Horror Platformer They Bleed Pixels Ditches XBLA for Steam

They Bleed Pixels developer thinks he will reach a wider audience on Steam.

They Bleed Pixels is a beat-em-up for the Lovecraftian gamer. Your protagonist, having been dumped on the doorstep of the Lafcadio Academy for Troubled Young Ladies – hmmm – is drawn to a mysterious and dangerous grimoire. Soon afterwards she has to battle through her own nightmares, where stylish kills are the only way to survive. All this is due to come to Steam rather than XBLA, as had originally been planned, as the developer wants to reach a wider audience and feels that Steam is the best way to do that.

“For those waiting for the release date,” said developer Miguel Sternberg, “we’re very close to being able to announce it. We’re just finishing up sound and squashing a few pesky bugs. It’s been a busy year and I think players will really appreciate the additional content and polish.” The move to Steam was a late decision, but one that Sternberg thinks will help the game get the exposure it deserves. “Throughout development other game developers and players have told us that the game really deserves to reach a larger audience and the move to PC and Steam will do just that.” Most of the remaining changes that need to be made are Steamworks related, which suggests that the game could be out very soon.

They Bleed Pixels plays much like other beat-em-ups, with a little twist. Usually if you mess up you go back to a predetermined checkpoint, but not this time. In They Bleed Pixels the location of the checkpoint is dependent on your gameplay up to that point. “[P]layers must earn and place checkpoints through stylish kills,” according to the official site. “The more and better you kill, the faster you fill your checkpoint meter. Avoid combat or button mash mindlessly and you’ll find checkpoints uncomfortably far apart.” The player gets to choose where that checkpoint goes, so better plan ahead or you’ll find yourself in a bad place entirely of your own making. In a Nightmare Mode interview, Sternberg said of this feature that it forced a mental reset. “You see it when players first pick up the game and they’re not paying attention to what direction their pressing and they get their asses handed to them.”

No word on when this will be released, but all indications are it will happen soon.

Source: Eurogamer, They Bleed Pixels