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Black-and-white adventure 'Minit' lands on iOS and Android
Indie adventure game Minit caught the attention of many when it landed on consoles and PC last year, through a combination of its monochrome pixelated art style and bite-sized gameplay. As of today, mobile gamers can check out Minit too, as it's available on iOS and Android for $5.
'High Maintenance' meets 'Civilization' in 'Weedcraft Inc'
When I was a kid smoking weed in high school, I was convinced that marijuana would never be legal. The idea that it's legal now, I'm in my late 40s, it's shocking to me." Scott Alexander speaks in rapid-fire paragraphs brimming with information about modern marijuana laws, politics and culture. He's the lead writer on Weedcraft Inc, the first original video game developed and published by popular indie label Devolver Digital. Weedcraft Inc is a tycoon or world-building game, similar to Civilization or Tropico, but players start out as low-grade weed dealers and build their empires from there. It's in beta now, and the full game is due to drop some time in April.
Does the video game industry need E3?
E3 is not a place for us." Steve Filby handles marketing for Motion Twin, the studio behind Dead Cells, and he's been building and shipping games for the past six years. Dead Cells is one of the hottest independent titles around, following a wildly successful stint on Steam Early Access, where the studio sold more than 730,000 copies in just one year -- before the game was technically finished. It's a bright and sprawling roguelike reminiscent of Castlevania, and since officially launching in August, it's picked up a handful of accolades, including two nominations at the 2018 Game Awards. Dead Cells did all of this without exhibiting at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, the video game industry's most publicized trade show.
Gorgeous platformer 'Gris' arrives December 13th
Indie platformer Gris, which caught our attention for its beautiful visuals, now has a firm release date. Publisher Devolver Digital has revealed you'll be able to explore the game's gorgeous landscape starting December 13th.
Prison survival game 'Scum' no longer includes neo-Nazi tattoos
Days after prisoner survival game Scum came out in Steam Early Access, players discovered their criminal characters could be given Nazi-related tattoos. Today, its publisher Devolver Digital scrubbed the customization options from the title and apologized.
'Gris' is a gorgeous 2D platformer about personal loss
Gris might be the prettiest game I've ever played. The 2D platformer is set in a dream-like world filled with crumbling statues, towering temples and inky, shape-shifting birds. Even the trees -- a typically unremarkable part of video game environments -- are topped with luscious foliage that melts between square, triangular and completely invisible states. The titular heroine, a hopeful young girl, dashes and floats through the world with mesmerizing grace, her dress and blue hair blowing softly in the wind. Everything feels surreal and otherworldly, painted in watercolor shades of pink, blue, red and green. It's totally unique, and I absolutely love it.
How closing a Hooters will hurt indie games at E3
The Devolver Digital parking lot has been the best part of E3 for half a decade, even though it's technically not associated with E3 at all. A big white balloon marks the spot across the street from the Los Angeles Convention Center where a handful of bullet-like Airstream trailers huddle around tents offering free beer and hot sausages wrapped in tortillas. A giant screen sits under the shade, pixels flashing as a group of people play the latest local multiplayer game under Devolver's publishing label. Some years, an arcade controller with neon dildos as joysticks sits on a low table in front of the screen, waiting for someone to load up Genital Jousting. High-profile indie developers float in and out of the parking lot, showing off their games in the trailers and indulging in the festivities.
Xbox Japan's cult hit 'Metal Wolf Chaos' is back
Microsoft didn't have much success with the original Xbox in Japan, but it did manage to create a few games by local developers that were coveted by fans of the platform. The mech game Metal Wolf Chaos made by From Software (Dark Souls) was one of those, and even though it never saw a US release beyond a hidden demo on the Official Xbox Magazine disc, people have been looking out for it ever since. Tonight at E3 Devolver Digital announced that a remastered version, Metal Wolf Chaos XD will be released for Xbox One, PS4 and PC this year. This game will feature upgraded 4K and widescreen-ready graphics, tweaked controls and a new save system. Get ready to play as the President of the United States piloting a mech fighting against a revolution started by your own vice president. Yes, that's the plot of the game.
'Fork Parker's Crunch Out' is an SNES game made for charity
Do you still have an original SNES console hiding in the back of your closet? You might want to dig it out. Devolver Digital and Mega Cat Studios are releasing a brand new SNES game, Fork Parker's Crunch Out, with all profits going toward the Take This charity providing support and awareness for mental health issues. The title has you playing Devolver's fictional CFO as he "motivates" game developers to make it through crunch time and release on schedule, quality be damned.
It's time to talk about mental illness in indie development
This is normal. Heart pounding, hands shaking, head packed with static. The absolute inability to process what anyone is saying, let alone respond to it. Sitting alone at home -- lights off because you've been inside all day and the sun set hours ago, but your legs have been glued to the chair for just as long -- computer screen glowing. Wanting to be outside but unable to deal with the idea of people, conversation, smiling, pretending. Feeling worthless. This is normal.
‘Minit’ is a delightful introduction to speedrunning
I've never liked rushing through video games. I prefer to take my time, strolling aimlessly through the digital brush and marveling at each beautifully-realized world. There's just one problem: I don't have 100 hours to spend on Monster Hunter World or Assassin's Creed: Origins. Still, when I dive into a game I want to immerse myself and move at a speed that respects the time and effort put in by the developers.
'The Red Strings Club' explores the morality of transhumanism
If you had the ability to turn off all the negative emotions in your mind -- depression, anxiety, rage -- would you do it? Would you eagerly implant a device in your body that eliminates those feelings, or would you pause and consider the consequences? Without anxiety, would your drive to succeed stagnate? Without rage, would your body be primed to fight or flee in a sticky situation? Without depression, would you appreciate joy? Think about it for a moment. We'll wait.
A game about penises made Steam live streaming a reality
You won't find Genital Jousting on Twitch, largely because the game is populated by a variety of brightly colored penises with X-marked anuses between their testicles. The penises are often clothed, it should be noted, but the gameplay makes this odd anatomy lesson very clear: One of the main mechanics has players attempt to stick a penis tip into the anus of another penis. So, no, you won't find Genital Jousting on Twitch. It's on the site's list of banned games, alongside titles like Battle Rape, The Maiden Rape Assault: Violent Semen Inferno and Suck My Dick or Die. However, Genital Jousting is not a violent sexual game. It's not even really about intercourse or how silly penises look when they're flopping around a screen -- it's designed to shine a spotlight on toxic masculinity and highlight the perils of a patriarchal society. Its story mode is fully narrated, starring a penis named John as he grapples with a midlife crisis and reevaluates his priorities. In short, Genital Jousting is meant to demystify the penis in an accessible, light-hearted, fully-clothed manner.
'Ruiner' is not just a cyberpunk 'Hotline Miami'
Ruiner might be one of the most eye-catching titles showcased at Gamescom -- something that's hard to achieve when every company is bombarding you with posters, flags and bags at every turn. The aggressive, manga-style protagonist and angry catch copy are difficult to ignore. It's also the first title to come out of Reikon studio, an indie Polish team founded by veteran gamemakers that had previously worked on The Witcher, Shadow Warrior and many more. (I really liked Shadow Warrior, okay?) Cofounder Magdalena Tomkowicz explains how she had grown tired of big gaming projects and wanted to recover the passion of making a game: This top-down shooter / slasher is the result of that. The Hotline Miami comparisons might be fair at the simplest level, but Ruiner seems to take that top-down gameplay mechanic in a very different direction. Oh, and a bunch of angry techno soundtracks alongside sharp character and environment design help drive things along, even if it can be a little overwhelming at times. Shoot, slash, dash and let the blood splatter.
Cyberpunk shooter 'Ruiner' hits PC and consoles September 26th
When we played Ruiner during the Xbox showcase at GDC back in February, we compared it to a 3D, highly polished version of Hotline Miami. The cyberpunk-themed, top-down action game sets you up to kill the boss while taking out enemies who swarm in from doorways and narrow hallways. Ruiner is now ready to launch on September 26th on PC, Xbox and PlayStation. The team has also released a teaser trailer to whet your appetite and show off the rapid-fire gameplay and dystopian setting.
The Indie Megabooth is a calm bubble floating above E3 chaos
One of the best experiences at E3 wasn't actually at E3. The Devolver parking lot was positioned directly across the street from the flashing lights, gigantic banners and thumping booths packed inside of the Los Angeles Convention Center, and it offered a calm yet energetic alternative to the mainstream madness. This year, the Indie Megabooth shared Devolver's lot, exposing a rotating selection of independent games each day to the periphery of E3 -- which was plenty. Trust.
'Genital Jousting' takes its phallic silliness to the beach
If you didn't think Devolver Digital's Genital Jousting's phallic gameplay was ridiculous enough, you're in for a treat. The studio has released a Wet Hot Summer Update (what else would they call it?) for the title that adds season-appropriate modes and outfits to the penile party game, including surfing and a sexy car wash. You'll have to watch the trailer to see exactly what we mean -- let's just say that you'll never look at volleyball the same way again.
Beautiful online RPG 'Absolver' lands August 29th
A year after indie studio Sloclap introduced the melee combat-only online RPG it's releasing with publisher Devolver Digital, Absolver, the indie studio has announced its release date for PS4 and PC: August 29th. To tide you over, they've also dropped a trailer explaining the combat mechanics for the gunless massively multiplayer game.
Devolver's eco-building sim 'Blockhood' is finally ready
After a year spent laying its foundations in Steam's Early Access program, Devolver's award winning 'neighborhood simulator' is now complete. Winning an award for its unique take on the building sim, Block'hood sees players feeling the ecological impact their creations have on the world around them. Sporting an eye-catching new aesthetic and adding a story mode into the mix, the full release of Block'hood arrives on Steam this Thursday -- costing $15.
Devolver will highlight games from banned nations at GDC
At the end of the month, developers from around the world will congregate in San Francisco for the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC). Or rather, that was the plan. This year that's not going to happen: President Trump's executive order on immigration established a blanket ban on residents from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, which was initially interpreted as including those with permanent residency in the US or dual citizenship. While courts have slowly been ruling against the order, the situation is still in flux, and the Trump administration has indicated it will continue to pursue the order's underlying aims. The political situation has left several developers unable to attend GDC, unwilling to enter the US or unable to leave. Shahid Kamal Ahmad, current independent developer and PlayStation's former director for strategic content, said over the weekend that he was not going to the conference. He later clarified that "so long as any Muslim is banned from the US for no reason other than their religion," he would not attend.
