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Nihilistic city builder 'Frostpunk' is free on Epic Games Store
11 Bit Studios' post-apocalyptic steampunk city builder Frostpunk is now available for free on the Epic Games Store until June 10th.
AbleGamers names the top AAA, indie games of 2014
The AbleGamers Foundation, an organization that advocates on behalf of the gaming disability community, has picked Bayonetta 2 as the most accessible mainstream game of 2014, while Always Sometimes Monsters and This War of Mine are the organization's first-ever winners in the new independent game category. Bayonetta 2 receives the AbleGamers' Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year award because it is a "near-perfect example of game accessibility" that allows players to choose from a multitude of control options, AbleGamers says in a press release. "Bayonetta 2 stands out among other accessible mainstream games by paying careful attention to user-friendly game experience," the release reads. "The inclusion of a one-button combat mode creates an experience other character-action titles should implement. As a proof of concept, this game demonstrates that accessibility can be implemented into a mainstream AAA game without harming any of the gameplay. Popular titles such as Shadow of Mordor could easily implement one-button mode for those who need such accessibility while leaving complicated controls for those who prefer those methods, and still award players with a top-notch game that is accessible to everyone." We also thought Bayonetta 2 was an outstanding game of 2014. AbleGamers says it could not choose between Vagabond Dog's Always Sometimes Monsters – a game that we also adored – and 11 Bit's This War of Mine when selecting the inaugural AbleGamers Accessible Mainstream Indie Game of the Year.
Development costs for This War of Mine covered in two days
This War of Mine presents a different vision of war than many gamers may be used to, trading QTEs and pew-pew 'splosions for somber reflection and grim analysis of war's collateral damage. And yet, despite its dreary, depressing atmosphere, developer 11 Bit Studios is likely smiling wide at the moment, as the game has sold enough copies within just 48 hours to cover development costs. 11 Bit revealed the good news in an infographic sent to Joystiq, along with a lot of other interesting information. For example, 11 Bit also revealed that while only 11 percent of players have beaten the game, 96 percent of the more than 2,700 user reviews recommend it. The gender gap is also minimal, as 56 percent of players were identified as male, while the remaining 46 percent were identified as female. To see the infographic in its entirety, read on after the break.
Anomaly 2 sports a September 16 release date for PS4
Anomaly 2 will arrive on PlayStation 4 in North America on September 16, 11 Bit Studios announced. The reverse-tower defense game will reach the next-gen system one day later in Europe. As of February, the game was expected to launch in the spring. As the sequel to 2011's Anomaly: Warzone Earth, the game takes real-time strategy elements into battle in its single-player campaign as well as a "tower offense versus tower defense" multiplayer mode. Anomaly 2 is available on a number of other platforms: iOS, Android via Google Play and PC, Mac and Linux via Steam, reaching the latter in May 2013. It will cost $14.99 (€13.99) on PS4. Head past the break for a video of the next-gen version in action. [Image: 11 Bit Studios]
Surviving hell in 11 Bit's This War of Mine
With its teaser trailer, This War of Mine presents a world ensnared in combat, but focuses its lens on the civilians caught in the middle of the brutal conflict. "In war, not everyone is a soldier," the ominous video notes, featuring huddled civilians within a building as uniformed soldiers battle outside. In part inspired by the mature message found in award-winning indie game Papers, Please and an article that recapped "One Year of Hell" within a besieged Bosnia, Senior Writer Pawel Miechowski says, This War of Mine is a bleak game about the repercussions of war and attempting to survive the chaos. In development at 11 Bit Studios, the team behind the Anomaly series, This War of Mine explicitly sets out of avoid the entertainment of firing a gun and scoring kills, Miechowski tells me. "This is a serious game. A mature game."
Anomaly series developer reveals wartime survival game This War of Mine
11 Bit Studios, creator of the multiplatform strategy game Anomaly: Warzone Earth, announced that its next project is This War of Mine, a survival game that explores the brutal reality of civilian life during wartime. This War of Mine challenges players to keep a group of civilians alive as armed soldiers lay siege to their city. Gameplay is split between day and night sequences; players scavenge the surrounding area for supplies at night, while shelter upgrades, item crafting, and other strategic options are available while survivors hide from patrolling snipers during the day. This War of Mine is due to launch this year for PC platforms and mobile devices. [Image: 11 Bit Studios]
Anomaly 2 confirmed for a spring release on PlayStation 4
Inverted-role "tower offense" strategy game Anomaly 2 will make its next-gen console debut this spring on the PlayStation 4, developer 11 Bit Studios announced this week. Gameplay in the Anomaly series reverses the gameplay mechanics common to tower defense games, challenging players to outwit enemy defenses while directing a squad of armed troops. Anomaly 2 will include a multiplayer mode that puts players in opposing roles, with one side employing traditional tower defense tactics against an invading army. Anomaly 2 is also available for Windows, Mac and Linux via Steam. [Image: 11 Bit Studios]
Anomaly 2 coming May 15
11 Bit Studios has announced that Anomaly 2 now has an official release date. The game will be available for the Mac (along with Windows and Linux) on May 15. Anomaly is, of course, a popular iOS game these days, though the series started on the PC and it's returning there for the sequel. Previously, the game was available through a "secret pre-order," but there's a new bonus for a regular pre-order right now: If you get the game before it comes out for US$14.99, you can get a second copy to give to a friend for free. The new version of the "tower offense" series has more levels, more units and more power-ups to play with, as you guide your troops in and around alien towers on a multitude of levels. The game also adds multiplayer into the mix, where one player can control units, and a second player can lay down towers, each trying to collect the most resources before the game ends. Anomaly 2 looks like a lot of fun, and there's even a new trailer to prove it. We'll look forward to the game's release on May 15.
11 Bit Studios' 'secret game' is... Anomaly 2
A few weeks ago, 11 Bit Studios (the creators of Anomaly: Warzone Earth and Anomaly: Korea) announced a "secret game" deal, that offered a special deal and bonuses towards an unannounced game for a small amount of money. Today that game has been revealed...and it's Anomaly 2. 11 Bit has returned to the Anomaly well and created a full-fledged sequel to the popular "tower offense" series that has you guide a convoy of vehicles around enemy towers, defending your crew and taking down the structures as you go. As you can see from the announcement trailer, Anomaly 2 ups the ante with vehicles that can turn into full war mechs, very active alien opponents and one really big addition: multiplayer. Plus, the game looks better than before, and units seem much bigger and more detailed. Sounds good to us (I bought the secret deal when it was available, and I'm glad I did). 11 Bit Studios hasn't yet announced what the "extra gaming gift" is yet, but presumably it's coming. Anomaly 2 will initially be available for PC, Mac and Linux in the second quarter of this year, but given how popular the series has been on iOS, you have to think it'll make its way to the App Store eventually, too.
Anomaly Korea creators tease secret game, which you can preorder now
The last time we spoke with the guys from 11 Bit Studios (right before Anomaly Warzone Korea landed), they had plenty of plans for a huge desktop game they were working on (to be available for PC, Mac and Linux). And now, it appears they've announced the title ... sort of. They haven't actually said what the game is, but they have released this secret game page, that features a very short teaser trailer hinting at what they're working on. "Hinting" is about right -- there's really nothing to see, except for some troops rolling up on a weird object that seems to be alien and dangerous in some way. That's it. But if that has somehow convinced you, then we have even more news: You can preorder this secret game, sight unseen, right now. That's right -- for just US$7.49 (half off from $14.99 at the moment), you can preorder a game you know practically nothing about, and you'll get access to the game's multiplayer beta, a full copy of the game when it arrives and even an "extra gaming gift" from 11 Bit Studios. So a secret gift in a preorder for a secret game? Apparently. The game itself will be announced in full on February 28, but the sale will be over then, and the price will go back up to $14.99. So basically, they're asking you to bet $7 on whether the game will be good or not. 11 Bit is the studio behind the great (award-winning) Anomaly Korea titles, and the excellent Funky Smugglers, so hey, tossing in the $7 for whatever else you get is probably not a bad deal at all. We'll keep an eye out for just what the secret announcement is on the 28th, and let you know then.
Daily iPhone App: Anomaly Korea polishes the award-winning Anomaly series even more
Anomaly Korea is, right out of the gate, one of the most impressive titles I've ever seen on iOS. Developer 11 bit Studios' Anomaly: Warzone Earth won an Apple Design Award for the way it looked and played, and as a rep from the studio told me recently, they decided to up the ante, adding even better graphics, with lots more flares, particles and other really great-looking visual elements. The core gameplay here is the same -- you're in charge of a convoy of vehicles heading through an alien tower-infested warzone, and you guide those vehicles down a path of your choice, supplying them with almost constant support power-ups as you do so. And because that gameplay didn't change very much, 11 bit was able to really polish and refine it, adding in a few new power-ups, and making the old ones even better. This isn't really a sequel to the first title, but it is all new content, and the real draw here is that 11 bit was able to make a game that was already great even better. The one issue I really have with this game is that it's not quite as direct as I'd usually like -- you are basically supporting your units, rather than actually playing as them. But 11 bit has even taken that note to task, and made the choices you make while moving around the map even more important than before. This is a great game -- odds are that you've already purchased quite a few this week, given all of the big sales and releases, but it's very hard not to still recommend this one at the launch price of just $2.99.
Daily iPhone App: Sleepwalker's Journey
Sleepwalker's Journey is a game that arrived a few months ago from 11 Bit Studios, the creators of the popular Anomaly: Warzone Earth (that's set for a sequel very soon). But while that game is a reverse tower defense title with military stylings and lots of gunfire and explosions, Sleepwalker's Journey is very different. It's a physics puzzle game, of sorts, with a cute, sleepy character and some gorgeous storybook picture graphics. The idea is that the sleepwalker is traveling along a 2D stage, and it's your job to lift up platforms and pull down switches as it goes, allowing him to grab stars and moons to be collected for points. The game is actually very similar to Anomaly, in that you don't have any direct control over the players, but instead you put various things in or out of their path to guide them. Sleepwalker's Journey is fun, but the aesthetic is the real draw here -- the graphics and the music are really top-notch. I think the upcoming Anomaly Korea will be very impressive as well, but if you want a taste of 11 Bit's work before that one arrives, Sleepwalker's Journey is available right now for US$0.99.
11 bit: Anomaly: Korea 'before Christmas,' PC game announcement in Jan.
Anomaly: Korea, the sequel to 11 bit studios' tower-offense darling Anomaly: Warzone Earth, was supposed to launch on mobile this past fall; however, the game is still on track to make this year. 11 bit hopes to have Anomaly: Korea on iOS and Android devices before Christmas. "We slipped – I think we're going to do it on Christmas. Ideally would be to release it before Christmas," senior writer Pawel Miechowski told Joystiq.11 bit studios is still a fairly small house, located in Warsaw, Poland. The studio is currently divided into four teams, each with their own ongoing projects. "Internally we have four teams – three are responsible for the development of mobile games and one is the PC team," Miechowski said. "The PC team is busy with some bigger project we're going to probably announce in January or so. And one of the mobile teams is responsible for this, Anomaly Korea." Sadly, Miechowski wouldn't tell us more on this new PC game in development, assuring again that we'd hear more come January.The original Anomaly: Warzone Earth was a success for 11 bit. The top-performing platforms were Steam, Mac App store, Google Play and iOS. As for Anomaly Korea, there currently aren't any plans to offer the game on other platforms beyond iOS and Android. For some direct-feed gameplay footage, head past the break.
Anomaly: Warzone Korea coming soon from 11 Bit Studios (and more on their future)
11 Bit Studios is a developer based in Warsaw, Poland that's probably most famous for releasing last year's great Anomaly: Warzone Earth, a sort of reverse tower defense game where you control and support a group of vehicles moving through streets filled with hostile alien towers. The game originally released on Steam for the PC, but 11 Bit has found its home on iOS and Mac instead -- the game has sold best on the iOS platform, and won an Apple Design Award for the Mac release. After Anomaly, 11 Bit followed up with a game called Funky Smugglers, which didn't do as well, but still showed a lot of polish and quality game design. And now, the studio is heading back to the well with a new title called Anomaly: Warzone Korea, a sort of expansion/sequel to the first game. 11 Bit's Senior Writer Paweł Miechowski recently met with me here in Los Angeles to show off the upcoming game, and talk about what 11 Bit is planning to do for the future. "We treated the first mobile version as a kind of a side project," said Miechowski. But the sales, especially on the iPad, quickly changed 11 Bit's minds. After the team sold about 5,000 copies, "it was, oh my god, this is a great platform." One of the biggest selling points with the first game was the graphics, so for Korea, 11 Bit has emphasized that part of the game, adding in as many special lighting and shadow effects as Apple's mobile device can handle. The game does look terrific, with high-resolution textures on the units reflecting lots and lots of different particle and shadow effects. The core gameplay is generally the same -- you line up a series of vehicles, and then guide them through a map, making tactical choices along the way about when to use certain powerups and where to turn at road intersections. But Miechowski said that while the first game's development time was mostly taken up by just creating the game and its mechanics, this game is more about content, so there are new vehicles, new powerups and lots of new features to find. One of the new powerups is a "boost" icon, that makes your vehicles' weapons stronger for a short period of time. That is aimed at making the action a little more dynamic and offensive, rather than just protecting your trucks for as long as you can. Fans of the first game said that the voiceovers were one part where the quality was lacking a little bit. So 11 Bit has targeted that as another place for improvement, hiring professional voice actors and translators to make sure everything is authentic and immersive. The art of the game is being scrutinized also. Originally, 11 Bit's designs tended to embrace a Japanese aesthetic rather than a Korean one, just because that's what the team was familiar with. But of course those are two very different cultures and countries, so the game was revamped a bit to be more authentic to the setting. Chillingo is still publishing for the company, having published both the first Anomaly title and this upcoming one. 11 Bit apparently appreciates having Chillingo on board, rather than going it alone, and while Chillingo these days has quite a few hits of its own (not to mention that it's owned by EA), it's probably nice to have another gem in the crown like this one. Anomaly: Warzone Korea is almost ready to go -- 11 Bit wants to have it out sometime this month, and while the price hasn't been decided yet, Miechowski said it will likely be comparable to the first game, which sold for US$3.99 on arrival. The game looks great -- we'll keep an eye out for it on the App Store very soon. As for what 11 Bit is up to next, Miechowski told us that there are four teams currently working at the company, including one targeted specifically towards mobile development. There's also a big PC title in the works, though Miechowski declined to say exactly what was being made. He did say the PC team is the biggest, however, so it'll be interesting to see what the plan is there as well. 11 Bit's doing some great work, and they are a company that seems completely sold on the iOS platform and its potential for great games. There should be a few more interesting titles coming out of the studio in 2013 for sure.
Mac Game of the Week: Funky Smugglers offers funky fun
Funky Smugglers continues the trend of bringing iOS games back to the Mac. The game is from Polish developers 11 bit Studios (who also made the Anomaly: Warzone Earth series). It's a somewhat silly, but still addictive, arcade game, where you have to use an airport scanner to try and grab offensive and dangerous items off of (mostly) reasonable air travelers. The really killer part of this one is the presentation. Not only does the app kick off with a hilarious bit of live action video, but the funky sounds and songs of the game are really terrific. And then, as you move into the actual game itself, the graphics look great and clear on the Mac's bigger screen, and 11 bit smoothly ramps the gameplay up as you play through flight by flight. There's not a lot of complexity here -- you essentially just need to move your mouse through as delicately as possible. But the game's mission-based progression (and that seriously awesome funk soundtrack) keep you moving forward through the stages. Funky Smugglers is a great title. I don't know that it's one I would have picked out of a lineup to bring over to the Mac from its iOS version, but I'm glad 11 bit did port it over, because that soundtrack just begs to be played out of something better than the iPhone and iPad's speakers. The game's available on the Mac App Store for just 99 cents right now, so definitely sneak it through security the next time you need something to play.
Anomaly: Warzone Earth available on PSN Tuesday, Sept. 11
Anomaly: Warzone Earth will be available on North America's PlayStation Network this Tuesday, September 11, developer 11 bit studios has told Joystiq. The game's European PlayStation Network launch on August 28 marked its fifth platform release, having originally launched for PC and OSX back in April of 2011.Since then, Anomaly: Warzone Earth has been ported to iOS, Android, XBLA and now finally PSN, which is basically the gaming equivalent of an EGOT. Except, you know, not. Anomaly Korea, a sequel to the mobile versions of the game, is currently under development and should be out around late October or early November.
Anomaly: Warzone Earth's launch trailer reminds us that Earth is a warzone, anomalous
The PSN version of Anomaly: Warzone Earth launched in Europe yesterday, sporting two exclusive local co-op campaigns and, uh, the ability to be played on a PlayStation, which was severely lacking from the Windows, XBLA, iOS and Android versions that have also come out over the last year or so.
Three new games, three different genres, 11 bit studios
Anomaly: Warzone Earth has seen success on XBLA, PC and mobile devices, with a PSN launch incoming, allowing 11 bit studios to explore other genres with rapid proficiency. The developer showed us three of its coming titles at Gamescom, each one emphasizing variety and high-quality design on mobile devices.Funky Smugglers has players pick illegal items off a line of fresh thugs as they pass through an airport X-ray machine, and is headed to iOS, Android and Mac in September. The touchscreen versions allow five-finger swipes, and the game is cross-platform, with multiplayer and an in-game currency focused on visual customization. 11 bit is still deciding on a price, but is considering a freemium model or selling Funky Smugglers for a small fee.Sleepwalker's Journey will be the following title for iOS, Android and Mac, planned for a launch in October. It's a puzzle platformer in a bright, dreamy art style, with players moving platforms to get a sleepwalker across the landscape. Sleepwalker's Journey channels Braid, allowing players to rewind time if they fail or want to try a particular move again, and with three worlds and 45 levels total, there appears to be plenty to do in dreamland. 11 bit hasn't yet decided on a price.Anomaly Korea is a sequel to the mobile version of Warzone Earth, hitting iOS and Android in late October or early November, 11 bit hopes. It features Captain Evans and Lieutenant Park running through 12 campaign levels, with a new Boost ability and a new enemy unit.Check out some screenshots and video of Anomaly Korea, Funky Smugglers and Sleepwalker's Journey below.
Anomaly: Warzone Earth takes out PSN on August 29 in Europe
Anomaly: Warzone Earth is set to launch digitally on the PS3 on August 29 in Europe, for €8.99, and some time in September for the US, 11 bit studios tells Joystiq at Gamescom. The PSN version will be available in seven languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Polish and Russian.PSN's Warzone Earth introduces local co-op and a new human unit to the franchise. The new unit is called the Chainer, and it charges enemies and blasts them in a chain attack, hitting up to eight at once.
11 Bit Studios announces Funky Smugglers, Sleepwalker's Journey, and an Anomaly sequel
Mobile gaming dev 11 Bit Studios (probably most notable for putting together Anomaly: Warzone Earth for iOS, Android, and the PC) has announced three new titles coming out in the next few months for mobile platforms. First up, Anomaly Korea is another take on the popular reverse tower defense title, featuring new units, new powers, and new levels to battle through.Funky Smugglers is a colorful, cartoony game that puts the player in the role of a '70s airport security agent, trying to keep crazy characters from sneaking certain items past the checkpoint. Sleepwalker's Journey is the last release, a sleepy, artistic puzzle platforming game that has you guiding a "Moonboy" through a fantasy world.11 Bit promises more information on all of these games at Gamescom next week, so we'll look for that then.
