mikebithell
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John Wick is suiting up for a strategy game on consoles, PC and Mac
The next installment in the John Wick movie series will hit theaters next week, but that won't be the end of the line for the Keanu Reeves action franchise. A "fast-paced, action-oriented strategy game" based on the series is in the works.
'Thomas Was Alone' developer launches another sci-fi text game
Here we go again. In August of last year, developer Mike Bithell, responsible for popular games Thomas Was Alone and Volume, did something rather unique. He released a small, $5 narrative game called Subsurface Circular -- first on PC and Mac and then on iPad. It was apparently successful, as Bithell just announced its sequel: Quarantine Circular, which has similar mechanics but a entirely new cast and story.
What is a ‘Game of the Year’ edition, anyway?
Every year, game publishers put out Game of the Year editions, typically chock full of all the downloadable content that's come out since the initial release along with new packaging to proclaim its "of the year" status. Some titles even get new content to entice customers into buying an older game. But what, exactly, does it mean to be a Game of the Year? And according to who exactly? Is there a regulating body that protects consumers from games that were not, in fact, that good? You might think of the "Game of the Year" term as an implication of quality, right? It turns out that — like most marketing — it's largely meaningless. And countless gaming outlets name their own "Games of the Year," further confusing things.
'Volume' developer launches a surprise, bite-sized sci-fi game
Subsurface Circular came out of nowhere. Well, that's not entirely true. Mike Bithell, the developer behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume, tweeted a prescient question in April, asking followers if they'd be interested in paying $5 for a unique, hour-long video game. He didn't mention that his team at Bithell Games was already building Subsurface Circular, a bite-sized, reasonably priced experience for PC and Mac.
English rain inspired the Google Daydream game, 'EarthShape'
When Mike Bithell was a kid, sitting in the backseat of his parents' car as the cloudy English sky soaked the roads, he would draw lines in the window's condensation, attempting to "catch" raindrops as they slid down the pane outside. "I honestly don't know what the point was, but that little activity would keep kid-Mike occupied for hours," Bithell remembers. "When I was trying to think of accessible family game mechanics, I remembered that and imagined how much more fun my little game would be if the raindrops reacted to the lines." Fast-forward a few decades and Bithell is a successful independent developer building a launch game for Google's new mobile VR headset, Daydream. His past games include the award-winning platformer Thomas was Alone and Volume, a futuristic Robin Hood-inspired stealth title starring Andy Serkis, the actor who brought Smeagol to life in the Lord of the Rings movies. Volume: Coda just debuted on PlayStation VR -- stealth, Serkis and all.
'Great British Bake Off' host stars in a Daydream VR game
Plenty of people were wondering what comedian and actress Sue Perkins would get up to now that she's done hosting The Great British Bake Off, and now we finally have the answer: She's starring in a virtual reality video game for Google's Daydream platform. EarthShape is a game about the first astronaut to leave humanity's home planet on a millennia-long mission to terraform the universe. The StarSeeker, as the astronaut is called, travels the universe planting flowers and cultivating life "through a fun new gameplay mechanic."
Andy Serkis whispers about the devil in this live-action 'Volume' vid
Volume isn't a movie, though it does feature a major film star, a popular YouTube personality and a BAFTA award-winning voice actor. Not bad for the sequel to Thomas was Alone, an adorable video game about basic shapes and friendship. Volume stars Andy Serkis (Gollum in The Lord of the Rings), Danny Wallace (the narrator in Thomas was Alone), and Charlie McDonnell (a long-time YouTube star with 2.4 million subscribers). It's a Robin Hood-inspired stealth game set in a technologically advanced future -- and it's out today, August 18th, for PlayStation 4, PC and Mac. It was supposed to hit Vita today as well, but that version has been delayed, creator Mike Bithell announced on his blog.
E3 Streams: 'Volume,' 'Fortnite,' 'Elite: Dangerous,' and more!
Onward into E3 2015! Our week in Los Angeles has left us wild and crazed. We interviewed the director of the Final Fantasy VII remake. We played Star Fox Zero. Now we're going to give you a chance to talk to the developers of some of E3's biggest games right here on JXE Streams. Join us starting at at 12:30PM ET/9:30AM PT on Twitch.tv/Joystiq for a chance to chat with developers like Epic Games, Elite: Dangerous creator David Braben, and a special early look at Volume with Mike Bithell.
The next game from 'Thomas Was Alone' developer due August 18th
The follow-up to indie darling Thomas Was Alone finally has a firm release date. Developer Mike Bithell's incredibly stylish stealth-puzzler that hinges on you being heard, Volume, hits PlayStation 4, PlayStation TV, PS Vita and Steam August 18th. Performance capture and voice-over extraordinaire Andy Serkis stars in the game as well, but it doesn't sound like he was ready to make an appearance for the spankin' new trailer below. Given what Bithell achieved with a handful of a handful of colored squares in his last effort, we're pretty excited to see what he can do with something a little more human this time out.
Visiting Day: a quirky Flash game
Mike Bithell has just created a new Flash game, made exclusively with the PSP in mind. It has great vector graphics, great style, and a really sleek menu. The game is a series of rather simple minigames, having you fight an alien invasion. WIth multiple difficulties, a psuedo-multiplayer option, and a "story mode," this Flash game goes above and beyond the fan norm. It's not perfect, though: it can use a bit of music, and I didn't know that you had to leave the analog stick at the bottom right at all times. With some music, a few GUI changes, and a little bit of clarification (for example: you can't progress in Story mode unless you fail!), Mike Bithell might have something truly complete. Wish you luck on your professional endeavors, man.Visit Mike's PSP-compatible website for the download. For users with 2.70 firmware and above.
