Joystiq

Raichu cosplayer uses Marriage Proposal

by JC Fletcher { 2 hours ago }

When Chris Herbert decided to pop the question to his girlfriend of three years, Belle Starenchak, he picked the most romantic place he could think of: Anime Weekend Atlanta, with both dressed as Pokemon. It ... kind of makes sense for them.

Belle, or "PikaBelleChu," is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records: Gamer Edition for her massive Pikachu memorabilia collection, and Herbert met her by staging a Pokemon auction. So while we might be tempted to laugh, it would seem that the pursuit of 'em all is a major component of this couple's lives.

And now that they've done this -- a proposal in Pikachu and Raichu outfits, all floppy fake mouse ears on their hats and yellow glove slipped off to try on the ring that came out of the Pokeball -- we believe that the world's quota for Pokemon-themed proposals has just been filled.

By the way, it was super effective. See the moment after the break.

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Resident Evil 2's soy boy returns for Darkside Chronicles

by JC Fletcher { 4 hours ago }

We should have seen this coming, given that Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles recounts events from Resident Evil 2, but it never oc-curd to us: Tofu, the character from the hidden "Tofu Survivor" stage in RE2, will return for the Wii-exclusive rail shooter, as confirmed (or con-extra-firmed) in this trailer. But not as a protagonist: in Darkside Chronicles' Tofu Mode, many of the zombies are swapped out for gelatinous, crumbly, flavor-absorbing tofu.

After the break, enjoy a trailer featuring some alternate costumes for the playable characters, all of whom are made of meat, as far as we know.

Gallery: Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (TGS 2009)

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Ubisoft aims to 'quickly' soar to a 10% market share

by Xav de Matos { 5 hours ago }

During the BMO Capital Markets Digital Entertainment Conference, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot told attendees his company aims to capture a 10 percent market share in the flooded games industry. According to Guillemot (via GamesIndustry.biz), Ubisoft currently stands at "around 6 percent," but the executive believes his company can expand its reach using a multi-tiered strategy to raise its share very "quickly."

At its core, Ubisoft's plan was detailed as a three-pronged approach: A focus on present and future consoles, online and social networks and entertainment convergence. In June 2009, Ubisoft revealed the cross-game interface social media and digital platform, Uplay -- a web-based service it hopes will allow developers to better connect with players. Apart from this "confluence" concept, Ubisoft has continued its convergence strategy by expanding its marketing reach to gamers through various forms of media and through the use of its movie license agreements.

"We have many opportunities to gain market share," Gillemot said during the event, echoing statements made during its Q2 earnings call last week regarding the importance of leveraging upcoming technology from Microsoft and Sony. And let's face it, if pre-order data is to be believed, Ubisoft will soon be diving into giant wells of loot following the release of Assassin's Creed 2... and that has to help the company inch closer to its 10 percent goal.

There's a game that exists which has Nazi Dinosaurs in it

by Griffin McElroy { 7 hours ago }

Okay -- Time Gentlemen, Please featured a number of Hitler-Heiling prehistoric lizards, so we guess there's now two games out there which feature Nazi Dinosaurs. Still, the more recent title to boast the hybrid, a Half-Life 2 mod titled Dino D-Day, actually allows you to go toe to talon with with these fanged, scaly members of the Third Reich. You can check out an overwhelmingly patriotic trailer for the mod over on ModDB -- or, if you're in the mood to massacre some Nazi Dinos right now, the mod is also available to download.

(To be fair, the dinosaurs featured in Dino D-Day are unable to speak, so it's difficult to know whether they harbor the disturbing political and social beliefs of the Nazi party. However, they're affiliated with them in combat, so we've got no reservations about punching them repeatedly in their stupid dinosaur faces.)

MMO Roundup: Massively's week in review

by Shawn Schuster { 8 hours ago }

When it comes to MMO news and special features, Joystiq sister site Massively.com has you covered. Whether you're looking for info on the hottest new MMO, or you're just curious about an old favorite, you'll find it at Massively. Check out our biggest features of the week:

NCsoft hints at Guild Wars 2 beta in 2010, launch in 2011
While the bits of information given here and there add up to something relatively substantial, fans are still asking the big question: When? Obviously the planned 2008 beta didn't happen, and now fans will have to wait a bit longer.

Will Star Trek Online be ready for its launch?
It's no secret that a lot of people in the MMO blogosphere are excited about Star Trek Online, considering that it's more or less a built-in home run from many of the same people who play MMOs. But there are certainly questions to be asked about any MMO due out soon, especially one with three more months before it hits launch day. Bio Break asks the question in simplest terms: will the game really be all set for a February release?

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Video: Nelly Furtado sings in Simlish, raids tombs, knows kung fu

by Richard Mitchell { 9 hours ago }

The latest of the previously announced Simlish music videos promoting the expansion Sims 3: World Adventures has been released. This time, it's Nelly Furtado's turn to try her hand at the nonsensical language, adapting her song "Manos al Aire." We've watched the video and, sure enough, we can't understand a word of it. Of course, the original song is in Spanish, so we couldn't understand it in the first place anyway.

But that's really all beside the point. What you should be focusing on is watching Nelly Furtado's Sim explore Egyptian tombs, doling out some kung-fu kicks and taking part in the longstanding tradition of obscure French film making.

How not to boycott Modern Warfare 2

by Griffin McElroy { 10 hours ago }

Don't worry, guys. We're fairly certain that most of those copies are pirated.

(Click here for the full version of the image, as captured by PC Gamer forum poster Olu446.)

[Via Rock Paper Shotgun]

SouthPeak earnings report reveals acquisition of ... something involving TNA Impact

by Ben Gilbert { 10 hours ago }

Remember way back in August when THQ picked up around 40 percent of Midway San Diego (following that whole full collapse thing), but left off the TNA Impact property? It would appear that the reason for this exclusion was due to SouthPeak Games snatching up the license, as revealed by a recent Q1 2010 financial report released by the company.

The "acquisition" is first noted in the report's "Highlights of the Quarter" section. "Acquired in bankruptcy certain assets owned by Midway relating to video games based on the TNA iMPACT wrestling brand." We asked SouthPeak who would be in charge of developing the next game in that series, said in the report to be released "this year" (2010), and found out that such information has yet to be announced, unfortunately. Currently, SouthPeak is only known to be publishing TNA Impact: Cross the Line for the PSP and Nintendo DS.

When we explored the SEC filing from Midway on the sale, the wording got much more ambiguous. One notable exclusion from the $100k purchase is, "the TNA License and Sellers' rights thereunder." When we asked SouthPeak to clear up exactly what the company bought, we were told that, while it "can confirm the details of the release and filing," no comment is currently available – though we were assured that we'll be hearing more details "soon."

Readers pick best webcomic: The Price of Loyalty

by Griffin McElroy { 11 hours ago }

Everyone knows that a dog is a man's best friend -- far fewer people know that a dog's best friend is cold, hard cash. "A man" isn't even on the dog's top five best friends, which are, in order: Cash, kibble, old socks, the sound kibble makes when it's applied to a food bowl, and fine cigars. To obtain these items, dogs won't hesitate to stealthily rob their owners -- a fact Penny Arcade recently highlighted in last week's Wrapup winner, "The Price of Loyalty." Don't forget: Your canine companion in Torchlight is as cute as he is crafty. You may want to think twice before using him as a mercantile go-between.

Second and third place went to 2P Start's "Powers of Ten" and Digital Unrest's "The Bomb," respectively. If you've got a strip you'd like to see in tomorrow's Wrapup, don't hesitate to drop a link to it in the comments section of this post, or send in a tip!

First Seven Haunted Seas gameplay trailer

by Richard Mitchell { 11 hours ago }

Earlier this year at E3, Titmouse Games held a shindig for the press to promote its upcoming undead pirate game, Seven Haunted Seas. The soiree even had its own pirate band. More relevant to gamers out there, the company also showed a gameplay trailer of the game -- once. It looks like Titmouse has finally decided to let the public see what the game is all about and, if you like undead pirates -- especially ones named Scurvy Pete -- you're probably in for a treat. However, if you've been waiting for Titmouse to announce a platform for the game, you're out of luck.

The game is in the prototype stage, so there are a few rough spots in the video, but it's still looking good so far. Of course, it's hard to argue with a guy that has a Gatling gun for an arm. Check out the video after the break.

[Via Destructoid]

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WRUP: 'We don't control the Modern Warfare 2 servers' edition

by Alexander Sliwinski { 12 hours ago }

We appreciate passionate gamers, but please stop sending us emails asking us to fix the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 servers. We're happy that the game is so enjoyable; however, we do not control nor do we have even the slightest influence over how the game functions. Please direct all issues to Activision or Infinity Ward. Thank you for understanding. What's everyone playing this weekend?

XOXO,
Joystiq

PS: How awesome was that snowmobile chase?

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Disney Interactive Media experiences $295 million loss for year

by Alexander Sliwinski { 12 hours ago }

The Walt Disney Company may be holding its own in this tough economic time, but its Interactive Media division, which includes Disney Interactive and Disney Online, ended the corporation's fiscal year with a $295 million loss. This follows the division's $258 million loss last year -- it is the only group in the company hemorrhaging cash. PaidContent quotes outgoing CFO Tom Staggs explaining the situation away, "We're making an investment (in self-published video games). We're currently in a loss situation and would like to see that reverse itself as we build out to scale."

Optimistically, next year could be better with the release of Split/Second and Epic Mickey ... optimistically.

Source -- Disney fiscal year results [PDF link]

JBO: Joystiq Box Office, November 9 - November 13

by Kevin Kelly { 13 hours ago }

We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly and Blu-ray each week.

Recommendation of the Week:

The Office: Series One (Netflix Watch Instantly)
While everyone was quick to sneer at the American version of The Office on NBC and say "Oh, it's not as good as the original," that new show has gone a long way towards proving itself. However, they're right ... it's still not as good as the original. Now the entire British run of The Office is available on Netflix. If you haven't seen it yet, dive in here with the entire first series, then move on to Series Two and the Specials. Ricky Gervais hasn't struck box office gold yet in America (his movies Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying have fallen a bit flat), but The Office is more than good enough to make up for it.

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.

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Funny or Die unlocks 'Spielberg' level in Call of Duty

by David Hinkle { 13 hours ago }

If there's one thing we don't get to talk about enough here on our vidya game blog, it's film legend Tom Hanks. The man just has a presence about him, one that adds an indefinable trait to anything he breathes on. Luckily, the restraining order he filed against us doesn't extend to the realm of typed-out words on the internet, so when we saw this Funny or Die (NSFW) video that combines a bit of Call of Duty with that gruesome Normandy Invasion scene from Saving Private Ryan, we just knew we had to post it up.

You can check it out past the break, but be warned: Aside from seeing all that gore, you'll hear the cackles of foul-mouthed Brits. Small price to pay for one of the funniest things you'll see, if you ask us.

[Via Go Nintendo]

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EEDAR: Blame low industry sales on casual gamers

by Richard Mitchell { 14 hours ago }

EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich recently told Industry Gamers that the low sales reported by NPD in October can be attributed mainly to casual gamers. Specifically, he placed the blame on "non-traditional and casual gamers who have failed to make follow-up purchases." Conversely, Divnich said that core game sales have been "quite healthy" throughout 2009. So, what can drive casual gamers back to the cash register? "it will take the introduction of some new style of gameplay or peripheral before we see a resurgence in the casual and non-traditional markets," said Divnich, noting that his company expects a new DS to arrive in 2010 (presumably a next generation model, not another redesign). In addition, Divnich believes that Microsoft's Project Natal could reinvigorate interest in motion-controlled gaming among both core and casual gamers.

Divnich also reiterated his belief that the Wii will remain on top for the rest of the year. He also thinks the PS3 could outsell the Xbox 360 over the holidays. He did note, however, that PS3 sales are "declining much faster post-price drop than the Xbx 360," suggesting that it's too early to claim any definite winners in the long run.