Graceful Explosion Machine Coming To Nintendo Switch!

We officially have our first Toronto-developed Nintendo Switch game! This one comes from Vertex Pop, in Gracefull Explosion Machine (GEM). A game we've talked about before.

Skillfully pilot the advanced Graceful Explosion Machine (GEM) fighter while blasting swarms of crystalline enemies with your ludicrously overpowered quad-weapon array! Lost in deep space, you'll shoot, dash and combo your way through jewel-hued alien worlds, fighting to find a way home.

You can check out the game trailer below. GEM is expected to come out this Spring during the Nintendo Switch launch window. While the game is still expected to hit other platforms, the Nintendo Switch will be the debut console for GEM.

Graceful Explosion Machine is coming soon to Nintendo Switch™ http://vertexpop.com/gem

You can also check out the full press release below.

Graceful Explosion Machine Debuts on Nintendo Switch! Action-packed shooter hits Nintendo’s new console during its launch window this Spring!

Toronto, Canada: Vertex Pop, an indie game developer specializing in focused arcade-style games, announced that they’re bringing their dazzlingly intense shoot-em-up, Graceful Explosion Machine, to Nintendo’s latest console, the Nintendo Switch™.

Graceful Explosion Machine has already made waves at the Indie MegaBooth at both PAX East and PAX West in 2016, as well as PlayStation Experience this past December.

“The Nintendo Switch’s responsive controls and beautiful display means you can play Graceful Explosion Machine anywhere”, says Vertex Pop’s founder Mobeen Fikree. “It’s perfect for short, intense sessions on the go or for long high-score runs on the big-screen.

“Graceful Explosion Machine fits perfectly as a premiere indie game in our launch window lineup,” says Nintendo of America Indie Game Manager Kirk Scott. “It reflects the diversity and breadth of the kinds of top-notch games we’re looking for on the Nintendo Switch system.”

For all media inquiries, please e-mail media@vertexpop.com.

• PressKit: http://www.vertexpop.com/presskit/sheet.php?p=graceful_explosion_machine

• Site: http://www.vertexpop.com/gem

• Graceful Explosion Machine Nintendo Switch Announcement Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCiMciOjDC0

About Graceful Explosion Machine: Graceful Explosion Machine (GEM) is a side-scrolling arcade shooter where you blast crystalline enemies with your GEM’s ludicrously overpowered quad-weapon array. Lost in deep space, you’ll shoot, dash and combo your way through neon alien worlds, fighting to find a way home.

About Vertex Pop: Vertex Pop is an independent videogames development company run by Mobeen Fikree. Concerned with elegant design for their minimalistic videogames, they focus primarily on mechanics, game feel and responsive controls. Graceful Explosion Machine is a followup to their cult-favorite, multiplatform arena shooter, WE ARE DOOMED.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.4 billion video games and more than 696 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

Original Video: Guacamelee And Things We Liked About Nintendo Switch

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We're still playing Guacamelee, but we wanted to talk about the Nintendo Switch - which was officially revealed with launch details the other day. In this video, we talked about the good things we liked. Remember to subscribe and leave a comment! Website: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/torontogamedevs Patreon: patreon.com/torontogamedevs Store: designbyhumans.com/shop/TorontoGameDevs/

Tiny Titan Studios Brings 'Tiny Rails' To Steam - Vote On Greenlight

Tiny Rails launched late last year on mobile, and now the London studio is looking to release the game on Steam, but they need our help with Steam Greenlight.  Currnetly the game is going through the Steam Greenlight campaign, where users vote for the games they wish to see on Steam. Friends of the site can vote for the game right here.

"Set out on adventure in Tiny Titan's immersive, world-spanning train game Tiny Rails! Your grandfather has handed down his train company and it's up to you to expand your modest engine into a multi-car masterpiece! Upgrade and customize your train while unlocking new stations, delivering passengers and trading supplies all around the world! Become a railroad tycoon, or sit back and relax while you watch your train travel day and night through unique environments with weather and climate changes! Actively help your railway network grow or let your train travel at its own pace - your train will even make progress when you aren't playing!"

Tiny Titan Studios have stressed that the Steam version will have different design choices, since the mobile game is running on the free-to-play model.  So make sure to check out their Greenlight page and help get this game released!

Vote for #TinyRails on #Steam Greenlight and help us bring the game to PC! #indiedev #gamedev https://t.co/I0IK4zLAVy pic.twitter.com/nLAzt0m3o6

— Tiny Titan Studios (@TinyTitanGames) January 17, 2017

Ubisoft Toronto Announces Ubisoft Indie Series Finalists

Last year, Ubisoft Toronto announced the Ubisoft Indie Series, a competition that gave Indie studios the chance to win $50,000, and Ubisoft mentorship in releasing their games. Yesterday on Twitter, they announced the finalists. Congrats and best of luck to everyone in the final round!

Congrats to @littleguygames, an Ontario finalist for the Ubisoft Indie Series presented by @nationalbank. Good luck! https://t.co/biK3GEpCtF pic.twitter.com/9oY8tD5T4F

— Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) January 16, 2017

Congrats to @rocket5studios, an Ontario finalist for the Ubisoft Indie Series presented by @nationalbank. Good luck! https://t.co/biK3GEpCtF pic.twitter.com/ofzPFQOaV5

— Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) January 16, 2017

Congrats to @gripvideogame, an Ontario finalist for the Ubisoft Indie Series presented by @nationalbank. Good luck! https://t.co/biK3GE8155 pic.twitter.com/X97QMQox6l

— Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) January 16, 2017

Congrats to @studiotendril, an Ontario finalist for the Ubisoft Indie Series presented by @nationalbank. Good luck! https://t.co/biK3GE8155 pic.twitter.com/kLnZPuBQXc

— Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) January 16, 2017

Congrats to @ReptoidGames, an Ontario finalist for the Ubisoft Indie Series presented by @nationalbank. Good luck! https://t.co/biK3GEpCtF pic.twitter.com/HMG1X0xcnU

— Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) January 16, 2017

Congrats to @LRGthunder, an Ontario finalist for the Ubisoft Indie Series presented by @nationalbank. Good luck! https://t.co/biK3GEpCtF pic.twitter.com/ylNg1XM5wo

— Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) January 16, 2017

Alone With You Coming To Steam Next Month

Well we now know that Benjamin Rivers is a man of his word. Just like what we thought on the podcast, the sci-fi romance adventure game Alone With You will be getting a Steam release next month, just in time for Valentines Day.

Just in time for #ValentinesDay — Alone With You launches Feb. 9 on @steam_games! #romance #indiegame #pixelart https://t.co/WcnsYHiB19 pic.twitter.com/bakx7bcUQe

— Benjamin Rivers (@BenjaminRivers) January 17, 2017

Available February 9th - just in time for Valentine's Day! From the creator of Home - A Unique Horror Adventure comes ALONE WITH YOU, the critically-acclaimed sci-fi-romance adventure game - now on Steam! + OFFICIAL Website: http://www.alonewithyougame.com + Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/benjaminrivers + Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alonewithyougame http://www.alonewithyougame.com

If you can't wait until Valentines Day, you can always pick up the game on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.

Original Video: A Lover Letter To Guacamelee

I've mentioned on the podcast numerous times my love for Guacamelee and DrinkBox Studios. Chris and I decided to play a bit of the coop and discuss my love for it. Check it out below, and subscribe on Youtube!

Chris and I are back! This time talking about Guacamelee and the impact it had on TorontoGameDevs.com - check out the coop gameplay from the first 15 or so minutes from the game. Remember to subscribe and leave a comment! Website: http://www.torontogamedevs.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/torontogamedevs Patreon: patreon.com/torontogamedevs Store: designbyhumans.com/shop/TorontoGameDevs/

Ian Campbell's Bleed 2 Out Next Month On Steam

Announced last year, Ian Campbell's Bleed 2 will be avaliable on Steam next month on February 8th.

Bleed 2 is out Feb 8!! Air-dodge, reflect bullets, fight cowgirls on jet birds!
Steam page: https://t.co/TWRpvrYuty pic.twitter.com/4CFgshgPoO

— Ian Campbell (@BootdiskRev) January 9, 2017

Bleed 2 has you playing as Wryn, the last hero as you shoot, dodge, reflect bullets through 7 levels featuring 25 bosses. The game will also feature 2-player local coop. You can add the game to your wishlist right here, but make sure to follow Ian on Twitter.

Original Video: Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime And Talking Nintendo Switch

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Hey! We're back with another video on gameplay for Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime, consider this a review/preview sort of thing. But we also talk about Nintendo Switch, since the event is coming up. What we want from it, what we don't want from it.

TorontoGameDevs.com 2nd Annual Game Of The Year Voting - Results!!

Well, it was a solid 2016, and there were a lot of great games that were created in Toronto and Southern Ontario. Just like last year, supporters and fans of local content took part in the 2nd Annual Game of the Year voting, and here are the results!

10) Maize - Finish Line Games

9) Kapsul Infinite - Luke O'Connor

8) Far Cry Primal - Ubisoft Toronto

7) Alone With You -  Benjamin Rivers

6) Watch Dogs 2 - Ubisoft Toronto

5) Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander - Massive Damage Inc

Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander had a huge Kickstarter. After a successful funding thank to Square Enix Collective, the game came out in Early Access, followed by a full release later in the year. The developers are still updating the game, so make sure you head over to Steam to pick it up.

4) Runbow: Satura's Space Adventure - 13AM Games

Back-to-back Years of placing 4th in voting, 13AM Games released a healthy chunk of DLC for its party platformer. Satura's Space Adventure gives players more single, and multiplayer content - while also releasing the game on Steam, and 3DS.

3) Severed - DrinkBox Studios

The first-person hack-n-slash found eventual homes on 3DS, iOS, and Wii U, but it was made from the ground up for the little Sony portable that could. Probably one of the last "exclusive" Vita games, Severed has you playing as a daughter trying to find out what happened to her family. Now I'll be praying for a Guacamelee 2.

2) Hard Vacuum Lullaby - One More Story Games

Friends of the site, One More Story Games claims our top two spots in this years Game of the Year voting, first with Hard Vacuum Lullaby. "After a savage battle in deep space, the 2nd Yagoshan Expeditionary Fleet Battlecruiser #6 retreats to the orbit of a gas giant with other damaged vessels to undergo repairs by the fleets logistics and repair corvettes."

1) Mandatory Upgrade X Marks The Spot - One More Story Games

Joining the ranks of N++, this years winner is Mandatory Upgrade: X Marks The Spot from One More Story Games. The story based game was written by Chris Tihor from Ironic Iconic Studios, and tells the tale of Special Agent Rachel Varley who has to investigate the death of a runaway cybernetic exosuit on her first day back to work. You can pick it up here for $3.99, which includes a demo as well.

Thanks to everyone for voting, and congratulations to everyone who released a game in 2016. Onwards to 2017!

Don't Starve: Shipwrecked Makes A Surprise Real On iPhone/iPad

Don't Starve: Shipwrecked, the DLC expansion to Don't Starve which was co-developed by Toronto based Capybara Games, and Vancouver based Klei made a surprise release on iOS late last year.

Surprise! Don't Starve Shipwrecked is available now on iOS for both iPad and iPhone!

Get it on the App Store here: https://t.co/RbnqrsKZD1 pic.twitter.com/wSlOeKfp1s

— klei (@klei) December 26, 2016

You can download the game on iOS right here for $4.99.

Dash Quest Developer Tiny Titan Studios Release 'Tiny Rails' On Mobile

Over the Christmas Break, our friends over at Tiny Titan Studios released Tiny Rails on iOS and Android, a free to play tapping game where you take over a train company. 

Set out on adventure in Tiny Titan's immersive, world-spanning train game Tiny Rails! Your grandfather has handed down his train company and it's up to you to expand your modest engine into a multi-car masterpiece! Upgrade and customize your train while unlocking new stations, delivering passengers and trading supplies all around the world! Become a railroad tycoon, or sit back and relax while you watch your train travel day and night through unique environments with weather and climate changes! Actively help your railway network grow or let your train travel at its own pace - your train will even make progress when you aren't playing!

Choo-choo-choose to grab our new game #TinyRails on iOS, one of Apple's Best New Games this week! https://t.co/TR6jbZ7kRI #gamedev #indiedev pic.twitter.com/7RLVx7FuFP

— Tiny Titan Studios (@TinyTitanGames) December 15, 2016

You can pick up Tiny Rails for free on iOS right here, and Android right here.

2nd Annual TorontoGameDevs.com Game of the Year Voting!

Poll Closed! Results are in!

Last year, N++ won the Game of the Year voting. Who will be the winner this year? Vote below, and in the new year I'll post the winners!

Only one vote per person, but you can vote for as many games as you want. If I missed any there is a Write In feature at the bottom, or let me know on Twitter. 

Note: Ports didn't count (sorry Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, and N++), but DLC, and extra episodes do. Feel free to use the search on the right hand side to find out more about that game.

Alto's Odyssey Announced - Coming 2017

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.

Metanet Software Announces N++ Ultimate Edition

Toronto developer Metanet Software have announced N++ Ultimate Edition, which is described as so large or an update "it might as well be a sequel."

We’ve been working on this since the PS4 version of N++ shipped in mid-2015, and the great news is that we’re almost done. N++ Ultimate Edition will be a HUGE addition to the game — roughly doubling the size of the original version, with new levels as well as new colour schemes to funlock — *and* N++ Ultimate Edition will feature a new singleplayer game mode designed for veteran players!

N++ is set to release early 2017 for both PlayStation 4 and Steam, though we'll have to wait a little bit longer on the finer details. On a possible Xbox One version, Metanet Software said "We’re trying to make that work"