Reporting on the games made in Canada and the creators behind them
Snowman is probably one of the busiest developers out there right now. On top of everything else, they've now announced Alto's Odyseey which is scheduled to release in 2017. Not much is known about it, but Ryan Cash has stated that it was thought of long before Alto's Adventure release.
About 3 years ago I started thinking about what'd be next after Alto's Adventure. Announcing "Alto's Odyssey”: https://t.co/gFUvhTAza0 pic.twitter.com/42BdgzxBPg
— Ryan Cash (@ryanacash) December 7, 2016
We'll have to wait a bit more to find out what it all means, so in the mean time download Alto's Adventure on iOS.
We've spoken about Toronto developer Shiny Talisman before, who have three releases to their name: Warp Looter, Gravtrav, and Caveman Cliff. Gravtrav was released a few weeks ago, and now Caveman Cliff, which was originally a free to play game, but has been moved to being premium app costing $2.79.
In an email to me, developer Brad Kennedy said:
"Without the paywall I was able to make some changes that really improved the game including taking down the difficulty early on to help ease the player in and getting them to the good stuff quicker, like the dino-might and whirlwinds."
Caveman Cliff. Ever want to battle pterodactyls with dinomight, whirlwinds and biceps as big as your head? Well now you can. Clear all the boulders off the cliff so that Cliff can make it his home. The pterodactyls want it too but you're quicker than they are! Another game by Shiny Talisman.
This paid version of the app includes no-ads, and no in-app purchases.
Caveman Cliff is a story about a caveman, named Cliff, who wants to live on a cliff. As levels are completed puzzle pieces will be earned. The revelation of the puzzles will guide the user through Cliff’s adventure as he struggles against the pterodactyls. New game mechanics will unlock in relation to what is happening in the story. Four gorgeously illustrated puzzles (30 levels) will need to be completed to find out how the tale ends for Cliff. Levels are completed by clearing the cliff of boulders. The pterodactyls want the cliff for themselves so they’re going to try and stop you. Things will go quicker if you pile boulders together creating boulder chains. These chains will also boost your abilities once they’ve been unlocked.
Caveman Cliff can be picked up on iOS right here, you can also follow the developer on Twitter.
Solo indie dev expert and longtime friend-of-the-site Devon Wiersma joins us to talk their latest release Centauri Dark, working across AAA, mid-sized and solo indie dev and how to fix this goshdarn industry.
David B joins us from the west coast best coast to talk about the upcoming Quiver Games Incubator!
Bizdev extraordinaire Eric Beer joins us to give his Hades II impressions and chat v-bucks subsidized game preservation.
We break down Baldur Gate 3's unprecedented success & the knock-on effects it'll have on the industry and how we make games moving forward. We also speak to Ontario-based indie game devs Twinolli about their upcoming action-puzzler Highlighters which just got a (Dad Deck-verified) Steam demo!
We speak to Québécois game dev Dragon Slumber, creator of Tech Support, Aethernaut and many more!
We reveal the winners of our ‘23 Community Awards poll and discuss Drinkbox’s latest teaser for their next project- and more!
This week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!
Stephan got terminated but that’s okay he just has more time to cover Canadian games now.
So we're going to give making videos a try. Given how much I love DrinkBox Studios, I decided to make one on Severed.
Read MoreAlto's Adventure, the infinite skier on iOS and Android is getting a free update that includes a Zen mode. Zen Mode, which hits iOS tomorrow on June 2nd, will "remove scores and let you continue from wherever you crashed -- all you have to do is enjoy the experience." It will also include a more relaxing soundtrack, and a photo mode.
The free update hits iOS tomorrow with an Android port coming "soon". You can download Alto's Adventure on iOS and Android.
Canadian indie game studio Red Meat Games have released their episodic, narrative-driven audio game Project Dark on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
Kitfox will be publishing the sequel to 2018’s well-received strategy sim Six Ages: Ride Like the Wind.
Montréal-based indie studio KO_OP (@KOOPMode) has released Winding Worlds today on Apple Arcade, a “finger-wiggling puzzle-adventure about a girl, a worm, and goodbyes.”
M5 Games’ 16-bit mash-em-up platformer is coming to a mobile device near you next month.
Toronto indie game developer Luke O'Connor reached out to me over email and let me know he released Kapsul Infinite on iOS and Android. Described as a "minimalist game celebrating space exploration" players will have to master physics-based controls to pilot your capsule through the spartan world. I've played the game for the last half hour and it draws inspiration from the classic Lunar Lander game, it's a little hard to master but fun to play.
Get it on the App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kapsul-infinite/id1096955231?ls=1&mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kapsul-infinite-free/id1097859637?ls=1&mt=8 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lukeoc.kapsulinfinite&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lukeoc.kapsulinfinitefree&hl=en Play Kapsul Infinite, a challenging action game with unique controls and an endless supply of randomly generated levels. How far will you go?
Toronto developer Kastriot Sulejmani had announced a Kickstarter for Dashy Square, and with the successful funding, the game is now out on Steam.
Dash, jump, fly and wave your way through epic levels with rhythm-based gameplay! Do you have what it takes? Follow the beat as you play levels or endless waves while staying in tune with the rhythm of each song. Join what could possibly be the impossible game to beat!
http://store.steampowered.com/app/461230/ The game is now on Steam omg omg omg!@#!@# XD Thank-you for everything guys - awesome feeling publishing on Steam. I am very grateful and will never take for granted how much this means to me. Thank-you for playing Dashy Square!
The game is only $3.29 on Steam, but can also be picked up on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. Make sure to also follow the developer on Twitter, and let him know what you think of the game.
Halifax-based devs Max Inferno have released Cupboards & Drawers DLC for their 2022 puzzler A Little to the Left.
Achimostawinan Games have released their Indigenous cybernoir detective narrative adventure game Hill Agency: PURITYdecay for Steam and itch.io.
Vancouver-based indie developer Red Hook Studios has announced that Darkest Dungeon II, the sequel to their crushing 2016 roguelite, will leave early access on the Epic Games Store and launch on Steam in May.
Waterloo-based Odyssey Interactive (@OdysseyStudio)’s debut game Omega Strikers (@PlayOmega) has entered open beta on Steam after being in closed beta for 2 days.
Kitchener-based indie studio Fluxscopic Ltd (@FluxscopicLtd), with American publisher Tiny Build (@tinyBuild), have released action-adventure game Mayhem in Single Valley on PC storefronts.
Mighty Fight Federation, the throwback 3D arena fighter from Ontario-based Komi Games is out now on Steam and PlayStation consoles.
Rocketship Park have announced their puzzle game Love - A Puzzle Box Filled with Stories will be launching on Steam next month on October 21st.
London, Ontario-based Tiny Titan Studios (@tinytitangames) have announced their new project Rogue Souls (@RogueSoulsGame), an action rogue-like coming soon to PC.
Action-adventure roguelike UnderMine (@undermine_game), co-developed by Vancouver-based engineer Derek Johnson (@quasim0dem), has left Early Access on Steam and launched on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One and Windows.
After almost a year of exclusivity on the Epic Games Store, Vancouver-based indie studio Klei Entertainment (@klei) has released their deck-building roguelite Griftlands into early access on Steam.
Upcoming iOS RPG Emergent Fates, which is being worked on by a few people in Toronto, had a preview video release which I've posted below. You can check out all the details on Emergent Fates at the official website here, which looks to be a fun RPG that promises to "emphasizes the elements from which its genre first was born".
A young student graduates into his homeland's Knight's Academy and is suddenly privy to political issues in unexpected ways... An enigmatic woman travels the world hunting powerful spectral beings for reasons known only to herself.... A scientist with few scruples examines the coexistence of parallel dimensions and their lifeforms...
One story is only a compilation of many. Through the eyes of a few people, uncover the grander underlying stories of an entire world.
Emergent Fates is a story-based fantasy RPG with 2D watercolour animation, a surreal story of spectres, knights and deceit, and a turn-based battle system. NOTE: The game is still being actively worked on and much of what is displayed in the video will be updated before release.
We'll be sure to have more on the game as it becomes available, but in the meantime you can always follow them on Twitter.
Canadian indie game studio Red Meat Games have released their episodic, narrative-driven audio game Project Dark on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
Kitfox will be publishing the sequel to 2018’s well-received strategy sim Six Ages: Ride Like the Wind.
Montréal-based indie studio KO_OP (@KOOPMode) has released Winding Worlds today on Apple Arcade, a “finger-wiggling puzzle-adventure about a girl, a worm, and goodbyes.”
M5 Games’ 16-bit mash-em-up platformer is coming to a mobile device near you next month.
Developer Snowman had announced earlier this month Alto's Adventure was releasing on Android, and that day has come! You can download the game for free on the Google Store here, or on the iOS right here. The game is free on Android, while costing $3.99 on iOs, and the developer spoke about why:
After playing games such as Crossy Road and Threes! Free we began to understand that free-to-play can be done in a very tasteful and respectful manner. We also heard about the crazy levels of piracy on Android (thanks in part to Ustwo Games’ incredibly insightful Monument Valley infographic), and wanted to ensure that Alto’s Adventure could be as accessible as possible for everyone, while still being good for business.
Alto's Adventure is now available for Android and Kindle Fire devices (and iOS). Google Play: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.noodlecake.altosadventure Kindle Fire: http://www.amazon.com/gp/mas/dl/android?p=com.noodlecake.altosadventure App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/altos-adventure/id950812012?ls=1&mt=8&at=11lrPB&ct=web http://altosadventure.com http://www.twitter.com/altosadventure http://www.facebook.com/altosadventure
Developer Snowman announced today that Alto's Adventure, the infinite skier already on iOS, will be heading to Android on February 11th. Most interestingly is that the game, which is available on the iOS right now for $2.99, will be made free on Android.
After playing games such as Crossy Road and Threes! Free we began to understand that free-to-play can be done in a very tasteful and respectful manner. We also heard about the crazy levels of piracy on Android (thanks in part to Ustwo Games’ incredibly insightful Monument Valley infographic), and wanted to ensure that Alto’s Adventure could be as accessible as possible for everyone, while still being good for business.
So, after careful consideration, we decided to take the plunge and launch Alto’s Adventure for free, adding a variety of opt-in bonuses for players who might need a little extra help, or otherwise want to show their support. The most important thing to say is that we’ve kept the core gameplay experience intact – it can be enjoyed start to finish, exactly as it can be on iOS.
Alto's Adventure is launching on Android and Kindle Fire devices on Thursday, February 11th, 2016. http://altosadventure.com http://www.twitter.com/altosadventure http://www.facebook.com/altosadventure
Indie developer Snowman have been killing it lately, with all the work they're doing. They haven't stopped working on Alto's Adventure either, which was updated to 1.4 this week to coincide with iOS 10.
Just the other day we wrote about Dashy Square hitting Steam Greenlight. Well now independent developer Kastriot Sulejmani is taking to Kickstarter to help fund his game.
This project has been in development solely by myself (Kastriot Sulejmani) for the past 8 months. It was released for iOS and Android in August 2015. Thrilled with a lot of peoples support and feedback towards the game, I decided to dedicate all my efforts on continuing the games development and wanted to release for more platforms like Steam and possibly VR (Virtual Reality) in the future!
Currently, I am running a greenlight page on Steam in hopes of making it more accessible for a huge variety of gamers worldwide. The idea behind this Kickstarter is to raise the $110 dollars needed to pay off the Steam Greenlight fee but also raise awareness for the game's presence.
Make sure you check out the Kickstarter for the all the details, but also give Kastriot Sulejmani a follow on Twitter, he's extremely active. Remember to vote for it on Steam Greenlight as well.
Montréal-based Lucid Dreams, creators of Legends of Ethernal, is launching a Kickstarter for BIOMORPH which they describe as “a dark Metroidvania that still has plenty of surprises...”
Winnipeg-based C4 Cosplay & Props has announced an upcoming Kickstarter for “Vendors of BioShock Infinite” to recreate the vending machines from the 2013 FPS BioShock Infinite.
Toronto-based Behold Studios has relaunched the Kickstarter campaign for their turn-based RPG Mahou Senshi Cosplay Club, a game “about a cosplayer that gets her powers from the costumes you make.”
Ottawa-based Hot Sauce Bread Studios (@HotSauceBread) have launched a Kickstarter campaign for their debut project Haste, a turn-based, collectable card game featuring “strategic yet action-oriented card combat played in real-time.”
As part of the Summer Gamefest, Quebec-based Sabotage Studio’s Kickstarter hit Sea of Stars gets a new trailer.
Toronto-based designer Devon Wiersma (@Devon_Wiersma) has successfully funded a materials free, rules-lite RPG entitled Runt on Kickstarter.
Québec City-based indie studio Sabotage (@SabotageQc) have officially achieved the most successful Canadian video game Kickstarter campaign ever with Sea Of Stars, hitting $1,335,111.00 CAD pledged of their initial $133,000 CAD goal with less than two days to go.
Windsor developer Chute Apps have released a kickstarter for their roguelike tower defense game - Rogue Star Rescue. The game was released on Steam in Early Access earlier this year, and they are looking to Kickstarter to finish development.
