Lost in the Static

By: Derek Yu

On: November 14th, 2007

Lost in the Static is essentially a very cut-and-dry platform game based on Squidi’s White Noise game concept. Yes, that is an actual in-game screenshot (at least, part of one – not that it matters!). Everything, from the title screen onwards, looks like that.

While it’s a very interesting visual experiment, the game itself isn’t too captivating – just move from one room to the next and dodge stuff. I think there’s a lot more that can be done with this idea, certainly!

(Source: Intentionally Wrong, via The Gamer’s Quarter forums)

Pac-Txt

By: Derek Yu

On: November 2nd, 2007

Someone’s done and turned Pac-Man into a text adventure game.

(Source: The Random Gnome’s Lair!)

Dark Cut²

By: Derek Yu

On: October 31st, 2007

Just what you wanted to be for Halloween: a Civil War surgeon! Dark Cut² puts you behind the forceps of a newly instated battlefield medic, with a variety of grisly and primitive tools at your disposal. Think Trauma Center circa 1863 and you have the idea.

The presentation of the game is nice, with realistic, photo-based graphics to really bring out those wounds in all their pustulent glory. Being Flash-based, it does tend to wreak havoc on your system, though, so I hope you have a decent rig.

It’s a short game, with only four surgeries available. I’d love to see this as a full-length downloadable game!

levelHead Preview

By: Derek Yu

On: October 17th, 2007

Julian Oliver’s levelHead is a “spatial memory” game currently in development, that uses a cube and a Playstation EyeToy to project a game onto the cube’s faces (via a monitor).

The plan is to eventually let the player combine cubes which the player character can walk across! Nifty!

You can read up on the development at Julian’s blog.

(Thanks, Data!)

Super Charlie Factory Massacre MMORPG

By: Tim

On: October 14th, 2007

Sleazy.

(Source: Kotaku)

Diavolo no daibouken

By: Derek Yu

On: October 13th, 2007

Diavolo no daibouken is a simplistic graphical Roguelike that stars Diavolo, the main villain of part 5 of the manga JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. It has all the trappings of your average dungeon crawl, only the theme is incredibly… well, bizarre. I mean, look at that screenshot! It’s fantastic!

Since I don’t speak Japanese, I’ve only been able to figure out some of the basic gameplay mechanics through experimentation. But with our powers combined, maybe we can piece together a complete picture? Anyone care to translate the website?

(Source: Canned Dogs, via Shapermc!)

Hit the extended for what we know so far:

Controls:

Numpad (Num Lock off) – move around, select menu options

Z – attack, confirm

X – cancel

C – change direction (without taking a step)?

A – bring up the main menu

S – use Red DISC power

Spacebar – view map

Menus:

1. Floor, Level, HP, Gold

2. Items, DISC Effects?, ?, Options

3. 3 slots for Gold DISCs, and 1 slot for a Red DISC

The 3 Gold slots represent attack, defense, and ability, in that order.

4. ?, ?

5. ?, ?

Gameplay:

1. One of the big things in the game seems to be collecting music “DISCS,” which can be equipped, or thrown at enemies for damage, among other things.

DISCs come in a few flavors:

Silver DISCs – regular discs that act as scrolls. One-time use. Various effects, like revealing all the traps on a dungeon floor.

Gold DISCs – can be equipped to one of 3 slots for various effects (see above).

Red DISCs – can be equipped and used to shoot special projectiles. Use with the ‘S’ key.

2. You can also collect JoJo magazines. These can be used to upgrade (first option) your equipped Gold DISCs, but we don’t know what the effects are or which magazines are compatible with which DISCs.

3. You can also collect food, like pizza, spaghetti, and… frogs? Food restores your health, natch.

4. Certain tiles have traps on them! You can punch hidden traps to reveal them.

Everyday Shooter Released (On PSN)

By: Brandon McCartin (BMcC)

On: October 11th, 2007

Jon Mak‘s award-winning “game album” Everyday Shooter has just been released on Playstation Network today, in full HD, at the low, low price of $9.99 USD. If you have a PS3, ’s PSN page">buy it immediately, I say! If you don’t, convince a friend to — Go in on it with them if you have to. (That’s what I’m going to do.)

Congrats, Jon! Can’t wait for the PC version.

Derek’s Update: Check out this Playstation “”http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/10/11/personality-profile-everyday-shooter-creator-jonathan-mak/“>Personality Profile” on Jon where he admits that he recently bought five pounds of hash (browns)! Thanks, Petri!

Fez Teaser Trailer

By: Brandon McCartin (BMcC)

On: October 10th, 2007

At long last, the great Phil Fish has unveiled in-game footage of his IGF contender Fez.

Early on he had mentioned a big, secret element to the gameplay… but people say that kind of thing all the time, yeah? Usually it’s some gimmick, or something not as great as they imagined. Not so with Fez. Once you experience it, you realize it’s not only no gimmick — it’s an entirely new and compelling experience.

I cannot wait to play the finished game!

It’s fun looking back now and noticing the little hints Phil dropped along the way… If you had a keen enough eye, you probably could’ve figured him out.

Awesome job, Phil and Renaud!

Watch the video. DISCUSS.

UPDATE: Fish just released a new shot of the game showing off their 3D 2D rendering tech, which they call “Trixels.” (Not voxels, I swear!) Check it out here.

Notice how every “pixel” (trixel) is rendered in 3D. Very cool.

UPDATE II: Fez programmer Renaud explains Trixels vs. voxels, and a bit of Fez’s gameplay, on the Kokoromi blog. (Thanks Petri!)

Knytt Stories Third Party Level: “Don’t Eat The Mushroom”

By: Terry

On: October 2nd, 2007

Wasn’t Knytt Stories fun? Nifflas hasn’t compiled a new third party expansion pack just yet, but there are quite a few candidates for it popping up over on his forums. Here’s one that I really liked: UncleSporky’s funny and imaginative “”http://nifflas.ni2.se/forum/index.php?topic=1451.0">Don’t Eat The Mushroom". It may only be a couple of minutes long, but if you’re anything like me, chances are you’ll be playing through it twice!

If you want to try a few more third party levels, Nifflas’s list of favourites might be a good place to start. And feel free to post your favourites in the comments! (or plug your own mod, that’s cool too :) )

(Thanks clysm!)

Furthermore!

Jugglin’

By: Derek Yu

On: September 22nd, 2007

I really like games that have a simple theme and stick to making me feel like I’m really doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Nikujin makes me feel like a ninja, Death Worm makes me feel like a great big ol’ sandworm, Star Wars Episode VII makes me feel like a Jedi…

And Jugglin’ makes me feel like I’m jugglin’, yo! Not only that, but it lets you create your own tricks (e.g. “Holy Shit I am Good,” my amazing 13-ball trick, shown on your left!). And the loose, no-pressure structure makes the game frustration-free. Which is one aspect that is definitely not like real juggling.

I’m always surprised by how independent developers are able to get at the essence behind an idea and really distill what’s fun about it!

(Jim McGinley, the creator of Jugglin’, also entered the awesome “Mario Inna Space” into our B-Game Competition. He also happens to possess the uncommon mind which is behind the hilarious “”http://www.bigpants.ca/index.htm">Mister Happy Bigpants" comics.)