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Portabliss: VVVVVV (3DS eShop)
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: VVVVVV. VVVVVV for 3DS is the best version of Terry Cavanagh's insanely difficult platform game I've ever played. But that's only because I don't have a good controller for my computer. As far as I can tell, the 3DS version is identical to the PC release in almost every way: the same C64-style graphics, featuring monochrome smiley-face people against (optional) flashing geometric backgrounds; the same fully explorable world of vast expanses of space, impossible mazes, and so many spikes; the same brilliant chiptune soundtrack. The differences include, on the downside, the lack of a level editor (though Nicalis has said it is considering adding that), and, on the upside, 3D. Other than that, it's the familiar gauntlet of physically impossible rooms that you really should have played already. Though the specifics of the nostalgia element elude me (not being a C64 person), the style of gameplay is absolutely perfect for me: a series of self-contained platforming challenges that require both dexterity and forethought. Oh, and lots and lots of patience with repeated failure. Though the level editor isn't present, a selection of user-created levels is included in the download, including the giant "Dimension 333333" by Sendy and a level by Minecraft creator Notch. So when you get through the main game, and collect all 20 of the "trinkets," then you won't have to use those wizard powers you apparently have to generate new content. VVVVVV is available for $7.99 on the 3DS eShop. We're always looking for new distractions. Want to submit your game for Portabliss consideration? You can reach us at portabliss aat joystiq dawt com.
NintendoWare Weekly: VVVVVV, Bionic Commando
Two games hit the eShop today, and they both seem worthwhile! Terry Cavanagh's devious puzzle platformer, VVVVVV, is now playable on the go, courtesy of Nicalis. Bionic Commando is also made portable, courtesy of ... the Game Boy version Capcom made years ago. On DSiWare you can get Cake Ninja, though you'd probably hate yourself for buying such an outright Fruit Ninja clone. Get it only if you're lacking a conscience, much like its developers.
VVVVVV arrives on the 3DS eShop on December 29
Terry Cavanagh's great platformer VVVVVV is heading to a 3DS near you as promised: The game has been set for release on the Nintendo eShop next week. Starting December 29, you'll be able to grab the game (published by Nicalis, the company behind Cave Story and its various iterations) for a price of $7.99 on your 3DS, and take on the game's many frustrating yet ingenious challenges for yourself. Or, if you've never played the title before, you could go try out the free Flash version, or play it on PC or Mac as you wish. It's a great and well-made experience for sure, but bring all of the patience you have. You'll need it.%Gallery-136044%
Humble Indie Bundle adds five more games (and their soundtracks)
There's "value" and then there's "you're insane if you don't purchase this." The latest Humble Indie Bundle falls into the latter and is easily the best bundle yet. That's right, we said it. Humble Indie Bundle 4 has added five new games to its lineup -- a selection of titles from Humble Indie Bundle 3, to be exact. If you pay more than the average now (or already purchased the bundle) you can snag Crayon Physics Deluxe, Cogs, VVVVVVV, And Yet It Moves and Hammerfight on the house. And you know how the fine bundle folks sweetened the deal by adding free soundtracks last week? Yup, you'll also get the soundtracks to these five latest additions. Agree with us now? Yeah, we thought so.
Kid Icarus: Uprising, Mario Party 9, more coming in Q1 2012
Nintendo dropped its Q1 lineup on us this morning, offering highlights like the inexplicably GameStop-exclusive Circle Pad Pro and the best news of the year. But there's a lot more in the lineup than those two items -- for example, we now have a specific release date for Masahiro Sakurai's 3DS Kid Icarus: Uprising: March 23. On the 3DS eShop, Nicalis's ports of indie hits VVVVVV and NightSky are scheduled for eShop sometime in Q1, as is WayForward's Mighty Switch Force, a port of Zen Pinball, and Mutant Mudds. Nintendo will bring Kirby's Block Ball to the Virtual Console in the quarter as well. Mario Party 9 will launch on Wii March 11, preceded on February 27 by PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond. The only listed WiiWare title is, again, from Nicalis: La-Mulana sometime in the quarter. The DS lineup is ... light, with only the February release of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 really worth mentioning. But you can see the full list of announced releases on all three platforms, after the break.%Gallery-141688%
VVVVVV dev releases cerebral, really local-multiplayer title, At a Distance
Terry Cavanagh, developer of indie frustration machine VVVVVV, has released a new game that encourages intense, quasi-telepathic local multiplayer, titled At a Distance. The game is available for download on Windows and Mac for free, but make sure to read the installation instructions before diving into this one. First, you'll need a friend. Second, you'll need half a brain. We know these may be difficult to come by, but maybe try reversing the order and see what happens. We believe in you. At a Distance was developed for NYU Game Center's 2011 No Quarter Exhibition and is meant to be played on two computers side-by-side -- each screen runs its own unique game with no instructions on how to explore the neon, geometric world, but apparently the two players come together brilliantly in the game and in real life. This sounds like the beginning of something beautiful. %Gallery-141542%
Indie Game Music Bundle adds 4 more albums, today is the last day
Okay, maybe 17 indie game music albums for $10 – including the likes of Super Meat Boy, The Binding of Isaac, Minecraft, VVVVVV, A.R.E.S. and many more – just wasn't a sweet enough deal for you. Okay, how about 21 albums for $10? The Indie Game Music Bundle is now offering just that, thanks to the addition of four new albums: Circle (soundtrack for an unreleased game), Cardboard Box Assembler, Songs for the Cure and Bite Jacker. For the pay-what-you-want price of $10 or more, you get downloads of all 21 albums from Bandcamp, including high quality FLAC files for all the audiophiles out there. You'd best snag 'em quick though – as of this post, the sale only has about 12 hours to go.
Steam Autumn Sale adds LA Noire, Fallout: New Vegas, Monkey Island and more
Before you venture over to Steam's Autumn Sale page, quietly recite your honed mantra of resistance: "I do not have time to play these games. I haven't even finished Skyrim. All these small charges add up in the long run." Alright, now that you've done that and shown yourself a vague, minute attempt at adhering to frugality, you'll feel less guilty when you buy everything. L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition wants $24.99, Fallout: New Vegas is five bucks and the Monkey Island Special Edition bundle is cut down to $5.09. ACE Team's bizarro brawler, Zeno Clash, enters the sale at $3.74, and topsy-turvy adventure VVVVVV costs $1.24 until tomorrow afternoon. That's less than 21 cents per V.
VVVVVV coming to 3DS in late 2011
Terry Cavanagh's topsy-turvy challenge, VVVVVV, is coming to the Nintendo 3DS courtesy of Nicalis. It'll be available on the 3DS eShop later this year, complete with "full 3D awesomeness." VVVVVV's cheerful 8-bit aesthetic will stretch across two screens now, with a real-time map on the bottom screen offering some direction in the action platformer that takes great pleasure in eschewing basic navigational rules. The 3DS version will also feature new levels and "future content updates." If you want to play VVVVVV's new incarnation before it launches, head to the ongoing Indiecade in Culver City, California, and ... track down Terry Cavanagh. Remember, it's pronounced with six Vs.%Gallery-136044%
Humble Indie Bundle 3 rakes in $500K in 17 hours
At what point does the Humble Indie Bundle become so successful that it can officially stop being so darn humble? We're not sure if there's a set limit, but we think that the recently launched third edition of the indie game compilation has cleared the bar: In its first 17 hours of availability, Humble Indie Bundle 3 has been downloaded over 105,000 times, pulling in more than $500,000 for the five games included therein. Keep in mind, these impressive figures were accumulated in less than a day -- we can't wait to see how much cheddar these worthy titles (alongside Child's Play and the Electronic Frontier Foundation) can nab during their full two-week run. Of course, first, we're going to have to find out the latest dollar-to-cheddar currency exchange rates. We're pretty sure it's $3.09 per brick, but that ratio might be a tad outdated.
Humble Indie Bundle 3 packs VVVVVV, Crayon Physics Deluxe, And Yet It Moves, and more
The Humble Indie Bundle, the wildly successful, DRM-free pay-what-you-want charity game collection curated by Wolfire Games, is back ... right now! The Humble Indie Bundle 3 includes Crayon Physics Deluxe, Cogs, VVVVVV (now with a level editor and a new level by Minecraft creator Notch), Hammerfight, and And Yet It Moves -- all playable natively in Linux, OSX, and Windows. Some of the games are newly ported specifically for this purpose. As always, you'll be able to pay whatever amount you like for the bundle, and you'll be able to specify how much of that payment goes to the EFF, Child's Play, the developers, or Wolfire itself (to offset the costs of hosting the Bundle). The bundle will go away in two weeks, so you have that long to decide how much to chip in, and to whom. We assume you've already decided to buy it.
Steam offering Machinarium, Torchlight and Indie pack for $5 each
Steam's "Give and Get" sale continues today, with yesterday's tempting one-day discounts giving way to an even better batch. You'll be able to buy the gorgeous Machinarium or Runic's dungeon jaunt, Torchlight, for $5 each. And if you're smart, you'll consider spending that same amount on the "Indie Clever Pack," which comprises World of Goo, VVVVVV, Eufloria, Doc Clock: The Toasted Sandwich of Time and Iron Grip: Warlord. At the time of publishing (3PM EST), you have 22 hours left on the following options: Machinarium -- $5 Torchlight -- $5 Indie Clever Pack -- $4.99 Blur -- $14.99 Tropico 3: Gold Edition -- $7.50 Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box -- $14.99 Empire: Total War -- $14.99 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 Gold Edition -- $13.60 ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead -- $19.99 Steam's gift packs for today include a Portal six-pack for $14.99 and ten copies of Irrational's Freedom Force for a patently silly $7.49.
VVVVVV's Captain Viridian dropped into Super Meat Boy PC
Another indie hero has joined the Super Meat Boy collective: VVVVVV's blocky, gravity-ignoring explorer Captain Viridian. Viridian will join Mr. Minecraft as one of the new characters exclusive to the PC version of Super Meat Boy. You've killed him thousands of times in VVVVVV (and if you haven't, you should totally check out the demo), now you'll get to watch him fail fatally over and over again in a new venue! It sounds like you'll manipulate Viridian in the same manner as VVVVVV, changing gravity to allow him to walk on either the ceiling or the floor. "He has one of the most game breaking powers yet," Team Meat said about the new character on Twitter. "He flips." As a result, he will require "a ton" of bandages to unlock.
Gravity-defying indie platformer VVVVVV released
If Don't Look Back creator Terry Cavanagh's latest game is any indication, 2010 is already a great year for indie platformers. Taking its graphical inspiration from games of the Spectrum/C64 era, VVVVVV is based upon a gravity-flipping mechanic like the one in Metal Storm -- instead of jumping, the stranded hero of this game is able to reverse gravity at the touch of a button, immediately falling upward into the ceiling. Trying the game out cut dangerously into the time we intended to use telling you about it. And it's not like we need to say much anyway: Cavanagh has released a downloadable demo for both Mac and PC, as well as a browser-based Flash version on Kongregate. The full game costs $15. [Thanks, Erik]
