Steam Gets Gamecock, Steam Pun Avoided

Add one more member to the Steam crowd, as Gamecock Media is bringing its stable of titles to Valve's digital distribution network. The agreement kicks off with just Stronghold Crusader Extreme and Insecticide — Part 1, that is — but we're expecting a fruitful relationship between the publisher and network. We're lead to believe this by the press release which points out that Insecticide Part 2, Velvet Assassin, and Legendary will be coming later this year.

We also understand that Gamecock is "a welcome solution to the bloated and originality-starved video game industry." That's the press release talking again. We'll believe anything you say, press release! Command us!

Several Gamecock titles will be available for digital download through PC download portal GamersGate, starting with Stronghold Crusader Extreme in May, Insecticide in June and Velvet Assassin to follow in Q3, the companies announced today.

Gamecock demoed its lineup in more detail earlier this year at its EIEIO press event in Austin, Texas, where amid burlesque dancing, truckloads of Corona and lots of talk about Rollergirls, the developer seemed to want to show off its progressive vibe. Given that many are looking to digital download platforms for the future of PC gaming, it seems a modern-minded move for Gamecock.

Insecticide Info Dump

If you've been buggin' for a new action adventure game, it may be time to check out Insecticide for PC and DS. The game takes you on an adventure through the seedy underworld of insect culture, playing an insect cop and her partner, solving crimes as only insects can. I suggest developing compound eyes for taking in all the vids, art, and screens of the game, after the jump.

What. A. Contest. We are so delighted to see all the wonderful entries. It warms our cold, bitter hearts! And now, the winner of our make-a-bug-win-Insecticide contest is...

Okay! Whew. We've got our finalists. Twelve of them. Usually, we don't like to do more more than seven — ten at the most. But these are too good — damn good, even. So, now it's time to vote. After the jump, write down one (yes, ONE) of the finalists you like best. Don't write down two or three or whatever, just one. Failure to do so will result in your vote counting for zip. Voting ends tonight at midnight EST. Winner gets a copy of Insecticide. Everyone else gets a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Yay!

Little Time Left For Bugs!

GOLDEN BUG (Last Day!)

Adriana writes:

It's a pendant I'm making for my college jewelry class inspired by the Kotaku contest. It's made of 14k gold pierce work on the front and pure silver on the back with a pearl drop. Hopefully it's not too serious for the contest. (T.T)

That's it.

You can use anything to make it EXCEPT CG. So yeah, if you want to make a bug outta newspapers, sticks, clay, whatever, DO IT. Send entries to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom with the subject line "Insect." The contest ends March 7th at midnight PST. That's today!

The Coke Can Mantis, Pray! Pray!

Reader Oscar writes:

I made it out of paper clips and coke cans, with the metal part of a twist-tie for the antenna.

That's it.

You can use anything to make it EXCEPT CG. So yeah, if you want to make a bug outta newspapers, sticks, clay, whatever, DO IT. Send entries to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom with the subject line "Insect." The contest ends March 7th. The winner's fame is ENDLESS.

This Bug Cat Cannot Fly

Adowable! According to commenter Cchrist:

Here's my entry for the contest. I made it out of organs, fur, a kitten strap and some butterfly wings!
It even moves on it's own and doesn't even use electricity OR batteries.
The only thing i haven't figured out yet is making it fly...

That's it.

You can use anything to make it EXCEPT CG. So yeah, if you want to make a bug outta newspapers, sticks, clay, whatever, DO IT. Send entries to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom with the subject line "Insect." The contest ends March 7th. The winner's fame is ENDLESS.

Bug With Added Spider Web and Spatula Legs

Wow! Spider web and everything! And just look at its legs. Reader Cory writes:

It's the rare Smiling Amazon Box Spider.

That's it.

You can use anything to make it EXCEPT CG. So yeah, if you want to make a bug outta newspapers, sticks, clay, whatever, DO IT. Send entries to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom with the subject line "Insect." The contest ends March 7th. The winner's fame is ENDLESS.

Another Bug! Look At It.

And the amazing bug entries keep rolling in! Here's a creepy crawly from reader WhyCause, who writes:

I made this guy out of a packing peanut and staples.
With a little ink thrown on for color.

That's it.

You can use anything to make it EXCEPT CG. So yeah, if you want to make a bug outta newspapers, sticks, clay, whatever, DO IT. Send entries to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom with the subject line "Insect." The contest ends March 7th. The winner's fame is ENDLESS.

Contest is so underway and so awesome. Reader Matthew sends along his "Bottle Bug," writing:

I made the hornet from plastic bottles, the antenna from the rings around the opening, and the legs from coat hangers.

That's it.

You can use anything to make it EXCEPT CG. So yeah, if you want to make a bug outta newspapers, sticks, clay, whatever, DO IT. Send entries to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom with the subject line "Insect." The contest ends March 7th. The winner's fame is ENDLESS.

Another contest! No counting! This time, we're giving away a copy of Insecticide (DS or PC, the winner decides). Here's the contest, it's a fun one: Make an insect. Like a 3D, real world one.

That's it.

You can use anything to make it EXCEPT CG. So yeah, if you want to make a bug outta newspapers, sticks, clay, whatever, DO IT. Send entries to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom with the subject line "Insect." The contest ends March 7th. The winner's fame is ENDLESS.

Earlier today Gamecock announced that their annual mini-con, EIEIO, was moving from California to Texas to coincide with South By Southwest. While the company only has only brought two titles to market so far, they have a ton in the wings. Here's how things official stand with their upcoming games, from Mushrooms to Insects:

Pirates Vs Ninjas Dodgeball XBLA - Feb
Insecticide DS - 2/26
Insecticide Episodes 1 & 2 (Downloadable PC Episodic) - March and April
Hail to the Chimp - May
Mushroom Men:Rise of the Fungi DS - June
Legendary PC Next Gen Consoles - Summer
Mushroom Men:The Spore Wars Wii - Fall
Sabotage 360/PC - Fall
Dungeon Hero 360/PC - Spring 09
Section 8 Next Gen Console/PC - Summer 09

Aqua Teen Pro-Am Devs On PSN

"We are very excited to become a PLAYSTATION®Network publisher," said Vladimir Starzhevsky, CEO of Creat Studios, Inc. "Digital distribution is a key component in our strategy of becoming a global leader in creating and providing interactive entertainment."

Insecticide

Insecticide Coming to DS, PC this Holiday