Category Archives: Projects

Grimm Episode 1 – Goes Live

Grimm,

“Look ma, No Hands!”

Well, the day we’ve all been waiting for is finally here: Grimm Episode 1 has launched on GameTap!

For me and the team here at Spicy Horse this is a momentous occasion. Everything we’ve worked for and built since starting the studio has gone into the Grimm project – and Episode 1 is the first of many offerings to an audience we hope will enjoy the game as much as we enjoyed making it.

And so far the response has been great:
Ars Technica says Grimm is “simultaneously goofy, child-like, and completely twisted.”
GamePlasma says “Grimm is an excellent example of a great episodic platform game.”
GamesRadar says “Dirtying the pseudo puppet show world is devilishly satisfying…”

I’ve noticed there’s more than a little confusion about the free/episodic nature of the game, which is a shame because, in addition to the fact Grimm’s a lot of fun, the distribution model is quite awesome. So, let’s clear it up once and for all:

  • First, Episode 1 is FREE now, FREE forever. You can access it using a FREE GameTap account. Free, forever, fun.
  • Next, future Episodes will be FREE for 24 hours – again, using a FREE GameTap account. After 24 hours, you’ll need a paid subscription to GameTap and/or you can purchase a single download of an Episode.
  • Finally, there will be alternate digital distribution channels in the near future. More on that before the next episode.
  • Now, I hope that clears things up. Stayed tuned for more cool new regarding Grimm. And be sure to head over to GameTap next week so you can tune in for “Little Red Riding Hood”. Remember, it’s FREE during the first 24 hours!

    Here’s an episode listing for the first 8 episodes:

    A Boy Learns What Fear Is AVAILABLE NOW!
    Little Red Riding Hood Coming August 7
    The Fisherman and His Wife Coming August 14
    Puss In Boots Coming August 21
    The Girl Without Hands Coming August 28
    Godfather Death Coming September 4
    The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs Coming September 11
    Beauty and the Beast Coming September 18

    Enjoy!

    First Grimm Episode Trailer

    Butcher Prize

    “Bloody good prize.”

    Over on gametrailers.com you can check out the very first “Episode Trailer” for Grimm. This trailer promotes Episode 1 of the game, which is set to be released on the 31st of July – only a few hours away!

    And you might also check out the first review of Grimm, Episode 1. This comes from Game Rankings, where Grimm Episode 1 was given an 80% review score. Check it out here: Grimm Episode 1 Review

    GameTap Adds THQ Titles

    Cow Swing

    “Swing, swing, suicidal steer.”

    I read on Video Game News this morning that GameTap is adding a ton of cool new titles to their service – these coming from THQ. The article provides full details:

    GameTap announced today the signing of a partnership with THQ. This deal will give the broadband entertainment network company access to THQ’s PC titles for digital download, with certain titles available for free play on GameTap’s ad-supported website. The titles included in this agreement include Company of Heroes, Supreme Commander, Titan Quest, Saints Row 2, PuzzleQuest and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.

    To read more about these exciting additions, head over the Video Game News.

    GameTap’s quality, offering, and profile is certainly increasing day by day. And with only 6 days until the launch of Grimm, these could prove to be momentous times for the innovative service. As I’ve said before, I think gamers and game developers alike have many reasons to applaud and support digital download publishers like GT.

    We here at Spicy Horse feel a huge amount of gratitude for GameTap (and Ricardo Sanchez in particular) for breathing life into our studio. The Grimm development has given us a chance to not only build a cool game, but to establish a first-class studio in China. Only a few more days… and we’ll see if all our hard work and creativity pays off. Hope you’ll join us in finding out. Be sure to check out the Spicy Horse Grimm Site and official GameTap Grimm Site for more information and news!

    Grimm Sites Go Live

    Grimm Wallpaper 1600x1200

    “Grimm, not just for breakfast anymore.”

    Two awesome websites go live today: The Official GameTap “American McGee’s Grimm” site, and the Spicy Horse Games’ “Grimm” site. Both websites feature schedules for upcoming episodes, download-able content, and information on how to purchase the game. These websites will update weekly, keeping track of weekly episode releases, community events, and more.

    Our Man Tyler

    Children Audience

    “Captive Audience” doesn’t cover it.

    It’s always exciting at this time of year as we watch the fun unfold at 2008’s E3. I mentioned a couple of days ago that Grimm was mentioned as part of the gallery of awesome art work in the In the Pixel exhibition, but now we’re once again having one of our artists mentioned by name. In USA Today, Tyler Lockett’s Rapunzel warranted a specific comment in the article from the exhibition’s curator, Louis Marchesano. How cool is that?!?

    Could this be the pinnacle of our young hero’s success? Could there be more? Will he ever discover the identity of his arch-mnemeses? Tune in… soon… ish… to see if this is indeed the end of the line for this year’s horn-tooting. (I highly doubt it.)

    If you’d like to see more coverage of E3 by the fine folks at USA Today, head on over there. Their bloggers are working round the clock to bring YOU the bestest news firstest.

    Or, if you’d just like to look at the pretty pictures, you can.

    In the Pixel, it’s the Bomb

    Ox of Sad

    he haz a sad

    If you remember the Ars Technica article from June 13th, you’ll remember that they loved our artwork. In fact, one of the things that is setting Grimm apart from most other games is its uniquely stylized presentation. “It’s the Unreal 3 Engine, but you’d never know it from the style…” How many times have we heard that? Well, the upshot is that with E3 underway, Ars Technica visited our lovely name again in a gallery presentation of In the Pixel, an annual show of artwork from and for video games.

    As though that weren’t enough (and this is a week late, but worth the mention),Giant Bomb gave us a happy mention in their weekly podcast of July 8th. They enjoyed saying the name “Spicy Horse” (and who doesn’t?), they found the game-play simple but engaging, and they really enjoyed how the objects in each scene morphed into their dark aspects instead of “blinking”. (We like that, too.) Each GiantBomb podcast is around two hours long, but worth the listen. If you just want to hear them talk about us, it starts at around 18 minutes or so and goes on for a few. (As yet another aside, GiantBomb.Com has a new format coming with a community-based review system for games, kind of like a wiki except much, much cooler. You’ll hear all about it in the podcast.)

    Less than two week away is the launch. Do you know where your juggling pig is?