Twisted Pixel surprised by some reactions to The Maw DLC

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You have to admit — you guys are brutal. In response to the announcement of the upcoming downloadable content for Twisted Pixel’s Xbox LIVE Arcade game, The Maw, you guys unleashed the hounds. It’s a rip off, an obvious ploy to double-dip into the wallets of gamers, you said.

I get it — money and Microsoft Points don’t grow on trees, and we like to get what we paid for. We don’t like feeling like we purchased half of a game (i.e. Lumines LIVE) or paying to unlock content already on a disc.

In the case of The Maw, Twisted Pixel says this simply isn’t the case. In fact, Twisted Pixel CEO and Engineer Mike Wilford said he and the team were surprised by the reactions. 

“In the months since The Maw went into final testing and certification,” they wrote in the official DLC announcement, “Twisted Pixel has been working on creating additional levels for the game, incorporating new enemies, full cinematic, and additional gameplay into each one.

Note that Twisted Pixel started work on the DLC after the game was submitted to Microsoft for final certification. That indicates the content wasn’t finished before the game was released to the public. Maybe not everyone is evil, right? And for a mere 100 MS Points ($1.25) per new episode, must we complain that much?

Have questions for the folks at Twisted Pixel? We’re doing a “community interview,” allowing you to ask them all sorts of questions about the making the game, XBLA development, or what their favorite flavor donut is. Check it out in the newly relaunched Destructoid forums.

AUSTIN, TX – January 29, 2009 – In the months since The Maw went into final testing and certification, Twisted Pixel has been working on creating additional levels for the game, incorporating new enemies, full cinematics, and additional gameplay into each one.  They have also been busy squandering the capabilities of the time traveling car they jacked a couple weeks ago.  Mike Henry, lead programmer on The Maw: “I haven’t had a soggy last bite of cereal since we got this puppy.”  Asked about the possibility of using the technology to prevent world catastrophes or to send the new game data back in time to get incorporated into the original game, Henry pointed obstinately at his bowl.  “Crunchy.”

Three new “Lost Levels” Offer New Content, Gameplay

Eschewing a vacation after completing The Maw, Lead Artist David Leung has been working on new models, animations, and cinematics for the upcoming levels.  “I love the world of The Maw and am really happy to have the opportunity to make these levels that are much larger and pack as much personality and new gameplay types .”  Leung divides his time between creating the over 100 new animations required for the levels and his side hobby, sport-hunting dinosaurs.

High Quality, Low Price Point

Each level will be available for 100 Microsoft Points ($1.25 USD).  “We want to make these new levels as accessible as possible while still allowing the team to get paid for the time they are taking to make all this new content,” said CEO Michael Wilford.   Asked why he didn’t use the time machine to win the lottery, Wilford pointed out the limited supply of plutonium.  “We need to save our trips for important things – like when this pizza was first delivered, it was cold.”  He held up a steaming slice and winked.  “The first time.”

The Maw

The Maw is a 3D action-adventure game available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points ($10 USD).  It was honored with the PAX-10 Audience Choice Award and is a finalist for Technical Excellence in the upcoming 2009 Independent Games Festival.  More information about The Maw can be found at www.WhatIsTheMaw.com

About Twisted Pixel Games, LLC

Founded in 2006 by industry veterans, Twisted Pixel is an independent game development studio that operates in two capacities: 1) Inventing innovative original IP concepts then developing them into premiere console titles; and 2) Providing top-flight contract games development work to leading publishers on their highly-anticipated titles. The company’s mission is to become a leading developer of digitally distributed console games with ambitious and inspiring games that exceed consumer expectations. Learn more about Twisted Pixel at www.TwistedPixelGames.com.


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