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Reminder: Space Invaders Extreme 2 out extremely soon

by JC Fletcher { Oct 16th 2009 at 12:15PM }

Click to invade our gallery
Space Invaders Extreme 2 hasn't managed to build up much hype; an unfortunate circumstance that can be attributed to Square Enix mentioning the North American release of the game once, in May, and then not again until just now. In fact, had it not been for Nintendo's release calendar, we wouldn't have been certain of the release date (October 20 -- a.k.a. next Tuesday) until today, when Taito's parent company, Square Enix, confirmed it. Is it too late to pre-order?

And so, we're only too happy to use this occasion to refresh your memory: Space Invaders Extreme 2 is out very soon! In fact, it's been out all month in Europe and has garnered positive reviews. Turn on a strobe light and have a look at the new screens to prepare yourself for the sequel to one of the best games of 2008.

Gallery: Space Invaders Extreme 2 (10/16/09)

TGS 2009: The Recap Post

by Xav de Matos { Oct 2nd 2009 at 10:10PM }

Last week, the Tokyo Game Show brought in over 100 posts worth of news, previews, interviews, galleries, and videos. Clearly, a lot happened. If you're looking for a comprehensive list of all the goings-on during TGS 2009, Joystiq has you covered -- and organized!

Click on a platform below to scan the highlights:

(On the far right: that's "News" and "Culture" on the top and bottom, respectively)

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TGS 2009: Kudo demoes Natal, invents dance craze

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 28th 2009 at 2:00PM }

As you've probably guessed, the dearth of footage of actual Project Natal gameplay can be attributed to Microsoft's ban on filming the screen during demos of the technology. Hence, the gameplay-less video above, captured by Engadget during a Natal preview of Beautiful Katamari and Space Invaders Extreme.

Watch as Project Natal creative director Kudo Tsunoda shows how one rolls giant sticky balls or pushes back extraterrestrial attackers using only one's limbs. Without seeing the screen, we can't be certain how well he's performing these activities, but we can certainly attest to his remarkable dancing prowess.

TGS 2009: Body-on: Project Natal (with Space Invaders Extreme!)

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Sep 25th 2009 at 10:01AM }

Explaining Project Natal's mantra of fun and accessibility can't be the easiest task in the world, especially since it has to be done while ricocheting about in front of a motion-detecting camera. And despite that, creative director Kudo Tsunoda makes it look easy, calmly elaborating on Natal's goals and features while he dances about in a room full of journalists.

We've heard it before: Natal is Microsoft's sledgehammer, swung straight into the walls that years of button pressing and circle strafing have slowly erected around traditional gaming. We've seen similar attacks from Nintendo's Wii, as well as from the massive genre of the Instrument Protagonist, but Microsoft is hoping for much more than a dent. In the wall. Do you get it? It's like a metaphor and stuff.

The bizarre problem with Natal in its early state is that it, um, works. The technology is clearly functional -- heck, it's vaguely magical -- which makes the absence of truly compelling software almost immediately disappointing. Anyone can simply hop in front of the camera, which never seems to stop and ask, "Who are you and where did you come from -- and why are you so fat compared to the last person?" You're recognized within seconds and can start playing a moment later. And then you slap flying balls.

It's a bit of an unfair demand considering the product's not due until 2010, but the impatience is testament to the convincing nature of the technology itself. In the meantime, Microsoft is exploring Natal's tricks in two existing games: Beautiful Katamari and Space Invaders Extreme.

Gallery: Space Invaders Extreme (XBLA)

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Space Invaders Extreme 2 landing in Europe October 2

by JC Fletcher { Sep 10th 2009 at 2:46PM }

click to invade the gallerySquare Enix has been distressingly quiet about Space Invaders Extreme 2 since May. We know if we were about to sell people the sequel to one of the best DS games of last year, we'd ... mention it, occasionally. Thankfully for our sanity, the company did make an announcement today, cementing a PAL release date of October 2.

While we wait for a firmer North American release date than "fall," we'll just enjoy these screenshots the company sent out with the PAL announcement. We're sure we'll be exploring the bingo system and falling into a techno-music-induced Nagoya-attacking trance soon enough.

Gallery: Space Invaders Extreme 2 (09/10/09)

Space Invaders Extreme, Arkanoid DLC invade Xbox Live

by Richard Mitchell { Jun 17th 2009 at 3:05PM }

If you've got a hankering for some more alien destruction with a musical twist, you'll be happy to know that some new DLC for Space Invaders Extreme has landed on Xbox Live Marketplace. Entitled, simply, Space Invaders Extreme Expansion Pack, the DLC grants players access to the original versions of Space Invaders and Space Invaders II. According to Shacknews -- though not mentioned on the XBLM description -- the DLC will also include new stages and bosses for the main game as well. The price of entry is 240

.

The expected Arkanoid Live DLC arrives today as well. There are two bits of DLC, Episode Add-on Pack 1 and Episode Add-on Pack 2. The Xbox.com descriptions of the DLC are pretty vague, but we're just going to go out on a limb here and guess that each pack adds one of the two missing episodes -- the ones that are grayed out in the main menu -- to the game. Each piece of Arkanoid DLC runs for 240

.

Source - Xbox Live Marketplace: Space Invaders Extreme
Source - Xbox Live Marketplace: Arkanoid Live

Xbox Live Top 10: Halo 3 and the usual suspects

by David Hinkle { May 12th 2009 at 4:30PM }

It's time to check in with the Xbox Live Top 10 again, and Major Nelson informs us folks were pretty much playing the same stuff they've always been playing last week. Snagging the top spot again was none other than Halo 3 (big surprise there), however folks set aside some time to head into the Wastes with a bit of Fallout 3 (thanks to Broken Steel, no doubt). Resident Evil 5 managed to hold onto last place, with the UFC 2009 Undisputed demo also being a hot item for gamers last week.

On the XBLA side, people have been enjoying the colorful Space Invaders Extreme, as well as the usual amounts of Hasbro Family Game Night and Castle Crashers. Invading the list (rather surprisingly, we might add) in last place is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which we guess can be attributed to people needing a fix after seeing the new version.

Fever time: Taito announces European release for Space Invaders Extreme 2, Puzzle Bobble Galaxy

by JC Fletcher { May 8th 2009 at 2:15PM }

It's a totally exciting week for Space Invaders Extreme. First, the Xbox Live Arcade port was released in North America. Now, the DS sequel is officially headed to Europe, with Square Enix releasing this fall. We guess the company decided not to use the Space Invaders Extreme 2Remix title under which the game was previously listed. SIE 2 features a new "Beginner's Course" in addition to a weird "Bingo" system for unlocking the game's Fever Mode. New music, new power-ups, and "higher stage volume" are also included.

To help tide lucky European gamers over until fall, Taito also announced that it will release Puzzle Bobble Galaxy this summer. It's Puzzle Bobble/Bust-a-Move, with online play and new gameplay modes, including one in which you have a limited number of bubbles, and one in which you have one bubble per stage. The first English screens of both games are available in our galleries!

Gallery: Space Invaders Extreme 2 (DS)

Gallery: Puzzle Bobble Galaxy (DS)

Space Invaders father Nishikado calls today's games improved, recycled

by Jason Dobson { May 8th 2009 at 8:45AM }

Games have come a long way since joystick jockeys first spent hours dropping quarters into Space Invaders. Now on the heels of Space Invaders Extreme's XBLA debut, series' creator Tomohiro Nishikado has spoken out on the state of games today, observing that originality has suffered despite advances in technology.

"I think the focus on unique concepts and gameplay has waned with the evolution of technology," commented Nishikado in a recent interview. While the iconic game designer praised new tech for allowing developers to create most anything they can imagine, he called out the industry for churning out "replicated gameplay formats and concepts," adding that "people are growing tired of playing the same thing." We'd be hard pressed to argue the point, though with games like Noby Noby Boy and Rhythm Heaven (a game Nishikado calls "excellent"), we still think there is a spark of originality out there. What about you?

X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Zombie Wranglers, Arkanoid Live, Space Invaders Extreme

by Richard Mitchell { May 6th 2009 at 3:30PM }

Seemingly determined to force us to upgrade to a larger Xbox hard drive, Microsoft has again foisted three new Xbox Live Arcade titles upon us. We've got two retro remakes in Space Invaders Extreme and Arkanoid Live, and then we have a co-op zombie rodeo (more or less) in Zombie Wranglers. Watch the latest episode of XBLA in Brief and see if there's something for you this week.

All three titles cost 800

.

Download the trial version of Zombie Wranglers
Download the trial version of Arkanoid Live
Download the trial version of Space Invaders Extreme

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This Wednesday: Zombie Wranglers, Arkanoid and Space Invaders

by Richard Mitchell { May 4th 2009 at 12:01PM }

XBLA is up for another threefer this week, with Zombie Wranglers (no, really), Arkanoid Live and Space Invaders Extreme all hitting the service. Arkanoid Live and Space Invaders Extreme are both remakes of arcade classics, while Zombie Wranglers is a co-op game that tasks players with -- you guessed it -- wrangling zombies. All three games will be available this Wednesday for 800

($10) each.

If you'd rather nab Zombie Wranglers for free, developer Frozen Codebase is giving away five download codes on the official Zombie Wranglers Facebook page. Just leave a zombie survival tip on the wall to enter.

Gallery: Arkanoid Live (XBLA)

Gallery: Space Invaders Extreme (XBLA)
- Gallery: Zombie Wranglers (XBLA)

Space Invaders Extreme hits XBLA next week (probably)

by Richard Mitchell { May 1st 2009 at 4:15PM }

According to Shacknews, Taito has announced that Space Invaders Extreme will release on Xbox Live Arcade next week. Previously released on the DS and PSP, the game adds musical and graphical flair to the original Space Invaders. The XBLA version also brings the new addition of Xbox Live multiplayer (which you can see in the video above). The game is expected to cost 800

.

Keep in mind that Microsoft has yet to confirm next week's release. Expect official word on Monday.

Microsoft readying 31-game barrage for Japan

by Jason Dobson { Apr 21st 2009 at 9:25AM }

Microsoft's plans for the Far East have always been something of a murky science, pea soup made somewhat more clear following the company's recent media conference in Japan. Siliconera reports that the Xbox 360 will play host to a number of high-profile titles in Japan in the months ahead, 31 in all, including Magna Carta 2 in August and tri-Ace RPG End of Eternity (sadly not based on the Isaac Asimov novel) in the winter.

Japanese gamers will finally get to suit up as a decidedly not dead yet Commander Shepard when the original Mass Effect finally graces Japanese store shelves on May 21, while players will have to wait until later this summer to cure the locust plague in Gears of War 2.

Another 14 XBLA titles were confirmed at the event, including the previously announced remake of mech shooter Virtual On Oratorio Tangram, which will arrive in Japan on April 29. Other notable upcoming downloads include Mega Man 9 in June, Space Invaders Extreme this spring and The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match sometime in 2010. And what of Square Enix, which plans fill Japanese XBLA appetites this year with puzzler Yosumin Live, Project Cube and the wonderfully titled 0 Day Attack on Earth (pictured)? Well, we have those trailers for you after the break.

Source: This Is What Microsoft Has Planned For Japanese Retailers For Now
Source: Square Enix And SNK Blast Announce Xbox Live Arcade Games
Source: Watch Some Square Enix Xbox Live Arcade Trailers

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See Space Invaders Extreme's Xbox Live multiplayer

by Justin McElroy { Apr 16th 2009 at 12:30PM }

This is new footage from a new mode in a new version of an old game that itself was a new version of an old game. We'd need Doc Brown to sort out this Space Invaders Extreme multiplayer footage for us, so we're not even going to try to understand. We're just going to watch the colors silently, mouth agape.

We'd encourage you to join us in the silence in the comments, even though we're betting some jerk is going to ruin the whole thing. If you're interested in something a little more in-depth than just video of colors, we've got mode descriptions after the jump.

Gallery: Space Invaders Extreme (XBLA)

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GDC09: Space Invaders Extreme (XBLA) hands-on

by Kevin Kelly { Mar 27th 2009 at 9:30AM }

I keep telling people I played Space Invaders Extreme at GDC, and they all say the same thing: "Dude, that's been out for a while." But, A-HA! It hasn't. The kicker is that the DS and PSP versions have been out for so long that the DS version already has a sequel out (in Japan), but the XBLA version is brand new and comes out at the end of April. "Yeah," you're saying, "but it's a downloadable Space Invaders title. What do I care?" Well, if you like having fun, then you'll care aplenty.

The game scored 84 and 85 on the PSP and DS respectively on Metacritic, and the XBLA version just improves on those versions. We spent some hands-on time with the game at GDC, and you can see what we thought after the break. Peep the new video above, the gallery below, and blast your way on in.