JC Fletcher
Articles by JC Fletcher
Unity ending Flash support
Multiplatform game engine Unity is getting a little less multiplatform. "As of today, we will stop selling Flash deployment licenses," CEO David Helgason announced. " We will continue to support our existing Flash customers throughout the 4.x cycle."Helgason said that the decision to stop supporting Flash was motivated by what Unity sees as a lack of commitment to Flash on the part of Adobe, because of player instability, canceled projects, and various other factors.Besides which, "Developers are moving away from Flash, and while Flash publishing has gotten little traction, our own Unity Web Player has seen unprecedented growth in recent months."
Skullgirls funding temporarily blocked by Paypal [update: XBLA patch on the way]
Paypal froze Lab Zero Games' account briefly today, due to risk that a significant number of Skullgirls crowdfunding pledges would be revoked. Lab Zero allowed backers to vote on new DLC characters, leading to the theory that if their chosen character didn't make it into the game, some fans would pull their "vote." "Basically, they are terrified of chargebacks," CEO Peter Bartholow told Venturebeat. "If we spend all the money and don't deliver and everyone [requests] chargebacks, PayPal is concerned they will be on the line for [the money]. So, they are effectively treating it as a loan."After discussions with PayPal, the company has "unrestricted" Lab Zero's account, but continues to hold around $35,000, which Lab Zero CEO Peter Bartholow had planned to use for payroll. "They've only got $35k of our money frozen, so we're not in any real danger," Bartholow said on NeoGAF. "It's just an inconvenience at the moment."Update: In other Skullgirls news, Bartholow tells XBLAFans the "Slightly Different" patch should arrive in the next two weeks on Xbox.
Heavenly Sword also becoming a movie, direct to video
Ratchet & Clank isn't the only Sony franchise from which Blockade Entertainment is adapting an animated film. As almost a footnote on Variety's article about the Ratchet movie, the publication reports that Blockade is producing a CG animated movie based on Heavenly Sword, for a direct to video release.Heavenly Sword was a PlayStation 3 exclusive way back in 2007, an action game by Ninja Theory about a warrior, Nariko, who wields the magical sword protected by her clan in a campaign against an evil tyrant.
Namco's Idolm@ster games released on iOS in English (for $55 each)
Namco Bandai's Idolm@ster games have been exclusive to Japan since the series started, and for good reason: they're all about being a producer who recruits, trains, and promotes a girl group of "idol" performers. It's a huge sensation in Japan, and would meet mostly blank stares over here.And now, Namco is helping generate those blank stares, releasing three Idolm@ster games, in English, on the iOS App Store. The catch: they're rhythm game spinoffs, without any of the simulation aspects. The real catch: they're $54.99 each. They're the same, except each stars a different team of erstwhile idols and includes a different animated sequence.Square Enix just breathed a massive sigh of relief, as the pressure is off of its insane iOS pricing tendencies for a while.
Animated platformer 'Buddy & Me' succeeds on Kickstarter
Buddy & Me, a beautifully drawn 2D endless runner about a boy and his "magical flying creature" pal having adventures in a dream world of "infinite treehouses," passed its $40,000 Kickstarter goal, ending with $42,093 raised. That funding will enable developer Sunbreak Games to complete the iOS/Android game, expected in June.Founder Jason Behr had experience working on the Metroid Prime series as lead level designer, and on Halo 4 as senior mission designer, before starting his own company and working on a game that looks nothing like either of those. "At Sunbreak," the Kickstarter project explains, "we're dedicated to crafting entertainment with a more 'positive' tone, so for Buddy & Me we focused on three core themes: companionship, an obsession with treehouses, and the natural excitement of exploring the great outdoors."
Metal Gear Solid 'Legacy Collection' brings a box of Snakes to PS3 in June
The Metal Gear Solid "Legacy Collection" found on a Korean rating has now been officially announced by Konami. The PS3 collection brings together Metal Gear Solid, the HD Collection versions of Metal Gear Solid 2, 3, and Peace Walker, and the "Trophy Edition" of Metal Gear Solid 4, along with the relatively hard-to-find Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions and two digital graphic novels by Ashley Wood, in a handsome package that might make some consider buying them again. Metal Gear fans have an affinity for fancy cardboard boxes. The collection will be released in North and South America in June. Konami has yet to specify a price.
Earthbound is an effective band-aid for the Wii U's Virtual Console
A few months ago I opined that the Wii U's Virtual Console, with its limited launch lineup, limited platforms, and limited upgrades from the Wii Virtual Console, was less than ideal. A few things have changed since then: some of the games have launched (for 30 cents), we have a solid launch date for the service in earnest, and there's a more detailed launch list. However, none of the basic issues have been fixed; the Virtual Console carries the same inherent flaws it did in January.But for now, all is forgiven. Because Earthbound.
Europe: Get a free 3DS game with purchase of three
From now through June 30, if you buy three 3DS games from a list of eight in Europe, you'll get a download code for a fourth for free. And that's after the free game you might have already gotten with your 3DS XL!The Nintendo of Europe "So Many Games!" Promotion applies to Castlevania: Lords of etc., Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Luigi's Mansion 2, Fire Emblem Awakening, Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, and Animal Crossing: New Leaf. So many games!This promotion is not active in North America; however, you still have time to get a free game with purchase of a 3DS XL and either Luigi's Mansion 2 or Pokemon Mystery Dungeon.
Zelda concert series returns this summer
If you missed the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses concert series last time because you were getting your Tingle costume dry cleaned, you have another chance coming. Nintendo has just announced a second season of the concert, with new material and dates in two new cities, Baltimore and Grand Rapids.The show starts touring June 6 in Atlanta, with performances through October 19. Please don't wear a Tingle costume to the symphony.
PSN class action settled in Canada, users can claim benefits
While payouts are still pending the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Sony has settled in a class action lawsuit over the PSN hack and outage in 2011. If you were affected by the outage (i.e. if you had a PSN, Qriocity, or SOE account in 2011, and you're in Canada) you can fill out a claim form here.If you stopped using your PSN account after the hack, you can ask for the contents of your wallet to be reimbursed. If you kept your PSN account and participated in the "Welcome Back" promotion, you can choose an additional game from a list consisting mostly of the "Welcome Back" games, or you can choose three dynamic PSN themes, or half off three months of PlayStation Plus. Qriocity accounts are entitled to one additional free month. SOE accounts can request repayment of wallet balances for no-longer-used accounts, or $4.50 in "Station Cash."There is a separate claim form for PSN users who suffered losses from identity theft as part of the hack.
Langdell's 'Edge' trademark canceled by court order
The "Edge" trademark belonging to Edge Games founder Tim Langdell has been canceled by a court order, stripping Langdell of the ability to file suit against every other game developer and publisher who used the word "Edge" in any context.Following a petition by DICE and EA (Mirror's Edge), the US Patent and Trademark Office officially issued notice of the cancelled registration on April 17, a process that has been ongoing since 2010. Two Tribes, publisher of Mobigame's Edge (pictured), celebrated by discounting all versions of the puzzle game 50%. Edge was taken down from the App Store repeatedly due to issues with the "Edge" trademark.
Pokemon X and Y's new Pokemon is, or was, Mewtwo
In just twelve seconds, the connection between Mewtwo and the newly revealed Pokémon (which we'll refer to as Mewtwo With a Handle in the absence of official name) is revealed.Look forward to Super Saiyan Mewtwo in Pokemon X and Y this October. They probably won't call it that.
Rumor: Rare 'Pluto' prototype variant of Sega Saturn shown
Someone claiming to be a former Sega employee, calling himself Super Magnetic (after the Dreamcast game) posted pictures on the ASSEMbler forums of a device purported to be the previously unseen "Sega Pluto," a prototype Sega Saturn variant with a built-in NetLink modem. The modem was released separately, and allowed web browsing along with online play of games including Duke Nukem 3D and Virtua Racing.Super Magnetic says that this prototype, which runs North American Saturn firmware, is one of only two ever made. The American firmware, and Super Magnetic's having found this at his job at Sega of America in the Dreamcast era, both suggest that this hardware design is from Sega of America, much like the 32X.A prototype for another unreleased Sega combination system, the Genesis/32X "Neptune," was on display recently at GDC's Videogame History Museum. Previous Sega combos include the JVC-designed X'Eye, the CDX, and the Tera Drive, which combined a Genesis and a PC.
Level-5 and Grasshopper's 'Liberation Maiden' becomes an adventure game
Grasshopper Manufacture and Japanese game publisher 5pb are adapting Liberation Maiden, the 3DS/iOS game in which the teenage president of Japan shoots down enemy structures from her flying mech, into a visual novel for PS3.Liberation Maiden SIN stars Kaido Kiyoto, chief of staff to president Shoko Ozora, and also, naturally, a mind reader. He works with the president and her cabinet of young women, because this is a visual novel and what would it even be about if not choosing who to date?This game involves a large portion of the Japanese game industry in some nominal way. 5pb is publishing a game based on a universe originally published by Level-5; Suda 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture designed the original game, and Suda is writing scenarios for this one; Grasshopper is now part of Gungho Online Entertainment, which is itself now part of telecom company Softbank.
New Nintendo eShop releases: Level-5 sale, Tetris Axis
There's a ton on the 3DS eShop this week, between retail re-releases (Tetris Axis, Harvest Moon: A Tale of Two Towns) and new original games. On top of that, Level-5's Guild series sale begins today, with all three of its eShop games to date discounted. It's a good chance to check out that bizarre collection before it doubles in size. Oh ... and Dress to Play: Cute Witches! is on sale, in an unrelated offer.
Deadpool comes alive June 25
Activision will bring Deadpool's special brand of simultaneous mass murder and irreverent internal monologues to PS3, Xbox, and PC on June 25, the publisher announced today, challenging public relations staff to write a press release in Deadpool's voice.Deadpool isn't so irreverent as to break any tenets of AAA game promotion, so of course there are retailer-exclusive pre-order bonuses from GameStop and Amazon. %Gallery-185960%
Pre-purchase Monaco on Steam for 10% off
Monaco, the game of coordinated heists, is now available for pre-order from Steam. We don't suggest actually trying to steal the game, or anything else – save those proclivities for the daring break-ins you'll enact during the game – but pre-ordering will allow you to at least get away with a 10% discount on either a single copy or a four-pack.Just pretend you lifted $1.50 out of Andy Schatz's pocket after you bought the game, if that helps. Also, we don't want to be the ones to tell you this, but you've got extremely mild kleptomania.
FIFA 14 scores 'great goals' on PS3, Xbox 360, PC fall 2013
FIFA 14 will bring "the emotion of scoring great goals" to PS3, PC, and Xbox 360 this fall, EA announced today. It refines the formula of EA Sports' past soccer games with "Pure Shot" shooting "so players have the intelligence to adjust their stride and approach angle to find the best position for hitting the back of the net."There are more new (and newly named) systems involved. "Protect the Ball" lets players block defenders while dribbling; "Teammate Intelligence" is self-explanatory; "Sprint Dribble Turns" allows extra maneuverability while sprinting; "Variable Dribble Touch" adds finer control on dribbling.Of course, if you'd rather exert your control before the match even starts, you can do so with the new "Global Scouting Network," a career mode in which you build a network of professional scouts.%Gallery-185911%
Three more Level-5 collaborations coming to eShop
A second collection of Level-5 games (released in Japan as Guild02) is coming to 3DS eShop as separate downloads. Like the previous collection, each is a collaboration with a known game designer.The Starship Damrey is an adventure game by Kazuya Asano and Takemaru Abiko in which your character wakes up in total darkness and must figure out where, and who, they are. The less cerebral Bugs vs. Tanks by Keiji Inafune lets you control a tiny tank and shoot giant bugs. My Summer Vacation creator Kaz Ayabe's Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale stars a 10-year-old boy who lives in a town where monsters from Japanese TV shows appear every Friday. We'd say "why doesn't he move" but we're also kind of thinking "where can we find that town?"%Gallery-185939%%Gallery-185938%%Gallery-185935%
Animal Crossing 3DS XL coming to North America and Europe
The Animal Crossing: New Leaf 3DS XL will be released in Europe and North America, Nintendo revealed during separate regional Nintendo Direct presentations. The system retails for $219.99 and comes with a copy of the game pre-loaded on its 4GB SD card.The system, which bears a tiled pattern of Tom Nook leaves, houses, and fruit, will be released alongside the game on June 9 in North America and June 14 in Europe.