Posts from the Galleries Category at Joystiq

Posts in category galleries

BlizzCon 2008: The comedy of the closing ceremony

13 Comments by Kevin Kelly Oct 12th 2008 12:15AM
Filed under: Culture, Features, Mac, PC, Galleries

BlizzCon offered up not one but two, Two, TWO comedians for the price of one at the closing ceremonies. We knew Patton Oswalt would be performing, but were weren't aware he'd have a warm-up act. As far as our experience with comedy goes (which is basically reading Ludwig's and Justin's posts), opening acts normally suck. And even though he dresses like a lumberjack and looks much older than the 31 his MySpace page claims, Kyle Kinane was funny as well.

Head after the jump to listen to the full comedy stylings of both Patton and Kyle after the break. You may never go commando in corduroy pants again.

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BlizzCon 2008: WoW Wrath of the Lich King new gameplay and images

9 Comments by Kevin Kelly Oct 11th 2008 7:30PM
Filed under: Mac, PC, Action, Adventure, Fighting, Online, RPGs, Video, MMO, Galleries

If you've been playing the Wrath of the Lich King beta, then this stuff isn't new to you. However, it sure is pretty. All those lush environments, just waiting to be riddled with the corpses of the vanquished. Straight to you from BlizzCon comes the video above, and the gallery below.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

BlizzCon 2008: New Starcraft II gameplay footage and images

9 Comments by Kevin Kelly Oct 11th 2008 6:30PM
Filed under: Mac, PC, Online, Strategy, Video, Galleries

Been itching for some Zerg action? Now you have it, in video form. Check out the new Starcraft 2 video above, and the new screenshots down below, straight from BlizzCon. We'll have a full hands-on with Starcraft 2 and the Zerg experience later.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Starcraft II

BlizzCon 2008: The costume and dance contest

13 Comments by Kevin Kelly Oct 11th 2008 4:00PM
Filed under: Culture, Mac, PC, Action, Adventure, RPGs, Video, MMO, Fashion, Galleries

One day of BlizzCon is already behind us, and with it came the announcement of the Wizard class for Diablo III, the fact that Starcraft II is going to be a trilogy, and the truism that World of Warcraft players really love their costume and dance contests.

Check out the video of the pants-off dance-off above, hit the links below that for some highlights, and then be sure and crawl through our galleries below for all that we've seen so far. Today brings more panels, more Diablo III news (omg wtf?!), and a closing ceremony featuring Patton Oswalt, Video Games Live, and Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain. We'll be bringing you audio and video, so keep watching.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Costume Contest

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: The Experience

BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III Wizard cinematic and new screenshots

18 Comments by Kevin Kelly Oct 10th 2008 8:00PM
Filed under: Mac, PC, Adventure, Online, RPGs, Video, Galleries

Here's the piping-hot new cinematic video for the Wizard class in Diablo III, straight from BlizzCon. This leads us to suspect that each class will get its own cinematic, possibly as they approach the Sanctuary instance near the beginning of the game. There are several Wizard-specific CGI moments and gameplay shots in a sort of "coming up this season on Diablo III" format.

Below you can check out the new gallery of screenshots from Diablo III, featuring new shots of the Wizard, Barbarian, and Witch Doctor. Enjoy the goodies, and keep checking back for more info.

Gallery: BlizzCon 2008: Diablo 3

BlizzCon 2008: The Diablo III Class Panel

14 Comments by Kevin Kelly Oct 10th 2008 7:29PM
Filed under: Features, Mac, PC, Adventure, Online, RPGs, Galleries

Jay Wilson, Julian Love, Wyatt Cheng from Blizzard were the first panel from BlizzCon, which was all about the Diablo III class system, including its tweaks and special effects. Unfortunately, we didn't get any more hints at the other two classes which haven't been announced yet. However, with the Witchdoctor and Wizard being so magic heavy, we're sure they'll add another physical fighter that isn't quite as big as the Barbarian. Head after the break to get the new details on the Skill System, the Rune System, and four of the Wizard's spells that involve blowing things up, and / or melting them.

Gallery: BlizzCon: Diablo 3 Skill Systems Gallery

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Recap: Sony Holiday Preview Event - Toronto

18 Comments by Xav de Matos Oct 10th 2008 3:00AM
Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Galleries

As the gaming world sets its focus on Japan for the Tokyo Game Show, Sony decided to hold a preview event for the media (and later for community) in Toronto, Canada. Showcasing some of the most anticipated titles of the year for the platform, Sony showed off everything you'd want or hope to see.

Prince of Persia made its community debut and we had a chance to take the adventure for a spin. Killzone 2 surprised everyone with its presence but no one with its style and Dead Space proved that even a game releasing next week will garner a pile of crowd attention.

Here's a recap of all the coverage out of the Sony Holiday Event in Toronto, Canada, as well as images from the event:

Gallery: Sony Holiday Preview 2008 -- Toronto, Canada

Joystiq impressions: Personal Trainer: Cooking

8 Comments by Zack Stern Oct 7th 2008 4:30AM
Filed under: Culture, Nintendo DS, Features, Casual, Galleries

Out already in Europe and Japan, Personal Trainer: Cooking launches in North America on November 24. Like other upcoming Personal Trainer titles (Math! Walking!), Cooking is more tutor than game. After sampling its recipes, we developed a taste for the concept. The cookbook of 245 dishes gives step-by-step instructions, meeting chefs with a range of skill levels.

Gallery: Personal Trainer: Cooking

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Joystiq impressions: Age of Empires: Mythologies

17 Comments by Zack Stern Oct 6th 2008 11:30PM
Filed under: Nintendo DS, Features, Strategy, Galleries

Age of Empires: Mythologies follows the style of the DS Age of Kings, turning the PC real-time strategy into a portable, turn-based title. We checked out the game a the Nintendo Media Summit and found a lot of depth in the transition. While you'll only choose from Greek, Norse, or Egyptian armies, there's still ample Age of Empires inside.

Gallery: Age of Empires: Mythologies

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Joystiq impressions: Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party

8 Comments by Zack Stern Oct 6th 2008 8:45PM
Filed under: Features, Nintendo Wii, Casual, Galleries

The Rabbids are back. We liked the original, thought they dozed on the sequel, and hope the combination of randomness and fun returns for TV Party. More than 50 mini-games are shipping with the new Wii game, most of which will be playable with four people. About 30 percent of the games will be able to use the Balance Board, although the ~~fad~~ device won't be required.

We played three mini-games at the Nintendo Media Summit and are hopeful that this will be the best version yet. We'll know for sure after the November 11 release.

Gallery: Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party

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Joystiq impressions: Tecmo Bowl Kickoff (DS)

7 Comments by Zack Stern Oct 6th 2008 7:45PM
Filed under: Nintendo DS, Features, Retro, Sports, Galleries

Game companies must find old IP profitable, with yet another retro remake on the way in Tecmo Bowl Kickoff. This DS diversion plunges into the nostalgia glands within our hypothalamus; we fondly associate the NES original with grade-school sleep-overs. Maybe there's a direct connection between our memories and Visa card after all.

And on that level, Tecmo Bowl wins. It's hokey, clunky, and fun. We think gamers who missed the NES or SNES versions won't enjoy it nearly as much as their John Maddens. But the Tecmo Bowl simplicity can even be elegant. You're limited to just a few runs and passes. There's no play clock. Team names and players are fictitious. Cut-scene interludes show the biggest graphical effects, with on-field play just clear enough to make out what's happening.

Gallery: Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff (10-6-08)

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Joystiq hands-on: Tetris Party (WiiWare)

17 Comments by Zack Stern Oct 6th 2008 4:00PM
Filed under: Features, Nintendo Wii, Puzzle, Galleries

We've soaked up Tetris on countless platforms. There's a balance to strike between versions that retain enough of the core game to be authentically Tetris, and adding new puzzle elements. Tetris Party for WiiWare nails this demand, providing about a dozen game modes, many of which, are all-new. Call it "yet another Tetris?" Maybe. But this is a Tetris on which we'll gladly spend 1,200 Wii points with its release sometime this month.

Nintendo claims there are 18 modes, 10 of which are new, but we only agree technically; the company counts some modes twice as single- and multi-player games. (Most modes support up to four players on one system, and a few work with up to six online.) We tore into as many as we could before overloading like a kid on a Halloween sugar-high. Here's how they stand up.

Gallery: Tetris Party (WiiWare, 10-06-08)

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Joystiq impressions: Cave Story (WiiWare)

16 Comments by Zack Stern Oct 6th 2008 3:00PM
Filed under: Features, Mac, PC, Nintendo Wii, Adventure, Galleries

click to enlarge

We played Cave Story at the Nintendo Media Summit, and other than controlling the game with the Wii Remote – old-school sideways, natch' – it's nearly the same as the free PC and Mac game. The retro look and gameplay make this seem like an overlooked garage-sale find, for good or bad. (Usually good.)

Gallery: Cave Story (WiiWare)

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Joystiq impressions: Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop

50 Comments by Zack Stern Oct 6th 2008 12:00PM
Filed under: Features, Nintendo Wii, Action, Galleries

click to enlarge

Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop thins components from the 360 original into a Wii port. And that's not always a bad thing. As much as we liked the original, we were frustrated by losing track of side missions and the unforgiving save system. The Wii remake addresses both issues, running players through a condensed, linear story with more frequent save- and restore-points. And Wii controls often feel good, especially for pointing and shooting, although we're still uncertain about some of the motion additions, such as shaking off zombies.

But after playing at the Nintendo Media Summit, we're apprehensive about what's being lost. There's no photojournalism, many weapons have been cut, and we're just not sure if the Wii can push enough zombies-per-second to create the ambling masses of the first. The Wii version seems suited to gamers who never tried the original; it'll hold up better without any direct comparison to the 360 game.

Gallery: Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop (10-06-2008)

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Joystiq impressions: Animal Crossing: City Folk

26 Comments by Zack Stern Oct 6th 2008 11:00AM
Filed under: Features, Nintendo Wii, Online, Casual, Galleries

Animal Crossing is a one-hit-wonder. You might like it and play it forever, hate it and avoid it completely, or think it was catchy and then just get tired of the tune. Animal Crossing: City Folk does little to change our perception. This is Animal Crossing, again; go fishing, pull weeds, repeat. Some love it, some hate it, and some just want something new.

From what we saw at the Nintendo Media Summit, the city is just another place to go. Instead of Tom Nook's shop in your own town, you can buy from an upscale store. Instead of waiting for the fortune teller to visit, you can see her in the city. A few minor additions include a city-based auction house and theater where you see shows.

The rest of the updates seem equally subtle. You can play with your Mii face. Up to four players can meet in one of their towns or the city. Gamer can talk over the WiiSpeak microphone (sold separately). You can type messages by plugging in any USB HID keyboard. Otherwise, it's Animal Crossing again.

Gallery: Animal Crossing: City Folk (10-6-08)

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