PixelJunk Series

[ludawg23]

Loved Pixeljunk Monsters.

Any idea on Pixeljunk Dungeon? Is that still coming out?

[AppleCrumbDlite]

I'm trying the trophy challenge for PJ monsters. and on bomb the boss it says to defeat the boss using only bombs. which are the basic 120 coin towers that shoot those balls right? I've done it twice now and it shows it as incomplete still...

[caliblue15]

Bombs are laid with 2 or so gems... you press square or something... its been a long time since i played it.

[caliblue15]

This is Dylan from Q-Games, the company behind PixelJunk, and following on from my blog entry last week where I listed what we’ve been doing for the past few months. This entry is all about Eden Encore.

PixelJunk Eden Encore screenshot - 7

First things first, what have we added? Well, basically we have added five whole new stages, each one choc-a-bloc full of ideas and gimmicks. We also designed five brand new backgrounds for them (each background for a garden is programmed uniquely just for that garden’s style - just in case you hadn’t noticed that in the original), and Baiyon went away and created five brilliant new tracks of music to match it all up.

To make things a little easier we are going to retro-patch the original Eden to have a new feature we created for Encore. This is the three-seed smart-bomb power your Grimp now has. Simply put, if you jump into three full seeds in a row, all the “Prowlers” on the screen explode into a big cloud of pollen. Everyone who boots up their original Eden in a few weeks will be patched and get this feature, so look out for that!

Thinking up new stages for Eden was hard work. We put a lot of stuff into the original game, especially the gardens onwards from garden 04, and we racked our brains for new and interesting ideas to put into this expansion pack, and we think we found some pretty cool ones! One of the first stages has you in a Garden where all the plants are huge and thick, and at the same time there are loads of them, all intertwined. This is a type of stage we didn’t have in the original game - falling isn’t much of an issue in this garden because the vines are practically everywhere.

PixelJunk Eden Encore screenshot - 8 PixelJunk Eden Encore screenshot - 9

Also, in another garden we have implemented a zero-G item that once you collect, lets you float and control your Grimp with no fear of falling (well, until the effect wears off of course) which is crazily fun with three players! At the same time that garden is full of some pretty cool puzzles to solve, and we really go to town with the no gravity mechanism. In one of the final gardens we have implemented an entire “mirror” garden that you go in and out of freely via portals scattered throughout. It’s a lot of fun making your way back and forth between the two subtly different “mirror” gardens - what might be a cannon in one is a teleporter in the other; what is open space in one, might be closed off in the other. It’s a lot of fun solving the puzzles.

Right at the end of the game, if you collect all the 25 new Spectra we’ve added, we have put in a big present for our fans - one that will enable you to play the entire game again in a completely different way, so that’s really something for everyone to look forward to.

PixelJunk Eden Encore screenshot - 10 PixelJunk Eden Encore screenshot - 11

What else can I say really? This expansion pack isn’t just “some extra levels”; it is full of rich design and will give you weeks of fun, so it’s definitely worth $5.99!

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by caliblue15

To make things a little easier we are going to retro-patch the original Eden to have a new feature we created for Encore.

if they keep making the game easier, those who got their trophy the "hardest way" will start to feel cheated!

(I still need a lot of trophy so... i'm not one of those.. .)

[caliblue15]

Originally Posted by fsavoie

if they keep making the game easier, those who got their trophy the "hardest way" will start to feel cheated!

(I still need a lot of trophy so... i'm not one of those.. .)

its not a big gameplay change..

[SoCalTiger]

Originally Posted by AppleCrumbDlite

I'm trying the trophy challenge for PJ monsters. and on bomb the boss it says to defeat the boss using only bombs. which are the basic 120 coin towers that shoot those balls right? I've done it twice now and it shows it as incomplete still...

Those are cannons, not bombs. If you haven't played all (or at least most) of the way through the levels, you might not have the bombs yet. Bombs are awarded for completing a certain level. I believe they cost 5 gems to use and yes you press Square or something to drop a bomb and press again to detonate. They are one time use only.

[Xerios]

Originally Posted by funsocaltiger

Those are cannons, not bombs. If you haven't played all (or at least most) of the way through the levels, you might not have the bombs yet. Bombs are awarded for completing a certain level. I believe they cost 5 gems to use and yes you press Square or something to drop a bomb and press again to detonate. They are one time use only.

bombs are awarded for clearing the 2nd special stage, and they cost 5 gems to plant, and 3 will kill an easy boss.

[Shin-Ra]

http://pixeljunk.jp/ update:

[Shin-Ra]

There's two more games in the first PixelJunk Series according to Matt Morton, Associate Producer at SCEA Santa Monica Studio in this month's Qore interview.

Can't remember what I read exactly about the first series not necessarily being all 2D anymore (original plan was to move to 3D in SERIES 2?).

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

I wonder if the US will get a 5-in-1 pack someday? That would be freakin' sweet!!!

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

There's two more games in the first PixelJunk Series according to Matt Morton, Associate Producer at SCEA Santa Monica Studio in this month's Qore interview.

Can't remember what I read exactly about the first series not necessarily being all 2D anymore (original plan was to move to 3D in SERIES 2?).

wasnt it suppose to be first 3 2D, second serie of 3 game in 2.5D, and third serie of 3 game in 3D?

[Xerios]

please release something soon.. i beat all your games already Dylan

[PNF]

man.. they gotta release something new soon!!

Its been ALMOST 1 year since I last rainbowed ALL stages... in the PJ monster

[dylan_cuthbert]

things are beginning to be revealed!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?ei...3877&ref=share

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by dylan_cuthbert

things are beginning to be revealed!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?ei...3877&ref=share

We got ya covered!

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=96039

[Shin-Ra]

An Interview with Dylan Cuthbert, President of Q-Games and creator of PixelJunk

Q: So ,you’re the president of Q games and creator of the PixelJunk series. Does the Q stand for anything, or did it just sound cool?

A: When I formed the company I wanted a simple name which we could project our own image onto. At the same time I always liked Q, the inventor character from the James Bond movies with his cool gadgets, and when I did a URL search “q-games.com” was available, so I grabbed it and the company was made.

Link for the rest!

[xtop]

Q: There is also a version of PixelJunk Monster for the PSP in the works. How is that coming and what can people who already own Monsters on the PS3 have to look forward to?

A: The PSP version is designed to appeal to new players and to people who already own Monsters. We have mixed a lot of stuff up and added a ton of stuff while re-balancing the entire game across the board. I can’t say much more than that right now but it is a true “deluxe” version, and it looks great on the PSP.

[Shin-Ra]

Dylan Cuthbert
Dictator

Profile:
Dylan “The Dictator” Cuthbert co-founded Q-Games in 2001, and has been exercising the authority of his “power goatee” to command underlings for about eight years now. His Kyoto roots started much earlier than Q, however, when he first came to Japan to work with Nintendo through Argonaut Software. He has been developing games in Kyoto for so long, he's starting to feel like a native. When he's not puffing away on cigars made of money or breaking the backs of his workers, Dylan enjoys being a connoisseur of wine and playing five-a-side soccer.

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What will a person new to the series enjoy about PixelJunk?
A: Each game is different so it doesn't matter if you are new to the series or if you have played every single one of them. They all bring something new and exciting to the table and PixelJunk 1-4 will blow *some* people's minds I think.

Kentaro Yoshida
Studio Director

Current Projects: PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, PixelJunk 1-4

Profile:
Yoshida, who has worked for big names such as Microsoft, Sega, and Sony, became the studio director at Q-Games in 2007. Getting his start in the game industry as an artist, notable projects he's worked on in the past include the Panzer Dragoon series, Ape Escape, and the Rubber Duck demo for the PS2. Yoshida is currently overseeing the release of PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe.

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What will PixelJunk fans enjoy about PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe?
A: We have gone and made the PSP version much better than the PS3 version. It really is an "Ultimate" edition, with lots of new maps, new enemies, new towers and new ways to play the game.

Shouichi Tominaga
Development Manager

Current Projects: PixelJunk 1-4, PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe

Profile:
Tomi is another game industry veteran working at Q-Games. He has over 15 years of experience and has worked on many Q-Games titles, including DigiDrive, StarFox, PixelJunk Eden, and PixelJunk Eden Encore. Tomi loves new challenges, and relishes the task of pushing the envelope of artistic video games.

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What will a person new to the series enjoy about PixelJunk?
A: The audio and visual elements are top notch. The controls are tight. The gameplay is addictive. In other words, the series has really captured the essence of what makes great games.

Andy Palmer
Artist

Current Projects: PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, PixelJunk 1-4

Profile:
Andy joined Q-Games in 2006, where his first job was modeling enemies for Starfox Command. Since then, he has been employing his pen tablet for PixelJunk Monsters and the upcoming fourth installation of the PixelJunk series. He enjoys the smaller team sizes and the prolific output of titles at Q, where he is able to work on a wide variety of creative tasks. He can often be spotted cycling around Kyoto, or rowing in the nearby Lake Biwa.

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What will PixelJunk fans enjoy about PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe?
A: I think people will enjoy being able to play Monsters away from their TV. It seems like the right kind of game for playing on the commute to work for example. We also added a lot of new content to the UMD version of the game to make sure the game is worth buying even for people who have already finished the PS3 version. Many of the new features are things requested by fans.

Martin Swaine
Programmer

Current Project: PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe

Profile:
Martin is a veteran programmer, working previously with Team 17 on “every version of Worms for the past decade”. Martin came to Japan to work with Q-Games in 2008, and has been the chief mechanic for PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe. He's excited about the latest Monsters edition, as it will be the first PixelJunk game to allow players across the world to cooperate in real-time multiplayer matches. A programmer with a nightlife, he enjoys playing poker and singing Duran Duran at the local karaoke spot.

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What do you like about living in Kyoto?
A: People come from all over the world to look at my back yard.

Riho Otomo
Artist

Current Projects: PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, PixelJunk 1-4

Profile:
Riho started with Q-Games in 2006 and has since worked on StarFox Command and PixelJunk Monsters. Now, she is busy working on both PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe and PixelJunk 1-4, where she is handling artwork for environments, user interface, and enemy design. Riho is a big fan of the PixelJunk Monsters games, and plays them in and out of the office.

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What do you like about living in Kyoto?
A: Kyoto has a lot of natural beauty. I love relaxing by Kamo River or in the park surrounding the Imperial Palace. On weekends, it's great to cycle up in the mountains. Kyoto has four beautiful and distinct seasons, so you can visit the same place at different times of the year and still find something new.

Kalin Houston
Planner

Current Project: PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe

Profile:
Kalin joined Q-Games in 2008, and was just in time to get drafted into the PixelJunk Eden team. He is now one of the brains behind the eagerly awaited PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe. Kalin attributes his flashes of inspiration to his frequent spirit quests, which unfortunately, he usually decides to take during work hours. An avid student of Japanese, Kalin can often be seen practicing his Kansai dialect with locals at finer dining establishments in Kyoto.

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What do you like about your job?
A: Making new and interesting games with old-school gameplay in a time where most companies are making fairly uninteresting incrementally improved versions of previous games. Having lots of creative and intelligent people to work with to really find 'fun' in the games
we are making.

Shinnosuke Itou
Planner

Current Project: PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe

Profile:
Shinnosuke, one of the few Kyoto natives of Q-Games, joined the company in 2008. His current righteous quest is designing stages for the upcoming PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, where he is very particular about finding good balance that will contribute to interesting gameplay. His favorite part of the job is when he sees how players react to his games. Seem like a nice guy? Sorry ladies, this baby-faced designer just tied the knot!

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What do you like about living in Kyoto?
A: With all the beautiful things to see in Kyoto, breathtaking scenery is always just a short bike ride away.

Paolo Carabaich
Programmer

Current Project: PixelJunk 1-4

Profile:
Before coming to Q-Games in 2007, Paolo worked with Milestone (Italy), Success Corporation (Japan), and Natsume (Japan). Paolo's first project at Q was PixelJunk Eden. He's currently the lead programmer for PixelJunk 1-4 where he's proud to be working on such an original title. Favorite quote: “Thatza spicy meatball!”

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What will PixelJunk fans enjoy about PixelJunk 1-4?
A: With the aid of the PS3's processing power, we were able to produce dynamic and elegant fluid simulations. Now thatza spicy meatball!

Omar Cornut
Programmer

Current Project: PixelJunk 1-4

Profile:
Omar previously worked at Mekensleep, where he made the DS game Soul Bubbles, which was a nominee for the 2009 BAFTA and GDC Awards. He joined Q-Games in 2008 and hit the ground running with PixelJunk 1-4, making vital in-house editing tools for stage designers. A die-hard retro game fan, he is obsessed with collecting old Sega 8-bit games. His dark secret? He draws special powers from injecting a stream of colorful pixels intravenously every morning.

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What will PixelJunk fans enjoy about PixelJunk 1-4?
A: The nature of the game should allow for plenty of side experiments by the player - it is a small sandbox by itself. The game plays in short bursts, so it is OK to die and restart right away. And trust me, you will!

Naohiro Kimura
Planner

Current Project: PixelJunk 1-4

Profile:
Hailing from Shizuoka, Japan, Kim-kim became one of the Q-Games crew in 2007. While he started on a Nintendo DS project, he is now a designer for PixelJunk 1-4, the latest in the series. He takes pride in his “thorough pursuit of fun gameplay mechanics”. While Kim-kim is game designer Monday through Friday, this weekend warrior loves going rock-climbing and playing five-a-side soccer.

Ask a Qreator:
Q: What will PixelJunk fans enjoy about PixelJunk 1-4?
A: PixelJunk 1-4 is everything great about Q condensed into one piece. This is what happens when Q-Games makes a shooting game.

[jkwest]

man...I hope they update the PSN version of Monsters to this level...I want to visit Kyoto now...