Joystiq

Engage: New Star Trek Online screens and dev diary

by Griffin McElroy { 22 minutes ago }

With our rudimentary knowledge of the expanded Star Trek universe, we have a hard time following Cryptic Studios' series of lore briefings for Star Trek Online (the latest installment of which is posted above). Still, you don't have to have a Ph.D. in Klingon-Starfleet relations to appreciate the gargantuan space battles featured in the video. You just have to have eyes. We suppose an appreciation for lasers helps, too.

In addition to the moving pictures, Atari has released a batch of new stills, as well, which we've tossed into the gallery below. Unless you have some aversion to wrinkle-headed alien species, we think you'll like what you see.

Gallery: Star Trek Online (11/24/09)

If Namco releases more Tekken 6 DLC, it will be free

by JC Fletcher { 52 minutes ago }

Producer Katsuhiro Harada commented to UK.PlayStation.com that more Tekken 6 content is likely to be on the way via DLC, adding to the retailer-exclusive Cardboard Tube Samurai outfit. But we can't groan about Namco Bandai using DLC for the popular fighter as a cash machine, because the company doesn't intend to charge for it. Harada said there was a "strong possibility" of additional downloadable content for the game -- possibly for the PSP version as well, since he didn't specify. "However, even if we were to do so, it would be free to the end user."

Of course, this is the same company that released paid Star Wars DLC for Soul Calibur IV after the director said there wouldn't be. So don't go empty out your Tekken 6 DLC fund just yet.

Gallery: Tekken 6 (GamesCom 2009)

[Via Siliconera]

GameStop 'Buy 2, Get 1 Free' used game sale starts tomorrow

by Justin McElroy { 1 hour ago }

You've probably got a ton of brand new games you want to purchase, but with Christmas just around the corner, the available funds to buy things for yourself are likely dwindling. Tomorrow through Sunday, GameStop's got a helpful solution: A Buy 2, Get 1 Free sale on all used games. The sale is both in-store and online, though you'll need to use code B2G1FREE, along with SAVER to get free shipping on $25-plus orders.

Just so there's no confusion, we're not suggesting that you buy used games for yourself to save money, far from it. We just can't help but think how much extra cash you'd have left for Assassin's Creed 2 if you got everyone on your list a second-hand copy of Wheelman.

[Via CheapCollegeGamers]

Ubisoft writer says team working on Far Cry 3, looks 'pretty exciting'

by David Hinkle { 1 hour ago }

Kevin Shortt, master wordsmith at Ubisoft Montreal, recently confirmed to Official PlayStation Magazine UK (via CVG) that Far Cry 3 is in development by the Far Cry 2 team. Most of you know that we had no problem heaping copious amounts of praise upon Far Cry 2, one of our Top 10 games of 2008, so a third installment is most certainly welcome in these parts. Sadly, Shortt didn't say whether Ubisoft has decided to go with Africa again for the setting, but offered that what little he's seen of the game so far has apparently been "pretty exciting" to him.

That's about all we have to go on right now. Offer your own speculation in the comments below while we sit here and imagine all of the people and things we're going to kaboom.

Next Tron game teased, debuting at VGAs

by Randy Nelson { 2 hours ago }

[Image Source]

Joining games the likes of Halo: Reach and 2K's new Spec Ops debuting at this year's Spike Video Game Awards is a new installment in the Tron franchise. It's not the first time we've heard of the game -- it was rumored to be in development back in January of this year. Still, its existence is confirmed by an all-too-brief teaser at GameTrailers, which promises a proper unveiling at Spike's awards show on Saturday, December 12.

Based on the teaser, the game may simply be titled Tron -- although the logo and art style found in the footage are very similar to that of the upcoming movie sequel, Tron: Legacy. We'll find out exactly what to expect on the Game Grid in just a little over two weeks' time. For now, check out the teaser after the break.

[Via That Videogame Blog]

Continued →

PSN Tuesday: Turkey Thursday 2009 edition

by Alexander Sliwinski { 2 hours ago }

[atomicshark]

Thanks to Turkey Day this Thursday, the PSN update is going live a couple days early. Gobble up the savings as several PSN titles are priced perfectly for tryptophan overdose relaxation. Check out the full PSN update after the break to find more things to do while avoiding family obligations this weekend.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continued →

LucasArts whipping up online co-op patch for Lego Indy 2

by Randy Nelson { 3 hours ago }

Soon, friends who see that you're playing Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues on Xbox Live or PlayStation Network won't need to sit idol-y by -- they'll be able to join in. LucasArts has tweeted that it's working on a patch that will bring online co-op play to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the latest Lego game on the block.

What's more, the publisher has also confirmed that the patch will let players collaborate in the game's level editor, tweeting, "In LIJ2's new co-op, you'll be able to join others as they build and play their levels." As for timing, LucasArts says to "give it a few weeks" before the update is transported by submarine from Cairo to ~~a secret island base~~ Microsoft and Sony's servers.

Rumor: OPM teases Dead Space reveal in December

by Ludwig Kietzmann { 3 hours ago }

Considering the artwork depicted on the "next month" page of November's Official PlayStation Magazine, it requires only the slightest of hops to reach the conclusion that a new Dead Space announcement is lurking just around the corner. Allegedly snapped by GOONL!NE (as in the connectivity instruction, not the lineup of criminals), the artwork features a grotesque, tentacled creature viewed through what appears to be the iconic toaster visor of Dead Space protagonist Isaac Clarke. The site confidently suggests that the creature itself is derived from the original game's concept art.

Now's the time to strategically remember several job listings, which mentioned a Dead Space follow-up, along with EA CEO John Riccitiello's recently expressed desire to have EA focus on more profitable, safer games. What could be safer than an isolated spaceship sending out a distress call?

The November issue of Official PlayStation Magazine is on sale ~~behind youuuuu~~ in the UK right now.

[Via CVG]

Dell severs $20 off Left 4 Dead 2 PC price

by Richard Mitchell { 3 hours ago }

Yes, Dell, maker of PCs and occasional gaming deals, is now selling the PC version of Left 4 Dead 2 at a drastically reduced price. The company has marked down the game from $49.99 to a mere $29.99. That's twenty whole dollars, which is probably the same price Valve will charge on Steam precisely ten minutes after you buy it from Dell. But hey, it's a deal right now and it's hard to argue with that. Or is it?

[Thanks, Eric!]

Spend your scratch on New DJ Hero DLC

by Randy Nelson { 4 hours ago }

A DLC three-pack of tracks by French DJ David Guetta is available today for DJ Hero across PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii. The original works "When Love Takes Over" featuring Kelly Rowland, "Sexy Chick" featuring Akon, and "On The Dancefloor" featuring will.i.am and apl.de.ap make up the mash-up pack, which goes for 640

($8) and $7.99 on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store, respectively (the tracks are not offered for purchase separately). Each track is sold separately for Wii at 300 Wii Points ($3) apiece.

Also out today for Wii are the two tracks from last month's Extended Mix Pack 01: "All Of Me" by 50 Cent featuring Mary J. Blige vs. "Radio Ga Ga" by Queen, and "DARE" by Gorillaz vs. "Can't Truss It" performed by Public Enemy. Those will set living room DJs back 300 Wii Points, as well.

The knowledge that your DJ Hero controller is a million times cooler than the Tony Hawk Ride board is, as always, priceless.

Sony replaces faulty Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines download

by Ludwig Kietzmann { 4 hours ago }

"Yes, there was an issue with the original download," a Sony Europe spokesperson has told Eurogamer. Said issue, which rendered PAL digital copies of Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines dead on arrival, was rectified by replacing the PSP file on the European PlayStation store -- though this came at a cost to those who had already been greeted by the defective copy's never-ending loading screen. According to the spokesperson, "It was pulled from the store and we are issuing replacement codes for those people who purchased the content before 12PM GMT on November 20."

Developed by Griptonite Games, Bloodlines follows the protagonist of 2007's Assassin's Creed, complete with 3D free-running and an Altair native control scheme.

Square Enix doing CG cinematics for Deus Ex 3, interested in Thief 4

by David Hinkle { 4 hours ago }

"Deus Ex 3 is going to be the first project which will be a concrete product of joint effort between Square Enix and Eidos," said Stephane D'Astous, general manager of Eidos Montreal. Not to be confused with that other first collaboration between the two, the devs in Tokyo will take care of any CGI cutscenes in the upcoming threequel, while D'Astrous confirmed to Edge that the duty of putting together enticing trailers and the game's intro cinematic will also fall on the CGI-smiths at Square Enix.

D'Astrous says Square Enix was excited to contribute, also expressing interest in Thfourteeneff. It should provide a nice change of scenery for Square Enix, though we're sure it'll find a spot to squeeze in a silver-haired, effeminate hero or three.

Flower, Comet Crash & other PSN titles half-price this week

by Griffin McElroy { 5 hours ago }

It seems the PlayStation Store got a little jealous of the brick-and-mortar retailers who were offering discounts during this week of ~~Black Friday~~ Thanksgiving. Beginning with today's specially-dated Tuesday PSN update, a handful of downloadable PS3 titles will be offered for half-price until December 2. Here's a list of the encheapened games, and their temporarily slimmed-down prices:

Bomberman Ultra – $4.99
Comet Crash – $4.99
Flower – $4.99
Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao – $7.49
The Last Guy – $4.99
Prince of Persia Classic – $4.99
Smash Cars – $7.49

'Mercs Inc' officially announced, developed by EALA

by Ludwig Kietzmann { 5 hours ago }

This morning's leaked footage, purported to belong to a new multiplayer-capable Mercenaries game called "Mercs Inc," just barely beat EA's official announcement of the (working) title to our front page. In development at EA Los Angeles, the latest toy in the destructive sandbox is paraded underneath the Pandemic banner, held aloft by the "core creative team" that survived the physical studio's recent closure. No target platforms have been announced.

According to EA senior VP and group GM, Nick Earl, the swift announcement "demonstrates our continued commitment to Pandemic's rich catalog of intellectual properties." As the press release innocently points out, "Mercs Inc will also be the first Pandemic game" to be released after this December's The Saboteur, the last Pandemic game. Oh, the previous one, we mean.

Just Cause 2 grapples onto March 23 release date

by Griffin McElroy { 6 hours ago }

A recent Square Enix press release has dropped some rather unfortunate news in our laps: Just Cause 2 won't be hitting North American store shelves until March 23, 2010 (or March 26 for Europe, Australia and the Middle East). That's quite a ways past the title's original Q3 2009 launch date -- in fact, that's two whole Qs later than we initially hoped.

Oh, well. It's difficult for us to get in a huff about the game's distant launch date. See, as soon as we feel the huff approaching, we simply watch a bit of Just Cause 2's grapple-and-parachute-centric gameplay, and then we feel inexplicably soothed to our very core.