Sneaky Bastards: The Stealth Gaming Blog has organized a 48 hour game jam based entirely around exploring “new avenues of stealth gameplay”. They have teamed up with the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) and iFEST: The Independent Games Festival in order to host this global event, so that all entries will be entered into the iFEST game development competition with a chance of winning prizes.

The Global Stealth Jam will be held from June 22nd-24th and will kick off in Sydney, Australia and interested developers can sign up over on the official website to secure themselves a ticket to the event. At the moment, there will be Stealth Jams held in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Ontario, Darmstadt and hopefully many more! You can organize a Stealth Jam around your local area by contacting the organizers at stealthjam@sneakybastards.net.

As well as being a 48 hour game jam event, Stealth Jam will also host some talks from the indie scenes most prominent stealth game developers, the lineup so far consists of:

Andy Schatz (Monaco, Pocketwatch Games)
Nels Anderson (Mark of the Ninja, Klei Entertainment)
Tom Francis (Gunpoint, Suspicious Developments)
Dan Silvers (Children of Liberty, Lantana Games)

For more information on Stealth Jam and to sign up, head on over to the official website.

Andy Schatz’s IGF Grand Prize winning Monaco was available to play at PAX in both single-player and multiplayer co-op.  Monaco is a 2D stealth-action heist game played from the overhead perspective, but it plays completely differently in single and multiplayer.  In single player, you can be a more strategic, stealthy and methodical thief, whereas multiplayer co-op is smash-and-grab chaos.  The game is fun in both modes, but I definitely prefer to try and remain undetected rather than run around with shotguns blazing.

One of the most distinctive elements of Monaco is its incredibly vibrant visuals and graphics.  The game’s colors are super saturated and give the game a cool neon glow.  The other element that does not come through in still screenshots is the game’s awesome line-of-sight mechanics and graphics. The gray floor plan of a building is revealed as you move around each level.

Game developer Andy Schatz has released a playthrough of his upcoming game Monaco. Monaco is an action game that is played from the top down perspective. The game plans to feature several classes, each with specialized skills. Up to 4 players are then tasked with performing various heists using the classes and their skills, in case you were unaware.

Hooray! It’s time for my prediction post for next year’s most popular and well received indie games! Those of you who have been with us here at DIYGamer will remember my 2010 and 2011 editions where I was correct for a few of each prediction posts.

Everybody’s favorite indie heist game is nearing (we hope!) release. In order to plan for the release, Monaco developer Andy Schatz is looking to make his Hacker class as realistic as possible and in order to do that he needs the help of actual hackers and programmers… you.

Essentially Andy is trying to make any sort of hacking code and terminology used in his game by the “hacker” class is relatively convincing. We’ve all seen Hollywood and countless other games just spew some techno babble designed to sound intimidating or impressive when, in actuality, is complete shit. This will hopefully help Monaco from ending up in the same “rolling eye” sequence as movies/games past.

Oh and don’t know any programming or hacker lines/terminologies? Totally fine as Andy is accepting jokes as well. Just put the joke code or term in [ ] and he’ll consider those as well!

If you’re interested in helping out just hit the Google Docs link below and contribute!

[Google Docs]

Those playing on platforms outside of PC and Xbox 360 will be delighted to hear Andy Schatz’s co-op heist ‘em up Monaco is being ported to a multiplatform engine from the XNA framework–allowing the highly-anticipated title to reach a slew of new gamers. Perhaps this has been made possible through IndieFund’s support.

The game will be ported on the RapidFire Engine and worked on by Empty Clip Studios, co-developers of Monaco. Empty clip has previously ported several PlayFirst titles to the DS using this engine as well as handling the PS3-version of Cipher Prime’s Auditorium.

No gigantic announcements at the moment to report outside of that, though Schatz did mention that at the very least this mean’s the game will be available for Mac owners. Hopefully we all get to play this gem sometime very soon!

Texas has a ton of indies, and rightfully so;  it’s a huge state with many thriving cities such as Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Austin-based cinema chain Alamo Drafthouse had begun since last year the Fantastic Festival which celebrates the indie spirit,and within it, indie games are celebrated at the Fantastic Arcade. The festival runs September 22-29.

Gamasutra reports that the festival hosts panels with game developers and recognizes outstanding indie titles with audience awards and a juried competition.

“Last year’s selected Fantastic Arcade titles included Andy Schatz’s Monaco, Mark Essen’s Nidhogg, Amanita Design’s Machinarium … and two dozen other independent games.”

Developers can submit their original projects until August 1. Fantastic Arcade’s programmers will judge playable titles based on their art, story, characters, gameplay, and “connection with the character of Fantastic Fest”.

Another great reason to attend the Austin, TX event is that a huge traditional arcade is nearby, one that supports the event. Canabalt’s Adam Saltsman on Twitter stated that Arcade UFO brought custom arcade cabinets for the festival. With Fantastic Arcade and Arcade UFO, you can visit two great arcades in one trip!

Source: Gamasutra

Indie Fund first announced itself on July 6, 2010. They came with major funds and a cards-to-the-chest selection of projects that they’d be helping see through to completion. The key members of the Indie Fund team are: Jonathan Blow (Braid), Ron Carmel & Kyle Gabler (World of Goo), Kellee Santiago (flOwer), Nathan Vella (Critter Crunch), Matthew Wenger (Flashbang Studios). These key members have found success amidst their releases and saw fit to create a new outlet to help others (ideally) find a similar path.

They have been silent about the project they’ve chosen to fund, only announcing that there are three of them in existence, but today at GDC the Indie Fund team announced the projects that are burgeoning under their wing.

The first three Indie Fund projects are:

• Monaco - Andy Schatz (Pocketwatch Games)
• Shadow Physics – Steve Swink (Enemy Airship)
• Q.U.B.E. - Daniel Da Rocha (Toxic Games)

I’ll fill in more details about the presentation once I get some spare time.

The 2011 Indie Game Challenge finalists have been announced for the professional and non-professional categories. The collective dirty dozen are battling it out for gamers’ votes. The winner in each category will take home $100,000. For those solo indies, that could mean support for their present games and future titles. When gamers vote, they can enter for a chance to win a trip to L.A., $1,000 spending money, and more. The Indie Game Challenge winners to be will be announced February 11th at D.I.C.E.

Professional Category

• Vanessa Saint-Pierre Delacroix And Her Nightmare (Bad Pilcrow)
• Fortix 2 (Nemesys Games)
• Limbo (Playdead)
• Monaco (Pocketwatch Games)
• Spirits (Spaces of Play)
• Confetti Carnival (SpikySnail Games)

Non-Professional Category

• Hazard: The Journey of Life (Alexander Bruce)
• Solace (One Man Down)
• Subsonic (Team Height Advantage)
• Inertia (Team Hermes)
• Q.U.B.E. (Toxic Games)
• Symon (ZZZ Games)

There are several nominees who are also up for 2011 IGF awards. Hazard: The Journey of Life is a finalist for the Nuovo Award (and honorable mention for Technical Excellence). Confetti Carnival is a finalist for Technical Excellence. Solace is a Student Showcase finalist. Spirits earned an honorable mention for Best Mobile Game. Looking one year back, Limbo and Monaco were 2010 IGF winners. In sum, Indie Game Challenge represents the best of indie games: something old, something new, something borrowed (from IGF’s 2011 finalists), and with splashes of brilliant color from games like Solace and Hazard, something blue! Good luck! VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

Check out our Top 10 Break Out Indie Games of 2012!

This is easily one of my favorite posts of the year. In fact, since about June I’ve been looking forward to crafting this piece. Last year I came up with a similar list of games and, while they weren’t all correct, I’d say I nailed at least 4 and a half of them:

• Super Meat Boy
• Joe Danger
• Max and the Magic Marker
• Shank
• Puzzle Bots (the half point for being in PAX 10)

Not too bad of a percentage, if I do say so myself.

So, while you may be pondering what indie games are even being released next year, allow me to thrill you with my predictions for 2011′s break out indie games.

(Alphabetically)

Bastion

I’m sure, as you’ve probably surmised by now, that I’m absolutely in love with Bastion in both gameplay and artwork. Just check out my glowing preview from this past year’s PAX 2010 to get a good indication of my thoughts on the game.

Still, despite my personal opinion, it also makes sense that the mainstream media and consumer would be interested in the game. It’s very polished, offers a unique storytelling mechanic, and is overall an easy sell for people on both the Xbox 360 and Playstation Network. In fact, I’d be surprised if Bastion wasn’t picked up as an exclusive for one of the two consoles.

[Super Giant Games, Trailer]

Faraway

Faraway was a game that I wasn’t able to play until this past year’s IndieCade and remains the only mobile game on this list. While I’ve no doubt there will be many popular indie mobile games next year, I believe Faraway stands out above everything else I’ve seen thus far in it’s unique, almost ambient, styled gameplay.

Oh and for those who took that as “yet another art game” I assure you that Faraway tries to do nothing than offer itself as a fun, addictive mobile game, of which I believe will absolutely capture the minds of attention of mobile gamers everywhere.

[Steph Thirion, Video]

Fez

Is anybody really surprised Fez is on this list? Fez is a game that was originally promised in 2010, but, unfortunately was pushed back to 2011. No matter though, the game has long been awaited by mainstream press and consumers alike.

The game itself features a unique puzzle platforming type gameplay that has you shifting the world around in order to move Fez in and around obstacles. It’s certainly a unique angle to take on a game and one that seems to resonate with all kinds of gamers.

[Polytron Corporation, Trailer]

Monaco

Monaco. There’s so much to say about this game and only a couple of paragraphs to say it in. Coming out of nowhere at the 2010 IGF to win the grand prize was certainly a good start to what has been an amazing year for the game and its owner.

Today, Monaco is constantly reported on the mainstream press and maintains a stronghold on the consumers’ eye for 2011. Now if we could only figure out what platform the game is due to come out on we’d be set. Look for Monaco to be one of the premiere indie games next year.

[Pocketwatch Games, Trailer]

Retro City Rampage

Okay, so Retro City Rampage is still “planned” for a release in 2010. I can see the official reports that were listed a couple months ago. However, I have it on good authority that this game may be slipping to early 2011.

Regardless of when it actually ships, though, Retro City Rampage will be the must-own WiiWare release of the year. There’s not many of them each year, but I can guarantee you that this will be one of them. It has enough open world action, combined with classic video game satire/humor to make any old school gamer sit up and take notice.

[Vblank Entertainment, Trailer]

Slam Bolt Scrappers

Born out of MIT’s Gambit game lab, Slam Bolt Scrappers maintains its place as one of the most interesting PSN games of 2011. When the game isn’t trying to be a Tetris-like puzzle game, it’s trying to be an action game. It’s absolutely insane. The best part is that the game seems to mesh the two genres so perfectly. It’s chaotic, yes, but fun as hell.

Of course, obviously the game has a lot going for it and because of that the mainstream and common gamer has seemed to take notice. When it ships in early 2011 this could be the PSN game everybody compares themselves too.

[Fire Hose Games, Trailer]

Spelunky (Xbox 360)

Who wouldn’t have guessed this game would make the list? While it’s not necessarily an original game, Derek Yu is updating the graphics and adding enough new features to it so that it will certainly feel like a fresh new game.

Of course, that’s not to say it wouldn’t sell were the game not being revamped so much. Spelunky is arguably one of the most popular PC indie games, up there with the likes of legends Cave Story and Knytt. When this game hits XBLA next year, expect it to make waves.

[Spelunky World]

Spy Party

I’ll be honest. I don’t know a terribly large amount about this game. I wasn’t able to play it at PAX and I, unfortuantely, have not been able to talk to Chris (the developer) about it. What I do know, however is that the game constantly had an incredibly large crowd surrounding the Chris’ PAX booth at all times. If that’s not indicative of success I don’t know what is.

But aside from all that, the game does have a fairly unique premise in its spy/assassin party premise. The one thing I could see holding this game back is a niche release on PC. We’ll have to wait and see what kind of distributing support the game gets in 2011.

[Spy Party]

Tales from Space: About a Blob

Fresh from new developer Drinkbox Studios, About a Blob is destined to be the other exclusive PSN game that has people talking. From the onset the game immediately feels like a sort of 2D Katamari, but with oodles of charm and a character who you’ll immediately fall in love with.

Recently picked up by Sony’s indie funding initiative, expect a decent amount of marketing to be used on this game, not to say the press isn’t already aware because we most certainly are.

[Drinkbox Studios, Trailer]

The Witness

Two words: Jonathan Blow. The second game from the legendary creator of Braid – arguably one of the greatest indie games ever created — The Witness immediately has a different feel to it. That’s not to say it won’t be as good however. If we know anything about Jonathan Blow it’s that he knows how to create an interesting game premise.

Of course, being that the game is being created by none of than the same guy who created Braid, you can bet the mainstream media won’t let this one go without showering it with tons of press.

[The Witness]

And that’s it! Those are my picks for 2011′s break out indie games. Note that I’m not necessarily saying they will be the best or most fun. I have no way to indicate if these games will actually be any good upon release. However, given their status right now I’m feeling pretty good about my predictions.

Did I leave one off? Do you have another game you think will do better? Let me know in the comments!