Kotaku: Double Fine

Activision Cock-Blocking Brutal Legend Release

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:30:00 MDT

Most games left homeless from the Activision-Vivendi merger have now found new homes. Indeed, the only high-profile game left whose future is undecided is Brutal Legend, Tim Schafer's heavy metal orgy of celebrity voice-actors and demonic riffage. But that's not for want of trying! According to Variety and "sources" at development studio Double Fine, Activision have been "an impediment" to the game finding a new publisher. Catty! What's unclear is why Activision have been "blocking the progress"; do they want more money for the project than suitors are willing to part with? Did they have a spat with Double Fine and are simply taking the chance to punish them? Who knows. We don't. So we'll settle for some conjecture, with an added dash of praying that someday this game will actually be released.

Brutal Legend still homeless, sources blame Activision Blizzard [Variety]

Electronic Arts Publishing Brutal Legend?

Brian Crecente — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:00:00 MDT

So we know that Double Fine's musical epic Brutal Legend is fine, because Tim Schafer told us so. We also know that it's not going to be published by Vivendi or by MTV. But who is going to put out this Jack Black anthem? According to at least one source the game's future publisher is none other than Electronic Arts.

Neither EA nor Double Fine would comment on the rumor, but it doesn't seem like that much of a stretch. After all Electronic Arts has been expanding their Partners division, landing top tier titles like Harmonix' Rock Band, Valve's Left 4 Dead and most recently id Software's Rage.

And who knows, if Electronic Arts Partners picks up Double Fine's Brutal Legend maybe they'll snatch up Ghostbusters The Video Game too.

MTV Not Publishing Brutal Legend

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:00:00 MDT

Brutal Legend was one of the titles that didn't make the Activision Blizzard cut. But developer Double Fine's Tim Schafer said "Brutal Legend is fine." (Only once!) There were rumblings that a "non-traditional" publisher would pick up the action heavy metal title. MTV? The company tells Variety that it won't be publishing the game:

We are big fans of [Double Fine chief] Tim Schafer. We hope the game finds a good home.

That's kinda vague PR speak from MTV.

Brutal Legend not landing at MTV [The Cut Scene]

Variety Says Brutal Legend Announcement Soon

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:00:00 MDT

Brutal Legend was one of the Sierra titles Activision Blizzard kicked to the curb. Bummer! The good news is that developer Double Fine actually owns the rights to the Jack Black staring heavy metal hack and slash and thus actually can make something happen itself. Word is that Double Fine is on the verge of inking a publishing deal for the game. Variety has the scoop, writing:

I don't know who it will be, but I understand that it may not be a traditional publisher. It could be a more "unique" arrangement. (Sorry to be vague, but even getting this much info was quite a chore.)

Rock on. Though, all this switcheroo business might mean that game's not out until 2009.

Brutal Legend definitely coming out, new release plan to be announced soon [Variety]

Double Fine's Scott C. To Autograph Alternate King of Kong Cover

fdemarco — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:20:50 MDT

The folks behind I am 8-Bit, the art show featuring works based on video games, is holding an event this Saturday in Alhambra, CA. On hand will be Double Fine Productions' art director Scott C. who will be personally be autographing prints of his alternate DVD cover for the documentary, King of Kong: Fist Full of Quarters. The print is a nice sized 18 x 24 inches and will sell for a paltry $20. It's a pretty cool piece and having the autograph of someone who worked on Psychonauts would be pretty freaking sweet. You can go get your signed copy of the dvd and or print at Gallery Nucleus, 210 East Main Street Alhambra, CA. The event will go from 7 - 11pm and will feature such exciting extras as free booze and a Donkey Kong high score tournament with prizes.

How Brutal Legend Fighting Works

Mark Wilson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:00:56 MDT

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.

Magic attacks include fun like literal "face melting" solos. Hmm...maybe it's all the Rock Band brainwashing, but all this button mashing music creation combat sounds pretty fantastic.

Brutal Legend [PSX Extreme via The Adventuress]

Double Fine Studios Halloween Contest

fdemarco — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 08:00:00 MDT

Halloween is just a few days away and it seems pumpkin carving competitions are the contests du jour. Tim Shafer's Double Fine Studios is getting in on the action with a pumpkin contest of their own taking place on their forums. Simply submit a carved pumpkin with any Double Fine or Double Fine product design and you could win some fabulous prizes. Actually, I don't know what the prizes are and neither do they, but they promise a prizes for their favorites including a Psychonauts poster autographed by Shafer himself. That alone is worth a couple hours of drawing and carving. All entries must be in by Oct. 30 and as of now the entries are rather sparse so if you're quick on the draw and have a modicum of talent, you stand a pretty good chance of winning something. Good luck and if any of you win be sure to send us your winning entry so we can post it to our ever growing jack o' lantern gallery of doom.

Double Fine Halloween Competition! [Double Fine Action Forums]
[Thanks, A.H..]

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

Mark Wilson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:40:00 MDT

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)

Mark Wilson — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:00:21 MDT

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.

Mr. Schafer, a storyteller as powerful as yourself should understand the mystique of darkness. You could put a donut in silhouette and half the Internet would be speculating glazed or powdered.

Double Fine Readying Jack Black Attack?

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:20:35 MDT

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]

Psychonauts Now On Steam

kotaku.com — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 07:40:49 MDT

After being forced to endure excruciating games like SiN: Emergence and Bloodrayne, Steam has finally added a half-decent game which, I must admit, I never quite learned to love, but at least don't actively loathe, again like Bloodrayne: Psychonauts. Also, congratulations on reading the longest sentence in the history of Kotaku!

For just a cool $20 (only $10 more than Amazon's retail price!), you can download Tim Schaffer and Erik Wolpaw's game about psychic weirdos at a government summer camp, fighting a deranged scientist who wants to suck out their brains. God, I wonder why I didn't like Psychonauts again... Florian Eckhardt

Psychonauts [Steam]

Double Fine Gets Fine Publisher

Michael McWhertor — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 12:58:06 MDT

Occasionally we get some good news—albeit in the form of a dry press release—about small, creative developers getting some decent financial news. Double Fine Productions, helmed by Grim Fandango and Psychonauts creator Tim Schafer has a publisher for their next title in the form of Sierra. Here's the feel good corporate approved speak:

"The Sierra team has been awesome to work with," said Tim Schafer, president and CEO of Double Fine Productions. "Everyone we've met brings experience from a small developer background, so they know where we're coming from and what we have to do to make a great game. Combine a developer-friendly attitude, support for innovation, major-publisher status with a worldwide scope and you have a perfect match for Double Fine."

Why should you care about something that sounds so... business-y? It means that Double Fine isn't going anywhere, despite the financial disappointment that was Psychonauts.

Unfortunately, no other details were released, but whether its original IP or an update to a classic Schafer-driven franchise we win in either case. Michael McWhertor

Help Get Psychonauts on the 360!

brownlee — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 10:40:22 MDT

I didn't like Psychonauts. That admission alone will cause some of you to wrongfully vilify me as some sort of monster. I'm not a monster. I tried to love it, I wanted to love it! I played two hours of Psychonauts, then quit: the game's quirky humor, much lauded by the same internet that finds Something Awful funny, was lost on me as I stared at the screen, my lips compressed into a grim, humorless line. Upon being forced to fight some stupid tank that I couldn't figure out how to beat, I quit in disgust and went out to beat a baby to death with a bag full of kittens.

Nevertheless, I know a lot of people love it, and are dismayed that Psychonauts can not be played in backwards compatibility mode on the 360. Tim Schaffer is too! And he wants you to help fight back!

I want you to get up. I want you to walk over to your window right now. I want you to open your window up, and then I want you to stick your head out, and then I want you to take in a nice breath of fresh air, and then I want you to close that window and walk back to your computer and click on this link and send Microsoft a heartfelt message. Something to the effect of, "I am a 9-year-old boy in the hospital, dying of consumption, and my last wish is to play Psychonauts on my XBOX 360!" (Please, try to make up your own disease.)

Remember to follow politically correct protocol when you're picking your disease! Trust me on this: you don't want to get the National Down Syndrome Congress on your back. Florian Eckhardt

Psychonauts on the XBox 360 [Double Fine]