Filed under: Microsoft Xbox, Business

GameStop will no longer accept trade-ins on original Xbox games, systems, or accessories beginning Febuary 9, 2009. Although GameStop corporate wouldn't verify this information during its "quiet period" leading to Thursday's holiday sales report, several local shops confirmed the policy when we called. Employees were unaware if something similar would be implemented for PS2 or GameCube in the near future.

Those looking to unload their original Xbox and dozens of games for the whopping sum of $12.87 (that's just a guess), should head on down to GameStop before the deadline.

[Thanks, Jake]

GameStop suspending Xbox trade-ins starting Feb. 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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You're probably playing catch up with all the great games that came out the last few months, but you better hurry up. There's a lot more coming in 2009. You can expect everything from sequels to game series reboots to brand new franchises. Here are 20 of 2009's most anticipated games.

Filed under: Nintendo DS, PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Meta (about Joystiq)

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (X360) "Wait, did he just start his list with Spider-Man: Web of Shadows?" Yes, internet. Yes, I absolutely did. Besides being the best superhero game ever made, WoS also featured some genuinely funny writing, an addictive RPG-lite structure and utterly fantastic combat. It was fun from beginning to end and I want to play it again right now. Critical darling? No, it wasn't. But this is how I'm rolling this year, so deal with it.

You really should have seen my personal top five for our GOTY voting. It was flawless, just a gorgeous amalgamation of hardcore favorites with just enough love for the casual crowd. It was so good, in fact, that I'm going to completely flip out and use my best of the rest picks as indulgently as I possibly can.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Justin's Picks of 2008

Best of the Rest: Justin's Picks of 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3

A mere five days into the new year and our sanity is being brought into question. Is this video after the break really what it seems to be? The principal voice cast of Metal Gear Solid 4 improvising a group therapy session during which the lines between their real selves and the characters they portray break down with high-larious results? Yep, it is.

UltraNeko, host of the YouTube series Sadie's Gaming Infection, somehow managed to get David Hayter (Solid Snake), Jennifer Hale (Naomi Hunter), Paul Eiding (Col. Campbell), Christopher Randolph (Otacon), and Quinton Flynn (Raiden) into one room for one of the most bizarre -- yet entertaining -- gaming-related videos we've ever seen.

Things we learned from watching the video: David Hayter likes to CQC random people on the street; Christopher Randolph thinks his cat is a real Metal Gear Mk. II; oh, and Quinton Flynn seems to really want to be the star of the next MGS. Raiden starring in MGS5 -- surely a joke, right? What's next? Area 51 is actually a secret stronghold of The Patriots? Sure. Hit the break and prepare to leave reality behind.

Continue reading The best thing you'll see today: Metal Gear voice cast improv

The best thing you'll see today: Metal Gear voice cast improv originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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I did something about a week ago that I deeply regret, I purchased a copy of Fallout 3. Now I haven’t seen my wife for weeks and I’m struggling at work, because all I can do or think about is playing the damned game.

I should have known better. The original Fallout became an obsession of mine to the point where I decided to break out of playing Fallout 2 early in the game, because I knew that progressing any further would only end up with me sitting next to Gary Busey in rehab. Both Fallout: Tactics and Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel were enough to quench the deadly Fallout thirst, while at the same time being crappy enough that I didn’t lose my mind.

Fallout 3, on the other hand, is deep enough and close enough to the original that it retains all it’s awesomely addictive properties. It’s got a good sizable area to explore, an interesting story, and tons of quests to complete. If you liked the original games or liked Morrowind or Oblivion, you should like this game.

The only drawback is that it’s a little too much like Oblivion for it’s own good. The loss of turn based combat is made easier with the addition of the time stopping VATS system, but it’s pretty unrealistic in the way that the enemy A.I. behaves. For instance, in a normal shooter AI controlled enemies will try to seek cover. It seems like in Fallout the enemy has two moves: A. Run straight at you and beat you or stand several feet away shooting you. B. Run away after taking too much damage.

Overall it’s an awesome game even with it’s flaws. Here’s to hoping that if there’s a Fallout 4 they can fix up some of the few issues there are and I’ll be able to resist my Fallout addiction.

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Adventure

A Eurogamer source claims that Traveller's Tales isn't making a Lego Harry Potter game this year. This follows rumors that a brickitized Potter title was in the works, courtesy of the folks behind Lego Star Wars and Lego Indy. Said rumor has been floating around ever since Warner Bros., which holds the wizard's movie rights, bought TT in 2007.

The Eurogamer source also claims a new installment of Lego Indiana Jones is likely to arrive this year. At this point, we're willing to believe almost any franchise can be turned into a TT Lego game. Well, that Lego Rock Band rumor is still a bit weird.

Rumor: No Lego Harry Potter in '09 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

Today's Amazon "deal of the day" bombs the prices on several limited edition Fallout 3 bundles. For starters, the Fallout 3 "Collector's Edition" for the Xbox 360 has its price melted by 40% and is being sold for $50.

For those who really want the Vault-Tec goods, Amazon's exclusive "Survival Edition" has been reduced by $20 for all available platforms ($110 for X360 and PS3; $100 on PC). The main difference between the two bundles is the Survival Edition's life-size replica of the Pip-Boy 3000. Sadly, it doesn't feature built-in GPS or a real-time medical readout like the one in the game.

Amazon nukes Fallout 3 bundle prices today originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Last week, GameStop revealed that gamers who pre-ordered Killzone 2 would get "exclusive" access to the game's demo. We contacted SCEA to see just how exclusive that deal is, and as it turns out, the answer is very. Our rep told us, "The demo will be available on the PSN after the game ships but only through GameStop until then." You heard the man, folks. If you're interested in checking out the game before its February 27 release and didn't get into the beta, it's gonna cost you one (1) Abraham Lincoln.

SCEA: Killzone 2 demo exclusive to GameStop, on PSN after release originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

Microsoft has deemed its European holiday onslaught a success, with Chart-Track data reportedly showing Xbox 360 sales "almost" doubling when compared to the same period in 2007. This made the Xbox 360 the fastest-growing system of 2008, leaving it in a prime spot for further 2009 traction, says Chris Lewis, Regional Vice President of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business for the EMEA region.

"Christmas 2008 was a resounding success for Xbox 360. 2008 saw us grow faster than any of our competitors and we over-achieved in sales during the crucial Christmas selling period," said Lewis. "With eight million consoles sold since we launched, and consistently out-selling PlayStation 3 in EMEA, we're poised to build on this success in 2009." Microsoft claims to have over a one-million unit lead over the PlayStation 3 in the EMEA region, which includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Xbox 360 'over-achieved' in Euro Christmas sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, CES

It's sounding like the only "megatons" at Microsoft's CES 2009 keynote will be the volume of hors d'oeuvres served beforehand. According to TechCruch, the company will focus primarily on Windows 7, mobile devices and home networking, while Xbox 360 will barely get a mention. Lest we forget that MS used CES 2001 as its venue for the global unveiling of the original Xbox.

The site says that some media outlets have already been told -- under embargo -- that the only mention of 360 during MS head Steve Ballmer's presentation will be that Halo Wars and Halo 3: ODST are (brace yourself) scheduled for release in 2009. Though we already knew that, we suspect there will be those in attendance overhead saying "Halo wha?" and "2009 ... hey, that's now!"

[Via X3F]

Rumor: 360 a footnote in Microsoft's CES keynote originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Adventure, Casual

Seek and ye shall find a casual squint-a-thon on Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday. Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos wraps investigative, per-pixel peering around a globetrotting chase, with "elaborate crime scenes" and "hundreds of mysterious hidden objects" to eke and serenade with a celebratory "Aha!"

You need not be alone in your hunt for Dr. Waldo Chaos, as Interpol supports four-player co-op (both online and on couch). Perhaps you can split the 800 ($10) cost with the other agents.

Gallery: Interpol (XBLA)

This Wednesday: Interpol investigates XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

click to embiggen This has been making the rounds for a couple of weeks now, but in case you missed it over the holidays, Kaarbo Design owner Noah Kaarbo allegedly let slip (and then promptly removed, but not before Google cached it) some of the sample work his company had done for Forza developer Turn 10 Studios and -- cue the fake surprise -- Forza 3.

Community site Forzacentral managed to grab all four posters, which are said to be samples of what could have appeared on the race selection screen. Of course, this doesn't confirm the existence of another Forza game per se, but should Microsoft Games Studios decide to maybe revisit the successful racing franchise, it looks like it already has a logo to use.

Gallery: Forza 3 - Leaked Artwork

[Via X3F]

Rumor: Design studio leaks Forza 3 artwork originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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The new year is wide open with comics firing on all cylinders — from the upper echelons of superhero comics to the vibrant field of modern comics.

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360

With CES 2009 taking place this week, Energizer's charging stations (which released in October) for the Wii, X360 and PS3 have popped up on our radar. Although we've never felt the need for a PS3 charging station (USB plug-in works just fine, thank you), the battery consumption of the Wiimote and 360 controller have made charge kits -- or, at least, rechargeable batteries -- a necessity in this console generation.

• Wii Energizer Power & Play Charging Station - $40, comes with two battery packs. Extra pack $13.
• X360 Energizer Power & Play Charging Station - $30.
• PS3 Energizer Power & Play Charging Station - $30.

All the units currently have 10% off at Amazon. Nyko also makes a Wii charge station, and Microsoft has its own first-party rechargeable battery pack option.

Energizer charge stations keep controllers going and going originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Business

There may soon be a way of picking up and playing Radiant Silvergun that doesn't involve second mortgages or selling plasma. Talking with Gamasutra, Treasure CEO Masato Maegawa revealed that Microsoft has approached the developer about giving the cult classic arcade and Saturn shmup a makeover for Xbox Live Arcade.

While you reattach your jaw, it's worth noting that Treasure has yet to say yes to the remake, with Maegawa expressing concern that unlike Ikaruga, which blasted its way onto XBLA in April 2008, much more work would have to be done to Radiant Silvergun before it was given the green light. "If you play Radiant Silvergun nowadays," noted the exec, "it's certainly aged in assorted ways, and I'm not sure they're all good." Honestly Treasure, you can have our Microsoft Points, spit polish or not. Anything to keep our precious bodily fluids to ourselves.

Microsoft requested 'Radiant Silvergun' XBLA remake, Treasure considering originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Retro, Nintendo Wii

WiiWare
Sandy Beach (Konami, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): First, the good news: Yes, you can build sand castles in this game, either at your leisure or facing off against swarms of crabs in the Defend Your Castle-esque Crab Battle mode. The bad news? Well, it wasn't the first Crab Battle that came to mind ...

Virtual Console
Kirby's Dream Land 3 (Super NES[TM], 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): This title had the unfortunate luck of coming out within a week of the incredibly awesome Kirby Superstar -- great timing, Nintendo! Still, it's a fun game that happens to be just like its predecessors. We half expect the company to pull some poetic injustice and release Superstar on Virtual Console next week.

Gallery: Sandy Beach (WiiWare)

Wiikly Wares: Kirby Dream Land 3, Sandy Beach originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Exergaming

Is the female or effeminate male in your life looking a bit chub after the holidays? Then stop on in at GameStop and get them a fitness game and a free 12-month trial subscription to either Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Redbook, Good Housekeeping or O Magazine. GameStop's "Sharpen the Mind, Shape the Body" promotion emphasizes fitness games and offers magazine trials on select purchases of over $35 until Feb. 22. We've listed a few of the "designated" products that are part of the promotion after the break.

If this casual gaming movement continues to explode, It's only a matter of time before GameStop starts offering scented candles, bath oils and potpourri. Hmm, but that means the stores will smell better. Curses, we're so torn about this trend.

Continue reading GameStop offering Cosmo, O Mag subscriptions to fitness game buyers

GameStop offering Cosmo, O Mag subscriptions to fitness game buyers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Culture, Business

We're less than a week into the new year, and already some people are casting doubting glances at the industry. And by some people, we mean Lionhead's Peter Molyneux, who recently told the BBC that 2009's upcoming slate of game releases is "all looking a bit dry." The face behind our favorite game of 2008 also spoke out against current retail prices, predicting "a lot of price pressure put on games" in the future. Good thing, as we need to buy something to wash all of this down.

Noted Molyneux, "All the triple A titles came out this Christmas and while there is stuff in 2010 we can look forward to, off the top of my head I cannot think of anything next year that really excites me." Of the things that get him going, one is likely to be his next "super secret" project, a game that he teased "might" be revealed next year. Dmitri, is that you?

Molyneux: 2009 release calender 'all looking a bit dry' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Business

Look, we know the economy is in shambles; a perambulating corpse, gnawing its way through the hopes and dreams of the global populace ... but this is getting ridiculous. Reports of "drastic cost cuts" at Sony have us really spooked - think not only "factory closures" but also "the abolition of several major divisions," according to the Times of London. (In response to the report, Sony told Reuters, "We don't have any such plan.")

While there's no mention of specifics (will the PlayStation brand/division be affected?), the Times does quote a Credit Suisse analyst who says that, unless Sony takes aggressive steps to consolidate power in the hands of prez Howard Stringer - it will be unable to "close the gap with competitors such as Apple and Nintendo." Perhaps more evident to those of us watching the gaming industry specifically is the mention of "frustrations ... and a clear internal cultural clash between Japanese Sony and its US and European operations." We thought Kaz was going to bring some of that good, ol-fashioned American can-do attitude to Japan back in ought-six? Nevertheless, we want to talk to the investors directly:

Listen guys, we know Sony's got some problems. We know that. But you've got to just chill out and relax - chillax even - and wait until the Big S shows off whatever Team ICO's got in the oven. Not buying it? How about this: Microsoft is feeling the economic pinch also, but the grapevine seems to think the Xbox division will be spared. Nintendo isn't the only competition out there, you know?

Report: Sony 'on brink of upheaval' - factory, division closures originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure

Capcom Europe revealed today -- and reiterated in a few cases -- the release schedule for its titles in the first quarter of 2009.

• February TBA - Flock (XBLA/PSN)
  
• February 20 - Street Fighter IV (X360/PS3)
• February 27- Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop (Wii)
  
• February 27- Neopets Puzzle Adventure (Wii/DS/PC)
  
• March 13 - Resident Evil 5 (X360/PS3)
  
• March TBA - MotoGP (Wii)
  
• Q1-2 TBA - Bionic Commando (X360/PS3)
  

All these dates are believed to be official European release dates. We're currently awaiting Capcom US to release its own list of dates (if it even plans to do so). We'll update if anything changes.

Update: Added Capcom's North American information after the break.
Update 2: Bionic Commando will not be hitting Europe in March. The timetable is the same as the US: in the first half of '09.

Continue reading Capcom reveals Q1 releases for Europe, North America

Capcom reveals Q1 releases for Europe, North America originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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