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Serious Sam stars in newest Humble Weekly Sale
This week's Humble Weekly Sale collects just about every remake, sequel, and spinoff in Croteam's Serious Sam series as a pay-what-you-want compilation for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The bundle's core package includes the unapologetically arcadey first-person shooters Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter and Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter, along with a rarely-seen public test version of the original Serious Sam. Also included are Vlambeer's turn-based RPG Serious Sam: The Random Encounter, Mommy's Best Games' gun-stacking side-scroller Serious Sam Double D, and Be-Rad Entertainment's autoscrolling platformer Serious Sam: Kamikaze Attack. Bundle buyers who beat the average purchase price (currently around $4) will also receive Serious Sam 2 and the Deluxe Edition of Serious Sam 3 BFE, which includes the Classic (non-HD) versions of The First Encounter and The Second Encounter, along with a downloadable soundtrack. Serious Sam's Humble Weekly Sale ends on June 13.
Super Crate Box squares away a launch on Ouya
Vlambeer is bringing Super Crate Box to Ouya, just in time to show it off at E3. The new version shouldn't be a complete surprise – after all, Super Crate Box is already on basically every other platform ever, including Commodore 64. Vlambeer announced Super Crate Box Ouya in a blog post packed with news: As previously mentioned, Luftrausers is ready for certification by Sony, and when it's approved it'll launch simultaneously on PC, Mac, Linux, PS3 and Vita. In an appearance on Sup Holmes?, Vlambeer founders Rami Ismail and Jan Willem Nijman announced unlockable, color versions of Luftrausers, created by notable people in the gaming industry. Ismail and Nijman are also deep into their next game – it's playable already, and it features explosions and screen shakes, if that helps narrow down its genre a bit (it doesn't). They plan to stream development of this game and will announce more information closer to Luftrausers' launch.
Microsoft's message to indies with Xbox One: 'It was sort of weird'
Microsoft's reveal of its next-gen console, the Xbox One, was high on broad entertainment apps such as Skype, interactive programming, media management and Kinect-powered features. Games saw a smaller showing, with two new announcements and a trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts. Indie games got an even smaller nod – that is, none at all. E3 is right around the corner, with the Microsoft conference on June 10. Maybe that's where all of the Xbox One games are hiding, along with the console's indie plan. We asked a handful of indie developers what Microsoft's presentation today said to them specifically, and what they want to see at E3. Below we have responses from Rami Ismail of Ridiculous Fishing fame, Octodad's Philip Tibitoski, DLC Quest's Ben Kane, Charlie Murder's James Silva, Retro City Rampage's Brian Provinciano and Fez's Phil Fish.
Luftrausers clone dev shoots back at Vlambeer
RubiqLab, the developer accused of cloning Vlambeer's upcoming 2D dogfighter Luftrausers, has taken to Facebook to assert that Vlambeer's game isn't an original concept. The Game luftrauser is cloned by ( SKYSTRIKE , JETSTRIKE & many more ) And your game also came under pixel art. Earlier games likes SkyStricks & Jetstrike also were in pixel art. SO WHAT DO YOU SAY IS THAT REALLY YOUR OWN IDEA ? We dont think so.The clone in question, SkyFar, shares certain mechanics and a visual style with Vlambeer's game, painting the world in a blue hue versus Luftrausers red color scheme.Joystiq has contacted RubiqLab for further comment on its stance, and will update this post if the developer responds.Luftrausers is the second game of Vlambeer's to be cloned. The first is the notorious case of Radical Fishing (Ridiculous Fishing on iOS), where Vlambeer's browser-based fishing game was beaten to iOS. Luftrausers is slated to launch this spring on PC, Mac, Linux, PS3 and PS Vita.
Vlambeer 'fully intends' to fight Luftrausers clone
Indie developer Vlambeer is getting used to its games being cloned before final release, with the developer discovering today that its upcoming game Luftrausers has a clone called SkyFar on the iOS App Store. Freelance journalist Scott Nichols noticed the clone today, following its App Store release on March 24."We obviously endured a bit of a scare when news arrived of Luftrausers being cloned and released ahead of our own release schedule by another developer," Vlambeer lead Rami Ismail told us. "This time, however, it's not 'just' the idea of the game that has been cloned, but also the visual style. This gives us much more room to fight the whole thing, and we fully intend to."Ismail continued, "The developer of the clone has gotten in touch with us after Twitter exploded and let us know that 'acttuly we genrated our assets, Codes and all newly' and that the gameplay as indicated on the screenshots 'is not there in game as in the screen shots. We just done those screnshots for public attraction'. They signed off with the note that 'we really dont think it links your game at all.'"Vlambeer was famously at the heart of another cloning incident, when its 2010 browser-based game Ridiculous Fishing was cloned in 2011, while the developer was in the process of porting it for the platform. Another key issue with that clone, Ninja Fishing, was that it became a hit on the App Store. SkyFar hasn't seen such traction.
Luftrausers officially coming to PS3 and Vita spring 2013
Vlambeer's campaign of mobile platform domination continues. Following the successful release of the absolutely essential iOS game Ridiculous Fishing, the company has made its plans for a PS3/Vita release of the dogfighting action game Luftrausers official, putting a spring 2013 release window on it. That's really soon!Devolver Digital, who worked with Vlambeer on Serious Sam: The Random Encounter (reminder of how weird our world is: that exists) is acting as publisher for this release, along with the PC/Mac/Linux version. For the most part, if you have a game machine, you'll be able to get blown up by a surprise blimp.
Vlambeer's Android dreams and why $0.99 makes it hard to be indie
Vlambeer, the team behind confirmed iOS smash hit Ridiculous Fishing, is considering the logistics of porting the game to Android, creator Rami Ismail wrote in a Reddit AMA yesterday. Don't shoot your hopes sky-high just yet, though."We're still arguing about an Android release," Ismail said. "There are a lot of things to consider and a lot of things that we just don't know too much about since we've yet to make a game for Android. As soon as we figure all that stuff out, we'll see what we can do."Ridiculous Fishing costs $3 on the App Store, higher than the accepted average of $0.99 per game, though it offers absolutely no microtransactions. This was a pointed decision: "Developers shouldn't be scared to charge $3 for a game," Ismail said."The problem is that at $0.99, you'll need to sell endless amounts of copies to be able to survive as an indie developer. Most games don't even get close to that. A direct result of the whole race-to-the-bottom in prices is the prevalance of free-to-play on iOS – it seems to be a safer bet. But since it's almost impossible to do F2P in a non-evil way and without sacrificing the elegance of your game design, we'll prefer to charge $3."
Chat with the Ridiculous Fishing developers on Reddit right now
Heads up for anyone addicted to Ridiculous Fishing (looking at you, JC Fletcher): The devs are doing a Reddit AMA right now. The team answering questions is a conglomerate of iOS and indie hotshots, including Super Crate Box's Vlambeer (Rami Ismail and Jan Willem Nijman), Zach Gage of Spelltower fame, Hundreds collaborator Greg Wohlwend, The Stanley Parable's Davey Wreden, Hotline Miami sound man Eirik Suhrke and indie trailer expert Kert Gartner.Ridiculous Fishing has a history as storied as its in-game ARG (written by Wreden), so if you have questions about cloning, microtransactions, adorable art or anything else, direct them to Reddit.
Metareview: Ridiculous Fishing
Clone victim Ridiculous Fishing is angling for attention and, as we noted in our review, it is certainly ridiculous. We aren't the only ones who think so. Touch Arcade (100/100): "Ridiculous Fishing is such a complete package that it's an effortless recommendation. It totally captures that gameplay niche of a game you can load up and play for a few minutes while providing a feel of progression that also makes the title suitable for substantially longer play sessions." Edge (90/100): "This is, ultimately, a simple little smartphone title, modest in its ambitions. That isn't to say it's a minor release, merely that it's a much smaller game than the story surrounding it." IGN (80/100): "Ridiculous Fishing could have probably been made even more ridiculous. The four fishing spots don't really feel distinct from one another. The geometric, almost cubist design is absolutely gorgeous, but it contributes to the feeling that you're seeing the same sights repeatedly. Lure and gun upgrades spice up the gameplay somewhat, but they don't really change the fact that this is a simple arcade experience with beautiful audiovisual design." Eurogamer (80/100): "And the moral of the story? A great game design can always be ripped off, sadly, but talent will out in the end. You can't cut-and-paste the artistry and attitude that Vlambeer has brought to this extravagant bit of disposable nonsense. You can't copy a true original - even before it's out."
Daily iPhone App: Ridiculous Fishing is ridiculously good
Vlambeer's Ridiculous Fishing is finally out on the App Store today, after a long and rough development cycle that included a well-publicized battle against a clone. But in my humble opinion, the guys at Vlambeer should never have worried. No clone could ever match up to the design talent, brilliant wit and just plain love that's been put into this game. Ridiculous Fishing lives up to its foolish title and then some. You play as a fisherman. To begin, tap to toss a hook into the water. The game then runs in three phases. First, as your hook descends, tilt the iPhone back and forth to guide it past as many fish as you can, as deep under the surface as possible. As you reel it back in, you switch tactics. Tilt to grab as many fish as possible, trying to avoid the jellyfish if you can. Finally, the game gets really silly when your hook reaches the surface. The fish fly up into the air, and you've got to take them out of the sky with whatever firearms you have lying around. Each fish you kill earns money for line and equipment upgrades and finding new species can unlock new areas with new fish to hook and deeper waters to plumb. It's a very addictive gameplay cycle, and it's all backed up with some brilliant art, great sound effects and very catchy music. I've been playing the game for about a week now, and have found it hard to put down. Ridiculous Fishing has seen a little drama even before release, but the team never needed to worry, in my opinion. This is a great game that is among the best we've seen on the iPhone, ever. It's well worth the purchase at US$2.99, though I'll bet we'll see Ridiculous Fishing (and with any luck, more of Vlambeer) around the App Store for a long time to come.
Ridiculous Fishing review: Acute angler
Vlambeer wouldn't want me to start my Ridiculous Fishing review by bringing up Ninja Fishing – and I kind of don't want to either – but Gamenauts' well-publicized clone actually works as an example of why Vlambeer's iOS update of its own browser game (which "inspired" Ninja Fishing) is so excellent, and so necessary.Playing Ninja Fishing and Ridiculous Fishing in quick succession illustrates what a difference it makes to care about your audience. The concept may be similar, but Ridiculous Fishing outclasses its would-be competitor in every way.It's just better.
Catch Vlambeer's 'Ridiculous Fishing' March 14
Ridiculous Fishing, on iOS, March 14th. Check out the announcement trailer at vine.co/v/bHvb721Mu3j ridiculousfishing.com - Vlambeer (@Vlambeer) March 5, 2013Ridiculous Fishing, the long-awaited iOS fishin'/shootin' action game by Super Crate Box developer Vlambeer, working with Greg Wohlwend (Solipskier, Hundreds) and Zach Gage (Spelltower) will arrive on the App Store March 14.Vlambeer, no doubt eager to prove its abilities as innovators after an infamous cloning crisis, revealed the date with the world's first game announcement Vine.
Sony completely revises list of PS4 EU studios, down from 53 to 30 [updates]
Sony made wholesale corrections to the list of European/PAL companies confirmed as PS4 developers and publishers, reducing the list of named studios from 53 to 28. Curiouser, not one of the developers and publishers named on the previous list makes an appearance on the new roll call. A spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe confirmed to us the first list, sent out last week, was erroneous, and this new one is correct. There are no revisions for any other regions.The new list removes a number of significant names, including Mojang (Minecraft), Rovio (Angry Birds), Frozenbyte, Criterion Games, and City Interactive. In their stead are some new noteworthy studios, such as CD Projekt, who've confirmed The Witcher 3 as a PS4 game. Also included are Bohemia Interactive, Deep Silver, Ninja Theory, IO Interactive, Codemasters, 2K Games, and Sumo Digital. The full list can be found after the break.We've reached out to a number of studios for comment. Mojang's Daniel Kaplan reiterated to us the comments he gave to Gamasutra, saying his studio hasn't decided anything yet, and that the error is "confusion from Sony's side." Gamasutra's article also confirms Super Crate Box developer Vlambeer and Skulls of the Shogun creator 17-Bit, both included in the original list, as not currently working on anything for the PS4.A spokesperson for Monsters (probably) Stole My Princess developer Mediatonic, included in the original list but not in the corrected one, told us he couldn't make any comment on his studio and PS4 development. Meanwhile, Sumo Digital's inclusion adds weight to the rumor the British studio is working on LittleBigPlanet 3, but for the PS4. When approached previously about LBP3, a studio representative told Joystiq, "No comment." Update 1: A spokesperson for 505 Games tells us the Italian company is "definitely" planning to publish games on the PS4. 505 Games was in the original list of European/PAL PS4 developers and publishers, but not the revised list. The spokesperson noted the company's logo appears in the image showcasing PS4 partners, as shown during last week's event, as do many of the names in the revised list. Update 2: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe informs us the list of European PS4 studios has been further revised. Two more studios are now present in the form of Criterion Games and Ghost Games (an EA studio) - both were in the original list of 53. That takes the tally of confirmed European studios up to 30.
Indie developers discuss the Ouya experience thus far
With Ouya developer kits now out in the wild, our friends at Engadget decided to see what developers think of them so far. Nathan Fouts of Mommy's Best Games praises the system for its open development system. As an example, he noted the "brutal" certification process Mommy's Best had to overcome in order release Serious Sam Double D XXL on Xbox Live Arcade. "I'm happy to release the game there, but it's a nice break to have fewer restrictions," he said.Meanwhile, Jerrod Putnam of Tiny Tim Games is excited by the prospect of a unified, widespread Android platform. Whereas Android development usually requires developers to worry about compatibility across multiple devices, all with different specs, Tiny Tim can develop for Ouya "without having to also target thousands of other devices." He does admit that the Tegra 3 chipset in the Ouya will quickly be surpassed by newer chips, but that is simply the nature of consoles. Along the same lines, however, the static nature of the Ouya will allow developers to maximize its potential.Right now, the biggest question is how the Ouya's business model will play out. "There are still a few unknowns that will ultimately decide how Ouya pans out," said Rami Ismail of Vlambeer. Much will depend on curation, he said. "Too strict risks alienating creative developers and too loose and you end up with a minefield of terrible apps similar to the Android Play Store." Fouts added that another hurdle will be twofold: Convincing developers that there will be an audience for Ouya, and convincing potential Ouya owners that it will have a large enough library of worthwhile games.
OUYA developers sound off: successes and failures of the dev kit, one month out
You still can't touch an OUYA. Not until March, at the earliest, and that's only if you're a Kickstarter backer. However, one lucky group of folks already has access: game developers. Those among us who shelled out $700 -- as well as the 10 lucky studios who won that contest -- got an early jump on a pre-rooted OUYA dev kit, while those of us who dropped $95 (or more) are left in the lurch. Of course, those early units aren't exactly the couch-friendly consoles we expect to arrive in a few months, but they are representative of the final hardware. And let's face it -- the OUYA is important. A crowdfunded, extremely inexpensive, open-source game console? That's not exactly the standard (heck, Sony's PlayStation 3 debuted with a $500 baseline). The OUYA is essentially taking the low-cost / high-performance aspect of mobile gaming and moving it into a TV-friendly space, and that concept has even spawned some imitators (the likes of which we'll assuredly see more). But what do we know about actually using the OUYA? Beyond basic specs and a sporadic showering of images, we've never actually touched the thing. With that in mind, we asked a trio of developers who've spent the last month with their dev kits how they feel about the console thus far, and we've compiled their thoughts below. One month out, how does the OUYA dev kit stack up for developers? Let's find out!
Luftrausers delayed as Vlambeer works out Vita/PS3 deal
Vlambeer's Luftrausers, the PC and Mac version of free Flash dogfighting game Luftrauser, may come to the Vita and PS3, if Vlambeer and Sony can work out a deal they both like. Vlambeer's previous hit, Super Crate Box, made a splash on the Vita last year.Unfortunately the bureaucratic process and subsequent extra development time means Luftrausers won't be out before April. Ridiculous Fishing, Vlambeer's other in-development title, should be out for iOS slightly before Luftrausers."Basically, what we're trying to say is that we think Ridiculous Fishing is going to move in front of Luftrausers in terms of release, but both of them should be out before three more months," Vlambeer co-founder Rami Ismail writes. Both games will be playable at PAX East, from March 22 - 24 in Boston.
Vlambeer's free Techno King has you defend Earth with force
To celebrate the new year (you accidentally wrote 2012 once already, admit it), Vlambeer has released a new free shooter. Entitled Techno King, the game has players defending Neo Tokyo from evil invaders as buildings are destroyed and the screen fills with ever-growing barrages of missile fire. Vlambeer's Rami Ismail told IndieGames that Techno King is inspired by the Earth Defense Force series. Strangely, players actually have to destroy the entire city to win.We snagged a video of us playing (and quickly losing) the game, which you can check out above. Head over to Vlambeer for a free PC or Mac download.
Vlambeer knows your C64 is in the attic, made Super Bread Box anyway
When we first heard Super Crate Box would get a Commodore 64 version this December, our first question was, "Why?" As Rami Ismail of Vlambeer answers us, it's mostly because he can."When we released Super Crate Box almost two years ago, one of the things we kept on hearing was that the game felt like the classics – the arcade era of old," Ismail says. "We like to think that our games could've been made in the 80s – that they would've worked in some way on a C64 or similar. When Adam Saltsman released C64anabalt, we decided that it could be worth trying to see whether it'd work. We got in touch with the team that developed the C64 version and decided developing a real, actual C64 version was the ultimate test."OK, that's fine, we thought. Developers challenging themselves is a great way to ensure the industry doesn't stagnate. But then we thought of another conundrum. "Who the hell still has a C64?""One of us does have an old one somewhere, although we're not quite sure whether it still works," Ismail says. "We don't know how many people actually have a C64, but we hope that enough people would grab it from their storage to give Super Bread Box a try. Either way, we're mostly doing the project because we want to see whether it is possible."
'F*ck This Jam' tasks devs to create games in genres they don't like
"F*ck This Jam" is the game jam that asks developers to create games for genres they hate or are just in "utter ignorance" of. Organized by Vlambeer's Rami Ismail and indie dev Fernando Ramallo, the game jam will take place from November 9 through November 17."Hopefully, we will be pushing genres past their preconceived notions and the individual developers to challenge themselves out of their comfort-zone," said Ismail.Participation is free and open to those across the globe. Folks interested in more info can sign up on the official site. Now, question: How are they going to assure it isn't 90 percent sportsball games?
Luftrausers lives up to its arcade potential
Hotline Miami was the official pick for the "Most Fantastic" game at Fantastic Arcade last weekend, but the cabinet I returned to whenever I had a spare moment was Vlambeer's Luftrausers, the expanded PC/Mac game based on the Flash dogfighting game.It's perfect as an arcade game, especially with the modifications Vlambeer put in place for the demo, as it gives you very simple mechanics to achieve an immediately apparent goal, and then leaves you to practice those mechanics for as long as you can survive. It's too bad an arcade cabinet won't be one of the default venues for the full game.%Gallery-163549%
