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Blade Kitten claws its way back to Steam
Krome Studios' catgirl-starring side-scroller Blade Kitten is back on Steam after a lengthy absence, celebrating its return with a gameplay-tweaking update and a price drop through the end of the month. Players can expect more responsive controls in the re-released PC version of Blade Kitten, along with improved enemy AI to make combat more challenging. The update also introduces the new Night Breaker and Strike Armor character skins in addition to the Steam-exclusive Gothique costume. Blade Kitten is available for $2.99 through May 30. Developer Krome Studios plans to wrap up the game's previously unresolved storyline with an upcoming DLC expansion, though a release date has not been announced. [Image: Krome Studios]
Blade Kitten to get long-lost Episode 2 DLC on Steam [update]
Years after its initial release, Krome Studios' episodic side-scrolling platformer Blade Kitten could soon see a resolution to its cliffhanger ending via a DLC expansion, according to an announcement posted this week on the game's Facebook page. Blade Kitten's developers recently reclaimed all of its assets from publisher Atari, clearing a forthcoming launch for the game's completed but unreleased Episode 2 DLC. "It's already on Steam, we just need them to transfer the app ID to us so we can add the episode 2 DLC," reads a Facebook comment from the official Blade Kitten account. "It's a little bit complicated but not a huge hurdle." Blade Kitten's developers also plan to pursue a DLC release for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game, pending the expansion's successful launch on Steam. A release date for Blade Kitten's Episode 2 DLC has not been announced. Update: Krome co-founder Steve Stamatiadis tells Joystiq he'd like for his studio to take control over the Blade Kitten app released across various marketplaces, so it could release the five levels contained within Episode 2 as DLC. "That way people wouldn't need to buy the game again and play through it all to get to finally finish the story," Stamatiadis said. "That side of things is pretty much going to come down to Microsoft, Sony, and Valve and their storefronts."
Risk, Snoopy lead this week's pet-themed Xbox Live deals
Whether you're a cat or dog person, the choice between the two most popular pets isn't so easy when it comes to aligning with a side on the irresistibly cute ... battlefield -- especially when both are enlisting you at a discount. Check out what's on offer in the Xbox Live Deal of the Week.
Rumor: Australia's Krome Studios shutting down
Krome Studios, which once upon a dream was one of Australia's largest video game developers, will allegedly shut down next Monday, October 18. According to Tsumea, several "credible reports" claim that all remaining staff have been let go, with some employees rehired on contract to finish work. If the reports are true, it isn't surprising, as Krome's collapse has been progressing in slow motion for quite some time. Most recently, Krome worked on Microsoft's Game Room and released Blade Kitten. Request for comment from the studio have so far gone unanswered. We'll update when we hear something.
Blade Kitten review: Not just for furries anymore
I remember a time when I could look at a girl with cat ears and whiskers and think nothing of it. Unfortunately, maturity and the internet have corrupted my view of catgirls, and now they seem at best cliched, and at worst creepy. It's a shame, because my 10-year-old self would have found Blade Kitten's Kit Ballard and the neon world she inhabits all kinds of cool. %Gallery-94204%
XBLA in Brief: Alien Breed 2: Assault, Serious Sam HD: TSE, DeathSpank T.O.V. and Blade Kitten
Look, let's not waste any time writing this perfunctory text. There are four new XBLA games out this week. Four. Let's just get right to the latest episode of XBLA in Brief so you can see if any of them tickle your fancy (or your wallet). Tunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
European PSN releases for September 22
Things may have slowed down a tad since last week's Omega Update, but this week's batch of new content on the European PlayStation Store certainly holds its own. We've got Sonic Adventure, Deathspank 2: Electric Boogaloo and Blade Kitten, the "Liars and Cheats" pack for Red Dead Redemption, and a full Bob Marley album for Rock Band. There's a little something for just about everyone -- especially for PlayStation Plus subscribers, who get early access to the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow demo. Luckyyyyyyy. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Trailer reveals the many fashions of Blade Kitten
Just because you're off gallivanting across the galaxy and slicing up bad guys, that doesn't mean you can't look good doing it. The latest Blade Kitten trailer proves that the demands of a spaceborne bounty hunter are no excuse for being unfashionable. Metroid fans already knew that, of course.
Blade Kitten adds XBLA and PC releases; Atari to publish
Blade Kitten, Krome Studios' downloadable action-adventure game based on a webcomic, is expanding beyond its originally announced PSN release. The side-scroller will also be released this September on XBLA and PC. The game now has a publisher, as well: Atari. The addition of a publishing partner may have something to do with its wider release. In the announcement, Atari president Jim Wilson relayed his excitement about delivering Blade Kitten to "an already rabid platforming fan base of gamers on XBLA and PSN." You'll have to stop platforming long enough to play it! %Gallery-88302%
Report: Krome Studios lays off 30-50 more staff [update]
Aussie developer Krome Studios (Game Room, Blade Kitten, Star Wars: Republic Heroes) has allegedly just completed another round of layoffs, with the number of employees let go this time ranging from 30 to 50. Develop notes that Krome had somewhere around 400 employees before the first known round of layoffs last year. AusGamers reports a possible financial reason for letting people go: Krome allegedly did not receive the license to develop the The Force Unleashed 2 for Wii "as a result of poor review scores for other Krome titles." IGN adds perspective about the impact of the layoffs, estimating that Krome "accounts for some 25 percent of games development in Australia." Krome CEO Robert Walsh made it very clear last year that developers' budgets "have probably doubled or tripled during the console transition," which likely doesn't make it easy to run a studio -- especially such a large one. We've contacted Krome for comment and will update if we receive a response. Update: Krome has responded to Joystiq saying, "We regret to confirm an unspecified number of positions have been eliminated today at Krome. The industry worldwide is facing new challenges and Krome is not immune to the effects of this. Beyond that, we cannot make a comment." Source -- Rumour: Aussie developer Krome hit with layoffs [IGN] Source -- Krome loses more work and more employees [AusGamers] [Via Develop]
Blade Kitten coming to PSN this spring
"Part cat, part girl - and fully lethal." That's how Krome Studios' press release describes the heroine of the upcoming Blade Kitten, a two-part, downloadable arcade action game coming to the PS3 this Spring. The anime-inspired game is based off a comic of the same name, created by Krome Studios co-founder Steve Stamatiadis. A gameplay trailer will debut later tonight exclusively on Spike TV's GameTrailers TV. Expect to see some platforming, sword fighting and a disturbing focus on her -- we kid you not -- "smart mouth" and "hot body." Meow. Before then, you can watch a teaser trailer after the break. %Gallery-85940%
