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Newsbrief: Finnish startup developer Ovelin has raised $1.4 million in funding, with which it plans to expand on its WildChords guitar-teaching game for iPad. Released last year, WildChords uses audio technology to listen to the sound of a guitar, and allows the player to progress through the game and earn more points if they are playing the correct chords and notes. The round of funding was led by VC firm True Ventures, reports TechCrunch. Ovelin ...




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Remedy believes in a future for Wake.

Matias Myllyrinne, CEO of Remedy, told us at DICE 2012, with the imminent launch of Alan Wake on PC and Alan Wake's American Nightmare on XBLA, that the studio isn't done with its literary protagonist.

"We're crowd pleasers, we'll do what the audience wants, 'cause usually that's the good business move as well," Myllyrinne responded when we asked what's next for Wake. He also reconfirmed the studio owns the IP, so the future of Wake is theirs to write.

"Hopefully, we'll have one or two surprises. I don't know, I'm loving the digital [distribution] side and we'll see how that evolves, but just being able to give people quick access to bit-size chunks of gaming is maybe more fun than working for years and years -- taking the phone offline and closing the shutters-- at least, this way, you're able to react much more quickly to people's desires and wishes."

With Remedy directly publishing Alan Wake on Steam, we wanted to know if the studio had an internal figure for sales that would dictate resources being put into a full-blown sequel?

"I don't know. I don't know if that would dictate it. If it bombs [laughs], then that's certainly a signal, but we're fairly confident that it'll do well. We'll certainly continue with Wake. Right now we're focusing on getting the PC out next week, then getting American Nightmare out. And it's too early to talk about what our next move is, but we've obviously put things into motion."Remedy not done with Alan Wake originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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The latest patch has been applied to the wide open world of Skyrim on Xbox 360. The 1.4 update -- out on PC since last week -- squashes some bugs and fixes issues with a number of quests. You can find a full list of fixes and changes right here.

Bethesda is still awaiting word from Sony regarding the PS3 patch. It will hopefully go live today as well.PSA: Skyrim patch 1.4 now up on 360, PS3 coming soon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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Despite not being available to most consumers for another week or two, the PlayStation Vita's online store is now ... online, offering five Vita titles and a handful of other content to purchase. The available Vita games mirror those already available in meatspace from GameStop and online via PS3 (Hot Shots Golf, ModNation Racers, Super Stardust, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Wipeout 2048), while the PSP games and video content mirror the other PS Store content.

We also managed to get an online game going with Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, so it looks like at least some of the online infrastructure is now live (the game was directly between two Vitas over the internet, but we had issues searching for public lobbies). If you're one of the lucky few within the US who already has a Vita, now would be a good time to claim an extremely limited opportunity at topping the leaderboards, not to mention beating us handily at UMvC3.

[Image above features Japanese PS Vita Store]US PlayStation Vita now able to access PlayStation Store (if you've got one) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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The simulation industry has long been closely associated with game technologies and history seems to be repeating itself: India’s number one simulation development company, Zen Technologies Limited, has decided to venture into game development and digital publishing with Version2Games Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zen Technologies Limited. Our vision is to put India on the console gaming map. I am thrilled to announce Version2Games’ first title Smash ‘N’ Survive, coming to PlayStation Network for $14.99. The core gameplay of Smash ‘N’ Survive revolves around vehicle combat -- it seems we’re in the midst of quite a vehicle-combat revival! But Smash ‘N’ Survive features several innovations such as a physics-based tornado into which you can push your enemies. This tornado is not the only environmental weapon: You’ll find catapults, crushers and other hazards scattered around the maps, and you can use them to annihilate your opponents.

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Moving into indie development? Find an underserved niche audience, "accept what you can't change, be as awesome as you can, charge what you're worth, and stand proud on the ocean floor," writes Spiderweb Software's Jeff Vogel.




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Trion CEO Lars Buttler revealed today that his company's MMO Rift is coming to Chinese audiences via Chinese MMO giant Shanda -- and that this is just another step in the company's plans for global domination. "Let's say we dated a few, and they dated a few, and we fell in love," says Buttler, speaking of the Shanda's decision to operate Rift in China -- and Trion's own decision to go with Shanda. "They are ...




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Filed under: Podcasts

The annual industry-focused trade show DICE kicked off last night with a keynote from Bethesda Game Studios' Todd Howard, but he is not the only industry veteran at the conference with insight into the inner workings of the games industry.

In this special DICE edition of The Joystiq Show Alexander Sliwinski sits down with Eat Sleep Play's David Jaffe to discuss the imminent launch of Twisted Metal, his current status with the company, and his plans to move into next-gen and browser game development.

The second interview features IGDA Mobile SIG's Kevin Dent, the man responsible for shining the spotlight on THQ's business practices and potentially disastrous financial predicament several weeks ago. Dent joins Alexander to delve into the details of his public statements and motivations for why he spoke out.

Part 1 (0:13) - Interview: David Jaffe
Part 2 (13:31) - Interview: Kevin Dent

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast in iTunes
[Zune] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Host: Alexander Sliwinski (@XanderSliwinski)
Guests: David Jaffe (@davidscottjaffe) and Kevin Dent (@TheKevinDent)
Producer: Jonathan Downin (@jonathandownin - Game Thing Daily)
Music: "Bust This Bust That" by Professor Kliq

View the full guest list, related stories, and stream the show after the break.Continue reading The Joystiq Show - DICE 2012: David Jaffe and Kevin Dent

The Joystiq Show - DICE 2012: David Jaffe and Kevin Dent originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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Some Amazon shoppers in Canada are even luckier than those buying a selection of early Vita games at GameStop: their Vitas somehow got out of Amazon's warehouse well ahead of launch.

Multiple users in the Red Flag Deals forum report receiving shipping notices this week, with a few already having the systems in their hands -- not just of the "First Edition" bundles, but the wi-fi Vita, which isn't due to launch officially until February 22.

Before you rush over to Amazon.ca, note that Amazon has caught on and returned the item to its proper February 22 ship date. Congratulations to the elite Canadian Vita owners' club!Amazon.ca ships out a few Vitas early originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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Hi folks! I’m here today to show you our awesome new teleportation shoot ‘em-up that is packed with innovative features – and it’s a game that YOU named! We had hundreds of entries, which we were very grateful for, and settled on ‘VELOCITY’, as it described the concept and gameplay very well - and is a cool word! Here at FuturLab we don’t think it is good enough to churn out cloned games. We wanted to do justice to the nostalgia of early games in the shoot ‘em-up genre, so that people can pick up Velocity and feel right at home, but also feel the excitement of playing something completely new! After many months prototyping, we knew we had something special with Velocity – the teleporting mechanics had never been done before - so we wanted a big sound to complement the gameplay experience.

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Skeleton butlers? Seasonal foliage? Skyrim knows not these things, but it maybe perhaps we sure hope could according to a seriously noncommittal Todd Howard speaking at the beginning of the video above, shot at his DICE 2012 keynote last evening in Las Vegas.Watch Bethesda's 'Skyrim Game Jam' sizzle reel right here originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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Starting today, we're introducing a video series we call "Twisted Metal University." The goal: Get you up to speed in time for Twisted Metal's February 14th release. That's less than a week away, so we'll have to move fast! In today's chaotic episode, you’ll be (re)introduced you to some of Twisted Metal's fiendish firepower, starting with the EMP Blast, Absorption Shield, Mines, and more. This video also gives you a primer on choosing the right sidearm, whether it’s the flesh-shredding shotgun, the devastating magnum revolver, the heat-seeking Swarmer rocket launcher, or the all-powerful Mega Gun.

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The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced the shortlist for its Game Award 2011, with the likes of Portal 2 and indie behemoth Minecraft up for the award. The Game Award, a collaboration between BAFTA and UK retailer Game Group, is the only BAFTA award that is voted for by the public. Call of Duty: Black Ops previously picked up the 2010 award. Notable inclusions to the shortlist include war shooter rivals ...




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Newsbrief: Mobile developer Ngmoco confirmed today that there has been a number of layoffs in the company as part of a corporate restructuring in parent company DeNA. DeNA bought Rolando and Topple dev Ngmoco back in 2010 for $400 million. While the company has not stated a specific figure for the layoffs, Inside Mobile Apps reports that the number is "around 30." These layoffs come as DeNA posted a drop in profits year-over-year for its ...




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In an experiment that may well pave the way to a new paradigm in the funding and development of innovative video games, Tim Schafer and Double Fine have decided to cut out the risk averse publisher middlemen and have gone straight to the users for financial backing to develop a new game using Kickstarter, a funding development platform. So far, Double Fine have received pledges amounting to almost $500,000 in less than a day!


Quote: The world of video game design is a mysterious one. What really happens behind the closed doors of a development studio is often unknown, unappreciated, or misunderstood. And the bigger the studio, the more tightly shut its door tends to be. With this project, we're taking that door off its hinges and inviting you into the world of Double Fine Productions, the first major studio to fully finance their next game with a Kickstarter campaign and develop it in the public eye. I know that other indie studios have experimented with this funding model before, but this is the first time a recognized and respected development studio has attempted such a feat. Given the already overwhelming response, hopefully this will motivate other developers to adopt this model to fund innovative new PC games which would not otherwise be green lighted by major publishers. Exciting stuff!

Newsbrief: Quite out of the blue, Codemasters has released Cannon Fodder 3, a new instalment in the popular war-based action series. The game is available exclusively via Gamersgate, and features gameplay similar to the original releases, albeit set in the 21st century and with 3D visuals. It also boasts 17 different weapons, boss battles, and an achievements and ranking system. The original Cannon Fodder was released on a variety of platforms in 1993, while a ...




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It took about 8 hours and 11 minutes. Late last night, developer Double Fine revealed a new project, one that would only be created with help from fans. Dubbed 'Double Fine Adventure,' the game would bring the developer back to its rich adventure game heritage, which helped put company icons Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert into the industry's spotlight.

The asking price was high -- $400,000 to create a brand new PC-based, "classic point-and-click adventure utilizing modern touch technology -- but gamers were more than willing to help.

Funding for the game still runs for an additional 33 days and support does not seem to be slowing. On the official Kickstarter page, Double Fine notes that "extra money" earned during this process will be "put back into the game" as well as a behind-the-scenes documentary following the creation of the new title, which will only be distributed to those who back the project.

At the time of publishing, the Kickstarter project has 9,464 backers, putting $432,249 towards Double Fine's next adventure. Joystiq has contacted Kickstarter to find out if Double Fine's project is the fastest project to hit such an impressive funding total in the company's history, but have yet to hear back.

A jovial Schafer wrote on Twitter: "Okay, on to the next project! the next thing we need to do is get this Black Sabbath reunion back on track, people."Double Fine's Kickstarter adventure surpasses $400K goal originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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The Game Audio Network Guild (which translates to the convenient acronym of GANG) has announced its nominees for the 10th annual GANG Awards to be held at GDC, honoring the best music and audio in interactive entertainment over the last year. You can see all of the nominees in the press release after the break. As you might imagine, Battlefield 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Portal 2 are all nominated, all of which boasted very excellent and memorable aural experiences.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, however, leads the pack in nominations, with nine total, including Audio, Music, and Sound Design of the Year. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary also got a nod for Best Soundtrack Album, despite the fact that most of the music is as old as the awards ceremony itself. And while most of the choices are obviously worthy, there's one more worth mentioning: Bastion was only nominated for one category, for Best Audio in a Casual/Indie/Social Game. Shame that it's relegated to just that category -- "Build that Wall" is one of the best listens our ears have had all year, video game-related or otherwise.Continue reading GANG announces nominations for 10th annual awards in game audio

GANG announces nominations for 10th annual awards in game audio originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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You know, baseball's been missing something as of late, wouldn't you agree? Good thing 2K Games has come to the rescue by adding more sports to our sports!

When MLB 2K12 launches in March, you'll be able to pick it up for the annual asking price of $60. If you spend $10 more, you can snag a combo pack including NBA 2K12, a game we're totally comfortable telling you is not too shabby. Outside of the inclusion of NBA 2K12, there are no differences between the separate SKUs.

2K Games has also announced the return of the annual perfect game pitching challenge, awarding one lucky virtual hurler (professional wrestler or not) a cool $1 million check. Hit the break for more details on this year's contest.Continue reading Buy MLB 2K12 alone or bundled with NBA 2K12

Buy MLB 2K12 alone or bundled with NBA 2K12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.




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[In his latest Behind the Numbers column, Gamasutra analyst Matt Matthews looks at what the future holds for Wii U, Nintendo's existing platforms, and third-party publishers by analyzing 2011's DS/3DS/Wii software sales.] A few weeks ago Nintendo quietly released software charts for the top-selling games on each of its platforms in the U.S. for all of calendar 2011. I haven't seen these covered extensively elsewhere, and I think they offer an interesting window on the ...




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