GameStop Mobile launches as AT&T virtual carrier, gives us rare bring-your-own GSM in US
Posted by Jon Fingas | Filed under gAmINg, Techie Stuff
Here's an expansion of mobile competition in the US that comes out of left field, even for us: GameStop as a cellular provider. GameStop Mobile, as it's called, is that rare bird of an AT&T-based MVNO that relies on a bring-your-own-device strategy. As long as your hardware works on AT&T's 850MHz and 1,900MHz bands and isn't locked to another carrier, you can bring any GSM- and HSPA-based phone (or data-only device) and use it contract-free: rates start at anything from a strictly pay-as-you-go $5 through to a $55 monthly plan with unlimited voice and text, if just an anemic 500MB of data. Tablet owners and other data-only fans can pay the same $55 for 1GB per month -- a bit stiff considering that those on AT&T proper can get 5GB of data for slightly less. No doubt this is to take advantage of iPad and iPhone trade-ins, PlayStation Vitas and the overall rise of unlocked devices. We're just wondering whether GameStop will catch a few customers subscribing as they pick up their Diablo III pre-orders or else face the uncertain future that befalls many MVNOs.
GameStop Mobile launches as AT&T virtual carrier, gives us rare bring-your-own GSM in US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink
TechCrunch | 
GameStop Mobile | Email this | Comments
Tags: Cellphones, iphone
Mario Tennis Open review: Holding court
Posted by Steve Watts | Filed under gAmINg
This simplicity makes it easy to pick up and play, with the unfortunate side effect of making it lose its challenge too quickly. It's a satisfying game and packs some exhilarating moments, but it exhausts its mechanics too soon.
Continue reading Mario Tennis Open review: Holding court
Mario Tennis Open review: Holding court originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
First video of 38 Studios’ ‘Project Copernicus’ MMO flies over Amalur
Posted by Alexander Sliwinski | Filed under gAmINg
38 Studios released a "Project Copernicus" sizzle reel this afternoon, featuring locales in Amalur's MMO game world. The timing of this video is certainly interesting, since it comes on the same day that 38 Studios handed over an overdue check to the state of Rhode Island and its governor, Lincoln Chafee, announced "Project Copernicus" would launch in June 2013.
First video of 38 Studios' 'Project Copernicus' MMO flies over Amalur originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: PC
The Elder Scrolls Online main story will be ’100 percent solo’
Posted by Jessica Conditt | Filed under gAmINg
"In the Elder Scrolls games you're always the hero, whether you want to be or not," Firor said. "You go out there and you kill the dragons. You kill Mehrunes Dagon in Oblivion. In Morrowind, you're up there fighting the Tribunal - those are huge, global, epic things that you don't want to stand in line to do in an MMO. The last thing you want to do is have the final confrontation with Mehrunes Dagon as he's stomping across the Imperial City, and you see like 15 guys behind you waiting to kill him because they're on the same quest.
"We have a whole part of the game that is 100 per cent solo, which is the main story, where the world focuses on you. You are the hero, everything you do is solo and the world reacts to you that way," Firor said.
Previous details do include PvP matches of up to 200 players, but those are obviously separate from the main quest. The Elder Scrolls Online will be played in a third-person perspective and is attempting to be a "modern" MMO, blending The Elder Scrolls features into this new genre. Not all Elder Scrolls fans are happy with the new title's angle, but Firor said that's just fine.
"The worst situation for a game community to be in is where no one posts on the boards because they don't care," he said. "If they post on the boards, they care, even if they're not being so polite about it. But that's a fact of life: You're an Internet game, you're on the Internet, you have an Internet community. And the Internet community is always very vocal.
"So what you do is learn from it. You make sure you do the best job to deliver the best game that you can and they you go from there."
The Elder Scrolls Online main story will be '100 percent solo' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: PC
Origin waives crowd-funded games’ distribution fees for 90 days
Posted by JC Fletcher | Filed under gAmINg
EA announced today that it will waive distribution fees for crowd-funded games for 90 days after launch. The offer is extended only to "fully-funded, complete and ready-to-publish games designed for digital download to PC platforms." InXile's Brian Fargo and Pinkerton Road's Jane Jensen voiced their support in the press release.
"The public support for crowd-funding creative game ideas coming from small developers today is nothing short of phenomenal," said Origin SVP David DeMartini in the announcement. "It's also incredibly healthy for the gaming industry. Gamers around the world deserve a chance to play every great new game, and by waiving distribution fees on Origin we can help make that a reality for successfully crowd-funded developers." EA also gets a nice patina of indirect indie cred by supporting Kickstarted games.
Continue reading Origin waives crowd-funded games' distribution fees for 90 days
Origin waives crowd-funded games' distribution fees for 90 days originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: PC
Super Joystiq Podcast 003: The Last Of Us, Diablo 3, Torchlight 2 Beta, E3 Judge’s Week
Posted by Jonathan Downin | Filed under gAmINg
Filed under: Podcasts
In the Previews segment, Xav and Ludwig discuss E3 Judge's Week, new details on The Last of Us, Max Payne 3 single-player, Infinity Blade: Dungeons, and more; Mike and Richard discuss their experiences with Diablo 3 and the Torchlight 2 beta in a new segment of Debate Club; Jess, Jordan, and Dave play Offspring Fling in a new approach to the Joystiq Research Institute (We've added Science!); and Alexander, JC, and Ben discuss this week's biggest news, including the 38 Studios debacle, Activision's legal issues, and THQ's financial woes.
Stay tuned to the end of the show to find out how you can win a copy of the Diablo 3: Collector's Edition! (Some rules and conditions apply, see after the break for details.) Also, make sure to follow the new @JoystiqPodcast Twitter feed for your shot at Torchlight 2 beta codes!
We told you this show would be Super.
Listen to the Super Joystiq Podcast:
- Subscribe to the Super Joystiq Podcast in iTunes
- Super Joystiq Podcast is also available in the Zune Marketplace
- Add the Super Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
- Download the MP3 directly
Super Joystiq Podcast 003: The Last Of Us, Diablo 3, Torchlight 2 Beta, E3 Judge's Week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: Podcasts
Superbrothers and Jim Guthrie make Sound Shapes’ ‘Corporeal’
Posted by JC Fletcher | Filed under gAmINg
"After some initial discussion with Queasy," Craig "Superbrothers" Adams said on the PlayStation Blog, "we chose to explore some of the concepts in prior Superbrothers films including Children of the Clone and Dot Matrix Revolution, so our levels are populated by computers, mainframes, office workers and water coolers." The level design is modeled on "something like Impossible Mission for C-64 & Spectrum," though still within the mechanics of Sound Shapes.
Adams didn't offer a specific release date for Sound Shapes, but he did say it'll be playable at Sony's E3 booth. Good news ... for us!
Superbrothers and Jim Guthrie make Sound Shapes' 'Corporeal' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Rhode Island governor gives 38 Studios’ Copernicus MMO a June 2013 launch
Posted by Ben Gilbert | Filed under gAmINg
Considering we've literally never heard any information on the Amalur-based MMO (aside from the fact that it's an Amalur-based MMO), it's a bit hard for us to believe that the game will arrive by next year. "I said from the beginning that it was a risky enterprise," Chafee told press of the troubled business deal between 38 and Rhode Island.
38 Studios is supposed to start paying back its $75 million loan - facilitated by the state of Rhode Island and supported by bond investors - by the beginning of 2013. It's unclear how 38 will afford those payments, but Chafee repeatedly pointed out 38's intention to seek private capital (read: more money from private investors - and not from the state). Said private capital has yet to be secured, Chafee said.
Rhode Island governor gives 38 Studios' Copernicus MMO a June 2013 launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: PC
38 Studios successfully pays $1.125 million to Rhode Island
Posted by JC Fletcher | Filed under gAmINg
Rhode Island is changing its legislation on tax breaks, closing loopholes pertaining to state funds being used for motion-picture endeavors, Chafee said. The state's interest lies in protecting the taxpayers, balanced with keeping 38 Studios solvent, since "taxpayers have had a very generous deal for 38 studios," Chafee said.
"It's time for them to go out and get private capital funding," Chafee said. "That's the deal. It's a generous deal, but stick to it."
Rhode Island officials believe that the total of the $49 million loaned to 38 has been spent. Chafee said that until late April, meetings with 38 suggested that they would make their May payment. "I want to make sure we're doing everything possible to make sure 38 doesn't fail," Chafee said. "We're in deep." Everything possible except giving them more money."There's not going to be any money from the state. They're not coming here for easy money."
According to Chafee, "Basically, the access to private capital hasn't materialized."
38 Studios' next payment is a debt service payment due November 1 of $2.6 million, and Rhode Island officials believe the studio will have the capital to cover it.
38 Studios will then owe $12.6 million in full annual debt service in 2013, and "that's on their dime," officials said.
Chafee said he recognized the risk involved in starting a new gaming studio, but the state would have benefited greatly from the studio's "huge success" had it done well.
"I said from the beginning that it was a risky enterprise," Chafee said. Regarding how 38 Studios will function if it doesn't have the funds to pay its employees, Chafee reiterated, "Again, these are the ramifications of being in a risky business."
Chafee doesn't plan on taking a gamble of this nature again: "Never, never ever. Not under my watch," he said.
38 Studios successfully pays $1.125 million to Rhode Island originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: PC
