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Minter's new Gridrunner OK'd by Microsoft, hitting XBLA in April
UK coder Jeff Minter has announced via his LiveJournal that his latest electronic acid trip game has finally gotten the green (and purple, and blue and pink) light for release on Xbox Live this April. As we reported last month, Minter had submitted his latest Gridrunner to Microsoft for approval months ago, but had -- at that point -- heard zilch. Minter casually dropped the news at the end of a post regarding PC Gamer UK's review of Space Giraffe for Windows. So now we know a month, but what about a name? Gridrunner+++ is merely a working title according to Minter, who says that "the final title will likely involve less plusses."
Gridrunner+++ set to release on XBLA in April
According to Videogaming247, Jeff Minter's Gridrunner+++ is set to release on the XBLA at the end of April, after a long wait from the Llamasoft developer. In mid December, Minter unabashedly called Microsoft out, telling Eurogamer that Gridrunner+++ had been submitted "months ago" and Microsoft was simply "sitting on it." For those keeping score at home, Minter previously lamented the slow sales of his original title, Space Giraffe, and was flabbergasted when an XBLA remake of Frogger outsold his first XBLA release by 10 to 1. "OK, we get the message. All you want on that channel is remakes of old, shite arcade games and crap you vaguely remember playing on your Amiga," Minter exclaimed in response to the news of Frogger's success. Thankfully for Minter, Frogger 2 was released months ago and poses no threat to his latest arcade offering. Probably.
Minter: Microsoft 'sitting on' nearly finished Gridrunner for XBLA
Purveyor of video game psychedelia, Jeff Minter, has his follow-up to Space Giraffe – a retooling of Llamasoft classic, Gridrunner++ (shown) – "nearly finished," according to an interview with Eurogamer. The only problem: he hasn't heard from Microsoft for months. "We sent it off to [Microsoft] months ago, but they've just not said anything – we're just waiting for them," Minter said. "Basically I'm going to carry on with the PC version of it if I don't hear from them soon, because they're just sitting on the demo we sent them three or four months ago. We haven't heard a thing." We're eager to give Minter's latest a shot, but Microsoft may not be rushing to make that happen given the sales performance and scattershot review scores of Space Giraffe.
Minter: Microsoft 'sitting on' next Llamasoft title
In an interview with Eurogamer, Llamasoft head and Space Giraffe developer Jeff Minter explained that he is ready to release the next iteration of Gridrunner to the Xbox Live Arcade, but that Microsoft is "sitting on" the game. "We sent it off to [Microsoft] months ago, but they've just not said anything" admitted Minter, adding "they're just sitting on the demo we sent them three or four months ago." And it sounds like Minter's patience is wearing thin, because he also makes it clear that if he doesn't hear from Microsoft soon that he'll just carry on with the PC version of Gridrunner+++. Sounds to us like a bad case of communication and a touch of hesitation to release the title, possibly because of Space Giraffes' less than stellar sales success. Hopefully Minter can get things straightened out and hopefully Gridrunner+++ can end up selling more than Frogger.[Via GamesIndustry.biz]
Jeff Minter tweaking Gridrunner++ for XBLA
Jeff Minter, cuddler of sheep and designer of psychedelic shooters, has updated his Stinkygoat blog with a mention of his latest endeavor: Gridrunner++ for Xbox Live Arcade. The original scrolling shooter, which requires you to survive numerous waves of enemies in increasingly disorienting levels, will have its graphics and controls overhauled to better suit the Xbox 360. Minter hopes it'll make for a "more involved game" and is first focusing on "getting all the gameplay working first." That's just as well, given the polar reactions his Space Giraffe galloped and/or flew into. [Via X3F]
Minter's next XBLA project: Gridrunner++
Space Giraffe, Jeff Minter's psychedelic 3D shooting jumble of a game that some ended up falling in love with while others, well, don't love at all. And so after his Giraffe antics Minter is heading back into the XBLA arena for round two with a remake of the space shooter Gridrunner++. According to Minter's personal blog, he's back to work on a Gridrunner++ port for the XBLA, updating the graphics and formatting it for a widescreen display. Here's to hoping Gridrunner++ on the 360 features trippy visuals, confusing graphics and nauseating gameplay. Oh joy![Via IGN]
Minter to Sony: "Lose the 'tude"
In the new issue of Edge magazine, llama-loving industry vet Jeff Minter accuses Sony of being "arrogant" and "smug" -- referring to the PlayStation 3's high price point and lack of quality games expected at launch. A choice quote: "Just making the shiniest, most expensive hardware doesn't cut it these days. Sure the PSP was beautiful and posh, whereas the DS was definitely the ugly sister. But hey, the ugly sister is better in the sack."Minter made a name for himself way back in the day writing games such as Gridrunner and Andes Attack for Commodore and Atari computers. He also produced updated versions of Defender and Tempest for the Atari Jaguar, as well as the Neon light synthesizer technology for the Xbox 360. Jeff did not comment on how well these other systems perform in the sack.[via GamesIndustry.biz]
