Remember how, like, a brazillion years ago, Dragon Quest IX came out in Japan, and lifted all iterations of the Nintendo DS up to the high heavens? Remember how much you wanted to be a part of that cultural phenomenon? Well, here's your chance.

Continue reading Japanese hardware sales, June 28 - July 4: Throwback edition

Japanese hardware sales, June 28 - July 4: Throwback edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know you've run short of things to place on your nightstand to fill you with mortal terror while you slumber. Might we suggest this 1/4-scale, 19" tall statuette modeled after Street Fighter's ever-grinning antagonist, M. Bison? We guarantee it'll get the job done.

Continue reading This M. Bison statue should give you all the nightmares you need

This M. Bison statue should give you all the nightmares you need originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Of the many things that the non-muggles among us are capable of doing with magic, conjuring money unfortunately isn't on the list. The rest of us are in the same boat, and so even if Lego Harry Potter only costs $30 at retail, we felt it best to give away our review copy of the game (same as retail) to either group of folks.

For a chance to win that copy of LHP, all you have to do is tell us your favorite spell from the series. Wingardium Leviosa, perhaps? Crucio, maybe ... you monster? Tell us in the comments below in the next 24 hours and keep an eye on your email inbox!

• Leave a comment telling us what your favorite spell from the Harry Potter franchise is.
• You must be 13 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
• Limit 1 entry per person.
• This entry period ends at 7:01PM ET on Monday, July 12.
• At that time, we will randomly select one winner to receive a copy of Lego Harry Potter on Xbox 360 (ARV: $29.99) and various Harry Potter trinkets (ARV: $10).
• For a list of complete rules, click here.

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What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.

Swag Sunday: Lego Harry Potter (360) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a recent interview with CVG, Ian Curran, THQ's executive VP of global publishing, touted his favorite new feature the 3DS will bring to the portable market. No, not its titular three-dimensional display tech. No, not all of those rebooted classic franchises. "What excites me even more," Curran explained, "is that there's technology built in that device to really combat piracy."

Curran added, "they combated the piracy on DSi, which they don't believe is cracked yet - but they know they've been hurt across the world and they believe the 3DS has got technology that can stop that." That's a nice sentiment, but considering how resourceful the modding community has proven itself over the years, we're pretty sure the only thing that could stop them from pirating 3DS games is some sort of self-destruct mechanism. We sincerely doubt Nintendo could get something like that past the FCC.

THQ executive impressed by 3DS piracy protection originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking for a sign that you've been hesitating too long to register for PAX Prime? The event's stockpile of $55 three-day badges are now sold out, leaving only $35 single-day passes for all you slowpokes. If you're going, you better act fast -- these things have a tendency to sell like hotcakes.

Continue reading PSA: PAX Prime 2010 three-day passes sold out

PSA: PAX Prime 2010 three-day passes sold out originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The latest Bungie Weekly Update revealed the studio's fairly brilliant strategy for foiling the attempts of haxx0rs who planned on leaking the Achievements for Halo: Reach. All the team has to do, you see, is leak the Achievements first. Not the full, detailed list, mind you -- just the icons, which are posted in the image seen above.

The game's 49 unlockable honors are broken down into five groups, Campaign (23), Firefight (7), Multiplayer (4), Training (6) and Player Experience (9). You can find the descriptions of six of the Achievements posted after the jump. For all the rest, you're just going to have to use your imagination. For instance, that one with the Caduceus on it? We're pretty sure that's the Achievement for when you put down your guns, go back to school, and become a Registered Nurse.

Continue reading Halo: Reach Achievements partially revealed

Halo: Reach Achievements partially revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you like to get your name in the credits sequence of the most frequently delayed video game in the history of mankind? That'd be quite a claim for you to lord over your friends, wouldn't it? Achieving this level of fame is simple -- all you have to do is give a name to the English version of the song used in Gran Turismo 5's E3 trailer. If they pick yours, you'll get a mention in the "Special Thanks" portion of the credits.

You can listen to the song and check out the rules for the contest on the game's official site. You can also give the track's lyrics a once-over, though this might just serve to further confuse you. With vocals like "To your abusive ways // The cracks have opened up to the core // Is there anywhere to go from here now? // Sick with the lies consuming our souls," we're thinking about submitting the title "Holy Crap, This is the Most Depressing Racing Game Ever."

Name this song, get your name in the Gran Turismo 5 credits originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Though both parties haven't likely realized it yet, Kmart is currently embroiled in a full-on assault against your wallet. The store's offering a slew of discounts on games like Alan Wake, Peace Walker, Singularity and the Call of Duty: War Collection, as well as a few other miscellaneous SKUs.

Continue reading Kmart discounts Alan Wake, Peace Walker and more

Kmart discounts Alan Wake, Peace Walker and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RWINGS is awesome! Just plain radical even... I say that because we played some games. Did you know our gamerscore is 17,280? That is an improvement of 90 points over last time! He rocked out to Crackdown 2 acquiring an amazing 6 achievements, and then RWINGS developed a funny twitch and went to try and sleep it off or something. Crazy humans...

All we've ever wanted from this humble weekly feature is for one reader -- just one! -- to react as passionately to our favorite comics as the now-infamous Hungrybear did to those full-on double rainbows. We're not sure how to go about accomplishing this feat. We could try contacting each webcomic to ask if they'd turn up their color intensity, but that may be too much to ask. We'll just have to hope that you guys are already in a really good mood, and are prone to spontaneous emotional breakdowns.

Check out our seven favorite gaming-centric comics from the past week below, then vote for your favorite in the poll posted after the jump!

Peace for Cybertron (Virtual Shackles)
The Grim Curriculum (Penny Arcade)
Voltorb (Brawl in the Family)
DLC Decisions (Extra Life)
Make the Kinection (Dueling Analogs)
See You in Ten to Twenty (No Cash Value)
ID, Please (Nerf Now)

Continue reading Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is so bright and vivid

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is so bright and vivid originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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