Lemmings
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APB's Realtime Worlds gets new CEO: Gary Dale
Realtime Worlds, creator of the XBox 360 game Crackdown and the upcoming Cops and Robbers themed MMO All Points Bulletin has announced that Gary Dale has been appointed as their new CEO to help oversee their transition from being a traditional game developer to an online publisher. Realtime Worlds repurchased the rights for All Points Bulletin from publisher Webzen last year for an undisclosed amount.Dale has previously been the chief executive officer and executive vice president of Take-Two Interactive Software. Before that he was the chief operating officer for their Rockstar Games publishing label. Realtime Worlds was founded in 2002 by David Jones, whose previous credits include Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings, and had served as CEO up until now. He remains with the company as creative director.
Born for Wii: Lemmings
If you're a gamer, chances are you've heard of it, played it, loved it. While not quite as ubiquitous as Pac-Man or Tetris, which have spread like wildfire across practically every platform known to gamingkind, Lemmings is one of the most recognizable franchises of gaming history, thanks to the endearing titular characters, inventive design, and brain-straining puzzles.Before the proliferation of real-time strategy games in the mid 1990s, DMA Designs (who would later assume the name Rockstar North and go on to develop a little-known game named Grand Theft Auto) unleashed the irresistibly cutesy lemmings onto the unprepared gaming scene. Their target? The Amiga. And from there the tide surged forth onto a dizzying number of platforms. Nintendo's systems have played host to the lemmings many times, but never before has a console offered the series a perfect control setup. Lemmings is this week's pick for the series that deserves a restorative breath of life courtesy of the Nintendo Wii. #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } NEXT >> %Gallery-32991% Every week, Born for Wii digs into gaming's sordid past to unearth a new treasure fit for revival on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out last week's entry in the series, Mega Man Legends, and for more great titles that deserve your attention, take a look at Virtually Overlooked.
Puzzle & Power Packs: PSN-only games on UMD this Oct.
Despite a higher percentage of broadband penetration in Europe, and the introduction of a PC-based PlayStation Store for the PS3-less, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has still opted to wrangle up the bits of some of the PSP's download-only titles for UMD distribution in themed "packs".The first two packs (there are "more Collection Packs to be released throughout 2009") are the Puzzle Pack – cramming the mischievous Lemmings with the excitable Go! Sudoku and Go! Puzzle – and the Power Pack – an odd grouping of Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, the more contemplative stylings of flOw, and the rhythm-happy Beats. The Puzzle Pack is slated for a European debut in "mid" October while the Power Pack will come along right behind it, in "late" October. We've asked the fine folks at SCEA to comment on a North American release so, until then, let's just assume this is Europe-only.
Sony Europe preps UMD collection of downloadable games
Many hardcore PSP fans love being able to launch games off the Memory Stick, instead of UMD. Not only does it mean we can carry multiple games on our system, without having to carry around an extra pouch for games, but games stored on Memory Stick typically load faster as well. In spite of that, many casual users of PSP may not know about the PLAYSTATION Store. Sony Europe's solution? To bring downloadable games out on UMD.The PLAYSTATION®Network Collection - Power pack will arrive in Europe next month, and it will house three very different downloadable games: beats, a music game which lets you use your own MP3 collection, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, a third-person multiplayer shooter based on the Syphon Filter universe, and flOw, a relaxing adventure where players grow and evolve creatures.The PLAYSTATION®Network Collection - Puzzle pack will feature three other download games: Lemmings, Go! Sudoku! and Go! Puzzle. This collection will also be available next month.[Via Siliconera]
Rolando: A different iPhone game
Here we go. You guys sounded really jaded on the comments for the kart racing game, so here's an iPhone game that might actually break some new ground. It's called Rolando -- Simon Oliver is the developer, and he sent us a tip and the trailer above, and if you're looking for some fun and innovation in iPhone gaming, here you go. It looks kind of like a cocktail of LocoRoco, Lemmings, Kirby's Canvas and Katamari Damacy all mixed together with some iPhone originality for good measure. With a mix like that, you can't go wrong.Simon tells us it's a "physics-based platform/puzzler.". He says that there will be four different worlds in the game, with ten levels each, including boss levels and bonus stages, and while it's not seen in the video, there might be a little accelerometer action as well. There are a few different versions of the little circular guys, called Rolandos (the King Rolando, with the crown in the video, has to be moved around by the others, for instance), as well as various implements throughout the levels that can be controlled directly. Simon's aiming to get it in the App Store by August, and while pricing hasn't been finalized, he's thinking $9.99 sounds good.Don't like kart racing on the iPhone? As long as we can get a few good original games looking as good as this one does, you may not have to worry.
The Daily Grind: Do you dislike playing an "overpowered" class?
In the never-ending cycle of patching, class-tweaking, and talent overhauls, most classes in any given game get their time in the spotlight as the flavor of the month. There has always been a certain sub-culture of lemmings within any given player base who flock to the most powerful classes simply because they represent the path of least resistance to the end-game. While these bandwagon riders are usually acknowledged for what they are, its difficult sorting out who is playing for power and who is playing for more sincere motives.At the same time, it's ostensibly a lot more fun behind at the top of this never-ending cycle than the bottom, so shouldn't players enjoy their moment in the sun, no matter how temporary? And so we ask you, dear Massively readers: Are the benefits of kicking butt in PvP or getting that coveted raid spot worth the cost of being lumped in with the power-hungry lemmings?
SCEE severing several servers for online PS2, PSP games
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has posted a portent of doom on its website concerning the online servers for several PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable games. SCEE notes that it has wrapped its hand around the power cord and is ready to give it a good tug on June 30th and sending the following titles quietly into the offline night: PlayStation 2 Amplitude Destruction Derby Arenas Everybody's Golf EyeToy Chat F1 '04 Jak X Lemmings PS2 My Street Syphon Filter Omega Strain This is Football 2004 This is Football 2005 Twisted Metal: Black Online PSP Lemmings World Tour Soccer 2 Sony Computer Entertainment America has made no similar announcement.[Via Shacknews]
Online service ends for Lemmings, World Tour Soccer 2 [Update]
Online services can't last forever, especially if no one is playing the game. SCEA SCEE has announced that they're ending support for Infrastructure in the following PSP games: Lemmings World Tour Soccer 2 The games will go offline on June 30th, so if you're still playing these games, you may want to schedule a bit more time with them before then.[Via GI.biz]
Games that shouldn't be MMOs: Lemmings
If you're one of the few who've never played Lemmings, it's a game where you have a limited set of tools to prevent 100 tiny green-haired creatures from walking steadily to their hilarious doom. Is there a platform that this game hasn't blessed/defiled? Given its ubiquity, we're surprised it hasn't made the jump to MMOville. But if it did, how would it play?Be one of millions taking charge of their own destiny, in LeMMOings! Work cooperatively with other Lemmings to prevent yourself from being killed! Choose a function to control: are you the parachute lemming? The pickaxe? The builder? Develop trust in your fellow players to execute their ability at precisely the right time for you to apply yours, and save the whole tribe, or perish over and over and over again until you get it right!*shudder* They could subtitle this 'Groundhog Day, the MMO'. At least PUGs would be a thing of the past.
WoW Moviewatch: Lemmings raid Undercity
I know what you're thinking. You've seen capitol city raids before. You've seen hundreds of them! You've participated in them! But hold that thought -- this video is worth a watch before you come to any snap decisions, because this raid has style. Anyone can gather up 40 players and head to the nearest capitol city, but on Aszune (EU), this group of players decided to raid the Undercity as green-haired Gnomes, all dressed in blue. (Don't get the reference? Then you need to catch up on your classic games, friend!)Previously on Moviewatch...
New WipEout, Pursuit Force themes available
So you've updated your PSP to firmware 3.70, and you've checked out Joystiq's guide to installing themes. Now you're saying to yourself, "that was fun, but I wish I could have a theme that wasn't bright pink". Well your wish has been granted by the UK Playstation site. Click here for your choice of Lemmings, WipEout, or 6 different Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice themes, as well as Cookies or Classy Pink.[Thanks Random!]
Virtually Overlooked Week: Dave's picks
Virtually Overlooked has taken over Wii Fanboy! All this week, members of the staff will be outlining their personal picks for future Virtual Console releases.I was always a Nintendo fanboy growing up. I had all the Nintendo consoles (I even owned a Virtual Boy once) and only arrived on the Sega scene as it neared its conclusion. But when I did, I arrived in style, as my dad gifted us kids with a Sega Genesis, Sega CD and 32X add-ons, one Christmas during my teen years. There were a lot of great Sega games I was able to play thanks to that, including Star Wars Arcade on the 32X (let the laughing commence!). But, I still managed to primarily play on Nintendo consoles. It wasn't soon after that the N64 emerged on the scene and I found myself actually playing wrestling games. You remember those games, developed by AKI and Yuke's? WCW vs. NWO World Tour was probably the game I played most on the N64 (aside from Goldeneye, of course), but I couldn't bring myself to include it into my list. What did I include in my list?Well, let's find out!
What motivates DS homebrew developers?
The rewards for a homebrew developer's labor are few. The majority of their games and applications will never see a commercial release or any cash return. The number of people who can even appreciate their work on the DS is limited because of hardware requirements (i.e. third party storage carts). To find out why these programmers pour countless hours into projects that they won't likely profit from, Modojo interviewed the minds behind four of the homebrew scene's most visible games: Tetattds, Tower Defense, The Lemmings Project, and QWAK.Tetattds is a polished clone of Tetris Attack/Panel de Pon for the SNES, adding online support to the puzzler. Tower Defense is an adaptation of the popular Warcraft 3 mod. The Lemmings Project jerry-rigs the PC classic to work with the DS' touchscreen and resolution limits. QWAK, a GBA puzzle platformer reminiscent of Bubble Bobble, was actually self-published with a small run of 300 carts. So what is it that drives these homebrew developers? Several of them cite community participation or the need to fill a gap in the DS library. Others have a reason that's even more simple and obvious: They just want to make the best games they can.
Have your lemmings and edit their levels, too
If any system is well-suited to guiding chains of lemmings through levels filled with danger, it's the DS ... and thanks to homebrew developer Matt, that potential has been realized. LemProject brings a homebrew Lemmings game (based from the Amiga version) to the DS, with full stylus functionality and all the tools you need to build your own levels. And if you're the type who wants to dig around on the back end, it's all open source.It's not perfect -- not all the old levels could be transferred to this game, there are a few reported bugs, and some people are pulling sad faces that it doesn't work with DS-X, but nothing's perfect. All in all, this looks like a great homage to a classic. [Via Digg]
Lemmings & Sudoku appear on PS3 store
PlayStation Store's downloadable PlayStation 3 games catalogue doubled yesterday with the arrival of Lemmings and Go! Sudoku. These aren't exactly huge blips on the radar, but it's good to see Sony adding content, even if it's a sporadic effort.The updated version of Lemmings, trying players' leadership skills across 50+ levels, is being offered for $2.99 $5.99; the basic Sudoku package tops that. It's free. Additional puzzle packs (bundled by difficulty) are $2.99 a pop. The number of puzzles per pack has not yet been verified, but Sony hopes to offer roughly 1,000 grid variations in all.
Make wallpaper and win Lemmings
Okay, so we know that you can do a lot of stuff on the PSP. Like play games. Or watch porn. But let's not forget the real reason why we bought this gadget. To plaster it with some sweet wallpaper! Sony hears ya, and so they're running a contest based on the somewhat newly released Lemmings. So, what will you have to do? It's simple: just make a PSP-formatted wallpaper (that's 480x272 resolution) featuring the Lemmings logo and art. You can draw your own stuff, or you can use the assets provided by Sony. The top ten entries will be featured on the Lemmings official website (which is a pretty cool website in and of itself: it plays like a demo version of the game).What will the winners get? Depending on how the Playstation Underground community votes on your submission, you can win a PSP system or a copy of the game. The rest of the finalists will get an inflatable Lemmings doll to sleep with.
