Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Permanent bite taken out of Skulls of the Shogun price]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/permanent-bite-taken-out-of-skulls-of-the-shogun-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/permanent-bite-taken-out-of-skulls-of-the-shogun-price/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/permanent-bite-taken-out-of-skulls-of-the-shogun-price/#comments Skulls of the Shogun, which we rather liked, now has a lower price on Xbox Live Arcade, Windows 8 and Surface. The Xbox Live Arcade version has dropped to $10, while the Windows 8 and Surface versions can be had for $7 apiece. The Windows Phone version, however, is still five bucks.

The savings should help pay for the inevitable dental work associated with eating skulls.

JoystiqPermanent bite taken out of Skulls of the Shogun price originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitmicrosoftmobilepcskulls-of-the-shogunxboxFri, 01 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun review: See you in Hell]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-review/#comments Full disclosure: I've never died before. I have no idea what the afterlife looks like, where it's located, who runs its admissions process or if it even exists. I just don't. However, if an afterlife does exist, I'd be totally fine if it resembled the fantastical environment in Skulls of the Shogun.

The entire game takes place in a Japanese warrior's afterlife, with bright Asian line art, a cast of mystical characters and a betrayed general out for revenge. Somewhere along the development process, Skulls of the Shogun could have transformed into a gritty, deep commentary on the futility of life and honor, but thankfully its cheerful, Saturday-morning art style saves it from tumbling too far down that dark rabbit hole. In the end - and I do mean the end - Skulls of the Shogun is joyful, cheeky, and like most memorable experiences, it's best with friends.

So the next time you see your best buddy, clap a hand on his shoulder, look deep into his eyes and say, "We're going to the afterlife." And don't forget to smile.

Gallery: Skulls of the Shogun

Continue reading Skulls of the Shogun review: See you in Hell

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun review: See you in Hell originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitmicrosoftmobilepcskulls-of-the-shogunwindows-8windows-phonexboxThu, 31 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun cuts down Windows pricing at launch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/skulls-of-the-shogun-cuts-down-windows-pricing-at-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/skulls-of-the-shogun-cuts-down-windows-pricing-at-launch/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/skulls-of-the-shogun-cuts-down-windows-pricing-at-launch/#comments Skulls of the Shogun will launch at a special introductory price on January 30. Both the Windows 8 and Windows Surface versions will launch at a reduced $10 (normally $15), while the Windows Phone version will be available for $5, down from its normal $7.

The timing on the promotional launch place is vague at the moment - the press release past the break says the discounts will last for a "limited time." A day in dog years? Less than 12 parsecs? The length of the Japanese feudal period, roughly seven centuries?

(Don't worry, we'll let you know when it's over.)

Continue reading Skulls of the Shogun cuts down Windows pricing at launch

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun cuts down Windows pricing at launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitmobilepcskulls-of-the-shogunwindowswindows-8windows-phonewindows-surfaceWed, 23 Jan 2013 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun slices off a release date of Jan. 30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/skulls-of-the-shogun-slices-off-a-release-date-of-jan-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/skulls-of-the-shogun-slices-off-a-release-date-of-jan-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/skulls-of-the-shogun-slices-off-a-release-date-of-jan-30/#comments
Skulls of the Shogun is launching simultaneously on XBLA, Windows 8 on PC, Windows Surface and Windows Phone on January 30. With a launch platform lineup like that, we're not even going to complain that it didn't come out alongside Windows 8 as 17-Bit teased last year.

Skulls of the Shogun will run 1200 MS Points ($15) for XBLA, Windows 8 and Surface, and $7 for Windows Phone via the Windows Phone Marketplace. The game has up to four-player local or online multiplayer, and for the first time on Microsoft platforms, it supports asynchronous, cross-platform gameplay. What's more, it will be localized in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese and Russian. A little extra time goes a long way, apparently.

For a look at Skulls of the Shogun from the developer's point of view, check out its Joystiq Indie Pitch.

Continue reading Skulls of the Shogun slices off a release date of Jan. 30

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun slices off a release date of Jan. 30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitmicrosoftmobilepcrelease-dateskulls-of-the-shogunxboxThu, 10 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/feeding-on-undead-armies-in-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/feeding-on-undead-armies-in-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/feeding-on-undead-armies-in-skulls-of-the-shogun/#comments Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the ShogunHere's your high-concept, catch-all elevator pitch for Skulls of the Shogun: samurai zombies meets turn-based strategy, and a dash of Words With Friends thrown in for flavor. 17-BIT's charming top-down strategy title captures the action-flavored flow of the Advance Wars series, though it ditches the grid-based world in favor of more natural radial movement. The whole package comes together around an ambitious multi-platform release that features asynchronous multiplayer match-ups and a meaty, multi-hour campaign.

Don't let the "multi-platform" thing fool you. Skulls is 100 percent a Microsoft exclusive. You'll simply be able to play it on anything that runs Windows or some approximation of it. Xbox Live Arcade, yes, but also Surface tablets, Windows Phone devices, and Windows 8 PCs via the new operating system's app store.

As you might have read in our earlier previews or our recent Joystiq Indie Pitch, the 10-15 hour campaign casts players in the role of a recently deceased samurai lord from feudal Japan. Horrified at being forced to wait in line for half a millennium before being admitted into the afterlife, our General Akamoto takes matters into his own hands. He enlists an army of zombie Ronin to fight by his side and sets out to carve his way into the great beyond.

Gallery: Skulls of the Shogun

Continue reading Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun

JoystiqFeeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-BITmicrosoftMicrosoft-Studiosmobilepcskulls-of-the-shogunSurfaceWindows-PhonexboxFri, 14 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Skulls of the Shogun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-skulls-of-the-shogun/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-skulls-of-the-shogun/#comments

Indie developers are the starving artists of the video-game world, often brilliant and innovative, but also misunderstood, underfunded and more prone to writing free-form poetry on their LiveJournals. We like that. This week, Skulls of the Shogun lead designer Jake Kazdal discusses developing a game for four platforms at once, and what happened to that "launch alongside Windows 8" promise.

The Joystiq Indie Pitch Skulls of the Shogun
What's your game called and what's it about?

Skulls of the Shogun is an arcade-strategy game coming to XBLA, Windows Phone, Windows 8 and Windows RT (Surface) very soon. It's an original title, developed by a small team of highly experienced AAA developers over the past 3.5 years. It's a mash-up of tactical turn-based strategy, with a feel that is very arcade-like and action-packed. No grids, very few menus and quick, snappy rounds give it a very unique and charming aesthetic, easy for action gamers to adapt to, but with all the depth a good strategy game lover needs.

Why did you choose to go exclusively Microsoft? Is there any chance of Skulls of the Shogun launching through Steam or anywhere else?

Microsoft's XBLA group is full of old friends and co-workers from my past in this industry, they're close by so we can zip over there for lunch and meetings, and they have my favorite game console, along with a phone and a tablet and a new operating system.

For a micro-studio like us to be able to launch on four platforms simultaneously was a huge incentive. We own the IP and would like to do more with it in the future (not only gaming) but Microsoft is the publisher for these versions and that has kept our hands quite full for now.

Gallery: Skulls of the Shogun

Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Skulls of the Shogun

JoystiqThe Joystiq Indie Pitch: Skulls of the Shogun originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitjoystiq-indie-pitchmicrosoftmobileskulls-of-the-shogunsurfacewindows-8windows-phone-8windows-rtxboxMon, 26 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun playable at PAX Prime, trailer visible right here]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-playable-at-pax-prime-trailer-visible-righ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-playable-at-pax-prime-trailer-visible-righ/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/skulls-of-the-shogun-playable-at-pax-prime-trailer-visible-righ/#comments Skulls of the Shogun gets new trailer, playable at Pax Prime
Skulls of the Shogun is coming to just about everything Windows 8; Windows 8 PCs, Windows 8 phones, Windows 8 tablets. Oh, and Xbox. The turn-based strategy game supports cross-platform play across all those Windows, a nifty feature PAX Prime attendees can sample for themselves this weekend.

Skulls of the Shogun comes crashing through all those Windows on October 26.*

*when Windows 8 launches

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun playable at PAX Prime, trailer visible right here originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitmicrosoftmobilepax-primepax-prime-2012pcskulls-of-the-shogunwindows-8windows-phone-8xboxFri, 31 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun launching alongside Windows 8 this October [Update: Delayed]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/skulls-of-the-shogun-launching-alongside-windows-8-this-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/skulls-of-the-shogun-launching-alongside-windows-8-this-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/skulls-of-the-shogun-launching-alongside-windows-8-this-october/#comments Skulls of the Shogun launching alongside Windows 8 this October
Skulls of the Shogun isn't just an Xbox Live Arcade game, y'all. It's also a Windows 8 game, a Windows Phone 7 game, and a Surface game. So when Microsoft announced the launch date for Windows 8 yesterday, we couldn't help but wonder if that meant Skulls of the Shogun would launch alongside it. "The plan is to sim-ship on Win 8 (desktop, and both versions of Surface), Windows Phone 7 and XBLA in the same week," 17-bit's Jake Kazdal told us. So, uh, sounds like it!

He added one caveat. "We're certainly shooting for day one release with Win 8, and it looks very likely, but nothing is set in stone yet," he said. Windows 8 launches on October 26, meaning you'll likely have your hands on those shogun skulls ahead of Halloween. And considering the dev studio's former name is Haunted Temple, that seems rather fitting, no?

Update: Skulls of the Shogun missed its Windows 8 launch, but is now scheduled to hit on January 30 for XBLA, Windows 8, Windows Surface and Windows Phone.

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun launching alongside Windows 8 this October [Update: Delayed] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bithaunted-temple-studiosjake-kazdalmicrosoftmobilepcskulls-of-the-shogunsurfacewindows-8windows-phone-7xblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeThu, 19 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun gives asynchronous, cross-platform play a turn]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/skulls-of-the-shogun-gives-asynchronous-cross-platform-play-a-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/skulls-of-the-shogun-gives-asynchronous-cross-platform-play-a-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/skulls-of-the-shogun-gives-asynchronous-cross-platform-play-a-t/#comments Skulls of the Shogun gives asynchronous, crossplatform play a turnSkulls of the Shogun will feature Skulls Anywhere mode, which offers cross-platform play and asynchronous multiplayer across all of its launch platforms: XBLA, Windows Phone, Windows 8 PC and Windows 8 tablet, a la Microsoft Surface. Players with the required devices will be able to take turns independently of one another, for up to four players, and the single-player campaign will be accessible across all Windows platforms through cloud saves.

"The turn-based nature of the game makes for perfect asynchronous play across every platform we're shipping on," 17-BIT's Jake Kazdal says. "You can start playing a game at home on your Xbox, then head out and play a few turns from the same game on your phone. You might be playing against someone on a PC or a tablet - everyone's connected via Xbox Live. And regardless of platform, everyone's having the same great experience, because it's the exact same game across all those devices."

Skulls of the Shogun will still feature online, real-time multiplayer, called Skulls Online, and the standard local multiplayer matches.

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun gives asynchronous, cross-platform play a turn originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bitasynchronouscross-platformmicrosoftMicrosoft-Surfacemobilepcskulls-anywhereskulls-of-the-shogunsurfacewindowswindows-7windows-8xboxThu, 28 Jun 2012 21:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Skulls of the Shogun dev becomes '17-BIT']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/skulls-of-the-shogun-dev-becomes-17-bit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/skulls-of-the-shogun-dev-becomes-17-bit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/skulls-of-the-shogun-dev-becomes-17-bit/#comments Image"It's 16-bit, plus a bit more," says CEO Jake Kazdal, who can now add "ghostbuster" to his job title. Formerly "Haunted Temple Studios," the developer behind stylized strategy-fest Skulls of the Shogun has officially changed its name to "17-BIT." The old-school alteration is meant to reflect the studio's "classic gameplay ideals," and comes after a successful trial run on the PAX East show floor.

"The new name sums up our goal perfectly -- taking your best memories of the 16-bit era, and making new experiences that look as good and play as well as you remember," Kazdal says.

You'll get to see the studio's snazzy -- make that SNES-y -- badge tattooed on the Skulls of the Shogun, which launches on Xbox Live Arcade, Windows Phone and Windows 8 just as Microsoft pushes out its new OS (currently speculated to happen in October). The 17-BIT art itself came about with the aid of Cory Schmitz, who is quickly becoming the Nolan North of nifty logos.

Continue reading Skulls of the Shogun dev becomes '17-BIT'

JoystiqSkulls of the Shogun dev becomes '17-BIT' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 May 2012 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17-bithaunted-temple-studiosjake-kazdalmicrosoftmobilepcskulls-of-the-shogunxboxFri, 04 May 2012 01:45:00 EST