Author Archives: Samuel Elphick

Conga Master Brings Solo, Co-op and Competitive Conga To PC

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Console versions to follow next year with Rising Star Games publishing all versions of the hilarious party arcade game

LONDON, UK – August 16, 2016 – Rising Star Games today throws on its dancing shoes and funkiest moves to announce a new partnership with game development studio Undercoders, bringing the dance party extravaganza Conga Master to PC and consoles.

The hilarious party arcade game Conga Master sees up to four players each controlling their chosen party-goer in his or her quest to create the most epic conga line ever.

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4 player Conga combat!

Travelling through different nightclub locales during a night to remember, players will find all manner of dancers with different styles and personalities. Shimmy up close to entice them with a successful display of dazzling dancing, and they will join your line. But, with great conga comes great responsibility, and the longer the conga, the harder it will be to maintain momentum and avoid disco downers, like the crotchety custodians or the pigs in disguise who will try to infiltrate your line and stink up your party vibe.

Birthed out of the theme-based accelerated game development event ‘Ludum Dare’, Conga Master is now a fully fleshed-out, content-packed game in its own right. Conga Master features extensive local co-op and competitive multiplayer modes for up to four players as well as a crazy single-player campaign. Don’t be fooled by the easy-to-learn, simple two-button controls – the game boasts a wealth of features such as combo systems, objective-based play, over 30 different characters each with their own skills and attributes, seven different nightclub environments, bonus stages, unlockable rewards, online rankings and ‘endless’ modes, and much more.

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Master the ancient art of the Conga

“Conga Master has a singleness of vision that glitters and stands out in today’s gaming space,” said Lee Skittrell, Marketing Strategist, Rising Star Games. “The game’s heart and spirit is made of pure unabashed fun; the kind of game that brings smiles to the faces of players young and old alike, coupled with a pleasingly peculiar sense of humor. Conga Master is a shiny and surreal disco-ball glittering over the heads of our already hugely diverse portfolio of quality titles.”

“All our life we wanted to play a conga dancing game but nobody would make one… so we had to become developers to fulfil our dreams,” said David Jaumandreu, CEO of Undercoders. “When we saw that the jam version of Conga Master was ranked as the top 5 most fun game of Ludum Dare 34 (out of 1,600+ entries!), we knew we weren’t alone!”

Developed by Undercoders and published by Rising Star Games, Conga Master will release on September 14 on PC. Console versions will follow in early 2017.

Boxing the Acclaimed Platform Adventure Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse!

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The critically-applauded Nintendo 3DS™ classic will hit retail in the USA and Europe in September with additional content

LONDON, UK – August 04, 2016 – Video game publisher Rising Star Games today announced it will release a physical edition of the beloved platform adventure game Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse for Nintendo 3DS™ family systems, in the USA on September 27 and in Europe on September 30.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse on Nintendo 3DS

Boasting outstanding review scores from media across the globe and a current Metacritic score of 82, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse on Nintendo 3DS™ from Rising Star Games marks the first time a Shantae game will be made available to players as a physical release in over a decade. And what’s more, the boxed version of Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse features new content not available in any previously released version.

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This Venus Flytrap overdid it on the Miracle-Gro.

In Shantae’s third and biggest adventure to date, the hair-whipping belly dancing genie must team up with her arch-nemesis, the nefarious Risky Boots, in order to save Sequin Land from an evil curse. By becoming a pirate, Shantae gains new weapons she can use to solve fiendish puzzles and battle fierce bosses. In a game already packed with thrilling content the physical boxed retail release also includes “Super Shantae Nab!!”, a new arcade-style game exclusive to this release.

Check out the trailer below!

Developed by WayForward and published by Rising Star Games, the physical boxed edition of Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse for Nintendo 3DS™ family systems is priced £29.99/$29.99/€29.99.

The Sun Rises on Earth’s Dawn

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Deliver Civilization from Darkness this Autumn

LONDON, UK – June 13, 2016 – Video game publisher Rising Star Games today confirmed that it will bring Earth’s Dawn to PlayStation®4, PC and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, this fall. Developed by OneorEight and previously released in Japan under the name Earth Wars, Earth’s Dawn fuses frenetic side-scrolling action mechanics with RPG elements and a hard-edged manga aesthetic to deliver a deep and unique gameplay experience.

Fast paced action game Earth's Dawn

Master the fast paced action combat

From the outset Earth’s Dawn gives gamers the freedom to enjoy the game their way – from creating their own character; customization of skill trees to augment abilities best suited to play style; weapon and equipment crafting; alongside a unique narrative-driven branching mission system.

After decades of peace, the Earth was decimated by an invasion from an alien race known to humans as E.B.E. The E.B.E. moved across the planet, consuming anything in their path and proved impervious to existing weapons. Ahead of the impending annihilation a breakthrough was made – the E.B.E. was susceptible to damage by weaponry designed using its very own technology. The power to fight back was now in the hands of an elite fighting force.

Watch the trailer here:

Combat in Earth’s Dawn offers a huge amount of depth with a layered system that will appeal to both light and more hardened players. Basic attacks can easily be strung together to pull off combos, while tying these to the analogue stick will instigate launchers, aerials and sliding attacks. Timing a dash during a combo will extend its length and finisher moves will dispatch enemies with flair. Players are evaluated after battles and ranked according to expertise and skill, and may then use the points awarded to enhance and level up their hero.

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Upgrade, Enhance, Overcome

Join the fight for Earth’s survival this fall, when Earth’s Dawn launches digitally on PlayStation®4, and Xbox One, and as a physical boxed version on PlayStation®4, with a PC version coming soon after.

ABOUT ONEOREIGHT

We are a Japanese game creator established by gathering members who want to “make games that we ourselves think are interesting”. The Earth’s Dawn (Earth Wars) series is our first entry into console gaming as OneorEight. We would be delighted if you were able to play this game which we ourselves think is “fun to play”.

Bafta-Nominated ‘A Pixel Story’ Teleports to Console this Summer

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The award-winning PC puzzle-platformer comes home on PlaySation 4 and Xbox One

LONDON, UK – June 13, 2016 – Rising Star Games today announced that it is publishing the BAFTA-nominated A Pixel Story on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One as a digital release this summer.

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The world around you changes dramatically as your journey unfolds.

Released last year on PC format to critical acclaim, this award-winning puzzle-platformer tells an intriguing tale set against a visual backdrop that charts the evolution of video games. You’ll journey from 8-bit pixel art through to current-gen graphical splendour as you play through this lovingly-crafted celebration of gaming’s history.

Check out the trailer below:

A Pixel Story sees you embarking on an epic quest to reach the core of The System. As you progress further into your journey through video game history, your world becomes increasingly more detailed and complicated, and ever-more perilous, tasking you to test the mystical powers afforded to you by your Magical Teleportation Hat.

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An adventure awaits!

Discover a charming and challenging adventure filled to the brim with gaming and pop culture references as you immerse yourself into A Pixel Story’s colourful world. Unlock the awesome power of your snappy Magical Teleportation Hat while you traverse six large free-form zones, interact with a diverse range of NPCs, and attempt to stop the evil OS from destroying the universe.

Developed by recent graduates at Lamplight Studios, this charming underdog arrived in a hail of accolades when first released on PC and went on to be nominated for four awards, including Develop’s Industry Excellence Award and a BAFTA. With Rising Star Games on publishing duties, now console gamers can finally see why.

ABOUT LAMPLIGHT STUDIOS

Established in 2012, Lamplight Studios is a BAFTA-nominated, indie game development studio based in Manchester, UK. Formed by a group of graduates, they decided that, rather than get a real job at a real company, they would take a crack at making their own. As a result, their lives have been constant torment and anguish in the name of video games. We are stuff, you don’t.

Design A Hero – 88 Heroes Wants YOU!

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From your brain, straight into the game! Win the chance to have your own character design appear as a playable hero in forthcoming action game

LONDON, UK – May 25, 2016 – Today, we want YOU to don your brightest cape and tightest spandex as you are invited to become a part of 88 Heroes’ design process. Pick up your finest crayons and wow us with your most creative hero designs and your delightful doodle could become the game’s 88th playable hero on PC, Xbox One and PS4!

The criteria are simple: design a hero (or zero!) with a unique skill that will help or hinder players as they navigate the side-scrolling enemy-filled and booby-trapped levels. Entries may be submitted digitally by any means. You could scribble a doodle on a fast food wrapper, create a rich and lore-filled backstory for your hero in a 100-page document – or anything and everything in between. (Just keep it under 10mb!)

Design a new hero for 88 Heroes!

Drawing with Dr. H8 is fun!

To help you on your way, we’ve provided a basic template. Just remember, the three essentials to include are: a visual sketch or drawing of the hero (as basic or elaborate as you like), the hero’s name (keep it clean!), and a description of the hero’s unique skill. That’s it! Closing date for entries is 30th June 2016. Send your designs to comp@risingstargames.com or tweet them to @88HeroesGame.

88 Heroes is a chaotic 2D platformer that is as fun to watch as it is to play, where each level completed or untimely death brings a new uniquely skilled hero into the action. With just 88 minutes to complete all 88 levels, you’ll need every one of the 88 heroes to stop the dastardly Dr. H8 destroying the Earth! Are you up to the challenge?

Struggling to create your killer character concept? Here are some examples of the heroes and their skills that already feature in the game:

  • Gonan – Muscle-bound warrior wielding a mighty sword that’s slow to swing but can slash through scenery to create shortcuts
  • PowerTron – Robo law enforcer who fires missiles that are deadly to enemies, but also himself
  • Neutron Brothers – Scientists fused together in a lab blunder, who can teleport through walls and even into enemies to kill them
  • Max Velocity – With a rocket pack strapped to his back there’s nowhere he can’t fly, but he’s a piloting nightmare
  • Invisible Sheriff – You can’t hide from the law if you can’t see it coming; hard to see but also hard for enemies to hit.
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Keep it weird and wonderful like the lovable Blocktopus

For more inspiration, follow the ever-growing assembly of daily character reveals for 88 Heroes on Twitter. And, watch the latest trailer on YouTube.

Developed by Bitmap Bureau and published by Rising Star Games, 88 Heroes will release on PlayStation®4, PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, with a target release date of 8th August 2016.

For more information on 88 Heroes, please visit the official site: http://88heroes.com.

Please see the competition terms and conditions, found here.

Countdown to Chaos! 88 Days Until 88 Heroes Zaps onto Console and PC!

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Frantic, funny, and full of hapless hopeless heroes, the crowd-pleasing platform action game 88 Heroes is assembling for launch this Summer

LONDON, UK – May 12, 2016 – Rising Star Games today announces a new partnership with acclaimed development studio Bitmap Bureau, to publish 88 Heroes on PlayStation®4, PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. Targeting a release date of the 8th day of the 8th month (8th August 2016), Rising Star Games will be revealing a new hero each and every day for 88 days counting down to launch. The mighty assemblage begins today with Gonan, the muscle-bound warrior who wields the mighty blade of his 88 forefathers, which he uses to smash through walls and lay waste to enemies.

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The clock is ticking – Stop Dr. H8 before it’s too late!

Rising Star Games and Bitmap Bureau are also excited to reveal that a global 88 Heroes ‘Design-A-Hero’ contest will begin very soon. Design your own fabulously mundane or magnificent champion complete with superpowers and title, and win the chance to see your creation appear in pixelated glory in the final game! Stay tuned for details on how to enter, coming soon.

88 Heroes is a chaotic 2D platformer that is as fun to watch as it is to play, where each level completed or untimely death brings a new uniquely skilled hero into the action. With just 88 minutes to complete the 88 levels, you’ll need every one of the 88 heroes to stop the dastardly Dr. H8 destroying the Earth! Are you up to the challenge?

No need to watch out for a signal in the sky – watch the latest trailer for 88 Heroes here!

“We’ve got at least 88 reasons why we’re so excited to be working with Bitmap Bureau on the release of 88 Heroes”, said Martin Defries, Managing Director of Rising Star Games. “Top of the list has to be the fast-paced and hectic, yet cunning and precise platforming gameplay, that is a genuine crowd-pleasing spectacle to behold and a thrill to play”.

“88 Heroes has been a labour of love for us at Bitmap Bureau, and is representative of the many years of 2D game development we have accumulated”, said Mike Tucker, Director at Bitmap Bureau. “It’s particularly exciting for us as it’s both our first console release and also the first time we’ve worked with Rising Star Games; a publisher with a great reputation in the industry”.

Werebulk smash!

88 Heroes Key Features:

  • 88 unique and original playable characters, each with their own skills and abilities that may help or hinder the player
  • Hero order is randomly selected with each play, meaning players will always face a fresh and varied challenge!
  • 88 levels across 4 areas to conquer, each with its own unique boss encounter
  • Watch the action from Dr. H8’s lair as he tries to thwart your plans, drinks coffee, takes bathroom breaks and berates his accident-prone henchmen
  • Multiple game modes including: Magnificent 8 mode – choose a team of just 8 heroes to tackle the entire game with; Solo mode – pick just one hero and master their skills in order to survive as long as you can
  • More heroes incoming with DLC!

Follow the daily character reveals for 88 Heroes on Twitter to keep up to speed with the ever-growing assembly of super heroes and zeroes.

For more information on 88 Heroes, please visit the official site: http://88heroes.com.

 

Mech-Action Shooter ‘Assault Suit Leynos’ coming to PlayStation 4 and PC This Summer

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Defend the Earth from a Mysterious Invading Force with Powerful Customizable Mechs in this HD Remake

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LONDON, UK – April 06, 2016 – Pursuing our quest to bring unique and diverse games to players everywhere, we are partnering with Japanese developer Dracue Software to publish Assault Suit Leynos for PlayStation®4 and PC. Drawing from the fantastic action of the classic 16-bit series (also known as Target Earth), the Assault Suit series is well-known for fierce and fast shooting action, challenging boss battles, and an amazing array of weapon options. Assault Suit Leynos stays true to these gameplay elements and delivers HD visuals for the ultimate alien-blasting experience.

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Just a normal day in the field

“The slick production values and fast-paced action make Assault Suit Leynos an incredibly addictive game,” said Martin Defries, managing director of Rising Star Games. “This title is both challenging and rewarding and a great example of the type of game, borne out of Japan, that we love working with here at Rising Star Games. Fans of old-school shooters will absolutely feel that familiar thrill and quickening of the pulse when they start blasting wave upon wave of enemies.”

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Take to the skies in your Assault Suit

As Earth reels from the impact of a fourth world war and dwindling resources, an uneasy truce between nations sees mankind reach for the stars. Colonies are settled, resources are mined, and the future starts looking a little brighter. But just as peace finally seems possible, an unknown enemy emerges from the deepest region of space to threaten the very existence of humanity. Only one thing can stop them – It’s time to deploy the Assault Suit Squadron! Gamers will blast through the opposing enemy forces with devastating weapons like machine guns, rocket launchers, and laser beams while discovering the hidden truth behind the invaders.

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Dust off those dodging skills!

Developed by Dracue Software, Assault Suit Leynos will be available summer 2016 on PlayStation®4 and PC through select digital retailers. The physical boxed release of the PlayStation®4 version includes a deluxe double-sided poster featuring artwork from the Japanese release as well as original art from the classic 16-bit release. For more information and media, follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Enchantment is Upon Us!

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Captivating Spin on Classic Isometric Adventure Lumo Coming Soon To Xbox One, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®Vita and PC

LONDON, UK – March 31, 2016 – We are thrilled to announce that the indie darling adventure Lumo is headed to multiple platforms on May 24. From the inspired mind of Gareth Noyce, lead designer and founder at Triple Eh? Ltd., Lumo is a modern take on the classic isometric-styled action platformers that were highly popular in the 80s and early 90s. Gamers will be able to experience the charm and magic of Lumo on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, Xbox One, PC, Mac, and Linux.

Also, revealed today is the accompanying artwork for Lumo that was created by fan-favorite illustrator Wil Overton, best-known and most-loved for his contributions to cover artwork featured in UK video games magazines in the 90s.

A masterpiece created by Wil Overton

“I created Lumo as a salute to an era of gaming that inspired me to become a game developer,” said Gareth Noyce, founder and lead designer of Triple Eh? Ltd. “This game captures the magical feelings that video games conjure in all of us by incorporating challenging puzzles, atmospheric music and nods to iconic movies and pop culture.”

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Lumo is a magical adventure with fun salutes to classic games

A contemporary take on the isometric platform genre, Lumo can be enjoyed by anyone looking for an absorbing, challenging, and rewarding adventure. For those who lived through the golden age of video games – the 80s and early 90s – or know about the games and culture from that time, there are layer upon layer of nods and winks to be discovered and relished in Lumo. With over 400 rooms across four highly-stylized zones, six hidden mini-games and all kinds of wonders to uncover, Lumo is a true voyage of discovery.
Lumo will be available April 22 on PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®Vita system, Xbox One, PC, Mac and Linux through select digital retailers. Lumo features Cross-Save functionality between PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®Vita.

For more information on Lumo, please visit the official Lumo website.

Flipping the Platform Genre Upside Down – The Land of Eyas to Release this Summer

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LOS ANGELES, USA – March 10, 2016 – One of the most difficult things to achieve in game design is creating an experience that is intuitive and fun to jump into but still carries progressive depth and excitement throughout the entire game without feeling repetitive. Through some form of wizardry Happy Square Productions have demonstrated their masterful ways with their debut title, The Land of Eyas.

Opposing gravities is the foundation on which they have created the charming tale of young Eyas searching for a way Home. Magically, The Land of Eyas takes this immediately fun mechanic and continues to present new thoughtful challenges through ingenious level design. Pairing these puzzles with adorable artwork and a sensational musical production appeases both the head and heart. The Land of Eyas is a gem crafted by a team of talented and enchanting people at Happy Square Productions and we just cannot wait to bring it to Steam this Summer.

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Check out the full press release below:

Rising Star Games to Bring Ingenious Gravity Switching Action Platformer to PC and Mac

Los Angeles, CA – March 10, 2016 – Rising Star Games, a video game publisher renowned for bringing unique and diverse games to players everywhere, has announced a new partnership with Happy Square Productions to publish The Land of Eyas on PC, Mac, and Linux. Combining lovable 2D visuals with gravity-based platform mechanics, gamers will use two opposing gravities to explore an enchanted world, experience huge sling-shot momentum jumps, and avoid dangerous enemies and obstacles in search for a way Home.

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“The fine folks at Rising Star Games are stellar promo experts that give indie game titles the star power and attention that they deserve,” said Stephen Hoskins, founder of Happy Square Productions. “They disconnect the extremely arduous and time consuming tasks of promoting games from developers, delivering well-coordinated strategies designed to showcase the joyful greatness of indie games. The gamer community is in for a jolt of indie gaming goodness thanks to Rising Star Games.”

“Innovative, unique game experiences like The Land of Eyas are a great example why indie games are so special”, said Martin Defries, managing director of Rising Star Games. “When players experience The Land of Eyas they’ll find a unique platforming treasure that will challenge in new, exciting ways while captivating gamers with its delightful art style and story.”

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In The Land of Eyas, gamers take on the role Eyas, a little boy wearing an oddly-styled cat outfit, who is caught in a world split between two opposing gravities. To find his way Home, Eyas has to learn how to navigate the strangely beautiful world using the opposing gravitational forces and the objects he interacts with along the way. On his journey, he is guided by tree wisps that direct him to find the one they call Mother. By manipulating jumps between the different gravity fields, Eyas will be able to use the additional momentum to sling-shot to new heights and access new areas.

Developed by the indie developer Happy Square Productions, The Land of Eyas will be available this Summer on Steam and selected digital retailers.

A Dream Come True for Ratz Everywhere!

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LONDON, UK – February 15, 2016 – Ratz Instagib’s most anticipated feature – a hugely powerful map editor – launches today and it’s a real game changer! ***Scroll down for the Razer DeathAdder Competition!***

Packed with features, flexibility and a tonne of customisation options, the RatzEd map editor allows players to build the arenas of their wildest dreams. Better yet, the map editor has full integration with Steam Workshop and also allows your creations to feature in the official map rotation of public games! It’s an enormous update for Ratz Instagib and adds a whole new level to the game… Many more levels, in fact!

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This apartment was made with the new map editor with textures photographed on a smart phone!

“The Ratz Instagib Editor (RatzEd) is a standalone creation tool that allows users to create new maps without limits for Ratz Instagib. Maps created are then distributed through the Steam Workshop system making it easy to share maps with other players with the minimum of fuss” says developer, Lino.

“While it offers an almost endless range of creativity, the RatzEd is very easy to use and even its most basic features offer a wide range of possibilities!”

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We’ll give away a Ratz Instagib key to the first person to comment what this WiP map is based on!

The editor is intuitive and requires no previous experience is 3D design to get stuck into. Check out this handy guide to get kick-started.

To run the map editor, simply launch Ratz Instagib in your Steam library and choose “Launch RatzEd” in the pop-up.

mapeditorTo celebrate RatzEd’s grand opening, we’re also running a competition to win gaming’s best mouse, the Razer DeathAdder as recommended by PC Gamer. This iconic mouse will be awarded to the most brilliant map designer in Ratz Instagib, as judged by Lino himself! Every map submitted to the Steam Workshop before March 14th, 2016 will be entered to the competition. There are many different ways for a map to win, so don’t worry if yours isn’t a fully perfected design – it just needs to be creative and fun!

Good luck and get creating!

Rising Star Games