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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.
'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.
Lose yourself in the ever-shifting 'Shape of the World'
Sometimes I need a video game that doesn't involve shooting people or decapitating monsters. (Sorry, Bloodborne and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus.) My brain cells crave something quieter, like a meandering dive through Abzu or a free-roaming session in Skate 3. If you fall into the same camp, I highly recommend Shape of the World, a serene walking simulator set in a colorful and constantly evolving wilderness.
‘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 only video game developer in Mississippi
Mathew Weymouth lives one hour away from the birthplace of the blues, that humid, fertile swampland known as the Mississippi Delta. He grew up along the state's southern coastline, and over the years he absorbed tales of legendary local artists including "The Mad Potter," George E. Ohr, and the painter Walter Inglis Anderson. The Delta fertilizes creativity like it spawns towering cypress trees, and Weymouth is a product of his environment. He's an artist, but with a technical twist. Weymouth is a self-taught video game developer with big plans for his local community. He wants to build a "gaming incubator" in southern Mississippi, a creative haven for the area's youth, artists, musicians, filmmakers and programmers. It's basically a high-tech neighborhood center where people can work together to create video games and other works of art. But there's one major problem with this idea: He might be the only serious video game developer in the state. "Here, it's literally just this dead zone in the middle of the United States for technology," Weymouth says.
Traveling through time with 'Braid' creator Jonathan Blow
In the world of independent games, there is "before Braid" and "after Braid." Before this game hit Xbox Live Arcade in 2008, "indies" were barely a blip on the industry's radar -- but Braid landed in players' living rooms like an atomic bomb. It helped shake up the status quo and proved that one game made by one person could change the industry. Braid also changed its creator, Jonathan Blow, into a millionaire and a living legend. Blow hasn't released a game since Braid. But, he's about to: The Witness is a mysterious exploration and puzzle experience coming to PlayStation 4 and PC on Jan. 26. Once again, Blow has invested everything -- years of energy and millions of dollars -- into his new project. Unlike last time, he now has a small studio, 84,000 followers on Twitter, he's a documentary-film star, and speculation about his next game has been swirling for nearly seven years. "I don't feel accountable to the world to make things for them," Blow says. "I look out there at the games that are really popular and they're not really usually the games that I'm excited about. It's fine if it's somebody's job to make the biggest hits, and apparently that job is for Rockstar or Ubisoft or something. ... I'm doing something different."
'Her Story,' 'Undertale' and more headline IGF 2016 finalists
Innovative games Her Story, Superhot, Mini Metro, Darkest Dungeon, Undertale, and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes are up for the grand prize at the 2016 Independent Games Festival Awards. The IGF holds its 18th consecutive Awards show on Wednesday, March 16th in San Francisco, during the annual Game Developers Conference. These six games are up for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize, which nets the winner $30,000. All told, the Awards offer $50,000 for victorious indie developers across a range of categories.
GOG.com launches indie game portal that could compete with the Mac App Store
If you're an indie game developer and want to see your wares distributed on Mac, you're probably going to target either the Mac App Store or Steam. While both of these marketplaces are vibrant, GOG.com thinks it might be able to do things even better. The digital game distribution outlet -- which originally launched to focus strictly on vintage titles -- is launching a new indie developer portal for both Mac and Windows titles. Perhaps the most interesting thing about GOG's new venture is that it could very well become a direct competitor to Apple's own Mac App Store. GOG's userbase has been steadily growing for several years thanks to well-timed sales and a vast catalog of older content for both Mac and Windows, and the company is offering a couple of options with regards to revenue splits. Developers can opt for the same 70/30 (Developer/GOG) split as Apple offers on its digital store, or -- and this could be a big deal for many -- GOG will offer an advance on the royalties from future sales. That advance is then repaid to GOG through a 60/40 (Developer/GOG) split until the amount is repaid, at which point royalties default back to 70/30. This novel approach to royalties can help fledgling developers score some much needed cash once a project has been finished, and may well lure some game makers away from other distribution options. On top of this, GOG promotes all of the games it sells via well-trafficked social media channels as well as the site's front page. These perks may or may not fully equal the foot traffic advantage that the Mac App Store will likely always hold, but it's definitely worth the consideration of budding game creators. [via Develop]
Sony adds Indie Games category to PSN, brings Hotline Miami to the Vita (video)
As much as we'd like to talk about Sony's increasing hospitality toward independent developers, we're a little too anxious. You see, the company has just added an indie games channel to its handheld console, with Hotline Miami as the flagship title. Users will also be able to grab 53 other titles, like Thomas Was Alone, Sound Shapes and Limbo, but we're too busy with Hotline Miami to pay attention right now. Sony is also promising that we'll see Spelunky, Terraria and Hohokum in the next few months, which'll keep you entertained when you've finished, you know, Hotline Miami. If you'd like to catch a trailer showcasing all the new games, head on past the break.
GNILLEY: the game where you scream to survive
Do you like video games? Are you filled with rage? Then GNILLEY just might be the game you've been waiting for. Developed by Glen Forrester (a.k.a. Radix) for Global Game Jam 2010, the game apparently started out as being about "pitch and color," but quickly became "all about yelling at everything," and ended up winning the award for most original game at the competition. Head on past the break to check it out for yourself -- we're sure you'll agree he made the right decision.
Taking part in the Great Games Experiment [update 1]
"Great games deserve to be played, regardless of budget or bureaucracy." That particular thought seems to be at the core of the Great Games Experiment, an online community that revolves, or rather, obsessively spins around, our favorite industry and pastime. The urge to call it the "game developer's MySpace" is definitely present, but doing so wouldn't really do the site justice. For one thing, it's shockingly devoid of awful MIDI tunes and pasty individuals who desperately want to cut themselves.The website's creator, GarageGames, envisions a networked utopia of game players and game developers discussing and contributing to various projects. Anyone with an interest in games can join and post reviews or commentary, even based upon the works-in-progress of game developers. Independent studios should be able to keep the community updated on their projects, incorporate external suggestions and, once their games are complete, have access to an informed audience. The Great Games Experiment is currently running a series of contests to encourage gamers to join and try out the site's beta features -- the final version launches this March. If you're interested in a more open form of game distribution and development, be sure to give it a bash.Update: Joystiq readers can use the referral code "joystiqgge" to obtain a Beta account. Thanks Eric!
Game Tunnel: Independent games of the year
Independent games site Game Tunnel released their game of the year winners for the independent market in 2006. Up until recently independent games have been relegated to a niche PC market, but Xbox Live -- and we hope similar services in the future -- will allow these games to shine out of their word-of-mouth marketing worlds.We spoke with Russell Carroll, editor-in-chief at Game Tunnel, about the differences between Game Tunnel's awards and the Independent Games Festival awards given out in March, which had nominations announced earlier this month. Carroll says that unfinished games are allowed to enter the IGF competition, where Game Tunnel will only consider the finished product. For example, Oasis won the IGF in 2003 and won Game Tunnel's award in 2005 when it was actually released.Game Tunnel chooses their winner by a combination of monthly panels, reviews, Game Tunnel staff opinion and Carroll gets the final call. Carroll says, "It's not a perfect mathematical equation, but in the end we're happy with the results and think that they are games that can immediately be appreciated for being indie ... you can see that heart in the games." Most of the games are available to download and demo from the Game Tunnel website. Check it out and help support the little guys.
GarageGames hints at Virtual Console content
In an interview with Little Mathletics, one of GarageGames' promoters was tasked with answering a question regarding the indie developer's involvement with Nintendo's Virtual Console service. Like any good promoter, Jay Moore gives a wishy-washy answer that could just as easily be interpreted as a not-so-subtle hint.Q: Now that Satoru Iwata from Nintendo has essentially confirmed that the Revolution will feature original content on their download service, do you see yourself establishing the same kind of relationship with them?A: We've always said we'll be everywhere there is an opportunity to bring fun games to players with our tools and our games. I can neither confirm or deny any relationship with Nintendo or why GarageGames booth was right next to the Nintendo Gamers Lounge at GDC. Games like Marble Blast Ultra and Geometry Wars (developed by Bizarre Creations) have made the Xbox Live Arcade service an extremely appealing hub for smaller and often addictive games. Combining them with Nintendo's proven classics on the Virtual Console is sure to be deadly. [Via Revo DS-x2]
GDC: Dar-win-ia a success at IGF
The results of the 2006 Independent Games Festival are in, and it's hats off to Darwinia. Scooping the Seumas McNally Grand Prize as well as the awards for Innovation in Visual Art and Technical Excellence, this leaves British-based Introversion's next game with a tough act to follow.Other winners at the festival were:Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space (Innovation in Audio)Braid (Innovation in Game Design)Dad 'n Me (Best Web Browser Game)Dodge That Anvil! (Adult Swim Award)Dofus (Audience Award)The IGF also featured a modding competition for the first time, with four winners: Dystopia for Half-Life 2; Last Man Standing Co-op for Doom 3; Rose of Eternity - Chapter 1 - The Coming for Neverwinter Nights and Path of Vengeance for UT2004.
Independent Games Festival finalists in-depth
Gamespy has taken a detailed look at every one of the Independent Games Festival finalists, in advance of GDC next week where the awards ceremony will take place. If you've the time to go through the list in its entirety, you might be surprised at the range of games that have been under your nose all along.Gamasutra and GameDev.net have also been running interviews with some of the creators of these games, allowing interested players or designers to get a feel for the process of independent design and find out more about the games themselves. The latest Gamasutra interview is with Ominous Development (behind game Strange Attractors); GameDev.net posted six new interviews yesterday.
Indie games finalists playable now
The Independent Games Festival finalists encompass a wide range of genres, ranging from MMO Dofus to simulation Wildlife Tycoon and perennial favourite Darwinia. Their fate is now in your hands--demos of all the finalists are available for download, and you can vote in the Audience's Award for your chosen game.According to Gamasutra, this is the first time many of these games have been available for download. These demo offerings provide a good way to experience the range of creativity on offer, and at a killer price.
