Archive for the ‘Game Development’ Category
Nintendo Wii: MotionPlus Support
April 15th, 2009 by Sean
Do you think that – like trophy support on the Sony PS3 – there is scope on the Wii for the new MotionPlus technology to be introduced for older games?
Don’t be so optimistic. Responding to speculation that developers would be doing just that, Nintendo have told GameDaily:
“The Wii MotionPlus accessory is only for games that are designed to make use of its abilities.”
Now, that’s not a “no, not ever, never” but it’s certainly not promising. It also seemed like a very negative tone.
So if you were quietly hoping Nintendo’s MotionPlus would improve, say, the putting in Wii Golf, you might be better off trying to enjoy them for what they are, not what they could be.
Source: GameDaily
Posted in Game Development, Nintendo, Wii
Galaga, Now On Your Apple iPhone
April 3rd, 2009 by Sean
Namco Bandai should, over the next few days, be releasing an Apple iPhone version of classic shooter Galaga. Hurray?
I mean, we should be happy. It’s Galaga, in your pocket. Actually, it’s two Galagas: the original, and an updated version that runs in landscape mode.
But then, as with most iPhone ports, that control scheme looks far from ideal, especially when you consider the game’s going to cost $5.99 USD.
Source: Touch Arcade
Posted in Apple iPhone, Game Development, Handheld
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Wolfenstein 3D Released For Apple iPhone
March 24th, 2009 by Sean
You can now get Wolfenstein 3D on your Apple iPhone and not some cheap Wolfenstein knock-off, the real deal, programmed and ported over by id’s own John Carmack, and best of all, it’s free.
So to sum this up, John Carmack has released an open-source port of Wolfenstein 3D for the Apple iPhone. Awesome!
You can download the source files here or from ID Software’s Wolfenstein 3D Classic page.
Source: IGN
Posted in Apple iPhone, Game Development, Handheld
iPhone and iPod Touch: Zombieville USA
March 20th, 2009 by Sean
When your town is overrun by the walking dead, there’s only one thing left to do and that’s go through their pockets and look for loose change!
As the lone survivor of a zombie apocalypse, it’s up to you to battle legions of the undead in a never ending fight for survival in Zombieville USA.
Zombievilla USA is now available for your iPhone and iPod Touch. Here is a screen shot showing some of the gameplay:
You can download this game from the Apple iTunes App store. It’s only $1.99 USD which I think is a really good price for a fun game like this.
If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch and you end up downloading this game, let me know what you think of it. Happy portable gaming.
Posted in Apple iPhone, Game Development, Handheld
NES: Mega Man 2 in Nearly 3-D
March 19th, 2009 by Sean
Mega Man started life in 2-D on the NES, went on to three dimensions in Mega Man Legends, hopped back to 2.5-D with Mega Man Powered Up, and now, thanks to Swedish animator Peter Sjostrand, the Blue Bomber appears in something of a mixture of all three.
The “Mega Man 2.5D Single Player Demo” depicts a recreation of Mega Man 2, only while it retains the 8-bit aesthetic of the NES classic, the environment around our hero has real depth.
Though gameplay seems to mimic its inspiration, the addition of a swooping camera and constantly shifting angles makes the trip though Metal Man’s stage a complex, physics-defying experience.
Sadly, thanks to licensing issues this video is probably the only fruits of Mr. Sjostrand’s labor we’ll ever see.
Posted in Game Development, NES 8-bit, Nintendo
Titmouse Opens Game Development Wing
March 18th, 2009 by Sean
Titmouse Inc., the production company behind Cartoon Network’s hit show Metalocalypse, have opened a game development studio appropriately named:
Once you stop snickering at the word “titmouse,” note that this is not the firm’s first effort in the gaming industry.
Alongside the aforementioned cartoon and other notable shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Afro Samurai, Titmouse is responsible for the in-game cinematics seen in the Guitar Hero series.
The first project for Titmouse Games is an action-roleplaying game called Seven Haunted Seas, that the company’s official press release characterizes as:
“a mixture of steam-punk and graphic novel-like artwork, the game is a dark comedic tale about an undead pirate, Scurvy Pete, that returns from hell to find a dark, post-apocalyptic future where he must right all his wrongs to restore the world.”
Even though Titmouse Games… hehe… has a funny name, I expect some cool things from this company.
Source: official press release
Posted in Culture, Game Development, Industry News
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Metal Gear Solid Touch Coming Mid-March
March 13th, 2009 by Sean
An announcement earlier today from Konami includes an official release date for the Apple iPhone’s upcoming Metal Gear Solid Touch: March 19.
“In Metal Gear Solid Touch, players can move a targeting sight and also switch to a sniper scope by manipulating the touch panel screen with their fingers,” reads Konami’s explanation of the game.
“The game utilizes intuitive controls, making it easily enjoyable for anyone. There are 12 stages available at the start of the distribution and the locations and featured characters for each stage are based on the story of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Stay tuned for more announcements on additional stages following launch.”
On release, the game will be available from the Apple iPhone’s App Store for $10.00 USD. Sweet.
Source: Metal Gear Solid Touch
Posted in Apple iPhone, Game Development, Industry News
New Pac-Man Game In The Works
March 6th, 2009 by Sean
Pac-Man’s 30th anniversary is only a year away, and Namco Bandai has revealed that a new game starring everyone’s favorite spectre-munching pizza-thing is on its way.
There isn’t much in the way of details yet, but Gamasutra reports that Hirokazu Yashuara, one of the co-creators of Sonic the Hedgehog, will be working on the project. Yasuhara has expressed “a strong desire to create a new character action game,” citing a lack of such titles nowadays — could that mean the return of the Pac-platformer?
I never got a chance to play Pac-Man World, but anything that gets the old champ out of the mazes and back into the limelight has got to be a good thing. Besides, he’s getting a little too old to be popping so many pills.
Posted in Console Games, Game Development
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