Rebellion-Developments
Latest
Zombie Army Trilogy announced for PC, PS4, Xbox One
British developer Rebellion revealed a revamped third-person shooter bundle for PC, PS4 and Xbox One today, Zombie Army Trilogy. As the studio hinted in February 2014, the collection features both Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army and its sequel, stand-alone expansions of the developer's tactical shooter, Sniper Elite V2. The package also includes "the never-seen-before third installment in the series and a brand new horde mode." Both Nazi Zombie Army and the second expansion launched in 2013 for PC. Zombie Army Trilogy will include 15 missions that span three campaigns and five horde maps with up to four-player cooperative multiplayer options. The trilogy is available for pre-order on Steam for $45, and Rebellion is "offering an exclusive loyalty discount to owners of the first two Nazi Zombie Army games via Steam before launch," though it did not specify how sizable the discount will be. According to the bundle's Steam page, the trilogy is expected to launch on March 6, though Rebellion only noted that the game will launch in "early 2015." Head past the break to see Zombie Army Trilogy's first gruesome trailer. [Image: Rebellion]
Sniper Elite 3 'expected in 2014' on PS3, Xbox and next-gen platforms
A third entry in the Sniper Elite series is coming to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and next-gen platforms. That's according to a financial press release released in January by the parent company of 505 Games, the Milan-based Digital Bros. We asked 505 Games why everyone missed the fanfare for its new shooter."We were hoping the news would remain quiet within the Italian financial community until we could formally announce the game which we plan to do soon," a company representative told Joystiq. Sniper Elite 3 is "expected in 2014" from independent developer Rebellion, which owns the Sniper Elite franchise.According to the original financial release [PDF], Sniper Elite 3 "will have an impact on the Group's revenues for FY 2013-2013 of 28.6 million Euros (approximately $37M USD)." The release states that Sniper Elite V2 – which launched in 2012 for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 – "gained worldwide success around 1.1 million copies and 28.6 million revenues sold since the April 2012 launch to the end of December."Update: 505 Games has confirmed to Joystiq that Sniper Elite 3 is also in development for PC. [Sniper Elite V2 pictured]
Sniper Elite V2 demo coming next month
Sniper Elite V2 publisher 505 Games has told Joystiq that a demo for Rebellion's upcoming reboot is scheduled to arrive in April, one month ahead of the game's May release. The demo will be made available on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, though "the final date is not yet scheduled," the publisher told us.A PC version of Sniper Elite V2 is also in the works, which will be self-published by Rebellion. Reps for the game tell Joystiq a demo for the PC is also planned for "sometime next month."There's no telling what the demo will include, but Joystiq's recent preview should give you a good idea of what's in store. Sniper Elite V2 -- and its Kill Hitler pre-order bonus -- launches on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on May 4.When asked if the bonus would be made available as premium DLC in the future, a rep told Joystiq the developer has yet to determine the content's fate following launch. Our guess is Rebellion will give everyone a shot at the world's most hated man at some point -- it's just a question of cost.%Gallery-151767%
Targeting the Axis powers in Sniper Elite V2
I walk into a large conference room late, having dealt with a parking lot maze. As I enter, I spot a television well into a demo -- a bullet ejects from a Springfield rifle, time slows following it to an enemy, and cuts through a Nazi soldier like a chainsaw through a stick of butter.Reps from developer Rebellion and publisher 505 Games are huddled over the monitors, showing off Sniper Elite V2, a reboot of Rebellion's 2005 Sniper Elite for PC, PS2, Wii, and Xbox. The demo, I'm told, had only just started. "We get right into the action," a PR spokesperson tells me. But the action in Sniper Elite V2 isn't about quick progression through its Battle of Berlin setting -- it is methodical.%Gallery-151767%
Rebellion (Rogue Warrior, AvP) seeking to emphasize quality, rebuild reputation
Rebellion, the studio behind Rogue Warrior and Aliens vs Predator, is looking to change its reputation for less-than-average quality. Speaking to Edge (via MCV), CEO Jason Kingsley says the company is trying to turn things around. "It's now a deliberate policy to move away from making games that might have been good for business, but not necessarily good for our reputation," Kingsley stated. "You're only as good as the deal you're offered. If someone says 'Can you make me a game in nine months?' then the answer is, 'Probably. But it won't be as good as a game where we've had creative input and the time to mature the idea.'" Rebellion is currently working on NeverDead and Sniper Elite V2. The road to redemption is a tricky one after high-profile incidents. Just ask Obsidian.
NeverDead preview: Still alive
Developer Shinta Nojiri has said that he wanted to try and make NeverDead a game where the protagionist just couldn't die, and indeed, in my short time with the game here at Comic-Con, despite my best efforts, I just couldn't kill Bryce Boltzmann. Which isn't to say that I didn't try. I inflicted a whole lot of violence upon the demon hunter, most of it actually self-inflicted. Within just the short demo, I pulled off limbs, electrocuted him, set him on fire, blew him up, dropped a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton on him, let him be mauled by a demon, ripped his head off (and threw it in a fountain), and just generally tore him apart. But each time I did, he relentlessly persisted in living, re-assembling his limbs either just by rolling over them, or clicking in the L3 stick. You just can't kill this dude. %Gallery-125983%
Rebellion games hit GOG.com, we give them to you (just like that) [update]
Before teaming up with Sega recently for a new iteration of Aliens vs Predator, UK development house Rebellion made a handful of classic PC titles (yes, we know, including the original Aliens vs Predator). Starting today and continuing over the course of the next few weeks, GOG.com will be offering the company's titles through its site (DRM-free, XP and Vista compatible game, priced to move), starting with Ground Control (Dark Conspiracy expansion included) and Evil Genius. Lords of Magic, Empire Earth, "and more" are in the pipeline for the next few weeks.To celebrate the release, the fine folks at Good Old Games were nice enough to hand us a few codes -- seven in all, just to keep you on your toes -- for not just the games released today but, well, anything on the site you'd like. That's right, folks, you can use the codes on anything from Elixir's Evil Genius to Ubisoft's Beyond Good & Evil to Epic's Unreal Tournament (and everything in between, in case you were wondering). All you have to do is keep your eye on the Joystiq Twitter page over the course of the day to try and win one of them. Hit the break for an exhilarating explanation of how to redeem a code.Update: All codes have been redeemed! Thanks to everyone who participated and to GOG.com for providing us with the codes.
The Simpsons Game: Glancing a mainstream review
Reading entertainment trade publication Variety's review of The Simpsons Game makes it pretty obvious that as video games evolve, and mainstream publications start doing more reviews, so too do the methods of evaluating them. The Simpson's Game seems to be one of those anomalies we're running into more frequently, where the game may not be all that to typical game review publications (and certainly not worth $60), but still presents an experience worth having (Heavenly Sword says "hello"). The games are neither evolutionary nor revolutionary for the hardcore, and so the reviewers give it a whatever score and move on to the next game they have to rate and berate. Variety got a lot of flak for their Metroid Prime 3 review because it was written from a mainstream perspective. They pointed out to their average mainstream audience that Metroid probably isn't the Wii game for them if they don't know "the rules" of a Metroid game -- just think of trying to teach a non-gamer how to play Metroid compared to Wii Sports. In the case of The Simpsons Game, Variety goes and recommends an average game because they believe the writing could sustain their mainstreamer through the experience. While we frequently put gameplay above story, Variety and more mainstream pubs might see things reversed. It may not be all that simple, but it's plain to see that reviews can be influenced by the audiences they're written for.
Metareview: The Simpsons Game (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2)
D'oh! It's like reliving the early '90s all over again with a ho-hum Simpsons console game on the market. At least they got the humor right this time ('cause they had the actual Simpsons' writers). The Simpsons Game released this week and reviews have it hovering in the 70 point range. Many were hoping this game would bring video game fun to The Simpsons like only The Simpsons Arcade Game gave us those many, many years ago. EA could have made buckets of cash just copying Konami's simple formula from over a decade ago and we wonder if the reviews might have been slightly better. Game Informer (73/100): "For all of its self-referential humor and nods to gaming classics (there are brief segments mimicking the likes of Frogger, Space Invaders, and Wolfenstein 3D), the process of actually playing The Simpsons Game is unfortunately average. The chuckles along the way make it worth the trouble for fans, but if you don't know Arman Tamzarian from Disco Stu, most of the game's redeeming elements will fall on deaf, bored ears." Game Daily (70/100): "Obviously, Simpsons nuts will thoroughly enjoy the game, not for its excessive box breaking and switch hitting, but for all of the sweet content and attractive visuals, sans the characters. For $59.99, you basically receive an eight to ten hour interactive bonus episode. At the very least, it makes for a great rental." GameSpot (70/100): "In the end, The Simpsons Game is one of those weird cases where a recommendation of it is based less on its merits as a game and more on its merits as an experience. The things that make this game are its sense of humor, sharp writing, and excellent presentation. The gameplay isn't awful by any means, but it's also completely unmemorable. It's something that's more to be put up with while you appreciate the many other things going on than enjoyed on its own merits. That might not sound like a ringing endorsement, but The Simpsons Game is absolutely worth playing. Games this spot-on in the humor category don't come along too often. Considering what a fantastic job it does spoofing the variety of clichés and crutches our favorite pastime relies upon, that's got to count for something."
Simpsons writers say Rockstar 'spazzed' over GTA spoof
The writers behind The Simpsons Game aren't too impressed with Rockstar's recent apoplexy over the game's "Grand Theft Scratchy" parody level. In an interview with Game Head's Geoff Keighley, Simpsons Executive Producer and Writer Matt Selman said the Grand Theft Auto makers "spazzed out like little babies" over marketing that included a poster for the parody game. Selman told Keighley that it's ridiculous to expect gamers to think an Itchy and Scratchy poster is actually promoting a real Grand Theft Auto game. He also said the concern was particularly ironic coming from Rockstar, a company whose "games are full of satire, lame attempts at parody... basically putting the words sixty-nine in wherever they can find it, that's their idea of a joke." That's known in the comedy business as a roast. While EA's lawyers have been quick to remove any "Grand Theft" references from the game's marketing, Selman hinted that the Grand Theft Scratchy content could make it into the final game unaltered. If that happens, will Rockstar react like the cool rock stars their name implies or will we hear more baby-like spazzing? Here's hoping for the latter ... it makes for a great headline. Check out the interview after the break. [Via GamePolitics]
No more 'Grand Theft Scratchy' in Simpsons Game
It seems that Rockstar was pretty serious about having EA remove references to their IP from The Simpsons Game. 1UP reports that the previously titled "Grand Theft Scratchy" trailer has been replaced with an entirely identical vignette, now titled "Mob Rules." All other content in the trailer remains the same, meaning that either Rockstar only really had a guff with the name, or that EA hasn't heard the last from the Liberty City attorneys.
Today's universe-imploding video: Will Wright in The Simpsons Game
Is it any wonder that Spore keeps getting pushed back further and further when creator Will Wright is doing things like taking his sweet time to make a cameo appearance in The Simpsons Game? Good lord, man. Every waking minute you have should be spent poring over Spore. In fact, now that we think about it, do you really even need to sleep? At this point it is probably assured that Will has rigged up some machine that eliminates his need for sleep cycles altogether. Probably whipped it up during downtime while developing The Sims. Check out Game Head's latest video above, which includes the fabled Will Wright appearance. He's sandwiched between Call of Duty 4 tidbits, but it's a small price to pay for his lines alone. Plus they make his little mustache look evil as well. Now, get back to work.
Simpsons Game parodies those crazy Japanese and their wacky games
Hoping that the Japanese have a better sense of humor than their American counterparts, EA has released a trailer featuring the previously-discussed "Big Super Happy Fun Fun Land" section of The Simpsons Game, which parodies Japanese culture as well as (apparently) Japanese video games. Pardon the parentheticals, but the only game we see spoofed in this trailer is Katamari Damacy. Yes, we see Mr. Sparkle; We see the anime-inspired cutscene; We (unfortunately) hear the high-pitched "engrish"; But where are the games? Are we missing something obvious? Take a look for yourselves after the break, and please enlighten us.
Rockstar, others upset with Simpsons game
It's rare that a good video game parody comes along that isn't featured on YouTube, so you'd think that developers would relish the chance to get mocked by some of the minds behind The Simpsons Game, which includes goofs on popular games like Neverquest and Medal of Homer. Unfortunately, it seems that not everyone is in on the joke. CVG reports that some of the game's content had to be pulled because the companies were unhappy with the way their licenses were being tweaked. The only company called out by name is Rockstar, which reportedly asked during Leipzig that a poster featuring Grand Theft Scratchy be removed. The article does mention that the Harmonix staff got a kick out of posters for Sitar Hero, though why they'd be OK with others making fun of Guitar Hero at this point in their careers is beyond us.
Today's hottest MMO trailer: The Simpsons in Neverquest
It looks almost as enjoyable as World of Colbercraft. Almost. The latest trailer for The Simpsons game shows off the Neverquest level, where Homer and Marge take on a strikingly familiar two-headed dragon. The quality of the trailer tells us that, just like how we felt with our hands-on at E3, the developers are really using the license well. Video embedded after the break.
New Simpsons parody section includes Mr. Sparkle
EA introduced a new parody section of The Simpsons Game called "Big Super Happy Fun Fun Land," if we're transcribing our notes correctly. In a brief video presented to journalists, the game-and-culture send-up mocked Pokemon, Engrish, and other intersections of East-meets-West. While just a small piece of the game, the inclusion of Mr. Sparkle meant we had to post the otherwise light news. Check out the updated gallery for more images. There's your answer, fish-bulb. %Gallery-3045%
Seen@E3: all in the (animated) family
Lounging outside the Electronic Arts suite at Loews is the beloved animated family the Simpsons, obviously waiting for their appointment to try out The Simpsons game. That's not a remote control in Homer's hand; that's pure bribery. Mmm, come heeere bloggers, I've got caaaandy ...
Matt Groening to be final boss in Simpsons game
The first family of cartoon comedy will finally meet their maker after 18 years. Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, and whose life is certainly not hell, will appear in the upcoming The Simpsons Game. Groening tells Eurogamer, "They did a send-up of video games. It's a video game about video games; and I'm in the video game. I'm a boss that you have to fight at the end of the game." So according to Groening he'll be the final boss in the Simpson video game. Sounds like the perfect final boss. If this were 19th century literature we'd have been forced to read it in high school due to the subtext of one man fighting his creation, to which he'll inevitably succumb. Groening says he had a good time recording for the game, "It was really fun recording a million ways of dying, going 'UGGH, ARGGH, EUURGH!'" The Simpsons Game will be out this fall, now can we finally get The Simpsons arcade game on XBLA or PSN?.
Joystiq impressions: The Simpsons Game
This week, EA has been strutting The Simpsons Game (working title) with good reason; I sat in on a demo and was impressed with the style and visuals of the game. EA -- in collaborating with Gracie Films and Fox -- seems to respect the franchise and wants to deliver an authentic Simpsons game, citing 8,000 lines of original dialogue created by show writers and recorded by the original cast. The Simpsons Game looked as good as I could imagine, with great graphics and a sense that EA understands the franchise, but there's always a caveat; EA only showed the style and basics, so I have little idea of if the "Game" part of the working title will be realized. Due Fall, 2007 for all current platforms besides PC, if it's fun to play -- and yes, that's a critical "if" -- The Simpsons Game could rate high compared to any title, not just franchise tie-ins. At the very least, it should be the best-looking Simpsons game yet. %Gallery-3045%
EA announces The Simpsons for every console known to Man
Using the license for the first time since acquiring it in late 2005, Electronic Arts has announced plans to bring The Simpsons to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, DS, PS2, and PSP. The title was announced at a party celebrating the show's 400th episode. The game will feature 16 levels designed as separate episodes, each with their own unique title animation, setting and story. The Simpsons family are cognizant that they are in a video game and use that to justify giving themselves special powers. The game's intention is to serve as satire for pop culture and the video game industry. Shown at the event were posters mocking other franchises: Bartman Begins, Medal of Homer, NeverQuest and Grand Theft Scratchy: Blood Island. It is unclear if any of these jokes were just for the party or if they will make it into the final game. A build of the game was briefly shown at the event (note the Xbox 360 next to the screen in the images). GameSpot has impressions from the demonstration. The Simpsons is planned for a release this fall. %Gallery-3045% [Via Pro-G]
