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Majesco takes advantage of freeware license for Blast Works
How would you respond if you were an amateur game developer and a publisher approached you about remaking one of your freeware games for a home console? If you were ABA Games' Kenta Cho, you'd dismiss the publisher and your own game in a supreme act of powerful nonchalance.When Majesco announced that a version of TUMIKI Fighters was being made for the Wii, we kind of assumed that Kenta Cho himself would be involved in its creation, or, at the very least, at the receiving end of a nice check. Why wouldn't we assume that? But apparently that is not the case.The original game is under a BSD license, which means that anyone can use it, even commercially, as long as they include the proper copyright notice, and they don't use Cho's name to endorse it without permission. And that means that Majesco can just pick up this game and set Budcat Creations to work on a new version. They don't even need permission, because Cho put it (nearly) into the public domain. Before you jump on Majesco for "stealing" free IP, you should know that they did ask Kenta Cho for permission. Cho, being the baddest dude in game design, basically "whatever"-ed them, saying "I'd received an offer of porting TUMIKI Fighters to Wii from Majesco and Budcat and I replied [they could] feel free to use it under the BSD license." Like he didn't even care. Maybe he's just nice and principled: earlier in the same interview, he said "...I want to help many amateur developers to create their own games. I released all my games under the free software license with the source code. I hope the source code helps someone to create a game by referring to or using a part of my code."
Geometry Wars Galaxies coming to 360?
Gamespot has a video hands on demo of Wii/DS title, Geometry Wars Galaxies, and while it is for a competing platform, there is one thing worth bringing to your attention. During the gameplay demo, whenever the Bizarre Creations developer pauses the game, the word "Achievements" is clearly shown in the pause menu. Also worth noting is that the selection is skipped over whenever scrolling down to "Exit Game". So, the tradition may be kept alive with a new Geometry Wars game released alongside PGR4. Either that, or else the Wii version will have in-game Achievements, which may or may not be "allowed". Either way, very interesting stuff.
Geometry Wars on Wii and DS offer wireless downloading, shininess
The handsome devils over at Gamespot recently spent some time with early builds of Geometry Wars: Galaxies on both the DS and the Wii, and walked away happy with what they saw, even in the games' nascent stages. According to their preview, both versions feature a level structure, with solar systems divided into planets, and each planet being one playable level. Both the DS and Wii version will also include the full content from Xbox 360's Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, but Gamespot reports that that content amounts to one planet, in proportion to everything else offered in the game. Other juicy details include cooperative multiplayer, and wireless sharing of a multiplayer DS demo of the game. The DS version can actually share a full copy of Retro Evolved wirelessly with other DSs, but perhaps what's more exciting is that the Wii version can do the exact same thing, making Galaxies the first game we know of to offer Wii-to-DS wireless downloading. The preview also gives some detail on control schemes. The Wii version has players using the nunchuk to move the ship, with the Wii remote functioning as a cursor to indicate the direction being fired in. The DS version, on the other hand, uses the d-pad to move the ship, and the stylus to aim and fire. Gamespot has also included video coverage of the Wii version, so we'd encourage you to head over and check it out. Both versions are due out sometime later this year, but impatient folks can still find Retro Evolved on Xbox Live Arcade, or Geometry Wars XP on Steam. [Thanks Grog]
Majesco brings indie game TUMIKI Fighters to UK Wii as 'Blast Works'
It's been an indie day for Nintendo: first the announcement of the WiiWare developing platform, and now comes news that Majesco is officially bringing unique indie shoot-em-up TUMIKI Fighters to the Nintendo Wii in Europe, under the sadly generic name Blast Works: Build, Fuse & Destroy.The original TUMIKI Fighters, created by Kenta Cho, is a Katamari-esque freeware shooter on the PC, where the polygons of exploded enemy ships can be "stuck" to the player's ship for increased firepower and greater points. According to Majesco's press release, Blast Works will retain the gameplay and "retro" aesthetic of the original, and will include a new ship editor, level editor, and a two-player cooperative mode. No word yet on a US release, but Majesco states that Europe will be building, fusing, and destroying sometime this fall.[Via Wii Fanboy]
Majesco officially announces Tumiki Fighters as Blast Works
We had just about forgotten about the Gamefly-supplied rumor of a Wii port of Tumiki Fighters, and now we have confirmation from Majesco! They'll be releasing an upgraded port of Kenta Cho's freeware shooter, with the new title Blast Works, in the first quarter of next year-- in Europe. No US date has been announced.Not only will the game feature the same awesome mechanic the original had (grabbing parts from exploded enemies to upgrade your ship) but it'll include weapon, propulsion, armor, ship, enemy, and level editors. Grab the freeware version and give it a try, then join us in hoping for a US release-- it beats online petitions, at least.
Geometry Wars XP debuts on Steam
Those hoping to engage in wanton shape genocide without a console's involvement can now look towards Valve's online game distribution service, Steam, now hosting a Windows XP version of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. Developed by Bizarre Creations and considered by many to be the Xbox 360's first must-have game, Geometry Wars is being offered at an introductory price of $2.50, half that of its 2005 "supposed to be free" launch price. The game will be shifted to $3.95 starting June 22. If Steam isn't your thing either, perhaps this holiday season's Geometry Wars: Galaxies on the Wii and DS will be enough to enlist you in the fight against circles and diamonds. Failing that, we'll have to conclude that you're one of them -- a total square.
Wii Warm Up: Too many shooters?
The Virtual Console has made shooting games widely available for the first time in years. We like shooters, despite being categorically awful at them, so we're happy about this. But has the genre been disproportionately represented on the VC? There are so many, versus very few fighting games, and no role-playing games. Are you guys buying shooters? Are you happy with the selection? Are you all zap zap zap and pew pew pew at the bad spaceships?
Joystiq impressions: Omega Five (XBLA)
As recently leaked, Omega Five is Hudson's next XBLA game to ship after July's Bomberman Live. At a blogger event today, Hudson briefly showed this chaotic Natsume-developed title, and I got a chance to helm a floating ninja-like character in this side-scrolling shoot-'em-up world.What?Yes. Not the first shooter to star human characters, Omega Five sure has a lot of "strange" going for it. But that could be a good thing.%Gallery-3982%
Zonk gets ESRB'd
We knew it was coming, since it's been released in Japan, but the ESRB's ratings page has provided further confirmation that Air Zonk is on the way. Bonk fans and shooter fans alike (that had better include everybody) would do well to check out this adorable horizontal shmup starring the "punkic cyborg" descendent of the original Turbografx-16 mascot. Appropriately, Zonk was the mascot for the Turbo Duo, which was a later TG16 variation that included built-in CD hardware.[Via Siliconera]
Raiden IV port could hit the Dreamcast
The developer of the Raiden series of arcade shooters, Moss, recently posted a poll that suggests the console that's died a dozen deaths may not be out of life just yet. The "Which system should Raiden IV be ported to?" section features the usual suspects -- PS2, Nintendo DS, Wii, Xbox 360, etc. -- but curiously the Dreamcast is also an option. Sega officially killed the console a few months ago, but it seems the Dreamcast just won't go away. The system has been a sanctuary for Japanese shmups even after production halted, so perhaps our grandchildren will enjoy Raiden IX on an antique jury rigged Dreamcast someday.[Via insert credit]
Radio Allergy cancelled
Radio Allergy, Milestone's "Wii Compatible" shooter for the Gamecube, has finally been canned by publisher O3 Interactive after months of delays. We like cel-shading, and we like shooters, so we're a little sad. In a statement to Cubed3, O3 said that there was a hope of putting Radio Allergy on the Wii. No plan, but a hope.Aeropause then speculated that this hypothetical Wii release would be bundled with Karous, the current "last Dreamcast game ever" from Milestone, or-- even better, both Karous and Chaos Field, Milestone's first "last Dreamcast game ever." We do like the idea of more games, but we don't have any evidence of that right now. All we know is that we aren't getting Radio Allergy any time soon. At least we can all download the papercraft patterns from the Japanese website! Video game papercraft beats actual video games every time.
BulletGBA shoots us in the face
With the World's Greatest Shmup Player Tournament coming up, now is the perfect time to try out Takayama Fumihiko's recently updated BulletGBA. The homebrew shoot 'em up simulator has over 300 bullet patterns picked out from genre favorites that you can test your dodging skills against. BulletGBA's 5.0 release adds some new "stages," a remodeled shooting mode, and music tracks from the chiptune champions, Nullsleep. We've got a video of us attempting to last longer than a few seconds with one of the bullet hell patterns, so jump past the post break for a good laugh.
Geometry Wars Wii, DS details emerge
We were taken aback (in a good way) when news trickled in that the Xbox Live hit Geometry Wars was making its way to the Wii and DS. CVG and GameSpot were surprised, so they got in touch with Roger Carpenter, senior producer for Geometry Wars: Galaxies, to get the scoop on the announcement. The first big question on our minds: how will dual analog controls translate to the stylus/Wiimote? Carpenter says not to worry. Early tests with the remote/nunchuk combination were very promising, and n00bs managed to rack up respectable scores with ease. We're assuming the analog stick will move the ship and a hearty Wii remote jerk will fire the weapon. And touch screen control should be a snap: move with the d-pad, fire by tapping the screen. The next item of interest is the announced single-player campaign mode, something we would have never imagined for the coin-munching arcade style of Geometry Wars. Carpenter promises a more "varied and structured game" complete with galaxies, solar systems, and planets ripe for exploration. You'll need to plan battle tactics and scrounge up currency as well. Along with the robust single-player mode, Galaxies will also offer online multiplayer modes for both games. Look for the titles to hit sometime this holiday season.
Geometry Wars Galaxies defects to Wii and DS
Coming our way from the latest issue of Nintendo Power is word that Bizarre Creations' Xbox Live Arcade-defining hit Geometry Wars will be gracing the Wii and DS. The title, which will feature the Evolved and Retro modes of its Xbox 360 counterpart, is also to have an "extensive single-player campaign." No word on whether the game will be offered via download or sold in boxed retail form, so be sure to keep an eye on DS Fanboy for further news as it develops. [Via NeoGAF]
Geometry Wars Galaxies for Wii
A scan from Nintendo Power revealed a surprising new game for the Wii and DS: Geometry Wars Galaxies. We had always thought that Bizarre Creations was an exclusive Xbox 360 developer and that the Geometry Wars property was similarly exclusive, but this announcement dispels that notion. Development duties are being handed off to Kuju Entertainment, who are responsible for the Battalion Wars series. The new game, in addition to both Retro and Evolved modes, will contain some kind of "extensive single-player campaign" on both the Wii and DS. Like everyone else on the Internet, we're interested in seeing if the Wii version will be sold as a disc or a download. This would certainly be an incredibly obvious step towards an Xbox Live Arcade-like service! Check after the break for the full scan. [Via NeoGAF]
Geometry Wars: Galaxies shooting for Wii, DS
Humanity's vendetta against simple (and notably evil) geometric shapes is set to continue its expansion beyond the humble beginnings as a bonus in Project Gotham Racing. Xbox Live Arcade, Vista and mobile phones now find themselves joined in the war by the Wii and DS, at least if the July issue of Nintendo Power is to be believed. A blurb in the magazine (via Buttonbasher) asserts that Geometry Wars: Galaxies will be arriving on both Nintendo platforms thanks to the efforts of "the dev team responsible for Battalion Wars." That would imply the involvement of the UK's Kuju Entertainment, which is apparently hard at work grafting "an extensive single-player campaign" onto the game's frantic combat. Of course, we fully expect a gripping and operatic storyline to go with it, something along the lines of an intergalactic mathemagician attempting to tri-strangulate vital supply route coordinates. Alas, our expectations are oft set too high. A multiplayer mode and prior versions of Geometry Wars are also said to be included in both packages, expected to materialize this Fall. It probably wouldn't be absurd to expect a new Geometry Wars game alongside Bizarre's Project Gotham Racing 4 either.
Blazing Lazers confirmed for Monday VC release
Here's a little pre-Monday Virtual Console Madness, courtesy of Hudson. Get your Wii Points ready, because our personal favorite shmup ever is going to be available for download next week in the US. Blazing Lazers (Gunhed in Japan) is a vertical shooter for the Turbografx-16 that differs from other vertical shooters in one important way: really fun weapons. There are four categories of weapons, each of which can be upgraded to five different levels. Our favorite is the enemy-seeking green lightning beam thing. It's pretty.[Via GoNintendo]
Karous blasts onto the Wii
Old school gamers rejoice; vertical shoot-em-up Karous is headed for the Wii. Karous was released a couple of months ago on the Dreamcast and currently stands as the last game released on the system.We've already talked about how many classic shooters are available on the Virtual Console, so it's nice to see a new release joining the party.The cel-shaded shooter is hardly a genre classic, but does add something a little different to the Wii's library. Who knows, if sales figures are good, a few other shmups might find their way over. Radiant Silvergun on Wii, anybody? Now we're dreaming ...There's no release date yet, nor any confirmation of a U.S. release. Keep your itchy trigger fingers crossed.
Ordyne blasts onto VC this Monday
Monday sees the release of Ordyne onto the Virtual Console in North America. The side scrolling shooter is one of a whole bunch of Hudson titles coming to the VC in May. Based on Namco's 1988 original, the game casts you as genius scientist Yuichiro Tomari on a quest to rescue your fiancee from the evil Dr. Kubota. Ordyne will go for a wallet friendly 600 Wii points, like other TurboGrafx 16 titles. Of course, we'll give you our thoughts on Monday, as with all Virtual Console releases, in our weekly feature VC Monday Madness.[via Video Game Generation]
Wii Are Tumiki Fighters?
A listing for a Majesco-published Wii version of Tumiki Fighters has shown up on Gamefly, and we really, really hope it turns out to be real. Tumiki Fighters is a freeware shmup by Kenta Cho that involves collecting pieces that fall off of destroyed enemy ships to power up your own ship. We like Kenta Cho's games. They're gorgeously presented abstract shooters that either (like Tumiki Fighters) invent new gameplay mechanics or, like rRootage, artfully (and openly) rip off mechanics from other shmups. We aren't sure we'd want to pay full price for them, since they're free right now, but we would consider paying budget price for sufficiently expanded versions.
