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Mushroom Men and Mushroom Minigames
Screens of Red Fly Studio's Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars are, in general, a joy to look at, not just because of technically lovely graphics, but because of creepy mood lighting and the ridiculous detail that went into modeling the mundane world in which the little guys wage their battles. We have kind of a systematic distrust of screenshots, but we've seen Mushroom Men and we can confirm that it looks great.These screens feature the same level we've seen previously, but it's the one with the giant mutated bunnies, so we don't mind. We're looking forward to the game's release so we can see more environments, though. There's also a puzzle-based minigame that appears to be based on Pipe Dream -- we're guessing it's the one on the minigame menu titled "Morel Mine Car." We'll try not to dwell on it. Nothing wrong with minigames, but we really hope we aren't forced to play Pipe Dream.%Gallery-18243%
Mushroom Men: The Tools of the Spore Wars -- Part 2: Slashing
Our second set of weapons from Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars shows how a resourceful mushroom can turn everyday items into slashing weapons. There was always potential for extreme pain in items like bottle caps and pull tabs; it just took the right amount of good old alien-ray-enhanced ingenuity to realize that potential in the form of weaponry. Yes, pretty much the first thing these mushrooms have done after gaining intelligence is to learn how to kill each other. Oh, well, it works out for us, because we'll get to play a game with all these cool weapons in it.In addition to the seven new items in our weapons gallery, our main Mushroom Men gallery has two new screenshots. %Gallery-34378%%Gallery-18243%
Red Fly talks Mushroom Men
We're amazed that Red Fly has managed to finish Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars in time for its November 11th release. Whenever we check in on the game, someone from the studio always seems to be showing the press the latest build, or taking gamers behind the scenes, or chatting to us. Sincerely though, we appreciate the attention, chaps (and Shiggy never returns our calls).Interactions Design Lead James Clarendon is the latest to be thrust in front of the camera and show off Red Fly's baby, and a mighty fine job he does too. Amongst other things, Clarendon shows us the tutorial level, the clever home-made weapons, the slightly grotesque life meter, and the "SCAV" system. You may have seen much of this before if you've been following the game closely, but now it's all condensed into this one walkthrough. And when is it not a good time to watch Mushroom Men? Never, that's when.%Gallery-18243%[Via press release]
Mushroom Men: Improvised Arsenal of the Fungi
Last week on Wii Fanboy, we featured some of the crazy weapons that can be cobbled together in Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars. Its side-scrolling DS cohort, Rise of the Fungi, features the same SCAV system for building an artillery out of garbage and found items, and this week we'll have a look at some of the options your sentient mushroom pal can use to defend himself from other mushroom tribes, environmental hazards, and mutant insects. There's also a new screen from Rise of the Fungi.Some of the weapons in this week's gallery are second-generation SCAV items -- two items crammed together to make one weapon, then augmented with extra junk added to remake them into something more deadly. %Gallery-34889%
SouthPeak buys Gamecock
Tired of the pranks of Gamecock staffers, like rushing the stage when Ken Levine got his VGA or charging money for Hail to the Chimp? Well, it seems like you won't have them to kick around anymore: SouthPeak, the publisher of a slew of adventure games and some second-tier console releases, announced this morning that they had acquired the Gamecock Media Group.With the frequency of consolidation in the industry, we're sad to see any independent company bought out, but this one sucks double, because CEO Mike Wilson is such an interesting character to have around. We only wish Gamecock had done their talking with their games instead of their comical hats.
Mushroom Men: The Tools of the Spore Wars
Easily one of the most interesting aspects of Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars is its weapon creation system. Since your mushroom warriors are teensy, everyday household items and junk found on the ground can be made into deadly weapons. Mushroom Men's "SCAV" system allows you to combine found items into various types of weapons.This week, we have an exclusive gallery featuring examples of the game's "bashing" weapons -- heavy melee weapons built from seemingly useless items like a pipe, sardine can keys, and even a toy Viking. It's almost guaranteed to give you a new way to look at your living room: as an ad-hoc arsenal in the making. In our main Mushroom Men gallery, we've also got a few new in-game screenshots!%Gallery-34378%%Gallery-18243%
Kicking over some Mushroom Men
The latest screens from the quirky Mushroom Men have forced us to ponder a number of alternate titles for the forthcoming title from Red Fly Studio. Les Claypool's Mushroom Men would work, or Trash Men, Pool Floaty Men or Sumo Men, or -- no, actually, Mushroom Men works best. This entire post goes a long way toward explaining why we write about video games rather than writing actual video games. Just go look at the screens.And yes, JC, that does appear to be a jackalope.%Gallery-18243%
Japanese hospitals want Dementium off store shelves
Dementium: The Ward hit Japan this year (along with a colorful launch event for the game), yet is now enduring its first public outcry in the country. According to Yahoo! News (and Google's translation tools), the Japanese Association of Psychiatric Hospitals has requested that the title be removed from shops instantly, arguing that the game could instigate "discrimination and prejudice" against sufferers of psychiatric disorders. Interchannel distributes the game in Japan, and has yet to comment, but Mike Wilson of [U.S. publisher] Gamecock did proffer a view to MTV Multiplayer, stating that the criticism is down to a "lack of understanding or appreciation (and therefore fear of) games outside our little sub-culture." He also confessed to being "thrilled" by the extra attention the game has enjoyed as a result; as the game failed to penetrate the Japanese top 30, we know what he means.%Gallery-4929%[Via MTV Multiplayer]
Velvet Assassin delayed until early 2009
Gamecock's Velvet Assassin needs to polish its blades a bit longer before it's ready. Previously announced as a fall release, the silky stealth-action title stumbled on something in the shadows, falling back until sometime early next year. According to Eurogamer, the move was made to make both the European and US launches more in line, while giving German dev Replay Studios more time to iron out any wrinkles in the fabric instead of rushing to add to the glut of an already crowded holiday shopping season.
Velvet Assassin eyes a 2009 release
In an effort to stay clear of the jam packed holiday releases and give themselves more development time, Replay Studios has just revealed that Sabotage Velvet Assassin has been pushed back into early 2009. Previously, Velvet Assassin and her stealthy moves were supposed to release to retail sometime this Fall. Maybe 2009 will be the year of the Velvet Assassin? Maybe? Possibly? No? Eh?
Preview: Putting on our thinking caps in Mushroom Men
Gamecock graciously sent a preview copy of Mushroom Men: Rise of the Fungi, allowing me to play it in an environment as non-E3-like as possible: my own home. And now, playing through it again, I've found that the only real problem I had with my initial playthrough isn't actually a problem at all. Which leaves nothing but cool platforming. I played through the initial few levels and found my mushroom hero guy saving the world by, uh, knocking over some cans! And moving a shoe full of mosquitoes! And then a fish got in my way and I couldn't make any more progress. Fish.What won't come through in screens is just how nice the game looks. The bizarre lighting effects and high framerate lend Mushroom Men an extraordinarily crisp appearance that is especially nice for DS 3D.%Gallery-15252%
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Gin Rummy, Shred Nebula, Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball
XBLA is packed to the brim this week with three full releases landing on the Xbox 360's download service. All told, we have Gin Rummy, Shred Nebula, and Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball. One of them is a wacky sports game, one is a space shooter, and one is a card game. See if you can guess which is which! Failing that, you could always just watch the latest episode and find out if any of these are worth your time and money. [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly (Zune Marketplace link coming soon). [RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA triplets are born: PvN Dodgeball, Shred Nebula, Gin Rummy
It was once rare for Xbox Live Arcade to receive two games in a single week. Heck, it was once rare for XBLA to receive one game in a single week. And here we are, getting three in one week. All told we have Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball, Shred Nebula, and Gin Rummy. So, we've got a party sports game, a space shooter and a card game. The only question now is whether or not anyone will want to open their wallents after the veritable treasure trove of games that dropped in August. Both PvN Dodgeball and Shred Nebula will set you back 800 Microsoft Points. Gin Rummy is a mere 400. All three are now available on Marketplace for your perusal. Gallery: Pirates Vs. Ninjas Dodgeball (XBLA) Gallery: Shred Nebula (XBLA)
Hands-on: PvN Dodgeball's new multiplayer modes
We recently got a chance to play some dodgeball with Blazing Lizard. Specifically, we're talking about the company's new Xbox Live Arcade game, Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball. Even more specifically, we got a chance to try out the game's various multiplayer modes. Those following the game may recall that originally the game was to contain only a no-rules, non-traditional version of dodgeball, but Blazing Lizard decided to delay the title in order to add some more traditional modes. We got to try out both of these new modes as well as the original free form mode known as Combat Dodgeball. Read on for our hands-on impressions of each mode.
XBLA Threefer this week: Shred Nebula, PvN Dodgeball, Gin Rummy
This week on Xbox Live Arcade we get not one, not two, but three new games. Lined up in a row -- like so many ducks -- we have: Shred Nebula (800 / $10) Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball (800 / $10) Gin Rummy (400 / $5) Shred Nebula is a space shooter that utilizes strafing mechanics instead of the twin-stick format we've become used to in games like Geometry Wars. It also boasts online dogfights for 8 players. Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball is ... um ... dodgeball. It now sports three different gameplay modes -- in addition to the single-player story mode -- and can be played by up to 8 players. Finally, there's Gin Rummy, which is ... Gin Rummy. It supports 4 players online and contains six different versions of Rummy. Will any of these wind up on your digital shelf? %Gallery-5889% %Gallery-11478% Source -- Shred Nebula on Xbox.com Source -- Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball on Xbox.com Source -- Gin Rummy on Xbox.com (not live as of this posting)
This Wednesday: XBLA dodges balls, plays cards and ... shreds nebulas?
We don't even know what that means, honestly. What you just read is the nonsensical result of Microsoft deciding to unleash three thematically varied games on Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday. How are we supposed to tie a space shooter, a card game and a meme-based dodgeball game into a coherent headline? Oh, and just wait till you get to the part where we explain what each game entails. Here we go: The showdown between pirates and ninjas (also, robots and zombies) begins in earnest with the release of Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball, a lighthearted celebration of long-dead cultures and non-fatal projectiles. The game and its 8-player online matches can be had for 800 ($10). Similarly priced is Shred Nebula, which immediately defies expectations by being utterly devoid of guitar-playing space clouds. In fact, it offers "deep multiplayer space combat" for up to eight players online, along with Adventure, Score Attack and Deathmatch modes. Finally, there's the online-capable and sufficiently self-explanatory Gin Rummy for 400 ($5). That about does it for this paragraph. %Gallery-5856% Gallery: Shred Nebula (XBLA)
Renegade Kid releases art for mysterious new game
Dementium: The Ward and Moon developers Renegade Kid have announced that they're partnering again with Gamecock for their next game. The platform isn't explicitly specified for this new project (nor is anything else), but Renegade Kid has references to their "next original title for the Wii" in job postings, and only the Wii and DS logos appear on their website, so it's a fairly short logical jump to assign this new game to the Wii.The new game is based on "one of the biggest horror icons of all time," and, like the platform, it doesn't seem too hard to figure out. The cool stencil-style teaser art features a caped character, a full moon, and a bunch of bats. The Gamecock logo is even sporting some little fangs! Also the character appears to have Texas for a hand, but that may not be related to the character's lore. [Via IGN]
Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball Wii: it's official
Gamecock pseudo-unofficially confirmed the existence of a Wii version of the Xbox Live Arcade Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball during E3. Today, they sent out an official press release announcing their intent to release the Wii Dodgeball this winter. Aside from the obvious difference in which box you turn on to play it, the Wii version of the meme-off will feature new teams (we're hoping for bloggers), new game types including story and challenge modes, and multiple control schemes. Included in the press release are the first three screens, which look, unsurprisingly, like the Xbox game in lower resolution. Which, for the simple, cartoony environments and character models, is just fine. %Gallery-30671%
Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball coming to Wii
Just a week or so before the game lands on XBLA, we get word that Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball will be coming to the Wii this winter. In addition to eight-player, seven-team pirate-on-ninja action, the Wii version will include "all-new story and challenge modes, along with several customized control schemes." We don't know how much they'll be asking, but with the 800 point XBLA asking price, we're hoping for "not a heck of a lot more than $10." Wow, PS2, PSP and now XBLA. What can't you port onto that thing?
Legendary officially out by end of September
Don't be fooled, "end of September" is not being vague ... It just sounds much nicer than saying "September 30" -- which just so happens to be the exact release date. You can expect to see the Pandora's Box FPS, Legendary, out on store shelves by then. In the meantime, you can spend the time waiting for that day by reading our hands-on, and by having a little preview of the 96-page Legendary graphic novel. See a pic of that after the break.%Gallery-25116%
