They don't just actively fund a video game made by Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert.
They are so unabashedly awesome that they actively fund a video game made by Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert named Deathspank.
Canadian government funding can play a key role in the success of independent studios, and new Gamasutra-obtained data from Telefilm Canada, that nation's federal cultural industry agency, details the extent of such funding for key indie games.
Most notably, Telefilm awarded Hothead Games' DeathSpank, the latest project from acclaimed Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert, one of the highest amounts ever given to a video game project: an impressive $536,069 from the Canada New Media Fund. The maximum amount that can be awarded in a fiscal year is $550.000.
Fez, Polytron Corporation's IGF prize-winning 2D/3D platform game award winner, recently confirmed for a release on Xbox Live Arcade in 2010, also received $73,682 from the cultural agency, which funds games alongside TV and film projects.
Searching back further in the agency's records, Klei Entertainment’s well received XBLA title Eets: Chowdown, the follow-up to its Eets: Hunger. It’s Emotional, was partially funded by Telefilm. It received $70,238, while the original Eets for PC received $90,000.
In the past, indie developer Metanet also received Canadian government funding for the making of Slick Entertainment's N+, and in their Gamasutra-reprinted Indie Games Summit postmortem for the title explained the way the grants work: they must be repaid from a game's profit -- but if a game does not end up making money, there is no repayment involved.
Though the grants are classified as "repayable advances," there are steps a developer can take to lessen its financial obligation. For example, including both English- and French-language options in the game will reduce the requisite payback amount by 10 percent.
These examples demonstrate Canada's continued attempts to nurture the game biz closely -- this Canada-wide program complements other local tax- and incentive-based programs that have seen major studios from Electronic Arts and Eidos set up in Montreal, as well as Ubisoft's expansion into Toronto.
Seriously, the guy is getting paid by his country's government to make a game called Deathspank. That's just about as awesome as that one picture of Star Wars characters playing rock music.
If the PS3 Slim is so close hopefully I'll hear something tomorrow. DOubtful but I hope so since they might have some kind of push on regular PS3 units.
Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII (PSP): 840 thousand units in Japan, 770 units in North America, 550 thousand units in Europe, 2.16 million units shipped total.
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (GBA): 410 thousand units in Japan, 940 thousand units in North America, 200 thousand units in Europe, 1.55 million units shipped total.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime 2006
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen 2008
Dragon Quest IX: Guard of the Starry Night
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
Holy shit I didn't realize they remade three DQ titles.
I have Rocket Slime (Though I didn't crack it open yet) is DQ Monsters or any of the remakes worth grabbing?
Following the news that Six Days in Fallujah developer Atomic Games has terminated a number of its employees, a new IndustryGamers report indicates that the developer may be close to shutting down completely.
The report's anonymous source claims that the studio has seen its 75-person workforce reduced to "less than a dozen" employees.
"The remaining team is basically a skeleton cleanup crew that will be gone soon too," said the source. "They are trying to downplay the extent of these layoffs, but the reality is that Atomic is pretty much dead."
Atomic Games yesterday maintained that it was continuing to develop the controversial Six Days, despite being unable to find a new publisher following Konami's departure.
"Due to a mixture of fears about the edgy subject matter of Six Days in Fallujah, as well as low videogame sales this summer, we have been unable to secure full-scale funding from a major publisher for Six Days in Fallujah," reads the release. "Development at Atomic will continue with a smaller team that will be funded by our sister company, Destineer."
DQ Monsters: Joker is awesome. Imagine Pokemon, only you have equipment, a huge number of passive and active abilities, and three monsters out fighting at a time. Pokemon + DQ, as should be obvious. But it still looks awesome for a DS game and is really fun.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime 2006
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen 2008
Dragon Quest IX: Guard of the Starry Night
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
Holy shit I didn't realize they remade three DQ titles.
I have Rocket Slime (Though I didn't crack it open yet) is DQ Monsters or any of the remakes worth grabbing?
The remakes are pretty amazing, as is Rocket Slime. Some of my favourite DS games.
Monsters isn't quite as good due to clunky controls, but is still a solid game.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime 2006
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen 2008
Dragon Quest IX: Guard of the Starry Night
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
Holy shit I didn't realize they remade three DQ titles.
I have Rocket Slime (Though I didn't crack it open yet) is DQ Monsters or any of the remakes worth grabbing?
DQ Monsters is basically a better version of Pokemon with Dragon Quest creatures. So yes, I'd say it's worth getting.
As for the remakes, they're all solid games. If you haven't played the originals, they're definitely worth playing. If you have already played them, well, it's your call if you want to play the same game with a new coat of paint & less difficulty (don't know about DQ6 but DQ4 & 5 are both noticeably easier than the original versions).
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker sold 593,994 units in the first four days after release in Japan.[22] To date, it has sold over 1.45 million units.[23] Joker was wildly popular in Japan, spawning merchandise based on the game, such as carrying cases for the Nintendo DS.[24]
The main point of the graph is to show the long legs of DQ: J.
Congratulations to THQ, new owners of a slightly used San Diego game development studio, previously owned by Midway Games. THQ bought the TNA iMPACT! wrestling game development house for $200,000 according to a filing with the SEC.
That purchase gets THQ the development studio—well, "substantially all" of its assets—but not the rights to the TNA iMPACT! license. It also means jobs for 40 or so members of the former Midway San Diego studio, as THQ has extended offers of at-will employment to some former Midway employees.
The San Diego studio wasn't included in Warner Bros.'s purchase of Midway's assets, nor was the publisher/developer's Newcastle group. The whole thing is pending on a judge's approval, as the Chicago Tribune points out, but it sounds like a done deal.
While THQ has downsized over the previous year, it recently had a damn good quarter, thanks in part to UFC 2009 Undisputed. And considering the publisher has plans to expand upon its UFC licensed game offerings, we wouldn't be at all surprised to see those previously tasked with TNA wrestling game duties working on another fighting game.
As for the remakes, they're all solid games. If you haven't played the originals, they're definitely worth playing. If you have already played them, well, it's your call if you want to play the same game with a new coat of paint & less difficulty (don't know about DQ6 but DQ4 & 5 are both noticeably easier than the original versions).
I am disappointed that they don't support the touch screen though. I'd gotten so used to just pointing to where I wanted my character to go in Suikoden Tierkreis and FFIII and now that I'm playing DQV, I have to go back to the ol' dpad.
Anyway, I feel sorry for Atomic Games. Sure Six Days in Fallujah looked pretty mediocre but Konami were absolute dicks in the way they treated them. One day they're supporting them and the next, they're sneaking out the back door because a little controversy has arisen. Cowards.
Forty percent of US households own a video game system, according to a report this week from the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing.
But that number is flat from last year, said the study. The most notable growth area was in high-definition television adoption. HDTV ownership grew from 35 percent last year to 53 percent this year.
The growth in HDTV is good news for the high-def console players Microsoft and Sony, whose hardware and entertainment services were designed with HDTV capabilities in mind. Meanwhile, the standard definition Nintendo Wii is the runaway leader this console generation.
In February this year, a Research and Markets analyst said there are more than 39 million US households with an installed HDTV set.
CENTRIS conducted the telephone survey on behalf of CTAM, contacting 1,144 random adults in June this year. The study has a +/-3.5 percentage point margin of error.
Huh. How can the penetration for video games be flat? There were at least five million or so game systems sold last year, surely that would cause the needle to move at least a bit.
cloudeagle on
Switch: 3947-4890-9293
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Dr Mario KartGames DealerAustin, TXRegistered Userregular
Huh. How can the penetration for video games be flat? There were at least five million or so game systems sold last year, surely that would cause the needle to move at least a bit.
People are preempting the 2011 timeline to start ditching their Wiis
Huh. How can the penetration for video games be flat? There were at least five million or so game systems sold last year, surely that would cause the needle to move at least a bit.
A lot of second systems, a lot of people upgrading from last generation consoles and +/-3.5% margin of error.
Huh. How can the penetration for video games be flat? There were at least five million or so game systems sold last year, surely that would cause the needle to move at least a bit.
A lot of second systems, a lot of people upgrading from last generation consoles and +/-3.5% margin of error.
With a population of over 300M and roughly 2.6 people per household, a 3.5% margin of error means on average, 4 million homes. Even if every console sold was to someone with no previous ownership, the numbers wouldn't necessarily move.
Rakai on
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]XBL: Rakayn | PS3: Rakayn | Steam ID
Wow, do one third of computer users really not have DVD drives yet?
That's probably the likeliest thing for someone who isn't computer savy to miss, though, since they look exactly like CD drives from the outside unless you look for a tiny label, and can also read CDs. I wonder what the real numbers are.
Wow, do one third of computer users really not have DVD drives yet?
That's probably the likeliest thing for someone who isn't computer savy to miss, though, since they look exactly like CD drives from the outside unless you look for a tiny label, and can also read CDs. I wonder what the real numbers are.
Forget that. Look at the fact taht 10% don't have a DVD player at all. I wonder what the percentage is without a TV.
lowlylowlycook on
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
It must be... pushing 10 years since I owned a VCR and about as long since I watched anything off one outside of school. I am shocked ownership of those is still so high. Even my grandparents switched to a PVR a few years ago. Maybe most of them are being kept around "just in case" even if it's in the attic because I doubt most of these are in active use. At least I hope not.
You know what the amazing thing about DVD/Blu-Ray is? Not everything is available for that format... VCRs are cheap and just as effective for recording the occasional show as they've always been and plenty of people still haven't converted their 'cherished memories' to the new medium. Whether that's because they don't know where or even if it can be done or if they just don't feel like spending the money.
Most people I know use a dvd/vhs combo. I know my rents still do since they have such a huge collection of VHS tapes still, though they're slowly replacing them with dvds.
The sad part is by the time they finish theyll need to start replacing em with blurays or whatever is the next big thing.
You know what the amazing thing about DVD/Blu-Ray is? Not everything is available for that format... VCRs are cheap and just as effective for recording the occasional show as they've always been and plenty of people still haven't converted their 'cherished memories' to the new medium. Whether that's because they don't know where or even if it can be done or if they just don't feel like spending the money.
I must be in a unique circumstance, but pretty much everything I own is only available on DVD...which is a bit unfortunate, since I do have a Blu-ray player that works just fine.
I mean, I wish I had a VCR, but purely for recording purposes.
Posts
They don't just actively fund video games.
They don't just actively fund a video game made by Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert.
They are so unabashedly awesome that they actively fund a video game made by Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert named Deathspank.
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24751
Seriously, the guy is getting paid by his country's government to make a game called Deathspank. That's just about as awesome as that one picture of Star Wars characters playing rock music.
Naw, not anywhere I've looked. Amazon, Play, Game, Gameplay etc.
Retailers over here just absorbed the hit; if they had raised prices at least one outlet would have resisted.
http://www.square-enix.com/eng/pdf/news/20090807_01en.pdf
http://www.square-enix.com/eng/pdf/news/20090807_02en.pdf
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime 2006
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen 2008
Dragon Quest IX: Guard of the Starry Night
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
Holy shit I didn't realize they remade three DQ titles.
I have Rocket Slime (Though I didn't crack it open yet) is DQ Monsters or any of the remakes worth grabbing?
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/59900 That was quick.
Oh I will. I just found it in a bargain bin at Best Buy a few weeks back for $15 and I just haven't been able to get to it yet.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
I was actually looking forward to Six Days in Fallujah and it doesn't offend me the slightest bit.
The remakes are pretty amazing, as is Rocket Slime. Some of my favourite DS games.
Monsters isn't quite as good due to clunky controls, but is still a solid game.
DQ Monsters is basically a better version of Pokemon with Dragon Quest creatures. So yes, I'd say it's worth getting.
As for the remakes, they're all solid games. If you haven't played the originals, they're definitely worth playing. If you have already played them, well, it's your call if you want to play the same game with a new coat of paint & less difficulty (don't know about DQ6 but DQ4 & 5 are both noticeably easier than the original versions).
Zeboyd Games Development Blog
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire, Facebook : Zeboyd Games
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
Well shit! No wonder they put DQIX on the DS...
DQ Monster Joker continued to sell that much over time? Jeez.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
I like how they can't spell "Mario Kart."
I am disappointed that they don't support the touch screen though. I'd gotten so used to just pointing to where I wanted my character to go in Suikoden Tierkreis and FFIII and now that I'm playing DQV, I have to go back to the ol' dpad.
Anyway, I feel sorry for Atomic Games. Sure Six Days in Fallujah looked pretty mediocre but Konami were absolute dicks in the way they treated them. One day they're supporting them and the next, they're sneaking out the back door because a little controversy has arisen. Cowards.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
http://gamasutra.com/news?story=24757
I have no idea how reputable this group is.
The digital switchover had a huge effect on the outcome, I'm sure.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
A lot of second systems, a lot of people upgrading from last generation consoles and +/-3.5% margin of error.
With a population of over 300M and roughly 2.6 people per household, a 3.5% margin of error means on average, 4 million homes. Even if every console sold was to someone with no previous ownership, the numbers wouldn't necessarily move.
That's probably the likeliest thing for someone who isn't computer savy to miss, though, since they look exactly like CD drives from the outside unless you look for a tiny label, and can also read CDs. I wonder what the real numbers are.
Forget that. Look at the fact taht 10% don't have a DVD player at all. I wonder what the percentage is without a TV.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
The sad part is by the time they finish theyll need to start replacing em with blurays or whatever is the next big thing.
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083
I must be in a unique circumstance, but pretty much everything I own is only available on DVD...which is a bit unfortunate, since I do have a Blu-ray player that works just fine.
I mean, I wish I had a VCR, but purely for recording purposes.
And it's all powered by hamster wheels...