News
7 CommentsPeter Molyneux's 22cans partners with DeNA to publish Godus
By Tracey Lien on May 20, 2013 05.20.13
Mobile game developer, publisher and service provider DeNA will publish 22Cans' Godus on Android, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices, the company announced today.
Developed by Peter Molyneux's independent studio, Godus is a god game-style mobile title that is the spiritual successor to Molyneux's Populous. 22cans turned to crowdfunding platform Kickstarter last year to ask for £450,000 to develop the game. The Kickstarter campaign describes Godus as blending "the power, growth and scope of Populous with the detailed construction and multiplayer excitement of Dungeon Keeper and the intuitive interface and technical innovation of Black and White." The Kickstarter campaign closed at £526,563.
Godus is coming to Windows PC, Mac and mobile devices, and DeNA will be responsible for...
Video
4 CommentsAustralian Bureau of Statistics releases a free strategy game that uses real census data
By Jenna Pitcher on May 20, 2013 05.20.13
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released, Run That Town, a free iOS strategy game using real 2011 census data.
The game grants players with leadership of any Australian neighborhood they wish. Players then use the real census data of the neighborhood's zip code to develop the area and influence residents. The game features hundreds of development projects — such as pools, stadiums, casinos, theme parks — and allows players to poll "residents" before beginning construction.
If residents are angry overall with leadership decisions, then the player can be chased out of town by an angry mob, where popular leaders are given ticker tape parades.
The Australian Census is conducted Australian-wide every five years, with the last census carried out on Aug. 9, 2011. The census captures...
News
12 CommentsAmerican McGee's new Oz game revealed as OZombie
By Jenna Pitcher on May 19, 2013 05.19.13
American McGee's Spicy Horse studio's new title based on The Wizard of Oz is titled OZombie, according to its official Facebook page.
Spicy Horse first revealed The Wizard of Oz-based game earlier this month, with the studio stating that "This is not, in any way, shape or form the title from 2004," referring to the game cancelled by Atari in 2004.
OZombie will feature Dorothy, Toto, Lion, TinMan and Scarecrow as a brain-loving bad guy. The game will be a cross-platform title for tablets, Windows PC, Mac and Linux, and will be based on the Oz series, which consists of 14 episodes.
A Kickstarter campaign for the title is underway and Spicy Horse currently has a second Kickstarter campaign for Alice: Otherlands. Which title gets developed depends if Alice license holder Electronic Arts...
News
5 CommentsTemple Run 2 update adds a dangerous new course, more chances to earn loot
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 17, 2013 05.17.13
The latest update for endless runner Temple Run 2 adds a new level fraught with peril and more chances for players to earn in-game loot, developer Imangi Studios announced today.
The new landscape, The Narrows, is a maze of obstacles. Players will have to dodge spinning saw blades, speed across a crumbling path, jump the seemingly bottomless pits scattered across the pathway and keep their eyes peeled for sudden sharp turns.
Players can also take advantage of new opportunities to earn free coins and gems for use in the game. More information is under the "Free Stuff" menu.
Sonic the Hedgehog, Nintendo, The Last of Us, CounterSpy: Speed Run
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 17, 2013 05.17.13
Nintendo announced a partnership with Sega to publish the next three Sonic the Hedgehog games exclusively for Nintendo's platforms — one title of which is still unannounced. New Super Luigi U will be released digitally and as a physical standalone at retail this summer. Nintendo will bring playable demos of its unreleased titles to more than 100 Best Buy stores during the week of E3. We went hands-on with Naughty Dog's The Last of Us and Dynamighty's CounterSpy.
Sega and Nintendo partnership spans three Sonic games, one unannounced
Sonic: Lost World coming exclusively to Nintendo Wii U and 3DS
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games coming to Wii U
New Super Luigi U coming to eShop June 20, standalone at retail Aug. 25
Nintendo bringing playable, unreleased Wii U...
The Besties Podcast
17 CommentsThe Besties Podcast 57 - The talking helicopter
By Russ Frushtick on May 17, 2013 05.17.13
On this week's episode of The Besties, there's some derisive Snoopy talk, as well as an anthropomorphic helicopter. Griffin has his doubts and Justin changes his pick at the last minute, much to the chagrin of the other Besties.
03:50 - Best reason to hate Snoopy (Sid Meier's Ace Patrol)
10:25 - Best way to waste $20 (Injustice on iOS)
19:00 - Half time: Daft Punk and a new car
24:00 - Best gaming news story of the decade that is getting worse and worse with every passing day (Shadow of the Eternals)
38:40 - Best way to remake a retro franchise (Thunder Wolves)
41:00 - The winner is...
Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Video
0 CommentsRunescape 3 dev diary embraces the game's audio, orchestral music and the technology behind it
By Jenna Pitcher on May 17, 2013 05.17.13
In the latest Runescape 3 developer diary from Jagex Games Studio, head of audio Mod Lord explains the creation of the game's score, sound effects, voice acting and the technology to support it.
"For the first time we are installing servers dedicated to Runescapes sound," said Mod Lord, Runescape 3's head of audio. "That means full CD quality music and sound streamed directly through to through your browser, with no performance impact on the game as we are no loner using midi."
The music of band Mo's Gold Teeth will also feature in the game. As member Robin Jones explains in the video, the band was contacted after a gig they played at a local pub.
New Runescape 3 music can be listened to on the game's Soundcloud page. Jagex Games Studio will release the free-to-play massively...
News
4 CommentsCounterSpy merges mythologies of the Cold War with espionage platforming
By Tracey Lien on May 17, 2013 05.17.13
Dynamighty's debut title, CounterSpy, is a platforming game inspired by the bizarre mythologies of the Cold War, the art of Saul Bass and the aesthetic of the espionage genre from the 1960s, according to developer David Nottingham.
In a demo of the Cold War-era action espionage game, Nottingham showed Polygon an early build of CounterSpy where the player — working as a member of a politically-agnostic, non-government agency — has to enter a missile facility and sabotage the efforts of a hostile faction to stop it from launching explosive rockets. Each level has a countdown to the rockets launching, so players have disarm them as quickly as possible. But first, they have to navigate their way through the facility, performing stealthy take-downs and leaping into action through...
Video
4 CommentsDungeon Defenders 2 hero showcase reveals the Man and Machine
By Jenna Pitcher on May 16, 2013 05.16.13
The second hero reveal trailer for Trendy Entertainment's tower defense action role-playing game, Dungeon Defenders 2, showcases the Man and Machine hero in action during the game's PvP mode.
Man and Machine's abilities include Pocket Rocket, which is good for far off enemies and Incendiary Grenade which is great when enemies are tightly packed. Commanding Shout will get "troops moving double time" and Frenzied Bombardment rains down damaging elements at a target. His hero spell is Smokescreen, which emits a low visibility haze.
The competitive mode is a multiplayer online battle arena where five players must protect their respective towers from other players. Alpha gameplay footage of Dungeon Defenders 2's cooperative mode was released in March and more information about it will be...
News
3 CommentsAngry Birds Seasons Abra-Ca-Bacon update promises portals
By Dave Tach on May 16, 2013 05.16.13
Angry Birds Seasons received a free "Abra-Ca-Bacon" update today on iOS and Android that adds portals to the seasonal installment of Rovio's bird-flinging franchise.
Check out the video above for a pitchfork portal prank and a look at how the teleportation devices have been incorporated into Angry Birds Seasons. The free update for the $0.99 app, its 36 levels and the new exploding AllakaBAM item are available now in the iOS App Store and on Google Play. Windows PC and Mac versions will "follow in the coming weeks," according to a post on Rovio's official website.
The update is Rovio Stockholm's first release. Last year, the company announced that Just Cause 2 and Battlefield Heroes developer Oskar Burman would head the Swedish studio.
News
18 CommentsSonic the Hedgehog remastered edition launches today for iOS and Android
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 16, 2013 05.16.13
A remastered edition of the original 1991 Sonic the Hedgehog launched on iOS and Android today, Sega announced on its official blog.
This remastered edition includes a "robust overhaul," according to the post. The title now features widescreen support and moves at 60 fps, as well as grants access to online leaderboards, achievements and a new Time Attack mode. Players can unlock Tails and Knuckles as playable characters and enjoy a completely remastered soundtrack.
Today marks the game's debut for Android. The title was released earlier this year for iOS, and those who have already purchased the game will receive a free update that adds the new graphics and features.
Sonic the Hedgehog is available on Google Play and the iTunes App Store for $2.99. The iOS version is compatible with...
Culture
7 CommentsBroken NES revived with Raspberry Pi and emulators
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 16, 2013 05.16.13
Reddit user JBaker1225 made the most of his broken Nintendo Entertainment System, using a Raspberry Pi mini computer board to transform it into a game emulator ready for the living room.
In a thread on Reddit's gaming forum, JBaker noted that he followed this "Super Nintendo Pi" tutorial when constructing his system. After gutting the console, he created a framework to hold the Pi board in place using Gorilla Glue and several Lego blocks. To make turning the Pi on and off easier, he wired a circuit that would activate the Pi through the NES's buttons.
Using a dremel, he expanded the ports on the back of the NES and added adapters for Ethernet, HDMI and USB cords, then modified the NES controller ports to accomodate USB plugs.
Upon completion, JBaker was able to load up his "new"...
News
0 CommentsDeveloper King to release Facebook title Pet Rescue Saga for mobile this summer
By Alexa Ray Corriea on May 16, 2013 05.16.13
Candy Crush Saga developer King will launch its popular Facebook game Pet Rescue Saga for iOS and Android this summer, the company announced this morning.
Pet Rescue Saga tasks players with rescuing more than 10 small animals in need of assistance escaping block puzzles. Players can use special boosters to clear blocks, both individually and columns at a time, to maneuver their pets to safety and onto the next level.
The mobile version of Pet Rescue Saga will incude more than 72 levels and cross-play compatibility between the Facebook and mobile versions. Online leaderboards, scores and progress can also be saved across all devices.
According to a press statement from King, Pet Rescue Saga ia the third largest game on Facebook, boasting more than 6 million daily players. Candy Crush...
News
9 CommentsPhosphor Games-developed World War Z mobile game coming May 30
By Jenna Pitcher on May 16, 2013 05.16.13
Chicago-based developer Phosphor Games and Paramount Digital Entertainment will release a World War Z first-person mobile game tie-in on May 30 for tablets and smartphones, according to IGN.
The first-person action game features touch controls, upgradable weapons and armor, 28 levels and puzzle-solving.
"We were excited to be able to use the cutting-edge Unreal Engine 3 to bring World War Z to life," Chip Sineni, Phosphor Games studio director said in a statement provided to IGN. "Our goal was to build Paramount a AAA game, and with that came all our favorite bells and whistles, like ambient occlusion lighting, multipass blended textures, and hordes of enemies to fight."
The World War Z film is an adaptation of Max Brooks' post-apocalyptic zombie novel published in 2006 titled World...
News
1 CommentGameloft adding Google Play game services to Modern Combat 4, Dungeon Hunter 4, Asphalt 7
By Samit Sarkar on May 15, 2013 05.15.13
Gameloft is updating three of its top games — Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, Dungeon Hunter 4 and Asphalt 7: Heat — with Google Play game services, the French studio announced today.
Google announced its game services program today at Google I/O as a suite of services designed to make it easier for developers to deliver Android games with the same feature sets as their iOS and Kindle Fire counterparts. Google's game services, which will be available on iOS devices and the web as well as Android, include leaderboards, achievements and cloud saving — all powered by Google Plus.
Gameloft updated Modern Combat 4, a first-person shooter, to support game services today. The company said in a press release that similar updates for Dungeon Hunter 4 and Asphalt 7 will be released "in the...
Culture
1 CommentGoogle Chrome experiment Racer spans multiple mobile screens
By Megan Farokhmanesh on May 15, 2013 05.15.13
A new experiment through Google Chrome called Racer teams up Android and iOS devices to create a racing game across multiple devices, as demonstrated today during the Google I/O keynote speech.
The game works by linking several devices to create one racing track. Players control tiny cars by touching the screen to accelerate and releasing to brake; going too fast will cause players to fly off the track.
Racer is compatible with any device able to run Chrome, and players can enter current games by entering in individual race codes. The game can be played alone or with several friends.
Check out Racer's website for more info, or download it from Google Play.
