E-mail:
Password:
GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Pirates, Ninjas call truce 'til spring

Blazing Lizard says extra dev time used to implement more traditional modes to unconventional dodgeball translation for Xbox Live Arcade.
By Tom Magrino, GameSpot
Posted Apr 9, 2008 11:36 am PT

For most, an epic showdown pitting pirates versus ninjas, zombies versus robots, or any combination thereof can't come soon enough. However, Xbox 360 gamers looking forward to Blazing Lizard's upcoming Xbox Live Arcade title Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball will need to wait a bit longer, as publisher Gamecock Media Group said today that the game has been pushed back from its early 2008 release window to later this spring.

While the game still promises a variety of madcap takes on dodgeball, Austin, Texas-based Blazing Lizard said the additional development time will be applied toward adding more straight-faced gameplay modes. The new rule sets will focus on traditional dodgeball gameplay, where teams will stick to one side and multiple balls will be in play.

As covered in GameSpot's preview of the game, PVND features single-player exhibition, story, and challenge modes, as well as cooperative and competitive modes for four players locally and eight players online.

Sign up now to post a comment on this story!

46 Comments

First to Last Latest
cooldude03

Best game title ever!

Posted Apr 11, 2008 4:06 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
cooldude03

I read somewhere that the game is very lacking in the gameplay and modes department. I'm glad to hear they're working to improve the game. Acknowledging the need for improvement always makes me feel better about the rate for success during a games developement cycle. better to delay than to disappoint. Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go!

Posted Apr 11, 2008 4:05 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Kensei_Kitsune

But, Earthnuggets...

Chuck Norris already has a video game...

Also, ChickenHounk911, I agree completely with that Hierarchy.

Posted Apr 10, 2008 4:16 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
BigSmitts07

i dont like playing arcade like at all...but i really wouldnt mind playing dodgeball online...cant wait to try this =)

Posted Apr 10, 2008 3:22 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
ChickenHounk911

We ALL know that the secret unlockable team will be ALIENS! Here is the hierarchy: ALIENS> ZOMBIES > NINJAS > PIRATES > ROBOTS

Posted Apr 10, 2008 2:57 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Evanrocknuma

Can't wait! They should have made it first person though. 3rd person might sort of just feel like a gimicky minigame as seen in other games rather than a full dodgeball game. Here is hoping!

Posted Apr 10, 2008 1:48 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
HolteEnder4Life

hmmmm not realy fussed about this, i think ill dl the trial first

Posted Apr 10, 2008 11:17 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
dragonsama

Finally the burning questions can be answered! I can't wait for this game it is going to be bigger than Halo!!!

Posted Apr 10, 2008 7:19 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
SavoyPrime

I've been looking forward to this game. I hope it won't get delayed any further than this.

Posted Apr 10, 2008 3:44 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
darfvader

pirates ftw

Posted Apr 10, 2008 2:32 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+1)
earthnuggets

I HOPE THEY RELEASE MORE GAMES BASED ON INTERNET MEMES HALF A DECADE AFTER THEY'RE OLD!!!

Here are some ideas:

Chuck Norris: The Ultimate Weapon
Mike Huckabee has been kidnapped by ninjas. Is Chuck Norris a bad enough dude to rescue a failed presidential candidate? Obviously. Take out enemies with your chin-fist and powerful round-house kicks. This third-person action title puts you into the snake-skin cowboy boots of Chuck Norris and features day-to-night transitions the likes of which haven't been seen since Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. It's not like it will affect gameplay though; Chuck Norris doesn't sleep, he waits! Read the bible and do bicycle crunches to improve your strength. You'll have to go all out if you want to defeat the master of the ninja menace: Android Bruce Lee.

LOLCATS: We Can Has Game?
YES YOU CAN! CATS ARE SO CUTE!

Goatse.cx.EXE
Exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, use your Wiimote to push, or rather PULL your anus to its limits! Great for parties! Invite your friends over for some Smash Brothers, and then surprise them with Goatse.cx.EXE!!!

Posted Apr 10, 2008 1:21 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Great_Ragnarok

LMAO its more like the massacre of Pirates than priates vs ninja.

Posted Apr 10, 2008 12:08 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
aygol

Pirates FTW.

Pirates > Ninjas

Posted Apr 9, 2008 11:55 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
BelmontMaster

Such a fail arguments, its utterly impossible for a pirate to win a battle against a ninja, I mean seriously!

Posted Apr 9, 2008 10:55 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
dukerav

Ninja Pirates>Pirates

Posted Apr 9, 2008 10:24 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Drizzt46

ScionofEntropy: Agreed. How dated is this? Really, how many years ago was the Ninjas/Pirates thing? Isn't there something new that people can ruin?

Posted Apr 9, 2008 10:02 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Lumenadducere

Heh, I didn't even know this was being made. I'll have to look into it, if only for the novelty of having a "pirates vs. ninjas" game.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 9:45 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
ScionofEntropy

I don't know how to say this without having people complain, so I'll just get it out there. The ninjas/pirates thing has gone too long, and I am amazed that people still care. Perhaps if this had been made in the beginning when the fad was still young, I would see this as less of a ploy and more of an attempt at a credible game based on relatively obscure pop culture. But to be frank, I see this being about as solid a title as Ninja Training, if feedback from critics who've gotten a bit of time with it is any indication.

If it turns out good somehow, hey, more power to them. Good job, Blazing Lizard. As for myself, I think I'll spend points on another Live Arcade title.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 9:40 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
omega_viper89

Ninja's would obviously win... I mean come on they're Ninja's anything short of a Z Fighter, Jesus, and God would be dead/Destroyed before he/she/it knew what was happening.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 9:00 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
omega_viper89

Ninja's would obviously win... I mean come there Ninja's anything short of a Z Fighter, Jesus, and God would be dead/Destroyed before he/she/it knew what was happening.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 9:00 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
halohelldaddy45

ALL ABOUT THE PIRATES BABY!

Posted Apr 9, 2008 6:23 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
peeviness

pirates>all

Posted Apr 9, 2008 6:12 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Kensei_Kitsune

Zombies>Ninjas+Pirates

Posted Apr 9, 2008 5:39 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
EPaul

Good hope they make the game better

Posted Apr 9, 2008 5:36 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
shadyelf

Ninjas>Pirates

Posted Apr 9, 2008 5:16 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
stevo_360

Pirates>Ninjas!

Posted Apr 9, 2008 5:01 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
BigDaddy973

Will suck anyway...

Posted Apr 9, 2008 4:35 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
planetpib

Ninjas>pirates.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 4:26 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
PainKiller_25

At least they are having some effort with these game

Posted Apr 9, 2008 4:18 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Miss_Wacy

cool, another good game to add to my xbox live arcade collection

Posted Apr 9, 2008 3:48 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Adam_the_Nerd

Hurry already. This is probably one of the most anticipated XBLA games ever!

Posted Apr 9, 2008 3:37 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
BoogieManZero

I can wait...any added depth to an arcade game is fine with me. With this and V8 Arcade set for release some time later this Spring I'll be set on Arcade titles for a while.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 3:34 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
TheGum

Had no clue such a game existed, but it sounds awesome.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 3:24 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
WestSydeRyder

tht sux i waz waiting 4 this gmae 2 come out 2

Posted Apr 9, 2008 3:12 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Rayze78

I was hoping this was coming out soon since it looks pretty interesting. But I would rather have them take their time, then to rush it out and have the game be a total letdown.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 2:57 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (-1)
Rayze78

I was hoping this was coming out soon since it looks pretty interesting. But I would rather have a cool game, than a big letdown.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 2:57 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
SuperTramp707

To werc96:

The article is about a delayed release date and the reasons for it. It provides that infomration and a bit more perfectly well. If you want to write a f**king novel about it for some reason, go right ahead, but I'm tired of people jumping on this "criticise all Gamespot's news articles" bandwagon. I'm not saying they don't put up some pretty poor articles from time to time, but unless people can do better, and have evidence to prove it, they should keep their no-doubt ignorant mouths shut.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 2:29 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
sonicare

This is a travesty. The delay, that is.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 1:26 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
jimfromtx

For some reason, I laugh at their statement (as quoted by LordAndrew) that they're delaying the game because it was pirated. Although personally I blame the ninjas Oddly enough, a few friends of mine once did PvN racquetball, live. If only we had had filming rights...it would have been epic.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 1:17 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
TexasAnMGrad2K

Now what are we gonna play?

Posted Apr 9, 2008 1:16 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
re4leonkennedy

Pirates and ninjas playing dodgeball. Who thinks up this stuff?

Posted Apr 9, 2008 1:03 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
LordAndrew

There's nothing else they could have said.
In the official press release, they go on about how they're delaying it because the game has been pirated, but at the end they state that the real reason is because they still need to add a few new features.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 12:48 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
AZisBack

OXM trashed this game during their review. I'm glad they are going to try and make it better because I was looking forward to playing this game.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 12:39 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
AZisBack

OXM trashed this game. I'm glad they are going to try and make it better because I was looking forward to this game.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 12:39 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
werc96

Um........................Ok? Great article. So much depth

Posted Apr 9, 2008 11:59 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
jkzebrafish

first! In a related story I suck.

Posted Apr 9, 2008 11:57 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
advertisement

Latest Entertainment Headlines

Latest music headlines from
MP3.com News Breakers: Jay-Z & Oasis, Jacko, Weiland, Bee Gees, Remy Ma
Hova bites back, politely; Thriller gets preserved; singer heads to jail; musical on the way; rapper gets eight years.

Story Tags

News Features

Featured Stories

Spot On: Putting the "super" in superhero games

Action-packed comic adventures should fit gaming like a spandex jumpsuit, so why do so many of them turn downright villainous?
Posted May 9, 2008 5:04 pm PT

Newsmakers

Q&A: Breaking down the Chains of Olympus

POSTMORTEM: Two months after he helped bring God of War to the PSP, Ready at Dawn's Ru Weerasuriya looks back on the literally epic game's reception and development.
Posted May 9, 2008 5:32 pm PT