As we compared notes with the developers and publishers at GDC, we realized that Overgrowth is just not very marketable. It's a niche fighting game for a small hardcore audience, and takes too many risks in terms of scope, setting, technology, and controversial subject matter. Not only is it a tough sell to the mainstream, but it even doesn't appeal to indie gamers: it's not experimental and artsy enough. For that reason, we've signed on for OnLive, XBox Live Arcade, Playstation Network, Steam and WiiWare to bring you our new downloadable game:
Small Tank is set in World War 2, but it's still fresh because everything is small and cute! We added amazing, ground-breaking new technology to immerse you in this epic conflict. The bloom effects and brilliant lens flares put the sun right in your eyes: you can actually feel the heatstroke! Customize your special-forces commando to choose between a badass bandana or a helmet! You can even pick your own character voice: seasoned chain-smoker or foul-mouthed hoodlum!
We haven't even mentioned our favorite new feature yet... the cover system! You'll latch onto things so hard you'll think you've bathed in super-glue. Exploit the third-person camera to blindfire with deadly accuracy, and take out wave after wave of identical nazi goon squads. Tired of other games that make you waste precious seconds of your life waiting for your health to regenerate? You'll love our revolutionary new game mechanic: instantaneous health regeneration! You can't even fit in these chibi tanks, but who cares? You don't need armor! Just blast those froggies with the cannon! BLAM! KABOOM! You'll feel almost like you're doing accomplishing something, but without any effort or skill!
But wait, you say, this doesn't sound very indie anymore! I'm glad you brought that up, because we threw in all sorts of random quirks that should endear us to the indie crowd! From the creepy, staring eyes of our doll-like chibi soldiers to our quirky euphemisms for the axis and allied teams, there's more than enough artsiness to go around!
Don't forget to pick up a copy of Small Tank when it's released in Fall 2009. Small dude, small tank, HUGE ACTION!
All those elevator pitches for nothing (at least your itouch can have a rest)
My heart sank for an instant before I read a little bit into it...
It sounded a little bit odd at first but Small Tank will be awesome to play on the wii with my family who has no idea how to work a keyboard...
It's too bad all the great overgrowth tech will go to waste... can I have it?
Overgrowth was not artsy enough anyway. Because to be artsy you need more bloom, then some tech demos, then a little more bloom, then concept art, then tons more bloom, and finally unskinned weapon renders to show your a serious mod.
overgrowth isn't a mod tho.
Haha! How true that is! Oh man...
umm... does the date april the first ring any bells for any of you guys lol?
I kinda want this now as a non April fools wiiware title... Especially since you might be able to use up more space for wiiware titles thanks to the 4.0 update.
Why now, after all this time... why today?!?
Noooooooo
hahaha xD
HUGE ACTION! even ;D
Finally! I've been watching your game for a long time, and my thoughts have always been the same. "This Overgrowth thing is a BAD idea I tell you... bad idea. That talent should go toward something worthwhile, like maybe some WiiWare games or something."
I'm glad you've all come to reason... flame me if you'd like fanboys, but I believe they've made a logical and intelligent decision.
That's my piece and I'm sticking to it. *nods sagely*
Well, one does not exclude the other. I say shelf the IP, and work on it after this small tanks game. Don't discard the work and IP; you can always pick it up again.
This is fantastic news!! I can't wait!!!!1
Ahh man this is awesome... small tanks are clearly cuter than rabbits
FTW!
This is THE way to go. Rabbits don't have a future anyway, the way we're currently ruining our planet. Tanks FTW!!!
:P
I do not have a Wii or any modern console, but I hate myself. Therefore I support this move! This is the best DAY ever!
this have to be april fools joke, huh??
i really liked idea of overgrowth.......
Yeah, way to go, I always thought you were making a non-sense game, so this is much better. How cuuute these tiny tanks are ;)
Hah, nice April Fools!
Oh man you guys believed it xD
Nah, you believe we believe it, we are just playing along
Too true, who's the fool now, fool!? ^^
Haha. Seems like a few people here actually did fall for it.
Wow, you guys actually put quite a bit of work into this.
Hmm, it is April 1st...
lol... thats funny man. the small tanks idea seems fun though :P
April fools
what about all the ppls that preordered the game :D
its an April fools stupid joke wtf guys don't mess with us not like that!!!
Damn.... :P
whether real or a joke, i always loved overgrowth, the name, the engine, the idea, all of it was always great and overly impressive. It would be sad to see all that go.
Do I smell Aprils Fool..?
no, never...
You must be a moron to think that this is an april fool. Seriously, they even have proper media for it so that is proof enough for me! Overgrowth sucked anyway! Cheers!
I call it deduction of the obvious, but I guess you've never thought it like that.
Fools April(reverse!! MWUAHHAHAHA)
So where did you come up with this stuff, this would have worked better if there wasn't a newspost just before this one :P
I told my team we would stop making MECH OVERRIDE and produce a HELLO KITTY feature-film instead. And everybody is like wow, really? Budgeted? - Great!
...maybe I have done something wrong...
Haha, SinKing, +1 :P
Nice game go produce it as an eastergg for overgrowth :D
ha ha ha APRIL FOOLS!
...right?
wow, i was begining to wonder (reading through the comments) if anyone realized what day it is today.
good joke.
I always thought the same thing! Overgrowth is the worst idea ever, I can't wait for Small Tanks! Yay, chibi things, and no skill needed :D
This better be a ******* april fool's day joke or I go kill myself now
I almost cried :P.
Thank god its april fools day
haha april fools
Hilarious. :] Only because I knew that today was April 01. Even then.....Small Tanks? I'm not sure anyone (except for the most gullible people...) would fall for that, Fool's Day or not. It's simply too ludicrous. :D
Probably for the best, never really liked the game anyway.
*Cough cough*
How did people really get fooled like this? I mean, c'mon!
I think most were just playing along,
so you didn't get fooled by the joke, but you still got fooled haha
april fools!
I almost wish it wasn't an April fools joke...it sounds like fun...but what the hey.... APRIL FOOLS!! *points*
I thought this was real. You should do this it's awesome.
Maybe, but OG will be even moar awesome.
I like how there are people here who didn't get it.