Hothead Games Gets ‘Radical’ New CEO

It looks like there’s been a bit of the ol’ corporate shuffle going on this morning over at the offices of Hothead Games, the company behind the Penny Arcade Adventures games. Earlier today, the studio announced that it has managed to corral former Radical Entertainment president and CEO Ian Wilkinson as its new president and CEO, effective immediately. Wilkinson oversaw Radical’s growth from a startup company to an established industry player, culminating in Radical’s sale to Vivendi Games, which merged with Activision last year. As part of the change, former Hothead Games president and CEO Vlad Ceraldi will shift gears, taking on a new role as Director of Game Development, while Chief Operating Officer Joel DeYoung will move from COO to Director of Game Technology.

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The Rundown: Dec. 18, 2008

December should be declared iPod month with all the games being released just this week. EA releases yet another game today, GarageGames tells us what games on Steam use Torque, we tell you how to make a Spore sculpture or a Champions Online holiday card and detail new releases from Konami and Capcom. All this and more today in The Rundown.

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Penny Arcade Adventures Gets Trophies

According to the official PlayStation Blog, featuring comments from Hothead Games, Penny Arcade Adventures is scheduled for a winter 2008 release on the PS3. Besides offering all the content from the previously released adventure RPG on Xbox 360 and PC, the PS3 version will feature trophies, and will incorporate features from the PlayStation Network like Player Score Rankings.

Those that are lucky enough to bew going to the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle this weekend, can stop by the Hothead Games booth (#1114) to check it out. A panel will also be held there for attendees to participate in. Fun, fun, fun.

Penny-Arcade Game Goes Gold

Fans of the often brilliant Penny-Arcade comic will be happy to hear that Hothead Games has announced Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness — Episode One has reached gold status (winner of the longest game title ever?).

The game starring the lovable Tycho and Gabe will be available for download via Greenhouse digital download service. for $19.95 near the end of this quarter.

On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is an episodic RPG-adventure game series set in a deranged comic-book meets-pulp-horror 1920s universe. Armed with unconventional weaponry and witty repartee, you join forces with the Gabe and Tycho, the crime-solving team of the Startling Developments Detective Agency to make war on bizarre enemies and solve the mysteries hidden deep in the sinister heart of New Arcadia.
From the hilarious and twisted minds of Penny Arcade creators Mike “Gabe” Krahulik and Jerry “Tycho” Holkins, legendary game designer Ron Gilbert and veteran producers at Hothead Games comes a 100% authentic and hilarious Penny Arcade experience.

Hothead Scores Ron Gilbert, DeathSpank Game

Hothead Games has picked up the rights to publish Ron Gilbert’s role-playing/adventure game, DeathSpank…and the rights to Ron Gilbert as well. Described by Gilbert as Monkey Island meets Diablo, the game’’s hook is the infusion of Gilbert’’s unique style of humor and storytelling. Hothead also announced that Gilbert will be joining the company’’s Vancouver-based studio as Creative Director, effective immediately.

I”ve spent over four years trying to find the right publisher for this strangelittle game. Now that I”ve done it, you just know that somewhere fourhorsemen are saddling up, says Gilbert.

The episodic RPG adventure follows the antics of DeathSpank, a character that first appeared on Gilbert’’s Grumpy Gamer Web site in a series of animated comics he penned with long-time creative collaborator, Clayton Kauzlaric.