GRIN no more

GRIN is no more, according to a sobering message from GRIN founders Bo and Ulf Andersson on the company’s official web site. GRIN’s most recent works include Bionic Commando, Bionic Commando: Rearmed for Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, Wanted: Weapons of Fate, and Terminator: Salvation.

The closure follows a string of closures and personnel cuts but the number one reason cited for this recent decision was “delayed publisher payments.” Which publishers we do not know, but it probably didn’t help that many of GRIN’s most recent games weren’t well received.

I’m personally thankful for Bionic Commando: Rearmed, which was a fairly decent recreation of the original NES game I loved so much. Full statement from GRIN after the break.

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Bionic Commando PC game, soundtrack released

Nathan Spencer is getting a 3D make-over and soundtrack with the release of Bionic Commando for Windows PCs. Bionic Commando is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB and is available now on store shelves in North America for $39.99 for Windows PCs and through various online distribution platforms, including the Capcom e-Store and Steam. Bionic Commando Rearmed is also available via Steam. Bionic Commando Rearmed can be purchased in a bundle through Steam with Bionic Commando for $44.99.

Also available today is the Bionic Commando soundtrack composed by Jamie Christopherson, Simun Viklund, Trond-Viggo Melsen and Erik Thunberg. The soundtrack is being published via Nile Rogers’ Sumthing Else Music Works and is available today at retail through Sumthing Else Music Works, as digital download on Sumthing Digital and iTunes.

Bionic Commando: Rearmed deal this week

Capcom is offering - for a limited time - Bionic Commando: Rearmed, for just 400 MS Points on Xbox Live Arcade. The sale will last for one week May 27 - June 3, 2009. Bionic Commando: Rearmed is a reworking of the classic 8-bit title, Bionic Commando, which was originally released 20 years ago on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Bionic Commando: Rearmed combines side-scrolling shooting and grappling action with new HD visuals, weapons and bionic arm functionality. The musical score has also been redone to add a contemporary to the experience.

Other new additions include a 2-player co-op mode, online ranking system and Challenge Rooms. And last but not least, completing certain sections in Bionic Commando Rearmed will unlock items in the new 3D sequel, Bionic Commando, that launched on May 19th. Find out more at www.xbox.com.

Bionic Commando Released

Capcom has shipped Bionic Commando for the Xbox 360 PS3 to North American retail outlets. The game is rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and retails for $59.99. Based on the classic NES game (and Xbox Live Arcade remake), the new Bionic Commando takes the arm swinging, gun slinging action of the original to an all new 3D world.

Players are able to take their swinging skills from single-player mode and challenge their friends online in a 8-player multiplayer game that will be available when the game ships on PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE. Players will need to utilize all the skills honed in single player such as Zip Kick, Death from Above and Adrenaline attacks to to win against human players.

The development team behind Bionic Commando was a collaboration of cultures and skills, consisting of an American Producer living in Japan, a Japanese Creative Advisor and Swedish developer GRIN providing a European influence. Interesting stuff. Look for a review from our very own Scott Jones  right here.

Capcom Preps Three for PC

Not everyone has given up on PC gamers. Capcom plans to deliver 3 games to the PC: Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV and Bionic Commando. The first game to be released for the PC will be Street Fighter IV in July. the rest will roll out later this year. All three games will feature optimizations for the Pc including remappable controls (including mouse and keyboard support), support for both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10, higher screen resolutions and online connectivity for multiplayer.

All three games will be available both at retail and via various digital distribution methods, including Capcom’s own e-store. Learn more by visiting www.capcom.com.

Bionic Commando Demo Within Reach

Capcom let me know this morning that the demo for Bionic Commando will launch on Xbox Live in the “coming weeks.” Focusing the multiplayer mode, the demo will feature one of the 16 multiplayer Deathmatch maps called Vertigo, which let up to 8 players slug it out using a variety of weapons and a bionic grappling hook to swing, shoot and destroy other players.

This map is all about heights, as is most of the game; the player will scale skyscrapers and and avoid the long cold drop to the ground, all while trying to shoot or kick other players. The full version of Bionic Commando will feature Solo & Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag. But make no mistake, multiplayer is just one part of the new Bionic Commando experience.

And now for a little commentary: I’m not sure how I feel about this game. It looks great, but it also seems like it’s going to require the kind of dexterity that i’m not capable of. I hope the single player and multiplayer are gentle to players like me.

The retail version of Bionic Commando will ship for Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3 on Tuesday May 19th.

Capcom Hit with Major YTD Losses

In case you haven’t noticed from all the headlines lately, it’s that time of the year when companies have to report on their progress for the third financial quarter of the year. The most recent game company to step up to the firing line was Capcom, who released details of its year-to-date financials to investors late yesterday. The results were pretty rough, with the company reporting an overall loss of net income totaling a whopping 95 percent. However, things aren’t as bad as they seem, and the company expects to change things by the end of the financial year.

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