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View Full Version : Bang! Howdy Beta Opens


Lord_Don
05-25-2006, 05:52 AM
Three Rings (http://www.threerings.net), developers of Puzzle Pirates (http://www.puzzlepirates.com/), opened the Bang! Howdy beta to the public yesterday. Players face off in the steam-powered Wild West, using traditional strategy game mechanics in a variety of gameplay modes like Claim Jumping, Cattle Herding and Steam Mustang Hockey!


Introducing a hybrid between turn-based and realtime strategy gameplay, Bang! Howdy is played in short fast-paced rounds. The players use winnings earned as they play, along with a microcurrency system, to purchase and customize persistent Big Shot units, which influence their play-style and strategies in future games. As the player progresses through five unique Wild West settings, new units, gameplay scenarios, arenas, customizations and game features are introduced.

"We're happier than a coyote in the chuckwagon to let y'all know what we've been working on back at the ranch," said Michael Bayne, project lead for Bang! and Three Rings' CTO. "We think strategy fans will appreciate our fresh perspective on the genre and plumb everybody will enjoy our fun and accessible Wild West antics."

Bang! Howdy will be distributed online and free to play, with optional purchase of micro-currency to obtain upgrades and additional content. "The 'free to play, pay for items' business model has proven very successful in the Korean market with games like Kart Rider, and is already offered as an alternative to subscription for Puzzle Pirates players on 'Doubloon' servers," said Daniel James, Three Rings' CEO.

Mosey on down to http://www.banghowdy.com for more information and sign up to hear more as development progresses.

I've been excited about this one for a while now. Can't wait to see Three Rings work their magic with steampunk cowboys and 3d turn-based strategy.

pheriannath
05-25-2006, 07:10 AM
Should have called it "Shucks Howdy!", but whatever works... ;-)

Dabombpizza
05-25-2006, 08:23 AM
Awesome. This game is free unlike Puzzle Pirates (which is an amazing game). I can't wait to get home and load it up.

Lord_Don
05-25-2006, 08:28 AM
Puzzle Pirates has some free servers, with limits on which games you can play based on the "badges" (which expire) you own. I have a friend that made a ton of cash playing Texas Hold'em and converted his earnings into doubloons and bought a ship, without spending a single real dime.

bean19
05-25-2006, 11:49 PM
I downloaded and played this, but it totally isn't for me. Basically it is just a really basic RTS game with a cute shell.

Really surprising that this came from the Puzzle Pirates folks. I would have expected something a lot more fun and interesting than this.

Then again, maybe an RTS fan could love this? I'm so not into RTS games. They play so slowly, and to excel at them you repeat strategies over and over.

motor
05-26-2006, 09:36 AM
I'll have to play it, but I just don't understand the appeal of a competitive game where you can buy your way to victory.