Revolution unveils mobile studio, Beneath a Steel Sky Remastered for iPhone

Lunker

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/revolution-launches-iphone-pocket-studio

Revolution launches iPhone/pocket studio

Revolution Software has announced the creation of a new division dedicated to handheld platforms, Revolution Pocket, and revealed that an enhanced version of Beneath A Steel Sky will be its first release.

Beneath A Steel Sky - Remastered is due out this autumn on iPhone and iPod Touch, and will be released for other formats later. It features new animated movies from Dave Gibbons, a new context-sensitive help system, and higher-quality audio.

Revolution Pocket won't just be targeting iPhone, either - the studio plans to launch games for Android phones, PSPgo, Nintendo DSi (via DSiWare) and others.

Beneath A Steel Sky is available as an open-source game already, for use with the ScummVM emulator, so to some the release - expected at $2-3 - may seem peculiar, but Revolution founder Charles Cecil says that the studio is keen to offer "incredible value for money", and that proceeds from sales could even be reinvested in a sequel.

"Yes, you can jailbreak your phone and play the game for free. But if you like the game and like the kind of games we make, then pay us a little bit of money and, if it's a big enough success, we can reinvest the funds. We can start to look at a potential BASS sequel," Cecil told Eurogamer in a retrospective interview about Revolution's origins and the creation of Beneath A Steel Sky.

"You know, I think a massive part of the piracy problem is due to a broken-down relationship between game makers and consumers. There's no respect between the two parties anymore. So I'm very excited at the prospect of repairing the relationship. I think this is the model we'll take with our future games."

More Revolution Pocket games should be announced in due course.

Detailed preview of Beneath a Steel Sky Remastered

We are in the midst of a point-and-click rebirth. Come, my brothers and sisters, and rejoice. Revolution also worked on Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars as full DS and Wii retail releases, but I'm assuming they both tanked and tanked hard in sales. Digital distribution makes a lot more sense, and as someone who loves these kinds of games and loves handhelds (the DS controls for Broken Sword were outstanding), I am dancing in my cubicle right now!

maximumzero

Dear Revolution:

Please release Beneath a Steel Sky Remastered on the DSi shop and/or Wiiware.

Thank you.

Lunker

Lunker wrote:

Revolution Pocket won't just be targeting iPhone, either - the studio plans to launch games for Android phones, PSPgo, Nintendo DSi (via DSiWare) and others.

They're really hard-core dedicated to digital distro, it seems, from reading the detailed preview of the game.

desc

!

YES.

solsovly

I believe this is also free on GOG.com if anyone wants to play it.

Lunker

solsovly wrote: »

I believe this is also free on GOG.com if anyone wants to play it.

So it is! I haven't played it and don't have a PC to check it out, though. It's also abandonware at this point, though by terms of the rules here we can't really link to anything beyond that. GOG is completely kosher, though, AFAIK.

The whole situation is interesting: The game is free, but they're planning on offering a really cheap upgraded version on a platform it hasn't been available on before. (Also see Cave Story coming on WiiWare.) It seems like it's the kind of purchase targeted to people who really liked the original and want to kick a few bucks the developers' way, and also to try and draw in new people.

UncleSporky

Lunker wrote: »

The whole situation is interesting: The game is free, but they're planning on offering a really cheap upgraded version on a platform it hasn't been available on before.

Actually ScummVM was ported to the iPhone and BaSS is fully compatible/playable.

joshofalltrades

BAR BUH KYOOO

I'LL NEVER EAT ANOTHER "KEBABB" AGAIN

This game has the best (worst) voice acting ever.

Nimble Cat

I enjoyed the game but never finished it after I reformatted and forgot to back up my save. This will give me a chance.

Monni

Beneath A Steel Sky is not abandonware, it was realeased as freeware some time ago.

acidlacedpenguin

Cecil is one helluva cool cat, and as long as the price is reasonable I'll be purchasing it even though I don't even own an apple product. (does apple have some sort of gifting ability like steam does?)

I think he's got the piracy angle covered

seasleepy

UncleSporky wrote: »

Lunker wrote: »

The whole situation is interesting: The game is free, but they're planning on offering a really cheap upgraded version on a platform it hasn't been available on before.

Actually ScummVM was ported to the iPhone and BaSS is fully compatible/playable.

...Which is why it was mentioned in the OP:

"Yes, you can jailbreak your phone and play the game for free. But if you like the game and like the kind of games we make, then pay us a little bit of money and, if it's a big enough success, we can reinvest the funds. We can start to look at a potential BASS sequel," Cecil told Eurogamer in a retrospective interview about Revolution's origins and the creation of Beneath A Steel Sky.

And yeah, the ScummVM version isn't abandonware. I'm liking this thought process though on these rereleases.

Nimble Cat

acidlacedpenguin wrote: »

Cecil is one helluva cool cat, and as long as the price is reasonable I'll be purchasing it even though I don't even own an apple product. (does apple have some sort of gifting ability like steam does?)

I think he's got the piracy angle covered

The article said they were aiming for a 2-3 dollar price point.

Lunker

seasleepy wrote: »

UncleSporky wrote: »

Lunker wrote: »

The whole situation is interesting: The game is free, but they're planning on offering a really cheap upgraded version on a platform it hasn't been available on before.

Actually ScummVM was ported to the iPhone and BaSS is fully compatible/playable.

...Which is why it was mentioned in the OP:

"Yes, you can jailbreak your phone and play the game for free. But if you like the game and like the kind of games we make, then pay us a little bit of money and, if it's a big enough success, we can reinvest the funds. We can start to look at a potential BASS sequel," Cecil told Eurogamer in a retrospective interview about Revolution's origins and the creation of Beneath A Steel Sky.

And yeah, the ScummVM version isn't abandonware. I'm liking this thought process though on these rereleases.

I always get freeware and abandonware mixed up for some reason. I'm not too great with tinkering around with ScummVM, so I actually have BASS on my PSP but it took me ages, and I still haven't taken the time to sit down and rip my copy of Sam & Max. Still, some people balk at custom-firming their consoles or jailbreaking iPhones, and I think it's a good tactic to make it commercially available for a really cheap price.

I hope that the iPhone and DSiWare releases pretty much lift the DS interface from Broken Sword whole hog, because it works really well.

Nocren

So BASS and Monkey Island SE? I think I may need to invest in some more batter packs for my iPhone.

Lunker

It's out on iPhone! $4.99. A little higher than the price point they were aiming for, but it's still cheap enough for me to grab on impulse because I love point-and-clicks on iPhone. Monkey Island SE is great, and I picked up Simon the Sorcerer 1 but haven't put too much time into it.