Jan 13, 2014

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth details emerge in new creator Q&A

The Binding of Isaac

The Binding of Isaac creator Edmund McMillen has answered a huge selection of questions surrounding his and Nicalis's remake project The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. Taking the form of a Q&A between McMillen and a (hopefully fictional) foul-mouthed and belligerent question-asker, he reveals how the game will contain double the content of the original, how the developers are planning to add shared seeds, and how - typically - it will be "done when it's done".

Not all of it is new, but it's a nice consolidation and clarification of info surrounding the top-down Zelda-inspired roguelike. Rebirth's biggest improvement is that it isn't being made in Flash, which - as players of the original will be pleased to hear - will mean less bugs, quirks and inexplicable slowdown. In fact, responding to why Rebirth is being made, McMillen explains that a second expansion had been planned, but that the limitations of Flash meant it wasn't possible.

Of the new info revealed about the game, McMillen explains that no Early Access-style release is planned because, "Rebirth is a game loaded with secrets and fun stuff I dont want anyone to see before anyone else." Excitingly, he also mentions that Spelunky-style daily runs and shared seeds are planned, giving the game a constantly updating competitive edge.

You can read the full Q&A here, or prepare yourself for the game's eventual release through the creepy-ass trailer below.

Aug 21, 2013

The Binding of Isaac Rebirth trailer is live action done right, is also terrifying

The Binding of Isaac

The original Binding of Isaac pushed Flash (and my computer) to its limits, so I'm looking forward to Nicalis' remake, which recreates Team Meat's roguelikey thing in a new engine, while replacing the art - which Ed McMillen was "sick of looking at" - with 16-bit style versions of Isaac, Mom and the rest of the lovable gang. I was hoping this teaser trailer would show a bit more of that, but I can't say I'm disappointed by the live-action, puppet-based video we got instead. I mean: wow. Also: screaming. Never stop screaming. Venture below to witness it for yourself.

The Binding of Isaac Rebirth is coming to Steam in 2014. Have you stopped screaming yet?

Don't worry. Gamescom's other news is less nightmare inducing. Find it here.

Jun 26, 2013

Steam Trading Cards is now live

Half-Life 2

Just as promised, Steam Trading Cards is now live. The virtual cards can be earned by playing participating games on Steam, trading with other users, or buying on the Steam Marketplace. Complete a set to create a badge, earn rewards and XP, and level up. The user with the highest Steam level at the end of the year gets to high five Gabe Newell while announcing Half-Life 3. In space.

In other true facts, I'm already hearing from users playing the Steam marketplace to profit off the cards' initial popularity. One user I spoke to has been buying low and selling high to pad his Steam wallet, even creating scarcity by buying up low-value cards in quantity. I'll keep an eye on marketplace prices as more users start trading the collectibles.

I was hoping to find a good deal on a 1952 Mickey Mantle card, but unfortunately, baseball isn't a participating game. You can see which of the games you own are participating here.

Dec 27, 2012

Humble Indie Bundle 7 adds three more games

Dungeon Defenders

Now there's even more reason to use that holiday cash Aunt Myrtle sent you on something charitable. The ongoing Humble Indie Bundle 7 has just expanded its indie game offerings to include The Basement Collection of Flash games, the action puzzle platformer Offspring Fling, and the retro 2D platformer Cave Story. The original bundle was packed with indie hits Snapshot, Closure, The Binding of Isaac and its Wrath of the Lamb DLC, Shank 2, Dungeon Defenders and its DLC, Legend of Grimrock, and the documentary Indie Game: The Movie. So, for the next six days, you can snatch up nine full games and one movie for a price that's absurdly close to free.

If you haven't done a Humble Bundle before, here's how it works: You can donate any amount of money and receive Snapshot, Closure, The Binding of Isaac, Shank 2, and Indie Game: The Movie. But if you pay more than the average ($6.41 as of this writing), you'll also get Dungeon Defenders, Legend of Grimrock, The Basement Collection, Offspring Fling, and Cave Story. The folks at Humble Bundle estimate the total value of this collection at $170. You can even choose how you'd like to have your payment divided between the developers and the two benefiting organizations, Child's Play Charity and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

For more information on the games included in the bundle, check out the trailer for Humble Indie Bundle 7 here.

Dec 19, 2012

Humble Indie Bundle 7 includes Legend of Grimrock, Binding of Isaac, and more

Dungeon Defenders

The seventh Humble Indie Bundle is upon us, just in time for the holidays. For whatever cash you've got left over after your shopping's done you get a slew of indie winners that include The Binding of Isaac, bloody platformer Shank 2, the surreal Closure, the gross-tastic Binding of Isaac (and its Wrath of the Lamb DLC), and colorful sidescroller Snapshot.

You'll also get the Indie Game: The Movie documentary, and clearing the average price—$5.87 as of this writing—gets you the excellent Legends of Grimrock and Dungeon Defenders (plus included DLC). That's the holiday spirit!

The bundle's organizers introduce each game with terribly hilarious puns in the trailer below.

Dec 3, 2012

What Happens When You Put The Binding of Isaac in Team Fortress 2? Utter Madness.

Team Fortress 2

Glorious, glorious madness. You just gotta love mash ups that put two insane games like these together.

This mod recreates the dungeon layout of The Binding of Isaac in a TF2 map, including locked rooms and even some horrifying bosses. My favorite part has to be how the players go deeper into the "basement" in this mod, too.

It's impressive, and might be just the thing to tide you over before Team Meat's upcoming Binding of Isaac remake—which lets you play co-op. But I'm assuming that version of The Binding of Isaac won't include as many people as this TF2 mod... or, you know, stuff like guns. So this might be more preferable to some folks.

You can try the mod out here, if it happens to come into the map rotation. Judging by the other available maps, which feature Smash Bros and A Link To The Past themes, it won't be so heartbreaking if you have to wait a while till you get the Binding of Isaac map. Just an FYI.

Brilliant-Looking Mod Mashes Up TF2, Binding Of Isaac [Rock, Paper, Shotgun]

Nov 29, 2012

Binding of Isaac remake will feature an expansion’s worth of new content

The Binding of Isaac

Following its official announcement in a Gamasutra post-mortem, Binding of Isaac creator Edmund McMillen has provided details of the upcoming remake in an FAQ posted to his blog. Titled Rebirth, it's billed as a "totally remade game based on the flash version of the Binding of Isaac + Wrath of the Lamb."

The game is being developed by Nicalis, who were behind the Cave Story+ update, and is planned for release on Steam (and those console things) towards the end of 2013.

One of the main draws of the remake is the new engine that will power it. Binding of Isaac was excellent, but saw a flurry of bug fixes as the creaky Flash architecture struggled to hold under the weight of McMillen's constant content additions. Even today, the game is no stranger the occasional bout of frame rate problems. Rebirth is set to become the definitive version, with a pre-order loyalty discount planned for those who own the original.

But a quicker, stabler engine also offers the possibility of new features. " will also feature another Wrath sized expansion over the top that will feature a new final chapter, ending, 2 new playable characters and tons more items, rooms, enemies, bosses and the like."

The changes don't end there. McMillen's also promising a completely new 16-bit makeover for the graphics. "I'm doing this because I think the art is tired and I'm sick of looking at it ... I think its kinda appropriate/funny to do a demake for the remake."

With Nicalis on development duties, McMillen's free to work on the second Team Meat game, the mysterious Mew-Genics, which is currently in full-time development.

Nov 29, 2012

Seems Like the Best Version of The Binding of Isaac Will Be Coming to Consoles

The Binding of Isaac

Edmund McMillen's The Binding of Isaac gave players a horrific, addictive roguelike experience when it came out last year. After a planned 3DS release was scuttled, the only place to play the super-tough dungeon crawler has been on PC platforms. But Isaac is being reborn for consoles, with a new edition that packs even more stuff into an already burly game.

Detailed in a blog post by McMillen, Binding of Isaac: Rebirth will be produced by Nicalis, the studio that ported indie hit VVVVVV to the 3DS. Lots of changes will be coming to Rebirth, including new content cut from the Flash version and local two-player co-op. McMillen also says that the art style and other elements will be changing:

-Nicalis is working on the port for Ps3/Vita and PC (steam) and is also currently talking to MS and Nintendo about releasing on their platforms. we are also looking into an iOS version if its not garbage.

-The game will go into full time development the 1st of the year and is set to be finished by the end of the year (but we know how this stuff goes)

-The game will be getting a full 16bit make over, im doing this because i think the art is tired and im sick of looking at it. i think a fresh coat of paint is needed and i think its kinda appropriate/funny to do a damake for the remake.

As mentioned above, there's no timeframe for the release of Binding of Isaac: Rebirth but with all the work that appears to be going into it, this might be the best version of an already good game.

Nov 28, 2012

It’s Mann vs. monsters in this Binding of Isaac themed TF2 map

Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2 is no stranger to crazy boss fights, but a Nolan North-voiced bomb spamming wizard is one thing, a floating skeletal head that shoots ubercharged spies is quite another. That's what you'll face in this insane TF2 community map, highlighted by Isaac creator Ed McMillen on his blog.

The map contains multiple levels and bosses from the game, and uses Blu team mercenaries in place of Isaac's varied cast of monsters. The video shows fights against Husk, Mom and Mom's Heart, as well as a representation of the Wrath of the Lamb expansion's super-final boss fight.

To play it you need to visit the Super Zombie Fortress server of the map's makers, the unfortunately named SLAG gaming. Annoyingly it's in rotation with the server's other SZF custom maps, meaning there's no guaranteed way to ensure a game. But you can still enjoy the absurdity of this boss fight round-up video.