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XBL Indie Game Clover picked up by Blitz Game Studios for PC

by David Hinkle { Oct 2nd 2009 at 3:11PM }

That's right, Binary Tweed's watercolored Xbox Live Indie Game Clover is headed to the PC as Clover: A Curious Tale, courtesy of Blitz Game Studios. Developer Binary Tweed reports that the title is destined for digital distribution services and features a host of updates, including (direct from Binary Tweed's site):

New animations - all characters are articulated, clouds move, flames smoke and glow, water splashes, cats snore (!);
Completely voice-acted dialogue;
A new sub-quest, and multiple endings;
New puzzles, characters, and items (25% more items last time I checked);
New context-sensitive controls - this means no clumsy inventory menu;
Completely revised user interface;
Better player handling, and less annoyingly fiddly jumps;
Translations in French, Italian, German and Spanish;
Reworked soundtrack - longer, sexier.

Hopefully more people will be interested in the title on PC, because it didn't do too well on the Xbox 360. We'll let you know on price and on what digital distribution services you can expect to acquire it as soon as it's announced.

[Via Casual Gaming]

Clover dev: Indie Games channel has a long way to go

by Richard Mitchell { Jul 8th 2009 at 9:27PM }

Daniel Jones of Binary Tweed, developer of the Xbox 360 Indie Game Clover, has a few choice things to say about Microsoft's independent games service. Speaking to the UK's X360 Magazine, Jones just doesn't see a big enough audience in Indie Games to justify creating a game for it -- Joystiq readers will recall similar comments after Clover sales failed to set the world on fire.

"We're seeing even the best-selling Indie Games titles sell in the low five-figure numbers," says Jones, laying the blame on "lack of marketing from us developers, Microsoft, and also on the dirge of massage 'games' that dilute the brand's message." (Don't forget fart games!) He notes that the most popular titles on Indie Games are simple applications like music visualizers and digital aquariums, saying, "The marketing message clearly hasn't gotten to the people that want to play games, and so one has to question if there's any point making games for a service that gamers don't buy from."

Jones believes that the upcoming user ratings feature will help "immeasurably," though he adds, "There's still a lot of work to do in educating LIVE users about [what] Indie Games is about."

We're inclined to agree that the Indie Games channel needs a lot of work, especially if Microsoft ever expects it to become more than a Kodu delivery service.

Clover developer disappointed by poor sales

by Xav de Matos { Jun 24th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Developer Binary Tweed has admitted sales of its first Xbox Live Community title Clover have not met expectations. Speaking with Digital Spy, Binary Tweed community managing director Daniel Jones said his team "definitely won't recoup costs" from Microsoft's indie games service alone.

Despite strong critical reception for the title, Jones says the Xbox Live Community Games market -- being re-branded 'Indie Games' in July -- is "prohibitively small to be financially viable." According to Jones, Binary Tweed may only use the Community Games market as an "an arena for proving concepts" in the future.

While Clover has failed to capture much attention from gamers, Jones says having a salable product to showcase to publishers (rather than a demo) has helped open doors for the team's future. "Although I can't talk about specifics at the moment, Clover's critical acclaim has opened doors to Binary Tweed." Jones recommends Clover fans keep an eye on the developer's official site for news in the coming weeks. We recommend you stop playing with that XBLCG Fart app and check out Clover.

Gallery: Clover

Clover finally hits XBL Community Games

by Jem Alexander { May 8th 2009 at 8:00PM }

Clover, Binary Tweed's watercolor masterpiece heavily inspired by the old Dizzy games of yesteryear, is now available to purchase from the Community Games section of Xbox Live. Though it's a little later than anticipated, the game is now finally available in both the US and Europe for 400

. A fair price, despite the stigma that's currently attached to the Community Games label. Not convinced? That's what the demo is for. Alternatively, you can check out the gallery below for more stylish, watecolor screenshots.

Gallery: Clover

Clover delayed by approval process (but releases new trailer)

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 30th 2009 at 3:30PM }

Clover developer Binary Tweed has posted an update on the status of the upcoming Community Game. Unfortunately, the game has been delayed for at least another week thanks to a rule in the approval process. The game was submitted for peer review recently, when a small bug was discovered. The bug was quickly fixed by Binary Tweed, but all Community Games are required to wait seven days between peer review submissions. The game will be submitted again this Sunday.

To make the wait a tiny bit more bearable, enjoy a new trailer of the game after the break.

Continued →

No, seriously, Clover is coming soon

by Jason Dobson { Apr 19th 2009 at 11:00PM }

If you've been holding it in for fear of missing out on Clover's Community Game debut, do us all a favor and take a bathroom break. The artsy platformer's imminent debut was held back recently by what Binary Tweed's Daniel "Deejay" Jones describes as a pair of "performance bugs," one of which saw load times crawl along for nearly a minute and a half. Oy vey!

According to the managing director, the issues have since been fixed, and the team is currently making some "last-minute emergency sound fixes" in the road up to the game's "peer review" on Wednesday. Jones recently told Joystiq of his high hopes for the game, and assuming all goes well players will able to judge for themselves when Clover puzzles the marketplace this Friday.

Binary Tweed: Clover release imminent

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 14th 2009 at 12:30PM }

Binary Tweed has announced that its upcoming puzzle platformer, Clover, could arrive on the Xbox 360 Community Games service very soon. Managing director Daniel "Deejay" Jones notes that the game will hopefully be submitted to peer review over the weekend, meaning it could be available on Xbox Live "as early as next week."

Clover garnered some publicity recently when it ran over Microsoft's 150MB size limit for Community Games, forcing the developer to remove features like an unlockable art gallery. In an interview with Joystiq, Jones stated that he hoped Clover would help convince people that there are worthwhile games on the Community Games service. We suspect he's never heard of Rocket Fart.

Gallery: Clover

Pick some fresh Clover screenshots

by Richard Mitchell { Mar 30th 2009 at 2:00PM }

click to enlarge

Binary Tweed has released some brand new screenshots for its upcoming Community Game, Clover. The new screens feature a redesigned version of lead character Sam, who was altered as a result of community feedback. Also featured in the screenshots is a new, dynamic sky-blending system. According to the Clover website, this system assures that the "player's view of the game world is constantly changing." Regardless of what that means, we're digging the watercolors-meet-South-Park visual style of the game. Check out the screens in the gallery below.

Gallery: Clover (3/30/2009)

Joystiq Interview: Binary Tweed talks 'Clover' file size problems, Community Games

by Xav de Matos { Mar 17th 2009 at 10:00AM }

click to Dr. Manhattanize

Indie developer Binary Tweed revealed that it has hit the Community Games size limit ceiling for its upcoming game, Clover. First on the strike list? Unlockable art; however, the developer mentions it may "have to make some compromises on the audio side too." Unlike the murky size-limit waters that surround Xbox Live Arcade titles, Community Games are stuck in a strict 150MB sized pool.

We wondered if this meant Clover's Q1 2009 release would change and where the developer hopes to go once its freshman entry is available to play -- so we asked. Joystiq talked with Binary Tweed's managing director, Daniel "Deejay" Jones, and picked his brain about the recent file size issues, the Community Games platform and how the industry is reacting to the indie game push.

Gallery: Clover

Continued →

A poor man's Braid: Clover on Xbox Live

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jan 13th 2009 at 2:57PM }

Click for more watercolors!

We know, you can't always judge a book by its cover -- a game by its screens. But "Braid clone" was the first thing that came to mind when we saw Clover, a forthcoming Xbox Live ~~Arcade~~, no, "Community Games" title. And let's face it, the Community Games channel is still the playpen for the bastard children of Xbox Live. It's like a pet shop window: you glance at it, feel an inkling of "Should I?" and then proceed on down the street to the Arcade.

But a closer look at that doggie in the window, Clover, reveals a game worth considering. Developed by indie outlet Binary Tweed Ltd., Clover is, in the words of its British maker, "a plot-driven platformer in the style of classic titles such as Fantastic Dizzy that sees the player solve logical puzzles by collecting items, talking to a diverse cast of characters and exploring artistically realised environments." It follows Binary Tweed's motto -- "New games that are a bit like old games, but better" -- by injecting modern trends like autosave and the dissolution of lives and health into the game's traditional framework. Still, Clover promises to be very much about death, as the orphaned player must deal with the sudden demise of the in-game mother and the larger political themes at play. A heady romp for a mere 400

($5) when Clover releases in Q1 2009 (that's soon!).

Gallery: Clover

Have a brush with Okami for $25

by Chris Greenhough { Dec 17th 2008 at 9:55AM }

More lovely Okami art here.

Here's a bargain you should wolf down with a quickness: GameStop is currently selling Okami for the low, low price of $24.99.

We're a tad late to this one (we are reliably informed it's been at this price for a few days, so you should definitely tell us this in the comments, perhaps adding "lawl old"), but when a game as great as Clover's masterpiece is so cheap, it doesn't harm to remind you again. Also, by providing fifty hours plus of entertainment for under twenty-five bucks, this is the perfect game for a recession!

See also: Ready at Dawn talks Okami with Wii Fanboy

Gallery: Okami

[Via Go Nintendo]

Okami replacement covers shipping with bonus!

by JC Fletcher { Aug 25th 2008 at 11:51AM }

Hey, remember ordering replacement boxart for your copy of Okami? To make up for the unsightly blemish on the covers that came with the game (sorry, IGN), Capcom offered a selection of replacement art ranging from "the real cover, but IGN-free" to completely new, unconventional box designs, and we all got to pick one.

We've had to wait a bit, but it turns out that we'll get all of them! According to Capcom's Colin Ferris, "Each cover sheet features the cleaned cover art on one side, and the two different new designs on the other." The covers are now on their way out, ready to adorn those copies of Okami that you forgot about or traded in.

If you didn't order a replacement cover, perhaps because you didn't yet own Okami and are an honest person, you can still find the high-quality images available for printing.

Gallery: Okami

Atlus lovers, head to Amazon

by Chris Greenhough { Jul 8th 2008 at 8:00PM }

We've already established that having the Atlus name on the front of a box is usually A Very Good Thing, and look! Somebody at Amazon must clearly have been listening to us, as the uber-retailer has the following Atlus-published titles up for sale:

Rondo of Swords -- $19.99
Draglade -- $13.39
Ontamarama -- $10.04
Contact -- $23.44
Touch Detective 2 1/2 -- $9.99

That's not all -- while we were scrounging though Amazon's bargain basement section, we found a couple of other potentially worthy additions to your DS library:

Children of Mana -- $20.09
Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble -- $10.04

You can also get Ping Pals for $4.29. But like that deserves a functioning link.

Gallery: Rondo of Swords (Atlus)

Sega talks Platinum Games deal, franchises

by Ludwig Kietzmann { May 20th 2008 at 7:30PM }

In a Q&A session with Gamespot, the folks at Sega detailed some of their plans and expectations for the recently announced four-game publishing deal with Platinum Games. The agreement, which grants Sega exclusive rights to Mad World (Wii), Bayonetta (PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360), Infinite Line (DS) and a mystery title from Resident Evil designer, Shinji Mikami, was officially announced during a special event last week.

"The guys at Platinum are just at the top of their game right now, and what they've delivered is so clearly AAA in every way, when they started to show us product, we had to have it," said Sega of America president, Simon Jeffery. When asked about the marketing challenges inherent in starting up three (possibly four) new IPs, Jeffery notes that Sega is in it for the long run. "What we've seen today is the starting point, but all of those games--Bayonetta, Madworld, Infinite Line--won't be one-offs," he explained. "They're all uniquely different enough from everything in their space to build complete franchises out of. The whole foundation of PlatinumGames is built around that long-term strategy."

Though talk of franchises this early in a game's life would normally elicit concern, the ex-Clover talent at Platinum Games could certainly do with the commercial success to match their critical acclaim. Y'know, aside from the Devil May Cry and Resident Evil guys.

Sega on the Platinum Games deal

by JC Fletcher { May 20th 2008 at 3:00PM }

We hope Sega made a good decision when they decided to publish Platinum Games' works. Both Sega and Platinum (or Clover, really) are companies who make great games, but have had serious problems recently. We would like to see two of our favorite game companies succeed together.

Gamespot spoke to Sega of America president Simon Jeffery and VP of marketing Sean Ratcliffe about the deal and what drew Sega to Platinum. Jeffery believes that Capcom's Japan-focused marketing and organization contributed to the Western failure of Clover's products, and that because Sega runs a very Western-oriented organization outside of Japan, Sega can more effectively market Platinum's games.

A few interesting details about the deal came up, as well. This publishing agreement isn't just game-by-game -- Sega is Platinum's exclusive publisher for some unspecified period. Sega also holds the IP rights for the new games.