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Lionhead, Stormfront early concepts revealed in art
It's always curious to see the different stages of life game concepts go through before making it into our grubby hands. It's reason enough why we can't stop flipping through the website for conceptual design studio Leading Light. Among the treasures found on the site are some fantastic pieces dedicated to BioShock, as well as a some early artwork from a pair of Lionhead concepts labeled "Survivors" and "Justice." Artwork for the former looks to be for an action game set against the backdrop of a catastrophic disaster, while the latter concept has a more futuristic, almost Blade Runner vibe. With Lionhead's Peter Molyneux set to talk on concepts his studio is tossing around next month during GDC, it'll be interesting to see if either of these projects is brought up during the panel. However, VG247 reports that according to a Lionhead rep, the pictures represent old material and neither project is in production at the studio. Leading Light's site also includes concept art from a project labeled "Titan," including some jaw-dropping set pieces pitting giant bugs against an even bigger robot. The fantastic-looking idea was apparently drummed up by Sony's Stormfront studio before it was shuttered in April 2008. Sure, it's possible that any of these projects might someday see the light of day, but you'll have to forgive us if we don't hold our breath. [Thanks, Adem]
Spiderwick Chronicles for $7 on Amazon
The Spiderwick Chronicles may not be the best game ever, but $7 is a decent price for this fantasy game. Sure it has its faults, but such things are usually reconciled by cheapness. Since Spiderwick is an Amazon "Deal of the Day" (along with the PS2, 360, and Wii versions, which cost a little more), it's a "take it or leave it" type thing. We imagine that most of you will choose to leave it, but those who take it will probably be able to find $7 worth of entertainment in this license-based adventure RPG.
Stormfront Studios shutting down
Stormfront Studios -- developer of acclaimed titles such as the original Nevewinter Nights, and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers -- is reported to be closing down shortly. According to Next-Gen, the closure was announced internally yesterday, and is due to poor business performance.Stormfront Studios has been in operation since 1988 -- founded under the name Beyond Studios. In 1989 the company created Quantum Space, the first play-by-email computer game, offered through a then-nascent America Online service. Later, the company created Neverwinter Nights, the first graphics-driven massively multiplayer online game, which was honored at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show. More recently Stormfront has worked with numerous intellectual properties such as The Spiderwick Chronicles and Eragon.Stormfront consists of 33 full-time employees, all of whom were informed of the closure on Monday. A representative speaking to Next-Gen cited the current economy, as well as slowed revenue on a current project, as reasons for the closure. Another one bites the dust.Read - Breaking Report: Stormfront to Shutter Studio [Gamasutra]Read - Stormfront Studios Closing [Next-Gen]
DS Fanboy Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Remember when you used to believe in the possibility of faeries, goblins, and other sorts of mythical creatures? If you do, games like The Spiderwick Chronicles probably appeal to you in some way, whether you like to admit it or not. Still, none of that means anything if these games based on fantasia aren't any good. Fortunately, that's why we're here – to review them.The Spiderwick Chronicles game is based on a movie, which is based on a book. While normally that spells a recipe for disaster, it becomes evident while playing this title that it's not just a quick cash-in attempt. Stormfront Studios clearly put a lot of time into the game's development, and tried to utilize the features of the DS to the fullest. That's not to say that Stormfront always succeeded, however.%Gallery-15994%
CES 2008: NATAS honors Stormfront for original Neverwinter Nights
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, or NATAS for those short of breath, has given us reason to pause and wax nostalgic over our gaming past by honoring the first graphical MMO, Stormfront Studios' original Neverwinter Nights, which ran over America Online from 1991 through 1997. The game is positively archaic by today's standards, but nonetheless laid the groundwork for much of what we know as MMORPGS today, and of course went on to inspire BioWare's own Neverwinter Nights franchise as well. Bugbears, they would be proud.The nod was made during the 59th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards ceremony at the CES in Las Vegas, an event which also tipped its hat to Everquest's Sony Online Entertainment and World of Warcraft's Blizzard for helping to spearhead the MMO genre. Don Daglow, who led Neverwinter Nights' design, accepted the award, and commented that "these games are not just entertainment...they build new kinds of communities and create deep people-to-people relationships." Or, you know, furry-to-people, for those who swing that way.
