PixelJunk

PixelJunk is a series of downloadable games developed by Q-Games. The series made its debut on PlayStation 3 with PixelJunk Racers, released July 11, 2007.[1]

PixelJunk
Developer(s)Q-Games
Double Eleven (ports)
Publisher(s)Q-Games
Sony Computer Entertainment (2007–12)
Spike Chunsoft (2018)
Platform(s)Android, Apple Arcade, Facebook, Google Stadia, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Wii U
First releasePixelJunk Racers
July 11, 2007
Latest releasePixelJunk Raiders
March 1, 2021

The series was published by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation platforms until 2012, with Q-Games themselves publishing on other platforms and for PlayStation in Japan. Spike Chunsoft handled worldwide publishing for PixelJunk Monsters 2 in 2018.

Development

PixelJunk is developed by Q-Games, headed by Dylan Cuthbert. The series began in 2007 with the release of PixelJunk Racers. While Racers was met with modest critical and commercial reception,[2] 2008 and 2009 saw the releases of the more popular, critically acclaimed titles PixelJunk Monsters, PixelJunk Eden and PixelJunk Shooter.

In an interview at TGS 2009, Q-Games stated that proper development on PixelJunk 1-5 would start in 2010.[3] A PixelJunk title known tentatively as PixelJunk Dungeons, and was in the conceptual phase of production in 2008.[4] Q-Games officially revealed PixelJunk 1-5 as PixelJunk Lifelike on September 16, 2010 during the SCEI's 2010 Tokyo Game Show conference. However, it was later renamed PixelJunk 4am. It is unclear if PixelJunk Dungeons is still under development.

On May 18, 2010 PixelJunk Shooter 2 was revealed on the official PlayStation blog due for release in 2011.[5]

Games

Series 1

The first series of PixelJunk games are all described by Q-Games president Dylan Cuthbert as having "simplicity, familiarity, and originality" in common.[4] Games in the first series are also two-dimensional and run in 1080p HD at 60fps.

# Title Year Platform(s) Notes
1-1PixelJunk Racers2007 PlayStation 3 An expanded version, 1-1a PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap, was released in 2010.
1-2PixelJunk Monsters2007 PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Windows, macOS, Linux, Wii U An expansion, 1-2a PixelJunk Monsters Encore, was released in 2008. An expanded version for PSP, PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe, was released in 2009. A remastered version, PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate, was released in 2013.
1-3PixelJunk Eden2008 PlayStation 3, Windows An expansion, 1-3a PixelJunk Eden Encore, was released in 2009.
1-4PixelJunk Shooter2009 PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows, macOS, Linux A remastered version, PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, was released in 2014 combining both parts with updated graphics.
1-4aPixelJunk Shooter 22011 PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows
1-4bPixelJunk SideScroller2011 PlayStation 3 A full game based on the bonus level of Shooter 2
1-5PixelJunk 4am2012 PlayStation 3 Titled PixelJunk Lifelike during development. Compatible with PlayStation Move.
1-6PixelJunk Nom Nom Galaxy2015 PlayStation 4, Windows Titled PixelJunk Inc. during development.

Series 2

The second series was planned concurrently with the first. In 2008, Cuthbert suggested that games of the second series could "take some of the old 3D looks and bring them up to the full HD kind of style."[4] He later confirmed Series 2 would "venture into aesthetically pleasing 3D."[6]

# Title Year Platform(s) Notes
2-1PixelJunk Monsters 22018 PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows Two expansions, 2-1a PixelJunk Monsters 2 Encore and 2-1b PixelJunk Monsters 2 Danganronpa, were released in 2018.
2-2PixelJunk Scrappers2020 PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Apple Arcade An expanded version, PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe, is to be released in 2023.[7] Discontinued from Apple Arcade in 2023.
2-3PixelJunk Eden 22020 PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Windows
2-4PixelJunk Raiders2021 Google Stadia Discontinued with Stadia's closure in 2023.

Spin-offs
# Title Year Platform(s) Notes
1PixelJunk Monsters Online2011 Facebook A free-to-play version of Monsters released as a social network game. Discontinued between 2013 and 2014.
2PixelJunk VR: Dead Hungry2016 PlayStation 4, Windows Compatible with PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
3PixelJunk Eden Obscura2018 iOS, Android A "reimagining" of Eden that utilises the smartphone's camera to create background effects within the game.
4PixelJunk Monsters: Trouble in Paradise2021 iOS, Android Titled PixelJunk Monsters Duo during development.

PixelJunk Museum

On September 24, 2009, Q-Games released a virtual space for PlayStation Home. Titled PixelJunk Museum (PixelJunk Exhibition in North America), the space included virtual displays for PixelJunk Racers, PixelJunk Monsters, and PixelJunk Eden, as well as a virtual gift shop where users could buy PixelJunk and Q Games-branded Home items. A separate "room" featuring the interior of the "Ers Piñita Colada" space center from PixelJunk Shooter was added to the space on December 17, 2009 in the NA region.

The Japanese version of the space included an exclusive "Q-Games virtual public TGS Booth" — a recreation of the Q-Games booth at the 2009 Tokyo Games Show where users could claim a free T-shirt for their Home avatar.

References
  1. "First PixelJunk Announced". IGN. July 11, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  2. "PixelJunk Racers Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved July 3, 2008.
  3. "PixelJunk 1-5 Development Starting Early 2010". Gaming Union. October 9, 2009. Archived from the original on October 13, 2009. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  4. "IGS: Q Games' Cuthbert Reveals PixelJunk Eden, Postmortems Series". Gamasutra. February 18, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
  5. Official Reveal
  6. W, Tim (November 27, 2009). "Interviews: Erin Robinson, Frictional Games and More". IndieGames.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  7. "PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe announced for PC". Gematsu. August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.