We Won't Be Seeing Brütal Legend At E3 :(

Sunday night's pre-E3 Kotaku party is going to be a booze-fueled, feel-good adventure. None of that, however, will dull the pain of Brütal Legend's absence at E3, an absence confirmed by MTV Multiplayer today. Double Fine Productions frontman Tim Schafer confirmed the bad news earlier today and I'm just barely keeping it together.

Sure, we knew that Vivendi and Activision and their subsidiaries weren't doing the E3 thing proper, but Activision is at least holding a press conference. Chalk it up to denial. The good news, according to MTV, is that Mr. Schafer says we may hear more about it "soon after" E3. I'm ignoring Tim's "we hope" caveat.

We're also going to refer to the newly merged Activision Blizzard as Activision Blizzard Brütal Legend to show just how important we think the game is.

No ‘Brutal Legend’ At E3 [MTV Multiplayer]

How Brutal Legend Fighting Works

We'd never question the brilliance of Tim Schafer and Double Fine's upcoming action/rockventure title Brütal Legend. But we were...curious, that's all...about how the game would actually play. PSX Extreme explains:

The battle axe is Eddie's primary attack, and it works much like Devil May Cry's sword attack does - basic, yet effective. Riggs will shred on the guitar when he needs to cast various types of magic, and performing these magic attacks will require timed combo entry on your controller.

Brutal Legend [PSX Extreme via The Adventuress]

Double Fine Productions founder and funny man Tim Schafer isn't so much a fan of Naughty Dog's Uncharted: Drake's Fortune as he is the next-gen thermal shirt that protagonist Nathan Drake wears throughout. The Psychonauts creator compares the PlayStation 3 title's heretofore ignored technological marvel that is a casually dirty, half-tucked shirt to "an unfinished symphony." He heaps praise upon the adventure game's clothing choices and lauds a poly-cotton top that speaks volumes about its wearer.

He writes of Drake's shirt "Jet skiing, swimming, and almost kissing—nothing can dislodge or fully tuck Drake's half-casual shirt. It is draped in a purgatory state, half in, half out, never completely free." A bold and fascinating analysis from a visionary mind that anyone who has even a passing interest in video game fashion should read. Compelling stuff.

Half-tuck is the new Mullett [Double Fine]

The official site for Double Fine Productions Brütal Legend has launched, bringing with it the power of Satan and a trio of new screenshots. This is how you make a web site people—flames, hot guitar licks, bones and chrome. It's rare that we find web sites about video games this appealing—there was that Contra 4 site—but given the number of tips we've received on its launch, it's clear we're not the only ones taken by this Flash-heavy, power metal marketing tool. Want to check it out? Hit up the official site and crank those laptop speakers.

Double Fine Studios Halloween Contest

I Feel Like I Could...Play Another Tim Schafer Game

Little known fact, I think about this classic opening from Tim Schafer's Day of the Tentacle almost once a day. OK...maybe not quite that much, but a lot, especially since the announcement of Brutal Legend. Every element up to the low angle shot of the newly empowered tentacle genius is absolute brilliance.

And that's why I never drank toxic waste again.

Psychonauts Sequel Not Happening (Tear)

Despite how we may have gotten your hopes up about Tim Schafer's potential exciting new Psychonauts project, according to the man himself, Double Fine is not ready to announce a new Psychonauts project...yet.

Haha. Nooooo. There's no new Psychonauts game in the works right now, but I'm glad some people got excited by the idea. I know *I* got excited.

Brütal Legend Trailer

Brütal Legend still hasn't been officially announced outside of a Game Informer magazine spread, but this trailer for Double Fine Productions' follow-up to Psychonauts or Epic Saga - Extreme Fighter is so dripping with awesome sauce that other video game developers must feel like throwing in the towel when faced with competition like this. Metal up your ass!!

Thanks, Jon!

Double Fine Readying Jack Black Attack?

International House Of Mojo, a site primarily focused on LucasArts, Double Fine and Telltale Games coverage, recently ran a rumor on Tim Schafer and Double Fine's unannounced next game. Dubbed Brutal Legend, the game allegedly stars actor and musician Jack Black as a roadie who dies, is banished to Hell and must claw his way to Rock 'N Roll Heaven.

The game is rumored to be revealed at next week's Games Convention in Leipzig, where Schafer will be keynoting on creativity. Of course, this is all rumor, as IHOM has since retracted its story, but it should be noted that Black has recently been spotted sporting the above pictured Whispering Rock Spring Summer Camp t-shirt from Double Fine's previous effort Psychonauts.

Double Fine's new game - Brutal Legend? [Google Cached IHOM via NeoGAF]

Tim Schafer To Keynote Games Convention Developers Conference

The creator and co-creator of fan favorites Psychonauts, Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandango, and Full Throttle will be on hand at GCDC, the developer conference that takes place just before Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. Schafer, a former LucasArts employee, now at Double Fine Productions, will see his speech provide "insight into the creative game development process." Hopefully, we'll get a chance to see or hear more about Tim's next creation.

We'll be on hand at GCDC and Games Convention to bring you all the highlights and drink from the biggest steins possible.

Tim Schafer To Deliver 'Creative' GCDC Keynote [Gamasutra]

Psychonauts Now On Steam

Double Fine Gets Fine Publisher

Help Get Psychonauts on the 360!