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Indie dev Renegade Kid targeting 3DS in 2011
With moody first-person games like Moon and Dementium, Renegade Kid has relied on its custom-made graphics engine to convey unusually solitary and atmospheric experiences on Nintendo's handheld. The studio is taking a step forward in 2011 and is currently in talks with an unspecified publisher to convert an existing game to the 3DS (for which it's already authorized as a developer). "Right now, we're in heavy get-new-projects mode," Renegade Kid co-founder Jools Watsham wrote on his blog this past weekend. "There is one 3DS title that we're in talks about with a publisher. It is a really cool game. It would be a conversion of an existing title, which we would bring to the 3DS. Let's call it code-named 'Planet.'" Watsham said that the game is close to being signed with a publisher -- "in theory" -- but kept his optimism restrained for the time being. "But, anything can happen in the world of business, so all we can do is hope everything stays its course and we sign it soon." Watsham recently gauged interest in a DSiWare version of Maximillian and the Rise of the Mutant Mudds, a colorful DS platformer announced in June 2009 that's been in search of a publisher ever since. Renegade Kid was looking for at least 1,000 comments on the polling post, but has elicited fewer than 500 thus far. "This is sad, but also exactly why we asked for votes; to help us gauge whether development of the game would be financially wise or not," Watsham wrote. "Honestly, if we can't scrounge up at least 1,000 votes in one month, it's a fair sign that there aren't enough people out there interested in the game, DSiWare, or both." Renegade Kid's first game (of at least three) for 2011 is ATV Wild Ride, a non-terrifying racing game. Mind you, we haven't seen what the ghastly, disfiguring crashes look like.
Renegade Kid takes DS on an ATV Wild Ride
Now we get to see what Renegade Kid's "Renegade Engine," used for the Dementium games and Moon, can do with a game that isn't a first-person shooter. The developer has announced ATV Wild Ride, its new decidedly non-spooky DS game for publisher Destineer. ATV Wild Ride is a racing game featuring 24 courses in six countries, a trick system and wireless multi-card multiplayer. It's like an extreme racing game, but shrunk down to manageable DS size. Destineer announced plans to take it on the wild ride to retail in early 2011 -- but the trailer after the break (courtesy of Destructoid) further specifies January.%Gallery-109511%
New Dementium 2 trailer packs small screen with big creeps
It's become rather common for DS game commercials to show the game via an onscreen DS console. Understandable, considering most titles wouldn't look too hot all stretched out for today's modern high resmolution screens. But then, the usual presentation -- tiny DS screens embedded within a larger screen -- is a bit bland. SouthPeak has come up with an interesting solution for the marketing behind Renegade Kid's upcoming horror FPS Dementium 2. The solution is simple: Rather than overlaying the screens on a DS mockup image, simply embed the screens in human flesh. Granted, it probably wouldn't work for, say, the Imagine series, but it's damned effective here. Give it a watch.
Dementium II stays locked up until April 20
Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham reveals in his latest vlog post that Dementium II has been delayed until April 20, 2010. The developer gives the distinct feeling he's not too keen about the hold up, which is allegedly due to a "manufacturing delay." Dementium II was originally intended to freak out DS owners on February 16. Watsham asks people to please pre-order, because "pre-orders make a big difference in the success of the game." Also, it's not like you've got anything else to spend that money on during the time ... oh wait. %Gallery-78630% [Via Go Nintendo]
Dementium 2 jumps out at you in February
Jools Watsham's prediction of a "February-ish" release for Dementium II seems to have been right on target -- though Nintendo's release schedule wasn't. Rather than the February 2 date listed on that schedule, The company announced that the DS horror FPS will ship in North America on February 16 of next year. Europe will be subject to the horror two weeks later on March 5. SouthPeak reports that some Dementium II posters are still available to those who pre-order and send pictures of their receipts. Presumably more people will take advantage of the offer now that they now when the game they're pre-ordering will be released. %Gallery-80518%
Pre-order bonus: Put a touch of Dementium II on your wall
Would you like this on your wall? The first 1,000 people in the US and Canada to pre-order Dementium II at an "authorized retailer" (including Amazon and GameStop) and send their mailing addresses and scans of their receipts to: "dementiumii [at] southpeakgames [dot] com," will receive this poster, signed by Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham and Gregg Hargrove. Surely, there's room on your wall between the Muramasa scroll and the shelf you nailed up to rest your Mario lunchpail upon on its days off. The Dementium II poster was previously given away in a Halloween promotion, but was apparently popular enough among hand-from-face fans to warrant a return engagement. Speaking of Dementium II and creepy imagery, SouthPeak opened a teaser site for the horror sequel. You can visit it here ... if you dare! Which you probably do. %Gallery-78630%
Hands-on: Dementium 2 (DS)
Having not played Renegade Kid's first survival/horror-FPS on the Nintendo DS back in 2007, Dementium: The Ward, I had few expectations going into my recent hands-on with the game's sequel, the aptly titled Dementium 2. I knew that the first game enjoyed critical acclaim for more than adequately bringing survival/horror tropes to Nintendo's handheld, and ultimately scored pretty well with reviewers, but ever since Metroid Prime Hunters I've been wary of first-person mechanics on the DS. Thankfully, when first faced with manipulating Dementium 2's main character, it became quickly obvious that the game's slow pace helps to account for any discomfort issues that might arise from the control scheme. Over the course of 45 minutes, I put together puzzles, traveled between two dimensions multiple times, and even fought a boss who tried to throw up on me from the ceiling (what a jerk!). Though its content and storytelling seems to be a carefully crafted amalgam of games from the three or so genres it mashes up (fps, adventure, survival/horror) – a handheld Half-Life meets Silent Hill on Monkey Island, almost – the time I spent with a preview build of Dementium 2 earlier today felt like the beginning of what could be a very interesting game. %Gallery-78630%
Demented new Dementium 2 screens
Renegade Kid has released screens of Dementium II. We've already had a gander at the game's super freaky box art, but this is the first glimpse we've had of the actual game. The screens look very promising for a DS game, especially the lighting. Granted, it's hard to be as freaked out by such tiny screen shots, but we're missing the sound effects and music that properly set off the atmosphere. Based solely on the images, we're eager to see some more. Preferably in motion. Check out the first screens in the gallery below. %Gallery-70510%
Give Dementium II's box art a hand
Regardless of how good Renegade Kid's Dementium II turns out to be -- probably pretty good, given the reception of the first game -- one thing is not in dispute: It's got the creepiest damned box we've seen in a long time. It's the sort of thing you don't keep out in the open, the sort of box you make sure is stuffed deep down in the darkest drawer you have. You know, right next to your copy of Elf Bowling.
Renegade Kid: Dementium II arrives 'February-ish'
Speaking on his personal YouTube video blog, Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham has given some clarification to the early 2010 release date of Dementium II. Watsham notes that Renegade Kid is due to finish the master by the end of July, saying that the release is slated for "February-ish." He elaborates that the company will hopefully spend the next month focusing on "editing and polishing and tweaking." After that its time for the alpha and beta phases of development, and then the game will be sent to Nintendo.Watsham also mentions the Renegade Kid's other project Maximillian and the Rise of the Mutant Mudds, saying that the company has been talking to publishers and will hopefully have something to announce "in the next couple of weeks." Check out the video after the break.[Via GoNintendo]
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Dementium II teaser
This week on the Nintendo Channel, there's a variety of new videos for Wii games, but our favorite piece of video content has to be the teaser for DS sequel Dementium II above. It combines two of our most favorite things: mono-toned speech and quick cuts to scary faces. Seriously, this thing has a quease factor of about 8, which, we're told, is quite high. You've been warned!%Gallery-4929%
Renegade Kid working on platformer for DS
Renegade Kid is apparently working on a kid-friendly platformer for the DS while it develops a sequel to Dementium. The developer showed IGN that its other new project is Maximillian and the Rise of the Mutant Mudds. Players will use a water pack (think Mario Sunshine) to double-jump chasms of doom and squirt the baddies to death.Renegade Kid plans to push its already impressive technical knowledge with the DS even further with Mudds. The developer doesn't know if it'll go the retail route or check out DSIware, and there isn't so much as an inkling of a release window. Check out a video of the game after the break.
Renegade Kid returning to the hospital in Dementium II
Developer Renegade Kid apparently stumbled across some leftover brown paint, and is currently working up a sequel to Dementium: The Ward. The game is set to continue the story of the first game, which had players stumbling through the darkened grimy halls of an abandoned hospital trying to discover a way out. Or at least some morphine to dull the pain.Notes Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham, "We were extremely satisfied with what we accomplished with the original Dementium, but knew we could do even more given the chance to develop a sequel." Little is known about the return trip into portable madness, though publisher SouthPeak promises even more hospital scares when Dementium II ships for the DS in the first part of 2010.
Dementium: The Ward releasing in April ... in poor, forgotten Europe
At last, forgotten souls in Europe will be able to wander Dementium: The Ward's grainy, dimly lit halls. After scaring up modest reviews in the US and sending Japanese hospitals screaming, Southpeak announced that it will publish Renegade Kid's spook-tastic freshman effort in Europe on April 17.The Nintendo DS survival horror title was first released in the US in 2007, and casts players in the role of an amnesiac stuck in a grimy hospital full of puzzles and the occasional not-so-friendly monster. Finally, survival horror fans in Europe will have something to keep them busy on the commuter train besides the latest Jamie Oliver, though honestly both are probably just as frightening.
Joyswag: Moon prize pack [update]
Update: The contest has ended, and a winner has been chosen and notified (check your email!). Thanks for playing and keep an eye out for our next awesome Joyswag giveaway!After receiving and reviewing it, our copy of Moon became lost in a box of, uh, other games waiting to be given away. Now that we've found it, we're making sure to not repeat the same mistake again. We're going to give it, as well as the extra styli and game cases that Renegade Kid hooked us up with, to one (1) lucky reader! Who's going to be the one to walk away with a new copy of Moon ($35) and these promo goodies? Check out the rules below and best of luck to all of you! Leave a comment telling us what your favorite FPS of all time is You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec) Limit 1 entry per person, per day This entry period ends at 11:59 am ET on Wednesday, March 4. We'll randomly select 1 winner at that time to receive one copy of Moon ($35) and 4 game cases/stylus packs (pictured) For a list of complete rules, click here %Gallery-20245%
Renegade Kid buries Dracula, working on something new
Moon developer Renegade Kid has pulled its fangs out of the Count's supple neck, revealing in a post on the company's website that the secret "Dracula" game it had been working on with Gamecock "is no longer in development." The post goes on to say that the IP is still owned by Renegade Kid, and the company is open the revisiting the project "should an opportunity to resurrect Son of the Dragon present itself in the future." Having only now become aware of the game's true name, with little else known of the rumored Wii project beyond some early artwork from last August it's difficult to feel too drained by this news.The same goes for Renegade Kid, it seems, with studio boss Jools Watsham brushing aside the news with a standard 'no comment,' telling us instead that the studio's "current focus is on the development of our new game, which we'll have more news on soon." Whatever it is, we hope his excitement is enough to pull the stake out of players' broken hearts.
DS Fanboy Review: Moon
Renegade Kid is doing their damndest to push the DS in a variety of ways. With their games Moon and Dementium, they've attempted to bring a big-console feel to the dual screens, and the two represent a genre outside of the handheld's typical comfort zone. Moon and Dementium aren't so colorful as most DS games, and they lack the familiarity of a game like Metroid Prime Hunters. These are games of atmosphere, and often, there's blood on the walls and malice in the air. So it's fitting that their games are also about exploration, about discovering limits and new areas. Renegade Kid may not succeed in every aim -- and Moon does not -- but they're doing something different (at least, for the DS). When you're talking about a phenomenon like the DS, when everyone wants in, and everyone is releasing games on it, companies that go against the norm are to be lauded if they are at all successful. Though Moon is uneven, it succeeds in a lot of ways, and so it is to be lauded, too. Gallery: Moon
Metareview -- Moon (DS)
Developer Renegade Kid has shown it is quite technically proficient when it comes to making a first-person shooter on the DS. In 2007, it surprised us with Dementium: The Ward, and now the small development team brings Moon to the dual screens of the DS. The early reviews are all across the map in raw score, but they seem to chime in on the game's technical achievement and certain gameplay issues. Wait, read a review instead of just looking at the number? We know, this is madness we speak of. IGN (85/100): "When it comes to making a purchase decision on Moon, I encourage anyone that loves FPS games on DS to check this one out, as its technical offering, story, design, style, and control are all amazingly well done. The game can certainly get repetitive at times, as a few bosses are used multiple times with compounding difficulty elements added to them to change things up a bit ... but for the most part Renegade Kid has offered an experience that's more tuned towards the adventure side of things, adding in plenty of combat to keep the experience fresh." Nintendo Power (75/100): "Quickly becoming the torchbearers for the FPS genre on the DS, Renegade Kid builds on lessons learned from last year's horror title Dementium: The Ward... the game ratchets up the action... compelling story and diverse gameplay." Modojo (60/100): "We have mixed feelings with Moon. It's a superb visual achievement with spectacular controls and fun shooting, but we grew tired of the old school "hit this switch to activate this door" gameplay. So long as you go into it expecting a slow-paced first person adventure instead of Doom, you'll enjoy this lunar vacation." GamePro (40/100): "Moon proves itself as a creepy and innovative portable FPS experience, weighed down by a severe lack of challenge and variety."
A leisurely drive on the Moon
... at least, this might be called a "leisurely drive" if, say, you really enjoyed an all-terrain, life-threatening romp with lots of gunfire. Which is actually pretty likely if you're interested in Renegade Kid's Moon. The latest from director and co-owner Jools Watsham shows off some of the game's vehicular mayhem, courtesy of the LOLA-RR10, which is all armor and pew-pew-pew-style action. Which is to say that she ain't as pretty as a BMW, but she might be up for the title of "ultimate driving machine" ... on the moon.Contrary to some reports, Moon releases next week. If you're very, very good, we might tell you whether or not it's as fun as it looks. Gallery: Moon
Renegade Kid teases new project
We like Renegade Kid. As the name behind Dementium (flawed, but still fun and hella scary) and the extremely promising Moon, the studio is shaping up to be one of the success stories of this generation. And now they're coming back with a brand new game for the DS! Or the Wii! We don't really know, because if Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham tells us anything about this new project, somebody will probably have to kill him, or something. All he'll reveal is that the project is "the game I'm most excited about ever in my career." Wow. For what it's worth, we snooped around on Renegade Kid's job postings page like the ace sleuths that we are, and found them looking for a DS level designer. Those minor, minor clues aside, it's a mystery for now, but going on past form, there's a chance some very cool 3D technology will be involved. %Gallery-20245%
