Wee-Bee Overlord (Monday Night Crew)
Team Fortress 2 Babies (GG-Guys)
Mega Man's Workout (2P Start)

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Wolfenstein motion comic serves up action with a side of cheese

by Richard Mitchell { 1 day ago }

GameTrailers has posted a new Wolfenstein motion comic. We're not quite sure how to feel about it really. Sure, it's nice to see B.J. Blazkowicz doing what he does best. We also like that Wolfenstein's famous chain gun-wielding Hitler once again gets what he deserves. Still, the whole thing is just so cheesy. If we didn't know better, we'd say that B.J. is trying to fill the one-liner chasm that has been left by the dearly departed Duke Nukem.

Don't take our word for it though, watch it after the break and see what you think.

[Via BigDownload]

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New Section 8 trailer drops in

by Richard Mitchell { 1 day ago }

Okay, so the latest trailer for TimeGate's Section 8 certainly looks cool. What with the robo-solders dropping into battle from the sky, calling in tanks and giant mechs, and FPS action, we'll give it that. Our only question is this: Where's the heart?

What's that? You don't care about heart? You're more interested in all the action and nifty multiplayer features? Oh, well you should watch the trailer then.

TMNT: Turtles in Time: Through the Ages: A Comparison Video

by Andrew Yoon { 1 day ago }

You know what the best thing about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time is? Throwing enemies into the screen. Thankfully, that feature is retained in the upcoming XBLA remake. The HD remake is obviously going to be a much prettier version of the original game -- but how good does it really look? The fine folks at GameVideos have made a stellar comparison video that highlights the sleek new look of this 2.5D remake. Watch all the way to the end to see how even the voice overs have -- for better or for worse -- changed.

Gallery: TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled

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Valve: Left 4 Dead 2 multiplayer demo on its way, pre-order customers get 'advanced access'

by Xav de Matos { 1 day ago }

Doug Lombardi has told Joystiq that a multiplayer demo for Valve's Left 4 Dead 2 is planned for both the Xbox 360 and PC. According to Valve's PR guru, users who pre-order the upcoming zombie survival title at "participating retailers or [via] Steam" will gain "advanced access to the demo," which will eventually land on both platforms for all users prior to the game's November 17 launch.

Speaking with OXM at a recent London preview event, Lombardi discussed the strength of Left 4 Dead's "word of mouth," which has presumably fueled the need for a demo to the sequel. With groups calling for a boycott of Left 4 Dead 2 due to lack of content support for the original title, a demo may be the best way for Valve to prove why it believes its sequel warrants a full price tag. Although, strong pre-order numbers tell us the game is already on pace to decimate sales charts like a zombie tank.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

Readers pick best webcomic: Still a Few Bugs in the System

by Griffin McElroy { 1 day ago }

Virtual Shackles only just appeared on the gaming webcomic scene, but has held its own in every Wrapup it's appeared on, usually netting one of the runner-up spots. However, their eighteenth strip -- a cautionary tale about the dangers of sentient camera peripherals titled "Still a Few Bugs in the System" -- managed to pull down first place in last week's WeeWebWrap. Congratulations, VirtShack! (Do you mind if we call you VirtShack? We feel so much closer to you now.)

Second place went to GameSpy's "The Life Cycle of a Videogame" (which missed top honors by a mere eight votes!) and Brawl in the Family's "The Lesson," respectively. If you've got a favorite gaming-themed webcomic to throw into the ring this week, act quickly! We'll be webcomic wrapping later today, shortly before we recklessly play with fireworks -- and after that, we may not have enough fingers left to throw any tardy entries into the fray.

Joystiq Podcast 01776 - Sorry, England edition

by Justin McElroy { 1 day ago }

Though this is a short version of the show that lacks Chris Grant and Ludwig Kietzmann, we've made up for it with Joystiq's Ben Gilbert and Jem Alexander and super special guest Wombat of Cheap Ass Gamer fame.

We're talking The Conduit, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood and a load of other stuff. Enjoy it and have a happy 4th! Oh, and thanks to TV's Alan Black for the photoshop.

Get the podcast:
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Hosts: Jem Alexander, Ben Gilbert, Wombat of CAG Fame and Justin McElroy

Music: "Gravity (Don't Let Me Go)" by Jon Black, "The Problem With America" by The Vitamen

For fans: Joystiq Podcast Facebook group

See all of this week's links after the jump.

Swag Saturday: Droplitz (XBLA)

by Andrew Yoon { 1 day ago }

Swag Saturdays continue on this 4th of July with Atlus' first downloadable XBLA game, Droplitz. Don't know much about the game? Well, watch the video to find out how to play this puzzler.

Leave a comment telling us what XBLA game is your favorite game so far. Note: If you say Yaris, you are automatically disqualified from this contest.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada, excluding Quebec. Note: In Quebec, you are legally required to like Yaris.
Limit 1 entry per person
This entry period ends at 7:00pm ET on Sunday, July 5. We'll randomly select 4 winners at that time to receive: one download of Droplitz for Xbox 360 (ARV $10.00).
For a list of complete rules, click here

Happy 4th of July! Here's Alex Mercer with boobs, Cole McGrath in a bikini

by Andrew Yoon { 1 day ago }

In the celebration of all things great and American, we're proud to present the characters of inFamous and Prototype cross-dressing. YAY! (See inFamous' Cole after the break.)

Okay, so you're probably wondering where these images came from. Yahtzee presented a challenge to the development teams of these two games after he couldn't decide which game was better in a recent episode of Zero Punctuation. So, he jokingly said the "winner" would be whichever team sends in an image of the other game's protagonist cross-dressing.

And now the world is a much better place.

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