Space Invaders: Get Even

Category: Action
Players: 1
Publisher: Developer: TAITO
Wii Points: 500

"The Space Invaders are back, and this time they're out to get even!

"Take control of a UFO and make those Earthlings pay by unleashing your fleet of heroic invaders against their puny tanks, fighter jets and artillery.

"Use your invaders' five attack types and the might of the mother ship to rack up high scores, then upload them via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and see where you stand in the worldwide rankings!"

Click here for the Nintendo UK website.

Pit Crew Panic!

Wii Points: 800
Game Type: Panic Action
Control Type: Wii Remote
Players: 1-4
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment

"Pit Crew Panic! is a frantic, action-packed game that unfolds on the racing circuit. During the game, the pit crew is not only faced with repairing vehicles, but also various WHATSITs. Handling the WHATSIT repairs is a pit crew made up of legendary beauties. The controls are simple: Just grab a member of the crew with the Wii Remote™ controller's A Button, then release the button when the Pointer is over the damaged PART, and that crew member will begin repairs. Assign repairs to the members of your team and provide support using the Wii Remote to send a fully repaired WHATSIT out of the pit as quickly as you can.

"The game features Normal mode, which can be played using one of two rules: Abnormal mode (players split into two teams and compete against each other) and Ranking mode (compete with players around the world for the top record). Each mode can be played with a maximum of four Wii Remote controllers, allowing you to team up with friends and family. Your teamwork could lead to outstanding records."

Click here for Hudson's Pit Crew Panic page.

Banjo-Kazooie

"Fans of the series and newcomers alike will enjoy platforming with Rare’s famous honey bear Banjo and breegull Kazooie as they fight to save Banjo’s little sister Tooty from the evil witch Gruntilda in their original classic adventure. “Banjo-Kazooie” launches on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday, December 3 at 9 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT).

"When the evil witch Gruntilda discovers that Banjo’s sister Tooty is the most beautiful girl in all of Spiral Mountain, she kidnaps her to steal her youthful good looks. Banjo and his best friend Kazooie must team up in order to defeat Gruntilda and rescue Tooty from the witch’s grasp. At first, Banjo and Kazooie perform simple moves like running and jumping to collect jigsaw pieces, dubbed “Jiggys,” but as players progress, the bird and bear will learn new moves and abilities to help them fly, swim and fight to advance to new worlds and save Tooty."

Click here for the official Xbox.com splash page.

We got the chance to play the game early through Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts preorder deals. I've now completely finished the game with all the achievements unlocked. I love me some platforming. Bring on Banjo Tooie!

The Australian classification website has revealed yet another WiiWare title coming from Hudson Soft.

The game Onslaught has popped up with the usual markings of a WiiWare title. What it is is unsure at this time. Possibly this old board game? Unlikely, but we've got nothing else to work from.

Source: OFLC

Gamasutra's features editor Christian Nutt has been able to track down Nobutaka Nakajima and Tadashi Iguch - the minds behind 2007's Xbox Live Arcade hit Pac-Man: Championship Edition and Namco's other revival Galaga Legions.

Pac-Man CE was a big surprise for a lot of people - for me it was the game that made me pay attention to the Xbox Live Arcade and put me where I am now. Nutt's interview delves into how everything began - the resurrection of a gaming icon into the new century, making it fun for those who never truly experienced the Pac Fever.

They also discuss Galaga Legions, and how despite the similar resurrection sentiment it went through a completely different development cycle. Apparently there are a lot of fans of Gaplus out there.

Check out this insightful interview below.

Source: Reawakening The Sleeping Giant: The Pac-Man CE Interview

TikGames have revealed that their Xbox Live Arcade title Interpol is still coming to the service - but with a switch of publishers.

Originally the game was to be published by Sierra Online, but with the merger of Activision and Vivendi Universal it was unclear what would happen to the rest of Sierra's upcoming Xbox Live Arcade titles. Games like Zombie Wranglers were announced with a release date but never got out the door - the developers' even had a launch party for it.

Now it seems that Interpol will be published by Microsoft instead. Microsoft has previously published a TikGames title with Domino Master, so the changeover is a simple one.

"In Interpol, players track down the evil and destructive fugitive Dr. Chaos by seeking out hidden clues in exotic locales around the world. In single-player campaign, use your keen investigative skills to quickly gather the evidence needed to bring him and his criminal accomplices to justice. Or, join forces with up to three other friends in local or Xbox LIVE cooperative play to put them behind bars together. Only your keen eyes and investigative skills stand between the world and Dr. Chaos's evil schemes - use them wisely!"

The game is set for a Winter release and will sell for 800 Microsoft Points.

A slow week for all concerned. It's to be expected - we're right at the beginning of December. For the rest of the month don't expect a whole lot of announcements or releases, you're all too busy playing everything else anyhow.

Pick of the week would be Banjo Kazooie on Xbox Live Arcade. Myself being a huge fan of platform games - 2D and 3D, Banjo is a very welcome addition to the service, especially since we've got such a drought of platformers on all systems. If you were silly enough to not pre-order Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts to get your free code, it's still worth the 1200 Microsoft Points for a good 10-12 hours of content.

Xbox Live Arcade

This Week In XBLA - Banjo Kazooie
This week you can relive this fantastic Nintendo 64 platformer, now with HD visuals.

Denki Working On XBLA Project
The creators of the hidden Gameboy Advance gem Go! Go! Beckham now working on a secret Xbox Live Arcade project

1UP Specials Check Out Peggle XBLA
During this weeks 1UP Show Special, the crew look back on some missed gems over the past few months. When discussing Peggle Nights, they also discuss the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade version.

Reawakening The Sleeping Giant: The Pac-Man CE Interview
Christian Nutt at Gamasutra sits down with the people behind Pac-Man CE and Galaga Legions to understand the thinking process behind revitalizing classic Namco franchises.

Interpol Still On Its Way To Xbox Live Arcade
Sierra Online no longer appears to be, and with it go many of its XBLA games that were so close to release. At least one has been saved - Interpol has now been picked up by Microsoft.

PlayStation Network

Start-Select Preview Crash Commando
UK video game show Start-Select check out side scrolling Contra-esque multiplayer title Crash Commando on this weeks episode.

EU PlayStation Store Update: Booty Docks, GTI Club Demo Available
The European PlayStation Store finally get Capcom's Age Of Booty, and also get the chance to play the demo of GTI Club+, which is coming in just a few weeks time.

WiiWare

NA WiiWare Update - Pit Crews and Invaders From Space
North American WiiWare update includes Hudson Soft's Pit Crew Panic, as well as Taito's Space Invaders Extreme.

OFLC Reveal Hudson's Onslaught For WiiWare
Another Australian classification website revelation for WiiWare games - Hudson bringing Onslaught to WiiWare.

Unfortunately, we've had to disable comments on all our blogs for the short-term, due to spam-related issues affecting the efficacy of the server we're hosting Think Services' game blogs on. We're hoping to switch to a new commenting system in the very near future - in the meantime, posts will lack commenting capabilities.

- The Management.

[UPDATE: And we're back up with comments on this blog. We think we've fixed the problem but will continue to work to improve comment posting speed - you may notice it's a little slow over the next few days.]

Banjo-Kazooie

Developer: Rare / 4JStudios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Platformer
Price: 1200 Microsoft Points
Availability: Everywhere

Click here for the official Xbox.com splash page.

With the event of downloadable games on consoles, it has created a new avenue for developers. Developers like The Behemoth with Castle Crashers and Queasy Games with Everyday Shooter can live without creating a game that costs multiple millions of dollars.

There are many publishers that are also very interested in these services. Particularly those which have been making their way in the PC digital market. Popcap and Merscomm have already begun to bring some of their titles and many more on their way with Peggle and Buku Sudoku

RealNetworks have been a part of online distribution for a number of years with RealArcade and GameHouse both allowing customers to download and purchase many casual PC titles. They have just released Boingz on WiiWare, and have just announced Tiki Towers as their second title.

We were able to contact Sean Amann, GM Global Sales & Marketing, Mobile & New Platform Games at RealNetworks about their model for game creation on new distribution platforms such as consoles and the iPhone, and find out more about their upcoming cross-platform bridge-building puzzler.

After the initial flood of releases to Microsoft's Community Games service for the Xbox 360, things have slowed a tad this week. Nonetheless, we've got everything from zombies to the kitchen sink thrown in to our regular new round-up.

These regular XNA Community Games overviews being done in official association with excellent XNA review site XNPlay, and will link to their impressions and reviews of the latest XNA titles.

This set of titles proves that, if nothing else, there's certainly an eclectic selection of games pouring through:

XNPlay's XNA Game Highlights

ZSX4-Guitarpocalypse (Price: 200 Points)

Ska Studios, of the forthcoming XBLA title The Dishwasher, unleash the zombie hoards onto the community and throw in a giant cat with laser beams for good measure. Did we mention it has a giant cat with laser beams? Brilliant.

Star Pilot (Price: 400 Points)

Taking the Tron lightcycles concept into space, now in glorious glowing 3d-o-vision. Battle your opponents in an asteroid field and fool them into crashing into your tail.

Swords And Monsters (200 Points)

The Community Games' first "proper" joke game. Rescue the princess from a fate worse than Simply Red. Never has pressing the A button on your controller been so much fun.

PomPom Games have announced that their latest title Astro Tripper will be making it to the European PSN store next week, on December 11th. It will be released in America sometime next year.

"From a small cave somewhere, PomPom have been sculpting the very best arcade games on PC and XBox360 for over 6 years. Just two guys, Miles Visman and Michael Michael with the help of aural genius James Drabble, have produced the classic Mutant Storm Reloaded & Mutant Storm Empire on the XBox360 Live Arcade service.

"And now, PomPom unleashes a reworking of their original videogame animal... Astro Tripper, a game so evil, it’s been locked away (behind the grenade stash)...

"We call on all PlayStation3 gamers to join us in mutilating our fingers and thumbs, and endure a delightfully painful shoot-em-up experience the likes of which hasn’t been seen in ages!"

Those looking for more shooting fun should give the game a go when its released.

Source: PR

Atari and Q? Entertainment have announced that Q?'s recent Xbox Live Arcade titles will be bundled together and sold as a retail package.

Rez HD, Lumines Live and Every Extend Extra Extreme will be packed together in what has been titles "Q3", or Cubed. The pack will be released worldwide in Spring 2009

From the press release:

“We are honoured to be working with Atari and for myself, personally, the company that brought Pong, the very first video game I ever played when I was 11 years old,” said Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Chief Creative Officer, Q Entertainment. “Since that day, I have been inspired in many ways to create a new type of entertaining experience. Rez HD, Lumines Live! and E4, collectively called Q3, represent our version of music interactive entertainment and we hope it will provide the same kind of excitement to a new audience as Pong did for me many years ago. We are grateful for the support we have received from the Atari team as well as those who have supported the Atari culture.”

What's more is that while the package includes Lumines Live, The Q3 version is scheduled to include the Base Pack along with additional content that will enhance and extend the gameplay experience. Whether the content is all of the expansions, such as the Vs. CPU pack, Puzzle/Mission and Booster packs, is currently unknown.

If you've never picked up any of these, for one - shame on you, especially for not picking up Rez HD. They have not specified the price, but it should end up being quite cheap.

GTI Club+ (£9.99, €12,99, $19.95AU)

"Back in the day, the GTI Club: Rally Côte d'Azur arcade game was a huge hit due to its frantic, fast paced gameplay.

"Brought up-to-date on PLAYSTATION 3 for PlayStation Network using the latest technology, the game has been revitalised with stunning visuals and support for eight players online.

"The game sees you get behind the wheel of a number of small, powerful hatchbacks, all packed with typical European GTI charm. They’ve been carefully balanced for competitive racing, so expect a constant barrage of barging and overtaking action.

"Go online and take part in a range of multiplayer online modes that pit players against one another in either checkpoint races or a manic game of Bomb Tag."

Click here for the official PlayStation page.

Brain Challenge (£3.99, €4,99, $8.45AU)

"Boost your brain and relieve stress through 25 Visual, Memory, Logic, Math, and Focus mini-games. Choose your favorite coach and get detailed evaluations of your performances in personal training sessions. Compare yourself with other players online and/or offline in 3 delirious multiplayer modes. Thanks to the special Kid Test and Senior Test modes, gather all your friends and family around the game."

Click here for the official PlayStation page.

Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer ($9.99)

"Set in the distant future, Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer is a fast and furious shoot ‘em up with state-of-the-art graphics, driving soundtrack and classic fun gameplay sprinkled with fresh innovations. In the storyline, planet Earth’s resistance aims to stop a deadly infection consuming both life forms and technology alike, oddly having to rely on an anti-hero mercenary and bounty hunter to pilot a mighty prototype star fighter."

File size: 845 MB

Click here for the official PlayStation Page.

Age of Booty Free DLC

Age of Booty Map Pack 1 (free)

"Download the new “Oasis” and “Slow and Stead” maps! These maps are available in the 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 playlists."

Age of Booty Map Pack 2 (free)

"Download the new “Tight Passage” and “Tug of War” maps! These maps are available in the 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 playlists."

Age of Booty Map Pack 3 (free)

"Download the new “Bombs and Whirlpools” and “Bloody Wake” maps! Battle Royal is also unlocked as a new gameplay mode. These maps are official maps and will appear in the 2v2v2v2 playlist."

Qore Episode 07: December, 2008 (free)

"Episode 07 (December 2008) of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation®Network is being offered to all PSN account holders, 18 and older, for free! (*PSN registration required. user responsible for internet fees.) Download now to see what all of the excitement is about!"

If you are an annual subscriber to Qore, you will get the chance to play the demo version of Capcom's Flock!

Art Style: ROTOHEX

Wii Points: 600 Wii Points
Game Type: Puzzle
Control Type: Wii Remote
Players: 1-2
Publisher: Nintendo

"Use colored triangular panels to create a vibrant mosaic of stained glass in Art Style: ROTOHEX. As triangles fall from the top of the screen, rotate them to group six panels of the same color and create a matching hexagon, or HEX. Once the HEX has been formed, it will disappear, allowing the existing panels to shift and more panels to fill the playing field.

"A clear-cut goal and two different styles of intuitive controls allow you to focus solely on the game play-which is vital, as the playing field will be full of panels before you know it. With multiple modes (unlock more as you progress further in SOLO mode), special item panels at your disposal, and the ability to play cooperatively or competitively with a friend, there will always be another HEX to create."

Pit Crew Panic!

Wii Points: 800
Game Type: Panic Action
Control Type: Wii Remote
Players: 1-4
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment

"Pit Crew Panic! is a frantic, action-packed game that unfolds on the racing circuit. During the game, the pit crew is not only faced with repairing vehicles, but also various WHATSITs. Handling the WHATSIT repairs is a pit crew made up of legendary beauties. The controls are simple: Just grab a member of the crew with the Wii Remote™ controller's A Button, then release the button when the Pointer is over the damaged PART, and that crew member will begin repairs. Assign repairs to the members of your team and provide support using the Wii Remote to send a fully repaired WHATSIT out of the pit as quickly as you can.

"The game features Normal mode, which can be played using one of two rules: Abnormal mode (players split into two teams and compete against each other) and Ranking mode (compete with players around the world for the top record). Each mode can be played with a maximum of four Wii Remote controllers, allowing you to team up with friends and family. Your teamwork could lead to outstanding records."

Click here for Hudson's Pit Crew Panic page.

Strong Bad Episode 4: Dangeresque 3

Wii Points: 1,000
Game Type: Adventure
Control Type: Wii Remote
Publisher: Telltale Games

"Move over, generically buff action heroes! Strong Bad is here to show you how it's done in his handcrafted cinematic masterpiece, Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective. You play Dangeresque, a dirty cop in pursuit of a little action and several big sacks of cash. Can our hero stay alive long enough to defeat his archnemesis, save the world, and get the girl? Looks like he's gonna have to jump..."

Bang!

Wii Points: 600
Game Type: Puzzle
Control Type: Wii Remote
Publisher: Engine Software

"...a casual game type with very addictive gameplay using the unique Wii Remote controller functionality, and will support a two-player battle mode."

EA Sports and IGN have revealed their latest foray into Xbox Live Arcade and their first real PSN title - 3 On 3 NHL Arcade.

We found out about the game a few weeks ago, but didn't have any hard evidence on what sort of tactic they would take the game. Now we can confirm that NHL Arcade takes things a little on the lighter side - no need for icing and other rules.

The players have also taken on a Big Head mode, which is a little jarring and reminds us of the not-so-good MLB Stickball. Arcade games with a more lax, cartoony style tend to work a lot better with bulking up the characters ala NFL Blitz and Wayne Gretzkey's 3D Hockey, not shrinking their bodies. Regardless, these guys will be packing more punch this time around, with bigger body hits and an odd collection of powerups available to players.

To read more about it, click the IGN link below. 3 On 3 NHL Arcade is set to be released in Feburary 2009.

Source: IGN Sports - Exclusive: EA Developing 3 on 3 NHL Arcade

Website Square-Go have got the world exclusive hands-on with Denki's first Xbox Live Arcade title, now known as Quarrel - a strange mix of Risk meets Countdown meets Scrabble.

From the article:

"Essentially it’s a game of territory control (that’s the Risk(y) business), and battles are fought via a round of Countdown, with the letters having Scrabble like scores, and so whoever makes the highest scoring word – wins! Simple. Throw in some tactics - the number of letters you can use depends on how many ‘child soldiers’ (or Quarrellers, as is the official line) you have at your disposal. Which in turn actually makes for a compelling game – who wouldn’t want to best an opponent with superior locution and tact. But what’s great is that Quarrel is simple enough for anyone, of any age, to get to grips with."

Check out the screenshots and more about the game at the link below.

Source: Square-Go - World Exclusive: Quarrel - Hands On

In this round-up, Gamasutra highlights some of the notable jobs posted in its industry-leading game jobs section, including positions from RedOctane, Backbone Entertainment, Sparkplay Media, Airtight Games, and more.

Each position posted by employers will appear on the main Gamasutra job board, and appear in the site's daily and weekly newsletters, reaching our readers directly.

It will also be cross-posted for free across its network of submarket sites, which includes content sites focused on online worlds, cellphone games, 'serious games', independent games and more.

Some of the notable jobs posted in each market area this week include:

The update to the German rating board today has brought us a little gift - EXIT 2 will be making its way to the Xbox Live Arcade.

Last year EXIT went to Xbox Live Arcade while EXIT 2 was making its debut on the PSP, but only in Europe and Japan - it never came to North America. Now it'll finally get its American debut. Whether or not it will try its weird level unlocking system like the first is unknown.

If you couldn't get enough of EXIT and never picked up a European PSP copy, this will be your chance, along with Arkanoid Live and Space Invaders Extreme, to enjoy more Taito goodness.

Source: USK - EXIT 2