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Magic: The Gathering - Tactics tapped for PC and PS3 release

by JC Fletcher { Nov 2nd 2009 at 5:00PM }

Sony Online Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast have announced a new collaboration: Magic: The Gathering - Tactics, a new turn-based strategy game for PC and PS3 set in the universe of the card game. Tactics puts players in control of "dramatic 3D figures" in single-player or online battles, with spell cards taken from the Magic series.

Of course, it's not Magic without frequent, additional purchases, and SOE promises "regular content expansions," which will no doubt become a de facto requirement for highly competitive tournament play. The game is being developed by SOE's Denver studio, and will be out on PC in early 2010, with the PS3 release to follow.

Sega deploying Valkyria Chronicles 2 in America, Europe

by JC Fletcher { Sep 16th 2009 at 3:15PM }

This is going to be awesome news for a heartbreakingly small portion of the gaming population -- Sega has announced that it is localizing the tactical RPG Valkyria Chronicles 2 for a summer 2010 release in North America and Europe.

Sega even backhandedly acknowledged the disappointing sales of the first game in its press release for the second, with VP of Marketing Sean Ratcliffe classifying the PS3 original as "a hidden gem on PS3." We're sure the company hopes the sequel will be upgraded to gem status.

ESRB: Dragon Quest Wars draws near

by JC Fletcher { Sep 14th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Right above Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth (!!!) on the ESRB ratings page, a listing for Dragon Quest Wars reveals that Square Enix is considering a North American release for the DSiWare game.

Dragon Quest Wars is a simplistic strategy game in which players control teams of four monsters, each trying to destroy the other teams or invade their bases (represented by a goal line). It's developed by Intelligent Systems, which makes it sort of a Nintendo/Square Enix collaboration. And it's got online multiplayer! It seems like a nice diversion while we wait to hear anything at all about Dragon Quest IX.

Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge storming XBLA and PSN this week

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 14th 2009 at 3:30PM }

Listen, we know you're excited to finally get your hands on EA's standalone strategy spin-off, Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge. You'll be able to fulfill your desires for meticulous action this week; the game is set to launch on XBLA this Wednesday and on PSN the day after for 800

($10). You can temporarily satiate yourself by checking out the game's latest trailer after the jump.

However, before hastily acquiring the title, heed this warning: Commander's Challenge is infused with such a large dosage of Ric Flair that other items in your respective console's hard drive may get totally pumped and begin stylishly pummeling one another. Buyer beware!

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More Valkyria Chronicles DLC coming 'winter 2010'

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 7th 2009 at 4:30PM }

Sega's Valkyria Chronicles is moving out with another blitz of DLC to keep the members of Squad 7 occupied. CVG reports that "Challenges from Team Edy" will add new missions to the overlooked strategy title in "Winter 2010."

The developers seem to have a soft spot for Edy, who was already the star in one of the DLC packs released last April, in addition to this latest expansion which released in Japan last month.

[Via Strategy Informer]

Dawn of War II's 'The Last Stand' mode detailed

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 28th 2009 at 5:00PM }

It seems the increasingly popular "Horde" mode first presented in Gears of War 2 (before spreading to other popular FPS titles in some form) isn't just proliferating through the shooter genre -- GameSpy recently revealed details for "The Last Stand," a similar gametype which will soon be introduced into Dawn of War II.

The new mode, which will come as a free download for those who own the full game, lets three players select either the Space Marine, Ork or Eldar hero classes, then face off cooperatively against wave after wave of computer-controlled adversaries. Between waves, players will be able to level up their heroes and manage their equipment. The series' strategic roots aren't being thrown out the window -- players will need to work together to stay alive and capture score-multiplying control points.

We'll undoubtedly learn more about this intriguing expansion to the well-received strategy title during Relic's panel at PAX 2009.

[Via Big Download]

Greed Corp bringing environmental turn-based strategy to PSN

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 12th 2009 at 6:00PM }

We possess equal amounts of affinity for hexagonal turn-based strategy games and mother nature -- naturally, W!Games' upcoming PSN strategy title Greed Corp really resonated with our green-tinted hearts. The trailer above gives a pretty good depiction of what the game's about -- four corporations are struggling to take control of a dying planet, while trying to balance out their own resource consumption and environmental preservation. Fail to do so, and you'll either end up too weak, or plummet to certain death.

It's a neat concept for a game, incorporating elements from Halo Wars, Risk and ... Don't Break the Ice. We'll be getting our hands on this bold mixture when the game lands on the PSN near the end of September.

RUSE: Reveal Undermine Subvert Entrap ... or not

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jul 30th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Here at Joystiq we're dedicated to solving the nagging mysteries in life, one post at a time. We figured learning the meaning of R.U.S.E., the acronym'd title of Ubisoft's table-not RTS, was probably near the top of your list -- right up there with, "Does the fridge light stay on when I close the door?"

We cornered Ubisoft's Thomas Leroux-Hugon at the publisher's "Holiday Preview" event yesterday and forced an answer out of him at penpoint. He didn't know about the fridge light, but he did give us: Reveal Undermine Subvert Entrap (how revealing!) -- before his lips curved into a coy smile (that undermining trickster!). The real answer, he teased, isn't that obvious. You see, the acronym doesn't officially stand for anything (what manner of subversion is this?!). It's a bit of a "ruse" in and of itself -- it's up to each individual to play the game and decide, Leroux-Hugon offered -- clearly, his bid to entrap us. Well played.

So then, we'll leave it up to you: What does R.U.S.E. spell out?

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

Marvelous planning a 'Super Little King's Story'

by JC Fletcher { Jul 30th 2009 at 1:15PM }

Little King's Story creator Yoshiro Kimura had previously said that he's interested in making a sequel to his strategy title. Now, speaking to Siliconera, Kimura explained that he is in the early stages of working on just such a thing. "We are planning to make a sequel to Little King's Story, like Super Little King's Story," Kimura said, "but we're still in the process idea phase."

At the moment, Marvelous is looking for funding for the sequel, as well as "partners" to help make it. The first game was developed by Cing and Town Factory, along with some high-profile freelancers. While we don't want anyone involved with the first game excluded from this potential sequel, we can understand the appeal of having a single team make a game, if that's Kimura's intent.

Gallery: Little King's Story

Famitsu: IREM offering R-Type Command fans some Bitter Chocolate

by JC Fletcher { Jul 29th 2009 at 6:00PM }

According to IGN, the latest issue of Famitsu reveals plans for a sequel to IREM's PSP hexagonal strategy game, R-Type Command. The sequel, which has the bizarrely great title R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate, will include twice as many units as the original shmup spinoff, along with new commands and a branching storyline. Bitter Chocolate will also offer downloadable missions.

When the sequel launches on October 29, it will be released both on UMD (with a bonus soundtrack disc) and as a cheaper download, which is kind of a good idea, considering that the PSP Go will be out in Japan on November 1.

Gallery: R-Type Command

Phantom Brave: We Meet the new release date

by JC Fletcher { Jul 28th 2009 at 1:50PM }

NIS sent out a brief note with the latest release date for the Wii version of Phantom Brave. The updated port of the PS2 strategy title will be out August 11, according to the new announcement. Not August 4, and (clearly) not June. We're hoping this actually makes this latest date and doesn't continue to slip, Puchi Puchi Virus-style.

Phantom Brave: We Meet Again includes four new chapters and a new character not found in the PS2 game. NIS says that you'll be able to start right from the new material, for those of you who completed the original game. It'll come bundled with a disc featuring bonus artwork. In addition, the first 500 people to pre-order from NIS's Rosenqueen shop will receive a bonus soundtrack disc.

Gallery: Phantom Brave: We Meet Again

Command and Conquer 4 debut trailer features swirly balls

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 24th 2009 at 1:15PM }

The whole "Tiberium infestation" seems to have gotten a tad worse since we last left the Command and Conquer series. The recently released debut trailer for the fourth installment in the core franchise (posted after the break) features no gameplay, but includes a great deal of the chartreuse crystal that the world can't seem to live with (or without). It also features an appearance by bald-headed Nod leader Kane, a possible alliance between two old enemies, and a glowing, swirly ... ball ... thing.

Confused? We're right there with you. Check out the trailer after the break, but brace yourself -- we won't find out what the hell is going on until 2010.

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Atlus porting Yggdra Union spinoff to DS

by JC Fletcher { Jul 22nd 2009 at 1:45PM }

Most handheld strategy fans probably know about three "Dept. Heaven" games from Sting: Yggdra Union, Riviera, and the recent Knights in the Nightmare. However, there was another game in the series, called Yggdra Unison: Beat Out Our Obstacle, that was only released on phones in Japan. Now, Atlus has announced that it is releasing Yggdra Unison on the DS in Japan this December.

According to 1UP, the spinoff title is a real-time strategy game with a "mixture of Western-style unit deployment and Japan-style RPG tactics," in which eleven armies fight to claim territory. It features the same card system found in Yggdra Union. Since the thing was just announced just now there's no word on localization, but Atlus has released all the other the Yggdra games here so far.

Little King's Story sequel could have multiplayer

by JC Fletcher { Jul 22nd 2009 at 11:45AM }

Yoshio Kimura, producer on Little King's Story, originally planned to include multiplayer in the strategy title, according to an interview with 411mania. "This game used to have a 2-player mode," he explained, "but we couldn't make the QA and debug in time, so we had to take it out. And this is one of the things that I really wanted to have."

If setting competing armies of townspeople against one another, or collaborating to expand your shared kingdom, sounds great to you (like it does to us), you know how you can make your voice heard. "But if Little King's Story does well and a lot of people get to play it and if I have a chance to make a sequel, that's definitely something I want to implement."

Aside from gameplay-focused matters, Kimura had a lot to say in this interview. Check it out for discussion of the character designs and how, uh, a talking squirrel inspired him to create the game.

Gallery: Little King's Story

[Via GoNintendo]

Halo Wars getting four new maps, four new achievements

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 14th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Are your miniscule, impressionable Spartans developing powerful cases of wanderlust? Are they growing antsy and restless -- sure signs of boredom with their tired stomping (and shooting) grounds? You'll be able to whisk them off to new, yet-to-be-bloodstained areas soon enough -- on July 21, Microsoft is dropping four new maps and four new achievements for Halo Wars.

The "Historic Battles" map pack (which will cost 800

) includes two 1v1 maps, a 2v2 map, a 3v3 map and four new achievements which tack 100 extra gamerpoints to the strategy title. We've got descriptions of each map and 'cheevo listed after the break for all you cautious consumers.

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