Merry Christmas everyone!
Since this is the last Laughing Jackal blog of the year I thought it would be a fun idea to take a look back at all the games we have been working on in 2011.
It’s been a very busy year for us as we’ve not only released 6 games in 2011 but we’re currently working on a few more games including Hungry Giraffe and a Top Secret PS3 project. But enough about what we’re doing at the moment: let’s go back into the past :).
Our first game of the year was the mighty Duael Invaders, a return to one of our favourite genres: the space shooter:
This slick puzzle shooter is still the only PlayStation Mini outside of Japan to feature multiplayer and the game can be played in both co-op and versus mode as well as single player. While the single player (in which you control two ships) could take a while to get your head round, this only makes it more satisfying when you do. As PushSquare said “when everything clicks, it makes you feel like the greatest human being alive”.
Duael Invaders was our first game to be released exclusively for PlayStation Plus users, something that worked well for us as we did it again with what is perhaps our most popular PlaySation Mini: the gore-fuelled, chain reaction shooter, OMG-Z:
The critical reaction to
All through this period we were hard at work on our first ever full PS3 game, the fast-paced arcade action puzzle game Cubixx HD. Cubixx was our first PlayStation Mini and was the game where our team really came together, so the chance to revisit the game for our first PS3 title was very welcome indeed:
While there was a lot of stress and hard work involved in getting Cubixx HD finished, we were delighted with the improvements made over the original Cubixx. The multiplayer was suitably manic if you get a few friends over and the online high score tables, new enemies and game modes really gave the single player content a new lease of life. The changes clearly went down well with reviewers, with Official PlayStation Magazine UK giving it 8/10 and calling it: “One of the most gloriously addictive, knuckle-bitingly frustrating experiences you can have on PSN.”
Our next two games saw us make a return to what seems to be our spiritual home, the PlaySation Minis platform, as we released our first two adaptations of Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone’s Fighting Fantasy series. Fighting Fantasy: Talisman of Death and Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain:
These two games were really special for most of us, as we grew up with the Fighting Fantasy series. I know if you told the childhood me that I would one day work on the Fighting Fantasy series and even get to have a few email conversations with Steve Jackson (I managed to avoid fanboying all over him :-)) I’d never have believed you! Some of our team went one better and actually got to meet Steve, who was a great help in answering any questions we had about how the books were meant to play. Reviewers were again very positive, with Noobfeed rating Warlock 85% and calling it “…a true joy.”
Which brings us nicely to the present day and our latest release, Orbit, which went on general release on PSN earlier this week and is perfect if you’re looking for some gaming fun before you open your Christmas presents.
Thanks for putting up with me on this little tour through Laughing Jackal’s 2011. Tomorrow is our last day here before the Christmas Holidays, but we’ll be back on the 3rd of January 2012, ready to recommence work on Hungry Giraffe and our incredibly awesome secret PS3 project. Until then, feel free to keep commenting on our blog and we’ll confirm them when we get back.
Thank you for all your support in 2011. Let’s all hope 2012 is another great year for Laughing Jackal.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! :D
Share this post
Comments:
Bless you guys for coming up with some of the most addictive games of the year, you have every right to gush about your own achievements ;) Have you good Christmas guys, hopefully Santa brings you all the geek toys and gadgets you wished for. local
Thanks thelocaluk for your support. Well I gave Santa a big list so you never know :) Have a great Christmas! See you in 2012
This has indeed been a great year both for Laughing Jackal and for gamers. Looking forward to 2012 and all the gaming goodies it shall bring!
Recently got a couple of your games, OMG-Z and Fighting Fantasy: Talisman of Death, through the Minis Pick N Mix deal, and I highly enjoyed OMG-Z, easily been the best game I've played so far in 2012. Hopefully Talisman of Death makes me nostalgia, since I remember the original book myself, had a few dozen of the books when I was young.
@DeltaBladeX Thanks for picking up our games. We're very proud of OMG-Z so I'm glad you're enjoying it so much. I think most of us here grew up with Fighting Fantasy too. We've tried to be as faithful to the books as possible while still taking advantage of the new format.
Thanks for making it. And I just realized another Mini I own and enjoy was from your team as well. Vibes, though I got this though Mega Minis Volume 1. Given all the enjoyment I've gotten from the games you guys make, I might need to pick up another PSN card and get buying the rest of your selection. Hopefully the added funds will lead to more great games for my PSP.