Last week, IndieGames.com and Desura presented a new fortnightly event called Indie Royale. For those who haven’t checked it out yet, the idea is pretty simple. A bundle of 4 games are presented for a price of $2.00. As the bundle sells more the price steadily increases. But if users pay more for the game than the minimum the price will be reduced.
It’s definitely interesting to see how the indie games bundle market has expanded since the Humble Bundle started the trend a couple years ago.
Let’s talk some Indie Royale in a sec, but before that why don’t you pick up their launch bundle while it’s still available. You have less than six hours at the time of writing to make your purchase, as the four-game offer ends today at 11 AM Pacific.
The non-fixed price is hovering at $5.18 at the moment, a fantastic tag indeed for a quad-ling of awesome indie titles; and if you demand perks on top of getting games on the super cheap, you’re in luck! You greedy son of a bitch, you.
Calling all indie developers! As we plan for our big transition into our next big redesign we are planning a unique give away to our readers. I can’t spoil the beans here, but it’s going to be a long term ordeal. The thing is, we can’t do it without your help.
Essentially what we need are codes for your game. Any amount will do across any platform (XBLIG, iOS, PC, PS3, etc.) and digital distribution store (Xbox Live, PSN, Steam, Desura, etc.). If you’ve got an awesome indie game and some way to distribute a code then we’ll take it!
I wasn’t able to get to any IGF games yesterday, unfortunately, so I’m starting today off with one I just happened to come across by pure luck. With any luck I’ll be able to check out a couple more before the day is finished…
Anwyay, this mornings game is gShift, by deadweight studios (no caps), a 2.5D puzzle platformer that has you controlling which way the forces of gravity are pulling in order to traverse obstacles. So, for example, if you need the ceiling to be the floor, you can make it so the gravity pulls you so that the floor-ceiling are reversed, if that makes any sense.
Earlier this week I sat down with the guys from Gaslamp Games to discuss Dungeons of Dredmor. Well, preliminarily that’s what I had planned. Little did I know at that point that Nicholas, David and Daniel had so much more planned.
I won’t bother to get into the dirty details here, but I will tell you that everything mentioned in the title is factual accurate and not meant to be merely a humorous gesture. I mean, it’s funny and all, but it’s real life funny.
Anyway, you’ve got a lot of reading to do so I’ll just kindly step out of the way…
Earlier this month, Really Big Sky was released to much press and attention by fan favorite indie studio Boss Baddie. As a side scrolling, twin stick shooter that oozes with style, colors and the kind of hypnotic, seizure induces graphics it was no surprise that the game attracted so much attention. Seriously, if you haven’t checked it out, now might be a good time.
Anyway, the developers dropped me an email a few minutes ago to let me know that Really Big Sky 3.00 (technically 3.0000.0 according to the email) has been released! Taking what they learned from the Eurogamer Expo the guys believe they have created their best update yet.
Here’s what it brings (according to the email):
Hell Mode!
Challenging, bright and silly. Like a good episode of QI.Peaceful Mode!
Endless mode with no score and no responsibilities. A sandbox, if you will! Except the sand is glued down and you can’t make anything with it.The rest!
Remastered music, new enemies, new events, loads of bug fixes, even more changes and balances, usability features!
The update comes free, of course, to those who already bought the game which is available on Desura for $6.99.
And for those who haven’t yet played or heard of Really Big Sky, check out the trailer below.
Trailer
Snake was always one of my favorite games growing up. Despite its dated mechanics and overall lack of general thrill, the concept of it was quite genius. Something so simple could (and did) provide me with hours of entertainment. So I’m always happy to see other developers take their swing at the venerable franchise.
Octopede, by Orbital Games, is just such a title that attempts to take the core concept of Snake and make it into something more modern that would probably be more palatable for modern gamers.
Here’s the official description:
In Octopede, you play as a lone computer program in the desperate search for more megabytes. With more ‘data’ eaten, the computer that you are in becomes more aware of your presence, sending out enemies and obstacles to try and eradicate you. Survival is based on skill and makes the game more competitive and exciting.
Using a large array of weaponry ‘the worm’ can blast through enemies and firewalls, prolonging survival and raising your overall score. The worm’s ability to move in 8 directions gives a new edge to the traditional 4 way moving patterns usually found on other snake games.
Octopede is available right now for PC via Desura for a ridiculously low price of $1.49, on sale from $2.99 for the next few days. An Xbox Live Indie Games version is also in the works and should be released soon.
Trailer
“Steam on Linux!” Every now and then we hear the Linux gamers cry out for support for their OS of choice. Last year there was even murmurings that Valve was readying a Linux version of the popular digital distribution service for the open source operating system. Sadly, that turned out to not be true…
But never fear Linux gamers as Desura has been happily programming their own Linux version of the popular indie games service. While it’ll lack a large majority found on Steam, I think you’ll find the overall user experience of Desura to be of a similar, if not better, experience (I personally enjoy it more).
Now, the Linux version has only just hit closed beta so it’s not readily available to all. Also, it’s a beta. Somethings work, somethings don’t. But if you think you’re still up for the experience and want to be part of the process in getting it in tip-top shape for the full release then you can certainly apply for entry. Simply take the link below and join in on the fun.
P.S. Did I mention that all Humble Indie Bundle games are redeemable via Desura? Given that they’re all compatible with Linux this could be the best way to manage your bundle purchases…
[Desura]
Blockade Runner is just one example of an alpha funded game
[Discussionware is a new weekly feature aimed at promoting discussion with thought provoking topics. Each week we’ll be taking a look at a topic that influences indie gamers or developers and we’ll leave it open for discussion by our wonderful readers.]
Alphafunding. It’s kind of an odd concept if you think about it. Essentially you’re paying for a game that’s unfinished but with the promise that it’ll get better with future updates.
Ever since the launch of Minecraft last year, the idea of alpha funding has grown from something that was relatively niche and a “quirky idea” to being a new form of game funding by developers around the world.
Just take a look at the newest candidate: Blockade Runner, the Minecraft-like that’s based in space. The development team has currently released an alpha version for free but you can also pay to get access to updates as they come in. So far, in just over a week, the team has sold over 1200 copies at $10 each. That’s $12000 in a very short amount of time.
Other developments include Desura’s recent efforts to promote alpha funding on their platform by giving alpha games a dedicated section. Through Desura, a very legitimate (and my personal favorite) digital distribution store, you can now pay to play what are essentially unfinished games.
I remember a time when the beta versions of games were free…
But what do you think? Is alpha funding a new way to simply get a game to release? Do you participate in alpha funded games? Sound off in the comments!
Cute things are, well, cute. As such, being a manly man that I am, I must hate them. No, not really. That said, I’m certainly not opposed to playing a game where they die horrible, horrible deaths! That’s pretty much the premise of PC game Bloody Trapland by developers 2Play Studios.
Here’s the official game description:
Bloody Trapland is a fast paced multiplayer platformer where the levels are filled with dozens of dangerous traps and tricky jumps that stand in your way! Players compete with each other in three different game modes; Adventure, Race and Deathmatch. Bloody Trapland is best played together with friends, that’s why all game modes are multiplayer-enabled both local and online for up to four players, and our biggest design goal with Bloody Trapland was to create a challenging, yet simple, game that anyone could enjoy, whether you’re a casual or a hardcore gamer.
The game promises 4 play co-op, of sorts where the primary goal is simply to not die. In a way it almost reminds of Super Meat Boy, but the pace is a little slower and the graphics much more cutesy Mario-esque.
The game is available right now via Desura for $14.99 or you can download the demo for free. I recommend at least giving the game a try.
Trailer
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