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SpyParty update: 5 new characters, possible dog murder, no new launch date
Chris Hecker has something to say to everyone who thinks he's taking too long to develop SpyParty: "They're right. It's taking too long – but probably not for the reasons they think." SpyParty has been in development for five years. Hecker says part of the problem is that he just needs to type faster, but really, SpyParty is taking so long because he needs it to be perfect. That, and the development team is just him and artist John Cimino – no extra PR team, concept art division, website designer or programmers. Hecker and Cimino are all of these things, plus more roles, all of the time. "It's insane to do a competitive-level, multiplayer, 3D game with 20 custom-animated, high-end, AAA-quality chraracters – with two people," Hecker says. "That's bonkers. You just don't do that. So it just takes time. I'm slow anyway, but it just takes time, even if I were fast."
See if you're a spy or a sniper in new SpyParty trailer
There are two ways to be a successful spy. Option one: You blend into the crowd, wandering among civilians and your target inconspicuously – until you strike. Option two: You stand out, turning heads with a sexy swagger and distracting your victim with sensual charm. SpyParty is transitioning from spy option one, to option two. Rawr. SpyParty is Chris Hecker's Turing Test simulator that has one player attempting to blend into a party full of computer-controlled characters, while another player tries to find the real human down the scope of a sniper rifle. The SpyParty website just got a facelift that better mirrors the new, wildly updated art style that will be in the final game. There, you can sign up for instant access to the beta, read about the SpyParty community and compare the before-and-after art styles. Plus, we finally have a trailer for the game itself, rather than for specific features (also known as bugs). "You'll notice this trailer is almost completely the old art and is completely in-game footage," Hecker says. "This is intentional, because the last thing I want is somebody watching some super polished pre-rendered trailer and then loading the game and feeling misled. Of course, this means the Spy pours a drink down her face in one shot because the runtime code for taking sips from a drink isn't aligned with the mouth properly in the old art. Oops." [Image: Chris Hecker]
SpyParty's new art brings eerie new glitches
Developer Chris Hecker recently added attractive new art to multiplayer espionage game SpyParty. With the new aesthetics, however, come entertaining new bugs that turn a suspiciously quiet dinner party into a squamous freakshow of floating bodies and contorted limbs.
SpyParty's new art crashes the open beta dinner party
The purty new SpyParty art, revealed back in August, has made its way into the ongoing public beta. In this latest developer diary, developer Chris Hecker walks us through how to access the new level and shows off some of the much more dashing player models.
SpyParty invites you to the garden party: New art for old environments
SpyParty has earned attention over the years for being an intensely addictive, competitive game. What a lot of people forget is that SpyParty is also supposed to be a pretty game. SpyParty mastermind Chris Hecker released a batch of fresh, updated concept levels today demonstrating the intended final look. These new environments join the updated character models that Hecker released one year ago and will oust the placeholder art that players in the beta have come to associate with the game. Hecker, and even some players, lovingly call that art "ugly." "I'm not ashamed to show my really ugly game because I'm really proud of the gameplay," Hecker tells me as we walk through the new screenshots over Skype. "If the game had looked like this when we first showed it, people would want to talk about how pretty it was, too, and that's just a distraction." The remodeled environments won't hit the SpyParty beta for a "very long time" (surprise), but Hecker and his development partner, John Cimino, will work on implementing the new art on a separate plane and then slowly roll it into the game. These images are rendered concept pieces, but Hecker says they're a "visual target" and he's hopeful the in-game products will be a close match.%Gallery-195633%
The top SpyParty player is a fighting game guy from EVO 2012
Four months before SpyParty debuted at EVO 2012's Indie Showcase, convention founder Seth Killian threw down a gentlemen's bet with SpyParty creator Chris Hecker: "An EVO attendee will be your No. 1 player in subsequent tests, and take down whoever the existing top players might be." Hecker took the bet. One year later, SpyParty is on its way to EVO 2013, and Hecker owes Killian a beer. SpyParty is slow-paced for a one-on-one "fighting game," but it requires the same mad obsession with detail prevalent in many fighting games. Players are either the spy or the sniper: As the spy they must blend in with a room of AI characters attending a fancy party and complete tasks unbeknownst to the sniper. The sniper has to spot the human character with enough certainty to shoot it before the other player completes all the tasks. The top SpyParty player in the world is Korey Mueller, AKA "kcmmmmm" (pictured above, standing in the blue button-down), and as a lifelong fighting game fan, it's fitting that he first heard about SpyParty at EVO 2012. Since the convention, Mueller has played 6,436 games of SpyParty and has spent 262 hours in-game, with 1,020 hours total log-in time. The player that comes closest to these numbers clocks in at 5,151 games and 213 hours in-game. After picking out which beer he's going to buy Killian, Hecker asked Mueller about his fighting game roots and how he thinks SpyParty fits into the fighting game community. "There's always this feeling that there's some way I can improve, and every time I meet a personal goal, I find another one," Mueller tells Hecker. "I couldn't really look at the game and decide to be a top player, I just wanted to continue to improve – and at some point, I guess I got pretty decent at it. Now that you mention it, 6,000 games is a lot." Yeah, it is.
SpyParty open beta is live, pop some bubbly and lie to your friends now
SpyParty is throwing an early-access beta and you're invited! For $15 get your mitts on SpyParty, or spend $50 or more to get the game and some warm fuzzies for helping a developer make his game great. SpyParty is about subtle behavior and scoping out the real person in a room of fancy robots, and it's been in closed beta since 2011. The game's mechanics and graphics have intrigued us since 2009, when former Spore frontman Chris Hecker announced its development, and today you can finally see what all the fuss is about. SpyParty is a one-on-one, live Turing test with strict rules (if you want to succeed, at least) and a loyal, underground fanbase. Hecker even brought it to EVO 2012's Indie Showcase, giving fighting game players a taste of intense espionage. Hecker hosted a final closed-beta loadtest last night and drew in 170 players, so the SpyParty lobbies should be nice and primed for some fresh blood.
SpyParty redesign: The new art of espionage
Last year, animator John Cimino turned down a cushy position at Zynga, pre-IPO, to work out of Chris Hecker's garage redesigning Hecker's ambitious, notorious indie game SpyParty. Cimino worked in secret since September 2011 to transform the primary colors and block-based skeletons of SpyParty's characters into the artistic, realistic designs revealed today.Hecker calls the new style "illustrative," and he's extremely pleased with it."We spent a ton of time trying to figure out the best possible art style for the game," Hecker tells Joystiq. "We really wanted the art style to reflect the same level of subtlety that the gameplay has. I didn't want it to be too realistic or too exaggerated, and I think we hit it on this really nice, call it naturalistic or illustrative – they look like illustrations. I'm super excited."%Gallery-163415%
SpyParty's graphics leap from 1998 to 2012 in one gallery
Up until now, the most interesting thing about SpyParty was its ridiculously deep gameplay. That remains the case, actually, but the game's new look is certainly something to write home about. We've got a full feature with Chris Hecker detailing how the changes took place, but if you just wanna take a looksy, here you go!
Crashing EVO: SpyParty's Chris Hecker on depth and fighting games
When we asked Chris Hecker how SpyParty snuck its way into EVO 2012, we didn't think he'd actually tell us – revealing sensitive information is opposed to an entire half of his game's title, after all. We assume it was the other half that allowed him to divulge the details behind how SpyParty, a one-on-one asymmetric Turing Test, snagged a featured spot at the year's largest fighting-game gathering:"It all started with Seth Killian," Hecker said. "Seth and I have talked about my goals for SpyParty to be a game that can eventually be counted among the most intensely competitive player-skill games we have, games like Counter-Strike, Starcraft, LoL, Dota and Street Fighter, and he's been really supportive of that goal."Seth emailed me and asked if I'd be interested in bringing SpyParty to EVO. I knew a bit about EVO and was kind of blown away by the offer."SpyParty is one of EVO 2012's Indie Showcase titles, and will be available for anyone to try out on the expo floor, which is completely free and open to the public July 6-7 at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace.The game itself is based on subtlety, precision and practice, much like many fighting games, but it doesn't involve any twitch movements, bright, flashing colors or hadoukens – and it comes with a four-page manual that must be read before anyone attempts to play it. In terms of pacing for the American audience: if Mortal Kombat is football, SpyParty is soccer.
SpyParty selected as the Indie Showcase title for EVO 2012
Remember Spy Party, that sniper vs. spy game Chris Hecker made and showed off at our E3 meetup last year? The game, originally designed as the ultimate test of deep gaming skill, is getting a spotlight on one of the biggest competitive gaming stages as the Indie Showcase title at EVO 2012.That means Spy Party will be playable at the event in Las Vegas in two weeks, and Hecker says he's hoping to have the demos hooked up to the Internet, letting attendees play some of the top players online. 50 beta invites are also being given away right now, so head over and sign up if you're interested. Spy Party was designed to test and highlight extreme player skill, so it's awesome to see it get placed in an event that brings in skilled gamers from all over the world.
The Witness is Jon Blow's second shot at all or nothing
When is Braid creator Jonathan Blow's second game, The Witness, going to launch? None of your damn business is when. "When it's good," Blow told Joystiq during a GDC 2012 preview meetup. He's not even sure where The Witness will end up -- beyond PC and iOS, that is. "PSN a year from now? XBLA a year from now?," Blow said. It's possible, but more of a question of if it's worth the expense. The Witness is Blow's second ambitious attempt at crafting a story built around brilliant yet obvious puzzles, but this time it's a fully 3D world. A beautiful and complex one at that. And expenses are adding up.He hired two new programmers not so long ago. Blow can't continue development forever, of course. "In the case of this game, the answer is also when I run out of money. Which may happen," he said. But wait a minute -- didn't Braid rake in boatloads of money and cost around quarter of a million bucks to make?"Like I said, I just hired two more programmers and that's expensive. I'm spending all the Braid money on this game," Blow said. That's right: all the Braid money. Right on time, Chris Hecker -- SpyParty dev, hotel room roommate, and good buddy of Jon's -- shouted, "Crazy person!" To temper the jest at his friend's expense, Hecker admonished, "You attain orbit, and then you stay in orbit!"
Overheard@GDC: The craft of mining
Minecraft creator and recent millionaire Notch held a fireside chat with Spyparty's Chris Hecker, seated alongside a pixelated fire roaring across a plasma screen in one of the large halls at GDC. Hecker and Notch kicked off the chat with two bottles of Sierra Nevada and a cheers, and for one hour, a roomful of fans and developers listened to the pair of them talk about the intricacies of Minecraft's development in some of the most riveting, "you had to be there" moments.But one thing Notch said applies to everyone, even those who weren't cool enough to be in the room:"There is one thing that hasn't been found," he declared, referring to the Easter Eggs and cool tricks buried in Minecraft gameplay. Grab a beer (or legally applicable beverage) and get diggin', folks.
SpyParty preview: Turing, eat your heart out
These days, multiplayer games are all about letting the player play the way that they want to. Shooters let you customize your loadouts, racers give you a selecton of cars. If it's online, it's all about standing back and letting players determine their experience. And Spy Party creator Chris Hecker couldn't care less.Spy Party, his multiplayer espionage game, demands that you play by its rules. It doesn't bend the rules, even in the slightest. Either you learn its complexities, or you lose. Every time. Guaranteed.%Gallery-117474%
SpyParty early access pricing solidified (also: appear in the credits!)
We know you're sick of hearing people gush about Chris Hecker's thrilling duel of wits and subterfuge, SpyParty. Though we sympathize, there's really only one antidote and that's to become one of those people yourself. The quickest way to do that is by paying for beta access, and Hecker solidified exactly how much that'll run you today. As we learned in May, the base rate for early entry will be $15, which includes the full game when it launches on PC and -- down the road -- Mac (free console copies likely won't happen). But, and this is the new bit, if that fee just doesn't seem like enough, you can give $50 or more and have your name included in the game's credits. Hecker stresses that beta access will be just that, with no other in-game perks, badges, awards etc. for early birds. Apparently, Hecker wasn't listening after all those early SpyParty sessions when we offered him "Anything! Anything! Take it all! Just one more game!" with tears streaming down our faces and wallets upturned. Probably for the best.
Zoom in on these SpyParty Joystiq E3 meetup stats
Playing SpyParty at the Joystiq E3 2011 reader meetup may have been a lot of fun, but it was also serious business. As it turns out, attendees were not only having a good time; they were helping SpyParty developer Chris Hecker collect some important data. During our roughly three hour shindig, only 10 spies were shot during the 35 games that were completed. This confirms our long-held suspicion that Joystiq readers are indeed a crafty bunch. Hecker also tracked the location and direction of the sniper's laser sight, though he notes he doesn't quite know what to do with the data just yet. At the very least, it looks like the snipers were a busy bunch. Pore over lots more data over at the SpyParty site.
E3 reader meetup: SpyParty
Perhaps you've been hiding in the bathroom, terrified that a sniper will spot you? We can't think of any other reason you wouldn't have heard of Chris Hecker's SpyParty otherwise. But in the off chance that you don't know what it's about, SpyParty is a two-player game where one player controls a sniper and the other a spy. While the sniper seeks out the spy (to murder him, naturalmente), the spy attempts to complete a variety of tasks without being spotted. Moreover, the game is being developed by just one man -- the aforementioned Chris Hecker. And Hecker, along with a handful of other developers, will be on-hand at our E3 2011 meetup this Friday evening, SpyParty in-tow, so you can tell him yourself how incredibly impressed you are with his unique game. Last month, Hecker announced his game -- like Minecraft before it -- will enter a paid beta in the near future. Given his presence at Friday night's event, Hecker answered a handful of questions we had about his game's upcoming beta.
Go see Hecker, Neuse and Blow speak at UC Santa Cruz next week
Between Jonathan Blow, Chris Hecker and Alex Neuse, the University of California Santa Cruz panel being held next week should be chock full of interesting, honest discussion from the trio of all-star indie developers. The group is being gathered to speak for UCSC's "Foundations of Interactive Game Design" class on May 26, though the panel is open to the public. The discussion is being moderated by associate professor Noah Wardrip-Fruin. As for what's being discussed, your guess is as good as ours. Hecker describes it as "an open panel discussion" and notes that his game SpyParty unfortunately won't be on-hand for attendees. Blow separately confirmed to us that he doesn't plan on having his studio's next game, The Witness, at the event either. Bit.Trip series co-developer Alex Neuse didn't get back to us before this post was run, but it stands to reason that his next game, Laserlife, won't make an appearance either. That isn't to say you should miss the talk, which will assuredly be thought provoking. And hey, if you're that worried about getting a chance to play SpyParty, why not sign up for the beta? That worked out pretty well with you and Minecraft, right?
SpyParty 'Early-Access Beta' sign-ups begin, costs $15 when beta opens
Like Minecraft before it, SpyParty is being made by just one man, and it will cost a nominal amount to access the game's public beta. Creator Chris Hecker announced as much on the SpyParty blog today, detailing the game's $15 beta access -- which will eventually roll over into a full game license when SpyParty officially launches -- and also noting that it will be rolled out in batches "over the next few months" as he expands server capacity. While signing up to be part of the "Early-Access Beta" program doesn't cost anything, Hecker encourages only serious inquiries to add their email. OS X users should also hold off for the time being, as the beta will be PC-only initially, though Hecker adds "but not forever" in the same breath. Finally, though no specific parameters are given, he says "any 3D graphics card from the past few years" should be sufficient enough to handle the game's visuals. Wondering what all the hullabaloo about SpyParty is? Catch up with our extensive coverage of the bizarre and endearing two-player psychological strategy shooter right here!
PAX East todo: It's not the Length, it's the Mirth (Game Length Versus Value)
With new forms of distribution for video games come new pricing models. Outlets like Apple's iOS App Store and digital distribution storefronts like Xbox Live Arcade and PSN are challenging the convention of $60 AAA retail titles, and complicating the already peculiar brand of calculus that gamers use when determining "value". Why is $1 okay on iPhone but $6 is too expensive? Why is one ten-hour retail game criticized for being "too short" while others aren't? Why are we so hung up on game length? Join myself and a stellar lineup of panelists as we wrestle with this age-old quandary. Panelists include: Chris Hecker is the sole developer behind SpyParty, the as-yet-undated indie "about human behavior, performance, perception, and deception." Mike Wilford is CEO of Twisted Pixel, the Austin-based developer behind upcoming downloadable titles Ms. Splosion Man and The Gunstringer. Albert Reed is the studio director and co-founder of Cambridge-based Demiurge Studios, which has worked on everything from Mass Effect on PC to Borderlands, and its first original IP, the downloadable Shoot Many Robots. Chris Grant is a writer who works from home in his pajamas. The panel takes place at 4:30pm on Sunday, March 13, in the Wyvern Theatre (on the 2nd floor).
