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Twitter acquires screen-sharing and video chat startup Squad
On Friday, Twitter announced the acquisition of Squad, an app that allows you to share your screen and video chat with friends at the same time.
‘Kerbal Space Program’ gets an interstellar flight sequel
It's been four years since Kerbal Space Program (KSP) -- the spacecraft building and flight simulation game -- officially launched. While Elon Musk once called the title "awesome" and joked that SpaceX used KSP for testing software, it was due for a refresh. Today, Private Division announced that Kerbal Space Program 2 (KSP2) will arrive in 2020. As part of the reveal, it released cinematic trailer and a (dramatic) developer story.
Take-Two nabs the rights to 'Kerbal Space Program'
The news about ex-Squad members leaving for Valve was ultimately overblown, but there's still plenty of drama in the indie developer's life: Take-Two Interactive has bought the rights to Kerbal Space Program. The move will turn the spaceship building hit into a "long-term franchise." In other words, you can expect to see spinoffs set in the Kerbals' universe. Take-Two tells Engadget that it's currently "focused on the existing game," though, so don't expect it to rush out a game right away.
Valve hired the team behind 'Kerbal Space Program' (update: not quite)
Worried that Valve's recent departures mark an end to conventional game development at the Half-Life studio? You might have a glimmer of hope. Valve has confirmed that it hired the team at Squad, better known as the creators of the shipbuilding hit Kerbal Space Program. The company isn't saying just how many people it hired, what they're working on or what's happening to KSP ("more details soon," a spokesperson says), but former Valve designer Roger Lundeen had said in the Game Dev Unchained podcast that the "entire team" had made the leap.
'Kerbal Space Program' arrives on Xbox One
Squad teased that Kerbal Space Program was reaching the Xbox One when it announced the PS4 launch, and it made good on its word just a few days later. The spacecraft construction and exploration game is now available through the Xbox Store. As with the PS4 version, this port preserves the challenge of designing and flying ships across the Kerbals' star system, often with unintentionally hilarious results -- the biggest change is simply adapting KSP to the realities of playing with a gamepad. There's no mention of when the promised Wii U edition will arrive, but it might not be far behind given that Squad aimed to ship that title at the same time as the PS4 and Xbox One versions.
The adorable 'Kerbal Space Program' will land on Xbox One
Kerbal Space Program's cute little green engineers are coming to Xbox One. Much like the PlayStation 4 version that was announced in June, there isn't a release date listed for the spaceship-building sim on Xbox. But considering the latter has an Early Access-like program of its own we could theoretically see it on Microsoft's latest console before it hits the PS4. Maybe. The port's being handled by mobile-focused developer Flying Tiger, which original developer Squad says will allow them to keep a keen focus on the game's PC version. As Squad tells it, Flying Tiger has helped immensely in the process of upgrading the game to run on the Unity 5 engine and has "deeply simplified Kerbal's upgrade process. Flying Tiger's resume isn't what you'd call impressive, but hey neither was Rocksteady's prior to Batman: Arkham Asylum -- we all know how that turned out. [Image credit: K.G.23/Flickr]
'Kerbal Space Program' finally launches on April 27th
Squad's Kerbal Space Program has often seemed like a never-ending experiment. The first public version of the spacecraft building game was released in 2011, and it's been in a rough state ever since. At last, though, it's officially ready for action -- the developer has revealed that KSP 1.0 will be available on April 27th. This polished version will be very familiar if you've tried pre-release code on your Mac or Windows PC, although that's not a bad thing. As before, your only real goal is to explore the Kerbals' solar system using the best rockets, landers and probes that you know how to make, with (mostly) realistic physics teaching you about the challenges of reaching orbit and touching down on distant planets. The game is close enough to the real thing that the likes of NASA and SpaceX's Elon Musk approve, so it's worth a look if you want to imagine what a Mars landing would be like years before it happens.
Kerbal Space Program adds contracts to expanded Career Mode
Those hoping Kerbal Space Program might offer more space agency management and less blasting adorable Kerbals to their death in the icy void of space should be pleased with the newly-launched First Contract update. "Players will now have the opportunity to take on Contracts, manage Funds, a new in-game currency that allows players to buy rocket and plane parts, and earn Reputation for their efforts," reads the update's official description. "Reputation is raised for completed contracts and bringing Kerbals back in one piece. Failing missions, or gasp, blowing them up lowers Reputation." According to Squad, Contracts appear based on a player's reputation. Your space program starts at neutral, then after completing a series of starter contracts the game dynamically generates new contracts which range from testing spaceship parts to rescuing a hapless Kerbal who has become lost in orbit. Complete your mission in time and your reputation will be enhanced, leading to new, more complex contracts. The First Contract update for Kerbal Space Program is available to players at no charge. For more information, take a look at the immense FAQ Squad has prepared. [Image: Squad]
Scourge: Outbreak infects Steam for PC and Mac
Third-person sci-fi shooter Scourge: Outbreak is now available on Steam, and is 10 percent off ($7.19) until Wednesday, April 9. Developed by Tragnarion Studios, the game first launched on Xbox Live Arcade in July 2013 after being announced in May 2012. The squad-based shooter features eight-player competitive multiplayer modes like Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag spread across five maps as well as a four-player cooperative campaign mode. Tragnarion Studios also launched the game's two DLC packs this week, the Blindside and Fan Packs. Both are currently 20 percent off ($1.59) until April 9. The Blindside DLC, an add-on that amounts to six versus maps, is packed in with a digital artbook and soundtrack in the Ambrosia Bundle version of the game, which is also 10 percent off this week ($8.09). [Image: Bitbox Games]
NASA's game collaboration lets you steer asteroids without leaving home
Kerbal Space Program is the closest you'll get to running a space agency. The game lets you build and launch everything from orbital stations to interplanetary explorers, all in the name of collecting scientific data. It's only fitting, then, that the studio behind the title has teamed up with NASA to release its Asteroid Redirect Mission add-on. The patch gives you both equipment based on the Space Launch System as well as enough giant rocks to let you either mimic potential real-world missions or live out your Armageddon dreams. The KSP upgrade isn't a completely faithful simulation by any means, but it's realistic enough that it could help you appreciate the challenges of steering asteroids. If you'd like to see the software in action, you can check out the second video at about the 57-minute mark.
Transformers' Starscream takes flight in Kerbal Space Program
We've all seen Transformers do their titular thing with ease but, when slowed down, it's quite the complicated and laborious process. There are a lot of hinges and gaskets and pistons that have to move around in different stages in order to turn a gigantic bipedal robot into an airplane. That's exactly what's so interesting about this Kerbal Space Program video, which shows how user Hooptiej built a fully-transforming Starscream model into the game. It's not the exact Starscream we remember from the TV show when we were growing up, but it's impressive nonetheless. Unfortunately, this version of Starscream isn't the most adept at flying. A few seconds after a clumsy take-off, Starscream came careening back to Earth – at least, that's what HooptieJ says. In the interest of saving face, the video cuts away before we can see Starscream crash. [Image: HooptieJ]
Kerbal Space Program update opens the R&D wing for business
Kerbal Space Program has issued a new update, version 0.22, adding research and development functionality and scientific experiments to Career mode. The data gathered through research and scientific experiments furthers the player's abilities by unlocking access to new parts for potential spacecraft and space stations. New experiment modules, running a variety of experiments accruing even more data, may then be built to conduct tests around all celestial bodies found within the Kerbal solar system. This new functionality is available in the Career mode, where players can find a more structured introduction to Squad's indie space simulator's mechanics. Career mode is a new compliment to Kerbal Space Program's unguided Sandbox mode tasking players with building space craft and shooting them into space – a real trial and error game type that made up the foundation of the initial game. The 0.22 update also adds a lot of other minor features and tweaks to the existing game. Feel free to pore over it all in the patch notes past the break. Kerbal Space Program, Steam's first Early Access game, is available for the PC, Mac and Linux for $23 – both through Steam and the official KSP website.
The atypical story of Kerbal Space Program's indie flight to success
Making video games is what Felipe Falanghe always wanted to do. Unfortunately, that's not what his job was at Squad, an interactive marketing company in Mexico City, Mexico. Squad was responsible for creating multi-media installations to sell products from Samsung and Nissan to the Mexican market. So one day, in early 2011, Felipe approached his bosses and told them he wanted to make a game. "And it completely blew me away when they just said, 'Okay,'" Felipe told me during a meeting at PAX Prime. "I didn't believe them at first," he added, but his bosses were serious: If he brought them a good idea and a solid business plan, he would be free to go for it. This is when he wrote the design document for Kerbal Space Program, a sandbox space flight simulation game that has been quite successful since its launch through the Steam Early Access program in 2011. Felipe has been lead developer ever since.
Battlefield 4 ups squad count to five, DICE explains why
Battlefield 4 will feature five-man squads over the series' staple four-man grouping. "They've been asking for bigger squads," DICE producer Aleksander Grondal told Joystiq at E3, referring to the Battlefield community's insistance on larger squad counts. "We believe five is a good figure. It allows for more team-based gameplay, basically. You have more options and you can spawn in more places." In previous Battlefield games, DICE made a purposeful design decision to limit the number of players per squad. "It was a design choice back then – forgive me, I don't exactly remember why it was chosen four. You know, it feels like light years ago from previous games," Grondal joked, rubbing the tired from E3's first day out of his eyes. "But five is a little better; it gives a bit more flexibility and more interesting choices." Battlefield 4 launches on October 29 for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
Goon Squad downs Tirion Fordring
Perennial pariahs Goon Squad, Horde-side on Mal'Ganis-US, have really carved out a niche for themselves in the World of Warcraft. Well, two niches. The first is a rock-solid reputation of being the foremost trolls and griefers in the MMO market, period -- a reputation perpetuated by a community that operates mostly on word-of-mouth and lovingly crafted by the guild itself. The second is providing some of the best and most hilarious WoW videos on the internet. This one is no exception -- they managed to score a victory for the Lich King by defeating the dread paladin Fordring. It's a rare ability, possessed by Goon Squad and a few other community figures, to be able to take the building blocks of the game experience provided by Blizzard -- strictly compartmentalized and defined by sets of incontrovertible rules -- and then cobble together something wholly new and, frankly, ridiculous out of them. You're not supposed to be able to bring together two often-'shipped faction leaders for an impromptu date. You're not supposed to be able to blow the Wintergrasp fortress wall to smithereens in a minute's time. You're certainly not supposed to be able to kill the head of the Argent Crusade who, by the way, should learn to cast Consecrate.
WRUP: Squad-based vehicles edition
This week, the new releases pretty much deal with squad-based combat or vehicles exclusively. So, if you aren't down with that, you're likely to not be picking up a new game. But, have no fear, as the holidays come next week and you're likely to receive some kind of gaming gift, if you were a good boy or girl. There's that to look forward to as you spend the weekend without a new game.So, what are you playing?
Sega haunts the Wii with Ghost Squad
Much to our disappointment, Ghost Squad bears no relation to either the Ghost Busters series or the Wu-Tang Clansman, Ghostface Killah. No, it is merely a light-gun arcade game that Sega has decided to port to our fair console.If you've never had the fortune to come across Ghost Squad's arcade cabinet, it's an on-rails shooter that comes armed with plastic assault rifles for you to aim with. Playing without the modeled weaponry sounds like a downgraded experience, so hopefully there will be optional controller shells for us to equip by the time Sega releases the game this holiday season.This port will feature Wii-specific game modes, new ways to use the Wii remote as a "multi-purpose tool," and four-player co-op support. We've got a few screenshots that we grabbed from Jeux-France past the post break, but uh ... they're not very flattering. We think we'll stick with Umbrella Chronicles for all our light gun needs for now.
BlackSite: Midway investigates Area 51 again
Midway has cracked the lid off of its Area 51 sequel, now known as BlackSite: Area 51 (no longer Area 52). As a sequel, BlackSite shares little in common with its predecessor beyond the general setting of hidden military facilities in Nevada and a pervasive alien threat. While Area 51 was deliberately campy, BlackSite is fear driven. It's squad-based too (with online co-op likely); and will utilize Midway's Massive D system, the same technology that drives the fragile environments in Stranglehold.GameSpy wasn't moved by a short BlackSite demo featured during a recent Midway junket in Las Vegas. We don't blame 'em. BlackSite, like Area 51 before it, looks to nail the formula without taking risks. Mediocrity can still drive sales.
Clans still possible for Gears of Wars ranked matches [update 1]
Mark Rein maintains that Microsoft prevented the developer from implementing clan support (e.g., Halo 2's Party System) into Gears of Wars' ranked multiplayer matches. But, in a recent interview with Gamer Andy, Epic's VP did hint that team support could still be added, stating vaguely, "In the future we might roll out some additional functionality."In the meantime, a tedious workaround does exist. If one member hosts a ranked match, it's possible for the rest of the clan to grab spots in the match via the custom search menu. Of course, this method will become more difficult as the Gears player base grows and you and your teammates' TrueSkill ranks begin to differ.Update: Gamer Andy contacted us to clarify that his conversation with Rein was not an interview. According to Gamer Andy, Rein's comments did not hint at future clan-play implementation. The cryptic statement about upgrading functionality was just an offhanded remark delivered to steer the conversation toward a new direction (i.e. away from concerns about Gears' multiplayer).See also: Gears of War's ranked matches smell rank[Via 1UP]
Kirby Squeak Squad site gets second update [Update]
The Japanese website for Kirby Squeak Squad recently received another update. In this latest update, new character bios, screens, and weapon profiles have been added to the site for your gawking pleasure. Some of Kirby's forms, such as the UFO and magician, look especially fun.See also: Kirby Squeak Squad minisite launch Kirby Squeak Squad video Kirby Squeak Squad montage Kirby Squeak Squad gets Japanese commercial treatment [Update: We overlooked the fact that the UFO was featured in previous Kirby games. Thanks for pointing that out to us Rhyhon!]
