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[More_Badass]

Some fantastic stuff from the PAX East line-up
https://youtu.be/H-Yo1wbWkJM
http://indiemegabooth.com/event/pax-east-2016/

A sequel to Always Sometimes Monsters? Wat!? And the trailer came out last summer? How did I miss this? The new pixel art style looks wonderful, a huge improvement over the first.

Sometimes Always Monsters - ????

http://www.vagabonddog.com/store/sam

With your love at your side and your book on the best-seller list, nothing seems impossible any more. You've set the pain of your struggles behind you, and settled into a comfortable life of stability. After all you've been through, there's no doubt it's well deserved.
Despite all you've earned, dissenting voices whisper about you from obscurity. They call you manipulative, unrepentant, and a monster.
Only you can decide if they are right.

A new shooter from the devs of We Are Doomed

Graceful Explosion Machine - 2017

http://www.vertexpop.com/gem/

Graceful Explosion Machine places you at the controls of a powerful, yet agile, GEM: an attack ship with multiple weapon systems and precision control.
Blast, combo, and dash your way through levels featuring an array of neon jewel-toned enemies and claustrophobic arenas, using a deep four-weapon based combat system that encourages you to think as fast as you can fly!

Signal Decay - ????

http://signaldecaygame.com/

Signal Decay is a rogue-lite action game set in a future dystopia with unique cooperative stealth gameplay. It is where XCOM meets Monaco -- combining the experience of coordinating XCOM operators and interations of Monaco to form a new level of emergent problem-solving.

Circles - 2016 (PC, Mac)

http://www.circles-game.com/

Circles is an abstract puzzle game where everything responds to your mouse movement. By simply interacting and experimenting you learn about each puzzle and how to solve it.

Arena Gods - 2016 (PC, Mac)

http://arena-gods.com/

ARENA GODS is a violent multiplayer gladiatorial survival game.

Death Squared - 2016

http://smgstudio.com/press/sheet.php?p=death_squared

Death Squared is a game about constantly evolving cooperation. Two cuboidal robots have one job each: stand on their circles without accidentally destroying one another. Each level is a puzzle with a deceptively simple solution. They can be solved in moments, but analyzing and figuring them out is down to the players’ communication and problem solving skills.

 

[spineduke]

What happened? He left game development?

He got focused on releasing his book, Spelunky which touchs upon a lot of the development process and design choices. It looks super interesting but it's been a long while since he explored actual game development.

 

[More_Badass]

He got focused on releasing his book, Spelunky which touchs upon a lot of the development process and design choices. It looks super interesting but it's been a long while since he explored actual game development.

I think he still got it
http://www.polygon.com/2015/9/23/93...k-yu-mossmouth-super-mario-maker-stage-design

After spending seven hours constructing this level — far more than any Devs Make Mario participating to date — Derek's level "Each Hell has its own personality, its own personality, its own character, I kind of like that," says Derek. "And of course, linking each (Hell) is a bridge of death you have to get across."

The resulting course is so dense with ideas and secrets that it actually evokes the semi-randomness and variety of deaths Spelunky players face. "The level ended up having a lot of uncertain parts and a lot of interactions between different elements like monsters and traps that are kind of unexpected, and different from playthrough to playthrough," says Derek.

It's Mario Maker, but still, sounds like he still has that magic touch and eye for level design

 

[Moobabe]

He got focused on releasing his book, Spelunky which touchs upon a lot of the development process and design choices. It looks super interesting but it's been a long while since he explored actual game development.

I might buy that - has anyone read it?

If it's super specific to people who develop games I might pass, but if it's pretty broad and welcoming I'll dive in.

 

[Valahart]

I might buy that - has anyone read it?

If it's super specific to people who develop games I might pass, but if it's pretty broad and welcoming I'll dive in.

You can find it on Kindle. There's a sample there and if you haven't tested Kindle Unlimited yet you can even read the complete book for free

 

[spineduke]

I might buy that - has anyone read it?

If it's super specific to people who develop games I might pass, but if it's pretty broad and welcoming I'll dive in.

Derek wrote an article with an excerpt on gamasutra about it. Definitely worth a look:
linky

I think he still got it

It's Mario Maker, but still, sounds like he still has that magic touch and eye for level design

Definitely! I just wanted more but alas. I wonder if the levels he made are up on YouTube somewhere.

 

[More_Badass]

Short open source interactive fiction from inkle (Sorcery, 80 Days)'

The Intercept - Free (PC, Mac)

http://www.inklestudios.com/ink/theintercept/

Bletchley Park, 1942. A component from the Bombe machine, used to decode intercepted German messages, has gone missing. One of the cryptographers is waiting to be interviewed, under direst suspicion. Is he stupid enough to have attempted treason? Or is he clever enough to get away?

L'employé parfait - Free (PC, Mac, Linux)

https://luvial.itch.io/lemploy-parfait

L'employé parfait is a game about a cop who does everything at (litteraly) the last minute.
Play many mini-games, manage and optimize your time before your boss arrives !
Will you make it to the payday ?

 

[More_Badass]

Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones - 2017 (PC, Linux, iPad)

http://www.stygianthegame.com/

"Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones" is a supernatural horror roleplaying video game which takes place in the strange worlds of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Stygian will draw the player into a bleak journey from a ruined Arkham to the very depths of the Abyss.

Construct - PC

http://www.indiedb.com/games/construct-game

CONSTRUCT is a first-person platformer with puzzle elements and a sci-fi theme. In the game you play as a nameless character trapped inside a computer system. The aim of the game is to explore the system and find a way to escape.

Black Falls - ????

http://black-falls.com/

In Black Falls you are leading a diverse group of outcasts in their endeavor to build a new home on an uncharted world brimming with mysteries. But the greatest mysteries to be found lie with the people you brought with you.
Choose carefully who you befriend and who you piss off - as you will have to live with the consequences. Never forget: You're no action hero - words are your only weapon.

Quench - PC, Mac, iOS, Android

http://quenchgame.com/

Control the weather to help herds of animals restore their home in this colourful, geometric puzzle game

Project L - ????

https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=54777.0

Project L is about procedural generation. Vast infinite worlds created by the RNG-gods. It all starts with a simple seed which grows beyond imagination.

BeardedBear - Free demo (PC, Mac, Linux

http://www.indiedb.com/games/beardedbear

BeardedBear is a frenetic arena arcade roguelike shooter. You, the BeardedBear, are a cyborg bear with a mighty beard that, thanks to his beard, can travel through time. You are the only hope for humanity and you have to save the Earth from an alien invasion which is attacking the planet in the past, present, and future.

An Evening Alone - Free alpha (PC, Mac)

https://mikethehunter16.itch.io/an-evening-alonecompleted-cancelled-version

You are trapped in what seems to be a neverending dream...
A Puzzle Platformer.

Previously Mentioned

Mad Devils

Wartile

Fabular

Everspace

Future Unfolding

 

[More_Badass]

HK - PC

https://hk-devblog.com/

A cat adventure in a robotic cyberpunk future

 

[PandaPedinte]

HK - PC

That's impressive O.O

 

[timetokill]

HK - PC

Looks cool, but a game about looking at a cat's butthole the entire time ... could be a tough sell

 

[More_Badass]

Looks cool, but a game about looking at a cat's butthole the entire time ... could be a tough sell

It's a game about a cat. The internet will love it

And plus people already liked Shelter 2

 

[timetokill]

It's a game about a cat. The internet will love it

And plus people are already liked Shelter 2

Yeah but Shelter 2 is all artsy and stuff

This game looks like you'll be getting an eyeful of realistic cat butt

(I'm hoping they quote that in the trailer)

 

[PandaPedinte]

Looks cool, but a game about looking at a cat's butthole the entire time ... could be a tough sell

But Neko Atsume is successful. xD

 

[Moobabe]

Stephen's Sausage Roll is out.

£22.99 and this is the description:

A simple 3d puzzle game.

... good luck I guess?

 

[One Foul Note]

Well, I guess if you want to get people's attention then that is an effective way of doing it. The only problem now is upgrading that attention into sales.

 

[spineduke]

Stephen's Sausage Roll is out.

£22.99 and this is the description:



... good luck I guess?

wowzer - $30? Interested, but not that interested!

 

[Toma]

Well, I guess if you want to get people's attention then that is an effective way of doing it. The only problem now is upgrading that attention into sales.

I dont think that is grabbing peopls attention though. Outside of the realm of people who shout about these things, nobody will care enough from that description, trailer and the price point. I mean its out since yesterday and has 1 review?

 

[Moobabe]

I dont think that is grabbing peopls attention though. Outside of the realm of people who shout about these things, nobody will care enough from that description, trailer and the price point. I mean its out since yesterday and has 1 review?

Exactly. I'm all for "this is my game - enjoy!" style descriptions - but that price point is completely out of impulse buy territory.

 

[sheaaaa]

It just came out today actually, hours ago. But yeah as solid as the game probably is, the amateurish Steam banner and lack of a proper description isn't going to help sell it. There's something to be said for just finishing your game and putting it out, but at least make an effort to sell it? As it stands nothing makes it stand out from the shovel ware. I may pick it up later myself and I hope it does well though.

 

[Possumowner]

HK - PC

Damn,that's nice

 

[One Foul Note]

I dont think that is grabbing peopls attention though. Outside of the realm of people who shout about these things, nobody will care enough from that description, trailer and the price point. I mean its out since yesterday and has 1 review?

I wasn't commenting on how the game was selling. I was just making the point that being mysterious and expensive can be a very good way of getting eyes on your product and get people talking about it.

 

[Toma]

I wasn't commenting on how the game was selling. I was just making the point that being mysterious and expensive can be a very good way of getting eyes on your product and get people talking about it.

"Mysterious" and expensive might work, but I am arguing that its not working in this case as it does not make the game seem mysterious at all. The steam page just makes it seem simple and generic... and still overpriced.

 

[Wok]

"Mysterious" and expensive might work, but I am arguing that its not working in this case as it does not make the game seem mysterious at all. The steam page just makes it seem simple and generic... and still overpriced.

I guess that is the intent. Most of his games are usually free, so the dev is targeting his fans.

 

[More_Badass]

Well, the Sausage Roll thread is going about as well as you'd expect

Edit: oh, here too? It's increpare's first commercial release since 2011, four years in development, getting perfect scores and rave impressions from Blow, Foddy, and others

 

[One Foul Note]

"Mysterious" and expensive might work, but I am arguing that its not working in this case as it does not make the game seem mysterious at all. The steam page just makes it seem simple and generic... and still overpriced.

Well, their is a 2 page thread on gaf right now which is more then most indie games on steam can enjoy.

 

[teacupcopter]

Well, the Sausage Roll thread is going about as well as you'd expect

Edit: oh, here too? It's increpare's first commercial release since 2011, four years in development, getting perfect scores and rave impressions from Blow, Foddy, and others

To be fair the production design looks worse than most ios games from the launch of the app store. It could be amazing but what do they expect?

 

[More_Badass]

To be fair the production design looks worse than most ios games from the launch of the app store. It could be amazing but what do they expect?

A bit hyperbolic IMO, I think it has a cool unique aesthetic. It certainly doesn't look cheap

And after ASCII roguelikes or a game like Dream Quest, you'd think people would know not to always judge a game by its graphics

 

[SuperMega]

Rise & Shine is also going to have a cool, long demo at PAX East for you guys to try and see how unique really is.

If you can't make it to Boston, you can send me a PM and I'll hook you up with that very same demo, in case you wanna try the game out or simply don't know much about it

 

[Toma]

Well, the Sausage Roll thread is going about as well as you'd expect

Edit: oh, here too? It's increpare's first commercial release since 2011, four years in development, getting perfect scores and rave impressions from Blow, Foddy, and others

Copypasting my reply:

Positive Steam review (including gameplay vid of the first 30 minutes and caveat) I just wrote:

Just played the first few levels, so take this with a huge grain of salt as I literally just started it. I also made a video to show off the gameplay, which you can see here: https://youtu.be/KbWNYiWCzn4

The controls take a lot to get used to and feel very cumbersome at first, which isnt a good sign for a puzzle game. However, the difficulty in controls were very well integrated into the (excellent) level design and game mechanics, creating some extremely devious challenges. If you want to sink your teeth into a puzzle game, this will give you a lot more meat than you can chew.

Word of caution though, the base mechanic does revolve around "pushing blocks" (or sausages in this case) and its not too far off from other similar games like Sokoban. Stephen's sausage roll is adding another level of complexity onto a very familiar subgrenre (block pushing puzzle games), making it very challenging, but it is also not really pushing for anything new. And the price point is sort of the sore thumb here in regards to that. From what I can see so far:

Is it a good game? Yes.
Does it deserve your money? Absolutely.
Is it worth 30$? That is entirely up to you, in regards of how much you value challenge in your puzzle games.

I love challenging puzzle games and I am looking forward to biting into this eventually when I have more time for it, but I appreciate new ideas more than I do just challenges, and going back in time, based on what I played so far, I would not recommend myself to buy it at 30$.

Check the video for the gameplay, but I like the comparison to Snakebird a lot. Snakebird has deceptively simply mechanics, but actually creates a fresh and rather unique difficult challenge, whereas SSR starts by feeling cumbersome, shows incredibly smart design as well and costs about 4 times as much. It seems like a great game, but even considering the possible mind bending puzzles awaiting me, its presentation and additional layer added to a VERY well known puzzle sub genre, makes me wary of recommending to buy it at 30$.

On this note, I also don't see how it warrants the "mysterious" attitude towards its mechanics and puzzles. Compared to games like Starseed Pilgrim, where half of the game is actually figuring out the mechanics, this seems pretty straightforward. I dont see how not informing your customers about your game is helping in this case at all, unless someone who played through it can enlighten me on this aspect and how it becomes substantially more than what I saw in the first few minutes. Still a great game and I am still looking forward to later levels, but its nothing as engaging as the puzzling together elements of Factorio, not as visually rewarding as Infinifactory/SpaceChem and not as unique as Snakebird. Its a good game, but I feel the "Mystery veil" hypes it up too much.

It's good, but more or less just exactly that. I fail to see much more than that.

 

[One Foul Note]

Rise & Shine is also going to have a cool, long demo at PAX East for you guys to try and see how unique really is.

If that's the same demo I tried earlier this year then that is a cool looking product. Hope PAX goes fantastically.

 

[More_Badass]

Copypasting my reply:


It's good, but more or less just exactly that. I fail to see much more than that.

Copypasting my reply

Could it be too early to make such a definite judgement? English Country Tune was similar, also a Sokoban-style game with a 3D twist in its first few worlds but then introduced stuff like planting and cutting and other mechanics

 

[Toma]

Copypasting my reply

We can just continue over in the other thread then

 

[More_Badass]

I think you're a fan of Michael Brough's games, right, Toma? 868-Hack, Corrypt, etc.?

He has a new game coming out next month. Imbroglio, which is a blend of board game, card game, RPG, and roguelike.

 

[Toma]

I think you're a fan of Michael Brough's games, right, Toma? 868-Hack, Corrypt, etc.?

He has a new game coming out next month. Imbroglio, which is a blend of board game, card game, RPG, and roguelike.

Ooh intriguing, thanks for the heads up. I need to dig up some more info.

 

[PurpleMoustache]

Fucking christ Stephen's Sausage Roll. How do I solve a single puzzle in you! AAA

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Fucking christ Stephen's Sausage Roll. How do I solve a single puzzle in you! AAA

It's hard alright. Don't think I could solve any puzzle with more than one sausage in the first 30 minutes. Left them and went and solved a couple with just one sausage. I'm actually scared at how difficult this game will get.

 

[sheaaaa]

A bit hyperbolic IMO, I think it has a cool unique aesthetic. It certainly doesn't look cheap

And after ASCII roguelikes or a game like Dream Quest, you'd think people would know not to always judge a game by its graphics

Those are niche as hell so I'm not sure they're the best examples. Minecraft maybe?

I personally don't have a problem with the price or the game's look. But the game's website and store page don't communicate one thing about why the game would be worth $30. It doesn't strike me as deliberately mysterious, just a del who's not interested in actually selling his game, but the consequences are the barrage of comments that we can see.

 

[Toma]

Those are niche as hell so I'm not sure they're the best examples. Minecraft maybe?

I personally don't have a problem with the price or the game's look. But the game's website and store page don't communicate one thing about why the game would be worth $30. It doesn't strike me as deliberately mysterious, just a del who's not interested in actually selling his game, but the consequences are the barrage of comments that we can see.

I am inclined to agree, despite being a strong proponent of developers asking whatever they think is fair for a game. Even playing the first hours is likely not gonna change much as I took a peek in most levels that would likely keep me busy for the first 6 hours or so of the game, which doesnt add anything special to the base mechanic (yet). Still brutally difficult and a good game of course, but as you said, the mysterious angle seems way overplayed.

 

[epmode]

Re: Stephen's Sausage Roll
Sokoban, yuck.

Rise & Shine is also going to have a cool, long demo at PAX East for you guys to try and see how unique really is.

If you can't make it to Boston, you can send me a PM and I'll hook you up with that very same demo, in case you wanna try the game out or simply don't know much about it

I played a demo a few months ago. It was too short to draw any real conclusions but I had fun for sure. And it's always great to see new high resolution 2D games!

I'll probably stop by the PAX booth.

 

[Wok]

I appreciate new ideas more than I do just challenges.

Speaking of which, I have the feeling Manifold Garden is trying to be just another Antichamber.

 

[More_Badass]

Speaking of which, I have the feeling Manifold Garden is trying to be just another Antichamber.

Really? I've seen a lot of the game since I've been following its development on TIGSource, and I don't see that. It has a pretty concrete core mechanic of altering gravity and the repeated world, but it isn't really trying to be all mysterious and mind-bending like Antichamber was.

 

[Wok]

Really? I've seen a lot of the game since I've been following its development on TIGSource, and I don't see that. It has a pretty concrete core mechanic of altering gravity and the repeated world, but it isn't really trying to be all mysterious and mind-bending like Antichamber was.

I have never seen any gameplay. Only GIFs and text description from Twitter and the game website. Where did you find these exactly?

 

[More_Badass]

I have never seen any gameplay. Only GIFs and text description from Twitter and the game website. Where did you find these exactly?

Here's a 10-minute dev walkthrough from Kotaku
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbCRtpDqDeA

And the devlog
https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=37314.0

 

[Wok]

Here's a 10-minute dev walkthrough from Kotaku
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbCRtpDqDeA

And the devlog
https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=37314.0

Thanks, that is super cool of you.

 

[More_Badass]

The Siege and the Sandfox - PC

http://siegeandsandfox.com/

A "Stealthvania"
Master dynamic acrobatic abilities to traverse the cavernous depths of an ancient underground prison, evading detection and avoiding certain death at the hands of a sand-borne evil. Fight for your city – foil the enemy’s attempt to strike at the heart of the kingdom.

Imbroglio - May 19th (iOS)

http://mightyvision.blogspot.com/

A deck-building roguelike RPG thing

All Walls Must Fall - Late 2016 (PC, Mac)

http://www.allwallsmustfall.com/

All Walls Must Fall is a tech-noir spy thriller set in Berlin 2089 where the Cold War never ended. A game in the isometric action tactics genre, you command secret agents using time travel, social stealth and combat. Prevent nuclear annihilation. Bring down the Wall. Love, kill, and remix reality to explore the meaning of freedom in a parable reflecting upon current global issues in the mirror of a fantastic future past.

 

[Nabs]

The Siege and the Sandfox looks really nice. I'm surprised to see that it's made in UE4.

 

[PurpleMoustache]

Woo! Only took 24 minutes (over the course of day, busy day) but I finally solved a SSR puzzle. Moving sausages is really hard.

 

[spineduke]

Thanks for the continuous stream of indie updates Bady - you do stellar work. :3

 

[More_Badass]

Seeing stuff like this is why following game development is awesome