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Pick up charity War Child's 12-game bundle for a great cause
If you're in the market for a few new video games and want to support a charity in the process, you may consider checking out charity War Child UK's game jam HELP: The Game, which is comprised of 12 PC titles available on Steam now for $14.99 (£9.99).
Super Game Jam's final episode now on Steam
The fifth and final episode of Devolver Digital's Super Game Jam is now available on Steam. Super Game Jam tells the stories of five pairs of developers that craft games during a 48-hour game jam. The final episode follows London-based developers Tom Francis (Gunpoint) and Liselore Goedhart (Remembering, Nott Won't Sleep) as they quickly concoct the game SimAntics under the game jam theme "simulation." The five-episode documentary series is currently 25 percent off ($14.99) on Steam through the end of the weekend, and includes copies of the five games created by the development duos. Announced in March, the series was directed by filmmakers Bram Ruiter and Daniel Oliveira Carneiro in five cities over the course of six months and features designers such as Vlambeer's Jan Willem Nijman (Ridiculous Fishing, Luftrausers) and Jonatan Söderström (Hotline Miami). Nijman appeared in the first episode, which launched in May. Head past the break for a teaser trailer of Super Game Jam's final installment. [Image: Devolver Digital]
The White House's game jam focused on education
Pizza boxes, crowded computer labs and an overworked coffee maker – these are common sightings at plenty of game jams, but the interior of the White House and Secret Service members are a bit more uncommon. USA Today reports that 100 developers saw both when they gathered in Washington, D.C. for a game jam, an event sponsored by the White House to specifically focus on education. Science and technology advisers from the Obama administration hosted the weekend-long jam, with attendees including Far Cry 4 contributing developer Red Storm Entertainment, Angry Birds developer Rovio, and GlassLab, a collaborative effort which includes members from the Entertainment Software Association and Electronic Arts. The 23 participating teams retain all rights to the concepts they cooked up during the jam, and while there doesn't seem to be an official gallery to host the designs, there's plenty of photos and recollections unified by the "WHGameJam" hashtag on Twitter. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]
Play all of the 'Connected World' Ludum Dare 30 games
But be warned: There are a lot of entries to play. Ludum Dare 30 is in the bag, and so are a bunch of cool new games and prototypes from developers worldwide. Ludum Dare 30 includes the 48-hour Compo and the 72-hour Jam, both with the theme "Connected Worlds." This all went down over the weekend, from August 22 - 25. With a theme like that, a lot of entries involve space, planets, shadow play, puzzles and death, oddly enough. A few (of the many) eye-catching Jam and Compo entries so far include Line Crossing, Star LORD, Collect Worlds, Starpiercer, Racer Death Derby, Ice Box, Nature Trial, Zanlings Match, Present & Future, Godshunter, Shrodinghost, Dominions'n'dominoes, Cablage and The Salt Pleeease.
Ludum Dare 30 theme connects worlds
Ludum Dare, the 48-hour game jam series that's resulted in games like Gods Will Be Watching and McPixel, has begun its 30th iteration, and already there are more than a dozen entries being worked on. The theme this year: connected worlds. It's hard to get a sense for what any of these may ever turn into, but so far there's quite a variety on display. One game positions players as an octopus who discovers life outside the water, while another calls itself a "radial platformer." Yet another game challenges players to manage a worldwide social network, connecting virtual populations to each other. The screenshot you see above is from an in-development civilization-building game from Benjamin Soule. Ludum Dare 30 concludes August 25. [Image: Ludum Dare/Benjamin Soule]
Minecraft creator's game jam entry is Drowning in Problems
The latest online game jam in the popular Ludum Dare series carries the theme "beneath the surface," and recently ended with a total of 2,497 entries, 1,493 of which were created in 48 hours for the two-day competition. One entry comes from Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson, and is called Drowning in Problems. The browser game is two parts Cookie Clicker and one part The Sims, as players click basic text links to progress through life and "solve" issues like stress, love and money. As players grow, their attention divides among the myriad of problems to solve in their lives, spending their knowledge, money, friends, loyalty and more to receive increasingly-advanced concepts like crushed dreams and broken hearts. Completing Drowning in Problems shouldn't take more than roughly 15 minutes, though it's a thoughtful little excursion. Another attention-grabbing entry in the Ludum Dare 29 competition is The Valley Rule by Ryan Carag with music and sound provided by Bill Kiley, seen above. Created in 72 hours, the platformer gives off strong Fez and Cave Story vibes, challenging players to unlock a large door to get to the surface of the game's world, searching for keys in the area to do so. Along the way, players find abilities such as the "will to climb" that grant them access to new areas. The post-jam version of The Valley Rule is available to play at Newgrounds. Ludum Dare 29 is currently in the judging phase, which ends on Monday, May 19. [Image: Ryan Carag]
Devolver Digital unveils documentary series 'Super Game Jam'
Super Game Jam is an upcoming documentary series from publisher Devolver Digital that focuses on the impromptu efforts of pairs of indie game developers attempting to cobble together something interesting and fun in under 48 hours. "Game jams have become an increasingly important part of the indie game development scene and our hope is to let everyone see what goes into these collaborations and explorations of themes through games," stated Daniel Oliveira Carneiro, a filmmaker who shares directorial duties on Super Game Jam with Bram Ruiter. The format of Super Game Jam is simple: The series visits five cities, pairs up two indie developers, then grants them 48 hours to come up with something resembling a game. The only guideline they're given is a basic theme assigned by other developers. The goal here is to document the trials and tribulations of building a functional game in such a short amount of time, and to highlight the skills and interactions of the developers. Super Game Jam will come available to the public in April. On release, each episode of Super Game Jam will be available for download from Steam alongside the game created by the indie developers who starred in that particular entry. More details on Super Game Jam, including a list of participating developers, can be found at its eponymous website. [Image: Devolver Digital]
Flappy Jam launches in support of Flappy Bird dev, Fall Out Boy joins the party
Flappy Bird may have flown the coop, but indie developers are banding together in support of the dangerously addictive app with Flappy Jam, an open-invitation challenge to design difficult, avian-themed games in the vein of Flappy Bird. One popular entry emerging from the event is Terry Cavanagh's Maverick Bird, a refined take on Flappy Bird's formula featuring aesthetic elements similar to Cavanagh's Super Hexagon. Developer Adam Saltsman joins the friendly competition with Flappybalt, a reworked version of his genre-defining endless runner Canabalt. An unlikely (and perhaps unwitting) entry comes from pop punk band Fall Out Boy, which plans to release its own version of Flappy Bird for Android and iOS devices later this week, according to BBC News. "Rome wasn't built in a day, but this game was," the band posted on its official website. "We bring you Fall Out Bird. [C]oming this week to Google Play and the App Store (as soon it's approved)." "Shoutout to the OG Flappy Bird," the band adds. "RIP." [Image: Terry Cavanagh]
Ludum Dare 28 winner turning one-shot movie making into full PC game
Daniel Haazen won the Ludum Dare 28 compo challenge – the 48-hour, solo competition – with his game, One Take. It turns players into camera operators on a series of movie sets, with the director's cues on one side and a limited amount of time to zoom in, move the camera and get the perfect shot. A player's performance is reviewed in the paper once filming is complete. Ludum Dare 28's theme was "You Only Get One." "I repeatedly told myself 'One ... one ...' and scrolled through the possibilities in my mind," Haazen told Nico Saraintaris, an indie developer from Faif studio, Beavl. "'One enemy, one bullet, one life, one ... one ....' Then suddenly One Take appeared. I don't know where it came from, it just happens like that. I must say that I had been thinking for three hours until I came up with One Take, so it took a while. I wasn't sure if I was going to use it, as at first it looked at too much work for 48 hours. But after another 15 minutes I decided to go with it. And I'm glad I did." Haazen said he's now working to make One Take a full PC game, and possibly iOS and Android versions down the line. Other top games in the compo challenge were blomster, Protogun, Super Sneaky Sample Stealer and A Precious Arrow. The Jam competition – the "relaxed," 72-hour challenge – gave top nods to Titan Souls, Match Girl, Javel-ein, Only One Chance and Yogo Rocketfist. All games are available to browse and play here. Congrats to the winners, but also to anyone who can make a game in just a few days. That's still impressive.
Ludum Dare 28 ends with 2,000 free games: Fountain, Monocraft, more
The massive, two-pronged game jam Ludum Dare 28 started and ended this weekend, and the completed games are up for judging now, for 19 more days. The theme this year was "You only get one." Ludum Dare comprises two, simultaneous game-making marathons: one solo, 48-hour jam with prizes, and one team-optional, 72-hour jam with more relaxed rules. Games up for judging include Terry Cavanagh's introspective Fountain, Mattia Traverso's one-brick Minecraft spin Monocraft, vallde's planetary annihilation game Bounty Hunting, Claw's minimized colossus title Titan Souls, and 5elephants' artistic archery shooter One Arrow (shown above). Also spawned in the jam is Hypnotic Owl's powerful story, The Day the Laughter Stopped – it's an intense, narrative-driven game heavy with trigger warnings, but well worth a play-through. Ludum Dare 28 received 2,064 entries and all of them are playable for free right here. You only get one 2,064.
Inaugural Super BR Jam donates 100% of proceeds to help kids in Rio
Super BR Jam is bringing together 30 indie development studios from across Brazil for a little bit of gaming and a whole lot of charity. Those so inclined can donate any amount of money they choose to receive copies of every game made during the game jam, while those who pay $5 or more will receive eight more games, including The Showdown Effect, Dungeonland, and Magicka. All proceeds will go to Solar Meninos de Luz, an organization that provides education and healthcare to low-income kids in Rio de Janeiro. The game jam itself is already over, having run from November 22 to November 24. The bundle package is likewise available for a limited time, and will close shop December 4. You can learn more and purchase the bundle by visiting the Super BR Jam website. [Thanks, Ran!]
Probably Archery mixes QWOP-style controls with a deadly weapon
Move over, William Tell and Robin Hood, there's a new legendary archer in town. Or there will be, when you master the QWOP-like controls of Probably Archery, which require you to independently manipulate your avatar's wrists, elbows, shoulders, and of course, their bow and arrows. Originally an entry for the 7 Day FPS Game Jam, Probably Archery is aiming for a Steam release, and is up for voting on Greenlight. A free demo available for PC, Mac and Linux features eight scenarios to experience, including shooting an arrow to cut a hangman's rope, shooting arrows in zero gravity, and shooting arrows at apple-headed berserkers. Because archery. The game features native support for the Oculus Rift and multiplayer modes as well. If you pre-order Probably Archery through the game's official site, you'll get instant access to new demo versions as they become available, and will receive a Steam key should the Greenlight campaign be successful.
Horror-themed design competition Asylum Jam kicks off this week
Indie developers are gearing up for the Asylum Jam, a 48-hour game development competition that challenges participants to design a horror game without falling back on mental health stereotypes common to the genre. In an effort to broaden entries and encourage alternate approaches to the genre, Asylum Jam competitors must avoid using "asylums, psychiatric institutes, medical professionals or violent/antipathic/'insane' patients as settings or triggers." Developers may devote a total of 48 hours of active development time to their project over the three-day Jam, and may work either alone or as a team. "This jam is to show that you can still create a great horror experience without using inaccurate stereotypes of those who suffer from mental illness, or the institutions that support them in diagnosis and recovery," Jam creator Lucy Morris explains. Interested developers can sign up online before the event officially begins on October 11. Devs searching for teammates can consult the Jam's Looking for Group Google Doc
Oculus Rift VR Jam finalists announced - here there be dragons
Oculus and IndieCade have announced the VR Jam 2013 finalists. If you've got an Oculus Rift and the compatible hardware, 14 of the 20 finalists are available to download and check out for yourself. Reinforcing the common knowledge that dragons are awesome and everyone wants to be a dragon, there's not one, but two dragon simulators on the list: Dragon by James Scott, and Epic Dragon by Aurelian Kerbeci. The winning team will be announced September 19, at which point they'll receive the $10,000 grand prize and a trip to Oculus HQ. The winning team will also receive a trip to the IndieCade Festival, which runs October 3 - 6, where they'll have a showcase exhibition of their game. Check out the full list of finalists after the break.
Asylum Jam aims to instill horror without mental health stereotypes
Asylum Jam, a 48-hour game jam scheduled for October 11, will focus on developing horrifying experiences without contributing to the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Participants are to avoid the implementation of asylums, psych wards, medical professionals and insane patients in their submissions. Concerning the jam's importance, its site references the World Health Organization's report that one in four people worldwide "will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives." The involved press release states that Asylum Jam is intended to show "that you can still create a great horror experience without using inaccurate stereotypes." Asylum Jam's website notes Slender: The Eight Pages, Among the Sleep, One Late Night and SCP Containment Breach as positive examples of modern horror. Asylum Jam will use Brett Chalupa's BMO engine and those interested in participating should check back the jam's website for sign-up links "closer to the event."
Notch develops zombie shooter Shambles in FPS game jam
Minecraft creator Markus Persson (aka Notch) participated in this year's 7DFPS developer challenge, a week-long game jam centered around first-person shooters. Persson's entry is Shambles, a Unity-based shooter that drops players in the middle of a zombie apocalypse with 50 bullets and 100 health points. Players don't just hunt zombies in Shambles, though, as soldiers drop weapons and civilians drop health packs when killed, turning survival into a balancing act. As with other 7DFPS games, don't expect Shambles to offers hours of entertainment, but it's a nifty way to pass a little free time.
Indie Speed Run game jam judged by Notch, Molyneux, Fargo, more
Indie Speed Run has nothing to do with running or Speed (we hope), but it is all about indie developers, whether amateur, student or professional – and registration is open now. It's a 48-hour game jam set to begin in September, judged by industry luminaries Peter Molyneux, Notch, Suda51, Ron Gilbert, Dan Pinchbeck, Kim Swift, Trent Oster, Brian Provinciano, Brian Fargo, Matthew Davis, Justin Ma, Jason Rohrer, Ian Dallas and Andrew Spinks. Participants will get a unique theme and element to incorporate into their games, but this year there's an option to throw out these initial constraints and get two new, final ones. There will also be 15 live jam locations around the world. First prize takes home $2,500 and is chosen by Zero Punctuation's Ben Croshaw from 15 judge-nominated games. Second prize is $1,000, picked by players during the games' Free Play phase in October, and the last prize is $500, chosen by Indie Speed Run founders Mike Kayatta, Nick Burch, and Steve Coleman. Check out and play last year's finalists, including the winner, Protein Pirates, right here. Ready, set, code!
Viscera Cleanup Detail is the next ridiculous game you'll have to play
Viscera Cleanup Detail points out a longstanding social implication buried within some of our favorite shooters: Who cleans up the blood, guts and flesh left behind by our violent rampages through facilities invaded by hostile aliens? In this game, it's you. Viscera Cleanup Detail is a first-person space-based janitor simulator, starring you as a rubber-gloved person tasked with cleaning up the remnants of an epic battle, including chunks of meat, pools of blood and bullet shells. It comes out of a 10-day game jam from developer Runestorm, and it's available in alpha for PC right now. "It was a long and horrific battle as the survivor dueled with all manner of horrific life-forms and alien mutations, but our hero won out in the end and destroyed the alien menace!" Runestorm writes. "Humanity was saved! Unfortunately, the alien infestation and the heroic efforts of the courageous survivors have left rather a mess thoughout the facility. As the janitor, it is your duty to get this place cleaned up." Viscera Cleanup Detail hopes it can clear away a spot on Steam Greenlight.%Gallery-193617%
iamagamer's first game jam focused on creating female protagonists
From July 12 through 14, Vancouver will play host to game jam organizer iamagamer's first event – a 48 hour jam focused on crafting original games with female protagonists. "This unprecedented event will dispute the prevailing opinion that video games are for guys and that games with strong, female lead characters will not sell," the announcement press release reads. "Such stereotypes are not only incorrect, but have a negative impact on the industry." The jam will take place at Vancouver's Centre for Digital Media, with all attendees commencing to jam at 6 p.m. local time on Friday, ceasing their jam-oriented activities 48 hours later on Sunday evening. Artists, designers, developers and writers are all encouraged to register and participate – so far over 150 people have signed on to take part in the event, either on-site in Vancouver or at one of several satellite events happening concurrently elsewhere.
Molyjam Deux to use real Molyneux quotes as inspiration for games
Molyjam Deux will blow your mind – but in an entirely different way than it did last year. Molyjam is a game jam spawned from the Peter Molyneux parody account, Peter Molydeux, which tweets out ridiculous game ideas that wouldn't be out of place in the real Molyneux's feed. Last year, developers used Molydeux's tweets to create exciting games with absurd premises, but this year they'll build games based on quotes from the real Molyneux, provided without context. "Molyneux is a man who needs no assistance when it comes to parody," the organizers of Molyjam Deux write. "His own words are strong enough. Who but Molyneux has the strength to say things like, 'Pull the right trigger to see The Most Interesting Thing In The World.' Or, 'It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate.'" Molyjam Deux offers 22 Molyneux quotes for developers to use – inspired by Molyneux's studio, 22Cans – including, "If you love your dog, we're gonna mess with your mind, man. You're not going to be able to go to bed," and, "I still have nightmares about holding German sausages over my head." Molyjam Deux runs from July 5 - 7 in a range of venues worldwide. Check out the regions on the Molyjam map.
