Test Your Ninja Reflexes

Nunchuck's Ninja Reflex, previously exclusive to the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS, is receiving a PC version, courtesy of Valve and their Steamworks package. Valve and Nunchuck have announced that the game is now available for download from Steam at the price of $9.95. It's worth noting that the Wii version is $39.99, while the DS port costs $29.99.

The game challenges players to develop ninja skills in six different areas. A variety of challenges are presented and the player must react and complete the challenge while being timed with split second precision.

Ninja Reflex is a very good example of how Steam can change the games industry. Digital distribution, either through Steam or other services, is great because it eliminates costs associated with putting the game on a disc and in a case and then shipping it to retail games store all over the world. Steam lets game developers make their products directly available to the public at significantly lower costs, which results in cheaper games.

Less clear were the merits of Steamworks, a distribution of Steam's core mechanics that Valve released for free a few months ago. Well, now the first Steamworks enabled games are not launching on Steam, of course, and the advantages are becoming clearer and clearer. Nunchuck Games is calling itself a "micro publisher." It came up with the idea for the Ninja Reflex game, but real development for the Wii and DS was handled by another company, Sanzaru Games.

Steamworks has enabled Nunchuck to create a PC version of the game and add achievements, belt-like awards for the players and host of Easter eggs referring to Half Life and Portal.

David Luntz, who is Nunchuck's president, said that: "As a small indie publisher, it's an honor to receive the support of Valve in our efforts to deliver a unique gaming experience at a price point the Steam community will appreciate."

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