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Daily iPad App: The Bard's Tale
The Bard's Tale was originally released on Microsoft's first Xbox console, and it was a sort of a side-make of the original point-and-click RPG adventure game from the 80s (which itself is represented on the App Store by an app called Silversword, if you'd rather go even more old school than this one). But the Xbox title has just recently appeared on iOS, and it's a respectable port of the title that makes fun of a lot of fantasy and RPG video game tropes. The Bard's Tale features amazing voice work (including by the late great Tony Jay) and the hack-and-slash action isn't half bad. Fans of bawdy humor and wacky stories (there's a zombie dance-off hidden in the plotline) will definitely get a kick out of it. The app is Game Center-enabled and uses iCloud across a universal version, so you can trade saves between your iOS devices. Some iTunes users have reported a few bugs, unfortunately, but there are updates coming (driven by a few in-app purchases that are optional but definitely not required), so hopefully if you hit an issue, it should be fixed before long. To sweeten the pot even further, the app's on sale this week, down to US$2.99. The Bard's Tale is definitely worth a play through, especially if you missed it during the original run on the Xbox.
Choplifter HD touches down on PC, PSN, XBLA next week
Choplifter HD, the remake of the hostage-saving helicopter action classic, will begin its landing next week. The game will hit PC and PSN on January 10, while the XBLA release will follow on January 11. Interested virtual pilots (or people really obsessed with Duke Nukem or Super Meat Boy) will be able to snag Choplifter HD for $15.
Choplifter HD takes off on XBLA, PSN and PC this winter
We've known since June that Konami was prepping a landing space for Choplifter HD on XBLA, PSN and PC, but it seems the convoy won't be here for some time. Or, actually, it could be tomorrow.* All we know is Konami and developer inXile Entertainment are deploying Choplifter HD sometime this "winter" and, yeah, we're technically in that winter timeframe. In addition to the zombie mode featuring a cameo from Super Meat Boy that was introduced a few months back, Duke Nukem will also show up, along with cameos from "from some of the videogame industry's most legendary leading men." Why no women? As much as we don't want to think of Lara Croft as a decomposing zombie, it'd still be pretty neat. *It won't be out tomorrow. We promise you.
The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Choplifter HD
Being a giant, beloved video game site has its downsides. For example, we sometimes neglect to give independent developers our coverage love (or loverage, if you will) as we get caught up in AAA, AAAA or the rare quintuple-A titles. To remedy that, we're giving indies the chance to create their own loverage and sell you, the fans, on their studios and products. This week we talk with inXile president Brian Fargo about his company's reboot of a familiar franchise, Choplifter HD. What's your game called, and what's it about? Our big project for 2011 is Choplifter HD for PSN, XBLA and PC. We are taking a fresh approach to the classic helicopter rescue game Choplifter that was a huge hits in the '80s. People in the industry have really fond memories of the game and we intended to do it justice. In fact I brought the original creator Dan Gorlin on as a consultant he said it looks like the best adaption he had seen yet. It will be a very entertaining game.%Gallery-126541%
Choplifter HD also headed to XBLA, features zombie mode
Choplifter HD, which is more than a basic HD-ification of the classic '80s game, will also be available on Xbox Live Arcade -- the game was previously announced only for PSN and PC. Destructoid has a video showing off lots of gameplay, the zombie mode and a totally random appearance by Super Meat Boy. The deeper look at the gameplay reveals that even after 20-something years some things in Choplifter just don't change. Like, squashing hostages, something that is sure to drive a whole new generation of the gaming population absolutely nuts! Also, when you aren't squashing hostages, it appears you'll still be waiting on them to get their butts in the choppa. Oh, how we long for a "move out of the landing zone and run to the chopper like your life depends on it" button. %Gallery-119870%
Hunted: The Demon's Forge review: A streamlined slaughter
Your first hour in the desperately dark world of Hunted: The Demon's Forge is not going to be a pleasant one. The preface-free introduction doesn't exactly instill a sense of literary excellence. The characters presented could generously be described as "grating." Combat is limited to a fairly uninspired mix of plain ol' shooting and plain ol' stabbing. There's a troubling realization that the game contains items, but no inventory, which everyone should be able to agree is absolute madness. Slowly but surely, however, the game's oddly-shaped puzzle pieces begin to plop into place. See, most of the issues observed above are never really remedied -- instead, developer InXile Entertainment seems to have made an unconventional and fascinating decision to thoroughly nurture a small handful of other genuinely great ideas. %Gallery-121458%
Hunted sound design video takes sneak peek around dark corners
As you inch along in the darkness, you reassure yourself that the noise is just the sound of a game designer rubbing his cello bow all over a kitchen pot. But even if that's really all it is, isn't that still kind of scary?
Watch this monstrous new Hunted: The Demon's Forge video
While the latest Hunted: The Demon's Forge behind-the-scenes video is sadly devoid of Lucy Lawless, it is positively packed to the gills with the game's monstrous baddies. From the brutish minotaur to the svelte assassin, there should be plenty to keep players hacking and slashing.
Hunted: The Demon's Forge trailer whips up a world
When it comes to fantasy RPGs, nothing is more important than the setting in which all the looting takes place. Judging by this new dev diary, Hunted: The Demon's Forge seems to have this fact on lockdown, thanks in no small part to the inclusion of some user-generated dungeon tools.
New Hunted video focuses on story, characters
The latest behind-the-scenes video for Hunted: The Demon's Forge examines the game's rich story. The developers at inXile looked to the ancient Mayans for inspiration. Long ago, those proud people ... wait, where are you going? Okay, okay, it also has Lucy Lawless. Happy now?
The forging of Hunted: The Demon's Forge
In this behind the scenes look at Hunted: The Demon's Forge, inXile hammers out the basics of its "modern, co-op, cover-based action game" -- you know, where you're "running through dungeons and killing monsters with really cool swords" and "amazing spells" and stuff.
Hunted preview: Co-opportunity knocks
Hunted: The Demon's Forge was plagued by a number of issues, both technical and fundamental, when Joystiq last saw it two months ago. At Bethesda's recent "BFG 2011" media event, developer inXile Entertainment brought a markedly improved build, if not a less generic game title. "Feedback has been a large part of the process," David Clayman, associate brand manager for inXile, told me at the event. Gone is the shoddy blocking animation Joystiq encountered in the last build that registered a block no matter if your shield was facing an enemy or not. (inXile has since added an auto-targeting mechanic that turns your character to face the nearest attacking enemy as you begin blocking.) And fixed is the indicator that now more clearly and immediately alerts you to your partner being down and in need of a healing potion. %Gallery-121458%
Choplifter HD airlifting nostalgia to PSN and PC this fall
If the idea of putting together burgers in HD wasn't weird enough for you, how about revisiting your old airlifting days on the Apple II via PSN? InXile Entertainment plans on doing just that with Choplifter HD, a project that will supposedly "redefine the helicopter rescue mission for the modern era." And just when we were thinking no one was bold enough to redefine such a mission! We were also at the point where we thought InXile had given up on the title -- the company filed a trademark for a new Choplifter title back in 2009. It seems that the developer has spent those two years filling the game with content, such as a "variety" of helis to control and "more than 20" mission types. Choplifter HD's announcement also details the new, highly unnecessary story. "Players take on the role of an up and coming rescue pilot asked to join the elite, international helicopter rescue team C.H.O.P.R. (Coordinated Helicopter Operations, Preservation and Rescue)," it reads, continuing in the long held gaming tradition of shoehorning ridiculous acronyms into plot lines. We can only hope that the C.H.O.P.R. team is getting some backup from the first encounter assault recon folks.%Gallery-119870%
Hunted: The Demon's Forge preview: Through thick and thin
Hunted: The Demon's Forge has a major problem. It's a Gears of War clone, but it also wants to be a deep, character-driven RPG. The issue is that it far too often relies on the gameplay mechanics of the former and doesn't offer the exploration elements of the latter. During a recent San Francisco event, I was able to sample not only the introduction of the game, but a later mission in co-op mode. The game opens with a dream sequence, where the brawny and more burly of the two protagonists, Caddoc, is having a nightmare. Within, he catches a glimpse of a buxom, pale-skinned sorceress named Seraphine (voiced by Lucy Lawless) who'll play an integral role in his adventure.%Gallery-99360%
What's in a Name: InXile Entertainment
It's time for another titular origin story! Today, Matthew Findley, president of inXile Entertainment, explains the creation of a studio name haunting English teachers everywhere: I worked with Brian Fargo at Interplay for a number of years and we both left Interplay at the same time. We knew we wanted to stay in video games, so starting a company seemed like a good idea -- he spent 20 years at Interplay and I was there for 13. When we were first out there, trying to figure out what to do next, we kinda felt like we were in exile, and we made fake cards with a fake company name just to have a card to go to E3 with. And before we ever thought of the name "inXile," Brian put as his job description on the cards: "Leader in exile." People got such a kick out of that card, we kept saying "in exile, in exile, in exile" so much that we just thought, "Why not make up a new word?" And so we did. InXile is currently working on Hunted: The Demon's Forge, which will launch on the Xbox 360 and PS3 on June 1. Like this feature? Be sure to check out the What's In A Name Archives.
Hunted gameplay trailer shreds monsters, guitars
Bethesda has always made it clear that it wants gamers to associate Hunted: The Demon's Forge with action games like Gears of War. Watching the latest trailer, we'd say "mission accomplished." Honestly, the only thing missing at this point are chainsaws, curb stomps and a dead Carmine brother.
Hunted: The Demon's Forge crafts exclusive pre-order content
Americans anxious to get down to the business of paying money for a game should know that Bethesda has announced pre-order incentives for its upcoming Unreal Engine 3-powered fantasy RPG, Hunted: The Demon's Forge. Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Steam, Direct2Drive and GameStop will all offer specific bonus content, so head on past the break to get it all straight. (Why does buying a game have to be like this?)
Super Stacker flash game coming to PSN for $9.99
The US PlayStation blog has announced that Sparkworkz' Super Stacker is coming to the PSN tomorrow. For $9.99, you can experience Super Stacker's over 100 levels of animated shape-stacking mayhem, putting little grunting pieces with faces together in sturdy (and not-so sturdy) constructions. Or, you could, y'know, play it online for free. That's not quite fair -- the PSN version comes with updated art, co-op and competitive multiplayer and two new modes of gameplay, including one where you'll be exploding stacked blocks of dynamite. But even if that sounds cool (and it kind of does), go play it free first anyway -- if you get your fill of the levels there, you'll have saved yourself $10.
Interview: Brian Fargo on Hunted: The Demon's Forge
Brian Fargo is no stranger to the world of video game development, having originally founded Interplay back in 1984. He's worked on titles like the original Bard's Tale and Wasteland, and Interplay developed everything from Battle Chess to Fallout to Baldur's Gate. When Interplay was acquired by Titus in 2002, Fargo left and founded InXile Entertainment, which later released an updated Bard's Tale for PS2, Xbox, and PC. Now both Fargo and InXile are moving onto next-generation consoles with the swords and scorcery co-op title Hunted: The Demon's Forge. We recently spoke to Fargo about the game, which you can find just after the break. But be warned! Just prepare yourself for the sheer about of verbiage manages to foist upon us when we asked what the initial genesis for the game was. It's quite an answer! Read on to see what he has to say about the upcoming title, including why they limited to two characters, the depth of the puzzles in the game, and boob jiggle. Yes, boob jiggle.%Gallery-92197%
Impressions: Hunted: The Demon's Forge
Clicked: The Full-sized Gallery Bethesda's undoubtedly one of the best developers in the industry; however, as a publisher, it's had its fair share of ups and down. Last year's Wet and Rogue Warrior illustrate both extremes quite well. Earlier this year at GDC, when Bethesda unveiled the clumsily titled Hunted: The Demon's Forge – a new co-op dungeon crawler from inXile Entertainment, Interplay-cofounder Brian Fargo's new digs – we immediately wondered which side of that gulf it would live on. Would it be worthy of the Bethesda name on its packaging, alongside promising shooter Brink, surefire-hit Fallout: New Vegas, and id Software's Rage? Fargo certainly thinks so. In fact, Fargo is so sure about his new game, that he wasn't afraid to recall the past glory of games like the original Bard's Tale and Wizardry at a recent Bethesda press event, and Fargo had previously introduced the concept, saying "What you're going to see here today is a reimagining of the dungeon crawler, the classic game that got me into this industry." He continued, "It was the Might & Magic series, it was the Ultima series, Dungeon Master from FTL was a bit of a breakthrough product ... that's very much the experience I grew up with." And as action games supplanted the dungeon crawlers, Fargo "felt like the core experience of that good ol' dungeon crawl, getting lost in the dungeon, had sort of fallen away. And it hadn't fallen away because the titles were doing bad. People forgot or something." While we don't know if they forgot – Demon's Souls, Torchlight, and Diablo 3 say hi! – Fargo's "reimagining" certainly doesn't look like what you imagine when you think dungeon crawl. "The gamer today has a different metaphor for engrossing themselves, which is more the action, Gears of War-type thing," Fargo explains. "So what we need to do is take today's experience and mix those two together but ... we the take you someplace very different, and in the beginning we need to get your attention." Read to to find out where your attention will be going, and to find out if inXile has been successful in grabbing our attention. %Gallery-92197%
