Tripwire-Interactive posts

Last August we first reported on Dwarfs, an upcoming fantasy themed casual game from Sweden-based developer Power of Two that had just secured a publishing deal with Tripwire Interactive. While there hasn't been much info on the game's progress since then today Big Download learned that the game will be published by Tripwire sometime this May.

As we reported last year, the game lets players control a group of dwarfs as they mine for gold while also keeping the dwarfs safe from harm from monsters, environmental hazards and others. Tripwire Interactive is also still working on its main game, the WWII shooter sequel Red Orchestra II: Heroes of Stalingrad, that's due out for release later in 2011.

As we continue to watch what's happening to the people of Japan we are reminded that even as they are dealing with disasters others wish to donate their time, money or both to help others. A newly discovered game development company called Greater Good Games wishes to help others via the sales of its games.

Formed in part by a member of Red Orchestra developer Tripwire Interactive, the small indie team is working on its first game, a puzzle-music rhythm title called Break Blocks. The game is due out sometime in 2011 for the PC and Mac. However much of the game's revenues will go to three different charities: Doctors Without Borders, Children International and Extreme Response International. The breakdown of how the revenues will be donated to the charities is given on the Greater Good Games' web page. Basically the team needs $150,000 to break even. If the game makes more than that that it will donate a percentage of the profits to the charities. It will donate 100 percent of the profits to charity after it breaks the $500,000 mark. You can check out a trailer for Break Blocks after the jump:

Developer Tripwire Interactive wants you to have a very different holiday season. As we reported last week, the co-op first person shooter Killing Floor has just launched its Twisted Christmas live event that's free for all owners of the game. The event, which lasts until January 4, adds a new level (Santa's Evil Lair), holiday-themed versions of all of the game's creatures, a new difficulty level (Hell on Earth) and new achievements. You have to get 10 of the new achievements to get the new Baddest Santa playable character. Finally you can get Team Fortress 2's Pyro character in the game if you also already own Team Fortress 2.

To celebrate, Killing Floor is priced at just $6.80 on Steam from now until Thurday, a 66 percent price drop. If you want to get the game plus all of the paid downloadable content you can do so for just $9.50. That includes the newly released London's Finest character pack. If you already own the game you can get the new DLC, which adds four playable characters to the game, for just $1.99

Valve is intent on selling Team Fortress 2 as much as they can, and a collaboration with indie developer Tripwire Interactive is one of those ways. Tripwire has already released details on their upcoming Christmas update for Killing Floor, which includes reskins for every major enemy, a slew of new achievements, and a new unlockable character. Included is also a special unlock for those players that also own TF2. TF2 players get the gas mask and tie from the Mr. Foster character, while Killing Floor players get the TF2's Pyro done in Killing Floor style. This trailer shows it all, so if you were on the fence regarding Killing Floor, now seems like a better time than ever to get the game.

Download HD Killing Floor 'Twisted Christmas Event 2010' Trailer
Check out all Killing Floor downloads

We haven't heard much about Killing Floor lately but the creature co-op-themed shooter is going to get all merry and jolly starting next week. Developer-publisher Tripwire Interactive has just announced plans to hold its first ever Twisted Christmas event in the game which will last from December 14 to January 4.

The free event includes a new level, Santa's Evil Lair, along with all of the creatures in the game replaced with holiday-themed versions of themselves (they go there with the Nutpound). Plus there will be 13 new Christmas achievements added as well as a new difficulty level, Hell on Earth. If you managed to get 10 of them you can get a new playable character, Baddest Santa. Finally there's a Team Fortress 2 crossover. Anyone who owns both games can get the red and blue Pyro character to use in Killing Floor.

In addition to the free Twisted Christmas event, a new paid DLC for the game will be released next week. London's Finest will add four new playable characters with a UK twist to the game. Pricing was not announced. You can check out a video of what you can expect from Twisted Christmas after the jump:

Tripwire is rapidly becoming known as a publisher of former mods, and their latest release falls straight in line with that perception. The Ball, a former Unreal Tournament 3 mod that was a finalist in Make Something Unreal, has finally be released on Steam as a stand-alone project. While it's a fun, visually stunning, and relaxing game, it suffers from a number of problems that keep it from rising above its mod roots. Make no mistake: this is a fantastic indie game that many can enjoy. There's just a number of issues that keep it from achieving the heights that it aspires to.

This demo for the action puzzle game, The Ball, includes levels from the full game along with some Survival Mode maps. System requirements are shown after the jump.

"The Ball is a first person action-adventure game featuring a full single-player experience built on Epic's Unreal Engine 3 technology. As a swashbuckling archaeologist working on the slopes of a dormant volcano somewhere in Mexico, you get stuck in a cavern. It doesn't take long before you realize this is more than just a cave. You reveal ancient ruins that have been hidden from outsiders for centuries and discover a mysterious artifact, a gold and metal shelled Ball. As you progress towards solving the mystery of this amazing place you must unlock the secrets of the Ball and learn to control this ancient artifact. Venturing deeper into the volcano, you reveal some of mankind's greatest secrets and you will start to encounter not just puzzles and traps, but also various strange creatures – the guardians of this mystery. These creatures have to be overcome, using only the Ball to defend you."

Download The Ball Demo (491 MB)
Check out all The Ball downloads

One would be only half-right in comparing The Ball to other first person puzzle games like Portal. Sure, there's the puzzle element where you manipulate the ball to work through environmental obstacles, but there's also plenty of enemies to crush, set on fire, and otherwise maim. If you're fine with brutalizing the remains of dead Mayans and violating important archaeological digs, then The Ball will probably be the game for you. If you pre-purchase the game before next Tuesday, you'll get a free character to play in Tripwire's Killing Floor.

Download HD The Ball Launch Trailer
Check out all The Ball downloads

Tripwire Interactive's zombie shooter Killing Floor was first released over a year ago but this week the developer is offering its players a free expansion and a new paid downloadable expansion to the game via Steam. The free portion is the Incendiary Content Pack which adds a new weapon (the MAC-10) and four new multiplayer maps to the title. In addition the new paid DLC, the PostMortem Character Pack, adds four new playable characters to the game. Normally the DLC would be priced at $1.99 but it's on sale this weekend for just 99 cents.

Indeed Killing Floor itself is also on sale this weekend for just $9.99, a 50 percent price cut. The two previously released DLC expansions are also on sale for 50 percent off to just 99 cents each or you can get the full game plus all three DLC expansions for just $12.98.

The Ball is close to rolling its way to hard drive. This week publisher Tripwire Interactive announced that the first person puzzle-action game from developer Teotl Studios will be released on October 26. It's the first commercial PC game that will be released that was developed via Epic Games' Unreal Development Kit, the "free" version of Unreal Engine 3.

Pre-orders for the $19.99 game will begin on October 18 via Steam. People who pre-order The Ball and also own Tripwire's zombie shooter Killing Floor will be rewarded with a nice extra. The hero from The Ball will get to also be a playable character in Killing Floor.