Weblogs Inc : Tag rockstar http://www.weblogsinc.com Post tagged rockstar on the Weblogs Inc Network http://www.weblogsinc.com/media/feedlogo.gif Weblogs Inc : Tag rockstar http://www.weblogsinc.com en-us Copyright 2006 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Video: 15 days in GTA IV's Liberty Cityhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/video-15-days-in-gta-ivs-liberty-city/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/video-15-days-in-gta-ivs-liberty-city/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/video-15-days-in-gta-ivs-liberty-city/#comments
Time lapse videos were all the rage back in -- actually, we don't think they were ever rage caliber stuff, but in the case of this GTA IV video that shows 15 days go by Liberty City, it's at least reached "oh, that's neat!" territory. The video comes courtesy of DigitalFoundry (you can watch it over at Eurogamer) and reminds us just how much life there is in the virtual sand box, as cars drive along to their respective destinations, pedestrians shuffle about doing their own thing and, in the case of that one lady around the 32-second mark, loaf around the riverside all day and night. We just hope she's not doing what we think she's doing. It'd be such an unbecoming thing of the purest city in all of gaming, amirite?]]>rockstar The History of Rock & Roll Photographyhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/11/04/the-history-of-rock-and-roll-photography/http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/04/the-history-of-rock-and-roll-photography/http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/04/the-history-of-rock-and-roll-photography/#comments
Gail Buckland's new book Who Shot Rock & Roll is the first to truly explore the extraordinary work of the photographers who captured the "energy, intoxication, rebellion, and magic" of rock, with images of icons ranging from Elton John to Led Zeppelin, Bjork to Janis Joplin, and James Brown to John Lennon, that have become icons unto themselves. Featuring more than 250 photos, including many rare and never-before-seen images, Who Shot Rock & Roll is an unparalleled compendium of portraits, live concert shots, behind-the-scenes snaps, and studio work selected for their aesthetic quality and power. The extended captions tell stories from the photographers, including everyone from Bib Gruen to Richard Avedon and David LaChappelle, that reveal their role as both "creative collaborators and tireless journalists."

Covering 1955 to the present, "Who Shot Rock & Roll is a silent window into a world of sound," Buckland says. "There are photographs of crowds and fans reminiscent of the great historical paintings of battle scenes where bodies blend and bend and faces radiate with what can only be described as transcendence. Snapshots reveal the passion, ambition, and insecurity of aspiring young musicians. There are portraits of godheads, objects of mass adoration; the best could hang next to paintings of Renaissance princes, so similar are these royals with their finery, wealth, and power." An accompanying exhibit just opened at the Brooklyn Museum and will run through the end of January and before traveling across the country through 2011.]]>rockstar AO-rated PC version of Manhunt 2 releasing next weekhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/31/ao-rated-pc-version-of-manhunt-2-releasing-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/31/ao-rated-pc-version-of-manhunt-2-releasing-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/31/ao-rated-pc-version-of-manhunt-2-releasing-next-week/#comments If you thought Manhunt 2 had reached the pinnacle of mature content in video games, you better guess again. The controversy-garnering title will be re-released on Direct2Drive next week for $29.99 -- only this time around, it's packing an AO rating. As those who lived through Mahuntgate surely remember, that was planned to be the original rating for the game, before the ESRB rolled up, and was all like "what? You want to stick shards of glass into another man's ear? No. No, sir."

Rockstar has remained mum about what the new rating will entail, but our guess is that it will incorporate more graphic forms of violence, and perhaps a few extra dirty words. We've contacted Rockstar to get more specific details on the mature-r content, and to find out when we can expect the Early Childhood version of the game to hit store shelves.

[Via Big Download]]]>rockstar Grow a moustache for charity, end up in Red Dead Redemptionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/31/grow-a-moustache-for-charity-end-up-in-red-dead-redemption/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/31/grow-a-moustache-for-charity-end-up-in-red-dead-redemption/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/31/grow-a-moustache-for-charity-end-up-in-red-dead-redemption/#comments A classy gentleman never needs a reason to grow some over-lip facial hair -- however, Rockstar and the Movember Foundation are offering a pretty good incentive for you to grow a glorious moustache. While the latter is asking all applicable males to grow sweet handlebars to raise awareness and donations for men's health issues (primarily prostate cancer), Rockstar is offering the charity's mouthbrow-growing participants a rare prize: They can end as a character in Red Dead Redemption.

The charity event and contest kicks off tomorrow, so if you're interested in helping out, sign up on the Movember Foundation page, and on Rockstar's contest site. Oh, also, you're going to need to shave that sweet Fu Manchu you're already sporting, and start over from scratch. C'mon, you haven't seen your philtrum in like, three years. It misses you.]]>rockstar Rockstar revamps Social Club's online leaderboards and stat tracking for Gay Tonyhttp://xbox.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/rockstar-revamps-social-clubs-online-leaderboards-and-stat-trac/http://xbox.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/rockstar-revamps-social-clubs-online-leaderboards-and-stat-trac/http://xbox.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/rockstar-revamps-social-clubs-online-leaderboards-and-stat-trac/#comments
With the release of this week's second Grand Theft Auto IV expansion The Ballad of Gay Tony, the game's developer has decided to update the online multiplayer statistics tracking in order to reflect the new multiplayer game types. The addition of "BASE Jump" to the mulitplayer as well as "new, tighter Deathmatch arenas" helped spur the leaderboard overhaul, according to the developer blog. The various new additions being made due to the DLC will even get their own section on the Rockstar Social Club, presumably for the four of you tracking your new GTAIV DLC stats after Modern Warfare 2 releases in a couple weeks.]]>rockstar Metareview: The Ballad of Gay Tonyhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/metareview-the-ballad-of-gay-tony/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/metareview-the-ballad-of-gay-tony/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/metareview-the-ballad-of-gay-tony/#comments The second and final "Episode from Liberty City," The Ballad of Gay Tony, has arrived. As the tale of Liberty City comes to a close, does The Ballad of Gay Tony present an exciting final act or an anti-climactic letdown? We'll let the critics at large weigh in on this one:
  • Game Informer (93/100): "While I preferred the tight-knit story of brotherhood and betrayal in The Lost and Damned, The Ballad of Gay Tony delivers more explosive weapons, death-defying missions, and off-the-wall characters. Don't miss your chance to close out the GTA IV experience in style."
  • IGN (92/100): "The Ballad of Gay Tony is the perfect way to close out the GTA IV saga. Finally, we know what happened to the diamonds stolen in the main story a year-and-a-half ago. Though Luis Lopez doesn't have much of a story at all (this is the ballad of his boss, after all), the supporting cast is phenomenal. There are a lot of hilarious moments and ludicrous missions that will please GTA fans. Sure, a few of the missions fall flat compared to the wild nature of others, but all-in-all this is a fine package and worth 20 bucks. "
  • 1UP (A-): "This has been one hell of a ride. I'm going to miss seeing something new in Liberty City, as I've probably been to every available nook and cranny. I suppose I could still go hunting for those damn pigeons, but with so many other games coming out in the coming months, I don't know where I'll find the time... at least until Rockstar gives me a ticket to their next world of crime, violence, and vice."
  • Eurogamer (80/100): "Perhaps Tony Prince does nothing to drag the series forward -- somewhat fittingly for a man with his head stuck in the eighties -- but the episode Rockstar has named in his honour is a colourful and pleasingly unpredictable adventure that gets better throughout and ends on a high."
%Gallery-68537%]]>rockstar GTA's 'Next Stop' teased in Liberty City Episodes manualhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/gtas-next-stop-teased-in-liberty-city-episodes-manual/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/gtas-next-stop-teased-in-liberty-city-episodes-manual/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/gtas-next-stop-teased-in-liberty-city-episodes-manual/#comments We'd thought the Grand Theft Auto franchise had taken us to lovingly rendered simulacra of every metropolitan city-type known to man, but apparently, we thought wrong. In the back of the GTA IV: Episodes from Liberty City manual, a fake advertisement points to the series' "Next Stop" (seen above). Of course, the destination being teased is quite obviously the lovely town of Clip Artington, Minnesota. Surely you've heard of Clip Artington! It's renowned for its apple butter festivals.

On the off chance the teaser is pointing to a different city, we've ... we've really got no idea. Looks like a desert, though, right? And a mountain? And some conical, obsidian monoliths? What? Trees? Oh, yeah, that makes a lot more sense. We'd love to hear your speculation in a well-written, thought-provoking comment! There's a place for those right after the jump, you know.

[Image credit: VGChartz]]]>rockstar Latest Ballad of Gay Tony trailer showcases Luis Lopez's many exploitshttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/latest-ballad-of-gay-tony-trailer-showcases-luis-lopezs-many-ex/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/latest-ballad-of-gay-tony-trailer-showcases-luis-lopezs-many-ex/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/latest-ballad-of-gay-tony-trailer-showcases-luis-lopezs-many-ex/#commentsRather than offer interesting social commentary or moody atmospheric tone, the just-released Ballad of Gay Tony teaser instead teaches us that Luis Lopez is not a joking around kinda guy. He takes shots, tosses dudes off buildings – he even goes to the driving range!

In case it weren't already glaringly obvious to you, the second Grand Theft Auto IV expansion will be taking itself quite a bit less seriously than the first digital release. Thankfully, the wait is nearly over and we can find out for ourselves tomorrow just how much Rockstar Games has twisted its latest opus.
%Gallery-68537%]]>rockstar New Gay Tony in-game anime is all too familiarhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/new-gay-tony-in-game-anime-is-all-too-familiar/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/new-gay-tony-in-game-anime-is-all-too-familiar/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/new-gay-tony-in-game-anime-is-all-too-familiar/#comments Grand Theft Auto has always been heavy on satire, making exaggerated observations about the world for the sake of a few cheap yuks. It's readily apparent on the in-game radio programs, which poke fun at both extremes of political talk radio. The in-game TV programming does much the same (if you haven't, we suggest you make time to watch "Republican Space Rangers"). It looks like The Ballad of Gay Tony will continue the tradition with "Princess Robot Bubblegum," an anime parody to be featured on the in-game CNT channel. The show will serve as part of the new TV lineup in the upcoming expansion.

In Rockstar's own words, "Princess Robot Bubblegum" features the hallmarks of more than a few animes: "Incomprehensible narrative, wretched dialogue and creepy, misogynistic sexuality." See it all in the trailer above.]]>rockstar LA Noire characters revealed by mocap casting callhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/la-noire-characters-revealed-by-mocap-casting-call/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/la-noire-characters-revealed-by-mocap-casting-call/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/la-noire-characters-revealed-by-mocap-casting-call/#comments
Rockstar's LA Noire has been shrouded in so much mystery that its very existence has been called into question. A recent casting call for actors not only confirms the game's continued development, but also reveals the many (if not all) characters to be featured in the game. The call asks for "STRONG ACTORS, able to handle LOTS OF dialog" for a cast of supporting characters, comprised mostly of detectives, police officers and the occasional crook.

The casting call is looking for a face similar to actors Gary Cooper or Gregory Peck (pictured above) for the protagonist -- Cole Phelps. Co-stars and supporting roles, such as jazz singer Elsa Lichtmann, will only be required to perform for 10 days or less. However, the actor chosen to play Cole Phelps will work for three months, from November to January, to record his performance for the game.

It's evident from the large roster of characters and the use of Hollywood actors that LA Noire is intended to be quite the cinematic game. However, with only three months of mocap, it still pales in comparison to the upcoming Heavy Rain -- which demanded nine months of motion capture work.

[Via Superannuation; Image Source]
]]>rockstar Jon Bon Jovi: Good Genes or Good Docs?!http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/25/jon-bon-jovi-good-genes-or-good-docs-wknd/http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/25/jon-bon-jovi-good-genes-or-good-docs-wknd/http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/25/jon-bon-jovi-good-genes-or-good-docs-wknd/#commentsJon Bon Jovi may give love a bad name, but his face doesn't.

Jon Bon Jovi
Here's the 22-year-old Jersey boy back in 1984 (left) -- and 25 years later, the 47-year-old version at an event in NYC on Thursday (right).

His love is like good medicine.

See Also

]]>rockstar Rockstar Social Club adds new features for Chinatown Wars PSPhttp://playstation.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/rockstar-social-club-adds-new-features-for-chinatown-wars-psp/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/rockstar-social-club-adds-new-features-for-chinatown-wars-psp/http://playstation.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/rockstar-social-club-adds-new-features-for-chinatown-wars-psp/#comments
Even if you're playing Grand Theft Auto on a portable system, the Rockstar Social Club is waiting to welcome you with open arms ... and flying ducks. The online hub has just added new features to mark the launch of GTA: Chinatown Wars on PSP.

Aside from some new downloadable papercrafts (joy!) the site has added a minigame called Peking Duck Hunt which you can play to earn in-game cash. Just between you and us though, you'll probably have more fun just skipping straight to the real game.
]]>rockstar Rockstar supporting PSP digital distribution, announces PSN storefronthttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/rockstar-supporting-psp-digital-distribution-announces-storefro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/rockstar-supporting-psp-digital-distribution-announces-storefro/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/rockstar-supporting-psp-digital-distribution-announces-storefro/#comments
Rockstar is throwing some support behind PSP's digital distribution initiative and has added several titles in with today's PSN update, with more soon to follow. The initial offering included Manhunt 2 ($29.99), Midnight Club L.A. Remix ($19.99) and Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition ($19.99).

1UP reports that soon the entire Grand Theft Auto PSP line-up (including Chinatown Wars at launch) will make its way to the PSN, along with The Warriors and Beaterator. The publisher also plans to launch a Rockstar storefront on October 22, just to show it's as serious about supporting PSP digital distribution as a guy sticking a gun in your face and stealing your car.]]>rockstar Dancing, drinking and drugs: The nightclubs of GTA Gay Tony revealedhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/dancing-drinking-and-drugs-the-nightclubs-of-gta-gay-tony-rev/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/dancing-drinking-and-drugs-the-nightclubs-of-gta-gay-tony-rev/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/dancing-drinking-and-drugs-the-nightclubs-of-gta-gay-tony-rev/#comments The Ballad of Gay Tony's Luis Lopez seems to have a pretty easy life. The main playable character of the Xbox-only GTA IV episode must simply deal with Liberty City's wealthiest clientele, ensuring their experience at Tony Prince's two nightclubs goes without a hitch. According to Rockstar PR, jobs will involve kicking out drug dealers, dealing with the paparazzi, and getting the appropriate pick-me-ups for the stars.

Maisonette 9 and Hercules are two new locations added to the Gay Tony episode. In addition to work, you'll be able to partake in a variety of sidequests and minigames: a "familiar-feeling dance minigame," and a new game that takes place in the club bathroom with a girl. We're not entirely sure what that will entail ... but thinking about the franchise's legacy, we think you can figure it out.]]>rockstar Rockstar drops details of new multiplayer in GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tonyhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/14/rockstar-drops-details-of-new-multiplayer-in-gta-the-ballad-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/14/rockstar-drops-details-of-new-multiplayer-in-gta-the-ballad-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/14/rockstar-drops-details-of-new-multiplayer-in-gta-the-ballad-of/#comments
Click for grander imagesYou know that iconic moment in the Ballad of Gay Tony trailer when Luis jumps out of some kind of aerial vehicle? Did you ever wonder what it would look like if, instead of one guy parachuting down into Liberty City, it was eight people? Probably not. Anyway, here's a screenshot of that from Rockstar's latest release, detailing The Ballad of Gay Tony's multiplayer modes.

Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch will see lots of new weapons, of course, but also new Kill Streaks and Assisted Kills, which provide cash bonuses. Free Mode gets a little freer with the addition of Buzzard helicopters, APCs, and, of course, parachutes. We can't wait to see what kind of ridiculous emergent competition comes from parachute-based combat.

Check our gallery for more new multiplayer screens!
%Gallery-75593%]]>rockstar PSA: GTA IV is now available on demand, $30 in UShttp://xbox.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/psa-gta-iv-is-now-on-demand-30-in-north-america/http://xbox.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/psa-gta-iv-is-now-on-demand-30-in-north-america/http://xbox.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/psa-gta-iv-is-now-on-demand-30-in-north-america/#comments
Crime epic Grand Theft Auto IV has arrived (as promised) on the Xbox Marketplace's Games on Demand lineup. The grand theft mega-hit costs $30 to download, which is the same price as a fresh new retail version -- a tiny bit more in some cases. We should probably note that a used copy from GameStop is about $25. By all means, if you have no way of getting to a retailer please feel free to buy the game online.

Oh, wait, that was a missed opportunity for a "steal a car" joke, wasn't it?]]>rockstar Autoblog goes drifting with Tanner Foust in NASCAR-powered Scion tC!http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/autoblog-goes-drifting-with-tanner-foust/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/autoblog-goes-drifting-with-tanner-foust/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/autoblog-goes-drifting-with-tanner-foust/#comments
Autoblog goes drifting with Tanner Foust – Click above for high-res image gallery

"It feels like I'm down on power!" yells Tanner Foust in the general direction of the gathered throngs containing both his crew and assorted media. Tanner and myself are currently five-point bolted into his new stock car-engined Formula D Scion tC. We've just exited an aborted lap around the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale because something – so says Foust – is amiss with the car.

Rockstar Energy Drink Drift captain Stephan Papadakis comes charging towards the Scion and begins earnestly, if not frantically, checking the car's vitals through the steering wheel's digital readout. Steph floors the motor a few times, checks the numbers and exasperatedly tells Foust that everything looks fine. "Oh," says Tanner, patting me on my beer belly. "Must be him." Very funny, jerk.


%Gallery-75143%
Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.]]>rockstar GTA IV, Dead Space coming to Xbox 360 Games on Demand this monthhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/gta-iv-dead-space-coming-to-xbox-360-games-on-demand-this-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/gta-iv-dead-space-coming-to-xbox-360-games-on-demand-this-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/gta-iv-dead-space-coming-to-xbox-360-games-on-demand-this-month/#comments
The Xbox 360's Games on Demand service is getting quite the booster shot this month, as Microsoft has announced six new titles coming to the service in October. The festivities kicked off earlier this week with the release of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 and Call of Duty 3. Here's what the rest of this month has in store:

October 13
October 20
 October 27
 There's no word on price for any of these titles right now, so we've checked with Microsoft and will be sure to update you when we hear back.]]>rockstar These new Red Dead Redemption screens aren't horsing aroundhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/these-new-red-dead-redemption-screens-arent-horsing-around/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/these-new-red-dead-redemption-screens-arent-horsing-around/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/these-new-red-dead-redemption-screens-arent-horsing-around/#comments
click to redeem for a larger screenshot
From the first trailer, we've been hankering to see more from Rockstar's open-world treatment of the Wild West, Red Dead Redemption. That said, there was considerable hootin' and hollerin' around the 'Stiq when the dev dished out these latest screens today.

As good as RDR looks, its gameplay sounds equally impressive given the demo we got during PAX 2009. The ability to kill everything in the game (well, with the exception of things that aren't alive in the first place -- you win this time, rock!) is perhaps overshadowed only by the fact that you'll be able to tan your own leather and sell it, fulfilling a life-long dream for at least .01% of those who'll play it.

Yip-yip yee-haw your way through the new shots in the gallery below, pardners.
%Gallery-75132%
]]>rockstar Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars looking grand in new PSP trailerhttp://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/grand-theft-auto-chinatown-wars-looking-grand-on-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/grand-theft-auto-chinatown-wars-looking-grand-on-psp/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/grand-theft-auto-chinatown-wars-looking-grand-on-psp/#commentsIt's a big week for Grand Theft Auto trailers! First we got a new Episodes from Liberty City clip, and today, Rockstar sent out a trailer for the PSP version of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, which comes out on October 20. We didn't realize it was so soon!

Of course, if you have a DS, it comes out a lot sooner -- seven months ago, in fact -- but no matter how many times this wonderful game is released, it'll be exciting every time. The graphical update on the PSP version looks nice, even if the trailer makes it hard to actually see the game.

If these moving images aren't enough, check Kotaku for some new screens. And yes, two trailers counts as a big week.]]>rockstar