News

The video game industry, like most entertainment industries, can be a cold business. It’s not uncommon for a few bad reviews of a game or debut sales numbers that fail to reach blockbuster heights to lead to massive studio layoffs, with the ax sometimes falling on entire teams or studios. As if that wasn’t depressing enough, layoffs can even occur when a release garners strong sales and decent review scores. Though gamers are just hearing about it now, five months ago that became the fate of the team at Reverge Labs responsible for developing XBLA’s Skullgirls.

In June, “the entire” group that developed the XBLA and PSN fighting game was laid off by developer Reverge Labs. Members of the development staff were gagged during the intervening months, but they have just recently been able to open up about the matter. In an introductory post on its new website, the team briefly discussed its severance from Reverge and revealed that it’s not all bad news: Lab Zero Games, a new studio comprised of the former Reverge employees, has been founded in Los Angeles. What’s more, Lab Zero is doing “everything in [its] power and then some” to return to working on a planned Skullgirls DLC character and a PC port “as soon as possible.”

It’s an unlikely development in the team’s saga, made possible by the fact that Reverge never owned the IP. Publisher Autumn Games apparently retains full rights to all things Skullgirls, and it “is fully behind the new studio,” according to Lab Zero. The two sides are going to continue collaborating on future content for the game thanks to Autumn’s support of the developer. More merchandise and “a few other things” are in the works on top of the previously mentioned DLC and PC version.

IP battles between developers and publishers have been well-documented over the years. Both parties traditionally seek to secure the rights to a game franchise and deals are regularly signed or passed upon based on insistence of ownership by one side, the other or both. This case is unique in that the creators of a new IP actually benefited by not being granted ownership of it. Had Reverge seized control, Lab Zero would obviously not be in a position to continue working on the game today.

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What’s better than new Minecraft skins? Halloween-themed Minecraft skins, of course. Oh, better than that? Halloween-themed Minecraft skins for charity? No? Halloween-themed Minecraft skins for FOUR charities?

That’s exactly what’s on the table in this, the final week, of Crafting for a Cause — the Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition event where all proceeds of the limited edition Halloween Skin Pack go directly to charity. Our friends over at PlayXBLA want you to know that Microsoft, 4J Studios and Mojang have selected four great causes, to which they’ll donate the full 160 MSP ($2) value of every pack sold.

In an amazing show of support, the Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition community has already purchased over $700,000 worth of the Halloween Skin Pack in the three short weeks this event has been running, but there’s still time to donate/get-your-hands-on-these-exclusive-skins. Each skin was handcrafted by the hardworking folks at some of the best development studios around, including: 343 Industries, Twisted Pixel, The Behemoth, Climax Studios, Rare, Tequila Works, Mojang and 4J Studios themselves.

In order to whet your appetite, XBLA Fans has lovingly compiled all 55 skins into easy to digest, alphabetically ordered slides for you to peruse at your leisure. Hit the jump for the goods. If even one of these great skins catches your eye, please consider purchasing the pack for 160 MSP before it’s too late! Crafting for a cause will continue to collect contributions until Monday, November 26. You really can make a difference!

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‘Tis the season to buy XBLA
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Responding to a fan question on Twitter, Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition developer 4J Studios confirmed early this morning that it has gotten the ball rolling on texture pack …
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Last week we got word that The Walking Dead: Episode 5 – No Time Left would shuffle onto Xbox Live Arcade on November 21. In order to ease the anticipation, or maybe to crank it up, Telltale Games has released the above trailer for your…enjoyment? Note that the video contains strong language. If that’s not your speed, hit the jump to check out some screenshots from the upcoming season finale.

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Life’s full of heated, bitter rivalries. Microsoft v. Sony. Chevy v. Ford. Pepsi v. Coke. Yet with the big names gobbling up most of the confrontational spotlight, 3AM Games has dared to strike out and ask the unlikely questions. Questions like, “Cthulhu and… magnetism?” The answer, it seems, is yes.

Magrunner, the first title from the independent studio, is a first-person action-adventure puzzler set in the near-future, developed on Unreal Engine 3. By harnessing the power of the Magtech glove, Magrunner aims to test your reflexes and your wits based on the simple principles of magnetism as you square off against the Cthulhu Mythos inspired by the works of the author, H.P. Lovecraft.

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It’s that time of year again — SPIKE TV’s annual Video Game Awards. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the tribute show, showcasing the big names …
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Weekly Roundup compiles all the biggest news stories, reviews and features from the week into one handy post on the weekends.

Another week of Xbox Live Arcade is in the books. This one’s been all over the map, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of a service that brings us all together. With so much happening on this platform of ours, it’s easy to lose sight of just how good we have it. If it weren’t for Xbox Live, none of us would be here, so XBLA Fans wants to know, what’s your favorite memory from the past ten years of Xbox Live gaming? Let us know in the comments and Happy Birthday, Xbox Live!

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The first official screenshots from the upcoming sci-fi action RPG Mars: War Logs paint a pretty bleak picture. Developed by Spiders, best known around Xbox Live Arcade for Faery: Legends of Avalon, Mars takes place a century after a global catastrophe devastated the colonists of the red planet, who are now governed by perpetually warring corporations struggling to control the precious supply of water.

Players take on the role of Roy Temperance, a multi-talented renegade (the best kind of renegade) who’s story is intertwined within the “cyberpunk” narrative. By unlocking and upgrading dozens of perks and skills, players will be able to develop Roy’s fisticuffs prowess as he engages in real-time battles against the corporate overlords and the creatures of Mars. Players are also able customize their experience through equipment crafting and a decision-driven plot that will purportedly impact the future of Roy, the many characters he encounters and the very future of Mars.

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To see an Xbox Live Arcade game removed from the marketplace isn’t uncommon. By our counts over 30 have been delisted since the Xbox 360 launched in 2005. Reasons …
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