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PixelJunk Monsters coming to PSP
Looks like more PS3 games are coming to the PSP. The popular tower defense game, PixelJunk Monsters, is heading to the PSP. In fact, there's going to be more content than ever before. This is great news, especially because we're not too fond of using Remote Play to stream games. We can't wait to see more when the game comes out in 2009. To find out more about the game, check out all the news on PS3 Fanboy.[Thanks, Top_Slacker!]
Help! PixelJunk Monsters patch isn't working! [Update]
So ... Did you get that PixelJunk Monsters patch yesterday? Neither did we. The patch is technically live and available for all. The problem is, the only way American users can get the patch right now is to download the game anew. To do that, you'll want to go to the PlayStation Store and click on the "View Downloads" button. Find and install PixelJunk Monsters -- it will already have the patch built in!If that's too much work, don't worry. SCEA is currently investigating the situation. Hopefully, it won't be long before you can auto-magically get the new challenge and Trophy-enabled patch.Update: The patch is now available when you launch the game.
PixelJunk Monsters version 2.00 patch now live
As if we don't have enough games to play already right now. The PixelJunk Monsters trophy patch is now live and ready to download. The trophy implementation is a little different to what you've seen in other games. You'll need to complete special Trophy Challenge levels in order to get your grubby mitts on them. The patch also adds new difficulty levels to the game as well as YouTube uploading. All for free and all ready for you to grab right now. If you live in Europe, that is. No doubt the patch will hit the US before the end of the day. We'll keep you updated.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Trophies: PixelJunk Monsters
Read more 'PixelJunk Monsters' stories Q-Games' popular tower defense game is getting a brand new mode: the Trophy challenge. This mode can only be done in single player, and has you completing levels with new objectives. This should add hours of new gameplay for those that have already mastered the game. The hidden Trophies can be completed in any game mode: just achieve the task. View Trophy List | Visit Trophy Portal
PixelJunk Monsters, Encore updates on Oct. 30
Q-Games isn't reinventing the wheel, it's just slapping on a new set of tires, as PixelJunk Monsters and Encore expansion updates hit PSN next week. The October 30th patches will add Trophies and variable difficulties (including a "casual" mode), as promised, but the free upgrades don't stop there. In addition, the tower selection menu will be tweaked (with an option to set the default action), the Ice and Tesla Towers will be re-balanced for the original island, custom soundtracks will be supported, and YouTube uploading has been added (up to 10 minutes of gameplay -- videos can also be stored in the XMB's video folder). Now, about online co-op ...If you fancy another go with these exciting details -- only this time in Dylan Cuthbert's drab British accent -- then by all means, head for the video preview after the break!
PixelJunk Monsters patch arriving before the end of the month
There's at least one PSN game which is universally loved: PixelJunk Monsters. We recently got a chance to play PJM at Q-Games' studios in Kyoto. However, it wasn't quite the same game we've grown to love: it's PixelJunk Monsters -- with an awesome patch.The upcoming patch adds Trophy support, YouTube recording, new difficulty levels (Easy and Hard), and adjusts the strength of the towers a bit. For example, you'll have the ice tower available (no gems required!). Also, the Tesla tower's range has been increased.We want to say more about the Trophy mode, but we're still awaiting approval from SCEA on how much we can divulge about that. We will give you one tease: you won't have to worry about these Trophies being retroactive. Update: So, the PlayStation.blog has just updated with the official details on the Trophy patch, which will be available on October 30th, in America and Europe. Watch Dylan Cuthbert talk about the details in this new video.
Buy PixelJunk Eden, get Monsters Encore for free
No one can doubt the incredible popularity of PixelJunk Monsters. That game continues to sell, months after its release. Now, the PixelJunk team wants you to try Eden, their latest game. As a bonus, they'll give you a free download of the Monsters Encore expansion. The add-on pack adds 15 new levels (and a random level generator). This should be a deal for those that love PJM and are looking for something new.The deal ends on 10/16.[Thanks, Remix!]
Two artists, two PixelJunk soundtracks
Our friends at Siliconera have found the creative minds behind the musical landscapes of both PixelJunk Monsters and PixelJunk Eden. The two games are PSN hits, and have rightfully cemented their places in the hearts of PS3 fans everywhere.Otograph was approached about Monsters. Find out more about his inspirations and how Otograph met up with Q-Games for this interesting collaboration here.Then, check out the next interview with Baiyon, one part DJ, one part art director. Find out more about his serendipitous meeting with Dylan Cuthbert, and how he was able to create the unique presentation for this most recent Q-Games project. Read it here. You can also order the PixelJunk Eden soundtrack at Amazon or Play-Asia.
PixelJunk Monsters receiving difficulty settings with free patch
After writing an open letter explaining his fiancée's frustrations with PixelJunk Monsters' difficulty, BPPS writer Ryan Hewson received a response back from Dylan Cuthbert, president of Q-Games, saying help was on the way. Cuthbert had alluded to a major PJM patch before, but now he explains some more details of what's coming to PJM and PixelJunk Eden.The lord of PixelJunk says PJM will receive a free patch adding Trophies, along with Easy, Medium, Hard and Expert difficulties to the game. Online rankings will maintain the existing difficulty level for fairness -- which we guess is hard? Eden will also receive an expansion pack and may receive a "namby pamby mode" for a more casual experience -- we'd settle for some control mapping functions to seperate silk and jump ... not to mention mapping the instra-drop to a button instead of waggle. No dates on any of this, but we're contacting Sony about some form of ETA.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Difficulty settings coming to PixelJunk Monsters, new modes coming to Eden
Finding the PixelJunk games frustratingly difficult? You are not alone; one of the guys over at TheBBPS wrote an open e-mail to Dylan Cuthbert, executive producer at Q-games, humorously complaining that his wife finds PixelJunk Monsters just a tad bit too overwhelming and requests difficulty settings for the game. Cuthbert acknowledges his prayers, stating that an upcoming free patch to Monsters will include the ability to make the game easier, or harder, than the default setting. Altering the difficulty will disqualify you from online ranking though, for fairness' sake.Cuthbert also hints a similar treatment in form of a new "more namby pamby" gameplay mode for PixelJunk Eden in a future expansion pack. He feels Eden's "controls are too much fun to waste on just one set of game rules." We can't wait![Thanks, Jim S.!]
PixelJunk Monsters dev teases Trophy patch
Buried deep down on a PlayStation Blog post about PixelJunk Eden and the Trophies available in the game, is an odd little paragraph about possible Trophy support for PixelJunk Monsters. Dylan Cuthbert, president of Q-games, developers of PJM and PJE, mentions he's been "inundated" with requests for Trophy support in Monsters. He says the company is looking into it and will badger the game's producer at Sony, Deborah Mars, "to get some dates set."The information is a bit ambiguous and we're guessing is designed as a tease for an incoming PJM patch. Cuthbert also says the patch will "implement XMB music and a couple of other things." Considering we know PlayStation Blog posts are "checked," information like this doesn't just slip by. Looks like we're going to have to stop playing PJM Encore and wait 'til that Trophy patch gets added, because we're guessing the achievements won't be applied retroactively.
PixelJunk Eden gets demo in July, Monsters may get free patch
If you're curious about what's going on with Q-Games and the PixelJunk franchise, we've located a little bit of news to satisfy your 2D urges. First up -- PixelJunk Eden is to get a playable demo in July. This is coming from Dylan Cuthbert's mouth (well, technically, keyboard), so take it as official. Cuthbert wants everyone to experience the game before its final release, which is a nice gesture.A second piece of information was the YouTube uploading feature, which isn't anything new, but still very cool. Finally, Cuthbert wants to do one more small, free patch to PixelJunk Monsters. He's requesting what you would like to see in the patch, so let him know. Our idea? A hint on how to best approach each level would be dandy.
PixelJunk Monsters soundtrack only $2.99
Talk about a deal. The first ever downloadable soundtrack to hit the PSN is coming today. Otograph's incredible tunes for PixelJunk Monsters will be available for download ... for only $2.99! We're certainly going to spend some of our virtual PlayStation monies to support Q-Games and Otograph in this endeavor -- how about you?The PlayStation.blog features an interview with the quirky Japanese group behind the soundtrack. An excerpt: "The stages in Monsters are basically one screen so we attempted to use the music to expand the world beyond that for the player, and with just the music, our goal was to arouse the sensation in people to create puzzles."
American PSN Store update for May 8th
Don't feel left out, Americans. Despite how it may feel, Europe isn't the only region getting PSN Store updates this week and today's US update is rather tasty. Between the demos, trailers and PixelJunk Monsters Encore there's more than enough content to keep everyone happy. If you're intrigued about PlayStation Day, however, and want to check out the keynote then, sadly you're out of luck. Here's the full release list:Playable content Rocketmen: Axis of Evil ($10 - game now available from store, rather than from within the demo) Haze demo (free) Bourne Conspiracy demo (free) GRID demo (free) Add-on content PixelJunk Monsters: Encore ($6) Rock Band DLC (found after the break, as usual)
PixelJunk Monsters expansion invades PSN this week
We probably shouldn't be telling you this, but updates on this site are very likely to cease tomorrow, what with the PSN update bringing us the expansion pack to Q-Games' addictive tower defense game, PixelJunk Monsters. Featuring a new island, 15 additional levels, five new music tracks and a $5.99 price tag, PixelJunk Monsters Encore will have us erecting towers for several days at least. Longer if we try to get all the rainbows.Oh well, we suppose we'll just keep recycling all the posts about Grand Theft Auto IV.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
PixelJunk Monsters Encore expansion hits this week
PixelJunk fans rejoice. We told you that Encore would strike the PSN early this month ... and we were right! PixelJunk Monsters Encore brings more tower defense fun to the PS3 this week for a mere $5.99. That's cheaper than a beer at a baseball game. When Thursday comes, we're going to be going crazy chasing some rainbows. Will you join us?
PixelJunk Monsters: originally like a Red Riding Hood game
Last time we heard anything from Q Games and Dylan Cuthbert about PixelJunk Monsters: Encore, we told you the Ice Tower was coming standard and the Tesla tower was getting a lowered cost. Japan got the game last week, but the rest of the world is still waiting. Now we get to hear from SCEA Santa Monica on the game's progress for US release. In their talk with Cuthbert, there are a lot of queries answered but even more to come, so we're only going to graze over what's most important and leave it to you to check out the rest.The game took Encore as its title because, well, it's like at the end of a concert -- you just want a little bit more (plus it was easier for the Japanese crowd to understand). Also, some people complained of plasma TV's getting the game burned onto their screen because they just couldn't stop playing -- there's now an anti-burn option on the game's menu to prevent that.As for Cuthbert himself, his favorite level in the expansion is Racer Gardens, since it's based off of a PixelJunk Racers design. He even gives you a hint on how to beat it -- the big guys always cross the bridge! Interestingly, the game's overall design is based off of Red Riding Hood concepts. At first, our Tiki hero was the girl in red, protecting grandma's house from wolves ... we're exaggerating, but that would have been the basic concept, for sure. Eventually, the design we see now took over. More information to come!
PixelJunk Monsters Encore out in Japan, where's ours? [Update]
If you've recently checked your Japanese PSN account, you may have noticed that PixelJunk Monsters Encore is already available for download. The expansion pack that brings you to the whole new Toki Island, adding in 15 new missions, is priced at ¥600 (US$5.77).That's all well and good for Japan, but what about North America? Will we be seeing a similar price point? And where exactly is our North American expansion? It was given an ambiguous April 2008 release schedule, but has yet to come out all month ... until now -- at least for Japan anyway.We're probably jumping the gun on this one. The North American PlayStation Store has yet been updated today, so there's still a good chance this much wanted add-on will sneak up on there. Although, a stealth release is not of the norm; if the game was ready, we would have heard about it by now. We guess we'll find out soon enough, won't we?[Update: We contacted SCEA. Encore is currently scheduled for an early May release. And by early, we mean really early. Stay tuned.]
What's new in PixelJunk Monsters Encore?
First and foremost, Q Games' Dylan Cuthbert said before this PixelJunk Monsters expansion would be released sooner rather than later. It is so. The expansion is due out sometime in April. That's pretty quick, especially if you spent last night with a friend getting perfect scores on every single map in the original. But anyway, what's new in Encore, the expansion?A new island, Toki Island, is available with 15 new missions. The maps for the missions look quite experimental and different from much of the original island (Tiki Island). At the beginning of missions, you'll now have instant access to the mostly-useless Ice Tower. The cost of the Tesla Tower has decreased to only 10 jewels. You'll have to earn the abilities from the original game again (like running, land mine, et cetera). There's also a strange little bonus island whose purpose is unknown right now. There are also five new music tracks. We're excited, but until we get word of the final build, that's all we know for now.
Spring PSN lineup dated
Sony recently showed off near-final builds of its next wave of original PSN games, and even committed to release time frames, according to MTV Multiplayer. Though weekly releases on the PS Store are largely kept behind the big, black curtain until showtime, it appears that Sony is trying to steal some attention away from the recent bevy of WiiWare boloney "buildup" and the well-oiled Xbox Live Arcade machine by generating previews of its own. So how 'bout those dates: Late April: PixelJunk Monsters Encore (expansion pack) Early May: Echochrome May: Elefunk Late May / early June: WipEout HD
