We hope you're sitting own. The anticipated XBLA title, Bionic Commando Rearmed, has been delayed from its original May release. According to a classified communique found on the Bionic Commando blog, the game is complete but still requires some bug fixing, certification process before it's ready for release.
No word on a new release for the title, which still plans to hit the Xbox 360, PC and PS3 simultaneously.
Our friends at Joystiq has spared you the hassle of having to click through the entire retro text message found on the site which you can find after the break.
Last week didn't see any kind of XBLA release due to the massive popularity of GTA IV, but now that that particular sales storm has passed, what is the next release for the Live Arcade? Common sense might say that it'd be Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm, given that it was pushed back into May. And that still might be possible as XBLA games can release in pairs. However the Australian site PALGN has Bionic Commando Rearmed set for a 05/07/2008 release, so if they're right we might be seeing that one sooner than we thought we would have. We certainly haven't heard anything else about this week's XBLA release ....
The official Bionic Commandowebsite has revealed that Bionic Commando Rearmed -- that's the XBLA version -- has received an M rating from the ESRB. The rating was announced via a nifty communicator dialogue reminiscent of the original game (you can see a capture of it above). So, why would a game with no blood and extremely tame violence get an M rating? If you've ever played the original and completed it, we'll give you three guesses. Yes, the reason is that Bionic Commando Rearmed features a recreation of the climactic scene from the original game. You know the one. If by chance you don't know the one, you can find a video after the break (it occurs at 0:10). Be warned, it's spoilerific. And sploderific.
Simon Viklund, creative director at GRIN -- the studio behind both Bionic Commando Rearmed and the upcoming next-gen remake -- has announced on the team's blog that Bionic Commando Rearmed is "approaching completion." According to Viklund, the game will enter the approval process (which presumably includes Microsoft certification) "within weeks." The project is currently undergoing the final steps of development, with GRIN adding the last layer of polish and making sure the game performs properly. No other details are given regarding the game, though Viklund does note that GRIN has a "passion for the old gaming heritage" and that the team is already considering future projects centered around older games. Dare we hope for an HD remake of Mega Man? Ghouls and Ghosts perhaps?
With the risk of sounding mean, Japanese companies rarely pay attention to their audience. At one point Sony execs refused to believe in social gaming and Nintendo thought online play was a fad but thankfully that mentality is changing. One company inparticular is attempting to reach out to gamers, in this age of social media, and that company is Capcom. Recent announcements make us think that Capcom's latest mission statement is to focus on community feedback. With polling consumers for the price-point of Bionic Commando: Rearmed and allowing gamers to beta test the hottly anticipated Street Fighter II HD Remix (SSFIITHDR that is), Capcom's focus is pointed at what their fans want and think. It's a refreshing approach and gamers are taking notice.
Today we noticed the insane amount of footage that came out of Capcom's recent event, Capcom Digital Day. At the event Capcom showcased the upcoming pseudo-expansion Lost Planet Colonies and their upcoming library of XBLA releases. While Bionic Commando: Rearmed, Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix were all known quantities, Capcom also showed of the HD remake of the classic top-down shooter 1942 which was recently announced.
Jump in for a breakdown of each of the XBLA games and a ton of video starting with the title Street Fighter fans will be clawing all over, for the beta that is, Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3.
Creating a game with XNA might be a great fit for the mathematically inclined but for those of us that know the closest we'd like to get to Pi is an eating contest, Capcom has a solution in the form of a contest. Gamers worldwide and over the age of 18 are being invited to design a challenge level for the upcoming XBLA, PSN and PC release of the NES remake, Bionic Commando: Rearmed. Leave your programing skills at the door, Capcom wants all submissions in the form of an image and the top prize will get both the level inserted into the game as well as your name added to the credits.
Multiple entries are allowed and will be accepted until 11:59 Pacific standard time on March 12, 2008. We'll also throw in a shiny nickel for anyone who designs their winning entry as an homage to X3F. Hit the read link for complete deets on the competition.
Capcom can't catch a break with their XBLA line-up as yet another release seems to be suffering from the current 150MB size restriction. In an interview with 1UP, Bionic Commando Rearmed producer Ben Judd outlined issues the development team is having with getting the NES remake to fit onto the acceptable Microsoft limit. What does this mean for the XBLA version? Well, PS3 and PC versions of the upcoming remake may will have higher-resolution textures than their XBLA counterpart.
When asked about the situation Microsoft seemed surprised by Capcom's trouble, "We raised our limit to 150 megs, which seems pretty darn great," said Microsoft's corporate VP of Xbox Live John Schappert. "I don't think it has limited our games in any way. Look at Rez HD. Look at Poker Smash. Look at Undertow. These are very, very, very good games."
Schappert, however, remains optimistic that a solution is possible. "If we need to help them program their stuff, we have people on [XNA General Manager] Chris Satchell's team that fly around and help our dev teams out when they need it," Schappert explained. "[Capcom] knows someone's number at Xbox Live. I'm certainly willing to help them out."
At it's core (pun!) the XBLA size limit issue is centered around the Arcade SKU which does not include the removable hard drive. The size limit, originally 50MB, was standardized in order to respect Xbox 360 owners who only have storage via a memory unit. We wonder though, since memory units range up to 512MB why isn't this limit increasing to facilitate heavily anticipated XBLA titles?
Update: Clarified the statement from Ben Judd. Judd told 1UP that the XBLA version will in fact have lower-res textures than the PS3/PC versions.
From all the Bionic Commandocontent on the site, you readers can tell we're excited for the XBLA remake of the classic side scroller. The game's publisher, Capcom, will be releasing the game relatively soon and are still not absolutely certain about the final price point for the full version. So, they decided to have the community guy, Ben Judd, hold a poll over at the game's website to help choose between the two possible game prices. Our choices are $10 and $15, with Ben himself voting for $10. According to him, the Capcom higher-ups think that the game has enough features and polish to sell well enough at $15 to warrant that price. Ben's take is almost of the true artist, with his rationale being that the game will get into more player's hands at a lower price point. No matter what price you prefer though, let's not forget that games cost money to make, and a large cut of XBLA profits do go to the developers. Anyway, hit this link to get to the poll (its on the lower left-hand side, and you'll have to verify your age before entering.)
Also, make sure to check out the gallery of screens to be sure that you make an informed decision! NES graphics these are not!
Oh Bionic Commando, you're the series everyone wanted to see return and now we're all a little skeptical. We think you could be great, but we'd like to play you to find out for sure. Well, according to project producer Dan Thronström we can play you! We just need to be hired by Capcom between now and the time you release.
On Thronström's IGN developer blog he writes that Bionic Commando is now internally playable in Alpha form. Trying to quiet fears that the series has shifted too heavily from its source material Thronström writes, "I can promise all the fans out there that they won't be disappointed with the result," later adding, "I am personally impressed with how much fun the game is to play now." We have confidence in a team that works on something with this much passion. Also, it helps that even if it doesn't meet our expectations Bionic Commando Rearmed looks 12-kinds of awesome.
Following the announcement of Bionic Commando Rearmed for Xbox Live Arcade, we jumped -- or should we say swung -- at the opportunity to pry more information out of Capcom. Thus, we cornered Ben Judd, Capcom Japan's Producer in charge of the Bionic Commando brand (must have been an easy job for the last 20 years or so) and shot him some questions. We cover a range of topics from the difficulties of making an old game relevant again to the unfortunate business that is offline only co-op. Find the interview after the jump.
The announcement of Bionic Commando Rearmed for Xbox Live Arcade served as the most intriguing bit of news this week for many gamers. As such, we're happy to bring you a set of new screenshots from the game. You may peruse them in the gallery below. Sure, we'd like some more details on the game -- like when we can get our sweaty little meat hooks on it -- but we'll have to settle for the moment. We've also embedded a non-IGN version of the announcement trailer after the break.
Okay, we're just going to come right out and say it: the Bionic Commandoremake for Xbox Live Arcade looks more fun than the upcoming retail remake. That's our opinion, and we're sticking to it (until proven otherwise anyway). Entitled Bionic Commando Rearmed, it's based off of the NES classic and features scads (scads, we say!) of upgrades. First and foremost are the splendid 3D graphics complete with buttery smooth animation. Throw in new weapons (including grenades), new bionic arm abilities, and two player co-op and Capcom has basically created our single greatest childhood dream (yes, we were lonely children). Oh, but wait, there's more. It looks like Rearmed will unlock a new player skin for the retail Bionic Commando. The good news: you can drop the dreadlocks. The bad news: the original Bionic Commando didn't exactly have a great coif either. Hit the "read" link for a preview over at IGN.
