Hothead Games Continues to Announce Things, This Time a DeathSpank Sequel

Seemingly unsatisfied with the mere announcement of a new game based on the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, Hothead Games has once again let slip news of a new project in the works at its studio, though this time, it's something familiar to the developer.

Hothead dropped early word to Kotaku this morning that a new sequel to the studio's 2010 downloadable action RPG titles, DeathSpank, and DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue, will be coming this summer to Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network, and PC. Titled 'The Baconing', this sequel does not feature the involvement of the character's original creator, Ron Gilbert, nor does it feature the word DeathSpank anywhere in the title. It's just The Baconing.

Perhaps this might have something to do with wanting to get away from any negative connotations one might associate with the earlier DeathSpank titles. While generally amusing send-ups of loot-heavy action RPG games, both titles suffered from some rather rote, repetitive gameplay, which our own Jeff Gerstmann took particular issue with in his review of the first title.

That said, Hothead seems well aware of the earlier game's issues and promised in its statement to Kotaku that The Baconing would be a great deal more satisfying to play. The game will apparently feature over 100 new quests, 80 new weapons, 70 different characters, and a new sidekick character named Bob from Marketing. His special abilities will apparently include such gems as: "Laser eye beams; Eat dead bodies to restore health; Eat live bodies as an additional attack option." As someone who once worked alongside a real life Bob from Marketing at one point in my career, I can certify that most of these terrifying abilities are pretty accurate. Sorry, Mr. Picunko.

You can read the entire press release in the Kotaku article, if so inclined. Or you could just go fry up a pan's worth of delicious bacon yourself in celebration of this announcement. Unless you're a vegetarian, in which case, this whole thing is probably just kind of offensive to you. Sorry about that.

More Deathspank? Sure why not.

I would have much preferred Penny Arcade Episode 3, but now I have to read that in text form instead of playing it. :(

Alex is on the roll today lol.

So um people want more deathspank?

I didn't even finish Deathspank the first, I really wanted to like it but it was just so incredibly repetitive that I lost any urge to play it after about 3 hours of playing, if that. So the prospect of a new game is less than exciting to me but maybe they can pull it out.

Yes please

As soon as I read the word "literally" I knew it was Alex' news-post.

I have a feeling that Gilbert was a liability on the project.  His humor just didn't work in Deathspank and the gameplay issues didn't help.  It was alright in the end but it wasn't what the pedigree made it out to be.  Here's hoping a refresh is what this series needed.
 
@Vito_Raliffe said:

I would have much preferred Penny Arcade Episode 3, but now I have to read that in text form instead of playing it. :(

Death spank was a failure. We do not need another. 

Yay, more Deathspank!

Because Deathspank was so good we need more of them.

I enjoyed the first DeathSpank. Never bothered to play the second one. Not a bad game at all, but eh.

Is this stuff funny?  I can't tell.

At least  from thinking Thongs are still funny to thinking Bacon is still funny the developers have moved from 1999 to 2006.

I enjoyed deathspank up until a certain part in thongs of virtue when i became bored of the formula, an improved version sounds like a plan

If it has ENTIRELY DIFFERENT GAMEPLAY then I might be interested.

Good news, I really enjoyed the first two. Not to say that it's the greatest game ever, but well worth the money. 

I would have much preferred Penny Arcade Episode 3, but now I have to read that in text form instead of playing it. :(

Deathspank sucks so badly. I got them both 1/2 price and im pissed at what I paid for them...

Bacon = three guaranteed purchases
e, Major Nelson, Stepto.

Its going to take a lot of changes to the Deathspank formula to interest me.

AUDIBLE GROAN

Monday Night Combat already did bacon.
 
Bacon isn't really that funny anymore, it was good for 1 laugh.

So um people want more deathspank?

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World would have a bone to pick with this other downloadable title.  "Winners don't eat meat!"
 
That said, I wasn't interested in DeathSpank, and I won't be interested in this one either... until there's a Quick Look.  Then, maybe?

I played through the first one and thought it was OK, nothing new or exciting.  But decided to skip the second as it looked like more of the same, which is exactly what I'll do with the third.

I'd probably buy and play another DeathSpank someday (most likely when it goes on sale).
 
I always need something simple and mindless in my backlog for when I just want to mentally flop-out. I still have Torchlight and Thongs of Virtue though, so it could be a little bit before I need anything else.

I would say "yay!" but that would be an utter lie.

I have a feeling that Gilbert was a liability on the project.  His humor just didn't work in Deathspank and the gameplay issues didn't help.  It was alright in the end but it wasn't what the pedigree made it out to be.  Here's hoping a refresh is what this series needed.
 
@Vito_Raliffe said:

I would have much preferred Penny Arcade Episode 3, but now I have to read that in text form instead of playing it. :(

To be fair it was as much an issue of exhaustion on the part of Mike and Jerry as it was Hothead's reluctance.

MEMES! 
 
do you get it that is the joke

Really can't stand the voice acting or writing or action in deathspank or the sequel on xbla.

You know what's funny, Bacon. 
 
Gaming culture fucking sucks.

Huh. I actually enjoyed the first Deathspank. Haven't gotten around to getting the 2nd yet due to my already mountainous backlog of other games, but it suited my need. 
 
Simple and funny game that was nice to just lie down on the couch and play. That's all I was looking for from it.

I loved both Deathspanks - maybe it's because I'm British and we appreciate that kinda humour. More = yes please.

renviogorationg a new franchise. Didn't I just hear about something like this? 

What the fuck is this jpeg Alex

ho hum...

I kind of like the name the baconing, it sounds good.

Hopefully they retool or complete redo the mechanics of the games...the games are too easy, as linear as you can get, and are way overpriced.  Also the humor was a huge letdown.

Hopefully they retool or complete redo the mechanics of the games...the games are too easy, as linear as you can get, and are way overpriced.  Also the humor was a huge letdown.

The need to fix the second Deathspank.  There are a bunch of glitches at the end of it and i can't finish it.  Would rather the second work so i could play through the game that i already purchased.

That picture is disgusting

To say the first games had a negative connotation is to stay within the GB bubble. The games have gotten very solid reviews last year.

I really enjoyed the first DeathSpank (haven't played the 2nd one yet, but I want to). I really liked how it was a bit less complicated than some other games. I could see why Jeff and other really experienced gamers would want something more involved, but I thought it was really fun and funny. I'm excited to see what The Baconing holds in store for us!

I didn't even finish Deathspank the first, I really wanted to like it but it was just so incredibly repetitive that I lost any urge to play it after about 3 hours of playing, if that. So the prospect of a new game is less than exciting to me but maybe they can pull it out.

I would have much preferred Penny Arcade Episode 3, but now I have to read that in text form instead of playing it. :(