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Don't watch this Brutal Legend video
We're going to put this up front: There's really no reason to watch these Brütal Legend videos. They were shot during a press event at the Key Club in Hollywood, during which Jack Black dressed up as -- and pretended to be -- the game's protagonist, Eddie Riggs. The videos are unequivocally groan-inducing affairs. We're sure that the idea seemed funny at the time, but it falls pretty flat in execution. It's like watching bad improv, which, we suppose, is exactly what it is. There are a few notable tidbits in here, like Tim Schafer explaining that he didn't have the nerve to approach Jack Black for the project until he found out Black was a Psychonauts fan. Still, that one nugget -- which we've heard before -- will cost you five minutes of awful. For the truly masochistic, two more videos can be found after the break, one of Tim Schafer interviewing Jack Black, and another of Black playing Brütal Legend.
Brutal Legend multiplayer mode explained in latest trailer
So, you've had a little trouble understanding the ins and outs of Brütal Legend's expansive multiplayer mode. Don't be embarrassed -- it's a little difficult to wrap your mind around. Fortunately, Double Fine recently released a trailer explaining the rules, regulations and terms of victory of the epic multiplayer skirmishes in Tim Schafer's heavy metal brainchild. Watch the training video above, and start studying up on your stage-smashing tactics. As a side note, if Double Fine doesn't call this multiplayer mode "GwarCraft," we might just boycott the game. %Gallery-69999%
Tim Schafer lends some LOLs to Fallon on Late Night
That's it, folks -- the game industry has finally made it into the bigtime! With Brütal Legend's dark overlord Tim Schafer appearing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon leading up to the game's October 13 release (video found after the break), it's become clear to us that we've finally made it. What more could we ask than one of the game industry's greats appearing on a late night television show? Next thing we know, editors of Joystiq sister site Engadget will be appearing on Fallon and Halo will have its own soda! Yeah, right, like that will ever happen. [Via Kotaku] [Image credit]
PSA: Tim Schafer on Jimmy Fallon tonight, Rocktober 2nd
Late Night host Jimmy Fallon continues fulfilling his pledge to be as inclusive of video games as other forms of entertainment tonight by welcoming onto his set Tim Schafer, creator of Brütal Legend (you might have heard of it). We imagine the interview will focus mostly on why Schafer decided to make a heavy metal-themed game, but we also have a sneaking suspicion the gaming legend may have some serious funny up his sleeve. (Going on past experience.) The episode with Double Fine's founder will air at 12:37 a.m. ET/PT on NBC, so set those TiVos and magic video tape boxes accordingly.
Activision 'Rocktober' trademark conflicts with EA's Brutal Legend marketing
When Activision sent out a press release this morning regarding a Guitar Hero DLC discount, we couldn't help but notice a tiny trademark symbol dangling precariously above the term "Rocktober™." That got our mind grapes juicing: Isn't that the term EA has been using to market Brütal Legend's upcoming October Rocktober 13 release? It is! Lo and behold, we turned up an Activision trademark filing for "Rocktober" dating all the way back to 2007. An EA representative was unable to comment at the time of this posting, but assured us we'll have an official statement from the publisher soon. We've also reached out to Activision for its side of the story. In the meantime, we've dropped the text from Activision's press release -- or as it's no doubt being dubbed by lawyers, Exhibit A -- after the break.
PSA: Brutal Legend demo now on Xbox Live; PSN must wait
Rocktober has come a little early to Xbox 360, as EA and Double Fine have made the Brütal Legend demo available for Xbox Live Gold members today. Weighing in at 1.57GB, the playable sneak peek is the same demo made available exclusively for pre-orders earlier this month.While a PS3 version of the demo also already hit PSN for folks who reserved the game, the same can't be said for a "public" demo. According to a source close to the game's development, a demo is definitely planned for all PSN users -- it just won't be available right away. Given that the game takes the stage at retailers on October Rocktober 13, we'd hope EA intends to get the PS3 trial on the PlayStation Store within a few weeks.
Brutal Legend video explores game world's art style
The latest Brütal Legend video has Art Director Lee Petty describing the style and artistic influences for the game's world. Most of it is interesting to those out there with an art degree, but we certainly got a giggle out of one of game's factions being inspired by 15th century art and "[Double Fine's] tremendous amount of research into the S&M scene." We wonder if those toys like "leather straps" and "ball gags" were brought into the office and purchased with the company credit card for "research" ... and whether Tim Shafer now keeps a dungeon for employee use? ... Hey, the game is M-rated, this is a perfectly appropriate question to ask. What?! Stop looking at us like that.
Jack Black shares more Brutal Thoughts on roadies
Brutal Legend's upcoming Rocktober release is nearly at hand, marking this new episode of "Brutal Thoughts" one of the last. This latest episode feels more phoned in than others, with Jack Black simply talking about roadies, and why they're genetically different from the rest of humanity. Perhaps it's just us, but testicular punchlines (ed: ouch) just don't cut it (ed: ouch, again) with us anymore.
PSA: Brutal Legend demo available today for pre-orders
For those of you who dropped a few bucks reserving Brütal Legend early, now's your chance to get some face time with Eddie Riggs and co. The demo dropped today on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, giving those who pre-ordered the game roughly a month of time to enjoy ... erm ... demoing it. If you didn't pre-order it and you're following Joystiq on Twitter, we'll be giving away some download codes later on today.The rest of us plebes will have to wait until September 23, which is when the demo will arrive for everyone else. Tim Schafer would love for us all to be able to play the whole thing right now, though he concedes, "While we're waiting for Rocktober 13, a taste of Metal is better than none at all." Indeed it is, Mr. Schafer.%Gallery-41208%
This is how Brutal Legend starts
Listen, are you sure you wanna do this? You've made it so far without Brutal Legend spoilers and you're so close to the game actually coming out ... do you really want to watch the first five minutes of the game? ... Oh, sure, we watched it. We watched it and it was spectacular. But you shouldn't. Not you, dear reader. You're better than that.
Brutal Legend gets a classy pre-order bonus at Best Buy
It appears that Best Buy's pre-order bonus for Brütal Legend comes a bit sooner than at other retailers. Handing over cash for the game before its Rocktober 13 release nets folks the attractive Brütal Legend LP sleeve seen above. Aside from displaying artwork, the sleeve serves as a holder for the game disc itself when, for some reason, it's not in your console.Unfortunately, the official Brütal Legend blog doesn't list Best Buy among the retailers who are offering the free in-game guitar and early demo access. As such, we've asked EA for more information on the Best buy deal and will update this post when we hear more.[Thanks, Kyle!] [Image credit]
Jack Black cosplays as Eddie Riggs at VMAs
Okay, sure, he may have looked ridiculous dressed up as Eddie Riggs at last night's MTV video Music Awards, what with that awful wig and foam arms that would have been laughed off the set of Popeye. And yeah, we know he's got a stake in the project's success, but you have to love Jack Black's commitment to Brütal Legend, one that we wish all big-name celebrities could share when they appear in games of their own. Seriously though, Jack, let's have a talk about that wig.
Tim Schafer to appear on Jimmy Fallon
So, gaming luminary Tim Schafer is set to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on October Rocktober 2. Here's our guess as to how the show will play out:In short, it will be the greatest episode of the show ever produced. It will be poignant, important and, most of all, funny. It will be critically hailed as one of television's greatest moments, and something that everyone with a television should see. Unfortunately, no one will watch it. Sometimes, that's just how things go.
PAX 2009: Brutal Legend lets you decide about the F-word
Tim Schafer showed us the opening cinematic for Brutal Legend at PAX, where they revealed the band that Jack Black's Eddie Riggs roadies for: Kabbage Boy. It's a band full of hipster d-bags (one guy wears a Phantom of the Opera half-mask) and they think they're metal. The only problem is that they sound like every emo-alternaband out there, much to Eddie's chagrin. Hopefully we'll get to reveal who's in the band soon, until then just let your speculation run wild.All of that inside, the cinematic included a very novel way to select if you want to hear the super-cussin' & swearin' version of Brutal Legend, or go the sanitized and parental-safe route. Eddie notices one of the musicians crawling around on top of his behemoth-sized, Stonehenge-on-acid set (which Eddie has already been chastised for not tailoring to their "tween" audience), and is not happy. He spouts, "I don't know how many times I've told you not to crawl around up there! I don't know what the F....." And then the game freezes. A menu screen pops up and you have to choose if you want to hear naughty words or not, and when you resume he finishes the word appropriately. Much better than choosing from a menu screen, eh? There another option-setting moment like this a bit later in the scene which was cut short, but we imagine it'll have something to do with violence and blood spurts. Thanks for making even the settings fun, Double Fine.
Brutal Legend pre-orderers get in-game guitar, early demo access
It seems that those who've chained themselves to their couches in anticipation of the September-bound demo for Double Fine's upcoming rock god sim, Brütal Legend, won't be the first ones to get their hands on the game. Rather, unrestrained persons who manage to pre-order the game at their nearest GameStop will be granted early access to the demo on September 17. The pre-order deal mentions this early access beats the demo's normal release by a week -- meaning non-reservers will likely get the trial on Wednesday, September 23.Also bundled with the pre-order offer is a GameStop-exclusive in-game guitar, which possesses a "unique, sexy body inspired by the members of Tenacious D." We hope this means Jack and Kyle gave their input on what the guitar should look like, and not that the guitar actually looks like their bodies. We're doing just fine without that mental image, thanks.Update: While the demo access is new information, we actually knew about the gee-tar in May. We've even got a picture of it -- and we're happy to report it doesn't feature nude versions of K.G. and Jack. No, wait! There they are![Via Kotaku]%Gallery-41208%
Latest Brutal Legend trailer shows multiplayer, awesomeness
A new trailer for Brütal Legend has been rolled out and gives a fairly substantial peek at the Tim Schafer's upcoming rock-'em-up. In particular, we get a good look at some of the game's environments and a brief look at the multiplayer mode -- which we recently discovered is really good. There's a also a tender, intimate moment, in which Eddie Riggs prepares to teach a young maiden the art of French Kissing, whatever that is. And, of course, there is metal.
Brutal Legend demo rocking XBLM and PSN in September
Listen, you really don't need to try out Tim Schafer's upcoming rock-epic-brainchild to know it's going to be phenomenal. Still, according to a recent EA press release, Double Fine is dropping a demo of Brütal Legend on XBLA and PSN sometime in September. Based on details revealed in the presser, it sounds exactly like the demo we got our hands on at E3 earlier this year. Highlights from said sneak peek include "zipper-faced nuns," "corpse mountains," and the introduction of "The Separator," Eddie Riggs' aptly named axe.In the press release, Schafer explained that "villagers have surrounded our offices with torches, demanding the game. So we're releasing a demo and hope that this taste of metal will keep the mob at bay until Brütal Legend comes out this Rocktober." We're not sure when Rocktober is, but we think it's the month between Jamuary and Shredtember.
Pitchford on Borderlands cover: The game 'will blow your mind'
Gearbox Software prez Randy Pitchford says upcoming post-apocalyptic shooter Borderlands will "blow your mind." After issuing the game's daring cover this past week, the development studio head talked to IGN about it and claimed, "The motive is about the goals of a box cover – you want to evoke something, get attention and have something honest to say about the promise of the game." Though he admits some were worried at Gearbox as well as at publisher 2K Games, he believes it was the right decision to choose that cover in the end. "Judging from the response so far, it looks like it was the right call." We absolutely agree, Mr. Pitchford. Will gamers pick it up at the store this October next to Brütal Legend and other AAA titles? That remains to be seen -- but all these games that have been pushed back to 2010 couldn't hurt, right?%Gallery-69817%
Hands-on: Brutal Legend multiplayer
click to übersize Chatting with Tim Schafer before sitting down for our very first match of Brütal Legend's multiplayer versus mode, the grinning designer reminded us that we were about to play what the game began life as, so he seriously hoped we liked it. Schafer introduced the mode, calling on two members of his team at Double Fine to play a match so we could see how it worked. What we saw was impressive, but also intimidating.This isn't a Dynasty Warriors style hack 'n' slash with Brütal Legend characters swapped in; it's a large-scale, real-time strategy game with a definite learning curve, but also gameplay deep enough that we can see it becoming a standout multiplayer title on XBL and PSN. It's also big, loud, funny and very metal -- just like the main game.%Gallery-69999%
Video: Brutal Legend soundtrack makes everything metal
You might find it hard to believe, but even one of the most non-metal objects in the world (literally and figuratively) can be made metal by the Brütal Legend soundtrack. Above, you will find a video of the Heavy Metal Rubik's Cube Challenge, in which Tim Schafer races against Brütal Legend musical producer Emily Ridgeway to see if he can solve the cube before she can read off all the songs in the soundtrack. We won't tell you who comes out on top but, honestly, with a soundtrack like this, everybody wins. Unsurprisingly, the soundtrack revealed in the video matches quite nicely with the one revealed by EA Denmark over the weekend. Curiously, one song revealed by EA Denmark is absent from the video: "Girlfriend," by Kabbage Boy. We've contacted EA to see what's up and will update this post as soon as we hear anything. In the meantime, enjoy the video and – if you have a Rubik's Cube of your own – play along at home!
