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GDC Awards nominees announced, Drake leads the pack
We've just received a press release revealing which titles will be vying for top honors at the 10th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards, held in conjunction with GDC 2010 on March 11. If you're not familiar with the show, picture the Kids Choice Awards, only ... with video game developers choosing the winners instead of teenagers. Or, alternatively, imagine the VGAs, only without all the half-naked women, pot references and awards named after highly caffeinated soft drinks.
You'll see some familiar names on the full list of nominees posted after the jump. Uncharted 2 netted seven nominations, Flower managed to grab five, and Assassin's Creed II ended up with four. Will Ezio be snubbed by Nathan once more in the Game of the Year runnings? We'll find out at GDC!
You'll see some familiar names on the full list of nominees posted after the jump. Uncharted 2 netted seven nominations, Flower managed to grab five, and Assassin's Creed II ended up with four. Will Ezio be snubbed by Nathan once more in the Game of the Year runnings? We'll find out at GDC!
Best of the Rest: Kevin's Picks of 2009
Halo Wars
Yeah, that's right, Halo Wars. I've already caught enough flak for putting this on my best-of list for 2009 (it's hard to even remember that it came out way back in February), but it deserves to be recognized ... so pay attention once your laughter has died down. Ensemble Studios (RIP) proved that you could bring a real-time strategy game to a console, and still make it enjoyable. Sure, you'll never have 1:1 parity mapping everything a full-sized keyboard offers onto a controller, but this game came close. It's a pity Ensemble closed, since we'll never see any expansion packs or a sequel. The good news is that, since it wasn't received with blaring trumpets and the sounds of cash registers ringing, you can pick this up for under 20 bucks for some good fun.
Yeah, that's right, Halo Wars. I've already caught enough flak for putting this on my best-of list for 2009 (it's hard to even remember that it came out way back in February), but it deserves to be recognized ... so pay attention once your laughter has died down. Ensemble Studios (RIP) proved that you could bring a real-time strategy game to a console, and still make it enjoyable. Sure, you'll never have 1:1 parity mapping everything a full-sized keyboard offers onto a controller, but this game came close. It's a pity Ensemble closed, since we'll never see any expansion packs or a sequel. The good news is that, since it wasn't received with blaring trumpets and the sounds of cash registers ringing, you can pick this up for under 20 bucks for some good fun.
Best of the Rest: Andrew's Picks of 2009

This year had a number of terrific downloadable games (this list is a testament to that), however no game -- retail or digital -- connected with me like Flower. Jenova Chen's flOw was an interesting experiment, but Flower is an actual game. In fact, Flower is one of the few experiences I can think of that show the true potential of games as a unique storytelling medium. No other non-interactive art form will ever be able to replicate what thatgamecompany has managed to create.
Best of the Rest: Griffin's Picks of 2009
DJ Hero
What started out as tepid fascination in DJ Hero quickly turned into a deep, passionate love. I initially thought it was just another rhythm game knock-off with an obtuse peripheral and a too-high price point. However, as my turntabling improved, my fondness for the game multiplied. Based on the game's lackluster sales, I'm guessing most people shared my outright hesitance -- but once you invest a bit of time and patience into DJ Hero, I guarantee you'll get hooked. (And that soundtrack! Oh, man, that soundtrack.)
What started out as tepid fascination in DJ Hero quickly turned into a deep, passionate love. I initially thought it was just another rhythm game knock-off with an obtuse peripheral and a too-high price point. However, as my turntabling improved, my fondness for the game multiplied. Based on the game's lackluster sales, I'm guessing most people shared my outright hesitance -- but once you invest a bit of time and patience into DJ Hero, I guarantee you'll get hooked. (And that soundtrack! Oh, man, that soundtrack.)
VGA 2009: Flower developers amidst the explosions and hype

Spike TV and the VGAs are all about naked women, shooters, and explosions. What's it like for Flower to be here?
Kellee Santiago: It's a very surreal experience. I think it shows that what are sort of seen as "artsy" games aren't niche, they appeal at the most commercial mass level, and that's very exciting for us.
Jenova Chen: We had Flower exhibit at the MOCA in Shanghai as an interactive art piece. It's quite interesting to see a video game stand next to these art installations. Being at these awards will hpefully give us even more exposure. The PlayStation Network had a sale during Thanksgiving, and a lot of people picked up Flower who had never heard of it before. Then we started to get a lot of emails thanking us for making the game. We know there are more people who haven't seen the game, and it would be great if they know what video games could be.
What's next? Could there be a sequel to Flower?
We're working on a third title for PlayStation Network right now, you'll see more soon. Hopefully you'll see something next year, but we don't know yet when it will come out.
Flower, Comet Crash & other PSN titles half-price this week
It seems the PlayStation Store got a little jealous of the brick-and-mortar retailers who were offering discounts during this week of Black Friday Thanksgiving. Beginning with today's specially-dated Tuesday PSN update, a handful of downloadable PS3 titles will be offered for half-price until December 2. Here's a list of the encheapened games, and their temporarily slimmed-down prices:
For more Black Friday coverage, check out Black Friday Deals, Cyber Monday Sales,
And other Black Friday 2009 stories today from Walletpop.com
- Bomberman Ultra – $4.99
- Comet Crash – $4.99
- Flower – $4.99
- Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao – $7.49
- The Last Guy – $4.99
- Prince of Persia Classic – $4.99
- Smash Cars – $7.49
For more Black Friday coverage, check out Black Friday Deals, Cyber Monday Sales,
And other Black Friday 2009 stories today from Walletpop.com
TGS 2009: Sony adding motion to existing titles, new RE5 with motion coming Spring 2010 [update]

Sony also showed off LittleBigPlanet being controlled by two people, one wielding a motion wand while the other used a DualShock 3. Apparently a mess of other titles will be getting the motion treatment -- 13 in total (
Update: We've got the full list right here.
Gallery: Sony 2 gallery
thatgamecompany's third Sony project is 'something you've never experienced before'
thatgamecompany, aside from giving us a chance to start this paragraph off with a lowercase letter for once, is currently hard at work on its third contractual Sony project. At the Develop Conference in the UK this morning, tgc's Jenova Chen had a handful of artfully abstract information to drop on conference attendees regarding the upcoming game. He said the project "feels like a natural progression" from the company's other titles and will be "something you've never experienced before." So, Flowest confirmed? Not quite.
"In the future there's a lot of feelings that video games haven't explored that are open for us to find," Chen said -- he specifically cited God of War as "a really good game about hatred." As Eurogamer points out in its coverage of the conference, Chen repeatedly cited the iteration time necessary for a game concept to go into full production -- he says that the concept for Flower took about two years -- and as such, may very well not have any solid information to talk about regarding his company's next game. Have you considered the fourth dimension, Mr. Chen? Hmm?
"In the future there's a lot of feelings that video games haven't explored that are open for us to find," Chen said -- he specifically cited God of War as "a really good game about hatred." As Eurogamer points out in its coverage of the conference, Chen repeatedly cited the iteration time necessary for a game concept to go into full production -- he says that the concept for Flower took about two years -- and as such, may very well not have any solid information to talk about regarding his company's next game. Have you considered the fourth dimension, Mr. Chen? Hmm?
[Image]
ZEN Pinball is top downloaded PSN game in May

According to GamerBytes, Zen Studios' Pinball FX did "similarly well" on Xbox Live Arcade. That game went on to sell 250,000 units over time -- perhaps ZEN Pinball can meet an equally favorable fate? In addition to ZEN, the rest of the top 5 included many PSN mainstays:
- ZEN Pinball
- Worms
- Mortal Kombat II
- Wheel of Fortune
- Flower
Boom Blox producer leaves EA, joins thatgamecompany
thatgamecompany, the studio behind flOw and Flower, has managed to sweep away former EA developer Robin Hunickle. Hunickle worked as the lead designer behind MySims, and produced the two Wii Boom Blox titles. In a statement to Kotaku, Hunickle explains that she wants "to reach new people, with new experiences, via the medium of games and the language of game design" in her new position. With both flOw and Flower completed, Hunickle says thatgamecompany is "at the forefront of the indie movement."
It's currently unknown what position Hunickle will serve at thatgamecompany or what project she will be working on. The team is still contractually obligated to develop at least one more game for PlayStation Network.
It's currently unknown what position Hunickle will serve at thatgamecompany or what project she will be working on. The team is still contractually obligated to develop at least one more game for PlayStation Network.
You gotta believe Masaya Matsuura and Jenova Chen will speak at Develop Conference

Parappa the Rapper creator Masaya Matsuura, whose last game was the Wii marching adventure Major Minor's Majestic March, will present "It's Time for Music Games 2.0," in which the developer will "map out unexplored gaming possibilities and reinvent our understanding of the genre." thatgamecompany's Jenova Chen will present a retrospective about flOw and Flower, and "explore the relationship between games, entertainment and art."
The Develop Conference will be held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton from July 14th through July 16th. If you're flying there and the pilot looks like this guy, get off and wait for the next plane.
Flower remains best-selling PSN game in March
It appears thatgamecompany has yet another hit on its hands. Flower, the PSN-exclusive follow up to flOw, has remained atop the PSN sales charts for a second month in a row. We're glad to see gamers embrace the innovative downloadable game and its 200 thousand blades of grass. The full list:
- Flower
- Wheel of Fortune
- Noby Noby Boy
- Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty
- Mortal Kombat II
- Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
- 3 on 3 NHL Arcade
- Red Baron Arcade
- Age of Booty
- Linger in Shadows
Flower's power exclusive to PS3: 200k grass blades and counting
We suppose grass might not be very exciting, but that doesn't mean it's any easier to put into games than anything else, especially considering the sheer amount of it needed in a game like Flower. In fact, Flower has coded 200,000 blades of grass to simultaneously move and sway in the wind, and co-founder / president of ThatGameCompany Kellee Santiago said this could only be possible on the PS3.
"It really would be impossible to make it look the same on any other system," she said in an interview with Gamezine. The developers say rendering Flower's detailed and free-flowing grass "leverages the PS3" and makes good use of the system's advanced SPU. So, the next time someone disses Flower for being a sissy casual title, let them know how hardcore it really is.
[Via CVG]
"It really would be impossible to make it look the same on any other system," she said in an interview with Gamezine. The developers say rendering Flower's detailed and free-flowing grass "leverages the PS3" and makes good use of the system's advanced SPU. So, the next time someone disses Flower for being a sissy casual title, let them know how hardcore it really is.
[Via CVG]
Flower is top downloaded PSN game in February

- Flower
- Noby Noby Boy
- Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
- 3 on 3 NHL Arcade
- Savage Moon
- Mortal Kombat II
- Bejeweled 2
- Burnout Paradise
- Linger in Shadows
- Magic Ball
Flower composer talks about game's soundtrack
Intelligent use of visuals and sound is one of the reasons that makes Flower such a surreal experience, and it was the job of composer Vincent Diamante to manifest this PSN dream world through music. He recently spoke with GameSetWatch to discuss his work in Flower, revealing some interesting bits on how the music not only affected the atmosphere of the game but also the design.
Diamante mentioned that the Sixaxis controls influenced the way he wrote his music. He called it a "soft type of control" and that "you can feel that there is a texture to the way you fly through the air." This texture, he added, would determine how he'd write music for "the winds." Conversely, Diamante also influenced the game design: "I had the opportunity to talk with the artists about the arrangement of flowers: tightening up lines of flowers or stretching them out, replacing red flowers with white flowers, and so forth so that the sound would work."
Lastly, those gamers looking to score a soundtrack might be in some luck. Diamante revealed he's in talks with Sony to put out an album; though, he does say the music lends itself more to the game experience over that of an album experience. Have a read of the full interview here.
Diamante mentioned that the Sixaxis controls influenced the way he wrote his music. He called it a "soft type of control" and that "you can feel that there is a texture to the way you fly through the air." This texture, he added, would determine how he'd write music for "the winds." Conversely, Diamante also influenced the game design: "I had the opportunity to talk with the artists about the arrangement of flowers: tightening up lines of flowers or stretching them out, replacing red flowers with white flowers, and so forth so that the sound would work."
Lastly, those gamers looking to score a soundtrack might be in some luck. Diamante revealed he's in talks with Sony to put out an album; though, he does say the music lends itself more to the game experience over that of an album experience. Have a read of the full interview here.















