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Amazon acquires Reflexive for digital distribution
Amazon.com has taken another step toward launching the Amazon Software Download store this week, acquiring casual games distributor Reflexive Entertainment for an unspecified sum. Reflexive CEO Lars Brubaker announced the deal on his company's blog with much enthusiasm (and, no doubt, newly swelled pockets). While recognized as a capable developer (Reflexive's Wik & The Fable of Souls nabbed an IGF award in '05), Reflexive was more likely targeted by Amazon for its experience in running its own digital distribution portal.In February, Amazon posted a job listing for a software development engineer to join the company's Software and Video Games Digital Technology team to develop a digital distribution platform for games. To want extent Reflexive is aiding, or simply replacing that team is unknown. "We can't talk about everything yet, but we'll be in touch shortly with more information," Brubaker promises.
Piracy a huge problem for casual game devs
You perhaps remember when a hilarious chain of journalistic ineptitude lead to one publication reporting that 90 percent of DS users were using R4 chips for piracy. We scoffed at the obviously off-the-mark statistic at the time, but it's important to remember that there is another industry that does face such ubiquitous piracy: Casual gaming. According a piece penned by Reflexive director of marketing Russell Carroll, a staggering 92 percent of those playing the company's Ricochet Infinity pirated the game.Carroll goes on to weigh the various causes for the problem as well as possible solutions, but he also mentions that his company handles digital rights management in-house rather than outsourcing them like most of the industry. ... Are we the only ones that look at that fact and think that just maybe we've cracked "The Case of the 92 Percent Thefts"? Just saying.
Wik devs plant The Great Tree for PC
With 14 titles to its credit, developer Reflexive Entertainment is feeling mighty proud of itself, sticking out its chest and passing out cigars as it awaits the arrival of its 15th and latest progeny, a "grown-up story of good and evil" called The Great Tree. Set for release for the PC on December 19, the game is illustrated by the same artist behind Wik and the Fable of Souls, and even a cursory glance at this latest game's initial screens shows much in common between the two titles, namely with characters and designs that creep us right out. Even so, the game certainly looks interesting, as it lets you control a diminutive (and customizable) fairy throughout 100 different tree-filled levels, though if they are populated with creatures like that eerie tree-face thing, we're likely not to make it very far.
