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How Tim Schafer ended up as a main voice in upcoming Kinect XBLA game Haunt
In Haunt, Parappa the Rapper developer Nana-OnSha's upcoming Xbox Live Arcade game, players will use Kinect to direct a main NPC voiced by Tim Schafer around a spooky, and somewhat goofy, haunted house -- that much we knew. And in a recent interview with Gamasutra, executive producer Masaya Matsuura and producer Dewi Tanner revealed how the main character came to be voiced by the Double Fine head and well-known goofy gentleman. "He's very, very interesting for it," Masaya said when asked about Schafer's participation. Apparently the main character's voice had already been recorded, but after hearing Schafer's speech at a GDC "Choice Awards" ceremony, the Nana-OnSha folks reconsidered. "We talked about 'maybe something is missed,' still," Matsuura said. "And one day you told me about how Tim would be a good voiceover actor," he added to Tanner. Tanner said that Tim's time was understandably constrained, being the head of another game studio and all, but the team "managed to squeeze him in nonetheless ... a couple of afternoons and we were pretty much done." Tanner also pointed out that Haunt isn't exactly a serious endeavor, and Schafer's "passé humor" was perfect for the role. The game is still absent a solid launch date, but it's probably safe to say it's gonna miss its previously scheduled 2011 release window. Tanner teased in the interview that, "We're just winding up the game right now; things are looking clean right now, so it should be a smooth submission." So, uh, soon-ish! Update: This piece originally listed Tim Schafer as the main character in Haunt, rather than the main NPC. It also listed Masaya Matsuura as the creative lead, rather than executive producer. Our apologies! [Image credit: 'skwathill']
Parappa creator and OneBigGame make music game for charity
For its next charity fundraiser game, nonprofit publisher OneBigGame announced that it's working with Parappa the Rapper creator Masaya Matsuura and his studio, NanaOn-Sha, along with Triangle Studios, to create WINtA, an iPhone/iPod Touch rhythm game. OneBigGame describes it as "combining elements of pattern recognition challenges with the natural tendency of humans to tap along with music and words." It appears to put pulsing dots on the screen, leaving the player to tap them in time with the music -- though not necessarily providing a clear cue when to tap. You can try to figure it out by watching early footage taken from the GameCity conference last year (via Pocket Gamer), after the break. That early footage looks nothing like the new screenshots (above), so there's still an element of mystery. Proceeds from sales of WINtA will benefit Save the Children, Starlight Children's Foundation and other charities when the game is released later this year.
You gotta believe Masaya Matsuura and Jenova Chen will speak at Develop Conference
Develop has just announced the addition of two speakers to the Develop Conference's 2009 lineup, both respected game designers whose works tend to be more than a little unconventional. Parappa the Rapper creator Masaya Matsuura, whose last game was the Wii marching adventure Major Minor's Majestic March, will present "It's Time for Music Games 2.0," in which the developer will "map out unexplored gaming possibilities and reinvent our understanding of the genre." thatgamecompany's Jenova Chen will present a retrospective about flOw and Flower, and "explore the relationship between games, entertainment and art."The Develop Conference will be held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton from July 14th through July 16th. If you're flying there and the pilot looks like this guy, get off and wait for the next plane.
Major Minor's Majestic Trailer
A new trailer for Major Minor's Majestic March just hit our inbox and you can subsequently let it hit your eyeballs right now. Within the confines of this new trailer, you'll find some gameplay, some charming characters, and child actors showing you how to play the game. Because, you know, you'd never figure it out without them.If you're looking for more after the video, head into our gallery below for a bunch of new screens.%Gallery-15020%
More Screens of Majesco's Major Minor's Majestic March
Despite Dave's troubling experience with Major Minor's Majestic March, we remain hopeful for the music game, which is scheduled for release March 24th (the perfect month for this game). We refuse to believe that the team of developer Nana-On-Sha and illustrator Rodney Alan Greenblat can produce anything but wonder, even though Nana-On-Sha has a history of not-that-great games outside of the delightful PaRappa series. We must admit, however, that we have one issue with the game: it can be really hard to tell old screens from new ones. It may be totally dynamic in motion (with the music playing, and all) but the screens are all just pictures of Major Minor's back with varying numbers of musicians lined up in a window on the bottom. We're still totally happy to see the new ones Majesco sent out, however.%Gallery-15020%
Parappa creators' Major Minor's Majestic March revealed
We hope you don't mind trading a rapping puppy for a tuba-playing pig. The first information and character art from Majesco's new collaboration between Parappa creators Masaya Matsuura and Rodney Alan Greenblat has been released. The game is called Major Minor's Majestic March and takes place in a town full of marching bands. As Major Mike Minor, your job is to use your "special" bandleader's baton (the Wiimote, obviously) not only to keep the rhythm of your marching band, but to attract new players into it, and even pick up items.The sound of your band (as it plays new arrangements of over 30 well-known marches) changes as the instrumentalists following you change. Oh, and of course the game is, in true Greenblat style, really cute. We'd like to direct you to our gallery featuring the first character art!%Gallery-15020%[Via GamesPress]
