Some news about Queasy Games' award-winning abstract shooter. A PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack will be released this November, which comes bundled with a Piano Black PSP-3000 (the new PSP model with non-reflective screen), one 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo, and a voucher to download the PSP version of Everyday Shooter from the PlayStation Store free of charge. The pack itself will retail at $200, though there is no information yet on when existing PSP owners can acquire the game without buying the entire bundle.

Also, the PC version of Everyday Shooter originally released on Steam is now available for purchase from Direct2Drive.

Siliconera: Everyday Shooter PSP bundled with PSP-3000
Wired.com: Everyday Shooter Comes to the PSP

In a roundabout way, Blueberry (of FabreSoft) had released Advanced Set The Rope On Fire Cartridge (which is a remake of Mazapan's You Have to Burn the Rope) for TIGSource's Bootleg Demakes Competition, while Kian Bashiri himself remade Jetpack Brontosaurus (titled Rocket Belt Rawr, shown above).

It's been close to a year since the last published interview with Phil Fish was posted on the web, so we decided to do a bit of catching up with the designer of Fez and new face of IGF by asking him a couple of questions to find out what he's been working on.

Hi Phil, can you tell us something about yourself and what it is exactly that you do?

I'm Phil Fish, and I co-founded two things: Kokoromi and Polytron. One is an experimental game/art collective, and the other is a company. I do art and design on all my projects. And I guess I'm mostly known for Fez.

Any plans to put out something before the release of Fez, or ideas on what to do next after Fez?

I'm working on a couple of different things. I can't write a single line of code, so I always have to work with a good programmer.

Right now I'm collaborating with Alec Holowka on a little iPhone game that will probably come out way before Fez. It's a bit early to commit to anything yet, but Alec and I are making this cool little game that's all about multi-touch. You play as a little dose of medicine inside people's bodies, and you have to cure them.

And Kokoromi is making a game for GAMMA 3D this year (we didn't make one for last year).

Small gameplay clip from Amanita Design's upcoming commercial venture Machinarium.

download Windows media video (5MB, right-click to save)
Machinarium preview one

Hadn't seen any other sites picking up on this deal yet (presumably because everyone should have played it by now), but the price of Portal on Steam has been slashed by half from $19.99 to $9.99. Good time to add one of the best-rated games from last year to your collection. Note that the offer is valid for this weekend only, and ends on September 1st.

Portal on Steam

The Hordes is a new vertical shooter by the developer of Destructivator and Return to Sector 9. There is a hint of Galaxians here, but the difference is that enemy waves get increasingly difficult to destroy whenever your ship receives a weapon upgrade by one level. Tougher enemies yield more points. Annihilate large-sized enemies to acquire power-up items.

You lose at least one level of weapon upgrade whenever a power-up item reaches the bottom of the screen or when your ship is destroyed. The video link is for a competition the developer is participating in, and has little to do with the game itself besides a show of support. (online high score table)

Name: The Hordes
Developer: Pug Fugly Games
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB
Direct download link: Click here

Another interview with Edmund McMillen of Cryptic Sea, co-creator of Gish, Triachnid, Coil and numerous other indie, freeware and Flash releases. Part one of this interview can be found here.

Hi Edmund, it's been two months since we last spoke. How's Gish 2 coming along?

Gish 2 is moving along okay. Alex and I are both working on our own games as well as a new one together, so we take breaks from the big project to relax a bit. I think we both have found that doing smaller games on the side of big projects help keep the mojo flowing, and stops you from getting bored with the big one. Gish 2 is still due to come out next year, and we should have something cool to show the public in a few months.

Can you tell us more about the other projects you and Alex are both working on?

Alex is working on a new bridge builder game and it's looking and playing really nice. He's also working on an updated Ram Jets. He will unveil its new name and new gameplay in a few months so I don't want to spoil his suprise here. Oh, and we are going to start reworking an older game Alex made back in the day.

How about information on some of the smaller games?

I just finished up the C word and have started work on another small flash project that I'm just calling Space Boy for now, and another project with Florian (Himsl) that's called "I'll See You in Hell".

I am also working on a few small projects with Tommy (Refenes, of Goo!) and my own personal CD project is also in the works.

More indie games featured on this week's Bytejacker: Robson's Wall of Words, Team Polarity's Polarity and Tatsuya Koyama's GENETOS. (YouTube video)

Bytejacker episode 5

Hot Ninja Moon Moon is a short action platformer which took acidBatterie four weeks to create with the Game Maker engine. Use the W, A, S and D keys to move or jump over traps found in each of the fifteen stages. Press the jump button twice while in midair to execute a double jump move. The R key can be used to reset a level.

There are fifteen stages to play in total. The game also supports both single and two-player hotseat modes.

Name: Hot Ninja Moon Moon
Developer: acidBatterie
Category: Platformer
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Towerball is a short physics game created in under two days, where players will attempt to guide two coloured balls on a string towards the yellow target found in each of the seven towers included. Use the mouse to set a trajectory direction and speed, then left click to hit it. Press the right mouse button to dampen the ball and slow it down.

Every attempt at hitting the ball deducts a number between one to seven from your power counter, depending on the strength of your shot. The game ends when you've run out of power, but can be restored marginally by bouncing your ball off the walls in the early levels. A version for Java-enabled browsers is available from the same download page. (Ludum Dare entry)

Name: Towerball
Developer: Måns Olson
Category: Arcade
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Alternate Path is a short retro-style platformer with a simple premise, blocky graphics and very basic gameplay elements. Use the cursor keys to move, and press the up arrow key to jump.

A solution to the tricky text puzzle can be found in the comments section of the same download page.

Name: Alternate Path
Developer: David Yates
Category: Platformer
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB
Direct download link: Click here

[Every week, Gamasutra sister weblog GamerBytes' editor Ryan Langley will be summing up the top console digital download news tidbits from the past 7 days, including brand new game announcements and scoops through the world of Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and WiiWare.]

While there has been plenty of news this week for the Xbox Live Arcade, including the release of Castle Crashers this Wednesday, there has been significant new information on PlayStation Network games from the Leipzig Game Convention too.

Here's the rundown of the top console digital download news for the week:

Xbox Live Arcade

Castle Crashers is your XBLA game of the week!
It's been two years of waiting, but the long awaited 4-player cooperative beat-em-up Castle Crashers is set to debut this Wednesday. Grab it for 1,200 Microsoft Points.

New Darwinia+ Trailer - King Of The Hill Multiplayer Madness
A new trailer for Multiwinia was released this week to give us a good look at what Darwinia+ might end up like on the Xbox Live Arcade. Looks like a ton of fun.

Hexiom Connect is a puzzle game where players will have to rearrange tiles on a hexagonal board so that all coloured lines are connected in order to clear a level. Left click and drag a tile to a new position to move it. Tile positions can also be swapped using the same method. Use the left shift key while clicking on a tile to mark and unmark it.

The game includes forty stages of varying difficulty, a color blind mode, and a level editor where players can save or share their creations by copying a line of code.

Name: Hexiom Connect
Developer: Biclops Games
Category: Puzzle
Type: Browser

The Necronomicon is a card game which involves two duelists locked in a deadly battle with only a deck of cards to influence combat proceedings. Both sides start out with forty life points, but gain an additional five maximum life points for each increase in level. The computer AI will gain one rank after each round of combat, but a player's level increase is determined by their performance in the previous battle.

To play a card, simply select one from your hand and click on book of Necronomicon at the center of the table. Sanity cost is shown at the bottom right of each card, although players are only penalized with a random insanity effect when their sanity counter is reduced to zero. The duel ends when one combatant loses all of his or her life points.

Only one creature can be summoned per side. Creatures do not attack directly, but will counterattack when their masters are injured by the opposing party. A creature's attack score is shown on the card itself and as a number in red when the creature is in play. Damage dealt by your creature is calculated by deducting the attack score of the opponent's summoned creature, then minus your opponent's armor rating or Elder Sign which is shown as a number next to a green symbol.

The red marking or Arcane Power is a bonus damage modifier for cards with the same symbol, while the yellow sign indicates the amount of damage you will take at the end of each turn due to spell or curse effects.

Games are automatically saved after every three levels, and there are twenty levels to play in total. Use the green plus and minus signs at the main menu to increase or decrease the quality of graphics. (Kongregate mirror)

Name: The Necronomicon
Developer: Games of Cthulhu
Category: Strategy
Type: Browser

AGD Interactive (King's Quest 1 and 2 VGA) is back after a near six-year hiatus from freeware projects with their third Sierra adventure game remake, Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire. Following the events chronicled in the prequel, our Hero of Spielburg is whisked away on a magic carpet to the land of Shapeir to undertake the dangerous mission of saving not one but two desert cities.

The 1990 release was rather unforgiving at times, as the entire adventure happens in one month but many puzzles can only be solved on certain days. The AGDI team has done much to alleviate the problems that hampered players from completing their quest with the inclusion several new features.

All conversation topics are now shown on screen instead of requiring guesswork using a limited text parser interface found in the original. Combat now feels less sluggish thanks to the processing power of modern day computer systems and extra frames of animation. Graphics, backgrounds and sprites have more colour than their classic counterparts, although deserts and alleyways still look as dull as ever.

Try running the game in windowed mode or choose a resolution of 640 by 400 for full screen if the default settings do not work at first. Due to AGS limitations, games saved under one display setup cannot be used for other configurations. (more screenshots in the extended)

Name: Quest for Glory 2 - Trial by Fire
Developer: AGD Interactive
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 90MB

Karoshi Factory is a new sequel to Jesse Venbrux's suicidal platformer series, where players must find unorthodox methods to kill all suits on screen in order to progress from one stage to the next. Use the Z key to jump, press the X key to shoot once a gun is acquired, and tap the space key to switch characters.

Press the R key to restart a level at any time. The F4 function key can be used to toggle between full screen and windowed modes. Note that touching the blue button causes a random effect, one of which is disabling the character switch function. (download instructions)

Name: Karoshi Factory
Developer: Jesse Venbrux
Category: Platformer
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

The Lost Snowmen is a platformer starring three characters with different skill sets, who will have to assist each other during their adventures in order to fulfill a variety of level objectives. Use the cursor keys to move, press the Z key to switch between snowmen, and hold the X key to execute a specific action. Press the escape key to skip cutscenes, and use the F4 function key to switch between full screen and windowed mode.

Stages can be played out of order and attempted at leisure, while the inclusion of a level editor is simply icing on a very tasty cake. (download instructions)

Name: The Lost Snowmen
Developer: Red System
Category: Platformer
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB

ByteAlity Tower Defense is a tower defense game with more than twenty types of towers to unlock and over a hundred maps to play. Much like RPGCreations' Immortal Defense, the coverage area for a tower can be reviewed by selecting a defense structure, then holding the left mouse button over a valid placement section. Release the button to build the structure immediately, and upgrade a tower by left-clicking on the tower again. Funds for tower purchases and upgrades can be amassed by taking out enemies before they reach the main building and inflict structural damage.

Earn additional points in each map by calling for the next wave of enemies before the timer counts down to zero. A short tutorial and comprehensive map editor are included, though certain features are disabled until a player has made sufficient progress in the campaign mode. (download instructions)

Name: ByteAlity Tower Defense
Developer: Erik Leppen
Category: Strategy
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB

Starlit Zone Fighter - Remake is Lazrael's attempt at rehashing a previously-released horizontal shooter with updated graphics and substantially rebalanced gameplay. Ammo has to be replenished frequently by absorbing and digesting fruits using the C key. Hold the D key to shoot, and press the F4 function key to toggle full screen or windowed mode.

This demo contains the first three stages from the planned final release, with the third level cut off just after the first boss encounter.

Name: Starlit Zone Fighter - Remake
Developer: Lazrael
Category: Shooter
Type: Demo
Size: 2MB

Bulletzorz is a new platformer created by the Hempuli (FIG) in less than one week, featuring nine playable stages and two difficulty settings to choose from. The objective of the game is to acquire all red diamonds in each level while trying to avoid contact with the wrong end of a bullet from either your own gun or an enemy cannon. This might prove tricky as players will need to use bullets as moving platforms to pass certain obstacles as well.

Note that you can also shoot upwards or downwards, while a level is restarted using the enter key as the developer had neglected to include an automatic reset option for failed attempts.

Name: Bulletzorz
Developer: Arvi Teikari
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB
Direct download link: Click here

Jonathan Blow recently made an appearance on Destructoid's podcast, in which he talks to the Podtoid crew about Braid and answers some reader questions.

Also, Cliff Harris of Positech Games has done a couple of interviews resulting from the interest in game piracy issues.

Interview: Jonathan Blow (mp3)
Interviews: Cliff Harris (mp3 and text)

ShellBlast is now available as a free download from Game Giveaway of the Day for the next twenty hours or so.

The price of Audiosurf on Steam was also reduced by half (from $9.99 to $4.99) for this weekend only. Offer ends August 25th.

Note: contains strong language and graphic scenes.

Mayhem Triple is an action game which tells the story of Mig Carter, a desert dweller who is stirred from his sleep by strange noises in the middle of the night only to find killer rabbits on the loose. Use the W, A, S, and D keys to move your character around. Press the space key to jump, and hold the left mouse button to shoot. The scroll wheel can be used to switch weapons.

This short demo features three playable levels only.

Name: Mayhem Triple
Developer: Dustin Gunn
Category: Platformer
Type: Demo
Size: 10MB

Visit 2: Dark Tower is a sequel to Ted's puzzle platformer which was released two months before, where players must solve block puzzles in order to progress from one screen to the next. Use the F1 function key to review the controls, and press the S or down arrow key while standing over a save point to change colors. Tap the left or right cursor key twice to push a block.

The shift key can be used to switch buddies at any time. Press the space or enter key to view the world map, while full screen mode can be enabled from the options menu. The entire adventure should take roughly two hours to complete. (download instructions)

Name: Visit II: Dark Tower
Developer: Ted Lauterbach
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

GameDesign's version of Mahjong is a single-player implementation of the timeless favorite from the East, where three computer AIs occupy each side of the table with turns taken in a counterclockwise manner. There are plenty of tutorials on learning mahjong available online, but the game basically involves matching four sets of tiles with a pair to win the round before any of your opponent does. Extra points are awarded when a player manages to match more tiles of the same suit, or have a set of wind and flower tiles which are slightly harder to acquire.

Name: Mahjong
Developer: GameDesign
Type: Browser

Swarm is a customizable strategy game created by Alex Vostrov in one week, where players assume control over a colony of bugs in a two-way battle for supremacy over the map. Health is indicated by two rows of coloured dots at the top of the screen, while waypoints can be moved around by dragging them to a new location using the left mouse button.

Add additional waypoints by clicking on the black flag on the left, choose any location on the map, then left click on the hive and drag a separate arrow towards the new waypoint. Multiple waypoints which are connected to each other can also be designated by using the left shift key when clicking on an existing waypoint.

There are three upgrades to acquire, and AI difficulty can be increased by using command line parameters.

Name: Swarm
Developer: Alex Vostrov
Category: Strategy
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Direct download link: Click here

[UPDATE: Sorry for the confusion, guys - we were waiting to get more info. This seems to be a Cave Story hack or mod - we're not sure if it's with Pixel's approval or not. Translation help is welcome.]

Hack9 is a Cave Story mod which requires some knowledge of the Japanese language to play, featuring a storyline unrelated to any of Pixel's creations. This version is labeled 1.0, and presumed to have taken the developer over a year to develop.

Use the cursor keys to move, and press the Z key to jump. Tap the X key to shoot when you've acquired a weapon. The status and inventory screen can be accessed using the A key. Choose the first option from the main menu to start a new adventure, or select the second line of text to restore a previously saved game. (additional video and screenshots in the extended, Vector link)

Name: Hack9
Developer: Kazuhiko
Category: Platformer
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB

Shadez: The Black Operations is a new strategy game by Sean Cooper, developer of the Boxhead top-down zombie shooter series. The mission objective is to protect your side of the field from enemy infiltration by recruiting and purchasing units for battle. Health is deducted whenever an enemy unit makes it to the left side of the screen, and the game ends when health is completely depleted to zero.

New types of troops and weaponry can be added to your arsenal at the cost of additional funds. Assign basic orders to certain units by left clicking on them, then selecting an action from the menu located at the bottom of the screen.

Use the shift and arrow keys to view other parts of the map, or click on the mini-map to navigate faster. Press the P key to pause the game at any time, or use fast forward button to advance time quickly. Four difficulty settings with varying terrain patterns and field size are included. (game guide, gameplay video)

Name: Shadez - The Black Operations
Developer: Sean Cooper
Category: Strategy
Type: Browser

Gameplay video from Secret Exit's Sauna Dismount, the freeware prototype based on the Stair Dismount 2's engine which was submitted as Kiuasturvat for the Assembly 2008 game development competition. (Cinnamon Beats preview in the extended)

This week on Bytejacker: Craig Forrester's puzzle platformer Treasure Treasure, OUEO factory's arena shooter Debrysis and Nenad Jalsovec's retro action game Rescue: The Beagles.

Bytejacker episode 4

Jumper 3 is the much-awaited sequel to Matt's series of frustratingly difficult platformers, where players will once again be able to assume control over Ogmo as he traverse and explore over fifty levels' worth of challenges while acquiring new abilities along the way.

Use the S key to jump or select a menu option. Press the A key to cancel a selection or use a special ability, and hold the space key to restart a level. Full screen mode can be enabled from the options menu. (more screenshots in the extended)

Name: Jumper 3
Developer: Matt Thorson
Category: Platformer
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB
Direct download link: Click here

Mad Monday is a new action game from Felix Wiesner, developer of the seafaring adventure Treasure Seas Incorporated. You can use your Mustang to drive other vehicles off the road when bullets aren't enough to get them out of your way. Weapons and medikits can be collected during the chase to upgrade your guns or restore health.

Use the cursor keys to change lanes, and hold the A key to shoot. Press the space key to activate your flamethrowers when acquired. The game ends when you've arrived at your destination in Mexico. (Newgrounds mirror)

Name: Mad Monday
Developer: Mausland Entertainment
Category: Action
Type: Browser

The Official EDGE Computer Game is a small mini game created by Nifflas during the EDGE 2008 festival, featuring artwork and contribution from many of the visitors who attended the event. Players are given a hundred seconds to collect as many gems as they can, while trying to avoid contact with dangerous obstacles or harmful denizens of the underground network of caves and rooms.

Left click on the round object to set a direction, then release the button to see it take off.

Name: Det Officiella EDGE Dataspelet
Developer: Nifflas
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB

From the2bears: The objective of Magnetic Shaving Derby is simple - attract the razor using the magnet as you attempt to make a clean shave without incurring any injuries. This homebrew release works on both DS consoles and emulators. (YakYak thread, The Hairy Chestival)

Putt Base can be described as a combination of mini-golf and The Incredible Machine, where blocks are used to direct a white golf ball towards the target hole to earn keys which unlock later levels. Click and drag the green arrow located next to the ball to set the travel direction. Use the space key to quickly release the ball or restart the level, and press the escape key to remove all blocks from the field.

Achievements in the shape of bronze, silver and gold coins are awarded based on distance traveled by ball, number of unused blocks and the time taken to solve each puzzle. (Newgrounds mirror)

Name: Putt Base
Developer: Jayc Santos
Category: Puzzle
Type: Browser

Breaking the Tower is a strategy game which involves careful resource management as you attempt to destroy the stone tower located at one end of an island. Peons cannot be controlled directly, though you can influence their routines and decisions by creating the appropriate buildings which would then assign tasks to the settlers automatically.

Place masons around the tower to bring it down one level at a time, but note that more monsters are unleashed as the height of the tall building decreases. (JavaGaming.org thread)

Name: Breaking the Tower
Developer: Markus Persson
Category: Strategy
Type: Browser

FkConflict is a simplified version of the popular strategy game created by Blaine Hodge, who was also responsible for the 4K SimCity remake released last year. Some rules were changed or removed entirely to accomodate the strict regulations of the Java4K competition, where entries submitted may not exceed the 4096 bytes file size limit.

All territories will get a turn to move in random order, and clicking on an adjacent territory sends half of the armies in that direction. A territory receives one new army at the start of each turn, while victory is achieved when one player occupies all territories on the map. (Java4K results)

Name: FkConflict
Developer: Blaine Hodge
Category: Strategy
Type: Browser

OmniLudiCon is a browser-based development toolkit which consists of a fully-featured editor and a host of example games for users to test out or experiment with. The tutorial does a decent job at covering the basics, while games can be sorted either by authors' names or ratings. Existing templates can even be modified to suit your needs if the idea of starting afresh does not sound too appealing.

Name: OmniLudiCon
Developer: Zara Tustra
Category: Action
Type: Browser

Torque is a new arena shooter by the developer of Frozzd and the Karoshi series, where players assume control of a rotating ship engaged in an intergalactic war with a nameless alien race. Use the cursor keys to move, hold the Z key to concentrate your fire in one direction, and press the space key to pause. The F4 function key can be used to switch between windowed and full screen mode.

Note that the multiplier resets back to one whenever you lose a ship. (download instructions)

Name: Torque
Developer: Jesse Venbrux
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB
Direct download link: Click here

Warning: contains strong language and graphic scenes.

The Vacuum is a sci-fi adventure game which tells the story of a couple traveling home inside a cargo ship when a pair of explosions set off a chain of events that will forever change both of their lives. The final outcome is influenced by key decisions made by you during the course of your investigation, though most of the endings contain only minor variations in comparison.

Use the tab key to display or hide your objectives. There is an option to skip walk animations with the space key in the settings menu.

Name: The Vacuum
Developer: David Proctor
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Direct download link: Click here

The third Bytejacker episode is up and ready for viewing. Expect to see Braid, Calamity Annie, Warning Forever and Nanobots scrutinized in this week's show.

Bytejacker: Episode 3

The Underside preview

Releases

Cryptic Sea: New arena shooter released by the team behind Coil (note: adult content). Also, a new bridge building game is currently in development.

Ben Jordan Case 7: The penultimate chapter of this long-running paranormal investigation series is now available for download.

Previews

Overwave: Monokey (Force Majeure) is working on a new vertical shooter.

Hoshi Saga 3: Yoshio Ishii is currently working on a sequel to his popular puzzle collection series.

Video above representing possibly ten percent of the active projects to be released in the next few months.

preview: high quality version

Ragdoll Cannon 2 is a proper sequel to the similarly titled physics-based puzzle game, where players would have to blast stick figures out of a cannon towards the target to complete each of the seventy levels included. Shot power is determined by the distance between the targeting reticle and the cannon when the left mouse button is pressed. (Kongregate mirror, video walkthrough)

Name: Ragdoll Cannon 2
Developer: Johnny_K
Category: Puzzle
Type: Browser

Uncle's remake of 3D Starstrike is essentially a rail shooter first released on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum over two decades ago, which in turn was inspired by Star Wars arcade cabinets put out by Atari to cash in on the popularity of the franchise.

The first level involves shooting at enemy ships and the plasma bolts that they will fire at you, while the second requires some fancy dodging skills as you strive to avoid collision with turrets and towers attempting to gun you down. In stage three, you'll need to navigate around catwalks and destroy the two purple pipes at the end of the trench to enter the reactor. Blow up all six reactors pods in the final area to destroy the Battlestar and start all over again, albeit with a higher difficulty. (RR forum thread)

Name: 3D Starstrike
Developer: Urban Interactive
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 30MB

Purple Reign is a top-down shooter created by Fiona Burrows in under two days for the twelfth Ludum Dare game development competition. The story plays out like a conventional horror drama set in space, where a commando is sent to investigate the sudden loss of contact with a research station.

Use the W, A, S and D keys to move. Hold the left mouse button to shoot. The game has only six levels.

Name: Purple Reign
Developer: Fiona Burrows
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

You Made It is a new 2D platformer by Jesse Venbrux, developer of Frozzd and the Karoshi series. Move your character with the cursor keys, and use the up arrow key to jump. Press the same key again while in midair to execute a double jump.

The game has ten levels only. A screenshot is taken automatically and saved as a bitmap image once you've managed to complete the entire obstacle course.

Name: You Made It
Developer: Jesse Venbrux
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Download page: Click here

An upcoming collaborative 3D motorcycle racing game project by messhof and cactus, featuring single and online two player modes, split screen, and music by John Marwin.

trailer: high-quality version

[So, IndieGames.com parent Think Services is bringing back IGF Mobile again this year, after a neat first year, and there's a few good new things. Submission is now free, there's $20k in prizes again, we're looking forward to seeing lots of iPhone entries alongside the cellphone, PSP, and DS indie/homebrew entries, and there's a 'Next Great Mobile Game' live pitch contest added. Tell your handheld-centric buddies, plz.]

Submissions are now open for the second Independent Games Festival Mobile, celebrating creativity and innovation on handheld platforms from the iPhone through the cellphone, PSP, and DS - with finalists being showcased at GDC 2009, and a new 'Next Great Mobile Game' live pitch category added.

Following the success of the first IGF Mobile, a sister event to the main IGF competition, the second year of the festival will feature independently developed handheld games for all mobile devices including cell phones, Apple's iPhone, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, and Windows Mobile devices.

The competition will include a new category for developers to pitch new ideas at the GDC Mobile-hosted award ceremony. IGF Mobile submissions are being accepted at the official website through November 17, 2008; finalists will be announced in January 2009.

NVIDIA, manufacturer of the Tegra family of applications processors for mobile devices returns this year as a Founding and Platinum Sponsor. In keeping with the company’s philosophy of encouraging and fostering innovation in mobile game development, the company will support "The Next Great Mobile Game" competition.

This prize category, in a change from the traditional awards, will be accepting five finalists on the basis of a written pitch and an in-progress prototype. The finalists will pitch their product in detail and show completed prototypes at the IGF Mobile Awards, where an audience of peers will select the winner.

The new award joins returning categories such as the $10,000 Best Game award, Innovation in Mobile Game Design, and the awards for audio, art direction, design and technology.

Finalist games, displayed in the IGF Mobile Pavilion at the Game Developers Conference in March 2009, will compete for $20,000 in prizes, including awards for innovation and execution in mobile game development, as well as the coveted $10,000 Grand Prize. Winners will be announced at a ceremony during GDC Mobile, and will also be showcased during the main IGF Awards, presented at the Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony.

“The rise of rich 3D mobile devices such as the iPhone and smartphones – as well as the PSP and DS - are starting to make all kinds of intriguing independent gaming possibilities possible,” said Mathew Kumar, Content Director, IGF Mobile. “We look forward to seeing some of the top indie handheld content that the festival will draw.”

Submissions to the competition are now open to all independent developers working on mobile platforms, including game development for cell phones, iPhone, PSP, DS, and other handheld devices. The important dates for IGF Mobile in 2008-2009 are as follows:

August 11th, 2008: Submissions Open
November 17th, 2008: Submission Deadline
January 26th, 2009: Finalists Announced
March 23rd-27th, 2009: Game Developer's Conference 2009
March 24th, 2009: IGF Mobile Awards Ceremony
March 25th-27th, 2009: IGF Mobile Pavilion @ GDC
March 25th, 2009: IGF Awards Ceremony

For a complete list of IGF Mobile 2008 information, please visit the official IGF Mobile website.

Trailer for the upcoming XNA release by Arrogancy Games, called "An Awesome Game Where You Shoot Stuff and it Blows Up and Then You Win the Game - The Game".

It takes about two minutes into the video before the good stuff kicks in.

An Awesome Game trailer
SA forum thread
GameDev announcement

Chatroom is a short game designed to simulate an IRC chatroom, created by the developer of La Croix Pan for a friendly One Room One Week competition held in the AGS forums. The story is set in the year 2097, where your character is holed in an underground military bunker with only a working computer to use as means of contact with the outside world.

Save and restore functions can be accessed by pressing the F5 or F7 function key. The game has a proper ending. (hints)

Name: Chatroom
Developer: TheJBurger
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Bytejacker is a new weekly review show which only rate games available through downloads (XBLA, WiiWare, PSN, PC and even iPods). The great thing about Bytejacker is that they dedicate the latter half of each episode to talk about indie games.

The show is hosted by Anthony Carboni, whose past credits include guest-host appearances on G4TV's Attack of the Show.

Bytejacker: Episode 2
Bytejacker: Episode 1

Note: Video contains loud music.

A trailer for Iji, an upcoming freeware action platformer by Remar Games (creator of Hero and Castle of Elite). As stated in the video, the game will be released on the 1st of September, 2008.

Iji trailer: high quality version

Ghosts of Aliens is a full-length RPG which has been in production for more than six months, featuring music by one of the developers credited with creating the post-cyberpocalyptic basketball epic, Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden. Playing as the ghost of an alien named Atum, the story tells the tale of this restless soul who is given another chance at life, granted that he undertakes a quest to defeat the five Doom Beasts and save the world of Appalathia.

Use the Z key to run or select a menu option, and press the X key to cancel a choice or bring up your inventory screen. Press the left alt and enter key at the same time to switch between windowed and full screen mode. Progress can be saved at any time.

Combat is mostly negligible, as enemies encountered during the early part of the game only requires two hits or less before surrendering to you. Bosses can be easily defeated using your strongest Magle, while Quencheleth are readily available for purchase from item shops located in towns scattered all over Appalathia. There is however one particular dungeon that will most likely cause excruciating frustration, since entering this area inside a tree will end your adventure in less than two seconds if you're not equipped with the Mark IV blocker. In here, players would have to be mindful of their steps as well, as touching traps would pretty much wipe out all party members without warning.

Ghosts of Aliens isn't without faults and bugs, but anyone who is willing to persevere might find a couple of pleasant surprises to be had with this adventure. The RPG Maker 2000 Font Patch can be used to fix font display problems, but note that the program doesn't come with an uninstaller.

Name: Ghosts of Aliens
Developer: Swordofkings128
Category: RPG
Type: Freeware
Size: 60MB
Download mirror: Zshare (ad-supported)

Genetos is a vertical shooter by Tatsuya Koyama featuring stages with design styles from different eras of arcade gaming classics. Green power-ups would have to be collected to increase the gauge at the bottom of the screen and ultimately culminate in the evolution of your ship, where it will gain additional firepower, new movement directions, bombs and even homing lasers.

Use the cursor keys to move your ship, and tap the Z key to shoot. Press the X key to launch a bomb if available. The current build contains four playable levels. (source: Shoot the Core)

Name: Genetos
Developer: Tatsuya Koyama
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Direct download link: Click here

[This interview was originally conducted by Travis Boisvenue and has been reprinted here with his permission. You can find the original article and more indie game developer interviews at The Happy Medium.]

Matthew Wegner is the CEO of Flashbang Studios, editor of physics game site Fun-Motion.com, an IGF content director, and an avid unicyclist. Though he has carved a distinct niche in the video game world, he reminds me of Will Wright in a lot of ways. Like Wright, Wegner loves games because they are fun. Fun in the way that inventing rules, or using a chemistry set is fun. They each use the medium to explore the things that fascinate them. Even the way they discuss games is similar: casually, insightfully, and seemingly unaware of how funny they are.

I'm wondering how unicycling inspires your game designs, if at all.

I don't think it directly influences me. The fun thing about unicycling is that when you first start, everything seems impossible. It just feels impossible to even stand on it. Then after that, if feels impossible to turn. Then after that it feels impossible to jump, or go up a curb. It's a fun challenge to do things that are seemingly impossible and then just keep doing them more and more.

Which is kind of how physics games work.

Oh yeah, definitely. There is a certain challenge in unicycling that I like to find in physics games. In Ski Stunt Simulator, one of my favourite games, it seems impossible to do a flip or even simple challenges, but after you play the game for hours it's easy to do the things that once seemed so hard.

Note: Contains strong language and flashing images which may cause photosensitive epileptic seizures.

War Bus is a frantic arena shooter by Oddbob that presents the player with a choice. Shoot or be shot. With just the one life at your disposal and the odds stacked against you both in the number of enemies and with the eye-popping visuals, you'll need all your wits to survive.

Battle double decker busses, diggers and handbags unleashed by the alien hordes, all armed to the teeth with laser beams and raging with beastly intent of killing the player. Invoke the spirit of light entertainment by shooting sad clouds to clear the arena and earn yourself some space to breathe.

This update features graphical updates, a new soundtrack, gamepad support and several bug fixes. (gameplay video)

Name: War Bus
Developer: Oddbob, Barry Island
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Download page: Click here (mirror)

Anna anthropy's Western arcade shooter gets a significant update - changes include new additions, bug fixes, secret reveals and a high score display. (design documents)

Name: Calamity Annie
Developer: auntie pixelante
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Note: video contains strong language and massive spoilers.

Jonathan Blow and David Hellman talking to the 1UP crew about their new XBLA release, Braid. Avoid watching this video if you've not completed the game.

There is also a lengthy interview with Jonathan Blow on The SavyGamer Podcast, where they discuss his working relationship with Microsoft, the pricing issue, and a rough release date for the PC version. The chat starts at the thirty-minute mark. (direct download link, right-click to save)

1UP Show: Braid Review (12 mins)
1UP Interview: Braid (4 mins)
TSG Podcast: Jonathan Blow interview

Top Spinner is a new physics-based action game which involves using a bat to keep balls headed your way from touching the stumps. Strike rate is calculated by dividing the points you've acquired with the number of balls you've managed to hit out of the area. Getting balls to touch a high risk zone awards more runs.

Name: Top Spinner
Developer: Benzido
Category: Action
Type: Browser

Big Building Boom Blues is a new arcade game created by FrankieSmileShow and Untitled for a friendly Poppenkast competition. The action involves scaling down a tall building with uneven walls using only your rope, just shortly after activating the detonator for a bomb that you've just placed at the top of the towering structure.

Use the up and down arrow keys to change your speed. Press the Z key to skip, or wait until you've bent your knees fully to make a high jump. The F4 function key can be used to switch between full screen and windowed mode. (gameplay video)

Name: Big Building Boom Blues
Developer: FrankieSmileShow, Untitled
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB
Direct download link: Click here

Pittoch is the latest game from the creator of Crocodile Garden. Join up with all of the other blobs, collect all of the keys on a level and get one of the blobs to the exit to clear each stage. But, be careful, as each blob can only hold one key, and once connected are inseparable, which may make it impossible to maneuver your super-blob into the correct position to get the next key.

Highly recommended, this is puzzling goodness at it's best.

Name: Pittoch
Developer: Masataka Anahara
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 1.2MB
Platform: Windows
Direct download link: Click here

Note: video contains major spoilers.

There a new interview with Jonathan Blow that hasn't been posted anywhere yet, and it comes with two HD gameplay videos embedded at the end of the article. The first one demonstrates how to get one hundred percent completion on World 2 in under ten minutes, while the second video shows some gameplay from the Jumpman level.

Interview with Jonathan Blow
one-minute preview of World 5.5 (spoiler warning)
full achievement list
Braid blog

New feature added: Most Addictive Browser Games, where we pay tribute to nineteen developers who are responsible for the most addictive Flash and Java-based browser games of all time, or simply prolific enough to create a library of games which most of us have spent numerous afternoons on.

Read on!

Features Index
Feature: Most Addictive Browser Games

In CryptRover, you assume the identity of an archaeologist who's trapped in an underground crypt with limited supply of air. Strangely enough, air supply can be replenished by collecting air cans, while health is restored by walking over med packs strategically placed in areas packed with spiders.

Items are collected and used automatically whenever any of your stats are under optimal values. There are twelve dungeons to explore in total.

Name: CryptRover
Developer: Ido Yehieli
Category: Roguelike
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
Direct download link: Click here

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a guest post by most excellent Pocketwatch Games founder Andy Schatz, whom you might know from his role as host of the Independent Games Festival Awards for the last couple of years. Venture Arctic is a labor of love for him, so please heed his words.]

Pocketwatch Games' Venture Arctic was overlooked by many, despite receiving rave reviews. Perhaps it seemed too kiddy, perhaps it seemed too educational, but then again, aren't Planet Earth and March of the Penguins freakin sweet?

Anyways, a Mac version of the game and an updated PC version just came out. It's also available in stores now (via the first-ever-for-a-video-game 100% recycled packaging). Plus an extensive Game Guide just came out for those that aren't convinced of the strategic depth of the game.

For those that aren't familiar, Venture Arctic is a tycoon game in which you build and manage ecosystems of arctic animals. It's the follow up to Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa, a 2006 IGF Grand Prize finalist. If you need any more convincing to try it out, let the reviews do the work:

Wired's Geekdad - "9 out of 10"
GameTunnel - Sim Game of the Year
GamersInfo.net - "It's not just a hidden gem – it's a whole diamond mine."
Kotaku, Impressions - "...makes learning about a very important and often forgotten part of the world entertaining"
Hyena's fan review - "9.5 out of 10"
Out of Eight Reviews- "Unique and interesting mechanics with innovative resource management"

For those interested in finding out more, there's an updated Windows PC demo and now a Mac demo available - hope you enjoy.

Number None Inc.'s award-winning platformer Braid will be out on the Xbox Live Arcade service this Wednesday morning (August 6th). Gamerscore Blog has revealed that the game will retail for 1200 Microsoft Points; the PC version is set to be released sometime this year. (gameplay videos in the extended)

Crunch Time is a puzzle game which tells the story of two female agents assigned with the task of eliminating bugs from a big-budget MMORPG title. This is achieved by quickly matching glyphs to increase the size of your stacks and clear the level.

There are nine levels to play in total. (source: PillowFort Games)

Name: Crunch Time
Developer: Tandem Games
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 50MB

The Great Bathroom Escape is the third in a series of flash game collaborations between Karol Konwerski and Mateusz Skutnik, featuring art by Kamil Kochanski. Like its prequels, the game is extremely short and can be completed in a matter of minutes. (walkthrough)

Name: The Great Bathroom Escape
Developer: Pastel Games
Category: Adventure
Type: Browser

Super HyberDoze is a cute little action game by John Evelyn, created in a style that fans of Ferry Halim's works would be familiar with. In it, a girl is fast asleep and dreaming of bad thoughts which actually appear in reality to wake her up. Your objective is to ensure that the sleeping beauty isn't disturbed by patting, shaking, popping and throwing the mischevious creatures of nature to knock them off their stride.

Name: Super HyberDoze
Developer: John Evelyn
Category: Action
Type: Browser

DragonBlast is a 3D versus fighting game which can be played both online and offline, featuring a cast of five characters to use in the current version. The Z, X and C keys are used to execute light, middle and heavy attacks. Press the X key to confirm a menu selection, or use the C key to cancel your current choice. Double-click on the Booster.exe file to access the configuration menu.

Character moves can be found on this page. The game may not work on operating systems which aren't configured to display East Asian languages. (If that sounds like a hassle, then you should probably give DragonBlast a pass. Source: Zero3K)

Name: DragonBlast
Developer: SoulGainer
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 70MB
Direct download link: Click here

Progress Quest is basically a dumbed down version of MMORPGs, and at the same time also considered by many to be a perfect example of a zero-player game which requires no user interaction at all once a character's starting statistics have been determined.

Six windows and their accompanying progress bars indicate the loot you've acquired, your current activity and completed quests. You can also mouse over a progress bar to reveal additional information. Players can choose to create an offline account, or take their adventures online to have their achievements saved on the ranking web page.

Name: Progress Quest
Developer: Eric Fredricksen
Category: RPG
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB
Download page: Click here

Over at IndieGames.com sister weblog GameSetWatch, you may recall that we mentioned Tokyo Game Show's new 'Sense Of Wonder Night' a few weeks ago. Well, I wanted to revisit it and make sure all our readers were aware - because it's an admirable goal and an event I hope some Westerners will be submitting their games for.

There's always been a need to highlight elements in games that are, well, different. In the West, it's good we have an increasingly rich history of doing so via events such as Jon Blow's Experimental Gameplay Workshop at GDC - or the indie festivals such as IGF and Indiecade. And, come to that, with media outlets who are interested in focusing on the alternative.

So I think that Sense Of Wonder Night - which will be on Friday, October 10th at 6pm at the Tokyo Game Show venue, Makuhari Messe in Tokyo - is an explicit attempt to do something similar in terms of showcasing innovation in Japan, or at least, to creators and attendees of one of the biggest game shows in the world. And this is important, given issues with sticking to genre formulas or over-rigid thinking are just as prevalent in the East as the West.

Since it was first announced, I (acting as publisher of Gamasutra/Game Developer & chairman of the IGF) have signed up to be on the screening committee for the event, alongside some interesting existing judges such as Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi, Enterbrain's Kenji Sugiuchi, who oversees the RPG Maker series, and the IGDA's Kiyoshi Shin. Why? Because I do think it's an important event in terms of showcasing alternate games and game ideas.

Some obvious information - the deadline for submitting your game prototype or completed game is August 31st - full information is on the official website. The event is intended to "...shine the spotlight on game developers who are seeking new possibilities of expression through the medium of games and will serve as a vehicle for a new style of presentation that broadens the possibilities of games."

Their explanation of what they want to see: "The games that we are looking forward to considering for presentation will be demos of prototypes, games with experimental elements that have already been released or that are planned for release, and games developed by students who have hit upon something out of the ordinary. There will be no distinctions made whatsoever between professionals and amateurs. We welcome submissions of games created by small venture businesses as well as doujin games developed by individuals."

If you're selected, then you get a Tokyo Game Show 2008 Business Day ticket and TGS Forum invitation ticket, which allows you to see the full show itself. Now, obviously, the big issue here for indies is that visiting Tokyo - flight, hotel - isn't cheap. But perhaps if you twin it with a holiday, make good use of youth hostels, and look for connections out there, it becomes more worth it. Or that's the concept, anyhow. So go check it out.

Go Beryllium is a freeware 2D vertical shooter with sound effects that synchronize to the music. The graphical theme of the game is based around atoms and sub-atomic particles, with photons for bullets and bosses taking the form of large radio-active atoms, Higgs bosons and micro black holes. The winning entry in Eegra's game development competition comes with an online highscore table and gamepad support.

Name: Go Beryllium
Developer: Conor O'Kane
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Choke on My Groundhog, You Robots is a new monthly experimental game by Petri Purho, where players will engage waves after waves of enemy robots in a fight for their survival. This Assembly 2008 Gamedev entry employs a certain time travel gimmick to make subsequent attempts at each level a little easier.

There are only four stages to play in total.

Name: Choke on My Groundhog, You Robots
Developer: Kloonigames
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

ACE Team (based in Santiago, Chile) is a recently-formed independent studio currently working on its debut game Zeno Clash - a unique first person game featuring melee fighting, a twisted story and a variety of bizarre characters and environments. The game is being built using Valve Software's Source engine and will be distributed through Steam sometime in the fourth quarter of 2008.

You can follow the development progress of Zeno Clash here.

Calamity Annie is a new action game by dessgeega, developer of Mighty Jill Off and Invader. In it, players step into the boots of a gunslinger as she attempts to save the old west from a group of wanted criminals by engaging them in a showdown, one hombre at a time.

Your weapon has to be holstered before the start of each gunfight. Once that's done, there will be a few seconds of suspense before your adversary reveals himself and takes aim. Annie only has three chances to bring all twenty-five villains to their knees, indicated by the playing cards shown at the top of the screen.

Name: Calamity Annie
Developer: auntie pixelante
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Note: Video contains spoilers.

Fedora Spade Episode 4 brings closure to the four part adventures of the suave detective, where more is revealed about his mysterious past as Daphne seeks the truth behind the loss of his brother and Spade's ex-partner. (GM converter for Vista, more videos in the extended)

Name: Fedora Spade Episode 4 - The Last Job
Developer: RPGCreations
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Direct download link: Click here

developer interview

All gameplay videos and developer interview were recorded at the recent Comic-Con event in San Diego. (dev log)

The much-awaited TIGSource Bootleg Demake competition had begun in earnest. Participants have the entire month of August to create a remake of any game with a style that wouldn't look out of place on an old console or machine. Rules are:

- games must run on Win32 platforms (specifically WinXP, since that's what I'm using)
- the final submission date is August 31st (we can't wait any longer than that)
- you should submit more than one game (one's never enough)

Links to the forums have been removed until the virus infection issue is sorted out.

Warning: Contains nudity and strong language.

Created by Persona, Kinuko and Paul Robertson of Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006 fame, Hikkikomori Quest RPG tells the tale of a recluse who embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery, hoping to find some form of acceptance by the society that shuns him.

Use the C key to examine objects or select options, and press the X key to access your inventory. Your home doubles as an inn, while colas function the same way as conventional potions. Progress can be saved by checking your computer or accessing the computer terminals when exploring a dungeon. Press the left alt and enter key at the same time to switch between full screen and windowed mode.

The game should take about an hour or two to complete.

Name: Hikkikomori Quest
Developer: Persona, Kinuko, Paul Robertson
Category: RPG
Type: Freeware
Size: 50MB
Direct download link: Click here

FIG is a puzzle-action game by Arvi Teikari. It is about a green-clothed guy who seeks to return to his home. In order to do this, he must collect all stars from 35 different-looking islands. The player must guide him through all the masses of traps that can be found all over the islands in order to complete the game.

You cannot affect to the guy directly during the levels. instead you must interact with the environment around the guy, and find the correct order and timing in which to click everything to complete a level. Every level also includes a secret blue star, and you get access to the 5 last levels only by collecting all these blue stars from every level. The game has also some small bonus unlockables. (forum thread)

Name: Floating Islands Game
Developer: Arvi Teikari
Category: Action-puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 37MB
Direct download link: Click here

The Last Guy is an upcoming PSN game where you assume the role of a personnel from the United Rescue Force, embarking on a series of missions to save citizens in each area by from giant insects, monsters and the like. The browser version allows players to sample the gameplay by using screenshots taken of any web site for the generation of a random map to explore.

The objective is to find survivors who are in hiding and direct them towards the rescue zone to save them before time runs out. Use the mouse to move around, hold the left button to run, and press the Z or X key to zoom in and out. Tap the space key to activate your thermal imaging device, which can be useful when attempting to locate clusters of civilians.

Name: The Last Guy
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
Category: Action
Type: Browser