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The Maw

Platform(s): Xbox 360
Genre: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Twisted Pixel Games
Developer: Twisted Pixel Games
Release Date: Jan. 21, 2009

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'The Maw' (X360) Lost Levels DLC - Screens

by Rainier on Jan. 29, 2009 @ 10:13 a.m. PST

In this full featured 3D action adventure, players take control of Frank, a simple alien that must partner up with The Maw, a cute little blob with an insatiable hunger that makes him the most dangerous creature in the galaxy. Players will need to harness The Maw’s unstoppable growth and the incredible powers he earns, in order to help Frank find his way home.

In this full featured 3D action adventure, players take control of Frank, a simple alien that must partner up with The Maw, a cute little blob with an insatiable hunger that makes him the most dangerous creature in the galaxy. Players will need to harness The Maw’s unstoppable growth and the incredible powers he earns, in order to help Frank find his way home.

The Maw features a lengthy, full scope, single-player experience filled with hundreds of 3D character animations, intense cinemas, cutting edge graphics technology, a professionally composed soundtrack, and much more.

The Maw will feature an all-original, interactive soundtrack by Interactive Achievement Award-winning composer Winifred Phillips, who has composed music for such well-known game titles as God of War, Speed Racer, and The Da Vinci Code. For The Maw, Phillips has created a vibrant jazz soundtrack that highlights the progress of the main characters, Frank and Maw, while simultaneously responding to the player’s actions as the game unfolds.

In the months since The Maw went into final testing and certification, Twisted Pixel has been working on creating additional levels for the game, incorporating new enemies, full cinematics, and additional gameplay into each one. They have also been busy squandering the capabilities of the time traveling car they jacked a couple weeks ago. Mike Henry, lead programmer on The Maw: "I haven't had a soggy last bite of cereal since we got this puppy." Asked about the possibility of using the technology to prevent world catastrophes or to send the new game data back in time to get incorporated into the original game, Henry pointed obstinately at his bowl. "Crunchy."

Eschewing a vacation after completing The Maw, Lead Artist David Leung has been working on new models, animations, and cinematics for the upcoming levels. "I love the world of The Maw and am really happy to have the opportunity to make these levels that are much larger and pack as much personality and new gameplay types ." Leung divides his time between creating the over 100 new animations required for the levels and his side hobby, sport-hunting dinosaurs.

Twisted Pixel is currently working on DLC for The Maw, the "Lost Levels" will include three levels (100 MS Points per level), and come with all new achievements:

  1. Brute Force: set between the original game's 2nd and 3rd level, Bounty Hunters have sent in their new Brutes elite strike force to stop Frank and Maw.
  2. River Redirect: takes place after the original game's 6th level, Frank and Maw have to change the course of a river to get past a blazing fire.
  3. The Speeder Lane: takes place after the original game's 7th level, Maw and Frank have to a Bounty Hunter Speeder and use it to slam through a blockade.

Each level will be available for 100 Microsoft Points ($1.25 USD). "We want to make these new levels as accessible as possible while still allowing the team to get paid for the time they are taking to make all this new content," said CEO Michael Wilford. Asked why he didn't use the time machine to win the lottery, Wilford pointed out the limited supply of plutonium. "We need to save our trips for important things – like when this pizza was first delivered, it was cold." He held up a steaming slice and winked. "The first time."

The Maw is currently available on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points ($10 USD).


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