This is Victini, a very special Pokemon introduced for Pokemon Black and White. So special, in fact, that it occupies number 000 in the Pokedex. It's a "phantom Legendary" Pokemon.

Isn't it adorable? Doesn't it make you want to go to Japan in September, buy a copy of the game, and download it from a DS station or game retailer? Coincidentally, that's precisely how you acquire a Victini of your very own.

You'll probably be able to get one in the North American game after its spring 2011 launch, probably through a Toys R Us event or something like that, but do you really want to take that chance? Victini's just a plane ticket (and a couple of months) away.

Meet Victini, Pokemon Black and White's #000 Pokemon originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gorillaz, the best nonexistent cartoon band since the Archies, appears in a new iPhone/iPad game called Gorillaz: Escape to Plastic Beach. Even though the concept of the game seems to be about escaping from Plastic Beach. Players control psychotic bassist Murdoc, who flies above Plastic Beach on a "Doom Glider," shooting ghost pirate ships and, for some reason, keeping lead singer 2D from getting away.

The Unity-powered game was released simultaneously on iPhone and iPad today, with each version available for $1.99. In addition, it can be purchased as a Unity-powered browser game. Check out some screens of this fairly improbable game in our gallery!

Gorillaz: Escape to Plastic Beach via iPad and iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While some of you may be waiting on line at this very moment, queued up for the midnight launch of the much-anticipated first installment of StarCraft 2, reading this post from your phone (or the Joystiq iPhone app?), your pals at Joystiq got our copy a little early. And not just any copy, but the truly fancy Collector's Edition.

Now, hold on, before you get angry let us explain! Sure, Blizzard sent us a copy so we could get some early time with the game, even if it is just a few hours. But instead of doing that, we spent the entire day photographing the box and all the included goodies - like the art book, the comic, the guest passes, the dog tag slash USB drive - and then painstakingly hand-assembling the below gallery, just for you. So while you're waiting on line, reading this post, you know just what it is you've got to look forward to. Still angry? We thought not.

Not waiting on line anywhere? No worries, we'll be giving this bad boy away soon enough. Check out some more StarCraft 2 links from Big Download after the break.

Continue reading StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty Collector's Edition hands-on (and more StarCraft 2 stories)

StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty Collector's Edition hands-on (and more StarCraft 2 stories) originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Speaking to FEARnet, Silent Hill 8 writer Tom Waltz revealed that he is also working on a comic book crossover project entitled Silent Hill: Past Life. According to Waltz, the comic is set in 1867 and tells the story of "an outlaw and a really bad guy" named Jebediah Foster who "meets this godly widow who changes his ways." Before long the couple moves to Silent Hill to escape the wildness of the Wild West. As typically happens in the town, Jebediah soon finds himself dealing with "the ghosts of his past" (probably not in a tear-jerking, Dr. Phil kind of way, we're guessing).

Waltz added that the comic will tie into Silent Hill 8, as the game will actually feature a character from the comic. As the game is set in modern times, while the comic is set in 1867, Waltz hopes that fans will wonder "how the hell" the disparate time periods will tie together. For what it's worth, we do know that Silent Hill 8 also stars a criminal, an escaped convict named Murphy Pendlton. Waltz wouldn't elaborate any further, though he did note that reading the comic will help players gain a better understanding the game.

The first of four issues is set to arrive this October. Lest you missed it during the hubbub of E3, check out the Silent Hill 8 trailer after the break.

Continue reading Comic crossover planned for next Silent Hill

Comic crossover planned for next Silent Hill originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to a report from Japanese newspaper Nikkei (translated by Andriasang), Sony will be reporting its fiscal 2011 first quarter results (April 1 through June 30) in the coming days, posting an operating profit somewhere between 10 billion ($114.63 million) and 30 billion yen ($343.89 million). Among the factors contributing to Sony's reported profits was the games division, apparently achieving as much through "cost-cutting measures."

If this report is accurate, the company will be improving year-over-year profits by anywhere from $382.63 to $611.89 million -- not to mention enjoying a rare, profitable quarter for the gaming division. Sony refused to comment on the report, and the company's official release and conference call won't take place until this coming Thursday.

Nikkei: Sony enters the black in fiscal Q1, game division turns a profit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First on the agenda for my meeting with Dead Space 2 executive producer Steve Papoutsis at Comic-Con was an earnest request: better tutorials, please. After all, I had played through the entire first game without realizing that I could press a button to use a medkit -- that I didn't have to open up the onscreen inventory, while being attacked, to heal. "You're not alone," Papoutsis said laughing. "We're currently focus testing some of our tutorials, and believe you me, we've got two that remind you to do that, because you're not alone."

"That was a feature that we were in hot debate over," Papoutsis added, "and many of us, myself included, really pushed for it." Similar discussions have carried over into the development of the sequel, as Visceral Games continues to refine the gameplay. "We're taking it a step further," Papoutsis said of Dead Space 2, "so now, when you're not in combat or aim mode, you'll use one of your stasis recharge items. We've got health and stasis mapped" to a button.

Continue reading Dead Space 2 producer reflects on the changes and challenges of the sequel

Dead Space 2 producer reflects on the changes and challenges of the sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A THQ press release has announced that upcoming third-person shooter Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, formerly slated to land only on the PS3 and 360, will also arrive on the PC when the game launches early next year.

We'd worry about PC gamers getting this particular installment in the franchise confused with all the other Warhammer titles currently available on their platform. However, considering this one has you mowing down wave after wave of orcs using novelty-sized guns and swords, rather than ... doing strategy game stuff, we don't think you guys will have any problem seeing the distinction.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine also storming PCs next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atari announced that revenues were down 65 percent to €19.3 million ($25M) in the first quarter of its fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. The company didn't reveal any profit or loss data, but given its loss during the previous fiscal year, it's pretty safe to guess that Atari isn't doing so hot. Last year's Q1 included Ghostbusters and The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, while this year had, according to the company, "only one major game" ... Sandlot Sluggers.

A small piece of "good news" during the quarter, which also included another major executive shuffle at the publisher, was that online revenues were up 320 percent to €8.4 million ($10.9M). The much-needed money injection was thanks to digital distribution sales and subscriptions for Star Trek Online and Champions Online.

Some of the hopes Atari has for the rest of the year include the reboot of Haunted House in September, The Witcher 2 next spring and "numerous casual and social online game releases based upon Atari's classic video game brands."

Atari sales down in Q1, online is the glimmer of hope originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I'm a Criterion fanboy. I've explored nearly every nook and cranny of Paradise Island and clocked a lot of mileage with the myriad DLC available for Burnout Paradise. Yet, the team's reboot of the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit series simply didn't click with me. Of course, what I played was an early build and one limited to a 1-on-1 versus mode -- hardly indication of what chaos to expect in a larger multiplayer match -- but that's not necessarily a recipe for a bad first impression.

Criterion's approach to Hot Pursuit, I was told, is to focus on the basis of the franchise: the thrill of the chase. However, the 1-on-1 chase that I played wasn't thrilling at all; despite being based on a solid concept: you play as either cop or racer (escaping the police) and utilize a number of weapons to slow down your opponent. The racer, for example, can jam the cop car's radar, while the cop can summon a barricade.

Continue reading Preview: Need for Speed Hot Pursuit

Preview: Need for Speed Hot Pursuit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everyone's favorite character from Borderlands is getting a toy, courtesy of NECA. No, we're not talking about a Scooter action figure (though that sounds like an excellent idea), we're talking about bounty board attendant supreme, CL4P-TP -- Claptrap, for short.

NECA was on-hand at Comic-Con this past weekend, showing off the prototype above. The final version, which will be able to recite lines from the game, is slated for release this October. Frankly, we can't wait to get our own, mostly because we've always wondered what kind of loot our house has been hiding.

Hey, check out this Claptrap toy, everybody -- it's dancing, it's dancing originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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