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 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[RetroBlazer feels like Doom by way of Saturday morning cartoons]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/retroblazer-feels-like-doom-by-way-of-saturday-morning-cartoons/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/retroblazer-feels-like-doom-by-way-of-saturday-morning-cartoons/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/27/retroblazer-feels-like-doom-by-way-of-saturday-morning-cartoons/#comments Amil Parra isn't a big fan of violence. That might sound strange coming from a man designing an homage to '90s sprite-based FPS games like Doom and Wolfenstein 3D, but one look at the game in motion and it becomes obvious that the inspiration Parra draws from those games is the feel, not the aesthetic.

Meet RetroBlazer: a PC game that feels like a 1994 run-and-gun shooter, but looks like something you'd catch between episodes of Biker Mice From Mars and Mighty Ducks (that's the cartoon featuring space-ducks fighting space-dinosaurs by the way, not the live-action film featuring a lawyer fighting to be a better person).

Continue reading RetroBlazer feels like Doom by way of Saturday morning cartoons

JoystiqRetroBlazer feels like Doom by way of Saturday morning cartoons originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doomhydra-game-workskickstarterpaxpax-southpax-south-2015pcretroblazerTue, 27 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adventures of Pip is modern cute plus classic challenge]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/25/adventures-of-pip-is-modern-cute-plus-classic-challenge/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/25/adventures-of-pip-is-modern-cute-plus-classic-challenge/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/25/adventures-of-pip-is-modern-cute-plus-classic-challenge/#comments I'm calling it now: the Kickstarted Adventures of Pip from developer TicToc Games is going to win cutest game of 2015. I don't care that we're not even to the end of January; Pip is so cute that I want him in a kids' TV show. He's so heart-meltingly precious that I want plush figures and a breakfast cereal themed after him.

Pip is so gawl-darned lovable and sweet that it makes me deeply, deeply angry.

The game's charming aesthetic masks a sinister beast. For despite the playful bounce of our square-shaped hero and the bright colors that surround him, this is a world looking to commit straight-up pixelated murder.

Continue reading Adventures of Pip is modern cute plus classic challenge

JoystiqAdventures of Pip is modern cute plus classic challenge originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventures-of-pipkickstartermacmicrosoftnintendopaxpax-southpax-south-2015pcplaystationps4tictoc-gameswii-uxbox-oneSun, 25 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mutant Football League resurfaces, aims for Q4 release]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/mutant-football-league-resurfaces-aims-for-q4-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/mutant-football-league-resurfaces-aims-for-q4-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/17/mutant-football-league-resurfaces-aims-for-q4-release/#comments

A year ago it seemed that resurrecting the Sega Genesis classic, Mutant Football League, wasn't meant to be. But new footage shows the game running in pre-alpha state, and despite setbacks on Kickstarter, developer Digital Dreams hopes to release MFL in Q4 2015.
[Image: Digital Dreams Entertainment]

JoystiqMutant Football League resurfaces, aims for Q4 release originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Jan 2015 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-dreams-entertainmentkickstartermutant-football-leaguepcsega-gensisSat, 17 Jan 2015 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity to launch on March 26]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/obsidians-pillars-of-eternity-to-launch-on-march-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/obsidians-pillars-of-eternity-to-launch-on-march-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/obsidians-pillars-of-eternity-to-launch-on-march-26/#comments Obsidian RPG Pillars of Eternity will launch on March 26, the developer announced on its Kickstarter page. The game entered a backers-only beta phase in August, available in early access form to those that pledged at least $110 to its development. Pillars of Eternity is currently available for pre-purchase on Steam for PC, Mac and Linux, starting at $45.

The game earned $3.9 million on the crowdfunding service in October 2012, back when it was known as "Project Eternity." It was originally given a spring 2014 launch window, prior to its name change in December 2013. Pillars of Eternity received two more delays, the first in February 2014, when project lead Josh Sawyer said "virtually nothing good comes from [Obsidian] releasing a date before we're very confident in it." Paradox Interactive agreed to handle the marketing and distribution of the game one month later. Finally, the developer pushed Pillars of Eternity back to early 2015 this past October, noting that "since the very beginning of this project we promised our fans and ourselves that we would release this game only when we knew it would be absolutely ready for the best experience possible."
[Image: Obsidian Entertainment]

JoystiqObsidian's Pillars of Eternity to launch on March 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gog.comkickstarterlinuxmacobsidianObsidian-EntertainmentParadox-Interactivepcpillars-of-eternityproject-eternityrelease-daterpgsteamThu, 15 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadowrun: Hong Kong soars through funding, stretch goals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/shadowrun-hong-kong-soars-through-funding-stretch-goals/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/shadowrun-hong-kong-soars-through-funding-stretch-goals/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/shadowrun-hong-kong-soars-through-funding-stretch-goals/#comments Developer Harebrained Schemes has become the go-to case study for using Kickstarter as part of a sustainable business model, having received over $400,000 since putting up its page yesterday for Shadowrun: Hong Kong. The game pulled in its $100,000 funding goal within two hours, blowing through six different stretch goals for additional characters and missions since. There are still 33 days left in the funding period for the PC-only game.

Harebrained has been one of the stars of the Kickstarter funding movement, attracting over $1.8 million for its Shadowrun reboot a couple of years back and delivering a great game. Harebrained's games also tap into the core RPG market, one of the most successful genres for crowdfunding.

JoystiqShadowrun: Hong Kong soars through funding, stretch goals originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>harebrained-schemeskickstarterpcshadowrun-hong-kongThu, 15 Jan 2015 10:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadowrun: Hong Kong seeks funding [update: funding found]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/shadowrun-hong-kong-seeks-funding/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/shadowrun-hong-kong-seeks-funding/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/shadowrun-hong-kong-seeks-funding/#comments Harebrained Schemes, developer of the excellent Shadowrun Returns and even more excellent Shadowrun Returns: Dragonfall roleplaying games, has launched a Kickstarter page that it hopes will fund the development of a new game called Shadowrun: Hong Kong.

This early in development solid gameplay details and in-game imagery is sparse, but the Kickstarter page reveals that while Shadowrun: Hong Kong will utilize the same core engine behind Shadowrun Returns and Dragonfall, it will be a wholly new adventure. "Shadowrun: Hong Kong has everything you expect from a Harebrained Schemes Shadowrun game: strong storytelling and sharp writing, lots of morally gray choices, a crew of memorable characters with distinct personalities, challenging tactical turn-based combat, a robust character creation system, and a one of a kind cyberpunk-meets-magic game setting that's endured for over 25 years," the developer claims.

Harebrained Schemes is seeking $100,000 to develop Shadowrun: Hong Kong, a goal that shouldn't be too hard to reach. With 34 days of fundraising remaining, the total sits at just over $85,000 and climbing.

Update: In the short time between this article being written and it being published, Shadowrun: Hong Kong attracted over $40,000, easily toppling its goal. Now we wait to see just how much extra cash the fundraising effort can pull in before it ends.
[Image: Harebrained Schemes]

JoystiqShadowrun: Hong Kong seeks funding [update: funding found] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingharebrained-schemeskickstartermacpcshadowrun-hong-kongshadowrun-returnsTue, 13 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Voice-controlled RTS There Came an Echo speaks up in Feb.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/voice-controlled-rts-there-came-an-echo-speaks-up-in-feb/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/voice-controlled-rts-there-came-an-echo-speaks-up-in-feb/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/voice-controlled-rts-there-came-an-echo-speaks-up-in-feb/#comments There Came an Echo, the voice-controlled real-time strategy game from Iridium Studios starring nerd royalty Wil Wheaton, is due out on February 24 for $20 via Steam for PC. The release date comes courtesy of a new trailer (below), featuring players that Iridium "totally found on Craigslist." These uninitiated few try out There Came an Echo's voice controls, including the ability to change characters' names to things like "Sweetie Pie" and something naughty that appears to rhyme with "Duckface."

There Came an Echo was successfully funded on Kickstarter in March 2013, raising $115,000 of a $90,000 goal. It's Iridium's second successful Kickstarter game, following Sequence. There Came an Echo stars Wil Wheaton and Ashly Burch, and puts players in charge of a small, gun-wielding squad in a near-future sci-fi environment.

"Corrin (played by Wil Wheaton) is a 31-year-old cryptographer and inventor of a very particular encryption algorithm ... one that currently holds safe a shocking secret," the game's Kickstarter reads. "His comfortable existence is interrupted by the enigmatic Val, who informs him that his life is in very imminent danger. His desperate attempts to uncover the truth are aided by a mercenary, Miranda; a vengeful young woman, Grace; and a mysterious British gentleman named Syll."

Players are able to customize the voice controls in There Came an Echo, and Iridium promises that it's possible to play the game without speech at all. It's also coming to Xbox One and PS4, eventually.

Continue reading Voice-controlled RTS There Came an Echo speaks up in Feb.

JoystiqVoice-controlled RTS There Came an Echo speaks up in Feb. originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashly-burchIndieIridiumiridium-studioskickstarterpcrelease-dateSTEAMthere-came-an-echovoice-controlwil-wheatonMon, 12 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kickstarter rakes in $529 million for projects in 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/kickstarter-rakes-in-529-million-for-projects-in-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/kickstarter-rakes-in-529-million-for-projects-in-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/kickstarter-rakes-in-529-million-for-projects-in-2014/#comments Over 3.3 million people pledged $529 million towards projects on Kickstarter in 2014, the crowdfunding platform revealed. This marks an increase over the site's 2013 stats, which saw $480 million pledged by 3 million individuals. Kickstarter reached $1 billion in total pledges as of March 2014. It also revised its terms in September to force the hands of project creators that fail to deliver products to their backers.

Of the 22,252 successful projects to earn money on Kickstarter last year, 1,980 of them were in the broad games category. Games made off with 16.8 percent of the total money pledged last year ($89.1 million). While that includes the $626,250 earned by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick's retro-inspired point-and-click adventure game Thimbleweed Park, the "Games" category isn't limited to video games, but also includes a large dose of tabletop games as well. Our year-long Crowdfund Bookie research project found that over $35 million was pledged specifically to video games on crowdfunding platforms over the span of one year.
[Image: Kickstarter]

JoystiqKickstarter rakes in $529 million for projects in 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingdatafundingkickstarterthimbleweed-parkTue, 06 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-DICE leads found Fugitive Games, build space survival sim]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/ex-dice-leads-found-fugitive-games-build-space-survival-sim/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/ex-dice-leads-found-fugitive-games-build-space-survival-sim/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/ex-dice-leads-found-fugitive-games-build-space-survival-sim/#comments Ben Jones, previously lead designer of the Battlefield Premium service at DICE, and a team of former DICE, Capcom and Sony America developers have formed Fugitive Games, and their first project is an open-world space survival simulator called Into the Stars.

In Into the Stars, players are the captain of a ship exploring a huge solar system to find a new home for humanity. Players oversee the details of ship management, including choosing unique resources, modules and personnel to take on the journey. Into the Stars is single-player, it features crew permadeath, and it's in development for PC and Mac, running on Unreal Engine 4. The score comes from Jack Wall, the composer behind Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.

Fugitive Games is seeking $85,000 on Kickstarter to build Into the Stars, and it's up for voting on Steam Greenlight. On the Kickstarter campaign page, Fugitive explains the decision to seek crowdfunding with the following message: "We've been involved in the Kickstarter community for several years now, so when it became clear that we required additional funds to complete this project, we knew just where to turn. The reality is that we simply can't provide the high level of polish, quality audio and compelling score this game demands with our existing resources. Though we could potentially turn to publishers to fill this void, we'd much rather deal directly with gamers like you who can help shape the experience into something truly special!"
[Image: Fugitive Games]

Continue reading Ex-DICE leads found Fugitive Games, build space survival sim

JoystiqEx-DICE leads found Fugitive Games, build space survival sim originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomDICEfugitive-gamesIndieinto-the-starskickstartermacpcSCEAspacespace-simsteam-greenlightMon, 05 Jan 2015 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadowrun Returns to Kickstarter in January 2015]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/19/shadowrun-returns-to-kickstarter-in-january-2015/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/19/shadowrun-returns-to-kickstarter-in-january-2015/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/19/shadowrun-returns-to-kickstarter-in-january-2015/#comments A recent addition to the two-year-old Shadowrun Returns Kickstarter page reveals that developer Harebrained Schemes will return to crowdfunding in January 2015, though the reasons why aren't entirely clear.

The image above is the entirety of the update. That pseudo-shamanic green dragon symbol is the de facto logo for Shadowrun Returns, suggesting that Harebrained Schemes is seeking money to develop additional content for a game we described as a loving, cyberpunk homage to the roleplaying games of the 1990s. Whether this new content might be a second expansion (a la Dragonfall) or even a sequel is unknown.

While Harebrained Schemes' first stab at crowdfunding went very well - the developer was seeking $400,000 and attracted over $1.8 million - that was two years ago. Since that time Kickstarter and sites like it have been flooded by developers seeking money. As we pointed out earlier this year, this glut (not to mention reports of Kickstarter scams) has decreased the amount of money available via crowdfunding. The success of Shadowrun Returns will no doubt bolster Harebrained Schemes' fundraising attempt, but it seems unlikely that the developer will again draw more than four times its goal.
[Image: Kickstarter/Harebrained Schemes]

JoystiqShadowrun Returns to Kickstarter in January 2015 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Dec 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CrowdFundingharebrained-schemeskickstartermacpcshadowrun-returnsFri, 19 Dec 2014 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tale of terminal illness That Dragon, Cancer funded]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/14/tale-of-terminal-illness-that-dragon-cancer-funded/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/14/tale-of-terminal-illness-that-dragon-cancer-funded/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/14/tale-of-terminal-illness-that-dragon-cancer-funded/#comments Joel Green, the 5-year-old boy who inspired the game That Dragon, Cancer may have passed, lost to the illness that plagued him, but his tale will be told on PC, Mac and Ouya thanks to the financial support of backers on Kickstarter. Developer and father Ryan Green and his team not only reached their goal of $85,000, but pushed beyond it in the campaign's final days, eventually closing this week with $104,491 raised.

This means that every backer of That Dragon, Cancer on Kickstarter will receive a high-resolution, digital copy of the poster that hangs in the nursery of the Green family's young daughter, Zoe. The poster features Joel's fingerprints representing leaves on trees, and a text balloon that reads, "Thank you for giving me life." You can see the poster in full after the break.

Joystiq's Jess Conditt recently interviewed Green about the game's progress and how it's changed since its initial vision, and a documentary called Thank You For Playing, due in 2015, will also help share the story of how Joel's short life made such a big impact.

Continue reading Tale of terminal illness That Dragon, Cancer funded

JoystiqTale of terminal illness That Dragon, Cancer funded originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancerjoel-greenkickstartermacouyapcryan-greenthat-dragon-cancerSun, 14 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Losing money and reputation to build Heavy Gear Assault]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/12/losing-money-and-reputation-to-build-heavy-gear-assault/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/12/losing-money-and-reputation-to-build-heavy-gear-assault/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/12/losing-money-and-reputation-to-build-heavy-gear-assault/#comments

When Stompy Bot Productions kicked off its Kickstarter campaign for Heavy Gear Assault in May 2013, it was already raising money from fans on its own website.

"Being an independent games publisher, we are not interested in helping the rich get richer," Producer Vince McMullin tells Joystiq - but, while crowdfunding was working, it seemed slower compared with the attention and traction that developers on Kickstarter received. So Stompy Bot took Heavy Gear Assault to Kickstarter in a campaign seeking $800,000.

"We knew we could deliver the game faster to the game fans if all the funding we needed was available to us at once," McMullin says. "This was where we made a critical mistake which cost us, not only financially, but also in terms of our reputation."

Stompy Bot canceled the Heavy Gear Assault Kickstarter in June 2013, about one week before it was due to end - it had raised $44,981 of its $800,000 goal.

"We assumed Kickstarter would work because of its exposure," McMullin says. "We were already reaching thousands of Heavy Gear fans via our own website; therefore, we assumed, we would be able to reach many more fans using Kickstarter. Unfortunately, this never happened. And this brings me to our second mistake."

Continue reading Losing money and reputation to build Heavy Gear Assault

JoystiqLosing money and reputation to build Heavy Gear Assault originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Dec 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CrowdFundingheavy-gear-assaultIndiekickstarterpcstompy-bot-productionsFri, 12 Dec 2014 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Shovel Knight sells in spades, surpasses 300K units]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/05/shovel-knight-sells-in-spades-surpasses-300k-units/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/05/shovel-knight-sells-in-spades-surpasses-300k-units/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/05/shovel-knight-sells-in-spades-surpasses-300k-units/#comments Shovel Knight moved heaven and earth - mostly earth - to exceed 300,000 sales worldwide since launching back in June. Yacht Club's crowdfunded homage to 8-bit classics shifted 180,000 units in its first month, surpassing the dev's expectations. Shovel Knight's now close to double that figure following last month's belated launch on the European eShop.

While six figures ain't to be sniffed at, it's not yet the seven Yacht Club was aiming for after its prolific launch and critical success.

"Our new goal is the quest to 1 million sold," programmer David D'Angelo said in August, "to truly solidify Shovel Knight as a modern platinum classic! For all of you who had doubts that a Wii U game or a digital game on a Nintendo platform could sell, we hope these facts show that a good game on any system, marketed the right way, can sell."

Continue reading Shovel Knight sells in spades, surpasses 300K units

JoystiqShovel Knight sells in spades, surpasses 300K units originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Dec 2014 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dseShopkickstarternintendosaleswii-uyacht-club-gamesFri, 05 Dec 2014 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Molyneux: Kickstarter, Early Access can be 'destructive']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/03/molyneux-kickstarter-early-access-can-be-destructive/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/03/molyneux-kickstarter-early-access-can-be-destructive/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/03/molyneux-kickstarter-early-access-can-be-destructive/#comments Peter Molyneux's Godus earned £526,563 ($852K) on Kickstarter in December 2012, yet the designer recently admitted that he would delay the funding campaign entirely if he could go back to the game's pre-planning stages. In an interview with TechRadar, the Fable series designer deemed Kickstarter and Steam Early Access as "very destructive to the final quality" of games that aren't particularly far along in their development stages.

In the case of Godus, 22 Cans' spiritual successor to Populous, Molyneux said supporters had a "view of what the game is going to be like" based on the Kickstarter project, which differed from what the "invest to play" game wound up becoming. "I'm not saying I would never do Kickstarter again, but if I was to do Kickstarter again, I would say 'look, we've done half the game, you can download this demo, you can play the game,'" he said. "'You know what the game's going to be, now we're going to take it from this point to this point.'" Godus is currently available on PC, Mac and Linux via Steam as well as iOS and Android.
[Image: 22 Cans]

JoystiqMolyneux: Kickstarter, Early Access can be 'destructive' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Dec 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>22-Cansandroidbetacrowdfundingdevelopmentearly-accessiosipadiphonekickstartermacmobilepcPeter-Molyneuxsteamsteam-early-accessWed, 03 Dec 2014 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Play original Game Boy games via HDMI with hdmyboy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/play-original-game-boy-games-via-hdmi-with-hdmyboy/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/play-original-game-boy-games-via-hdmi-with-hdmyboy/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/play-original-game-boy-games-via-hdmi-with-hdmyboy/#comments

A few Game Boy games still stand as enjoyable classics, but hunching over the original handheld can get uncomfortable. Sure, additional options exist in the Super Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, back-lit GBA SP or the GameCube's Game Boy Player, but the draw of using the original Game Boy can be a fun novelty. Brothers Zane Amiralis and Joshua de Haan plan to expand on that with hdmyboy, a piece of hardware that outputs 1080p (or 720p) HDMI visuals when sandwiched between a Game Boy's top and bottom halves.

The hdmyboy is removable and doesn't irreversibly alter a Game Boy, but when it's installed, users can either play using the handheld's buttons or a modified NES controller. The project's Kickstarter page notes that "lots of colour palettes" will be offered, so you won't have to see the world through a green-tinted screen if you don't want to. This project is focused on the original Game Boy however - any variant from the Game Boy family other than the 1989 DMG-01 model is not compatible with hdmyboy.

Should the project reach its €65,000 funding goal, the final version will be available in 2015. If you already have a Game Boy, early purchases of the hdmyboy can be made by backing the project for €115 ($143), or €125 ($156) if you'd also like an NES replica controller. Those that contribute €350 ($436) will receive a Game Boy and a pre-installed prototype hdmyboy right away in addition to the eventual final build, but whichever funding tier you choose, worldwide shipping is available.
[Image: Zane Amiralis/Joshua de Haan]

JoystiqPlay original Game Boy games via HDMI with hdmyboy originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-boyhdmihdmyboykickstartermodSun, 30 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kickstarter suspends funding of blood-collecting game device]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/29/kickstarter-suspends-funding-of-blood-collecting-game-device/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/29/kickstarter-suspends-funding-of-blood-collecting-game-device/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/29/kickstarter-suspends-funding-of-blood-collecting-game-device/#comments A modified blood collection unit that draws blood from game players whenever their controller rumbles launched on Kickstarter earlier this month, but unfortunately for the Canadian duo behind the project (and video game-loving vampires everywhere), Kickstarter has suspended the project's funding drive.

According to CNET, Kickstarter itself has stated that its policy on project suspensions is to offer no comment. The project creators told Joystiq in an email that they "don't have an answer yet" as to why they were suspended. "Our guesses are that perhaps it has to do with our tie in to medical equipment or charity, or safety concerns since we're not officially partnered with a blood clinic yet (but we're working on that)."

The project creators claim on their page that, "by running carefully monitored tests with medical professionals, we've created a unit that makes blood donation easy, fun and nearly painless." However, none of the team involved are credited as said medical professionals. Instead, they are identified as "two dudes, who normally work as digital creative experts at advertising agencies, who took some time off."

Continue reading Kickstarter suspends funding of blood-collecting game device

JoystiqKickstarter suspends funding of blood-collecting game device originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Nov 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blood-sportbrand-and-grotesquekickstarterSat, 29 Nov 2014 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ron Gilbert's new 2D adventure game passes crowdfunding goal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/ron-gilberts-new-2d-adventure-game-passes-crowdfunding-goal/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/ron-gilberts-new-2d-adventure-game-passes-crowdfunding-goal/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/ron-gilberts-new-2d-adventure-game-passes-crowdfunding-goal/#comments Last week we brought you word of Thimbleweed Park, a new yet classically-styled 2D adventure game from Maniac Mansion designers Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick. At the time the duo were seeking $375,000 to fund the game's development - a goal they reached just this morning.

Anticipating the possibility of a massive outpouring of support, Ron Gilbert updated the Kickstarter page over the course of the weekend to outline stretch goals for Thimbleweed Park. If, in its remaining 24 days, the fundraiser reaches $425,000 the developers will have the game translated into German, Spanish, French and Italian. At $525,000, Thimbleweed Park will appear on iOS and Android devices. The big one, full voice acting for Thimbleweed Park, comes available at $625,000.

Thimbleweed Park will appear on PC, Mac and Linux platforms. No release date has yet been announced.
[Image: Disney/Ron Gilbert/Gary Winnick]

JoystiqRon Gilbert's new 2D adventure game passes crowdfunding goal originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgary-winnickiosipadiphonekickstartermacmaniac-mansionmobilepcron-gilbertthimbleweed-parkMon, 24 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Maniac Mansion designers seek funding for new 2D adventure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/maniac-mansion-designers-seek-funding-for-new-2d-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/maniac-mansion-designers-seek-funding-for-new-2d-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/maniac-mansion-designers-seek-funding-for-new-2d-adventure/#comments Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, the duo behind the classic LucasArts adventure game Maniac Mansion, have launched a crowdfunding campaign for a new point and click 2D adventure dubbed Thimbleweed Park.

"Why do we want to make Thimbleweed Park? Because we miss classic adventures and all their innocence and charm," reads the game's Kickstarter page. "They were fun and would put a smile on your face. We want to make one of those again and we want to do it right. We don't want to make a game 'inspired by,' or 'paying homage to' classic point & click adventures, we want to make a real classic point & click adventure."

Plot details are currently barebones, but Thimbleweed Park tells the story of two detectives investigating a corpse found on the outskirts of a once-prosperous, but now defunct town. Players can switch at will between five playable characters, and Thimbleweed Park boasts multiple endings, depending on how you go about completing the story.

Gilbert and Winnick hope to raise $375,000 to fund Thimbleweed Park's development, of which it has so far raised $6,192. If you're interested in supporting the project (or just want to save a pixelated hamster) visit the game's Kickstarter page.
[Image: Disney/Ron Gilbert/Gary Winnick]

JoystiqManiac Mansion designers seek funding for new 2D adventure originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gary-winnickkickstartermaniac-mansionron-gilbertthimbleweed-parkTue, 18 Nov 2014 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Four years and $11K: Glorkian Warrior's crippling mistakes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/four-years-and-11k-glorkian-warriors-crippling-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/four-years-and-11k-glorkian-warriors-crippling-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/four-years-and-11k-glorkian-warriors-crippling-mistakes/#comments Glorkian Warrior: The Trials of Glork took Pixeljam four years to create, first Kickstarted in 2010 with $11,200 and finally released on iOS in March 2014. An argument could be made that Pixeljam co-founder Miles Tilmann has spent enough time thinking about that little pink alien with the weird name, but he's not done yet. In a post on Tilmann's new personal blog, he outlines the mistakes Pixeljam made during those four years, presented with the perfect vision of hindsight.

Before diving into the post itself, Tilmann tells Joystiq that this isn't the happy-ending success story many independent developers may dream about.

"Glork hasn't really made much money at all," he says in an email. "None of our games have, actually! We had our best week of sales when we launched Glork on mobile earlier this year, but after the Apple featuring ended, sales went down to pretty much nothing. The Mac / PC release has been much less successful than the mobile version. Pixeljam doesn't actually pay its employees anymore, since it can't support itself based on our existing sales. We make money doing non-Pixeljam-related things these days."

Continue reading Four years and $11K: Glorkian Warrior's crippling mistakes

JoystiqFour years and $11K: Glorkian Warrior's crippling mistakes originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidCrowdFundingglorkian-warriorglorkian-warrior-the-trials-of-glorkIndieiosipadiphonekickstartermacmobilepcpixeljampotatoman-seeks-the-troofTue, 18 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Crossing Souls: 80s RPG about friendship, death and adventure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/crossing-souls-80s-rpg-about-friendship-death-and-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/crossing-souls-80s-rpg-about-friendship-death-and-adventure/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/crossing-souls-80s-rpg-about-friendship-death-and-adventure/#comments

Call 2014 the Year of the Souls: Titan Souls, Wayward Souls, Dark Souls 2 and now coming from Devolver Digital and Fourattic, Crossing Souls, an action-adventure RPG with hints of neon and 1980s nostalgia. Crossing Souls stars five friends who discover an ancient relic that allows them to interact with the world of the dead, calling forth people and things from the past while they accidentally embark on a truly epic quest. Watch to the end of the trailer to see just how epic this thing may get.

The cutscenes in Crossing Souls are done up in the trailer's retro cartoon style, while gameplay is pixelated and action-packed. The Fourattic team wants to reignite the magical feeling of 80s entertainment found in Teen Wolf, Weird Science, Back to the Future and ET.

"With Crossing Souls the team want to revive those childhood feelings," Fourattic writes. "Those adventures that could happen to anyone. We want to develop a funny and profound game, with a great plot that can make the player remember those times with a bit of nostalgia: more than one has used a towel as a cape, a broomstick as a sword or have had a hidden cabin."

Fourattic has launched a Kickstarter for Crossing Souls, seeking $45,000 to finish the game for PC, Mac and Linux by 2015. The game will be available on Steam, Humble and GOG.

Continue reading Crossing Souls: 80s RPG about friendship, death and adventure

JoystiqCrossing Souls: 80s RPG about friendship, death and adventure originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1980s80scrossing-soulsdevolver-digitalfouratticIndiekickstartermacpcRetroMon, 17 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mighty No. 9 protagonist Beck gets a color change]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/16/mighty-no-9-protagonist-beck-gets-a-color-change/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/16/mighty-no-9-protagonist-beck-gets-a-color-change/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/16/mighty-no-9-protagonist-beck-gets-a-color-change/#comments Beck, the hero of Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune's upcoming Mighty No. 9, has taken a look in the mirror and deemed his duds too drab - or rather, developer Comcept has. In an update post on the Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter page, game director Koji Imaeda explains that Beck's color scheme has gone from one dominated by gray to one defined by white.

"From the very beginning we designed Beck to have a neutral, grey base, with the idea of wanting to make something completely new and unique," Imaeda writes. "But development soldiered on, and as we approached the last leg, we started looking closer at Beck. As a protagonist that could absorb the abilities of his siblings and take on various forms, our image of his appropriate color shifted from 'neutrality' to 'containing all possibilities' ... and since white is a combination of all colors of light, we felt that would actually suit his character better!"

Makes sense to us. The justification also sounds a little familiar ...
[Image: Comcept]

JoystiqMighty No. 9 protagonist Beck gets a color change originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Nov 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscomceptkickstartermacmicrosoftmighty-no-9nintendopcplaystationps3ps4wii-uxboxxbox-oneSun, 16 Nov 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[That Dragon, Cancer dad, devs push on after tragedy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/that-dragon-cancer-dad-devs-push-on-after-tragedy/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/that-dragon-cancer-dad-devs-push-on-after-tragedy/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/that-dragon-cancer-dad-devs-push-on-after-tragedy/#comments That Dragon, Cancer tells the real-life story of Joel Green, a young boy fighting terminal cancer, placed in a low-poly, point-and-click world. There are no puzzles in the game, only daily activities haunted by an unseen monster silently shaping the lives of Joel and his family. Joel's father, Ryan Green, is developing the game alongside Josh Larson and a handful of contributors. That Dragon, Cancer includes personal notes and stories from the Green family, describing their pain, joy, hope and despair as the story progresses and Joel's health continues to decline.

In March, after battling cancer for four years, Joel died at the age of 5.

The game must go on. Ryan Green, Josh Larson and the That Dragon, Cancer team are pushing forward with development, gathering funding from investors and today launching a Kickstarter campaign seeking $85,000 to help finish the game. That Dragon, Cancer has the financial support of Indie Fund - up to $50,000 - if it needs it and if the campaign is successful.

This all means the game is delayed from its 2014 launch window, but when it does launch, it will do so on Ouya and Steam (PC and Mac) simultaneously. It was previously designed as an Ouya exclusive, but the micro-console maker is allowing a side-by-side PC premiere as a show of support for the developers, who wish to get That Dragon, Cancer in front of as many people as possible.

Continue reading That Dragon, Cancer dad, devs push on after tragedy

JoystiqThat Dragon, Cancer dad, devs push on after tragedy originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcancerIndiejoel-greenjosh-larsonkickstartermacmobilepcryan-greenthat-dragon-cancerWed, 12 Nov 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-Irrational devs' The Black Glove falls well short of funding]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/ex-irrational-devs-the-black-glove-falls-well-short-of-funding/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/ex-irrational-devs-the-black-glove-falls-well-short-of-funding/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/ex-irrational-devs-the-black-glove-falls-well-short-of-funding/#comments Day for Night Games, an offshoot studio formed in the wake of Irrational's layoffs, failed to crowdfund first-person adventure The Black Glove. In terms of how far short the game was of its goal, it's a case of not gloving one hand, let alone two. After a month of campaigning, The Black Glove amassed $216,517 of its $550,000 target, which equates to less than half.

Despite the setback, Creative Director Joe Fielder vowed to "fight like hell" to keep the game alive. Day for Night, largely headed by former BioShock devs, is talking to publishers who've reached out in recent weeks. Fielder added the studio is also exploring other ideas.

Continue reading Ex-Irrational devs' The Black Glove falls well short of funding

JoystiqEx-Irrational devs' The Black Glove falls well short of funding originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 10 Nov 2014 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CrowdFundingday-for-night-gamesIrrational-Gameskickstarterlinuxmacpcplaystationps4the-black-gloveMon, 10 Nov 2014 06:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Elite: Dangerous blasts off in December]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/07/elite-dangerous-blasts-off-in-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/07/elite-dangerous-blasts-off-in-december/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/07/elite-dangerous-blasts-off-in-december/#comments Elite: Dangerous will reach PCs on December 16, Frontier Developments announced via press release. The fourth game in the Elite series is the first to launch in many years, as Frontier: First Encounters arrived in 1995. Elite: Dangerous puts players in the cockpit of a spaceship, exploring the open galaxy in both single-player and massively-multiplayer online modes.

The Mercenary Edition of the spacefaring game is still up for pre-order via Frontier's online store for $50 (£35 / €40), slashing a cool $10 off the final $60 (£39.99 / €49.99) price tag. Access to the game's ongoing beta is priced at $75. Elite: Dangerous began as a Kickstarter project, earning £1,578,316 (roughly $2 million) in January 2013 to fund its creation.
[Image: Frontier Developments]

Continue reading Elite: Dangerous blasts off in December

JoystiqElite: Dangerous blasts off in December originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eliteelite-dangerousexplorationFrontier-Developmentskickstartermmopcrelease-datespaceFri, 07 Nov 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Black Glove gets VR support in effort to secure funding]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/02/the-black-glove-gets-vr-support-in-effort-to-secure-funding/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/02/the-black-glove-gets-vr-support-in-effort-to-secure-funding/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/02/the-black-glove-gets-vr-support-in-effort-to-secure-funding/#comments Day For Night Games - a studio formed largely by ex-BioShock developers - is struggling with its campaign to crowdfund The Black Glove, its first game. With less than a week left, the Kickstarter page shows only approximately $155,000 raised on a goal of $550,000. To rectify this situation, Day For Night has instituted "Operation: Save The Black Glove," which is detailed in a Kickstarter update post.

"We're at a similar crossroads to where Republique was at this point in their Kickstarter campaign," the update reads, pointing to how developer Camouflaj raised 70 percent of its goal within its final week. "Taking inspiration from Camoflaq [sic] - whose Ryan Payton wrote us yesterday: 'YOU CAN DO IT!!' - we're launching Operation: Save The Black Glove."

The operation largely consists of sharing images emblazoned with the #savetheblackglove hashtag and tweeting said hashtag on Twitter, but Day For Night Games has also announced VR device support for the game in an effort to rally enthusiasm. Should The Black Glove be funded, it will support both the Oculus Rift and Sony's Project Morpheus when it launches on PC, Mac, Linux and PS4.

We'll find out if that's enough to entice backers when The Black Glove's Kickstarter campaign closes at 4:30 PM Eastern on November 7.
[Image: Day For Night Games]

JoystiqThe Black Glove gets VR support in effort to secure funding originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Nov 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>day-for-night-gameskickstarteroculusoculus-riftpcplaystationproject-morpheusps4sonythe-black-glovevrSun, 02 Nov 2014 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Her Majesty's SPIFFING gives British space explouration another shot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/25/her-majestys-spiffing-gives-british-space-explouration-another/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/25/her-majestys-spiffing-gives-british-space-explouration-another/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/25/her-majestys-spiffing-gives-british-space-explouration-another/#comments Her Majesty's SPIFFING from BillyGoat Entertainment failed to meet its Kickstarter goal last November, but the "quintessentially British" adventure game about Captain Frank Lee English's quest to expand the British empire to the stars is back with a vengeance. If "a vengeance" is what you call a new Kickstarter campaign.

"We're so passionate about bringing our jovial space-themed adventure game to the world that we're willing to endure what could of course be nothing more than another humiliating and disappointing experience for everyone involved, not unlike my wedding evening," BillyGoat studio director Will Barr admits in the new pitch video, which you can view after the break.

Neither the amount of money BillyGoat is seeking - £30,000 - nor the scope of the game has changed since the last attempt at crowdfunding, but there is a playable demo this time around, so you can get a better idea of just what you're backing. You can download it and see the various backer rewards via the new HM SPIFFING Kickstarter page.

BillyGoat's first attempt at crowdfunding HM SPIFFING ended with just shy of £12,000 raised from 338 backers. So far, the new campaign has raised a smidgen more than £11,000 from 329 backers. It has 27 days left to secure the remaining money. If it succeeds, the first episode of HM SPIFFING will release in the second half of 2015 on PC, Mac and Linux.

Continue reading Her Majesty's SPIFFING gives British space explouration another shot

JoystiqHer Majesty's SPIFFING gives British space explouration another shot originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Oct 2014 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billygoat-entertainmentbritishher-majestys-spiffingkickstartermacpcSat, 25 Oct 2014 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Barely Related: Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer is full of surprises]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/barely-related-avengers-age-of-ultron-trailer-is-full-of-surpr/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/barely-related-avengers-age-of-ultron-trailer-is-full-of-surpr/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/barely-related-avengers-age-of-ultron-trailer-is-full-of-surpr/#comments Surprise! It's Friday! Now let's get down to some geeky business.

Welcome to Barely Related, a conversational Friday column that presents the non-gaming news stories that we, the Joystiq staff, have been talking about over the past week. And no, we're not stopping our focus on industry and gaming news. Think of this as your casual weekly recap of interesting (and mostly geeky) news, presented just in time to fill your brain with things to discuss at all of those weekend shindigs.

Grab a fresh drink, lean back in your armchair, and get ready to talk nerdy with us.

Continue reading Barely Related: Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer is full of surprises

JoystiqBarely Related: Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer is full of surprises originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Oct 2014 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avengers-age-of-ultronback-to-the-futurebarely-relatedbuffy-the-vampire-slayerdinosaursdisneygoogleharry-potterhendo-hoverboardHoverBoardjk-rowlingken-burnskickstartermoananicholas-brendonshe-hulkthe-avengersthe-avengers-age-of-ultronthe-mortal-instrumentsthe-rooseveltsFri, 24 Oct 2014 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Uber axes Human Resources Kickstarter campaign]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/uber-axes-human-resources-kickstarter-campaign/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/uber-axes-human-resources-kickstarter-campaign/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/uber-axes-human-resources-kickstarter-campaign/#comments Planetary Annihilation developer Uber Entertainment canceled its Kickstarter campaign for Human Resources, the developer's human-harvesting, apocalyptic real-time strategy game. "Every Kickstarter prediction model is showing that we will come up woefully short of our goal," the developer wrote in an update on its funding page, adding that it can't continue spending time and money on a project that won't get funded. "One thing is for sure, Human Resources, as pitched in this Kickstarter, is over. But we adore the world of Human Resources and will endeavor to do what we can to bring it to life in some form."

The developer raised $384,358 of its $1.4 million goal on the funding platform. The lofty goal would have been difficult for any aspiring developer to overcome; just four of the 341 Kickstarter games tracked in our one-year Crowdfund Bookie research series earned that much money in their campaigns. Even the $844,127 hauled in by Harmonix for Amplitude in May was an anomaly in a funding space that scarcely supports big-budget projects like it once did. Human Resources was planned to end in two weeks on Tuesday, November 4.
[Image: Uber Entertainment]

JoystiqUber axes Human Resources Kickstarter campaign originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancelcanceledCrowdFundinghuman-resourcesIndiekickstarterpcplanetary-annihilationreal-time-strategyRTSstrategyuber-entertainmentTue, 21 Oct 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Flame in the Flood survives roguelike rains]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/the-flame-in-the-flood-survives-roguelike-rains/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/the-flame-in-the-flood-survives-roguelike-rains/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/the-flame-in-the-flood-survives-roguelike-rains/#comments Roguelike survival game The Flame in the Flood reached its $150,000 target on Kickstarter today, promising the delivery of the PC and Mac game. Developer The Molasses Flood will soon announce stretch goals, which may include PS4 and Xbox One ports, according to the project's FAQ. The developer includes BioShock Art Director Scott Sinclair as well as five other designers with credits in the BioShock, Halo, Guitar Hero and Rock Band series.

The Flame in the Flood puts players in the shoes of Scout, a survivalist that uses her wits and patchwork raft to avoid the oncoming rains in a post-society backwater America inspired by the Mississippi Delta, Louisiana Bayou and other real-life locales. Players guide Scout and her trusty companion dog Aesop through procedurally-generated rivers, crafting new tools and hunting down resources while avoiding predatory wildlife, all to the tune of an original soundtrack by alt-country singer Chuck Ragan. The funding project will complete on Thursday, November 6 and the game is planned to launch in July 2015.
[Image: The Molasses Flood]

Continue reading The Flame in the Flood survives roguelike rains

JoystiqThe Flame in the Flood survives roguelike rains originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CrowdFundingIndiekickstartermacpcroguelikescott-sinclairsurvivalthe-flame-in-the-floodthe-molasses-floodTue, 14 Oct 2014 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Former BioShock devs seek funding for The Black Glove]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/07/former-bioshock-devs-seek-funding-for-the-black-glove/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/07/former-bioshock-devs-seek-funding-for-the-black-glove/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/07/former-bioshock-devs-seek-funding-for-the-black-glove/#comments Day For Night Games, a studio largely comprised of former BioShock Infinite developers, needs your help in developing The Black Glove. By "help," of course we mean "money."

Though Day For Night was unable to kick off its crowdfunding efforts in July as originally planned, the studio has now launched a crowdfunding effort that seeks $550,000 to aid in the development of The Black Glove. To date, the fundraiser has attracted $42,258 and 31 days remain before the drive comes to an end.

As for what backers are funding, our initial glimpse of The Black Glove contains the following description: "In The Black Glove, players use time travel to influence and affect the lives of a filmmaker, an artist and a musical act. The game takes place inside of a special theatre called The Equinox, which according to Day For Night, could exist in the past, present or future. Or it might not exist at all. So if nothing else, it sounds like the BioShock series' legacy of creating mind-explosions is intact."

For more information on The Black Glove and full details on how you can throw your money at the in-development adventure, visit Kickstarter.
[Image: Day For Night Games]

JoystiqFormer BioShock devs seek funding for The Black Glove originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Oct 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingday-for-night-gameskickstarterpcthe-black-gloveTue, 07 Oct 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adventures of Pip secures funding for 2015 trip, hip-hip]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/05/adventures-of-pip-secures-funding-for-2015-trip-hip-hip/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/05/adventures-of-pip-secures-funding-for-2015-trip-hip-hip/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/05/adventures-of-pip-secures-funding-for-2015-trip-hip-hip/#comments It ain't easy being a single-pixel hero in a 32-bit world, but that hasn't stopped red block Pip or his creators at TicToc Games from pushing forward to secure the funding needed to bring his adventures to life. Thankfully, their efforts have not been in vain: the Adventures of Pip Kickstarter campaign concluded this weekend, bringing in almost $66,000 from more than 2,500 backers.

The amount of money raised for Adventures of Pip means that the game, which is about a single-pixel hero who can transform into more complex versions of himself by collecting enemies' pixels, will be released on Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PS4 in addition to the originally-planned PC, Mac and Wii U. There's no firm release window for the game, but the Kickstarter page estimates backer rewards, including copies of the game, for January 2015.

This is actually the second time Pip has appeared on Kickstarter; we first saw him and his shapeshifting abilities back in May, when TicToc was asking for $90,000. That campaign failed, with just more than $35,000 raised.
[Image: TicToc Games]

JoystiqAdventures of Pip secures funding for 2015 trip, hip-hip originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Oct 2014 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventures-of-pipkickstartermacmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps4tictoc-gameswii-uxboxxbox-oneSun, 05 Oct 2014 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Planetary Annihilation creator unveils robot apocalypse RTS Human Resources]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/02/planetary-annihilation-creator-unveils-robot-apocalypse-rts-huma/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/02/planetary-annihilation-creator-unveils-robot-apocalypse-rts-huma/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/02/planetary-annihilation-creator-unveils-robot-apocalypse-rts-huma/#comments
Monday Night Combat creator Uber Entertainment revealed its next project, Human Resources, today. The game is the follow-up to its previous Kickstarter success story Planetary Annihilation, with another uniquely-themed crowdfunded RTS.

Taking place during an apocalypse, players control one of two warring factions ("ancient squid monsters from another dimension" and "giant killer robots") that compete to control Earth's sole remaining resource: humans. The project aims to capture "the tone, character, and pacing of a Command & Conquer game mixed with the mammoth battles of an Annihilation game," and will feature large-scale battles that take place in fully destructible city environments.

Uber is seeking $1.4 million in Kickstarter pledges to fund Human Resources, and aims to have a PC release ready by February 2016.

[Video: Uber Entertainment]

JoystiqPlanetary Annihilation creator unveils robot apocalypse RTS Human Resources originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Oct 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingkickstarterpcplanetary-annihilationrtsuber-entertainmentThu, 02 Oct 2014 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen earns Guinness world record for crowdfunding efforts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/star-citizen-earns-guinness-world-record-for-crowdfunding-effort/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/star-citizen-earns-guinness-world-record-for-crowdfunding-effort/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/star-citizen-earns-guinness-world-record-for-crowdfunding-effort/#comments As Star Citizen recently crossed $55 million in funding, Roberts Space Industries founder Chris Roberts announced that the game is entering the Guinness Book of World Records "not as the largest crowdfunded game of all time, but as the largest crowdfunded anything of all time."

Continue reading Star Citizen earns Guinness world record for crowdfunding efforts

JoystiqStar Citizen earns Guinness world record for crowdfunding efforts originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertsCrowdFundingfund-raisingfundingguinness-book-of-world-recordsguinness-world-recordskickstarterpcroberts-space-industriessimulationspacestar-citizenWed, 01 Oct 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Battle Chef Brigade creates Iron Chef and platforming emulsion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/battle-chef-brigade-creates-iron-chef-and-platforming-emulsion/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/battle-chef-brigade-creates-iron-chef-and-platforming-emulsion/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/battle-chef-brigade-creates-iron-chef-and-platforming-emulsion/#comments Cooking competitions Iron Chef and Top Chef cross over into the realm of a fantastical fantasy platformer in Battle Chef Brigade. Developed by Trinket Games, a band of digital cooks made up of vets from Disney Interactive's Wideload Games, Battle Chef Brigade recently blew by its Kickstarter goal of $38,000.

The game finds players participating in a cooking competition, where they will experience the ultimate farm-to-table preparation techniques. That is, they must go out and farm the monsters themselves, then slice, dice, season and prepare the meal with magic for a panel of expert judges. A la cadabra cuisine!

Continue reading Battle Chef Brigade creates Iron Chef and platforming emulsion

JoystiqBattle Chef Brigade creates Iron Chef and platforming emulsion originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-chef-brigadekickstartermacpctrinket-studiosWed, 01 Oct 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[They sent a poet: Elegy for a Dead World due in early 2015]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/30/they-sent-a-poet-elegy-for-a-dead-world-due-in-early-2015/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/30/they-sent-a-poet-elegy-for-a-dead-world-due-in-early-2015/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/30/they-sent-a-poet-elegy-for-a-dead-world-due-in-early-2015/#comments Elegy for a Dead World, a game that transforms players into British Romantic poets traversing a sci-fi landscape, is due out in early 2015 for PC, Mac and Linux via Steam, developers Dejobaan Games and Popcannibal announced on their Kickstarter page. Beta keys are due out for eligible backers in October (yep, the October that starts tomorrow).

Elegy for a Dead World imagines the cracked, desolate planets of classic Romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron and John Keats, and then asks players to explore the worlds' ruins and write about the symbols and archaeology they find. Players can then share the stories they've written with other people on Steam, or upload screenshots of their own tales to make personalized books via print-on-demand sites.

"We created Elegy so that everyone can write," Dejobaan writes. "As you explore, the game helps you create the narrative .... Each world offers multiple sets of prompts, each intended to inspire you to write a different story about it. Elegy might ask you to write a short story about an individual's final days, a song about resignation or a poem about war. In the more advanced levels, you'll sometimes get new information halfway through your story which casts a new light on things and forces you to take your story in a different direction. We like to think of those as puzzles - writing yourself out of a corner, so to speak."
[Images: Warner Bros, Dejobaan/Popcannibal]

JoystiqThey sent a poet: Elegy for a Dead World due in early 2015 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Sep 2014 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dejobaanelegy-for-a-dead-worldIndiekickstarterLinuxmacpcpopcannibalSTEAMTue, 30 Sep 2014 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kickstarter changes terms regarding unfinished projects]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/22/kickstarter-changes-terms-to-resolve-failed-projects/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/22/kickstarter-changes-terms-to-resolve-failed-projects/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/22/kickstarter-changes-terms-to-resolve-failed-projects/#comments Kickstarter updated its terms of use late last week, mostly cleaning up the site's fine-print language to better spell out the relationship between project creators and backers. It will remain hands-off while project leads enter agreements with their supporters, which worked well for the funding platform to this point, as it reached $1 billion in pledges in March.

Those contracts are the focus of the revised terms, as Kickstarter is now emphasizing the actions creators must take if they fail to live up to their word as well as the potential consequences if they walk away. The boldest inclusion stressed that creators who are unable to satisfy the terms "may be subject to legal action by backers." While Kickstarter still won't involve itself in the proceedings, this opens a clearer lane for possible lawsuits from project backers should creators fail to live up to their agreement or offer alternative solutions.

Continue reading Kickstarter changes terms regarding unfinished projects

JoystiqKickstarter changes terms regarding unfinished projects originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Sep 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backerscreatorsCrowdFundingdeveloperfundingkickstarterlawsuitslegaltermsterms-of-useMon, 22 Sep 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyper Light Drifter preview build goes live on Sept. 26]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/19/hyper-light-drifter-preview-build-goes-live-on-sept-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/19/hyper-light-drifter-preview-build-goes-live-on-sept-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/19/hyper-light-drifter-preview-build-goes-live-on-sept-26/#comments Backers eager to get their hands on the sleek action-RPG Hyper Light Drifter won't have to wait long. A preview build for Windows and Mac is set to go live on Steam next week, developer Heart Machine announced today.

The build is designed to give an early glimpse at Hyper Light Drifter's standout features resulting from its extended development period, though some key elements are being saved for the final release. "Some game features are locked, some have been hidden, others are being refined, and content is always being generated for the world," Heart Machine notes. "So, to help communicate a bit better we're calling it a Preview Build."

Steam keys for Hyper Light Drifter's preview build will be sent to backers who pledged $25 or more to the team's Kickstarter project. The game will go live on September 26, and will be playable through September 28.

[Image: Heart Machine]

JoystiqHyper Light Drifter preview build goes live on Sept. 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heart-machinehyper-light-drifterkickstartermacpcpreview-buildFri, 19 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Neal Stephenson's sword-fighting game Clang officially shelved]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/19/kickstarted-sword-fighting-game-clang-officially-shelved/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/19/kickstarted-sword-fighting-game-clang-officially-shelved/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/19/kickstarted-sword-fighting-game-clang-officially-shelved/#comments Historical sword-fighting game Clang has officially been axed, developer Subutai Corporation announced yesterday. The game earned $526,125 on Kickstarter in July 2012 and according to creator and sci-fi novelist Neal Stephenson, the developer did eventually deliver on a prototype of the game as promised.

"The prototype was technically innovative, but it wasn't very fun to play," Stephenson wrote in an update on Clang's Kickstarter page, admitting he "probably focused too much on historical accuracy and not enough on making it sufficiently fun to attract additional investment." Development paused last year to attract additional investors, which Stephenson said was part of the initial plan for the game. While Clang was slated to be playable with a mouse and keyboard, the game was expected to support peripherals like Sixense's Razer Hydra motion controller and Kickstarter success STEM system.

Continue reading Neal Stephenson's sword-fighting game Clang officially shelved

JoystiqNeal Stephenson's sword-fighting game Clang officially shelved originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Sep 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationcancelledclangkickstarterneal-stephensonpcsubutai-corporationswordsword-fightingswordsFri, 19 Sep 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zelda-inspired Blossom Tales looks to bloom on Steam]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/17/zelda-inspired-blossom-tales-looks-to-bloom-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/17/zelda-inspired-blossom-tales-looks-to-bloom-on-steam/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/17/zelda-inspired-blossom-tales-looks-to-bloom-on-steam/#comments Rex Rocket developer Castle Pixel recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for Blossom Tales, the studio's Zelda-like adventure game. The action-RPG is also on Steam Greenlight seeking community approval for distribution on the PC platform. Castle Pixel is seeking $45,000 by October 17 to fund the rest of the game's development. Blossom Tales has players exploring dungeons that "combine pre-designed layouts and randomized areas," completing quests as the young warrior Lily.

While Castle Pixel did not list any other guaranteed platforms for the game on its Kickstarter page. Rather, additional destinations for Blossom Tales will be unlocked should the project achieve its numerous stretch goals; it will head to Mac and Linux at the $60,000 mark and Wii U at $250,000. The Pittsburgh-based developer announced its Wii U and 3DS ambitions for the game back in May 2013.
[Image: Castle Pixel]

Continue reading Zelda-inspired Blossom Tales looks to bloom on Steam

JoystiqZelda-inspired Blossom Tales looks to bloom on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Sep 2014 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgadventureblossom-talescastle-pixelCrowdFundinggreenlightkickstarterpcrex-rocketrpgsteamsteam-greenlightWed, 17 Sep 2014 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Adventure game Paradigm stars a mutant hero and sloth villain]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/14/adventure-game-paradigm-stars-a-mutant-hero-and-sloth-villain/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/14/adventure-game-paradigm-stars-a-mutant-hero-and-sloth-villain/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/09/14/adventure-game-paradigm-stars-a-mutant-hero-and-sloth-villain/#comments Paradigm is an in-development point-and-click adventure from Jacob Janerka, an independent game developer from Australia. To call it "surreal" would not encompass the sheer absurdity on display here.

In Paradigm, players control a lab-grown mutant who dreams of becoming the best electronic musician in the world. Along his journey to produce his EP (and save the world), he'll come across a beatboxing eggplant, a pug who is also a professional wrestler, and an evil sloth with Donald Trump hair named Olof.

Janerka is currently seeking $14,000 AUD on Kickstarter to finish his game, and at time of writing, his campaign has amassed just more than $8,000 AUD, with 22 days left for backers to pledge. If you want to get an idea of the game's quality before you fork over your cash though, there's a downloadable alpha available via the Kickstarter page.

Paradigm is slated to be completed and shipped mid-2015 on Windows, Mac and Linux. Paradigm is also on Steam Greenlight, awaiting enough votes so that it may appear on Valve's digital store. You can check out the game's Kickstarter pitch video after the break.

Continue reading Adventure game Paradigm stars a mutant hero and sloth villain

JoystiqAdventure game Paradigm stars a mutant hero and sloth villain originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evil-slothindiejacob-janerkakickstarterlinuxmacparadigmpcSun, 14 Sep 2014 14:30:00 EST