Joystiq

Torchlight 2 devs still planning summer launch

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:30:00 EST

Runic Games' Torchlight 2 is still planned for launch at some point this summer, Runic president Travis Baldree tells us. "The end of summer is September 25th or something like that, right?" he asked. "We're still trying to get it done for summer. It's a big game and we've still got some polish to go."

A recent blog post from Baldree on his company's site was meant to allay the concerns of fans who pre-ordered the game many months ago - fans who have yet to get a solid release date from Runic. "People asked us to make pre-orders available. So, people were just interested in what was going on. There was some concern in the forums that we had gone off and were just twiddling our thumbs," he said. "We have a point in development where we'll say, 'Okay, we're ready to announce a date,' but we're just not there yet."

As of today, that gives Runic approximately two months to announce a release date and, uh, actually release its game. Fingers crossed!

Torchlight 2 devs still planning summer launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EGLS to 'modify some parts' of its iOS MMO in wake of Torchlight asset theft accusations

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST

Chinese developer Entertainment Game Labs will remove "some parts" of its game, Armed Heroes Online, the company tells Joystiq. Those "parts," it sounds like, are the ones that Runic Games is saying were stolen from its Torchlight franchise. "Players always come first," EGLS said in a statement. "There, we prefer to modify some parts of Armed Heroes Online where have caused those disputes rather than go on arguing. As long as this carves out a way out of angry disputes, it will be definitely worth our efforts," the statement reads.

Despite the alterations coming to AHO, its developer sticks by the game, remaining defiant that any of Runic's Torchlight assets were used in the creation of its iOS MMO. "We want to make clear, if necessary, that we would like to submit the documents, files, and other materials related to the game developing to Apple to prove the originalities of the game and the efforts we devoted into the game developing," the statement says.

Runic Games president Travis Baldree contends that he's already looked through AHO's files, however, and that they're far more damning that EGLS wants to admit. "I also downloaded the app, and you can just unzip them and look at any iPhone app. And there was a sound manifest that listed all the sound files in the game, and they were verbatim all of our sound files, including our own misspellings," Baldree told us in an interview yesterday. "Our technical artist Adam Perin did voices for a sword called 'The Sword of Adam.' And it had goofy little things that he would say when you swung the sword. And those were in there [Armed Heroes Online], even in one of their videos," he said.

For Runic, this solution - should it actually play out - is exactly what Baldree was hoping would happen. "We're really just trying to get the thing pulled down from the App Store and to have them use their own assets. We were a little baffled by their initial response, and we'd be more than happy to talk to them and see what's up," he said. As of right now, Armed Heroes Online isn't available via the iTunes App Store, and it's seemingly been pulled by Apple following Runic's takedown request.

See the full statement from EGLS after the break.

Continue reading EGLS to 'modify some parts' of its iOS MMO in wake of Torchlight asset theft accusations

EGLS to 'modify some parts' of its iOS MMO in wake of Torchlight asset theft accusations originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Torchlight art found in iOS MMO; MMO dev denies theft against strong evidence

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:30:00 EST

Art assets from Runic Games' Torchlight franchise bear more than a passing resemblance to those used in iOS MMO Armed Heroes Online, from Chinese developer Entertainment Game Labs ("EGLS"). And Runic Games head Travis Baldree is calling foul, taking to Twitter this week to say, "So, wow - this game is releasing on the app store. They wholesale stole most of the assets from Torchlight," and linking to the EGLS game website.

Baldree made the image seen above as well, comparing the two games' art assets from source material he found in YouTube clips of Armed Heroes Online with those of his company's game. Beyond talking, Baldree tells us that Runic "have contacted Apple with a takedown request but haven't heard back yet." The company's goal at the moment is "simply to get the game removed from the App Store until it no longer infringes upon our copyright." It's unclear if representatives from Runic's parent company, Chinese MMO company Perfect World, have been in contact with EGLS separately.

Baldree says Runic "have been unable to directly contact the company," but a rep from EGLS posted on Touch Arcade's forums with a lengthy public statement today. "We can hardly agree with Mr. Travis Baldree who judged that EGLS 'wholesale stole most of the assets from Torchlight!' only based on the similarity between several small monsters. The judgment is simply untenable," the post reads.

It goes on to say that some EGLS employees "are both crazy game fans and ecstatic movie lovers," alleging that the comparisons drawn are nothing more than an accident at best. Bizarrely, the statement then compares Torchlight to WildTangent's PC RPG Fate, as well as Diablo 2 - both games that Runic employees were instrumental in developing.

Armed Heroes Online remains available via iTunes for now, but we don't expect it'll be there for much longer. The game is free-to-play with in-app purchases (read: microtransactions). An EGLS rep didn't respond to request for comment as of publishing.

Torchlight art found in iOS MMO; MMO dev denies theft against strong evidence originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Torchlight 2's Berserker goes ... well, you know

David Hinkle — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

If you've got some anger issues over Torchlight 2's expected time of arrival, you might find some common ground with the guy showcased in this new trailer.

Torchlight 2's Berserker goes ... well, you know originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Torchlight 2 distracts with pets trailer, screens

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST

Torchlight 2 developer Runic Games is diverting attention from the game's lack of launch date with some assets featuring the upcoming dungeon crawler's pets. Although we're partial to the bulldog, there's something about the panther rolling over for belly rubs that's too cute to deny.

With Diablo 3's May launch just around the corner, we don't hold out too much hope that Torchlight 2 will launch with significant breathing room between it and Blizzard's behemoth. Guess that gives the team at Runic, which has put on a strong face in light of recent events, time to develop a few more pets.

Gallery: Torchlight 2 (Pets)

Torchlight 2 distracts with pets trailer, screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runic Games stands against SOPA

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST

Runic Games, developer of the Torchlight series, has come out against the "Stop Online Piracy Act" (SOPA) and "PROTECT IP Act" (PIPA).

"It is clear that the scope of the proposed legislation would give unnecessarily broaden power to large corporations while reducing the rights of individual citizens -- and it won't even stop software piracy," the company stated on its forums. "We at Runic Games oppose the SOPA/PIPA legislation and we encourage you to do the same."

Runic then listed several resources for use in opposing the legislation, noting: "We can still make a difference."

Yesterday, League of Legends studio Riot Games came out against the legislation. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the political arm of the video game industry, which represents most major publishers, is in support of SOPA.

[Thanks, Jashua B]

Runic Games stands against SOPA originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Explore Torchlight for $5.08 from Direct2Drive

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:40:00 EST

If some cosmically improbable chain of events has kept you from playing Torchlight, today just might be the day to rectify it. Direct2Drive is currently selling the dungeon crawler for the tantalizingly low price of $5.08. It should be just the thing to tide you over until Torchlight 2.

Continue reading Explore Torchlight for $5.08 from Direct2Drive

Explore Torchlight for $5.08 from Direct2Drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Torchlight 2 'probably' delayed to July, Runic says

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:45:00 EST

Speaking to Digital Spy, Runic CEO Max Schaefer revealed that Torchlight 2 will likely miss its original May-June release window. According to Schaefer, the game will now "probably" be released this July. Apparently the time Runic had to spend on the extra interface design for the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade version of Torchlight is to blame for the sequel's delay, though Schaefer noted that development is "going great" otherwise.

Schaefer added that Torchlight 2 should receive some "optimizations and technical improvements," originally created for the XBLA Torchlight. Notably, the sequel should now benefit from reduced load times and improved animation. The XBLA version of Torchlight will be released on March 9.

Torchlight 2 'probably' delayed to July, Runic says originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Light up your day with the first Torchlight 2 trailer

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:45:00 EST

The first trailer for Torchlight 2 doesn't dance around the issue: The original Torchlight should have had multiplayer. As such, be prepared to be bombarded by the fact that Torchlight 2 does have multiplayer, and that it appears to be a (magical) blast. Basically, the trailer makes 2011 seem really far away.

Gallery: Torchlight 2 (art)

Continue reading Light up your day with the first Torchlight 2 trailer

Light up your day with the first Torchlight 2 trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX 2009: Hands-on with Torchlight

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST

We never thought a completely new game would rise from the ashes of Mythos in just over a year, but that's exactly what Torchlight represents. We played through Torchlight for half an hour at the show, and it's a delightful action RPG that looks like a cartoon version of Diablo ... which doesn't mean it's for toddlers. There's still killing of the smashing, bashing and magical varieties throughout this thing, you know!

Gallery: Torchlight

Continue reading PAX 2009: Hands-on with Torchlight

PAX 2009: Hands-on with Torchlight originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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