wayforward
Latest
Here's a picture of that Adventure Time collector's edition
The BMO steelbook case included in the 3DS collector's edition for Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! looks like this – adorable, desirable and altogether BMO-y. Also included is the game, a DVD with extras, and Finn and Jake's Dungeon Guide, all for $40. Look closer here.
Mighty Switch Force 2 cannons onto Wii U tomorrow
Mighty Switch Force 2 will make a splash on Wii U when it comes to the system's eShop in tomorrow's North American update. According to developer WayForward, other regions will get the firefighting platformer eight days later on October 25. WayForward's sequel makes the jump from 3DS to Wii U just like the first MSF did, so we'd expect off-TV support to feature once again. MSF 2 switches Patricia Wagon's vocation by replacing her gun with a water cannon, a perhaps minor move but one that JC Fletcher was happy with when he played it on 3DS: "I am totally okay with this, because Mighty Switch Force didn't need to change. It's an impressively economical 3DS game that packs a lot of interesting phase-shifting puzzle platforming into a relatively small set of levels, and the sequel fits the same description to a tee."
Crowdfund Bookie: Inafune's mighty $3.8 million haul
The Crowdfund Bookie crunches data from select successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns that ended during the week and produces pretty charts for you to look at. The power of Keiji Inafune's name couldn't be more evident than in this highly-profitable week in crowdfunding, which covers the Kickstarter projects for Mighty No. 9, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, Sunless Sea, DCS WWII: Europe 1944, Neverending Nightmares, Penguemic, Mysterious Cities of Gold, Hot Tin Roof: The Cat That Wore A Fedora, Data Hacker: Corruption and Neo-Victorian Skirmish Squad. Mighty No. 9, the action platformer project from the Mega Man creator earned the most money this week ($3,845,170) and had the highest number of backers (67,226). LearnDistrict Inc's educational game Penguemic: Word Domination had the highest average pledge per person of the group ($160.81). Head past the break to see the week's results and our set of fancy charts.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero raises $776k in funding campaign [Update]
WayForward's Kickstarter project for platformer Shantae: Half-Genie Hero ended today, raising a total of $776,084. The project's final amount was enough to push it past the developer's $700,000 "Costume Swap" stretch goal, which will offer players three more fully-animated outfits for use in the game. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero has players leaping through side-scrolling levels as series protagonist and belly-dancing genie Shantae, using her has a whip-like weapon and dancing to transform into other creatures. WayForward likens the series to that of Metroid and The Legend of Zelda, as it encourages exploration and puzzle-solving in order to see the adventure through to completion. Half-Genie Hero's journey is separated in chapters, each including new "subplots, friends and foes, a new Transformation to discover, puzzles to solve, hazards to overcome and a Boss to conquer." The game will launch on a number of platforms in August 2014: PS3, Xbox 360, Steam, PS Vita, Vita TV, Wii U and next-gen consoles PS4 and Xbox One. Update: WayForward added an update to its Kickstarter page, noting that it earned $35,878 from PayPal donors, bringing the total amount of funding to $811,962. It plans to keep its PayPal funding open, and pledges through that system remain eligible for the project's reward tiers.
Mordecai and Rigby go 8-bit this month in Regular Show for 3DS
Rigby, Mordecai, and their troubled pals will make their Nintendo 3DS debut later this month, as D3 Publisher announced that Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land has gone gold today ahead of its planned retail launch on October 29. Based on the Cartoon Network animated series, Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land traps the anti-heroic pair in a retro-styled video game that takes cues from classic platformers and shoot-'em-ups. Developer WayForward is also working on a multiplatform sequel to its Adventure Time release from last year, adding to the team's growing catalog of Cartoon Network-inspired games with wordy titles.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero hits first stretch goal, adds bonus campaign
WayForward has surpassed the first stretch goal for its Kickstarter-funded platformer, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, ensuring the finished product will include a second, alternate storyline. In addition to its main adventure mode starring the belly-dancing genie Shantae, Half-Genie Hero will now feature a mode that features series antagonist Risky Boots as a playable character. If Half-Genie Hero's Kickstarter campaign reaches $600,000 in pledges by its deadline on Friday, WayForward will also add a bonus storyline chapter to the game, along with a new transformation ability. The project has earned over $513,000 to date. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is slated for release next year for the Wii U, PlayStation 3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC platforms via Steam.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero leaps past Kickstarter goal
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero has been funded. With 10 days left in the game's Kickstarter effort, WayForward Technologies has pulled in $416,360, topping its $400,000 goal. Thanks to fan generosity, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero will appear on nearly everything, having been confirmed for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Vita, Vita TV, Wii U and PC. There's currently no release date or window for when we can expect to play Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. Now that the $400,000 goal has been breached, the next rung on this Kickstarter ladder would be the $500,000 stretch goal. If the game can attract $83,640 in the next ten days, WayForward has promised to add a new campaign to Shantae: Half-Genie Hero starring Risky Boots, a pirate captain who is as evil as she is adorable.
Shantae: Risky's Revenge goes free on iOS as sequel nears funding goal
To celebrate the impending success of its Kickstarter-funded platformer Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, WayForward has released its iOS predecessor game Shantae: Risky's Revenge as a free download in the iTunes App Store for a limited time. Following up on its debut for DSiWare in 2011, Risky's Revenge originally hit the App Store as a free trial download, with the full game locked behind an in-app purchase. WayForward has since removed this restriction, and the App Store download now includes the full version of the game. The iOS version of Risky's Revenge has also been updated with a new optional costume, along with the ability to skip cutscenes. WayForward notes that the Dancer costume has "double the magic power, but half the defense" of Shantae's regular outfit, making it an ideal fit for speedrunners. Currently, the Kickstarter project for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero has earned over $395,000 toward its funding goal of $400,000. Developed in collaboration with Mighty No. 9 developer Inti Creates, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is set to launch for the Wii U, PlayStation 3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC platforms in 2014.
Shantae teams up with Mighty No. 9 dev for 'Half-Genie Hero'
Japanese studio Inti Creates is handling development duties on Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, WayForward's HD installment in the beloved platforming series. You may also recall Inti Creates as the same house handling Keiji Inafune's retro-inspired game, Mighty No. 9. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is currently seeking aid through Kickstarter. Publisher WayForward is looking to secure $400,000 in the next 16 days and, as of right now, the campaign has earned over $318,000. Inti Creates was formed in 1996 by some talent who had left Capcom to strike out on their own. The studio has since formed a working relationship with Capcom and produced several entries in the Mega Man series, including Mega Man 9 and Mega Man 10, and the Mega Man Zero line of games. Inti Creates is also responsible for the upcoming 3DS game, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero coming if funded to Vita, Vita TV
WayForward will grant wishes for a Vita version of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, but not just the regular version of the portable. If it meets its funding goal, the Kickstarter platformer will hair-whip its way onto Vita and the freshly unveiled Vita TV. In a Kickstarter update, WayForward said it had noted fans asking for Half-Genie Hero to appear on Vita in addition to the Xbox One, PS4, Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC versions already detailed. However, the catalyst for the portable's addition was yesterday's Sony conference, and the reveal of Vita TV, a micro-console version of the handheld. Vita TV plugs into tellies and lets users play Vita games using a DualShock. "As it happens," reads WayForward's update, "The landscape of gaming has shifted somewhat today with Sony's Vita TV announcement. In response, we've decided to port wfEngine to Vita as part of our 'work-for-hire' business." That suggests we'll likely see more WayForward games on Vita and Vita TV, although the American studio hasn't announced anything yet. As for Half-Genie Hero, at the time of writing it's at just over $220,000 of its $400,000 goal, only a week or so after kicking off and with 24 days on the clock. Looks like the new Shantae is bound for plenty of systems.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse trailer whips its hair back and forth
Shantae is passing up on the power of interpretive dance in favor of pirate gear in this trailer for the 3DS eShop exclusive, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. Swords, giant hats and pistols will expand Shantae's arsenal beyond her surprisingly lethal ponytail. Pirate's Curse will follow Shantae's efforts to retrieve the genie powers that were stolen from her. According to the game's reveal in the last issue of Nintendo Power, 30 Tinkerbats are behind the theft, and Shantae must team up with the pirate Risky Boots to retrieve the stolen goods. Pirate gear will help Shantae access new areas, such as the Bone Daggers that can be used on walls to create small platforms. It's worth noting that Pirate's Curse is not the same game as Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, which WayForward recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for. While Pirate's Curse will be a 3DS eShop exclusive, Half-Genie Hero will reach the Wii U, PS3, PS4, 360, Xbox One and Steam if it reaches its funding goal of $400,000. Update: This article initially stated that Shantae: Half-Genie Hero's Kickstarter campaign was targeting $40,000. The financial goal has been corrected.
Wayforward Kickstarting Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Wayforward, the studio behind DuckTales Remastered and Adventure Time: Hey Ice King, has launched a $400,000 Kickstarter campaign for one of its original IPs, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. The new Shantae is an HD adventure confirmed for Wii U, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Steam. Shantae, the first game in the series, launched on GameBoy Color in 2002, followed by Shantae: Risky's Revenge on DSiWare in 2010 and iOS in 2011. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is currently on its way to the 3DS eShop. Half-Genie Hero features Shantae's "core gameplay," including whipping, belly dancing, platforming and customization. It throws Shantae into a dream world where she finds a new evil power, and back in reality she must locate and vanquish the new threat. The game is told in chapters, and funding will cover an opening stage with a boss, three chapters and a conclusion. Stretch goals, of course, can expand these parameters. "Shantae: Half-Genie Hero continues the tradition of action-adventure in the spirit of Metroid, Castlevania, and the Legend of Zelda," Wayforward writes. "Our goal is to introduce Shantae to a whole new audience with a fresh art style and a brand-spanking-new storyline. As always, we're putting pitch perfect controls in the front seat." Less than one hour in and Wayforward has snagged 500 backers and more than $14,000 for Half-Genie Hero.
Mighty Switch Force 2 to flip the switch on Wii U, 'estimated' for October
Mighty Switch Force 2 will follow its predecessor's example and be ported from the 3DS eShop to the Wii U eShop, WayForward Creative Director Matt Bozon revealed in a tweet last week. Bozon's tweet noted that the game is "estimated to arrive in October." The original Mighty Switch Force was ported from the 3DS eShop to the Wii U eShop last year as Mighty Switch Force Hyper Drive Edition. The port featured reworked visual assets and Hyper Stages that were not included in the original 3DS version.
Win a golden DuckTales NES cartridge, rewrite history
Capcom distributed working, golden DuckTales NES cartridges to members of the press to promote the release of DuckTales: Remastered. They still have some leftover, however, and they'd like to give them to some aspiring singers and PhotoShop artists, Capcom Unity employee Chris Antista revealed last week. "At least one" lunchbox filled with shredded money and a DuckTales cartridge will be given away on every weekday from now until September 11, the game's digital release date for the 360. In order to win one, contestants must upload their striking renditions of the DuckTales theme song to the contest's website. If you'd rather spare yourself from that, Capcom is accepting alternative submissions in the form of artwork or edited images that incorporate DuckTales characters into existing Capcom franchises, or vice versa, at contest at capcom dot com. Antista's update also mentions future "surprises and flash giveaways" that will spring up at Capcom Unity or amongst its social media feeds. If you'd rather not toy with your emotions, the PS3-exclusive boxed version of a digital download token for DuckTales: Remastered recently launched at retail. Digital Wii U, PS3 and PC versions are also available on the eShop, PlayStation Store and Steam. We preferred the original game, however, so why not try to give your golden The Legend of Zelda cartridge some company?
Boxed copies of DuckTales Remastered bounce to retail
Fans of physical stuff can walk into their local game store and pick up a PS3 copy of DuckTales Remastered today. You may want to act sooner rather than later, as Capcom-Unity says physical boxed quantities are "hyper-limited" – so maybe call first rather than just stopping by. The boxed copy of DuckTales Remastered, priced at $20, includes a download voucher for the game (no disc!) on PS3, cover art sleeve and an exclusive collector's pin of protagonist Scrooge McDuck. DuckTales Remastered is currently available for download on PS3, Steam and Wii U; the Xbox 360 version arrives on September 11.
Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! Collector's Edition exclusive to 3DS
A BMO-themed Collector's Edition of Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! will be released for the 3DS version of the game, alongside its standard edition counterparts on the 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC when the game arrives this fall. The Collector's Edition, which will run for $39.99, comes in a limited edition BMO SteelBook case and includes a DVD that features voice actor interviews, show creator Pendleton Ward's storyboard artwork "and more," in addition to "Finn and Jake's Dungeon Guide," a full-color manual with bonus artwork. The standard editions of the Wii U and 3DS versions also have a bit more in-game BMO than the other ports. In the Wii U version, BMO's adorable little computer face will chill on the GamePad's screen, dispensing commentary via 300-plus voice clips, in addition to contextual clues and hints about boss weaknesses. The 3DS version features similar functionality on the touch screen, sans voice clips.
Mighty Switch Force 2 set for a controlled burn on Wii U, dev says
Mighty Switch Force 2, the sequel to Wayforward's 3DS platformer of a similar name, will come to Wii U eventually, the developer told Nintendo Everything. It's "kind of a backburner project" at the moment, though there should be an official announcement in the coming weeks, Wayforward said. Mighty Switch Force, the first game in the series, debuted on 3DS in December 2011, and in July 2012 it was the first 3DS game announced for Wii U. Mighty Switch Force 2 landed on 3DS eShop this June, and we found it to be "an impressively economical 3DS game that packs a lot of interesting phase-shifting puzzle platforming into a relatively small set of levels." On July 15, a PEGI rating outed Wayforward's intention to take Mighty Switch Force 2 to Wii U.
DuckTales Remastered review: Solving mysteries, rewriting history
Capcom's DuckTales for the Nintendo Entertainment System was a masterwork of 8-bit game design, combining a beloved Disney cartoon series with exceptional platforming action. In DuckTales Remastered, developer WayForward sought to improve upon the much-loved title, which also happens to be my personal favorite game of all time. No pressure, right? Make no mistake: I do not envy WayForward's task here. As wonderful as it is, the original DuckTales is a game that can be played from start to finish in under ten minutes, making it a hard sell for modern audiences. DuckTales Remastered takes all of the content found in the NES original and amplifies the experience with extended level layouts and new gameplay objectives. WayForward's efforts do justice to the source material and should satisfy fans of both the DuckTales cartoon and NES game, but some missteps and misplaced priorities make Remastered less successful than it could have been.%Gallery-193601%
DuckTales Remastered art design covered in latest 'duckumentary'
Look, we can see why you'd think we're the ones at fault here, but "duckumentary" is totally on DuckTales Remastered and Capcom/WayForward's shoulders. All we did was share it with you, which we had to do in order to free our minds from its webbed grasp. It's like a mummy's curse, but with ducks.
Thirty minutes of DuckTales Remastered in action is no duck blur
With development inching toward its final curtain, Capcom has unleashed nearly thirty minutes of gameplay of WayForward's DuckTales Remastered direct from the San Diego Comic-Con. Enjoy it because the footage is the closest we'll get to Duckburg until the game begins its staggered launch this August.
