BIG BANG MINI MOVING TO WII AS BIG BANG PARTY?
Related to the previous post: digging around the MySpace page of Big Bang Mini composers Yubaba, where they’ve listed their past, present and future game-ography, what do we find?
Nestled in between the Build a Bear and Horse Life 2 soundtracks, it also mentions that the group is working on new music for Big Bang Party, a game listed for release on the Wii in 2009.
That would better explain the ‘mini’ in Big Bang Mini, then. Neither Arkedo nor Southpeak have officially announced the game’s existence, though it does jive with Arkedo teasing the N-sider blog about a Wii sequel in late February, offering a few hints that the new version would “revisit five of the worlds from the DS original… and [add] a lot of new multiplayer modes,” and would include some manner of “horizontal shooter.”
Arkedo have told N-sider that the game would more likely be released in 2010.
Previously:
Listen: Yubaba, Smith & Fortune’s free Big Bang Mini blip-pop soundtrack – Offworld
I wanna be a big bang: Arkedo's Big Bang Mini demo hits the Wii …
Nintendo's Wii/DS outlook: The Offworld view – Offworld
See more posts about: Offworld Originals
LISTEN: YUBABA, SMITH & FORTUNE’S FREE BIG BANG MINI BLIP-POP SOUNDTRACK
With the relaunch of the website for Arkedo’s DS firework-cinder-dodging shooter Big Bang Mini (previously discussed here), now that the game is hitting European retail shelves, publisher Southpeak has also announced that they’re giving out the game’s soundtrack as a free download.
The score was done by Paris’s Xavier Thiry & Sylvain Hellio, better known as Yubaba, Smith & Fortune [MySpace], who are also behind the soundtrack for Arkedo’s DS debut Nervous Brickdown, and Offworld favorite bubble-blowing action game Soul Bubbles, from Mekensleep.
The 24 track strong soundtrack contains some fantastic stuff: give Relax, Abyss, and Challenge special attention for more ambient blips, and B.O.S.S. a listen for its more oldschool chiptune punk.
I haven’t given the game itself the proper write-up that it’s due, but next week should be an Offworld DS blowout, with more coverage of the frankly stellar line-up it’s seen over the past few weeks.
Big Bang Mini home [direct soundtrack link, via Twitter]
Previously:
I wanna be a big bang: Arkedo's Big Bang Mini demo hits the Wii …
Nintendo's Wii/DS outlook: The Offworld view – Offworld
Listen: Anamanaguchi's 8-bit punk EP, Dawn Metropolis – Offworld
Listen: Leeni's 8-bit kabuki 'Underworld' – Offworld
Listen: Konjak's Legend of Princess soundtrack – Offworld
See more posts about: Listen, Music, Offworld Originals
PARAPPA CREATOR MATSUURA WAXES ON RHYTHM GAME INDUSTRY
Gamasutra’s also carrying a very nice interview with Offworld favorite developer Masaya Matsuura, head of NanaOn-Sha and creator, of course, of PlayStation icon Parappa the Rapper.
The interview touches too many points to single out just one, but generally covers a lot of Matsuura’s approach to the music/rhythm game industry — a genre he played a very large part in founding, but now seemingly feels somewhat estranged from how the beast he helped birth has evolved.
Asked whether he ever intends to create a music game that, like Rock Band and its ilk, uses instrument peripherals, he stresses that his approach comes from the other end — making software to support the interface, rather than focusing on a peripheral to come at the software:
I really love real instruments — really love. The game peripheral feels like it’s very similar to an actual guitar, for example, but it’s a little different for me.
As I told you, I really want to feel as if I’m playing the actual guitar… Of course the game controller and the real guitar, there’s a very big difference between them, but if I can overcome these kinds of differences by making good software…
Maybe that is what’s interesting to me. I really want to make the experience appeal derive from playing the software. It’s a very potent thing.
There’s more good stuff in there as well on bringing his lesser known PlayStation cult hit Vib-Ribbon back in some form (watch this intro video immediately if that’s the first you’ve ever heard of the game), and his thoughts on developing for the iPhone.
Marching To His Own Drummer: Masaya Matsuura’s Thoughts [Gamasutra]
Previously:
Nintendo's Wii/DS outlook: The Offworld view – Offworld
A Brief History of Rhythm – Offworld
See more posts about: Offworld Originals, Parappa
ISKYDIVE!, OR THE CLOSEST THE IPHONE MIGHT GET TO PILOTWINGS
Ex-Volition startup Blazing Lizard have sent word of another new iPhone game slated to hit the App Store soon after their dual-ship shooter CrossFyre: iSkyDive!, a free-falling/parachuting game which — as above — might be the closest we’ll get to a portable version of SNES classic Pilotwings.
Well, one-fifth of it, anyway.
Announcing… iSkyDive! [Blazing Lizard]
Previously:
Your own worst enemy: Blazing Lizard announce iPhone strategy …
See more posts about: Offworld Originals
‘ART OF THE GAME’ EXHIBIT ANNOUNCED FOR ITALY’S MUSEUM OF VALLE D’AOSTA
Writer and academic Matteo Bittanti has announced that he will be working with curator Debora Norma Anna Ferrari to put together an exhibit “‘entirely dedicated to the art of the interactive medium” called ‘Art of the Game “Nuove Frontiere Tra Arte e Bellezza”‘ for Italy’s Museum of Valle d’Aosta.
There’s not much official detail on the pieces to be included, but Bittanti says the exhibit “will feature 40 international artists (illustrators, graphic designers, art directors, and more) and will open on May 22 2009.”
See his site for more preview renderings of the main exhibit hall, and see the official site for more.
The Art of Games (Aosta, May 22 – November 8 2009) [Matteo Bittanti]
See more posts about: Offworld Originals
SONIC CO-DESIGNER WORKING ON NEW PAC-MAN GAME
Gamasutra’s carrying interesting and unexpected news that Sonic the Hedgehog co-designer Hirokazu Yasuhara — who left Sega to work stateside for Crash Bandicoot/Jak & Daxter/Uncharted creators Naughty Dog — is now working at Namco Bandai’s U.S. studio on a new 30th anniversary Pac-Man game.
No details were given beyond Yasuhara’s involvement, but Gamasutra says Yasuhara’s already stated his desire to create a “new character action game,” so presumably we’ll be getting something more along the lines of his 20th anniversary Pac-Man World series than Taito’s re-imagined retro futurist Space Invaders games, with Xbox Live Arcade’s Pac-Man Championship having already fit that bill in 2007.
Click the link for the full details from Gamasutra.
Namco’s Iwai: Sonic Co-Creator Working On Pac-Man Comeback Game [Gamasutra]
See more posts about: Offworld Originals, Xbox 360
TOWER DEFENSE MECHANISMS: HUDSON CALL OUT FIELDRUNNERS IN INCREDIBLE IPHONE GAME AD
Right, this might be one of the most amazing videos I’ve seen all week, and I haven’t even managed to fully translate it (I think it speaks a universal language!) and it’s now in English!
In announcing their forthcoming iPhone game Elemental Monster TD, Bomberman and Adventure Island creators Hudson show what I’m presuming is a low-poly version of company spokesman/producer Takahashi Meijin (Hudson really only have one notable chrome-domed personality) literally calling iPhone tower defense favorite Fieldrunners out by name, as he berates the hapless quivering mid-level assistant director for not coming up with something that can adequately compete.
In the end, the assistant gets inspiration where you’d least expect it, and the game is born.
Hudson don’t have much more information on the game apart from a March release date, but the adorably named arigato-ipod.com has a 10 minute presentation by producer Makoto Shibita [google translation] on Hudson’s lineup that shows a bit of that and other upcoming iPhone games.
DoTheHudson! iPhone home [Hudson]
Previously:
Into the mind of the Meijin – Offworld
Lode Runner hits the iPod – Offworld
Things We Lost In The Snow, pt 3: Crayon Physics about to hit the …
New towers loom: Fieldrunners update imminent – Offworld
Fieldrunners update coming "very soon", includes new maps and more …
Fieldrunners, Edge top 2009 IGF Mobile finalists – Offworld
See more posts about: Offworld Originals
EDGE MAGAZINE GETS 200 COVERS FOR 200TH ISSUE
Said without a trace of irony or any hint of self-congratulation for my own middling freelance contributions over the years, Edge magazine was and still is the single best games magazine I’ve ever laid my hands on, and the biggest influence on how I approach, filter and target this hulking colossus of an industry.
I say that primarily just to punctuate the importance of the mag just announcing that it’s hit its 200th issue, and, in celebration, they’re printing up no less than 200 separate covers (199 really, the fantastic Media Molecule created cover at right will be for subscribers).
It’s impossible to pick a favorite of the bunch — my eye keeps getting dragged from beloved game to game, and I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit this morning trying to name them all. Click both for the full zoomed view, and if you’ve never been exposed to the mag, head over to the official site for online features and subscription information.
UPDATE: Edge have just added a gallery view for individual closeups of all 200 covers.
Edge magazine [Future]
See more posts about: Offworld Originals
NGMOCO TEASE SPHERICAL 3D TOWER DEFENSE IPHONE GAME STAR DEFENSE
I’ll say this about Ngmoco, they’ve got their genre priorities very straight. Their latest new game, revealed by new ‘ngmofo’ Stephanie: a new tower defense game that appears to take place in a world nicely inspired by PS3/PSP shooter Super Stardust.
Star Defense teaser [ngmoco]
Previously:
Ngmoco: Rolando sequel coming, Touch Pets Dogs announced – Offworld
Touch me I'm slick: ngmoco/Hand Circus's Rolando – Offworld
Ngmoco’s Word Fu, Topple Too getting asynchronous multiplayer – Offworld
ngmoco shows off iPhone's Dr. Awesome, Dropship – Offworld
Touch me I'm slick: the iPhone's top Lite versions you shouldn't …
See more posts about: Offworld Originals
I WAS JUST DREAMING: MULTIPLAYER, MARACAS COMING TO NOBY NOBY BOY?
… or is BOY just fleein’ reality, as I know he’s liable to do?
I’ve been extremely neglectful in my Noby Noby Boy duties ever since Keita Takahashi’s game fell into my patiently awaiting PS3. It’s not that I don’t have a lot to say, it’s that I don’t quite yet have the words to say it. Believe me, though, when I say that with some 130,000 meters under my belt so far, I’ve been putting a lot of time into Noby’s world.
But let me break that silence quickly for this: if you haven’t been following the daily progress happening at official game site o–o.jp, you’ve been missing out. Not only do we have the daily Today’s GIRL updates, but lately Noby BOY has started to dream.
In these dreams, other multi-colored BOYs have come to play, even though Noby BOY was offline.. in a manner (and hue) precisely like my video of Noby Noby‘s original GameCity debut. In other dreams… the sounds of castanets, maracas, triangle, and guiter [sic] have been making their way into his thoughts..
Surely it’s just a matter of when (when GIRL reaches Mars? An arbitrary GIRL length?), and I’m as happy for it to be a surprise, that continual sense of wonder (every time you travel to a new map) being one of Noby‘s most pronounced joys.
And, honestly, even if the dreams were just that, I’d almost be as satisfied just having that drawing of BOY praying for his wishes, which slays me every. single. time.
official o–o home [Namco]
Previously:
It's a stretch: Explaining Katamari creator's new Noby Noby Boy …
Only on Offworld: your first look at Panic's Noby Noby Boy T …
Ask a stupid question: Takahashi finally 'explains' Noby Noby Boy …
Happy Holidays from Offworld (feat. Keita Takahashi) – Offworld
See more posts about: Noby Noby Boy, Offworld Originals
