Up late talking games & writing? You're...

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Games: So… Kickstarter.

If you're reading this blog, then you are most likely someone who is already in the know, and probably don't need me to explain what it is or how it works. Rather than go into a discussion about the service itself, I just wanted to say that I've backed three projects, and at this point, I don't think I’m very inclined to backing any others until I start seeing some results.

I mean, if Fumito Ueda or Shu Takumi came along and needed a couple of bucks, I would certainly chip in on something like that, but otherwise, I think I'm going to be saying no to everything else that’s sure to come down the pike…

So what have I backed? Well, I'm glad you asked.

#1 – “Double Fine Adventure” by Double Fine

#2 – Wasteland 2, by inXile

#3 – Shadowrun Returns, by Harebrained Schemes

Why did I pick these?

Well, like most people, the Double Fine project was the first signficant one that was brought to the attention of the game-o-sphere. It was a bold, new thing, and most people in critical circles wanted a piece of it for one reason or another. Plus, everybody knows who Tim Schafer is and he’s got a proven track record. I may not be a fan of everything he's done, but I would call myself a fan. Well, a fan of Grim Fandango and the first half hour of Brutal Legend, anyway.

Wasteland 2 was a no-brainer since I'm a huge post-apocalyptic fan and the game will be worked on by several people who were involved with the Fallout series, not to mention Chris Avellone from Obsidian coming aboard.

Shadowrun Returns? Well, Shadowrun. I mean, come on. Besides that, I was a huge FASA nut back in the day, and I still have fond memories of Crimson Skies. Also, Jordan Weisman and company are located about twenty minutes from my house, so I have to support the home team. Anybody from Seattle or the surrounding area gets an extra boost from me, just because.

Anyway, that was my thinking and that's where but my dollars. I am more than happy to contribute to this whole Kickstarter phenomenon, but at the same time, I am no fan of tossing my money into a toilet and flushing it away. After having taken the plunge with these three (admittedly, pretty trustworthy) projects, I'm putting a halt on further spending and we'll see where this goes. I would love nothing more than for all three of these games to come out as promised and be awesome, but just because you lead a developer to a pot of money, doesn't mean that he'll know what to do with it.

Fingers crossed!

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Games: I just finished Binary Domain a couple of days ago, and I submitted my Second Opinion to GameCritics earlier this evening. Spoiler: it’s super-favorable.

I just can't say enough good things about this one, and I would strongly encourage any of you who have an interest in seeing third-person shooting combined with great storytelling and a very light dusting of team management to check it out. Do it!

Since wrapping that, I've gone ahead-over-heels for Elder Sign: Omens on the iPhone. (Also for iPad.)

I'm not familiar with the source material, apparently a series of board games put out by Fantasy Flight, but I really love what they've done with this app. I haven't been able to put it down for several days…

In a nutshell, it's an electronic board game set in the  H.P. Lovecraft universe with all of the minutiae automated, and the gameplay is resolved by dice rolls. There is a hell of a lot more to it than that, but there's no need to go into details at the moment. I'm in the middle of doing a full review as we speak, but to make a long story short, it's a fantastic production that has a ton of strategy and atmosphere.

It's not suited for three minutes here or five minutes there the way some iPhone games are, but if you're looking for something you can sink your teeth into and you dig the idea of banishing the Old Ones with a group of plucky investigators, Elder Sign is the jam.

In the meantime, if your fingers are still itching to click, I'd like to invite you to check out the new Street Fighter X Tekken review currently up at GameCritics, and guest-written by Julian Williams, AKA @TheMirai, of Twitter fame. He's got some great insights into the game and clearly knows what he's talking about.

We've also got the latest episode of Gamecritics After Dark now available for your listening pleasure. The topic is Mass Effect as a series (not just the ending, I swear!) and contains commentary from myself, ringmaster @RichardNaik, cool cat from RPGamer @Finalmacstorm (Michael Cunningham) and… GASP! Can it be? It.. It is! @TimSpaeth makes a surprise guest appearance about thirty minutes into the show, and stays on to give his two cents.

…Although really, it's more like a nickel, at least.

  

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 indiePub announces finalists for its

2012 Independent Propeller Awards

indiePub has finished judging all the entries for its 2012 Independent Propeller Awards video game development competition and is ready to announce the finalists for all categories.

indiePub received approximately 100 entries which were submitted by indie game developers from across the globe.

indiePub will award $50,000 in total cash prizes including $25,000 to a Grand Prize winner and $5,000 to the winner of each individual category: Best Art, Best Audio, Best Design, Technical Excellence and Mobile Game. Winners will be announced April 18, 2012, and may have the opportunity to have their games published by indiePub.

The finalists for the 2012 Independent Propeller Awards are:

Mobile Game

CreaVures by MuseGames

Drive Them Back by WeDontKnow Games

Hero Mages by D20 Studios

Technical Excellence

Backworlds by Juha Kangas and Anders Saint Ekermo

Burning Thirst by Ninja Monkeys Team

Leshy by Team Radioactive Dodos (DigiPen)

Nitronic Rush by TeamNitronic (DigiPen)

The Red Solstice by IronWard

Best Design

Backworlds by Juha Kangas and Anders Saint Ekermo

Coloropus by Pigsels Media

FYI by Digital Dreams

Leshy by Team Radioactive Dodos (DigiPen)

Waveform by Eden Industries

Best Audio

A Walk in the Dark by Flying Turtle Software

Krautscape by Mario von Rickenbach, Michael Burdorfer and Phil McCammon

Leshy by Team Radioactive Dodos (DigiPen)

Nitronic Rush by TeamNitronic (DigiPen)

The Red Solstice by IronWard

Best Art

Backworlds by Juha Kangas and Anders Saint Ekermo

OIO: The Game by Uncanny Games

The Bridge by HyperCube Games

The Red Solstice by IronWard

Toren by Swordtales

Grand Prize

Deity by Double++ (DigiPen)

Nitronic Rush by TeamNitronic (DigiPen)

OIO: The Game by Uncanny Games

The Bridge by HyperCube Games

The Swapper by Facepalm Games

indiePub also extends Honorable Mentions to:

Aces Wild by Eternal Rivals Studio

Bad Bots by PointFiveProjects

Dark Scavenger by Psydra Games

Gear: Full Circle by Team 3 (DigiPen)

Infection by RainForest Artificial Life

Solstice by Disco Tank (DigiPen)

The Fourth Wall by Lo-Fi

About indiePub indiePub (indiePub.com) is a leader in promoting independent video games and their developers.  indiePub has engaged indie game developers and gamers by providing resources to collaborate and create innovative games as well as sponsoring competitions including the Independent Propeller Awards. indiePub is a developer, publisher and distributor of independently created video games for various platforms including game consoles, handheld game systems, mobile devices and tablets. indiePub's elite indie game lineup includes Kona's Crate, Vessel, Storm, Capsized, Catapult for Hire and several yet-to-be announced games.

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Disney Interactive Media Group today announced the development of “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion,” the first Nintendo 3DS™ title in the “Disney Epic Mickey” franchise. The title features an interactive combination of painting, dual screen integration and 3D transformation capabilities designed to give players the unique ability to create objects and even characters they can place in the world of Wasteland.  

In “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion,” Reality is What You Paint of It.  The game offers a special drawing and painting function that allows players to create rough versions of objects that magically transform into classic Disney-style 2D illustrations.  Utilizing the game’s unparalleled dual screen integration, players then move their creations to the top screen where they are further transformed into full-color, fully-rendered 3D visuals.

 “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion” is being created by critically acclaimed DS developer DreamRift, in collaboration with Disney Interactive’s Junction Point. The game is slated for a fall 2012 release on the Nintendo 3DS. For more information, go to www.disney.com/disneyepicmickey, or check out this month’s issue of “Nintendo Power” magazine which features an exclusive cover story on the upcoming game.

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Natsume Inc., a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, launched their first annual Spring Sale for the Natsume Online Store at http://natsume.com/store/index.html with a special spring promotion.  Customers will receive a special Natsume soft "duckie" friend with any purchase, from now until April 30th. The duck is here to celebrate the return of warmer weather and good times with Natsume games, just in time for spring celebrations to come this month.

The plush duck, originally a pre-order bonus for Harvest Moon: Animal Parade in November 2009, has now returned to celebrate the arrival of the spring season in the U.S., and fans can grab this quaint quacker with any Online Store purchase.  The Natsume Online Store boasts new and classic titles including Harvest Moon: Magical Melody for the Nintendo Wii, Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny for the PlayStation 3, Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals for the Nintendo DS, Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove 3D for the Nintendo 3DS, and many more.

Players can follow all the news for all of the beloved Natsume franchises via   www.natsume.com, or by scooping all of the latest Natsume news at www.natsume.com/facebook and www.twitter.com/natsume_inc.  Natsume will also be attending E3 2012 in Los Angeles at the start of June.

                                                                      

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XSEED Games, an independent-minded publisher, is pleased to announce that it will be bringing the action-adventure title Way of the Samurai 4 to North America this summer exclusively on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system as a digital release through the PlayStation®Store. Already released in Japan and garnering a Famitsu Gold Award amidst critical acclaim,Way of the Samurai 4 takes players on a journey through post-isolationist Japan, and chronicles the power struggle between three warring factions.

Players will begin their experience in Way of the Samurai 4 by creating their own customized character. After building their samurai warrior and choosing from one of three distinct age groups – youth, young man or middle-aged – players are thrown into a tumultuous power struggle between three factions: the shogunate pro-governmental forces, the nationalistic isolationists, and the foreign powers who are heavily influenced by the British Navy.

As players freely discover a vibrant and living world, selecting which quests and missions to undertake will shape their own destiny as loyalties to each of the three feuding factions affects the branching storyline and which of the multiple endings will be experienced. The dynamic combat system includes a vast array of bladed and gunpowder-based customizable weapons, and the unique online feature allows the uploading and downloading of player characters to roam in other players’ games as an assassin to challenge and defeat in order to receive that character’s equipped spoils. The original Japanese voice-overs have been left intact and will be accompanied by English sub-titles.

Developed by ACQUIRE and published by Spike in Japan, Way of the Samurai 4 will be released in North America this summer on the PlayStation 3 system as a digital release on the PlayStation Store. XSEED Games will share more product info in the coming months.

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Risen 2 – New Videos

Video #1  - The Pirate's Den:

Patty meets up with her estranged Pirate Father, Captain Steelbeard, and the Nameless Hero provokes fights in the Pirate's Den.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2xdBWRUSQ4

Video #2 - The Pirate Oath:

The Nameless Hero swears his allegiance to the Pirates, and the group sails to Tacarigua where they find trouble like a heat-seeking missile.  

Bonus for use of "shitbirds" in a quote by Steelbeard!

Direct Download:  http://assets.kochmedia.com/pindownload/login.do?pin=POLIJ 

Video #3: Learning Voodoo

Convincing the native Shaganumbi tribe to teach the Nameless Hero voodoo is no small task!  No kidnappings or mysterious substances needed to be dropped into drinks though, which is a pity. :(
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFoiIgH5SUE

Video #4:  Using Voodoo

The Nameless Hero uses Voodoo to take control of a drunken pirate named Jim.  What a sucker. :D

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSQsS7j29hA

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League For Gamers™ (LFG) announced today that it will be at PAX East in Boston, Massachusettes, April 6-8, to raise support for its community of gamers, developers, and industry supporters in their ongoing effort to protect the games industry against harmful legislation.

LFG is currently battling H.R. 4204, which will require a mandatory warning label – linking videogames to aggressive behavior – on nearly all titles. As legislation that will set a dangerous precedent based on questionable research, LFG aims to educate individuals wanting to know more about the bill and lend a voice to those who’re already concerned. Its current efforts can be found here: http://www.leagueforgamers.org/2012/03/22/letter-to-rep-joe-bacas-office-regarding-game-warning-label/

“When SOPA and PIPA were near passing, gamers banded together and found their voice – effectively helping to shut down the legislation,” said Mark Kern, Red 5 Studios CEO and LFG founder. “While it was an awesome moment that proved we can’t be taken lightly, protecting gamers’ rights is an ongoing process that requires us all to remain vigilant. LFG is here to be the watchdog against bills like SOPA, PIPA, and H.R. 4204. But it’s the community that inevitably acts as our teeth.”

League For Gamers will be taking sign-ups and meeting with PAX attendees at Red 5 Studios’ Firefall booth, #536. Interested parties looking for more information about the organization and its efforts are encouraged to stop by and meet with a representative or head over to the official website:http://www.leagueforgamers.org/.

All current members and individuals that sign up at the show will receive an official LFG shirt, exclusive to the event.

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