Adventure Time
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Four new 'Adventure Time' specials are heading to HBO Max
Just one week after it secured the rights to Studio Ghibli's back catalog, WarnerMedia's HBO Max has landed another much-loved animated franchise. Starting next year, the streaming service will be the exclusive home of four new Adventure Time specials, reports Variety.
Sky's new Kids section is a direct shot at Netflix
When the little ones are having a temper tantrum, kids TV is often your best line of defence. In the UK, that used to mean switching on CBBC or CITV, but in the internet age Netflix and YouTube rule supreme. After all, it means you can find the exact show or movie that's likely to put a smile back on the little tikes' faces. That could spell trouble for Sky, so the broadcaster is revamping its child-centric on-demand offerings. A software update rolling out to all Sky+HD boxes this week will put a new "Kids" tile on the homepage, providing instant access to on-demand shows and movies, kids TV recordings and live channels such as Cbeebies and Nick Jr. In addition, Sky is expanding its library of on-demand episodes from 700 to 4,000 over the coming months. It'll include new morsels of SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer and Ben 10, as well as cult favourite Adventure Time. YouTube appeals because it's (mostly) free, but if you've been stressed out before trying to find a decent clip online, you might want to try grabbing your Sky remote next time.
'Adventure Time' may finally be getting the game it deserves
The Adventure Time TV show has been a huge success, but the accompanying video games rarely offer the same level of quality. Developer Vicious Cycle is hoping to change that with Adventure Time: Finn and Jake Investigations, a new 3D puzzler featuring the 12-year-old boy and magical dog. The game is being pitched as an "action-oriented twist" on the graphic adventure genre, which has been enjoying somewhat of a renaissance recently thanks to titles like Broken Age. In the new game, friends Finn and Jake are professional investigators, unravelling disappearances and other strange events in the crazy Land of Ooo. It's the most visually impressive Adventure Time game to date (which isn't saying much), and promises a healthy mix of puzzles and combat. If you're interested, it'll be landing on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS and PC this November.
WayForward's Adventure Time game coming to PSTV, Vita
Along with the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS and PC platforms, publisher Little Orbit has announced that the WayForward-developed Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom will also appear on the PlayStation TV and Vita handheld. As Sam explains in this preview from E3 2014, Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom is a clear homage to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The prior Adventure Time game, Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know, was criticized both by fans and series creator Pendleton Ward for being too linear, so developer WayForward opted to include a bigger overworld, and more puzzles while giving players more freedom to choose their path. Little Orbit is especially thrilled to be bringing the game to the PlayStation TV. Actually, the publisher's announcement never mentions the Vita (despite it being nearly identical hardware with a larger install base than the PSTV), and Little Orbit CEO Matt Scott ignores the handheld in favor of gushing over Sony's latest gadget. "We're pleased to be partnering with Sony and have our game featured in their new PlayStation TV advertising campaign. The PSTV is a perfect fit for our game because it enables the entire family to play together to unravel all the secrets of the Nameless Kingdom," Scott said. Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom arrives on November 18. [Image: Little Orbit]
Barely Related: Twin Peaks returns, so does Ghostbusters
Hello, weekend! It's so lovely to see you again. Welcome to Barely Related, a conversational Friday column that presents the non-gaming news stories that we, the Joystiq staff, have been talking about over the past week. And no, we're not stopping our focus on industry and gaming news. Think of this as your casual weekly recap of interesting (and mostly geeky) news, presented just in time to fill your brain with things to discuss at all of those weekend shindigs. Grab a fresh drink, lean back in your armchair, and get ready to talk nerdy with us.
Adventure Time: Nameless Kingdom debuts November 21 in Europe
WayForward's next Adventure Time game, The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom, premieres in Europe for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, and PC platforms via Steam on November 21, publisher Bandai Namco revealed this week. Announced earlier this year, The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom takes gameplay cues from classic entries in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series, and models its structure after the lauded 16-bit action-RPG A Link to the Past. Gameplay focuses on solving environmental puzzles to progress through the game's many dungeons, ditching the roguelike-styled gameplay of its predecessor Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! for a more traditional approach. A North American release date for The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom was not announced. [Image: Bandai Namco]
The next Adventure Time game is a link to the past
Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom will be the first in the WayForward-developed series under publisher Little Orbit, and a new name means a new direction. Whereas the previous game, Explore The Dungeon Because I Don't Know! was ... well, a dungeon-crawler, Secret of the Nameless Kingdom takes its inspiration primarily from a Nintendo franchise: The Legend of Zelda.
Adventure Time creator turns game maker as Twitter plays Pendleton Ward
Pendleton Ward is no stranger to gaming. His popular cartoon, Adventure Time, frequently references video games and tabletop roleplaying games, and even features an anthropomorphic video game console as a recurring character. Perhaps it's little surprise, then, that Ward would create a game (or something closely resembling a game) on Twitter. Yesterday, Ward tweeted an image of a jail cell with the caption: "You wake up in a dungeon cell. What do you do:" Ward then accepted input from other Twitter users, drawing the results, as if players were experiencing a classic text adventure game. He's since renamed his Twitter account "Quest Attack" and has continued to draw out players' progress and commands. It's kind of like Twitch Plays Pokemon, only there's a real human being being directed by the mob of onlookers. Since the game is operating in real-time, it gets put on pause every so often when Ward needs to take care of real-life business. Such as business lunches. [Image: Cartoon Network]
WayForward launching new Adventure Time game for consoles and Steam
Developer WayForward takes another crack at Cartoon Network's Adventure Time series with a new game launching later this year for the Nintendo 3DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC platforms via Steam. Teased last month, Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom adds "a classic top-down action adventure experience and puzzle-solving element to the franchise, reminiscent of early high fantasy console games," according to publishing partner Little Orbit. So, it's inspired by The Legend of Zelda, in other words. Nameless Kingdom follows up on WayForward's notably verbose series predecessors Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?! and Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom will hit retail and digital platforms in November. [Image: Cartoon Network]
New Adventure Time game journeys to consoles, handhelds this fall
A new Adventure Time game from Cartoon Network and Little Orbit is scheduled to launch in North America in the fall for consoles and handheld devices. Little Orbit is working on a second game that includes characters from a variety of Cartoon Network franchises, also due out in the fourth quarter of 2014 in North America. Both games will see international releases. Cartoon Network is planning to launch "several" Adventure Time and other franchise games this year. And, because we have to: What time is it? Attrition time! ... That's not right, is it? [Image: Cartoon Network]
Final Xbox Live Ultimate Sale includes Saints Row 4, Limbo and Metro: Last Light
Today is the final day in Microsoft's Xbox Live sale on Xbox 360, and includes discounts on nine games. The following six discounted items are available through Games on Demand: Saints Row 4, Metro: Last Light, Tropico 4, Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon, Oblivion and Overlord 2. The other three games on sale through Xbox Live Arcade are Limbo, Puzzle Quest 2 and Rock of Ages. Head past the break for the full price breakdown of the discounted prices, which are good through the end of the day. Don't forget, 13 other games are on sale on the platform until tomorrow as well, including Portal 2, Batman: Arkham City and Mass Effect.
Double Fine Amnesia Fortnight game jam includes Adventure Time creator
Double Fine's annual game jam, Amnesia Fortnight, is upon us once again. Over the next two weeks, small teams within Double Fine will conceptualize new games and create working prototypes that will, through the power of internet voting, be made into full-fledged games. This year's festivities include a special twist: Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward is participating as a special guest project leader. Ward will head up his own team and create a working prototype based on one of his four designs, as voted for by the fans. A list of Pendleton Ward's prototypes are available over on the Amnesia Fortnight Humble Bundle page. Mathematical! The pitch video above shows Double Fine is full of ideas - we kind of lost count after the eighth game idea - but there are individual pitch videos for each idea over on Double Fine's YouTube page. There are games about cats, space exploration, fantasy wars, karate troopers, turning Tim Schafer into a pocket monster, something about a ghost dog (not that Ghost Dog) and Bad Golf 2 Bad Golf 2 Bad Golf 2 Bad Golf 2. A documentary from 2 Player Productions will chronicle the whole event. You can head on over to the Humble Store page right now and contribute some cash for the right to vote on which prototypes move on. Doing so will grant immediate access to 2012's prototypes, which include Amnesia Fortnight 2012 winner Spacebase DF-9. [Image: Double Fine]
Adventure Time creator contributing his voice to Broken Age
Oh, my, glob. Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward will contribute his voice to Double Fine's adventure game Broken Age, Polygon reports. The partnership was shared during the studio's Day of the Devs event, a free-of-charge gathering that has allowed fans to play indie projects from Gaijin Games, Supergiant Games and more. The announcement concerning Ward's involvement was initially made on Broken Age's backer forums, a restricted-access space meant to host discussion between the game's development team and those who donated $15 or more to the project on Kickstarter. The reveal of Ward's involvement follows the September announcement that Jack Black and Jennifer Hale are contributing to the project. The first half of Broken Age is planned to launch on Steam Early Access in January, which is hoped to generate enough revenue to fund the rest of the project's completion. Backers will get access to the first half before those on Steam Early Access and will also get the full game once it's released.
Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! Collector's Edition exclusive to 3DS
A BMO-themed Collector's Edition of Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! will be released for the 3DS version of the game, alongside its standard edition counterparts on the 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC when the game arrives this fall. The Collector's Edition, which will run for $39.99, comes in a limited edition BMO SteelBook case and includes a DVD that features voice actor interviews, show creator Pendleton Ward's storyboard artwork "and more," in addition to "Finn and Jake's Dungeon Guide," a full-color manual with bonus artwork. The standard editions of the Wii U and 3DS versions also have a bit more in-game BMO than the other ports. In the Wii U version, BMO's adorable little computer face will chill on the GamePad's screen, dispensing commentary via 300-plus voice clips, in addition to contextual clues and hints about boss weaknesses. The 3DS version features similar functionality on the touch screen, sans voice clips.
Build your own Adventure Time game
If you don't own a DS or 3DS and haven't played WayForward's Adventure Time game, you're missing out. But Cartoon Network has you covered with a browser-based alternative, the Adventure Time Game Creator. Cartoon Network will add one new hero each week in July, so try it before it gets complicated.
Stick It To The Man hits PS3, Vita this year with writing by Ryan North
Stick It To The Man is a grungy, jazzy platform adventure game coming to PS3 and Vita this year, from Swedish developer Zoink!, publisher Ripstone, and written by Ryan North, author of the Adventure Time comic and creator of Dinosaur Comics. Stick It To The Man stars average-city-dude Ray, who lives in a world made of stickers and paper. After an accident, Ray wakes up with a "giant pink spaghetti arm sticking out of his brain" (just go with it) and finds he has the ability to peel off parts of his surroundings – and surrounding people – and he can read everyone's thoughts (seriously, just let it happen). He's then framed by The Man for a nasty crime, and he must use his new powers to traverse the city safely. Still on board? Good. Stick It To The Man will be out before the end of 2013, with a playable version at E3 next week.%Gallery-190337%
Free for All: Adventure Time's nostalgia is MMO drama done right
I've tried to explain my love for a bit of melodrama several times over the years. It's sort of a hard thing to explain. I like a good bit of "sad" in my MMOs when I can get it, and I can say that I enjoy some measure of drama as well. Sure, many MMOs have a dramatic storyline quest here or there, but more often than not, the game forgets to be a world and rushes us off into yet another combat assignment. The fact is that it's very hard to find the balance. We all want a good story, but many of us just want to get to the good stuff. The loot. The treasure. The virtual glory. I've had a hard time explaining my want for a game that makes me feel real emotion and explaining why I enjoy those feelings. Well, the PBS Idea Channel on YouTube did it much better than I ever could, and it used the popular Cartoon Network series Adventure Time as the perfect example of why nostalgia is a powerful and universal thing. When it comes to video games, I believe nostalgia is even more powerful than loot.
Adventure Time: Hey Ice King soundtrack now on streaming
The entirety of Adventure Time: Hey Ice King, Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!!'s phenomenal pseudo-chiptune power-pop soundtrack is now streaming on D3Publisher's official Soundcloud account, which means that all 83 minutes of Jake Kaufman's exceptional work on the game can now be enjoyed for free.While the majority of the 34 track album is instrumental, some songs (such as Marceline's boss theme and the beginning/ending themes) are fitting vocal tributes to the source material, which is already famous for having catchy, endearing music.There is one small catch, which is that the soundtrack isn't actually for sale or available to download, and therefore must be enjoyed in-browser. This basically ruins our plans to drive around town blasting Party in the Clouds, but we'll take what we can get at this point.
Daily iPhone App: Jumping Finn Turbo provides an addictive cycle with the Adventure Time crew
Cartoon Network has been putting out some really impressive iOS apps lately under its Adult Swim brand, including the really great Monsters Ate My Condo. Jumping Finn Turbo is a new game outside of the Adult Swim banner. It's not quite as good as those offerings, but it is pretty addictive anyway. The title is based on the popular Adventure Time cartoon by Pen Ward, though instead of following the show's storyline, it's a "jumping" arcade game, where Jake has to kick Finn as high, far and fast across the show's setting as he possibly can. The best part isn't necessarily the kicking mechanic, which is actually kind of boring. You basically just wait for Finn to try and hit something and hopefully go farther than before. It's the game's deep and surprisingly satisfying upgrade mechanic that's the most intriguing. Kicking Finn earns you stars, which you can use to upgrade Jake's kicking power or put more items and power-ups into the world. That core cycle is actually really satisfying, and it means that Jumping Finn Turbo will probably have you saying, "well, just one more kick," more often than not. You can see the game in action in the video below, or you can buy it for US$1.99. The price is a little high for a simple game like this. It's well worth it if you're an Adventure Time fan, but odds are that there are plenty of cheaper and free games that you haven't checked out yet, so you probably wouldn't regret waiting for a sale on this one. But, if you like the game's idea and would get a kick out of seeing your favorite Adventure Time characters mashed up like this, definitely grab Jumping Finn Turbo.
Adventure Time items gallivant off to Xbox Live Marketplace
The Xbox Live Marketplace has checked its watch and observed the little hand is squarely on "Adventure." A lineup of Adventure Time avatar items is live on XBLM, including shirts with Jake, Finn, Lady Raincorn, Ice King and Marceline, along with extra items such as Marceline's Axe Bass, Finn's Toy Golden Sword of Battle, Ice King's crown and Princess Bubblegum's tiara and hair.The Princess Bubblegum item is on the second page, where we can only assume she's hiding from Ice King. Unfortunately, she's right next to an Ice King t-shirt, and they're all alone. Finn, Jake, help![Thanks, neoz.]
