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DS' Mushroom Men germinating in the dark

Currently at the concept stage

DS' Mushroom Men germinating in the dark

If we were feeling uncharitable, we'd suggest that anyone writing a press release from a publisher called Gamecock to announce a game called Mushroom Men had been munching on some of the more psilocybe examples of the species – although we'd have to be in a really bad mood to make a comment on the size of their gameplaying manhood.

But it's almost summer, so we're happy.

That doesn't mean we're not slightly sceptical about Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars, a game that's in development for DS (and Wii). This is partly due to the startup nature of the game's developer, Red Fly Studios.

Of course, having a blog instead of a website doesn't mean you're not a proper developer. It just means you're trendy. And apparently members of the team have worked on games such as Star Wars Galaxies, BloodRayne, FIFA, Anachronox and Deus Ex, while reading between the lines we also notice the logo of Hungarian developer Zen Studios. It seems to be working on the DS version of the game, while Red Fly does the Wii.

But delving further into the game's neat-looking website, we don't quite get the feeling that anyone yet fully understands what Mushroom Men is going to be about. According to Red Fly's blog, they're still working on the prototype.

The game's concept artwork is really good though.

Back to our Gamecock press release writer. He/she reckons the game will let players: 'jump into the fantastic microcosm that is the backyard battlefield, creating weapons from everyday items, for instance using the DS stylus as a rapier, and teaming up with sentient plant forms to as they take down household pests'.

The game isn't due for release until Autumn 2008, so there is plenty of time for someone to work out what it's all going to mean.

Jon Jordan
Jon Jordan
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon can turn his hand to anything except hand turning. He is editor-at-large at PG.biz which means he can arrive anywhere in the world, acting like a slightly confused uncle looking for the way out. He likes letters, cameras, imaginary numbers and legumes.