Game jams are probably my favorite place to find new games. I mean, how amazing is the environment of creation?  You’ve got talented, motivated designers get together and try to make a game in a short time span, coming up with ideas as quickly as possible and trying to implement them. I’m not that well-versed in the demands of game design, but I imagine one’s creative process would be chaotic in a situation like that.

Junk Jack was a game that we were very impressed with when it became available for Apple’s line of iOS systems due to its Terraria-like sidescrolling gameplay and Minecraft aesthetics. Now, according to a recent blog post by PixBits (the developers) is looks like we might be seeing Junk Jack on the big screen at some point in the future.

It looks as though the guys at the Humble Indie Bundle aren’t content with merely offering games that work on PC, Mac and Linux as today they’ve announced a brand new bundle that’s also Android compatible. This is especially interesting because Android doesn’t employ a Steam-like service and downloading non-market apps can be a bit tricky for the uninitiated.

FTL. Even the acronym spurs a lot of great memories within me from various Sci-Fi shows and games that use it as a means of conveying “faster than light” speed. In fact, I’m surprised it has taken this long for a game to finally be named for the acronym as it really does make a perfect sci-fi exploration/RPG/what-have-you type game name. In any case, right now I’m going to gush just a little bit over the game… so please bear with me.

We often talk about what game tropes are being used too much, but I think we forget to mention the ones that we’re not seeing enough of. In this regard, one thing I’m seeing a definite lack of is pirates. I think we can all agree that we need more pirate games. (I really hope the SOPA people don’t read that out of context and shut us down). Fortunately, Subvert Games is all too happy to oblige with the formidable Blackreef Pirates.

Good news tower defense fans! One of the most lauded in-development TD games has finally seen a release. Defender’s Quest is now available to the masses of indie gamers who want something a little more advanced than their basic TD or RPG game. Even better if you input the code “DIY” when buying the game you’ll get $1 off through January.

So here’s an interesting puzzle platformer for you guys: Backworlds, a fascinating take on the puzzle platformers that we’ve not yet seen before. Or at least I haven’t. In any case, the game is very unique in the simple way you get through levels by erasing either the front or backworld in order to play on that. Confused? So was I…

Well, for those of you without Windows-based PCs we’ve got some good news. It looks like popular first person puzzler Q.U.B.E. is set to land a few other places before it complete’s its developmental life. In a conversation with Joystiq, co-founder Daniel Da Rocha said that a Mac version was two months into development and that an OnLive version was also on the way. They’re also prototyping an iOS version although there’s no guarantee with that.

Colibri Games’ The Tiny Bang Story is a whopping 75% off as today’s Steam Daily Deal, and if your PC or Mac is lacking the title you probably should swipe it up right now (or at least before tomorrow at approximately 10 AM PT). If the game was discounted this low during the holiday sale I completely missed the boat, as this is the first time I can recall the well received adventure, puzzle, and hidden object hybrid being available for less than lunch.

Playdead’s critically acclaimed and wholly distressing sidescrolling adventure game Limbo (another good game with featuring nasty, huge arachnids) had already made its way onto Steam for PC back in August after being an XBLA-exclusive for what seemed like an eternity. Now several months after that, Mac owners finally get the opportunity to get in on all that tense puzzle platforming action with an OS X version just added to Valve’s platform.