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[Molyneux's Godus goes mobile, Mobage with publisher DeNA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/molyneuxs-godus-goes-mobile-mobage-with-publisher-dena/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/molyneuxs-godus-goes-mobile-mobage-with-publisher-dena/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/molyneuxs-godus-goes-mobile-mobage-with-publisher-dena/#comments22Cans' Godus gets publisher, DeNA Godus, the Kickstarted god game from Peter Molyneux's 22Cans, will be published on mobile devices by DeNA in western territories, Japan and Korea. Godus raised £526,563 ($852,000) with Kickstarter in December, exceeding its goal of $£450,000 ($730,000). It will launch on PC and Mac, alongside mobile devices Android, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Godus will use DeNA's Mobage platform for mobile and social games, joining previous handheld iterations within the No More Heroes, Final Fantasy and Professor Layton franchises, to name a few.

Continue reading Molyneux's Godus goes mobile, Mobage with publisher DeNA

JoystiqMolyneux's Godus goes mobile, Mobage with publisher DeNA originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>22CansandroidDenagodusiosipadiphonemobagemobilePeter-MolyneuxTue, 21 May 2013 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA['The Drowning' controls distilled to taps and swipes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/the-drowning-controls-distilled-to-taps-and-swipes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/the-drowning-controls-distilled-to-taps-and-swipes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/the-drowning-controls-distilled-to-taps-and-swipes/#comments
The Drowning will forgo traditional emulated joysticks seen in other touch-interface shooters, instead opting for taps and swipes as the chief means of control.

Joystiq'The Drowning' controls distilled to taps and swipes originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>denaiosipadiphonemobilescattered-entertainmentthe-drowningunityTue, 19 Feb 2013 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Drowning headed to iOS for free next year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/the-drowning-headed-to-ios-for-free-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/the-drowning-headed-to-ios-for-free-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/the-drowning-headed-to-ios-for-free-next-year/#comments
Scattered Entertainment is bringing free-to-play game The Drowning to iOS in early 2013. The "console quality" FPS is set ten years in the future, and draws inspiration from real life events in Beebe, Arkansas circa 2012, when thousands of black birds fell from the sky. The Drowning's story appears to only get more grim, as players control a character that is "one of the few survivors of a mysterious global catastrophe."

Former ngmoco GM Ben Cousins is now GM of Scattered Entertainment, a DeNA studio located in Stockholm, Sweden.

Gallery: The Drowning (iOS)

Continue reading The Drowning headed to iOS for free next year

JoystiqThe Drowning headed to iOS for free next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beebe arkansasBeebeArkansasben-cousinsblack-birdsDenaiosipadiphonemobilescattered-entertainmentthe-drowningtrailerSat, 08 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ngmoco co-founders Neil Young and Bob Stevenson leave, Clive Downie new CEO]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/ngmoco-co-founders-neil-young-and-bob-stevenson-leave-clive-dow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/ngmoco-co-founders-neil-young-and-bob-stevenson-leave-clive-dow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/ngmoco-co-founders-neil-young-and-bob-stevenson-leave-clive-dow/#comments Neil Young left Electronic Arts back in 2008, at the time for a new mystery project - it only took little over a week for Young to announce he had co-founded mobile outfit ngmoco. After a long stint as CEO, Young has stepped down and will be replaced by Clive Downie. The other ngmoco co-founder, Bob Stevenson, is also stepping down.

Young has spent 11 years at Electronic Arts before co-founding ngmoco and taking over as CEO. New CEO Clive Downie also spent time at Electronic Arts before joining ngmoco as VP of studios. ngmoco was acquired by Japanese publisher DeNA in 2010 for $400 million.

[Image credit]

Joystiqngmoco co-founders Neil Young and Bob Stevenson leave, Clive Downie new CEO originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbob-stevensonclive-downiedenaiosipadiphonemobileneil-youngngmocoSat, 27 Oct 2012 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Grasshopper/DeNA partnership releasing new Frog Minutes this spring]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/grasshopper-dena-partnership-releasing-new-frog-minutes-this-spr/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/grasshopper-dena-partnership-releasing-new-frog-minutes-this-spr/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/grasshopper-dena-partnership-releasing-new-frog-minutes-this-spr/#comments A year after the release of the charity app Frog Minutes, Grasshopper Manufacture is preparing an updated version for iOS and Android. As announced last September, this new Frog Minutes game will be published by DeNA on its (newly worldwide) Mobage network. The release is set for the spring. The last game had players catching bugs to lure various species frogs, then capturing the frogs.

This game is being released under the Grasshopper/DeNA joint venture, whose name appears to have been changed from "Grasshopper Social Network Service Inc." to the infinitely snappier "Grasshopper Universe."

JoystiqGrasshopper/DeNA partnership releasing new Frog Minutes this spring originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddenafrog-minutesgrasshopper-manufacturegrasshopper-universeiosiphonemobagemobileMon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DeNA and Square Enix bringing Final Fantasy Brigade to Japan's smartphones]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/dena-and-square-enix-bringing-final-fantasy-brigade-to-japans-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/dena-and-square-enix-bringing-final-fantasy-brigade-to-japans-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/dena-and-square-enix-bringing-final-fantasy-brigade-to-japans-s/#comments Square Enix's smartphone-based social RPG, formerly titled Final Fantasy x Mobage, was detailed and properly titled during a recent press conference hosted by Japanese cell network operator DeNA. It's now titled Final Fantasy Brigade, and will allow players to team up with their friends' characters and perform quests while exploring the world, unlocking series-standard jobs and summons along the way.

You can check out a few screens (like the one posted above) over at 4Gamer, and take a moment to soak in its Theatrhythm-esque charm. Or, you know, be completely disgusted by it. We're not going to tell you how to live.

JoystiqDeNA and Square Enix bringing Final Fantasy Brigade to Japan's smartphones originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>denafinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-brigadejapanmobagemobilerpgFri, 02 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Grasshopper and DeNA form joint venture for Mobage games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/grasshopper-and-dena-form-joint-venture-for-mobage-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/grasshopper-and-dena-form-joint-venture-for-mobage-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/grasshopper-and-dena-form-joint-venture-for-mobage-games/#comments Grasshopper Manufacture's relationship with mobile game company DeNA is extending beyond the production of games for DeNA's Mobage service. Well, sort of. Today, the two companies announced that they're forming a joint venture called Grasshopper Social Network Service, Inc., and will work together to ... produce games for Mobage.

DeNA is looking to build up its catalog of exclusive games to help Mobage take off outside of Japan; Grasshopper is looking for "a new world of players" to experience the company's unique style.

Grasshopper's other recent, high-profile partnership is with Digital Reality. Together, the two companies are working on Black Knight Sword and Sine Mora for XBLA and PSN.

JoystiqGrasshopper and DeNA form joint venture for Mobage games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddenagrasshopper-manufacturegrasshopper-social-network-serviceiosiphonemobagemobileNo-More-HeroesTue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Grasshopper Manufacture bringing Frog Minutes, two more to Mobage worldwide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/grasshopper-manufacture-bringing-frog-minutes-two-more-to-mobag/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/grasshopper-manufacture-bringing-frog-minutes-two-more-to-mobag/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/grasshopper-manufacture-bringing-frog-minutes-two-more-to-mobag/#comments Mobile game company DeNA is bringing its social game service Mobage to the rest of the world, and three Grasshopper Manufacture games are coming along for the ride, the company announced at a pre-TGS showcase. One series you know -- Frog Minutes, the super-serene frog feeding game first released on iOS this year. The Mobage game is considered a sequel to the iOS release.

The other two are new: Humans vs. Zombies and Alien Busters, both expected to be released in winter 2012. Akira Yamaoka joked that these are totally different from GHM's other bloody, zombie-filled games.

JoystiqGrasshopper Manufacture bringing Frog Minutes, two more to Mobage worldwide originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alien-bustersdenafrog-minutesgrasshopper-manufacturehumans-vs-zombiesmobiletgs-2011Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:19:00 EST<![CDATA[No More Heroes social game will be appropriately bloody]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/no-more-heroes-social-game-will-be-appropriately-bloody/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/no-more-heroes-social-game-will-be-appropriately-bloody/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/no-more-heroes-social-game-will-be-appropriately-bloody/#comments Suda 51's contribution to DeNA's "Super Creators Initiative" is a social No More Heroes game. And, being a No More Heroes game, it'll be about people assassinating one another. It shouldn't be too much of a surprise, then, that Suda 51 told attendees at a press conference, "We're aiming to make it the social game with the most blood."

We suppose it could be a surprise, given that the original Japanese and European releases of No More Heroes were bloodless, subsituting a shower of coins. So by being even a little bloody, the new social game is bloodier than the real game in Japan.

Suda also expressed a desire to give this game enough "power" and "impact" to make it outside of Japan, a lofty goal for a Japanese mobile game. That was a goal that the three previous mobile NMH games, released by Marvelous in 2008, couldn't achieve.

JoystiqNo More Heroes social game will be appropriately bloody originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>denajapanmobagemobileNo-More-Heroessocial-gamessuda-51Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Inafune, Suda 51 signed for mobile development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/inafune-suda-51-signed-for-mobile-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/inafune-suda-51-signed-for-mobile-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/inafune-suda-51-signed-for-mobile-development/#comments DeNA's popular Japanese mobile gaming platform, Mobage, is getting a major boost from some of the nation's leading gaming industry figures. During a press conference held earlier today (as translated by Andriasang), DeNA revealed that five famed producers will develop games for the platform, including Keiji Inafune, who's creating a game titled J.J. Rockets with his new studio Comcept, and Suda 51, who will make a new installment in the No More Heroes franchise.

Other contributors include Marvelous Entertainment's Yoshifumi Hashimoto, who is working on a Harvest Moon mobile title, former Sonic Team lead Yuji Naka, who will develop an adventure game with his new studio Prope, and Crafts & Meister co-founder Noritaka Funamizu. Sounds like a pretty great lineup, though we wish the five would also collaborate on a single project. The idea of a No More Heroes farming simulator is, well, the best idea.

JoystiqInafune, Suda 51 signed for mobile development originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>denaharvest-moonjapanjj-rocketskeiji-inafunemobagemobileNo-More-Heroesnoritaka-funamizuyoshifumi-hashimotoyuji-nakaMon, 25 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Infinity Blade X for Mobage goes free in Japan, supported by virtual goods sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/infinity-blade-x-for-mobage-goes-free-in-japan-supported-by-vir/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/infinity-blade-x-for-mobage-goes-free-in-japan-supported-by-vir/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/infinity-blade-x-for-mobage-goes-free-in-japan-supported-by-vir/#comments DeNA, Japan's most successful mobile internet company, will offer a free-to-play version of Epic and ChAIR's incredibly successul iOS game, Infinity Blade. Over there it'll be called Infinity Blade X for Mobage, and promises to offer multiplayer and co-op features through DeNA's immensely popular Mobage network -- the game will be free to play and supported by the sale of virtual goods.

Infinity Blade, which is considered a "premium" title everywhere else but Japan (see: it costs more than a buck), was just recently updated with head-to-head multiplayer and survival modes. The game's latest milestone saw it surpass $10 million in sales.

Infinity Blade X for Mobage is scheduled to launch in Japan sometime this fall.

JoystiqInfinity Blade X for Mobage goes free in Japan, supported by virtual goods sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chairdenadena-globalepic-gamesinfinity-bladeinfinity-blade-xinfinity-blade-x-for-mobageiosipadiphonejapanmobagemobileWed, 22 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Professor Layton solving social scene in 'Professor Layton Royale']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/professor-layton-solving-social-scene-in-professor-layton-royal/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/professor-layton-solving-social-scene-in-professor-layton-royal/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/professor-layton-solving-social-scene-in-professor-layton-royal/#comments Professor Layton developer Level-5 is teaming up with social gaming's DeNA on Professor Layton Royale. Andriasang reports the new social game has players selecting from three different classes and is a crossover of Layton and Kaito Royale.

The game will initially launch in Japan, with the potential of "localized versions to international users on the highly anticipated global Mobage service." With DeNA's acquisition of ngmoco last year -- and Layton's international appeal -- the company would be leaving money on the table if it didn't take advantage of the global opportunity.

Crossovers are something Professor Layton is getting comfortable with, as the puzzle master also has an upcoming collaboration with Capcom's ace attorney in Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright for 3DS.

JoystiqProfessor Layton solving social scene in 'Professor Layton Royale' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DeNALevel-5MobagemobileProfessor-LaytonProfessor-Layton-RoyaleTue, 21 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ngmoco to launch Swedish branch with former EA Easy boss Ben Cousins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/ngmoco-to-launch-swedish-branch-with-former-ea-easy-boss-ben-cou/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/ngmoco-to-launch-swedish-branch-with-former-ea-easy-boss-ben-cou/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/ngmoco-to-launch-swedish-branch-with-former-ea-easy-boss-ben-cou/#comments When Ben Cousins left EA Easy as head of the studio earlier this year, he didn't leave a forwarding address. Cousins and his new employer revealed today his position as head of newly formed ngmoco Sweden, where he'll be leading the studio in the development of "freemium games for mobile platforms like iOS/Android" (according to Cousins' Twitter feed). His last major project with EA was Battlefield Play 4 Free.

The official PR from ngmoco puts the Swedish branch in a position of support for parent company DeNA's "Mobage" social gaming platforms. And the new studios puts Cousins in a position to hire up colleagues in a part of the world ripe for the picking -- Sweden. Don't be surprised if you see some high profile ex-DICE staffers showing up at ngmoco's new Swedish office over the next few months, as we totally warned you.

[Image credit: OfficialGDC]

Joystiqngmoco to launch Swedish branch with former EA Easy boss Ben Cousins originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbattlefield-heroesbattlefield-play-4-freeben-cousinsDeNAea-diceea-easyelectronic-artsmacmobagemobilengmocongmoco-swedenpcswedenTue, 21 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DeNA acquiring ngmoco for $400 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/dena-acquiring-ngmoco-for-400-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/dena-acquiring-ngmoco-for-400-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/dena-acquiring-ngmoco-for-400-million/#commentsFiled under: , ,

DeNA, a Japanese mobile internet company, is set to purchase mobile publisher ngmoco, best known for Rolando and Topple, for a whopping $400 million. The combination of the two companies, according to the announcement, will create "the world's largest mobile social games platform company."

The ngmoco shareholders and employees will receive $300 million in cash and securities, with an additional $100 million contingent on performance milestones.

Gamasutra points out that this is just the latest acquisition by DeNA, which has slowly been making selective purchases in the western market. This is also just the latest social media purchase with an incredible dollar figure attached. Disney recently purchased Playdom for over $500 million, while EA acquired Playfish late last year for $300 million. -- oh yeah, and there's also that rumored $100 million investment by Google in Zynga. Now, let us all hold a moment of silence for sanity.

JoystiqDeNA acquiring ngmoco for $400 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionsbusiness-modelsdenadenard robinsonDenardRobinsonmobileNgmocopcrolandoTue, 12 Oct 2010 11:02:00 EST