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Bit.Trip dev Gaijin Games rebrands, announces new projects
Bit.Trip series creator Gaijin Games has rebranded its studio, changing its name to Choice Provisions and revealing a slate of new games in the works for PC, iOS, and portable consoles. Choice Provisions' first announced title is Laserlife, a music-themed action game that promises to deliver "a metaphysical journey of euphoric sights and euphonic sounds" to PC platforms via Steam. The team is also working on Tharsis, a dice-based strategy game that simulates life aboard a research vessel in space. Choice Provisions additionally renamed subsidiary developer Robotube, announcing that the newly-christened MiniVisions will launch Woah Dave! and Destructamundo this summer. Destructamundo will debut for iOS and Ouya, while Woah Dave! will hit the Nintendo 3DS, PS Vita, iOS, Steam, Ouya, and Amazon's Fire TV. All previously developed games will continue to carry the Gaijin Games moniker, including the recently released Steam version of Bit.Trip Flux and any future series sequels. [Image: Choice Provisions]
Runner 2 celebrates a million sales with its own limited-time sale
Rhythmic auto-platformer Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien is a million-seller for Gaijin Games, and the Californian studio is celebrating the fact with a limited-time price cut. The game is $5 on all platforms - it launched at $15 - while iOS adaptation Bit.Trip Run is down from $4 to just 99 cents. Runner 2 continues the Bit.Trip Runner mix of excellent music and challenging 2D levels to jump and slide your way through, but it swaps out the first game's retro soundtrack and look for more modern stylings. It also features the narration of Mario voice actor Charles Martinet, and that probably alone makes it worth the $5. [Image: Gaijin Games]
Destructamundo is a game about interplanetary destruction from Robotube Games
Destructamundo is a new puzzle game from Robotube Games, a smaller label acquired by Gaijin Games that operates out of the studio's Santa Cruz offices. In Destructamundo, players must aid a race of scavenging aliens whose only means of survival is to travel to various star systems and detonate planets in order to harvest the resources left behind. Each level is comprised of planets with orbiting satellites moving in a clockwise direction. Destroying planets is achieved by clearing its satellites, initiated by triggering an explosion that in turn chains together and causes more explosions throughout the level. The goal is to clear a level by setting off the least number of explosions. Simple. Jason Cirillo, an artist with Gaijin Games, was on-hand to demo the game at Double Fine's Day of the Devs gathering in San Francisco today. Cirillo said the goal was to launch Destructamundo for "about $1 or $2," hopefully "in January" or some time "early next year." The version I sampled was running on Ouya, one of the supported platforms, but Cirillo also added that iOS was part of the plan. Cirillo, unfortunately, wouldn't go into specifics regarding any other potential platform.
Bit.Trip Run sprints to iOS
Gaijin Games' rhythmic platformer, Bit.Trip Run, is now available on iOS. The game costs $3.99 and includes three worlds with 30 normal levels, 15 retro levels and 12 challenge levels playable with eight different characters that can be customized with 40 unlockable costumes. Bit.Trip Run is the mobile version of Bit.Trip Runner Presents Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, the sequel to Bit.Trip Runner, except with a conveniently succinct title. The developer has a free update planned for the game, which will add two more worlds with 20 levels, eight challenges, 10 retro levels and two additional boss battles.
Bit.Trip Run devs consult demonic bird for advice
Commander Video has completed the race to mobile devices, with Bit.Trip Run due out on iOS on October 31 – that's right, just in time for your rainbow ninja costume to finally be relevant. Bit.Trip Run launched a little early (Commander Video is really fast, you guys) in New Zealand, and a few people were able to pull the game info before it was taken down: The game features three worlds, 30 normal levels, 12 Challenge levels, 15 Retro levels and three boss battles. There are eight playable characters with 40 unlockable costumes, and a free update "coming soon" almost doubles the number of levels, worlds and goodies. Bit.Trip Run is the mobile version of Bit.Trip Presents Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien – obviously, this title could be unnecessarily confusing for players browsing the App Store, so developer Gaijin Games kept it short and sweet. The controls are simple, too, featuring swipes and taps, Gaijin tells Polygon. "In the end, implementing and testing out several different control schemes is what led us to our current swipe-based controls," Associate Producer Dant Rambo said. "It also doesn't hurt that we have friends in mobile development to provide pointers and suggestions. I mean, we also made a deal with a demonic bird who said it would help us create the perfect control scheme if we gave it our souls, but I doubt that played a major role."
Runner 2 slides onto PlayStation Plus tomorrow
The next free PlayStation Plus game has been lined up for tomorrow: Gaijin Games' Runner 2. The punishing ever-runner will be a free download for PS Plus subscribers after the PlayStation Store update drops. PlayStation Plus also gets a special bundle including Tomb Raider and select DLC, plus a copy of Quantum Conundrum, for $20.24 tomorrow. Sony announced August's free lineup last week with Hitman: Absolution. In the remaining weeks of August, PlayStation Plus will add Star Wars Pinball, Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower and Machinarium to the Instant Game Collection.
Friendly Steam bundle has Runner 2, Portal 2, Psychonauts, more
In an inspired move, today Gaijin Games announced a Steam bundle based on the Runner 2 Good Friends DLC. The limited time collection includes Runner 2 and the DLC, along with five games whose characters starred in it, namely Portal 2, Psychonauts, Super Meat Boy, Machinarium, and Cave Story+. The asking price is just $25, and according to Gaijin you have until "after this weekend" to gobble it up. Source aside, when it comes to bundles a lovely name, great games, and an attractive price tag is really all that's needed, and this bundle compiles the kinds of games Good Friends would recommend one another. And we're your Good Friends, right? Right? Hello? Hello?!? Hel-awww...
Indie developers cautiously optimistic about self-publishing on Xbox One
Microsoft's reversal of its publishing philosophy for the Xbox One has obvious and wide-reaching implications for the indie development community. While the original plan mandated that developers release games through a third-party publisher or broker a deal with Microsoft itself, indies will now be able to self-publish. Furthermore, retail Xbox One SKUs will function as development units, which historically are more expensive and more difficult to acquire than off-the-shelf models. "Ideally, this news could have been broadcast more proudly and loudly months ago, giving indies more time to prepare strategies for upcoming games," Minicore Studios founder and CEO John Warren told us, "but I suppose they don't owe anyone that courtesy. We know now, so now we can prepare for life with a Microsoft console, which is something I wouldn't have said yesterday." Warren and his team at Minicore are in the process of Kickstarting PC, Mac and Xbox 360 versions of their latest project, Laika Believes: The Sun at Night. "I think releasing on Xbox One without a publisher is a big step forward, of course, but the fact that (eventually) I'll be able to use my retail console as our dev kit is huge," he added. "My secondary (maybe flailing and futile) hope is that the fees for publishing won't be insane. It's one thing to only have to shell out $600 for a dev kit, but quite another if we have to spend another $10k on publishing fees. My hope is they'll be content with 30 percent of revenue and be done with it." Cautious optimism was a consistent theme among most of the indie developers we reached out to, though some had greater reservations over Microsoft's inner machinations than others.
Bit.Trip Fate runs into Steam just in time for Summer Sale
Bit.Trip Fate now available on Steam, arriving just in time to take part in the Steam Summer Getaway Sale. It's 50 percent off, or just $5, through July 22. Bit.Trip Fate launched for Wii in 2010 as the fifth of six games starring everyone's favorite rainbow-running pixel-fest, CommanderVideo. Like the other games in the Bit.Trip series, Fate is hard – deliciously so. Give it a go on PC or Mac for $5 now, or grab it with the ominous, chiptuney soundtrack for a discounted price of $8.
Portal 2, Spelunky characters join Runner 2's DLC cast
Gaijin Games has revealed its final trio of guest stars bundled in Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien's upcoming "Good Friends" DLC pack, including characters from Mossmouth's Spelunky and Valve's Portal 2. The newest additions to Runner 2's playable roster include Portal 2's co-op robot Atlas, the fragile red-nosed explorer "Spelunky Guy," and Invisible CommanderVideo, an alternate skin for Runner 2's starring character. Gaijin Games previously revealed that Psychonauts' Raz, Cave Story's Quote, Super Meat Boy's Dr. Fetus, and Machinarium's Josef will join Runner 2's cast when the Good Friends DLC launches tomorrow for Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network, the Wii U eShop and PC platforms.
Runner 2 makes more Good Friends in Dr. Fetus, Josef
Dr. Fetus, the nefarious antagonist of Super Meat Boy, and Machinarium's robot hero, Josef, have both been confirmed for Runner 2's upcoming DLC character pack, Good Friends. Special introductory trailers voiced by Charles Martinet have been issued for both characters. The Good Friends DLC pack is an add-on that increases Runner 2's cast of playable characters by seven, due this Thursday on Steam. An announcement yesterday revealed Raz from Psychonauts and Quote from Cave Story as a pair of Good Friends.
Runner 2 DLC hangs out with Good Friends July 11
On Thursday, the Steam version of Gaijin Games' difficult-yet-delightful Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien will add seven new characters into the mix with the Good Friends character DLC pack. Console releases of the DLC "will follow," developer Gaijin Games says. Each character will be revealed through a special video narrated by none other than Charles Martinet – the first two are Raz from Double Fine's Psychonauts (above) and Quote, the protagonist of Cave Story, whose trailer can be seen past the break. Gaijin Games promises to reveal two more characters tomorrow and the final three on Wednesday.
CommanderVideo sprints to browsers in new endless runner
Gaijin Games has brought its Runner series to the browser in CommanderVideo, a free-to-play endless runner you can dive into right now. The mechanics are similar to previous Runner games, with players jumping, kicking, sliding, blocking and otherwise avoiding obstacles as they try to run as far as possible. Gaijin's previous game, Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, will make its debut on PS Vita this summer, sometime between mid-July and mid-August. Aside from being technically difficult, Runner 2 also has the distinct honor of being narrated by the voice of Mario himself, Charles Martinet.
Runner 2 Vita release window narrowed to 'between mid-July and mid-August'
The PlayStation Vita version of Gaijin Games' Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien will block, spring, slide and/or jump its way onto PlayStation Network sometime between mid-July and mid-August, Gaijin Games designer Danny Johnson told us during this week's E3 in Los Angeles. "At least that's the plan," Johnson said. "The version we have here [at E3] has been in development for a couple weeks – less than a month I think – so it's something that's fairly recent. We don't have the kinks quite worked out yet, but we wanted to show people that it's a thing." We spent time with the demo on-hand, and found that it was identical to the console/PC versions, save for some framerate issues on certain levels. Johnson added that the framerate problem is one of the kinks Gaijin has yet to work out, but that the release build will be on par with the existing versions on terms of performance.
Bit.Trip games 25-to-75% off on Steam until May 20
Nearly everything in Gaijin Games' esteemed Bit.Trip series has been marked down on Steam, from now until Monday, May 20. For instance: Bit.Trip Collection, which includes Bit.Trip Beat, Bit.Trip Runner, Bit.Trip Core and Bit.Trip Void, has had its price cut by 75% and is now just $11.98. Likewise, all of those games can be purchased individually at a discounted price of $2.49. Even last year's gorgeous Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien has had its price dropped to less than $12 – we recommend gettin' while the gettin's good, as our very southern mom would say.
Runner 2 jogs onto EU Wii U tomorrow, PSN still TBA
European Wii U owners only have to wait one more day for Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien. However, it's still unclear when the Bit.Trip Runner follow-up will cross the PSN finish line in the region.Gaijin Games' rhythmic auto-run platformer is already out on XBLA, Steam, PSN, and the Wii U eShop in North America, but only the former two saw concurrent arrivals in Europe. Today, Gaijin revealed the April 11 release date for Runner 2 on the EU Wii U eShop, but admitted the lack of any word on a PSN arrival is out of the studio's hands.
Gaijin Games working on Runner 2 Wii U patch
Gaijin Games is working on a fix for the unfortunate Wii U Runner2 bug that causes the system to freeze when exiting or powering off. "We had never experienced this issue on our devkits, during development, so it seems that this is an issue that only occurs on retail Wii Us," notes Gaijin co-founder Alex Neuse. "This makes it super gnarly to debug. It might not even be our bug. But we have tried to fix it."Aside from making it stop doing that awful thing, the upcoming patch will make a few other tweaks, like saving your highest score on the leaderboard instead of your most recent, and putting some feedback in the mysteriously long-lasting login screen.Despite this problem, we recommend playing Runner2.
Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien review: Running down a dream
If you asked me in person for my opinion of Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, I'd probably just respond with a string of rambling praise, eager to explain the game to you and enthusiastically answer any questions you might have. In fact, every attempt to write this review so far has resulted in just such an imaginary conversation in my head.So, I'm just going to go with it. Without further ado, here's my attempt to explain the radness of Runner 2 to a fictional, random gamer.%Gallery-173614%
Runner2 out tomorrow on Wii U and Steam, Wednesday on Xbox Live
Gaijin Games' Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien sequel was submitted to its various platforms earlier this month, but we now have official dates and prices for the title, courtesy of Gaijin's co-founder Alex Neuse himself. CommanderVideo will start his run on the Wii U and Steam (for PC, Mac, and Linux) tomorrow, February 26, and then be available on Xbox Live on Wednesday of this week, February 27.The PSN, iOS, and Vita releases are coming later: Neuse says "hopefully March 5" for the PSN release, "but Early March for sure!" iOS and Vita versions are due out sometime this summer. The game will be $14.99 no matter what platform you buy it on, and Neuse notes that there's still a few hours for a Steam preorder if you want the various bonuses and discounts. If you've been waiting a long time to hear the voice of Charles Martinet narrate the long-awaited BIT.TRIP sequel, your wait is almost over.Update: March 5 on PSN is confirmed, according to Gaijin's other co-founder, Mike Roush.
Pre-order Runner 2 for $20, get every Bit.Trip soundtrack
With Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien set to launch on February 26, Game Music Bundle has put together a nice little package for Bit.Trip fans. For $20, you get a pre-order of the Steam version of Runner 2, the Runner 2 soundtrack and soundtracks for all six previous Bit.Trip games, including Beat, Core, Void, Runner, Fate and Flux.If you're not feeling quite so generous, you can also pick up the Runner 2 soundtrack and the previous soundtracks for $10, or just the original soundtracks for any donation below $10. Keep in mind though, the top contributor gets a pretty dope Commander Video maquette.
