Read more about this game below from Wired.com and in an informative video clip featuring the games director:
The veil is about to be lifted from “Epic Mickey,” a project long under development at Disney that casts the company’s iconic mascot in the middle of a dark adventure.
This month’s issue of Game Informer magazine will feature a cover story on the game, being spearheaded by big-name game designer Warren Spector, executive producer of Deus Ex.
While rumors about the game have said that it will be a Wii exclusive, today’s teaser on Game Informer’s website does not mention anything about a platform. The magazine has established a dedicated Epic Mickey page and promises regular updates.
(Update: Many commenters point out that the story, as originally published, did indeed say that the game was a Wii exclusive, although this has been scrubbed from the version currently online. You can’t unring a bell, and you can’t erase the Internet.)
Given the people involved, it’s tough to not be excited about this. I’m looking forward to tearing into this story — I just hope it’s the kind with screenshots and details, not concept art and guessing games.
According to George Broussard, one of the creators, the game is 90% complete… suuuuuure. Here’s more from /Gamer.com:
Broussard talked about the accomplishment on his twitter.
“Closing out a milestone this week. 71 more tasks to do and we started with probably 800-900. Been a good push. Next one starts Monday.”
If you’ve been living under a rock and don’t know, Duke Nukem Forever was announced over 10 years ago on April of 1997, by 3DRealms. To put this into perspective: Zelda: Ocarina of Time wasn’t released on the N64, Bill Clinton was President, the iPod didn’t exist and super hot Hayden Panettiere looked like this(young). Yes, it was along time ago.
If it only took 12 years to get 90% done, then it should take another few years before we actually see it in stores — awesome.
From Kotaku.com:
The official Assassin’s Creed web site gives us a brief taste of the second entry in the series and clues us in on when we can expect concrete details on Assassin’s Creed 2—next Thursday.
The teaser consists of little more than a short Flash animation, rendered in a hand drawn style noticeably similar to that of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions—focusing on the concealed blade Altair used in the original—and his Vitruvian Man. The final drawing hints at some sort of winged contraption that may indicate we’ll be doing some flying (or at least some floating/humming of the Batman theme song) in the sequel.
The teaser also notes that we’ll see more in the upcoming issue of Game Informer, with the date April 16, 2009 presumably indicating when the games mag is allowed to lift the veil on Ubisoft’s sequel.
Given the Italian pedigree of the teaser, we’d think those rumored details of Assassin’s Creed 2 taking place in Venice are sounding more and more likely. We’re sure to know by next Thursday. Keep an eye peeled!
Give up any hopes you might have had about adding a Blu-Ray player to your Xbox 360.Shane Kim, vice president of strategy and business development for Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment business, tells me that the company has “no interest” in adding Blu-Ray functionality to its console, opting instead to focus on digital distribution. “I can categorically say that we’re not working on a Blu-Ray player for Xbox 360,” says Kim. “To my knowledge, we don’t have any intent to do that.”
Microsoft made a losing bet in the high-definition DVD wars, publicly endorsing HD-DVD and marketing a pricey peripheral that would play the format on the 360. The gaming world has been rife with speculation that Microsoft would eventually create a similar device that would allow owners to watch Blu-Ray films on their Xbox 360s. Read more…
According to Chris Morris
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – June 5, 2008 – Meridian4 (http://www.meridian4.com) is pleased to announce that they have signed a global digital publishing agreement with Dialogue Design for their highly-addictive tank action title; Tank Universal.
“Dialogue Design is pleased and excited to be working with Meridian4 on the digital distribution of our new action title Tank Universal.” said Phil Jones of Dialogue Design. “We believe Meridian4 to be an exciting and dynamic publishing partner and we look forward to bringing quality 3D tank blasting action to the masses!”
“Tank Universal is one of those rare titles that you instantly take a liking to,” said Steve Milburn, Marketing Director at Meridian4. “It takes you back to when games were simple, fun and addictive, but didn’t have a multi-million dollar budget behind it. Independent gaming lives on, long live the Indie developer!”
About Tank Universal
Tank Universal creates a huge virtual ‘Tron-like’ world where you take part in immense 3D tank battles involving scores of units both friendly and not so friendly in wide open levels!
Players can bombard the enemy from a distance or close the gap and dodge shells point blank - all in an immersive first person perspective.
- 20 levels of highly addictive and intense tank battles
- Some missions require you to leave the safety of your tank and explore the world on foot
- Ability to upgrade weapons and tank equipment
- Fight alongside allies against highly intelligent and numerous enemies
- Spectacular looking virtual world and eye-popping particle effects
- Take the battle in any direction with wide open levels allowing freedom of play
- Intriguing storyline switching between the ‘real world’ and the digital virtual world
About Meridian4
Meridian4 is an interactive software publisher located in Montreal, Canada. A new publishing company, with new ideas and a different approach to forming partnerships with developers, Meridian 4 aims to actually form a partnership – a true relationship characterized by mutual cooperation and responsibility to achieve the best possible performance for developers’ products. For more information, visit http://www.meridian4.com.
About Dialogue Design
Dialogue Design is a small independent studio dedicated to bringing exciting and creative ‘indie’ games to an emerging market. Based in Hamilton, New Zealand, Dialogue Design has just released its first title, the acclaimed action tank combat game - Tank Universal. For more information, visit http://www.tankuniversal.com.
From ITvibe.com:
Tom Prata, a senior executive at Nintendo, has announced that there are 100 WiiWare titles in development for the company’s new game download service which is available through the Wii Shop Channel. The company has long been very upbeat on the potential for this download service which they expect to bring many smaller game developers to the fore.
The new games will be made available each Monday with no limit on the number of games which will be released at any one time. When you consider that the service only went live a matter of weeks ago, the fact that there are over 100 titles in development bodes well for the future. There are real hopes that this new service will encourage some of the more adventurous elements of the gaming industry to push the console, and the controllers, to the limit.
While the new game titles are being kept under wraps at the moment, the WiiWare market is currently dominated by the likes of Pokémon, Dr Mario and Square Enix which were released on launch. Even Nintendo are unsure where this market will lead and they appear to be as excited as anyone about the chances of unveiling new and exciting talent in the industry.
OREM, UT – August 8, 2007 – Saga Games and Silverlode Interactive announced today that they have amicably split from Wahoo Studios to enlarge their team and focus exclusively on the expansion of their upcoming fantasy-themed massively multiplayer real-time strategy game, Saga. The announcement comes during a highly successful beta test for the innovative online game, which has drawn praise from critics and has captivated more than 15,000 gamers from around the world so far with its unique gameplay and pricing structure. Saga is currently scheduled for a Fall 2007 release.
Saga is free to play, dropping the monthly fee that has become a mainstay in online games in favor of a micropayment system that gives players — casual and otherwise — tremendous value and a rewarding gaming experience. Players can purchase low-priced booster packs to enhance their armies with unique troops and spells, which they can trade with others — in return for other units, abilities and resources — via the in-game marketplace. Strategic supremacy remains the focus, however, so players who do not buy booster packs are still competitive through superior tactics.
Critics and fans have praised Saga’s exceptional strategic depth and the gripping nature of the in-game marketplace, with GameZone.com proclaiming that the in-game economy is “a great boon” and that “the warfare simulation scales beautifully from small skirmishes to epic battles between rival kingdoms… The battle simulator handles incredibly well.”
Saga Games also announced that the ongoing open beta test of the game — which began on July 5 and is available for download at PlaySaga.com — has been a resounding success, with more than 15,000 players signed up. Players are already enthralled by the grand-scale strategic warfare and captivating marketplace: more than 5000 booster packs have been purchased during the beta test, with some players buying well over 100! Newcomers to Saga need not fear: beta accounts will be partially wiped when the final game is available, and players who purchased booster packs during the beta test will have their credits transferred to the final game.
“We’re thrilled with the response from fans and critics,” said Jason Faller, Producer at Saga Games, LLC. “It’s been great to see players getting so wrapped up in buying booster packs, trading units and spells, and building their ultimate fantasy armies… and we’re only in beta testing! We can’t wait to unleash the final game — along with new units, spells and quests — and continue to support our vibrant community with new content on a regular basis.”
To find out more about Saga and to join the ongoing public beta test, visit http://www.playsaga.com.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 30 /PRNewswire/ — World of Warcraft father Michael Morhaime and creative leader behind Habbo Hotel Sulka Haro will each present a keynote lecture for the Online Games Track at the 2007 Austin Game Developers Conference. The two online entertainment innovators will draw on their experiences revolutionizing the way people interact in virtual worlds to motivate the online game development community to break boundaries and strive to create better games. The three-day event, presented by the CMP Game Group, host of the industry-leading Game Developers Conference (GDC), will take place September 5-7, 2007 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. Visit http://www.austingdc.net for more information.
Michael Morhaime and Sulka Haro are both uniquely positioned to share their wisdom with the online game development community. As president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, Morhaime has ushered World of Warcraft to its status as the most successful MMO in history, with more than 8.5 million subscribers worldwide. The game’s global rollout has not only proven that it is possible to overcome the technical challenges of administering a game of its size and the cultural challenges related to localization and implementation, but has also shown how deeply online gaming can impact popular culture, as it has inspired references on shows including “The Colbert Report” and an entire “South Park” storyline.
Similarly, Haro has overseen the creative development of Sulake’s globally operated virtual world Habbo into an online destination which has attracted millions of teenagers every month since launching in 2000, expanding into 29 countries. Like World of Warcraft, Habbo has enjoyed much success with audiences outside of the core gamer audience. The Habbo virtual world also provides an example of the various revenue streams and business models available to the online game community, as most of its users participate in the world’s economy of acquiring virtual property through micro-transactions, with purchases accessible in a number of ways — through SMS, home phone, pre-paid cards, credit cards, and money orders. Habbo Hotel’s design supports open play and user creativity, supplying customers with furniture, clothing, pets, and accessories to customize their experiences.
“The GDC has long served the game development community by providing opportunities to learn directly from both the legends of our industry,” says Jane Pinckard, Content Manager for Austin GDC. “For online games and virtual worlds, Blizzard’s World of Warcraft and Sulake’s Habbo Hotel have pioneered the way and set precedence on how MMOs can transcend into real communities as well as establish new e-commerce models. We can’t wait to hear what the men behind these iconic games have to say regarding the future of online gaming.”
The Austin GDC will feature more than 90 lectures, panels, tutorials and round-table discussions on game development across four tracks: online games, audio for games, writing for games and a new People’s Choice track featuring the sessions community members want to see most. Austin GDC will also feature a Game Career Seminar for students and job-changers researching entry into the game industry, and a new event, PC Game On, focusing on the PC game enthusiast.
For more information, please visit http://www.austingdc.net. The deadline for early rate pricing is June 13.
About the CMP Game Group (http://www.cmpgame.com)
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN — (MARKET WIRE) — May 22, 2007 — MindArk and Global Gaming Factory X AB announced the launch of Entropia Universe as the first virtual universe and software to use the Smartlaunch Direct digital distribution platform to reach millions of gamers at thousands of internet cafes and gaming centers all over the world.
“We are pleased to announce Entropia, the world’s most popular virtual world, as the first software to be delivered to café owners using Smartlaunch Direct,” Global Gaming Factory X AB chief executive Hans Pandeya states.
Gaming at internet cafes and gaming centers is a rising social phenomena, as these venues are ideal places for gamers to meet and share information. Smartlaunch Direct is being fully integrated with the Smartlaunch server and café administrator, displaying popular games from cafes around the world. The cafe owner can easily download and install a game on all computers in the café with a single click using Smartlaunch Direct. In addition to being convenient for gaming hubs, Smartlaunch also provides publishers a convenient way of reaching millions of online gamers who visit thousands of cafes in the Smartlaunch network every month.
“Entropia Universe has been expanding rapidly with over 580,000 registered users, and now we will be able to reach more of our audience without the lag of individual download time,” states MindArk CIO Marco Behrmann. “This new partnership with Global Gaming Factory X AB will allow us to share the Entropia experience with new players who will have the software as an easily accessible option in their own environment. We look forward to a prosperous future using Smartlaunch Direct.”
About Entropia Universe
The heart of Entropia Universe is a distant planet named Calypso, which encompasses two continents with animal-filled wildernesses and large expanding cities that offer a variety of entertainment and social interaction for its participants. In Entropia, participants can create their own persona, or avatar, via a character-generation system, and then have the option of choosing a suitable life and virtual existence for their avatar. Characters are able to enter the evolving worlds of Entropia Universe, which are full of unexplored and uncultivated lands. Participants can join a community or even create a civilization of their own. Entropia offers a new avenue for individuals to pursue dreams, fantasies, and adventures in an astoundingly ‘real’ virtual universe.
In December 2004, Entropia Universe set a world record certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, when it sold a virtual Treasure Island for US$26,500, the largest virtual dollar amount spent, to 22-year-old Australian David Storey, a.k.a. “Deathifier.” In October 2005, the sale of an asteroid-based space resort for US$100,000 to famed gamer, Jon ‘NEVERDIE’ Jacobs, set a new record for the most valuable virtual item. In May 2007, MindArk sold five virtual banking licenses for over US$400,000 and among the buyers are real-world banks and financial establishments, alongside with Entropia participants.
Entropia Universe is a registered trademark of MindArk PE AB. MindArk supports and monitors the services and maintenance of the Entropia Universe site. MindArk began in April of 2003 in Sweden, and has expanded to have partners throughout the world. Entropia Universe was launched in 2003 and has reached over 580,000 registered accounts. MindArk offers the Entropia Universe software to users free of charge with no monthly costs or associated subscription fees. For more information or to download the free Entropia Universe software please visit www.entropiauniverse.com. For more information about Entropia Universe’s developer, MindArk, please visit www.mindark.com.
MURRIETA, CA — (MARKET WIRE) — May 07, 2007 — Left Behind Games Inc.through its previously announced consulting arrangement with Dr. Gordon Chiu has determined its plan to introduce LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces the PC game into the Asian market.
Serendipity House Ltd (www.serendipityhouse.com.hk), an affiliate of Dr. Gordon Chiu, and a premier distribution company in Hong Kong, has agreed to oversee and monitor the promotions regarding LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces in Asia. Serendipity House currently works with multiple American and European companies to distribute their products overseas. Some existing brands and partners that Serendipity House represents include: CitySuper Stores, Estee Lauder, FANCL, LaVigne Organics, L’Oreal (Shu Uemura, Biotherm), Seventh Generation, Simply Organic Beauty, Watsons Pharmacies, Whole Foods, etc.
Dr. Chiu commented, “Online gaming is doing phenomenally in China. The Chinese population is the largest ethnic population in Asia. All of Asia looks to Hong Kong as the trendsetter.”
PLAY
