Double Fine certainly has had trouble hanging onto publishers. Its first game, the critically adored but widely ignored Psychonauts, was originally to be published by Microsoft, though in the midst of a protracted development process, the game got dropped, eventually getting picked up by Majesco. Similarly, Double Fine had a deal with Vivendi to publish its next game, Brütal Legend, a heavy-metal action adventure game featuring Jack Black as a hellbound roadie, but after Vivendi's merger with Activision, it got the boot for not being a property that could be cranked out year after year. I don't think there was ever much doubt that someone would eventually pick up Brütal Legend for distribution, but this morning's announcement that EA would be publishing the game through its Partners program was still a relief.
It's also reassuring to see that, even amidst all its financial turmoil, EA isn't shying away from publishing independently developed, somewhat riskier games like this. The press release goes on to confirm that Brütal Legend will be coming to both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in fall 2009, and that Tim Schafer will be unveiling the first gameplay trailer for the game at the Spike TV Video Game Awards this weekend. You can read the full release below, while you contemplate the probability of a Brütal Legend/Rock Band crossover.
It's also reassuring to see that, even amidst all its financial turmoil, EA isn't shying away from publishing independently developed, somewhat riskier games like this. The press release goes on to confirm that Brütal Legend will be coming to both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in fall 2009, and that Tim Schafer will be unveiling the first gameplay trailer for the game at the Spike TV Video Game Awards this weekend. You can read the full release below, while you contemplate the probability of a Brütal Legend/Rock Band crossover.
Redwood City, CA – December 12th, 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Double Fine Productions, Inc. today announced that they have signed an exclusive publishing agreement that will bring the highly-anticipated rock-adventure Brütal Legend™ to gamers, headbangers, roadies and rockers worldwide next Fall. The latest creation from gaming icon Tim Schafer and the award-winning team at Double Fine, Brütal Legend is a 3rd person Action/Adventure game starring Jack Black in the role of roadie Eddie Riggs, who sets on an epic quest to build an army of rockers with only a broad axe, a big block V8 and his faithful guitar in hand.
“This is awesome news!” stated Tim Schafer, President of Double Fine Productions. “The quality and creativity of the games EA Partners has been involved with make it a perfect home for our baby, Brütal Legend. Some people were starting to wonder if the saga of Eddie Riggs would ever see the light of day, but now I think it’s clear that this game, like Metal itself, cannot be killed!”
“Brütal Legend is shaping up to be a creative tour de force,” said David DeMartini, Senior Vice President and General Manager, EA Partners. ”At EAP, we are deeply committed to giving the industry’s elite independent developers a platform to launch their creations to a worldwide audience. Tim Schafer is known for some of the richest stories and characters in our industry, and with Jack Black offering his vocal stylings for Eddie Riggs, we are extremely excited to help Tim and his talented team at Double Fine see their vision come to fruition.”
Brütal Legend tells the tale of Eddie Riggs, played by Jack Black, who is drawn back through time to a mythical world dripped in Rock and Roll folklore; where great Metal titans once ruled and power chords rang from the countryside for all to hear. When an oppressed people request Eddie’s knowledge of modern warfare, he pulls from his own experience in the only occupation he’s ever had, a roadie for a Heavy Metal band. From this springs the most hellacious army man has ever seen, and thus brings this ancient world into the Age of Metal.
Also be sure to catch Tim Schafer and Jack Black unveil the first gameplay trailer for Brütal Legend at the 2008 Video Game Awards live this Sunday, December 14th at 9pm EST on Spike TV.
Brütal Legend will be available for the Xbox 360® video game system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system Fall 2009.
Double Fine is represented by CAA.
For more information on Brütal Legend please visit www.brutallegend.com.