Xbox Jedi

A Facebook posting by the folks behind Intellivision Lives! states that the DS version of the game won't be sold by GameStop, but the retail giant claims that isn't exactly true. According to the Intellivision Lives! devs, their publisher was informed by GameStop that the retailer would not carry the game because it didn't fit the store's demographics. Contacting GameStop, Joystiq was told by a corporate representative: "Intellivision Lives! DS will be available for purchase on GameStop.com." Ah, semantics.

A quick check of GameStop's website doesn't show a listing for the game at this time. Intellivision Lives! is scheduled for release sometime this month.

'Intellivision Lives!' will not be sold in GameStop stores, available through web store only originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Every strategy game I've played in the past decade has boasted the same claim: a key feature that will reinvent the RTS genre. Streamlining the experience into a simple, yet complex battle of wit, this spectacular, never-seen-before feature will allow everyone from the most experienced strategist to your own mother to enjoy this groundbreaking masterpiece.

R.U.S.E.'s claim to fame is, as its subtitle says, "the art of deception." Control and manipulation are key, so forget strategic base-building and Zerg rushes. This game is all about fooling the enemy using decoys, spies, surprise attacks, radio silence, dummy buildings, psychological warfare and other underhanded actions. And who better to fool than the Nazis, right?

Well, turns out these Nazis have more smarts than your standard video game fodder. Their tanks are pretty big too ... and numerous. Oh so numerous.

Continue reading R.U.S.E. review: Real time, realer boredom

R.U.S.E. review: Real time, realer boredom originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're not so sure we'd give up most of our flesh and bones for some bitching robotic arms and a protective tank for a heart. While it'd be great to be able to reach stuff on the top shelf of the cupboard without grabbing a chair, it's not like we need a can of Beefaroni that bad, you know?

Don't tell that to BioShock Infinite's Handyman, the villainous hybrid of man and machine revealed at PAX and pictured above (via Game Informer). He's already made his choice. So pointing out all of the stuff he'll it'll never be able to do again will likely put you on the receiving end of a massive beatdown -- just like the poor guy in the screenshot.

Check out more new BioShock Infinite screens on Game Informer.com.

See the first in-game shot of BioShock Infinite's Handyman originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wondering when you'd get a chance to see that meatbag-hating droid HK-47 make his return? This latest Star Wars: The Old Republic trailer delivers just that. Also, it seems KotOR's Darth Revan will make an appearance in the game. Hope he'll be happy to see us!

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic trailer requests your silence, meatbags

Star Wars: The Old Republic trailer requests your silence, meatbags originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to a report from ME Gamers, the United Arab Emirates National Media Council has officially banned the sale of Mafia 2 within its borders. No statement has been issued by the NMC regarding the ban.

Mafia 2 joins a laundry list of other titles deemed inappropriate by the UAE's media governance body, including this year's Heavy Rain and Darksiders. That said, reports in the past have pointed out the relative ease with which UAE residents can still pick up various "banned" games.

Mafia 2 has been criticized by UNICO National, an Italian American organization, as a "pile of racist nonsense." The game was also criticized by Joystiq for forcing us to spend "way too much time in shallow block-counter-repeat fistfights or behind the wheel of a clunky automobile."

Mafia 2 banned in United Arab Emirates originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A friendly reminder that the XBLA ports of Plants vs. Zombies and Dance! It's Your Stage sashay in a shambling manner onto Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday. The XBLA version of the flora versus undead tower defense title will cost 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), while that dancing game will be 800 points ($10).

The XBLA version of PvZ features co-op and versus multiplayer, along with your very own customizable house. The XBLA version of Dance! It's Your Stage features, um -- did we mention Plants vs. Zombies is coming out this week?

This Wednesday: The epic battle of Plants vs. Zombies on XBLA ... plus 'Dance! It's Your Stage' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From the moment the campaign kicks off, it's patently obvious that Batman: The Brave and the Bold: The Videogame hails from an entirely different lineage than Arkham Asylum. That's not a knock on the game, nor even a reference to the cartoon-stylized visuals; rather, the game's tone is much sillier than the dark and serious approach of last year's smash. By the end of the first chapter, both Batman and Robin have been transformed into housecats, and before the game concludes, Batman's floating in space, blasting a giant starfish with an endless supply of batarangs in a simple shoot-em-up ('rang-em-up?) sequence.

It's weird, no doubt, and though The Brave and the Bold suffers due to kid-friendly gameplay mechanics and a total lack of challenge, it maintains a slight winning edge with its total adherence to this playful demeanor.

Continue reading Batman: The Brave and the Bold review: the lighter side of the Dark Knight

Batman: The Brave and the Bold review: the lighter side of the Dark Knight originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Retail titles aren't the only games taking advantage of PlayStation Move. One of the first third-party games to utilize the controller is PSN-exclusive RTS Under Siege.

Continue reading Under Siege gets PlayStation Move support, Platinum Trophy

Under Siege gets PlayStation Move support, Platinum Trophy originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leery of this fall's literal interpretation of the "Guitar Hero" franchise? In an attempt to assuage your skepticism, Activision has wisely released the Warriors of Rock demo on Xbox Live today. Players can sample "Johnny Napalm's chapter" -- and upgrade the literal hero -- in the quest to save the Demigod of Rock (pictured; with his literal axe). Surprisingly, you still use a plastic guitar to play songs in the game. The demo features the following:

• Dethklok - "Bloodlines"
• Black Sabbath - "Children of the Grave"
• Foo Fighters - "No Way Back"
• Slash featuring Ian Astbury - "Ghosts"

Additionally, the DJ Hero 2 demo is expected on Xbox Live Marketplace today (though it's currently missing from the service) and features the following mixes:

• "American Boy" (by Estelle featuring Kanye West) mixed with "Good Times" (by Chic)
• "Don't Cha" (by Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes) mixed with "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" (by Pitbull)
• "Bounce" (Battle Mix) (by MSTRKRFT featuring N.O.R.E.)
• "Just Dance" (by Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis ) mixed with "Ghosts N Stuff" (by Deadmau5)

As usual, both demos are exclusive to Xbox Live Gold subscribers for one week. (Silver members can today download the R.U.S.E. and Vanquish demos.) Historically, most Hero-brand demos have been exclusive to Xbox Live, and today's demos are not expected for release on PSN when the service updates later today.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, DJ Hero 2 demos on Xbox Live today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mickey Mouse isn't supposed to be in situations like this.

Though I'd been having a great time spraying paint on enemies and wiping out obstacles with magical paint thinner in my PAX demo of Epic Mickey , I found myself absolutely stymied during a crucial moment. Here on my one hand was a helpless gremlin in a cage, begging for rescue. On the other, a treasure chest full of the game's currency, E tickets.

The tickets were counter-balancing the catapult in which the gremlin was confined, so snatching them would lead to his doom. But I was told that the tickets would be lost if I freed the gremlin. I had to get one of the two, but as soon as I did, the other would be lost forever.

Continue reading Epic Mickey preview: Small mouse, big decisions

Epic Mickey preview: Small mouse, big decisions originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Setting the price at $150, Bungie claims to give you the most complete Halo: Reach experience possible in the game's Legendary Edition, shipping next week. Adding to the sculpture and other various material goodies included in the package, Bungie recently revealed another piece of content: "two full hours of exclusive, behind-the-scenes campaign commentary covering unrevealed aspects of Halo: Reach's production." Creative director Marcus Lehto and crew commentate an entire campaign playthrough -- "judiciously edited to excise the downtime" -- and show off Reach "from concept to cutting room floor."

Additionally, Bungie pointed out in its weekly update that it won't be punishing folks for playing Reach early (legitimate copies, at least) -- but there will be a credit reset at launch. This means that those of you lucky enough to secure an early retail disc shouldn't get too attached to that sweet helmet or those shiny shoulder pads -- they'll disappear come September 14. Bungie also warns early players that the multiplayer is still in a "test" state, meaning various issues may pop up (matchmaking, credit acquisition, and the daily challenge are all said to be "running at less than optimal levels"). Even so, if you've gotten an early copy, you can enjoy the single-player campaign for the next week.

Halo: Reach Legendary Edition gets developer commentary originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mass Effect 2 Executive Producer Casey Hudson has shared some juicy statistics about the game with IGN. Basic takeaways are that people really did treat the game as a "shooter," with the soldier class chosen more than every other combined. Also, the women's lib movement for intergalactic saviors still has some work to do, with 80 percent of players choosing the male Shepard.

The "anonymous player data" collected by BioWare is obviously meant to inform the studio in designing future titles. For example, only 15 percent of people skipped conversations in the game, most of the time in "non-critical moments like in the hub worlds." Hudson says that if the company found people skipping 80-90 percent of the lines that they'd have to "reevaluate the work" the team put into digital acting -- and we'd have to reevaluate why people are playing Mass Effect in the first place. Check out IGN's piece for more on how the stats support current decisions and influence future projects.

Half of Mass Effect 2 players imported a save (and other stats!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2K Sports today announced that Top Spin 4 is coming to Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii in 2011. The next iteration in the tennis sim franchise will feature 25 top pros and legends, headlined by a young Andre Agassi -- the one with the rad hairpiece. Vintage Agassi will be offered as a pre-order bonus for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game purchased from GameStop.

While neither Move nor Kinect support was confirmed in the announcement, the "exhilarating" Top Spin 4 is said to feature "an uncanny level of realism" and "all-new innovative controls," according to 2K Games' president of product development Greg Thomas. Who knows -- maybe that means they just swapped the slice and lob buttons?

Top Spin 4 announced, with vintage Agassi pre-order bonus originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision has revealed actors Gary Oldman and Ed Harris as two of the main voices for characters in Call of Duty: Black Ops. Oldman will be reprising his role from Call of Duty: World at War, where he played Russian Red Army squad leader Viktor Reznov, and Harris is lending his voice to CIA operative Jason Hudson (said to be "one of the game's main characters").

Additionally, Batman film writer David S. Goyer is offering "script consultation and story development support" on Black Ops, presumably offering suggestions like "make the main character's voice darker, more gravelly." Treyarch studio head Mark Lamia said of the announcement, "Their contributions have helped us to push the boundaries of our story telling and character development far beyond anything we have ever attempted before in the franchise." Does that mean this time we'll understand what's going on? We can only hope.

Continue reading Call of Duty: Black Ops to feature the voices of Gary Oldman and Ed Harris

Call of Duty: Black Ops to feature the voices of Gary Oldman and Ed Harris originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another month, yet another PS3 firmware update. Little over one month since 3.41 (and two months since 3.40) comes yet another mandatory update for your PS3. Firmware 3.42 seemingly doesn't add any functionality to your system beyond the usual "system software stability," but it is required if you want to continue accessing the PlayStation Network or the PlayStation Store.

While unverified, this update may be a response to a recently-released jailbreak tool, which supposedly enables piracy on Sony's once-bulletproof system. We'll update this story if Sony provides any additional details on what this firmware does exactly.

Update: The BBC reports that the update does block PSJailbreak and PSGroove hacks. "Since this is an overall security related issue, we will not be providing further commentary to this case," a Sony representative said. "But as we always have, we will continue to take necessary actions to both hardware and software to protect the intellectual content provided on the PlayStation 3."

PS3 Firmware 3.42 mandatory update available now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The movie may have flopped at the box office, but the game has risen almighty on the PlayStation Network. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game makes its debut as the best-selling game on the PSN in August. Mushroom Wars comes in at number two, undoubtedly helped by PlayStation Plus members.

1. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
2. Mushroom Wars
3. Earthworm Jim HD
4. Vempire
5. 2Xtreme (PSone)
6. Fat Princess
7. Final Fantasy IX (PSone)
8. CTR: Crash Team Racing (PSone)
9. Top Gun
10. DeathSpank

Scott Pilgrim is top PSN game in August originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've already established that the Xbox 360's Kinect can handle a seated person when the application supports it. But what about a grinning, highly combustible bug-eyed being and his entourage of faceless scientists? You may be surprised by the answer -- and how closely this resembles an actual Lady Gaga music video.

Continue reading Get a 'splode of this: 'Splosion Man playing Dance Central at PAX

Get a 'splode of this: 'Splosion Man playing Dance Central at PAX originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not only is the WiiWare title Swords and Soldiers coming to PSN, but Ronimo Games has also commanded it to attack the PC. The 2D real-time strategy combat title will offer up all of the levels and features of the other versions, but will offer mouse control and include Steam Achievements as well.

No release date nor pricing has been announced, but we're assured all of that is coming soon. We're going to call this one good news -- Swords and Soldiers was a good addition to the Wii's downloadable lineup, and it'll be nice to let a bigger audience get a good look at this original title.

2D RTS Swords & Soldiers coming to PC, too originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What's up now, Comic-Con? PAX really brought it this year in terms of cosplay. There were street fighters, Spartans, zombies playing Rock Band and quite possibly the best Tali and Garrus we've ever seen (above). Hit up the gallery below and check 'em all out!

Continue reading PAX 2010: A taste of the cosplay

PAX 2010: A taste of the cosplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So you weren't at PAX last weekend, and didn't play Duke Nukem Forever? Well, then you probably agree with Gearbox's Randy Pitchford when he says that a playable demo for the mythical title is probably "an important thing to do." That's not a confirmation but, now that the cat's out of the bag, the company will start investigating ways to effectively market the game. Putting a demo in the hands of a skeptical audience is a good start, if PAX is any indication.

If you missed it, you might still think of Duke Nukem Forever as vaporware, and remain convinced that Gearbox told PAX attendees that "it would be really funny" if they all pretended the game was playable. Wouldn't it be nice to lay your extremely paranoid fears to rest?

Pitchford: Duke Nukem Forever demo an 'important thing to do' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To be as forthright as possible, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was not on my radar when it was announced last year. Apart from a handful of pretty screens, it subsequently managed to slip by me in the madness of the 2010 summer trade show season. Having now spent several hours with the first half of the game, it's impossible to think I could have missed it. Based on what I've played so far, Enslaved deserves a spot on everyone's radar, offering polished gameplay, interesting characters and a gorgeous world to explore.

Continue reading Enslaved preview: The apocalypse goes green

Enslaved preview: The apocalypse goes green originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It may be a holiday here in the US, but the show must go on! This isn't a traditional episode -- instead, we're just talking PAX Prime 2010, answering some questions from Twitter and addressing some fanmail. We're trying to keep it casual, you know, so pull up a chair, grab a frosty beverage and kick it with your X3F buddies below. Enjoy!

Oh, and we'd like to thank @_misterd_ for releasing the butterflies in the wonderful chop above.

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Hosts: Alexander Sliwinski (Sli Xander, @xandersliwinski) and Dave Hinkle (KnifefightYaDad, @davehinkle)

Music: Intro/Outro: "Electromooq" by Uma Floresta. Break: "Bandages" by Hot Hot Heat.

Xbox 360 Fancast 179.5 -- PAX Prime 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The first public appearance of The Witness, a new game from Braid designer Jonathan Blow (and a small team of independent designers), almost went unnoticed. Its presence at last weekend's Penny Arcade Expo wasn't announced by an enthusiastic press release or trumpeted by a flashy trailer. It didn't even have a sign.

"PAX is a huge show, with tons of stuff to see everywhere; if the game could hold peoples' attention under those conditions, purely on its own merits rather than by hype or pedigree, then I would know that it was really working," Jonathan Blow wrote on The Witness blog. "Happily, the game worked very well - despite the fact that the visuals are still in an early prototype stage. People tended to play for a long time, and they liked what they played."

Kotaku's Stephen Totilo compared the first-person exploration and puzzle-solving to Myst. The game's beautifully lit and serene world hides abstract enigmas, such as boards that require you to trace the correct route. What's most interesting, however, is that there don't seem to be any prompts or instructions for the player -- making this understated PAX reveal seem very appropriate indeed.

The Witness makes low-key debut at PAX originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Develop reports that bankrupt studio Realtime Worlds has seen its Project MyWorld IP bought up by an "anonymous American company." It's currently unclear what this means for the 23 developers who were working on the project at the studio's location in Dundee, Scotland. One of the more optimistic scenarios is that the American outfit will create a satellite studio nearby and hire the current staff to finish the (allegedly almost done) project.

This means that Realtime's APB IP, which at last count had about 130,000 players, is still up for grabs from Begbies Traynor, the company handling the bankruptcy. Okay, Begbies, we've got $5 and some moist gummi bears in our pocket -- what do you say?

Develop: US firm acquires Realtime Worlds' Project MyWorld originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading NintendoWare Weekly: Fenimore Fillmore, Samurai Shodown 3

NintendoWare Weekly: Fenimore Fillmore, Samurai Shodown 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gameplay footage of inFamous 2's new "Ravager" enemy has burrowed itself into the bottom this post. If you're keen to see Cole's new melee attacks in this souped-up sequel -- or just the return of his original design -- just click the play icon and you'll zap right to it.

Continue reading Video: InFamous 2 'Ravager' gameplay

Video: InFamous 2 'Ravager' gameplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A recent PAX interview by RockBandAide with Harmonix's John Drake reveals a ton of minutiae for hardcore fans, and confirms that Rock Band 3 will allow you to export the RB2 tracks for a fee -- as you could with RB1. Drake states that the the export feature will work for all three consoles, though there are always "a couple songs that get complicated" when it comes to re-licensing. Official pricing and details regarding the export should be available shortly.

Drake also states that while regular DLC will keep the regular price ($2 per song), content made for Rock Band 3's Pro Mode will "probably" be more expensive. Harmonix has "a lot more work to do" on those tracks, and doesn't wish to increase the cost of the regular DLC to subsidize the Pro DLC that's aimed at a smaller group of players.

Rock Band 3 details: RB2 export confirmed for all consoles, 'pro' mode DLC may be more expensive originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I don't care much for video games -- well, not when I'm playing them inside another video game. I can appreciate the recursive wink and what it says about the hours we devote to entertainment as life continues around us, but in the wrong context it can dissolve a game's sense of urgency. It's classic Shenmue syndrome. If you have the time and impulse to pet a cat, get a haircut and play a computer game, then maybe your quest isn't all that important.

Continue reading BioShock 2: Minerva's Den review: Turing Rapture

BioShock 2: Minerva's Den review: Turing Rapture originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The fate of Gears of War 3's Clayton Carmine is sealed. Epic Games' Cliff Bleszinski and Rod Fergusson wouldn't reveal what fate would ultimately befall the latest Carmine, but announced that the "Fate of Carmine" campaign has raised $150,000 for Child's Play.

Although the promotion/charity event ended September 1, it appears that the shirts are still available for purchase (SAVE CARMINE Male, Female / CARMINE MUST DIE Male, Female) on the Xbox Marketplace. We're sure that buying the apparel now won't affect Clayton's chance at survival, but it's unclear if the proceeds still go to charity -- we're following up with Microsoft.

Update: The shirts should no longer be available, therefore the whole promotion is over.

Continue reading Gears of War 3's 'Fate of Carmine' campaign raises $150K for Child's Play

Gears of War 3's 'Fate of Carmine' campaign raises $150K for Child's Play originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon's deal of the day is Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Ultimate Edition at 33 percent off, for $40. ThriftyNerd noticed the discounted bundle -- which was just officially announced last week -- which includes the original game (w/ VIP access), Onslaught mode, Battlefield 1943 and items that were initially available through the "limited edition" back in March.

For those who still haven't played Battlefield: Bad Company 2: the single-player campaign isn't anything special, but get some friends together in a squad and you've got some of the best multiplayer this year.

Continue reading Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Ultimate Edition is Amazon's Labor Day deal

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Ultimate Edition is Amazon's Labor Day deal originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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