Today, German-based publisher redspotgames announced on German TV show “neues” that they would be releasing a game called Sturmwind for the Sega Dreamcast. The portion of the show that’s relevant has been embedded to the left of this text. The game is a 2D side-scrolling shooter with 3D elements that looks so much like Gradius V) I could cry (gameplay footage shows up at about 2:40 of the video), and features sixteen stages with three different difficulty levels and an online leaderboard system for the six people that still have the ability to take their systems online.. It is unsure who the developer is, though Max Scharl hinted that it could be an in-house development on the interview segment of his show. Answering the opening – and obvious – question as to why redspotgames would put out Dreamcast games almost ten years after the console was abandoned by Sega, Mr. Scharl showed that he and his people are huge fans of the system (translated from German on the company’s Youtube channel):
We are a publisher, distributor and promoter for new Sega Dreamcast games, we’re also developing in-house, but it’s mainly gonna be external assignments. As for why we’re doing what we’re doing… Well, about five years ago, five friends thought, Dreamcast is an amazing console and we couldn’t understand why it was discontinued, it was really abandoned by the industry just like that, just because of some internal company issues. So that’s why we thought this can’t be it and we want to keep on providing the console with games, that’s our motto. The platform can never be too old or too unknown for us to develop new games for it.
This company puts their money where their mouth is. They’re the people behind the Dreamcast Scene website, as detailed in this 2007 interview with Destructoid. We reviewed their last two releases – Wind and Water Puzzle Battles and Rush Rush Rally Racing – here on Diehard GameFAN, as well as other recent Dreamcast releases Last Hope: Pink Bullets and Dux, so we’re going to be all over this one. As soon as we get more assets or information, I will pass them on.
For right now, redspotgames is aiming for a Q2 2011 release and a release price of €35,49, which translates to $46 USD (translation subject to change based on international markets).
The full press release is below.
As revealed through the redspotgames Twitter and Facebook accounts, the Munich-based publisher announced its upcoming title “Sturmwind” on Sunday, December 5th 2010 in the TV show “neues” on German-Austrian-Swiss broadcaster 3sat.
In the show, redspotgames CEO Max Scharl presented the game to the public for the first time with exclusive gameplay footage. It is currently slated to be released in Q2 2011. “Sturmwind” is a classic shoot ’em up with 2D gameplay, powered by a hybrid 2D/3D engine.
Players fight over 20 boss enemies in 16 levels. In addition to the so-called “Award Trophy System” which ensures longterm motivation through unlockable content, there will also be an internet highscore list in which players can compete against each other worldwide.
16 levels
3 selectable difficulty levels
configurable controls
adjustable screen position
varied choice of weapons
More than 20 large boss enemies
Hundreds of different enemies
FMV intro sequence
Hybrid 2d/3d game engine
Resolution of 640×480 pixels
PAL50, PAL60, NTSC and VGA (with Adapter) compatible
Region free
Works with any MIL-CD compatible Dreamcast
CDDA Sound
Supports: Gamepad, Arcade Stick (Analog/Digital), VMU, Rumble Pack (configurable)
Internet WEBcode Hiscore Tables
Award Trophy System with unlockable content
About redspotgames
redspotgames is an independent publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software. Established in 2005, the publisher and distributor is a breath of fresh air among its competitors. The company’s portfolio began with the international publishing, distribution and promotion of three of the most high-class titles within the Dreamcast™ Indie Games library: Last Hope, Wind and Water: Puzzle Battles and Rush Rush Rally Racing. redspotgames gained international publicity by continuing to support the SEGA® Dreamcast™ videogame console at the end of ist lifecycle. Meanwhile, redspotgames expanded its scope by publishing
new challenging interactive entertainment software on the leading hardware platforms – Nintendo WiiWare™, Xbox® LIVE Indie Games and PlayStation®
Network. redspotgames is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has worked with development studios from around the world, from the Netherlands to Costa
Rica.
Pre-orders have been made available in the redspotgames online shop in conjunction with this announcement. The standard edition of the game can be pre-ordered for 35,49 EUR (US$ 46.00 / 29.50 GBP). Payment before release is not required.
Further information such as a screenshot gallery, a presentation trailer or details about the package will be released over the next few weeks.
Links:
Interview and “Sturmwind” presentation on “neues”:
Gameplay scenes of “Sturmwird” while studio preperations:
Preorder at the redspotgames online shop:
redspotgames product website:
Duranik product website:
redspotgames on Twitter:
redspotgames on Facebook:
redspotgames on Flickr:
(two links redacted for space)
http://www.redspotgames.com/shop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=19
http://www.redspotgames.com/sturmwind
http://sturmwind.duranik.com/
Tweets by redspotgames
http://www.facebook.com/pages/redspotgames/210719714872
About redspotgames
redspotgames is an independent publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software. Established in 2005, the publisher and distributor is a breath of fresh air among its competitors. The company’s portfolio began with the international publishing, distribution and promotion of three of the most high-class titles within the Dreamcast™ Indie Games library: Last Hope, Wind and Water: Puzzle Battles and Rush Rush Rally Racing. redspotgames gained international publicity by continuing to support the SEGA® Dreamcast™ videogame console at the end of ist lifecycle. Meanwhile, redspotgames expanded its scope by publishing new challenging interactive entertainment software on the leading hardware platforms – Nintendo WiiWare™, Xbox® LIVE Indie Games and PlayStation® Network. redspotgames is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has worked with development studios from around the world, from the Netherlands to Costa Rica.
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