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Xbox 360 RTS AirMech Arena enters closed beta July 23
Carbon Games is now accepting signups for an AirMech Arena closed beta launching on July 23 for the Xbox 360. Announced earlier this year, AirMech Arena is an upgraded and expanded take on Carbon's browser-based RTS AirMech, offering a redesigned control scheme to suit the platform shift. Players control gigantic transforming robots in a series of strategic battles across free-to-play single-player and team-based multiplayer modes. Carbon notes that the beta version of AirMech Arena will include all features and unlockables from the full game, including its multiplayer modes. An Xbox Live Gold account is required for beta multiplayer sessions. [Image: Carbon Games]
Free-to-play RTS AirMech Arena coming to Xbox 360 this summer
Carbon Games' browser-based real-time strategy game AirMech will see an expanded release on the Xbox 360 this summer, publisher Ubisoft announced today. The upcoming game is titled AirMech Arena, confirming earlier reports. AirMech Arena on the Xbox 360 will be free-to-play, and will include single-player, multiplayer cooperative and multiplayer competitive gameplay modes in which players fend off invading armies by commanding giant transforming robots. Carbon Games will support AirMech Arena with frequent updates, introducing new playable units, maps, and special community events in the months following its initial release. [Video: Ubisoft]
AirMech getting multiplatform follow-up, classification suggests
Ubisoft could be gearing up for a multiplatform release or spinoff for Carbon Games' browser and PC RTS AirMech, a recent Australian classification rating indicates. The Australian Classification Board added an entry for the previously unannounced AirMech Arena last week, assigning the multiplatform game a PG rating. A Brazilian newspaper corroborates the title, describing it as an upcoming North American release for the Xbox 360. Developer Carbon Games declined to comment when questioned about Arena, saying that further announcements will be made after the PC version wraps up its beta phase. We've reached out to Ubisoft for details, and will update with any new information. [Update: An Ubisoft representative responded to our request for more information, stating "We have no comment on rumor or speculation."] [Image: Carbon Games]
AirMech beta brings accessible, hardcore RTS to Steam
During PAX East we told you that AirMech, the hardcore hybrid RTS from Carbon Games, would be available on Steam, in beta form, this summer. We have to take a second to thank Carbon Games for not making liars out of us. Thanks, Carbon.The AirMech beta is now live on Steam, accessible by buying the "Beta Bundle" for $20. The final game will be free-to-play, but the Beta Bundle offers oodles of perks, including all of the AirMech classes and units, lifetime silver VIP and a beta-exclusive bomber.The Chrome version of AirMech has been open for beta testing since February, and still is via the official Carbon Games website. More than 250,000 players have tried out AirMech in browser form, but the Steam version adds some flair, such as 86 Steam Achievements and the ability to invite friends directly to play games.
Indie Royale launches The Summer Bundle with 8 games and some chiptunes
The latest in a long line of Indie Royale bundles is now live, this time named after the hottest, most miserable season of the year: Summer! The Summer Bundle includes Harvest: Massive Encounter, The Journey Down: Chapter 1, Serious Sam 2, Gundemonium Recollection, GundeadliGne, Hitogata Gappa, Acceleration of Suguri X-Edition and Dino Run SE.Patrons will also receive entrance into the AirMech Steam beta, as well as an Indie Royale in-game pet. Anyone who pays over $8.00 for the bundle will be gifted Pixeljams Volume 1, a chiptune collection of music from Pixeljam's catalogue of work. As with all previous Indie Royale bundles, the price you pay is based on the prices of the transactions that have come before you, so get in there and ruin the bell curve.
AirMech is a hardcore browser game for Chrome (with more platforms to come)
The team at Carbon Games is basking in its newfound freedom as an indie studio after its first development endeavor, Fat Princess creator Titan Games, dissolved under Epic Games China. Carbon Games' first project is AirMech, a free-to-play RTS-action hybrid debuting as a browser and PC title, most notably via Chrome.AirMech is currently in alpha, but it's existed metaphysically since 2009 at least, before Fat Princess was even pitched to Sony."AirMech is my baby," game director James Green told Joystiq on the PAX East show floor, where Carbon Games is one-sixteenth of the Indie Megabooth. "We pitched it to Sony before Fat Princess, but they didn't get it."The world may not have been ready for AirMech in 2009, but now, after the success of League of Legends and other accessible, hardcore hybrid titles, publishers are interested in a solid RTS-action blend that translates to multiple platforms and gameplay styles, Green said.There are more than 60,000 players in the Chrome alpha for AirMech, and at least 5,000 playing the PC version -- but Carbon isn't stopping there. Green pulled out an Android tablet running an early, mobile version (without virtual joysticks as a default, he was sure to note) and Carbon plans to announce a beta version for Steam this summer. Carbon would love to see a version on consoles as well, maybe even with a single-player mode, production coordinator Chris Merritt said.
Indie Megabooth devs let anyone ask them anything
At PAX East this weekend, 16 popular indie developers (plus one "bonus" developer) will congregate into a super-giant indie creature in the first-ever Indie Megabooth. Developers include Ska Studios, Strange Loop Games, Retro Affect, Dejobaan Games, Fire Hose Games, DrinkBox Studios, Pocketwatch Games, Carbon Games and the rest -- to get the indie love flowing, the previously mentioned developers are running an "Ask Me Anything" thread on Reddit, right now. So far, we've learned that each developer gets 99 bitches a day and that most of them cried while playing Journey. Andy Schatz of Pocketwatch Games, Eitan Glinert of Fire Hose and Retro Affect's David Carrigg have also offered differing perspectives on the possibility of indie development for the Wii U, or any Nintendo system in general. Said Glinert: "We're not. I don't know any small third party companies that make any serious money there. Nintendo sadly isn't serious about supporting non-Nintendo companies, and so it's not worthwhile for us to spend the time and effort bringing our games to their platform. Sad face." Schatz disagreed with the doomsday sentiment: "Speak for yourself Eitan! I haven't announced platforms for Monaco yet, but WiiU is still a possibility! Nintendo is slow to change (which is weird given the crazy innovation on their software side), but the boulder is finally starting to move wrt their digital sales storefront."Carrigg said Nintendo's eShop is "far behind" the XBLA and PSN competition, but Retro Affect has been talking to Nintendo and would "really like to work with them. I would not be surprised to see a Retro Affect game on a Nintendo platform sometime in the future."James Silva of Ska Studios addressed the lack of deadly dishwasher games on PC, saying he wants to make PC titles, but for now that would be a problematic process. The AMA is ongoing (as of this posting) so head on over and uncover some you-specific bits of information from this mega-group of indies.
AirMech stomps and flies into PAX East
Carbon Games's AirMech is working its way through alpha testing and will be playable at PAX East next week. It'll be the first "proper" showing of the game, which debuted at last year's PAX Prime in a very early build. The developers will be on hand to distribute exclusive in-game items, which also grant access to the game's closed beta."It's important to note that we are happy with the core of the game, and it's balanced enough that we are not wiping accounts or progress," Carbon Games founder James Green wrote on the company's site. "We don't mind if people earn a bit more XP or kudos because they can exploit the AI or found a bug–we're glad to let people benefit in that way because it helps us make the game better. So all of our early testers tend to do quite well, and can rest assured that they can keep their progress and unlocks."Carbon Games was formed by members of Titan Studios, creators of Fat Princess. The team is currently working on a list of improvements before they consider the game in beta.
Carbon Games formed by Fat Princess devs
Carbon Games is the new Seattle-based, independent development house built by members of Titan Studios, creators of Fat Princess. Titan Studios, which was a subsidiary of Epic Games China, was "gracefully" shuttered a month ago. "Everyone that is starting Carbon is from Titan, but it's only about half of what was left. We are just bringing over the core people at this time. We had some QA, which were really great people, but we can't add people just yet," Carbon Games founder James Green told Joystiq. "We had actually been winding down Titan gracefully for a while. The longterm plan has always been for Epic Games China to exist on their own. We were just in a support/advisory role, which is why we never followed up Fat Princess with anything." Green tells Joystiq that Carbon is in a position where they are self-funded and can experiment. The focus is on smaller, accessible core titles. The initial games will be on PC so the Carbon team can "iterate and get player feedback faster and actually control the patching process." Their first project will not be another Fat Princess -- Green does say they'd like to return to that style in time, but the scope of such a title is bigger than what Carbon is currently working on. The studio plans to begin publicly testing its first project later this year. Folks interested in helping with the process should keep an eye on the company's website.
