silverbirch
Latest
Gaming to Go: N+
Perhaps you've heard of N+. It's been covered only a teeny bit here on DS Fanboy, so it's pretty unforgivable if this is your first encounter with the masochistic Ninja platformer. Masochistic may not even be a strong enough word, honestly. N+ has built up a reputation all across the vast internet as being ridiculously difficult, much like its web-based predecessor. Whether N+ is a solid recreation of the original N's gameplay is a somewhat controversial subject, but anyone who's given it a whirl can probably agree on one point: it is awesome for gaming on the go.Your miniature ninja is blessed with amazing speed and skill, though it comes at a heavy price: a lifespan of precisely 1.5 minutes. As you might imagine, this makes N+ perfect for quick bursts of play, as you'll never spend more than a few minutes trying to clear a set of levels. Sound interesting? Stab that big button down there and come see why N+ is a beautiful thing indeed if you're looking for some quick ninja-flavored challenge in your daily commute.%Gallery-14818% #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } NEXT >>
DS Fanboy Review: N+
Metanet's N is a game in which the player is tasked with running very quickly through obstacles and jumping with high levels of precision in order to reach the exit door. It takes place in small, self-contained levels, uses simple, clean graphics, and has no real story to remember. Though it first appeared as a freeware PC game and was then remade and enhanced as an Xbox Live Arcade game, there is no denying that N is an ideal handheld game. You really couldn't come up with a better design for an on-the-go game. N+ from Atari is basically N, on the DS, with new levels. So, naturally, it works out pretty well.%Gallery-14818%
Handheld N+ dev SilverBirch acquires Lighthouse Interactive
Canadian dev SilverBirch, the force behind the DS and PSP versions of recent XBLA release, N+, has opened up its doors -- and wallet -- and acquired Netherlands-based publisher Lighthouse Interactive. SilverBirch calls the move a first step in the company's "strategy of building an integrated video game company." The developer purchased all of the publisher's outstanding shares for CA$4 million, or $3.97 million in real currency, which it paid out as cash, a vendor note, shares of stock, and an earn-out based on fiscal 2008 financial performance. It's an interesting marriage, given SilverBirch's experience with portable titles as well as the MMO Metin 2, while Lighthouse is best recognized for steering sim and strategy titles for the PC. Wake us when Sword of the Stars comes to the DS.
N+ video is jaw-dropping
Atari knows how much we love N+, so they sent us some brand-new gameplay footage. We have played the game (though in a much earlier stage) and we still found ourselves arrested by the unexpected beauty of the footage. YouTube isn't the best medium to get the crispness of the video across, but the 60-frames-per-second animation is still there, as is the quick, precise movement of the ninja character. The music is also catchy and retro-techno-awesome.In addition to the new video, we've updated the gallery with 15 screenshots, each showing off a different level. The levels are crazily varied, showing the strength of the editor (and of Metanet's imaginations).See also: 2008's Biggest Blips: N+%Gallery-14818%
2008's Biggest Blips: N+
Developer: Silverbirch StudiosPublisher: AtariRelease: April The physics-based platformer N was a unique PC release. While platform games are a staple of the medium, N distinguished itself with its sophisticated physics-engine, minimalist presentation, parkour-like movement and, especially, a level editor that allows fans to design levels with every feature of the official ones. The game has been updated and remade for release on the DS (and other systems). A bunch of new levels have been added, including contest-winning fan levels. The game features a dual-view in which the bottom screen zooms in on the player and the top screen shows the full level. New enemies and obstacles have been added. A DS-specific level editor has been created that allows for online level sharing just like in the PC version. The question, then, for original developer Metanet and console publisher Atari, is how to convey this in the game's title. N, being so short, brings minimal information about the content of the game. And even gamers familiar with the PC game wouldn't guess from the name N that so much had been added. Thus, it was important to come up with a name that clues gamers into both the inherent ninja-ness of the base game and the updated material in the console version. And, well, it was a long process.Rejected titles for the DS remake of the PC freeware physics-based puzzle-platformer, N: The Island of Secret Jumping Jump: The Jumpening Platformia: A Synaesthetic Vertical Experience Jumpster! The Jumping Ant in: Big Day Out The Player Dies From Falling Or Being Hit By Some Kinda Robot Quest for Gold Coins: The Tale of a Ninja A+ B+ You Probably Get That Particular Joke By Now Taco Hunt USA Get Killed By A Thing Large Levels, Small Guy: The Journey of a Lifetime Dr. Platformatic's Ninjadventure Desperation Gymnastics IMPERIUM-X 2088: HUMANITY'S LAST LEAP John Madden's Guitar Halo Platforming Training: Learn Precision Video Game Playing in Minutes a Day Ninja Legend: A Ninja's Legend Legendary Ninja: Birth of a Ninja Legend Gold Quest: Lost Coins of the Realm My Pet Ninja Run Run Run Run Jump Extreme Oreo Run: Savor the Action (Atari was exploring possible licenses) In the end, Atari decided that the best way to get the message of "N plus stuff" across was to give it the obvious name: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. But copyright prevented that, so they went with N+.%Gallery-14818% Bangai-O Spirits Back But can you farm?
Ninja-based indie platformer coming to PSP
Raigan Burns and Mare Sheppard of Metanet Software have gathered plenty of praise and awards (such as Audience Award at the 2005 Game Developers Choice Awards) for their 2004 indie platformer, N. You take the role of a ninja who must flip, walljump, and climb your way through hundreds of levels, many of which were created by fans using the in-game editor. It's a simple game on all fronts that captivated players with realistic physics and plenty of non-violent ninja-ing.Now, Atari and Silver Birch have announced a publishing deal to bring N to the PSP, cleverly titled N+. The game comes packed with over 500 levels, including 50 user-created stages from fans of the original game. The PSP incarnation doesn't appear to contain any additional content over the free PC/Mac/Linux game, but portability (and a decent PSP title to own) might be the biggest selling points.N+ has also been announced for Xbox Live Marketplace and is scheduled for release this fall.[Via PSP Fanboy]
