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‘Homestar Runner’ creators revive 15-year-old game right before Flash dies
Homestar Runner remains one of the best-known internet cartoons built on Adobe Flash, a site that regularly produced hilarious absurdist content throughout the 2000s.
Square Enix summons a class-based action title in Crystal Conquest
Last week Square Enix's mystery title was outed as Crystal Conquest, a Flash-based action title for Japanese consumption, set to launch this summer. Details are now sidling out, as noted by 4gamer and translated by Andriasang:Crystal Conquest is a side-scroller with characters shifting between two planes of play, it uses mouse controls only, and it has four classes: Warrior, Scout, Priest and Sorcerer. The goal is to destroy the enemy's home base before time runs out or the enemy destroys yours. At the end of the match, damage and enemies killed are added up and the winner crowned. The battle edifices are called Arrow Tower, Crystals and Summons Facilities, and the title will include classic Square Enix summons functions.The full list of Crystal Conquest details and a few high-res screens can be peeped right here.
World of WarCrafts: Making a custom RPG, Warcraft-style
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. Sample the whole spectrum on our Arts and Crafts in WoW page. Longtime readers may remember Murloc RPG, a game we featured way back in 2006. The game received an update earlier this year with the release of Murloc: Stranglethorn Fever. Hot on its heels is the latest release, Murloc RPG 2, all by Unmediocre. The game looks just like the World of Warcraft we know and love, with one small exception: Instead of playing a mighty Tauren or a Dwarven hero of the Alliance, you play ... a murloc. That's right -- this Flash-based game lets you play as one of those fishy pests we've been killing off in WoW for years. Complete with quests, dialogue, combat, and the occasional chest to loot, Murloc RPG 2 isn't just an idle day's worth of messing about in Flash; it's a full-fledged gaming experience. So how did this all come about? Follow after the break where we have a quick chat with the maker of this incredibly detailed Flash homage to WoW.
Pokemon Trainer Challenge brings the trading card game online
The problem with trading card games is that you have to have friends around to play them -- and, a lot of times, that means you actually have to leave the house. In a video game, roaming the world in search of Pokémon may be relatively safe, but out in the real world, there are certain dangers that need to be taken into consideration. Bears, diseases and cosplayers are all real threats. That's why we're excited about the Pokémon Trainer Challenge, a new Flash version of the TCG coming to the internet near you this April. Using three pre-constructed decks, you'll be able to face off against 12 virtual trainers across three leagues in the online game, hopefully learning enough to keep you from embarrassing yourself at the next Saffron City Social. Pokémon Trainer Challenge will require a free Pokémon Trainer Club account to play. You can find more details on Pokemon.com. %Gallery-116787%
Great Gatsby 'NES' game borne back ceaselessly onto the internet
We're not about to suggest that you play the new "NES version" of The Great Gatsby instead of actually reading the book. Reading Fitzgerald's classic is simply part of the American curriculum. If we had to do it, so do you. Still, everyone needs a break from reading, and you might as well spend yours playing this delightful throwback game created by Charlie Hoey and Pete Smith. Be sure to check out the "vintage" magazine ad and instruction booklet images while you're at it. Be warned: This Flash game probably won't prepare you for your English teacher's test (but there's always the CliffsNotes for that); we don't remember Nick tossing his fedora at evil crabs in the book, for example. That said, the game would probably make for a much more interesting class discussion.
Kongregate Arcade hits Android, GameStop shoving free Flash games straight onto your smartphone
GameStop may think that people still like boxes, but that's not stopping the company from diving into the digital distribution realm. It bought up Flash game purveyor Kongregate last summer and now that anty acquisition just dropped a big egg on Android with the launch of Kongregate Arcade. It's basically a separate mobile app store from the Android Market, but with a few important differences. Biggest is that these games, numbering over 300, are all free and are all Flash-based. This is said to "solve the game discovery problem" by popping out of the Market but certainly won't do much to solve revenue problems for devs working on premium mobile games. Of course to get all the games you'll still need to find this app, but it's there. Right now. We checked.
App review: kijjaa! (video)
We're used to seeing all sorts of funky motion-based games on smartphones, but here's something a little bit different: a retro-themed desktop 3D flash game that utilises your iOS device as an accelerometer and gyroscope-based wireless controller. The objective of kijjaa! is simple: just fly your vessel around, shoot down or avoid the enemies, and pick up extra lives. Don't worry, there's no jailbreaking involved here -- all we had to do was visit kijjaa.com/air, and then copy the code onto our iOS app to establish the link via WiFi or 3G. There's no serious challenge in kijjaa! -- based on the app's description on iTunes, the game's designed with students and office workers in mind, so it's ideal for those seeking a fun quickie during their short breaks. We'd say the hardest part is trying to dodge the ghosts that show up randomly in short notice, but what really annoyed us were the occasional control lags that popped up even over WiFi. Still, for a promotional $0.99 pricing (the 70 percent price drop ends on January 17th has been extended to January 24th), this game has gone much further than most other games have, and it'll only get better -- already in the pipeline are Game Center support, new enemies, new bonuses, and achievements. Hopefully the developer will also throw in some more chiptune soundtracks as well. Demo video after the break -- it kinda makes you want this on the Apple TV too, doesn't it? %Gallery-114426%
Sampla tests your video game music knowledge, reflexes
Have you ever wondered why you're so terrible at remembering the phone numbers, email addresses and, quite possibly, names of your dearest friends and family members? Simply put, it's because you're using all of your brainspace to store melodies for classic video games. Yeah, it's pretty tragic, but it's not completely without its usefulness -- it'll help you do really well in John Freeborn and Geekadelphia's recent Flash game collaboration, Sampla. The premise of Sampla is simple: Listen to a clip from a MIDI-fied version of a classic video game theme song, and pick it from a multiple choice list. The faster you answer, the more points you get, and the deeper the stark reality sets in that you can remember the theme to Double Dragon 2, but not your dad's middle name.
GDC10: Massively's interview with Virtual Fairground
The idea of virtual worlds and MMOs based on established brands is not a new one, and Virtual Fairground is a company that's been in the market for a bit. They've had the time to fine tune the concept and find exactly what they want to offer their audience. We spent some time with Maarten Brands and Ilja Goossens of Virtual Fairground at GDC this week and heard all about what the company is working on and what their goals are. Follow along after the jump to see what they had to say.
Play Capcom's 2D Jetpack Attack while you wait for Dark Void
Sure, Capcom's vertical-shootin', UFO-jackin', jetpack-flyin' third-person shooter Dark Void won't be landing on retail shelves until January 12, but the developer wants you to spend some time with Will (and The Void) beforehand. If you head over to JetpackAttack.com, you can create and play levels in your browser of a significantly pared down Dark Void spinoff game, Jetpack Attack. After blasting our way through the first level, we didn't exactly find ourselves thirsting for more, though it did (no matter how small the scale) sate our urge for some jetpacking action. And hey, if worse comes to worse, you could always trade it in for gold, right? %Gallery-24248%
BioWare's Facebook game gives to charity, takes $10 off Dragon Age for PC
BioWare has launched a browser-based game on Facebook that benefits charity ... and gamers looking to save some scratch on the PC version of Dragon Age: Origins. Called Gift of the Yeti, it's a simple yet surprisingly fun arcade-style dash to deliver presents ... as a yeti subbing for Santa Clause. Outside of the game, BioWare is playing the part of old St. Nick for hospitalized children, donating $10,000 to the Child's Play charity. And by simply loading up the game, players are presented with a link to the EA Store, where they're automagically given a $10 discount off of Dragon Age for Windows. The press release announcing the game indicates that it's just the tip of the iceberg for the company's foray into social gaming. BioWare co-founder, Dr. Ray Mazuyka, said of the endeavor, "Gift of the Yeti is a fun, engaging holiday present from BioWare to our fans, the first in a series of compelling social experiences from BioWare Labs." Sure, they likely won't be for consoles -- but who are we to look a gift yeti in the mouth?
Line Rider now lets you torture two riders at once
Despite being released in retail form for PC, Wii and DS as Line Rider 2, the Flash version of the original Line Rider is still being tweaked by developer Sparkworkz to provide the most casual and simply obsessed of players with the optimal "drawing stuff, then dropping a sled on it" experience. The company just released beta 3 of the Flash game, which adds ... a second rider.Players can now choose the "Dual Rider" mode and set a starting point for a second rider. This opens up the gameplay to synchronized runs, races or, for most of us, watching two riders stop mid-line and topple off the cool ramp we made. Other additions in the new version include camera options and a new line-type that decelerates riders.Sparkworkz's site also notes that a new Line Rider variant for iPhone, dubbed Line Racer, is on the way, which allows players to draw courses and then, yup, race on them against other players.
Sacred Seasons: The flash-based MMO
We're not entirely sure how this one slipped under our radar. Perhaps it was a quiet launch, or perhaps it was a flash based massively multiplayer game, but we somehow failed to mention Sacred Seasons.So now we're going to take the time to correct that error -- enter Sacred Seasons, an MMO that runs entirely in flash and entirely in your internet browser. The game tells the story of the Heartlands, a world that's much like ours except in hyperbole, where the seasons dominate so strongly that they resonate in humanity itself. The people of the world have broken off into four separate tribes, one each dedicated to one of the seasons. All of them ally together, however, to fight a plague spreading across the world -- the growing corruption of the badlands, areas of nothingness.
Saving Captain Phillips recreates recent pirate attack
We've recently had a betting pool going in the imaginary Joystiq offices in which we wagered how long it would take for a video game adaptation of the recent pirate attack of the Maersk Alabama to be developed. It's got all the necessary elements for a blockbuster action title: Snipers, heroic captains, climactic shootouts and, of course, nautical negotiations. Unfortunately, none of us had the gumption to bet such a game would surface in a mere nine days.Online gaming portal Games2Win recently uploaded Saving Captain Phillips, a Flash title that places you in the shoes of the three Navy SEAL snipers who did the titular saving. You're tasked with taking out four pirates holding Captain Phillips hostage on a lifeboat -- though in the real-life hostage situation, only three pirates were aboard the lifeboat when the saving took place. Disappointingly, the game is about as good as it is historically accurate. It's a solid effort, but we think we'll wait for Infinity Ward to try their hand at game-ifying the high seas standoff.
Battlefield Heroes still isn't out ... so play this Flash game instead
Although EA promised the world would be in the middle of a cartoon-shaded war by now, it looks like Battlefield Heroes isn't going to hit the planned Q1 '09 release. If you're one of the unfortunate many who haven't been invited into the party, EA has a quick game that may hold you over.The official Battlefield Heroes website has released a Flash version of the game to help pass the time before the open beta begins. In the Battlefield Heroes Flash Game players have 60 seconds to shoot as many "Nationals" as they can, who each pop into frame Wack-A-Mole style and await a bullet sandwich. It isn't as sexy as playing the real game, but ... yeah, we got nothing.[Via BigDownload]
LGJ: The Flash game quandry
Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games: We're all somewhat familiar with the endless stream of Flash games featuring some famous person: Presidential Paintball, Super Obama World, Whack Britney Spears, Paris Hilton Jail Escape, etc. An interesting question was posed to me the other day about these games: Is there a quarrel over the right of publicity related to Flash games? Obviously, retail games featuring certain public figures, such as professional athletes, are paying for the use of those celebrity likenesses. Flash games, however, are positioned much differently, and it's one of the more complex relationships between differing legal theories I've seen in the gaming sphere.While we've discussed the right of publicity before, it's worth reiterating that the concept is basically the equivalent of a trademark for a famous person's likeness. Think of it like a brand name helping to sell a product. A lot of people will buy a game just because it's made by Nintendo. Similarly, a lot of people might buy a game that appears to be created or endorsed by someone; be that a particular game developer or a celebrity. How many people initially bought Madden Football because of Madden's attachment to it? Probably quite a few. There's certainly a good strategy in using celebrity to sell a product.
Master Chief takes on Mario
Each week our sister site Joystiq showcases a free PC game available to those who posses both too much free time and the internets. This week's entry is Mario vs. Spartan: The Game. Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. Sure, the game isn't considered top tier in the world of free flash games but it features two things our readers may be used to; Halo and hating on other platforms / characters from other platforms. Can you, as Master Chief, finally dispatch the nuisance that is Super Mario? We suppose it's time to find out if you can finish this fight. Believe. [Via Joystiq]
Flying Lab working on a flash-based kids MMO?
Gamasutra, the well-known games industry news site, maintains a job service board on top of the numerous sites and services they offer. Job offerings, as you may be aware from previous posts to Massively, are often a good indication of what a company has up their sleeve - even if it hasn't officially been announced yet. Such is the case with a curious job posting from Flying Lab Software, the makers of the historical MMO Pirates of the Burning Sea.According to the job post, Flying Lab is considering working on a Flash-based kids-oriented massively multiplayer game. The offering states: "Flying Lab Software is seeking an experienced Flash Game Developer to create casual Flash games for a children's MMO product (ages 8-12 yrs.)." It continues, "Flying Lab Software is currently expanding and supporting our recently released MMO, Pirates of the Burning Sea, as well as working on several new MMO projects." We've put in a request for comment with the company, and we'll let you know as soon as we know more. The meat of the full listing is below the cut.
Play some Paper Mario in Flash
What would Paper Mario be like if it had been made by a 13-year-old from Holland in a span of five months? That's not a rhetorical question; it would be like this Flash game. Lesjuh's Paper Mario World uses similar visuals to those in the Paper Mario series, but as of now it only contains one world. Even so, it's a fun way to kill some time, and should be enough to keep you occupied during those free moments at work.[Via Technabob]
First impressions: Dofus
Dofus is a flash-based, browser fantasy game. It says it works on all platforms, and will even play over a dial-up modem, and there's no reason it shouldn't as long as you've got flash installed. It worked without a hitch (once I'd set Flash permissions to run the download) on my Mac. It offers an extensive free-to-play area, although some skills are limited unless you pay - the UK servers charge £6.70/month, (about €10 or US$14), and there are a couple of pay-to-play character classes too.Creating characters is fairly easy, but the support from the main site is poor, although the Dofus wiki can help if you choose a popular class. There is a "total beginner" area where you get shown the basics of combat, then a newbie's area you can explore - although there are some really tough fights there if you're not careful. I expected to have a quick look, and move on. I'm not sure I'm hooked, but I stayed long enough to handle the final dungeon and get my stylish hat (it makes you do +1 damage, sounds good to me!).
