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PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe on UMD in North America this April

by JC Fletcher { Mar 18th 2010 at 10:30PM }

For that cross-section of the PSP audience that likes both PixelJunk Monsters and tangible objects, Q-Games's Dylan Cuthbert has announced a UMD release of PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, due to launch in North America at "participating retail outlets" on April 27 for $19.99. The tower defense title has been available digitally since last fall.

Interestingly, Cuthbert originally cited piracy as the reason for the lack of a worldwide release for the UMD of Deluxe, previously released in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. Try not to pirate this one, so we can see more nice discs like this in the future.

PixelJunk Eden's Baiyon creating music visualizer for PS3

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 18th 2010 at 7:40PM }

Q-Games is teaming up with Japanese artist Baiyon once again for another PSN collaboration. Baiyon, who created the visuals and sound for PixelJunk Eden and Encore, is directing an interactive music visualizer for the PS3, to be distributed via the PlayStation Network.

Unlike Q-Games' Earth visualizer, this upcoming project will not be built into the PS3 operating system. Instead, this will be a standalone application, akin to .deTuned. This is terrific news for Trophy hunters, as they should be familiar with how easy it is to get PSN XP with these standalone art applications.

Hands-on: PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap (PSN)

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 18th 2010 at 7:00PM }

As the first PixelJunk game from Q-Games, Racers was largely misunderstood by most. Now, after the success of Monsters, Eden and Shooter, Q-Games is ready to go back to its first concept and give it a second chance. PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap isn't just an add-on to the original PSN game, but a new game (with new features like Trophies) that warrants a second look from fresh PixelJunk fans.

Like the original, 2nd Lap is a unique interpretation of classic top-down racers of yore. However, Q-Games' take on the genre makes it more of a puzzle or rhythm game, rather than a racing game -- an easy mistake for players to make, considering both the game's look and title. While some modes do require "winning" a race, most are about achieving rather specific goals. For example, you may need to complete a number of laps in a constantly-accelerating vehicle, while avoiding all the other cars on the road. "Sunday Drive" will have you trying to get past as many slow-driving cars as possible. It's a frustrating recreation of being stuck in traffic, yet it's oddly compelling.

In its second iteration, PixelJunk Racers remains essentially a collection of car-themed minigames, with the ultimate goal of scoring as high as possible on the leaderboards. Thankfully, 2nd Lap has been made considerably easier and more accessible than the first game, easing players into a much easier single-player experience. The addition of YouTube recording support should appease the show-offs, while the presence of PSN Trophies may make the overall package far more rewarding. (Don't worry Trophy hunters, Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert told us that they've learned from PixelJunk Eden and Monsters, and will make the Trophies much easier, akin to PixelJunk Shooter.)

Gallery: PixelJunk Racers: 2nd Lap

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DSiWare First Look: X-Scape and Metal Torrent

by Randy Nelson { Feb 25th 2010 at 10:30AM }

Two DSiWare shooters were on show at Nintendo's Q1 Media Summit -- X-Scape (left) and Metal Torrent (right). Both hail from different dimensions (of gameplay and graphics). I played them both, and you'll find my impressions beyond the break.

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DSiWare screens and trailers from Nintendo Media Summit

by JC Fletcher { Feb 24th 2010 at 7:15PM }

There wasn't as much DSiWare stuff on display at Nintendo Media Summit as there was WiiWare, but Nintendo did announce three new games. Photo Dojo is Japan's Photo Fighter X, the bizarre two-player fighting game made out of your photographs. Metal Torrent, as you may have heard, is a localized version of Aa! Mujou Setsuna, a vertical shooter from Arika.

X-Scape (above), fascinatingly, is a super-stylish first-person tank game from Q-Games, a sequel to the vintage Game Boy game X. You can see screens and video of all of them after the break.

Gallery: X-Scape (DSiWare)

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PixelJunk Racers '2nd Lap' rated by ESRB

by JC Fletcher { Feb 19th 2010 at 9:58AM }

It looks like PixelJunk Racers is going to join PixelJunk Monsters, PixelJunk Shooter and PixelJunk Eden in the exclusive "PixelJunk Games with Sequels or Expansion Packs Club" -- a hypothetical club whose name can now be changed to the snappier "All PixelJunk Games Club." The ESRB has outed "PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap" for PS3.

While the ratings board doesn't yet offer a content description for the title, we can confidently conjecture that 2nd Lap ~~changes Racers into a board game about managing a pretzel store~~ includes more tracks for the four existing modes, possibly a new type of race and a few new features.

Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert taking aim at more PixelJunk Shooter

by Ben Gilbert { Feb 9th 2010 at 1:15PM }

There's no doubt about it -- Q-Games head Dylan Cuthbert is very much interested in making more content for the latest in the PixelJunk series of games, PixelJunk Shooter. When he spoke recently to G4TV, Cuthbert said, "for PixelJunk Shooter we still have a ton of ideas on the drawing board and the engine has lots of potential we want to use before moving onto our next idea." He also teased the possibility of a full-on sequel, front-loading his last statement with, "normally sequels are just a re-hashing of the ideas in the original."

Given the PixelJunk's all-over-the-place history with DLC and re-releases and Encore versions, we poked Cuthbert for clarification. When we asked which of the aforementioned options we might see for PixelJunk Shooter, Cuthbert told us: "It hasn't been decided yet, as it depends on how much content we end up making. Whatever we end up making, though, it will be even better than the first installment with loads of new stuff. (Obviously I know what some of that stuff is, but I can't say -- all I can say is that fans will be extremely pleased.)" So, there you have it, folks! We're gonna see ... umm ... something else from Shooter.

PixelJunk creator disappointed by cheap gamers

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 16th 2010 at 8:16AM }

Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert doesn't like you, cheap gamer. When quizzed by Develop, the PixelJunk creator described one thing that disappointed him most about the industry: gamers that refuse to open up their wallets. "Gamers complaining about our games being too expensive at 10 dollars. I'm not sure this is an industry problem, but it seems ridiculous that people complain about that price point." Cuthbert seems particularly sensitive about this issue, noting the rampant piracy of PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe on PSP earlier this year.

The naysayers seem few and far apart, though. PixelJunk Shooter went on to become the second best-selling game on PSN in December. Some members of the Joystiq community have even suggested the game is worth "more than $10." Obviously, the studio is doing well enough with its PSN endeavors, as Cuthbert confirms that "more PixelJunk is definitely in the pipeline." With PixelJunk Dungeons and presumably PixelJunk Shooter Encore in the works, the indie studio clearly has a lot to work on at the moment.

Q Games working on '3D Space Tank' for Nintendo

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 12th 2010 at 8:45PM }

Australia's OFLC has rated 3D Space Tank, which is apparently a new title for Nintendo by PixelJunk studio Q Games. Siliconera found the listing, but, beyond a generic name (which has never stopped the studio before), details are scarce. The studio has been producing games for DSiWare, but there's no clear indication at this time what platform this latest game is for.

We've contacted Q Games for any details that it would like to share, hopefully the answer will be crisp and clear, not just a bunch of pixel junk.

Update: Q Games is deferring to Nintendo.

Playing PixelJunk Shooter Like A Pro 101

by Justin McElroy { Dec 31st 2009 at 1:00AM }

Okay, okay, everyone, settle down. Listen, we know there's been a lot of unrest in this, our first ever "How to Get Into the Top 20 Globally in World 1 Stage 1 for PixelJunk Shooter" class. You've been here for three weeks now without ever actually talking Shooter strategies and your whispers are starting to become deafening. "Why does Mr. McElroy take such long naps?" we hear you ask, or, "Why did I have to play $3,000 for this?"

On this, our graduation day, we have two messages for you. 1. Watch the video after the break and do exactly that. And 2. The magic was inside you the whole time. Now, if a few of you would just stand on your desks and say, "Oh captain, my captain," we'll be on our way.

... Nobody? Fine.

[Via Twitter]

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First three PixelJunk titles bundled for $20, Shooter gets a new trailer

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 9th 2009 at 4:45PM }

On the eve of the launch of Q-Games' latest super-stylish opus, PixelJunk Shooter, the studio's president, Dylan Cuthbert, decided to drop a new trailer for the title on PlayStation.Blog. We've posted it above -- as you can clearly see, it contains all of the requisite elements to fulfill the game's moniker: There's pixelated enemies, a great deal of of shooting, and plenty of junk to aim the aforementioned shooting at.

The blog post also contained good news for thrifty fans of the franchise -- on Dec. 22, Q-Games will bundle PixelJunk Eden, Monsters and Racers together into a single $19.99 bundle. Sounds like a pretty sweet package if you're hoping to receive a new PS3 from ol' Saint Nick this holiday season.

PixelJunk Shooter to whet your skills on December 10

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 2nd 2009 at 1:31PM }

Q-Games' latest entry in its PSN PixelJunk series will arrive on PlayStation Network worldwide next Thursday, December 10. Shooter follows the legacy of previous PixelJunk games, by adding a modern twist to old-school gameplay. In Shooter's case, the twist happens to be realistic liquid physics, as players manipulate the flow of water, lava and ice.

Like Monsters and Eden before it, PixelJunk Shooter is expected to cost $10 or the foreign currency equivalent.

Gallery: PixelJunk Shooter

Source – 'Tis the PixelJunk Season... [PlayStation.Blog]
Source – Dylan Cuthbert [Twitter]

Nintendo UK announces Reflect Missile for DSiWare, releases it

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 28th 2009 at 8:30PM }

Ready for some fairly unsurprising news? Nintendo UK recently revealed what we all expected yesterday following the OFLC rating of a Q-Games project titled Reflect Missile -- the game is designed for the DSiWare platform, and features Breakout-esque gameplay with strategy elements. You have to use a special set of missiles to help you clear out the aforementioned bricks, but you've only got a limited number, so ballistic conservation is key.

Ready for some completely flabbergasting news? According to the same Nintendo listing, the game is out right now in the UK. Like, this second, now. You can own it, provided you live in the UK, and have access to the fungible assets required to purchase 500 DSi Points. We've contacted Q-Games to find out when Reflect Missile will be fired at North America.

OFLC rating reveals Q-Games' Reflect Missile, Nintendo publishing

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 27th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Q-Games and Nintendo had a recent partnership in the release of Digidrive, but it doesn't seem like they're letting their relationship cool off any time soon. According to a new OFLC rating, Q-Games is developing -- and Nintendo is publishing -- a game called Reflect Missile. No platform was announced, but the safe money's on either a DSiWare or WiiWare release.

Now, let's get to determining exactly what a "Reflect Missile" is. Is is just, like, a really shiny missile, in which one might see themselves? Or is "Reflect Missile" a command in weird, broken English? For instance, "Captain Douglass, reflect [that] missile?" Or is the command being issued directly to the missile itself -- "Reflect, Missile!" The possibilities are as endless as they are nonsensical.

[Via GamerBytes]

Shoot on sight: PixelJunk Shooter's first level

by Xav de Matos { Nov 26th 2009 at 6:30PM }

For those anticipating the release PixelJunk Shooter, VG247 has footage of the first level in action to whet your appetite. Or drive you bonkers because you aren't the one playing it. Clocking in at around 12 minutes, the video gives you a taste of the game's unique blend of shooting and puzzle solving.

Sadly the game isn't set to hit the PSN until December 10, according to VG247. So for now, all we can do is wait... and dream of a brighter future. Check out the game in action after the break.