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[Bastion is $3.75 today, more deals in GamersGate 'Spring Sale']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/bastion-is-3-75-today-more-deals-in-gamersgate-spring-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/bastion-is-3-75-today-more-deals-in-gamersgate-spring-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/bastion-is-3-75-today-more-deals-in-gamersgate-spring-sale/#comments The Spring Sale over at Gamersgate continues with a nice daily deal on Bastion, Supergiant Games' wonderful action-RPG, for $3.75. Other deals today include Endless Space for $17.48 and half-off the Double Fine bundle, a collection of Brutal Legend, Costume Quest, Psychonauts and Stacking for $22.50.

This sale is bolstered by ongoing weekly deals, such as the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Collection for $12, Sine Mora for $4.98, Trine 2 for $3.75, Legend of Grimrock for $5.10 and Sonic Spinball for $1.70 - the full nine-page list is available through the source link below.

JoystiqBastion is $3.75 today, more deals in GamersGate 'Spring Sale' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastiondouble-finedouble-fine-productionsgamersgategamersgate-spring-salemacpcspring-salesupergiant-gamesMon, 22 Apr 2013 19:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Supergiant may break free of publisher model with Transistor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/supergiant-may-break-free-of-publisher-model-with-transistor/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/supergiant-may-break-free-of-publisher-model-with-transistor/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/supergiant-may-break-free-of-publisher-model-with-transistor/#comments Supergiant doesn't have a publisher for its next game, Transistor - but more importantly, it doesn't need one. Supergiant worked with Warner Bros. to publish Bastion, and since its launch in 2011, it's sold 1.7 million copies across PC, Mac, Linux, XBLA and iOS.

"It did well everywhere," Supergiant Lead Designer Amir Rao tells Joystiq at PAX East. Supergiant is now in a position to publish its own games, and Transistor might be the ideal candidate.

"We're showing it to the world for the first time," Rao says. "We don't have deals with anyone. This is the first time anybody has seen this game. It's really way too early for us to say if we'll have a publisher or what platforms it will be on."

For what it's worth, Bastion moved the most units on Steam, Rao says. Supergiant may not seek a publisher at all, but anything's possible, Rao says. If it did want to snag a publisher, Transistor faces an issue recently vocalized by Epic Games and Dontnod. It features a female lead, and apparently that can make it a tough sell to publishers. Internally, it's not an issue for Supergiant.

"We put characters in our games that are representative of the worlds they're in," Rao says. "We don't think of her as a female character. She's just our character."

JoystiqSupergiant may break free of publisher model with Transistor originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pax-eastpax-east-2013supergiant-gamestransistorSat, 23 Mar 2013 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Transistor preview: A beautiful, tactical twist on action-RPG]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/transistor-preview-a-beautiful-tactical-twist-on-action-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/transistor-preview-a-beautiful-tactical-twist-on-action-rpg/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/transistor-preview-a-beautiful-tactical-twist-on-action-rpg/#comments Red is a fallen star, beautiful and talented yet broken and nearly defeated - until she finds the Transistor. In Supergiant Games' demo of Transistor, Red stumbles upon this giant, pulsating sword immediately, embedded in the gut of a corpse. The Transistor speaks with the voice of that dead man, urging her to take it and run. She does, with little hesitation; Red may have known this dead man once, as suggested by the stream of apologies and compassion overlaid on the gameplay.

Transistor is gorgeous, seemingly hand-painted in muted neons backlit by futuristic skylines, similar in style to Supergiant's first game, Bastion. It plays, at first, with similar mechanics, as Red uses her initial two attacks to take down two robotic members of The Process, the main enemies of Transistor. In Red's world, more than 100 people have gone missing in the past year, and the imprints of the dead litter the streets, lorded over by floating white robots with glaring red sensors.

Gallery: Transistor

Continue reading Transistor preview: A beautiful, tactical twist on action-RPG

JoystiqTransistor preview: A beautiful, tactical twist on action-RPG originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pax-eastPAX-East-2013supergiant-gamestransistorFri, 22 Mar 2013 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Supergiant's next game is Transistor [Update: Logan Cunningham on board]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/supergiants-next-game-is-transistor/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/supergiants-next-game-is-transistor/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/supergiants-next-game-is-transistor/#comments
Bastion developer Supergiant Games' next project is Transistor, a sci-fi action RPG slated to launch sometime in 2014. In the blog post announcing the game, Supergiant's Greg Kasavin says the developer hasn't decided on any one specific platform or platforms for Transistor yet.

Supergiant Games' freshman adventure Bastion launched in 2011, winning numerous awards and establishing itself as one of the best games of the year. Bastion has sold over 1.7 million copies to date.

Update: Logan Cunningham, the voice of Rucks in Bastion, has confirmed on Twitter that he's working on Transistor "in a vocal capacity."

Gallery: Transistor

JoystiqSupergiant's next game is Transistor [Update: Logan Cunningham on board] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>supergiantsupergiant-gamestransistorTue, 19 Mar 2013 12:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion sales reach 1.7 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/bastion-sales-reach-1-7-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/bastion-sales-reach-1-7-million/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/bastion-sales-reach-1-7-million/#comments Speaking at DICE today, Supergiant Games founder Amir Rao mentioned that Bastion has sold 1.7 million copies across all available platforms.

Rao's presentation at the annual executive conference explained how Supergiant Games went about porting Bastion from XBLA to PC and mobile. The company's porting team was ... well, it was eight people that composed the entire company. Staggering the releases of Bastion allowed them to keep the quality high and test ideas as the game expanded to other systems.

"We didn't lose an opportunity by not sim [simultaneously] shipping," said Rao. He pointed to his employment experience at EA, and simultaneously shipping Red Alert 3 for PC and Xbox, as an example of split focus.

Bastion's slow multiplatform creep has been successful, with over 90 percent of sales occurring after its original launch month. Rao didn't mention any more upcoming ports of Bastion, but says it's the number one request they receive at Supergiant.

JoystiqBastion sales reach 1.7 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastiondice-2013iosipadiphonemicrosoftmobilepcsupergiant-gamesWarner-BroswbiexboxWed, 06 Feb 2013 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Hit List Q&A: Supergiant Games studio director Amir Rao]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/hit-list-qanda-supergiant-games-studio-director-amir-rao/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/hit-list-qanda-supergiant-games-studio-director-amir-rao/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/hit-list-qanda-supergiant-games-studio-director-amir-rao/#comments In the "Hit List" from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, the video game industry's top talents describe their current gaming addictions, their most anticipated releases and more. This week: Supergiant's Amir Rao.

Hit List Q&A Supergiant Games studio director Amir Rao
Amir Rao is the Studio Director for Supergiant Games, the team behind the AIAS award-winning downloadable game Bastion, which was released on Xbox Live Arcade, Steam, Mac, Linux, Chrome and iOS. Prior to Supergiant Games, Amir worked at Electronic Arts Los Angeles as a designer on Command & Conquer 3 and Red Alert 3.

At the upcoming 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit Amir will be speaking on the topic, "Multiplatformism." Over the course of a year, Supergiant Games shipped its award-winning game Bastion on six different platforms with three fundamentally different user interface paradigms. This session covers the design tenets that emerged in translating Bastion from controller to keyboard to touch. The talk will explore Superigant Games' ethos behind picking platforms, while considering if the future of elegant design is truly interface agnostic.

Continue reading Hit List Q&A: Supergiant Games studio director Amir Rao

JoystiqHit List Q&A: Supergiant Games studio director Amir Rao originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiasamir-raohit-listmicrosoftmobilepcsupergiant-gamesxboxMon, 07 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion now universal iOS app, optimized for iPhone 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/bastion-now-universal-ios-app-optimized-for-iphone-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/bastion-now-universal-ios-app-optimized-for-iphone-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/bastion-now-universal-ios-app-optimized-for-iphone-5/#comments Bastion now Universal on iOS, optimized for iPhone 5Bastion for iPad is now a universal app with support for iPads 2-4, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and 5th generation iPod touch. Developer Supergiant announced the update on its site today, noting it includes upgrades such as full optimization for the iPhone 5 screen and iCloud support (to transfer saves).

The developer previously stated it "felt the game experience would not translate well to the iPhone's smaller screen," but the launch of the iPhone 5 had them take another look. Bastion is currently $4.99 and the update is free if you already own the game on iPad.

JoystiqBastion now universal iOS app, optimized for iPhone 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastioniosipadiphonemobilesupergiantsupergiant-gamesWed, 14 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Humble Indie Bundle print you can proudly own]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/28/a-humble-indie-bundle-print-you-can-proudly-own/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/28/a-humble-indie-bundle-print-you-can-proudly-own/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/28/a-humble-indie-bundle-print-you-can-proudly-own/#comments Humble Bundle 5 art print by SupergiantYou've most likely bought Humble Indie Bundle 6 by now. Now you can continue your streak of unavoidable Humble purchases by picking up a print of Supergiant art director Jen Zee's incredible Humble Bundle 5 group shot.

Unlike the actual bundle, you can't just pay what you want for this, unless what you want to pay is $14.99, divided among the Humble 5 developers and the Bundle organizers.

JoystiqA Humble Indie Bundle print you can proudly own originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artbastionhumble-indie-bundlehumble-indie-bundle-5macpcsupergiant-gamesFri, 28 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion heading to iPad tomorrow [updated]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/bastion-heading-to-ipad-as-new-zealand-app-store-listing-outs-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/bastion-heading-to-ipad-as-new-zealand-app-store-listing-outs-th/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/bastion-heading-to-ipad-as-new-zealand-app-store-listing-outs-th/#comments Bastion heading to iPad as New Zealand App Store listing outs the port
The kid is sauntering over to Apple's iPad tomorrow in Bastion from Supergiant Games. New Zealanders - beyond the beautiful rolling hills and verdant greenery - get iOS games ahead of the rest of the planet due to the position of the sun and how that relates to our definition of time, you see, so it's already available in that territory. The game has a set launch date of August 30, but some territories are already in the future.

Anyway, Bastion's iPad-only for now, which Supergiant says was a decision made due to "technical reasons." Additionally, the team, "felt the game experience would not translate well to the iPhone's smaller screen."

When it arrives on the US App Store, it'll cost $4.99 and there's no demo version - you could always try it out in Google Chrome first? Don't hesitate to let us know if you see it pop up on our digital shores, which should be sometime tonight around 11PM ET. And head over to Supergiant's page for a ton more info about the new release.

Update: This story was updated to reflect the official announcement of Bastion on iOS.

JoystiqBastion heading to iPad tomorrow [updated] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storebastioniosios-app-storeipaditunesmobilenew-zealandsupergiantsupergiant-gameswarner-broswarner-bros-interactivewbieWed, 29 Aug 2012 11:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Humble Indie Bundle V includes Psychonauts, Limbo, Superbrothers, Amnesia, Bastion (as a bonus)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/31/humble-indie-bundle-v-includes-psychonauts-limbo-superbrothers/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/31/humble-indie-bundle-v-includes-psychonauts-limbo-superbrothers/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/31/humble-indie-bundle-v-includes-psychonauts-limbo-superbrothers/#comments Image
The fifth iteration of the Humble Indie Bundle has gone live, granting donors their choice of Mac, PC or Linux versions of Psychonauts, Limbo, Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP and Amnesia: The Dark Descent, as well as the soundtracks for each game. Anyone that pays above the average price (currently $6.71) will also receive Baston and its soundtrack.

Seeing as the Steam release of Sword & Sworcery EP is still only available on PC, this bundle is currently the only way to buy it for OSX. As per usual, patrons can decide how much of their purchase price goes to the developers, to charity, and as a tip to Humble Bundle folks.

JoystiqHumble Indie Bundle V includes Psychonauts, Limbo, Superbrothers, Amnesia, Bastion (as a bonus) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 May 2012 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amnesia-the-dark-descentbastionCapyDoubleFineFrictional-GameslimbolinuxmacpcPlaydeadpsychonautssuperbrothers-sword-and-sworcery-epsupergiant-gamesThu, 31 May 2012 13:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion gets Steamplay support, on limited sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/bastion-gets-steamplay-support-on-limited-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/bastion-gets-steamplay-support-on-limited-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/bastion-gets-steamplay-support-on-limited-sale/#comments Months after winning numerous end-of-year accolades, Bastion can append one more teensy triumph to the list: Steamplay support. If you purchase Supergiant's vibrant action-RPG through Steam, you'll be able to play it on PC or Mac.

Bastion is on sale for six bucks through Valve's service for a limited time (until May 3). The discount also applies to a game and soundtrack bundle, which can be had for $9.98. And if you must have a physical copy ... try Afghanistan.

JoystiqBastion gets Steamplay support, on limited sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmacpcsteamsteamplaysupergiant-gamesTue, 01 May 2012 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Bastion now available on the Mac App Store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/psa-bastion-now-available-on-the-mac-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/psa-bastion-now-available-on-the-mac-app-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/psa-bastion-now-available-on-the-mac-app-store/#comments If you don't have access to a PC or an Xbox 360 or Google's OS-independent Chrome browser, and yet your need to play Bastion simply cannot be satiated or forgotten, your hope for a narration-filled future is probably starting to wear pretty thin. What other possible form of digital distribution could placate your need for tonics, shards and acoustic guitars?

Rest your weary head, traveller - there's light at the end of your remarkably specific tunnel: The Mac App Store has what you need, all for $14.99.

JoystiqPSA: Bastion now available on the Mac App Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmacMac-App-StoreOSXsupergiant-gamesWarner-Bros-Interactive-EntertainmentSat, 28 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Play Bastion (circa October 2009) at PAX East this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/play-bastion-circa-october-2009-at-pax-east-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/play-bastion-circa-october-2009-at-pax-east-this-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/play-bastion-circa-october-2009-at-pax-east-this-weekend/#comments ImageWhat's that? You already played the entirety of Bastion, bought the soundtrack, and have been learning how to play those tunes on your Wurlitzer? That's all fine and dandy, but you probably haven't even seen how the game looked way back in October 2009 when its first playable demo burst into existence. As the picture above reveals, that demo will be available for PAX East attendees.

Supergiant and the super early build of Bastion will be on the PAX East show floor just behind The Behemoth. If you get lost, just start shouting, "Bastion! I'm looking for Bastion!" That should work out pretty well.

JoystiqPlay Bastion (circa October 2009) at PAX East this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionpax-eastpax-east-2012supergiantsupergiant-gamesFri, 06 Apr 2012 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion sheet music now available for $0.00 through Supergiant]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/bastion-sheet-music-now-available-for-0-00-through-supergiant/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/bastion-sheet-music-now-available-for-0-00-through-supergiant/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/bastion-sheet-music-now-available-for-0-00-through-supergiant/#comments
Bastion's soundtrack has received almost as much praise as the game itself, which earned a spot on our list of 2011's best games, among other accolades from consumers and industry folk. Its haunting vocals, 1800s gospel-esque melody lines and character-relevant lyrics are an exceptional work on their own, as you can clearly tell from the video above featuring Bastion composer Darren Korb and vocalist Ashley Barrett.

Now you too can play the part of a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, assuming you have the ability to command a guitar and/or piano in coordination with sheet music and/or tabulature. Charts for all four songs of the Bastion soundtrack are now available for free from Supergiant's store, which we're certain will vastly improve the accuracy of YouTube cover videos the world over. Now if you'll excuse us, we're off to remind ourselves why we dropped out of music school.

JoystiqBastion sheet music now available for $0.00 through Supergiant originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ashley-BarrettbastionDarren-Korbfreeguitarguitar-tabspianosheet-musicsoundtracksupergiantsupergiant-gamestabulatureSat, 17 Mar 2012 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion's canceled feature: 'Find a shoe? Plant it.']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/bastions-canceled-feature-find-a-shoe-plant-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/bastions-canceled-feature-find-a-shoe-plant-it/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/bastions-canceled-feature-find-a-shoe-plant-it/#comments Supergiant Games spent one year working on a "rich gardening feature" for Bastion that the entire team was "really excited about," but was eventually cut from the game, designer Amir Rao said at GDC. The final version of Bastion demonstrates the team's obsession with plants, but gardening itself was set to play a pivotal role in exploration and players' overall sense of accomplishment, Rao said, breaking it down into four functions:
  1. Players would find seeds for story items and worlds
  2. Planters on the Bastion would open up gradually, limiting how many seeds could be planted
  3. Plants would be watered with blue "cores"
  4. They would sprout and the fruit would offer its item, world, etc.
Gardening in Bastion faced a slew of problems, but mostly the seeds had no aesthetic connection to the final plant -- "What does a 'hammer plant' look like?" Rao asked -- and Supergiant eventually realized that they were solving the wrong problem. What Bastion really needed was a menu.

JoystiqBastion's canceled feature: 'Find a shoe? Plant it.' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amir-Raobastioncanceledgardeninggdc-2012microsoftpcsupergiant-gamesxboxTue, 06 Mar 2012 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion down to $7.50 on Xbox Live this week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/bastion-down-to-7-50-on-xbox-live-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/bastion-down-to-7-50-on-xbox-live-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/bastion-down-to-7-50-on-xbox-live-this-week/#comments BastionLest you haven't bought Bastion yet, a title that made number five in Joystiq's prestigious 2011 top ten, this just might be the week to do it. The game is available for $7.50 this week on Xbox Live, half the usual price. We think Rucks would agree when we say it's a heckuva deal.

JoystiqBastion down to $7.50 on Xbox Live this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmicrosoftsupergiant-gamesWarner-Brosxblaxboxxbox-liveTue, 31 Jan 2012 15:10:00 EST<![CDATA[How a physical copy of Bastion wound up in Afghanistan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/us-soldier-stationed-in-afghanistan-couldnt-download-bastion-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/us-soldier-stationed-in-afghanistan-couldnt-download-bastion-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/us-soldier-stationed-in-afghanistan-couldnt-download-bastion-s/#comments "He told me they had no plans of releasing a physical copy in the future, but if I gave him my address then he would see what he could do," one lucky Reddit user and Afghanistan-stationed United States Air Force officer wrote on the social news site earlier today. User "bolivar-shagnasty" was speaking about Supergiant's multi-award winning Bastion -- a game only available digitally for both Xbox 360 and PC.

But "shagnasty's" internet connection while stationed in Afghanistan is ... let's call it less than ideal. "My internet connection is disgustingly slow and it costs so much that it seems like price gouging," he wrote. And despite his best efforts to snag Bastion via both Direct2Drive and Steam, he was rebuffed at both stops. Rather than give up, however, he decided to shoot an email to Supergiant and see if the studio had plans to release a retail version of the game at some point.

Supergiant isn't a big studio by any means. Beyond creative director Greg Kasavin, six other folks can refer to themselves as full-time Supergiant-ers. So when the Air Force officer emailed what he expected to be customer support, he actually got a direct response from the aforementioned studio head, Greg Kasavin.

Continue reading How a physical copy of Bastion wound up in Afghanistan

JoystiqHow a physical copy of Bastion wound up in Afghanistan originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afghanistanbastiongreg-kasavinpcsupergiant-gamesunited-states-air-forceusafThu, 26 Jan 2012 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion musicians provide today's musical interlude]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/bastion-musicians-provide-todays-musical-interlude/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/bastion-musicians-provide-todays-musical-interlude/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/bastion-musicians-provide-todays-musical-interlude/#comments
In honor of Bastion earning a spot on Joystiq's Top 10 list, composer Darren Korb and singer Ashley Barrett gave an impromptu live performance of "Build That Wall" and "Setting Sail, Coming Home" in Supergiant's studio.

Well, officially it was done just because they both happened to be around together, and the performance was recorded before we announced the award, but we're pretty sure it's because of our thing.

JoystiqBastion musicians provide today's musical interlude originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashley-barrettbastiondarren-korbmicrosoftmusicpcsupergiant-gamesWarner-Bros-InteractivexblaxboxWed, 04 Jan 2012 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2011: Bastion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2011-bastion/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2011-bastion/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2011-bastion/#comments The Kid sat down to write about Bastion, his mind empty like a soldier's wallet. Where to begin? What to say? The game wasn't a blockbuster production, but it was beautiful and expertly executed, and an epic concept delivered by a team that knew its limitations. When there isn't an army of artists, engineers, writers and coders to impress those critical gasbags, you put your vision on display.

Bastion's dynamic narration is to be the game's long-lasting cultural hook. A smooth and comforting voice relays events, but doesn't stop at exposition. There was very little the narrator didn't have a comment for, be it weapon combinations or that moment the kid simply starts smashing everything in sight.

Much like "Still Alive" did double duty as Portal's end and as its revelation, Bastion takes a similar opportunity in its credits to deliver the haunting "Setting Sail, Coming Home." A combination of themes that become familiar to players through the game, the song delivered the type of emotional conclusion that even the best cutscenes rarely offer.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2011: Bastion

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2011: Bastion originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionjoystiq-best-of-2011microsoftpcsteamsuper-giant-gamessupergiant-gamesWarner-Bros-Interactive-EntertainmentWBIExboxTue, 03 Jan 2012 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[The kid succeeds: Bastion sales exceed 500K]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-kid-succeeds-bastion-sales-exceed-500/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-kid-succeeds-bastion-sales-exceed-500/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-kid-succeeds-bastion-sales-exceed-500/#comments It's been a critical success and now developer Supergiant Games has revealed Bastion is also a commercial success. The recent Steam and Xbox Live Arcade sales helped to push Bastion over that 500,000 mark, the developer's blog states.

"When we set out to make Bastion, a sales number like that seemed astronomical to us, so it feels great to have hit that mark," creative director (and Bastion writer) Greg Kasavin said. "It goes to show that a lot of folks out there like what we're doing and want us to keep going, which is great, because we intend to stick together as a team and do just that." Considering the universal praise for the studio's first game, we can all agree that's a very good thing.

JoystiqThe kid succeeds: Bastion sales exceed 500K originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmicrosoftpcsalessupergiantsupergiant-gamesxboxSat, 31 Dec 2011 03:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Stranger's Dream is the last planned Bastion DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/strangers-dream-is-the-last-planned-bastion-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/strangers-dream-is-the-last-planned-bastion-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/strangers-dream-is-the-last-planned-bastion-dlc/#comments Supergiant Games' creative director Greg Kasavin made his way down the red carpet at yesterday's Spike Video Game Awards, and stopped to speak with Joystiq about releasing the excellent Bastion on the Google Chrome browser platform. "It was an interesting project from a bunch of different angles," he said. "We were very curious about it technologically, because I'll be the first to admit that as a game player, I have certain preconceptions about what browser-based gaming is like." The whole project took about two months to make, and the team was uncertain they'd match the console version in quality, despite assurances from Google. "We were skeptical, but we got it up and running and we were like whoa, this actually works."

The company is also planning on releasing a pack of DLC called "The Stranger's Dream" next week that will take players through another Who Knows Where sequence about the Rucks character. When asked if there will be more DLC after that, Kasavin gave a flat "no," but he's not so clear about whether this is the end of Bastion for good: "We don't know that for sure, but it's the end of our plans."

So what's Supergiant up to next, then? "We have a bunch of little things brewing and whatnot," Kasavin promises. As for platforms or genres, however, he told us that "it's too early to say."

JoystiqStranger's Dream is the last planned Bastion DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastiondlcgreg-kasavinmicrosoftpcspike-vga-2011strangers-dreamsupergiant-gamesxboxSun, 11 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion gets The Stranger's Dream DLC next week, $0 on PC, $1 on XBLA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/bastion-gets-the-strangers-dream-dlc-next-week-0-on-pc-1-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/bastion-gets-the-strangers-dream-dlc-next-week-0-on-pc-1-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/bastion-gets-the-strangers-dream-dlc-next-week-0-on-pc-1-on/#comments It looks like the folks at Supergiant Games are really getting into the holiday spirit. As "a show of thanks" to their fans, the Bastion devs are releasing The Stranger's Dream DLC on December 14, "a new fully narrated Who Knows Where sequence, bigger and more challenging than the others. You'll gain a bit more insight into Rucks' backstory as well as the history of Caelondia if you can survive this fight."

In addition to that Who Knows Where sequence - think challenge arena, if you haven't played Bastion yet - this DLC pack will enable a "Score Attack Mode" in which your combat performance is evaluated in each level, and a "No-Sweat Mode" so those of you who really stink at video games can still enjoy the narrative and aesthetic experience of playing Bastion. The catch: To access The Stranger's Dream and Score Attack Mode, you'll need to finish the game at least once; fortunately, No-Sweat Mode can help you make short work of that challenge.

The other catch: Though the update will be available for free for PC, via Steam, the Google Chrome version, or other online vendors, the Xbox Live Arcade version needs to cost something. That's Microsoft's policy, holidays be damned. So Supergiant has priced this DLC at just 80 Microsoft Points or, as you and I may call it, $1. Supergiant's Greg Kasavin said that price is "about as close as we could get" while following Microsoft's policy. We appreciate that.

JoystiqBastion gets The Stranger's Dream DLC next week, $0 on PC, $1 on XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionDLCmacmicrosoftpcsteamsupergiant-gamesXBLAxboxFri, 09 Dec 2011 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Play Bastion in your Chrome browser right now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/play-bastion-in-your-chrome-browser-right-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/play-bastion-in-your-chrome-browser-right-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/play-bastion-in-your-chrome-browser-right-now/#comments Google's new "Native Client" tech lets developers compile high-end programs to run directly in a Chrome browser window. One of the first companies to take advantage of this is Supergiant Games, who has released its PC/XBLA hit Bastion to the Chrome Web Store.

If you're running Chrome, and you meet the system requirements, trying out the new version is as simple as opening that link and hitting "Launch App." If it works well for you, you can purchase it for $14.99 and take your saved progress to any Chrome browser on any computer you happen to use. It worked pretty well for us -- on a Mac!

JoystiqPlay Bastion in your Chrome browser right now originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionbrowser-gamechromemacnative-clientpcsupergiant-gamesWarner-Bros-InteractiveFri, 09 Dec 2011 00:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam daily deal: Bastion for $5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/steam-daily-deal-bastion-for-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/steam-daily-deal-bastion-for-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/steam-daily-deal-bastion-for-5/#comments Pensive. I can tell you, I've wandered this world for a while, but I ain't ever seen nothin' like what I saw today. There was the Kid, runnin' about, popping Squirts and introducing Gas Fellas to the business end of a Cael Hammer. Only it wasn't the Kid. Not really. It was some sort of electric facsimile, a collection of dots, like moving grains of sand on a pane.

I don't rightly know how it works. Zia tells me it's a "video game," an invention the Ura dreamed up years ago, and this one is about the Kid's adventures rebuildin' the Bastion. I saw her pull the game from the ether, funneling it into a machine via some Steam powered contraption. As if that wasn't enough to jumble this old man's marbles, she told me the wondrous thing only set her back five dollars. Now, what exactly a dollar is, that she couldn't say.

JoystiqSteam daily deal: Bastion for $5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionpcsteamsupergiant-gamesWed, 07 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Supergiant Games opens online store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/supergiant-games-opens-online-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/supergiant-games-opens-online-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/supergiant-games-opens-online-store/#comments
The Kid needs coin, he's got a whole world to rebuild.

Bastion developer Supergiant Games recently launched its online store, featuring merchandise related derived from its summer standout. There's the soundtrack for ears, the limited edition "Kid vs. Scumbag" print for eyes, and the Bastion bandana and t-shirt to cover one's naked shame.

For those with the cash to spare, the Bastion Collector's Bundle includes a mess of goodies, along with a copy of the previously mentioned "Kid vs. Scumbag" print autographed by all seven of the Supergiant Games team.

They mention that since Bastion launched, they've received a ton of requests for different kinds of game-related merchandise, but would rather "release a smaller number of high quality items over time than try to do everything at once." But, Supergiant, imagine all the cash you could make off white wigs, face bandages and hand wraps!

JoystiqSupergiant Games opens online store originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmicrosoftpcsupergiant-gamesxboxWed, 07 Dec 2011 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion narrator takes a hilarious journey through other games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/bastion-narrator-takes-a-hilarious-journey-through-other-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/bastion-narrator-takes-a-hilarious-journey-through-other-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/bastion-narrator-takes-a-hilarious-journey-through-other-games/#comments
What happens when Bastion's ever-present contextual narrator lands in some of gaming's most famous titles? Pure hilarity, as seen in the Dorkly-crafted video above.

JoystiqBastion narrator takes a hilarious journey through other games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastiondorklyguitar-heroparodySuper-Mario-Bros-NESsuper-smash-bros-brawlsupergiantsupergiant-gamestetrisThu, 03 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion half-off on Steam today and tomorrow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/bastion-half-off-on-steam-today-and-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/bastion-half-off-on-steam-today-and-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/bastion-half-off-on-steam-today-and-tomorrow/#comments Supergiant Games' lovable action-RPG Bastion has won over the hearts of many -- though folks who aren't willing to dish out $15 for a downloadable game have remained, as ever, non-plussed. If you're in this camp, act fast: The game's half off on Steam until November 3.

Continue reading Bastion half-off on Steam today and tomorrow

JoystiqBastion half-off on Steam today and tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionpcsteamsupergiant-gamesWarner-Bros-InteractiveTue, 01 Nov 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion's Rucks has a problem with Cave Johnson]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/bastions-rucks-has-a-problem-with-cave-johnson/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/bastions-rucks-has-a-problem-with-cave-johnson/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/bastions-rucks-has-a-problem-with-cave-johnson/#comments Cave Johnson
Rucks, a.k.a. the narrator from Bastion, is a learned man, capable of technological wizardry and spinning a good tale. He's not the only one of his kind, though, as proven by this video in which Rucks takes none other than Aperture Science founder Cave Johnson to task.

JoystiqBastion's Rucks has a problem with Cave Johnson originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmicrosoftpcportal-2ruckssupergiant-gamesvalvexboxTue, 23 Aug 2011 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion coming to PC on August 16, soundtrack available right now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/bastion-coming-to-pc-on-august-16-soundtrack-available-right-no/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/bastion-coming-to-pc-on-august-16-soundtrack-available-right-no/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/bastion-coming-to-pc-on-august-16-soundtrack-available-right-no/#comments Xbox Live Arcade's Bastion has gotten its launch date on the PC. Bastion will be available as a $14.99 download on Steam August 16, one day before From Dust debuts on the platform. You're getting two Summer of Arcade goodies in one week!

Additionally, we'd like to point out that the Bastion soundtrack is currently available as a $10 download, replete with a new narration intro and bonus track, "The Pantheon (Ain't Gonna Catch You)." If you're looking for an actual physical disc, maybe to clutch against your bosom tightly as you fall asleep at night -- hey, no judgment here -- then you can shell out $15. The actual CD comes in a custom wallet, featuring original art by Jen Zee and (optionally) signed by composer Darren Korb.

If you're really distrustful of your mail man (or don't want to wait until September when the disc ships), you can snag the album at PAX Prime in Seattle at the end of the month. Before you go diving into those beautiful tunes, take some of our advice: the songs are definitely best heard first in-game.

JoystiqBastion coming to PC on August 16, soundtrack available right now originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionpcq3q3-2011release-datesoundtracksteamsupergiant-gamesvalveFri, 05 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion's Squirt made plush, adorable]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/bastions-squirt-made-plush-adorable/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/bastions-squirt-made-plush-adorable/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/bastions-squirt-made-plush-adorable/#comments Bastion Squirt plushie The Kid had seen merchandise before, but it paled in comparison to the handmade Squirt plush doll sitting before him. He asked the lady how much, but she told him it wasn't for sale. It was the worst news he'd heard since the Calamity struck.

Continue reading Bastion's Squirt made plush, adorable

JoystiqBastion's Squirt made plush, adorable originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arixystixbastionmicrosoftpcplushsquirtsupergiant-gamesxblaxboxxbox-liveThu, 28 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get The Maw free with Bastion purchase at Microsoft Store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/get-the-maw-free-with-bastion-purchase-at-microsoft-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/get-the-maw-free-with-bastion-purchase-at-microsoft-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/get-the-maw-free-with-bastion-purchase-at-microsoft-store/#comments Maw? Maaaawwww? Where is that little purple guy? Oh, there he is -- as part of a free Summer of Arcade promotion on the Microsoft Store. Those who pick up a copy of Bastion via the Microsoft Store will also receive a free copy of Twisted Pixel's adorable adventure, The Maw. As we mentioned only a few words ago, The Maw is positively adorable and a decent game to boot, making this an attractive deal for those interested in Bastion.

Strangely, the site notes that the deal applies to "any" Summer of Arcade purchase, though a footnote claims that the deal is valid solely for Bastion. Considering Bastion is currently the only Summer of Arcade title available, it's possible that the deal will be applied to the rest of the Summer of Arcade lineup as each title is released.

JoystiqGet The Maw free with Bastion purchase at Microsoft Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmicrosoftsummer-of-arcadesupergiant-gamesThe-Mawtwisted-pixelXBLAxboxThu, 21 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion review: Classic composition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/bastion-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/bastion-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/bastion-review/#comments If Bastion had been made by hundreds of people instead of just a handful, it would have started with a big-huge bang. The city of Caelondia would go from an everyday murmur to a cacophony of toppling buildings and panicked, immolated citizens while a tutorial told you to quickly crouch here, jump there and look at all this stuff we spent 10 million dollars on. The land would shake itself to rubble, the screen would blur and black out, and the logo would appear alongside a crass, Hans Zimmer honk.

BASTION

This much better version starts with you getting out of bed. All you know is that a calamity has wrecked the world -- and that you must be a heavy sleeper. A warm, attentive narrator identifies you as "The Kid," a character so central to the story that the world literally reforms beneath his feet, step-by-step. For reasons that I'll leave you to discover for yourself, The Kid and a handful of other apocalypse survivors are drawn to The Bastion, a floating island that may offer safety, answers, and perhaps a roll of duct tape large enough to put the world back together.

Gallery: Bastion (E3 2011)

Continue reading Bastion review: Classic composition

JoystiqBastion review: Classic composition originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmicrosoftsummer-of-arcadesupergiant-gameswarner-brosxblaxboxTue, 19 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion launch trailer is part prologue, briefly anti-log]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/bastion-launch-trailer-is-part-prologue-briefly-anti-log/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/bastion-launch-trailer-is-part-prologue-briefly-anti-log/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/bastion-launch-trailer-is-part-prologue-briefly-anti-log/#comments
Bastion's hero smashes a couple of logs with such ferocity in this launch trailer, we couldn't help but draw attention to it (not to mention our ability to conjure up eye-rolling headlines).

Writer and designer Greg Kasavin describes the creative process behind the video in sincere detail on the Supergiant Games site. While footage of the vividly drawn action-RPG would have sufficed, the small development team created original art, music, writing and narration specifically for today's presentation. "We iterate until the level of our nitpicking makes us want to kill each other or ourselves, which is when we know we're done," writes Kasavin.

Bastion launches this Wednesday, July 20, on Xbox Live Arcade as part of Microsoft's Summer of Arcade promotion.

JoystiqBastion launch trailer is part prologue, briefly anti-log originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastiongreg-kasavinmicrosoftsummer-of-arcadesupergiant-gamesxblaxboxFri, 15 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live Summer of Arcade 2011 kicks off July 20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/xbox-live-summer-of-arcade-2011-kicks-off-july-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/xbox-live-summer-of-arcade-2011-kicks-off-july-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/xbox-live-summer-of-arcade-2011-kicks-off-july-20/#comments Can't have summer without hot new Xbox Live games, right? Microsoft has announced its line-up for the warmer months, kicking off July 20 -- strangely, in an email and not, you know, during its E3 2011 press conference. Regardless, a total of five games will be on offer. No exact time table for the games was announced nor prices but, hey, at least we know what's coming.

The first game listed is Toy Soldiers: Cold War, a sequel to one of 2010's most lucrative Xbox Live Arcade games. The next game listed is Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Fuelcell's stylish UFO simulator, followed by Fruit Ninja Kinect, a flail-tastic port of Halfbrick's darling mobile (and soon, Facebook!) title. Next we have Bastion, a game we suggest you all should keep an eye on. Finally, rounding out the list of games is From Dust, Eric Chahi's god game. An impressive list, to say the least.

It's important to know that this is simply how Microsoft listed the games in its press email and not indicative of when each title will launch throughout the promotion.

JoystiqXbox Live Summer of Arcade 2011 kicks off July 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionfrom-dustfruit-ninja-kinectfuelcellhalfbrickinsanely-twisted-shadow-planetmicrosoftproject-dustsignal-studiossummer-of-arcadesupergiant-gamestoy-soldiers-cold-warubisoftUbisoft-Montpellierxblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeMon, 06 Jun 2011 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion preview: Under construction]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/bastion-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/bastion-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/bastion-preview/#comments Hewn handholds and knee-high hedges are there for a reason. Think of them as the worldwide baby-proofing done by game designers, who must ensure that their protagonist is able to make it from one side of the adventure to the other without getting lost, or fatally slamming against an unbeatable obstacle. It's an unrealistic tweaking of life, but there's no fun in Lara Croft going home because that one chasm was just too wide.

The hero of Bastion treads literally upon this convenient truth, with a path rising from the earth miles below and solidifying his journey, piece by piece. From a purely selfish standpoint, it's awfully nice to have proof that the world does evolve around you.

It's unclear what force has shattered the world, but its savior-to-be, The Kid, isn't in danger of getting lost amid the floating fragments that remain. If the quest expects you to go in a certain direction, an incomplete piece of land will signal you to approach and trigger the rise and assembly of a new environment. Acting as more than just a clever visual effect, it's an effective and immediate way to entangle you in the core of the story. It seems that nothing exists and nothing happens without your presence.

Gallery: Bastion

Continue reading Bastion preview: Under construction

JoystiqBastion preview: Under construction originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmicrosoftpcsupergiant-gameswarner-brosxblaxboxThu, 07 Apr 2011 19:30:00 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[Bastion's story narrated on XBLA this summer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/bastions-story-narrated-on-xbla-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/bastions-story-narrated-on-xbla-this-summer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/bastions-story-narrated-on-xbla-this-summer/#comments Bastion, Supergiant Games' beautifully hand-painted isometric action-RPG, is coming to Xbox Live Arcade this summer, thanks to a publishing partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive. It'll also be on PC "later this year."

Bastion follows "The Kid," who travels through a destroyed world whose paths are constantly rebuilt around him, as he attempts to reach and give power to "The Bastion," a location that will somehow restore the world. Along the way, a voiced narrator tells the story of exactly what is happening on screen.

Continue reading Bastion's story narrated on XBLA this summer

JoystiqBastion's story narrated on XBLA this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionmicrosoftpcq2-2011release-datesupergiant-gameswarner-bros-interactivexblaxboxThu, 10 Mar 2011 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Bastion is Supergiant Games' first title, playable at PAX]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/bastion-is-super-giant-games-first-title-playable-at-pax/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/bastion-is-super-giant-games-first-title-playable-at-pax/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/bastion-is-super-giant-games-first-title-playable-at-pax/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When Supergiant Games opened its doors during GDC earlier this year, it revealed it was working on a digital title to be released in 2011. This week, Giant Bomb unveiled that title -- it's called Bastion and should be available for public consumption by next summer.

Supergiant explains Bastion as an "action role-playing game set in a lush imaginative world, in which players must create and fight for civilization's last refuge as a mysterious narrator marks their every move." The "mysterious," somewhat lyrical narrator makes his first appearance in the game's trailer -- which we've dropped after the break. Considering Supergiant's pedigree (ex-EALA Command & Conquer devs) and how beautifully detailed this initial media is, we have high hopes for Bastion.

The game will be playable at PAX Prime this weekend as part of the "PAX 10."

Gallery: Bastion

Continue reading Bastion is Supergiant Games' first title, playable at PAX

JoystiqBastion is Supergiant Games' first title, playable at PAX originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastionpax-10pax-2010pax-prime-2010release-datesupergiant-gamesThu, 02 Sep 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Supergiant Games: New studio of former Command & Conquer vets]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/super-giant-games-new-studio-of-former-command-and-conquer-vets/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/super-giant-games-new-studio-of-former-command-and-conquer-vets/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/super-giant-games-new-studio-of-former-command-and-conquer-vets/#comments A new company debuting at GDC 2010, Supergiant Games is largely comprised of ex-EA LA members -- you know, the guys and gals who made those Command & Conquer games you like so much. The new studio's project is something for "digital platforms," destined for a 2011 release. Sadly, there's no more info to go on right now.

The studio is on-hand at GDC with said title, so we've contacted them to try and schedule a visit.

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqSupergiant Games: New studio of former Command & Conquer vets originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>command-and-conquerdigital-distributioneaea-laealaelectronic-artssupergiant-gamesThu, 11 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST