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Worms: Battle Islands squirming to PSP, Wii
In case your iPhone, Xbox, PS3 and PC didn't provide enough recent opportunities to play Worms games, you can now look forward to playing Worms: Battle Islands on PlayStation Portable and Wii. Aside from a single-player campaign, Battle Islands adds a new weapon customization utility and the ability to alter the look of individual worms to an even greater extent. The PSP version will be arriving via the PlayStation Network and comes packed with an all new "Tactics Mode," where players use one of the game's 16 "secret island bases" to gain "a tactical advantage for the player to use at the beginning of a game" -- some examples given are "recon a battlefield before the war commences" and "snipe an enemy worm to gain the upper hand." If you explode (or drown, snipe, dismember, etc.) your online opponents fast enough, you'll earn one of their secret base's items. Both Wii and PSP versions will have online multiplayer and the new secret island base feature (only the PSP has "Tactics Mode"). Though we're sure to see these additions in forthcoming Worms titles, they'll be featured first in Worms: Battle Islands when it comes out this November.%Gallery-103143%
Alien Breed 2: Assault launching this Wednesday
This morning, Team17 announced the forthcoming Steam/XBLA release of Alien Breed 2: Assault, the followup to last year's Alien Breed: Impact. Adding to the single-player and co-op campaigns this time around is a new "Survivor Mode," which has players assaulting "endless waves of intense alien horde attacks." The developer also promises a new species to brutally murder en masse: "Webber" aliens. Picking up the game on XBLA nets players some "exclusive" Avatar award items in a "Barnes" helmet and body armor, each of which must be earned through game objectives ("killing a set number of aliens" and finishing the single-player campaign, respectively). The title arrives this Wednesday on both XBLA and Steam.%Gallery-102776%
Worms 2: Armageddon finally wriggles onto PSN today
The belligerent invertebrates of Worms 2: Armageddon are ready to declare open hostilities today on PSN. Launching when the Tuesday service update goes live, the full 1080p title features a single-player campaign, along with online and couch multiplayer support. The opportunity to toss the Holy Hand Grenade across the PlayStation Network will cost $15. The PSN version of Worms 2: Armageddon will also offer 27 Trophies to collect and Sony-specific hats for the little warriors. Unlockable helmets include: Sackboy-, Motorstorm-, Lemmings-, Buzz- and Helghast-themed variants. With all those Worms on the field wearing Helghast masks, we guess it'll be *puts on glasses* ... a Killzone. Yeeeaaahhhhhhhh.
Team17 wriggles free from third-party publishers
Having released only two boxed retail games in the past three years, Worms developer Team17 has been working toward total independence from third-party publishers. That moment has arrived for the studio, which has repositioned itself as an independent digital publisher, reports MCV. "We have no ambitions to return to retail publishing," co-founder Martyn Brown told the site. Team17 has completed a restructuring initiative, which has both promoted existing staff and brought in new hires to fill the roles of a publishing entity. In addition to continuing to self-publish its own titles through digital distribution channels -- having celebrated its 20th anniversary last December, Team17 is one of the oldest independent developers in the industry -- the company will be working with other independent developers to bring their games to digital platforms, including XBLA, PSN and the App Store. "We are actively involved in working with other independent studios to publish their IP. This is a key aspect of our strategy going forward," Brown said. "We now have the right structure and team in place to accomplish this."
Worms: Reloaded single player trailer gets down with its bad self
You've seen quite a bit of Worms: Reloaded lately, but not any single player -- 'til now. We've got footage showcasing the many isolationist modes, but the best part of this trailer are the groovy, afro-sporting soft-bodied invertebrates causing chaos. Boogie on past the break to see what we mean.
Worms: Reloaded trailer customizes its way into our hearts
Previous iterations of the Worms franchise allowed you to give your invertebrate infantry nicknames -- Worms: Reloaded is taking the game's customization options a step further. Check out the trailer below to see how you can turn your slimy soldiers and arenas into beautiful, unique snowflakes.
New Worms: Reloaded trailer busts our bunkers
Desperate for some new gear with which to equip your militarized annelids? The latest trailer for Worms: Reloaded gives the lowdown on some of the game's new tools, such as the Super Bunker Buster, the Magnet and, of course, the morally and theistically dubious power of Resurrection.
Worms Reloaded tunneling 'exclusively' to PC on August 26
Lordy! Another Worms game already? That seems to be the case, as UK dev house Team17 just revealed a solid release date for Worms Reloaded -- August 26 -- and even handed over a rather wormey trailer, found just after the break.%Gallery-98488%
Alien Breed: Impact art book is kinda nasty
We're hard-pressed to call a book full of concept art for Alien Breed: Impact created by clearly talented artists "kinda nasty," but, well, part of it features images of gross bugs and stuff. More to the point: gross alien bug things. If you're into this kinda thing, we've dropped the whole set of images into the gallery below.%Gallery-96703%
Alien Breed 2: Assault rated by ESRB
You come to Joystiq for the scoops, and we've got a dilly for you. The ESRB has recently posted a listing for Alien Breed 2: Assault, presumably the follow-up to Team 17's Alien Breed: Evolution for 360. Scooped! ... Well, you probably want to put this news up on your Tweetos or FaceZone, so we'll leave you to it. ... What's that? You say that Alien Breed was announced as a trilogy, so a listing for a second one is about as surprising as a sunrise or a Lady Gaga image reinvention? You say that we're desperate to make anything a news story because it's Memorial Day, and everyone's busy grilling meat and memorializing things, not making games? Well, great, now you've made things uncomfortable for everybody. Look at Ludwig, he ran off to his room because you hurt his feelings so much. Look Deborah -- can we just not do this today? Can we, for once, spend a holiday eating our Jell-O salad in silence and acting like a family? For once?
Alien Breed: Impact on Steam June 3, pre-order bonuses detailed
Team17 has revealed that Alien Breed: Impact, the expanded version of Alien Breed: Evolution, will be released on Steam in June 3. The game will sell for $14.99 in the US, £12.99 in the UK, and either €11.25 or €14.99 in other regions of Europe. Those who pre-order will receive a 10 percent discount as well as "an exclusive in-game digital comic, chronicling the troubled back-story of the game's hero, Conrad, the doomed space vessel's Chief Engineer." To help you make that purchasing decision, Team17 has released an Alien Breed: Impact demo, which includes single-player and online co-op. There's also a new trailer, which you can watch right here.
Alien Breed: Impact bursts onto PC and PS3 this summer
Team17 Software, best known for its Worms games, is bringing an expanded version of Alien Breed: Evolution to PC and PS3 this summer. Alien Breed: Impact takes the original XBLA game and adds "suggestions from the community," such as weapons upgrades, increased difficulty, and a new "Prologue" campaign for newcomers to the franchise. Like its predecessor, the top-down shooter is powered by Unreal Engine 3, and will be distributed digitally via Steam and PlayStation Network. Expect both versions of Impact to arrive this summer. %Gallery-67671%
New 2D Worms game squirming its way to Steam
A recent tweet from Team 17's Martyn Brown has revealed that everyone's favorite combative invertebrates will soon star in a new 2D outing on Steam, titled Worms Reloaded. That's literally all we know about the game at the moment, though Brown's tweet promises more details soon. Until then, we're left to worry that it's going to be an all-annelid remake of The Matrix: Reloaded, which would be totally awesome, until, of course, the big rave/orgy scene.
PSA: Worms 2: Armageddon is today's Xbox Live deal for $5
Worms 2: Armageddon here! Get your Worms 2: Armageddon here! Worms for sale! Worms, I say! Low, low prices -- one day only! 400 spacebucks or five Earth dollars, whichever comes first! Cutesy, creepy, blasty, explodey Worms here! Buy today and get the Buffalo of Lies with your order! If you can find a better deal, you're a magician! Get 'em while they're cheap! Tell your friends, and come back tomorrow for another Xbox Live deal. Only ten days left! %Gallery-67104%
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Puzzlegeddon, Alien Breed Evolution
What's it going to be on XBLA this week, an alien onslaught or a puzzle apocalypse? The choice is yours, whether it be Tecmo's Puzzlegeddon or Team17's Alien Breed Evolution. Either game will set you back 800 Microsoft Space Bucks (ten earth dollars), so it boils down to preference. Frankly, we've always been fans of mowing down waves of alien scum, but destroying your friends via brightly colored blocks has its charms too. Check out the latest XBLA in Brief and see which one speaks to you. Shortcut: Download the trial version of Puzzlegeddon [Via Xbox.com] Shortcut: Download the trial version of Alien Breed Evolution [Via Xbox.com] [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly. [RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
This Wednesday: Alien Breed Evolution brings about Puzzlegeddon on XBLA
It looks like we get more than the previously announced Alien Breed Evolution on XBLA this week, as Major Nelson has revealed that it will be joined by Puzzlegeddon from Tecmo. Despite its apocalyptic name, Puzzlegeddon sports an entirely cheery disposition, complete with lots of bright colors and bubbly music. The PC version previously received some decent reviews, and we've certainly been roped in by cute puzzle games in the past. Alien Breed Evolution and Puzzlegeddon will run you 800 ($10) apiece.
Alien Breed PC slated for Q1 2009, PS3 in Q2
Having already dated the timed-exclusive XBLA debut of Alien Breed Evolution -- it will land on December 16 -- Team17 has told GamerZines when PC and PS3 owners can expect the game. According to Team17's Mark Baldwin, Alien Breed Evolution will hit PCs sometime in the first quarter of 2009, while the PS3 version will arrive in the second quarter. Elaborating, Baldwin said the PC version should be available "sometime before March." Meanwhile, PS3 owners "will have to wait as long as perhaps June." Team17 has previously stated that exclusivity is "just the way the world works," noting that Microsoft had a lot of early faith in the title. At least three to six months' worth of faith.
Alien Breed Evolution evolves on XBLA Dec. 16
Team17 has announced that the first episode of its upcoming shooter, Alien Breed Evolution, will arrive on Xbox Live Arcade on Wednesday, December 16. The first of three planned episodes, the game will offer both single-player and co-op play. Team17 revealed earlier this year that each episode would contain a prologue and five full levels, lasting roughly five to eight hours altogether. Each episode will also include a cooperative battle mode. The first episode has been priced at 800 ($10). Check out a new trailer above, new screens below, and episode one videos after the break. %Gallery-79585%
Team17 details Alien Breed episodes structure
At the Eurogamer Expo -- in Europe! -- Team17 has revealed its plans for the episodic structure of its upcoming downloadable title, Alien Breed Evolution. It was previously revealed that the game would be released in three separate episodes, and now Team17's John Dennis explains that each episode will contain a prologue and five levels that are "much larger than they should have been." In addition, each episode contains two major "set pieces" -- large scripted events -- as well as two boss battles and a multiplayer level. Each episode should last five to eight hours. The first episode of Alien Breed Evoluation should release fairly soon, as it was originally slated for "around October." The XBLA version will enjoy an unknown period of exclusivity before the PSN and PC versions are released.
Hands on: Alien Breed Evolution
When I saw that Team 17's upcoming Alien Breed Evolution was playable at Microsoft's pre-PAX shindig, I leapt at the chance to try it out. As a huge fan of the Worms series, I really wanted to give Alien Breed Evolution a go. After spending a few minutes with the game -- which appeared to be the trial version of the XBLA game -- I have to admit I was disappointed. That's not to say it's bad, but it failed to elicit that instant 'click' of the Worms series. %Gallery-68333%
