Quick Jump Daily Digest

Thank you for your interest in the Quick Jump Daily Digest. Get notified of all new content on QJ in our free Daily Digest. To subscribe, enter your email address below and click the subscribe button.

Cancel and Return to page

Author:

Blizzard Fires 600 Employees

Posted Mar 2, 2012 at 1:36PM EST by Listed in: MMORPG Tags: Blizzard, Game Masters, Mike Morhaime, World of Warcraft

Adios, World of Warcraft Game Masters!

World of Warcraft is still the industry’s leading paid MMO, but the title has been steadily losing subscribers for the better part of two years. Though the holiday season treated WoW well (the MMO lost only 100,000 players), it’s clear that Blizzard needs to do some serious re-shuffling in order to keep the game profitable for the long term.

And re-shuffling is exactly what the company plans to do. Blizzard has just announced that it is laying off 600 employees, most of which work in customer support. According to the company, 90 percent of the layoffs are occurring in non-development departments of the company. 600 is no small sum—it represents a pretty large chunk of Blizzard-Activision’s total employee number of around 7,300.

Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime had this to say on the topic:

“In order to keep making epic game content while serving players effectively, we have to be smart about how we manage our resources. This means we sometimes have to make difficult decisions about how to best maintain the health of the company. We’re in the process of making some of those hard decisions now.”

In the face of these layoffs, there is still hope for aspiring developers. Blizzard is currently recruiting dev talent for some of its upcoming titles. And the layoffs don’t necessarily mean that Blizz is in financial trouble, just that World of Warcraft is no longer the money-printing machine it once was.

Do you still play WoW? Have you ever interacted with the game’s support staff?

[DMW]

Adios, World of Warcraft Game Masters!


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [7]	READ FULL STORY!

PoV: Nintendo’s Impending Destruction

Posted Mar 2, 2012 at 12:18PM EST by Listed in: PoV Tags: 3ds innovations, nintendo innovations, wii u innovation

Why the innovative games company is headed for failure.

Nintendo is, by most accounts, one of the most innovative forces in the world of gaming. The company lays claim to breakthroughs like force-feedback technology, motion control, z-targeting and a whole host of other now-standard gaming mechanics. Unfortunately, Nintendo’s days of leading the pack are quickly coming to a close.

Nintendo has always performed well in the games marketplace because of its exclusive titles and accessible technologies. However, games aren’t really the future of the games industry. In 2012 and beyond, it’s not games that sell devices, but their multimedia capabilities. One of the fastest-growing groups of console owners is made up of people who primarily use their devices to watch Netflix, listen to music or rent movies.

Nintendo has failed to keep pace with its competitors in the realm of multimedia. And it has also failed to keep pace when it comes to online gaming (friend codes, seriously?). If the Wii U can’t make some major improvements to the way Nintendo delivers multimedia content and online gameplay, it’s simply not going to be the console of choice.

Consumers always flock to the device that provides them the most value. A large number of PS3 sales can be chalked up to Blu-Ray support, just as a large number of Wii sales can be chalked up to the initial hype concerning motion control. In the next console generation, the device with the most utility wins.

If Nintendo fails to recognize this trend, it’s going to find itself toppled from the throne faster than it can say “3DS Lite.”

Why the innovative games company is headed for failure.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [36]	READ FULL STORY!

Kingdoms of Amalur DLC Buys You a House

Posted Mar 1, 2012 at 4:59PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: kingdoms of amalur, legend of dead kel

The Legend of Dead Kel brings new foes and new lands—some of which you own.

Kingdoms of Amalur would best be described as a hack and slash RPG—the familiar questing, leveling and equipping mechanisms are present, but combat is fluid and fast-paced. Basically, the best of both worlds. And if you’ve hit a point where you’re out of fun stuff to do in Kingdoms of Amalur (doubtful), more content is coming your way.

The game’s upcoming DLC pack, titled The Legend of Dead Kel, brings new monsters to fight and increases the land mass of the game’s world by a whopping 15%. Included in this new land is Gravehal Keep, a personal estate owned by you, the player. The keep will contain a number of characters, each with quests, perks and everything you’d expect from a generic RPG NPC.

The Legend of Dead Kel will also include 18 new weapons, eight new armor sets and eight new shields. All in all, not too shabby in terms of DLC, especially when compared with some of the more anemic downloadable add-ons we’ve seen in recent months.

Are you looking forward to The Legend of Dead Kel? It comes out March 20.

[PC Gamer]

The Legend of Dead Kel brings new foes and new lands—some of which you own. Kingdoms of Amalur fans, rejoice.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

Unannounced Black Ops 2 Has a Release Date

Posted Mar 1, 2012 at 3:52PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: Activision, black ops, call of duty, modern warfare

It’s been almost four months since a Call of Duty game came out. Time to start talking about a new one!

Most people agree that the next entry in the Call of Duty franchise will be Black Ops 2. It’s Treyarch’s turn to develop a CoD title, and the original Black Ops broke pretty much every record set by Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 2. And since Activision isn’t one for originality or risk-taking, a straight sequel is all but guaranteed.

Of course, Activision still likes to pretend like it can keep a secret. So even though Black Ops 2 was outed by a retailer last month and everyone pretty much knows it’s coming, the company has gone out of its way to pretend that isn’t the case. Well, add another retailer leak to the pile.

Spanish retailer Fnac not only has Black Ops 2 in its currently video game roster, but has a release window for the still-unannounced title as well: November 2012. Once again, this is less than news—a new Call of Duty game has come out in October or November of every year since 2003.

Seriously, Activision, just announce the game (and the accompanying Black Ops ELITE paid service) already.

[Gamespot]

It’s been almost four months since a Call of Duty game came out. Time to start talking about a new one!


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [5]	READ FULL STORY!

Yes, More Angry Birds Updates

Posted Mar 1, 2012 at 2:44PM EST by Listed in: iPhone Tags: angry birds, angry birds seasons, rovio

Because without new Angry Birds levels, the games industry would surely collapse.

If you ask any serious game about the one thing they wish they had, chances are good they’d say, “More Angry Birds stuff.” Angry Birds is, in many ways, the best game ever made, and it’s ridiculous that anyone would play any other game. The immense depth, completely original concept and truly marketable characters set it above and beyond pretty much any other title.

If you, like the rest of the world, simply can’t wait to get your hands on new Angry Birds content, today’s your day. Or, well, March 7 is your day. Rovio, the luminaries behind Angry Birds have confirmed that the next groundbreaking update for Angry Birds Seasons hits digital stores on that date.

The new update, titled Cherry Blossoms, borrows a few themes from Asian culture. Beyond that, there aren’t many details available. But this is Rovio we’re talking about, so the new content is sure to be incredible.

I’m rapt with anticipation for yet another mind-blowing entry in what I would hands-down describe as the most compelling experience any gaming platform has to offer.

Thank you, Rovio.

[Droid Gamers]

Because without new Angry Birds levels, the games industry would surely collapse.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [6]	READ FULL STORY!

On Shelves this Week: March 4 – March 10, 2012

Posted Mar 1, 2012 at 1:38PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: crush3d, i am alive, lego harry potter, mass effect 3, street fighter x tekken, the sims, top gun

Mass Effect! Mass Effect! Mass Effect!

Well folks, the time has finally come to “Take Earth back.” And you can bet we here at QJ will spend most of next week (and the week after) doing just that. However, just because Bioware’s epic conclusion to the Commander Shepard storyline drops on Tuesday doesn’t mean it’s the only game in the known universe. Other games are coming out as well.

Don’t believe us? Then you should check out this week’s:

Mass Effect 3

Xbox 360, PS3, PC

ESRB Mature

Bioware

Street Fighter X Tekken

Xbox 360, PS3, PS Vita, PC

ESRB Teen

Capcom

Unit 13

Vita

ESRB Teen

Zipper Interactive

I Am Alive

Xbox 360, PS3

ESRB Mature

Ubisoft Shanghai

Blades of Time

Xbox 360, PS3

ESRB Mature

Gaijin Entertainment

Ridge Racer Unbounded

Xbox 360, PS3, PC

ESRB Everyone

Bugbear

Major League Baseball 2K12

Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PS2, PSP, PC

ESRB Everyone

Visual Concepts

MLB 2012: The Show

PS3, Vita

ESRB Everyone

SCEA San Diego Studios

Top Gun: Hard Lock

PS3, Xbox 360, PC

ESRB Teen

505 Games

The Sims 3: Showtime

PC, OS X

ESRB Teen

The Sims Studio

Crush3d

3DS

ESRB E10+

Zoe Mode

Order Up!!

Vita, 3DS, PS3

ESRB Everyone

SuperVillain Studios

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, OS X, DS, 3DS, Vita

ESRB E10+

Traveller’s Tales

Well, that’s mostly everyone. Mass Effect is definitely the biggest of the launches, but the MLB games have a tight niche, as do the LEGO Harry Potters.

What are you playing?

Mass Effect! Mass Effect! Mass Effect!


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [4]	READ FULL STORY!

Syndicate Dev has a Message for Pirates

Posted Feb 29, 2012 at 5:47PM EST by Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: DRM, Starbreeze Studios, syndicate

And a job offer.

There’s no question that piracy is a major concern in the games industry. While some pirates do turn into customers and there’s something to be said for how much DRM sucks, it doesn’t change the fact that pirating a game is, on some level of the word, theft. However, game developers tend to take different approaches to the pirate community—some declare war and some, like Starbreeze Studios, hold out an olive branch.

If you download and install the company’s latest game, Syndicate, via Origin or any other legitimate means, you’ll notice an .nfo file hidden in the game’s directory. .nfo files are usually found in pirated software—they tell you how to go about setting up the illicit copy and who is responsible for the hack, crack or upload.

But this .nfo file is different, in that it was placed there by Starbreeze devs. The .nfo file contains a description of the game and some install directions. They even made an ASCII logo. And at the bottom, the devs dropped this message:

“Over a hundred people spent several years of their lives making this game.

If you like what you play, please consider purchasing it if you haven't

The studio also reached out to gamers with talents in game design, art, programming and sound design—perhaps some gifted game pirates will take the opportunity to switch sides to the development side of things. You can see the full file here.

What do you think of speaking directly to pirates? Better than restrictive DRM?

[Game Informer]

And a job offer.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [5]	READ FULL STORY!

3DS Owners Screwed Out of Binding of Isaac

Posted Feb 29, 2012 at 4:34PM EST by Listed in: Nintendo 3DS Tags: 3ds eshop, binding of isaac, edmund mcmillen, Nintendo

Nintendo apparently doesn’t want to risk offending its customers.

Indie Dev Edmund McMillen confirmed via Twitter earlier today that the Nintendo 3DS eShop would officially be declining to host his latest game, The Binding of Isaac. Citing “questionable religious content,” Nintendo has elected to dump the game from its eShop lineup.

Here’s McMillen’s tweet in full:

“Attention: After a long internal debate Nintendo has decided NOT to allow the Binding of Isaac on the 3ds. :(“

He continued, quite hilariously:

“As many assumed the reasons were due to the games "questionable religious content". Thank GOD Steam exists!”

The Binding of Isaac has moved over 450,000 copies on PC, and this silly controversy will likely spur more sales than the game would have gained with a quiet eShop release. Still, it’s an odd decision on the part of Nintendo and a bad precedent to set in terms of censorship.

What do you think of Nintendo’s decision? Should game companies choose which games you can play, or should the choice be left up to the consumer?

[Gamasutra]

Nintendo apparently doesn’t want to risk offending its customers.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [8]	READ FULL STORY!

UK Games Retailer Loses Mass Effect 3

Posted Feb 29, 2012 at 3:26PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: EA, game group, mass effect 3, Nintendo, tekken 3d, the last story, Ubisoft, vita

Game Group’s financial troubles don’t appear to be getting better.

Game Group, the company behind the UK’s massive Game retail chain, has been in dire financial straits for some time now. Game Group has been struggling to regain its market position and turn the tides, but so far, things aren’t looking too hot. The company has already lost Nintendo support due to financial woes, and it looks like EA is next in line.

In a memo to employees, the company explained that it held negotiations with a number of distributors in the interest of protecting its business. In the meeting, Game Group explained to its industry partners that it was having a few problems, and needed more manageable credit terms while the company worked through its issues. Apparently, EA didn’t agree.

This means that after SSX comes out on Friday, no new EA games will hit Game store shelves—including Mass Effect 3. Players who pre-ordered ME3 at Game will be given £5 extra for their trouble. No word on how this affects players who pre-ordered the very limited Collector’s Edition.

In recent weeks, Game has missed The Last Story, Tekken 3D Prime Edition and all of Ubisoft’s Vita launch games. It’s sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy—Game’s sales tank, so it can’t get new games. It doesn’t have new games, so it’s sales continue to tank. Any way you cut it, Game is in a tough spot.

Do you think losing EA will be the final straw in Game’s collapse?

[Edge]

Game Group’s financial troubles don’t appear to be getting better.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [9]	READ FULL STORY!

PSN Down for “Significant” Maintenance

Posted Feb 29, 2012 at 2:12PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: playstation blog, Playstation Home, PlayStation Store, psn, sen, Sony

Sony leaves players in the dark for 14 hours, starting tomorrow.

Sony has just announced that its online gaming service, PlayStation Network, will be pulled offline for roughly 14 hours tomorrow. The company confirmed this through the PlayStation Blog, where it wrote that PSN would be coming down for “significant maintenance.”

PSN will be down from 8:00am PST to 10pm PST—beyond that, there isn’t much information on what exactly Sony is updating or performing maintenance on. The company has yet to respond to press inquiries on the subject, but we’ll keep you posted as details roll out.

Sony will force log-out anyone on PSN tomorrow; no PSN users will be able to log in until maintenance is complete. The PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home will be inaccessible as well. Players will be unable to play online games or access their PSN accounts. Big bummer for anyone that just picked up SSX.

Speculation on the downtime ranges from Vita-related updates to the PSN/SEN transfer, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

What are you going to do with your downtime hours?

[GameSpot]

Sony leaves players in the dark for 14 hours, starting tomorrow.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [24]	READ FULL STORY!

Pretty Pictures: SimCity 5

Posted Feb 29, 2012 at 1:05PM EST by Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: EA, Maxis, PC Gamer, simcity 5

Just a few days after Maxis hinted at a big GDC announcement, it looks like their surprise has been outed.

It’s been a while since we last saw the SimCity franchise. The last game in the series, SimCity Societies, launched in 2007 to mixed reviews. Since then, Maxis has remained mum on whether it would be revisiting the series. Until, of course, last week, when EA hinted that the company had an enormous reveal planned for this year’s Game Developers Conference.

No information was given on what Maxis might have up its sleeve, but most people immediately began to assume that a new SimCity was on the table. And, it turns out, they may have been right.

Thanks to some scanned images from a German magazine, we now have a few details and screenshots/concept art from what could be SimCity 5. The game will take place 20 years after other iterations of the franchise, and will feature more flexible city designs that don’t depend so much on blocks. The game will also feature a new graphics engine and – gasp – multiplayer in the form of global leaderboards.

Here’s some of the shots and concept art, courtesy of NeoGaf:

Are you ready for another SimCity?

[PC Gamer]

Just a few days after Maxis hinted at a big GDC announcement, it looks like their surprise has been outed.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [7]	READ FULL STORY!

Here Comes Another Xbox Bundle

Posted Feb 28, 2012 at 4:47PM EST by Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: kinect, kinect adventures, kinect sports, live gold, Microsoft, xbox 360

And it’s white!

Early this morning, Microsoft (via Major Nelson) announced that yet another Xbox 360 bundle was on its way to store shelves. This one, the Xbox 360 Special Edition 4GB Kinect Family Bundle (seriously?), starts shipping immediately—look for it at your local retailer sooner rather than later.

So what comes with this particular bundle? Here’s a breakdown:

White Xbox 360 4GB

White Kinect

White Xbox 360 Wireless Controller

Kinexct Sports

Kinect Adventures

Three Months of Xbox Live Gold

The bundle will be priced at $299, making it one of the best deals around if you’re on the market for a Kinect and an Xbox with a ridiculously small hard drive. Microsoft also announced that a special edition white wireless controller is launching with the bundle, available for $49.99. No word on why it’s so special.

Do you think Microsoft’s ever-changing bundle system is a good idea for sales, or are the many bundles simply confusing consumers?

[Major Nelson]

And it’s white!


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [6]	READ FULL STORY!

Feel like Killing Hitler?

Posted Feb 28, 2012 at 3:38PM EST by Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: rebellion, sniper elite v2

Sniper Elite V2 offers a pre-order bonus that lets you do just that.

In most games and films, tinkering with history is strictly prohibited. Sure, you’ve killed mountains of Nazi soldiers in generic first-person shooters, but the overall narrative of the war still rolled on to its inevitable conclusion. Rebellion is offering you a chance to step outside of the time lock and alter the path of history, assuming, of course, you pre-order its upcoming Sniper Elite V2.

If you swing by your local game store and pre-order Sniper Elite V2 before March 4, you’ll be given free access to the Kill Hitler DLC Pack. The pack includes two new weapons and, more importantly, the opportunity to shoot Hitler in his tiny-mustachioed face.

Here’s the description of the mission, straight from Rebellion:

You have one chance to change history – intel has been received that Hitler is returning from Berchtesgaden to Berlin via his personal train. Players must intercept the train as it waits at the station and take down the Fuhrer as he hastily makes way for the station on foot. There is only a single opportunity for players to do what so many wish had been done – take out the leader of the Third Reich.

If you weren’t planning on picking up Sniper Elite, this DLC bonus probably won’t sell you a copy of the game. But if you were, this seems like plenty of motivation to pre-order.

Should games be more liberal with real-life timelines?

[GameSpy]

Sniper Elite V2 offers a pre-order bonus that lets you do just that.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [4]	READ FULL STORY!

Lionhead Hiring for Next-Gen Title

Posted Feb 28, 2012 at 2:33PM EST by Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: fable, fable ii, fable iii, Lionhead Studios, Peter Molyneux

Job listing notes that “you must be prepared to dramatically over-promise.”

Lionhead Studios, the company behind the ground-breaking Fable and less-than-groundbreaking Fable II and Fable III, is apparently ready to jump back into the mix. The studio is currently on the market for a lead developer, one who can contribute to a “cutting-edge, genre-defining” game.

The job listing also notes that the developer will be working directly Peter Molyneux on a true AAA title. Lionnhead hasn’t made any big announcements regarding upcoming titles, but the job listing indicates that they’re at least moving forward on some sort of next-gen project, one that Molyneux will likely hype to near-oblivion.

Lionhead’s website is currently offline while the studio gives it a “fresh new look.” When the site comes up in six days, eight hours and 29 minutes, perhaps we’ll have a little more information on what exactly Molyneux and his team are up to.

Maybe we’ll even get one of those classic Molyneux speeches about how his next game is so amazing it makes computers explode with ecstasy.

[Piki Geek]

Job listing notes that “you must be prepared to dramatically over-promise.”


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [0]	READ FULL STORY!

Watch This: Live-Action Mass Effect Trailer

Posted Feb 28, 2012 at 1:24PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: EA, mass effect 3

EA’s marketing blitz rolls on with the latest ad for Mass Effect 3.

Another day, another trailer for Mass Effect 3. However, the offering we have today isn’t merely some re-cut, extended version of a trailer we’ve already seen—it’s an all-new , (semi) live-action trailer featuring crying people, barking dogs, looting and most of the other stuff you’d expect to see as a result of an ongoing Reaper invasion.

You can watch the trailer right here:

One thing that’s notable about this particular trailer is that it doesn’t focus much on Commander Shepard or his/her crew. And while there’s value to showing the more human side of the conflict that unfolds in the game, it’s a curious decision to remove Shepard and the other stars of the game from the equation besides a bit of blurry running and shooting.

What did you think of the trailer? Will it inspire new Mass Effect 3 sales?

[Destructoid]

EA’s marketing blitz rolls on with the latest ad for Mass Effect 3.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [0]	READ FULL STORY!

Sound Off: Success for the Vita

Posted Feb 28, 2012 at 12:16PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: nintendo 3ds, ps vita, Sony

Sales numbers show a strong start, but what is the real measure of Vita’s performance?

Last week, I wrote a PoV article titled “Vita will Fail.” In that article, I used the device’s performance in Japan and the lackluster reviews of its launch titles to draw the conclusion that the device would not be able to overtake its primary competitor, the Nintendo DS.

The comment war that erupted was one-part insults, one-part thoughtful commentary, and one-part argument over why exactly the Vita needs to beat the 3DS in the first place. This third thread in the conversation is intriguing to me, as I had approached the situation strictly from a Vita vs. 3DS perspective.

Today, Sony announced that the Vita has officially sold 1.2 million units since launching in December. Breaking that figure apart, the device moved around 579,000 before global launch, and an additional 600,000 since last week. This number is apparently higher than Sony’s internal expectations, so by all accounts we can consider the first week of global launch a success.

Which brings me to the question I’d like to pose in this week’s Sound Off: How do you define success for the PS Vita? Does it need to topple the 3DS?

Let us know in the comments.

Sales numbers show a strong start, but what is the real measure of Vita’s performance?


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [33]	READ FULL STORY!

Vote for PSN Awards, Get Cheap Games

Posted Feb 27, 2012 at 6:42PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: game discounts, psn, psn awards, sen

Sony wants you to choose which games go on sale. So, do that.

Sony’s PlayStation Network offers a large number of downloadable and independent games, and each of those games naturally costs money. For the most part, how much money a given title costs is up to the developer and Sony, but starting tomorrow, you have an opportunity to score discounts on titles you’d like to play. Here’s how:

The PlayStation Network Gamers’ Choice Awards officially begin February 28 at 3pm PST. If you visit the PlayStation Store after that time, you can vote for your favorite games out of a number of categories. The winner of each category will go on sale March 6—30% off for regular PSN users, 50% off for those with PlayStation Plus.

Follow this link to participate: PlayStation Network Gamers’ Choice Awards

Here’s a list of the nominees and categories, courtesy of GameSpot:

Best PSN Exclusive:

Infamous: Festival of Blood (PS3)

PixelJunk Shooter 2 (PS3)

Tetris (PS3)

Best PSN Game:

Infamous: Festival of Blood (PS3)

Plants vs. Zombies (PS3)

Resident Evil 4 (PS3)

Best PSN Game Playable Online:

Hard Corps: Uprising (PS3)

Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition (PS3)

Tetris (PS3)

Best PS3 Full Game:

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (PS3)

Assassin's Creed II: Deluxe Edition (PS3)

Midnight Club LA Complete Edition (PS3)

Best PlayStation Move Game:

4Elements HD (PS3)

Dungeon Defenders (PS3)

Dungeon Hunter: Alliance (PS3)

Best 3D Game:

Dungeon Defenders (PS3)

God of War: Origins Collection (PS3)

The Sly Collection (PS3)

Best PSone Classic:

Chrono Trigger (PS3/PSP)

Parasite Eve (PS3/PSP)

Xenogears (PS3/PSP)

Best Mini Game:

Angry Birds (PS3/PSP)

The Impossible Game (PS3/PSP)

Pac-Man Championship Edition (PS3/PSP)

Best PSP Game:

Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy (PSP)

Dissidia 012 Prologus Final Fantasy (PSP)

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (PSP)

PlayStation Community Award - Best Indie:

Dungeon Defenders (PS3)

Limbo (PS3)

PixelJunk Shooter 2 (PS3)

Who will you vote for?

Sony wants you to choose which games go on sale. So, do that.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [4]	READ FULL STORY!

Thatgamecompany Eyes Wider Markets

Posted Feb 27, 2012 at 5:32PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: flow, flower, Jenova Chen, journey, psn, thatgamecompany

The developer of Flower and Journey is ready to expand beyond PSN.

If you have a PS3 and you enjoy indie games, chances are good you’ve spent a little time with flow and Flower. Both titles, developed by thatgamecompany, were instant successes with both critics and players alike. Their next title, Journey, has just been given an official release date (March 13).

So what’s next for thatgamecompany? Well, for starters, they’d like to expand beyond PSN. According to co-founder Jenova Chen, the studio’s primary goal for their next titles is finding a wider audience. Chen noted that the studio had a three game, Sony-exclusive contract, but with Journey set for release, thatgamecompany is now free to pursue other methods of distribution.

Chen said that the studio is currently in negotiations to bring its games to other platforms, but that discussions were still in the early stages and no public announcements could be made quite yet.

Have you played any of thatgamecompany’s titles? Would you like to see them on Steam, or XBLA?

[Game Informer]

The developer of Flower and Journey is ready to expand beyond PSN.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [0]	READ FULL STORY!

Epic Has Unreal Secrets

Posted Feb 27, 2012 at 4:23PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: arkham city, Game Developers Conference, GDC, mass effect 3, unreal engine 4

An invitation-only reveal at GDC promises to unveil the next generation of game building technology.

Unreal Engine is one of the core building blocks of the games industry. Countless classic titles have been built using one version or another of Epic’s engine, from Batman: Arkham City to Mass Effect 3. And it looks like Epic is ready to unveil the next iteration of its powerful game authoring software—to very specific people.

The company has confirmed that Unreal Engine 4 will be shown at this year’s Game Developers Conference, scheduled to begin March 6 in San Francisco. However, the engine will not be on public display; only a select few individuals will have the privilege of viewing the software in action. Those individuals, mostly partners, customers and prospective customers, will be bound by NDA.

The NDA, apparently, is in effect due to Unreal Engine 4 running on next-gen technologies that can’t be discussed in a public forum. You know, like those top-secret Microsoft and Sony projects that are perhaps less secret that the companies would like to admit.

If you’re a fan of Epic, you’ll still have a chance to interact with the company at GDC. Tim Sweeney, Rod Fergusson and Cliff Bleszinski will be participating in 15 events over the course of the week, all of which are open to any attendee that wishes to participate.

Are you excited to see what Unreal Engine 4 will bring to the table?

[Edge]

An invitation-only reveal at GDC promises to unveil the next generation of game building technology.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [7]	READ FULL STORY!

Good News, Vita Fans

Posted Feb 27, 2012 at 3:15PM EST by Listed in: PS Vita Tags: golden abyss, ps vita, rayman origins, Sony, uncharted, wipeout 2048

The UK software sales charts hint that Vita’s launch may have gone quite well.

Vita has only been out for a few days, so we sadly don’t have any official numbers in regard to how many devices have sold worldwide. Since we likely wont’ have that info for a week or so, we’ll have to look to other sources to figure out how Vita is doing. Sources like the UK’s weekly sales tally.

According to Edge, Uncharted: Golden Abyss was the best-selling game of the week in the UK. The title beat out FIFA Football, UFC Undisputed 3 and FIFA 12, indicating strong demand for the Vita handheld. If you need a bit more evidence, Rayman Origins also broke the top ten, landing in fifth place for the week (though its sales figures represent sales on all platforms). WipEout 2048 landed at 11, missing the top ten but still performing well.

If you’re keeping score, that’s one launch title in first place, one launch title getting a big boost thanks to the Vita version moving units, and one launch title sitting just outside of the top ten. These numbers certainly hint that Vita’s western launch is off to a strong start.

We’ll have to wait until Sony releases official sales figures to get an idea of exactly how well the Vita is doing, but for now, it’s safe to say that the launch has gone relatively well.

Did you pick up a Vita last week?

[Edge]

The UK software sales charts hint that Vita’s launch may have gone quite well.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [18]	READ FULL STORY!

<< Back | Read More Gaming News...

QUICK JUMP DAILY DIGEST

Welcome to QJ.Net!

If you want your comments to go live without waiting for moderation, you need to be logged in. Being logged in has its benefits:

Logged in members do not wait for their comments to be approved.
Logged in members can create Profiles to be seen by other users.

So why wait? Create an account or login now! It's easy, quick, and free.

To get started, use the LOGIN boxes, or the REGISTER link below!

Want to learn more about the team who brings you the QJ news?

Read about them now!

HOT FLASH GAMES

QJ.NET Categories
• Apple • E3 • Featured Articles • Gadgets • Games for Windows • iPad • iPhone • MMORPG • Mobile • News • Nintendo 3DS • Nintendo DS • Opinions & Analysis	• Photography • PlayStation 3 • PoV • PS Vita • PSP • Rumors • Science • Site News • Tabula Rasa • Wii • Wii U • World of Warcraft • Xbox 360

Sitemap

Newest Downloads

05/15/2013 - 05/24/2013

Want an Update? Find It With the Final Build of Simple PS3Updates	05/23/2013
IrisManager version 2.45	05/22/2013
PSP Homebrew: Cube Runner Advanced v1.3 - 20 More Levels	05/20/2013
Bite v1.5.1: PS3 Minis and Emulator Support	05/18/2013
Grab the latest IrisManager Update. Version 2.42 is Out.	05/18/2013
PS3 Homebrew: Super Pixel Jumper v1.2	05/18/2013
PSP Homebrew: Cosmos Lunar v1.01	05/17/2013
PSP Homebrew: Xonergy	05/16/2013
PSP Homebrew: Cube Runner Advanced v1.2	05/16/2013
IrisManager 2.41: New Payload, Updated Discless	05/15/2013
PSP Homebrew: Wagic 0.19.0	05/15/2013
PSP / PS3MInis Bite v1.5: Homebrew Support	05/14/2013
This Tool Makes Playing PSP Games on PS3 EZ!	05/12/2013
Iris Manager v2.40 Has Some Cool New Features	05/11/2013
Estwald Updates Fan Control Utility to v1.6	05/10/2013

Most Comments this Month
As Promised A Metro Last L..	(42)
Microsoft Scoffs at Backwa..	(16)
Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4..	(14)
VP Biden Says Taxing Viole..	(13)
EA Engineer Says the Wii U..	(12)
Iwata is Tired of People B..	(12)
Sound Off: Would You Play..	(11)
Giving Away 10 Age of Wush..	(11)
PS4's Play While Downloadi..	(10)
PoV: Nintendo Has Changed..	(10)
EA Gets Exclusive Rights T..	(10)
Microsoft Details "Fees" F..	(9)
Say Hello to the Xbox....I..	(9)
It’s Official: Dead Spac..	(8)
Watch Live: Microsoft’s..	(8)
No Metal Gear Solid 4 or L..	(8)
Could Smartphone Apps Help..	(7)
First GameStick Consoles R..	(7)
Insomniac CEO Gives Wii U..	(7)
EA Announces That Online P..	(7)
Why Won’t Wii U See Fros..	(7)
Manhunt is Headed to the P..	(7)
QJ How To: What is SSH and..	(7)
Sega Sued Over Colonial Ma..	(7)
Pachter: PS4 Buzz Has Died..	(7)

Top Jumps this Month
PSP Homebrew: Camxps..	(120)
WiFiHack Now Availab..	(56)
PSP homebrew - LameC..	(52)
PSP GBA v1.2: Gamebo..	(39)
Custom Firmware PRO-..	(37)
Wii homebrew - WAD M..	(34)
Brian Lara Internati..	(30)
PSP Comics Reader v2..	(28)
Speed Gamers Are Pla..	(27)
Naruto Shippuden: Ul..	(24)
PPSSPP: A Windows an..	(22)
QJ How To: What Emul..	(20)
Treyarch Responds to..	(17)
Choco's Black Ops 2..	(17)
PSP Homebrew - PSPDi..	(16)
PSP Fans Unite! Toda..	(16)
PlayStation Eye driv..	(16)
Download full Sid Me..	(15)
Minecraft PC Hits 8..	(14)
Your free GBA games..	(13)
GTA IV patch 1.0.6.0..	(13)
DS homebrew - iPlaye..	(13)
PSP homebrew - Mario..	(13)
QJ Shootout: PSP Vs...	(12)
Nintendo Explains it..	(12)