- Bloktonik for iPad is in development, and it is awesome.

- Bloktonik for WiiWare is on hold for right now.

- Mr. Robotube makes his console debut in BIT.TRIP Fate!

Go over to robotubegames.com and read up on all the latest awesomeness.  Updates to this blog are infrequent, and nobody likes infrequent.

You can also follow us at twitter.com/Robotube or facebook.com/RobotubeGames.

[Note from Jason: This article was contributed by Robotube comrade Todd.  Just so you know that it's not only me who's having super enjoy times with Bit Trip.]

Alright, so I’m not going to beat around the bush here. Jason knows the guys at Gaijin Games (more on that soon), and, as such, we are probably a little biased when it comes to the Bit.Trip series. For example, I’m not likely to say Bit.Trip Whatever “sucks”. I would be much more likely to say something like “Bit.Trip Notasgood is not their best attempt at game development”. You see how that works? Within, I discuss GG’s latest release, with great enthusiasm.

My first gaming system was a little device called the Nintendo Entertainment System. My NES and Super Mario Brothers was just the beginning of my long, long love affair with Nintendo. Sure, we’ve had our disagreements, but in the end, the makeup sex is always great (….what?). While I very much enjoy gaming in it’s current form, much of my gaming love lies in the memory of spending hours, days playing Super Mario Brothers, Zelda, and Metroid. Everything about it warms the pixellated cockles of my gaming heart, the graphics, the music. It hearkens back to a simpler time in gaming. No Microsoft, no Sony, and for the love of all the used to be holy, no Halo.

I still go back and play those classic games. It is not uncommon for me to pop Mega Man 2 into my NES and spend 30 minutes destroying it for the thousandth time. What I am trying to get to here, is that I really love classic gaming. As such, anything released now that has a classic look and feel to it will almost certainly get my money. Mega Mans (Mega Men?) 9 and 10 are out and I couldn’t be happier. While I love seeing new releases of classic IPs that I loved as a kid, I also am a huge fan of new games that throw back to that classic or retro feel. Enter, the Bit.Trip series. When I saw the first screen shots of BEAT floating around the interwebs I was already sold. I wanted to father GG’s children. I pointed Jason in the direction of the screen shots and he agreed that this series was going to be something to behold.

The latest release, Bit. Trip Runner, had me very excited. It has everything! Running, jumping, kicking, amazing look, feel, and sound. What is there not to love? On release day I downloaded it, questioning why GG would short-sell themselves on the price, and settled in for what I was sure to be GG’s best work to date. As you might imagine I was not disappointed. Now I want to carry GG’s children.

Bit.Trip Runner scratches an itch in my gaming psyche that has been left unattended for quite some time. This game brings me back to those days in my living room, sitting on the floor with my trusty NES controller in hand. Even the feel of the wii-mote turned sideways in my hand is a reasonable enough facsimile to invoke nostalgia. B.TR is beautifully crafted, silky smooth, and has perfect timing. The entire experience feels right at home on a Nintendo console, with a d-pad and two buttons for control. GG could not have nailed it better.

In the continuing saga of Commander Video, you finally take direct control of our little protagonist. Ok, maybe not direct control. Commander Video essentially runs (you see what they did there? Bit.Trip Runner? He runs? Clever guys!) at his own pace and it is up to you to dodge the numerous obstacles that get in his way. The obstacles are perfectly matched up with the beat of the music, as is the case in all of the B.T games thus far. If you get into the timing of the music many of the obstacles you have to dodge will just come naturally. Most levels have repeating sets of obstacles, so once you get through the first set, you can usualy float through the second.

For added challenge there are a number of piles of gold throughout each stage that will add to your score. Obtain all of the gold piles in a stage and you are rewarded with a bonus stage ripped right out of pitfall. There is even RF hiss in the audio in the bonus stage for that little extra added bit of awesome.

The bosses are clever and fun to confront, though have only encountered 2 of the 3 in the game so far. Bit.Trip runner has deceived me into thinking that this might be the first B.T game I can actually complete. While I have enjoyed playing all of the Bit.Trip games, not all of them have resonated so well with my brain’s configuration. Bit.Trip CORE, for example. I struggled for weeks to complete the first level, meanwhile Jason flew right through it and had no problems. Bit.Trip Runner, on the other hand, had fallen right into place for me, and the entire game has come very naturally. Of course, I say this as I am currently stuck on stage 3-9. I’ll get there, though. You will not defeat me this time, Gaijin!

For me, Bit.Trip Runner is the best of the series to date. Everyone forms their own opinion, though. Each game is just different enough where those who play them can get into one more than they can another. This is the game I have been waiting for from Gaijin since they released Bit.Trip BEAT, which, sadly, has now fallen to second place in my personal Bit.Trip favorite hierarchy. Great game guys. I can’t wait to see what you are cooking up in Bit.Trip ZOMG! I also understand that there is a special guest who will appear in the next B.T game.

For the 2 of you out there who have not yet seen B.T Runner, here is a little taste. But for $8, just go buy it!

Addresses blurred for no apparent reason than to add MYSTERY.

Sometimes a really mysterious package is just awesome.

Upon returning to the Robotube Games hideout late last night, I noticed a strange parcel on the doorstep.  When I saw Commander Video adorning the return address area of the box, I knew secret transmissions of an important nature were contained inside.

This isn’t the first time Gaijin Games of Bit.Trip fame sent Robotube Games strange packages. Oh no. My first memory of such parcels was some time back when an Atari Pong console, packed with care along with a fresh bag of Organic Dates (delicious, I might add) showed up here. I found it strange to use a Pong Console to cushion a bag of dates, but to be fair, dates are a delicate fruit.

This time, however, the contents were varied, and extremely mysterious. I believe they may have some kind of secret underlying message. I spent all night trying to decipher it to no avail. Let’s have a look:

This is why we CAN have nice things!

First, we have a Radio Shack Computerized Arcade. The buttons contained on this machine cover every known color that mankind has discovered to date. Mauve and puce are represented here as well. This machine appears to play various sorts of electronic games, from a Simon-like memory game, to baseball, and who knows what else. So much waiting to be discovered within!!

Next up, we have an assortment of three (3) Pokey Mans. I know Pikachu, but the other two escape me. Sadly, I have not yet taken the advice of the very person who sent me these mans, and actually played through a Pokemon game. This is something I need to do.

Last up, there is perhaps one of the greatest shirts I have seen in arguably a very long time. The front beckons “PAC MAN SAYS PLAY MY GAME”. Apparently, Pac-Man didn’t know I’d be getting this shirt, because if he did, it would read “PAC MAN THANKS YOU FOR PLAYING HIS GAME FOR 30 YEARS.” Nonetheless, this shirt is awesome.

But then as I unboxed the Computerized Arcade to explore its secrets further, a message slipped out and glided gently to the floor in slow-motion:

:-o

The signature of “->A”, I have deduced, must stand for “Love, Alex.” (I added the “love” part myself…I am a wishful thinker.)

First off, I have figured out the mystery. Alex is challenging me to find out what is “Lame” about the Computerized Arcade. Because I do not see how anything could possibly be lame about something with that many colors in it. And the thought of getting rid of this is absurd. More like “Put this on your mantle above your fireplace.”

Now…off to Home Depot to track down a bottle of “Coaxing”. Whatever that is.

Thanks, Alex & Gaijin Games.

->J

(PS- Check out the newly launched Bit.Trip Website!)

I’m not going to review this game or tell you what it’s about, because you may have heard of a thing called the “Innernutz” where you can read all about it.  I will say this:

PlayStation Network.  My name is “Robotube”.

I await your ass-kicking, which I will undoubtedly receive from you.

My BFFs (Best Foreigner Friends) at Gaijin Games have just released the soundtrack to their pioneering WiiWare title, Bit.Tip CORE over at CD Baby. If you enjoy sweet, melodious chiptune happiness, you will go bananas for their fine soundtracks.

Prior to the Bit.Trip CORE soundtrack, the soundtrack for Bit.Trip BEAT was also released last year as well. Both are available at CD Baby for only six American dollar bills.

Each of Gaijin Games’ Bit.Trip soundtracks feature the truly lovely stylings of renowned chiptune artists.  So…go get said music!

Gaijin Games Soundtracks at CD Baby

I don’t normally post this sort of story here, but I thought a man who contributed so much to the game industry and served his final days with a company that I adore and respect as much as Capcom deserved a little tribute, if even only on my measly blog.

Robotube Games sends its thoughts and condolences to his friends and family. Thanks, Mark, for the work you did in this industry, and for the happiness you helped bring to hundreds of thousands of adoring fans.

Full Story: Capcom’s Mark Beaumont Passes Away

Nonetheless, H.R. Lickinstuff is welcome back anytime.

Chris play's the Nintendo Block Kuzushi. The urge to lick has not yet taken over.

Hit the jump for more.

....aaaand now he's licking it.

Then he played our coveted AdventureVision without our permission.

Hit the jump for the weird pics.

Dennis looking on as I loosen up with some fine apertifiitifis.

Director Dennis Peters (standing), Audio guy Bobby Sachetti (sitting) and the Bit Museum Logo (on the TV.)

HEY! FOLLOW JASON ON TWITTER!

Did you ever wonder how Nintendo got the wacky idea to slap two displays together and call it a DSi? This will shed some light on it! Jason Cirillo takes you through a super thrilling, action-packed joy ride through the history of the Nintendo Game & Watch. Next time you’re playing with an LCD calculator to give yourself maximum entertainment, remember the humble beginnings of Game & Watch!