As everyone knows, the holidays are a very sexy time of year. And in the spirit of such an occasion, I bring you five very sexy indie game videos to watch while you drink hot marshmallows and launch missile toes at your loved ones. Enjoy!
To begin: here’s some new footage of thatgamecompany’s latest project, Journey. It looks beautiful, natch. But also so very ronery…
Looking to tap into heretofore undiscovered human emotions, Flow/Flower developer thatgamecompany announced just moments ago that it would be creating a new PS3 game based on the songs and story of the popular American rock band Journey. According to TGC President Kellee Santiago, the game takes only partial inspiration from the 1983 arcade game.
Well, actually, no, but it’s an idea that sounds pretty intriguing, nonetheless! According to the game’s press release, “the player walks, glides, and flies through a vast and awe-inspiring landscape, while discovering the history of an ancient, mysterious civilization along the way”. The game is being promoted as a unique online experience to be shared with strangers that you can meet and explore the world with. See here for the full announcement, including some more lovely screenshots. (Source: Esquar, via TIGForums)
Phew, finally finished ‘I wanna be the guy’! Hah, that took a whil-
Wait, it’s WHAT year now?! Well, time does fly when you’re in a sado-masochistic relationship with a video-game! Luckily I’m finished just in time for the release of Flower.
From the creators of Cloud and Flow, this is certainly an original title. It’s quite difficult to draw comparisons without either referencing TGC’s own works or the even more esoteric PSN experience Linger in Shadows. This aside, part of the enjoyment of the title definitely comes from playing the game yourself, and certainly that’s where Flower trumps its demo-scene partner. There’s a lot more interactivity involved in Flower, the rough explanation of which is that you control a petal in the countryside by utilising the motion controls of the Six-Axis controller to invoke the wind. The ‘goal’ is blow through flowers dotted around the landscape to encourage them to blossom and add their petals to your own ever-growing collection.
Its a very simple game, aided by a simple control scheme where-in every single button on the controller calls forth the wind. The motion controls are amazingly responsive, so much so that really the only thing that stops you from maneuvering your blossom-storm in fantastical formations is that your wrist might just twist itself off. Both a lack of urgency in your objectives, combined with the responsive controls provides an unparrelled relaxation experience, though that isn’t to say your role is an entirely passive one. Each environment adds slight complexities to the activity, as well as new aesthetic delights.
It’s honestly hard to explain how fantastic this game looks in motion, and the satisfaction that comes from knowing that you’re involved in the creation of the mise-en-scene is almost painfully gratifying. Whilst the spreading of beauty across occasionally barren landscapes does sound very Okami-ish, what really makes Flower special is your own emotional engagement in the scenarios. You are the one who brings life to the landscape, and so anything that happens after that fact feels like being back at play-school and having your sand castle kicked back in your own face. In Okami it feels like you’re doing a favour to the world, but in Flower everything is a matter of self. There are no other people in the game to identify with, which instead means you find yourself identifying with more abstract notions of yourself. It is quite simply, your nature.
Flower is available now on the PSN for $10/£6.29, and there’s a playable trial available if you at least happen to have access to a PS3. It’s a wonderful game, and I don’t want to say that it deserves to be played. Rather, it’s something you deserve yourselves, what with the Credit Cruch/Economic Disaster/Business Hyperbole going on, there’s just no escapism that’s quite like it!
TIGdb: Entry for fl0wer
thatgamecompany’s fl0wer was shown at E3 this week. The game, which is slated for a “soon” PS3 release, has you guiding flower petals over lush landscapes by controlling the wind. The game purportedly uses a similar dynamic difficulty adjustment (“DDA”) system to fl0w.
You can see more screens here (Kotaku), and there are two gameplay videos after the jump. It looks (and sounds) lovely.
TIGdb: Entry for fl0wer
(Source: Tim, via the IndieGames.com blog)
I always enjoy listening to Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago (thatgamecompany) talk about games, and I’m not as familiar with Dylan Cuthbert (Q-Games), but he has good things to say. Hearing from developers who are passionate about what they do just makes my heart swell! It makes you feel very fortunate to be able to take part in this shift in gaming.
Not sure when video of the award show in its entirety is going to be available, since G4 is covering it this year. It’ll be pretty awesome to see Phil Fish say “fucking” (or rather, “bleep!”) on national t.v. And they’ll undoubtedly blur out Petri’s amazing sign…
In the meantime, hit the jump for some indie-related vids:
From GameSpot:
Sony also temporarily discounted several older downloadable PS3 games on the PlayStation Store. Calling All Cars, fl0w, PixelJunk Racers, and Everyday Shooter have all been reduced to $4.99 through November 29.
Although this quote seems to be from an ill-informed opinion from GameSpot (since when, less than 2 months ago, did Everyday Shooter become old), I’m hoping that all those out there with an indie affection and a PS3 will finally purchase these indie games they might have been holding off on for one reason or an other.
What better way to spend a quiet Sunday evening then to watch a panel from this year’s Independent Games Summit, featuring Jon Blow, Jon Mak, Jenova Chen, and Kyle Gabler! This panel was one of my favorites of the summit. Each of the panelists came from a different perspective… together they really got at what was exciting about indie games for me. The four P’s, yo: passion, personality, and potential. And Pinnovation.
But yeah, I can’t believe Steve dissed me so hard at the end. Unfortunately, I don’t remember my question. I think I was going to ask Jon Mak about what hair products he uses…
EDIT: Google Video page, downloadable version (.mov)
(Source: GameSetWatch)
As reported by Tim, thatgamecompany‘s latest project for PS3 was revealed today during Sony’s keynote speech at the Tokyo Game Show. The game is called FlOwer, and, true to form, it looks quite evocative, although little is known about how it actually plays. You can view the trailer, along with the other PS3 trailers, here.
The rumor now is that their third title for Sony will be titled deFlOwered… and by playing the game you will experience the emotion of losing your virginity.
…
That was a terrible joke, I apologize. :’(
Update: YouTube version in the extended.
It’s a funny thing… on Friday I was having a conversation with Alec about female game developers where neither of us could name a single female indie developer, and then today I read this interview with Kellee Santiago, president of thatgamecompany.
The interview, sadly, doesn’t reveal too much about what TGC is working on, only that they’re signed into a 3-game deal with Sony and that their next project will explore “an emotion that’s different from mainstream games.” I wonder which emotion that is? I know it’s definitely not Schadenfreude…
But yeah, more girls making games!
EDIT: DMac just schooled my ass by listing a bunch of female indie game developers, many of which I had heard of. So I’m a chauvinist pig and he’s a stalker. Apparently.