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The Maw set to devour Xbox Live Arcade

by: Randy -
More On: The Maw
Nominated for Technical Excellence in the 2009 Independent Games Festival, not to mention earning the 2008 Penny Arcade Expo PAX 10 Audience Choice Award, The Maw has proven itself creamy enough to rise to the top.  On January 21, 800 points ($10 USD) on Xbox Live Arcade will put Twisted Pixel Games' boy-and-his-dog story into your indie-lovin' hands.  Here's a pictorial preview of the aforementioned boy (blue alien) and his dog (purple, mouthy monstrosity):

THE MAW'S IMMINENT ARRIVAL DEEMED LARGER THREAT TO LIFE THAN GLOBAL WARMING

Announced: Release Date, Price Point, Official Website, and Earth's Annihilation

AUSTIN, TX – January 12, 2009 – Twisted Pixel Games, working in conjunction with the Galactic Council, mistakenly let The Maw escape from his quarantine early Monday afternoon.  Scientists predict the destruction of all life in the galaxy "probably by next Wednesday."  Twisted Pixel's CEO Michael Wilford responds: "Real sorry about that.  That's totally my bad."  Twisted Pixel refused further questions, instead announcing the award-winning game's release date, price point, and website location.  The Maw is the company's first original IP, a product of monumental effort by a passionate and loving team, and also their first venture into galacticide.

Release Date

The Maw is coming on January 21st to Xbox LIVE® Arcade.  The game will be localized for a wide range of languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Traditional Chinese.  Pleas for help in any of these languages have all gone ignored by this one-eyed purple beast of the apocalypse, currently measuring the size of a basketball.

Price Point

The Maw will be available for 800 Microsoft Points ($10 USD).  "We set out from the very beginning to create the most content-rich and impressive game that we could for ten bucks and 150 megabytes," said CCO and Director Josh Bear.  "There are over 900 animations, 1000 sound effects, 25 music tracks, 200 visual effects, and 150 models, making this an incredible value for your $10… in the time that we have left."  Bear then wept bitterly.

2GB == 150MB

The Maw will weigh in at a slender 150MB due to the superpowers of Granny 3D and its stupefying 85:1 compression ratio for animation data.  Without it, The Maw would require more than 2GB of space, a size more attributable to retail titles. "I don't think we could have done it without Granny," says CTO Frank Wilson.  "The simplicity of integrating the technology into our engine, the artist-friendly tools, and the brilliance of their compression algorithms are unbeatable."

Unlockable Free Premium Theme

The Maw will offer the rare opportunity for players to win a free premium theme as an in-game unlockable.  The only way to get the theme (and free gamerpics too) is to play The Maw and find them.

Website

www.WhatIsTheMaw.com has officially launched today, featuring additional information about the game, downloadable wallpapers, and more.  The site was created by SBS Studios, a web design firm with a focus on the website needs of game development companies.

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.

About SBS Studios

SBS Studios is a digital agency specializing in creative, innovative and strategic solutions for businesses of all sizes, as well as agencies or communications firms that want to provide their clients with an interactive capability. SBS Studios understands today's digital consumers and how to reach them. From Web site creation, online advertising and rich media, brand development, as well as mobile and other emerging trends, they provide interactive experiences that capture audiences.