Yesterday was a blast! Dressed as the Wizard Amadeus, we handed out free copies of Trine 2 for Valentine’s Day, all around Helsinki.
Also, the Trine 2 games are now on sale on Steam, Wii U eShop, and Mac App Store!
Wizards gotta eat too!
Box levitation in front of the parliament house.
How was my Amadeus cosplay? Am I doing it right? 
- Mikael
After some delays, the Wii U update for Trine 2 is finally out for all regions. Yesterday, the game also got released in Australia and New Zealand, with a 25% launch discount.
Sorry for the delay but we hope you enjoy it! 
You can expect more frequent video updates like this in the future. It’s something we’ve been working on lately.
- Mikael
We’d like to apologize to everyone who’s been waiting for the EU/US update and the release in Australia and New Zealand.
At first the promise for release was mid-December and then early January, but neither of those happened.
Long story short, we have been stuck in the submission process and are now once again waiting for approval, although next week is looking promising. Sorry for all the trouble.
- Mikael
We got our Wii U consoles set up at the office last Friday, and since then we’ve been browsing the Miiverse.
One of the most useful things seems to be posting screenshots from a part in the game where you have gotten stuck and then asking for help from the community. This seems to work well with Trine 2 since it’s a puzzle game where users can clearly see the issue from a give pic.
Other than that the Miiverse seems to be spouting up a lot of talented artists, even to the extent that the Trine 2 community now has around 3000 users both in the U.S and European regions.
Here are some of the highlights:
The drawing above we had to answer with a customized message directly from Amadeus.
Also our texture artist joined in and drew this nice comment pic below.
We’ve had great fun viewing these awesome drawings and reading some hilarious Trine jokes. Miiverse is awesome
If you haven tried it yet, we highly recommend! Lets make the Trine 2 Miiverse community over 9000!
So, last friday we threw a party at the Frozenbyte office to celebrate the Trine 2: Director’s Cut launch for the Wii U in Europe.
Lots of people were attending, and we all had a great time.
Frozenbyte Office Entrance
Food and Drink
New Mushroom Book
Xmas Gifts
First Snow
The new mushroom books will be something we’ll be giving as gifts from now on along with the Splot toys. So follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more competitions, and don’t forget to say hi to us in Miiverse, if you’ve already bought the Wii U
-Mikael
The new launch trailer for Trine 2: Directors’s Cut!
This Sunday was a huge day for videogames. Nintendo launched their newest console with brand new innovative controls and a much improved online shop.
For Frozenbyte this marks a brand new accomplishment by being able to be a part of such a big event, with front row seats none the less. We don’t have a U.S. version of the console yet and we will likely have to wait until the end of the month to get our hands on the Miiverse, but we are very excited to get to connect with our fans in a brand new way.
More about the eShop and the lauch in this article:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/18/nintendos-steams-up-the-wii-u-eshop
Trine 2: Directors Cut features the updated original campaign with all of the content we have patched on Steam (lots of new options, difficulty settings and re-worked levels). It also includes the “Goblin Menace” campaign that is now directly accessible as a continuation to the original campaign. So 6 new levels and 6 new skills all together, plus one brand new level made just for the Wii U. Making this the ultimate version of Trine 2 and thus being named the “Director’s Cut”.
Trine 2: Director’s Cut is now available on the Wii U eShop in the U.S. for $19.99 and will become available in the EU on the 30th of November.
The seals are back again for autumn! Check out autumnseal.com and the new fall-themed slot machine. As before, you can spin the machine for a chance to get Steam coupons.
This time we invited a few other Finnish game developers to join the sealiness as well
Games included are all of Frozenbyte’s “Trine” games (Trine, Trine 2, Trine Collection) for 75% off, and the “Goblin Menace” expansion for 50% off. Remedy’s “Alan Wake” and “Alan Wake’s American Nightmare” for 50% off. Almost Human’s “Legend of Grimrock” for 50% off. Plus also Recoil Games’ “Rochard for 75% off.
Later today at 4 PM Helsinki Time (GMT+2), we will also be livestreaming from the Frozenbyte office, where we have invited the other developers to join us. We’ll be playing the different games that are in the Autumn Seal campaign, and as usual we’ll run some fun competitions
The stream will be at: www.twitch.tv/frozenbytegames
Few weeks back we got some teasers about an upcoming cosplay feat of epic proportions. Zoya was about to come to life and with a lot effort put into the smallest of details.
We caught up with Jina D (@JinaDModel) at the PAX Prime in Seattle and this is what she had to say.
- Could you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
Well, I was born and raised in the Seattle, Washington area. I went to college in Hawai’i and then lived in Australia for two years after I graduated. I got into modeling and costuming while living in Australia, but my love for the two didn’t really bloom until I moved back to Seattle. I, unfortunately, have a 9-5 day job. I’m a bank teller for a local bank, though it’s really not that bad of a job.
On the side; I model, design costumes, and gogo dance while trying to concoct a plan to start up my own business that will get me away from needing a day job.
- How did you come up with the idea of cosplaying Zoya from Trine?
My sister actually suggested it to me. In February I usually start brain storming what cosplays I’ll be doing for PAX (which is in August). I was looking for a specific challenge this year with my cosplays. I wanted to create pieces that hadn’t really been done and set the bar high for other cosplayers out there – I’m very much a “go big or go home” sort of girl with my costumes. My sister was playing Trine 2 at the time and mentioned Zoya’s character to me. After trying out the game myself, I knew I had to create the cosplay.
I’m not going to lie, I loved the “Assassin’s Creed” feel to the character. Plus – Zoya is a girl, which means I could have that bad-ass, hooded persona without cross-dressing or making a “Rule 63″ Ezio. Not to mention, Zoya loves shiny things – what girl can’t relate to that?
- Why are you a fan of the Trine games?
It’s a challenging platform with lots of puzzles mixed in with the fighting and intriguing plot line. You can’t just numbly go through; jumping here and there, slaughtering this troll and that boss with just pounding one key. The game play makes you pay attention to the surroundings. Also, the art work in the game is awesome, and, yes, it is very pretty.
- What did it take to make a costume like your Zoya outfit? (time, materials etc.)
Well, first I had to decide what images to base my copslay off of. There are a few published art works of Zoya, but they have some minor inconsistencies such as what side her quiver is on, how many belts are attached to the bigger belt, how thick her corset is, etc. I based my Zoya off the talent tree art and the cover art for the game (not the collector’s edition). In March I had contacted and met with a number of local designers; being a model helps knowing who is good and reliable. For the leather pieces I went with Misfit Leather, whom I have walked for in a runway before.
The designer for the robe came as a recommendation from a model-friend, Idolatre Clothing Co. Once I knew who I was working with we poured over the images, taking in every detail we could and expressing how that would take physical form. There are often limitations between what an artist draws and what can actually be made. All of the executive decisions of “what is a must” and “what can be over-looked” falls on my shoulders.
We started in April and I got the last, finished piece in mid-August. The months between were filled with lots and lots of fittings and meetings; reiterating the details that were important and discovering roadblocks along the way. I also went to work on getting everything else together for the cosplay. I made the face mask, the shoes, the necklace and the bow. The gloves were purchased off Ebay and altered by myself. The earrings, bracelets and makeup were purchased at retail stores. The arrows were commissioned from an artist on Etsy.com. All-in-all the costume cost just under $1,500 (USD) to put together – becoming the most expensive costume I’ve done.
- The bow and arrows you had were very authentic looking, did you make them yourself (if yes, can you tell us a bit more about how they were made), and does the bow also work?
Thank you! As mentioned above, I did make the bow, however I commissioned someone to make the arrows.
My bow is fashioned after the one Zoya is holding in the art work featured on her talent tree. I first shaped the bow out of wonderflex – which is a heat activated synthetic polymer – using this as a core insures a solid structure and base as once it cools it’s impossible to reshape until it is heated up again. Once I had the shape I wanted; I covered the wonderflex in paper clay, let that dry and then sanded it smooth. I painted it with a few shades of brown to give it some dimension before tying on some braided string. The metal spades are actually just craft foam. I created a pattern, cut it out 4 times, painted it with a silver metallic spray paint, and worked it into the paper clay before it dried. The entire thing took about 20 man-hours to make. Sadly, the bow is not functional. Conventions are really strict about having any sort of functional weapons…they just aren’t allowed.
The arrows that I had commissioned were created by Warpath Archery where Goyaclé, a master bower with over 25 years of experience, crafted some prop arrows for me. Basically they’re just the feather-end portion of the arrows (cause again, functioning weapons aren’t allowed at conventions). For the design I sent the two images of Zoya to Goyaclé and told him to let the art work inspire him. He had offered to let me completely design the fletching (the feathers), but I know very little of arrows, so I gave him full reign over their apparence and I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out – streamline black with silver highlights.
- What do you like most about cosplaying, and what has been your favourite cosplay so far?
That’s a hard question, haha! Actually both of those are hard questions. I guess I would have to say what I like most about cosplaying is getting to work with so many artists and getting to witness, first hand, how it all comes together. I pride myself in putting together very realistic, top quality costumes and it’s really fun to see others taking pride in accomplishing the same thing. Of course, I also really love encountering fans of the source of my cosplay, too. Seeing their reactions makes the months of dedication totally worth it.
I feel like asking me to pick a favourite cosplay is asking me to pick a favourite child – not that I have any children, haha. I’m going to have to pick 3 because they’re all a favourite for different reasons. I love my Vanille (Final Fantasy XIII) cosplay not only ’cause it was my first collaborative cosplay, but also ’cause she is from such a popular game. It’s really easy to find people cosplaying from the same game while at a convention and group poses are just way too much fun. My Emilia (Dance Central 2) cosplay is my most comfortable cosplay with being a loose fitting tank top, shorts and tennis shoes – making it a favourite ’cause I can easily wear it for hours and movement is not restricted in any way. And of course, Zoya (Trine 2) is a favourite cause it just feels so awesome to wear. It’s such a commanding costume with a big billowing hood, long flowing robe and some serious leather work; even though a lot of people think it’s from “Assassin’s Creed,” hahaha.
I’m also really excited for the next two cosplays I’m working on, which I’ll be debuting at Emerald City Comic-Con 2013 in March. I’m personifying a Dalek Supreme, from the TV series Doctor Who, in the form of a high-fashion, cyber goth and creating Katniss Everdeen’s 1st interview gown from the Hunger Games book, which looks nothing like the one they did in the Hunger Games movie.
- Any future plans for more Trine cosplay?
Um, I’ll most likely wear Zoya again, but I don’t see myself cosplaying either Amadeus or Pontius… Mainly ’cause they’re men and I tend to stick with my own gender. I’d really love to do a photo shoot with cosplayers portraying those two, though! How awesome would that be?!
-
…So there we have it folks, anyone ready to cosplay as Amadeus or Pontius will already have one third of the party ready and waiting for adventure.
-Mikael w/ JinaD
What more can I say. To us Finns, who notoriously eat, sleep and drink everything Heavy Metal, this is a heaven sent.
Thanks to Micah Larson for making this great version and after hearing this we really want to hear more.
Maybe we can get Ari to record some more shredding versions of the songs also.
-Mikael
We did a fun livestream last Friday where we played some Trine 2: Goblin Menace, and showed a short video tour of the Frozenbyte office:
If you missed the stream, and want to watch us fumbling around and playing some of the new levels, you also can check out the highlight videos on our twitch channel at www.twitch.tv/frozenbytegames