If you're an RPG fan who complains "they just don't make them like they used to," you're probably playing the wrong RPGs. Aldorlea Games has been hard at work making SNES-style role-playing games for years, and they're all top notch.Their flagship series, Millennium, is getting ready to launch its fifth installment - so there's no time like the present to get caught up on the first four. Over at Groupees right now, you can get all four games bundled together for only $4.00. Considering that these games retail for $13.99 each normally, you're getting a tremendous deal. That's a savings of 93%.Pick up the bundle now - it goes away tomorrow - and be sure to give the series some love on Steam Greenlight.
Remember when you learned that King has a trademark on the word CANDY? It probably won't surprise you to learn that this isn't the only one-word trademark they want to hold. They've also applied for the trademark on the word SAGA, and they're not afraid to defend what they see as rightfully theirs.USGamer's Mike Williams has just brought to light a legal opposition filed on behalf of King in regards to The Banner Saga - a recent release and Kickstarter success that we're delighted to call an early contender for Game of the Year. You can find the complete Notice of Opposition at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, but the gist of it is this: Stoic, the makers of The Banner Saga, filed to trademark their game's name on January 10, 2013. After the mark was filed "published for opposition," King formally opposed. The argument King makes is that Stoic's use of the term SAGA will be enough to confuse customers into thinking the product isn't from Stoic, but from King. Furthermore, they claim that such confusion could result in damage to King.
If there's one word I'd use to describe independent game developers, it's… well, independent. They don't like being told what they can't do. So what a big company like King comes along and trademarks a word like 'candy,' indie game devs get understandably grumpy.In response to King's actions (which Gamezebo broke the news about on Monday), Cariboo (developer of the upcoming Berserkgangr) and uuav (check out their Ludum Dare entries here) have just launched Candy Jam, a game jam that tasks developers with making a game that involves candies. Why? "Because trademarking common names is ridiculous and it gives us an occasion to make another gamejam :D," or so says the Jam's Tumblr account.Interested developers must submit their games before the February 3 deadline. The only rules are that it has to have candy, and that you should consider using the word 'candy' several times. Bonus points for other trademark problem words like 'scroll,' 'memory,' 'saga,' and 'apple.'Also, there's always a high five from me if you get the word 'Gamezebo' or 'jimmycanuck' in there somewhere. ;)
On Monday morning, Gamezebo broke news of a story too strange to be believed. King, the makers of Candy Crush Saga, had trademarked the word CANDY. While this won't affect the likes of Skittles or SweeTarts, app developers whose games have 'candy' in their name braced for the oncoming storm.But according to a King spokesperson, that storm may not really be coming."We have trademarked the word 'CANDY' in the EU, as our IP is constantly being infringed and we have to enforce our rights and to protect our players from confusion. We don't enforce against all uses of CANDY - some are legitimate and of course, we would not ask App developers who use the term legitimately to stop doing so."
When you have an intellectual property - especially one that's worth millions of dollars - you want to protect it. But can such protections ever go too far? That's the question a lot of industry watchers are asking this morning, as developers far and wide whose games include the word 'candy' are getting emails from Apple on behalf of King, the makers of Candy Crush Saga.In a filing with the US trademark office dated February 6, 2013, King.com Limited registered claim to the word 'candy' as it pertains to video games and, strangely, clothing. On January 15, 2014 the filing was approved for publication. And now, a mere five days later, reports are coming in from developers that they're being asked to remove their app (or prove that their game doesn't infringe upon the trademark)."Lots of devs are frustrated cause it seems so ridiculous" says Benny Hsu, the maker of All Candy Casino Slots - Jewel Craze Connect: Big Blast Mania Land. Benny's game, which shares no similarities with King's properties aside from the word 'candy,' is one of a number of games that have been targeted by King.
You didn't think that a dark and mysterious hidden object game would be called something like "Happy Afternoon Castle," now did you? Of course not! Well Big Fish Games has a brand new social hidden object game coming out tomorrow, and it's full of just as much mystery and secrets as it is darkness and shadows. Developed by Elephant Games in conjunction with Big Fish Games, Midnight Castle features a mysterious storyline, engaging social components, and you guessed it, lots of fun hidden objects to find!In the game, players will travel to a dark and dissonant castle that was once occupied by their eccentric uncle after his unexplained and peculiar death. There have long been rumors that an eerie Mystery Chamber exists somewhere within the castle, and that it has the power to grant the wishes of anyone who occupies the estate. Something tells you that if you find this Mystery Chamber, then the truth about what really happened to your uncle will finally be brought to light.Of course, doing so will involve scouring the massive castle for hidden objects across 16 different scenes, in addition to creating your own items and artifacts by using the castle's laboratory. As players complete over 350 different quests on their way towards uncovering the truth, they'll get to interact with a roster of 12 unique characters, who might be able to help them in a number of strange and exciting ways!While the game won't officially be released until tomorrow, you can still get a sneak peak of Midnight Castle in action from the exclusive debut trailer that's embedded right within this page. And be sure to keep your eyes peeled on Gamezebo tomorrow as well for our official review of the game, just as soon as we manage to find our way out of the Mystery Chamber!
Edge of Reality is preparing to launch their free-to-play third-person shooter Loadout onto Steam at the end of the month. Loadout has participated in Steam's Early Access program since May 2013. Currently, Loadout is still available for $9.99 ($19.99 and $39.99 options available as well) and as compensation for supporting a free-to-play game, Edge of Reality is giving supporters in-game currency and exclusive items."We started this as a passion project, working on it when we could, and trying to create something original and truly player friendly," explained Edge of Reality CEO, Rob Cohen. "What we've got now is a game that's a blast to play, quick and easy to get into, and empowers players with insane amounts of customization."
In a post on their official blog, Hello Games managing director, Sean Murray, declared that the team won't let recent flooding delay development on No Man's Sky. The flood, which occurred on December 24th, submerged the development studio in water which overflowed from a nearby parking garage during severe rainstorms."We lost all our PCs, laptops, equipment, furniture, dev-kits, [and] work in the blink of an eye," Murray explained. "I don't want to say out loud the value of what we lost, it's horrible. It would probably fund a small game."