Double Fine shows off Happy Action Theater sequel Kinect Party
Discusses cut inappropriate "after dark" content.
Today at PAX Prime in Seattle, Washington Double Fine Studios showed off Kinect Party, the sequel to its eccentric title Happy Action Theater.
The original game was a collection of mini-games without goals. Instead it was a series of outlandish backgrounds and ridiculous objects that two players could interact with. "You make up your own games," said Double Fine artist Drew Skillman.
This sequel adds Facebook support. The game snaps pictures of its players in their make-believe green-screened worlds, then allows the option to upload them onto Facebook. In my brief hands-on time I felt the urge to replace my current profile pic with at least five images of me having what appears to be an acid trip in a Harold and Kumar movie.
Players can now adorn several new costumes. Simply grab floating accessories in the environment, then watch yourself sport a bushy squirrel tail, turtle shell, dinosaur claws, or hot dog costume.
The sequel also includes 18 new levels as well as the original 18 for owners of the first game. New stages include a dubstep level, a fairy forest, a giant bathtub and a stage set in the rain where lightning strikes turn players into skeletons.
While the unsuspecting title will be appropriate for all ages, the comic geniuses at Double Fine hinted that they'd like to do an adult-themed version.
"We'd like to do an 'after dark' version" said Skillman, who admitted that a cut concept included a level that made players shoot explosive diarrhea from their bottoms anytime they'd bent over.
Tim Schafer added, "Let's just say that we have a system that allows you to attach objects to characters such as extra limbs or body parts, and some of them are not meant for family."
"I mean they're very involved in the nature of family, in a way, but they're nothing that could be considered family entertainment."
That's right. The game had dicks. One could see how this was cut (ouch!).
"We care about the kids and would not like families to be traumatized by playing one of our games," Schafer said.
My favourite adult concept that Skillman hypothesised wasn't sexual or violent at all, but involved having scary things happen only when one player would be present. Then people would drag their friends over to show them the offending terror only for it to not happen with another person present. Then they'd look crazy, which is probably more terrifying than anything in the game, actually.
Kinect Party is due for Xbox 360 sometime this year.
