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Joystiq Streams: Sunset Overdrive tastes the rainbow [UPDATE: It's over!]
Insomniac, it's been such a long, long time. Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus was a snack, Fuse was a dud, and 2011's Resistance 3 was kind of brilliant but it was also a bummer. Seriously, no matter how hopeful the ending was that game was grimmer than a birthday party where the clown is an IRS auditor. We miss your breakdancing bombs, Insomniac. We miss your blasters that turn people into penguins. Now here's Sunset Overdrive and its gallons of orange goo, its LP gun, its Tony Hawk's Pro Skater-ian acrobatics. Are you finally home, Insomniac? Let's find out. Starting at 4:00PM EST on Joystiq.com/Twitch our very own Ludwig Kietzmann (@LudwigK) will stream the retail version of Sunset Overdrive for your Insomniac-longing heart. Danny Cowan (@db_cowan) will be chilling in the chat feeding your questions to Ludwig. That's Joystiq.com/Twitch at 4:00PM EST, just like we do every Tuesday and Thursday. Starting tomorrow, though, we're streaming nothing but horror games every day until Halloween so make sure to follow us on Twitch to know when we go live. [Images: Insomniac]
Here's what you'll get for pre-ordering Sunset Overdrive
Tucked within an announcement stating that Xbox One-exclusive action game Sunset Overdrive is now being pressed to retail discs comes information on the game's day one bonus items, its pre-order bonuses and the content-packed Day One Digital Deluxe Edition. Those who pre-order Sunset Overdrive from the Xbox Live Marketplace will earn two additional weapons, the Hangover, a series of beer cans strapped to an electrified pitchfork, and the Acordes de la Muerte, which is described as a "guitar-with-melting-candles-on-it melee weapon that can bash in the skulls of [your] vilified enemies." Additionally, those who play Sunset Overdrive on launch day will pick up a costume of the game's foul-mouthed yet adorable mascot Fizzie, along with two more weapons. If you spend $80 for the Day One Digital Deluxe version of Sunset Overdrive, you'll take home all of the aforementioned content, as well as the Season Pass. (The Season Pass normally costs $20 anyway, on top of the base game's $60, so we're not really sure what makes this edition "deluxe.") There's no specific timeframe for when the Season Pass will receive its promised downloadable content additions, but they will include a handful of additional costumes, two new traps and two additional "Amps" which are essentially permanent enhancements that grant your character new abilities, such as additional weapon XP pickups and the ability to smite enemies with divine fury. Sunset Overdrive is slated to launch on October 28. [Image: Microsoft]
Seen@PAX: Sunset Overdrive's white Xbox One in the wild
Gather round lads, as Captain Ahab of the SS Joystiq tells ye the tale of the great white Xbox One called Moby Dick the Sunset Overdrive bundle. Aye, its existence 'twas once but a rumor, but the beast resurfaced shortly thereafter, proving its reality to all sailors of the games industry waters. At PAX Prime 2014, someone managed to cage the creature and display it as, we assume, a trophy. Yar me mateys, here be your glimpse at a white Xbox One as she appears in the real world. Enjoy and eat hearty!
You booze, you snooze in Sunset Overdrive
There's little time for rest in Sunset Overdrive, a ridiculous game that whizzes by like a rock star drinking espresso on a skateboard. You must, must remain in motion – bouncing, sliding, flipping, grinding, hurtling and weaving through a rain of rockets and a gauntlet of gnarled mutants. And that's ignoring the visual chaos of your outfit: red pants, a blue flannel jacket, a tall white bearskin on your head and ... is that a tail?
Ratchet & Clank Collection brings lombax memories to Vita [update]
Sony quietly announced the Ratchet & Clank Collection is coming to Vita tomorrow, July 22, as a PSN downloadable. The publisher unveiled Insomniac's compilation for European and Australian Vitas in May before finally ending the radio silence over North America. Over on PSN Europe the Ratchet & Clank Collection is cross-buy, meaning if you buy either the new Vita version or the original PS3 compilation, you'll get the other for free. There's no word yet if the same deal is coming to North America, though. As for a physical release, the PlayStation Blog only denotes the game as "digital." Update: The PS Blog has updated its post, saying Ratchet & Clank Collection will in fact not launch on July 22. According to the update it's now scheduled for release on July 29.
Poster maestros Mondo debut stylized Sunset Overdrive art
Insomniac Games has tapped Austin, Texas-based Mondo to work its stylized poster design magic on the upcoming Sunset Overdrive and the results are appropriately explosive. While perhaps not as iconic as Mondo's prior pop art efforts, the above image does an excellent job of depicting the vibrant, kinetic chaos of Sunset Overdrive in a still image. From the massive explosion to the blue shadows it casts over the rest of the image to the impish smirk on our protagonist's face, the poster depicts a world where destruction is a cause for revelry - the exact same impression one gets from watching a Sunset Overdrive trailer. Not bad, given that this is Mondo's first stab at a poster based on a video game. As you've probably guessed, the above is only a small snippet of the full poster. Pay a visit to Entertainment Weekly to see the entire image in all its stylized glory. [Image: Mondo]
Insomniac: Xbox One digital pre-orders to arrive 'soon'
Xbox One owners will soon be able to pre-order games digitally via the Xbox Live marketplace, according to Sunset Overdrive developer Insomniac Games. During the latest episode of the Sunset TV promotional series, a fan asked if those who purchase the game via Xbox Live at launch will be eligible for the recently-revealed Day One Edition bonus content. "Yes, if you pre-order the game digitally, you will get the Day One Edition content," host Brandon Winfrey replied. "You can't pre-order it digitally yet, but soon you will be able to." There's no word on how soon the new pre-order scheme will appear, but Winfrey seems certain that the system will be in place by the October 28 debut of Sunset Overdrive. While our attempts to pry more information from Microsoft have so far been to no avail, Winfrey's revelation should come as little surprise. Only four months ago, Xbox Studio Manager Mike Ybarra mentioned digital pre-orders as a feature he'd "love" to see on Xbox One, before noting that it was among numerous features Microsoft had in mind for the console. [Image: Insomniac Games]
Watch Sunset Overdrive's intro cinematic, 8 minutes of gameplay
The opening cinematic for Sunset Overdrive underlines three life lessons: Always read the ingredients before consuming energy drinks When a haircut is asking for trouble, trouble will come answering Apocalyptic fires and high-speed trains are worth listening to. The vid was recorded at this year's Rooster Teeth Expo, which took place over the weekend and where Insomniac Games showed eight minutes of gameplay from its Xbox One action adventure. Check that out below the break, and the full presentation from the RTX stream.
Join the 'Chaos Squad' in Sunset Overdrive's multiplayer trailer
Insomniac Games' third-person shooter Sunset Overdrive received a trailer for its eight-player cooperative multiplayer mode, Chaos Squad. In it, teams complete objectives during the day, then participate in tower defense-style battles at night. The Xbox One exclusive arrives October 28.
Watch a small Insomniac team make its next game, Slow Down Bull
Ratchet and Clank series developer Insomniac Games announced a new pet project this week, Slow Down Bull. The game is in development for PC by a small team of four or five people at the studio. Slow Down Bull is an action game in which players will attempt to rein in an "overachieving" bull named Axel, who is keen on collecting "beautiful things." Axel's nature is of the more temperamental and tumultuous variety however, so players will need to help Axel stay stress-free while collecting the game's goodies. Little else is known about the project, such as its targeted release window, though it is being created in Unity. A small piece of concept art for the game can be found after the break. The small team does intend to host livestreams of Slow Down Bull's development process every Friday afternoon on its Twitch channel at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET), starting tomorrow. Meanwhile, a larger chunk of the developer is working on getting its Xbox One exclusive game Sunset Overdrive ready for its release on October 28. [Image: Insomniac Games]
Sunset Overdrive is full of overdosing mutants and Scabs
Insomniac Games is known for creative weaponry - it's the developer behind the Ratchet and Clank games, after all - but a cool gun loses some of its flair when it's used on the same old enemies over and over. Thankfully, the studio's next project, Sunset Overdrive, looks to keep things fresh with a multitude of foes which were recently detailed on the company's site. For those just tuning in, the enemies in Sunset Overdrive are mutants, transformed by a toxic energy drink called Overcharge. The most basic of these is referred to as an "OD," since they've overdosed on the drink. These zombie-like minions gather in hordes to swarm the player with melee strikes. Meanwhile, "Blowers" can launch Overcharge at range and "Herkers" charge forward like the walking tanks they are. Not everyone has turned into a monstrous shadow of their former selves, however; some people are just jerks. Non-mutated humans, called "Scabs," will also show up to fire assault rifle rounds at your decidedly non-bullet-friendly body. The Scabs will target mutants as well, leading to cross-faction warfare. Insomniac promises that players will encounter even more enemy types throughout the game, leading to all kinds of crazy encounters. We'll find out when the game hits shelves on October 28. [Image: Insomniac Games]
Doctor Who-inspired animation one of Sunset Overdrive's most requested respawns
Since it revealed "next-gen respawning" in Sunset Overdrive – the popular culture-infused animations that return players to the action after death – developer Insomniac Games has been flooded with suggestions from fans. Insomniac Creative Director Marcus Smith says that one of the themes most suggested to him by fans is something inspired by Doctor Who. "People want to see that Tardis spinning in," he told me at an event showcasing Microsoft's upcoming lineup. Smith wouldn't give away any final respawn animation secrets.
Ratchet And Clank redux coming to PS4
Alongside word that the Ratchet And Clank feature film will debut in the first part of 2015, Sony has revealed that a remake of the original Ratchet And Clank will appear on the PlayStation 4 around the same time. No gameplay details, imagery or pricing information were revealed.
Sony unveils Ratchet & Clank Collection for Vita
The first three Ratchet & Clank games are warping onto Vita, with the duo's portable re-release officially confirmed. Sony announced the HD Trilogy hits Europe on July 2, priced 30 euros, and Australia on July 9 - we're waiting to hear on North America. Sony Europe added it'll be available both on retail shelves and the PlayStation Store. Insomniac's HD bundle stars the lombax and robot's first three games on PS2: Ratchet & Clank, Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal. It first came to PS3 in 2012 as the Ratchet & Clank Collection (in Europe it's HD Trilogy rather than Collection for reasons unfathomable). The PS3 re-release was ported by Idol Minds, the dev behind the canceled Warrior's Lair. This time duties are handed over to Mass Media, the team that brought the Jak and Daxter Collection to PS3 and Vita. [Image: Sony Computer Entertainment]
Video preview: Sunset Overdrive grinds out its own rules
In the chaotic world of Sunset Overdrive there are virtually no rules: Realistic physics are merely a suggestion, weapon designs were likely first scrawled in a composition notebook by a madman, and returning to the battlefield after death is a mashup of nostalgia and insanity. All of these are positive points. Insomniac's Xbox One-exclusive third-person shooter is set to launch this fall. For a more detailed look at the game, make sure you read Joystiq Editor-in-Chief Ludwig Kietzmann's preview. To see the game in action, watch Joystiq's video preview above, lovingly crafted with as much irreverence as the upcoming Microsoft-published title. [Image: Insomniac]
How to make an entrance in Sunset Overdrive
Respawning after death is a given in many video games across genres, but never has a game seemed to have so much fun with the idea. In Sunset Overdrive, the upcoming Xbox One exclusive from developer Insomniac Games, your character returns to the action by way of spaceship, Bill & Ted homage, magical sarcophagus and more. Check out a few examples of in-game respawn animations – in hypnotic GIF form! – after the break.
Rumor: UK retailer lists Ratchet & Clank Trilogy for Vita
It looks like UK retailer ShopTo jumped the gun this week by posting a listing for an unannounced Vita version of the Ratchet & Clank Trilogy. Sony re-released Ratchet & Clank, Going Commando, and Up Your Arsenal in a PS3 HD Collection back in 2012, and since then we've seen PS3 entry Into the Nexus get rated for Vita in Europe and Brazil. ShopTo's since removed the listing, but our screengrab shows the box-art the UK retailer posted along with a June 20 due date and a PEGI rating of 7. When contacted by CVG about a possible Vita re-release, Sony declined to comment.
Celebrate two decades of Insomniac Games with this music video
The above nostalgia blast is either a cute way to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Ratchet And Clank developer Insomniac Games, or it's a cruel reminder that those of us who remember the Reagan years are being constantly, endlessly stalked by the encroaching spectre of human mortality. [Image: Insomniac Games]
Insomniac's Sunset Overdrive pinned for 2014 by Microsoft
Hidden in Microsoft''s Xbox One launch blurb is a fresh 2014 release window for Insomniac shooter Sunset Overdrive. Insomniac didn't date the Microsoft-published game when it was announced at E3, but it's on course for next year according to the big M. Sunset Overdrive is in a playable state and has "passed its vertical slice" according to Microsoft Studios Corporate VP Phil Spencer, which in non-management speak means it's been demo-ed successfully. Speaking to Polygon, Spencer said, "We're playing a full section of the game and feeling really good about the open world gameplay that they've put together. I like the investment around new IP at the launch of a new console." Insomniac hasn't revealed too much about its stylized open-world shooter, which looks to be an over-the-top, vibrant multiplayer game like Fuse once was. With Spike TV's VGX show around the corner, we wouldn't be surprised to hear more in the near future.
Epic auctions 3 signed Lancers to aid Insomniac intern after hit-and-run
Insomniac Games interning artist Ana Kessel recently lost her leg in a hit-and-run accident, and Epic Games has stepped up to help raise money for her medical bills. Epic is auctioning three signed replica Lancers from Gears of War on Ebay, with all proceeds going to Kessel's recovery fund. Epic has put up a replica original Lancer, a retro Lancer and a gold retro Lancer on Ebay, each signed. They'll be available for bidding through November 22. "All proceeds from this auction will be going to help with Ana Kessel's medical bills," the Lancer descriptions read. "She was an intern at Insomniac Games, a local video game company here in the triangle area, who was recently involved in a hit-and-run accident while on her scooter. She has been in the hospital since Monday, and had to have one of her legs amputated. Without having medical insurance, the financial burden will be immense, which is why I am auctioning off a few pieces of memorabilia from our video game."
