A post on Polygon from last night points to an update on Lorne Lannings’ Oddworld Inhabtiants site, which reports that PlayStation 3 owners will be able to download a high-definition version of Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee, the original Xbox launch title from way back in the day.

The game will cost only ten bucks, and is set for release in late-December in North America, with a specific December 19 release in Europe. Of course, Munch will be available shortly after the HD remake of Stranger’s Wrath is released for the PlayStation Vita for $15 on December 18 in North America (and a day later in Europe for €11.99/£9.99).

And all of THAT is in addition to the HD remake of the very first game in the franchise, Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee coming sometime in the fall next year. All in all, if you’ve ever been curious about the Oddworld series, this is the time to jump on in. Of course, what I’d really like would be, you know, NEW GAMES, MR. LANNING. That’d be something, huh? Some new Oddworld titles?

Oh, wait, look—they announced something way back in April 2011: Oddworld: Hand of Odd. Supposedly coming out in 2012? Didn’t happen. Hmm….

I suppose seeing how well these re-releases and remakes do would be a good step in that direction. Think I’ll grab a copy of Stranger’s Wrath when it drops next week, since I missed it the first time around…

Via Polygon and Oddworld Inhabitants

The HD remake of the first game in the Oddworld franchise, Abe’s Oddysee, has been officially unveiled at Eurogamer Expo today by series creator Lorne Lanning and Stewart Gilray, of the title’s co-developer, Just Add Water. Called Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee New N’ Tasty!, the game is set for release on PS3, Vita, and Xbox 360 as a downloadable title in fall 2013.

Interestingly, the high definition visuals aren’t the only change to the game. Gone are the “flip-screens” of the original game—where you would direct Abe to the edge of the screen and the whole screen would change to the next portion of the level. Instead, the camera is more dynamic, offering a more player-friendly view. Said Gilray about the camera:

“It gives you a better perspective of the graphics, so you can see more into that 3D world, and it also lets you see farther in front of you. So if you suddenly see a Slig patrolling and think, oh s**t, you can hammer on the brakes, slow down a bit and creep past him.

In the original game you looked through a screen flip and it was like, ah! You run away or you’re dead. You had to make your decision before you went through the screen flip in the original game. But with this, because you can see farther in front of you, you can make that change in your gameplay there and then without having to go, I’ve died, I have to go back to the check point and re-do it.”

The first Oddworld was one of my very favorite games growing up, so I have a feeling I’ll be grabbing this’un. I’d be very pleased if Sony decided to gift Vita owners with the game if it’s bought for the PS3, and vice versa, allowing me to keep playing Abe on the road. Man…that’d be great.

Via Eurogamer

Oddworld Inhabitants has gone ahead and released the first screenshot from the HD remake of Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee that we first learned about back in June.

There’s one screenshot, and everything’s suitably dark…but it looks pretty damn faithful to the original, and of a far higher visual quality, to boot. Click the image so you can zoom in and check out the details.

The original for the PlayStation was one of my very favorite games ever…it was so good, that even my dad was convinced that video games weren’t an utter waste (and there was plenty of evidence in other games of that time to make him think otherwise). Even though I didn’t really stick with the series after this game—Abe’s Exodus was too complicated—this game is a classic. I can’t wait.

Via Destructoid

A post on Eurogamer today reported that the original PlayStation title, Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, will be getting an HD reboot in summer 2013. The news comes courtesy of a posting on Oddworld Inhabitants’ Facebook page, where the following can be found:

“We decided to reboot [Abe’s Oddysee], not just an HD update to the original PS1 title, this is  NEW game. It will be getting its first public showing LATER this year, with a release date of NEXT summer (2013).”

And later:

“To extra clarify Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee HD, it is a remake of the original PS1 title, however we have started it from scratch using the original as a blueprint.”

Other than that, though, there’s not much more information. What platform might we see this reboot on? Will it be full retail, or a downloadable game? Costs? Anyone from the original development team on this reboot that’s for a game over decade old? These are the questions. What are the answers?

Via Eurogamer

Oddworld Creator Lorne Lanning has been in hiding since the financial failing of his 2005 game Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath. This has led to many Oddworld fans waiting faithfully for the steward of one of gaming’s cult franchises to return.

That time may be upon us, according to some comments Lanning made to Eurogamer.

“The way I’m looking now is, how do I turn YouTube and Facebook into one game? That’s the game-ified thing I’m focused on right now. If we figure that out, and I think we have, then it’s a game changer,” Lanning said. ”If we’re successful with that, which is the intent, then we’ll have the money to finance and go back to the Oddworld we all know and love.”

Despite the performance of this gamification of Facebook / YouTube, Lanning sees his return to gaming as an eventuality. It just may not be in the form that anyone expects.

“Am I going to make something again? Absolutely,” Lanning said. “The question is in what format, and what does that look like, and in what genre? That I’m not sure about. But there’s a reason we still have Oddworld: it’s because we love it.”

These are just the high points of the interview. If you want the full story, make sure to check out the piece on Eurogamer.

[via Eurogamer]

As if we needed further proof that only the coolest people on earth play Oddworld Inhabitants games. Terry Garrett, a 23 year old mechanical engineering student, posted the above video of his playthrough of Abe’s Exoddus. Sounds humdrum, except for the fact that Garrett is completely blind.

“I have a great sense of the minds eye,” Garrett said. “Once I know what is in an area and how they are laid out, I can make a real time picture of what is going on in front of me just through sound. even in 3D. If this is hard to picture I know, I can’t explain it better than that.”

Though Garrett is an avid gamer, not all games have a sound design that allows him to play them without sight. Exoddus is one happy exception.

“The movement of Abe himself is critical. He has a set number of footsteps per screen (running or walking). He makes a sound when he steps, sneaks, runs into a wall, pushes on a wall, hops, or pulls up on a ledge or just jumps up in place,” Garrett said. “When I start each screen, it was to listen to see if I could hear a chat orb, a Slig, a mine, or a buddy to save, which always make noise. There are even sounds to tell you that there is a Slig in the next screen over, so not to just run in like an idiot.”

Congrats on your achievement Garrett, you rule hard.

[via Oddworld]

Oddwold fans are getting one hell of a Holiday gift from Oddworld Inhabitants this year. The Oddboxx, releasing on Steam for the PC, will package every Oddworld game released to date – including the two games that have never previously graced the platform, Munch’s Odysee and Stranger’s Wrath. The other two games in the pack, Abe’s Oddysee and Abe’s Exoddus are already available but they’re awesome enough to buy again if you already have them.

There’s no firm date yet for this package, as the release only promises the 2010 Holiday season. Pricing is also up in the air, but the release does say that “More details and partners will be announced in the running up to the Oddboxx’s release. Stay tuned…”

Regardless, any sign of life from Oddworld is a good sign, so I’m pumped as hell about this. Re-releasing the series is not only a great way to raise brand awareness, but also to raise some capital to fund development of new Oddworld games. We’re glad you’re back Lorne Lanning, and we promise to be good this time.