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Monaco for XBLA goes full monte this Friday
Monaco will break out of its Xbox Live Arcade certification holding cell this Friday, May 10. The game, which was supposed to sneak onto XBLA April 24, was delayed due to a bug, which would cause disconnects during online play. The PC version launched as expected. Our review of the game a couple weeks ago said Monaco "runs deeper than its heist theme, presenting a challenge for hardcore fans of strategy and clever design."%Gallery-168499%
Monaco made good on Indie Fund $100K before launch, what it means
Since 2010, Indie Fund has helped launch high-profile games such as Dear Esther, QUBE and Antichamber, each one recouping investment within days or even hours. The first game in which Indie Fund ever put its faith (and money), Monaco, launched last week and made back its $100,000 investment in negative time, before the game went live on April 24.Developer Andy Schatz opened Monaco pre-orders via the Humble Store in December, and Steam pre-orders went live on April 17. By April 20, Monaco had grossed $120,000, Schatz said, exceeding its Indie Fund investment a full four days before the game launched."For me the most significant thing about the early success with regards to Indie Fund is that it shows that there are many ways of approaching funding, from crowdfunding to investment models like Indie Fund, to personal loans – I know a number of devs that have taken loans from other devs – to the traditional publisher model," Schatz told Joystiq. "More options means the studios can customize their relationships to fit their personalities and their projects."Schatz used the Indie Fund investment partially to pay contractors and then to sustain himself and company expenses, including trips to PAX. Regardless of the cold, hard numbers, we thought Indie Fund's investment paid off particularly well with Monaco.
Monaco XBLA delay: Half of bug fixed, another patch to MS this week
Monaco was supposed to hit XBLA on April 24 alongside its PC version, but one day before launch, an issue forced developer Andy Schatz and Pocketwatch Games to delay the XBLA release. Today, Schatz explains that he submitted one fix for the bug, but it needs more work before it can officially launch on XBLA."It was a minor but important bug that was causing disconnects in online play," Schatz writes on Facebook. "I submitted an update to attempt to fix the bug early in the week, but unfortunately it only half fixed the problem. I'm working on another fix now that I'm hoping to submit this week. Once it's confirmed fixed it shouldn't take long to push it through and get the game out."Schatz can't set a release date now since that decision is up to Microsoft, but he promises to share more information as soon as he steals has it."I do know that fans are starting to get a little impatient with the lack of information," he says. "I wish I could give you more specific information, but until I have a confirmed fix, I won't be able to give a date. Hoping to have a little more information for you and fill you in on more of the details as soon as I have it!"For what it's worth (we know you don't get out of bed for less than six figures) we found the PC version of Monaco to be a complex and gorgeous strategy game in the vein of Ocean's 11, but with more pixels.
Monaco review: A good day to spy hard
I'm a terrible thief.If ever there were an investigation into a string of high-profile burglaries in my neighborhood, all I'd have to do to clear my name is invite some police officers to sit down, get comfortable, and watch me play Monaco for five minutes. The officers would see my glowing, pixelated character get caught on the walls around doorways while running away from hordes of angry guards with guns; they would laugh as I rushed into rooms full of alarms and set off every single one; and they would leave soon after I forgot, again, that my character could dig through walls, hack locked doors or easily knock out unsuspecting enemies, and I'd be a free woman.Just like I'd planned all along.%Gallery-168499%
Monaco delayed on XBLA
Monaco, the award-winning indie heist game from Andy Schatz will miss its launch date tomorrow on XBLA."We just discovered that there is an issue which requires that we push back our Xbox Live Arcade game release date a little," reads a missive posted on Facebook. "We've already submitted an update to Microsoft to fix the problem, and as soon as we know that the issue is fixed we'll have a new release date. I know our fans have been waiting a long time for the game, and hopefully they'll have the patience to wait just a little while longer. What's mine will be yours very, very soon!"Monaco will still launch on PC via Steam tomorrow, April 24, as scheduled. Monaco won the IGF Seumas McNally Grand Prize in 2010, and we've been playing it in various stages of development in the years since.Majesco is in charge of publishing the XBLA version, while Schatz and Pocketwatch Games are self-publishing the PC version (eventually to be joined by Mac). This is the final day to pre-order Monaco on Steam and grab that 10 percent-off price.
Monaco steals our attention with official launch trailer
After years of sneaking around the corridors of game conventions and indie festivals, Monaco is finally ready to take a couple bucks out of your wallet (with your permission, of course) on April 24 next week. Here's the game's launch trailer for those who haven't heard of this co-op heist game.
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.
Monaco takes what's yours on April 24
Monaco is coming to Steam and XBLA on April 24. From Pocketwatch Games, Monaco is a top-down heist game that's been crawling the indie convention circuit and awards shows for years, and it's finally pretty enough to sneak out of development.Monaco is $15 on PC, with pre-orders available through the Pocketwatch website right now. Take what's yours – and everything that isn't, as the tagline goes.
Xbox Live Rewards introduces monthly Play to Earn incentives
Starting this month, the Xbox Live Rewards program is getting a little more active with Play to Earn incentives. As the name implies, Play to Earn allows Xbox Live Rewards members to earn extra rewards by purchasing and playing games. The month of April is dedicated to Xbox Live Arcade, and several rewards are up for grabs. As you might expect, the best ones require you to pony up a little dough.Playing 20 hours of XBLA games this month will net Rewards members a free Avatar item, while purchasing four XBLA games costing at least 400 MS Points each will earn a free month of Xbox Live Gold. Finally, members who spend 3200 MS Points on XBLA games will receive 800 MS Points back.That applies to any XBLA games, though Major Nelson conveniently notes that there are quite a few games coming out this month, including Battleblock Theater, Terraria, Monaco, Double Dragon 2, God Mode, Sacred Citadel and Motocross Madness.
Samsung President BK Yoon: 'Three Samsung TVs are sold every second'
With every second that ticks by, Samsung sells three TVs. Find that claim a bit dubious? You shouldn't, especially when you consider the source: company prez BK Yoon. Speaking at a press conference in Monte Carlo focused on the multinational's home appliance division, TechRadar reports that Yoon tossed out that figure in reference to the company's living room dominance. Yoon also went on to highlight the $184 billion in sales Samsung raked in last year, though, according to its 2013 earnings report, TV sales were flat year-over-year. Still, that demand must be sufficient enough to have those sets selling like hotcakes. And with the growing popularity of Galaxy-branded phones, tablets and, yes, even cameras, it seems Samsung's bottom line may continue to see even further padding.
Austin Wintory's journey to the 2013 Grammys
On the day Grammy nominations were scheduled to be announced, Austin Wintory didn't get much work done. As the composer for Journey, Wintory had an inkling that he might be nominated in Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, and he was distracted all day, constantly refreshing the Grammy page, scanning for his name. By evening the list still wasn't posted and he gave up on trying to focus. He got in his car, determined to go home, make dinner and then check the page again."The instant I got in my car, my email started blinking. Of all people, it was from my friend Christopher Tin, emailing me to say 'CONGRATULATIONS' – in all caps."Tin won the first Grammy for a piece of video game music, Civilization 4's "Baba Yetu," in 2011. He and Wintory had been friends for years. When Wintory saw that email, he quickly called Tin and the subsequent conversation went something like this:"What are you – are you on the website?" Wintory asked Tin. "What's going on?""Yeah, I'm looking right at it! There you are!" Tin replied. And then, after a second, the situation dawned on him. "Wait a minute – you didn't know this already?""No! I'm in my car right now.""Oh, this is perfect."Just then Wintory's phone began buzzing, beeping and possibly sobbing under the barrage of emails, texts and calls from friends and well-wishers. Two weeks later, Wintory agrees with Tin's assessment of events."As fate had it, I heard from Chris himself," he says. "I had no foresight, I had absolutely no plan, and yet in hindsight, I wouldn't have it any other way."
Pre-order Monaco now, get access to prototype version
Pre-orders are now open for the PC release of Monaco, the stylish top-down heist action game. Right now, pre-orders cost $13.50, $1.50 off the normal price. It's a steal! You know, like ... like the thing the game is about. If you know you're going to be playing with a crew, you can buy a four-pack for $45.When you pre-order, you'll get two tracks from Austin Wintory's soundrack, plus sheet music, and coolest of all, a copy of the 2010 IGF prototype, which has since been renamed Monte Carlo. So you can kind of be playing Monaco even before Monaco's still-unknown release date. And for even more instant gratification, watch creator Andy Schatz streaming the game here.
Monaco pre-orders start this week, 'Wednesday is the plan'
Monaco: What's Yours is Mine, the stylized, indie, heist game from Andy Schatz and Pocketwatch Games, will be available for pre-order this week – "Wednesday is the plan" – according to the official Monaco Twitter.Monaco pre-orders will go through the Humble Store and will come with a Steam key, and Schatz will have four-packs available. "Also there will be some MAJOR preorder bonus goodies," the Monaco Twitter promises.Schatz previously slated Monaco for a simultaneous launch on PC and XBLA, with Mac to follow.
Monaco coming to XBLA and PC simultaneously
For years, Pocketwatch Games' multiplayer heist-action game Monaco has been a hit at trade shows, award ceremonies and Joystiq parties. Now, Joystiq can exclusively reveal that it's going to be playable in your very own home on XBLA and Steam (for both Mac and PC).There's no release date, but the self-published PC version will be released simultaneously with the Majesco-published XBLA release – Pocketwatch isn't sure if the Mac version will be day-and-date, but "we're doing our best.""Monaco was originally designed to be played with four friends on the couch, all planning and executing a heist together," designer Andy Schatz said. Pocketwatch has added four-player online co-op to all the versions, in addition to the couch-based co-op and the single player ("the stealthiest version," Schatz calls it.) The XBLA release facilitates the authentic couch multiplayer by putting the game on a couch-friendly console. Schatz said that he met with Majesco at PAX East and "the stars aligned."%Gallery-168499%
Indie Megabooth devs let anyone ask them anything
At PAX East this weekend, 16 popular indie developers (plus one "bonus" developer) will congregate into a super-giant indie creature in the first-ever Indie Megabooth. Developers include Ska Studios, Strange Loop Games, Retro Affect, Dejobaan Games, Fire Hose Games, DrinkBox Studios, Pocketwatch Games, Carbon Games and the rest -- to get the indie love flowing, the previously mentioned developers are running an "Ask Me Anything" thread on Reddit, right now. So far, we've learned that each developer gets 99 bitches a day and that most of them cried while playing Journey. Andy Schatz of Pocketwatch Games, Eitan Glinert of Fire Hose and Retro Affect's David Carrigg have also offered differing perspectives on the possibility of indie development for the Wii U, or any Nintendo system in general. Said Glinert: "We're not. I don't know any small third party companies that make any serious money there. Nintendo sadly isn't serious about supporting non-Nintendo companies, and so it's not worthwhile for us to spend the time and effort bringing our games to their platform. Sad face." Schatz disagreed with the doomsday sentiment: "Speak for yourself Eitan! I haven't announced platforms for Monaco yet, but WiiU is still a possibility! Nintendo is slow to change (which is weird given the crazy innovation on their software side), but the boulder is finally starting to move wrt their digital sales storefront."Carrigg said Nintendo's eShop is "far behind" the XBLA and PSN competition, but Retro Affect has been talking to Nintendo and would "really like to work with them. I would not be surprised to see a Retro Affect game on a Nintendo platform sometime in the future."James Silva of Ska Studios addressed the lack of deadly dishwasher games on PC, saying he wants to make PC titles, but for now that would be a problematic process. The AMA is ongoing (as of this posting) so head on over and uncover some you-specific bits of information from this mega-group of indies.
First full-level playthrough of Monaco is intense, even for a casino heist
Last year Monaco won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and the Excellence in Design awards at the IGF, and this year developer Andy Schatz is hosting the entire show -- and Monaco isn't even out yet. It does, however, look like it can live up to its seemingly preemptive praise in the above video, which offers the game's first full-level run-through. (We've got a preview for you as well!) The video shows Schatz playing a co-op level, Monte Carlo Casino Heist, with the Hacker and the Pickpocket characters. The gameplay seems frantic, perhaps because this is a later level and Schatz knows what he's doing fairly well, or maybe because robbing a casino is a chaotic task in general. Monaco will launch on PC/Mac and at least one console when it's finally completed.
Cliff Bleszinski to host GDC Awards, Schatz returns for IGF Awards
Planning to attend GDC? If you are, you'll get to see everyone's favorite design director of Epic Games, Cliff Bleszinski, host the 12th annual Game Developers Choice Awards, replacing Double Fine's Tim Schafer as host. The Independent Games Festival Awards is kicking it old-school with 2007-2009's host, Andy Schatz of Monaco, winner of the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and Excellence in Design awards in 2010's IGF. Peruse the list of finalists for both award shows right here, and look for winners to be announced March 7 from GDC.
Monaco preview: Get in, get out, get paid
You know what? My friends and I are better thieves than George Clooney. Well, we are if Monaco is any indication. Sure, George may have all the charm and handsomeness, but if there's any one trait I look for in my friends, it's the appreciation of a good heist. And Monaco is all about stealing some stuff. The premise of Monaco is simple: Take your team into a heavily guarded building to steal a trophy, and get out without getting caught or killed. A retro feel, a top-down camera angle, and a simplified control scheme comprise its approach to getting some co-op good times going. Rather than implement an overly complex control scheme that requires a specific set of controls for each class, Monaco designer Andy Schatz has culled the controls down to a two-button system. Every action, like hacking a computer, breaking into a safe or unlocking the door to the escape car is done by running into the object for a couple of seconds. %Gallery-117834%
AT&T to launch BlackBerry Torch 9810 this month, Torch 9860 and Bold 9900 later this year
Research in Motion has had better days -- and years, for that matter -- but it's always had a loyal partner in AT&T, a company that's cranked out BlackBerry products faithfully for the past twelve years. The tradition continues, as the GSM giant has announced its intentions to bring the 4G BlackBerry Torch 9810 (aka the Torch 2) to stores sometime this month, followed by the 4G BlackBerry Torch 9860 and 4G Bold 9900 "later this year." No specific dates or prices were given on any of the devices. The Torch 9810 comes with a 1.2GHz CPU, 3.2-inch touch display, a total of 8GB internal memory (with microSD expansion up to 32GB), and a 5 megapixel camera with 720p HD video capture. Oh, and about the "4G" in the title? An AT&T spokesperson confirmed to us that the moniker is simply referring to HSPA+, capping at 14.4Mbps. It's definitely a step up from the original Torch 9800, at least, but our appetite for 4G of the LTE variety runs deep. Will this be too little too late for the Canadian manufacturer, or can this year's fall lineup be enough to keep the company healthy until QNX rolls into town? [Thanks, Gary]
Pay what you want for a Monaco shirt
Get a jump on Monaco fandom by buying merch in advance of the game's release -- even in advance of any announcement of a release! Pocketwatch Games is taking orders on Monaco t-shirts, in order to help support the ongoing development of the heist game. It's a gesture of courtesy, considering the team has all the inspiration it needs for moneymaking initiatives right in the game. Pocketwatch is selling the t-shirts under a "pay what you want" model, sort of like the Humble Indie Bundle, but for a more tangible, wearable bundle. You have to pay at least $8 for the shirt and $6 shipping to cover costs, but you're free to throw in as much extra as you like. If you pay $19 or more, you'll get a button; $94 or more gets you a set of four. And the developers get to continue eating food while making Monaco.
