Two Tribes has announced development of Toki Tori 2, sequel to their original puzzle platformer released ten years ago. The game will feature a new adventure and a multiplatform release. The developer is employing an open development model which will allow interested players to follow the game's progress.

Toki Tori 2 will see Two Tribes' poultry mascot character return in a completely new adventure, developed from the ground up for today's players and technology. The initial release will be through Steam for PC and Mac in the spring of 2012. Continuing the tradition of Two Tribes to support multiple platforms, subsequent releases on downloadable stores from Apple, Nintendo and more are planned.

Two Tribes will employ an open development model, where interested players can closely follow the progress of the development. Direct access to the developers through Twitter, regular blog updates on all facets of game development and access to playable early versions from day one are planned.

Two Tribes

Toki Tori 2+

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Macgamestore.com has announced the addition of Her Interactive's Nancy Drew: Alibi In Ashes. The sleuthing adventure once again puts players in the role of Nancy Drew and her friends, who must prove Nancy's innocence when she is arrested for arson.

A local contest turns into an arson scene and now deceit smolders among the charred ruins of the River Heights Town Hall. Police have several suspects, but well-placed incriminating evidence and poisonous local gossip compelled authorities to make only one arrest: Nancy Drew. Can you, as the teenage detective and her closest friends, catch the real arsonist and extinguish the accusations among the embers?

Features:

• Play as Nancy Drew and explore her hometown of River Heights
  
• Assume the roles of Nancy and her friends Bess, George, and Ned
  Identify fingerprints at the local police lab
  
• Ask tough questions. The answers vary depending on which character asks.
  
• Collect evidence and pin it on the suspects
  
• Visit the Drew home and explore Nancy’s room
  
• Order different flavors of ice cream at the parlor
  
• Hunt for clues to the real arsonist
  
• Save your reputation before it goes up in smoke
  
• Choose from Junior or Senior Detective difficulty levels

Her Interactive

Nancy Drew: Alibi In Ashes

Buy Nancy Drew: Alibi In Ashes

Gear Diary has posted a new guest editorial from Spiderweb Software founder Jeff Vogel. The veteran indie RPG developer discussed game pricing, the difference between casual and niche games, and why not every game can be sold for a low price.

Where is the line? How much money feels like money? Well, in my own mind, I use what I call the Frappuccino Rule. A frappuccino is one of those super-sweet caffeinated milkshakes they sell at the many Starbucks that have infected our Earth. The rule is that the price for a large frappuccino is the maximum amount you can charge and have your customers not think twice about it. This means that, once your game is around five bucks, it feels like spending money. Three or less, than it doesn’t.

Within these two ranges (cheap and expensive), there isn’t a huge amount of difference. Your game will make pretty close to the same amount if you charge a dollar or two dollars. (At $2, you only need to sell half of the copies to make the same amount of money as if you charge $1. Not difficult.) Similarly, the difference between a game selling for $10 and $15 isn’t huge. But the thinking process that goes into deciding to spend $1 on a game versus spending $10 on a game is entirely different. Before people spend $10, they will think about it. At $1, they won’t.

Gear Diary: Jeff Vogel Editorial

Spiderweb Software

IGN has posted a new review of The Sims 3 Pets, the recently released pet based expansion for the popular Sims 3. Developed by the The Sims Studio team, and brought to Mac by TransGaming, the addition gives players the ability to play as a pet for the first time in franchise history and see The Sims world through their eyes.

Cats and dogs can be trained to hunt, which is their only job skill per se. Cats hunt for other animals, such as low-maintenance pets, while dogs hunt for valuable ores and gems. Unlike previous Pets-like expansions, your pets are fully controllable, so while your humans are away at their jobs, you can personally command your cat or dog to hunt around the town. It's a far less crazy system and allows you the freedom to ignore it if you'd rather just keep the pets for their social benefits.

Horses meanwhile are a nearly game-breaking goldmine if raised correctly. Horses can be trained in running races or equestrian competitions. Your human Sim trainer will also gain skills, such as his ability to ride, and the combined skill of horse and human will affect how you do in races. If you create a new Sim and horse from scratch and do nothing but train, you can probably start pulling in over three grand daily after just an in-game week of training; it would take several weeks to get that much from a conventional job. It's a get-rich-quick scheme that actually works, but it's contained just enough not to unbalance the game.

IGN: The Sims 3 Pets Review

TransGaming

Electronic Arts

The Sims 3 Pets

Buy The Sims 3 Pets

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