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N++ PS4 screens are fit to print
Metanet Co-Founder Mare Sheppard discussed N++'s visual inspirations on the PlayStation Blog recently. Sheppard said the game drew its clean, bold look from print-based graphic design, as seen in new next-gen screenshots of the twitchy platformer. N++ is due to launch on PS4 this year.
N++ screens show off effective, proven ninja-killing methods
Indie developer Metanet Software foresees a future filled with dead ninjas and thrown controllers with its latest batch of N++ screens. The minimalist platformer is due to hit the PlayStation 4 this year in what developer Mare Sheppard calls "the final iteration of N." You might want to glue some protective padding to your DualShock 4 beforehand, just in case. [Image: Metanet]
N 2.0 is all the difficult running and jumping and dying you'll ever need
Metanet Software's N, which the developer describes as " that game you played in high school but forgot about through college," has seemingly reached its pinnacle. The wall-jumping, pixelated ninja platformer has been officially stamped version 2.0 and is now available entirely for free. N 2.0 adds a number of extra features, including 100 new levels, 100 "legacy" levels pulled from N and the various console iterations of N+, 100 user-made levels, level sharing, local 2 player co-op and new "FUN-lockable" content. You can play the game for free on Kongregate or download it directly from Metanet. And yes, in case you were wondering, N++ is still on the way
Metanet working on N++, 'the final iteration of N'
Metanet Software is returning to its platforming classic N, one last time. Studio president Mare Sheppard announced a game called N++ during a GDC panel, intended to be "the final iteration of N." The impetus behind this reexamination of side-view minimalist ninja jumping isn't entirely happy, as Sheppard said Metanet has had difficulty working with non-N games since N+. "We were clinging to the idea that N might be the only proof we had that we weren't completely idiotic or utter failures," she said. Despite worries that it would be a "step back" for Metanet, "at this point in our lives, this feels like the right thing to do... We can work on N again after all that emotional trauma." The good news out of this, which Sheppard's statements may not get across, is that Metanet really is quite good at making N games.
N+ dev announces 'Office Yeti,' Robotology 'nowhere near complete'
We're pretty big fans of indie developer Metanet Software's first offering, N+. That may explain why we were so excited for the announcement of a second currently-in-development title on the company's blog -- Office Yeti. Another explanation could be that the game is about a freakin' yeti in an office. The game is still early in development and was only being worked on "part-time" until recently. Metanet teases Rampage and Skool Daze-inspired gameplay, calling it: "A single-player action/puzzle/simulation game in which players assume control of a yeti who works in an office." Magical! Unfortunately, it appears that we won't be seeing anything new on Robotology in the near future, as the developer is still working hard on having a playable entry for the IGF deadline this November. "Despite months and months of work, it's still nowhere near complete, but at the same time we've managed to get most of the vital parts figured out," Metanet says. Aside from the teasing of possible screenshots coming soon, it looks like we're not going to get anything new this year to play. Sometimes a taste of honey is worse than none at all. Source 1 - Metanet Source 2 - Metanet [Via Offworld]
The first video of N+ dev's 'Robotology'
In fairness, Metanet Software's first video for Robotology (found after the break) is more physics demo than it is gameplay demo -- or even proof of concept, for that matter. Though considering the pedigree behind the game (Metanet made N+, this week's Xbox Live deal!), we're willing to overlook the less than thrilling minute-plus video in celebration of the sheer tenacity with which Metanet attacks its game development.In fact, according to the Metanet website, the action in the video represents, "almost 800 lines of code, painstakingly hand-transcribed from graph paper and Flash mockups" -- oh my! Here's hoping it all pays off when the game ships ... eventually. And now, friends, we play the waiting game. [Via Eurogamer]
Bury the Shovelware: N+
Man, it must feel like I'm just trying to pick fights this week. Allow me to explain myself: I love n+. It's incredibly fun, elegant, and well-made. JC gave the game a 9.5 / 10, and I'd say that's a pretty fair score. So how on earth does a good game get picked for Bury the Shovelware? Throughout the duration of this column, we've learned a lot about shovelware. We've examined the sharing of blame between the publisher and developer, the curse of a license, the effects of critics' perception, and much more. Our top priority has been determining common attributes. One might ask what is the single, definitive trait common throughout all shovelware. The easy answer would be "it sucks." But to who? You? Me? Everyone? If you were to wander through the graveyard of the DS's library, even the loneliest tombstone will have a sympathizer or two. Particularly for younger gamers who might not know any better, cognizance is everything. Thus, we must focus on the objective. As the swipe for this series states, "shovelware refers to any game in which time and effort were eschewed in favor of turning a quick profit." Theoretically, any game which shows compromise in any area for the benefit of time and/or money might be considered shovelware. Even if the game is a critical success, one can still identify flaws in its design. Without labeling n+ as shovelware, let's examine how its existence relates to the bottom-feeders of the DS.
PSP Fanboy review: N+
Beneath its simple exterior lies a cruel, sadistic gaming beast. N+ is known for its brutally simple, addictive, ninja-inspired platforming. The goal of the game is ridiculously simple: get to the exit. However, each level in this challenging title will test your nerve and will push you to that strange land where frustration and euphoria meet.There are a number of obstacles that can get in your way -- all of them deadly. Whether it be explosive mines, homing missiles, or heat-seaking lasers, death lurks in almost every inch of N+. The combination of clever level designs and obstacle placements make each level like a puzzle: players must think of interesting ways to get to the goal. Players will be able to perform incredible feats of acrobatics, bouncing off walls, racing past rockets, and jumping past deadly lasers. Players must learn how momentum works, as many of the levels require pixel-perfect jumps.%Gallery-12730%
N+ DLC has gone out to Microsoft
It certainly has been a while in coming (so much so that we were beginning to wonder if something bad had happened to it), but there's finally some news regarding N+'s downloadable content. In a new post over at the Metanet developer blog informs the world that the three DLC packs for N+ has been sent off to Microsoft for final certification before release.Of the three packs one will be free, one will be multiplayer maps, and the level total for the whole shebang is over 750. Exactly how those seemingly disparate pieces of info come together for the exact details of each pack is still unknown. However we do know that the devs are shooting for 200pts for each of the pay-to-play packs, which seems like the perfect price point to us.[Via Gamerbytes]
DS Fanboy Preview: N+
My eyes glazed as I stared at my Nintendo DS Lite which cased the finished build of N+. N, my titular ninja avatar, braced his body as he slid halfway down a wall before springing away, using his momentum to snatch three gold coins dangling in midair. I firmly pressed d-pad left, causing him to again shimmy down the wall slowly, carefully, before again leaping for a nearby ledge. Unfortunately, my momentum wasn't enough in this instance. Though little more than a plump stick figure, I had a vision of poor N desperately straining for the tip of the ledge that was at least (at least) a good six feet away before plummeting, plummeting, plummeting -- and eventually exploding in a shower of square-shaped shards as he cratered into the ground. I grumbled, but the fault was wholly mine, not the acrobatic N's. "You've got what the indie scene will call the best platforming engine in Flash, ever," said David Geudelekian, producer of Metanet Software's N+. "What N did really well was it presented this incredible platformer with 1000 levels, it was crazy difficult. N the ninja was this lithe, acrobatic guy with all the things developers had learned from other platformers. You can wall jump, you can press along the wall as you're falling to slow your descent. Because it's a full-featured physics engine, momentum can kill you, but if you use a ramp's natural curvature, you might be able to catapult yourself across the level."%Gallery-14818%
N+ knocks it up a notch with new trailers ... BAM
In the spirit of a true ninja master, the perenially popular platformer N+ is still on its merry way to the DS. Many people out there have tried several adventures of the anonymous little hero on the PC, and are better gamers for it. Put it this way -- N+ levels are really, super easy to make, so the DS version features plenty of original creations.You can check out some of the high-flying gameplay in the new trailer above, along with two more after the break. N+ hasn't been dumbed-down for portable installments at all, and includes a full level editor and downloadable content. If you haven't tried N+ before, it would be in your best interest to slide down to your nearest store on August 28 and hand over the cash for this bad boy. Ninja-style.
N+ creators stand behind their anti-XBLA rant
Last Friday, we told you about a Gamasutra interview with N+ creators Raigan Burns and Mare Sheppard and how angry they were about the XBLA, how angry they were about the services' crappy games and how angry they were about how Microsoft is handling things. Their opinion was nothing but blunt and to the point. Then, shortly after their harsh comments made the internet media rounds, Burns and Sheppard felt the need to post a response in regards to their remarks on their metanet blog and, well ... they have no apologies.In their response blog titled "In Defense of the Apparant Shitstorm", Burns and Sheppard stand behind their anger fueled XBLA rant, but do clarify that they were made prior to N+'s release and right after they learned about Microsoft's new (and less generous) XBLA royalty structure. But like we said, in their response blog team metanet stands behind their earlier comments and actually went on to add to the controversy, saying; "it's not our fault that the vast majority of XBLA games suck! Literally every single person we've ever spoken with is in agreement on this, and yet it's apparently shocking for gamers in general to hear (assuming that's who reads joystiq/kotaku)." There you have it folks. Confirmed. The XBLA has sucky games.
N+ Interview: MS hates User-generated content?
Having recently hit the tubes to critical and consumer praise, it seems that the side-scrolling ninja platformer N+ isn't even all the game that it was originally intended to be. In an article over at MTV's Multiplayer blog, N+'s developers go in depth on the game's history concerning the plans for inclusion of an open download/upload space for level sharing (similar to Halo 3's system, which makes one wonder why that was a-okay). In fact, that very feature was implemented in the version of the game that was released onto PartnerNet for testing. However, in the game's last final months of development Microsoft shut the feature down, demanding that it be stripped back to the condition it's in today (with the ability to share user-generated content only available from the folks on your friends list.) With games being handicapped or delayed due to Microsoft's draconian ideas about sharing things, what is the future for the content of XBLM?
N+ ninja kicks its way onto the XBLA
Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday is here and it brings with it a brand new adventurous friend. An obsessive gold collecting friend that goes by the name of N+.Available today for 800 Microsoft points is Metanet Software's highly anticipated N+, a graphically enhanced version of the original N, where you get to become the ninja you've always wanted to be (sorry, no pirates are allowed). N+ features a multitude of levels, a beefy multiplayer experience and a level editor that's sort of like Halo 3's Forge, but in a 2D kind of way. In the gallery below, we've posted 50 brand new N+ screenshots for you to admire and ogle over. Ogle away kids and download N+ straight away.%Gallery-16474%
N+ ninja chops the XBLA this Wednesday
A game that seems to have grown one of the biggest groups of pro-XBLA supporters, N+ has been officially confirmed for release to the Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday, February 20th. Tada, w00t and exclamation points for all!!!Metanet Software hinted at its release last week and just made it official today saying that Microsoft made them be hush about its release date, but they just received clearance this morning to confirm its Wednesday debut. N+ will set purchasers back 800 Microsoft points, will come packed full of multiplayer greatness and include 450 different levels of gold collecting enjoyment. Metanet also mentioned that they'll be releasing some additional level packs as DLC in the weeks to come.You're getting your long awaited N+ fellow fanboys, scream at the top of your lungs and unleash your inner ninja. Karate CHOP!
N+ likely hits XBLA next week
Place this one in the we'll see category. According to a comment made on the MetaNet Software blog, developers Mare Sheppard and Raigan Burns (as poster M&R) hinted at a February 20 release of their upcoming XBLA version of N+. The, formerly free flash based game, promises the standard boost to sound and high resolution graphics found in other XBLA game as well as a multiplayer mode. On the official developer blog for Slick Entertainment, the team behind the XBLA version, N+ passed certification January 10 and has been awaiting a release. The title was nearly released on January 30 but was held back in favor of RezHD and Chessmaster.In the comments on February 13, M&R told readers, "I don't know.. maybe we can post something tomorrow [about the release], we're still waiting to hear back from Microsoft, because as mentioned it seems like every other game was announced a week early (which led us to believe that was the rule)." Earlier today, M&R posted, "We'll have a proper post soon about the launch party!." While its hardly a confirmation it looks like N+ will be gracing XBLA any time now, we hope.[Thanks, Russ]
N+ passes cert, online multiplayer confirmed
It's been a while since we heard much about N+ -- a fact we pointed out during the latest edition of Ask X3F. The last we heard of the puzzle-platformer, it was set to release sometime during either December or January. That gives us just two more weeks before the game slips into the black hole of "to be announced." We do know he game has passed certification though, so it shouldn't be too long before it's released. Whenever the game does come out, we are happy to report that the multiplayer modes the developers hinted at way back when the game was announced have been confirmed. The revelation comes by way Achieve360Points which has posted the list of achievements for the game. The achievements confirm that there will be both co-op and ranked online play, though it's unclear if co-op will online, local, or both. Either way, it's good news and a reason for fans of N to be excited.[Thanks, DjDatz]Read -- N+ finished Certification!Read -- Achieve360Points.com -- N+ -- Xbox 360 Achievemens
N heads to Xbox Live Arcade
Metanet Software has announced that they are bringing their PC title, N, to Xbox Live Arcade. Often compared to Lode Runner, N is an action platformer that requires some pretty hefty jumping skills and evasive tactics. Graphics are about as simple as they get, but the game is definitely fun. Feel free to download it yourself and give it a try. The developers promise that the game will remain true to its roots (which shouldn't be too difficult). A level editor will be included with the title that allows players to trade levels over Xbox Live. Multiplayer modes are currently being considered as well. We've wasted a few hours playing N in the past, and the game could definitely benefit from a 360 controller. Don't get your hopes up, though, the game isn't expected until fall 2007.[Via Joystiq]
Indie Darling "N" bound for Xbox Live Arcade
Fresh off their Audience Choice Award victory at the Slamdance games festival, Metanet Software (in co-operation with Kiel Entertainment) quietly announced today that their freebie web game, N, will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade this fall under the slightly different moniker, N+.The original sensation (available now for download) is a physics driven, Lode Runner inspired action title that has a tiny stick-man busting his butt to collect some gems. With N+, Metanet Software intends to stick "as close to the original as possible, in terms of gameplay, graphics and fun." It doesn't hurt that they plan to include a level editor with the ability to trade creations online.The possibility of a multiplayer mode is also on the table, so let's all cross our fingers.[Update : Our brains have yet to make the switch over to 2007. Even our checkbook's a total mess.]
