Double Fine Announces Its First Downloadable Title: Costume Quest

Double Fine Productions, the studio behind Tim Schafer’s Brutal Legend and Psychonauts, has announced Costume Quest, the studio’s first departure from large-scale retail games. Costume Quest is a downloadable Halloween-based adventure RPG for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and features a combat system in which children transform into giant, fantastical versions of their costumes, as well as quests that are more grounded in reality. Tasha Harris, Double Fine lead animator, will lead the project, with CEO Tim Schafer playing a supporting role in the game’s development. The project will be the first of two Double Fine games published by THQ, according to 1UP.com, the second of which is an unannounced third person adventure game to be released in 2011. Costume Quest marks the first of four smaller Double Fine projects to be led by lead staff other than Tim Schafer, the studio CEO noted during last month’s Develop conference. "We wanted to make a big impression with these, our first downloadable games ever," said Tim Schafer. "So we are coming out swinging with two great adventures from two of the most creative minds in the company." "Delivering high-quality content across a variety of digital distribution platforms is an important growth initiative for us, and we are pleased to do so with two titles whose potential appeal could encompass both hardcore and casual players," said Martin Good, executive VP of THQ Kids, Family, Casual Games, and Global Online Services. Costume Quest is set for release on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network on October 31, 2010.