Original Video - This Week In Review - August 20th

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Another week, another Week In Review. Check out the main stories from this week in Toronto GameDev news.

It was a busy week for Toronto video game developers, so in our weekly video we broke it down for you. Check out the links below!

Original Videos
Let's Play - Apotheon (And Talk E3)
Let's Play - Apotheon (And Talk E3)
Video Games News Time Daily - May 9th, 2017
Video Games News Time Daily - May 9th, 2017
Video Game News Time Daily - May 1st, 2017
Video Game News Time Daily - May 1st, 2017
Video Games News Time Daily - April 27th 2017
Video Games News Time Daily - April 27th 2017
Graceful Explosion Machine And Nintendo Switch Review
Graceful Explosion Machine And Nintendo Switch Review
Let's Talk - Quick Thoughts On Graceful Explosion Machine
Let's Talk - Quick Thoughts On Graceful Explosion Machine
Let's Play: Horizon Zero Dawn
Let's Play: Horizon Zero Dawn
Let's Play Disc Jam (And Some Zelda Talk)
Let's Play Disc Jam (And Some Zelda Talk)
Let's Play Disc Jam
Let's Play Disc Jam
Let's Play Starwhal
Let's Play Starwhal

Vertex Pop Releases A New Trailer For Graceful Explosion Machine

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Vertex Pop has released a new trailer for their upcoming shoot em up, Graceful Explosion Machine.  The game is a collaboration from developer Vertex Pop, with Gabby DaRienzo doing the art, Robby Duguay composing the music and Henry Faber and Nina Basocs producing.  You can check out the full trailer below:

Blast, combo, and dash your way through neon-coloured space baddies using four absurdly overpowered weapons at once. Coming Early 2017. More info: http://vertexpop.com/gem

Announced earlier this year, Graceful Explosion Machine is expected to be released in Early 2017.

N++ Comes Out For Steam August 25th

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With the Beta happening early this month, it was likely we would hear about a N++ Steam release date shortly. Thankfully it will be sooner than later as Metanet Software announced PC gamers can play the ninja platformer August 25th.  Windows is the only supported platform at first, but it is coming to Mac and Linux. You can check out some footage of the level editor below:

Coming to Windows PC via Steam on 25 August, 2016! N++ is a fast-paced, momentum-based platformer about darting around obstacles, narrowly evading enemies and collecting gold in a beautiful minimalist landscape. You can make and share your own levels using the built-in level editor. The possibilities are endless!

The game will be 15 dollars when it launches, but you might as well bookmark their Steam page right now.

Check Out Our Reviews!
Cube Samurai: RUN! - TorontoGameDevs Review
Cube Samurai: RUN! - TorontoGameDevs Review

While it is certainly fun for a while, it suffers from the same problem other mobile games on Steam do: Cube Samurai: RUN!’s price tag of $5:49 feels a little steep for the amount of time you might ultimately get from it, so I’d recommend installing the mobile version and giving it a go on the commute to work or on the toilet and see if it’s the sort of experience you’d enjoy on the PC. This aside, it certainly does seems like it would make for an equally fun mobile experience, but it doesn’t do anything exceptionally different than what most people have seen in an infinite runner before.

Kapsul Infinite - TorontoGameDevs Review
Kapsul Infinite - TorontoGameDevs Review

Overall, Kapsul Infinite’s $4.49 price point on Steam doesn’t quite feel worth it to me. There simply isn’t enough to keep me invested in the gameplay for very long, and without any integration of achievements or leaderboards of any kind it just falls a little flat. It is, however, a game that would be perfect for a mobile device where one play session consists of a few levels on the bus or while waiting out an unpleasant family reunion on the toilet. While the PC is not the platform to play it on, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try on mobile devices.

N++ - TorontoGameDevs Review
N++ - TorontoGameDevs Review

We live in an age where it’s easy to get bogged down in new features, and developers often seem to push for complex mechanic after complex mechanic. N++, however, sends itself off with a warm reminder that the series has always been created around one sole value: fun.

Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients - TorontoGameDevs Review
Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients - TorontoGameDevs Review

Despite flaws such as these, I honestly do myself blown away by the potential the game has down the road. It features a robust level editing tool that allows for the creation of scenarios and huge, complex maps. It has Steam Workshop support for user-generated content and (if the patch notes and Longbow Game's Facebook page are any indication) it's still being improved and updated tirelessly by the team at Longbow so many issues described here could very well be patched and improved in future updates.

Alone With You - TorontoGameDevs Review
Alone With You - TorontoGameDevs Review

Alone With You gives you an exceptional story about love, and loneliness, with gameplay that gives you a little more than your traditional visual novel.

Cally's Cave 3 - TorontoGameDevs Review
Cally's Cave 3 - TorontoGameDevs Review

There was once a girl named Cally, who was an ordinary girl who lived an ordinary life. One day she found her parents kidnapped by Herbert, a mad scientist seeking revenge for a tragic past. Cally, deciding it was in her best interests to not have her parents in distress and doing what any respectable young woman would do in this situation, grabbed her semi-automatic pistol and medieval bastard sword and made chase, filling anything that got in her way full of lead before tearing it asunder.

Lost Orbit - TorontoGameDevs Review
Lost Orbit - TorontoGameDevs Review

Lost Orbit is a 2D top down, action-arcade game with a focus on quick reflexes and the age-old struggle to beat a stage faster than you did two minutes ago. It features a time trial mode devoted to achieving exactly that speedy time as well as a campaign mode geared towards a more laid back experience for casual players.

Far Cry Primal - TorontoGameDevs Review
Far Cry Primal - TorontoGameDevs Review

Far Cry Primal has players controlling Takkar, a Wenja tribesman who is stranded in the fictitious world of Oros.  The story comes down to pretty much "I hate that other tribe, so let's go kill them" but over the course of 20 or so hours players will hunt and control animals, craft and improve weapons, and gather your people to rebuild the Wenja tribe. 

Original Video - This Week In Review

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So I'm starting a new thing on our Youtube channel, a quick summary and review of the stories from this page week! You can check it out below, and subscribe on Youtube here.

This week I chat about this last week's news, which involved a new Valley trailer, Alto's Adventure being released on Windows 10, and a new Bleed 2 trailer. Bleed 2 Trailer: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/blog/bleed-2-announced-gets-a-new-trailer Valley Trailer: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/blog/valley-releases-august-24th-extended-trailer Alto's Adventure on Windows 10: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/blog/altos-adventure-out-now-on-windows-10

PlayStation 4 News
Mayhem in Single Valley Launches on Consoles
Mayhem in Single Valley Launches on Consoles

Kitchener-based indie studio Fluxscopic have released their 2021 puzzle-loaded action adventure game Mayhem in Single Valley on consoles.

Mighty Fight Federation Getting Physical Edition on PlayStation 4 and 5
Mighty Fight Federation Getting Physical Edition on PlayStation 4 and 5

Toronto-based Komi Games partnered with Limited Run Games to release a physical edition of their 2021 arena fighter Mighty Fight Federation for PS4 and PS5.

Bloodroots from Paper Cult Getting Physical Editions for Playstation 4 and 5, Preorders End April 2
Bloodroots from Paper Cult Getting Physical Editions for Playstation 4 and 5, Preorders End April 2

Montréal-based Paper Cult Games have partnered with Limited Run Games to release a physical edition of their “one-hit kill die-retry murderballet” game for PlayStation 4 and 5.

Kaiju Wars Roars onto Consoles
Kaiju Wars Roars onto Consoles

Saskatoon-based Foolish Mortals have released their turn-based strategy game Kaiju Wars on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (playable on PS5 and Xbox Series S|X).

PS4, Xbox One Versions of Gotham Knights Cancelled
PS4, Xbox One Versions of Gotham Knights Cancelled

WB Games Montréal has announced that the last-gen (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) versions of their upcoming co-op action game Gotham Knights have been cancelled.

Rogue-lite Strategy RPG Star Renegades Now Out On PlayStation 4
Rogue-lite Strategy RPG Star Renegades Now Out On PlayStation 4

Massive Damages Star Renegades, the rogue-lite RPG that is available on Xbox, and Steam, is out now on PlayStation. Currently going for $24.74 CAD with a PlayStation Plus discount, you can pick it up here.

Mighty Fight Federation Out Now On Steam, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
Mighty Fight Federation Out Now On Steam, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5

Mighty Fight Federation, the throwback 3D arena fighter from Ontario-based Komi Games is out now on Steam and PlayStation consoles.

Party Panic Comes to Consoles
Party Panic Comes to Consoles

Canadian indie dev Dylan Meville (@DMeville) and Everglow Interactive have released their multiplayer party game @PartyPanicGame on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Cuphead Finally Arrives on PlayStation 4
Cuphead Finally Arrives on PlayStation 4

Oakville and Regina-based game developers Studio MDHR (@StudioMDHR) have released the originally Xbox console exclusive Cuphead for PlayStation 4 today, the last major gaming platform it was absent from (besides Ouya).

Goodbye Volcano High Announced from KO_OP Mode
Goodbye Volcano High Announced from KO_OP Mode

During today’s PlayStation 5 stream Montréal-based indie studio KO_OP Mode (@KOOPMode) announced Goodbye Volcano High for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Steam.

Alto's Adventure Out Now On Windows 10

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So I mentioned on the last podcast how we got an Xbox One after playing Alto's Adventure on our Window's 10 tablet and getting a few Xbox Achievements. Little did I know, the game was "silently" released on Windows 10 which has now been made public:

"For particularly sleuthy Xbox fans, this might not come as a shock. We quietly launched the game last month, and have been listening to early fan feedback ever since, to tweak and perfect the experience for Windows users. Now, we’re ready to tell the world. Alto will even be featured at the top of the Windows Games section of the Microsoft Store today and tomorrow – big thanks to the team at Microsoft for helping us spread the word."
AltosAdventure

Make sure to follow along on Twitter. Next up Snowman is partnering up with Slingshot & Satchel for their next project, though nothing is none about the game at the moment. We'll have all the details once they are available, until then make sure to pick up Alto's Adventure on your platform of choice.

Alto's Adventure in the news
Alto's Adventure Out Now On Mac
Alto's Adventure Out Now On Mac
Alto's Adventure Updated For iPhone X
Alto's Adventure Updated For iPhone X
Alto's Odyssey Gets A Teaser Trailer - Coming Later This Year
Alto's Odyssey Gets A Teaser Trailer - Coming Later This Year
Built By Snowman Announces Skate City For Mobile
Built By Snowman Announces Skate City For Mobile
Snowman and Slingshot & Satchel Announce DISTANT
Snowman and Slingshot & Satchel Announce DISTANT
Alto's Adventure, and Sword & Sworcery Part Of Apple’s “Indie Gems” Sale
Alto's Adventure, and Sword & Sworcery Part Of Apple’s “Indie Gems” Sale
Alto's Adventure Updated On iOS - Now Includes Haptic Feedback
Alto's Adventure Updated On iOS - Now Includes Haptic Feedback
Alto's Adventure 1.4 Update Out Now For iOS 10
Alto's Adventure 1.4 Update Out Now For iOS 10

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.

Original Video - Week In Review - Watch Dogs 2, Alto's Adventure, And More
Original Video - Week In Review - Watch Dogs 2, Alto's Adventure, And More
Alto's Adventure Course Arrives In Stickman Golf 3
Alto's Adventure Course Arrives In Stickman Golf 3

Original Video: Thoughts On Fortified On Xbox One

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So we've picked up a Xbox One recently, mostly so I can play exclusives. One of those exclusives is Fortified from Clapfoot Games. I did a quick video on it, but I'm really enjoying the game, play it with a friend though because that's when the game shines.

Another video from www.torontogamedevs.com - I've been playing some Fortified on Xbox One and just wanted to give my impressions. You can check out the preview I did last year here: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/blog/2015/11/2/preview-fortified-from-clapfoot-games

Are you liking the videos? Let me know on Twitter what you want to see next!