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CES Fat Princess vids remind us we really want to play
We've loved the look of Fat Princess since we first saw it at E3. These videos from the CES show floor remind us why. The Castle Crashers meets Wind Waker art style, coupled with the simple (yet deep) team-based gameplay have us itching to try it out for ourselves. Hopefully it won't be too long before we see the game's release on the PSN. We expect this game to be a big PSN hit this year. Check out the videos after the break to find out why for yourselves.
Epic Games China reforms as Titan Studios, developing MMO
When most of us hear talk of the company "Epic Games", the first thing that comes to mind is Gears of War or the Unreal series of titles. While Epic Games had a Shanghai games studio for outsourcing purposes, it's now evolved into Titan Studios, a wholly owned subsidiary based in Seattle. Through Titan Studios, it seems Epic Games is turning their attention to MMOGs, following up their work on the PS3 title Fat Princess.As to what's going on within the Titan Studios walls, GameSpot's Tom Magrino reports that "an undefined number of unannounced projects are in the works at the studio, one of which is a massively multiplayer online game." Needless to say, that bit of information has piqued our interest, and we'll keep our eyes open at Massively for more about the Titan Studios MMO project in the future.
Epic Games China (retroactively?) announces Titan Studios - Fat Princess dev
Try to follow along: In 2006, Epic Games – the North Carolina-based devs behind Gears of War – opened up its very own Shanghai-based studio to outsource its own Unreal Engine-related work to, as well as cater to external third-party licensees like Ubisoft Shanghai. Cost per man month in North America? $9000. Cost per man month in China? $4000, according to a Gamasutra report. So now we all know what Epic Games China is. Which is why this morning's announcement that Epic Games China has formed Titan Studios – a "wholly owned subsidiary based in Seattle" developing Sony's colorful (albeit controversial) PSN title, Fat Princess – slightly puzzling. First, we've only known Fat Princess since Sony showed it off at E3 and, even then, the developers were known as "Titan Studios" and not their pre-Epic precursor "Darkstar Industries".Second, why does the "content production outsourcing and game development services" component of Epic Games want to form its own development studio? (Or, in other words, why didn't Epic Games proper "form" Titan Studios in much the same way it acquired People Can Fly?) Epic's Jay Wilbur explains, "Not only are Titan developing award-winning, original IP of their own, they also have resources available to help other studios increase productivity and minimize risk." Their best business advice in these rocky economic times: Be owned by Epic Games.%Gallery-27941%
Fat Princess coming 2009, says developer press release
Many of you have been asking us "where is Fat Princess, oh darn it?" Well, looks like it's 2009. First unveiled at E3 this year, the downloadable title earned a lot of buzz (both positive and negative) for its cute, gory, cake-filled concept.A press release from Epic Games China has officially "announced" the "opening" of Titan Studios, the developer of the upcoming game. There are a few things we're confused by. First, why is Epic Games China opening a studio in Seattle? Last we checked, Seattle wasn't a part of China (unless, that is, the takeover has begun ...). Also, why is the studio being announced now? Maybe that's why Fat Princess is taking so long to develop! The studio wasn't actually official yet!Titan Studios brings to it developers with experience at companies including Ubisoft, Epic Games, Scion Studios, Blizzard Entertainment and Lionhead Studios. Titan Studios is not only working on Fat Princess, but a number of other Unreal Engine 3 games, including a massively multiplayer online game.%Gallery-28044%
So it begins: Feminist gamers decry Sony's Fat Princess
Shown for the first time at E3, Sony and Titan Studios' upcoming PSN title, Fat Princess, grabbed us with its classic Zelda-like presentation, 32-player online, and off-color infusion of blood & guts for such an otherwise cutesy title. We also figured there would more than a few folks none too pleased by its title.It's not just the title that's angering the folks behind sites Feminist Gamers and Shakesville, female-run gaming blogs who are already voicing their displeasure to Sony. It's also the concept that players must feed the titular princess – who starts out slim – in order to make her fat, and thus harder to capture.Melissa McEwan of Shakesville writes: "Congrats on your awesome new game, Sony. I'm positively thrilled to see such unyielding dedication to creating a new generation of fat-hating, heteronormative assholes," while Feminist Gamer's "Mighty Ponygirl" suggests a simple gameplay switcheroo would solve the problem (and change the title). "Instead of running out into the forest to find cake to fatten up the princess with, why not go out and find gold (which is a lot heavier than cake) to stuff into a treasure chest," she says, adding, "The more gold in the chest, the heavier it would be, and the harder it would be to carry."Despite the (still limited) fury being directed at Sony, we suspect that there's a fat chance either the title or gameplay will change.[Update: Titan Studios' art director, James Green, emailed in to say: "Does it make it better or worse that the concept artist (who designed the look, characters, everything) is a girl?"][Via PS3 Fanboy]Source - Feminist GamerSource - Shakesville
