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Line Rider now lets you torture two riders at once
Despite being released in retail form for PC, Wii and DS as Line Rider 2, the Flash version of the original Line Rider is still being tweaked by developer Sparkworkz to provide the most casual and simply obsessed of players with the optimal "drawing stuff, then dropping a sled on it" experience. The company just released beta 3 of the Flash game, which adds ... a second rider.Players can now choose the "Dual Rider" mode and set a starting point for a second rider. This opens up the gameplay to synchronized runs, races or, for most of us, watching two riders stop mid-line and topple off the cool ramp we made. Other additions in the new version include camera options and a new line-type that decelerates riders.Sparkworkz's site also notes that a new Line Rider variant for iPhone, dubbed Line Racer, is on the way, which allows players to draw courses and then, yup, race on them against other players.
Retail and download releases for the week of Oct 6th
We could get used to this, folks. Around this time of year, we're bombarded with new games, across all fronts. Well, this week is no different, so we won't waste time yakking it up here, other than to say no dice on Gradius II. Head past the break and get the lowdown on this week's releases.
iGaming news: LineRider and X-Plane
A couple of new games from the wider world have hit the App Store, and fans of both should be excited: LineRider brings an online sensation to the touchable side, and X-Plane brings flight simulation street cred to iPhone and iPod touch users.LineRider (store link) started out as a simple, no-frills sledding Flash game from a Czech Slovenian student and has exploded into an online phenom -- the current version runs in MS Silverlight, and it has spawned over 11,000 videos of courses (including a couple of McDonald's advertisments) and forthcoming versions for the Wii and PC. The iPhone version features the same basic gameplay as the online flavor (build a track, release the sled, crash and burn) along with a course-sharing option to let your friends download your creations. LineRider is $2.99US.At the other end of the gaming spectrum, Laminar Research's X-Plane flight sim has long been acclaimed for its accuracy and flexibility. Now the experience of X-Plane 9 (store link)has been squeezed into your pants with the iPhone version. The portable X-Plane lets you fly four different aircraft around the game's demo area (the skies above Innsbruck, Austria) using the device accelerometer to control your flight, or onscreen touch controls if you prefer. The quote from Laminar on the iTunes store page is illuminating:We here at Laminar Research are still a bit shell-shocked at how powerful this little device is, and how much power in flight simulation can be stuffed into it...That bodes well for future sim development. X-Plane is $9.99US.Thanks to everyone who sent these in.
Line Rider coming to iPhone
I thought Line Rider kind of "jumped" the shark (so to speak) when they sold out to McDonald's, but apparently the little sandbox physics game is still kicking around. InXile, the company that makes it, is working on a version for the iPhone. There was a version available for jailbreakers, but apparently the company put the kibosh on it when they found out.Not much else to say about this -- Line Rider is currently available for free online, and if you like it there, you'll probably like it on the iPhone, too. Personally, it's more fun to watch than to play -- whenever I try to make a run, my little guy always dies on the first curve. But maybe with a little more iPhone-based practice, I can finally get him to do that loop-de-loop I've been wanting.[via Touch Arcade]
DS releases for the week of August 11th
For once, U.S. gamers have a reason to lord over their counterparts in the rest of the world. Why? The other major markets are seeing either token releases, as in Europe, or none, as in Australia and Japan, while we here in the States are blessed with a bevy of games. Not just any games, either, not with Bangai-O Spirits leading the pack. Bangai-O Spirits Imagine: Teacher Line Rider 2: Unbound Madden NFL 09 Mazes of Fate DS N+ Sinking Island
Retail and download releases for the week of August 11th
This week brings lots of content to the Wii. We've got a pair of new Virtual Console games, some fresh WiiWare action and even some retail game love, for good measure. If you're looking for something new to enjoy on your Wii, then you're certainly in luck. The biggest title to release this week is undoubtedly Madden 09 All-Play. Were any of you looking forward to this one? Can't wait to go pick up your copy?Head past the break for the full details on what's new this week on Wii.
Comparing Line Rider on DS and Wii
With two different versions releasing soon, as well as the original PC game, Line Rider is one popular title right about now. Having checked out screens, trailers, and even interviews with the creator, you can bet we're excited for the game. But, which version should we go with?InXile Entertainment, the folks who're publishing the game, would have us believe both the DS and Wii version are essential to our survival on this planet, but we know better. According to Siliconera, each installment has its own features to lure you in.For one, the DS game has the incredibly intuitive and easy-to-use touch-screen, which switches between drawing controls and playing controls on the fly, where the Wii version situates any menu buttons it has in the corners of the screen. Also, the Wii version will feature Wi-Fi support, whereas the DS installment doesn't look like it does. The DS title is pretty portable (natch), while the Wii version is not (sure, you can lug the game and case around, but you can't play it).What about you all? DS version? Wii version? Couldn't care less about either version?%Gallery-21530%
Line Rider 2 draws up more screens
IGN has a bunch of new screens up for Line Rider 2: Unbound, including some basic shots of the game's playback editor.It's clear that the site has also had some hands-on time with the game -- we know this because an IGN bod has scrawled out the letters "IGN" for their rider to coast along. Predictable, yes, but it's more original than the anatomically wonky genitalia that most of you us will draw upon first getting the title. As we saw in recent footage, Line Rider 2 looks like it will be sticking to the original Flash game fairly faithfully, so it's only reasonable to assume that we'll be experimenting with the same childish drawings in the DS version.Sketch out a line and slide past the break for more shots.%Gallery-21530%
inXile founds SparkWorkz, former Microsoft exec to head
inXile Entertainment, the developer behind 2004's tongue-in-cheek RPG The Bard's Tale, has announced the founding of a new online-focused division called SparkWorkz, with former Microsoft exec David Heeley tapped to call the shots. According to inXile, SparkWorkz will "build an online network and community" for showing off user-generated content.All of this sounds a bit like inXile is attempting to recapture YouTube's lightning in a bottle, as inXile CEO Brian Fargo notes that the company's goal is to create an "online destination for people to show off their creative talents across a number of different game and non-game media environments." Among other things, players can expect to use the network to create and share content created using the company's upcoming Wii and DS adaptations of Line Rider, giving us another reason to look forward to the cult Flash time waster's launch this summer.
Riding lines on the DS is pretty much what you'd expect
If you thought you precious Line Rider experience was in jeopardy of being altered or changed in some way, perhaps turning into something else entirely on the DS, then let those fears disappear. As you can see from the video above, Line Rider 2: Unbound very much looks and plays like Line Rider should. We don't have to tell you how great that makes us feel!Any of you excited for this one?%Gallery-21530%[Via Go Nintendo]
This is what Line Rider on the Wii looks like [update]
We don't have to tell you how badass Line Rider is. The "game" looks incredibly unique and should cater to the Wii audience perfectly. Now we finally get to see how the Wii version, Line Rider 2: Unbound, looks.Over at Game | Life, InXile producer Chris Keenan on the Line Rider project has shown off the first footage of the game in action. The verdict? Uh, it looks badass. What else did you expect us to say?Update: Thanks to reader Chris for the link to the YouTube version. It's now embedded above.
Line Rider creator speaks
While we all sit on our hands, waiting for the DS and Wii version of Line Rider, the game's creator, Bostjan Cadez took time out of making it to conduct a nice interview with GameSetWatch. In it, Cadez talks about spitballing names for the little line-riding dude himself, as well as touching on inXile and how they're handling the development of the Wii and DS game.Now that we finally got to see some screens and video of the game last month, you can say all of the pieces are in place. We have a release date and Line Rider is looking like it won't disappoint.
First screens and video of Line Rider DS
The first real screens of DS Line Rider show a game with more visual detail than the original, in that there is some visual detail. In this snow setting (they might all be snow settings? It is a sled game, after all), it appears that your drawn lines create an actual landscape that your rider follows. You'll draw your line on the bottom screen, and then it will move to the top when you play, so you can control the playback on the touchscreen. Also found in the screens is an interesting tool that lets you alter a line by picking it up at a point and dragging it, which allows you to maintain a connected line. However, the first video of the game shows the traditional Line Rider look in playback. Without knowing exactly what the deal is, we're guessing that you can preview a line before generating the snow, or that maybe you can change the game's look to a "classic" mode or something.
Line Rider coming to PC, Wii, DS this summer
It's been a while since we talked about the cult flash physics game Line Rider. Last we heard, developer InXile Entertainment snatched up the rights to the project, with the intent to release it on DS and Wii. Now, industry newbie Genius Products has announced intentions to publish the game on the DS, Wii, and PC, with all three versions due out this summer.Genius Products has up to now specialized in the distribution of home entertainment products like DVDs. With Line Rider, the Weinstein Holdings company is moving into the game publishing market, hopefully with a hit product. The retail versions of Line Rider will include a level creator mode with the ability to share creations online, but will also feature a single player puzzle mode with, inconceivably enough, a storyline. As Bosh -- the "clever and cunning" protagonist -- players must traverse over forty sled-riding puzzles to reclaim their true love Bailey from the hands of the "sled-stealing scumbag" Chaz (seriously). The pre-made Line Rider levels were notably designed by TechDawg, the #1 Line Rider player in the world. Let's hope this big(ger)-budget, plot-driven version of the freeware classic is still, above all else, fun.[Via DS Fanboy]
Genius Products pencilling in Line Rider for summer
Genius Products is a home entertainment company that seems to focus on DVD publishing. They're expanding into video games with the DS, PC, and Wii retail releases of inXile Entertainment's Line Rider. In the press release announcing the company's new business, Genius revealed that they are planning to release Line Rider this summer on all three platforms.The press release also promises "over 40 mind-bending puzzles created by the #1 Line Rider player in the world, TechDawg" in addition to the abilty (of course) to draw your own puzzles and share them online. Try to upload at least a few non-vulgar ones.[Via GamesPress]
Line Rider riding retail shelves this summer
For those of you who've been anxiously awaiting the DS and Wii versions of Line Rider, know that your wait is almost over. After not hearing a single peep about the game during 2007, this year brings news that not only is the game releasing this summer, but that developers have been hard at work on the game for quite some time. This title isn't going away!Other than a release date, the folks at InXile are keeping their mouths shut. We wouldn't expect any more information, as these folks have proven they're great at keeping their mouths shut about leaking details.[Via Go Nintendo]
A tale of two (riding) videos
These two videos couldn't be more different, and yet, they both involve dudes riding things on hills. Line Rider just has considerably less dust than Nitrobike. There's recent footage on both, and we can't decide which is more interesting without turning the Wii Fanboy offices into a live action practice session for Smash Bros. Brawl, so we'll let you be the judge.
Today's line rideriest video: Line Rider Super Mario Bros. 1 - 1
Lovingly re-rendered in line form, watch the lone Line Rider (could Mario be in there?) as he traverses world 1 - 1. Complete with sound effects, the theme song, and some flips, this isn't your old school Mario, even though the graphics are ultra-retro.[Thanks, Kevin]
Indies and consoles: an imperfect system
According to Gamasutra's Simon Carless, the independent scene is facing an uphill battle when developing for consoles, specifically in the realm of digital distribution. Carless argues that the difficulty in bringing a title across all platforms, both for technological and business reasons.Other than some retro titles (e.g. Joust), a very small number of downloadable title are appearing on both Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. Capcom's Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is one of the few exceptions, and Capcom's Christian Svensson said it required "considerable coordination" to get the titles on both consoles, which indicates to us that less established independent houses would have insurmountable difficulty.Carless notes that Sony's collection, retro games aside, are predominantly first party (though we should note that flOw went to Sony because they actively sought out the independent title). Nintendo has always talked about bringing original games to the Wii, and there have been murmurings of a Game Channel, but so far all the only tangible indication of a non-Virtual Console title is Impossible Mission.Carless' analogy to the film industry (three separate formats for theatre chains), though admittedly ham-fisted, does not account for industry history. It may be unfair to the independent developer, but there hasn't been a time when gaming was controlled by a single format. Sure, development teams are now much larger and require a bigger budget, but that hasn't stopped smaller teams from succeeding with Geometry Wars, Ragdoll Kung-Fu, and Alien Hominid (pictured). The state of indie games isn't ideal, but it seems to be getting better. We say keep on fighting, Simon.
Awesome Line Rider video offers DS fans something to look forward to
What a great way to wind up the holiday! This video shows off what we'll soon be able to do on the go -- draw up entire worlds in Line Rider, the flash game scheduled to make with a DS version. Seeing something as elaborate as this stage, which is an impressive recreation of areas from Stargate Atlantis (someone really loves the Pegasus Galaxy!) makes us think it may be worth dropping some cash on an otherwise-free Flash game after all. The stylus will certainly help in these big projects. What about you? Is the stylus enough to make you consider Line Rider on the DS, or do you already own one of those snappy graphics tablets?
