September 25th, 2012 | By Erik Johnson
Tagged in: indie links | indie links round-up | industry news
The games discussed in today’s Indie Links include a game made up entirely of simple geometric shapes, a game that only existed for a day, and a game where you can use your computer to simulate using a computer.
GlitchHiker: The Game That Was Programmed To Die (Indie N)
“By some blessing, GlitchHiker’s creators didn’t have to see it go. The team of five game developers and one musician were sat in a nearby bar when the text came in – like the hushed doctor, arms folded mutely in front of him – to say that the game didn’t have long left, that they should make their goodbyes before the end. This pioneering group of indie developers had built a game that was programmed to self destruct. Now, the curtain was falling.”
When Thief, Rainbow Six And Uplink Come Together… (Gamasutra)
“Whenever I’m asked who I believe to be the most exciting indie developers of the moment, without fail I mention Blendo Games. My love for Brendon Chung’s work began with the wonderfulGravity Bone, and extended to Flotilla, Atom Zombie Smasher and pretty much anything else he puts out.”
Kickstarter Katchup – 8th September 2012 (Rock, Paper, Shotgun)
“The winners keep pouring in. Another long list of successful projects this week, which I always like to think of as, “ones I don’t have to think of a new sentence for any more.” A few losers too, but so far the Katchup column is bucking the trend for Kickstarter success rates. Clearly I’m a lucky charm. Unless I show any confidence that your project will inevitably succeed, at which point I’m a curse and a millstone around your neck. As ever, please read the rules before huffing in the comments – I don’t know how to get more passive-aggressive about this.”
Play This: ‘Super Hexagon’ (The Verge)
“Super Hexagon is the latest game from Terry Cavanagh, creator of the sadistic VVVVVVand somewhat friendlier CatLife: ChatChat. As a triangle cast into an unforgiving world, you must defend against attacks from all sides. Six of them, in fact, as you’re restricted to moving around the corners of a hexagon, at least at first — we won’t spoil the other shapes that come up.”
Wait, Why’s Pirate Bay Promoting An Indie Game? (Rock, Paper, Shotgun)
“If you’re a frequent RPS reader (or an infrequent RPS reader with uncannily good timing), the image on the front page of ubiquitous, recently-banned-in-the-UK-under-extremely-dubious-circumstances torrenting site The Pirate Bay might strike you as a bit familiar. If not, you may have still been able to guess that it heralds from Sos Sosowski’s McPixel because, well, the first four words on the page will tell you all of that. This, however, is the first time a game has ever been featured as part of Pirate Bay’s “Promo Bay” program – wherein, a creator gets to leverage the site’s incredible reach for exposure. But how’d this come about?”
Sense Of Wonder Night 2012 Highlights Experimental Indie Games (Gamasutra)
“Organizers for the Sense of Wonder Night competition have selected ten experimental indie titles that will be showcased at Tokyo Game Show later this month. Modeled after the Game Developers Conference’s Experimental Gameplay Workshop, SOWN seeks to feature games with unconventional ideas and designs, and to give developers an opportunity to present their projects to a game industry audience.”
Driftmoon (Bytten)
“It’s been a strange day. First you get a message to head into the village and find your father. His letter didn’t say what it was about, just that it was urgent. When you arrive, your mother pushes you down a well, which is pretty out of character for her. When you finally find your way out, you find everyone in the village has been turned to stone and your father has been taken prisoner by unknown invaders. Whatever is going on, and how can you put it right?”
Kickstarter, Contests Bring FTL To Life (Gamasutra)
“Since late last week, three simple letters have been floating around on Twitter as devs and gamers alike discover a new release on Steam that could very well be “the next big thing” in indie games. FTL – or Faster Than Light – is a space-faring simulation in the same vein as the wonderfulWeird Worlds, as players blast off with a custom crew, visiting randomly-generated planets and taking care of randomly-generated business.”
Erik Johnson (294 posts)