‘Cuphead’ and its deal with the devil pushed into 2017

Chalk up another high-profile indie game being delayed. This time it’s Cuphead, the platformer styled after 1930’s animation (think: Steamboat Willie and Betty Boop). The Steam and Xbox game was scheduled for a 2016 release, but that simply isn’t feasible anymore according to developer StudioMDHR. “We wanted to finish our game 80 years after 1936 but it will now be 81,” a blog post reads. “Throughout this year we discussed reducing the scope to make a 2016 release, but we made the difficult decision to delay the launch in order to ship with our vision intact.”

Now, the team is targeting a mid 2017 release window. This isn’t the first time Cuphead has been delayed, either. When the hand-drawn game made its public debut back in January 2014, the developers were eyeing a “late 2014” street date for the PC version. But, at E3 that year the game was part of the Xbox presentation, along with a delay to 2015. We saw a bit more last year, with news that it’d become a full-on platformer as opposed to just a retro run-n-gun akin to Konami’s classic Contra.

And that news came with word of another setback. “In development, time is our greatest asset, and pushing the release to 2016 allows us to make for [sic] the best game possible.” Fans have wondered what’s been going on with the game since. Which brings us back to the latest postponement.

“We are constantly humbled by your continued support,” developer Chad Moldenhauer writes today. “Love you all and can’t wait to get this to you. Without further ado, we will get back to work!”

Cuphead isn’t the only indie that’s had a delay this year. We’re living in a post-No Man’s Sky world now, and rather than release something that doesn’t live up to expectations, developers are keen to keep their projects in the oven longer. Games like Below, Tacoma and the ever-ambitious Star Citizen’s single-player campaign Squadron 42 have all been pushed out of this year or delayed indefinitely. That’s to say nothing of a few recent Kickstarter projects.

Remember what Nintendo mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto said, though: “A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.”

Via: IGN

Source: StudioMDHR

‘Overwatch’ celebrates Halloween with ghoulish Loot Boxes

If the buzz around the Olympics wasn’t enough to get you spending cold hard cash on a bunch of Summer Games Loot Boxes, Blizzard hopes its Halloween-themed Overwatch event might do the trick. After weeks of small leaks raised the possibility of a second themed event, today the company revealed Overwatch Halloween Terror, which is live now through November 1st across PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The event features maps decked out with spooky accessories, plus it introduces the game’s first-ever PvE mode, Junkenstein’s Revenge.

Through November 1st, all Loot Boxes in Overwatch are jack-o-lanterns stuffed with themed goodies, including icons, sprays, victory poses, emotes and some seriously cool-looking skins. All the items are yours to keep forever.

In Junkenstein’s Revenge, the PvE mode, four players defend Adlersbrunn castle against hordes of enemies including Dr. Junkenstein, his Monster, the Reaper and a “mysterious witch.” Players are able to choose among just four heroes in this mode: the Alchemist (Ana), the Archer (Hanzo), the Gunslinger (McCree), or the Soldier (Soldier: 76).

Note that the Halloween reveal doesn’t include any information about Sombra, a new hero that Blizzard has been teasing for months. The latest intel (thanks, Reddit) on Sombra says she’s a world-renowned hacker who ended up working with a Mexican gang called Los Muertos before joining Talon.

Earlier, the PlayStation Europe blog confirmed DLC that includes four Halloween Loot Box sizes, which cost $2 for two and ramp up to $40 for 24. They’ll go live on October 12th and are expected to be available until November 1st.

Jessica Conditt contributed to this report.

Source: Overwatch

Thousands pay tribute to famous Twitch gamer in live funeral

Philip Klemenov, a well-known pro gamer and livestreamer who went by “Phizzurp,” had his life tragically cut short when he died in a car accident on October 2nd. However, his passing is also showing how the streaming community can unite in moments of loss. About 9,000 people watched Klemenov’s funeral live on his Twitch channel on October 9th, offering tributes and condolences that they couldn’t deliver in person.

The video is somber, as you might expect, and it’s clear that Twitch isn’t designed for sad moments like this. The site’s “enjoying the show?” and “last broadcast” inadvertently take on a more painful meaning when watching a funeral. However, the occasion was a testament not only to the popularity of streamers like Klemenov, but to the effect that livestreaming has had on the internet as a whole. It’s as much about forming a common bond with fellow enthusiasts as it is watching someone play a game or host a live show, and grief can be part of that experience.

Via: Kotaku

Source: Phizzurp (Twitch 1), (2)

The ‘Inside’ soundtrack was created with a human skull

Inside, the mysterious puzzle platformer by Playdead, continues the dark and isolating tone of its predecessor, Limbo. Much of the game’s atmosphere can be attributed to the soundtrack, which offers a beautiful, yet haunting frame for the narrative. To nail this sombre mood, composer and sound designer Martin Stig Andersen turned to the human body. He found an old skull (yes, a real skull) and played the game’s score through it, like an old school filter. The results were “quite bad,” but Anderson persisted — with a little post-processing, the final tracks were born.

“Every time I start on a new project I really want to find some kind of distinctive, original sound,” Anderson told Gamasutra. “Not like a musical style, more like a sound quality that you can associate with that project. I think it helps to create a sort of holistic, whole experience.” The human skull created an “iconic signature,” Anderson argues, which would have been difficult to replicate with muic software alone. The teeth, for instance, made small vibrations that should sound “unsettling, but also strangely familiar” to the player. Overkill? Maybe, but Anderson says such a “detour” can be necessary to create something truly new and unique.

Source: Gamasutra