Joystiq

Rolando 3 canceled, but the franchise lives on

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:10:00 EST

After the not-exactly-phenomenal commercial reception of Rolando 2, iPhone developer ngmoco decided to swap to a free-to-play model for all its future titles. It's a model which led to the development of the extremely competent iPhone shooter Eliminate, but the new business model also led to the unfortunate death of the third installment in the Rolando franchise. The developer's co-founder, Neil Young, explained to IGN, "we said to ourselves, 'Look. If we can't make the game free-to-play, we're not going to release it.' And Rolando 3 as it was envisioned at that time was not a free-to-play product."

However, don't think you've seen the end of the Loco Roco-esque platformer. Young later confirmed that "at the appropriate moment we'll deliver a new Rolando experience that takes full advantage of everything we've learned from the free-to-play world." Sounds like we'll eventually get a new Rolando and, better yet, it won't cost us any Rolandough.

Rolando 3 canceled, but the franchise lives on originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolando almost removed from App Store

JC Fletcher — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:15:00 EST

This weekend, ngmoco announced plans to remove the original Rolando from the iPhone/iPod Touch App Store, to allow the sequel to launch on July 1 without competition from its own predecessor. However, in response to a fan outcry, the company has decided not to delist the platformer.

Before the announcement of the change of plan, Offworld's Brandon Boyer speculated that the delisting was designed to create "artificial scarcity" for the title, and enticing one final rush of downloads before the game disappeared -- and then making the title available once again when the sequel's sales dropped.

In addition to canceling the removal of Rolando, ngmoco has reinstated Topple to the App Store, a game that had also been removed to make room for its own sequel.

Rolando almost removed from App Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Trailer

JC Fletcher — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:15:00 EST

Everyone's favorite rolling-based platformer is back! No, not that one. Not that one either. The iPhone one. Rolando. Publisher ngmoco has updated its website with a new trailer for Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid.

Not content to merely bring the rollin' and smilin' to a new tropical setting, developer Hand Circus seems to have added a hint of an extra dimension to the game! Rolando is as blissfully side-scrolling as ever, and the sprites remain 2D, but the game is now embellished with 3D environments and a new camera system. What will Hand Circus do for the third Rolando game?

[Via What They Play]

Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 May 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolando 2 gets a website, regular info updates

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST

Rolando creator Simon Oliver must be a busy man. Aside from the two currently in-development Rolando sequels -- Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid coming in June and Rolando 3 in November -- the developer is also posting regular updates to publisher ngmoco's new Rolando 2 website.

Promising new character and environment reveals as well as tours of "exciting new gameplay" on the site, we imagine Rolando fans like us might make this a stop on their daily stroll down internet street. Though we can glean little from what's currently on the site, it seems Rolando 2 players will be encountering a tropical island theme when the game arrives on iPhone this summer. The prospect of that thrills us just as much as it does you -- does that mean we get to take a boat?!

Rolando 2 gets a website, regular info updates originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC09: Rolando sequel, sequel to Rolando sequel announced

Ludwig Kietzmann — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:54:00 EST

LocoRoco-esque phone tilt-em-up news now, with developer ngmoco efficiently announcing two sequels to the iPhone's beloved Rolando. You know you've made it big when you become a trilogy -- complete with subtitles!

According to IGN, Rolando 2: The Quest for the Golden Orchid will arrive sometime in June, followed by the currently unsubtitled Rolando 3 in November. The news echoes comments made earlier by the game's creator, Simon Oliver, who modestly promised "more activity on the Rolando front" for the remainder of the year. Aside from the pair of follow-ups, ngmoco also plans to release a pack of 20 new levels for the original game.

If you're unfamiliar with all this Rolando business, check out our review of the game that got the ball rolling on the rolling ball game.

GDC09: Rolando sequel, sequel to Rolando sequel announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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