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Serious Sam 3 now in Steam Workshop, mods incoming

Serious Sam 3 recently received Steam Workshop support, Croteam and Devolver Digital announced. The update gave players the ability to use community-made weapons, character skins, maps and gameplay mods, and the option to subscribe to modders that use the Serious Editor.

The update initially provided users with over 60 mods to play with, some of which can be seen in the gallery below.

Roger Avary back on Castle Wolfenstein movie

Roger Avary resumed his role as writer and director of the Castle Wolfenstein film adaptation, according to Slashfilm. The film, based on id Software's Wolfenstein series, was first announced in 2007.

The film met several bumps along its production course, including a halt due to the Writer's Guild strike, during which Avary said he was "almost done with the script." This was before Avary faced legal troubles in 2008 on suspicion of manslaughter and driving under the influence, in which he was released on a $50,000 bail. Avary continued work on the script in 2008, but when his involvement in a Silent Hill movie sequel stopped in 2010, all talk of the Wolfenstein adaptation stopped as well.

The Wolfenstein movie's plot is described as follows: "A young U.S. Army Captain and a British Special Agent on a top-secret mission to Castle Wolfenstein where Hitler will be for the unveiling of a new secret weapon."

Joyswag PSA: Win Assassin's Creed 3 from Joystiq

Each week on the Super Joystiq Podcast, the staff bundles games and other swag we're sent to give away to you, the lovely reader/listener. What? You didn't realize you were missing out on the free stuff? Well, let's remedy that by recapping what's available this week and what's coming up with the Joyswag PSA.

Listen to this week's episode of the Super Joystiq Podcast to win either a standard edition copy of Assassin's Creed 3 for PlayStation 3 or the Limited Edition version for Xbox 360. To enter, you must post within the comments of the podcast.

This week the staff discusses Halo 4, Assassin's Creed 3, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, the latest industry news and more.

Tune into next week's show (Nov. 9) to find out how you can win one of two Halo 4 prize bundles. One winner will net a Limited Edition version of the game along with the novel Halo: Cryptum: Book One of the Forerunner Saga, while another winner will take home the novel and the Limited Edition Halo 4 Xbox 360 console bundle.


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. All winners of Joyswag are selected randomly.

For more info on our policy, along with rules and regulations associated will all giveaways, click here.

Team Meat digs up first Mew-Genics characters, art each Caturday

MewGenics teaser art
Mew-Genics, the next game in a line of cheerfully disturbing adventures from Team Meat, stars Mr. Tinkles, Dr. Beanies and of course a cat with an extra head, early images show. Team Meat is disseminating five silhouttes of a full Mew-Genics teaser picture, one every Caturday (ahem, "Saturday," that is), until the full image is revealed.

The first teaser in the silhouette showdown is Mr. Tinkles, a flamboyant "Party Gurl" with cat trophies as back-up dancers. Mr. Tinkles was revealed last week via the Team Meat Twitter. This Caturday (Saturday, sorry), we see Dr. Beanies, a worried-looking scientist with a cute cat in his lab, introduced on the Team Meat blog.

Check out Dr. Beanies below, and stay tuned to Team Meat next Caturday (SATURDAY, damn it) for a new teaser.

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Disgaea D2 breaks Japanese launch barriers in March

Disgaea D2 breaks Japanese launch barriers in March, Disgaea 5 coming
Nippon Ichi Software is working on Disgaea D2 for PlayStation 3, set to launch in Japan in March 2013, NIS America tells Joystiq.

Disgaea D2 stars Disgaea main protagonist Laharl, along with Etna and Flonne – the main characters from the original Disgaea (which is pictured above). There is no western release schedule as of now.

NIS has Disgaea 5 on its radar, but can't confirm its development. NIS predsident Sohei Niikawa is thinking about Disgaea 5, NIS reiterates, piggybacking off the news out of Anime Expo in July.

NBA 2K13 is everywhere in this developer video

Image This developer video for NBA 2K13 elaborates on the Facebook, Android and iOS apps that expand the game's "My Player" career mode. The initiative, known as NBA 2K Everywhere, allows players to build up their characters' skill ratings through mini-games and unlock collectibles on the go. ... Continue Reading

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is all angry about stuff

In one week's time, Disney acquired Lucasfilm and announced Star Wars Episode 7, and Halo 4 approached its impending release date. Non-fans of either series, sadly, might take to generally mean-spirited quips about either piece of news.

The fact is, super fans of either major sci-fi franchise deserve to be thrilled. Frankly, there is a clear-cut difference between merely discussing a brand of entertainment and seemingly ruining it for others. I find that those lines get depressingly blurred when these amazing moments in pop culture arrive.

As a reminder: It's totally okay to enjoy things. It's also equally okay to not enjoy things. Let's remember both sides of it, and all be friends, not "fun-ruiners." While we group hug, snag a glimpse at last week's webcomics, then vote for your favorites after the break!

Dumb Times Fifty (Loldwell)
President Evil (Angimoto)
Crash and Burn (Nerd Rage)
FanFact (Fanboys)
Wrecked By Ralph (Dorkly)
Psy Man (Virtual Shackles)
Assassin's Steed (Penny Arcade)

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Hitman: Absolution video describes a 'living, breathing world'

Image This video for Hitman: Absolution describes the game's universe and the stories contained within as a "living, breathing world." The IO Interactive game is set to launch November 20 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. ... Continue Reading

Take-Two potentially opening new offices in Las Vegas

TakeTwo potentially opening new offices in Las Vegas
Take-Two, publisher of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Borderlands 2, et al, may soon be opening new offices in Las Vegas, according to proposal documents concerning Take-Two and The City of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency. If opened, the new facility would employ a minimum of 150 persons full-time, all of whom would earn a "gross average hourly wage, including overtime, of at least $18 per hour."

The agreement also stipulates that, in order for Take-Two to be eligible for the (up to) $600,000 in incentives, 15 percent of all full-time employees must be "full time residents within the Agency's redevelopment area" as well as "members of racial minorities, women, disabled or veterans."

The purpose of the facility is still uncertain; whether this could be a new studio or a satellite testing office is unknown. It's worth noting, however, that while $18 an hour sounds like QA/testing wages, that's the minimum amount required by the agreement and may not accurately reflect what the real average ends up being.

Select Tomb Raider games 75% off on Steam this weekend

Select Tomb Raider games 75% off on Steam this weekend
From now until 10 a.m. Pacific time on Monday morning, the PC versions of Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: Underworld are all 75 percent on Steam, meaning that each game can be had for less than a fiver. That is, provided you're able to circumnavigate an elaborate series of traps, deadly animals and vicious, armed ne'er-do-wells hell-bent on preventing you from acquiring the treasure you seek.*

*Some or all requirements listed may be a complete fabrication. Joystiq, AOL Media Inc. and The Huffington Post Media Group are not responsible for any injuries sustained while attempting to purchase computerized video-machine games off of digital distribution platforms such as Steam. Today's lucky number is "three." If Lily has six apples, and a different girl also named Lily has twelve apples, why are you still reading this?

The MAG II is a gun-shaped motion controller for PS3 and PC

The MAG II is a gunshaped motion controller for PS3 and PC
Armchair soldiers who prefer to play FPS games while standing in the middle of their living room and/or in front of their computer have a new option when it comes to chasing their goofy bliss: The MAG II from All Interactive Entertainment, which launches on November 13 at $150.

Compatible with both the PlayStation 3 and PC (don't let the 360-lookin' buttons fool you), the controller senses movement through "Motion Sensing and Gyroscopic Induction movement tracking," according to the press release, which we'd assume translates to "accelerometers and gyroscopes." From the looks of things, moving the gun through space is interpreted as moving the right analog stick, allowing the player to aim at things by, well, aiming at things.

The device's onboard software can be updated via downloadable firmware updates and an onboard USB port, through which All Interactive Entertainment plans to "unlock new functions and gameplay modes." Pre-orders are currently underway at Amazon and Gamestop.

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Boulder Dash-XL heading to iOS

Boulder DashXL heading to iOS
First Star Software and HeroCraft have announced plans to co-publish Boulder Dash-XL on iOS devices, which will launch "soon" for $2.99. The latest game in the long-running series was last seen on XBLA in July 2011.

The core gameplay, according to HeroCraft, will remain the same as always: players race through caves while collecting diamonds and defeating enemies. Boulder Dash-XL for iOS includes two playable characters, five game modes, four worlds, over 100 caves, and "lots of diamonds and fun."

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Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD DLC reverts into an early Dec. release window

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD DLC reverts into an early Dec release window
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD's "Revert Pack" DLC has been pushed back until the first week of December, Activision has announced on the game's Facebook page. Originally, the DLC pack containing select levels from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 was slated to hit consoles in early November.

"It's later than all of us hoped, and we're sorry about that," the update reads. When it does launch, however, the DLC will be available on 360, PS3 and PC, as the Steam version of the game is now available. If nothing else, the delay will at least allows more time for our shattered knee-caps to heal after trying to do some of this stuff in real life. Getting hit by a speeding golf cart can do a lot of damage, as it turns out.

Cave Story pre-emptively rated for additional platforms

Cave Story preemptively rated for additional platforms
Last week, Cave Story's ESRB rating was updated to include new platforms: PS2, PS3, Vita, and Xbox 360 in addition to the existing 3DS, DSi, Wii, and PSP ratings. We contacted developer and publisher Nicalis to determine whether to expect Cave Story on even more platforms than it's already on.

In short, no. The ESRB ratings are not indication of definite plans. "We submitted all the consoles so that we wouldn't have to resubmit in the future," producer Tyrone Rodriguez told Joystiq, "IF [emphasis his] we ever decided to bring to those consoles."

The good news is that you are very likely to already have a platform to play Cave Story on.

Former GameStop VP pleads guilty to embezzling almost $2 million

Frank Christopher Olivera, former GameStop VP of corporate communications and public affairs plead guilty Thursday to one count of mail fraud for embezzling $1,965,900 from the company.

According to the federal indictment, Olivera sent payments from July 2009 through April 2011 to Cloud Communications LLC. The Nevada company was fictitious, was "created and controlled by Olivera," and was used to funnel the transferred funds into Olivera's personal account.

"The company does not comment on matters pending in court, however, we will say that Mr. Olivera was terminated last year and GameStop has fully and completely cooperated with the government's investigation," a representative for GameStop informed Joystiq.

According to the Dallas Observer, up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine are the maximum penalties for the mail fraud charge Olivera plead guilty to.

Backup singer loses lawsuit against Take-Two over GTA: San Andreas

Michael "Shagg" Washington, supposed former Cypress Hill backup singer (though the band denied any affiliation), lost his 2010 lawsuit against Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games over alleged use of his likeness in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Wednesday. Washington claimed he met with the game's developers in 2003 to discuss his troubled youth and "street life." He first learned of his resemblance to the game's "CJ" character six years later, leading to the $250 million lawsuit.

The California appeals court upheld the ruling in favor of Take-Two, in which the judge said the "plaintiff is relying entirely on CJ's physical appearance in the game, but that appearance is so generic that it necessarily includes hundreds of other black males." The lack of evidence in whether Take-Two actually used Washington's likeness, in addition to a failed test for insufficiently transformative use, led to Washington losing the case.

See Wreck-It Ralph in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed trailer

Image Wreck-It Ralph, star of the recent Disney film of the same name, can be seen cruising next to Sonic in this Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed trailer. The game will launch November 18 on Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U, with Vita and 3DS versions crossing the finish line on December 11. ... Continue Reading

When Vikings Attack pillages PSN next week, 30% pre-order discount for EU PSN

When Vikings Attack pillages PSN next week, 30% preorder discount for EU PSN
Vikings are set to invade 1970s England this Tuesday, November 6. When Vikings Attack, from new developer Clever Beans, launches for PS3 and Vita as a PSN cross-buy title. The game tasks players with corralling English villagers and uniting them against the invading viking hordes – the more villagers you've amassed, the bigger the items you can pick up and hurl.

Anyone who actually lives in England (or elsewhere connected to the European PlayStation Network) can shave 30 percent off the game's £7.99/€9.99 price by pre-ordering it now through the PS3's PSN Store. Shaving the beard off a viking, however, is considerably more difficult and not something we should ever have tried.

WRUP: Halo! Send halp!

This is it: the month that breaks the backs of many men and women in the video game industry. While we're buried in reviews (like our recent Halo 4 and Assassin's Creed 3 critiques), the industry keeps rolling along with major releases.

Later this month? Hitman: Absolution, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, and ... oh, and little thing called the Wii U. Yeah, our wallets are already screaming for relief.

What else is everyone playing?

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Forza Horizon 'Bondurant Car Pack' DLC coming Nov. 6

Though we suspect you'll be busy doing donuts in Master Chief's Warthog on November 6, the date also marks the release of the "Bondurant Car Pack" for Microsoft's other first-party fall release, Forza Horizon.

Priced at 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live Marketplace, the November DLC includes a six-pack of new vehicles to augment the moments our review called "incredibly beautiful." But who needs to stop and smell the roses when you can inhale the sweet fumes of a 1965 Shelby Cobra or that 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon? (Okay, we probably should have used the new Lamborghini Gallardo as our second example.)

Full list and details on the new rides can be seen after the break.

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The Joystiq Podcast

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Super Joystiq Podcast 024: Halo 4, Assassin's Creed 3, Disney buys Lucasfilm

Latest episode: Friday, November 2nd, 2012

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