5th-Cell
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Hybrid pulled from Xbox Live Arcade [update: issue resolved]
Hybrid, 5th Cell's third-person shooter that's been suffering server issues throughout its launch day, has been pulled from the Xbox Marketplace."We'd like to confirm that we have identified a problem and are in the process of finding a solution," Microsoft wrote in a statement. "We will make the game available as soon as we can, and we apologize for the inconvenience! Thank you for your patience in the meantime."5th Cell creative director Jeremiah Slaczka wrote on the game's forum: "We are working with Microsoft to fix these server issues. Many people from both 5TH Cell and MS are working together to sort the problem out. We are making progress, but it will take time unfortunately. Sorry for the inconvenience, however we don't foresee this problem to continue once it's fixed."We've been in touch with Microsoft for an estimated time of a fix. We'll update as soon as we hear more.Update 2: Hybrid is back on the Marketplace.Update: 5th Cell has told Joystiq the issue has been fixed, and the game will be back on Xbox Live tonight. Creative director Jeremiah Slaczka issued this statement:"We have worked with Microsoft to diagnose and resolve the server issue surrounding Hybrid. Our entire team appreciates the overwhelming response of fans logging in on day-1 and for bearing with us during this short downtime. We expect a smooth gameplay experience from here on out."
Hybrid jumps onto Xbox Live Arcade, server problems abound
Hybrid, the third-person shooter brought to us by 5th Cell – a studio best known for the wildly different series, Scribblenauts – is now available on Xbox Live Arcade. At least, the game itself is available. As of this writing, the servers are experiencing some rather serious issues, namely that they are generally unavailable.We've managed to connect to and finish a single game, but that's it. 5th Cell's Jeremiah Slaczka has responded to the issue on the Hybrid forums, stating that Microsoft is "looking into the issue." It should be noted that you can't even get to the main menu without a server connection, so you might want to wait until the servers are up and running before plunking down $15.
Scribblenauts Unlimited tells the story of Maxwell (and a dino)
After watching the above Scribblenauts Unlimited 3DS trailer, it's apparent that the game could have been called If You Give a Dinosaur a Feather, or even If You Give a Dinosaur a Ferret-Headed Librarian-Throwing Lamp.
Scribblenauts Unlimited and the birth of the ferret-headed librarian-throwing lamp
Scribblenauts Unlimited on Wii U has a lot of new stuff not found in its predecessors, like an open world full of both traditional Scribblenauts levels and simple "Starite shard" challenges (requiring you to make one item on the spot, basically), fancy HD graphics, and multiplayer.But by far the most revolutionary improvement for the sequel (in a series whose every improvement is pretty dang revolutionary) is the item editor, which lets you take any single item and change its color, add other items (or components thereof) to it, and then even change its behavior.For example, I started with a "lamp." I painted the shade three different colors -- is argyle a color? -- and then generated a "ferret," whose head I detached and stuck to the top of the lamp. Why not. Then, I altered the properties of the lamp so that the lamp was alive. Then I made it a weapon. I set it so that it was the kind that shoots projectiles, and I replaced the standard "bullet" with "librarian," resulting in a constant arc of librarians issuing forth.If, like me, you're proud of your work, you'll be able to share your items online. If you can't solve a problem with a regular item, why not ... mutate it cruelly?
Scribblenauts Unlimited r-e-v-e-a-l-e-d
Scribblenauts Unlimited, which will feature multiplayer, has been announced at Nintendo's E3 press conference. There was no launch window presented.The game popped up on radar earlier this week when WBIE registered scribblenautsunlimited.com for the interwebs.
'Scribblenauts Unlimited' URL registered
A company that Warner Bros. uses for anonymous web registration has purchased the domain scribblenautsunlimited.com. Superannuation picked up on the filing, speculating Scribblenauts Unlimited could be developer 5th Cell's Wii U project.This wouldn't be the first time a Scribblenauts game was unveiled in this manner. Late last year a domain registration for Scribblenauts Remix ended up being an iPhone version of the wordy puzzler.
Skyrockets in flight, Hybrid is a delight
Hybrid is an online-only, three-on-three, cover-based, third-person shooter – with jetpacks. Phew! Don't worry, movement is very simple. You point your reticle at a piece of cover and hit a button to initiate automated flight. While moving quickly through the air you can aim and strafe, and you can switch your cover destination mid-flight. Flying out of cover is a big risk, but fighting in the air leads to the exciting stuff: dogfighting and jousting.%Gallery-154142%
Hybrid will cost $15; beta to kick off at 'the end of this month'
5th Cell's XBLA-exclusive shooter, Hybrid, now has a price point: 1200 MS Points ($15). Producer Caleb Arseneaux confirmed the pricing with Joystiq during a preview session earlier this week.Arseneaux also narrowed down the beta timeline. Initially set to launch the game sometime following GDC, 5th Cell is now targeting a live date by "the end of this month." Arseneaux wouldn't go into more detail, but reinforced how essential the beta would be to Hybrid's successful launch. If you signed up for the closed beta, you should receive an email with your download code soon.
Sign up for the Hybrid beta right now
5th Cell has opened registration for the beta of its upcoming XBLA game Hybrid -- true to its word, shortly after GDC. By going to the Hybrid site and signing up, you get a chance to receive one of a limited number of keys for the closed beta, which begins in "late April." Regardless of whether or not you get in -- or whether or not you sign up -- there's an exciting new trailer above.The developer must be confident that every beta player won't find obnoxious glitches, because it holds firm to its summer 2012 release window.%Gallery-151079%
Hybrid beta test begins on XBLA 'shortly after GDC'
5th Cell's XBLA shooter Hybrid is ready for a semi-public debut. The developer announced an XBLA beta test this morning, with signups taking place "shortly after GDC" (which runs next week, March 5-9).This may not be as welcome as news of a release date, but it does mean that the game is in a state to be played by at least a subset of the community, which strikes us as a positive development. Now, if you get into the beta, make sure you find all the bugs immediately so 5th Cell can release the game.
Scribblenauts Remix tops a million downloads, Valentine's Day update now available
Soon after launching in October, Scribblenauts Remix soured to the top of the charts in the App store. Today, Warner Bros. celebrates one million downloads to date for the iOS title with a new Valentine's Day-themed update.Players will find a free new Valentine's Day playground in which to conjure up objects -- the press release offers a few suggestions for odd items, including a "loving, polka-dotted charonosaurus" or "giant, pink, flying chocolate box." If we didn't read heavy, leather-bound books, like, every day, we'd think WB was trying to pull a fast one on us with that charonosaurus business, but we assure you it is a real animal. It is, in fact, the ancestor of charizard.
5th Cell's third-person ceiling shooter Hybrid arrives this summer
After pushing back its crazy shooter concept, Hybrid, to a 2012 launch window, Scrriblenauts dev 5th Cell is once more ready to talk about the forthcoming Xbox Live Arcade game. First things first: Hybrid is now scheduled for a summer 2012 launch window. Hooray!Moreover, 5th Cell is promising a variety of major updates as a result of the delay time. Said promises include locking the shooter's framerate at 60FPS, a redesigned look, and a new twist on the in-air movement. Take a look at the improvements with the latest media straight from 5th Cell, above and below.%Gallery-146069%
Daily iPad App: Run Roo Run HD
5th Cell is the developer behind the very popular Scribblenauts (which was released on iOS to great acclaim last year, and just had a new level pack update), and it recently brought a new title to the App Store called Run Roo Run. 2D platforming is a genre that's almost as old as videogames themselves (Mario, who you may know, is the grandfather of jumping around on 2D platforms), and as far as I'm concerned, Run Roo Run is a master class in 2D platforming design. It also has the added benefit of being a running title of sorts, and a puzzle game as well. The idea is that you, as Roo, a very cute Australian kangaroo, have lost a little blue buddy, and it's your job to jump across the Aussie landscape, over and around various obstacles, to save your friend. But your run is broken up into a series of stages that consist of one screen each, and so the goal is to keep the constantly running Roo jumping at just the right times to make it to the end of the screen and onto the next one. The action starts simple, but soon double jumps are added, and then the ability to slow Roo down or speed him up, and then you can swing on things, and just like Cut the Rope, a series of relatively simple elements can be combined into some very ingenious puzzles. Also like Cut the Rope, all of the action is crystal clear to see and understand, and the colorful graphics (especially on the iPad's HD version) and very chill Aussie soundtrack make this one a pleasure to play through. It's well polished, excellently designed, and for a 2D platforming fan like myself, every new stage is like another dish at an all-you-can-eat jumping buffet. And every level is timed and rewarded with gold, silver, or bronze medals, so there's lots of drive, even once you've conquered a simple one, to go back and do it perfectly the first time around. Run Roo Run is a great title, and shows that 5th Cell has really fallen in love with Apple's platform (of course, the big sales from Scribblenauts probably didn't hurt that emotion, either). It's available for 99 cents on iPhone, or for $1.99 on the iPad, with over 420 levels included, more showing up every week, and the option to buy some extra power-ups or convenience items via in-app purchase. Don't pass this one up, whatever you do.
Portabliss: Run Roo Run (iOS)
Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Run Roo Run. I was delighted to be able to bring you the first look at 5th Cell's new iOS game, Run Roo Run. I'm even more delighted to be able to report, after playing it for a few days, that it's totally fun. It's a simple platformer that avoids the problems so many iOS platform games face, by combining a traditional-style platformer with auto-run mechanics. The levels are smaller and more carefully designed than most auto-runners, so you still have tricky, precise jumps planned out by an evil genius, but protagonist Roo runs automatically like in a Canabalt-type game, sparing you the heartbreak of having to deal with virtual directional controls.
'Run Roo Run' available now on iOS, from Scribblenauts dev
Run Roo Run, 5th Cell's recently announced "micro-platformer," is available now through the iOS App Store. The "auto-run" game, featuring a kangaroo crossing Australia to find her joey, is the first of four titles the studio plans to launch this year.
5th Cell planning four games for 2012, including Hybrid
While talking to 5th Cell creative director Jeremiah Slaczka about the new iOS game Run Roo Run, I couldn't help but check in regarding the developer's delayed XBLA shooter Hybrid. "Hybrid is coming along great," Slaczka told me. "The game has been heavily refined since we gave the first hands-on at GDC last year. All the same core concepts are there, but there's a lot of new surprises we want to show off. We'll be revealing a lot very soon actually." Slaczka said that Hybrid is one of four new games 5th Cell expects to release this year. "Run Roo Run will be our first and Hybrid may or may not be our next, we'll see." Slaczka remained adamant that Hybrid would make a 2012 release. "We may be using Source Engine," he said, "but that doesn't mean we adhere to Valve Time."
5th Cell introduces Run Roo Run, its new weekly iOS platformer
How do you follow a game like Scribblenauts, in which you can make and do almost anything? For developer 5th Cell, the answer is to make a game in which you can only do one thing: jump. Run Roo Run for iPhone and iPad, coming this Thursday, is a "micro-platformer" about a kangaroo crossing the suspiciously dangerous landscape of Australia in search of her joey. We've got the first media, along with details from 5th Cell.%Gallery-143773%
Scribblenauts Remix gets Siri support on iPhone 4S
Are the commands you're barking at your constant iPhone 4S companion Siri not humiliating enough? Great news: Scribblenauts Remix was recently updated to add Siri voice recognition support to the title, letting you create (imaginary) objects with your mouth-words.
Scribblenauts Remix for .99 is an easy write-off
At just 99 cents, Scribblenauts Remix for iOS represents, unquestionably, the best deal the series has ever seen, unless you found a Super Scribblenauts cartridge on the ground or something. And even if you happen to have one of the other games, you might be interested in this version for its new iOS-exclusive levels, freshened-up graphics, and because it's 99 cents. There's no indication as to how long this discount will be available, so make haste. For reference, we tried to make "haste" in Scribblenauts just now and it suggested a haetae instead.
Daily iPhone App: Scribblenauts Remix
I remember hearing way, way back that Scribblenauts might be headed to iOS, but when the dust finally settled on the iOS 5 transition yesterday, among the (many -- we'll see more in the next few days) great new releases on the App Store, this one definitely stood out. Warner Brothers and original developers 5th Cell have brought the legendary DS game over to iOS, and the port is just plain excellent. Scribblenauts is a magical game. The idea is that you control Maxwell through a series of challenge levels, and in each one he's got to do whatever's necessary to earn a Starite. You accomplish the goals you're given by using one of the most fascinating mechanics in gaming lately: You simply type in whatever you want to show up in the game, and then it does. If that sounds impossible, then believe the impossible, because that's what Scribblenauts is all about. Just playing around on the title screen can give you hours of enjoyment -- make a "dinosaur," throw a "tiger" into the mix, order up a "hunter" and see how they interact. Maybe you want to create God and the Devil and see what happens, or order up a real working "time machine," or create whatever else you want. As long as it's a noun and not a proper name, Scribblenauts has it. You can even create things with adjectives, so "giant polka-dot emu" works, as does "purple pregnant washing machine." It's incredible. The "Remix" part of this one includes 10 brand new levels, but the best part about it is that Maxwell adventures have been carefully and thoughtfully ported over -- the touch controls work great, the game even offers iOS 5 Cloud integration, and Game Center is fully supported as well. We couldn't have asked for a better version of Scribblenauts on this platform, and if you've never seen this game in action before, you'll be amazed at just what 5th Cell has created here. Scribblenauts Remix is available for $4.99 as a universal version.
