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Magicka casting spells on PC this January
Magicka, the lighthearted dungeon crawler from Arrowhead Game Studios and Paradox Interactive, has reached the end of its delay saga. Part Two of the cute gold master delay video has been released, confirming that the title will arrive as a $10 PC download beginning in January 2011. The game employs an elemental magic system that allows up to four players to combine spells and kill beasties, while poking fun at the fantasy game genre in general. When asked about the planned Xbox Live Arcade version of Magicka, Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester said, "We're doing our best to get Magicka released on all consoles, but we cannot confirm anything yet."
Magicka trailer adorably announces game's delay
Few games have announced their own delays as cheerfully as Arrowhead Game Studios' Magicka. The latest trailer for the game -- the first we've seen in many moons -- tells a cute tale about why it's been pushed to "Q1 2011," alongside a handful of gameplay clips. See for yourself below the fold.
XBLA Lead and Gold isn't happening, says Paradox CEO
In a recent conversation with Paradox Interactive's Fredrik Wester, the CEO told Joystiq that while he'd like Lead and Gold to shoot up Xbox Live Arcade, in addition to PSN and Steam, he doesn't think it's going to happen. "It seems like we have to put it on the backburner," Wester said. "We're not really putting any more effort into releasing on XBLA, so I would say if you want to play the game, you should do it on PC or PSN, because we're not really sure that we can ever release it on XBLA. Or that we're ever gonna release it on XBLA. It's unfortunate, but you know, things happen. We love XBLA and would love to be on it, but with Lead and Gold, we just have to move on." And that's unfortunate, as Wester (no, not Wesker) said DLC is in the pipe for L&G, and early issues with lag in the game have been amended. He's also excited for the next console release that Paradox has planned: Magicka. "When I first played it, I was like, 'Shit, this is a great game!' So we put more effort into it and we're gonna make it into a really good project," Wester told us. While the game is built using XNA and intended for an XBLA release, Wester's not sure where it'll end up (though he offers up the XBL Indie Marketplace as another possible destination). Wester also teased something new coming from Paradox -- Paradox Connect -- a service he recently talked about with Gamasutra. While he wouldn't get too specific, he did tell us, "Steam has a few elements which Paradox Connect is gonna have as well, and a few other services do as well. Stuff that gives the players more options to connect with each other and gain bonuses online." So, it's DRM then? "The first thing people said was 'Oh! It's DRM! It's DRM!' And I'm like 'Come on, people! It's not DRM.'," Wester corrected us, laughing.
Lead and Gold rustles up some patches on Steam
Fatshark has managed to circle the wagons and issue some repairs to its Western shooter, Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. Not only has each individual class received tweaks -- which in turn affect the strength of the proximity-based Synergy system -- but a variety of features have been added to the game, including in-game voice chat and the ability to invite friends from the pause menu. Lead designer Mårten Stormdal says the input of the community has been integral in shaping the game. "We've listened to the players' feedback and their input has been invaluable. We'll keep talking to them as we add dedicated servers and other improvements in the near future." Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West is currently available on Steam and PSN in Europe. It will launch on the North American PSN on May 4.
Lead & Gold rides onto Euro PSN Apr. 22
Click to be lead to larger image Aside from the headline above, we're going to try our very best to use as few Old West-related puns as we can in giving you the news that publisher Paradox Interactive today announced an April 22 European PSN release date for its upcoming, third-person online shooter, Lead & Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. Apparently, the game won't be moseyi .... er, arriving in other territories until some time "soon" after (we followed up with Paradox for a US release date and were told one isn't available at this time). We have to imagine that cowpo ... damnit! ... gamers on PC are assuredly sneering at us right now, given their two-week lead time. But we'll see who's got the last laugh when we install Linux on this PS3! Oh ... right. %Gallery-84320%
Paradox and Southpeak settle lawsuit
It's not exactly good news for SouthPeak but, given the ironically rocky year it's had, the company will probably settle for lukewarm. Said news is this: Paradox Interactive and SouthPeak have settled their lawsuit. Last month, Paradox filed against SouthPeak to the tune of $585,382, allegedly revenue that SouthPeak had failed to pay to the developer (a claim that seems to haunt the publisher). According to IndustryGamers, the two companies have amicably settled their differences, with SouthPeak agreeing to "satisfy all of its payment obligations to Paradox Interactive." Both parties issued statements regarding SouthPeak's financial status, with SouthPeak itself noting that the settlement "has demonstrated its financial stability," while Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester notes that the speedy conclusion "is a tribute to their professionalism and their sound financial integrity." One can only hope that SouthPeak manages to foster this sense of conviviality among all its developers. We're sure the company has had its fill of lawsuits by now.
Lead and Gold mounting up April 8, pre-order and beta available now
If you can't be bothered to wait before getting your hands on Paradox Interactive's Team Fortress 2 meets Tombstone shooter, Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West, Steam's offering pre-orderers a chance to beat the (gold) rush. A press release has announced that the full game will hit the Steam store April 8, and that anyone who pre-orders the game will have access to a beta which will run right up to Lead and Gold's launch. Haven't been keeping tabs on the title? Check out our write up from our brief time with the game at GDC -- and try to be more diligent with your news consumption. We won't always be here to hold your hand, you know. %Gallery-84320%
Paradox Interactive files injunction against SouthPeak
Publisher SouthPeak's legal troubles continue, with developer Paradox Interactive filing an injunction against the company for disagreements that start with a familiar issue: lack of payment. Gamasutra reports that Paradox, developer of Europa Universalis 3 and the recently unveiled Lead & Gold, claims SouthPeak owes it $585,382, revenue from distribution of its games that the publisher has not passed along. "SouthPeak has failed to comply with its payment obligations even for game units which it previously reported to Paradox, and SouthPeak's executives have informed Paradox's executives that SouthPeak is currently financially unable to satisfy its payment obligations to Paradox under the Agreement," the legal filing reads. After Paradox terminated its distribution agreement with SouthPeak last month, according to Gamasutra's summary, SouthPeak "threatened" to request that unsold inventory be returned by retailers -- and it's this action that Paradox is trying to prevent with its injunction. In addition, it is seeking a receiver to collect the money it claims SouthPeak owes.
Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West previewed, screenshotted
Hang on a sec, are you trying to tell us that you weren't at the Paradox Interactive Convention in Stockholm, Sweden last week when the publisher showed off its upcoming game, Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West? Lucky for you then that Paradox Interactive recently released a mélange of screenshots and a developer interview to help assuage your fear of totally missing out. Developed by Swedish company Fatshark, Lead and Gold is a third-person multiplayer-focused shooter set in the Old West. As described by executive producer Martin Wahlund in the video after the break, the game features a a variety of different competitive multiplayer modes (variations on the traditional "team deathmatch" and "capture the flag," among others) to be played by the game's four classes. Set for release in "Q2 2010," we have to imagine we'll be getting some face time with the game (and news on which consoles it's coming to) in the not too distant future. %Gallery-84320%
Paradox CEO greenlights expected failure, bets hair it won't be profitable
Paradox Interactive CEO Fredrik Wester announced last month that he would shave his head if the company's Victoria 2 actually turned a profit -- he appears to have a full head of hair, so it's not like he was being ironic. Gamasutra caught up with the executive to ask why he would greenlight a title he expected to fail. Wester expressed that the community's passion and Paradox's internal studio convinced him to acquiesce. If the game fails to turn a profit, however, he gets to choose the next game the team develops.Wester sees the situation as a win either way, saying, "Either I get to keep my hair, or I get a profitable game." As Wester owns 49 percent of the company stock and the employees own the rest, it gives him the liberty to do this type of stuff. We do wish more CEOs would be forced to have a personal stake in a company's success and bear some "scarlet letter" for failure. Example: A Midway board meeting would look like a THX 1138 cosplay convention.
Fort Zombie erected on PC this fall
Paradox Entertainment announced today that Fort Zombie will shamble onto PC this fall -- and, boy, is it looking as nasty as the rotting, walking dead. And we don't mean "nasty" in that hip urban vernacular meaning "good" ... just check out the screens below.We can't knock Fort Zombie that hard just yet, since our $15 might just net us engaging gameplay, here forming the basis of a "casual RPG." The titular fort helps you to collect survivors, who grant special abilities, and consequently prolong your chances of survival. And what better instinct is there to exploit in a zombie game?%Gallery-71833%
Ship Simulator Extremes to blow the doors off ship simulation genre
This ain't your papa's ship simulation game. This is Ship Simulator Extremes, the latest entry in Dutch developer VSTEP's series of nautical piloting sims. The press release which announced the game includes a lengthy list of features, but all you need to know is in the title -- it'll be "Extremes." Not just "Extreme," mind you -- but "Extremes." As in, more than one "Extreme." We can assume this means the game will take you to the razor-sharp edge of seafaring Extreme-ness, then, just for kicks, it'll take you a bit farther.The game sounds like it'll go over quite well with the world's expansive community of boat enthusiasts -- we just hope it can stay afloat (nailed it!) in the crowded waters of Q1 2010.[Via Big Download]
Stalin vs. Martians coming on April 20
We're thrilled to learn that the action-RTS Stalin vs. Martians is coming on April 20. And no, it's not because that's 4-20 and we'll be smoking so much illegal marijuana that we'll really be able to appreciate watching a 30-foot-tall Stalin fight an army of multicolored aliens.No, what really excites us is that we almost forgot to post the "All Hail Stalinator" trailer that you'll find right after the break, and we're just not sure we could have lived with ourselves if we hadn't had an opportunity to share it.%Gallery-21612%
GDC09: Stalin vs. Martians hands-on
Does it even matter what we have to say about Stalin vs. Martians? Whether we like it or hate it, the base facts will still be the same: You're a force of Russians battling it out against evil aliens. It's already headed towards Game of the Year, and all we can do is get out of the way. In fact, it's billed half-jokingly as the "Game of the Year Edition." It's a silly idea, but there's a real game underneath it all. As publisher Paradox Interactive notes, it's an "action RTS," which, in practice, is somewhere between an RTS and a shooter, pitting waves of colorful aliens against your bright green tanks.%Gallery-21612%
Europa Universalis dev offers up game engine for free
There's only one thing better than getting something for nothing. However, since it's unlikely that someone is going to deliver us a life-size Toblerone, we'll settle for Paradox Interactive's news that the Swedish game company is releasing its game engine into the wild as a free download over GamersGate.Codenamed "Europa," the engine was the same used to develop games in Paradox's Hearts of Iron series and Europa Universalis II (pictured). According to Paradox, the company plans to set "a few minimum criteria" for the engine's use, and games created using the technology will be made available for sale over the GamersGate download service -- meaning that for those indie devs looking for a 'cheap as free' solution to make their hard-core PC strategy game dreams a reality, this could be it.
