GamesRadar - News

'N+' Developers Change Tune Regarding New PSP, DS Spin-Offs (N+)

Aug 27, 2008

At one point, it wasn't looking good for "N+" on the PSP and DS. Not in the eyes of the Metanet Software, developers of the original game, anyway.

"Currently it's not working – it's not the game we wanted to make," said Metanet's Mare Sheppard to Edge in May. "There are a lot of changes we haven't been so happy with."

Those changes appear to have been made. "N+" arrives on PSP and DS next week, and Metanet told MTV Multiplayer the handheld versions from Atari have come a long way.

N+ Goes Gold (N+)

Aug 11, 2008

N+ offers equal parts platformer and action gameplay with incredibly fluid animation, fast action, amazing acrobatics and instant playability. N+ embodies the same brisk pick-up-and-play style that has endeared gamers worldwide and improves on the adored flash game with downloadable content, multiplayer components and a built-in level editor.

"N+ has taken its amazing acrobatics and simple-but-fast gameplay and has clearly become a standout hit, winning top award recognition at this year's E3," said David Geudelekian, Producer, Atari, Inc. "With an impressive set of new features including wireless multiplayer, downloadable content and over 200 levels exclusive to each version, gamers will be able to settle, once and for all, who is the greatest ninja."

New impressive features like cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes and level sharing over the ad-hoc PSP system and wireless NDS connections will expand upon the gameplay possibilities that have made the original flash game a sensation. Complimenting the game's 'old-school' feel, the control layout uses directional buttons and one of the face buttons to jump and move. With the built-in level editor, players can use the stylus to design maps and share them with friends or the world and downloadable content will continue to add exciting elements long after the game's initial release.

N+ Price Drop and Shipping Date Set (N+)

Aug 8, 2008

Metanet Software's highly touted flash game, turned XBLA game, turned DS and PSP game N+ has just received a price drop and release date for the DS and PSP versions of the game.

N+ coming to handhelds (N+)

Jun 5, 2007

Hollywood might be a little reluctant to take a YouTube video of someone getting hit in the junk with a soccer ball and turn it into a major motion picture, but the gaming industry tends to take more risks with cult Internet sensations. That might explain N+, a new platforming game being developed for the PSP and DS that's scheduled for release this November. The game is based on N, which originated as a ninja-themed flash title. New to the handheld versions will be a Co-op mode, as well as a ...

Atari brings popular Flash game N to handhelds (N+)

Jun 4, 2007

Atari has announced it will publish N+, a souped up version of the popular Flash game N, on the DS and PSP this November. For those that have never played N, it is described as "a psychotic mix of Pac-Man and platform jumping acrobatics." With ninjas.

The handheld versions will recreate the Flash game and include local competitive and cooperative modes along with a level editor, online leaderboards and downloadable content.

Atari brings physics-ninja-sim N+ to DS and PSP (N+)

May 24, 2007

Similar in idea, graphical style and playability to Line Rider, the latest ubercool web game to get the nod for DS and PSP conversion is N (The Way of the Ninja), or as this version will officially be known, N+.

N+ Level Pack 1 Available Now on Xbox Marketplace (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Jul 23, 2008

The first downloadble content pack for N+ is available right now from the Xbox Live Marketplace. This is the first of three DLC releases for possibly the most challenging Xbox Live Arcade game released to date.

The First DLC Pack includes...

N+ DLC hitting Xbox Live before end of July (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Jul 21, 2008

DarkZero: According to the developers site the DLC will offer 150 "easier" Singleplayer levels and 50 "regular difficulty" Co-op Multiplayer levels when it get's released "very very soon - by the end of July!"

More N+ on the way to XBLA (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Jul 3, 2008

Joystiq writes: "A little ninja scampered across our screen to bring news that Metanet, developer of N+, has three level packs for the Xbox Live Arcade version of the game ready and waiting. According to a post on Metanet's blog, the downloadable content has already been submitted to Microsoft for certification, although it has yet to receive a release date.

The post also reveals that one of the three packs will be free, and that, in total, the DLC-drop contains more than 750 new maps (roughly 300 of which are mutliplayer levels). The maps are reportedly "a lot better than the ones that came with N+" due to the fact that Metanet has "had more time to learn what works." We know what works: 750 more reasons to love the stylish and seductively simple ninja platformer."

Xbox Live Arcade Sales - 3/29/08 (TiQal ~1.2k) (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Mar 30, 2008

Myan-themed Puzzle Game 'TiQal' opens up with a horrible start, while Microsoft kills GamerScore cheaters, and 'Brain Training' stays on top with over 13,000 units sold this week.

N+ creators stand behind their anti-XBLA rant - 'In Defense of the Apparant Shitstorm' (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Mar 24, 2008

N+ creators Raigan Burns and Mare Sheppard in their response blog titled "In Defense of the Apparant Shitstorm" write:

"Well, apparently our Gamasutra interview is controversial. Probably we should do what all the professionals have advised us to do, and just stop reading comments - it is the internet after all. But let's instead take one last stab at dialogue.

We didn't intend to provoke outrage, we simply spoke candidly. Actually saying what you think rather than being fake in an interview situation is apparently just not done, but don't shoot the messenger - it's not our fault that the vast majority of XBLA games suck! Literally every single person we've ever spoken with is in agreement on this, and yet it's apparently shocking for gamers in general to hear (assuming that's who reads joystiq/kotaku)."

New N+ Content Coming (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Mar 12, 2008

Since the February release of N+ on Xbox Live Arcade, the developers at Metanet have apparently locked themselves away in a secret underground Toronto location, cranking out new levels like true design ninja.

N+ co-creator Mare Sheppard told IGN today that Metanet plans to release three downloadable expansion packs, each containing about 200 levels, in the months ahead. The first pack will likely contain some easier levels and some co-op multiplayer levels and could hit Xbox Live Marketplace as early as three weeks from now. The second and third packs would follow soon after.

An N+ (Xbox LIVE Arcade) Postmortem (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Mar 4, 2008

At the 2008 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Mare Sheppard (Metanet Software Inc.) and Nick Waanders (Slick Entertainment Inc.) gave a presentation about the development of N+ for Xbox LIVE Arcade. These are the slides used for the presentation.

Microsoft Forced Removal of Online Level Sharing in N+ - 'We Were Devastated,' Says Co-Creator (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Mar 1, 2008

N+ always intended to let players upload custom levels for anyone to download, but Microsoft nixed the feature at the last second.

The decision was so last second, in fact, the version of N+ available on Partnernet, a test version of Xbox Live that publishers and select media can access, actually includes this feature. MTV Multiplayer wondered why a small studio like Metanet Software would bother investing in such an ambitious feature if they had any suspicions it wouldn't make the cut.

PS3Fanboy: N+ coming to PSN, but it'll take 'a while' due to exclusivity clause (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Feb 29, 2008

PS3Fanboy reports that N+ creators Metanet confirmed a PSN version of N+ (recently released on Xbox 360) is definitely in the works. However, it will not appear on the service any time soon. "Yes, however due to an exclusivity clause in our XBLA contract, it may not be for a while."

A producer at Atari noted that they are excited to work on PSN in the future. He pointed out the freedom developers have to create games on the Network. "The PSN has fewer restrictions on their incoming content (likely because it's struggling to catch up to the well-established XBLA) but again, on the PSN right now the indie designer has far more freedom to create the game that they imagine, whatever the size and shape." This kind of flexibility, we hope, is what will draw new exclusive content to the Network.

N+ A Triumph For Tiny Ninja (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Feb 27, 2008

Kotaku writes:

"When I first heard that Metanet's minimalist ninja game N was going to be released on Xbox Live Arcade as N+, I have to say I was skeptical. An excellent free game for the PC, why would I want to spend my hard-earned monies on a game that uses a mere fraction of the power of my Xbox 360, filling up my widescreen TV with a game that looks like it could have been made 15 years ago? The answer, in short, is that it completely kicks ass."

N+ Now Available for Live Arcade (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Feb 20, 2008

VIA Majornelson- Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Korea
Dash Text: [ESRB: E10+ (EVERYONE 10+) ANIMATED BLOOD, MILD VIOLENCE] Single Player, Local Multiplayer 2-4, HD (High Definition). Upgrade now, and quench that aching thirst for more intense platformer action! The full version features more than 400 levels, a custom level editor so you can build your own challenges and share them with friends, access to leaderboards, achievements, the ability to upload your high-score runs, several delicious flavors of multiplayer, several new enemies, and the ultimate test of your amazing ninja skill. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see

N+ on XBLA this Wednesday (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Feb 18, 2008

From the developer's blog:

"Seriously, it's been killing us to keep all the news about N+ quiet. We have really big mouths, and it's hard to shut that down. But, finally, we're FINALLY allowed to share the good news with everyone. N+ will be available for download for 800 points on this Wednesday, February 20th, at 9am PST. Yay! We feel like maybe there's not as much buzz as there could have been, but the orders to keep it all under our collective hat came from Microsoft's marketing department, and presumably they know a lot more about this sort of thing than we do."

UGO Gamesblog: N+ likely for February 20 on Xbox Live Arcade (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Feb 13, 2008

UGO Gamesblog's Russell Frushtick writes:

"As big, big fans of the freeware charmer, N, we've been waiting with bated breath on the release of N+ for XBLA. The game finished certification a couple weeks back, so now it's only a matter of Microsoft slotting it into the XBLA release queue.

"The game developer's blog, at MetaNet Software's site, has been a good source for the comings and goings of the title, and the developers have been very willing to speak to fans on the game's intricacies. In a comment dated on February 1st, by Mare Sheppard and Raigan Burns (aka M&R in the blog), the pair had this to say on the release date..."

N+ Certified, Arriving Soon (N+ - Xbox Live Arcade)

Jan 18, 2008

Daemon Hatfield of IGN writes:

"Since it was announced last October, N+ has been one of our most-anticipated Xbox Live Arcade games. Sounds like the wait won't continue much longer, as developer Slick Entertainment has announced on its official sited that the platformer has passed Microsoft's certification phase. The game was originally submitted back in November but a few bugs were found. It was resubmitted on December 26 and passed with flying colors. Slick says N+ will arrive soon."