Game Developer Magazine's Top 20 Publishers For
2008

post from Gamasutra Feature Articles on 01 October 2008 12:00:00 PM. © Gamasutra Feature Articles

For the first time ever, Gamasutra is printing Game Developer magazine's 6th annual Top 20 Publishers report in full - with stats, ratings, and analysis on the top publishers in today's game industry.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GamasutraFeatureArticles/~3/408250168/game_develop
er_magazines_top_20_.php

Digg this

Final reminder: Show us your arts and crafts
skills, win Mushroom Men prizes

post from Destructoid on 01 October 2008 11:42:00 AM. © Destructoid

Destructoid, Gamecock Media Group, and Red Fly Studio want to give you something mind-blowingly cool: a custom, one-of-a-kind Mushroom Men bass guitar autographed by the legendary Les Claypool. Yup, that's it up there, and you want it because it's gorgeous ... right?

Winning it isn't going to be easy, but it should be fun. It's arts and crafts time, folks -- we're asking you to create a Mushroom Men-related diorama! Entrants will take photographs of their work (not digitally altered, please!) and send the images to mmdiorama@gmail.com. Destructoid staff will pick up to 10 finalists, and the community will vote on the winners!

Grand prize: A Mushroom Men custom bass guitar, signed by Les Claypool; a copy of Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars (Wii); and a copy of Mushroom Men: Rise of Fungi (Nintendo DS); a set of Mushroom Men trading cards; a high-quality Mushroom Men poster signed by Les Claypool
Second place: A high-quality Mushroom Men poster; choice of Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars (Wii) or Mushroom Men: Rise of the Fungi (Nintendo DS); a set of Mushroom Men trading cards
Third place: A high-quality Mushroom Men poster

The contest ends October 3, at which point we'll stop accepting entries, so start cracking! Looking for inspiration? Check out mushroommen.com!

Additionally, Gamecock Media Group have a special offer for Destructoid readers who pre-order Mushroom Men (Wii or DS), Legendary, or Velvet Assassin: a $10 gift code for The Onion Store! Simply email proof of pre-order (like a scanned/photographed receipt, or a forwarded email confirmation) to destructionion@gamecocklove.com. Offer only good while gift codes last.

Good luck, and we're looking forward to seeing what your twisted brains come up with! Remember -- this contest ends this Friday, so this is your LAST CHANCE to enter!

[Note: This contest is open to anyone in any place on the planet Earth, including Europe.]

Read The Full Article:

Digg this

Get This Game: Orbient (WiiWare)

post from bits bytes pixels & sprites on 01 October 2008 11:38:53 AM. © bits bytes pixels & sprites

So most people seemed confused with Orbient’s release on WiiWare this week, and for that the blame rests squarely with Nintendo for not even bothering to communicate with people about the game. It’s an update/re-release of the Japan-only “bit generations” title Orbital for the GBA. I imported the title way back when and wrote up [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/BitsBytesPixelsSprites/~3/408350421/

Digg this

New Phantasy Star Zero DS trailer makes me
slightly less grumbly than usual

post from Destructoid on 01 October 2008 11:31:00 AM. © Destructoid

Anyone who reads this site knows I am a Phantasy Star purist, meaning I don't really care for any of the newer games in the series. I was all set to grumble and shake my cane at this one too, but after seeing this trailer (packaged with the latest issue of Famitsu) I have to admit I am considering giving this one a whirl.

The character design and fighting actually look kind of ... interesting. As long as I'm not busy clouding my brain with visions of the old character designs, that is. I think I'm going to perk up for once and give it a chance, plus I really like the music. Are you passing on this one, or feeling a little intrigued?

[Via Gamekyo]

Read The Full Article:

Digg this

Monthly Musings: The fear! The FEAR!

post from Destructoid on 01 October 2008 11:19:00 AM. © Destructoid

erer

The naysayers said a whole bunch of nays when last month's topic went up, but, as always, you guys delivered: you talked about stuff you hated without devolving into flaming or trolling, and we got some interesting discussion out of it all.

Where last month was all about hatred, this month is about my other favorite emotion -- fear. "The fear! The FEAR!" asks the question, what scares you in videogames?

I don't just mean in terms of horror games, but what makes you nervous, uneasy, frightened, or terrified in games in general? Is it the nervousness one feels while playing a bullet hell shmup? The feeling of reloading during battle? The tenseness of waiting in the shadows to pounce on a guard? Which videogame antagonist terrify you? Or, is there not enough fear in videogames?

Hit the jump for further explanation of the theme.

Read The Full Article:

Digg this

Sad! Muramasa: The Demon Blade pushed back to
2009

Sad! Muramasa: The Demon Blade pushed back to 2009 screenshot

Do I want Muramasa: The Demon Blade? Oh yeah, you bet I do. I loved every color-drenched moment of Odin's Sphere, and when I heard that Muramasa (also known by it's Japanese title, Oboro Muramasa) would feature the same art stylings and offer a side-scrolling RPG adventure, well, you can imagine what happened to me (it involved lying on the floor and panting).

According to Weekly Famitsu the title has been pushed back to 2009, with no specifics -- so we could have to wait a while. SAD! However, it's merely gone from being in my most wanted list of 2008 to next year's list. It should be shown at this year's Tokyo Game Show, which means you can expect more details from our own Dale North in the very near future.

[Via 1Up -- Thanks, Joe]

Read The Full Article:

Digg this

LittleBigPlanet for the PSP Let the speculation
and gossip mongering commence!

LittleBigPlanet for the PSP? Let the speculation and gossip mongering commence! screenshot

There have been some casual rumors flying about the place concerning LittleBigPlanet on the PSP, but today they have become a tad bit more solidified. It's all thanks to that humble birthplace of many a rumor -- the job advertisement.

A new job opening in Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is asking for "a senior level programmer to work on the development of exciting new LittleBigPlanet projects." Hardly noteworthy by itself really, since it's quite obvious that LittleBigPlanet is primed to be a franchise. However, the ad specifically mentions that they want a PSP bod on the case:

PSP Game Engine Lead

They are looking for a senior level programmer to work on the development of exciting new LittleBigPlanet projects. Ideal candidates will already have extensive experience of the PSP platform, having shipped at least one title on this format. Key areas of responsibility are expected to be PSP operating system interfacing, implementation of rendering technologies and general code optimisation.

Oh the possibilities! Oh the conjecture! I think what this all points to is that Metal Gear Solid 4 is DEFINITELY going to be on the Xbox 360 and Killer Instinct VII will be a hidden extra! The ad proves it probably!

Anyway, while job adverts like this can be hardly taken as rock solid gospel, it really wouldn't be a surprise to see a variant of the LBP IP appear on Sony's handheld. The game is ripe for all manner of spin-offs, and the PSP is bound to house some of them in the future. Until then, you can play the PS3 original on October 21.