Braid coming to PC in Q1 2009

by Alexander Sliwinski { Dec 22nd 2008 at 5:50PM }

The official Braid blog reveals that a PC version of the XBLA darling should be released between February and March of 2009. Braid on PC was originally planned for mid-October, but a decision was made to hold off due to all the blockbusters being released at the end of the year.

There is also talk of a "native code" Mac version to be released soon after the PC, and a PS3 version later if "Sony is interested in the game." It sounds like the code for Braid's PC debut is done and is just being held off for marketing purposes. We've placed developer Jonathan Blow's address after the break for PC owners who want to stop by his place and ask for it personally.

Oops, sorry. Couldn't find Blow's address. But, we did find this as a consolation:

Tags: braid, jonathan-blow

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

shMerker @ Dec 22nd 2008 5:57PM

Silly Joystiq. A little bit of googling and you could've easily found Jonathan Blow's home address. You guys are so lazy sometimes.

shMerker @ Dec 22nd 2008 5:59PM

Oh, I didn't realize my HTML would get scrubbed out. Here's the link I meant to post the first time:

http://tinyurl.com/2g9mqh

Sorry about that.

sicsided @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:08PM

Actually i think its located here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJTFMe4yajM

Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:13PM

Nope, that's still not it.

It's here...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LKY5vvDC7Bc

..IN HELL!

ice~ @ Dec 22nd 2008 5:59PM

let the braid praising/bashing begin

TwEE @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:14PM

The whole love/hate thing for braid is pretty interesting..

I cant tell if the people who love it actually like it for what it is or what it represents to them...some sort of artsy indie game (whatever the hell that means).

If you love the gameplay in this game then go out and play Lost vikings, Lemings, Krusty's super fun house, Mario vs Donkey Kong 2.. if you hate that (whatever the hell it is) genre then you'll hate Braid.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Dec 23rd 2008 4:59AM

i played the demo for this on my 360 and i have to say, i wasnt crazy about it. i mean i could see it holding my attention long enough for me to beat it but not much more than that. i really just didnt like the whole ambiance the game portraits (art style, background music, etc.).

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:01PM

Finally a game this PC is able to run..in low settings.

Roxinos @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:03PM

Is it just me or has Alex (and Perhaps the rest of Joystiq) fallen into the trap laid by those silly Apple commercials degrading PCs.

Macs are PCs. Once upon a time, you might have been able to make a distinction between the two, considering the different architecture running a Mac than running a traditional PC, but now that Intel produces Macs, they're all one and the same.

Unless I'm completely out of my mind, making a distinction between the PC and the Mac is just silly. You should say "Windows" and "Mac."

Haggard @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:10PM

Nah, I didn't detect any anti-PC bias in this post. Joystiq's team are pretty good when it comes to that - when you compare it to GameTrailers' editorial staff.

Sure, on the podcast Chris says he's a mac user, but at least he doesn't just completely forget that the PC exists or is still played by a lot of people.

Roxinos @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:12PM

I never said there was any anti-PC bias. I was merely saying that it is silly to make a distinction between two things that are essentially the same, one being a broader category that includes Mac PCs and Windows PCs.

Haggard @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:14PM

Ah right. Well if the only effect Mac's ad campaign has had on people is to make people not specify which type of PC they're talking about then I think you could deem it pretty unsuccessful.

soviet chick @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:17PM

The distinction is necessary. I really hate seeing an advert for a video game that just has a PlayStation logo and no legible note to state whether it's on PS2, PS3, or PSP... Maybe it's just a PS1 game?

Spiza @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:35PM

That is why he said windows.

Roxinos @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:39PM

"The distinction is necessary."

I agree a distinction between Windows and Mac is necessary. I disagree that the distinction should be made between two things that are essentially the same: A Mac is a PC.

soviet chick @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:58PM

The Mac / PC distinction has been there since well before the Mac Intel transition (which still isn't complete btw). Why should it change now? PC is associated with Windows, to most people it doesn't mean "Personal Computer" anymore... It just means "PC" or "Windows." PC and Windows are completely synonymous.

Macs and PCs are Personal Computers, but Macs aren't "PCs." Blame IBM for that.

Roxinos @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:59PM

*sigh* I already addressed everything I need to address in my first post. I'm not going to continue this. You either agree or you don't.

Lee @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:02PM

Great now we have to label games as fucking "Windows" instead of either PC or Mac.

PC: Windows
Mac: Mac.

I don't know why. I don't like it like that either but that's just how it is. Get it got it good. Now lets move on.

Lawrence @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:33PM

For what it's worth, I agree, and have often asked myself the same thing. A Mac is a personal computer, just like Linux, DOS, etc.

A Mac is also not a PC, just like Windows is also not a PC. PC is "personal computer" which defines the computers use, not it's operating system. Any computer can be "personal" or for "business" use.

Using this argument I could say that the PS3 is a business computer and a PC. Same would hold true for xbox 360, most PDAs, hell, even an iPhone could qualify.

Mac = PC
Windows = PC
Linux = PC
PS3 = PC
Any computer that isn't used for professional/business related things = PC

Perhaps I'm losing sight of the original argument though, but my point is that it's silly to even use the term PC anymore.

Cerpin Taxt @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:02PM

Sony...please don't be an idiot...let me play this game.

Minimalist360 @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:11PM

Sony has become a sort of 'bad decision machine.' witness the netflix decision. Or home. Or a billion other things.

Leobebes (BDF: Braid Defence Force) @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:04PM

Maybe the PS3 community isn't going to bitch and moan about paying $15.00 for quite possible the best game pound for pound of 2009.

If they can appreciate it more than the 360 crowd then let them have at it.

Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:07PM

That depends solely on whether Valve brings out the 50% off on TF2 again in 2009...

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:16PM

You know this really annoys me.

What I hate about this game is that it turned every Heilo fan out there into an Elitist prick (and that’s my stuff)

It is good but 92 in Metacritic my a$$.85 at best, Exit was a better game and it never passed up 80.

The praise this game receives from other sites is mostly because it is an Indie game (An indie game with a quite large amount of cash put into it) and any negative commentary about it will be rejected by responses such as “Lolz u r poor”.

Now that what really grinds me gears is the fact that by one hand Braid gets 92 for being original but games like Exit, Metal Gear Ac!d 2 and Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts get poor reviews for being original or different than its predecessors.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:17PM

Add Crush into the list of underrated games that were actually good.

Leobebes (BDF: Braid Defence Force) @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:25PM

@Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC.

I am not going to put your opinion down, but you either buy into the game's art direction, music, gameplay, and ending or you don't. I don't think you did, and that doesn't make your opinion invalid.

Sure there are people out there who like a game based on a superficial level due to high critic scores, or because it's an indie game and it makes you look like a hipster if you show appreciation. But this game really struck a chord with me. I though it was beautiful and it made me think outside the box unlike any other game in a while. I don't know maybe I am not as smart as some of the gamers that profess to say they finished the game in less than an hour and the puzzles presented no challenge to them. But I found the game challenging and meaningful and I know I am not alone in that assertion.

Vcize @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:26PM

Well Mr Esc, it has to be original AND good, not just original to get bonus points for that.

Except in the case of LBP, of course :P

CB @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:47PM

Way to make a hissy fit, Leo. When I look back at it, the game didn't warrant my $15 not because of the inane things you think everyone hated it for.

I loved practically everything about it but it was too damn short and not all that challenging (oh noes I said it!). There is soo much potential for this game but please, grow up.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:56PM

I feel so alone right now.

All the games I mentioned were good (F*ck that, all I mentioned were awesome, I could play MGA2 again right now) and original the thing is Braid is rated as if it gave you free hand jobs and pudding.

Also that is hard to fell in love with the art direction when the character and enemy designs (except for the dinosaur) looks like something from Maple Story but in HD I mean the background looks great but it puts the characters on shame. The music aright but not memorable

Since I’m sure everyone will misquote me I mean that yes Braid is great no doubt on that (I liked how you can use the puzzle to complete the level and some of the gimmicks) but you can’t just walk (Into Mordor) and say Braid was awesome for being original and fresh and then backstab every other game that is original and fresh.

That would be like calling Sam & Max the best game ever and then give a bad review to Grim Fandango (The inner ring of the 7 circle of hell is ready for you if you do so).

See my point.

If you are going to call Braid great be ready to accept other original and clever games as well not just Braid and go back to give 100 to Generic FPS No 9001.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:00PM

Thank you whitesmoke for making me look like an a$$.

For that amount mistakes I could have done the checking myself.

I also agree it was short and after you complete the first levels you are prepared to whatever the game throws at you

Lee @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:03PM

Crush was good?

Listen bud, don't lie. Your nose will grow.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:25PM

C'mon it was good but in retrospective I was such a PSP fanboy back in the day um, I never finished it not because it was boring but because at the time I got it I was too much into Dead Rising.

I say that it was clever and the atmosphere was really good. It showed that Sega could still deliver good games.

I might play it again but I have so many games. I hope I can get 1000/1000 in Banjo Kazooie nuts and Bolts so I can proceed to play Dead Space or Fallout 3.

Moptimus Slime @ Dec 22nd 2008 7:58PM

Braid is no $15 game. Thats why I hate it. It has no replay value, it is filled with retarded design choices (see 2 doors, 1 key). Yet whenever anyone brings these issues up people resort to 2 arguments:

1. Its an artistic game, the story is meant to be vague so that you can interpret it to mean anything you want
2. Its an indie game, you have to give Jonathan Blow credit since he designed it all by himself

Heres the thing, both those arguments suck. The "art game" seems to be the goto defense. Just because a game is "artistic" doesnt give it a free pass for bad story or repeating the same levels over again. Every Suda51 game is "artistic" but that doesnt mask the flaws like a bland open world or that Travis Touchdown is a bigger douche than all the main characters from an Ubisoft Montreal game combined. Then theres the "indie" argument. Raise your hand if you have $180,000 just lying around waiting to be invested towards an XBLA game. The point of being an indie developer is having more determination and gameplay mechanics than dollars, something Mr. Blow seemed to reverse.

But what really pisses me off about Braid is that it gets more attention than games that actually deserve it. How many of you who played Braid have also played Aether or World of Goo or I Wish I were the Moon? Those are 3 better, more "indie" games that nobody seems to give 2 shits about because 2 happen to be in-browser whilest the 3rd is a WiiWare/PC game.

World of Goo is simply a better game. The puzzles are more challenging and you actually have a reason to go back and replay the levels. And while the "you are here, build bridge to here" mechanic isnt exactly new, theres enough unique ways to get from point A to point B that almost hides that and makes the game feel like its doing something thats never been done before, a feeling that I found lacking in Braid.

Besides, Braid is just Mario for people who smoke and drink.

PSN: Erdie @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:07PM

Whoa whoa, hating on Crush now? Why? That game's brilliant, as is Braid.

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Dec 23rd 2008 12:12AM

Braid was good. Not great, but good. Would be great if it were longer, had replayability, or was cheaper. But for what it was, it was definitely good and fun.

Mr. ESC... I tried the Exit demo on XBLA... I wanted to like it (because I like Taito)... but I just found it kinda dull, slow, and not fun. Is the PSP (or the newer DS) version better? Does it get better in later levels the demo doesn't have?

zkey14 @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:04PM

What's so great about this game? It's just Mario wearing a business suit in the future.

Sizer @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:08PM

Okay, assuming that was a serious question and not just a 'har har', the puzzles in this game are a total mindf@$#, in a good way. You'll try to do something again and again, and it will defeat all your efforts. You'll close your eyes, rub them, look back at the screen, then everything will fall into place (90 degrees from what you were previously attempting) and it's a beautiful thing. It's mental platforming, not physical platforming.

I'm sure that doesn't sound appealing to a lot of people (there's not really a big Mario overlap), but I loved it.

Einhanderkiller @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:17PM

Why not just play Tetris. Basically the same thing.

zkey14 @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:17PM

Hmm. Sounds to me like a game for people who smoke, or drink. There's not even a point to the game.

Vcize @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:28PM

How in the fuckity fuck fuck holy fucking shit is this game in any way similar to Tetris?

Sorry, but that was the dumbest comment I've ever read on here, and that's saying something.

Leobebes (BDF: Braid Defence Force) @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:36PM

@zkey14

Soulja Boy is that you?

JaneWellsJr @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:34PM

hyuk hyuk hyuk

Sizer @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:09PM

Also I'm glad to see someone thought twice about releasing a new game into the present deluge. But we already knew Blow was smarter than SEGA.

Alex @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:20PM

I was never too intrested in Braid, but maybe I'll check out the PC version if they make it easily purchasable, like in stores on a disc like a normal game or through Steam, I don't want to have to jump through hoops with weird DRM downloadable having to run odd programs and shit to play it.

Vcize @ Dec 22nd 2008 6:29PM

As an owner of all 3 consoles and a gaming PC, Braid = GoTY 2008, and it's not even close. Yes, it piled on some pretentious stuff at the end, but that doesn't change the fact that everything else in it was just the epitome of an awesome game.

Good to hear that more people will get to experience it, and good to know that Johnathan Blow will get more cash from it.

Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Dec 22nd 2008 11:01PM

This is the great thing about any medium of entertainment - we all like different things and have completely differing points of view and frames of reference. I thought the best game this year was Little Big Planet - a game that many people feel was not executed properly. I also think there are at least 5 games and more like 9 games that I would be OK with being bestowed as GOTY. It was a fantastic year for console gaming (maybe the best ever) and the future of downloadable games has never been better. If I were to count every game I purchased this year across all platforms it is probably around 40. There were only a handful that let me down.