Joystiq

The aging horror of Kenji Eno's D

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:30:00 EST

This is Making Time, a column about the games we've always wanted to play, and the games we've always wanted to play again.

The inspiration to whip up a new column about an old game can come from anywhere, even a sad loss for the video game industry. In February, upon hearing about the death of Kenji Eno, I scanned Amazon and eBay for copies of his games, thinking I might write them up in remembrance, but ultimately never pulled the trigger on a purchase.

Two months later, I walk into a recently-opened used game shop (named ThrillHouse, if you can believe it), and what should I see under the glass? A boxed Sega Saturn copy of Kenji Eno's D in great condition, the creepy cover just as effective now as it was seventeen years ago. I gladly paid $30 for it.

Having played it for the first time since I was thirteen, D isn't as scary as I remember. While it isn't a very good game, I still find myself enjoying the experience.

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The aging horror of Kenji Eno's D originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 May 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D creator Kenji Eno dead at age 42

JC Fletcher — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:30:00 EST

One of the most fascinatingly creative voices in the Japanese game industry has died. Kenji Eno, designer of the D series, the 3DO's most interesting games, and most recently, WiiWare's You, Me, and the Cubes, died yesterday of heart failure at the age of 42.

Along with the creepy D games, Eno developed unusual games like Real Sound, an audio-based adventure game designed to be playable by the blind. His career also included non-game tasks like development of mobile payments for soda machines, and DJ sets.

D creator Kenji Eno dead at age 42 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA Indie Bundle challenges your definitions, is live on Steam now

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:30:00 EST

The EA Indie Bundle (yes, we assure you, it is barely-100-percent-mostly-ish possible for EA to have an indie bundle) is live on Steam, offering 70 percent off a package of six titles from four indie developers, or half off each individual game.

Included in the sale is Warp, Shank, Shank 2, DeathSpank, DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue and Gatling Gears. The DeathSpank titles are $7.50 individually and are available on PC and Mac through Steamplay, while the rest of EA's indies cost $5 and are PC only.

Indie Game Magazine first spotted the bundle in the super-secret Steam registry files this morning. The sale is now officially on, set to disappear from Steam in one week on May 9.

EA Indie Bundle challenges your definitions, is live on Steam now originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Zelda: Ocarina of Time bug beats game in 23 minutes as child Link

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST

Just because a game has been played by millions of people, millions of times over, doesn't mean we've uncovered all of its secrets. Case in point: YouTuber ZeldaFreakGlitcha recently used a bug in Ocarina of Time that allows him to complete the game in 23 minutes. The glitch involves defeating Queen Gohma and activating, but not traveling through, the warp gate, which then drops child Link in Ganon's castle, and miniaturized missions ensue.

Usually we'd say defeating Ganon is no small feat, but with this, well... you know. ZeldaFreakGlitcha is live-streaming more attempts to beat his best bug time today on TwitchTV.

New Zelda: Ocarina of Time bug beats game in 23 minutes as child Link originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSN releases: Journey, Shoot Many Robots, Warp

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST

Several high-profile downloadable titles hit the PSN this week, with Journey being the can't-miss experience from thatgamecompany. Our Jordan Mallory was smitten by Journey, calling it a "beautiful, evocative and unequivocally transcendental experience." He may have used such words to describe a burrito he once had, but, in fairness, it was a really fabulous burrito.

If you're looking for a co-op, run-'n'-gun shooter, it's worth trading a Hamilton for Shoot Many Robots. For something a little more cerebral, stealth action puzzler Warp is also available. Head on over the PS Blog for all the details on this week's PSN update.

PSN releases: Journey, Shoot Many Robots, Warp originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warp review: Patchwork puzzle action

Xav de Matos — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST

The premise behind Warp is as easy to remember as its name. Captured by a group of scientists and their dimwitted security squadron, an adorable alien named Zero breaks free from his shackles to run amok throughout an underwater installation. How does he move about? He warps, of course, from one spot to the next and even into solid objects.

Warp borrows heavily from multiple sources to craft its world. It may be immediately compared to the puzzle propensity of Portal, the stealthy progression of Metal Gear Solid, and the chaotic tone of 'Splosion Man, but the game follows the longstanding blueprint we've all come to regard as Metroidvania. Zero uses his warp ability to get around, first through walls and then into objects.

It all looks innocent -- especially when Zero cutely chirps and animates his emotions -- but it's all a ruse. Zero eventually earns the ability to warp into humans, where a few liberal shakes of the left stick causes them to explode. Like the remnants of a popped water balloon, Zero's victims are splattered all over the laboratory's pristine interior. It goes from cute to horrifying very quickly -- in a good way.

Gallery: Warp (2/15/12)

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Warp review: Patchwork puzzle action originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Warp gameplay trailer totally explodes some dudes

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST

Warp will be the first title released during the 2012 XBLA House Party that starts this Wednesday, and from the looks of this latest gameplay trailer, it seems as though your 800 Microsoft Points will net you a lot of adorableness, as well as an unquenchable thirst for exploded human bodies.

New Warp gameplay trailer totally explodes some dudes originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warp: From a hypothetical question to an interesting puzzle game

Kat Bailey — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:50:00 EST

Warp is one of those instances in which one "What if" question has blossomed into an entire game. In this case, the question is, "What if we had the power to teleport through objects at will? Wouldn't that be cool?"

Yes, I do think it's pretty cool, even if I'd rather be able to forgo the twelve hour flight to Europe than warp around my house. But then, I'm not in a Martian lab desperately trying to escape annihilation, in which case I imagine even short-range teleportation would be preferable to nothing at all. That's the premise of Warp, though that wasn't the case from the beginning.

"The inception point had nothing to do with stealth," Trapdoor founder Ken Schacter told me during the demo. "Our prototype was a cylinder where we just played around with warping."

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Warp: From a hypothetical question to an interesting puzzle game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warp teleporting to PC and PSN March 13

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST

The debut of Warp may be reserved for the Xbox Live House Party next month, but PC and PS3 users won't have to wait too long to get their hands on the horribly violent (and bizarrely cute) action puzzler. Warp is headed to PSN and PC on March 13, according to a tweet from developer Trapdoor.

The PC version is currently up for pre-order on Origin, though Trapdoor promises it will be available on Steam as well.

Gallery: Warp (1/23/12)

Warp teleporting to PC and PSN March 13 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XBLA House Party kicks off on Feb. 15 with Warp

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:25:00 EST

We knew that Warp, Alan Wake's American Nightmare, Nexuiz, and I Am Alive would be participating in Microsoft's 2012 Xbox Live Arcade House Party promo, and we knew that the party would start on February 15, but we didn't have a clue as to how the specifics of the boogeying would progress. Today, Microsoft revealed that Warp will be the party's first attendee, arriving on February 15 for the nice price of 800 MS Points ($10), followed up in the proceeding three weeks by Alan Wake's American sojourn, the almost-but-not-quite-Quake multiplayer shooter Nexuiz, and one man's journey through the depths of human survival in I Am Alive.

Like Warp, Nexuiz will only cost 800 MS Points ($10), while the other two titles will run 1200 MS Points a pop ($15). As always with these XBLA promos, Microsoft is offering an extra 800 free MS Points to anyone who grabs all four games within a defined time period (between Feb. 15 and Mar. 13 in this case). As for what to do with those extra points ... well, might we suggest hanging onto it for the upcoming launch of Fez? 'Cause that's totally what we're doing.

XBLA House Party kicks off on Feb. 15 with Warp originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live Arcade 'House Party 2012' begins Feb. 15

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:52:00 EST

Microsoft plans to kick off the Xbox Live Arcade House Party for 2012 on February 15, releasing the four previously revealed titles back-to-back. At this time, Microsoft isn't revealing pricing nor the order in which it plans to release the titles. Yeah, our definition of "House Party Details" varies greatly.

A company rep confirmed that the order listed on Xbox guru Major Nelson's site is simply alphabetized. So, beginning February 15, for some price and in some order, folks will be able to pick up Alan Wake's American Nightmare, the long-awaited I Am Alive, Nexuiz and EA's Warp.

Gallery: Alan Wake's American Nightmare (12/19/2011)

Xbox Live Arcade 'House Party 2012' begins Feb. 15 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alan Wake's American Nightmare, I Am Alive part of XBLA's 'House Party 2012' [update: Now with trailer!]

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:25:00 EST

Microsoft is set to throw another House Party in 2012. In attendance will be Alan Wake's American Nightmare, EA's Warp, Nexuiz and the long-awaited I Am Alive.

The trailer for the XBLA House Party promotion, which was apparently posted by accident, does not reveal any release dates. Out best guesstimate, if history serves, would be late February like last time. We've contacted Microsoft for launch details.

Update: We snagged the trailer and have embedded it above!

[Thanks, Joey]

Alan Wake's American Nightmare, I Am Alive part of XBLA's 'House Party 2012' [update: Now with trailer!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warp trailer shows off the Echo and Swap abilities

Justin McElroy — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:46:00 EST

Hey, are you following Warp? No? How much nice stuff do we have to write before you -- what? You hate reading? How could you say that? ... You know it's FUNdamental, right? ... Fine, here's a new trailer and screens showing the Echo and Swap abilities to bring you into the fold. Lap it up, cro-mags.

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Warp trailer shows off the Echo and Swap abilities originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warp preview: Get in, get out

David Hinkle — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST

There's an odd juxtaposition at the heart of Warp. You play as a cute little orange alien, attempting to escape an underwater government facility. After crashing on Earth and being captured by the military, it would seem there's nothing but a lifetime of poking and prodding in store for the little it.

The ability to warp into and through things is the alien's only means of escape, and the central premise of the game. But with such a pleasant, cartoonish presentation, it's pretty jarring the first time he warps inside of a scientist and detonates the unsuspecting human in a shower of crimson blood, which then dries into a gross crust on the floor. It's a touch morbid in contrast with everything else.

Gallery: Warp (8/26/2011)

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Warp preview: Get in, get out originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warp preview: Little creature, big choices

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

I've been closely following the development of Fez for a long time now, and was especially excited for a chance to finally play it at this year's PAX East. While I really enjoyed what I played of Fez, its boothmate was what stood out as the hidden gem of the show for me: Warp, a downloadable title from Trapdoor Inc.

The developer takes a Happy Tree Friends approach to violence -- adorable, cartoony, and ultra-bloody -- which plays out in the game via the main character's interaction with human beings. I warped the little creature you see above into a variety of different folks throughout my brief playthrough of the build on display. Occasionally stunning those I deemed innocent enough to live, or rocking the Xbox 360 analog stick back and forth to "explode" the person or object from the inside, my little creature quickly figured out how to skirt a room full of scientists and armed guards without so much as alerting another living thing.

And if I was spotted by a living thing, it was just as quickly exploded into bits. Such is Warp.

Gallery: Warp

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Warp preview: Little creature, big choices originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA Partners brings sci-fi/stealth/actioner Warp to PC, PSN, XBLA

Justin McElroy — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:00:00 EST

EA Partners has pulled the covers off its newest acquisition, Warp, a "unique sci-fi stealth action game" coming from newcomer Trapdoor to XBLA, PSN and PC in the summer of 2011. Well, not "pulled the covers off of" so much as "pulled one little corner up and then pulled it back down right away." Here's everything we know: It "features a top-down sci-fi world with a distinctive art style, addicting levels, hazardous traps and challenging puzzles." Fin. Oh, and we found this picture from the Trapdoor offices. Good luck with that.

Listen, we're touched that EA Partners knows us well enough to play upon our Pavlovian desire for products combining the words "stealth," "action," "addicting," "hazardous" and "sci-fi" despite have no context for said descriptors. We just wish it wasn't so good at it.

EA Partners brings sci-fi/stealth/actioner Warp to PC, PSN, XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's-a Mario World: Classic Secrets

Kenneth Caldwell — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: It's-a Mario World

Along with the New Year's celebration comes a heap of (potentially unrealistic) personal resolutions for the future and an equal dose of nostalgic recollection of 2008. You have already seen our 10 Best Games of 2008 and the 10 you should have downloaded among dozens of other annual lists, so your sense of hindsight should be fairly well-attuned during this first weekend of 2009. So where, you might ask, does our Mario fit in?

This week we are highlighting some classic Mario game secrets which did not necessarily occur in 2008, but which should nevertheless be recalled during all possible occasions if only to reaffirm our steadfast allegiance. These recollections are like wormholes to our early platforming pasts, histories in which the surprising discovery of a well-hidden 1-up or warp zone could redefine the realm of the possible in the Land of the Mushrooms. Yeah, and they are also reminders of what we were doing earlier today. Now, we are no soothsayers, but it's a good bet that 2009 will be full of more coin-hoarding, cape-rippling good times. For now, though, let's look back at some of the top secret areas of early Mario games. Warp to the gallery!

It's-a Mario World is a recurring feature in which the ubiquity of Nintendo's flagship character is celebrated. Check back each week to find out what strange and wonderful thing has us seeing power stars. * * * Links of the week: The beat behind Mario 3! | Aren't the Olympic Games over? | Mario > 2008? | This is a Mario Thermos!

It's-a Mario World: Classic Secrets originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe: WELCOME TO WARP ZONE!

JC Fletcher — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Video

European Wii Shop users got a pleasant surprise: a secret area inside the Virtual Console section! To access it, follow these simple steps:

Be European (depending on your circumstances, this is either the easiest or hardest step).
Download the latest update.
Click on the little smiley emoticon.

So far, there's not much other than a blurb about Kirby (a "blurby"), but it's going to be a trivia channel about Nintendo characters! An encyclopedia of gaming! Between this and the Virtual Console, the Wii is on the way to becoming the premiere console for librarians.

Jump over the post break to enter GERMAN YOUTUBE DEMONSTRATION ZONE!

[Via GayGamer]

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Europe: WELCOME TO WARP ZONE! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wiiminder: tabbed browsing courtesy of Warp Pipe

JC Fletcher — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:55:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff, Nintendo Wi-Fi, Homebrew

Warp Pipe Technologies, who you may remember as the only people ever to support the Gamecube modem, ever, have turned their attentions to a Nintendo console with an actual online strategy. Now they're helping to augment the existing Wii online experience with tabbed browsing. By making the Wii Opera browser work more like the real Opera browser, they've added tabbed browsing (with nice smoke-grey transparent tabs). Just navigate your browser over to here and your browser will be ready to party like it's 2001.

We are so much happier about web-based Wii browser extensions (which are already great!) when they are accompanied by such lovely logos. It's the typography that does it. It's so handsome.

... what were we saying? Oh yeah. There's a video demonstrating the service after the post break.

[Via 4cr]

Continue reading Wiiminder: tabbed browsing courtesy of Warp Pipe

Wiiminder: tabbed browsing courtesy of Warp Pipe originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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