Random Indie Game Of The Week: DOOM The Roguelike

OK, OK… it’s been around for a bit, but I’ve never gotten around to actually playing Kornel Kisielewicz’s excellent roguelike version of the classic FPS because I really dislike ASCII graphics (sorry, but while they were cool back in the day, now my poor eyeballs can’t take them, even on a big monitor). Anyway, thanks to Derek Yu’s awesome tile sets and artwork (go play his updated version of Spelunky on Xbox Live Arcade if you’re a fan of the classic NES game, Spelunker), I can now spend a few hours dying too much, yet forging onward taking the minions of Hell out as a lone Space Marine on a Mission. Anyway, go download and play this challenging and sometimes scary gem here.

Driftmoon Update: New Alpha, So You Beta Go Play It!

Ville and Anne Mönkkönen’s absolutely excellent adventure/RPG/comedy hybrid has finally gotten a really awesome new alpha build you can try out NOW. Go on, now… it won’t bite! In addition to being a well-made and fun to play game experience, it’s also one of those indie games that’s actually not flailing about and trying to be too hip or intentionally “retro” for its own good. Anyway, big new areas adding a few hours to the playtime, a nicely creepy new mist effect, some lovely character portraits by Johanna Sundström and yep, you can still make your own mods using the wonderful game editor. Even better, you can request a discount code for %20 off the price of the final version and use it when the game is complete and ready to “ship” via download from the Instant Kingdom website (I had to keep the nautical theme from the game going, sorry). What, you’re still reading this? Go download the demo already!

Tiny & Big: Grandpa’s Leftovers Launch Trailer (It’s Here And Yep, You Should Buy It!)

 

Finally done up fresh, hot and ready to serve, Black Pants Game Studios’ eagerly awaited PC game hits a few download sites (Steam, gog.com,  Gamersgate or directly from the developer) and if you’re lucky enough to live in Europe, you can (*gasp!*) actually buy a retail version on Amazon. Which makes me wish I lived in Europe as amusingly enough, it’s easier for me to play a game from a disc these days!  Anyway, with its quirky art style, innovative gameplay and very cool soundtrack (which you can also buy if the tunes agree with your ears), there’s a lot to love here. Translation: No matter how you get this game (legally, silly!), GET THIS GAME. You can thank me later. Or more precisely, thank Black Pants – me, I’m just the messenger…

Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs Trailer: Not A Sequel, But An Equal (And Then Some)…

The definition of insanity? It’s not Far Cry 3’s jungle sprawl and overkill, but something like Frictional Games and thechineseroom’s upcoming collaboration. Dear Esther was a haunting masterpiece from thechineseroom that’s worth a buy for the visuals alone, but the innovative gameplay is also a draw. As far as Frictional goes, if the progression they’ve shown in their previous games (Fiend, the Penumbra Trilogy and Anmesia: The Dark Descent) is any indication, horror game fans will be in for some sleepless nights and days where they’re looking over their shoulders for things sneaking up from behind. This should be interesting (to put it mildly)…

Humble Indie Bundle Out NOW (And it’s The Best One Yet!)

 

HEY! You’ve only 11 days left to snap up one of the best deals in gaming (ever!). Pay what you want, get five amazing games which would normally run you $110 if you bought them separately. Yes, your brain is hearing that correctly and YES you can and should do this, I say.  If you’ve never played Amnesia; The Dark Descent, Bastion, Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery, and LIMBO, the deal is already a must buy, but add in Psychonauts and well, you’re getting not only one of the best games this century, you can also probably fire your therapist. Or at least, cut down visits to once a month (or less). Anyway, head over the the Humble Bundle site and download these awesome titles. Did I mention your purchase helps out the Child’s Play charity?  Well, I just did, so there! Still, it’s too bad this deal isn’t on a disc or consoles, as I’d see it selling VERY well indeed at around $40 with some nice artwork and maybe a PDF manual for every game on that disc (or disc set).

Malevolence Makes Its Kickstarter Target With Time To Spare (But You Can Still Pledge!)

Sure, it’s not the Dr. Non-Evil millions that Double Fine or some of those other studios raked in for their projects (even though the team deserves a big chink of cash for all the work they’re doing here), but $7,365 for a 6K target and still two weeks left is not bad at all. The game is looking quite lovely so far and will definitely get better as that launch date approaches. I just saw on the Kickstarter page that an expansion is already in the works, but it will be based on where the donations head next. There are a few tiers based on 8K and 10K milestones, but a modest 20K plus is my wish for these guys and gals so they can do everything that they’ve planned and make lots of people happy.

Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox Update: Welcome To Our Town!

OK, it’s only a few more in-progress buildings, and yes, the team is still hard at work, but hey – the game is looking better and better with each new video. I’m hoping these guys make their target and maybe even find a distributor like gog.com or even (eek) Origin (now that they threw out the offer to distribute any ready to go indie games). We shall see, I suppose. Anyway, keep an eyeball peeled for this one, as it’s going to be quite a nice throwback to the days of yore when it’s all done. And that’s a good thing, by the way!

Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox Lives! (Or: Kickstarter, Ahoy!)

Nice news from Down Under, as I just got the word that Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox is now a Kickstarter project. This great looking old-school turn-based RPG has gotten a few big pushes this past week or so thanks to a great and funny article that goes into game design and manages to bring Kevin Bacon into the mix without him actually being involved in the project.  Er, go read it, as it makes more sense that me explaining it. Anyway, the new digs over at Kickstarter, plus the boost from Kevin Bacon (hee hee) has helped the game see a nice kick towards its goal, so go do the right thing and support these guys and gals!  We need more Infinte RPGs like this, I say!

Geez. NOBODY “Owns” The Term “Indie.” So Shut It, Already, People….

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Status: lightly annoyed, mostly amused, thank you much. Look, kids – Grow up, already. Independent, music, film and now games shouldn’t be pigeonholed by anyone even with the best intentions. If Notch wants to have a hissy fit about EA wanting to make money by selling independently made games it happens to publish as an “Indie” bundle, it’s his problem. Maybe he needs to play the games in the bundle first and not hate on EA for merely trying too hard to capture a part of the market that’s trending because hell, that’s what mega-corporations like EA do to make more money for themselves and their shareholders. Funny that I’m saying this, but that’s the way the system works… even at the “indie” level these days.

Of course, this whole “blame the big boys” argument that constantly turns into “they make too much money, so they suck!” has gotten old fast, especially considering SOME people who have become millionaires many times over based on their own “indie” games. There’s a lot of Kettle Black paint being sold at Home Depot, is all I’m saying…

No matter where you are in this food chain, you’re not “selling out” if your game becomes a big hit unless you somehow hate being recognized (and if you make games for free) and eventually, paid for the work you’re doing. Unless EA or any other major publisher starts calling its mainstream titles indie ( whether it be Mario, Madden, Half-Life, Call of Duty and so forth and so on), there’s nothing to see here – move along. Go play more games, co-opted “indie” or not and knock off the needless arguments over semantics, I say…

OK, that’s done. All of you The Elder Scrolls Online haters are next in my sights (tomorrow, though – I need some sleep!)

Will Someone Do An Anvil of Dawn Kickstarter Project Already? Seriously.

The late, lamented New World Computing developed and/or published a number of great PC games back in the day including the classic Might & Magic series, but for me, DreamForge Intertainment’s 1995 MS-DOS first-person RPG was one of the most memorable titles the company was involved with (outside of the franchise they’re more well known for). The game was a single-player real time action game that allowed you to choose one of five characters and play him or her as they set out into the rather deadly dungeons in and around the land of Tempest seeking out the titular Anvil.

I loved how the character you chose ended up meeting up with the others you didn’t as the game progressed, the traps and puzzles mixed in with the combat and the multiple endings based on who you chose to play as. I’ve always wanted to see this one remade at some point (even though I still own the original game) and now with all this Kickstarter fury going strong, I’d say it’s time some dev team with members who remember this classic set out to reboot it for PC and perhaps consoles and other devices. Hell, I’m even willing to do some character or environment art if needed. In case you didn’t know, I can draw a little and I do like my RPGs old school. Anyway, someone out there, get on this and get back to me. I’d actually love to be playing this before I get TOO old and grey…