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Nordic acquires adventure games from Awesomenauts publisher
Nordic Games continued its spending spree today, picking up a few properties from Awesomenauts publisher DTP Entertainment. Nordic purchased three intellectual properties from the German publisher: The Moment of Silence (seen above), The Mystery of the Druids and Curse of the Ghost Ship. DTP also agreed to hand over commercial use of Overclocked and 15 Days to Nordic Games. Each of the five properties listed in the purchase agreement were developed by House of Tales, a Bremen, Germany-based PC adventure game developer. Nordic said its adventure games division, The Adventure Company, "gets a considerable increase" thanks to the IP acquisition, adding that it "will make good use of these new opportunities." The publisher completed its purchase of the de Blob series from THQ last month, over a year and a half after the Austrian company bought dozens of other THQ properties such as Darksiders, Red Faction and MX vs. ATV for $4.9 million. [Image: DTP Entertainment, err, Nordic Games]
New Awesomenauts character Genji announced
Ronimo Games introduced its 13th character to Awesomenauts, and his name is Genji. Genji is one of the last living Entin, a caterpillar-like monk "on a pilgrimage to restore his faith in the great space butterfly."He is also a support character that specializes in "shielding allies and banishing enemies." Ronimo tells us that Genji is being put through testing in closed beta, along with a sizable balance overhaul for the game, so there's no specific date for when the character will join the rest of the Awesomenauts crew. The official site for the game lists him as a Steam exclusive, though. %Gallery-179192%
Minecraft Creepers (sorta) invade Awesomenauts
Look, Creepers are dangerous enough on their own – people don't need to be going around giving them powered suits of armor like Ronimo Games has done in its latest Awesomenauts update, which is now live on Steam. Well, technically it's not a Creeper, but rather a Creeper skin for existing 'naut Clunk. Still, creepers shouldn't have a role model like this to look up to.The Creeper Clunk skin can only be acquired by finding someone wearing it in-game and killing them, thus becoming "infected" with it. Since the skin can't be bought or obtained otherwise, we expect that equipping it will be somewhat akin to painting a giant bullseye on your chest. Which is how it should be, honestly, since all Creepers deserve to die.All Creepers deserve to die.%Gallery-177099%
Blood Knights assaults XBLA, PSN and PC on Oct. 31 for $15
Developer dtp entertainment's next game is a couch co-op (sans online multiplayer) hack-and-slasher, Blood Knights. Set in the middle ages, Blood Knights pairs a vampire hunter with his prey, and together the duo must kill vampire and human alike in an attempt to reverse a curse that could spell doom for all.Blood Knights will launch on October 31, 2012, for the PC, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. The nightmarish Halloween treat will set you back $15.%Gallery-163042%
Bringing PC Awesomenauts characters to console is up to publisher, says Ronimo
After announcing a new character for the PC version of Awesomenauts almost immediately after launch, we asked developer Ronimo Games if the console versions would receive the character as well. "We're all for it and ready to do it," Ronimo's Jasper Koning tells Joystiq, "but it's up to the publisher of the console version, DTP." He added that the developer has "no concrete plans right now, but we're very hopeful."The cost-prohibitive nature of updates on consoles – the Xbox 360 in particular – has been well publicized, especially given the recent drama surrounding Fez' latest patch, which has the potential to corrupt save files and which developer Polytron will never fix.Also, while Ronimo is hopeful that the new character, Gnaw, will hit the console versions of Awesomenauts, history paints a grim picture of the possibility. Both Monday Night Combat and Dungeon Defenders, for example, have seen numerous updates and pieces of downloadable content on PC, while the PSN and XBLA versions have seen few updates, if any.
New character gnawing its way into Awesomenauts PC
The PC version of Awesomenauts has barely been out for a week, and developer Ronimo has already announced its first new character. In an update coming "very soon," Gnaw will join the rest of the Awesomenauts. According to Ronimo Gnaw is "a dirty doglike creature who likes to bite and spit poisonous ooze on his foes." The new trailer (above) shows off some biting maneuvers, stationary turrets and some rather caustic-looking vomit. Gross.Gnaw will be playable at Valve's booth during Gamescom this year, so we'll be sure to check him out. In the meantime, we've contacted Ronimo to find out if Gnaw will be coming to the console versions as well.%Gallery-162174%
Awesomenauts on PC includes hidden 'Roflnauts' mini-game
The devious developers behind Awesomenauts seem to have hidden an adorable mini-game within the files of its recent Steam release, tipsters discovered. Deep within the folders of the PC release is ROFLnauts, a retro, Smash Bros.-style brawler from Super Crate Box designer Jan Willem Nijman and artist Paul Veer.Accessing the bonus is simple: go to the "SteamApps" directory within the Steam folder on your hard drive. Click through the folder labeled "Common" to find the Awesomenauts directory. ROFLnauts can be found within the Data folder. A few clicks later and you've got your hands on a cute, combative bonus game.[Thanks, Patrik]
Awesomenauts XBLA update is live, adds Derpl and Coco
The long-awaited Awesomenauts update is now live on Xbox Live Arcade. Along with some changes and balance tweaks, the update brings with it two new characters: Coco, the hoverboard-riding harasser, and Derpl, the tank-riding defender.The update is free and should be automatically applied the next time players boot up Awesomenauts.%Gallery-160908%
Rumor: Awesomenauts DLC character info discovered
A GameFaqs forums user by the name of MirrorB appears to have unearthed information detailing two forthcoming Awesomenauts DLC characters, one of which was already teased officially two days ago.Sprites (above) and character sheets recovered from the game's system files outline two new Awesomenauts: Coco Nebulon and Derpl Zork. Coco, also known as "the cosmic waveblazer," rides a hoverboard and attacks with various ranged and melee forms of electricity. Her hoverboard jump also has a chance to randomly result in a completely wicked front-flip.Meanwhile, Derpl Zork, aside from being the nephew of the president of Zork Industries and having an IQ "under the level of plankton in the official galaxial IQ test," is a slug in a walking tank. Zork's "combat walker" has been outfitted with traps, turrets and the ability to "Mew enemies into oblivion by shooting explosive holocats."Of course, none of this is officially official until Ronimo Games makes some sort of announcement, but we're cautiously optimistic that this'll all play out. We really want explosive holocats to be a part of our lives.
First Awesomenauts DLC teased, update incoming
Given the financial state of Awesomenauts publisher DTP, the fate of the game's promised downloadable content was somewhat nebulous. Thankfully, developer Ronimo has revealed that both the first patch and downloadable character are on the way. As you can see in the teaser image above, it's a lady, which makes her the first female Awesomenaut. We don't know anything officially, though she appears to be wielding some sort of energy ball, has a Medusa hairdo and is clearly riding a hoverboard.Furthermore, Awesomenauts' first update is coming down the pipe. The update will include balance fixes suggested by community members, though Ronimo adds that "so far the consensus appears that the game is already fairly well balanced, which is great." Indeed. Patch notes for the update should be coming next week.Finally, Ronimo states that the launch went smoothly, with over half a million games played since launch, though some users have reported connection errors. The studio is working to resolve the issue, which seems to be related to NAT settings, and advises affected players to reset their routers and consoles as a temporary fix.%Gallery-155265%
Awesomenauts review: Feel the magic, hear the roar
The theme song for Awesomenauts' Leon Chameleon goes like this: "Donnez-moi ton argent. Donnez-moi ton fromage. Je donne tu mon amour." My high school French teacher, Madame Rose, would probably take issue with the grammar, but it translates to "Give me your money. Give me your cheese. I give you my love."I mention this to make a point. While Awesomenauts was certainly inspired by the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre, it is by no means merely derivative. It cobbles together a strong identity of its own, accomplished in part by translating a familiar experience into a new format, and in part by cribbing from the memories of the 1980s to create a Saturday morning cartoon that never existed.%Gallery-141159%
Awesomenauts to launch as planned on PSN tomorrow, XBLA naut known [Update: XBLA now known!]
Awesomenauts will launch as scheduled on PSN in North America tomorrow, Sony announced via Twitter today. The future of Awesomenauts was thrown into disarray yesterday when news broke that its publisher, dtp entertainment, had filed for insolvency. Developer Ronimo said it was working with dtp to get Awesomenauts published.Awesomenauts will be free for PS Plus subscribers, Sony said. It was scheduled to launch on XBLA on May 2, but that release is still unconfirmed. We've contacted Microsoft for clarification.Update: Ronimo has confirmed to Joystiq that Awesomenauts will launch as scheduled on XBLA, on May 2. Microsoft has yet to respond, but this is heartening news for potential Awesomenauts fans everywhere.
Here's how to play Awesomenauts
This latest trailer from Ronimo Games and dtp entertainment runs through the basics of a match of Awesomenauts, imparting crucial wisdom by letting the viewer live vicariously through the experiences of a hyper-stereotypical cowboy caricature named Lonestar.
Watch this Awesomenauts split-screen trailer with a friend
More and more games these days opt for online multiplayer rather than the more personal and intimate "couch" variety. Ronimo Games, however, knows that people have roommates and siblings, and as such has built split-screen multi into Awesomenauts for up to three people/talented pets.
Report: Ubisoft, Atari, many other publishers requesting payment from German pirates
Someone in Germany -- perhaps even some people -- illegally pirated a copy of Prison Break: The Conspiracy. Hard to believe as it may be, it appears to be the case according to TorrentFreak, who delved into German public records looking for game publishers who have employed German law to track down (and demand money from) people who allegedly pirated various games. In Germany, Koch Media publishes the Prison Break game, and has been demanding settlements of "several hundred Euros" from offending IP addresses. The records indicate that several major publishers, either directly or through subsidiaries/secondary parties, have been sending out letters to German citizens requesting varying levels of payment in return for not being sued. Where things get murky, however, is how the publishers are seeking out the accused pirates, using not always reliable "IP address-only evidence" -- easily circumvented with proxy domains and such. You know, hacker stuff. TorrentFreak's report indicates that a variety of publishers and distributors are involved, including (but not limited to): Atari, Koch Media (representing Techland's Dead Island and Prison Break, and Eidos/Square Enix's Deus Ex: Human Revolution as well as Dungeon Siege 3 and various Final Fantasy titles), Daedalic Entertainment (representing LucasArts), Codemasters, BitComposer, Ubisoft, Kalypso Media, dtp entertainment, and Aerosoft. It is currently unclear how many settlement notices have been sent out by each company, or if any will continue doing so after these actions have been brought to light. Witcher 2 developer CD Projekt Red was recently pursuing similar cases in Germany until it announced the end of the practice last week.
Awesomenauts not afraid to show 5 minutes of gameplay
We were impressed by Awesomenauts when we got a chance to play it at Gamescom. Now you can see this League of Legends meets Smash Bros. title in action.
Awesomenauts fights its way to XBLA and PSN
Calling it a "Multiplayer Online Battle Arena" (MOBA) title, Ronimo Games has announced its latest creation, Awesomenauts. Destined for XBLA and PSN release, the game is "inspired by '80s animated series" and, though details are slim, appears to be a Smash Bros. style brawler. Ronimo made its debut last year with the side-scrolling RTS title Swords & Soldiers for WiiWare, PSN and Steam. Awesomenauts will make its playable debut at E3 next month.%Gallery-123964%
Crazy Machines Elements assembled on XBLA, PSN this Spring
Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. It's fortunate that as an aloof and inconsiderate parent, she never bothered to teach her child about the dangers of playing with fire, or why it's a bad idea to construct untethered catapults inside the house. That loose cannon of a child still lives in Crazy Machines Elements, a new physics-driven, "amateur inventor" puzzle game coming to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network this Spring. Crazy Machines Elements, the first game in the series to land on HD consoles, has you completing partially constructed "chain reaction machines" by inserting specified objects into a sequence that contains items like conveyor belts, pinwheels and toy trucks. This game also allows you to harness the elements -- now, when you launch those Rube Goldberg and Heath Robinson statues into each other, they can both be on fire! You'll also be challenged to complete tasks with the fewest items possible, and let loose within the game's built-in editor. Consider it free license to build an incredible machine, but not The Incredible Machine. That's someone else's property.%Gallery-115495%
Venetica review: Venice on 20 souls a day
You might expect the sudden revelation of being Death's daughter -- as befalls the protagonist of Venetica -- to conjure some deep, introspective questions. What secrets from the beyond should you reveal to others? Is killing someone such a terrible option now that you know there is another plane of existence? Was having someone die at every dance recital really bad luck, or was daddy just doing his best to balance work and family? Perhaps that last question isn't so poignant, but Venetica, while possessing such an intriguing concept, seems unwilling to run very far with it. Instead, the afterlife flavors a rather straightforward and unpolished action-RPG.%Gallery-114606%
Gray Matter confirmed for February launch on PC in North America
Gray Matter, the first adventure game by Jane Jensen since Gabriel Knight 3, is set for a PC launch in North America for $29.99 in February, which should finally end years of the game pulling a delay out of its hat. We can't currently point and click you toward a stateside launch for the Xbox 360 version. The full game (with a heftier Euro price) and demo for the PC version have been available across the Atlantic for a few months now. Thankfully, despite the game's German launch, that version comes with English voiceovers.
