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Time-bending puzzle game Constant C coming to XBLA March 12
International Games System's time-manipulating, gravity-shifting physics puzzler Constant C is getting a worldwide release via Xbox Live Arcade on March 12, Japanese publisher 5pb revealed this week. Constant C stars a rescue robot stranded aboard a space station where time has stopped. The robot can restore the flow of time using its Time Circle, temporarily bringing surrounding objects out of stasis and restoring gravity. Later stages require advanced techniques, challenging players to rotate their surroundings and manipulate inertia in order to dodge traps and solve puzzles. Constant C is also available for Windows via Desura. A Steam version has been successfully Greenlit, but is not yet available. [Image: IGS]
Time-tinkering platformer Constant C to land on Xbox 360 next spring
5pb Games (aka Mages) is bringing puzzle platformer Constant C to Xbox 360 in Spring 2014, though there's no word on the recently Greenlighted Steam version. The game's Steam Community page also promises Mac and Linux versions "in the near future." Constant C, already out on Windows PC via Desura, is based in a space station where time suddenly freezes - anything goes in space. The puzzling comes from making objects move through time, as well as some gravity shifting that's a little reminiscent of And Yet it Moves. As for the Xbox Live version, 5pb promises some "console-specific enhancements" such as revamped localization. There's no word yet on price, but the PC version goes for $10.
APB Reloaded gets North American retail distributor
OK, remember last month when GamersFirst seemed to shoot down the notion of APB Reloaded coming to a retail shelf near you? Apparently those rumors were more than idle scuttlebutt, and senior marketing VP Rahul Sandil's statement that GamersFirst was evaluating its options was more than idle PR-speak. In a new press release issued this morning, GamersFirst revealed that it is partnering with Interactive Gaming Software to bring the massively multiplayer shooter to your local gaming store. Sandil says that "the response from retail has been so overwhelming that we are considering launching with a half-million units." What will retail customers get for their $29.95? Aside from the box and manual, the package boasts $50 worth of in-game items including a permanent high-performance vehicle, a permanent in-game weapon, and 30 days of premium account access (which grants increased mission rewards, reputation gains, and a 20% cash shop discount).
APB shoots down rumors of retail releases
APB has not had an easy ride, launching and shutting down in record time. But the relaunch at the hands of GamersFirst has proven quite successful for the game, which gives rise to certain rumors. Case in point, the rumor that had swirled earlier today about the game seeing a retail re-release at the hands of IGS. It was certainly a nice rumor, but according to Rahul Sandil, it's nothing more than that. In a statement released earlier today by Mr. Sandil, GamersFirst has been approached by a number of potential retail partners due to the runaway success of APB Reloaded. However, the company is still evaluating its options, and as a result they are not yet ready to announce any partnerships. Mr. Sandil also stressed that any retail partnership would not change the fact that the company is committed to free-to-play as a business model, which is doubtlessly good news for fans now enjoying the urban shooter free-for-all.
World of Tanks rolling toward retail
The retail box hasn't quite succumbed to the digital download onslaught, at least if World of Tanks and Wargaming.net have anything to say in the matter. Yes, fans of clutter and old-school box collecting rejoice, as WoT is on its way to a game store near you thanks to a new partnership with Interactive Gaming Software. The World War II-based tank MMO will be available at retail for $19.99, and Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi hopes that the new deal will result in increased exposure around the globe. "We're extremely proud to say that our headliner will finally appear in stores," Kislyi said via press release. "[We] hope that [IGS'] tremendous expertise in distributing retail production will help in bringing the popularity of World of Tanks to a completely new level." World of Tanks is a free-to-play action MMO that launched last April. The game features squad-based tank combat, traditional MMO progression, and a strategic territorial meta-game based on a large-scale map of World War II-era Europe.
Fallen Earth announces partnership with Interactive Gaming Software
The changes at Fallen Earth just keep coming. Today brings us news that Fallen Earth has formed a distribution partnership with publisher and distributor Interactive Gaming Software. So what does this mean for Fallen Earth? In short, it means onward and upward: "As Fallen Earth grows, the need to make the game easily accessible both nationally as well as internationally has become essential," says Marketing Manager Jessica Orr. From the sound of things we're going to see the game made available to a wider audience, beginning its addition to "several new digital and retail outlets in late Q2." Speculation regarding any connection between this partnership and the recent layoffs is only natural, but all involved parties seem very optimistic about the direction things are going for the game. Making Fallen Earth available to a wider market brings the potential for many more subscriptions, so we'll be watching the population of Sector 1 with interest.
Live the dream with Commander in Chief: The Game
As we watch the stirring coverage on all the networks of this momentous day in our nation's history, we can't help but think: Isn't there some way we could be experiencing some of this in a video game, shielding us from any sort of actual connection to the events or our fellow man?Developer Eversim and publisher IGS have you covered with Commander-in-Chief, a game that lets you live the adventure of balancing the international geo-political landscape. And when you read that one of the key selling points is "current data on 400 key factors provided by 50 international organizations including the United Nations, G7, NATO, NAFTA, OPEC," we're sure that you, like us, won't be able to get your wallet out fast enough.
Joystiq impressions: Braid
While E3's Kentia Hall may be long gone, the small Independent Game Summit area of the Barker Hangar made sure the little guy wasn't completely ignored. One of the most interesting games from the summit this year was an unassuming little 2D platform-puzzler featuring a guy in a business suit.One of the core ideas behind Braid, according to creator Jonathan Blow, is that the players time is more precious than his life. Indeed, any time your portly, suit-clad avatar dies, you can simply rewind the action a la Prince of Persia to go back to a safer portion of the level. Unlike PoP, though, there's no limit to the length or availability of your rewinds in Braid, meaning the only thing you lose if you make a mistake is a little bit of time spent rewinding.%Gallery-5074%
Independent Games Summit line-up
Independent game developers, it's that time again. CMP media has posted a preliminary version of the Independent Games Summit (IGS) schedule on the Game Developers Conference (GDC) site. The IGS takes place March 5 - 6, 2007, the two days prior to the three day GDC at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.The summit is also tied in with the 2007 Independent Games Festival, which will feature the year's best independent games. Those nominations will be announced this Saturday on IGF.com. The winners will be announced March 7, the first night of GDC at the IGF Awards.The one simple request we have is that independent developers who end up being nominated for awards please, please, PLEASE have a speech ready when you win. Also, practice what you are going to say in a mirror a few times before you get up in front of thousands of people and just blow it. Trust us, it will help you in the long-term with your career.[Via GameSetWatch]
