In Episode 12 we get a review for Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations and Trials Evolution, while Episode 13 has reviews for Botanicula, Wrecked: Revenge Revisited and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure.

Despite what Hex says, I like the look of Rythm Theif & the Emperor’s Treasure, if I play it I might even do a review on it! Besides, it got a score of 77/100 on Metacritic, so it can’t be that bad! Oh, and still no review for Kid Icarus: Uprising! What’s going on here?

Anyway, to finish this post I’d just like to mention that I won’t be posting episodes of Good Game: SP on the main news feed, instead, I’ll just be linking their reviews in the Reviews section of this website. You’ll know which reviews are the latest ones as I’ll put them in a bold font. But if you’d like to see full episodes, just head over to the official Good Game: SP site, and for other reviews for older gamers, go to the official Good Game site.

Other than that, Sonic Labyrinth has been released on the Nintendo eShop for 3DS in Europe and Australia, so if you’d like to play Sonic’s worst game, well…now you can.

- Dafster

Source(s): Good Game: SP, The Sonic Stadium

Minecraft finally comes to consoles with Xbox Live Arcade Minecraft for Xbox 360!

Platforms include: Xbox Live Arcade (Xbox 360), PlayStation Network (PS3, PS Vita, PSP), Nintendo eShop (3DS), WiiWare (Wii), Wii Virtual Console (Wii), DSiWare (DSi), Steam (PC, Mac), GOG (PC), OnLive (PC, Mac, Android, iOS, TV Set), Origin (PC), iOS (iPod, iPod Touch, iPad), Google Play (Mobile, previously Android Marketplace) and Impulse (PC, now owned by GameStop, developed by Stardock).

Table of Contents

• XBOX LIVE ARCADE (XBOX 360)
• PLAYSTATION NETWORK (PS3, PS Vita, PSP)
• NINTENDO DOWNLOADS (3DS, Wii, DSi)
• STEAM DOWNLOADS (PC, MAC)
• GOG DOWNLOADS (PC)
• ORIGIN DOWNLOADS (PC)
• iOS APP STORE DOWNLOADS (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad)
• ANDROID GOOGLE PLAY DOWNLOADS (Mobile)
• IMPULSE DOWNLOADS (PC)
• ONLIVE DOWNLOADS (PC, Mac, Android, iOS, TV Set)

XBOX LIVE ARCADE (XBOX 360)

The biggest news on the Xbox Live Marketplace front for Xbox 360 is the long-awaited console release of Minecraft! As I reported earlier, Minecraft Xbox Live Arcade Sales Are 400,000. Selling Half A Million In One Day. Becoming the Best-Selling XBLA Game Ever. Profitable In One Hour! Minecraft Xbox 360 is HUGE, and now more gamers than ever can get it on the action and see what this PC Indie sensation has been all about!

New XBLA Games:

* Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition
Price: 1600 Microsoft Points ($20)
Synopsis: Imagine it, build it! Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition lets you create worlds from the comfort of your sofa. Play alone or play with your friends. Explore, build and conquer! At night monsters come out, so make sure to build a shelter before that happens. After that, your world is your imagination. Turn your hours into minutes with Minecraft! Important Note – Local co-op play requires you have an HD TV. If you play this game in High Definition mode, you can have up to four players in split-screen on the same console. To be exact, it has to be at 720P or higher resolution via an HDMI, DVI, or VGA cable.

New Games On Demand Downloads (Full Games)
* Dance Central 2 ($50)
* Nickelodeon Dance ($30)
* Driver San Francisco ($60)
* Cars 1: The Video Game ($20)

New Add-On DLC:
* Asura’s Wrath Lost Episode 1 ($2)
Synopsis: One of the world’s greatest warriors appears before Asura… His name is Ryu. He challenges Asura to a duel! File size 166 MB

* Prototype 2 Colossal Mayhem Pack ($5)
Synopsis: Introducing the “Colossal Mayhem” Pack – the ultimate collection of carnage-inducing content for Prototype 2. File size: 5.66 MB

New Demos
* Spec Ops: The Line
Synopsis: The demo begins with a Delta Force recon team, led by Captain Martin Walker, infiltrating Dubai six months after a cataclysmic sandstorm destroyed the city and left it buried in ruin. Chaos ensues as Delta is pulled into the middle of a civil war. Walker and his team must fight their way through the unpredictable war-torn city to find the man at the heart of its madness – Colonel John Konrad.

* Kinect Star Wars
Synopsis: Step into Star Wars and experience a new galaxy of physical gameplay. Pilot a starfighter, race speeder bikes and even become the ultimate Jedi. Stomp, roar, grab and throw Stormtroopers as a powerful Rancor Monster, or speed past rivals to become a Podracing champion. Even dance for your life as you entertain Jabba the Hutt and other characters, and enjoy more adventures by yourself or with friends.

PLAYSTATION NETWORK (PS3, PS Vita, PSP)

New PSN Games:
* Datura ($10)
Synopsis: From Plastic Group, the creator of the innovative Linger in Shadows, Datura is a new form of interactive play inspired by film narrative and immersing players in an experience never seen before.

New Games On Demand (Full PS3 Game Downloads):
* Need for Speed The Run ($40)
Synopsis: It’s called The Run. Three-thousand miles of unforgiving asphalt from San Francisco to New York. No speed limits. No rules. No allies. Armed with just his guts and instinct, Jack battles a field of the most notorious drivers ever assembled. File size 9.1 GB
* Saints Row: The Third ($60)
Synopsis: Years after taking Stilwater for their own, the Third Street Saints have evolved from street gang to household brand name, with Saints sneakers, Saints energy drinks and Johnny Gat bobble head dolls all available at a store near you. File size 7.2 GB

New DLC:
* See Xbox Live Marketplace DLC or the link below.

See the rest via IGN.

NINTENDO DOWNLOADS (3DS, Wii, DSi)

The big releases this week are all-new translations of never-before localized classic Sega Genesis and Sega Arcade titles in the Monster Land series!

Wii Virtual Console:
* Monster World IV (Sega Genesis, 600 Wii Points)
Synopsis: For the first time outside of Japan, experience the final chapter in the classic Monster World series! The game is set many years after Shion’s adventures in Wonder Boy in Monster Land (also released on Wii Virtual Console today). As Asha, a young adventurer, set forth into Monster World and defeat evil alongside your amorphous pet Pepe and a magical Genie, in order to save the troubled Elemental Spirits!

* Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Arcade, 900 Wii Points)
Synopsis: The game is the sequel to the 1986′s Wonder Boy (also available on the Wii Virtual Console). The once beautiful kingdom has been thrown into chaos by a ferocious fire-breathing dragon and his monstrous henchmen, whose aim is to create their own Monster Land. Unable to defend themselves from the onslaught, the people cry out for a hero to save them! As Wonder Boy, set out on an incredible journey across different environments and dungeons, collect powerful weapons and spells, and rid the land of evil!

3DS eShop:
* Sudoku by Nikoli ($5)
Synopsis: “Sudoku by Nikoli” contains 50 sudoku puzzles. Sudoku is a puzzle in which you place numbers from 1 to 9 into a 9×9 grid, divided into horizontal and vertical lines and 3×3 blocks, filling up all of the spaces with the numbers. With everything from simple puzzles to super-difficult ones, this game is popular with a wide range of players, from beginners to veterans. To ensure your long-term enjoyment, we’ve prepared both a “Stage Clear” mode and a “Random” mode. In “Stage Clear” mode, you progress by clearing puzzles one by one, and in “Random” mode puzzles are generated at random.

DSiWare:
* Paul’s Shooting Adventure 2 (500 DSi Points)
Synopsis: Paul and his twin brother join forces to smash the Insectians in this explosive sequel. The player controls Paul and his brother, twins of a super hero family who were born with innate super powers. The two brothers have the ability to take flight and attack with powerful projectile energy. However, most importantly, they are both gifted with the ability to take the form and seize the weaponry from fallen enemies.

STEAM DOWNLOADS (PC, MAC)

New On Steampowered.com

* Port Royal 3 ($40; Action, Strategy, Simulation)
* Botanicula ($9; Indie, Adventure)
* Warlock: Master of the Arcane ($20; Strategy)
* Dynamite Jack ($4, Indie Action Adventure)
* Street Fighter X Tekken ($50, Fighting)
* Avernum 6 ($4; Indie RPG)
* Avernum 5 ($4; Indie, RPG)
* Avernum 4 ($4; Indie RPG)
* Offspring Fling ($6.39; Indie, Adventure)

GOG DOWNLOADS (PC)

New Modern and Retro PC titles on Gog.com

* Rollercoaster Tycoon 3: Platinum ($20)
Synopsis: The platinum edition includes two expansion packs: Soaked! and Wild!, each with its own set of scenarios, cool rides, and objects to place around your virtual theme park. Surprisingly deep and complex strategy game, yet very light hearted, colorful, and accessible. Endless construction possibilities. Build the rollercoaster of your dreams: you choose the route, configure the slopes, add loops, barrel rolls, and other thrilling elements. You can even ride your roller coaster along with your guests! Hundreds of types of rides, coasters, food stands, firework shows, decorations, and amenities.
Extras Included With the Game: 3 Manuals, Soundtrack, 2 Avatars

* Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 1 ($10)
Synopsis: Go Behind the Headlines into the real world of modern espionage. Diverse mission objectives achievable by different means for increased replay value. Highly interactive environments giving players more gameplay options and the ability suit their actions to their preferred gameplay style.
Extras Included With the Game: Manual, Reference Card

* Anomaly: Warzone Earth ($10)
Synopsis: Nominee for Best Strategy Game of the Year 2011 on Gamespot and on Game Informer! The first “Tower Offense” strategy game ever. It plays like a regular tower defense game, but this time you’re the attacker. Plenty of tactical possibilities for strategic minds: squad management, deployment planning, and constant cooperation between the troops and the Commander!
Extras Included With the Game: Wallpaper, Soundtrack, 4 Avatars, 5 Artworks

* Thief 3: Deadly Shadows ($10)
Synopsis: It falls in its predecessor’s footsteps, using light and sound to provide a one-of-a-kind stealth gaming experience. For the first time in the series, Garrett can freely roam the City. Explore dark alleys, overhear conversations, pickpocket guards, and even perform secondary missions which will influence player’s standing with in-game factions. New tools and moves added to Garrett’s repertoire: climbing gloves allow you to scale walls, and can also flatten yourself against the walls to hide.
Extras Included With the Game: Manual, 4 Wallpapers, Soundtrack, 8 Avatars, 66 Design Sketches

* Alan Wake ($15)
Synopsis: Includes Alan Wake Special Episodes “The Signal” and “The Writer”. INTENSE CINEMATIC ACTION – from Remedy, the masters of cinematic action, comes a 3rd person action game filled with overwhelming odds and desperate near escapes. RAZOR SHARP SUSPENSE – Gripping storytelling at its best, Alan Wake is like a tightly paced thriller TV series, offering endless twists and cliffhangers, and building up to an epic conclusion. LIGHT IS YOUR WEAPON – Light is your greatest weapon and only protection as darkness takes over everything and everyone, and turns them against you.
Extras Included With the Game: Manual, Wallpaper, 3 Making of Videos, 7 Writer In the Cabin Videos, 9 Night Springs Episodes, Alan Wake Files Book

* Quest For Glory 1-5 ($10)
Synopsis: Includes both: VGA and original version of Quest for Glory 1. Venture across five huge worlds, each based on a different culture and mythology, from Germanic fairy tales, through Arabian and Slavic folklore, right down to Greek mythology. Three starting character classes to choose from (fighter, magic user, and thief). This decision not only modifies the gameplay but also the story, providing for excellent replayability. You can transfer your character from one game to the next. The skills and wealth you worked for so hard are not lost!
Extras Included With the Game: 6 Manuals, Reference Card, 2 Maps, 3 Famous Explorers’ Correspondance Courses, Hero Journal

* Zeus + Poseidon (Acropolis) ($10)
Synopsis: One of the best city builder games out there, made by a team of experts in the genre: Impressions Games. Diplomacy, war, economy, and logistics – you must master all these arts to ensure your victory. 65 episodes in which you build and rule seven city-states and two powerful civilizations: Ancient Greece and Atlantis.
Extras Included With the Game: Manual, Adventure Editor Guide, Reference Card, 2 Avatars

ORIGIN DOWNLOADS (PC)

New Games On EA Origin.com: Nothing new from last week.

iOS APP STORE DOWNLOADS (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad)

New Games for the App Store for Apple Devices:
* N.O.V.A. 3: Near Orbital Vanguard Alliance ($7)
Synopsis: The most immersive and impressive sci-fi FPS franchise on smartphones is back! Fight for mankind’s survival in the greatest space shooter on mobile devices!Four months have passed since Kal ruined the Volterites’ plans by sabotaging their war factories, and stopping the extraction of the Judger Artifacts. However, following the assassination of President Folsom, the government surrendered the colonies to the Volterite Protectorate in order to prevent civil war between the increasingly pro-Volterite citizens. Kal Wardin has been laying low since Folsom’s death, nut now he has received a desperate plea from Yelena to come to Earth. Once again, the hero must rise to save mankind!

* LostWinds 2: Winter of the Melodias ($4)
Synopsis: Frontier is delighted to announce that the award-winning, enchanting ‘LostWinds’ adventure continues on iOS!Amazing new season-switching gameplay. Incredible new wind powers at the tips of your fingers. Beautiful visuals. Expansive new environments to explore. Charming new characters, and an absorbing storyline. Each element builds on the success of the first game to make Frontier’s ‘LostWinds2: Winter of the Melodias’ an unmissable experience on iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.As you journey through all-new expansive areas of Mistralis – using Enril the Wind Spirit’s amazing new abilities to power young Toku’s jumps and glides and thwart evil Balasar and his minions – you’ll experience realtime radiosity, dynamic lights, dynamic shadows and reflective & refractive ice shaders. These advanced graphical techniques realize the full potential of your Apple device and give the already gorgeous game even extra depth and added beauty.

* Luxor Evolved ($1)
Synopsis: In an all-new, completely revamped LUXOR Evolved, the chains are faster, the power-ups more awesome, the shooters more stealthy. In this retro-styled arcade shooter, you’ll experience a faster, more intense LUXOR, unlike any you’ve seen before.Harkening back to arcade classics, LUXOR Evolved is action packed with more bonuses and a quickened pace. The number one marble shooter game offers up excitement, secret levels, and bonus levels to keep the surprises coming and your shooter firing.

* Battleship The Video Game (Based on the film) (Free)
Synopsis: UTHENTIC! EXPLOSIVE! AND FREE! The classic game, but inspired by the BATTLESHIP movie, play as the Human navy or mysterious Alien forces. Sink every enemy ship – the fate of the world is at your fingertips! BATTLESHIP FREE… It’s a hit!

* Wolfenstein 3D Classic (Free)
Synopsis: Play the legendary original game that launched the First Person Shooter genre. You are OSA super agent B.J. Blazkowicz and you must escape from Castle Wolfenstein and defeat the twisted Nazi regime! Includes all six original episodes with 60 classic levels and unforgettable weapons, like the brutal chain gun, that still define action gaming today.Wolfenstein 3D Classic is non-stop action and all of the memorable enemies are there for you to conquer from Hans Grosse to MechaHitler!Search levels for hidden secrets that reveal stolen Nazi treasure, health packs, ammo and weapons or even short cuts. Use the new topdown map to see where you have already explored. Wolfenstein 3D Classic makes use of an all new control system designed for the iPhone by technical visionary and id Software founder, John Carmack. Choose clever new touch controls or drive with the tilt controls to halt the diabolical Nazi schemes.

Other iOS Releases Include:
* Punch Hero – Free
* Casino by Zeziz – Free
* Red Bull X-Fighters 2012 – $1
* Acme Planetary Defense – $1
* ChickenBreak – $1
* Monster Shooter: The Lost Levels – $1
* Penny Time – $1
* Pinch Peeps – $1
* This Could Hurt – $1
* FastBall 3 – $2
* Jake Escapes – $3
* Exponential Invasion – $3

ANDROID GOOGLE PLAY DOWNLOADS (Mobile) (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad)

* Zombro (Free)
Synopsis: Embark on a brainy and fun trip across the United States with Zombro! Zombro is a puzzle game with a simple goal: Detach Zombro’s basic elements (torso, legs, and braiiiiiinnz) to jump, dodge, and roll while making sure he finishes each level in one piece! 50 Puzzles. Solve mind bending puzzles, while detaching Zombro in three pieces! Outfit Zombro in cool gear. Even customize his brain! Choose from over 30 cool items in the store. Play offline! No internet connection needed except when making purchases.

* JAZZ: Trump’s Journey (Free)
Synopsis: “My name is Trump and I’m a jazz man, and this is my story.” Immerse yourself in the memories of Trump, in his dreams as a young, star-struck jazz musician, in love with the lovely Lady Poppy. Presenting a daring parallel with the real story of Louis Armstrong, relive Trump’s life, his quest to form a group, his love affair and battle against injustice in the New Orleans of the early 20th century. Let inspiration guide you through this fascinating platform game. Move around New Orleans depicted using stylish graphics. Follow young Trump’s moving story and be part of the birth of jazz. Discover the jazzy band sound specially composed by jazz musicians. Use your trumpet to stop time. Face every kind of danger: boss, moving platforms, detectives, spikes, etc. Facebook/Twitter Support.

* Ricky Carmichael’s Motorcross ($1)
Synopsis: So you think you have what it takes to ride with the big boys? Well, here is your chance to step up and prove it! Try to own your friends and rivals in this newest installment from the team that brought you the hits 2XL Supercross, 2XL MX Offroad, X Games Snocross and XLR8. Ricky Carmichael Motocross Matchup Pro is an all-new racing game where it’s just you against online competitors from around the globe! This includes the chance to bang bars with some the of best in the business, including Ricky Carmichael himself! Play Matchup mode and go head-to-head on both indoor (based on the real 2011 Supercross track layouts) and outdoor nationals tracks, including Ricky’s very own backyard. Collect in-game prizes that you can use to upgrade your ride and give you the edge to beat the competition! Earn in-game currency for free while racing. Currency can also be purchased to speed up your bike and rider progression! Choose from a wide selection of avatars! Pick a rider outfitted in all of the latest Fox gear riding official Suzuki racing bikes to special characters on their own personalized machines. Key Features: Gesture based stunt system. Full achievement system and leaderboards. 5 indoor and 5 outdoor tracks to master. Track layouts based on the 2011 Supercross season. 2 modes of play: Practice and Online Multiplayer Matchup. Select your appearance from a huge selections of bikes and riders. Special characters you can purchase and race with. Multiple camera views including first person with handle bars. Select from multiple preset control schemes. Responsive tilt steering interface. Level up to upgrade your bike and rider

* SAS: Zombie Assault 3 (Free)
Synopsis: Elite SAS operatives handle the darkest missions, the worst hot zones – things we are not meant to know. Inserted without backup, either alone or as a 4 person squad, you will be sought by the walking dead, by hordes of unspeakable numbers. Your only option – paint the ground with every last one of them. From the creators of Bloons TD4 the best action shooter on iOS now came to Android! Rank up 40 times and unlock awesome weapons and perks with every rank. Dozens of guns and special weapons, 5 unique maps, and hundreds of zombies on screen at a time. And that’s just single player! Play co-op multiplayer at any time with super-easy matchmaking geared to your level. Huge fun to jump into a game at the same time with friends, and doesn’t matter what device you have – Android and iOS users can seamlessly play together. Based on the ground-breaking flash game by Ninja Kiwi, but completely rebuilt and optimized for Android, SAS 3 has been battle hardened by millions of plays and undergone extensive tuning and balancing to create the best action shooter available on the Play Market! Killer Features: Intense zombie-blasting action shooter gameplay! Eviscerate the zombie hordes in single player or in 4 player co-op multiplayer. 40 Ranks to unlock, each granting access to a new weapon or perk. 37 devastating weapons like Auto Shotguns, Browning Machine Guns, Flamethrowers, and RPGs. 2 Sentry gun classes and 3 grenade types for serious room clearing. 5 challenging maps, each with very different hazards and kill zones. 9 relentless zombie types, with graphics that support hundreds on screen. Multiplayer play from any connected Android device – play anywhere in the world, whether on Andrid or iOS device.

* Ninja Chicken Ooga Booga (Free)
Synopsis: The Ninja Chicken is back again! Still on a mission to be the best ninja ever, our funky-chicken-who-thinks-he-is-a-ninja has broken free from the farm and into the wilderness! Check out what this chicken is up to and get into the jungly Ooga Booga mood!!! This time around he will be facing new adventures in the rough jungle. But look out – his old nemesis a.k.a The Evil Dog didn’t stay in the farm either. Help our poor chicken dodge vicious tribal dogs, tangling trees, dangerous spears and special teleporting stones! Enjoy 24 levels of fun and excitement and discover the cool surprises at the end of the levels… just waiting for you! Check it out! You won’t be able to put this game down! Highlights: 24 levels and more to come. A cool mini game at the end of each level. NEW and funky Ooga Booga music. Challenging NEW .

* Destiny Defense: Angel or Devil (Free)
Synopsis: Feel the Essence of Defense!! Get the hottest defense game for absolutely FREE. Experience the full-game for free without limit now. Finally, Free-to-play version is released on May 2! Finally, the most POWERFUL and BRUTAL war begins on the Google play! The world’s hottest defense game, Destiny Defense: Angel or Devil comes on! More than half a million users enjoyed the essence of defense game with Destiny Defense: Angel or Devil. Destiny Defense: Angel or Devil is the addictive ACTION-STRATEGY DEFENSE GAME with a variety of attack systems and 2 unique storylines. By choosing each side, Angel or Devil, you will be able to feel double thrill and fun as you go through different game plays. 2 unique and intricate storylines with commanders and defenders: Highly Advanced “Devil Mode” is unlocked after winning game “Angel Mode” creating a new opportunity for game play. Features: 10 levels across impressive 3 chapters: The lava zone, The soul forest, and The sky garden. The Commander and Unit System: Control a flying commander of your unit with special skills SPECIALIZED ONLY FOR HIM with fleeting joystick. A wide range of classes to summon including archers, priests, swordsmen and more!! Fully upgradeable units through the game unlock additional hero characters. Fast and Dynamic game play.

* Zombie Granny (Free)
Synopsis: In this crazy zombie killer game, you control the objects in the environment to solve the puzzle and destroy all the zombies as fast and as efficiently as possible. Travel through exciting different worlds in your quest to exterminate the walking dead, polishing your skills and collecting all the hidden puzzle pieces to set the best hi-score. Think through the puzzle then use your fingers to cut the ropes and break the chains with just the right timing. Watch closely as your actions put the scene and fireballs in motion. If done just right, you will BBQ those zombies and watch them all turn into black ash! You can also create passages by destroying obstacles and bring the action to life with the help of exploding boxes and shooting cannons. Zombie Granny also includes an easy-to-use Level Editor that is unlocked once you have gone through the “Pirate Ship” and “Police Station” levels, allowing players to create their own original puzzles. Use your mind and your fingers to fight your way through an army of the undead and annihilate them all to get to your main target – The Zombie Granny! Are you ready for the challenge? Features: 3 different worlds to conquer: Stonehenge, Pirate Ship and Police Station. 45 tricky and challenging puzzle levels to solve (15 per world). More than 100 zombies to kill and incinerate. 3 strong and clever bosses to defeat. Tons of weapons to use: colored fireballs, bombs, boxes, etc. Lots of tricky devices to maneuver: levers, springs, platforms, etc. Cool graphics and atmospheric music. Arcade elements with fun, ghoulish characters. Easy-to-use level editor (available only after you have gone through Pirate Ship and Police Station levels – $1.99 for both)

IMPULSE DOWNLOADS (PC)

New Downloadable Games From GameStop and Stardock’s Impulse Digital Service at http://www.impulsedriven.com:
* Street Fighter X Tekken ($50)
Synopsis: Will You Cross the Line? The long awaited dream match-up between the two titans of fighting is here! Street Fighter X Tekken is the ultimate tag team fighting game, featuring one of the most expansive rosters of iconic fighters in fighting game history. The critically acclaimed Street Fighter IV game engine has been refined with new features including simultaneous 4-player fighting, a power-up Gem system, Pandora Mode, Cross Assault and more. Street Fighter and Tekken players alike will cross the line in this revolutionary battle!

* Nexuiz ($10)
Synopsis: For centuries the Kavussari and the Forsellians have waged war. They have a fragile truce but due to their seething disgust of each other they still pit their warriors against each other in arenas rather than on the fields of war. Those episodes of lethal combat are now broadcast throughout the galaxy, as entertainment… a spectacle known as… The Nexuiz Competition: An arena based first person shooter where you can alter the rules of the match and laws of physics while you dominate opponents in ever-changing hostile environments bleeding with hatred. Features: Arena FPS is back – inspired by the giants of the Arena FPS genre, Nexuiz reinvents twitch gaming for next generation consoles and PC. Over 100 ‘Dynamic Mutators’ serve as game-changing power-ups – Jetpacks, Uber-Nuke, Low Gravity, Big Head Mode and many more… 9 deadly arenas – powered by CryENGINE 3, Nexuiz sets a new graphical benchmark for a digital-only release. Designed for competitive play – a superbly balanced weapon set, classic game modes, and extensive stat tracking, Medals and Leaderboard support. Play solo or online – hone your skills against bots, then wage war online against the best in 4v4 multiplayer matches

* Red Orchestra 2 – Heroes of Stalingrad ($40)
Synopsis: Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad, the leading tactical multiplayer WWII shooter on the PC, will take the award winning Red Orchestra franchise into the next generation of gaming. Cutting edge graphics and audio built using the Unreal Engine 3, inventive features and streamlined realism will deliver an unrivaled tactical shooter experience. Heroes of Stalingrad will focus on the Battle of Stalingrad and the surrounding operations, both German and Russian, from July 1942 to February 1943. The game allows the player to experience one of the most brutal battles in all of human history. Delivering unrivaled accuracy and attention to detail, along with gritty, vicious combat in multiplayer and single-player modes the game will feature everything from quick, brutal firefights to more intricate and challenging tactical modes. Features: Red Orchestra multiplayer taken to new heights: The brutal, gritty Red Orchestra gameplay has been enhanced, expanded and made more accessible. Gameplay modes as instantly recognizable as Firefight (Tripwire’s take on Team Death Match), single-life gaming redefined in Countdown mode – and the Territory mode already beloved by the hundreds of thousands of Red Orchestra players worldwide. Stalingrad Campaign: Before heading online hone your skills in one of two campaigns that recreate the battle for Stalingrad from both the German and Russian sides. Featuring open non-linear environments and unscripted gameplay players make their own path through the battlefield. Heroes: Achieve the ultimate goal and become a Hero online. Players with hero status inspire troops around them and cause fear in their enemies. Heroes have access to the best and rarest weapons and will stand out visually from the rest of the soldiers. First person cover system: Experience the ultimate firefights that a cover system allows, from the immersion of a first person view. Peek or blind fire over and around cover and more. Unique Focus – the Battle of Stalingrad in depth: Takes the familiar WWII genre into a unique direction. Far removed from the well-trodden Normandy setting, gameplay is based on fresh scenarios and actions the player has never experienced before. Follow the German army as they assault the city of Stalingrad, to the banks of the Volga. Follow the Soviet army as it holds the city against all the odds then destroys the Axis forces. WWII weaponry redefined: true to life ballistics, bullet penetration, breathing, adjustable sights, free aim, weapon bracing, photo-real graphics and more, create WWII weaponry that has no equal. Immersive First Person Tank Warfare: Experience what it was like to fight inside one of these metal beasts in WWII with the most immersive first person tank warfare ever created. Fully modeled 3d interiors, a full AI crew, and advanced armor and damage systems create a unique tanking experience. Morale: Experience what it is like to be a soldier in one of the bloodiest conflicts in history and the importance of a soldier’s state of mind and how it can turn the tide of battle. Suppress your enemies and gain the advantage in combat! Persistent Stats Tracking and Player Progression: Persistence constantly gives the gamer something to strive for and keeps them playing. Grow in rank, earn achievements, improve your abilities, and become a Hero! Enhanced Unreal Engine 3: Built on an enhanced version of Unreal Engine 3 the game features cutting edge visuals and features.

ONLIVE DOWNLOADS (PC, Mac, Android, iOS, TV Set)

All-new games for the OnLive Console and Service: (Play them on your TV with a console & subscription, or via PC or Mobile with the OnLive Client!)
* Wargame: European Escalation ($40
Synopsis: Wargame: European Escalation is an intense and spectacular Real Time Strategy game, where realism and strategy are brought to the front lines. With a phenomenal range of vehicles and units (over 350 different models), build your army and enter a huge military campaign across Europe of the 80′s, as the Cold War is about to become World War 3. With the powerful IRISZOOM, Wargame offers breathtaking graphics and battles as spectacular as they are strategic. Prepare to bring hundreds of units of all kinds–tanks, helicopters, squad Infantry, etc.–under your command in intense battles on gigantic maps stretching up to 60 square miles!

Online service EugenNet provides a full multiplayer experience with creation of clans, organizing games, and world rankings where up to 8 players can compete simultaneously in massive battles involving hundreds of units!

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Trailer and description from youtube:

“Botanicula is point’n'click exploration game created by Jaromír Plachý and Amanita Design studio. http://botanicula.net/“

I wrote 5000 words on Ancient Japanese Demon Vampires And The Women Who Love Them – Let’s Play Hakuoki! over on Broken Forum. I played through all of Chapter 4 and wrote it up in a single day, which was a lot of writing but also a lot of fun. Highlights include cutting that guy, screaming in anger at the PSP, and furthermore, cutting that guy. I’ve now uploaded enough screenshots to Imageshack that I had to get a premium account. Oooooh, six dollars…

Giant Bomb posted their Quick Look of Botanicula. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard at one of their Quick Looks while also desperately wanting to play this game. You can hear Vinny’s status as a new father in his voice in how he narrates this one. I don’t so much want to play Botanicula so much as I want to watch Vinny and Patrick play Botanicula.

Music of the week: Botanicula and Sword and Sworcery. I think I spent about $10 total on these albums, and they’re both brilliant. Botanicula reminds me of Rayman Origins in the music (Patrick beat me to that comparison), and S&S thus far is making me think a little bit of Big Giant Circles.

The NFL Draft happened this weekend, and I have mixed opinions on my two teams. The Redskins picked up their QB of the future in Robert Griffin III, and then decided to get him a caddy in Kirk Cousins in the fourth round for some reason. As for Kansas City picking 350-pound DT Dontari Poe, I’ll let Mike Tanier of the New York Times take that one.

The Guild Wars 2 pre-order beta weekend happened. I plan on writing about that later, but the short version is OH MY GOD THIS GAME IS GREAT. Hakuoki should have stern competition for my Game of the Year for 2012.

(I really do not want my 2012 GOTY to be a dating game.)

You take on the role of 5 little critters that are trying to save a tree from these creepy spider looking things that keep sucking the life force out of it and terrorizing the trees inhabitants at the same time. It’s a quirky storyline that is universal to any and everyone as there is no text or character descriptions, voices etc. The creatures speak gibberish and communicate through thought bubbles portraying images and symbols of what they are saying…and even then, thought bubbles are rare.

As for the gameplay, Botanicula is a point ‘n’ click adventure…of sorts. It relies less on traditional point and click logic and relies instead on using the environment and the creatures that dwell there to proceed. Certain areas of the tree you don’t always have access to at first. There’s no ‘dying’ and re-spawning until you get the hint you aren’t supposed to access that area yet, but instead creatures that scare the 5 friends off, causing them to scurry in another direction. It’s filled with puzzles and problem solving scenarios, that range from finding items to unlock certain areas, to clicking various creatures several times over, causing them to move or make sounds that will activate another sequence.

Playing as 5 characters instead of 1…actually isn’t as confusing as it would seem. The critters scurry along with one another…so when one moves, they all move. Another thing I like about the gameplay is that you don’t have to move your character(s) to an exact spot. For the most part, they all stay in a little huddle in one spot, and you click on various aspects of the environment to manipulate your surroundings into getting what you want/need (whether it’s an item to trade, a key, or a lost critter you’re helping to find). At times, certain scenarios allow you to click any of the 5 creatures to attempt to complete a task, with only 1 being actually able to do it successfully. It’s a process of trial and error… or logic if you want to call it that, but sometimes the critter that solves it, does so by a completely random, non sensical body movement… so logic isn’t always the case.

The overall game length… well I have yet to finish… but I think I may be coming to the end. If it’s anything like machinarium, once you know exactly what to do and where to go, you could probably finish the game quite quickly. But for a first time playing experience, the majority of gameplay is just exploring the different branches and areas of the tree and trying to figure out where to go and what to do next. There is also quite a bit of back tracking throughout the game, as different things may appear in a place where they previously were not.

My verdict? I am very much enjoying this game, and I highly recommend it! The look, is fantastic! The artwork is quirky, cute, fascinating, and aesthetically wonderful! A visual masterpiece! And the story, is imaginative and addictive.

The Humble Bundle package is only available for 3 more days on humblebundle.com… after that, you’ll still be able to purchase Botanicula… but only on its own with no extra goodies!

So whether your buying Botanicula in the bundle or purchasing it solo… don’t miss out on this highly addictive adventure. Just make sure to keep an eye on the clock, as I bumped my bed time back an hour or so last night when I lost track of the time playing this wonderful little adventure!

Accordingly, I often struggle to find games on the market that appeal to me and keep my interest. That said, when I do happen to stumble across one, I get REALLY obsessive about it and involved. Past ‘victims’ of this have been Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts 2 and World of Warcraft.

Based on the beautiful graphics alone, I went and bought Botanicula on the day of release, and I’ve not looked back since to be honest!

Although it is pretty simple to play (you just point-and-click and go from screen to screen investigating all parts of each screen with the intention of collecting objects/getting from a-to-b), its beautiful graphics, cute story and awesomesauce soundtrack are exactly what sell the game to most people who buy it! Currently, it’s available on many platforms (PC, Mac, Linux etc), with an iOS version rumoured shortly.

Along the way you get to meet so many cute creatures, and it’s great to play a game that caters for and feeds my oft wacky and vivid imagination! There are not ten minutes of play time go by without me either screaming out in delight or going ‘awwwwwwwww’! hehe.

You can currently (until around Thurs 3 May 2012) pick up this game as part of a Humble Bundle – essentially, you can pay what you like for the game, and they throw in a couple of other games too, along with respective soundtracks, including the one for Botanicula. If you spend more than the average that people have paid, then you get a few additional extras too. Rather than buy this game on an AppStore or similar for a fixed amount, I very strongly recommend going the Humble Bundle route, as you can also specify which party gets which amount of the money that you pay – rather than the developer losing out completely to fixed/high market place selling fees!

http://www.humblebundle.com/

I graduated university 2 years ago with a Bachelor in Fine Arts for Drawing & Painting.  Because the school I attended was strictly for Art & design, it offered a lot of interesting electives, one of them being a class about Video Games. So naturally, how could I not take this course. Now before I get ahead of myself… I am not a gamer. I enjoy games… but I’m not very good. Sometimes I just like to watch my boyfriend play and assist by offering methods for problem solving… such as where to go next in Prince of Persia. And sometimes… I just get caught up in watching the cut away scenes… that are more often than not pretty epic and movie quality because games these days are becoming insane in the amount of detail and realism but into the animation. But this is a whole other topic.

So back to my Video Game class. No, we didn’t just sit around and play video games all the time… well we did sometimes… but not all the time. But my teacher did show us a lot of great independent games. One of my favourites that I immediately went home and downloaded was called Machinarium by Amanita Design.

Machinarium is Amanita Design’s first full-length adventure game in which players take on the role of a robot who has been exiled to the scrap heap. Players must use logic, collect important items, and solve environmental puzzles to get the robot back into the city of Machinarium so he can rescue his robot-girlfriend, save the head of the city, and defeat the bad guys from the Black Cap Brotherhood.

Not long after learning about this game, and then falling in love with it, I tried demos of the other games Amanita offered on their site. All were fun, but none of them quite entertained me as much as Machinarium. Until this year, when I saw the preview for Amanita’s newest game Botanicula.

Botanicula is point’n'click exploration game created by Jára Plachý and Amanita Design. It’s about a bunch of five friends – little tree creatures who set out for a journey to save the last seed from their home tree which is infested by evil parasites. I think it was the art that first hooked me… but ever since I saw the game preview I knew I wanted to play it.

The game was set to be released in early 2012… so every couple of weeks, sometimes once a month, I would visit theBotanicula site waiting for the announcement that I could finally download the game. To my surprise, this week when I visited the site, lo and behold a ‘buy’ button was on the site. And boy was I stoked! Yes, you have to purchase the game, but it’s for PC so it’s not expensive.

But to my surprise, when I clicked the button to purchase the game, I was directed to humblebundle.com where I could not only purchase Botanicula, but a special bundle that also featured other Amanita games such as Machinarium and Samrost 2. The bundle also includes additional downloadable content if you pay more than the minimum. What? the minimum? you ask?

That’s right. At Humble Bundle you can purchase what is called ‘The Humbe Botanicula Debut’ featuring the games I mentioned above for… well you name the price!

Options are given to pay $15, $25, $50, $100 or a ‘custom’ amount. You choose. If you bought everything in the bundle separately it would cost $68 but for a limited amount of time… the cost is simply what you want to pay.

Now I’m sure since the average payment for the download is currently only $8.84, that there are probably a lot of people out there taking advantage of this offering and paying whatever the absolute minimum you can pay is… which personally I think is a bit disgraceful.

The purpose of this offer is to raise money for World Land Trust, and whatever contribution you choose to essentially donate to purchasing this bundle you can completely customize who gets the money; whether you want the majority to go to the Developers, World Land Trust or Humble Tip, you get to decide where your money goes.

This is a great offer, available for Windows, Mac & Linux that I highly recommend you all check out! But hurry, the offer ends in 5 days!

I just finished downloading Botanicula… so I can’t give any insight to how great the game is as of yet, but if its anything like Machinarium I think it will be awesome!

Get your bundle now at Humblebundle.com. (and please don’t just pay the absolute minimum… think about all the time and effort that went in to creating such an awesome looking game, and give it at least a reasonable contribution. Because it deserves it!)

Seriously?! I absolutely love Amanita Design. They are definitely hitting it out of the park with their Humble Bundle efforts. The bundle, if you didn’t already know, contains their newly released and amazingly beautiful environmental game, Botanicula, as well as past games Machinarium and Samorost 2. In addition, they offer Vectorpark’s Windosill and Biograf’s cute movie, Kooky. But let’s not stop there. In addition to all these wonderful features, the great Amanita Design has added all these spectacular goodies: Botanicula art book & map collection, a Kooky bonus pack featuring behind-the-scenes photographs & concept art film, the independent album Zorya from Machinarium soundtrack artist Floex (a.k.a. Tomáš Dvořák), and the independent album HU from Botanicula soundtrack artist DVA.

In addition, you may stream Biograf’s Kooky straight from Redux video service. Just wow, what loyalty Amanita Design has to their customers! Hop on over to Humble Bundle’s website to pick up this excellent bundle (if you don’t well you’re crazy) and support this amazing company!

Check out my post about the launch of Humble Botanicula Bundle here for more information.

To be honest, I’m pretty proud of myself. Over the course of two days, I said “no” to two entirely different videogame-based bundles. Packages that are light on price and heavy on material. Deals that truly should not be missed out on, some might even say. But I just can’t anymore. I have barely touched games for bundles I bought last year. So, no more…for now. But let’s take a look at what I am not adding to my backlog, and whether that’s a good or bad thing.

First, there was the Spring Bundle from Indie Royale. In this package, you can get the following: Unstoppable Gorg, Depths of Peril, Tobe’s Vertical Adventure, Inferno+, Slydris, and Ballistic. If you beat the minimal price, you also get some chiptune soundtracks. Upon initially reviewing what was being offered, I only recognized one game–Unstoppable Gorg–and that’s because Giant Bomb did a Quick Look of it. The majority looked uninteresting to me, with only Depths of Peril seeming appealing with its single player RPG elements. And that basically meant I’d be paying whatever price I chose for one game, as I might never touch anything else in this pocket. Not a complete waste of money, but a complete waste of my headspace and computer space, and so I am passing. No big loss. If, ultimately, I really do want to try out Depths of Peril, it’s available on Steam.

Then, the very next day, Humble Indie Bundle busts out a new collection for whatever you want to pay: the Humble Botanicula Debut. It’s tagline is “Pay what you want for Botanicula and save the rainforest,” which makes this extra hard to turn down. Way to heap on the guilt there. I actually fear that I’m going to go against myself before the weekend is over and snag a cheap copy, but for now, for the moment, I am saying no. I generally rush to buy these bundles, and Botanicula looks absolutely fantastic. The hurdle? This bundle holds four games (and a movie), and I already own Machinarium and Samorost 2, and am not interested at all in Windosill as there are enough puzzles in my life currently. So again, I’d be paying whatever I want for one game–granted, Botanicula is looking good, and I do like my unique adventure games as of late. But still, it just doesn’t seem necessary to do so right now.

Also, coming soon…Bundle in a Box. Which has just been confirmed as an “adventure game” bundle. And depending on who is involved and what the games look like, I might struggle with saying no. Though I am definitely saying it now, when it’s easy to do so.

I’m working on a big blog post. It’s a work in progress, truly. I am gathering up all the videogames currently in my collection that I’ve not yet played. It’s pretty scary, seeing the amount. I guess, at some point in the last few years, I became more of a collector than a player. That does make sense when you realize that I’m no longer carefree and 17. I am 28, married, with a job and a comics-related dream. I play when I can, but it’s never enough. Especially when it’s a session of Skyrim and three hours have gone by and all I’ve done is cleared a cave or two and sold some loot. Hopefully I’ll get that post wrapped up soon before I accidentally (or masochistically) acquire further titles.

But right now, I really don’t need more games. I have plenty still to do in the games I already got. I have assassinations and vehicles to acquire in Saints Row: The Third. I need to get married and put an end to the Civil War in Skyrim. I still need to link all the connections in episode two of Hector: Badge of Carnage. I need five or six more cubes to open that “32 cubes only” door in Fez. I have a laundry list of fetch quests for Professor Layton’s London Life. I have to, uh, stop the bandits and mutants in Rage. I have work, and I really do need to work at whittling this voluminous list down. Wish me luck and give me strength as I say “no” to more and “yes” to what I already got under my wings.

Created by Czech Republic indie company Amanita Design these games are fantastic, whimsical, and will charm their way into your hearts with their simplistic, engaging, and emotionally heartwarming gameplay. The glorious thing about it all, is that you pay what YOU want for the Bundle – and your donations go to a wonderful cause – we’ve been through this routine before with past Humble Bundles if you’ve followed my blog. I’m telling you now they’re wonderful money-saving, cause caring little bundles and you should really check them out.

In the Humble Botanicula Debut you’ll receive the following:

1. Botanicula
2. Machinarium
3. Samorost 2
4. Kooky – An indie movie by Amanita Design
5. Windosill - if you pay over the average donation – which is 8.77 as of now

So, now to try and examine each one, in short, to prove you get your money’s worth.

Botanicula:

In the newest release from Amanita Design, you play as a quirky little gang of misfit  tree creatures [ one looks like a stick, the other an acorn or seed, one looks like a fruit, etc. ] and you must guide them about this fantastically artistic world to save their forest homeland from spider invaders. Does this sound fun yet? – well it should! The game has a sense of whimsical charm I haven’t seen in ages, and it’s point and click storybook humor and gameplay make it not only simple, but a game that can be enjoyed by players of all age groups.

One small step for seeds - one giant leap for a forest.

I really have nothing bad to say about this game, because it doesn’t have dialogue from what I’ve experienced, and if it’s anything like most Amanita Design games, they’ve taken into account deaf players and either added no necessity for sound, or some sort of written or picture instruction [ in Machinarium, they used picture instructions so I'm leaning on the same vein. ] The colors are vivid and the animations are child-like and gorgeous. The mechanics are easy enough via point and click mechanics – so if you’ve got a mouse, even those with limited mobility will be able to play this game.

We're your friends! We're your friends! We're your friends till the bitter end!

The color scheme is the only thing that scares me, not being color blind I don’t know how this will affect colorblind gamers, but there’s quite a few spots where I felt that the colors of the background and items tended to have similar color tones, and that may cause some issues, but the characters and backgrounds I feel are vivid enough to counteract that. If any color-blind gamer gives this game a shot, let me know your personal opinion. I would love to hear it from a person who’s had first hand experience. Overall though, the game is charming and can be played by practically anyone – I totally endorse it as a must see game.

Machinarium:

Some of you have probably already heard of my ringing endorsement of Machinarium, but in case you haven’t, please check out my post on Point and Click Adventures.

Samorost 2:

If there ever was a game that I could honestly say had an almost Salvador Dali feel to it then it would have to be Samorost, but it’s sequel brethren Samorost 2 is no different. Now in Samorost 2 you play as a little man who’s dog has been kidnapped by alien invaders. They’ve taken your dog and now you must fly off to go on a grand quest to save him and find a way to return home. This basic and charming premise leads to one of the most heartwarming and light-hearted stories I’ve seen in ages.

Excuse me, but umm - have you seen a dog about Mr. Aardvark?

Now the games difficulty can become a bit tedious, as this point and click adventure game doesn’t hold your hand. You’re not told what does what, and you’re not told what items you can click on – so you’re sort of shooting in the dark, but I think that’s the joy of point and click adventure games. It’s a puzzle from the moment you walk into an environment. The game really has no dialogue, except for some sounds here and there, and so it can be played rather well by deaf gamers. The game is, once again, for all ages too. It provides a whimsical and exhilarating change of pace from the stereotypical game culture of FPS’s and MMO’s that we have floating around today.

Oh Wise Big Head! Me and my pup want to go home!

The color schemes are great, vibrant colors with distinct tones to separate one object from the other without being too offensive to the eyes. Samorost 2 is truly a treat, and I suggest anyone who loves any of these games today to seriously check it out. If you’re unsure still and you want to give the game a whirl you can try out the demo – or try out the full version of it’s predecessor Samorost. It’ll truly be a surrealist gaming experience that I feel you’ll cherish in your heart for a while.

Kooky:

Now Kooky isn’t even a game, but rather, it breaks from the traditional design medium of Amanita Design by being a MOVIE. This movie has everything going for it, and while at first I was skeptical of having an indie game company design and produce an indie film, I was proven wrong with my foot in my mouth when I watched the trailer. If you personally loved the movie “Where The Wild Things Are” or have ever watched any Muppet/puppet based movie – you’ll probably love Kooky.

A picture of the Kooky puppets from a museum exhibit

Kooky is a tale about a little teddy bear who gets lost from his owner, and must travel across a forest in search of him. This basic principle has been done before, by many successful franchises [ in fact I'm pretty sure Winnie The Pooh was made off the idea of adventuring to find Christopher Robin ] but my point is this – this movie will captivate you. The movie is captivating, in my eyes, because of the use of materials and the use of Czech actors actually portraying the English speaking roles. The accents portrayed give a wonderful tone to the movie, and the puppets are gritty, odd, and out-of-this-world unique.

You can see Kooky in all of it’s glory in both the Czech/English Dub, or you can watch it in Czech with English subtitles – and to think you can get this ALL of these for less than 10 dollars? I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the whole thing, and you should too. Here’s the trailer to show you how amazing of an experience you’re bound to have:

[ Yes, that's Jeremy Irons being Narrator ^_^  If that doesn't sell you... ]

Windosill:

If you’re looking for a completely bonkers, unusually artsy experience well then look no further than Patrick Smith of Vector Park and his odd-ball game of Windosill. The game look like it came out of a child’s nursery, if it was the nursery of a famous artist of course. My point is this game will be odd, I’m certain of it – but after playing the demo I’m completely intrigued. There are a couple of issues I have with the game that limit it’s accessibility, but overall it’s grand.

Well, this is a look into a person's closet...

The first would be the color tones. I’m in love with the artwork that Smith has portrayed, but the rooms often carry very similar color tones, and for color blind gamers that can make differentiating items difficult to determine. The other is that, because there is no instruction what so ever you’re tossed in blindly to finding out how to access new areas – what items do, etc. It’s a very odd game to say the least, but it’s a beautiful game and if you’re looking for something oddball to pass the time I’d definitely say you should be glad to pick this up.

So there you have it folks! Four fantastically artistic indie games that are both simple to play and beautiful to look at, and one intriguing childhood whimsical film that I’m exceptionally excited about. You can grab all of these for less than 10 dollars currently and you’re donations are not going to waste either. You’ll be aiding the World Land Trust, an organization that works to promote conservation of our world’s natural rain forests. So please, if you’re in a gaming mood and in a giving mood – I suggest stopping over and checking out the Humble “Botanicula” Bundle.

You’ll be glad you did. The Bundle is going to be running for 13 more days so get your button clicking fingers ready and pay what you want for a fantastic good time!

That’s right! Humble Bundle and Amanita Design created a bundle with their newest debuting game and two award-winning games from a couple years back. Yes, Humble Bundle indeed made a spectacular bundle with what, yeah that’s right, a newly released game. The bundle features Botanicula, of course, and Amanita Design’s Machinarium and Samorost 2 (you may play Samorost 1 on the developer’s site). In addition, if you pay more than around $8.75 at the moment, you’ll also receive Biograf‘s Kooky, a full-length feature film with art direction by Amanita Design’s own founder Jakub Dvorský, and Windosill, another point and click game by Vectorpark.

I am completely thrilled about this bundle. I absolutely love Amanita Design’s games and thoroughly recommend them. I even found out about this bundle while I was on the train and instantly paid $10 to receive my Humble Bundle link; however I’m totally sure I’ll dedicate more money to this wonderful project. I was on the edge about pre-ordering Botanicula, since I have already dedicated a chunk of money to other games releasing within the next month. Although to those who did spend $8.99 on GOG and Gamersgate to pre-purchase the game, Amanita Design thoroughly apologized on the timing and has gracefully included bonuses with your purchase of Botanicula.

“‘There was definitely no intention to rob anyone or anything like that,’ explains Dvorský, apologetic about the response. Everyone who pre-ordered on GOG.com and GamersGate, he tells us, will receive the full soundtrack, art book and Machinarium tomorrow, ‘as an apology’” (Rock, Paper Shotgun). Also those who pre-ordered from GOG will additionally receive a free copy of their critically acclaimed game and first game of the their recently re-launched game, The Witcher: Enhanced Director’s Cut Edition.

Also even with the mix up, GOG graciously donated $300 to Humble Botanicula Debut.

The charity associated with this bundle is the fitting World Land Trust, in honor of the debut of Botanicula and Amanita Design’s devotion of natural worlds in their game. The World Land Trust is an organization that helps to protect rainforests and other wildlife habitats worldwide.

I hope most people pay at least $10 for this wonderful bundle. You’re receiving four extremely, gorgeously designed games plus a film and soundtracks (that is if you pay more than the average) in this bundle that most certainly deserves more than a scumbag move of just paying one cent. As always the bundle is cross-platform and DRM-free so you’ll be able to play on Windows, Mac, and Linux. In addition, if you pay more than $5, you’ll receive redeemable Steam keys; however if you low-ball below that, then you’ll just be receiving Botanicula, Machinarium, and Samorost 2 with their respective soundtracks. Check out this impressive bundle here and Humble Botanicula Debut’s trailer is below along with the trailer for Kooky. In addition, I’ve gone ahead and linked their Steam page as well.

Botanicula (redeemable on Steam, though can’t connect to a Steam page yet) UPDATE: Steam page just released here.

Samorost 2

Machinarium

Windosill

Humble Botanicula Debut Trailer

Kooky Trailer (English)

This bundle is botanicool!

Before you kill me for that horrible pun, consider the fact that I might be a tree and you wouldn’t want to hurt trees, would you? No you wouldn’t. You love trees! And how convenient that by getting this new bundle, which includes Botanicula, Machinarium, Samorost 2 and even Windosill and a film called Kooky if you if you pay more than the average, you can save trees!

Weird how these coincidences work out, isn’t it? Anyway, go get the Humble Botanicula Debut!