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Base jumping sim Skydive: Proximity Flight lands on XBLA
If the only thing preventing you from leaping off a tall building is the fear that gravity might turn your insides into outsides, Gaijin Entertainment and Topware Interactive have a solution: Skydive: Proximity Flight. The game, which has just debuted on the Xbox Live Arcade at a price of $7, allows players to virtually strap themselves into a wingsuit and leap into the wild blue yonder. Thanks to Kinect functionality, virtual daredevils can use their bodies to maneuver through the game's "picturesque landscapes and majestic, real life locations," while those who master simply surviving the trip can turn their focus toward aerial stunts. While gracefully falling thousands of feet is the core draw of the game, Skydive: Proximity Flight offers races, descents guided by floating rings and freeform dives. While Skydive: Proximity Flight is currently only available on the Xbox 360, a PlayStation 3 version of the game is said to be in development. Additional information can be found on the game's website. [Image: Gaijin Entertainment]
'Pressure' forces racing and vintage quack medicine together
Pressure, developed by Chasing Carrots and published by TopWare Interactive, is definitely the first action racing game we can think of that reminds us of the Kellogg family's Battle Creek Sanitarium.The steampunk racing/shooting game has players, driving a steam-powered buggy, attempting to defeat the "Earl of Wellness," who has drained the local lake to provide water for his "Wellness Spa Temple."Once again, this is a racing game. See for yourself above. It's coming to PC, PS3 download, and XBLA.%Gallery-168363%
The puzzle-fueled shooting of Transcripted
Transcripted takes two fairly disparate gameplay concepts and combines them to create something new. Specifically, it blends 2D omnidirectional shooting with a match-three puzzle mechanic. Or, if you want the elevator pitch, as it was given to me by publisher TopWare's PR director Jake DiGennaro, it's Geometry Wars meets Zuma.%Gallery-157725%
TopWare games takes 50 percent, a load off on GoG
It's a lazy Sunday afternoon, so stay in your pajamas, grab a mug of coffee and curl up in front of your computer with the final run of Good Old Games' weekend deal on TopWare titles. The TopWare Mix is half off until tomorrow at 11:59 p.m. EDT and includes Two Worlds, Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire, Jack Orlando: A Cinematic Adventure, the Earth series and more. Check out the full lineup right here, but hey, take your time. It is the day of rest, after all.
Two Worlds 2: Castle Defense on iPad 2 uses 'eye-tracking technology'
If you're confused about which platform on which to play Two Worlds 2: Castle Defense, only one platform is going to be staring at your face as you play. Maybe you should take that into consideration. The iPad 2 version features 3D-ET tech, to change the camera angle based on the position of your face relative to the screen. Basically, the announcement says you can "look around corners." It also says it's "eye tracking" tech, but we're more inclined to believe it's tracking the movement of your head, because eye tracking requires a really close-up camera and very quick refresh rate. Still neat, though!
Two Worlds 2 Velvet GOTY Edition defies logic
It is true that Two Worlds 2 is "a game" and it launched in "the year" 2011, so we guess we understand the newly announced Two Worlds 2 Velvet Game of the Year Edition. It is a game of the year 2011. We're pretty sure there isn't an outlet on the planet who awarded Two Worlds 2 with the honor of game of the year -- we know, we checked. Online. We're only a little over halfway through this year, but it's not stopping Topware Interactive from re-issuing a swanky bundle, replete with upcoming DLC, Pirates of the Flying Fortress. On top of the DLC, there's a map, a collectible pin, a bonus disc with wallpapers, art, soundtrack and two PvP maps and the titular velvet case -- available in red on consoles, black on PC and Mac. Hit the jump for the full press release. The velvet edition will launch on October 18 for PC, Mac, PS3 and Xbox 360. %Gallery-128503%
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc hits GOG, Dream Pinball 3D discounted
The library at Good Old Games expanded to include Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc today. Our own Ludwig Kietzmann notes that the game isn't quite as magical as Rayman 2: The Great Escape, which is also on GOG, but is worth it for "John Leguiziamo and the inexplicable ability to drive Rayman's shoe like a car." You can snag Rayman 3 now for $6. Also, as part of its Summer Hidden Gems sale, GOG has cut the price of Dream Pinball 3D. Today only, the title can be had for $2.39, which is less than most gamers would plunk into a real pinball machine.
Two Worlds 2: Castle Defense rushes to Mac, PC & iOS on May 17
Waiting for the next big Two Worlds event is rough -- we know. September is, like, ages away, and don't even get us started on 2012 (who knows if this world will even still be around then). But, surprise! Publisher TopWare Interactive has announced Two Worlds 2: Castle Defense, coming to Mac, PC and iOS on May 17. As the title suggests, rather than role-playing in a fantasy world, you'll be defending towers in a fantasy world, controlling various combat units and striking down the forces of Gandalf's evil twin, Gandohar. Of course, this still leaves us waiting more than three weeks for the next big Two Worlds event. However will we-- surprise! The demo is available right now, so stick that in your impatience pipe and smoke it. Is that not how demos work?%Gallery-122088%
Two Worlds 2 expansion, 'Pirates of the Flying Fortress,' coming in September
We knew we hadn't seen the last of Two Worlds with a new game planned for next year, but a recent announcement has revealed that we haven't seen the last of Two Worlds, um, 2, either. Topware has launched a website for "Pirates of the Flying Fortress," "the official expansion pack" for the Two Worlds sequel. The expansion is said to serve up "exotic flair, new enemies, new settings and new weapons," in addition to thunderstorms and rain. New multiplayer maps and single-player content with also be included. Then there's the much anticipated "impact-oriented horse armor." "Pirates of the Flying Fortress" will launch as a "multi-platform title" (perhaps to be released both as a bundle with the original game and as a DLC add-on) for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and Mac platforms this September. "The good old 'Two Worlds' atmosphere waits," promises the announcement, "which is yet quite different this time around."
Two Worlds 2 marked down to $40 at Kmart, buyers get hammered
If you're looking to try out the sure lock for 2011's "Most Improved Game of the Year" award recipient, Two Worlds 2, Kmart's making a pretty compelling case for your dollars. The retailer has the game for $40 this week, which will also net you a download voucher for the powerful "BattleHammer of Kroll."
Two Worlds 2 review: One world of difference
"Uh, hello, Two Worlds 2 is it? Please, come in, have a seat." "Oh, thank you so much, and please, call me Tee Dub, all my friends do. I can't tell you what an honor this is to even be considered for a Joystiq score, especially considering what an unmitigated disaster my predecessor was." "It's our pleasure, Tee Dub. Now, I'm just going to address the elephant in the room here. I'm looking over your resume, and I keep coming back to this line right here: 'I am, in many respects, not a very good game. In fact, some parts of me are actively bad.'" "Uhh, yes, that's correct." "We try to keep an open mind here at Joystiq, and heaven knows we're suckers for fantasy action RPGs. But I have to ask ... if you'll fully admit to being crummy in many regards, what are you doing in my office?" "One word, Mr. McElroy: Heart." %Gallery-89295%
Two Worlds 2 gets Feb. 4 launch date, 'Royal Edition' in UK
Tracking the various release dates of Two Worlds 2 can be a tricky prospect. Just to recap, the game is already available in most of Europe and has sold over a million copies. It will arrive in North America on January 25, just a few short weeks away. Now, Topware Interactive has announced that Two Worlds 2 will arrive in the United Kingdom on February 4. Furthermore, the company has revealed the Royal Edition, which includes a statuette, a world map, playing cards, exclusive in-game weapons and a DVD with behind-the-scenes features, music, concept art and more. The Royal Edition will be available exclusively through GAME and is currently available for pre-order.
Fallout over 'Bethesda v. Interplay' remains unsettled
Unofficial Fallout community wiki the Vault has posted snippets and analysis of another batch of court documents, courtesy of site founder Paweł Dembowski (posting as Ausir), in the legal battle between Bethesda and Interplay over the latter's licensed, in-development Fallout Online MMO and rights to distribute pre-Fallout 3 titles from the franchise. If the absence of recent developments in the suit had you wondering if the two sides had settled cordially, forget about it. The excerpts are most certainly lacking in holiday spirit, as the fiery debate appears to wage on. According to the Vault, highlights from the new documents show Bethesda, which is the current Fallout IP owner, defending against Interplay's claims that it had denied the MMO developer rights to use "Fallout-related intellectual property assets." Bethesda maintains that it had licensed back to Interplay (the original IP owner) rights to the Fallout name only and not art assets, including the series' (literally) trademark Pip-Boy. In a separate document, Bethesda took to the offensive, demanding Interplay hand over the contents of its internal Fallout Online design wiki as court evidence. Interplay objected, calling the wiki a "trade secret document" and suggested Bethesda had repeatedly turned down offers to "inspect" the wiki outside of the courtroom. Interplay seems to have little choice but to fight on, even as it operated at a $205,000 loss in its June–September fiscal quarter. As Gamer/Law points out, the company is caught in a deadly gamble: Its future is dependant on completing Fallout Online for a planned 2012 release -- if the project doesn't get shut down by the courts first. On the bright side, Interplay won out in a separate lawsuit earlier this month against TopWare, concerning the latter's infringement upon Interplay's "Battle Chess" trademark. [Pictured: Fallout Online concept art]
Two Worlds 2 coming to America Jan. 25, has sold a million in Europe
TopWare and SouthPeak's double-delayed RPG, Two Worlds 2, has finally received a North American release date of January 25, 2011. Later that week, the game will arrive in the U.K. and Ireland, where Topware will take over as sole distributor, allowing SouthPeak to focus on promoting the game in North America. That sounds like a decent strategy, but we're not sure the extra attention is necessary -- it's always been our experience that games with perfectly symmetrical titles practically sell themselves. Two Worlds 2 has already been received with moderate success in Continental Europe, with the Xbox 360 and PC versions selling over one million copies combined since their releases in early November. (The PS3 version, remember, was held up due to a Blu-ray printing delay.) There's no telling how well the game will be received in new regions next month, but if its critical reception remains positive, we're guessing it'll do a great deal better than its predecessor.
Two Worlds 2 publisher's CEO mad at Sony about European PS3 delay
Two Worlds 2's release drama continues, as publisher TopWare/Zuxxez's CEO Dirk Hassinger calls Sony out for missing the game's European release date. Eurogamer reports that the game recently launched in mainland Europe on Xbox 360 and PC, but the executive explains that because TopWare couldn't choose the pressing plant for the PS3 discs, the game won't be available on the platform until after Christmas. This is just the latest incident in a string of delays, more delays and denials regarding the reasons for those delays that have plagued the title. The wait may be worth it, as Eurogamer Germany gave the game a 9/10. Two Worlds 2 is expected to launch January 2011 in the US and UK. %Gallery-89295%
TopWare says Two Worlds 2 is done, disputes SouthPeak's delay claim
Awwwkward. Two Worlds 2 was recently delayed in North America until January 2011 because, according to regional publisher SouthPeak, it planned to take the extra time for "heavyweight quality assurance," so the game was "absolutely flawless" for launch. TopWare Interactive, a subsidiary of the game's European publisher Zuxxez, apparently didn't appreciate that messaging and called it "factually incorrect." Speaking to Gamespot, TopWare's managing director, James Seaman, said the delay was made because of the "exceptionally crowded" holiday season. The company (which oversees Two Worlds 2 developer Reality Pump) allegedly finished all "production, bug testing and localization" work in mid-September and plans to release the game in a few territories on October 21. The January launch in North America will feature the same content as the European release, except for the expected patch updates. This whole messaging debacle gives us an Alpha Protocol vibe. Hopefully, it'll have a more positive outcome.
Two Worlds 2 takes scenic route, now launching October 5
So, we thought Two Worlds 2 was supposed to launch this week -- and we were not alone in this thinking -- but it turns out the game's release date has been quietly moved. A representative for Southpeak told Joystiq today that Two Worlds 2 is scheduled to make its retail appearance on October 5 in North America. (Although we asked, no new European date was provided.) Guess someone figured out launching the same week as Halo: Reach probably isn't the best move ... right, Cabela?
Two Worlds 2 continues Sordahon's Journey
We can't blame you if you immediately glaze over when you see the words "Two Worlds," but if so, you've been missing one of the funniest and most honest advertising campaigns in the the history of video games. We're not sure if the self-effacing "Sordahon's Journey" is going to convince us to buy Two Worlds 2, but it's certainly helping us to forgive SouthPeak for Two Worlds 1. The fourth installation of the series is upon us just after the break -- and you can only find it on Joystiq! Here are parts one, two and three if you need to catch up.
Battle vs. Chess: trailer vs. your eyeballs
"Will you die a pawn or reign as king?" the latest Battle vs. Chess trailer asks. We have an even easier question to ask: will you watch this new trailer? It's as simple as clicking past the break.
Battle vs. Chess sets up September 28 release gambit
Southpeak has announced that its chess title, Battle vs Chess (which is totally not Battle Chess) is headed to PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 28. Much like Interplay's classic game of nearly the same name, Battle vs Chess lets players compete in the ancient strategy game using animated pieces. Battle vs Chess also includes several different gameplay modes, including a campaign mode and puzzle mode which house "over 50 puzzles and scenarios." Another mode allows players to manually place pieces, which can only be seen by the opponent after the game begins. The PC version will retail for $20, while the Xbox and PlayStation 3 versions will be available for $40. Meanwhile, the Wii, DS and PSP versions are slated to be released in the first quarter of 2011 with prices still under wraps for now.
