Don't blame EA for Dragon Age's inventory (or
paid DLC)

In a written response to allegations from Fidgit that Electronic Arts had forced developer BioWare to remove features in Dragon Age: Origins with the intention of selling it as future DLC, BioWare lead systems designer Georg Zoeller says the parent company has "nothing" to do with the decision. At the crux of the argument is the game's launch DLC, Warden's Keep, which gives players a "storage chest" to help expand the in-game inventory, among other additions. Fidgit claims the DLC was pre-planned to "bilk users for more money."

According to Zoeller, Dragon Age originally featured a small storage chest in the game's party camp, but quickly became an issue due to story elements in the game that would the camp's environment; so the storage area was removed. "We decided that it was not really necessary anyway since the item limitation was rather generous compared to the initial designs at least," Zoeller wrote. Later -- during a brainstorm session -- the team decided to include the chest in premium DLC, which was then made available at launch.

Zoeller claims "storage limitations" were never pinpointed as problems by the game's quality assurance team, because "after all, it was part of the design." While the Bioware designer doesn't have an issue with anger toward the decision, he vehemently denies EA was involved for the sole purpose of getting more money out of players. With the DLC already available across all platforms (560 / $7, or free to deluxe edition players), it's up to players to make their opinions heard by voting with their wallets.

Don't blame EA for Dragon Age's inventory (or paid DLC) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mario Made From 40,000 LEGO Bricks [Lego]

OH GOD. No, that man did not give Mario a lobotomy, he is building the biggest LEGO Mario in the whole damn world.

Revealed during LEGO World Fair this past October, the statue is made from over 40,000 LEGO bricks, is 5.9 feet tall and weighs over 110 pounds. The statue was sold on eBay for over US$5,000 with all the profits going to the Ronald McDonald House Charity in The Netherlands.

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Viacom: The Beatles: Rock Band sales strong,
overall RB growth slow

Even though John, Paul, George and Ringo have been rocking the disc tray of your favorite console with The Beatles: Rock Band, its expectation-exceeding sales haven't helped boost overall Rock Band sales. Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman told USA Today the "economics of our Rock Band franchise are improving, though not as quickly as we'd like." There's still hope that Rock Band could at least break even or show a small profit, though Viacom CFO Tom Dooley said that will depend entirely on the franchise's performance this holiday season.

Despite tanking sales, the music genre still remains one of the best in the industry and The Beatles: Rock Band shows us that the right approach could still determine financial success in the space. Its September debut was very fortuitous and it even managed to best Guitar Hero 5 in the US -- which not only came with a free game, but is also one of the most recognizable brands to the mainstream.

Source - USA Today
Source - Viacom earnings report

Viacom: The Beatles: Rock Band sales strong, overall RB growth slow originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Kids On The Block NES Box Fetches Ridiculous
Sum [What]

How much would you pay for this New Kids On The Block sample box for the NES game that was never released? If you're off your rocker for NKOTB, then surely $589 isn't too high a price.

Or so said box, obviously in terrible shape, commanded when auctioned off on eBay last month. As spotted by Siliconera, a fierce bidding war for the unreleased game's box—again, this is just a prototype of a box, not even a real box—ultimately came down to nearly six hundred bucks American.

Unfortunately for the seller, whoever won that auction apparently didn't come through. The box has since been relisted on eBay, with two days worth of bidding to go. Right now, top bid is $51.00, something we'll be keeping an eye on.

Somewhat related, is anyone interested in a copy of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch: Make My Video for Sega CD? I'm looking to unload a few.

New Kids on the Block Prototype Sample NES Nintendo Box [eBay via Siliconera]

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Modern Warfare 2 Avatar gear coming to Live
tomorrow

Are your Avatars ill-equipped to raid a terrorist safe house? Well, good news: Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling (aka fourzerotwo) revealed Modern Warfare 2 gear will soon be available for players to purchase on Xbox Live's Avatar Marketplace.

Revealed in a recent Tweet, Bowling stated that Infinity Ward will upload the content to Xbox Live tomorrow -- which includes the Ghost outfit pictured above. In an email to Joystiq, Bowling confirmed the content will be made available for purchase tomorrow. Until then, we'll sleep soundly knowing that the Avatar world will soon be safe from terrorist scum.

[Thanks, B. Marriner]

Modern Warfare 2 Avatar gear coming to Live tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 Owners "Defecting" To PS3 For Sequels
[Analysts]

Multi-platform console gamers may be making the switch to the PlayStation 3 for sequels to games they may have owned on the Xbox 360, analysis from consumer research and consulting firm OTX shows.

Gamasutra's report on that OTX Gameplan Insight research shows that, for at least two titles, Xbox 360 owners are planning to invest in the PS3 versions of holiday sequels more so than the other way around. Both Assassin's Creed II and Modern Warfare 2 are seeing a shift in platform choice that favors the PS3, according to OTX.

Why defect? Gamasutra's report doesn't speculate on that, but one might assume the reasons are two-fold. In the case of Modern Warfare 2, the option to play the game's multiplayer portions without the need for an Xbox Live Gold account may be a factor.

The other may simply be the expanded PS3 console ownership following the system's recent price drop. Both titles appear to be feature equal, but the allure of buying games for the new console you just invested in, well, that might be enough to make the switch. Any other theories?

Analysis: Xbox 360 Gamers Defecting To PS3 For Holiday Sequels? [Gamasutra]

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Can't Stop LOLing [Note]

To: Ash
From: Crecente
Re: Micro-Bash Stood Up By Himself Today

This is bad, real bad. We're in the middle of the busy reviewing season, gift guides, review guides, year end guides, game of the year awards are all circling in and I can't stop playing League of Legends.

Up until this afternoon I had an excuse: I was reviewing it. But now, there's nothing, just an feeling of emptiness that I have to fill with level-building tactics. Now that I don't have to try and check out all 40 of the champions I can choose one to master... or maybe I should finish making my way through the 40.

This is bad. So bad.

What you missed:
PSPgo on Your TV
Walmart Confirms 360 Sale, More Cuts Coming
Domo Games Micro-Review: No Thanks, Nintendo
League of Legends Review: Free, Addictive, Worthy
How Many Hours People Play EA And Activision's Wii Games
No Doubt Sues Activision Over Band Hero Likeness
Blizzard Starts Selling In-Game World Of Warcraft Pets
Dragon Age: Origins - PlayStation 3 Versus PC

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Auditorium flowing to XBLA, PSN and PSP next year

We haven't heard anything about Cipher Prime's plans to port its hypnotic musical puzzler, Auditorium, since the studio won a publishing contract in the 2BeeGames competition back in July. Today, a press release from newly named publisher Zoo Games revealed a few details about the title's console destinations: It's coming to Xbox Live Arcade and PSN, both as a PS3 and PSP download "early next year."

For those who want to know what the soothing buzz is all about, you can check out Auditorium for free on the 2BeeGames site. For those who can't access that site for some reason, just turn on some classical music, go turn on the nearest water faucet, and try to redirect the stream with your hands.

Auditorium flowing to XBLA, PSN and PSP next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiger not the only EA Mobile game on iPhone OS
accepting cash

by: Dan Keener
NEWS - EA Mobile has let word be known via their Facebook page that The Sims 3 for the iPhone OS also received a title update today. Unlike the Tiger Woods update, which seemed to just enable the Pro Shop, The Sims 3 update also fixed some bugs, added some features in addition to enabling the in-game Sims Store. I have not purchased The Sims 3, so I cannot see what the pricing or content is in the Sims Store. However, I expect it to be in the same $0.99 mold as the Tiger Woods golf course. Check out all the details of the update below:

• New Sims Store with exciting new stuff for your Sims and their homes
• Redecorate your Sim's house by customizing your wall coverings and flooring
• Change your Sim's appearance at any time during the game
• New Car Dealer Shop is featured on the Town Map
• New Driveway is featured in front of the Sims houses for a better view of their cars
• iPod Media Playback - through Main menu and Stereo objects in-game
• Sims can be rotated in Create-A-Sim
• Minor bug fixes

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The World Series Comes To PlayStation Network
[Sports]

The PlayStation Store's video delivery side got a shot in the arm this week, thanks to the addition of new watchables from LucasFilm, TNT and more. Also new to the video store is the World Series.

Major League Baseball is offering games from the showdown between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees, just in case you happened to miss a game and would pay to relive it. The official PlayStation.blog also makes mention of "classic games" coming to the North American PlayStation Store, downloadable for your viewing pleasure.

Any takers?

MLB and Lucasfilm Join PlayStation Network's Video Delivery Service [PlayStation.blog]

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