Joystiq

'Amy' dev Paul Cuisset discusses game's autistic character, female leads

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:42:00 EST

Flashback designer Paul Cuisset heads up French studio Vector Cell, developer of forthcoming PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade title Amy. Beyond the scary monsters and spooky name, Amy is a game about two female protagonists in the near future. One is a little girl named Amy, who suffers from autism, and the other is Lana, a woman who must protect Amy from the monsters that have appeared.

Cuisset speaks to his unique character choices in a recent interview with Edge, explaining, "Amy is verbally impaired but she's not completely autistic ... you discover in the story why she doesn't want to speak." While he understands the risks involved with making a game starring two ladies without guns who run away from monsters, Cuisset says "the story of Amy and Lana is very important to us, and it justifies the risk we've taken because I think it's a good one." To him, "most games look the same and tell more or less the same story" nowadays, and he's grateful for digital platforms like PSN, which have room for games that might be deemed risky.

Cuisset makes a point we can't help but agree with, and wish we heard more from developers. "A good story needs good characters, and good characters need good relations to build something. I think that we tend to forget that we can do something different in games." Amy arrives this summer on PSN first, and on XBLA "eventually."

'Amy' dev Paul Cuisset discusses game's autistic character, female leads originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's something fishy about Flashback on iPhone

Justin McElroy — Mon, 11 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

You likely remember (maybe with just a tinge of embarrassment) our giddy delight at the release of adventure/platforming classic Flashback on the iPhone. But a report from Pocket Gamer indicates you might want to hesitate before you plunk down the $5 asking price.

For one, it seems you're actually paying for an emulator that downloads a ROM independently (kind of a shady workaround of App Store policies against otherwise copyrighted material). Since this version of Flashback apparently isn't designed for the phone there are also complaints of wonky controls. Speaking of which, can anybody tell us how to pick up the holocube? ... Anybody?

There's something fishy about Flashback on iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flashback now available on iPhone

David Hinkle — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:15:00 EST

iPhone users, today could very well be one of the most important days in your life, because Flashback is available right now in the App store. It's a port of the Amiga version of the game, done by platform newcomers Manomio LLC, and features the requisite touch-based controls and a redesigned menu system.

We'd like to say that this iPhone version of one of the greatest games ever made is a surefire hit, and you should download it immediately, but, frankly, we just don't know. It could be another Mega Man 2, which is an amazing game on just about every platform besides the iPhone.

Flashback ($4.99, Manomio LLC)

Gallery: Flashback for iPhone

Flashback now available on iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gears of War 2 Flashback maps hit XBLM for $5

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Xbox Live Marketplace, Gears of War 2

Hey, remember the Flashback Map Pack for Gears of War 2? You know, the one that you can only get by purchasing a brand new copy of the game at your favorite retailer? Guess what? It's now available on Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 Microsoft Points, also known as $5. That's five maps for a buck a piece, which isn't too shabby. Strangely, the text description of the content still says that it's only available as a free download with new copies of the game, but it's definitely listed for 400 points. If you've been worried about losing the Flashback maps by picking up a used copy of Gears 2, it looks like you can officially rest easy. Play your cards right and you could even save some money.

Find a video preview of the Flashback Map Pack after the break.

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in.]

Continue reading Gears of War 2 Flashback maps hit XBLM for $5

Gears of War 2 Flashback maps hit XBLM for $5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GoW 2 comes with 'Flashback' maps; gold Hammerburst code at special launch events

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

Those who purchase Gears of War 2 will receive a code in the box to download the "Flashback" map pack from XBM for free. The pack contains visually upgraded versions of original Gears maps: Canals, Gridlock, Subway, Mansion and Tyro Station. This means Gears fans will have 15 total multiplayer maps to practice their chainsawdomy at launch.

GamePro has also learned that a code to download the in-game gold-plated Hammerburst will be given out at "Midnight Madness" launch events for the game on Nov. 6. Epic allegedly has no plans to offer the Flashback maps or the special Hammerburst as DLC at this time.

[Via X3F]

GoW 2 comes with 'Flashback' maps; gold Hammerburst code at special launch events originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virtually Overlooked: Flashback (SNES)

David Hinkle — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Virtually Overlooked

Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren't on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative.

It's been awhile since I've thought about one of my most favorite games of all time. Flashback not only was an important game to me because of its graphics (polygons, oh mai gawds!), but because it showed me that in-depth story telling in a video game was a reality and something totally possible. Sure, there are other, probably better, examples of amazing story in video games prior to this title's release, but there's just the one thing: I didn't play them.

So with JC being away from our blogger stronghold deep within the dark confines of your attic (we're watching you) this week, I managed to convince him that I wouldn't totally ruin his weekly feature. While that has yet to be seen, I still ask that you head past the break and read why I want Flashback on the Virtual Console.

Continue reading Virtually Overlooked: Flashback (SNES)

Virtually Overlooked: Flashback (SNES) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Fanboy poll: Remakes of choice

Alisha Karabinus — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: DS Fanboy poll

Earlier this week, we asked you, our dear readers, to discuss games you'd like to see given a spit and a polish for the DS in this age of remakes, and as usual, you came through in a big way. In fact, you gave us so many fantastic suggestions that we've decided to split our selected list into two polls instead of just doing one. We can't include everything suggested, obviously, but we've prepared a selection of bigger releases and more obscure titles, and we're going to let you vote every day, just in case you want to throw your support behind more than one game. Once you've voted, we will profile the top two results from each poll and examine exactly why they would be well-suited to our favorite handheld. So try to vote for the titles you think are the most suitable, those that would most benefit from the kind of treatment we're seeing with the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy titles ... and hey, vote for the games you'd just like to see in portable form as well.

And if you just can't decide ... well, that's why we're letting you vote more than once! You can vote your heart and your brain, and the cream will rise to the top.

Continue reading DS Fanboy poll: Remakes of choice

DS Fanboy poll: Remakes of choice originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flashback creator working on Wii title with Eric Viennot

David Hinkle — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: News

As far as news goes, this is one of the most exciting bits of news for us in recent memory. See, Flashback was one of our very favorite games on the SNES during our pre-teen years, as we helped a man with no memory navigate the dangers of New New York. It was an amazing title and now, with the confirmation of its creator Paul Cuisset working on a new Wii title alongside Eric Viennot, we're pretty sure we'll have to go on a murderous rampage should something prevent this great union of minds from creating their proposed game on the Wii.

While we're discussing it, would you download Flashback if it were made available on the Virtual Console?

[Via Codename Revolution]

Flashback creator working on Wii title with Eric Viennot originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Feb 2007 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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