Joystiq

Hothead sheds more light on the death of Penny Arcade Adventures

Justin McElroy — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:20:00 EST

Back when the discontinuation of the Penny Arcade Adventures series was first announced, Team PA explained that the decision was made due to the team's concern about developer Hothead being forced to split attention between PAA and then-recently-announced DeathSpank. As PA writer Jerry Holkins told it: "I think they could've made DeathSpank and Episode 3 but I think Episode 3 would've suffered. I mean, I know it would have suffered. So we'd rather not do it than do it half-assed and so we're going to finish that story but it's going to be on our website."

Today, in an interview with Eurogamer, Hothead director of technology Joel DeYoung laid a little more blame at the feet of Holkins, implying that Tycho's alter ego had trouble keeping up with the workload required. "I think he really struggled to get the volume of text written for Episode 1, and then with Episode 2 coming out so quickly thereafter - it was five-and-a-half months," DeYoung said. "That was not worked on in parallel, and getting him to deliver that text was, er, frankly quite a struggle."

This revelation comes a few days after Hothead erroneously teased that Episode 3 would be produced if the first two sold well on the Mac App Store, a notion that PA artist Mike Krahulik quickly batted down on Twitter.

Though we may never know the real cause behind Episode 3's termination, whether it's Penny Arcade or Hothead that had too much on its plate, we'd imagine the truth, as is usually the case in situations like these, hovers somewhere in between.

Hothead sheds more light on the death of Penny Arcade Adventures originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penny Arcade Adventures tearing up Mac App Store charts, Ep. 3 still unlikely

Christopher Grant — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:20:00 EST

Just four days after the launch of the Mac App Store, some developers are finding unexpected success. The first two episodes of Hothead Games' truncated Penny Arcade Adventures trilogy are currently ranking high in the bestselling apps chart at number 21 and 56, respectively (and certainly boosted by their $4 sale prices). This prompted the developer to tweet, "We're thrilled that Precipice of Darkness has been doing well on the Mac App Store!"

While that was heartening, it was the now-pulled followup tweet (screen-capped above) that raised eyebrows: "For those of you that want PA Episode 3, all you need to do is get 100,000 of your friends to buy 1&2. Seriously. Do that and we'll make it," a Hothead staffer wrote. Turns out that's not quite the case.

"That's certainly news to me!" Penny Arcade biz dude Robert Khoo told Joystiq, adding, "there's nothing new to say about future [episodes]." Penny Arcade's Mike Krahulik responded to Hothead's tweet, stating simply, "that's actually not true."

Continue reading Penny Arcade Adventures tearing up Mac App Store charts, Ep. 3 still unlikely

Penny Arcade Adventures tearing up Mac App Store charts, Ep. 3 still unlikely originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSN Thursday: Super Puzzle Fighter price drops, Penny Arcade Adventures gets bundled up

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:40:00 EST

The PSN update this week is casual. You know, nothing big, but not bad. There are some deals, like the seriously reduced Penny Arcade Adventures bundle. It has a couple neat demos, like Just Cause 2. Oh, oh, and there's a new episode of The Tester. We know you're loving that, but not as much as you're loving Ru Paul's Drag Race (confess!). It's a T-shirt and jeans kind of update this week. Check out the full PSN update after the break.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Continue reading PSN Thursday: Super Puzzle Fighter price drops, Penny Arcade Adventures gets bundled up

PSN Thursday: Super Puzzle Fighter price drops, Penny Arcade Adventures gets bundled up originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Incoming Xbox Deals of the Week: Lost and Damned, Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2

JC Fletcher — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:29:00 EST

How often is the Xbox Live Deal of the Week actually exciting? Not this week, at least, but it will be this month! On August 24, Microsoft will offer something pretty tempting: Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned for 1200 ($15), 5 bucks off the normal asking price for the Grand Theft Auto IV expansion.

If you're the guy who bought GTA IV on 360 but hasn't picked this up yet -- and you don't want to wait for Episodes from Liberty City -- now's a great time to pick up a new set of missions to give up on halfway through the game, in favor of just doing awesome bike jumps.

The announcement also reveals that a deal for Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2 is incoming, so ... you know, don't buy it yet. Also, a Halo 3 Dashboard theme that you really don't need to buy ever.

Incoming Xbox Deals of the Week: Lost and Damned, Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSN Thursday: Commandos crash over the rain-slick precipice

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Action, Adventure, Online, RPGs

The Crash Commandos land this week on the PSN, along with Penny Arcade Adventures Ep. 2. If you're looking to whip up something a little more old-school, check out Castlevania Chronicles. There are also several pieces of new DLC for your favorite music games to keep you rockin' through the holidays. And don't overlook the "Complete My Game, Please" add-on pack for Super Stardust Portable. The complete North American PSN update can be found after the break.

PS3 Fanboy has the European PSN update, which adds Soldner-X Himmelssturmer. Maybe that title is easier to pronounce in Europanese?

Continue reading PSN Thursday: Commandos crash over the rain-slick precipice

PSN Thursday: Commandos crash over the rain-slick precipice originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penny Arcade Adventures Ep. 2 coming to PSN Dec. 18

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, RPGs

The PlayStation Blog gives word that the second episode of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness will be available today on the PSN.

PAA: OtR-SPoD: Ep. 2 features Trophy support and, unlike the first installment, the option to change difficulty settings. The fruit-fracking mini-RPG will cost $15 and should be available as soon as the PSN update occurs later in the day.

Gallery: Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2

Penny Arcade Adventures Ep. 2 coming to PSN Dec. 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Penny Arcade Episode 2, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Xbox Live Arcade, X3F TV, X3F Features

This week on XBLA in Brief, we look at two radically different games. On the one hand, we have an RPG filled with disgusting creatures and filthy dialogue and on the other we have a family friendly trivia game. They are Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 2 and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, respectively. Also, one of the games has a digital Jeff Foxworthy. We'll let you figure out which. Check out the latest episode to see how the games stack up.

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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Penny Arcade Episode 2, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penny Arcade Episode 2 next week for 1200 points

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Xbox Live Arcade

Microsoft, it would seem, has no pity whatsoever for our aching bank accounts (or cash stuffed mattresses, these days), as it has been officially announced that Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode 2 will arrive on Xbox Live Arcade next Wednesday, October 29. The game includes many new gameplay features, including extra difficulty modes, completion tracking, and the ability to transfer Episode One characters into the game. The game will also feature music from The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, a rock group devoted to the writing of H. P. Lovecraft. Perhaps best of all -- and certainly most interesting -- PAAOTRSPDE2 will cost 1200 Microsoft Points, a full $5 less than the 1600 point Episode One. Find another video after the break.

Gallery: Penny Arcade Epidsode 2

Continue reading Penny Arcade Episode 2 next week for 1200 points

Penny Arcade Episode 2 next week for 1200 points originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penny Arcade Adventures Ep. 2 coming Oct. 29 to XBLA, PC

Ross Miller — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC, Microsoft Xbox 360

The second episode of Penny Arcade Adventure: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, is coming next Wednesday, October 29, for Xbox Live Arcade, Windows, Mac and Linux. According to the press release, the PC versions will be available via Greenhouse. As previously revealed, the episode will cost $15 for all platforms. No word on the PlayStation 3 release. Episode One will finally be hitting the PS Store tomorrow, or six days before everyone else gets the sequel.

Gallery: Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2

Penny Arcade Adventures Ep. 2 coming Oct. 29 to XBLA, PC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penny Arcade episode 2 has gone gold, available on PSN this Fall

Jem Alexander — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: PlayStation Network, e-Distribution Games, News

Another "gone gold" announcement today, this time for Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 2. The second part of the On The Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness series is now in the can and ready to release onto the PSN store "this fall." Actually, the press release states that the PSN version will probably launch shortly after the Mac, Linux, Windows and 360 versions. Hopefully that's a matter of days later, not weeks (to coincide with the Thursday PSN releases, we suspect). The pricing for the game will be $14.95.

Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 1 will no doubt release before then, too. If you've already played it on another system, it might be worth picking it up for the trophies, and for the ability to transfer your character data over between episodes. If you've not played the game yet, it's an 3D turn based RPG with a Penny Arcade art and writing style. If that sounds good to you, rejoice in the fact that you have two episodes to look forward to this Autumn.

Penny Arcade episode 2 has gone gold, available on PSN this Fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penny Arcade Adventures Ep. 2 done, priced at $15

Ludwig Kietzmann — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

The elaborately titled adventures of the webcomic duo, Gabe and Tycho, are set to continue this Fall in Penny Arcade Adventures: On The Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness Episode Two. We're told that developer Hothead Games has just completed the downloadable RPG-adventure, bestowing "Gold Master" status upon the Windows, Mac and Linux versions.

The Xbox Live Arcade and PSN iterations are presumably still being tweaked (much like the PSN's Episode One), but will share the same price of 15 earth bucks. Hooray for subsequent episodic games becoming cheaper!

Gallery: Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2

Penny Arcade Adventures Ep. 2 done, priced at $15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Penny Arcade Episode 2 screens

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, Xbox Live Arcade

Given that PAX is organized by the creators of Penny Arcade (it's right there in the title, really), it's pretty much the perfect venue to release the first screenshots of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode Two. For the sake of brevity, let's just call it Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2, mkay? This first batch of screenshots hints at some of the story in Episode 2, namely the sanitarium that's featured briefly in the introduction of Episode 1. Also featured are shots of the game's combat. Sadly, it looks like the game's protagonist (i.e. "You") will not be ditching his or her trusty rake, as we spotted a special attack entitled "A License to Till." Check out all the new screens in the gallery below.

[Via Joystiq]

First Penny Arcade Episode 2 screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penny Arcade teases PA Adventures Episode 2

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Xbox Live Arcade

In the latest update at the Penny Arcade website (or just "Penny Arcade" to the kids), Gabe gives the first sneak peak at Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode 2. You can see it above, the Hat Spider, whom Gabe notes is "as ferocious as he is fashionable" (note the skull hat). Actual details about Episode 2 aren't given, though Gabe does announce that it will be shown at the Penny Arcade Expo later this year. Fans of Episode One should take note, as if there wasn't already enough reason to attend PAX ....

Penny Arcade teases PA Adventures Episode 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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