independent
Latest
Free casual games portal launches
A new website looks to grab a piece of the casual gaming pie by offering free games for everyone. European-based Goa.com launched today and promises free multiplayer games with no monthly subscription. Revenue will come from users purchasing in-game items to customize their characters, a popular model in Korea and Japan that has yet to take off elsewhere.The website is atrociously slow right now and only offers two games -- Pangya and Gun Bound World Champion. Not the most tempting of selections, but free games are never a bad thing.[Via MCV]
Mainstream gaming community embraces the indie scene
Video game news and discussion forum Evil Avatar recently announced an initiative aimed at bringing the independent gaming world closer to the mainstream player. Each month, one indie game will be chosen and presented to the community. Members will play and discuss the game on the site, giving feedback that developers will use to improve future releases. Oh, and they'll buy the games, too. Buying also helps.The Indie Game Challenge is a small and careful step by Evil Avatar, but one that can enrich both mainstream and indie communities. Game submissions are open to readers and indie developers alike. Let's hope Evil Avatar presents the cream of the indie crop and not the embarrassing shovelware.
ASCII-based Dwarf Fortress is the future of video games?
In a recent interview with Gamasutra, Warren Specter touched on the technology vs. content debate in video games, saying "Stop building movie sets and make a world we can interact with instead".Someone should tell him indie developer Bay 12 Games has already done that. Dwarf Fortress is a single-player ASCII-based title that's a a cross between a roguelike and a real time strategy game. It's definitely no movie set, but the level of interactivity in the game's persistent world is monumental.To give you an idea how massive Dwarf Fortress is, generating the initial world can take fifteen minutes or more. Think about that. An ASCII game on today's processors working for fifteen minutes. Every landmark above and below ground is named, thousands of creatures living persistent lives populate the environment, there's a bustling economy, weather effects, seasons, and a complete world history. All of which you can interact with.Do developers spend too much time finding new ways for technology to play with itself rather than focusing on the end experience? It's a tired old debate, but Dwarf Fortress is proof the concept of gaming can evolve independent of the technology used to present it.[Via GameSetWatch]
Top 20 freeware shmups
If you read the recent guide to doujin shmups and are itching for more freeware shooting goodness, Independent Gaming has got your fix. The blog has just released a list of the top 20 freeware shmups for 2006-2007 (yes, they can peer into the future). Everything from Clean Asia to Guxt is here, including one of our favorite Flash shooters, Gamma Bros. If those aren't enough satisfy your need to shoot stuff, check out the results of the AutoFire 2007 Shooter Competition for even more free games.
Carpentry sim turns Wii gaming into work
The Great Canadian Video Game Competition has inspired developer Big Blue Bubble to turn playing video games into hard work. The developer is creating a carpentry sim for the Wii, Hobby Shop, that uses both controllers to let players build bird houses, catapults, soap box racers, and more. The team wants the game to be "family friendly" so parents will want to play it with their children. Guess that means no driving nails through your hand or sawing off limbs.Hobby Shop has passed the first two stages of the competition -- innovation and project development -- and scored the dev team over $200,000 for their work. The winner of the final stage of the competition (to be announced in September) will receive another grant to help in the commercialization of their product. In other words, Hobby Shop could be on store shelves sometime next year. It just might be quirky enough to work.
Dreamcast homebrew game coming to the DS
Alten8 has just announced it will publish Harmless Lion's homebrew Dreamcast game Cool Herders on the Nintendo DS. That's right, it's called Cool Herders. And yes, the sheep is wearing neo-retro sunglasses. The game was originally packed on the DC Tonic demo CD passed out at E3 2001. Later, a full commercial version of the game was released for the Dreamcast.Cool Herders is an action/party game where players must use power-ups to herd sheep and compete against their friends. It may sound simple, but the game has been remarkably well-received in its various iterations. The Nintendo DS version of the game will contain a handful of extras and support wireless multiplayer.Alten8 reportedly has ten mystery projects in production for the DS. More obscure, awkwardly-named indie Dreamcast titles? Perhaps. We'll hold our excitement until after playing Cool Herders.[Via Digg]
Roguelike magazine launches, focuses on game aesthetics
Real gamers know that if you see an uppercase letter D, turn tail and run. Dragons are fierce. Forget polygons, forget sprites, Roguelike games do it with text on a black screen. And they're some of the most complex and enjoyable games ever to grace a computer. Unfortunately most modern gamers turn their noses at the dated visuals and refuse to give Roguelikes a second look.Well, Mario Donick is not gonna take it anymore. He recently launched Roguelike. The magazine, a publication dedicated to increasing awareness of the art and aesthetics behind the Roguelike genre. Each issue will dive into the inner workings of these games and discuss things like typography, interface, coding, and more. The first issue is online and ready for consumption, while number two is on its way April 2nd. It's a little slice of old school heaven for many gamers, and required reading for whippersnappers who can't tell their NetHack from an Angband.[Via TIGSource]
New Arsecast indie news podcast released
Arsecast, the most aptly-named retro and indie podcast ever, has just released its February episode. Yes, we're aware it's late March, but what do calendars know, anyway? Featured this month is the usual dose of indie news from around the web plus reviews of La Mulana, Clean Asia, and several other shooters, all of which receive a cutting dose of honest opinions with a few dirty words thrown in for good measure.No podcast has ever been created that's more arse-like than Arsecast. The fact that it's the most entertaining and informative indie gaming podcast around is just a nice bonus.
Kongregate announces achievements and microtransactions for online Flash games
Flash gaming community Kongregate recently announced a few Xbox Live-ish upgrades to be rolled out over the next few months. Starting today, time-limited achievements will be available for select games. The current challenge for The Fancy Pants Adventure requires you to collect five trophies within the game and rewards you with a collectible Rumiko card. Gather cards to participate in the site-wide multiplayer game Kongregate will unveil in a few weeks.And coming this summer: microtransactions! Developers are working with Kongregate to weave this into their titles to allow in-game purchases. One use for this system will be unlocking extended versions of games for just a few pennies per level. Most of the microtransaction earnings are paid to the game's programmer, adding incentive for developers to hop on the unlockable-content bandwagon.Kongregate is setting itself up to be the most developer-friendly Flash community on the web. It's an easy hook for developers, but will the casual gamer get pulled in by microtransactions and collecting achievements?
The Escapist examines PopCap's 'new' casual gaming initiative
The latest issue of gaming culture magazine The Escapist is out. Featured this week is a look at PopCap's success in the casual gaming business. Their latest hit, Bookworm Adventures Deluxe, broke the bank with an 30 month development period and a budget of over $700,000. It was a massive venture into unexplored casual gaming territory that has paid of quite well.When most people think about casual games the word "clone" springs to mind. If you've played Bejeweled, you've also played Zoo Keeper, Jewel Quest, Magic Lanterns, and Paris Hilton's Diamond Quest. Very little sets these games apart, yet the business continues to explode as companies release clones on a regular basis. Bookworm Adventures was a radically new idea, but according to PopCap they're just following their philosophy of "trying different things rather than milking a formula to death".A number innovative puzzle ideas have trickled from PopCap's studios over the last few years, but they're not as clone-free as they would like to appear. With this timid step into the realm of genre hybrids, will casual game developers earn some much-needed respect? Or is it just another game idea to "borrow"?
The Marriage unties the 'games as art' argument
Rod Humble, former Sony Online Entertainment employee currently working for EA, has just released an experimental artgame called The Marriage. There's no sound, no music, and the graphics could have been drawn in MS Paint in less than two minutes. But all of that doesn't matter. What really counts is you, the player, and how you interpret the relationships within the game.It may sound pretentious (Rod is the first one to admit it), but it works extremely well. The best way to understand the game is to download it (Windows only) and start playing. You'll be confused at first, possibly even bored, and some may experience extreme fits of rage. But keep experimenting and try to pry into the game's mechanics. After you get a feel for it, go back to Rod's website and read his explanation. Everything will become clear and you'll understand why The Marriage grabbed your attention in the first place.Like any good movie or book, half the fun is discussing it with your friends afterwards. After we played it, The Marriage spawned a number of interesting conversations about interactivity, games, art, and even one or two discussions about corn on the cob.
Within a Deep Forest creator Nifflas interviewed
Two very small, unassuming freeware platform games have made a big splash in the indie gaming community: Within a Deep Forest and Knytt. Created with Multimedia Fusion, a game creation suite similar to Game Maker, designer Nifflas wanted to make something different than the thousands of platformers swarming the internet.Nifflas' games focus on exploration and intrigue, breaking a few gaming conventions along the way. Both WaDF and Knytt feature large game worlds with very few enemies and tons of secrets to uncover. Knytt has practically no background music and instead relies on ambient sounds played at key points during the game.PlanetFreeplay has just posted an interview with Nifflas who is hard at work on a new game. He continues to forge ahead with his current philosophy to create more of exactly what we want. These games may look simple, but they're just as epic as many commercial titles on the market. Plus, they're free.
Indie game ratings system re-launches
The Independent Game Rating System, or TIGRS, has received a major overhaul to incorporate a sleeker and more accessible design. The voluntary ratings system was originally unveiled two years ago as a way for indie developers to label their games and help warn parents of any objectionable content.The problem with a voluntary system such as TIGRS is a little word called "accountability". While most developers would use the logos responsibly, it would only take a few naughty people to ruin the whole thing. And considering the trouble the ESRB has been into after the Hot Coffee fiasco, do indie games really need that kind of exposure?
Game du Jour discounts indie games one day at a time
Gadget geeks have Woot, free software hounds have Giveawayoftheday, and indie gamers have Game du Jour. The "one deal a day" website offers a new casual game at a massive discount very day of the week. So far the offerings have been limited to classic arcade clones, card games, or simple puzzle titles. But from time to time they drop the bomb with a deal you just can't pass up.Today is one of those days. Game du Jour is featuring Gumboy Crazy Adventures, a game that's as weird as the title sounds. It's a physics-based platformer similar to Chronic Logic's Gish where you control a rubbery balloon-type character using its momentum to move through each stage. The artwork is divine and the gameplay itself is quite unique. Game Tunnel voted Gumboy Crazy Adventures 2006 Game of the Year. No small feat considering the excellent games that rolled out last year.Game du Jour is offering Gumboy Crazy Adventures today only for $9.97, half the the usual price. Later in the week the 3D arcade game Shlongg (you read that right) is on the chopping board, followed by the strategy game Kingdom Elemental, another offering from Chronic Logic and number ten on Game Tunnels Game of the Year list.Cheapass indie gamers, this is your week to spend.
HD DVD looks Circuit City's way, compels independent filmmakers
Although the most recent reports (well, in the US, anyway) have insinuated that Blu-ray disc sales are claiming the lead over HD DVDs, you can bet the (currently) losing side isn't sitting around idly. While various parties have claimed victory over the other, it looks like the HD DVD camp is opening up a previously closed door by pushing Toshiba players into Circuit City stores. Apparently, Circuit City hasn't been exactly fond of carrying Tosh's HD DVD units up until now (or vice-versa), but getting the devices in front of hordes of potential buyers has reportedly enticed a myriad of HD addicts to pick up said units. While a spokesperson for Toshiba declined to get specific, she hinted that having its second-generation players in the big box retailer's store for just a few months allowed them to "eclipse the lifetime sales of the company's first-generation players." On a not-so-surprising note, it seems like consumers might see even steeper price drops sooner due to the newfound BD pressure, and in a presumed attempt to find yet another genre to grab tight to HD DVD, Microsoft is joining the team in order to persuade independent filmmakers to consider the format. Of course, only time will tell if the little guys can actually make it on the high-definition format, but you won't see us complaining with HD DVD titles hitting stores whilst never making their silver screen debut.
New Indie Superstar videocast available
A new episode of the independent gaming videocast Indie Superstar has just been released. The 8-minute episode showcases some of the most interesting independent games to roll out in the last few months. Topping the list is Frets on Fire, a free Guitar Hero clone for the PC and Mac, and an isometric adventure-RPG game from Moonpod, Mr. Robot. There's also a helping of old-school-style adventure games to appease the inner Sierra fan.The most interesting feature is OvO, a webcam game that lets you play by hopping around in front of your computer like a lunatic. Think EyeToy, but cheaper. OvO illustrates how indie developers don't always have to wear the 'Pants of Innovation', they can copy established ideas just like anyone else.
Fancy Pants Adventures creator Brad Borne interviewed
The Flash game Fancy Pants Adventures is one part Super Mario Bros., a dash of Sonic, and a heaping tablespoon of originality. Brad Borne's fancy-pants-wearing stick figure stars in a side-scrolling platformer that emphasizes speed, exploration, and acrobatics. It's a well-polished title that stands tall over the deluge of second-rate Flash platforming games.PlanetFreeplay sat down with Brad and prodded out details about his past as a programmer and the Fancy Pants development process -- we also get his top five. But the question we all wanted to ask was left out: boxers or briefs?The first world of Fancy Pants is a great start to the series, and Brad is hard at work on World 2. This is one of the few Flash platformers that actually feels like an original game and not some dull Mario clone.
AutoFire 2007 shooter competition results announced
A group of nearly 20 indie-made shmups battled it out for supremacy in the recent AutoFire 2007 Shooter Competition. The quirky Clean Asia flew away with the top overall score, while Excellent Bifurcation and Force Majeure rounded out the top three. Games were also ranked by graphics, sound, and innovation; and Clean Asia polished off the top place in two of those categories as well. Not bad for a game with wireframe visuals.If you read the recently featured guide to doujin shmups, the AutoFire competition should be your next destination. Not only are the contestants some of the best indie shooters around, they're also free. Free as in gratis. Free as in beer. Free as in go download them now!
Penumbra indie horror adventure makes its 'Overture'
Penumbra is a 3D horror game by Frictional Games created to show off the studio's proprietary physics engine. It plays like a Resident Evil meets Half-Life 2 mashup -- which is reason enough to give it a try -- but also offers something new in the realm of interactivity. Almost every object you see can be moved, carried, and used. If you can't reach the vent on the ceiling, try piling some junk on the floor to stand on. Steam blocking your path? Cover the open pipe with whatever's lying around. Set in an abandoned factory, Penumbra provides a deliciously dark, spooky atmosphere filled with mystery. The indie gaming community ate up the initial offering, so Frictional Games immediately began work on a commercial-sized helping.The demo for Penumbra: Overture has finally been released. Three episodes are planned over the next year with the first installment hitting March 30 for $19.99. In addition to a longer adventure, Overture promises even better visuals (which were excellent to begin with) and deeper interaction with the game environment. A combat system is also in place, though the focus is on solving environmental puzzles, not shredding baddies.[Via Independent Gaming]
'Whirled' casual MMOG from Puzzle Pirates studio
A new MMOG is in the works from Puzzle Pirates creator Three Rings. The web-based virtual environment of Whirled will favor player-created content and social interaction over character development and time-consuming quests for the Magical Boots of Running +5. A Flash-based interface will allow for easy creation of items, furniture, avatars, and even complex multiplayer games.Three Rings is to casual MMO games as Blizzard Entertainment is to life-dominating MMO games. Puzzle Pirates and Bang! Howdy are two of the most well-known indie MMOGs out there. If Whirled builds on the success, Three Rings executives will be lounging in private yachts right next to the Blizzard folk.[Via GameDaily]
