The International House of Mojo

What's this? IGN have finally gotten around to having a hands-on preview of Insecticide - but it's the PC version. DUN DUN DUNNN!

The first episode is due this June (hooray! Strong Bad AND Insecticide in the SAME month - the 2005 version of myself is dying with envy), and the other later in the year.

Source: IGN

IGN have a very good interview with Master Peter McConnell, composer, on the music of Insecticide. His opinion on the game:

"The story and art were both a joy to work with – really inspiring. What's more, these elements had the support of incredible voice acting. The character voices brought the world to life in way that's rare in a game. A unique world and story, great characters and acting – what more can you ask?"

For more people to buy it, Peter. For more people to buy it and consequently get laid.

Source: IGN

Still undecided about whether or not to get the DS version of Insecticide, the new original game from the ex-LucasArts team at Crackpot Entertainment that we've been going about for a long time? Well I hope we can make your mind up for you at last with our definitive review!

UPDATE: Also, Crackpot have told us that they're hopeful to have the PC version finished within the next couple of weeks.

IGN has posted a post-mortem type interview with Mike Levine addressing some of the recurring complains from the reviewers.

It's an easy target for reviews to go, "Well, they tried to do two types of gameplay, and they should have just done one." You sort of see this snowball effect where people just fall in line with that. In the same breath, those same people are always screaming for innovation in this industry and different types of games.

Read the rest here.

Source: IGN

There's a new Insecticide trailer out. I'm not sure if it's for the DS version (even if the description says it is) because I can't find a version that isn't HD, which my primitive stone-age laptop can't handle. And we all know that when you try to run more than 1 MB on a stone-age laptop, it explodes, so I'd be creating nuclear armageddon by downloading the 388.31 MB trailer, but you can see it for yourself.

Update: Thanks to Maratanos for pointing this out and preventing the outbreak of the apocalypse, here's the trailer on lower-res courtesy of Game Trailers. You've saved the world, Maratanos! I'd reward you but I'm sure you saving the planet is reward enough.

Source: Gamer's Hell

Also from EIEIO 2008 was a new trailer for the PC version of Insecticide. You can see it over at The Girl Gamer. (It's the first of the two videos.) It's pretty cool.

Gamecock Media Group recently held their "EIEIO" event, and while there, DS Fanboy had a little chat with Larry Ahern of Crackpot Entertainment. Larry reveals a few interesting facts including that Insecticide was at one point being developed as a TV series. Give it a look!

Insecticide is currently out for the DS and will be coming...soon...to the PC as a "bi-sodic" download. Having completed the DS version I can vouch for the game's greatness, but it's pretty clear that the PC version is going to be where it's at, what with the infinitely more detailed environments and spoken in-game dialogue. Keep a close eye on the game's official web site, where the claim that the first half of PC version will be released in "Feb '08" will hopefully be soon replaced.

A few reviews for Insecticide are already out, and are unfortunately quite average so far. IGN, Nintendo Power, and Game Informer give the game a 7.0, 6.5, and 5.75 respectively. The IGN review, the only one of those available online, summarizes their thoughts on the game thusly:

Have you ever wished your graphic adventure games had a little more action? Or that your platformers required a bit more puzzle solving? Well, Insecticide is here, kind of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of point-and-click and action games. Unfortunately, only one of these elements turned out well. While the investigative segments of the game are a blast from the past, the platforming and combat are clunky and frustrating.

The good news is that it's still early in the game, and that the complaints may not be as much a factor for those without a general adversity to combining adventure and action elements as literally as the game seems to. Plus, the upcoming PC version should surely do something to address the cited control issues and "drab" visuals. So we'll see I guess! Also, be sure to look out for our own review of the DS version soonish.

I know you have it marked on twelve different calenders and that you've been camping-out at your local gamestore for three weeks now, and that this is completely unnecessary because you're so excited about this a small hospital staff are continuously walking around you and reviving you as your blood vessels blow-up with excitement and drown you in a pool of blood, but it feels like I have to: Insecticide, the cradle of all that is awesome, is released.

Plus, I'm pretty sure I don't have to remind you again that it is mathematically and scientifically proven by world-renowned scientists in Zürich that this game will make you the most desirable chunk of male (or female, if that's what you want) since Casanova himself, do I?

Update: Larry Ahern has set this straight, saying that:
1. As Mojo previously reported, the DS version of Insecticide was finished and handed in to the publishers a while ago, so this delay is all down to Gamecock, and 2. the PC version should be available "soonish," which is becoming a trend. Thanks Larry!

Several Mojo staffers have had their preorders shipped already, so the DS version's definitely around - let's just hope it's in the shops too!

IGN have a short but good video of developer's commentary on Insecticide, a sort-of Behind-the-Scenes thing with Larry Ahern and Mike Levine. Don't forget that if you buy that game you'll be at least ten times cooler, plus the secret desire of every girl who walks by you.

Source: IGN

The ever helpful Kroms sends word that the first Insecticide review has come in. It's 65% from Nintendo Power, which isn't too hot... but it's only one review, and I'm not sure I trust it anyway. And even if the game is a bit flawed, the premise, design style, originality and influences will still make this a must-play game for any LucasArts fan.

We'll have a review ourselves, as soon as possible. Then we'll see just who is the real power in these waters...

GamePro took a look at Insecticide at GDC and wrote up a preview for it, which throws quite a bit of praise in the game's direction.

And you already knew this, but it's been announced that the DS version of the game has gone gold and is indeed slated for March 11, just as every retailer is claiming. Keep a close watch on the official web site for the status of the first PC digital download, which will be available "soon."

The long-discussed Cinematic Trailer for Insecticide is now showing at GameTrailers.

I'm getting really excited about this game, the more I see the more I likey. Definitely (especially seen in this trailer) got vibes of Beyond Good & Evil, Psychonauts and Grim Fandango, and yet I'm sure we'll be talking about games that have "an Insecticide vibe to them" in the future!

The Insecticide Trailer - the Second Best trailer out this week.

In the never-ending quest to keep our readers fully in the loop about upcoming exciting games, Mojo today brings you an exciting giganto-interview with Larry Ahern and Michael Levine at Crackpot Entertainment!

Now that the LucasArts-born team at Crackpot have nearly finished their eagerly-awaited first game Insecticide for PC and Nintendo DS, we thought it'd be a great time to ask them one or two (or quite a few) questions.

Disclaimer: Michael and Larry are not actually flies.

Additional: If that's not enough Insecticide for you, there's a really good preview of the DS version at DS Fanboy that really gets a good feel for how the game is going to play.

Now that you've done all that, isn't it about time you pre-ordered? Those art-books are still available, y'know.

If the revised release date on every online retailer is to be believed, Insecticide has been delayed yet again, and will not be arriving in February. The latest date is March 11th, so believe that if you want. This applies to the DS version - the PC release is unconfirmed but it is presumably coming only after its handheld counterpart.

Update: We've learned that the DS version is completely finished and gold, and the delay is just down to Gamecock trying to get it on the shelves. The PC version should hopefully be out in March too.

In an almost new preview IGN takes another look at the DS version of Insecticide, which is due out in a mere month. It seems like only last month that the game was two months away from release.

IGN tells it like it is in their write-up, meaning that they say a lot of nice things and have a bunch of new media to share. That includes new videos - check them out - as well as some literary gems like the following:

Insecticide is an action adventure game, presented as a film noir copy mystery set in a bug city. The cartoony character design is a bit misleading because Insecticide is actually a fairly dark game, both figuratively and literally (sorry die-hard original DS fans, this game is going to be a pain to play). Murder, gun fights, and haunting dream sequences make up just the first few minutes. While it's certainly not as dark as Gamecock's last title, Dementium: the Ward, this game still has a brooding feel to it that may establish Gamecock as a darker publisher.

Read all about why IGN and Insecticide should just get a room already. Also, stop putting off pre-ordering the game. My Bug Blaster has made me the envy of all my friends.

Adventure Gamers have posted an interview with Larry Ahern & Michael Levine of Crackpot about their upcoming game Insecticide, their time at LucasArts, and their side projects such as bounty hunting.

And you'll find the reason for that headline title in a few days...

Mike Levine of Crackpot Entertainment talks to Cubed3 about Insecticide, LucasArts, Telltale and more.

AR: You previously stated that Crackpot is ?all about the IP?. Does this mean you will continue to work on creating entirely new games or would you ever consider doing what Telltale Games has done and prise another adventure IP from a company such as LucasArts (Grim Fandango, for example)?

ML: We?ve paid our dues in the past and we?re looking to keep things fresh now. I don?t think I?d say absolutely not ever, but we are certainly focused on new IP?s right now. This Industry needs new IP before a new Grim, and besides, I think if that were to happen Tim Schaefer should make it, those are his babies (and Dave Grossman?s for the early ones too!)

Also the same old Wii questions pop up, as seem to be required in every gaming interview ever.

Source: Cubed3

What's that? You don't want more Insecticide bonus items? Well that's just too bad. If you need any more incentive to pre-order Insecticide from Gamestop (as if feeding Larry Ahern's family wasn't enough), you'll get a second bonus in addition to the art book.

The way it works is, when you get your artbook for pre-ordering the game, you will find a code in it. Type said code in the text box on this page, and you get a free Bug Blaster! Look at how cool that thing is! Buy Insecticide!

GameTrailers have released their umpteenth exclusive trailer for Insecticide, and thankfully it's for the better looking PC version (confirmed as a two-part download, or "Downloadable Bi-Sodic Action Adventure"). Check it out here. The DS release date is 26th February and if you're going to be buying it pre-order it soon.

Preferably at GameStop because not only do you get a nice Art Book (Peter Chan, people) but the more preorders they get, the more copies turn up on the shelves for people to buy, which they then will buy, and so we get more exciting original humorous games in the market and things like this will never happen again.