Our Australian and European friends are probably having a blast with zSlide's Hot PXL. The title was released in the said territories last February and June respectively. On the other hand, the rather unique, Wario Ware-reminiscent video game will be available in North America this coming September.

Hot PXL belongs to the mini game genre that offers a different gameplay experience for each mini game. It goes without saying that the life of such titles depend on having a continuous supply of mini games and Both zSlide and Atari seem on the right track as they've already started to offer new ones.

Here's the latest screenshots with a few of them coming from the new mini games. Staying true to Hot PXL's nature, the new screenshots still sport that hand-drawn photo-realistic graphics that has an urban feel to it. A demo for the title was released recently.

See the rest of the screens after the jump!

 

For the guys in Europe and Australia who already have a copy of Hot PXL handy, we've got something for you. The game's official site is announcing that they've just released a download pack containing 70 extra mini-games for you playing pleasure. Here's how to get the pack:

• Download the zip file "HotPixel_70OnlineGames_PSP" (15.1 MB)
• Connect the PSP via USB cable to your PC and select USB Mode on your PSP Menu
• Check that you have a memory stick with enough space available (15.1 MB)
• Unzip the file "HotPixel_70OnlineGames_PSP.zip", it contains the folder "ULES00642DOWNLOAD"
• Copy the folder "ULES00642DOWNLOAD" in the folder "PSP/SAVEDATA" of the PSP™ memory stick
• Launch HOT PIXEL and in the main menu select "WWW PLAYLISTS" or "WWW GAMES"
  

That's the latest update we've picked up for Atari and zSlide's minigame medley for the PSP. More details should be available in the read link below (the Hot PXL site). Hot PXL for North America is expected to land later on this year.

   

Online site Gamespot recently sat down with zSlide Lead Designer Jordane Thiboust and talked about eccentric video game Hot PXL. The title is scheduled for release this coming July 22 and the developer revealed that they are planning to port it to Nintendo DS. All in all, Hot PXL features more than 200 mini games.

Speaking of which, Thiboust shared that the number of mini games has increased since the game was announced. Accordingly, 10 extra games that are unlimited in duration have been added. Likewise, a few of the ones from the original list have been "re-skinned" and turned into some sort of parody.

Hot PXL is oftentimes compared to Nintendo's own mini game compilation title Wario Ware. When asked about this, Thiboust admitted that the inspiration indeed came from the classic title. Then he elaborated,

Nintendo created a new kind of game with the Wario Ware license. We had the idea to create a game that would be like "game sampling," where you have fun for a few seconds or minutes at most and then switch to another game, like zapping on TV. Wario Ware showed us it worked.

Since the title is going to be a compendium of mini games, the lead designer explained that controls are rather easy and intuitive because they don't want players spending more time figuring out the controls than playing the games themselves. And regarding the game's urban sports theme, Thiboust said that it was only a guide for them and not a limiting factor,

First thing is that the urban style was here to give us an overall direction for the ambiance of the game, but it was never something that stopped us making mini games, music, or visuals if we felt they would be fun, even though they wouldn't be a perfect fit to the urban theme. It was a direction, but never a restriction.

Quite interestingly, zSlide's Thiboust mentioned that they really spent a lot of time with the game's online features. In terms of expanding the game, fans can be assured even this early that Downloadable Content">downloadable content will definitely be added to Hot PXL. Lastly, few examples he game regarding online play include,

You can play with other players wireless, in a one-versus-one duel. In this mode you have to be the best at a specific playlist of games, while you throw "graphical disturbers" (shaking screen, reverse control, and such) at your opponents in order to complicate their mini games.

You all know what video game Hot PXL is all about - a title offering tons of micro games set in an urban street culture. The game (which is being developed by zSlide and will be published by Atari) has received a lot of negative feedback in the past, but zSlide maintains that the mini game genre is slowly coming back.

According to Hot PXL Producer Corentin Raux, regardless of what people say about their title, Hot PXL is still a game, and they're concerned if it will be appreciated by the market much like any other good game out there. He explained:

Hot Pixel is above all a fun game. It's not really about the image, but rather if people will have fun playing it. We would like to hear that we managed to make a fun and original game, one that brought novelty and creativity to the PSP market.

The game sports 200 mini games all in all. Around 70 of those will be offered and constantly updated through the PlayStation Portable's online service. The game is oftentimes compared to classic Nintendo game Wario Ware. The video game will be released this coming June 22, 2007.

When asked if they are considering a DS version, Raux answered, "The Nintendo DS is definitely on our radar. But if we do Hot Pixel for it, it will probably be really different to the one on PSP - not just simple adaptation."

With Atari watching its back, French developer zSlide has been cautiously optimistic about the mini-game genre and how it's slowly becoming a growing attraction among handheld gamers. In the face of the new gamer - the non-gamer - game developers and publishers have begun to assess the possible profits of a fledging market.

 

zSlide's Jordane Thiboust, the lead designer for Hot PXL that should arrive to the PSP on June 22 in Europe, spoke much about the mini-game genre and how Hot PXL was designed to deliver as much as 200 mini-games in one revamped title for the mobile hipsters.

Despite the apparent negativity against mini-games by certain brackets of the core gaming market, the mini-game is actually a realm of game creativity practice for the developers, especially zSlide after having to design 200 games with different concepts. Thiboust explains:

It was a lot of fun to come up with all the different mini-games. What is funny is that finding 200+ game ideas becomes harder and harder with time. And this is where the craziest and weirdest concepts come to mind… from abducting cows in space to memorising how steaks are grilled on a BBQ. Our game concepts come from everywhere - from everyday life (catching cereal in a bowl) to 'not the average day' (zombies hunting brains in a supermarket).

What's more, they had help from then-great games giant Atari, which was brought to success with games billionaire Nolan Bushnell and his rag tag collection of arcade games for the Atari consoles and arcade machines. Atari's collection of retro-games - the inspiration for Hot PXL - spurred much of the zSlide's inspiration for the few hundred games. Thiboust added:

Mini-games are great for handheld consoles, no doubt about it and ... WarioWare has proved it. Game design is as much a science as an art and looking at what your predecessor did is mandatory if you wish to progress, then you take it from there, enhance, create and evolve the concept.

From our standpoint, we consider that this idea of sampling games, thought up by the masters at Nintendo, actually gave birth to a new genre of games, on the same level as an RTS or FPS. Of course, we could work on that concept with a different set of characters, a new graphic style and a different platform. But we also wondered about what we could do to take the genre further, technically.

Jonathan "Djon" Choquel is always fond of talking about his creation Hot PXL. Or at least it shows in previous interviews and his latest entry in his online diary. As always, Djon is not offended one bit whenever his game is being compared to classic Nintendo title Wario Ware. Who would anyway? His entry began:

It's easily one of the strangest games to ever hit the PSP. Hot PXL, from developer zSlide, takes a stab at urban street culture by offering an eclectic mix of 'micro-games.' And by micro-games, you should understand super-short, simplified mini-games.

It was quite amusing reading further into Djon's diary. It's as if we can feel his excitement jumping out of our screens. Anyone following the progress of this title would know that some mistook it for a homebrew game at first. This may be attributed to Hot PXL's various selection of graphics. Djon explained:

Aesthetics quickly switch from photo-realism to street influenced graphics and retro pixel art... It breaks down the traditional frontiers between gaming and entertainment, blending audio, video and games. The goal was to focus on the gaming experience and not try to technically one-up previous releases.

And in case you are wondering, the game isn't just a big smorgasbord of mini-games. Djon actually borrowed from personal experience when he was still working as a journalist. The game now involves various activities. Some are as simple as crossing a street, taking snapshots of street art and even chomping a burger.

Finally, Djon assured everyone that the game is on track and will soon be released. He also mentioned that Hot PXL will involve downloadable content and a multiplayer mode.

It must feel awesome to have a character designed after you in a PSP game, or for any game for that matter! But while this is but a dream for most of us, Jonathan "Djon" Choquel lives it. Hot PXL's creator talks about his baby, and how it came to be.

Prior to being tapped as Creative Director, Djon worked as a journalist, with two magazines and a podcast under his belt. As he used to write and deal with mostly skateboarding and street culture lifestyle, it then makes perfect sense that Atari and zSlide would think to make him the game's hero.

His experiences with street-culture is greatly reflected in this collection of "micro-games". From the aesthetics to the photo-realism to the street-influenced graphics, you know it's street. You feel it's street. And that's what makes this game so cool. It's fuss-free and really laid-back, while at the same time providing for some funky and challenging fun.

For example, they didn't call the games in here "micro" for nothing! That's because they really are uber short. As in, five or so seconds short. Really darned short. And that's where the exciting part comes in. With so little time and so much to do, you better make sure you get it right in as little use of "lives" as possible. And getting the wrong answer per question ain't pretty, as you'll see Djon himself getting blasted. It's gory in a twisted sense, but the pixelated blood graphics successfully tones it down to something remotely humorous.

Anyway, Hot PXL also allows you to immerse yourself into the not-so-typical day of an urban explorer. As Djon puts it, you can just "cross a busy street, customize sneakers, write on the griptape of a skateboard, take snapshots of street art, enhance a photo on a computer, play BreakOut on the facade of a skyscraper, scratch a vinyl back and forth... or simply chomp burgers!"

Hmmm...well, ain't that the good life?

So you love games, huh? Well here's a whole lot of 'em for you! 200 mini games and 10 boss games should be more than enough to keep your fingers busy on your PSP. If you're still not satisfied with that, then there must be something definitely wrong with you! I mean, come on...that's a whole lot of bunch already! And that's just all in one package. That's some great deal right there.

Yup, that's what Hot PXL offers you, people. Fun all you want. It won't be out for another couple of months, but, that doesn't mean you have to be left out in the cold on this one. That's why we're bringing you 15 scalding hot Hot PXL screenshots and wallpapers. So before you get those fingers locked on to this gamepack, get your eyes busy first on these images. They're all for your enjoyment.

Buy: [Hot PXL]

It's been quite a while since we've posted anything about HOT PXL. Atari seems to be keeping mum about it, and their website doesn't appear to be that active. All we know is that it boasts 200+ "micro-games" and that it aims to be a pick-up-and-play sort of collection, much like the WarioWare franchise. But more than that, a lot of you have been wondering: HOT PXL is not homebrew... or is it?

If you've seen the other screenshots and videos, and take all these games individually, you'd think that they're all just homebrew. Now, the thing is, you can't take these games individually: there's a backstory that ties all of the mini-games together. As Djon the skateboarder, you go through all these street savvy obstacles as you progress in the game. But more than that, the game has a sold back-up with regards to the its development. It's developed by zSlide, published by Atari, and distributed by Ingram Entertainment. Now based on the strictest, most technical definition of "homebrew", the game isn't brewed at home... Hence, not a homebrew.

In the end, whether this you consider this homebrew or not, it does have its own appeal. In the same sense that some people would release a homebrew collectionpack, HOT PXL is just about as good as it gets.

Pre-order: [Hot PXL]