Forget Xbox Live Indie Games. 2K Games is bringing independent titles to Xbox Live Arcade directly, with The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom and Axel & Pixel due out this fall.
The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom and Axel & Pixel are two games you wouldn't expect to come from 2K, but they certainly seem to be the kind of titles you might be compelled to pay a little extra for. P.B. Winterbottom is a stylish platformer in which the titular character bends time and space in order to steal pie, and if a nobler pursuit exists then I don't know what it is. This award-winning game from developer The Odd Gentlemen was originally created as a University of Southern California student thesis project.
Axel & Pixel, developed by Czech Republic developer Silver Wish Games, is a classic point and click adventure game with lush, hand-drawn visuals.
Why these two titles?
"At 2K, we look to support talented independent video game developers and discover ways of bringing their work to the mass market," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom and Axel & Pixel are passion projects for us. We saw the potential and the talent in these two unique and bold concepts, and are thrilled to be able to provide these developers with the support to create compelling games without altering their distinct visions."
For a better look at both titles, visit the websites I cleverly embedded within this article, or visit next week's Penny Arcade Expo, where @K Play will be showing off both titles to the public.