Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is delaying the Holidays
by Griffin McElroy 
{ 3 hours ago }
Below are our seven favorite gaming-related webcomics from this past week -- perfect for you to share with a lover on this cold, cold Valentine's Eve. Check them out, and vote for your favorite in the poll after the jump! If we missed any, drop a link in the comments!
The Axiom (Penny Arcade)
Avatar: The Game (Another Videogame Webcomic)
Balance Patch (Nerf Now)
A Mushroom Kingdom Carol Part 6 (Brawl in the Family)
Whistle While You Warp (Digital Unrest)
And We Even Hate The Font (Virtual Shackles)
Dragon Age: Sour Grapes Edition (Dipswitch)
Just Cause 2 visits small island, kills everyone
by Ben Gilbert { 5 hours ago } 
Gallery: Just Cause 2 (11-13-09)
Dark Void dev diary introduces us to 'Teslapunk' technology
by Griffin McElroy { 7 hours ago } 
Quick question: In a hypothetical war between inventor extraordinaire Nikola Tesla and an advanced race of robots, who would win? The answer is, of course, entirely dependent on the version of Tesla we're talking about. Real-life Tesla stands a pretty good chance -- after all, that debonaire mustache is probably capable of disabling most electronic devices. The safe money's on The Prestige's Tesla, who was played by David Bowie, who can disintegrate any synthetic material using nothing but the power of his rocking.
The Tesla in Dark Void looks like he'd stand a fair chance as well. Check out the above dev diary to see the warring factions of technology present in the game, and to get a few more sweet, sweet glimpses of the title's jetpack-based combat.
The Tesla in Dark Void looks like he'd stand a fair chance as well. Check out the above dev diary to see the warring factions of technology present in the game, and to get a few more sweet, sweet glimpses of the title's jetpack-based combat.
Extremely ugly Clash of the Titans screenshots released
by Griffin McElroy { 9 hours ago }
Click to Titan-size
Whoa, now. When we say "ugly," we're not talking about the visual fidelity of the aforementioned Clash of the Titans screenshots. Rather, we're talking about the subjects they depict -- horrible, nether-spawned creatures, covered in uninviting tusks, pincers and fangs. Where are all the beautiful, half-clothed goddesses? The scenic Grecian environments? The looming, meticulously built temples? We're not sure -- but we do know they're not in the gallery below.Gallery: Clash of the Titans
Reminder: Enter to win Joystiq's 'Naughty or Nice' holiday bundles
by Griffin McElroy { 11 hours ago } 
Check out our giveaway hub to see all the highly giftable loot, as well as the rules, regulations and obligatory legal mumbo-jumbo.
Update: Just to clear up any confusion, you'll need to comment on the actual giveaway posts to be eligible. This post's just a friendly reminder! See, it says so in the headline!
What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.
Torchlight gets big Steam update, half-price weekend
by Ben Gilbert { 13 hours ago }
It's alright (and we're sorry for yelling)! But we had to get your attention to tell you that Steam's benevolent overlords are already thinking a few steps ahead, adding the aforementioned Cheevos and Cloud support in an update last night as well as dropping the game's price by 50% for the duration of the weekend. For $9.99, you can venture into the land of Torchlight and click to your heart's content -- there's even a demo if you're so inclined. The deal last's until Monday, so let's hope you're an expedient Steam user as well as a conservative one.
Gallery: Torchlight
Ubisoft trademarks Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
by Ben Gilbert { 15 hours ago }
In fairness, the Ghost Recon games have always been set a bit into the future, with Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 taking place in the not-so-distant 2014. Will the French game publisher take the next step and bring the series into the somewhat-more-distant future? 2015, perhaps? We've heard that, by then, you won't need roads. Think of that!
[Via Superannuation]
Bitmob explores the world of video game voice acting
by Richard Mitchell { 22 hours ago }
It's a neat look into the world of video game voice acting, as well as sound production in general. If you've ever been curious about how it's done, take a look. Just don't expect Thomas to be putting Nolan North out of a job anytime soon.
TheSpeedGamers aim to catch every Pokemon in 72 hours for charity
by Griffin McElroy { 1 day ago }
The charitable gaming experts of TheSpeedGamers plan to accomplish this near-impossible goal while taking donations for Ally's House, an Oklahoma-based children's cancer foundation. It sounds like a really great cause -- why not show some support on the group's livestream? Even if your "support" is just you repeatedly singing the Pokérap over and over, ad infinitum.
Need for Speed: Shift speeds into iPhone App store
by Ben Gilbert { 1 day ago } 
click to shift into gallery
EA included a handful of impressive screens below, though we can't imagine the graphics (which are enhanced for iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod touch) will do much to mask the frustration of clumsily trying to control a simulation-style racing game with a mobile phone. We've been burned before, folks.
Need for Speed: Shift ($9.99) :
Gallery: Need for Speed: Shift (iPhone)
Readers pick best webcomic: Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful
by Griffin McElroy { 1 day ago }
Second and third place went to Nerf Now's "Die Monster" and Brawl in the Family's "A Mushroom Kingdom Carol Part 4," respectively. If you've got a favorite comic you'd like to see in this week's Wrapup, drop a link in the comments section, or send in a tip!
Criterion details Burnout Paradise DLC that never was
by David Hinkle { 1 day ago }
For one, did you know that Criterion initially planned to have motorcycles vs cars? Yep, sure was planned -- and did you know that Criterion wanted to create a whole series of islands, not just the one? The devs even wanted to give players the ability to go to the moon, complete with lunar challenges for Freeburn addicts. Also: the planes thing wasn't an April Fool's joke -- the dev actually wanted to add them (and other vehicles) into the game.
Overall, it's a pretty great read, if only to show you just how committed the studio was to the game and raising the bar for DLC in general.
Eye-popping iPhone hack-n-slash Twin Blades coming to XBL Indie Games
by Randy Nelson { 1 day ago }
click to enlarge
Recently released for iPhone / iPod touch, French indie dev Press Start Studio's side-scrolling homage to classic hack-n-slashers (and really big guns), Twin Blades: The Reaping Vanguard, is making the unlikely leap onto Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Indie Games.It's not the deepest game, though it has been hailed as a technical showpiece for Apple's devices due to its crisp, beautifully animated 2D graphics. Players (controlling an awfully violent nun) hack and shoot their way through advancing waves of the enemy flavor of the decade, zombies. There are skill and weapon upgrades, the latter including flame throwers and mini nukes.
A 99¢ download on iPhone, the 360 release of Twin Blades will be priced at 240
($3) and, so as not to miss a crucial marketing opportunity -- the traditional holiday ritual of decapitating zombies while dressed as a nun -- is slated to land on the Xbox Live Marketplace before December 25. Press Start plans to release DLC for the game down the road, including new levels and bosses. Check out the gameplay trailer after the break.Gallery: Twin Blades: The Reaping Vanguard
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, December 14 - December 18, plus Joyswag!
by Kevin Kelly { 1 day ago } 
Welcome to Joystiq's "Naughty or Nice" holiday giveaway extravaganza! It's simple: Just follow the instructions below to enter for your chance to win. Ah, but to win what? There's always a catch, isn't there? Each "Naughty or Nice" giveaway features two prizes: a totally sweet bundle of holiday cheer and, um, a lump of coal. Winners are selected randomly, we assure you. Of course, who's to say luck isn't dependent on virtue ... Have you been naughty? Or nice?
With the holidays in mind, we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES with each Joystiq Box Office post on Friday from today through January 1! Simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever (whether it be naughty or nice) and we'll pick winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we're joining the rest of Joyswag and going Naughty or Nice. Five "Nice" winners will win a copy of District 9 on Blu-ray, which includes the God of War III demo, and one "Naughty" winner will wind up with a copy of the American Godzilla on Blu-ray.
Recommendation of the Week:
Inglourious Basterds (Blu-ray, $39.95 suggested retail)
If you haven't already seen this film, then you owe it to yourself to check it out in high definition. This is definitely Tarantino's most mature film to date, and despite numerous trailers out there, it's not a gory, Nazi slaughter-fest. There is some violence, to be sure, but I've talked to people who avoided this in theaters because they thought it was going to be torture porn. There's an extremely good film in here, and what's really compelling is that it's nearly two movies in one. The story of the Basterds and the story of a woman who owns a theater run separate courses throughout the film until a head-on collision at the end, but they stand on their own very well. Extremely crisp and sharp in HD and filled with extras, including the bizarre but hilarious "Quentin Tarantino's Camera Angel," this is a must-see, must-own, must-covet title.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
With the holidays in mind, we're going to be giving away ... wait for it ... MOVIES with each Joystiq Box Office post on Friday from today through January 1! Simply leave a comment below telling us what you'll be watching on your Xbox, PS3, PC, PSP, DS, OMG or whatever (whether it be naughty or nice) and we'll pick winners at random each week to receive a nifty prize. This week we're joining the rest of Joyswag and going Naughty or Nice. Five "Nice" winners will win a copy of District 9 on Blu-ray, which includes the God of War III demo, and one "Naughty" winner will wind up with a copy of the American Godzilla on Blu-ray.
Recommendation of the Week:
Inglourious Basterds (Blu-ray, $39.95 suggested retail)If you haven't already seen this film, then you owe it to yourself to check it out in high definition. This is definitely Tarantino's most mature film to date, and despite numerous trailers out there, it's not a gory, Nazi slaughter-fest. There is some violence, to be sure, but I've talked to people who avoided this in theaters because they thought it was going to be torture porn. There's an extremely good film in here, and what's really compelling is that it's nearly two movies in one. The story of the Basterds and the story of a woman who owns a theater run separate courses throughout the film until a head-on collision at the end, but they stand on their own very well. Extremely crisp and sharp in HD and filled with extras, including the bizarre but hilarious "Quentin Tarantino's Camera Angel," this is a must-see, must-own, must-covet title.
Read on for the rest of the recommendations, and as usual, we'll see you at the popcorn sta -- well, actually, we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift. Plus, be sure to tell us what you'll be watching, or what you've seen recently that bowled you over.
WRUP: Shout-out to downloadable games edition
by Alexander Sliwinski { 1 day ago }
_thumbnail.jpg "Lunar: Silver Star Harmony")
