Ablation X development journal updated. [trailer]

Knytt Experiment: Nifflas has cancelled the full release of Knytt Experiment, and will discontinue development on Knytt Stories as well.

Release Dates

Dwarf Fortress: The new Dwarf Fortress update is very close to a release. Due out next week.

Spud's Quest: An update for Chris Davis' lovingly-crafted tribute to the Dizzy series will be released soon. [new features]

Adventure

Submachine 5: Mateusz Skutnik has made plans to publish Submachine and Covert Front series (four episodes) on CDs in the near future.

Machinarium: Amanita Design's Machinarium will be released as a full game download, while the demo will be playable online.

Sydney Finds Employment: Ivan Dixon is currently hard at work on a commercial project for the last six months.

Unbound: Limpingfish's Unbound will be released sometime in November. [Heartland Deluxe, walkthrough]

In Development

Nigoro: In the last comment of this Nigoro's development journal entry, it is stated that both duplex and Samieru are currently working on separate games at the same time.

Gesundheit: Matt Hamill has resumed work on Gesundheit.

Articles/Updates

Arcanacra: Arcanacra updated to version 0.4.1.

Lost Garden: Daniel Cook has contributed a new article for Gamasutra.

Miscellaneous

Wonderland series: Midnight Synergy is currently celebrating their fifth anniversary with some special deals.

Poppenkast: Poppenkast has launched a new web site.

Hampa recently released Toribash version 3.0, an update to the popular turn-based fighting game with physics, dismemberment, decapitation and blood. Updates are as follows:

- removed registration key
- removed demo restrictions
- environments
- shaders (off by default)
- 2 vs 2 and 2 vs 1 battles
- black belt only server option
- added login (same username and password as the forum)
- new shop items (to be announced)

Some new bugs were found, but patches will be released in the coming weeks to address these. So basically you can get Toribash with nearly all the options enabled for free. [source: Fun-Motion]

- download page (down currently)
- Toribash web site
- forum thread

In Silent Chain, you touch the enemies without touching their spikes to bind them to yourself. The more connections you have the more points you get when you connect or kill another. You can shoot the enemies too, which will make your mass decrease faster.

Controls:
Move - Arrows
Shoot - Z
Gather - X

Name: Silent Chain
Developer: cactus
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB
Direct download link: Click here

Online hiscore table

A 27 MB demo for Blackwell Unbound is now available for download.

- direct download link (right-click to save)
- Wadjet Eye Games
- Spooks (freeware, walkthrough)

Protoganda's graphics were inspired by old movies with special effects made without the use of computers. And to some extent by the feeling you get from watching old protoganda movies. The gameplay is a fairly straight boss fight flare, with a focus on time, rather than lives.

You start out with three minutes playtime. Defeating a boss gives you an extra fifteen seconds. Getting your ship blown up deducts forty. If the timer reaches zero, you lose.

There are two different gameplay modes, 'absorb' and 'shield'. Shield gives the player a defensive tool that can be used to get out of tight spots; press Z + X to repell bullets. You also get a chargeable shooting function that automatically targets the enemy. Hold X until your ship is glowing, and then release. Z fires your main cannon.

In Absorb mode, I borrowed heavily from the great Ikaruga. You can switch color to become invulnerable against bullets of the same color as yourself. Touching a bullet absorbs it, and you build up power to release a charge shot, as well as replenish a bit of time. Bullets of the color opposite to the enemy does more damage. Press the C key to release a charged shot.

There are two online highscore boards (one for each mode), and a variety of different options to extend the fun. - cactus

The bosses names are taken from a list of the 50 most common Russian family names. Press the F1 key to change resolution to 640x480 for a larger gameplay window display. Use the R key during a game to restart immediately without returning to the main menu. A sequel to Protoganda is in the works.

Name: Protoganda
Developer: cactus
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB
Direct download link: Click here

Shield hiscore table
Absorb hiscore table

Mutant Storm Empire: PomPom Games had recently informed Eurogamer that Mutant Storm Empire will be available on the XBox Live Arcade starting October 31st, 2007.

de Blob: This Nintendo Wii release has suffered a scheduling setback, with it's release date moved from 2008 to 2009. The PC version is still available as a free download from the GameDev.net forum thread. [source: Joystiq]

Free Lunch Design: Johan Peitz of Icy Tower fame will release two new games very soon.

Shellblast: Shellblast can now be purchased for less than $4.95. The prequel Acidbomb is still available as a free download.

The full list of entries (125 in total) for this year's IGF student competition is now available to view from the IGF main site.

- peruse the entries

Neonominoes is a puzzler by Maruchu, author of the equally fun but dated Colorful Notes. Players are given a number of puzzle pieces in each level, and must find a way to place all of them inside the holes to advance.

Left click to place and right click to rotate. Menu navigation is in Japanese but shouldn't pose a problem to players with a willingness to experiment. It is also possible to select a puzzle piece to place by choosing the option right underneath the current piece indicator, or using the mouse scroll to swap.

Name: Neonominoes
Developer: Maruchu
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB
Download page: Click here

[ Zip format ]

Note: Not an official release.

Nifflas' Knytt Experiment is an attempt by the author to encourage user-generated content while building a coherent world for others players to explore. Anyone can create a new level and submit it for approval before inclusion into the database.

Only one small area is playable now, but if the response if positive then a proper game could possibly be released very soon.

Off the Rails is a new action game by Nitrome in which players are required to guide a handcar from the start to end, avoid obstacles and collect coins for points.

Tap the left and right cursor keys alternately to speed the car up, and press the S key to make it stop. Hold the up arrow key to jump, and press space to change directions. The W, A, S and D keys can also be used to move the car as well.

Ramps can be used to execute tricks in midair like the 360 flip for bonus points. Later stages include signs which pushes your car in the opposite direction, oil slicks and even vehicle chases. Unfortunately the game does become a chore to play roughly past the halfway mark due to uninspiring level designs, a common trait found in most of Nitrome's past releases.

Name: Off the Rails
Developer: Nitrome
Category: Action
Type: Browser

Lazrael has decided to create a sequel for his popular platformer Poyo.

- Poyo 2
- Poyo

Probably the best interview which sums up Jonathan Mak's approach to game development. Here are a couple of interesting bits from said article.

Have you started working on any other projects?

There's collaboration work I'm doing with this musician, but that's sort of on hold since I'm trying to finish this game.

Would you develop for any other platforms?

I'm not done with freeware. I want to make freeware and Sony knows this. Where would I be without Kenta Cho? If I didn't play that game, none of this would have happened. I sort of feel indebted to it.

How did the deal with Sony come about?

I wasn't actually thrilled at the time. I was like, "Oh, Sony--whatever." Because I didn't want anybody to ____ with my game. I was this close to just releasing it (Everyday Shooter) as freeware.

Ablation X: The Ablation X development journal is up.

Adventure

Blackwell Unbound: Dave Gilbert has written an article about the Blackwell series for Game Career Guide.

Untitled Adventure Game: buloght had posted a background art from his upcoming adventure game.

Upcoming

Dwarf Fortress: A new version for Dwarf Fortress will be released this week.

For The Game: Studio Trophis' For The Game will be released before the end of the year. The White Chamber was also updated to version 1.7.

Jumper Three: More information about Jumper Three posted.

Nifflas' New Platformer: Nifflas is currently working on a new project unrelated to either Knytt Stories or Night Game.

Competitions

The Game Maker Race: The Game Maker race is a new contest held from 15th Oct - 15th Nov 2007. Participants have to incorporate both fire and ice elements into their entries. Paltry prizes though.

3Punge: 3Punge results announced.

Miscellaneous

Mutant: A demo for Mutant is now available from Napoleon Games.

Doppelganger: Doppelganger (Defender-type shooter) will be updated to version 1.1 soon. [download version 1.0]

The Crypt of Despair: A new review for The Crypt of Despair posted at Game Maker Games.

3 Games in 3 Minutes: PC Magazine has been reviewing a couple of indie games in their 3 Games in 3 Minutes section. Releases mentioned in recent times include everything from Kloonigames, Rose and Camellia, Knytt Stories, Fate by Numbers and De Blob. Guest starring Darren Gladstone.

Adler Zone is a gorgeous 8-bit style shooter by battlegorge, though only one playable level is included in this early version. Hold the A key to shoot, and press the S key to activate the hyper field.

Upgrade your firepower by acquiring either fifty or a hundred green power-up containers. Collect blue crystals for bonus points.

Name: Adler Zone
Developer: battlegorge
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB