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Retro RPG Pier Solar HD hits Xbox One later this month
Following its November 6 Wii U launch, classically styled role-playing game Pier Solar HD will reach the Xbox One on November 21. Originally developed for the Sega Genesis well after Sega had left the console business, Pier Solar proved such a success that developer Watermelon launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring the game to more modern hardware. Not just a simple port, Pier Solar HD includes high resolution graphics and new, hand-drawn background art. Despite its technical enhancements, as you can see from the trailer beyond the break, Pier Solar HD is slavishly modeled after classics of the role-playing game genre, down to the pixelated character sprites. Watermelon's announcement doesn't specify a price point for the Xbox One iteration of Pier Solar HD, but if it mirrors the recent Wii U release expect a $15 price tag. [Image: Watermelon]
New Nintendo eShop releases: It's raining nintendogs + cats
Among all the big games Nintendo chucks at the Q4 window is the weekly eShop cluster grenade, ready to spread just about everything across your Wii U and 3DS. This week there's plenty of stuff to pick and mix, from platform-puzzler The Swapper where you can create clones of yourself and swap (ah!) between them, to the GBA Super Mario Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 2 which also features a Mario Bros. remake. Or you could garden-gander at Shigeru Miyamoto's Pikmin Short Movies animations on 3DS and Wii U, and then try out the new Pikmin 3 demo. If you'd prefer something spikier and scarf-ier, there are Sonic Boom demos for both 3DS and Wii U ahead of next week's retail releases. Keeping the animal theme but travelling back in time, out of nowhere there are eShop versions of the three-year-old nintendogs + cats 3DS games, complete with a free theme when you buy one of them. A bit out of the blue, yes. On the other hand... d'awwww. It's one of those weeks where it might be easier to digest a full list of new releases, so it's handy you'll find one of those below the break. Bargain hunters, we refer you to Nintendo's press release for a list of this week's sales and permanent price reductions.
Retro RPG Pier Solar HD out for Wii U on November 6
The Wii U version of WaterMelon's classic-styled JRPG Pier Solar HD will hit the eShop on November 6, suffering a brief delay after its recent cross-platform launch. Tracing its origins back to a Sega Genesis homebrew release in 2010, Pier Solar later transitioned to modern platforms thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. Pier Solar premiered for the PlayStation 4 and PS3 in September, arriving alongside releases for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Ouya. Pier Solar HD boasts stylish art and turn-based combat that recalls the 16-bit RPG era. A release for the Xbox One is also in the works. [Image: WaterMelon]
Pier Solar HD stalled by certification, additions detailed
Pier Solar HD developer WaterMelon Co. is releasing its touched-up Mega Drive and Sega Genesis RPG on more than 10 platforms, and understandably, they've hit a bit of a snare this week in the certification process: While the build that WaterMelon submitted to Valve was cleared for release on Steam, Microsoft rejected the version due to what WaterMelon's update describes as "internal requirements." The studio is holding off on submitting to Sony and Nintendo until the issues Microsoft had with Pier Solar HD are resolved, but on a positive note, WaterMelon's update adds that correcting the issues "doesn't take as long as we thought." Once Pier Solar HD is cleared on all platforms, WaterMelon will announce a release date. While we're waiting, WaterMelon has extensively detailed the additions to Pier Solar HD beyond its visual boost. Beyond new areas to explore, chests to loot and bosses to trample, at least one new ending has been included, with WaterMelon teasing the potential inclusion of secret endings. Pier Solar HD also uses a reworked save system, which is based off traditional save points rather than the original version's method. Three extra songs that didn't fit on the original cartridge, a doubled inventory capacity and Achievements join Pier Solar HD's additions, including built-in Achievements for the Dreamcast and Wii U versions. An optional new graphic mode also applies a smoothing "hq3x filter" on pixelated elements, offering more rounded edges on things like character and enemy sprites if a cleaner trip down memory lane is desired. [Image: WaterMelon Co.]
Pier Solar HD pushed back to June
Pier Solar HD, the Sega Genesis-style RPG developed by Watermelon, has been delayed to June, Sega Nerds reported. The delay was announced via a backers-only update on the developer's Kickstarter page. Watermelon earned $231,370 on the service in December 2012, and just received approval from the Steam Greenlight community in March to begin distribution for PC, Mac and Linux on that platform. Also in development for PS3, PS4, Wii U, Android, Ouya, Dreamcast and considered for 3DS, Pier Solar HD was delayed to April just a few short months ago. Watermelon is reportedly looking to launch the game before E3, which starts on June 10. We've reached out to Watermelon to confirm the game's delay, and will update as we learn more [Update: Watermelon confirmed to Joystiq that Sega Nerds' report is accurate]. [Image: Watermelon]
Pier Solar HD, Proven Lands among 75 greenlit games for Steam
Valve accepted 75 more games for distribution on Steam after approval from its community on Steam Greenlight, among which is Pier Solar and the Great Architects HD, Watermelon's remake of the Megadrive RPG. Pier Solar HD, which earned over $230,000 on Kickstarter in December 2012, is joined by a recent crowdfund hopeful, sci-fi sandbox roguelike Proven Lands. In fact, a number of this week's new Steam recruits were once success stories on Kickstarter. Dolphin exam cheating simulator Classroom Aquatic earned over $31,000 earlier this month, Trichotomy's Dog Sled Saga found modest success in May 2013, roguelike Dungeonmans earned over $43,000 in August and MURA Interactive's twin-stick shooter Dubwars received over $34,000 in July. Additionally, Will O'Neill's game about love and depression, Actual Sunlight, was among the group of games added to Steam this week. [Image: Watermelon]
Pier Solar HD trailer lights up PS4 and Xbox One with Genesis style
WaterMelon's Pier Solar was always noble but limited. Making a modern Sega Genesis RPG, exhaustively crafted as both a game and a physical cartridge to capture the ineffable spirit of gaming in 1993? That's lordly work right there. Problem one: Not many people actually have a Sega Genesis plugged in and ready to rock. Problem two: Even with a Genesis in tow, the game won't look just right on a modern HD television screen. Hence why Pier Solar HD, the remastered version of the game WaterMelon funded through Kickstarter back in 2012, is a such a welcome addition to the Spring 2014 release schedule. Most every platform under the sun will play Pier Solar HD when it releases during the second quarter. Based on this new trailer showing off the game's shiny redrawn sprites and backgrounds, it should be a treat for the retro obsessed. WaterMelon is aiming for an April release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Ouya, Android, PC, Mac, and Linux. Just to honor the game's Sega roots, there will also be a Sega Dreamcast edition of the game. For those hankering for more portable options, WaterMelon president Tulio Gonclaves hinted that a Nintendo 3DS version may be in the cards as well. [Images: WaterMelon]
Throwback RPG Pier Solar HD delayed to April, 3DS version considered
Sega Genesis homebrew-turned-modern console release Pier Solar HD has been pushed back to an April launch on all platforms, developer WaterMelon confirmed this week. WaterMelon's retro-styled RPG was originally set to launch digitally in March for the PlayStation 3, PS4, Wii U, PC, Mac, Linux, Android, Ouya and Dreamcast platforms. The project earned over $230,000 in backer pledges when it turned to Kickstarter for funding in 2012. Ports for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One are also in the works, pending WaterMelon's acceptance into Microsoft's ID@Xbox self-publishing program. WaterMelon studio president Tulio Goncalves additionally hinted at the possibility of a 3DS port in a recent interview with Nintendo Enthusiast, explaining that the Wii U version's second-screen functionality would transfer easily to Nintendo's portable platform. [Image: WaterMelon]
Pier Solar HD to launch by March 2014, coming to PS3, PS4
Pier Solar HD, the Kickstarted remake of the Sega Genesis RPG Pier Solar, will be coming to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, Watermelon Games President Tulio Goncalves announced in a Kickstarter update. This is in addition to the previously planned PC, Xbox 360, Wii U, Mac, Android, Linux, Ouya and Dreamcast versions. The initial release of Pier Solar HD has also been delayed and is now planned to launch by March 2014. In the initial update, Goncalves explained that repeated applications for the consideration of Pier Solar HD on the Xbox 360's Marketplace were not met with a response. After hearing about Microsoft's self-publishing program for the Xbox One, ID@Xbox, Goncalves applied for the program several times. Although the video update states Microsoft had not responded beyond a request for more information about the project, Watermelon Games has since commented on the post to confirm that Microsoft has contacted them. While it's not an outright confirmation that Pier Solar HD will reach either the Xbox 360 or Xbox One, the comment states that it "looks like good news will be coming along!"
Pier Solar HD Kickstarter ends with over $230K in pledges
Pier Solar HD has more than hit its Kickstarter funding goal, bringing in $231,370 at the end of the campaign this morning. People were sufficiently piqued by the idea of an HD remake of a present-day Genesis RPG to not only get developer WaterMelon Co. to its $139,000 goal, but to exceed every stretch goal set by the developer.That means the released game will be a "Directors Cut" with additional material. It also means Pier Solar HD will be released on Android, Ouya, and Wii U. Everyone who backed the project will get a digital copy of "One Year at WaterMelon," a video documentary about the development of Pier Solar HD and two other SNES and Genesis projects.
Pier Solar HD hits Kickstarter goal, stretches for Wii U port
Pier Solar HD has achieved its Kickstarter funding goal of $139,000, with pledges over $141,000 and six days remaining on the drive. Now that the PC, Mac, Xbox, Linux and Dreamcast remake of the Genesis RPG has secured funding, developer WaterMelon Co. has revealed a set of stretch goals.At $145,000, every version of Pier Solar HD will be translated in to Japanese. At $150K, the Dreamcast version will be updated with 16x9 support, VGA compatibility and even VMU screen integration. At $160K, the game will be released as a "Directors Cut" with new sidequests, minigames and "battle features" originally planned for the Genesis release.The final two stretch goals bring Pier Solar HD to additional platforms: Android and Ouya at $175,000, and Wii U at $200,000. When determining the likelihood of these goals being reached, keep in mind that the starting point for this whole enterprise was a Genesis RPG released in 2010. This developer has a unique definition of "impossible."
