This is Portabliss, a column about downloadable games that can be played on the go.
The impressive part is that it does all of that with just two fingers.
The impressive part is that it does all of that with just two fingers.
Humble Bundle 6 adds Android to PC lineup: Aquaria, Stealth Bastard
by Jessica Conditt
(19 hours ago)
Pay more than the average and snag Frozen Synapse and Broken Sword: Director's Cut. Frozen Synapse is in late beta on Android and has some known issues, and it's best played on tablets, the developer notes. All games come with their respective soundtracks, too.
Currently the Humble Android Bundle's average is below $5, so act fast and get seven games for less than one single-digit piece of American money. Or, knowing that you can allocate your money among charity, the developers and Humble itself, you can pay the equivalent of a double-digit piece of money. Or triple-digit. All of these games would cost $95 separately, and it's safe to expect more additions before the sale ends in two weeks. Because that's how Humble Bundles roll.
If you've missed checking out Shadowrun Returns, here's 20 minutes of footage.
Ridiculous Fishing creator reeling from Apple Design Award, talks TU
by Jessica Conditt
(20 hours ago)
"Holy shit," Ismail laughed during our chat at E3. He was still getting over the fact that Ridiculous Fishing won an Apple Design Award, and that Gage collected it in what's commonly considered summer beach attire.
So far Ridiculous Fishing sales have hit the "hundreds of thousands," Ismail said, and after the Design Award, sales spiked again. Even Elijah Wood got hooked on Ridiculous Fishing – or, as Ismail put it, "The Hobbit played it!"
One-man indie development studio Benjamin Rivers' side-scrolling pixel art horror game Home will be available for iOS devices this Thursday, June 20. The Universal App will cost $2.99 and feature new content, new terrifying environments to explore and updated story elements.
Rivers has also established a website to showcase the spooky real-world environments people play his game in – anyone who Tweets, Instagrams or Vines their eerie gaming location of choice using the hashtag #homehorror has a chance of making it into the collection.
Meanwhile, the OSX version of Home should be released sometime this summer, Rivers announced, adding that the improvements made for the iOS version of the game will be transferred to existing and future desktop versions at some point in the future.
It's unfortunate, however, that much of the discussion around Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time, at least during the game's iOS launch, probably won't be around any of the great new content. There are new zombie enemies, new plants, three new worlds set in different time periods, touchscreen-centric powerups that allow you to throw zombies around or pinch them apart, and even a new "plant food" buff that gives each plant an extra burst of ability when used.
At launch, they'll probably all get lost in the mix, because there's one other big difference between the first Plants vs. Zombies and its sequel: PvZ 2 is a freemium game.
Crytek dips its beautiful toes into iOS waters with 'The Collectibles'
by Jessica Conditt
(1 day ago)
The Collectibles has players command a team of five through the ruins of war in a jungle environment, as shown by a series of screenshots with the report. The Collectibles allows for touchscreen or controller play, or both simultaneously for some features.
The Collectibles doesn't officially exist yet. Crytek's most recent foray into our headlines was with Ryse: Son of Rome, a third-person action game coming to Xbox One. We got a chance to play it during E3 and found it more aggressive than expected.
The Cave on iOS doesn't have virtual analog sticks or buttons, but allows the player to tap and drag characters around the map, and choose characters with a poke on their respective icons along the bottom of the screen, the hands-on report notes.
The Cave features seven characters with murky morals and, at times, even murkier gameplay, we found. There's no word on how much the iOS version will cost, but the price shouldn't be any steeper than the walls of that deep, dark, sentient cave.
The iOS XCOM is a the PC experience with the exception of the head-to-head multiplayer, which will be added at a later time as a free update.
Mad Catz's Android console now just 'MOJO,' pulls games straight from Google Play
by Jordan Mallory
(4 days ago)
Unlike the Ouya or other Android micro-consoles announced this year, the MOJO runs stock Android and connects to the Google Play store like any smartphone or tablet. This means that, rather than waiting for a game to be ported to the MOJO, it just has be ported to Android in general. It also means that the MOJO is registered to your existing Google Play account as another device, so any games you already own on your smartphone or tablet can be downloaded and played on the MOJO.
"We don't believe we should be restricting you, we want to be as open as possible," Mad Catz senior product development manager Richard Neville told us. "We just want to give people the most powerful hardware they can get, and that then becomes the enabler for the user."
Said hardware, at least on the E3 showfloor, ran on a Tegra 3 processor and featured HDMI output at 1080p, as well as two USB inputs, 16 gigs of on-board storage expandable by mini SD, wireless b/n/g interwebs and both Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Smart. The MOJO's processor is expected to change before the micro-console launches this winter, however, when the production unit's specs are finalized around the end of this summer. We were also told that the final version will feature an Ethernet port for hard-wiring into a home network.
No pricing has been announced as of yet, but the console will include a Mad Catz Ctrl-R wireless Bluetooth Classic/Smart controller, which can change between being an Android controller, mouse input or PC gamepad at the flick of a switch.
In the free-to-play RPG, your character has items that will break over time. You'll need to spend keys of various qualities (that can be earned in game, or purchased with real money) to repair those items.
Gouskos says player feedback made it clear that repair costs were too high, and repairs for the highest quality items have been lowered from about 60 keys to around 8 or 10. Additionally, the cost to increase storage space in your stash was lowered, as the team found it was a mistake to charge people an increasing cost for simply wanting to collect more of the game's items.
One price went up: The cost to loot the highest quality chests was raised a bit to make up for the decreased costs elsewhere. Gouskos also says that once players had good items on their characters, they tended not to loot as much as when they first started playing.
For her part, Gouskos says she's "worked too hard to have people not play" the game, so she's striving to make sure there's a way to play that's both free and fun. The team is still considering providing an optional "buyout" fee to essentially negate the game's freemium elements, but no matter how the final product works, says Gouskos, making the game fun takes priority over the tangled monetization model. If you want to make money from a freemium game, says Gouskos, "you've got to get people to love your game first."
IndieCade at E3: Dominique Pamplemousse in 'It's All Over Once The Fat Lady Sings!'
by Jessica Conditt
(5 days ago)
IndieCade took over a corner of the E3 show floor this year, complete with giant orange inflatable chairs and almost 40 games on various platforms. Out of all this beautiful madness, I spotted three games that went above and beyond the standard indie call – they were weird, they were different, and they were awesome.
First up is Dominique Pamplemousse in "It's All Over Once The Fat Lady Sings!", a musical point-and-click investigation game from Deirdra Kiai, who is the sole developer, voice actor, singer and composer. If that sounds like a lot of work, it's because it is – but Kiai pulls it off seamlessly.
Dominique Pamplemousse is available now for PC, Mac and iPad for $5, and there's a free demo on Kiai's site. It's a quirky romp through a musical, claymation landscape, and it's tons of fun.
I feature two more games at IndieCade's E3 exhibit, both with videos coming up later today.
Eutechnyx previously entered a publishing partnership with NASCAR license holder Activision to produce the multiplatform NASCAR 2011: The Game. Eutechnyx confirmed with Joystiq that it has acquired the NASCAR license and will self-publish its upcoming NASCAR releases without seeking a third-party publisher.
NASCAR The Game 2013 is currently in development for Windows, featuring a collection of recreated scenarios from past NASCAR races and the ability to race as Gen 6 model cars. The mobile version, NASCAR: Redline, boasts "touch-reaction racing action" mixed with management-styled gameplay.
EUTECHNYX EXPANDS ITS NASCAR® PARTNERSHIP WITH TWO NEW TITLES
NASCAR Games for PC and Mobile Platforms Set to Debut This Summer
Charlotte, NC– June 12, 2013 – Leading independent racing game developer Eutechnyx today announced that they are expanding their NASCAR partnership with two new videogames; NASCAR® The Game™ 2013 for Windows PC and NASCAR®: Redline™ for mobile devices. With the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season off to a great start, both NASCAR® The Game™ 2013 and NASCAR®: Redline™ are the perfect companions for any NASCAR fan, as they put gamers right into the driver's seat of America's favorite motorsport.
"NASCAR has been an amazing company to work with, and we hope that we're able to share the passion and love we have for the sport with the legions of fans across the globe," said Dave Thompson, Development Director at Eutechnyx. "We've spent a lot of time developing new and compelling ways for racing fans to get involved and experience what it's like to be part of NASCAR nation, from getting your car race ready to doing 500 miles around Daytona International Speedway."
NASCAR® The Game™ 2013 lets players take to the tracks and redefine races using the new Gen 6 model cars. Supporting an updated and enhanced paint booth tool, players can customize their Gen 6 paint schemes and import them into the games multiple race modes to show the world their design skills. Supporting the new 2013 roster with all the team and driver changes, players can take their own shot at being crowned the Sprint Cup Series Champion by starting a competitive season as a rookie and racing against their favorite drivers in career mode, or race online with friends.
The game also features Inside Line Highlights - scenarios from actual NASCAR races (2011, 2012 seasons) that have been recreated from the actual race telemetry data, which allow players to recreate, relive and rewrite the most exciting NASCAR moments. Additionally, and a first for any sport based videogame, the current 2013 season is being supported by weekly downloadable Inside Line Highlights being available shortly after racing events take place. The package is made complete with commentary provided courtesy of Fox Sports' Darrell Waltrip and Mike Joy, while the player's crew is voiced by spotter Ty Norris and crew chief Ray Evernham.
NASCAR®: Redline™ marks the first officially licensed by NASCAR videogame to be available for mobile devices. This is the first videogame of its kind as it delivers an official NASCAR racing experience that puts players into the seat of their own personal stock car. NASCAR®: Redline™ combines touch-reaction racing action with management tools, allowing you to control the way you race. Manage your team, land new sponsorship deals, and outthink your opponent on the track; players of all ages can compete to cross the finish line first against rival racers.
Offering two game modes, Career and Season, Career mode places players at the start of their rookie season and pushes them to progress their way through the Sprint Cup ranks and take on their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers. Whereas in Season mode, racing fans assume the role of their favorite driver and share each victory as they come.
Blake Davidson, NASCAR Vice President of Licensing & Consumer Products and board member of NASCAR Team Properties, said, "Eutechnyx has proven to be a great partner and we're thrilled to be working with them on bringing more videogames to more platforms. It will be very exciting to have a mobile title and we think fans will be excited when they see how it offers more than just your typical driving experience."
NASCAR® The Game™ 2013 will be available as pre-purchase with beta access via Steam starting soon with a full release planned later in the Summer for Windows PC. NASCAR®: Redline™ will be available for mobile devices later this summer. For more information, please visit www.NASCARTheGame.com, or follow along on Twitter @NASCARTheGame and Facebook facebook.com/NASCARTheGame. You can also join in the discussion on The NASCAR Redline forum at http://forums.eutechnyx.com/forums/237-NASCAR-Redline.
NASCAR Games for PC and Mobile Platforms Set to Debut This Summer
Charlotte, NC– June 12, 2013 – Leading independent racing game developer Eutechnyx today announced that they are expanding their NASCAR partnership with two new videogames; NASCAR® The Game™ 2013 for Windows PC and NASCAR®: Redline™ for mobile devices. With the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season off to a great start, both NASCAR® The Game™ 2013 and NASCAR®: Redline™ are the perfect companions for any NASCAR fan, as they put gamers right into the driver's seat of America's favorite motorsport.
"NASCAR has been an amazing company to work with, and we hope that we're able to share the passion and love we have for the sport with the legions of fans across the globe," said Dave Thompson, Development Director at Eutechnyx. "We've spent a lot of time developing new and compelling ways for racing fans to get involved and experience what it's like to be part of NASCAR nation, from getting your car race ready to doing 500 miles around Daytona International Speedway."
NASCAR® The Game™ 2013 lets players take to the tracks and redefine races using the new Gen 6 model cars. Supporting an updated and enhanced paint booth tool, players can customize their Gen 6 paint schemes and import them into the games multiple race modes to show the world their design skills. Supporting the new 2013 roster with all the team and driver changes, players can take their own shot at being crowned the Sprint Cup Series Champion by starting a competitive season as a rookie and racing against their favorite drivers in career mode, or race online with friends.
The game also features Inside Line Highlights - scenarios from actual NASCAR races (2011, 2012 seasons) that have been recreated from the actual race telemetry data, which allow players to recreate, relive and rewrite the most exciting NASCAR moments. Additionally, and a first for any sport based videogame, the current 2013 season is being supported by weekly downloadable Inside Line Highlights being available shortly after racing events take place. The package is made complete with commentary provided courtesy of Fox Sports' Darrell Waltrip and Mike Joy, while the player's crew is voiced by spotter Ty Norris and crew chief Ray Evernham.
NASCAR®: Redline™ marks the first officially licensed by NASCAR videogame to be available for mobile devices. This is the first videogame of its kind as it delivers an official NASCAR racing experience that puts players into the seat of their own personal stock car. NASCAR®: Redline™ combines touch-reaction racing action with management tools, allowing you to control the way you race. Manage your team, land new sponsorship deals, and outthink your opponent on the track; players of all ages can compete to cross the finish line first against rival racers.
Offering two game modes, Career and Season, Career mode places players at the start of their rookie season and pushes them to progress their way through the Sprint Cup ranks and take on their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers. Whereas in Season mode, racing fans assume the role of their favorite driver and share each victory as they come.
Blake Davidson, NASCAR Vice President of Licensing & Consumer Products and board member of NASCAR Team Properties, said, "Eutechnyx has proven to be a great partner and we're thrilled to be working with them on bringing more videogames to more platforms. It will be very exciting to have a mobile title and we think fans will be excited when they see how it offers more than just your typical driving experience."
NASCAR® The Game™ 2013 will be available as pre-purchase with beta access via Steam starting soon with a full release planned later in the Summer for Windows PC. NASCAR®: Redline™ will be available for mobile devices later this summer. For more information, please visit www.NASCARTheGame.com, or follow along on Twitter @NASCARTheGame and Facebook facebook.com/NASCARTheGame. You can also join in the discussion on The NASCAR Redline forum at http://forums.eutechnyx.com/forums/237-NASCAR-Redline.
Part of that success was the seven-man team's pursuit of creating something "worth a damn" and not disappointing each other, Kasavin added. "Games take a lot of time and a lot of money, so we just wanted to make something that made people feel like they didn't waste their time or money playing it."
Back at DICE in February, Supergiant founder Amir Rao said Bastion had reached 1.7 million sales.
Ubisoft's E3 2013 conference details The Division, Rabbids Invasion, The Crew
by Danny Cowan
(7 days ago)
Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell kicked off the conference with a guitar-shredding demonstration of Rocksmith 2014's Session Mode, in which budding guitarists can customize backing music tracks in real-time using voice commands. A trailer for the online PC RPG The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot followed; afterward, Ubisoft revealed that it is accepting signups for a closed beta.
Ubisoft assured that Obsidian Entertainment's RPG South Park: The Stick of Truth is alive and well, narrowing down its release date to Holiday 2013. Ubisoft previously acquired the project from THQ following the troubled publisher's dissolution late last year. Ubisoft Reflections and Ivory Tower's The Crew was up next, showcasing its unique brand of destructive multiplayer racing across a persistent online world. A release is planned next year for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC platforms.
"Aw, fuck."
Those are the first words that Vince, one of the five characters highlighted in 400 Days, says. He spits the phrase into a dark alley as he searches for a spot to stash his gun, police sirens blaring from down the street. The player gets to decide where Vince throws the pistol – the garbage, his pants, the roof – but it doesn't appear to affect where he ends up: chained to the floor of a prison bus, with a heartbroken statutory rapist in front of him and a white-collar, former millionaire behind, all latched on the same line.
That bundle is a good deal for fans of continuity – the decisions players made in the first season of The Walking Dead will show up in 400 Days, and the choices in 400 Days will impact season two, Telltale marketing man Richard Iggo said at E3. Players can start 400 Days without having played any of season one, but Iggo warned against it for those who want the full effect.
The DLC features five new characters in five separate stories, with a truck stop as their connective tissue. The truck stop is near events in season one of The Walking Dead, making it easy, geographically at least, to include previous player choices in 400 Days and beyond.
"Who knows, some of the characters that you meet might end up in season two," Iggo teased.
Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers, the next installment in the Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers series, is set to launch on Steam June 26, according to the game's product page.
Magic 2014 is priced at $10, which falls in line with every other entry in the series. A special edition, which includes the game, soundtrack, five desktop wallpapers, a "Return to Ravnica" eBook and ten foil conversions, is also listed on the Steam page. Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers will launch on PC, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, iOS and Android this summer – this marks the first time the series will be available on Android.
[Thanks, Mitch]
The Walking Dead "400 Days" DLC is on its way to XBLA, PSN (including Vita!), Steam, and iOS this summer. This fresh (see: not rotting) DLC includes the stories of five new survivors in the zombie apocalypse. Five times the fun! And death, probably. ...
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Ubisoft reveals Trials Fusion and Trials Frontier [update: Trailer and details]
by Richard Mitchell
(8 days ago)
Both games are due in 2014.
Update: Ubisoft has provided a few more details. Fusion will be "tet in a shining vision of what our future could be, where technology and nature co-exist." It also promises "social and visual breakthroughs." Frontier, meanwhile, sounds like the Trials formula adapted for touchscreen platforms, though Ubisoft does call it a "a unique social racing game."
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IndieCade at E3: Dominique Pamplemousse in 'It's All Over Once The Fat Lady Sings!'
Posted on Jun 13th 2013 1:00PM