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Creat reveals Smash Cars for PSN, coming Q2 2009
Creat Studio's unrelenting dedication to providing PSN games continues today with the announcement of Smash Cars, a "followup" to the studio's PS2 game of the same name. Available some time between April and July, Smash Cars is a "high-speed mini car racing game with a distinct arcade flavor." From the description on the PlayStation Blog it seems to be a stunt racer. and will feature car customization as well as single and multiplayer support.The game will be available to play at Sony's booth at GDC next week, so no doubt we'll have some hands-on impressions ready for you at some point during the show.%Gallery-48220%
Do you want Galaxy's End?
Remember Galaxy's End? The PSP-exclusive RTS game from Tiki Games was never finished, but the advent of the PSP-direct PlayStation Store has created an opportunity for the developers to continue work and release it to the masses. "When we started Galaxy's End we absolutely needed a publisher at some point - not just for the financial aspect but to get it into stores. Now that the PLAYSTATION Store has been added for the PSP we have the opportunity to finish the game and release it as a digital download (like NOVASTRIKE)."But, there's still a year's worth of work left for the team before they can prepare the RTS for release. And, there's the question of money. "Quite frankly we don't have the finances to finish Galaxy's End right now. So we'll likely have to look for another loan. And I'll need to convince my family (who are presently self-funding Tiki Games) that there's a large enough audience that would be willing to purchase a downloadable real-time strategy game for the PSP."So how can you help? "If you feel you would purchase a well-designed and fun real-time strategy game for the PSP near the end of 2009 then I'd appreciate if you can email galaxysend@tikigames.net with a simple 'Finish it' in the subject line."To read more about the game, check out our Galaxy's End category.
Trophies: Novastrike
0 Platinum0 Gold4 Silver12 Bronze Difficulty: Very Difficult Online Trophies? No Time to Completion: 15 hoursDLC Trophies? No View Trophy List Read More About the Game %Gallery-18140%
Novastrike update coming in 'next few weeks'
PSN title Novastrike will receive a major update in the next few weeks. Kevin McCann, president of Tiki Games, writes on the PlayStation Blog that the patch will tame the difficulty levels a bit, add Trophies and make several other tweaks to the top-down omni-directional kill-anything-that-moves shooter. For those who purchased the $10 title, the list of changes made appears to be quite significant and might be worth giving the title another spin. McCann writes that he's looking forward to hearing from those who stopped playing the game due to the difficulty issues once the patch is released, while reiterating that a European release for the game will happen "as soon as possible." %Gallery-18141%
Novastrike to get significant update (and European release) in August
Did you download Novastrike? It's PSN's first self-published game from independent studio Tiki Games. The game got a rough start when it released a few weeks ago, but after listening to player feedback, the developers are going to adjust the game and make it even more accessible to the masses. The biggest complaint with the title appears to be the relentless difficulty: "These modes were meant to be along the lines of casual, normal, and hard difficulty. Based on responses we've seen so far it looks like we ended up with something more like hard, harder, and hardest. Umm, oops?"A new update, planned for August, will not only rebalance the difficulty to make it feasible for mortals, it will also give fully customizable controls, a new fine-aim mode for weapons, and a larger player ship to make it easier to see the action. Most excitingly, PSN trophies will also be supported (with fifteen being added to the game).Once these tweaks are done, the patch will be made available for all that purchased the game already. In addition, this newly updated version of Novastrike will be made available for European gamers as well. We're rooting for you, Tiki Games -- as an independent developer exclusively supporting PlayStation, we certainly commend your efforts.%Gallery-18140%
NovaStrike hitting the US PSN Store tomorrow
NovaStrike is heading to the PSN Store very soon. Tomorrow, in fact. This has been announced by Kevin McCann, President of Tiki Games via the PlayStation Blog. After giving us a brief biography, McCann goes on to explain what exactly NovaStrike is and announces that it will be made available in the US (no word on EU) in tomorrow's PSN Store update.We've had some hands on time with the game in the past, so check that out if you're on the fence about buying the game or not. Mostly we suspect it will come down to price, though there's no mention of how much we're expected to pay for the game. Check back tomorrow when we'll have the full PSN update list and, in the meantime, check out the video above to see the game in action.
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: NovaStrike
We've recently had a go with NovaStrike, an upcoming arcade shooter from Tiki Games for the PlayStation Network. We tested out several early builds of the new IP and each build got progressively better. Despite this, there were quite a few glaring flaws that need to be addressed. Here's our impression on the game thus far.%Gallery-18140%
What ever happened to Tiki Games?
Remember Tiki Games? They're the guys that were working on an independent PSP title called Galaxy's End, a very solid RTS game we were able to test at last year's GDC. Our coverage on PSP Fanboy netted the development team a lot of prospects, but ultimately the team wasn't able to secure a publisher for Galaxy's End. Instead, the team moved on to their next project: a PS3 title that we hinted at many months ago (rather obscurely, in the comments section).NovaStrike is hitting the PS3 as a downloadable title. Nodding its hat to retro gaming, this shooter looks like a very energetic addition to the PSN. We're hoping it does well, because we know the guys at Tiki are dying to make some PSP titles. If NovaStrike gets the attention we hope it does, Tiki might be able to get Galaxy's End into our hands afterall. Gallery: NovaStrike
Tiki Games officially presents NovaStrike for PSN
About a month ago we discovered that a new PSN game called NovaStrike snuck silently onto the ESRB website. Since then, developer Tiki Games remained hushed about the company's new IP. Today, however, that silence is broken as Tiki is ready to spill the full bag of beans on this top-down sci-fi shooter.The objective of NovaStrike is to defend your home world from an invasion of Draelus aliens -- the very same aliens you've stolen military technology from. Ah, it's a bit ironicly satisfying to blow up aliens with their own tech, especially when you're piloting a highly customizable Scythe fighter with nine different weapon systems. As for your enemies, they've got a pretty good defense in that their ships won't go down so easy -- no, their ships are equipped with multiple destructible sections. So strategy-wise, focusing on what part of the ship to destroy first adds a bit of a spin on the usual arcade shooting experience, and it will definitely make the difference in a heated conflict.Probably one of the coolest and most welcomed features of the game is that it supports the DualShock 3. Rumble support is always a win in our eyes. And better yet, Tiki Games stated that the company will be developing additional content in the following months after the game's release. While a fixed release date has yet to be cemented, gamers should expect to see this title floating up on the PSN sometime within Q2 2008. To find out more about NovaStrike, check out Tiki Games' website.%Gallery-18140%
Novastrike shooting up PSN in Q2 '08
Independent developer Tiki Games has announced a refreshing return to good old-fashioned xenophobia in Novastrike, a top-down arcade shooter that dispenses with all the diplomatic, lovey-dovey pleasantries we've recently exhibited towards extra-terrestrials. Scheduled to arrive on the PlayStation Network during 2008's second quarter, Novastrike will have you annihilating aliens (the "Draelus," in this round) across seven "expansive challenging stages." As you might expect, you'll be able to terminate the intergalactic immigrants with the aid of upgradeable weaponry and a host of friendly fighters, bombers and useful-sounding destroyers.Considering the glut of omni-directional shooters currently clouding our digitally distributed sky, we hope Novastrike can at least match the genre's top dogfighters. Make it like that one with the colorful shapes, or the one with the asteroids, please.%Gallery-18141%
New PSN game discovered on ESRB site: NovaStrike
ESRB listings are always a fun way to hunt for upcoming hidden gems; today's rummaging uncovers a new PS3 game called NovaStrike. The game, according to onAXIS, is a top-down arcade-type shooter that should arrive on the PlayStation Network sometime soon. NovaStrike, made by Tiki Games (makers of the PSP-exclusive RTS, Galaxy's End), lets you take control of an advanced Scythe fighter ... which you ultimately use to blow up aliens. Aliens of all kinds really, including groundlings, enemy fighters, capital ships and bosses. We can't reveal more about the game quite yet. However, rest assured that you'll see much more of this upcoming PSN title in the coming weeks. [Thanks Joe! Via onAXIS]
Galaxy's End weekly video: Siege Mode
This will be the last video for a while until we have some real progress to show (new units, maps, and so forth). We really appreciate the interest in Galaxy's End, and hope that interest continues.
Galaxy's End weekly video: Mission Start
Every week for the next few weeks, we'll be showing you one new video from Galaxy's End, a PSP-exclusive RTS that currently has no publisher. I got my hands on a playable at GDC, and it looked pretty good. Through this new footage, you'll also be able to judge for yourself.
Galaxy's End weekly video: HQ Construction
Every week for the next few weeks, we'll be showing you one new video from Galaxy's End, a PSP-exclusive RTS that currently has no publisher. I got my hands on a playable at GDC, and it looked pretty good. Through this new footage, you'll also be able to judge for yourself.
Galaxy's End weekly video: Encounters
Every week for the next few weeks, we'll be showing you one new video from Galaxy's End, a PSP-exclusive RTS that currently has no publisher. I got my hands on a playable at GDC, and it looked pretty good. Through this new footage, you'll also be able to judge for yourself.
GDC 07: Galaxy's End hands-on
Lead designer Kevin McCann loves the PSP, and he's going to incredible lengths to show his undying affiliation for Sony's portable. Sure, Galaxy's End could be made for other systems, such as PS3, but the game was "created from the ground up" for play specifically on the PSP. Although Galaxy's End still doesn't have a publisher, the prospects for one seem better every time we see the game: after today's hands-on demonstration, it's clear that this game has what it takes to succeed.The graphics look quite nice on the PSP's screen. The game is surprisingly colorful, and features a good deal of animation. Of particular note: the flora looks especially nice; it all comes ot life through some great animation. The number of enemies on screen can be quite plentiful, but there are clearly a few things that need to be fixed later down the road: explosions need a good deal of work, and pop-in was a regularity thanks to the fog of war.It'll be months before the game ever comes out (if it does), but even at this early stage, the controls felt solid. The basic controls involve simply pressing the X and Square buttons to select troops and target enemies. Moving with the analog nub felt precise, thanks to tweaking done by Tiki Games. The simplistic nature of the controls made it incredibly accessible, in spite of some problematic AI glitches (which should be fixed later on). With solid controls, and a meticulously detailed design document, It's clear that a lot of thought and effort has gone behind this game. Expect to see more on this title soon.
The Trials and Tribulations of Tiki Games, part 3
Tiki Games is currently developing a PSP-exclusive RTS game called "Galaxy's End." Read more about the trials and tribulations of being an upstart developer in this three-part series by Tiki Games President Kevin J. McCann. See part 1 of the feature here. See part 2 of the feature here. That said we've recently begun to get some interest both from potential investors to major publishers. One of the publishers even contacted me due to Galaxy's End appearing on PSP Fanboy – so thanks to Andrew (and thanks to Joe who originally passed us along). Toward the end of 2006 I was concerned that Galaxy's End may not see the light of day (not to mention financial concerns since Tiki Games is self-funded). But now I'm feeling a bit more optimistic (a somewhat dangerous thing to feel, but it helps) that we're finally getting close to landing a real contract. I'd also like to thank the various posters at PSP Fanboy (and other forums) that have responded positively toward the little glimpse of Galaxy's End. It's reaffirming for us at Tiki Games to see largely positive feedback toward our game from our intended customer-base. For those of you that feel the RTS genre can't be done justice due to potential control issues on the PSP – we (and the publishers that have seen our game) feel the controls are solid. The key is designing the game from the ground-up with the PSP in mind – specifically designing with its controls and screen dimensions in mind. Not simply porting a PC RTS to a handheld – instead taking the most popular elements of the RTS and "translating" them to a handheld, while adding a few innovations/improvements of our own. Likewise for those of you wanting Blizzard's WarCraft/StarCraft or EA's C&C series – give us a try. We're aiming to surprise you with a solid RTS experience on a handheld. Besides, those guys are doing well already! ;) While Galaxy's End future is still uncertain, hopefully we'll secure a publishing deal soon. Your enthusiasm and spreading the word does indeed help. Thanks again. Sincerely,Kevin McCannPresident / Creative DirectorTiki Games, Inc.
The Trials and Tribulations of Tiki Games, part 2
Tiki Games is currently developing a PSP-exclusive RTS game called "Galaxy's End." Read more about the trials and tribulations of being an upstart developer in this three-part series by Tiki Games President Kevin J. McCann. See part 1 of the feature here. Looking back, there are things I've done right, and other aspects that were in some senses just plain naïve. The areas that were right were our approach to the tools/technology and assembling core team members that I've worked with while avoiding anyone that had egos (or primadonna attitudes) and laying out the design and milestones before actually bringing the team onboard. The last thing you want to do is be writing designs while a team is being paid and waiting for you to finish designs. This happens a lot in the game industry – so I was happy to avoid it. And I targeted the RTS genre because it's a genre I really enjoy, and I wanted Tiki Games to be the first to create a high-quality RTS for the PSP. The PSP has the power to do a very attractive 3D RTS which made it even sweeter. But for what I did right there were also things that were naïve. It's easy to convince yourself "I'll create an original IP for the PSP that focuses on an untapped market – the RTS. It's huge on the PC – let's try to bring them over by creating an RTS from the ground-up for the PSP. And we'll also be relatively low-cost in terms of overall budget. Surely publishers will appreciate that!" In reality, while myself and my team had been in the industry for a long time, and shipped a number of titles, as a new start-up we're unproven from a publisher's viewpoint. And an original IP isn't nearly as powerful as having a license for some big property. So to step into this with "I'll create a new IP in the RTS genre for the PSP. We'll then create a solid proof-of-concept playable demo. How can it go wrong?" Well, toward the end of 2006 I did a lot of traveling (and have done similar this year so far), and while Galaxy's End was well-received at most publishers, we're still a new company with no shipped titles, and the RTS genre doesn't equate to guaranteed success on a handheld. We had some extremely positive meetings with publishers – they felt the game looked sharp, that we had conquered any control doubts (meaning the game does play well on a handheld), and they liked the overall game concept. Then the following week was something along the lines of "marketing finds it too risky." Lots of temporary elated moments followed by extended periods of frustration. See part 3 of this feature tomorrow on PSP Fanboy.
The Trials and Tribulations of Tiki Games, part 1
Tiki Games is currently developing a PSP-exclusive RTS game called "Galaxy's End." Read more about the trials and tribulations of being an upstart developer in this three-part series by Tiki Games President Kevin J. McCann. I've been working in the game industry for a little over ten years, always in lead designer capacity, and also wearing the dual-hat of producer for half that time as well. It's not uncommon for game industry developers in various game studios to want to do their own thing so they "can do it right." When you work in a large game development studio you can start with the best of intentions and a design you feel really rocks, but along the way various levels of interference – from fellow team members all the way up through various levels of management – can and generally will alter your original game vision. And virtually never in a way you feel is favorable. I've worked on large projects and they tend to be over budget and fairly disorganized. It's also hard to establish a good team dynamic on a large team – you get various factions, unnecessary politics, and so forth. Basically things that get in the way of putting together a great game. I've been trying to start my own company for several years now. And I wanted to avoid having an unnecessarily large team, and do something I've never had the opportunity to do on prior projects – a real preproduction cycle. So in November and December of 2005 I wrote game designs and assembled a preliminary milestone schedule for Galaxy's End. Another thing I wanted to avoid was bloated budgets – being a self-funded start-up, the best approach was to target a smaller platform (the PSP) where a small but talented team can create an extremely high-quality game with solid production values for a reasonable budget. In January 2006 I hired my team (folks I had worked with in the past, so I knew they could get the job done) and we began working on our first major milestone – a proof-of-concept playable build of Galaxy's End. We also designed our tools and engine to be scalable to different genres and platforms (so that if we later wanted to make a shooter or RPG it wouldn't be starting from scratch). See part 2 of this feature tomorrow on PSP Fanboy.
Galaxy's End: help make this RTS a reality
An avid PSP Fanboy reader, Joe, sent us in a great tip about this upcoming PSP RTS. It's called Galaxy's End, and will support not only Ad-Hoc multiplayer, but Infrastructure as well. The graphics look to impress, and the gameplay looks fast and fun. So what's the problem?There's no publisher for this game. It comes from a new dev team called Tiki Games, and it seems publishers are wary of supporting an original IP from an untested team. However, this game looks like it has some awesome potential. Check out the trailer, after the cut, to see for yourself. What do you think, PSP Fanboy readers? Are you interested in this game?
