Frozen Synapse Beta: Single-Player Campaign

By: Derek Yu

On: May 5th, 2011

Mode 7 Games has released a 55-mission single-player campaign to the Frozen Synapse beta that puts you in the middle of a power struggle between competing factions. The missions are slightly randomized with each playthrough, and run the gamut from escorts to assassinations to robberies. Along the way, a cast of characters will either help or hinder you.

The developers describe the single-player game in more detail here. There’s also a coupon that gives you 30% off the $25.99 price (“STANCHER” is the keyword). If you pre-order, you and a friend get instant access to the beta, including the new single-player campaign, as well as the full version of the game once it’s released later this year.

Preview: Terraria

By: Alehkhs

On: April 23rd, 2011

Little is known for sure concerning upcoming, relatively unknown yet already highly anticipated indie title Terraria, as the developer was caught unprepared when Minecraft developer Notch posted a link to the game’s trailer on his Twitter account, sending hundreds of interested gamers its way. To help introduce curious followers to the project, developer Andrew “Redigit” Spinks (of Super Mario Bros. X) has begun slowly releasing a series of gameplay videos of a co-op session between him and a dev-team member.

The videos show multiplayer arcade-style, side-scrolling action set in a randomly generated world with destructible terrain, resource gathering, a large crafting system, fluid mechanics, plenty of monsters to fight, and much more. Despite Notch’s linking to it – and many people immediately comparing it to the similar Minecraft – the gameplay and art remind me much more of the side-scrolling, resource-gathering gameplay of the CLONK series. For that reason, I for one am eagerly awaiting further information concerning Terraria.

Shores of Hazeron

By: Alehkhs

On: April 23rd, 2011

Shores of Hazeron is an indie sand-box space MMO currently in Open Alpha/Beta stage, bringing to mind such media as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Trek, the Elite series, Noctis, and Spore, to list a few.

Similar to other great labor-of-love projects such as Dwarf Fortress or Noctis, Hazeron‘s current graphics, interface, and performance might not seem cutting-edge (and combined with frequent lag and server downtime threaten to drive many a newcomer away), yet the game boasts incredible features and depth. Allowing for seamless, free-form exploration and colonization of planets in a procedurally-generated universe (containing unique solar systems, planets, animals, and plants), Hazeron allows players to build up a galactic empire from humble beginnings, or join a pre-existing and established empire. Players can design and customize spaceships and space stations, take-off and land seamlessly on planets and moons, fly between stars, and both interact peacefully or wage war with other players and empires.

Game Site / Game Wiki

Ace of Spades Beta 0.26

By: Derek Yu

On: April 15th, 2011

Ace of Spades is a team-based online multiplayer deathmatch game that could be adequately described as “Minecraft with rifles”. It pits two teams of up to 16 against each other, with players vying to bring back a briefcase of intel from their opponents’ base to score. What makes the game so fun is the use of constructible/destructible terrain – you can easily build bunkers, trenches, tunnels, bridges, and forts with the provided tools (some clever players are even making decoys using colored blocks). Taking out the bottom blocks of a structure will send the entire thing crumbling down.

Someone put up a guide for Ace of Spades here that explains everything you need to know about playing. To join a game, simply run the installer, go to the game’s website, and click on one of the listed servers. It may take you a while to find one that works (the game will always pop-up a message to tell you if there’s a problem, so be patient).

PROTIP: Hit Ctrl after jumping to jump out of the water, otherwise you won’t make it onto the block. This is in the guide, but I know some of you will want to start playing without reading it too carefully!

TIGCompo Winner: 0space

By: Derek Yu

On: March 31st, 2011

The winner of our TIGSource Versus Competition is 0Space, a 2-4 player deathmatch set in zero gravity! Congratulations, Beau!

Here are the top five games from the competition, as voted on by the members of TIGForums:

1. 0Space (50 votes)
2. Masjin (39 votes)
3. Jesus vs. Dinosaurs (21 votes)
4. Brigands (11 votes)
5. En Garde! (9 votes, tie)
5. Kaya Loves Mushrooms (9 votes, tie)

You can see the full results here. Many thanks to all the entrants, and to the people who played and voted for 81 multiplayer games!

Hawken First-Person Video

By: Derek Yu

On: March 30th, 2011

The initial video for Hawken, a multiplayer FPS by Adhesive Games, teased us with only a few seconds of first-person footage. This one, however, spends the entirety of its three minutes showing off what it’ll be like to take on opponents from inside the cramped cockpit of your mech. And it still looks amazing.

Follow the game’s progress at the Hawken blog.

TIGSource Versus Competition: Voting

By: Derek Yu

On: March 13th, 2011

The TIGSource Versus Competition has ended and voting has begun! There were 81 games submitted to the competition. Follow the link, try the games, and cast your votes for your favorites. Voting will last two weeks.

Teaser: Hawken

By: Derek Yu

On: March 10th, 2011

This breathtaking footage is from Hawken, a first-person multiplayer mech game that’s being developed by an indie studio of 9 people, including the talented artist Khang Le (whom you may remember as part of the ill-fated Project Offset). Adhesive Games is using UDK to create the game, which will feature multiple team-based modes as well as a free-for-all deathmatch mode. There’s no word yet on release date or platform, but they’re targeting downloadable services for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

Link-Dead Build 1969

By: Derek Yu

On: March 2nd, 2011

There’s a new build of Link-Dead out that adds a lot of new features, including improvements to the movement system and interface, melee weapons, new player customizations, and “humiliations” that let you behead your opponents or piss on them.

Next Mojang Game: Scrolls

By: Derek Yu

On: March 2nd, 2011

The artwork is by Junkboy.

Minecraft creator Markus “Notch” Persson announced yesterday that the other game his studio, Mojang Specifications, is working on is Scrolls, a multiplayer tactics game that’s inspired by collectible card games, board games, and role-playing games. When the game is purchased, players get a “starter deck” of cards and can buy further packs later on (although Mojang claims that you will not simply be able to buy your way to victory). Where the team plans to improve upon other CCG video games like Magic Online is by adding complex features that wouldn’t be possible by emulating an analogue game. Also, a single-player mode of Scrolls is a possibility.

If you want more information, I suggest going to Rock, Paper, Shotgun. ‘Cause they the best.