climax-studios
Latest
Resogun saves the last humans on PS3, Vita this month
Carousel-scrolling shooter Resogun will reach PlayStation 3 and PS Vita on Tuesday, December 23 in North America. The game will launch nearly a week earlier in Europe on Wednesday, December 17. Resogun first arrived as a launch title for Sony's latest home console, PlayStation 4, in November 2013. While originally developed by Housemarque, the PS3 and Vita ports are courtesy of Climax Studios, the developer behind the PS4 and Vita version of Housemarque's Dead Nation. PlayStation Blog notes that the PS3 and Vita versions of Resogun run at 30 frames per second as opposed to the 60 fps seen in the current-gen version of the game. The game will be Cross-Save and Cross-Buy compatible, so those that own the PS4 version will be able to download it on the other two systems for free instead of ponying up $14.99. Resogun on Vita will feature ad-hoc cooperative multiplayer and the ability to customize controls in order to use the system's touch panel options. [Image: SCEE]
Resogun sets course for PS Vita
Arcade-style shooter Resogun will receive a PlayStation Vita version, developer Housemarque confirmed via Twitter today. The Vita port will be handled by Climax Studios, which developed the PS4 and Vita versions of another Housemarque original, Dead Nation. While no release date for the Vita version was given, the developer noted that "more details on the port will soon be released by Sony." Resogun launched alongside the PS4 in November 2013 as a free download for PlayStation Plus subscribers. The game's first major "Heroes" expansion arrived this past June and added new survival and demolition modes to the shooter. The DLC launched shortly after a free update for the game patched in a ship editor and local cooperative multiplayer options. [Image: Housemarque]
Dead Nation's zombie hordes take a bite out of the Vita on April 15
Following a 2010 PlayStation 3 debut and a recent PlayStation 4 release, Dead Nation will complete the Sony trifecta by reaching the Vita handheld on April 15. Originally developed by Housemarque (the studio responsible for Joystiq-favorite shooter Resogun), Dead Nation drops players into an ongoing zombie apocalypse. From a top-down perspective, would-be survivors navigate a decrepit city, blasting hordes of ambulatory corpses while collecting health packs, explosives and cash useful for upgrading both guns and a player's armor. Despite the zombies, Dead Nation is best described as an arcade shooter, rather than a horror game, though players should expect to see lots of gore and ominous shadows. On debut, the Vita version of Dead Nation will be available from the PlayStation Network Store at a price of $8, while the game's Road To Devastation DLC will feature a $4 price tag. If you already own the PlayStation 3 version of Dead Nation, you will be able to download the Vita game for free. [Image: Housemarque]
Climax Studios 'tech demo' resembles Prince of Persia [Update: Climax responds]
Climax Studios has posted images of two games it has the works for 2013, one of which appears in the form of a "tech demo" that clearly resembles Ubisoft's Prince of Persia. Nothing beyond the aesthetic suggests this is a new Prince of Persia game, and Ubisoft has not announced anything recently beyond an upcoming mobile remake of Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame.The other upcoming game appears to be in the horror genre. Artwork for the unannounced game depicts dark, dilapidated environments and creepy humanoid dolls.Climax Studios previously worked of Smart As for the PS Vita, Rocket Knight for consoles and Steam, and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories on Wii and PSP.Update: Climax CEO Simon Gardner got back to us regarding both games. "The screenshots in question are from a prototype we decided to create last year during exploratory discussions we had with Ubisoft. This never went any further," Gardner says regarding the Prince of Persia lookalike, though he never specifically mentions Ubisoft's flagship series. As for the other game, Gardner says it's "early in development" and that there is "nothing really to add at this time."%Gallery-185754%%Gallery-185753%
Rocket Knight screens have that special Spark
Click to huge-ify We're not sure what it is about this batch of screenshots for Rocket Knight that fills us with such euphoria. Perhaps it's all of the pretty colors. Perhaps they remind us of the simpler days of our youth. Perhaps we've only recently realized how preposterous the concept of an opossum strapped to a rocket really is. Seriously, think about it. Really think about it. It makes zero sense. Check out the gallery below to see Sparkster -- the flying, furry contradiction -- in action. %Gallery-92358%
Hands-on: Rocket Knight
With everyone focused on the 2D return of a certain cerulean hedgehog, I'd like to point out that another nocturnal hero in blue is making a comeback: Sparkster, the armor-clad, jetpack-wearing opossum star of Rocket Knight. Konami has brought in UK developer Climax to resurrect the series, which hails from the 16-bit era and included two games: Rocket Knight Adventures and Sparkster. Having played through the first couple of levels from this XBLA, PSN and Steam release, I can say that not a whole lot has changed from Sparkster's adventures of yore -- and that's a compliment. There must be something inherently difficult about capturing the feel of a 2D game using entirely polygons, since the number of remakes that have gotten it right far outnumber the successes. But, like Bionic Commando: Rearmed and even Street Fighter IV, this snappy action platformer should feel like revisiting a childhood home for retro junkies. %Gallery-90099%
Rocket Knight blasting off May 2010
Marsupial action enthusiasts rejoice! Konami has announced that Rocket Knight will arrive on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and Steam this May. Coinciding with this announcement, the publisher has released a new trailer and screenshots of this sequel to the classic 16-bit series. The trailer is of particular interest, especially to fans of the original games and their protagonist, Sparkster. If you've been waiting to get an extended glimpse of the awesome opossum in action, now is your chance. Check out the new trailer above and a batch of new screens in the gallery below. %Gallery-90099%
Brand sparking new Rocket Knight art
click to rocket-size We're going to level with you: There's not a lot of new info to be found in the latest batch of character art from Konami's upcoming reboot of Rocket Knight. The press release does mention a few of Sparkster's abilities. While most should be familiar to players -- wall ricochet jumps, etc -- one new addition is the "burst vortex," which can reflect projectiles back toward enemies. Beyond that, however, we're left only with images of Emperor Sweinhart and Sparkster's nemesis, Axel Gear, both of whom can be seen above. Konami has also released a high resolution version of Sparkster himself. Yes, it's not much but, when it comes to Rocket Knight, we'll take what we can get. %Gallery-84964%
Rocket Knight trailer sparks our interest
Two things about this trailer for the new Rocket Knight (after the break) stand out upon our first viewing: The stylized projectile/jetpack effects It's a Rocket Knight Adventures game That last one may seem obvious, but we're still a bit shocked to see Konami bring the series back after so long -- to be honest, we're a bit shocked every time Konami announces a game that isn't Metal Gear. And, to our delight, what we see here is true Rocket Knight: Sparkster has his sword and his jetpack, the latter of which is used basically to bounce all over the screen. It's here that the 3D remake actually benefits the game: with the wider area and the smaller Sparkster, he seems to have a lot more freedom to fly around. Even the shooter stages have returned, with some interesting dynamic camera work. If you never paid attention to this series because of mid-90s animal mascot platformer overload, you should start getting familiar with it now. Forget Gex, Aero the Acro-Bat, Punky Skunk, Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Awesome Possum, and Socket. This one's actually good.
Rocket Knight returns to XBLA, PSN and Steam in early 2010
We wish for a million dollars! ... Well, after the return of classic adventure games -- and now Sparkster -- our magical roll of granted wishes was bound to come to an end. 1UP and Konami have revealed a brand new game for the powerfully propelled opossum, set to debut on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and Steam in early 2010. The 2.5D sequel (not a remake!) comes 15 years after the last game, which is a period more wasteful than the gap between the original Star Trek TV series and the first feature film. Sorry, our nerd analogies flare up when we get excited. Rocket Knight (as the game is tentatively dubbed) is being developed by Climax, which previously worked with Konami producer Tomm Hulett on Silent Hill: Origins. The team is currently finishing up the promising Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. %Gallery-76146%
Overlord: Dark Legend producer says game 'looks like the 360 version'
Overlord: Dark Legend Associate Producer Dean Scott admits it may be a "lame cliche," but he believes the dark master's Wii incarnation "looks like the 360 version." Speaking with Videogamer.com, Scott could hardly keep his composure as he detailed how confident he was in the visuals for the upcoming action-adventure game, exclaiming it "blows away just about everything else" on the Wii.Scott may be biased, considering he is the producer of the game, but Wii owners may want to take notice if for no other reason than to help fill the dark Pikmin-sized void in their hearts. Overlord: Dark Legend lands on the Wii this summer; a companion DS version, Overlord: Minions, will release later this year.
Overlord footage features minions, bosses, pumpkin armor
The first video of Overlord: Dark Legend might be off-screen and a bit blurry, but we don't require high-resolution, direct-feed footage to tell us that the game will keep all the charm and personality of the original Xbox 360 title.Producer Dean Scott can be heard commentating throughout both this and the video after the jump, enthusing about how nicely the Wii's controls suit Overlord, and discussing how Climax want to avoid fashioning a Morrowind-esque grey and brown fantasy world. So far, it's working; this looks visually closer to Fable. We'll be keen to see how many minions we'll be able to gather at once in Dark Legend -- the first game on the 360 allowed players to assemble around forty or fifty at some points, and a similar number would be welcome here. Also worth noting: Scott currently thinks this will be ready in time for June or July next year.To see a boss battle in action, arm yourself with a pumpkin and charge past the break.%Gallery-29623%
Overlord moving his minions over to Wii
Click to see more screens Remember that PS3 and Xbox 360 game Overlord? No? Well, you aren't alone (it was kind of like Pikmin, only less good), but Codemasters has decided to bring the IP over to Wii anyway. Thankfully, though, they're building a new title from the ground up.Development for the new game, titled Overlord: Dark Legend, will be handled by Climax Studios. They're aiming for a 2009 release, and the producer of the game, Dean Scott, assures that this is "an all new game, designed especially for Wii," with a "new story, new characters," and "new gameplay." Based on his brief chat with IGN, it sounds like a majority of the game will be a pointer-based affair, with gamers using the Wiimote's IR sensor to direct their horde of minions. And what about those minions? "It's the same four minion types, but we've given them new abilities," said Scott. "Some of these may be themed around bodily functions that childish folk like us find hilarious."Be sure to check out first screens from the upcoming game in our gallery below!%Gallery-29623%
ATV Offroad Fury developer thinks PSP's future is "worrying"
Karl Jeffrey, CEO of Climax Studios, talked to GI.biz about the future of the PSP, and he thinks its pretty bleak. Climax, responsible for the development of over two dozen Sony titles, such as the ATV games, thinks that Sony is simply not doing enough to reinvigorate the now-slowing PSP market. "We're sitting here thinking about what Sony is going to do to get the platform back on track and we're not hearing much from them."It's distressing to see one of Sony's development partners express such fear and uncertainty for the platform. "Personally, I love it as a platform to develop for, it's very powerful and it's a great machine," Jeffrey said. But it's very disappointing at the moment when you look at the installed base and the sales of the games that are out there; it's not a compelling prospect for many publishers."Jeffrey believes that publishers will soon abandon the system, but predicts that a PSP redesign and downloadable games will help reverse the negative momentum. Too bad Sony continues to deny the possibility of a new PSP, and won't allow downloads without a PS3 (for now). Sony... what are you doing?!
