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[Microsoft's message to indies with Xbox One: 'It was sort of weird']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/microsofts-message-to-indies-with-xbox-one-it-was-sort-of-wei/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/microsofts-message-to-indies-with-xbox-one-it-was-sort-of-wei/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/microsofts-message-to-indies-with-xbox-one-it-was-sort-of-wei/#commentsMicrosoft's message to indies with Xbox One 'It was sort of weird' Microsoft's reveal of its next-gen console, the Xbox One, was high on broad entertainment apps such as Skype, interactive programming, media management and Kinect-powered features. Games saw a smaller showing, with two new announcements and a trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts. Indie games got an even smaller nod - that is, none at all.

E3 is right around the corner, with the Microsoft conference on June 10. Maybe that's where all of the Xbox One games are hiding, along with the console's indie plan. We asked a handful of indie developers what Microsoft's presentation today said to them specifically, and what they want to see at E3. Below we have responses from Rami Ismail of Ridiculous Fishing fame, Octodad's Philip Tibitoski, DLC Quest's Ben Kane, Charlie Murder's James Silva, Retro City Rampage's Brian Provinciano and Fez's Phil Fish.

Continue reading Microsoft's message to indies with Xbox One: 'It was sort of weird'

JoystiqMicrosoft's message to indies with Xbox One: 'It was sort of weird' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 May 2013 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ben-Kanecharlie-murderDLC-QuestfezGoing-Loud-StudiosIndiemicrosoftoctodadoctodad-2phil-fishphilip-tibitoskirami-ismailridiculous-fishingska-studiosvlambeerxboxxbox-onexbox-revealyoung-horsesTue, 21 May 2013 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez fan art takes that spreadsheet joke to a whole new coordinate]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/fez-fan-art-takes-that-spreadsheet-joke-to-a-whole-new-coordinat/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/fez-fan-art-takes-that-spreadsheet-joke-to-a-whole-new-coordinat/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/fez-fan-art-takes-that-spreadsheet-joke-to-a-whole-new-coordinat/#commentsFez fan art takes that spreadsheet joke to a whole new coordinate In 2011, Fez developer Phil Fish said, "PCs are for spreadsheets." When he announced Fez would hit PC, fans and haters jumped on the "spreadsheet machine" dig. After Fez's successful XBLA and PC launches, this fan art by Steam user McKack is a good stopping point for the joke. All the jokes, even.

Continue reading Fez fan art takes that spreadsheet joke to a whole new coordinate

JoystiqFez fan art takes that spreadsheet joke to a whole new coordinate originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 May 2013 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fan-artFezpcphil-fishpolytronpolytron-corporationspreadsheetspreadsheetsSTEAMThu, 02 May 2013 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Fez flips platforms, lands on PC today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/psa-fez-flips-platforms-lands-on-pc-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/psa-fez-flips-platforms-lands-on-pc-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/psa-fez-flips-platforms-lands-on-pc-today/#commentsPSA Fez flips platforms, lands on PC today One year after its high-profile launch on XBLA, Fez is available on PC via Steam, the Humble Store and GOG today for $10. For $5 more on Steam, grab the game and its super-cool original soundtrack by Disasterpeace, or grab the soundtrack by itself for $7. Steam: Giving you all the options to spend your money.

By April 13, Fez sold 200,000 copies on XBLA and we thought it was positively joyful. Creator Phil Fish suggests hopeful PC players purchase Fez via the Humble Store, since he gets 95 percent of that revenue, compared to 70 percent from Steam and GOG. If Fish insulted your grandmother and you really want to get back at him, go ahead and buy Fez through Steam or GOG and have a wonderful time playing it. That'll show him.

JoystiqPSA: Fez flips platforms, lands on PC today originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezgog.comhumble-storepcphil-fishpolytronSTEAMWed, 01 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Fez dons its pre-order cap today on Steam, GOG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/psa-fez-dons-its-pre-order-cap-today-on-steam-gog/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/psa-fez-dons-its-pre-order-cap-today-on-steam-gog/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/psa-fez-dons-its-pre-order-cap-today-on-steam-gog/#comments Xbox Live Arcade indie darling Fez has entered its pre-order phase on both Steam and GOG today, offering a buck off the $9.99 asking price for early commitment. Fez will launch for Windows PC across both digital distribution platforms on May 1.

The PC launch is the first action in a plan by creator Phil Fish to port Fez to "pretty much everything." PSN and PS Vita, Mac, iOS, Linux and Ouya ports are all in various stages of development and planning, Fish has said. In little over a year, Fez has sold more than 200,000 copies on Xbox Live Arcade.

JoystiqPSA: Fez dons its pre-order cap today on Steam, GOG originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezgogpcphil-fishpolytronpolytron-corporationsteamMon, 22 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez PC pre-orders turn the tables on Steam, GOG on April 22]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/fez-pc-pre-orders-turn-the-tables-on-steam-gog-on-april-22/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/fez-pc-pre-orders-turn-the-tables-on-steam-gog-on-april-22/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/fez-pc-pre-orders-turn-the-tables-on-steam-gog-on-april-22/#comments Fez PC preorders turn the tables on Steam, GOG on April 22For all you patient PC players itching to get your mitts on XBLA indie hit Fez, mark your calendars (probably take off those mitts first): Fez pre-orders open on April 22 via Steam and GOG, and the game will be 10 percent off - $9 - until it launches on May 1.

"No more waiting for a thing to actually be out before you can buy it! No more keeping all that pesky money to yourself! With our patented pre-order technology, we take your money today and give you something later!" Polytron's official pre-order announcement evangelizes. "Spend money and save money! At the same time!" Now that's a deal.

We found 2012's XBLA version of Fez to be joyful, challenging and deeply satisfying as a puzzle platformer. That edition has sold 200,000 copies to date, and eventually, the game should be out on "pretty much everything," including Mac, Linux, Vita, Ouya and iOS.

JoystiqFez PC pre-orders turn the tables on Steam, GOG on April 22 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FezGOGgog.compcphil-fishpolytronpre-orderSTEAMWed, 17 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez sold 200,000 copies on XBLA to date]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/fez-sold-200-000-copies-on-xbla-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/fez-sold-200-000-copies-on-xbla-to-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/fez-sold-200-000-copies-on-xbla-to-date/#comments Fez, Polytron Corporation's cute platforming game that made it into Joystiq's Top Ten of 2012 list, has sold over 200,000 copies on XBLA to date. The game crossed the 100,000 copies mark in late May 2012.

The figures come from creator Phil Fish, who took to Polytron's blog today to discuss the one year anniversary of Fez's release. Fish recently noted during a Reddit AMA that the game "should eventually be out on pretty much everything." Fez will arrive on PC on May 1.

JoystiqFez sold 200,000 copies on XBLA to date originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezmicrosoftphil-fishpolytronpolytron-corporationsalesXBLAxboxSat, 13 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Phil Fish: Fez 'should be out on pretty much everything,' eventually]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/phil-fish-fez-should-be-out-on-pretty-much-everything-eventu/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/phil-fish-fez-should-be-out-on-pretty-much-everything-eventu/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/18/phil-fish-fez-should-be-out-on-pretty-much-everything-eventu/#comments Fez is coming to Mac, Fish talking to Sony about VitaFez has found its way to Steam, hitting PCs on May 1 - but that's not all developer Phil Fish has up his tiny, red hat. Fish hosted a Reddit AMA today, where he revealed Mac, Linux, Vita, Ouya and iOS versions of Fez are all in various stages of planning and development.

Mac and Ouya ports are definitely on the way, while Linux is part of some "vague plans, but plans nonetheless. Fez should eventually be out on pretty much everything," Fish said. For Vita and PSN, Fish said he's working with Sony "to figure something out." An iOS launch is "highly probable."

Fish also says "thanks for all the spreadsheet jokes." And you all thought you were so original.

Check out all of the Fez information you never knew you wanted right here, and make sure to see the Fez Fish Gaijin Games created for Runner 2 (Warning: It's a fish in tightie whities, and we do mean tight).

JoystiqPhil Fish: Fez 'should be out on pretty much everything,' eventually originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidFeziosipadiphonemacmobileouyapcphil-fishplaystationplaystation-vitaps3redditreddit-amavitaMon, 18 Mar 2013 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez coming to other platforms in 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/31/fez-coming-to-other-platforms-in-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/31/fez-coming-to-other-platforms-in-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/31/fez-coming-to-other-platforms-in-2013/#comments In a sweet "State of the Polytron" post, Fez designer and sole Polytron employee Phil Fish revealed plans to port his cryptographic adventure game to platforms beyond XBLA in 2013, potentially platforms with friendlier policies toward updates.

"Yes, i've heard you, dozens of people emailing me everyday telling me how much of an idiot i am for not porting FEZ to everything," noted Fish. He also teased future developments relating to Disasterpeace's soundtrack for the game (which you can buy here) and "something about a US branch" of Polytron.

Fish also reaffirmed plans for two more games, and expressed interest in designing non-game projects. "I want to design everything," he said. "Maybe not a videogame? Maybe something else entirely. I JUST DON'T KNOW."

JoystiqFez coming to other platforms in 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezmicrosoftphil-fishpolytronxboxMon, 31 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez going half-off on XBLA for one day only]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/fez-going-half-off-on-xbla-for-one-day-only/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/fez-going-half-off-on-xbla-for-one-day-only/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/fez-going-half-off-on-xbla-for-one-day-only/#comments Fez is halfoff tomorrow on XBLAPhil Fish's mysterious, beautiful puzzle platformer, Fez, will be available for half off on Xbox Live tomorrow, for one day only.

That means it's down from the usual 800 Microsoft point price to 400 Microsoft points, or $5. At that price, you'd be crazy to pass up the game we said "burns with a brilliant, red-hot, yellow-tasseled flame."

JoystiqFez going half-off on XBLA for one day only originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2d3dFezmicrosoftphil-fishplatformerpolytronpuzzlexboxWed, 19 Dec 2012 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft responds to Polytron's Fez patch claims]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/20/microsoft-responds-to-polytrons-fez-patch-claims/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/20/microsoft-responds-to-polytrons-fez-patch-claims/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/20/microsoft-responds-to-polytrons-fez-patch-claims/#comments Developer Polytron issued a statement two days ago, saying that a save issue affecting a small number of Fez players would no longer be resolved with an additional patch. Microsoft, who Polytron laid the brunt of fault on for demanding an expensive fee to certify and issue the new patch, has now shared its side with Giant Bomb.

"Polytron and their investor, Trapdoor, made the decision not to work on an additional title update for Fez," the statement starts. "Microsoft Studios chose to support this decision based on the belief that Polytron/Trapdoor were in the best position to determine what the acceptable quality level is for their game. While we do not disclose the cost of Title Updates, we did offer to work with Trapdoor to make sure that wasn't a blocking issue. We remain huge fans of Fez."

That last part is perhaps the most interesting, since Polytron claimed Microsoft's price for a new title update was $10,000 - this statement makes it sound like Microsoft may have been willing to negotiate on the price.

In the meantime, you can keep playing an improved post-patch Fez, in the hopes that your save makes it through the whole adventure. Polytron says less than one percent of players have succumbed to the bug.

JoystiqMicrosoft responds to Polytron's Fez patch claims originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezmicrosoftpatchphil-fishpolytrontrapdoorupdatexblaxboxxbox-livexbox-live-arcadeFri, 20 Jul 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez creator Phil Fish working on two new games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/fez-creator-phil-fish-working-on-two-new-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/fez-creator-phil-fish-working-on-two-new-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/fez-creator-phil-fish-working-on-two-new-games/#comments Fez creator Phil Fish is working on two new gamesPhil Fish, the man behind the mutton-chops and this awesome indie game you probably haven't heard of, Fez, has some new projects in the works.

Fish is currently developing two new games with some friends, he said at Gamelab 2012 (as reported by Eurogamer Spain). Fish began working on one of these projects during the development of Fez, but he was forced to stop in order to finish his own game in a semi-timely manner. Fish has been involved with Super Hypercube, a game in development for Kinect from Kokoromi and Polytron, Fish's own studio. The last we heard from Super Hypercube was December, when Fish said it was "a bit early" to talk details.

Fish spent five years of his life developing Fez, and now that it has been released into the wild of Xbox Live Arcade, sold 100,000 copies, and suffered its first patch malfunction, Fish is "learning to live again" without the constant strain of high-profile indie development. Fish said Fez's development has left him "exhausted and traumatised," but he will continue making games.

Launching a game on Xbox Live Arcade added to Fish's stress; he began development at a time of rapid change in the indie community, and what worked four years ago on Xbox Live now makes more sense on Steam, he said. Fish hasn't announced details about the two titles he's involved in, but he will choose his focus wisely since "it can be something that consumes many years of your life," he said.

JoystiqFez creator Phil Fish working on two new games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FezIndiemicrosoftnew-gamesphil-fishSTEAMXBLAxboxMon, 02 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Watch Indie Game: The Movie now on Steam, other places]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/psa-watch-indie-game-the-movie-now-on-steam-other-places/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/psa-watch-indie-game-the-movie-now-on-steam-other-places/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/psa-watch-indie-game-the-movie-now-on-steam-other-places/#comments PSA Indie Game The Movie now on SteamIndie Game: The Movie has come full circle, first covering games as they limped their way to their first platform launches, only to end up on one of those very platforms itself. Indie Game: The Movie is available on Steam for $10 as the first feature-length film to ever be hosted on Valve's service.

The full documentary is also now available via iTunes and on its official site.

JoystiqPSA: Watch Indie Game: The Movie now on Steam, other places originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braidedmund-mcmillenfezindie-game-the-moviejonathan-blowmacmicrosoftmoviepcphil-fishsuper-meat-boyxboxTue, 12 Jun 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Fez finally for really real available to buy and play and everything]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/fez-out-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/fez-out-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/fez-out-now/#comments
Ready to get your Z-axis adventures on, all the while wearing an adorable (and potentially magical) hat? Polytron's Fez is finally (finally) available for you to do just that via Xbox Live Arcade. Better yet? It's just $10!

But you haven't heard of Fez, you say? Well, frankly, that's kinda weird. We're saying we think you're kinda weird. If that is the case, however, there's a brand new launch trailer for Fez just above so you can learn all about it. Oh, and hey, we think it's pretty great, in case that wasn't already clear.

JoystiqPSA: Fez finally for really real available to buy and play and everything originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezmicrosoftphil-fishpolytronpolytron-corporationpsapublic-service-announcementrelease-datexblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeFri, 13 Apr 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez review: Hats off]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/fez-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/fez-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/fez-review/#comments
Image
Whenever a game is hyped to stratospheric proportions, many times over a course of years, it enters a volatile realm of public reception.

When a game has won numerous awards before its launch, is one half of an industry documentary, and is developed by an outspoken, opinionated man, it resides in a universe of its own and players are relegated to describe it in one of two ways: with blazing praise or incendiary criticism.

Fez is on fire, and it burns with a brilliant, red-hot, yellow-tasseled flame.

Continue reading Fez review: Hats off

JoystiqFez review: Hats off originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FezHatmicrosoftphil-fishpolytronRenaud-Bedardtrixelsxblaxboxxbox-liveThu, 12 Apr 2012 16:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Listen to the Fez soundtrack now for 3 dimensions of audible awesome]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/listen-to-the-fez-soundtrack-now-for-3-dimensions-of-audible-awe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/listen-to-the-fez-soundtrack-now-for-3-dimensions-of-audible-awe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/listen-to-the-fez-soundtrack-now-for-3-dimensions-of-audible-awe/#comments ImageFez is officially and finally coming out on Friday, April 13, but half of the highly anticipated experience is available now: The Fez soundtrack from Disasterpeace is available in its entirety via Spotify right now, or for pre-order and sampling on Bandcamp.

Before anyone says, "Wutevs not every1 has been waiting 4 Fez for 5 yrs STFU u guise," the soundtrack is currently number one on Bandcamp, so it's not completely off the mainstream radar. Personally, we've been listening to the soundtrack all day and already we feel more well-rounded.

JoystiqListen to the Fez soundtrack now for 3 dimensions of audible awesome originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BandCampFezmicrosoftphil-fishpolytronsoundtrackspotifyxboxTue, 10 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez hits XBLA on April 13 for 800 MSP]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/fez-hits-xbla-on-april-13-for-800-msp/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/fez-hits-xbla-on-april-13-for-800-msp/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/fez-hits-xbla-on-april-13-for-800-msp/#comments Xbox Live Arcade finally becomes a glorified Fez dispenser on Friday, April 13th. Polytron just blasted out the release date and ten-dollar price point for its perplexing play on perspective -- and we've decided that we now want all such announcements embedded inside exuberant and weirdly hypnotic graphics.

The game's lengthy development time and subsequent trials in Microsoft certification have been dominant talking points until now, and they're joined by an unusual Friday launch date on Xbox Live Arcade. If you want to learn more about the man behind Fez, be sure to read about our afternoon spent with one Phil Fish.

JoystiqFez hits XBLA on April 13 for 800 MSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezmicrosoftphil-fishpolytronrelease-datexblaxboxWed, 28 Mar 2012 20:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Fezes are cool: An afternoon with Phil Fish]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/fezes-are-cool-an-afternoon-with-phil-fish/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/fezes-are-cool-an-afternoon-with-phil-fish/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/fezes-are-cool-an-afternoon-with-phil-fish/#comments Amidst the gridlocked, city-wide pandemonium that is SXSW Interactive, I was able to rescue Fez's lead designer and artist Phil Fish from a pack of ravenous, business-card waving fans long enough for an interview. We set up at the quiet end of the Palmer Events Center's glass-lined second floor, standing at a chest high, sidewalk cafe-esque table overlooking Zilker Park. It had been raining for two days straight, but that morning the clouds had parted and festival attendees were treated to one of the few gorgeous spring afternoons Texas will get this year.

Fez has missed its most recently announced release window of Q1 2012, but the fact that the game is undergoing Microsoft certification means that it'll be out relatively soon. "We almost made it to Q1," Fish said. "We entered certification like two weeks ago, but we actually just failed it, which is kinda standard. Pretty much everybody fails their first cert."

Microsoft has a two-month window in which it can release Fez once it has gone gold, and Fish wants to make sure it happens as quickly as possible. "We're trying to put pressure on them to release it as soon as possible because the zeitgeist is really good right now, with the movie starting to get a lot of play and the award. And, also, it's been five years. I don't want to wait another two months after that."

Continue reading Fezes are cool: An afternoon with Phil Fish

JoystiqFezes are cool: An afternoon with Phil Fish originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FezIGFigf-2012indie-game-the-movieKickstarterLisanne-PajotmicrosoftPhil-FishPolytronpolytron-corporationsummer-of-arcadeSXSW-2012XBLAxboxTue, 13 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Phil Fish's next game won't be on XBLA, might be Kickstarter'd]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/phil-fishs-next-game-wont-be-on-xbla-might-be-kickstarterd/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/phil-fishs-next-game-wont-be-on-xbla-might-be-kickstarterd/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/phil-fishs-next-game-wont-be-on-xbla-might-be-kickstarterd/#comments Fez may just now be undergoing the certification process at Microsoft, but that doesn't mean designer Phil Fish is resting on his laurels. Quite the contrary, in fact; Fish's next project is already in its formative stages, and he's so anxious to begin work that he may use Kickstarter to fund it. Whatever that project might be, however, it won't be an XBLA game.

"Well, our next project is going to be not for XBLA," Fish told us during SXSW Interactive, in response to a question regarding Fez's limited XBLA exclusivity, and the possibility of a similar arrangement for his next title. "I think it's unfortunate that Microsoft works that way, but like I said [during the panel] we gave them what they wanted and they've been backing us up the whole time. I'm sure you've heard many horror stories of people working with XBLA; they've been nothing but understanding and supporting of us this whole entire time."

It's been three months since Fish's work on Fez ended; the game is still being debugged by other members of the team, but in his capacity as a designer he's finished. He hasn't quite known what to do with himself in the interim, and that restlessness has lead him and his team to heavily consider Kickstarter for their next project.

"It's going to take a while before we get money from Microsoft, and I want to get started on this project that I'm making with a couple people, a larger team than just me and another guy," Fish said. "We wouldn't need much and we wouldn't ask for much, but I assume we'll get more than we ask for, having just won the grand prize and Fez about to come out."

The campaign wouldn't start until after the release of Fez, which Fish is concerned about: "I'm afraid people might take [the Kickstarter] the wrong way. Like, 'Why do you need a Kickstarter, you just made Fez?' Yeah, but it takes five months before we get paid, maybe, it's totally variable, but at least three months. The best case scenario is we get paid three months after the release. I don't want to wait three months."

JoystiqPhil Fish's next game won't be on XBLA, might be Kickstarter'd originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FezKickstarterPhil-Fishpolytronpolytron-corporationSXSW-2012XBLAMon, 12 Mar 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One reason Fez has taken five years to make, has already won awards]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/one-reason-fez-has-taken-five-years-to-make-has-already-won-awa/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/one-reason-fez-has-taken-five-years-to-make-has-already-won-awa/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/one-reason-fez-has-taken-five-years-to-make-has-already-won-awa/#comments Seeing Fez's technical postmortem directly before a screening of Indie Game: The Movie offered a jilted experience, one from developer Renaud Bedard, who presents the game's pitfalls in its most practical terms, and the other from a dramatic 15-foot projection of Phil Fish's muttonchops, who assure us that re-re-creating Fez was and continues to be a truly personal, life-altering experience.

Fez has been in development for almost five years and is now officially undergoing Microsoft certification -- the most the public (or press) has played is in demo form, yet Fez has been widely anticipated since its IGF win in 2008, a scenario that Indie Game: The Movie explores on a deeply human level. Bedard explains it in more technical terms. Way more technical terms.

Bedard and Fish created their own editor for Fez, called the Fezzer, and designed what they deemed "trixels," blocks like voxels but at 16x16x16, or as Bedard described it, four 2D views creating one 3D world. Instead of a standard 2D tile set, Bedard built 3D "triles" -- 302 of them -- in 17 trile sets. Fez will have 157 isolated levels, and these triles make up all of them.

Fez stars Gomez, a 2D character wandering a 3D world, and it also features a 4D character, Dot the tesseract. Dot is a 4D hypercube fairy that Bedard created using faux 4D to 3D projections with 96 vertices and 144 triangles, lending her the feeling that she knows more about the Fez universe as a whole, which she does.

Both Bedard and on-screen Fish agree that Fez has been a long time coming.

"The fact that Fez was such a long project means that we kept upgrading," Bedard said. "Fez is our first game, our first project. It's hard to manage the fact that you want the game to be perfect."

JoystiqOne reason Fez has taken five years to make, has already won awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezgdc-2012microsoftphil-fishpostmortemReanud-Bedardtechnicaltechnical-postmortemxboxTue, 06 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Indie Game: The Movie premieres tomorrow at Sundance, here's a Fish]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/indie-game-the-movie-premieres-tomorrow-at-sundance-heres-a-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/indie-game-the-movie-premieres-tomorrow-at-sundance-heres-a-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/indie-game-the-movie-premieres-tomorrow-at-sundance-heres-a-f/#comments

Indie Game: The Movie is preparing for its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, which begins tomorrow in Park City, Utah, and runs through the 29th. Indie Game: The Movie has five screenings at Sundance, and it's offering a glimpse at developer Phil Fish's own premiere of Fez right here.

JoystiqIndie Game: The Movie premieres tomorrow at Sundance, here's a Fish originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezindie-game-the-moviephil-fishsundanceWed, 18 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez rated in Europe, the four-year wait is almost over]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/fez-rated-in-europe-the-four-year-wait-is-almost-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/fez-rated-in-europe-the-four-year-wait-is-almost-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/fez-rated-in-europe-the-four-year-wait-is-almost-over/#comments Fez is finally showing signs of imminent birth, with this being the equivalent of "water breaking," as Europe's PEGI board recently classified the game for Xbox Live. XBLAfans took note of the rating, a step which has yet to occur with the Australian Board or the States' ESRB.

The unreleased -- yet award-winning -- game currently has a release window of "early 2012." Now, if we all eat our vegetables and wash behind our ears every night, that launch window may actually stick.

JoystiqFez rated in Europe, the four-year wait is almost over originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europeFezmicrosoftpegiphil-fishpolytronxboxThu, 29 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez delayed (again) to early 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/fez-delayed-again-to-early-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/fez-delayed-again-to-early-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/fez-delayed-again-to-early-2012/#comments Another Fez tease, another delay. Fez creator Phil Fish has posted this video on Vimeo, a "long screenshot" showing off one of the game's intriguing 3D environments. As with everything else we've seen of the game, it looks pretty amazing, combining great colors and design work with the 2D/3D ...

Wait, what? Oh crap. Fish just tweeted, buried in between parentheses of what we can only assume to be shame, that the game's been delayed yet again. It won't be out until at least 2012. So don't enjoy that video too much -- we're not sure if we can stand the wait that much longer.

JoystiqFez delayed (again) to early 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>datedelayearly-2012Fezmicrosoftpcphil-fishxboxThu, 29 Sep 2011 19:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez was inspired by Ico's minimalism and 'lonely isolation']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/fez-was-inspired-by-icos-minimalism-and-lonely-isolation/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/fez-was-inspired-by-icos-minimalism-and-lonely-isolation/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/fez-was-inspired-by-icos-minimalism-and-lonely-isolation/#comments Polytron's Fez has been such a long time coming, designer Phil Fish explained at Fantastic Arcade this weekend (where Fez won the above Audience Choice award), because "we've had no points of reference for what our 2D/3D 'moment to moment' play is." While there are other games that involve moving from 2D into 3D space, like Echochrome and Crush, they "don't work like Fez at all," he said.

As Fish has worked to figure out how Fez does work, he's removed a lot of features from the game that he began to see as cruft. "There used to be a billion different things in Fez that didn't have to do with the core mechanic of rotation," Fish said. "We used to have the concept of weight: objects had different weights; if a vase was empty you could fill it with water to trigger a switch ... It was nothing to do with flipping between 2D and 3D."

Other lost concepts included health, which Fish resisted removing at first simply because he liked the classic look of a heart meter on the screen. But it wasn't necessary in a game with no enemies. Both the "design by subtraction" mindset and the lack of enemies are inspired by Ico, he said. Fumito Ueda's game design philosophy informed his, as did Ico's "nostalgic, lonely isolation." He also cites Mario, Zelda, and Myst games as inspirations.

JoystiqFez was inspired by Ico's minimalism and 'lonely isolation' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezmicrosoftphil-fishpolytronxblaxboxWed, 28 Sep 2011 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Indie Game: The Movie has new trailer, new music, and new Kickstarter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/indie-game-the-movie-has-new-trailer-new-music-and-new-kickst/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/indie-game-the-movie-has-new-trailer-new-music-and-new-kickst/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/indie-game-the-movie-has-new-trailer-new-music-and-new-kickst/#comments The two-person team behind Indie Game: The Movie just released a new trailer for the increasingly epic project, featuring developers Team Meat, Phil Fish, and Jonathan Blow as they pour their lives into their games. If you want to see how a film can draw genuinely interesting visuals out of "people talking about making games," look no further than the trailer after the break.

Those visuals will also be accompanied by interesting sounds: filmmakers James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot announced today that Sword & Sworcery EP composer Jim Guthrie is creating the music for the film.

Now, in order to finish that movie, the duo has initiated a second Kickstarter campaign. Basically, they need to bring more people in: "We're looking for help with the finishing costs of the feature film (audio, colour, and mastering) in order to make this movie the best possible version of itself." Available rewards for helping them reach the $35,000 goal include digital, DVD, or extended Special Edition copies of Indie Game: The Movie, t-shirts, and credits in the film. Go help out! We want to see this movie!

Continue reading Indie Game: The Movie has new trailer, new music, and new Kickstarter

JoystiqIndie Game: The Movie has new trailer, new music, and new Kickstarter originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>filmindie-game-the-moviejim-guthriejonathan-blowkickstartermoviephil-fishteam-meatTue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Indies react: PAX East as a showcase for small studios]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/indies-react-pax-east-as-a-showcase-for-small-studios/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/indies-react-pax-east-as-a-showcase-for-small-studios/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/indies-react-pax-east-as-a-showcase-for-small-studios/#comments Like so many PAX shows before it, this year's PAX East showcased a ton of indie games -- the gaming equivalent of a Williamsburg dubstep show, if you will. In our experience at this year's event, larger industry players like EA and Bethesda showed off their titles with hired hands and private theater viewings, choosing to exhibit older demos rather than new content.

The indies and smaller studios, on the other hand, were out in force. Beyond bringing playable versions of their games to the show -- even Fez was playable, for the first time in several years of development -- the indie studios brought themselves. They continued the tradition of directly engaging with attendees and, often, solicited game-testing feedback on the fly.

"I approached PAX East as a three-day playtest session. I learned so much about what works and what doesn't just from standing in the back and observing how people played the game," Fez co-developer Phil Fish told Joystiq. "It's also an amazing morale boost to be told by so many people that your game is great."

Continue reading Indies react: PAX East as a showcase for small studios

JoystiqIndies react: PAX East as a showcase for small studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albert-reedalex-schwartzbastiondemiurge-studioseitan-glinertfallen-frontierFezfire-hose-gamesgreg-kasavinmacmichael-wilfordmichel-bastienmicrosoftmobilemoonshot-gamespax-eastpax-east-2011pcphil-fishplaystationpolytron-corporationps3robert-khooshoot-many-robotsslam-bolt-scrapperssmuggle-trucksupergiant-gamesthe-gunstringertwisted-pixelxboxTue, 22 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez preview: It's the little things]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/fez-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/fez-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/fez-preview/#comments Fez is not just a platformer. Nor is it just a puzzle-platformer. Fez is an experience. A crazy experience that's clearly the product of some eccentric and passionate game developers -- two, in fact, who are all that comprise Polytron Corporation, the game's Montreal-based developer.

Fez is what happens when you mix fancy, high-end modern consoles with 16-bit-era graphics, and put two guys with very serious detail obsession in control. In short, Fez is very, very impressive.

Continue reading Fez preview: It's the little things

JoystiqFez preview: It's the little things originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fezmicrosoftpax-east-2011phil-fishpolytronpolytron-corporationtrapdoorxblaxboxMon, 14 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez shows off gameplay, still in development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/fez-shows-off-gameplay-still-in-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/fez-shows-off-gameplay-still-in-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/fez-shows-off-gameplay-still-in-development/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hey, remember Fez, the little mind- and dimension-twisting indie platformer that was due out in 2009 2010 sometime in the future? Apparently that's still true -- developer Phil Fish has shared a brand new gameplay video on Twitter today, and you can watch it right after the break. The lead character's name is Gomez, according to the video's description, and the game will take him "a voyage of discovery into the mysterious 3rd dimension." Sounds fun, but when's it out?

Fish doesn't say that, but he does confirm that the game "does indeed appear not to be an elaborate prank." Cute. Normally we wouldn't allow ourselves to be strung along like this on so little information, but this video has changed our perspective just enough for us to stay patient for this one a little longer. Weird how that works.

Continue reading Fez shows off gameplay, still in development

JoystiqFez shows off gameplay, still in development originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developerfezmicrosoftphil-fishpolytron-corporationxboxSat, 02 Oct 2010 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fez coming to XBLA in 2010]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/fez-coming-to-xbla-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/fez-coming-to-xbla-in-2010/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/fez-coming-to-xbla-in-2010/#comments
With just the simple image you see above, developer Polytron announced that its dimensional-shifting platformer Fez would arrive on the Xbox Live Arcade platform at some point next year. Though we've seen a date of 2009 in a previous trailer, the teaser image is the best indication we've had so far in terms of a concrete platform for the game.

Though we can't say it's a huge surprise (we spotted an Xbox "A" button in the game back in March), it's nice to have it officially official.

JoystiqFez coming to XBLA in 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fezindiMicrosoftphil-fishplatformerxblaXbox-360Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:05:00 EST