elfsquad7
Latest
The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Elfsquad7
Indie developers are the starving artists of the video-game world, often brilliant and innovative, but also misunderstood, underfunded and more prone to writing free-form poetry on their LiveJournals. We at Joystiq believe no one deserves to starve, and many indie developers are entitled to a fridge full of tasty, fulfilling media coverage, right here. This week, we feature a super-special (and sparkly) Christmas title from Scott Tykoski and Stardock, titled Elfsquad7. What's your game called and what's it about? Elfsquad7 is a frantic, fun, 1-4-player holiday game about wrapping toys, grabbing gifts and saving Christmas. Despite its overly saccharine holiday theme, it's designed so that even the most hardcore gamer can enjoy playing it, and it's available now on XBLIG. What's the coolest aspect of Elfsquad7? I really like that the end boss resembles Lavos from Chrono Trigger. Only his name is Kevin. I'm also really happy with how the item shop plays into gameplay, especially on the harder-difficulty levels. There are some real strategic choices that the player has to make, and the game design is considerably stronger for it. Oh, and items are delivered by a fat pink cat strapped to a hot-air balloon. I can proudly boast that is a first in the world of gaming.
Stardock sends Elfsquad7 down the Xbox Live Indie Games chimney
Michigan-based developer Stardock may be better known for strategy titles like Galactic Civilization and Sins of a Solar Empire – not to mention its one-time ownership of PC gaming service Impulse – but what would you say if we told you Stardock made "a festive retro co-op adventure side-scroller" available now on Xbox Live Indie Games for the festive price of $1? We hope you're saying "we believe you" because it's totally true. Elfsquad7 is Stardock's first time off the PC gaming reservation, and it goes a little something like this: "Join up with friends and family members in a frantic four-player co-op as you demolish freakish "un-toys", wrap presents and help Santa pack for his one-night journey delivering gifts to children around the world." This game plus a surfeit of fire log simulators truly makes Xbox Live Indie Games the most festive of all out-of-the-way digital storefronts.
