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Dungeon Hero reemerges with dev diary
After apparently (and appropriately) going under ground after its announcement last June, it looks like Dungeon Hero is finally ready to come back on the scene. The game has come to light once again thanks to a new developer diary on GameTrailers. While the video doesn't contain much in the way of new gameplay footage, we do get to hear at least a little bit about the game's "gritty" combat and its "living, breathing" dungeon. The game is set to be displayed at GameCock's EIEIO in Austin, Texas next week, so we should be hearing more about the title very soon.%Gallery-3811%
Mushroom Men resurfaces
It's been quite some time since we've heard from Red Fly Studios' fungal platformer Mushroom Men. We're quite happy to see them showing their caps again! A new trailer has been released, revealing an intriguing side-scroller starring small mushroom guys in the human world -- with a slightly spooky vibe added. There's an element of environmental interactivity on display that we're interested in -- things like the house of cards suggest that there's more to do than just jump and shoot. Even the jumping and shooting have more going on, in the form of an item-creation engine.It's not every day that a 2.5d platformer comes along using original characters. We kind of wish it was.[Update: this got posted on Wii Fanboy by mistake! Take it to mean that we think the game looks really good. And also that IGN posted it on their Wii page.]
GDC08: Opposable thumbs-on with Hail to the Chimp
Developed by Wideload (Stubbs the Zombie), Hail to the Chimp is a party game infused with political humor. As the story goes, various animals -- ranging from an octopus to an armadillo -- are competing to be elected as president of the animal kingdom. To do this, players engage in a series of arena fighting games with various goals. The game plays more or less like a simplified version of Power Stone with objectives thrown into the mix. The gameplay is simple with few nuances, as one might expect of a party game. The real question is whether or not the gameplay is too simple to maintain the attention of discerning gamers. Strange as it may seem, the satirical humor that frames Hail to the Chimp may be more endearing than the game itself.%Gallery-4895%
GDC08: Wideload's Hail to the Chimp bus
When we first heard that the Gamecock published Hail to the Chimp would be showcased on a bus rather than in a booth, we assumed the worst. Even now, given our previous evidence, we aren't ashamed of that assumption. We imagined a bus of debauchery and decadence. A place of foolhardy revelry. Immediately we began to guess just what the bus would be called. After a long and passionate discussion, we settled on Shuttlecock as the most likely moniker. Alas, no wacky transpirations took place, and we are left with an empty feeling. That is, until we saw just how nice the bus was on the inside. As the gallery below will no doubt prove, the folks at Wideload really know how to travel in style.%Gallery-16678%
GDC08: Hail to these things
Walking outside of the Moscone Center's West Hall, we were accosted by some costumed monsters -- of course it was Gamecock. That's what they do! This time, the foolishness was taken to the streets in promotion of Hail to the Chimp, Wideload Games's political animal-mascot fighting game. These particular characters didn't look like chimps, but we hailed to them anyway, mostly out of a sense of duty. We didn't want to make waves or anything ...%Gallery-16562%
Don't thoughtlessly squish this Insecticide trailer
We're big fans of Insecticide, and not just because it gives us an opportunity to wheel out our lamest insect puns (happily, it's no longer alone in that respect). Okay, that's a part of it, but from what we've seen and played of Crackpot's game, Insecticide looks like another top-drawer addition to a genre that's already overflowing with goodness: DS adventure games.This latest trailer of the title might be light on gameplay footage (read: there's none whatsoever), but it still does a fantastic job of communicating the game's noirish feel. There's the gravelly-voiced narrator, rookie upstart cops, cigar-smoking veteran detectives, and lashings of moody silhouetting. In short: DO WANT.[Update: Video now embedded after the break]See also: 2008's Biggest Blips -- Insecticide%Gallery-3405%
Exclusive: Meet the Robot team of Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball
Don't ask us how we managed it (we've done things of which we are not proud), but we've managed to snag the exclusive details behind the latest team in Blazing Lizard's Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball, Robots. We have concept art and details on each team member, including their background and special moves. Not only that, but we've got shots of the Robots' dodgeball court as well. We've piled all the shots and information into a special gallery that you'll find embedded below. Peruse them all and ponder whether or not the combined might of pirates and ninjas can topple the indomitable Robot army. %Gallery-15537%
Pirates vs. Ninja Dodgeball: robot contenders profiled
When we initially heard about Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball, our first question was, "what about zombies and robots?" (Actually, we first wondered why pirates had top-billing, but that would've led to a long and pointless debate.) Fortunately, developer Blazing Lizard heard our cry and sent assurance that zombies and robots were, indeed, ready to fight. Our sister site X3F has new, robotic pictures and concept art for the upcoming Xbox Live (and possibly PSN) title. Peruse the gallery below and enjoy robot profiles adjacent to the images. Gallery: Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball: Robots
Legendary coming to PS3 this summer
Gamecock has today announced that the upcoming mythical FPS Legendary will be coming to the PS3 this summer. Originally titled Legendary: The Box, the game received scoffs and jabs of ridicule for its ridiculous name. As a result it seems that Spark Unlimited, the developers, have dropped the silly subtitle from its press release. Legendary is set in modern day New York, when Pandora's Box is opened and creatures of myth are unleashed upon the world. The premise should go down well if the success of Cloverfield is anything to go by. Spark Unlimited is on track for a simultaneous multi-platform release this summer. We'll keep you updated with any future Legendary news as it becomes available.
Legendary to open this summer for Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Atari and those wily rascals at Gamecock have announced a release date window for the upcoming first-person shooter Legendary, currently being banged out by Turning Point devs Spark Unlimited. The publishing duo note that Legendary (thankfully having dropped that silly 'The Box' subtitle) will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC this summer. So far this has only been confirmed for the game's UK release, though given that the title is being co-published by both Atari and Austin-based Gamecock, we expect a similar window to be confirmed for North America in short order.First unveiled as part of Gamecock's lineup during E3 2007, Legendary left us impressed with its focus on frenetic action and a compelling story about a thief who is tricked into stealing and inadvertently opening the mythical Pandora's Box, letting loose all of the freakish goodies inside. Details continue to be scarce, though Spark's top banana Craig Allen notes that the developers are taking extra effort to "ensure optimum performance, regardless of platform." This is one we can't help but keep on the ol' radar, and now that we have an idea of when to expect Legendary to drop we can stop climbing the walls and get back to doing something more constructive. Like continuing our letter campaign to Spark to change the name of the game.Update: As suspected, Gamecock reps have confirmed that Legendary is set to be released in North America this summer as well. And we've also added some new images of the game to the gallery!%Gallery-4924%
Sony wants Pirates Versus Ninjas Dodgeball on PSN
Gamecock is trying to capitalize on the popular internet meme in their upcoming XBLA game, Pirates Versus Ninjas Dodgeball. Although currently an XBLA exclusive, it looks like there's strong interest to bring the game over to the PSN. "Sony really wants this Pirates vs Ninjas game we're doing for Xbox Live and we're platform agnostic so if we're investing in a title let's give it a chance wherever there is one," Gamecock CEO Mike Wilson told GI.biz.The PSN offers a number of unique opportunities for developers. Unique games like flOw and Everyday Shooter have managed to flourish on the PSN -- certainly, they would've floundered if released in a traditional retail space. Also, unlike XBLA, there are no size limitations on what developers can provide. "The market's not there yet but it will be and it's nice that you don't have this 150MB limitation. It will be interesting to see how it emerges as a market.[Via Joystiq]
Gamecock struts into Europe; Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball considered for PSN
Indie publisher Gamecock spent some time with GI.biz talking about its move into the European market and future game releases. Trying to leave the whole "John Romero incident" behind, Gamecock CEO Mike Wilson says the company depends on the developers its currently working with to scout new talent and projects. Of particular interest is the announcement that Dementium: The Ward will be coming to Europe in April, followed by worst-name-for-a-game award winner Legendary: The Box in June. Wilson also notes the upcoming XBLA title Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball could eventually make its way to PSN, saying, "Sony really wants this Pirates vs Ninjas game we're doing for Xbox Live and we're platform agnostic so if we're investing in a title let's give it a chance wherever there is one." We'd laugh (and want a cut) if one of the first expansion packs ends up being PS3 Fanboys vs. Xbox 360 Fanboys.
DS Fanboy feelers-on: Insecticide
Gamecock sent over a near-final preview copy of Insecticide, and I've been playing through it for the last few days. I haven't encountered any bugs yet -- except the ones that are supposed to be there, amirite? I previously played the game during the Penny Arcade Expo, but this time I had the benefit of playing a more complete copy, for more than ten minutes, while sitting down in a room with fewer than ten thousand people in it. I don't want to evaluate too much in a preview, but in the small portion of the game I've played, it's clear to me that this is exactly what people hope it is: the return of the funny 3D adventure game. While the adventure genre (by which I mean the third-person, 3D-movement, point-and-click adventure game, as opposed to graphical text adventures like Phoenix Wright) hasn't quite died, it has been populated in recent years by games like Indigo Prophecy and Syberia: dour, dark, gritty, Serious Business. Insecticide is not that. It evokes something like a Grim Fandango or a Space Quest: interesting characters who have a lot of funny things to say, in a game that requires you to adapt to a unique world's somewhat joke-based logic.%Gallery-3405%
Insecticide's release date repelled
Bad news for bug-detective adventure-platform action game fans: Insecticide isn't ready to emerge from its cocoon just yet. Amazon sent a notice out to an Insecticide preorderer that the game would ship out on March 11, instead of the previous February 12 date. The product listing has also been changed accordingly, and GameStop has updated their listing as well.Our Gamecock contact confirmed the delay, which is the second so far. He wasn't sure of the exact issue, but suggested it had to do with needing more time to manufacture a sufficient number of copies. So we don't get our own copies as soon, but there's a higher possibility that we will all be able to find one at all.%Gallery-3405%[Via GoNintendo]
Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball's new team: Robots
Considering the fact that robots will one day rule us all, we're surprised we never figured out they would be playable in Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball. Honestly, we wish that Blazing Lizard hadn't forced this new choice upon us, as we're having trouble dealing with it. Pirates against ninjas, that was an easy fight (ninjas win, obviously), but robots put a whole new spin on things. Ninja versus robot is harder to call. Sure, one ninja versus one robot and the ninja could probably win. But the robot army of the impending robot apocalypse will be unstoppable. That's just a fact. Then again, there is the zombie team, which would only get larger as the robot army killed the pirates and ninjas. Maybe that would balance things out. Nerdy rambling aside, there is still at least one more team to be revealed according to the official Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball website (in fact, the robots team hasn't even been revealed there). We're still holding out for the lawyers team because someone's going to have to sort out this mess. Also, you may want to check out a recent -- and fairly positive -- TeamXbox preview of the game. Hit the "read" link and check it out.
2008's Biggest Blips: Insecticide
Developer: Crackpot EntertainmentPublisher: GamecockRelease date: February 12Thomas Trowel's jaw was long and bony, his head a jutting v around the more flexible v of his mouth. His mandibles curved around to make another, smaller, v. His yellow-green eyes were mostly vertical. The v motif was picked up again by thickish antenna rising outward from twin creases above a hooked nose, and his pale brown hair grew down -- from high flat temples -- to a point on his forehead. He looked rather pleasantly like a praying mantis -- because that's what he was.He said to Chrys Liszt, "Yes, sweetheart?"Detective Chrys Liszt sighed. She could handle stereotypical guys. After all, her partner Roachy Caruthers was as hard-boiled as they came, a veteran cop who'd had more holes shot through him over the years than an old piece of cheese. But guys like this Trowel character really got under her exoskeleton. They had no idea how to treat a woman who wasn't just some dame. "Look, can you just give us a quick rundown on this Tangerine Sparrow deal? For the files.""Well, darling," Trowel said, "it all started when I met Brigid O'Spiderssy, a real knockout. She came in with a story about her sister, and was all sweet innocence, but I've been around long enough to know trouble when I see it, and that dame was trouble. Next thing I know, this fellow who's supposed to have run off with her sister is dead, my partner is dead, and I've got the law--" he looked up, face twisted in a smile that held little joy, "calling me a suspect. Before I can make sense of all that, I've got this grub coming around talking about some tangerine sparrow and a young scorpion following me everywhere I went.""Sparrows," spat Roachy suddenly. "Nasty things. Had one swoop down on a cousin and bam!" He brought two thin, gnarled hands down on Trowel's desk. "Just like that.""This one was old. Treasure, I'm told. A gift from royalty, missing for years. Didn't seem to be anything but bad luck, if you ask me. Everyone I talked to about the sparrow is either dead or in jail, and not one of them managed to put a hand on it for more than a few days." Trowel looked down at the watch on his wrist. Chrys looked at Roachy, but he had his arms crossed and was studying the ceiling, clearly bored. "You turned it over to the department, right? The statuette.""Along with the dame.""Thanks, Trowel," Chrys said, getting to her feet. "If this connects to the Nectarola case, we'll be in touch.""Swell," Trowel said, reaching for his hat, the small v of his mouth curving. His eyes glittered. "Happy to help."Reprinted from Super Hardboiled Noir Detective Fiction Magazine, 1949%Gallery-3405% FFTA2 Back At world's end
Auran wants to make you their bitch
John Romero and Mike Wilson might be indulging in increasingly childish verbal fisticuffs over the famous "John Romero's about to make you his bitch!" advertisement, but all of that testosterone-laden scuffling kind of glosses over the fact that antagonizing and belittling your players is not a great way to gain a solid following. Especially if your players are over ten years old. Well, according to Signe at F13, Auran (or whoever's really in back of the game Fury these days - funnily enough it appears to be Mike Wilson's Gamecock) wants you to suck it down and stop being such a shameful girly loser in what has to be one of the outright worst MMO incentive emails I've seen so far, endearingly titled "LOSER! LOSER! LLLOOOOSSSSEEEERRRRR!"
Romero: GameCock is dumb, GameCock: No U R!, Us: Whose bitch are we?
As the adage instructs, we are usually inclined to save drama for our mamas. But sometimes it's just too much fun to pass it up. Such is the case with a vitriolic exchange between marvelously coiffed game dev John Romero and GameCock CEO Mike Wilson. Let's get straight to the aforementioned drama, shall we?So, Romero was blogging, and he was all like "Once again, just like with Godgames, Wilson is taking all the credit away from the indie devs and pasting his asinine logo everywhere" and Mike Wilson was totally like "I will also not allow you to rewrite the history of it all, more to your liking and to my public detriment, and I will in no way take the rap for what you did (or didn't do)with your dream company."And we were all like "Have either of you guys made any games since the Clinton administration?"Though we're trying to seem cynically aloof and above all the squabbles, we do have to give the 2008 Burn of the Year award to Mike Wilson for "Your unparalleled work ethic and strong character has (just in the time I've known you) left only a bloody trail of ex-wives, fatherless kids, and ill advised breast implants strewn across this fair nation." Wow. Romero may have taken the first swing but Wilson responded with the Enola Gay. Metaphorically speaking, John Romero has just been shoved into a wood chipper.
John Romero totally hates Gamecock
John Romero is pretty opinionated regarding the head of Gamecock, Mike Wilson. He says some of his feelings via his blog, stating that Wilson is merely taking the credit for the hard work of his developers and labeling the company's E.I.E.I.O. event as another in a supposed long line of "jackass stunts."Romero goes on to say more negative things regarding the Gamecock CEO, adding "Wilson is taking all the credit away from the indie devs and pasting his asinine logo everywhere." Romero claims that industry insiders are more along his line of thinking, as well, stating "People are now starting to get a clue about how Mr. Wilson operates. Hey everyone, he hasn't changed in over 10 years – these are the kinds of jackass stunts he pulled at Ion Storm."[Via Gamesindustry.biz]
Gamecock heads across the Atlantic
With nearly a year under their belt (and one bitchin' DS title), publisher Gamecock is breaking new ground in a pretty literal sense. They've hired some new blood and are opening a branch in the U.K. Graeme Struthers, formerly of Take 2, Atari, and others, Sarah Seaby, also from Take 2, and David Noble, once in sales for RedOctane, will comprise the branch. We're happy to see the publisher spreading out from their Texas roots; expansion can only mean even more great things coming down the pipeline, and we're already looking forward to some of the other games they've got coming down the pipe.
