Wow! It’s whatever day of the week you’re reading this on. If it’s not Friday, it can’t get here fast enough. If it is Friday, TGIF! Sel?ect where applicable.

If it isn’t already, the best part of your Friday could be the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter. I’m being hyperbolic, but consider this: how does not being signed up for the Destructoid Change??????????????????????????log N?ewsletter make it better? It doesn’t! So what have you got to lose?

Every Friday, our newsletter will slip quietly into your inbox. Each one contains the most interesting news of the week, as well as all the reviews and a look at whatever weird thing I’ve been playing (this week it’s Bernband). All of this spiced up with my special brand of inane ramblings and conversational asides. Just like I’m doing right? now.

If you’re concerned this might be a trap, you can get a preview of past issues right over here. You mostly just see the introduction??, but hopefully, that will put your mind at ease. It’s safe to let your guard down, even for a second.

Once you’re comfortable, there’s something you can do for extra credit. If you refer a friend using a link that’s provided in every issue, you’ll be signed up for our special monthly edition. On the last Monday of every month, we’ll send you an exclusive interview to help you get through the week. Last month, it was with TheCatamites, the creator of Anthology of the Killer. This month, it will be Magicdweedoo of Dryft City Kyngs fame. Imagine having? to answe??r my questions. You can smell their fear.

So, sign up today because of all those reasons I just said??. You probably won’t regret it.

The post Your Fridays could be even better with the Destructoi?d Changelog Newsletter appeared first on Destructoid.

Hello again. I’m here to remind you that the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter still exists, and you can still sign up for it using the text box somewhere on this site. It’s free! It’s also written by me, which is maybe a good thing or maybe ??not.

You can decide for yourself before signing up, because all back issues of the newsletter are available on this site. If you haven’t signed up, you can only view the first few paragraphs which is maybe the least exciting part. You’l??l j??ust have to take my word for it that below those words is a blurb about something I played for the week (often weird, usually retro) and a recap of the best news and all the review for the week.

Also, we’re doing a thing where if you refer a friend using a link that arrives in the newsletter, you get access to our exclusive monthly special edition that arrives on the last Monday of the month. It will include an interview with someone interesting. This month, it’s TheCatamites, the creator of Anthology of the Killer. It’s not your average interview. Learn what ??desperation drives someone into gam??e development.

I hope to see you there (figuratively). And if you have any feedback on how to make the newsletter better?, the comments below are ??a good place to drop it.

The post The Destructoid Changelog Newsletter makes it ea?sier to survive your Friday appeared first on Destructoid.

Hi again! I’m here to remind you that Destructoid has a whiz new newsletter: the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter. It’s a little bundle of something that gets dropped in your email inbox every Friday. You can get it in your Friday, ju?st by typing yo??ur email in a box.

Each newsletter comes with a recap of all the most interesting/weird articles of the week. Plus, I �a human with typing fingers?? �will tell you about what neat game I’ve been playing that week. Lately, I’ve been playing games associated with Love-de-Lic veteran Yoshiro Kimura. Will I be continuing that trend? No! I’ll be upfront; this time, it’s not a Yoshiro Kimura game.

Also, we’ve got some news. We’re launching a special monthly issue this month. It will hit the last Monday of the month (September 30, in this case) for anyone who has been able to convince a friend to sign up through our referral link that is included in a vanilla weekly newsletter. Refer one person (using that link or URL, I have to stress this), and you’ll start receiving the monthly edition. This month, it’s an interview with indie developer TheCatamites, the person behind Anthology of the Killer, a bizarre horror title I gave high marks to back in June. Even if you don’t know who they are, I pro?mise it’s a fun interview.

But wait, there’s more! The people behind-the-scenes of the newsletter have informed me that you can now access back issues at this site. If you just sig?ned up, this will let you go back and see what you missed. If you’re not signed up but are interested, you can read part of it. It’s usually just the bespoke intro rambling, which suggests to me that I should start writing more interesting intros.

Wow! So many benefits! And if? you decide you don’t like it, you can always unsubscribe. I’ll pretend I didn’t notice, so you’ll only notice whiffs of awkward tension between us.

The post Spice up your Fridays with the Dest?ructoid Changelog Newsletter appeared first on Destructoid.

I do these reminders/bumps for the fantastic/amazing Destructoid Changelog Newsletter every two weeks/fortnight, and it can be difficult to figure out how to rephrase why ??you should sign up. But I’m not a coward, and only c?owards use copy/paste. I just flex my wrinkly writer brain to churn up some new words.

Have you heard that the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter is a hit at parties? Maybe! I don’t get invited to parties. It a??rrives every Friday and comes packed with a recap of all the week’s reviews, weird articles, and retro stuff that I like. It’s like me showing up at your doorstep every week, except y??ou can just close the tab instead of calling the police to get me to leave.

That’s right! Not only will I wish you a good week and draw your attention t?o some cool things you might have missed, but I’ll also tell you about what I’m playing that week. I play a lot of weird stuff. It’s what I do instead of going to parties.

And this is just between you and me, but we’re also cooking up some sort of monthly surprise for anyone signed up. What is it? I don’t know, it’s a su??rprise! Also, I haven’t settled on an??ything yet. The next time I do one of these reminders/bumps, I’ll probably have something more solid to tell you, but it will be cool. Cool in a “get off my doorstep, Zoey,�kind of way.

Tell your friends! Tell your therapist! Tell me (what you’d like to see in ??the newsle?tter by leaving a comment below)! Is your Friday ready for this!?

The post Have a finer Friday with the Destructoid Changelo??g Newsletter appeared first on Destructoid.

When I was a child, Saturdays were t?he best days of the week. That was when? cartoons would air, one after the other, in blocks we knew as “Saturday Morning Cartoons.�However, like all joy that can be found in our meaningless existences, Saturday Morning Cartoons were swallowed by the internet.

It’s too late to save Saturdays. We must instead take refuge in Fridays. Here, we will build our defenses f?rom the internet to prevent history from repeating. To strengthen the bulwark,? we have the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter. I know emails are through the internet. I didn’t think this whole thing through. I just kind of make stuff up as I go along.

If you like hearing me make stuff up as I go along, the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter is a great way to do it. Every Friday, I gather together my thoughts on the site’s weirdest and most interesting articles, features, and reviews. On top of that, I’ll tell you all about the weirdest game I’ve been playing that week as a newsletter-exclusive bonus for all my friends. A couple of weeks ago, it was Germs: Nerawareta Machi. Then it was Dandy Dungeon: Legend of Brave Yamada. I’m still having flashbacks!

So what are you waiting for? The end of this post? That’s sweet. I like spending time with you, too. But if you want to start receiving this newsletter, it’s free. Just ?plop your email address into the white box that should be between a couple of paragraphs on this article. You’ll get a confirmat??ion email, and then the newsletter will start dropping into your inbox every Friday.

Also, if you have any suggestions for the newslett??er, feel free to drop a comment below. It would be appreciated because the comments on the previous few articles have been pretty depressing. Yes, I read them.

The post Fire up your Fridays with the Destructoid Changelog Newslette?r appeared first on Destructoid.

If you’re the type that thinks Fridays ??are the best day of the week, you’re absolutely correct! I had a co-worker once who said that Wednesdays are best, but that guy is a jerk. Fridays are the best, and that’s because it’s when the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter gets delivered.

The Destructoid Changelog Newsletter is a fascinating look at the site’s weirdest and otherwise hippest new articles for the week. I??, personally, hand-pick the ripest word clumps and hurl them at you in one easily digestible wrap. You’ll get a handout of reviews, features, and news that will help add a bit of color to your world. Find out what you missed through the magic of bespoke summaries and hyperlinks.

As a bonus, I’ll tell you about the strangest games I’ve been playing that week. Am I always playing a weird game? You’d probably be surprised. Perhaps even shocked!?? Maybe even concerned.

It’s completely free and only requires your email address. You have nothing to lose unless you have finite inbox space. Just plop your email address into the de?signated and well-labeled text box that should be somewhere in the middle of this article to subscribe to another distraction that will help you make it to the weekend.

The post Make your Friday’s weirder with the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter appeared first on Destructoid.

Good news! The Destructoid Changelog Newsletter has arrived to direct yo?u to all the week’s most interesting articles. If you sign up, you’ll receive an email every Friday containing a nice summation of the weirdest, most amusing, and otherwise fascinating things to hit the site.

It’s tough to keep up with everything these days. Not for me, because I live here. I assume it can be difficult for most people who have lives outside the internet. I imagine most folks have a lot going on, like, I don’t know, sorting their recycling, paying their taxes, calling their mom. I don’t do those things. But if you do, you maybe don’t have time to read Destructoid e?very day.

That’s why there’s the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter. We’ll condense, chew, and digest everything for the week, so you can quickly catch up with all the? best the site has to offer and get back to cleaning your pool. You’ll see weird news,? interesting features, and insightful reviews. I’ll give you a quick rundown on what the article is about, and set you loose on some hyperlinks.

Worse yet, it’s completely free! All you need to do is sign up, and a new issue of the newsletter will hit in th??e vicinity of your inbox every Friday. Try it out! You can unsubscribe at any time. It won’t hurt our feelings. Mostly.

The post Sign up for the Destructoid Changelog Newsletter and stay up-to-date with gaming’s weirdest and hottest happenings appeared first on Destructoid.

In September 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan announced his departure. He will be succeeded by Sony's current chief operating officer Hiroki Totoki, who Ryan expresses full confidence in. In an interview with Variety, he lists his favor??ite titles from each PlayStation generation for a?????????????????????????? little fun. Can't say it's a question that doesn't pique my curiosity.

God of War Ragnarok gets the thumbs up from him for the PS5 era. Not a bad choice from Ryan, though Ragnarok is one of those titles I keep getting distracted from an??d never finishing. Maybe 2024 will be the year I finally see Kratos and Atreus' tale to the end.

Though the gameplay is amazing, featuring epic combat sequences rivaled by very few other titles, Ryan focuses on how it came at just the right time. As PlayStation players will know, at launch there were intense supply issues, making it an arduous task to acquire a console, though it was heaven for scalpers. By the time Ragnarok came along, Sony was "finally able to start building en??ough PlayStation 5s." It all coincided i??deally for the company.

In case you're wondering, he chose Spider-Man for the PS4 era and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune for the PS3. The latter choice was motivated by how impressed he was by Naughty Dog's use of the technology? available for "storytelling and narrative and emotion in a different way f??rom anything that had been possible hitherto."

Interestingly, he didn't name The Last of Us instead, which I believe is the better PS3 offering from Naughty Dog. It managed to earn itself a perfect sc??ore f??rom Destructoid.

When it comes to the PS2, his pick goes to GTA 3, while Ridge Racer wins his vote for the PS1. It's not a surprise to see that GTA 3 ?is on the list, as it impacted not just its genre but gaming as a whole, with a legacy that has yet ??to die.

Ryan reflects on video games and his career

The interview isn't just about video games. Ryan also gives some insight into his position as CEO, expressing how grateful he is that he never had to work in a "bori??ng industry." He highlights what a difficult time the COVID-19 pandemic was. Through all the ch??aos, it was his job to exude "calm and serenity."

This doesn't mean he felt that way at all. Quite contrarily, he describes it as the greatest challenge of his thirty years with Sony. It's hard to argue that the company didn't come out of it victorious, with over 50 million units of the console sold.

With the avalanching amount of layoffs hitting the industry, it was impossible to avoid the issue in the interview. Ryan acknowledges how demotivating the mass layoffs have been for various studios. ?He warns PlayStation staffers to?? never remain complacent and to accept that nothing is forever.

As he departs, he give??s him some wise advice to Totoki, informing him to always remember the entertainment aspect of the business. Entertainment lies at the center of what SIE does, and everything will be alright so long as the compan?y continues to entertain consumers.

When it comes to Ryan's future, he?? remains somewhat tight-lipped. He isn't quite ready to retire altogether it seems, as he admits he has "a few things bubbling" and while he doesn't reveal what they are he does state that he's taking his life in a different direction. As of the first of April, we'll get to experience PlayStation run by Totoki, and he has some massive shoes to fill.??

The post PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan names God of War Ragnarök his favori?te PS5 game appeared first on Destructoid.

No actual ninjas are on staff

Hello, Internet.

We're looking for some writers for Flixist. If you're the type of person who can string some words together in a coherent sentence, and also enjoys watching mov?ies then we may want you! If you live in LA that would be even better as we've got a host of opportunities for screening movies out there, and no one on staff who lives in la la land.

To apply for a position we'll want to see what you can do. To get the ball rolling simply send an email to matthew@flixist.com with your basic info and why you want to write for the site. You need to be 18 to apply. That's in terms of actual age. Most of us on staff never grew up mentally ??beyond the age of five.

For all those considering applying, please realize that this is a time commitment and while it pays, it is minimal. It ??is, however, awe??somely fun, and you'll learn the secret handshake that everyone who writes for Niero knows. So that's nice.

The post Join the Flixist staff and revel in ??the mysterious world of ninjas appeared first on Destructoid.

Insomniac Games teases info about characters and upcoming events

The surprise reveal of Sunset Overdrive at Microsoft's E3 2013 press conference got many people excited, including much of the staff at Destructoid. As a brand-new open-world shooter set in a visually rich and colorful world, it was certainly promising to see such a unique vision for Insomniac Games' first next-gen title. Unfortunat?ely, we haven't seen much of anything since that reveal last year. But now, it looks like Insomniac is opening up a bit with the convention season coming up.

A brand new viral site, along with a Twitter account, has just opened up, detailing information about the in-game energy drink, OverCharge. Plastered on the site is the OverCharge mascot Fizzie, who was seen briefly in the debut trailer. Moreover, details of the beverage manufacturer's history, along with some of the key figures of Sunset City (the game's setting) are also shown within the site. Many of the characters look to be important to the plot of Sunset Overdrive, so it'll be interesting to see how this all plays o??ut?.

Founded in ??2007 by Rupert F. Kane, Fizzco produces treats and other pick-me-ups for consumers across the world. Its energy drink, OverCharge, is the corpor?ation's best-selling product, boasting over 20 billion cans consumed by the masses per day. Given that the drink apparently gives its users incredible agility and special powers, this doesn't really surprise me all that much.

In addition to this, there are several planned events for gamers in the coming months. Most notably in Los Angeles on June 9, just prior to E3, and in San Diego during the week of Comic-Con. While details are still a bit light, these events will give fans a taste, literally, of what's to come in Sunset Overdrive. So if you're i?n the area, you may want to swin?g by.

With the viral site opening, and some Twitter buzz from other journalists recently, it's pretty safe to say we're going to see more of this title much sooner than we think. With E3 rapidly approaching, it's looking like Insomniac Games is ready is show off more of what Sunset Overdrive is all about.

The post Sunse?t Overdrive viral site opens up, plans special events for fans appeared first on Destructoid.

It's a sign that something's happening with 2K Marin's troubled title

Just a few weeks after a possible change of direction was hinted for the troubled XCOM FPS reboot, Digital Trends is now reporting that the website for the game has been taken offline. The project has been delayed multiple times with its fate uncertain. Alo?ng with the website being taken offline, ??all previous trailers have been removed from the publisher's YouTube channel. 

Whilst this doesn't mean that the game has definitely been canceled or a complete overhaul is happening with the title, it does point towards the fact it's not business as usual at 2K Marin. After the success of the traditional strategy of XCOM: Enemy Unknown last year, one wonders if 2K believes that an FPS XCOM would confuse gamers as to what t??he franchise is about.

Now that we've gotten our hands on a traditional XCOM game that 2K says is a success, I would think there would be less resistance to the FPS reboot. The 1950s/60s setting was interesting and I liked the stylized designs especially that of the alien enemies. One thing is for sure, I'd rather not see the game turn into vaporware; either?? announce it or c??ancel it.

Something is going on with the XCOM shooter&hel??lip; [Digital Trends]

The post 2K wipes trailers and website for XCOM FPS remake appeared first on Destructoid.

This past weekend, Team Meat showed us C.H.A.D., the boss of Super Meat Boy's second world. As it turns out, that reveal was just a tease. The Super Meat Boy blog's latest post gives us the first screenshot of C.H.A.D., plus h??is?? origin story, a look at his cut scene, and more revelations on the game's design.

Sounds like Team Meat is working extra hard to fill Super Meat Boy wit??h secrets and random elements, in order evoke the feeli?ng of "the unknown" that was so prevalent in gaming back in the 80's and 90's. Remember the first time you saw an idle animation, or discovered a warp zone? Sounds like that's what they're going for here. Team Meat is also working hard to streamline the game so that little gameplay annoyances don't build into deeply irritating problems over time. Thanks, Team Meat!

They've also revealed the game's latest indie cameo, the lover-boy from the free and easy art game I wish I were the Moon, seen above doing his best Toad impression. Wonder if he'll get a name of his own, or if he'll remain nameless like those other Toads? I'll get to ask one half of Team Meat soon enough, as Edmund McMillen has agreed to show up on Bit Transmission. Hooray!

Who's the Boss? (Get it!??!LOLZ!)- [Supermeatboy.com]

The post Super Meat Boy blog ??reveals new cameos and details appeared first on Destructoid.

Looks like Edmund McMillen's initial write-up on game design is turning into a series, as he's just thrown up a new post on how important it was to create an inspiring risk and reward system for Super Meat Boy. Among other things, Edmund makes reference to the extremely effective risk/rewards systems found in such classics as Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros, and how he applied and tweaked those? systems for ??use in his own game.

This kind of stuff is the closest thing we have to an Understanding Comics-equivalent for videogames. I hope that Edmund takes this one step further someday, and actually makes a game that teaches us game design, something like WarioWare D.I.Y., only more involving and hand-on with its teachings. That would not only be bri?lliant, but it would also make Edmund rich, especially if he kept including characters from other people's games.

Edmund's knack from bringing out the inner-creepiness in gaming icons is nothing short of amazing. Pac-Man with teeth? Brilliant. I hope he takes on Curly Brace from Cave Story in his next post, which is planned to be about exploration in platformers. Curly's panties may not be the best example of how to reward the player for fully exploring a game, but they're not the worst either, and mentioning "panties" on the Internet is always a good idea if you're looking to score some new traffic (or ??e?ven if you're not).

Extra credit! [SuperMeatBoy.com]

The post Team Meat talks risk/reward in ga??me design, draws Pac-Man appeared first on Destructoid.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is almost here, but you wouldn't know it from the way Nintendo of America is acting. We haven't heard anything from Reggie and the gang about the game since that press event a few weeks back. We've have to turn to Japanese sources to learn new stuff about the game (like the return of Bucken Berry and Ala Gold), and even then, details have been minimal.

Now that Nintendo of Japan has opened an official Super Mario Galaxy 2 section on their website, we'l??l hopefully start getting more new info more often. Already we've learned that at some point in the game, Bowser's going to get very big (or Peach will get very small), that giant cogs will be making a comeback, and that a second player will be able to join in the campaign by controlling a Luma (the little baby star-things that you could force feed to the point of explo?sion in the first game). I'm not sure how you'll be able to control the little jerk with just the Wii remote, but hopefully Nintendo will find a way.

And hopefully Nintendo of America will get around to posting all this stuff in English. There is a lot of cool content on the site that would only be made better by knowing what the heck all those ??squiggly lines mean.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 site updates with screens, ar?t, music a?nd footage [GoNintendo]

The post Mario Ga??????????????????????????laxy 2 website details 2P co-op, also cogs appeared first on Destructoid.

If you are excited about the new Ace Attorney INVESTIGATIONS: Miles Edgeworth game for the Nintendo DS, let me hea?r you say “Eureka!”

EUREKA!

Man, I can’t wait for this game. Sadly, since I couldn’t make it to Comic-Con this year, I did not have a chance to get my Phoenix Wright-obsessed little hands on the game. But luckily there is something to satiate my scary, somewhat stalker-esque need to play. Capcom just dropped us a note this morning to let us know the official INVESTIGATIONS Web site has gone live!

Check out the colorful site right here and feast? your eyes on a slew of beautiful screens, a trailer for the anticipated ?game, and so much more!

February 2010 is so far away ...

The post INVESTIGATION??S: Miles Edgeworth Web site is now live! appeared first on Destructoid.

You already know how I feel about survival horror games if you've read Destructoid or listened to RetroforceGo! for any period of time, so I won't gush all over again about how much I love to turn the lights out and get scared by a game, but I can tell you that Cursed Mountain is high on my list of releases that I'm excited for this year. Deep Silver announced today that the official website for the game is open, and from the looks of it I h??ave even more to be ex??cited for than I previously imagined.

The main page shows the mountain, with locations such as village, glacier, monastary and summit highlighted. You can't click into the?se just yet, but you can?? check out the Sherpa Journal which reports your character's arrival at Mount Chomolonzo or investigate a rucksack which contains goodies such as wallpapers and screenshots (see gallery) and allows you to listen to some of the game's creepy music (you can download the songs too!).

Cursed Mountain come??s out for the Wii sometime this year. I hope it's sooner rather than later, because I'm dying to get my hands on it.

The post Cursed Mountain official website lau??nches, scares me proper appeared first on Destructoid.

Following in the trend of highly interactive game sites, Ignition Entertainment launched the official site for Vampire Rain: Altered Species today, a game that places you in the role of an elite agent for the American Information Bureau o?ut to kill seven Nightwalkers who have infiltrated the area. Completing this mission will open up a special section of the site, offering hints and tips about the game.

The site also features new trailers, which will give gamers a peek into what they will be getting into this August when the game comes out. The trailers will be released as a series, so keepi??ng an eye on the site may reward you in the long run.

What do you think about the interactivity of websites for upcoming games? I know the only one I ever played with for a long time was for a Myst sequel many years ago. Of course, they are great time wasters, ?but do you actually enjoy them, or do you feel it's just a bunch of crap you have to navigate throug??h to find out information that would be better be plainly stated?

Full? press release after the jump. Bring your garlic.

IGNITION ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES OFFICIAL GAME SITE AND TRAILERS? FOR VAMPIRE RAIN: ALTERED SPECIES
 
Your Mission Begins at AlteredSpecies.com
 

 
June 5, 2008 - Marina del Rey, CA - Ignition Entertainment, a UTV Enterprise and worldwide publisher and developer of videogames, announced today the launch of the official game site and first teaser trailer in a series of videos for the upcoming stealth-horror title Vampire Rain: Altered Species. The fully interactive website can be found by pointing your browser to www.alteredspecies.com.
 
Visitors to the site will assume the role of an elite operative of the American Information Bureau (AIB) whose duty it is to seek out and eliminate (with a single head shot) the 7 Nightwalkers that have infiltrated the site. By eradicating the Nightwalker infection from the site visitors will be granted access to a special, highly classified, "Hints n Tips" section of the site. In addition to unveiling the la??test screenshots, media, character profiles and downloads, AlteredSpecies.com will also house the latest in a series of terrifying trailers from the talented and twisted minds of Red 40 Prod??uctions. This series of trailers will mesh gripping, live-action scenarios with pulse-pounding gameplay to paint a chaotic and blood-soaked image of the game.
 
The series of videos will follow the Nightwalker outbreak and the her??oic attempts of the AIB whose sole mission is to eradicate the?? growing infestation of Nightwalkers by any means necessary. Along the way viewers will bear witness to the detrimental effects of the Nightwalker outbreak upon a society wrapped in confusion and fear.
 
"We are thrilled by the level of interactivity delivered by AlteredSpecies.com," said Ajay Chadha, President of Ignition Entertainment. "That, along with our engrossing series of trailers, shows only the beginning of our commitment to aggressively market Vampire Rain: Altered Species through out of the box thinking."
 
In addition to the trailers and short episodic videos, Ignition Entertainment will al??so release a developer interview with the videogame's creators.
 
The Vampire Rain: Altered Species video series is set to start releasing Wednesday, June 4, 2008 and can be viewed by visiting www.alteredspecies.com.
 

The post Vampire?? Rain: Altered Species official site?? goes live appeared first on Destructoid.

Techland's up and coming zombie dismantlement simulator caused quite a stir when it was unveiled at the Leipzig Games Convention, due to its smile-inducing two-hit combo of gorgeously idyllic tropical vistas and savagely brutal first-person evisceration of the old brain munchers. It garnered quite a lot interest amongst you guys too when I previewed it, and while a playable version of the game currently still seems a long way off, Dead Island is one I've got an excited eye very much gl?ued to. 

The game's site is now up, which bodes well for the progress the currently still-without-publisher title is making, and while it ?doesn't yet provide us with anything new in the way of screens or video, it should be a good source of some quality splatter? in the coming months while we wait for more news. 

The post Dead Island site goes live appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm surprised people have been asking, but for those of you who don't know, our sister site Japanator.com has been down since the night before last. For once, it's not the site ?crashing. We're not giving up on it, either. What's happened is Niero and the team over in Miami is finally moving the site?? over to Elephant.

A project some 800 years in the making (before community blogs, even!), we've been taking the weekend to try and make the site somewhat more functional, so that it doesn't roll over and die every time we get hit by a digg. So, sit tight and watch a couple episodes of Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei -- we'll be back within a day or so (I hope).

Seriously, go watch Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei. It's one of the funni??est shows I've watched i?n a while.

The post Japanator.com offline, people take notice appeared first on Destructoid.

Ever get the feeling that you've been neglecting your spidey sense for just too long? Yeah, me neither. But hey, if you're looking for a place to momentarily quench your arachnophilia, today Activision launched the Spider-Man 3 game Web site. Lucky you!

As it stands now the site offers little content to get your web shooting (get it?) aside from a single game tra??iler, a link to pre-order the game, and a multitude? of brushed-metal spider motifs. One feature to take note of is the Spider-Man 3 contest where one gamer will win a trip to the Activision headquarters in Santa Monica, CA, to play an early version of the game.

To get your entry in you have to sign-up to be a “founding member of Spidey's Web,” which comes off as some cheesy gaming fan clu?b with “cool prizes ... and more!” But sometimes it comes down to signing your soul away to the Internet for an advanced ticket to kicking Sandman in the plums. Am I right?

The post Spider-Man 3 game site goes live appeared first on Destructoid.

Are you a complete tech junkie? Do you dream about the iPhone or any other gadget that could leave your underwear ??all sticky? Ca??n you write in a smarmy enough way that would rival me on a good day? Do you want to be a part of the newest part of the Dtoid community? Can you write on a somewhat daily basis?

If you answered yes to each question, then please send me an e-mail to robsumma@gmail.com to become a writer for NextLust -- give me info about yourself and some small sample posts. There are only a few very limited spots and?? only the best writers will get through, but if you think you got what it takes and want to be in on the ground floor of a site that will soon enough kick other tech sites' ass, then send me a note and let's get it started.

It's all volunteer for now, so if you just want to get your tech chops in? order or want to start building up a solid writing background, then now is your chance. And, who knows, maybe sooner rather than? later it won't be so volunteer. Good luck, and don't bother applying if you suck -- no pressure or anything.

The post ?NextLust: Looking for a few good men or women to help the cause appeared first on Destructoid.

Finally, an executive that knows what the hell they are talking about! All praise due Ubisoft UK managing director Rob Cooper, for he has prophecized that online gaming sites are the future. Straight from a genius' mouth to your eyes:

Speaking in the latest edition?? of the Games Central p?odcast, Cooper said that "a lot, lot more" of Ubisoft's money is now being spent online.

"Only last week we were looking at ways and means we should further our spend in sites generally, because it is so active. You see such a big result o?n a website," he stated.

"[Gamers] like to read it when they want to read it, rather than actually sit for a certain time or read when a magazine comes out," he observed. "Certainly, if I'm looking on the Internet, I've tended to look at things because it's instant. Rather than wait for something to read it, I can read it?? there and then, which to me is much more important." 

We? are just going to go ahead and assume this brilliant man has his keen eyes already focused on Destructoid. We're ready to sell out when you are Rob. All praise due Ubisoft. 

The post Ubisoft du?de says online gaming sites rule, we agree completely appeared first on Destructoid.

Thanks to the kindness of Destructoid, I have joined a team. Me! Part of the gang! Wow! Time to get my robot ??rock on. Hence the pic. That's me in my backyard. Rocki?ng on.

So, just a few tidbits for you Dtoids -- I'm a female gameblogger working in L.A., using my secret powers to their utmost to make a real job out of professional dorkery. I started blogging in 2000, about nothing in particular. In 2006, I decided it was time to make a special place to blog about games and save my non-geek readers the misery of slogging through yet another post about the delights of playing Final Fantasy 7 through for the 13th time, and Blow in the G?ame Slot was born. That's where I've been ever since, freelancing occasionally for other Web sites and ranting to my heart's content.

Let the posting begin!

The post Rock on robots appeared first on Destructoid.

Remember La Pucelle Tactics? It was that type of game where I thought, "Damn, I should pick ??that up." Then, due?? to lack of funds, I forgot about it, and it faded into obscurity. That said, I'm glad the company has decided to make a new game, which, as the title of this article implies, is in need of a Web site. To be more specific, a promotional Web site that incorporates Flash, along with your typical videos and screenshots.

I know we have a few talented programmers out there. The original post from Authentic Jobs is after the break. If you apply, don't for??get to tell them that Dtoid sent ya. If they don't know who Dtoid is, don't work for them. I'm watching you.

Freelance | 10 November 2006

(Anywhere) We need a promotional website ??for a videogame. It is an action RPG, done in cute and bright Japanese ??anime style, has a very good story, and it is beautiful.

The site needs to have?? the usual bells and whistles expected of such a product, designed with Flash movement and a user interface that feels li?vely. It needs to sell the game to the right target.

We've got videos, music cl??ips, tons of images. No shortage of material to play with! This is going to be a fun project for the right person (or team).

If you (or your company) is interested, we'd be delighted to ta?lk to you. The project will start pretty much immediately.

Apply: Please contact mswartz@mastiff-games.com for detail.

[Thanks to imouto for the tip. Hig??h fives all around.]

The post Mastiff Games need a Web site designer appeared first on Destructoid.

Remember our Dtoid Chat program? Well that's more out of style than Atari - Dtoid Ventrilo Server is all the rage now. What's Ventrilo? A voice chat service online that's simple to use - Destructoid now has its own server, with subrooms for gamers of every console, WOW guilds, anime di??scussion, and our favorite: Dtoid social lounge.

All you have to do is download Ventrilo (free), install it, and use the following info to log into the Dtoid Ventrilo Server with the rest of us. There's at least a dozen of us on any random night, so hop on and have fun. Make sure you sign up for our forums and say hello first though so we know who ?we're talking to. Below is the server login info - enjoy!

IP/Hostname: VOICE-VA2.BRANZONE.COM
Port: 3790
Password: None 

The post Destructoid Ventrilo Server! appeared first on Destructoid.