Black Forest Games
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A ‘Destroy All Humans! 2’ remake is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
Cult classic Destroy All Humans! 2 is getting a remake for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Giana Sisters: Director's Cut coming to Xbox One, PS4 next month
An upgraded version of the crowdfunded dimension-swapping platformer Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams will launch for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One next month, developer Black Forest Games announced this week. Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Director's Cut is presented at 1080p on both platforms, and includes all of the original game's content along with the previously PC-exclusive Rise of the Owlverlord and Halloween Level expansion packs. Black Forest Games plans to launch Director's Cut in "early December." [Video: Black Forest Games]
Giana Sisters 2 coming to Wii U, Xbox One, PS4
Developer Black Forest Games is prototyping a sequel to its 2012 platformer Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams that could see a multiplatform release as soon as next year, Nintendo Life reports. Studio co-founder Adrian Goersch confirmed that the follow-up is slated for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo's Wii U. Development is still in its early stages, but Black Forest Games is currently targeting a "late 2015 or early 2016" launch date. Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams was initially funded through a successful Kickstarter project in 2012, and went on to sell more than one million copies across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and PC platforms. Prior to its crowdfunded return, the Giana Sisters series began life as a Commodore 64 Super Mario Bros. clone before settling its differences with Nintendo for a 2009 DS release. [Image: Black Forest Games]
Diesel jeans files opposition to Dieselstormers trademark
Lawyers representing the Diesel fashion brand have filed legal opposition to attempts by Germany's Black Forest Games to trademark "Dieselstormers" as the title of an upcoming run and gun shooter. According to Diesel representatives, the game's title could cause confusion in consumers. Despite Diesel being known almost exclusively for its clothing (and its jeans in particular), the company holds a trademark over the term "Diesel" in numerous miscellaneous fields including video games. While this trademark squabble awaits an official ruling, Black Forest Games remains confident that Diesel has no case. "In all probability an understanding will be reached as Black Forest have no intent to create clothing under the Dieselstormers brand - and the "Diesel" part of Dieselstormers refers to the liquid fuel type of the same name and is not a parody of the fashion brand," reads an official statement from Black Forest. [Image: Black Forest Games]
Joystiq Discovers... What's in the box AGAIN!
Once again, we received a box and decided we should open it on our Twitch page for audience participation. We're enjoying doing these, and it seems like you all are too. This time Alexander Sliwinski is joined by Anthony John Agnello, along with a special guest, to find out: What's in the box? Prepare for dogs wearing human clothing. If you want to skip ahead to the reveal, it happens at about the 5:45 mark. Dog in a t-shirt at 9 minutes if you're into that. This is the internet, of course you're into that! Spoiler after the break...
Dieselstormers starts a firefight in a city full of oil
None of the conversations we've heard about pollution have ever brought up the whole "oil can totally turn you into orks" thing, but now that Dieselstormers has cleared its funding goal on Kickstarter, it's a reality the diesel-fueled town of Ravensdale will face. Naturally, the remaining humans are up for sorting things out with guns in a solo or co-operative, side scrolling manner, but with their city speckled with oil canisters and goop pits, mashing triggers won't always be the best strategy. Missions focus on assassinating, sabotaging or liberating targets, but optional goals like timed objectives can be tackled in exchange for bonuses. Revisiting cleared stages might not feel entirely redundant, either - the city blocks of Ravensdale have an element of procedural generation to them. The Kickstarter page describes levels as being built from "different layers" of architecture that provide a "constantly shifting and growing context" for ork-targeting shootouts. Dieselstormers will let its heroes mix-n-match gun components to tailor an arsenal to their personal play style, but bringing friends along will allow for use of the Arc Connector. This ball of destruction is tethered to all players and can be guided toward enemies to dish out damage, provided the squad controlling it is capable of the involved teamwork. It's upgradable with stackable mods across all players, too, so every team's go-to finisher won't be the same spectacle. Although Dieselstormers is bound for Steam, developer Black Forest Games assures it will release a DRM-free version "as soon as the sales success makes it viable to set up this infrastructure ourselves." Dieselstormers has its sights on an initial PC launch with Mac and Linux versions following, but Black Forest is "planning for" Xbox One, PS4 and Wii U as well. [Image: Black Forest Games]
Giana Sisters studio reveals Contra-like Dieselstormers
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams creator Black Forest Games announced that its next game is Dieselstormers, a co-op run-and-gun platformer in the style of Konami's classic Contra series. Dieselstormers is a chaotic side-scrolling shooter in which up to four players explore vast levels for loot that can be used to upgrade and customize weapon loadouts. The game is set for a Windows, Mac, and Linux release via Steam, and ports for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U are also in the works. Though Black Forest came up short the first time it attempted to crowdfund Dieselstormers (back when it was known as Ravensdale), the team has currently earned over $18,000 toward its new Kickstarter funding goal of $50,000. An alpha version will launch via Steam Early Access in October. [Image: Black Forest Games]
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams shifts one million copies
Indie developer Black Forest Games announced that its Commodore 64-era revival project Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams has crested one million sales units across all available platforms. Funded by a successful Kickstarter project, Twisted Dreams is a dimension-shifting platformer that launched in 2012 for Windows, with ports for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U arriving last year. Black Forest's recent sales milestone comes in the wake of Twisted Dreams' recent appearance in Humble Indie Bundle 11, where it accompanied standout indie hits like Guacamelee, Monaco, and Dust: An Elysian Tail. Black Forest continued to update the Windows version of Twisted Dreams with new content in the years following its initial release, including holiday-themed Christmas and Halloween levels. [Image: Black Forest Games]
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams updates with new Halloween level
Indie developer Black Forest Games has released a new Halloween-themed level for its Kickstarter-funded 2.5D platformer Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams and its PC follow-up Rise of the Owlverlord. Today's free update extends the sisters' dimension-shifting adventure with a lengthy and challenging Halloween map, joining previously released Christmas and Halloween-themed bonus episodes from 2012. The update is also available for Rise of the Owlverlord, a recently-released standalone expansion that offers its own collection of unique levels. The new Halloween level is exclusive to PC platforms, though Black Forest Games' managing director Adrian Goersch notes that "there are several things planned for 2014," with regard to upcoming console-specific Giana Sisters content. Twisted Dreams is also available via Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network, and the Wii U eShop.
Giana Sisters available September 5 on Wii U in Americas
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams will complete the console circuit with its debut on Wii U on September 5 in the Americas. The game is priced at $14.99 and, according to developer Black Forest Games, will be released in the US, Brazil and Mexico Nintendo eShoppes. "Our sales on Wii U eShop in Europe are even better than those on PSN Europe. Now we are very curious to see how much the US Nintendo-fans like our game," said Adrian Goersch, managing director at Black Forest. The Wii U version of Giana fully supports the game through the WiiPad, along with a super easy mode for casual palyers (hardcore and überhardcore are still supported).
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Wii U dated for Europe, Australia
Black Forest Games' Wii U port of Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams twirls into Europe and Australia's eShops on August 22, but remains date-less in North America for now. The German studio told us it was bringing the sororal platformer to Wii U this month, but this week's announcement notes US and APAC dates are as yet unconfirmed. We've reached out to Black Forest Games for more info. Those who like their platforming semi-portable will be pleased to know the Wii U version supports off-TV play, as well as featuring a new easy mode – don't be fooled by the cutesy look, Twisted Dreams can be a tricksy hobbit when it wants, even on Normal mode. Meanwhile, the game's Steam version is getting new DLC in September. The punfully titled 'Rise of the Owlverlord' includes seven levels, new music, and an owl commander boss to take down, all of which sounds like a hoot. It comes to Steam in September, priced $4.99, a DRM-free version due sometime after. If you're wondering, Black Forest Games hasn't forgotten the game's Kickstarter roots. Backers who pledged $25 towards the Giana Kickstarter get the Owlverlord DLC for free, as do those who put $15 towards Ravensdale fundraiser, despite the extreme likelihood it won't achieve its goal.
Ravensdale won't die if Kickstarter fails
Black Forest Games pledged to make co-op run-and-gunner Ravensdale if its fundraising campaign fails, which barring a miraculous final push is exactly what it'll do. At the time of writing, the game has raised around $60,000 towards its $500,000 Kickstarter goal, and only has three days left to go. Black Forest Games, who successfully funded Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams via the crowdsourcing platform, said Kickstarter failure will mean the "garage fantasy" side-scroller won't be made "for some time." The German studio intended to release Ravensdale on PC in the second quarter of 2014. In a Kickstarter update, the studio said, "We want to make this game and while it may be a while until we can secure the funds in order to produce it, we aren't planning on scrapping it any time soon."
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams envisions itself on Wii U next month
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is set to weave onto Wii U very soon, if everything goes to plan. A Black Forest Games spokesperson told us the retro-revival platformer has been submitted to Nintendo and the studio is currently awaiting feedback; if all goes well it's eShop city in August. Black Forest's follow-up to 1987 Mario-a-like The Great Giana Sisters came to XBLA and PSN this year after finding success on Steam Greenlight, and the Wii U version completes the console set. Meanwhile, the German studio is knee-deep in Kickstarter for its co-op run-and-gunner Ravensdale, which at the time of writing was at $33,500 of its $500K goal with 25 days to go.
Giana Sisters dev heads to Kickstarter for Ravensdale
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams developer Black Forest Games' Kickstarter for Ravensdale is up and running (and gunning). Announced in late May (or back in 2010 if you want to get technical), Ravensdale is a run-and-gun co-op shooter in a "garage fantasy" world, where orcs and knights meet the industrial era. As of this writing, the game has 853 backers and has reached $24K of a $500k goal, with 29 days to go. No stretch goals have been announced, but the music will be provided by a medieval metal band called In Extremo. This will be Black Forest Games' second title seeking Kickstarter funding – but, unlike some bigger studios – it's actually completed and shipped its first crowdfund project: the dreamy, bipolar (not insult, that's literal) platformer Giana Sisters. Ravensdale is shooting for a launch in the second quarter of 2014.
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams spins to PSN this month
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is due out on PlayStation Network "later this month," Black Forest Games announced on the PlayStation Blog. This is a delay from an initial launch window of March; Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams landed on XBLA on March 20, and the PSN version was slated to hit "a few days later." Not to worry, though – we found Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams on PC to be beautiful and challenging, and absolutely worth a history embroiled in scandal and bankruptcy. It should be worth a few extra months to play it on PSN.
Giana Sisters dev venturing into 'Ravensdale'
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams developer Black Forest Games has revealed some details about its next project, Ravensdale. The game is described as a side-scrolling platform and shooter with "high-octane co-op carnage action" in a [breath] fantasy tech universe. Ravensdale is currently in its concept and prototyping phase. Once there's a playable build, the studio will hit up Kickstarter for funds. The crowdfunding is expected to start in a month or two and the studio expects to design the game in a "highly modular fashion, with highly interconnected, but not interdependent feature packages." "We intend to exercise the full extent of the freedom crowdfunding would give us to deliver a truly unique, intense, high energy, raw and out of this world co-op experience," the studio wrote on its site. Black Forest plans to gradually expand the game with add-ons after launch, but let's not put the bridled goblin before the cart just yet.
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams offers free standalone Xmas level
Taking a page from Christmas Nights, Black Forest Games is releasing a free, standalone Christmas-themed level for Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, in which you explore two different versions of a snowy level and defeat Santa-Owls.If you already have the game, the new level will available as an update from Steam, GOG, or Gamersgate, and can be found in the extras menu. If you don't have it, the Christmas level will be available for separate download from Steam and GOG. It'll act as both a gift and a demo when it's released this month.
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams soars onto XBLA next spring
Giana Sisers: Twisted Dreams is coming to XBLA in spring 2013, from publisher bitComposer. Giana Sisters hit Steam in October as the second title to launch under Greenlight, published and developed by Black Forest Games. It appears bitComposer will be taking over all publishing duties, listing a PC launch for spring, too.The (quite successful) Kickstarter for Giana Sisters listed a launch on PSN and XBLA in "early 2013," so we're keeping our eyes peeled for any PS3 news from bitComposer.Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams pays homage to the platformers of yore, and does a wonderful job of it on PC. Sitting on the couch and holding a controller should only exaggerate that nostalgic joy. Unfortunately, blowing on the code of a downloadable game just isn't the same as blowing into a cartridge. But hey, give it a go anyway. You won't look insane at all.
Snapshot: Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams
There are so many games out there we couldn't possibly review them all. Welcome to Snapshot, where we highlight games that might fall outside our usual coverage but are still something we think you should know about. Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is older than I am. Ancestrally, at least – The Great Giana Sisters launched in 1987 on Commodore 64, Atari ST, the Amiga and a few other, old platforms. The publisher, Rainbow Arts, was immediately embroiled in scandal for the game's similarity to Super Mario Bros. It was pulled from retail and eventually the IP shifted to Spellbound Entertainment, which released Great Giana Sisters DS in 2009. Spellbound went bankrupt in 2012 and many of its members re-formed as Black Forest Games with the Giana Sisters IP in hand.On August 31, Black Forest's Kickstarter for "Project Giana" earned $186,000 of a requested $150,000, promising fans a modern, direct "grandchild" of The Great Giana Sisters. Now, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is the second game to launch on Steam through the latest crowd-sourced initiative, Greenlight. After 25 years of refusals, bankruptcies and a shifty legal foundation, the only thing that matters is if the game, in the end, is worth it.Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is worth it.%Gallery-169126%
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams rests on Oct. 23 release date
Kickstarter success story Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams will leap onto PC October 23, with XBLA and PSN versions planned for "early 2013." During its Kickstarter days, the game was titled Project Giana and its campaign raised $186,158, over $36,000 beyond the initial goal. The final title was also voted upon by the community, with Twisted Dreams receiving 76 percent of the vote.Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is an Ikaruga-like reimagining of the classic Super Mario Bros. clone. Switching polarities between dreams and nightmares, the platformer has Giana twisting the environment to attack directly or drift by obstacles. We've checked with the developer on price and will update when we hear back.
