In all honesty, we might have been able to release it sooner, but we really wanted to make sure this was a polished game, not just a run-of-the-mill hack ‘n slash. While the storyline is based on the original Dungeon Hunter, we wanted to re-imagine everything else for Alliance. So we rebuilt our game systems, graphics and engine from the ground up for the PlayStation 3.

Balance of Power

Just getting the classes balanced to the point we felt every player will be happy filling in a unique role for their party required extensive playtesting. To this end, we included some great abilities to unlock as your character progresses. Each class has a total of seven ability tiers and players unlock a new tier every few levels, so there’s always something to look forward to just around the corner.

You’re going to need all those powers, as monsters in co-op are noticeably beefed up (and drop better loot), so teamwork is important. This creates opportunities for players to complement each other, becoming a party that’s far more powerful than the sum of its heroes. We also have a system that allows players to reset their skills and explore different roles and customization paths.

On the Move

Though originally we only planned on players using the standard DualShock controllers, we started working on PlayStation Move motion controls in the spring of 2010. Even with a designer working full time on this for nearly half a year, we had to go through many iterations before finding exactly what we wanted: a new and refined experience with the peripheral – not some tacked-on feature.

The PlayStation Move motion controller allows players to experience Dungeon Hunter: Alliance in a somewhat more relaxed and casual manner, which is exactly what we had in mind for it. Even players inexperienced with the classic controller can easily pick up and play using the PlayStation Move. Personally, I love the fact that it allows you to play with a single hand – leaving the other hand free to grab chips or a cold one – but if you prefer, you can always use a DualShock controller instead.

Play United…Or Not

Still, the hardest part of the process has been making a fun, stable and engaging multiplayer mode that lets you switch seamlessly between single player, local multiplayer and online multiplayer, without having to switch your character. After all, the multiplayer experience really is the focus of this game, but we don’t want players to feel like they have to start back at level one when they feel like playing solo. If you feel like having friends over but don’t want to start a new character, the option is there. If you want to play with four players but can only get two real life allies, you can take your game online and invite a distant friend or a random player to join the party. How you play is up to you.

Naturally, we couldn’t include every single feature that came to mind, and player versus player is one such feature. It was tempting to do, but we opted to focus our effort on making the best possible cooperative experience and had no wish to throw in more game modes simply to make the features list longer.

We are very proud to offer PlayStation Network users the type of experience that has been lacking in this current generation of consoles. We hope they have as much fun playing Dungeon Hunter: Alliance as we had making the game.

Hello everyone! Just dropping in to see how the PlayStation community is doing with our newest PSN title: Dungeon Hunter: Alliance. This is the first action-RPG game that immerses you in the heart of a unique multiplayer experience, both local and online. Face the world of Gothicus and its horde of creatures either alone or with up to four other heroes. Push evil back to the depths of hell and stop the destructive ambitions of a tyrannical Queen!

Our dev team is quite focused on making sure the gameplay is engaging enough for the hardcore audience, while still accessible to newcomers. What does that entail? Dungeon Hunter: Alliance is focused on providing a real quest to complete either solo or with others. This unique campaign experience spans over 30 levels with an immense world of dungeons, villages and forests to explore, including areas that are randomly generated. You’ll be able to choose your class, optimize your hero’s development by assigning experience points. Expect one heck of an immersive game!

The immense world of Gothicus and the balance of your hero’s development results in gamers becoming more invested in the role he or she plays. Whether playing solo or with friends, there are strategies players have to consider when approaching each level. In this respect, our dev team is hoping fans experience an epic quest that you can revisit in intense local or online modes.

For those of you who like to explore a dark fantasy world, this is a refreshing take on the action RPG genre! Dungeon Hunter: Alliance is set to release April 2011, so check out our launch trailer for an inside peek into our upcoming game!

For most of the Gameloft crew, board games are deeply ingrained in our childhood memories. Whether it involved picking up our first chess piece or throwing backgammon dice, we all hold fond memories of playing board games. With consoles like the PlayStation 3 offering a modern twist to various traditional board games, it can be a great way to play familiar titles for that nostalgic feeling.

One of our favorite games we like to play in the office is Blokus. This is essentially an abstract strategy game, so it gets pretty intense when the Gameloft crew faces off against each other. Producer Philippe Laurens is particularly excited to share the news regarding Gameloft’s release of Blokus on PSN!

Jennifer Kye: For those unfamiliar with the game, what is the basic concept of Blokus?
Philippe Laurens: The goal of the game is for each player to place as many of his/her 21 differently-shaped pieces on the board as possible. The strategy to win is to place your pieces so they “block” the other players from placing their pieces!

Each player begins at one of the corners of the board. The players take turns placing one block at a time. Each new piece on the board must touch another piece of the same color, but it can only touch at the corners, never along the sides. When none of the players can place any more pieces, they all count the number of squares that their pieces occupy. This is their final score for the match. It’s a captivating strategy game!

JK: How did the development team work to make the game accessible to beginners?
PL: The principle of the game is really simple so even a child can grasp it quickly. The tutorial is pretty clear but we’ve also added an option that can be handy for beginners. With this option on, once you select a block, all the different places on the board where you could actually place it are highlighted. You just have to choose one spot to place your block. Plus, PlayStation Move controls enable you to move your blocks even more intuitively (Blokus also works with standard control pads).

JK: Conversely, how did the development team incorporate challenges for Blokus veterans?
PL: Getting the perfect blocking strategy on Blokus can be tricky. You can, of course, select the difficulty level in the game, but also determine a time limit for each move. Having to choose where to put your block in only 10 seconds is very challenging, believe me!

Also, each of the four game variations requires a totally different strategy. We have created a Career mode which gets progressively more difficult. You can play through 30 rounds, each with a different game type and rule variant.

JK: How did you end up adding a special mode for color blind gamers? And how does it work?
PL: One of our game designers on the team is color-blind, so it became clear that we had to add a Color-Blind mode, if only for him to work on the game! It works very simply: different icons for each different color are added on the blocks to make them more easily identifiable for the color-blind.

JK: What aspects make Blokus such a fun and engaging game?
PL: The principle is really simple and you can play for hours while still discovering a new strategy – it’s quite addictive. With its four game variations, Blokus definitely offers a lot of variety. Based on the game variation, you have the following options: Four players control one color each, two players control two colors each, or four players play in teams.

You can also play Blokus Duo. With only twocolors, the board is smaller and the start position is in the middle of the board. We also added some avatars to the game you can customize as you like. The Multiplayer mode also adds a lot of fun. You can play with up to four riends locally on the same PS3, or play online.

JK: If the development team were to play a Blokus tournament, who would come out as the champion?
PL: I would! I accept challenges! As I’d like to say: Bring it on!

So … what exactly is the title about? Boiled down, it’s immersion in a modern war experience with one of the most complete FPS multiplayer games on PSN. Throw in PlayStation Move compatibility and you can look forward to a comprehensive shooter experience. FPS fans can expect maps featuring Middle Eastern and Western metropolitan cities, as well as high-resolution graphics and an extensive use of physics creating impressive game environments. Read on for our interview regarding our upcoming PSN title: Modern Combat: Domination.

Jennifer Kye: With the Modern Combat series always offering an immersive experience, how did the development team work to offer greater depth to the gameplay?

Arnaud: We focused purely on the multiplayer experience. We worked on the different game modes, the level design of tactical maps, the core weapons to offer both variety and good balance, and the unlocks / ranks for an addictive progression. Regarding the gameplay itself, we wanted something more realistic; while still accessible to the newcomer, hardcore gamers would welcome the chance to hone their skills. We’re trying to make the gamer more interested in his role while he plays; it increase the adrenaline and tension during gameplay. We wanted to offer fans an experience that isn’t typically felt in the current top-seller FPS.

J.K.: Were there specific challenges the development team faced?

Arnaud: We are using our latest next generation in-house engine for the game. One of the biggest challenges is the visual aspect; this required significant work from the team. Because this fresh engine is dedicated to next generation consoles, the development team had to quickly adapt and apply technical details on the fly. It was rather nerve-wracking, especially since the game features all the special effects you’d expect from a console game, including the latest shaders support and 60 FPS.

The second big challenge is online stability; we have to adapt and learn the massive scale for it to work flawlessly on such a game.

J.K.: We know that Modern Combat: Domination is an online multiplayer experience with quite a variety of maps. How were maps for the game built and what can gamers expect?

Arnaud: I will try not to give away too many spoilers. For the Middle Eastern maps, we took our inspiration mainly from our previous games. For example, we created a cave and brainstormed how we could reuse the concept and push it graphically. Each map was discussed on paper first, then tested many times in grey boxes; once the core level design was approved, we applied texture and finished the last micro level design elements.

As for what gamers can expect, these maps are all about cover and opportunity spots. The level designs feature strong drawbacks and advantages that require teams to cooperate and coordinate attacks. Rushing into objectives will only lead to mission failure, so it’s key for the team to anticipate and progress with care. When under fire, gamers will need to be quick and accurate or else just a few enemy bullets can send gamers to respawn. It is the perfect challenge for people who are seeking a very engaging FPS experience; gamers will have to master maps, skill sets and abilities, and of course, function as a team. It’s not something we think you’ll commonly find on the PSN.

J.K.: Modern Combat: Domination also features an extensive customization system. What are the customization options and how do they translate in terms of gameplay?

Arnaud: The development team wanted to go further with the weapon list. For both visual variety and gameplay richness, the team didn’t want upgrades to be simply cosmetic. Without breaking weapon balance, custom options can significantly change the way gamers play. The default iron sight can be difficult on some weapons so you can prefer visibility with red dot sight for precision. Or you can add foregrip to reduce the recoil of your weapon. Or you can add a grenade launcher. Or … well, the list goes on. That’s how we’ve worked it; it comes as a reward while you progress in the ranks to unlock them. They won’t magically turn you into the greatest player, but it allows you to define how you want to play your preferred weapon.

J.K.: Finally, what would you say are the main advantages of Modern Combat: Domination over other PS3 FPS?

Arnaud: We come with a different multiplayer experience compared to what we always see now in contemporary military FPS. It offers great graphics, addictive gameplay and a price that is far less expensive thanks to being offered on PSN instead of a traditional box title. I believe it will please players on PSN!

Look forward to more updates in the coming weeks because Modern Combat : Domination will be hitting PSN next month!

If you don’t recall ever playing Earthworm Jim, I can only shake my head with utter sorrow. Who else but an ordinary earthworm can transcend fleeing from crows and eating dirt to become a mutated superhero?

Cue the dramatic music.

Get your Plasma Baster ready for some trigger happy times in the sweet world of high definition graphics — thanks to the amazing team at Gameloft, they’ve given all the original levels in the single-player campaign a healthy HD face-lift. As an added bonus, you’ll discover three exclusive levels which you can now venture through in a never-before-seen setting.

Not one for solo adventures? Gameloft has you covered. Earthworm Jim HD offers local and online 2-4 player co-op gameplay in 15 multiplayer levels! You can also team up with your buddies to (you know) launch cows or madly whip space ships.

Did I mention, launching cows?

Simply strap into the Ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit™ (Super Suit for short) and be prepared to take down Psy-Crow!

Earthworm Jim HD will be hitting the PlayStation Network on August 3rd at an awesome price of $9.99!