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Watch the story of how 'Hotline Miami' came to be
Hotline Miami is one of the most memorable indie games of the decade. It was made by just two people: Dennis Wedin and Jonatan Söderström, collectively known as Dennaton Games. A new documentary from Complex explores how the ultra-violent game took the world by storm, coming from seemingly nowhere to gain critical acclaim, sell over half a million copies and spawn a successful sequel. Featuring footage of early prototypes alongside candid interviews with the developers, artists, musicians and publisher Devolver Digital, it's a fascinating look into the minds behind a truly unique experience.
Hotline Miami 2 refused classification in Australia [update]
Hotline Miami 2 is effectively banned from sale in Australia, following the Australian Classification Board's decision to refuse classification. According to Kotaku and Player Attack, the legislative body's report describes an implicit rape scene featuring "visual depiction of implied sexual violence" as part of the offending content. On its website, the ACB says the ruling is accordance with National Classification Code that refuses classification to games featuring "matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena" that offend accepted standards. The site's listing doesn't note the scene specified in the report obtained by Kotaku and Player Attack. According to both publications, the report notes that it doesn't include a complete list of the content that contributed to the ACB's decision. [Update: Devolver Digital published a response to the ruling this morning, which you can read in full below the break. The publisher says it's "concerned and disappointed that a board of professionals tasked with evaluating and judging games fairly and honestly would stretch the facts to such a degree..." Devolver added it has no plans to officially challenge the decision.]
Hear a new song from Hotline Miami 2's soundtrack
Dennaton Games' Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number has quite the name to live up to; the developer's original 2012 twin stick shooter of the same name is well-regarded for its musical tastes alone. While we've spun Hotline Miami's soundtrack on Steam many times, electronic music artist Magic Sword recently provided a new jam to listen to called "The Way Home," and it happens to be part of Hotline Miami 2's soundtrack. Head past the break to hear the song, courtesy of Magic Sword's SoundCloud page. Magic Sword told The Guardian that the musical duo was "excited to get involved with the sequel" by providing music for the game. "Hotline Miami has a lot in common with 80s movies like Thief and Blade Runner," the group said. "Movies like that and their synth-heavy soundtracks have always been big inspirations for us." Those that really dig the series' tunes can pick up a special collector's edition of Hotline Miami 2 that includes the games's soundtrack on vinyl, featuring music from artists such as El Huervo and Jasper Byrne. Following its October delay, Hotline Miami 2 is expected to launch early this year. [Image: Devolver Digital]
I only play Hotline Miami 2 on vinyl
There's this game coming out called Hotline Miami 2. You probably haven't heard of it. Anyway, I found out you can get this sweet collector's edition with the soundtrack on vinyl. It's, like, sixty bucks and comes with three discs – all of them 180 gram, colored vinyl, of course – and it features 28 different tracks from the game. You also get a Steam download code for the game, printed on a special "phone card," which is, like, what old people used before smartphones or something. You probably haven't pre-ordered it yet. I mean, I heard about it months ago, but it's cool if you like it now, or whatever. [image: Devolver Digital]
Hotline Miami prints, shirts, buttons hit iam8bit store
The iam8bit store is stocked with some pretty slick artwork and shirts in Hotline Miami style. There are two fine art prints for $50, two shirts for $25 apiece and a button pack for $10. No animal masks in sight, but there's probably a Halloween store with leftover chicken faces somewhere out there. [Images: Niklas Akerblad]
Hotline Miami 2 dials D-E-L-A-Y for a launch by early 2015
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is now due out between late 2014 and early 2015, according to the game's official Twitter account. It was originally scheduled to launch by September 2014. "Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is still getting some final tweaks and polish, expected to be ready for late 2014 or early 2015," the tweet reads. A follow-up message says, "Your patience is appreciated and will ultimately be rewarded with everything you hoped for and nothing like what you expected." By "tweaks and polish," we assume developers at Dennaton Games mean "doubletaps and blood." Because it's a gory game, you see. Hotline Miami 2 has more of a 90s vibe, rather than the 80s action movie feel in the first game – and that violence may serve a deeper purpose this time around.
Payday 2's Hotline Miami DLC sounds terrifying
Payday 2 will receive a special piece of Hotline Miami-themed DLC on September 30, Overkill Software announced in a Steam community update. The collaboration between the developer and Hotline Miami creator Dennaton Games will feature at least one heist mission, though Overkill has not spelled out what other gruesome events will take place in the DLC, nor has it mentioned a price for the pack. The developer did offer a rather terrifying live-action trailer to announce the downloadable cross-over, found after the break. The sequel to Dennaton's graphic top-down shooter, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, will launch later this year. [Image: Overkill]
Hotline Miami 2 takes a spin on vinyl [Update]
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is coming to a new format: vinyl. Of course, vinyl is technically an old format for storing data, but you get the idea. Devolver Digital's developer herder, Graeme Struthers, let slip the new Hotline Miami 2 format on episode three of the Super Joystiq Podcast Special: Gamescom 2014, recorded on Wednesday night. Struthers didn't mention what a game on vinyl actually entails because he immediately realized this was supposed to remain a secret for a while longer and was then too occupied with banging his head against a cabinet to say anything more. While vinyl may be odd in a high-tech industry, consider this Devolver's version of a boxed product; a digital-only game making its way into the physical world. It's a symbol of the discerning publisher's dedication to its games. Besides, this could be the next big thing – so start liking it now before it becomes cool.
Hotline Miami dials up PS4's number, makes plans for August 19
Hotline Miami will make its next generation debut when it launches for PS4 on August 19. The game first arrived in October 2012 for PC before taking its first trip to PS3 and Vita in June 2013. According to a tweet from the game's official Twitter account, players will be able to "beat people to death by shaking the gamepad" with the sounds of your executions emanating from the controller's speaker, which just seems pleasant. Players will also have the option to use the DualShock 4's touch pad to look around and lock on to enemies. We rather enjoyed Hotline Miami, and found the action in the game to be gruesome and "well-executed" in our review. Other players seemed to enjoy the game as well, enough for developer Dennaton Games to craft a sequel in Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, which is due to launch in Q3 2014. Hotline Miami will feature Cross-Buy support, so those with any other PSN version of the game will receive the PS4 game for free. In addition to the release date, Devolver Digital also offered a new gameplay trailer for the game's PS4 version. [Image: Devolver Digital]
Craft your own technicolor dream with Hotline Miami 2 level editor
Like the look and feel of Hotline Miami but not a fan of the ultra-violent brutality in the game? Good news: Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will feature a level editor, allowing players to express themselves in ... shall we say more constructive ways. Users will be able to use the level editor to generate and customize just about everything but the kitchen sink and - oh wait, they've got that too. Nevermind. Furniture, decor, color palettes, weapons and enemies can all be placed exactly where you want them, then shared with other players. In other words, with the introduction of a level editor, you can just be an accessory to murder instead of the actual murderer. That'll ease your conscience, right? The editor's already getting love from publisher Devolver Digital. CFO Fork Parker has created what he calls the "Fork Parker's Mansion of Pain," according to a related press release. "One room is just seven dogs and a dude with an Uzi. Good luck, nerds," Parker said. [Image: Devolver Digital]
Hotline Miami 2 trailer leaves a long trail of red pixels
I counted them: There are loads of bloodsoaked murders in the new trailer for Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number. Okay, I've watched it a few times and it's so fast-paced I'm still not sure, but I think there are at least 30 of them in there. Considering all the action takes place in the video's middle 30 seconds, that's some properly time-efficient ultra-violence. For all of that, the trailer also has that darker edge that developer Dennaton Games has talked about bringing to the sequel. The studio promises things like more weapons and more enemies in Wrong Number, but it wants to put greater emphasis on the narrative. "We want to work with other feelings than just being disturbed or feeling awesome," Dennaton's Denis Wedin told us at last year's E3 conference. "They're still in there, a lot of disturbed stuff and things to make the player feel great when they finish a stage, but we also want to see if we can add some bit of sadness to the game. This is the last game; it's the finale for Hotline Miami. We're gonna work with how you cope with things ending. All of our characters in the game, they're all going to meet the end of their mission or life or dreams. We're going to see how you cope with that." Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number dials into PS3, PS4, Vita, PC, Mac and Linux starting in Q3 this year. [Image: Devolver Digital]
Hotline Miami is bringing the heat to PS4 with Cross-Buy support
Publisher Devolver Digital revealed it's releasing the first Hotline Miami on PS4, and the good news is fans who bought the original game on PS3 and Vita won't have to pay to get the new version. Speaking to Destructoid at GDC, Devolver's Nigel Lowrie confirmed the 2D top-down murder-fest is retaining its Cross-Buy support on PS4. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is also in line for PS4, as well as Vita, Windows PC, Mac, and Linux. Wrong Number switches out the first game's 80s vibe for a darker 90s aesthetic, and while the sequel retains that ultra-violent core, Lowrie said Devolver plans to showcase more of what's new about it at next month's PAX East conference in Boston. "So far all [we've shown developer Dennaton] is doing is really more or less similar to Hotline Miami 1, what we've shown." Lowrie told Destructoid. "What we're gonna show at PAX East and in a trailer before PAX East is the new hotness, and really things are going to change up the game quite a bit." [Image: Devolver Digital]
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number dials in Q3 2014 launch window
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will be available sometime between July and the end of September; the game's official Twitter account locked in a Q3 launch window today. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number takes place before and after the events of the first game, which saw a nameless protagonist fulfilling murder requests left on his answering machine. The sequel ditches the 80s aesthetic of its predecessor for a more touchy-feely early 90s vibe – a large part of the game will be about touching characters' faces with baseball bats and feeling their life force drain away. The first Hotline Miami launched in October 2012 to critical acclaim and commercial success. After making its debut on PC, the game was ported over to PS Vita and PS3 in February of last year, while a Mac version followed a month later. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will be available on PS4, PS Vita, PC, Linux and Mac OSX.
Hotline Miami free for PlayStation Plus members starting tomorrow
Dennaton's over-the-top, kill-for-thrill action game Hotline Miami will hit PlayStation Plus as a free download starting tomorrow, Sony announced. Hotline Miami launched for the PlayStation Network as a digital download earlier this year, following up on its debut for PC platforms in 2012. Hotline Miami is available as a Cross-Buy title, and PlayStation Plus members will receive both the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita versions of the game after the PlayStation Store updates tomorrow.
Hotline Miami 2 sexual assault scene under revision
The demo for Hotline Miami 2 used to open with the Pig Butcher, a beefy, violent man, straddling a terrified woman and dropping his trousers – and then a director called "Cut!" and the actors dispersed. This almost-rape scene isn't in the demo anymore, following negative reactions from early players. One half of developer Dennaton Games, Denis Wedin, tells Rock, Paper, Shotgun that the intent behind that opening isn't to disgust or alienate people, and he's considering tweaks for the full game. "We were really sad that some people were so affected by it, because maybe they had been through something like that of their own," Wedin says. "Maybe they had a terrible experience of their own that was triggered by the game. That was not intentional at all. We didn't add the scene just to be controversial. There is a meaning to these two characters. There's a lot more to them than just this scene." In our preview of Hotline Miami 2, when this scene was included, we found that intent to horrify and pull back came across, but some players were unable to shake the discomfort of that action – and that's not what Dennaton wants, Wedin says. Wedin notes that a recent trend in horror movie remakes is to "take the next step up" and make them even more exploitative than the originals, just for controversy's sake, and that's not what Hotline Miami is all about. That opening scene offers a commentary on this Hollywood trend and when the assault is halted, it's a way for Dennaton to show that Hotline Miami 2 is more than blind violence, Wedin says. Dennaton is proud of the story in the first game and it's working to make the sequel even more narrative-driven.
Hotline Miami 2 adds level-specific unlockable hard mode
Dennis Wedin - half of the two-man development team Dennaton Games - says his studio has plans to add unlockable difficulty modes in Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number. "We added this because some people said that the first game was too easy," Wedin told Polygon. "So we wanted to give them something more. Also, all the players trying to beat the world record or top the leaderboards - we wanted to give them more stuff to be good at." The mode appears to be level-specific, according to its description. Players that receive a grade of C+ or higher on levels will be able to unlock a hard mode for the stage, increasing enemy resistance and limiting some player abilities. Though Wedin promised the mode wouldn't be "very hard," the studio has yet to implement the plan, and is unclear as to what features will be included. For more on Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, including details on the game's new character-driven storyline, check out Joystiq's recent preview of the game.
Seen@Gamescom: Don't ask the Hotline Miami 2 devs these questions
Don't ask these questions to Hotline Miami 2 developers Dennaton Games. Just don't. There's a sign that says you shouldn't and we all know that at conventions, it's important to obey signs. Besides, if you break these rules, there's no telling what the developers of Hotline Miami will break of yours. The list of questions banned from Gamescom appointments for Hotline Miami 2, as posted by Dennaton, includes the following: Why is it so hard? Isn't it a bit violent? Do you like hurting people? Why do you call it a sequel when it's pretty much the same? Why is it in pixel graphics? Why are you drinking beer at 9:30 in the morning? If these are really some of the questions people are asking, the answer to that last one is pretty clear. See the full picture below.
Hotline Miami 2 was initially planned as DLC
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number was initially slated for release as DLC for the original Hotline Miami, its developers revealed in a recent feature at VG247. Dennaton notes that Hotline Miami 2 was conceived as an expansion, but was fleshed out into a full sequel as its scope grew during development. Hotline Miami 2 will feature multiple playable characters and factions, and its narrative will weave new elements throughout its predecessor's timeline. Hotline Miami 2 is scheduled for release later this year, and will be the "grand finale" concluding chapter for the series.
Hotline Miami slaughtering PSN on Tuesday
As predicted by its official Twitter account yesterday, Hotline Miami will arrive on PSN next week. PlayStation Blog confirmed the news, noting that the PSN version has several new features. Said features include a new mask (Russell the bull), leaderboards, Trophies and touch screen targeting for the Vita version. The Russell mask, incidentally, turns the game world black-and-white – apart from the profuse amounts of red, red blood. Our review of the PC version of Hotline Miami praised the game for its "well-executed action, resulting in well-executed bad guys and the high scores that come with them." It arrives on PSN on June 25 and features cross-buy support on PS3 and Vita.
Hotline Miami coming to PS Vita 'probably next week'
A PlayStation Vita port of Dennaton and Devolver Digital's brutally violent action game Hotline Miami will hit the PlayStation Network "probably next week," according to a recent tweet from the game's official Twitter account. Cross-buy PlayStation 3 and PS Vita versions of Hotline Miami were announced back in February. While the tweet in question addressed a portable version of Hotline Miami specifically, it's likely that the PS3 edition will launch either alongside the release of the PS Vita version or shortly afterward. At E3, Joystiq saw a demo for the sequel, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, and spoke with Dennaton co-founder Denis Wedin. Wrong Number is due out this year for PC platforms.
