Behind the long-running worms warfare hilarity which recently hit the shelves, Worms: Open Warfare 2 (Sony PSP and Nintendo DS) is Team17. Cubed3 sat down with Team17 for an interview to talk about the Nintendo DS version of Worms: Open Warfare 2 and its plethora of features within.

Quite frankly, plenty of Worms fans weren't satisfied with the first Worms: Open Warfare for the DS. It lacked the flare the Sony PSP version had, and even the devs knew it could've been better. Team17 knew what went wrong, and told Cubed3 that they learned a few things. "We’re all very, very pleased with the results of the sequel."

Those planning to get a copy of Worms: Open Warfare 2 on their DS have a lot to be happy about, thanks to Team17 pushing the handheld to its limit to make "a game experience that works optimally for the DS." This means no cutting corners from the PSP version, and even more content utilizing the platform's functions.

Owners of Ninty's handheld can now avail of a large amount of customization and online features. Team17 is proud of the new stuff they added, like enhanced graphics, landscape creation tools, and mini-games.

According to Team17, three mini-game modes were added exclusively to the DS that use the microphone, Stylus, and touch screen. One mode allows players to help their worms hang on to their parachutes while avoiding obstacles by blowing into the mic. Another "involves creating explosions by tapping on the Touch Screen to blast a worm to safety, or certain doom." Finally, the last game mode gives players the power to modify the landscape in battle by drawing with the Stylus.

If you're still not excited about getting Worms: Open Warfare 2, then Team17 assures that "this next installment really is an amazing game which sets a much higher standard in both content and quality." It's not even a step forward, but a giant leap into new content. Among the things included in the package are:

...over 70 uniquely designed single-player levels (including the awesome new Puzzle Mode); full customisation of worm names, skins, gravestones, voices, team names and flags; a shop to buy new items, maps and game levels; custom Deathmatch, Forts or Race modes on custom landscapes, either against the AI or against other people; multiplayer games which can be played as either pass around, local WiFi or online via Nintendo WFC; and online matchmaking against Friends, Rivals or complete strangers, with dozens of serious and fun leaderboards.

Added to that are 11 new weapons to Worms Warfare, such as the classic "Super Sheep" and much-loved "Concrete Donkey." Several new items also aim to expand the Worms' arsenal, like the "Electromagnet" which can attract or repel weapon and landmines.

Taking the game online seems to be easier this time around. While Team 17 appreciates the use Friend Codes on the Nintendo DS, Worms: Open Warfare won't be restricted to the system and will allow players to battle against non-friends. There's no need to worry about lag, as Team17 is "pleased to report" that no lag problems have surfaced.

For the full interview, just head over the Read link below.

Buy: [Worms: Open Warfare 2 (PSP)]
Buy: [Worms: Open Warfare 2 (DS)]

Are you ready to go to war? The worms are back and they are set to invade the handhelds, and just in case you need any more reminding, THQ has released two more trailers for Worms: Open Warfare 2 for the DS and the PlayStation Portable.

As usual, Team 17's warring worms are bent to blow each other to smithereens. In the PSP trailer, we see a number of features that the upcoming video game will sport: customization options from hats to victory dances, and level editor. The trailer for Worms: Open Warfare 2's DS version on the other hand showcases the new weapons you can arm your worms with, new single player modes, and a slew of mini games, among other features.

Worms: Open Warfare 2 is set to hit the shelves anytime soon so stay tuned for more news and info about the title. In the meantime, check out the trailers below.

Check out the DS trailer after the jump!

Team 17 recently sat down with Pro-G UK and revealed how the latest addition to the Worms franchise, Worms Open Warfare 2, is faring, and how the team bounced back from the quite tepid response that they got from the first Worms Open Warfare game for the DS and PSP. They made sure that they listened to the opinions and criticisms that they have garnered from the past PSP and DS game, and applied what they have learned on the latest installment. Inputs from gamers have also become invaluable towards the creation of new weapons and game modes.

The team also delved in dealing with the differences between the controls on the Nintendo DS as well as the "twitchy analog nub" of the PlayStation Portable. Team 17 confirmed that the touch screen medium is just about the ideal way to play the video game,

The DS touch screen is obviously a perfect compliment to the gameplay style of WORMS and allows the player increased depth of interaction but the PSP controls are not without their merits...The analogue stick is used to control the camera's position around the landscape while the d-pad is used to control the worms' movement.

Since they already mentioned the modes of play like Deathmatch, Race, and Fort Modes, Team 17 decided to let people in on other new stuff, such as the strangely named Buffalo of Lies, the Bunker Buster, and the Sentry Gun. Basically the Bunker Buster seeks out any worms that may try to infiltrate the other team from underground while the Sentry Gun automatically fires once a worm crosses the line of sight. Pretty cool indeed.

Online gaming is now at a whole new advantage in Worms Open Warfare 2. Team 17 has now enabled inviting players to a match, regardless of "where he is in a game". Best and worst Worms players are now shown in the leaderboards as well as given Daily Awards.

Surely, Worms Open Warfare 2 will be out to command and conquer once it hits the stores this coming August.

Click on the Read link see the entire interview!

The Worms series has always been an entertaining game. If you look back at other games like it such as Scorched Earth, you can say it totally redefined its genre. Lead Game Designer of Worms: Open Warfare 2 Kevin Carthew was recently interviewed by CVG and he gave us quite a few details on the newest iteration of the game.

One of the things Carthew discussed are the reasons why they decided to release the game. He said the the development team had "ideas for another Worms game." This prompted them to go over the criticisms thrown at the previous Worms games. That said, he announced that this latest iteration "addresses all of these issues and includes new weapons, environments and an online element." Right. If we don't see sheep bombs in this game, we're just going to go ballistic.

Another thing that was addressed is the inclusion and implementation of multiplayer features. He gave word that there will be three modes: Deathmatch, race mode and fort mode. These additions, he says, "add to the experience when playing in multi player mode and make the game more challenging and fun to play". Sounds good, though he never really discussed one thing that we wanted to hear, whether they will be including hot-seating options for its multiplayer aspect.

That said he also addressed a community that hasn't really been getting any Worms lovin' as of late: The PC gamers. Carthew said "there is a still mass fan base for Worms on the PC and it's still really well received." Given that, can we expect to be seeing a few Worms games coming to our PCs soon?

Team 17's Worms: Open Warfare 2 is slated to be hitting PSP and the DS in July so watch out for it. If you want to read the full interview, be sure to click on our read link.

Here's another gamerzines.com offering. Since the bigger consoles (360Zine) and PC get a version of the free downloadable magazine made for the DS and PSP called HGZine (short for Handheld GamerZine).

This issue features a number of exclusives including: WipEout Pulse (hands on and developer interview), an interview with Yasuhiro Wada, creator of Harvest Moon, and a sneak peek at Team 17's Worms.

Reportedly, Yasuhiro Wada reveals that a new Harvest Moon set to hit next year and that he thinks Microsoft is working on its own portable gaming device.

Also included are reviews of portable games like Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales, SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2, Burnout Dominator, and Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops. Publishing director David Taylor had this to say:

Traditionally portable games have been overlooked by the games press. However, gone are the days when the DS and PSP simply get ports of cut-down versions of console games. Now we have exciting new properties like the Brothers In Arms game for DS in this issue or WipEout Pulse, where the game has been designed from the ground up for the device and gamers are now looking for ways to keep up to date with their favourite games on these platforms. HGZine is a great way to do this, with professionally written features and pages enhanced with video and multimedia.

As is usual, you'll need a copy of Adobe Reader version 6 or higher to be able to read the magazine.

It is generally accepted that Worms: Open Warfare didn't really meet the expectations of fans from this more than a decade old video game franchise. Development studio Team17, clearly, is trying to rebound with the sequel Worms: Open Warfare 2 (DS, PSP). Lead designer Kevin Carthew recently spoke with IGN regarding the matter.

"It has an abundance of single-player content, features in-depth training modes, a huge list of unlockable items, customizable worms, brand new types of multiplayer games, some really cool tools that allow players to create their own landscapes and online play with an extensive feature set," noted Carthew.

Aside from this, the designer also mentioned that there will be a total number of 33 weapons available in the game including ones that we have never been seen before. There are also additional features that can only be noticed, Carthew explained, while playing the game.

The lead designer then went on and talked about the game's single player mode. The Worms franchise is generally more known for its multiplayer features, that's why Team17 added some new enhancements to the single player mode. One of which is the Puzzle Mode:

It's basically thirty levels of Worms-based brain teasers. Each level asks the user to perform a specific task with a very limited amount of weaponry. Basically, the game asks the player to use weapons in a way they might not have thought of before.

Regarding multiplayer mode, Carthew explained that Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection system for the DS somehow restricted their developers while making Worms: Open Warfare 2. The PlayStation Portable version, on the other hand will have certain advantages over the DS version when it comes to online features like online leaderboards. Carthew explained further,

Customization of Worms teams on PSP is a little more varied, with a variety of hats you can put on your team of worms. We've also been able to do more with the online community aspects of the game on PSP through clans, sharing of user-created landscapes, Downloadable Content">downloadable content, etc.

Both versions of Worms: Open Warfare 2 will be available this July.

Team 17's Worms: Open Warfare 2 for the PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo DS is a TBS game in which teams of heavily armed worms blow each other up (just like the first Worms: Open Warfare). Don't let the cutesy graphics of the game fool you, it gets pretty hairy when you've got your worms all bunched up and your opponent lets loose some exploding sheep.

The trailer of the game was extremely amusing. It's got a worm in jetpack, a worm firing a cannon at itself, and even a little yellow ducky being hit by a falling rock. Yes it's weird, but it's a good kind of weird. Very little actual gameplay footage was shown but we do believe we caught sight of a worm taking advantage of the higher ground and raining death with a bazooka.

Worms: Open Warfare 2 is slated to be released this July for both systems, so watch out for it. Be sure to check out the video and see if the game's brand of humor is for you.

Incoming! According to gaming site Eurogamer, THQ just confirmed that Worms: Open Warfare 2 will be available both on Nintendo DS (DS) and PlayStation Portable (PSP) this July. The confirmation came from the publisher's latest release schedule.

The original Open Warfare (DS and PSP) featured a gameplay that is reminiscent of classic Worms titles. Players take control of a worm army, loaded with every weapon imaginable, to destroy the opposing worm army. This title became rather important as it marked developer Team 17's return to its 2D roots.

Anyway, THQ was unable to give out any new details about Open Warfare 2. But we're pretty sure that the sequel will remain loyal to the original video game although with improvements here and there. We wonder if new weapons will be introduced to the game. We're still kind of hooked with the banana bomb.

On a related matter, the above mentioned release schedule also included a DS title called Drawn To Life. THQ was also quite mum on this but we heard that gameplay involves drawing whatever images that will eventually populate the in-game world. Your drawings will literally come to life. This game is being developed by 5th Cell and is slated for a September 2007 release.

More on these titles in the coming weeks so stay tuned!