Joystiq

Castle Crashers (XBLA) on sale for $7.50 through May 21

David Hinkle — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

We can't imagine there are people out there who haven't ever played Castle Crashers - well, maybe babies haven't. Those babies should to take advantage of the current Xbox Live Arcade sale, which has priced Castle Crashers at 600 MS Points ($7.50) through May 21.

Castle Crashers (XBLA) on sale for $7.50 through May 21 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Check out Castle Crashers on Gamecube while you wait for Battleblock Theater

JC Fletcher — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:30:00 EST

All right, so Battleblock Theater doesn't have a release date yet. But The Behemoth offered a superb visual justification for why it takes as long as it does with each game: footage of an early version of Castle Crashers, back when it was a GameCube game and purely a side-scroller. "We decided it was cool but NOT COOL ENOUGH," Project Manager Emil Ayoubkhan said on the development blog.

"So anyway, this is why we took it back to the drawing board. We needed to tweak stuff and add awesomeness on top of it. This is essentially what's happening with BBT right now," Ayoubkhan explained. "Some of the largest steps forward have occured recently and we're so glad we didn't just settle on something that wasn't quite ready yet (and at the same time ready to explode from the excitement of handing it over)."

This example suggests that Battleblock Theater could go through some dramatic changes before we finally get to play it. It also suggests that, if development progresses like Castle Crashers did, we'll get to play it.

Check out Castle Crashers on Gamecube while you wait for Battleblock Theater originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSN's best selling games of 2011 list dominated by games not from 2011

Jordan Mallory — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST

We're practically knee deep in 2012 at this point, and yet 2011 still refuses to give up the limelight, dropping financial data and sales reports on its way out the door in a desperate final attempt at relevance. So here we are, with a list of 2011's top sellers on the PlayStation Network ... and we've got two lists dominated by one game from 1985, and one from 2010.

Speaking only in terms of full games, not "paid downloads" (like DLC packs for Black Ops) and PS Minis, the list is a hodgepodge of nostalgia-fueled favorites from yesteryear (like Tetris in its curiously lofty number one spot), and digitally distributed future-classics like Castle Crashers and Limbo, which ranked in at six and seven respectively. There's on important thread tying those together: none of those games launched in 2011.

When all digital sales are taken into account, however, the list becomes an entirely different beast, and the only actual game present within the top 10 is Angry Birds, of all things (a PS Mini). In fact, the three best-selling anythings on the PlayStation Network in 2011 were Black Ops DLC packs, followed closely by a cavalcade of FIFA Soccer 12 and MLB 11 sundries. At least the DLC came out in 2011! Hop past the break for the full breakdown of both lists, care of Game Informer.

Continue reading PSN's best selling games of 2011 list dominated by games not from 2011

PSN's best selling games of 2011 list dominated by games not from 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers' second title update ready for download (grab your free Pink Knight!)

David Hinkle — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EST

That's right, you can download your free Pink Knight character for Castle Crashers on Xbox Live right now but, perhaps best of all, The Behemoth promises to pledge a dollar for each of the first 50,000 downloads to the Keep A Breast Foundation. You get free game content, a charity gets free money and some women hopefully get to keep their breasts. It's win-win-win!

On top of the free Pink Knight, there's also a downloadable Blacksmith character for 160 MS Points ($2), a new Team vs Team mode for Player Match Arena and two new Avatar awards to unlock: a Cardinal Animal Orb and Knight Helmet. In addition to all of these goodies, there are also several bug fixes employed in this title update, all of which you can read about in the update notes over on The Behemoth's blog.

Continue reading Castle Crashers' second title update ready for download (grab your free Pink Knight!)

Castle Crashers' second title update ready for download (grab your free Pink Knight!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battleblock Theater player-to-player trading system channels Buffalo Bill

Jessica Conditt — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:00:00 EST

The Behemoth has let the cat out of the musty prison cell with details about Battleblock Theater's's trading system, which was inspired by the hacking of weapon drops in Castle Crashers. Battleblock Theater players will be able to collect the faces of other prisoners by freeing them with green gems found in co-op levels, and weapons by distracting their feline foes with balls of yarn. All weapons and strangers' faces for you to wear as your own will be randomized, and there are no duplicates of any one item, meaning trading will play an important role in collecting the pieces you want.

If you see an item -- let's say, a face -- on another player online, rip off your face and throw it at him, and if he returns the gesture, you've traded. Sounds ~~painful~~ simple enough. There are over 100 unlockable weapons and faces in Battleblock Theater, with more in the works before launch, which is scheduled for later this year. We recommend stocking up on lotion (or hoses) now.

Battleblock Theater player-to-player trading system channels Buffalo Bill originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Behemoth had the best gaming booth at Comic-Con

Mike Schramm — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST

If you were impressed by the arcade machine Sony brought to Comic-Con for Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, you ain't see nothing yet. Indie developer The Behemoth went all out: They had a booth full of custom-made and designed arcade machines, playing both Castle Crashers and the upcoming Battleblock Theater, complete with all of the requisite joysticks and buttons for four or two players.

The Behemoth (and Newgrounds) co-founder Dan Paladin told me in between signings that the machines were hand-crafted by the company, in a project overseen by The Behemoth's John Baez. And they're even cooler than they appear -- Paladin said that the big screens up on top of the machines were controlled remotely, and could move in and out of the units mechanically for transportation.

If you missed these at Comic-Con, Paladin also said that they'll be on the road with the company, both at PAX Prime and the Tokyo Game Show later this year. The whole enterprise was very impressive; it's no wonder the booth was full all week long.

Gallery: The Behemoth Comic-con 2011 booth

The Behemoth had the best gaming booth at Comic-Con originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New BattleBlock Theater video throws a little surprise party

Mike Schramm — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:30:00 EST

It's been a while since we last saw The Behemoth's Battleblock Theater in action, so if you're forgetting all of the pertinent deets, let us remind you: The game, by the creators of XBLA superhit Castle Crashers, throws a few players with strangely-shaped heads into a theater run by cats and tasks them with navigating a maze of traps and troubles for the cats' presumed entertainment.

You can see some of that entertainment in this brand-new video, which features Prisoner 10321 and the game's co-op "throwing" mechanic, which allows players to launch their frienemies across gaps, into portal-like devices ... or into spikes and pits, if they happen to not be so fond of them at a given moment.

The official Behemoth blog says there's complexity here, too: you'll go farther when both characters are facing the same way, or not as far if they're facing apart. And while players can slide tackle each other while fighting, the throw move can cancel that out, blocking the slide and instead sending the slider into danger. We tell you that now so that when it happens in the game, you're not actually thrown for the proverbial loop.

New BattleBlock Theater video throws a little surprise party originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One-day XBLA sale: Half-price Monday Night Combat, Limbo, Trials and more

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Microsoft is running a one-day sale on some of its best XBLA titles. Today only, you can grab Monday Night Combat, Limbo, Trials HD, Castle Crashers or Shadow Complex for the wallet-friendly price of 600 points ($7.50) each.

Continue reading One-day XBLA sale: Half-price Monday Night Combat, Limbo, Trials and more

One-day XBLA sale: Half-price Monday Night Combat, Limbo, Trials and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seen@PAX East: The Behemoth's Battleblock Theater and Castle Crashers arcade cabinets

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST

After experiencing Super Crate Box on the incredible Winnitron 1000 in person at GDC last week, imagine our delight to find both Castle Crashers and Battleblock Theater running on four-player arcade machines at this year's PAX East.

The Behemoth booth was packed full of folks getting their co-op on and purchasing game merch as we precariously circled and snapped a handful of shots. You can find them in the gallery below. As you'll see momentarily, the cabinets weren't just fun to play on, but also quite attractive in their own right.

Gallery: Seen@PAX East: Castle Crashers and Battleblocks Theater

Seen@PAX East: The Behemoth's Battleblock Theater and Castle Crashers arcade cabinets originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers, Dead Nation and more discounted for PSN Spring Fever

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST

PlayStation Network users recently had the opportunity to vote on their favorite of the platform's offerings as part of the PSN Gamers' Choice Awards -- the winners of which would be up for a 30 percent discount (50 percent for PlayStation Plus members). The winners were recently revealed:

Best PS3 Downloadable Game -- Castle Crashers (Sale price $10.49, Plus price $7.50)
Best PSP Downloadable Game -- God of War: Ghost of Sparta (Sale price $27.99, Plus price $20.00)
Best PS3/PSP mini -- Age of Zombies (Sale price $3.49, Plus price $2.50)
Best PlayStation Network Exclusive Game -- Dead Nation (Sale price $10.49, Plus price $7.50)

The offers go into effect today to kick off the PSN Spring Fever promotion, and will be available until March 14. Other games will be marked down in the following weeks as the promotion continues -- we'll make sure to let you know when another price gets unceremoniously slashed!

Castle Crashers, Dead Nation and more discounted for PSN Spring Fever originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pink Knight joining Castle Crashers crew to benefit breast cancer research, PSN-only for now

Christopher Grant — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:20:00 EST

Always wanted to find a way to donate money to breast cancer research, but you're (curiously) allergic to pink ribbons? The Behemoth has a solution just for you! Meet: the Pink Knight, the latest warrior for old-school-melee-em-up Castle Crashers. He (knights are usually male, right?) comes with "the Lollipop and 4 other brand new additional weapons," all for the reasonable price of $1.99.

Too rich for your blood, you say? Well, The Behemoth is donating 100% of the revenue (that's all of it!) to "charities devoted to Breast Cancer Research." That's capitalized, so you know it's serious. And yes, it's true, this offer is PSN-only for now - with a February 8 release date - but it's not because XBLA owners hate women (ignore this); The Behemoth is "working hard on a title update for XBLA that will feature the Pink Knight as a playable character as well." But what do you do when life hands you (pink?) lemons? If you don't want to wait for pesky certification, you can donate to breast cancer research right here. There, doesn't that feel good?

Gallery: Castle Crashers (the Pink Knight)

Pink Knight joining Castle Crashers crew to benefit breast cancer research, PSN-only for now originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Behemoth's 'Tournament of Champions' giving away a gold-plated Xbox 360

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST

Take a good, hard look at your Xbox 360. Look at it, sitting in your entertainment center. It is plain. That, friend, is a pauper's gaming console. The Behemoth is offering you a chance to add some much-needed regality to your gaming experience: As part of its "Tournament of Champions" contest, the indie studio is giving away a 24 karat gold-plated 360 Elite to the top-ranked global Castle Crashers Arena fighter on Xbox Live Arcade.

There's plenty of other prizes to go around, including a Castle Crashers-themed 360 Elite, and ... um, 250 squishy chicken toys, all of which go to the third place winner, which is appropriately bizarre. Check out the rules and regulations for the contest over on The Behemoth's official site!

The Behemoth's 'Tournament of Champions' giving away a gold-plated Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over two million have played Castle Crashers

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:40:00 EST

We've always known that the fan base for The Behemoth's colorful beat-em-up Castle Crashers would continue to grow throughout the fullness of time -- there's something just so universal about beating the tar out of dudes in exchange for food and coins, you know? Recently, that fan base passed a major milestone across all the game's platforms: According to the leaderboards, over two million players have taken up arms in the name of princess rescuing.

Will this impressive number carry over some steam to The Behemoth's next project, Battleblock Theater? It's hard to be sure -- both seem to have the same level of polish and oddball humor, though the studio's upcoming project doesn't appear to have quite as much diarrhea-stricken forest wildlife, so it's really anyone's guess.

Over two million have played Castle Crashers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Year's XBLM sale discounts multiple items, offers daily deals

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:37:00 EST

Microsoft has launched its "Countdown to New Year's" promotion today on Xbox Live, which will see numerous pieces of Marketplace content discounted in the days leading up to the ball drop. The deals are highlighted by several XBLA games on sale now through December 31, including Super Meat Boy, Carcassonne, Comic Jumper, Castle Crashers and Risk Factions; all of which are 33-50 percent off.

Daily deals are also on offer, beginning with today's deal: Red Dead Redemption DLC. Both the "Liars & Cheats" and the "Legends & Killers" packs are available for 400 Microsoft Points ($5) each, half their usual price. Meanwhile, "Undead Nightmare" and the "Undead Nightmare Collection" (which bundles together all three aforementioned add-ons) are 25 percent off at 600 ($7.50) and 1200 points ($15), respectively. And tomorrow, December 22, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will be available for half-off at 600 points ($7.50).

Additionally, Microsoft has listed clues to the rest of this year's daily deals on the Xbox Live Dashboard. We've compiled the clues, along with our best guesses, after the break. Be sure to check it out before you start spending your holiday points!

Finally, buying discounted items, watching Netflix movies or playing Halo: Reach and Fable 3 multiplayer during this 11-day promotion will automatically enter players into a sweepstakes to win a massive prize package, featuring a 50-inch HDTV.

Continue reading New Year's XBLM sale discounts multiple items, offers daily deals

New Year's XBLM sale discounts multiple items, offers daily deals originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers' Red Princess now decreeing TomTom directions

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST

There are plenty of homebrewed, game-themed voices for the TomTom GPS platform, but not many real developers take the time to turn their games' characters into tiny, digital cartographers. That's why we love The Behemoth: The studio recently made a TomTom voice out of Castle Crashers' Red Princess.

Continue reading Castle Crashers' Red Princess now decreeing TomTom directions

Castle Crashers' Red Princess now decreeing TomTom directions originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers featured in Japan's PSN 'Western Game Buyer Selection'

JC Fletcher — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:55:00 EST

The American PSN recently got a storefront for imported Japanese games, but it's limited entirely to PSOne downloads. Sony is launching an import selection for the Japanese PSN as well, which includes more recent downloadables from the west.

The inaugural offerings on the "Western Game Buyer Selection" label on November 25 will include Castle Crashers for ¥1,500, Comet Crash for ¥1,000, and the PlayStation Mini Young Thor for ¥500. The screenshots sent out by Sony include no Japanese text, so it's likely these will be dropped on PSN untranslated, like the PSOne Imports in North America. We hope for Japan's sake that Sony is as diligent about populating this service as MonkeyPaw Games is here.

[Update: Pelfast studio head John Bates got in touch with us to let us know that Comet Crash, at least, has been professionally localized for Japan. So this is more than a simple storefront for unlocalized games!]

Castle Crashers featured in Japan's PSN 'Western Game Buyer Selection' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zen Pinball and Castle Crashers top PSN sales in September

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST

Looks like Castle Crashers' volleyball was able to help win over PS3 owners. It tops the PSN sales charts for September as the best-selling paid game. At the top of the overall chart, however, is Zen Pinball, which earns its rank with the help of PlayStation Plus subscribers.

1. ZEN Pinball
2. Castle Crashers
3. Blast Off (Minis)
4. Echoes (MInis)
5. Syphon Filter 3 (PSone)
6. Sonic Adventure
7. My Aquarium
8. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game
9. Red Dead Redemption: Legends and Killers Pack (DLC)
10. DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue

Zen Pinball and Castle Crashers top PSN sales in September originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers invades PSN on August 31

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Congratulations, PlayStation fans, you can pencil in a date for the end to all the anguish. That's right, the PSN version of Castle Crashers finally has a release date and it's very soon. On August 31, just under two weeks away, the game will launch on PSN for $15. We suggest you skip a few fast food meals and save the money for some sweet castle crashing action. It's worth it. Promise.

Castle Crashers invades PSN on August 31 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSN Castle Crashers set at $15, Behemoth heads to PAX

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

The Behemoth has posted a quick update on the status of the long-awaited PSN port of Castle Crashers. While there aren't many concrete details, the dev states it is "right in the thick of the submission process" and has cemented the price. Just like its Xbox Live Arcade counterpart, Castle Crashers will arrive on PSN at $15 (packing some new features, don't forget).

The Behemoth also detailed its plans for PAX, set to go down in Seattle early next month. The studio is bringing along the latest build of Battleblock Theater and Behemoth merchandise. The company will also be toting along a custom, 4-player Castle Crashers arcade cabinet ... which we will be stealing.

PSN Castle Crashers set at $15, Behemoth heads to PAX originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alien Hominid will be in PSN Castle Crashers

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:45:00 EST

Folks who played the 360 version of Castle Crashers got a nice little bonus if they happened to have another of The Behemoth's XBLA games on their hard drive: a playable character based on the protagonist from Alien Hominid. Unfortunately, that particular game isn't available on the PSN, leading some to fear he/she/it wouldn't reprise its cameo in the PSN version of Crashers.

That fear is unwarranted, friends -- a recent post on The Behemoth's blog confirms that the Alien will be an unlockable character in the upcoming port of Castle Crashers, though the requirements for unlocking it are unknown at this point. We're guessing it has something to do with the level where you kill a thousand of his brothers and sisters.

Alien Hominid will be in PSN Castle Crashers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 May 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers PS3's Arena features team-building exercises

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:20:00 EST

Our favorite part of the original Castle Crashers was always the brief (but intense) competitive bouts which would crop up every time the players rescued a princess. We'd always swear allegiance to one of our former allies: "Let's have a pact of non-aggression until we deal with the other two!" The agreement would be honored until our accomplice was at his weakest, and then, ever so swiftly, we'd carry out our inevitable betrayal.

The Behemoth has interpreted this concept in the Arena mode for Castle Crashers on the PS3, which will now let players divide up into teams represented by a wide range of colorful flags. Check out the video after the jump to see how the buddy-buddy on buddy-buddy action breaks down.

Continue reading Castle Crashers PS3's Arena features team-building exercises

Castle Crashers PS3's Arena features team-building exercises originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 May 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Behemoth serves new Castle Crashers PS3 screens and video

JC Fletcher — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:00:00 EST

The Behemoth has sent out an update about the status of the PS3 version of Castle Crashers. No, there's no release date yet. But at least the game is still in development! That's good news. "We have now sent the title off to a 3rd party vendor for final testing before we begin the submission process with Sony," The Behemoth's Kelly Revak reports.

Two new Trophies have been added to the as-yet theoretical PSN game, in addition to those being ported over from the XBLA game's Achievements. "Social Networker" is earned for an "impressive" number of volleys in the new volleyball game, and "You are insane" is awarded to those who complete the game on Insane difficulty. See how that works?

While you (continue to) to wait for the game, enjoy some footage of a volleyball match after the break, and some volleyball screenshots in the gallery.

Gallery: Castle Crashers - Volleyball (PS3)

Continue reading The Behemoth serves new Castle Crashers PS3 screens and video

The Behemoth serves new Castle Crashers PS3 screens and video originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 May 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All about Castle Crashers Volleyball on PSN

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:14:00 EST

The bad news: The Behemoth still hasn't nailed down a release date -- or even a release month -- for the PSN version of Castle Crashers (though it's still slated for this year). The good news: PlayStation 3 owners will be treated to some brand new content. Specifically, a recent entry on The Behemoth dev blog revealed that the PSN version of the game will feature a new volleyball mini-game. The mini-game will allow up to eight players (locally or online) to play a game of volleyball using any of a player's unlocked characters. It will feature new serve and spike moves and magic attacks that place one of eight status effects on the ball. The volleyball game will even include its own leaderboards.

Again, it's not much to dull the pain of waiting, but at least the PSN is getting something extra in the deal. Also, if it makes you feel any better, The Behemoth will be showing off Castle Crashers and Battleblock Theater at PAX East next month.

All about Castle Crashers Volleyball on PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behemoth collects over 30k for Haiti relief, extends promotion again

Xav de Matos — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST

Since January 20, the team at Behemoth have been raising money through Xbox Live DLC sales of Castle Crashers and Alien Hominid to support relief efforts in Haiti. Over four days, Behemoth has collected $15,585.65 through DLC purchases; however, since the promise was to donate 200% of all DLC sales, The Behemoth has matched the total leaving the donation jar filled with $31,171.29!

That's great, but for The Behemoth it isn't great enough. Today the team announced they will continue to extend the promotion until the total donation jar hits $50,000. What a bunch of sweethearts. Check out a list of the DLC you can buy to help offer support for the people in Haiti. They really need your help.

Continue reading Behemoth collects over 30k for Haiti relief, extends promotion again

Behemoth collects over 30k for Haiti relief, extends promotion again originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behemoth Haiti DLC event extended to Friday

Justin McElroy — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST

If you neglected the opportunity to buy Castle Crashers or Alien Hominid DLC and have that money both donated and matched by developer The Behemoth to Haiti relief, you're a terrible person. But you're also in luck: The charity drive has been extended to this Friday, Jan. 29.

By all means, pick up all the DLC you can get your hands on, just don't expect St. Peter to give you much credit at the Pearly Gates if your only charitable act in life was forgetting to buy a video game until you remembered to later.

Behemoth Haiti DLC event extended to Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Behemoth DLC revenue going to Haiti this week

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:15:00 EST

Not to be outclassed by larger companies in the gaming industry, indie dev studio The Behemoth has announced its own initiative for helping out with recovery efforts in Haiti. Any revenue brought in by DLC purchases for Castle Crashers or Alien Hominid on XBLA will go directly to the Red Cross. The promotion is titled "The Behemoth Super Haiti Chicken Super Charity," because, hey, what else would you call it?

The folks at Behemoth also plan to match this sum of money with some of their own, coming directly from their pockets, wallets and bank accounts. That's quite generous of them -- why not show your own support by picking up some DLC for Alien Hominid or Castle Crashers before the promotion ends next Sunday?

The Behemoth DLC revenue going to Haiti this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft reveals the top Xbox Live games of 2009

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:35:00 EST

Now that the new year is in full swing, Microsoft has decided to take a look back at the top games of 2009. Specifically, Major Nelson has released a breakdown of the most popular games on Xbox Live during 2009. The overall top twenty list seems pretty standard with Halo 3 at the top, followed by Call of Duty 4. What's amazing, though, is that after releasing in November, Modern Warfare 2 managed to snag third place for the entire year. So, pretty popular game, then.

On the downloadable front, Battlefield 1943 takes top XBLA honors, followed by Castle Crashers and Trials HD. Indie Games are topped by I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1N IT!!!1 (it is just a dollar), followed by Avatar Drop and RC-AirSim. Unsurprisingly, the top original Xbox game is still Halo 2, while Star Wars: Battlefront 2 and the original Fable take second and third place, respectively. Head over to Major Nelson for the full list.

Microsoft reveals the top Xbox Live games of 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan's Xbox Live stats indicate proneness to Japanese-developed games

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:31:00 EST

It'd be impossible to discuss Japan's Xbox Live usage stats, recently released by Microsoft (and posted after the break), without pointing to the overwhelmingly Japanese-developed composition of them. Taking first place among the top XBLA purchases of 2009 was last year's Virtual On port -- a game so popular in Japan that it currently holds second place in the region's all-time bestsellers list. Games like Ikaruga and Trigger Heart Exelica populate the rest of the XBLA stats, though Western-developed Castle Crashers notably takes the number one position in all-time popularity.

The sheer Japanosity of these stats is even more apparent in the download numbers for all that other stuff. From demos (75 percent Japanese-developed) to Games on Demand (90 percent) to DLC (also 90 percent), Japanese players clearly have a hankering for homemade games -- even on their Western-developed consoles.

[Via Andriasang]

Continue reading Japan's Xbox Live stats indicate proneness to Japanese-developed games

Japan's Xbox Live stats indicate proneness to Japanese-developed games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today only: Castle Crashers for $7 on XBLM

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

With only two days of daily holiday deals left, it looks like Microsoft decided to make today's a doozy. Like the headline says, today's deal is Castle Crashers for a mere 560. That's sevenearth dollars and, more importantly, a substantial savings over the usual 1200 ($15) price tag. If you haven't experienced the co-op glory, now is the time. Trust us, people like this game. They like it so much that they build costumes of their favorite characters.

If you don't have it yet, you need that kind of joy in your life.

Shortcut: Add Castle Crashers to your 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]

Today only: Castle Crashers for $7 on XBLM originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The time-lapse evolution of a Castle Crashers boss

Randy Nelson — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:15:00 EST

The Behemoth, purveyor of fine classic-style action games with lovely high-res 2D artwork, has posted a nice time-lapse video on its developer blog showcasing the evolution of one of its Castle Crashers boss characters. In it, we get to see The Painter come a long way from his meager palette-sporting beginnings to the giant roller-wielding, toolbox-for-a-head monster we've come to know and despise.

It's not often that we get a glimpse at this aspect of the development process -- perhaps because a time-lapse video of an artist creating the 3D model for, say, the Joker from Batman: Arkham Asylum would be the length of most theatrical releases. The Behemoth's video, after the break, is thankfully only seven-and-a-half minutes long.

Continue reading The time-lapse evolution of a Castle Crashers boss

The time-lapse evolution of a Castle Crashers boss originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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(Castle) Crash Halloween with this Behemoth of a costume

Xav de Matos — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

The team at The Behemoth know you're having a hard time coming up with something original and awesome for Halloween, so the team has included an instructional guide to creating your very own Castle Crashers inspired costume on its blog.

Taking a simple 5-gallon bucket, some foam and a pocket full of hopes and dreams, you can rock one of the best costumes we've seen (all week, at least). As an added bonus, the guide is simple and includes plenty of pictures to guide would-be costume designers -- and future "Best Costume of the Night" award winners.

(Castle) Crash Halloween with this Behemoth of a costume originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers Necromantic DLC coming tomorrow for 160 MS Points

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST

Wow. When Castle Crashers developer The Behemoth teased last week that its upcoming Necromantic DLC pack was coming "SOON," they weren't kidding. According to a countdown clock recently added to the game's official blog, it's due to drop tomorrow, bringing the long overdue chainsaw, two new characters and one new animal orb to the multi-man beat-'em-up.

The company has wisely placed the price of the expansion at 160 -- so before you download that new The Devil Wears Prada track on Rock Band 2, we want you to stop, and reconsider your priorities. Music from a hardcore band named after a Meryl Streep movie? Or chainsaws? (This decision is also a litmus test for whether we can still be friends with you. Choose wisely.)

Castle Crashers Necromantic DLC coming tomorrow for 160 MS Points originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Necromantic' DLC pack coming to Castle Crashers

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST

It's been a long time coming -- like, a looooong time -- but it looks like an upcoming DLC pack for The Behemoth's four-player beat-'em-up is finally delivering the oft-promised Chainsaw weapon to Castle Crashers worldwide. It's part of the "Necromantic" DLC pack, which in addition to the gas-powered armament, will give players access to two new characters (the titular Necromancer and The Cult Minion), a new "Dragonhead" animal orb and two new weapons (the NG Skull Mace and, yes, the Chainsaw).

The Behemoth didn't reveal a price or a definitive release date for the pack, but did mention it is coming "SOON." That's their choice of capitalization, not ours. As in, it's not coming "soon" -- it's coming "SOON."

'Necromantic' DLC pack coming to Castle Crashers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers storming PS3, playable at Comic-Con

Randy Nelson — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST

The Behemoth's four-player, hack 'n slash Xbox Live Arcade title Castle Crashers has crashed right through the wall of platform exclusivity and is coming to PlayStation 3, the developer announced on the eve of San Diego Comic-Con. According to GameSpot, a playable version of the game for PS3 will be on the show floor tomorrow for attendees to gets their hands on.

Castle Crashers hit Xbox Live Arcade on August 27, 2008 and reached a milestone of 1 million players last month. The version for Sony's console has yet to be dated -- or detailed beyond the fact that it'll include Trophies -- but might we suggest dropping it on the one-year anniversary of the 360 version's launch? (With lots of new goodies, of course.)

Castle Crashers storming PS3, playable at Comic-Con originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Independent Games Festival accepting submissions

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

If you're ready to unleash your totally deviant, totally original and totally counter-cultural Tetris remake upon the world, your best chance to do so has arrived. The Independent Games Festival is now accepting entries into its Main and Student Showcase categories. You've got until November to get your submissions in, and finalists in the Main Competitions will be announced January 4.

If you're looking for reasons to enter your humble project, the festival's organizers have about 20,000 good ones, and by "ones" we mean dollars, by which we mean $20,000 is the grand prize for the competition. In addition, finalists will have their games exhibited on the GDC show floor, where they can be played, admired and possibly exalted by the gaming press -- a treatment received by titles such as World of Goo and Castle Crashers in the past. If your game is of that caliber, we highly suggest throwing your hat into the ring.

2010 Independent Games Festival accepting submissions originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Meat Boy character select screen reveals playable Alien Hominid [update]

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

Things are on the up and up for Super Meat Boy developer Edmund McMillen. After releasing This is a Cry for Help last year and subsequently announcing SMB for WiiWare, he put his indie cred on display for the world in adding Braid's Tim to his upcoming game. And now, during a live video interview with Bytejacker, McMillen ~~revealed~~ The Behemoth's Alien Hominid as another playable character!

Quickly panning to his computer screen during the interview and teasing it, one of our wonderful readers snagged a screen grab so we could share it with the world. Now the real question: Castle Crashers characters playable as well? Hmmmm, McMillen? Hmmm?

(We love you. Please?)

Update: It was pointed out by a few astute Game Informer readers in the comments section that Alien Hominid was actually revealed as a playable character in a recent issue. Sorry, folks!

(Thanks, Zack!)

Super Meat Boy character select screen reveals playable Alien Hominid [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers reached one million players today

Majed Athab — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST

The developers of Castle Crashers must have been ecstatic when its XBLA baby grew to house over 900,000 users last month, but this probably doesn't compare to the excitement felt today. At 12:57pm, The Behemoth diligently verified via its Leaderboard numbers that its behemoth of a game has broken the seven-digit barrier, becoming host to exactly 1 million players.

Castle Crashers has reached this momentous milestone rather quickly, having been out on the market for only 10 months (hey, that's an average of 100,000 new players a month) and to celebrate, The Behemoth gave away a set of uber-fantastic stuff. If you signed up previously, you could've won a bag of prizes which included a custom Castle Crashers Xbox 360 Elite. Congrats to whoever won, and to The Behemoth!

Castle Crashers reached one million players today originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Castle Crashers hits 900,000 players, Behemoth offers prize for guessing date of millionth

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:10:00 EST

The Behemoth took the time out of its busy Crying Sugar Cube Leprechaun (not real title) development to reveal that the Castle Crashers leaderboards have passed 900,000 users. That does not mean there have been nearly a million sales of the game, but it does mean that Castle Crashers has been doing well on XBLA, a mere 8 months after launch.

The company's site is now challenging users to guess the exact date and time that the main Castle Crashers leaderboard will hit one million players. The winner will receive something "SPECTACULAR." Best of luck, but don't get The Behemoth too distracted with your entry on the company's forum, it has another game to finish.

Castle Crashers hits 900,000 players, Behemoth offers prize for guessing date of millionth originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 May 2009 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Behemoth promises new game info in July, shows off artistic bento

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST

Feeling obligated to update its blog, developer The Behemoth showed off some Castle Crashers bento (above), created by Anna the red, and stated that it would have more information to share about its third game in July.

The Behemoth is teasing that its (currently untitled) third game will makes an appearance at San Diego's Comic-Con, taking place July 23-26. That's too bad -- we were hoping to see more of the Crying Sugar Cube Leprechaun at E3 in June.

The Behemoth promises new game info in July, shows off artistic bento originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBLA Awards: Braid can't rewind loss to Castle Crashers

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:52:00 EST

Castle Crashers recovered from a 4-month gimp to be crowned the Xbox Live Arcade "Game of the Year" in the second annual community voting awards. Somewhat surprisingly, Castle Crashers also managed to nab "Best Co-op Mode" despite being virtually unplayable online for four out of its seven months in release. On its way to top honors, The Behemoth's beat-em-up notably beat out its fellow indie nominee, Braid, which was famously dismissed by an American youth spokesperson.

Braid's losing streak continued in the "Best Single Player Game" category, which was claimed by Orange Box cutout Portal: Still Alive (oh right, it has "exclusive" challenge maps), but Jonathan Blow's timeless effort did mange to win "Best Innovation" amid stiff competition. (We were certain Kefling's innovative "use of Avatars" was a shoo-in.)

The complete list of awards and recipients is posted after the break.

Continue reading XBLA Awards: Braid can't rewind loss to Castle Crashers

XBLA Awards: Braid can't rewind loss to Castle Crashers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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